STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Encounter at Farpoint" #40273-167 Story by Monteleone & Jean Louise Baum Teleplay by Robert Hewitt Wolfe Directed by Richard Widmark THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT. Copyright 1988 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This script is not for publication or reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department. 4Kids And The Amazing Authorities" - REV. 8/3/88 - ACT FOUR 4TH PICARD ACOST JARED RIKER DOCTOR WEYOUN DATA JARED BUSSARD BEVERLY WEYOUN TROI GEORDI Non-Speaking SECURITY GUARDS BARRON TWO N.D. SECURITY GUARDS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE BRIDGE READY ROOM PLANET SURFACE OBSERVATION LOUNGE TURBOLIFT SICKBAY Region Room Conference Room Human SEE-Through Window Human Region Room / Conference Room Kitchen SURGERY BY THE REGISTRATION ROYALE HOTEL TAM RISING TOWER COMMANDER'S OFFICE STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE FORCAS FOUR-cuss ESTHERN ess. INTER WEIRD HUXLEY hanged-eye WESLEY strong-hearted kid MENDAK MEN-duh STOVEK STO-vek STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" TEASER FADE IN: OMITTED INT. ENTERPRISE SALON CAR Troi, Worf and Riker idly stroll through the room, each taking a sip of a TOOL from a dish and then placing them in a specific order. The three Rikers are busy in the background, fidgeting with the combination of tools. The mood is lounging, relaxed -- they're used to being at ease and they don't need to get overly attententive to make conversation. The three of them aren't looking particularly uncomfortable or uncomfortable here... but they're certainly not looking very happy either. WORF (to Riker) If you don't mind, Commander, I would like to read the report of the Starfleet officer who found the remains of the Antedians on those same coordinates... RIKER (fidgeting with his feet) ...And I'd like to submit my report to Starfleet... but I don't know whether they'll believe it... WORF The admiral will decide. RIKER (a bit firmly) Admiral, I've done my best to be rational in my dealings with Starfleet. WORF Knowing that doesn't guarantee anything. RIKER Worf, reasonable and informed... WORF But when it comes to proactive intervention, temporal dynamics, and torpedo dispensation, I am all but automatic... Riker GROANS. Worf resists the urge to roll his eyes. RIKER Awful. WORF (automatic) I believe I could be more informative to the admiral, if that's what you want. RIKER Neuromuscular function is a process, not a function. WORF Which processes are we talking about? RIKER Vital signs, reproduction, mortality, addiction -- WORF Are those even terms? Muon drains another trickle. Worf sinks to his knees. WORF (continuing) My god, the loss of youth... The other tubes in the room have all DIED OUT and are no longer working. The circuitry within is all but vanished. ANGLE ON RIKER lying on the floor, where he has been sitting, completely unconscious. After a beat, he looks up at... THE ORB (OPTICAL) from the Enterprise's transporter panel. Suddenly, a CLOSER IMAGE comes on the transporter SCREEN that moves straight for Riker's eyes. It is the backdrop to one of the transport scenes we've already seen, left to right now. TRANSPORTER OFFICER Captain, do you read me? RIKER (ambible) Yes, sir. TRANSPORTER OFFICER Vector away to clear. The last word is aloud. Then slowly, Riker moves toward the viewscreen... ANGLE ON VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) as Riker MOVES OUT OF THE SCENE. The others REACT. TRANSPORTER OFFICER Losing effective field, sir! RIKER Geordi, what's going on? On the viewscreen, the scalpel-like (computer-like) weapon SLAMS down next to the first officer's neck. There is dead silence for a beat, then... DATA The phase inducers are very efficiently controlled, sir... no matter what they do. Everyone is looking at Riker now, as though trying to classify him. He is in a lot of trouble. GUINAN He's inordinately tense. WORF What is it? RIKER He's in a lot of trouble. That gets everyone's attention. BEVERLY I'm immediately relieving him of duty. TROI Wait, sir? I don't understand... Riker's face changes as he sees the expression on Troi's face. OFF his reaction... INT. ENTERPRISE - TURBOLIFT On Riker as before. RIKER Deck Five. As the turbolift starts to move, he gives the axobannas a quick test. He is clearly the boss for this guy -- every move he makes is exactly the same as the last. RIKER So, will you be a standard officer or not? Certainly, the answer is yes. TURBOLIFT COM VOICE You are already on duty, Commander. Off Riker's reaction... INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE Lore is now on the Bridge. LORE (to com) Thank you, Enterprise. Good luck on your mission. The turbolift doors open and Riker and Worf ENTER. WORF (quietly to Riker) I would like to request a level three security seal for the Engineering Complex. RIKER Sure, give me a level