The Deadly Years (episode)
The Enterprise discovers a colony full of rapidly-aging scientists. Whatever has caused the rapid aging of the scientists soon afflicts five of the six members of the ship's landing party as well. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scott are all shocked to discover that they are all aging decades each day, and that they will all die soon--as a sixth member of that landing party, younger than all the others but quickest to age--soon does, unless a cure for their condition can be found in time. Whatever had prevented Chekov from being affected by the process may end up being their only hope for survival.

Summary

Teaser

The  is on a routine mission to resupply the experimental colony at Gamma Hydra IV. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Lt. Galway, and Ensign Chekov beam down. While the landing party is spread out looking for the missing colonists, Chekov wanders into a darkened building where he had been bidden search. As the lights come on, they reveal the dead body of a very old man – and Chekov runs out, terror-stricken. Star Fleet discipline notwithstanding, Chekov is panicking and is in the full throes of terror. The rest of the landing party goes in to investigate. McCoy reveals the cause of death to be natural causes, extreme old age. Spock finds this impossible, since he had checked the records prior to the group beaming down and found that none of the colony members were over thirty. Then two elderly people wander in – these are Robert Johnson, who claims to be only twenty-nine; and his wife, Elaine who claims to be twenty-seven.

Act One
"Captain's log, stardate 3478.2. On a routine mission to resupply the experimental colony at Gamma Hydra IV, we discovered a most unusual phenomenon. Of the six members of the colony, none of whom were over thirty, we found four had died and two were dying… of old age!"

In the Enterprise in sickbay, Kirk tries to question Robert Johnson, but being of advanced age, he fails to understand fully what the Commanding Officer is asking him. He fills in his passengers, Commodore Stocker, Yeoman Atkins, and Dr. Janet Wallace, Wallace also being an old flame of Kirk's past. Kirk promises to keep them all informed and that they will remain in orbit until the mystery is solved. Commodore Stocker expresses his pressing concern to reach Starbase 10, and Kirk says he will do everything he can to get Stocker there. Everyone leaves the briefing room and Dr. Wallace and Kirk reminisce about the past for a moment and how their careers got in the way of their relationship over six years ago.

Kirk goes to the bridge and gives Sulu the order to maintain orbit, and Spock informs him that a rogue comet passed near the planet some time ago, but is unsure whether it had any effects on the planet. Commodore Stocker tries to again push the Enterprise to leave immediately for Starbase 10, claiming the instruments there would be more effective. Kirk politely refuses the Commodore's request and leaves the bridge giving the command again to maintain orbit, much to Sulu's and Spock's puzzlement.

Meanwhile, a perplexed Lieutenant Galway visits McCoy complaining about suffering a sudden loss of ; McCoy expresses hope that hypersonic treatment may clear it up, which it, unfortunately, does not. Kirk, in his quarters, calls Spock on the bridge and informs him to look into a comet that had recently passed the planet. Spock, of course, replies he is already doing so as per Kirk's orders, leaving Kirk a little confused. He then goes to sickbay complaining of shoulder pain, and jokes about McCoy's hair getting a little grayer. McCoy's initial exam reveals advanced arthritis in Kirk's shoulder, which Kirk refuses to believe at first. But then Scott walks in, complete with gray hair and wrinkles.

Act Two
"Captain's log, stardate 3479.4. The Enterprise personnel who beamed down to the planet's surface – Dr. McCoy, Engineer Scott, Mr. Spock, Lieutenant Galway, and myself – are all showing definite signs of aging. Only Ensign Chekov appears to be normal."

Everyone that had been in the landing party is showing definite signs of accelerated aging, with the sole exception of Chekov. Most of the party members are aging at approximately thirty years a day (Galway, despite being the youngest of those afflicted, appears to be aging at a vastly faster rate than anyone else), and McCoy is at a loss for the cause. He has run a complete physical on Chekov and found nothing to explain it. Spock estimates that they all have less than a week to live and that in lesser time, they will be little more than mental vegetables. Though Spock is showing no obvious physical signs, he admits to suffering from lethargy, memory and vision loss, and the ship's temperature is feeling increasingly colder to him. Kirk sends Scott and Galway back to their duties and leaves McCoy to do yet another physical on Chekov. Scott is already so deteriorated and weakened that Spock needs to help him walk. 

