STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Final Mission" (f.k.a. "Turnabout") #40274-183 Written by Jeri Taylor Directed by Corey Allen 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 1990 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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. FINAL DRAFT SEPTEMBER 17, 1990 STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - 9/17/90 - CAST STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Final Mission" CAST PICARD SONGI RIKER DIRGO DATA ENSIGN TESS ALLENBY BEVERLY TROI GEORDI WORF WESLEY Non-Speaking SUPERNUMERARIES STAR TREK: "Final Mission" 9/17/90 - SETS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Final Mission" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE SICKBAY MINING SHUTTLE ENGINEERING MAIN SHUTTLEBAY WASTE SHIP MINING SHUTTLE LAMBDA PAZ DESERT LAMBDA PAZ CLEARING CAVE CAVERN GAMELAN IV GAMELAN IV SONGI'S ROOM (ON SCREEN) STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Final Mission" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE DRESCI DRESS-key GAMELAN GAM-uh-lin MALTASION mal-TAY-zhun NENEBEK NEN-eh-bek PENTARUS pen-TAR-us SONGI SAHN-jee STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Final Mission" TEASER FADE IN: 1 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The Enterprise travels through space as: PICARD (V.O.) Captain's log, stardate 44307.3. I am preparing to leave by shuttlecraft for Pentarus Five, where I have been asked to mediate a dispute among the salenite miners -- a contentious group unfortunately prone to violence. 2 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS PICARD, RIKER, TROI, DATA, WORF, and ENSIGN TESS ALLENBY at their positions. PICARD (V.O.) At the same time, I must deal with a situation of a far more personal nature. WESLEY comes bursting in through the Turbolift door, out of breath and a little anxious. Everyone on the Bridge looks stern and a little disgruntled with him. PICARD Ensign, I summoned you almost ten minutes ago! WESLEY Yes, sir, I know, but I was in the middle of an experiment using some volatile compounds and I couldn't just leave them lying out -- PICARD Excuses, Mister Crusher? WESLEY No, sir, not at all, it was more of an explanation -- STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - TEASER 2. 2 CONTINUED: PICARD Because I assure you that will not go over well at Starfleet Academy. WESLEY I know, sir, but -- Then it sinks in. He stares at Picard. WESLEY The Academy? PICARD I just got the message from Admiral Nsomeka. She expects you to report in two weeks. There are smiles all around as Wesley, nonplussed, realizes what Picard is saying. PICARD A position has opened up in this year's class. You'll have to work overtime to catch up, but I have assured the Commander that you will be capable of that. Please don't make a liar of me. WESLEY Oh, yes sir! I mean -- no, sir. PICARD And as your final mission aboard the Enterprise... I'd like you to accompany me to Pentarus while I try to sort things out with the miners. Wesley is amazed -- first the Academy, and now an expedition with the Captain. WESLEY Yes, sir... PICARD Mister Riker tells me you've been studying the effects of outpost judiciary decisions on Federation Law. What better way to get first-hand experience? STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - TEASER 3. 2 CONTINUED: (2) WORF Captain, I am picking up a general distress signal from Gamelan Five. PICARD On screen. They all turn toward the view screen. 3 ANGLE - ON SCREEN (OPTICAL) An alien woman, SONGI, appears -- a gentle, sensitive creature who speaks with quiet desperation. SONGI Please... Does anyone read us? PICARD (to Worf) Open channel. (to screen) I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise. SONGI Captain... I am Chairman Songi, of Gamelan Four. An unidentified spacecraft has entered orbit above our planet. Radiation levels in our atmosphere have increased by three thousand percent. We can only assume we are under attack -- but the ship will not answer our hails! We are a peaceful planet... we have no ability to defend ourselves. Please, can you help us? PICARD Mister Data, are we close enough for a scan? DATA Nossir, we are out of range. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - TEASER 4. 3 CONTINUED: RIKER Any other ships near that system? DATA Negative, Commander. PICARD Very well. Chairman Songi, we will proceed immediately to your planet. SONGI Thank you, Captain Picard... The screen blinks out. Picard considers logistics. PICARD Mister Riker, take the Enterprise and investigate the problem. Ensign Crusher and I will proceed to Pentarus Five. (to Wes) The miners have sent a shuttle. We'll depart in ten minutes. Wes acknowledges, heads for the Turbolift. 4 INT. SHUTTLEBAY TWO GEORDI emerges from the miners' shuttle -- a small, ragged vessel that looks like the space equivalent of "The African Queen". Its pilot, DIRGO, is a tough-looking humanoid who is weathered and worn enough to suggest middle-age. Though his appearance is feral, he will emerge as an intelligent, if inflexible, being. Ultimately, he is self-serving; Dirgo looks out for Dirgo, because he's always had to. GEORDI Your maneuvering thrusters are rigged in a configuration I haven't seen before. Dirgo gives him a smug look. DIRGO My own modification. It's more efficient. You can study it if you want... STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - TEASER 5. 4 CONTINUED: At this point, Picard and Wesley enter. GEORDI (to Picard) I've run operational and safety inspections, Captain. It checks out. I won't make any claims for comfort. Dirgo approaches Picard, sizing him up as he does. DIRGO Captain Picard... Captain Dirgo, of the shuttlecraft "Nenebek". PICARD Ah -- Captain. Good to meet you. WESLEY (sotto to Geordi) "Captain?" Of a mining shuttle? But Dirgo hears him, turns instantly to him. DIRGO Yes, Ensign -- Captain. My ship isn't pretty, and she isn't big -- but we've logged almost ten thousand hours together. PICARD It seems a very -- sturdy -- craft. DIRGO We should go. Will you take Ops, Captain? PICARD I'll let Ensign Crusher perform that task. I need to study up on Regalian law. Dirgo studies Wesley with obvious disdain as they enter. 4A INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE Riker, Allenby, Worf, Data. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - TEASER 5A. 4A CONTINUED: WESLEY'S COM VOICE Crusher to Bridge... RIKER Go ahead, Mister Crusher. WESLEY'S COM VOICE Shuttlecraft Nenebek prepared for departure. RIKER Acknowledged, Ensign. Begin launch sequence. WESLEY'S COM VOICE Launch sequence confirmed... DATA Shuttlecraft has cleared the bay. RIKER Ensign Allenby, set a course for the Gamelan system... Warp Six. ALLENBY Aye, Sir. 4B EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) warping away. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/2/90 - TEASER 6. 5 EXT. SPACE - MINUTES LATER (OPTICAL) The shuttle craft heads toward Regalus. 