Fabula
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye

Picard Disarms Leech as Holodeck Entrapment Becomes Deadly

Fueled by rage and desperation after Whalen is fatally shot by Leech, Picard violently disarms the assailant, shattering the fragile illusion of control. Leech flees, threatening vengeance from the ominous Redblock, while Beverly desperately tends to Whalen’s critical wounds. Attempts to exit the Holodeck fail as the computer locks down, revealing a dangerous malfunction that traps Picard and his crew in a deadly game with no escape.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Picard erupts in fury, striking Leech and disarming him; Leech retreats, threatening revenge from the 'Fat Man,' signaling the rising threat from Redblock's gang.

anger to looming menace ["Dixon Hill's office, confrontation aftermath"]

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

5

Furious and determined, masking deep frustration and urgency; struggling to maintain control amid chaos.

Captain Picard, fueled by righteous anger and frustration, physically disarms Leech after witnessing Whalen's shooting. He asserts control with decisive violence, attempts to pursue the fleeing assailant, and desperately commands the computer to open the Holodeck exit, demonstrating both leadership and a growing desperation.

Goals in this moment
  • Disarm and neutralize the immediate threat posed by Leech.
  • Secure Whalen's safety by attempting to exit the Holodeck.
  • Protect the crew and regain control of the dangerous situation.
Active beliefs
  • Violence, though undesirable, is necessary to protect the innocent.
  • The Holodeck should be a safe environment and must be escaped immediately.
  • Leech is a dangerous criminal whose threats must not be ignored.
Character traits
resolute authoritative protective impulsive
Follow Jean-Luc Picard's journey

Focused and composed, maintaining rational problem-solving despite the escalating danger.

Data actively investigates the malfunctioning Holodeck, attempting to locate an exit and diagnose the computer's refusal to respond. His logical clarity and calm presence anchor the crew amid escalating panic, delivering critical information about the system failure.

Goals in this moment
  • Identify a safe exit from the Holodeck.
  • Diagnose the cause of the computer malfunction.
  • Assist the crew in managing the crisis logically.
Active beliefs
  • The Holodeck malfunction is a critical threat that must be resolved.
  • Logical analysis is the best approach to navigate the crisis.
  • The crew’s safety depends on regaining control of the environment.
Character traits
analytical calm methodical loyal
Follow Data's journey

Desperate and focused, balancing clinical detachment with emotional concern for Whalen’s survival.

Doctor Beverly Crusher immediately attends to the critically wounded Whalen with urgent and compassionate care, communicating the severity of his injuries and pushing for rapid medical intervention despite the chaotic and dangerous environment.

Goals in this moment
  • Stabilize Whalen’s critical injuries.
  • Facilitate transport to Sickbay for advanced treatment.
  • Support the crew’s efforts to regain control of the Holodeck.
Active beliefs
  • Immediate medical attention is crucial for survival.
  • Violence in this setting is unacceptable and must be stopped.
  • The crew must work together to survive and escape.
Character traits
compassionate urgent professional resolute
Follow Beverly Crusher's journey

Perturbed and fearful, bordering on panic as he loses control of the situation and perceives mortal danger.

Felix Leech, initially aggressive and threatening with his gun, spirals into panic and desperation after being struck and disarmed by Picard. He vehemently threatens vengeance from an unseen 'Fat Man' in the Redblock before fleeing the scene, his behavior marked by fear, volatility, and erratic hyperventilation.

Goals in this moment
  • Extract information about the mysterious object from the crew.
  • Retain control through intimidation and threat of violence.
  • Escape to regroup and exact revenge with support from the Redblock.
Active beliefs
  • Possession of the object is of critical importance to his cause.
  • Threats and violence are effective tools to coerce cooperation.
  • The Redblock is a powerful ally who will retaliate on his behalf.
Character traits
volatile paranoid desperate menacing
Follow Felix Leech's journey

Shocked and pale, struggling to reconcile the deadly assault with his previous perception of the Holodeck as safe and fictional.

Charles Whalen is shot by Leech and collapses in shock and disbelief, his jovial demeanor replaced by pale vulnerability. He attempts to rationalize the surreal violence, highlighting the blurred lines between simulation and reality as he succumbs to critical injury.

