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| sAirdateMonth = April
  
| sAirdateMonth = April
 
| nAirdateDay = 20
  
| nAirdateDay = 20
−
| sImage = Parallax Colony Cost of Living.jpg
 +
| sImage = Parallax colony mud bath.jpg
 
| wsWrittenBy = [[Peter Allan Fields]]
  
| wsWrittenBy = [[Peter Allan Fields]]
 
| wsTeleplayBy =
 
| wsTeleplayBy =
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|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = The First Duty (episode)
  
|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = The First Duty (episode)
 
}}
  
}}
−
Lwaxana Troi is on board the ''Enterprise'' to hold her wedding ceremony, and she also takes an interest in Worf's son Alexander, encouraging him to adopt her carefree ways.
 +
Lwaxana Troi is on board the ''Enterprise''-D to hold her wedding ceremony, and she also takes an interest in Worf's son Alexander, encouraging him to adopt her carefree ways.
   
 
== Summary ==
  
== Summary ==
−
[[File:Wind Dancer Cost of Living.jpg|thumb|Wind dancer sentry]]
 +
[[File:Wind dancer.jpg|thumb|The wind dancer sentry]]
 
The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} destroys an [[asteroid]] in danger of colliding with [[Tessen III]], near [[Starbase 117]]. Meanwhile, [[Worf]] brings his son [[Alexander Rozhenko|Alexander]] before [[Counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]] to resolve discipline issues. Troi decides there is little respect in their relationship, so she recommends they draft a "contract" outlining each other's responsibilities and chores. This way, they could stand on equal footing and both have say in what needs to be done. Although Worf is hesitant to allow Alexander to have equal footing, he agrees to it.
  
The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} destroys an [[asteroid]] in danger of colliding with [[Tessen III]], near [[Starbase 117]]. Meanwhile, [[Worf]] brings his son [[Alexander Rozhenko|Alexander]] before [[Counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]] to resolve discipline issues. Troi decides there is little respect in their relationship, so she recommends they draft a "contract" outlining each other's responsibilities and chores. This way, they could stand on equal footing and both have say in what needs to be done. Although Worf is hesitant to allow Alexander to have equal footing, he agrees to it.
   
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The parasite begins to infest the entire ship, eating systems away. [[Geordi La Forge|La Forge]], [[Data]], and Picard devise a strategy to get rid of it - find an asteroid field rich in [[nitrium]], and use the [[deflector dish]] to send a nitrium beam to lure the parasites to the field. Unfortunately, the parasite is eating away at the warp system, and the life support system begins to fail. It is now up to Data to fly the ship to the asteroid field, configure the deflector, and rid the ship of the problem.
  
The parasite begins to infest the entire ship, eating systems away. [[Geordi La Forge|La Forge]], [[Data]], and Picard devise a strategy to get rid of it - find an asteroid field rich in [[nitrium]], and use the [[deflector dish]] to send a nitrium beam to lure the parasites to the field. Unfortunately, the parasite is eating away at the warp system, and the life support system begins to fail. It is now up to Data to fly the ship to the asteroid field, configure the deflector, and rid the ship of the problem.
  +
  +
:"''[[Captain's Log]], [[Stardate]] 45733.6. Temporary repairs to the [[NCC-1701-D|ship]] have been completed. Our attention now turns to matters of a more festive nature.''"
   
 
Lwaxana finally proceeds with the wedding. Campio, and especially Erko, are disturbed to find that as per the [[Betazoid]] custom she has arrived in the nude. She winks at Alexander, who remains respectful of her spirit. Erko covers Campio's eyes and they retreat. Lwaxana remains a bachelorette.
  
Lwaxana finally proceeds with the wedding. Campio, and especially Erko, are disturbed to find that as per the [[Betazoid]] custom she has arrived in the nude. She winks at Alexander, who remains respectful of her spirit. Erko covers Campio's eyes and they retreat. Lwaxana remains a bachelorette.
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"''Deanna, I love you but you do make everything sound like an epitaph.''"
  
"''Deanna, I love you but you do make everything sound like an epitaph.''"
 
