Template:Realworld In this final adventure, the Federation Alliance prepares a final invasion of Cardassia. Meanwhile on Bajor, Kai Winn releases the Pah-wraiths from the Fire Caves which threatens the safety of not only Bajor, but the entire Alpha Quadrant. (Part 9 of 9, Series Finale)
Summary
Act One
Julian Bashir and Ezri Dax wake up together in Julian's quarters, pledging to both come back alive from the upcoming mission to Cardassia Prime. Miles and Keiko O'Brien continue to raise their two children, Molly and Kirayoshi. They are a family excited to be returning to Earth after the end of the Dominion War; Miles just hasn't yet found the time to inform his best buddy, Julian, nor has he had the time to give him the model of the battle of the Alamo. In the Sisko quarters, Benjamin comforts a pregnant Kasidy, who is experiencing morning sickness. Jake drops by to walk his father to the new Defiant on what everyone hopes to be the final mission of the war. Odo and Worf walk to the Defiant. They both hope to find Kira alive and well when they reach Cardassia Prime; Kira is still hiding in Mila's basement with Damar, planning the Cardassian Rebellion.
On the bridge of the Defiant (formerly the USS São Paulo), while talking to Odo, Sisko has another vision from the prophet appearing as Sarah, his mother. She tells the Emissary that his task is nearing completion, and that, cryptically, his journey's end lies not before him, but behind him.
Act Two
At Dominion headquarters on Cardassia, Weyoun notes the Alliance's advance on their territory. The Female Changeling is then talking with Thot Pran of the Breen, promising both Romulus and Earth as reward if they win the war. while Pran takes his leave, Weyoun asks the Founder why she was promising the Breen when she firmly stated he would have control of all Federation territories, including Earth. She responds that she would promise the Breen the entire Alpha Quadrant to win the war at any cost. Just then, Legate Broca reports that Damar is still alive. Yet he won't be for long.
The Jem'Hadar receive orders to execute Kira, Damar and Garak
Damar and Garak are stopped on the streets of the Cardassian capital by two Jem'Hadar soldiers, recognizing Damar, who Garak claims that he is his cousin. The Jem'Hadar silence him, telling them Damar will be taken in for questioning, while Garak will be killed on the spot. Suddenly, a Breen comes, who the Jem'Hadar can't understand and killed on spot. It was actually Kira, disguised as the Breen; they safely continue on their way to the resistance meeting, where they plan the following day's course of action: sabotaging Cardassian power plants and communication headquarters, thereby cutting off the Dominion fleet from communication with headquarters.
On Bajor, Dukat enters the quarters of Kai Winn Adami, having regained his vision from the forgiving Pah-wraiths. The Kai has learned the secrets of the Book of the Kosst Amojan, and claims to have been waiting for Dukat. Together, they embark to the depths of the Fire Caves to release the Pah-wraiths, who will battle the prophets for control of the Celestial temple.
Quark, passing time by playing "Go Fish" with Vic Fontaine in the holosuite, is experiencing a noticeable lull in business, in light of the heightened war effort. But, alas, even Vic has better plans than Quark – he departs with a beautiful date to see Jimmy Durante and Peter Lawford at the Sands.
Act Three
As the Female Changeling orders the Breen to fight side-by-side with the Jem'Hadar, suddenly all power is lost on the station. As emergency power comes on, Broca announces that the power disruption was due to an act of sabotage by civilians. The Founder grabs him by the throat, suspending him in mid-air, furious that the general population is rebelling. Broca, gasping for air, assures her it is an isolated uprising, and agrees that the civilians be punished for acts of resistance. Their long-range communications (and ability to communicate with their fleet) are still not working. When power is restored to the Capitol, about half an hour later, Weyoun appears in a general broadcast message, announcing the complete destruction of Lakarian City in retaliation for Cardassian acts of sabotage; Lakarian City was home to two million souls.
Klingon Chancellor Martok hails Captain Sisko and Admiral Ross, promising to drink a celebratory barrel of 2309 bloodwine with them on Cardassia Prime. Sisko, along with the entire Starfleet attack force, engages the Dominion Jem'Hadar fighters and Breen vessels in the Cardassian system. (The Dominion has been backed up to the Cardassian system in the Alpha Quadrant at this late stage of the war.) As the dogfights ensue, several Jem'Hadar fighters appear to ram Klingon Bird-of-Prey ships in apparent suicide runs.
The Battle of Cardassia reaches the planet itself
The Defiant (with her new name already stenciled onto her hull) is in the thick of the battle. Miles suffers a shoulder wound from exploding bridge debris and, during the heat of the battle, finally gets up the nerve to tell Julian that he and Keiko will be leaving Deep Space 9 for Earth; Miles has accepted a position teaching engineering at Starfleet Academy. Ross orders Sisko to take the Defiant to help bolster the Romulan line; the Romulans have just lost their flagship.
