Original air date: April 5, 1993
Captain Picard is up at 3:00 a.m. and wants to get some work done, but he finds that virtually every process on the ship has been taken over by Stellar Cartography. He wanders down there to see what's so important, but opening the door ruins the science team's experiment. The new head of Stellar Cartography, Nella Darren, chews Picard out before turning around and realizing who she's talking to. Picard, impressed by Darren's spunk and age-appropriate attractiveness, tells her to expect the unexpected while she's aboard his ship.
Picard can't stop talking about stellar cartography during his dinner with Crusher. They both leave to attend Data's concert, only to discover that Nella is accompanying him on piano. Congratulating her afterward, Picard admits that he dabbles in music himself and notes a surprising choice she made in her performance. Darren tells him to expect the unexpected when she's on his ship. Picard is smitten.
After getting rebuffed by Riker over a personnel request, Nella shows up at Picard's quarters and encourages him to play a duet with her, him on his Ressikan flute. Although initially bashful, Picard opens up, and they have a marvelous time embellishing on "Frere Jacque." Later, Nella takes Picard up to a particular intersection in the Jeffries tubes that has perfect acoustics. They play the Ressikan folk melody that Picard learned during his time in Ressik, which causes some confusion in Engineering.
When sharing a friendly moment in the turbo lift, however, Picard's demeanor snaps back to professional when another crewman enters. He consults Troi about his qualms over dating a subordinate. Troi tells him that everyone knows that he and Darren are dating and that ignoring his feelings could have just as bad an effect on him as any potential repercussions from dating her. Picard comes clean to Nella, apologizing for his curtness earlier and assuring her that he's not taking their relationship lightly. He reveals his history on Ressik, showing how important it is when he shares his music with a person. The pair gets down to as much romance as broadcast television in the 1990s will allow.
When Nella confronts Riker again about her personnel request, Riker gets agitated about the position she's putting him in. He consults Picard, noting how Picard's relationship with Nella complicates matters. Picard assures him that she's simply doing her job as a department head and that he should use his judgment without worrying about their relationship.
Firestorms on Bersallis III require the Enterprise to come to the rescue of the outpost there. The crew develops a strategy to set up firewalls around the outpost while they beam the colonists to safety. Riker selects Nella to lead one of the teams, making Picard worried for her safety. On the planet, Nella directs her team, but the firestorms creep ever closer. Picard orders all teams to maintain their positions at all costs to save as many colonists as possible. All colonists arrive aboard safely, but two teams do not make it back, including Nella's.
Picard sits in his quarters, devastated. He looks at the Ressikan flute and shuts the box. Then he gets word that there are a few more survivors beaming aboard. He hurries to the transporter bay, but none of the crewmen are Nella. Just as he's walking away, one final transport arrives. It's Nella, singed but alive.
Picard meets with her in private and admits that he was so deeply affected by her loss that he'll never be able to put her in danger again, which means she can't continue to serve aboard the Enterprise. Neither one of them is willing to resign their commission to stay with the other as a civilian, so they will have to part on good terms. Picard suggests that they continue their romance long-distance, but it's clear that it's a lost cause. They share one final kiss, and Nella makes Picard promise not to stop making music.
Tropes:
- Armor-Piercing Question: Nella asks if Picard has been playing his flute long. Picard pauses notably before answering, "Yes, a long time."
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Picard finds that the work in Stellar Cartography is preventing him from sending messages, using the ship's computer, and ordering a cup of Earl Grey!
- Beneath the Mask: This episode explores how Picard, the Captain of the ship, deals with personal relationships.
- Bittersweet Ending: Nella thankfully doesn't die, but her relationship with Picard doesn't survive the episode.
- Call-Back:
- Picard relates the events of "The Inner Light" to Nella to explain why his music is so important to him.
- The first time Picard and Nella play together, she suggests "Frere Jacques," the same song that Picard sung with the children in Season 5's Disaster— another episode in which Picard's less rigid side is explored.
