

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

An injury to Commander Riker during a reconnaissance mission threatens the prospects for first contact with a culture on the verge of warp travel.

Contents show]

Summary

Teaser

Riker is injured, and being treated at a hospital on an alien planet. The doctors, while trying to assess Riker's injuries, notice various peculiarities in his physiology – the cardial organ in the wrong place, missing costal struts, and digits on his terminus. His face had been surgically altered to help him blend in, but not his entire body.

Act One

Riker is posing as Rivas Jakara, from the Marta community on the southern continent. When he awakens, he explains to Dr. Berel that his abnormalities are genetic, and that his own physician, Dr. Crusher is familiar with them – but she's on sabbatical. The doctors and hospital officials of the Sikla Medical Facility are not convinced. Dr. Berel decides to keep it quiet until they thoroughly check out his claims, but with a guard posted at his door "29 hours a day".

The Malcorians are on the verge of possessing warp capabilities. Mirasta Yale, a scientist, presents her plans for a warp drive to Chancellor Avel Durken to get approval for funding, amid objections from the minister of security, Krola, who states that the people are frightened and confused by new technology. Ultimately, the chancellor agrees to fund the warp drive program.

Later, Picard and Troi beam into Mirasta's lab as she is working, startling her. After introducing themselves, they inform her that they have been monitoring her progress with warp drive and now feel it is appropriate to make first contact with the Malcorians. In response to her natural skepticism, Picard offers her proof. Mirasta accepts, and they beam her back to the USS Enterprise-D with them.

Act Two

Mirasta Yale walks into Ten Forward and after seeing her homeworld from space begins to reminisce about her times in the planetarium when she was a nine-year-old. She had always wanted to know about other worlds and cultures. Captain Picard and Deanna Troi explain to Yale that they had been monitoring her planet for years, analyzing their popular culture, broadcast signals, and entertainment. Picard explains how the Federation also sends down observation teams to blend in with the culture. He reveals to Yale that the undercover observation teams have been gathering information on her species for years. Picard then tells Yale that Riker is missing on the planet somewhere near the capital city. Yale agrees to do whatever she can to find him.

Yale states that the Malcorians' culture holds the belief of being superior in the galaxy and that it may be difficult to change that belief. Yale asks Picard not to discuss the missing Riker in front of Chancellor Durken and Krola, for fear that Krola will use him as a scapegoat in calling the warp project as a great threat to their culture and race.

Back in the hospital, there is quite a stir. Doctor Berel is annoyed over the attention, but the nurse Tava says that it will be difficult to hold back the interest. Riker (Jakara) is being questioned in his room. Doctor Berel tells him that there is no Doctor Crusher on the planet. He accuses Riker of being a member of an alien species. Riker continues to deny the accusations; however, the doctor advises that he believes Riker is hiding something and that he cannot stay in hiding forever.

Meanwhile, a busy Chancellor Durken reluctantly receives Yale to his office with Picard following behind. Durken is shocked over what he sees, and Yale suggests that Durken clear his afternoon schedule.

Act Three

Chancellor Durken is given a tour of the Enterprise and is brought to the bridge by Picard with Yale. Chancellor Durken and Yale both meet Commander Data as well, in awe of the android, a "constructed being" as Yale puts it. After the captain and the chancellor leave them to speak privately to one another, Data informs Yale that there is still no word from Commander Riker.

In Captain Picard's ready room, Picard offers Durken wine from his brother's vineyard. Picard proposes a toast to the new friendship between the Federation and the Malcorians. Durken does not completely trust Picard's overtures of friendship, and he perceives it as a prelude to attack from an interstellar conqueror. Durken asks what Picard will do if the chancellor asks them never to return to his planet. Picard says that they will respect his wishes and stay away.

Picard explains the Prime Directive after Durken asks why the Federation would not offer their superior technology to his people. Picard says that it would be irresponsible and destructive. Durken agrees and goes back to his family on the planet, deciding to tell his children that he had a good day.

Back in the hospital, Riker is attempting to escape where he encounters a nurse named Lanel, who tells him he cannot escape due to the guards outside. Lanel asks if Riker is an alien. When he says no, she does not believe him. Lanel offers to let Riker escape to his spaceship in space, but only if he would make love to her. Riker says no, but Lanel insists, eager to learn how Humans make love. "I can't wait to learn", she eagerly says.

Lanel fulfills her part of the bargain, distracting a guard by saying she thinks Riker is dead. Lanel asks if she will ever see Riker again. Riker says "I'll call you the next time I pass through your star system." He runs into several people who stop his escape and begin to beat him. The beating exacerbates the injury to his kidney and he begins bleeding internally. Doctor Berel, growing tired of the escalation in violence, instructs his staff to contact central security and to escort Riker back to his room for surgery.

