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{{realworld}}
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{{real world}}
{{sidebar episode|
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{{sidebar episode
<!-- See [[Memory Alpha:Episode data project]] -->
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|<!-- See [[Memory Alpha:Projects/Episode data project]] -->
| aSelf = 11:59
+
|image = Shannon O'Donnel in bookstore.jpg
| sTitle = 11:59
+
|teleplay = [[Joe Menosky]]
 
|story = [[Brannon Braga]] & [[Joe Menosky]]
| sSeries = VOY
 
| nSeason = 5
+
|director = [[David Livingston]]
  +
|date = 52840 ([[April|April 22]], [[2375]])
| nEpisode = 23
 
  +
|other date = [[December|December 27]], [[2000]] &ndash; [[January|January 1]], [[2001]] / [[2050]]
|sProductionSerialNumber = 217
 
| nAirdateYear = 1999
 
| sAirdateMonth = May
 
| nAirdateDay = 5
 
| sImage = ODonnell Bookstore.jpg
 
| wsWrittenBy =
 
| wsTeleplayBy = [[Joe Menosky]]
 
| wsStoryBy = [[Brannon Braga]] & [[Joe Menosky]]
 
| wsDirectedBy = [[David Livingston]]
 
| nNthProducedInSeries = 115
 
| nNthReleasedInSeries = 115
 
| nNthReleasedInAll = 570
 
| bFeatureLength = 0
 
| nSerialAirdate = 19990505
 
| wsDate = ([[April|April 22]], [[2376]] / [[December|December 27 - 31]], [[2000]] / [[2050]])
 
| aNextReleasedInAll = When It Rains... (episode)
 
| aPrevReleasedInAll = The Changing Face of Evil (episode)
 
| aNextReleasedInSeries = Relativity (episode)
 
| aPrevReleasedInSeries = Someone to Watch Over Me (episode)
 
| aNextProducedInSeries = Relativity (episode)
 
| aPrevProducedInSeries = Someone to Watch Over Me (episode)
 
|aNextInUniverseTimeline = What You Leave Behind (episode)
 
|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = Tacking Into the Wind (episode)
 
 
}}
 
}}
Kathryn Janeway discovers the truth about one of her famed ancestors, Shannon O'Donnell, realizing that who Shannon was differs vastly from what Janeway had believed all her life.
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Kathryn Janeway discovers the truth about one of her famed ancestors, Shannon O'Donnel, realizing that who Shannon was differs vastly from what Janeway had believed all her life.
   
 
== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
Line 40: Line 18:
 
When the turbolift arrives at the [[bridge]], Janeway is told by [[Commander]] [[Chakotay]] that they are on course to the [[class Y cluster]] and will arrive in about three days, while she and Neelix walk to her [[Captain's ready room|ready room]]. Janeway asks why Neelix is so interested in the Great Wall of China, and he tells her that he has been studying Earth landmarks. In her ready room, Neelix tells her that he and [[Tom Paris]] have been exchanging cultural knowledge about Earth and [[Talax]] and that Paris has become very knowledgeable about [[Talaxian]] geography. Janeway then asks Neelix what he knows about the [[Millennium Gate]].
 
When the turbolift arrives at the [[bridge]], Janeway is told by [[Commander]] [[Chakotay]] that they are on course to the [[class Y cluster]] and will arrive in about three days, while she and Neelix walk to her [[Captain's ready room|ready room]]. Janeway asks why Neelix is so interested in the Great Wall of China, and he tells her that he has been studying Earth landmarks. In her ready room, Neelix tells her that he and [[Tom Paris]] have been exchanging cultural knowledge about Earth and [[Talax]] and that Paris has become very knowledgeable about [[Talaxian]] geography. Janeway then asks Neelix what he knows about the [[Millennium Gate]].
   
Neelix recites the Millennium Gate specifications &ndash; its height, base width, and surface material. He states that it was built in the [[United States of America]] in the [[21st century]]. It is also one of the objects which can be seen from Earth orbit. Janeway tells him that it became a model for the first colonies on [[Mars]] and that one of her ancestors, [[Shannon O'Donnell]], built it, not with hammer and nails, but with words. On family gatherings, Janeway was always told that Shannon O'Donnell was one of the first women astronauts and the driving force behind the Millennium Gate, the first of a long line of Janeway explorers. Neelix asks Janeway to tell him more, so he can impress Tom Paris. He learns that Shannon O'Donnell was in the [[space]] program at the time and that she was asked by the [[governor]] of [[Indiana]], who wanted her expertise about re-cyclic [[life support]] systems. According to Janeway's aunt [[Martha Janeway|Martha]], Shannon was flown around in a private aircraft.
+
Neelix recites the Millennium Gate specifications &ndash; its height, base width, and surface material. He states that it was built in the [[United States of America]] in the [[21st century]]. It is also one of the objects which can be seen from Earth orbit. Janeway tells him that it became a model for the first colonies on [[Mars]] and that one of her ancestors, [[Shannon O'Donnel]], built it, not with hammer and nails, but with words. On family gatherings, Janeway was always told that Shannon O'Donnel was one of the first women astronauts and the driving force behind the Millennium Gate, the first of a long line of Janeway explorers. Neelix asks Janeway to tell him more, so he can impress Tom Paris. He learns that Shannon O'Donnel was in the [[space]] program at the time and that she was asked by the [[governor]] of [[Indiana]], who wanted her expertise about re-cyclic [[life support system]]s. According to Janeway's aunt [[Martha]], Shannon was flown around in a private aircraft.
   
[[File:Shannon ODonnell driving.jpg|thumb|Shannon O'Donnell driving through Indiana]]
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[[File:Shannon O'Donnel driving.jpg|thumb|Shannon O'Donnel driving through Indiana]]
In the early morning of [[December|December 27]], [[2000]], Shannon O'Donnell drove through the state of Indiana. Her [[automobile#Cars|car]] made a strange bumping noise while she added one of the state's curiosities, the world's largest ball of [[string]], to her personal log, which was a small cassette player on the passenger seat. Seeing the Millennium Gate [[billboard]], she headed to [[Portage Creek]], where she hoped that someone could take a look at her car.
+
In the early morning of [[December|December 27]], [[2000]], Shannon O'Donnel drives through the state of Indiana. Her [[automobile#Cars|car]] made a strange bumping noise while she added one of the state's curiosities, the world's largest ball of [[string]], to her [[personal log]], which was a small [[tape recorder]] on the passenger seat. Seeing the Millennium Gate [[billboard]], she headed to [[Portage Creek]], where she hoped that someone could take a look at her car.
   
 
=== Act One ===
 
=== Act One ===
Driving through the town, she stopped to ask a passer-by where she could find [[food]], [[gasoline|gas]], and lodging. The man told her those things could not be found any more in Portage Creek. Irritated, Shannon drove off but failed to look ahead and ran into another car. The other driver asked if she had insurance and she told him it had run out. He said that two hundred dollars would be enough for the damage, but she told him that she did not have that kind of [[money]]. The other driver accepted his loss and left. When Shannon tried to start her car it failed to start.
+
Driving through the town, she stops to ask a passer-by where she can find [[food]], [[gasoline|gas]], and lodging. The man tells her those things can’t be found any more in Portage Creek. Irritated, Shannon drives off but fails to look ahead and runs into another car. The other driver asks if she has insurance and she tells him it has run out. He says that two hundred dollars would be enough for the damage, but she tells him that she does not have that kind of [[money]]. The other driver accepts his loss and leaves. When Shannon tries to start her car it fails to start.
   
After Shannon called a [[automobile#Trucks|tow truck]], she looked around for a place to keep warm while she waited. She found that [[Alexandria Books]] was the only open store. Once inside, she met the proprietor and his son, [[Henry Janeway|Henry]] and [[Jason Janeway]], and asked them if she could wait for the tow truck in their store. She told them she was trying to get to [[Florida]] when her car broke down. She heard Jason joking that Shannon was a corporate [[hit man]] and she grinned as she explained to him that she did not do that kind of work anymore. Henry Janeway welcomed her and offered her a cup of [[coffee]].
+
After Shannon calls a [[tow truck]], she looks around for a place to keep warm while she waits. She finds that [[Alexandria Books]] is the only open store. Once inside, she meets the proprietor and his son, [[Henry Janeway|Henry]] and [[Jason Janeway]], and asks them if she can wait for the tow truck in their store. She tells them she was trying to get to [[Florida]] when her car broke down. She hears Jason joking that Shannon is a [[corporate hit man]] and she grins as she explains to him that she does not do that kind of work anymore. Henry Janeway welcomes her and offers her a cup of [[coffee]].
   
Shannon observed that most stores in town seemed to be closed. Jason replied that their store would never close. As she noticed their fliers lying on the counter, they told her that they were fighting the building of the Millennium Gate, "the world's first self-sustained civic environment" according to Jason. Henry found this to be [[propaganda]]; he thought it was nothing more then a glorified shopping mall. Shannon offered to help distribute the fliers using her [[computer]] if Henry would hire her. But they told her that they did not need any help. Edging towards the door, Shannon asked again for a job. She said she really needed the money to pay for her car repairs. After an uncomfortable silence, Jason pleaded for his father to hire her. Henry reluctantly agreed.
+
Shannon observes that most stores in town seemed to be closed. Jason replies that their store will never close. As she noticed their fliers lying on the counter, they tell her that they are fighting the building of the Millennium Gate, "the world's first self-sustained civic environment" according to Jason. Henry finds this to be [[propaganda]]; he thinks it is nothing more than a glorified shopping mall. Shannon offers to help distribute the fliers using her [[computer]] if Henry would hire her. But they tell her that they do not need any help. Edging towards the door, Shannon asks again for a job. She says she really needs the money to pay for her car repairs. After an uncomfortable silence, Jason pleads for his father to hire her. Henry reluctantly agrees.
   
[[File:save-our-downtown.jpg|thumb|left|Save our Downtown]]
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[[File:Save Our Downtown fliers.jpg|thumb|left|Save our Downtown]]
Later that evening, Shannon and Henry visited a local bar and discussed Portage Creek. They talked about the Millennium Gate and why Henry was against it. Shannon learned that Henry would have preferred to have lived in the classical age. Shannon preferred the modern age. They summed up the pros and cons of each. They got stuck on the presence of cold [[beer]] in the classical age or better the absence of it. When Henry asked her if she had plans for [[New Year's Eve]] she told him that it would be no different than last year &ndash; she planned to be asleep. She asked if Henry believed all the noise about the beginning of a new millennium, whether it would cause all those problems like so many said, and if he believed all those hucksters who claimed that [[2001]] was the real millennium and not 2000. As far as Shannon herself was concerned, those years were nothing but numbers on a calendar. Shannon mentioned Jason telling her that the bookstore had belonged to his family for generations and told Henry that she was just the opposite. She loved to visit places where she had never been before and didn't like staying in one place for too long. She found that she was an explorer. Henry grinned and told her he thought her car looked more like a [[sailing ship]] than a real car. She told him that it was actually a [[rocket ship]]. Their conversation was interrupted when a rumbling sound shook their beer glasses. They left the bar to see what this sound was and saw trucks driving by.
+
Later that evening, Shannon and Henry visit a local bar and discussed Portage Creek. They talk about the Millennium Gate and why Henry is against it. Shannon learns that Henry would prefer to have lived in the classical age. Shannon prefers the modern age. They sum up the pros and cons of each. They get stuck on the lack of cold [[beer]] in the classical age, whether it may be better with the absence of it. When Henry asks her if she has plans for [[New Year's Eve]] she tells him that it will be no different than last year &ndash; she plans to be asleep. She asks if Henry believes all the noise about the beginning of a new millennium, whether it would cause all those problems like so many said, and if he believes all those hucksters who claimed that [[2001]] was the real millennium and not 2000. As far as Shannon herself is concerned, those years are nothing but numbers on a calendar. Shannon mentions Jason telling her the bookstore has belonged to his family for generations and told Henry that she's just the opposite. She loves to visit places where she has never been before and doesn’t like staying in one place for too long. She found that she was an explorer. Henry grins and tells her he thinks her car looks more like a [[sailing ship]] than a real car. She tells him that it's actually a [[rocket ship]]. Their conversation is interrupted when a rumbling sound shakes their beer glasses. They leave the bar to see what this sound is and see trucks driving by.
   
 
=== Act Two ===
The next day Henry Janeway argued with [[Gerald Moss]], who was being interviewed by [[Marci Collins]] of ''[[3 Action News]]''. Henry plead his case and returned triumphantly when he overheard Moss tell Collins that if Henry's resistance was not resolved, then the Millennium Gate would be built somewhere else. Henry told Jason and Shannon that all they had to do was to stand firm until New Year's Eve. When Henry and Jason walked into the store Shannon watched Gerald Moss making a phone call. He seemed to have noticed her presence.
+
The next day Henry Janeway argues with [[Gerald Moss]], who is being interviewed by [[Marci Collins]] of ''[[3 Action News]]''. Henry pleads his case and returns triumphantly when he overhears Moss tell Collins that if Henry's resistance is not resolved, then the Millennium Gate would be built somewhere else. Henry tells Jason and Shannon that all they have to do is to stand firm until New Year's Eve. When Henry and Jason walk into the store Shannon watches Gerald Moss making a phone call. He seems to notice her presence.
   
