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Third season Part 3 - Overview ST:TNG



STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Season Three - Block Three Episode Guide
By Jim Shaun Lyon (72571,3002)

CAPTAIN'S HOLIDAY SAREK
TIN MAN MENAGE A TROI
HOLLOW PURSUITS TRANSFIGURATIONS
THE MOST TOYS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

REGULAR CAST:
Patrick Stewart - Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes - Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton - Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge
Michael Dorn - Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden - Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis - Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner - Lieutenant Commander Data
Wil Wheaton - Ensign Wesley Crusher

Executive Producers - Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Michael Piller
Producers - David Livingston, Hans Beimler, Richard Manning, Peter Lauritson,
Ira Stephen Behr
Executive Script Consultant - Melinda Snodgrass
Story Editor - Ronald D. Moore

S E A S O N T H R E E
B l o c k T h r e e

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SIXTY-SEVEN (THIRD SEASON #19)
"CAPTAIN'S HOLIDAY"
Premiere: Week of 4/1/90
Stardate: 43745.2
Paramount Coding: Episode 167

Written by Ira Stephen Behr
Directed by Chip Chalmers
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Stars:
Jennifer Hetrick - Vash
Max Grodenchik - Sovak
Karen Landry - Ajur
Michael Champion - Boratus
Deirdre Imershein - Joval

SUMMARY: Captain Picard and Troi return from a two-week summit on Gemaris Five,
where Picard underwent a strenuous ordeal and whom Troi believes needs shore
leave. Troi and Riker inform Beverly of the captain's fatigue, but her per-
suasion is put off, even after she nearly orders him to take a vacation. Riker
insists he go, and after being scared into believing that Deanna's mother is
awaiting the ship when it arrives at Starbase Twelve, Picard agrees. His des-
tination is Risa, a holiday planet of lush tropical weather and idyllic beauty,
where already a pair of aliens have arrived searching for him....before he
decided to go in the first place. When Picard arrives alone on Risa, he is
almost immediately accosted by a young woman who, upon noticing a Ferengi
observing her, kisses Picard and then walks away. The Ferengi, Sovak, later
confronts Picard, ordering him to reveal his connection to the woman and the
location of "the disk". Picard, who has not been getting any rest - mainly
due to being approached by several young women after displaying a Horga'hn, an
item signifying his sexual prowess, purchased as a souvenir for Riker - is
again approached by the woman, Vash. Vash informs Picard that Sovak is looking
for a disk that, when the two are again confronted by the obnoxious Ferengi,
she slips into the captain's pocket. In his suite at the Risan hotel, Picard
encounters Ajur and Boratus, two Vorgon security agents from the 27th century
who have traveled back in time to recover the Tox-Uthat. The Tox-Uthat is the
stuff of legend, a legend that speaks of a mysterious traveler from the future
who came to the 22nd century with it - in actuality, it is a device that cea-
ses all nuclear activity in a star - to hide it from thieves. The Vorgons
have learned that Picard eventually ended up with something resembling the
Tox-Uthat, and have come here to forwarn him. When the Vorgons depart, Picard
discovers the disk in his pocket, and confronts Vash about it, who hid it from
Sovak. Vash and Sovak were actually the accomplices of a Professor Samuel
Estragon, who researched the location of the Tox-Uthat before his final death;
Vash has learned that Estragon's research was about to lead him to Risa, but
Sovak is working for his own profit. Picard and Vash strike out on their own,
but Sovak tries to stop them as they leave the resort. The two make the jour-
ney to nearby caves, all the while becoming very attracted to one another.
When they finally arrive, the Vorgons make an appearance, as does Sovak, who
forces Vash and Picard to dig for hours, finding nothing. Incredulous, Sovak
takes to digging himself, convinced that his search is ruined. Back at the
resort, Picard notices Vash trying to make a quick getaway, and is convinced
that she already found the Tox-Uthat, before Picard arrived on Risa. The Vor-
gons appear again, and Vash informs Picard that the two might be the thieves
trying to steal the Tox-Uthat. To stop them from gaining power over it, Picard
detonates the device, having prearranged with Riker to beam it away. Picard
and Vash share a moment alone back at the hotel, where the two say their
goodbyes....and then Picard beams back aboard the Enterprise, contented to
keep his mother-hennish First Officer off his back.