: - '''Lwaxana'''
 
: - '''Lwaxana'''
  +
  +
  +
"''What would you like your father to promise, Alexander?''"<br />
  +
"''No yelling.''"<br />
  +
"''I DO N... I do not yell.''"<br />
  +
"''Well, then you should have no trouble with that part.''"
  +
: - '''Troi''', '''Alexander''' and '''Worf''' during a counseling session
  +
  +
  +
"''It may be hard to imagine right now but eventually most children come to appreciate their parents.''"<br />
  +
"''Riker to Counselor Troi. Your mother has just come aboard.''"<br />
  +
"''On the other hand...''"
  +
: - '''Troi''' to Alexander on his problems with his father only to be told by '''Riker''' her mother has come aboard
  +
  +
  +
"''Uh, you see, we haven't exactly met yet, really.''"
  +
: - '''Lwaxana Troi''' on Campio, the man she plans to marry
   
   
 
''"My dear, don't they ever let you change those colorless outfits?"''
  
''"My dear, don't they ever let you change those colorless outfits?"''
−
: - '''Lwaxana''' to '''Deanna'''
 +
: - '''Lwaxana''' to Deanna
   
   
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== Background Information ==
  
== Background Information ==
  +
=== Production ===
⚫
* Lwaxana's line of dialogue in which she tells Alexander, with noticeable sadness, that she is alone, likely had personal significance for [[Majel Barrett-Roddenberry]], who lost her husband, [[Gene Roddenberry]], only a year earlier.
  
  +
* "Cost of Living" was filmed between Tuesday {{d|4|February|1992}} and Thursday {{d|13|February|1992}} on [[Paramount Stage 8]], [[Paramount Stage 9|9]], and [[Paramount Stage 16|16]]. Second unit and inserts for this episode were filmed on Friday {{d|14|February|1992}} on Paramount Stage 8 and 16 and on Friday {{d|6|March|1992}} on Paramount Stage 9 and 16.
⚫
* Notably, the main plot of this episode focuses on two [[recurring characters]] instead of [[main characters]]. "[[It's Only a Paper Moon (episode)|It's Only a Paper Moon]]" from season 7 of [[DS9]] would also do this.
  
  +
* The production meeting for this episode took place on Friday {{d|31|January|1992}} at 2:00 p.m. ("The First Duty" call sheet)
−
* [[Gates McFadden]] ([[Beverly Crusher]]) only appears in one scene and does not have any dialog in this episode.
  
  ⚫
* Lwaxana's line of dialogue in which she tells Alexander, with noticeable sadness, that she is alone, likely had personal significance for [[Majel Barrett-Roddenberry]], who lost her husband, [[Gene Roddenberry]], only four months earlier.
⚫
* [[Christopher Halsted]] later plays a [[Jem'Hadar]] in DS9's final episode, {{e|What You Leave Behind}}.
  
  +
* On Tuesday {{d|4|February|1992}}, the Make-A-Wish Foundation kids Nichlas Frank and Michael Amidel visited the sets with their families. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
⚫
* [[Carel Struycken]] appears as [[Homn|Mr. Homn]] for the last time.
  
  +
* On Monday {{d|10|February|1992}} the cast and crew had the "French Hours". On this day, catering for breakfast and lunch was provided by a catering service on [[Paramount Stage 10]]. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
  +
* On Thursday {{d|13|February|1992}} ''{{w|Good Morning America}}'' was on set. They filmed a live feed between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. and a wrap up between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. All main cast members except [[Brent Spiner]] were picked up by a limo at home. Regular background talent [[Mark Lentry]] was also part of this airing, in full makeup as a [[Romulan]]. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
 
