In his latest attempt to understand Humanity, Data accepts the affections of Jenna D'Sora and pursues a romantic relationship with her. In the meantime, a nebula theEnterprise is passing through is causing strange things to happen on the ship.

Summary[]

Data and Jenna work in the torpedo bay to prepare a probe

Teaser[]

"Captain's Log,Stardate 44932.3. TheEnterprise is preparing to enter theMar Oscura, an unexploreddark matter nebula. Commander Data is modifying several of ourphoton torpedoes for an experiment designed to elicit more information about this unusual phenomenon."

Jenna D'Sora, who had recently broken up with her boyfriend,Jeff Arton, is working withData on aprobe in theUSSEnterprise-D'storpedo bay. When Data notices that she is subdued, she mentions that she saw Jeff earlier in theturbolift, and that he had asked her to dinner. Responding to a request Jenna had made of him earlier, Data recites a litany of reasons why she had chosen to break up with him. Data tells her that "As your friend, it is my responsibility to be supportive in times of need." – a behavior she finds sweet. Meanwhile, theEnterprise launches the now-completed probe into the nebula, producing a beautiful display.

Act One[]

InTen Forward, D'Sora and Data play in a chamberconcert, along withKeiko O'Brien. After the performance, D'Sora criticizes her own playing, but Data argues that there were no major technical errors in her music. She insists, and Data responds by offering to practice with her, but assuring her that the audience didn't notice any problems and enjoyed themselves. She appreciates his making the effort, and later, as D'Sora and Data have a drink with Keiko and her husbandMiles O'Brien, Data successfully entertains the table by making lovers' small talk with Jenna. On thebridge, Data is analyzing the readings from their probe. The nebula has a greater density ofdark matter than other similar formations. He hypothesizes thatlife in this region may have developed in hitherto unseen ways. It is decided that theEnterprise will travel to aplanet within the region, to see if Data's theory is correct.

Insickbay,Dr.Crusher hears ahypospray fall on the floor from a table as she walks by but thinks nothing of it.

In thetorpedo tube, Data is working on another probe, while Jenna talks to him about her family. She wishes she could fall for a man like Data, given that he is perfect. Data reminds her that he is not as he has no feelings of any kind. D'Sora says that he has given her so much and notes that Data is with her when she is lonely and encourages her when she is down. Before she leaves, Jennakisses Data, first on the cheek, and then on the lips, leaving theandroid somewhat puzzled.

Act Two[]

Data immediately starts seeking advice from his colleagues on romantic love in general and on what he should do, since Jenna apparently shows serious interest in him. In Ten Forward, Data tellsGuinan, "Lieutenant D'Sora just gave me what could be considered a very passionate kiss in the torpedo bay." Guinan advises him that this will be an entirely new (and interesting) experience for him.Geordi La Forge warns him about pursuing a woman on the rebound, but then corrects himself, suspecting she might be over the rebound, and finally admits he has no advice to give and advises Data to seek someone out who is more experienced in giving advice.Deanna Troi worries that Jenna may be in a vulnerable position but stops short of discouraging him from romancing Jenna. "We're all more than the sum of our parts, Data. You'll have to be more than the sum of your programming", she tells him.Worf informs him thatKlingons do not pursue romances the same wayHumans do; they conquer what they desire. He adds in a menacing whisper that, as hersuperior officer, he would be very displeased if Lt. D'Sora were mistreated.Will Riker encourages him to go for it, stating that the rewards of a romantic relationship are far greater than that of simple friendship. Captain Picard refuses to comment, stating that he would be happy to pass along any advice about understanding women, as soon as he has any to give.

"Second Officer's personal log, Stardate 44935.6. After conferring with my colleagues regarding the nature of romantic love in general, and my own situation in particular, I have reached a decision."

Data goes to D'Sora's quarters, with a bouquet offlowers that Jenna finds lovely. The flowers are a variety ofcrystilia fromTelemarius IV which Riker had recommended to Data. When Jenna asks how many people he discussed her with, he replies that it was less than 1% of the ship's crew. Data tells Jenna that he has created a special program devoted to romantic relationships. When Data informs her that he has "devoted a considerable share" of his internal resources to the development of a subroutine within this program, specifically for her, she tells him that's the nicest thing anybody had ever said to her. Data and Jenna then share a kiss.

Act Three[]

On the bridge, theEnterprise is approaching aclass M planet within the nebula. Thecaptain goes to hisready room, only to discover that the items usually located atop his desk are lying on the floor. Picard summons Worf, asking him to bring atricorder with him. They discover that there is no evidence that anyone other than the captain had been in contact with the items, but there is no obvious explanation for the displacement. Picardjokingly tells Worf that they may have apoltergeist on their hands, which he does not find amusing. Worf is suspicious, but Picard feels that the situation, while perplexing, is not serious.

