Screenplay by Michael Pillar & Rick Berman REV. FINAL DRAFT March 12, 1998 FADE IN: 1 TALL GRASS BLOWING GENTLY IN A BREEZE - DAY - (OPTICAL) 1 The sound of children playing, running through the grass... as one boy (ARTIM, 12) pokes his head out, we see by his facial skin pattern that he's an alien... his cloths are simple, homespun. As other alien children pursue him in a game of tag into the rocky foothills, we BOOM UP to reveal a breathtaking view of a rural community along a vast sparkling lake... mountains rising in the background...some odd-like livestock graze on the hillside... 2 A FARM - LONG SHOT 2 A woman uses a bike pump to get well water...a man works the soil in his fields, wipes his brow, waving to -- 3 A WOMAN (ANIJ, 38) 3 whose beauty immediately captivates us as she strolls past the farm, the wind barely jostling her close cut curly hair. She takes us to a busy outdoor farmers market at the edge of a hand-constructed village set against a natural rock face barrier. These are the Ba'ku people and from the opening shots we can feel the simple charms of this beautiful place... and who would blame us for wanting to be there, to escape a life like this... where people seem to have all the time in the world... to chat with neighbors, taste a piece of fresh fruit and enjoy the day... Anij nods hello to people including SOJEF (male, 42), the community leader... she smiles as a vendor slices a piece of fruit for her... 4 NEW ANGLE - ANIJ - (OPTICAL) 4 From the point of view of the rock face behind the village. Although we may not realize it yet, we are watching through a window now... slightly discolored, pulling back to see a mysterious figure in an isolation suit standing incongruously beside her, his suit glowing with a green force field. None of the Ba'ku are aware of him as he takes readings with a sophisticated sensor device built into his suit. Now our pullback reveals we're inside a duck blind. Low lighting levels. A bi- level gallery of Starfleet officers and members of an alien race (the Son'a) observe the peaceful village scene like sportswriters at the ballpark... 5-9 VARIOUS ANGLES 5-9 as they enter data into their computers. Supernumeraries move in and out of the main viewing room with PADDS... 10 ANGLE TO INCLUDE THE FULL WINDOW (OPTICAL) 10 Outside, several other cloaked figures move among the unknowing Ba'ku... 11 ANGLE - THE RANKING SON'A OFFICER (GALLATIN, 60) 11 (OPTICAL) Inside the duck blind. Like all Son'a, his face is stretched like a rubber band about to snap...they look like victims of three too many cosmetic surgeries. He studies a PADD from a supernumerary... GALLATIN Admiral Dougherty is waiting for this. Transmit it to the ship. Suddenly a communications crackle on loudspeakers... MALE SON'A COM VOICE Alert, area twelve...! Now the sound of a weapon blast... turmoil...As the blast echoes through the hills, the Ba'ku outside the window react, turn their heads toward the sound... MALE SON'A COM VOICE (distressed) ... the android has... It crackles off... Gallatin moves to a companel... LIEUTENANT Data, report to base immediately. DATA'S COM VOICE Transferring... positronic... matrix functions... engaging... secondary protocols... The running man starts pulling at his headgear. STARFLEET OFFICER #1 He's trying to remove the headpiece... GALLATIN All field units. Intercept the android. 12 OMITTED 12 THRU THRU 15 15 16 ANGLE - THROUGH WINDOW - (OPTICAL) 16 as all the men in suits converge on the running man... but with superhuman strength, he tosses them aside with ease... Meanwhile Ba'ku people, unaware of the fight, greet their children back, happy they're safe... 17 EXT. MARKET - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) - ANGLE ON ARTIM 17 as he moves to Sojef, his father... SOJEF It must have been some kind of odd electrical storm... But as Sojef speaks, Artim turns to see the floating head of Data DECLOAKING in mid-air barely a yard away as he removes his helmet... the boy yells... jumps back, falling as Data makes eye contact with him. The Ba'ku scatter... Sojef pulls the boy away to safety... DATA Secondary protocols... active. We notice a slashing burn wound on Data's neck as he fights off an invisible force again... we hear a ripping crunch and a green force field sputters briefly -- a Son'a man in a torn isolation suit partially DECLOAKS as he is slammed to the ground, unconscious. Data rips off the rest of his suit revealing himself, picks up a weapon from the unconscious Son'a, aims it at the rock face... 18 INT. DUCK BLIND - (OPTICAL) 18 The observers dive for cover as he points the weapon this way. But Data fires it to the left of the window... 19 EXT. ROCK FACE - (OPTICAL) 19 And then fires again to the right... and again above... each hit knocking out generators... finally the rock face shimmers, like a computer image breaking up, and disappears revealing the high-tech stations behind it... 20 ANGLE (OPTICAL) 20 All the invisible men in suits DECLOAK in the village. 21 THROUGH THE DUCK BLIND WINDOW 21 The scientists begin to poke their heads up from the floor... exposed to the world outside... 22 THE BA'KU IN HIDING PLACES 22 including Anij, Artim and Sojef react with shock... VARIOUS BA'KU What is it? Who are they? 23 DATA 23 stands alone, satisfied with his mysterious work. 24 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE - (OPTICAL) 24 In orbit of an M-class planet. 25 INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS 25 Close on the four Captain's pips on his uniform, and moving back to reveal BEVERLY CRUSHER helping JEAN-LUC PICARD fasten the collar on his jacket as DEANNA TROI briefs him, glancing at a PADD. All are wearing formal uniforms. They are running late. TROI ... Population three hundred million... PICARD Say the greeting again... TROI Yew-cheen chef-faw... emphasis on the 'cheen' and the 'faw'... CRUSHER You either need a new uniform or a new neck. PICARD 'Yew-cheen chef-faw'... My collar size is exactly the same as it was at the Academy. CRUSHER (dry) Sure it is. And your hair is still chestnut brown. Our angle clearly establishes Picard's white hair... she finishes with the collar... overlapping the above dialogue: a chime at the door, Troi answers it, letting in WILL RIKER in his dress uniform. RIKER Our guests have arrived and are eating the floral arrangements on the banquet tables... CRUSHER I guess they don't believe in cocktails before dinner... As Picard leads the way out of the door... TROI (looking at her PADD) Oh, my God, are they vegetarians? That's not in here... PICARD Better have the chef whip up a light balsamic vinaigrette... something that goes well with chrysanthemums... 26 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS 26 Very up-tempo dialogue... PICARD (CONT'D) PERIM'S COM VOICE Yew-cheen chef-faw... Bridge to Captain Picard... PICARD Yes, Ensign... PERIM'S COM VOICE Command wants to know our ETA at the Goren systsem... PICARD (to Riker) The Goren system...? RIKER They need us to mediate some territorial dispute... PICARD (frustrated) We can't delay the archaeological expedition to Hanoran Two. It would put us into the middle of monsoon season... RIKER (can't be helped) The Diplomatic Corps is busy with Dominion negotiations. PICARD (sighs) ... so they need us to put out one more brush fire. (beat) Anyone remember when we used to be explorers? They enter... 