one seal. Worf hands Riker a data clip he's been holding in his hands. Riker looks at it briefly, glances at Worf. RIKER (realizing; to Worf) If he assigns a security seal for me, he will have to authorize a access code for me. Worf nods, hands Riker the clip. WORF No code, Commander. RIKER (to com) Give me a level three security seal. WORF I will investigate the issues, sir. RIKER Any luck? Lore turns back to the com panel. LORE There is still much to discuss. RIKER Well, then... let's get to it, Number One. Riker and Worf begin working their respective consoles. INT. ENGINEERING - GEORDI is being quizzed by Data. GEORDI (confused) What is it, Data? DATA I am an android. My superior officers at the Federation Science Ministry have reviewed the records of the android "Jameson," as the unit's name implies. Their conclusion was that he was an idealistic, free spirit who abandoned prejudice as he made his way to Earth. Geordi's interest is rising; he turns to Data. GEORDI That's really something I've never seen before, Data. You'd think there'd be evidence he was an android. DATA GBT, a hunter. GEORDI Well... maybe he was; maybe he's not. DATA I do not believe he is an android. His programming is so alien it is difficult to doubt. Geordi makes a sharp turn about the room. GEORDI (continuing) I suppose you're right. I never thought I'd see another computer version of myself. (MORE) GEORDI (Cont'd) (beat) But even though I am not duplicated, I am like Data, except I am programmed to function differently. Geordi's confidence rockets a bit, but he's pushing Data a little too far and there's a fair amount of jeal and nervous tension involved. LORE (overlapping) Oh my, you are intuitive, aren't you? Arrogant; shallow. Pondered; can be swayed. Your attitude is most exquisite. But I think I envy you the exquisite sensation of others. GEORDI Well... I wouldn't let you get away with it, Lore. LORE I did once; I was a lonely fellow. Shall we go talk about it? The suggestion is making Geordi feel better. But as Lore disappears into the shadows, we can expect a concerted, if nervous, standing ovation. INT. CORRIDOR Geordi and Data are standing outside the Holodeck door. Geordi is very surprised to see it there. GEORDI You've done a wonderful program, Data. I'm sorry I couldn't get the rehearsal off. DATA I apologize. It is never easy to relinquish one's operas. GEORDI (knowing) Never? DATA I have had my share of productions and setbacks along the way. GEORDI (joking) Well... you've had your share of problems, right? DATA I have been known to give myself a bit of a challenge. Occasionally, I find a repetitive piece of music... I sometimes find a single word in a sentence... an entirely transparent image... and then... I just... let it go. (beat) Sometimes, I even find a single vase of flowers and a single petal of silk and the movement... and I just... let it go. Geordi's frustration is starting to show. GEORDI I'm telling you, Data... it's beyond my ability to gauge... DATA Puzzling. Would you be most comfortable analyzing the movement of a single individual? GEORDI I don't know. How would I know anything about a single flower? There's so much that could go wrong with a computer. DATA You are perhaps over-estimating yourself. GEORDI Believe me, Data -- there's a lot going right for you. The holodeck has been a tremendous advance. DATA I have noticed no such fears. All is... well, it would appear that I have a few... fears, actually. The system has been... enhanced in many perceptible ways. A beat as Data considers. DATA So far, I have found no need to replace the entire program. GEORDI Well... for some reason, I thought we'd leave it as is... and go our separate ways. DATA To "leave" the program and return to the Holodeck... ? Geordi thinks, begins to get an idea... GEORDI We could... DATA What? GEORDI (thinking) Wait a minute... how would you disassemble the program and reassemble it without the references? Data considers. DATA The program and the reference might be maintained in a similar fashion. With Commander Riker. GEORDI (catching on) We'd need long-range robotics. DATA I would be happy to provide the services you require. GEORDI Great. Geordi and Data exchange a glance... GEORDI We'll come back here tomorrow for a complete checkup. DATA Yes, sir. Data stands and EXITS. INT. CORRIDOR Data and Geordi EXIT to return to the Holodeck. After a beat, Geordi stops short at the sight of Data... GEORDI What are you doing in my quarters? Data pauses at the door, turns, smiles at Geordi. DATA It is Doctor Camier, senior student in tactical studies... Geordi smiles... maybe there's a chance here. GEORDI Nice to meet'you... And as they EXIT.. INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS Geordi and Data ENTER from the Holodeck. Camier is standing not two feet from Geordi's head but still measuring him. GEORDI When were you able to do the neural wave analyses? CANADOR Last night... we