Star Trek: The Next Generation s05e20 Episode Script
Cost of Living
- Forward tubes armed and ready.
|- Fire.
- A direct hit.
|- The asteroid has been shattered.
But the core is on a collision course|with Tessen III.
- Is it a threat?|- Yes.
- It will cause planet-wide damage.
|- Time to impact? It will reach the atmosphere in 44|seconds and impact 11 seconds later.
- Ready torpedoes.
|- Aye, sir.
Sir, it is unlikely another|photon torpedo will be of any effect.
- Mr Worf, prepare a tractor beam.
|- Aye, sir.
I am unable to get a lock|with the tractor beam.
There is magnetic-field interference|emanating from the core materials.
Activate a deflector.
|If we send a particle beam, we may produce|a disruptive nuclear effect.
- Aye, sir.
|- Impact in 17 seconds.
Beam activated.
The target has been destroyed.
The remaining debris|is of no threat to the planet, sir.
Well done, everyone.
Ensign, put us back on course.
Warp|four when we clear the debris field.
Aye, sir.
Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages|of the Starship Enterprise.
Its continuing mission,|to explore strange new worlds, .
.
to seek out new life|and new civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
- My instructions were clear.
|- They were not! Before play, he was to put his soiled|clothing in the garment reprocessor.
- I was not!|- I sense a touch of hostility here.
- You were specifically told that.
|- You told me yesterday, not today.
- If I may suggest|- The same rule applies today that Please! Why not simply draw up a contract which clearly defines the duties|of each family member? You mean he tells me what he wants|and I do it? No.
I mean you both agree|to your responsibilities.
When you do|what you've agreed to do, you've earned the privilege|to do what you want to do.
When he's cleaned his room,|perhaps he can visit the holodeck to fight his alien monsters.
You suggest bribery.
I suggest working out an equitable|system with the rules spelled out.
For the child and the parent.
You must list|your responsibilities, too.
What would you like your father|to promise, Alexander? - No yelling.
|- I do! I do not yell.
You should have no trouble|with that part.
Why not go back to your quarters|and talk this thing over? Decide on which points|each of you wants in the contract.
Very well.
One day, you'll be glad your father|cared enough about you to make rules.
It may be hard to imagine right now, but eventually, most children|come to appreciate their parents.
Riker to Counsellor Troi.
|Your mother's just come aboard.
On the other hand Deanna, my dear! It's Mother! I've got deliciously exciting news!|You'll be absolutely thrilled.
I'm getting married.
You know, with just a bit|of redecorating here and there, this ten-forward room should make|a very nice wedding hall.
I beg your pardon? Where else, my little one, but here amongst my friends and in|the presence of my adored daughter? Mother, where did you When did you meet this man?|Who is he? I mean, marriage?|When did all this happen? My poor, plodding little Deanna with|her questions, questions, questions! Wherever did you inherit|such pedestrian genes? What matters|is that your mother's happy.
Mother, if you're happy,|then I'm happy for you.
I only asked who he is|and where you met him.
Those are not unusual questions.
He's a wonderful man with such good|breeding.
He's absolute perfection.
- Who is he?|- He is Campio.
Third Minister to the Conference|of Judges from Kostolain.
Royalty.
Naturally.
I didn't know|you'd been to Kostolain.
Or was he on some|diplomatic mission to Betazed? Well, neither, actually.
You see,|we haven't exactly met yet, really.
But the profiles we've exchanged! They were in such accord|that you could weep.
You would weep|at the harmony between us.
Mother, don't you think it would be|a good idea if you met the man before spending|the rest of your life with him? I love you, but you do make|everything sound like an epitaph.
I don't want to agree! You have to.
|That is what an agreement is.
Excuse the intrusion, but we're having some difficulty|drawing up our contract.
Mrs Troi.
- He's not fair!|- The boy is unreasonable.
Well, of course he's unreasonable.
|He's a child.
And such a child.
Making little boys reasonable|only gives them pimples.
- Alexander, this is my mother.
|- Alexander? What a wonderful name! You know, I once knew a tall,|handsome warrior named Alexander.
He utterly adored me.
|We went everywhere.
Simply everywhere! Have you been anywhere?|Contract? What contract? Between father and son.
A fair and balanced way|to achieve a mutual sense of order.
How ghastly for you.
And you are doing this|to your own child, Mr Woof? - Mother!|- It is Worf, madam.
Contracts are between people|who don't trust one another.
A child who is trusted|becomes worthy of that trust.
Will you stay out of this? If he does not perform|his contractual duties, I assume he will be chastised? He will be sanctioned, yes.
If you fail to perform your duties,|what can the child do about it? - Will you please|- I? Not perform my duty? Alexander.
Now, life's true gift|is the capacity to enjoy enjoyment.
Now.
Have I arrived too late,|or can you still smile? She's getting married? Yes.
We should rendezvous|with her intended in 31 hours.
I will not have her|using us for her convenience simply because her daughter|is one of my officers.
Apparently Deanna being on board|is only one reason.
The other reason being? She thinks the honour of giving away|the bride should fall on you.
Permission for an on-board wedding|is granted.
Nothing would please me more|than to give away Mrs Troi.
My little warrior!|And how are you this morning? I see.
Being punished|for something, are we? It's just my regular time to meet|Counsellor Troi.
She's not here yet.
Then you're early.
|That's very responsible of you.
No, I just wanted to be|out of my room before Before what? Now, if we're to be real friends,|we've got to share only the truth.