27 INT. TURBOLIFT - CONTINUOUS 27 PICARD (refocussing) 'Yew-cheen chef-faw.' RIKER Deck ten. TROI (resuming her briefing) Remember; they have a significantly less advanced technology than ours... they only achieved warp drive last year... CRUSHER A year? And the Federation Coucil decided to make them a Protectorate already? PICARD In view of our losses to the Borg and the Dominion, the Coucil feels we need all the allies we can get these days. As the turbolift doors open, we see much activity, can hear music coming from the party... Picard puts on a brighter face. As they exit... TROI You'll be expected to dance with Regent Cuzar... CRUSHER Can she mambo...? PICARD Very funny... CRUSHER (off Riker & Troi's reactions) Your Captain used to cut quite a rug... 28 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS 28 Several officers in dress uniform move to make room for the Captain's entourage... moving with them... FEMALE ENSIGN Captain on deck! LA FORGE'S COM VOICE La Forge to Picard. Captain, I need to talk to you before you go into the reception... Before Picard can respond, he runs into Worf... WORF Captain... PICARD Worf, what the hell are you doing here? WORF RIKER I was at the Manzar colony It's a little late, installing a new defense Geordi... can it wait? perimeter when I heard the Enterprise was in this sector... PICARD LA FORGE'S COM VOICE Stop by my quarters later; I don't think so I have a few ideas about Commander.. Manzar security... (non-stop to Riker) Have him come to the reception... we'll talk here... Picard moves into the banquet room, continuing to Worf -- PICARD RIKER How's your bride? The Captain wants you to come over. WORF LA FORGE'S COM VOICE A challenge I'm on my way... tell him we've recieved a PICARD communique from Admiral Then you were made for Dougherty... each other. LA FORGE'S COM VOICE (CONT'D) It's about Data. 29 INT. BANQUET ROOM 29 Maybe thirty Starfleet officers, most human but a few Bajorans, Trills and Borians peppered about... a small group of musicians play a festive tune. The crowd moves back as their Captain enters and Troi escorts him to REGENT CUZAR, 50 and her delegation of about eight extremely short aliens... she's at least a foot shorter than he is... PICARD Yew-cheen chef-faw, Regent Cuzar. Welcome aboard the Enterprise. CUZAR Captain Picard, may I welcome you in the time-honored tradition of my people... An aide steps forward and she takes an alien headpiece from him and reaches up to put it on Picard's head... Picard has to make himself shorter to make it work... the other aliens throw tiny seeds over Picard and Cuzar (like rice at a wedding)... Picard smiles, trying not to show how silly he feels... CUZAR We are so honored to be accepted within the great Federation family. (excusing him) Please, I know you have other guests to greet... PICARD We have a dance later, I believe? CUZAR I look forward to it. One of her misters escorts her away, Picard turns to Troi - PICARD How are we supposed to dance? Her head will be in my... He's interrupted by GEORDI LA FORGE who approaches looking concerned, holding a PADD, hands it to Picard... LA FORGE Excuse me, sir. Admiral Dougherty's aboard the Son'a ship in sector four-four-one. He's requesting Data's schematics... TROI Is something wrong? LA FORGE The message doesn't say. PICARD (concerned) Data should have been back by now. They were only scheduled to observe the Ba'ku village for a week. (to Geordi) Set up a secured com-link to the Admiral in the anteroom... Geordi acknowledges, moves away... a Bolian science officer grabs Picard by the arm... BOLIAN OFFICER Captain, Hars Adislo, we met at the Nel Bato Conference last year... did you ever have a chance to read my paper on thermionic transconductance...? As Picard reacts, smiling with no recollection... 30 A MONITOR -- INT. ANTEROOM OFF BANQUET ROOM - (OPTICAL) 30 Admiral MATTHEW DOUGHERTY, 69, a confident, charismatic officer is transmitting from a Son'a ship. DOUGHERTY He's not acknowledging any Starfleet protocols... not responding to any of our hails... We pull back to see we're in a small room off the reception... Picard faces the monitor (he's removed the headpiece). Geordi observes. A Starfleet Ensign stands guard just outside the door to make sure they're not disturbed. PICARD You have no idea what precipitated his behavior? DOUGHERTY (shakes his head) ... And now he's holding our people hostage down there... PICARD The Enterprise can be at your position in two days, Admiral... DOUGHERTY That's probably not a good idea. Your ship hasn't been fitted for this region; there are environmental concerns... PICARD What kind of concerns? DOUGHERTY We haven't fully identified the anomalies yet. They're calling this whole area The Briar Patch... it took us a day to reach a location where we could get a signal out to you. Just get me Data's schematics. I'll keep you informed. (Picard acknowledges) Dougherty out. The screen returns to a starfield. PICARD Send him the schematics. Geordi acknowledges. PICARD Ensign... ENSIGN (moving inside) Sir? PICARD Report to the galley and tell the chef to skip the fish course. The Ensign gives a puzzled reaction but an order is an order. He exits. Geordi gives his Captain a curious look. PICARD I want our guests to depart as quickly a etiquette allows. I'll ask Worf to delay his return to DS9 so he can join us. We're going to stop by sector four-four- one on our way to the Goren system. LA FORGE (understanding) They... are in opposite directions, sir... PICARD (dry) Are they...? La Forge smiles, leaves. Picard takes a beat to collect himself and we may sense how the clutter in a Captain's life may wear him down. He puts the alien headpiece back on with sullen eyes... then restores his diplomat's face and returns to the reception... 31 EXT. SPACE - SON'A SHIP - (OPTICAL) 31 moving toward a ringed planet well in the distance, passing slowly through wisps of space matter... wonderful, glowing plasma tendrils like legs of a gigantic tarantula dotted by low density gas clouds... 32 INT. SON'A SHIP BODY ENHANCEMENT FACILITY - (OPTICAL) 32 Low lighting. Strange futuristic dialysis machines pump fluids in and out of reclined Son'a men and women... the women use powder and heavy but carefully applied make-up to obscure their faces. Son'a costumes are made of expensive fabrics with latinum chains and exquisite jewels as accessories, suggesting a wealthy culture that values materialism. Sexy female attendants from various alien races, dressed provocatively, work with laser tools to repair cracked, raw skin off Son'a faces. We move to find RU'AFO, 63, the Son'a Ahdar (Commander), reclining getting an elaborate facial from two beauties, creams and oils massaged into his skin by their gentle fingertips... RU'AFO I should have never let you talk me into the duck blind in the first place... Reveal Admiral Dougherty observing, wearing a crisp, Starfleet uniform... he looks and feels out of place here, but such are the demands of alien alliances... RU'AFO (CONT'D) Your Federation procedures have made this mission ten times as difficult as it needed to be... DOUGHERTY Our procedures were in place to protect the planet's population from unnecessary risk... RU'AFO Planet's population. Six hundred people. You want to avoid unnecessary risks? Next time leave your android home. SON'A OFFICER #1'S COM VOICE Bridge to Ahdar Ru'afo. We're approaching the planet. He motions to the girls to finish up, presses his personal comlink, answering the call... RU'AFO Take us into a high orbit. (as he rises from the chair) Lie down, Admiral. The girls will take twenty years off your face... DOUGHERTY Another time. Ru'afo studies his own face in the mirror... RU'AFO Your self-restraint puzzles me, Admiral. You continue to deny yourself every benefit this mission has to offer... DOUGHERTY I prefer to wait until we can share the benefits with all the people of the Federation... Suddenly, boom! The ship is hit by a blast. Ru'afo reacts, leads the way out.... 33 INT. SON'A BRIDGE - (OPTICAL) 33 As Ru'afo and Dougherty enter... RU'AFO Report. SON'A OFFICER #1 Phaser blast. Unknown origin. RU'AFO Raise shields. (another blast) Take us out of orbit. SON'A OFFICER #2 Photon torpedoes. Brace for impact! Blam... again... and again... serious hits... SON'A COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Outer hull damage, deck three... SON'A OFFICER #1 Visual contact! On the viewscreen the attacking ship moves suddenly into view from a low density gas cloud like a destroyer emerging from a fog bank... it is a Federation Scout ship -- small but impressive, with windows at the forward cockpit... the Admiral reacts... DOUGHERTY That's our ship. 34 EXT. SPACE - CLOSE VIEW: THE SCOUT - (OPTICAL) 34 as it moves at us, firing one last blast which illuminates the pilot for a instant and we clearly see the face of Data through the window... 