The Price (episode)edit

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

"The Price"
TNG, Episode 3x08 Production number: 40273-156 First aired: 13 November 1989
←	55th of 176 produced in TNG	→
←	55th of 176 released in TNG	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 176 released in TNG Remastered
←	162nd of 727 released in all	→
Written By Hannah Louise Shearer Directed By Robert Scheerer
43385.6 (2366)
	Arc: Arridor and Kol (1 of 2)	→
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The Enterprise hosts negotiations for possession of the only known stable wormhole.

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 Teaser 1.2 Act One 1.3 Act Two 1.4 Act Three 1.5 Log Entries 2 Memorable Quotes 3 Background Information 3.1 Story and production 3.2 Continuity 3.3 Reception 3.4 Video and DVD releases 4 Links and References 4.1 Starring 4.2 Also starring 4.3 Guest Stars 4.4 Uncredited Co-Stars 4.5 References

[edit] Summary

The USS Enterprise-D is sent to mediate a dispute over control of the Barzan wormhole, believed to be the first stable wormhole discovered.

Involved in the dispute representing the Chrysalian delegation was Devinoni Ral who was, unbeknown to all of the involved parties, a part Betazoid using his empathic powers to strengthen his position at the talks. He used rather questionable tactics to effectively buy out the Caldonian vote, and managed to secure a deal with the Ferengi, DaiMon Goss.

However while journeying through the wormhole Lt. Cmdr. Data & Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge discover that while the wormhole is stable in the Alpha Quadrant it is unstable at its exit point firstly leading Data & Geordi into the Gamma Quadrant and finally sealing Arridor & Kol in the Delta Quadrant permanently.

[edit] Teaser

[edit] Act One

[edit] Act Two

[edit] Act Three

[edit] Log Entries

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2366

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"You must play poker, Commander."
"Poker... Is that a game of some sort?"

- Seth Mendoza and Riker

"Who needs rational when your toes curl up?!"

- Dr. Crusher

"May I join you, Commander?"
"Bought out the Ferengi yet, Ral?"

- Ral and Riker in Ten-Forward

"Idiots!"

- Geordi La Forge, on Arridor and Kol

"But I was tense! I was ready to blow it up! I strongly protest!"
"Screen off!"

- DaiMon Goss and Picard

[edit] Background Information

[edit] Story and production

• Several scenes were cut from this episode, including a short session Troi has with O'Brien that deals with his girlfriend Mitzi, Wesley telling the Counselor about troubles he had with his mother because she wouldn't let him stay overnight at a party on the holodeck and more background about the Chrysalians.
• The episode features a scene where Crusher and Troi are seen in leotards and tights practicing aerobics. The exercise room is a redress of a part of main engineering, the "pool table" was removed and mirrors were erected, one to hide the master systems display and the other at the opposite end of this part of the engineering set.
• Prior to the airing of this episode, there was much hype about the scene in which Troi beds Ral. Michael Piller commented, "It was never meant to be outrageous television. We got quite a few letters from outraged people before it aired, but nobody wrote after it aired. I listen very carefully to those complaints." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
• According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, Goss is referring to the size of his "sex organ" when he is making a revealing gesture to a Starfleet crewwoman in Ten Forward in the middle of the episode.

[edit] Continuity

• This episode was the first to firmly establish that the galaxy is divided into the current four quadrant system.
• This episode marks the first appearance of the Barzan Wormhole. USS Voyager subsequently encountered one of its exits in the Delta Quadrant in 2373. Arridor and Kol were found posing as gods on Takar II. (VOY: "False Profits")
• The counselor's office is seen for the second time. The room was modified extensively after "The Icarus Factor" and looks very close to the final appearance first seen in "The Loss".
• This is also the first time the Ferengi pod is seen and that Counselor Troi's love for chocolate is revealed.
• This episode marks one of the few times when the inside of the corridor connecting the main bridge and the Observation lounge is seen.
• Because they are represented here by a Human who is one-quarter Betazoid, no one knows what a Chrysalian looks like.
• As of this episode the Ferengi are still under the mistaken impression that gold has a high value in the galaxy at large as they seem to think offering an apparently small amount of it will tip the scales in their favor. However, the shape of the "gold" the Ferengi offer is very similar to that of gold-pressed latinum later seen frequently in DS9.
• It is established in the TNG episode "Ménage à Troi" that the Ferengi brain cannot be telepathically read by Betazoids. However, in this episode, Counselor Troi declares that she can "sense Daimon Goss' deception."

[edit] Reception

• Michael Piller remarked, "One of the best scripts we had. I think if you listen to that show and don't watch it, you can really have fun with it. I really thought it was a disappointing episode. It just didn't make it and was not a great show. As far as servicing the character of Troi, it was quite a wonderful vehicle and she was marvelous." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
• Director Robert Scheerer recalled, "The thing I remember most about that episode is working so closely with Marina, because I hadn't really worked with her that extensively. There was a real human quality to her and the show." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

[edit] Video and DVD releases

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 28, November 1991.
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 3.3, 1 May 2000.
• As part of the TNG Season 3 DVD collection.

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Starring

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker

[edit] Also starring

• LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
• Wil Wheaton as Ensign Wesley Crusher

[edit] Guest Stars

• Matt McCoy as Devinoni Ral
• Elizabeth Hoffman as Bhavani
• Castulo Guerra as Seth Mendoza
• Scott Thomson as Goss
• Dan Shor as Arridor
• Kevin Peter Hall as Leyor
• Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien (voice only)

[edit] Uncredited Co-Stars

• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Lorine Mendell as Diana Giddings
• J.R. Quinonez as Kol
• Unknown actress as Rojay

[edit] References

2166; 2325; 2344; accretion disk; allergy; Barzan; Barzan II; Barzan probe; Barzan wormhole; Barzanian Planetary Republic; Betazoid; blood; Brussels; Caldonia; Caldonian; carbon; champagne; chocolate; chocolate sundae; Chrysalian; contract; Counselor; Counselor's office; Crusher, Jack; Delta Quadrant; Denkiri Arm; D'Kora-class; empathic; ethics; European Alliance; event horizon; exercise room; Federation; Federation credit; fee; Ferengi; Ferengi pod; Gamma Quadrant; gold; Goss's Marauder; histamine; Hurkos III; ice cream; lemon; lepton; Ley; main shuttlebay; Manitoba Journal of Interplanetary Psychology; marathon; meson; mile; missile; missile launcher; negotiator; poker; Premier; pyrocyte; radiation; Romulan; Sector 3556; syringe; three-dimensional chess; thruster; trillium 323; type 15 shuttlepod; Troi, Lwaxana; VISOR; whipped cream; wormhole; Yuri vector field control

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Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3

Next episode: "The Vengeance Factor"