Summary for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Chrysalis

Season 7, Episode 5

Guest Stars:
Tim Ransom as "Jack"
Faith C. Salie as "Lauren"
Hilary Shepard Turner as "Serena"
Michael Keenan as "Patrick"
Aron Eisenberg as "Nog"

Written by: Rene Echevarria

Events:
The episode opens with Julian trying to find some company for the evening. Miles is rushing off to dinner while Kira and Odo have a private dinner date at the Fontaine's. We finally see Julian in bed analyzing the latest mutation of a virus. As soon as he calls for the lights, Nog interrupts him through the intercom to announce that a Star Fleet admiral is demanding to see him at once.

Arriving in the Infirmary with Nog in tow Julian reports to the admiral. But when the admiral and his staff of two Star Fleet officers turn around we see the admiral is Patrick and the officers are Jack and Lauren, our trio of genetically-enhanced mutants from "Statistical Probabilities".

Having somehow acquired Star Fleet uniforms they escaped the institute and brought Serena along (the fourth enhanced mutant who never talks) so Julian could treat her. Apparently Julian had promised Serena he would do all he could to help her and had begun developing a new treatment but hadn't re-calibrated his instruments yet.

Best line of the scene:
Patrick: "That's a stupid question."
<apparently Patrick used this line repeatedly to respond to any challenges they received as they escaped the institute>

The show fades to opening credits and commercials.

When it returns we find ourselves in Ben's office as he grills Julian over this turn of events. Ben isn't happy that Patrick was able to impersonate an admiral and wants a good excuse to avoid pressing charges.

Julian can only point out that they mean well and that he has obtained permission from Serena's legal guardian to proceed with the treatment. Ben agrees to allow Serena to stay and is talked out of sending Jack, Patrick, and Lauren back when Julian asks for permission to keep them around to help with Serena's recovery. Ben states he'll handle Star Fleet, and assigns a cargo bay to act as the mutants' quarters.

The scene cuts to the cargo bay, where the mutants are settling in. Julian pays them a visit to bring Serena to the Infirmary. We learn that Jack has a new project to work on, though he won't tell Julian what it is, and Lauren has a new man in her life (Nog).

The scene cuts to the Infirmary, where Julian is explaining Serena's problem to Miles. Apparently Serena's cerebral cortex was enhanced but her sensory processors are unable to keep up with the enhancement and because they are not operating at the same speed she is unable to focus on what is happening around her.

To correct the problem he needs to generate new connections between her sensory equipment and the cerebral cortex which means he needs to manipulate neural proteins at a sub-atomic level. The most advanced equipment available is unable to work with that kind of accuracy, which is why Julian has turned to Miles for help.

Miles explains that he can't help because the quantum fluctuations are impossible to control. He'd need to break the laws of physics to do what Julian wants and that's impossible.

The scene cuts to the cargo bay where Julian has come seeking assistance. Obviously some time has passed as Jack, Lauren and Patrick have re-wired the most advanced equipment to handle the tasks necessary to make Serena well.

Best lines of the scene:
Jack: "Your friend is right. You can't break the laws of physics."
Jack, Lauren, Patrick: "But you can bend them."

The scene cuts back to the Infirmary, where Serena begins her treatment under the enhanced equipment. Several short scenes pass by as the operation proceeds and then in post-op where Julian continues to review her chart. Meanwhile in the cargo bay the three mutants are obviously concerned and waiting for the results. Back in post op the problem is obvious, Serena hasn't responded to the treatment.

The scene cuts to Quark's where Julian is talking with Ezri about the problem. It's been five days and no positive results. Julian is blaming himself, and Ezri offers to help, listing off all the things Julian can say to himself to punish himself for his failure.

Julian interrupts her when he notices a young woman outside Quark's. When he investigates he discovers it's Serena on the Promenade, and she can see and talk.

Best line of the scene:
Ezri: "I'm sorry. Obviously you want to punish yourself. Can I help?"

The show cuts to commercials.

The show continues in the Infirmary, where Julian examines Serena while Ezri watches. Serena demonstrates an advanced understanding of what is happening to her, impressing all.

The scene cuts to the cargo bay where the mutants are reunited with Serena. They all notice her voice is funny (a nasal sound sometimes associated with the deaf who speak). Jack makes fun of it, but when he realizes Serena needs practice he begins an impromptu a cappella (that's a spur of the moment decision to sing the "doh-ray-me-fah-so-la-ti-doh" scale). As she masters the notes they begin to improvise motto allegro ("much faster"), creating a delightful tune. Julian beams with admiration.