As Kirk heads back to the bridge, he exchanges a mildly flirtatious conversation with the concerned Dr. Wallace. The tone changes however, when Kirk realizes that her deceased husband, Theodore Wallace, was 26 years her senior. Kirk rejects her advances, and inquires if Dr. Wallace's affections to him are because of his current appearance, and also concerned that it may be out of pity for his sad condition.

Sitting at his navigation console on the bridge, Chekov gripes to Sulu about McCoy's constant examinations of him and him giving all sorts of samples. "If--IF!--I live long enough, I'm going to run out of samples." Sulu reassures him, "You'll live." But Chekov continues to gripe, "Oh, yes. I'll live. But I won't enjoy it."

An elderly Kirk arrives at the bridge while a concerned Commodore Stocker looks on, and the bridge crew can see that Kirk's advanced age is clearly taking its toll. Kirk gives orders, then forgets giving them. He even falls asleep in his command chair. A gray-haired Spock wakes him and informs him that the comet is indeed the source of the problem. By now, even Spock appears to be tired. The orbit of Gamma Hydra IV had recently caused the planet to pass through the comet's tail. Though no regular levels of radiation were detected, there were extremely low levels of radiation, which is the probable cause. Kirk then orders Lieutenant Uhura to send a coded message to Starfleet and to use code 2 since they are close to the Romulan Neutral Zone. Uhura reminds Kirk that the Romulans have already broken code 2. A befuddled Kirk orders her to use code 3 and to relay the information about the comet. He then tells Sulu to move the ship to a higher orbit, and when Sulu indicates that he had already given that command, he yells, "I fail to understand why each one of my commands is being questioned!"

McCoy confirms the radiation-poisoning theory, and Kirk returns to the bridge. Spock then informs McCoy that the ship has become increasingly cold and he has had to increase the temperature in his own quarters to 125 degrees (in °F; the Celsius equivalent being 51.6667°), to which McCoy informs him that he will not be making house calls to Spock. Dr. Wallace then tells McCoy that none of the conventional means for radiation therapy will work in this case.

In a corridor, Commodore Stocker meets with Spock, informing him of his concern for Kirk's ability to command. He asks Spock to take over as captain, since Vulcans have a much longer life span than Humans. Spock reminds the commodore that he is also feeling the effects of the aging and that he also is half Human. Stocker asks Spock to conduct an extraordinary competency hearing, which according to regulations is Spock's duty as first officer. Spock, wanting to spare Kirk of any more suffering than he is already going through and the humiliation of an almost guaranteed judgment against him, tells the commodore that he has duties to attend to. Stocker holds firm and insists to Spock that a competency hearing is mandatory by regulations. Spock reluctantly agrees and announces that he will convene the hearing at 14:00 hours.

As McCoy continues to examine Chekov, an even more aged Lt. Galway arrives at sickbay and falls dead in Kirk's arms. McCoy speculates that Galway's metabolism caused the disease to affect her far more severely, resulting in her early death, and that they themselves have little more time. They may have no longer than days remaining to them, perhaps even hours.

Act Three
Spock conducts the competency hearing. Scott is by now much older, looking tired and depressed. Kirk and McCoy are also in terrible condition. A reluctant Atkins, Uhura, and Sulu all testify about Kirk's failing abilities. McCoy also reluctantly confirms the computer analysis of his medical examination. Testifying, Kirk tries to maintain his control, but it is quite obvious that his mind and deteriorated body are failing, and he digs himself a deeper hole by going on a long, rambling speech in which he erroneously refers to the planet that they are orbiting as "Gamma Hydra II". He is removed from command and to his dismay, the inexperienced Commodore Stocker assumes command.

