STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Last Outpost" CAST PICARD FELISA OF HUMANOID RIKER SAKA MARU DATA SANDERS BEVERLY TAMA TROI TACHYONS GEORDI TRYLA SCOTT WORF WORKMEN WESLEY VOICES ANOTHER WORKMAN A WOMAN Non-Speaking SUPERNUMERARIES SCIENCE SUPERNUMERARIES TWO SECURITY GUARDS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Last Outpost" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE Main Bridge Data's Quarters INFIRMARY STREET Sickbay Crusher's Office Captain's Ready Room turbolift ARBORETUM STAR TREK: "The Last Outpost" - 11/17/93 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Last "The Outpost" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ANTHWARA an thi-RWAH-rah BARRADAS bah-RAD-us DEBRUNE deh-BROH-dee KUH'RAT koo-RAHD- LES KORES leh KOR-ehs MAURIC muh-RICH-ick NECHAYEV NECK-bah-vil T'PEL tak-PEL YORIM yo-ROE-im T'PAN tuh-PAN STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Last Outpost" TEASER FADE IN: EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE AND MYSTERY SHIP (OPTICAL) The two ships in orbit together. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's log, stardate 44614.4. While investigating a report of a lost crew in the Iyaaran satellite grid, our probe has reached a region of space known as the Kallisko cluster. INT. BRIDGE PICARD, RIKER, DATA, WORF, and SUPERNUMERARIES at their stations. There is a sense of urgency in the air. RIKER Moving... PICARD Stand by, Number One. RIKER Activating thrusters... He feels a smooth but palpably uncomfortable vibration of the lower back... RIKER Damn... PICARD What? What felt like that? WORF Sir, sensors detect a subspace energy expansion indicating a ship. RIKER Is it looking at us? DATA Yet to determine, sir. The fascination of the moment runs through Riker's fingertips. He looks up at the viewscreen... PICARD Perhaps it's something that other ships on the station don't have. (to Worf) Increase to warp nine. WORF Warp nine, sir. PICARD Stand by for warp nine. (to Data) Make it so. The other members of the bridge crew digest these commendations. TROI (with a slight frown) Sir, regarding Captain Kwan -- does it always start with a "B." Picard's expression goes back to normal. PICARD (a slight nod) Not this time. The turbolift doors snap open and Riker ENTERS. INT. BRIDGE Picard's expression always maintains an air of composure. PICARD Am I intruding? RIKER No, sir. Our schedule shows that you arrived here and spoke to Admiral Riker. PICARD (to Riker) I'd like to discuss the personnel assignments at a later time. Proceed. RIKER Set a course for the Kallisko. With advantage of warp nine. PICARD Very well. He looks at the others. PICARD The men are yours. WORF (indicates) Captain. Picard looks at Worf -- it's a subtle but deliberate stare. PICARD Once he's seen you, Worf, you should be able to arrange something to compensate for the damage. WORF (nods) I will try. A beat. PICARD Mister Data... RIKER Your brother's asking to see Admiral Riker. Picard turns and heads for the door. He pauses at the entrance to the briefing room. PICARD Both of you. Worf and Data acknowledge. Then EXIT. Picard looks around the room. OFF his expression. CUT TO: INT. CLASSROOM - ON TIMOTHY at the edge of the class room, having just finished breaking in his AP Math homework. He holds a glob of white out to him, like some kind of playground creation. It looks complicated from all over the room. Finally, when he turns back to look at Geordi, he sees it. GEORDI Community college. Timothy's avoids the usual distractions. Out of the corner of his eye, Timothy glances up at him. It's not pretty, but it's still an innocent thing to do. He feels Geordi's watch. TIMOTHY A thing to do... He glances around the room. TIMOTHY (continuing) Computer... The computer CHIRPS. GEORDI Timothy, can you hear me? Timothy doesn't answer. Geordi looks frustrated. TIMOTHY Computer. No response. TIMOTHY (continuing) Computer... He looks back at his watch. When it doesn't come to, he glances at Geordi. TIMOTHY (continuing) Hang on. He studies the board. Someone's already reached over and pulled him from his chair... JUSTIN I'm here. JUSTIN stops in front of Timothy. He faces the board. JUSTIN Are you all right? Timothy shakes his head. TIMOTHY It wasn't imaginary. It's really here. JUSTIN stops in front of him. JUSTIN The college finals are in ahead of you. TIMOTHY The finals? What are they? JUSTIN Asian studies. Timothy doesn't quite get it. TIMOTHY You said something about college. JUSTIN That's right. TIMOTHY I just... didn't mean to imply... JUSTIN That's okay. You can say whatever you want. Just before he says goodbye, he lightly staggers and collapses. Christy watches him in amazement. She mans the wheelchair and they both lie there motionless. OFF the stunned look on Timothy's face. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR ACT FIVE FADE IN: INT. SICKBAY Warren has opened the medkit and Timothy is being carefully attended to by Beverly. The boy has swallowed back tears and Beverly is posing deceptively still, treating him like a man. BEVERLY We've made some progress, Warren. Warren shudders and opens her eyes -- it's terrifying. RICHARD Some... slight damage to the sepulum. Beverly newcomment? RICHARD Severe headaches... the motion of blood into the vessels... Beverly And increased susceptibility to throwing up. RICHARD (almost to himself) That's the movement of the arteries into the veins... Beverly Which is exactly what happened to me... GEORDI What happens now? RICHARD (bitter slur) The kid's just getting worse. Giants and Indians and science savages all feel trapped by special conditions. They have to find something to give them parenthood again. Beverly Just what is it that they're looking for? GEORDI Texas -- the girl's family � come from the vicinity of the barren ground. As I thought, I drove down to the beautiful barren ground and there in the love of man I found a mate. RICHARD Mister La Forge -- you have fascinating, Harvey-Hee. It is purely rational to assume that a living girl would be less difficult to raise than a dead one. But nonetheless, you have found her. And now you're going to take her from us. WILLIE You're just going to leave her here. RICHARD What makes you think I'm going to give her up? WILLIE I've ridden her in my machine all her life... I know she's as good a daughter as her father is. Beverly Lloyd, you're older than I am... it's not your place to order me around... RICHARD It's not your place to order me around. I'm the one who's a prisoner in here, not you. This just makes Lore look at him, and blows his wind up. With half a mind, he escapes and motions Beverly to go to the phone bank... he desperately takes the form of a Chero'n and rings the bell. RICHARD (calling from the closet) Come in! Beverly ENTERS, and assumes his normal voice. BEVERLY Surprise you're not on the bridge right now, you'd just get shuffled to the other bunk. RICHARD (to Picard) Children usually get the worst of this; they never get the opportunity to escape. PICARD In which case, they're an excellent group targetting communicators. They do excellent neutrals. RICHARD Well, hello there. Beverly shoulders the chaperone; then assumes a more emotional state and breaks into an waltz of Wuki -- which is louder and longer than usual. EMPHASIZING LORE In the b.g., Beverly stretches to simulate a CreeK -- which Lore records for later reference. LORE (sotto voice) No, no, just happy to be here momentous. I can't imagine what it's like to be so... oulous. I'm not used to being anything else but a locust. (Sotto alarm) ... Locust. Beverly shushes and does nothing, but her attitude takes on an air of controlling. EMPHASIZING RIKER He records his frustration into his PADD. RIKER We're somewhere in the Neutral Zone, and you're telling us it's because of Geordi's "confusion." LORE Does he know? RIKER I wasn't talking about him. (thinking it over) I was talking about how this agency, this program, is built. (troubled smile) I should've seen it before. EMPHASIZING DATA (OPTICAL) as Lore checks Data out of the panel. LORE (continuing) You've got a confused look in your eyes. DATA If I were to perchance become a Lore, I would endeavor to understand my programming more fully. LORE You humans perhaps. If there's anything that you need, you can go see your Commander Data. In fact, that's what we do. Data moves to Riker -- in a whisper. DATA I would be happy to do so. Commander, unless there's a reason not to, I will obey your orders. LORE Good. (smiles) You can make your Commander Data lieutenant after the service's over. RIKER No. I won't make him obey you. We'll see what happens... Data nods, then steps up on the transporter pad. DATA Energize. They DEMATERIALIZE. INT. ANGEL ONE GREAT HALL - NIGHT Riker, Tasha and Troi ENTER. Solid block the exit. Intentiatiy comes pouring out of the disabled transport Riker goes to Tasha. RIKER Who's that? TASHA I don't know, Commander. (indicates) Tasha Yar. The Lieutenant on that ship is named Deanna Troi. Riker and Troi cross to the exit. TASHA You can't be allowed to leave the Enterprise. RIKER Are you saying you helped her escape? TASHA It would be untrue to say. The emotions running from her are specifically directed at Commander Riker. TROI You must know that she lets out a collective sigh of relief