35 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE - (OPTICAL) 35 at warp, in normal space... 36 INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS - (OPTICAL) 36 Close on the replicator. An allegro chamber music piece in the background... PICARD (O.C.) Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. The tea appears as we pull back to reveal Picard studying a PADD... he reaches out for the tea without his eyes ever leaving his reading... walks across the room and sits at a dining table that has stacks of various work materials... more PADDS, charts and graphs and maps... a half-eaten salad sits in front of him... and in a move that would challenge the world's greatest juggler, he pokes a fork of salad into his mouth with one hand as he sips his tea with the other, finding a spot to prop the PADD so he can still read... and now, his mind, asking a silent question, reaching over to grab a chart, and as he pulls it over, he also spills the salad plate splashing gorgonzolla dressing over his jacket... sighs... a chime at the door... PICARD Who is it? RIKER (O.C.) Commander Riker... Picard looks at himself, shrugs, what the hell... PICARD Come... Riker enters with a PADD, eyes drawn to Picard's stained jacket... PICARD I'm the casualty of a working lunch. Picard takes off his jacket... and as the scene continues, he changes. PICARD (CONT'D) I've been going over the few star charts we have of this "Briar Patch". It's full of supernova remnants, false vacuum fluctuations... Riker looks at the star chart, brushes it off... RIKER ... and gorgonzolla cheese. PICARD We won't be able to go any faster than one-third impulse in that muck... RIKER (handing him the PADD) Nothing dangerous turned up in the astrometric survey... PICARD So where are the 'environmental concerns' the Admiral was talking about? RIKER (shrugs) The only unusual readings were low levels of metaphasic radiation from interstellar dust across the region... WORF'S COM VOICE Bridge to Captain Picard. We are approaching sector four-four-one. PICARD Slow to impulse. We're on our way. Picard leads the way out... 37 EXT. SPACE - THE BRIAR PATCH - (OPTICAL) 37 The edge of the dangerous and beautiful region... moving to find the Enterprise approaching at impulse... 38 INT. BRIDGE - (OPTICAL) 38 Seeing the Patch on the viewscreen... Worf at tactical, ENSIGN KELL PERIM, female Trill, 29, at Conn... Troi at command, La Forge at Ops... as Picard and Riker enter... LA FORGE We're about to lose communications with Starfleet, Captain. PICARD (to Troi) Do you have everything you need from command? TROI We've downloaded all the files on the duck blind mission as well as intelligence reports on the Son'a. PICARD (including Riker) You have two days to become experts... Mister Worf, your job and mine will be to find a plan to safely capture Data. Worf holds up a modified tricorder... WORF I've already modified a tricorder with one of his spare actuation servos. Its operational range is only seven meters but it should shut him down... PICARD (appreciating his initiative) It's good to have you back, Worf. (he sits) Slow to one-third. Take us in. 39 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE - (OPTICAL) 39 as it moves slowly into The Patch. 40 INT. ENTERPRISE LIBRARY 40 Significantly electronic... many computer stations... a few real books... Troi and Riker work at parallel computer stations... people are at other stations... TROI (off her computer) The Son'a discovered an M-class planet with humanoid life six months ago. Turned out it's in us to get approval for a sociological study. The Federation Council suggested it be a joint mission... RIKER Why was Data assigned? TROI "Environmental concerns", again. An android could be safely exposed to the elements during the installation of a duck blind... LIBRARIAN(C.O.) Sssshhh... They turn to see -- a middle-aged, prune-faced woman at a desk, looking sternly at them... Troi goes back to her reading but seems distracted... sees a paper notepad on the desk, rips off a shred and, during the following exchange, starts to press it between her thumb and forefinger into a little ball. Whispering now -- RIKER I don't see anything to suggest the Son'a have any interest in sociology... TROI What are they interested in...? RIKER Wine, women and song. TROI You should feel right at home with them. She throws the ball of paper and hits Riker on the side of the head... he turns but she's looking innocently at her screen... he rolls a little paper ball himself... RIKER Nomadic, collectors of precious metals, jewels... TROI (joking) Hmm, I should feel right at home with them... RIKER You're in luck... it says here they've taken women from several races as indentured servants. Just as he's about to throw his paper ball back at her... he sees the librarian staring at him... Riker, caught, sheepishly turns back to his computer... a beat... RIKER (reacts) Look at this... She stands, leaning over Riker's shoulder to see his computer, putting one arm on the desk... RIKER (CONT'D) 'The Son'a have been suspected of producing mass quantities of the narcotic ketracel-white... their ships are rumored to be equipped with isolytic subspace weapons outlawed by the Second Khitomer Accord...' 41 ANGLE EMPHASIZING HER BREAST 41 as it rests gently on his upper arm... and he's deeply aware of that breast touching him... TROI Why would we be involved with these people? RIKER Good question. They exchange a brief glance that has nothing to do with the Son'a. As his eyes return to the computer scrolling, she casually plays with hair at the nape of his neck... RIKER You haven't done that in a long time... TROI What...? RIKER What you're doing to my neck... TROI (flirtatiously) Was I doing something to your neck? He pauses his scrolling as he comes to something curious... RIKER It says here that some form of genetic damage has apparently prevented the Son'a from procreating... TROI No children? RIKER If that's true, they're a dying race. Suddenly, a tiny ball of paper hits Riker... RIKER Hey... He turns to see an alien ensign looking too innocently at his computer. The librarian's eyes fix on Riker and Troi, obvious troublemakers... Troi points to Riker... TROI He started it. Riker reacts, starts to leave... Troi follows... RIKER I didn't do anything, I swear it. 41A EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) 41A As it continues slowly through The Briar Patch... 