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Star Trek TNG Season Three Episode Guide


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

EVOLUTION BOOBY TRAP
THE ENSIGNS OF COMMAND THE ENEMY
THE SURVIVORS THE PRICE
WHO WATCHES THE WATCHERS THE VENGEANCE FACTOR
THE BONDING THE DEFECTOR

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 - Wesley Crusher

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

S E A S O N T H R E E

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

"EVOLUTION" Episode #1 (#49)
Premiere: Week of 9/24/89 Stardate 43125.8
Paramount Coding: Episode 150

Story: Guest Stars:
Michael Piller, Michael Wagner Ken Jenkins - Dr. Paul Stubbs
Teleplay: Mary McCusker - Nurse
Michael Piller Randal Patrick - Crewman #1
Director: Special Guest Star:
Winrich Kolbe Whoopi Goldberg - Guinan
Music:
Ron Jones

SUMMARY: The Enterprise is at Kavis Alpha, a binary star system composed of a
red giant and a white dwarf close to supernova. Its mission is to relay the
experiment taken aboard by Dr. Paul Stubbs, a brilliant astrophysicist, that
will evaluate the decay of neutronium from the exploding star -- an event that
the Federation will not have a similar chance for in 196 years. While in close
proximity to the binary stars, the Enterprise encounters a strange malfunction
in its systems that the computer will not identify as a glitch. Suddenly, the
ship is thrown about and Dr. Stubbs is injured before the captain is able to
get it back under control. Stubbs is seen by Beverly Crusher, who has been
at Starfleet Medical for a year and who has missed watching her son Wesley go
through some difficult times, a situation Stubbs, known in his youth as a
"wunderkind," can relate to -- and a fact that makes him even more driven.
When a Borg ship seems to attack and then disappears, Captain Picard realizes
that these malfunctions are extremely important and that they may have to can-
cel the mission, which Stubbs protests violently. Wesley, meanwhile, discovers
the horrible truth about the computer glitches -- his science project, involved
in studying "nanites", or microscopic robots usually used for medical purposes,
and allowing them to intermingle to work together has accidentally been turned
upside-down....two nanites have gotten into the system and are evolving at a
dangerous rate, including reproducing themselves. Stubbs doesn't believe the
nanites are any threat, or that they are indeed sentient, but Data disagrees;
they may very well be evolving at a rate where they can think and help each
other. Stubbs induces a blast of gamma radiation at the main computer core,
killing millions of nanites, and in retaliation, they nearly kill him in his
own quarters. Believing them to be alive, Picard allows Data to try to commu-
nicate with them but after an attack on the bridge with nitrogen oxide gas,
Picard orders them terminated. At nearly the critical moment, Data gets
through to them, and allows them to enter his cerebral core to communicate in
verbal form. Sufficiently advanced to accept Stubbs' apology, the Nanites
subsequently request they be given something larger than the Enterprise to
evolve in. The Enterprise is released from their control, and they are allowed
to settle on one of the Kavis planets, while the explosion -- and the experi-
ment -- take place on schedule and Stubbs is left to his great moment of glory.
Beverly, who wondered if all of this proves Wesley isn't "normal" for his age,
sees him in Ten-Forward with a girl on his arm, and suddenly realizes -- with
Guinan's help -- that her son may be the typical 17-year-old after all....
== This episode features the return of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden)
as well as introduces a new opening credits sequence.

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

"THE ENSIGNS OF COMMAND" Episode #2 (#50)
Premiere: Week of 10/1/89 No Stardate
Paramount Coding: Episode 149

Writer: Guest Stars:
Melinda M. Snodgrass Eileen Seeley - Ard'rian Mackenzie
Director: Mark L. Taylor - Haritath
Cliff Bole Richard Allen - Noe
Music: Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien
Dennis McCarthy Mart McChesney - Sheliak

SUMMARY: The Enterprise receives its first contact from the Sheliak in over a
century demanding the evacuation of Tau Cygna Five. The Sheliak are a race of
crystalline entities who signed a treaty with the Federation that is most spe-
cific in what each side is able to do; the Sheliak, under the treaty's auspi-
ces, want to settle Tau Cygna Five, which was settled 90 years before by the
crew of the spaceship Artemis, knocked off course from its original destination
by a guidance system failure. Tau Cygna Five has the added complication of
being bombarded by a form of radiation lethal to humans, although the inhabi-
tants of the planet have built up an immunity to it, and it is this reason that
persuades Picard to send Data alone in a shuttle down to the surface to con-
vince the colonists they must leave. The inhabitants of Tau Cygna Five are led
by Gosheven, a driven man who strongly believes in the work that his ancestors
-- especially his grandfather -- did here, and refuses to leave on Data's ad-
vising. The support for Data comes from Ard'rian MacKenzie, a young woman with
a more than passing interest in cybernetics -- and Data himself. Ard'rian tries
to convince some of the others she knows into leaving while Data interviews
some fifty of the colonists, with very mixed results. Meanwhile, Picard's at-
tempt at negotiation with the Sheliak is fruitless; their first colony ship is
due at Tau Cygna Five in three days, and at that time they will destroy what-
ever human life remains on the planet. At a town meeting on the planet, Data
nearly convinces everyone they must depart, but by Gosheven's words they are
resounded in their decision to stay. Ard'rian and Data attempt to talk to some
of the resistors but Gosheven nearly destroys Data by overloading his circuits.
Fed up with the Sheliak resistance to simple discussion, Picard takes the En-
terprise out of orbit to meet the first vessel, while Data is reawakened by
Ard'rian. He sets to work on altering his phaser to operate in the radiation
environment, and tells Ard'rian to inform Gosheven he will destroy their water
pumping station. Gosheven is surprised when Data nearly destroys it with only
the slightest effort; the violence is proof enough that the Sheliak assault
will be only more devastating. Gosheven agrees to urge the Tau Cygnans to
depart, while the Enterprise confronts the Sheliak vessel, which is unwilling
to speak to them. Due to Troi's urging and Picard's efforts on using the
treaty to his own advantage, Picard is able to give Starfleet the needed time
to get transport vessels to the planet -- one article of the treaty provides
for a third-party mediation, and Picard selects a party unable to mediate for
six months. With the mission successful, and transport ships on their way,
the Enterprise departs, with Data understanding a bit more about the struggle
involved in his chosen field....the beginnings, or ensigns, of command.
== Grainger Hines, who played Gosheven, was not listed on the credits of the
episode.

