EPISODES FEATURING CHEZ SANDRINE - illustrated episode excerpt

MELD

Kim sends the black neatly into a pocket, winning the game of pool he is playing against Paris. They are in the Chez Sandrine holoprogram, designation Paris-3. Kim: "Game."

Paris: "Why don't we make it interesting this time? Let's add some table stakes." Kim: "What kind of stakes?" Paris: "I don't know. Mmm, couple of replicator rations, maybe?" Hologram Ricky: "Don't do it, Harry, he's hustling you." Kim: "Wait a minute. Are you saying he deliberately let me win?" Paris feigns shock: "That would be dishonest, Harry."

Kim smiles and gets the rack out: "I won that game, and I'll beat you again." Paris: "How many rations are you willing to bet on that?" A number of the crew who are standing around watching call out encourage to Kim: "Go for it Harry." Kim: "A week's worth."

Paris goes over to him. "Harry, Harry, Harry, never ever play with anyone, not even your best friend, if he says 'let's make it interesting.' You want a little action, I'll give you a little action. How about an honest game of chance?" Holo-Ricky: "Never play with anyone, not even your best friend, if he offers you 'an honest game of chance', Harry."

Paris calls out: "One replicator ration is all it takes to play, and the only thing you have to do to win is pick a number. Just predict what the radiogenic particle count will be at 1200 hours tomorrow, and if you hit the pot is yours, minus a small handling fee for the bank, of course." A crewman calls out: "I'll take a piece of that." Paris: "Harry, get a PADD, take down these names and numbers."

Many of the crewmembers in Sandrine's take part, including officers whose names are called out when numbers are chosen: Jones, Rogers and Lewis. Kim: "I'm in too."

In the Chez Sandrine holoprogram. Computer: "Radiogenic particle density at the measured co-ordinates was 1873 per cubic metre." Paris: "And the winner of sixteen replicator rations in the Paris radiogenic sweepstakes is? Computer?" Computer: "There is no winner today." Paris: "What! No winner? Computer, are you positive?" Computer: "Try your luck again. Tomorrow you could be a winner."

Kim, who has lost his bet: "Very funny."

Paris calls out: "You heard the little lady - try your luck again, folks. The pot grows daily until we have a winner. Enter your name on the PADD and pick a number."

Paris leads him from Chez Sandrine: "Can I buy you lunch, Mr Kim? I have an extra ration today." Kim is not willing to be mollified that easily. "Two, by my count. Ten per cent of the day's action. The only one who wins every day is you." Paris: "I think I'll have some prime rib (medium rare), mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and maybe some Yorkshire pudding, raktajino with whipped cream on...."

Chez Sandrine holoprogram. Computer: "Particle density at the measured co-ordinates was 1415 per cubic metre." Paris: "And the winner is? Computer? Computer?"

Chakotay enters: "There won't be any more winners."

Paris addresses Chakotay informally: "Oh, come on, Chakotay, we're just having a little fun, the recreational facilities of the Delta Quadrant being what they are."

But Chakotay keeps things formal: "I've heard you're responsible for this, Lieutenant." Paris: "I didn't think Starfleet would have a problem with it."

Chakotay, sarcastically: "With a senior officer running a gambling operation and skimming profits from each day's proceeds? Now why would Starfleet have a problem with that?"

He picks up the PADD which contains all the names and bet details. Chakotay: "Since you all seem to have extra replicator rations you won't be needing these. Today's pot is hereby confiscated." Everyone groans. He continues to Paris: "The Captain's put a lot of faith in you, Mr Paris. She'll be disappointed. You're on report."

Paris acts unbothered. "Now there's a tough job, filling out reports."

He returns to playing pool. He calls out, apparently to no one, but so that the departing Chakotay can clearly hear: "But somebody's got to do it."

Kim, grumpily: "Thanks a lot."

This episode forms an arc with episodes [#30 Alliances], [#31 Threshold], [#35 Lifesigns] and [#36 Investigations] in which Tom Paris' malcontent behaviour is an essential element, but that arc, however, does not specifically impinge on the Chez Sandrine holoprogram. The holoprogram is merely, in [#32 Meld], one of the places in which Paris acts (and the word "acts" is deliberately used) rebelliously against authority. He pretends to be a malcontent over a period of time in order to provide a plausible reason for him to leave Voyager and be taken aboard a Kazon-Nistrim vessel in the hope of uncovering the traitor on Voyager. For the arc's full story, see the complete Episode Guides for those episodes, starting with [#30 Alliances] in which a certain crewmember is given the idea that he could contact Seska and the Kazon.