Ep. 70: The Most Toys

[wraith1701]

One of my favorite TNG episodes is The Most Toys, the episode in which an obsessive collector manages to steal Data and hold him hostage.

After witnessing the depravity of his captor, Data is eventually rescued in a last-second beam-out by the Enterprise.  Before his beam-out, Data had a disruptor leveled at his captor.  The disruptor appears to have gone off during the transportation process, and when asked about it, Data claims that it was probably just a glitch.

I've always wondered-- Was the discharge simply a glitch, or was Data about to kill his captor in revenge for the atrocities he had committed?  I tend to believe that in a fit of anger, Data was intending to kill his captor, thus providing proof that he already had the emotions he was always trying to find.

What do you guys think?

[moyer777]

That is funny, because it is one of my favorites as well.  The whole show was a great concept.  The actor that played Fajo was excellent. 

I really think that Data shot on purpose.  Logically, to let this man continue to torture people was not an option.  But I guess we will really never know, great writing eh?  I love that.

here is some information on that episode from Trek Core:

Originally, the actor scheduled to play Fajo was David Rappaport star of "The Wizard". However, Rappaport attempted suicide after two days of filming and was hospitalized. Shortly afterward, he sadly died as a result of a second attempt.
   
  The episode's shuttlepod "Pike" was the first named for a fictional person, in this case Kirk's predecessor seen in Trek pilot "The Cage".
   
  The Varon-T disruptor is the same weapon used by Sovak in "Captain's Holiday".
   
  Fajo's lapling was a puppet created by makeup designer Michael Westmore.

[Dan M]

That's one of my favorites as well.  That third season is so good that a gem like The Most Toys sometimes goes unnoticed.

I believe that Data could not let Fajo live; he fired the disruptor.

[space_invader64]

I always liked that one.

[psikeyhackr]

I think that episode is an excellent example of a sci-fi story giving us an insight into reality.

I don't think Data got angry.  I think he very reluctantly came to the LOGICAL CONCLUSION that civilized sentient beings are better off with some people dead.

He needed killin' sheriff.

How many people in the real world are like that?  Looking at what goes on in the world today you have to wonder how many rich powerful assholes are manipulating things to serve their purposes and doing lots of damage to other people in the process.

Certainly one of the top 20 episodes!

psik

[moyer777]

yes, I think it sets us up to really think about how far we let people go in our society if they are harmful to others.  That is one of the reasons I thought it was so good, very thought provoking. 

It's hard to belive that there are such cruel people in the world, and when you find them it opens up a whole new set of feelings and thoughts.

I can't imagine being in the place of our governmental leaders.  It would very hard to make decisions with life and death at stake.  I shudder at the thought.

I also really enjoyed the part of the episode where the bubble gum scent was preserved.  I used to get star trek cards with gum in them.  hehehe. 

Anybody remember the starwars cards that came in wonderbread?

Those rocked.

[space_invader64]

I recently had losses in my family and I really like the part where troi and riker are going throuh data's things trying to figure out what should go to who.  It's a hard thing to have to go through and that brought Star Trek into an area of life where we don't see TV go.

[moyer777]

Yes, they seemed to bring closure and deal with stuff in a real way.  Kind of cool.

[Rico]

Definitely a great episode and one I need to cover on the podcast sometime.  I'm of the opinion that Data did shoot.  Whether it was a logical conclusion or emotional one he couldn't let Fajo continue.  Great stuff!  That's what TREK really shines at.

[psikeyhackr]

I couldn't find a transcript of what Data said before he fired.

Fajo tries out the the Varon-T disruptor on Varria. Fajo drops the gun and walks away. Data picks up the weapon and discusses the consequences of allowing Fajo to live, when he is beamed aboard the Enterprise. Chief O'Brien reports that the weapon was in a state of discharge during transport, and deactivates the weapon before materialisation. Once on board the Enterprise, Data asks Commander Riker to arrest Fajo. When asked why the weapon was discharging, Data tells Riker that perhaps something happened to the weapon during transport.

http://www.answers.com/topic/the-most-toys-1

psik

[jedijeff]

This is one of my favorites as well. I agree that Data did fire as well. Like the others have said, it showcases the cruelty of people in this society, and how there only concern is for themselves.

[moyer777]

               FAJO (cont'd)
         Your only alternative, Data, is
         to fire. Murder me. That's all
         you have to do. Go ahead. All
         your troubles are over. Fire.
         Are you searching through your
         program for a loophole, perhaps?
         Is there one? If only you could
         feel rage over Varria's death...
         feel the need for revenge... then
         maybe you could fire. But you're
         only an android. You don't feel
         anything, do you? It's just
         another interesting intellectual
         puzzle for you. Another of life's
         curiosities.

