Story by
Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
& Ronald D. Moore
Screenplay by
Brannon Braga & Ronald D. Moore
First Draft
September 29, 1995
1 A BLACK VOID 1
We can hear movement. Strange skittering sounds, like
razor-claws on metal... the hiss of pneumatic hoses...
the whirr and click of servos... liquid gurgling... an
eerie, alien cacophony.
2 EARTH 2
appears, hanging now in the starry blackness. The
alien noises continue, and far in the distance we hear
the muffled THUMP of what could be a distant explosion.
Alien TEXT suddenly appears next to Earth, and we
REVEAL we are in --
3 INT. BORG RECON CENTER 3
The image of Earth is actually on a monitor, which is
only one of DOZENS of MONITORS covering a huge wall.
We don't see anything of the rest of the room, but the
technology in view is distinctly alien and bizarre --
a mixture of organic and mechanical elements.
Circuitry and optical cabling are side-by-side with
what looks almost like arteries and organs. We can
still hear the creepy skittering and gurgling noises.
Occasionally, a SHADOWY FORM sweeps past the camera,
vaguely humanoid but we can't tell who or what it is.
All of the monitors are active, and they present myriad
IMAGES and SOUND -- all related to EARTH HISTORY. The
screens show everything from written Chinese... to
Renaissance paintings... to black and white newsreel
footage of World War Two... to what look like clips of
space battles from the 24th century. The entire range
of human history dancing across the monitors. The
effect is dizzying -- we get the feeling that whoever
is watching this is studying the human race.
There is another THUMP and the wall of monitors
SHUDDERS slightly. We hear the VOICE of what we will
come to know as the BORG COLLECTIVE -- thousands of
voices speaking at once :
BORG
Restrict search parameters to 1-9-
9-8 through 2-0-8-4.
The images on the monitors now change to show us images
from 21ST CENTURY Earth history.
Again, it's a collection of still photography, video
footage, text, artwork, etc. We hear snippets of sound-
bites, music, speeches from the period. A lot of
enticing details. As the images race across the
monitors, we should learn the following.
-- The turn of the 21st century brought chaos.
Regional wars, the collapse of the United Nations.
Societal break-down. Crime, starvation, desperation.
-- A Third World War. Nuclear explosions,
environmental disasters, tens of millions dead. The
United States ceases to exist. All political authority
vanishes. Humanity teetering on the edge of the Second
Dark Age.
-- The image of a single man -- ZEPHRAM COCHRANE. A
visionary scientist. He see the spacecraft he created
out of a nuclear missile. He flies the first warp
test, breaking the light barrier. It changes history.
-- Grainy black and white images of a VULCAN SCOUT SHIP
landing on Earth. They saw Cochrane's flight, followed
him back to Earth, and made First Contact with the
human race.
-- Humanity turns the corner. First Contact with an
alien civilization brings the planet together as never
before. Humans and Vulcans working together, beginning
to solve long-standing problems with new technology.
We see an early replicator producing food for the
starving millions. A new World Government is formed.
-- People from planet Earth and people from Vulcan form
an Alliance. They call it the United Federation of
Planets. And they commission a fleet of starships for
protection and exploration. They call it Starfleet.
-- These are images recounting the birth of the Star
Trek universe.
Another muffled EXPLOSION, this one stronger, SHAKES
the entire wall. One of the monitors BLOWS OUT in a
shower of sparks. And now a new voice, a woman's
voice, low, threatening, with a slight metallic
inflection, speaks for the first time:
WOMAN'S VOICE
Stop search. Calculate temporal
coordinates. J-Fourteen.
Another explosion ROCKS the room and it takes us to:
4 EXT. SPACE - A BORG SPHERE 4
A huge, spherical Borg warship as it takes a phaser
shot from an unseen vessel. The BLAST smashes into the
Borg Sphere, but the massive ship continues. The
Sphere returns FIRE. FOLLOW the Borg fire to --
5 A FEDERATION STARSHIP 5
locked in battle with the Borg Sphere. The Borg fire
DESTROYS the Federation ship in a fiery blast.
6 NEW ANGLE 6
as the Borg Sphere flies away from the wreckage of the
decimated starship, and as it does, we reveal that this
is just one small part of --
7 A MASSIVE SPACE BATTLE 7
involving dozens of Starfleet and Borg vessels, engaged
in a fierce FIREFIGHT as far as the eye can see. Ships
turning, twisting, firing, exploding. Lots of movement.
It's a spectacular sight.
The Borg Sphere is moving away from the battle, heading
off in another direction.
8 NEW ANGLE 8
In the middle of the battle. A BORG CUBE is attacking
a smaller Federation starship. The starship is taking
quite a beating... explosions all along the hull... it
doesn't look like it can take much more of this.
Suddenly a spread of FOUR TORPEDOES come blazing in
from O.C. The torpedoes SLAM into the Borg ship,
causing massive damage.
9 THE USS ENTERPRISE NCC 1701-E 9
SOARS into view and moves to protect the beleaguered
starship.
The Enterprise is Starfleet's newest and most powerful
vessel. An elegant and majestic ship. But unlike the
last Enterprise, Starfleet has opted for a more
muscular vessel and the hull is studded with weapons
and other defensive armory. We get the feeling this
Enterprise is ready for anything.
10 INT. ENTERPRISE-E - BRIDGE 10
The Bridge has been redesigned. A single Captain's
chair dominates the room, and surrounding consoles and
stations all face inward instead of out, giving Picard
instant access to his officers. PICARD in the
Captain's chair. RIKER at a new Ops station. DATA at
the helm. WORF at Tactical. TROI at Communications,
various CREWMEMBERS at their posts. The ship is at Red
Alert and everyone is tense.
PICARD
Signal the Endeavor to fall back.
We'll cover them.
TROI
Aye, sir.
She works her console.
11 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE & BORG SHIP 11
The Endeavor moves off as the Borg FIRE at the
Enterprise and BLASTS the saucer section. This should
also produce an unusual effect -- instead of the
traditional "bubble" shielding, the new armor of this
Enterprise ABSORBS the blast and dissipates the energy
across the hull. The ship is undamaged.
12 INT. BRIDGE 12
The ship is ROCKED by the blast.
DATA
Dispersive armor is holding.
PICARD
Bring us about. Target Borg ship
alpha four, port side battery.
WORF
Port battery, ready sir!
PICARD
Fire.
13 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE 13
As RAPID PHASER SHOTS leap out from half a dozen points
along the ship's port side. (NOTE: The phasers also
look different, more along the lines of a gatling gun).
The Borg Cube EXPLODES. The Enterprise flies through
the debris.
14 INT. BRIDGE 14
Including MAIN VIEWSCREEN, which has a view of the
chaotic battle surrounding them. Another Borg vessel
looms into view.
PICARD
Starboard battery -- fire.
15 EXT. SPACE 15
The Enterprise fires a burst of phasers -- but this
time, the phasers have no effect. We see a strange
SHIELDING appears around the Borg ship.
16 INT. BRIDGE 16
On the main viewer, the massive Borg ship looms closer.
DATA
The Borg ship has modified its
shields, Captain. Our phasers
will no longer be effective.
PICARD
Ready quantum torpedo.
WORF
Aye, sir. Only three left.
Another JOLT as we're hit.
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
La Forge to bridge.
PICARD
Go ahead.
INTERCUT:
17 INT. MAIN ENGINEERING 17
Where GEORDI and N.D. Engineers are rushing about, hard
at work. Geordi is no longer wearing his VISOR -- he
now has artificial ocular implants for eyes. They have
a distinctive electronic look to them.
GEORDI
Captain, I'm starting to worry
about the hull integrity. We've
been running the support field at
full power for three hours
straight. I don't know how much
longer it's going to hold up.
PICARD
Understood. Keep me informed.
END INTERCUT:
18 INT. BRIDGE 18
The Borg cube is huge on the main viewer as the
Enterprise rushes toward it.
TROI
Incoming transmission from the
Borg.
PICARD
On screen.
