STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE: THINGS PAST (TV)
Summary
One in this series of science fiction programs about a twenty-fourth-century space station, Deep Space Nine. While returning to Deep Space Nine, Sisko, Dax, Garak, and Odo find their consciousnesses transported through time and space into the bodies of four Bajorans on Terok Nor (the name given to Deep Space Nine during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor). Odo seems particularly agitated by this turn of events and occasionally sees people and things that the others do not. They spot Gul Dukat and Thrax, Odo's predecessor as chief of security, on the promenade and try to get out of sight. Dax theorizes that they have gone nine years into the past. Before she can explain further, she is arrested by Cardassian guards for an unknown purpose. Garak attempts to bribe the guard for her release, but gets punched in the face. In the real world, Dr. Bashir is monitoring the four of them and witnesses Garak's nose get bloodied. Bashir theorizes the damage is psychosomatic and could potentially be lethal. Garak uses a stolen scanner to determine the identities of the Bajoran bodies he, Sisko, and Odo inhabit. However, Odo seems to already know their identities, mystifying Sisko. Quark arrives to offer the three of them work in his bar for the day and they accept. Meanwhile, Dax is taken to Gul Dukat's office and left alone with him. They share a drink and he assures her that his intention is merely to have someone to talk to, as he feels lonely in his position. Odo reveals to Sisko and Garak that the three Bajorans they inhabit were accused of attempting to assassinate Gul Dukat and were publicly executed. Odo knows that the Bajorans in question were innocent. Thrax comes in to question Quark about a smuggler who visited his bar. Garak realizes that the smuggler in question was a Romulan spy only active on the station after Thrax had been replaced as chief of security by Odo. Sisko decides to contact the Bajoran resistance to get them off of Terok Nor. They arrange a meeting with a resistance member and notice that Gul Dukat and Dax are nearby. During their conversation, an explosive is set off in proximity to Gul Dukat, injuring both him and Dax. Sisko rushes to check on Dax but he, Garak, and Odo are captured by Cardassian soldiers and placed in jail. Thrax arrives, intent on convicting the three of them. Odo pleads with him to consider all the evidence and conduct a real investigation, but Thrax refuses. Dukat, recovering, speaks to Dax about his relationship with the Bajorans. While he's distracted, Dax knocks him unconscious and accesses his computer. Sisko asks Odo about Thrax, noting that Odo is supposed to be stationed on Terok Nor instead of him. He believes Odo knows more than he's letting on, but before Odo can answer Dax breaks them out of jail. They make their way to Dukat's shuttle but Thrax and his guards intercept them. They take care of all except Thrax, who reveals he is a changeling and escapes. Suddenly the four of them find themselves back in the jail cell as a Cardassian tells them they are scheduled for execution. Sisko, Dax, and Garak start asking Odo questions about Thrax and about his odd behavior during the entire experience. Thrax meets with Odo alone and they get into an argument about Thrax's methods; Thrax is more interested in placing a conviction than actually learning the truth, and Odo counters that "there is more to life than the rule of law." When that fails, Odo tries to tell Thrax the truth, but Thrax is apparently already aware of Odo's true identity. Suddenly Odo is being made to watch as Dax, Sisko, and Garak are executed. Thrax and Gul Dukat taunt Odo before Odo rushes in to save his friends. However, suddenly he, Sisko, Dax, and Garak are restored to their usual uniforms and watch from a distance as three Bajorans are executed by the Cardassians. Odo sees himself in Cardassian uniform watching the proceedings. He finally reveals the truth: that he was the chief of security on Terok Nor at that time and it was he who allowed the innocent Bajorans to die. He laments that had he truly investigated and taken stock of the evidence, he wouldn't have convicted them, but he was too busy enforcing the "rule of law." He had concealed the truth of this incident from everyone until now. The four of them awaken from their experience in Dr. Bashir's office. Dr. Bashir reveals that the cause was a plasma storm which activated residual enzymes in Odo's brain, causing a telepathic link between himself and the others. Odo notes that he was thinking of the executions just before it happened, influencing the telepathy. Kira visits him, her faith in his work aboard Terok Nor shaken by the recent revelations. She asks if any other innocents died under his watch as chief of security; Odo replies that isn't sure. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: November 18, 1996
- RUNNING TIME: 0:45:13
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:50189
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SERIES RUN: Syndicated - TV series, 1993-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rick Berman … Executive Producer, Created by
- Ira Steven Behr … Executive Producer
- Robert Hewitt Wolfe … Producer
- Steve Oster … Producer
- René Echevarria … Producer
- J. P. Farrell … Co-Producer
- Terri Potts … Associate Producer
- Peter Lauritson … Supervising Producer
- Ronald D. Moore … Supervising Producer
- Hans Beimler … Co-Supervising Producer
- Robert della Santina … Coordinating Producer
- LeVar Burton … Director
- Michael Piller … Created by
- Michael Taylor … Writer
- Gene Roddenberry … Based upon "Star Trek" created by
- Jay Chattaway … Music by
- Dennis McCarthy … 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
- Terry Farrell … Cast, Dax
- Armin Shimerman … Cast, Quark
- Nana Visitor … Cast, Major Kira
- Marc Alaimo … Cast, Gul Dukat
- Victor Bevine … Cast, Belar
- Andrew J. Robinson … Cast, Elim Garak
- Kurtwood Smith … Cast, Thrax
- Brenan Baird … Cast, Soldier
- Louahn Lowe … Cast, Okala
- Judi Durand … Voice, Station Computer Voice