42 INT. WORF'S QUARTERS 42 Dark. Worf asleep in bed, an alarm already beeping... PICARD'S COM VOICE Bridge to Commander Worf... Worf begins to stir... then his eyes open and he realizes the alarm is going off... he sits up... PICARD'S COM VOICE Worf? WORF Captain? PICARD'S COM VOICE I don't know how they do it on Deep Space Nine... but on the Enterprise, we still report for duty on time. Worf stands in the dark, bumping his head as he does... INTERCUT: 43 INT. BRIDGE 43 Picard at command... La Forge at Ops... Perim at conn... LIEUTENANT NARA, human male, 35, at Tactical... WORF'S COM VOICE I... I must have slept through my alarm. I'm on my way... PICARD We'll skip the court martial this time... Picard out. A beat as Picard listens to the sound of his ship, raises an eyebrow... we hear nothing... he moves forward to La Forge and Perim... PICARD When was the last time we aligned our torque sensors... PERIM Two months ago, sir... PICARD They don't sound right. La Forge and Perim react, work the controls, exchange a look at the results... LA FORGE The torque sensors are out of alignment... by twelve microns... you could hear that? PICARD (pleased with himself) When I was an ensign, I could detect a three-micron mis- alignment... NARA Excuse me, sir. The Son'a ship with Admiral Dougherty aboard has entered tracking range... PICARD Try to hail them. A disheveled and embarrassed Worf enters... NARA Admiral Dougherty responding. Worf replaces Nara... PICARD Straighten your baldric, Commander. On screen... 44 ANGLE - INCLUDE THE VIEWSCREEN - (OPTICAL) 44 Dougherty and Ru'afo are sitting in Ru'afo's tactical room, opulently decorated for a spaceship. DOUGHERTY Captain, I wasn't expecting you. PICARD This was too important for the Enterprise to be on the sidelines, Admiral... DOUGHERTY I wish I had better news. Commander Data attacked us in the mission scout ship yesterday. Ru'afo and I have decided to send in an assault team... PICARD Sir, Commander Worf and I have been working on several tactical plans to safely... RU'AFO Your android has turned dangerously violent, Captain... Considerable damage was done to my ship. He must be destroyed. DOUGHERTY I know what Data means to Starfleet, Jean-Luc... but our crew is at the mercy of those people on the planet... PICARD If our first attempt to capture Data fails, I will terminate him. (beat) I should be the one to do it. I'm his Captain. And his friend. Dougherty pauses to consider but Ru'afo wants none of Picard. RU'AFO It isn't safe for you to remain in this area. DOUGHERTY He's right. Our shields have been upgraded to protect against the environmental anomalies... PICARD We haven't noticed any ill effects. The Admiral studies him a long beat, is sympathetic to Picard's position. DOUGHERTY All right. You have twelve hours, Captain. Then I want you out of The Briar Patch. In the meantime, we'll be heading out to the perimeter to call for Son'a reinforcements in case you fail. PICARD Understood. DOUGHERTY Good luck. Dougherty out. His image disappears. On Picard's expression... 45 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE - (OPTICAL) 45 As the bay door slides open and a shuttle emerges... moves through the gas clouds toward the beautiful ringed planet... 46 INT. SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 46 Worf and Picard at the controls... WORF Sensors are not picking up any ships coming from the surface... PICARD Transmit a wide band co-variant signal. That'll get his attention. WORF (touches panel) He might be using the planet's rings to mask his approach. PICARD (off sensors) The metaphasic radiation in those rings is in a state of extreme flux. Steer clear of them, Mister Worf... A beat. Watching and waiting. PICARD Come out, come out wherever you are... WORF Sir? PICARD Hmm? Oh, it's just something my mother used to... Suddenly, wham -- a blast... PICARD Hold on. He hits the controls and they climb sharply... 47 EXT. SPACE - THE SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 47 evading phaser shots form the scout... the planet providing a dramatic backdrop... 48 INT. SHUTTLE 48 PICARD Open all hailing frequencies. (Worf acknowledges) Data, this is Captain Picard... 49 INT. SCOUT - CLOSEUP DATA - (OPTICAL) 49 Windows showing a gas cloud outside... PICARD'S COM VOICE (CONT'D) ... please acknowledge... Data ignores him, continues to fire... 50 EXT. SPACE - THE SCOUT - (OPTICAL) 50 moving through the dark clouds, pursuing the shuttle, firing phasers... 51 INT. SHUTTLE 51 More shots connect... more sharp evasive maneuvers... WORF Sir, if we fire a tachyon burst, it may force him to reset his shield harmonics. When he does, we could beam him out... PICARD Make it so. 52 OMITTED 52 53 EXT. SPACE - THE SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 53 fires a tachyon burst... 53A THE SCOUT - (OPTICAL) 53A the blast connects... 54 INT. SHUTTLE 54 WORF Direct hit. He's resetting his shield harmonics... PICARD Beam him out! 55 NEW ANGLE INCLUDING THE TRANSPORTER PAD - (OPTICAL) 55 which wheezes unsuccessfully... they react... WORF He's activated a transport inhibitor. PICARD Prepare to enter the atmosphere... we'll use the ionospheric boundary to shake him... 56 EXT. SPACE - UPPER ATMOSPHERE - SCOUT/ SHUTTLE - 56 DAY (OPTICAL) The shuttle blasts through the atmosphere attempting to shake off the scout... 57 INT. SHUTTLE 57 Picard works hard to stabilize the ship... WORF Scanners are off line! PICARD Evasive maneuvers... heading one- four-zero mark three-one... Then, wham... wham... WHAM! Gas shoots from the ceiling... Worf tries to stop it... 58 THROUGH THE WINDOW - (OPTICAL) 58 to see the Scout zooming past, so close that Picard and Data can even make eye contact... Picard works to avoid him again... PICARD He can fly a ship, he anticipates tactical strategies, his brain is obviously functioning... We've seen how he responds to threats. I wonder how he'd respond to... Another shot connects... PICARD (a new idea) Do you know Gilbert and Sullivan? WORF No, sir. I haven't had a chance to meet all the new crew members since I've been back... PICARD They're composers, Worf, from the nineteenth century. Data was rehearsing a part in H.M.S. Pinafore before he left... (singing to com) "A British tar is a soaring soul, As free as a mountain bird, His energetic first should be ready to resist A dictatorial word..." Picard looks at Worf, nods, join me! Worf gives him an exasperated look... Picard begins to enter commands into the computer as he continues to sing... 59 OMITTED 59 & & 60 60 61 INT. SCOUT 61 PICARD'S COM VOICE (CONT'D) "His nose should pant and his lip should curl, His cheeks should flame and his brow should furl..." Data reacts. From somewhere inside his damaged brain, he recalls this song. He starts to sing to himself... DATA/PICARD'S COM VOICE (together) "His bosom should heave and his heart should glow, and his fist be ready for a knock-down blow..." 62 INT. SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 62 The lyrics are scrolling on a monitor now... a bouncing ball making it easier for Worf to follow... PICARD (to Worf) Sing! PICARD AND WORF "His nose should pant and his lip should curl, his cheeks should flame and his brow should furl..." 63 INT. SCOUT 63 And Data sings in unison -- DATA/PICARD/WORF'S COM VOICES (CONT'D) "... His bosom should heave and his heart should glow... And his fist be ready for a knock-down blow..." 64 INT. SHUTTLE 64 Picard catches his breath, turns off the companel. PICARD He's stopped firing. Suddenly from the speaker -- DATA'S COM VOICE "His eyes should flash with an inborn fire, His brow should scorn be wrung; he never should bow down to a domineering frown, Or the tang of a tyrant tongue..." PICARD (smiles, triumphant) Prepare the docking clamps. Worf moves to a rear panel as Picard sings with Data... PICARD/ DATA'S COM VOICE "... His foot should stamp..." 65 INT. SCOUT 65 Data, mesmerized by the song, is not paying attention to his sensors... DATA/PICARD'S COM VOICE "... and his throat should growl, His hair should twirl and his face should scowl..." 