Act Four
Back on Cardassia Prime, Dominion headquarters still cannot communicate with their fleet; they have no idea how the battle is going for either side. At Mila's house, a squad of Jem'Hadar and Cardassian soldiers knocks on her door as Kira, Garak and Damar hide in the basement. Suddenly, Mila's corpse is dumped down the stairs to the basement, and the Jem'Hadar also throw down a stun grenade, easily subduing the trio. The Female Changeling orders Damar's immediate execution, but some of Damar's loyal Cardassian soldiers shoot the Jem'Hadar before they can execute them.
The End of Legate Broca
In the midst of battle, the Cardassian fleet suddenly switches sides, and begins attacking the Breen and Jem'Hadar. When the Female Changeling learns of the Cardassian betrayal, she orders the extermination of the entire Cardassian population. Legate Broca is escorted out the door by Jem'Hadar for execution. As the Cardassian Capitol is being reduced to rubble building by building, the resistance moves into action. Garak mourns for Mila, a part of his life since he was a child growing up, and decides his new motivation for destroying the Dominion is revenge.
Act Five
Damar's resistance reaches Dominion headquarters, protected by a neutronium door. But the door opens from within, as Jem'Hadar execute Legate Broca with bayonets and dispose of his body. While the resistance succeeds in breaking into the compound, Damar is fatally wounded and dies in Garak's lap.
Back on Bajor, Dukat and the Kai have reached their final destination in the fire caves. As the Kai begins reading from the sacred text of the Kosst Amojan, the vast underground cavern springs to life, engulfed with billows of red flame. She discards her Kai vestment, throwing it into the raging fire pit before them. She continues reading from the sacred text, invoking the spirit of the Pah-wraiths.
The Federation Alliance has cornered the Dominion all the way back to Cardassia Prime and prepares to move in for the kill. Admiral Ross proposes a three-pronged attack: the Romulans and Cardassians will attack the Jem'Hadar; Chancellor Martok will lead the Klingons against the Breen; and the Federation will knock out the orbital weapon platforms. Aboard the Defiant, Captain Sisko expects a difficult fight ahead.
Act Six
Cardassia in ruins
The Cardassian rebellion breaks through into the heart of Dominion headquarters, capturing Weyoun and the Female Changeling. Weyoun asks where Damar was. Kira answered that he died. Garak shoots and kills the last-ever Weyoun clone for insulting Damar. Kira tells the Founder that the Dominion has lost the war, but the Founder refuses to surrender, promising a fight to the bitter end. With the Breen and Jem'Hadar fighting to the last man, the Alpha Quadrant would never threaten the Gamma Quadrant.
Act Seven
In the fire caves, Winn pours a toast, offering it to Dukat (still appearing as a Bajoran). He drinks from the cup; however, he soon bends over in pain. The ex-Kai admits to poisoning him, as a sacrifice for the Pah-wraiths. Dukat sprawls and dies. She then proceed to awaken the Wraiths.
Odo beams down to talk with the captured Founder. He asks her to stand down her forces yet she retorts that she believe that the Federation Alliance would invade the Gamma Quadrant just as they previously reciprocated. Odo denies it as the Federation wouldn't sanction it nor would allow the Klingons or Romulans to do so. He suggests he can cure her and they link, against the better judgment of Garak. After joining briefly for only about ten seconds, the Female Changeling is cured; she can assume her normal, smooth-featured shape. She had also communicated to Odo, during their link, that she will order the surrender of all Jem'Hadar; moreover, she will stand trial for her actions in the Alpha Quadrant. With the Female Changeling facing years (possibly a lifetime) of incarceration, Odo vows to be the one who delivers the cure to the Great Link, and tells Kira that he will be rejoining the Great Link for good.
Act Eight
On the battered surface of Cardassia Prime, Martok lustfully drinks his bloodwine in victory, but Sisko and Ross, devastated by the carnage they see, refuse to drink.
At Dominion headquarters, Garak and Bashir reflect on how many Cardassians died in the genocide – over eight hundred million.
The Female Changeling surrenders, ending the Dominion War
Aboard DS9, the Female Changeling signs the official instrument of surrender, officially ending hostilities between the Dominion and Federation Alliance. After the ceremony, Martok and Ross offer Worf the Federation ambassadorship to the Klingon Empire. Sisko agrees, although he will hate losing Worf on DS9. Martok, on the other hand, is grateful to have an ambassador he can go Targ hunting with on Qo'noS. Kira, who doesn't want to lose the love of her life, asks Odo to return after curing the Founders. He explains how painful it will be for him to leave her, but that the only way for the Founders to learn to trust solids will be for him to remain in the Link.
The crew mingle in Vic's lounge for celebration and, in some cases, farewells. Quark, who is getting to be a regular at Vic's, encourages everyone to stay put, citing his distaste for change. Sisko tells Quark to get used to it, as things are going to be very different from now on. As everyone gives the moment pause, Captain Sisko lifts his glass in a toast:
"To the best crew any captain ever had. This may be the last time we're all together. But no matter what the future holds, no matter how far we travel, a part of us... a very important part will always be here, at Deep Space 9."