"I'll see you tonight — "*I'll see you tonight.*"

Data is confused by the strange concept of love and how he must continually show this to Jenna D'Sora. For example, D'Sora arrives unexpectedly in hisquarters with a gift of aTyrinean blade carving as a decoration for his spartan quarters as he is painting but tells him to go back to hispainting. He does so, and then is perplexed when Jenna reveals that she hadactually wanted him to stop his painting and give her his full undivided attention. As she leaves, a section of the wall in the corridor seems to disappear briefly. The anomalies have now moved past the point of what Picard initially laughed off as "poltergeist" phenomena, and as the ship arrives at the coordinates of the planet, it is nowhere to be found.

Act Four[]

After ruling out asensor malfunction, the planet suddenly reappears in front of them. Thecomputer informs thebridge crew that there has been adecompression in theobservation lounge. The computer announces that the environmental compensation sequence has been initiated. Whenlife support is restored to that room, the crew investigates, and discovers all the furniture in the room piled up near one of the windows. Datascans thetransparent aluminum alloy in the windows, and notices an unexplainedanomaly in the readings. Picard orders further investigation.

When his shift ends, Data goes to D'Sora's quarters. At first, Jenna enjoys the relationship. Ironically, it is Data's nearly perfect performance as an attentive lover that causes Jenna to lose her love for him. He welcomes her withCalaman sherrys and a soothing attitude, but this fails to set her at ease; he begins to straighten up her quarters, but she doesn't want him to do this. Confused, he bolts from his place beside her and begins shouting at her. Jenna is shocked by this, and tells Data to leave. He asks, "You do not wish to continue our 'lovers' quarrel'?", thus revealing that he is still running through his database to find an appropriate response for her. Jenna is both touched and saddened to hear this.

Seven more strange incidents have occurred on theEnterprise since the one in the observation lounge; Data explains that they seem to be caused by some kind of subspace effect happening inside the Mar Oscura Nebula. Picard ordersEnsign McKnight to move the ship out of the nebula atwarp speed, which immediately leads to a sudden rush of deformations, nearly killingThorne, one of La Forge'sengineers when a cryogenic control conduit blows. Picard orders thehelm to stop the ship, and La Forge, along with Thorne andLieutenant Van Mayter, goes to check out some possible structural damage betweenDecks 36 and 37. While investigating, Van Mayter is killed when the matter/space anomaly appears beneath her, causing her to phase partially through the deck of the ship, wherein she is trapped when it re-materializes.

Act Five[]

"Captain's Log, supplemental. This series of unexplained events has now resulted in the death of a crewman, but it appears that Mr. Data may have an explanation."

Data informs the assembled staff in the observation lounge that the dark matter in the region is causing deformations in space. La Forge explains how the spatial deformations are affecting the ship: "… when we hit one of them, part of the ship momentarily phases out of normal space.". Data reveals that the ship's sensors cannot detect the deformations in time to avoid them; the detection range is too short. Worf proposes using a much more maneuverableshuttlepod to lead theEnterprise out of danger. Picard agrees to the plan and insists to Riker that he pilot the shuttle instead of him. Using the shuttle's small computer screen, Picard steers through a crowded minefield of deformations, but eventually loses control as deformations impact and damage the shuttle'sinertial damping system and itskrellide power cells. Fortunately, O'Brien manages tobeam the captain out of the shuttle just before it explodes as it is spinning out of control. By this time theEnterprise is close enough to risk a rush to the edge of the nebula. TheEnterprise soon escapes into the safety of normal space and heads toStarbase 260.

Jenna has finally realized that the android does not really feel any emotions for her, nor does he really care for her. What is most hurtful is the realization that nothing she says or does can have any effect on him, that she has broken up with an unemotional man only to fall for a man who is completely incapable of emotions. Data notes that this does seem to be a recurring motif for her. She reveals this to Data before a dinner date in his quarters. Data realizes he is being dumped but shows no emotion and simply notes that he will delete the appropriate program (the one he'd written for their relationship), just as D'Sora expected he would do. Sitting alone in his quarters, Data gives hiscat,Spot, a chipper greeting. He scratches the cat's chin and then leans over to blow out the dinnercandles.

Log entries[]

Memorable quotes[]

"Honey, I'm home."

-Data, to Jenna

"I require advice."
(laughs) "Don't look at me."
(Data turns his head and looks away from her)

-Data andGuinan

"Lt. D'Sora just gave me what could be considered… a very passionate kiss in the torpedo bay."

