Request for A Leave of Absence

(Kirk has just climbed up a ladder to this deck when McCoy exits the turbolift.) MCCOY: Oh, Captain. Got a minute? KIRK: A minute. MCCOY: It's Spock. Have you noticed anything strange about him? KIRK: No, nothing in particular. Why ? MCCOY: Well, it's nothing I can pinpoint without an examination, but he's become increasingly restive. If he were not a Vulcan, I'd almost say nervous. And for another thing, he's avoiding food. I checked and he hasn't eaten at all in three days. KIRK: That just sounds like Mister Spock in one of his contemplative phases. MCCOY: Miss Chapel. CHAPEL: (carrying a tray and sounding embarrassed) Doctor McCoy. MCCOY: Captain. CHAPEL: Captain. MCCOY: What's this? CHAPEL: Oh. MCCOY: Oh! Vulcan plomeek soup, and I'll bet you made it too. You never give up hoping, do you? CHAPEL: Well, Mister Spock hasn't been eating, Doctor, and I, I just happened to notice. MCCOY: It's all right. Carry on, Miss Chapel. (She turns and rings the bell on Spock's quarters. The door opens and she enters.) KIRK: Bones, I'm a busy man. MCCOY: Jim, when I suggested to Spock that it was time for his routine check-up, your logical, unemotional first officer turned to me and said, you will cease to pry into my personal matters, Doctor, or I shall certainly break your neck. KIRK: Spock said that? SPOCK [OC]: What is this? (The door to his quarters opens and Chapel rushes out with a scream, just before the soup bowl hits the opposite wall.) SPOCK [OC]: Poking and prying! If I want anything from you, I'll ask for it! (Everyone stops and stares as he come to his door.) SPOCK: Captain, I should like to request a leave of absence on my home planet. On our present course you can divert to Vulcan with a loss of but two point eight light days. KIRK: Spock, what the devil is this all about? SPOCK: I have made my request, Captain. All I require from you is that you answer it. Yes or no.