Data works and the viewer changes to a view of the
INTERIOR of the BORG CUBE. A vast CHAMBER crammed with
HUNDREDS of BORG DRONES standing upright in individual
alcoves. They're everywhere -- on the ceiling, walls,
floor. This is a BORG COLLECTIVE -- hundreds of Borg
that form a gigantic "hive" mind. The Borg are half-
man/half machine. No individual personalities. No
feelings. They have only one goal in life: to
assimilate new races into their collective. To become
a Borg is to experience living death. When they speak,
they speak as a collective -- thousands of voices
speaking as one:
BORG
Your defense perimeter is
useless. You will be assimilated.
PICARD
(to Borg)
Break off your attack. By now,
you must realize you can't win...
BORG
Your opinion is irrelevant. We
are the Borg. Resistance is
futile.
PICARD
We'll see about that...
(to Worf)
Fire.
Worf works.
19 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE - CLOSE ON TORPEDO BAY 19
A QUANTUM TORPEDO BLASTS out of the launcher and heads
toward the Borg cube. This torpedo is completely
different than the traditional photon torpedo. It
oscillates and changes shape and color as it streaks
toward the Borg ship.
20 THE BORG SHIP 20
as the quantum torpedo HITS IT. But instead of
exploding on the surface, the torpedo PIERCES the ship
like an armor-piercing shell and momentarily VANISHES
from view. The ship then EXPLODES like a star going
supernova -- bright light and shock waves.
21 INT. BRIDGE 21
The ship is ROCKED violently by the shock wave. People
hanging on.
DATA
Main power still on-line, Captain.
Riker looks at his console.
RIKER
Casualties are light, Captain.
Minor buckling on the port
nacelle. Nothing serious.
WORF
Incoming message from the Starship
Intrepid. Admiral Hayes.
PICARD
On screen.
The viewer shows ADMIRAL HAYES on the Bridge of his
starship.
ADMIRAL HAYES
The new quantum torpedoes are
doing the trick, Jean-Luc. We've
destroyed forty-seven Borg ships
so far... and only lost fifteen of
our own.
(beat)
But one of the Borg ships has
broken through our defenses, and
it's heading directly for Earth.
Can you handle it?
PICARD
Absolutely.
ADMIRAL HAYES
Good hunting. Hayes out.
PICARD
Mister Data, set a pursuit course.
Maximum warp.
22 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE 22
as it breaks away from the battle...and races INTO
WARP.
23 EXT. SPACE - EARTH 23
There are Starfleet satellites and space stations in
close orbit. The Borg Sphere seen before enters frame.
The satellites open fire, but they have little effect
on the massive Borg Sphere, which returns fire,
EXPLODING them in orbit.
The Sphere heads down toward the Earth...
24 INT. BRIDGE 24
DATA
We are approaching the Terran
System, Captain.
PICARD
Go to impulse. Where's the Borg
ship?
DATA
It has entered Earth orbit.
(off console)
Correction -- it is not in orbit.
It is heading directly toward the
surface.
PICARD
What?
Picard gets up, moves to Data's console.
RIKER
(incredulous)
Some sort of suicide tactic?
DATA
Unknown, sir. Suicide tactics are
not normally associated with the
Borg.
Data reacts to his console.
DATA
Sensors show a temporal signature
emanating from the Sphere. High
concentrations of tachyons...
Picard studies Data's monitor.
PICARD
And chronometric particles... it's
as though they're trying to create
a temporal vortex...
A beat as Picard makes a shocking realization.
PICARD
Time travel... they're attempting
time travel...
(beat)
Full power, Mister Data. Worf,
quantum torpedoes at my command!
WORF
Aye, sir.
25 EXT. EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE 25
The Borg Sphere GLOWING RED and beginning to burn with
friction as it PLUMMETS toward Earth...
26 NEW ANGLE - THE ENTERPRISE 26
plunging down into the atmosphere, giving chase...
27 INT. BRIDGE 27
Urgent.
WORF
Range -- fifty kilometers.
DATA
A temporal vortex is forming
directly ahead of the Sphere.
28 EXT. EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE 28
Just ahead of the Sphere we see a TEMPORAL VORTEX
opening -- a maelstrom of light and energy stretching
into infinity. ENERGY explodes from the vortex as the
Sphere begins to go inside...
29 THE ENTERPRISE 29
as it's HIT by the tremendous energy blast from the
vortex. The ship spins around, nearly rips apart.
30 INT. BRIDGE 30
Everyone THROWN to the deck. Consoles sparking. Power
failing. SHAKING.
RIKER
Main power off-line!
DATA
Switching to emergency back-ups.
Riker checks a console.
RIKER
We're caught in some kind of
energy wake from the vortex...
PICARD
Worf... torpedo... now!
Worf works...
31 EXT. EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE 31
Another QUANTUM TORPEDO is launched from the
Enterprise. But just before it hits the Borg Sphere,
the Sphere VANISHES inside the vortex. The torpedo
hits the roiling energy of the Vortex and detonates
with a harmless flash. The Vortex itself starts
COLLAPSING...
32 INT. BRIDGE 32
The shaking subsides.
DATA
I have helm control.
PICARD
Where's the Sphere?
WORF
They have traveled into the
vortex... through time.
Disturbed reactions.
DATA
The vortex is collapsing, sir.
PICARD
Contact Starfleet Command.
WORF
No response.
(reacts to console)
I'm not reading any Starfleet com
traffic in this entire sector.
TROI
(off console)
Captain, I've scanned the planet.
The atmosphere contains a high
concentration of methane, carbon
monoxide and fluorine. The oceans
have been chemically altered, as
well.
PICARD
On screen.
She works, and on the View screen EARTH appears as seen
from orbit. The crystal blue marble is now covered by
a thick, turbulent DARK ATMOSPHERE -- polluted and
ugly. Reactions.
PICARD
Life signs?
TROI
Population... thirty-five
billion...
(reacts)
All Borg.
A shocking moment.
DATA
(off console)
The planet's surface is covered
with Borg technology.
(beat)
So is the moon... and three other
planets in this solar system.
TROI
But how?
PICARD
They must've done it in the
past... they went back and
changed history...
RIKER
(stunned)
They did it... they assimilated
Earth.
WORF
But if they changed history...
then why are we still here?
DATA
We were caught in the temporal
wake from the vortex. It must
have protected us from any changes
in the time-line.
Worf's console sounds an alarm.
WORF
Captain, there are five Borg ships
closing in on our position.
PICARD
(making a decision)
Data, set a course for that
vortex.
TROI
Captain...?
PICARD
We have to follow them back...
repair whatever damage they've
done to that time-line.
DATA
(working)
Course laid in. Engaging impulse
engines.
The ship is suddenly ROCKED.
33 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE & BORG SHIPS (OPTICAL) 33
The Enterprise is being chased by FIVE BORG SHIPS as it
heads down toward the planet. The Borg vessels FIRE on
the Enterprise.
34 INT. BRIDGE 34
As before. The ship is shaking.
WORF
Hull integrity down to thirty
percent...
PICARD
Steady as she goes.
35 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) 35
Ahead of the ship, we see the VORTEX collapsing. The
shaking increases. A console EXPLODES.
WORF
Borg vessels are closing to two
thousand meters.
The ship is HIT AGAIN AND AGAIN. On the View Screen,
we're nearly on the vortex, but it's closing fast.
PICARD
Take us in!
36 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE & VORTEX (OPTICAL) 36
The Enterprise just barely makes it inside the vortex
as it finally COLLAPSES. Both the Enterprise and the
vortex VANISH.
CUT TO:
37 EXT. SPACE 37
An empty star field. Suddenly, the VORTEX APPEARS and
the Enterprise comes ROARING out into space. The
vortex VANISHES behind the ship.
38 INT. BRIDGE 38
The shaking subsides. Everyone exchanges a look, tries
to re-orient themselves.
PICARD
Report.
RIKER
We're still in Earth orbit.
PICARD
On screen.
39 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN 39
Which shows Earth. The Borg pollution is gone.
PICARD
What year is it?
DATA
(working)
According to our astrometric
readings... the year is 2063.
WORF
Captain, I've found the Borg
Sphere. It's on the far side of
the planet...firing at the
surface.
PICARD
(to Data)
Intercept course, full impulse.
(to Worf)
Weapons status?
WORF
Phasers are off-line... we have
two quantum torpedoes left. But
the computer targeting system has
been destroyed.
