Episode 173: "Transfigurations" 

When the Enterprise discovers a severely injured humanoid in the wreckage of an escape pod, Geordi volunteers to have his nervous system hooked up to the stranger's, in order to stabilize him. During the process, a wave of visible energy is transmitted from the humanoid to Geordi.
Dr. Crusher holds little hope for the recovery of the patient she has dubbed "John Doe," but he soon begins to exhibit amazing recuperative powers. While his damaged tissue is repairing itself at a remarkable rate, "John's" undamaged cells are mutating in a manner incomprehensible to the doctor.

Evidence surrounding the pod's wreckage indicates that it was involved in a battle, but when "John" awakens, he is unable to remember anything from his past. When Picard tells him that they have nearly determined the coordinates of his origin and that he will soon be returned to his planet, "John" experiences a sense of fear and tells Picard that he thinks he was trying to escape his planet, but cannot remember why.

Meanwhile, "John's" presence seems to bring a sense of serenity to the crew members he is in contact with, particularly Geordi. "John" then exhibits remarkable powers when he heals O'Brien's dislocated shoulder with a touch of his hand, which emits the same wave of visible energy that entered Geordi.

"John," however, is soon plagued by intermittent bouts of severe pain which frighten him into trying to steal a shuttlecraft. When Worf tries to stop him, "John" suddenly convulses in pain and then pulses into a large flare, knocking Worf off a catwalk to the deck below. Dr. Crusher's examination of Worf shows a broken neck and no vital signs, but when "John" touches him, a glow of light again emanates from his hand and Worf is completely healed.

When Dr. Crusher reports that "John's" rate of cell mutation is increasing, he fears that he will be dangerous to the crew and asks Picard to let him leave. However, their conversation is interrupted by the approach of an unidentified vessel which begins scanning the U.S.S. Enterprise. The commander of the ship, Sunad of Zalkon, demands the return of "John," declaring that he is an escaped prisoner sentenced to death for acts of agitation.

Having no memory of the past, "John" can neither confirm nor deny the accusation, but offers to surrender in order to prevent endangering the U.S.S. Enterprise. When Picard refuses to turn "John" over, the entire crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise is suddenly struck with paralysis. Realization of his past slowly dawns on "John" and he calmly departs for the Bridge where, by touching a console, his energy spreads to cover the entire starship and heals the crew.

With a wave of his hand, "John" brings Sunad onto the Bridge and explains to Picard that his species is on the verge of an evolutionary change and that the rulers, fearing a loss of power, began to destroy the first members to go through the metamorphosis. Sunad is then returned to his ship and "John," having evolved into a form of energy, prepares to return to his people to spread the word of the coming rebirth.

Production: 173
Season: 3 Episode: 25
Air Date: 06.04.1990
Stardate: 43957.2
Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes as William Riker
Brent Spiner as Data
LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn as Worf
Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher
Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
Mark La Mura as John Doe
Julie Warner as Christy Henshaw
Charles Dennis as Sunad
Patti Tippo as Nurse Temple
Gates McFadden Trivia:

Brent Spiner is the godfather of Gates's son.

Graduated from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts (Class of 1970).

Her son, James Cleveland McFadden-Talbot, was born on June 10th, 1991.

She was a Muppeteer and movement coordinator for Jim Henson prior to her role on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987).

She choreographed the ballroom scene in the Jim Henson film Labyrinth (1986).

 

Click this link to view the complete script in a TXT format

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"Transfigurations"
#40273-173

Written by
Rene Echevarria

Directed by
Tom Benko

THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING
WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

Copyright 1990 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If
lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department.

REVISED FINAL DRAFT

MARCH 27, 1990

STAR TREK: "Transfigurations" - 3/27/90 - CAST

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Transfigurations"

CAST

PICARD                                                      Zalkonians
RIKER                                                        JOHN DOE
DATA                                                               SUNAD
BEVERLY
TROI
GEORDI
WORF
WESLEY

O'BRIEN
CHRISTY
NURSE TEMPLE

COMPUTER VOICE

Non-Speaking
SUPERNUMERARIES
TWO SHUTTLE TECHNICIANS

SEVERAL MEDICAL CREWPERSONS

Click this link to view the complete script in a TXT format