Scotty's Missing Finger Trivia Quiz

Answer: Operating the Transporter

At the beginning of the episode, as Scotty is preparing to beam up Capt. Kirk, there is a close-up of Scotty's hands working the transporter controls. You can see his right hand at the sliders; he tries to hide it with his thumb, but you plainly see one finger on the sliders, and two behind the thumb.

There are other occasions in other episodes in which you see a similar (or even the same) shot. Later, as Scotty reaches out to grab the "evil" animal so that Spock can anethsetize it, you can make out the gap where his finger should be.

Answer: No

Scotty appears in this two-part episode once in the Transporter Room, and the rest of the time he is operating the viewscreen projector during Spock's court martial. Scotty effectively conceals his hand in this one.

Answer: Yes

Big time! During the bar fight with the Klingons, watch carefully and you will see Scotty grab a Klingon with both hands. The camera angle is roughly over his right shoulder. It's quick, but it is also plainly visible that there are only three fingers on his right hand!

Answer: Hold a phaser

In this episode, he drains phasers to create an alternate energy source so the shuttlecraft can take off from Taurus II, but he holds the phasers in his left hand, not his right. By the way, as the shuttlecraft is ready to take off, Scotty jumps out of the pilot's seat so Spock can sit down. At that moment, his right hand is plainly visible.

Answer: After helping McCoy move Mr. Hengist's body to a chair

While Scotty is undergoing questioning on the Enterprise, note the placement of his hand on the lie detector. His fingers are hiding behind the end of its arm. When Kirk asks Scott to lie about his age, you see an intentional closeup of a right hand, but it's not James Doohan's hand. It is a "stunt hand" that you see on the lie-detection mechanism.
But, after Mr. Hengist is discovered as the killer, Kirk literally knocks him dead with one punch. Watch as Scotty walks away after helping McCoy put Hengist's body into a chair; his right hand is plainly visible.

Answer: Walking to the intercom

At the start of the episode, Kirk is about to perform a wedding ceremony, but a call from the Bridge interrupts the service. Watch Scotty as he gets up and follows Kirk to the intercom; his right hand is in plain view!

Answer: Yes

The first time you see Scotty in this episode, he is in Engineering, talking to the Bridge via intercom. In the shot, Scotty is leaning against the console, with his right hand in a fist. But, because his palm is facing the camera, you can plainly see only three fingers.

Answer: Twice

In the establishing shot of the Briefing Room, the camera tracks to the right around the table, starting behind Scotty. His right hand is on the table in a fist, with the palm facing the camera. Then, he picks up the Thermos that McCoy had just set down; For just a couple of frames, his right hand is plainly visible. Later, after the Fesarius appears, Scotty is standing at the back of the Bridge. Watch carefully as he uncrosses his arms.

Answer: In a maintenance tube

As Scotty is in the maintenance tube, watch carefully. He is holding three magnetic blocks in his hand. As he positions the third block, you will notice three fingertips behind his right thumb.

Answer: One of Khan's men knocked him out

When Kirk calls down to Engineering after he discovers Life Support to the Bridge has been cut off, Scotty (surrounded by some of Khan's men) tries to warn him. But Scotty is pulled away and knocked unconscious. Look carefully when his legs are in the air.

Answer: Holding a phaser at Kirk & Co.

Here, Scotty and Sulu are under the spell of the aliens Korob and Sylvia. They (and later McCoy) spend much of the episode as mindless zombies. For most of that time, Scotty is holding a phaser to Kirk & Co. Look carefully: One finger on the trigger, two on the grip.

Answer: The Bridge

When you first see Scotty in the command chair, he is holding a clipboard with both hands; on the far-right edge of the shot, you can see his three extended fingers. Later, as he is standing with his hands on his hips, watch him as he turns around; his right fist reveals the missing digit!

Answer: Three times

At the top of the episode, watch as he and Lt. Palamas enter the turbolift. As he turns his back toward the camera, he quickly makes a fist with his right hand and the three fingers are briefly visible.
The second time you can spot his right hand is after Apollo zaps Scotty's phaser. Watch the "three-shot" of Chekov, Kirk and Scotty. After Scotty is done massaging his hand, he draws it back down to his side; you can distinguish the gap in his fingers.
Finally, as the Enterprise is firing on Apollo's temple, watch when Scotty goes to Lt. Palamas to help her to cover. For just a couple of frames, his extended right hand is visible as he reaches out to put his arm around her.