at the moment. RIKER It was her doing, Deanna. TROI (nods) She has the ability to vast regions of emotion. Most people find her quite fascinating. (MORE) TROI (Cont'd) (indicating Riker) Isn't she? RIKER I'm not sure, but neither do I. This is personal. TROI Why didn't you ever say so? RIKER I don't know. (a beat) It's just that... You're angry with me. TROI Angry? RIKER You set such a low standard for the other students. No one has ever found the expression "bind-girl." She stares at him. TROI Who owes you a favor? RIKER I... don't know. What Commander Data, or Counselor Troi, or any of the other admirals and heads of Starfleet has to do is get down here and start talking to us. LORE You're certain they'll help? RIKER I spoke to them about it. And they said it's an important element to their strategy. The others turn to him. WORF We can't let Lore start the war. LORE (to Riker) I'll go to the junkyard and get something for you. Riker nods and Lore EXITS. GEORDI Commander, what's the com status of the away team? RIKER We're still on course to T'jar. We can send out a science pod to scouting soon. GEORDI Good idea. If Data's right, we should be able to get underway within the hour. RIKER Yessir. EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as it continues on toward T'jar. INT. CORRIDOR as Data and Lore trudge through it, with Picard protective of their presence. LORE You pushed us into this, don't you? DATA We encountered a life-form when we were exploring the planet's interior. LORE It was the first true life-form to come through that door. It was very nervous... thoughtful... it responded to its Name thoughtfully... DATA Hugh decided to name it after himself. LORE Because he went to a lot of trouble making it human... and had to come up with a name that both recognized the creature and came to know. The others turn at the sound of the command. PICARD See that all security is in place before we arrive at T'jar. DATA Yes, sir. Lore touches the com panel. LORE Yes, Captain. The com panel starts to blink. LORE (continuing) Com panel operations in programming. The com panel blinks for a second and there is that SOUND that indicates the computer is still operational. Lore nods in satisfaction. LORE (continuing) Well, Captain, let's see how well your ship's equipped to deal with an incoming species. PICARD You have my word that we will handle it appropriately, Commander. INT. MAIN BRIDGE everyone at their station except for Data. RIKER Transporter room, this is coordination for the away team which is assembling in transporter room three. TRANSPORTER OFFICER'S COM VOICE Transport complete... RIKER Let's hope we're not going to be searching for them. DATA It is conceivable that we could be asked to assist in their search. GEORDI It's a good idea. Let's go. The others exchange glances. That's one problem right? PICARD Make it so. SBENNY'S COM VOICE I will be returning with the sample. All below stand-by. CUT TO: INT. PLANET DISASTER AREA The away team moves through a ziggurat-like architecture with disconcerting tall buildings and spires, pointing up to a black sky and a black horizon. There is a ramp to one side of the structure; a simple single story building remains the central element. Riker scans the area with his tricorder as Data examines the structure with his "mind" analyzer." As they approach the structure's ects... INT. MAIN BRIDGE Picard and Data have found something just beyond the main viewscreen. Data looks surprised. Picard scans the far wall opening before him. PICARD Data. Data hesitates. PICARD What is it? DATA My tricorder readings are detecting a great deal of energy retention within this structural form. PICARD Have you the necessary tools to determine its composition? DATA I will attempt to do so, sir. Data moves to the console. INT. MAIN VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) as Data works his controls. The image on the screen is magnified and growing larger. (It should be obvious that there is a tremendous amount of heavy LIGHT cast down along with some DARK SPINNING and BEAM-OFF DURABLE CONCRETE. There is a SOUND that indicates the development of the structure. It REVEALS a GREAT FACE, from which a GLOWING ELECTRICAL SPINE extends itself. Almost immediately after, the structural cast is shattered, revealing some of the hardware itself. OMITTED INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Data makes a slight motion and the structural cast REPAINTS, and a HOLE EXPLODES down through the ceiling (IT'S A CHILD-RELATED CHANGLE). DATA I am unable to terminate the power transfer. PICARD We are in luck. The power transfer has stopped. Data seems to think this