rjnoe@ihlts.UUCP (Roger Noe) (05/16/84)
Yes, indeed, the Enterprise gets demolished badly in ST3, so say those who are familiar with the shooting script and footage actually filmed. Since it's inconceivable that they'd spend that much $$$ on special effects for this, I'm quite certain that NCC-1701 will die here, but not in vain (that's the part I've sworn to tell no one about). This was a plot element in the kidnapped early draft of ST3 which was ransomed to Trekfandom and is said to be one of the very few elements retained. I wouldn't have destroyed it, but I admire Bennett and Nimoy for their boldness. I liked that ship a lot. Except for Discovery 1 in "2001", it was one of the few believable space ships in popular fiction. But I forgot all this when I saw the new ship. The one we see is the class ship, Excelsior (I think). I do not know if Enterprise II appears in ST3 as a member of this class, but it's certain it will do so shortly. No later than ST4 I would bet. (Oh, yes, Paramount has all but said to Bennett that ST3 has to flop totally if they are not to do ST4 and that will not happen considering the number of avid Trekfans.) I tried my best to get away with a photo or negative of the new ship but it was impossible. They were numbered and I had to sign for each one as I examined it and my host countersigned when I returned it. But I can tell you that very few people indeed will fail to be impressed with this new ship. I saw an outtake of Jimmy Doohan (Scott) saying, "Holy sh . . ." as Scott was supposed to be seeing the new machine for the first time. (I wish I knew the circumstances behind that outtake.) People keep telling me that Dame Judith Anderson plays Amanda, Spock's mother, and I keep saying "Then let's see a picture" but no one has helped me there yet. There are unsubstantiated rumors that she is dead and we witness some sort of spiritual communication involving her, Spock, and Sarek, but I don't believe that. I suppose just about everybody knows that McCoy is a drunk and Kirk a starship appropriator in ST3. It does indeed begin just hours after ST2 ends (or nearly so) and I am told that ST4 (outline begun but not finished to their satisfaction) picks up just SECONDS after ST3 ends. Should be one hell of a cliffhanger. No, I don't know the ending, so don't ask me. I've got more I'll post as we get nearer the big release. Roger Noe ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe