STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" #40275-206 Story by Susan Sackett & Fred Bronson and Brannon Braga Teleplay by Brannon Braga 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 1991 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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 AUGUST 23, 1991 STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - CAST STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" CAST PICARD WESLEY CRUSHER RIKER ROBIN LEFLER DATA ETANA JOL BEVERLY TROI A WOMAN IN TEN FORWARD GEORDI WORF O'BRIEN COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking SUPERNUMERARIES N.D. ENGINEERING PERSONNEL TWO SECURITY GUARDS STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - SETS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM KTARIAN SHIP SICKBAY CORRIDORS PHOENIX CLUSTER TRANSPORTER ROOM OBSERVATION LOUNGE TEN FORWARD ENGINEERING ENGINEERING LAB BEVERLY'S QUARTERS GUEST QUARTERS TURBOLIFT JEFFERIES TUBE RISA RIKER'S GUEST ROOM KTARIAN SHIP BRIDGE STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE KTARIAN kuh-TAR-ee-un PSYCHOTROPIC sigh-koh-TRO-pik SEROTONIN ser-oh-TONE-in LATIN "O" as in "so", "Y" as in "dry", "AH" as in "father" OPPIDO BONUM OPP-ih-dough BOW-noom PRAESTAT QUAM PRIUS PRY-staht kwahm PREE-uhs QUOMODO TUA LATINITAS EST kwo-MOW-dough TOO-ah la-TEE-knee-tahs ehst STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" TEASER FADE IN: 1 OMITTED 2 INT. RIKER'S ROOM - RISA - NIGHT A plush bedroom suite, with a picturesque view of Risa through a large, open window. There are several platters of exotic-looking hors d'oeuvres around the room... not to mention an empty bottle of fine champagne. RIKER is standing near a long screen/partition, dressed in casual clothes (perhaps a robe), looking flushed with excitement. He calls out in a playful tone of voice. RIKER Etana... No response. He takes a step toward the screen. RIKER (continuing) I know you're back there... don't make me come after you. A rustling NOISE from behind the screen. Then a shadow, barely visible at a far end of the screen. Riker edges toward the far end... quiet as a cat... and lunges for it, simultaneously pulling back the screen -- A clothing rack heaped with robes falls onto Riker, draping him with fabric. A WOMAN grabs Riker from behind and gives him a playful squeeze -- then dangles a Starfleet communicator in front of his face. Before Riker can grab her, she bolts across the room, romping gleefully. RIKER (re: communicator) Give me that... STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - TEASER 2. 2 CONTINUED: He goes after her. The woman is alien, gorgeous, with a full, flowing mane of hair. This is ETANA JOL. ETANA You don't need this. Riker edges toward her... backing her toward a wall. The dynamic between them is playful, teasing, charged with erotic tension. RIKER Yes... I... do... They match each other's movement, a game of cat and mouse. Etana holds the communicator up to her mouth, pretends to speak into it. ETANA (mocks Riker's voice) Commander Riker to the Enterprise. I've got a problem down here on Risa! She laughs. Riker lunges for her. She dodges, but Riker's too quick. He pins her against the wall next to the window -- presses close against her. Etana grips the communicator in her hand and raises her arm, keeping it out of reach. RIKER Give it to me. ETANA Go get it. She tosses the communicator out the window. It falls into the darkness. RIKER I can't believe you did that. ETANA Believe it. She throws herself forward, catching Riker off balance, sending both of them sprawling to the floor. They flop onto a mound of oversized pillows -- Riker on his back, Etana on top of him. They roll to the side, engaged in a kiss. Then Etana breaks away and looks into Riker's eyes... She sits up and begins to massage Riker's shoulders. The exuberant pace of their play slows down a little. Riker enjoys the shoulder rub. He sighs. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - TEASER 3. 2 CONTINUED: (2) Etana continues... leans down and kisses him on the forehead. Riker smiles. She moves her focus to Riker's temples, gently rubbing... ... and pulls something out of her robe -- a small crescent-shaped DEVICE that resembles a skimmed-down headset. Gradually, as a natural extension of the massage, she slips the device around Riker's ear. RIKER (re: device) What's this? ETANA It's a game. Everyone here's playing it. Riker smiles, likes the idea. Etana hooks the game around his ear to hold it in place -- while a thin mechanical "arm" extends in front of his eyes. RIKER Do I keep my eyes open, or closed? ETANA Open. Riker waits as Etana activates the game -- tiny lights on its exterior come alive. 3 CLOSE ON RIKER'S FACE (OPTICAL) Two micro-thin LASERS emit from the arm extension and scan Riker's face, the lights gliding across his features. Quickly the lasers zero in on his eyes -- specifically, his pupils -- then vanish. This establishes a connection between Riker and the game. 4 RESUME Riker reacts to something only he can see. RIKER What am I seeing? ETANA The playing field. Riker is captivated. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - TEASER 4. 5 RIKER'S POV - THE GAME (OPTICAL) We see Riker's view of his surroundings (the room, Etana), with a semi-translucent GAME OVERLAY superimposed on the scene. The overlay is an optical grid pattern, with a cone and a disc across it. RIKER Now what? ETANA See the disc and the cone? RIKER Yeah... ETANA Concentrate... Make the disc go into the cone... Riker concentrates. His mental effort causes the disc to skitter about, but it misses the cone. The game is simple but exciting. Riker laughs, enchanted with the game. RIKER How do I do this? ETANA Relax... just let go. You'll do it. Etana continues to rub his shoulders. He concentrates -- sending out more bursts -- but they keep missing the cone. Finally, the disc drops right into the cone. RIKER Got it. Suddenly, Riker's entire body tenses up. A moment, then he relaxes and lets out a small gasp. Like he's experienced a brief moment of internal pleasure. RIKER (re: sensation) What was that? ETANA Your reward. For clearing the first level. Riker is amazed... and delighted. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - TEASER 5. 5 CONTINUED: RIKER How far does this game go? ETANA As far as you can take it. You want to try for level two? Riker grins -- "You bet." Four dots appear on the playing field. Riker focuses his attention on the game -- sending out the bursts. This time he wins quickly -- all four dots are eliminated with just a few bursts. As Riker lets out a gasp of even greater pleasure... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 6. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) 6 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) At impulse. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's log, stardate 45208.2. Commander Riker has rejoined the Enterprise from Risa. And we are on our way to an uncharted area called the Phoenix Cluster. 7 INT. BRIDGE PICARD, DATA, WORF, and SUPERNUMERARIES at positions. VARIOUS CREWMEMBERS are working at the science stations. The bridge is alive with activity. PICARD (V.O.) (continuing) We are all anticipating this historic first look at the region. Riker ENTERS from the turbolift, looking fit and rested. He heads for the command area, where Picard is working his armrest controls. Riker sits down at his chair, eager to resume his duties. RIKER (to Picard) Things are getting busy around here. Five more science teams just beamed in from the Zhukov. Quarters are filling up fast. PICARD (nods; concerned) And on top of everything, there's been a change. We now have only two weeks to complete the exploration. