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===Act Three===
 
===Act Three===
They have one other clue, and proceed to yet another star system where they are confronted by two [[Cardassian]] warships, prepared to attack in order to protect the planet for only their scientific mission. Immediately, a [[Klingon]] {{ShipClass|Vor'cha}} [[attack cruiser]] [[decloak]]s, making the situation all the more tense.
+
They have one other clue, and proceed to yet another star system where they are confronted by two [[Cardassian]] warships, prepared to attack in order to protect the planet for only their scientific mission. Immediately, a [[Klingon]] {{class|Vor'cha}} [[attack cruiser]] [[decloak]]s, making the situation all the more tense.
   
 
===Act Four===
 
===Act Four===
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==Memorable quotes==
 
==Memorable quotes==
  +
"''When finished... and I announce my findings, it will be heard halfway across the galaxy.''"
 
: - '''Richard Galen''', to Picard on his discovery
   
"''If she were not dead, I would kill her!''"
 
: - '''[[Nu'Daq]]''', expressing his disappointment about the message
 
   
 
"''Dream not of today.''"
  +
: - '''Professor Richard Galen''', to Picard
   
"''My upper spinal support is a polyalloy designed for extreme stress. My skull is composed of cortenide and duranium.''"
 
: - '''[[Data]]''', explaining to Nu'Daq why he was unaffected by a Klingon head-butt.
 
   
  +
"''If I go, I go for ''good''... and it's not something that I'm prepared to do.''"
  +
: - '''Picard''' reluctantly refuses Galen's offer to join him on his archaeology mission
   
  +
"''Dream not of today.''"
 
  +
"''Will you come with me?''"<br />
: - '''Professor [[Richard Galen]]''', to Picard
 
  +
"''...I can't.''"<br />
  +
"''Then I'll be going.''"
  +
: - '''Galen''' and '''Picard'''
  +
  +
  +
"''Jean-Luc... I was too harsh.''"
  +
: - '''Richard Galen'''{{'}}s dying words
   
   
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"''He's right. As far as we know it might just be a recipe for biscuits!''"<br />
 
"''He's right. As far as we know it might just be a recipe for biscuits!''"<br />
 
"''Biscuits? If that's what you believe, then go back to Cardassia, I will send you my mother's recipe.''"<br />
 
"''Biscuits? If that's what you believe, then go back to Cardassia, I will send you my mother's recipe.''"<br />
: - '''Picard''', '''[[Gul]] [[Ocett]]''', and '''[[Nu'Daq]]'''
+
: - '''Picard''', '''Gul Ocett''', and '''Nu'Daq'''
  +
  +
 
"''My upper spinal support is a polyalloy designed for extreme stress. My skull is composed of cortenide and duranium.''"
 
: - '''Data''', explaining to Nu'Daq why he was unaffected by a Klingon head-butt
  +
  +
  +
"''A being of your abilities would go far in the Empire.''"<br />
  +
"''You are attempting to bribe me.''"
  +
: - '''Nu'Daq''' tries to get '''Data''' to reveal the results of the combined DNA samples to him before anyone else
  +
  +
 
"''That's '''all!?''' If she were not dead, I would kill her!''"
 
: - '''Nu'Daq''', expressing his disappointment about the message
   
   
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"''Well then perhaps, one day...''"<br />
 
"''Well then perhaps, one day...''"<br />
 
"''...one day...''"
 
"''...one day...''"
: - '''Romulan Commander''' to '''Picard'''
+
: - '''Romulan Captain''' to '''Picard'''
   
 
==Background Information==
 
==Background Information==
 
=== Story and production ===
 
=== Story and production ===
  +
[[File:Directing The Chase 1.jpg|thumb|Jonathan Frakes directs [[Norman Lloyd]]]]
  +
[[File:Directing The Chase 2.jpg|thumb|Frakes with the alien actors between takes]]
  +
* The final draft script was submitted on {{d|4|February|1993}}.
 