-Data, to Guinan

"Well, what do you think of her, Data?"
"I find her to be a competent officer. Highly motivated, though somewhat lacking in her understanding of the theory underlying thedilithium matrix application."
"I meant personally."

-Guinan andData

"The cat's out of the bag."
(looks around) "Spot?"

-Jenna andData

"This can be a… a little complicated. Listen, my advice is… ask somebody else for advice. At least, someone who's got more experience at giving advice."

-La Forge, when Data asks him for advice on dating

"My programming may be inadequate to the task."
"We're all more than the sum of our parts, Data. You'll have to be more than the sum of your programming."

-Data andTroi, on romantic relationships

"Klingons do not pursue relationships. They conquer that which they desire."

-Worf

"Data, when it really works between two people, it's not like anything you've ever experienced. The rewards are far greater than simple friendship."
"How far, sir?"
"That's what I'm hoping you're going to find out!"

-Riker, enjoyingData's burgeoning romance with Jenna

"Captain. I am seeking advice in how to…"
"Yes, I've heard, Data. And I would be delighted to offer any advice I can on understanding women. When I have some I'll let you know."

-Data and CaptainPicard

"Darling, you remain as aesthetically pleasing as the first day we met. I believe I am the most fortunate sentient in this sector of the galaxy!"

-Data, to Jenna D'Sora

"Let's get him out of there!"
"Now would be a good time, Mr. O'Brien."

-Riker, asPicard's shuttle spins out of control

"Data, sometimes people blindly make the same mistake again and again."
"Are you currently experiencing this phenomenon?"
"I didn't see it until today. I got out of a relationship with an unemotional man, and I got right back into another one with… with a man who's absolutely incapable of emotion."
"Hmm. There does appear to be a recurring motif."

-Jenna andData

"Nothing I can say or do will ever make you happy or… or sad. Or touch you in any way."
"That is a valid projection. It is apparent that my reach has exceeded my grasp in this particular area."

-Jenna D'Sora, breaking up withData

"Are we no longer… a couple?"
"No, we're not."
"Then I will delete the appropriate program."

-Data andJenna

"Hello, Spot."

-Data

Background information[]

Production history[]

Final draft script:20 March 1991 [1]
Filmed:1 April 1991 –9 April 1991
Second unit and insert shots filmed:18 April 1991
Premiere airdate:3 June 1991
First UK airdate:7 December 1994

Story and script[]

Joe Menosky commented, "This was another chance to walk the line betweenData's hardwiring and his programmed 'heart' – to explore whether there really is aghost in the machine." (Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 211)
According toRonald D. Moore, the story was inspired by stories offans confessing their love for the character ofSpock during the original run ofStar Trek: The Original Series. He remarked, "So much ofLeonard Nimoy's fan mail was from women, women who were falling in love with this remote, inaccessible character with the idea that 'I could touch his heart – I could get to Spock like no one else.' I was fascinated by that aspect of fandom." He thought it would be interesting to explore what would happen when the man completely lacked emotions, rather than just controlled them as Spock had. (Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 211)
This was the first collaboration between Menosky and Moore. Menosky recalled that he and Moore split the scenes between them before coming together to compare their work. (Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 211)
Both writers wanted the episode to be essentially a character study but found they needed to combine it with a B story. "We had to come up with some stupid subspace anomaly that theEnterprise had to be battling at the same time," commented Moore. "It was annoying storytelling, but that was built in to the structure of that show. While you were downstairs with Data, you always kind of wondered what the ship would be doing." (Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages, pp. 78-79)

Production[]

Patrick Stewart directing Spiner and Scarabelli

Rehearsing with Spiner andWhoopi Goldberg

This is the first episode to bedirected byPatrick Stewart. For advice, Stewart turned toJonathan Frakes. Frakes recalled, "We had a couple of conversations. He was fabulous and took to it beautifully. He's a very sensitive man and he did a great job. He was also lucky that he got a Data show as his first.Brent [Spiner] really is an incredible actor with unbelievable range and technique, and certainly the most popular character, so it's a real plus to get that combination." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 222) Stewart also spent much time talking to the show's original cinematographer,Edward R. Brown about his directorial debut. ("Departmental Briefing Year Four - Production",TNG Season 4 DVD special feature)
Stewart recalled, "I was a virgin then. Those seven days that I worked on 'In Theory' were seven of the most exciting days of my career. They were so intense." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 222)
Noting that the series assigned directors by lot, Stewart added, "I was very lucky to get a simple little love story to direct. I was lucky to have Brent Spiner as my leading man and indeed Brent was to be my leading man in the first three of the five episodes I directed. I had a fabulous guest star performance byMichele Scarabelli. I had no big sets or Klingon Great Halls or shoot 'em ups; there were no epic scenes. I had to simply concentrate on the basics of camera movement and structure and, more than anything else, work with the actors on the scenes." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 222)
"In Theory" was filmed between Monday1 April 1991 and Tuesday9 April 1991 onParamount Stage 8 and9. A note on the call sheet of Monday8 April 1991 reminded the cast and crew about the time change and to set the clocks forward one hour. Second unit and insert shots were filmed on Thursday18 April 1991 on Paramount Stage 8 and 9.
First UK airdate: 7 December 1994

