Fool's Gambit

Primary Crew
Written By
Filmed, Directed and Produced By
Edited By
Costume Designer Ross Nilan
Set Designer
Primary Cast
Captain Reginald P. Uwhyu
Commander Zulu T. Deuzieme
Dr. Riley Bowman
Lt. Comdr. Kyle Lawson
Lieutenant Rodl
Commander Pietrich Heather Jones
Captain Johnathan Greyson

The second voyage of the Enterprise allows us to learn about each crew member as they find themselves in difficult situations. Captain Johnathan Greyson (John Valkusky) charges Captain Uwhyu (Pete Mosiondz) with treason based on the evidence discovered of Uwhyu firing on a defenseless ship a decade ago at the planet Kackloos. Commander Pietrich (Heather Jones) has been sent by Starfleet Command to act as the prosecuting attorney in this case. As first officer, Commander Deuzieme (Michael W. Mowery) tries to remain loyal to his captain but soon realizes that Uwhyu is sending the crew into a dangerous personal dispute near the neutral zone.

Having no other option, Doozie gathers the senior staff and discusses a plan for mutiny. The only other objector to the plan is Doctor Bowman (Ross Nilan) who claims that no one could understand what Uwhyu went through on Kackloos because unlike himself, they weren't there.

It isn't until the engineering department realizes that an alien influence known as Androns, were effecting the Captain's judgment, that Doozie releases Uwhyu from the brig. Now the Androns are beginning to effect Captain Greyson, just as they did Uwhyu 10 years earlier.

By stories end, Uwhyu and Greyson go head to head on the frozen surface of Kackloos. Doozie is forced to destroy the Androns in order to save the crew on the Enterprise as well as Greyson's ship. Finally the relationship between Bowman and his colleagues suffers a strain that only time can heel.

Just like the pilot episode, this production was criticized for resembling Next Generation episodes. First the alien being said to influence the captain was said to mirror The Battle episode where Picard is under the control of the Ferengi's mind altering device. Another bit of criticism is said that the episode looses continuity from scene to scene. The reason being Mowery describes, "Too many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians." Simply put, as the cast members developed their roles, they were given to much freedom of expression from writer Pete Mosiondz to do what they wanted. The end result was to many diversions from the script.

On the positive side, the script does allow for some good moments. First all of a sense of continuity in the series, where Uwhyu reports that he was busy dealing with a megalomaniac on Oswegan 4. This was a direct reference to the pilot. Other strong scenes were the Engineering clips and the Pietrich-Doozie confrontation sequences.

Even though Michael Mowery didn't have a hand in writing this script, he still kept busy with having to design all of the sets that Pete Mosiondz wanted to use. New sets included: two bridges for other ships, three quarter scale engineering department, lounge, conference room, hollow deck, Doozie's crew quarters, jeffery's tube and a redesigned ready room.

Besides the many set changes and additions, there were numerous cast changes as well. Joining the Enterprise crew is GRP's Jeff Wilkinson as Ensign Jack Donovan. New comers Chuck Weed as Ensign Jason Carter and Bob Holmes as Lieutenant Sye Sperling round out the crew. Playing the role of the bartender is Scott Wilkinson (seen recently as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars fantasy film). Making their film debuts here were John Valkusky as Captain Johnathan Greyson, Kari Williams as Lieutenant Gracings, Donna Ek as the computer voice and Heather Jones as Commander Pietrich.

An interesting note on the Commander Pietrich character is that Kelli Moore was originally casted in the role. She filmed the bar scene as well as the confrontation scene in Doozie's quarters. In this version Pietrich and Doozie shared an intimate kiss on screen, that scene, however was never filmed when Heather Jones took over the role because the script had to be changed to follow the continuity of the cast changing they're roles as they saw fit. As far as Moore's performance, it remains in the GRP achieve vault.

Departing from the cast were Jen Hay (only because she was unavailable). Andy Mosiondz and Jason Ardido did not test well and their contracts were not picked up for the second episode.

Another major change was the opening credits. From now on the animated opening will replace the computerized opening because it fits better with the graphics used for the introduction of the cast members.

As a result of a strong outing in the pilot, Brian Lipko as Chief Engineer Kyle Lawson was purposely written into this script with his own staff and set. Since he and Bob Holmes worked so well together, the writer's are looking into the possibility of making Holmes regular character. Bryan Dietrzman's roles gets more depth with every production he's in. In this episode he comes under an alien influence which allows Dietzman to develop another personality. That scene will also be remembered for Rodl throwing Doozie through the tactical station. That was an accident on the set that remained in the film.

A newly designed uniform (created by Ross Nilan) appeared well on film. The rank insignia were thumbtacks and the communicators were the action bases sold with Playmates action figures. The costumes used in the flashback sequences used the original communicators and rank bars. One final note on wardrobe, as a result of the popularity of the long sleeved shirt, the new crew will where them as dress uniforms in any upcoming episode.

Many cast members were forced into double duty in this episode. Ross Nilan was also the Zandorian Sergiev in the flashback sequences. Also playing the Talformian and Koron officers aboard the Excelsior were Brian Lipko, Jeff Wilkinson and Chuck Weed. Pete Mosiondz played the unknown alien who beat Chuck Weed at pool. Weed would also play the ninja opponent in Bowman's hollow deck fantasy.

Another historic first in this episode was the making of good use of snow for a planet setting. Originally Kackloos was to be a jungle but was changed in order to use the arctic world scene. Also, as a result of the extremely cold temperatures, about half of the dialogue was cut so that the cast and crew didn't freeze during filming. Take notice here because Kackloos is the same locations the hollow deck set.

 

Screen Captures from the show
On the bridge
Uwhyu, Rodl, Deuzieme
Another look at the bridge
On the Excelsior
Sergiev, Greyson, Gracings
Doozie and Uwhyu
The Poker Game
Pietrich and Doozie
at the bar
Engineering with
Sperling and Lawson
The big meeting
Flashback scene
Uwhyu and Greyson on Kackloos
Fight on the Bridge

 

 

 

This film is Rated PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 18 minutes
Video Release: 1-15-93