Star Trek The Next Generation
S1E13
· The Big Goodbye

Picard’s Stoic Command Amidst Interrogation Smoke

In the stark interrogation room bathed in harsh light and choking cigarette smoke, Captain Jean-Luc Picard embodies unflappable calm under pressure. Accused of murder within the Holodeck’s 1941 San Francisco simulation, he deliberately resists Detective Bell’s aggressive demands, asserting he has fully disclosed all pertinent information. Picard’s slight smile and measured responses are acts of psychological defiance, signaling his inner resolve to control the narrative despite hostile questioning. This tense moment deepens the narrative's exploration of identity and illusion, marking a pivotal point where Picard’s composed resistance both challenges and unsettles his interrogators, heightening dramatic tension as external threats loom.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Picard maintains composure under harsh interrogation, asserting he has revealed all he knows while cigarette smoke curls around him under stark lighting.

defiance to calm control ['interrogation room with harsh white light …

Picard leans back, smiles with confident familiarity, signaling control amid interrogation as smoke swirls, reinforcing his steady resolve.

pressure to controlled assurance ['chair in interrogation room']

Picard confidently confirms his knowledge matches expectations, subtly challenging the interrogators' assumption of new information.

controlled assurance to quiet defiance

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain
 primary

Calm and collected with underlying resolve; outwardly confident while internally resisting psychological intimidation.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard maintains an unflappable calm, seated and leaning back with a slight smile, asserting he has fully disclosed all information despite Detective Bell's aggressive interrogation tactics. His measured tone and confident posture embody psychological resilience and control within the hostile environment.

Goals in this moment
  • • Maintain control of the narrative and resist psychological pressure
  • • Avoid incriminating himself or revealing unnecessary information
Active beliefs
  • • Complete disclosure of known information is sufficient and strategic
  • • Preserving composure under duress is critical to surviving the interrogation
Character traits
Stoic Composed Defiant Resilient
Follow Jean-Luc Picard's journey
Detective Bell
Detective
 primary

Frustrated and aggressive, intent on breaking Picard’s composure and extracting a confession or new information.

Detective Bell aggressively pressures Picard, demanding he repeat information from the top and shouting commands like 'Spill it!' His demeanor is hostile and unyielding, embodying the relentless, no-nonsense interrogator archetype within the simulation.

Goals in this moment
  • • Coerce Picard into revealing new or withheld information
  • • Establish dominance and control over the interrogation
Active beliefs
  • • Picard is withholding critical information
  • • Aggressive tactics will force compliance
Character traits
Hostile Demanding Intimidating Relentless
Follow Detective Bell's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Cigarette Smoke

The swirling cigarette smoke saturates the interrogation room, visually punctuating the thick tension and claustrophobia of the environment. It serves as a period-authentic atmospheric element that enhances the noir mood, obscuring edges and contributing to the psychological pressure exerted on Picard.

Before: Present and dense in the interrogation room, hanging …
After: Continues to swirl and suffuse the room, unchanged …
Before: Present and dense in the interrogation room, hanging heavily in the air.
After: Continues to swirl and suffuse the room, unchanged by the interaction.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
1941 Dixon Hill Interrogation Room

The 1941 Dixon Hill Interrogation Room functions as a confined, oppressive setting for this event, illuminated by harsh white light that slices through the cigarette smoke. Its physical and atmospheric qualities amplify the tension and menace, symbolizing institutional power and the psychological crucible Picard must endure to maintain control over the interrogation.

Atmosphere Oppressively tense, suffused with swirling cigarette smoke and harsh, unforgiving lighting that heightens the claustrophobic …
Function Stage for the intense interrogation confrontation between Picard and Detective Bell.
Symbolism Represents a psychological battleground where illusion and reality blur, embodying moral ambiguity and institutional authority.
Access Restricted to interrogators and the subject; a closed, controlled environment.
Harsh white lighting illuminating faces and smoke Dense cigarette smoke swirling around the participants

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

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Key Dialogue

"PICARD: I've told you everything I know."
"BELL: Yeah? Well, you're just gonna have to tell us again. From the top."
"PICARD: Very good. I've read all this before. It's exactly as it should be."
"BELL: Spill it!"