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Changes: When The Bough Breaks (episode)

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m (That's a huge stretch)
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[[Duana]] introduces Wesley to the [[Custodian]] for storing records of him. Wesley immediately wants to know more about the computer system, which takes care of the Aldeans' every need. He asks about what the other children are doing and interacts with the Custodian and learns the controls. He also asks what's behind one of the doors, but Duana admits that she doesn't know.
  
[[Duana]] introduces Wesley to the [[Custodian]] for storing records of him. Wesley immediately wants to know more about the computer system, which takes care of the Aldeans' every need. He asks about what the other children are doing and interacts with the Custodian and learns the controls. He also asks what's behind one of the doors, but Duana admits that she doesn't know.
   
−
Picard and Dr. Crusher are transported to the planet to negotiate for "compensation" for the children. They refuse to give the children back, thinking that it's not a problem as they can have more children, but the captain warns that the Aldeans are messing with a primal Human instinct and that parents are willing to die if necessary for their children. To Crusher's questions about the children's future fertility, Radue is convinced that the problem is a genetic dysfunction and not contagious. Picard nevertheless remains amicable and says they sympathize with the Aldeans and is open to a satisfactory solution to both sides. The Aldeans see their problem as solved and they're offering the sum of their knowledge: what more could they want? Picard manages to convince him to let Dr. Crusher see Wesley. While with him, she coordinates a covert scan of Duana with the hand scanner from her [[medical tricorder]]. Rejoining Picard, she reports her son and the others are well; Radue states that the crew have their offer, which is final, and the away team is sent back to the ship.
 +
Picard and Dr. Crusher are transported to the planet to negotiate for "compensation" for the children. They refuse to give the children back, thinking that it's not a problem as they can have more children, but the captain warns that the Aldeans are messing with a primal Human instinct and that parents are willing to die if necessary for their children. To Crusher's questions about the children's future fertility, Radue is convinced that the problem is a genetic dysfunction and not contagious. Picard nevertheless remains amicable and says they sympathize with the Aldeans and is open to a satisfactory solution to both sides. The Aldeans see their problem as solved and they're offering the sum of their knowledge: what more could they want? Picard manages to convince him to let Dr. Crusher see Wesley. While with him, she coordinates a covert scan of Duana with the hand scanner from her [[medical tricorder]]. Rejoining Picard, she reports her son and the others are well; Radue states that the crew have their offer, which is final, and the away team is sent back to the ship.
   
 
Radue decides to show the ''Enterprise'' that there is no bargaining room and displays the planet's power by [[repulsor beam|blasting]] the ship, and throwing it back in ten seconds the equivalent distance of three days travel from the planet at [[warp]] 9. He claims that he could very easily push the ''Enterprise'' so far away that by the time they returned to Aldea, their children would be grandparents.
  
Radue decides to show the ''Enterprise'' that there is no bargaining room and displays the planet's power by [[repulsor beam|blasting]] the ship, and throwing it back in ten seconds the equivalent distance of three days travel from the planet at [[warp]] 9. He claims that he could very easily push the ''Enterprise'' so far away that by the time they returned to Aldea, their children would be grandparents.
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"''Data, find a way to defeat that shield.''"<br />
  
"''Data, find a way to defeat that shield.''"<br />
 
"''That may be impossible, sir.''"<br />
  
"''That may be impossible, sir.''"<br />
−
"''Things are only impossible until they're not.''"<br />
 +
"''Things are only impossible until they're not!''"<br />
 
"''Yes, sir.''"<br />
  
"''Yes, sir.''"<br />
 
: - '''Picard''' and '''Data'''
  
: - '''Picard''' and '''Data'''
Line 152: Line 152:
 
* Premiere airdate: [[15 February]] 1988
  
* Premiere airdate: [[15 February]] 1988
 
* UK premiere airdate: {{d|23|January|1991}}
  
* UK premiere airdate: {{d|23|January|1991}}
  +
  +
=== Story and script ===
  +
* Writer [[Hannah Louise Shearer]] pitched this story to [[D.C. Fontana]] as an opportunity to better use the shipboard families aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}. The story led to Shearer being invited to join the writing staff. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., p. 50)
  +
* Originally, the story featured a subplot where the ship would [[Saucer separation|separate]], with the [[primary hull|saucer section]] being held hostage. This was removed to focus on the main plot. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., p. 50)
   
 
=== Production ===
  
=== Production ===
  ⚫
* This is the very first episode of the series not to open the introductory teaser with an external visual of the ''Enterprise''. The next episode to also forego an exterior ''Enterprise'' visual will be {{e|The Emissary}}, which opens with a game of [[poker]] between several of the senior staff.
−
* "Aldea" is Spanish for "village."
  