Why? For one thing, it's easier.
When you tell the truth, you never|have to remember what you lied about.
But mostly, a true friend is a person you can always tell the truth to|without worrying about it.
I I wanted to leave|before my father got back.
I hate him.
I wish my mother were here.
She died.
It's not very fair, is it? All he cares about are rules.
I'm supposed to do everything right|all the time.
I don't know how.
To tell you the truth,|little warrior, neither do I.
But, I do know one marvellous thing|we can do with rules.
- I'm meant to see Counsellor Troi.
|- Exactly.
Ever been to|a colony of free spirits? - What do they do there?|- Whatever they want.
Artists, philosophers, freethinkers, and people who don't quite fit|other people's rules.
Personally, I come for the mud baths.
|You're going to adore the mud baths! Computer, I'm assuming that you have|the Parallax Colony on Shiralea Vl? - That program is available.
|- Good! Then run it for us, dear.
- What's that?|- A wind dancer! He stands guard.
Only those|whose hearts are joyous may enter.
Come on.
Fire sculptor.
We'll chat later if you're not wearing|anything flammable.
Hello.
A few of us are just gathering|for our laughing hour.
Would you care to come laugh with us? Actually, we were about to|experience a mud bath.
Were you? What an idea.
We will join you.
One can always|laugh in the bath.
- Do you ever drop one?|- No! These are my worlds.
I protect them.
|I am a master of worlds.
And they fly only as I wish.
We're having guests|for laughing hour.
Care to join us? - We'd love to.
|- No, thank you.
- Yes.
|- No.
Why do you always say no|when I say yes? - I don't.
|- You just did.
- There you go again.
|- Why are they arguing? They're friends.
|They love contradiction.
They thrive on challenge.
|They flourish in conflict.
- Then why are they friends?|- Who else can you fight with? Hold! What is the lesson for today? Damned if we know.
We're just here|for some fun and a mud bath.
Every moment requires a purpose.
- No, it doesn't.
|- Every purpose requires a plan.
He does this every day, usually while everyone's food|is getting cold.
- It's rather boring.
|- The higher, .
.
the fewer.
That's a conversation stopper|if I ever heard one.
- You're being stubborn.
|- I am not.
- You are.
|- I am not! - Yes, you are.
|- I am not.
Excuse me.
If you're gonna argue,|you should remember, the higher, the fewer.
So, my little warrior wants to see|more out of life than just fighting? The mind opens, and in creeps wisdom.
Alexander! "Be patient," she says.
Come! I can't believe this.
Isn't Alexander with you? He didn't show up|for his appointment.
Computer, what is the location|of Alexander Rozhenko? Alexander Rozhenko|is on holodeck two.
Is he there alone? He is with Lwaxana Troi.
To all the creatures within us! "To all the creatures within us"? Of course.
Every one of us has a thousand|different little people inside of us.
And some of them|want to get out and be wild, and some want to be sad or happy|or inventive, or just go dancing.
That's why we all have|different urges at different times.
And all those different|little people inside of us, we must never be afraid|to take them with us wherever we go.
Who knows|when we may need one of them to pop up and rescue us|from ourselves? Variety, my little Alex.
The great secret|is not the variety of life.
- It's the variety of us.
|- Are we ready for the entertainment? Yes! Bring on the entertainment.
Mother? Little one! Mr Woof! Come, join us.
I'm trying to help the boy|learn the value of responsibility.
You're not helping|by giving him mixed messages.
I exposed you to all sorts of mixed|messages.
You still turned out dull.
What are you so worried about? Among other things,|his relationship with his father.
No more holodeck, Mother.
Please.
Why aren't you making wedding plans?|It's only three days away.
I'm letting Mr Homn handle all the|mundane details.
He knows my tastes.
Mother There's absolutely nothing to do,|you nosy little girl! Campio's sent his mother's wedding|gown, which Mr Homn is altering.
There isn't anything else Wedding gown? Mother, stop.
You're not going to be naked|at your own wedding? Campio's planet|has different traditions.
He would not approve of|a traditional Betazoid wedding, so I am happily adapting!|Simple as that.
I need some tea.
I can't believe I'm hearing this from the heir|to the Holy Rings of Betazed, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx.
Why can't I ever|work this replicator? Mother I think it's time to talk about|this mysterious marriage to a man you've never met.
Computer, some Jestral tea, please.
Why shouldn't I get married|if I choose to? You make everything into a mystery.
|There is no mystery, Deanna! Except about this Petrokian sausage.
The tea.
|All I wanted was a cup of tea.
Oh, dear, I think your replicator's|having a nervous collapse.
A diagnostic|of the food-replication systems has failed to detect any faults|in the terminals.
But we've still had over 200 reports|of malfunctioning replicators.
An energy fluctuation|in a utility-access corridor.
Well, we'd better look into it|before the Captain orders dinner.
Yeah.
Dash 64.
Here we are.
Some kind of|intermittent EM-field pattern.
Gimme a hand with that, will you? There's no plasma leakage.
|Just a little negative-ion charging.
Bad enough having to wear anything|at all to my own wedding, but this? Perhaps if we lower the bodice Raise the hemline, then? What a constant joy you are! Mr Homn? Alexander! My little warrior.
Come here.
Come on.
Give me a great big hug! Now, you're not escaping|another appointment, are you? No, ma'am.
Well, I suppose eventually we all|have to live up to our obligations.
