TIMES, SEEMS A LITTLE DAZED.
 
RIKER
I'M COMMANDER WILLIAM RIKER OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE.
 
SORAN
SORAN, DOCTOR TOLIAN SORAN.
 
SORAN PUTS A HAND TO HIS HEAD, STILL TRYING TO GET HIS BEARINGS.
 
RIKER
WHO ATTACKED YOU, DOCTOR?
 
SORAN
I'M NOT SURE, IT HAPPENED SO FAST.
 
SECURITY OFFICER
(CALLS OUT)
COMMANDER- YOU'D BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
 
RIKER AND WORF MOVE TO THE LADDER AS CRUSHER BEGINS TO SCAN
SORAN.
 
53      NEW ANGLE- UPPER DECK   53
 
RIKER AND WORF MOVE OVER TO THE TWO SECURITY GUARDS WHO ARE
KNEELING OVER A DEAD BODY WHICH IS OBSCURED FROM VIEW. ONE GUARD
TURNS OVER THE BODY, REVEALING A ROMULAN SOLDIER. WORF LOOKS AT
HIM
IN DISGUST.
 
WORF
ROMULAN.
 
RIKER AND WORF EXCHANGE A LOOK. OFF THEIR REACTIONS
 
CUT TO:
 
54      INT. DATA'S QUARTERS    54
 
DATA IS SITTING IN A CHAIR, PETTING SPOT THE CAT. LA FORGE IS
STANDING NEXT TO HIM.
 
DATA
IS SHE STILL ANGRY?
 
LA FORGE
NO, BUT I'D STAY OUT OF SICKBAY FOR A WHILE IF I WERE YOU. I STILL
DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DROPPED HER IN THE WATER.
 
DATA
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD
BE HUMOROUS.
 
DATA FROWNS, TROUBLED BY THIS RECENT EXPERIENCE. HE PUTS SPOT
DOWN
AND MOVES TO A BULKHEAD. HE ACTIVATES A CONTROL PANEL AND A SMALL
COMPARTMENT SLIDES OPEN, REVEALING A SMALL COMPUTER CHIP WHICH IS
SUSPENDED IN A GLASS AND METAL FRAMEWORK. DATA LOOKS AT THE CHIP
FOR A BEAT AND LA FORGE MOVES TO HIM IN CONCERN.
 
LA FORGE
DATA, YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT USING THAT THING ARE YOU?
 
DATA
IT HAS OCCURRED TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. BUT I BELIEVE THIS MAY
BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
 
LA FORGE
WAIT A MINUTE. I THOUGHT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN AFRAID IT WOULD
OVERLOAD YOUR NEURAL NET.
 
DATA
THAT IS TRUE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE MY GROWTH AS AN ARTIFICIAL
LIFEFORM HAS REACHED AN IMPASSE. FOR THIRTY-FOUR YEARS I HAVE
ENDEAVORED TO BECOME MORE "HUMAN"- TO GROW BEYOND MY ORIGINAL
PROGRAMMING. AND YET I AM STILL UNABLE TO GRASP SUCH A SIMPLE
CONCEPT AS HUMOR. THIS EMOTION CHIP IS THE ONLY ANSWER.
 
LA FORGE CONSIDERS A MOMENT, LOOKS AT THE CHIP, AND RELUCTANTLY
HAS
TO AGREE.
 
LA FORGE
ALL RIGHT.
 
DATA SITS DOWN AND LA FORGE MOVES TO STAND BEHIND HIM.
 
LA FORGE
BUT AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE, I'M GOING TO DEACTIVATE IT.
AGREED?
 
DATA
AGREED.
 
LA FORGE WORKS ON DATA'S HEAD FOR A MOMENT, AND THE OPENS A PANEL
ON DATA'S HEAD, REVEALING THE BLINKING CIRCUITRY WITHIN.
 
CUT TO:
 
55      INT. READY ROOM 55
 
RIKER IS STANDING NEXT TO PICARD, WHO HAS HIS BACK TURNED AND IS
STARING OUT THE WINDOW. PICARD SEEMS DISTRACTED DURING THE SCENE,
HIS MIND CLEARLY ELSEWHERE AS RIKER FINISHES HIS REPORT.
 
RIKER
WE FOUND TWO DEAD ROMULANS ABOARD THE STATION. WE'RE ANALYZING
THEIR EQUIPMENT TO SEE IF WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT SHIP THEY CAME
FROM.
 
PICARD NODS ABSENTLY.
 
PICARD
THERE'S STILL NO INDICATION OF WHY THEY ATTACKED THE STATION?
 
RIKER
WE THINK THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING- THEY PRACTICALLY TORE
THE
PLACE APART.
 
PICARD
HMM, (BEAT) INFORM STARFLEET COMMAND. THIS COULD INDICATE A NEW
ROMULAN THREAT IN THIS SECTOR.
 
RIKER
YOU WANT ME TO CONTACT STARFLEET?
 
PICARD
IS THERE A PROBLEM?
 
RIKER
NO, SIR.
 
PICARD
THANK YOU, NUMBER ONE.
 
PICARD KEEPS HIS BACK TURNED, LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW. RIKER
HESITATES, AWKWARD.
 
RIKER
THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE, CAPTAIN. ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS, A DOCTOR
SORAN,HAS INSISTED ON SPEAKING WITH YOU. (BEAT) I TOLD HIM YOU WERE
BUSY, SIR, BUT HE SAID IT WAS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT HE SPEAK
WITH
YOU RIGHT AWAY.
 
PICARD
UNDERSTOOD. THAT WILL BE ALL.
 
RIKER
SIR, IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG?
 
PICARD
NO. THANK YOU.
 
A BEAT, THEN RIKER TURNS AND ENITS. OFF PICARD'S UNREADABLE FACE.
 
CUT TO:
 
56      INT. TEN FORWARD        56
 
THE ROOM IS BUSTLING WITH PATRONS AND ACTIVITY. DATA ENTERS WITH AN
ODDLOOK ON HIS FACE, HIS BODY LANGUAGE SUBTLY ALTERED. HE IS
LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH NEW EYES. LA FORGE IS FOLLOWING HIM
CLOSELY, WATCHING HIS EVERY MOVE. THEY MOVE TO THE BAR. GUINAN
COMES OVER- SHE HAS NOT AGED AT ALL SINCE THE ENTERPRISE-B. SHE
SETS DOWN AN EXOTIC-LOOKING CONTAINER FULL OF DARK LIQUID.
 
GUINAN
YOU TWO JUST VOLUNTEERED TO BE MY FIRST VICTIMS. THIS IS A NEW
CONCOCTION I PICKED UP ON FORCAS III. TRUST ME, YOU'RE GOING TO
LOVE IT.
 
SHE POURS TWO GLASSES OF THE LIQUID. DATA TAKES ONE AND SNIFFS IT,
THEN TAKES A DRINK. LA FORGE WATCHES HIM CLOSELY. DATA FROWNS.
 
LA FORGE
WELL?
 
DATA
I BELIEVE THE BEVERAGE HAS PROVOKED AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE.
 
LA FORGE
REALLY? WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
 
DATA
I AM UNCERTAIN. I HAVE HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH EMOTIONS. I AM
UNABLE TO ARTICULATE THE SENSATION.
 
GUINAN
EMOTIONS?
 
LA FORGE
I'LL EXPLAIN LATER.
 
DATA FINISHES THE DRINK, CONCENTRATES, TRIES TO MAKE SENSE OF THE
RUSH OF FEELINGS. HIS EXPRESSION IS ONE OF DISGUST.
 
GUINAN
(TO LA FORGE)
I DON'T THINK HE LIKES IT.
 
DATA
(EXCITED)
YES. THAT IS IT. I HATE IT.
 
LA FORGE
DATA, I THINK THE CHIP IS WORKING.
 
DATA LOOKS AT LA FORGE WITH A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE.
 
DATA
YES. I HATE THIS! IT IS REVOLTING!
 
BEAT.
 
GUINAN
ANOTHER ROUND?
 
DATA
PLEASE.
 
IN THE B.G., WE SEE PICARD ENTER TEN FORWARD.
 
57      FOLLOW PICARD   57
 
AS HE WALKS THROUGH TEN FORWARD AND HEADS TOWARD A TABLE BY THE
WINDOWS. SORAN IS SITTING AT THE TABLE, STARING OUT AT THE STARS,
LOST IN THOUGHT. HIS OBSERVATORY UNIFORM IS DISTINCTIVE, AND SETS
HIM
APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM. PICARD WALKS UP TO THE TABLE.
 
PICARD
DOCTOR SORAN?
 
