Template:Realworld An officer who normally lives in a low-gravity environment is temporarily assigned to the station; Dr. Bashir devises a technique that could rid her of her chair forever.
Summary
- "Medical log, stardate 47229.1. Chief O'Brien and I have been working overtime to prepare for the arrival of a new cartographer. Ensign Melora Pazlar is the first Elaysian to join Starfleet, and as such, requires special accommodations."
Bashir and Dax are discussing Pazlar's situation while making last-minute adjustments to a wheelchair for her (notably, raising its height to get around some obstacles on the station). She comes from a low-gravity system and has always been fiercely independent, demanding a minimum of assistance and wanting to do everything she can herself. For example, she won't accept being transported to places the wheelchair can't get to; she'll walk (with the aid of crutches).
Pazlar arrives, and proves to be a very caustic character, using sarcasm to keep others at bay. Julian and Dax escort her to her quarters, which have been equipped with low-grav equipment. She summarily dismisses them and closes the door.
Meanwhile, Quark is closing a deal: selling 42 gold Rings of Paltriss to Ashrock for 199 bars of latinum when in walks an unwanted face: Quark's old business partner Fallit Kot, who's been in jail for many years and is now back to kill Quark.
Pazlar shows up for her first meeting with Sisko to find Bashir and Dax already there. She's upset by this and explains that she's used to people trying to deal with "the Melora problem" but insists there is really no problem to deal with. She just wants to go survey the Gamma Quadrant. Sisko assigns Dax to go with Pazlar, over Pazlar's objections as she feels she can do it fine solo. Pazlar and Dax agree to meet the next morning and head out.
Bashir shows up at Pazlar's quarters sometime later and confronts her about her sarcasm and habit of pushing people away. Pazlar reluctantly agrees that she does this, saying it is just easier this way and she doesn't want pity. Bashir asks her to dinner, and she eventually agrees to go with him to a Klingon restaurant. Bashir orders from a cheat sheet for both of them, and Pazlar balks at the quivering mass on the plate. Though Bashir thinks it's for aesthetic reasons, she surprises him by barking at the server in fluent Klingon. "There's nothing worse than half-dead racht", she explains.
Quark tries to placate Kot by making his stay enjoyable, but Kot will have none of it; he's still out to kill Quark.
The next morning, Dax shows up at Pazlar's quarters, but she's not there. Dax tracks her down to a cargo bay where Pazlar has had an accident and has fallen and can't get up. Dax takes her to the infirmary, where Bashir treats her and takes her back to her quarters. This time, Pazlar invites him in and shows him the wonders of low gravity, and they kiss.
The next day, Dax and Pazlar finally make it out to the Gamma quadrant, where they discuss long-distance relationships and whether or not romance can survive in Starfleet. Dax quickly catches on that Bashir has won Pazlar over.
Back at the station, Odo has a little talk with Quark and then with Kot, telling him that, though neither Odo nor Kot likes Quark, Kot still cannot kill Quark.
Bashir has been doing some research and believes he has found a "cure" for Pazlar's condition, a way for her to do what everybody else can do in standard gravity. The catch: she cannot go back to low-grav, including her homeworld. Pazlar agrees to this. The first few treatments are a great success.
Kot catches up with Quark in his quarters, where Quark gives in and offers him 199 bars of latinum in exchange for his life. Kot says that will do, for a start. Kot accompanies Quark to the final sale of the rings and shoots Ashrock, taking the money and the rings and fleeing with Quark.
Pazlar, though, has been having second thoughts about the treatments and never being able to go home. Is independence worth this? After discussing it with Dax in the Gamma quadrant, she thinks not and prepares to tell Bashir.
As they are disembarking, they are grabbed by Kot and Quark, who are fleeing security, and forced back into the runabout. DS9 grabs the runabout in a tractor beam and Kot tells Sisko to let them go or a hostage will die. Sisko refuses, Kot shoots Pazlar, and Sisko lets them go. They head out into the Gamma quadrant pursued by Sisko, O'Brien, and Bashir in another runabout.
Pazlar, though, boosted by the effects of the treatment, survives the phaser blast and turns off gravity in the runabout. In the new environment, she is able to overpower Kot, and by the time Sisko, O'Brien, and Bashir arrive on the scene, everything is under control.
Upon returning to the station, Pazlar tells Bashir of her decision. He is disappointed and says that she can always change her mind. She tells him she probably won't change her mind, and that maybe complete independence is overrated.
Memorable Quotes
"Call me at the first sign of trouble."
"What if the first sign is the last sign?"
"You people sell pieces of yourself after you die, don't you?"
"Yes."
"I'll buy one."
- - Odo and Quark
Background Information
- The character of Melora Pazlar was initially to be Deep Space 9's science officer because the producers liked the idea of a character who came from a low-gravity environment. However, due to the difficulty and expense of recreating the effect constantly, the character was replaced by the Trill Jadzia Dax.
- Don Stark later appears in Star Trek: First Contact as Nicky the Nose.
- Referenced Rules of Acquisition: #16 ("A deal is a deal")
- Writer Evan Carlos Somers is himself a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair.
- The score for this episode is one of composer Dennis McCarthy's favorites; ""Melora" was one of the most romantic scores that I've had the chance to write and I really enjoyed it. I made it more ethereal than usual, with less horns, letting the woodwinds play in the lighter areas." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
- Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) does not appear in this episode.
Video and DVD releases
- UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 13, 23 May 1994
- As part of the DS9 Season 2 DVD collection
Links and references
Starring
Also starring
- Rene Auberjonois as Constable Odo
- Siddig El Fadil as Doctor Julian Bashir
- Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Jadzia Dax
- Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
- Colm Meaney as Chief Miles O'Brien
- Armin Shimerman as Quark
- Nana Visitor as Major Kira Nerys
Guest stars
Co-star
- Ron Taylor as the Klingon chef
Uncredited co-stars
- Majel Barrett as USS Orinoco's computer voice
- Ivor Bartels as a Starfleet security officer
- Judi Durand as Deep Space 9's computer voice
- Mark Lentry as a Starfleet command officer
- David B. Levinson as Broik
- Robin Morselli as a Bajoran officer
- Mark Allen Shepherd as Morn
- Unknown performers as:
- Starfleet operations ensign
- Melora's brother (photograph)
Stunt doubles
- Tom Morga as stunt double for Peter Crombie
- Patricia Tallman as stunt double for Daphne Ashbrook
References
breathing apparatus; Delvok; Elaysia; Elaysians; gladst; Invernia II; Invernian herb; ionic storm; jumbo Vulcan mollusk; Lothra; Orinoco, USS; Paltriss; racht; Rings of Paltriss; Rio Grande, USS; Romulan ale; tennis; Teros, Nathaniel; tractor beam; trolley car; Vak clover soup; Yellowstone, USS; Yridian; zilm'kach
External links
| Previous episode: "Cardassians" |
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 2 |
Next episode: "Rules of Acquisition" |