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

"THE SURVIVORS" Episode #3 (#51)
Premiere: Week of 10/8/89 Stardate 43152.4
Paramount Coding: Episode 151

Writer: Guest Stars:
Michael Wagner John Anderson - Kevin Uxbridge
Director: Anne Haney - Rishan Uxbridge
Les Landau
Music:
Dennis McCarthy

SUMMARY: The Enterprise receives a distress signal from the fourth planet of
the Delta Rana star system, and arrives to see the entire planet leveled to
dust, all 11,000 people destroyed. However, a small patch of land and a single
home still stands mysteriously in the midst of the destruction, and two people,
elderly couple Kevin and Rishan Uxbridge, survived. Riker, Worf, Data, Geordi
and Beverly beam down to meet the Uxbridges, who are adamant that they do not
wish to leave their home. Rishan seems very friendly while Kevin is more eva-
sive. Data touches a music box of the Uxbridges', while on the Enterprise,
Counselor Troi begins to hear music in her mind, the very same tune that Data
listens to. A mysterious spacecraft enters orbit around Rana IV and fires only
a limited barrage against the Enterprise, then retreats. Troi's music becomes
louder, and she begins to have fits of pain. The Enterprise follows the ship
and chases it away, then Picard beams down to meet the Uxbridges, who still
refuse to depart although they don't believe in any real danger. Troi starts
to convulse and Beverly knocks her out, while the ship returns and fires an
even greater barrage against the Enterprise, nearly destroying it -- after
Picard told the Uxbridges that they wouldn't leave the planet. Fed up with
the situation, Picard visits the Uxbridges a final time, suspicious that they
may be responsible for Troi's torment, and tells them the only reason the
Enterprise will leave is when the two are dead. Shortly thereafter, the alien
ship attacks again but fires and destroys the home, before the Enterprise des-
troys it. Acting on a hunch, Picard tells Riker that they did indeed find two
people on Rana...but there was really only one survivor. Three hours later,
the home returns to the surface of the planet. The Uxbridges are forcibly
beamed aboard, where Picard tells Rishan that she is really only an illusion.
Kevin Uxbridge is really a Douwd, a pacifistic alien living among humans who
fell in love with Rishan....but when the colony was attacked, he would not
kill. When the attackers, the Husnock, destroyed Rishan, though, Kevin willed
their entire species to death. Picard, not understanding whether Kevin should
be embraced or punished for a hellish crime, takes the Enterprise out of orbit
content to let him alone with his illusion of Rishan and his guilty pain.

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

"WHO WATCHES THE WATCHERS" Episode #4 (#52)
Premiere: Week of 10/15/89 Stardate 43173.5
Paramount Coding: Episode 152

Writers: Guest Stars:
Richard Manning, Hans Beimler Kathryn Leigh Scott - Nuria
Director: Ray Wise - Liko
Robert Wiemer James Greene - Dr. Barron
Music: John McLiam - Fento
Ron Jones Pamela Segall - Oji
James McIntyre - Hali
Lois Hall - Dr. Warren

SUMMARY: The Enterprise is en route to the planet Mintaka Three, where a group
of three Federation anthropologists are studying the proto-Vulcan inhabitants
from close range behind a hologrammatic force field in a local rock formation.
Shortly after contacting the Enterprise, the team led by Dr. Barron is injured
when the power system malfunctions; the hologram fades and Palmer, one of the
team, escapes through the window. The Enterprise arrives in orbit and an away
team beams down; Crusher has Barron and Dr. Warren beamed back up to the ship
for medical treatment while Geordi sets forth in restoring the hologram. But
Liko, one of the Mintakan natives, and his daughter Oji have already spotted
the anthropological station. When Liko tries to climb up to see through the
window, he falls and is injured and Beverly beams up with him -- all in front
of Oji. Whilst on board the Enterprise, Liko awakens to witness his surroun-
dings as a heaven of sorts, and sees "the Picard", whom he believes is God.
Liko is safely beamed back down, but unfortunately, Beverly's attempt at mind-
erasure is unsuccessful due to the Mintakans' biochemistry; Oji finds him and
takes him back to the main encampment where Liko explains his trip to "heaven"
to Nuria, the leader of the camp, and Fento, a wise man. Meanwhile, Riker and
Troi are altered and given Mintakan garb and beam down to locate Palmer, who
cannot be found by the sensors; the two enter the camp just as Liko announces
his trip and his divine sight of "the Picard". Mintakan scouts locate Palmer
in a cave and bring him into the camp, where Liko announces that they should
keep him well to appease the Picard; Troi notes he needs medical attention and
tries to divert the encampment while Riker steals off with Palmer far enough
away to transport to the ship, while Troi herself is pronounced as Riker's
accomplice and is captured. Dr. Barron and Picard discuss the Mintakan's be-
lief system, where both agree that the Prime Directive has already been
breached and more desperate measures are needed; Picard has Nuria beamed aboard
and shows her the ship, attempting to convince her he is not a god but a man
far enough above her on the evolutionary scale to prove the old axiom about
any advanced science being indistinguishable from magic. At first, Nuria ap-
pears to understand, but Picard only gets through to her when Dr. Warren, woun-
ded beyond help, dies in Sickbay and Beverly cannot bring her back. When
Liko gathers enough courage to try to hurt Troi to make the Picard believe that
his people had no part in Palmer's capture by Riker, the Captain and Nuria
appear. Picard explains to Liko how he is only a man, not a god, and to prove
it takes an arrow to his heart; his blood is proof enough. When Picard is
well again, he bids the Mintakans goodbye, convinced they shall one day pos-
sess the strength enough to fly among the stars like Nuria did.
== A substantial part of this episode was filmed on location; the only other
episode utilizing location footage such as this to date has been "Justice".

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

"THE BONDING" Episode #5 (#53)
Premiere: Week of 10/23/89 Stardate 43198.7
Paramount Coding: Episode 153

Writer: Guest Stars:
Ronald D. Moore Susan Powell - Lieutenant Marla Aster
Director: Gabriel Damon - Jeremy Aster
Winrich Kolbe Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien
Music:
Dennis McCarthy

SUMMARY: The Enterprise arrives at the planet Koinonia, the first Federation
ship to arrive here for an archaeological survey of the planet whose inhabi-
tants destroyed themselves in a generational war. Worf leads an away team
that seems to have no trouble until Troi screams to have them beamed aboard.
When they arrive in sickbay, Lieutenant Marla Aster, the chief Archaelogist,
is dead -- she took the brunt of the explosion of a mine, the last casualty of
a forgotten war. Aster is survived by Jeremy, her 12 year old son, whom Picard
has the unfortunate duty of informing him of his mother's death; his father is
already long dead of an infection and his only living relatives are an aunt and
uncle on Earth. Geordi, meanwhile, takes a new away team to the surface and
discovers five more mines, all of which he attempts to diffuse, while Wesley
has problems dealing with the situation, which is remarkably like his own.
Worf, feeling guilty about Aster's death, performs a Klingon death ceremony
then consults Troi on wanting to perform the R'uustal, "the Bonding", where
Jeremy will become a part of his family. Beverly asks Wesley if he will con-
front Jeremy as a fellow survivor, but Wesley can only say he will think about
it; his problem lies in his own pain. On top of all the emotion, Troi senses
a presence on the ship....and in Jeremy's quarters, his mother suddenly ap-
pears. Worf tries to stop "Marla" from taking Jeremy, and the two nearly va-
nish off the ship before the entity disappears. But later, she reappears in
their quarters again, this time in an unusual duplicate of Jeremy's home crea-
ted in that room to fool him into trusting her. The entity is actually a rem-
nant of the Koinonians, now energy beings who look upon their earlier tragedy
with irony and now wish to help Jeremy by taking care of him after his loss
which they feel guilty about. "Marla" takes Jeremy once again but is stopped
by force fields and a philosophical Picard, who informs her that sorrow is a
necessary part of human nature, and it is something he will have to face --
with his own kind. Jeremy is finally convinced when Wesley gives in and talks
to him, informing Picard that the anger he felt was toward the Captain for
coming back when Jack Crusher did not; Worf asks Jeremy to let him help in dea-
ling with the pain he feels toward him. The Koinonian leaves, taking the illu-
sion of the home with it, and Jeremy and Worf are left to the R'uustal, where
they become brothers....and both families, now joined, are stronger.
== Michael Piller became the newest Co-Executive Producer with this episode.

