Loud As A Whisper 

The crew ferries a deaf mediator to Solais V to negotiate an end to a civil war.

Director:

Larry Shaw

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Jacqueline Zambrano

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Worf
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Cmdr. Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
Diana Muldaur	...	Doctor Pulaski
Marnie Mosiman	...	Harmony / Balance
Randy Oglesby	...	Scholar / Artist (as Thomas Oglesby)
Leo Damian	...	Warrior / Adonis
Howie Seago	...	Riva
Colm Meaney	...	Transporter Chief
Richard Lavin	...	Warrior #1
Chip Heller	...	Warrior #2

Storyline

Worf is most anxious to meet Riva, the almost mythical negotiator who played a key part in appeasing the Klingons so they could enter the Federation. The Enterpise picks him up at his home planet and learns he's mute and comes with a 'chorus' of three who not only speak for him but also represent complementary views on things and emotions. he confidently goes about his mission, but a rogue member from the delegation of one of two centuries-warring planets suddenly murders his entire chorus. Disheartened, Riva wants to retreat altogether, only Troi hopes to persuade him to persevere and senses an angle.

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Plot Keywords:

acting starfleet ensign | door chime | holographic projection | turbolift | interpreter | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

This takes place in 2365.

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Goofs

At his introduction, Riva he says that he is deaf due to a genetic mutation similar to the House of Hanover "all of whom had hemophilia". Actually hemophilia showed up first in Queen Victoria's son Leopold, almost 200 years after the origination of the House of Hanover in 1636, and two of her daughters (Alice and Beatrice) were known carriers of the gene but it appears to have not affected any of her other seven children. However, the subsequent marriages and lineages from Leopold, Alice, and Beatrice carried it throughout the royal families of Europe and Russia giving it the nickname "The Royal Disease". It is considered one of the great mysteries of royalty as to why Queen Victoria had the gene for hemophilia as neither her father or mother had that gene.

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Quotes

Lt. Commander Data: Captain, I have reviewed and stored five distinct signing languages. Here is an example of the first:
[he starts making signs]
Lt. Commander Data: This is 'blue'. This is 'the blue ocean'. This is 'the blue ocean at sunset'. This is two people walking along the beach by the blue ocean at sunset. This is two happy people in love walking along the beach by the blue ocean at sunset. This is two pe...
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Enough.
[gets up and walks to Data, intrigued]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Let's talk to Riva.

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Connections

Featured in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shades of Gray (1989)

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Soundtracks

Star Trek: The Next Generation End Credits
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Really dumb.

The man who played Riva (Howie Seago) is deaf. He uses sign language correctly. But Riva is not. He is mute.

Riva needs a his Chorus to send his thoughts to others to verbalize - which means that Riva can hear just fine, but cannot speak.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

7 January 1989 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1