Just then Vic starts to sing The Way You Look Tonight to the assembled crew, who came aboard Deep Space 9 distanced, suspicious and sometimes hostile towards each other, yet despite all this grew into close colleagues and friends. As the couples take to the dance floor, Benjamin suddenly has a strong sensation. As the Emissary, he now understands what his task is. Benjamin excuses himself abruptly from the party and heads to the shuttlebay.
On Bajor, Dukat, is resurrected by the Pah-wraiths and regains his Cardassian visage, his eyes glowing red with their power. He taunts Winn, saying she wasn't good enough to be the Pah-wraiths' emissary. He reveals to her that the Pah-wraith plan to spread across Bajor, the Celestial Temple and the Alpha Quadrant. He then nonchalantly notes that Sisko has arrived. Sisko raises a weapon at Dukat but the Pah-wraiths' power is strong, however, and with a flick of his wrist, Dukat causes Sisko to drop the weapon and fall flat to the ground. He recovers and punches Dukat, to no avail. Dukat, controlling Sisko's movements, causes him to bow in front of him. Winn grabs the Book of the Kosst Amojan, intending to cast it into the fire pit, but it suddenly appears in Dukat's hands. Dukat summons the fire, which engulfs Winn Adami, vaporizing her.
With Dukat concentrating on Winn and her death, he is momentarily distracted from the Emissary. Sisko summons all his courage and strength, and, with a shout of determination, lunges at Dukat, propelling both men (and the Book of the Kosst Amojan) into the fire pit. As they tumble through the flames, Dukat and the book disintegrate, but Sisko's consciousness lives on as the Emissary. Still appearing as Benjamin Sisko, in his Starfleet uniform, he materializes in the celestial temple. Sarah, the prophet, gives him both good news and bad. The good news is that the Emissary succeeded in his mission by returning the Pah-wraiths to the Fire Caves, and by destroying both the book and Dukat he has trapped them there forever; the bad news is that, since his mission is now complete, the Emissary will never be able to return to his former, corporeal existence.
Act Nine
On DS9, The others explain to Kasidy that they found Sisko's runabout but there was no sign of him. Just then, the Emissary comes to Kasidy in a vision. Relieved to see her beloved husband, she embraces and kisses him one last time. He informs her that he will not be coming back, and Kasidy now realizes the "sorrow" predicted by the prophets. Now speaking in non-linear riddles himself, he solemnly declares his role as Emissary, speaking of destiny, of having a great deal of things to do and learn. However, he promises Kasidy that he will return "in a year, or maybe... yesterday". They say their goodbyes, and then suddenly Kasidy is back on DS9, telling Jake she has spoken to his father.
Odo bids Kira goodbye
Odo tries to depart the station quietly in the runabout, without having to say goodbye to anyone. Quark confronts him in the corridor, asking for some sort of goodbye, but Odo refuses. Regardless, Quark raises a toast to him and still believes that Odo "loves" him. Miles and Julian part company with a big hug and misty eyes, having become the best of friends after serving seven years together. Kira pilots Odo's runabout to the Changeling planet. Beaming down to the surface, they say their tearful farewells. Odo morphs his uniform into his tuxedo, which was always Kira's favorite outfit, and slowly walks into the "ocean" of Changelings. Odo's cure slowly spreads throughout his people, saving them all.
Colonel Kira, comfortably situated in the commanding office on DS9, congratulates Lieutenant Nog on his promotion. She has left Sisko's baseball on the desk. She goes to crack the whip on Quark, who had been taking bets on the selection of the next Kai; her strict demeanor reminds him of a similar encounter with her seven years earlier. Kira joins Jake on the Promenade, and they look out the window at the Bajoran wormhole, which is finally open for travel again after two years of war. They look towards the Celestial Temple and the Gamma Quadrant, where Jake's father and Kira's beloved have both gone, remembering lost friends and loved ones, yet remaining eternally optimistic about their future as life goes on at Deep Space 9.
Memorable Quotes
"Ensign, I believe you know the way to Cardassia."
"If I get lost, I'll just follow the ship in front of us."
- - Sisko and Nog, as they, along with a Federation/Klingon/Romulan battle fleet depart Deep Space 9
"...so secretive, so full of deceit. Who would have thought those disgraceful characteristics would be turned to virtues."
- - Mila, to Garak
"I thought you said a bartender's life is a lonely one."
"I did, but I'm not a bartender."
- - Quark and Vic Fontaine
"I never thought I'd say this, but thank God for the Cardassians."
