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"Strange
New World"
Production 004
10/10/2001
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Synopsis:
Crew members go on a survey mission to a seemingly
uninhabited Earth-like planet where a mysterious alien
presence sends them into a state of paranoid overdrive.
The infinite blackness of space is interrupted for the
Enterprise crew by the discovery of a beautiful new world
— a natural Eden of unexplored mountains, rivers,
wildflower fields and forests. Dismissing T'Pol's cautious
advice to conduct scans and tests from orbit before
commencing any surface exploration, Captain Archer orders
an away team and shuttlepod prepped. Joining Archer on the
team are Crewmen Cutler, an entomologist, and Novakovich,
a botanist, along with Commander Tucker, Ensign Mayweather,
and T'Pol. Even Porthos, Archer's dog, comes along for the
ride. The landing party takes in the fresh air of the
virgin world before splitting up to pursue their
specialties and enjoying a day of exploration amidst
uncountable new species of exotic plant and animal life.
At day's end, T'Pol, Cutler and Novakovich request
permission to stay overnight to study nocturnal life,
while Tucker and Mayweather ask to stay for the sheer fun
of camping under the stars.
After a relaxing evening of stargazing and ghost stories
around a fire, the campers retire to their tents, but are
unable to sleep as a sudden and fierce windstorm envelops
them. Retreating to the safety of a nearby cavern, the
decision is made to wait out the storm before attempting a
risky shuttlepod landing, and the crew settles in.
Noticing the food packs were left behind, Mayweather
volunteers to go back and retrieve them. Pounded by
vicious winds and intense darkness at the campsite,
Mayweather sees three looming humanoid figures in the
shadows, and double-times it back to the safety of the
cave. As T'Pol uses her scanner to confirm there are no
lifesigns in the vicinity, suggesting Mayweather imagined
the figures, Novakovich hears strange alien whispering
coming from the tunnels at the back of the cavern. As his
fear and panic build, Novakovich is unwilling to stay in
the cave only to wait and be attacked, and runs wildly out
into the storming darkness. Following behind, Tucker and
Mayweather are unable to locate the inexplicably
irrational Novakovich, and during their search they see
alien faces and bodily movements from within the very
rocks and cliffs themselves, before being forced to turn
back by the dangerous storm. Archer communicates to Tucker
that he and Lt. Reed are coming to the surface in a
shuttlepod to attempt a rescue. T'Pol uses the time to
explore deeper into the tunnels with her scanner,
attempting to verify the alien voices Novakovich heard
earlier. Her fear escalating, Cutler is unwilling to be
alone and follows after T'Pol, only to imperceptibly
observe a meeting between T'Pol and two unknown alien
figures.
Once the group rendezvous back in the cavern, the mood is
extremely anxious and tense as Tucker and Mayweather
describe their alien sightings. T'Pol reports no lifesigns
within the tunnel systems, but Cutler accuses her of
lying, describing the meeting she observed between T'Pol
and the unidentified aliens, which T'Pol denies. Tucker
supports Mayweather and Cutler, as he himself saw the
alien rock-creatures, and suspicions run high as T'Pol is
confronted by the rest of the team. Archer and Reed
arrive, but unfortunately are unable to land the
shuttlepod in the extreme winds, forced to leave the crew
to wait out the storm in the cavern. Onboard Enterprise,
Ensign Sato reports that Novakovich's bio-signs are
erratic, and Archer hears the crewman screaming
incoherently, so he orders Reed to attempt a risky
bio-transport. Novakovich materializes onboard Enterprise,
but rock and twig debris from the storm have fused into
his body. The crewman is treated and stabilized by Dr.
Phlox, who discovers that his bloodstream is filled with a
potent psychotropic compound called tropolisine.
Apparently he contracted the hallucinogen from the local
pollen that was kicked up by the winds.
Trying to communicate this discovery to T'Pol, Archer
finds out that Tucker is pointing a phase pistol at T'Pol
for suspicion of treason. Tucker is extremely volatile as
he states to Archer that he always knew T'Pol was there to
sabotage Enterprise. Archer orders Tucker to lower the
phaser, explaining that the "aliens" were hallucinations
caused by the pollen. Though highly skeptical, Tucker
begrudgingly follows the order, but he continues to
vehemently accuse T'Pol of conspiring with the hidden
aliens, while Mayweather and Cutler pass out. Meanwhile
Dr. Phlox reports to Archer an unexpected complication:
this specific form of tropolisine breaks down into a
deadly toxin within the bloodstream, and it may be too
late to save Novakovich. But there may be time for the
crew on the surface, so Archer explains to Tucker and
T'Pol that Phlox is preparing ampules of inaprovaline that
will be transported down for them to inoculate themselves.
But Tucker is more violently paranoid than ever and on the
verge of shooting T'Pol. While Sato and T'Pol converse in
Vulcan, Archer plays into Tucker's delusions and "admits"
that T'Pol was meeting with the "rock people" for a
top-secret mission, tricking him into lowering his weapon.
T'Pol immediately stuns Tucker with her own phase pistol,
then collects the medication and inoculates herself and
the unconscious crew.
The morning brings sunshine and a gentle breeze, leaving
the delusions and paranoia behind. A regretful Tucker
admits to T'Pol that he needs to challenge his
preconceptions about Vulcans. After learning that
Novakovich is going to be fine, the stranded crewmembers
gather their gear and help each other through the
beautiful morning toward an awaiting shuttlepod.
Cast:
Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer
Connor Trinneer as Chief Engineer Charles Tucker III
Jolene Blalock as Sub-commander T'Pol
Dominic Keating as Lt. Malcolm Reed
Anthony Montgomery as Ensign Travis Mayweather
Linda Park as Ensign Hoshi Sato
John Billingsley as Dr. Phlox
Guest Cast:
Kellie Waymire as Elizabeth Cutler
Henri Lubatti as Ethan Novakovich
Rey Gallegos as Crewman
Creative staff:
Director: David Livingston
Story By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Teleplay By: Mike Sussman & Phyllis Strong
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