When The Bough Breaks

Next Generation Episode #17

Written by Hannah Louise Shearer. Directed by Kim Manners.

Stardate: 41509.1 First aired: 15 February 1988

The Enterprise stumbles across the mythical planet Aldea, which has been hidden by an enormous cloaking device. The Aldeans beam Riker, Beverly and Troi to the surface, their their leader Ranue explains his people are infertile and that he'll exchange technology for the ship's children. The Enterprise officers are horrified and refuse, so the Aldeans kidnap some children, including Wesley, and fling the Enterprise many light years away from the planet. Wesley takes charge of the children and orders them to passively resist. He discovers the utopian Aldea is controlled by the Custodian, a computer, and that the infertility is a side-effect of the cloaking device. The Aldeans return the children to the Enterprise.

Guest Cast

Ivy Bethune as "Duana", Jessica Bova, Vanessa Bova as "Alexandra", Connie Danese as "Toya", Jerry Hardin as "Radue", Paul Lambert as "Melian", Michele Marsh as "Leda", Dan Mason as "Accolan", Brenda Strong as "Rashella", Jandi Swanson as "Katie", Dierk Torsek as "Dr Bernard", Phillip N Waller as "Harry Bernard".

Trivia

• Jerry Hardin is a stalwart of US television, perhaps better known as Deep Throat in The X-Files.

• Wil Wheaton's brother and sister Jeremy and Amy have non-speaking roles as two of the children taken hostage.

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