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 6A. 7 CONTINUED: RIKER Two weeks... that's not enough time to explore a region that size. I thought we had five weeks. DATA (to Riker) Starfleet has added a diplomatic mission to Oceanus Four. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 7. 7 CONTINUED: (2) Riker activates the information viewer next to his chair and scans the mission orders. PICARD Will, I'm leaving it up to you to make sure all science departments have an equal chance to complete their research. RIKER It'll be quite a juggling act. Picard tries to lighten the tone. PICARD A bit of good news, as well. We're to rendezvous with a shuttlecraft carrying Wesley Crusher. He's on vacation from the Academy. Riker reacts, pleasantly surprised. RIKER Wesley... good. We'll need an extra hand around here. Picard smiles -- it's clear they're both looking forward to seeing Wesley again. 8 INT. ENGINEERING It's a busy day. GEORDI and various ENGINEERING NDS are hard at work... including a striking young woman named ROBIN LEFLER, who's at an opened panel, organizing a pile of isolinear chips. Riker ENTERS and approaches Geordi. RIKER Geordi... how are you coming with the survey preparations? STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 8. 8 CONTINUED: GEORDI I'm up to my neck in observation schedules right now. Geordi takes Riker to a console, shows him a rundown of information. GEORDI (continuing) Our biggest hurdle is sensor availability. RIKER Especially since two new exobiologists and three stellar cartographers joined us from the Zhukov. GEORDI Fifteen science teams, only two weeks, and one long-range array don't make a great combination. RIKER What about the lateral sensors? GEORDI They're booked solid for planetary observation. RIKER And the gamma ray scanner? GEORDI We're reprogramming it now... (to Robin) Lefler... will you join us, please? Robin sets down her work and joins the two men. GEORDI You know Robin Lefler. RIKER Of course. GEORDI Her performance around here has been sensational. I've decided to make her a mission specialist. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 8A. 8 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER (to Robin) Congratulations. ROBIN Thank you, sir. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 9. 8 CONTINUED: (3) RIKER Okay, specialist -- what's our sensor status? Robin takes a deep breath -- this is her first time reporting to high-level officers -- but she's confident. ROBIN We're increasing the available bandwidth... so more science teams can use the sensors at once. We figured out a way to do it by multiplexing the array. RIKER Will it be ready by the time we arrive? ROBIN Yessir. You can count on it. Riker looks pleased. RIKER Keep it up, Lefler. Robin smiles, nods, returns to her work. Geordi moves to another console. Riker follows him... RIKER Geordi... I brought something back from Risa. You've got to try it. GEORDI I'd love to. But I'm running a full sensor recalibration in ten minutes. Can it wait? RIKER Sure. I'll catch up with you later. Geordi's already reabsorbed in his work. A beat, then Riker EXITS... 9 INT. TEN FORWARD Troi is sitting alone in a corner, contemplating a large and luscious chocolate fudge sundae. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 9A. 9 CONTINUED: She carefully removes the cherry and sets it beside the dish. Slowly, she spoons off first bite. Riker walks up behind her. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT ONE 10. 9 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER (re: sundae) Chocolate ice cream. Chocolate fudge. Chocolate chips. You're not depressed, are you? Troi reacts, a little embarrassed about being caught with the large dessert. TROI I'm fine, Commander. RIKER (re: sundae) Did you want to be alone with that? TROI No. You can join us. Riker sits down. Troi offers him the spoonful. He declines. RIKER I don't like fudge. TROI Really. I never met a chocolate I didn't like. Troi takes the bite... and her expression turns serious, like she's analyzing something in her mind. RIKER Doesn't it taste good? TROI Of course it does. But it's not just a matter of taste. It's the whole experience. Riker is curious. Troi demonstrates, an expert on the subject. TROI First you spoon the fudge from around the rim... leaving only ice cream in the middle... (eats a bite) Then gently spoon the ice cream around the sides, like you're sculpting it... (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/30/91 - ACT ONE 11. 9 CONTINUED: (3) TROI (cont'd) (another bite) Relish every bite. Make every one an event. And on the last bite, close your eyes... She closes her eyes and eats a spoonful. RIKER I never knew it was a ritual. TROI Chocolate is a serious thing. Riker leans close to her, speaks in an intimate tone of voice. RIKER You know... I brought something back from Risa. It's better than chocolate. TROI Oh... what is it? A beat. Riker's response is almost a tease. RIKER Just a game. OFF Troi's intrigued expression... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE (NOTE: This page is being distributed for those who did not get the complete page in the Final Draft script, For those who did, there are no changes on this page.) STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT TWO 12. ACT TWO FADE IN: 10 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL) O'BRIEN at the controls. WESLEY CRUSHER MATERIALIZES on the transporter stage. He wears a Starfleet Academy Cadet uniform, and carries a travel bag. He looks a little more mature. At the sight of O'Brien, he smiles and steps down off the stage. WESLEY Chief O'Brien! O'BRIEN Welcome back, Wesley. They shake hands. WESLEY Congratulations on little Molly. O'BRIEN (proud) Thanks. Wait till you see her -- she's the spitting image of her dad. Wesley smiles, then looks around the room, suddenly aware that no one else is present. WESLEY So... where is everyone? Is my mom around? O'BRIEN The senior staff is holding a meeting. You're supposed to go to your mother's quarters. The statement catches Wesley offguard -- he was expecting a warmer welcome. WESLEY Oh. Well, do you think it'd be alright if I stopped by... just to say hi? O'Brien thinks a moment. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT TWO 13. 10 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN I'll check. (taps console) Chief O'Brien to bridge. WORF'S COM VOICE Bridge here. O'BRIEN Wesley Crusher has arrived and wants to know if he can stop by the observation lounge... (beat) To say "hi". A long beat. WORF'S COM VOICE That is acceptable. O'Brien looks to Wesley, who's somewhat disturbed by the chilly reception he's receiving. WESLEY Thanks. O'Brien nods. Wesley EXITS... 11 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE The room is dark. The doors slide open and Wesley ENTERS. A beat, then the lights come on and several VOICES call out in greeting -- "Hello! Welcome home!" 12 REVEAL SCENE Picard, Riker, Data, Troi, Worf, Geordi and BEVERLY all in the room. A large cake sits on the table. Wesley is surprised. BEVERLY (hugging Wesley) Welcome home. WESLEY Thanks, Mom. Picard gives Wesley a firm handshake. PICARD Wesley... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT TWO 14. 12 CONTINUED: WESLEY Captain... PICARD Quomodo tua Latinitas est? (How's your Latin?) Wesley thinks for a moment, then responds -- WESLEY Praestat quam prius. (It's better than before.) PICARD Oppido bonum. (Very good.) Your Latin has improved. Wesley smiles. Troi comes over and gives Wesley a kiss on the cheek. TROI You're looking very handsome. BEVERLY You do that cadet uniform justice, Wesley. GEORDI Bet you drive the girls wild. Wesley looks embarrassed. Worf, who's been busy serving the cake, offers Wesley a piece. The cake looks dark and heavy. WORF (re: cake) Tarvokian pound cake. I made it myself. WESLEY Thanks, Worf. Wesley takes the plate and his arm falls slightly from the weight of it -- the cake literally weighs a pound. He takes a bite, reacts to the richness of the cake. During the scene, cake is served all around, everyone holding their little plates. People start to mingle, branching off into small groups... STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT TWO 15. 12 CONTINUED: (2) DATA Wesley -- was our attempt to make you uncomfortable effective? WESLEY You bet it was. For a second there, I thought I was on the wrong ship. Laughter all around -- the satisfaction of a practical joke well-played. DATA And you found the deception pleasurable? WESLEY Well... yeah. It's fun to be surprised. Data looks intrigued by the idea. RIKER (with humor) Are you here to work or play, Mister Crusher? WESLEY Sir? RIKER I know you're on vacation. You'll probably want to sleep late, and go to the holodeck. But if you'd like to help out, we could use an extra hand in preparing for the Phoenix Cluster survey. Wesley looks charged by the idea. WESLEY That'd be great, sir. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT TWO 16. 12 CONTINUED: (3) GEORDI After you're settled, come down to engineering. We'll get you started. WESLEY Aye sir. As the party continues... 12A NEW ANGLE On Beverly and Troi, conversing at the far end of the table. Beverly is looking at Troi with an intrigued expression. BEVERLY What kind of game? TROI Come by my quarters, and I'll show it to you... As Troi smiles... 12B INT. CORRIDOR Data and Wesley ENTER the corridor and walk together... DATA Have you found the Academy challenging, Wesley? WESLEY After the Enterprise, I thought it would be a breeze... but there's a lot more to learn besides starship operations. (beat) How was your first year? DATA Although I did extremely well scholastically, my lack of Human understanding often created social obstacles. WESLEY Like what? STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/3/91 - ACT TWO 16A. 12B CONTINUED: DATA I particularly recall a phenomenon called practical jokes, several of which I fell victim to. WESLEY Tell me about it. My first week there, a guy named Adam Martoni reprogrammed the sonic shower to cover me with mud. It took me a while, but I got him back pretty good... DATA I also found social gatherings difficult. There was one event, an Academy tradition, something called the Sadie Hawkins Dance. WESLEY Yeah... they still hold it every year. DATA It was a notably awkward experience. WESLEY (smiles) Don't worry, Data... I can't dance either. DATA Really? Your mother is quite an expert. She recently taught me. WESLEY Yeah, I know. "The Dancing Doctor." She tried to teach me. I just don't seem to have the knack. DATA I would be happy to give you lessons while you are here on vacation. I have created a comprehensive seventeen part course with some interesting holographic dancing partners. Several members of the crew have become quite proficient... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/3/91 - ACT TWO 16B. 12B CONTINUED: (2) WESLEY (interrupts) I'll let you know, Data. As they continue down the corridor... 13 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as the ship goes INTO WARP. 14 INT. ENGINEERING The Engineering NDs are hard at work. Robin is absent. Geordi and Wesley are working at a control panel. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT TWO 17. 14 CONTINUED: WESLEY I'll try modifying the planetary scanners. GEORDI Just make sure we keep enough data lines open for stellar physics. WESLEY No problem. I'll compress the signal flow... Wesley works the console. Geordi looks satisfied, moves off to another part of engineering. 15 NEW ANGLE Robin ENTERS, carrying some small equipment. As she crosses the room, she notices Wesley... 16 ON WESLEY looking frustrated, stuck on some sort of problem. WESLEY (to himself, re: console) Now why won't these register... ? ROBIN (O.S.) You might try calibrating them manually. Wesley looks up, sees Robin standing over him. He's surprised by her presence -- and her beauty -- but maintains his cool. WESLEY Excuse me? ROBIN The detectors. They tend to get temperamental. Try calibrating them by hand. WESLEY (studies console) Are you kidding? It's gotta be done by the computer. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT TWO 18. 16 CONTINUED: ROBIN No, it doesn't. Here... Robin leans over and enters some commands into the console. After a beat, she looks satisfied. ROBIN (continuing) This subroutine will let you do it from the panel... She demonstrates by rapidly tapping two buttons on Wesley's panel. Wesley watches with interest. ROBIN (continuing) Law Seventeen -- When all else fails, do it yourself. Wesley thinks a beat -- "What the hell?" He starts working the console... and reacts with surprise. WESLEY It's working... He turns to Robin, amazed. WESLEY (continuing) Thanks. ROBIN Sure. Robin turns to go... WESLEY I'm Wesley, by the way... Wesley Crusher. Robin turns to him. ROBIN (matter of factly) I know. Just came back from the Academy. WESLEY That's right. ROBIN (extends a hand) Robin Lefler. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT TWO 18A. 16 CONTINUED: (2) They shake hands. There's an electrifying moment when they touch -- an instant attraction between them. The handshake goes on just for a little too long... WESLEY Hi. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/23/91 - ACT TWO 19. 16 CONTINUED: (3) ROBIN Hi. Wesley's console sounds a small warning ALARM. ROBIN (re: console) Your neutrinos are drifting. WESLEY What? Oh! Wesley rushes to the console to make some quick adjustments. Robin can't suppress a laugh at the sight. Wesley glances up at her, embarrassed... but gives in to the humor of the moment. As they exchange a smile... 16A INT. BRIDGE Still a busy environment, with various supernumeraries tending to their work. Data ENTERS and goes to Geordi, who is at a science station. DATA A conflict has started between the planetary evolution team and the stellar physicists. Both wish to use the thermal imaging array first. GEORDI Well... tell them to flip a coin. They've got to cooperate on this mission, or we'll never get it done. DATA A coin. Very good. I will replicate one immediately. Data moves to the turbolift. BEVERLY'S COM VOICE Crusher to Data. DATA Go ahead, Doctor. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/3/91 - ACT TWO 19A. 16A CONTINUED: BEVERLY'S COM VOICE Do you have a minute to join me in sickbay? DATA Yes, Doctor. I am on my way. Data enters the turbolift -- and as the doors close... 17 INT. SICKBAY Beverly is working at a medical station. Data ENTERS. DATA You wanted to see me, Doctor? BEVERLY Yes, Data. I need your help with something. Data joins her at the station. She hands him a PADD and a tricorder. BEVERLY (continuing) I'm running a new experiment on bioactive silicon. Would you reprogram the tricorder to these specifications? DATA Certainly. BEVERLY Sorry to bother you with this, but I need it done quickly. Data stands at a station and begins to reprogram the tricorder. Beverly stops close behind him. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT TWO 20. 17 CONTINUED: DATA It does not bother me. In fact, I am happy to -- Without warning, Beverly reaches for Data's back and DEACTIVATES him. Data instantly slumps onto the console, unconscious. 