Manhunt (episode)

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Lwaxana Troi arrives on the Enterprise, intent on finding a husband.

Summary

"What a handsome race."

On a mission to deliver Antedean dignitaries (who are brought on in a catatonic state) to a conference, the USS Enterprise-D is ordered to pick up Lwaxana Troi and to extend full diplomatic courtesies to her. Lwaxana will be representing the Betazed planet at the conference. Lwaxana draws the ire of her daughter, Deanna, and then insinuates that Picard is having 'naughty' thoughts about her.

Lwaxana arrives on the Enterprise with her manservant, Mr. Homn. She compliments Captain Picard on his legs and insists that he carry her belongings, but Picard has no intention of doing so. Commander Riker then offers to do so, but can hardly lift the luggage. He still manages to do so and brings it to Lwaxana's quarters. When everyone else has left, Lwaxana invites Picard to a dinner on the pretense that it will be a diplomatic event, when in fact it is her intention to seduce him.

Picard learns about Betazoid Phase — A moving target

At the dinner, Lwaxana tells Picard that human males are extraordinary and they toast to it. Lwaxana's irises are darker and larger than usual and seems to hunger for more than the food that she's cooked. Picard realizes that the dinner means something far more to her than to him, so begins to talk shop. He says Data is a great talker and informative, so calls him to the dinner. Thanks to Data, Lwaxana is so bored she cannot seduce Picard.

In the corridor, Counselor Troi informs Dr. Pulaski that Lwaxana is going through the Betazoid equivalent of menopause called The Phase, which for Betazoid women, leads to exceptional increases in their sex drive. Troi believes that she should warn Picard when she finds out he in at dinner with her mother alone, but Pulaski says that it would be important for the captain to stay quick on his feet.

Deanna later informs Captain Picard about her mother's condition and says that the only option for her mother is to focus all her energy into one male with the goal of making him her husband. For him to spurn her would be considered an insult. Picard, sensibly, puts Riker in command of the bridge, and runs to hide on the holodeck as Dixon Hill.

Lwaxana claims Riker — *"You're overwhelmed with excitement. Believe me, I understand."*

After settling in and dismissing various scenarios as too violent, Picard invites Hill's secretary Madeline to Rex's Bar for a drink. Meanwhile, when she can't find Picard, Lwaxana adopts her alternate plan: she goes on to other candidates. Commander William Riker? Already taken by her daughter, Deanna. Lieutenant Worf? Wrong species. Ensign Wesley Crusher? Too young for her tastes.

Later, Lwaxana strolls on to the bridge looking for the captain, but not finding him, settles on having Riker as her husband, and announces that they will be married, much to his surprise, Deanna's horror, and the surprise of rest of the bridge. In the meantime, the Antedeans have been brought out of their catatonic state by Dr. Pulaski.

Not surprisingly, Riker flees with Data to the same holodeck to tell Picard about this development (and the revival of the Antedeans). Picard is unpleasantly surprised to hear this, but Rex, the holographic bartender, thinks Riker has all the luck in the world.

Lwaxana and Rex — *"There is something you ought to know about Rex..."*

Lwaxana, using the Enterprise computer, finds Picard and Riker on the holodeck, but is quickly taken with Rex, since she cannot read his mind. She decides to marry Rex, but as they reach Pacifica, Picard tells Lwaxana Rex doesn't exist.

As Lwaxana leaves, husbandless, and her mind much clearer than it ever was during the whole duration of her stay, she saves the conference by revealing the Antedeans are in fact assassins (she states that the Antedeans' minds are so simple that she can read their minds in her sleep), and stops a plot to set off a bomb made with ultritium at the conference.

Log Entries

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

Memorable quotes

(Staring at the Antedeans)
"What a handsome race."

- Worf

"Yes, it's something Troi warned me about when we first started to see each other. A Betazoid woman when she goes through this phase... quadruples her sex drive."
"Or more."
"Or more? You never told me that."
"I didn't want to frighten you."
(Riker beams at Troi)

- William Riker and Deanna Troi, to Picard about Betazoid women

Background Information

Story and production

Tracy Tormé used a pseudonym to protest revisions of the episode, particularly with the way Dixon Hill was written. "Manhunt" would be the last episode written by Tormé as he left following the end of the season.
When Captain Picard as Dixon Hill takes a look out of his office window, footage from an old movie is used to simulate the streetscape. When he did the same in "The Big Goodbye", new footage on the Paramount lot was shot and inserted.
When Lwaxana Troi talks to the computer, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry is essentially talking to herself, as she plays both Lwaxana and the computer.

Cast and characters

Mick Fleetwood and Allan A — Fleetwood with makeup artist Allan A. Apone

Rock star Mick Fleetwood (of "Fleetwood Mac") appears in a cameo role under heavy make-up as an Antedean dignitary.
LeVar Burton (Geordi La Forge) does not appear in this episode. He is only alluded to by Mr. Homn when Lwaxana tries to find a mate.
This episode marks Robert O'Reilly's first Star Trek appearance.

Video and DVD releases

Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 23, catalogue number VHR 2506, 7 October 1991.
UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.7, catalogue number VHR 4743, 5 July 1999.
As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection.

Links and references

Starring

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

Also starring

Special appearance by

Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski

Guest stars

Special guest appearance by

Mick Fleetwood as Antedean dignitary

External links

Template:NCwiki
Manhunt at Wikipedia
Manhunt

Previous episode:
"Up The Long Ladder"

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 2

Next episode:
"The Emissary"