AOH :: TREK-054.TXT
TNG: The Ghosts of Yesteryear
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Copyright 1990 by David B. Mears and Eric Klien. All
Rights Reserved.
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"The Ghosts of Yesteryear"
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
The Enterprise is orbiting a blue-green planet below.
PICARD (V.O.)
Captain's Log, Stardate 44103.9.
We are in orbit around Alpha
Centauri where the Enterprise has
come for a much needed rest and
relaxation period. We have made
full use of the time off to
regenerate sagging spirits and
tired bodies. I almost feel,
though, that our time here has
been too short.
INT. TURBOLIFT
PICARD and RIKER are present.
PICARD
You should have been there to see
it, Will!
(beat)
It was near the end of the final
chukker and the match was tied.
There were three defenders between
myself and the goal. I lined up
to shoot, but instead I tapped the
ball beneath my mount to Smythe,
who made a clean shot on goal.
They never had a chance to block
it. Ah, Number One, it was
exhilarating!
RIKER
Better than the match you played
on the holodeck last week?
PICARD
The holodeck's a fine toy, but
nothing can quite take the place
of reality. To strive against
real players with real horses is
infinitely more satisfying in the
long run.
The turbolift comes to a stop and opens onto the
bridge, where everyone is present except BEVERLY and
WESLEY. Picard and Riker step out.
WORF
Captain, I'm receiving a Priority
message for you from Starfleet
Central. It's from Admiral
Raintree and it's marked Captain's
Eyes Only.
PICARD
Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll take
it in my ready room.
Picard exits the bridge. Riker sits down in the
center seat, next to Counselor Troi.
RIKER
(to Troi)
I hope it isn't anything serious.
It's been too long since I've seen
the Captain relaxed and enjoying
himself.
TROI
I agree. The Captain tends to let
the stress of his job build up
inside of him. He so rarely has
an opportunity to just relax and
be a person like everyone else.
RIKER
It sometimes seems like the
Captain actually thrives on
stress.
TROI
Still, he needs to leave it behind
from time to time.
Picard reenters the bridge. He looks pale and
disturbed.
TROI
(to Riker)
Something's very wrong.
RIKER
Even a non-Betazoid can tell that,
Counselor.
PICARD
Number One, please call Doctor and
Ensign Crusher to the bridge.
(beat)
The message and the mission we've
been given portends of difficult
times ahead for the Enterprise and
her cap--- her crew.
(slight pause)
The Crushers are particularly
affected by this and will need to
be aware of what's transpiring.
Please review the message with
them and the senior staff, then
come see me.
Picard is heading towards the turbolift.
RIKER
Of course, Captain. Where will
you be?
The turbolift doors close.
EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
Still orbiting the planet below.
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Everyone but Picard is present. Riker signals to Worf
who puts Admiral Raintree on screen. The Admiral is
an elderly woman of Native American ancestry. Her jet
black hair has begun to take on a salt and pepper
look.
RAINTREE
Hello, Jean-Luc. Your bridge crew
will need to hear this, but I owed
you the privilege of hearing it
first. About two weeks ago, a
Tyrolean Swifter on a special run
found itself passing near the
Anjinn star system. They'd been
having communications troubles,
and were performing tests when
they intercepted a beacon signal
in the old light speed bands. The
time stamp in that signal was only
five years old.
(beat)
Considering the delicate nature of
this issue, I wanted you to be the
one to investigate. Be careful,
Jean-Luc. You know what happened
the last time a Federation ship
was in that area.
Viewscreen goes off.
RIKER
I suppose I should already know,
but what's so special about the
Anjinn system?
BEVERLY
Ten years ago, Captain Picard was
in command of the science vessel
Beagle on an Academy training
mission to the Anjinn star system.
During the mission, the Beagle was
attacked and forced to defend
herself. When it was over, there
was a single casualty -- Science
Officer John Andrew Crusher.
RIKER
Starfleet couldn't think this
message means your husband is
still alive out there.
WESLEY
I don't see how they could. I saw
them bury my father.
BEVERLY
I'm afraid, Wesley, all you saw
was an empty casket. The burial
was a symbolic gesture on the part
of Starfleet.
RIKER
There was a Starfleet cover-up?
BEVERLY
There was no attempt to hide the
truth. But there was no attempt
to publicize it either. Wesley,
you were too young to understand
the difference, and I never could
bring myself to tell you the
truth.
WESLEY
(quietly, to himself)
I can't believe she lied to me!
RIKER
Helm, plot a course for the Anjinn
system. Be ready to leave orbit
on the Captain's orders.
Computer, where is the Captain?
COMPUTER VOICE
Captain Picard is in holodeck
four.
DATA
Commander, may I join you?
Riker waves for Data to join him. They leave the
bridge.
BEVERLY
Wesley, we need to talk.
WESLEY
You should have talked to me about
this years ago. Right now, I need
to think about things to myself.
Beverly starts to speak but pauses, then leaves the
bridge. After she leaves, Wesley also leaves.
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Geordi is sitting next to counselor Troi.
GEORDI
Do you think Jack Crusher could
still be alive out there?
TROI
I don't know, but someone had to
send that message.
GEORDI
Could a man survive alone for ten
years?
TROI
We don't know that he has. The
message was five years old.
GEORDI
I'd go crazy if I found myself all
alone with nothing to do for even
five years.
TROI
You'd be surprised what a person
can endure when necessary.
Survival is the strongest instinct
there is in humans, as well as in
many other species. Remember when
you were trapped on Galornden
Core?
GEORDI
I was only on the planet for a few
hours, and I wasn't alone.
TROI
Ten years IS a long time for a man
to live with no one but himself
for company. If we do find Jack
Crusher alive, he may not be the
man who was left behind.
WORF
When the Romulans attacked
Kittemar and left me to die, I
survived without adverse effect.
GEORDI
You'd just come through the middle
of a war zone, Worf. And you'd
just seen your parents killed.
That couldn't help but affect you.
TROI
Jack's experience was much the
same. He'd been through a battle,
and just as the Captain assumed
that Jack had been killed, for all
Jack knew, the Beagle had been
destroyed and the Captain killed.
GEORDI
It must be hard on the Captain,
knowing he may have to confront a
man he abandoned like that.
TROI
Though I've sensed some guilt from
the Captain, he knows what command
responsibility means, and he knew
it then. He'll be fine.
GEORDI
Well, I certainly don't envy him
right now.
TROI
Nor do I.
WORF
A true warrior always finds
strength through adversity.
INT. CORRIDOR
Riker and Data are walking from the turbolift to
holodeck four.
DATA
Commander, do you believe this
transmission came from Commander
Crusher?
RIKER
I think if Starfleet and Captain
Picard didn't believe it possible,
the Captain wouldn't have looked
so upset.
DATA
I do not believe I have ever seen
the Captain so disturbed. Do you
think he will be all right?
RIKER
We'll know in a minute, Data.
They arrive at the holodeck entrance.