6 INT. SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS Dirgo eyes Wesley handling the Ops position with some surprise. DIRGO You've done this before. WESLEY (dryly) Yes... DIRGO (jerking his head toward the cabin) If your Captain isn't tougher than he looks, those miners will tear him apart. WESLEY Don't worry about Captain Picard -- he'll handle them. Suddenly they are interrupted by a sudden muffled explosion and violent shake of the craft, which then settles into a constant vibration. Cabin lights dim; control panels flicker. WESLEY I've lost navigation -- DIRGO The port thruster quad is gone, guidance coupling is severed -- I can't stabilize her! The shuttle bucks and pitches as Dirgo and Wesley struggle for control. 7 OMITTED FADE OUT. END OF TEASER STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT ONE 7. ACT ONE FADE IN: 8 OMITTED 9 INT. MINING SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) The shuttle is in chaos. Dirgo wrestles with the controls as the ship continues to shudder violently. Picard bursts through the door of the cabin. WESLEY The port thruster module blew... Picard instantly sits in the Ops position. DIRGO Nenebek to Enterprise... emergency... do you read? Pentarus station... come in... (shakes head) Communication is gone -- PICARD Is your navigational system functioning? DIRGO Negative. Switching to manual. PICARD Estimated position... ? DIRGO Fifty million kilometers from Pentarus Five... we may have to put down somewhere else... PICARD Mister Crusher, scan for a class M environment... WESLEY Aye, sir. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 7A. 9 CONTINUED: He moves to the panel. The shuttle lurches sharply, settles, lurches again. DIRGO We'll lose the main impulse engine if I don't throttle it down. There is another sharp jolt and the ship shudders. WESLEY (reading scanners) One of the moons of Pentarus Three... it's class M -- barely -- mean temperature fifty-five degrees Celsius... PICARD Life forms indicated? WESLEY Negative. But sensors are limited. There's an intense magnetic field near the surface. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT ONE 8. 10 OMITTED 11 ON SCREEN DIRGO We don't have a choice. He makes a manual course correction... 11A EXT. SPACE - SHUTTLE (OPTICAL) moving toward a red-brown moon. 11B INT. SHUTTLE DIRGO Save the impulse engine for a controlled entry. PICARD Ensign, reconfigure the working thrusters to manual inputs. WESLEY I'll try, sir -- but this grid looks about a hundred years old... Dirgo glances at Picard. He's a little defensive. DIRGO I don't have the Federation's resources... (rising, to Picard) Captain... will you take the helm? Dirgo goes to Wesley, shoulders him aside; Picard takes the conn. DIRGO I'm rerouting the deuterium flow -- WESLEY (nods) We'll have to manually trip the bypass from the main engine to the thrusters... Dirgo gives Wesley a sharp look. DIRGO Where'd you learn that? STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 9. 12 ON PICARD AND VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) The red-brown sphere begins to fill the window. WESLEY We've got power reconfigured, Captain. Picard's hands are at the controls, skillfully maneuvering the craft, which continues its sporadic jolts and lurches. Dirgo moves to Ops, checks his monitors. DIRGO Hull temperature seven hundred degrees -- PICARD Beginning braking maneuver. The craft goes into a pitch up. Cabin lights flicker wildly. DIRGO We're below Mach One! Bypass to thrusters now! Smoke begins to seep into the cabin; the lights flicker and the craft bounces turbulently. Finally, there is one moment of a controlled glide... and then impact. Sparks arc through the cabin, and then there is darkness. 13 EXT. LAMBDA PAZ - MINUTES LATER - DAY A merciless sun beats down on a sere desert of rolling sand dunes. The shuttle lies, half buried in sand, charred and broken. The hatch has ripped off and we see Picard emerge, blinking in the harsh light and then turning to help Wesley climb out. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 10. 13 CONTINUED: Picard is already at work, assessing the situation. PICARD Let's salvage what we can. (glancing upward) The first thing we'll need is shelter from the sun. In this heat, the shuttle will act like an oven. Dirgo emerges from the shuttle, wiping his perspiring face. DIRGO All systems are out. Can't get a communication channel. Location transponder's gone, too. PICARD We'll have to check the craft for something to protect our heads and eyes... and Captain, please recover your medical supplies... food and water rations... DIRGO (hesitant) The medical supplies are all right... PICARD But... food and water? DIRGO A replicator... damaged beyond repair. PICARD Surely... you have emergency supplies. DIRGO This isn't a starship! I have to choose what I carry! Picard stares at him, not wanting to believe what the man is saying. PICARD Are you telling me... that we have no water? STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 11. 13 CONTINUED: (2) Dirgo looks away. Picard glances up at the sun, and then out across the vast desert. Wesley watches him, definitely worried, hoping the Captain can pull some miracle. But how will they survive without water? 14 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE ORBITING GAMELAN IV (OPTICAL) The ship maintains a distant orbit around a large blue and green planet. In much closer orbit is an enormous space ship with no markings, dark and ominous. 15 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Riker with Data, Geordi, Beverly, Worf and Allenby. DATA Scanning. Vessel reads as an unmanned sublight freighter. RIKER Origin? DATA Indeterminate. Propulsion appears to employ a gaseous-core fission reactor, but it is not functioning. GEORDI The radiation levels coming from that ship are off the scale. RIKER Mister Data, could that be leakage from their engines? DATA No sir. Engine reactor elements appear to have been inactive for approximately three hundred years. The vessel is carrying various unstable waste products. GEORDI You mean... it's a garbage scow. DATA Precisely. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 12. 15 CONTINUED: RIKER Mister Worf, open a hailing frequency. (beat) Chairman Songi, this is Commander Riker on board the Enterprise. Songi appears on screen. SONGI Yes, Commander. RIKER It appears you've inherited someone else's problem... It's an old waste vessel... caught by your planet's gravitational pull. BEVERLY Have your people begun to suffer from radiation sickness? SONGI Not yet. But some areas are already detecting dangerous levels. RIKER We'll do our best to get it out of here as quickly as possible. SONGI Thank you, Commander. The screen is wiped. RIKER We're going to give that barge a push into the Gamelan sun. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 13. 