A Night in Sickbay

A Night in Sickbay is one of those episodes that some people love and some people hate. I've heard many reasons why people hate it. One of the most popular is that Archer is portrayed out of character. 

I think Archer is in character. Let me try to explain why: 

Have you ever had one of those days where everything went wrong? Have you ever refused to apologize because it was "all the other person's fault", then later realized some or all of the fault lies in you? When you were having a bad day, did you ever treat those around you in a bad way?  Have you ever looked back on a bad day and said "I can't believe I did that! That's not me!"? I think Archer could answer these questions yes the day after ANIS. I think the important thing is he appologized to everyone and learned from it. 

Now on to the A/T'P moments...

Hover over the images with your cursor for my attempts at humor :)



The episode opens up in decon. Hoshi rubs decon gel on T'Pol, T'Pol rubs gel on Archer, and Archer rubs gel on Porthos. T'Pol appears to rub the same spot on Archers back over and over again. The first convo. of A/T'P alone happens when Archer comes to the bridge.

Archer: Did you reach them?

T'Pol: Yes.

Archer: And? T'Pol: I think we should discuss this in your Ready Room.

Archer and T'Pol enter his ready room. Archer moves over to the window facing away from her.

Archer: Well?

T'Pol: Do you recall the stand of trees outside the Hall of Diplomacy?

Archer turns around looking at her.

Archer: What are you talking about?

T'Pol: They're Alvera trees... over 300 years old.

He starts pacing while they talk.

Archer: That's fascinating. Did you apologize for whatever we did wrong? Are we going to get our plasma injector?

T'Pol: The Kreetassans consider the Alvera trees cultural treasures... apparently Porthos urinated on one of them.

Archer's voice and movements begins getting more agitated as they speak.

Archer: And that's what they're insulted about?

T'Pol: It is understandable.

Archer: Well, maybe if they'd bothered to read the genetic profile we sent they'd have told us to leave the dog on the ship and then he wouldn't have had an opportunity to pee on one of their precious trees.

I love the way he says pee on one of their precious trees.

T'Pol: I conveyed your sincerest apologies to the Chancellory. They're discussing possible acts of contrition.

Archer turns to her and addresses her.
Archer: Where the hell do you get off "conveying my sincerest apologies"? They're the ones who should be sorry.

T'Pol: I don't need to remind you that Commander Tucker is relying on us.

Archer: There are some things more important than plasma injectors.

T'Pol: Are you referring to your pride?



Archer visibly sighs. I think she hit a cord but he won't admit it.
Archer: I'll tell you one thing, Sub-Commander... if anything happens to Porthos.
(Archer walks over to her side and speaks the next part.) I'll be the one watering their Alvera trees.




Archer stays with Porthos in sickbay. After several things wake him up, he decides to go to the gym.

Archer enters the gym. He strips off his pants and steps on a treadmill in his shorts. T'Pol is running on another treadmill.

Archer gets up on the treadmill next to T'Pol. He matches her speed.

T'Pol (looks ahead while asking): How's your dog?

Archer: Nice of you to ask. We'll know in a couple of hours.

T'Pol increases her speed. Archer matches it.

Archer: Have you heard from your friends on the surface?

T'Pol: Not yet.

Archer: I guess they haven't finished compiling their list of punishments.

T'Pol: They're not interested in punishing you. They only want an appropriate apology.

Archer (holds his arms out): I'm sorry.

T'Pol (looks to her left at him): For what?

Archer (smiles broadly): Just practicing.

T'Pol increases her speed again. Archer matches it again, though he looks a little winded.

T'Pol: You shouldn't have brought your dog on a diplomatic mission, especially considering we had previously offended the Kreetassans.



Archer(takes heavy breaths between each word and gestures with his hands as he speaks): They knew we were bringing him. We even sent his genetic specs. They could have asked us to leave him behind they didn't. Porthos has
the right to a little fresh air.

T'Pol hit another cord again I think. Archer's getting defensive.

T'Pol: You are once again ignoring the consequences of your actions.

Archer: What's that supposed to mean?

T'Pol: You obviously place more importance on the quality of the air your pet breathes, than on the quality of the plasma that drives your ship.

She increases her speed again.

Archer: What the hell does one have to do with the other? Isn't it logical I could care about my ship and my dog?

He matches her speed again.

T'Pol: I'm not questioning your pluralities, I'm questioning your priorities.

Archer: I really thought you were beginning to understand something about Human feelings.

T'Pol: Not when it pertains to primitive quadrupeds that haven't developed the ability to speak, or to use a toilet.

She turns the treadmill off and steps down.

Archer (he says still panting): What's the matter?

T'Pol: I obviously can't keep up with you.

The comm. sounds. T'Pol goes to answer it, and Archer turns off his treadmill. He wipes his face with his towel.

T'Pol: T'Pol.

Hoshi: We just received a transmission from the Kreetassans. It's their reconciliation demands. The Captain's not going to believe this-

Archer: You'd be surprised, Hoshi.



A graveyard, where through the rain we see a grave with a dog's picture on it. It reads Puppy. Pan up and we see the senior officers of Enterprise standing around a freshly dug grave. They all have purple umbrellas, except for Archer who is unprotected as the rain falls on him. We hear Phlox.