That evening Shannon and Henry had a simple meal in the bookstore, which was illuminated by a few lamps and [[candle]]s. Henry pretended they were in [[Paris]]. He placed a book about that city alongside the table and told Shannon he never had left the state of Indiana; he found himself more comfortable with his books. She asked Henry about her car and he told her that it had been repaired and it was parked behind the garage. Shannon remarked that he should have mentioned that earlier that day. Henry said he forgot. Shannon said she would leave the next day but Henry reminded her that she promised Jason to show him some tricks on her computer. Remembering, Shannon agreed. She thought he made it difficult for her to say goodbye. During their meal they seemed to get along quite well despite their differences.
+
That evening Shannon and Henry have a simple meal in the bookstore, which is illuminated by a few lamps and [[candle]]s. Henry pretends they're in [[Paris]]. He places a book about that city alongside the table and tells Shannon he has never left the state of Indiana; he finds himself more comfortable with his books. She asks Henry about her car and he tells her that it has been repaired and is parked behind the garage. Shannon remarks that he should have mentioned that earlier that day. Henry says he forgot. Shannon says she will leave the next day but Henry reminds her that she promised Jason to show him some tricks on her computer. Remembering, Shannon agreed. She thinks he made it difficult for her to say goodbye. During their meal they seem to get along quite well despite their differences.[[File:Millennium Gate.jpg|thumb|The Millennium Gate]]
 
In [[astrometrics]], Captain Janeway is viewing technical data on the Millennium Gate when [[Seven of Nine]] walks in. She asks Seven to help her find more information about the era in which the Millennium Gate had been built, because most of it is lost or damaged. Janeway tells her that the Gate had been built by one of her ancestors over three hundred years earlier. Although Seven finds the Millennium Gate impressive, she questions its relevance to ''Voyager''{{'}}s mission. Janeway tells Seven that it is relevant to her. When Seven replies that she possesses only a fraction of her ancestor's [[DNA]], Janeway tells her that it is not about [[chromosome]]s but about character. Seven asks her to explain and Janeway replies that Shannon O'Donnel inspired her when she was young &ndash; she had a great influence on her imagination and goals, and she was the reason why Janeway joined [[Starfleet]].
   
 
Later, Seven is researching historical data in the [[mess hall]] when Tom Paris and Neelix walk in. They are testing each other's knowledge about the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]. Paris pours himself a cup of coffee just as Neelix is about to name the seventh wonder, but he cannot remember it. Paris tries to recall it, but he cannot remember what it is either. Their contest is interrupted when Seven of Nine tells them that the seventh wonder was the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]], built by [[Ptolemy II]] in [[1st millennium BC|280 BC]]. Paris sarcastically names [[Borg]] [[photographic memory]] a modern wonder of the world and tells Neelix the knowledge test is a draw and walks away.
=== Act Two ===
 
[[File:Millennium-gate.jpg|thumb|The Millennium Gate]]
 
In [[astrometrics]], Captain Janeway was viewing technical data on the Millennium Gate when [[Seven of Nine]] walked in. She asked Seven to help her find more information about the era in which the Millennium Gate had been built, because most of it was lost or damaged. Janeway told her that the Gate had been built by one of her ancestors over three hundred years earlier. Although Seven found the Millennium Gate impressive, she questioned its relevance to ''Voyager''{{'}}s mission. Janeway told Seven that it was relevant to her. When Seven replied that she possessed only a fraction of her ancestor's [[DNA]], Janeway told her that it was not about [[chromosome]]s but about character. Seven asked her to explain and Janeway replied that Shannon O'Donnell inspired her when she was young &ndash; she had a great influence on her imagination and goals, and she was the reason why Janeway joined [[Starfleet]].
 
   
  +
[[File:Neelix and Seven of Nine, 2375.jpg|thumb|left|"''Someday, you might enjoy a little Seven of Nine point five running around, ha ha! Or not. Or not.''"]]
Later, Seven was researching historical data in the [[mess hall]] when Tom Paris and Neelix walked in. They were testing each other's knowledge about the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]. Paris poured himself a cup of coffee just as Neelix was about to name the seventh wonder, but he could not remember it. Paris tried to recall it, but he could not remember what it was either. Their contest was interrupted when Seven of Nine told them that the seventh wonder was the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]], built by [[Ptolemy II]] in [[1st millennium BC|280 BC]]. Paris sarcastically named [[Borg]] photographic memory a modern wonder of the world and told Neelix the knowledge test was a draw and walked away.
 
 
Neelix, curious as always, asks Seven what she is doing. Seven tells him about her Shannon O'Donnel project. Neelix offers to help and notices the [[PADD]] containing information about a [[Sven "Buttercup" Hansen]], an ancestor of Seven's. The captain had encouraged Seven to research her own genealogy but she questions Buttercup's relevance to Seven's life. As far as she is concerned their name likeness is a coincidence. Neelix tells her that there is some of him in her just as there would be some of Seven in her descendants. Seven replies that this only would be the case if she chose to procreate, and that she cannot appreciate Neelix's joke about a "Seven of Nine Point Five" running around. When her [[computer]] can find no references on Shannon O'Donnel, Seven says that her research has failed. Neelix tells her that researching genealogy is a lot like fishing &ndash; she has to use a wider net, and orders the computer to expand its search to non-[[Federation]] [[database]]s, personal archives and photographic indexes. When the computer finishes searching it displays one reference about Shannon O'Donnel.
   
 
[[File:Shannon Janeway and family snapshot.jpg|thumb|Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren circa 2050]]
Neelix, curious as always, asked Seven what she was doing. Seven told him about her Shannon O'Donnell project. Neelix offered to help and noticed the [[PADD]] containing information about a [[Sven "Buttercup" Hansen]], an ancestor of Seven's. The captain encouraged Seven to research her own genealogy but she questioned Buttercup's relevance to Seven's life. As far as she was concerned their name likeness was a coincidence. Neelix told her that there was some of him in her just as there would be some of Seven in her descendants. Seven replied that this only would be the case if she chose to procreate, and that she could not appreciate Neelix's joke about a "Seven of Nine Point Five" running around. When her [[computer]] could find no references on Shannon O'Donnell, Seven said that her research had failed. Neelix told her that researching genealogy was a lot like fishing &ndash; she had to use a wider net, and ordered the computer to expand its search to non-[[Federation]] [[database]]s, personal archives and photographic indexes. When the computer finished searching it displayed one reference about Shannon O'Donnell.
 
 
In the captain's [[quarters]] Neelix and Seven show Janeway what they have found: a picture of Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren. Neelix tells her that the photo comes from a [[Ferengi]] database. Eleven years earlier a Ferengi historian collected vast amounts of data about the origin of Federation space travel. The Ferengi wanted to market this information as nostalgic gift items. Janeway says she probably would be his first customer. Seven tells her that they also found journalistic articles about the resistance against the building of the Millennium Gate. Janeway observes that the entire town was against Shannon O'Donnel. She asks Neelix to download the image so she could frame it.
   
 
Shannon O'Donnel is watching ''3 Action News'' in the local bar. She is planning her route to Florida where she wanted to visit a cousin of hers, when Gerald Moss walks in. He quotes the slogan her class came up with during her [[NASA]] period. Moss feels sorry for her that she had not made it at NASA and asks if she has stayed in touch with her former classmates. When Shannon tells him she did not, Moss tells her that a classmate of hers made it into to the [[space]] program and is scheduled for four months on the [[International Space Station|space station]] and that he's sorry that she has lost her job. He finds that engineers do not receive the respect they deserve. An annoyed Shannon tells him he had nothing to do with her personal life on which Moss tells her that they always screen their future candidates and makes her a job offer. Shannon could be a consulting engineer on the Millennium Gate project, but the catch is that she has to convince Henry to give up his resistance against it. Moss thinks Henry might listen to her because she seems close to him, Shannon tells him she has to think about his offer whereupon Moss tells her not to wait too long.
[[File:Shannon-janeway-family-snapshot.jpg|thumb|Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren circa 2050]]
 
In the captain's [[quarters]] Neelix and Seven showed Janeway what they had found: a picture of Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren. Neelix told her that the photo came from a [[Ferengi]] database. Eleven years earlier a Ferengi historian collected vast amounts of data about the origin of Federation space travel. The Ferengi wanted to market this information as nostalgic gift items. Janeway said she probably would be his first customer. Seven told her that they also found journalistic articles about the resistance against the building of the Millennium Gate. Janeway observed that the entire town was against Shannon O'Donnell. She asked Neelix to download the image so she could frame it.
 
   
 
=== Act Three ===
 
=== Act Three ===
 
The next morning Shannon wakes up from a dream about the first landing on the [[Luna|moon]], which she watched on [[TV]] when she was eleven years old. When she walks into the bookstore she finds Jason playing with her computer. He's enjoying the games but getting vaporized when playing ''[[Matrix of Doom]]'', and she advises him to launch a flare before entering the steel fortress. Shannon is offered a cup of coffee by Jason who tells her his father went out shopping in [[Bloomington]] and that he is in charge of the store for the time being. When Shannon is asked by Jason if she had any children she tells him that she never got around to it and in return asks him where his mother is. Shannon learns his mother died when he was very young and she asks him if he likes working in the bookstore and what his opinion is about the Millennium Gate. Jason thinks the Gate might be pretty cool. When asked by Shannon if he ever saw the first landing on the moon he tells her that he saw it once in his science class.
Shannon O'Donnell was watching ''3 Action News'' in the local bar. She was planning her route to Florida where she wanted to visit a cousin of hers, when Gerald Moss walked in. He quoted the slogan her class came up with during her [[NASA]] period. Moss felt sorry for her that she had not made it at NASA and asked if she had stayed in touch with her former classmates. When Shannon told him she did not, Moss told her that a classmate of hers made it into to the [[space]] program and was scheduled for four months on the [[International Space Station|space station]] and that he was sorry that she had lost her job. He found that engineers did not receive the respect they deserved. An annoyed Shannon told him he had nothing to do with her personal life on which Moss told her that they always screened their future candidates and made her a job offer. Shannon could be an consulting engineer on the Millennium Gate project, but the catch was that she had to convince Henry to give up his resistance against it. Moss thought Henry might listen to her because she seemed close to him, Shannon told him she had to think about his offer whereupon Moss told her not to wait too long.
 
   
  +
[[File:Shannon and Henry arguing.jpg|thumb|Shannon and Henry arguing]]
The next morning Shannon woke up from a dream about the first landing on the [[Luna|moon]], which she watched on [[television]] when she was eleven years old. When she walked into the bookstore she found Jason playing with her computer. He enjoyed the games but got vaporized when playing ''[[Matrix of Doom]]'', and she advised him to launch a flare before entering the steel fortress. Shannon was offered a cup of coffee by Jason who told her his father went out shopping in [[Bloomington]] and that he was in charge of the store for the time being. When Shannon was asked by Jason if she had any children she told him that she never got around to it and in return asked him were his mother was. Shannon learned his mother died when he was very young and she asked him if he liked working in the bookstore and what his opinion was about the Millennium Gate. Jason thought the Gate might be pretty cool. When asked by Shannon if he ever saw the first landing on the moon he told her that he saw it once in his science class.
 
 
Just after eleven o'clock Henry Janeway gets back with supplies and Shannon reads the article about him in the local newspaper and gets into an argument with him about the Millennium Gate project. Shannon finds the Gate more than a glorified shopping mall and admits there is a commercial dimension but explains that it is an experimental [[biosphere]]. It is a completely self-sustained city that will help scientists to learn more about the environment so, one day, they can recreate it on other [[planet|worlds]]. Shannon confesses she would like to leave [[Earth]] and its problems one day and tells Henry that the Millennium Gate has a lot of potential. She accuses him of living in the past, of being afraid of the future. Shannon tells Henry that Gerald Moss has offered her a job, at which he accuses her of sleeping with the enemy. Shannon tells him she might be a consulting engineer on the Millennium Gate project; Henry gets angry with her and asks her what would happen if he told her not to accept. Shannon tells him she does not want to live in her car any more. When Henry asks her to stay she tells him she cannot, afraid to get stuck in Portage Creek like Henry is. An angry Henry Janeway helps her pack when Jason walks into the room; Shannon tells him she has to go when Jason asks her why she is leaving.
   
[[File:shannon-and-henry-arguing.jpg|thumb|Shannon and Henry arguing]]
+
[[File:Tom paris and the doctor.jpg|thumb|Tom Paris explaining the Martian missions]]
 
In Captain Janeway's quarters, she, [[Harry Kim]], Tom Paris, Neelix and Seven of Nine pass their leisure time by exchanging family stories. Kim is telling about his uncle {{dis|Jack|23rd century}}, who commanded a mission to [[Beta Capricus]] in [[2210]], a deep space mission at that time. The journey took six months and his uncle piloted the spacecraft the entire time &ndash; the rest of the crew was in [[stasis]]. When he arrived it turned out that Beta Capricus did not exist, but was indeed just the misinterpreted image of a distant galaxy. Jack did not wake his crew because there was nothing to do or see and returned to [[Earth]]. When they arrived six months later, Jack brought the crew out of stasis and they wondered why they hadn't left Earth's [[orbit]]. The laughter of Kim and his colleagues is interrupted by the door chime; it's [[The Doctor]], who wants to hand the captain a report but who does not want to intrude. When Captain Janeway tells him they were talking about their ancestors, he asks if he might join them. When Janeway agrees, he tells them that he, too, has ancestors. When Tom Paris jokes that his cousin was an electric shaver, he is corrected by The Doctor who tells him he was compiled from the most advanced holomatrices in the Federation; his cousin was an advanced prize-winning [[chess]] program. Seven of Nine tells [[Ensign]] Paris that he has not yet told them about his ancestors. According to Paris there was not much to tell; most of his ancestors were salt of the earth type of people. Some were planetary colonists and others were farmers, and one of his ancestors was a pilot who flew the first orbital glider over the lower Martian plateau. When Neelix mentions that his ancestors might have known Captain Janeway's, he asks for her name, but does not recall Shannon O'Donnel ever mentioned in relation to a Mars mission, and he knows every Mars mission from the [[1970s]] on, and who participated in them, by heart.
Just after eleven o'clock Henry Janeway got back with supplies and Shannon read the article about him in the local newspaper and got into an argument with him about the Millennium Gate project. Shannon found the Gate more than a glorified shopping mall and admitted there was a commercial dimension but explained that it was an experimental [[biosphere]]. It was a completely self-sustained city that would help scientists to learn more about the environment so, one day, they could recreate it on other [[planet|worlds]]. Shannon confessed she would like to leave [[Earth]] and its problems one day and told Henry that the Millennium Gate had a lot of potential. She accused him of living in the past, of being afraid of the future. Shannon told Henry that Gerald Moss had offered her a job, at which he accused her of sleeping with the enemy. Shannon told him she might be a consulting engineer on the Millennium Gate project; Henry got angry with her and asked her what would happen if he told her not to accept. Shannon told him she did not wanted to live in her car any more. When Henry asked her to stay she told him she could not, Shannon was afraid to get stuck in Portage Creek like Henry was. An angry Henry Janeway helped her pack when Jason walked into the room; Shannon told him she had to go when Jason asked her why she was leaving.
 