15 CONTINUED: (2) DATA Sir, the Meltasion Asteroid Belt lies between here and the sun. RIKER Then we'll have to take it ourselves and have our deflectors clear a safe path through the asteroids. GEORDI I don't like the idea of getting close enough to that barge to tow it. The radiation levels are so high we'd be risking contamination of the entire crew. RIKER Got a better idea, Geordi? GEORDI We could send over a construction module to attach thrusters to it. Then we could direct it through the asteroid belt from a safe distance. Before Riker can respond -- WORF Commander... a message from the mining settlement on Pentarus. The shuttle carrying Captain Picard has not yet arrived. BEVERLY (surprised) They left here at oh-eight-hundred hours... WORF They have asked if we will be starting a search. Riker looks out at the huge waste vessel, frustrated. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/26/90 - ACT ONE 13A. 15 CONTINUED: (3) RIKER Tell them we have an emergency situation here... we'll start a search after we've dealt with it. WORF Aye, sir. RIKER Mister La Forge, prepare to launch the construction module. Let's get this over with as fast as we can. Geordi heads for the Turbolift to obey the command. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 14. 16 OMITTED 17 EXT. DESERT ON LAMBDA PAZ - CONTINUOUS The three men have salvaged what they could from the cabin of the shuttlecraft. They have fashioned wraps to cover their heads and shield their eyes, with flaps covering the backs of their necks. Wesley is repairing a damaged tricorder. Picard is laying broken strips of the metal hull on the sand. PICARD Mister Crusher, any luck with that tricorder? WESLEY I think so, sir. The scanning range may be limited, but it's better than nothing. DIRGO These were on board, Captain. They're working. He produces four phasers, similar to early Enterprise types. Picard and Wes each take one. Dirgo holsters the other two. PICARD Excellent. Now -- (scanning the distance) Our communicators may not be able to get a signal through this strong a magnetic field... so I've fashioned an arrow. If a search party finds the wreckage, they'll know we've headed for those mountains. DIRGO Are you crazy? Picard shoots him a quizzical look. DIRGO It's too far away. We'll never make it. PICARD We can't survive out here in the sun. (MORE) STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 15. 17 CONTINUED: PICARD (Cont'd) Where there are mountains, there is shelter. Chastened, Dirgo snorts and bristles. DIRGO You have no right to make the decisions! I'm Captain of this ship! This is too much for Wesley, who stands in front of Dirgo. WESLEY If you want to get out of this, I suggest you listen. Captain Picard is the one who's going to keep us alive -- PICARD (interrupting) Thank you, Ensign, that's enough. WESLEY Yes, sir. PICARD Captain Dirgo, you're an able pilot and I welcome your input. Do you feel there's an alternative we're overlooking? Dirgo hesitates, looks around, sees the vast sweep of empty desert. Then -- DIRGO No. PICARD Very well. I suggest a steady pace, but not a brisk one. We need to ration our energy. Try to breathe through your nose, it will help prevent dehydration. I'll lead... Captain Dirgo, will you bring up the rear? STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT ONE 16. 17 CONTINUED: (2) And he starts off, the others falling into line. Wesley scans the desert with the tricorder as they march. Dirgo gives himself one last look at his fallen ship. He gives it a little salute before turning to follow the others. 18 THE SEARING SUN burns in the sky, turning it white with heat. 19 THE TRIO OF MARCHERS slogs across the dunes, sweltering under the glare of the merciless sun, struggling to make progress in the deep sand. Dirgo stumbles in the shifting sands. Wesley spots him, helps him regain his footing. Dirgo spits sand from his mouth as Wesley helps brush him off. WESLEY And you were worried about how tough the Captain is? He nods ahead -- 20 PICARD - THEIR POV marches at a strong, sturdy pace. He looks like he could go on for hours. 21 WESLEY AND DIRGO Wesley smiles, then turns and starts off again. Dirgo watches him, then surreptitiously removes a bottle from his pocket. It contains a clear liquid; he tips the bottle and draws deeply on it. Then he covertly replaces it. 22 ON WESLEY looking at the tricorder. He slows, swings the instrument from one side to the other, frowning as he reads the response. Dirgo catches up to him. DIRGO Did you find water? STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT ONE 17. 22 CONTINUED: WESLEY No... not yet... Suddenly Wesley stops, turns and points the tricorder behind them, then whips it to the opposite side. DIRGO What are you doing with that? Picard turns, hearing them. PICARD Mister Crusher? WESLEY I'm not sure, sir... an energy reading. PICARD Energy reading? What kind? WESLEY Low frequency E-M. It's been getting stronger... the closer we get to those mountains. DIRGO What are you saying? There's something over there? Waiting for us? WESLEY I don't know what it is. It just registers as a repeating energy pattern... PICARD Ensign, are you suggesting this energy is not naturally occurring? WESLEY The readings could be indicating some electromagnetic property in the rocks... but I don't think so. PICARD A life form? STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT ONE 18. 22 CONTINUED: (2) WESLEY It's possible... the pattern's fairly organized... The three look across the sands toward the mountains. Picard glances back from where they came. PICARD We can't go back... and we can't stay here. We have to keep going to the mountains. No matter what's waiting there. He sets off, resolutely. The others follow, though the mountains now loom ominously with the spectre of the unknown. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT TWO 19. ACT TWO FADE IN: 23 thru OMITTED 25 26 INT. CAVE - CONTINUOUS We are inside a cave, shooting toward the tunnel which leads to its entrance. Picard, Wesley and Dirgo ENTER. DIRGO There has to be water in here... aren't caves formed by water? Picard runs his hands over the walls of the cave; Wesley is scanning with the tricorder. PICARD Not necessarily... they could have been created by volcanic activity -- lava flows. (turns from wall) These walls are dry... Mister Crusher, do you get any moisture reading? WESLEY No, sir... But that E-M reading? The pattern has changed... and the frequency is peaking a lot higher... STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/26/90 - ACT TWO 20. 26 CONTINUED: Dirgo, hot and frustrated, wipes his face with his sleeve. As he does, the bottle of liquid falls from the pocket and onto the cave floor. Picard and Wesley stare at it in amazement. WESLEY You have water! DIRGO (defensive) I wouldn't hide water... Picard picks up the bottle, opens, smells it. DIRGO It's called dresci... from my planet. PICARD Alcohol. DIRGO It's -- medicinal. For emergencies. Picard gives him a questioning look. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT TWO 21. 26 CONTINUED: (2) DIRGO I was going to share it with you... PICARD This won't quench your thirst... it will only make it worse. DIRGO I'll take my chances... He extends his hand for the bottle, but Picard doesn't yield it. PICARD I'm not going to let you waste this. It's more valuable to us as a coolant or a disinfectant. DIRGO It's mine! PICARD Mister Crusher, stow this with the medical supplies and keep your eye on it. WESLEY Yes, sir. Picard tosses the bottle to him. Dirgo glares, seething. PICARD Now we're going to explore this cave. Mister Crusher, look for any indication of water, no matter how faint. Captain Dirgo -- will you lead the way? Picard gestures ahead of him, and Dirgo, still angry, scowls at him defiantly for a beat before starting into the depths of the cave. 27 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) orbiting the Gamelan planet. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT TWO 22. 28 INT. SICKBAY - CONTINUOUS Beverly is briefing assistants. There is a determined quality to her, as though it's important to concentrate on business. BEVERLY We're projecting that the bulk of the radiation will affect three small island groups. Troi ENTERS as Beverly is giving instructions, takes note of her brisk, no-nonsense manner. BEVERLY (continuing) Fortunately, they're sparsely populated. We'll start replicating hyronalin now and be ready to transport it to them if it becomes necessary. Please coordinate with the medical personnel on the planet. The supernumeraries set to their tasks, and Troi approaches. TROI We've contacted the nearest Starbase for a search vessel... I'm afraid the closest one is almost a week away... BEVERLY I see. Thank you. TROI But we have asked the mining settlement to send out any vessels they might have. Beverly gives her a look; not much hope there. TROI You know, there are many reasons why the shuttle might have been delayed... BEVERLY Deanna -- thank you. But I'm all right. And for now, I have work to do.  STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT TWO 23. 28 CONTINUED: She moves off to stay busy, and Troi looks after her, knowing Beverly is keeping a tight lid on. 29 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) Riker stands over Geordi as he works at the Science Station. Tess and Data, off-camera, at their posts. An Okudagram represents the construction module in the process of attaching thrusters to the waste ship. Worf turns to them. WORF Commander... the miners report that they have very few operable shuttle craft. They want to know when we will be joining the search. RIKER Tell them to stand by. If this works, we'll be on our way. GEORDI Thrusters are attached and ready, Commander. Riker moves to his command chair. RIKER Initiate prefire sequence. GEORDI Prefire command transmitted. Thrusters to standby. RIKER Fire thrusters... gradual acceleration to forty percent power. They all look toward the viewer. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT TWO 24. 29A thru OMITTED 29B 29C EXT. SPACE - WASTE VESSEL - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) The waste vessel begins to move, sluggishly but steadily. Then, suddenly, a chunk of it rips off. 29D INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS GEORDI We've lost one module. Correcting thrust vectors to compensate. DATA Structural integrity of the barge has been compromised. Disintegration is continuing. RIKER (standing) Shut down thrusters! Ensign, take us one thousand meters ahead of the barge and hold. DATA External radiation levels are increasing. ALLENBY (beat) Coming into position at one thousand meters. RIKER Mister Worf, extend shields around the ship and lock on a tractor beam. WORF Aye, sir. 29E EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) Moves next to the barge and locks on the tractor beam. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT TWO 25. 29F INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS Red Alert goes into automatic, alarms chime. COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Radiation levels at seventy millirads per minute and rising. RIKER Allenby, set a new course. We're going to take it through the asteroid belt ourselves. One-quarter impulse. ALLENBY Aye, sir. RIKER (to comm) Doctor Crusher to the Bridge. CRUSHER'S COM VOICE On my way. RIKER Data... I need a projection of the radiation impact on the crew... Worf... (beat) ... signal the mining settlement. Tell them -- we won't be joining the search for awhile. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT TWO 26. 30 OMITTED 31 INT. CAVE - CONTINUOUS Dirgo, Wesley, and Picard make their way through the cave, Wesley scanning constantly. DIRGO There's light up ahead! The others follow him toward a cleft in the cave wall. A shaft of light is visible beyond. WESLEY (re: the tricorder) Captain... water! The three reach a jagged opening in the cave, through which some light penetrates. 32 OMITTED 32A INT. CAVERN - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) as they move cautiously into a huge subterranean cavern. Shafts of sunlight stream from openings far above them, illuminating the vault-like interior. It is a dry, dusty atmosphere, full of a chalky grit that clogs their noses and mouths and intensifies their thirst. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/5/90 - ACT TWO 27. 32A CONTINUED: (NOTE: From now on, there will be a distinction between "cave" and "cavern," the former referring to the smaller ante-room they first entered, the latter to the large space which contains the fountain.) In the center of the space is a water fountain. DIRGO I knew there had to be water! He runs toward it, reaches his hands out to scoop water -- but is stopped and flung back by a FORCE FIELD surrounding the fountain. PICARD Mister Crusher... what was that? Wesley scans with the tricorder. WESLEY It seems to be some kind of tightly confined annular force field... PICARD Put there to protect the water. WESLEY Then there has to be a way to de-activate it... DIRGO (impatient) We can with our phasers. He moves quickly forward, impatient, pulls a phaser... PICARD I think it might be wiser if... STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT TWO 27A. 32A CONTINUED: (2) But Picard is interrupted by a SOUND, a deep growling HUM... as Dirgo begins to fire... Picard shoots a look at Wesley... WESLEY (reading tricorder) The E-M pattern again -- the power level's really spiking now... DIRGO Look... I think it's working! PICARD (warning) Dirgo... STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT TWO 28. 32A CONTINUED: (3) The SOUND suddenly builds in volume, taking on a crackle like bacon sizzling. Then suddenly, all hell breaks loose! 33 THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) appears -- a wave of electrical energy without substance, possibly appearing as a sheet of crackling lightning that buzzes and hums as it moves toward them. PICARD Stop firing! Dirgo stops and whirls. The shimmering plane advances toward them. 34 ANGLE - THE TRIO (OPTICAL) Dirgo fires right at the Sentry. It stops -- then suddenly flares out in a frightening electrical display that ricochets from the cavern wall, and pulls the phaser out of Dirgo's hands... 35 PICARD sees that rocks have been jarred loose by the Sentry's activities -- rocks that are beginning to tumble right down onto Wesley. He dives toward the young man, hurling him away from the rockslide, but taking the first one right on his head. The Captain crumples to the ground and is bombarded with more boulders. He writhes and twists under the assault of rocks, then finally lies motionless, dazed and broken. The Sentry disappears; the sound dissipates. 