Music[]

At the beginning of Act 2, the piece played by the woodwind quintet in which Data performed is Anton Reicha'sWind Quintet in E-flat major.
In Act 4, when Data is cleaning up Jenna's quarters, he sings "Che Gelida Manina," from the Italian opera "La Bohème" byGiacomo Puccini. The Italian lyrics that he sings are: "Che gelida manina, se la lasci riscaldar. Cercar che giova?" (What a frozen hand, let me warm it for you. What's the use of searching?)
ComposerJay Chattaway remembers, "The most demanding requirement for that episode was coming up with a musical device that would work for an android. I don't know whether or not Data has emotional feelings, but he was depicted in the show as feeling – in his own android way – an emotional relationship with someone. I used an EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) to produce Data's musical voice. A musician actually blows into the instrument like any non-electric wind instrument, so it's able to capture all the same emotional nuances, yet it drives a battery of synthesizers. What comes out is this eerie, spacey marriage of man and machine. The end result is as unique as Data – not quite alive, but not totally artificial. I thoughtBrent Spiner pulled it off well. He's a very musical person, and in that episode, he actually sings an opera aria. Also, his album [Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back] is quite good." (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 18, p. 35)

Continuity[]

While having a "lovers' quarrel", Data says angrily "You're not my mother", using a contraction. When Jenna questions him, he explains calmly "You are not my mother." This might indicate that the initial phrase was specifically programmed with the contraction, but the repeat without a contraction is a unique form of the "no contractions" contradiction. Data also says "Honey, I'm home!" when he enters Jenna's quarters, and "I'll join you", when asking Jenna which drink, she would prefer. These may also have been programmed phrases.
Also just before "You're not my mother." Data says, "Youdon't tell me how to behave."
This is the last episode in which Data's cat,Spot, is a Somali cat. After this episode, Spot was portrayed as an orange short-hair tabby.
After the observation room's brief exposure to space, Data makes note of changes in thetransparent aluminum alloy (the windows), giving reference to the same alloyMontgomery Scott introduced as a bargaining chip inStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
The nebula appears to be a recolored version of theMutara Nebula fromStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
This is the only episode with scenes inside one of the torpedo bays of theEnterprise-D.
"Honey, I'm home" is a catchphrase commonly associated with1950s sitcoms, particularly "I Love Lucy".

Reception[]

For theStar Trek: Fan Collective - Captain's Log DVD collection, Stewart selected "In Theory" as his favorite episode of the series.
When asked whether there were any episodes he had written that he felt were under-recognized,Ronald D. Moore remarked, "I guess I have a fond memory of the A-story in "In Theory" and always felt people didn't quite give that one its due." (AOL chat,1997)
Ron Moore disliked having the space anomaly B-story in the episode, describing it as being representative of the "hamstringing' structure thatStar Trek: The Next Generation had. He noted, "OnDeep Space Nine you don't have that looming over your head all the time, so it expands the kinds of stories you can do." (Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages, pp 78-79)
Brannon Braga had similar thoughts, calling this an example of where the A-B format didn't work. He remarked, "I just wanted to see more of the Data arc. I didn't want to see that other story at all. It was interesting with that woman through the floor, nice imagery, but that's it. You really want to go back to the other thing." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 235)
A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published inThe Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 17, pp. 51-54.