   
 
=== Act Four ===
 
=== Act Four ===
 
Captain Janeway is in her ready room reading a [[newspaper]] article on her computer terminal about [[Henry Janeway]] when Chakotay enters to show her the [[starship|ship]]'s [[status report]]s. She had found some more data from the [[21st century]], but most of it is fragmented and incomplete, so she, jokingly, makes guesses about the contents of Chakotay's report: "''The [[holographic]] engineer is having problems with her program. Neelix, the [[Cardassian]] cook, is low on supplies. Seven of Twelve is regenerating and Captain Chakotay is doing just fine.''" She explains that she was wondering how future historians would piece together their lives on ''Voyager''. Smiling, Chakotay replies that it depended on how big the pieces were. Janeway had gone to dozens of history files about 21st century Earth and found that every alien culture saw Earth's history differently. [[Vulcan]]s described [[First Contact]] with a savagely illogical species, Ferengi revered [[Wall Street]] and even viewed it as holy ground, and [[Bolian]]s expressed their dismay about the low quality of [[Human]] plumbing. So she researched the basics &ndash; [[Birth certificate|birth]], [[Death certificate|death]] and [[marriage certificate]]s, court records, housing records, etc. but she found it all incomplete. When Chakotay asks her if Shannon O'Donnel existed, a slightly disappointed Janeway tells him Shannon did exist, but she only trained to be an astronaut and did not work on any of the Mars missions. She was an engineer who worked on the Millennium Gate as a consultant and the Gate itself was welcomed with open arms; there was no opposition except by Henry Janeway. Shannon [[married]] him but did not change history, only her name. Chakotay tells Janeway not to be so hard on her, that Shannon did not know she had to live up to the expectations of Kathryn Janeway. Janeway tries to sound upbeat, saying that the worst part is how she'll break the news to her aunt that the great family legend is false.
[[File:Tom paris and the doctor.jpg|thumb|Tom Paris explaining the Martian missions]]
 
In Captain Janeway's quarters, she, [[Harry Kim]], Tom Paris, Neelix and Seven of Nine passed their leisure time by exchanging family stories. Kim was telling about his uncle [[Jack (Captain)|Jack]], who commanded a mission to [[Beta Capricus]] in [[2210]], a deep space mission at that time. The journey took six months and his uncle piloted the spacecraft the entire time &ndash; the rest of the crew was in [[stasis]]. When he arrived it turned out that Beta Capricus did not exist, but was indeed just the misinterpreted image of a distant galaxy. Jack did not wake his crew because there was nothing to do or see and returned to [[Earth]]. When they arrived six months later, Jack brought the crew out of stasis and they wondered why they hadn't left Earth's [[orbit]]. The laughter of Kim and his colleagues was interrupted by the door chime; it was [[The Doctor]], who wanted to hand the captain a report but who did not want to intrude. When Captain Janeway told him they were talking about their ancestors, he asked if he might join them. When Janeway agreed, he told them that he, too, had ancestors. When Tom Paris joked that his cousin was an electric shaver, he was corrected by the Doctor who told him he was compiled from the most advanced holomatrices in the Federation; his cousin was an advanced prize-winning [[chess]] program. Seven of Nine told [[Ensign]] Paris that he did not yet tell them about his ancestors. According to Paris there was not much to tell; most of his ancestors were salt of the earth type of people. Some were planetary colonists and others were farmers, and one of his ancestors was a pilot who flew the first orbital glider over the lower Martian plateau. When Neelix mentioned that his ancestors might have know Captain Janeway's, he asked for her name, but did not recall Shannon O'Donnell ever mentioned in relation to a Mars mission, and he knew every Mars mission from the [[1970s]] on, and who participated in them, by heart.
 
   
 
Three hours before Moss' deadline, he and Shannon O'Donnel watch ''3 Action News'' in the local bar. Henry Janeway's resistance is still the main news topic. Moss tells Shannon that the building of the Millennium Gate will be delayed if Henry Janeway cannot be persuaded to give up his resistance before midnight. Shannon tells him she has to leave for Florida but Moss tells her he still could use her on the alternate building site of the Millennium Gate in [[Canton]], [[Ohio]]. When Gerald Moss wants to leave the bar, Jason Janeway comes running in and tells Shannon his father still refuses to leave the bookstore and that a crowd is gathering; even the police are present. Shannon tells Jason his father can take care of himself. When Jason pleads her to talk to him she tells him that he won't listen to her, although she likes Henry and Jason Janeway she tells Jason she is sorry, it didn't work out.
Captain Janeway was in her ready room reading a [[newspaper]] article on her computer terminal about [[Henry Janeway]] when Chakotay entered to show her the [[starship|ship]]'s [[status report]]s. She had found some more data from the [[21st century]], but most of it was fragmented and incomplete, so she made guesses about the contents of Chakotay's report: "''The [[holographic]] engineer was having trouble with her program, Neelix the [[Cardassian]] cook was low on supplies, Seven of Twelve was regenerating and Captain Chakotay was doing fine.''" She explained that she was wondering how future historians would piece together their lives on ''Voyager''. Smiling, Chakotay replied that it depended on how big the pieces were. Janeway went to dozens of history files about 21st century Earth and found that every alien culture saw Earth's history differently. [[Vulcan]]s described [[First Contact]] with a savagely illogical species, Ferengi revered [[Wall Street]] and even viewed it as holy ground, and [[Bolian]]s expressed their dismay about the low quality of [[Human]] plumbing. So she researched the basics &ndash; birth, death and marriage certificates, court records, housing records, etc. but she found it all incomplete. When Chakotay asked her if Shannon O'Donnell existed, a slightly disappointed Janeway told him Shannon did exist, but she only trained to be an astronaut and did not work on any of the Mars missions. She was an engineer who worked on the Millennium Gate as a consultant and the Gate itself was welcomed with open arms; there was no opposition except by Henry Janeway. Shannon married him but did not change history, only her name. Chakotay told Janeway not to be so hard on her, that Shannon did not know she had to live up to the expectations of Kathryn Janeway. Janeway tried to sound upbeat, saying that the worse part is how she'll break the news to her aunt that the great family legend is false.
 
   
 
At 11:15 pm Shannon drives out of Portage Creek and records her experiences into her personal log. She would not forget the last days and found Henry Janeway an interesting man &ndash; he liked to talk, but refused to listen to anybody but himself. Shannon reminisces about her dinner in Paris with him and found his son Jason as bright as his father. While eating a [[chocolate]] chip cookie, she decides to return to Portage Creek.
=== Act Five ===
 
Three hours before Moss' deadline, he and Shannon O'Donnell watched ''3 Action News'' in the local bar. Henry Janeway's resistance was still the main news topic. Moss told Shannon that the building of the Millennium Gate would be delayed if Henry Janeway could not be persuaded to give up his resistance before midnight. Shannon told him she had to leave for Florida but Moss told her he still could use her on the alternate building site of the Millennium Gate in [[Canton]], [[Ohio]]. When Gerald Moss wanted to leave the bar, Jason Janeway came running in and told Shannon his father still refused to leave the bookstore and that a crowd was gathering; even the police were present. Shannon told Jason his father could take care of himself. When Jason plead her to talk to him she told him that he would not listen to her, although she liked Henry and Jason Janeway she told Jason she was sorry, it didn't work out.
 
 
At 11:15 pm Shannon drove out of Portage Creek and recorded her experiences into her personal log. She would not forget the last days and found Henry Janeway an interesting man &ndash; he liked to talk, but refused to listen to anybody but himself. Shannon reminisced about her dinner in Paris with him and found his son Jason as bright as his father. While eating a [[chocolate]] chip cookie, she decided to return to Portage Creek.
 
   
 
When Shannon drove into the street where the bookstore was located, she noticed the police line and walked up to the bookstore, where Gerald Moss told a policeman to let her through. Followed by a ''3 Action News'' camera, Shannon walked to the bookstore entrance.
 
When Shannon drove into the street where the bookstore was located, she noticed the police line and walked up to the bookstore, where Gerald Moss told a policeman to let her through. Followed by a ''3 Action News'' camera, Shannon walked to the bookstore entrance.
   
 
=== Act Five ===
Shannon knocked on the door and told Henry to let her in. When she entered the store, she grabbed his coat and told him they were leaving; she even threatened to drag him out of the bookstore if he refused. Shannon told him it was over and accused him of living in the past without any thoughts about the future of his son or Portage Creek. When Henry asked why she had returned, Shannon told him it was because of the chocolate chip cookies which she bought when she left Portage Creek &ndash; they didn't taste the same without him. Shannon told him she'd like to stay with him and Jason but she did not want to work in a bookstore for the rest of her life. Shannon told him that he lived in the past while she wanted to live in the future, and maybe together they could try to live in the present. She also told him about the offer Gerald Moss made to her, but that she was prepared to turn him down if Henry wanted her to stay. Henry hesitated for a short time and told her he could re-open his bookstore in the Millennium Gate, whereupon Shannon told him she probably could get him a nice location in the Gate where nobody would bother him. When Henry asked her if she would ever leave him again she told him that if she would, they would leave together. When Henry asked the time she told him it was 11:59. Just before midnight, Shannon and Henry left Alexandria Books bookstore and Henry closed his store for the last time. When they left the store they were applauded by the gathered crowd.
+
Shannon knocks on the door and tells Henry to let her in. When she enters the store, she grabs his coat and tells him they're leaving; she even threatens to drag him out of the bookstore if he refuses. Shannon tells him it is over and accuses him of living in the past without any thoughts about the future of his son or Portage Creek. When Henry asks why she has returned, Shannon tells him it was because of the chocolate chip cookies which she bought when she left Portage Creek &ndash; they didn't taste the same without him. Shannon tells him she'd like to stay with him and Jason but she does not want to work in a bookstore for the rest of her life. Shannon tells Henry that he lives in the past while she wants to live in the future, and maybe together they could try to live in the present. She also tells him about the offer Gerald Moss made to her, but that she is prepared to turn him down if Henry wants her to stay. Henry hesitates for a short time and tells her he could re-open his bookstore in the Millennium Gate, whereupon Shannon tells him she probably could get him a nice location in the Gate where nobody would bother him. When Henry asks her if she would ever leave him again she tells him that if she would, they would leave together. When Henry asks the time she tells him it's 11:59. Just before midnight, Shannon and Henry leave Alexandria Books bookstore and Henry closes his store for the last time. As they leave the store they are applauded by the gathered crowd.
   
Kathryn Janeway was in her quarters staring at the [[star]]s when Neelix contacted her via her [[combadge]]. He asked her to come to the [[mess hall]]; there was no emergency but he wanted to speak to her personally.
+
Kathryn Janeway is in her quarters staring at the [[star]]s when Neelix contacts her via her [[combadge]]. He asks her to come to the [[mess hall]]; there is no emergency but he wants to speak to her personally.
   
