The Schizoid Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

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Star Trek: TNG episode
"The Schizoid Man"
Image:ST-TNG The Schizoid Man.jpg
Data, Graves and Selar in "The Schizoid Man".
Episode no. 32
Prod. code 131
Airdate January 23, 1989
Writer(s) Tracy Torme
Gene Roddenberry
Director Les Landau
Guest star(s) W. Morgan Sheppard
Barbara Alyn Woods
Year
Stardate 42437.5
Episode chronology
Previous "Loud as a Whisper"
Next "Unnatural Selection"

"The Schizoid Man" is the sixth episode of the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, production #206 and first aired January 23, 1989. The teleplay was written by Tracy Torme, based on a story by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler. It was directed by Les Landau.

Overview: A brilliant scientist, Dr. Ira Graves, attempts to cheat death by uploading his memories and personality into Data.

[edit] Plot

On stardate 42437.5, the USS Enterprise-D races to Gravesworld, a planet named after the famed Dr. Ira Graves, an elderly scientist and "one of the greatest minds in history" according to Dr. Pulaski. Graves lives isolated on the planet so he can conduct his work in private. He has only one colleague with him, a young woman named Kareen Brianon. The Enterprise crew receives an urgent plea for medical assistance from Kareen and because Graves is working on critical research, Starfleet orders it a top priority to help him.

Once the Enterprise reaches the planet, a mayday call is received from the spaceliner Constantinople - the ship has suffered a hull breach and is losing atmosphere. Captain Picard decides to make a risky "touch-and-go", beaming down a medical team without stopping the ship and then quickly proceeding to intercept the liner. Picard selects Dr. Pulaski to help Graves, but she indicates her wish to remain put on the Enterprise to deal with any injured crew from the Constantinople. Pulaski selects her Vulcan medical assistant, Dr. Selar, to beam down, along with Lt. Commander Data, Counselor Deanna Troi and Lieutenant Worf.

After the rough beam down, where Troi says she felt trapped inside a wall for a moment, the awayteam is quickly greeted by a greatly relieved Kareen who is then ridiculed by the gruff and stubborn Dr. Graves claiming he wished not to be disturbed. Kareen claims she didn't know what else to do and that Graves is seriously ill. As Graves marvels over Troi's beauty, Selar scans him with her medical tricorder. Graves takes offense, protesting that "damned doctors" are always sneaking up on him. Graves begins to scrutinize Data, moving closer and taking hold of his face to inspect the details commenting; "Looks like Soong's work." Data becomes curious asking Graves if he knew his creator Noonien Soong. Graves declares he not only knew Soong, he taught him everything he knows. Graves then proposes that if Soong is Data's father, that would make him Data's grandfather.

After Selar completes her scan she diagnoses Graves with Varnay's disease. It has reached a terminal stage and she says there is nothing she can do for him stating he has about three weeks to live. Graves then considers the away team's visit over with and tells them to leave. Troi explains they would like for Graves and Kareen to return with them to them to the Enterprise once it returns.

In the meantime, Data gets to know his "grandpa" following Graves to his laboratory. Data becomes curious about a tune Graves whistles to himself. Graves tells him its an ancient song called "If I Only Had a Heart", a plaintive lament sung by the "Tin Man", a mechanical-man who longed to be human. He finds out he had been human all along and just worried too much that he never realized it. As Data contemplates the story, Graves mentions it must be hard for an android, so close to being human but never knowing pain, lust, envy or desire. A "walking purgatory", neither alive or dead, just existing. Before Data can respond, Graves laughs saying that he is just a funny old man, close to his end, and rambling on.

Graves then shows Data a sophisticated computer terminal where he mentions his plan for immortality. He has developed a way to transfer his consciousness into a machine. A way for all his knowledge, thoughts and memories to be preserved after his body dies. Data is intrigued, but then Graves admits that Data will never know death. A machine won't experience it. On the contrary, Data indicates that he has an "off switch" and compares being shutdown and losing all consciousness and sensation to how death might be for others. With a curious gleam in his eye, Graves wonders where Soong would have placed this "off switch". Before Data can reply, Graves says, "No... let me guess".