* The premise of "The Chase" was inspired by Carl Sagan's novel {{wt|Contact (novel)|Contact}}, in which clues to the nature of the universe are discovered in a long calculation of Pi. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'')
 
* The premise of "The Chase" was inspired by Carl Sagan's novel {{wt|Contact (novel)|Contact}}, in which clues to the nature of the universe are discovered in a long calculation of Pi. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'')
 
* It would take over a year for [[Joe Menosky]] and [[Ronald D. Moore]]'s premise to be written into a workable script. Early drafts were in the manic mood of {{wt|It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World}}, but were shelved for being "too cartoony". The original story would have involved a Vulcan scientist not personally involved with any of the characters. Along with the Klingons and Romulans, this version also included the Ferengi. As Moore recalled, "''Riker beams over into this cramped little tiny shuttle, where everyone's yelling and trying to find things and the guy's dead. And then they zip away, and we're off an running with ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World''. It would have been a lot more comedic.''" [[Michael Piller]] and [[Rick Berman]] felt this lacked sufficient character &ndash; that there was no real motivation for Picard to join in the chase. It was only with the addition of the death of Picard's mentor that Piller and Berman were sold on the idea. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]''; ''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
 
* It would take over a year for [[Joe Menosky]] and [[Ronald D. Moore]]'s premise to be written into a workable script. Early drafts were in the manic mood of {{wt|It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World}}, but were shelved for being "too cartoony". The original story would have involved a Vulcan scientist not personally involved with any of the characters. Along with the Klingons and Romulans, this version also included the Ferengi. As Moore recalled, "''Riker beams over into this cramped little tiny shuttle, where everyone's yelling and trying to find things and the guy's dead. And then they zip away, and we're off an running with ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World''. It would have been a lot more comedic.''" [[Michael Piller]] and [[Rick Berman]] felt this lacked sufficient character &ndash; that there was no real motivation for Picard to join in the chase. It was only with the addition of the death of Picard's mentor that Piller and Berman were sold on the idea. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]''; ''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
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* [[Salome Jens]] went on to play the recurring role of the [[Female Changeling]] in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. [[John Cothran, Jr.]] went on to play [[Telok]] in {{DS9|Crossover}} and [[Gralik Durr]] in {{ENT|The Shipment}}.
 
* [[Salome Jens]] went on to play the recurring role of the [[Female Changeling]] in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. [[John Cothran, Jr.]] went on to play [[Telok]] in {{DS9|Crossover}} and [[Gralik Durr]] in {{ENT|The Shipment}}.
 
* Director [[Jonathan Frakes]] was disappointed at not being able to shoot outside. "''I think it does look like '[[Paramount Stage 16|Planet Hell]]', but that's the way it goes. The money was being spent across the street [at ''Deep Space Nine'']. I don't think it's a secret.''" However, set designer [[Richard James]] noted that it was impossible to shoot outside, as the crew had been unable to find a salt flat without vegetation, as the episode demanded. (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
 
* Director [[Jonathan Frakes]] was disappointed at not being able to shoot outside. "''I think it does look like '[[Paramount Stage 16|Planet Hell]]', but that's the way it goes. The money was being spent across the street [at ''Deep Space Nine'']. I don't think it's a secret.''" However, set designer [[Richard James]] noted that it was impossible to shoot outside, as the crew had been unable to find a salt flat without vegetation, as the episode demanded. (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
* When it appeared that the episode would run short, Ronald D. Moore added a scene in which Mr. [[Mot]] is tested by Dr. Crusher as one of the 17 crew members said to come from non-Federation worlds, but this was cut from the final episode. This scene would have thus established that [[Bolarus IX]] is not a Federation member. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'') The script for this episode, including the deleted scene, can be found [http://www.st-minutiae.com/academy/literature329/246.txt here].
+
* When it appeared that the episode would run short, Ronald D. Moore added a scene in which Mr. [[Mot]] is tested by Dr. Crusher as one of the 17 crew members said to come from non-Federation worlds, but this was cut from the final episode. This scene would have thus established that [[Bolarus IX]] is not a Federation member. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'') The script for this episode, including the deleted scene, can be found [http://www.st-minutiae.com/academy/literature329/246.txt here]. However the apparently Bolarian ambassador would seem to contradict that assertion in {{e|The Forsaken}}.
 