PICARD
Go to manual.
Worf pops open a panel and a high-tech TARGETING console
emerges with a small MONITOR and a traditional CROSS-
HAIR in the center. Worf grabs the targeting hand-
controls -- futuristic joysticks.
40 EXT. SPACE - THE BORG SPHERE 40
The ship is FIRING its weapons down toward the planet
as the Enterprise comes up over the horizon.
41 INT. BRIDGE 41
As before. Worf works his controls. A complex array
of grids, coordinate information, speed data, and other
weapons info on the monitor screen. He begins trying
to focus the cross-hairs on the Sphere.
PICARD
(over above action, to
Troi)
Track their weapons fire.
TROI
(off console)
Western hemisphere... North
American continent...
DATA
We are within torpedo range.
RIKER
They've seen us. They're taking
evasive action.
PICARD
(urgent)
Mister Worf?
Worf struggles with the targeting system.
WORF
Target...
The crosshairs keep missing the image of the Borg
Sphere, which is now twisting and turning to evade us.
Troi reacts to her console.
TROI
Captain, they're firing at a
nuclear missile silo... in central
Montana.
WORF
(struggling)
Target...
PICARD
(worried)
Montana...
The crosshairs finally LOCK on the Borg Sphere.
WORF
Target locked!
PICARD
Fire!
42 EXT. SPACE - THE BORG SPHERE 42
The quantum torpedo streaks in from off-camera and
slams into the Borg ship. It penetrates the Sphere as
seen before... a long beat... and then it EXPLODES.
43 INT. BRIDGE 43
As everyone reacts to the destruction of the Sphere.
But Picard has no time for celebration.
PICARD
(to Data)
Mister Data, I want to know the
exact date and time.
(to Riker)
Give me a damage report on that
missile silo.
DATA
(works)
Today is March second, 2063. The
time in Montana is oh-eight-forty-
five.
RIKER
(works)
Looks like they damaged the
silo...
PICARD
Life signs?
RIKER
Can't tell. Long-range bio-
sensors are off-line.
Picard thinks for a moment... makes an instant decision
and turns to Worf.
PICARD
Worf, have Doctor Crusher, Mister
La Forge and a security team meet
me in Transporter Room Three.
Civilian clothes.
WORF
Aye, sir.
Worf works. Riker turns to him, curious.
RIKER
Captain?
PICARD
In twenty-four hours, Zephram
Cochrane is supposed to conduct
the very first warp test... from
a missile silo in Montana. If I'm
right, the Borg were trying to
change the course of human history
by killing him or destroying his
ship.
RIKER
(nods in understanding)
And if they succeed, humans won't
make First Contact with the
Vulcans tomorrow.
(beat)
As First Officer I should be the
one beaming down...
PICARD
Normally, I would agree. But in
this case, the mission requires a
certain knowledge of 21st century
history. You're many things,
Number One, but you're not much of
an historian.
He grins slightly, has to agree.
RIKER
Good luck, sir.
PICARD
I'll keep in contact. You have
the Bridge.
Picard EXITS...
CUT TO:
44 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM 44
Picard, Geordi and THREE SECURITY GUARDS are checking
their phasers and tricorders. Everyone is wearing civilian
clothes. Geordi has a large engineering kit... Transporter
Chief pulling on a civilian jacket. She looks a little
frazzled - it's been a long day in Sickbay.
BEVERLY
Will somebody please tell me where
we're going?
Beverly joins them on the pad.
PICARD
Montana.
(to Chief)
Energize.
BEVERLY
Montana? Well, that answers
everything. Why the hell are we --
They DEMATERIALIZE.
CUT TO:
45 EXT. MONTANA PLAINS - CONTINUOUS - DAY 45
Picard, Geordi, Beverly and the Security Team
MATERIALIZE on the vast, rolling plains of Montana.
BEVERLY
(continuing)
-- going to Montana?
Picard and Geordi take out their tricorders and start
scanning the landscape.
GEORDI
(off tricorder)
I have the silo, sir. Bearing
three one zero... distance, three
hundred meters.
PICARD
Let's go.
They start walking...
BEVERLY
Go where? Hello? Is anyone going
to tell me what we're doing here?
PICARD
We're here to find Zephram
Cochrane. He may be injured or
dead.
BEVERLY
Cochrane... the inventor of warp
drive?
PICARD
Yes...
BEVERLY
But he's been dead for three
hundred...
(realizes, long sigh)
Oh God... we've gone back in time
again, haven't we?
PICARD
I'm afraid so. If the Borg
succeed in preventing First
Contact with the Vulcans... Earth
will remain in the Second Dark
Age... an easy target when the
Borg arrive in the 24th century.
BEVERLY
Well, why didn't you just say so
in the first place?
Picard gives her a look. As they keep walking...
CUT TO:
46 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE 46
hanging in orbit of Earth.
47 INT. ENGINEERING 47
CLOSE ON A DEAD CREWMEMBER lying on her back. A sheet
is covering her face. A hand reaches in, pulls back
the sheet, revealing the face of a crewman.
TROI
Lieutenant Sandra Farrel.
WIDEN to REVEAL Troi and Data. Data is holding back
the sheet while Troi scans the body with a tricorder.
There is repair work going on in the b.g. Two medical
N.D.s stand by.
TROI
It appears death was caused by a
plasma discharge.
(beat)
I'll note in her record that she
never left her post.
Troi glances at Data, who is clearly disturbed by the
sight of the dead woman, holding his EMOTIONS in check
with difficulty.
TROI
Did you know her?
DATA
Not very well. We met shortly
after the Enterprise-E was
commissioned. I found her to be
a most... promising officer.
Troi looks at him in concern.
TROI
Data... are you sure you're all
right?
DATA
I am still having difficulty
integrating certain emotions into
my programming. Grief, loss,
remorse...
TROI
We still have to make reports on
ten more crewmen killed in action.
Maybe you should deactivate your
emotion chip until we're done.
Data considers.
DATA
No. Human beings do not have that
luxury, and neither should I.
TROI
I will admit... there are times
when I wish I had an emotion chip
I could turn on and off.
RIKER'S COM VOICE
Riker to Data.
DATA
(taps combadge)
Go ahead, Commander.
INTERCUT:
48 INT. BRIDGE 48
Riker, Worf, N.D.s at their stations.
RIKER
We're reading some kind of gas
leak in the Environmental Control
Room. Take a repair team down and
check it out.
DATA
On my way, Commander.
As Data EXITS...
49 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE 49
A WIDE SHOT of the ship. CAMERA CLOSES ON the AFT
SECTION of the ship, moving underneath of the hull,
pushing in on an area at the very bottom of the
Enterprise.
50 INT. ENVIROMENTAL CONTROL 50
Data and ENSIGN PORTER ENTER through a set of doors.
The lights are off in the room, dim. This is a large
room crammed with many conduits, gas tanks, 24th
century machinery and monitors. It's normally unmanned --
this is where oxygen, gravity, heat, and other
environmental conditions of the ship are controlled.
In a far corner of the room a CONDUIT leading to a
series of high-pressure TANKS labeled "D-O2" has
ruptured and is SPEWING a corrosive, poisonous GAS.
Data scans it with his tricorder.
DATA
(to Porter)
One of the diathermic oxygen tanks
has been damaged.
PORTER
(shocked)
Diathermic oxygen?
DATA
It is a new subsystem of Nova
Class ships. It regulates
hydropressure and temperature
variance.
(beat)
Remain here. The gas is highly
corrosive to organic material. It
would liquefy your flesh on
contact.
PORTER
Be my guest, sir.
Data walks over to the spewing gas tank, and without
concern shoves both hands into the corrosive gas...
... groping around for the broken conduit, finally grabs
hold of it... and with android strength BENDS the metal
conduit back into the bulkhead. The gas stops leaking.
Data is completely unaffected by the corrosive gas.
DATA
(to Porter)
Begin a diagnostic on the safety
interlocks. There appears to have
been some damage during the
attack.
PORTER
Right.
Porter moves around a corner, behind some equipment,
out of Data's vision...
