The Royale ( episode ) The " Enterprise " investigates the wreckage of a 21st century Earth spaceship orbiting a distant planet and the appearance of a casino with inhabitants based on a rather poorly written paperback novel . Summary . Teaser . The enters orbit of the eighth planet of a previously unmapped solar system , Theta 116 . This diversion was caused by a report from a Klingon cruiser regarding the discovery of a strange vessel in the atmosphere of the planet below . Initial scans of the planet by Geordi La Forge show it to be quite inhospitable : nitrogen , methane , liquid neon , surface temperature −291 ° Celsius , and wind speeds up to 312 meters per second . These scans also reveal debris in orbit of the planet . Commander William T . Riker asks to be kept informed so that they might resume their mission in a timely fashion . Riker visits Captain Jean - Luc Picard in his ready room to report only to find Picard puzzling over Fermat ' s last theorem . Picard ' s interest in this theorem goes beyond the difficulty of the puzzle ; he also feels humbled that despite their advanced 24th century technology , they are still unable to solve a problem set forth by a man who had no computer . At this point , Riker informs Picard of the debris they found in the atmosphere and advises that it be beamed aboard . A few minutes later , Miles O ' Brien and Riker are down in the transporter room targeting the debris . Picard joins them and Riker tells him that they have found a piece with markings on it . Picard asks what kinds of markings . Riker admits that he does not know , then orders the piece beamed aboard . He and O ' Brien then pick up the large chunk of hull beamed aboard and turn it to face the captain , revealing the word NASA and the flag of the old United States of America ( notably containing 52 stars ) on the panel . Picard then marvels at the puzzle that they have discovered . Act One . In the observation lounge , Lieutenant Commander Data reports at the staff briefing that the debris is definitely terrestrial , from the mid - 21st century . Picard doubts that any ship from that time could have traveled that far but Data holds to his conclusion based on the markings . Deanna Troi asks if Data knows what destroyed the ship . Data reports that several surfaces have disintegrated molecule s . Riker asks how this could have happened and Data speculates that a weapon of their own time would have had this effect . " " Curiouser and curiouser , " " Picard remarks . Wesley Crusher reports over the comm that they have found a structure on the surface of the planet and that the building is situated on frozen methane in the middle of a structure . The fact that the structure is surrounded by breathable air baffles Riker , but he still advises that he take an away team down . Picard agrees to a minimal team . Riker , Data and Lt . Worf beam down to the narrow patch . On the surface , they find a revolving door , seemingly free standing . Data insists that the structure is there but somehow invisible . Riker reports back to the ship their findings and Picard orders them to proceed . The away team passes through the door to enter into the lobby of a casino bustling with life . Upon entering , their signal is lost . The " Enterprise " cannot communicate with them or beam them up . Lt . La Forge begins rotating through different frequencies to find one that will cut through the interference . Back on the planet , Data advises that they should beam back up . Riker insists that they should look around since there is no apparent danger . A bellboy passes near them , informing them to check in at the front desk , where the assistant manager welcomes them to the Hotel Royale . The Bellboy from before asks the assistant manager if Rita called . The assistant manager pulls him aside and tells him to forget about Rita . The bellboy denies being afraid of Mickey D and the assistant manager tells him he is a fool for not being so . The bellboy leaves , insisting that he be told if Rita calls . The assistant manager turns his attention back to the away team , explaining that Rita is too much for the kid and Mickey D will beat him up for it . The away team then receives their room keys and a few casino chip s . Worf asks where they are and how the assistant manager got there . He tells them that they are at the Royale and that his personal life is none of their business . Riker explains that they meant what planet they are on . The assistant manager says that they are on Earth , rather than Theta VIII , then leaves to sort mail . Data wanders off and starts scan ning the hotel only to find that none of the people are emitting life signs . The bewildered Riker asks what they are , only to be met by confused looks from his team . Act Two . Worf asks if they are machines or illusions . Data says that they are not illusions ; they do exist , but they are neither machines nor Human . He explains that the man who just walked up to them has no DNA . The man , who overhears , says that Data sounds like his ex - wife , then leaves to " get down to bidness . " Data , confused by this saying , follows the man . Back on the " Enterprise , " Picard asks for a status report . Wesley and La Forge report that they are trying different encoding schemes to break through . Picard asks if an