18 NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) Riker and Troi ENTER from an adjoining room. Their faces are expressionless as they quickly move to Data. Without a word, they drag Data to a nearby examination table and lay him on top of it. RIKER Computer -- secure sickbay. COMPUTER VOICE All entries to sickbay are secured. Riker and Troi start to open a small PANEL on Data's head. Beverly reveals a small medical CUTTING TOOL. It is clear that they intend to tamper with Data. Beverly activates the tool -- a pinpoint LASER emits from its tip. As she moves the tool toward Data's head... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/5/91 - ACT THREE 21. ACT THREE FADE IN: 18A EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) At warp speed. 18B INT. READY ROOM Picard and Wesley sitting on the couch, talking. Picard is serving tea. WESLEY Let's see... I had Novakovich for anthropology... and Horne for creative writing... PICARD Walter Horne... is he still teaching? WESLEY And you'll be happy to know, I took your advice. The first week I was there, I went to meet Boothby. The news strikes a personal chord in Picard -- he looks pleased. PICARD Is he still tending the grounds... or has age finally caught up with him? WESLEY Not that I can tell. He took me on a grand tour... showed me every single blade of grass, practically. PICARD I got the very same tour... WESLEY Sir... what do the initials S-P stand for? Picard thinks -- it seems to ring a bell. PICARD S-P... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/5/91 - ACT THREE 21A. 18B CONTINUED: WESLEY Boothby said he once found you carving those initials into his prized elm tree. Picard reacts, the memory coming back to him. He looks a little embarrassed. PICARD Oh... just an old acquaintance. Picard considers Wesley for a moment. PICARD (continuing) Wesley. If you meet someone whose initials you might want to carve into the elm tree, try not to let it interfere with your studies. (beat) I failed organic chemistry because of S-P. They exchange a smile. BEVERLY'S COM VOICE Crusher to Captain Picard. PICARD Go ahead, Doctor. BEVERLY'S COM VOICE I need you in sickbay immediately. PICARD On my way. Picard and Wesley EXIT... 19 INT. SICKBAY Riker and Beverly are standing near a bio-bed, where Data is now laid out, unconscious. Picard and Geordi have joined the group. Geordi is examining an opened panel on Data's head. Riker and Beverly seem perfectly normal here -- even though we know they are lying. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/5/91 - ACT THREE 21B. 19 CONTINUED: BEVERLY (re: Data) He came in to complain about a servo malfunction. My scans were coming out negative. And then he just... collapsed. PICARD What have you found? BEVERLY His biosystems and positronic functions seem to check out. And his power cells are active... Geordi taps a region of Data's exposed circuitry -- and Data's arm jerks slightly. Geordi is perplexed by Data's condition. GEORDI From what I can tell, his higher functions are intact. But the signals aren't getting from his brain to the rest of his body. It's like he's in a coma. A beat as they absorb the situation. RIKER Data performs self-diagnostic routines on a regular basis. We should take a look at his logs -- they might tell us something. GEORDI I recommend searching his quarters, as well. You never know what might turn up. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/30/91 - ACT THREE 22. 19 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD Agreed. Continue your analysis. Keep me informed. Picard EXITS. Geordi continues to work on Data. OFF Beverly and Riker, who exchange a small glance... 19A INT. DATA'S QUARTERS Geordi is busy at Data's work station. Riker stops behind him, holding a tricorder. They've been working a while, with little luck. RIKER (re: tricorder) Standard security sweep shows nothing out of the ordinary. GEORDI (off console) Personal logs, diagnostics, duty logs... they all look normal. No evidence of anything leading to Data's shutdown. RIKER (lightly) Maybe we should ask his cat. A beat as they consider further options -- they've hit a dead end. Geordi pushes away from the desk, still concerned about his friend. GEORDI I'd better get back to sickbay. See if there's any change in his condition... RIKER Doctor Crusher's got a handle on it, Geordi. You'd be the first person she'd call... GEORDI I guess so... Geordi is weary and frustrated. Riker tries to soothe him with a comforting tone. RIKER Looks to me like you need a break... unwind a little. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/30/91 - ACT THREE 22A. 19A CONTINUED: GEORDI Maybe you're right. RIKER I know just the thing. (beat) Why don't you meet me in Ten Forward? I've got something I want you to try. Geordi looks up at Riker... nods, then stands to join him. As Riker smiles... 20 INT. ENGINEERING Wesley and Robin together in Geordi's office, plugging isolinear chips into an opened control panel. They've been working a while -- and have relaxed around each other. Robin is easy-going... while Wesley is more serious. It makes for a playful dynamic. WESLEY Conduits twelve and twenty-two are still down for testing. ROBIN We can re-route through junction fourteen B... Robin fits a chip into place. Wesley watches with interest. WESLEY You have a funny way of looking at conduit configuration. But it works. ROBIN Law Thirty-Six -- You gotta go with what works. WESLEY What are these laws you keep talking about? ROBIN My own personal laws. When I learn something essential, I make up a law about it. That way, I never forget. WESLEY How many laws do you have? STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/30/91 - ACT THREE 22B. 20 CONTINUED: ROBIN One hundred and two... so far. Wesley considers, intrigued by Robin's way of thinking. Robin reacts to the console. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 23. 20 CONTINUED: ROBIN Looks like the starboard array needs another subprocessor. She moves to check it out but Wesley stops her. WESLEY Don't worry, it'll be on-line in a few minutes. I'm way ahead of you. ROBIN They said you were good. They continue working. WESLEY Why do I get the feeling you already know me? ROBIN (shrugs) I have a couple of friends at the Academy. Your name's come up a few times. Wesley's not sure he likes the sound of this. ROBIN (continuing; laughs) That was some prank you pulled on Adam Martoni in the physics lab. I just want to know how you got the antimatter regulator to spray chili sauce. Wesley can hardly believe she actually knows about that. WESLEY (awkward) Uh... there's another side to that story... ROBIN And is it true about your birthmark? Wesley is embarrassed. Robin chuckles again. Clearly, she enjoys making him squirm. She starts to close the control panel. Wesley gives her a hand. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT THREE 24. 20 CONTINUED: (3) WESLEY This isn't fair. I know nothing about you. ROBIN Law Forty-six -- Life isn't always... WESLEY ... isn't always fair. I know that law. They finish with the control panel. Wesley stands. WESLEY I've gotta go work on the sensor relays. But later, I want a chance to even the score. (beat) Ten Forward, nineteen hundred hours. Will you join me for coffee? Robin considers. ROBIN No. (beat) But I'll join you for dinner. She smiles. A beat, then Wesley smiles too... 21 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) coming out of warp near the PHOENIX CLUSTER, a dense and glittering expanse of bluish-white stars. PICARD (v.o.) Captain's log, supplemental. We have arrived at the Phoenix Cluster, but it will take us several hours to determine the best possible location from which to conduct our survey. In the meantime, Commander Data's condition remains unchanged, with no further indication as to the cause of his breakdown. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT THREE 24A. 22 INT. BEVERLY'S QUARTERS BEVERLY'S POV - THE GAME (OPTICAL) A point of view of the room, with the familiar GAME OVERLAY superimposed on the scene. The gridlike playing field is at an advanced level, with dozens of cones and discs buzzing all around. Discs are dropping into cones left and right -- the game is obviously being played well. 117:[1,#b] STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT THREE 25. 23 ON BEVERLY playing the game. She is reclining in a chair, wearing the game headset. Her eyes are open, and she's letting out tiny gasps of pleasure... 24 NEW ANGLE As the doors slide open and Wesley ENTERS looking rushed. He stops at the sight of his mother playing the game. WESLEY Mom? 25 INCLUDE BEVERLY as she is startled out of the game. She removes the headset, flushed and out of breath. And a little embarrassed at having been caught with the game. BEVERLY Wesley... WESLEY What are you doing? An awkward beat. BEVERLY (re: game) I'm embarrassed to say this was meant for you. But it's so much fun, I couldn't resist. WESLEY What is it? BEVERLY A game. Will Riker brought it back from Risa. Beverly stands, steps around her desk and approaches him... BEVERLY (continuing) Everybody's playing it. Would you like to try? Wesley eyes the game. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 26. 25 CONTINUED: WESLEY Maybe later. (beat) Any word on Data? BEVERLY Geordi's still working on him. He's going to be fine. WESLEY Maybe I should give Geordi a hand... BEVERLY No, Wes. This is your vacation. You're doing more than enough already. WESLEY I guess you're right. Wesley crosses through an adjoining doorway that leads to the guest quarters... 26 INT. GUEST QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS Wesley ENTERS, walks to a closet. Beverly follows, game in hand. She tries to engage him in a playful tone... BEVERLY Are you in a hurry? WESLEY Well, actually... I'm running behind schedule for a dinner date. BEVERLY Really. With who? WESLEY Robin Lefler -- from engineering. BEVERLY Why don't you invite her over? We can all play the game together. I'll replicate a couple more. WESLEY Mom... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 27. 26 CONTINUED: BEVERLY (sweetly) Sorry. I just want to spend some time together while you're here. WESLEY We'll spend lots of time together. I promise. BEVERLY (smiles warmly) Okay. (beat) Come on, just one game. Try it on for size... She moves close to Wesley, raises the game toward his head, starts to hook it around his ear... Wesley gently pulls away, uneasy about the advance. Beverly backs off. This is getting awkward. Wesley doesn't understand why Beverly's so pushy about the game. He pulls a civilian shirt out of the closet. WESLEY (continuing) I need to change now. A beat. Beverly heads for the door. BEVERLY Have a good time. WESLEY Thanks. Wesley watches as Beverly EXITS... 27 WESLEY'S POV of Beverly entering her adjacent room. She sets the game down on the desk. 28 RESUME Wesley starts to change his clothes. OFF his uneasy expression... 29 INT. TEN FORWARD Wesley and Robin at a table, immersed in dinner conversation... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 28. 29 CONTINUED: ROBIN When your parents are the only exobiologists in the sector, you do a lot of travelling around. Base to base to base... (beat) After a while, I felt like a piece of luggage. Wesley smiles, absorbed in her story. ROBIN (continuing) I spent most of my time around technical gear. My very first friend was a tricorder. Wesley can relate. WESLEY Really? Mine was a warp coil. They share a laugh. There's a relationship forming here -- it shows in the way the laughter comes so easily between them. ROBIN My parents weren't around much. Even when I needed them... their work always came first. That's how I learned my first law. Law One -- The only person you can rely on is yourself. A quiet beat. WESLEY Sounds lonely. Robin glances up at him, a flicker of sadness crossing her face that says yes, it's lonely. For an instant, she looks fragile. Wesley tries to comfort her. WESLEY And now you're here. ROBIN Now I'm here. WESLEY I'm glad. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT THREE 29. 29 CONTINUED: (2) It's clear that Robin appreciates those words. She laughs and tries to brighten the mood. ROBIN You wouldn't believe what's happening in engineering. Commander La Forge and the others... they're crazy about this new game. WESLEY Game? ROBIN Some Risian gadget. A little thing that fits over your ear. WESLEY Have you played it? ROBIN Not yet. Wesley is troubled by something he can't put his finger on. WESLEY My mom has one. She was trying to get me to play it. ROBIN It's everywhere. Suddenly, Wesley sees something across the room... 30 WESLEY'S POV of a woman slipping the game onto her head. She leans back and starts to play the game... 31 RESUME Wesley and Robin react. ROBIN See what I mean? STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 30. 31 CONTINUED: WESLEY It's strange, don't you think? Everybody playing it all the time... ROBIN (shrugs) It's a fad. This week it's popular, next week we won't even know it existed. WESLEY (curious) I wonder how it works? ROBIN Why don't you try it and find out? WESLEY I'd want to know more about it first. (beat) We could hook it up to a computer. The medical programs can simulate human brain responses... Robin nods, sparking to the idea. As they stand and head for the door... ROBIN (on the move) The game uses a visual interface... we could connect it through an optical sensor... Together, they EXIT, still talking. 32 INT. ENGINEERING LAB (OPTICAL) A small room with a single work table. Wesley and Robin are disassembling the game, which is propped up on a stand. They are connecting cables and sensors from the game's arm extension to a sensor pad. Clearly, this is fun for them. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 31. 32 CONTINUED: WESLEY Okay... I've loaded the neurological behavior program. Robin taps a key and the wall MONITOR displays a COMPUTER SIMULATION of the human brain. Wesley finishes making his connection. WESLEY This sensor pad should allow the computer to process whatever information the game throws at it. ROBIN Let's see what happens... Robin types in a command at the console. The game sends out TWO TINY LASERS (the effects seen in the Teaser), which are absorbed by a sensor pad. Various lights activate on the game. The brain diagram lights up at the visual cortex. ROBIN It's activating the reticular formation... WESLEY (off console) Heavy synaptic activity... all over the place... The lasers vanish. The brain diagram begins to sparkle and blink, especially in the frontal region. ROBIN I wonder what happens after prolonged exposure... WESLEY Speed up the processor and we'll find out. Wesley works the console -- and two areas in the frontal lobe light up with intense activity. ROBIN (continuing) The effects are centered in the frontal lobe. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 31A. 32 CONTINUED: (2) WESLEY Computer, enhance frontal lobe -- full spectrum. One of the two bright spots in the frontal region glows with a deep red color. ROBIN It's stimulating the septal area... WESLEY ... The pleasure center of the brain. Whatever this game does, it must feel pretty good. ROBIN (with humor) No wonder it's popular. Wesley studies the console -- concerned about something. WESLEY Wait a second... look at this. Serotonin levels are way off. Let's do a neurochemical analysis... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 32. 