51 NEW ANGLE - PORTER 51
who opens a PANEL on the wall. But instead of the neat
and orderly Starfleet technology, he is confronted by
a bizarre amalgam of organic and mechanical cabling,
diodes and what almost look like arteries. Some of the
tubes are pulsing with fluids and energy. Porter
reacts.
PORTER
What the hell...
Porter pulls aside a large conduit and stops. Buried
deep within the tangle of bio-circuits is what looks
like a HUMAN FACE covered with cybernetic tubes and
chips. It's barely discernable in the darkness and
clutter. Porter isn't even sure what he's looking at.
He leans in for a closer look... and suddenly the eyes
open.
52 DATA 52
who hears a THUMP and a sickening liquid CRUNCH from
off camera. He takes a few steps in that direction.
DATA
Ensign Porter?
He stands there for a moment, puzzled. Then a faint
SKITTERING SCRAPE can be heard -- like tiny claws on a
metal surface. He whirls at the sound.
DATA
Ensign... are you all right?
No response. Data walks around the now deathly quiet
room... turns the corner to where Porter was working.
He's gone. The open panel is still there, and there
doesn't appear to be any place Porter could've gone.
Data looks puzzled, takes a step forward when his boots
make a squishing sound. He looks down...
DATA
(taps combadge)
Data to Bridge.
No response.
DATA
Data to Security.
(beat)
This is Lieutenant Data to anyone
who can hear my signal. I need
assistance in the Environmental
Control Room.
Nothing. Data quickly turns and heads for the door.
There's a metallic SCRAPE above him and he looks up --
53 TWO BORG 53
are climbing to the ceiling like two spiders ready to
pounce. One of them has Porter and appears to be
inserting some horrible Borg device into his head.
Before Data can react, the second Borg suddenly lunges
at Data.
CUT TO:
54 EXT. MONTANA PLAINS - MISSILE SILO - DAY 54
The SILO is buried deep underground, but on the surface
there is a large, poured concrete MISSILE DOOR.
Built to withstand a nuclear blast, the door has
nevertheless been badly charred and damaged by the Borg
attack from orbit. There are large, smoking CRATERS
all around. Part of the ground seems to have COLLAPSED
to a depth of ten feet, like a sinkhole nearby. Picard
and his team approach.
GEORDI
This must be it.
PICARD
How serious is the damage?
GEORDI
(off tricorder)
I'm having trouble scanning
underground. There's a lot of
radiation leaking from something.
PICARD
Probably from the nuclear warhead.
Cochrane was planning to use it to
ignite the warp drive.
As they speak, Beverly pulls out a hypospray and gives
everyone injections.
BEVERLY
This will protect us from the
radiation.
Geordi moves to the thick, concrete missile door, scans
it.
GEORDI
I'm picking up faint life signs
twenty meters below.
PICARD
There should be an access hatch
nearby...
Everyone spreads out... looking for the hatch. One of
the guards -- LANGE -- finds it.
LANGE
Over here.
Everyone rushes over to him. There's a small HATCH on
the ground that has been partially hidden by weeds and
brush. Geordi kneels down, starts working a complex-
looking LOCK on the hatch.
GEORDI
Alphanumeric lock. We need a
password to get in...
PICARD
I have the password right here.
Picard pulls out his phaser and everyone steps back.
He aims and FIRES at the hatch, which is BLOWN OPEN,
revealing a ladder that leads down into the darkness.
As they start to crawl inside...
55 INT. MISSILE SILO - CONTROL ROOM 55
This is the "mission control" for Cochrane's test site.
The underground room is filled with 21st century
equipment, consoles and monitors. One entire wall of
the room is dominated by a huge METAL BLAST DOOR, which
is now closed. We will learn that on the other side of
that door is the nuclear missile/warp ship itself.
The ceiling has partially collapsed. Chunks of
concrete and fallen beams have destroyed some of the
equipment...Only a few of the consoles are active, most
are dark or fritzing sporadically. The lights are out,
and the room is illuminated by a few smoldering fires.
Four dead bodies can be seen strewn around the room.
It's a scene of destruction.
56 PICARD 56
and his team ENTER the dark and smoking ruin. Beverly
and Picard move to one of the dead men, while Geordi
and the Security Guards move to the other three.
Beverly rolls the man onto his back -- he's clearly
dead. The name stitched on his uniform says Rippert.
Picard looks up.
PICARD
(to others)
See if any of these men are
Cochrane.
Geordi and the Guards start checking the dead bodies.
GEORDI
Mitchell... DePaul...
LANGE
This one's a woman... named Kirby.
Picard and Beverly move toward the immense blast door.
As Beverly scans it, Picard glances at a nearby desk...
57 THE DESK 57
is littered with debris and various documents and
schematics. THREE PHOTOGRAPHS are pinned to a bulletin
board above the desk -- they show Zephram Cochrane and
two angles of his warp ship. The photos are odd-
looking, printed on what appears to be some sort of
cloth.
BEVERLY
There's a life sign behind this
door... about ten meters below.
Geordi moves to the door.
GEORDI
Blast door. It's designed to
protect the control room when the
missile is launched.
PICARD
There should be some kind of
manual release...
They hunt around for a moment. Geordi runs his hand
along the edge of the blast door. Picard turns to the
Guards.
PICARD
(to Lange)
Get those fires out and then try
to restore main power to the
control room.
LANGE
Aye, sir.
The Guards move off.
GEORDI
Got it, Captain.
Geordi has found an emergency BOX with several
pneumatic tubes and a hydraulic lever labeled
"emergency use only." He pulls down the lever, there
is a hissing sound, and the blast door slowly SLIDES
DOWN into the floor. We can now see the MISSILE SILO
itself beyond the door. Picard, Geordi and Beverly
step into...
58 INT. MISSILE SILO - CONTINUOUS 58
Picard, Geordi and Beverly step onto the catwalk, which
surrounds the Silo walls. In the middle is the WARP
SHIP itself. It should look like an advanced ICBM
missile with a COCKPIT in place of the warhead, and
with numerous modifications to the fuselage. The
cockpit is on the same level as the control room. On
the side of the missile is the name "Phoenix". The
missile itself extends down another FOUR STORIES.
There are other catwalks below this one, with ladders
connecting the different levels. Beverly sees
something below.
BEVERLY
There.
59 NEW ANGLE 59
Two catwalks below we can see a man sprawled on the
grating. They all scramble down the ladders past the
massive missile. (NOTE: Because of the design of the
Silo, we will see the entire missile only in a few
shots. For the most part, our view is limited to
sections of the missile.)
Beverly reaches the man, who is lying face-down on the
metal grating. She scans him...
BEVERLY
Severe radiation exposure...
Geordi looks over at the section of the missile on
their level. The side panels have been removed,
revealing complex circuitry within.
Picard joins Beverly, who turns over the injured man.
It's ZEPHRAM COCHRANE -- the man whose picture we saw
on the Borg monitors. Beverly begins pulling devices
out of her medkit, injects Cochrane with a hypospray.
Cochrane is a man in his mid-forties. He has a
youthful, dynamic appearance marred by recent radiation
burns.
PICARD
It's Cochrane.
BEVERLY
I've stabilized him for now... but
he's in a coma and he's going to
need radiometric therapy. I want
to take him to the ship.
Picard nods, reaches into his pants pocket, takes out
a combadge.
PICARD
Picard to Enterprise.
(no response)
Enterprise, please respond.
GEORDI
It could be the radiation,
Captain. Try from the surface.
Picard nods... then takes a deep breath, tries to
orient himself to the task at hand... there's a lot at
stake and a lot to do. He turns to Geordi.
PICARD
Mister La Forge, listen very
carefully. If you remember your
history... in less than twenty-
four hours, a Vulcan ship will be
passing through this system. When
it does, this ship needs to be in
space, flying at warp speed.
Geordi takes a deep breath, it's a tall order.
GEORDI
I'd better get started.
Geordi goes to work. Picard bends down and carefully
hoists Cochrane up into a fireman's carry. Beverly
follows him up the catwalk...
CUT TO:
60 EXT. MISSILE SILO - DAY 60
Minutes later. Cochrane is lying on the ground.
Beverly is kneeling beside him, unfolding a portable
stretcher from her medkit. Picard is checking two
combadges with a tricorder.