- - Admiral Ross
"Citizens of Cardassia, this latest wave of vandalism directed against your Dominion allies must stop. We know that these disgraceful acts of sabotage were carried out by a mere handful of extremists, but these radicals must come to realize that their disobedience will not be tolerated, that you, the Cardassian people, will suffer the consequences of their cowardly actions. Which is why, I must inform you, just a few moments ago Dominion troops reduced Lakarian City to ashes. There were no survivors. Two million men, women and children, gone in a matter of moments. For each act of terrorism committed against the Dominion, another Cardassian city will be destroyed. I implore you not to let that happen. Let us return to the spirit of friendship and cooperation between our two peoples so that together we can destroy our common enemies: the Federation, the Klingons, the Romulans and all others who stand against us. Thank you."
- - Weyoun
"You two, go outside and make sure no one gets in this room.... You two, stay here, in case they fail."
- - Weyoun, commanding four Jem'Hadar.
"I wish you hadn't done that. That was Weyoun's last clone."
"I was hoping you would say that."
- - Female Changeling and Garak, after Garak killed Weyoun
"My loyal Weyoun... the only Solid I have ever trusted."
- - Female Changeling
"You may win this war, Commander, but I promise you, by the time it's over, you will have lost so many ships, so many lives, that your "victory" will taste as bitter as defeat."
- - Female Changeling
"The Dominion has spent the last two years trying to destroy the Federation, and now you're asking me to put our fate in their hands?"
- - Female Changeling
"I want the Cardassians exterminated."
"Which ones?"
"All of them. The entire population."
"That may... take some time."
"Then I suggest you begin at once."
- - Female Changeling and Weyoun, after the Cardassians turn on the Dominion
"Remember these are Cardassians lying dead at your feet. Bajorans would call this poetic justice."
"That doesn't mean I have to drink a toast over their bodies."
- - Martok and Captain Sisko
"Four hundred years ago, a victorious general spoke the following words at the end of another costly war: 'Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended... we have known the bitterness of defeat and the exultation of triumph, and from both we have learned there can be no going back. We must move forward to preserve in peace what we've won in war'."
- - William Ross, quoting Douglas MacArthur
"It's up to you now, Odo."
- - Female Changeling
"I will be there, but I will not dance!"
- - Worf
"Did you really think the Pah-Wraiths would choose you as their Emissary? Soon, the Pah-wraiths will burn across Bajor, the Celestial Temple, the Alpha Quadrant. Can you picture it? An entire universe set in flames!!! To burn for all eternity. The Prophets have sent me a gift. Their beloved Emissary, set forth like an avenging angel to slay the demon."
- - Dukat
"You are pathetic!"
"Then why are you the one on your knees?"
"First the Dominion, now the Pah-Wraiths. You have a talent for picking the losing sides!"
- - Sisko and Dukat
"Benjamin, please, we've known each other too long. And since this is the last time we will ever be together, let's try to speak honestly. We've both had our victories and defeats. Now it's time to set aside our differences and face the ultimate truth: I've won, Benjamin. You've lost."
"The Pah-Wraiths will never conquer anything! Not Bajor, not the Celestial Temple, and certainly not the Alpha Quadrant!"
"And who's going to stop us?"
"I AM!!"
"You can't even stand up."
"Then I'll stop you!"
- - Sisko, Dukat and Winn
"Sarah? Are you here? What happened?"
"The Emissary has completed his task."
"But the Pah-wraiths?"
"You've returned them to their prison within the Fire Caves."
"The book was the key, wasn't it?"
"To a door that can never be opened again."
"And Dukat... is he dead?"
"He is where he belongs... with the Pah-wraiths. Your time of trial has ended. You need to rest now."
"Oh, I intend to... as soon as I return to Deep Space 9."
"That won't be necessary. You're with us now."
- - Sisko and Sarah
"I am their Emissary, and they still have a great deal for me to do."
- - Benjamin Sisko
"That man loves me! Couldn't you see? It was written all over his back!"
- - Quark, about Odo
"Make sure you say good bye to everyone back on the station."
"Even Quark?"
"Even Quark."
- - Odo and Kira
"Reports of my death have been exaggerated. But not by much."
- - Kasidy Sisko, suffering from morning sickness
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
- - Quark (last spoken line of the series)
Background Information
Cast
- Aron Eisenberg (Cadet/Ensign/Lieutenant Nog), Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat), J.G. Hertzler (Vulcan Captain, later General/Chancellor Martok), and Mark Allen Shepherd (Morn) are the only actors, besides the regulars, to appear in both this episode and the pilot, "Emissary".
- Avery Brooks (Commander/Captain Benjamin Sisko) is the only actor to appear in every episode of the series.
- This is the first of two Star Trek series finales in which Jeffrey Combs (Weyoun) appears. The second is the Star Trek: Enterprise series finale "These Are the Voyages..." in which he plays Shran.
Trivia
- This episode marks the deaths of Mila (Julianna McCarthy), Damar (Casey Biggs), Weyoun (Jeffrey Combs), and Kai Winn (Louise Fletcher), in that order. Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) does not die but is trapped "with the Pah-wraiths," presumably in the same non-corporeal form as Sisko.
- Chief O'Brien mentions "flux capacitors," while talking to Dr. Bashir about his decision to return to Earth, a reference to the movie Back to the Future.