66 EXT. SCOUT AND SHUTTLE - DAY - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) 66 As the shuttle moves within yards, even feet, of the scout... sliding under the belly of Data's craft... DATA/PICARD'S VOICES (muffled) "... His eyes should flash and his breast protrude, And this should be his customary attitude --" 67 CLOSE - THE DOCKING CLAMP - (OPTICAL) 67 on the roof of the shuttle extends and with a magnetic jolt attaches itself to the scout. DATA/PICARD'S VOICES ... His foot should stamp and his throat should growl..." 68 INT. SCOUT 68 Data feels the jolt, reacts, stops singing, his programs clinking back into a defense mode... PICARD'S COM VOICE "His hair should twirl and his face should scowl..." Data checks his sensors, hits a panel and... 69 EXT. SCOUT AND SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 69 as the scout rocks back and forth trying to shake the shuttle loose... 70 INT. SHUTTLE 70 Picard and Worf hold on for dear life... WORF Sir, inertial coupling is exceeding tolerance... if we don't release him, he may destroy both vessels... PICARD I'm not letting go of him. 71 EXT. SCOUT AND SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 71 They begin to spin and spiral downwards... 72 INT. SCOUT - (OPTICAL) 72 Data still trying to free his ship... the surface spinning and looming closer through the window... COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Impact with surface... 73 INT. SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 73 The same view of the surface through their window... COMPUTER VOICE ... in twenty seconds. PICARD Reroute emergency power to inertial dampers! WORF The damping sequencer was damaged by phaser fire! PICARD Transferring controls to manual. COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Impact with surface... 74 INT. SCOUT - (OPTICAL) 74 As before. COMPUTER VOICE ... in ten seconds. 75 INT. SHUTTLE - (OPTICAL) 75 WORF Damping field established! PICARD Maximum power! 76 EXT. SCOUT AND SHUTTLE (OPTICAL) 76 The shuttle gains control sweeping both ships into a hard arc parallel to the surface, only a dozen yards above the surface. 77 INT. SCOUT (OPTICAL) 77 Data reacts to a hatch being blown open on the floor behind him, turns to see Worf aiming the modified tricorder at him... Worf presses a button, nothing happens... Data looks curiously at him... then lunges at him, but Worf extends his arm and presses the button again and Data shuts off in mid-lunge and falls motionless, inches from Worf. He presses his combadge... WORF Captain... 78 INT. SHUTTLE 78 WORF'S COM VOICE Commander Data is safely in custody. Picard takes a deep breath... satisfied. 79 OMITTED 79 & & 80 80 81 EXT. VILLAGE - DAY (OPTICAL) 81 The hostages are sitting at wooden tables with the Ba'ku having lunch, the Son'a quietly keeping to themselves at separate tables. To the side, Artim and friends play a game (TBD) that displays extraordinary hand-eye coordination, well beyond human abilities. 82 ANGLE - PICARD, TROI AND CRUSHER 82 and several engineers enter the village on foot, phasers drawn, their faces curious at the picnic before them... the hum of conversation fades... for a moment, it almost seems that the hostages are sorry to seem them... Gallatin and the Starfleet lieutenant move to Picard... GALLATIN Captain, Subahdar Gallatin, Son'a Command. LIEUTENANT Lieutenant Curtis, attach, to Admiral Dougherty. PICARD Are you all right? LIEUTENANT We've been treated extremely well by these people. The children have resumed their game. Troi observes them with keen interest... Picard notices... PICARD Counselor? TROI They have an incredible clarity of perception, Captain. I've never encountered a species with such mental discipline... Sojef, Anij and several of the Ba'ku, including another village leader, TOURNEL (35), move toward them. SOJEF My name is Sojef, Captain. PICARD Jean-Luc Picard... my officers Doctor Crusher and Counselor Troi. SOJEF Would you like something to eat? PICARD No, we're here to... rescue them. SOJEF As you wish. But I would ask you to disarm yourselves. This village is a sanctuary of life. Picard measures the request... then holsters his phaser... the rest of the away team does the same... PICARD (to Crusher and Troi) Prepare to transport the 'hostages' to the ship... CRUSHER They should be quarantined before joining the ship's population. Picard nods. They move off with Gallatin and the Lieutenant. The work crew moves to disassemble the duck blind. PICARD (to Sojef) We were under the impression they were being held against their will. ANIJ It's not our custom to have guests here at all, let alone hold anyone against their will. Picard makes eye contact with Anij... her tone is not harsh, but we can sense an inner strength in this woman. SOJEF The artificial lifeform would not allow them to leave. He told us they were our enemies and more would follow. ANIJ Are you our enemy? SOJEF Anij... PICARD My people have a strict policy of non-interference with other cultures. In fact, it's our Prime Directive. ANIJ (dry, with a smile) Your directive apparently doesn't include spying on other cultures. PICARD If I were in your shoes, I'd feel the same way after what happened. (beat) The 'artificial lifeform' is a member of my crew. Apparently, he became... ill... TOURNEL There did seem to be a phase variance in the positronic matrix that we were unable to repair. Picard reacts, not the sort of thing one expects to hear from someone in a place like this... ANIJ I believe the Captain finds it hard to believe that we'd have any skills repairing a positronic device... SOJEF Our technological abilities aren't apparent because we've chosen not to employ them in our daily lives. We believe when you create a machine to do the work of a man, you take something away from the man. ANIJ (don't take us lightly) But at one time, we explored the galaxy just as you do... PICARD You have warp capability? ANIJ Capability, yes. But where can warp drive take us, except away from here...? Clearly establishing that she and her people have very little interest in life beyond their world. Picard allows himself to take in this glorious setting... a humming bird hovers briefly nearby... it is the kind of paradise that would appeal to any contemporary man trying to escape the clutter of his life if only for a brief respite... and at least, to that extent -- PICARD I understand. In the background, the Starfleet hostages embrace their hosts as they say farewell... PICARD I apologize for our intrusion. 83 INT. READY ROOM - (OPTICAL) 83 Picard talks to Dougherty on a monitor... PICARD ... and because they have warp capabilities, the consequences to their society are minimal... DOUGHERTY You've done a terrific job, Jean- Luc. Now, pack your bags and get the hell out of there. How's Data? PICARD In stasis. La Forge is completing the diagnostic. DOUGHERTY (acknowledge) I'll need all your paperwork tomorrow. We're heading back your way. Set a course to rendezvous with us so you can transfer the crew and equipment on your way out. PICARD You're not finished here? DOUGHERTY Just a few loose ends to tie up. Dougherty out. Picard turns off the monitor, glances at the pile of work PADDS -- his "paperwork" -- on his desk without pleasure... picks one up and begins to study it for a beat... then is drawn to the window, where he can see the warm inviting planet below. 