36 WESLEY AND DIRGO Wesley springs instantly into action, holstering his tricorder, climbing to his feet and running toward the Captain. Dirgo seems frozen with fear, staring at the wounded man on the ground. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/26/90 - ACT TWO 29. 36 CONTINUED: WESLEY Help me! Wesley starts lifting boulders off the Captain. Dirgo is still immobilized. WESLEY Dirgo -- move! Dirgo snaps from his shock and runs toward them, begins to throw rocks from the unconscious man. FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT THREE 30. ACT THREE FADE IN: 37 INT. CAVE - SAME DAY - MINUTES LATER Picard is lying on the ground as Wesley frantically administers first aid. Dirgo still seems sluggish, in shock. WESLEY Keep pressure on that wound! Dirgo has his palm pressed against Picard's forehead, which took the initial blow and is bleeding. Wesley is inspecting the various wounds the Captain has sustained, checks his right leg with the tricorder. WESLEY This is the worst break... ? DIRGO What was that thing... ? Wesley gives him a sharp look -- pay attention. WESLEY Keep the pressure constant. He goes for the pack of medical supplies, starts rummaging through them. Picard opens his eyes, struggles for clarity. PICARD Ensign... how bad is it? Wesley hesitates. Pretty bad, but he doesn't want to say that. WESLEY You have a broken leg... Your left arm is... I think there's a fracture there, too. And you took a bad blow to the head. But we're getting the bleeding under control. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT THREE 31. 37 CONTINUED: PICARD (weakly) Good work... I'm going to be fine in a moment... just need to catch my breath... DIRGO (to Wesley) Tell him the truth. WESLEY What truth? DIRGO (removing his hand from the wound) He's bleeding inside. I've seen it before. He'll never survive. Wesley ignores him, lifts out the dresci bottle, pours it onto a gauze pad, applies it to a wound in Picard's chest. Picard gasps with pain. WESLEY You don't know what you're talking about. Wesley pours more dresci onto a pad, applies it to the head wound. DIRGO You're wasting your time. Save the dresci for us. Picard has had enough of being talked about in the third person. He summons all his strength. PICARD Mister Dirgo -- I'd appreciate it if you didn't bury me before I'm gone. Dirgo shakes his head in frustration, EXITS. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT THREE 32. 37 CONTINUED: (2) Wesley starts to wrap the Captain's wounds with sterile packs and gauze. Picard grimaces in pain. PICARD The trouble is... he may be right. WESLEY No, he's not -- you're going to be fine... Concentrating on his task, Wesley has not realized that Picard is gazing at him, a vague, distracted look as though this were another time, another place. Wes finally glances at him. WESLEY Captain... ? PICARD (gently) For a moment... I saw your father's face in yours... Wesley sobers. This reminder of mortality is unsettling to him. PICARD He wouldn't give up, either... even when things looked bleakest, even on that terrible afternoon... Picard stops, trails off, remembering Jack's death. PICARD Strange, I always remember it as night. Maybe... sudden, unnecessary death ought to happen at night... not on a bright cloudless afternoon... He looks at Wes, as though drifting back to the here, the now, the awful plight. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT THREE 33. 37 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD Wesley... you're going to have to keep a rein on Dirgo... he's willful, stubborn... that could be dangerous... WESLEY You'll handle him, sir. PICARD (sharply) Listen to me. I have no feeling in my right leg. My vision is blurred... I'm going to get worse, not better. I won't be able to help you, Wesley. You'll have to stand up to him on your own. Wes stares at him, wishing he'd stop talking like this but -- WESLEY Yes, sir. And Picard smiles wanly, murmurs -- PICARD Good man... And falls unconscious. Wesley looks up, out the tunnel where Dirgo disappeared. 38 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) The Enterprise tows the heavy barge through space. RIKER (V.O.) First Officer's log, stardate 44307.6. Radiation levels on the Enterprise continue to rise. The ventilation system has started pumping hyronalin into our air supply to counteract the effects. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT THREE 34. 39 OMITTED 39A INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - SCIENCE STATION Riker, Data, Beverly, Allenby, Worf (O.C.) and Geordi. Red Alert continues to flash. DATA At the rate the radiation levels are increasing, the hyronalin additive will only be effective for another thirty-eight minutes. BEVERLY (to Comm) Crusher to Medical Unit One. Evacuate and seal off all non-operational areas. Group the crew and families in the interior corridors of decks nine and ten, radiation exposure protocol. COM VOICE Acknowledged, Doctor RIKER Data... at our current speed, how long will it take us to get through the asteroid belt? DATA Fifty-one minutes, fourteen seconds. BEVERLY We're going to have a lot of casualties if we can't get there any faster. RIKER Geordi, how much more can the tractor beam take? GEORDI We're already at the upper limit for towing speed, Commander. RIKER Then let's see if we can establish a new upper limit... STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/26/90 - ACT THREE 35. 39A CONTINUED: GEORDI Aye, sir... Geordi moves to the Engineering station... Riker and Data move back to the command pit... on the move -- GEORDI Data, monitor the shearing effect on the beam... increasing to one-half impulse. 39AA EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) The ships accelerate with no discernible problem. 39B INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS DATA Tractor beam is holding... shearing force eighty metric tons per meter... GEORDI Increasing to three-quarters impulse. 39C EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) moving through space, accelerating gradually. The tractor beam begins to strain. The waste ship wobbles dangerously. 39D INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS DATA Shearing force ninety-two metric tons... ninety-three... tractor beam is destabilizing... we are going to lose the barge, Commander... RIKER (no choice) Reduce power. ALLENBY One-half impulse. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/2/90 - ACT THREE 35A. 39D CONTINUED: RIKER Geordi, you gotta stabilize the tractor beam... GEORDI (mind racing) I can't divert any more power to the shields... we're already hitting maximum thermal limits... (beat) Only other choice is to bring some other fusion reactors on line... but we're running at peak coolant pressure... RIKER Do it. Geordi races for the Turbolift... He EXITS, and Riker stares in frustration at the fragile waste ship. COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Radiation levels at one hundred fifty millirads per minute and rising. Lethal exposure in thirty-five minutes. Riker stares out at the stars, mind racing, trying furiously to figure a way out of this deadly situation. 