Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

KHHHHAAAAAAAAN!!!
—James T. Kirk

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Paramount Pictures, 1982) is the second feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. It is widely regarded by fans as the best film of the series, and many non-fans regard it as one of the best science fiction films.

Directed by Nicholas Meyer. Written by Jack B. Sowards

At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance.

Khan Noonien Singh

• I never forget a face. Mister... Chekov. Isn't it? I never thought to see your face again.

• Famous inconsistency in the Star Trek franchise; as per the Original Series, Chekov had never met Khan (at least on screen).

• Ah, Kirk, my old friend. Do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? ... It is very cold in space.
  • Allusion to Les Liaisons Dangereuses, (1782) by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
  • La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid.

• He tasks me! He tasks me, and I shall have him! I'll chase him round the Moons of Nibia, and round the Antares Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames before I give him up! Prepare to alter course!

• Allusion to Moby Dick, (1851) by Herman Melville
• "He tasks me; he heaps me [...] Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames before I give him up."

• To the last I grapple with thee! Note: This quote was spoken as Khan activates the Genesis Device, and then later, he states:

• No. No, you can't get away. From hell's heart, I stab at thee. For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee.

• Allusion to Moby Dick, (1851) by Herman Melville
• "Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee."

• I've done far worse than kill you, I've hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her. Marooned for all eternity, at the center of a dead planet. Buried alive.

• Do you mean, he never told you the tale? To amuse your Captain. No? Never told you how the Enterprise picked up the Botany Bay, lost in space from the year 1996, myself and the ship's company in cryogenic freeze? Never told how --ADMIRAL Kirk -- sent seventy of us into exile on this barren sand heap, with only the contents of these cargo bays to sustain us??

[Shouting at Chekov]

THIS IS CETI ALPHA FIVE!!

• Ceti Alpha Six exploded six months after we were left here. The shock shifted the orbit of this planet and everything was laid waste! Admiral Kirk never bothered to check on our progress.

James T. Kirk

• KHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNN!!!

• How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn't you say?

• Galloping around the cosmos is a game for the young, Doctor.

• He wants to kill me for passing sentence on him fifteen years ago, and he doesn't care who stands between him and his vengeance.

• 1985 television version

• I don't believe in the no-win scenario.

• We are gathered here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. And yet it should be noted, in the midst of our sorrow, this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world; a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one, and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human.

• Eulogy delivered at Spock's funeral

Spock

• The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.

• Dying words to James T. Kirk

• I have been... and always shall be... your friend. Live long... and prosper.

• Dying words to James T. Kirk

• Space, the final frontier. These are the continuing voyages of the starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life forms and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone... before.

• Closing monologue voiceover

Dialogue

Revenge is a dish best served cold.
—Old Klingon proverb

Leonard McCoy: Go? Where are we going?

James T. Kirk: Where they went.

Leonard McCoy: Suppose they went nowhere?

James T. Kirk: Then this will be your big chance to get away from it all.

---

James T. Kirk: Khan. Khan, you've got Genesis. But you don't have me! You were going to kill me, Khan. You're going to have to come down here. You're going to have to come down here.

Khan Noonien Singh: I've done far worse than kill you. I've hurt you. And I wish to go on... hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her. Marooned for all eternity, in the center of a dead planet... buried alive. Buried alive.

James T. Kirk: KHHHHAAAAAAAAN!

---

Lenoard McCoy: Are you out of your Vulcan mind? No human can tolerate the radiation that's in there!

Spock: As you are so fond of observing, Doctor, I am not human!

---

David: Lieutenant Saavik was right: You never have faced death.

Kirk: No. Not like this. I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing.

David: You knew enough to tell Saavik that how we face death is at least as important as how we face life.

Kirk: Just words.

David: But good words. That's where ideas begin. Maybe you should listen to them. I was wrong about you. And I'm sorry.

Kirk: Is that what you came here to say?

David: Mainly. And also that I'm proud - very proud - to be your son.

---

Saavik: [to Kirk] On the test, sir. Will you tell me what you did? I would really like to know.

McCoy: Lieutenant, you are looking at the only Starfleet cadet who ever beat the "No-Win" scenario.

Saavik: How?

Kirk: I reprogrammed the simulation so that it was possible to save the ship.

Saavik: What?!?

David: He cheated.

Kirk: Changed the conditions of the test. Got a commendation for original thinking. I don't like to lose.

Saavik: Then you've never faced that situation; faced death.

Kirk: I don't believe in the "No-Win" scenario. [pulls out his communicator] Kirk to Spock, it's two hours. Are you ready?

Spock: [on communicator] Right on schedule, Admiral. Just give us your co-ordinates and we'll beam you aboard.

Kirk: All right! [to Saavik] I don't like to lose. [bites an apple]

---

McCoy: No! You'll flood the whole compartment!

Kirk: He'll die!

Scott: Sir! He's dead already.

McCoy: It's too late...

Cast

Actor	Role
William Shatner	Admiral James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	Captain Spock
DeForest Kelley	Dr. Leonard McCoy
James Doohan	Commander Montgomery Scott
George Takei	Commander Hikaru Sulu
Walter Koenig	Commander Pavel Chekov
Nichelle Nichols	Commander Nyota Uhura
Bibi Besch	Dr. Carol Marcus
Merritt Butrick	Dr. David Marcus
Paul Winfield	Captain Clark Terrell
Kirstie Alley	Lieutenant Saavik
Ricardo Montalban	Khan Noonien Singh
Judson Scott (uncredited)	Joachim

External links

• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at StarTrek.com