== Director Chip Chalmers has served on ST:TNG this season as First Assis-
tant Director.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SIXTY-EIGHT (THIRD SEASON #20)
"TIN MAN"
Premiere: Week of 4/22/90
Stardate: 43779.3
Paramount Coding: Episode 168

Written by Dennis Putman Bailey & David Bischoff
Directed by Robert Scheerer
Music by Jay Chattaway

Guest Stars:
Michael Cavanaugh - Captain Robert DeSoto
Peter Vogt - Romulan Commander
Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien
and Harry Groener - Tam Elbrun

SUMMARY: The Enterprise is involved in the exploration of the Hayashi System
when it is contacted by the USS Hood, speeding toward it at high warp velocity.
Captain Picard is contacted by DeSoto, Captain of the Hood and Riker's former
commanding officer, who informs him that Starfleet has commissioned new orders
for the Enterprise along with a passenger -- one Tam Elbrun, whom Riker remem-
bers as being instrumental in the "Ghorusda disaster", and whom Troi knows
well from her days at the University of Betazed...not as a colleague, but as
a patient. Elbrun is difficult indeed; his telepathic prowess startles every-
one, and his arrogance due to being overloaded with the emotions of everyone
on board grates on Picard's nerves. When Picard sets up a meeting, Elbrun
gives the full details of the mission -- the Enterprise is to proceed to the
Beta Stromgren system, where an alien life form, called "Tin Man" by Starfleet
Command, is in orbit. "Tin Man" is an organic ship of some sort, in danger
because Beta Stromgren is about to explode violently. Riker doubts Elbrun;
he feels that it is because of the Betazoid that 47 people, including the
captain of the Adelphi and two classmates of his at the academy, died because
of Elbrun's mismanagement of his mission on Ghorusda. Troi, on the other
hand, is sympathetic, although doesn't understand why Tam Elbrun left his post
as single ambassador to the simplistic people of Chandra Five in order to come
to take this mission, his position as the Federation's foremost authority on
contact with alien life notwithstanding. And Data, whom Tam seems most com-
fortable with -- due to the fact that he can't read the android at all --
begins to work on the problem with Elbrun. The Enterprise continues on, in
a race against time....Beta Stromgren is in the Romulans' sphere of influence,
and Picard fears trouble. His worst suspicions are correct; two Romulan
ships are enroute to the system, a fact that Elbrun somehow overlooks during
the briefing and one that creates doubt in Picard's mind. The first Romulan
ship arrives, the Enterprise trailing it -- the fact that it can be trailed
aids the crew in determining that it is on a one-way mission. When they
realize that Tin Man is in danger, Elbrun somehow contacts it and the life form
sends out a shockwave, destroying the one Romulan ship and crippling the
Enterprise. Troi realizes that Tam has been in contact with Tin Man since the
beginning, but Tam insists he must be in full contact with the entity in order
to convince it to leave; Tin Man's single purpose for orbiting Beta Stromgren
is to die, to remove the loneliness it has felt since it lost its crew in an
accident long ago. Picard is finally convinced, and Data and Tam Elbrun beam
over to Tin Man, known as Gomtuu in its own language. Once over, Tam is able
to shut out all other minds save Tin Man's, and decides to stay, having finally
found what he was looking for....a mind to share, to end his loneliness and
pain. Beta Stromgren explodes, and Tin Man creates another shock wave,
knocking the Enterprise and the other hostile Romulan vessel out of the system,
and transports Data away just in time to escape. The Enterprise departs with
a somber Data, who has realized the effect Tin Man has had on him.....while
Tam found that the symbiosis was what he needed all along, Data realized that
the Enterprise was where he belonged all along.

== This episode is the first since Season One's "Too Short A Season" to use
a musician other than McCarthy or Jones - Jay Chattaway. Captain DeSoto
was first mentioned as Riker's former commander in "Encounter at Farpoint"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SIXTY-NINE (THIRD SEASON #21)
"HOLLOW PURSUITS"
Premiere: Week of 4/29/90
Stardate: 43807.4
Paramount Coding: Episode 169

Written by Sally Caves
Directed by Cliff Bole
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Special Guest Star: Whoopi Goldberg - Guinan

Guest Stars:
Dwight Schultz - Lt. Endicott Reginald Barclay III
Charley Lang - Duffy
Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien

SUMMARY: The setting is Ten-Forward, where Lieutenant 'Reg' Barclay has come
to relax, but gets caught up in an argument with Commander Riker....and hits
him, before claiming what he thinks is his prize: Counselor Troi. But at that
moment, the voice of Geordi LaForge comes over the comlink ordering him to the
cargo bay, and Barclay stops what amounts to a holodeck program. In the cargo
bay, Engineering specialist Duffy discovers a nitrogen canister with a broken
seal and has it destroyed, thinking nothing of it, while Riker and Geordi
comment on Barclay's lack of attentiveness. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is
en route to Nahmi Four with a load of tissue samples to cure the planet's
outbreak of Correllium Fever; Geordi's team, assigned to the canisters, suffers
an anti-gravity failure, and puts Barclay on the case. Barclay, who is
suffering from a lack of very many social graces, retreats to the holodeck
again, this time complaining to a holographic Troi....and then to a fantasy
world, almost out of medieval literature. Meanwhile, in Ten Forward, a broken
glass is added to the list of troubles discovered by Geordi's team, a trouble
that Data determines is an alteration of atomic structure. Geordi again
assigns Barclay to the job of going through the Enterprise's power systems --
all four thousand of them -- in order to discover what he fears is an
unshielded power conduit playing games with the ship. Geordi consults Guinan
on the problem of Barclay, then enters the holodeck to find that he and his
friends have been recreated there by the sullen lieutenant: Beverly as a
madam, Wesley as the Blue Boy, and Geordi, Data and Picard as the Three
Musketeers. Instead of chastising Barclay, Geordi consoles him, understanding
his fixation with the holodeck; Barclay has become addicted, in much the same
way as a human would become addicted to a drug. Suddenly, Transporter Room
Three suffers another malfunction, while Barclay visits Troi in her office.
When Barclay is late for another shift, Riker decides he's had it, and takes
Geordi and Troi to the holodeck, seeing the medieval fantasy world again.
Riker orders it to be shut down, but Troi intercedes; then, they are presented
with Troi as the Goddess of Empathy and Riker as the Fourth Musketeer, and
are angered by his simulations. Another malfunction, but a deadly one;
the Enterprise suddenly speeds out of control, leaving the ship in trouble,
and Geordi and his team suddenly discover the problem -- the leaking container
spread a packing material called invidium which has interfered with ship's
systems. Geordi and Barclay narrowly get the ship's control systems back on
line, and slow the ship down; Geordi then thanks Barclay, for being in the
"real world" today. Barclay visits the bridge, thanking everyone for putting
up with him....or what seems like the bridge, which is really a holodeck
simulation that he shuts off and, save for something called "Program Nine",
erases.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SEVENTY (THIRD SEASON #22)
"THE MOST TOYS"
Premiere: Week of 5/6/90
Stardate: 43872.2
Paramount Coding: Episode 170

Written by Shari Goodhartz
Directed by Timothy Bond
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Stars:
Saul Rubinek - Kivas Fajo
Jane Daly - Varria
Nehemiah Persoff - Palor Toff
Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien

SUMMARY: The Enterprise is on a race against time to neutralize a water
contamination on Beta Agni Two, and has rendezvoused with Kivas Fajo, a Ziba-
lian trader, and his ship, the Jovis, to pick up 108 kilos of hytritium, the
only material that will save the planet. Because the hytritium is too unstable
for the transporters, Data takes a shuttle to the ship, but while preparing
for the trip home, he is ambushed by Varria, one of Fajo's aides. The shuttle
departs....and explodes, leading the Enterprise to believe that Data is dead.
In actuality, Varria planted the precise amount of Data's compository matter
on board, so that there would be no trace that he was kidnapped. Although
everyone mourns Data's loss, they must get to Beta Agni Two with the mere
81 kilos they have -- leaving no room for error. Fajo goes to his den to
greet the android captive; Data protests, tries to escape and fails, then
tries to stop Fajo and is halted by a personal force field. Fajo confesses
his intent; he is a collector, and wishes to add Data to his own personal
treasury which includes a lapling, an extinct animal, as well as the first
Roger Maris trading card from 1962 Earth. Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, his
friends grieve his loss; Geordi and Wesley go through his personal things in
his quarters. Varria visits Data, ordering him to change his clothes, but
Data notices something far more useful -- Fajo appears to own Varria, as
he does everyone on board. On board the Enterprise, Geordi, who cannot accept
the disaster as a simple malfunction, goes over everything leading up to the
shuttle accident....finally being forced by everyone else to accept it as
pilot error, something he doesn't believe Data was capable of. When Data will
not change clothes and sit in the chair Fajo has prepared for him, the trader
throws finoplak, a powerful solvent that dissolves his uniform, on him, as
a demonstration of his will. Geordi realizes he's missed something, and
replays the tape of Data's last transmission -- one in which he missed out
on standard operating procedure when he didn't inform the Enterprise he had
cleared the Jovis' shuttle bay -- while in Fajo's den, the trader greets his
archrival Palor Toff. Data embarrasses Fajo by not moving a muscle. The
Enterprise arrives at Beta Agni Two, undergoing the procedure of clearing the
contamination, but when the procedure takes less time than they expect, the
crew deduces that someone deliberately poisoned the water supply. Checking
Fajo's records, noting his background, Riker, Geordi and Picard deduce that
Data is still alive, in Fajo's possession. Fajo makes one last attempt to
make Data sit in the chair by threatening Varria, which makes him bow to the
trader's wishes. Data's act of selflessness affects Varria, who attempts to
help the android escape, but they are caught in the shuttle bay by Fajo, who
kills Varria. Data, realizing he cannot allow this to continue, raises a
weapon to Fajo, who warns him of his directive not to harm another life form...
and Data is suddenly snatched by the Enterprise's transporter beam. O'Brien
notes an energy surge while transporting, which Data denounces as a malfunc-
tion but Riker thinks might have been Data firing. Fajo is removed to the
Enterprise's brig, gloating over Data's apparent victory, but when he is told
that his collection has been confiscated, all he has is solace in Data's
satisfaction. But Data, "only an android", informs him he has none, and Kivas
Fajo stands alone, a defeated and broken man.

== Various references were made to Tasha Yar in this episode; the shuttle-
craft was named "Pike", after the original series. Fajo was originally
played by actor David Rappaport, who was hospitalized during filming.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SEVENTY-ONE (THIRD SEASON #23)
"SAREK"
Premiere: Week of 5/13/90
Stardate: 43917.4
Paramount Coding: Episode 171

Television Story & Teleplay by Peter S. Beagle
From an Unpublished Story by Marc Cushman and Jake Jacobs
Directed by Les Landau
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Stars:
Mark Lenard - Ambassador Sarek
Joanna Miles - Perrin
William Denis - Ki Mendrossen
Rocco Sisto - Sakkath
John H. Francis - Science Crewman
Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien

SUMMARY: The Enterprise is in orbit around Vulcan, preparing to take aboard
the famous Ambassador Sarek for a conference with the reclusive race known as
the Legarans. Beamed aboard the Enterprise are Ki Mendrossen, Sarek's Chief
of Staff, and Sakkath, his personal assistant, as well as the regal Ambassador
and his human wife, Perrin. While Sarek wishes to look at the conference
room, the others want to take him to his quarters, but Sarek persists. The
party enters the conference room, which is filled with a container holding a
noxious chemical vital to the Legaran delegation as well as a variety of
chairs and accessories that Sarek demands - quite forcefully - be removed
from the room. Picard notes the strange amount of attention that the three
hold over Sarek; Perrin is understandably concerned about her husband's age,
but Mendrossen seems almost demanding over the Ambassador's schedule and
Sakkath seems unusually stolid. Picard invites Sarek and his party to a
Mozart recital - participated in by Data - and after careful thought, they
decide to attend. The concert seems to move Sarek unusually, and the Ambassa-
dor departs....after shedding a single tear. Emotional response is not
restricted to the staunch Vulcan; just this day, Riker has to break up an
argument between Geordi and Wesley, and Worf puts otherwise loyal officer
Lt. D'Amato on report for insubordination. Now, emotional outbreak seems
to be getting worse, and finally culminates in a knock-down, drag-out barroom
brawl in Ten-Forward, caused by an otherwise subdued Chief O'Brien. Dutifully
looking for a medical answer, Beverly can find none, leading the doctor and
Deanna Troi to one they don't wish to contemplate yet cannot ignore: Sarek
has Bendii Syndrome, a particularly rare affliction that breaks a Vulcan's
otherwise omnipresent control over his emotions. Sakkath confirms this to
Data, having earlier voiced interest in Picard and Troi's abilities to carry
out the mission should something happen to Sarek. Picard tries to see Sarek
yet is stopped by Perrin, who tries to convince him that Sarek is merely
tired.....but she knows the truth, because Sarek is unable to meditate. When
Mendrossen hears of this, he is furious, demanding that they continue to look
for other causes. But Sarek hears Picard out, willing to take the test for
Bendii Syndrome....the results of which will not be available for some time.
When Picard attempts to stop the mission, fearing that Sarek will not be able
to contain himself, Sakkath informs the Ambassador that he has been using
his limited abilities to strengthen Sarek's mental resolve. Now, devoid of
Sakkath's help, Sarek nearly breaks down arguing with Picard. Perrin suggests
there may be a way to save the conference, which Sarek and Picard agree to:
a mind-meld, which will allow Picard's mind to strengthen the Ambassador's.
The mind-meld begins, and Sarek is able to successfully complete the negotia-
tions with the Legarans....while in his quarters, Picard is put through
severe agony in dealing with the Vulcan's repressed emotions, including his
regrets that he could never tell Spock, Amanda and Perrin that he loved them.
Their mission complete, and the mind-meld broken, Sarek and his party prepare
for the journey home on the USS Merrimac; while Sarek can never be fully
healed, his career has been crowned and his dignity restored, a deed he owes
to the courage of both Captain Picard....and himself.