- This was the final episode of Star Trek to air before the death of DeForest Kelley on 11 June 1999.
- In the final moments of the episode, Colonel Kira asks Nog to begin cargo inventories; this was the first task performed by Nog after he had decided to join Starfleet. Sisko had him do this to see if he could be trusted. This was seen in the third season episode "Heart of Stone".
- This is the only final episode of the spin-offs to be set entirely in the "present", at that time the late 24th century.
- Before the final episode aired, TV Guide printed a retrospective article declaring DS9 to be the best Star Trek series to date. Four covers of the magazine were produced with all of the main characters featured. The first featured Sisko; the second Bashir, O'Brien, and Jake; the third Ezri, Worf, and Quark; and the fourth Kira and Odo.
- Allan Kroeker directed this season finale episode. He has the distinction of directing the final episodes of three Star Trek series: Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise.
- An Evora, a species seen at the start of Star Trek: Insurrection, walks down the Promenade after the Dominion surrender scene.
- The tune of "The Minstrel Boy", sung by O'Brien and Captain Maxwell in TNG: "The Wounded" is played in the soundtrack during the scene where O'Brien takes one last look at his quarters and finds the figurine of William B. Travis.
- The episode earned a Nielsen rating of 5.4 - 13% higher than any other season seven episode - an audience of 5.4 million, and was the seventh highest-rated program in syndication in its week of airing. (Star Trek Monthly issue 57)
Behind the scenes
Rene Auberjonois entertains the cast and crew
- The writers had considered killing Sisko off during the Battle of Cardassia and resurrecting him for a battle with the Pah-wraith. They later decided it was necessary for him to survive the war. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
- The final day of shooting the series was 20 April 1999.
- The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion describes the source of the episode title as an "obscure quote": "All that you take with you is what you leave behind". The quote referenced is likely, "All you take with you when you're gone, is what you leave behind," attributed to John Allston. The phrase also appears in the Pericles quote, "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others," which was used as an epigram in the book Twist of Faith.
- There was some talk that the final scene would be Benny Russell sitting outside a sound stage holding a script that read "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", essentially making the series, and all of Star Trek, a dream. (citation needed • edit)
- The final scene shot of the series was between Armin Shimerman and James Darren, the scene where Quark and Vic play "Go Fish".
- Avery Brooks accidentally hit Marc Alaimo while filming the final confrontation between Sisko and Dukat.
- The party in Vic Fontaine's bar features cameo appearances by various producers, writers and other members of the production crew, as well as various actors from the show without their prosthetic makeup (see list).
- Andrew Robinson visited the lounge set, although it is unknown if he was there when the scene was filmed.
- Star Trek: Voyager actor Robert Picardo also visited the set on the final day of filming. He had played Lewis Zimmerman and an EMH in the fifth season episode "Doctor Bashir, I Presume".
- Damar was chosen to die first, as Casey Biggs had played William Travis in an IMAX film. Travis was the first to die at the Battle of the Alamo. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
- In the original draft of the script, Damar still went down with all guns blazing, but without any lines. Distraught at the thought of a death without words, Casey Biggs asked Director Allan Kroeker for permission to improvise, hence his final word, "Keep...". When asked at conventions, Biggs admits he had no idea of how he would have finished the statement.
- Nana Visitor was overcome with emotion during the filming and often found herself in tears. (DS9 Season 7 DVD)
- After the cameras stopped rolling, B.C. Cameron went through a list of the cast members, saying for each, "this is good night and goodbye to...".
- The intended name for the Romulan flagship during the Battle of Cardassia appears to have been the D'ridthau. It was not mentioned in filmed dialog, and is only contained in the pronunciation key from the final script, the line containing its use having apparently been deleted. Its earlier use is implied by its use in the novel, where William Ross says, "The Romulan flagship D'ridthau has been destroyed."
- The wrap party was held at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles. In addition to the main cast and several recurring actors, other attendees included Ira Steven Behr, Hans Beimler, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Dan Curry, David Stipes, Herman Zimmerman, Rick Berman, Bill Gocke, Joe Longo, Gary Hutzel, Majel Barrett, Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Michael Westmore, Lolita Fatjo, Bob Gillan, James Van Over, Larry Nemecek, and David Livingston. Terry Farrell also joined her castmates for the party.