   Data stops before him...

               DATA
         I cannot permit this to continue.

   He raises the weapon. Fajo's eyes open with unexpected
   fear... He suddenly realizes he's about to die.

        STAR TREK: "The Most Toys" - REV. 2/27/90 - ACT FIVE       53A.

70   CONTINUED: (2)

               FAJO
         You can't. Your program won't
         allow it. You cannot fire. You
         will not...

   Suddenly Data DEMATERIALIZES.

70A
thru   OMITTED
70B

71   INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL)

   Riker and O'Brien await Data's arrival. O'Brien frowns
   at his console; it's reading something odd.

               O'BRIEN
         I'm reading a weapon in transit
         with Commander Data. It seems
         to have discharged, sir.

               RIKER
         Discharged... ?

               O'BRIEN
         I'm deactivating the weapon.

   His hands play over the controls. Finally Data
   MATERIALIZES, holding the disruptor. He looks at it.

               RIKER
         Welcome back, Mister Data. Are
         you all right?

        STAR TREK: "The Most Toys" - REV. 2/27/90 - ACT FIVE        54.

71   CONTINUED:

   Walks off the transporter pad.

               DATA
         Yes, Commander. Please arrange
         to take Kivas Fajo into custody
         for murder, kidnapping, theft...

               RIKER
            (interrupting)
         Arrangements have already been
         made.

   Data hands the disruptor to Riker...

               DATA
         A Varon-T disruptor. It belongs
         to Fajo.

               RIKER
            (curious)
         Mister O'Brien says the weapon
         was in a state of discharge...

        STAR TREK: "The Most Toys" - REV. 2/26/90 - ACT FIVE       54A.

71   CONTINUED:

               DATA
            (beat)
         Perhaps something happened during
         transport, Commander.

   Riker gives Data a look -- during transport? Data
   gives Riker a look right back... that's all I'm going
   to say.


The entire script is found here  http://tng.trekcore.com/episodes/scripts/170.txt

[wraith1701]

Thanks for the excerpt and for the link, moyer777. :) :thumbsup

Everyone seems to agree that Data intended to kill Fajo.  While it is difficult for me to decide whether or not he was driven by emotion or logic, I can't help but lean toward emotion.  When confronted by Riker, it appears that Data lies about what took place.  To me, this indicates that on some level, he regretted almost killing Fajo.  If the killing of Fajo was simply a logical imperative, I don't think that Data would have hesitated to argue this point of view to Riker.  If Fajo's death was the only logical way to eleminate the threat he posed, why not try to convince Riker to kill him, instead of taking him into custody?

By the way; once Data had Fajo at gunpoint, couldn't he have simply taken him prisoner at that point and left with him on the shuttle?  He could have then later turn him over to Federation authorities.  It seems that Data was beamed up while attempting to execute Fajo, instead of while trying to arrest him. 

[PepperDude]

Yes, Rick thanks for that transcript. It seems that everyone thinks Data did intentionally shoot to kill Fajo. However, if that was the case, then I can't understand why Data would lie to Cmdr. Riker and come up with an explanation to cover up the lie, "perhaps something happened during ransport, Commander." Data isn't known to be a liar (except on that episode where Capt. Picard commanded him to).

Wraith also brought out a good point. Why didn't Data just take Fajo into custody? It would've been easy for Data. So it made no logical sense to kill him.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Yes, Rick thanks for that transcript. It seems that everyone thinks Data did intentionally shoot to kill Fajo. However, if that was the case, then I can't understand why Data would lie to Cmdr. Riker and come up with an explanation to cover up the lie, "perhaps something happened during ransport, Commander." Data isn't known to be a liar (except on that episode where Capt. Picard commanded him to).

Wraith also brought out a good point. Why didn't Data just take Fajo into custody? It would've been easy for Data. So it made no logical sense to kill him.

Well, hmm.....a good point Pepperdude.  Maybe he just didn't want him to live any longer and "toture" people.  *sorry can't think of a better word*.  I don't know, perhaps Data felt that by shooting Fajo, it would prevent more incidents from happening. 

Now that you just listened to my pointless babble...lol

**EDIT**  Maybe it was an accident that Data pushed the button.  Perhaps his thumb slipped?  It could happen.

King Linksr