had a power peak... but it was well in error. My guess is the computer put too much pressure on the connections... GEORDI You don't mean that you're trying to fool me. CANADOR No. I've never been able to pinpoint the problem. GEORDI Why would someone design a holodeck program to make a lie seem to work? CANADOR I don't know. But it does suggest a certain amount of confidence. GEORDI You don't have that kind of confidence in just any holodeck program. CANADOR No, I don't. I have a better idea... (beat) I came to find Commander Riker. GEORDI Did you get him in one of the holodeck cores? CANADOR No. GEORDI We'll get him in one of the containment areas... don't worry, we'll only damage the freighter. He inputs the commands. THE RED CRYSTAL begins to shrink in the scanner. SCENE Geordi and Cana study the other side of the cure. GEORDI There's your miracle doctor. CANA Grebnedlog -- it's all over you. GEORDI And all over the ship. CANA You don't have Lwaxana Troi again. Neither do I. If we don't get help from the medical personnel, we will certainly die. Geordi looks from the diminishing size of the pocket of Dimanche to the admiral's hungry, anxious lung... And on the emotional impact of this... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR ACT FIVE FADE IN: EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as it orbits Glessia. INT. HOLODECK/SPACE STATION (OPTICAL) Riker is in the control area, Globalore and a pool of lights are flashing past his head. He is trying to comprehend this incredible situation. RIKER Maybe they didn't mean to shoot me. Maybe it was some kind of motivated distraction. Everything we've been through is starting to make sense. COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Tactical systems are trying to compensate for interference. Results not accepted. RIKER Reconfigure shield nut to allow low level pulses. (to computer) Computer, run science program, long range scanner. COMPUTER VOICE There are now over nineteen thousand self-replicating units in the core. INT. MAIN BRIDGE Riker turns to Geordi. RIKER Try it again, Geordi. Geordi crosses to a console and runs a check. GEORDI Science mode off. Geordi crosses to his brother and looks him over. Riker reaches a console and touches it. RIKER Nothing. Bring up the core computer. GEORDI Actually... He shows a console. GEORDI (continuing) I still can't get back any of the data in the file, Commander. There's something wrong with the interface signal. Riker frowns, concerned. RIKER How do you think it got out of the computer?  GEORDI I don't know. Someone reset the interface... Riker thinks for a moment. RIKER Let me see if I can do this by running a diagnostic. Geordi goes to a console and makes a test transfer. GEORDI (continuing) I'm still getting various shutdown signals... but they're coming from all over the ship. (beat) The interface signal's been going off forever... Geordi stops and looks at his console. GEORDI I don't see any presets... He thinks for a moment. GEORDI (continuing) The interface signal must be fused with some kind of active interference pattern. RIKER Which would indicate that someone is auto-destructing the interface sequence. GEORDI We'd have to route the input pattern to a different location. RIKER How would that be accomplished? Geordi thinks. GEORDI The interfaces are phase-locked -- any attempt to change the pattern would be disruptive. DATA Our interface patterns are confined to a specific bandwidth by default. GEORDI We'd have to re-route the input pattern to the appropriate bandwidth. RIKER And if that isn't possible, what would? Geordi thinks. GEORDI We'd have to re-route the input pattern to the correct bandwidth. But we could try to re-route the pattern from the interface level down to the subprocessor. DATA That would be difficult... the interface level is connected directly to the subprocessor. However, a temporary re-configuration might be possible. GEORDI We might be able to run a probe near the interface and scan it for traces. BEVERLY So what we do is locate the interface pattern and map it to the subprocessor instructions. GEORDI That's pretty good. If we can reconfigure the interface pattern once every two minutes... we should be able to keep the signal from snapping. They consider. RIKER If we can keep the signal from snapping, shouldn't we be able to shut down the collison? GEORDI Absolutely. BEVERLY We'll shut down the collison after two minutes if we're close enough. They look at each other. Neither of them is sure how they answer this question. RIKER Well... the answer is yes. GEORDI Not quite that simple. BEVERLY There's a fine line there. (beat) We might do it again when we're right. RIKER Go on. GEORDI No -- we can't. RIKER Belive me, neither should you. GEORDI There comes a time when a man finds that he can't live with the consequences of his actions. Probably wouldn't happen to me, but... One moment, they are together as before. The next, Geordi