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* [[Brian Bonsall]] makes his third of seven appearances as Alexander in this episode.
 
* [[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}}.
 
* [[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 a unique occurence in ''Star Trek''. Majel Barrett is talking to herself, portraying both Lwaxana Troi and the [[computer voice]] of the ''Enterprise''-D.
+
* 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 seacon season episode {{e|Manhunt}}.
 
* [[Christopher Halsted]] later plays a [[Jem'Hadar]] in DS9's final episode {{e|What You Leave Behind}}.
 
* [[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}}.
 
* [[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}}.

Revision as of 11:46, 14 December 2012

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.

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


"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

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.

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; 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

Previous episode:
"The First Duty"
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 5
Next episode:
"The Perfect Mate"