"The Most Toys" is the 70th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The 22nd episode of the third season
[edit] Overview
The episode involves Lieutenant Commander Data being kidnapped by an obsessive collector, who leads the Enterprise crew to believe that Data was killed in a shuttlecraft accident.
The Enterprise-D is called to assist a colony world that has suffered tricyanate contamination to its water supply. Because of this, they meet with the Jovis, a ship owned by the Zibalian trader Kivas Fajo. Fajo, a member of the Stasius Trade Guild, is one of the few vendors of hitridium, an extremely rare medicinal compound capable of neutralizing the contamination. Because hitridium is a volatile substance that cannot be beamed aboard, Data is assigned to shuttle Fajo's cargo from the Jovis to the Enterprise, which will take several trips. Just before the final trip, the crew of the Jovis, led by Varria, kidnap Data and perform a scan of his body; after filling the shuttlecraft with equivalent materials, they rig the shuttle to explode en route. The Enterprise performs a cursory scan of the debris and believe Data is dead, but due to the emergency, are forced to leave the Jovis without a more detailed study.
Data is reactivated in a secured room and is met by Fajo. The trader explains he collects rare and valuable objects and has kidnapped Data due to his uniqueness. Data remains defiant to Fajo's attempts to make him an object of display, purposely remaining silent when Fajo shows off his collection to a rival trader. Only when Fajo threatens to kill Varria with the very rare and illegal Varon-T disruptor does Data agree to follow Fajo's orders.
The Enterprise arrives at the colony and use the hitridium to neutralize the contamination, but find it works far too quickly. They soon discover that someone purposely created the contamination that would require hitridium, leading the crew to suspect Fajo of staging the whole scenario to capture Data. They quickly return to the Jovis' last-known location to track Fajo down.
Varria helps Data to escape just as the Enterprise arrives near the Jovis. Fajo uses the Varon-T disruptor on Varria, destroying her without any regrets. Data picks up the Varon-T and threatens to use it on Fajo. The Enterprise suddenly beams Data back aboard, discovering that the disruptor was in the process of discharging. Data is met in the transporter room by Commander Riker, and requests that Fajo be taken into custody, with Riker responding that arrangements have already been made. When Riker asks why the disruptor was energized, Data only offers that something may have happened during transport. Fajo is placed in the Enterprise brig, and his stolen collection returned to their rightful owners.
- David Rappaport, a well-known British actor and little person, had originally been cast for the part of Kivas Fajo. Rappaport struggled with depression in his life, and committed suicide on 2 May 1990, shortly after having filmed some scenes as Fajo. Saul Rubinek was then asked to take over the role, but some early production photographs show Rappaport in the role.
- The episode's title comes from a popular saying found on bumper stickers and t-shirts in the 1980s which read, "He who dies with the most toys wins."[1] which is originally attributed to flamboyant millionaire Malcolm Forbes. [2]
[edit] References
- ^ The Star Trek: The Next Generation companion.
- ^ Article in People
[edit] External links
