Episode 168: "Tin Man" 

The U.S.S. Enterprise is ordered to transport Tam Elbrun, a Federation emissary, to a distant star system. Tam, a Betazoid who specializes in first contact with new life-forms, is assigned to establish mind contact with Tin Man, an alien intelligence resembling an organic spaceship, which is orbiting a star that's about to explode. The crew's mission: to reach Tin Man before two Romulan Warbirds, which are also trying to make contact with it.
En route to the site, Tam shares with his old friend Troi his frustration with his extraordinary telepathic powers, which constantly bombard him with the thoughts of those around him. He also intimates that he has already made preliminary contact with Tin Man.

Upon the crew's arrival at the star system, one of the Romulan Warbirds fires on the U.S.S. Enterprise, then prepares to destroy Tin Man before the crew can make contact. Instead, Tam sends a telepathic warning to Tin Man, which responds by emitting an energy wave that destroys the Warbird, but also causes serious damage to the U.S.S. Enterprise.

With the star's explosion imminent and the second Warbird on the way, Picard asks Tam to coax Tin Man into moving to the safety of Federation space. Tam explains that Tin Man, having lost its crew years earlier, has come to the star to die in the explosion. He then asks to be transported to Tin Man to establish personal contact, but Picard is hesitant, questioning the loyalties that caused Tam to protect Tin Man at the risk of losing the Enterprise.

When the second Romulan vessel arrives to destroy Tin Man, Picard sends Tam and Data to approach the life-form. Upon boarding, Tam has an immediate sense of belonging with the alien and Tin Man shows a mutual rapport with the emissary. Shortly afterwards, Tin Man breaks orbit and sends the U.S.S. Enterprise and the Romulan Warbird hurtling into space and away from the star just before It explodes. Data is then returned to the U.S.S. Enterprise, where he explains that Tam has remained with Tin Man, having finally found on the ship the peace that has eluded him his entire life.

Production: 168
Season: 3 Episode: 20
Air Date: 04.23.1990
Stardate: 43779.3
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
Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
Harry Groener as Tam Elbrun
Michael Cavanaugh as Captain DeSoto
Peter Vogt as Romulan Commander
Gomtuu, a.k.a. "Tin Man" in this episode uses a self defense special effect that is a re-use of the cinematic implosion of V'Ger from the end of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".

The design of Gomtuu was based in part on a peach pit.

The sound effects for the alien ship were produced by having a stage crew member eat half a large pizza and then sit quietly with dermal microphones taped to his stomach to record the sounds of his digestive process.

 

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

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"Tin Man"
#40273-168

Written by
Dennis Putman Bailey
&
David Bischoff

Directed by
Robert Scheerer

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 31, 1990

STAR TREK: "Tin Man" - 1/31/90 - CAST

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Tin Man"

CAST

PICARD                                                           TAM ELBRUN
RIKER                               CAPTAIN JONATHAN DESOTO
DATA                                         ROMULAN COMMANDER
BEVERLY
TROI
GEORDI
WORF
WESLEY
O'BRIEN
COMPUTER VOICE

Non-Speaking
SUPERNUMERARIES
ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS

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