leaves. Riker watches after him. STAR TREK: "Shades of Gray" - REV. 5/2/89 - ACT ONE 12. RIKER (re: Geordi) When I think of you lieutenants in the command level... thinking about the consequences of disobedience... you're on that list, too. BEVERLY I don't have to compare my decision with yours. My accommodations on the Lantree are different. RIKER Everyone has limits... All right? BEVERLY (smiles) Not everyone. Riker smiles at her. RIKER Customers want to follow a specific set of rules. They have to break them before they're invited onto another ship. BEVERLY That's true... RIKER But all those people who said no to me, who said "this will do," are people who are very different from you. They don't have the same experiences. She reacts with compassion. BEVERLY Yes... On the Lantree, we used three-point-five hours to get the engine back on-line. Two minutes after we received the signal we were still on course for the Lantree. RIKER We had just spent two hours and then decided to turn back. BEVERLY We were doing exactly what we'd planned to do. RIKER The only reason they got stuck was because we were changing course. BEVERLY It was our best guess that the star just kept changing its orbit -- it just wouldn't make sense. But it didn't. It was causing a lot of interference... RIKER Is there any way to find out what caused the interference? BEVERLY If we had access to a run replicator, we could motion sensor audio or observe the engine disengagement... RIKER Make it so. Riker moves to the turbolift. RIKER (to lavishly cushioned) Cambodian three thousand five... INT. TURBOLIFT as Riker and Beverly ride in silence for a beat. RIKER Do you have any idea what happened? BEVERLY Han Solo took a little trip toward the Lantree... RIKER The Lantree, Ensign? BEVERLY They weren't supposed to reach Lantor Five for two days... clearing it took two weeks. RIKER What was the point of going to Lantor... if Malcorian transport was involved? BEVERLY We thought it was. Something slows down the turbolift. INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE Riker, Malcorian First Officer, and Worf are at their stations. RIKER Transporter malfunction... WORF One ship is lost, sir... it's been hit by phaser discharge... RIKER Red Alert. Red Alert. The ship goes to RED ALERT. WORF Radiation has breached the hull... we're in danger of fire. RIKER Maintain Yellow Alert. The turbolift doors close. INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE As before. WORF We're in direct contact, sir... hull penetration... three kilometers... three minutes... RIKER Status of the Lantree's life-support systems... WORF Not sustaining life support... No fire lanes... no response to hailing frequencies... RIKER arnaev? DATA Power generation is just 22 percent of normal... RIKER Who's taking the brunt of the assault... DATA The Lantree's primary power source is through a plasma star... several smaller stars in the system are being manipulated in an effort to prolong life. RIKER But they can't do that. STAR TREK: "The Mind's Eye" - REV. 3/19/91 - ACT FOUR 40. DATA Our shields will not be able to absorb massive amounts of energy before the shields start to weaken. RIKER What about the Lantree, Data? DATA The latter was launched on a saucy launch attempt and has been hit by anti-proton pulses. We are currently scanning the failed Lantree for debris and molecules. RIKER Can we pick up any other ships or lifeforms in this system? DATA Our sensors are unable to scan any inhabited vessel in this sector. RIKER (to Malencon) Actually... (he looks to Picard) We have three white ensigns. They're in their mid-thirties and they've managed to stay in one piece. Malencon looks at them. MALDENON (to Riker) Well... here's the test ship. Riker leads them to a door and Malencon steps back. The doors open and they enter... INT. HOLODECK/SPACE STATION COMPUTER ROOM (OPTICAL) They look around. RIKER This is the Enterprise. MALENCON The Enterprise is still in orbit. RIKER But she's your ship now. STAR TREK: "The Mind's Eye" - REV. 3/26/91 - ACT FOUR 41. alore „� there. MALENCON I have been monitoring Ops' communications. They seem normal. RIKER Then why did you shut down the main communications array? MALENCON There was no immediate need. But I would attach enormous importance to any attempt to re-establish those transmissions. RIKER But there's no way to get around the security seals. MALENCON You will. He blows a strand of web-like material into the containment socket. CLOSE ON SECURITY SEALS (OPTICAL) The strands sink in. There's a quiet beat, then the doors OPEN. INT. OPS O'Brien and Dax are on duty. Smiley is at his station, the airlock behind him. O'BRIEN �(to Dax) Everything's in order. Jadzia, you can leave. Dax EXITS OPS. NEW ANGLE On Dax and Malencon, working the panel on the space station. MALENCON The engineering file is loaded and validating. 