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(→‎Story and production: own section for the music. + image of the music sheet)
 
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<!-- See [[Memory Alpha:Episode data project]] -->
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|<!-- See [[Memory Alpha:Projects/Episode data project]] -->
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| aSelf = Birthright, Part II
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|image = Carraya IV surface.jpg
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| sTitle = Birthright, Part II
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|writer = [[René Echevarria]]
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| sSeries = TNG
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|director = [[Dan Curry]]
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| nSeason = 6
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|date = 46579.2 ([[2369]])
  +
|<!-- Arcs -->
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| nEpisode = 17
  
  ⚫
|arc = Birthright
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|sProductionSerialNumber = 40276-243
  
  ⚫
|arc prev = Birthright, Part I (episode)
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| nAirdateYear = 1993
  
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|arc number = 2
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| sAirdateMonth = March
  
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| nAirdateDay = 1
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|arc count = 2
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| sImage = Carraya IV surface.jpg
  
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| wsWrittenBy = [[René Echevarria]]
  
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| wsTeleplayBy =
 
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| wsStoryBy =
 
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| wsDirectedBy = [[Dan Curry]]
  
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| nNthProducedInSeries = 142
  
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| nNthReleasedInSeries = 142
  
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| nNthReleasedInAll = 258
  
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| bFeatureLength = 0
  
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| nSerialAirdate = 19930301
  
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| wsDate = 46579.2 ([[2369]])
  
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| aNextReleasedInAll = Move Along Home (episode)
  
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| aPrevReleasedInAll = Birthright, Part I (episode)
  
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| aNextReleasedInSeries = Starship Mine (episode)
  
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| aPrevReleasedInSeries = Birthright, Part I (episode)
  
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| aNextProducedInSeries = Starship Mine (episode)
  
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| aPrevProducedInSeries = Birthright, Part I (episode)
  
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|aNextInUniverseTimeline = Starship Mine (episode)
  
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|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = Birthright, Part I (episode)
  
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| wsArc0Desc = Birthright
  
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| aArc0PrevPart = Birthright, Part I (episode)
  
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| aArc0NextPart =
 
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| nArc0PartNumber = 2
  
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| nArc0PartCount = 2
  
 
}}
  
}}
 
In the Romulan prison camp, Worf teaches the Klingon children about their culture.
  
In the Romulan prison camp, Worf teaches the Klingon children about their culture.
   
 
== Summary ==
  
== Summary ==
  +
=== Teaser ===
−
{{pna-unformatted}}
  
−
When [[Worf]] is captured, he is told he will have to stay here. He learns the story of the [[Klingon]]s who were captured from [[L'Kor]]. They were knocked unconscious, and when they awoke in the prison camp, they failed to starve themselves. After being interrogated, the [[Romulan]]s tried to trade them for territory. The [[Klingon Empire]] refused to believe in their existence. When [[Tokath]], the Romulan officer who captured them, offered to let them go, they did not wish to return and [[dishonor]] their families. He took pity on them, and built this prison camp. Their own honor gone, they had nothing to lose by staying prisoners.
 +
After [[Worf]] is captured by the [[Romulan]]s, he is told he will have to stay at the camp. He learns from [[L'Kor]] and [[Gi'ral]] the story of the [[Klingon]]s who were captured. Their [[deflector shield]]s were taken out and they were knocked unconscious due to the explosions on a Klingon outpost during the [[Khitomer Massacre]]. When they awoke in the [[prison camp]], they failed to kill themselves through starvation. After interrogation, the Romulans tried to trade them for territory, but the [[Klingon Empire]] refused to accept that their warriors would have allowed themselves to be captured. When [[Tokath]], the Romulan officer who captured them, offered to let them go, they did not wish to return and bring [[dishonor]] on their families. He took pity on them and built the prison camp. Their own honor gone, the Klingons had nothing left to lose by staying prisoners. L'Kor asks Worf why he came, noting that if he had found his father, he would have found only dishonor. Worf tells him that he would be glad to see him; he states that there is no room in his heart for shame. L'Kor says that if his son had found him here, he hopes he would be Klingon ''enough'' to kill him.
   
  +
=== Act One ===
−
Worf uses his time to observe their children whom they have raised here. Many of them are unaware of their heritage, for example, using a [[gin'tak spear]] for tilling soil (literally making their swords into plowshares, and not very effectively). When he asks them, they tell him the war is far away, and they are safe here. That is why their parents came here; to escape the fighting. They seem to have no interest in the outside world. When Worf hears this from [[Ba'el]], he suggests she tell her father she wants to visit the homeworld, and see what he says. He tries to reassure her that the war is over, but before he gets very far, her mother, [[Gi'ral]], calls her home. It is clear that she does not want her daughter to speak with Worf.
 +
Worf observes the Klingon children who live in the camp. Many of them are oblivious of their heritage, for example, a young male Klingon named [[Toq]] uses a [[gin'tak spear]] for tilling soil. When he asks [[Ba'el]], she tells him the war is far away, and they are safe here. That is why their parents came here; to escape the fighting and find a safe place to raise their children. She seems to have no interest in the outside world or what goes on in it. Worf suggests she tell her father she wants to visit the [[Qo'noS|the Homeworld]] and see what he says. He tries to reassure her that the war is over, and that The Homeworld is far safer than she has been taught, but her mother, [[Gi'ral]], calls her home. It is clear that she does not want her daughter to speak with Worf.
   
−
Worf's homing device goes off shortly thereafter and he manages to escape over the wall. However, one of the Romulans sees him and pursues him. When Worf thinks he has outwitted them, and arrives at the ship, [[Toq]] tackles him. When Worf is about to injure him, he is surprised to see it is Toq and, during this pause, the Romulans catch up with him.
 +
Worf's homing device goes off shortly thereafter. He retreats to his room and deactivates it. Shortly after, Tokath visits his quarters and tells Worf that he has a Klingon wife, then Worf attempts to escape. He manages to create a [[bomb]] from scavenged parts found in a panel in his quarters, and detonates it as a distraction as he scales the wall. However, one of the Romulan guards sees him escaping and begins pursuit. When Worf thinks he has outwitted them, and arrives at [[Jaglom Shrek|Shrek]]'s ship, Toq tackles him. When Worf is about to strike him, he is surprised to see it is Toq and, during this pause, the Romulans recapture him while Shrek hastily departs in his ship.
   
  +
=== Act Two ===
−
:"''[[Captain]]'s [[Log]],[[stardate]] 46579.2. The [[Yridian]] vessel Worf boarded at [[Deep Space 9]] has failed to arrive for our scheduled rendezvous. It is now twelve hours overdue.''"
 +
:"''[[Captain's log]], [[Stardate]] 46579.2. The {{dis|Yridian vessel|24th century}} Lieutenant Worf boarded at [[Deep Space 9]] has failed to arrive for our scheduled rendezvous. It is now twelve hours overdue.''"
   
  +
[[File:Data, Riker, and Picard begin a search for Worf.jpg|thumb|"''Still no sign of them on long range scanners.''"<br />"''Contact [[Deep Space 9|DS9]]. Find out what they know about this [[Yridian]] trader.''"]]
−
As Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard| Picard]] begins to investigate the Yridian to find Worf's whereabouts, Worf has a tracking device implanted. Toq is instructed to guard him and make sure he does not cause trouble.
  
  +
Aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}}, the Yridian vessel cannot be found on long range scanners; the only hope of finding Worf is to contact DS9 and retrieve the ship's flight plan. Riker hopes the station has it and Picard notes that it may be the only chance they have in locating Worf. Meanwhile, Worf has a tracking device implanted under his skin: Tokath allows L'Kor to deal with Worf but warns that "''If he becomes a disruption, I will not be so tolerant.''". Toq is instructed to guard him and make sure he does not cause further trouble.
   
−
The first thing Worf does, since he feels restless, is ''[[mok'bara]]'' practice. When Ba'el asks, he explains it to her. She soon wishes to try and he begins to teach her. When Toq objects and places his hands on Worf's shoulder, Worf carefully but forcefully flips him to the ground. "''These forms are the basis for Klingon combat''", he explains. Toq leaves to tell L'Kor about this.
 +
Restless, Worf practices ''[[mok'bara]]'' in the courtyard in front of the Klingon youths. When Ba'el is confused by the ''mok'bara'', he begins to explain the techniques to her. When other Klingons, including Ba'el, copy him, Toq objects and places his hands on Worf's shoulder. Worf carefully but forcefully flips him to the ground. "''These forms are the basis for Klingon combat''", he explains. He offers to instruct Toq in Klingon combat techniques, but Toq leaves to tell L'Kor about Worf's behavior.
   
