The Savage Curtain ( episode ) Kirk and Spock are forced to fight alongside such historical figures as Abraham Lincoln of Earth and Surak of Vulcan by rock - like aliens who want to understand the concepts of " good " and " evil . " Summary . Teaser . The " Enterprise " is conducting some last observation scans of a planet incapable of supporting life – the surface is molten lava and the atmosphere is poisonous . However , from his science station , Spock detects an enormous power generation coming from the supposedly uninhabitable planet . During the ensuing investigation , the ship undergoes a deep , swift scan from the surface of the planet , causing the lights on the bridge to flicker . Then an image of Abraham Lincoln appears on the viewscreen , stunning the bridge crew . Act One . The stunned crew of the " Enterprise " takes in the image of " Lincoln " . He asks to be beamed aboard when the " Enterprise " is directly above his location on the planet below , to allow the crew to confirm his Humanity . Captain Kirk orders full dress uniforms and for the crew to take the guest at face value , with President ial honors , while his real nature is determined , much to the chagrin of Scott and Dr . McCoy . While waiting , Spock notes a small change happening on the planet . A landmass has appeared out of nowhere on the lifeless planet , inexplicably capable of supporting life . In the transporter room , Scott locks the transporter on Lincoln . Spock notes that their target a moment earlier appeared " " almost mineral , like living rock with heavy fore claws . " " Dickerson has the security officers stand ready with their phaser s on heavy stun . The lifeform is beamed aboard , with band music playing and Dickerson blowing a bosun ' s whistle . " " The USS " Enterprise " is honored to have you aboard , Mr . President , " " Kirk tells the 16th President of the United States . Lincoln steps off the transporter platform and charms them by asking about the taped fanfare and noting his age . Doctor McCoy scans him with his tricorder and confirms to Kirk that he is indeed Human . After introducing Lincoln to Spock , Scott , and Dickerson , Lincoln immediately wants to answer Kirk ' s questions about him , as well as questions Lincoln himself would like answered . Kirk dismisses security and leads Lincoln away . After everyone but McCoy and Scott leave , McCoy and Scott wonder about the " living rock " reading . Act Two . Lincoln makes a brief tour of the ship , impressing Kirk with his charm . A conversation with Lieutenant Uhura illustrates that " Lincoln " knows terminology from the era of slavery and Lincoln escapes from a gaffe with the same grace . He then acknowledges to Spock a concept in Vulcan philosophy , and that there is a great Vulcan philosopher on the planet , but has no explanation for how he knows . Kirk had a meeting in the briefing room to consider the situation , and leaves " Lincoln " with Uhura to go there . McCoy warns Kirk of the risks on discipline of Kirk being seen admiring an impostor . McCoy and Scott insist that the whole affair is a trap , however , Spock says it would be illogical given their power - - they could just as easily destroy the ship , if that were their goal . Kirk declares that they have been offered contact with a new race – the reason for their mission out here – and that he will accept it . Kirk , Lincoln , and Spock are beamed down , but the phasers and tricorders are left behind on the transporter pads . The surface resembles a canyon on Earth . Kirk now confronts Lincoln , but he insists there ' s nothing wrong . Then , another being in the form of Surak greets them , also believing to be himself . When Kirk tells them they won ' t go along with the charade , a nearby rock comes alive . Yarnek , one of the planet ' s rock - like inhabitants , called Excalbian s , says they stage " plays " to learn more about alien philosophies . The current contest , their first experiment with Human s , is to compare good and evil – " good " being represented by the two " Enterprise " officers , Lincoln , and Surak , and " evil " represented by four archetypes : Kahless ( founder of the Klingon Empire ) , Zora of Tiburon , ancient Human conqueror Genghis Khan , and the charismatic but duplicitous 21st century genocidal military officer Colonel Green . Kirk protests the manner of the invitation , to which Yarnek responds by enabling the " Enterprise " crew to watch the contest . Act Three . McCoy , Scott and Chekov confirm the uselessness of their situation , but are allowed to watch the area . Kirk refuses to participate , and , when Yarnek becomes solid and lifeless again , Green comes forward and appeals to Kirk that all eight were tricked , and that they should join forces against the Excalbians . Kirk reminds Green that he would attack enemies while their guard was down during negotiations . But the truce is insincere and Green ' s associates ambush during the parley , but are repulsed . Kirk refuses to participate further , and the Excalbians re - enable communication with the " Enterprise " for just long enough to reveal that its matter / antimatter seal is failing , which will cause the ship to " " blow itself to bits " " in four hour s . Yarnek says this can only be avoided by victory in the combat . Kirk selects high ground