RIKER
Computer, request permission to
enter holodeck.
COMPUTER VOICE
Simulation is not secured.
(beat)
You may enter when ready.
Riker and Data look at each other briefly then enter
the holodeck.
INT. HOLODECK
It is a recreation area filled with gymnastic
equipment, duotronic games, and a small juice bar to
the side. Seated alone at a small table by the bar is
Picard, nursing a pulpy orange colored drink.
RIKER
This looks like the Rec Bar at the
Academy.
PICARD
It is, Number One. I suppose I
wanted to be in an old familiar
place to think about the past.
DATA
No people, Captain?
PICARD
At the time, Data, I felt more
like being alone with my thoughts.
Picard swirls the juice in his glass and takes a sip.
RIKER
It's not like you to brood,
Captain.
PICARD
Being reminded of the death of my
closest friend is not something I
have to deal with every day,
Number One. Jack Crusher and I
spent a lot of time here going
through the Academy together.
(beat)
It's also where Jack and I spent
our last few planet bound hours
before leaving on his final
mission.
RIKER
I'm afraid I'm not as familiar
with the details of that mission
as I should be. What happened out
there?
PICARD
It was just after the Stargazer
had been lost in battle. There
was a hearing to determine the
extent of my culpability, and I
was exonerated. They even ended
up giving me a bloody medal for
bravery, though I never felt
comfortable with that decision.
DATA
Starfleet does not bestow
citations without reason, Captain.
PICARD
Afterward, I was given command of
the SS Beagle for a cadet training
mission to the Hirgato sector. We
were to identify and study the
source of Beckett waves coming
from there.
RIKER
You were exonerated, yet they only
gave you a small science vessel on
a cadet training mission?
PICARD
There were no ships of the line
available at that time.
RIKER
Jack Crusher was also assigned to
the mission?
PICARD
Jack was at the Academy, giving a
guest lecture series on the
quadrature variant of the
superstring theory. I knew he had
an interest in Beckett waves, and
I needed a good Science Officer so
I asked him to join me. That was
my first of several decisions that
would ultimately lead to his
death.
Picard pauses for a moment, looking at his drink.
RIKER
But he may not really be dead,
according to Starfleet.
PICARD
We had no way of knowing that at
the time. Upon arriving at the
Hirgato sector, we localized the
source of the Beckett waves as
coming from the Anjinn star
system. Jack wanted to get some
preliminary measurements away from
the ship to avoid the interference
produced by the warp chamber. He
took a shuttle craft out, away
from the ship, and was setting up
his instruments when it came.
RIKER
It?
PICARD
The Ghost ship. It came upon us
without warning.
DATA
A ghost ship, Captain?
PICARD
A figure of speech, Mr. Data. We
could see the ship on visual, but
none of the other ship's sensors
could pick it up.
RIKER
The ship was cloaked and yet it
didn't affect visual sensors?
PICARD
You can't assume all alien
technology is either better or
worse than ours, Number One.
Sometimes, it's just different.
When you come across the
different, you take precautions.
I signaled to Jack to pack up and
get back as quickly as he could,
and I ordered shields raised just
to be safe. An overly eager cadet
energized ship's phasers as well.
RIKER
And the mysterious ship sensed
that and attacked you?
PICARD
Yes. It wasn't a strong attack,
really only a good shaking. But
those cadets were just children,
they weren't prepared for battle.
I suppose after the Stargazer, I
wasn't much in the mood myself.
(beat)
I'd wanted to wait for Jack to get
back but there wasn't enough time.
So I ordered a tractor beam locked
onto the shuttle and we left as
quickly as we could without losing
tractor lock.
DATA
Pulling a shuttle craft in tractor
lock, even at low warp, is highly
unusual, Captain.
PICARD
It was a calculated risk. One
unfortunately that failed. The
Ghost ship came after us. They
fired again, stronger this time.
(beat)
I knew we weren't going to escape
cleanly so I ordered the phasers
fired at the enemy vessel.
Apparently, we scored a lucky blow
because the viewscreen was filled
with a blinding flash of light.
When the smoke cleared, so to
speak, they were gone.
RIKER
The Ghost ship?
PICARD
The Ghost ship, and the shuttle.
Ship's sensors were damaged and we
had only limited visual
capability. We searched for
nearly a full day but without
luck. We finally had no other
choice but to return to Starbase.
RIKER
And so you had to leave your
friend behind, not knowing if he
was alive or dead.
PICARD
But knowing that if he wasn't
dead, he likely soon would be.
Which is why Starfleet declared
him dead and ordered a memorial
service. They didn't want too
many people asking too many
questions right after the
Stargazer incident.
Picard picks up his drink and swirls its contents.
PICARD
(continuing)
I've often wondered if things
would have turned out differently
if I'd waited just the minute or
two longer it would have taken for
Jack to get safely back to the
Beagle. The first attack wasn't
that severe. Perhaps if we'd
waited; if I'd tried to reason
with the other ship instead of
fight. Perhaps ...
RIKER
You can't let the ghosts of the
past continue to haunt you,
Captain. You can't change what
happened.
PICARD
No, but I mustn't fail to let it
teach me how to deal with the
future either, Number One.
RIKER
I've had a course laid in for the
Hirgato sector. It's waiting only
your orders to proceed. But we
don't have to go. Admiral
Raintree gave you the opportunity
to answer the call. She didn't
order you to.
PICARD
No, Number One. A good captain
not only must never second guess a
decision once made, he must also
be able to face up to the
consequences of that decision and
never run from the
responsibilities it entails. We
will go.
PICARD
(downing the remaining liquid)
Now, I think it's best we all get
back to work.
Riker nods and they all leave.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. TEN FORWARD
Wesley is seated at a table near the windows looking
out at the stars going by. Troi enters and comes over
to him.
TROI
Need some company?
WESLEY
Can we talk?
TROI
You should be talking to your
mother.
WESLEY
I can't talk to my mother about
this. Not after what she did.
TROI
You know you're going to have to
talk to her eventually, Wes.
WESLEY
Even if she hadn't lied to me, I
still don't think I could talk to
her now. It's too personal.
Troi sits down with Wesley.
TROI
Then tell me all about it.
WESLEY
I hardly ever talk about him, and
I guess I never really knew how to
express it to him, but I did love
my father. He was my role model
for wanting to learn all about the
sciences.
TROI
Your father was a great scientist,
Wes. He was an inspiration to
many people.
WESLEY
Captain Picard was a close friend
to both my parents, but he would
always avoid me when he came to
visit. I had to sneak around so I
could hear him tell my parents all
sorts of wonderful tales of space.
It was the Captain that gave me
the desire to serve on board a
Starship.
TROI
And then, one day...
WESLEY
My father told us he had the
opportunity to serve on a mission
with Captain Picard. I never saw
him again after that. And until I
came aboard the Enterprise, I only
saw Captain Picard one other time.
TROI
When he came to bring the news of
your father's death.
