Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: ---< Fistful o' Datas >--- Synopis & *S*
From: mneylon@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu (Michael Neylon)
Date: 10 Nov 92 07:38:55 EST

I'd reckon there be spoilers here,....sir



SYNOPIS

The Big-E is in orbit around <a planet> while shipments are recieved
from the planet.  Thus, many people are taking a break, and Picard is
practicing his flute (YAY!).  However, he is interrupted several times.
Geordi and Data want to improve something in Engineering, Bev would like
to have Picard play in a small ensemble, and Worf would like to run
security drills.  Picard questions this last one, and tells Worf to take
it ease while he can.  Alexander (ugg) is excited at his father's return,
although he isnt.  Worf hopes that he could do these extra duties,
because now he must treat Alex to a Wild West fanatsy in the holodeck.

Worf and Alex arrive in the holodeck, much to the strange looks of the 
holo-creatures.  It is Deadwood, late-19th century, and Worf is cited as
the sheriff of the town, Alex as his deputy.

Meanwhile, in Engineering, Geordi hooks up Data to the main computer to 
ease computions.

Worf and Alex begin to meet the local residents, programmed by Mr. Barkely 
and Alex.  Suddenly they hear a shot and run to the local bar when it came
from.  Alex points out the 'bad guy' of the simulation, and Worf prompty
gives him a punch on the chin, and takes him into custedy.  Alex tells
his father that is wrong, that it is supposed to be a challenge, and he
restarts the simulation from the gunshot.  This type, the difficuly level
is a bit higher, and the holo-sims clear out before the gunfight.  The 
bad guy, and his spanish friend, pull out mighty impressive weapons, and
begin insulting Worf.  Meanwhile, another bad guy tries to knock Worf
out, but fails misebly.  However, the bad guy gets Worf at gun points and
is about to pull the trigger, when Troi enters, and shoots the gun out of 
the guy's hand.  Alex explains to Worf that Troi likes Westerns.

Data and Geordi proceed with the calculations, when suddenly a slight
power surge occurs in Data's neural network.  Data quickly disengages, and
Geordi suggests a systems check before continueing.  Data agrees, but when
he gets up to leave, he deposits 'with flair' the tricorder into his hip
pocket.

Back in the sim, Worf and Alex discuss the sentancing of the bad guy while
he sits in jail, when he suddenly refers to his 'old man', who he claims
will free him and hurt Worf.  Troi, with a very western accent, supports
his claim, and offers to help Worf, 'for a price'.   Worf asks Troi why
she is interested in this period, which is a result of her father.  The
discussion is broken up when 'Annie' enters and admirs Worf for his bravery.
She invites him to dinner, but he refuses.  She gets upset, and slaps Worf
and leaves.

Picard is enjoying his recent performance playback when suddenly it changes
into a loud orchestra piece.  The computer admits that it IS his performance.
Also, Bev is rehearsing a play, and while Riker is reading his lines, he
suddenly begins to recite from 'Ode to Spot'.  All are confused.

Data and Geordi discover a small malfunction on a few of the isolinear
chips.  Geordi proceeds to see if there are any other chips infected, while
Data does a self-diagonisit on himself.

Alex, coming back from the bank, is suddenly kidnapped and taken to some
mines.  The abducts work for the father of the bad guy, who turns out
to have a remarkable resemblence to Data :).  Alex claims that it is too
early in the program for him to be kidnapped, and tries to stop the program,
with no avail.

Data, back in his room, begins to feed Spot with a meal suited for his
tastes, but the cat refuses.  Data tries to work, but Spot keeps on getting
in his way.  The last time he has to remove him, he suddenly switches
to a strong western accent, without his noticing.

Worf enters the bar looking for his 'deupty'.  While asking at the bar,
Mr. Hollander (the data look-alike) enters, and asks Worf for his son.
Mr. Hollander offers a trade, and reveals the fact that he has his son.
Worf refuses to deal, and attempts to leave, but Mr. Hollander grabs him
by the shoulder.  Worf obviously feels pain from it, and finally doesnt
believe that Data is part of the program.  Worf tries to stop it, but
it doesnt work.  Mr. Hollander and his thugs begin to shot at Worf, who
escapes to the sherrif's office.  Trio and Worf attempt to end the program,
or communicate with the ship, but with no avail.  Trio notices that Worf
has been shot, and bandages him, when suddenly, Mr. Hollander's son speaks,
who has now suddenly begun to look like Data as well.