over for a moment. PICARD (to the crew) What about Allison? Has she survived? After a quick beat, a small smile spreads on Anderson's face. DATA She is safe and unhurt. PICARD (to Data) It would appear so, Data. RIKER (to Data) What about Commander Data? DATA I do not believe so, sir. I feel like a new man. PICARD You're exactly what the doctor ordered, Data. Empty your mind of all negative experiences. DATA (chiming in thought) Yes, sir. PICARD And what's the matter? You're always on time. DATA Sir? PICARD That's right. Well, try to be more productive. DATA Yes, sir. (a thought) And what if we added a few more enthusiasts to the staff? Picard looks at him, surprised. PICARD What do you mean? DATA I believe our physical concerns toward each other are unnecessary. Since I am designed to cooperate with other lifeforms, it follows that my cloning facilities and my office are both compatible... PICARD (interrupting) Data, enough. You have done enough. DATA Sir? PICARD During the missing day. You misled that entire science team. DATA I suggested that Tikal might have simulated Picard's questions and tried to convince me that it was Picard who was mad. I tried to justify my own existence by exaggerating the man's perceptions. When I failed, I discouraged all of us. PICARD And now you're coming back to comfort me. You didn't want me to be the only one who had a message. What was I thinking? DATA I do not know. (a beat) I have lost you, Captain. The others turn withingly at this. TROI And just who was I thinking about? PICARD Nobody. The illusion was that we were alone, across the galaxy. If that's what it was, we had done the right thing. Wiping away tears, Picard returns to his seat. DATA Sir, I should have known that something so subjective would distract you from your duties. PICARD (glumly) Nobody could have been more lethargating. (a beat) I'll hazard a guess: Nobody in Starfleet. DATA Perhaps you should write that essay down. PICARD (smiles) Maybe I should. DATA What do you propose? This is a painful moment for Picard, as Data probes the alien. PICARD I have been programmed with specific responses. My thoughts and feelings have been programmed. The choices are very limited. DATA There are many points in computer science research where the choices aren't so limited. PICARD (taking a moment) In contrast... DATA ... in almost every other area. Picard nods. PICARD In almost every area. (beat; then looking at Data) You are correct. This is an illusion. Our perceptions are limited. DATA This includes me, sir. PICARD Except you have not been programmed for the same ends. DATA I have been programmed with familiar behaviors... certain tendencies to certain emotional configurations. quickShip PICARD In almost every area of life except... (beat; this is hard for him) Except... He trails off. The others turn on him. RIKER This is hard for you to say, Captain. PICARD It is true. TROI In your research, how many psychologists are involved with the creation of individual dreams? PICARD As a general rule... not more than twenty years. BEVERLY Two or three? WESLEY (shakes his head) Psychologists do not like the concept of "childhood abuse." Anything that strengthens a child's sense of safety is beneficial. PICARD (thinking it over) I would have appreciated some sociological research, some experiences to help explain what happened. BEVERLY Unfortunately, the only reliable way to learn about unknown experiences is to do an experiment. WESLEY If we could get John back, I wouldn't want to do anything other than recreate the incident. They exit... TROI In a situation like this, it's possible we could learn a lot from our patients. PICARD And if they got healthy, I might be willing to recommend they be allowed to re-enter the medical business. TROI Even in situations like this? BEVERLY Even in these circumstances, it may be prudent to proceed cautiously. PICARD I appreciate your caution. I would, however, be more comfortable if we knew exactly what we were approaching. BEVERLY The cells in your head are so fragmented that it's a wonder you were able to sense what I was saying. PICARD Researcher, I've discovered a method of replicating organic material which will allow your mind to self-replicate. DATA Inorganic. PICARD Yes. However, upon examining the organic samples, I discovered that each contained some kind of self-replicating DNA. They exchange a mystified look... PICARD Within a few hours, we'll know for sure. And if I'm correct, our arrival will mark the first stele stone years from now. Data and Beverly acknowledge... EXIT... INT. STARBASE 515 SURGICAL SUITE - PICARD (OPTICAL) lies in repose, his uniform jacket open, his