−
* "Aldea" was not the originally scripted name for the planet. In the teaser, when Riker is telling everyone about Aldea, you can see [[Jonathan Frakes]] mouthing some other word (and you can clearly hear that all his lines containing "Aldea" were subsequently looped). {{incite}}
  
⚫
* This is the very first episode of the series not to open the introductory teaser with an external visual of the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)]]. The next episode to also forego an exterior ''Enterprise'' visual will be {{e|The Emissary}}, which opens with a game of [[poker]] between several of the senior staff.
  
 
* This is the only ''Star Trek'' episode directed by [[Kim Manners]].
  
* This is the only ''Star Trek'' episode directed by [[Kim Manners]].
−
* There is some sort of production equipment barely visible, perhaps a tripod, in the turbolift that Riker uses in the teaser.
  
   
 
=== Cast and characters ===
  
=== Cast and characters ===
 
* This marks [[Jerry Hardin]]'s first appearance on ''Star Trek''. He later reappeared as [[Samuel Clemens]] in {{TNG|Time's Arrow}} and {{e|Time's Arrow, Part II}} and as [[Neria]] in {{VOY|Emanations}}.
  
* This marks [[Jerry Hardin]]'s first appearance on ''Star Trek''. He later reappeared as [[Samuel Clemens]] in {{TNG|Time's Arrow}} and {{e|Time's Arrow, Part II}} and as [[Neria]] in {{VOY|Emanations}}.
 
* [[Paul Lambert]], who played [[Melian]], appeared in the [[TNG Season 4|fourth season]] as [[Howard Clark]] in the episode {{e|Devil's Due}}.
  
* [[Paul Lambert]], who played [[Melian]], appeared in the [[TNG Season 4|fourth season]] as [[Howard Clark]] in the episode {{e|Devil's Due}}.
−
* [[McKenzie Westmore]], daughter of makeup supervisor [[Michael Westmore]], was featured as {{dis|Rose|child}}. She later appeared in {{film|9}} and as [[Ensign]] {{dis|Jenkins|Ensign}} in {{VOY|Warhead}}.
 +
* [[McKenzie Westmore]], daughter of makeup supervisor [[Michael Westmore]], was featured as {{dis|Rose|Enterprise-D}}. She later appeared in {{film|9}} and as [[Ensign]] {{dis|Jenkins|Ensign}} in {{VOY|Warhead}}.
 
* [[Wil Wheaton]]'s sister [[Amy Wheaton]] and his brother [[Jeremy Wheaton]] are featured as [[Tara]] and [[Mason]] in this episode.
  
* [[Wil Wheaton]]'s sister [[Amy Wheaton]] and his brother [[Jeremy Wheaton]] are featured as [[Tara]] and [[Mason]] in this episode.
   
 
=== Continuity ===
  
=== Continuity ===
−
* This episode takes its name from the children's lullaby "[[Rock-a-bye Baby]]" (''"...when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall..."''). [[The Doctor]] would later adapt the lullaby for [[B'Elanna Torres]]'s [[Miral Paris|baby]] and sing it to [[Seven of Nine]] in {{VOY|Human Error}}.
 +
* This episode takes its name from the children's lullaby "[[Rock-a-bye Baby]]" (''"&hellip;when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall&hellip;"''). [[The Doctor]] would later adapt the lullaby for [[B'Elanna Torres]]'s [[Miral Paris|baby]] and sing it to [[Seven of Nine]] in {{VOY|Human Error}}.
 
* The ''Enterprise''-D being blasted away from Aldea is similar to the original ''Enterprise'' being hurled 990.7 light years away from the Kalandan outpost (minus the earthquake effect) in {{TOS|That Which Survives}}.
  
* The ''Enterprise''-D being blasted away from Aldea is similar to the original ''Enterprise'' being hurled 990.7 light years away from the Kalandan outpost (minus the earthquake effect) in {{TOS|That Which Survives}}.
   