32 CONTINUED: (3) They start to work the console with renewed interest -- they're on to something important here. They watch the blinking brain diagram a moment... astonished by the sight... ROBIN I'm seeing widespread bonding to neuroreceptors... WESLEY Correct me if I'm wrong, but this looks like a psychotropic reaction. ROBIN Are you saying you think the game's addictive? Wesley throws her a dead serious look. He works the console -- the second bright spot on the frontal lobe begins to flash... WESLEY (points) What's going on in the prefrontal cortex? ROBIN Doesn't that area control higher reasoning? WESLEY Yeah... it sure does. They work the console -- and the two spots in the frontal lobe blink faster in unison. They watch for a moment... WESLEY (continuing) I'd better talk to the captain. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT THREE 33. 33 INT. READY ROOM Picard is working at a terminal. The door CHIMES. PICARD Come. The doors slide open and Wesley ENTERS. WESLEY Sorry to bother you, Captain. PICARD No bother at all, Wesley, please... Picard indicates a chair. Wesley sits, looking concerned. PICARD (continuing) How are the survey preparations coming along? WESLEY Fine, sir... but that's not why I'm here. PICARD Oh... why then? A beat as Wesley decides on the right approach... WESLEY There's a game going around... something Commander Riker brought back from Risa. A little device that hooks around the ear... PICARD Yes, I've seen it. WESLEY I did some preliminary tests on the game. What I found leads me to believe it may have harmful side effects. Specifically sir -- I think it's psychotropically addictive. Picard considers the revelation. But has his doubts. PICARD Addictive... What have you discovered? STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT THREE 34. 33 CONTINUED: WESLEY The game initiates a serotonin cascade in the frontal lobe of the brain. Now I know that's nothing conclusive... but it could be the reason people are so attracted to it. Picard looks troubled, starting to share Wesley's concern. WESLEY And at the same time, it seems to be stimulating the brain's reasoning center... I don't know what that's all about... PICARD We'll start an investigation immediately. Thank you, Mister Crusher. Wesley nods and stands, turns for the door... PICARD (continuing) And Wesley... Wesley stops, turns to Picard. PICARD (continuing) Good to have you back. WESLEY Thank you, sir. Wesley EXITS. After a beat, Picard leans back in his chair... reaches for something behind his desk... and reveals the game. He puts on the headset, pulls the arm extension in front of his eyes... STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT THREE 35. 34 CLOSE ON PICARD'S EYES (OPTICAL) as TWO LASERS make contact with his pupils, then vanish. 35 thru OMITTED 37 FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT FOUR 36. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 38 INT. ENTERPRISE - TEN FORWARD 38A POV - THE GAME (OPTICAL) A view of Ten Forward, with the game overlay visible. Hundreds of discs and cones crowd the playing grid... large numbers of discs dropping into cones all at once... 38B REVEAL SCENE O'Brien is the one playing the game. Standing near Robin's table, he half turns to Robin, absorbed in the game. O'BRIEN (to Robin) Have you tried this? Robin eyes the game, leery. ROBIN (lying) I've tried it, thanks. It's great. O'BRIEN wanders away. Robin watches as he sits down and continues to play... WESLEY (o.s.) Robin... Robin jumps, mildly startled. Wesley sits down. WESLEY (continuing) Sorry. ROBIN (low) Where have you been? Everyone's been after me to play. WESLEY Me too. I was stopped twice in the corridor. (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT FOUR 37. 38B CONTINUED: WESLEY (cont'd) (beat) I spoke with Captain Picard. He's going to look into it. They glance around Ten Forward -- almost everyone there is playing. ROBIN I hope he makes a shipwide announcement or something... (beat) This is starting to give me the creeps. A WOMAN stops at their table. WOMAN Did you forget your games? ROBIN (to woman) We left them in our quarters. The woman looks dubious. WOMAN Well then... you can use mine. The woman offers the game. ROBIN No thanks... The woman sits down. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FOUR 38. 38B CONTINUED: (2) WESLEY (stern) She said no thanks. The woman backs off, eyebrows raised, and walks away. Wesley and Robin exchange a look -- this is getting more bizarre by the second. WESLEY (continuing) There's something else bothering me about all this -- if the game is addictive... there's only one person on the ship we can be sure wouldn't be affected by it... ROBIN Data. WESLEY Right. And he just happened to get injured at the same time this game was brought on board. A beat as they consider the implications. WESLEY (continuing) I think we should take a look at him. OFF their concern... 39 INT. SICKBAY Robin is peering out from around a corner in sickbay, trying to look inconspicuous. She's checking to see what the nurse is up to. 40 ROBIN'S POV of a NURSE standing in another part of sickbay -- he's wearing the game on his head, completely absorbed in playing it, oblivious to anything else. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT FOUR 38A. 40A RESUME Robin watches a beat, then ducks back around the corner to where Data is laid out on a bio-bed, his head panel open, a diagnostic viewscreen nearby. Wesley is in the middle of examining the android with a medical tricorder. ROBIN (low) The nurse is still playing the game. Wesley is confounded by Data's condition. WESLEY (re: Data) I don't know what to make of this. There's brain activity... all his systems seem to be working. ROBIN How can that be? He's unconscious. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FOUR 39. 40A CONTINUED: WESLEY There might be a signal breach somewhere... between his brain and his body. Let's map his nervous system... see if we can isolate a weak link... Wesley presses a command into the tricorder... then begins to move the wand carefully over Data's body. Up his legs... down his arms... Robin watches with fascination, but is nervous about being discovered. She listens for sounds and glances anxiously over her shoulder. Wesley waves the wand over Data's neck... WESLEY Still nothing... (finds something) Here. He stops the wand at a spot on Data's head. WESLEY (continuing) The signal stops here. Below his cognitive processor. (reads tricorder) There's some kind of damage... almost undetectable... (indicates viewscreen) Turn on the viewer. Robin goes to the viewscreen and works the console. Wesley makes a modification to the tricorder, then holds the wand steady over Data's head. ROBIN (re: viewscreen) Wesley, look. INTERCUT: STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/30/91 - ACT FOUR 40. 41 VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) It shows a microscopic view of a complex network of positronic FIBERS -- some of which are clearly and cleanly cut. WESLEY It looks like some of his positronic links have been severed. ROBIN The cuts are very precise... see how clean the edges are? (beat) Computer, increase magnification, factor four. The image ENLARGES -- the fiber cuts are indeed razorneat. WESLEY Only two people on board know enough about Data to have done something like this. Commander La Forge... and my mother. ROBIN Why would one of them do this to him? WESLEY Maybe there's more going on here than we thought. Someone could be trying to use the game -- for some purpose other than pleasure... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/30/91 - ACT FOUR 41. 41 CONTINUED: ROBIN If that's the case... Data would have been a threat to that plan... but with him out of the way, everybody else could become addicted. They eye each other, worried as they realize the possible scope of the situation. WESLEY And everybody has. Except us. And as they feel the weight of that burden... 