The U.S.S. Enterprise receives orders to find Harry
Mudd, a Federation outlaw, on the planet Motherlode; Mudd is accused of selling
a fake love potion to miners. Upon the U.S.S. Enterprise's arrival, Mudd
demonstrates the potion on a woman who Spock discovers to actually be a reptilian
illusion. Angered by this the miners begin to attack Mudd, but he is rescued
by the U.S.S. Enterprise. Aboard ship, and after convincing Nurse Chapel
to try the potion on Spock, Mudd steals a shuttlecraft. When Chapel discovers
that the potion doesn't actually work, she becomes bitter and sets out to
confront Mudd. During a fight between Mudd and Chapel, special love crystals
are broken near an air vent and permeate throughout the ship.
Without warning, the delayed potion begins to affect Spock. Shortly, the potion begins to affect the entire crew. Spock becomes so enamored with Chapel that he will do anything to rescue her. Kirk accompanies him to find Mudd, but are attacked on the planet by large rock creatures. Unable to transport to the vessel because of the potion's affect on the crew, Kirk uses the crystals to make the creatures become docile and loving. Eventually the potion wears off and the crew beam everyone back to the ship, but then the potion's after effects cause hatred and animosity among the crew. Mudd is placed in the brig, where he confesses to other con jobs and is once again sent away for rehabilitation.
I don't have the Captain's Log for this episode yet, sorry.
Written By: Stephen Kandel
Director: Hal Sutherland
Roger C. Carmel as Harry Mudd
Nichelle Nichols as Female Ursinoid miner
James Doohan as Male Ursinoid miner
Majel Barrett as Lora
James Doohan as Human miner
Production Number: 22008
Stardate: 4978.5
First Aired In USA: 10th November 1973
First Aired In Australia: Unknown
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