7 Times Someone Caught The Idiot Ball In Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
4. Scotty Brings His Nephew To The Bridge
Depending on whether you’re watching the Theatrical or Director’s Cut of the film Peter Preston is either just a feisty over achiever or all that and Scotty’s nephew to boot. For the latter, pay no attention to the boy’s missing brogue. Scotty’s sister just moved to the Midwest before the kid was born.
In both versions, however, Scotty is a complete idiot regarding how to care for the injured. After the avoidable battle between the Enterprise and the Reliant is over and Kirk succeeds in warding off Khan in spite of himself, Scotty tends personally to his seriously burned and broken trainee/kin.
Unfortunately, instead of bringing the boy straight to sickbay, Scotty carries him several decks up to the bridge first for reasons that are never made clear. Seriously, there is no in-film rationale for this. He does it to create a crowd shocking moment, that’s it.
Could taking Preston to sickbay have given McCoy precious extra minutes to save the still-conscious boy’s life? Who knows. Preston’s entire existence is just dramatic pulp for others to react to. He’s basically the rookie cop who gets shot on his first outing with the grizzled old veteran.