WESLEY
It felt like someone had kicked me
in the stomach. At first I hated
the Captain for bringing the news,
and I blamed him for killing my
father. It was a very long time
before I understood it really
wasn't his fault.
TROI
And now that word has come that
your father might still be alive
out there somewhere, all those old
feelings have returned.
WESLEY
I feel like I should be looking
forward to seeing my father again,
but instead all I feel is a sense
of dread and fear. Why is that?
TROI
Wesley, how old were you when your
father disappeared?
WESLEY
Eight.
TROI
And how long ago was that?
WESLEY
About ten years.
TROI
Wesley, you've lived more years
since your father left than you
knew him before. That's a long
time.
(beat)
Remember back to the year your
mother spent at Starfleet while
you stayed here on the Enterprise?
How did you feel when she came
back after that year?
WESLEY
A little strange, I guess. I was
glad to see her back, but I felt
awkward around her for awhile.
TROI
Exactly! Wes, when we love
someone very much and we don't see
them for awhile, it's a little
strange seeing them again for the
first time. You don't feel
strange around your mother
anymore, do you?
WESLEY
No. In some ways, we're closer
than we've ever been. At least I
thought so until today.
TROI
The same thing will happen with
your father, if we find him. But
it's going to be harder for you
because you were much younger when
he left and it's been a much
longer time since you've seen him.
WESLEY
I think I understand, but I'm not
sure.
TROI
It's all right to be confused.
Just don't let it get in the way
of living your life.
Wesley stands up.
WESLEY
Thanks.
TROI
You really should talk to your
mother, Wes.
Wesley nods and leaves the room.
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
DATA
Entering the Hirgato Sector now,
Captain. I am receiving the
beacon signal, originating from
the second planet in the Anjinn
system.
PICARD
Estimated time to orbit?
DATA
Five minutes.
PICARD
Very good. Please notify me in
the transporter room when we make
orbit. Worf, Counselor, you will
accompany me to the surface of the
planet.
Picard glances at Riker out of the corner of his eye,
but Riker merely looks back at him with an expression
that clearly says "I'm not about to argue you on this
one, Captain."
PICARD
Wesley, if you'll call your mother
to the transporter room, the two
of you will be joining us as well.
WESLEY
I'll notify my mother, Captain,
but I think I'd rather stay on
board.
Picard starts to say something, but Counselor Troi
puts her hand on his arm and speaks softly so that
only he can hear.
TROI
It's alright, Captain, he's just
not ready yet.
PICARD
Very well. Data, I want every
visual sensor on full sweep. I
don't want any surprises like the
last time I was here.
DATA
(pressing controls on his panel)
Aye, sir.
Picard and the rest of the away team leave the bridge.
INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
The away team and CHIEF O'BRIEN are present. Beverly
is just entering the room.
BEVERLY
I don't know why I bothered to try
to make myself look more
presentable. It didn't do any
good.
PICARD
(matter-of-factly)
Don't worry. You look beautiful.
BEVERLY
Really?
O'BRIEN
Captain, I'm reading a small
structure at the source of the
beacon. I can put you down behind
a small rise nearby.
PICARD
Very good. Energize!
EXT. GRASSLANDS
This is a semi-barren world, with mostly scrub for
vegetation.
WORF
(studying tricorder)
This way.
They go around the small rise. Picard and Worf lead,
with Beverly and Troi behind. In front of them is a
small white hut glistening in the bright sunlight.
Next to it, about twenty feet away, is a small garden
plot with corn, tomatoes, beans and other fresh
vegetables growing in neat little rows. The hut has
an open doorway but it is too dark to see inside.
PICARD
Hello, in the hut, is anyone
there?
JACK
(from inside the hut)
I know that voice!
A man appearing to be in his mid-fifties emerges from
the open doorway, squinting and shading his eyes with
his hand.
JACK
Jean-Luc? Is that you? Could it
really be you after all these
years?
PICARD
Jack? Jack Crusher?
JACK
My God! It IS you! It's been so
long I'd given up hope anyone
would ever hear my signal.
(beat)
I lost the subspace radio when I
crashed but I was able to patch up
a lightspeed transmitter attached
to a marker buoy I found in
storage. I was afraid I'd die of
old age before anyone heard it.
Yet, here you are. And what of
Beverly? Have you kept up with
her, Jean-Luc? Do you know how
she's been doing?
PICARD
I think there's someone else who
should answer that question for
you.
Beverly steps forward.
JACK
Beverly?
Beverly runs toward him.
BEVERLY
Jack!
They embrace and kiss.
PICARD
(quietly)
Counselor, what do your empathic
skills tell you about this man?
TROI
Considering what he must have gone
through these last ten years,
everything he's feeling now is
completely normal, and completely
human.
JACK
How? Why are you here?
BEVERLY
I've been serving under Captain
Picard, off and on, as Chief
Medical Officer aboard the
Starship Enterprise for a little
over three years now.
Jack gives a brief glance to Picard, then turns back
to Beverly again.
JACK
What about Wesley? Is he alright?
What's he been up to? He must be,
what, eighteen or nineteen by now?
BEVERLY
He's on board the ship, Jack.
He's serving as an ensign on the
Enterprise. He's done so many
things and learned so much, Jack,
you'll be very proud of him.
JACK
He's on the ship? Why didn't he
come with you, Bev? I want to see
him!
BEVERLY
Be patient, Jack, this whole thing
has been very hard on Wes. Just
give him a little time and a
little space and I know he'll come
around.
JACK
Captain, I'd like to leave for the
ship now, if you don't mind. I'll
come back and gather the things I
want to take with me before we
leave orbit. Do we need to leave
right away?
PICARD
You know what happened the last
time we were here, but I suppose
we can stay for a little while.
The Enterprise should be able to
give a much better showing of
herself than we were able to with
the Beagle.
(using communicator)
Enterprise, five to beam up.
INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
Wesley, Riker, and O'Brien are here.
WESLEY
I don't know. I'm still not sure
this was a good idea.
RIKER
Come on Wes, you're going to have
to face him sooner or later.
O'BRIEN
You're lucky to have known your
father. Mine was lost in the
Lamdovan Riots before I was born.
My very pregnant mother barely
managed to get on the last
transport out and she wasn't able
to bring anything with her, not
even a single picture of my dad.
RIKER
A second chance isn't something to
throw away, Wes. They don't come
along that often. I nearly lost
the one chance I had to make
things right again with my father,
but I finally came to my senses.
Don't throw away this opportunity.
WESLEY
(tapping head)
I know here what you guys are
trying to tell me.
(placing hand over heart)
But I just don't feel it here yet.
I promise you, though, I won't let
myself lose it.
PICARD'S COM VOICE
Enterprise, five to beam up.
O'BRIEN
Acknowledged.
The away team and Jack are beamed up.
JACK
Wesley? Is that you?
Wesley just stands there.
BEVERLY
Yes, Jack, this is our son.