−
Meanwhile, when her mother is out, Ba'el sneaks inside her home and shows Worf several Klingon objects, which have been in disuse and have tarnished. She tells him she is not supposed to look at these things. He identifies them all, including a ''[[jinaq]]'', a necklace given to a daughter who is old enough to take a mate.
 +
Meanwhile, when her mother is out, Ba'el sneaks inside her home and shows Worf several Klingon objects in a case, disused and tarnished, such as a ''[[d'k tahg]]'' [[knife]] with a rusted blade. She tells him she is not supposed to look at these things. He identifies them to her, including a ''[[jinaq]]'', a necklace given to a daughter who has come of age, old enough to take a mate.
   
 
Just then, her mother enters. She tells Ba'el these things are not needed here and commands Worf to leave. He does, satisfied that her daughter's doubt is well-planted.
  
Just then, her mother enters. She tells Ba'el these things are not needed here and commands Worf to leave. He does, satisfied that her daughter's doubt is well-planted.
   
−
Later that night, Worf tells all of the children the ancient stories. Toq claims that these stories were impossible, that Worf was making it up. Worf explains these are Klingon legends, and they tell us who we are; it is not made up. L'Kor tells them it is time to sleep and the group disbands.
 +
Later that night, Worf tells the children around a [[fire]] the ancient story of [[Kahless the Unforgettable]]. Toq claims that these stories were impossible, that Worf was making it up. Worf explains these are Klingon legends, and they tell us "''who we are''"; it is not made up. L'Kor interrupts, telling them it is time to sleep, and the group disbands.
   
−
Ba'el asks Worf, later, if the stories are true. He says he finds new truths in them every day. She then asks if [[Kahless]] ever took a mate, obviously asking a different question. When Worf moves to kiss her, he brushes back her hair to find a point on her ears. He reacts instantly, backing off in surprise, shocked that Ba'el is a Romulan. Worf is indignant; the Romulans are without honor, he growls. She defends her father, saying he is kind, generous, and settled here to escape the wars like her mother did. Worf should not begrudge the fact they love each other. He tries to ask her mother about it but she angrily walks away.
 +
Ba'el asks Worf, later, if the stories are true. He says he finds new truths in them every day. She then asks if Kahless ever took a mate, obviously asking a different question. When Worf moves to [[kiss]] her, he brushes back her hair to find a [[pointed-ear]]. He reacts instantly, backing off in surprise, shocked that Ba'el is part Romulan.
   
  +
=== Act Three ===
⚫
Meanwhile, on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, [[Geordi La Forge]] examines the Yridian's [[flight plan]]. He identifies two systems close to Romulan space so Captain Picard tells him to head for the closest one.
  
  +
[[File:Tokath and Gi'ral.jpg|thumb|Tokath and Gi'ral, Ba'el's parents]]
  +
Worf is indignant; the Romulans are without honor, he growls. She defends her father, saying he is kind, generous, and settled here to escape the wars like her mother did. He tells Ba'el to ask her mother about it, but she angrily walks away.
   
  ⚫
Meanwhile, the ''Enterprise'' receives the Yridian's [[flight plan]] from DS9 and [[Geordi La Forge]] is examining it. He identifies two systems close to Romulan space: [[Nequencia Alpha system|Nequencia]] and [[Carraya system|Carraya]], so Picard tells him to head for the closest one, which is Carraya.
⚫
Worf, in the morning, tries to make amends with Ba'el. He apologizes, saying he was surprised, but it is clear he still holds her father in contempt. She demands that he accept her for who she is and leave the hate behind. He isn't sure if he can do that.
  
   
  ⚫
Worf attempts to make amends with Ba'el. He apologizes, saying he was surprised, but it is clear he still holds her father in contempt. She demands that he accept her for who she is and leave the hatred behind. He is unsure if he can do that. She storms off, angry.
⚫
When he leaves, he sees the other children, including Toq, playing a game. A line of short [[spear]]s are set up, a row of spears, [[Qa'vak]]s, resting on top of several pairs and a large hoop is rolled between them. The object appears to be to knock off all the spears resting on the others. Worf, however, when the hoop is rolled, throws one of the spears through the middle of the hoop as it is rolling.
  
   
  ⚫
When he leaves, he sees the other children, including Toq, playing a game. A line of short [[spear]]s are set up, a row of spears, [[Qa'vak]]s, resting on top of several pairs and a large hoop is rolled between them. The object appears to be to knock off all the spears resting on the others. However, when the hoop is rolled, Worf throws one of the spears through the middle of the hoop as it is rolling.
⚫
Worf explains that these spears are used in The Hunt, a ritual which tells Klingons where they came from. He sighs, and says perhaps Toq is too young to master the skill. Toq cannot resist this challenge. His first throw is strong, but inaccurate. Worf suggests Toq aim along his arm, and that works. Worf suggests they go on the ritual hunt, and Toq agrees, but protests that Worf is not allowed to leave the compound.
  
   
  ⚫
Worf explains that these spears are used in The Hunt, a ritual which tells Klingons where they came from. He sighs and says perhaps Toq is too young to master the skill. Toq cannot resist this challenge. His first throw is strong, but inaccurate. Worf suggests Toq aim along his arm, which works. Worf suggests they go on the ritual hunt, and Toq agrees, but protests that Worf is not allowed to leave the compound.
⚫
Worf talks to Tokath who considers the idea ludicrous. Worf protests that he cannot just sit in the compound and offers his word that he will not try to escape. Tokath does not care, but L'Kor points out that Worf gave Tokath his word, and that he has never broken it. He should be set free. Tokath says that L'Kor will be the one who is taking the risk. L'Kor allows them to go, but tells Toq to take a weapon and kill Worf if he tries to escape.
  
   
  ⚫
Worf talks to Tokath and L'Kor, who considers the idea ludicrous. Worf protests that he cannot just sit idly in the compound like an old man. Worf tells L'Kor and Tokath that he needs to practice his hunting skills and offers his word that he will not try to escape, which fails to convince Tokath. L'Kor points out that Worf gave them his word as a warrior, as L'Kor did [[2346|23 years ago]], promising never to leave the camp: thus Worf should be trusted. Tokath says that L'Kor will be the one who is taking the risk. L'Kor allows them to go but tells Toq to take a weapon and to kill Worf if he tries to escape.
⚫
Toq is amazed by the ritual hunt, able to smell the prey, and feels more alive than he has ever before. He was never taught this, he said. Worf tells him it is the first of many things he was never taught.
  
   
  +
=== Act Four ===
⚫
When Toq and Worf return, Toq has a dead creature in his arms, which he triumphantly drops at the head table before L'Kor. Tokath orders him to get that off his table. Toq boldly states that he will get rid of it, but not until it's been cooked. Toq then triumphantly explains that the Klingons here have forgotten themselves, and sings a song of victory. All of the Klingons, including L'Kor and Ba'el, slowly join in, as the feeling builds in the room. Tokath stares at Worf, and knows he has to deal with him.
  
  ⚫
Worf has found prey, with Toq just behind him. Upon learning to smell the prey, Toq is amazed, feeling more alive than he ever has before. He claims he was never taught anything of being a warrior, Worf tells him there is much that he was never taught.
   
  ⚫
When Toq and Worf return to the others at dinner, Toq has clearly embraced his heritage, now. He has a dead creature in his arms, which he triumphantly drops at the head table before L'Kor and Tokath. Tokath orders him to get that off his table, but Toq boldly states that he will get rid of it, but not until it's been cooked. Toq then triumphantly explains that the Klingons here have forgotten themselves and sings a song the young Klingons knew only as a lullaby, as a victory chant. All of the Klingons, including L'Kor and Ba'el, slowly join in, much to Tokath's dismay. Tokath stares at Worf, and knows he has to deal with him.
⚫
He later takes Worf aside and tells him that he has given up his career to create something wonderful and unique &ndash; a place where Romulans and Klingons live together in peace &ndash; and Worf is about to destroy all that. Worf argues that they live in harmony, because they have never learned what it is to be powerful. Otherwise, they would leave. Tokath considers the argument futile and instead offers Worf an ultimatum: live here and don't cause any more trouble, or be put to death. Worf chooses death. That death, he says will show the young people the last thing he wants them to see: what it is to die as a Klingon.
  