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<gallery>
  
<gallery>
 
File:Custodian studio model.jpg|Okuda's maquette of the Custodian's power engine
  
File:Custodian studio model.jpg|Okuda's maquette of the Custodian's power engine
−
File:Custodian power room.jpg|...and as featured in the episode
 +
File:Custodian power room.jpg|…and as featured in the episode
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   
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=== Reception ===
  
=== Reception ===
  +
* This is Shearer's favorite episode. In particular, she praised Wil Wheaton's performance. "''Alas, poor Wesley got the brunt of a lot of criticism, but he was really extraordinary with those kids and turned them into a little family on the set, and I think it really translated.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 164)
  +
* [[Maurice Hurley]] remarked, "''That had a nice quality to it, sad and poignant at the same time.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 164)
 
* A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in {{STNG|6|48-50}}.
  
* A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in {{STNG|6|48-50}}.
   
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== Links and references ==
  
== Links and references ==
 
=== Starring ===
  
=== Starring ===
−
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as {{dis|Captain|rank}} [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
 +
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as {{Captain}} [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
 
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker]]
  
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker]]
   
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* [[Richard Sarstedt]] as [[USS Enterprise-D conn officers command 014|command division officer]]
  
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] as [[USS Enterprise-D conn officers command 014|command division officer]]
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
  
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
−
* [[McKenzie Westmore]] as {{dis|Rose|child}}
 +
* [[McKenzie Westmore]] as {{dis|Rose|Enterprise-D}}
 
* [[Amy Wheaton]] as [[Tara]]
  
* [[Amy Wheaton]] as [[Tara]]
 
* [[Jeremy Wheaton]] as [[Mason]]
  
* [[Jeremy Wheaton]] as [[Mason]]
Line 264: Line 267:
   