Well, now.
Tell me, what brings you here|to brighten my day? I wanted to say I'm sorry|if I got you in any trouble.
That's very sweet, dear,|but I really wasn't in any trouble.
Until I saw this dress! - Ugly, isn't it?|- What's it for? - I'm getting married.
|- Why? Are you sure|my daughter didn't send you? Just a joke.
People get married because they want to|spend their lives with someone.
Their whole life? They must like that person a lot.
Well, if you're young and lucky,|it'll be someone you like a lot, yes.
And if you're older Are you very old? I'm alone, Alex.
And when you do get older, .
.
and can no longer pick and choose|from whatever may come your way, .
.
then you do|what we call compromise.
Keeps you from being afraid.
We traced the failure|to an interface which routes replicator selections|to the correct subprocessors.
The interface had been transformed|into a gelatinous material we haven't been able to identify.
We have an intermittent failure|of the inertial-damping system.
Take us out of warp.
Primary attitude control has failed.
|Going to secondary.
We have lost helm control.
Try a manual bypass|of the damping systems.
- Backup generators.
|- Coming on line now.
How long before we regain control? Almost there.
Ensign, put us back on course.
|Stay at impulse for now.
- Did something hit us, Mr Worf?|- Negative, sir.
The automatic bypass|should have kicked in.
I want to know what went wrong.
|Analysis in 30 minutes.
What happened to the replicator|happened to the stabiliser.
The transfers in both systems|turned into this.
- Some sort of corrosion?|- We do not yet know what it is.
There's a conversion process turning|the metal into gelatinous residue.
The cause is a mystery.
Replicators and stabilisers|are totally unrelated.
And we still don't know why the|sensors didn't pick up the problems.
Let's run a mass spectrometer|analysis and find out what it is.
Transporter room one to Capt Picard.
|Minister Campio is beaming on board.
I'll be right there.
The bridegroom.
Campio! My dear, your compatibility profile|doesn't do you justice.
I am Lwaxana, and any introductory|compliment will be happily received.
Indeed, Mrs Troi,|you are even lovelier in person.
Now, that worked just fine.
Now, now, we don't wish to be|too familiar at this early juncture.
Forgive this tardiness.
|Ship's business.
Minister Campio, Capt Picard.
|Welcome aboard.
I thank you|and greet you with appreciation for permitting this wedding|aboard your fine vessel.
- Not at all, sir.
|- May I present my daughter? Deanna Troi, meet your future|stepfather, come to think of it.
Yes.
If I recall the profile,|you are the ship's counsellor? I am, sir.
And my escort, who need not be|addressed, Protocol Master Erko.
Campio? Personally I absolutely|adore all the ostentation I can get, but, Protocol Master? I would not do you, nor our hosts, the disservice of failing to ensure|that priorities are observed.
Yes.
How very thoughtful.
It would be unpardonable simply to|abandon ourselves to the moment.
- Would it not?|- Unpardonable! Looks like the only alloy common|to both replicator and stabiliser .
.
is nitrium.
Computer, analyse the nitrium content|of both stabiliser and replicator.
There is no nitrium in the affected|stabiliser or replicator.
There is none in the residue either.
The elements in the residue have been|broken down into simpler structures.
That suggests the nitrium|has been organically metabolised.
Maybe that's it.
If a living organism|ingested the nitrium .
.
this residue would be|the waste left behind.
If that's true, something's eating|away at the nitrium on this ship.
That means that|the dilithium chamber is vulnerable and the power-transfer conduits.
|Better get to Engineering.
Eat, son.
What are you doing?|What is that noise? It's my laughing hour.
That is enough, please.
|It is your dinner hour.
Eat.
I promised to meet Mrs Troi for|another lesson in happy wisdom.
Will you stop doing that, please? Alexander, eat your food.
|Wisdom will wait, I assure you.
I promised.
|Should I break my promise, Father? A Klingon never breaks his word.
Where are you going? You said no Klingon breaks his word.
I did not mean now.
|Now just sit down and eat.
I don't understand.
|You're confusing me.
Understand later.
Just eat.
Father? The higher, the fewer.
I don't wish to be authoritative, but Erko says now is our proper time|for discussion of certain details.
I don't want to be|considered anti-Erko, dear, but I did promise Alexander|one more holodeck trip.
Come along, my love.
Surely there'll be other occasions|for you to spend time with the boy.
My goodness, Campio.
You and I are going to have|the rest of our lives.
I tell you what.
I'll be back here|with you in one hour, alright? Minister, the woman should not be|addressing you in the familiar.
- Mother, we have to talk.
|- Yes we do, dear, but not just now.
Well, how do I address him? We've come for Alexander.
|Forgive the intrusion.
Preferably he should be called|by his ministerial title.
I'll remember.
Mr Homn, you make sure that everyone|is comfortable until we get back.
Especially the Minister here.
I'll be back.
|One hour, darling.
See you then.
Mrs Troi,|it is Alexander's dinner hour.
How thoughtless of me! I guess we'll have to have a picnic|before our mud bath.
We have business to deal with here.
Leaving is simply not acceptable.
Well, can't we just pretend it is?|We'll be back.
You are missing the point.
Alexander, you will return to|our quarters and have dinner.
- But we're going to the holodeck!|- You're undermining all our efforts.
Don't be absurd.
Don't they let you|change those colourless outfits? It is essential that we discuss|the wedding procedures now.
Minister, darling,|perhaps you and Jerko can come, too.
