Sarek ( episode ) Violent emotions sweep the " Enterprise " when Ambassador Sarek comes aboard to finish a long diplomatic mission . Summary . Teaser . Ambassador Sarek of is called aboard the to fulfill his latest diplomatic duty , a treaty with a mysterious race known as the Legaran s . Captain Jean - Luc Picard and Commander William T . Riker are in a corridor and Picard says that he was tongue - tied the first time he met Sarek briefly at his son ' s wedding . Riker asks Picard if the rumors that Sarek will be retiring after these negotiations are true , and the captain confirms that it ' s unofficial but true , and the successful negotiations with the Legarans will be considered a perfect way to end an exemplary career . They enter the transporter room and Sarek ' s aides , Ki Mendrossen and Sakkath , are beamed aboard . Mendrossen advises that Sarek is not a young man anymore and though Sarek may wish to attend the events that the " Enterprise " has prepared for him , he says that it is ill - advised because Sarek will tire too easily . He must be ready to negotiate with the Legarans when the " Enterprise " arrives at Legara IV . Picard says that they have readied a Mozart concert for him . Sarek and his wife , Perrin , are then beam ed on board the " Enterprise " by Chief O ' Brien . He introduces his wife , who , like his first wife , is Human . Sarek tells Picard he wishes to visit the conference room intended for the Legarans , contrary to Mendrossen ' s wishes . Mendrossen interjects to say that he should rest , but Sarek is insistent on visiting the conference room , telling Picard they worry about his health too much . Act One . Meanwhile , Ensign Wesley Crusher and Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge are preparing in the conference room . They are currently readying the slime pit that is the home environment for the Legarans . Wesley says that he has a date with Ensign Suzanne Dumont . La Forge jokes that Wes would be too chicken to have even asked her out , but congratulates him . Sarek inspects the conference room and becomes uncharacteristically irritated that it is not properly prepared . After he has calmed down , he retires to his quarters , declining ( through his aides ) Picard ' s invitation to show him the ship . Before leaving , Sarek loudly announces that the walls are too bright , which causes Riker to look at Picard in concern . Picard and Riker discuss how Sarek is not as frail as Mendrossen implied . Picard will not cancel the concert even if the Ambassador is unable to attend , but regrets that the guest of honor won ' t be there . Counselor Troi suggests that Picard invite Perrin instead , understanding this could lead to Sarek attending . Picard agrees and heads straight down . Arriving at their guest quarters , Perrin says that Sarek is meditating and unable to greet Picard . Picard says he came to ask Perrin to the concert and to bring Sarek to the concert if he is willing to attend . After Picard leaves , Perrin consults with Sarek in the other room , and it turns out he cannot meditate and has not been able to for weeks . Sarek asks his wife to leave him , as he requires solitude . Wesley and La Forge verify the temperature of the slime in the tank , which is 150 ° Celsius . Wes , unusually impatient , asks to leave for his date and La Forge remarks that nothing ' s going to happen anyway . The two quickly descend into a huge argument , as La Forge says that Wes is not going to get anywhere with Dumont and Wes retorts that at least he doesn ' t have to get his women on a holodeck . The two are about ready to come to blows when Riker walks in and breaks it up . Wes leaves , while La Forge insists that nothing is the matter . Act Two . Picard and Riker go to the recital , as they discuss Worf putting a previously exemplary officer , Ensign , on report for insubordination and Riker brings up the earlier incident . Before they can discuss further , Sarek and his group come in the recital room . He says it was at his wife ' s insistence and that it seemed the ideal diversion . Picard introduces Data who asks which performer ' s style they ' d like to hear , as he is programmed with varieties for 300 violinists . Perrin asks Data to play in the style of Tataglia . While the concert is going on , Sarek actually cries at a moving moment in the performance . Picard notices this and , while retaining his composure , is astounded to see a Vulcan crying to music . Sarek and his group quickly leave , and as they do Troi also feels something unusual from them . Dr . Crusher summons Wesley to sickbay , and after picking a fight with him about not having attended the concert , she slaps him as hard as she can to make Wesley tell the truth . Later she tells Counselor Troi , whom Wesley reported to , that she would never hit Wes , especially as it was unprovoked . It was from a sudden burst of anger . Troi says that she has heard the same thing from 10 other people in two days . Sakkath gets a tour of the bridge from Data and he asks if Picard is prepared to go through negotiations with the Legarans if the ambassador ' s diplomatic capabilities are compromised . Data infers that Sarek may not be able to conduct negotiations as originally thought , but Sakkath