84 INT. TROI'S OFFICE 84 She's sitting on the sofa making some notes on a PADD when the door chimes... TROI Come in. (Riker enters) Hi. RIKER Got a minute? I... need a little counseling. (off her surprise) First time for everything. Do I... lie down... or what? TROI Whatever makes you comfortable... Riker lies down, only he winds up with his head on her lap looking up at her... TROI This isn't one of the usual therapeutic postures... RIKER But it's comfortable. TROI Why don't you try sitting up? RIKER Or you could try lying down. TROI You're in quite a mood today. He finally sits up, stealing a kiss along the way... she rises shocked but not upset... TROI Do you really need counseling or did you come down here to play? Riker is on his feet now, approaching her. She retreats. RIKER Both. (off her look) I think I'm having a mid-life crisis... TROI (retreating) ... I believe you... RIKER ... I'm not sleeping well... TROI ... Doctor Crusher has something that'll take care of that... She allows him to catch her... RIKER What I need, I can't get from Doctor Crusher... (inches away) Counselor, do you think it's possible for two people to go back in time to fix a mistake they've made? TROI On this ship, anything can happen. And usually does. He closes the gap between them, kisses her deeply. TROI Augh. RIKER Augh? TROI I never kissed you with a beard before. She pushes him out the door... RIKER I kiss you and you say 'augh'?! She hits the panel and the door slides closed in his face... a tiny grin comes to her face... 85 INT. ENGINEERING CORRIDOR - MOVING WITH PICARD & 85 LA FORGE La Forge has a headache he's trying to work through... he shows Picard several burned components... LA FORGE I took these out of Data's neural net... they contain memory engrams... PICARD Do you know how they were damaged? LA FORGE By a Son'a weapon. (off Picard's look) There's no doubt about it, sir. That's what made Data malfunction. PICARD The Son'a reports claim they didn't fire until after he malfunctioned. LA FORGE I don't believe it happened that way. PICARD Why would they fire at him without provocation? LA FORGE All I know is that he was functioning normally until he was shot. Then, his fail-safe system was activated... PICARD Fail-safe? LA FORGE His ethical and moral subroutines took over all of his basic functions... PICARD So, you're saying he still knew the difference between right and wrong. LA FORGE In a sense, that's all he knew. The system is designed to protect him against anyone who might try to take advantage of his memory loss. PICARD And yet he attacked us. And told the Ba'ku we were a threat... 'Why?' is the unspoken question on Picard's face. 86 ANGLE 86 They reach a door with a significant security system in place... Geordi hits several panels... Picard notices his eye discomfort... PICARD Implants bothering you? LA FORGE It's nothing. I'm just tired. The door slides open to reveal a closet-sized space with Data mounted on the wall in a diagnostic device... Geordi touches a panel which activates Data... PICARD Hello, Data... DATA Captain, Geordi...? PICARD You're aboard the Enterprise. LA FORGE You've had a serious malfunction. DATA (going inward a beat) I seem to be missing several memory engrams... Geordi holds up the damaged components for him to see. DATA Yes... that looks like them. PICARD What's the last thing you remember, Data... DATA (searching his memory, signs) 'his nose should pant and his lip should curl...' PICARD From the mission... DATA I was in an isolation suit collecting physiometric data on Ba'ku children. My last memory is going into the hills, following a boy... 87 EXT. VILLAGE - DAY - (OPTICAL) 87 Artim is playing with a tiny 'palm-pet', a colorful cross between a caterpillar and a jellyfish that crawls over his hand and between his fingers, as Sojef moves over with Picard and Data... the boy looks at Data with fear in his eyes. Data can't help but notice... SOJEF Artim, do you remember where you were on the day of lightning when the artificial lifeform appeared to us? ARTIM In the hills, by the dam. PICARD Can you show us? Artim puts his pet in a pocket (or it can have its own little pouch on Artim's belt if he has no pockets) and leads the way. Several Ba'ku including Anij and Tournel curiously follow. As Picard makes eye contact with her, she moves over... ANIJ Haven't you disrupted our lives enough...? She says it gently, but honestly... PICARD I understand how you feel. We just want to retrace Data's movements that day... ANIJ Why? PICARD (a cautious reply) I don't like to leave questions unanswered. ANIJ (evenly) Then you must spend your life answering questions. She moves away. Picard watches her; she doesn't look back. 88 ANGLE ON DATA 88 Who notices Artim still glancing at him with fear. To reassure him -- DATA There is no need for concern. I am operating within normal parameters now. ARTIM You're what? DATA I am better. The android's manner only seems to frighten Artim more. Before Data can say anything else, Sojef comes and leads him away, giving Data a cool smile that says, in effect, I don't want any artificial lifeform talking to my son. Data reacts. After a thoughtful beat, moves to walk with Picard. DATA I believe the boy is... afraid... of me. PICARD It's nothing personal data. You have to remember these people have rejected technology. And you... DATA ... I am the personification of everything they have rejected. PICARD Until this week, that young man probably never saw a machine, let alone one that walks and talks... DATA And I do not believe I made a very good first impression. It clearly bothers Data to be the object of fear. The boy glances over his shoulder once more at the android, looks quickly away... 89 LONG SHOT 89 as the group moves into the rocky foothills... 90 PICARD 90 enchanted by the natural beauty, the antithesis of clutter. 91 NEW ANGEL 91 They come to a brook. Artim hops on one foot across rocks in the water and without stopping to think, Picard does the same thing, looking like a little boy... then notices a curious look from Data which makes him collect himself and adjust his jacket. Anij glances over at Sojef with concern. The others cross in adult fashion. 92 COMING OVER A RISE 92 ARTIM I saw the first bolt of lightning over there... As they move along the rise... 93 INT. RIKER'S QUARTERS - BATHROOM 93 Close on a 24th century container of Gillette Foamy Shaving Cream ("For weightless Environments!")... finding a female hand with a straight razor moving to Riker's face... his chin and cheeks lathered with cream... and the hand is Troi's and they're in the bathtub together in a bubble bath... she expertly moves the blade across his face, leaving a swath of bare chin... WORF'S COM VOICE Bridge to Riker. RIKER Can I get back to you, Worf? WORF'S COM VOICE Admiral Dougherty's on the com- link, sir. RIKER (sighs) Patch him through. (the computer bleeps) Yes, Admiral. 94 INT. SON'A BODY FACILITY 94 Dougherty in the foreground; behind him a Son'a physician is pulling green scum from subcutaneous boils under the skin of Ru'afo's neck with a syringe... DOUGHERTY Why haven't you left orbit yet? RIKER Captain Picard is still on the surface, sir. DOUGHERTY Doing what? RIKER He didn't want to leave until we could adequately explain why Data malfunctioned. His future in Starfleet could depend on it. Dougherty exchanges a concerned look with Ru'afo... DOUGHERTY Remind the captain his twelve hours are up. RIKER'S COM VOICE Yes, sir. DOUGHERTY Dougherty out. Ru'afo's eyes are closed, as the green goo moves from his neck to the doctor's syringe... SON'A DOCTOR Your body is producing far too many toxins... we've reached the limit of genetic manipulation... RU'AFO I won't need any more genetic manipulation if our Federation friends will allow us to complete this mission. He opens his eyes, gives Dougherty a pointed look... 95 EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY - LOOKING DOWN TO SEE A SMALL 95 LAKE Picard, Data and the Ba'ku have moved toward a dam where Data is having trouble with is tricorder... DATA Tricorder functions are limited due to heavy deposits of kelbonite in these hills... PICARD How about a passive radiation scan? Data adjusts his tricorder... reacts... DATA Curious, there appear to be strong neutrino emissions coming from the lake... Staying with Data s he follows the tricorder to the edge of the lake... a brief pause... and then in a Harold Lloyd sort of moment, he steps into the lake up to his ankles, pauses again to look at the tricorder and then disappears under water. 