intelligent being could be causing the interference and La Forge reports that they have no idea . Returning to his command chair , Picard expresses worry that Riker has not followed protocol , returning to the beam down coordinates when they lost contact . Troi says that she does not feel that he is in any danger . He is , instead , amused . Picard accepts this but dislikes it . In the hotel , the man Data was following has sat down at a blackjack table next to a young woman . Data comes over , and the man puts his own ten - gallon hat on Data ' s head , inviting him to join the game . Data accesses the rules for the game , reciting them to the wonder of the other two at the table . He then cuts the deck single - handed , also amusing the other two . The cards are dealt and the young woman becomes worried . The man , whom she calls , advises her to take a hit , which puts her over 21 . Similarly , he takes a card , putting him at 21 . Data asks for one card , then another . Texas asks if Data is done , to which he states that if he is supposed to get to 21 , he will need at least one more card . Texas insists that this is foolish but Data asks for the card anyway . He then reveals that he , too , has 21 . The man then asks if Data was counting cards , a phrase that baffles him . Riker walks over , insisting that they leave . Texas offers to watch Data ' s chips in his absence , then asks for his hat back . Picard asks for another report . Wesley and La Forge report that the interference has a random nature that is impossible to predict . Picard understands the problem and then expressed wonder at the difficulty of the calculations La Forge is running through the computer . He reports that he is attempting to find out if the interference bubble would withstand their phasers but does not yet know if they can get through it . He needs one more test , to which Picard agrees . As the away team tries to exit , the revolving door only sends them back into the hotel . They try again to the same effect . Annoyed , Riker leads them in trying to find another way out . Data starts to ask one lady if she knows of another exit , but she leaves . He tries again but the second woman is distracted by winning on her slot machine . Riker has similar luck , being ignored by multiple people . Worf moves a slot machine , looking for an exit behind the machine . Riker allows him to use a phaser to try to blast through but even on the highest setting , the phaser leaves no signs of damage . Data reports his failure , believing them to be trapped . Act Three . Aboard the " Enterprise , " La Forge reports that they have almost cut through the interference . Troi reports that she can sense Riker ' s tense feelings of being trapped . Worf reports that the phaser does not work on anything around them . Data states that they have very few options . Riker , concluding they will only make it out on their own , goes back to the front desk for some answers . The bell boy then takes a gun out of a drawer but is found by the assistant manager , who tries to stop him . The kid insists that he will make Mickey D leave Rita alone . The assistant manager says it will not work , but the bell boy will have none of it . After the bell boy leaves , Riker tells the assistant manager he wants to leave . The assistant manager says that the exits are clearly marked , but Riker tells him that that is not good enough . The assistant manager says that if he has any complaints , he should tell the manager about them . Riker asks to see the manager , but he is told that the manager is very busy . Finally , Picard is able to get through to Riker , though he still has to fight heavy interference to do so . He asks why the away team has not yet left . Riker explains that they cannot , but maintains that they are not in danger . Picard explains that they are trying to help , then ends communications , still confused by the situation . Data reports that he has found Human DNA elsewhere in the hotel . Worf suggests that the nearby " turbolifts " might take them where they want to go . After overcoming the non - automatic doors , they take the elevator to one of the guest floors . There , they follow the signal into one of the hotel rooms . Under the covers of the bed , Riker finds a skeleton . Data reports that it is the body of a Human male . Riker speculates that he died in his sleep , a horrible death by Worf ' s standards . Data extrapolates that the man died 283 years ago , his corpse preserved by the sterile environment . Riker wonders why someone would go to the trouble of making a false casino for a dead man . In the closet , Worf finds the man ' s uniform . On the sleeve is a version of the United States flag with 52 stars , which places it between AD 2033 and AD 2079 , the same time frame as the debris in orbit . Also on the uniform is the name of Colonel S . Richey . Finally , stable communications are established and Riker reports that they are stuck . Picard reports similar failures on their part to beam them back . Riker also reports that they have found Human remains , asking that they search their database for his name . Worf finds a novel on the nightstand , titled " Hotel Royale " . At Riker ' s request , Data reads the book in a matter of seconds . Picard reports back with the colonel ' s identity , explaining that the corpse is that of Colonel Stephen G . Richey , who was the commanding officer of the " Charybdis " when it launched on July 23rd , 2037 . It was the third manned attempt to leave the confines of Earth ' s solar system . It was never heard from again after its telemetry failed . Riker then reports the novel that they have found , which Data then summarizes . Riker explains that the novel is being played out around them . He also reports that they have found a diary with only one entry , which he reads aloud . The colonel had written that he was the sole survivor of an alien contaminant that killed all the others on his ship . He then found himself in the Hotel Royale , exactly as described in the novel he found in his room . He managed to survive there for 38 years , learning that the aliens created the hotel for him out of guilt , using the novel on the shuttle as a guide . Unknown to the aliens , the recreation of the clichéd and shallow characters of the book only served as a hell for the colonel . He welcomed death as it would release him from it . Picard , grateful for understanding how the hotel came to be , still wonders why they cannot leave . Act Four . Picard reports that might be able to cut a hole through the bubble with the ship ' s phasers , allowing them to beam the away team out . Data calculates that they would have only twelve seconds before the hazardous atmosphere of the planet rushed in and killed them . Dr . Katherine Pulaski confirms this , stating that they would be instantly frozen but she could revive them , theoretically . Surprisingly , the telephone in the room begins to ring . Worf answers , reporting that a woman is asking if they want room service . Data speculates that they are being asked if they want the room cleaned . Worf tells her no , then is told that the kitchen is open at all times should they change their minds . Riker orders Data and Worf to the lobby while he explores the rest of the hotel . In his ready room , Picard and Troi begin reading the novel " Hotel Royale " by Todd Matthews , whose complete text they have found in the " Enterprise " s library , and quickly realize the questionable quality of the writing . Picard is dismayed , but Troi shows optimism ; she says , " " It may get better . " " Back in the hotel , Data suggests that they try to blend in with the other guests in an attempt to learn something useful . Data returns to the blackjack table from before and asks Texas where he is from and how he got to the hotel . When he reports that he drove there in a car , Data asks where it is and if he could see it . The man refuses and Data speculates that they are both trapped . Texas explains that he is simply trying to help the young lady , who has been losing hand after hand . She reveals her cards , asking for advice . The man advises her to take a hit , while Data advises the opposite . She takes a card , losing again . She then worries that she ' s almost lost all of her money . The man comforts her . Riker comes back down to see the assistant manager telling the bell boy that Rita had called , crying . Mickey D enters through the revolving door and walks over to the bellboy . The assistant manager tries to tell them to take it outside , but they do not . Back on the " Enterprise , " Troi and Picard are listening in ; Troi expresses disbelief that Humans actually talked that way , and Picard explains that the dialogue was all taken from a second - rate novel . Troi leaves Picard to listen to the overdone dialogue . Mickey D and the bellboy finally agree to go outside . As the bellboy walks to the door , Mickey D pulls out his gun and shoots him in the back , killing him . He walks to the slain bellboy , telling him that Rita wasn ' t worth dying for , then he leaves . Riker asks Picard how that was possible and he explains that it happened on page 244 . He then summarizes the ending of the novel , explaining that the hotel is bought out . When Riker asks by whom , Picard explains that it is not specific , the novel just says that foreign investors bought it for 12 . 5 million dollar s then return home , leaving the assistant manager in charge . Riker brightens and exclaims , " " That ' s how we ' re getting out . We ' re buying this place ! " " Act Five . Data explains that craps is a simple game of probabilities , then explains the rules . Riker asks if he can win them the money they need and Data believes he can . The away team goes over to a nearby craps table where Texas and the lady from the blackjack game are playing . On her first roll , the lady rolls a two – snake eyes , and Data explains that they are not desirable . She rolls again , getting a seven . The dice are then given to Data , who rolls them , getting a six . At Riker ' s confusion , Data explains that he must then get another six before getting a seven . Confused at the roughly equal probabilities of rolling a six or a seven , Data explains that there is a degree of random fortune involved , hence gambling . He rolls but gets a seven – loses his bet . Texas , however , feels confident in their ability and wants him to roll again . Data notices that the dice are loaded , and then re - weights them in his favor , proclaiming he " " needs a new pair of shoes " " . He then rolls successfully several times over , much to the delight of Vanessa and Texas . Riker reports that they are having good luck but Picard warns them to stay in character . He then explains that the investors are " flamboyantly generous . " At that , Riker insists that they bet all 12 . 