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STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE: DR. BASHIR, I PRESUME? (TV)

Summary

One in this series of science fiction programs about a twenty-fourth-century space station, Deep Space Nine.

Dr. Lewis Zimmerman, director of holographic imaging at Jupiter Station and creator of the Emergency Medical Hologram, visits Deep Space Nine in order to use Dr. Julian Bashir's appearance and personality as a template for his new "Long-term Medical Hologram," or "LMH." He hopes that the LMH can be stationed in places where a humanoid doctor would be difficult or a liability. Dr. Zimmerman was the model of the original Emergency Medical Hologram, used in places such as the starship Voyager. Bashir is honored to be chosen by Starfleet for the LMH. Meanwhile, Rom attempts to convey to Leeta his true feelings for her, but can't work up the courage.

Dr. Bashir undergoes Dr. Zimmerman's thorough questionnaire about his life and habits. Soon Dr. Zimmerman becomes enamored of Leeta. Dr. Zimmerman tells Dr. Bashir that he'll be conducting interviews with all of Dr. Bashir's associates; Dr. Bashir asks him not to interview his parents, but this only encourages Dr. Zimmerman to seek them out. Later, Dr. Bashir, Dr. Zimmerman, and O'Brien test the incomplete LMH and upload the EMH's behavioral algorithms as a starting point. Dr. Zimmerman begins his interviews, and uses the opportunity to ask Leeta out on a date. Rom overhears their date and interrupts, but still can’t work up the courage to tell Leeta how he really feels.

To Dr. Bashir's surprise, his parents, Richard and Amsha Bashir, arrive at Deep Space Nine to be interviewed by Dr. Zimmerman. Mr. and Mrs. Bashir tell Sisko about how proud they are of their son and how they convinced him to attend medical school. Dr. Bashir is less than pleased at their presence and berates Dr. Zimmerman for inviting them. Dr. Zimmerman arrives at Leeta's apartment and tells her that there could be a job opening on Jupiter Station for her, and that he wants her to come live with him. She isn't sure if she wants it and says she needs time to think. Meanwhile, Dr. Bashir has dinner with his parents and warns them about the upcoming interviews. There is a secret amongst them that they hope Dr. Zimmerman will not discover. Dr. Bashir gets into an argument with his father and abruptly leaves.

Leeta talks to Rom about whether she should leave with Dr. Zimmerman, and seems to be trying to get him to admit his true feelings for her. He still cannot muster up the courage and she runs off. Dr. Bashir's parents visit him and apologize for their argument. They promise not to reveal their secret: that Dr. Bashir was genetically enhanced as a child, an illegal procedure in the Federation. However, they were actually speaking to the LMH, and O'Brien and Dr. Zimmerman overheard the entire conversation.

Later, Dr. Bashir argues with O'Brien, who tells him that Dr. Zimmerman intends to file a report which could get him removed from Starfleet and barred from practicing medicine, as well as sending his parents to prison. Dr. Bashir confirms that he was genetically enhanced, and relates memories from his childhood. He recounts how at age six he was mentally deficient in comparison with his classmates, and his parents travelled to another planet to become enhanced both mentally and physically. Afterwards, he excelled at everything he put his mind to. O'Brien remarks that the characteristics and personality traits that makes Dr. Bashir human are genuine and not the product of genetic engineering. However, Dr. Bashir counters that under Federation law, genetic engineering can only be used to repair serious birth defects. His only option other than dismissal from Starfleet is to resign.

Rom sulks over losing Leeta and Quark reminds him of the trouble that resulted from his marriage to Nog's mother. He advises Rom to forget about Leeta. Dr. Bashir discusses his situation with his parents; his father vows to put up a legal battle but Dr. Bashir doesn't want to belabor the inevitable. He accuses his father of continually shirking responsibility and of being a "fraud." He laments that his parents never gave him the opportunity to live without genetic modification; that he never got to find out who he truly is. Mrs. Bashir says that they were motivated to genetically alter him not out of shame but out of love and concern, worried that his mental deficiency could have been their fault. Nevertheless, Dr. Bashir still intends to resign.

The next day, Dr. Bashir goes to offer his resignation to Captain Sisko, but finds his parents already there, along with a holoprojection of Rear Admiral Bennett, Judge Advocate General of Starfleet. It turns out he struck a deal with Dr. Bashir's father: in exchange for serving a sentence of two years in a minimum security penal colony in New Zealand, his son will be allowed to continue serving in Starfleet and be able to keep practicing medicine. Dr. Bashir objects, but his father says that he is finally taking responsibility for his actions. Rear Admiral Bennett reminds Dr. Bashir of the Eugenics Wars, citing them as one of the reasons genetic engineering was outlawed. Dr. Bashir allows the deal to be completed and bids a heartfelt farewell to his parents, promising to visit his father in prison. Rom stops Leeta and Dr. Zimmerman from leaving at the last moment and confesses to Leeta that he loves her. She loves him back and declines Dr. Zimmerman's offer. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: Syndicated
  • DATE: February 24, 1997
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:45:24
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:50185
  • GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
  • SERIES RUN: Syndicated - TV series, 1993-1999
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Ira Steven Behr … Executive Producer
  • Rick Berman … Executive Producer, Created by
  • Ronald D. Moore … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
  • Robert della Santina … Coordinating Producer
  • Peter Lauritson … Supervising Producer
  • Hans Beimler … Co-Supervising Producer
  • Robet Hewitt Wolfe … Producer
  • Steve Oster … Producer
  • René Echevarria … Producer
  • J. P. Farrell … Co-Producer
  • Terri Potts … Associate Producer
  • David Livingston … Director
  • Michael Piller … Created by
  • Jimmy Diggs … Writer
  • Gene Roddenberry … Based upon "Star Trek" created by
  • Dennis McCarthy … Music by, Theme Music by
  • Avery Brooks … Cast, Captain Benjamin Sisko
  • Rene Auberjonois … Cast, Odo
  • Michael Dorn … Cast, Lt. Commander Worf
  • Alexander Siddig (See also: Siddig el Fadil) … Cast, Doctor Bashir, LMH
  • Terry Farrell … Cast, Lieutenant Dax
  • Cirroc Lofton … Cast, Jake Sisko
  • Colm Meaney … Cast, Chief O'Brien
  • Armin Shimerman … Cast, Quark
  • Nana Visitor … Cast, Major Kira
  • Brian George … Cast, Richard Bashir
  • Max Grodénchik … Cast, Rom
  • Chase Masterson … Cast, Leeta
  • Fadwa el Guindi … Cast, Amsha Bashir
  • J. Patrick McCormack … Cast, Adm. Bennett
  • Robert Picardo … Cast, Doctor Lewis Zimmerman, EMH
  • Mark Allen Shepherd … Cast, Morn