PICARD
It's not the radiation... and
there's nothing wrong with the
combadges... the Enterprise just
isn't responding.
BEVERLY
Jean-Luc, this man needs medical
attention, now.
PICARD
As I recall, the town of
Resurrection is about two
kilometers East of here. They
might have a hospital...
Picard looks troubled at the thought.
BEVERLY
What are we waiting for? Let's
go.
PICARD
It may not be that simple. This
is an extremely difficult and
paranoid time in human history.
BEVERLY
Are you saying they won't help us?
PICARD
I'm saying they might shoot us on
sight. You have to remember...
these people have watched their
entire way of life collapse around
them.
BEVERLY
There must be some good people...
even in this time.
PICARD
Let's hope so. Because if
Cochrane dies... the future may
die with him.
Picard kneels down and they begin to carefully put
Cochrane on the stretcher...
CUT TO:
61 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE 61
Riker, Troi and Worf studying a MONITOR which shows a
three-dimensional DIAGRAM of the Enterprise, which
turns and rotates as needed. The schematic shows
battle damage and repair efforts.
WORF
I have assigned two damage control
teams to locate the source of our
communication problems. So far,
they've had no success.
RIKER
Assign another team if you need
to. I want to re-establish
communication with the Captain as
soon as possible.
Worf nods and begins making notes on a PADD.
TROI
Are we in any danger of being
detected by Earth defense systems?
WORF
There were no planetary defense
systems in this era. Their
weapons were designed to
fight each other... not
extraterrestrials.
RIKER
We have to start thinking about a
way to get home.
(to Troi)
Analyze our readings from the
temporal vortex. We're going to
have to recreate whatever the Borg
did to --
Just then the ship SHUDDERS and the LIGHTS FLICKER.
RIKER
Report.
TROI
(off console)
We just lost main power... and
we've got Class-Three alerts all
over the ship. I'm not sure
what's --
An ALARM goes off on Worf's console. He reacts to it.
WORF
A ship-wide decompression has been
initiated!
RIKER
What?
TROI
We're venting our internal
atmosphere directly into space!
62 EXT. ENTERPRISE 62
CLOSE ON THE SAUCER as vents and hatches POP OPEN on
the hull and GIANT JETS OF VAPOR start blowing out
into space.
63 INT. CORRIDOR 63
Crewmembers walking along are suddenly KNOCKED to the
floor as hurricane force WINDS blow through the
Corridor. The ship is venting air into space, creating
a virtual VACUUM inside the ship! The people in the
corridor grab onto the bulkheads, struggling to hang on
against the force of the wind...
64 INT. BRIDGE 64
Suddenly an emergency AIRLOCK on the Bridge OPENS.
VIOLENT WIND roars through the Bridge and everyone
hangs on. Troi is ripped out of her chair, flown
across the Bridge, slams up against the bulkhead,
struggling to hang on. Worf runs over, grabs her arm,
keeps her from flying out.
Riker manages to reach a control panel -- hits a button
and an EMERGENCY BULKHEAD finally slides down over the
airlock and the wind DIES DOWN. Everyone takes a beat.
RIKER
What the hell is happening, Worf?
WORF
(off console)
It appears that someone has taken
over the Environmental Control
Room.
TROI
Someone...?
RIKER
(realizing)
The Borg. Some of them must've
beamed over before we destroyed
their ship.
(to Worf)
Seal off that entire deck with
emergency force fields.
TROI
Wil... Data was down there.
RIKER
(to Worf)
Mister Worf... find Data if you
can, but your top priority is
isolating the Borg.
WORF
Understood.
Worf heads for a Turbolift. OFF Riker's disturbed
expression...
CUT TO:
65 CLOSE ON DATA'S FACE 65
His eyes are closed. There's a beat, then his eyes fly
open and he looks around.
We PULL BACK slightly, revealing Data is lying on some
kind of tabletop with metallic clamps and restraints.
He tenses his arm and tries to move, but he is unable
to break the restraints. About two feet in front of
his face is what appears to be a bulkhead. There is a
cacophony of strange background NOISE -- scratching,
hisses, gurgling liquids, odd alien hums...
Suddenly, the table begins to MOVE. It ROTATES, and as
it does so we realize that Data has been hanging upside
down staring at the floor. It's a disorienting moment
as our perspective changes and Data rotates upright.
66 DATA'S POV 66
As the table gyrates, we REVEAL the ROOM slowly. And
we realize we're in --
67 INT. BORG HIVE 67
The Environmental Control Room seen earlier has now
been transformed into the INNER-SANCTUM of the BORG.
The room has a dark, moist, organic feel -- a tropical
jungle of cybernetic equipment.
The Borg are altering the room, converting Starfleet
technology and materials into the living, bio-
mechanical look of the Borg. We see one Borg drone
attach a small pod to a Starfleet console and activate
it. The pod immediately sends out a COMPLEX WEB of
BORG TECHNOLOGY which covers the Starfleet console
inside and out. It's like weeds overpowering a flower
bed -- within seconds the console has been BORGIFIED.
The walls, ceiling and floor are now honeycombed with
the ALCOVES that make up the BORG COLLECTIVE. Borg
drones are motionless in their alcoves, cabling and
other conduits connecting them to various equipment...
while other Borg are moving about the room, carrying
out various modifications to the room. At one point,
we see Ensign Porter. He's been completely Borgified.
His skin pale, expression blank. No hint of humanity
left.
68 DATA 68
still strapped to the table, which is twisting and
rotating, giving him frightening new glimpses of the
room. A new image appears -- SIX BORG DRONES are
clustered together in one section of the room, each
with an elaborate series of hoses and conduits
connected to its face.
Through the tubes we can see an exchange of FLUID and
ENERGY pulsing back and forth -- some sort of bizarre
"feeding" or "renewal" is going on. The tubes all seem
to lead toward the ceiling.
Data is now horizontal on his back and the table LOCKS
into position. A Borg drone OPENS A PANEL on the side
of Data's head, and begins connecting a thick bundle of
optical cabling to it.
DATA
(to Borg)
Your efforts to assimilate me will
be unsuccessful.
The Borg ignores him, activates a console... and the
cabling connected to Data's head LIGHTS UP with power.
They're trying to connect him to the Collective.
Data thinks for a moment, tilts his head slightly...
and then suddenly there's a SHOWER of SPARKS from the
cabling he's been connected to. The lights on the
cable go out. Data has thwarted their attempts.
DATA
(to Borg)
It would appear that resistance is
not always futile.
Suddenly a new VOICE is heard echoing through the room --
a woman's voice, low, seductive, deadly:
WOMAN'S VOICE
Brave words. I've heard them
before from thousands of species
across thousands of worlds...
since long before you were
created.
Data looks up toward...
69 THE CEILING 69
A RUSTLE of MOVEMNET somewhere in the cyber-tangle...
almost like a snake slithering beneath the weeds. And
for a brief instant we get a glimpse of a FACE unlike
any Borg we've ever seen. The face of a woman. Pale-
skinned... piercing eyes...raven hair slicked back...
a hauntingly beautiful image in a sea of nightmarish
technology. And then it's gone.
70 DATA 70
Frowns. He saw it, too, but he's not sure what to make
of it.
WOMAN'S VOICE
But now... they are all one with
the Borg.
DATA
I am unlike any lifeform you have
encountered before. As an
android, I am in complete control
of my neural net. The information
contained there cannot be forcibly
removed.
WOMAN'S VOICE
You are an imperfect being...
created by an imperfect being.
Finding your weakness is only a
matter of time.
Suddenly three Borg drones converge on Data with
various wicked-looking Borg devices. One of the Borg
has a specialized cybernetic ARM, which EXTRUDES a
series of stiletto-tipped DRILL SPIKES. As the six-
inch spikes begin to BORE INTO Data's head...
CUT TO:
71 EXT. MONTANA - RESURRECTION CITY - DAY 71
Resurrection is a small town -- around 1,000 people --
a rural, Western community that's probably existed for
at least two hundred years, and we can see the roots of
the original ranching community in some of the
architecture. But it's also a community of the 21st
century.
