WRITING SAREK
by Peter S. Beagle

Conlan Press. [PLEASE NOTE: RELEASE DATE NOT YET SET. Please see Updates page for details.]


“Sarek,” from the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, is recognized as one of the series' finest episodes.

Originally broadcast on May 27th, 1990, "Sarek" does what Trek always did at its best: explore crucial human social and emotional issues through the lens of "alien" exploration, collaboration, and conflict. In this episode it is revealed that Spock's father, Sarek, is slowly but inevitably losing control over his emotions because of Bendii Syndrome (something like the Vulcan version of Alzheimer's). It is, of course, exactly the wrong time for this to be happening, and Captain Picard is forced to risk his own sanity and life to help Sarek complete a vitally important diplomatic mission.

Peter developed the story and wrote the teleplay, based in part on unpublished original material by Marc Cushman and Jake Jacobs.

We are incredibly pleased that Paramount, Viacom Consumer Products, and Simon & Schuster have all given their permission for us to publish this book, which will contain a complete "behind the scenes" history of the writing of the episode (all the way back to Marc Cushman's first pitch to Gene Roddenberry!), plus Peter's notated original teleplay and additional analysis and commentary.

FROM ON-LINE REVIEWS OF THE "SAREK" EPISODE

Flawless. Simply flawless.

..The Enterprise takes on Ambassador Sarek at Vulcan, with his new human wife Perrin, his aide Mendrossen (also human) and his young Vulcan aide, Sakkath. Sarek, before retiring, plans to finish his one final mission: negotiating a treaty with the Legaran people. His aides seem overanxious to assure his privacy and seclusion, and Sarek himself seems a little cranky, but all is basically well.

However, strange outbreaks of violence begin to plague the crew. Wesley and Geordi start yelling at each other after setting up the conference room. Riker, O'Brien and others get caught in a barroom brawl at 10-Forward. Bev slaps Wesley for no good reason. And, tellingly, when Sarek attends a Mozart recital, Picard actually sees him CRY.

Bev and Troi find this: the outbreaks began almost to the minute when Sarek and company beamed on board. Furthermore, they theorize (correctly) that Sarek himself is the cause. It turns out that he is suffering from Bendii Syndrome, a rare malady that afflicts extremely old Vulcans. He is slowly losing emotional control. For now, Sakkath has been covertly keeping it in check, but the stress of this mission makes that impossible, and the condition is ever worsening. Picard is put in the unenviable position of having to confront Sarek with this news (after getting past Perrin and the others). He does this, and Sarek is finally forced to accept it, after nearly going mad with rage. It looks like the mission will fail, as the Legaran will not accept any diplomat other than Sarek.

One risky solution is attempted: Picard mind-melds with Sarek. It provides Sarek with the few hours' stability he needs to conclude his negotiations, but in the meantime Picard must face the full fury of Sarek's long-suppressed emotions (including his never-admitted love for Spock and Amanda). The mission succeeds, and Sarek returns to Vulcan to face an honorable retirement, but no cure for his disease.

...I truly wish I could SPEAK, rather than write, my review of this. No print will ever convey the emotional force this show (particularly the last quarter of it) possesses.

And now for something completely numerical:

Plot: 10. They'd written themselves to an unhappy ending, and they managed to get out of it.

Plot Handling: 10. I knew something was wrong with Sarek before I came in, and I was still baffled as to what the hell was going on.

Characterization: 10, for lack of a 58.

          — Tim Lynch

Scriptwriter and novelist Peter Beagle creates a splendid vehicle for the classical acting skills of Patrick Stewart and the late, much-loved Marc Lenard, who shows us the heart of a Vulcan whose logic made life so difficult for Spock.

          — Susan Schwartz

Mark Lenard makes an appearance as the legendary Ambassador Sarek, and I must say he is amazing. Because of the Bendii syndrome he is allowed to act very emotionally. This episode has one of the most powerful scenes in Star Trek history, namely the one where Picard suffers from the after effects of his mindmeld with Sarek. .

          — Dark Materia

Yes, I would like to pre-order Writing Sarek.