   
  +
=== Act Five ===
⚫
Ba'el cannot stand the idea. She wants Worf to escape. She believes her father was wrong, that Worf doesn't deserve to die. Worf refuses. "''They will kill me''", he says, "''but they will not defeat me.''" She wants to know if he loves her, despite everything. He says he does, and he didn't think it possible. If he could leave with her, he would, but he can't.
  
  ⚫
Tokath later takes Worf aside and tells him that he has given up his career to create something wonderful and unique; a place where Romulans and Klingons live together in peace; and Worf is about to destroy all that. Worf argues that they live in harmony, because they have never learned what it is to be powerful. Otherwise, they would leave. Tokath considers the argument futile and instead offers Worf an [[ultimatum]]: live here and don't cause any more trouble, or be put to death. Worf chooses death. That honorable death, he says, will show the young people what it is to die truly as a Klingon.
   
  ⚫
Ba'el urges Worf to attempt escape, offering to remove the tracking device, but he will not run. She believes her father was wrong, that Worf doesn't deserve to die. Worf refuses. "''They will kill me''", he says, "''but they will not defeat me.''" She wants to know if he loves her, despite everything. He says he does, and he didn't think it possible. If he could leave with her, he would, but they can't.
⚫
The next day, when Worf stands against the wall, staring at the firing squad, Tokath gives a short speech about how he has agonized over this decision but has concluded that this is absolutely necessary. He cannot allow Worf to destroy what everyone else has built. Worf, with his final words, explains the truth: he has brought something "dangerous" to the children, knowledge of their origins and the reasons they are here.
  
   
  ⚫
The next day, when Worf stands against the wall, staring at the firing squad, Tokath gives a short speech about how he has agonized all night over this decision, but has concluded that this is absolutely necessary: He cannot allow Worf to destroy what everyone else has built. Worf, with his final words, explains the truth: he has brought something "dangerous" to the children, knowledge of their origins and the real reasons why they are here.
⚫
As the two Romulans are about to fire, Toq appears, in a full suit of warrior's armor with a gin'tak spear. If they kill Worf, he says, then they will have to kill him. He, too, would rather die than accept this way of life. There are many others, who Tokath will have to kill to keep the community here.
  
   
  ⚫
As the two Romulans are about to fire, Toq appears, in a full suit of warrior's armor with a ''gin'tak'' spear. To kill Worf, he says, they will have to kill him as well, for he would also rather die than accept this way of life &ndash; and there are many others who Tokath will have to kill to keep the community here.
⚫
When Toq does not move, L'Kor stands by them. One by one, a dozen others also come beside and behind them, including Ba'el. Gi'ral has him call it off. The hope was to avoid dishonoring their children back on the homeworld, she says, but they have lost sight of the children they have raised on this planet. They should be set free if they wish to go.
  
   
  ⚫
When Toq does not move, L'Kor stands by them. One by one, a dozen others also come beside and behind them, including Ba'el. Gi'ral has him call it off. They avoided dishonoring their children back on the homeworld, she says, but they have lost sight of the children they have raised on this planet. They should be set free if they wish to go.
⚫
Worf explains to them that their parents are making a great sacrifice. The children must honor them and promise them not to reveal their secret.
  
   
  ⚫
Worf accepts her compromise and explains to the children that their parents are now making yet another great sacrifice, and that to honor their parents, the children must never reveal their secret.
⚫
:"''Captain's log supplemental. Our search for Lieutenant Worf was cut short when we received a cryptic message from him requesting a rendezvous with a Romulan vessel. He has informed us we will be taking on passengers.''"
  
   
  +
Ba'el stays behind.
⚫
When Picard asks Worf if he found what he was looking for, Worf answers no, there was no prison camp. The young people, he says, are survivors from a vessel that crashed several years ago. With a knowing look, the captain says he understands.
  
   
  ⚫
:"''Captain's log, supplemental. Our search for Lieutenant Worf was cut short when we received a cryptic message from him requesting a rendezvous with a Romulan vessel. He has informed us we will be taking on passengers.''"
⚫
== Memorable Quotes ==
  
  +
  ⚫
In the [[transporter room]], Worf and Toq are the last passengers beamed aboard. [[Doctor]] [[Beverly Crusher]] takes Toq away to [[sickbay]] for a thorough examination that they are giving to all of the passengers who have come aboard. After they leave, Picard asks Worf if he found what he was looking for, Worf answers no, there was no prison camp. The young people, he claims, are survivors from a vessel that crashed in the Carraya system four years ago. With a knowing look, the captain says he understands.
  +
  +
=== Log entries ===
  +
* [[Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2369#Search for Worf|Captain's log, USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D), 2369]]
  +
  ⚫
== Memorable quotes ==
 
"''I can only hope that if my son came here, he would be Klingon enough to kill me.''"
  
"''I can only hope that if my son came here, he would be Klingon enough to kill me.''"
 
: - '''L'Kor'''
  
: - '''L'Kor'''
Line 121: Line 111:
 
"''You do not kill an animal unless you intend to eat it.''"<br />
  
"''You do not kill an animal unless you intend to eat it.''"<br />
 
"''Get rid of it!''"<br />
  
"''Get rid of it!''"<br />
−
"''I intend to, Tokath...but not until it's ''cooked''!''"
 +
"''I intend to, Tokath&hellip; but not until it's ''cooked''!''"
−
:- '''Toq''', bringing home a kill and '''Tokath'''
 +
:- '''Toq''', bringing home a kill, and '''Tokath'''
  +
  +
  +
"''I will NOT run away!''"<br />
  +
"''But they will kill you.''"<br />
  +
"''Yes. But they will not DEFEAT me.''"
  +
: - '''Worf''' and '''Ba'el'''
   
   
Line 140: Line 136:
 
:- '''Worf''' and '''Picard'''
  
:- '''Worf''' and '''Picard'''
   
−
== Background Information ==
 +
== Background information ==
−
=== Story and production ===
 +
=== Production history ===
  +
* Filmed: {{d|6|January|1993}} &ndash; [[15 January]] 1993
⚫
[[File:Romulan prison camp maquette.jpg|thumb|The Romulan prison camp maquette]]
  
  +
* Premiere airdate: {{d|1|March|1993}}
⚫
[[File:Carraya IV airial view.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the finished composite]]
  
  ⚫
* First UK airdate: {{d|1|November|1995}}
  +
  +
=== Story and script ===
  +
* [[René Echevarria]] remembered, "''It was very personal, somehow. My parents were immigrants from Cuba, and all of the issues that came up in the episode &ndash; about assimilation and how do you keep your heritage &ndash; is something I grew up with.''" (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation 365]]'', p. 297)
  ⚫
* [[Michael Piller]] saw this episode as a chance for the character of Worf to re-affirm his Klingon nature. "''I had just seen {{wt|Malcolm X (film)|Malcolm X}}, and I said Worf is the guy who's saying 'You're black and you should be proud to be black.' That's where I started from with the character standpoint, but when you get into it and you realize there is something good in this society and that he'll lose this woman he's in love with when he can't shake his own prejudice, it's a price he has to pay for his character and his code&hellip; I think it's wonderful when people act in heroic ways that turn back on them.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 274)
  +
  +
=== Production ===
 
* "Birthright, Part II" was filmed between Wednesday {{d|6|January|1993}} and Friday {{d|15|January|1993}} on [[Paramount Stage 8]], [[Paramount Stage 9|9]], and [[Paramount Stage 16|16]]. It was the first episode of TNG filmed in {{y|1993}}.
  
