Cost of Living (episode)

Lwaxana Troi is on board the Enterprise-D to hold her wedding ceremony, and she also takes an interest in Worf's son Alexander, encouraging him to adopt her carefree ways.

Summary
The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) destroys an asteroid in danger of colliding with Tessen III, near Starbase 117. Meanwhile, Worf brings his son Alexander before Counselor Deanna Troi to resolve discipline issues. Troi decides there is little respect in their relationship, so she recommends they draft a "contract" outlining each other's responsibilities and chores. This way, they could stand on equal footing and both have say in what needs to be done. Although Worf is hesitant to allow Alexander to have equal footing, he agrees to it.

Lwaxana Troi comes aboard to hold her wedding ceremony to a local nobleman named Campio on the Enterprise. Picard expresses to Riker his dissatisfaction with "that woman" using the Enterprise as her personal rec room, as a nitrium parasite begins to infest the ship.

Lwaxana hears of her daughter's plan for Worf and Alexander, and she notes that contracts are usually made between two parties who do not trust one another, and that it would not be equal in any case because Alexander would have no way of policing Worf's commitments. This logic compels Alexander to begin to spend more time with Lwaxana.

Lwaxana takes Alexander into the holodeck for entertainment, despite his prior obligations to his father and Deanna. She takes him on the Parallax colony program, a society of unusual, fun-loving souls, for a relaxing mud bath.

Deanna and Worf confront Lwaxana, demanding that she stop undermining their efforts to instill Alexander with responsibility. Campio proves himself to be an ill fit for Lwaxana, demanding that she resolve business before she goes to the holodeck for fun, and that she address him with respect and reverence. Campio's assistant, a man named Erko, is appalled by her behavior. Lwaxana, caught at the hub of three completely different conversations all taking place in the same room at the same time, flees with Alexander to the holodeck the moment everyone's backs are turned.

The parasite begins to infest the entire ship, eating systems away. La Forge, Data, and Picard devise a strategy to get rid of it - find an asteroid field rich in nitrium, and use the deflector dish to send a nitrium beam to lure the parasites to the field. Unfortunately, the parasite is eating away at the warp system, and the life support system begins to fail. It is now up to Data to fly the ship to the asteroid field, configure the deflector, and rid the ship of the problem.


 * "Captain's Log, Stardate 45733.6. Temporary repairs to the ship have been completed. Our attention now turns to matters of a more festive nature."

Lwaxana finally proceeds with the wedding. Campio, and especially Erko, are disturbed to find that as per the Betazoid custom she has arrived in the nude. She winks at Alexander, who remains respectful of her spirit. Erko covers Campio's eyes and they retreat. Lwaxana remains a bachelorette.

Finally, Lwaxana, Alexander, Troi, and an irate Worf share a mud bath together.

Memorable Quotes
"Deanna, I love you but you do make everything sound like an epitaph."
 * - Lwaxana

"My dear, don't they ever let you change those colorless outfits?"
 * - Lwaxana to Deanna

"Of course he's unreasonable, he's a child!"
 * - Lwaxana Troi to Worf

"I'm supposed to do everything right all the time. I don't know how."

"To tell you the truth, little warrior, neither do I..."
 * - Alexander and Lwaxana

"You know, making little boys reasonable only gives them pimples."
 * - Lwaxana Troi

"Well who else are you gonna fight with if not your friends?"
 * - Lwaxana Troi

"I exposed you to all sorts of mixed messages when you were that age, and you still turned out deadly dull."
 * - Lwaxana Troi to Deanna

"And you are doing this to your own child, Mr. Woof?"