Lwaxana, this exceeds all boundaries.
Well, a half-hour, then.
|No longer, I promise.
Mr Homn? Your duties.
Counsellor Troi,|have you no influence? Lwaxana, if you will remain,|I may allow the boy to stay.
- Definitely not!|- Definitely not.
My son is to return to quarters.
Nor may a servant be present|during a prenuptial consultation.
Well, sir, I'm afraid even the bride|won't be present for this one.
The dilithium chamber|shows no anomalous readings.
So far, these transfer conduits|are clean, too.
Hold on.
I'm getting something here.
There's an energy fluctuation|in this panel.
What happened? Well, I was just juggling and l|happened to catch one in my mouth.
It tasted good, so I ate it.
Before I knew it, I'd eaten up|every one of my worlds.
It never occurred to me|that once they were gone, I'd have nothing left to juggle.
If you ever have a world, plan ahead.
|Don't eat it.
Well, now.
Almost time to get back.
Are you sad? Course not.
|I'm about to be a bride.
You know that man you're marrying? He would never take a mud bath,|would he? He might.
Probably not.
Maybe this would be a good time to get one of those little people|that live inside you to come out and tell you what to do,|or help you or something.
- What are you talking about?|- I'm sorry.
No.
Don't you dare be sorry.
What's wrong? Come along, Alexander.
Let's not|leave everyone waiting for us.
Once we saw that photonic trail, we realised we must be|dealing with a metal parasite.
We believe they came through the hull|after we destroyed the asteroid.
Do they attack anything|other than nitrium? Not that we can tell,|but we've got nitrium everywhere.
Computers, life support,|ventilation, engines, even the dilithium chamber.
The asteroid we destroyed|was rich in nitrium.
Aye, sir.
And that asteroid|came from the Pelloris Field.
If the field is rich in nitrium,|it would be a natural feeding ground.
We should go back.
The parasites could possibly|be lured back to the asteroids.
How long to the field? At warp nine, five hours, 20 minutes.
- Bridge.
|- Riker here.
Set a course for the Pelloris|asteroid field, warp nine.
Captain, with our sensors|unable to detect the parasites, and given how fast|they move through the ship We may not have five hours,|20 minutes.
Can we slow them down? An exanogen-gas barrier has been|known to slow down metal parasites.
They don't like cold? Make it so.
The problem is finding them.
When we spot a fluctuation, they've already consumed the nitrium|and moved on.
Power is going down.
I've rerouted|to secondary generators.
Inform the bridge.
Mr Data, with me.
Bridge.
Any suggestions as to how to|get the parasites to leave the ship once we reach the Pelloris Field? If we reconfigure a particle beam|with a high concentration of nitrium and project it at an asteroid Then they would follow the beam|like a trail of breadcrumbs.
Very well.
- Turbolift velocity is fluctuating.
|- Computer, halt at next level.
Computer, acknowledge! We have reached the bridge, sir.
Report, Number One.
Ventilation and life support|are failing.
Captain, we have dropped to warp 5.
7.
- Engineering.
|- La Forge here.
What's happening? We're losing speed.
The parasites must have gotten into|the primary warp controllers.
Trying a bypass patch|to isolate the backup, but it looks like warp six|is about the best I can do.
At that speed, there won't be a ship|left to reach the Pelloris Field.
- Do what you have to.
|- Working on it, sir.
We are losing life support|on decks 11 and 12.
Mr Worf, have Security evacuate|all personnel from those decks.
Engineering to bridge.
We've got warp 6.
5, but I don't know|how much more we can do here.
We need more speed than that.
Matter/antimatter injectors failing.
|I'm rerouteing to secondary power.
Watch the antimatter containment|for any failure.
Atmospheric systems|are down 27 percent.
Below tolerable oxygen limits.
We must evacuate decks 20 to 24.
Make it so.
Shut down|life support to those decks.
Direct evacuees|to decks nine and ten.
Divert emergency life support|to those decks.
Time to asteroid field? If we maintain our current speed,|two hours, 23 minutes, sir.
Mr Data, the rest of us|may lose consciousness.
If we do, it will be your job|to execute the plan as discussed.
Aye, sir.
Structural integrity of|the dilithium chamber is 34 percent.
Estimated breach in one minute.
Computer, transfer power|from warp engines to life support.
Transfer complete.
- Activate Bussard collector.
|- Activated.
Breach of dilithium chamber|in 40 seconds.
Reconfigure hydrogen-plasma mixture|to include 30 percent nitrium.
Mixture complete.
Project emitter beam,|heading 042, mark 021.
Structural integrity of the dilithium|chamber is at 28 percent and holding.
- Mr Data?|- The plan was successful, sir.
Well done.
Mr Worf, coordinate your teams|with Dr Crusher and Cmdr La Forge.
- Assess damage and injury.
|- Aye, sir.
Captain's log, stardate 45733.
6.
Temporary repairs|have been completed.
Our attention now turns to|matters of a more festive nature.
This is intolerable.
You'd think she'd get to|her own wedding on time.
Minister! This is infamous.
Infamous!|We must leave immediately! Heavenly.
Every pore in my body|tingles with contentment.
Isn't it wonderful|how things worked out, Alexander? I wanted to teach you|how to grab the joys of living.
And you turned around|and taught me to not let go of them.
How very mutual.
We still have to learn how to live|in the real world, Mother.
All of us.
She's absolutely right, Alexander.
|But only when necessary.
