Symbiosis (TNG episode)

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Star Trek: TNG episode
"Symbiosis"
T'Jon is desperate to save his people, in "Symbiosis".
Episode no.	22
Prod. code	123
Airdate	April 18, 1988
Writer(s)	Robert Lewin Richard Manning Hans Beimler
Director	Win Phelps
Guest star(s)	Judson Scott, Merritt Butrick, Richard Lineback, Kimberly Farr
Year	2364
Stardate	Not given
Episode chronology
Previous	"The Arsenal of Freedom"
Next	"Skin of Evil"

"Symbiosis" is a first-season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, first broadcast April 18, 1988. It is episode #22, production #123, teleplay written by Robert Lewin, Richard Manning, and Hans Beimler, based on a story by Robert Lewin, and directed by Win Phelps.

There is no stardate given for this episode.

Overview: Picard tries to mediate a trade dispute between two neighboring planets.

1 Plot
2 Casting
3 Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story begins with the USS Enterprise entering the Delos system to study a star that is undergoing magnetic field changes. The ship gets as close to the star as possible just out of reach of dangerous solar flares. The operation is tense, since the shields are buffeted by deadly X-rays. Suddenly, there is a distress call from a ship in orbit above the fourth planet of the system. The solar storm makes communication difficult so the Enterprise heads to the planet to investigate. Arriving there, they find an old, battered freighter in a rapidly decaying orbit. They establish contact with the ship's captain, T'Jon, who calls his ship The Sanction. T'Jon explains they lost power, and are falling out of control into the planet's atmosphere.

T'Jon is pretty vague about their situation, saying they just lost "something". Picard wonders what their computer is telling him, but T'Jon indicates their computer isn't working either. Picard has Data run a remote diagnostic. Meanwhile, Lt. Yar suggests pulling them out of orbit with the tractor beam. Picard makes it so, but the solar flare activity causes the beam to fail and the ship is still falling. Data calls over to T'Jon and explains that an electromagnetic coil that constricts exhaust flow is misaligned. Picard asks if they have a replacement aboard their ship, but T'Jon says no. Data indicates a coil of the proper type is in storage and they could beam it over to them. T'Jon is delighted, but is embarrassed to admit none of them know how to install it.

Picard glances to Commander Riker who is shaking his head in disbelief. How can the captain of a ship be so ignorant of its maintenance? If it wasn't so serious, he'd be laughing. Riker suggests sending over a repair team, but Tasha advises against it. The solar flare activity is too unstable to risk transport of personnel. Worf indicates the ship is entering the atmosphere and they only have minutes before break up. Picard tells T'Jon to round up his crew and prepare for emergency beam out. Yar and Riker head to a transporter room where Yar works the controls but has problems locking on the passengers. She tells T'Jon to go to their transporter room; perhaps she can link the two systems together for a stronger signal. T'Jon signals they are ready and Yar activates the beam. To her and Riker's shock, a cargo barrel materializes on the pad instead of the crew. Riker is confused; their lives are in danger and they send their cargo? Yar beams the container to a hold and tries again. With time is running out, she just locks on whatever life readings she can find and energizes the beam.

Worf announces that the freighter is breaking up as the Sanction explodes above the planet. Yar informs she only managed to save four of the six crew members. On the pad stand four humanoids; three men and a woman. T'Jon and Romas, appearing scruffy and unclean, are acting nervous and high-strung, while Sobi and Langor, appearing well groomed and richly dressed, act completely calm. Riker apologizes for losing the other two, but none of the survivors appear to have concern for them. T'Jon immediatey inquires to the container to which Riker explains it was sent to a hold. They demand to see it, but Riker doesn't understand their persistence, and leads them to see their "precious cargo".

The container sits in the middle of the hold. Sobi and Langor appear gratified, however T'Jon and Romas are ecstatic, embracing the barrel almost lovingly. T'Jon thanks Riker for saving it stating he was afraid it was lost, but Langor casually reminds him the barrel is her and Sobi's property. T'Jon argues they paid a fair price, but Langor says they haven't received it. Romas responds that they offered goods in trade, which Sobi indicates has gone down with the ship and therefore the deal is void.

The parties continue to bicker back and fourth until it gets physical. T'Jon lunges at Sobi discharging a burst of energy from his hands that stuns Sobi for a moment. Sobi fights it off and gives T'Jon a shocking grasp of his own. Yar shouts for them to stop and jolts them both with a stun from her phaser. They regain their composure, but keep a hostile glare in their eyes. Security arrives to escort the guests to the observation lounge. Yar ponders about their strange power; "a natural electrical discharge?" Riker can only wonder. It's a difficult "weapon" to confiscate.