A while later, the Enterprise returns and Picard call the team for a report on Dr. Graves. Selar informs him of Graves' condition where he orders that preparations must be given to make the doctor as comfortable as possible until they can get him and Kareen to a Starbase. Suddenly, Data enters the room and states that the preparations will not be necessary... Dr. Graves has died.

Back in space, the Enterprise leaves orbit heading for Starbase 6. Aboard are the rescued crew of the Mary Rodgers, Kareen Brianon and the body of Ira Graves. A funeral is planned in the transporter room to beam Graves' casket into space. The command crew gathers around the transporter platform along with Kareen as Troi conducts the ceremony. Troi begins by saying; "Although we hardly knew him, we certainly knew of him. His reputation spread throughout the galaxy and his mind touched all who cherish science..." Although the group is saddened, Troi can't help but notice that Data oddly seems to be enjoying this. He has a strange smile on his face and he bobs his head. Troi hesitates a moment and continues, but Data steps forward to interrupt.

Data apologizes but claims that Dr. Graves wouldn't have wanted it this way. Everyone shows confusion as Data pushes Troi aside and says a few words of his own. Data points to the casket which has a little window showing Graves' visage. "Just look at that face. The face of a thinker, a warrior, a man for all seasons. Yes friends, Ira Graves was all that and more. A great humanitarian. To know... KNOW him... was to love, LOVE him! But Ira Graves was not perfect..." Picard then tells Data that will be enough, but Data indicates that he isn't finished. "Perhaps his greatest fault was that he was too selfless. Cared too much for his fellow man." Picard gets angry, "Data! You ARE finished!". He then orders the casket to be beamed away.

Afterward, Picard and Riker take Data aside demanding he explain himself. Data states he was only carrying out Graves' wishes, to which Riker wonders how he'd even know them. Data says that Graves explained them in the moments before death. He knew it was imminent. Picard asks why he didn't inform Selar of Graves' condition immediately, but Data argues that Selar had already said she could do nothing for him, so he didn't see a reason to inform her. Picard finds it difficult to believe, but knows Data would never lie. With an uncertain look, he dismisses Data. As Data walks a corridor an attractive female crew member passes and he takes a passionate "look" at her. With a smirk on his face, Data begins to whistle "If I Only Had a Heart".

Now on the bridge, Data sits slumped at Ops tapping buttons while Wesley Crusher watches him curiously. He asks Data what was going on with him at the ceremony, quoting "to love him is to know him?". Data becomes impudent saying it comes from an ancient Earth composition and Wesley's childish mind would never comprehend its wisdom. Geordi La Forge overhears the comment asking Data if he is turning into a star-crossed artist on them. Data claims he is many things; "scholar, artist, lover, genius", to which La Forge breaks out with laughter. "Data, You're getting funnier!"

Just then Picard and Kareen enter the bridge. Kareen is instantly bewildered by the beauty of the stars on the forward monitor. Picard indicates that ahead is the constellation Pegasus. He tells Kareen that he knows of her interest in science, and begins to ask her a question when Data sullenly comments under his breath "...and I know of your interest in HER!" Picard quickly pivots around. "What was that, Data?" Data looks down, "Nothing Sir. Nothing at all." Picard glares a moment but then guides Kareen toward the science stations.

Wesley leans over to Data who begins to show anger. Data mumbles; "I detest hypocrisy! I wish they would just come out and admit it!". Picard turns again. "Admit what Mister Data?". Data furiously turns; "That your interest in Kareen is not entirely honorable!". Kareen and Picard are both taken aback. Riker tells Data he's being out of line. Data rises and warns Picard that he will not win her heart, and that she does not like older men... (and looking to Riker) or of limited intellect. Picard tells Data he is relieved of his duty and to go to his quarters to remain there until called for. As Data storms out he hisses that "removing the competition will not help." Picard turns to Kareen and asks if she knows what this is all about. But Kareen has no idea. Troi says she senses intense, burning jealousy coming from Data. La Forge is at a loss as well admitting that's not the Data he knows. Something must be wrong.

