It's Only a Paper Moon
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 28 December 1998
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- None given
- DIRECTED BY
- Anson Williams
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 560
WRITTEN BYTeleplay by Ronald D. Moore; story by David Mack & John J. Ordover
Back on the station after being wounded in battle, Nog retreats into Vic Fontaine's holographic Las Vegas, and finds he doesn't want to leave.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
Nog returns to Deep Space Nine after rehabilitation for the leg he lost on AR-558, but he is troubled by flashbacks and phantom pain, relies on his cane and listens to one of Vic Fontaine's songs over and over. When his roommate Jake complains, Nog seeks out Vic in the holosuite and talks him into letting him stay in his 1962 Las Vegas. With the programme running around the clock, Vic gets to live a full life, sleeping, eating and doing business, while Nog keeps the books and plans a new casino, and gradually needs his cane less. But he is shutting out his family and friends. When Ezri reminds Vic that Nog's stay must end, Vic switches off his own programme to force him out. Nog finally admits his fear of dying, Vic warns that hiding would mean dying little by little, and Nog returns to duty, arranging for Vic's programme to keep running in return.
- 01Aron Eisenberg called it his favourite episode. Wounded combat veterans contacted him to praise his realistic portrayal of psychological trauma.
- 02David Mack and John J. Ordover first pitched the story as “Everybody Comes to Quark's”, and it bounced around the writers' room for a couple of years.
- 03Vic sings four songs, including the title number, “I'll Be Seeing You” and “I've Got the World on a String”.