You're just supposed to sit here?
|- Fire.
- A direct hit.
|- The asteroid has been shattered.
But the core is on a collision course|with Tessen III.
- Is it a threat?|- Yes.
- It will cause planet-wide damage.
|- Time to impact? It will reach the atmosphere in 44|seconds and impact 11 seconds later.
- Ready torpedoes.
|- Aye, sir.
Sir, it is unlikely another|photon torpedo will be of any effect.
- Mr Worf, prepare a tractor beam.
|- Aye, sir.
I am unable to get a lock|with the tractor beam.
There is magnetic-field interference|emanating from the core materials.
Activate a deflector.
|If we send a particle beam, we may produce|a disruptive nuclear effect.
- Aye, sir.
|- Impact in 17 seconds.
Beam activated.
The target has been destroyed.
The remaining debris|is of no threat to the planet, sir.
Well done, everyone.
Ensign, put us back on course.
Warp|four when we clear the debris field.
Aye, sir.
Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages|of the Starship Enterprise.
Its continuing mission,|to explore strange new worlds, .
.
to seek out new life|and new civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
- My instructions were clear.
|- They were not! Before play, he was to put his soiled|clothing in the garment reprocessor.
- I was not!|- I sense a touch of hostility here.
- You were specifically told that.
|- You told me yesterday, not today.
- If I may suggest|- The same rule applies today that Please! Why not simply draw up a contract which clearly defines the duties|of each family member? You mean he tells me what he wants|and I do it? No.
I mean you both agree|to your responsibilities.
When you do|what you've agreed to do, you've earned the privilege|to do what you want to do.
When he's cleaned his room,|perhaps he can visit the holodeck to fight his alien monsters.
You suggest bribery.
I suggest working out an equitable|system with the rules spelled out.
For the child and the parent.
You must list|your responsibilities, too.
What would you like your father|to promise, Alexander? - No yelling.
|- I do! I do not yell.
You should have no trouble|with that part.
Why not go back to your quarters|and talk this thing over? Decide on which points|each of you wants in the contract.
Very well.
One day, you'll be glad your father|cared enough about you to make rules.
It may be hard to imagine right now, but eventually, most children|come to appreciate their parents.
Riker to Counsellor Troi.
|Your mother's just come aboard.
On the other hand Deanna, my dear! It's Mother! I've got deliciously exciting news!|You'll be absolutely thrilled.
I'm getting married.
You know, with just a bit|of redecorating here and there, this ten-forward room should make|a very nice wedding hall.
I beg your pardon? Where else, my little one, but here amongst my friends and in|the presence of my adored daughter? Mother, where did you When did you meet this man?|Who is he? I mean, marriage?|When did all this happen? My poor, plodding little Deanna with|her questions, questions, questions! Wherever did you inherit|such pedestrian genes? What matters|is that your mother's happy.
Mother, if you're happy,|then I'm happy for you.
I only asked who he is|and where you met him.
Those are not unusual questions.
He's a wonderful man with such good|breeding.
He's absolute perfection.
- Who is he?|- He is Campio.
Third Minister to the Conference|of Judges from Kostolain.
Royalty.
Naturally.
I didn't know|you'd been to Kostolain.
Or was he on some|diplomatic mission to Betazed? Well, neither, actually.
You see,|we haven't exactly met yet, really.
But the profiles we've exchanged! They were in such accord|that you could weep.
You would weep|at the harmony between us.
Mother, don't you think it would be|a good idea if you met the man before spending|the rest of your life with him? I love you, but you do make|everything sound like an epitaph.
I don't want to agree! You have to.
|That is what an agreement is.
Excuse the intrusion, but we're having some difficulty|drawing up our contract.
Mrs Troi.
- He's not fair!|- The boy is unreasonable.
Well, of course he's unreasonable.
|He's a child.
And such a child.
Making little boys reasonable|only gives them pimples.
- Alexander, this is my mother.
|- Alexander? What a wonderful name! You know, I once knew a tall,|handsome warrior named Alexander.
He utterly adored me.
|We went everywhere.
Simply everywhere! Have you been anywhere?|Contract? What contract? Between father and son.
A fair and balanced way|to achieve a mutual sense of order.
How ghastly for you.
And you are doing this|to your own child, Mr Woof? - Mother!|- It is Worf, madam.
Contracts are between people|who don't trust one another.
A child who is trusted|becomes worthy of that trust.
Will you stay out of this? If he does not perform|his contractual duties, I assume he will be chastised? He will be sanctioned, yes.
If you fail to perform your duties,|what can the child do about it? - Will you please|- I? Not perform my duty? Alexander.
Now, life's true gift|is the capacity to enjoy enjoyment.
Now.
Have I arrived too late,|or can you still smile? She's getting married? Yes.
We should rendezvous|with her intended in 31 hours.
I will not have her|using us for her convenience simply because her daughter|is one of my officers.
Apparently Deanna being on board|is only one reason.
The other reason being? She thinks the honour of giving away|the bride should fall on you.
Permission for an on-board wedding|is granted.
Nothing would please me more|than to give away Mrs Troi.
My little warrior!|And how are you this morning? I see.
Being punished|for something, are we? It's just my regular time to meet|Counsellor Troi.
She's not here yet.
Then you're early.
|That's very responsible of you.
No, I just wanted to be|out of my room before Before what? Now, if we're to be real friends,|we've got to share only the truth.