The scene cuts to Quark's where Julian is explaining all of Serena's breakthroughs to a disappointed Miles. Apparently Julian forgot that it's Thursday and he was supposed to have booked a holo-suite for him and Miles.

Instead Miles sat at the bar talking to Morn about Morn's 17 brothers and sisters while waiting for Julian.

The scene cuts to Julian's quarters where Serena is sitting, waiting for him. She can't sleep, afraid that when she awakens her new-found awareness of the world around her will be gone. Julian settles in beside her on the couch and puts a friendly arm around her and reassures her this won't disappear.

She snuggles in and quickly falls asleep. Julian, realizing this is probably best for Serena, also settles down.

The show cuts to commercials.

When it returns we find Serena reclining against Julian's sleeping form. She's reviewing the virus information we saw Julian working on before he went to bed at the beginning of the episode. She's figured out why the virus mutated and explains it to Julian. When Julian explains he's been working on this for months Serena reassures him that he would have worked it out eventually.

Serena expresses her desire to thank Julian for all he's done for her. Julian is called away to the Infirmary and Serena makes sure he takes his breakfast with him. She states she's going to visit the mutants while he's gone, and Julian tells her he'll meet her there.

The scene cuts to the cargo bay, where Jack's latest project is on the screen. He is very concerned that the universe is going to stop expanding and start collapsing on itself in about 60 to 70 trillion years. Jack wants to do something to prevent this.

Meanwhile, Lauren is admiring Nog's "handsome" features on a PADD.

Serena arrives and is hauled into Jack's problem and quickly realizes she doesn't belong with them as once she did.

Later, when Julian arrives, he finds Serena seated in her usually catatonic state while the other three mutants are still trying to solve the problem of a contracting universe. Julian is concerned, and ignoring Jack's problem talks with Serena while the other mutants pursue their own discussion. At the sound of his voice Serena immediately responds with a smile, explaining that the others found it less unsettling for her to return to her previous behaviour.

Julian asks her out to Quark's to meet his friends. Lauren offers to dress her up for the date. When Serena returns with Lauren she is quite pretty.

The scene cuts to Quark's, which is busy as usual. Serena is introduced to Ezri, Miles, Odo and Kira. She shows unusual talent in discerning body language and other hidden qualities. She assesses their personalities. Miles would cheerfully replace Atlas to hold up the world. Kira never doubts herself. Odo doubts everything except Kira. Ezri is trying to accept that she is more than just the sum of her parts, and Julian is compassionate, brilliant, and lonely.

Julian is impressed with her ability to figure these things out based on a few hours. But he points out that his friends liked her, and she states she liked them. She's relieved she doesn't have to worry about someone throwing a tantrum or breaking down into tears.

Julian explains he has to send the mutants back to the Institute, but that she won't be going with them because she doesn't belong there anymore. She asks what will become of her, is she supposed to make a life for herself somewhere in the galaxy. Julian invites her to stay on DS9. They look into each other's eyes and then they kiss.

The show cuts to commercials.

When the show returns we are in the cargo bay. Julian tells them that Serena won't be returning to the Institute with them. They are obviously upset by this unexpected news. Julian explains Serena will have her own quarters. Patrick asks Julian to make them normal too, but Lauren tells him they're too far gone for help. Jack doesn't want to be normal anyway because normal people don't try to save the universe from its inevitable collapse. They return to Jack's project and Julian leaves.

On the Promenade he brings Serena up to date on his conversation with the other mutants. She feels she must talk to them and Julian puts that off till the next day. He takes her into Quark's to cheer her up with a game of Dabo (which she continually wins, to Quark's consternation). Quark offers them a bottle of spring wine on the house to get them away from the table, and Serena persuades Julian to accept it. But before they find a table a Klingon warrior has a minor altercation with a tray full of mugs and the noise jars Serena into wanting to leave.

In the hall outside her quarters Julian offers Serena dinner in his quarters and suggests he take a week off to show her Risa. They kiss again and she enters her quarters.

The scene cuts to the cafeteria where Miles is repairing a replicator. Julian is talking on and on about how he feels Selena is just wonderful. He even reaches a point where he thinks Serena might be the woman he's spent his life looking for. Miles shows concern for Julian, pointing out everything is happening very quickly. Julian brushes this off with his enthusiasm. Miles is concerned about the nature of their relationship, pointing out that he's her doctor. Julian explains he's transferred her to another doctor to free him of any conflict of interest. Miles finally offers Julian his good wishes for the relationship with Serena.

The next night Julian has prepared a romantic candle-lit dinner. Some time later Julian has obviously stopped waiting for Serena and checking with the computer finds that she's still in her quarters. Unable to get a response from her he overrides the door lock and finds that Serena has returned to her previous condition: unresponsive.