== Mark Lenard made the second major Original Series appearance with this
episode, his first for TNG. Various references to the original series,
including to Spock, Amanda and the Coridan Admission, were made.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SEVENTY-TWO (THIRD SEASON #24)
"MENAGE A TROI"
Premiere: Week of 5/27/90
Stardate: 43930.7
Paramount Coding: Episode 172

Written by Fred Bronson & Susan Sackett
Directed by Robert Legato
Music by Ron Jones

Guest Stars:
Majel Barrett -- Lwaxana Troi
Frank Corsentino -- DaiMon Tog
Rudolph Willrich -- Reittan Grax
Ethan Phillips -- Dr. Farek
Carel Struycken -- Mr. Homn
Peter Slutsker -- Nibor

SUMMARY: The Enterprise has been present at the biennial Trade Agreements Con-
ference on Betazed for several days, where they have played host to a variety
of players, including Lwaxana Troi and Reittan Grax for the Betazoids, and
the nefarious Ferengi party led by DaiMon Tog. Whilst at a party hosted
by the Enterprise, Lwaxana catches Tog's eye....and he realizes that her mind
power could bring him an unbelievable profit. Shortly thereafter, the Enter-
prise breaks orbit on a routine survey mission, leaving behind Riker and Troi
on shore leave on the peaceful planet, yet timed to return Wesley to Betazed
in time to catch transport to Starfleet Academy, which he has been accepted
to at long last. While enjoying the solitude in a familiar garden, Riker
and Troi are intruded upon by Lwaxana and Mr. Homn for a picnic, and the two
reluctantly join them. When Homn goes off to pick berries, DaiMon Tog beams
down to their locale, surprising Riker; his ship, the Krayton, was scheduled
for departure hours before. Tog, who has become smitten by Lwaxana, kidnaps
the three of them and heads the ship back home, leaving Homn puzzled. Once
they awaken, Tog has both Trois beamed to his quarters....unclothed, like all
Ferengi women. Bargaining for her daughter and Riker, Lwaxana agrees to stay
and hear Tog out, and Deanna is returned to the cell. Riker engages in a
bluff to get out of his cell by convincing Nibor, a Ferengi officer, to allow
him to finish a chess game, while Lwaxana sets about to seduce Tog in an
effort to lead him astray. Meanwhile, the Enterprise leaves a distant part
of space where communication was impossible and is instantly hailed by Betazed,
where a nervous Reittan Grax informs Picard that his people have gone missing.
The Enterprise returns to Betazed to search their last location, and Data
discovers a Ferengi flower bouquet -- a gift from Tog that Lwaxana tossed --
leading them to discover their culprits. Riker and Troi, free from their
prison, attempt to break into the Krayton's computers, but do not have the
access code, leaving Lwaxana's only choice but to seduce it out of the DaiMon.
She nearly succeeds when trying to create a drink for him, but Dr. Farek, who
has been suspicious of her since the conference, threatens Tog's career and
has Lwaxana sent to his medical bay. Riker creates a static charge that
the Ferengi do not detect yet is picked up by the Enterprise....and almost
discounted if not for the intervention of Wesley, who misses his transport
to the Academy and realizes that Riker is creating an Algolian chant rhythm.
The Enterprise heads out to pursue the Krayton, whilst Riker and Troi attempt
to rescue Lwaxana and fail. Lwaxana makes her final bid; she will stay with
Tog if Riker and Troi are returned to the Enterprise, which at last has caught
up with them. The two Starfleet officers return, and Lwaxana bids them
farewell...only after telling Jean-Luc that their "affair" is over. Seeing
her bluff, Picard refuses to "give her up" and informs Tog that he will have
her over the Ferengi's dead body. Fearing for his own life, and fearing what
may be a twisted Starfleet mind (after Jean-Luc poorly recites love poetry),
Tog returns Lwaxana to the Enterprise, and heads the Krayton back to the
Ferengi Alliance. The Enterprise again returns to Betazed to drop off Lwaxana
Troi, and Picard, bound to keep Wesley on for another year but regretful that
he has not been able to advance, grants the young man a full promotion to
Ensign.

