“The Schizoid Man” is episode six of season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Dr Pulaski is recording her medical log, about how Dr Ira Graves is one of the greatest human minds who has lived. He resides on a remote planet where he conducts his research and they will be arriving in 8 hours following a message from his assistant asking for immediate aid. Pulaski enters the bridge; there has been no other transmission from Gravesworld nor have they been able to get a hold of anyone. Starfleet Command considers Graves’ work worthy of a Priority One action. Dr Pulaski considers treating a sick man, no matter who, to be her priority one.
Geordi and Troi are heading to see Data. He has a new image it seems. Geordi says that, if he didn’t know better, he’d think Data was showing signs of insecurity. When they arrive at Data’s quarters, he has a beard matching Commander Riker’s. Both Troi and Geordi are struggling not to laugh. Troi is failing and excuses herself.
On the bridge, Worf says they have a new transmission from Gravesworld. The assistant is asking for help as things are getting worse. She turns to the side and terminates the transmission. She and Graves are the only people living on the planet and Riker wonders what scared her in that case.
Another signal comes in, audio only, not from the planet. It’s a mayday with a ship saying the outer hull has been breached. The name can’t be heard but the USS Constantinople is in that region, a transport that ferries settlers. Over 2,000 colonists are on board. Pulaski says they need to head there; Graves is only one man. Riker suggests a long-range transport to send a party to assist Graves, just dropping out of warp long enough. With a near-warp transport, Captain Picard wants Geordi to handle it. Pulaski will go with the Enterprise and sends Lt. Selar in her place.
Worf, Troi, Data – sans beard – and Selar are beaming down. Geordi warns them the effects may be a little unusual. Troi asks what he means. Riker says she’ll see. Troi says she doesn’t understand. Then they beam down to Gravesworld and Data says she does now. Troi thought for one moment she was stuck in the wall. Worf tells her that for a moment she was. Data checks in with the Enterprise.
Graves’ assistant arrives and introduces herself, Kareen Brianon. She couldn’t take the chance he would find out someone was coming. ‘He’ being Graves who arrives at this point, who says she knew he’d be displeased. Kareen recounts his symptoms, one of which, temper, he promptly displays. He doesn’t like people and doctors even less. Troi thought most doctors were people. She’s wrong; ask any patient. Though he does appreciate Selar’s appearance, and Troi’s for that matter. Women aren’t people; they’re women.
Kareen asks Worf if he’s a Romulan; Graves explains he raised her since her parents died and the only knowledge she has is through him. Graves tells her Worf is a Klingon; Klingons and Romulans do not look much alike, even though they act it. Worf is displeased. He sees Data and says he looks like Soong’s work. Yes; Graves knew Soong. He claims he taught Soong everything he knew, the father of his work. Which makes him Data’s grandfather in a way. Selar has scanned Graves by this time. He has Darnay’s disease. The final stages and it’s always terminal.
Data is spending time with Graves, who is whistling. Graves wants Data to call him Grandpa. The tune is from The Wizard of Oz; Graves explains it’s about a mechanical man who longed to be human and finds out he is human and always was. Graves asks Data if he knows emotion. He feels pity; Data is neither alive nor dead, just existing. Then comments it’s funny that a dying man is mourning a man who will never know death.
Troi is speaking to Kareen about Graves. She can sense both have feelings for the other, but the age difference meant they never acted on it. Graves is only spending time with Data. He plans to transfer his knowledge to a computer. Graves asks what Data knows of death. Data explains he has an off button. Graves wants to guess where it is.
The Enterprise has returned and contacts the away team. Selar wants Graves beaming to sickbay, but Data arrives and says he just died. On the Enterprise, Data asks the captain if he will honour Graves’ in the manner specified. He will. Then Data heads to Ten Forward to speak to Kareen about how Graves really felt about her.
Data is acting odd. Especially odd, at Graves’ memorial, where he goes into rather too much depth. In fact, Data is acting so odd that Troi is detecting emotion from him, something she has never done before.