JACK
Wesley, just look at you! You've
grown into such a fine young man.
Come greet your long lost father.
Wesley just stands there.
BEVERLY
Wes! The least you could do is
say hello to your father.
WESLEY
I lost my father ten years ago. I
don't think I can just welcome him
back like nothing happened. This
man is a stranger to me.
BEVERLY
Wes!
JACK
It's alright, Bev. I've waited
ten years, I can wait a little
longer.
(to Wesley)
Wesley, although I'm still your
father, I guess you really have no
reason to think of me that way.
If you're not quite ready to deal
with that and to accept me back, I
can live with that, for awhile.
BEVERLY
In the mean time, Jack Crusher,
I'm going to get you to sickbay
where I plan to give you a
thorough, and long overdue,
checkup.
PICARD
I'm afraid that will have to wait,
Doctor. I want to convene a
debriefing session before we leave
orbit, and I'm not sure I want to
stay any longer than necessary.
Do you feel up to it, Jack?
JACK
I'm a little beat but I'd rather
get it over with so I can spend
some serious time sleeping and
being with my family without
interruptions!
Jack turns and winks at his wife. Everyone but
Beverly and Wesley leaves the room.
BEVERLY
You may be a Starfleet officer,
young man, but that doesn't excuse
you from being rude. How can you
treat your father like that?
WESLEY
How can you act like the last ten
years never happened? I can't
just pretend things are the way
they were before.
BEVERLY
If I've learned one thing in life,
it's that you can't depend on
things going the way you want.
Time is too precious a thing to
waste, and now that I've got your
father back, I'm not going to run
the risk of losing him again.
Beverly turns and leaves the room leaving Wesley
standing there.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM
Everyone including Jack is present.
PICARD
After the destruction of the
unknown vessel, we retraced our
path and spent a full day
searching for you before we were
forced to give up.
JACK
When you first started dragging me
out with the tractor beam, I
honestly thought you were crazy.
I had barely enough time to try to
hold on with bare knuckles. When
the ship came after us and opened
fire the second time, I was thrown
from the seat, struck my head and
blacked out.
RIKER
Then you had no idea what had
happened with the Beagle?
JACK
When I came to, the shuttle was
tumbling out of control, headed
directly for the planet where you
found me. I just barely managed
to land in one piece.
RIKER
So you had no idea how long you
were out or where you were? Did
you try to make contact with the
Beagle?
JACK
The subspace radio was but one of
many casualties. I found an old
locator buoy, but without a
functioning subspace transducer
coil, it seemed pretty hopeless.
I managed to get it transmitting
on the old broadband frequencies,
but I knew it would be a long time
if ever before anyone heard it.
PICARD
If the Tyroleans hadn't passed
through the area, we still
wouldn't have heard your signal.
You were very lucky.
Jack turns to look Picard squarely in the face.
JACK
Sometimes luck is all you can
count on.
The Enterprise personnel sit in stunned silence as the
meaning of the veiled accusation sinks in.
JACK
(continuing)
With the matter of calling for
help out of the way, I decided to
do a little exploring. My only
functioning tricorder gave no
clues so I picked a direction that
looked promising, and took off.
Just over the ridge I found
another ship about twice the size
of my own.
DATA
Could you describe the other ship?
JACK
It was boxy, no struts or legs to
hold it up, sitting flat on the
ground. I tried checking it out
with the tricorder, but it didn't
even register. Yet my own
shuttle, back over the ridge, did.
DATA
That does correlate with a similar
phenomenon mentioned by Captain
Picard concerning the ship that
attacked the Beagle.
PICARD
I don't know if we destroyed that
ship or not, but from your
description, I'm certain it was at
least ten times the size of the
one you found. They must have
launched a shuttle undetected
during the commotion of battle.
BEVERLY
You never found any inhabitants
from the ship you found?
JACK
Absolutely none.
RIKER
That's curious.
DATA
But possibly not unexpected.
PICARD
Explain, Mister Data.
Data starts to speak, then looks at Jack and stops.
Finally he looks back at Picard and continues.
DATA
I have yet to complete my data
analysis, and am not prepared at
this time to report on my
findings.
PICARD
Very well, but please do so as
quickly as possible. We're in
dangerous space.
DATA
Certainly, Captain.
JACK
By cannibalizing both ships, I was
able to construct the hut you
found me in down below. It's
mostly just the main body of the
alien ship.
RIKER
Our transporter chief had no
trouble in locating your hut with
ship's sensors. How could that be
if what you told us is true?
JACK
I don't know. Maybe the effect
wears off with time. Maybe it
stopped when I pulled the thing
apart. To be honest, I never
thought about it again.
BEVERLY
I think you should have all the
information you need for now,
Captain.
PICARD
Yes, quite. We can let Jack go
for now.
BEVERLY
Now I'm going to get you to
sickbay for that checkup.
JACK
I'm very tired, Bev. Can you give
me an hour's nap before we get
into that?
BEVERLY
Very well, but don't think for a
moment you're going to get out of
this! I've got some lab work to
finish, but I'll join you in my,
in our cabin shortly.
PICARD
Lieutenant Worf, please escort
Commander Crusher to the doctor's
cabin.
WORF
If you'll follow me, sir.
Worf and Jack leave through the door out into the
corridor. The remaining people leave through the door
to the bridge, but Riker holds Picard back for a
moment.
RIKER
Shouldn't we have Worf put a
security guard outside the cabin?
PICARD
I don't think that will be
necessary, Number One. Jack
Crusher is not a threat to this
ship.
RIKER
Until we know for sure what
happened on that planet, I don't
think it's wise to make any
assumptions.
PICARD
Commander, I was forced to leave
Jack Crusher behind to die ten
years ago. I will not now insult
him by treating him as you
suggest.
Picard turns and leaves for the bridge.
INT. TURBOLIFT
Worf and Jack are in the turbolift.
JACK
You know Lieutenant, it pleases me
to see a Klingon warrior aboard
the Enterprise. It could prove to
be very useful.
WORF
Sir?
JACK
Ten years ago when I was marooned,
the Klingon-Federation Alliance
was very young, and the years of
conflict preceding it were many.
It wouldn't have taken much to
turn an uneasy truce into a costly
war. Yet here you are, serving
aboard a Federation Starship.
WORF
Even today there are those who are
not pleased being in the alliance.
Many still live who served during
the conflicts. Memories sometimes
die harder than those who fought
in battle.
The turbolift comes to a halt and they exit to the
corridor.
JACK
Ghosts of the past.
WORF
(indignantly)
Klingons do not believe in ghosts,
or spirits.
JACK
It's just a figure of speech among
humans, Lieutenant. It means that
memories live on, even after the
times and people are gone.
WORF
The Klingons do have a saying:
SuvwI' Heghpu' 'ach bortaSDaj
ratlh. (shoov-WEE khegh-poo, uch
bor-TASH-dooj rah-TLL. A warrior
dies, but his vengeance remains.)