* First UK airdate: 3 May 1995
  
* First UK airdate: 3 May 1995
  +
* A scene that can be found in the script, but was apparently cut from the final episode, had Troi and Worf discussing their frustrations with parenting, from the perspectives of being a parent and being a child respectively. Troi remembers an event in which her mother embarrassed her on her sixth birthday party, and claims that she often feels like she is the parent and her mother the child. The conversation concludes with Troi saying it's been said that grandparents and grandchildren get along so well because they have a common enemy. This deleted scene appears in full on the TNG Season 5 Blu-ray set.
  +
  +
=== Sets and props ===
  +
* Among the reused props seen in this episode are the [[Kahless the Unforgettable|Kahless]] and [[Morath]] [[statue]] and the [[Ligonian]] [[glavin]] in Worf's quarters which previously appeared in the episodes {{e|Peak Performance}}, {{e|Reunion}}, and {{e|New Ground}} and were later seen in {{e|Genesis}} and {{e|Firstborn}}.
  +
* The chair in Worf's quarters was also seen in the episodes {{e|Peak Performance}}, {{e|Family}}, {{e|Reunion}}, {{e|Redemption}}, {{e|New Ground}}, {{e|A Fistful of Datas}}, {{e|Birthright, Part I}}, {{e|Parallels}}, {{e|Genesis}}, and {{e|Firstborn}} and was used as the command chair aboard the [[Tarellian starship]] in the [[TNG Season 1|first season]] episode {{e|Haven}}. It was designed by Peter Opsvik. [http://opsvik.no/index.asp]
  +
* This episode marks the seventh appearance of [[Deanna Troi]]'s [[Counselor's office]].
  +
* The scenes of the holographic program "[[Parallax colony]]" were filmed on [[Paramount Stage 16]]. On the call sheets the locations were named "The Glade" and "The Mud Bath".
  +
  +
=== Continuity ===
  ⚫
* Notably, the main plot of this episode focuses on two [[recurring characters]] instead of [[main characters]]. {{e|It's Only a Paper Moon}} from the [[DS9 Season 7|seventh season]] of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' would also do this.
  +
  +
=== Cast ===
  +
* [[Brian Bonsall]] makes his third of seven appearances as Alexander in this episode.
  +
* [[Majel Barrett]] appears as the fifth time on ''The Next Generation'' portraying [[Lwaxana Troi]]. She makes her final appearance on this series in the [[TNG Season 7|seventh season]] episode {{e|Dark Page}}.
  +
* This episode also features one of the few occasions in which Majel Barrett talks "to herself", portraying both Lwaxana Troi and the [[computer voice]] of the ''Enterprise''-D. This happened also in the second season episode {{e|Manhunt}}.
  ⚫
* [[Christopher Halsted]] later plays a [[Jem'Hadar]] in DS9's final episode {{e|What You Leave Behind}}.
  +
* [[Albie Selznick]] later appeared as the [[Unnamed Tak Tak#Consul|Tak Tak consul]] in the ''Voyager'' episode {{e|Macrocosm}}, as [[Tash]] in the ''Voyager'' episode {{e|The Voyager Conspiracy}}, and worked as choreographer for the [[Ventu]] on the ''Voyager'' episode {{e|Natural Law}}.
  ⚫
* [[Carel Struycken]] appears as [[Homn|Mr. Homn]] for the last time.
  +
* [[Larry Hankin]] was not part of the principal photography for this episode and filmed his scenes during the production of the episode {{e|Imaginary Friend}} on Friday {{d|28|February|1992}}.
  +
* This episode marks the second appearance of background actress [[Holiday Freeman]] who later became a recurring background talent on ''The Next Generation'', ''Deep Space Nine'', and ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''.
   
 
=== Awards ===
  
=== Awards ===
 
* This episode won two [[Emmy Award]]s. Only four other episodes of Trek have won this many. It won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series ([[Robert Blackman]]) and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series. It was also nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series.
  
* This episode won two [[Emmy Award]]s. Only four other episodes of Trek have won this many. It won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series ([[Robert Blackman]]) and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series. It was also nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series.
  +
  +
=== Reception ===
  +
* A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in ''[[The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine]]'' Vol. 21, pp. 20-21.
  +
* Director [[Winrich Kolbe]] remembers, "''That was fun. Majel was terrific. It's a fast-moving show, and it was slightly different because we had comedic elements in there. It gave us a different pace. These shows could be rather boring if they all go with the same direction, same philosophy, same sets, same actors. After a while, you just want to throw up your hands and say, 'Ok, guys, you know what to do.' You want to go to the director of photography and say, 'Just shoot the damn thing. You can reach me at my home number.' This type of episode is exciting to me. I suddenly had to direct comedy. The pace is different. It was a real challenge and I loved it. I had never met Majel before, and I understand she didn't know who the hell I was. When I came in with my German accent, she did a double take. We had a tremendous rapport and loved working together. I wouldn't mind doing another Majel show in the sixth season.''" (''[[The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine]]'' Vol. 21, p. 32)
   