- On the episode, Ira Steven Behr commented "...I was satisfied. In fact, satisfied was an understatement. I saw the show for the first time with an audience at the Museum of TV and Radio and it was a great night. So yeah, I think we crammed everything we could into those 89 minutes and I make no apologies or excuses. [1]
Cast and crew information
Andrew Robinson
- On the episode, Andrew Robinson commented "I thought they wrapped up Garak very well. It was very satisfying for me – the whole storyline with Kira, and going to Cardassia and working with the resistance and Damar. That all worked out terrifically... It had a lot of good stuff in it, including a scene with Bashir that I was very pleased with. I have no second thoughts on this. It was resolved. The resolution worked for me, and quite frankly if I never do Garak again, that's okay because I feel that the character was served and truly played out". [2]
- Robinson also commented on the views Garak made of his people: "You know he's bitter at the direction of his own government, the direction of his own society, the political direction that Cardassia took to bring them into alliance with the Dominion. That's where the bitterness is. And he's bitter at the Cardassian leaders who brought Cardassia to this point. There's no love lost with Garak about the Federation, you know. He regards the Federation as basically clueless people – clueless in terms of what Cardassia is about. But there is also the respect that he has for the individuals, for people like Bashir and Sisko and for the people that he did meet and become involved with on the station while he was there. It's really the previous Cardassian leadership that he's bitter about". [3]
Salome Jens
- On the episode, Salome Jens commented: "I felt quite complete with the series, actually, I thought the final two hours had wrapped up wonderfully. There was a question with what happened to her, but certainly I loved the fact that I had the opportunity to show some other sides to the character in that episode. I really enjoyed those last two hours for myself because it gave me some acting to do. In a lot of the other scenes in the past I had to hold back because of the nature of the character; she's not someone who loses it or goes out of control in any way. So it was nice to have some other colors for her".
- "One of the reasons they sent (Odo) out was to understand what was happening with the solids, because they felt threatened by them in some ways. The resolution was quite wonderful. She has the power to become anything she wants to be after that; she can disappear. Certainly she's going to be responsible for the actions that she took. There was something kind of majestic about it. And honourable, finally".
- Jens also commented that "something real happened for everybody... I think everyone was ready, it's like it was time. I know some people felt very sad about it, but it was a worthy journey, and it had completed itself. And when something completes itself, there's also some joy in knowing that it's done, that you did it. Seven years is a mystical number. It was a good number to quit. It was a very spiritual number, seven. And I think people really felt that way. Everybody had had a very productive seven years. And it was time to move on."
- On her final scenes in the episode, Jens said, "They really trusted me. It was quite extraordinary. And when they saw what I had done, Ira Behr came onto the set and said, 'that was fantastic.' They loved the scene where I deal very powerfully with Broca. I know the producers were very pleased with what I had done, and they really let me alone, because they just trusted that I knew what to do. And, certainly, at this point I knew a lot about the character; there was not much they could tell me. I knew just where to go. She didn't change; she just had to deal with the events that were there to be dealt with.
There were some things that were beyond her control, including her illness, and I really liked that scene where she had to deal with the fact that she might die, and what her sadness about that was. It was not about dying or about her – it was about her people. I thought that was quite wonderful. I loved that scene". [4]
Others
- Lolita Fatjo has stated that "What You Leave Behind" – along with "The Visitor" and "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" from DS9, and "The Measure Of A Man", "The Inner Light" and "All Good Things..." from TNG – is one of the less than ten episodes she was most proud to have been involved with. [5]
Montage scenes
- It was David Weddle and Bradley Thompson who went back through the past episodes to find clips for the montage. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
- The moments the characters recall are as follows:
- Miles O'Brien: O'Brien recalls showing his model of the Alamo to Bashir in "The Changing Face of Evil", playing Falcon in "Business as Usual", fending off Hovath's attack in "The Storyteller", viewing tribbles aboard the Enterprise in "Trials and Tribble-ations", eating while Bashir was talking about theater in "The Die is Cast", playing racquetball in "Rivals" and singing Jerusalem in "Explorers".
- Worf: Worf recalls arriving on Deep Space 9 and meeting Sisko for the first time in "The Way of the Warrior", being Duchamps in "Our Man Bashir", kissing Ezri in "Penumbra", fighting Gowron in "Tacking Into the Wind" and hanging upside down aboard a Dominion ship in "Strange Bedfellows".
- Odo and Kira Nerys: The couple recall Odo showing his bucket filled with flowers in "The Abandoned", dancing together and kissing in "His Way" and Odo becoming a cloud of energy in "Chimera".
- Quark: Quark recalls being confronted by Worf on the Rotarran's bridge in "Shadows and Symbols", fighting with Odo in "The Ascent", stopping O'Brien and Bashir from smashing their glasses after toasting Clive from their Battle of Britain holoprogram in "Homefront", being disgusted watching Rom pouring liquid into his ear to soothe his pain in "Bar Association", playing for the Niners in "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" and watching several of the other characters heading to Vic's lounge in "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang".
- Jake Sisko: Jake recalls fishing in the holodeck of the ship that brought him and his father to DS9 in "Emissary", laughing with his father on their trip to the Gamma Quadrant in "The Jem'Hadar", piloting their lightship in "Explorers" and moving out of his father's quarters in "The Ascent".