for a defensible base , though noting there is no time for a defensive war . Surak proposes to become an emissary , the option that resolved the final war on . Kirk protests that Vulcan logic will not sway their treacherous enemies on Excalbia , but Surak says that their belief in peace may be what the Excalbians are testing . Ultimately , Kirk says he cannot command Surak , who leaves for the enemy camp . He is captured and his cries and screams for help to Spock are heard . Act Four . Kirk says they should rescue Surak : " " He ' s in agony . " " Spock says that Surak knew his risks and that a Vulcan " " would not cry out so . " " Lincoln proposes that they should do what the other side wants – " " Not the way they want it , however . " " He proposes a clumsy frontal attack with a stealth rescue from behind . Lincoln crawls to effect the rescue , only to find Surak tied up and dead . Kahless was imitating Surak ' s voice , and now starts to imitate Lincoln ' s . At great length , Lincoln walks back to Kirk ' s base . But he warns Kirk to stay back , then topples over with a spear imbedded his back . Though it is now four - on - two , " good " wins the battle after Kirk kills Green by breaking his neck and the others run off . Yarnek reappears and says that , " " it would seem that evil runs off when forcibly confronted . " " But he sees no difference between good and evil . Kirk points out that " evil " fought for personal gain , while " good " fought when it became necessary to save others . He asks Yarnek by what right the Excalbians compelled the Humans to participate . Yarnek replies , " " The same right that brought you here : the need to know new things . " " Back aboard the " Enterprise , " Scott and Chekov report that the damage to the ship is reversing , for which they have no explanation . Kirk and Spock reflect on how real " Lincoln " and " Surak " seemed . Spock says it could not be otherwise , since the replicas were created " " out of our own thoughts . " " Kirk feels he understands the effort on Earth to achieve final peace – and all of their work still left to be done in the galaxy . Kirk has Sulu break orbit of Excalbia and the " Enterprise " warps away . Memorable quotes . " " Fascinating . " " " " I have been described in many ways , Mr . Spock , but never with that word . " " " " President Lincoln , indeed ! No doubt to be followed by Louis of France and Robert the Bruce ! " " " " What a charming Negress . Oh , forgive me , my dear . I know that in my time some used that term as a description of property . " " " " But why should I object to that term , sir ? You see , in our century we ' ve learned not to fear words . " " " " Jim , I would be the last to advise you on your command image . . . " " " " I doubt that , Bones , but continue . " " " " Lincoln died three centuries ago on a planet hundreds of light years away ! " " ( Scott points ) " " More . . . that direction , engineer . " " ( Spock corrects ) " " You ' re the science officer . Why aren ' t you – well , doin ' whatever a science officer does at a time like this ? " " " " If they ’ re wrong and they do beam into a pool of lava . " " " " Then they ' re dead men . I could ' na pull them back in time . " " " " Despite the seeming contradictions , all is as it appears to be . I " am " Abraham Lincoln ! " " " " Just as I am whom I appear to be . " " " " Surak ! " " " " May we together become greater than the sum of both of us . " " " " You ' re somewhat different than the way history paints you , Colonel Green . " " " " History tends to exaggerate . " " " " The face of war has never changed . " " " " Your Surak is a brave man . " " " " Men of peace usually are , Captain . " " " " There ' s no honorable way to kill , no gentle way to destroy . There is nothing good in war except its ending . " " " " What gives you the right to hand out life and death ? " " " " The same right that brought you here : the need to know new things . " " " " We came in peace . " " " " And you may go in peace . " " Background information . Remastered information . The episode was remastered in featuring new shots of Excalbia . Links and references . References . 19th century ; 21st century ; active duty ; American Civil War ; antimatter ; Arcturian dog bird ( Arcturian ) ; backwoodsman ; battery ; " Bones " ; boomerang ; boatswain ' s whistle ; carbon cycle ; carbon cycle lifeform ; chief security guard ; class M ; commander in chief ; dress uniform , Starfleet ; Earth ; emergency battery power ; energy - matter scrambler ; evil ; Excalbia ; Excalbian s ; father image ; France ; galley ; general ; good ; ; haggis ; honor detachment ; Human ; insubordination ; kilometer ; Klingon ; lava ; Louis of France ; logic ; matter ; mile ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mineral ; minute ; Mr . President ; musician ; nacelle ; Negress ; nitrogen ; Nome ; observation balloon ; oxygen ; plate ; pocket watch ; power ; prejudice ; presidential honors ; red alert ; reserve power ; restart cycle ; Robert the Bruce ; rock ; Roman ; Rome ; ship ' s surgeon ; slavery ; ; spear ; Starfleet Command ; surgeon ; synchronous orbit ; tape ; telegraph ; Tiburon ; Time of Awakening ; Union Army ; United States of America ; Vulcan ; Vulcan ( planet ) ; Vulcan language ; Vulcan philosophy ; whiskey ; World War III