Answer: True

Observe the shot that occurs as Kirk hands Scotty the Romulan cloaking device. Scotty is cradling the cloaking device in his right hand, and you will plainly see four (not five) fingers on his hand.

Answer: True

Just after the mysterious Gary Seven shows up in the Enterprise's Transporter Room, Kirk gestures to Scotty so he could contact Security. Watch as Scotty turns off the communications device - with his exposed right hand! It's very quick, but very obvious.

Answer: brown

It took the last bottle (of "very old scotch...whisky!") to finally make Tomar pass out. Watch carefully just before Scotty starts pouring the whisky into Tomar's glass. His right hand, which is holding the bottle, is plainly visible. Later, after Tomar passes out, watch the close-up of Scotty kissing the bottle; though partially obscured by the bottle, you can still make out only three fingers on his right hand.

Answer: Opening an equipment compartment

While in the Constellation's Engine Room, watch Scotty as he accesses the controls that opens the equipment panel. He reaches out with his right hand to release a magnetic plate and, for a second, you can spot his three fingers. There are other, less obvious, occurances during the episode prior to this moment, but this scene is the first obvious time. Later, the first time he is in the maintenance tube, watch his right hand as the light flashes on it; it's quick, but very apparent.

Answer: No

No, Scotty keeps his right hand safely concealed in this episode, but there is one shot I would like to bring to your attention. When Ensign Garrovick's quarters is invaded by the cloud creature, Scotty activates the controls to reverse the ventilation there. Watch for the "intentional close-up" of Scotty's left hand pressing the switch; it is actually a "flipped" shot from the episode "The Doomsday Machine", when Kirk activated the self-destruct timer on the Constellation.

Answer: On the planet's surface

After McCoy goes through the Guardian of Forever, watch Scotty as he tries to use his communicator. It's in his right hand and you can observe three fingertips underneath it.

Answer: No

Actually, Scotty only appears briefly in this episode, which centers around Kirk, Spock and McCoy and their encounters with the modern Roman society on Planet 892-IV. And no, Scotty's right hand does not belie his missing finger.

Answer: Signing a clipboard

As Scotty is making his log entry about leaving Capella IV to respond to the (bogus) distress signal, watch as a yeoman gives him a clipboard to sign. You can plainly see Scotty's right hand as he transfers the pen there from his left hand. Later, Scotty leads an armed landing party to assist Kirk, Spock, and McCoy on Capella IV. All of the men, including Scotty, are holding phasers in their right hands.

It's brief, but in the shot of Scotty's party running from behind a rock formation, you can spot one finger on the trigger and two on the grip.

Answer: False

Actually, it's that darn maintenance tube again! When he and Spock work on a bypass to regain control of the ship from the M-5 computer, watch as Scotty is inserting two tools into an opening. In his right hand is a spanner, which he slowly twists into position as he inserts it (One finger on the shaft, two behind it). Later, just before they activate the bypass, watch he puts that spanner into his left hand; you can clearly see three fingers on the right hand.

Answer: Yes

For the most part, Scotty hides his hand well. But watch carefully in the scene when he tries to prevent Spock from beaming down to Deneva. As he turns to Spock after walking to him, look at the hand behind Scotty; you can see his right hand silhouetted against the Transporter steps, and the gap where his middle finger should be is briefly visible.

Answer: Show his pistol to Kirk

When Kirk & Co. first try to leave Tombstone (and discover they can't), Kirk says they need something to use against the Earps. At that moment, Scotty shows Kirk his pistol and says "Well, we have these." If you look carefully, you will notice one finger along the trigger housing, and the other two on the grip. Later, at the O.K. Corral, you can see Scotty test the force field with both hands, but it's a long shot obscured by visual effects; therefore, that instance does not count.

Answer: Sick Bay

Watch as Scotty enters Sick Bay and pulls Nurse Chapel away from Spock, who needs to be slapped back to consciousness after recovering from a serious gunshot wound. He reaches out with both hands and grabs her arms. During that shot (taken from his right side), his hand is plainly visible. By the way, this episode, written by Gene Roddenberry, drew a direct parallel to the Vietnam War with its setting on Tyree's Planet.

The Klingons had provided flintlocks to the Villagers, forcing Kirk to sanction the same for Tyree's Hill People in order to maintain a balance of power.

Otherwise, the planet's "normal development" would have been in serious jeopardy.