 
=== References ===
  
=== References ===
−
[[14th century]]; [[21st century]]; [[Aldea]]; [[Aldean]]; [[Unnamed recreational activities#Aldean holographic toys|Aldean holographic toy]]; [[Unnamed musical instruments#Aldean musical instruments|Aldean musical instrument]]; [[Unnamed tools and technology#Aldean transport device|Aldean transport device]]; [[Aran]]; [[Atlantis]]; [[atmosphere]]; {{dis|beach|formation}}; [[bed]]; [[bridge]]; [[calcium]]; [[calculus]]; [[cancer]]; [[carbon monoxide]]; [[chromosome]]; [[cloaking device]]; [[corridor]]; [[custodian]]; [[dedication plaque]]; [[defense shield]]; [[desktop monitor]]; [[diagnostic analysis]]; [[dolphin]]; [[Earth]]; [[Epsilon Mynos system]]; [[father]]; [[First Appointee]]; [[fish]]; [[fork]]; [[fruit]]; [[gamma ray]]; [[generation]]; [[gravity]]; [[industrial waste byproduct]]; [[infertility]]; [[Unnamed musical instruments#Adam's guitar|Katie's instrument]]; [[kidnapping]]; [[lesion]]; [[medical doctor]]; [[magnetic field]]; [[medical tricorder]]; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; [[mother]]; [[musician]]; [[mythology]]; [[necklace]]; [[Neinman]]; [[neutrino]]; [[nitrogen]]; [[number one]]; [[observation lounge]]; [[oceanographer]]; [[orbit]]; [[oxygen]]; [[ozone layer]]; [[painting]]; [[pallor]]; [[passive resistance]]; [[personal hygiene]]; [[planetary defense system]]; [[potassium]]; [[Progenitor]]; [[quark]]; [[radiation]]; [[radiation poisoning]]; [[red alert]]; [[red dye number two]]; [[repulsor beam]]; [[Romulan]]; [[school]]; [[Unnamed tools and technology#Sculpting tool|sculpting tool]]; [[sculptor]]; [[sculpture]]; [[sickbay]]; [[skant]]; [[solar flux]]; [[son]]; [[Starfleet Regulations]]; [[statue]]; [[sterility]]; [[stuffed animal]]; [[teacher]]; [[terminal illness]]; [[three-dimensional chess]]; [[toy]]; [[trace element]]; [[transporter room]]; [[tricorder]]; [[turbolift]]; [[ultraviolet radiation]]; {{dis|unit|group}}; [[unnamed plants]]; [[viewscreen]]; [[visible light]]; [[VISOR]]; [[vitamin]]; [[vitamin deficiency]]; [[Vulcan lute]]; [[water]]; [[window]]; [[wood]]; [[Xerxes VII]]; [[Zadar IV]]; [[Zadarian dolphin]]; [[Zena]]
 +
[[14th century]]; [[21st century]]; [[22nd century]]; [[accident]]; [[Aldea]]; [[Aldean]]; [[Aldean history]]; [[Unnamed recreational activities#Aldean holographic toys|Aldean holographic toy]]; [[Unnamed musical instruments#Aldean musical instruments|Aldean musical instrument]]; [[Aldean shield]]; [[Aldean tradition]]; [[Unnamed tools and technology#Aldean transport device|Aldean transport device]]; "[[Idiom|all right]]"; [[amount]]; [[answer]]; [[appetite]]; [[Aran]]; [[area]]; [[arrival]]; [[art]]; [[artist]]; "[[Idiom|at any price]]"; [[Atlantis]]; [[atmosphere]]; [[away team]]; {{dis|beach|formation}}; [[bed]]; [[bedroom]]; [[breed]]; [[bridge]]; [[calcium]]; [[calculation]]; [[calculus]]; [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Calculus teacher|calculus teacher]]; [[celebration]]; [[century]]; [[chance]]; [[children]]; [[choice]]; [[chromosome]]; [[citizen]]; [[civilization]]; [[classroom]]; [[cloaking device]]; [[code]]; [[colleague]]; "[[Idiom|come in]]"; "[[Idiom|come on]]"; [[communications]]; [[compensation]]; [[computer]]; [[conscience]]; [[contract]]; [[corridor]]; [[culture]]; [[curiosity]]; [[Custodian]]; [[Custodian's room]]; [[danger]]; [[darkness]]; [[death]]; [[deck]]; [[decontamination]]; [[dedication plaque]]; [[defense shield]]; [[deflector]]; {{dis|demonstration|concept}}; [[desktop monitor]]; [[discussion]]; [[distortion]]; [[dolphin]]; [[Earth]]; [[eating]]; [[electromagnetic]]; [[emotion]]; [[Epsilon Mynos system]]; [[Unnamed Alpha and Beta Quadrant stars#Epsilon Mynos system sun|Epsilon Mynos system sun]]; [[evidence]]; [[eye]]; [[fairy tale]]; [[family]]; [[fate]]; [[father]]; [[fear]]; [[Federation]]; [[feeling]]; [[file]]; [[First Appointee]]; [[fish]]; [[fork]]; "[[Idiom|for sale]]"; "[[Idiom|from time to time]]"; [[fruit]]; [[genetic dysfunction]]; [[generation]]; [[god]]; "[[Idiom|good night]]"; [[goods]]; "[[Idiom|go to your head]]"; [[grandparent]]; [[guest]]; [[hailing frequency]]; [[harm]]; [[head]]; "[[hello]]"; [[heritage]]; [[hole]]; [[home]]; [[honor]]; {{dis|hope|emotion}}; [[hour]]; [[Human]]; [[hunger strike]]; "[[Idiom|in essence]]"; "[[Idiom|in exchange]]"; [[infertility]]; [[information]]; "[[Idiom|in person]]"; "[[Idiom|in return]]"; [[instinct]]; [[intention]]; [[invitation]]; "[[Idiom|I see]]"; [[Unnamed musical instruments#Adam's guitar|Katie's instrument]]; [[kidnapping]]; [[language]]; [[leader]]; [[legend]]; [[lesion]]; [[lie]]; [[light]]; [[light ray]]; [[light refracting device]]; [[list]]; [[magnetic shield]]; {{dis|maintenance|technical}}; [[marauder]]; [[medical doctor]]; [[medical literature]]; [[medical tricorder]]; [[medicine]]; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; [[millennium]]; [[mind]]; [[mother]]; [[music]]; [[musician]]; [[mutual interest]]; [[myth]]; [[mythology]]; [[name]]; [[nature]]; [[necklace]]; [[negotiation]]; [[Neinman]]; "[[Idiom|never mind]]"; [[musical note|note]]; [[number]]; [[number one]]; [[observation lounge]]; [[ocean]]; [[oceanographer]]; "[[Idiom|of course]]"; [[offer]]; [[offspring]]; "[[Idiom|on my way]]"; [[orbit]]; [[order]]; "[[Idiom|out of nowhere]]"; [[override]]; [[ozone layer]]; [[painting]]; [[pallor]]; [[parent]]; [[passers-by]]; [[passive resistance]]; [[pattern]]; [[payment]]; [[peace]]; [[person]]; [[planetary defense system]]; [[plunder]]; [[position report]]; [[potential]]; [[power source]]; [[Progenitor]]; [[quadrant|quadrant one]]; [[question]]; [[race]]; [[radiation]]; [[radiation poisoning]]; [[reason]]; [[red alert]]; [[representative]]; [[repulsor beam]]; [[risk]]; {{dis|rob|crime}}; [[Romulan]]; [[room]]; [[saucer section]]; [[sensor|scanner]]; [[scanning device]]; [[scientist]]; [[school]]; [[viewscreen|screen]]; [[Unnamed tools and technology#Sculpting tool|sculpting tool]]; [[sculptor]]; [[sculpture]]; [[sensitivity]]; [[sensor]]; [[shield]]; [[shielding device]]; [[sickbay]]; "[[Idiom|sit down]]"; [[skant]]; [[society]]; [[solution]]; [[son]]; [[sprinter]]; [[staff officer]]; [[Starfleet Regulations]]; [[statue]]; [[status]]; [[sterility]]; [[story]]; [[stubborn]]; [[stuffed animal]]; [[subject]]; [[surface]]; [[symptom]]; [[talent]]; [[teacher]]; [[technology]]; [[terminal illness]]; "[[Idiom|thank you]]"; [[theory]]; [[thing]]; [[third level clearance]]; [[thousand]]; [[three-dimensional chess]]; [[toy]]; [[trade]]; "[[trail of breadcrumbs]]"; [[trait]]; [[transporter room]]; [[transporting procedure]]; [[treatment]]; [[tricorder]]; [[turbolift]]; [[ultraviolet radiation]]; {{dis|unit|group}}; [[Unit B375]]; [[unnamed plants]]; [[viewscreen]]; [[vision]]; [[VISOR]]; [[voice]]; [[voice command]]; [[Vulcan lute]]; [[way of living]]; [[week]]; [[window]]; [[wood]]; [[word]]; [[work]]; [[Xerxes VII]]; [[year]]; [[Zadar IV]]; [[Zena]]
  +
  +
==== Other references ====
  +
* '''Diagnostic analysis:''' [[air]]; [[A vitamin]]; [[B complex vitamin]]; [[calcium]]; [[carcinogen]]; [[carbon monoxide]]; [[chemical exposure]]; [[diagnostic analysis]]; [[disruption]]; [[environmental factor]]; [[exposure]]; [[extraterrestrial disease]]; [[failure]]; [[fluorocarbon]]; [[food chain]]; [[gamma ray]]; [[gravity|gravitational variation]]; [[industrial waste byproduct]]; [[magnetic field]]; [[micronutrient]]; [[monosodium glutamate]] (MSG); [[neutrino]]; [[nitrogen]]; [[nuclear radiation]]; [[oxygen]]; [[parasite|parasitic organism]]; [[personal hygiene]]; [[potassium]]; [[quark]]; [[red dye number two]]; [[resorption]]; [[solar flux]]; [[trace element]]; [[viral contaminant]]; [[visible light]]; [[vitamin]]; [[vitamin deficiency]]; [[waste management]]; [[water]]
   