96 ARTIM 96 reacts, astounded... looks to Picard... ARTIM Can he breathe under water? PICARD Data doesn't breathe. ARTIM Won't he rust? PICARD (smiles to himself) No. The boy turns his wide eyes back toward the lake. 97 UNDERWATER - DATA (OPTICAL) 97 An eel and a fish investigate him as he stands on the lake bottom, examining his tricorder... 98 EXT. LAKE - DAY 98 Data emerges at a distance from the others... calling -- DATA Sir, I believe I know what is causing the neutrino emissions... He climbs to the top of the earthen dam and turns a heavy wheel that might usually require the strength of two men, opening a floodgate... as he does -- ARTIM (fascinated) Are there other machines like him in the offland? SOJEF The offland is no concern of yours. 98A ANGLE WITH DATA 98A The water continues to run off and as we push to the falling water... 98B WITH PICARD 98B reacting as he looks down at the lake... 99 ANGLE (OPTICAL) 99 a strange displacement of water appearing as the lake drains... something invisible is sitting in the water... a bird lands on top of it... and as the water sinks lower, spilling off the sides of the invisible object, the shape is revealed to be that of a cloaked spaceship. 100 PICARD 100 PICARD A ship, DATA It is clearly Federation in origin, Captain. PICARD (quoting Dougherty) 'Just a few loose ends to tie up.' As they move to a rowboat... Artim begins to follow but Sojef puts a firm arm on his shoulder. SOJEF We're not interested in such things. Anij looks to Sojef... ANIJ I am. And she hops onto the rowboat with Picard and Data... decidedly not trusting either of them to go alone... PICARD It might be wiser for you to stay on shore. Anij's answer is to grab an oar and push them away from shore... as Data and Picard exchange a glance, Picard takes the oar from her and... 101 WIDE - (OPTICAL) 101 Picard, Anij and Data row closer to the invisible ship. 102 CLOSER - THE ROWBOAT 102 Data presses controls on his tricorder. A hatch opens. Picard and Data draw phasers... 103 INT. HOLOGRAPHIC SHIP/VILLAGE - (OPTICAL) 103 As they climb in to find themselves in an identical image of the Ba'ku village. Anij is stunned... DATA (off tricorder) It is a holographic projection. Moving to a gap that shows the metal holo-grid... DATA (CONT'D) Incomplete, I might add. PICARD (to Anij) What you're seeing is a computer driven image created by photons and forcefields... ANIJ I know what a hologram is, Captain. The question is -- why would someone want to create one of our village? PICARD (beat, considering) Data, if you were following the boy and discovered this ship... DATA ... it is conceivable I was shot to protect the secret of its existence. PICARD (beat, musing aloud) What possible purpose could a duplicate village have except... to deceive the Ba'ku... ANIJ Deceive us? PICARD To move you off this planet. You go to sleep one night in your village... wake up the next morning in this flying holodeck transported en masse. A week later, maybe a month, you've been relocated on a similar planet without ever realizing it. DATA Why would the Federation or the Son'a wish to move the Ba'ku? PICARD I don't know. We may notice a look in Anij's eyes - she knows why but doesn't intend to say. Picard and Data don't notice her reaction... 104 ANGLE - (OPTICAL) 104 Suddenly wham! -- a plasma charge is fired from the shadows of the "village" hologram... and then another and another... the shots hit walls revealing portions of the holo-grid (an effect we will see again later during the final action). Plasma ricochets off the walls spraying sparks over them all... as Data fires back, Picard grabs Anij and shoves her out of the hatch for her safety... 105 ANGLE OUT THE HATCH 105 as she falls several yards into the water making a big splash... Picard turns back and starts firing... 106 INT. HOLO-SHIP - (OPTICAL) 106 A brief, intense exchange of shots... creating more gaps in the holo-image... and finally a Son'a officer falls off the roof of a holo-building, unconscious. PICARD Computer, end program and decloak the vessel. And as the holo-image DEMATERIALIZES, they're standing on a holodeck. 107 EXT. HOLO-SHIP - (OPTICAL) 107 DECLOAKING... Anij splaying her arms to keep afloat in the water... Picard and Data stick their heads out of the hatch... ANIJ I can't swim! Data and Picard promptly jump in after her... PICARD (reaching for her) Don't panic... ANIJ (with some humor) I've been shot at... thrown into the lake out of an invisible ship that's come to abduct us all... what's there to panic about? DATA In the event of a water landing, I have been designed to serve as a floatation device. He twists his neck a certain way and we hear a slight technical re-alignment and suddenly he floats...she hangs on as Picard swims over to retrieve the rowboat... 108 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM - (OPTICAL) 108 Data and Picard MATERIALIZE... Worf, sporting a large red mark on his nose, observes. Picard is still wet and angry... on the move... PICARD Did any of the hostages mention a cloaked ship during their debriefings? WORF No, sir... PICARD Debrief them again. (noticing) Have you been in a fight, Commander? WORF (humiliated) No, sir. It is a gorch. PICARD Gorch? Data leans in and whispers the translation into Picard's ear... Picard is embarrassed he brought it up... PICARD Oh... well, it's hardly... noticeable... Off Data's deadpan look at Picard, as they exit... 109 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS 109 Riker with his clean shaven face moving to meet them... Picard and Data react... Riker smiles... RIKER Smooth as an android's bottom, eh, Data? DATA I... beg your pardon, sir? For the rest of the sequence, Data observes Riker's chin. Moving to the turbolift... RIKER Admiral Dougherty wants to know why we haven't left yet... PICARD We're not going anywhere. Worf and Riker exchange a glance as they enter... 110 INT. TURBOLIFT - CONTINUOUS 110 PICARD (CONT'D) Deck five. RIKER (re: the gorge) You Klingons never do anything small, do you... The doors close. Ignoring Riker -- WORF Doctor Crusher asked to talk to you when you returned... PICARD Picard to Crusher... 111 INT. SICKBAY 111 CRUSHER Captain, the Son'a hostages declined to be examined. I had them confined to quarters. PICARD'S COM VOICE And our people? CRUSHER They all have slightly elevated levels of endorphin production... probably the result of the environmental anomalies here... PICARD'S COM VOICE Are they in any danger? CRUSHER Not at all. They're fine... in fact, they're better than fine. Increased metabolism, high energy, improved muscle tone. We should all be so lucky. PICARD'S COM VOICE Very good, Doctor. Picard out. 112 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS 112 coming out of the turbolift toward Picard's quarters... PICARD The Son'a officers are not to be released until I've met with Ahdar Ru'afo. He enters his quarters. Data finally submits to his curiosity and runs a finger along Riker's chin... DATA No, sir. It is not. (off Riker's look) As smooth as an android's bottom. 