[[File:Happy ancestors eve.jpg|thumb|Happy Ancestors Eve]]
+
[[File:Happy ancestors eve.jpg|thumb|"Happy Ancestors' Eve"]]
When Captain Janeway entered the mess hall, she was greeted by her friends who toasted "[[Ancestors Eve]]". When she asked what it was all about, Neelix told her it was [[April|April 22]], Ancestors Eve, a holiday he had established that very day. Commander Chakotay told her Neelix had a point: an evening of reflection in honor of those who had come before. Harry told him that his uncle Jack would approve and [[B'Elanna Torres]] had at least a reason to crawl out from under the [[plasma conduit|warp conduit]] she was working on. Janeway appreciated the gesture, but was interrupted by Tom Paris, who told Neelix to give her the present. Neelix handed her a framed photo of Shannon O'Donnell &ndash; Janeway &ndash; he said that he had done some more research and told her it was taken around [[2050]] in a park near [[Portage Creek]], 38 years after the dedication of the [[Millennium Gate]]. Neelix thought a nice place for it would be on the shelf near her desk in her ready room. Janeway thanked him but told Neelix she was not sure that Shannon O'Donnell belonged there. Seven of Nine told her she was wrong, Shannon captured her imagination and historical details were irrelevant. [[Tuvok]] concurred with her analysis and Chakotay told Janeway that she would not have joined Starfleet if it wasn't for Shannon O'Donnell. The Doctor grabbed his [[holo-camera]] and placed it on the bar. After he prepared it he told everyone to gather around the captain and to face the camera. They toasted to family when the camera took its picture.
+
When Captain Janeway enters the mess hall, she is greeted by her friends who [[toast]] "[[Ancestors' Eve]]". When she asks what it's all about, Neelix tells her it's [[April|April 22]], Ancestors' Eve, a holiday he established that very day. Commander Chakotay tells her Neelix had a point: an evening of reflection in honor of those who had come before. Harry tells him that his uncle Jack would approve and [[B'Elanna Torres]] had at least a reason to crawl out from under the [[plasma conduit|warp conduit]] she was working on. Janeway appreciates the gesture, but is interrupted by Tom Paris, who tells Neelix to give her the present. Neelix hands Janeway a framed photo of Shannon O'Donnel and says that he has done some more research and told her the photo was taken around [[2050]] in a park near [[Portage Creek]], thirty-eight years after the dedication of the [[Millennium Gate]]. Neelix thinks a nice place for it would be on the shelf near her desk in her ready room. Janeway thanks him but tells Neelix she is not sure that Shannon O'Donnel belongs there. Seven of Nine tells her she was wrong, Shannon captured her imagination, and historical details are irrelevant. [[Tuvok]] concurs with her analysis and Chakotay tells Janeway that she would not have joined Starfleet if it wasn't for Shannon O'Donnel. The Doctor grabs his [[holo-camera]] and places it on the bar. After he prepares it he tells everyone to gather around the Captain and to face the camera. They share a toast to 'family' as the camera takes its picture.
   
In the Portage Creek park, Kieran gave his sister "bunny ears" after their picture was taken. Shannon told him to stop it and placed him on her lap and pointed towards the camera which brought his attention to it and a big smile upon his face.
+
In the Portage Creek park, Kieran gave his sister "bunny ears" after their picture was taken. Shannon tells him to stop it and places him on her lap and pointed towards the camera which brought his attention to it and a big smile upon his face.
   
== Background Information ==
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== Background information ==
 
=== Story and script ===
 
=== Story and script ===
* This episode was inspired by an [[undeveloped Star Trek: Voyager episodes#Q on a beach|undeveloped Q episode]] for ''Star Trek: Voyager'', thought up by [[John de Lancie]], and was originally to have included a recurring character from ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. "''For awhile [Executive Producer] [[Brannon Braga|Brannon [Braga]]] and I were thinking about doing Janeway's distant ancestor and Q in the year 2000,''" explained Supervising Producer [[Joe Menosky]]. "''We also thought about Janeway's distant ancestor and [[Guinan]], and this might have been a [[Whoopi Goldberg|Whoopi [Goldberg]]] episode.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 51)
+
* This episode was inspired by an [[undeveloped Star Trek: Voyager episodes#Q on a beach|undeveloped Q episode]] for ''Star Trek: Voyager'', thought up by [[John de Lancie]], and was originally to have included a recurring character from {{s|TNG}}. "''For a while [Executive Producer] [[Brannon Braga|Brannon [Braga]]] and I were thinking about doing Janeway's distant ancestor and Q in the year 2000,''" explained Supervising Producer [[Joe Menosky]]. "''We also thought about Janeway's distant ancestor and [[Guinan]], and this might have been a [[Whoopi Goldberg|Whoopi [Goldberg]]] episode.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 51)
* It was important to the writers that this episode be timely. Said Brannon Braga, "''We wanted to do a show dealing with the millennium, before the millennium came. We wanted to tell a story of Captain Janeway's great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother, played by [[Kate Mulgrew]] [....] It's a story about history, and how history can be misinterpreted.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
+
* It was important to the writers that this episode be timely. Said Brannon Braga, "''We wanted to do a show dealing with the millennium, before the millennium came. We wanted to tell a story of Captain Janeway's great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother, played by [[Kate Mulgrew]] [&hellip;] It's a story about history, and how history can be misinterpreted.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
 
* When it came time to actually write the installment, the writers attempted to involve no hard science fiction in the episode and opted to include no guest stars from previous episodes. Joe Menosky stated, "''Our original inspiration for this was to do an episode where we didn't see ''Voyager'' at all. All we saw was Kate Mulgrew playing a distant ancestor [of Kathryn Janeway]. The idea was to tell a quintessentially ''Star Trek'' story without any science fiction. I wrote a teleplay, and it was a very painful [script] to write, because our premise wasn't working. We realized that we couldn't tell a story just on Earth without having ''Voyager'' to ground us in some way. We ended up doing a third of the episode set on ''Voyager''.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 53)
 
* When it came time to actually write the installment, the writers attempted to involve no hard science fiction in the episode and opted to include no guest stars from previous episodes. Joe Menosky stated, "''Our original inspiration for this was to do an episode where we didn't see ''Voyager'' at all. All we saw was Kate Mulgrew playing a distant ancestor [of Kathryn Janeway]. The idea was to tell a quintessentially ''Star Trek'' story without any science fiction. I wrote a teleplay, and it was a very painful [script] to write, because our premise wasn't working. We realized that we couldn't tell a story just on Earth without having ''Voyager'' to ground us in some way. We ended up doing a third of the episode set on ''Voyager''.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 53)
 
* Both David Livingston and Brannon Braga considered this episode to be very different from others in the ''Star Trek'' canon. Livingston remarked, "''It is the only ''Star Trek'' show that I know of that has no science fiction. It is not a ''Star Trek'' show.''" Braga agreed, "''Ultimately, it's a very unique off-concept episode.''"(''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
   
 
=== Cast and characters ===
 
=== Cast and characters ===
* Joe Menosky, Brannon Braga and director [[David Livingston]] found Kate Mulgrew's turn as Shannon O'Donnell to be notably successful. "''Kate really loved playing a character that was not herself,''" Menosky stated. "''She plays the founder of the Janeway clan, but she's a very reluctant hero, and a very damaged hero. She walks around with her hands in her pockets, and her head slightly bowed. She's a more withdrawn and vulnerable person than you can ever imagine Janeway being. It was quite nice to see her do that performance.''" Livingston concurred, "''What's wonderful in [the episode] is that Kate plays a totally different character [....] It's a wonderful character study. We cut back and forth between Janeway and Shannon, and you get to see this wonderful contrast between these two.''" Braga enthused, "''It's a real acting tour de force for Kate Mulgrew.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, pp. 53-55)
+
* Joe Menosky, Brannon Braga and director [[David Livingston]] found Kate Mulgrew's turn as Shannon O'Donnel to be notably successful. "''Kate really loved playing a character that was not herself,''" Menosky stated. "''She plays the founder of the Janeway clan, but she's a very reluctant hero, and a very damaged hero. She walks around with her hands in her pockets, and her head slightly bowed. She's a more withdrawn and vulnerable person than you can ever imagine Janeway being. It was quite nice to see her do that performance.''" Livingston concurred, "''What's wonderful in [the episode] is that Kate plays a totally different character [&hellip;] It's a wonderful character study. We cut back and forth between Janeway and Shannon, and you get to see this wonderful contrast between these two.''" Braga enthused, "''It's a real acting tour de force for Kate Mulgrew.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, pp. 53-55)
   
 
=== Production ===
 
=== Production ===
 
* David Livingston was delighted with Henry Janeway's bookstore in this installment, describing it as "wonderful." He also opined, "''The bookstore was phenomenal, one of [Production Designer] [[Richard James]]' best sets.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
 
* David Livingston was delighted with Henry Janeway's bookstore in this installment, describing it as "wonderful." He also opined, "''The bookstore was phenomenal, one of [Production Designer] [[Richard James]]' best sets.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
 
* The exterior of the bookstore was filmed at [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]. Joe Menosky stated, "''David Livingston did it on the [[New York]] Street on Paramount lot. They brought in tons and tons of snow and blew it all over the street.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55) Livingston himself remembered, "''The production values were great. We shot it on the backlot at Paramount, and made it look like a Midwestern city. It was supposed to be in the winter, and we had snow, and we shot both day and night.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
 
* The exterior of the bookstore was filmed at [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]. Joe Menosky stated, "''David Livingston did it on the [[New York]] Street on Paramount lot. They brought in tons and tons of snow and blew it all over the street.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55) Livingston himself remembered, "''The production values were great. We shot it on the backlot at Paramount, and made it look like a Midwestern city. It was supposed to be in the winter, and we had snow, and we shot both day and night.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
* David Livingston was also pleased with the makeup that Kate Mulgrew wore, in the role of the elderly Shannon O'Donnell. "''The makeup looks wonderful on her,''" the director remarked. "''Kate said when she looked in the mirror it scared her, because she looked so much like her grandmother.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
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* David Livingston was also pleased with the makeup that Kate Mulgrew wore, in the role of the elderly Shannon O'Donnel. "''The makeup looks wonderful on her,''" the director remarked. "''Kate said when she looked in the mirror it scared her, because she looked so much like her grandmother.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
* There is a model of the {{w|Apollo Lunar Module}} hanging from the rear-view mirror of Shannon O'Donnell's car. According to the unauthorized [[reference works|reference book]] ''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'' (p. 309), this was a commercially available model kit.
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* There is a model of the {{w|Apollo Lunar Module}} hanging from the rear-view mirror of Shannon O'Donnel's car. According to the unauthorized [[reference works|reference book]] ''{{dis|Delta Quadrant|reference book}}'' (p. 309), this was a commercially available model kit. It was borrowed from the desk of [[Denise Okuda]], who loaned it to the production for that episode, according to {{ste|4|1|36}}
* In the dinner scene, there is a pinball machine behind Shannon. Though blurry, it is Fish Tales.
+
* In the dinner scene, there is a pinball machine behind Shannon. Though blurry, it is "Fish Tales".
   
=== Continuity and trivia ===
+
=== Continuity ===
* The date of the episode is given as April 22, [[2376]].
+
* The date of the episode is given as April 22.
  +
* The stardate of the episode is never mentioned during the episode itself, however, in {{e|The Voyager Conspiracy}}, Janeway mentions this stardate in connection with Seven reluctantly studying her ancestors, which is undoubtedly during this episode.
* Both David Livingston and Brannon Braga considered this episode to be very different from others in the ''Star Trek'' canon. Livingston remarked, "''It is the only ''Star Trek'' show that I know of that has no science fiction. It is not a ''Star Trek'' show.''" Braga agreed, "''Ultimately, it's a very unique off-concept episode.''"(''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
 
  +
*There is no [[Captain's Log]] record in this episode. However Shannon O'Donnel is seen maintaining a [[personal log]] with her experiences in a [[tape recorder]].
* This episode predicted that the [[Y2K bug]] would not "switch off even a single light bulb," which was almost correct; a nuclear power plant in Japan had a monitoring computer go down briefly, and minor events elsewhere occurred, but nothing major.
 
  +
*As the flashback portions of the episode are set in December 2000, they are taking place about 1.5 years into the "future" relative to when the episode first aired.
* When Neelix suggests that the [[Great Wall of China]] is visible from space, he takes a popular Earth myth as fact and Janeway, a capable science officer, does not correct him. While it is true that &ndash; under very optimal conditions and if one knows where to look &ndash; the Great Wall is visible from low orbits, other structures (such as pyramids and the Eiffel tower) also become visible from such orbits. In fact, the only thing truly visible from space is the artificial province Flevoland, in the Netherlands.
 
  +
*O'Donnell mentions that Indiana houses several roadside attractions, such as the world's largest ball of string, a reference to the "[[Wikipedia:Biggest ball of twine|Biggest ball of twine]]" fad in some of the United States; in reality Indiana doesn't contain one.
* Janeway has extensive (albeit, somewhat incorrect) knowledge about Shannon O'Donnell that she says she learned at family gatherings, when she was younger. In the [[VOY Season 3|third season]] installment {{e|Future's End}}, Janeway claims that she does not know anything about what her relatives were doing at the close of the 20th century. One explanation for this apparent incongruity is that O'Donnell's legend takes place during the 21st century and that Janeway did indeed not know what O'Donnell was up to, before the Millennium Gate was built.
 
  +
*O'Donnel's dialogue with Henry Janeway in the pub, refers to the real-life hype about the [[Millennium Eve]] of 31 December 1999, albeit futuristically. The dialogue also refers to the {{w|Millennium#Debate over millennium celebrations|debate}} that the number 2001 is the real beginning of the millennium, rather than 2000. The dialogue suggests that because of this, Humanity chose to repeat the hype the following year. In reality, the millennial celebrations were not repeated in New Year's 2001, which was celebrated in much lesser magnitude.
 
 
* The above dialogue also predicted that the [[Y2K bug]] would not "switch off even a single light bulb," which was almost correct; a nuclear power plant in Japan had a monitoring computer go down briefly, and minor events elsewhere occurred, but nothing major.
* While the officers exchange family history, they discuss the subject of being a single awake crew member while the rest of the crew are in stasis, for an extended period (here, six months), and Seven exclaims that she would prefer stasis to being the single awake individual. [[VOY Season 4|Fourth season]]'s {{e|One}} establishes that she was the single awake individual for a month.
 
  +
* Shannon O'Donnel's statement that she watched the Apollo 11 landing on television in 1969 when she was 11 means she is 42 years old during the events of the episode and 92 in the photograph with her descendants.
 