 
==== Unreferenced material ====
  
==== Unreferenced material ====
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* {{mbeta-quote|When the Bough Breaks}}
  
* {{mbeta-quote|When the Bough Breaks}}
 
* {{wikipedia-quote|When the Bough Breaks (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|When The Bough Breaks}}
  
* {{wikipedia-quote|When the Bough Breaks (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|When The Bough Breaks}}
−
* {{IMDb-link|type=title|page=tt0708841|name="When The Bough Breaks"}}
 +
* {{IMDb-ep|tt0708841}}
 
* {{ml|when-the-bough-breaks|"When The Bough Breaks"|external}}
  
* {{ml|when-the-bough-breaks|"When The Bough Breaks"|external}}
   

Revision as of 04:01, 3 April 2020

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

Wesley Crusher must protect a group of kidnapped Enterprise-D children while Captain Picard fights for their release.

Summary

Teaser

While investigating faint energy readings coming from the Epsilon Mynos system, the crew of the USS Enterprise-D are witness to the revealing of the legendary planet Aldea.

Act One

A woman contacts the Enterprise and introduces herself as Rashella, welcoming them and wishing to talk with them. Suddenly, she and Radue, introducing himself as the leader, appear on the bridge, startling everyone, notably Dr. Crusher, as they did not undergo decontamination procedures by going through the transporter, but they quickly explain that the Enterprise's transporters won't work because of the planet's shields. They formally invite them to the planet, but also show visible signs of discomfort, which they justify by not being used to bright lights and soon afterwards they beam back on the planet.

Without warning, Commander Riker, Deanna Troi, and Dr. Crusher are transported to the surface of Aldea, and they're welcomed to their community. However, the Aldean's motives are quickly revealed, as Radue explains that he wishes to acquire some of the Enterprise's children, in exchange for technology. This outrages both Riker and Crusher, and Troi explains that Humans are very attached to their children; other species might be tempted. Then Radue explains that the Aldean society is dying out, and they've become infertile. Riker expresses his sympathy, but declines their trade offer. Radue promptly returns them to the ship.

