Some people hate Star Trek III: The Search For Spock. I get that. It doesn't quite hang together, or zing, or something. But the events from the previous film leave Kirk with the responsibility of taking Spock's now-living body back to the planet Vulcan, in the hope of reuniting his soul (now residing in Dr. McCoy) with that body. Yes, I realize this is metaphysically incoherent to start with. Just go with me, until we get to the good part. The long process--which is dangerous to Spock and McCoy--is successful, and in the penultimate scene, we get this exchange between Kirk, and Spock's father, Sarek:
Sarek: Kirk, I thank you. What you have done is--
Kirk [interrupting]: What I have done is what I had to do.
Sarek: But at what cost? Your ship. Your son.
[Let me remind the reader that this Kirk doesn't know what he thinks of all this religious jazz. He's respectful always, but guarded.]
Kirk: If I hadn't tried, the cost would have been my soul.
You're right. It's just a geeky cultural niche, with nothing whatsoever of value to teach us.
Sarek: Kirk, I thank you. What you have done is--
Kirk [interrupting]: What I have done is what I had to do.
Sarek: But at what cost? Your ship. Your son.
[Let me remind the reader that this Kirk doesn't know what he thinks of all this religious jazz. He's respectful always, but guarded.]
Kirk: If I hadn't tried, the cost would have been my soul.
You're right. It's just a geeky cultural niche, with nothing whatsoever of value to teach us.
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