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
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