* The final episode contains no explanation for the destruction of the Yridian ship attacking Galen's shuttle following a single phaser blast from the Enterprise. However, the original teleplay contains a line by Data immediately following the ship's destruction that explains this ("The Yridian vessel was overloading its power generators. That, combined with the phaser blast, caused it to explode"). Yet, even the original teleplay does not explain exactly why the ship was overloading its power generators.
 
* The final episode contains no explanation for the destruction of the Yridian ship attacking Galen's shuttle following a single phaser blast from the Enterprise. However, the original teleplay contains a line by Data immediately following the ship's destruction that explains this ("The Yridian vessel was overloading its power generators. That, combined with the phaser blast, caused it to explode"). Yet, even the original teleplay does not explain exactly why the ship was overloading its power generators.
 
* First UK airdate: 22 November 1995
 
* First UK airdate: 22 November 1995
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* As noted in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', this episode marks the first time that [[Human]]s, [[Klingon]]s, [[Romulan]]s and [[Cardassian]]s appear in the same episode.
 
* As noted in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', this episode marks the first time that [[Human]]s, [[Klingon]]s, [[Romulan]]s and [[Cardassian]]s appear in the same episode.
 
* This episode is the first to mention one of [[Deep Space 9]]'s sister deep space stations, in this case [[Deep Space 4]].
 
* This episode is the first to mention one of [[Deep Space 9]]'s sister deep space stations, in this case [[Deep Space 4]].
* Several sources, including the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', state that this episode marks the first appearance of a [[Cardassian]] female on ''Star Trek''. This honor actually belongs to {{e|Chain of Command, Part II}}, where Gul [[Madred]]'s daughter, [[Jil Orra]], appears.
+
* Several sources, including the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', state that this episode marks the first appearance of a [[Cardassian]] female on ''Star Trek''. This honor actually belongs to {{e|Chain of Command, Part II}}, where Gul [[Madred]]'s daughter, [[Jil Orra]], appears. [[Ocett]] is, however, the only female [[Gul]] ever mentioned or seen in any episode of any ''Star Trek'' series.
 
* Despite Picard's obvious delight at being given the [[Kurlan naiskos|Kurlan ''naiskos'']] in this episode, he casually discards it among the wreckage of the ''Enterprise''-D in {{film|7}}, in favor of the [[Picard family album]].
 
* Despite Picard's obvious delight at being given the [[Kurlan naiskos|Kurlan ''naiskos'']] in this episode, he casually discards it among the wreckage of the ''Enterprise''-D in {{film|7}}, in favor of the [[Picard family album]].
 
* The concept of this episode was recycled in the videogame ''[[Star Trek: Encounters]]'', with the ''Enterprise''-D being replaced by the {{USS|Voyager}}, and the competing races being melded into one &ndash; the [[Kazon]].
 
* The concept of this episode was recycled in the videogame ''[[Star Trek: Encounters]]'', with the ''Enterprise''-D being replaced by the {{USS|Voyager}}, and the competing races being melded into one &ndash; the [[Kazon]].
* We learn that 17 people aboard the Enterprise are from non-Federation planets. This count probably includes [[Worf|Mr. Worf]] and [[Ro Laren]].
+
* We learn that 17 people aboard the Enterprise are from non-Federation planets. This count probably includes [[Worf]], [[Ro Laren]] (assuming she had not yet left for [[Advanced Tactical Training]]), the [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Bajoran security guard (2369)|unnamed Bajoran security guard]] seen briefly in {{e|Descent}}, and possibly [[Guinan]]. It is interesting to note that Mr. [[Mot]] is one of these individuals according to a deleted scene included in the Season Six Blu-ray set. This suggests that [[Bolians]] were not yet part of the [[Federation]] at this time.
   
