The Dauphin (episode)

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

"The Dauphin"
TNG, Episode 2x10
Production number: 40272-136
First aired: 20 February 1989
←  35th of 176 produced in TNG  →
←  35th of 176 released in TNG  →
←  141st of 911 released in all  →
Written by	Scott Rubenstein & Leonard Mlodinow
Directed by	Rob Bowman
In-universe date	42568.8 (2365)

Wesley falls in love with the new leader of a war-torn planet.

Summary

Teaser

Salia and Wesley meet

The USS Enterprise-D is given the task of transporting the young leader of Daled IV, Salia, and her guardian, Anya, to their homeworld from their place of exile on Klavdia III. Their world has been in civil war for generations, and Salia is expected to bring peace to her troubled planet, which is tidally locked, developing separate cultures that dwell on day and night sides, which has caused the war. Salia was the child of two now deceased natives of Daled IV who were on opposing sides of the conflict. She is seen as the only person who can bring about peace due to her parentage.

The Enterprise beams up Anya and Salia. In a chance encounter, Wesley Crusher walks out of a turbolift and encounters Salia while they are in the corridor just outside the transporter room and become smitten. Anya orders Salia to go straight to their quarters. While they walk away, Wesley asks Commander Riker who the young woman is. Riker tells Wesley that she may not have time for him, as she is destined to rule a world.

Act One

"Data, the girl who came on board…"
"Salia of Daled IV?"
"Who is she?"

In his quarters, Wesley is standing and looking at himself in a mirror while adjusting his hair when Data walks in, mentioning that he wanted to see him. Wesley asks Data on everything he knows about Salia and he fills him in on her parentage and her important role in bringing peace to Daled IV.

Later, Captain Picard checks in on Salia from the bridge, and they say they are fine. Counselor Deanna Troi senses that they are hiding something about what they really are and not being truthful about it. It is hard to believe that they will bring peace to the planet.

Afterwards, Salia continues conversation with a young woman in her quarters, doubtful about how she will know what to do when arriving at Daled IV. She thinks instinct will not be enough, but the woman assures her she will know what to do. Then, the woman transforms into a shorter creature, but obviously Salia expects this.

Meanwhile, Wesley cannot concentrate on anything. He bumbles in engineering, nearly dropping a tool from the second level and chief engineer La Forge relieves him of duty, insisting that he go talk to Salia. He has no idea what to say, and therefore visits Worf and Data, where Worf regales him with a passionate summary of Klingon romance, Data starts explaining the romance from an anatomic angle. Wesley tells Worf that his advice seems too dangerous and he says to Data that he does not want to dissect her.

Picard invites Anya to take a tour of the ship, and Salia says she would like to join. However, the shorter creature – who turns into Anya – does not permit it.

Act Two

Wesley goes to Riker for advice in Ten Forward, and Riker lays his smoothest lines on Guinan. As they quickly get caught up in the back-and-forth, Wesley becomes exasperated at all three situations he has seen, and finally decides just to go to Salia's quarters. When Wesley arrives, Anya is away on the tour. Wesley cannot say anything immediately, but Salia asks about the replicator. He treats Salia to a Thalian chocolate mousse from Thalos VII, and, finding out she has never been on other planets, takes her on her own tour.

In the holodeck, Wesley shows Salia the surface of a planetoid orbiting a ringed planet. She is amazed at all that she sees and Wesley tells her that this is such a great time to be alive. She says that it is – for him. He quickly follows up that it is for both of them. Wesley then calls for the holodeck to change the setting to Rosseau V, where the harmonic resonance from the neutrino cloud becomes synchronous after a time.

Anya transforms into a monstrous shape

Anya is on a tour of the ship with Worf, where she becomes increasingly agitated at how unsafe the ship is. In engineering, she identifies what La Forge is doing and starts to diagnose it, pointing out potential problems. This culminates with her revealing her true nature as an allasomorph when Dr. Pulaski refuses to kill a sick patient, Hennesey, who has Andronesian encephalitis. She intends to kill him herself.