 
* Janeway has extensive (albeit, somewhat incorrect) knowledge about Shannon O'Donnel that she says she learned at family gatherings, when she was younger. In the [[VOY Season 3|third season]] installment {{e|Future's End}}, Janeway claims that she does not know anything about what her relatives were doing at the close of the 20th century. One explanation for this apparent incongruity is that O'Donnel's legend takes place during the 21st century and that Janeway did indeed not know what O'Donnel was up to, before the Millennium Gate was built.
*The photo of Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren, circa 2050, shows no signs of the destruction resulting from [[World War III]], or the following [[Post-atomic horror]].
 
  +
* While the officers exchange family history, [[Harry Kim]] narrates an adventure of his ancestor to [[Beta Capricus]] in [[2210]] as a single awake crew member while the rest of the crew are in [[stasis]], for an extended period (here, six months). This seems to refer to a [[sleeper ship]].
  +
*In the aforementioned dialogue, Seven exclaims that she would prefer stasis to being the single awake individual. She had a similar experience, being the single awake individual for a month during the events of the [[VOY Season 4|fourth season]]'s {{e|One}}.
 
*The photo of Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren, circa 2050, shows no signs of the destruction resulting from [[World War III]], or the following [[post-atomic horror]].
  +
*This is the only episode of ''Star Trek: Voyager'' (and, with {{TNG|11001001}}, one of only two in the franchise) that has no letters in its title.
   
 
=== Reception ===
 
=== Reception ===
* Joe Menosky regretted the decision to exclude science fiction elements from this episode. He related, "''Ultimately, to me, it was a lot of domestic scenes, which I am not interested in writing [....] More than anyone, I wish that we had had something of [the hard science fiction] element in to drive the plot. [Executive Producer] [[Rick Berman]] called to say he loved it. I just kind of shrugged. You just never know.''" Conversely, David Livingston expressed his interested reaction to the episode; "''The story is really intriguing [....] I hope that the audience and the fans will be intrigued by it.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
+
* Joe Menosky regretted the decision to exclude science fiction elements from this episode. He related, "''Ultimately, to me, it was a lot of domestic scenes, which I am not interested in writing [&hellip;] More than anyone, I wish that we had had something of [the hard science fiction] element in to drive the plot. [Executive Producer] [[Rick Berman]] called to say he loved it. I just kind of shrugged. You just never know.''" Conversely, David Livingston expressed his interested reaction to the episode; "''The story is really intriguing [&hellip;] I hope that the audience and the fans will be intrigued by it.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
 
* According to the book ''Delta Quadrant'' (p. 309), an advertisement for {{w|The Planetary Society}} that aired during this episode's third commercial break involved [[Robert Picardo]], standing on the set of ''Voyager''{{'}}s sickbay, as he encouraged children to design Mars colonies for one hundred people.
 
* According to the book ''Delta Quadrant'' (p. 309), an advertisement for {{w|The Planetary Society}} that aired during this episode's third commercial break involved [[Robert Picardo]], standing on the set of ''Voyager''{{'}}s sickbay, as he encouraged children to design Mars colonies for one hundred people.
   
Line 137: Line 119:
   
 
==Links and references==
 
==Links and references==
  +
{{VOY Cast (S4-S7)}}
===Starring===
 
*[[Kate Mulgrew]] as [[Captain]] [[Kathryn Janeway]] and
 
** [[Shannon O'Donnell]]
 
===Also starring===
 
*[[Robert Beltran]] as [[Commander]] [[Chakotay]]
 
*[[Roxann Dawson]] as [[Lieutenant]] [[B'Elanna Torres]]
 
*[[Robert Duncan McNeill]] as [[Ensign]] [[Tom Paris]]
 
*[[Ethan Phillips]] as [[Neelix]]
 
*[[Robert Picardo]] as [[The Doctor]]
 
*[[Tim Russ]] as [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Tuvok]]
 
*[[Jeri Ryan]] as [[Seven of Nine]]
 
*[[Garrett Wang]] as [[Ensign]] [[Harry Kim]]
 
 
 
=== Special guest star ===
 
=== Special guest star ===
*[[Kevin Tighe]] as [[Henry Janeway]]
+
* [[Kevin Tighe]] as [[Henry Janeway]]
   
 
=== Guest stars ===
 
=== Guest stars ===
*[[Bradley Pierce]] as [[Jason Janeway]]
+
* [[Bradley Pierce]] as [[Jason Janeway]]
*[[John Carroll Lynch]] as [[Gerald Moss]]
+
* [[John Carroll Lynch]] as [[Gerald Moss]]
   
 
=== Co-stars ===
 
=== Co-stars ===
* [[Christopher Curry]] as a [[Unnamed Humans (20th century)#Driver|Driver]]
+
* [[Christopher Curry]] as [[Human 20th century driver|Driver]]
* [[James Greene]] as a [[Unnamed Humans (20th century)#Passerby|Passerby]]
+
* [[James Greene]] as [[Human 20th century passerby 1|Passerby]]
* [[Kristina Hayes]] as a [[Marci Collins|Field Reporter]]
+
* [[Kristina Hayes]] as [[Marci Collins|Field Reporter]]
* [[Majel Barrett]] as the [[Computer Voice]]
+
* [[Majel Barrett]] as [[Computer Voice]]
   
===Uncredited co-stars===
+
=== Uncredited co-stars ===
* [[Tarik Ergin]] as [[Ayala]]
+
* [[Heather Babic]] as [[Human 20th century bar patrons 002|bar patron]]
* [[Unknown actor]] as [[Kieran Janeway]]
+
* [[Aaron Bartel]] as [[Human 21st century Janeway family|Janeway family member]]
* [[Unknown performers]] as [[Unnamed Humans (20th century)#Portage Creek citizens|Portage Creek citizens]]
+
* [[Eric Bennett]] as [[Human 20th century bar patrons 002|bar patron]]
  +
* [[Brittany Boddington]] as [[Human 21st century Janeway family|Janeway family member]]
 
* [[Tarik Ergin]] as [[Ayala]]
  +
* [[Mike Fujimoto]] as [[USS Voyager ops officer 049|operations officer]]
  +
* [[Caroline Gibson]] as [[USS Voyager ops officer 024|operations officer]]
  +
* [[Steve Gorlin]] as [[Human 20th century bar patrons 002|bar patron]]
  +
* [[Linda Harcharic]] as [[USS Voyager cmd officer 016|command officer]]
  +
* [[Kerry Hoyt]] as {{dis|Fitzpatrick|Crewman}}
  +
* [[Riki Jarrett]] as [[Human 20th century bar patrons 002|bar patron]]
  +
* [[Ron Kapp]] as [[Human 21st century Janeway family|Janeway family member]]
  +
* [[Al Kroft]] as [[Human 20th century bar patrons 002|bar patron]]
  +
* [[Leslie McCasky]] as [[Human 20th century bar staff 001|waitress]]
 
* [[Kate Mulgrew]] as [[Shannon O'Donnel]]
  +
* [[Lemuel Perry]] as [[Human 20th century bar patrons 002|bar patron]]
  +
* [[Erin Price]] as [[Renlay Sharr]]
  +
* [[Marvin V. Rush]] as [[Human 20th century cameraman|3 Action News cameraman]]
  +
* [[Ron Schmock]] as [[Human 21st century Janeway family|Janeway family member]]
  +
* [[Linnea Soohoo]] as [[Voyager sciences officer 015|sciences officer]]
  +
* [[Talon Tears]] as [[USS Voyager cmd officer 022|command officer]]
  +
* [[David G. Trotti]] as [[Human 20th century Portage Creek citizens|Portage Creek bystander]]
  +
* [[William Ward]] as [[Human 20th century bar staff 001|bartender]]
  +
* [[Lindsey Wright]] as [[Human 21st century Janeway family|Janeway family member]]
  +
* [[Unknown performers]] as
  +
** [[Human 20th century boom operator|3 Action News boom operator]]
  +
** [[Kieran]]
  +
** [[Human 20th century Portage Creek citizens|Portage Creek citizens]]
  +
** [[Human 21st century Janeway family|Two Janeway family members]]
  +
  +
=== Stand-ins ===
  +
* [[Keith Estelle]] &ndash; [[photo double]] for Tim Russ (off-screen)
  +
* [[Mel Gold]] &ndash; photo double for Ethan Phillips
  +
* [[Sue Henley]] &ndash; [[stand-in]] for Kate Mulgrew
  +
* [[Susan Lewis]] &ndash;
  +
** Photo double for Roxann Dawson (off-screen)
  +
** Stand-in for Roxann Dawson
  +
* [[Nicole McAuley]] &ndash; photo double for Jeri Ryan (off-screen)
  +
* [[Brita Nowak]] &ndash; stand-in for Jeri Ryan and Kate Mulgrew
  +
* [[Lem Perry]] &ndash; stand-in for Tim Russ and utility stand-in
  +
* [[Erin Price]] &ndash; [[hand double]] for Kate Mulgrew
  +
* [[J.R. Quinonez]] &ndash; stand-in for Robert Picardo and utility stand-in
  +
* [[Keith Rayve]] &ndash;
  +
** Photo double for Robert Duncan McNeill (off-screen)
  +
** Stand-in for Robert Duncan McNeill and John Carroll Lynch and utility stand-in
  +
* [[Adam Ross]] &ndash; hand double for Bradley Pierce
  +
* [[Joey Sakata]] &ndash; stand-in for Ethan Phillips
  +
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] &ndash; stand-in for Robert Beltran and Kevin Tighe
  +
* [[William Smith]] &ndash; stand-in for Bradley Pierce
  +
* [[Stuart Wong]] &ndash; stand-in for Garrett Wang
  +
* [[Unknown performers]] as
  +
** Stand-in for Christopher Curry
  +
** Stand-in for James Greene
  +
** Stand-in for Kristina Hayes
   
