

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

For the relationship between organisms, please see symbiosis.

After the Enterprise-D rescues a freighter crew and the ship's important cargo, Captain Picard faces a difficult dilemma: uphold the Prime Directive, or save an entire civilization from exploitation?

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Summary

Teaser

The USS Enterprise-D is investigating unusual solar flares and magnetic activity in the Delos system when they receive a distress signal from the Ornaran freighter Sanction orbiting the fourth planet of the system. The bridge crew, Captain Picard and Commander Riker in particular, are perplexed by the apparent incompetence of the freighter's crew.

Act One

The Enterprise reaches the freighter and Picard tries to discern the problem from the freighter's captain, but he is unable to describe it. Data determines the problem for him by connecting to his computer – their electromagnetic coil is damaged. Picard offers to beam a new one over to them, but the captain admits he doesn't know how to install it, despite being captain for a long time. An attempt to pull the Sanction to safety with the tractor beam also proves fruitless, as the electromagnetic radiation from the system's sun makes a lock-on impossible.

Worf warns the rest of the bridge crew that the Sanction is entering the planet's atmosphere, and will not last long. Instead of risking beaming their crew over, due to the solar interference, Yar attempts to beam them to the Enterprise by interconnecting their transporter system with theirs, though quickly gets irritated by the freighter crew's lackadaisical attitude and inability to follow simple instructions. On the first attempt, the cargo of the freighter is beamed over instead.

Act Two

Riker and Yar momentarily stare at the cargo in disbelief, wondering why the crew would value it over their own lives. With little time to lose, Yar clears the cargo to cargo bay 11 and attempts to beam again. She is able to beam four onto the Enterprise-D in the nick of time. Two are left behind on the Sanction, however, and Yar does not have enough time to make another attempt before the freighter is incinerated re-entering the planet's atmosphere.

When the crewmembers, two Ornarans and two Brekkians, arrive, they are very anxious to see the cargo. Even though two of those aboard the freighter have been lost, the primary concern of all four is the cargo. The Ornarans, named T'Jon and Romas, claim that they have paid for the cargo, therefore it belongs to them. The Brekkians, Sobi and Langor, argue that since the payment was lost on the destroyed freighter, the cargo still belongs to them. Sobi and T'Jon begin to fight, using their natural electric charges, until Yar breaks it up by shooting at them with a phaser set on stun.

The four are taken to the observation lounge, where T'Jon and Romas reveal that the cargo is felicium, medicine that their planet needs to combat a plague on their planet. Furthermore, Langor and Sobi note that the medicine is very expensive to make, and they cannot give the medicine when payment has not been delivered. Then, T'Jon reveals that Romas and himself are carrying the plague, and Captain Picard now realizes that the "plague" they have may infect the entire ship. He puts the ship on med alert.

Act Three

As the Ornarans suffer from their lack of medicine in sickbay, the Brekkians continue to refuse them the cargo. Doctor Crusher reveals that she cannot find a cause of the signs of infection. The Ornarans entreat Picard to give them the felicium, and Picard offers to talk to the Brekkians, asking them to give enough for the Ornarans' needs. The Brekkians agree to "two doses for immediate use."

In the cargo bay, Langor removes the casing and measures out two doses. It is revealed that Brekkian society is entirely dependent on the trade of felicium with the Ornarans; they have no other industry, nor do they need it. The Ornarans provide all the goods they need in return. They have focused on increasing the potency of the felicium since there is no cure.

Dr. Crusher goes to sickbay and observes T'Jon administer the drug to Romas and then himself, both instantly feeling better, free of any sickness and both exhibiting the same euphoric daze. Crusher furiously informs Picard that the "medicine" is really an addictive narcotic, and the "plague" which the Ornarans fear so much is just the symptoms of withdrawal they suffer if deprived of the drug for too long.

Act Four

Data and Riker research the history of the drug which confirms the contraction of the Ornaran plague, though there is not much detail. Dr. Crusher interjects, convinced that the plague has already been cured, but now the Ornarans have become dependent on the addictive nature of the medicine. To Crusher's frustration, though, Picard says he cannot intervene in their societies, despite Crusher's belief she can develop a non-addictive version of the drug. Then, the Enterprise-D receives a signal from Ornara. Someone named Margan wants to contact T'Jon, so Picard, Riker and Crusher go to the guest quarters.

Meanwhile, Wesley Crusher wonders aloud how – and why – people let themselves become addicted to drugs. Initially, the inquiry is directed at Data. However, Yar jumps in and answers for him: drugs have their draw for people in desperate circumstances. Alluding to her own possible use of drugs on Turkana IV, where she was born and grew up an orphan, Tasha explains that drugs often seem to solve problems…which is enough for the common addict, even though nothing has improved in the real sense. When Wesley fails to comprehend all of this, Tasha assures him it's just as well.