Wesley scanned by Aldean probe

"Don't touch him!"

Meanwhile, strange beams of light come from the planet, scanning everyone on board but focused only on the children, such as Wesley Crusher on the bridge. Data reaches out to help him, but Picard warns him not to touch the teen, as they may unknowingly harm him. Suddenly to Dr. Crusher's alarm, Wesley is beamed away by the Aldean's transporter, and the disappearances of several other children across the ship are reported.

Act Two

Picard faces scared parents

Picard faces a group of scared parents

The Captain is infuriated, and contacts Radue, demanding to have their children back. Radue appears on the viewscreen and informs Picard that the children will be well looked after, and that they'll want for nothing. He wants to discuss compensation, but Picard's response prompts him to close communication. Picard and Dr. Crusher along with Troi have a meeting with the other parents in the conference lounge to explain what's happened. Picard will have Dr. Crusher with him to represent the other parents, and assures them that the Enterprise will not leave without the children.

Aldean holographic toy

A land of magic

On Aldea, Wesley and the children meet their new foster parents, and are quickly enticed by the skill-enhancing instruments that are offered to them. Wesley, however, is not impressed by the Aldeans and resists. Radue attempts to label him as the leader of the group, and gives him the task of helping the others adjust since he has no choice, like the Aldeans.

Riker reports that Data has discovered random fluctuations in the shield, holes in essence, that could possibly be used to transport an away team through. Riker is surprised that the Aldeans haven't perfected their technology after all this time and eliminated the flaw. As using a hole would have to be precise with timing and there would be no guarantee, Data notes it may be better to crack the code used to transport through the magnetic shield, but it will take time as the sheer number of possible codes is almost endless. While Data works on it, Picard orders Riker to work with La Forge to figure out a way through a hole. An away team can then find the power source for the shield and neutralize it; Picard knows that they have to keep the Aldeans talking, because once they realize the crew will not accept anything but the childrens' return, they will just turn the cloaking device back on and the Enterprise will have lost any chance to get them back.

Act Three

Duana introduces Wesley to the Custodian for storing records of him. Wesley immediately wants to know more about the computer system, which takes care of the Aldeans' every need. He asks about what the other children are doing and interacts with the Custodian and learns the controls. He also asks what's behind one of the doors, but Duana admits that she doesn't know.

Picard and Dr. Crusher are transported to the planet to negotiate for "compensation" for the children. They refuse to give the children back, thinking that it's not a problem as they can have more children, but the captain warns that the Aldeans are messing with a primal Human instinct and that parents are willing to die if necessary for their children. To Crusher's questions about the children's future fertility, Radue is convinced that the problem is a genetic dysfunction and not contagious. Picard nevertheless remains amicable and says they sympathize with the Aldeans and is open to a satisfactory solution to both sides. The Aldeans see their problem as solved and they're offering the sum of their knowledge: what more could they want? Picard manages to convince him to let Dr. Crusher see Wesley. While with him, she coordinates a covert scan of Duana with the hand scanner from her medical tricorder. Rejoining Picard, she reports her son and the others are well; Radue states that the crew have their offer, which is final, and the away team is sent back to the ship.

Radue decides to show the Enterprise that there is no bargaining room and displays the planet's power by blasting the ship, and throwing it back in ten seconds the equivalent distance of three days travel from the planet at warp 9. He claims that he could very easily push the Enterprise so far away that by the time they returned to Aldea, their children would be grandparents.

Act Four

During the return trip to Aldea Picard tells Radue that there is room for discussion and ends the communication. Dr. Crusher has analyzed the covert scan and discovers that Duana is dying, suffering from some chromosomal damage, probably like the rest of the population. Crusher can't determine if it is genetic or environmental, so leaves to determine the cause.

Wesley uses custodian

Wesley and the Custodian

On Aldea, the children each show signs of dissatisfaction while being taught their respective activities. Wesley, however, firmly says to Radue and Duana that they will not cooperate. That night, he decides to convince the younger children to go on a hunger strike and to not speak to their hosts, in an attempt to make the Aldeans return them to the ship. Using the Custodian, he locates all the children and explains to them that it is a form of passive resistance. He assures them that while the Aldeans may become upset, they will not harm them as they need them. While a couple are not sure, he reminds them that while the Aldeans are very nice, they all want to go home and gets the mutual solidarity he needs. Rashella walks in and finds them.