Act Four

Krola, Yale, Chancellor Durken, and a member of their staff are having a meeting regarding what to do in regard to first contact with the Federation. Krola believes that Yale and Chancellor Durken are being naive and that the reforms Yale and Durken are making are destroying the Malcorian culture. After they state that Krola is overreacting and that Captain Picard has no intention of conquering the planet, Krola says that they do not have to since Durken and Yale are willing to give over their planet with open arms. In order to further drive home his point, Krola says that he has captured a spy – Commander Riker. Yale then explains how the captured man is Captain Picard's first officer, and that she instructed Picard not to discuss Riker with Durken. Durken then angrily demands all the information that Yale was keeping from him.

Krola arrives at the Sikla Medical Facility to interrogate Commander Riker. Yale pleads to contact the Enterprise to help Riker. Krola asks Doctor Berel to revive Commander Riker using drugs that would increase his heart rate and vascular pressure, but Berel refuses, citing an analog to the Hippocratic Oath that he will "do no harm". Krola then says that he will find someone else to replace Berel.

At their next meeting, a deeply concerned Chancellor Durken confronts Captain Picard with Commander Riker's discovery on the planet when Picard arrives in Durken's office. Picard explains that when Starfleet met with the Klingons, contact was "disastrous" and decades of war resulted. After that, the Federation decided that surveillance of this nature was necessary. He assures Durken that in time, full disclosure of the surveillance would have been made. Picard had hoped that his crew would have found Commander Riker before the Malcorians did, because the Malcorians most likely would have reacted negatively to the Federation's arrival. Durken is pleased with Picard's forthrightness, and comforted by the fact that he makes mistakes. Durken informs Picard that he will make a decision later regarding Riker.

Back in the medical facility, Krola relieves Berel as medical director and locates Dr. Nilrem, who agrees to revive Riker.

Act Five

Once Riker is revived, Krola asks to be left alone with him. Krola agrees to bring Riker's people to the hospital, but only after he answers his questions.

Chancellor Durken is furious with Yale, stating that he would have asked for her resignation if it weren't for her vast expertise in space travel. Durken says that he is prepared to release Riker to Picard once he has been questioned, but Yale states that Riker condition is extremely grave, and he might not survive interrogation.

Krola demands to know why a race of peaceful people would have such lethal weapons, while holding Riker's phaser. Riker explains that the weapon is only used for defense, but Krola does not believe him. Krola says that he must force Durken to keep him from forging an accord with the Federation. Krola then places the phaser in Riker's hands and fires it into his own chest, hoping to die as a martyr. Riker passes out again as Nilrem and Tava enter the room; they believe that Riker has shot Krola and that the security minister is going to die.

Doctor Crusher, Worf, and Martinez materialize in the hospital room at this point to rescue Riker. She reports Krola's condition and that she will need to beam him up as well. Picard, who is in Durken's office, receives word of this and says that he will meet them on the Enterprise. Durken accompanies him. Crusher reports that Riker was stabilized and that they saved him just in time. Krola is fine as well, because the phaser was only set on stun, but Beverly is able to ascertain that his injury was self-inflicted. Upon regaining consciousness, he weakly begs Durken once more not to trust the aliens.

In Captain Picard's ready room, Chancellor Durken regretfully declines Picard's offer for first contact, and agrees to delay the development of warp technology in order to allow the Malcorians more time to prepare themselves. Picard agrees, though he expresses sorrow that he will not be able to learn more about the Malcorian society. He asks Durken how they will keep the alien contact a secret. Durken says that even though stories of a government conspiracy will circulate for many years, they will pass in time.

As a final request, Yale requests that Picard take her with him. Picard agrees, and summons Worf to escort Chancellor Durken to the transporter room and to assign quarters to Administrator Yale. Picard bids Durken a friendly farewell, hoping that they will meet again someday to continue their friendship.

Memorable quotes

"I can't find his cardial organ. (searching in new area) There it is. Up here."

"In his digestive tract?"

- The Malcorian doctors, looking for Riker's vital signs when he was injured



"What are you?"

- Tava, after discovering Riker has digits on his hands and feet



"Mirasta Yale?"

"Yes?"

"Please, don't be alarmed at our appearance."

"My name is Jean-Luc Picard. This is my associate, Deanna Troi."

- Picard, initiating first contact with Mirasta Yale along with Troi



"It's everything I ever dreamed of."

- Mirasta Yale, upon seeing her homeworld Malcor III from space on the Enterprise



"... will you help me [get out of here]?"

"If you make love to me."

"... What?"

