The U.S.S. Enterprise
receives a message from the Sheliak, who order the crew
to remove all humans from the planet Tau Cygna V.
According to a Federation treaty, the planet belongs to
the alien race, who want to take control of their
property and have given the crew four days to evacuate
the men and women now living there. If the U.S.S.
Enterprise does not complete the task, the Sheliak will
kill all of the humans, whom they consider "vermin."
Due to the high level of radiation on Tau Cygna V, which
the colonists have adapted to over several generations,
Data is the only crew member capable of surviving the
mission. After Riker speculates that there should be
about a dozen humans there, Picard sends the android
down to the planet to commence evacuation procedures.
But the matter is complicated by Data's reports that
15,000 colonists are living on Tau Cygna V and Worf's
estimate that transporting them off the planet will take
several weeks, far longer than the Sheliak ultimatum.
What's worse, Data
meets resistance to the evacuation plan from Gosheven,
the leader of the colony, who refuses to abandon the
planet. While Data tries to change Gosheven's mind,
Picard's pleas for additional time from the Sheliak, who
stick to every word of their 500,000 word treaty, are
flatly refused.
While a stirring
speech by Data convinces some colonists to revolt
against Gosheven, Picard buys time when he finds a
clause in the treaty that allows him to demand third
party arbitration of the evacuation dispute. He
deliberately chooses a race in hibernation for six
months, which forces the Sheliak's hand and they agree
to give Picard three weeks to relocate the colonists.
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Production: 149
Season: 3 Episode: 2
Air Date: 10.02.1989
Stardate: 43133.3 |
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Patrick
Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes as William Riker
Brent Spiner as Data
LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn as Worf
Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher |
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Colm Meaney as
Miles O'Brien
Eileen Seeley as Ard'rian
Mart McChesney as Sheliak
Richard Allen as Noe
Mark L. Taylor as Haritath
Grainger Hines as Gosheven |
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Actor Grainger Hines was
unhappy with his performance (as Gosheven), so he
requested his name be removed from the credits. All of
his lines were subsequently overdubbed by another actor.
The shuttle Onizuka, which Data
used in this episode, was named in tribute to one of the
Space Shuttle "Challenger" astronauts.
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Click this link to view the
complete script in a TXT format
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"The Ensigns of Command"
#40273-149
Written by
H. B. Savage
Directed by
Cliff Bole
THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE
FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING
WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
Copyright 1989 Paramount
Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If
lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department.
3RD REVISED FINAL DRAFT
JULY 13, 1989
STAR TREK: "The Ensigns of
Command" - REV. 7/14/89 - CAST
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"The Ensigns of Command"
CAST
PICARD
SHELIAK
RIKER
DATA
ARD'RIAN
BEVERLY
GOSHEVEN
TROI
HARITATH
GEORDI
KENTOR
WORF
WESLEY
O'BRIEN
Non-Speaking
ENGINEERS (2)
OTHER LOCALS (26)
YOUNG BOY (age 12)
BOY'S MOTHER
A VULCAN VIOLINIST
A WOMAN VIOLIST
N.D. CREWMEMBERS (12)
SUPERNUMERARIES (CONN & OPS)
Click this link to view the
complete script in a TXT format |