* "Birthright, Part II" was filmed between Wednesday {{d|6|January|1993}} and Friday {{d|15|January|1993}} on [[Paramount Stage 8]], [[Paramount Stage 9|9]], and [[Paramount Stage 16|16]]. It was the first episode of TNG filmed in {{y|1993}}.
  ⚫
* Although [[James Cromwell]] ([[Jaglom Shrek]]) appears in this episode, he has no lines. This was, in part, due to Cromwell breaking his leg in the period between filming the two parts of the episode, which entailed cutting most of his lines. A sympathetic scene in which Shrek confesses he was once a prison inmate himself was lost, as was a scene in which he would have been assassinated by one of the Klingons' grown sons who was determined not to hear the truth about his father. ({{tngc|2|239}})
⚫
* [[Michael Piller]] saw this episode as a chance for the character of Worf to re-affirm his Klingon nature. "''I had just seen {{wt|Malcolm X (film)|Malcolm X}}, and I said Worf is the guy who's saying 'You're black and you should be proud to be black.' That's where I started from with the character standpoint, but when you get into it and you realize there is something good in this society and that he'll lose this woman he's in love with when he can't shake his own prejudice, it's a price he has to pay for his character and his code...I think it's wonderful when people act in heroic ways that turn back on them.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
  
  +
* René Echevarria elaborated, "''One idea was that Worf was going to see [Shrek] had some tattoo of having been a prisoner and Shrek was going to talk about being a prisoner and that his government let him rot and it took his family to come and risk their lives to free him. He says he knows how governments can be and doesn't trust them. 'You think I do this for money, but I actually do it because I know what it's like,' Shrek tells Worf.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 274)
⚫
* Although [[James Cromwell]] ([[Jaglom Shrek]]) appears in this episode, he has no lines. This was, in part, due to Cromwell breaking his leg in the period between filming the two parts of the episode, which entailed cutting most of his lines. A sympathetic scene in which Shrek confesses he was once a prison inmate himself was lost, as was a scene in which he would have been assassinated by one of the Klingons' grown sons who was determined not to hear the truth about his father. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'')
  
−
* Due to time, several other scenes were also cut, including one further developing the relationship between Worf and Ba'el, as well as a confrontation between Worf and Gi'ral in which the latter stands up to Worf regarding her marriage to a Romulan. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'')
 +
* Due to time, several other scenes were also cut, including one further developing the relationship between Worf and Ba'el, as well as a confrontation between Worf and Gi'ral in which the latter stands up to Worf regarding her marriage to a Romulan. ({{tngc|2|239}})
 
* This was the first and only ''Star Trek'' episode directed by [[Dan Curry]].
  
* This was the first and only ''Star Trek'' episode directed by [[Dan Curry]].
  ⚫
[[File:Romulan prison camp maquette.jpg|thumb|The Romulan prison camp maquette]]
⚫
* Exterior shots of the Romulan fortress were created by Curry who inserted shots of a miniature into jungle photographs he had taken in Laos in the 1960s. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'') The miniature was a building [[studio model#Maquette|maquette]], measuring 34&times;48 inches, made out of balsa wood, art card, plastic [[model]] parts and lichen trees on a foam board base. [[Mike Okuda]] recalled, "''That was a secret Romulan prison compound built for “Birthright, Part I” (TNG). Dan Curry directed that episode, and he asked us to make a model based on the sets [[Richard James]] created for that episode. I asked [[Alan Kobayashi]] to spearhead that project, and all of us in the TNG art department lent a hand in odd moments. The model was simply made, using fomecore, balsa strips, a few Plastruct parts, some model greeblies, plus lichen trees from a hobby store. [[Rick Sternbach]] helped enormously by painting it to apply an appropriate amount of aging and weathering. Dan photographed the model, then put it into a photograph of the jungle in Thailand that he took years ago, when he was in the Peace Corps. The result was a great [[matte painting]] that showed the isolation of the prison camp that lent a lot of scope to the episode. Later, Dan’s painting was modified for an episode of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|DS9]]'', and it may have been used another time as well.''" {{DrexFiles|2009/03/21/romulan-prison-birthright-tng/}} Okuda was not wrong in his last assessment, it was first reused as a [[Faren Kag]]'s [[village]] on [[Bajor]] in the episode {{e|The Storyteller}}, and subsequently, slightly modified, likewise used in that series episode {{e|Meridian}}. The first of its kind to be constructed since the [[TNG Season 1|first season]] [[Mordan IV#Mordan IV cityscape maquette|Mordan IV cityscape maquette]], the maquette was retained by the studio, unlike the usually larger miniatures of this type. As {{stala|1778-692|Lot 692}}, the maquette was part of the ''[[40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection]]'' [[Star Trek auctions|auction]], estimated at US$800-$1,200, selling on 7 October 2006 with a winning bid of US $2,200 ($2,640 including buyer's premium)
  
  ⚫
[[File:Carraya IV airial view.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the finished composite]]
⚫
* Over the December holiday break, all the live plants and trees in the jungle and garden sets were accidentally left on the dark sound stages, and had to be replaced. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'')
  
  ⚫
* Exterior shots of the Romulan fortress were created by Curry who inserted shots of a miniature into jungle photographs he had taken in Laos in the 1960s. ({{tngc|2|239}}) The miniature was a building [[studio model#Maquette|maquette]], measuring 34&times;48 inches, made out of balsa wood, art card, plastic [[model]] parts and lichen trees on a foam board base. [[Mike Okuda]] recalled, "''That was a secret Romulan prison compound built for "Birthright, Part I" (TNG). Dan Curry directed that episode, and he asked us to make a model based on the sets [[Richard James]] created for that episode. I asked [[Alan Kobayashi]] to spearhead that project, and all of us in the TNG art department lent a hand in odd moments. The model was simply made, using fomecore, balsa strips, a few Plastruct parts, some model greeblies, plus lichen trees from a hobby store. [[Rick Sternbach]] helped enormously by painting it to apply an appropriate amount of aging and weathering. Dan photographed the model, then put it into a photograph of the jungle in Thailand that he took years ago, when he was in the Peace Corps. The result was a great [[matte painting]] that showed the isolation of the prison camp that lent a lot of scope to the episode. Later, Dan's painting was modified for an episode of [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|DS9]], and it may have been used another time as well.''" {{DrexFiles|2009/03/21/romulan-prison-birthright-tng/}} Okuda was not wrong in his last assessment, it was first reused as a [[Faren Kag]]'s [[village]] on [[Bajor]] in the episode {{e|The Storyteller}}, and subsequently, slightly modified, likewise used in that series episode {{e|Meridian}}. The first of its kind to be constructed since the [[TNG Season 1|first season]] [[Mordan IV#Mordan IV cityscape maquette|Mordan IV cityscape maquette]], the maquette was retained by the studio, unlike the usually larger miniatures of this type. As {{stala|1778-692|Lot 692}}, the maquette was part of the ''[[40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection]]'' auction, estimated at US$800-$1,200, selling on 7 October 2006 with a winning bid of US $2,200 ($2,640 including buyer's premium). Prior to auction, Curry's maquette was featured in the [[TNG Season 2 DVD]]-special feature, "Inside the Star Trek Archives".
⚫
* First UK airdate: 1 November 1995
  
  ⚫
* Curry was the person behind the camera who threw the ''gin'tak'' spear instead of [[Michael Dorn]]. ("Departmental Briefing Year Six &ndash; Profile: Dan Curry", [[TNG Season 6 DVD]] special feature)
  ⚫
* Over the December holiday break, all the live plants and trees in the jungle and garden sets were accidentally left on the dark sound stages, and had to be replaced. ({{tngc|2|239}})
  ⚫
* When La Forge, Picard, and Riker are viewing Jaglom Shrek's flight plans, one of the planets shown on the screen is called Echevarria, a reference to this episode's writer René Echevarria.
  ⚫
* Among the costumes and props from this episode which were sold off on the [[It's A Wrap! sale and auction]] on eBay, was the costume of [[Jennifer Gatti]]. {{stala|9600}}
  +
  +
=== Cast and characters ===
  ⚫
* Aside from the opening recap of the preceding episode, [[Marina Sirtis]] ([[Deanna Troi]]) [[TNG regular cast non-appearances|does not appear]] in this episode. Troi did appear in a brief scene on the bridge, but the [[deleted scene|scene was deleted]] and can be seen on the [[TNG Season 6 Blu-ray]].
  +
* Though he featured prominently in Part 1, [[Data]] appears only briefly in Part 2 and has no lines.
   