Phlox: We are gathered here today to bid a final farewell to a faithful and kind colleague; a friend who would never hesitate to offer his paw in exchange for a simple smile. Or a slice of cheese. (Malcolm nods. Trip and Travis look on solemnly. Phlox speaks the rest of his speech, but we don't see him.) Like his namesake, this quadruped believed we should stand together. All for one, and one for all. (Archer turns his head to his left. T'Pol has come closer to him to share her umbrella. She and Archer stare at each other.)



Phlox: When one person believes their sexual attraction (T'Pol's hand slides down Archer's arm to clasp his.) toward another is inappropriate, they often exhibit unexpected behavior.

Cut to: Decon scene from the beginning of the show. Archer, Hoshi, T'Pol, and Porthos are all rubbing gel on each other. The comm sounds.

Hoshi: Go ahead.

Phlox: Hoshi, you and the dog are clear to go. But I'm afraid I'll need to keep the other two for a while.

Archer: What's the problem?

Phlox: You both picked up a pathogen on the surface. You'll have to try another Decon agent.

(Hoshi opens the door to decon, then picks Porthos up.) Feel better.



I know I went a little overboard on this next description, but I had fun describing it...

Archer turns his back to T'Pol and dips his fingers into the new decon gel. Archer turns his his head and sees T'Pol naked with her back turned to him. She looks over her shoulder at him while she's dipping her fingers in the gel. He doesn't seem to object to her nakedness. He moves towards her. She moves towards him. She places her hand on his chest and slides it up to rub gel on his shoulder in circle. His own hand rubs her shoulder mimicking hers. The scene fades into another.

Sound of the comm then Phlox: Tell me, Captain, have you thought any more about why T'Pol's opinion is so important to you?



Archer's arms are around her and his hands are rubbing gel on her back and shoulders. Her right hand is rubbing his shoulder. Her left hand rises up from whereever it just was and goes around to his back. His face is next to her forehead. Her right hand moves to his chest. The scene fades into another.

Phlox: How long has it been since you were intimate with a woman?



Their faces are close. T'Pol leans her face to the side and captures his lips. A white flash cuts off the scene (I hate that flash. I bet Archer does too.). Archer wakes up in sickbay breathing heavily.

T'Pol enters Sickbay with a tray that holds two covered plates.

T'Pol: I thought you might be hungry.

Phlox: How very kind!

Archer: Was there something on their list about apologizing on a full stomach?

Phlox looks at him. Archer perches his elbow on top of Porthos' aquarium.

T'Pol: You read the Kreetassan's document?

Archer (takes a breath and visibly relaxes looking down. His tone softens. He looks back up at T'Pol.): Sorry. Sorry, I'm a little on edge. I haven't slept very much, but I'm doing the breast I... (He looks at her in disbelief) the best I can.

Phlox (walks in between them): hmmm.

T'Pol: I understand. Ensign Sato and I have broken the reconciliation demands into specific categories if you're interested in reviewing them

Archer sighs, closes his eyes, and tilts his head down. His head and body move to his left then back again towards her. It doesn't look like he's open to the demands.

Archer: My only concern right now is Porthos.

T'Pol: I'm sorry to have interrupted.

She starts to leave.



Archer: No, (she stops) no, i-it it's okay. Wh-when you get back to the bridge, why don't you send me your lips. Lisp! List! (She raises both her eyebrows as he struggles to correct himself. She regards him for a moment, then turns and exits sickbay.

Archer covers his eyes then pinches the bridge of his nose.

Phlox: Two pillarian slips within 30 seconds, interesting.

Archer assists T'Pol in Porthos' surgery and admits that he does have an attraction to T'Pol and asks Phlox how to deal with it.



Cut to Archer's ready room, where he is eating breakfast. The door chimes.

Archer: Come in. (T'Pol enters) Sub-Commander.

T'Pol: Mister Tucker reports that the new plasma injector is operating well within Starfleet parameters.

Archer: Did he tell you they gave us to spares, out of the kindness of their hearts? (He stands up.)

T'Pol: Evidently, the finesse you exhibited outside the Hall of Diplomacy was appreciated.

Archer: Since I've been getting so much practice at giving apologies, I thought I might give you one.

T'Pol: That's not necessary.

Archer: Yeah, it is. I've been under a lot of stress lately, haven't gotten much sleep. My dog ...

T'Pol: There's no need to apologize.

Archer: Whatever friction there's been between us, I'd like to try to minimize it.

T'Pol: Friction is to be expected whenever people work in close quarters for extended periods of time.

Archer: I guess that's always been true. Especially when the people are of the opposite sex.

T'Pol: Then it's good you're my superior officer, that we're not in a position to allow ourselves to become attracted to one another hypothetically. If we were, the friction that you speak of could be much more problematic.

Archer slowly nods. She returns his nod then walks out. Archer looks almost puzzled at her last comments.

My thoughts: While not the best A/T'P episode, A Night in Sickbay has lots of A/T'P moments. It also answers a few questions. Archer is attracted to T'Pol. Yes, Archer can apologize. The big reason A/T'P don't get together is because he's her superior and that could be problematic. And A/T'P kissing is hot!

Poor Archer does have a bad day and make a fool out of himself at times. T'Pol is spot on several times when it comes to Archer's behavior. In the end, I think Archer redeems himself by apologizing to Phlox and T'Pol. Archer does stick by his promise to T'Pol and tries to minimize the "tension" between them.


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