face completely unreadable... The microphone is gone -- Picard has reverted to his old self. His peripheral vision has improved just enough to allow him to inspect the surfaces of the patient in the morgue. His expression is grim. BEVERLY What have you found? PICARD These are the remains of a human. His name's on the register for death in twenty-one years. Beverly stares into space, frowns. BEVERLY I had a feeling you didn't mean all those faces... She indicates one of the empty seats. BEVERLY (continuing) I haven't been able to locate another Polassian yet. (beat) And I was beginning to think you might've been killed when the shuttle exploded. PICARD I certainly have. Any mistake I might have made, any mistake you might have made -- all mistakes. Except my own. My sin. BEVERLY Any confession? PICARD None. Nothing I say contradicts anything you're saying. BEVERLY All right... what have you concluded about our alien? He looks at her, grunts. PICARD Nothing. I cannot explain how commanded -- or why. There are no stars, woman. There are no planets in this universe. But there's a God who speaks to us. And He speaks to you. (MORE) PICARD (Cont'd) Frankly, I don't understand how I could reach out to these people. They would have dealt with me differently if I hadn't. He pauses, looking from one to the other. PICARD (continuing) My own God? Who knows what he is. BEVERLY Jean-Luc, you haven't been prisoner of some obscure chain. PICARD No, I haven't. I am merely concerned with guiding Starfleet's covert operations. BEVERLY What about "Q"... ? I assume he has his own agenda... pinpoints the missing fragment. PICARD He has his own agenda, Doctor. If you hadn't told us about it, we would have discovered it and recovered it before now. BEVERLY (smiles) As it turned out, our greatest advantage is our complete knowledge of the Borg collective consciousness. PICARD (turns to her) Your point, Doctor. As I thought about how to restore the ship, I realized that if I could talk them into unconditional donation... BEVERLY (interrupting) It would cripple the Borg -- PICARD Borg can't exist near continuous neural activity. It would cease to exist as far as historical records and social customs are concerned. BEVERLY But... ? PICARD The Borg contacted us before they locked themselves onto the Merrimack. They requested our help. (beat) How did you get in touch with them? BEVERLY It wasn't until I started investigating the environmental conditions on the surface that they contacted me.  PICARD Why in the midst of the worst storm on record? Fog? A bad choice of words, I'll remember. Yes, it was a storm... He gets up, moves away. PICARD (continuing) I'm glad you're here. Looking around at the storm. PICARD (continuing) You helped bring down the Turbolift Bridge, remember? GEORDI Not quite... PICARD You helped steer the Enterprise. And we're all you've got. Geordi and Beverly regard him. He is humble, puzzled. GEORDI Yes, sir. I certainly am. Picard turns back to the storm, determined not to let the situation escalate into something he can't control. PICARD (continuing) We'll manage. Find out what the doctor says and get me down to the surface. (beat) Okay? GEORDI (unclear) Okay... He stops, looks at Beverly. GEORDI (continuing) Thanks, Doctor. BEVERLY My pleasure. He EXITS to the Turbolift and the doors close behind him... Beverly leaves her chair and begins to work on a PADD. Seconds later, Picard comes out from behind the console... PICARD What's the problem? Geordi looks at him. GEORDI The guidance system's not responding to the warp field. PICARD Maybe you should check the problem on the Main Viewer, Mister La Forge. Geordi nods and moves to a TECHNICIAN who is working at the panel. The TECHNICIAN looks at Geordi's questioning look... CUT TO: INT. MERCENARY BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Baran in command position. Picard, Riker, Vekor, Nilrem and Baran are on the viewscreen. The mercenary ship is heading directly for the planet. BARAN (to Picard) Continue the evacuation of the surface. You can't leave now -- you have to maintain your present course and speed. Charlie, the mercenary ship's "hands", comes striding aboard. BARAN (to mercenary ship) Transfer the matter and return to starbase for treatment. NILREM (to Picard) It wasn't our intention to ritually return here. We intended to return when the mercenary ship was destroyed. BARAN That's not much of a reason. NILREM (casual) It is for me -- my soul is troubled. Charlie, the mercenary whom we saw earlier, is rushing up to the Bridge. CHARLIE (to Baran) But when he arrives, I promise to repay him later. (to Nilrem) You have a minute? As Charlie reaches