SORAN
YES, YES, CAPTAIN. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
 
THE MEN SKAKE HANDS AND PICARD SITS DOWN. SORAN IS AN IMPOSING
PHYSICAL PRESENCE, BUT AT THE MOMENT HE SEEMS VERY MUCH THE
ECCENTRIC SCIENTISTS CONSUMED WITH HIS WORK. PICARD WAVES AWAY A
WAITER.
 
PICARD
NOTHING FOR ME. (BRUSQUE, TO SORAN) I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOMETHING
URGENT YOU NEED TO DISCUSS WITH ME.
 
SORAN
YES. I NEED TO RETURN TO THE OBSERVATORY IMMEDIATELY. I MUST
CONTINUE A CRITICAL EXPERIMENT I WAS RUNNING ON THE AMARGOSA STAR.
 
PICARD'S REACTION IS A LITTLE IMPATIENT- THIS DOESN'T SOUND THAT
IMPERATIVE TO HIM.
 
PICARD
DOCTOR, WE'RE STILL CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ATTACK.
ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED OUR WORK, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ALLOW YOU AND
YOUR FELLOW SCIENTISTS BACK ABOARD THE OBSERVATORY. UNTIL THEN-
 
SORAN
THE TIMING IS VERY IMPORTANT ON MY EXPERIMENT- IF IT IS NOT
COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT TWELVE HOURS, YEARS OF RESEARCH WILL BE
LOST.
 
PICARD
WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME...
 
PICARD MOVES TO STAND, BUT SORAN REACHES OUT AND GENTLY BUT
FIRMLY GRABS HIM BY THE ARM. THE UNEXPECTED PHYSICAL CONTACT AND
THE CHANGE OF INTENSITY IN SORAN'S FACE STOPS PICARD IN HIS TRACKS.
 
SORAN
(CRYPTICALLY)
THEY SAY TIME IS THE FIRE IN WHICH WE BURN, AND RIGHT NOW, CAPTAIN,
MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT. (BEAT) WE LEAVE SO MANY THINGS UNFINISHED
IN OUR LIVES- I'M SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.
 
FOR SOME REASON, SORAN'S WORDS HAVE STRUCK A DEEP CHORD WITHIN
PICARD. HE LOOKS AWAY FROM SORAN'S COMPELLING GAZE AND THINKS FOR
A LONG MOMENT. WHEN HE FINALLY SPEAKS, HIS VOICE IS BARELY ABOVE A
WHISPER.
 
PICARD
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
 
PICARD WALKS AWAY WITHOUT A WORD BEFORE SORAN CAN THANK HIM.
SORAN LOOKS AFTER HIM WITH RELIEF, THEN PULLS OUT AN ANTIQUE POCKET
WATCH AND OPENS IT. HE LOOKS AT THE WATCH FOR A LONG MOMENT, THEN
SNAPS IT CLOSED AND HEAD FOR THE OPPOSITE EXIT FROM THE ONE PICARD
TOOK. FOLLOW SORAN ACROSS TEN FORWARD UNTIL HE SUDDENLY STOPS IN
SHOCK AT SOMETHING HE SEES.
 
58      SORAN'S POV     58
 
OF GUINAN, WHO IS NOW BACK AT THE BAR.
 
59      RESUME SORAN    59
 
A DARK LOOK CROSSES HIS FACE- HE IS DISTURBED BY THE SIGHT OF
GUINAN. HE QUICKLY TURNS AND ENITS.
 
60      ON GUINAN       60
 
SHE BEGINS TO SENSE SOMETHING, AS THOUGH SOMEONE IS WATCHING HER.
SHE TURNS, LOOKS IN THE DIRECTION WHERE SORAN WAS JUST STANDING,
BUT THERE'S NO ONE THERE NOW. SHE SHAKES OFF THE FEELING AND GOES
BACK TO WORK.
 
CUT TO:
 
61      INT. ENGINEERING        61
 
A SHORT TIME LATER. A ROMULAN TRICORDER IS CONNECTED TO SOME
DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT NEAR A CONSOLE. WORF IS TALKING TO RIKER.
 
WORF ACTIVATES A MONITOR WHICH SHOWS A COMPLEX DIAGRAM OF
SENSOR INFORMATION.
 
WORF
ONE OF THE DEAD ROMULANS HAD A TRICORDER. WE ANALYZED ITS SENSOR
LOGS AND FOUND THEY WERE SCANNING FOR SIGNATURE PARTICLES OF A
COMPOUND CALLED TRILITHIUM.
 
RIKER
TRILITHIUM?
 
WORF
AN EXPERIMENTAL COMPOUND THE ROMULANS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. IN
THEORY, A TRILITHIUM-BASED EXPLOSIVE WOULD BE THOUSANDS OF TIMES
MORE POWERFUL THAN AN ANTI-MATTER WEAPON. BUT THEY NEVER FOUND A
WAY TO STABILIZE IT.
 
RIKER
WHY WERE THEY LOOKING FOR IT ON A FEDERATION OBSERVATORY? IT
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
 
RIKER CONSIDERS.
 
RIKER
(CONT'D)
HAVE GEORDI AND DATA GO OVER WITH THE NEXT AWAY TEAM. TELL THEM TO
SCAN THE OBSERVATORY FOR TRILITHIUM.
 
WORF
AYE, SIR.
 
CUT TO:
 
62      INT. OBSERVATORY OPS    62
 
THE STATION IS STILL A WRECK. LA FORGE AND DATA ARE SCANNING THE
ROOM WITH TRICORDERS.
 
LA FORGE
(OFF TRICORDER)
THERE'S NO SIGN OF ANY TRILITHIUM IN HERE.
 
LA FORGE CONTINUES TO SCAN. SUDDENLY DATA LETS OUT A QUIET GIGGLE.
LA FORGE STOPS AND TURNS TO LOOK AT HIM. DATA GIGGLES LOUDER.
 
DATA
(LAUGHING, TO HIMSELF)
I GET IT. I GET IT.
 
LA FORGE
YOU GET WHAT?
 
DATA LAUGHS AGAIN.
 
DATA
WHEN YOU SAID TO COMMANDER RIKER (IMITATING LA FORGE'S VOICE) "THE
CLOWN CAN STAY, BUT THE FERENGI IN THE GORILLA SUIT HAS TO GO."
 
LA FORGE LOOKS BLANKLY AT HIM FOR A MOMENT.
 
LA FORGE
WHAT?
 
DATA
DURING THE FARPOINT MISSION. WE WERE ON THE BRIDGE AND YOU TOLD A
JOKE. THAT WAS THE PUNCHLINE.
 
LA FORGE
THE FARPOINT MISSION? DATA, THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO.
 
DATA
I KNOW. I JUST GOT IT. (LAUGHS) IT WAS VERY FUNNY.
 
LA FORGE
THANKS.
 
LA FORGE INDICATES A CORRIDOR. THEY ENIT IN THAT DIRECTION.
 
63      INT. OBSERVATORY CORRIDOR- CONTINUOUS   63
 
A SHORT CORRIDOR CONNECTING THE OPS CENTER WITH OTHER
COMPARTMENTS. LA FORGE SUDDENLY STOPS IN FRONT OF WHAT APPEARS
TO BE A STANDARD BULKHEAD.
 
LA FORGE
WAIT A MINUTE, THERE'S A HIDDEN DOORWAY HERE. I CAN SEE THE JOINT
OF THE METAL WITH MY VISOR.
 
LA FORGE RUNS HIS FINGER IN A VERTICAL LINE ALONG WHAT APPEARS TO
BE A SMOOTH BULKHEAD.
 
DATA
(OFF TRICORDER)
THERE APPEARS TO BE A DAMPENING FIELD IN OPERATION. I CANNOT SCAN
BEYOND THE BULKHEAD.
 
LA FORGE PUTS HIS TRICORDER AWAY AND BEGINS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO
OPEN THE DOOR.
 
LA FORGE
I DON'T SEE A CONTROL PANEL, OR AN ACCESS PORT.
 
DATA
(OFF TRICORDER)
IT APPEARS TO BE A MAGNETICALLY SEALED.
 
DATA STEPS FORWARD AND OPENS A SMALL PANEL ON WRIST AND MAKES A
QUICK ADJUSTMENT TO THE CIRCUITRY WITHIN.
 
DATA
I BELIEVE I CAN REVERSE THE POLARITY BY ATTENUATING MY AXIAL SERVO.
 
DATA COMPLETES HIS ADJUSTMENT AND THEN MOVES HIS WRIST OVER THE
DOOR PANEL.
 
DATA
(JOKING)
"OPEN SESAME."
 
THERE IS A HUMMING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CLICK. THE DOOR SLIDES
OPEN.
 