 
=== Music ===
  
=== Music ===
 
[[File:Klingon aria music sheet.jpg|thumb|The music sheet for the Klingon aria]]
  
[[File:Klingon aria music sheet.jpg|thumb|The music sheet for the Klingon aria]]
−
* Music for this episode was composed by [[Jay Chattaway]]. The Klingon aria was also composed by Chattaway with lyrics by [[Brannon Braga]]. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'')
 +
* Music for this episode was composed by [[Jay Chattaway]].
  +
* Dan Curry provided Chattaway with several instruments he had obtained from Laos, including mouth organs known as {{w|khene}}s, which the composer then sampled and incorporated into the score. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation 365]]'', p. 298)
  +
* The Klingon aria was also composed by Chattaway with lyrics by [[Brannon Braga]]. Co-producer [[Wendy Neuss]] recalled, "''We did a Klingon rap version of it too.''" ({{tngc|2|239}})
 
* {{audio|file=Klingon lullaby.ogg|text=Listen to the Klingon war song}}
  
* {{audio|file=Klingon lullaby.ogg|text=Listen to the Klingon war song}}
   
 
=== Reception ===
  
=== Reception ===
  +
* Michael Dorn enjoyed the episode. "''I thought it was great. It also showed that this is like a bottomless well. It will never go dry. The Klingon story will just go on and on.''" He also commented, "''I am glad Dan did it because I've always liked him. He's a very interesting guy and very patient. We have a rapport and he was just wonderful to work for.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 274)
−
* Writer [[René Echevarria]] commented that so much effort had gone into making the Klingons and Romulans sympathetic here that many fans complained that Worf came off as a fascist racist who ruined a peaceful place. "''His motives are in fact racist, when he's dealing with Romulans. But his actions are different; all he said was these people should know the truth and be free to leave. He never advocated violence and bloodshed.''" (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'')
 +
* René Echevarria commented that so much effort had gone into making the Klingons and Romulans sympathetic here that many fans complained that Worf came off as a fascist racist who ruined a peaceful place. "''His motives are in fact racist, when he's dealing with Romulans. But his actions are different; all he said was these people should know the truth and be free to leave. He never advocated violence and bloodshed.''" ({{tngc|2|239}})
−
* Michael Piller commented, "''I thought there was a wonderful ''{{w|The Bridge on the River Kwai|Bridge Over the River Kwai}}''-type story where you had a fundamentally charged relationship between a Romulan camp leader and Worf and this very interesting love affair where Worf had to reexamine his whole attitude towards the Romulans again. It is always interesting to me whenever you can look at prejudice. I think the script turned out pretty well, the show just did not have quite the power I had hoped it would have. I don't really know why.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
 +
* Michael Piller commented, "''I thought there was a wonderful {{wt|The Bridge on the River Kwai|Bridge Over the River Kwai}}-type story where you had a fundamentally charged relationship between a Romulan camp leader and Worf and this very interesting love affair where Worf had to reexamine his whole attitude towards the Romulans again. It is always interesting to me whenever you can look at prejudice. I think the script turned out pretty well, the show just did not have quite the power I had hoped it would have. I don't really know why.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'' p. 274)
   
−
=== Notes ===
 +
===Apocrypha===
  ⚫
*Toq would further appear as [[second officer]] of the IKS ''Gorkon'' in the {{novel}} ''[[Diplomatic Implausibility]]'', the first book of what later became the non-[[canon]] series of novels about that ship by [[Keith R.A. DeCandido]]. In the [[Star Trek: IKS Gorkon|IKS ''Gorkon'']] novel ''[[Honor Bound]]'', Toq was promoted to first officer. By [[2381]], Toq was a captain, and commanded the IKS ''Kreltek'', a ''K'vort''-class Bird-of-Prey attached to the Fifth Battle Fleet.
⚫
* Aside from the opening recap of the preceding episode, [[Marina Sirtis]] ([[Deanna Troi]]) [[Main character non-appearances#Star Trek: The Next Generation|does not appear]] in this episode.
  
−
* [[Patrick Stewart]] accidentally switches two digits when reading the stardate in his first [[Captain's Log]] entry, which emerges as 46759 rather than 46579.
  
⚫
* Among the costumes and props from this episode which were sold off on the [[It's A Wrap! sale and auction]] on eBay, was the costume of [[Jennifer Gatti]]. {{stala|9600}}
  
⚫
* When La Forge, Picard and Riker are viewing Jaglom Shrek's flight plans, one of the planets shown on the screen is called Echevarria, a reference to this episode's writer [[René Echevarria]].
  
⚫
* [[Dan Curry]] was the person behind the camera who threw the ''[[gin'tak spear]]'' instead of [[Michael Dorn]]. ("Departmental Briefing Year Six - Profile: Dan Curry", [[TNG Season 6 DVD]] special feature)
  
   
 
=== Video and DVD releases ===
  
=== Video and DVD releases ===
Line 174: Line 184:
 
*As part of the [[TNG Season 6 DVD]] collection
  
*As part of the [[TNG Season 6 DVD]] collection
 
*In feature-length form, as part of the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete TV Movies]]'' collection
  
*In feature-length form, as part of the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete TV Movies]]'' collection
−  
−
===Apocrypha===
  
⚫
*Toq would further appear as [[second officer]] of the IKS ''Gorkon'' in the [[novels|novel]] ''[[Diplomatic Implausibility]]'', the first book of what would later become the non-[[canon]] series of novels about that ship by [[Keith R.A. DeCandido]]. In the [[Star Trek: IKS Gorkon|IKS Gorkon]] novel ''[[Honor Bound]]'', Toq was promoted to First Officer. By 2381, Toq was a Captain, and commanded the IKS ''Kreltek'', a K'vort class Bird of Prey attached to the Fifth Battle Fleet.
  
   
 
== Links and references ==
  
== Links and references ==
 
=== Starring ===
  
=== Starring ===
−
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as [[Captain|Capt.]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
 +
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as [[Capt.]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
−
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Commander|Cmdr.]] [[William T. Riker|William Riker]]
 +
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Cmdr.]] [[William T. Riker|William Riker]]
   
 
=== Also starring ===
  
=== Also starring ===
 
* [[LeVar Burton]] as [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Cmdr.]] [[Geordi La Forge]]
  
* [[LeVar Burton]] as [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Cmdr.]] [[Geordi La Forge]]
 
* [[Michael Dorn]] as [[Lieutenant]] [[Worf]]
  
* [[Michael Dorn]] as [[Lieutenant]] [[Worf]]
−
* [[Gates McFadden]] as [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Beverly Crusher]]
 +
* [[Gates McFadden]] as [[Dr.]] [[Beverly Crusher]]
 
* [[Brent Spiner]] as [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Commander]] [[Data]]
  
* [[Brent Spiner]] as [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Commander]] [[Data]]
   
Line 198: Line 205:
 
* [[Richard Herd]] as [[L'Kor]]
  
* [[Richard Herd]] as [[L'Kor]]
   
−
=== Uncredited co-stars ===
 +
=== Uncredited Co-Stars ===
−
* [[Majel Barrett]] as Narrator
 +
* [[Majel Barrett]] as [[Narrator]]
−
* [[Chris Blackwood (actor)|Chris Blackwood]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* {{dis|Chris Blackwood|actor}} as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 002|Klingon]]
 
* [[Cameron]] as [[Kellogg]]
  
* [[Cameron]] as [[Kellogg]]
−
* [[R. Duncan]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[R. Duncan]] as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 000|Klingon]]
−
* [[Elliot Durant III]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Operations division Ensign|operations division ensign]]
 +
* [[Elliot Durant III]] as [[USS Enterprise-D ops operations 009|operations division ensign]]
−
* [[Inez Edwards]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[Inez Edwards]] as [[Turla]]
  ⚫
* [[Caroline Fortune]] as [[Romulan 24th Carraya IV 004|Romulan]]
−
* [[Christie Haydon]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Flight controller (2369)|command division ensign]]
 +
* [[Christie Haydon]] as [[USS Enterprise-D conn officers command 012|command division ensign]]
⚫
* [[Gary Hunter]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Romulans|Romulan]]
  
−
* [[Kairon John]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[Gary Hunter]] as [[Romulan 24th Carraya IV 001|Romulan]]
−
* [[J. Lee]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[Kairon John]] as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 004|Klingon]]
−
* [[Charles McIntosh]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* {{dis|J. Lee|actor}} as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 000|Klingon]]
−
* [[Ted Parker]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Romulans|Romulan]]
 +
* [[Charles McIntosh]] as [[Ba'ktor]]
−
* [[Kurt Paul]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Romulans|Romulan]]
 +
* [[Ted Parker]] as [[Sentith]]
−
* [[Irving Ross]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[Kurt Paul]] as [[Romulan 24th Carraya IV 002|Romulan]]
−
* [[Toni Taylor]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[Irving Ross]] as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 006|Klingon]]
−
* [[G. Warren]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[Toni Taylor]] as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 003|Klingon]]
−
* [[B. Wirth]] as [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon]]
 +
* [[G. Warren]] as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 000|Klingon]]
  +
* [[B. Wirth]] as [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 000|Klingon]]
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
  
* [[Unknown performers]] as
−
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Bridge officer (mid 2369)|Bridge officer (voice)]]
 +
** [[USS Enterprise-D bridge vo 003|Bridge officer (voice)]]
−
** [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Romulans|Female Romulan]]
 +
** [[Klingon 24th Carraya IV 012|Klingon infant]]
  +
** [[USS Enterprise-D transporter lieutenant 001|Operations division lieutenant jg]]
−
** [[Carraya IV inhabitants#Klingons|Klingon infant]]
  
   
 
=== Stunt doubles ===
  
=== Stunt doubles ===
−
* [[Irving E. Lewis]] as [[stunt double]] for [[Sterling Macer, Jr.]]
 +
* [[Irving Lewis]] as [[stunt double]] for [[Sterling Macer, Jr.]]
 
