Christine Chapel

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Name:	Christine Chapel
Gender:	Female
Species:	Human
Actress:	Majel Barrett

Christine Chapel was a nurse aboard the USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T. Kirk in 2266.

Early Career

Chapel had abandoned a career in bio-research for a position in Starfleet, in the hopes that a deep-space assignment would one day reunite her with her fiance Dr. Roger Korby, a scientist of renown incommunicado from his expedition to Exo III since 2261. By 2266, Chapel was commissioned as a lieutenant and assigned to the USS Enterprise, serving as head nurse under Enterprise Chief Medical Officer Dr. Leonard McCoy.

On stardate 2712.4, the Enterprise reached Exo III. Korby was found, exploring and exploiting a sophisticated android manufacturing technology, the legacy of a long-dead civilization. Korby had replaced his own damaged body, transplanting his personality into an android replica, and built himself a beautiful companion, Andrea. After exhibiting his madness, the android Korby was destroyed. Initially, Chapel doubted if she should stay aboard, but elected to remain with the Enterprise throughout the five-year mission. (TOS: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?")

In addition to a professional friendship with Dr. McCoy, Chapel was particularly close to Uhura. (TOS: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", "Plato's Stepchildren", "The Tholian Web")

Relationship with Mr. Spock

Even while she still sought to locate Korby, Chapel was deeply infatuated with the Enterprise's half-Vulcan science officer, Mr. Spock. While her attraction never interfered with her professional duties, it was an ongoing source of tension and bemusement throughout the five-year mission.

Initially, Chapel kept these feelings to herself. However, when the Psi 2000 intoxication afflicted the crew of the Enterprise, Chapel admitted her love for Spock, who was shocked:

"I'm in love with you, Mr. Spock. You, the human Mr. Spock... the Vulcan Mr. Spock... I see things... how honest you are. I know how you feel. You hide it, but you do have feelings. Oh, how we must hurt you... torture you."

Chapel insisted that Spock address her by her first name, as opposed to her title, which he resisted. Chapel was unaware that Spock's inability to react to her emotionally was further complicated by his betrothal to T'Pring. Leading him to the ceremony in which his fiancee rejected him in favor of a different suitor, Spock underwent a period of intense emotional outbursts: a blood fever known as pon farr. Chapel characteristically doted after the Vulcan, preparing plomeek soup, a traditional Vulcan broth. The experience allowed them to discuss, even if briefly, Chapel's confession of love. Despite his acknowledged inability to return her affections, he did refer to her as Christine for the first time. (TOS: "The Naked Time", "Amok Time")

Chapel's longing for Spock was well-known among crew members, and noted openly by Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy on a number of occasions. During Spock's recovery after a near-death experience on Neural, fellow medical officer Dr. M'Benga caught Chapel tenderly holding Spock's hand while watching his recovery on the medical panel atop his bed. M'Benga was sympathetic, despite Chapel's attempt to hide her feeling. Chapel would later proactively aid Spock by secretly holding his consciousness to keep him from being destroyed by Henoch. (TOS: "A Private Little War", "Return to Tomorrow")

Three years after confessing her love to Spock, Chapel finally shared a kiss with Spock. Unfortunately, the situation was forced by powerful telekinetics, compelling Chapel to admit that, despite her long-standing desire to be close with the Vulcan, all she wanted to do, given the humiliation of the situation, was "crawl away and die." (TOS: "Plato's Stepchildren")

Late Career

Doctor in 2273.

Commander in 2286.

When under the influence of the women of Taurus II, the male crewmembers of the Enterprise were incapacitated by the siren's song. Lieutenant Uhura took command of the vessel, and assigned Chapel to acting Chief Medical Officer. They led a landing party down to the planet's surface to rescue Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy. (TAS: "The Lorelei Signal")

In 2269, Chapel obtained a love potion from Harry Mudd, and she used it on Spock. Temporarily, Spock obsessively longed for Christine. (TAS: "Mudd's Passion")

When in miniaturized state, Chapel assisted Dr. McCoy mend Hikaru Sulu's broken leg; as she attempted to retrieve a microscope laser, she tripped into the lab fish tank and nearly drowned, before she was saved by Captain Kirk. When Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock mutated into water-breathers, Chapel assisted Dr. McCoy in reversing their mutations. (TAS: "The Terratin Incident"; "The Ambergris Element")

Following the Enterprise's five-year mission of exploration, she quickly completed her medical degree. Chapel returned to the Enterprise at the end of her refit, serving as a ship's doctor through the V'Ger crisis. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

In 2286, Chapel was stationed at Starfleet Headquarters coordinating relief efforts while Earth was suffering a severe ecological "attack" from an orbiting space probe. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Appendices

Appearances

See: List of Chapel's appearances

Background

Christine Chapel was played by Majel Barrett. The voice for the character of Chapel was also provided by Barrett in The Animated Series.

Little canonical information exists about Chapel's life outside of her career in Starfleet. Simon and Schuster's Star Trek: Starship Creator interactive software listed some biographical details about her, such as a birthdate in 2237, Starfleet Medical Academy nursing degree in 2266 and doctorate by 2271. She graduated in the 98th percentile of her class, with degrees in bioresearch, medical archaeology, and endocrinology. It assigns her original rank as a "brevet" (or provisional) ensign, and rose to become the director of Starfleet Emergency Operations by the time of her Star Trek IV appearance. It mentions she is the child of Lauren Chapel and Patterson Chapel of New Orleans, Louisiana, Earth; and has an interest in ballet.

In early draft scripts, the character was known as Christine Baker and Christine Ducheaux.