DATA
(SMILES)
YOU COULD SAY I HAVE A MAGNETIC PERSONALITY.
 
LA FORGE REACTS TO THE BAD PUN WITH A GRIMACE. THEY ENIT TO
 
64      INT. OBSERVATORY PROBE ROOM- CONTINUOUS 64
 
A SMALL ROOM WITH SEVERAL PROBES STACKED IN HOLDING RACKS. LA
FORGE AND DATA SCAN.
 
LA FORGE
I'M STILL NOT PICKING UP ANYTHING. SOMEONE WENT TO A LOT OF TROUBLE
TO SHIELD THIS ROOM.
 
THEY PUT THEIR TRICORDERS AWAY AND BEGIN LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM.
DATA CONTINUES TO SNICKER AND GIGGLE AS HE TRIES NOT TO LAUGH AT
JOKES HIS MIND CONJURES UP. LA FORGE BEGINS INSPECTING THE PROBES,
FINALLY STOPS AT ONE PROBE WHICH HAS SEVERAL ODD DEVICES ATTACHED
TO THE SIDE.
 
LA FORGE
DATA, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. (DATA COMES OVER) YOU EVER SEEN A SOLAR
PROBE WITH THIS KIND OF CONFIGURATION?
 
DATA USES THE TRICORDER AS IF IT WERE A PUPPET AS HE OPENS AND
CLOSES IT LIKE A MOUTH.
 
DATA
(MAKING TRICORDER "TALK")
NO, GEORDI. I HAVE NOT. IT IS MOST UNUSUAL.
 
DATA GIGGLES AND LA FORGE REACTS WITH THE IRRITATION OF SOMEONE
LISTENING TO A VERY BAD COMEDIAN.
 
LA FORGE
JUST HELP ME GET THIS PANEL OPEN.
 
DATA HELPS LA FORGE AS THEY TRY TO OPEN A PANEL ON THE CASING OF
THE PROBE. THEY OPEN THE PANEL AND LA FORGE LOOKS INSIDE. HE REACTS
TO SOMETHING.
 
LA FORGE
WHOA, MY VISOR'S PICKING UP SOMETHING IN THE THETA BAND. IT COULD
BE A TRILITHIUM SIGNATURE.
 
DATA SUDDENLY START LAUGHING. LA FORGE TURNS IN IRRITATION.
 
LA FORGE
DATA, THIS ISN'T THE TIME.
 
DATA
(LAUGHING)
I AM SORRY, BUT I CANNOT STOP MYSELF. I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG
 
64A     ANGLE (VFN-P)   64A
 
DATA'S LAUGHTER ESCALATES INTO HYSTERIA, THEN DATA BEGINS TO JERK
AND SHAKE AND GOES INTO A BIZARRE "EMOTIONAL SEIZURE." A RUSH OF
EMOTIONS RACE ACROSS HIS FACE: ANGER, PASSION, SHOCK. A
KALEIDOSCOPIC BLUR OF REACTIONS CONTORT HIS FEATURES. THEN IT STOPS
AND HE FALLS TO THE GROUND.
 
LA FORGE
DATA!
 
LA FORGE RUSHES TO HIM. DATA HAS A LOOK OF SURPRISE ON HIS FACE AS
HE BLINKS A FEW TIMES. HE SITS UP.
 
LA FORGE
DATA, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
 
DATA
I BELIEVE THE EMOTIONAL CHIP HAS OVERLOADED MY POSITRONIC RELAYS.
 
LA FORGE
WE BETTER GET YOU BACK TO THE SHIP (HITS COMBADGE) LA FORGE TO
ENTERPRISE.
 
THERE'S NO RESPONSE. LA FORGE FROWNS FOR A BEAT, THEN WE HEAR
SORAN'S VOICE.
 
SORAN
IS THERE A PROBLEM, GENTLEMEN?
 
65      INCLUDE SORAN   65
 
STANDING IN THE ROOM. LA FORGE DIDN'T HEAR HIM COME IN.
 
LA FORGE
OH, DOCTOR. YEAH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE IS. THERE'S A DAMPING=
 FIELD IN HERE BLOCKING OUR COM SIGNAL. (RE: DATA) WILL YOU GIVE ME
A HAND?
 
OVER THE ABOVE DIALOGUE, SORAN GLANCES OVER AT THE SOLAR PROBE LA
FORGE WAS INSPECTING. HE NOTES THE OPENED PANEL AND A DISTURBED
LOOK CROSSES HIS FACE. SORAN LOOKS BACK AT LA FORGE.
 
SORAN
I'D BE HAPPY TO.
 
SORAN MOVES TOWARD THEM, AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING, HE PUNCHES LA
FORGE IN THE FACE, KNOCKING THE VISOR ACROSS THE ROOM. HE WHIRLS
AROUND AND POINTS A PHASER AT DATA, WHO SUDDENLY LOOKS FEARFUL.
 
DATA
PLEASE DON'T HURT ME.
 
CUT TO:
 
66      INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS  66
 
PICARD IS STANDING AT THE REPLICATOR.
 
PICARD
TEA. EARL GREY. HOT.
 
THE CUP OF TEA APPEARS IN THE REPLICATOR AND AT THE SAME MOMENT,
THE DOOR CHIMES.
 
PICARD
COME.
 
TROI ENTERS. PICARD WOULD RATHER NOT BE BOTHERED RIGHT NOW, BUT HE
IS POLITE AS ALWAYS.
 
PICARD
COUNSELOR. WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
 
TROI
ACTUALLY, I'M HERE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU.
 
PICARD
WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN, BUT I'D RATHER NOT DISCUSS IT
RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU.
 
BUT TROI WON'T BE BRUSHED AWAY SO EASILY.
 
TROI
I'M AFRAID I CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF
THIS SHIP IS CLEARLY DISTRAUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING. AS SHIP'S
COUNSELOR, IT'S MY DUTY TO-
 
PICARD
AS SHIP'S COUNSELOR, IT'S YOUR DUTY TO KNOW NOT ONLY WHEN YOU'RE
NEEDED BUT ALSO WHEN YOU'RE NOT.
 
TROI
YOU CAN'T FOOL AN EMPATH, CAPTAIN. I KNOW EXACTLY WHEN I'M NEEDED.
 
PICARD IS REALLY NOT IN THE MOOD FOR THIS. HIS TONE HARDENS.
 
PICARD
WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOUR BETAZOID SENSES, I PREFER TO BE
ALONE RIGHT NOW.
 
TROI
VERY WELL. I SUPPOSE I COULD MAKE OUT MY WEEKLY REPORT TO STARFLEET
COMMAND WITHOUT YOUR INPUT. (BEAT) "ADMIRAL LUSBY, REGARDING THE
UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR OF JEAN-LUC PICARD: I FIND HIM INCREASINGLY
IRRITABLE, REMOTE AND UNCOOPERATIVE. I RECOMMEND FORCED SHORE
LEAVE
AT A STARBASE FACILITY IN ORDER TO-"
 
PICARD
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT.
 
TROI TAKES A SEAT AND PATIENTLY WAITS. PICARD GETS UP, MOVES AROUND
THE ROOM FOR A MOMENT, AND STOPS. HE SPEAKS IN A FLAT, UNEMOTIONAL
TONE OF VOICE.
 
PICARD
THE MESSAGE I RECEIVED. (BEAT) MY BROTHER AND HIS SON- MY NEPHEW-
BURNED TO DEATH IN A FIRE.
 
TROI REACTS, GENUINELY SURPRISED.
 
TROI
CAPTAIN, IM SORRY. (BEAT) I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF UNRESOLVED
CONFLICTS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR BROTHER.
 
PICARD
WHAT I CAN'T GET OUT OF MY MIND IS THE IMAGE OF RENE- MY NEPHEW. I
JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE.
 
HE TRAILS OFF.
 
TROI
IT'S ONLY NATURAL TO FEEL A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF TRAGEDY WHEN A
CHILD DIES. (SENSING MORE) BUT IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT, DOESN'T
IT? I CAN SENSE THAT RENE MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO YOU.
 
PICARD
IN A WAY, HE WAS AS CLOSE AS I EVER CAME TO HAVING A CHILD OF MY
OWN.
 
TROI EYES AN OPEN PHOTO ALBUM ON THE TABLE. SHE REACHES OVER AND
FLIPS THROUGH THE PAGES FOR A MOMENT. THERE ARE MANY PHOTOS
INSIDE,
FROM MANY PERIODS IN TIME, INCLUDING ONE OF PICARD'S BROTHER
STANDING NEXT TO HIS YOUNG SON. THIS IS THE PICARD FAMILY ALBUM.
 
TROI
YOUR FAMILY HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU, ISN'T IT?
 
