The Survivors 

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from Rana IV, a Federation colony that is under attack from an unknown alien ship. When they arrive, they find the entire surface of the planet destroyed, save for a single house and two occupants.

Director:

Les Landau

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Michael I. Wagner (as Michael Wagner)

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Cmdr. Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
John Anderson	...	Kevin Uxbridge
Anne Haney	...	Rishon Uxbridge

Storyline

Responding to a distress call from Rana IV, a Federation colony under attack from an unknown alien ship, the Enterprise finds the surface of the planet destroyed, except the house and lot of one couple, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge, who refuse to be evacuated, but why were they spared by the mysterious alien enemy? Their music box's melody haunts telepath Deanna Troi pathologically. After Lieutenant Worf stakes his reputation of thoroughness on his search as to the enemy ship being gone, it suddenly appears; Captain Picard decides not to follow it but return to Rana IV, where Rishon overcomes Kevin's reluctance to welcome them, even bearing a most useful matter replicator, he is an extreme pacifist. After an even stronger starship knocks their shields out, Picard takes surprising action...

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Plot Keywords:

devastated planet | rescue mission | elderly woman | elderly man | music box | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Anderson played another role where his character was involved with a music box 14 years before this one. In 1975, he played Amos Pike in Little House on the Prairie: Haunted House (1975), a man so broken by grief that he holds onto a music box to aid in his delusions. The music box's music plays a large role in both stories.

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Goofs

When the away party arrives at the survivors' home, Data describes Kevin as a botanist and his wife as a musician. However, later in the show Counselor Troi (or possibly another character) describes both Kevin and his wife as botanists.

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Quotes

Capt. Picard: Tell me this - if Rishon were in danger, would you kill to save her life?
Kevin Uxbridge: No, not for her... not for anyone. I will not kill.

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

THIS EPISODE IS SUCH A GREAT PEICE OF ART!!!

See above. like, for real!!! one of the few moments of network television that strike the chord of the human condition! so odd, so sad, such amazing bullsh#t!!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 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