* [[Rusty McClennon]] as stunt double for [[Michael Dorn]]
  
* [[Rusty McClennon]] as stunt double for [[Michael Dorn]]
   
 
=== Stand-ins ===
  
=== Stand-ins ===
−
* [[David Keith Anderson]] - [[stand-in]] for [[LeVar Burton]] and [[Sterling Macer, Jr.]]
 +
* [[David Keith Anderson]] &ndash; [[stand-in]] for [[LeVar Burton]] and [[Sterling Macer, Jr.]]
−
* [[Carl David Burks]] - stand-in for [[Brent Spiner]]
 +
* [[Debbie David]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Brent Spiner]]
−
* [[Michael Echols]] - stand-in for [[Michael Dorn]]
 +
* [[Michael Echols]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Michael Dorn]]
−
* [[Nora Leonhardt]] - stand-in for [[Cristine Rose]]
 +
* [[Nora Leonhardt]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Cristine Rose]]
−
* [[Lorine Mendell]] - stand-in for [[Gates McFadden]] and [[Jennifer Gatti]]
 +
* [[Lorine Mendell]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Gates McFadden]] and [[Jennifer Gatti]]
−
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] - stand-in for [[Jonathan Frakes]] and [[Alan Scarfe]]
 +
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Jonathan Frakes]] and [[Alan Scarfe]]
−
* [[Dennis Tracy]] - stand-in for [[Patrick Stewart]] and [[Richard Herd]]
 +
* [[Dennis Tracy]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Patrick Stewart]] and [[Richard Herd]]
   
 
=== References ===
  
=== References ===
−
[[Boridium]]; [[Carraya system]]; {{Class|D'deridex}}; [[Deep Space 9]]; [[Deep Space 9 traffic control database]]; ''[[d'k tahg]]''; [[Echevarria system]]; [[flight plan]]; [[gin'tak spear]]; ''[[jinaq]]''; [[Kahless the Unforgettable|Kahless]]; [[Khitomer]]; [[Khitomer Massacre]]; [[Klingon High Council]]; [[lullaby]]; [[Molor]]; [[Mogh]]; [[mok'bara]]; [[Nequencia Alpha system]]; [[Qa'vak]]; [[Romulan High Command]]; [[Romulan supply ship]]; [[Alexander Rozhenko|Rozhenko, Alexander]]; [[spear]]; [[Yridian]]
 +
[[2346]]; [[2350]]; [[2365]]; [[adoptive parent]]; [[blood]]; [[blood enemy]]; [[boridium]]; [[boridium pellet]]; [[breeze]]; [[capture]]; [[career]]; [[Carraya IV]]; [[Carraya system]]; {{dis|compound|structure}}; [[daughter]]; {{class|D'deridex}}; [[Deep Space 9]]; [[Deep Space 9 traffic control database]]; ''[[d'k tahg]]''; [[Echevarria system]]; [[energy signature]]; [[execution]]; [[flight plan]]; [[gin'tak spear]]; [[heart]]; [[hunting]]; [[interrogation]]; [[jailer]]; ''[[jinaq]]''; [[jungle]]; [[Kahless the Unforgettable|Kahless]]; [[Kahless' father 001|Kahless' father]]; [[Khitomer]]; [[Khitomer Massacre]]; [[Khitomer system]]; [[Klingon]]; [[Klingon High Council]]; [[Klingon homeworld]]; [[Klingonese]]; [[L'Kor's son 001|L'Kor's son]]; [[leader]]; [[love]]; [[Lukara]]; [[lullaby]]; [[military career]]; [[Mogh]]; ''[[mok'bara]]''; [[Morath]]; [[Nequencia Alpha system]] (aka [[Nequencia system]]); [[number one]]; [[outpost]]; [[backpack|pack]]; [[perimeter]]; [[pond]]; [[prison camp]]; [[prisoner]]; ''[[qa'vak]]''; [[replicator]]; [[ritual hunt]]; [[Romulan]]; [[Romulan High Command]]; [[Romulan space]]; [[Romulan supply ship 002|Romulan supply ship]]; [[Romulus]]; {{revname|Alexander|Rozhenko}}; [[rust]]; [[shackles]]; [[shame]]; [[shields]]; [[slit]]; [[spear]]; [[starvation]]; [[sword]]; [[table]]; [[territorial concession]]; [[throat]]; [[tilling]]; [[tracking device]]; [[trader]]; [[upwind]]; [[warrior]]; [[warrior's armor]]; [[wife]]; [[wind]]; [[word]]; [[YLT]]; [[YLT-3609]]; [[Yridian]]; {{dis|Yridian vessel|24th century}}
  +
  +
==== Deleted material ====
  +
[[midwife]]; {{dis|morag|deleted material}}; [[weep]]ing; [[wrestling]]
  +
  +
=== External links ===
  +
* {{mbeta-quote|Birthright}}
  +
* {{Wikipedia-quote|Birthright (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Birthright}}
  +
* {{startrek.com|database_article/birthright-part-ii|"Birthright, Part II"|external}}
  +
* {{ml|the-birthright|"Birthright"|external}}
  +
* {{st-minutiae|resources/scripts/243.txt|"Birthright, Part II" script|external}}
   
 
{{TNG nav|season=6|last={{e|Birthright, Part I}}|next={{e|Starship Mine}}}}
  
{{TNG nav|season=6|last={{e|Birthright, Part I}}|next={{e|Starship Mine}}}}
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[[de:Der Moment der Erkenntnis, Teil II]]
  
[[de:Der Moment der Erkenntnis, Teil II]]
 
[[es:Birthright, Part II]]
  
[[es:Birthright, Part II]]
−
[[fr:Birthright, Part II]]
 +
[[fr:Birthright, Part II (épisode)]]
−
[[ja:TNG:バースライト・後編]]
 +
[[ja:バースライト・後編（エピソード）]]
 
[[nl:Birthright, Deel II]]
  
[[nl:Birthright, Deel II]]
 
[[pl:Birthright, część II]]
  
[[pl:Birthright, część II]]

Latest revision as of 18:30, 28 February 2024

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

In the Romulan prison camp, Worf teaches the Klingon children about their culture.

Summary

Teaser

After Worf is captured by the Romulans, he is told he will have to stay at the camp. He learns from L'Kor and Gi'ral the story of the Klingons who were captured. Their deflector shields were taken out and they were knocked unconscious due to the explosions on a Klingon outpost during the Khitomer Massacre. When they awoke in the prison camp, they failed to kill themselves through starvation. After interrogation, the Romulans tried to trade them for territory, but the Klingon Empire refused to accept that their warriors would have allowed themselves to be captured. When Tokath, the Romulan officer who captured them, offered to let them go, they did not wish to return and bring dishonor on their families. He took pity on them and built the prison camp. Their own honor gone, the Klingons had nothing left to lose by staying prisoners. L'Kor asks Worf why he came, noting that if he had found his father, he would have found only dishonor. Worf tells him that he would be glad to see him; he states that there is no room in his heart for shame. L'Kor says that if his son had found him here, he hopes he would be Klingon enough to kill him.

Act One

Worf observes the Klingon children who live in the camp. Many of them are oblivious of their heritage, for example, a young male Klingon named Toq uses a gin'tak spear for tilling soil. When he asks Ba'el, she tells him the war is far away, and they are safe here. That is why their parents came here; to escape the fighting and find a safe place to raise their children. She seems to have no interest in the outside world or what goes on in it. Worf suggests she tell her father she wants to visit the the Homeworld and see what he says. He tries to reassure her that the war is over, and that The Homeworld is far safer than she has been taught, but her mother, Gi'ral, calls her home. It is clear that she does not want her daughter to speak with Worf.