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

"BOOBY TRAP" Episode #6 (#54)
Premiere: Week of 10/30/89 Stardate 43205.6
Paramount Coding: Episode 154

Story: Guest Stars:
Michael Wagner and Ron Roman Susan Gibney - Dr. Leah Brahms
Teleplay: Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien
Ron Roman and Michael Piller & Albert Hall - Galek Dar
Richard Danus Julie Warner - Christy
Director: Special Guest Star:
Gabrielle Beaumont Whoopi Goldberg - Guinan
Music:
Ron Jones

SUMMARY: The Enterprise has entered the Orelius Nine asteroid belt, created
by the remains of a planet destroyed in the war 1000 years previous between
the Promellians and the Menthars. While Geordi suffers from romantic problems
and tries to solve them -- and fails -- in a holodeck-located "date", the
ship stumbles upon a Promellian battlecruiser. Pulling rank because of his
longing to be a part of beaming over to the "ship in a bottle" as it were,
Picard joins Worf and Data in the away team to the dead starship, where they
find the remains of the Promellian crew (dead at their posts) as well as the
last log entries of the craft. A minute power drop is detected on the Enter-
prise, while the away team beams back over just in time to notice the sudden
loss due to a radiation influx. Riker and Data beam back over to the ship to
collect the log entries to find out what caused the battlecruiser's death,
while Geordi investigates into the negative computer readings every time the
Enterprise tries to get clear. Looking into the ship's records, Geordi finds
the log entries of Leah Brahms, one of the design techs who created the massive
vessel, and takes that data to the holodeck to reconstruct the design labs at
the Utopia Planitia shipyards at Mars, where the Enterprise was constructed.
During his viewing of the specs, the computer recreates Brahms as a simulacrum
in order to deal with Geordi, and on request the simulacrum is given a perso-
nality based upon Brahms' own psych profiles. Geordi and Leah discover that
the radiation the ship is being bombarded with is creating counterforces that
negate any energy usage, and are draining the shields to the point where radia-
tion exposure will kill the entire crew. The two propose a complex plan to
neutralize the counterforces by making small adjustments in course without the
use of power, and test their theories on the computer -- but realize that the
computer will have to retain control. Picard takes the helm of the Enterprise,
first allowing the impulse engines to start the ship in a particular direc-
tion, and then using thrusters every so often for course adjustments, guides
the ship around a massive asteroid to slingshot the ship clear of the asteroid
field. The Enterprise destroys the Promellian vessel and hence any reason for
entering the "booby trap" zone created by the Menthars, while Geordi discon-
tinues the holodeck simulacrum of Leah Brahms, realizing that she herself will
always be with him...wherever he goes with this ship.
== Richard Danus became Executive Story Editor with this episode.

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

"THE ENEMY" Episode #7 (#55)
Premiere: Week of 11/6/89 Stardate 43349.2
Paramount Coding: Episode 155

Writers: Guest Stars:
David Kemper and Michael Piller John Snyder - Centurion Bochra
Director: Andreas Katsulas - Commander Tomalak
David Carson Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien
Music: Steve Rankin - Patakh
Dennis McCarthy

SUMMARY: The Enterprise receives a distress call from the hostile planet Ga-
lorndon Core, just inside the Federation border of the Neutral Zone. Riker,
Worf and Geordi beam down to the surface to discover Romulan wreckage and a
survivor. While exploring, Geordi falls into a deep well and is unable to get
out; Riker and Worf, who meet back at the beam-back site, are helpless to find
him. Geordi loses his VISOR and when he regains it, he is able to climb out
of the well...and is discovered by a second survivor. A signal from a Romulan
vessel prompts Picard into answering, and Commander Tomalak insists that the
crashed vessel on Galorndon Core was a one-man craft. When Tomalak discovers
that a survivor was taken aboard the Enterprise, he seems nervous, and Troi
can sense that at even great distance. The survivor, Bochra, takes Geordi pri-
soner, even though he insists that they are both going to die on this planet
unless they work together. Meanwhile, Patakh, the Romulan survivor taken
to the Enterprise, is discovered to be dying, and the only thing that can save
him are a donation of ribozomes (a component of the bloodstream) from a compa-
tible donor. The only possibility....Worf, who refuses because of his hatred
of the Romulans for what they did to his family. Picard discusses the situa-
tion with Worf, but does not order him to do so; Worf maintains his honor in
the face of his enemy, even though Patakh tells him that he would not be
contaminated with "Klingon filth". Patakh's insistence and Worf's stubbornness
causes the Romulan's death, after Tomalak has ordered the Enterprise to deli-
ver Patakh to the Neutral Zone. Geordi's VISOR goes out due to the electro-
magnetic field on Galorndon Core and Bochra is left to fix it, using Geordi's
knowledge of engineering. Meanwhile, Wesley suggests implanting a neutron
field on the planet that Geordi can alter when he locates it, thereby signal-
ling the Enterprise. When Bochra repairs the VISOR for Geordi, he is able to
see the neutron field and goes there, and is successfully beamed aboard. To-
malak agrees to Bochra's release in exchange for a sudden and swift departure
to the Neutral Zone, and the Enterprise leaves Galorndon Core.

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

"THE PRICE" Episode #8 (#56)
Premiere: Week of 11/13/89 Stardate 43385.6
Paramount Coding: Episode 156

Writer: Guest Stars:
Hannah Louise Shearer Matt McCoy - Devinoni Ral
Director: Elizabeth Hoffman - Premier Bhavani
Robert Scheerer Castulo Guerra - Mendoza
Music: Scott Thomson - DaiMon Goss
Ron Jones Kevin Peter Hall - Leyor
Dan Shor - Dr. Arridor
Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien

SUMMARY: The Enterprise plays host to a diplomatic conference at Barzan II, an
environmentally hostile world to most races but its peaceful and enlightened
inhabitants. The conference is to decide the principal owners of the Barzan
Wormhole, the only stable wormhole -- a dimensional passage to distant points
in the galaxy -- known to exist. Among the delegates to the conference are
Bhavani, Barzan's premier; Mendoza, the Federation representative; Leyor of
the research-minded Federation competitors, the Caldonians; and Devinoni Ral,
a "hired gun" negotiator licensed out to the neutral Chrysalians. Ral seems
attracted to Troi, and vice-versa, for he subsequently makes a pass at her
that she seems unable to withstand. Meanwhile, a Ferengi vessel enters orbit
around Barzan II and its captain, DaiMon Goss, demands to be invited to take
part in the conference, during which they intend to purchase the Barzan Worm-
hole by matching anyone's price and offering an additional quantity of gold.
In secret, Goss incapacitates Mendoza and Riker is chosen as a replacement.
Picard, who suspects the Wormhole might have instability problems like all the
others, has Data and Geordi take a shuttlecraft inside....followed by Dr.
Arridor, a Ferengi scientist, on another shuttle. While in Troi's arms, Ral
confesses that he is a quarter Betazoid, and is capable of empathic contact;
he subsequently feeds Leyor's fear that his world cannot cope with the adminis-
trative details of the Barzan Wormhole and the Caldonians withdraw from the
proceedings. Riker wonders about him and worries that Ral may have an upper
hand. The shuttles successfully leave the wormhole but Geordi and Data de-
tect wild radiation readings and conclude that this end of the wormhole may
not be stable; they enter it again while an untrusting Arridor does not...and
loses any chance of getting back once the portal changes location. Ral is
able to manipulate Troi into not telling anyone of his power, while he and
Goss stage a phony plan to make Bhavani decide in Ral's favor against the Fe-
deration. Troi, who has been under a similar conflict of interest, denounces
the scheme, and indicates that the two were in collusion. But it doesn't
matter; the shuttle makes it back and all realize that they've reached a dry
well, that the Barzan Wormhole may not be worth anything in the course of a
few years. Ral, knowing he's lost this round, says goodbye to Troi, and while
he wishes her to come with him, she realizes that her place is here on the
Enterprise....though her whirlwind romance wasn't for nothing.

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

"THE VENGEANCE FACTOR" Episode #9 (#57)
Premiere: Week of 11/20/89 Stardate 43421.9
Paramount Coding: Episode 157

Writer: Guest Stars:
Sam Rolfe Lisa Wilcox - Yuta
Director: Joey Aresco - Brull
Timothy Bond Nancy Parsons - Sovereign Marouk
Music: Stephen Lee - Chorgon
Dennis McCarthy Marc Lawrence - Volnath
Elkanah J. Burns - Temarek

SUMMARY: The Enterprise stumbles upon a looted Federation station and disco-
vers the culprits are the Gatherers, a group of nomads who left their planet,
Acamar III, some hundred years ago. Acamar's history is one of blood feuds
between rival clans that stopped about the time when the Gatherers left the
planet, but the Acamarians have since then wished reunion with their brothers
and have tried many times, to no avail. Picard takes the Enterprise to Acamar
and welcomes aboard Sovereign Marouk, the leader of the planet, along with her
servants and Yuta, her chef, and heads for Gamma Harami II, where a Gatherer
outpost is known. Worf, Data and Riker beam down into an ambush and are near-
ly killed until they manage to turn the tides on the event and capture Brul,
the local leader. Picard has Marouk beam down to talk to the Gatherers and
she eventually is able to convince Brull to lead them to the leader of the
group, Chorgon, on a starship in a distant sector. But Yuta mysteriously
kills one of Brull's men, Volnath, and makes it look like an accident. The
group is beamed aboard and heads for Chorgon's vessel, while Brul investigates
the ship and Yuta draws closer to Will Riker, though she seems very peculiar;
she can leave Marouk any time she wants, yet is compelled not to by something
Riker cannot discern. Beverly, who has been doing research on Volnath's death,
discovers that his cardiac arrest was caused by a virus in his bloodstream,
one that seems to be targeted for a certain person, and discovers he was
murdered. Enterprise arrives near Chorgon's ship, which fires on the Enter-
prise until Brull and Marouk are able to convince him that they mean to talk,
to discuss a possible return to Acamar. Picard beams over with the two to the
freighter, and begin negotiation, both sides unwilling to budge in their
stances, while on the Enterprise, Riker, Data and Beverly, sifting through
the Acamarian medical database, discover a second death by the same virus 50
years before, in the same clan as Volnath. Further information leads to a
connection between the Lornec clan -- of which Volneth and Chorgen are both
members -- and a feud with the Trelestas, who died out in a Lornec raid...or
at least presumably did, until a scan of a photograph convinces Riker that
Yuta is the last Trelestan survivor....and has lived for over a century. Just
as Yuta is about to serve Chorgon some brandy, which will kill him through the
disease she carries with her 'Midas touch', Riker beams over and tries to stop
her. When stun setting does not work, Yuta persists....and Riker is forced
to kill her. Endebted to Riker, Chorgon agrees to the pact and the Gatherers
return to Acamar, though Riker feels the sad loss of a woman whose destiny of
death she almost avoided....
== Ira Stephen Behr was added as Producer on this episode.

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

"THE DEFECTOR" Episode #10 (#58)
Premiere: Week of 12/31/89 Stardate 43462.5
Paramount Coding: Episode 159

Writer: Guest Stars:
Ronald D. Moore James Sloyan - Admiral Jarok / Setal
Director: Andreas Katsulas - Commander Tomalak
Robert Scheerer John Hancock - Admiral Haden
Music: S.A. Templeton - John Bates
Ron Jones

SUMMARY: While Captain Picard is assisting Data in a Shakespeare lesson in the
holodeck, the Enterprise receives a priority distress signal from the Neutral
Zone. Investigating, the ship discovers a small Romulan scout vessel in close
pursuit by a Romulan Warbird. Picard orders the scout ship, whose captain is
demanding asylum, enveloped in the Enterprise's shields and the Warbird slows
at the border of the Neutral Zone. Before Picard can contact it, the Warbird
turns away, returning to the Empire. The pilot of the scout is beamed aboard
and is identified as Sublieutenant Setal, a logistics clerk, who has done what
many consider the impossible: defected to the Federation. Demanding to see
Picard, Setal informs him that the Romulan Empire is planning a massive attack
to reclaim the Neutral Zone in 48 hours, and that in order to do so, a base
has been constructed at Nelvana Three, a planet deep inside the Zone, where
a battalion of warships are centered. During their meeting, Setal's ship
explodes; this, and the computer records that indicate that the Warbird slowed
when Setal's did, lend themselves to a conclusion that the Romulan is lying,
that he is a spy sent to provoke a war between the Federation and the Romulan
Empire. Worf takes a communication from the Klingon Empire, while Picard is
informed by Starfleet that the matter is in his hands, though both Federation
and Klingon ships have been mobilized and Starfleet is on yellow alert. Data,
whose attempts at human intuition have so far been fruitless, studies Setal in
Ten-Forward, then leads him to the holodeck where he reconstructs a valley on
Romulus, all due to Geordi's "gut feeling" that Setal might be telling the
truth. It proves successful; Setal confesses that he is really Admiral Jarok,
familiar to the Federation in the Norcan attack that left that colony devas-
tated. Informing Picard that he took a false identity because Picard wouldn't
believe him, Jarok insists that he saw the technical reports and plans for the
invasion. Picard disbelieves him; realizing the captain will not change his
mind without proof, Jarok provides tactical specifications for the Romulan
Fleet as well as technical knowledge. The Enterprise heads for Nelvana Three,
where it stumbles upon....nothing. Picard concludes that the entire ordeal was
to test Jarok's loyalty, a test he failed; two Romulan ships appear out of
nowhere and attempt to convince Picard to surrender. The lead ship, who it
turns out is commanded by Tomalak (from "The Enemy"), blocks the Enterprise's
path, but suddenly, three Klingon ships -- which Worf contacted before -- ap-
pear from under cloak....stalemate. Tomalak orders his ship to depart, not
ready to die in the battle that will ensue. Jarok, devastated that his flight
was in vain and realizing that he will not see his family again, commits sui-
cide. But he leaves behind a note for his family that he know they will pro-
bably not see....until one day that, Picard believes, courage like Jarok's
will be more widespread, and the Federation and Romulan Empire will finally
make peace.

