---------------------------------------------------------------------------
54			       THE EMPATH
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

WRITER: Joyce Muskat

GUESTS: Kathryn Hays (Gem)
	Alan Bergman
	Willard Sage
	Jason Wingreen
	Davis Roberts

AIRED:	December 6, 1968

HACK-MAN rating: .250
Usenet rating:   .240

QUOTES:
=======
 - "I'm a doctor, not a coal miner." --McCoy
 - "   !" --Gem


			       THE EMPATH

PLOT:
=====
A mute woman (Gem) is capable of absorbing the pain and injuries of others.
The Vians (fathead aliens) manipulate Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, administering
pain, to see if they can teach Gem compassion.   In  order to  do this, the
Vians have to put McCoy in so much pain that he'll die or Spock  in so much
pain that he will [go insane|become a vegetable].

FACTS:
======
 - McCoy mutinies.
 - At the end, Scotty tells the "Tale of the Merchant"  (the parable of the
   pearl of great price from the Christian gospels.

OPINIONS:
=========
The plot dragged out to long.

Pretty cheap set.

Great dialogue from Gem.