42 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) Coming to a stop near the Phoenix Cluster. 43 INT. BRIDGE Picard, Riker, Worf and Troi at their stations. Supernumeraries as needed. Beverly and Geordi are also present. WORF We've reached the designated coordinates, Captain. There is a ship bearing three-two-seven mark one-five-two on an intercept course. PICARD Advise them of our status, Mister Worf. Picard turns to his senior staff. Our crew has never looked more capable -- there is nothing different or unusual about their behavior. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FOUR 42. 43 CONTINUED: PICARD Go replicate what you need. See that the devices are properly distributed. Everyone nods in acknowledgment. PICARD (continuing; an afterthought) And don't forget Mister Crusher. A nod from Beverly. The group heads for the turbolift. Picard turns toward the viewscreen. OFF his neutral expression... 44 INT. BEVERLY'S QUARTERS The doors open -- Beverly and Worf ENTER, each carrying several of the games. BEVERLY Wesley? They venture further into the room. BEVERLY (continuing) Wesley? Wesley calls out, his voice distant. WESLEY (o.s.) In here, Mom. They look toward the adjoining guest room, then head for the doors, quickly, with intent... 45 INT. GUEST ROOM - CONTINUOUS Beverly and Worf ENTER, stop at what they see... 46 INCLUDE WESLEY AND ROBIN sitting on the bed, both wearing the game on their heads. They look engrossed in the game... letting out tiny gasps of pleasure.  STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FOUR 43. 46 CONTINUED: Beverly and Worf watch for a moment... then exchange a satisfied look. They turn and EXIT. A few beats go by. Wesley and Robin gradually come out of the charade -- they remove the game headsets, looking alert as ever. ROBIN (re: games) It worked. WESLEY Better keep the mock-ups with us. (beat) We can't trust anyone now. Not even the captain. ROBIN I'm supposed to be on duty in engineering. I've gotta get back before Commander La Forge suspects something. WESLEY When you get there, start accessing the codes for the security tracking system. There's something I want to try... Wesley moves to a nearby desktop computer and starts to work. Robin stands, mock-up game in hand. ROBIN Wesley. Don't forget Law Ninety-One... Wesley looks at her. ROBIN (continuing) Always watch your back. Wesley nods, appreciative. WESLEY You too. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FOUR 44. 46 CONTINUED: (2) Robin exits. Wesley turns back to the computer -- and begins to quickly work. OFF his look of determination... 47 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) A SMALL ALIEN SHIP pulls up to the Enterprise. 48 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE Picard, Riker, Worf and Beverly at their positions. WORF The vessel is approaching, Captain. PICARD All senior officers report to the bridge. (beat) On screen. 49 ON VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) An alien woman appears -- it's Etana, the same woman from the Teaser. She studies the Enterprise crew. ETANA Report. PICARD The Enterprise has been secured. We await your further instructions. Etana looks pleased. OFF Picard's unreadable expression... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 45. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 50 INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Continuous action. Picard and the bridge crew still looking at Etana on the viewscreen. In the background, Geordi and Troi ENTER, each carrying several of the games. They stop and watch the viewscreen. Etana sizes up our crew. The soft and sensual woman we saw in the Teaser is different here -- her eyes reveal a mean intelligence... her speech is clipped... expression hard. ETANA The expansion will proceed as follows... (beat) Commander Riker. Riker meets her gaze. There is no acknowledgement of the intimacy they once shared. Our entire crew is ready to support Etana in any way they can. In essence, they have become agents of her will. ETANA (continuing) Pilot a shuttlecraft to these coordinates... She punches the coordinates into a panel. ETANA (continuing) You will rendezvous with the Starship Endeavor. Resume distribution of the device aboard that vessel. Riker nods in understanding. ETANA (continuing) Commander La Forge and Counselor Troi... take a shuttle to Starbase Sixty-seven. Distribute the device to all starships currently docked there. Geordi and Troi nod. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 46. 50 CONTINUED: PICARD We also have an opportunity to introduce the game to Starfleet Academy. ETANA Excellent. See to it. (beat) The Ktarians commend your efforts, Picard. When the expansion is complete... you and your crew will be rewarded. As Etana eyes the remaining crew... 50A INT. VARIOUS CORRIDORS Wesley on the move, mock-up game in hand. He passes a crewperson, who glances at him. Wesley keeps a straight face, not stopping for a second... Wesley rounds a corner and approaches a group of crewpeople engaged in a hushed conversation. He passes them quietly and with no eye contact, trying not to arouse suspicion... He comes to turbolift doors and touches a button. A tense beat, then the doors open... 50B INT. TURBOLIFT - CONTINUOUS Wesley ENTERS. Two crewpeople are already in the lift. Wesley stands between them, trying to appear like nothing is out of the ordinary. WESLEY (to turbolift) Deck thirty-six. The turbolift starts MOVING. A beat of silence. Wesley stands cool and composed. But he can't help but glimpse at the crewpeople to see what they're doing... One of them is looking right at Wesley. Expression neutral, eyes searching Wesley's face, he nods a slight greeting. Wesley nods in return, then looks straight ahead again... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 46A. 50B CONTINUED: Both crewpeople start to scrutinize Wesley... they look down at his mock-up game, as if to make sure he has one. The tension in the room climbs a notch. This is the longest turbolift ride of Wesley's life... Finally, the doors open and Wesley promptly EXITS. 50C INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS As Wesley walks off, breathing a sigh of relief... 51 INT. ENGINEERING (OPTICAL) Robin is at a work station. Various N.D.s in background. Wesley ENTERS, looking harried but determined. He goes straight to a console and sits down. WESLEY (to Robin) I think we're gonna be okay. I've just got one more thing to do... Robin sits next to him at a parallel console. Wesley is so involved in the work that he doesn't look up at her. WESLEY (continuing) Help me compile the forcefield overrides... Robin watches as Wesley enters a few commands. Information comes up on the console. ROBIN What are you doing? STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 47. 51 CONTINUED: WESLEY I created a site to site transporter program. If things get difficult, this'll keep us one step ahead... (beat) Did you get a chance to access the security tracking codes? A beat as Wesley works. Robin does not answer, and makes no effort to help him -- rather, she just sits there, watching him. Slowly, Wesley starts to realize that she's not doing anything... and he looks up at her. WESLEY Robin... ? She smiles... but the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. And in one terrifying instant, it's clear: Robin is not herself. Her eyes shift ever-so-slightly from Wesley's face to a region just behind him... Wesley turns. Riker and Worf are standing right behind him. He leaps up, turns to Robin -- she's holding out the game. ROBIN It's your turn, Wesley. Play the game. Panicked, Wesley makes a run for it. Riker and Worf chase after him. Wesley races across the room... past the pool table... and makes a sharp turn for the nearest exit... 52 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) Wesley bolts into the hall, closely followed by Riker and Worf. RIKER (quickly) Computer -- activate security containment field on deck thirty-six, section fifty-two! A FORCEFIELD appears in the corridor, effectively trapping Wesley in a dead end. He stops and hits his communicator -- STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 48. 