It's Only a Paper Moon (episode)

For the song for which the episode was named, see It's Only a Paper Moon (song).

Nog returns on medical leave, but he has trouble readjusting to life on the station.

Summary

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After losing his leg on AR-558, Nog returns to Deep Space 9. He has undergone extensive counseling at Starbase 375. He is relieved of duty until further notice by Commander Sisko, a hero.

HOwever, NOg fins the counseling pointless. He uses a cane, and complains of pain, even though a tricorder scan does not show any nerves firing, leading doctors to conclude it's psychological. Nog, in his state, finds this ridiculous; the pain is real, he's not making it up.

The only solace for Nog is in the Vic Fontaine recordings that Doctor Bashir played during his time in triage on AR 558, especially I"ll Be Seeing You. He now plays them constantly, enough to drive Jake Sisko out of their shared living accommodations.

Soon, he is in one of Quark's holosuites having Vic sing every version he knows of I'll Be Seeing You. Ezri, concerned about Nog's condition, talks to VIc when Nog begins spending more and more of his time there. Since the counseling does not appear to be working, they agree to let Nog spend his time off at Vic's.

When it gets boring for Nog, Vic complains about his inability to do accounting, and how his books are a mess. Nog helps him out, and concludes there is enough money in Vic's bank account he could expand the place. Nog soon finds solace in using his Ferengi business instincts to help make Vic's bar a success. He also soon gets his confidence back as he charms the holographic guests, especially lighting cigarettes for the ladies with a lion's head cane Vic gave him. Before long, it becomes more of a souvenir than a walking implement.

A momentary lapse in Nog's cool performance occurs when Jake takes a date into the holosuite of one of Vic's performances. When the subject of Nog's injury comes up, he becomes angry and starts a fight. VIc has to kick NOg back to their room. However, that was a momentarily lapse, Nog concludes. Overall, he is much happier now.

After a while, Ezri comes up to see how Nog is doing. Pleased at the progress report, she thinks Nog should return to the real world, and convinces Vic the same thing. This helps Vic to try and talk Nog out, and when he won't go Vic shuts down his program to force Nog to face the real world again.

Nog tries to force the computer to run the program, but to no avail. Even Chief O'Brien tells him that if Vic doesn't want to appear, he won't. Soon after, Vic by himself appears, and Nog released what he was probably holding back from all the counseling sessions. He complains to Vic of an overwhelming sense of mortality, brought upon by losing his leg. Vic talks him out of it gingerly with a long speech, and Nog slowly but surely returns to the station.

Memorable Quotes

"At first, it struck me as a little...peculiar. But after I thought it over, I began to think that maybe this is a good sign after all."
"How can hiding in one of Julian's adolescent programs be a good sign?"
"Hey..."
"It could be worse. He could be hiding in the Alamo program."
"Or that ridiculous secret agent program."
(quiet) "Hey..."
"Or that stupid Viking program."
"Hey!"

- Ezri, Quark, Jake, Leeta, and Rom teasing Bashir

"He's a one legged crazy man!"

- Rom, on the new Nog.

"Look kid, I don't know what's going to happen to you out there. All I can tell you is that you've got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you're in the game."

- Vic Fontaine

Background Information

Although highly speculative, the events of Star Trek: Insurrection are believed to have occurred during this episode. This is due to the fact that Worf is only in the opening scenes of this episode, which spans over a fair period of time. The apparently large period of absence in his appearances would allow him enough time to assist in the security upgrade of the Manzar colony and join the Enterprise-E crew during its mission to the Briar Patch before returning to the station for his next appearance during the ending scenes of "Prodigal Daughter", an episode that took place over three weeks after this episode.

Links and References

Guest Stars

Special Guest Star

James Darren as Vic Fontaine

Co-Stars

Tami-Adrian George as Kesha
Annette Helde as Nadia Larkin (archive footage, uncredited)
Brandon De Wilde as Joey Starrett (archive footage, uncredited)
Alan Ladd as Shane (archive footage, uncredited)
Jack Palance as Jack Wilson (archive footage, uncredited)

References

Alamo; AR-558; Bashir 62; Battle of Clontarf; Benbasset; biosynthetic limb; Cal-Neva Lodge; cane; Charley; cigarette; coonskin cap; counselor; craps; Crockett, Davy; Davis, Sammy, Jr.; De Wilde, Brandon; Ferengi; Flynn, Errol; Grand Nagus' staff; holosuite; "I'll Be Seeing You"; "I've Got the World on a String"; isolinear rod; Julian Bashir, Secret Agent; "Just in Time"; Ladd, Alan; Lake Tahoe; Las Vegas; latinum; magnetic flux; Makara fizz; Martin, Dean; martini; medical leave; "Moon River"; movie; "Noggles"; olive; Palance, Jack; "Paper Moon"; plasma conduit; popcorn; Presley, Elvis; raccoon; replicator; Rockefeller family; Searchers, The; Shane; Shane; Sinatra, Frank; slot machines; Starbase 235; television; transilluminator circuit; tricorder; Uncle Sam; "Untouchables, The"; Vikings; Yankee.

Previous episode:
Covenant

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 7

Next episode:
Prodigal Daughter