In the observation lounge, the cool and collective Brekkans, Sobi and Langor, sit opposite their overtly stressed out counterparts, T'Jon and Romas, from Ornara. Guards are posted just in case their hostilities flare up again. On the bridge, Picard prepares to deal with them. He asks Data for information on the two races, but there is little about them. The only recorded contact was over 200 years ago. A scout ship reported two inhabited planets with cultures on the verge of space travel. What is strange is neither culture seems to have advanced any further in the past two centuries. Counselor Troi feels strong concern over the cargo barrel indicating it is a source of great anxiety for them.

Picard enters the lounge and offers his regrets for not saving their ship. T'Jon is curious, explaining they have two more freighters in need of repair and their survival depends on their operation. Data indicates he was able to download the schematics of their ship's drive system and sees no problem in fabricating replacement components if needed. The four aliens breathe a sigh of relief. The topic of the cargo comes up and Picard notes there seems to be some dispute over ownership. T'Jon claims the problem is a matter of life and death. It's "Felicium", a medicine for a lethal plague on their world and critical to the survival of millions. Picard shifts a concerned glance to Sobi and Langor who know they are being viewed as heartless brutes.

Langor explains that the plant that yields Felicium grows only in remote areas of Brekka. Sobi adds that it must be painstakingly cultivated and refined: a complex and expensive process. A single barrel of Felicium represents an enormous investment and they just can't "give" it away. T'Jon indicates it has already been paid for and they simply ask for what is rightfully theirs. Romas says they will soon see what the plague is doing to them when the symptoms take hold of him and T'Jon. Picard becomes alarmed; T'Jon and Romas are carrying this plague? Romas indicates that every Ornaran does. This means they may have brought it aboard the ship. Not taking a chance that the transporter biofilters screened it, Picard initiates a medical emergency and calls for Dr. Crusher.

The four aliens are taken to sickbay where Beverly runs tests. She is unfamiliar with their physiology, but from what she can tell, Sobi and Langor are in perfect health. She isn't so sure of T'Jon and Romas, who appear to be getting worse. Both are antsy and sweating profusely. The Ornarans have all the symptoms of an illness, but she can't find the cause. Picard begins to head out, but T'Jon stops him and pleads for the medicine. Picard says the Brekkans claim it belongs to them. Romas hisses "they lie"! Picard states it's not for him to decide. T'Jon pressures Picard, explaining what is happening to them is happening to millions on their world. If they don't give them the medicine, they will be party to murder of an entire civilization. Picard reacts to the insult, and T'Jon sees he has crossed the line and apologizes.

Picard talks to the Brekkans, explaining the Ornarans are quite ill. He asks if they'd be generous enough to permit them to have some Felicium for their immediate needs. Langor and Sobi give it some thought and finally decide to offer two doses, "free of charge". Picard takes them to the hold where they are joined by Data and Dr. Crusher. Langor opens part of the barrel and withdraws a circular device, which exposes thousands of tiny white pills. She delicately extracts a single pill and places it inside the device for processing. Beverly asks about the dosage, to which Langor states is .01 milliliters. Beverly is impressed; "A very potent substance!". Sobi explains their refinement process has dramatically improved over the years. In his grandfather's day, this single shipment of Felicium would have filled five rooms this size. Data wonders if technology from their other industries was used to improve the refinement process, but Sobi indicates they have no other industry. The Ornarans provide them with everything they need in exchange for the Felicium. Data is astonished. A society dedicated exclusively to the production of a single product. A product for which the Brekkans have no use, but the Ornarans cannot live without. Langor calls it one of life's "little ironies".

The serum is ready and Beverly takes it to the sick Ornarans. The two men practically rip the device from her hands stating they can do the rest. T'Jon prepares a hypo as Romas persuades him to hurry up. He injects it into Romas's hand and then injects some into his. Almost immediately, the two aliens begin to relax as if a euphoric bliss has washed over them. Beverly is suspicious. She reports to Picard and states she might not fully understand Ornaran physiology, but she recognizes physical reactions. Felicium is a narcotic and every Ornaran is a drug addict! Elsewhere, Data and Riker have uncovered some more information about the two cultures. Data explains that a thousand years ago, the two cultures took different paths. Ornara became technologically advanced and Brekka did not. However, 200 years ago, a devastating plague ravaged Ornara. Somehow, a cure was discovered in a plant indigenous only to Brekka and resisted attempts to cultivate on Ornara. A trading system was established which still exists today. The Brekkans provide the medicine and Ornara provide Brekka with goods and technology.