Kirk, despite his senility, does nonetheless retain enough common sense to predict correctly that Stocker, with no command experience, and in Kirk's words, a "chair-bound paper pusher" or, essentially, an official in uniform, would be a poor choice to command the Enterprise, and tries to order Spock to take command. When Spock rebuffs Kirk and reminds him that he no longer has power on the Enterprise, it deeply hurts him and temporarily causes a rift between the two. Kirk then fruitlessly tries to justify his command ability to Janet, telling her that his brain is still as sharp as it ever was, despite evidence to the contrary. Kirk asks Wallace if she sees him getting older, for which she cannot provide an answer.

Later, a very old and gray Kirk and an equally-gray Spock and McCoy review again their beaming down to the planet. Spock then reminds them that the only time Chekov was not with them was when he went into the building and discovered the body, whereupon, terror-stricken, he fled from the building in a state of near panic. McCoy postulates that the increased adrenaline levels somehow may have protected Chekov from being afflicted.

Stocker, who has no field experience, plots a shortcut to Starbase 10 through the Romulan Neutral Zone and, of course, the Romulans immediately attack. The Enterprise is quickly surrounded by several Bird-of-Prey ships, as a shocked and frozen commodore tries to decide what to do. Kirk wishes to go to the bridge. A terminal McCoy tries to dissuade him and tells him that they are both finished.

Act Four
The Romulans continue to attack the Enterprise while Stocker tries to establish communication. Spock, with Wallace's assistance and even through his own suffering from handicapping cold sensitivity, races against time and synthesizes a crude adrenaline serum, but it could either cure or kill. Kirk, unable to endure any longer and determined to get back to the bridge, demands the first shot stating he is already about to die anyway (either from the serum, destruction of the ship or the aging process) – and upon receiving it, he starts to scream and writhe while held down with restraints on his bio-bed.

Stocker feels that the only way to get the Romulans to stop is by surrendering. But Chekov reminds him that Romulans do not take prisoners.

Suddenly, a fully-recovered Kirk arrives on the bridge and retakes command. On purpose, he instructs Uhura to post a message to Starfleet, using code 2, that he plans to self-destruct the ship and take all the Romulan ships with him by using the "recently installed" corbomite device. Spock looks exhausted, but relieved.

As Kirk had expected, the Romulans tap into the message and start to move out of the way. Kirk uses this opportunity to warp the Enterprise out of the Neutral Zone and back to safety. McCoy boards the main bridge, being shown to have recovered, and informs Kirk that Scott is fine, though he pulled a muscle when his body reacted to the serum. The antidote is a success, even if the procedure is very painful to Humans, and even more so for Vulcans. Kirk points out to Stocker that there is very little a star base can do that a starship cannot, but Stocker points out that he is now fully aware of what a starship can do "with the right man at the helm." McCoy informs Spock that an especially potent dosage of the antidote has already been prepared for him, that all breakable objects have been removed from the infirmary, and that they can administer the radiation-poisoning antidote whenever Spock is ready. Spock is in visibly bad shape, and he asks to receive it now. Kirk remarks that the events of the past day will be an experience they will remember, even in old age – which hopefully will still be far off. Kirk orders Sulu to take command of the Enterprise, steady as she goes, which the helmsman repeats. Kirk replies that he thought he already said that.

Log entries 
 Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), 2267

Memorable quotes 
"Why, Bones, I believe you're getting gray!"
"Well, you take over MY job and see what happens to YOU!"
 - Kirk and McCoy, as Kirk notices McCoy's advanced aging

"I don't know what's causing it. A virus, a bacteria, or evil spirits, but I'm trying to find out."
 - McCoy to Kirk, on the aging effects

"What a stupid place to hang a mirror!"
 - Galway, as she sees her aged reflection in sickbay

