Ménage à Troi ( episode ) A Ferengi DaiMon kidnaps Riker , Deanna , and Lwaxana Troi . Summary . Teaser . Commander Riker plays a version of three - dimensional chess against Nibor in Ten Forward as an Algolian musician plays ceremonial rhythms . He wins comfortably , and the Ferengi claims to have been distracted by the music . Meanwhile , Lwaxana Troi tries once again to assist in Deanna Troi ' s love life . However , it is she who is " found exotic " by DaiMon Tog , much to initial skepticism of Doctor Farek . When Tog attempts to proclaim his affections to her , as well as being interested in her Betazoid telepathy , she very loudly spurns him , humiliating him in front of the entire reception . He does not give up , however , finding her " exhilarating . " Act One . Afterwards , in a corridor , Deanna walks with Worf to her mother ' s quarters . Worf thinks Troi ' s mother handled the situation with Tog with skill and calls her an " " admirable woman . " " Deanna tells Worf that she will inform her mother of his compliment . In Lwaxana ' s quarters , she and Deanna then discuss the latter ' s happiness . Deanna insists that she is happy with her life and career aboard the " Enterprise " , however , Lwaxana wants Deanna to find a husband and have a family . Deanna says she " already " has a family , her friends aboard the " Enterprise " . When Lwaxana brings up Deanna ' s former romantic relationship with Commander Riker and how she ruined it , Deanna angrily remarks she didn ' t ruin anything ; they have become very good friends . When Lwaxana calls Deanna her standard nickname of " little one " , Deanna tells her she has been calling her that since she was 5 years old and asks to be addressed as an adult . She then storms out of Lwaxana ' s quarters , and Lwaxana reminds her that she ' ll be on Betazed if she needs her . In Picard ' s ready room , Data and La Forge discuss the recent upgrade to the " Enterprise " s neutrino counters which were completed ahead of schedule thanks to Wesley Crusher , who is due to leave the ship soon for the Academy . He will be admitted as a cadet as soon as he completes the oral portion of the exam . Picard then dismisses everyone except Riker . He and Riker agree that the " Enterprise " s mapping of the Gamma Erandi Nebula will be fairly routine , so Picard grants Riker shore leave on Betazed and will join Counselor Troi . " " Have a good time , Number One " " , Picard tells his first officer . Later , when Deanna and Riker are visiting on Betazed , they revisit a place they visited often , when Riker was stationed on Betazed . When they briefly kiss , however , Lwaxana interrupts . Deanna asks how she knew about this place and Lwaxana tells her that her father used to bring her there . Lwaxana has Mr . Homn lay out a picnic , and just after he leaves to pick some berries , DaiMon Tog beam s down and attempts to persuade Lwaxana again , but is forced to kidnap all three of them by beaming them back to his ship and knocking them unconscious . Act Two . When the three of them awaken , they are far away from their previous position , out of range of Riker ' s combadge , in a prison cell . Their guards are playing chess , including the Ferengi who played Riker earlier , Nibor . When their consciousness state is noticed , Tog transports Deanna and Lwaxana to a new compartment – without their clothes . Farek and Tog enter . Farek regards them with revulsion , while Tog continues to flatter Lwaxana . She therefore plays along , believing she can control him . Taking nearby blankets , Lwaxana and Deanna hear Tog ' s " business proposition " of Lwaxana joining him to aid him in his dealings . She asks that they talk alone , so Tog dismisses Farek and transports Deanna back to the cell . Tog shows her to a bedroom . On the " Enterprise " , Wesley has passed his written exam , and will go to Starfleet Academy to take his oral exam . He is concerned – upon observations of Data and La Forge – that , when he graduates , the " Enterprise " may not be here to serve on or Captain Picard may be gone . Having heard that Lwaxana is in no immediate danger , Commander Riker attempts to use the chess game to gain an edge on the guard . He advises Nibor ' s moves , but he doesn ' t take the advice , soon losing . He then plays him from the cell for a bit . Lwaxana continues to engage Tog in conversation , flattering him . He soon wants to kiss her , and Deanna senses the intense discomfort . Act Three . On the " Enterprise " , Picard is fascinated by the phenomenon . From the nature of the nebula , communications are interrupted . It takes two days , but the " Enterprise " eventually completes its mission and leaves . A priority one message from Reittan Grax informs Picard that Riker , Deanna , and Lwaxana have disappeared . Riker disengages from the game , tired of standing up , and talks his way out of the cell in order to play Nibor . He soon defeats the Ferengi , knocking him out shortly thereafter . He tries to contact the " Enterprise " . Unfortunately , the communications array requires Tog ' s access code . Meanwhile , Lwaxana is boring Tog with her past relationships . Tog stops her , and so Lwaxana starts to rub his ears instead . Tog explains she is performing oo - mox , to her surprise . Having communicated that she has him " purring like a kitten , " Deanna responds that they need Tog ' s access code . When Lwaxana asks for Tog ' s access code , Farek arrives and stops him just in time from breaching ship ' s security . With the blackmail of being reported , the doctor persuades Tog to let him use mind probes on her so as to duplicate her telepathic powers . This could kill her , but Tog reluctantly agrees . Act Four . On Betazed , the search comes up with little evidence , however , Lieutenant Foley found a flower Data identifies as of the Zan Periculi , indigenous not to Betazed , but to the Ferengi world Lappa IV . They take the flowers to Picard , who assumes Riker will find a way to send a message and orders to concentrate Worf on monitoring Ferengi communications . La Forge says he can boost the gain on the long - range sensors , and leaves to do so . Deanna learns that Farek is about to begin the neural scan from Lwaxana . Riker now looks for a minor subsystem , something not protected by the codes , and selects warp field phase adjustment . He then sends out a signal by dampening and un - dampening the subspace interference suppressor . He uses it to send a message he thinks the " Enterprise " will understand . Deanna senses Lwaxana ' s pain , and they leave the prison area to find her . Meanwhile , Wesley is nearly late for his rendezvous with the to go to the Academy . He barely has time to hear a scan for Ferengi signals – which are encoded – before rushing off to the transporter pad . He is about to transport when he realizes that a noise he heard in the background was familiar . While explaining it to his mother , it occurs to him that the static ' s rythms was the signal . He rushes back to the bridge . Act Five . Wesley goes to the captain and informs him of his discovery – but misses his rendezvous with the ship . He recognizes the pattern he heard as the Algolian ceremonial rhythms that the musician played at the reception . It was Riker ' s signal . Picard quickly plots a course toward the source . Riker , on the ship , manages to stop the experiment , but Tog comes from behind him to disarm him . Lwaxana sits up and negotiates an agreement : Riker and Deanna are let go , but Lwaxana will stay with him of her own free will . She has to convince Riker and Deanna as well . Giving her word as the daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed , Tog eventually accepts . The " Enterprise " arrives , and Tog beams over Deanna and Riker . Once the two of them are safely aboard , Deanna protests her mother ' s actions . Picard hails the Ferengi ship , and Lwaxana makes it clear that , " " it ' s over between us , Jean - Luc , " " suggesting that Lwaxana and the captain used to be lovers , to Tog ' s surprise . It is a hint that Lwaxana wants Picard to fight for her , so that Tog will give her up willingly . Acting like a jealous lover , Picard says that their relationship is not over . He recites Shakespeare ' s sonnet # 147 , and acts in an insane jealous rage , threatening to destroy the Ferengi ship if she is not in his arms within ten seconds . He begins to count down , continuing to recite Shakespeare between each number . When four seconds remain , Tog relents and beams her to the " Enterprise " bridge . Lwaxana continues with the charade , but the minute Tog is off screen , Picard wants no more to do with it . He orders Wesley to set a course for Betazed – at warp nine . Captain Picard tells Wesley about how he and the commandant of Starfleet Academy are sorry that he missed the transport but hope he will reapply . Wesley states that he fully intends to . However Picard says that in his eyes , Wesley is an acting ensign in title only and then decides to grant Wesley a field promotion to a full ensign . Wesley changes into his new uniform , takes his position at the conn , and the " Enterprise " sets off toward their rendezvous with the . Memorable quotes . " " Look , Demon Tog , or whatever you call yourself , I am the Daughter of the Fifth House , Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx , heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed . And unless you want to create an interstellar incident , you had better beam back to your ship ! " " " " Returning to my ship is exactly what I had in mind . " Krayton " , transport four immediately . " " " " Captain , I trust there will be no further action against us ? " " " " Such as my reporting this incident to your superiors who may question your competency as DaiMon ? I will think about it . Screen off . " " " " We ' ve been scanning Ferengi transmissions , trying to find the " Krayton " . One of the signals was . . . I don ' t know , somehow familiar . " " " " Something in the message ? " " " " No , the message was scrambled . It was the static ! " " " " Where are we ? " " " " From the smell of things , I ' d say we ' re aboard a Ferengi vessel . " " " " Now that you ' ve totally humiliated us , may we return to our vessel ? " " " " She is exhilarating , isn ' t she ? Now , I want her more than ever . Lwaxana Troi , you will be mine . " " " " My love is a fever , longing still for that which longer nurseth the disease , in faith I do not love thee with mine eyes for they in thee a thousand errors see ; but ' tis my heart , that loves what they despise , who in despite of view , are pleased to dote . Shall I compare thee to a summer ' s day ? " " " " Mr . Crusher , set course for Betazed . " " ( sotto voce ) " " Warp 9 . " " " " Do you wish to leave orbit , sir ? " " " " Not until we have someplace to go . " " " " The Academy ' s loss is our gain . The " Enterprise " will continue to benefit from your talents for another year . . . You see , Wesley , in my eyes , you are an acting ensign in title only . " ( slight pause ) " I hereby grant you a field promotion to full ensign with all the commensurate responsibilities and privileges of that rank . " " " " Let ' s get one thing straight , little man . I am not for sale . And if , by some chance , I were to become available , I would rather eat Orion wing slugs than deal with a toad - faced troll like you ! So go away and find yourself somebody else to become your property ! " " " " Little one ? ! You called me that when I was five ! Now stop demeaning me and address me as an adult ! ! " " " " Doesn ' t he realize that I am a daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed ? Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx ? " " " " The Sacred Chalice of Rixx is an old clay pot with mold growing inside it . " " Links and references . References . 2341 ; Aldabren Exchange ; Algolian ; Algolian musical instrument ; Arcturian ; Arcturian fizz ; " As You Like It " ; Betazed ; Betazoid ; Bolian ; ; cavalry ; clay ; Cochrane distortion ; ; Federation ; Ferengi ; Fifth House of Betazed ; ; Gamma Erandi Nebula ; Hahn ; Klingon ; " Krayton " ; Lappa IV ; Mizarian ; mind probe ; mold ; Muktok plant ; neural scan ; " oo - mox " ; Orion wing - slug ; oskoid ; priority one ; queen ' s gambit ; Sacred Chalice of Rixx ; Selay ; ; shore leave ; Sonnet 147 ; Starfleet Academy ; subspace frequency ; subspace scan ; three - dimensional chess ; toad ; toast ; Trade Agreements Conference ; tricorder ; ; troll ; uttaberry ; Vulcan ; warp field ; watt ; Xanthras III ; Xanthras system ; Zakdorn ; Zan Periculi ;