== This episode sees Wesley's promotion, including a regular red uniform.
This is the first teleplay by production associate Sackett, the third
appearance by Barrett and Struycken, and the second by Corsentino
(who played DaiMon Bok in the first season episode, "The Battle".)
Director Legato has served as Visual Effects Supervisor.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SEVENTY-THREE (THIRD SEASON #25)
"TRANSFIGURATIONS"
Premiere: Week of 6/3/90
Stardate: 43957.2
Paramount Coding: Episode 173

Written by Rene Echevarria
Directed by Tom Benko
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Stars:
Mark LaMura -- John Doe
Charles Dennis -- Sunad
Julie Warner -- Christy Henshaw
Colm Meaney -- Chief O'Brien
Patti Tippo -- Nurse Temple

SUMMARY: The Enterprise picks up the remains of a crashed space vessel on a
planet in the Zeta Gelis cluster, which it has been mapping as of late. The
away team of Riker, Data, Beverly and Geordi -- who has been having female
problems, again -- beam down to the surface and find a single crash survivor,
seriously wounded. When Geordi volunteers to aid her by regulating the
survivor's nervous system by use of a medical device, he is momentarily
stunned by a pulse of light from the alien. Everyone is beamed back aboard
the ship, and Beverly sets to work to aid the helpless man, classified simply
as 'John Doe'. Data, Geordi and Worf set out to decode the only salvageable
mechanism from the crash, a small, gel-filled capsule that they believe is
some kind of computer storage device. Beverly pronounces that her patient
will make a full recovery, though not because of her; his cells are mutating,
regenerating themselves, even the healthy ones, lending to unbelievable resto-
rative powers. Geordi, who seems to have a new confidence, picks up his
quandary, Christy, just fine...leaving everyone stunned. The patient awakens,
with amnesia, and soon begins a regenerative process...though he cannot remem-
ber where he comes from, or what he was doing so far away from home, wherever
that may be. When O'Brien injures himself in the holodeck, John's instinct
takes over, and he heals him, in much the same manner of energy that affected
Geordi early on. Data solves a mystery concerning the computer capsule, and
manages to find John's world of origin. Beverly, who has been taken by John,
defends him when Picard turns the ship toward John's home...and the alien
protests that he cannot return there. Sensors detect an alien vessel approa-
ching from their destination planet - John's world - and in a terrible hurry,
and John, learning of this, escapes from sickbay to the hangar bay, where
in a terrible mishap, Worf nearly dies after falling from a ledge. John
heals him, in his strange and mysterious way that he cannot explain to Picard,
who later orders him confined to sickbay. The alien ship arrives, a Zalkonian
vessel equivalent in arms and capabilities to the Enterprise that demands that
John, who is an escaped criminal, be handed over to them. Picard insists that
they reveal his crimes, and Sunad, the Zalkonian captain, loses his patience,
using a weapon that nearly strangulates the Enterprise's entire complement....
until John protects the vessel, finally realizing who and what he is. John
transports Sunad to the Enterprise almost magically, telling them all that
the Zalkonians have tried to repress him and his kind for far too long; John
is the first of his people that will transform into the next stage of their
evolution, and Sunad represents those who disagree with the transfiguration
that will end their way of life and their monopoly over the people of Zalkon.
Sunad is returned to his ship, which speeds home, while John completes his
transformation into an alien of pure light, which thanks the Enterprise and
then departs of his own accord to help lead his people to their newfound
destiny.