40 OMITTED 40A INT. CAVERN - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) Wesley emerges from the cave, finds Dirgo sitting on his haunches, staring at the shielded spring. DIRGO Look at that. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/8/90 - ACT THREE 36. 40A CONTINUED: He gestures toward an object on the ground. Wesley goes to it, picks it up. The phaser has become encrusted with a hard, web-like material. WESLEY How did this happen? DIRGO That -- thing -- did it. Wesley inspects it with the tricorder. WESLEY Selenium fibers... electrically deposited. Wesley swings the tricorder around the cavern. WESLEY The E-M pattern is back down... it only surged when we tried to get to the water... (moves back toward Dirgo) Whatever it was we saw... it almost acts like a sentry. To guard the fountain. (checking tricorder) As long as we aren't moving toward the water, the wave pattern stays low... right between five and fifteen hertz... Dirgo, walk toward the fountain. Dirgo frowns at him, but complies. As he moves toward the spring, the low electrical HUM starts again. WESLEY That's it! The frequency went to forty. Dirgo has had it with this scientific approach. He comes back to Wesley; the hum subsides. DIRGO What is this getting us? We've got to get to the water! STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT THREE 37. 40A CONTINUED: (2) WESLEY If I could find a way to manipulate the frequency, I might be able to control it. (beat, thoughtful) The Sentry appeared when we started using phasers. Maybe it responds to heat... or to collinated energy... DIRGO If you're right... we can use a phaser to lure it away. Wesley frowns. He's still in his scientific mode... analyze, hypothesize... they're a long way from doing anything. WESLEY Hold on... we need to figure out what it is, before we start doing anything to it. DIRGO Enough talk. Enough thinking. It's time to do something. Dirgo hands him a phaser. DIRGO I'll start firing. When it comes -- you fire and draw it off. WESLEY No, we can't... DIRGO (overlapping) Then set your phaser on automatic and take cover. WESLEY And how do you know it'll go for my phaser, not yours? DIRGO Because... I'll fire mine on the lowest setting. You use maximum. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/5/90 - ACT THREE 38. 40A CONTINUED: (3) WESLEY There's no evidence that it responds differently to higher settings... we have to figure out our options before we -- Dirgo puts his face in Wesley's. DIRGO And while we're doing that, your Captain is dying. (jerks his head toward the cave) With those wounds, most men would already be dead. If he doesn't get water... Dirgo shrugs, leaving the obvious unsaid. Wesley takes a breath, struggling to remain in control, to withstand this formidable space veteran. DIRGO When I start firing -- you better do your part. He turns and heads for the spring. The SOUND of the Sentry begins immediately. Dirgo opens fire on the force field. Wes stares; he has no choice but to go along with all this. 40B THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) appears at the opposite end of the cavern from Wesley. He puts his phaser down on a rock and sets it on automatic fire... the Sentry indeed responds, moves toward him. 40C WESLEY turns and runs back toward the tunnel to the cave, where there are outcroppings to conceal him. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/5/90 - ACT THREE 38A. 41 THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) stays with the phaser! It's working... 42 DIRGO (OPTICAL) is blasting away at the force field around the water. 42A WESLEY looks up to check the Sentry and sees it -- 43 THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) splits in two! One heads back toward the fountain. The other envelops Wes' phaser and promptly disappears. 44 WESLEY reacts as he hears Dirgo scream. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT THREE 39. 44 CONTINUED: The sound of the Sentry dissipates... everything is ominously silent. Wesley picks himself up and crawls cautiously up the rocks to see what is happening. As he comes around the rocks, closer to the spring, he reacts as he sees -- 45 DIRGO - WESLEY'S POV lies shrouded in a fibrous cocoon, his mouth still open in a silent scream, eyes wide with surprise and horror. The Sentry is gone. 46 WESLEY stares at him, pale and shaken. FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FOUR 40. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 47 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) Heading toward the sun. RIKER (V.O.) First Officer's log, supplemental. Mister La Forge has diverted power from auxiliary fusion generators in an attempt to stabilize the tractor beam. This is the only hope of increasing our towing speed so we can clear the asteroid belt before radiation levels become fatal. 47A OMITTED 48 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) Riker, Worf and Data are at their stations; Allenby at Conn. Red Alert continues. Geordi exits the Turbolift and hurries to the Science Station, makes some final checks on the panel. COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Radiation levels at three hundred millirads per minute and rising. Lethal exposure in one minute. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FOUR 41. 48 CONTINUED: GEORDI Ready, Commander. I'll be rotating the output of the auxiliary reactors, but it should still give us the power we need. RIKER Proceed, Mister La Forge. GEORDI Increasing to three-quarters impulse. DATA Shearing force at one hundred three metric tons... the tractor beam is stable... GEORDI Full impulse. 49 OMITTED 50 EXT. SPACE ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) moving faster at full impulse. 51 INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) DATA Tractor beam is holding. COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in thirty seconds. WORF We are in visual range of the asteroid belt. RIKER On screen. They look toward the viewscreen, and see the asteroid field way in the distance, like tiny pebbles. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FOUR 42. 51 CONTINUED: COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in fifteen seconds. RIKER Stand by to cut the barge loose... 51A INT. ENTERPRISE - VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) as they streak toward -- and through -- the asteroid belt! 51B INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in ten seconds. DATA We have cleared the asteroids, sir. RIKER Let it go. 52 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE AND WASTE VESSEL (OPTICAL) The beams snap off and the Enterprise arcs away; the waste ship continues its path toward the sun, becoming smaller and smaller until it is no longer visible in the blinding light. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT FOUR 43. 