Changes: The Schizoid Man (episode)

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An away team discovers the dying Doctor Ira Graves, who claims to be Data's "grandfather."

Summary

Dr. Ira Graves, a specialist in cybernetic technology, has sent a distress call. The crew soon discovers that the distress call was sent out by Graves' assistant and that it was sent out of fear, however, the crew can only find two lifeforms on Gravesworld. While en route, a distress call is picked up from the USS Constantinople, which has suffered an outer hull breach, and is carrying 2012 colonists. Due to the need to assist the Constantinople quickly, and assist Graves, a near-warp transport is used to transport an away team to assist Graves. The Enterprise drops out of warp, initiates the transport, and re-engages it's warp engines, a disorientating process for the away team, with Counselor Deanna Troi noting that she was stuck in the wall for a moment while materializing. The assistant, Kareen Brianon, reported the distress based on the fact that Graves' health is deteriorating rapidly, with shortness of breath and outbursts of temper. Graves is not entirely happy at the presence of Doctor Selar, commenting that he is "healthy as a Rigellian ox".

In their discussion, Graves begins to offer new information about himself. Graves was the mentor of Doctor Noonien Soong, the creator and "father" of Data. Darnay's disease is diagnosed and is considered terminal which seals Graves' fate. As Graves condition worsens, he and Data form a rapport, and after Data asks about a song Graves is whistling (from The Wizard of Oz, they begin a conversation on the nature of emotions, life, and death. Graves reveals that just prior to death, he intends to transfer his intellect into his computer, commenting that Data can never truly understand death. However, Data comments that he has an "off" switch, the presence of which gives him an understanding of death. Graves takes an interest in the location of this switch.

As the Enterprise enters orbit around the planet, Data joins the rest of the away team and informs them that Graves has just died in his arms.

Back on the Enterprise, Data is behaving a little unusually, using more informal, florid language and exhibiting emotional behavior. He has a discussion with Kareen, revealing how much Graves loved her and showing deep insight, leaving Kareen looking somewhat unsettled. This unusual behavior continues when Data delivers a very personal and dramatic eulogy of Graves, praising him extremely highly. After the funeral, Captain Picard questions Data on his unusual behavior at the funeral, commenting that perhaps Data should not try so hard to emulate Humans. After being dismissed from the ready room, Data smiles, looks appreciatively at the rear end of a female crewmember, and begins to whistles the song from The Wizard of Oz that Graves had done previously.

Suspicion of, and concerns about, Data's behavior grow among the crew and his errant behavior escalates as he belittles Wesley Crusher on his age and lack of experience, acting in a remarkably arrogant manner, reminiscent of Ira Graves' personality. He also mutters under his breath, then lashes out at Picard as he gives Kareen a tour of the bridge, accusing him of coveting her. Picard orders Data to come with him, and after they have left, Troi comments that she felt intense burning jealousy emanating from Data.

In the ready room, Picard comments that something is clearly wrong with Data, despite Data protesting that he is "healthy as a Rigellian ox", and orders him to carry out a self-diagnostic. Data says the diagnostic shows he is fine, but Picard says that, for the first time since he has known Data, he does not believe him. Further engineering tests are carried out by Geordi La Forge as an uncooperative Data's insubordination grows. The engineering tests show no problems, so Deanna Troi comments that it may be a mental health problem rather than a physical problem, and performs a psychotronic stability examination on Data, uncovering two disparate personalities present in him, with the burgeoning negative personality displaying an especial hatred of Picard and other authority figures. Without it being stymied, it will forever engulf Data's natural personality.

Despite having been ordered to remain in his quarters, Picard discovers from the computer that Data has gone to Ten Forward. Lieutenant Worf is ordered to go there and keep an eye on Data, but not to interfere with his actions. Picard also orders Dr. Selar to report to his ready room.

Data approaches Kareen in Ten Forward as she waits to disembark to Starbase 6, and finally reveals that he is Graves, alive in Data's mind. He admits that he deactivated Data and transferred his mind into his frame. All his feelings and dreams were retained and he dismissing Kareen's assertion that he will not be able to get away with it. Picard, however, has begun to understand what has happened.

Data/Graves talks with Kareen about the wonder of having a new body, musing on what he may accomplish in the next thousand years. He offers to build Kareen an android body as well, so they can remain together forever. Data is rebuffed however, and leaves Ten Forward.

Picard confronts Data/Graves in engineering. Graves dismisses Data's right to life and warns the captain not to approach. As Picard does so, he sees that Graves has already attacked La Forge and rendered him unconscious. Picard implores Graves that he has gone too far, physically injuring Kareen in the process. As Picard ramps up his case for Graves to give back Data, Graves reaches tipping point and strikes the captain across the face, knocking him unconscious. This act seems to shock Graves, who is disturbed that he keeps injuring people in anger.