backtracks and says that he was merely interested in exploring different scenarios of the situation . In Ten Forward , Miles O ' Brien starts an argument with one of the other officers about the table they were going to sit at . La Forge sees this and calms them down and offers to buy everyone a drink . At that moment , Riker discusses Worf reporting Ensign D ' Amato ' s recent behavior when they walk into Ten Forward and into a massive brawl . They both join the melee and try to restore order . Act Three . Picard , Riker , Troi , and Dr . Crusher are in Ten Forward discussing the fights that have been occurring . Eventually , Dr . Crusher and Counselor Troi deduce that Sarek is suffering from Bendii Syndrome , a rare disorder that causes Vulcan s over the age of 200 to lose emotional control , and he is unconsciously broadcasting his intense emotions to the humanoids around him . Crusher says that all the fights started when the Vulcan party beamed aboard . She says that they can test for Bendii Syndrome but the results of the test to confirm it will not be available for several days after the scheduled meeting with the Legarans . Picard summons Mendrossen to his ready room and tries to reason with him that Sarek may have Bendii Syndrome , but Mendrossen refuses to listen . He summons Data and has him talk to Sakkath , who admits , after Data uses logic with him , that Sarek is not able to continue his diplomatic duties in his condition . It turns out that Sakkath has been using his own telepathic abilities to keep Sarek ' s emotions under control , but the strain of the mission has made it impossible to hold in Sarek ' s abilities . Riker tells Picard that he needs to tell Sarek about his condition , but they end up yelling at each other on the bridge . Data calms them down and Picard takes up the unpleasant task of confronting Sarek . He finds Perrin and tells her that Sarek may have Bendii Syndrome , but Perrin is in complete denial about Sarek ' s condition , saying that there has not been a case of it in Sarek ' s lifetime and that he does not have it . Picard insists , apologizing that he must barge in , but then , Sarek , Mendrossen and Sakkath come from the other room . Act Four . When he finally gets to speak to Sarek , he also does not believe that he has the disease , but he will submit himself to take the test . Since the conference is in a few hours and the test results cannot be determined for at least several days , Picard asks that he postpone the conference with the Legarans . Picard reveals that Sakkath has been holding together Sarek ' s emotions and Sarek tells Sakkath that his assistance will no longer be required . He then asks everyone to leave while he speaks to Picard alone . Sarek offers Picard the chance to present his arguments and he will listen and consider them logically . Picard explains the violent emotional outbreaks that have been occurring on the ship , and that he feels Sarek is responsible . Sarek counters that any number of unexplained phenomena could be the cause , and while Picard states that other possibilities are being researched , there is also the fact this began after Sarek came aboard and that it can ' t be a coincidence that his wife and staff have been isolating him . Sarek suggests that Picard is reacting to their emotional feelings concerning his age , but Picard reminds him that Sakkath doesn ' t feel emotions . Sarek argues that Sakkath is a child who mistakenly thought that he needed help . . . but Picard reminds him that he did need his help at the concert . The mention of the concert causes Sarek to hesitate , as Picard reminds him that he cried . . . he saw the tears . Sarek at first denies it , then correct Picard that he recalls that there was only ' one tear ' . Picard then comes back with his original question ; " " Is it logical for a Vulcan to cry ? " " . Sarek , beginning to lose control as his anger is rising , reminds Picard that the Legarans will meet with him and only him – there are no other solutions . Picard reminds Sarek that he himself has said that there are always other solutions , and that Sarek would never be afraid to look at something he didn ' t want to see . Sarek angrily accuses Picard of trying to discredit him , but Picard stands firm with the statement that " " Sarek of Vulcan never confused what he wanted with the truth . " " Sarek is now becoming blind with fury , and Picard tells him that he can hear the anger in his voice . Sarek screams that it is illogical to become angry , and his hysterical reaction proves that everything that Picard has claimed is true . Act Five . Picard , upset at what he had to do even if it was the right thing , knows that Sarek is in no condition to do the negotiations and prepares to inform the Legarans personally . Perrin asks Picard privately in his ready room to let Sarek continue the negotiations , but Picard cannot do anything . She asks Picard to volunteer to allow Sarek to mind meld with him , so that Sarek would have Picard ' s emotional control . Sarek is reluctant , warning that this would cause Picard to be completely overwhelmed by extremely powerful Vulcan emotions , but he ultimately agrees . After the meld is performed , Picard is indeed overcome , and in the presence of