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

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

THE HUNTED YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISE
THE HIGH GROUND THE OFFSPRING
DEJA Q SINS OF THE FATHER
A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE ALLEGIANCE

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 - 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
Executive Story Editor - Richard Danus

S E A S O N T H R E E
B l o c k T w o

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

EPISODE FIFTY-NINE (THIRD SEASON #11)
"THE HUNTED"
Premiere: Week of 1/7/90
Stardate: 43489.2
Paramount Coding: Episode 159

Written by Robin Bernheim
Directed by Cliff Bole
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Stars:
Jeff McCarthy -- Roga Danar
James Cromwell -- Prime Minister Nayrok
Colm Meaney -- Chief O'Brien
J. Michael Flynn -- Zayner
Andrew Bickell -- Wagnor

SUMMARY: The Enterprise arrives at Angosia Three, whose people are bidding for
membership into the Federation. Whilst on the planet, Picard and Riker are
informed of the escape of Roga Danar, a dangerous prisoner from the planet's
prison on Lunar Five. The Enterprise takes off in pursuit of Danar's ship,
which mysteriously escapes by orbiting the poles of a nearby asteroid; Data is
able to deduce this and capture the shuttle's drive section which contains
Danar and beam him over to the Enterprise. Roga is taken aboard the ship and
nearly escapes until Riker and Worf are able to take him down and confine him
to the brig. Troi meets with Roga, whom she thinks has been drastically over-
rated by the Angosians; instead of a violent personality, she believes him
extremely non-violent. Troi has Data search the records and discover that
Roga is a veteran of the recent Tarsian War; Beverly is able to determine that
Roga is a victim of severe physiological change for purposes of fighting that
bloody war. Picard is unable to assist Roga in any way save turning him over
to the Angosian Prime Minister, Nayrok, and during the transit, Danar is able
to halt the transporter process and escape into the bowels of the Enterprise.
He escapes into Engineering and finally into the ship's Jefferies Tube, where
he sets a phaser to overload. Escaping to the cargo bay, Roga escapes by using
a phaser to power the depleted system and in the catastrophe caused by the
turmoil, he escapes. When the Enterprise is contacted by Angosia, Nayrok in-
forms Picard that Danar has invaded the Lunar Five facility and has taken it
over, and now he and his fellow veterans are on their way to the Angosian
capitol. Picard, Troi, Data and Worf beam back to Angosia where they confront
Nayrok, who insists that the chemical changes can be reversed but the psycho-
logical conditioning may be permanent. Troi offers the Federation's help in
doing so, but Nayrok is skeptical. When Danar and his cohorts arrive, Picard
informs them of the possible reversal. Nayrok expects them to kill everyone
but they don't - the veterans are unable to persist unless they are provoked,
part of the conditioning they received. Picard does the only thing he can -
he orders the Away Team to leave, because it's simply not his concern. They
depart, pledging to send Federation assistance should the government of Ango-
sia last the night.

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

EPISODE SIXTY (THIRD SEASON #12)
"THE HIGH GROUND"
Premiere: Week of 1/28/90
Stardate: 43510.7
Paramount Coding: Episode 160

Written by Melinda Snodgrass
Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont
Music by Ron Jones

Guest Stars:
Kerrie Keane -- Alexana Devos
Richard Cox -- Kyril Finn
Marc Buckland -- Waiter
Fred G. Smith -- Policeman
Christopher Pettiet -- Boy

SUMMARY: The Enterprise arrives in orbit around Rutia Four, site of recent
turmoil, to deliver medical supplies. Rutia Four is torn in conflict with the
Ansata, a group of people wishing independence and segregation from their Eas-
tern continent brothers and who now have engaged in terrorist actions to make
their case known, a case that is growing stronger with more supporters. While
on duty in a plaza in the capital city, Worf, Data and Beverly fall prey to a
terrorist attack and while trying to help the wounded, Crusher is kidnapped by
a man who mysteriously appears with a flash and disappears again as easily.
While Wesley tries to come to terms with his mother's capture, Crusher remains
silent, and meets Kyril Finn, leader of the Ansata renegades who consider their
struggle a war for independence, when all they are doing, Beverly argues, are
killing innocent people. Picard and Riker meet with Alexana Devos, the leader
of the planetary police force, who informs Picard that the Ansata are nothing
more than terrorists who will kill without remorse...like they have in the past
with acts such as bombing school transports with innocent children aboard.
Beverly discovers a fatal flaw with the interdimensional shift transporters
that the Ansata is using....a breakdown of their molecular DNA which gets worse
with increased usage. Data, Wesley and Geordi begin working on a way to trace
the dimensional shifters, while Riker and Alexana interview one of the suspects
and allow him to return to the Ansata so they can track him.....but instead,
Finn transports himself to the Enterprise to get it involved in the conflict.
The Ansata plant a bomb on the warp converter, which Geordi risks his life
in the attempt to beam off the ship. The bridge is attacked, Worf is downed
and Picard is kidnapped by Finn himself. Beverly and Picard are reunited,
where they confront Finn on the bases of terrorism and the nature of the war
they are fighting....and about the Federation's involvement with a planetary
government he feels is repressing them. Finn beams back aboard to tell Troi
that they are to create an embargo about Rutia, but Wesley's detection system
finds the power source of the dimensional shift. Riker, Alexana and Worf beam
down with a security team into the Ansata base, shutting off the power systems
and forcing Finn into desperation, where he nearly kills Picard, until Alexana
offs him instead. When a young boy whose aim is on Alexana puts down his gun
on Beverly's request, everyone believes that an end to the terrorism may be
in sight....the end begins with a single act of life. All are reunited aboard
the Enterprise, but the violence on Rutia rages on...

== Lengthier scenes between Beverly Crusher and Picard were cut.

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

EPISODE SIXTY-ONE (THIRD SEASON #13)
"DEJA Q"
Premiere: Week of 2/4/90
Stardate: 43539.1
Paramount Coding: Episode 161

Written by Richard Danus
Directed by Les Landau
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Special Guest Star: Whoopi Goldberg - Guinan

Guest Stars:
John deLancie - Q
Richard Cansino - Dr. Garin
Betty Muramoto - Scientist