 
=== References ===
 
=== References ===
''[[3 Action News]]''; [[Achilles (Greek mythology)|Achilles]]; [[aerospace engineer]]; [[aircraft]]; [[Alexandria]]; [[Alexandria Books]]; [[Ancestors Eve]]; [[antibiotic]]; [[Neil Armstrong|Armstrong, Neil]]; [[astronaut]]; [[barbarian]]; [[Baylor]]; [[beefsteak tomato]]; [[beer]]; ''[[The Best Medicine|Best Medicine, The]]''; [[Beta Capricus]]; [[biosphere]]; [[Bloomington]]; [[Bolian]]; [[Boulevard St. Germain]]; [[boxing]]; [[Buck's]]; ''[[By the Light of My Father's Smile]]''; [[caffeine]]; [[Canton]]; [[captain's log]]; [[car]]; [[Cardassian]]; [[chess]]; [[chicken]]; [[China]]; [[Chinese]]; [[chocolate]]; [[chocolate chip cookie]]; [[Christmas]]; [[chromosome]]; [[Civic center]]; [[class Y cluster]]; [[claustrophobia]]; [[coffee]]; [[coffee shop]]; [[Colossus]]; [[computer]]; [[computer game]]; [[consulting engineer]]; [[cookie]]; [[corn]]; ''[[Curtains for the Editor]]''; [[Leonardo da Vinci|da Vinci, Leonardo]]; [[Delta Quadrant]]; [[e-mail]]; [[Earth]]; [[Earth history]]; [[Earth landmarks]]; [[electric shaver]]; [[EM echo]]; [[emperor]]; [[Ephesus]]; [[European]]; [[Federation]]; [[Ferengi]]; [[First Contact]]; [[fishing]]; [[Florida]]; [[flying saucer]]; ''[[Forbes]]''; [[Ford LTD Country Squire]]; [[French language]]; [[galliform]]; [[genealogy]]; [[governor]]; [[Great Wall of China]]; [[Greek]]; [[Gustave Caillebotte]]; [[Halicarnassus]]; [[Sven "Buttercup" Hansen|Hansen, Sven "Buttercup"]]; [[Hector|Glorious Hector]]; [[Hell]]; [[Hercules]]; [[holodeck]]; [[huckster]]; [[Indiana]]; [[insurance]]; [[interstate]]; [[Jack (Captain)]]; [[Martha Janeway|Janeway, Martha]]; [[journalist]]; [[Large Sunflowers]]; ''[[The Last Supper]]''; [[light bulb]]; [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]]; [[lion]]; [[logic]]; [[lower Martian plateau]]; [[Luna]]; [[Martian colonies]]; [[Mars]]; [[Matrix of Doom]]; [[Mausoleum of Halicarnassus]]; [[McMillan]]; [[Midwest]]; [[Millennium Eve]]; [[Millennium Gate]]; ''[[The Monster at the End of This Book]]''; [[The Morning Observer]]; [[NASA]]; [[newspaper]]; [[New Year's Eve]]; [[oatmeal]]; [[oatmeal cookie]]; [[Odysseus]]; [[Ohio]]; [[orbital glider]]; [[PADD]]; [[Paris]]; [[Paris Street; Rainy Day]]; [[Pat]]; ''[[PC World]]''; [[permit]]; [[plumbing]]; [[police]]; [[Portage Creek]]; [[Priam]]; [[Ptolemy II]]; [[Qin]]; [[recyclic life support system]]; [[Rhodes]]; [[rocket ship]]; [[Roman]]; [[Rome]]; [[sailing ship]]; [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]; ''[[SK]]''; [[string]]; [[Talax]]; [[tax]]; [[telephone]]; [[television]]; [[Temple of Artemis]]; [[Texas]]; [[Third Circle of Hell]]; [[tow truck]]; [[Troy]]; [[Volkswagen]]; [[Vulcan]]; [[Wall Street]]; ''[[When I Think of Bobby]]''; ''[[Working World]]''; [[Y2K bug]]; [[Zeus]]
+
''[[3 Action News]]''; {{dis|Achilles|mythology}}; [[aerospace engineer]]; [[aerospace engineering]]; [[ailment|ailing]]; [[aircraft]]; [[Alexandria]]; [[Alexandria Books]]; [[Ancestors' Eve]]; [[antibiotic]]; {{revname|Neil|Armstrong}}; [[Artemis]]; [[astronaut]]; [[barbarian]]; [[Baylor]]; [[BC]]; [[beefsteak tomato]]; [[beer]]; [[Beta Capricus]]; [[Beta Capricus expedition]]; [[Big Bird]]; [[binder]]; [[biosphere]]; [[birth certificate]]; [[Bloomington]]; [[Bolian]]; [[Boulevard St. Germain]]; [[boxing]]; [[boycott]]; [[Buck's]]; [[building permit]]; "[[Buttercup]]"; [[caffeine]]; [[candy cane]]; [[Canton]];[[car]]; [[Cardassian]]; [[cash register]]; [[caution tape]]; [[census survey]]; [[chess]]; [[Chevrolet Astro]]; [[Chevrolet Caprice]]; [[chicken]]; [[China]]; [[Chinese]]; [[chocolate]]; [[chocolate chip cookie]]; [[Christmas]]; [[chromosome]]; [[Civic center]]; [[classical age]]; [[class Y cluster]]; [[claustrophobia]]; [[coffee]]; [[coffee shop]]; [[Colossus of Rhodes]]; [[computer]]; [[computer game]]; [[consulting engineer]]/[[consultant]]; [[convenience store]]; [[cookie]]; [[co-pilot]]; [[corn]]; [[corporate hit man]]; [[court record]]; {{revname|Leonardo|da Vinci}}; [[death certificate]]; [[decaf]]; [[deer]]; [[Delta Quadrant]]; [[doomsday book]]; [[downsizing]]; [[dozen]]; [[e-mail]]; [[Earth]]; [[Earth history]]; [[Earth landmarks]]; [[electric shaver]]; [[EM echo]]; [[emperor]]; [[employment record]]; [[entrepreneur]]; [[Ephesus]]; [[European]]; [[explorer]]; [[family history]]; [[family line]]; [[Federation]]; [[Ferengi]]; [[Ferengi historian 001|Ferengi historian]]; [[First Contact]]; [[fishing]]; [[Florida]]; [[flying saucer]]; [[football]]; [[Ford LTD Country Squire]]; [[franchise]]; [[French language]]; [[galliform]]; [[gasoline]]; [[genealogy]]; [[generation]]; [[gesture]]; [[Human 20th century governor 001|governor]]; [[Great Wall of China]]; [[Greek]]; [[guidebook]]; [[Gustave Caillebotte]]; [[Halicarnassus]]; {{revname|Sven|Hansen}}; [[Hector|Glorious Hector]]; [[Hell]]; [[Hercules]]; [[historian]]; [[holodeck]]; [[holy ground]]; [[Honda Accord]]; [[housing record]]; [[huckster]]; [[Indiana]]; [[insurance]]; [[interstate]]; {{dis|Jack|23rd century}}; [[Janeway family]]; [[Human 21st century Janeway family|Janeway family members (21st century)]]; [[Human 20th century wife 001|Janeway's first wife]]; [[marriage certificate]]; [[journalist]]; [[kilometer]]; [[landmark]]; [[Large Sunflowers]]; ''[[The Last Supper]]''; [[light bulb]]; [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]]; [[Link-Belt HTC]]; [[lion]]; [[logic]]; [[Lower Martian plateau]]; [[Luna]]; [[manmade]]; [[market price]]; [[Martha]]; [[Martian colonies]]; [[Mars]]; [[Matrix of Doom]]; [[Mausoleum of Halicarnassus]]; [[McMillan]]; [[menorah]]; [[meter]]; [[Midwest]]; [[mile]]; [[millennium]]; [[Millennium Eve]]; [[Millennium Gate]]; [[modern age]]; ''{{revname|The|Morning Observer}}''; [[Mustang]]; [[NASA]]; [[newspaper]]; [[New Year's Eve]]; {{dis|nomad|people}}; [[Non-Federation]]; [[nostalgia]]; [[nuclear family]]; [[oatmeal]]; [[oatmeal cookie]]; [[NASA students 001|O'Donnel's NASA class]]; [[Odysseus]]; [[Ohio]]; [[Oklahoma Sooners]]; [[Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera]]; [[orbital glider]]; [[PADD]]; [[parade]]; [[Paris]]; [[Paris' ancestors 001|Paris' ancestors]]; [[Paris Street; Rainy Day]]; [[parking]]; {{dis|Pat|aunt}}; [[permit]]; [[personal archive]]; [[personal log]]; ''[[pharmacie]]''; [[photographic index]]; [[photographic memory]]; [[plumbing]]; [[PM]]; [[police]]; [[Portage Creek]]; [[Portage Creek Police Department]]; [[postcard]]; [[Priam]]; [[prizefighter]]; [[progenitor]]; [[promotional literature]]; [[Ptolemy II]]; [[Qin]]; [[recyclic life support system]]; [[retail space]]; [[Rhodes]]; [[rocket scientist]]; [[rocket ship]]; [[Roman]]; [[Rome]]; [[sailing ship]]; [[Saturn SL2]]; [[scaffolding]]; [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]; [[shelf]]; [[shopping mall]]; ''[[SK]]''; [[slogan]]; [[stamp]]; [[station wagon]]; [[Sterling L-Line]]; [[string]]; [[supplier]]; [[Talax]]; [[tape recorder]]; [[tax]]; [[telephone]]; [[Temple of Artemis]]; [[Texas]]; [[Third Circle of Hell]]; [[toast]]; [[tow truck]]; [[traveler]]; [[Troy]]; [[TV]]; [[vaporize]]; [[Volkswagen]]; [[voter registration form]]; [[Vulcan]]; [[Wall Street]]; [[Winnie-the-Pooh]]; [[wreath]]; [[Y2K bug]]; [[Yin and yang]]; [[Zeus]]
  +
  +
=== Crew manifest ===
  +
{{revname|David|Orlando}}; {{revname|Michael|Parsons}}; {{revname|Sandra|Peterson}}; {{revname|Jerry|Platt}}; {{revname|Amanda|Porter}}; {{revname|Charlie|Quizzlink}}; {{revname|Pierre|Rahn}}; {{revname|Evelyn|Rameau}}; {{revname|Abraham|Rawski}}; {{revname|Barbara|Reen}}; {{revname|Tony|Reynolds}}; {{revname|Keith|Rockefeller}}; {{revname|George|Rosa}}
  +
  +
=== Alexandria Books titles and authors ===
  +
''[[Allure]]''; ''[[Apartment Guide]]''; ''{{revname|The|Best Medicine}}''; ''[[Big Bird's Rhyming Book]]''; ''[[Broadcasting]]''; ''[[By the Light of My Father's Smile]]''; The Chronicles of Narnia (map on wall as O'Donnel first enters the bookshop); ''[[Curtains for the Editor]]''; ''[[Forbes]]''; ''{{revname|The|Monster at the End of This Book}}''; ''[[Noble House]]'' (by [[James Clavell]]); ''[[PC World]]''; {{revname|Thomas|Polsky}}; ''[[SK]]''; ''[[When I Think of Bobby]]''; ''[[Working World]]''
  +
  +
=== Millennium Gate poster references ===
  +
[[Berman/Braga Developers]]; {{revname|Greg|Berry|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Ken|Biller|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Brannon|Braga|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Louise|Dorton|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Gaylord|Harvey}}; {{revname|Greg|Hooper|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Merri|Howard|Millennium Gate}}; [[Jim Mees & Associates]]; [[Lazard/Anderson Group]]; {{revname|Aron|Levinson}}; [[Lisa Rich Laborers]]; {{revname|Terry|Matalas|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Joe|Menosky|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Eric|Norman|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Wendy|O'Williams}}; {{revname|Tom|Purser|Millennium Gate}}; [[Richard D. James & Associates]]; {{revname|Al|Smutko|Millennium Gate}}; {{revname|Peter|Starbrook}}; [[Wendy O Design]]; {{revname|Brad|Yacobian|Millennium Gate}};
   
 
=== Timeline ===
 
=== Timeline ===
* [[1970s]]; [[1999]]; [[2000]]; [[2003]]; [[2012]]; [[2050]]; [[2210]]; [[2376]]
+
* [[1970s]]; [[1999]]; [[2000]]; [[2003]]; [[2012]]; [[2050]]; [[2210]]; [[2375]]
  +
  +
=== External links ===
  +
* {{startrek.com|database_article/eleven-fifty-nine|"11:59"|external}}
  +
* {{mbeta-quote|11:59}}
  +
* {{wikipedia-quote|11:59 (Star Trek: Voyager)|11:59}}
   
 
{{VOY nav|season=5|last={{e|Someone to Watch Over Me}}|next={{e|Relativity}}}}
 
{{VOY nav|season=5|last={{e|Someone to Watch Over Me}}|next={{e|Relativity}}}}
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[[de:23 Uhr 59]]
 
[[de:23 Uhr 59]]
 
[[es:11:59]]
 
[[es:11:59]]
[[fr:11:59]]
+
[[fr:11:59 (épisode)]]
 
[[nl:11:59]]
 
[[nl:11:59]]
 
[[Category:VOY episodes]]
 
[[Category:VOY episodes]]

Latest revision as of 04:59, 26 January 2024

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

Kathryn Janeway discovers the truth about one of her famed ancestors, Shannon O'Donnel, realizing that who Shannon was differs vastly from what Janeway had believed all her life.

Summary

Teaser

Janeway and neelix in the turbolift

Neelix telling Janeway about the Great Wall of China

Captain Kathryn Janeway walks through a corridor on her way to a turbolift when Neelix, USS Voyager's chef and morale officer, joins her. He hands her the requisition reports for that week and asks her what she could tell him about the Great Wall of China, who built it and why. Janeway states the obvious, that it was built by the Chinese to keep people out. When they enter the turbolift, Janeway orders it to deck one, while Neelix tells her more facts about the wall and that it was one of the only objects before the 22nd century that could be seen from Earth's orbit with the naked eye. Janeway congratulates Neelix on his knowledge about Earth.

When the turbolift arrives at the bridge, Janeway is told by Commander Chakotay that they are on course to the class Y cluster and will arrive in about three days, while she and Neelix walk to her ready room. Janeway asks why Neelix is so interested in the Great Wall of China, and he tells her that he has been studying Earth landmarks. In her ready room, Neelix tells her that he and Tom Paris have been exchanging cultural knowledge about Earth and Talax and that Paris has become very knowledgeable about Talaxian geography. Janeway then asks Neelix what he knows about the Millennium Gate.

Neelix recites the Millennium Gate specifications – its height, base width, and surface material. He states that it was built in the United States of America in the 21st century. It is also one of the objects which can be seen from Earth orbit. Janeway tells him that it became a model for the first colonies on Mars and that one of her ancestors, Shannon O'Donnel, built it, not with hammer and nails, but with words. On family gatherings, Janeway was always told that Shannon O'Donnel was one of the first women astronauts and the driving force behind the Millennium Gate, the first of a long line of Janeway explorers. Neelix asks Janeway to tell him more, so he can impress Tom Paris. He learns that Shannon O'Donnel was in the space program at the time and that she was asked by the governor of Indiana, who wanted her expertise about re-cyclic life support systems. According to Janeway's aunt Martha, Shannon was flown around in a private aircraft.

Shannon O'Donnel driving

Shannon O'Donnel driving through Indiana

In the early morning of December 27, 2000, Shannon O'Donnel drives through the state of Indiana. Her car made a strange bumping noise while she added one of the state's curiosities, the world's largest ball of string, to her personal log, which was a small tape recorder on the passenger seat. Seeing the Millennium Gate billboard, she headed to Portage Creek, where she hoped that someone could take a look at her car.

Act One

Driving through the town, she stops to ask a passer-by where she can find food, gas, and lodging. The man tells her those things can’t be found any more in Portage Creek. Irritated, Shannon drives off but fails to look ahead and runs into another car. The other driver asks if she has insurance and she tells him it has run out. He says that two hundred dollars would be enough for the damage, but she tells him that she does not have that kind of money. The other driver accepts his loss and leaves. When Shannon tries to start her car it fails to start.

After Shannon calls a tow truck, she looks around for a place to keep warm while she waits. She finds that Alexandria Books is the only open store. Once inside, she meets the proprietor and his son, Henry and Jason Janeway, and asks them if she can wait for the tow truck in their store. She tells them she was trying to get to Florida when her car broke down. She hears Jason joking that Shannon is a corporate hit man and she grins as she explains to him that she does not do that kind of work anymore. Henry Janeway welcomes her and offers her a cup of coffee.

Shannon observes that most stores in town seemed to be closed. Jason replies that their store will never close. As she noticed their fliers lying on the counter, they tell her that they are fighting the building of the Millennium Gate, "the world's first self-sustained civic environment" according to Jason. Henry finds this to be propaganda; he thinks it is nothing more than a glorified shopping mall. Shannon offers to help distribute the fliers using her computer if Henry would hire her. But they tell her that they do not need any help. Edging towards the door, Shannon asks again for a job. She says she really needs the money to pay for her car repairs. After an uncomfortable silence, Jason pleads for his father to hire her. Henry reluctantly agrees.