Act Three

Worf wrestles with Anya as Pulaski calls for more security. Picard arrives, and Anya transforms back to the old woman. Anya declares the ship unsafe and that she is more powerful than any of them. Picard agrees she is powerful, but the ship is fine and orders her back to her quarters for the rest of the trip.

After their sightseeing of planets on the holodeck, Wesley takes Salia to Ten Forward, where she laments how she will never be able to leave Daled IV after she arrives. In some ways, she will be even more isolated than she was while on Klavdia III. When Wesley suggests she stay on the Enterprise, she bolts from the room, and Guinan hints that Salia wants Wesley to follow her. She, emotionally distraught, yells at him, and is soon met up with Picard and Anya. Anya demands that Salia come with her and Picard orders Wesley to move away from her. Salia goes to her quarters with Anya while Wesley stands in the corridor, alone.

Act Four

The Enterprise arrives at Daled IV, surprised to find an almost identical environment, still having trouble with communications.

Wesley's first kiss

In his ready room, Picard tells Wesley not to see Salia again. He would not usually get involved, but the events thus far seem to be endangering the ship and crew. However, Salia comes to visit Wesley in his quarters later, telling him that she slipped out while Anya was asleep. As Wesley and Salia are kissing, Anya suddenly appears, and Wesley is shocked to discover that Salia, too, is an allasomorph, as both Anya and Salia shapeshift in a fight over whether or not she should be allowed to see him.

Act Five

The Enterprise finally gets communication and beam-in coordinates. Unable to reply due to the atmosphere, Picard simply has Worf go down to escort the passengers to the transporters. There, Anya says goodbye to Worf, saying it would be nice to meet again or do battle on the same side, and Worf agrees. Anya is transported to her home moon to Salia's surprise. Anya says she has completed her task and cannot go with her.

Salia and Wesley say goodbye to each other

Salia comes to say goodbye to Wesley, but Wesley is hurt by her deception and asks her to leave. Anya and Salia have a heartfelt goodbye, and Wesley comes to the transporter room to say goodbye to Salia also, just before she beams down in her true form, amazing Wesley. After she is beamed down by Chief O'Brien, Wesley, somewhat depressed, goes to Ten Forward and sits at a table alone, when Guinan comes over and sits in the opposite chair to comfort him. Wesley tells her that he won't feel the same about another woman the way he felt about Salia. Guinan, to Wesley's surprise, agrees with him. She assures him that there will be other women but he will not feel the same love for another woman quite the same again. Wesley tells her that that doesn't make it any easier for him. Guinan remarks "It's not supposed to."

Log entries

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365

Memorable quotes

"Oh, I don't know if she'll have time for you, Wes. She's destined to rule an entire world."

- Riker, to Wesley

"Mr. Worf, have our passengers' accommodations met with their approval?"
"I doubt if anything ever meets with that woman's approval."

- Picard, with Worf referring to Anya

"This child is supposed to bring them together."
"She seems too delicate for such a task."
"Do not be fooled by her looks. The body is just a shell."

- Picard, Riker, and Worf, discussing Salia's role as leader of Daled IV

[Worf makes a prolonged scream.] "That is how the Klingon lures a mate."
"Are you telling me to go yell at Salia?"
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar…and they hurl heavy objects…and claw at you…"
"What does the man do?"
[dreamily] "He reads love poetry." [Worf regains his composure.] "He ducks a lot."

- Worf and Wesley

"Go to her door. Beg like a Human."

- Worf, giving courtship advice to Wesley

"Judging by her appearance, it is likely you and Salia are biologically compatible. Of course, there could be a difference in the histocompatibility complex in the cell membrane, but–"
"Data, I want to meet her. Not dissect her."

- Data and Wesley

"The woman, Anya, is not what she appears to be. She is an allasomorph."
"A shapeshifter?"
"Yes. She's not only a governess; she's also the girl's protector. Now, I don't care to interfere in the personal relationships of those under my command, but in this case…"
"You want me to stay away from Salia?"
"Yes, I do. For the good of the ship and the safety of everyone on board."
"I will do as you ask."