Upon being revived, Picard tracks Data to his quarters. When they find Data laid on the floor, La Forge cautiously approaches and wakes Data. It is immediately apparent that he is back to his former self. Kareen discerns from the monitors that Graves has deposited himself into the ship's computer, though the conscious Human element has been lost.

Data has no memory of the time in which he was invested with Graves' personality and worries that he might have behaved in a manner unbecoming of a Starfleet officer. As Commander Riker jokingly tries to persuade Data that he may have wrestled with a Targ, the Enterprise leaves orbit of Starbase 6.

Log Entries

Memorable Quotes

"... Another lovely specimen of womanhood."
"I thought you hated people."
"Women aren't people! They're women!"

- Graves and Troi

"I have noticed, doctor–"
"Call me Grandpa! Seems more... touching... in my final hours."

- Data and Graves

"Oh, listen to me. A dying man takes the time to mourn a man who will never know death. Funny, isn't it."

- Graves

"I can safely say, that to know him, was to love him. And to love him, was to know him...
Those who knew him, loved him, while those who did not know him, loved him from afar."
"Data."
"I am almost finished, sir."
"You are finished, Data."

- Data and Picard

"I trust I did nothing unbecoming to a Starfleet officer."
"Does wrestling with a Klingon Targ ring a bell?"
"Mr. Crusher, take us out of orbit."
"Aye, sir."
"Did I win?"

- Data, Riker, Picard, and Wesley Crusher

"Excuse me, sir ... are you a Romulan?"
"Rrrrr ... hardly!"

- Kareen, mistaking Worf for his people's greatest enemy

"Do I have to stand here and be insulted?"

- Worf, incensed when Graves says Romulans and Klingons act a lot alike

Background Information

The title to this episode comes from an episode of the 1960s British science fiction show The Prisoner whose star, Patrick McGoohan, was originally intended to play the part of Ira Graves.
The tune that Graves whistles, even in Data's body, is "If I Only Had a Heart", from the musical film The Wizard of Oz.
Picard quotes from Shakespeare's Sonnet XVIII.
Tasha's and Dexter Remmick's images are displayed during the test on Data, along with images from the Genesis Project.
This is the first TNG episode where we see a funeral using torpedo.
In the original scripted climax, Data/Graves was to hold the bridge crew including La Forge, Troi, and Wesley hostage with a phaser. After Data/Graves orders them to evacuate, Picard would confront him in the deserted bridge with Data/Graves choking Picard to death until Kareen intervenes and convinces Data/Graves to vacate the android body. After Graves relocates to the computer, Picard laments that the real Graves never left the planet.
In a scene removed from the script, Data was to have a bald head, mimicking Picard, after his Riker-esque beard proved unpopular. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
The NCC-7100 model in the captain's ready room is pointed one way when Picard confronts Data for his insubordination, and another way a few scenes later when Troi delivers her report to Picard.
This is the first appearance of the Template:ShipClass starship in TNG, albeit of stock footage of it exploding.
One of the earliest computer viruses, SCA, outputted the text, "Something wonderful has happened. Your Amiga is alive!" In this episode, Graves/Data says, "Something wonderful has happened", as Data has come "alive" due to the "virus" of Graves within him. As the SCA virus, which debuted in 1987, was well known within the computer subculture in 1989, this may be an intentional allusion by the writer to that early virus.

Video and DVD releases

Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 16, July 1991
UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.2, 12 April 1999
As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection

Links and references

Previous episode:
"Loud As A Whisper"

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 2

Next episode:
"Unnatural Selection"

@@ Line 116: / Line 116: @@
 *The [[NCC-7100]] model in the captain's ready room is pointed one way when Picard confronts Data for his insubordination, and another way a few scenes later when Troi delivers her report to Picard.
 *This is the first appearance of the {{ShipClass|Miranda}} [[starship]] in TNG, albeit of stock footage of it exploding.
-*Ira Graves, in Data's body, says "Something wonderful has happened." This may be an allusion to one of the earliest computer viruses, {{w|SCA virus|SCA}}, which outputted the text, "Something wonderful has happened. Your Amiga is alive!" The second sentence of the virus refers to a computer becoming alive, particularly apropos considering the plot. The virus first appeared in 1987, and would have been well known among the computer subculture at the time of the episode's release in 1989.
+*One of the earliest computer viruses, {{w|SCA virus|SCA}}, outputted the text, "Something wonderful has happened. Your Amiga is alive!" In this episode, Graves/Data says, "Something wonderful has happened", as Data has come "alive" due to the "virus" of Graves within him. As the SCA virus, which debuted in 1987, was well known within the computer subculture in 1989, this may be an intentional allusion by the writer to that early virus.
 ===Video and DVD releases===