PICARD
(NODS)
EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE BOY, I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THE FAMILY
LINE. THE PICARDS THAT FOUGHT AT TRAFALGAR, THE PICARDS THAT
SETTLED THE FIRST MARTIAN COLONY. WHEN MY BROTHER MARRIED AND HAD
A SON...
 
PICARD HESITATES- THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR HIM.
 
TROI
YOU FELT IT WAS NO LONGER YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY ON THE
FAMILY LINE.
 
PICARD
(NODS)
MY BROTHER HAD SHOULDERED THAT BURDEN, ALLOWING ME TO PURSUE MY
OWN SELFISH NEEDS.
 
TROI
THERE'S NOTHING SELFISH ABOUT PURSUING YOUR OWN LIFE, YOUR OWN
CAREER.
 
PICARD MOVES TO THE WINDOW, STARES OUTSIDE. A SHADOW CROSSES HIS
FACE. HE'S GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER.
 
PICARD
YOU KNOW, COUNSELOR, I'M NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER. FOR SOME TIME
NOW, I'VE BEEN AWARE THAT THERE ARE FEWER DAYS AHEAD THAN THERE
ARE BEHIND. (BEAT) BUT I ALWAYS TOOK COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT WHEN
I
WAS GONE, MY FAMILY WOULD CONTINUE. BUT NOW...
 
PICARD MOVES BACK TO THE PHOTO ALBUM, OPEN IT TO THE LAST PAGE, AN
THEN FLIPS THROUGH THE REMAINING PAGES. THEY ARE BLANK.
 
PICARD
I'VE HAD BRUSHES WITH DEATH...MORE THAN I CARE TO CONTEMPLATE. I
ALWAYS ACCEPTED IT AS A CALCULATED RISK THAT GOES ALONG WITH
WEARING THIS UNIFORM. (BEAT) BUT NOW, THE IDEA OF DEATH HAS A
TERRIBLE SENSE OF FINALITY TO IT.
 
HE LOOKS AT HER.
 
PICARD
I'M THE LAST PICARD.
 
A QUIET BEAT AS TROI CONSIDERS HIM.
 
TROI
CAPTAIN, PERHAPS WE-
 
SUDDENLY, A BLINDING BURST OF LIGHT FROM OUTSIDE THE WINDOWS
WASHES INTO THE ROOM. TROI AND PICARD RUSH TO THE WINDOW AND
SHIELD THEIR EYES AGAINST THE GLARE.
 
RIKER'S COM VOICE
RED ALERT! ALL HANDS TO DUTY STATIONS!
 
CUT TO:
 
67              67
THRU    OMITTED THRU
68              68
 
69      INT. BRIDGE (VFN-I)     69
 
PICARD AND TROI ENTER FROM A TURBOLIFT. RIKER AND WORF AT THEIR
STATIONS. THE STAR IS ON THE VIEWSCREEN, GETTING DARKER BY THE
SECOND. FLAMING DEBRIS IS BEING EJECTED INTO SPACE.
 
PICARD
REPORT.
 
RIKER
A QUANTUM IMPLOSION HAS OCCURRED WITHIN THE AMARGOSA STAR. ALL
NUCLEARFUSION IS BREAKING DOWN.
 
PICARD
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
 
WORF
SENSOR RECORDS SHOW A SOLAR PROBE WAS LAUNCHED FROM THE
OBSERVATORY A FEW MOMENTS AGO.
 
RIKER
THE STAR'S GOING TO COLLAPSE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
 
SOMETHING BEEPS ON WORF'S CONSOLE.
 
WORF
SIR, THE IMPLOSION HAS PRODUCED A LEVEL TWELVE SHOCK WAVE.
 
TROI
(SHOCKED)
LEVEL TWELVE? THAT'LL DESTROY EVERYTHING IN THIS SYSTEM.
 
TRANSPORTER COM VOICE
TRANSPORTER ROOM TO BRIDGE. I CAN'T LOCATE COMMANDER LA FORGE OR
COMMANDER DATA, SIR.
 
RIKER
(TO WORF)
DID THEY RETURN TO THE SHIP?
 
WORF
(WORKS)
NO, SIR. THEY ARE NOT ABOARD.
 
PICARD
HOW LONG UNTIL THE SHOCK WAVE HITS THE OBSERVATORY?
 
WORF
 
FOUR MINUTES, FORTY SECONDS.
 
PICARD LOOKS AT RIKER, WHO THEN QUICKLY HEADS FOR THE TURBOLIFT.
 
RIKER
MR. WORF.
 
RIKER AND WORF ENIT.
 
70      ENT. SPACE- THE STAR (VFN-I)    70
 
THE STAR IS ALMOST ENTIRELY DARK. RADIATING OUT FROM THE STAR IS A
HUGE SHOCK WAVE- A RAPIDLY GROWING SPHERE OF ENERGY.
 
71      INT. OBSERVATORY PROBE ROOM (VFN-P)     71
 
SORAN IS STANDING AT A CONSOLE WATCHING A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THE
STAR'S COLLAPSE ON A MONITOR WHEN THE DOOR SUDDENLY OPENS. SORAN
WHIRLS AROUND AND FIRES HIS PHASER AT RIKER AND WORF. THEY DIVE FOR
COVER JUST OUTSIDE THEROOM. (NOTE: THE PROBE LA FORGE EXAMINED
EARLIER IS NOW GONE.)
 
RIKER
(TO WORF)
WHAT THE HELL'S HE DOING?
 
WORF DODGES ANOTHER PHASER BLAST AND SEES LA FORGE LYING
UNCONSCIOUS ON THE DECK. DATA IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.
 
PICARD'S COM VOICE
ENTERPRISE TO COMMANDER RIKER, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT.
 
RIKER
(YELLS TO SORAN)
SORAN, DID YOU HEAR THAT? THERE'S A LEVEL TWELVE SHOCK WAVE COMING.
WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE!
 
SORAN'S ONLY ANSWER IS ANOTHER PHASER BLAST.
 
71A     OMITTED 71A
 
72      INT. BRIDGE     72
 
AS BEFORE. ENSIGN HAYES IS AT TACTICAL. AN ALARM SUDDENLY BEEPS ON
THE TACTICAL CONSOLE.
 
HAYES
(URGENT)
SIR. A KLINGON BIRD OF PREY IS DECLOAKING OFF THE PORT BOW.
 
SHOCKED REACTIONS.
 
PICARD
WHAT?
 
73      ENT. SPACE (VFN-I)      73
 
AS AN OLD-STYLE KLINGON BIRD OF PREY DECLOAKS NEAR THE
OBSERVATORY.
 
74      INT. OBSERVATORY PROBE ROOM (VFN-P)     74
 
SORAN IS CONTINUING TO SHOOT AT RIKER AND WORF. RIKER SUDDENLY
NOTICES SOMETHING OFF-CAMERA.
 
74A     RIKER'S POV     74A
 
DATA IS HUDDLED IN A CORNER OF THE ROOM, COWERING IN FEAR.
 
74B     NEW ANGLE (VFN-P)       74B
 
THE FIREFIGHT CONTINUES.
 
RIKER
DATA! SEE IF YOU CAN GET TO GEORDI!
 
DATA LOOKS UP AT HIM WITH A TERRIFIED LOOK ON HIS FACE.
 
DATA
I...CANNOT, SIR. I BELIEVE I AM... AFRAID.
 
SUDDENLY SORAN'S COMMUNICATOR BEEPS. SORAN REACHES DOWN AND
GRABS THE UNCONSCIOUS LA FORGE BY THE COLLAR AND THE TWO OF THEM
DEMATERIALIZE. (SORAN HAS THE VISOR IN HIS HAND.) RIKER, DATA AND
WORF REACT.
 
75      ENT. SPACE- THE KLINGON SHIP (VFN-I)    75
 
THE BIRD OF PREY CLOAKS AND VANISHES.
 
76      INT. BRIDGE     76
 
AS BEFORE.
 
TRANSPORTER COM VOICE
TRANSPORTER ROOM TO BRIDGE. I HAVE THE AWAY TEAM ABOARD, SIR.
 
PICARD
(TO CON)
HELM, WARP ONE, ENGAGE.
 
77      ENT. SPACE- ENTERPRISE & OBSERVATORY (VFN-I)    77
 
THE ENTERPRISE WARPS AWAY JUST AS THE SHOCK WAVE REACHES THE
OBSERVATORY AND VAPORIZES IT IN A FIERY EXPLOSION.
 