 
=== Video and DVD releases ===
  
=== Video and DVD releases ===
−
*Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, [[CIC Video]]): Volume 60, <!--catalog number x, -->{{d|15|February|1993}}
 +
* Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, [[CIC Video]]): Volume 60, <!--catalog number x, -->{{d|15|February|1993}}
−
*UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 5.7, {{d|2|December|2002}}
 +
* UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 5.7, {{d|2|December|2002}}
−
*As part of the [[TNG Season 5 DVD]] collection
 +
* As part of the [[TNG Season 5 DVD]] collection
   
 
== Links and references ==
  
== Links and references ==
 
=== Starring ===
  
=== Starring ===
−
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
 +
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as [[Captain|Capt.]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
−
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker]]
 +
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Commander|Cmdr.]] [[William T. Riker|William Riker]]
   
−
=== Also Starring ===
 +
=== Also starring ===
−
* [[LeVar Burton]] as [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Geordi La Forge]]
 +
* [[LeVar Burton]] as [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Cmdr.]] [[Geordi La Forge]]
−
* [[Michael Dorn]] as [[Lieutenant]] [[Worf]]
 +
* [[Michael Dorn]] as [[Lieutenant|Lt.]] [[Worf]]
−
* [[Gates McFadden]] as [[Doctor]] [[Beverly Crusher]]
 +
* [[Gates McFadden]] as [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Beverly Crusher]]
 
* [[Marina Sirtis]] as [[Counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]]
  
* [[Marina Sirtis]] as [[Counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]]
−
* [[Brent Spiner]] as [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Data]]
 +
* [[Brent Spiner]] as [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Commander]] [[Data]]
   
−
=== Guest Stars ===
 +
=== Guest stars ===
−
* [[Majel Barrett]] as [[Lwaxana Troi]]
+
* [[Majel Barrett]] as [[Lwaxana Troi]]
 
* [[Brian Bonsall]] as [[Alexander Rozhenko]]
  
* [[Brian Bonsall]] as [[Alexander Rozhenko]]
 
* [[Tony Jay]] as [[Campio]]
  
* [[Tony Jay]] as [[Campio]]
 
* [[Carel Struycken]] as [[Homn|Mr. Homn]]
  
* [[Carel Struycken]] as [[Homn|Mr. Homn]]
−
* [[David Oliver]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Young Man|Young Man]]
+
* [[David Oliver]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Young man|Young Man]]
−
* [[Albie Selznick]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#The Juggler|The Juggler]]
+
* [[Albie Selznick]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Juggler|Juggler]]
 
* [[Patrick Cronin]] as [[Erko]]
  
* [[Patrick Cronin]] as [[Erko]]
   
−
=== Co-Stars ===
 +
=== Co-stars ===
−
* [[Tracey D'Arcy]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Young Woman|Young Woman]]
 +
* [[Tracey D'Arcy]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Young woman|Young Woman]]
−
* [[George Ede]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Poet|Poet]]
+
* [[George Ede]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Poet|Poet]]
−
* [[Christopher Halsted]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#First Learner|First Learner]]
+
* [[Christopher Halsted]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#First Learner|First Learner]]
−
* [[Majel Barrett]] as the [[computer voice]]
 +
* [[Majel Barrett]] as [[Computer Voice]]
   
−
=== Uncredited Co-Stars ===
 +
=== Uncredited co-stars ===
  +
* [[Rachen Assapiomonwait]] as [[Nelson (Starfleet)|Nelson]]
⚫
* [[Tonya Chianis]] as the [[Parallax colony holograms#Fire Sculptor|fire sculptor]]
  