Act Five

Upon the Enterprise's return, Crusher confirms the Aldeans are suffering from acute radiation poisoning, which is causing the infertility. It also explains their pallor, general lack of appetite and sensitivity to light. While Data says it would take too long to decode the Aldean's transporter beam, La Forge has found that the holes in the shielding can be used to beam down a team with the right timing. When Radue beams Picard and Crusher down to negotiate, Worf carefully orders the transporter officer to beam Riker and Data down to Aldea in a discreet location. They are successful and locate the Custodian.

Radue meets with Picard and Crusher and first demands that he make the children end their strike. Picard goes to the children and surprises Radue by taking them back to him and reveals that Riker and Data are on the planet. Crusher tries to convince Radue that the cause of their infertility is the planetary shield and cloaking device affecting their ozone layer, similar to Earth in the 21st century. Eventually, the children will become affected as well. Radue does not believe her, insisting that their scientists would've known but Crusher retorts that they have been so reliant on their technology, they've stopped questioning it or know how it works. Radue attempts to beam the officers away but his commands to the Custodian are not responding; Riker and Data have temporarily disabled it. Picard has the Enterprise to beam up the children, but not before young Harry Bernard says goodbye to his "adoptive" father, Accolan. When they are gone, Radue is convinced that Picard has destroyed them. The captain says they are doing the exact opposite.

The Aldeans, led by the Starfleet personnel, go to the mysterious door and find what Data identifies as the power source. Radue muses that they need to relearn how to look after themselves and use the power source safely. Picard offers their help, which is gladly accepted. The crew successfully reseeds Aldea's ozone layer: neither the cloak nor the shield can ever be used again if they want to preserve it.

On the Enterprise, Dr. Crusher reports that the population is responding well to treatment, and will become fertile in time. Picard remarks that while the planet's legend will die, its people will live. They leave Aldea, but not before Wesley escorts Alexandra, one of the children, to the bridge as she wants to thank and hug Picard. When she leaves, everyone on the bridge giggles behind the captain's back as Alexandra's plush toy has become accidentally stuck to his back.

Log entries

Memorable quotes

"Data, find a way to defeat that shield."
"That may be impossible, sir."
"Things are only impossible until they're not!"
"Yes, sir."

- Picard and Data


"It's Aldea, Captain. It has to be."

- Riker, to Picard after the fabled planet suddenly appears in front of the Enterprise


"We need some of your children."

- Radue


"Our children are not for sale at any price."

- Beverly Crusher, to Radue


"What's your hurry, Harry?"

- William Riker, to Harry Bernard after he runs into him


"You've stolen our children away from their classrooms, away from their bedrooms and you talk about compensation?! You claim to be a civilized race and yet for some reason you have just committed an act of utter barbarity!!"
"Captain, we will continue these discussions when you have calmed down."

- Picard and Radue


"The Aldeans are suffering from a form of radiation poisoning."
"Is that what made them sterile?"

- Crusher and Picard


"Instead of the children being our hope, what if we're just condemning them to our fate?"
"Rashella, they're just protecting their own interests."
"As are we. But hear them out. The Captain and Doctor Crusher are saying that the very thing which has given us this wonderful world is what has caused this tragedy."
"That's it. Exactly. Your Custodian has controlled you so completely you've lost even the desire to even question it."

- Rashella, Radue and Picard


"OK, kids. Let's go home."

- Wesley Crusher


"The legend will die but the people will live."

- Picard


"Captain, I am not aware of regulation 6.57."
"No Data, neither am I."
"I see sir." (Pause, understands) "Oh, I see sir!'"

- Data and Picard


"Dad, I want to be an artist, but I don't want to take calculus anymore."
"You can be anything you want, Harry. Anything. But you still have to take calculus."
"Okay. Thanks, Dad."

- Harry Bernard and Harry Bernard, Sr.

Background information

Production history

Story and script

Production

  • This is the very first episode of the series not to open the introductory teaser with an external visual of the Enterprise. The next episode to also forego an exterior Enterprise visual will be "The Emissary", which opens with a game of poker between several of the senior staff.
  • This is the only Star Trek episode directed by Kim Manners.

Cast and characters

Continuity

Special and visual effects

  • The visual effect of the Enterprise-D being blasted far away from Aldea is reused in "Q Who" and "Tin Man".

