When The Bough Breaks ( episode ) Wesley Crusher must protect a group of kidnapped " Enterprise " - D children while Captain Picard fights for their release . Summary . Teaser . While investigating faint energy readings coming from the Epsilon Mynos system , the crew of the are witness to the revealing of the legendary planet Aldea . Act One . A woman contacts the " Enterprise " and introduces herself as Rashella , welcoming them and wishing to talk with them . Suddenly , she and Radue , introducing himself as the leader , appear on the bridge , startling everyone , notably Dr . Crusher , as they did not undergo decontamination procedures by going through the transporter , but they quickly explain that the " Enterprise " s transporters won ' t work because of the planet ' s shields . They formally invite them to the planet , but also show visible signs of discomfort , which they justify by not being used to bright lights and soon afterwards they beam back on the planet . Without warning , Commander Riker , Deanna Troi , and Dr . Crusher are transported to the surface of Aldea , and they ' re welcomed to their community . However , the Aldean ' s motives are quickly revealed , as Radue explains that he wishes to " acquire " some of the " Enterprise " s children , in exchange for technology . This outrages both Riker and Crusher , and Troi explains that Human s are very attached to their children ; other species might be tempted . Then Radue explains that the Aldean society is dying out , and they ' ve become infertile . Riker expresses his sympathy , but declines their trade offer . Radue promptly returns them to the ship . Meanwhile , strange beams of light come from the planet , scanning everyone on board but focused only on the children , such as Wesley Crusher on the bridge . Data reaches out to help him , but Picard warns him not to touch the teen , as they may unknowingly harm him . Suddenly to Dr . Crusher ' s alarm , Wesley is beamed away by the Aldean ' s transporter , and the disappearances of several other children across the ship are reported . Act Two . The Captain is infuriated , and contacts Radue , demanding to have their children back . Radue appears on the viewscreen and informs Picard that the children will be well looked after , and that they ' ll want for nothing . He wants to discuss compensation , but Picard ' s response prompts him to close communication . Picard and Dr . Crusher along with Troi have a meeting with the other parents in the conference lounge to explain what ' s happened . Picard will have Dr . Crusher with him to represent the other parents , and assures them that the " Enterprise " will not leave without the children . On Aldea , Wesley and the children meet their new foster parents , and are quickly enticed by the skill - enhancing instruments that are offered to them . Wesley , however , is not impressed by the Aldeans and resists . Radue attempts to label him as the leader of the group , and gives him the task of helping the others adjust since he has no choice , like the Aldeans . Riker reports that Data has discovered random fluctuations in the shield , holes in essence , that could possibly be used to transport an away team through . Riker is surprised that the Aldeans haven ' t perfected their technology after all this time and eliminated the flaw . As using a hole would have to be precise with timing and there would be no guarantee , Data notes it may be better to crack the code used to transport through the magnetic shield , but it will take time as the sheer number of possible codes is almost endless . While Data works on it , Picard orders Riker to work with La Forge to figure out a way through a hole . An away team can then find the power source for the shield and neutralize it ; Picard knows that they have to keep the Aldeans talking , because once they realize the crew will not accept anything but the childrens ' return , they will just turn the cloaking device back on and the " Enterprise " will have lost any chance to get them back . Act Three . Duana introduces Wesley to the Custodian for storing records of him . Wesley immediately wants to know more about the computer system , which takes care of the Aldeans ' every need . He asks about what the other children are doing and interacts with the Custodian and learns the controls . He also asks what ' s behind one of the doors , but Duana admits that she doesn ' t know . Picard and Dr . Crusher are transported to the planet to negotiate for " compensation " for the children . They refuse to give the children back , thinking that it ' s not a problem as they can have more children , but the captain warns that the Aldeans are messing with a primal Human instinct and that parents are willing to die if necessary for their children . To Crusher ' s questions about the children ' s future fertility , Radue is convinced that the problem is a genetic dysfunction and not contagious . Picard nevertheless remains amicable and says they sympathize with the Aldeans and is open to a satisfactory solution to both sides . The Aldeans see their problem as solved and they ' re offering the sum of their knowledge : what more could they want ? Picard manages to convince him to let Dr . Crusher see Wesley . While with him , she coordinates a covert scan of Duana with the hand scanner from her medical tricorder . Rejoining Picard , she reports her son and the others are well ; Radue states that the crew have their offer , which is final , and the away team is sent back to the ship . Radue decides to show the " Enterprise " that there is no bargaining room and displays the planet ' s power by blasting the ship , and throwing it back in ten seconds the equivalent distance of three days travel from the planet at warp 9 . He claims that he could very easily push the " Enterprise " so far away that by the time they returned to Aldea , their children would be grandparents . Act Four . During the return trip to Aldea Picard tells Radue that there is room for discussion and ends the communication . Dr . Crusher has analyzed the covert scan and discovers that Duana is dying , suffering from some chromosomal damage , probably like the rest of the population . Crusher can ' t determine if it is genetic or environmental , so leaves to determine the cause . Whatever it is , it explains their pallor , general lack of appetite and sensitivity to light . It is similar to the situation on Earth in the 21st century . On Aldea , the children each show signs of dissatisfaction while being taught their