CUT TO:
 
78      INT. KLINGON BIRD OF PREY- BRIDGE       78
 
ON A MONITOR WHERE WE CAN SEE A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THE
DARKENING
STAR AND SHOCK WAVE. MOVE TO REVEAL THE INSIDE OF THE OLD KLINGON
SHIP. IT'S BEATEN UP AND PATCHED IN SEVERAL PLACES, OBVIOUSLY NOT
A FIRST-LINE MODEL.
 
WATCHING THE VIEWSCREEN ARE LURSA AND B'ETOR, TWO
POWERFUL-LOOKING KLINGON WOMEN. THEY ARE SISTERS; AGGRESSIVE,
SEDUCTIVE AND VERY DANGEROUS. SEVERAL N.D. MALE KLINGONS MAN THE
VARIOUS STATIONS.
 
THE SISTERS STARE AT THE IMAGE OF THE DESTROYED SUN IN AWE.
 
B'ETOR
TOH-PAK-CHA  (GLORIOUS )
 
LURSA
HOS QORDU. (A GREAT POWER.)
 
SORAN NOW ENTERS THE BRIDGE. HIS EXPRESSION IS DARK AND ANGRY. HE
IS CLEARLY NOT A PRISONER HERE AND STRIDES UP TO THE SISTERS.
 
B'ETOR
(EXCITED, TO SORAN)
YOU'VE DONE IT, SORAN.
 
BUT WITHOUT WARNING, SORAN HITS B'ETOR SQUARELY IN THE JAW,
KNOCKING HER BACK OVER A CONSOLE. SEVERAL KLINGONS LEAP TO THEIR
FEET, DRAWING THEIR WEAPONS, BUT B'ETOR HOLDS UP A HAND AS SHE GETS
TO ONE KNEE.
 
B'ETOR
WAIT!
 
SHE DABS A TRICKLE OF BLOOD AT THE CORNER OF HER MOUTH. HER
EXPRESSION IS ANGRY AND THREATENING.
 
B'ETOR
I HOPE FOR YOUR SAKE THAT YOU ARE INITIATING A MATING RITUAL.
 
SORAN
YOU GOT CARELESS. THE ROMULANS CAME LOOKING FOR THEIR MISSING
TRILITHIUM.
 
B'ETOR
IMPOSSIBLE. WE LEFT NO SURVIVORS ON THEIR OUTPOST.
 
B'ETOR HAS NOW GOTTEN TO HER FEET IN THE B.G.
 
SORAN
THEY KNEW IT WAS ABOARD THE OBSERVATORY. IF THE ENTERPRISE HADN'T
INTERVENED, THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND IT.
 
LURSA
BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND IT AND NOW WE HAVE A WEAPON OF UNLIMITED
POWER.
 
SORAN
I HAVE THE WEAPON, LURSA. AND IF YOU EVER WANT ME TO GIVE IT TO
YOU, I ADVISE YOU TO BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE.
 
B'ETOR GRABS SORAN AND HOLDS A WICKED-LOOKING KNIFE TO HIS THROAT.
 
B'ETOR
PERHAPS WE ARE TIRED OF WAITING.
 
SORAN IS UNFAZED BY THIS THREAT.
 
SORAN
WITHOUT MY RESEARCH, THE TRILITHIUM IS WORTHLESS, AS ARE YOUR PLANS
TO RECONQUER THE KLINGON EMPIRE.
 
LURSA REACHES OUT AND CALMLY PUSHES HER SISTER'S KNIFE AWAY.

SORAN
SET COURSE FOR THE VERIDIAN SYSTEM. MAXIMUM WARP.
 
LURSA
(TO HELM)
BOSH-TA-JAH VERIDIAN (SET COURSE FOR VERIDIAN)
 
A KLINGON GUARD ENTERS DRAGGING THE UNCONSCIOUS LA FORGE.
 
KLINGON GUARD
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH THIS?
 
SORAN MOVES TOWARD LA FORGE, A GRIM LOOK ON HIS FACE.
 
SORAN
BRING HIM WITH ME. I NEED SOME ANSWERS FROM MR. LA FORGE.
 
SORAN ENITS.
 
CUT TO:
 
79      OMITTED 79
 
80      INT. CORRIDOR   80
 
RIKER AND WORF ARE ON THE MOVE DOWN THE CORRIDOR.
 
WORF
I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE KLINGON HIGH COUNCIL, SIR. THEY IDENTIFIED THE
BIRD OF PREY AS BELONGING TO THE DURAS SISTERS.
 
RIKER
(SURPRISED)
LURSA AND B'ETOR? THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. A RENOWNED STELLAR
PHYSICIST SOMEHOW USES A TRILITHIUM PROBE TO DESTROY A STAR,
KIDNAPS GEORDI AND ESCAPES WITH A PAIR OF KLINGON RENEGADES. WHY?
WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?
 
THEY ENIT TO
 
81      INT. SICKBAY    81
 
WORF AND RIKER ENTER. CRUSHER IS CLOSING A PANEL ON THE BACK OF
DATA'S HEAD. HE IS SITTING ON A BIOBED, SCANNING HIMSELF WITH A
TRICORDER.
 
RIKER
HOW IS HE?
 
CRUSHER
IT LOOKS LIKE A POWER SURGE FUSED THE EMOTIONAL CHIP INTO HIS
NEURAL NET.
 
WORF
WILL THAT BE A DANGER TO HIM?
 
CRUSHER
I DON'T THINK SO. THE CHIP STILL SEEMS TO BE WORKING. I'D FEEL
BETTER IF I COULD TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, BUT I CAN'T REMOVE IT WITHOUT
COMPLETELY DISMANTLING HIS CEREBRAL CONDUIT.
 
RIKER
(TO DATA)
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE STUCK WITH EMOTIONS FOR A WHILE. HOW DO YOU FEEL?
 
DATA
I AM QUITE...PREOCCUPIED WITH CONCERN ABOUT GEORDI.
 
RIKER
WE ALL ARE, DATA. BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET HIM BACK.
 
DATA
I HOPE SO, SIR.
 
DATA'S EXPRESSION IS STILL ONE OF CONCERN. CRUSHER PULLS RIKER
ASIDE.
 
CRUSHER
WILL, I CHECKED INTO DOCTOR SORAN'S BACKGROUND.
 
CRUSHER ACTIVATES THE WALL MONITOR AND A PICTURE OF DOCTOR SORAN
ALONG WITH SOME BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION APPEARS.
 
CRUSHER
HE'S AN EL-AURIAN, OVER THREE HUNDRED YEARS OLD. HE LOST HIS ENTIRE
FAMILY WHEN THE BORG DESTROYED HIS WORLD. SORAN ESCAPED WITH A
HANDFUL OF OTHER REFUGEES ABOARD A SHIP CALLED THE LAKUL. THE SHIP
WAS DESTROYED BY SOME KIND OF ENERGY RIBBON, BUT SORAN AND
FORTY-SIX OTHERS WERE RESCUED BY THE ENTERPRISE-B.
 
RIKER
(REACTS)
THAT WAS THE MISSION WHERE JAMES KIRK WAS KILLED.
 
CRUSHER
I CHECKED THE PASSENGER MANIFEST OF THE LAKUL. GUESS WHO ELSE WAS
ON BOARD?
 
SHE HITS A CONTROL AND SUDDENLY GUINAN'S FACE APPEARS ON THE
SCREEN. RIKER REACTS TO THE IMAGE.
 
CUT TO:
 
82      INT. GUINAN'S QUARTERS  82
 
CLOSE ON GUINAN AS SHE LOOKS UP, SURPRISED.
 
GUINAN
SORAN? THAT'S A NAME I HAVEN'T HEARD IN A LONG TIME.
 
MOVE TO REVEAL GUINAN'S QUARTERS, WHICH ARE UNLIKE ANY OF THE
OTHERS ON THE ENTERPRISE. NONE OF THE STANDARD FURNITURE,
CONSOLES OR DECORATION ARE PRESENT. THE FLOOR IS MADE OF TILE, NOT
CARPET; THE WALLS ARE DRAPED IN EXOTIC FABRIC. THE LIGHTING IS
MOODY
AND SUBDUED.
 
PICARD IS STANDING BEFORE GUINAN, WHO IS SITTING CROSS-LEGGED ON
THE FLOOR. THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER WITH AN EASY FAMILIARITY; TWO
OLD FRIENDS WHO KNOW EACH OTHER WELL.
 
PICARD
DO YOU REMEMBER HIM?
 
GUINAN
OH YES. I REMEMBER EVERYONE WHO WAS ON THE LAKUL, EVERY FACE. EVEN
THE ONES WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT.
 
GUINAN STANDS AND BEGINS TO MOVE ABOUT THE ROOM. SHE'S CLEARLY
TROUBLED BY THE MEMORIES. SHE HESITATES, LOOKS OFF INTO THE
MIDDLE-DISTANCE FOR A FEW MOMENTS. PICARD MOVES TO HER.
 