- Jean-Luc Picard and Wesley Crusher, in a discussion about Anya and Salia

"Why won't you let me have a friend?"
"It is my duty to protect you from danger."
"But there's no danger here."
"There is always danger from one who is not your kind. Salia, he's confusing you. You're forgetting your responsibilities."
"Whether or not I see Wesley is for me to decide."
"It is not!! I raised you, I protected you and I intend to deliver you to Daled IV!"
"Maybe what you want doesn't matter anymore!"
"Salia, please. I know it's difficult for you. But you must do what you are destined to do."

- Salia and Anya, about Wesley Crusher

"This is a great time to be alive."
"For you."
"For both of us. This all just beginning. We've only charted 19 percent of our galaxy. The rest is out there just waiting."

- Wesley Crusher and Salia

"You underestimated me in your sickbay. That is usually fatal."

- Anya, to Worf

"Seeing her on the transporter pad… It was like seeing pure light."

- Wesley, on finally seeing Salia's true form

Background information

Production history

• Second revised final draft script: 23 December 1988 [1]
• Premiere airdate: 20 February 1989
• First UK airdate: 5 June 1991

Title

• The term "Dauphin" is French for "dolphin" and was traditionally used as the title of the crown prince of the Ancien Régime. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 78)) The French title for this episode is La Dauphine, using the feminine form of the title. Some elements of this lost culture are present in the decor of the sets used for Federation Presidential offices in Paris through the Star Trek films.

Special and visual effects

• Visual Effects Supervisor Dan Curry recalled the morphing sequences of the characters. For this technique, his department used a painted morph scene, a hand-animated sequence from pic to pic. Curry had used this technique earlier in his career, in the horror film Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives in 1986. ("Departmental Briefing Year Two: Memorable Missions – The Dauphin", TNG Season 2 DVD special feature)
• The asteroids were volcanic rocks that Curry had purchased from a local building supply store. He remembered, "I took a bucket and carefully selected each rock for its 'appropriateness' as an asteroid. One of the guys working in the supply yard got very curious, watching me pick up these things one at a time. Finally, he came over and said, 'Hey man, I've never seen anyone so particular about rocks as you!' When I explained what they were for, I wasn't sure if he thought I was crazier than he had in there first place!" (Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 092)
• The special effects team worked hard to achieve the morph effects; however, Director Rob Bowman thought the monster outfits looked cheap and tried to lessen their screen time as much as possible. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 78))

Sets and props

• The star field shown in the background as the Enterprise-D departs Daled IV is a mirrored image. The right side of the central vertical axis is a reflection of the left side. This is similar to what was used for the star field on the bridge in the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage".
• Wesley Crusher's superconductor magnet prop, slightly modified, appears again in VOY: "Prime Factors" as the spatial trajector matrix.
• The electronic chess game seen in Wesley Crusher's quarters was a Modern Props rental that had been made for Robocop as the Nukem board game from the in-movie commercial. It also appeared as set dressing in Back to the Future Part II in 2015 Marty McFly's home den. The game pieces seen in this episode were previously seen on a version of a three-dimensional chess board.

Cast and characters

• In this episode, Wil Wheaton received his first onscreen kiss. It was from actress Jamie Hubbard, who was ten years older than Wheaton. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 78))
• Madchen Amick was the runner-up for the role of Salia. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (1st ed., p. 78))

Continuity

• In this episode, Wesley Crusher states that "we have only charted nineteen percent of our galaxy." In "Where No One Has Gone Before", set one year prior, Kosinski had noted a figure of eleven percent.

Reception

• Wil Wheaton later recalled, "I used to get a lot of mileage out of this joke I'd tell at conventions. The first girl that Wesley fell in love with turned out to be a shape-shifter who turned into a hideous monster, y'know after he had exposed his soul to her. Which happened a lot to me in my personal life. And I was glad Star Trek was able to capture that parallel." (Intergalactic Guest Stars, TNG Season 5 DVD special features)
• Director Rob Bowman remembered, "Decent show about Wesley Crusher falling in love for the first time. I just felt that there was no real conflict there. We did the best we could with a simple story." ("Rob Bowman – Director of a Dozen", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 10, p. 19)
• Maurice Hurley commented, "Again, we're dealing with a monster show, and we don't do well with monsters. The idea was good, but the execution didn't work. If we had more time, I think that show would have been better" (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 177)
• A mission report for this episode, by Robert Greenberger, was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 8, pp. 17-21.