Worf's homing device goes off shortly thereafter. He retreats to his room and deactivates it. Shortly after, Tokath visits his quarters and tells Worf that he has a Klingon wife, then Worf attempts to escape. He manages to create a bomb from scavenged parts found in a panel in his quarters, and detonates it as a distraction as he scales the wall. However, one of the Romulan guards sees him escaping and begins pursuit. When Worf thinks he has outwitted them, and arrives at Shrek's ship, Toq tackles him. When Worf is about to strike him, he is surprised to see it is Toq and, during this pause, the Romulans recapture him while Shrek hastily departs in his ship.

Act Two

"Captain's log, Stardate 46579.2. The Yridian vessel Lieutenant Worf boarded at Deep Space 9 has failed to arrive for our scheduled rendezvous. It is now twelve hours overdue."
Data, Riker, and Picard begin a search for Worf

"Still no sign of them on long range scanners."
"Contact DS9. Find out what they know about this Yridian trader."

Aboard the USS Enterprise, the Yridian vessel cannot be found on long range scanners; the only hope of finding Worf is to contact DS9 and retrieve the ship's flight plan. Riker hopes the station has it and Picard notes that it may be the only chance they have in locating Worf. Meanwhile, Worf has a tracking device implanted under his skin: Tokath allows L'Kor to deal with Worf but warns that "If he becomes a disruption, I will not be so tolerant.". Toq is instructed to guard him and make sure he does not cause further trouble.

Restless, Worf practices mok'bara in the courtyard in front of the Klingon youths. When Ba'el is confused by the mok'bara, he begins to explain the techniques to her. When other Klingons, including Ba'el, copy him, Toq objects and places his hands on Worf's shoulder. Worf carefully but forcefully flips him to the ground. "These forms are the basis for Klingon combat", he explains. He offers to instruct Toq in Klingon combat techniques, but Toq leaves to tell L'Kor about Worf's behavior.

Meanwhile, when her mother is out, Ba'el sneaks inside her home and shows Worf several Klingon objects in a case, disused and tarnished, such as a d'k tahg knife with a rusted blade. She tells him she is not supposed to look at these things. He identifies them to her, including a jinaq, a necklace given to a daughter who has come of age, old enough to take a mate.

Just then, her mother enters. She tells Ba'el these things are not needed here and commands Worf to leave. He does, satisfied that her daughter's doubt is well-planted.

Later that night, Worf tells the children around a fire the ancient story of Kahless the Unforgettable. Toq claims that these stories were impossible, that Worf was making it up. Worf explains these are Klingon legends, and they tell us "who we are"; it is not made up. L'Kor interrupts, telling them it is time to sleep, and the group disbands.

Ba'el asks Worf, later, if the stories are true. He says he finds new truths in them every day. She then asks if Kahless ever took a mate, obviously asking a different question. When Worf moves to kiss her, he brushes back her hair to find a pointed-ear. He reacts instantly, backing off in surprise, shocked that Ba'el is part Romulan.

Act Three

Tokath and Gi'ral

Tokath and Gi'ral, Ba'el's parents

Worf is indignant; the Romulans are without honor, he growls. She defends her father, saying he is kind, generous, and settled here to escape the wars like her mother did. He tells Ba'el to ask her mother about it, but she angrily walks away.

Meanwhile, the Enterprise receives the Yridian's flight plan from DS9 and Geordi La Forge is examining it. He identifies two systems close to Romulan space: Nequencia and Carraya, so Picard tells him to head for the closest one, which is Carraya.

Worf attempts to make amends with Ba'el. He apologizes, saying he was surprised, but it is clear he still holds her father in contempt. She demands that he accept her for who she is and leave the hatred behind. He is unsure if he can do that. She storms off, angry.

When he leaves, he sees the other children, including Toq, playing a game. A line of short spears are set up, a row of spears, Qa'vaks, resting on top of several pairs and a large hoop is rolled between them. The object appears to be to knock off all the spears resting on the others. However, when the hoop is rolled, Worf throws one of the spears through the middle of the hoop as it is rolling.

Worf explains that these spears are used in The Hunt, a ritual which tells Klingons where they came from. He sighs and says perhaps Toq is too young to master the skill. Toq cannot resist this challenge. His first throw is strong, but inaccurate. Worf suggests Toq aim along his arm, which works. Worf suggests they go on the ritual hunt, and Toq agrees, but protests that Worf is not allowed to leave the compound.

Worf talks to Tokath and L'Kor, who considers the idea ludicrous. Worf protests that he cannot just sit idly in the compound like an old man. Worf tells L'Kor and Tokath that he needs to practice his hunting skills and offers his word that he will not try to escape, which fails to convince Tokath. L'Kor points out that Worf gave them his word as a warrior, as L'Kor did 23 years ago, promising never to leave the camp: thus Worf should be trusted. Tokath says that L'Kor will be the one who is taking the risk. L'Kor allows them to go but tells Toq to take a weapon and to kill Worf if he tries to escape.

Act Four

Worf has found prey, with Toq just behind him. Upon learning to smell the prey, Toq is amazed, feeling more alive than he ever has before. He claims he was never taught anything of being a warrior, Worf tells him there is much that he was never taught.

When Toq and Worf return to the others at dinner, Toq has clearly embraced his heritage, now. He has a dead creature in his arms, which he triumphantly drops at the head table before L'Kor and Tokath. Tokath orders him to get that off his table, but Toq boldly states that he will get rid of it, but not until it's been cooked. Toq then triumphantly explains that the Klingons here have forgotten themselves and sings a song the young Klingons knew only as a lullaby, as a victory chant. All of the Klingons, including L'Kor and Ba'el, slowly join in, much to Tokath's dismay. Tokath stares at Worf, and knows he has to deal with him.

Act Five

Tokath later takes Worf aside and tells him that he has given up his career to create something wonderful and unique; a place where Romulans and Klingons live together in peace; and Worf is about to destroy all that. Worf argues that they live in harmony, because they have never learned what it is to be powerful. Otherwise, they would leave. Tokath considers the argument futile and instead offers Worf an ultimatum: live here and don't cause any more trouble, or be put to death. Worf chooses death. That honorable death, he says, will show the young people what it is to die truly as a Klingon.

Ba'el urges Worf to attempt escape, offering to remove the tracking device, but he will not run. She believes her father was wrong, that Worf doesn't deserve to die. Worf refuses. "They will kill me", he says, "but they will not defeat me." She wants to know if he loves her, despite everything. He says he does, and he didn't think it possible. If he could leave with her, he would, but they can't.

The next day, when Worf stands against the wall, staring at the firing squad, Tokath gives a short speech about how he has agonized all night over this decision, but has concluded that this is absolutely necessary: He cannot allow Worf to destroy what everyone else has built. Worf, with his final words, explains the truth: he has brought something "dangerous" to the children, knowledge of their origins and the real reasons why they are here.

As the two Romulans are about to fire, Toq appears, in a full suit of warrior's armor with a gin'tak spear. To kill Worf, he says, they will have to kill him as well, for he would also rather die than accept this way of life – and there are many others who Tokath will have to kill to keep the community here.

When Toq does not move, L'Kor stands by them. One by one, a dozen others also come beside and behind them, including Ba'el. Gi'ral has him call it off. They avoided dishonoring their children back on the homeworld, she says, but they have lost sight of the children they have raised on this planet. They should be set free if they wish to go.

Worf accepts her compromise and explains to the children that their parents are now making yet another great sacrifice, and that to honor their parents, the children must never reveal their secret.

Ba'el stays behind.

"Captain's log, supplemental. Our search for Lieutenant Worf was cut short when we received a cryptic message from him requesting a rendezvous with a Romulan vessel. He has informed us we will be taking on passengers."

In the transporter room, Worf and Toq are the last passengers beamed aboard. Doctor Beverly Crusher takes Toq away to sickbay for a thorough examination that they are giving to all of the passengers who have come aboard. After they leave, Picard asks Worf if he found what he was looking for, Worf answers no, there was no prison camp. The young people, he claims, are survivors from a vessel that crashed in the Carraya system four years ago. With a knowing look, the captain says he understands.

Log entries

Memorable quotes

"I can only hope that if my son came here, he would be Klingon enough to kill me."