Data is soon escorted to engineering where under the watchful eye of Picard he is examined by La Forge but he finds nothing obviously wrong. Troi suggests to Picard than she conduct a psychotronic stability examination to see if something is mentally wrong with Data. Picard concurs and Troi conducts the test hooking an uncooperative Data up to skin probes and displaying a series of images on a monitor that attempt to provoke emotional responses. Later, Troi gives her report to the Captain stating that she has detected two distinct personalities within Data. The Data they know is quickly being taken over by the dominant alien persona which is unbalanced, paranoid, and capable of violence. If they don't find a way to stop it, they could lose the Data they know forever. Troi tells Picard that the alien persona has an extreme hatred of him, or any authority figure. Picard believes he knows what has happened, but can't fathom the idea of how it is possible.

In the meantime, Data has disobeyed orders and left his quarters. He goes to see Kareen. When he finds her he asks her if she knows who he is. Kareen is confused, saying; "You're Data." Data repeats the question more ominously. "You know who I am. Don't you?" Frightened, Kareen's eyes widen; "Ira?" Data confirms saying "Yes, its me! I'm still alive." He explains that his experiment worked. He successfully transferred his consciousness into Data. Kareen is horrified, but Graves tells her to look at him. He's sleek, powerful, indestructible! Graves explains that he no longer feels pain. He's become immortal. Kareen withdraws asking why he would do such a thing? Graves says he has done this for her. He has always loved her, but couldn't show his affection as a withering old man. But now it will be different. He will make her an android body and transfer her consciousness to it. They can will be together forever.

He tells her to think of all they'll accomplish in the next 1000 years. Kareen rejects the idea telling Graves that he has no right to do this to Data. Soon Worf and a security team arrive at her door. Worf tells Data he is to come with him to see the Captain. Data is furious, but begins to walk out where he catches Worf off guard and floors the Klingon like a rag doll. A guard tries to react, but Data grabs Worf's phaser and shoots him. Kareen is terrified, but Data tells her to stay here. There is something he must do, and he'll come for her shortly. Kareen begins to break down in tears.

Data barges into the engineering room brandishing the phaser. He tells the stunned crew to take a vacation, and they rush out quickly. La Forge tries to talk sense into him telling Data to remember that he is his friend. Data evilly sneers that La Forge is no friend of his and that he should put him out of his blind misery where he knocks Geordi out cold. Picard finds Data perched at the upper engineering level next to the intermix chamber. He takes the lift up and fearlessly confronts the android who levels the phaser at him. Picard tells Data that he knows who he is, telling Graves that he must leave his body.

Graves refuses, and threatens to shoot. Picard asks him why he has done this to his "grandson" where Graves replies; "I gave him what he always wanted. I gave him life!" Picard disagrees; "You took advantage of him! You killed him! You're nothing but a two-bit murderer." Graves is shamed. Picard orders him to leave Data, he doesn't belong to him. Emotionally devastated, Graves furiously clobbers Picard who falls to the deck unconscious.

When Picard awakens he finds Pulaski and Kareen at his side trying to revive him. The group rushes to find Data who has returned to his quarters. Data is found lying unconscious on the floor in the middle of his room. La Forge tries to revive him and he snaps awake inquiring about what is going on. Kareen stands looking at Data's terminal as random snippets of information scroll across the screens. Picard asks Kareen what happened. "He's in there. Ira put himself in the computer." Overlooking the information, it is determined that there is no trace of Graves' consciousness in the system. Only his knowledge remains.


[edit] External links