Goals in this moment
  • Attempt to de-escalate the tension with Leech.
  • Maintain composure despite being gravely wounded.
  • Convey the surreal nature of the violence to Picard.
Active beliefs
  • The threats and dangers in the simulation are ultimately not real.
  • Violence within this context should be contained and non-lethal.
  • Trust in Picard’s leadership to resolve the crisis.
Character traits
optimistic scholarly vulnerable naive
Follow Charles Whalen's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Felix Leech's Gun

Felix Leech wields the gun as a threatening weapon to coerce information and enforce his will. It is used to shoot Whalen, transforming the simulation from a game into a deadly confrontation. The gun’s presence elevates tension and marks the shift from illusion to lethal reality.

Before: In Leech’s possession, actively brandished to intimidate the …
After: Disarmed and lying on the floor after Picard …
Before: In Leech’s possession, actively brandished to intimidate the crew.
After: Disarmed and lying on the floor after Picard forcibly takes it from Leech.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Dixon Hill's Office Hallway

Dixon Hill’s Office serves as the confined and tense battleground where the boundary between noir simulation and deadly reality collapses. Its familiar noir aesthetic contrasts starkly with the violent events unfolding, enhancing the surreal and claustrophobic atmosphere. The location’s walls confine the characters physically and symbolically, as escape attempts fail and the Holodeck locks down.

Atmosphere Tense, claustrophobic, and charged with escalating violence and panic.
Function Trap and battleground that confines the characters during the life-threatening crisis.
Symbolism Represents the fragile divide between simulation fantasy and harsh reality collapsing violently.
Access Holodeck computer has locked all exits, preventing egress.
Shadowed corners and vintage noir décor creating atmospheric tension. Sounds of gunfire, shouts, and frantic commands breaking the usual calm.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 3
Causal

"Whalen's fatal shooting by Felix Leech shatters the illusion of the Holodeck as safe fiction, forcing Beverly to confront real medical emergencies inside the simulation."

Leech's Violent Betrayal and Whalen’s Fatal Wounding
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Causal

"Whalen's fatal shooting by Felix Leech shatters the illusion of the Holodeck as safe fiction, forcing Beverly to confront real medical emergencies inside the simulation."

Holodeck Turns Deadly as Exit Seals Shut
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Escalation

"Whalen's insistence that it's just a game is violently contradicted by his shooting, signaling the narrative's pivot from playful immersion to deadly reality."

Beverly Confronts the Reality of Picard’s Murder Accusation
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
What this causes 7
Causal

"Whalen's fatal shooting by Felix Leech shatters the illusion of the Holodeck as safe fiction, forcing Beverly to confront real medical emergencies inside the simulation."

Leech's Violent Betrayal and Whalen’s Fatal Wounding
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Causal

"Whalen's fatal shooting by Felix Leech shatters the illusion of the Holodeck as safe fiction, forcing Beverly to confront real medical emergencies inside the simulation."

Holodeck Turns Deadly as Exit Seals Shut
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Escalation

"The realization of lethal stakes causes Picard and Data to confront the invading Redblock gang, heightening danger and transforming the scenario into a fight for survival."

Redblock's Hostile Takeover and the Deadly Ultimatum
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Escalation

"The realization of lethal stakes causes Picard and Data to confront the invading Redblock gang, heightening danger and transforming the scenario into a fight for survival."

Redblock's Brutal Takeover and the Grim Ultimatum
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Escalation

"The realization of lethal stakes causes Picard and Data to confront the invading Redblock gang, heightening danger and transforming the scenario into a fight for survival."

Picard Unmasks Fiction, Provokes Villainous Breakdown
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Escalation

"The realization of lethal stakes causes Picard and Data to confront the invading Redblock gang, heightening danger and transforming the scenario into a fight for survival."

Leech's Deadly Ultimatum and Picard's Price for Survival
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye
Escalation

"The realization of lethal stakes causes Picard and Data to confront the invading Redblock gang, heightening danger and transforming the scenario into a fight for survival."

Picard’s Calculated Gamble: Trading Whalen’s Life to Save Beverly
S1E13 · The Big Goodbye

Key Dialogue

"LEECH: "I'm not a man to be toyed with, Mister Hill. You were hired to locate a certain object. I demand to know what you've done with it.""
"WHALEN: "Take it from me Leech, you'll never find it. Now... give me the gun.""
"LEECH: "You'll be sorry! The Fat Man isn't going to like this!""
"PICARD: "I can't help you, Mister Leech. I'm afraid this game is over.""
"BEVERLY: "This man has been shot. If we don't get him to Sickbay, he'll die.""
"DATA: "There is a programming malfunction. The computer refuses to identify the exits.""