The most striking feature of the town is that it sits
in the middle of nearly a hundred WIND MILLS, which
provide the only source of power for the town. The
blades are enormous, but the structures supporting them
are little more than simple poles. Some are sleek,
fiberglass, futuristic... others have a more cobbled
together, make-shift appearance. At the moment, only
a few blades are turning in the gentle breeze.
Picard and Beverly emerge from the nearby woods
carrying the stretcher. They exchange a look at the
sight of the city and then head toward it...
72 EXT. RESURRECTION CITY - DAY 72
A few minutes later. Picard and Beverly carrying
Cochrane down the street toward the hospital at the
end. As they walk along, we get our first taste of
post-apocalyptic 21st century life:
This is a recognizable American community, but it's
definitely a futuristic town. Clothing, architecture,
technology -- all have changed over the course of
seventy years. But it is a broken future. What used
to be high-tech public COMPUTER TERMINALS are rusted
and abandoned. We can see the corroded hulks of HOVER-
CARS lying idle in the streets. Futuristic elements
now useless.
At one point, they pass a large polyurethane TENT --
the inside surface is covered with condensation and we
can see the silhouettes of people moving within. The
entrance is guarded by a single Militia Guard. Later
we will learn that this is a primitive greenhouse, the
only place where they can grow uncontaminated food.
What used to be a McDonald's, or some other
recognizable food chain, has now been gutted and has
been turned into a kind of blacksmith shop. People are
fashioning metal into various tools using hammer and
tongs.
The sidewalks are populated with PEOPLE, who congregate
in small groups, quietly talking amongst themselves,
others just staring vacantly off into space. Many of
them have visible burn scars and damage to their bodies --
victims of the war and post-nuclear environmental
dangers. A few of them are applying a special lotion
to their arms and face -- protection against the toxic
elements. A long FOOD LINE snakes around a block, as
people line up to get their daily rations.
A few people glance up at Picard and Beverly with
curious or suspicious looks. This is not a community
that welcomes strangers. At one point, they see a man
dressed in futuristic CAMOUFLAGE carrying an automatic
weapon -- we will learn he's a MILITIA SOLDIER. He
stares at them with a neutral expression, then walks
off.
The people here have that hollow-eyed, listless look
about them. They're going through something that makes
the Great Depression look like a minor inconvenience.
But there's also a toughness to these people, a
resilience and determination to survive in the face of
overwhelming odds. We are looking at our future... and
it's on the verge of collapse.
CUT TO:
73 INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY 73
A short time later. Cochrane is being lifted onto an
operating table. Picard and Beverly step back from the
table as a DOCTOR and two NURSES look him over. The
doctor is in his early fifties and has a weathered,
tired look to him. The hospital itself is like the
rest of the town -- a futuristic setting fallen on hard
times. The light in the room is provided mostly from
the sunlight streaming in through the windows. Light
bulbs and other gear flicker dimly around the hospital --
we get the feeling they have very little power.
DOCTOR
How long has he been unconscious?
BEVERLY
At least four hours.
He checks Cochran's head injury as Beverly takes out
her tricorder and scans him.
DOCTOR
It looks like he has a cranial
fracture, but I'll need X-rays to
be sure.
(to Nurse)
Get Ruby in here.
One of the nurses runs off.
BEVERLY
(off tricorder)
He has a severe fracture of the
left occipital plate. He's not
hemorrhaging... but the radiation
has damaged his KNA and his APR
cell count...
He looks at her curiously.
DOCTOR
"APR cell count?" What the hell
are you talking about?
PICARD
(quickly)
Doctor Crusher has been...
studying some advanced medical
theories.
NURSE
(re: tricorder)
What is that?
BEVERLY
It's a... new medical scanner.
It's a little more precise than an
X-ray machine.
The Doctor eyes it.
DOCTOR
Is it Japanese?
BEVERLY
Um... yeah.
(beat)
Now he's going to need a
respirator. Do you have one?
DOCTOR
We have two... but we don't have
the juice to run them.
PICARD
Juice?
DOCTOR
Power. There hasn't been a lot of
wind through here for the last
couple of weeks. Most of the
batteries are depleted.
BEVERLY
Don't you have any generators, or
other fuel sources?
The Doctor throws her an irritated look.
DOCTOR
Maybe you'd like to take your
patient to the hospital in
Bozemen... it's only two hundred
miles away.
Cochrane wheezes -- breathing becoming labored and
ragged. Beverly scans him, urgent.
BEVERLY
His automatic reflexes are
fluctuating. We've got to get him
on a respirator.
DOCTOR
(to Nurse)
Bag him.
The nurse picks up a portable respirator sack -- puts
it on Cochrane's face and squeezes the bag, forcing air
into Cochrane's lungs. Picard has been thinking
through this scene, finally has a solution.
PICARD
Beverly -- your tricorder.
She hands him her tricorder.
PICARD
(to Doctor)
Where's the battery room for the
hospital?
DOCTOR
I told you, there's no --
PICARD
Where?
DOCTOR
Outside, around back. Next to the
water tank.
Picard rushes out the doors. Beverly checks Cochrane's
pulse.
BEVERLY
His heartbeat's irregular...
Beverly climbs up on top of Cochrane, straddling him,
begins giving him 24th century CPR. She takes charge.
BEVERLY
Adrenaline -- ten CC's!
As they rush to save him.
74 EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY 74
The back of the building. Picard rushes out and spots
an old, dilapidated BATTERY UNIT providing power to the
hospital. He quickly yanks off the back panel,
revealing a tangle of wires, and several large
batteries. He kneels down, then removes the back of
the tricorder.
75 CLOSE ON TRICORDER 75
as Picard pulls out a small POWER CELL -- about half
the size of a dime. The blinkies on the tricorder go
out.
76 PICARD 76
holds the power cell with one hand, and starts pulling
out wires from the batteries with the other.
77 INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY 77
As before. Beverly, the doctor and the nurse trying to
save Cochrane.
BEVERLY
(pumping his chest)
One... two... three... compress!
The nurse squeezes the bag. Suddenly the room is
filled with the HUM of POWER and ALL OF THE LIGHTS AND
EQUIPMENT COME TO LIFE. Monitors blinking, fluorescent
lights flashing on. Everyone reacts with shock.
78 INT. HOSPITAL WARD - DAY 78
It's filled with patients. The lights and equipment
here FLASH ON, as well. Doctors and patients alike
react with surprise.
79 INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY 79
Picard enters. They've placed a RESPIRATOR down
Cochrane's throat, and attached electrodes to his
chest. Beverly has just finished giving him an
injection with a hypospray. The heart monitor in the
background is now beating regularly. The doctor turns
to Picard.
DOCTOR
What did you do to the batteries?
PICARD
Oh... just a little tinkering.
How is he?
BEVERLY
He's stable... for now.
(with meaning)
But it would be better if we could
contact... our friends.
PICARD
Yes. But until then, you'll have
to make do with what you've got.
BEVERLY
That'll be interesting.
A WOMAN'S VOICE:
RUBY'S VOICE
What happened to him?
Everyone turns.
80 NEW ANGLE 80
revealing RUBY SLOANE standing at the front of
Cochrane's bed. A striking woman in her mid-to-late
thirties -- dark hair, tall, lean, beautiful under
normal circumstances but at the moment she's not at her
best, it looks like she's just come in from a hard
day's work. She's wearing an old lab coat. But the
most striking quality of all is the innate intelligence
we can see in her eyes.
She's looking directly at Picard for an answer. Picard
realizes he has to say something. He looks into her
eyes and there is a moment here -- a brief spark of
chemistry that in normal circumstances the Captain just
might follow up. But at the moment, he shoves that
electric feeling aside and tries to give her an answer.
PICARD
There was some kind of explosion
out at the missile silo...
She looks at him for a moment, her eyes boring into him
without expression, as though probing the truthfulness
of his statement.
DOCTOR
Ruby, we're going to need a series
of cranial X-rays tonight.
RUBY
(nods)
I have a fresh set of plates at
home. I'll have them here by
eight.
She turns back to Cochrane, moves to his side, gently
takes his hand and looks at him with sad affection.
RUBY
(quiet)
Take care of him. He's a very
special man.
PICARD
Yes, he is.