JACK
Tell me, Lieutenant, how is it you
not only live with those ghosts,
but can also work so closely with
humans without having the memories
affect your work?
WORF
My parents were killed in a
surprise attack by the Romulans
who left me to die a slow and
honorless death. A Federation
scout found me and I was taken to
be raised by a human family. It
allowed me to see both sides.
JACK
Having the experiences of many
lives can make a very powerful
warrior.
Worf stops outside a door and Jack follows suit.
WORF
We have arrived at the Doctor's
cabin.
Worf opens the door and Jack enters the room and turns
to face the Klingon through the open door. The camera
perspective changes to be from inside looking out to
Worf.
JACK
Thank you, Lieutenant, for the
company and the conversation. We
must find time to talk again.
WORF
Yes. I would like to learn more
of Captain Picard's past, and his
ghosts.
The door closes and we see now only Jack.
JACK
Before we are done, my warrior
friend, the entire crew will learn
more than any of you bargained
for.
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Data is seated at the science station at the back of
the bridge viewing records on the console. Wesley
comes and sits down next to him.
WESLEY
(quietly)
Data, do you remember Dr. Soong
very well?
DATA
I remember all of my experiences
in perfect detail.
WESLEY
That's not what I mean.
DATA
Ah, you are thinking of Dr. Soong
as my father and wishing to equate
your experiences now to my own.
WESLEY
Something like that.
DATA
While I spent time with Dr. Soong
during the few weeks before I was
shut off to save me from the
crystal creature, I can not really
say I knew him.
WESLEY
What if you suddenly found out he
was still alive out there
somewhere? How would you feel?
DATA
I would not feel anything.
WESLEY
If you met him again, what would
you say to him?
DATA
I would first ask him what had
happened to him during the last
years, and then I would ask him to
tell me more about myself and his
motivations for creating me, and
my brother Lore.
WESLEY
What would you call him?
DATA
I would call him Doctor Soong.
WESLEY
Data, no, you don't understand.
DATA
I am afraid I do not, Wesley.
WESLEY
When my father left, I was only
eight years old. I called him
Dadaw. But that's a child's name
for a father. I'm an adult now
and it wouldn't be appropriate.
Calling him Father seems too cold.
I'm having trouble feeling close
to him anymore, but I don't want
to exaggerate the problem.
DATA
You could call him Doctor Crusher,
or perhaps just Jack.
WESLEY
Data, you're no help.
DATA
I am sorry Wesley. Counseling
humans in emotional issues is not
an area in which I am proficient.
Perhaps Counselor Troi can help
you find the answers you seek.
WESLEY
We've already talked.
DATA
Then perhaps you can find them
within yourself.
Wesley gets up and leaves and Data goes back to
studying his computer readouts.
INT. DEANNA TROI'S CABIN
Deanna is sitting and reading on a sofa amid several
large overstuffed cushions. The door chime rings.
TROI
Come in.
The door opens and Riker enters. Troi smiles as she
sees him.
TROI
(continuing)
Hi, Will.
Her smile quickly fades.
TROI
(continuing)
You're worried about the Captain,
aren't you?
RIKER
Deanna, I wish you'd stop telling
me how I feel before I have the
chance to tell you.
TROI
I'm sorry. You ARE worried!
What's wrong?
RIKER
I'm worried about the Captain. I
fear he's letting his personal
feelings for Commander Crusher
cloud his judgement concerning the
safety of the ship.
TROI
I have sensed a certain amount of
guilt from the Captain. It's
possible he's overcompensating for
those feelings by treating the
Commander with extra care.
RIKER
I've never seen him let personal
matters get in the way of ship's
business before. I'm worried it
may endanger the ship.
TROI
Have you talked with him about it?
RIKER
No, I wanted someone to tell me
I'm not imagining things before I
go accusing him of anything so
drastic.
TROI
I've never seen the Captain
intentionally endanger the lives
of those around him. And I've
never seen him refuse to listen to
constructive criticism. You need
to talk this out with him, to
clear the air. Both of you will
feel better for it.
RIKER
I suppose you're right.
Riker turns to leave and the door opens to let him
out. Riker exits, then turns to face Deanna again.
RIKER
(continuing)
And I hope I'm wrong, about Jack
and the Captain, for all our
sakes.
INT. CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM
Picard is sitting at his desk looking at something on
his display which we cannot see. He is pondering.
The chime for his door sounds.
PICARD
Enter.
The doors open and Riker enters.
RIKER
Captain, why haven't we left yet?
PICARD
Commander Crusher has been too
busy to bring up his belongings
from the surface.
RIKER
We could have gathered his things
for him hours ago without having
to bother him.
PICARD
That wouldn't be polite, Number
One.
RIKER
Permission to speak candidly, sir?
PICARD
Always.
RIKER
I don't think this has anything to
do with politeness. I think
you're feeling guilty for having
left Jack Crusher behind all those
years ago, and now you're bending
over backward to be nice to him,
even if it endangers the ship.
PICARD
What is it you're really trying to
say, Commander?
RIKER
Captain, I don't feel comfortable
staying here with the possibility
of another Ghost ship returning.
PICARD
I almost hope they do. I'd like
another chance to talk to them and
find out more about them.
RIKER
Do you think that's wise?
PICARD
It may not be wise, Number One,
but it IS the reason we're out
here. We could have the
opportunity to interact with
beings completely unlike any we've
met before. And even if there is
a confrontation, I believe the
Enterprise can take care of
herself.
Neither man says anything for a moment.
PICARD
(continuing)
Is there anything else, Commander?
RIKER
No, sir.
PICARD
Very well. Dismissed.
Picard returns to looking at his display and Riker
leaves.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. DOCTOR CRUSHER'S CABIN
Jack Crusher is sitting at a computer studying
something on the viewscreen. A door behind him,
leading between the Doctor's cabin and her sickbay,
opens. He turns off the computer display before
anyone can see what he has been looking at.
BEVERLY
(entering through the door)
I thought you were going to get
some rest.
JACK
I guess the excitement of being
rescued was more than I thought.
I just couldn't get any sleep.
(motioning to the nearby bed)
Come, sit, let's talk.
BEVERLY
We really should get you to
sickbay for that exam. That's
what I came here for.
JACK
The exam can wait, Bev. I haven't
had the chance to talk to you for
ten years. There's so many things
I want to say, so many things I
need to ask.
Beverly hesitates for a moment, then sits.
BEVERLY
Where do we begin after ten years
apart?
JACK
Tell me, what did you do to try to
deal with my death? And how did
you end up here, on the
Enterprise, with Picard?
BEVERLY
I left the University to set up a
clinic in a small town in Iowa. I
had to get away from the coast,
the University, Starfleet, and
anything else that reminded me of
you or of him.
JACK
But you didn't stay.