  +
* [[Lena Banks]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female Engineer Ensign|operations division ensign]]
  ⚫
* [[Tonya Chianis]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Fire sculptor|fire sculptor]]
 
* [[Tracee Lee Cocco]] as [[Jae]]
  
* [[Tracee Lee Cocco]] as [[Jae]]
  +
* [[John Copage]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Elderly science / command division officer|command division officer]]
  +
* [[Tony Cruz]] as [[Lopez (Ensign)|Lopez]]
  +
* [[Denise Deuschle]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Bridge science division officer (2367-2368)|science division officer]]
  +
* [[Lanier Edwards]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Command division lieutenant (2368)|command division lieutenant]]
  +
* [[Gunnel Eriksson]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Female science division officer (2368-2371)|science division officer]]
 
* [[Holiday Freeman]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Companion|first learner's companion]]
  
* [[Holiday Freeman]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Companion|first learner's companion]]
  +
* [[Eben Ham]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security ensign|operations division ensign]]
⚫
* [[Larry Hankin]] as the [[Parallax colony holograms#The Wind Dancer|wind dancer]]
  
−
* [[Jennifer Richards]] as the [[Parallax colony holograms#Dancer|painted dancer]]
 +
* [[Larry Hankin]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Wind dancer|wind dancer]]
  +
* [[Christie Haydon]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Flight controller (2369)|command division ensign]]
  +
* [[Kast]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Officer at wedding ceremony|command division officer]]
  +
* [[Arvo Katajisto]] as [[Torigan]]
  +
* [[Ron Large]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Command division officer in Ten Forward (2368)|command division officer]]
  +
* [[Mark Lentry]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Candlelight lieutenant|science division lieutenant]]
  +
* [[Michael Moorehead]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Bridge science ensign|science division ensign]]
  +
* [[Keith Rayve]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Command / Operations division ensign|command division ensign]]
  ⚫
* [[Jennifer Richards]] as [[Parallax colony holograms#Dancer|painted dancer]]
  +
* [[Joyce Robinson]] as [[Gates]]
  +
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Helmsman|command division ensign]]
  +
* [[Noriko Suzuki]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female engineer|operations division ensign]]
  +
* [[John Tampoya]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Operations/ Command Ensign|operations division ensign]]
  +
* [[Théyard]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Away team science officer|science division officer]]
  +
* [[Mikki Val]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female engineer (2367-2370)|operations division officer]]
  +
* [[Christina Wegler Miles]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Flight controller (2368)|command division ensign]]
  +
* [[Unknown performers]] as
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Wedding attendee|Female command division officer]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Wedding attendee|Female science division officer]]
  +
** [[Gates|Gates (voice)]]
  +
** [[Ten Forward personnel#Ten Forward waiter (2368)|Ten Forward waiter]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter officer (late 2368)|Transporter officer (voice)]]
  +
  +
=== Stand-ins & photo doubles ===
  +
* [[David Keith Anderson]] - [[stand-in]] for [[LeVar Burton]]
  +
* [[Patty Davis]] - stand-in for [[Majel Barrett]]
  +
* [[Dwayne]] - stand-in for [[Carel Struycken]]
  +
* [[Michael Echols]] - stand-in for [[Tony Jay]]
  +
* [[Eddie (stand-in)|Eddie]] - stand-in for [[Patrick Cronin]]
  +
* [[Johnny Hayden]] - stand-in for [[Brian Bonsall]]
  +
* [[Joshua Henson]] - [[photo double]] for [[Brian Bonsall]]
  +
* [[Kathleen Hodder]] - stand-in and photo double for [[Majel Barrett]]
  +
* [[Joe (stand-in)|Joe]] - stand-in for [[David Oliver]]
  +
* [[Nora Leonhardt]] - stand-in for [[Marina Sirtis]]
  +
* [[Tim McCormack]] - stand-in for [[Brent Spiner]], [[Albie Selznick]] and [[Patrick Cronin]]
  +
* [[Melba]] - stand-in for [[Marina Sirtis]]
  +
* [[Lorine Mendell]] - stand-in for [[Gates McFadden]], [[Majel Barrett]] and [[Tracey D'Arcy]]
  +
* [[Eddie Robinson]] - photo double for [[LeVar Burton]]
  +
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] - stand-in for [[Jonathan Frakes]], [[Christopher Halsted]] and [[Tony Jay]]
  +
* [[Dennis Tracy]] - stand-in for [[Patrick Stewart]] and [[George Ede]]
  +
* [[Guy Vardaman]] - stand-in for [[David Oliver]]
  +
* [[James Washington]] - stand-in for [[Michael Dorn]]
   