She looks up at Picard, and again there's a slight
feeling of chemistry in the air. And then she turns
and starts to walk out of the room. Picard's combadge
BEEPS. Reactions.
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
La Forge to Picard.
RUBY
(stopping)
I think there's someone in your
pants.
PICARD
Excuse me. I have a... telephone
call.
Picard takes a few steps away, pulls the combadge out
of his pants pocket, taps it. Ruby watches him a beat,
then walks out of the room.
PICARD
Picard here.
GEORDI'S COM VOICE
Captain, we have a problem. I
think you'd better get back here.
PICARD
I'm on my way. Picard out.
Picard moves to Beverly.
PICARD
(sotto)
I have to go back to the silo.
Will you be all right?
BEVERLY
I'll be fine.
(re: Cochrane)
He's a different story.
Beverly begins examining the medical equipment she'll
have to work with as Picard exits...
81 EXT. RESURRECTION CITY STREET - DAY 81
A short time later. Picard walking down the main
street back toward the gates. People passing him,
taking no notice of him...Picard's mind thinking
ahead. He happens to glance down a side street, then
he stops.
82 NEW ANGLE 82
Looking down the side street. Ruby, the mysterious
woman from the hospital, is walking along with a camera
bag now slung over her shoulder. She stops for a
moment as she passes the hulk of a burnt-out old hover
car... stares at it...then pulls a home-made
FUTURISTIC CAMERA out of her bag and snaps a picture of
the car. She continues on her way. Picard is
intrigued -- wonders about this woman and what it is
she could be taking a picture of. Just then --
MAN'S VOICE
Catch.
Picard turns just in time to catch a small, metal
canister with a screw-top.
The man who threw it steps into view. It's LIEUTENANT
SCRIMM. Scrimm is the head of the town's militia.
While not a physically threatening man, there is a
quietly disturbing quality about him which conveys an
intelligence laced with a tightly reined volatility.
He's wearing futuristic combat fatigues and always
carries a sidearm. Before the war, Scrimm was probably
one of the "survivalists" who used to be dismissed as
radicals until their predictions of Armageddon came
true. At the moment, Scrimm is presenting his
friendliest face to Picard.
SCRIMM
(pleasant)
Think you'll need that.
Picard eyes the canister, not sure what to make of it.
SCRIMM
It's no zone solution.
(off his look)
You know. "No ozone."
He points to the sky.
PICARD
Oh... yes... ultraviolet
protection. Thank you.
Mister...?
SCRIMM
Lieutenant, actually. Lieutenant
Jonathan Scrimm. I'm the head of
the Resurrection Protective Force.
(beat)
And you are?
PICARD
Jean-Luc Picard.
SCRIMM
Great name. French?
PICARD
Yes.
SCRIMM
You don't sound French.
Scrimm is still smiling at him, but his eyes never
leave Picard.
PICARD
I was raised in England and here
in the States. Thank you for
the... no zone.
Picard begins to walk away, not wanting to engage any
citizens of the town. Scrimm falls in next to him.
SCRIMM
Where in the States?
PICARD
Oh... here and there. You know
how it is.
SCRIMM
Not really. I was born and raised
right here. Never had much use
for travel.
He casually steps in front of Picard, blocking his way.
SCRIMM
Where are you from most recently?
PICARD
(thinking fast)
California. San Francisco.
SCRIMM
Beautiful city. Used to be,
anyway. I didn't think anyone
still lived there.
PICARD
There's a few of us left.
Picard steps around him and continues walking down the
street. Scrimm waits a beat, then walks after him
again.
SCRIMM
That was a pretty clever trick you
did with the hospital's batteries.
How'd you do it?
PICARD
It wasn't a trick. I used to be
an electrical engineer.
SCRIMM
Huh.
He steps in front of Picard again, still pleasant but
a little bit of a smile fading from his face. Picard
realizes he isn't going to shake this man so easily.
SCRIMM
And what were you doing out at the
missile silo?
PICARD
I'm an old friend of Cochrane's...
I wanted to see how he was doing.
SCRIMM
Lucky for him you came by when you
did. He might be dead now.
PICARD
Yes.
SCRIMM
Maybe you can tell me what he's
been doing in that silo. We heard
some explosions out there this
morning...
PICARD
I think he was running a test on
an old rocket engine... and one of
the fuel cells burst.
Scrimm eyes him evenly.
SCRIMM
You seem to have an answer for
everything.
PICARD
Something wrong with that?
SCRIMM
Not yet.
A tense beat. Then Scrimm smiles easily.
SCRIMM
(re: balm)
Be sure you put that on. You need
a lot of protection around here.
He holds Picard's eyes for a moment.
PICARD
Thank you. But I've never had
much trouble protecting myself.
Now it's Picard's turn to smile pleasantly at Scrimm.
Picard walks around him and heads for the gates.
Scrimm watches him go with a thoughtful expression --
clearly, he's more than a little suspicious...
CUT TO:
83 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE 83
in orbit of Earth.
84 INT. CORRIDOR 84
Worf and a large SECURITY DETACHMENT -- a dozen or so
men and women -- are moving down the Corridor with grim
looks on their faces. They are carrying new powerful-
looking phaser rifles and other equipment. The feeling
is of an elite combat squad heading for a dangerous
mission. They stop at one point and Worf lifts up a
DECKPLATE, exposing a large HATCH in the floor. Worf
hits his combadge.
WORF
Worf to Bridge. We're in
position.
85 INT. BRIDGE 85
Riker in command, Troi nearby. Riker is standing at
the security station looking at a monitor which
displays a schematic graphic of the ship. The position
of the security team is flashing -- we can see they are
on Deck 46.
RIKER
This is the Bridge. I'm releasing
the emergency force fields.
He nods to Troi, who works a console.
86 INT. CORRIDOR 86
Worf and his team watch as the FORCEFIELD protecting
the hatch flashes off. Worf reaches down and releases
the hatch, which slides open with a soft whoosh. He
glances at his men for a moment, then JUMPS down the
hatch...
87 INT. DECK 47 - CORRIDOR 87
As Worf lands on his feet. The light is dim, no power
on this deck, hard to see. He looks around warily for
a moment, phaser at-the-ready, then activates his wrist
beacon. We immediately notice that we can see Worf's
breath -- it's freezing cold down here. He shines the
light around the darkened corridor, then silently
motions his arm for the others to follow. A beat, then
we see the security officers start to drop into the
corridor from the hatch above...
88 NEW ANGLE - CORRIDOR 88
As Worf's squad spreads out along the hall, weapons at-
the-ready, everyone alert with fingers on the triggers.
We see that the phaser rifles are equipped with their
own light sources, intended to illuminate the target
before you shoot at it. The Security Officers are
constantly moving their lights back and forth through
the chilly air. Worf gives hand signals -- holds up
two fingers, then a fist, and points forward.
Two Guards trot down the corridor about fifteen feet,
stop, and take up firing positions... then two more
members of the team run down, leap frog ahead of them
and take positions further down the corridor. Classic
military deployment. Worf starts scanning with a
tricorder.
WORF
(hits combadge)
Worf to Bridge.
RIKER'S COM VOICE
Riker here.
WORF
There's a dampening field in place
on this deck. Our tricorders are
useless.
The team continue to explore Deck 47. It's spooky,
eerie, a sense of menace around every corner. They
open doors, check room by room, section by section,
still no sign of the Borg in the freezing cold
darkness.
90 ANGLE ON SECURITY GUARD 90
The Corridor directly ahead has been stripped of wall,
ceiling and deck panels -- all the normal decorative
Enterprise sheathing is gone, revealing the circuitry
and machinery of the ship itself. Unlike the rest of
the corridors, there does appear to be POWER flowing
through some of the conduits up ahead, and it gives off
an eerie glow.
We can also see that some of the machinery has been
altered and changed -- not just the neat and orderly
arrangement you'd expect to find behind bulkheads --
there's a sense of cross-circuitry, re-wiring,
equipment being rearranged. Clearly, a lot of work has
gone on in this area of the ship. Worf steps forward,
examines the corridor closely.
ENSIGN HAWK
What the hell is going on?
WORF
Borg...