Trio comments that even through the program has gone afoul, if they play
out the program to the end, it should end naturally.  Worf and Trio began
talking to the residents.

Data and Geordi discover the cause of the problems.  Some of Data's 
programming have been switched with the library access functions, explaining
the wierd behavior.  However, near the end of the conversation, Data begins
using western accent, confusing Riker, Picard, and Geordi.

Trio is watching the son shuffling the cards in the jail and notices that 
he has Data's abilities and speed.  Worf returns and tell her that several
townsfolk saw the abduction.  Suddenly, Mr. Hollander enters the office, and
begins warning Worf to watch himself.  Hollander talks to his son, and
claims he will have him home for dinner.  Worf agrees to Hollanders origanal
agreement, and Hollander sets the stage for a shoot-out.  After he leaves,
Trio points out that Worf doesnt stand a chance against a gunfighter with
the reflexes of Data.

Geordi is examining Data, would have fallen more and more into a western
accent.  Geordi has intiated a memory purge of both Data and the ships
library to remove the problems.

Troi and Worf discuss the plans for the shutout, when Annie returns with
parts that Worf requested.  Within 1.5 hrs, Worf creates, from a
communicator, a very temporary shield that should block one bullet from
Mr. Hollander, but only one.  They leave for the shoot out.

The streets are mighty empty as the son and Worf get to their predefined spot.
Mr. Hollander enters, with Alex, and stares intently.  Worf releases the
son, Hollander Alex, but in mid-path, Hollander draws and yells at his son
to duck.  Worf quickly activates his shield which reflects the 6 shots from
the gun.  After the gun is depleted, the rest of Hollander's gang (who
all look like Data now) try to draw on Worf, but Troi comes out of her
hiding place to prevent it.  However, one person throws a gun to Mr.
Hollander.  However, but he can shot with it, Worf draws and shots the gun
away.  Worf threatens the entire gang never to returns.  Worf and Troi
enter the bar, where Alex awaits them.  They try now to exit the program,
but it still doesnt comply.  While they wonder what is left to do, Annie,
who now looks like Data, comes down to admire Worf for his bravery, but
before (s)he can kiss him, the program FINALLY ends.  Worf lets out a big
sigh.


The memory purge was successful, and both Data and the library are
back to normal.  Back in their quarters, Alex is feeling terrible at
what happened.  Worf promises that there will be a next time when Deadwood
would need a sheriff and the sheriff will need a deputy, which excites
Alex.  Worf then admires himself in a gunslingers stance as the ship
'sails off into the sunset.'

COMMENTS!

Finally! Continuity! (RED ALERT)  The introduction of the flute, Spot,
'Ode to Spot'....Many of us have been dying to see this.  Spot had a good
part in this episode too..

This was a cute episode.  There were a lot of laughable scenes, and not
too many bad ones.  Lets say its not necessarily a BoBW or YE, but it
definitely qualifies better that CoL. :)

Worf was done quite well.  He held up to character as the stoic security
guard at all times during the show.  Troi was done also well, although
I would never guess that she would like the Wild West.  Spiner did an
excellent job playing all 6 (!) parts in this one...doing Data on the
ship was obviously the toughest (switching between Starfleet and Western).
And Alex....well lets just say he wasnt there for THAT much of the 
episode.

At least the holodeck was necessarily a crutch in this one....it was 
used well.

The techno part of this made the most sense of any TNG episode this season!
Basically, some of data's mems switched with the ship's library.  Big
wooph.

The plot was pretty good.  I normally dont get along with westerns, but
this was developed nicely.  The overall problem was also solved quickly
and painless, and well before the 5-min-before-the-end limit.

I definitly think Riker should get into reading Data's poetry.  I broke
out laughing when I heard 'exothermic' and 'appendages' again...

Finally, why did I feel that I was watching Quantum Leap near the end
of the show?  Maybe the way Data looked in a dress, I dont know :)

Rating: 8.5 out of 10    Still not enough SF for my tastes....also
the cheesy ending brought it down....'Riding off into the sunset' was 
definitely not needed.
-- 
Michael Neylon   aka Masem the Great and Almighty Thermodynamics GOD!
      //         | Senior, Chemical Engineering, Univ. of Toledo
  \\ // Only the |   Summer Intern, NASA Lewis Research Center
\  \X/   AMIGA!  |         mneylon@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu           /