Sets, props, and costumes

  • The large dome window in the Aldean's meeting room was later put on top of a building in Paradise City on Nimbus III in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
  • The Aldean's planetary shield and cloaking device was not a full scale set piece but rather a three foot long maquette, as was revealed in the Reading Rainbow's season 5 episode "The Bionic Bunny Show" (see YouTube videos Part 1 and Part 2). Effects Supervisor Robert Legato explained that it was kit-bashed out of parts from model-kits of aircraft carriers, tanks and cars. Michael Okuda elaborated in 2012, "I built the Aldean reactor core. Rob Legato and Gary Hutzel came to me and asked me to work with them on that shot. They needed something cool and powerful looking, but had no money in the budget to build anything. I had an idea for an internally-lit structure that would be seen mostly in silhouette. The advantage of this would be that the model could be fairly simple, but would look dramatic because of lighting. I used parts from several children's toys and model kits, including a Space Shuttle launch tower. I think I even used some left-over pieces from the Star Trek: TMP space dock model in the base. Rick Sternbach helped out with some of the scaffolding around the core. The core of the model was a clear acrylic tube with a fluorescent tube in it. Wrapped around the tube was a sheet of high-contrast black and white film with a pattern that I designed for this. The design incorporated lots of vertical lines and a series of hexagons, which was one of the signature graphic elements that I had used for this planet. Later, I used the same art for the back wall of the Klingon transporter room and the back wall of a Starfleet interrogation room. Rob and Gary loved the model and made it look like this huge, mysterious, powerful reactor." [4]

Music

Reception

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

14th century; 21st century; 22nd century; accident; Aldea; Aldean; Aldean history; Aldean holographic toy; Aldean musical instrument; Aldean shield; Aldean tradition; Aldean transport device; "all right"; amount; answer; appetite; Aran; area; arrival; art; artist; "at any price"; Atlantis; atmosphere; away team; beach; bed; bedroom; breed; bridge; calcium; calculation; calculus; calculus teacher; celebration; century; chance; children; choice; chromosome; citizen; civilization; classroom; cloaking device; code; colleague; "come in"; "come on"; communications; compensation; computer; conscience; contract; corridor; culture; curiosity; Custodian; Custodian's room; danger; darkness; death; deck; decontamination; dedication plaque; defense shield; deflector; demonstration; desktop monitor; discussion; distortion; dolphin; Earth; eating; electromagnetic; emotion; Epsilon Mynos system; Epsilon Mynos system sun; evidence; eye; fairy tale; family; fate; father; fear; Federation; feeling; file; First Appointee; fish; fork; "for sale"; "from time to time"; fruit; genetic dysfunction; generation; god; "good night"; goods; "go to your head"; grandparent; guest; hailing frequency; harm; head; "hello"; heritage; hole; home; honor; hope; hour; Human; hunger strike; "in essence"; "in exchange"; infertility; information; "in person"; "in return"; instinct; intention; invitation; "I see"; Katie's instrument; kidnapping; language; leader; legend; lesion; lie; light; light ray; light refracting device; list; magnetic shield; maintenance; marauder; medical doctor; medical literature; medical tricorder; medicine; Milky Way Galaxy; millennium; mind; mother; music; musician; mutual interest; myth; mythology; name; nature; necklace; negotiation; Neinman; "never mind"; note; number; number one; observation lounge; ocean; oceanographer; "of course"; offer; offspring; "on my way"; orbit; order; "out of nowhere"; override; ozone layer; painting; pallor; parent; passers-by; passive resistance; pattern; payment; peace; person; planetary defense system; plunder; position report; potential; power source; Progenitor; quadrant one; question; race; radiation; radiation poisoning; reason; red alert; representative; repulsor beam; risk; rob; Romulan; room; saucer section; scanner; scanning device; scientist; school; screen; sculpting tool; sculptor; sculpture; sensitivity; sensor; shield; shielding device; sickbay; "sit down"; skant; society; solution; son; sprinter; staff officer; Starfleet Regulations; statue; status; sterility; story; stubborn; stuffed animal; subject; surface; symptom; talent; teacher; technology; terminal illness; "thank you"; theory; thing; third level clearance; thousand; three-dimensional chess; toy; trade; "trail of breadcrumbs"; trait; transporter room; transporting procedure; treatment; tricorder; turbolift; ultraviolet radiation; unit; Unit B375; unnamed plants; viewscreen; vision; VISOR; voice; voice command; Vulcan lute; way of living; week; window; wood; word; work; Xerxes VII; year; Zadar IV; Zena

Other references

Unreferenced material

Garen

External links

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