Video and DVD releases

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 18, catalog number VHR 2471, 12 August 1991
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.4, catalog number VHR 4740, 24 May 1999
• As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection
• As part of the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray collection

Links and references

Starring

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

Also starring

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
• Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher

Special appearance by

• Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski

Guest stars

• Paddi Edwards as Anya
• Jamie Hubbard as Salia

And

Special guest star

• Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan

Co-stars

• Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien
• Peter Neptune as Aron
• Mädchen Amick as Teenage Girl
• Cindy Sorensen as Furry Animal
• Jennifer Barlow as Ensign Gibson

Uncredited co-stars

• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Dexter Clay as an operations division officer
• Alex Daniels as Anya as a large creature
• Tim McCormack as Bennett
• Randy Pflug as Ten Forward waiter
• Guy Vardaman as Darien Wallace
• Unknown performers as
  • Boliska
  • Hennesey
  • Salia as the large creature
  • Daled IV contact (voice)
  • Enterprise Computer
  • Security officer #1
  • Security guard #1
  • Security guard #2

Stand-ins

• James G. Becker – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
• Darrell Burris – stand-in for LeVar Burton
• Dexter Clay – stand-in for Michael Dorn
• Jeffrey Deacon – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
• Guy Vardaman – stand-in for Wil Wheaton

References

14th century; 2349; ability; admiralty; air filtering system; allasomorph; Andronesian encephalitis; aquarium; area; assumption; atmosphere; audio signal; beam-down coordinates; blood cell; body; captain's log; carrier signal; cell membrane; century; chance; choice; chocolate; civil war; cocoa bean; colloquialism; Command Headquarters; computer; contagion; cosmic ray; course; courtesy; creature; crew quarters; culture; Daled IV; Daled IV moon; danger; deuterium control conduit; dilithium crystal chamber; dish; disease; dissection; door; dream; emotion; engineering systems; environment; estimated time; eye; faction; Federation; Federation starship (2349); feeling; fiber optics laser probe; food dispenser; force field; freedom; friend; galactic zoological catalog; galaxy; gland; governess; guard; guest; hailing frequency; harmonic resonance; head of state; heart; hemisphere; histocompatibility complex; history; holodeck planet; holodeck planet's moons; home; honor; hormone; hour; Human; humanoid; idea; illusion; impulse power; inhabitant; inspection; instinct: Interspecies reproduction; iron; isolation; Klavdia III; Klingon; Klingon mating rituals; knocking; ladder; language; leader; lifeform; light; line; long range shuttle; love; malfunction; mate; mating ritual; matter-energy conversion controls; message; Milky Way Galaxy; minute; mission; mister; molecular structure; mother; mouth; neutrino cloud; night; number one; object; opponent; order; passenger; patient; peace; pedestal; percent; place; poetry (love poetry); power generator; prion; probability; problem; protector; puberty; quarters; rank; research establishment; resonant field; right; room; Rosseau V; Salia's parents; security team; sensation; sensor; shapeshifter; sharing; ship's stores; signal; soul; species; standard orbit; star; superconductor magnet (SCM model 3); terawatt; Thalian chocolate mousse; Thalos VII; tidal locking; time; tour; transformation; transporter; transporter pad; transporter range; transporter room six; trip; troposphere; universe; viewer; visitor; voice; war; warp engine; word; worship

Unreferenced material

Aldebaran Zeta

External links

• "The Dauphin" at StarTrek.com
• "The Dauphin" at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• "The Dauphin" at Wikipedia
• "The Dauphin" at MissionLogPodcast.com, a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast

Previous episode: "The Measure Of A Man"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2

Next episode: "Contagion"