- The Chains of Commanding: Picard has to order Starfleet personnel, including Nella, to maintain their position in the face of the firestorm, knowing that it could mean their deaths. Picard decides to break off the relationship rather than face that decision again.
- Continuity Nod: Picard suggests that Riker join him for some fencing, a hobby that he's pursued in several other episodes.
- Doppelgänger Dating: Nella looks quite similar to Dr. Crusher
◊. - Duet Bonding: A couple times! Once in Picard's quarters, another in a Jeffries tube with some killer acoustics.
- Everybody Knew Already: When Picard decides to discuss his relationship with Counselor Troi, she already knows that he's seeing Nella.
- Forced to Watch: Nella had to watch one of her men burn to death when his shield collapsed.
- Green-Eyed Monster: When Darren is complaining of the sore arm that she got playing duets with Picard, Crusher gives a stony reaction but maintains her professionalism.
- Heroic BSoD: Picard shuts down his emotions when he thinks he's ordered Nella to her death.
- Hold the Line: The Enterprise crew have to maintain the heat deflectors to give the colony time to evacuate.
- I Let Gwen Stacy Die: Picard is devastated that he sent Darren to her death. Facing death, Nella was worried that Picard would blame himself.
- Inappropriately Close Comrades: Picard breaks off a relationship with one of his officers, after ordering her into a life-endangering situation. Even before then, she found the stoic mask of command he had to maintain between them rather awkward.
- Innocently Insensitive: Nella doesn't realize that speaking so blithely about all the time she's spending with Picard will upset Crusher. In fact, Picard never tells her of his history with Crusher.
- Let's Duet: Nella encourages Picard to join in with his flute, while she plays a portable keyboard. In a notable scene, they find a Jeffries tube with good acoustics and play a duet based on the tune he learned in "The Inner Light". The scene ends in their first kiss.
- Married to the Job: Neither Nella or Picard are willing to give up their careers for love.
- Meet Cute: Picard accidentally ruins Nella's experiment, causing her to chew him out before realizing who he is.
- Nepotism: Riker is worried that Nella's relationship with Picard will effectively make her queen of the ship. Picard assures him that he should treat her like any other crew member.
- No Antagonist: More a slice of life with Picard and how difficult it is for The Captain to have romance in his life.
- Oh, Crap!
- Nella when she sees the firestorm coming towards her.
- Played for Laughs when Picard asks Riker to join him for fencing.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: There are a few times where actress Wendy Hughes' natural Australian accent comes through. It seems rather silly to not just have let her speak naturally since Australia still exists.
- Reaction Shot: Beverly when she realises Nella is spending private time with Picard.
- Red Shirt: Marquez, a lieutenant who dies under Darren's watch on the planet. Strangely, Marquez shows up in the background of a future episode.
- Right in Front of Me: Nella tells off the person who entered Stellar Cartography, spoiling their work. When she turns on the lights, she finds herself facing The Captain.
- Sequel Episode: Partly one to "The Inner Light," after the writers' realized they'd severely underestimated the impact that Picard's experience in that episode would have on his life.
- Status Quo Is God: Picard's relationship doesn't survive the episode.
- Stiff Upper Lip: The stoic and proper Picard gives no public reaction to the news that Nella has apparently died. He simply walks away and sits quietly in his quarters. Even when he discovers that she's alive, he barely emotes in public.
- Uncomfortable Elevator Moment: After their first kiss Picard and Nella are in the turbolift discussing their love of music when someone else enters. Picard turns to the front and when Nella tries to continue the conversation, formally addresses Nella by her rank instead of her name, leaving the turbolift at the first opportunity. He apologises for this afterwards.
- They Wasted a Perfectly Good Sandwich: Picard and Crusher seem to be midway through their meal when they're already late for Data's concert. Crusher was heaping more food onto her plate moments before they leave.
- Your Door Was Open: When Nella gets angry that Picard ruined their experiment, he points out that they should have locked the door, night shift or no.