3 million dollars , giving out some of their winnings to those around them . Texas however , decides to bet against the away team , reasoning that their luck is running out , over objections from Data . Upon winning again , Texas complains to Data he knew the roll would work in the android ' s favor . Data rebuffs saying he tried to warn him . Afterwards they buy the hotel , and spread the remainder of the cash to the patrons and staff , fulfilling their roles as the foreign investors in the novel . Texas , impressed with their style , offers to buy them a drink , but Riker politely declines his offer , and instead tells them to enjoy the game , but reminds them " " not to change the dice " " . With their roles finished , they finally leave through the revolving doors and beam back up to the ship . Back on the ship , Riker visits Picard in his ready room . Riker still wonders how such a primitive ship made it this far . Picard suggests that maybe the aliens who made the casino brought the colonel there but also suggests that , like Fermat ' s Last Theorem , they may never solve the puzzle of the Hotel Royale . Memorable quotes . " " What planet is this ? " " " " I beg your pardon ? " " " " This planet . What do you call it ? " " " " Earth . What do you call it ? " " " " We call it Theta VIII . " " " " How charming . " " " " How did you get here ? " " " " Vegas ? Drove my car . " " " " Can you take me there ? " " " " We ' d like to get out of here , now . " " " The Royale ' s " exits are clearly marked . " " " " No woman is worth dying for . Killing for , not dying for . " " " " Perhaps those turbolifts can take us there . " " " " Seems to be malfunctioning . . . " " " " Whew , nasty ! " " " " Looks like the poor devil died in his sleep . " " " " What a " terrible " way to die . " " " " When the train comes in , EVERYBODY rides ! " " " " Look who ' s talking . Man , you sound just like my ex - wife ! " " " " There is a female voice asking if we want " room service " . " " " " I believe she is asking if we want the room . . . cleaned ? " " " " Tell her no . " " " " Revolving door ? Number One , proceed with caution . " " " " Baby needs a new pair of shoes . " " " " I write this in the hope that it will someday be read by Human eyes . I can only surmise at this point , but apparently our exploratory shuttle was contaminated by an alien life form which infected and killed all personnel except myself . I awakened to find myself here in the Royale Hotel , precisely as described in the novel I found in my room . And for the last thirty - eight years I have survived here . I have come to understand that the alien contaminators created this place for me out of some sense of guilt , presuming that the novel we had on board the shuttle about the Hotel Royale was in fact a guide to our preferred lifestyle and social habits . Obviously , they thought this was the world from which I came . I hold no malice toward my benefactors . They could not possibly know the hell they have put me through . . . for it was such a badly written book , filled with endless cliché and shallow characters . . . that I shall welcome death when it comes . " " " " ' It was a dark and stormy night . . . ' Not a promising beginning . " " " " It may get better . " " " " Alright ! Time to get down to bidness . " " " " What sort of ' bidness ' do you suppose he is getting down to ? " " " " Say ! You ' re not one of those card counters , are ya ? " " " " The number and value of the cards remains constant . What would be the point of counting them ? " " " " Yeah ! " " Links and references . References . Seven billion years ago ; 2033 ; 2037 ; 2044 ; 2082 ; AD ; . 45 automatic ; affair ; " Alice ' s Adventures in Wonderland " ; American flag ; ammonia ; assistant manager ; ; blackjack ; Cadillac ; carbon ; casino ; casino chip s ; Celsius ; Cernan ; " Charybdis " ; cliché ; cocktail waitress ; Colt Detective Special ; concierge ; croupier ; cryogenics ; colonel ; corruption ; cowboy hat ; craps ; dealer ; debris ; Decatur ; decomposition ; desk clerk ; diary ; dice ; DNA ; Earth ; ; ; Fermat ' s last theorem ; French ; gambler ; gambling ; hotel ; " Hotel Royale " ; hurricane ; husband ; hydrogen - carbon helix ; hydrogen ; kilometer ; Klingon ; Klingon cruiser ; Las Vegas ; lobby ; lothario ; Lubbock ; manager ( manager ) ; math ; ; meters per second ; methane ; mile ; murder ; NASA ; NCC - 7100 ; neon ; nitrogen ; novel ; number one ; parking ; parking lot attendant ; phaser ; poker ; revolver ; ; Rita ; room service ; Royale ; Schmitt ; slot machine ; Sol system ; Stetson ; telephone ; Texas ; Theta VIII ; Theta 116 system ; tornado ; tricorder ; turkey ; United Federation of Planets ; United States of America ; United States dollar Library computer references . Planetary Scan – Theta Eight : class K ; ethane ; keimium ; Kei / Yuri factor ; tormium ; yurium Unreferenced material . 2067 ; astronomical unit ; deputy mission director ; Euclidian solar system ; escape velocity ; heliopause ; Hibernation ; " Jacob " ; magnetic field ; telemetry ; United States Air Force