 
=== Reception ===
 
=== Reception ===
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=== Uncredited co-stars ===
 
=== Uncredited co-stars ===
 
* [[Lena Banks]] as [[Unnamed Romulans (24th century)#Officers on Vilmor II|Romulan officer]]
 
* [[Lena Banks]] as [[Unnamed Romulans (24th century)#Officers on Vilmor II|Romulan officer]]
* [[Steven Boz]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Security ensign (2369)|operations division ensign]]
+
* [[Steven Boz]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security ensign (2369)|operations division ensign]]
 
* [[Tracee Lee Cocco]] as [[Jae]]
 
* [[Tracee Lee Cocco]] as [[Jae]]
* [[Gerard David, Jr.]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Male operations division ensign (2367)|operations division ensign]]
+
* [[Gerard David, Jr.]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Male operations division ensign (2367)|operations division ensign]]
 
* [[Debra Dilley]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter chief / conn ensign|command division ensign]]
 
* [[Debra Dilley]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter chief / conn ensign|command division ensign]]
* [[Christie Haydon]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Flight controller (2369)|command division ensign]]
+
* [[Grace Harrell]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Female operations officer|civilian]]
* [[Michael Moorehead]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Bridge science ensign|science division ensign]]
+
* [[Christie Haydon]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Flight controller (2369)|command division ensign]]
  +
* [[Gary Hunter]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Male science division officer|science division officer]]
  +
* [[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|civilian]]
 
* [[Keith Rayve]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Command / Operations division ensign|civilian]]
* [[Sissy Sessions]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter Ensign (2369)|operations division officer]]
+
* [[Sissy Sessions]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Transporter Ensign (2369)|operations division officer]]
 
* [[Leatrim Stang]] as [[Unnamed Romulans (24th century)#Romulan officer|Romulan officer]]
 
* [[Leatrim Stang]] as [[Unnamed Romulans (24th century)#Romulan officer|Romulan officer]]
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
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** [[Ocett's starship personnel#Ocett's guard|Cardassian officer]]
 
** [[Ocett's starship personnel#Ocett's guard|Cardassian officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter chief / conn ensign|Command division ensign (voice)]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter chief / conn ensign|Command division ensign (voice)]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Ten Forward civilian (2369)|Female civilian]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Science division officer (2367-2369)|Female science division officer]]
 
** [[IKS Maht-H'a personnel#Officer|Klingon officer (voice)]]
 
** [[IKS Maht-H'a personnel#Officer|Klingon officer (voice)]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Relief ops officer (2369)|Operations division officer]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security officer (2369)|Operations division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed Romulans (24th century)#Officers on Vilmor II|Romulan officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed Romulans (24th century)#Officers on Vilmor II|Romulan officer]]
  +
** [[Ten Forward personnel#Ten Forward staff (2369)|Ten Forward waiter]]
  +
** [[Ten Forward personnel#Ten Forward staff (2369)|Ten Forward waitress]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter officer (late 2369)|Transporter officer (voice)]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Transporter officer (late 2369)|Transporter officer (voice)]]
   
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* [[Dennis Tracy]] - stand-in for [[Patrick Stewart]]
 
* [[Dennis Tracy]] - stand-in for [[Patrick Stewart]]
   