 
=== References ===
  
=== References ===
−
[[apple]]; [[Betazoid]]; [[Betazoid wedding]]; [[Bussard collector]]; [[chrondite]]; [[Conference of Judges]]; [[contract]]; [[deflector]]; [[exanogen gas barrier]]; [[garment reprocessor]]; [[Holy Rings of Betazed]]; [[holodeck]]; [[hydrogen]]; [[Jefferies tube]]; [[jestral tea]]; [[juggler]]; [[K'Ehleyr]]; [[Koropian princess]]; [[Kostolain]]; [[Kostolain starship]]; [[kumquat]]; [[mandarin orange]]; [[Moselina system]]; [[mud bath]]; [[mud pool]]; [[nitrium]]; [[nitrium parasite]]; [[Parallax colony]]; [[particle beam]]; [[Pelloris field]]; [[Petrokian sausage]]; [[photon torpedo]]; [[poet]]; [[Protocol Master]]; [[pumpkin]]; [[Sacred Chalice of Rixx]]; [[Shiralea VI]]; [[Ten Forward]]; [[Tessen III]]; [[tractor beam]]; [[turbolift]]
 +
[[apple]]; [[Betazoid]]; [[Betazoid wedding]]; [[Bussard collector]]; [[chrondite]]; [[Conference of Judges]]; [[contract]]; [[deflector]]; [[exanogen gas barrier]]; [[garment reprocessor]]; [[Holy Rings of Betazed]]; [[holodeck]]; [[hydrogen]]; [[Jefferies tube]]; [[jestral tea]]; [[juggler]]; [[K'Ehleyr]]; [[Koropian princess]]; [[Kostolain]]; [[Kostolain starship]]; [[kumquat]]; [[mandarin orange]]; [[Moselina system]]; [[mud bath]]; [[mud pool]]; [[nitrium]]; [[nitrium parasite]]; [[Number one]]; [[Parallax colony]]; [[particle beam]]; [[Pelloris field]]; [[Petrokian sausage]]; [[photon torpedo]]; [[pimple]]; [[poet]]; [[Protocol Master]]; [[pumpkin]]; [[red alert]]; [[Sacred Chalice of Rixx]]; [[Shiralea VI]]; [[Ten Forward]]; [[Tessen III]]; [[tractor beam]]; [[turbolift]]
   
 
{{TNG nav|season=5|last={{e|The First Duty}}|next={{e|The Perfect Mate}}}}
  
{{TNG nav|season=5|last={{e|The First Duty}}|next={{e|The Perfect Mate}}}}
  +
   
 
[[de:Hochzeit mit Hindernissen]]
  
[[de:Hochzeit mit Hindernissen]]
 
[[es:Cost of Living]]
  
[[es:Cost of Living]]
−
[[fr:Cost of Living]]
 +
[[fr:Cost of Living (épisode)]]
 
[[it:Il prezzo della vita (episodio)]]
  
[[it:Il prezzo della vita (episodio)]]
−
[[ja:TNG:ラクサナの結婚]]
 +
[[ja:ラクサナの結婚（エピソード）]]
 
[[nl:Cost of Living]]
  
[[nl:Cost of Living]]
 
[[pl:Cost of Living]]
  
[[pl:Cost of Living]]

Revision as of 18:07, 15 October 2014

Template:Realworld

Lwaxana Troi is on board the Enterprise-D to hold her wedding ceremony, and she also takes an interest in Worf's son Alexander, encouraging him to adopt her carefree ways.