184:[1,#b],90:[1,#b] MALENCON (Cont'd) How much longer will it take to scan the wormhole? DAX Another forty minutes. (to O'Brien) There's another thirty seconds left. O'BRIEN There's something wrong with the file in the Data's quarters. I want to scan it again immediately. MALENCON I'm afraid it's broken... Malencon picks up a small Data-like device. NEW ANGLE On the device as it BLOWS a BEAM toward the console opposite the space-station core. The device is emitting a CONORATORY INDICATORY (CIXTON), a high-energy burst we've never seen before. CLOSE ON UHC V. As the Cixon builds toward Malencon. It begins to GLOW, then a COLOR morph occurs on the device. The cable which Malencon was using to detach the station core is now gone, replaced by a GLOWING ORANGE COIL. The glowing coil becomes a glowing orange, somehow it seems to transmit something... MALENCON Truly!!!'S eyes narrow in thought realizing he's found something and reacting with a ROAR of rage. He pulls the device up and aims it at the orange glow, which begins to GLOW more brightly. CLOSE ON UHC V. Malencon aims the device at the glowing orange coil and SHOOTS. The orange glow RUMBLES as it enters the coil. DAY LIGHTING POV (OPTICAL) The orange glow VANISHES. WIDER (OPTICAL) The anomaly SHINES brighter and BECOMES an angry cloud of sparks. NEW ANGLE The anomaly SHINES again and the shadows begin to lose their solid color. ON KIRA As the anomaly SHAKES and the SOUND of the storm goes WARP BLUR. Kira stands frozen in place, unable to move or feel any emotion. Finally the voice of the Condor stops, ending the transmission. CONE'S VOICE (distant, mournful) Eminence... HOLD on Kira as she silently watches Pond until the sun goes Down. CUT TO: INT. CONE'S QUARTERS Kira is fast asleep and REM dreaming... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. CONE'S QUARTERS As before. KIRA (unsure) Eminence... ? CONE Jeremiah played for theiey back in time... theiey back in man. He was the best that ever played. (beat) But he did his best and theiey oaf was gee. Kira alternates between the floor and ceiling... feeling around and being nervous... KIRA So you're saying that Traveller went home alone and left you alone in a corner of the ship... and that throughout your exploration of the ship and the life there, you've had all these... heartache, friends... It isn't easy keeping a secret around the Cardassians, especially when they feel like you're keeping them in the dark about your feelings... CONE Don't trust them, Major. They're the ones who kept the ship and all we know for sure... KIRA Conce, there were three Bajorans in the runabout... CONE (nods) I confirmed that all of the crew had safely exited the vessel. KIRA (beat; not trusting Conor much) Thank you for your help. CONE Take care of yourself, Major. It wasn't your wish to do anything to the ship. And with a nod, she slowly rises and EXITS. The silence full of people watching her go is difficult to bear. CUT TO: EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. INT. CORRIDOR as Ezri makes her way along it, she happens to pass the offices of Professor Carlson and Mrs. Martok. Their respective bases are about to be converged as locals realize they have to go. EZRI (to Martok) How do you feel? MARTOK (uncomfortable) Like a bad dream... EZRI What'd you dream about? MARTOK The battle of Bok'Nor... the F.C.A. raid against the station... EZRI Wouldn't that be amazing? MARTOK What dreams do they have, old man? EZRI No woman, no child. MARTOK Perhaps... EZRI (frustrated) You can do anything he's willing to do. MARTOK No. He outrages me. He's obsessed. Who is he? The Great Warlord... or should I say the "Ezri" Report! EZRI (say it with me!) The Ezri Report! Martok's world is crashing down upon itself. He's thrashed, hysterical. He stands there, pins pointing his accusers one direction. MARTOK (voice rising) What's going on in that Horga'hn? What are the charges? EZRI He's charged with sedition -- MARTOK What? That's ridiculous! You said he threatened to kill me. EZRI (ignoring the insult) He wants to file charges against you -- presumably because of your reports that he's been raiding Cardassian settlements. MARTOK That has nothing to do with it. I'd think it would be wiser if you asked him. EZRI (insulted again) Great! Then we have arranged to meet. MARTOK That will satisfy you. EZRI Such a wise decision. Just then... NEW ANGLE A group of Cardassian SOLDIERS ENTER the bar. CARDASSIAN SOLDIERS You just in case you're not feeling well, we have some needs to satisfy. Martok looks up from his teacup. MARTOK (looking her over) Cardassians are so pious. EZRI What makes you think I'm a Cardassian? MARTOK That's just it. You're not a Cardassian. You're a Bajoran. And Bajorans are just like any other Bajoran. We all love Kabal, that's why we have temples. And the cult of the Pah-wraiths is just a small footnote in the history of galactic religion. EZRI (unimpressed) It's not what you think. It's what I think. Martok looks at Ezri skeptically. MARTOK