Worf signals the team forward, and they slowly begin
picking their way down the Borgified Corridor. It's
not easy -- they have to choose their footing carefully
as they walk through the maze of cables, circuits, and
machinery... Ensign Hawk accidentally steps on some
circuitry, which gives off a BEEP. The entire team
suddenly whirls their lights and weapons on the
unfortunate Ensign, who pales at their sudden attention.
Worf looks irritated, then motions his team to continue
their search. They continue making their way down the
spooky corridor... and as they turn a corner...
92 NEW ANGLE - ANOTHER CORRIDOR 92
where the machinery is now THICKER and more BORG-LIKE
in appearance. Tubes and cabling hang down from the
ceiling. If anything, it's even colder in here. The
deeper they go, the worse it gets. We can now hear a
low, sinister HUM of alien power. At the end of this
corridor is the ENVIROMENTAL CONTROL ROOM, as seen
earlier. The entire doorway is gone -- and a weird
pulsing GLOW fills the room. Worf stops his team at
the sight. From this vantage, we cannot see directly
into the room, but clearly something is going on in
there.
Worf signals his men to spread out, and they take up
positions around the Corridor, all weapons trained on
Environmental Control.
WORF
Worf to Bridge. We're about to
enter the Environmental Control
Room.
RIKER'S COM VOICE
Any sign of Data, or the Borg
themselves?
As Work and Riker continue talking, we MOVE TO Ensign
Hawk, who is now the last man in the formation,
covering the rear. He's shining his phaser-beacon into
the empty darkness. He can't help looking back over
his shoulder at the rest of the team and the distant
Environmental Control Room -- that seems to be where
the action is. As he turns, his beacon moves with him,
throwing the Corridor behind them in and out of
darkness.
WORF
(continuing)
Negative. However, they've
reconfigured the ODN network...
and re-routed all power on this
deck into Environmental Control.
As Worf speaks, Ensign Hawk turns back, but this time
when he shines his beacon into the darkness, something
MOVES in the distance -- a shadow. The Ensign freezes,
brings his rifle up. But did he see it, or was it his
imagination?
A tense beat as he waits, heart pounding... but nothing
happens. On the wall next to his head we see what can
only be described as a BIO-MECHANISTIC CABLE creeping
out of the wall... which begins slowly heading for the
Ensign's neck. Just as he begins to sense that
something is happening behind him, the cable WHIPS OUT
around his neck and YANKS him deep into the bed of
circuitry in the blink of an eye -- the motion so fast
we have trouble following it.
Worf turns his head at the sound.
WORF
Stand by, Commander
(to team)
Where's Ensign Hawk?
Everyone looks around, surprised that he's not there.
Everyone is alert, keyed up. The tension is thick.
Utter silence, except for the hum of the machinery and
the frosty breathing of the team.
RIKER'S COM VOICE
Worf? Is something wrong?
WORF
Something is very wrong,
Commander. We're falling back.
Worf gives hand signals for the team to move out. But
just as they start to fall back, everything happens at
once.
93 BORG DRONES 93
EXPLODE OUT OF THE WALLS, CEILING AND FLOOR! What
follows is a BLUR of action happening so fast and
furious we never get a true sense of what's happening.
A flurry of violence and motion and images:
-- A snarling Borg face -- half-human, half-machine, a
cybernetic nightmare.
-- Strange, bio-mechanical WEAPONS extruding from Borg
bodies, RIPPING into human flesh.
-- A crewmember PULLED into a bed of machinery.
WORF
Fire at will!
But the Borg are already on top of them. It's a brutal
fight in close quarters with no escape.
Phasers and Borg lasers lighting up the corridor,
bodies flying through the air... utter chaos and
terror. The fight goes hand to hand and Worf sees that
they don't have a chance...
WORF
(throwing off a Borg)
Fall back!
The team starts backpedaling, FIRING as they go...but
the Borg are unstoppable now -- they put up personal
force fields to protect themselves.
WORF
Go, go, GO!
Worf pushes his men down the corridor. Everyone turns
and RUNS like hell. Worf bends down and grabs a
frightened Lieutenant by the collar, pulling him along.
94 VARIOUS SHOTS: 94
-- The team running through the corridors, SHOOTING
behind them at the pursuing Borg, to no effect...
-- Two of the Borg raise their arms and FIRE LASER
BURSTS out of their arms and wrists, taking DOWN two
Security Guards. Worf sees them fall but there's no
time to go back.
95 INT. DECK 46 - CORRIDOR 95
As Worf's team starts CLIMBING UP and out the dark
hatch in the floor seen earlier.
96 INT. DECK 47 - CORRIDOR 96
As the last member of Worf's team climbs out to safety.
The Borg swarm is about to overpower Worf. He quickly
hits a few controls on his phaser, sets it to overload.
We hear the building WHINE. He JUMPS straight up into
the air, GRABBING onto the hatch rim, pulling himself
up. He barely manages to vanish from view just as the
phaser EXPLODES in a FIERY BLAST, taking out several of
the Borg drones.
97 INT. DECK 46 - CORRIDOR 97
The conclusive BLAST comes up through the hatch,
causing Worf to duck for a moment.
Worf reaches out to close the hatch, when a BORG HAND
bursts up from below and GRABS his forearm. It's a
test of strength. Worf reaches over with his other
arm, hits a control and the hatch SLIDES CLOSED,
SEVERING the Borg arm in a shower of sparks.
WORF
Worf to Bridge -- force fields!
The force field FLASHES into place. Worf and his team
sit there a moment, catching their breath, stunned at
what they've just been through.
RIKER'S COM VOICE
What the hell happened down there,
Worf?
WORF
Commander... we have a problem.
OFF Worf's shaken expression...
CUT TO:
98 INT. MISSILE SILO - CATWALK - DAY 98
Geordi and Picard are walking down the catwalk ladders
toward the missile's massive engines. Now that the
smoke has cleared and the place has been cleared up a
bit, we get our first good look at the ship and the
damage done in the Borg attack.
GEORDI
(on the move)
Cochrane was going to use this
solid rocket booster to lift the
ship into orbit. Before the warp
drive took over... everything
would depend on these old chemical
engines.
(beat)
Now here's the problem...
They arrive at a point on the fuselage where we can see
a large section of the engines have been BLASTED AWAY,
leaving a deep, ugly SCAR -- broken conduit lines,
wires that now lead to nothing. It's clear that a key
piece of equipment has been destroyed.
GEORDI
(re: damage)
This used to be the throttle valve
assembly.
(observing it)
It controls the thrust of the
engines. It's been completely
vaporized... and without it,
there's no way to launch the ship.
PICARD
Can you reconstruct the throttle
valve?
GEORDI
Yeah... if I knew what it looked
like. There's probably five
hundred ways to design a valve
like this...
PICARD
We need to launch this ship in
under eighteen hours...
(beat)
There must be some design
schematics... blueprints...
GEORDI
We're tearing this place apart
looking for them... but the
computers are down, and the fires
destroyed half the files...so
far, nothing.
They look at the damage in frustration.
GEORDI
If it was just part of the warp
drive, I'd know what to do. But
this... it's like trying to
rebuild Orville Wright's airplane
with canvass and sticks.
Picard thinks, remembers something.
PICARD
Wait a minute...
99 INT. CONTROL ROOM 99
Moments later. Picard and Geordi are looking at the
three cloth-printed photographs seen earlier -- the
headshot of Cochrane and two different angles of the
three cloth-printed photographs seen earlier -- the
warp ship with people working on it. Picard spreads
them out on the desk.
GEORDI
Yeah, I looked at these already.
Geordi points to a photo of the ship -- a worker is
walking in front of the throttle assembly, blocking
most of it from view.
GEORDI
You can almost see the throttle
assembly in this one... but this
guy walked in front of it when
they took the picture.
Picard considers, absently sticks his hand in his
jacket pocket. He pulls out the canister of balm
Scrimm gave him and tosses it onto the table.
PICARD
Could you reconstruct the throttle
from a photograph like this... if
that man wasn't blocking the view?
Geordi thinks it over.
GEORDI
Maybe...
(beat)
Sure. Yeah. As long as I could
get a clear look at the intake
configuration. But so far, we
haven't found any other photos.
PICARD
(staring at photos)
If there are other photographs...
I think I may know how to find
th |