Summary

Wind dancer

The wind dancer sentry

The USS Enterprise-D destroys an asteroid in danger of colliding with Tessen III, near Starbase 117. Meanwhile, Worf brings his son Alexander before Counselor Deanna Troi to resolve discipline issues. Troi decides there is little respect in their relationship, so she recommends they draft a "contract" outlining each other's responsibilities and chores. This way, they could stand on equal footing and both have say in what needs to be done. Although Worf is hesitant to allow Alexander to have equal footing, he agrees to it.

Lwaxana Troi comes aboard to hold her wedding ceremony to a local nobleman named Campio on the Enterprise. Picard expresses to Riker his dissatisfaction with "that woman" using the Enterprise as her personal rec room, as a nitrium parasite begins to infest the ship.

Lwaxana hears of her daughter's plan for Worf and Alexander, and she notes that contracts are usually made between two parties who do not trust one another, and that it would not be equal in any case because Alexander would have no way of policing Worf's commitments. This logic compels Alexander to begin to spend more time with Lwaxana.

Lwaxana takes Alexander into the holodeck for entertainment, despite his prior obligations to his father and Deanna. She takes him on the Parallax colony program, a society of unusual, fun-loving souls, for a relaxing mud bath.

Deanna and Worf confront Lwaxana, demanding that she stop undermining their efforts to instill Alexander with responsibility. Campio proves himself to be an ill fit for Lwaxana, demanding that she resolve business before she goes to the holodeck for fun, and that she address him with respect and reverence. Campio's assistant, a man named Erko, is appalled by her behavior. Lwaxana, caught at the hub of three completely different conversations all taking place in the same room at the same time, flees with Alexander to the holodeck the moment everyone's backs are turned.

The parasite begins to infest the entire ship, eating systems away. La Forge, Data, and Picard devise a strategy to get rid of it - find an asteroid field rich in nitrium, and use the deflector dish to send a nitrium beam to lure the parasites to the field. Unfortunately, the parasite is eating away at the warp system, and the life support system begins to fail. It is now up to Data to fly the ship to the asteroid field, configure the deflector, and rid the ship of the problem.

"Captain's Log, Stardate 45733.6. Temporary repairs to the ship have been completed. Our attention now turns to matters of a more festive nature."

Lwaxana finally proceeds with the wedding. Campio, and especially Erko, are disturbed to find that as per the Betazoid custom she has arrived in the nude. She winks at Alexander, who remains respectful of her spirit. Erko covers Campio's eyes and they retreat. Lwaxana remains a bachelorette.

Finally, Lwaxana, Alexander, Troi, and an irate Worf share a mud bath together.

Memorable Quotes

"Deanna, I love you but you do make everything sound like an epitaph."

- Lwaxana


"What would you like your father to promise, Alexander?"
"No yelling."
"I DO N... I do not yell."
"Well, then you should have no trouble with that part."

- Troi, Alexander and Worf during a counseling session


"It may be hard to imagine right now but eventually most children come to appreciate their parents."
"Riker to Counselor Troi. Your mother has just come aboard."
"On the other hand..."

- Troi to Alexander on his problems with his father only to be told by Riker her mother has come aboard


"Uh, you see, we haven't exactly met yet, really."

- Lwaxana Troi on Campio, the man she plans to marry


"My dear, don't they ever let you change those colorless outfits?"

- Lwaxana to Deanna


"Of course he's unreasonable, he's a child!"

- Lwaxana Troi to Worf


"I'm supposed to do everything right all the time. I don't know how."
"To tell you the truth, little warrior, neither do I..."

- Alexander and Lwaxana


"You know, making little boys reasonable only gives them pimples."

- Lwaxana Troi


"Well who else are you gonna fight with if not your friends?"

- Lwaxana Troi


"I exposed you to all sorts of mixed messages when you were that age, and you still turned out deadly dull."

- Lwaxana Troi to Deanna


"And you are doing this to your own child, Mr. Woof?"
"It is Worf, Madam."

- Lwaxana and Worf


"Life's true gift is the capacity to enjoy enjoyment."

- Lwaxana Troi


"Nothing would please me more than to give away Mrs. Troi."

- Picard


"Wedding gown? You mean you won't be naked at your own wedding!?"

- Deanna Troi


"The higher, the fewer."