BEVERLY
No, I couldn't really get away
from your memory. And Wesley was
suffering. He had such a
voracious appetite for learning
and he was being stifled by the
very small town limitations I had
gone there to find. He was
growing up and I could see the
same wanderlust in him that I'd
seen in both yours and Jean-Luc's
eyes so many years before.
JACK
You were afraid of losing Wesley,
weren't you?
BEVERLY
I couldn't stand the thought of
losing him after having already
lost you. He was the only part of
you I had left. When he started
talking of wanting to join up with
Starfleet I knew the only way I'd
keep him was to go myself and
bring him with me.
JACK
But why the Enterprise? Why
Picard?
BEVERLY
When I heard Starfleet was about
to launch a new Galaxy Class ship,
with families on board along with
the officers and crew, I knew that
was where I needed to be. And
when I found out Jean-Luc was
going to be her Captain, I
realized I finally had to face
him.
JACK
I'm not sure I understand why
you'd want to put yourself through
that.
BEVERLY
The Captain didn't understand it
either. When he found out I'd
been assigned to the Enterprise,
he graciously offered me the
opportunity to transfer to another
ship. You should have seen the
look on his face when I told him
I'd requested assignment to the
Enterprise.
JACK
So there was nothing between the
two of you, then?
BEVERLY
(laughs)
Is that why you've been acting so
cold around Jean-Luc? You know he
feels badly enough about what
happened as it is.
(shakes her head in disbelief)
I won't say I haven't thought
about it from time to time. He's
an attractive man and you were
dead as far as anyone knew. Was I
supposed to just shrivel up and
die? Anyway, the Captain's too
busy with his ship to pay
attention to a woman.
(beat)
Most of the time, anyway.
(beat)
But now you're back in my life,
and I still love you, Jack
Crusher, and I always did no
matter what you may think.
(stands up)
And we've spent enough time
jabbering. It's time for your
physical.
JACK
(yawning)
You know, Bev, all this talk has
used up all that nervous energy I
had before. I think I WILL take
that nap now. I'll see you later
for the exam, OK?
BEVERLY
Jack Crusher, you may be my
husband, and Jean-Luc Picard may
be Captain of this ship, but when
it comes to medical matters, I'm
the boss around here.
(points to doorway)
Now move it, Mister!
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Picard reenters the bridge from his ready room.
DATA
Captain, I have finished my
records search and I believe I
have found information relevant to
both the Beagle mission and our
present situation.
PICARD
What is it, Data?
DATA
A search of Starfleet records for
related material turned up nothing
beyond your own report. I also
found nothing in the Federation
Science records, as well as those
of the Klingon Empire, the Nordane
Protectorate, the Bryzantean
Syndicate, the---
PICARD
(interrupting)
But you did find something.
DATA
Yes, sir, in the Federation
Archeological Archives.
Expeditions to two different
planetary systems by unrelated
archaeological teams reported
similar mythos found among the
remains of the civilizations on
their respective planets. Each
civilization had expired more than
a thousand years before the Beagle
contact, and neither civilization
had ever made contact with the
other. Yet each team reported
information closely matching that
from your report. Each system was
within twenty-five light years of
the other and of the Anjinn
system.
RIKER
Do you think there's a connection
between the dead civilizations and
the Beagle encounter?
DATA
The research teams reported
numerous accounts of visitations
by alien ships which seemed to
appear out of nowhere without
being detected by planetary sensor
systems. And although widely
discredited by the official
planetary governing bodies, there
were claims that aliens were
merging themselves with some
citizens.
RIKER
Merging themselves? Do you mean
the aliens were replacing the
natives?
DATA
I do not know, Commander, I am
only able to quote from the
reports. A few of the people who
were supposed to have been taken
over were examined, but no
evidence was ever found they were
not who they claimed to be.
Eventually, all those who had made
the claims recanted them as having
been an elaborate hoax.
PICARD
You say these things happened in
nearly identical fashion in each
of the two lost cultures?
DATA
It appears each civilization died
out without explanation within one
century of the first alien
reports. They simply ceased to
exist.
RIKER
(to himself)
Merged?
(aloud)
What a horrible way to die. To
exist and yet not exist. To no
longer be you, but some alien
creature.
DATA
Captain, assuming this to be true,
it is possible Commander
Crusher---
PICARD
(interrupting)
Might not really be himself, but
an alien from the Ghost Ship.
DATA
Commander Crusher did say no
evidence was found of any being in
the other ship.
RIKER
Surely the Enterprise' instruments
are much better than those of the
two dead civilizations. I'm sure
we'd be able to tell if Jack had
been taken over.
PICARD
He has seemed to display some
reluctance to participate in a
medical examination.
(using communicator)
Sickbay. Doctor Crusher, are you
there?
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
Yes, Captain, what can I do for
you?
PICARD
Has Jack come by for his checkup
yet?
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
It took some convincing to get him
here, but yes, he has. In fact he
left here just a few minutes ago.
PICARD
Any results, yet? Did anything
out of the ordinary show up?
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
Everything was completely normal.
PICARD
Anything too normal? Any old
injuries that don't show up?
Anything like that?
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
Well, there was that old fencing
injury, but the scar was still
there.
(sounding worried now)
Why, Jean-Luc? Is something
wrong?
PICARD
One moment, Doctor.
Picard pushes a control on his arm rest control pad.
Picard and Riker then turn to look at each other for a
moment.
PICARD
Computer, please locate Jack
Crusher.
COMPUTER VOICE
All ship's personnel accounted
for. Unregistered person located
in Main Engineering.
PICARD
Picard to Engineering. Jack, are
you down there?
(pause)
Lieutenant LaForge, can you
respond?
After a long pause, Worf heads for the turbolift.
PICARD
Worf, I want you here to
coordinate security activities.
Mr. Data will check out
Engineering.
Data gets up and leaves. Picard pushes the button on
his arm rest again.
PICARD
(continuing)
Beverly, it appears there's some
trouble in Engineering, your
services might be needed. And
yes, something could be very
wrong. We now believe the man we
brought back to the Enterprise is
not really Jack Crusher, but an
alien who has taken over his body.
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
(hesitantly)
I see.
PICARD
Well, Number One, it looks like we
were both wrong. Apparently, our
sensors aren't any better at
detecting these creatures than
those civilizations' were. I only
hope my indulgence in accepting
the creature as Jack Crusher won't
prove to be fatal.
INT. MAIN ENGINEERING
Data is just arriving. He finds several engineering
personnel laying sprawled on the floor, and Beverly
kneeling over Geordi who was in the same general state
as his fellow engineers.
DATA
Are they all right, Doctor?
BEVERLY
They're alive.
DATA
(using communicator)
Captain, I am in Engineering.
Doctor Crusher is here
administering to the needs of the
engineering crew who appear to
have been attacked.
BEVERLY
(so as to be heard)
They're all in a state of heavy
stun. It's similar to a phaser
stun, but appears to be more long
lasting.
DATA
Several of the engineering panels
appear to have been tampered with.
I cannot at this time assess the
damage.
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
PICARD
Doctor, is Lieutenant LaForge
there?