Why? For one thing, it's easier.
When you tell the truth, you never|have to remember what you lied about.
But mostly, a true friend is a person you can always tell the truth to|without worrying about it.
I I wanted to leave|before my father got back.
I hate him.
I wish my mother were here.
She died.
It's not very fair, is it? All he cares about are rules.
I'm supposed to do everything right|all the time.
I don't know how.
To tell you the truth,|little warrior, neither do I.
But, I do know one marvellous thing|we can do with rules.
- I'm meant to see Counsellor Troi.
|- Exactly.
Ever been to|a colony of free spirits? - What do they do there?|- Whatever they want.
Artists, philosophers, freethinkers, and people who don't quite fit|other people's rules.
Personally, I come for the mud baths.
|You're going to adore the mud baths! Computer, I'm assuming that you have|the Parallax Colony on Shiralea Vl? - That program is available.
|- Good! Then run it for us, dear.
- What's that?|- A wind dancer! He stands guard.
Only those|whose hearts are joyous may enter.
Come on.
Fire sculptor.
We'll chat later if you're not wearing|anything flammable.
Hello.
A few of us are just gathering|for our laughing hour.
Would you care to come laugh with us? Actually, we were about to|experience a mud bath.
Were you? What an idea.
We will join you.
One can always|laugh in the bath.
- Do you ever drop one?|- No! These are my worlds.
I protect them.
|I am a master of worlds.
And they fly only as I wish.
We're having guests|for laughing hour.
Care to join us? - We'd love to.
|- No, thank you.
- Yes.
|- No.
Why do you always say no|when I say yes? - I don't.
|- You just did.
- There you go again.
|- Why are they arguing? They're friends.
|They love contradiction.
They thrive on challenge.
|They flourish in conflict.
- Then why are they friends?|- Who else can you fight with? Hold! What is the lesson for today? Damned if we know.
We're just here|for some fun and a mud bath.
Every moment requires a purpose.
- No, it doesn't.
|- Every purpose requires a plan.
He does this every day, usually while everyone's food|is getting cold.
- It's rather boring.
|- The higher, .
.
the fewer.
That's a conversation stopper|if I ever heard one.
- You're being stubborn.
|- I am not.
- You are.
|- I am not! - Yes, you are.
|- I am not.
Excuse me.
If you're gonna argue,|you should remember, the higher, the fewer.
So, my little warrior wants to see|more out of life than just fighting? The mind opens, and in creeps wisdom.
Alexander! "Be patient," she says.
Come! I can't believe this.
Isn't Alexander with you? He didn't show up|for his appointment.
Computer, what is the location|of Alexander Rozhenko? Alexander Rozhenko|is on holodeck two.
Is he there alone? He is with Lwaxana Troi.
To all the creatures within us! "To all the creatures within us"? Of course.
Every one of us has a thousand|different little people inside of us.
And some of them|want to get out and be wild, and some want to be sad or happy|or inventive, or just go dancing.
That's why we all have|different urges at different times.
And all those different|little people inside of us, we must never be afraid|to take them with us wherever we go.
Who knows|when we may need one of them to pop up and rescue us|from ourselves? Variety, my little Alex.
The great secret|is not the variety of life.
- It's the variety of us.
|- Are we ready for the entertainment? Yes! Bring on the entertainment.
Mother? Little one! Mr Woof! Come, join us.
I'm trying to help the boy|learn the value of responsibility.
You're not helping|by giving him mixed messages.
I exposed you to all sorts of mixed|messages.
You still turned out dull.
What are you so worried about? Among other things,|his relationship with his father.
No more holodeck, Mother.
Please.
Why aren't you making wedding plans?|It's only three days away.
I'm letting Mr Homn handle all the|mundane details.
He knows my tastes.
Mother There's absolutely nothing to do,|you nosy little girl! Campio's sent his mother's wedding|gown, which Mr Homn is altering.
There isn't anything else Wedding gown? Mother, stop.
You're not going to be naked|at your own wedding? Campio's planet|has different traditions.
He would not approve of|a traditional Betazoid wedding, so I am happily adapting!|Simple as that.
I need some tea.
I can't believe I'm hearing this from the heir|to the Holy Rings of Betazed, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx.
Why can't I ever|work this replicator? Mother I think it's time to talk about|this mysterious marriage to a man you've never met.
Computer, some Jestral tea, please.
Why shouldn't I get married|if I choose to? You make everything into a mystery.
|There is no mystery, Deanna! Except about this Petrokian sausage.
The tea.
|All I wanted was a cup of tea.
Oh, dear, I think your replicator's|having a nervous collapse.
A diagnostic|of the food-replication systems has failed to detect any faults|in the terminals.
But we've still had over 200 reports|of malfunctioning replicators.
An energy fluctuation|in a utility-access corridor.
Well, we'd better look into it|before the Captain orders dinner.
Yeah.
Dash 64.
Here we are.
Some kind of|intermittent EM-field pattern.
Gimme a hand with that, will you? There's no plasma leakage.
|Just a little negative-ion charging.
Bad enough having to wear anything|at all to my own wedding, but this? Perhaps if we lower the bodice Raise the hemline, then? What a constant joy you are! Mr Homn? Alexander! My little warrior.
Come here.
Come on.
Give me a great big hug! Now, you're not escaping|another appointment, are you? No, ma'am.
Well, I suppose eventually we all|have to live up to our obligations.
Well, now.
