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The Masterpiece Society (episode)

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This article is written
from the Real World
point of view
This article is written
from the Real World
point of view
"The Masterpiece Society"
TNG, Episode 5x13
Production number: 40275-213
First aired: 10 February 1992
← 112th of 176 produced in TNG →
← 112th of 176 released in TNG →
  {{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 176 released in TNG Remastered  
← 220th of 726 released in all →
Teleplay By
Adam Belanoff and Michael Piller

Story By
James Kahn and Adam Belanoff

Directed By
Winrich Kolbe
45470.1 (2368)
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The Enterprise tries to save a "perfect" colony from destruction, but the assistance causes damage of its own.

Contents

[edit] Summary

"Captain's log, Stardate 45470.1. The Enterprise has been diverted to the Moab sector to track a stellar core fragment from a disintegrated neutron star. Our science teams have been asked to monitor the planetary disruptions it may cause."

While the Enterprise crew is observing the fragment, they find that Moab IV, one of the planets it would affect as it passes by, is inhabited by humans and that an artificial environment has been created there. When they contact the inhabitants, after a reluctant response by Aaron Conor, they arrange to beam down.

The away team explains to Conor and the inhabitants that given the nature of the stellar core fragment evacuation may be inevitable. However, the colonists explain that it is in fact imperative that they remain on the planet and preserve the colony. It is explained to Commander William Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi that this is a genetically engineered society; their ancestors came from Earth to create a perfect society, believing that through controlled procreation they could create people without flaws and those people would build a paradise. They have evolved beyond humanity. They also explain that they have achieved a fully integrated existence with their environment, thanks also to their master design. They cannot separate themselves from it without irreparably altering who and what they are.

Martin Benbeck, the interpreter of the colony founders' wishes, is the one who continually emphasizes the importance of preserving the balance of their society. He dislikes the away team's presence. Conor, on the other hand, is more receptive: he understands the necessity of them being here, and being the diplomat he is, welcomes them, and allows Geordi La Forge to work with Hannah Bates -- their top astrophysicist -- to find a solution. He even begins to find a liking in counselor Troi. However, he reiterates that this is a perfect existence for them which they will not give up easily.

When Hannah shows La Forge a design for a multiphasic tractor beam, he believes the Enterprise could use it to move the fragment just enough to reduce the effects below dangerous levels. However, he would need her assistance in setting it up, which means she would have to leave the colony and beam up to the Enterprise.

Martin strongly objects, arguing that her absence would create a dangerous imbalance. Insistent though he is, Aaron overrules him, and she is beamed aboard.


"Captain's log, supplemental. Commander La Forge and Hannah Bates have spent 3 days trying to find a way to adjust the path of the core fragment. If they do not succeed in the next 48 hours, we will need to begin evacuation."

While discussing the matter with Captain Picard, Troi notes that some of the colonists would chose to risk death rather than leave. Picard, who is opposed to the very idea of genetic engineering, has a hard time buying that. He thinks it is a bad idea whose time has long passed. He advises Troi to use Aaron's openness to suggestions and reasonable attitude, as well as her personal admiration for him, to help him see the reality of the situation and convince others to do the same.

Meanwhile, as Hannah and La Forge work on their multiphasic tractor beam, they find that it would overload some of the power conduits. As they try to come up with a solution, Geordi takes his VISOR off, and she sees his non-functioning eyes. He complains that he probably wouldn't be here were he born on their world. When she asks about how it works, he explains it to her and suddenly has an idea as how to solve the problem: he suggests using the same technology that his visor utilizes. He chuckles, saying that it would be an irony if the answer to all of this is in a visor created for a blind man who never would have existed in their society.

Down on the planet, during a piano recital, there is an earthquake. It is the first tremor of what would become many. Counselor Troi is strongly attracted to Conor, almost falling in love. That's when she realizes that this is all wrong. Aaron is obviously changed, ever since the Enterprise has been in touch with the colony, and she is concerned that this is affecting his decision making. He seems willing to throw it all away, for her, not just for the survival of the colony. While they are discussing the situation, La Forge and Hannah beam down on the planet stating that a team of 50 engineers from the Enterprise is needed to reinforce the structure and solve their problem. Conor agrees.


"Captain's log, supplemental. The Enterprise has moved to a parallel course with core fragment. We must adjust its trajectory by a minimum of 1.2 degrees to ensure the colony's safety."

Slowly, the Enterprise pushes the fragment away, almost losing life support in the process. Aaron is pleased, as is everyone on the colony.


"Captain's log, supplemental. The stellar core fragment has passed safely out of the Moab system. The colony was shaken by powerful tremors, but fortunately there were no injuries, and only minor damage was reported."

It is only now, after most of the engineering crews have left, that the damage has been done. When Hannah indicates a breach in the artificial biosphere, and goes to the lab to analyze it, La Forge points out that there is no such breach for his visor's positronic scan would have detected it. He concludes she faked the incidence. Hannah admits she did that because of her encounters outside her world: if she's so brilliant, she wonders, why didn't she invent starships or shielding. As a result, she requests asylum, and Riker indicates she may not be the only one wishing to leave.

Captain Picard himself finally takes this opportunity to meet Aaron Conor. Martin immediately starts attacking Picard, saying all of these people wanting to leave is his fault. Aaron decides to talk to Captain Picard alone, and explains he didn't want to listen to Martin from the first moment they were hailed. He understands the desire to leave, with a curiosity about the outside world, and feels responsible for it happening. He asks that Picard refuse them passage, since his leaving will solve the problem he created with his arrival. Picard points out that this is simplistic. He cannot deny their human rights, whatever other consequences it may have. However, he is willing to try to dissuade them from leaving. Unfortunately, they fail to persuade the people to stay.

The Enterprise takes them, 23 in all, as Aaron wonders about what his mistake was. And Picard points out this is the best reminder of the prime directive. Despite the fact they were human, he concludes they were as destructive as any core fragment.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"You're up early."
"I'm still on Enterprise time."

- Aaron Conor and Troi


"My VISOR's positronic scan would have detected the leak. Its molecular-pattern enhancer would pick up even the smallest crack."
"The damn thing doesn't miss much, does it?"

- La Forge and Hannah Bates


"They’ve managed to turn dubious scientific endeavor into dogma."

- Picard


"They’ve given away their humanity with this genetic manipulation. Many of the qualities that they breed out – the uncertainty, self-discovery, the unknown – these are many of the qualities that make life worth living. I wouldn’t want to live my life knowing that my future was written, that my boundaries had been already set."

- Picard on genetic engineering

[edit] Background Information

[edit] Video and DVD releases

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Guest Stars

[edit] Uncredited Co-Stars

[edit] References

administrator; artificial biosphere; asteroid; asylum; blindness; Chopin; colony; conception; DNA; defensive shield; dogma; earthquake; egg; emitter array; engineering team; eugenics; genetic engineering; geneticist; Genome colony; governor; graviton generator; hertz; Humpty Dumpty; laborer; matter-antimatter warp reaction system; matter-energy transport; microscopic lifeform; Moab IV; Moab system; molecular pattern enhancer; moon; neutron star; nursery rhyme; plant; plasma; poet; poetry; positronic scan; Prime Directive; procreation; Richter magnitude scale; scientist; shield generator; stellar core fragment; subspace relay; suicide; terahertz; terawatt; theoretical physics; toxicity; tractor beam; tractor beam generator; transphasic tractor beam; VISOR; visual cortex;


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