=== References ===
+
===References===
[[Al-Leyan]]; [[Al-Leyan transport]]; [[archeology]]; [[archaeologist]]; [[arboretum]]; [[Atalia VII]]; [[Atalia system]]; [[B'aht Qul challenge]]; [[biological database]]; [[biscuit]]; [[Caere]]; [[Cardassia]]; [[Cardassian]]; [[Cardassian war vessel]]; [[centurion]]; [[Class M]]; [[Class L]]; [[Deep Space 4]]; [[Earth]]; [[Federation]]; [[final exam]]; [[goose]]; [[Indri VIII]]; [[Indri system]]; [[jigsaw puzzle]]; [[Klingon]]; [[Klingon Empire]]; [[Kurl]]; [[Kurlan]]; [[Kurlan naiskos|Kurlan ''naiskos'']]; [[Kurlan system]]; [[lichen]]; [[Loren III]]; [[Loren system]]; {{IKS|Maht-H'a}}; [[M'Tell]]; [[Macchiato]]; [[Master of Tarquin Hill]]; [[medical tricorder]]; [[micropaleontology]]; [[Maurice Picard|Picard, Maurice]]; [[plasma reaction]]; [[province]]; [[Rahm-Izad]]; [[Rahm-Izad system]]; [[Roman]]; [[Romulan]]; [[Romulus]]; [[Ruah IV]]; [[Ruah IV proto-hominid]]; [[Ruah system]]; [[Satarran]]; [[Heinrich Schliemann|Schliemann, Heinrich]]; [[scholar]]; [[Sothis III]]; [[tricorder]]; [[tricorder emitter diode]]; [[Troy]]; [[type 7 shuttlecraft]]; [[Vilmor II]]; [[Vilmoran system]]; [[Volterra Nebula]]; {{ShipClass|Vor'cha}}; [[Vulcan ship]]; [[Ya'Seem]]; [[Yash-El]]; [[Yridian]]; [[Yridian destroyer]]
+
[[Aaamazzara]]; [[Al-Leyan]]; [[Al-Leyan transport]]; [[Alpha Carinae I]]; [[Alpha Cygnus II]]; [[Aolian Cluster]]; [[archeology]]; [[archaeologist]]; [[arboretum]]; [[Atalia VII]]; [[Atalia system]]; [[B'aht Qul challenge]]; [[biological database]]; [[biosphere]]; [[biscuit]]; [[Brannon Braga (Lieutenant Commander)|Braga, Brannon]]; [[bribery]]; [[Caere]]; [[Cardassia]]; [[Cardassian]]; [[Cardassian war vessel]]; [[centurion]]; [[Jay Chattaway (Starfleet)|Chattaway, Jay]]; [[Alexander Courage (Starfleet)|Courage, Alexander]]; [[Class M]]; [[Class L]]; [[Deep Space 4]]; [[Earth]]; [[Rene Echevarria (Starfleet)|Echevarria, Rene]]; [[Federation]]; [[final exam]]; {{class|Galor}}; [[Gamma Trianguli IV]]; [[Jerry Goldsmith (Starfleet)|Goldsmith, Jerry]]; [[goose]]; [[Indri VIII]]; [[Indri system]]; [[inertial damper]]; [[J. Lowry Johnson|Johnson, Lowry J.]]; [[jigsaw puzzle]]; [[Kea Four]]; [[Klingon]]; [[Klingon Empire]]; [[Kurl]]; [[Kurlan]]; [[Kurlan naiskos|Kurlan ''naiskos'']]; [[Kurlan system]]; [[Level 3 diagnostic]]; [[Level 4 security]]; [[lichen]]; [[Loren III]]; [[Loren system]]; {{IKS|Maht-H'a}}; [[M'Tell]]; [[Macchiato]]; [[Master of Tarquin Hill]]; [[medical tricorder]]; [[micropaleontology]]; [[Maurice Picard|Picard, Maurice]]; [[Wendy Neuss (Lieutenant Commander)|Neuss, Wendy]]; [[plasma reaction]]; [[province]]; [[Rahm-Izad]]; [[Rahm-Izad system]]; [[Regulus V]]; [[Roman]]; [[Romulan]]; [[Romulus]]; [[Ruah IV]]; [[Ruah IV proto-hominid]]; [[Ruah system]]; [[Satarran]]; [[Heinrich Schliemann|Schliemann, Heinrich]]; [[scholar]]; [[Sector 21459]]; [[Sherman's Planet]]; [[Sothis III]]; [[Ron Surma (Starfleet)|Surma, Ron]]; [[Taurus I]]; [[Therbia]]; [[Triacus]]; [[tricorder]]; [[tricorder emitter diode]]; [[Troy]]; [[type 7 shuttlecraft]]; [[Vilmor II]]; [[Vilmoran system]]; [[Volterra Nebula]]; {{class|Vor'cha}}; [[Vulcan ship]]; [[Jonathan West (Starfleet)|West, Jonathan]]; [[Ya'Seem]]; [[Yash-El]]; [[Yridian]]; [[Yridian destroyer]]
  +
  +
===External link===
  +
*{{Wikipedia|The Chase (Star Trek: The Next Generation)}}
   