Beverly Crusher , pours out the contents of Sarek ' s secretly anguished soul , such as his regrets of never showing tenderness to Perrin , as well as to his late wife Amanda and their son , Spock . In the meantime , a restored and rational Sarek successfully completes his negotiations with the Legarans . The link is dissolved , and with the negotiations over and Sarek under less pressure , Sakkath can again help him . The will be transporting Sarek and his delegation back to Vulcan . Picard shakes Perrin ' s hand , and then tells her that Sarek loves her . She says that she knows . Picard bids farewell to Sarek in the transporter room . Their lives have been forever joined , and each will carry a part of the other with him . Picard feels he has the better part of the bargain . Picard displays the Vulcan salute and bids Sarek farewell . As the Vulcan party leaves , Sarek grabs his wife ' s hand . Memorable quotes . " " I met him once . . . Many years ago , very briefly at his son ' s wedding . I can tell you , was quite a moment for a young lieutenant . Standing in the presence of such history . . . I remember he spoke to me , and I just stood there grinning like an idiot . " " " " You , tongue - tied ? " " " " Indeed . How do you make small talk with someone who helped shape the Federation ? " " " " These walls are too bright ! " " " " The way Mendrossen described him , I expected to see a frail old man . " " " " I hope I ' m that frail when I ' m 202 years old . " " " " I don ' t have to tell you that insubordination is a serious charge to be filed against any officer . " " " " I am aware of that Commander , however Ensign D ' Amato directly challenged my authority . " " " " Is it my imagination , or have tempers become somewhat " frayed " on board this ship lately ? " " " " I hadn ' t noticed " " ( pause ) " " I see what you mean . " " " " That girl ' s way out of your league . " " " " At least I don ' t have to find my women on the holodeck ! " " " " WHAT DID YOU SAY ! ? " " " " Didn ' t your mother teach you manners ? " " " " I have been accused of many things in my life , never an excess of emotion . " " " " My husband has taken an interest in your career . He finds it to be . . . satisfactory . " " " " My word . . . high praise from a Vulcan . " " " " I don ' t understand this . Everyone is protecting Sarek : his wife , Mendrossen , even you ! " " " " What would you have me do ? March down there and " destroy " the man ? ! " " " " The mission with the Legarans cannot be carried out with Sarek in this condition ! " " " " I know that ! " " " " THEN TELL HIM THAT THERE IS NO WAY ! ! " " " " DON ' T YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO ! ! " " " " Captain ! Commander ! " " " " I saw you crying . " " " " I did not cry . " " " " I was there , I saw the tears . " " " " You exaggerate , captain . I recall only one tear . " " " " So you were emotionally affected by the music . " " " " That is not possible . " " " " You still haven ' t answered my question , Sarek . Is it logical for a Vulcan to cry ? " " " " The Legarans trust only me . They will not meet with any other member of the Federation . I must be allowed to complete my mission ! There are no other logical solutions ! " " " " I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO IN THIS MANNER ! ! ! " " " " Do I hear anger in your voice ? " " " " It would be illogical for a Vulcan to show anger ! It would be illogical ! Illogical ! Illogical ! Illogical ! " " " " A mind - meld can be a terrible intimacy , captain . " " " " My wife , you will leave me now . I require solitude . " " " " NOOOOOOO ! ! ! ! It is . . . it is . . . wrong . IT IS WROOONG ! ! ! A lifetime of discipline is washed away , and in its place . . . ( laughs briefly then grunts ) Bedlam . BEDLAAAAM ! ! ! I am so old . . . there is nothing left but dry bones ( sobs ) and dead friends . Oh , tired . Oh , so tired . " " " " I will take my leave of you now , Captain . I do not think we shall meet again . " " " " I hope you are wrong , Ambassador . " " " " We shall always retain the best part of the other inside us . " " " " I believe I have the better part of that bargain , Ambassador . Peace and long life . " " " " Live long and prosper . " " Background information . Apocrypha . The portion of the novel " Federation " set in 2366 begins during this episode ' s epilogue as the title character and Perrin are about to leave the " Enterprise " . The Tokyopop manga , " Boukenshin " had a story titled " The Picardian Knot " , set shorty after the episode ( set on Stardate 43920 . 9 ) . Links and references . References . 2164 ; 2273 ; Alpha Cygnus IX ; ambassador ; bacteria ; Bendii Syndrome ; Betazoid ; book ; Celsius ; cheek ; chief of staff ; command center ; concert ; ; ; ; Earth ; emotion ; empath ; Federation ; flagship ; food replicator ; Grak - tay ; ; ; holodeck ; insubordination ; Klingon Alliance ; Legara IV ; Legaran ; Legaran system ; logic ; love ; meditation ; ; metathalamus ; ; ; NCC - 7100 ; personal assistant ; rank ; recital ; " Sextet Number 1 " ; small talk ; Spock ; " String Quartet Number 19 " ; Tataglia ; tear s ; telepath ; ; Treaty of Alpha Cygnus IX ; violin ; violinist ; virus ; Vulcan ; Vulcan ( planet ) ; Vulcan mind meld ; water ; wedding