In the guest quarters for T'Jon and Romas, Margan desperately pleads that the Ornarans on the Enterprise-D must get the felicium to Ornara. T'Jon attempts to explain the situation, but Margan stops him and stops transmission. T'Jon, frustrated, then attacks Riker and demands that the Enterprise-D send the felicium to the planet. Picard does not believe he will kill, and refuses. T'Jon releases Riker.

Act Five

Langor comes to the Ornarans' guest quarters and asks to talk to Picard. He and Crusher go to the Brekkians' quarters where they offer to "give" the drug to the Ornarans. Picard realizes that they have been purposely exploiting the Ornarans, and that they need to give the medicine now to keep them desiring more of the drug. Picard tells them that he knows, and that he cannot tell the Ornarans without violating the Prime Directive, much to Crusher's visible frustration.

In the cargo bay, the Ornarans prepare to leave with the coils they need for their ships. Picard arrives with the Brekkians. He informs them they can leave with the medicine, however, he refuses to repair the Ornarans' freighters, again citing the Prime Directive of non-interference for both decisions. Without the ability to repair their ships, the Ornarans will therefore not be able to obtain the drug anymore and begin to painfully withdraw from it. Additionally, they will believe they are dying. After beaming Sobi, Langor, T'Jon and Romas down to Ornara with their cargo, Picard orders helmsman La Forge to put some distance from the Ornaran system and the Enterprise-D heads for the Opperline system, a place never before explored.

Memorable quotes

"Are we losing our professional detachment, Doctor?"

- Picard to Doctor Crusher



"… Beverly, the Prime Directive is not just a set of rules; it is a philosophy… and a very correct one. History has proved again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous."

"It's hard to be philosophical when faced with suffering."

"Believe me Beverly, there was only one decision."

"I just hope it was the right one."

"And we may never know."



- Picard and Crusher



"Freighter, we're going to lock on the tractor beam and pull you out of orbit."

"Hey, that… that's great."

- Picard and T'Jon, as the Sanction begins to burn up in the atmosphere



"Captain, my console seems to be overloading."

- Wesley Crusher



"Drugs… make you feel good."

- Tasha Yar, to Wesley Crusher



"Behave yourselves, gentlemen."

- Tasha Yar, to T'Jon and Sobi after they attack each other



"You're feeling better?"

"Yes, thank you. I'm fine now."

- Crusher, when T'Jon and Romas inject themselves with felicium after which their "symptoms" disappear



"I guess I don't understand."

"Wesley, I hope you never do."



- Tasha Yar and Wesley Crusher, discussing drug dependency



"Destination, sir?"

"I don't care. Let's just get some distance between us and this system."

"Course 970, Mark 318, Speed: Warp Three."

"Where will that take us, Mr. La Forge?"

"The Opperline system."

"An interesting choice. Why?"

"Curiosity. We've never been there."

- La Forge, Picard, and Riker



"Wesley, on my home world, there was so much poverty and violence that for some people, the only escape was through drugs."

"How can a chemical substance provide an escape?"

"It doesn't. But it makes you think it does."

- Tasha Yar and Wesley Crusher, discussing drug addiction



"Captain, we are beaming over a replacement coil."

"Great… and that'll fix us up?"

"Yes, once it's installed."

"Right." (pause) "And how do we do that?"

- Picard and T'Jon



"What is the matter with these people?"

- Picard



"Captain, how long have you been in command of this freighter?"

"Seven years, with 26 trips to Brekka."

"And you don't know how to align a controller coil?"

"It's never come up."

- Picard, to T'Jon

Background information

Production history

Cast and characters

Special and visual effects

The visual effect of the fluctuating force field around the Enterprise-D while near the star Delos was created by using a bowling ball which was trickled with salt. The salt bumping off the bowling ball was used and squeezed during the digital compostion and turned upside down to give this effect. ("The Making of a Legend", TNG Season 1 DVD special feature)

Continuity

This is the first time that we see a system interlock used with an alien transporter system showing that it is possible to interlock two different types of transporter beams. The only previous time that we see a Federation transporter working in conjunction with an alien beam is when the Enterprise intercepted an alien transporter beam and redirected it to their transporter pad in " Assignment: Earth ".

intercepted an alien transporter beam and redirected it to their transporter pad in " ". This is one of only five TNG episodes (and the only season one episode) that doesn't have a stardate. The others are " First Contact ", " Tapestry ", " Liaisons ", and " Sub Rosa ".

Reception

Video and DVD releases

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Co-star

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

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