Tell me, what brings you here|to brighten my day? I wanted to say I'm sorry|if I got you in any trouble.
That's very sweet, dear,|but I really wasn't in any trouble.
Until I saw this dress! - Ugly, isn't it?|- What's it for? - I'm getting married.
|- Why? Are you sure|my daughter didn't send you? Just a joke.
People get married because they want to|spend their lives with someone.
Their whole life? They must like that person a lot.
Well, if you're young and lucky,|it'll be someone you like a lot, yes.
And if you're older Are you very old? I'm alone, Alex.
And when you do get older, .
.
and can no longer pick and choose|from whatever may come your way, .
.
then you do|what we call compromise.
Keeps you from being afraid.
We traced the failure|to an interface which routes replicator selections|to the correct subprocessors.
The interface had been transformed|into a gelatinous material we haven't been able to identify.
We have an intermittent failure|of the inertial-damping system.
Take us out of warp.
Primary attitude control has failed.
|Going to secondary.
We have lost helm control.
Try a manual bypass|of the damping systems.
- Backup generators.
|- Coming on line now.
How long before we regain control? Almost there.
Ensign, put us back on course.
|Stay at impulse for now.
- Did something hit us, Mr Worf?|- Negative, sir.
The automatic bypass|should have kicked in.
I want to know what went wrong.
|Analysis in 30 minutes.
What happened to the replicator|happened to the stabiliser.
The transfers in both systems|turned into this.
- Some sort of corrosion?|- We do not yet know what it is.
There's a conversion process turning|the metal into gelatinous residue.
The cause is a mystery.
Replicators and stabilisers|are totally unrelated.
And we still don't know why the|sensors didn't pick up the problems.
Let's run a mass spectrometer|analysis and find out what it is.
Transporter room one to Capt Picard.
|Minister Campio is beaming on board.
I'll be right there.
The bridegroom.
Campio! My dear, your compatibility profile|doesn't do you justice.
I am Lwaxana, and any introductory|compliment will be happily received.
Indeed, Mrs Troi,|you are even lovelier in person.
Now, that worked just fine.
Now, now, we don't wish to be|too familiar at this early juncture.
Forgive this tardiness.
|Ship's business.
Minister Campio, Capt Picard.
|Welcome aboard.
I thank you|and greet you with appreciation for permitting this wedding|aboard your fine vessel.
- Not at all, sir.
|- May I present my daughter? Deanna Troi, meet your future|stepfather, come to think of it.
Yes.
If I recall the profile,|you are the ship's counsellor? I am, sir.
And my escort, who need not be|addressed, Protocol Master Erko.
Campio? Personally I absolutely|adore all the ostentation I can get, but, Protocol Master? I would not do you, nor our hosts, the disservice of failing to ensure|that priorities are observed.
Yes.
How very thoughtful.
It would be unpardonable simply to|abandon ourselves to the moment.
- Would it not?|- Unpardonable! Looks like the only alloy common|to both replicator and stabiliser .
.
is nitrium.
Computer, analyse the nitrium content|of both stabiliser and replicator.
There is no nitrium in the affected|stabiliser or replicator.
There is none in the residue either.
The elements in the residue have been|broken down into simpler structures.
That suggests the nitrium|has been organically metabolised.
Maybe that's it.
If a living organism|ingested the nitrium .
.
this residue would be|the waste left behind.
If that's true, something's eating|away at the nitrium on this ship.
That means that|the dilithium chamber is vulnerable and the power-transfer conduits.
|Better get to Engineering.
Eat, son.
What are you doing?|What is that noise? It's my laughing hour.
That is enough, please.
|It is your dinner hour.
Eat.
I promised to meet Mrs Troi for|another lesson in happy wisdom.
Will you stop doing that, please? Alexander, eat your food.
|Wisdom will wait, I assure you.
I promised.
|Should I break my promise, Father? A Klingon never breaks his word.
Where are you going? You said no Klingon breaks his word.
I did not mean now.
|Now just sit down and eat.
I don't understand.
|You're confusing me.
Understand later.
Just eat.
Father? The higher, the fewer.
I don't wish to be authoritative, but Erko says now is our proper time|for discussion of certain details.
I don't want to be|considered anti-Erko, dear, but I did promise Alexander|one more holodeck trip.
Come along, my love.
Surely there'll be other occasions|for you to spend time with the boy.
My goodness, Campio.
You and I are going to have|the rest of our lives.
I tell you what.
I'll be back here|with you in one hour, alright? Minister, the woman should not be|addressing you in the familiar.
- Mother, we have to talk.
|- Yes we do, dear, but not just now.
Well, how do I address him? We've come for Alexander.
|Forgive the intrusion.
Preferably he should be called|by his ministerial title.
I'll remember.
Mr Homn, you make sure that everyone|is comfortable until we get back.
Especially the Minister here.
I'll be back.
|One hour, darling.
See you then.
Mrs Troi,|it is Alexander's dinner hour.
How thoughtless of me! I guess we'll have to have a picnic|before our mud bath.
We have business to deal with here.
Leaving is simply not acceptable.
Well, can't we just pretend it is?|We'll be back.
You are missing the point.
Alexander, you will return to|our quarters and have dinner.
- But we're going to the holodeck!|- You're undermining all our efforts.
Don't be absurd.
Don't they let you|change those colourless outfits? It is essential that we discuss|the wedding procedures now.
Minister, darling,|perhaps you and Jerko can come, too.
Lwaxana, this exceeds all boundaries.
