Question: On the way to Starbase Yorktown, McCoy joins Kirk for a drink; Kirk is already drinking something illegal. McCoy shows him something he found in Chekov's locker, and they both enjoy it tremendously. Exactly what was McCoy doing rummaging around in Chekov's locker? Was it some sort of contraband check?
Charles Austin Miller
23rd Nov 2016
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
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Chosen answer: This scene from "Star Trek: Beyond" is an alternate-timeline version of the scene from "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" in which McCoy brings Kirk an illegal bottle of Romulan Ale as a birthday gift (so we know that McCoy isn't above bending or breaking the law a little in obtaining a gift for Kirk). In "Beyond," this scene was re-imagined with Kirk already drinking illegal Saurian Brandy for his birthday, and McCoy surprises him with a very old bottle of Scotch Whisky from Chekov's locker. More than likely, McCoy knew very well that Chekov kept a prized bottle of Scotch in his locker, and McCoy simply took the bottle. What was Chekov going to do, report the Chief Medical Officer to the Captain?
Charles Austin Miller
Or in the future it is not above humanity to be willing to share things more than now. Maybe Chekov had given his approval for anyone to partake in a drink that he may possess, as it is no big deal.
The point is made in Beyond that McCoy "took" the scotch from Chekov's locker. If Chekov freely shared his prized bottle of scotch, McCoy should have said, "Here's a gift from Mr. Chekov, and he sends best wishes." To me, the larger question is why was Chekov hiding a bottle of liquor in a "locker" when he could have more easily kept it in his personal quarters? Perhaps because the contents of personal quarters were easily monitored, so Chekov had to HIDE it in a less conspicuous area.
Charles Austin Miller