Star Trek: The Next Generation

Work Title: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Medium: TV Episode
Episode Title: Manhunt
Year: 1989
Writer(s): Terry Devereaux
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

(copied from http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/episode/68396.html) While transporting delegates to a special Federation conference on Pacifica, the U.S.S. Enterprise picks up two representatives from the newly discovered planet of Antede III. Unaccustomed to space flight, the aliens arrive on the ship in a self-induced coma to deal with the trauma of their voyage. En route to the conference, Picard and the crew are taken aback by the unexpected arrival of Lwaxana Troi, who also happens to be on her way to the meeting on Pacifica. Upon finding himself the object of Mrs. Troi's passions, Picard turns to Counselor Troi for advice. She explains that her mother is at "the phase," a mid-life period when a Betazoid woman's sex drive increases tenfold! Reluctant to reject Mrs. Troi's amorous advances, Picard decides to seek refuge from her in the holodeck. As a result, she redirects her search for a mate to the other men on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Her "manhunt" ends on the Bridge when Mrs. Troi eyes Riker and announces to the crew that the two will soon be wed. Meanwhile, when Dr. Pulaski reports that the Antedians are regaining consciousness, Riker enters the holodeck to inform Picard of the delegates' condition. He is followed by Lwaxana, who loses interest in both him and Picard after meeting Rex, the charming bartender in a Holodeck-created 1940s bar. To her chagrin, she later finds out that her dream man is only an illusion. Returning to reality, Picard and Riker discover that the Antedians have fully awakened. They also learn, via Mrs. Troi's telepathic powers, that the Antedians are not delegates, but assassins sent to blow up the conference site using explosives hidden in the lining of their ceremonial robes. While the Antedians are taken into protective custody, Picard thanks Mrs. Troi for saving the lives of the crew and assuring that the conference will proceed without incident. As Mrs. Troi prepares to beam down to Pacifica, she gives the captain one last playful reproach for his "lustful" thoughts as she dematerializes.

Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

All action (and people's lives, etc.) takes place aboard the spaceship.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: The Holodeck
  • Description of the technology: A crew member programs the Holodeck via voice commands, specifying the parameters of a certain environment by the year, location, etc. In this case, Captain Picard specifies the setting of a series of detective novels set in 1940s San Francisco. The computer takes a few moments to complete the program, then the crew member steps into the Holodeck and the created environment. At any point, the user may pause the action by asking the computer to freeze the program.
  • Nature of task or activity: Captain Picard uses the Holodeck for leisure and relaxation, and in this episode to hide from Lwaxana Troi.
  • Performance of the Technology: It functions well, although Picard freezes the program several times when the situations become too violent. When he asks the computer why the environment can't be more relaxing and ambient, the computer responds that it is working within the confines of the detective fiction he specified.
  • Description of creator(s): The creators of the Holodeck are never addressed specifically in the series.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): For the crew's leisure purposes aboard the starship.
  • Description of users of technology: Captain Picard is a Starfleet commander. Lwaxana Troi is a high-ranking dignitary. Both appear to be in their 50s.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
  • Description of presence experience: Captain Picard enjoys acting out the role of a favorite detective character. When she follows Riker and Data into the Holodeck to find Picard, Lwaxana Troi is smitten by the bartender in the created environment.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: Captain Picard and the other crew members are aware that the environment isn't real; Picard pauses the program and specifies new parameters several times. Lwaxana does not seem to understand what the Holodeck is or that she's interacting with an artificial social presence.
  • Valence of experience: Picard enjoys himself but feels threatened several times when various tough guys walk into the detective's office with guns pointed at him. Lwaxana is intrigued by the bartender, and confused by the fact that she, a telepath, cannot read his thoughts as she can with others.
  • Specific responses: Picard gets scared and practically jumps under the desk when he is threatened by the gun-wielding thugs. Lwaxana, whose sex drive is already heightened, gets turned on by the bartender and decides to marry him then and there.
Long-term consequences:

Lwaxana is disappointed when she finds out the man is a figment of the Holodeck, but feels somewhat reassured that her telepathic powers were not at fault for not being able to read his thoughts.

Other:

Coder name: Tina Peterson
Coder email: tina.peterson@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University