The Voodoo Planet " Voodoo from across space it makes its deadly mark on Earth ! " Summary . As the " Enterprise " passes near a planet , Captain Kirk notices something familiar and disturbing and asks Sulu to magnify the image on the planet . As the picture clears , Spock looks carefully and agrees with Kirk that it is not possible , due to their being several light year s away , but sure enough , Earth is on the viewer . Spock suggests that they may have passed through a space warp . The vessel passes through the atmosphere , taking a closer look , ending up over Paris . Kirk and Spock choose to beam down , leaving Dr . McCoy in charge on the starship . They end up near the Eiffel Tower and note that there is not a single person about . They speculate as to what might have happened , suggesting a proton bomb war perhaps , but there should be skeletons and wreckage about . Spock notices that the tower is several hundred feet shorter than its 984 foot recorded height and that the girder is made of papier - mache . Suddenly a laser hits the tower and it begins to collapse . Spock and Kirk run , because even though the structure is made of paper , it is still enormous and toppling toward them . The two escape as the tower crashes down onto other nearby buildings , crushing them beneath its weight . A hollow voice welcomes them to its private world , and tells them that all of their questions will be answered . . . if they survive . A condition red radio message comes down and the two beam back to the " Enterprise " . A wide - eyed Sulu tells them that they received a relayed galaxy radio photograph from Earth showing them that the Eiffel Tower has collapsed . The time the disaster occurred is at precisely the same time as when the copy was destroyed on the planet below . McCoy and Spock speculate that it might be " " some sort of weird , deep space voodoo " " with the laser acting as the pin and that they will need to find the source of the laser to save Earth . As they continue to fly through the atmosphere , they spot a laser beam striking the Colosseum in Rome , destroying it . Once again , the same occurs on Earth . Fortunately , one of the crewmen has gotten a fix on the source of the beam and the " Enterprise " heads in that direction , arriving at a cloud of space trash near another planet a short time later . They head toward the center to obscure the ship from anyone else ' s detection equipment . Spock , Kirk , and McCoy beam down to the planet to see humanoid aliens throwing spears into what appears to be Human dolls . They disable the aliens and head toward a nearby structure . As they enter and find a closed chamber up a staircase , Kirk overhears a voice stating that the Sphinx in Egypt will be destroyed next . They rush into the room , but too late – the Sphinx is destroyed . A figure in a cowled robe stops them and points to two Voodooites , holding dolls of Spock and Kirk . They jab needles into them , causing Spock ' s side to feel a sharp pain , and Kirk ' s stomach to feel like it is burning up . The figure removes his cowl to reveal himself as Count Dressler , a mad ruler of a tiny kingdom on Earth . Spock and Kirk ' s weapons and gear are taken from them and they are placed into a prisoner confinement cage . Kirk asks Dressler how he arrived on this planet when most of Earth had been hunting him down . He tells them that he triggered his emergency plan rocket escape into deep space and came across this voodoo planet by accident . Before long , he had mastered the minds of the population , stolen their occult secrets , and become their leader . He then throws himself into a trance , looking at the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the screen of a monitor , drinks a green liquid and heads for the laser . He fires , and the tower crashes to the ground . Dressler tells them that they will stay as his hostages and he will inform Earth that he will destroy everything unless they allow him to return as a free man . McCoy has since snuck into the room and uses his phaser to free Spock and Kirk from their cage . The three attack the Voodooites , grab their gear , and beam back to the " Enterprise " . When they arrive , they brainstorm for ideas , but are distracted by pains in their arms and legs as the Voodooites use the dolls of the trio . McCoy injects them with painkillers , and they go to work , studying an ancient occult book . Spock discovers a Vulcan clan known as the " Pain Casters " . They would throw themselves into a trance , drink a potion , and then were able to inflict pain from afar . Spock suggests that he might be able to duplicate the potion with synthetic ingredients , but it may not work . After working in the lab for some time , the potion is complete . Spock puts himself into a trance and drinks the liquid , and suddenly the pain vanishes . Kirk performs the ritual , and he is also freed of pain . Kirk and Spock beam back into Dressler ' s lab , and he discovers that his powers are now useless on them . Spock pulls out a doll of Dressler , but it is useless on him . Dressler runs out of the lab , and Spock and Kirk chase him down . Suddenly , Dressler stops , pain shooting through his shoulder as the potion wears off . Kirk and Spock reach him and the three beam back to the starship . They take him back to the Earth duplicate planet and leave him there , a form of solitary confinement . Memorable quotes . " " The Eiffel Tower . . . it ' s toppling ! Let ' s get out of here , Spock – fast ! " " " " I am highly in agreement , Captain Kirk . . . As you Earthlings say . . . " let ' s move it " ! " " " " Well , " whatever " in blue blazes has happened , let ' s pour on the coals and take a first hand look - see ! " " " " Down them you dolts – Beat them to the ground ! " " " " I have it , men – but we ' ve got to clear these characters from the area . . . or the pack of them will be transported up to the " Enterprise " with us when I radio in ! " "