53 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS DATA Radiation intensity is decreasing, Commander. There is a palpable sense of relief on the Bridge. RIKER Cancel red alert. Red Alert goes off. RIKER Mister Worf, contact the mining settlement. Tell them we are joining the search for Captain Picard. (beat) Ensign, set a new course. Warp nine. 54 OMITTED 55 INT. CAVE - THAT NIGHT (OPTICAL) Wesley piles some rocks together. Picard is unconscious. He looks flushed and feverish; his condition has deteriorated in the last few hours. Wesley aims his phaser at a rock and zaps. It glows, warming them. Picard stirs, opens his eyes. PICARD Cold... WESLEY When the sun went down, the temperature really dropped. (indicating fire) This should help. Picard shifts position, tries to get comfortable, glances at Wesley. PICARD ... don't seem to be much good to you, Wesley... STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/26/90 - ACT FOUR 44. 55 CONTINUED: WESLEY (hard for him to admit) Sir... Dirgo is dead. This doesn't seem to affect Picard... he is listless, apathetic. But Wesley's feelings of guilt and responsibility run deeper. WESLEY I should've tried harder to stop him... Picard shuts his eyes and shakes his head a little. WESLEY Sir? No response. Wesley has been hoping for absolution and he's not getting it. Now, he looks at Picard... looks closer -- is he breathing? WESLEY Captain? (no response; louder) Captain Picard! Trying not to give in to panic, Wesley checks Picard's throat for a pulse and, finding one, takes a deep breath of relief. Picard's eyes slowly open, and he fixes a blank gaze on Wesley. WESLEY Sir... please... stay with me... Picard summons breath, monumental effort. PICARD I'm... trying... Wes glances at Picard, whose eyes are fluttering shut again. Wesley's mind races. He doesn't want the Captain drifting off into oblivion. He tries a new tack. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT FOUR 45. 55 CONTINUED: (2) WESLEY Captain? Remember when we took the shuttlecraft to Starbase Five-One-Five? I was dreading it... six hours alone with you... He glances at Picard. The Captain is at least listening. WESLEY But it didn't turn out the way I thought it would... you kind of -- opened up to me. I got to know you. (beat) Sort of. PICARD (with great effort) ... it's my fault you're here... I shouldn't have asked you... WESLEY I was honored you wanted me along... PICARD ... I was selfish... knew I might not see you again... forgive me... Wesley is flooded with affection for this man whom he reveres. WESLEY Sir... the past three years... I've lived more than most people do in a lifetime... Wesley pauses, struggling to form the thoughts. WESLEY I think I've been pretty lucky... no matter what happens. How many people get to serve with -- with Jean-Luc Picard? Now it's pouring out, a flood of affection never before expressed. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/21/90 - ACT FOUR 46. 55 CONTINUED: (3) WESLEY You don't know this... nobody knows this, because I never told anybody... but a lot of what I've worked for... school, and science projects, and getting into the Academy... I've done it because... because... He hesitates, a little embarrassed now, but having gone too far to turn back. WESLEY (quietly) Because I wanted you to be proud of me. He looks back at Picard, afraid maybe he's said the wrong thing, but sees that it was very right. A new determination comes into his voice. WESLEY One thing I learned from you... is that you never quit. And I'm not quitting now. I've seen you think yourself out of worse problems... and I'm going to think us out of this one. Picard weakly lifts his hand; Wesley takes it, presses it as though transfusing his strength into Picard. WESLEY You're not going to die... I won't let you die. I'll get to the water and I'll keep you alive until they find us. I promise you. Picard nods, believing in the boy's resilience. And the two sit, hands gripped together, each drawing strength from the other. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT FIVE 47. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 56 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as it moves through inky darkness. 57 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE A weary group, including Riker, Data, Geordi, and Beverly study an Okudagram at Data's station. Worf is at Tactical. RIKER Are you certain? DATA It is definitely debris. The primary material is duranium, with smaller proportions of sonodanite and ermanium. GEORDI Most shuttlecraft hulls are made of duranium. Beverly pales. BEVERLY Then, they're gone. DATA Not necessarily, Doctor. There is far too little debris to account for an entire shuttlecraft. RIKER So what is it? STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT FIVE 48-50. 57 CONTINUED: Something occurs to Geordi. He turns to Riker, working it over in his mind. GEORDI Dirgo had his maneuvering thrusters rigged in a funny way... he claimed it was more efficient. If one of them blew... it might have left debris like that. RIKER If only one of his thrusters were out... he could still have put down somewhere. DATA The only Class M planets in the system are Pentarus Two and Five... both have been thoroughly searched by the miners. RIKER Then, we'll search them again. DATA Sir... there are also four moons in the Pentarus system that might support life... RIKER Have the miners searched them? WORF Not yet, sir. RIKER What's the closest one to the debris coordinates? DATA Lambda Paz, one of the moons of Pentarus Three. RIKER (to Conn) Set a course, Ensign. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FIVE 51. 57A thru OMITTED 58 59 INT. CAVE - CONTINUOUS Wesley, too, has been up all night. His eyes are red-rimmed, but he sticks gamely to his task. He is working on both the tricorder and his communicator, modifying them. He takes something from the communicator, inserts it into the tricorder, makes a few adjustments, tries it. He hears the Captain stir and moan, and moves toward him. Picard's eyes open. He looks awful -- his face grey but flushed in spots with fever. His voice is hoarse. PICARD Ensign... where are we? Wesley swallows. The Captain is in worse shape than he thought. WESLEY We crashed, sir... we're in a cave... PICARD ... need water... WESLEY We -- we don't have any water. Don't you remember? We tried to get to the fountain... and Captain Dirgo... Picard stares at him, and with monumental will forces his mind to clear and grasp what Wesley is saying to him. He becomes momentarily focused. PICARD Yes... I remember... Buoyed by this response, Wesley rushes on. WESLEY But I think I'm on to something. I've analyzed the sentry's electrical patterns. PICARD Wesley... I may not make it... This is not what Wesley wants to hear. He rushes on. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FIVE 52. 59 CONTINUED: WESLEY I'm going to get to the water... I took the transponder element from my communicator... used it to modify the tricorder... Picard shakes his head, knowing that Wesley is shutting out what he doesn't want to hear. WESLEY I think I can use it to interrupt the sentry's energy pattern... stop it. (beat) Or at least slow it down... PICARD Listen to me... WESLEY Yes, sir? PICARD So much I've wanted to tell you. (beat) At the Academy, there is someone... who meant a great deal to me... he has been there "forever"... you must get to know him... his name is Boothby... tell him we were friends... Wesley hates the finality of this kind of talk, turns away. But Picard puts out a hand, grabs his arm. PICARD When I was there... he helped me... Listen to him... Wesley nods, understanding -- a mentor. WESLEY What does he teach? Picard smiles... a cracked half-grin. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FIVE 53. 59 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD He's the groundskeeper. One of the wisest men I ever knew... (beat) I envy you, Wesley... it is just the beginning of the adventure for you. They exchange a long, intimate look. PICARD Go on, get the water, stay alive... they'll find you. Wesley rises, gathers phaser, tricorder, and the empty medical pack. WESLEY I'll be back soon. He turns and heads toward the tunnel to the cavern. PICARD Wesley... Wes turns back to him. PICARD Always remember... I was... proud of you... Wesley nods. Then he turns and heads down the tunnel. 59A INT. CAVERN - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) as Wesley emerges into the huge chamber. He moves with determination toward the spring, sets down the medical pack. The SOUND of the sentry begins. Wesley fires the phaser toward the spring and -- STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FIVE 54. 59B THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) appears, shimmering and crackling. Wes turns, points the tricorder toward it, and begins pushing the controls. The sentry keeps coming. Wesley pushes more buttons, points the tricorder purposefully toward the entity. It slows down. Buoyed, he tries something else... but -- 59C THE SENTRY - NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) suddenly swells in size! Frantically, Wesley punches buttons again. The sentry shrinks... but starts advancing once more. 59D WESLEY backs up slightly... studies the tricorder... pushes buttons. 60 OMITTED 60A THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) flares suddenly -- and begins that inexorable advance once more. The SOUND is now overwhelming, crackling, hissing. 60B WESLEY stands his ground, resolute. He tries another configuration... points the tricorder... looks a bit alarmed. A hot wind is beginning to blow on him, his hair blowing backward from the power of the advancing sentry. 60C WESLEY AND THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) as the sentry advances on him... slowly... steadily... Wesley closes his eyes, not yielding but expecting doom. The sentry is right on top of him -- and then -- STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/8/90 - ACT FIVE 54A. 60D WES AND SENTRY - ANOTHER ANGLE (OPTICAL) it passes right through him! Amazed, unhurt, he turns and sees -- 60E THE SENTRY (OPTICAL) cirlcing the fountain causing the forcefield to come on... light shimmers and flashes and the forcefield and the Sentry flicker away. 60F WESLEY looks at the fountain, approaches it tentatively. He extends his hand... further, further. The forcefield is definitely gone. WESLEY (amazed) It worked... ! Wes grabs the medical pack, plunges into the fountain, fills the pack, then hurries back toward the tunnel to the cave. 61 INT. CAVE - CONTINUOUS Wes approaches the Captain, who is still unconscious, groaning. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT FIVE 55. 61 CONTINUED: WESLEY Captain Picard? Wake up... With his hand, he scoops some water from the pack and carefully drizzles it on the Captain's mouth. Picard sputters, opens his eyes. Wesley uses his other arm to lift the Captain's head, scoops up some more water. Picard gulps down the water which Wesley feeds him, gentle as a mother with a baby. 62 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) in orbit over Lambda Paz. 63 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE Riker, Worf, Troi, Data, Beverly, Geordi, Allenby. DATA There is an intense magnetic field, Commander. I am getting an anomalous reading... but it is not strong enough to interpret accurately. GEORDI I can narrow the frequency range on the sensor array... and try to enhance the signal... (works for a beat) Any better, Data? DATA Yes. The reflection signature now clearly indicates that it is metal... duranium. The probablity is quite high that it is the shuttlecraft. RIKER Any life signs? DATA It is impossible to determine. The magnetic flux would mask any bio-energy emanations. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 10/1/90 - ACT FIVE 55A. 63 CONTINUED: RIKER Mister Worf, will that interference affect the Transporter Beam? WORF Yes, Commander. An Away Team would have to take a shuttlecraft. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FIVE 56. 63 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER Assemble your team, Mister Data. Beverly rises immediately. BEVERLY I'm going with you. DATA Of course. Lieutenant Worf? The three head for the Turbolift. Riker looks after them, wishing he could be with them. 64 OMITTED 65 INT. CAVE - CONTINUOUS Wesley sits propped against the cave wall, Picard's head resting in his lap. Picard sleeps, or is unconscious. Wesley stares at the fire, trying to keep his eyes open. But he has been up too long, and through too much. His eyes droop shut, snap open, then close again and stay that way. BEVERLY (V.O.) Wesley? His eyes open again and then widen as he sees -- 65A BEVERLY, WORF, AND DATA moving toward him, followed by several SUPERNUMERARIES with stretchers, water, food and medical supplies. 65B ANGLE - WESLEY as Worf and Data lift Picard, still unconscious, onto a stretcher and Wesley gets to his feet. WESLEY Mom! BEVERLY Oh, Wesley... thank God... STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/28/90 - ACT FIVE 57. 65B CONTINUED: WESLEY I'm sure glad to see you... She holds him away from her for a moment, inspecting him with a tricorder. Then she nods and goes toward Picard. WESLEY How did you find us? DATA We found the wreckage -- and the arrow which indicated your direction. BEVERLY (to assistants) We'll take Wesley by stretcher, too. WESLEY I can walk. The supernumeraries lift the Captain's stretcher, and Picard shifts slightly, opens his eyes... PICARD (weakly) Beverly... BEVERLY We're on our way back to the Enterprise, Captain... we've stabilized your vital signs. Picard nods slightly, looks around as though to reassure himself that everyone is really there. His eye falls on Wesley. PICARD Mister Crusher... Wes steps toward him. PICARD A moment... The Captain reaches out toward him. Wesley goes to his side. STAR TREK: "Final Mission" - REV. 9/26/90 - ACT FIVE 58. 65B CONTINUED: (2) PICARD I want you all to know... He grips Wesley's hand. His voice, still hoarse, is weak... but Picard summons strength from within. PICARD (to the others) He saved my life... Then he turns and looks up at Wesley. PICARD Wesley, know this... you will be missed. Wesley nods; the two share a silent goodbye. Then, Wesley walking along side, still holding on to the Captain's hand, the stretcher is carried out toward the cave opening. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END