respective activities . Wesley , however , firmly says to Radue and Duana that they will not cooperate . That night , he decides to convince the younger children to go on a hunger strike and to not speak to their hosts , in an attempt to make the Aldeans return them to the ship . Using the Custodian , he locates all the children and explains to them that it is a form of passive resistance . He assures them that while the Aldeans may become upset , they will not harm them as they need them . While a couple are not sure , he reminds them that while the Aldeans are very nice , they all want to go home and gets the mutual solidarity he needs . Rashella walks in and finds them . Act Five . Upon the " Enterprise " s return , Crusher confirms the Aldeans are suffering from acute radiation poisoning , which is reversible and causing the infertility . Also , while Data says it would take too long to decode the Aldean ' s transporter beam , La Forge has found that the holes in the shielding can be used to beam down a team with the right timing . When Radue beams Picard and Crusher down to negotiate , Worf carefully orders the transporter officer to beam Riker and Data down to Aldea in a discreet location . They are successful and locate the Custodian . Radue meets with Picard and Crusher and first demands that he make the children end their strike . Picard goes to the children and surprises Radue by taking them back to him and reveals that Riker and Data are on the planet . Crusher tries to convince Radue that the cause of their infertility is the planetary shield and cloaking device affecting their ozone layer , similar to Earth in the 21st century . Eventually , even the children will become affected as well . Radue does not believe her , insisting that their scientists would ' ve known but Crusher retorts that they have been so reliant on their technology , they ' ve stopped questioning it or know how it works . Radue attempts to beam the officers away but his commands to the Custodian are not responding ; Riker and Data have temporarily disabled it . Picard has the " Enterprise " to beam up the children , but not before young Harry Bernard says goodbye to his " adoptive " father , Accolan . When they are gone , Radue is convinced that Picard has destroyed them . The captain says they are doing the exact opposite . The Aldeans , led by the Starfleet personnel , go to the mysterious door and find what Data identifies as the power source . Radue muses that they need to relearn how to look after themselves and use the power source safely . Picard offers their help , which is gladly accepted . The crew successfully reseeds Aldea ' s ozone layer , which to be maintained , the cloak nor the shield can ever be used again . On the " Enterprise " , Dr . Crusher reports that the population is responding well to treatment , and will become fertile in time . Picard remarks that while the planet ' s legend will die , its people will live . They leave Aldea , but not before Wesley escorts Alexandra , one of the children , to the bridge as she wants to thank and hug Picard . When she leaves , everyone on the bridge giggles behind the captain ' s back as Alexandra ' s plush toy has become accidentally stuck to his back . Memorable quotes . " " Data , find a way to defeat that shield . " " " " That may be impossible , sir . " " " " Things are only impossible until they ' re not . " " " " Yes , sir . " " " " It ' s Aldea , Captain . It has to be . " " " " We need some of your children . " " " " Our children are not for sale at " any " price . " " " " What ' s your hurry , Harry ? " " " " You ' ve stolen our children away from their classrooms , away from their bedrooms and you talk about compensation ? ! You claim to be a civilized race and yet for some reason you have just committed an act of utter barbarity ! ! " " " " Captain , we will continue these discussions when you have calmed down . " " " " The Aldeans are suffering from a form of radiation poisoning . " " " " Is that what made them sterile ? " " " " Instead of the children being our hope , what if we ' re just condemning them to our fate ? " " " " Rashella , they ' re just protecting their own interests . " " " " As are we . But hear them out . The Captain and Doctor Crusher are saying that the very thing which has given us this wonderful world is what has caused this tragedy . " " " " That ' s it . Exactly . Your Custodian has controlled you so completely you ' ve lost even the desire to even question it . " " " " OK , kids . Let ' s go home . " " " " The legend will die but the people will live . " " " " Captain , I am not aware of regulation 6 . 57 . " " " " No Data , neither am I . " " " " I see sir . " " ( Pause , understands ) " " Oh , I see sir ! ' " " " Dad , I want to be an artist , but I don ' t want to take calculus anymore . " " " " You can be anything you want , Harry . Anything . But you still have to take calculus . " " " " Okay . Thanks , Dad . " " Links and references . References . 14th century ; 21st century ; Aldea ; Aldean ; Aldean holographic toy ; Aldean musical instrument ; Aldean transport device ; Aran ; Atlantis ; atmosphere ; ; bed ; bridge ; calcium ; calculus ; cancer ; carbon monoxide ; chromosome ; cloaking device ; corridor ; custodian ; dedication plaque ; defense shield ; desktop monitor ; diagnostic analysis ; dolphin ; Earth ; Epsilon Mynos system ; father ; First Appointee ; fish ; fork ; fruit ; gamma ray ; gravity ; industrial waste byproduct ; infertility ; Katie ' s instrument ; kidnapping ; lesion ; medical doctor ; magnetic field ; medical tricorder ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mother ; musician ; mythology ; necklace ; Neinman ; neutrino ; nitrogen ; number one ; observation lounge ; oceanographer ; orbit ; oxygen ; ozone layer ; painting ; pallor ; passive resistance ; personal hygiene ; planetary defense system ; potassium ; Progenitor ; quark ; radiation ; radiation poisoning ; red alert ; red dye number two ; repulsor beam ; Romulan ; school ; sculpting tool ; sculptor ; sculpture ; sickbay ; skant ; solar flux ; son ; Starfleet Regulations ; statue ; stuffed animal ; teacher ; terminal illness ; three - dimensional chess ; toy ; trace element ; transporter room ; tricorder ; turbolift ; ultraviolet radiation ; unit ; unnamed plants ; viewscreen ; visible light ; VISOR ; vitamin ; vitamin deficiency ; Vulcan lute ; water ; window ; wood ; Xerxes VII ; Zadar IV ; Zadarian dolphin ; Zena Unreferenced material . 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