"It is Worf, Madam."
 * - Lwaxana and Worf

"Life's true gift is the capacity to enjoy enjoyment."
 * - Lwaxana Troi

"Nothing would please me more than to give away Mrs. Troi."
 * - Picard

"Wedding gown? You mean you won't be naked at your own wedding!?"
 * - Deanna Troi

"The higher, the fewer."
 * - Alexander

"You're just supposed to sit here?"
 * - Worf in the mud bath

"Every one of us has a thousand different kinds of...of little people inside of us. And some of them want to get out and be wild, and some want to be sad or happy or inventive or...or even just go dancing. That's why we all have so many different urges at different times. And all those different little people inside of us...we must never be afraid to take them with us, wherever we go."
 * - Lwaxana Troi

"I'm alone, Alex."
 * - Lwaxana, to Alexander

"Isn't it wonderful how things worked out, Alexander? I wanted to teach you how to grasp the joys of living. And then you turned around and... taught me to not let go of them.  How very mutual."
 * - Lwaxana Troi

Production

 * "Cost of Living" was filmed between Tuesday and Thursday  on Paramount Stage 8, 9, and 16. Second unit and inserts for this episode were filmed on Friday  on Paramount Stage 8 and 16 and on Friday  on Paramount Stage 9 and 16.
 * The production meeting for this episode took place on Friday at 2:00 p.m. ("The First Duty" call sheet)
 * Lwaxana's line of dialogue in which she tells Alexander, with noticeable sadness, that she is alone, likely had personal significance for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who lost her husband, Gene Roddenberry, only four months earlier.
 * On Tuesday, the Make-A-Wish Foundation kids Nichlas Frank and Michael Amidel visited the sets with their families. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
 * On Monday the cast and crew had the "French Hours". On this day, catering for breakfast and lunch was provided by a catering service on Paramount Stage 10. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
 * On Thursday  was on set. They filmed a live feed between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. and a wrap up between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. All main cast members except Brent Spiner were picked up by a limo at home. Regular background talent Mark Lentry was also part of this airing, in full makeup as a Romulan. ("Cost of Living" call sheet)
 * First UK airdate: 3 May 1995
 * A scene that can be found in the script, but was apparently cut from the final episode, had Troi and Worf discussing their frustrations with parenting, from the perspectives of being a parent and being a child respectively. Troi remembers an event in which her mother embarrassed her on her sixth birthday party, and claims that she often feels like she is the parent and her mother the child. The conversation concludes with Troi saying it's been said that grandparents and grandchildren get along so well because they have a common enemy.

Sets and props

 * Among the reused props seen in this episode are the Kahless and Morath statue and the Ligonian glavin in Worf's quarters which previously appeared in the episodes, , and and were later seen in  and.
 * The chair in Worf's quarters was also seen in the episodes, , , , , , , , , and and was used as the command chair aboard the Tarellian starship in the first season episode . It was designed by Peter Opsvik.
 * This episode marks the seventh appearance of Deanna Troi's Counselor's office.
 * The scenes of the holographic program "Parallax colony" were filmed on Paramount Stage 16. On the call sheets the locations were named "The Glade" and "The Mud Bath".

Continuity

 * Notably, the main plot of this episode focuses on two recurring characters instead of main characters. from the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine would also do this.

Cast

 * Brian Bonsall makes his third of seven appearances as Alexander in this episode.
 * Majel Barrett appears as the fifth time on The Next Generation portraying Lwaxana Troi. She makes her final appearance on this series in the seventh season episode.
 * This episode also features one of the few occasions in which Majel Barrett talks "to herself", portraying both Lwaxana Troi and the computer voice of the Enterprise-D. This happened also in the second season episode.
 * Christopher Halsted later plays a Jem'Hadar in DS9's final episode.
 * Albie Selznick later appeared as the Tak Tak consul in the Voyager episode, as Tash in the Voyager episode , and worked as choreographer for the Ventu on the Voyager episode.
 * Carel Struycken appears as Mr. Homn for the last time.
 * Larry Hankin was not part of the principal photography for this episode and filmed his scenes during the production of the episode on Friday.
 * This episode marks the second appearance of background actress Holiday Freeman who later became a recurring background talent on The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager.

Awards

 * This episode won two Emmy Awards. Only four other episodes of Trek have won this many. It won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series (Robert Blackman) and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series. It was also nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series.