"I've always wanted to make love with an alien."

"... It's not that easy, there are differences in the way that my people make love."

"I can't wait to learn."



- Riker (posing as Jakara) and Lanel, whom Riker is asking to help him escape from the hospital



"Chancellor, I think... you might want to clear your afternoon schedule for this."

- Mirasta Yale, as she walks into Durken's office with Picard



"Will I ever see you again?"

"I'll call you the next time I pass through your star system."



- Lanel and Riker (posing as Jakara)



"It's far more likely that I'm a weather balloon than an alien."



- Riker (posing as Jakara), to the doctor



"... he is a living, intelligent being. I don't care if the chancellor himself calls down here. I have sworn an oath to do no harm, and I will not!"

- Berel, to Krola, who ordered the doctor to revive Riker for questioning, using drugs which might be fatal to Riker

Background information

Production history

Story and script

Production

Cast and characters

Continuity

Reception

Video and DVD releases

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

And

Uncredited co-stars

Stunt doubles

Stand-ins

References

"a lot"; accord; acting; address; adrulmine; alien; "all right"; android; angle; arrival; artificial lifeform; "as well"; associate; assumption; "at home"; "at least"; attention; Betazed; birth defect; Bolian; brain activity; broadcast signal; capital city; capture; cardial organ; cardial rate; case; "catch their breath"; Central Security (Malcor III); century; chance; chancellor; Chateau La Barre; chest; chorus; circulation; circulation pattern; Code Blue; code 3 drill; community; confrontation; confusion; conqueror; consciousness; conspiracy; cosmetic surgery; costal strut; cranial damage; cranial lobe; crisis room; daily broadcast; danger; dark ages; day; death; decade; deep space; del-scan series; device; diagnostic bed; digestive tract; digit; diplomacy; disappearance; dissent; distraction; door; drug; Durken's family; Earth; eating establishment; economics; education; Engineering station; entertainment; Environmental station; era; error: evening meal; evidence; experience; expertise; family; fear; federation (government); fiction; first contact; "for instance"; friend; friendship; fruit; Garth system; genetic mutation; genetic trait; "go on"; goal; grapes; guard; "had no business"; hallway; hand; high frequency E-M charge unit; history; home; hour; humor; hundred; idea; idealist; ideology; imagination; implant; "in a manner of speaking"; "in order"; "in time"; information; inherited genetic trait; injury; innocence; instinct; instructor; internal bleeding; Internal Security; interrogation (questioning); Jakara, Rivas; Jakara's father; Jakara's neighbors; jewelry; joke; journalism; Klingon Empire; lab; language; "last thing"; launch; life; lifeform; light; light barrier; light year; logic; location; "lost your mind"; Lupo; lying; machine; "make love"; Malcor III; Malcor III capital city; Malcor III system; Malcorians; Malcorian civilians; Malcorian language; Malcorian warp ship; Marta community restaurant cook; Marta community; martyr; medical aid; medical facility (hospital); medical journal; medical library; metal; Minister; Minister of Security; minute; mission; Mission operations station; mistake; mob; month; music; name; Nessor; night; oath; observation team; octare; "of course"; office; "on file"; "open your eyes"; opponent; opportunity; "out of control"; outer space (space); panic; path; patient; peace; permission; philosophy; physician; pin; Picard, Robert; planet; planetarium; police; policy; political agenda; popular music; present; Prime Directive; prisoner; privilege; problem; production unit; progress; prototype; quadroline; question; reality; reconnaissance; recovery; relationship; renal organ; resignation; resource; riot; room; rumor; sabbatical; schedule; science station; scientific community; scientist; search; second officer; secret; security; service exit; Sikla Medical Facility; sitting; sky; social development; social reform; society; southern continent of Malcor III; Space Administrator; Space Bureau; space traveler; spaceflight (space travel); spaceship; specialist; species; spy; station 12; story (tale); surface; surgery; surgical cube; surrender; surveillance; surveillance team; telencephalon; term; terminus; thing; threat; time; "to be honest"; toast; tourist; toy; tradition; transport coordinates; transporter room; trauma; trust; truth; understanding; universe; vascular pressure; vice chancellor; vital buffer; voice; warp drive capability; warp engine; warp field generator; warp program; warp travel; way of life; weather balloon; wine; wing; witness; word; Yale's parents; year

Script references

armament; aspiration drill; calmative; Central Province; children; conference; cranial bone; delegate; demonstration; diagnostic center; disguise; dreamer; Federation; first contact transport; four planets; ichor; invasion; journalist; judgment; knee; medical officer; realist; resource allocation; room; security chief; speed of light; theory; thousand; training; violence; wall; warp drive; warship



