Episode 176: "Suddenly Human" 

Responding to a distress call from a stricken Talarian vessel, an Away Team from the U.S.S. Enterprise discovers that the ship is manned by five teenagers — one of whom is human. While treating them, Dr. Crusher finds that the young human shows signs of severe abuse. The boy, called Jono, will not communicate with anyone among the crew, and responds to Picard only upon learning that he is a captain. The boy requests that Picard return him to Endar, the Talarian father who raised him. Fearing for the boy's safety, Picard refuses.
Starfleet reveals that Jono is actually Jeremiah Rossa, an orphaned human member of a Federation outpost presumed dead in a battle ten years before. His human grandmother, a Starfleet admiral, is anxious for his return, but Troi fears readjusting to the human lifestyle could be traumatic for him. When Picard asks Troi to work with the boy, she reminds him that since Talarians respond only to male authority, he must be the one to help Jono.

At that moment, Endar reaches the U.S.S. Enterprise and demands the return of Jono. Picard accuses the alien of abusing the boy. Endar denies the charge, telling Picard that he rescued the boy and raised him as his own following the battle in which Jono's human parents were killed. Picard allows Endar to see Jono, but refuses to surrender him to the alien. Endar then threatens war and announces that additional Talarian ships are en route.

When Data reveals that Jono is at the age of "decision," a Talarian right of passage at which he becomes a man and is free to make his own choices, Picard decides to let Jono choose his own fate. The boy is shown pictures of his parents and a message from his grandmother. The memories they bring forth disturb Jono, but he calms down and exhibits some very human characteristics while sharing a banana split with Wesley in Ten Forward.

Later that night, Jono sneaks into the sleeping Picard's room and stabs the Captain in the chest. Shocked by the boy's actions, Picard summons him to his sickbed for an explanation. Jono grudgingly reveals that he hoped his action would condemn him to death, thus preventing him from having to make the agonizing choice between his human family and the father who raised him.

On the bridge, Riker refuses to give Endar the boy, claiming that he is being held in custody as a result of his attack on Picard. As Endar prepares to fire on the U.S.S. Enterprise, Picard enters the Bridge, accompanied by Jono. He announces that he is returning the boy to the only home he has ever known — with Endar.

Production: 176
Season: 4 Episode: 4
Air Date: 10.15.1990
Stardate: 44143.7
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
Chad Allen as Jono
Sherman Howard as Endar
Barbara Townsend as Connaught
Religion In The Future
________________________________________
"Who Watches The Watchers" - Picard is thought to be a god by the populace.
"Data's Day" - In Data's log, a Hindu festival of lights is mentioned.

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STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"Suddenly Human"
#40274-176

Written by
Jeri Taylor

Directed by
Gabrielle Beaumont

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

JULY 9, 1990

STAR TREK: "Suddenly Human" - REV. 7/18/90 - CAST

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Suddenly Human"

CAST

PICARD                                                                           JONO
RIKER                                                         CAPTAIN ENDAR
DATA                                                                                           
BEVERLY                                                 Starfleet Personnel
TROI                                 ADMIRAL CONNAUGHT ROSSA
GEORDI                                                                                       
WORF                                                                                        
WESLEY                                                          Non-Speaking
                                                    FOUR TALARIAN YOUTHS
                                                                    TALARIAN MILITIA
                                                  TRANSPORTER OFFICER'S
VOICE                                                  Still Photos on Monitor
                                                    CONNOR & MOIRA ROSSA
Non-Speaking                                        WITH INFANT CHILD
SUPERNUMERARIES                                                                
MEDICAL PERSONNEL                                                            
Voices
TWO SECURITY MEN                CONNOR & MOIRA ROSSA
JEREMIAH ROSSA (INFANT)

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