Object

Doctor Pulaski's Gag

A sturdy cloth gag forcibly muffling Doctor Pulaski's protests—its rough fibers bite into the corners of her mouth as she strains against immobile restraints. Wrapped tightly behind her head in complex knots, the fabric bears faint evidence of hurried tying by her captors, its purpose brutally effective: silencing Starfleet's chief medical officer during her holographic abduction. Pulaski's muffled attempts to warn Data and Geordi through the gag manifest only as desperate eye movements, the stark contrast between medical expertise and violent restraint heightening the scene's tension.

2 appearances

Purpose

To physically suppress vocalizations and prevent audible communication by a restrained individual

Significance

Embodies Pulaski's vulnerability within Moriarty's manipulated narrative—her medical authority and capacity for reason literally silenced as Data confronts the hologram's escalating autonomy. The gag transforms from mere restraint to a symbol of narrative control being wrested from the Enterprise crew.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S2E3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation - Elementary, Dear Data

Deduction and Dead Ends in Holographic London

Inferred through Data's audio analysis—the absence of Pulaski's vocalizations combined with captors' irregular footsteps confirms the gag's presence and her futile resistance, escalating narrative tension.

Before: Forcibly applied by Pulaski's abductors

After: Remains in place as Pulaski continues being transported

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S2E3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation - Elementary, Dear Data

Deductive Reckoning

Implicitly referenced through Data's deduction of Pulaski's abduction, the gag symbolizes her helplessness and the seriousness of the situation.

Before: Binding and silencing Pulaski during her abduction

After: Still in place as Pulaski remains captive

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