Reception

 * A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 21, pp. 20-21.
 * Director Winrich Kolbe remembers, "That was fun. Majel was terrific. It's a fast-moving show, and it was slightly different because we had comedic elements in there. It gave us a different pace. These shows could be rather boring if they all go with the same direction, same philosophy, same sets, same actors. After a while, you just want to throw up your hands and say, 'Ok, guys, you know what to do.' You want to go to the director of photography and say, 'Just shoot the damn thing. You can reach me at my home number.' This type of episode is exciting to me. I suddenly had to direct comedy. The pace is different. It was a real challenge and I loved it. I had never met Majel before, and I understand she didn't know who the hell I was. When I came in with my German accent, she did a double take. We had a tremendous rapport and loved working together. I wouldn't mind doing another Majel show in the sixth season." (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 21, p. 32)

Video and DVD releases

 * Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 60,
 * UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 5.7,
 * As part of the TNG Season 5 DVD collection

Starring

 * Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
 * Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

Also starring

 * LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
 * Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
 * Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
 * Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
 * Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Guest stars

 * Majel Barrett as Lwaxana Troi
 * Brian Bonsall as Alexander Rozhenko
 * Tony Jay as Campio
 * Carel Struycken as Mr. Homn
 * David Oliver as Young Man
 * Albie Selznick as Juggler
 * Patrick Cronin as Erko

Co-stars

 * Tracey D'Arcy as Young Woman
 * George Ede as Poet
 * Christopher Halsted as First Learner
 * Majel Barrett as Computer Voice

Uncredited co-stars

 * Rachen Assapiomonwait as Nelson
 * Lena Banks as operations division ensign
 * Tonya Chianis as fire sculptor
 * Tracee Lee Cocco as Jae
 * John Copage as command division officer
 * Tony Cruz as Lopez
 * Denise Deuschle as science division officer
 * Lanier Edwards as command division lieutenant
 * Gunnel Eriksson as science division officer
 * Holiday Freeman as first learner's companion
 * Eben Ham as operations division ensign
 * Larry Hankin as wind dancer
 * Christie Haydon as command division ensign
 * Arvo Katajisto as Torigan
 * Ron Large as command division officer
 * Mark Lentry as science division lieutenant
 * Michael Moorehead as science division ensign
 * Keith Rayve as command division ensign
 * Jennifer Richards as painted dancer
 * Joyce Robinson as Gates
 * Richard Sarstedt as command division ensign
 * Noriko Suzuki as operations division ensign
 * John Tampoya as operations division ensign
 * Théyard as science division officer
 * Christina Wegler Miles as command division ensign
 * Unknown performers as
 * Gates (voice)
 * Transporter officer (voice)

Stand-ins & photo doubles

 * David Keith Anderson - stand-in for LeVar Burton
 * Patty Davis - stand-in for Majel Barrett
 * Dwayne - stand-in for Carel Struycken
 * Michael Echols - stand-in for Tony Jay
 * Eddie - stand-in for Patrick Cronin
 * Johnny Hayden - stand-in for Brian Bonsall
 * Joshua Henson - photo double for Brian Bonsall
 * Kathleen Hodder - stand-in & photo double for Majel Barrett
 * Joe - stand-in for David Oliver
 * Nora Leonhardt - stand-in for Marina Sirtis
 * Tim McCormack - stand-in for Brent Spiner, Albie Selznick & Patrick Cronin
 * Melba - stand-in for Marina Sirtis
 * Lorine Mendell - stand-in for Gates McFadden, Majel Barrett & Tracey D'Arcy
 * Eddie Robinson - photo double for LeVar Burton
 * Richard Sarstedt - stand-in for Jonathan Frakes, Christopher Halsted & Tony Jay
 * Dennis Tracy - stand-in for Patrick Stewart & George Ede
 * Guy Vardaman - stand-in for David Oliver
 * James Washington - stand-in for Michael Dorn