SUMMARY: The Enterprise enters orbit around Bre'el Four, which is endangered by
catastrophe - an asteroidal moon is spiraling down toward the planet and is
about to destroy an entire continent. The crew seems helpless to prevent the
widespread destruction on the planet but get to work on possible assistance
and contact other ships to join in the relief effort. Suddenly, a pervasive
sound invades the bridge, followed by a flash of light....and the reappearance
of an unclothed Q. Picard and Riker believe that Q is responsible for the
danger facing Bre'el Four, but Q insists that the Continuum has robbed him
of his powers and forced him to become a mere mortal. Q is put into confine-
ment while a mysterious glowing object enters the cell, as if it is monitoring
him. Once again, Q insists he hasn't any idea what has happened to the planet
but Picard lets him assist Data and Geordi in possible solutions - even so much
as insisting that the only way would be to lower the gravitational constant of
the universe. Q develops back problems and has Beverly determines he is suf-
fering from severe medical problems, a concept new to him. Q confronts Guinan
in Ten-Forward, who seems to take great pleasure in his predicament; but then,
when a glowing force appears outside the ship, Q becomes concerned - it is the
Calamarain, a power that he has angered over the years with his torment that
attacks him until they are able to get the shields up and stop the assault.
Q confirms that there are many powers out there that would take a delight in
destroying him. Meanwhile, the asteroid draws closer to Bre'el, and Q inspires
Geordi to engage in the option of wrapping the object with a warp containment
field which would lower its mass enough to move it with the tractor beam.
When the Enterprise accidentally slips into Bre'el's atmosphere, the Calamarain
strikes again, and Data, in an effort to save Q, nearly destroys himself in a
noble act of self-sacrifice. Data's effort moves Q to the point of convincing
himself that he makes a lousy human, and in the first truly decent act of Q's
life, he steals a shuttle and makes off from the ship, where the Calamarain
cannot taunt it any longer. In the shuttle, a second Q appears and discusses
Q's noble act....and after many distractions, grants his powers back. Q
spares the Calamarain, which is sent away, and appears back aboard the ship,
with a mariachi band in tow! Q says goodbye to the ship, granting Data a
moment of laughter.....and miraculously saves Bre'el Four from destruction.
Picard notes that there might be a shred of decency in Q, but as a spectre of
the elusive alien notes, "don't bet on it."

== Corbin Bernsen, who appeared as the second Q, went uncredited in this epi-
sode. This was John deLancie's fourth appearance as Q.

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

EPISODE SIXTY-TWO (THIRD SEASON #14)
"A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE"
Premiere: Week of 2/11/90
Stardate: 43610.4
Paramount Coding: Episode 162

Written by Ed Zuckerman
Directed by Cliff Bole
Music by Ron Jones

Guest Stars:
Craig Richard Nelson - Investigator Krag
Gina Hecht - Manua Apgar
Mark Margolis - Dr. Nel Apgar
Juli Donald - Tayna
Colm Meaney - Chief O'Brien

SUMMARY: Captain Picard's painting class is interrupted by the Enterprise's
arrival at Tanuga Four, where an away team headed by Riker has been approving
work by Dr. Nel Apgar into the creation of Krieger waves, a potentially valu-
able new power source for the Federation. Riker, who seems upset via subspace
radio, requests to be transported back to the Enterprise just as a power drain
is detected by Chief O'Brien. When Riker arrives, he is informed that Tanuga
Station has exploded. Data explains that the radiation residue indicates that
the station's reactor core exploded, causing the decimation of the station,
where only Dr. Apgar remained. Tanugan special investigator Krag beams aboard
the Enterprise to conduct an inquiry, but then informs Riker that he is under
arrest for murder. In the ready room, Krag informs Picard that Apgar's wife
has come forward, offering word of threats made by Riker against Apgar. Picard
decides to conduct the investigation by recreating the events on Tanuga Station
with the holodeck, based upon all accounts by the parties involved. Krag,
Picard, Riker and Troi enter the holodeck and begin the simulation, starting
with Riker's deposition of his and Geordi's arrival. The two meet Apgar and
his assistant Tayna, as well as Apgar's wife, Manua, who in Riker's story seems
to take a liking to him. In this story, Apgar seems upset that Riker has ar-
rived early; meanwhile, after a drink with the two, Manua tries to seduce Riker
in private, and when Nel discovers this he threatens the First Officer. Riker
and Apgar argue the following morning, and Riker leaves....and the Riker depo-
sition is over. When Krag insists that a phaser was fired at that point -
explaining the power drain - he puts forth the possibility that Riker fired a
phaser at the reactor core upon his departure, destroying the station. Back
on the bridge, Data and Worf discover a radiation leak on Deck 39 that puts a
hole in the wall. In the holodeck, the four are joined by Manua Apgar, whose
testimony begins.....the only differences being that Nel is much nicer, that
Manua is not seductive, and that Riker tries to rape her before Nel discovers
the incident. When a brief recess is called, Troi tells Riker that she knows
he is not lying...but neither is Manua, that both are telling the truth from
their own perspectives and the differences in events are purely from point of
view. In sickbay, the radiation spreads and destroys a small portion of the
wall, leaving Beverly and the staff to evacuate. Picard, Riker and Troi join
Data, Wes and Geordi in sickbay to look over the damage, and the opinion is
formed that the radiation leak might have something to do with the explosion of
the Tanuga station. Back to the hearing in the holodeck, where Tayna joins
the party, offering events as she was told by Apgar.....that he stumbled upon
Riker and Manua embracing, and that Riker threatened Apgar's life. Further-
more, the simulation reveals that Nel didn't want Tayna to contact the authori-
ties, and that Manua and Tayna left shortly before the explosion happened.
Data discovers the source of the radiation: a Lambda field generator on the
planet's surface that Apgar was using, leaving him, Wesley and Geordi with the
answer to who killed Apgar. Picard deduces from using the depositions provided
that Apgar had indeed made the Krieger wave breakthrough - and that the fac-
simile in the holodeck of his seemingly nonfunctional converter was emitting
those waves, causing the radiation that was damaging the Enterprise. By ana-
lyzing Apgar's words in the other depositions, he is able to deduce that Apgar
hid the fact of his breakthrough from Starfleet....because he was afraid that
Riker would discover the truth, that in actuality Dr. Nel Apgar was construc-
ting a weapon to sell to an enemy of the Federation, and in attempting to kill
Commander Riker by firing a weapon at him, killed himself - the weapon reflec-
ted off the transporter beam and destroyed the station. When Geordi is able
to prove the hypothesis using the holodeck, Krag withdraws his indictment, and
Riker's life is saved.

== The Tanuga Four Research Station was a redress of the Regula I science
lab model from the Star Trek films. Elaine Sokoloff received a credit on
the closing list for the art studio paintings in the teaser.

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

EPISODE SIXTY-THREE (THIRD SEASON #15)
"YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISE"
Premiere: Week of 2/18/90
Stardate: 43625.2 (Combat Date from Military Log)
Paramount Coding: Episode 163

Original Story by Trent Christopher Ganino and Eric A. Stillwell
Teleplay by Ira Stephen Behr, Richard Manning, Hans Beimler and
Ronald D. Moore
Directed by David Carson
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Special Guest Star: Whoopi Goldberg - Guinan

Guest Stars:
Denise Crosby - Lieutenant Tasha Yar
Christopher McDonald - Lieutenant Richard Castillo
Tricia O'Neil - Captain Rachel Garrett