Save Our Downtown fliers

Save our Downtown

Later that evening, Shannon and Henry visit a local bar and discussed Portage Creek. They talk about the Millennium Gate and why Henry is against it. Shannon learns that Henry would prefer to have lived in the classical age. Shannon prefers the modern age. They sum up the pros and cons of each. They get stuck on the lack of cold beer in the classical age, whether it may be better with the absence of it. When Henry asks her if she has plans for New Year's Eve she tells him that it will be no different than last year – she plans to be asleep. She asks if Henry believes all the noise about the beginning of a new millennium, whether it would cause all those problems like so many said, and if he believes all those hucksters who claimed that 2001 was the real millennium and not 2000. As far as Shannon herself is concerned, those years are nothing but numbers on a calendar. Shannon mentions Jason telling her the bookstore has belonged to his family for generations and told Henry that she's just the opposite. She loves to visit places where she has never been before and doesn’t like staying in one place for too long. She found that she was an explorer. Henry grins and tells her he thinks her car looks more like a sailing ship than a real car. She tells him that it's actually a rocket ship. Their conversation is interrupted when a rumbling sound shakes their beer glasses. They leave the bar to see what this sound is and see trucks driving by.

Act Two

The next day Henry Janeway argues with Gerald Moss, who is being interviewed by Marci Collins of 3 Action News. Henry pleads his case and returns triumphantly when he overhears Moss tell Collins that if Henry's resistance is not resolved, then the Millennium Gate would be built somewhere else. Henry tells Jason and Shannon that all they have to do is to stand firm until New Year's Eve. When Henry and Jason walk into the store Shannon watches Gerald Moss making a phone call. He seems to notice her presence.

That evening Shannon and Henry have a simple meal in the bookstore, which is illuminated by a few lamps and candles. Henry pretends they're in Paris. He places a book about that city alongside the table and tells Shannon he has never left the state of Indiana; he finds himself more comfortable with his books. She asks Henry about her car and he tells her that it has been repaired and is parked behind the garage. Shannon remarks that he should have mentioned that earlier that day. Henry says he forgot. Shannon says she will leave the next day but Henry reminds her that she promised Jason to show him some tricks on her computer. Remembering, Shannon agreed. She thinks he made it difficult for her to say goodbye. During their meal they seem to get along quite well despite their differences.

Millennium Gate

The Millennium Gate

In astrometrics, Captain Janeway is viewing technical data on the Millennium Gate when Seven of Nine walks in. She asks Seven to help her find more information about the era in which the Millennium Gate had been built, because most of it is lost or damaged. Janeway tells her that the Gate had been built by one of her ancestors over three hundred years earlier. Although Seven finds the Millennium Gate impressive, she questions its relevance to Voyager's mission. Janeway tells Seven that it is relevant to her. When Seven replies that she possesses only a fraction of her ancestor's DNA, Janeway tells her that it is not about chromosomes but about character. Seven asks her to explain and Janeway replies that Shannon O'Donnel inspired her when she was young – she had a great influence on her imagination and goals, and she was the reason why Janeway joined Starfleet.

Later, Seven is researching historical data in the mess hall when Tom Paris and Neelix walk in. They are testing each other's knowledge about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Paris pours himself a cup of coffee just as Neelix is about to name the seventh wonder, but he cannot remember it. Paris tries to recall it, but he cannot remember what it is either. Their contest is interrupted when Seven of Nine tells them that the seventh wonder was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built by Ptolemy II in 280 BC. Paris sarcastically names Borg photographic memory a modern wonder of the world and tells Neelix the knowledge test is a draw and walks away.

Neelix and Seven of Nine, 2375

"Someday, you might enjoy a little Seven of Nine point five running around, ha ha! Or not. Or not."

Neelix, curious as always, asks Seven what she is doing. Seven tells him about her Shannon O'Donnel project. Neelix offers to help and notices the PADD containing information about a Sven "Buttercup" Hansen, an ancestor of Seven's. The captain had encouraged Seven to research her own genealogy but she questions Buttercup's relevance to Seven's life. As far as she is concerned their name likeness is a coincidence. Neelix tells her that there is some of him in her just as there would be some of Seven in her descendants. Seven replies that this only would be the case if she chose to procreate, and that she cannot appreciate Neelix's joke about a "Seven of Nine Point Five" running around. When her computer can find no references on Shannon O'Donnel, Seven says that her research has failed. Neelix tells her that researching genealogy is a lot like fishing – she has to use a wider net, and orders the computer to expand its search to non-Federation databases, personal archives and photographic indexes. When the computer finishes searching it displays one reference about Shannon O'Donnel.

Shannon Janeway and family snapshot

Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren circa 2050

In the captain's quarters Neelix and Seven show Janeway what they have found: a picture of Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren. Neelix tells her that the photo comes from a Ferengi database. Eleven years earlier a Ferengi historian collected vast amounts of data about the origin of Federation space travel. The Ferengi wanted to market this information as nostalgic gift items. Janeway says she probably would be his first customer. Seven tells her that they also found journalistic articles about the resistance against the building of the Millennium Gate. Janeway observes that the entire town was against Shannon O'Donnel. She asks Neelix to download the image so she could frame it.

Shannon O'Donnel is watching 3 Action News in the local bar. She is planning her route to Florida where she wanted to visit a cousin of hers, when Gerald Moss walks in. He quotes the slogan her class came up with during her NASA period. Moss feels sorry for her that she had not made it at NASA and asks if she has stayed in touch with her former classmates. When Shannon tells him she did not, Moss tells her that a classmate of hers made it into to the space program and is scheduled for four months on the space station and that he's sorry that she has lost her job. He finds that engineers do not receive the respect they deserve. An annoyed Shannon tells him he had nothing to do with her personal life on which Moss tells her that they always screen their future candidates and makes her a job offer. Shannon could be a consulting engineer on the Millennium Gate project, but the catch is that she has to convince Henry to give up his resistance against it. Moss thinks Henry might listen to her because she seems close to him, Shannon tells him she has to think about his offer whereupon Moss tells her not to wait too long.

Act Three

The next morning Shannon wakes up from a dream about the first landing on the moon, which she watched on TV when she was eleven years old. When she walks into the bookstore she finds Jason playing with her computer. He's enjoying the games but getting vaporized when playing Matrix of Doom, and she advises him to launch a flare before entering the steel fortress. Shannon is offered a cup of coffee by Jason who tells her his father went out shopping in Bloomington and that he is in charge of the store for the time being. When Shannon is asked by Jason if she had any children she tells him that she never got around to it and in return asks him where his mother is. Shannon learns his mother died when he was very young and she asks him if he likes working in the bookstore and what his opinion is about the Millennium Gate. Jason thinks the Gate might be pretty cool. When asked by Shannon if he ever saw the first landing on the moon he tells her that he saw it once in his science class.

Shannon and Henry arguing

Shannon and Henry arguing

Just after eleven o'clock Henry Janeway gets back with supplies and Shannon reads the article about him in the local newspaper and gets into an argument with him about the Millennium Gate project. Shannon finds the Gate more than a glorified shopping mall and admits there is a commercial dimension but explains that it is an experimental biosphere. It is a completely self-sustained city that will help scientists to learn more about the environment so, one day, they can recreate it on other worlds. Shannon confesses she would like to leave Earth and its problems one day and tells Henry that the Millennium Gate has a lot of potential. She accuses him of living in the past, of being afraid of the future. Shannon tells Henry that Gerald Moss has offered her a job, at which he accuses her of sleeping with the enemy. Shannon tells him she might be a consulting engineer on the Millennium Gate project; Henry gets angry with her and asks her what would happen if he told her not to accept. Shannon tells him she does not want to live in her car any more. When Henry asks her to stay she tells him she cannot, afraid to get stuck in Portage Creek like Henry is. An angry Henry Janeway helps her pack when Jason walks into the room; Shannon tells him she has to go when Jason asks her why she is leaving.

Tom paris and the doctor

Tom Paris explaining the Martian missions

In Captain Janeway's quarters, she, Harry Kim, Tom Paris, Neelix and Seven of Nine pass their leisure time by exchanging family stories. Kim is telling about his uncle Jack, who commanded a mission to Beta Capricus in 2210, a deep space mission at that time. The journey took six months and his uncle piloted the spacecraft the entire time – the rest of the crew was in stasis. When he arrived it turned out that Beta Capricus did not exist, but was indeed just the misinterpreted image of a distant galaxy. Jack did not wake his crew because there was nothing to do or see and returned to Earth. When they arrived six months later, Jack brought the crew out of stasis and they wondered why they hadn't left Earth's orbit. The laughter of Kim and his colleagues is interrupted by the door chime; it's The Doctor, who wants to hand the captain a report but who does not want to intrude. When Captain Janeway tells him they were talking about their ancestors, he asks if he might join them. When Janeway agrees, he tells them that he, too, has ancestors. When Tom Paris jokes that his cousin was an electric shaver, he is corrected by The Doctor who tells him he was compiled from the most advanced holomatrices in the Federation; his cousin was an advanced prize-winning chess program. Seven of Nine tells Ensign Paris that he has not yet told them about his ancestors. According to Paris there was not much to tell; most of his ancestors were salt of the earth type of people. Some were planetary colonists and others were farmers, and one of his ancestors was a pilot who flew the first orbital glider over the lower Martian plateau. When Neelix mentions that his ancestors might have known Captain Janeway's, he asks for her name, but does not recall Shannon O'Donnel ever mentioned in relation to a Mars mission, and he knows every Mars mission from the 1970s on, and who participated in them, by heart.

Act Four

Captain Janeway is in her ready room reading a newspaper article on her computer terminal about Henry Janeway when Chakotay enters to show her the ship's status reports. She had found some more data from the 21st century, but most of it is fragmented and incomplete, so she, jokingly, makes guesses about the contents of Chakotay's report: "The holographic engineer is having problems with her program. Neelix, the Cardassian cook, is low on supplies. Seven of Twelve is regenerating and Captain Chakotay is doing just fine." She explains that she was wondering how future historians would piece together their lives on Voyager. Smiling, Chakotay replies that it depended on how big the pieces were. Janeway had gone to dozens of history files about 21st century Earth and found that every alien culture saw Earth's history differently. Vulcans described First Contact with a savagely illogical species, Ferengi revered Wall Street and even viewed it as holy ground, and Bolians expressed their dismay about the low quality of Human plumbing. So she researched the basics – birth, death and marriage certificates, court records, housing records, etc. but she found it all incomplete. When Chakotay asks her if Shannon O'Donnel existed, a slightly disappointed Janeway tells him Shannon did exist, but she only trained to be an astronaut and did not work on any of the Mars missions. She was an engineer who worked on the Millennium Gate as a consultant and the Gate itself was welcomed with open arms; there was no opposition except by Henry Janeway. Shannon married him but did not change history, only her name. Chakotay tells Janeway not to be so hard on her, that Shannon did not know she had to live up to the expectations of Kathryn Janeway. Janeway tries to sound upbeat, saying that the worst part is how she'll break the news to her aunt that the great family legend is false.

Three hours before Moss' deadline, he and Shannon O'Donnel watch 3 Action News in the local bar. Henry Janeway's resistance is still the main news topic. Moss tells Shannon that the building of the Millennium Gate will be delayed if Henry Janeway cannot be persuaded to give up his resistance before midnight. Shannon tells him she has to leave for Florida but Moss tells her he still could use her on the alternate building site of the Millennium Gate in Canton, Ohio. When Gerald Moss wants to leave the bar, Jason Janeway comes running in and tells Shannon his father still refuses to leave the bookstore and that a crowd is gathering; even the police are present. Shannon tells Jason his father can take care of himself. When Jason pleads her to talk to him she tells him that he won't listen to her, although she likes Henry and Jason Janeway she tells Jason she is sorry, it didn't work out.

At 11:15 pm Shannon drives out of Portage Creek and records her experiences into her personal log. She would not forget the last days and found Henry Janeway an interesting man – he liked to talk, but refused to listen to anybody but himself. Shannon reminisces about her dinner in Paris with him and found his son Jason as bright as his father. While eating a chocolate chip cookie, she decides to return to Portage Creek.

When Shannon drove into the street where the bookstore was located, she noticed the police line and walked up to the bookstore, where Gerald Moss told a policeman to let her through. Followed by a 3 Action News camera, Shannon walked to the bookstore entrance.

Act Five

Shannon knocks on the door and tells Henry to let her in. When she enters the store, she grabs his coat and tells him they're leaving; she even threatens to drag him out of the bookstore if he refuses. Shannon tells him it is over and accuses him of living in the past without any thoughts about the future of his son or Portage Creek. When Henry asks why she has returned, Shannon tells him it was because of the chocolate chip cookies which she bought when she left Portage Creek – they didn't taste the same without him. Shannon tells him she'd like to stay with him and Jason but she does not want to work in a bookstore for the rest of her life. Shannon tells Henry that he lives in the past while she wants to live in the future, and maybe together they could try to live in the present. She also tells him about the offer Gerald Moss made to her, but that she is prepared to turn him down if Henry wants her to stay. Henry hesitates for a short time and tells her he could re-open his bookstore in the Millennium Gate, whereupon Shannon tells him she probably could get him a nice location in the Gate where nobody would bother him. When Henry asks her if she would ever leave him again she tells him that if she would, they would leave together. When Henry asks the time she tells him it's 11:59. Just before midnight, Shannon and Henry leave Alexandria Books bookstore and Henry closes his store for the last time. As they leave the store they are applauded by the gathered crowd.