PICARD
GUINAN. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW. WE THINK
SORAN'S DEVELOPED A WEAPON...A TERRIBLE WEAPON. IT MIGHT GIVE HIM
ENOUGH POWER TO-
 
GUINAN
SORAN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT POWER OR WEAPONS. ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS
GETTING BACK TO THE NEXUS.
 
PICARD
WHAT'S THE "NEXUS"?
 
GUINAN MOVES TO A TABLE AND BEGINS TO SHIFT AROUND SOME
EXOTIC-LOOKING ALIEN ARTIFACTS, DISTRACTING HERSELF. THIS IS
DIFFICULT FOR HER TO DISCUSS.
 
GUINAN
IT'S A PLACE I'VE TRIED VERY HARD TO FORGET.
 
SHE MAKES THE DECISION TO PLUNGE AHEAD.
 
GUINAN
THAT RIBBON ISN'T JUST SOME RANDOM ENERGY PHENOMENON TRAVELLING
THROUGH SPACE. IT'S A DOORWAY. IT LEADS TO ANOTHER PLACE- THE
NEXUS. IT DOESN'T EXIST IN OUR UNIVERSE AND IT DOESN'T PLAY BY THE
SAME RULES EITHER.
 
PICARD
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
 
GUINAN
I CAN'T REMEMBER VERY MUCH - WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE OR HOW LONG I WAS
THERE. BUT I DO REMEMBER HOW IT FELT.
 
SHE TURNS TO HIM AND HER FACE IS FILLED WITH SOME KIND OF AWE AT
THE MEMORY.
 
GUINAN
IT WAS LIKE BEING INSIDE...JOY. AS IF JOY WAS A REAL THING THAT I
COULD WRAP AROUND MYSELF. I'VE NEVER BEEN SO CONTENT.
 
A LONG BEAT AS PICARD ABSORBS HER WORDS.
 
PICARD
BUT THEN YOU WERE BEAMED AWAY.
 
GUINAN SHOWS A RARE BURST OF ANGER.
 
GUINAN
I WAS PULLED AWAY. I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE; NONE OF US DID. I FELT
LIKE I'D LEFT A PART OF MYSELF BEHIND. ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS
GETTING BACK. I DIDN'T CARE WHAT I HAD TO DO.
 
GUINAN MOVES TO A WINDOW AND LOOKS OUT AT THE STARS.
 
GUINAN
IT TOOK A LONG TIME, BUT EVENTUALLY I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT. AND
I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT MY EXPERIENCE IN THE NEXUS HAD CHANGED ME.
(BEAT) I KNEW THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE, ABOUT EVENTS, ABOUT TIME.
 
PICARD
YOUR "SIXTH SENSE"- I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED WHERE IT CAME FROM. (BEAT)
AND WHAT ABOUT SORAN?
 
GUINAN
SORAN MAY STILL BE OBSESSED WITH GETTING BACK. AND IF HE IS, HE'LL
DO ANYTHING TO FIND THAT DOORWAY AGAIN.
 
PICARD
BUT WHY DESTROY A STAR? (BEAT) THANK YOU, GUINAN.
 
HE HEADS FOR THE DOOR.
 
GUINAN
LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT, JEAN-LUC.
 
PICARD STOPS, LOOKS AT HER.
 
GUINAN
LET THEM SEND ANOTHER STARSHIP. DON'T GET NEAR THE RIBBON. IF YOU
GO INTO THAT NEXUS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT SORAN OR THE
ENTERPRISE OR ME. ALL YOU'RE GOING TO CARE ABOUT IS HOW IT FEELS TO
BE THERE. (BEAT) AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO COME BACK.
 
PICARD WEIGHS HER WORDS, SEES THE WARNING IN HER EYES, AND
CAREFULLY BACKS AWAY AND ENITS.
 
CUT TO:
 
83      INT. KLINGON BIRD OF PREY- QUARTERS (VFN-P)     83
 
A DIMLY-LIT ROOM SOMEWHERE IN THE BOWELS OF THE KLINGON SHIP. LIKE
EVERY OTHER ROOM ON THIS DECREPIT SHIP, THE ROOM LOOKS WELL-WORN
AND ILL-MAINTAINED. SORAN IS SEATED BEHIND A TABLE, HOLDING THE
VISOR. A PADD AND SORAN'S POCKETWATCH SIT ON THE TABLE. LA FORGE IS
SITTING IN A CHAIR ACROSS FROM HIM- HIS SHIRT HAS BEEN REMOVED. HE
LOOKS VERY TENSE.
 
SORAN
(RE: VISOR)
A REMARKABLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, BUT A LITTLE INELEGANT, WOULDN'T
YOU SAY? (BEAT) HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED A PROSTHESIS THAT WOULD
MAKE YOU LOOK A LITTLE MORE...NORMAL?
 
LA FORGE
WHAT'S NORMAL?
 
SORAN
NORMAL IS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS, AND WHAT YOU ARE NOT.
 
LA FORGE
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
 
SORAN TAKES A MOMENT.
 
SORAN
AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE, I AM AN EL-AURIAN. SOME PEOPLE CALL
US A RACE OF "LISTENERS". WE LISTEN. (BEAT) RIGHT NOW, MR. LA
FORGE, YOU HAVE MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. I WANT TO LISTEN TO
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT TRILITHIUM- AND ME.
 
LA FORGE THINKS.
 
LA FORGE
TRILITHIUM IS AN EXPERIMENTAL COMPUND DEVELOPED BY THE ROMULANS. I
THINK IT'S A DERIVATIVE OF-
 
SORAN PICKS UP THE PADD FROM THE DESK AND ACTIVATES IT. SUDDENLY
SOMETHING SMALL, WITH SHARP EDGES, CAN BE SEEN MOVING JUST
UNDERNEATH LA FORGE'S SKIN NEAR HIS CHEST. LA FORGE MOVES HIS HAND
TO THE SPOT, BUT THEN THE PROTRUSION IS SUDDENLY GONE.
 
SORAN
I DON'T WANT A SCIENCE LECTURE. YOU WERE ON THAT OBSERVATORY
LOOKING FOR TRILITHIUM. WHY?
 
LA FORGE
I WAS ORDERED TO BY THE CAPTAIN.
 
ON THE PADD IN SORAN'S HAND, WE CAN NOW SEE AN INTERIOR GRAPHIC OF
LA FORGE'S BODY SITTING IN THE CHAIR. THE GRAPHIC IS INTERACTIVE,
MOVING AS LA FORGE MOVES. A BLINKING DOT REPRESENTS THE MOVEMENT
OF
THE PROBE INSIDE HIS BODY. RIGHT NOW, THE DOT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF
HIS CHEST.
 
SORAN
LET'S TRY TO MOVE BEYOND THE USUAL PRISONER-INTERROGATOR BANTER,
SHALL WE? YOU HAVE INFORMATION AND I NEED IT. (BEAT) DID THE
CAPTAIN EXPLAIN HIS ORDERS TO YOU? DID HE SAY WHY YOU WERE
SEARCHING FOR TRILITHIUM?
 
LA FORGE
NO.
 
SORAN
WHAT ABOUT GUINAN? WHAT HAS SHE TOLD YOU ABOUT ME?
 
LA FORGE
GUINAN? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
 
ON THE PADD, WE NOW SEE THE DOT HAS MOVED TO A POSITION NEXT TO LA
FORGE'S HEART. SORAN LOOKS UP AT LA FORGE.
 
SORAN
MY INSTINCTS TELL ME YOU'RE LYING. AND I KNOW THAT CAN'T BE EASY
FOR YOU. (OFF PADD) I CAN SEE YOU HAVE A GOOD HEART.
 
SORAN TAPS A CONTROL ON THE PADD. SUDDENLY LA FORGE GRABS HIS
CHEST
IN PAIN. SORAN WATCHES LA FORGE FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN TAPS THE
PADD AGAIN. LA FORGE GASPS AND STARTS TO BREATHE.
 
SORAN
OH, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU. WHILE YOU WERE UNCONSCIOUS, I INJECTED A
NANO-PROBE INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM. IT'S BEEN NAVIGATING YOUR
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, AND RIGHT NOW I'VE ATTACHED IT TO YOUR LEFT
VENTRICLE. (SMILES) A LITTLE TRICK I PICKED UP FROM THE BORG.
 
LA FORGE
(GASPING)
YEAH, THEY'RE FULL OF GREAT IDEAS.
 
SORAN
I JUST STOPPED YOUR HEART FOR FIVE SECONDS. IT FELT LIKE AN
ETERNITY, DIDN'T IT? DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN STOP THE HUMAN HEART
FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE ONSET OF BRAIN DAMAGE?
 
