"The Drumhead" is the 95th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 21st episode of the show's fourth season. Guest star Jean Simmons portrays Rear Admiral Norah Satie, a special investigator who visits the Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise.
A Klingon exchange officer on board the Enterprise, J'Dan, is suspected of being involved in a security breach and in the possible sabotage of the warp core reactor. With no clear resolution as to the cause of the explosion, Starfleet Command dispatches retired Admiral Norah Satie to head up the investigation. She is accompanied by two assistants, one of whom is a Betazoid. Worf discovers that a Hypospray used to treat J'Dan's Balthasar Syndrome is being used to convert digital information into amino acid sequences. J'Dan is interrogated, where it is revealed that he is indeed a Romulan collaborator, yet he remains adamant that he was not involved in the dilithium chamber explosion. Satie and Picard agree that J'Dan could not have acted alone, and that a larger conspiracy is present. They establish an agreement of mutual cooperation.
Following the questioning of medical technician Simon Tarses, who is noted as being one-quarter Vulcan, Satie's Betazoid assistant senses the young technician is hiding something. Afterward, Picard refuses to place restrictions on Tarses' movements based on Betazoid intuition alone. An analysis of the dilithium chamber finds that the explosion was caused by metal fatigue, due to a hatch casing with an undetectable defect being installed at McKinley Station.
A subsequent (and now open) hearing reveals that Tarses, contrary to his Starfleet application, is actually one-quarter Romulan. Afterward Picard takes Worf aside and likens the investigation to a drumhead trial -- summary justice dispensed on the battlefield. He speaks with Tarses in private to gauge his level of involvement in any conspiracy, and is satisfied that covering up his Romulan ancestry was his only misdeed. Picard meets with Satie to protest her unethical methods and call for an end to the hearings. She advises the captain that she reports directly to Starfleet Command on the proceedings and does not require his approval, and that the hearings will continue. On the bridge, Picard receives a summons to report for questioning.
Admiral Thomas Henry, who worked with Satie in the past, arrives to observe the hearings. Picard makes an opening statement about the xenophobic and paranoid nature of the investigation. Satie picks apart Picard's career aboard the Enterprise, citing numerous infractions of the Prime Directive, his capture and assimilation by the Borg, and finally directly questions his loyalty to Starfleet. Worf nearly loses his temper with the investigators over accusations regarding his heritage. While making his final arguments Picard quotes Satie's father, a prominent Starfleet judicator, about the path of limiting freedom. Satie furiously berates Picard for invoking her father's name in his own defense, stating that she has "brought down bigger men than you Picard!"; Admiral Henry leaves the room in the middle of the tirade. The prosecution calls a recess, leaving a disgraced Satie sitting alone in the courtroom.
Worf later finds Picard in the observation lounge to inform the captain of Admiral Henry ending the hearings, and of Satie's departure from the Enterprise. Picard remarks that history can still threaten to repeat itself. Worf laments that he was quite eager to assist Satie in her witch-hunt at first. Picard speaks of the ever-present, but subtle, danger of those who would spread fear and suspicion in the name of righteousness and (paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson) of the need for vigilance against that kind of threat.
20 Comments
rottenseednerd
RadHazGI swear I thought I'd seen ever episode buuuut I guess not! Huzzah! It's like finding out there's one more piece of cake.
Off to find!
mtaddsays...What are the measures of the U.S. shirking our most recent descent into paranoia? My bets are the following conditions:
1) Repeal PATRIOT act.
2) Reasonable search by TSA at airports (not requiring shoes to be taken off....liquid limitations revoked, etc.)
3) Revocation of passport requirement for travel to Canada.
4) End "wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan.
MaxWilderHabeus Corpus is the legal action through which a prisoner can be released from an unlawful imprisonment, or at least brought to a proper trial for examination of evidence against the prisoner. What exactly does this video, which is more about McCarthyism, have to do with Habeus Corpus?
Excellent episode, I must say. TNG addressed some major issues with society and the human condition.
gwiz665@MaxWilder (hmm, relation to gene?)
Habeas Corpus is getting a fair trial. These people were not getting that and instead judged before a proper trial. It does also touch on McCarthyism with the persecution for family relations, involvement with romulan commies and such sure, but I think it hits squarely on habeas corpus too. None-the-less it's a great episode. On par with the one where data has to prove he's a not a "tool" of starfleet, but a sentient being.
rabidnesssays.......and then the TNG movies happened. And Picard essentially became an action hero character who acted against every thread of ethical decency TV show Picard ever had.
TruckchaseJean-Luc Picard 2012.
GeeSussFreeK>> ^Truckchase:
Jean-Luc Picard 2012.
Seconded!
I forgot how good of an actor patrick stewart became through ST. I just was watching some season 1 and 2, and he is so bad, a ton of overacting. But later on, he nails it perfectly. It is kind of fun watching his evolution from Broadway to silver screen.
Reefie>> ^GeeSussFreeK:
>> ^Truckchase:
Jean-Luc Picard 2012.
Seconded!
I forgot how good of an actor patrick stewart became through ST. I just was watching some season 1 and 2, and he is so bad, a ton of overacting. But later on, he nails it perfectly. It is kind of fun watching his evolution from Broadway to silver screen.
I completely agree that Patrick Stewart became a better television actor through being on Star Trek but his real talent came from his years as a stage actor. Much like Andreas Katsulas and Ian McKellen who also gained their excellent talents from theatre I think Patrick Stewart was a powerful and compelling actor before he ever stepped into the shoes of Picard!
Did anyone see Patrick Stewart and David Tennant's performance of Hamlet that was running in 2008 and 2009? Very good, didn't get to go since tickets were scarce for every venue and every night but the BBC filmed it and released it at the end of last year.
Also let's not forget his appearance in Robin Hood: Men in Tights; or the 1984 version of Dune!
GeeSussFreeKO right, I wasn't saying he was bad in early ST, just that his talents didn't fit the style of TV drama. Through the years though, he learned how to be perfectly dramatic without the melodrama that is the mainstay of Broadway style performance.
jbabersays...6:35 -- source of infamous facepalm.
coolhundsays...This is the most epic part of TNG, if not of all Star Trek. I simply couldnt believe that the speech of Picard was all made up and no famous person said it before in history, because its simply brilliant.
Right now these scenes sadly fit far more into our society than they ever have since they were made.
Crakeobjection! This court has an overabundance of ham.
Boise_Lib>> ^mtadd:
What are the measures of the U.S. shirking our most recent descent into paranoia? My bets are the following conditions:
1) Repeal PATRIOT act.
2) Reasonable search by TSA at airports (not requiring shoes to be taken off....liquid limitations revoked, etc.)
3) Revocation of passport requirement for travel to Canada.
4) End "wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan.
I second the motion and move for a Vote.
FletchExcalibur!
BTW, a simple tribble test would have prevented that whole Simon Tarses/Betazoid drama.
>> ^Reefie:
Also let's not forget his appearance in Robin Hood: Men in Tights; or the 1984 version of Dune!
notarobot>> ^rottenseed:
nerd
Nothing wrong with being an object of desire.
http://videosift.com/video/I-kissed-a-nerd-and-I-liked-it
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