 
{{TNG nav|season=6|last={{e|Lessons}}|next={{e|Frame of Mind}}}}
 
{{TNG nav|season=6|last={{e|Lessons}}|next={{e|Frame of Mind}}}}
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[[de:Das fehlende Fragment]]
 
[[de:Das fehlende Fragment]]
 
[[es:The Chase]]
 
[[es:The Chase]]
[[fr:The Chase]]
+
[[fr:The Chase (épisode)]]
 
[[ja:TNG:命のメッセージ]]
 
[[ja:TNG:命のメッセージ]]
 
[[nl:The Chase]]
 
[[nl:The Chase]]
 
[[pl:The Chase]]
 
[[pl:The Chase]]
 
 
[[Category:TNG episodes|Chase, The]]
 
[[Category:TNG episodes|Chase, The]]

Revision as of 08:47, 10 August 2014

Template:Realworld

Picard tries to finish his old archaeology teacher's monumental last mission: solving a puzzle that leads Humans, Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians to the secret of life in this galaxy, revealing the origin of humanoid life.

Summary

Teaser

Captain Picard receives an unexpected visit from Richard Galen, a reclusive professor, and personal mentor of his, from Starfleet Academy. Galen gives the captain a rare archaeological gift, a Kurlan naiskos, and encourages him to take a leave of absence from Starfleet to go on an expedition of vast importance to the galaxy.

Act One

Picard mulls it over, but knows that he can never leave the USS Enterprise-D. He informs Galen that he cannot go with him, and receives a bitter rebuke from his former teacher, who immediately leaves on a shuttlecraft for his next destination.

Not long after, the Enterprise receives a distress call from Galen's shuttle, as it is under attack by a Yridian. They barely retrieve the professor and destroy his attackers. Unfortunately, Galen dies in sickbay – telling Picard with his last breath that his earlier rebuke had been too harsh.

Act Two

Picard abandons the ship's current diplomatic timeline to follow the clues listed in Galen's database. After mulling over the data, stumped, they finally realize that his course had taken him through a star system with no current inhabitants, but with a planet capable of sustaining life.

When they arrive, they find the planet's atmosphere being destroyed, killing all life on the planet.

Act Three

They have one other clue, and proceed to yet another star system where they are confronted by two Cardassian warships, prepared to attack in order to protect the planet for only their scientific mission. Immediately, a Klingon Vor'cha-class attack cruiser decloaks, making the situation all the more tense.

Act Four

Picard decides to invite the commanding officers of each vessel to the Enterprise to discuss the situation. He plays his cards, relating that the Enterprise crew has determined that Galen's research leads them to believe that a computer program has been written and scattered throughout the galaxy, being stored in the genetic code of organisms on certain planets. An uneasy truce is forged between the three powers so as to share the data the three factions contain. However, chief engineer La Forge discovers that the Enterprise's defensive systems have been tampered with – rightfully anticipating deception on the part of the Cardassians, Picard and Klingon captain Nu'Daq decide to tamper with their data a bit prior to the meeting. All three factions meet on the Enterprise to view the star chart inferred by the data points. Immediately, Gul Ocett transports off of the Enterprise and begins firing on both the Klingon vessel and the Enterprise.

