.gif)
Past Tense (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"Past Tense" is a two-part episode from the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
. The crew of the Defiant
is thrown back in time to 2024 on Earth. The United States of America has attempted to solve the problem of homelessness
by erecting "Sanctuary Districts" where unemployed
and/or mentally ill
persons are placed in makeshift ghetto
s.
, Dr. Bashir
, and Jadzia Dax
attempt to beam down to Earth from the Defiant, something goes wrong and they materialize in San Francisco in the year 2024.
Dax is separated from her crewmates. Luckily, she is found by a passing businessman named Chris Brynner, who escorts her back to his office and takes care of her, believing she had been mugged. He admires the "tattoo
s" on her face and throat, and compliments the exotic name Jadzia, which he guesses is Dutch
.
Meanwhile, Sisko and Bashir are having a harder time. They are awakened by a pair of police officers armed with pump-action shotguns, who believe them to be vagrants and warn them to get off the streets. They find their way to an employment office, which is crowded with unemployed workers and used as a way-station by throngs of people with untreated mental illness and nowhere else to go. Sisko sees the date on the calendar and realizes they have arrived just days before the "Bell riot
s". They are in a "Sanctuary District", a fenced-off ghetto
that is used to contain the poor, the sick, the mentally disabled, and anyone else who cannot support themselves – essentially, a large-scale debtor's prison
. The Bell Riots happened when tensions rose to the breaking point, the residents of the Sanctuary Districts angry about the loss of their dignity and the inability of the government to provide them the means to honestly support themselves. Dozens will be killed, including a man named Gabriel Bell, the leader of the demonstration. Bell will become a hero because of his self-sacrifice while protecting hostages. As a result of Bell's heroism attitudes to the poor and sick begin to change. Sisko and Bashir want to be out of the city before this happens. That night they sleep in a stairwell, since all the buildings in the Sanctuary District are either full, or guarded by gangs.
Dax is diligently working on locating her crewmates and trying to understand what is going on. Brynner provides her with clothing and currency, and she uses his computer to get an identification card and find information about the era. When she accompanies Brynner to a swank party she visits the upper echelons of society that no one in the Sanctuary Districts can ever hope to see.
Disaster strikes when a fight breaks out because Sisko and Bashir resist attempts to steal the food cards they have been given. A man who comes to their aid is killed, and Sisko and Bashir discover after the fact that he was Gabriel Bell. They have inadvertently caused the death of the man who must lead the uprising just days from now. If the Bell Riots never occur, Earth's history will take a different course. Sisko decides he must make sure these events happen as they did, and he takes on the identity of Gabriel Bell.
Back in the 24th century, the crew left on the Defiant, Major Kira
, Odo, and Chief O'Brien
, lose contact with Earth as all traces of the Federation suddenly vanish; Bell's death has radically altered the timeline. They begin to perform calculations and get ready to use the transporters to zero in on the location in time of their lost crewmembers. Kira and O'Brien make several test trips, always ending up in the wrong point in time. They continue to work on the problem.
The riots are in full swing outside. Dax watches from Brynner's office, knowing Sisko and Bashir are caught in the Sanctuary District and are in danger, and heads down to find them. She sneaks through the lines via a sewer pipe and is caught and delivered to the employment center to explain herself. There Sisko and Bashir catch up with her in secret. She sneaks back out, certain that Brynner will be able to order a terminal activated at the employment center so that the leaders of the revolt can tell their stories and have them broadcast worldwide, which was the main force that turned the tide of opinion, leading to the end of the Sanctuary Districts.
With only enough energy for one more transport, Kira and O'Brien finally transport themselves to the correct time in history and contact Dax. They stand by to rescue Sisko and Bashir if they can. It is a close call as the SWAT teams
move in on the employment center to end the riot once and for all. They open fire, killing the leaders of the revolt; Sisko takes a bullet in the shoulder to protect the hostages and survives. Once the riots are over, the two police officers who first confronted Sisko and Bashir agree to slip Sisko's identification (with Bell's name) onto one of the dead men, and also to tell the truth about what has happened here. The DS9 officers are beamed back to the Defiant in the 24th century and find everything back to normal, history having unfolded just as it should have. The only difference in time (as revealed at the end of the episode) is that Bell's entry in the historical records now shows Sisko's picture in place of his own.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
. The crew of the Defiant
USS Defiant
The USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
is thrown back in time to 2024 on Earth. The United States of America has attempted to solve the problem of homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
by erecting "Sanctuary Districts" where unemployed
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and/or mentally ill
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
persons are placed in makeshift ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
s.
Part I
When Commander SiskoBenjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
, Dr. Bashir
Julian Bashir
Lieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
, and Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, was a main character during the first six seasons of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine....
attempt to beam down to Earth from the Defiant, something goes wrong and they materialize in San Francisco in the year 2024.
Dax is separated from her crewmates. Luckily, she is found by a passing businessman named Chris Brynner, who escorts her back to his office and takes care of her, believing she had been mugged. He admires the "tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
s" on her face and throat, and compliments the exotic name Jadzia, which he guesses is Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
.