113 INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS 113 As he enters... PICARD Computer, music. Picard's favorite chamber music comes on... PICARD No. Not that. Something else. Something... Latin. COMPUTER VOICE Please specify. PICARD A mambo. (as the music comes on, his tension easing) That's more like it... Picard moves to... 114 INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS 114 He takes off his jacket and shirt... and begins to towel himself dry... as he glances in the mirror... his towel patting his face, slows to a stop as he stares at himself in the mirror... 115 CLOSE - THE HAIR AROUND HIS EAR 115 is changing color, no longer all white, it is now predominantly chestnut brown. 116 PICARD 116 looks, his mind adding up all the strange little things that have been happening on the ship... 117 EXT. ANIJ'S HOME - NIGHT 117 Picard knocks on a door... it is opened by Anij... PICARD How old are you? TIME CUT: 118 INT. ANIJ'S HOME - NIGHT 118 Austere but inviting with a warm fire... Sojef, Tournel and Artim have joined them... Artim spoons hot cider from a kettle into cups, serves it to the adults as the scene continues... SOJEF We came here from a solar system on the verge of self- annihilation... where technology had created weapons that threatened to destroy all life. A small group of us set off to find a new home... a home that would be isolated from the threats of other worlds. (beat) That was three hundred and nine years ago. PICARD (reacts) You've not aged a day since then? SOJEF Actually, I was a good deal older when we arrived... in terms of my physical condition. ANIJ There's an unusual metaphasic radiation coming from the planet's rings. It continuously regenerates the cells in our bodies. You must have noticed the effects by now. PICARD We've... just begun to. (to Artim) I suppose you're seventy-five. ARTIM No. I'm twelve. TOURNEL The metaphasic radiation won't begin to affect him until he reaches maturity... PICARD To many offlanders, what you have here would be more valuable than gold-pressed latinum. (beat) And I'm afraid it's the reason that someone is trying to take this world away from you. ARTIM The artificial lifeform was right? PICARD If not for Data, you'd probably have been re-located by now. TOURNEL How can we possibly defend ourselves? SOJEF The moment we pick up a weapon, we become one of them... we lose everything we are... PICARD It may not come to that. They turn to him... PICARD Clearly, the architects of this conspiracy have tried to keep it a secret. Not just from you, but from my people as well. (beat) I don't intend to let them. 119 EXT. VILLAGE - PREDAWN 119 ANIJ We've always known that to survive, we had to remain apart. It hasn't been easy. Many of the young people here want to know more about the offland... they're attracted to stories of a faster pace of life... PICARD Most of my people who live that faster pace would sell their souls to slow it down. ANIJ But not you. PICARD (smiles) There are days. ANIJ (beat, studying him) You don't live up to your reputation as an offlander, Picard. PICARD (self-effacing) In defense of offlanders, there are many more like me... ANIJ ... who wouldn't be tempted by the promise of perpetual youth? I don't think so. PICARD You give me more credit than I deserve. Of course, I'm tempted. Who wouldn't be? (beat) But some of the blackest marks in the history of my world have involved the forced relocation of a small group of people to satisfy the demands of a larger one. I'd like to believe we learn from our mistakes. Obviously, some of us haven't. 120 NEW ANGLE - (OPTICAL) 120 Picard pausing to look in a corner window... beautifully hand-crafted quilts are displayed... PICARD The craftsmanship is extraordinary. ANIJ (smiles) This is a school... that's a student's work. (off his reaction) She'll be ready to become an apprentice soon. Then, in thirty or forty years, she'll take her place among the artisans... PICARD An apprentice for thirty years. (they continue walking) We've noticed your people's mental discipline. Did that develop here? ANIJ (teasing) More questions. Always the explorer. If you stay long enough, that'll change. PICARD Will it? ANIJ You'll stop reviewing what happened yesterday... stop planning for tomorrow... until you find... (interrupting herself) Let me ask you a question -- have you ever experienced a perfect moment in time? PICARD A perfect moment? ANIJ When time seemed to stop... and you could almost live in that moment... PICARD Seeing my home planet from space for the first time... ANIJ Yes. Exactly. Nothing more complicated than perception. (beat) You explore the universe. We've discovered a single moment in time can be a universe in itself... full of powerful forces... most people aren't aware enough of the now... to ever notice them... PICARD I wish I could spare a few centuries to learn. ANIJ It took us centuries to learn that it doesn't have to take centuries to learn. They reach a doorway to her home... PICARD There's one thing I don't understand. (off her look) In three hundred years...you never learned to swim? ANIJ (smiles) I just... haven't gotten around to it yet. She steps forward to enter, pauses... ANIJ I wonder if you're aware of the trust you endanger, Jean-Luc Picard. In my experience, it's unusual for... PICARD ... an offlander? ANIJ (beat, smiles) For someone so young. Picard smiles, aware of a sexual tension... for the second time in his visit, a humming bird flitters by, briefly examining a street lamp and then away. She moves inside, glances back and smiles. Then she's gone. Picard turns and looks at the horizon where the sun will come up soon... reacts as he sees -- 121 THE SILHOUETTE OF GEORDI LA FORGE - (OPTICAL) 121 standing there, looking out at the horizon... 122 CLOSER 122 as Picard moves over... PICARD Geordi...? Geordi turns and Picard reacts as he sees Geordi's eyes... without the implants... Geordi smiles... LA FORGE Funniest thing, Captain. There wasn't anything wrong with my implants. There was something right with my eyes. When Doctor Crusher removed the ocular connections, she found the cells around my optic nerves... PICARD ... had regenerated. LA FORGE It may not last after we leave. If not, I just wanted, before we go... (beat) I've never actually seen a sunrise. Picard considers him a long beat... and they turn to see -- 123 THE SUN - (OPTICAL) 123 cracking the horizon turning the lake red... 124 PICARD AND GEORDI 124 bathed in the sunlight... Picard's face looking younger, contented in the new sun... 125 THE SUNRISE - VARIOUS SHOTS 125 ... the silhouette of an eagle-like bird coasting a foot above the water... the morning breeze brushing the red- tinged field of tall grass. 126 GEORDI 126 A tear rolls down his cheek... 127 WIDE - (OPTICAL) 127 as the sunlight cascades over the village and hills and if we weren't sure this place was magic before, we certainly know it now. 128 EXT. SPACE - THE FOUR SON'A SHIPS - (OPTICAL) 128 dwarf the Enterprise as they move into orbit... 129 INT. READY ROOM (OPTICAL) 129 Dougherty and Ru'afo enter... Ru'afo is furious -- RU'AFO Am I to understand you're not releasing my men, Captain? Picard at his desk working, looks up, makes strong eye contact with his guests... PICARD (quietly) I found the holoship. That stops Ru'afo. He looks at Dougherty who realizes some damage control will be necessary... DOUGHERTY Ru'afo, why don't you let the Captain and I... Ru'afo's face is so tight it seems it's going to break... RU'AFO No! ... and it does -- a crack opens up from his forehead to his chin and blood dribbles out of it..