"The heart is not a logical organ."
 - Wallace to Kirk, on her feelings for him

"Blood sample, Chekov! Marrow sample, Chekov! Skin sample, Chekov! If – if I live long enough, I'm going to run out of samples!"
"You'll live."
"Oh, yes. I'll live. But I won't enjoy it."
 - Chekov and Sulu, as Chekov complains about his medical tests

"I'm not a magician, Spock, just an old country doctor."
 - McCoy, as Spock complains about his sensitivity to colder temperatures

"Now this isn't going to hurt a bit."
"That's what you said the last time."
"Did it hurt?"
"YES!"
 - McCoy and Chekov, as McCoy prepares another medical test on Chekov

"The man's a chair-bound PAPER-pusher!"
 - Kirk to Spock, describing Stocker

"And you don't run a starship with your arms; you run it with your head! And my brain's as sharp as it ever was."
 - Kirk, as he tells Wallace why he is still fit to command the Enterprise

"You traitorous… disloyal… you stabbed me in the back the first chance you get! Spock…! Get out… I never want to have to look at you again."
 - Kirk, blaming Spock for losing command

"I admit, I'm getting a little gray but radiation will do that to you."
 - Kirk

"Lieutenant Uhura, let me know if we contact any Romulan…"
(The ship is shaken by an impact.) 
"I think we just made contact, sir."
 - Commodore Stocker and Uhura, as the Enterprise is being attacked by Romulans

Background information

Production timeline
 Story outline "Hold Back Tomorrow" by David P. Harmon: 
 Revised story outline "The Deadly Years": 
 First draft teleplay: 
 Second draft teleplay: 
 Revised draft by Gene L. Coon: mid-
 Final draft teleplay by Coon: 
 Additional page revisions: , , 
 This episode was produced in early .
 Filmed:  – 
 Day 1 – , Thursday – Desilu Stage 10: Ext. Gamma Hydra IV surface, Int. Colony building; Desilu Stage 9: Int. Sickbay
 Day 2 – , Friday – Desilu Stage 9: Int. Bridge
 Day 3 – , Monday – Desilu Stage 9: Int. Corridors, Sickbay
 Day 4 – , Tuesday – Desilu Stage 9: Int. Sickbay, Bridge, Briefing room
 Day 5 – , Wednesday – Desilu Stage 9: Int. Kirk's quarters, Briefing room
 Day 6 – , Thursday – Desilu Stage 9: Int. Briefing room, Corridor, Sickbay
 Day 7 – , Friday (Half Day) – Desilu Stage 9: Int. Sickbay
 Original airdate: 
 Rerun airdate: 
 First UK airdate:

Production notes 
 The brownish planet seen in this episode (a slightly color corrected version of the one used in ), reappeared in later episodes, as Gamma II in , Arret in ,  in , Minara II in , Platonius in , Cheron in , and Gideon in .
 According to Walter Koenig, director Joseph Pevney wanted to shoot a close-up of Chekov's eyes as he sees the aged dead body in surprise. However, Koenig blinked each time it was tried, and it took fifteen takes to do it right. However, it is not in the finished episode. Koenig also felt that Chekov seemed younger in this episode than in any other, claiming that his reaction upon discovering the corpse in the teaser was more like the reaction of a 15-year-old than that of a Starfleet officer who had sat on the bridge of the Enterprise. 
 In The World of Star Trek (3rd ed., p. 73), William Shatner relates that he endured an excruciating make-up session for this episode – all for nothing, because the shooting day was just about to end. The producers caught his exasperation in an infamous blooper, wherein he declares, "Bob Justman, I'm going home now… after spending three hours putting this [expletive deleted] make-up back on – and it's your fault!"
 One memorable outtake features Beverly Washburn getting stuck on a line, before blurting out, "I FEEL LIKE HELL!" 
 No special effects shots were filmed for this episode. The entire Romulan attack is created by using stock footage from  and . In addition, no actual Romulans appeared in this episode, in this season's only Romulan appearance. They would return one final time in the third season episode .
 The script called for the aged Kirk to run from sickbay to the bridge, and gradually grow younger until he arrived. (The Star Trek Compendium, p. 84) But as director Joseph Pevney told Allan Asherman in The Star Trek Interview Book, the slow speech patterns and actions of the aging Enterprise personnel were making the episode run long. So Kirk's reverse aging scenes were cut.
 The last shot of the episode is lifted from , which was evident from the wig Walter Koenig wore in that episode, which he didn't have on for the entire episode.
 The end credits of this episode include a make-up test shot of William Blackburn as a Tellarite. He discusses his experience in an interview on the remastered second season DVD collection of the series issued by Paramount and CBS Home Video.
 This is the first time Kelley is aged using makeup in order to look much older than he is. The second time is in .