Meanwhile, Sisko and Bashir are having a harder time. They are awakened by a pair of police officers armed with pump-action shotguns, who believe them to be vagrants and warn them to get off the streets. They find their way to an employment office, which is crowded with unemployed workers and used as a way-station by throngs of people with untreated mental illness and nowhere else to go. Sisko sees the date on the calendar and realizes they have arrived just days before the "Bell riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s". They are in a "Sanctuary District", a fenced-off ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
that is used to contain the poor, the sick, the mentally disabled, and anyone else who cannot support themselves – essentially, a large-scale debtor's prison
Debtor's prison
A debtors' prison is a prison for those who are unable to pay a debt.Prior to the mid 19th century debtors' prisons were a common way to deal with unpaid debt.-Debt bondage in ancient Greece and Rome:...
. The Bell Riots happened when tensions rose to the breaking point, the residents of the Sanctuary Districts angry about the loss of their dignity and the inability of the government to provide them the means to honestly support themselves. Dozens will be killed, including a man named Gabriel Bell, the leader of the demonstration. Bell will become a hero because of his self-sacrifice while protecting hostages. As a result of Bell's heroism attitudes to the poor and sick begin to change. Sisko and Bashir want to be out of the city before this happens. That night they sleep in a stairwell, since all the buildings in the Sanctuary District are either full, or guarded by gangs.
Dax is diligently working on locating her crewmates and trying to understand what is going on. Brynner provides her with clothing and currency, and she uses his computer to get an identification card and find information about the era. When she accompanies Brynner to a swank party she visits the upper echelons of society that no one in the Sanctuary Districts can ever hope to see.
Disaster strikes when a fight breaks out because Sisko and Bashir resist attempts to steal the food cards they have been given. A man who comes to their aid is killed, and Sisko and Bashir discover after the fact that he was Gabriel Bell. They have inadvertently caused the death of the man who must lead the uprising just days from now. If the Bell Riots never occur, Earth's history will take a different course. Sisko decides he must make sure these events happen as they did, and he takes on the identity of Gabriel Bell.
Back in the 24th century, the crew left on the Defiant, Major Kira
Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
, Odo, and Chief O'Brien
Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
, lose contact with Earth as all traces of the Federation suddenly vanish; Bell's death has radically altered the timeline. They begin to perform calculations and get ready to use the transporters to zero in on the location in time of their lost crewmembers. Kira and O'Brien make several test trips, always ending up in the wrong point in time. They continue to work on the problem.
Part II
Sisko (posing as Bell) and Bashir return to the employment center just as it is stormed by a group of disgruntled Sanctuary Residents and its staff and police officers taken hostage. Sisko takes on leadership of the revolt, trying to ensure that no one gets hurt, and understanding that at the resolution of the revolt Gabriel Bell must die. He makes demands to the governor, insisting they be given airtime to express their grievances. He wants the Sanctuary Districts closed and he wants the people to be given opportunities to earn an honest living.The riots are in full swing outside. Dax watches from Brynner's office, knowing Sisko and Bashir are caught in the Sanctuary District and are in danger, and heads down to find them. She sneaks through the lines via a sewer pipe and is caught and delivered to the employment center to explain herself. There Sisko and Bashir catch up with her in secret. She sneaks back out, certain that Brynner will be able to order a terminal activated at the employment center so that the leaders of the revolt can tell their stories and have them broadcast worldwide, which was the main force that turned the tide of opinion, leading to the end of the Sanctuary Districts.
With only enough energy for one more transport, Kira and O'Brien finally transport themselves to the correct time in history and contact Dax. They stand by to rescue Sisko and Bashir if they can. It is a close call as the SWAT teams
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
move in on the employment center to end the riot once and for all. They open fire, killing the leaders of the revolt; Sisko takes a bullet in the shoulder to protect the hostages and survives. Once the riots are over, the two police officers who first confronted Sisko and Bashir agree to slip Sisko's identification (with Bell's name) onto one of the dead men, and also to tell the truth about what has happened here. The DS9 officers are beamed back to the Defiant in the 24th century and find everything back to normal, history having unfolded just as it should have. The only difference in time (as revealed at the end of the episode) is that Bell's entry in the historical records now shows Sisko's picture in place of his own.
Allusions
- During this episode, one of the policemen says the best baseball team he ever saw was the 1999 New York Yankees1999 New York Yankees seasonThe New York Yankees' 1999 season was the 97th season for the Bronx based professional baseball team. The team finished with a record of 98-64 finishing 4 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe Torre. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium...
. The Yankees swept the World Series1999 World SeriesThe 1999 World Series, the 95th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, featured a rematch between the defending champions New York Yankees against the Atlanta Braves during the month of October, with the Yankees sweeping the Series in four games for their second title in a row,...
that year with an overall playoff record of 11–1, more than four years after this episode originally aired, though the previous years' Yankees (1998) are considered one of the greatest teams in MLB history. - The ending plot is somewhat similar to the Norrmalmstorg robberyNorrmalmstorg robberyThe Norrmalmstorg robbery was a bank robbery and hostage crisis best known as the origin of the term Stockholm syndrome. It occurred at the Norrmalmstorg square in Stockholm, Sweden in 1973...
in Stockholm where bank robbers held four employees as hostageHostageA hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
s. In this case, the victims became emotionally attached to their victimizers, and even defended their captors after they were freed from their six-day ordeal. This phenomenon became known as Stockholm syndromeStockholm syndromeIn psychology, Stockholm Syndrome is an apparently paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them...
. - According to the DVD commentary, as this episode was finishing production an article appeared in the Los Angeles Times describing a proposal by the mayor to create fenced-in "havens" for the city's homeless, to make downtown Los Angeles more desirable for business. The cast & crew were shocked that this was essentially the same scenario that Past Tense warned might happen in three decades, but was now being seriously proposed in the present.