Act Five

The Enterprise makes a good show of being damaged, and then heads to the proper coordinates with Nu'Daq.

Once at the final planet, they transport to the surface to take tricorder measurements of lichen growing in an ancient seabed. Suddenly, the Romulans appear, insisting that everyone leave the premises. Covertly, the away team takes readings of the lichen, and find their tricorder reconfigured to display a holographic image of a humanoid, explaining that her civilization existed in the galaxy alone, thousands of lonely years before any of the others developed. As such, they spread their genetic material to other planets, in the hopes of creating a rich ecosystem of Humanoids who could fulfill the joys of finding and integrating with alien cultures that these first beings never had. Most parties seem disgusted at the thought of a common progenitor.

Back on board the Enterprise, Picard receives an unexpected message from the Romulan commander. In light of the recent events, he expresses his opinion that Humans and Romulans are not so dissimilar after all, and hopes that one day, the two powers could stand together in friendship.

Memorable quotes

"When finished... and I announce my findings, it will be heard halfway across the galaxy."

- Richard Galen, to Picard on his discovery


"Dream not of today."

- Professor Richard Galen, to Picard


"If I go, I go for good... and it's not something that I'm prepared to do."

- Picard reluctantly refuses Galen's offer to join him on his archaeology mission


"Will you come with me?"
"...I can't."
"Then I'll be going."

- Galen and Picard


"Jean-Luc... I was too harsh."

- Richard Galen's dying words


"Until we assemble it, we will never know its purpose."
"He's right. As far as we know it might just be a recipe for biscuits!"
"Biscuits? If that's what you believe, then go back to Cardassia, I will send you my mother's recipe."

- Picard, Gul Ocett, and Nu'Daq


"My upper spinal support is a polyalloy designed for extreme stress. My skull is composed of cortenide and duranium."

- Data, explaining to Nu'Daq why he was unaffected by a Klingon head-butt


"A being of your abilities would go far in the Empire."
"You are attempting to bribe me."

- Nu'Daq tries to get Data to reveal the results of the combined DNA samples to him before anyone else


"That's all!? If she were not dead, I would kill her!"

- Nu'Daq, expressing his disappointment about the message


"It would seem that we are not completely dissimilar after all; in our hopes, or in our fears."
"Yes..."
"Well then perhaps, one day..."
"...one day..."