Kathryn Janeway is in her quarters staring at the stars when Neelix contacts her via her combadge. He asks her to come to the mess hall; there is no emergency but he wants to speak to her personally.

Happy ancestors eve

"Happy Ancestors' Eve"

When Captain Janeway enters the mess hall, she is greeted by her friends who toast "Ancestors' Eve". When she asks what it's all about, Neelix tells her it's April 22, Ancestors' Eve, a holiday he established that very day. Commander Chakotay tells her Neelix had a point: an evening of reflection in honor of those who had come before. Harry tells him that his uncle Jack would approve and B'Elanna Torres had at least a reason to crawl out from under the warp conduit she was working on. Janeway appreciates the gesture, but is interrupted by Tom Paris, who tells Neelix to give her the present. Neelix hands Janeway a framed photo of Shannon O'Donnel and says that he has done some more research and told her the photo was taken around 2050 in a park near Portage Creek, thirty-eight years after the dedication of the Millennium Gate. Neelix thinks a nice place for it would be on the shelf near her desk in her ready room. Janeway thanks him but tells Neelix she is not sure that Shannon O'Donnel belongs there. Seven of Nine tells her she was wrong, Shannon captured her imagination, and historical details are irrelevant. Tuvok concurs with her analysis and Chakotay tells Janeway that she would not have joined Starfleet if it wasn't for Shannon O'Donnel. The Doctor grabs his holo-camera and places it on the bar. After he prepares it he tells everyone to gather around the Captain and to face the camera. They share a toast to 'family' as the camera takes its picture.

In the Portage Creek park, Kieran gave his sister "bunny ears" after their picture was taken. Shannon tells him to stop it and places him on her lap and pointed towards the camera which brought his attention to it and a big smile upon his face.

Background information

Story and script

  • This episode was inspired by an undeveloped Q episode for Star Trek: Voyager, thought up by John de Lancie, and was originally to have included a recurring character from Star Trek: The Next Generation. "For a while [Executive Producer] Brannon [Braga] and I were thinking about doing Janeway's distant ancestor and Q in the year 2000," explained Supervising Producer Joe Menosky. "We also thought about Janeway's distant ancestor and Guinan, and this might have been a Whoopi [Goldberg] episode." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 51)
  • It was important to the writers that this episode be timely. Said Brannon Braga, "We wanted to do a show dealing with the millennium, before the millennium came. We wanted to tell a story of Captain Janeway's great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother, played by Kate Mulgrew […] It's a story about history, and how history can be misinterpreted." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
  • When it came time to actually write the installment, the writers attempted to involve no hard science fiction in the episode and opted to include no guest stars from previous episodes. Joe Menosky stated, "Our original inspiration for this was to do an episode where we didn't see Voyager at all. All we saw was Kate Mulgrew playing a distant ancestor [of Kathryn Janeway]. The idea was to tell a quintessentially Star Trek story without any science fiction. I wrote a teleplay, and it was a very painful [script] to write, because our premise wasn't working. We realized that we couldn't tell a story just on Earth without having Voyager to ground us in some way. We ended up doing a third of the episode set on Voyager." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 53)
  • Both David Livingston and Brannon Braga considered this episode to be very different from others in the Star Trek canon. Livingston remarked, "It is the only Star Trek show that I know of that has no science fiction. It is not a Star Trek show." Braga agreed, "Ultimately, it's a very unique off-concept episode."(Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)

Cast and characters

  • Joe Menosky, Brannon Braga and director David Livingston found Kate Mulgrew's turn as Shannon O'Donnel to be notably successful. "Kate really loved playing a character that was not herself," Menosky stated. "She plays the founder of the Janeway clan, but she's a very reluctant hero, and a very damaged hero. She walks around with her hands in her pockets, and her head slightly bowed. She's a more withdrawn and vulnerable person than you can ever imagine Janeway being. It was quite nice to see her do that performance." Livingston concurred, "What's wonderful in [the episode] is that Kate plays a totally different character […] It's a wonderful character study. We cut back and forth between Janeway and Shannon, and you get to see this wonderful contrast between these two." Braga enthused, "It's a real acting tour de force for Kate Mulgrew." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, pp. 53-55)

Production

  • David Livingston was delighted with Henry Janeway's bookstore in this installment, describing it as "wonderful." He also opined, "The bookstore was phenomenal, one of [Production Designer] Richard James' best sets." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
  • The exterior of the bookstore was filmed at Paramount. Joe Menosky stated, "David Livingston did it on the New York Street on Paramount lot. They brought in tons and tons of snow and blew it all over the street." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55) Livingston himself remembered, "The production values were great. We shot it on the backlot at Paramount, and made it look like a Midwestern city. It was supposed to be in the winter, and we had snow, and we shot both day and night." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
  • David Livingston was also pleased with the makeup that Kate Mulgrew wore, in the role of the elderly Shannon O'Donnel. "The makeup looks wonderful on her," the director remarked. "Kate said when she looked in the mirror it scared her, because she looked so much like her grandmother." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
  • There is a model of the Apollo Lunar Module hanging from the rear-view mirror of Shannon O'Donnel's car. According to the unauthorized reference book Delta Quadrant (p. 309), this was a commercially available model kit. It was borrowed from the desk of Denise Okuda, who loaned it to the production for that episode, according to Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 36)
  • In the dinner scene, there is a pinball machine behind Shannon. Though blurry, it is "Fish Tales".

Continuity

  • The date of the episode is given as April 22.
  • The stardate of the episode is never mentioned during the episode itself, however, in "The Voyager Conspiracy", Janeway mentions this stardate in connection with Seven reluctantly studying her ancestors, which is undoubtedly during this episode.
  • There is no Captain's Log record in this episode. However Shannon O'Donnel is seen maintaining a personal log with her experiences in a tape recorder.
  • As the flashback portions of the episode are set in December 2000, they are taking place about 1.5 years into the "future" relative to when the episode first aired.
  • O'Donnell mentions that Indiana houses several roadside attractions, such as the world's largest ball of string, a reference to the "Biggest ball of twine" fad in some of the United States; in reality Indiana doesn't contain one.
  • O'Donnel's dialogue with Henry Janeway in the pub, refers to the real-life hype about the Millennium Eve of 31 December 1999, albeit futuristically. The dialogue also refers to the debate that the number 2001 is the real beginning of the millennium, rather than 2000. The dialogue suggests that because of this, Humanity chose to repeat the hype the following year. In reality, the millennial celebrations were not repeated in New Year's 2001, which was celebrated in much lesser magnitude.
  • The above dialogue also predicted that the Y2K bug would not "switch off even a single light bulb," which was almost correct; a nuclear power plant in Japan had a monitoring computer go down briefly, and minor events elsewhere occurred, but nothing major.
  • Shannon O'Donnel's statement that she watched the Apollo 11 landing on television in 1969 when she was 11 means she is 42 years old during the events of the episode and 92 in the photograph with her descendants.
  • Janeway has extensive (albeit, somewhat incorrect) knowledge about Shannon O'Donnel that she says she learned at family gatherings, when she was younger. In the third season installment "Future's End", Janeway claims that she does not know anything about what her relatives were doing at the close of the 20th century. One explanation for this apparent incongruity is that O'Donnel's legend takes place during the 21st century and that Janeway did indeed not know what O'Donnel was up to, before the Millennium Gate was built.
  • While the officers exchange family history, Harry Kim narrates an adventure of his ancestor to Beta Capricus in 2210 as a single awake crew member while the rest of the crew are in stasis, for an extended period (here, six months). This seems to refer to a sleeper ship.
  • In the aforementioned dialogue, Seven exclaims that she would prefer stasis to being the single awake individual. She had a similar experience, being the single awake individual for a month during the events of the fourth season's "One".
  • The photo of Shannon Janeway with her children and grandchildren, circa 2050, shows no signs of the destruction resulting from World War III, or the following post-atomic horror.
  • This is the only episode of Star Trek: Voyager (and, with TNG: "11001001", one of only two in the franchise) that has no letters in its title.

Reception

  • Joe Menosky regretted the decision to exclude science fiction elements from this episode. He related, "Ultimately, to me, it was a lot of domestic scenes, which I am not interested in writing […] More than anyone, I wish that we had had something of [the hard science fiction] element in to drive the plot. [Executive Producer] Rick Berman called to say he loved it. I just kind of shrugged. You just never know." Conversely, David Livingston expressed his interested reaction to the episode; "The story is really intriguing […] I hope that the audience and the fans will be intrigued by it." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 55)
  • According to the book Delta Quadrant (p. 309), an advertisement for The Planetary Society that aired during this episode's third commercial break involved Robert Picardo, standing on the set of Voyager's sickbay, as he encouraged children to design Mars colonies for one hundred people.

Video and DVD releases

This is the final Voyager volume released by CIC Video; Paramount Home Entertainment released the remainder of the series following CIC's dissolution.

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Special guest star

Guest stars

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

3 Action News; Achilles; aerospace engineer; aerospace engineering; ailing; aircraft; Alexandria; Alexandria Books; Ancestors' Eve; antibiotic; Armstrong, Neil; Artemis; astronaut; barbarian; Baylor; BC; beefsteak tomato; beer; Beta Capricus; Beta Capricus expedition; Big Bird; binder; biosphere; birth certificate; Bloomington; Bolian; Boulevard St. Germain; boxing; boycott; Buck's; building permit; "Buttercup"; caffeine; candy cane; Canton;car; Cardassian; cash register; caution tape; census survey; chess; Chevrolet Astro; Chevrolet Caprice; chicken; China; Chinese; chocolate; chocolate chip cookie; Christmas; chromosome; Civic center; classical age; class Y cluster; claustrophobia; coffee; coffee shop; Colossus of Rhodes; computer; computer game; consulting engineer/consultant; convenience store; cookie; co-pilot; corn; corporate hit man; court record; da Vinci, Leonardo; death certificate; decaf; deer; Delta Quadrant; doomsday book; downsizing; dozen; e-mail; Earth; Earth history; Earth landmarks; electric shaver; EM echo; emperor; employment record; entrepreneur; Ephesus; European; explorer; family history; family line; Federation; Ferengi; Ferengi historian; First Contact; fishing; Florida; flying saucer; football; Ford LTD Country Squire; franchise; French language; galliform; gasoline; genealogy; generation; gesture; governor; Great Wall of China; Greek; guidebook; Gustave Caillebotte; Halicarnassus; Hansen, Sven; Glorious Hector; Hell; Hercules; historian; holodeck; holy ground; Honda Accord; housing record; huckster; Indiana; insurance; interstate; Jack; Janeway family; Janeway family members (21st century); Janeway's first wife; marriage certificate; journalist; kilometer; landmark; Large Sunflowers; The Last Supper; light bulb; Lighthouse of Alexandria; Link-Belt HTC; lion; logic; Lower Martian plateau; Luna; manmade; market price; Martha; Martian colonies; Mars; Matrix of Doom; Mausoleum of Halicarnassus; McMillan; menorah; meter; Midwest; mile; millennium; Millennium Eve; Millennium Gate; modern age; Morning Observer, The; Mustang; NASA; newspaper; New Year's Eve; nomad; Non-Federation; nostalgia; nuclear family; oatmeal; oatmeal cookie; O'Donnel's NASA class; Odysseus; Ohio; Oklahoma Sooners; Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera; orbital glider; PADD; parade; Paris; Paris' ancestors; Paris Street; Rainy Day; parking; Pat; permit; personal archive; personal log; pharmacie; photographic index; photographic memory; plumbing; PM; police; Portage Creek; Portage Creek Police Department; postcard; Priam; prizefighter; progenitor; promotional literature; Ptolemy II; Qin; recyclic life support system; retail space; Rhodes; rocket scientist; rocket ship; Roman; Rome; sailing ship; Saturn SL2; scaffolding; Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; shelf; shopping mall; SK; slogan; stamp; station wagon; Sterling L-Line; string; supplier; Talax; tape recorder; tax; telephone; Temple of Artemis; Texas; Third Circle of Hell; toast; tow truck; traveler; Troy; TV; vaporize; Volkswagen; voter registration form; Vulcan; Wall Street; Winnie-the-Pooh; wreath; Y2K bug; Yin and yang; Zeus

Crew manifest

Orlando, David; Parsons, Michael; Peterson, Sandra; Platt, Jerry; Porter, Amanda; Quizzlink, Charlie; Rahn, Pierre; Rameau, Evelyn; Rawski, Abraham; Reen, Barbara; Reynolds, Tony; Rockefeller, Keith; Rosa, George

Alexandria Books titles and authors

Allure; Apartment Guide; Best Medicine, The; Big Bird's Rhyming Book; Broadcasting; By the Light of My Father's Smile; The Chronicles of Narnia (map on wall as O'Donnel first enters the bookshop); Curtains for the Editor; Forbes; Monster at the End of This Book, The; Noble House (by James Clavell); PC World; Polsky, Thomas; SK; When I Think of Bobby; Working World

Millennium Gate poster references

Berman/Braga Developers; Berry, Greg; Biller, Ken; Braga, Brannon; Dorton, Louise; Harvey, Gaylord; Hooper, Greg; Howard, Merri; Jim Mees & Associates; Lazard/Anderson Group; Levinson, Aron; Lisa Rich Laborers; Matalas, Terry; Menosky, Joe; Norman, Eric; O'Williams, Wendy; Purser, Tom; Richard D. James & Associates; Smutko, Al; Starbrook, Peter; Wendy O Design; Yacobian, Brad;

Timeline

External links

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"Someone to Watch Over Me"
Star Trek: Voyager
Season 5
Next episode:
"Relativity"