- Alexander


"You're just supposed to sit here?"

- Worf in the mud bath


"Every one of us has a thousand different kinds of...of little people inside of us. And some of them want to get out and be wild, and some want to be sad or happy or inventive or...or even just go dancing. That's why we all have so many different urges at different times. And all those different little people inside of us...we must never be afraid to take them with us, wherever we go."

- Lwaxana Troi


"I'm alone, Alex."

- Lwaxana, to Alexander


"Isn't it wonderful how things worked out, Alexander? I wanted to teach you how to grasp the joys of living. And then you turned around and... taught me to not let go of them. How very mutual."

- Lwaxana Troi

Background Information

Production

  • "Cost of Living" was filmed between Tuesday 4 February 1992 and Thursday 13 February 1992 on Paramount Stage 8, 9, and 16. Second unit and inserts for this episode were filmed on Friday 14 February 1992 on Paramount Stage 8 and 16 and on Friday 6 March 1992 on Paramount Stage 9 and 16.
  • The production meeting for this episode took place on Friday 31 January 1992 at 2:00 p.m. ("The First Duty" call sheet)
  • Lwaxana's line of dialogue in which she tells Alexander, with noticeable sadness, that she is alone, likely had personal significance for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who lost her husband, Gene Roddenberry, only four months earlier.
  • On Tuesday 4 February 1992, the Make-A-Wish Foundation kids Nichlas Frank and Michael Amidel visited the sets with their families. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
  • On Monday 10 February 1992 the cast and crew had the "French Hours". On this day, catering for breakfast and lunch was provided by a catering service on Paramount Stage 10. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
  • On Thursday 13 February 1992 Good Morning America was on set. They filmed a live feed between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. and a wrap up between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. All main cast members except Brent Spiner were picked up by a limo at home. Regular background talent Mark Lentry was also part of this airing, in full makeup as a Romulan. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
  • First UK airdate: 3 May 1995
  • A scene that can be found in the script, but was apparently cut from the final episode, had Troi and Worf discussing their frustrations with parenting, from the perspectives of being a parent and being a child respectively. Troi remembers an event in which her mother embarrassed her on her sixth birthday party, and claims that she often feels like she is the parent and her mother the child. The conversation concludes with Troi saying it's been said that grandparents and grandchildren get along so well because they have a common enemy. This deleted scene appears in full on the TNG Season 5 Blu-ray set.

Sets and props

Continuity

Cast

Awards

  • This episode won two Emmy Awards. Only four other episodes of Trek have won this many. It won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series (Robert Blackman) and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series. It was also nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series.

Reception

  • A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 21, pp. 20-21.
  • Director Winrich Kolbe remembers, "That was fun. Majel was terrific. It's a fast-moving show, and it was slightly different because we had comedic elements in there. It gave us a different pace. These shows could be rather boring if they all go with the same direction, same philosophy, same sets, same actors. After a while, you just want to throw up your hands and say, 'Ok, guys, you know what to do.' You want to go to the director of photography and say, 'Just shoot the damn thing. You can reach me at my home number.' This type of episode is exciting to me. I suddenly had to direct comedy. The pace is different. It was a real challenge and I loved it. I had never met Majel before, and I understand she didn't know who the hell I was. When I came in with my German accent, she did a double take. We had a tremendous rapport and loved working together. I wouldn't mind doing another Majel show in the sixth season." (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 21, p. 32)

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins & photo doubles

References

apple; Betazoid; Betazoid wedding; Bussard collector; chrondite; Conference of Judges; contract; deflector; exanogen gas barrier; garment reprocessor; Holy Rings of Betazed; holodeck; hydrogen; Jefferies tube; jestral tea; juggler; K'Ehleyr; Koropian princess; Kostolain; Kostolain starship; kumquat; mandarin orange; Moselina system; mud bath; mud pool; nitrium; nitrium parasite; Number one; Parallax colony; particle beam; Pelloris field; Petrokian sausage; photon torpedo; pimple; poet; Protocol Master; pumpkin; red alert; Sacred Chalice of Rixx; Shiralea VI; Ten Forward; Tessen III; tractor beam; turbolift

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