Cost of Living (TNG episode)

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Star Trek: TNG episode
"Cost of Living"

Episode no.	120
Prod. code	220
Airdate	April 20, 1992
Writer(s)	Peter Allan Fields
Director	Winrich Kolbe
Guest star(s)	Majel Barrett Brian Bonsall Tony Jay Carel Struycken David Oliver Albie Selznick Patrick Cronn
Year	2368
Stardate	45733.6
Episode chronology
Previous	"The First Duty"
Next	"The Perfect Mate"

"Cost of Living" is the name of a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, from the series' fifth season. Its episode number is 120, and it first aired on 20 April 1992 (Paramount Pictures, n.d.).

1 Synopsis
2 Emmy Nominations
3 References
4 External link

[edit] Synopsis

Lwaxana Troi arrives to the Enterpise, declaring that she is to hold her arranged wedding there. She is to marry a man with whom she shared many interests with according to a matchmaking computer system which declared them perfect mates. Picard refuses, but when he is told she wants him to give away the bride he changes his mind, saying "Nothing would make me happier than giving away Mrs. Troi."

Deanna is shocked when she is told that Lwaxana will not follow the betazoid tradition of a naked bride at weddings. Lwaxana replies that it is offensive to her future husband's people. But Deanna still doesn't think someone with such a position as her mother should just throw away a fine betazoid tradition just like that.

Worf and his son Alexander has problems with fulfilling obligations, Alexander not doing the chores he has been told to do. Deanna Troi suggests that they make a contract including matters such as Alexander only playing after he has performed his chores. But Lwaxana ruins this by saying "A contract is something you make with someone you distrust." She several times takes Alexander to a holodeck simulation called the Parallax colony; "a place for free spirits". It's a fantasy land involving such fantastical characters as a smiling, multi-colored humanoid head inside a "floating" sphere; a juggler; a rotund humanoid noted for making such comments such as "every moment has a purpose" and "the higher, the fewer"; and two twins, each with large hairdos and a habit of constantly arguing. Ms. Troi teaches Alexander to do what he feels like and "be a free spirit". Deanna complains that her mother is giving the little Klingon conflicting messages.

Lwaxana's husband-to-be arrives, proving himself to be less suitable than the test indicated. After talking to Alexander, who asks why she seems so sad, Ms: Troi arrives to the wedding naked according to betazoid tradition, ignoring any potential offense. Her husband-to-have-been leaves, upset. Lwaxana thanks Alexander for teaching her to be a free spirit. The episode ends with Deanna, Lwaxana, Alexander and Worf mudbathing in the free thinkers' colony, Worf asking "Are you supposed to just sit here?"

[edit] Emmy Nominations

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series

[edit] References

Paramount Pictures. Cost of Living. (n.d.). Retrieved Dec. 12, 2003 from http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/episode/68546.html
Fields, Peter Allan (Writer), & Kolbe, Winrich (Director). (1992). Cost of Living [Television series episode]. In Rick Berman (Producer), Star Trek: The Next Generation. Hollywood: Paramount Pictures.
Lutz, A.J., personal communication, December 11, 2003