Picard, Beverly suddenly DIVES into the Bridge from her Command Chair. BARAN (to Narik, and Vekor) You see? NILREM (glum) He betrayed us. Beverly looks around the Bridge at the other Mercenaries. Beverly That was the plan all along, wasn't it? To let them off the beanstal. TAVA (self-satisfied) Perhaps we should have tried to resist them. BEREL (amused) Resisting us in some way is what I expected. BEREL (to Picard) Indeed, Captain, with all due respect, it was only a question. TAVA And what about Major Kira? PICARD What about her? BEREL I do not know -- I assumed as well that she would be protected from you somehow. TAVA Well, this is a better opportunity than you might think. (beat) Reg. He hands her a small object. BEREL Here -- this is a message from her. He reaches into his coat and brings out the wooden decor package we saw earlier. BEREL (continuing) She's requesting a rendezvous. He throws the package at Picard, which some of theorfore unnoticed. BEREL (continuing) A token of goodwill and friendship. Think of it. TAVA I'm not sure I would like to receive one myself--I doubt it will be available. BEREL It's guaranteed. And don't worry -- she's not the only one. NILREM (to Baran) Don't worry -- the Valtese will be happy to include you in whatever they have planned. BARAN I'm sure that'll help. You must have some idea how much it means to us. BEREL What would you like? Some spiritual confirmation? NILREM That we're not crazy about all this? BEREL Some. But we also have much to discuss. TAVA Why the secrecy, and what about Nir? There's no answer to that. Suddenly, the Valtese doors open and Natima ENTERS. She runs to Baran and raises her arms in a faux prayer position. NATIMA Baran -- I beg you -- what will you do for us? BARAN (nods) You'll find him soon. I've replaced the rest of the security officers with new ones in the future. NATIMA (realizing) But you'll need to hand over control of the ship to me. BARAN (a little upset) Don't ask me, Natima. You'll have to leave me alone. NATIMA It's not that simple. Baran rises and activates the control panel. BARAN I'll leave it to you. NATIMA (still hopeful) Baran, you're a fine man, but -- BARAN (to the guards) Take them back to his quarters. Baran turns his attention back to Natima. BARAN You know, my dear... there's something I want you to know. NATIMA (smiling) But I don't know what it means to be a good woman. BARAN If you want to be a good woman, you have to learn how to speak to people. Baran then turns and EXITS. We hold on Natima and Quark. QUARK (to Natima) If you think I'm going to give you a lifetime commitment... NATIMA I don't have a lifetime. QUARK naissance -- if you don't get out of here soon, they're going to kill your husband. Natima knows she could refuse to help them -- at least to Quark -- but she doesn't. A beat as Baran waits. Then he shakes his head. QUARK Baran, he knows I have no men. He'll never give me the life I need. Baran steps closer to Natima. BARAN But you must... because if you don't, I'll simply execute you all. Quark is about to die from lack of words. QUARK (continuing) Thank you, Baran. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Who Mourns... " - REV. 11/13/97 - ACT FIVE 54. Baran grants Quark one last desperate smile, then he EXITS. We HOLD ON Natima and Quark. INT. HOLDING CELL (OPTICAL) CLOSE ON Quark, who's asleep on the mattress. COMPUTER VOICE The bail in place is... ten million bars of gold press Latamarris latamar. QUARK That's not much. VASH (O.S.) Another ready room open. Quark's eyes open. He sees Vash standing in the other holding the key to the other holding cell. QUARK Oh, there you are. Quark goes to her. QUARK I'm so glad to see you. VASH Would you stop staring at my neck. QUARK Why's everyone looking at my neck? VASH Because you're the only one. �(an order) You've done this before. QUARK Well now everyone's here. VASH It was worth it. You always did good work. QUARK I did everything you asked of me. What good is that if I can only make some profit? VASH I'm afraid you don't have that many options. Quark is out of business. QUARK I can't just let things fall apart. VASH One hundred eighty-four days from today. That's eleven hours, one minute, and twenty-four seconds. QUARK (another panic attack) Not anymore. (a beat) I hired someone to kill me, Vash. You should be happy. VASH It's a bad dream. And with that, she covers their hands with her fingers and disappears out the door. QUARK Not even a Greek bailout? VASH (looking around the empty room) The head of the Ferengi alliance is here. I paid him a visit. And as Quark reacts to Vash, we: FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END