- Armin Shimerman commented: "For me, the saddest part of the finale is the very quick sequence of vignettes about Jake, watching him grow up. I've always had a very large sadness for passing of time, and to watch those sequences made me very sad". [6]
- Flashback scenes of Jadzia Dax are conspicuously absent from the end of the episode because the producers were not able to obtain permission from Terry Farrell to use her image. [7]. Originally, however, the script had called for clips of Jadzia to be included in the scene. Ira Steven Behr commented: "We had planned to see Terry Farrell in the flashbacks but she refused to let us use any of her clips. The way I see it is this: Her manager was informed that we were thinking of using Terry in a scene in the final episode. It would have probably been three hours of work... maybe four. The price they quoted us was too high for the budget. After all, this was a show where we had to cut out hundreds of thousands of dollars from the original draft. Her manager was informed that we weren't going to be able to use Terry. And on top of it, the scene we had been thinking of for her was really not that germane to the plot. I think Terry's feelings were hurt. When it came to the issue of the clips, they again felt that they would prefer that we went a different way without using the character of Jadzia Dax. So we did. I wasn't happy about it. I'm still not happy about it. But it is a reminder that even Star Trek is just part of the great showbiz sludge". [8]
Sets
The green screen set of the Fire Caves
- The Fire Caves set benefited from the extension that was done to Paramount Stage 18 for Star Trek: Insurrection.
- The Defiant bridge set was kept and used as a variety of bridge sets in Voyager and Enterprise.
- Star Trek: Voyager's holodeck set was used to serve food during the final days of shooting. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
Special effects
- Foundation Imaging worked on the effects of the Pah-wraith flames. [9]
- Although some of the battle scenes were new, a large portion were re-used from episodes such as "Call to Arms", "Tears of the Prophets", and "Favor the Bold". Footage of an explosion aboard a Klingon ship was re-used from Star Trek Generations. *The shot of a Cardassian shielding himself from an explosion aboard a ship was first used as Garak on a planet in the previous episode "The Dogs of War".
- The scene of the Defiant performing the aerobatic maneuver was popular with viewers. (DS9 Season 7 DVD)
Inconsistencies
- It is obvious that the video of Weyoun giving his proclamation is flipped, as a backwards Dominion insignia is clearly visible behind him.
Literature
- Terry J. Erdmann includes an extensive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the episode in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion.
- This episode's novelization was written by Diane Carey. The book establishes that the Cardassian fleet turned against the Dominion because Weyoun was actually foolish enough to send his message about the destruction of Lakarian City not only all across Cardassia, but to the Cardassian fleet as well.
- Another scene depicted in the novelization, set just after the signing of the surrender documents, shows the Dominion fleet heading back through the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant. After the wormhole closes, Admiral Ross declares, "Ladies and gentlemen I have the privilege of announcing that for the first time in two years there are no Dominion ships in the Alpha Quadrant!"
- The events of the non-canon DS9 relaunch novels Avatar, Book 1 and Avatar, Book 2 take place three months after this episode. The events of the WildStorm comic book miniseries N-Vector take place in the months between.
- Andrew Robinson's novel, A Stitch in Time, starts just a short time after the events of this episode.
- The "Requital" story of the Tales of the Dominion War anthology takes place during the events of this episode.
- The Left Hand of Destiny and the framing story of The Lives of Dax also take place soon after the events of this episode.
- "What You Leave Behind" is often used to date novels set after it. It is mentioned in the historian's note of novels such as Diplomatic Implausibility, A Good Day to Die, Honor Bound, Enemy Territory, and the final Star Trek: A Time to... novel, A Time for War, A Time for Peace.
- According to S.D. Perry's novel Unity, Sisko was to be made an admiral for his actions during the war. Starfleet offers him the promotion in 2377, but he turns them down, preferring to live on Bajor with Jake, Kasidy, and their new daughter in the house that Sisko designed and Kasidy had built while he was gone.
Awards
- This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series. Trek nearly swept the category that year. Also nominated were VOY: "Dark Frontier", "Thirty Days", and "Timeless". "Dark Frontier" won.
Video and DVD releases
- UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 7.13, catalogue number VHR 4823, 27 November 1999.
- The only DS9 standard volume released by PHE, this volume features a reversible cover sleeve - the standard DS9 layout, with the crew featured in full; and a "Feature Length TV Movie" version, featuring the Defiant in battle over the station, with the words "The Final Battle".
- The volume is labeled on the standard side as "What You Leave Behind, Parts I & II", although the episode is in its feature-length form.
- UK VHS release Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Movie: 23 October 2000
- As part of the DS9 Season 7 DVD collection.
