Cause and Effect (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
"Cause and Effect" is the 18th episode in the 5th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Plot
The Enterprise-D is shown to be stuck in a time loop, with events culminating in the destruction of the ship as a result of a collision with another Starfleet vessel that emerges from a space-time distortion. As each loop proceeds, the crew members, though unaware they are in the loop, have the feeling of déjà vu; Dr. Beverly Crusher begins to hear numerous conversations before going to bed, and during one cycle, manages to record the voices on a tricorder. Analysis reveals that the voices are Enterprise crewmembers during the hours before the destruction of the ship. The crew discovers the time loop is caused by dekyon distortions near the space-time anomaly, and program Data to send a short message to his counterpart in the next iteration to take action on. Data sends the signal moments before the ship is destroyed again.
On the next iteration, the crew still experiences déjà vu, but actions performed by Data often reveal the number three, going against their vague memories. They make the same conclusions from the previous iteration, and Data realizes the number three must have some as-yet-unknown significance to break the loop. The Enterprise again arrives at the anomaly, and as the other ship emerges, both Data and Riker suggest alternate plans to avoid being hit. Though Captain Jean-Luc Picard opts for Data's plan, Data realizes that the "three" message was in reference to the number of insignia pips worn by Riker, and initiates his plan instead. The Enterprise is able to avoid being hit and thus, the time loop is broken. The crew discovers they have been stuck in the loop for 17 days, while the ship they narrowly avoided, the USS Bozeman, has been missing for more than 80 years. The Enterprise welcomes the Bozeman to the 24th century at the end of the episode.
Production
- The production team had hoped to get Kirstie Alley in a cameo role behind Kelsey Grammer in the USS Bozeman shots, reprising her role as Lt. Saavik from the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, but her asking price was too high for such a small role.[1] Alley's appearance would have also constituted an in-joke as she was appearing on Cheers with Grammer at the time.
- The USS Bozeman is named after writer Brannon Braga's home town, Bozeman, Montana,[2] which is also the location of Earth's first contact with an alien race as depicted in the motion picture Star Trek: First Contact.
- The original script apparently called for Dr. Crusher to sing rather than hum in the first shown iteration. The words can be seen in the closed caption:
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- ♪ HELLO, MAMA, MY NAME IS JACK ♪
- ♪ HELLO TO THE WORLD, I’M COMING BACK ♪
- ♪ I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AS AN EGYPTIAN CAT ♪
- ♪ SO, HELLO, MAMA, WELCOME ME BACK ♪
- ♪ HELLO, MAMA, MY NAME IS JACK ♪
- ( humming )
- ♪ I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AS AN EGYPTIAN CAT ♪
- ( humming )
- ♪ WELCOME ME BACK. ♪
References
External links
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Category:Star Trek
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