Episode 166: "Allegiance" 

While in his quarters, Picard is taken from the ship by an alien energy beam and held in a room with three other hostages: Tholl, a peace-loving Mizarian; Haro, an Algolian and Starfleet Academy cadet; and Esoqq, a beast-like member of the Chalnoth race.
The situation in the cell becomes increasingly tense when the prisoners discover that their food supply is poisonous to Esoqq, who eyes his fellow captives hungrily. Picard, Esoqq and Haro attempt to rewire the circuitry in a wall panel to open the door to the room, but they're struck by a bolt of energy. The frustrated quartet begins to suspect each other, believing that one of the others may actually be their captor.

Meanwhile, on board the U.S.S. Enterprise, the false Picard arouses the suspicions of the crew when he begins acting strangely, ordering the ship off course, leading the crew in drinking songs and making romantic overtures to Dr. Crusher. But when Riker finds traces of a sophisticated replicator in Picard's chambers and learns that the captain has led the U.S.S. Enterprise perilously close to a star emitting radiation, he overrides Picard's orders and takes command of the ship. Despite being called mutinous by the false Picard, the crew stands by Riker.

Back in the holding cell, the real Picard deduces that Haro is the captor among them. When she tries to deny the accusation, Picard points out that she exhibited knowledge of classified Starfleet information that would not be available to a cadet.

With that, Haro suddenly metamorphosizes into three identical aliens who are linked telepathically. The aliens explain that they were merely conducting an experiment to study leadership qualities among different species, since their race has no distinctions of authority. When one of the aliens accompanies Picard back to the U.S.S. Enterprise, the false Picard metamorphosizes into another alien.

Furious that he's been used as a guinea pig and that the lives of his crew have been needlessly endangered, Picard captures the two aliens in a forcefield. By this act, he is able to show how effective leadership really works and also that kidnapping is immoral. The point made, Picard send the aliens on their way.

Production: 166
Season: 3 Episode: 18
Air Date: 03.26.1990
Stardate: 43714.1
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
Reiner Schone as Esoqq
Joycelyn O'Brien as Haro
Stephen Markel as Tholl
Jerry Rector as Alien #1
Jeff Rector as Alien #2
Memorable Quotes:


Commander William T. Riker: What is our mission?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I'm under no obligation to tell you that.
Commander William T. Riker: If you don't, you force me to take command of this vessel.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: On what grounds?
Commander William T. Riker: You are endangering this ship for no reason.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: No reason you're aware of.
Commander William T. Riker: That's not good enough. Your behavior has been erratic.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Erratic enough to justify mutiny? Do you honestly believe you have sufficient evidence to convince a board of inquiry?
Commander William T. Riker: No, I don't. But I can't let you risk the lives of the crew.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[after Picard's double is unmasked, and Picard returns to the Enterprise]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The replica was convincing?
Commander William T. Riker: Very convincing. But not perfect.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Not perfect? How so?
Commander William T. Riker: For one thing, sir, I find it hard to believe you're that good a singer.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Singer?
[Riker nods, grinning]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I look forward to your report, Number One. At least, I think I do

 

Click this link to view the complete script in a TXT format
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"Allegiance"
#40273-166

Written by
Richard Manning & Hans Beimler

Directed by
Rick Kolbe

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 1990 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.

FINAL DRAFT

JANUARY 15, 1990

STAR TREK: "Allegiance" - 1/15/90 - CAST

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Allegiance"

CAST

PICARD                                                             FALSE PICARD
RIKER                                                                                  HARO
DATA                                                                                  THOLL
BEVERLY                                                                        ESOQQ
TROI                                                                               ALIEN #1
GEORDI                                                                        ALIEN #2
WORF                                                                                            
WESLEY                                                                                        

Non-Speaking
SUPERNUMERARIES

Click this link to view the complete script in a TXT format