LA FORGE
NO, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
 
SORAN
WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT OURSELVES EVERY DAY. (BEAT) NOW.
MAYBE I DIDN'T MAKE MYSELF CLEAR. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU
TELL
ME EXACTLY WHAT CAPTAIN PICARD KNOWS.
 
LA FORGE
I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING. YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST KILL ME RIGHT NOW.
 
SORAN'S FEATURES SOFTEN AS HE SMILES SLIGHTLY. FOR A MOMENT, HE
LOOKS GENUINELY COMPASSIONATE- AND IT'S A DISTURBING CONTRAST TO
HIS USUAL DARK INTENSITY.
 
SORAN
I'M NOT A KILLER, MR. LA FORGE. (BEAT) LET'S TRY THIRTY SECONDS.
 
SORAN TAPS A CONTROL ON THE PADD. LA FORGE GASPS AND STRAINS
AGAINST AN UNIMAGINABLE PAIN.
 
SORAN PICKS UP HIS POCKETWATCH AND OPENS THE COVER, SITS BACK IN
HIS CHAIR, WATCHING THE SECONDS TICK.
 
CUT TO:
 
84      INT. STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY (VFN-P)        84
 
A ROOM FILLED WITH EXOTIC-LOOKING DEVICES, SENSORS AND COMPUTERS
WHICH HANDLE THE ENORMOUS TASK OF TRACKING THE SHIP'S POSITION IN
SPACE. THE MONITORS AROUND THE ROOM DISPLAY VARIOUS DIAGRAMS OF
THE ENERGY RIBBON (AS SEEN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE FILM).
 
DATA IS SITTING AT A COMPUTER CONSOLE WHICH HAS A GREAT DEAL OF
COMPLEX INFORMATION ON THE SCREEN. PICARD IS STANDING NEXT TO HIM.
THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING, DATA SEEMS DISTRACTED AND PREOCCUPIED.
 
DATA
ACCORDING TO OUR INFORMATION, THE RIBBON IS A CONFLUX OF TEMPORAL
ENERGY WHICH TRAVELS THROUGH OUR GALAXY EVERY 39.1 YEARS
 
PICARD
WHEN IS IT EXPECTED BACK?
 
DATA DOESN'T ANSWER RIGHT AWAY.
 
PICARD
DATA?
 
DATA
SORRY, CAPTAIN. THE RIBBON HAS ALREADY ENTERED THE GALAXY. IT WILL
PASS THROUGH THIS SECTOR IN APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-ONE HOURS.
 
PICARD MOVES ABOUT THE ROOM. HE'S FRUSTRATED, TIRED, BUT DETERMINED
TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
 
PICARD
GUINAN SAID SORAN WAS TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE RIBBON. IF THAT'S
TRUE, THEN THERE MUST BE SOME CONNECTION WITH THE AMARGOSA STAR.
 
DATA
THE STAR'S DESTRUCTION HAS HAD NUMEROUS ASTRO-PHYSICAL EFFECTS
WITHIN THIS SECTOR. HOWEVER, NONE OF THEM APPEAR TO HAVE A
CONNECTION TO THE ENERGY RIBBON.
 
PICARD
GIVE ME A LIST OF THOSE EFFECTS. I WANT TO KNOW EVERY SINGLE THING
WHICH HAS BEEN ALTERED OR CHANGED, NO MATTER HOW INSIGNIFICANT.
 
DATA
IT WILL TAKE A FEW MOMENTS FOR THE COMPUTER TO COMPILE THE
INFORMATION.
 
DATA WORKS THE COMPUTER AND THEN THE COMPUTER BEGINS TO WORK.
DATA SIGHS- HIS EXPRESSION BECOMES DOWNCAST AND GLOOMY. HE SITS
DOWN AND PUTS HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS. PICARD FINALLY HAS TO SAY
SOMETHING.
 
PICARD
DATA, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
 
DATA
NO, SIR. I AM FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE. I BELIEVE I AM
OVERWHELMED WITH FEELINGS OF REMORSE AND REGRET CONCERNING MY
ACTIONS ON THE OBSERVATORY.
 
PICARD
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
 
DATA
I WANTED TO SAVE GEORDI. I TRIED. BUT I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING I DID
NOT EXPECT. (BEAT) I BELIEVE IT WAS FEAR.
 
PICARD REGARDS HIM SYMPATHETICALLY.
 
PICARD
FEAR IS A VERY DIFFICULT EMOTION TO OVERCOME. IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL
HAVE TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH.
 
DATA
BUT I DID NOT DEAL WITH IT, SIR. I LET IT PREVENT ME FROM HELPING
MY FRIEND. (BEAT) DOES THAT MAKE ME A COWARD?
 
PICARD
NO. AND WHAT YOU MUST TRY TO AVOID IS BECOMING CONSUMED BY
ANOTHER
EMOTION WHICH I BELIEVE YOU'RE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE: GUILT.
 
DATA
(CONSIDERS)
GUILT. IT IS A MOST UNPLEASANT FEELING.
 
84A     ANGLE (VFN-P)   84A
 
THE COMPUTER FINISHES ITS CALCULATIONS AND THE CONSOLE BEEPS. DATA
WORKS THE CONSOLE. INFORMATION APPEARS ON SCREEN.
 
DATA
ACCORDING TO OUR CURRENT INFORMATION, THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
AMARGOSA STAR HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING EFFECTS IN THIS SECTOR: GAMMA
EMISSIONS HAVE INCREASED BY .05 PERCENT, THE STARSHIP BOZEMAN WAS
FORCED TO MAKE A COURSE CORRECTION, A RESEARCH PROJECT ON GORIK
IV WAS HALTED DUE TO INCREASED NEUTRINO PARTICLES, AMBIENT MAGNETIC
FIELDS HAVE DECREASED BY-
 
PICARD
WAIT. THE BOZEMAN,WHY DID IT CHANGE COURSE?
 
DATA
(MATTER OF FACT)
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE AMARGOSA STAR HAS ALTERED THE
GRAVITATIONAL FORCES THROUGHOUT THE SECTOR. ANY SHIP PASSING
THROUGH THIS REGION WILL HAVE TO MAKE A MINOR COURSE CORRECTION.
 
PICARD IS STARTING TO GET AN IDEA, HE'S ONTO SOMETHING HERE. HE
MOVES TO A LARGE TABLE IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
 
PICARD
(MUSING)
A MINOR COURSE CORRECTION. (BEAT) WHERE IS THE RIBBON NOW?
 
84B     ANGLE (VFN-P)   84B
 
DATA MOVES TO THE TABLE TO WORK. AFTER A FEW BEATS, AN ELABORATE
MAP OF THE GALAXY SPRINGS UP ON THE CEILING OF THE ROOM. A BLINKING
DOT SHOWS THE POSITION OF THE RIBBON.
 
DATA
THIS IS ITS CURRENT POSITION.
 
PICARD
CAN YOU PROJECT ITS COURSE?
 
DATA HESITATES, STILL OBSESSED WITH HIS OWN EMOTIONAL TURMOIL.
PICARD FINALLY HAS TO LAY DOWN THE LAW.
 
PICARD
(FIRM)
DATA. I HAVE NOTHING BUT SYMPATHY FOR WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I NEED YOUR FULL ATTENTION ON THE TASK AT HAND. IF
YOU CAN'T PROVIDE IT, THEN I'LL HAVE TO RELIEVE YOU OF DUTY UNTIL
DOCTOR CRUSHER CAN REMOVE THIS EMOTION CHIP OF YOURS. I'M SORRY,
BUT YOU LEAVE ME NO OTHER CHOICE.
 
THIS SNAPS DATA BACK. HE CONSIDERS THIS FOR A LONG MOMENT, THEN
LOOKS DETERMINED.
 
DATA
I DO NOT WISH TO REMOVE THE CHIP, SIR. ALTHOUGH THESE EMOTIONS ARE
PROVING DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH, I CANNOT IMAGINE GOING BACK TO A
LIFE WITHOUT THEM. I HAVE TAKEN AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD BECOMING
TRULY HUMAN. IF I WERE TO TURN BACK NOW... (BEAT) I WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE IN MY DUTIES, SIR.
 
PICARD SMILES AT HIM.
 
PICARD
COURAGE IS AN EMOTION TOO, DATA. (BEAT) NOW, CAN YOU PROJECT THE
COURSE OF THE RIBBON?
 
DATA
I BELIEVE SO.
 