Well, a half-hour, then.
|No longer, I promise.
Mr Homn? Your duties.
Counsellor Troi,|have you no influence? Lwaxana, if you will remain,|I may allow the boy to stay.
- Definitely not!|- Definitely not.
My son is to return to quarters.
Nor may a servant be present|during a prenuptial consultation.
Well, sir, I'm afraid even the bride|won't be present for this one.
The dilithium chamber|shows no anomalous readings.
So far, these transfer conduits|are clean, too.
Hold on.
I'm getting something here.
There's an energy fluctuation|in this panel.
What happened? Well, I was just juggling and l|happened to catch one in my mouth.
It tasted good, so I ate it.
Before I knew it, I'd eaten up|every one of my worlds.
It never occurred to me|that once they were gone, I'd have nothing left to juggle.
If you ever have a world, plan ahead.
|Don't eat it.
Well, now.
Almost time to get back.
Are you sad? Course not.
|I'm about to be a bride.
You know that man you're marrying? He would never take a mud bath,|would he? He might.
Probably not.
Maybe this would be a good time to get one of those little people|that live inside you to come out and tell you what to do,|or help you or something.
- What are you talking about?|- I'm sorry.
No.
Don't you dare be sorry.
What's wrong? Come along, Alexander.
Let's not|leave everyone waiting for us.
Once we saw that photonic trail, we realised we must be|dealing with a metal parasite.
We believe they came through the hull|after we destroyed the asteroid.
Do they attack anything|other than nitrium? Not that we can tell,|but we've got nitrium everywhere.
Computers, life support,|ventilation, engines, even the dilithium chamber.
The asteroid we destroyed|was rich in nitrium.
Aye, sir.
And that asteroid|came from the Pelloris Field.
If the field is rich in nitrium,|it would be a natural feeding ground.
We should go back.
The parasites could possibly|be lured back to the asteroids.
How long to the field? At warp nine, five hours, 20 minutes.
- Bridge.
|- Riker here.
Set a course for the Pelloris|asteroid field, warp nine.
Captain, with our sensors|unable to detect the parasites, and given how fast|they move through the ship We may not have five hours,|20 minutes.
Can we slow them down? An exanogen-gas barrier has been|known to slow down metal parasites.
They don't like cold? Make it so.
The problem is finding them.
When we spot a fluctuation, they've already consumed the nitrium|and moved on.
Power is going down.
I've rerouted|to secondary generators.
Inform the bridge.
Mr Data, with me.
Bridge.
Any suggestions as to how to|get the parasites to leave the ship once we reach the Pelloris Field? If we reconfigure a particle beam|with a high concentration of nitrium and project it at an asteroid Then they would follow the beam|like a trail of breadcrumbs.
Very well.
- Turbolift velocity is fluctuating.
|- Computer, halt at next level.
Computer, acknowledge! We have reached the bridge, sir.
Report, Number One.
Ventilation and life support|are failing.
Captain, we have dropped to warp 5.
7.
- Engineering.
|- La Forge here.
What's happening? We're losing speed.
The parasites must have gotten into|the primary warp controllers.
Trying a bypass patch|to isolate the backup, but it looks like warp six|is about the best I can do.
At that speed, there won't be a ship|left to reach the Pelloris Field.
- Do what you have to.
|- Working on it, sir.
We are losing life support|on decks 11 and 12.
Mr Worf, have Security evacuate|all personnel from those decks.
Engineering to bridge.
We've got warp 6.
5, but I don't know|how much more we can do here.
We need more speed than that.
Matter/antimatter injectors failing.
|I'm rerouteing to secondary power.
Watch the antimatter containment|for any failure.
Atmospheric systems|are down 27 percent.
Below tolerable oxygen limits.
We must evacuate decks 20 to 24.
Make it so.
Shut down|life support to those decks.
Direct evacuees|to decks nine and ten.
Divert emergency life support|to those decks.
Time to asteroid field? If we maintain our current speed,|two hours, 23 minutes, sir.
Mr Data, the rest of us|may lose consciousness.
If we do, it will be your job|to execute the plan as discussed.
Aye, sir.
Structural integrity of|the dilithium chamber is 34 percent.
Estimated breach in one minute.
Computer, transfer power|from warp engines to life support.
Transfer complete.
- Activate Bussard collector.
|- Activated.
Breach of dilithium chamber|in 40 seconds.
Reconfigure hydrogen-plasma mixture|to include 30 percent nitrium.
Mixture complete.
Project emitter beam,|heading 042, mark 021.
Structural integrity of the dilithium|chamber is at 28 percent and holding.
- Mr Data?|- The plan was successful, sir.
Well done.
Mr Worf, coordinate your teams|with Dr Crusher and Cmdr La Forge.
- Assess damage and injury.
|- Aye, sir.
Captain's log, stardate 45733.
6.
Temporary repairs|have been completed.
Our attention now turns to|matters of a more festive nature.
This is intolerable.
You'd think she'd get to|her own wedding on time.
Minister! This is infamous.
Infamous!|We must leave immediately! Heavenly.
Every pore in my body|tingles with contentment.
Isn't it wonderful|how things worked out, Alexander? I wanted to teach you|how to grab the joys of living.
And you turned around|and taught me to not let go of them.
How very mutual.
We still have to learn how to live|in the real world, Mother.
All of us.
She's absolutely right, Alexander.
|But only when necessary.
You're just supposed to sit here?