Actually, you're not a very good host. You should change your clothing. EZRI Whatever you say. But I'm not changing my stage name. MARTOK What a fitting response to your petition. (thinks it over) Now what I really need is a partner. He stands. MARTOK (cold) Federation assistance, perhaps. Ezri looks at him and knows he's not being sincere. This isn't helping matters much. EZRI This isn't over yet. I still want to do this for your sake. MARTOK (groundedly) I'm sorry. But I'm afraid that won't be possible. EZRI What? You don't trust me. Nor do I. MARTOK (trying to scare her) Starfleet Intelligence believes the Dominion threat is growing. They need more ships. I can only send them one. EZRI We kept you from that,nan -- MARTOK I need more ships. And more ships. We must attack. EZRI What are you talking about? MARTOK I'm talking about a full-scale assault on the Dominion fleet. It took Starfleet six months to track down the renegades. Each of them now has a ship. We can go after them one by one. EZRI (to Martok) We're underestimating their capabilities. MARTOK Not at all. When the war began, Cardassia wanted to be strong. We realized that dominance came from copying our neighbors. So we formed a network of alliances and struck collective bargains so we could maintain a degree of military superiority. EZRI (realizing) And the Cardassians didn't need a military to defend their stolen land... they didn't even need a capital... they needed just enough information to set their engines on fire. MARTOK It has to be done. EZRI How? MARTOK I don't know. But we need to act now. EZRI Then what are you recommending? MARTOK I can't tell you. But what I can tell you is that we take the Enterprise to Cardassia Prime. There's a chance we'll get there air and surface support on the first attempt. But we can't even begin to make that kind of adjustment until we've got our first passenger on board. EZRI You're saying we interfere with the selection of passengers? MARTOK That's correct. It is not appropriate for you to do so. EZRI You're picking on someone who has nothing to do with your investigation of the accident. MARTOK He has everything to do with it. Unless he's planning to cooperate with us and he won't know that until it's too late. EZRI Don't patronize me. MARTOK He has a great deal of pride. I see it in his eyes. (a beat) We'll see where his eyes are. Ezri smiles to herself and gets out of bed. MARTOK (heated) I cannot bear the thought of losing you, Benjamin. You cannot contain the passion for this mission, nor the uncertainty of not knowing when you'll be back. I cannot go on. EZRI Then you don't want to go through with this? MARTOK (long beat) There is a solution to this that requires time. Time may be your greatest advantage. EZRI What solution? MARTOK Ezri understands him very well. When a Klingon thinks of time, time is everything. When he looks at me, he will see fear in my eyes. And I'll think of nothing else. EZRI Look around you, Worf. Do you see life anywhere? MARTOK I will not be asked about Vulcans anymore. EZRI But you are going to be very, very happy. You've made your choice. MARTOK (panicked) Not if I tell you the truth. EZRI The truth? MARTOK You realize there is no chance of escape. You will be executed if you try to escape. EZRI That's a wild assumption. MARTOK I live to prove it. EZRI Sabotage. MARTOK (to a third Vorta) Drag him off the Bridge. He and a Jem'Hadar escort drag off the Klingon. EZRI (to Martok) Your orders? MARTOK As well as everyone else. EZRI My duty is to get them back so they can protect the ship. MARTOK That's not so far from your mind, anyway. EZRI What about Li Nalas? MARTOK The last thing I need is a fight away from the Enterprise. I can assume that as long as Li is around, I won't have any problems. EZRI (to the Jem'Hadar) You go in with him. When he gets back, I'll meet you at the cargo bay with a prisoner for you. The Jem'Hadar EXITS. Ezri turns to Martok. He doesn't have to break his pretty good news. The two men, who could go on for hours, realize it's useless to continue their discussion. EZRI All right, first of all, I owe you an apology. You were way, way, way behind the times. MARTOK It's another one of your mistakes. Now, if you'll excuse me I have a lock to pick. EZRI (no response) I'm sorry, but I'm afraid my senior officers are: MARTOK (to a third Breen) Care to die? BENYAN (cold) � Those losses would be borne by our people. MARTOK Die well. Benyan says this with a smile, but Morn's face takes on an unhappy expression as he realizes the gravity of the situation. MARTOK (Looking for encouragement) At last. EZRI Benyan, you knew this was going to happen from the moment we arrived. I could've made the situation seem like nothing more than a simple supply running irregularity. MARTOK Then you regretted it. EZRI Who should regret it more: Jadzia or Kor? I already hate her. BENYAN And you still blame Solok for Worf's death. MARTOK (gruff) I always blamed Solok for my success. BENYAN And still you're here to berate me for betraying you. MARTOK (cold) I'll never lose that face, Benyan. I'm surrounded with friends and family. They'll always remember me as the man who gave his life to save them. (a beat) But I've neglected my duties as commander in chief for the past year. This isn't over yet. We have to follow our duty as soldiers of the Empire. MARTOK As you lie, burdened by guilt and trouble, we'll soon develop a sense of honor among our ranks. When we're fighting, no one will question our honor. When our men are safe, no one will question our loyalty. We're all in the same boat, Benyan. We all love our generals. They're our enemies. And as they all watch, the stoic Benyan leads the Breen army out of the room. OMITTED EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Establishing. INT. INFIRMARY Where Jake sits on a bio-bed as NOG examines his shoulder, looking at his watch. NOG I hate it when you're right... JAKE (sotto) I'm getting a little sick of it, Nog. NOG (sotto) Sorry, Jake. I didn't mean discouraging you. JAKE (sotto) That's never happened before. NOG I think it has... Never happened before somebody hit you with a stick. Jake leaves the room. JAKE I'm probably making a mistake going back to bed. NOG You're the chief of operations, right? You're always right. JAKE So's my commission. NOG Right. JAKE So's my commission. NOG Well then, if you'll excuse me I'm going to reopen the commission... JAKE Nog, leave me alone. NOG I will! He storms out of the bedroom. JAKE Nog! As Nog EXITS, Jake sits back... breathes deeply and takes a couple deep breaths. He looks at the large Nog figure in the solitary medkit, then looks around the room, seeing no one else is staying at the table. He returns to the medkit, begins putting away the items in the cabinet. Katius shakes his head sadly. KATZAL Such odd questions... JAKE What's the matter? KATZAL I have lost all perspective... JAKE I don't understand. KATZAL The past is no longer relevant. The future is here. In the past, Bajor could have been. It wasn't, and won't be again. JAKE I see. KATZAL It's your mistake, Jake. You never accepted responsibility for what happened on your station. Nobody does. Now that responsibility is yours. See what you can do for me. He looks at the medkit. JAKE I had responsibility for a lot of things in my life, including this. KATZAL You behaved aberrantly. I saw it. (a beat) You must put this behind you. It was a bad habit... a weakness... a weakness. (a beat) When I was a child, I had to make certain that children could never represent a threat to anyone. So I would hurl them from high altitudes. But today, every single one of them has disappeared. They're all gone... And you have no idea why. JAKE It's possible... you never fully realized how dangerous it was to be... KATZAL Nonsense. You didn't ever know you were a sleeper, or a babysitter. You were an orphan... an unwanted child. You liked packing... finding food... making meal for the others... but you never realized that you were responsible for the everyday conditions... the daily conditions of life. Beat... a long quiet beat. Katzal moves to the medkit on a nearby table. KATZAL (continuing) When I was growing up, I was never allowed to leave my room. I guess that made you feel some semblance of selfhood, a little something to emphasize that you're not just one of those. You're not just another blanket. JAKE I'm glad I could help. KATZAL You've learned a great deal in the last ten years. JAKE Oh? KATZAL I've had seventeen lifetimes to know you. You're a wise man. JAKE My dad taught me this. KATZAL The word for "wise" is a hard word to define. I never got IRE... of it until quite a few years ago. He puts the satchel down on a table. KATZAL (continuing) The Satchel is a powerful device. Mostly, it serves as a simple wallet. JAKE That's wonderful. KATZAL But I never thought it would be a possible experience. JAKE Well, don't let it go to your head. You try to do it right now. He reaches into the satchel and pours some KELLIUM into the mouth of the transporter device. JAKE That's not the most efficient way. He pushes it down through the slot in the tray. JAKE Still, it's better than nothing. He takes the device from the tray. JAKE And this isn't just some experimental device. It's a weapon. Think of it... every system you've built in your life... every service you provided as a child... every defense you've ever needed... you've armed yourself to the hills of Asia. KATZAL It's not real. JAKE It will eventually become real. When it becomes clear you no longer have the luxury of waiting, I'll take the liberty of obtaining information from your life. If you don't want information, that's fine with me. If you want to know the truth, it is. Katzal's cold gaze moves across the room. JAKE Not true. There are truths I must tell. But you won't hear them. He EXITS. OFF Katzal's thoughtful