== Guest star Julie Warner also appeared as Christy in "Booby Trap". The
name of the nurse, Temple, is obviously a play on Nurse Chapel from
the original series. Director Benko has served as Editor on the show.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPISODE SEVENTY-FOUR (THIRD SEASON #26 - SEASON FINALE)
"THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS"
Premiere: Week of 6/17/90
Stardate: 43989.1
Paramount Coding: Episode 174

Written by Michael Piller
Directed by Cliff Bole
Music by Ron Jones

Special Guest Star: Whoopi Goldberg - Guinan

Guest Stars:
Elizabeth Dennehy - Lieutenant Commander Shelby
George Murdock - Admiral J.P. Hanson
Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien

SUMMARY: The Enterprise responds to a distress signal from Jouret Four, site
of the distant New Providence colony. Upon arrival, the away team discovers
that the entire colony has been ripped away from the planet, which prompts
Picard to call Starfleet. Admiral Hanson and Lt. Commander Shelby arrive
from Starfleet Tactical, fearing the worst; like Picard, they recognize this
as a threat from one and only one source, the Borg. While Shelby begins a bit
of friendly rivalry with Riker, Hanson confirms to Picard that Riker has again
been offered his own command, and for the third time, is considering turning
it down. Picard later scolds Riker for his inaction; in his judgment, Riker
is finally ready to "leave the nest" and continue his own career. Meanwhile,
Riker learns just how much of a tough cookie Shelby is; Shelby's intent is
Riker's job, as First Officer of the Enterprise, and is insistant on pushing
him out. She and Data beam down to the surface alone, on her authority, defy-
ing Riker's original orders, but she is able to confirm that the Borg are the
invaders by deciphering the "footprint", or residue, their weapons have left
behind. Admiral Hanson returns to Starfleet and then contacts the Enterprise;
a freighter in a distant star system has encountered, and lost to, a Borg
vessel, and suddenly the Enterprise races to intercept it. The Enterprise
finds its quandary, which contacts the ship immediately and demands that they
beam Captain Picard over to them. When the Borg ship tries to ensnare the
Enterprise in a tractor beam, Geordi's plan of modulating the shields works
briefly but fails; Shelby is able to help the Enterprise escape by having
Data quickly alternate phaser frequencies. The Borg follow, and the Enterprise
ducks into the nearby Paulson Nebula, the content of which successfully ena-
bles the ship to hide and the crew to rest, albeit briefly. Picard is worried,
and with due reason; he fears that this is the night before the war truly
begins, a war which may decimate humanity. It is with Guinan's help that he
comes to realize that, no matter what happens, humanity will eventually pros-
per, even if it is conquered. The Borg vessel is able to bomb the Enterprise
using the material in the nebula and the Starfleet ship is forced to leave,
with its enemy in close pursuit; several Borg beam onto the ship, kidnapping
Picard and leading him into the bowels of their vessel. Riker organizes an
away team - one he does not lead, thanks to Shelby - which beams over to the
Borg vessel. On Dr. Crusher's suggestion, they knock out several power points
that confuse them enough to reduce from warp, while Geordi prepares his own
weapon, derived from the ship's main deflector disk. When the away team is
nearly trapped, they can see Picard....who has been transformed into a Borg,
his clothing and communicator locked away. The away team barely escapes with
their lives, back to the Enterprise, which is contacted by a Borg-enhanced
Picard, calling himself Locutus, their mouthpiece, and ordering their surren-
der and submittal to the Borg nightmare. Out of time, and out of options,
Commander William T. Riker, in the most difficult decision of his life, orders
Worf to fire...

== This episode featured the season-ending cliffhanger, to be continued in
Season Four in "The Best of Both Worlds Part Two".


Compiled by Jim Shaun Lyon, Section Leader
Copyright (C) 1990 by CompuServe Information Service and
Enterprise America: The Int'l ST:TNG Fan Organization.

All Rights Reserved.


 
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