Beverly comes forward with new findings. According to her analysis, Felicium had completely wiped out the plague, but the Ornarans have become so addicted to it that they still believe it's needed to survive. All traces of the plague are gone, and it shouldn't ever recur. Based on what they know so far, there is nothing Picard can do about it, but Beverly sees drug addiction and exploitation is sufficient cause to do something. Picard explains the situation has gone on for a long time. The two civilizations are intertwined in a symbiotic relationship. She agrees, but sees it as one race profiting off the expense of another. Picard knows it's against moral sensibilities, but their mission is not to enforce Federation values on others' worlds. Beverly indicates she can synthesize a non-addictive serum that will ease their withdraw pains, but Picard refuses to get involved.

A transmission from Ornara comes in. A man named Margan appears on the screen and speaks with T'Jon and Romas. Margan appears weak and disheveled and he begs T'Jon to get the drug to their world immediately. He states people are dying and it's the worst he's ever seen. The others see the enormous pressure on T'Jon. The transmission ends and T'Jon grabs hold of Riker stunning him with his electrical power. T'Jon demands they be given the Felicium and a shuttlecraft. He doesn't care if they're entitled to it or not, they must have it! If they refuse, he will kill Riker. Picard tells him he won't be coerced, but T'Jon is very desperate. Picard tries to calm him, telling the man he is no killer. T'Jon finally relents and lets Riker go. T'Jon is near breakdown and tearfully begs Picard to help him, but Picard isn't sure that he can.

Sobi and Langor, having overheard the situation in the next room, tell Picard they have decided to hand over their shipment to the Ornarans and they can pay them back some other time. They do not wish to cause further suffering. Picard expected as much. It seems the shoe was once on the other foot. He asks if the Ornarans ever knew that the plague also occurred on Brekka? The two feign ignorance, but Beverly states their ancestors realized their addiction for the drug remained after the plague was eradicated. They made the connection and ended it, but these same "wonderful people" realized their neighbors never found out. Picard suspects the refinement process has only made the drug more potent so they could tighten their grip on the Ornarans even further. Langor and Sobi become nervous realizing the secret is out. However, Picard says the secret is safe since he isn't permitted to tell the Ornarans anything. Doing so would violate the Prime Directive and interfere with the dealings of other worlds. The Brekkans are somewhat relieved. As they understand it, Picard has no choice but allow the devious trade to go on. Beverly is furious, accusing the Brekkans of enslaving another race just so their pitiful lives are made easier. Picard is sorry, but he tells Beverly they have no say in it.

The Enterprise takes a quick intersystem trip over to Ornara. Down in the hold, the four aliens prepare to beam down along with their container and the gifts of newly fabricated parts for the Ornaran freighters. T'Jon and Romas are grateful that Picard has made a humanitarian decision on their behalf. With the new coils they can have their ships up and running again. Picard gives a firm "negative" to that comment. T'Jon, along with just about everyone else, are confused. Picard says he will not be giving them the parts. If their ships are broken, they will have to repair them on their own. T'Jon doesn't understand. Without the parts their trade cannot continue. Sobi is angered, telling Picard he will disrupt the stability of both their worlds and interfere with a trade agreement that has lasted for centuries. Langor asks what the Prime Directive says about that? Picard states nothing in the Directive compels him to offer aid. T'Jon is disgusted, claiming Picard has condemned them to death, but Beverly urges them to figure out other options. T'Jon hopes Picard knows what he has done to them. Picard replies, of that, he can be sure. He wishes them luck, and gives the order to transport them away. Beverly is proud of her Captain, but has sympathy for the Ornarans who will feel intense withdrawal pains. Picard says, painful as it will be, the people of Ornara and Brekka must shape their own destinies.

[edit] Casting

This was the last episode of the series filmed with Denise Crosby as a member of the regular cast. Even though Tasha Yar died in "Skin of Evil", "Symbiosis" was filmed afterwards. As Picard and Dr. Crusher leave the cargo bay after the Ornarans and Brekka beam back to Ornara, watch the far background (roughly between Picard/Crusher). Crosby can be seen waving vigorously as the cargo bay doors close, and later explained this was a farewell wave to the show and fans.^{[citation needed]}

The character of T'Jon was played by Merritt Butrick. Butrick had previously played James T. Kirk's son David Marcus in The Wrath of Khan and The Search For Spock. T'Jon's disheveled appearance was not entirely an act, as Butrick was himself ill at the time being HIV positive. Butrick would pass away in March 1989, less than a year after this episode first aired.

This episode featured another Wrath of Khan veteran as a guest star in the person of Judson Scott. He portrayed the Brekkan Sobi in this episode, and had played Khan's follower Joachim in Star Trek II.

[edit] Trivia

Behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers from the production of this episode were used in the 1988 Reading Rainbow (hosted by LeVar Burton) episode "The Bionic Bunny Show." That episode of Reading Rainbow marked the first (and so far only) time that Paramount (now CBS-Paramount) has authorized the television broadcast of bloopers from the TNG series.