- As part of the Star Trek: Fan Collective - Captain's Log collection
Links and References
Main Cast
- Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko
- Rene Auberjonois as Odo
- Nicole de Boer as Ezri Dax
- Michael Dorn as Worf
- Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
- Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
- Armin Shimerman as Quark
- Alexander Siddig as Julian Bashir
- Nana Visitor as Kira Nerys
Special Guest Stars in Alphabetical Order
- Rosalind Chao as Keiko
- Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun/Holosuite extra (uncredited in latter role)
- Salome Jens as Female Changeling
- Penny Johnson as Kasidy Yates
- Andrew J. Robinson as Garak
Guest Stars
- Casey Biggs as Damar/Holosuite extra (uncredited in latter role)
- Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat
- Aron Eisenberg as Nog/Holosuite extra (uncredited in latter role)
- J.G. Hertzler as Martok/Holosuite extra (uncredited in latter role)
- Barry Jenner as Admiral Ross
- Deborah Lacey as Sarah
- Julianna McCarthy as Mila
- Hana Hatae as Molly O'Brien
Special Guest Appearances
Co-Stars
- Mel Johnson, Jr. as Broca
- Greg Ellis as Ekoor
- Cyndi Pass as Ginger
- Kevin Scott Allen as a Jem'Hadar soldier
- Christopher Halsted as a Jem'Hadar First
- Judi Durand as the Cardassian computer voice
Uncredited
Co-Stars
- Cecily Adams as a holosuite extra
- Ira Steven Behr as a holosuite extra
- Hans Beimler as a holosuite extra
- Stephen Blackehart as a Starfleet officer ("Lieutenant Pa'ak")
- Uriah Carr as a holosuite extra
- Amy Kate Connolly as a command division officer
- René Echevarria as a holosuite extra
- Russ English as a holosuite extra
- Lolita Fatjo as a holosuite extra
- Max Grodenchik as a holosuite extra
- Kane Hodder as a Jem'Hadar soldier
- Luther Hughes as Vic's Lounge bass player
- Shauna Lewis as a Dabo girl
- Dennis Madalone as
- Christopher J. Marcinko as a Bajoran security guard
- James Minor as a holosuite extra
- Ronald D. Moore as a holosuite extra
- Max Omega as Thot Pran
- Stephen Pisani as an alien
- Keith Rayve as a Vorta
- Mark Allen Shepherd as Morn
- Robbin L. Slocum as a holosuite extra
- James Lee Stanley as a Bajoran security deputy
- Bradley Thompson as a holosuite extra
- David Weddle as a holosuite extra
- Unknown performers as
Stand-ins and stunt doubles
- Patricia Tallman as stunt double for Louise Fletcher
- Brian J. Williams as stunt double for Marc Alaimo
Archive appearances
- Max Grodénchik as Rom (uncredited)
- Lawrence Monoson as Hovath (uncredited)
- Robert O'Reilly as Gowron (uncredited)
References
1962; 2309; Alamo; Alpha Quadrant; ambassador; Arfillian ficus; attack fighter; Bajor; Bajorans; Bandee; bartender; baseball; Bashir 62; bat'leth; Battle of the Alamo; Battle of Thermopylae; betting pool; bloodwine; Book of the Kosst Amojan; Breen; Breen Confederacy; canasta; Cardassia; Cardassia Prime; Cardassians; cave-wasp; Celestial Temple; chancellor; changeling; containment field; darts; Dax, Jadzia; Dominion; Dominion Headquarters; Dominion War; Doppler compensator; Durante, Jimmy; Earth; Emissary of the Prophets; evasive maneuvers; Evora; Federation Alliance; Ferengi; Fire Caves; five card stud; Founders' homeworld; Gamma Quadrant; gin rummy; Go Fish; god; Great Link; holodeck programs; hologram; holosuite; hospitality industry; humor; impulse response filter; induction coil; inertial control system; inertial damper; Jem'Hadar; kai; Kendra Province; Klingons; Klingon Empire; Kosst Amojan; Lakarian City; Las Vegas; latinum; Lawford, Peter; Leonidas; lieutenant; lightstick; MacArthur, Douglas; Minsk; neutronium; New Orleans; Occupation of Bajor; Odo's bucket; orbital weapon platform; Pah-wraith; palm beacon; Paris; Persians; phaser bank; phaser rifle; pinochle; plasma flow regulator; plomeek soup; poker; politician; Pran; Professor of Engineering; Prophets; Qo'noS; quantum torpedo; Quark's; racquetball; Restoration of Bajor; Rio de Janeiro; Risa; Romulans; Romulus; rummy; runabout; Sands Hotel; self-sealing stem bolt; Sisko's lightship; Spartans; Starfleet Academy; suicide; targ; Tarkalean tea; tea; Texas; Thot; tongo; torque buffer; Travis, William B.; tribble; Trills; Ungtae; Vic's Las Vegas Lounge; Vorta; warp matrix flux capacitor; Way You Look Tonight, The; Wee Bairns
Starship references
Template:ShipClass; Breen warship; Template:ShipClass; Defiant, USS; Template:ShipClass; Template:ShipClass; Federation attack fighter; Galaxy, USS; Template:ShipClass; Template:ShipClass; Template:ShipClass; Jem'Hadar attack ship; Jem'Hadar battle cruiser; Jem'Hadar battleship; Template:ShipClass; Klingon Bird-of-Prey; Template:ShipClass; Template:ShipClass; Template:ShipClass; Template:ShipClass: Template:ShipClass
External links
- Template:NCwiki
- What You Leave Behind at Wikipedia
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