Continuity 
 Areel Shaw's line from  about how long it has been since she's seen Kirk is recycled by Janet Wallace in this segment, with Wallace's time having been "six years, four months, and an odd number of days," while Shaw's was "four years, seven months, and an odd number of days."
 Kirk's age – 34 years old – is established in this episode. 
 This episode also establishes that Sulu has served with Captain Kirk for two years. (c.f. )
 The proximity of the Gamma Hydra sector to the Romulan Neutral Zone in this episode is repeated in the opening scene of , when the Enterprise supposedly violates the zone while patrolling near the sector. However, in the movie, it is the Klingons who attack.
 Kirk makes a reference to the fictional "corbomite" device, which he first described in . Although Chekov was not on the bridge on that occasion, he and Sulu exchange knowing looks when Kirk mentions the word. It is speculated in The Star Trek Compendium (p. 86) that Chekov's familiarity with the bluff further reinforced his presence aboard the Enterprise during TOS Season 1, much like  would place him aboard during . The Compendiums theory, however, would be refuted during the next episode, , when Chekov was oblivious of Mudd's visit in – the episode after "The Corbomite Maneuver". Be that as it may, the Compendiums other theory, "that Sulu had filled him [Chekov] in on what happened during that ["The Corbomite Maneuver"] adventure," seems more likely to be true, in spite of its own admission to the contrary.
 As he aged, McCoy's Southern dialect grew noticeably thicker as well as his "old country doctor" mannerisms. (The Star Trek Compendium, p. 83)

Merchandising

Literature releases 
 Bantam Books published a series of novelizations called "foto-novels," which took photographic stills from actual episodes and arranged word balloons and text over them, to create a  formatted story. The eleventh installment was an adaptation of this episode.

Video and DVD releases
 Original US Betamax release: 
 UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 21, catalog number VHR 2356, release date unknown.
 US VHS release: .
 UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 2.4, .
 Original  (single-disc): Volume 20, .
 As part of the TOS Season 2 DVD collection.

Links and references

Starring
 William Shatner as Captain Kirk

Also starring
 Leonard Nimoy as Spock

And
 DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy

Guest star
 Charles Drake as Commodore Stocker

Also starring
 Sarah Marshall as Janet Wallace

Featuring
 James Doohan as Scott
 George Takei as Sulu
 Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
 Majel Barrett as Christine Chapel 
 Walter Koenig as Chekov
 Felix Locher as Mr. Johnson
 Carolyn Nelson as Yeoman Atkins
 Laura Wood as Mrs. Johnson
 Beverly Washburn as Arlene Galway

Uncredited co-stars
 Majel Barrett as Computer Voice
 Frank da Vinci as Brent
 Steve Hershon as security guard
 Roger Holloway as Roger Lemli
 Eddie Paskey as Leslie
 Frieda Rentie as a Lieutenant
Unknown actors as
 Alvin
 Command crew woman
 Command lieutenant
 Crew woman 1
 Crew woman 2
 Medical technician
 Operations crew woman
 Sciences lieutenant
 Security guard

References 
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External links 
 
 
 
 

de:Wie schnell die Zeit vergeht
es:The Deadly Years
fr:The Deadly Years (épisode)
it:Gli anni della morte (episodio)
ja:死の宇宙病（エピソード）
nl:The Deadly Years
pl:The Deadly Years

TOS episodes