SUMMARY: The Enterprise is traveling through deep space when it encounters a
strange disturbance in the time-space continuum that Guinan seems to recognize
and that the sensors cannot get an accurate fix on. When Picard orders the
ship to remain and investigate, a mysterious spacecraft suddenly appears in
the vortex......
Time stops and reshapes itself, and history is changed.....
Guinan, hostess in the Enterprise's officer's mess, is suddenly caught
with the feeling that something is "different", while on the bridge, Captain
Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation battlecruiser USS Enterprise sees on the
monitor the strange ship: USS Enterprise, the Ambassador class NCC-1701-C.
Security Chief Tasha Yar and First Officer Riker lead an away team to the
Enterprise-C, rescuing Captain Rachel Garrett and Lieutenant Castillo; most of
the crew are dead, but the ship is salvageable. Picard orders Riker to begin
work on the ship, which is desperately needed; the Federation's war with the
Klingon Empire has turned disastrous, and Starfleet is estimating it has six
months until it must surrender to its foe. Garrett, who is wounded, is brought
to the Enterprise, where she is told that her vessel - which was engaged in
assisting the Klingon outpost Narendra Three - has mysteriously transported
twenty-two years into the future, away from an encounter that, if it had been
successful, might have prevented war from ever taking place. Guinan, mean-
while, informs Picard that this - this whole timeline - is not right; that the
war between the Federation and the Klingons is not supposed to be happening.
Picard insists from her more information; Guinan does not know how, or why,
but things must be set right. Yar joins Castillo on the Enterprise-C to aid
in the repairs, where the two become friends, and then return to the Enter-
prise-D where Captain Garrett releases herself from sickbay to supervise the
reconstruction of her vessel. In Ten-Forward, Guinan confirms to herself that
something is amiss when she sees Tasha Yar....and wonders why when she looks
at her, she senses death. Picard informs his senior officers of Guinan's
proposal, and his intent to ask the Enterprise-C to return to the vortex; it
is a decision that doesn't sit well with Riker or the staff, but to Captain
Garrett it seems logical. Suddenly, the Enterprises are attacked by a Klingon
Bird of Prey, and Garrett is killed, leaving Castillo in command and dedicated
to returning through the rift. Tasha says goodbye to him, having fallen in
love with him, and goes to Guinan wondering what happens to her in the alter-
nate timeline. Guinan confirms that Tasha is not supposed to be here; she
died an empty death on a strange planet, a death without purpose. It is a
fact that hits Tasha directly, and she requests from Picard a transfer to the
Enterprise-C, telling him that if she is to die, she wants her death to count
for something. Picard grants the transfer, and Yar joins Castillo on the En-
terprise C for what may very well be a suicide mission. The Enterprise-C pre-
pares to enter the rift, while a battalion of Klingon Birds-of-Prey attack
both vessels. Both Starfleet ships hold out, but it is not enough; the Enter-
prise-D is permeated by Klingon fire, its warp drive is critically damaged
and members of the bridge staff, including Riker, are killed. The dedicated
Picard, failing to give up, mans tactical himself until the bitter end....the
Enterprise-D goes down with all her hands as the Enterprise-C enters the tem-
poral rift, bound for Narendra Three to attempt to stop the Romulan invasion
there and reaffirm the Federation's treaty with the Klingon Empire.....
Time reaffirms itself, back into its original form.....
Worf informs Picard that the object he thought he scanned in the vor-
tex was a ship, but vanished almost as quickly as it came. Picard orders a
probe to be left to monitor the closure of the rift, while in Ten-Forward,
Guinan, contented in her deepest thoughts that time is back on course, asks
Geordi to tell her about Tasha Yar...

== This episode featured the return of Denise Crosby and the first appearance
of the Ambassador-class vessel, USS Enterprise-C. It also featured re-
ferences to early ST:TNG, including "Skin of Evil". Michael Dorn and
Marina Sirtis did not appear in the altered timeline while Wil Wheaton
did in an alternate costume. The bridge and other sets were altered hea-
vily. Stardates became Combat Dates; Captain's Logs, Military Logs.

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

EPISODE SIXTY-FOUR (THIRD SEASON #16)
"THE OFFSPRING"
Premiere: Week of 3/11/90
Stardate: 43657.0
Paramount Coding: Episode 164

Written by Rene Echeverria
Directed by Jonathan Frakes
Music by Ron Jones

Special Guest Star: Whoopi Goldberg - Guinan

Guest Stars:
Hallie Todd - Lal
Nicolas Coster - Admiral Haftel
Judyann Elder - Lt. Ballard
Diane Moser, Hayne Bayle, Maria Leone, James Becker - Ten Forward Crew

SUMMARY: The Enterprise has traveled to Sector 396 to begin charting the
Selimi Asteroid Belt. Data, who has just returned from a cybernetics confe-
rence, has spent all his time since locked in a laboratory, and invites Wes,
Geordi and Troi to visit him there. When they arrive, early, he makes them
wait, and then allows them to enter....only to find that Data has created
another android whom he calls Lal, his child. Picard joins them, where Data
explains that technology at the conference allowed him to transfer his own
positronic memory into Lal, thereby continuing Dr. Soong's tenuous work with
artificial intelligence. Data is puzzled why Picard is angered; Picard, on
the other hand, believes that Data should have informed him, and discusses
with him the ramifications of creating what the elder android calls a new
"life". Data, however, argues that Lal could continue his own life, something
that he argues the human race instinctively desires - perpetuation. Lal, who
is genderless and possesses very few humanoid external features, is told by
Data that it is able to choose its own appearance and gender. Troi and Data
stand by as Lal reduces its choices to four....and then to one, that of a
young human female. Data begins to teach Lal about the nature of her surroun-
dings, and how she can relate to them; while Picard is secretly contacted by
Admiral Haftel of Starfleet Research, who insists that Lal be transferred to
his command so that they can study her and help her progress. Data is told of
Lal's inability to relate to the other children of the Enterprise, who are
afraid of her. Data confides in Beverly for advice on parenting; Beverly can
only offer her own experience with Wesley, whose precociousness prevented him
from making many friends. Haftel contacts Picard and informs him that he is
joining the ship to oversee the matter. Data brings Lal to Ten-Forward, where
she is brought under Guinan's tutelage and begins to work there....and unlea-
shes what she has learned about kissing onto a bewildered Riker, recently
returned. Haftel's ship arrives, where he meets with Picard who wishes the
Admiral to experience Lal's dedication to Data, and vice versa. Data shows
Haftel the systems used and Lal herself, and the Admiral interviews Lal,
concluding that he must return her to Starfleet Research. But the interview
scares Lal, who is beginning to feel some mode of fear. Data, convinced that
relinquishing Lal to him will destroy her, objects to Haftel's orders, but it
is too late....Troi has rushed her back to the lab after she malfunctions
after finally gaining that which Data could never have - feelings. Data deac-
tivates Lal, and Haftel departs. While the crew is saddened by the loss, Data
has transferred everything that was Lal, her memory and her programs, back into
himself....so while he has lost his child physically, he will in essence always
have her.

== This episode was directed by Jonathan (Riker) Frakes, and contradicted
established rules governing androids set up in "The Measure of a Man".
This also featured the first glimpse in ST:TNG of an Andorian, albeit
via the holodeck. The early form of Lal, before it took the form of
Hallie Todd, was played by Leonard John Crofoot (Trent of "Angel One")
under heavy makeup and no prosthetics.