- L'Kor


"They say you've come to stay with us."
"Not by choice."

- Ba'el during Worf's imprisonment in the camp


"A place can be safe and still be a prison."

- Worf


"I told you not to speak with him!"

- Gi'ral, to Ba'el after she sees her speaking to Worf


"It is a strange thing when the jailer concerns himself with his prisoner's comfort."
"Mine is a strange prison."

- Worf and Tokath


"Here, Romulans and Klingons live in peace. I won't allow you to destroy what we have."

- Tokath, to Worf


"Tonight, we eat well."
"Get that off my table."
"You do not kill an animal unless you intend to eat it."
"Get rid of it!"
"I intend to, Tokath… but not until it's cooked!"

- Toq, bringing home a kill, and Tokath


"I will NOT run away!"
"But they will kill you."
"Yes. But they will not DEFEAT me."

- Worf and Ba'el


"But the truth is I am being executed because I brought something dangerous to your young people. Knowledge. Knowledge of their origins, knowledge of the real reasons you are here in this camp. The truth is a threat to you."

- Worf


"If you kill him you will have to kill me."
"Step aside, Toq."
"Worf would rather die than accept this way of life, and so would I. I want to leave, as do many others. You will have to kill us to keep us here."

- Toq and Tokath


"You found what you were looking for, Mr. Worf?"
"No sir. There was no prison camp. Those young people are survivors of a vessel that crashed in the Carraya system four years ago. No one survived Khitomer."
"I understand."

- Worf and Picard

Background information

Production history

Story and script

  • René Echevarria remembered, "It was very personal, somehow. My parents were immigrants from Cuba, and all of the issues that came up in the episode – about assimilation and how do you keep your heritage – is something I grew up with." (Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 297)
  • Michael Piller saw this episode as a chance for the character of Worf to re-affirm his Klingon nature. "I had just seen Malcolm X, and I said Worf is the guy who's saying 'You're black and you should be proud to be black.' That's where I started from with the character standpoint, but when you get into it and you realize there is something good in this society and that he'll lose this woman he's in love with when he can't shake his own prejudice, it's a price he has to pay for his character and his code… I think it's wonderful when people act in heroic ways that turn back on them." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 274)

Production

  • "Birthright, Part II" was filmed between Wednesday 6 January 1993 and Friday 15 January 1993 on Paramount Stage 8, 9, and 16. It was the first episode of TNG filmed in 1993.
  • Although James Cromwell (Jaglom Shrek) appears in this episode, he has no lines. This was, in part, due to Cromwell breaking his leg in the period between filming the two parts of the episode, which entailed cutting most of his lines. A sympathetic scene in which Shrek confesses he was once a prison inmate himself was lost, as was a scene in which he would have been assassinated by one of the Klingons' grown sons who was determined not to hear the truth about his father. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 239))
  • René Echevarria elaborated, "One idea was that Worf was going to see [Shrek] had some tattoo of having been a prisoner and Shrek was going to talk about being a prisoner and that his government let him rot and it took his family to come and risk their lives to free him. He says he knows how governments can be and doesn't trust them. 'You think I do this for money, but I actually do it because I know what it's like,' Shrek tells Worf." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 274)
  • Due to time, several other scenes were also cut, including one further developing the relationship between Worf and Ba'el, as well as a confrontation between Worf and Gi'ral in which the latter stands up to Worf regarding her marriage to a Romulan. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 239))
  • This was the first and only Star Trek episode directed by Dan Curry.
Romulan prison camp maquette

The Romulan prison camp maquette

Carraya IV airial view

Aerial view of the finished composite

  • Exterior shots of the Romulan fortress were created by Curry who inserted shots of a miniature into jungle photographs he had taken in Laos in the 1960s. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 239)) The miniature was a building maquette, measuring 34×48 inches, made out of balsa wood, art card, plastic model parts and lichen trees on a foam board base. Mike Okuda recalled, "That was a secret Romulan prison compound built for "Birthright, Part I" (TNG). Dan Curry directed that episode, and he asked us to make a model based on the sets Richard James created for that episode. I asked Alan Kobayashi to spearhead that project, and all of us in the TNG art department lent a hand in odd moments. The model was simply made, using fomecore, balsa strips, a few Plastruct parts, some model greeblies, plus lichen trees from a hobby store. Rick Sternbach helped enormously by painting it to apply an appropriate amount of aging and weathering. Dan photographed the model, then put it into a photograph of the jungle in Thailand that he took years ago, when he was in the Peace Corps. The result was a great matte painting that showed the isolation of the prison camp that lent a lot of scope to the episode. Later, Dan's painting was modified for an episode of DS9, and it may have been used another time as well." [1](X) Okuda was not wrong in his last assessment, it was first reused as a Faren Kag's village on Bajor in the episode "The Storyteller", and subsequently, slightly modified, likewise used in that series episode "Meridian". The first of its kind to be constructed since the first season Mordan IV cityscape maquette, the maquette was retained by the studio, unlike the usually larger miniatures of this type. As Lot 692, the maquette was part of the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction, estimated at US$800-$1,200, selling on 7 October 2006 with a winning bid of US $2,200 ($2,640 including buyer's premium). Prior to auction, Curry's maquette was featured in the TNG Season 2 DVD-special feature, "Inside the Star Trek Archives".
  • Curry was the person behind the camera who threw the gin'tak spear instead of Michael Dorn. ("Departmental Briefing Year Six – Profile: Dan Curry", TNG Season 6 DVD special feature)
  • Over the December holiday break, all the live plants and trees in the jungle and garden sets were accidentally left on the dark sound stages, and had to be replaced. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 239))
  • When La Forge, Picard, and Riker are viewing Jaglom Shrek's flight plans, one of the planets shown on the screen is called Echevarria, a reference to this episode's writer René Echevarria.
  • Among the costumes and props from this episode which were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay, was the costume of Jennifer Gatti. [2]

Cast and characters

Music

Klingon aria music sheet

The music sheet for the Klingon aria

Reception

  • Michael Dorn enjoyed the episode. "I thought it was great. It also showed that this is like a bottomless well. It will never go dry. The Klingon story will just go on and on." He also commented, "I am glad Dan did it because I've always liked him. He's a very interesting guy and very patient. We have a rapport and he was just wonderful to work for." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 274)
  • René Echevarria commented that so much effort had gone into making the Klingons and Romulans sympathetic here that many fans complained that Worf came off as a fascist racist who ruined a peaceful place. "His motives are in fact racist, when he's dealing with Romulans. But his actions are different; all he said was these people should know the truth and be free to leave. He never advocated violence and bloodshed." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 239))
  • Michael Piller commented, "I thought there was a wonderful Bridge Over the River Kwai-type story where you had a fundamentally charged relationship between a Romulan camp leader and Worf and this very interesting love affair where Worf had to reexamine his whole attitude towards the Romulans again. It is always interesting to me whenever you can look at prejudice. I think the script turned out pretty well, the show just did not have quite the power I had hoped it would have. I don't really know why." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages p. 274)

Apocrypha

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

And

Uncredited Co-Stars

Stunt doubles

Stand-ins

References

2346; 2350; 2365; adoptive parent; blood; blood enemy; boridium; boridium pellet; breeze; capture; career; Carraya IV; Carraya system; compound; daughter; D'deridex-class; Deep Space 9; Deep Space 9 traffic control database; d'k tahg; Echevarria system; energy signature; execution; flight plan; gin'tak spear; heart; hunting; interrogation; jailer; jinaq; jungle; Kahless; Kahless' father; Khitomer; Khitomer Massacre; Khitomer system; Klingon; Klingon High Council; Klingon homeworld; Klingonese; L'Kor's son; leader; love; Lukara; lullaby; military career; Mogh; mok'bara; Morath; Nequencia Alpha system (aka Nequencia system); number one; outpost; pack; perimeter; pond; prison camp; prisoner; qa'vak; replicator; ritual hunt; Romulan; Romulan High Command; Romulan space; Romulan supply ship; Romulus; Rozhenko, Alexander; rust; shackles; shame; shields; slit; spear; starvation; sword; table; territorial concession; throat; tilling; tracking device; trader; upwind; warrior; warrior's armor; wife; wind; word; YLT; YLT-3609; Yridian; Yridian vessel

Deleted material

midwife; morag; weeping; wrestling

External links

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"Birthright, Part I" 		Star Trek: The Next Generation
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