The show cuts to commercials.

We return to the Infirmary, where Serena's doctor gives Julian permission to see her. Julian reassures Serena that he won't give up on her. A series of scenes shows us Julian with Serena, waiting for her to respond. He sleeps in a chair by her side.

The scene cuts to Serena in the cargo bay. Julian has brought her there because he's run out of ideas and hopes they might find a way of reaching her. Reluctantly they agree and ask Julian to leave while they try.

Julian returns to his quarters.

Back at the cargo bay at a later point in time Jack, Patrick, and Lauren discuss their options. They decide they must tell Julian, though Jack implies that if they don't they can all stay together. Nonetheless they agree to tell Julian something and break out of the cargo bay.

They quickly become lost, and when approached by a Star Fleet officer asking if they need help Patrick assumes his formally dignified manner and announces "That's a stupid question," and proceeds down the hall trailed by his two companions.

They arrive at Julian's quarters and tell him that Serena can still talk but that she's afraid to do so. They don't know why but they think it has something to do with Julian.

In the cargo bay Julian begs Serena to talk to him. he tells her that he loves her and will do whatever it takes to make things right. Then he asks her if she loves him.

She finally talks, explaining that she doesn't know what love is, doesn't know what to do or feel, doesn't know how to be the woman he wants her to be.

The scene cuts to the Repli-Mat where Julian sits drinking coffee. Miles notices him and sits to talk. Jack, Patrick, and Lauren were returned to the Institute and Julian has arranged a position at a research centre for Serena where she will be cared for by a scientist and his family.

Julian punishes himself for trying to move things along too fast for Serena. He realizes it almost pushed her back into her shell. Miles offers him charity by pointing out that Julian didn't want to be alone anymore. That no one does.

Miles invites Julian to dinner but Julian declines and Miles returns to his work.

The scene cuts to the hall where Julian is escorting Serena to the transport. They exchange pleasant nothings and she asks Julian not to forget her. He promises he never will and she walks through the airlocks to the transport, leaving a saddened Julian behind.

End of episode.

Personal reflections:
It's tempting to view "Chrysalis" as a tragic love story. But I think it is more appropriate to view this as an episode about medical ethics, especially as they pertain to the mentally handicapped.

Julian's interest in Serena as shown in "Statistical Probabilities" was more paternal and patient. In "Chrysalis" it started as paternal and patient but quickly escalates to romantic and impatient when she emerges from her silent world and reveals herself to be a vibrant and very intelligent woman who still has her vulnerabilities.

Julian, forgetting her history and his professional ethics gets involved in loving her very, very quickly and she is simply not equipped to handle his interests or to refuse them because of what she feels she owes him.

Only when Julian understands the damage his romantic interest is causing her does he get a grip and rein himself in.

From Julian's point of view it is a tragedy, for he is so close and yet so far from his dream of spending his life with a woman who understands him and can keep up with him.

From Serena's point of view it is a scary and confusing world where expectations exist and she must somehow cope with it all and show the man who saved her proper gratitude by trying to make him just as happy.

There can be no romance between them as long as she is emotionally incompetent to deal with the love and the needs that love puts upon people.

Julian's loneliness must be pretty powerful to drive him into this so quickly and without thinking of the consequences for someone like Serena.

On a lighter note, it is good to see Jack, Patrick and Lauren. Those crazy genetically-enhanced mutants are a refreshing delight for all of those characters who retain their dignity and stiff upper lips. Jack's concern for the universe is both touching and funny. Patrick's sensitive nature is very moving. You can't help but feel the guy is just a big puppy. Lauren is as decadent as ever and I confess watching her move and her face can be quite mesmerizing at times. True she plays a classic vamp but Faith Salie plays it very, very well. If DS9 does a few movies I hope these three characters star in one of them. They're very engaging.

Serena is someone I hope they bring back for the final episode. Despite the wrongness of the relationship Julian was pursuing with her, I think time and experience can set things right, and they do seem to make a very happy couple together. Just as Data corresponded with Commander Maddox, I hope we see reminders of Serena in future episodes in the form of letters to Julian, keeping him informed of her development.

I'm also starting to think twice about my prediction that Julian will pursue Ezri. This episode did not give me much faith in that prediction. Julian is indeed lonely and alone, but I don't think he sees Ezri as he did Jadzia. Their discussions in this episode were friendly and bantering but more like two colleagues than the usually flirtatious exchange we are used to with Julian and Jadzia.

Despite a couple of nits I found I enjoyed this show, and appreciate the return of the mutants. I hope we see more of them.

Thanks for your attention.



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