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EPISODE SIXTY-FIVE (THIRD SEASON #17)
"SINS OF THE FATHER"
Premiere: Week of 3/18/90
Stardate: 43685.2
Paramount Coding: Episode 165

Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore and W. Reed Moran
Based on a Teleplay by Drew Deighan
Directed by Les Landau
Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Stars:
Tony Todd - Commander Kurn
Charles Cooper - K'mpec
Patrick Massett - Duras
Thelma Lee - Kahlest
Teddy Davis - Transporter Technician

SUMMARY: Participating in the Starfleet/Klingon Exchange Program which brought
Riker to the Klingon ship Pagh months before (in last season's "A Matter of
Honor"), the Enterprise plays host to a new temporary first officer, Comman-
der Kurn. Kurn is officious, callous and headstrong, and brings a sense of
order - a different sort of order - to the Enterprise, where he rides the
entire crew save the one person who would not object to the new hardships:
Worf. Riker asks that Kurn temper his callousness, only to find that he has
insulted Kurn and would have been killed on a Klingon vessel. After a dinner
in the Captain's mess where Worf feels he has been insulted, he confronts Kurn
only to find out the real reason why the Klingon is here; Kurn is Worf's bro-
ther, who has come here to find if Worf truly burns with the blood of a Klingon
after such a long exposure to Starfleet. On the Klingon homeworld of Kling,
new evidence has been brought to light linking Mogh, the late father of Worf
and Kurn, to the Khitomer outpost where the rest of their family died....and
that Mogh was responsible for sending secret information to the Romulans,
aiding the attack. Worf feels that the only way to clear his father's name is
to challenge the accusation, and asks that Captain Picard set course for Kling,
which the Captain complies with on his own loyalty to his Security Chief. The
ship arrives at Kling, and Worf, Kurn, Picard and Riker beam down, Kurn acting
as Worf's cha'DIch, or champion, without disclosing his true lineage. The four
confront the Klingon High Council, including K'mpec, the leader, and Duras, the
son of Mogh's greatest rival and the one who has accused him of treason. Worf
announces the challenge, to which the only results can be victory or death.
K'mpec curiously tries to tell Worf to stop the challenge, only Worf will not
budge. Later, Kurn is attacked by assassins in the capital city, severely
wounding him. Left without a cha'DIch, Worf asks that Picard take his place,
which Picard is honored to accept, and the two return to Kling. Picard, how-
ever, plays a hunch that something strange is afoot, and has Riker, together
with Data and Beverly, begin collecting Data from the records of the Khitomer
massacre. When Data and Geordi discover a gap in the records, followed by
unusual discrepancies in the time-frame of identical transmissions, they de-
duce that the records have been altered. Furthermore, Beverly discovers a
second survivor, Worf's nurse Kahlest, who has taken up residence in the Old
City sector of Kling. Picard heads into the Old City, confronting Kahlest and
urging her to come back with him to testify; it is only an attack on Picard by
assassins that persuades her to return. Once back at the High Council, K'mpec
takes the whole process into closed quarters, where Worf learns that Mogh was
not responsible for the Khitomer massacre, but Duras' was....and that fact,
combined with the fact that Duras now resides on the Council, could rock the
very foundation of the Klingon Empire. K'mpec will not allow the Empire to
fall for the sake of one family's honor, and Picard will not permit the Empire
to destroy Worf and Kurn, whose identity has been revealed to K'mpec. The
only solution, albeit a makeshift one, is to allow Kurn to hide his lineage
and Worf to accept discommodation, where Worf is rejected by Klingon society
Picard stands with Worf as the Council rejects his heritage, as does an apolo-
getic Kurn, and the two depart, resting with the fact that one day, Worf will
indeed return to restore his family name.

== Charles Cooper, who portrays K'mpec, also starred as General Koord in
"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier". This episode builds on some of the
situations begun in "A Matter of Honor".

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

EPISODE SIXTY-SIX (THIRD SEASON #18)
"ALLEGIANCE"
Premiere: Week of 3/25/90
Stardate: 43714.1
Paramount Coding: Episode 166

Written by Hans Beimler and Richard Manning
Directed by Winrich Kolbe
Music by Ron Jones

Guest Stars:
Stephen Markle - Kover Tholl
Reiner Schone - Esoqq
Joycelyn O'Brien - Cadet Mitana Haro
Jerry Rector - Alien #1
Jeff Rector - Alien #2

SUMMARY: The Enterprise has completed a mission eradicating all traces of the
deadly phylox plague from Cor Caroli Five, and is preparing to leave orbit to
rendezvous with the USS Hood. While in his quarters, Picard is mysteriously
kidnapped, while the ship's sensors detect an abnormal energy reading in his
quarters. When Security arrives there, a duplicate Picard greets them. The
real Picard awakens on one of four beds in a circular room, where two others
are occupied - one by a young Starfleet cadet from Boreus Nine named Haro, the
other by Tholl, a citizen of Mizar Two and a cynic to boot. Picard attempts
to break out of the "cell" but Tholl warns against it; his only attempt to
sabotage the lock brought a painful energy weapon upon him. "Picard" joins the
crew on the bridge, and orders the Enterprise to set course for the Lanka Clus-
ter, an area at whose center is a pulsar. "Picard" also stops all communica-
tion outside the ship, including keeping the USS Hood out of reach. Picard
tries to tell their captors that they have intelligence by tapping out the
first six prime numbers on the door mechanism, but Tholl is flippant; he be-
lieves his planet has no enemies (in actuality, the Mizarians do not fight
back; their planet has been conquered six times in recent history). Haro, on
the other hand, cannot understand why their captors - which they believe come
from Cor Caroli - would want a Starfleet cadet. Suddenly, another creature is
beamed into the cell, a warrior from Chelna called Esoqq. On the Enterprise,
the usual poker game is joined by "Picard", who reminds Geordi of routine up-
grades to the engineering specs, and asks Troi to keep him apprised if any of
the crew doubts his abilities to command. In the cell, Picard tries to keep
his three fellow captives from fighting, while it is discovered that Esoqq can
not eat the food that their captors have provided. "Picard" visits Beverly
for a physical she did not schedule, and he asks her out to dinner that eve-
ning - something that takes her by surprise. The captives, save Tholl, try
to get through the door, but are taken down by a pain beam. "Picard" and
Beverly enjoy an evening in his quarters, and he kisses her...and then tells
her to leave. The captives begin to distrust each other, wondering if one of
them is an impostor...and Picard is tipped off when Haro, a Starfleet cadet,
knows more than she should. The Enterprise arrives at the Lanka Pulsar just
as Riker has been doubting the captain - even calling a meeting of the senior
staff members after Picard joins his crewmembers in a drinking song in Ten-
Forward. When Riker confronts "Picard" with his suspicions, Riker is only
more convinced, and when "Picard" orders the ship to get close to the pulsar,
Riker commits mutiny....and Worf and the other bridge crew joins him. In the
cell, Haro is revealed as an impostor, and two aliens appear who reveal that
this has all been an experiment. Picard is returned to his bridge, where he
confronts the fake "Picard", which vanishes. The aliens reveal that they
wanted to find out about authority and command, which their identical beings
have no concept of. They get more than they bargained for, however, when Pi-
card is able to signal Riker covertly to hold them in a force field on the
Enterprise. After giving them a taste of their own medicine, Picard orders
the aliens off the ship, and while Picard remarks that his doppelganger caused
no serious damage, Riker and Beverly think differently.

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

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.
 
To the best of our knowledge, the text on this page may be freely reproduced and distributed.
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