 The first draft of the script introduced the character as John Ericssen — who is revealed to be a man involved in "The First World Tyranny", named Ragnar Thorwald. The character of Thorwald was more brutal than Khan in the final version, killing guards using a phaser. In the original script, Kirk forgives Ericssen and offers him and his people a chance at a fresh start — something that remained in the final episode — but the character committing murder would have precluded such an ending, as NBC censors would have necessitated the "bad guy" be punished for his actions.