84C     ANGLE (VFN-P)   84C
 
DATA WORKS THE CONSOLE. A RED LINE MOVES TO FORM AN ARC THROUGH
THE STARFIELD. PICARD EXAMINES THE DISPLAY FOR A MOMENT AND NODS.
HE'S EXCITED, ON TO SOMETHING.
 
PICARD
ENHANCE GRID A-9.
 
DATA WORKS AND THE DISPLAY NOW ZOOMS INTO A SINGLE SECTOR. THE RED
LINE CUTS THROUGH THE SECTOR.
 
PICARD
WHERE WAS THE AMARGOSA STAR?
 
DATA WORKS. A STAR IS HIGHLIGHTED NEAR THE RED LINE.
 
PICARD
NOW, YOU SAID THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCES IN THIS SECTOR HAVE BEEN
ALTERED, COULD THAT ALSO AFFECT THE COURSE OF THE RIBBON?
 
DATA
(THINKS)
I BELIEVE SO.
 
84D     ANGLE (VFN-P)   84D
 
DATA WORKS AND HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAY CHANGES AGAIN. THE RED LINE
REPRESENTING THE COURSE OF THE RIBBON NOW SHIFTS TO THE RIGHT-
AWAY FROM THE AMARGOSA STAR'S POSITION. PICARD IS BEGINNING TO
REALIZE WHAT'S GOING ON.
 
PICARD
THAT'S WHAT SORAN'S DOING, HE'S CHANGING ITS COURSE. (BEAT) BUT
WHY? WHY TRY TO ALTER ITS PATH? WHY NOT SIMPLY FLY INTO IT WITH A
SHIP?
 
DATA THINKS FOR A MOMENT.
 
DATA
OUR RECORDS SHOW THAT EVERY SHIP WHICH HAS APPROACHED THE RIBBON
HAS EITHER BEEN DESTROYED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED.
 
PICARD THINKS ABOUT THIS, THEN HAS A FLASH OF INSIGHT.
 
PICARD
HE CAN'T GO TO THE RIBBON, SO HE'S TRYING TO MAKE THE RIBBON COME
TO HIM. (BEAT) DATA, IS IT GOING TO PASS NEAR ANY M-CLASS PLANETS?
 
DATA
(WORKS)
YES, SIR. THERE ARE TWO IN THE VERIDIAN SYSTEM.
 
84E     ANGLE (VFN-P)   84E
 
THE DISPLAY ZOOMS IN ON A STAR VERY CLOSE TO THE RIBBON'S PATH. WE
NOW SEE A SOLAR SYSTEM WITH A SINGLE STAR AND FOUR PLANETS. THE RED
LINE MOVES DIRECTLY THROUGH THE SYSTEM- IT PASSES VERY CLOSE TO THE
THIRD PLANET. PICARD EYES THAT PLANET AND POINTS TO IT.
 
PICARD
IT'S VERY CLOSE TO VERIDIAN III, BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH.
 
PICARD'S MIND IS GOING A MILE A MINUTE. HE SUDDENLY HAS A HORRIBLE
REALIZATION.
 
PICARD
DATA, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE RIBBON'S PATH IF HE DESTROYED THE
VERIDIAN STAR ITSELF?
 
84F     ANGLE (VFN-P)   84F
 
DATA WORKS. ON THE DISPLAY, THE VERIDIAN STAR SUDDENLY DARKENS AND
GOES OUT. THE RED LINE SHIFTS SLIGHTLY UNTIL IT MAKES AN EXACT
INTERSECTION WITH THE THIRD PLANET. THEY BOTH REACT TO THIS SIGHT.
THEY'RE BOTH AWARE OF JUST HOW SERIOUS THIS IS.
 
PICARD
THAT'S WHERE HE'S GOING.
 
DATA
IT SHOULD BE NOTED, SIR, THAT THE COLLAPSE OF THE VERIDIAN STAR
WOULD PRODUCE A SHOCK WAVE SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE OBSERVED AT
AMARGOSA.
 
PICARD
(GRIM)
AND DESTROY EVERY PLANET IN THE SYSTEM.
 
PICARD EYES THE GRAPHIC WITH A SENSE OF DREAD.
 
PICARD
ARE ANY OF THEM INHABITED?
 
DATA
VERIDIAN III IS UNINHABITED, BUT VERIDIAN IV SUPPORTS A
PRE-INDUSTRIAL HUMANOID SOCIETY.
 
PICARD
POPULATION?
 
DATA
APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED THIRTY MILLION.
 
A GRIM BEAT.
 
PICARD
(TO COM)
PICARD TO BRIDGE.
 
WORF'S COM VOICE
WORF HERE, SIR.
 
PICARD HEADS FOR THE EXIT, A SENSE OF URGENCY AND DETERMINATION IN
HIS EVERY MOVE.
 
PICARD
RED ALERT, MR. WORF. SET A COURSE FOR THE VERIDIAN SYSTEM, MAXIMUM
WARP.
 
PICARD AND DATA ENIT STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY.
 
85      ENT. SPACE- THE ENTERPRISE (VFN-I)      85
 
AS IT GOES INTO WARP.
 
CUT TO:
 
86      INT. KLINGON BIRD OF PREY- BRIDGE       86
 
LURSA AND B'ETOR IN COMMAND AS SORAN ENTERS.
 
LURSA
DID YOU GET ANYTHING FROM THE HUMAN?
 
SORAN
NO. HIS HEART JUST ISN'T IN IT.
 
KLINGON HELM
(OFF CONSOLE)
WE HAVE ENTERED ORBIT OF VERIDIAN III.
 
SORAN
PREPARE TO TRANSPORT ME TO THE SURFACE.
 
B'ETOR
WAIT. WHEN DO WE GET OUR PAYMENT?
 
SORAN HANDS B'ETOR A SMALL COMPUTER CHIP.
 
SORAN
THIS CONTAINS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU'LL NEED TO BUILD A TRILITHIUM
WEAPON. IT'S BEEN CODED. ONCE I'M SAFELY TO THE SURFACE, I'LL
TRANSMIT THE DECRYPTION SEQUENCE TO YOU. NOT BEFORE.
 
KLINGON HELM
(URGENT)
MISTRESS! A FEDERATION STARSHIP IS ENTERING THE SYSTEM!
 
LURSA
WHAT? ON VIEWER.
 
86A     ANGLE (VFN-P)   86A
 
THE HELM WORKS. THE VIEWSCREEN NOW SHOWS THE ENTERPRISE AT
IMPULSE ENTERING THE SYSTEM. REACTIONS.
 
KLINGON HELM
THEY ARE HAILING US.
 
B'ETOR
DU'CHA (ON SPEAKERS.)
 
THE HELM WORKS.
 
PICARD'S COM VOICE
KLINGON VESSEL. WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND WE WILL DESTROY ANY
PROBE LAUNCHED TOWARD THE VERIDIAN STAR.
 
SORAN'S EXPRESSION DARKENS.
 
B'ETOR
WHAT DO WE DO?
 
SORAN CHECKS HIS WATCH.
 
SORAN
THERE'S NO TIME FOR THIS. ELIMINATE THEM.
 
B'ETOR
(REACTS)
THAT IS A GALAXY CLASS STARSHIP. WE ARE NO MATCH FOR THEM.
 
SORAN THINKS FOR A MOMENT, THEN  HE GETS AN IDEA. HE PULLS LA
FORGE'S VISOR OUT OF A POCKET. HE EYES IT WITH INTENT.
 
SORAN
I THINK IT'S TIME WE GAVE MR. LA FORGE HIS SIGHT BACK.
 
OFF LURSA AND B'ETOR'S CURIOSITY.
 
CUT TO:
 
87      ENT. SPACE- THE ENTERPRISE (VFN-I)      87
 
NEARING VERIDIAN III. THE PLANET'S STAR IS VISIBLE.
 
88      INT. BRIDGE     88
 
PICARD IS PACING. RIKER, DATA, WORF, TROI, N.D.S AT THEIR STATIONS.
THE SHIP IS AT RED ALERT. DATA'S MOOD HAS IMPROVED. HE'S MAKING AN
EFFORT TO KEEP A POSITIVE OUTLOOK, TO STAY UPBEAT.
 
RIKER
MAYBE THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE.
 
PICARD
THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER A TWENTY YEAR-OLD KLINGON
BIRD OF PREY IS ANY MATCH FOR THE FEDERATION FLAGSHIP.
 
TROI
OR PERHAPS THEY'RE ON THE SURFACE.
 
PICARD
MR. DATA, SCAN THE PLANET FOR LIFEFORMS.
 
DATA SMILES, DELIGHTED AT THE REQUEST.
 
DATA
I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD ASK ME TO DO THAT, CAPTAIN. I JUST LOVE TO