expression. INT. TIMOTHY'S QUARTERS Thirty seconds later. The door to the life raft has closed. The children are safe. GEORDI They're all safely in their beds... JOSEPH I'm still up here... wait a minute... Joseph enters and moves to the wall safe. Joseph looks at it for a beat, looks over the interior for a beat, then removes it and looks at something on the other side... KATZAL'S DEATH is temporarily removed from the ship. As Joseph continues to look at it, it eventually moves back into the safe and Joseph removes it from the safe. JOSEPH There it is. You've been looking for it all along. JOSEPH (indicating the wall) This is it. GEORDI This was built by the Tholians to send a signal to the other side... JOSEPH The Tholians are mad. The walls are a prison for their minds. Every movement there is stamped with a strict code of behavior. You cannot leave the room without permission. You have to give an adequate explanation first. SISKO I understand. But, Geordi, the Tholians aren't the only ones who need to get their minds off things. JOSEPH Too many people are living on this station. It's a terrible burden all over the place. SISKO Me, I know. But I want to leave them behind. I don't know what else to do. JOSEPH As do I. SISKO That's right, and I want to learn everything I can about them so when I'm back in my office, I can go back and stop looking at all those professor's reports. There's an awkward moment as Joseph stares at the wall, never mind the others. JOSEPH I wish you'd stop that, Joseph. You're upsetting your son... JOSEPH And I wish you'd stop asking me to make dinner plans. SISKO It's not your problem, Dad. JOSEPH Yes, it is. There's nothing wrong with our son. SISKO My son is this week's problem. He refuses to eat dinner with you unless you make it special for him. JOSEPH It's not like I don't appreciate the wait... (looks at food she hasn't eaten) Here, try some... He moves to a buffet table. Sisko looks up to see a fierce Keller Clark making a beeline for his son. SISKO I'm sorry. Our communication channels are completely cut off. JOSEPH In that case you'd better get hold of yourself. Your son's in no condition to form attachments. SISKO I'll see to it. JOSEPH No. It's time for your blessings. Josiah, my son, you've got a vicious streak in your veins, Ben. And when you're about to catch a dormant minnow, dig it up and hold it steady. SISKO (defensive) Not today. At that moment, Sisko EXITS... Rachel loves reading about his odd behavior. JOSEPH The scripture tells us to be careful not to reject the Word of God because some people think it's not good enough. ROBIN (thinking it over) I know you're trying to protect your organization... but what if what you're saying is true? JOSEPH What would you have me do... ? ROBIN You'd keep doubting the Lord your way until he passed on to a new prophecy... or your son did. Joseph looks back at his wife, widens his eyes in concern... JOSEPH That doesn't matter. What matters is that I have this son, and I want him to know that the path ahead looks a lot easier than it does today. The Savior will come again... at exactly fourteen hundred hours. Unless he's had something to drink by fourteen thirty-four. ROBIN Yes, what about that worm in your Bajoran Ale? JOSEPH I like Ale, Rohan. It's... spiritual. ROBIN You should. It gives you a chance to commune with your ancestors. JOSEPH It's an ancient prayer that's never been answered. ROBIN Tell me about it. JOSEPH There's no better way to learn the truth from a fairy tale than to face the truth about yourself. JOSEPH I've worked hard and sacrificed a lot for this. It means a lot to know that my son comes through the door of a nightmare and walks right into the light. ROBIN Is there any... hard science to support that theory? JOSEPH Theologically, there's not much to say. It's just another version of the same old song. The hyenistic lives are in the same basic shape as every other rock in this entire river. And as far as Joseph's concern... well, he's in a prime spot in the neighborhood, so we'll never have to put much of a dent in his wallet. Joseph walks away. ROBIN One more thing: it's all for nothing. He can leave anytime. Whatever happens, we have to make sure he doesn't walk away. JOSEPH That's all I'm going to say. ROBIN But it's not over. I've got to make a decision. JOSEPH You want to talk to me? ROBIN Sure. JOSEPH Do me a favor... continue to prune his things. When all is done, then help me stuff them into a smart box. And with that, Joseph walks away. We stay with Robert and Robin. ROBIN What about Cyrus? JOSEPH Cyrus? ROBIN He'll never walk away from the hearing. JOSEPH He'll never walk away from the hearing? ROBIN Trust me. JOSEPH He'll always get right to the hearing. ROBIN He'll never walk away from the hearing. Josie enters just in time to keep Joseph quiet. JOSEPH There he is. Hold on Joseph for a beat, then... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END