The Big Goodbye (Episode)
| Series | Star Trek: The Next Generation |
| Season | 1 |
| Episode | 12 |
| Production Number | 113 |
| Release Date | 11 Jan 1988 |
| Advertising |
Stardate 41997.7: Picard and crew are trapped on the holodeck.
Protocol is everything to the insectoid Jarada, who insist that they be greeted successfully in their own language without fail before diplomatic relations can begin. It has been twenty years since the Federation last tried to contact them, and the demise of the Starfleet vessel that failed is a tale so horrible that no one wants Data to repeat it.
To relieve the stress of his preparations, Captain Picard tries a little role-playing in his favorite holodeck program, "The Big Goodbye:" a 1940s-era hard-boiled detective novel starring Dixon Hill. He is so excited after a short holodeck visit that he takes Data, Dr. Crusher, and ship's historian Whalen back with him. But a long-range Jaradan scan interferes with the holodeck's programming, and the game turns deadly: Whalen is shot by mobsters, and the party is trapped with no exit. Acting Ensign Crusher and Lieutenant, j.g. La Forge try to make repairs, but a wrong move could kill everyone inside the holodeck.
The holodeck is finally opened, and the mobsters gleefully leave, intending to plunder the Enterprise and its futuristic technology, but they dematerialize after leaving the confines of the simulated environment. Lieutenant Bell, Hill's friend on the police force, ponders about reality for the holodeck's inhabitants as he watches the Enterprise crew leave. Still in his trench coat, Picard travels straight to the bridge and delivers the Jaradan greeting perfectly, to the crew's applause.
Director
Joseph L. Scanlan
Writer
Tracy Tormé
Starring
Patrick Stewart … Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes … Commander Will Riker
Brent Spiner … Lieutenant Commander Data
Gates McFadden … Dr. Crusher, Beverly
Marina Sirtis … Counselor Deanna Troi
Denise Crosby … Lieutenant Tasha Yar
LeVar Burton … Lieutenant, j.g. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn … Lieutenant, j.g. Worf
Wil Wheaton … Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher
Guest Starring
Lawrence Tierney … Cyrus Redblock
Harvey Jason … Felix Leech
William Boyett … Police Lieutenant Dan Bell
David Selburg … Whalen
Gary Armagnac … Lieutenant McNary
Mike Genovese … Desk Sergeant
Dick Miller … Vendor
Carolyn Allport … Jessica Bradley
Rhonda Aldrich … Secretary
Erik Cord … Thug