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
Yes, Captain, I'm looking after
him now.
PICARD
Can you bring him safely back to
consciousness? I need him to
assess the damage.
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
I'll do what I can.
PICARD
Worf, alert your security teams to
be on the lookout for the alien.
Use extreme caution, he's
apparently armed and dangerous.
WORF
They're already on their way.
INT. CORRIDOR
Wesley is walking down a corridor mumbling to himself,
trying to decide how best to address his father when
he sees him. He is nearly run down by Jack coming in
the opposite direction as he rounds a corner.
WESLEY
Dad!
Wesley turns and follows his father who is walking at
a good clip.
WESLEY
(continuing)
I was just coming to see you, to
apologize for the way I've been
acting since you came aboard.
JACK
That's alright, Wes. I know you
must have been filled with so many
confusing thoughts and emotions.
Soon all that will be over. Soon
you'll understand everything.
As Wesley and Jack round a corner, they run into two
SECURITY GUARDS with phasers drawn.
WESLEY
What's the meaning of this?
GUARD ONE
Orders from Lieutenant Worf.
We're to locate and detain Jack
Crusher until the Lieutenant can
interrogate the prisoner.
WESLEY
Prisoner?
Camera follows as Jack pushes Wesley away from him and
onto the floor. Phaser blasts hit above Wesley where
Jack was. Then the camera pulls back to show that the
guards are stunned and Jack is gone.
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
WORF
A security team in sciences has
reported they are closing in on
Commander Crusher.
WESLEY'S COM VOICE
Captain Picard? This is Wesley.
I was with my father when two
guards stopped us and claimed he
was a prisoner. The next thing I
knew, he pushed me down to the
floor, they were stunned and he'd
disappeared. What's going on?
PICARD
Wesley, the man you were with is
not your father, but an alien.
Your report, however, may be of
critical value in helping us deal
with him. Worf, please pull your
security teams out between the
science labs and transporter room.
WORF
Sir?
PICARD
Jack, or whatever he is, is headed
in that direction and I don't want
anyone else hurt. We're not ready
yet to face him.
(to com)
Chief O'Brien, Jack Crusher's
headed your way. I want you out
of the way. Whatever happens, do
not interfere with him.
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Will do, Captain.
RIKER
If this man, or whatever he is, is
so dangerous, why are we letting
him leave the ship?
PICARD
It's precisely because he IS so
dangerous that I want him off the
ship.
(beat)
Mister Worf, I want you to
accompany myself and Commander
Riker to the planet. Select two
guards to accompany us.
RIKER
Captain, I said nothing before
because Jack Crusher was such a
close friend of yours, but I must
strongly object to your going
after him now. It's too
dangerous.
PICARD
Your objections have been noted,
Commander. But I believe I'm the
only hope we have of stopping him.
Picard goes towards the turbolift. Riker is not
following him.
PICARD
(continuing)
Coming, Number One?
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
Two new security guards are ready for beam down.
O'Brien is at the controls. Picard, Worf, and Riker
are entering the room.
O'BRIEN
I kept out of sight as ordered,
but was able to see what happened.
Jack Crusher transported himself
and a bundle to the planet.
PICARD
What coordinates?
O'BRIEN
They're still set to the structure
where we beamed you up earlier.
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
Captain, I have a preliminary
report on engine room damage.
PICARD
Glad to hear you're feeling
better, Mr. LaForge. Let's hear
it.
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
Whoever did this knew what they
were doing. The main warp engine
coupling circuits have been taken
out. Also the primary backup, the
phaser couplings, and the shield
control circuits.
PICARD
Can the circuits be fixed?
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
Not without Starbase facilities.
This guy did a real professional
job. Shields and weapons are
definitely out for the duration.
RIKER
I think we may have overstayed our
welcome.
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
We may still have one chance left
with the Warp drive, but I haven't
been able to check it out yet.
PICARD
Do what you can, Geordi. If you
can't get Warp working again, then
get everyone in the saucer section
and we'll leave on maximum
impulse.
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
Yes, sir. Oh, and Captain,
there's a subspace transducer
assembly missing. It's not
critical, but I thought you'd like
to know.
WORF'S COM VOICE
Captain, I'm picking up a ship at
extreme range, but on visual scans
only. It's traveling toward us at
Warp three point four.
PICARD
How much time, Lieutenant?
WORF'S COM VOICE
Fourteen minutes.
PICARD
Geordi, forget the impulse
engines, get the warp drive
working any way you can! Mr.
O'Brien, reset transporter to our
original beamdown coordinates.
O'BRIEN
Got it.
Worf, Picard, Riker, and the security guards are
beamed down.
EXT. GRASSLANDS
Worf silently directs the security guards to take up
positions on two low hills overlooking each side of
the encampment. Picard takes out his phaser, and
leads the remaining three around the embankment and
into sight of the hut. He points the phaser at the
hut.
PICARD
Jack, or whatever you are now, we
know you're here.
Jack strolls out of the hut.
JACK
Do you really think you can stop
me? Your ship's disabled and I've
repaired my subspace radio, thanks
to the generosity of your
engineering department. My people
will soon be coming and there'll
be no way to stop us from taking
the Enterprise and her crew. With
that, the galaxy will at last be
ours.
PICARD
You have no right to do this!
JACK
We have the right to survive!
PICARD
Not at the expense of other
sentient species. You've already
killed off two civilizations that
we know of, and what has it gotten
you? You're still looking for
victims.
JACK
They were weak. They couldn't
help us to survive. You humans
are strong, though. We'll make it
this time. And I know enough of
your human heritage, Jean-Luc, to
know that your race hasn't always
abided by those lofty sounding
words of yours. You're just as
guilty as we are.
PICARD
Whatever evils the human race has
perpetrated, it's in the past.
JACK
Yet you hold those two
civilizations from the past
against my people.
PICARD
Then let's talk of the present,
and the future. The Federation
will help your people in any way
we can.
JACK
There's nothing your Federation
can give us, Captain, except your
bodies and your souls.
PICARD
Not if you're not willing to sit
down and negotiate, no.
JACK
It's the only way we can survive,
Captain. We will take what we
need to survive.
PICARD
Not if I stop you.
JACK
You? How? You don't know what
you're up against. I'm too good,
too fast.
(beat)
You don't believe me? Watch!
He quickly pulls out a weapon and stuns the two guards
up on the overlooks with two shots. Special effect
should show blurring motion too hard to follow.
JACK
(continuing)
Oh, don't worry, Captain, they're
not dead. We'll need all the
bodies we can get. Can't you see
your position's hopeless? There's
nothing you can do.
PICARD
I don't believe that, because I
believe there's still some small
part of the real Jack Crusher left
in you.
JACK
I have Jack Crusher's body, right
down to the cell structure and
DNA. I have all his memories, a
knowledge of his likes, his
dislikes, every one of his
emotions and every bit of his
personality at my recall if I need
them. But I'm not Jack, he's been
gone for ten years.