- Romulan Captain to Picard

Background Information

Story and production

Directing The Chase 1

Jonathan Frakes directs Norman Lloyd

Directing The Chase 2

Frakes with the alien actors between takes

  • The final draft script was submitted on 4 February 1993.
  • The premise of "The Chase" was inspired by Carl Sagan's novel Contact, in which clues to the nature of the universe are discovered in a long calculation of Pi. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
  • It would take over a year for Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore's premise to be written into a workable script. Early drafts were in the manic mood of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, but were shelved for being "too cartoony". The original story would have involved a Vulcan scientist not personally involved with any of the characters. Along with the Klingons and Romulans, this version also included the Ferengi. As Moore recalled, "Riker beams over into this cramped little tiny shuttle, where everyone's yelling and trying to find things and the guy's dead. And then they zip away, and we're off an running with It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. It would have been a lot more comedic." Michael Piller and Rick Berman felt this lacked sufficient character – that there was no real motivation for Picard to join in the chase. It was only with the addition of the death of Picard's mentor that Piller and Berman were sold on the idea. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion; Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
  • Moore stated that he'd considered, but intentionally did not specify, that the Ancient humanoids were the Preservers from TOS: "The Paradise Syndrome". He added, "but this could be them and be internally consistent." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
  • Salome Jens went on to play the recurring role of the Female Changeling in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. John Cothran, Jr. went on to play Telok in DS9: "Crossover" and Gralik Durr in ENT: "The Shipment".
  • Director Jonathan Frakes was disappointed at not being able to shoot outside. "I think it does look like 'Planet Hell', but that's the way it goes. The money was being spent across the street [at Deep Space Nine]. I don't think it's a secret." However, set designer Richard James noted that it was impossible to shoot outside, as the crew had been unable to find a salt flat without vegetation, as the episode demanded. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
  • When it appeared that the episode would run short, Ronald D. Moore added a scene in which Mr. Mot is tested by Dr. Crusher as one of the 17 crew members said to come from non-Federation worlds, but this was cut from the final episode. This scene would have thus established that Bolarus IX is not a Federation member. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion) The script for this episode, including the deleted scene, can be found here. However the apparently Bolarian ambassador would seem to contradict that assertion in "The Forsaken".
  • The final episode contains no explanation for the destruction of the Yridian ship attacking Galen's shuttle following a single phaser blast from the Enterprise. However, the original teleplay contains a line by Data immediately following the ship's destruction that explains this ("The Yridian vessel was overloading its power generators. That, combined with the phaser blast, caused it to explode"). Yet, even the original teleplay does not explain exactly why the ship was overloading its power generators.
  • First UK airdate: 22 November 1995

Continuity

Reception

  • The production staff dubbed this the most "Roddenberry-esque" TNG episode. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
  • Jonathan Frakes remarked, "The speech that Salome Jens makes at the end would make Roddenberry very proud I think. It's a great cast and it's wonderful to have all those villains and aliens in one place." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
  • However, Rick Berman was not overawed by the finished episode. "Conceptually, it's very interesting. I always had some problems with dealing with the whole idea of these kind of prehistoric creatures who are the fathers of us all. It's not Roddenberry-esque, it's very sixties Roddenberry-esque." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
  • The episode was previewed at the 1993 StarFest Convention in Denver, Colorado to generally favorable reaction.

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Special Appearance By

Co-star

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

Aaamazzara; Al-Leyan; Al-Leyan transport; Alpha Carinae I; Alpha Cygnus II; Aolian Cluster; archeology; archaeologist; arboretum; Atalia VII; Atalia system; B'aht Qul challenge; biological database; biosphere; biscuit; Braga, Brannon; bribery; Caere; Cardassia; Cardassian; Cardassian war vessel; centurion; Chattaway, Jay; Courage, Alexander; Class M; Class L; Deep Space 4; Earth; Echevarria, Rene; Federation; final exam; Galor-class; Gamma Trianguli IV; Goldsmith, Jerry; goose; Indri VIII; Indri system; inertial damper; Johnson, Lowry J.; jigsaw puzzle; Kea Four; Klingon; Klingon Empire; Kurl; Kurlan; Kurlan naiskos; Kurlan system; Level 3 diagnostic; Level 4 security; lichen; Loren III; Loren system; IKS Maht-H'a; M'Tell; Macchiato; Master of Tarquin Hill; medical tricorder; micropaleontology; Picard, Maurice; Neuss, Wendy; plasma reaction; province; Rahm-Izad; Rahm-Izad system; Regulus V; Roman; Romulan; Romulus; Ruah IV; Ruah IV proto-hominid; Ruah system; Satarran; Schliemann, Heinrich; scholar; Sector 21459; Sherman's Planet; Sothis III; Surma, Ron; Taurus I; Therbia; Triacus; tricorder; tricorder emitter diode; Troy; type 7 shuttlecraft; Vilmor II; Vilmoran system; Volterra Nebula; Vor'cha-class; Vulcan ship; West, Jonathan; Ya'Seem; Yash-El; Yridian; Yridian destroyer

External link

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Season 6
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