Video and DVD releases[]

Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes,CIC Video): Volume 50,8 June 1992
Star Trek - Music Box VHS collection.
UK re-release (three-episode tapes,Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 4.8,1 October 2001
As part of theTNG Season 4 DVD collection
As part of theStar Trek: Fan Collective - Captain's Log collection – chosen by Patrick Stewart as his favorite episode of the series

Links and references[]

Starring[]

Also starring[]

Guest stars[]

And

Special guest star[]

Whoopi Goldberg asGuinan

Co-star[]

Majel Barrett asComputer Voice

Uncredited co-stars[]

Stand-ins[]

Arlene –stand-in forMichele Scarabelli
Karin Baxter – stand-in forRosalind Chao
Brett – stand-in forLeVar Burton
Candace Crump – stand-in forWhoopi Goldberg
Nora Leonhardt – stand-in forMarina Sirtis
Tim McCormack – stand-in forBrent Spiner
Lorine Mendell – stand-in forGates McFadden andPamela Winslow
Linda Robertson –photo double forPamela Winslow
Richard Sarstedt – stand-in forJonathan Frakes andColm Meaney
Dennis Tracy – stand-in forPatrick Stewart
James Washington – stand-in forMichael Dorn

References[]

access tube;accident;adolescence;advice;aesthetic criteria;affection;agreement;air pressure;alloy;anomaly;apparel;arrival;Arton, Jeff;assumption;atmosphere;atmospheric decompression;attention;audience;bassoon;bearing;Boleyn, Anne;book; "Book of Love";bow;bridge connector;Calaman sherry;casualty;Che gelida manina;chapter;children;choice;clarinet;cleaning processor;close range;closet;coda;colleague;color;communicator;compliment;composition;computational environment;computer;concentration;contrapuntal;cookout;coordinates;corridor;course;cryogenic control conduit;crystilia;damage;damage report;dark matter;dark matter nebula;dark matter particle illumination test;day;death;deck;Denevian mead;densitometry;density;deuterium;devil;diameter;Dickens, Charles;dilithium matrix;dinner;disappointment;dispersal pattern;distance;dizziness;door;door sensor;D'Sora's family;electrical current;EM scanner;emotion;emotional release;environmental compensation sequence;estimated time of arrival;event;evidence;experiment;explanation;explosive decompression;family;feeling;feet;fireworks;floor;flow rate;flute;fragrance;French horn;frequency domain;friend;friendship;fructose;Galaxy-class decks;girlfriend;gift;glucose;hair;heading; "hello";Henry VIII;Henry VIII's huntsmen;history;historical figure;hour;hull breach;Human;humanoid;hundred:huntsman;hypothesis;illumination;impulse nacelle;inertial damper;inertial dampening field;information;interpersonal dynamics;intimacy;intruder;investigation;kilometer;kiss;Klingon;krellide power cell;L-U band;launch bay one;lifeform;light hour;lip;literature;Love's Labour's Lost;love;love affair;lovers' quarrel;lux;M class;malfunction;manual control;Mar Oscura Nebula;Mar Oscura Nebula planets;marriage;mate;matter/antimatter containment pod;meal;mechanism;memory;meaning;mental distraction;meter;microfusion thruster;Milky Way Galaxy;million;mistake;monosaccharide;motif;music lesson;navigational input;navigational system;need;neo-primitive period;night;number one;oboe;online;opinion;opportunity;order of magnitude;orderliness;painting;palate;paragraph;parameter;performance;perimeter;person;phenomenon;photon torpedo casing;phrasing;place;poltergeist;Prakal II;Prakal II mixed drink;program;programming;quality;question;radiation level;rate;ready room;reason;red alert;rehearsal;relationship;replicator;report;resource:rhythmic pattern;risk;role;role model;romantic liaison;romantic love (romantic relationship);room;sarium krellide;Saurian brandy;science section;science station;second opinion;secondary deuterium supply;section;sector containing the Mar Oscura Nebula;security;security sweep;sensor scan;sentient;sequencer;shuttlecraft; "silver tongue";socks;sound;soup;space;spatial deformation;spirit;Starbase 260;starboard;structural damage;subject;subroutine;subspace distortion;subspace field;suggestion;summer;survey;survey probe;systems diagnostic;Targ milk;Telemarius IV;telemetry link;tempo; "the cat's out of the bag";theory;thought (akathinking);thousand;time continuum; "to be on the safe side";torpedo bay;transceiver;transparent aluminum;tricorder;turbolift;Type 15 shuttlepod;Tyrinean;Tyrinean blade carving;variable;variety;vase;Voltaire;warp field;week;wife;Wind Quintet in E-flat major;window;would-be ready room guard

Other references[]

Shuttlepod Systems 0451:adaptive computer command;attitude control;calibration rate command;doppler sequence;error checking;nav program;predictive nav input;sequence vector analysis;telemetry system

Unused production references[]

analogy;carriage;pothole;re-routing sequence;structural integrity field;thermal control sub-system;W particle

External links[]

"In Theory" atMemory Beta, the wiki for licensedStar Trek works
"In Theory" atWikipedia
"In Theory" atMissionLogPodcast.com
"In Theory" script atStar Trek Minutiae
"In Theory" at theInternet Movie Database

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