PICARD
I believe you may have done too
good a job of assimilating Jack.
I think there's enough of him in
you that he and I together will
defeat you.
JACK
Then you're a fool, Captain. The
moment you begin to thumb the
trigger on your phaser, I'll take
you out just like the guards. And
before your two friends can help
you, I'll take them out too.
Then, there'll be nothing left to
do but wait for your replacements
to come and claim your bodies.
ON PICARD'S THUMB
Picard moves his thumb closer to the phaser trigger.
WIDE ANGLE
Jack looks nervous. Picard looks calm.
ON PICARD'S THUMB
Picard's thumb twitches.
WIDE ANGLE
Suddenly, a large discharge of energy envelops the
space between the two men and they are thrown to the
ground from the resulting blast. For a few seconds,
it is unclear who has won the battle.
PICARD
Am I still here, Number One?
RIKER
It appears so.
Riker helps Picard up and they walk towards Jack's
body. Then the body is surrounded by a glowing area
and it slowly dissolves. For several seconds, they
all stare at the now empty ground without anyone
speaking.
PICARD
We must destroy that transmitter.
Picard points his phaser at the hut and the other two
follow suit. Together they fire and destroy the
structure.
PICARD
(using communicator)
Enterprise.
DATA'S COM VOICE
Data here, Captain. I trust you
were successful.
PICARD
The creature is destroyed and the
transmitter disabled. Do you have
a status report on the engines?
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
Our one chance panned out,
Captain. The creature apparently
didn't know about the secondary
Warp backup system in the
auxiliary engineering room. It's
still intact and we've coupled it
into the main reactors. We will
have to limit ourselves to Warp
four, though, until we can get to
a repair dock.
PICARD
Good work, Geordi. We'll need
every bit of engine power you can
deliver to outrun that incoming
ship.
WORF'S COM VOICE
Captain, the ship is now less than
two minutes away from our
position.
PICARD
Then we have no time to waste.
Enterprise, beam us up. And
notify Doctor Crusher her
professional skills will be
needed.
The three standing and two guards on the overhangs are
all beamed back to the ship.
INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
As the away team beams back in, Dr. Crusher is waiting
for them. Picard and Beverly look at each other
without speaking. Then Picard shakes his head and
speaks.
PICARD
I'm sorry, Beverly.
She tries to speak but only nods in return without
saying anything. She wordlessly goes to the injured
guards on the transporter and begins to tend to them.
Picard leaves the transporter room.
INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Picard enters the bridge and sits in the command
chair.
PICARD
Status, Mister Worf.
WORF
We are pulling away.
ANGLE ON VIEWSCREEN
The ship is getting smaller. Suddenly, it appears
confused, turning first one way then the other in its
attempts at pursuit.
WORF
(continuing)
We appear to be beyond their
sensor capability.
PICARD
Good. They won't be able to track
us to Federation space. Notify
Starfleet of their last known
position and mark it in our logs.
We must return and try to find
them again when we're back to full
strength.
WORF
Aye, sir.
Picard stands and prepares to leave the bridge.
PICARD
Notify me if the situation
changes.
INT. DOCTOR CRUSHER'S SICKBAY OFFICE
Beverly is sitting at her desk trying to attend to
paperwork type matters but is not able to concentrate.
The outer door opens and Wesley enters.
WESLEY
I guess it's too late to have that
talk, huh?
BEVERLY
It's too late for a lot of things,
Wes. You were right, not to
bother wasting your time with that
thing.
WESLEY
No, Mom, you were the one who was
right. For a few hours, in your
own mind, you had Dad back. It
doesn't matter that he wasn't
really Dad, he was to you. I'm
just sorry I never really got to
know my father.
BEVERLY
(smiles)
There's an awful lot of him in
you, you know.
Beverly and Wesley hug.
INT. HOLODECK
Same simulation as before. Picard is here and Riker
is entering the room.
RIKER
May I join you, Captain?
Riker sits down at the little table where Picard is
seated. There is a second glass of fruit juice at his
place.
PICARD
I suppose I owe you an apology,
Number One. I'm sure you were
wondering about your captain,
waiting around for dangerous
aliens to come back again.
RIKER
Captain, I---
PICARD
(interrupting)
There was another part of
Starfleet's message that you
didn't see. I was to locate and
make contact with the aliens if at
all possible. The Federation
wanted to determine if friendly
contact could be made and
maintained between our cultures.
But I was to prevent them from
locating Federation space at all
costs if negotiations were
impossible.
(looking down)
They're all gone, Number One. The
only close friends I had at the
Academy. Jack Crusher, Walker
Keel, Harrison Palmer. The best
men I've known during my career
and my life, and they're all gone.
Yet I'm still here.
RIKER
You can't feel guilty for
surviving, Captain.
PICARD
But I did feel guilty about what I
did to Jack ten years ago. Even
though I did have orders to stay
and make contact, I got careless.
My feelings for an old friend
nearly got us all killed. The
only thing that saved us was pure
luck.
RIKER
Some say ships named Enterprise
have always been blessed with luck
enough to save even the most
foolhardy. When fortune smiles on
you, you don't question it. You
learn from your mistakes and move
on.
PICARD
But what a cost those mistakes
sometimes exact, Number One.
RIKER
I know how you must feel.
PICARD
Do you? Have you ever given an
order knowing it would result in
the death of someone you loved?
Have you ever actually killed
someone you cared about?
(beat)
Yes, I suppose you have. But tell
me, have you ever had to kill your
closest friend?
RIKER
That was ten years ago, Captain,
and you didn't kill him, you only
did what you had to, leaving him
behind.
PICARD
I'm not talking ten years ago,
Will, I'm talking down there, on
that planet, today.
RIKER
That thing down there wasn't Jack
Crusher. It was something that
had taken him over many years ago.
PICARD
You still don't see it, do you,
Number One? I knew as soon as we
got Wesley's report. That's why
my going down to the planet was
the only hope we had.
(beat)
Wesley said Jack pushed him out of
the way before the fire fight with
the guards. There was something
buried deep in him that didn't
want Wesley getting hurt. You saw
how fast he took out the security
guards on the planet. They
outflanked him and had nearly
perfect defensive positions. Yet
he took them out without the
slightest problem. You don't
think I was any real match against
that, do you Number One?
Riker remains silent and Picard stares into his glass.
PICARD
(continuing)
If there hadn't been a bit of Jack
left in him, to slow him down just
a little, we never would have made
it. Jack gave his life down there
for us today. And I'll have to
live the rest of my life knowing I
was the one to take it.
Riker picks up his glass and holds it toward Picard.
RIKER
To old friends!
Picard hesitates for a moment, then clinks his glass
against Riker's.
PICARD
To new friends.
(beat)
You know it just doesn't feel
right for this place to be so
empty. Computer, some people
please.
The room is now filled with noisy, playing, laughing
people having a good time.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
THE END.
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