"Turnabout Intruder" is the twenty-fourth and final episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek.
Written by Arthur H. Singer (based on a story by Gene Roddenberry) and directed by Herb Wallerstein, it was first broadcast on June 3, 1969.
Originally scheduled to air at 10pm on Friday, March 28, 1969, NBC pre-empted it with a special report on former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had died earlier that day.
[1] On June 3, 1969, after an absence of two months, Star Trek was brought back on a new night and time: Tuesdays at 7:30pm.
The Federation starship Enterprise answers a distress call from the planet Camus II, the site of an archaeological expedition.
Among the survivors are Dr. Janice Lester, with whom Captain Kirk was once intimately involved, and the expedition's physician, Dr. Arthur Coleman.
The new "Kirk" declares that he will take command of the Enterprise and begins to strangle "Lester" but the returning Spock and McCoy interrupt him.
"Kirk", having monitored their conversation, declares McCoy, Scott, Spock, and "Lester" guilty of mutiny and condemned to death.
On the bridge, Chekov and Sulu, having witnessed the trial, determine to resist the "captain", and refuse to obey his orders.
Loudly accusing them of mutiny, "Kirk" falls into his chair, and an image of Lester emerges from his body, only to return again.
The position of Communications Officer was played by Barbara Baldavin, who had previously appeared in two first-season episodes of the show, "Balance of Terror" and "Shore Leave".