52 CONTINUED: WESLEY Computer -- transport program Crusher One! Just as Riker and Worf lunge to grab him, Wesley DEMATERIALIZES. 53 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL) Wesley MATERIALIZES. He leaps down off the stage and races out the door... 54 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS Wesley EXITS the transporter room and stops -- tears off his communicator, removes the front of it and tampers with the inside. Tossing the communicator to the floor, he takes off running down the corridor... 55 INT. BRIDGE Picard at command, Ensign Bloom at conn, Geordi at tactical. Troi and Beverly are at command. RIKER'S COM VOICE Riker to bridge. We've lost Crusher. It looks like he rigged a site to site transport. Picard is displeased. PICARD Security alert, condition three. Computer, shut down all transporter systems and shuttle bays. (continuing) Mister La Forge? STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 49. 55 CONTINUED: GEORDI (off console) I can't track him, sir. He's done something to the internal security sensors. I'll try bypassing his subcommands. Hold on... 56 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) Wesley moving cautiously along. He stops at an intersection between two corridors and kneels down. He reaches into his pocket and reveals a TYPE-ONE PHASER (a smaller version of the regular phasers) and presses a command into it. He lays the phaser on the arm rail, aiming it at the intersection.... then activates it. The phaser sends out a series of weak, sporadic BURSTS -- the tiny beams absorbed harmlessly into the wall. 57 INT. BRIDGE As before. GEORDI I'm picking up a piece of his trail, sir -- sensors show power activation in transporter room three. That would put him somewhere on deck six. PICARD Seal off deck six. Activate security fields on section twenty- three through twenty-nine. GEORDI Aye sir. 58 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) (Same one as before.) Wesley is gone. The phaser is still sending out the bursts when a FORCEFIELD appears at the intersection. The bursts start hitting the forcefield. 59 INT. BRIDGE Geordi reacts to the console. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/29/91 - ACT FIVE 50. 59 CONTINUED: GEORDI We've got him, Captain -- section twenty-five. It looks like he's trying to break through the forcefield with a phaser. PICARD Security to deck six, section twenty-five. 60 INT. ANOTHER CORRIDOR Wesley running along. He stops and peers around a corner. TWO SECURITY GUARDS are running toward him through the connecting corridor. Wesley ducks back around the corner. Waits. Looks again and the coast is clear. He makes a run into the corridor... 61 OMITTED 62 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) The two security guards we've just seen arrive at the scene -- but Wesley is nowhere to be found. Just the phaser lying on the arm rail, sending out its tiny beams. 63 INT. ENGINEERING Riker, Worf, and Robin at a console, trying to track Wesley. N.D.s working in background. RIKER Where the hell is he? WORF I am attempting to isolate him with thermal sensors... Worf works the console. RIKER Narrow the scan field. Go deck by deck if you have to... WORF Unfortunately, he knows our procedures... he will avoid corridors and public areas... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 51. 63 CONTINUED: A tense beat of working the controls. Then Worf reacts to the console. WORF I am reading an unidentified heat source on deck seven, section twenty-three... (points) There... Riker and Worf exchange a knowing look. Then they take off running... 64 INT. JEFFERIES TUBE Wesley is crawling horizontally along the narrow passageway, deep in the bowels of the ship. Suddenly, an access hatch opens behind him -- it's Worf. The Klingon starts after him. It's a tense chase down the crawlway until... Wesley makes it to another hatch -- the doors open and Wesley jumps through the doorway into... 64A NEW ANGLE in a part of the Jefferies Tube where Wesley can stand up (as seen in "Disaster"). He immediately presses a button next to the doors, and as they start to slide shut -- Worf's hand stops it from the other side. The doors start to open, Worf's Klingon strength forcing them apart. Wesley frantically keeps pushing the "close" button. Worf reaches in with both hands, using all his might and it's working, he's getting the doors to open all the way. Wesley rushes across to another set of doors. He hits the unlocking code into a panel... the doors open and... Riker on the other side. Wesley leaps back, startled. Riker quickly steps through the hatch toward Wesley. Wesley wavers between Riker and Worf, panicked about what to do next, but there is no escape. He's trapped. 65 INT. BRIDGE The turbolift doors open and Riker and Worf ENTER, Wesley in tow between them -- they've each got an arm. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 51A. 65 CONTINUED: Wesley struggles against their iron grips, to no avail. Wesley is dragged to the command area, where Picard and Beverly step over to him. Wesley can hardly believe his eyes. Here's the Enterprise crew, all looking and speaking like their normal selves -- but their actions utterly alien. It's a chilling predicament -- and Wesley never stops resisting. PICARD You gave us quite a chase, Mister Crusher. Wesley is silent, glaring. Worf puts a little extra squeeze on Wesley's arm. Wesley reacts. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT FIVE 52. 65 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD (to Beverly) Doctor Crusher... Beverly walks over and hands Picard the game. Wesley eyes it with utter dread. Picard moves it toward Wesley's head. Wesley struggles like crazy... PICARD Hold him steady. Worf steadies Wesley's head with a massive hand. Beverly looks at Wesley with a soft expression, tries to comfort him. BEVERLY It's okay, Wesley. It doesn't hurt. You'll like it. I promise you... Picard hooks the game securely around Wesley's ear. He pulls the arm extension in front of Wesley's eyes. Wesley shuts his eyes tight, refusing. WESLEY No... PICARD (a command) His eyes. Riker reaches in and forces Wesley's eyes open. Picard activates the game, which comes alive with tiny lights. 66 CLOSE ON WESLEY'S EYES (OPTICAL) The game sends out two thin LASERS -- and they make contact with Wesley's pupils. Wesley tenses up. The lasers vanish. Wesley's struggling starts to subside... INTERCUT: 67 WESLEY'S POV - THE GAME (OPTICAL) A view of the bridge -- with the familiar GAME OVERLAY superimposed on top. The playing field has a cone and a disc coasting across it. Picard and Beverly are visible beyond the overlay, looking straight at us. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT FIVE 53. 67 CONTINUED: The disc starts to skitter about, but it misses the cone. Wesley's strength is sapping... WESLEY No... The disc moves faster, closer to hitting the cone. Then finally, the disc drops right into the cone. Wesley's body tenses up. Then he relaxes, letting out a small gasp of pleasure. He slumps a little, succumbing to the game. It looks hopeless. BEVERLY That's it, Wesley... just let yourself go... Suddenly, the bridge lights GO OUT. Darkness. Confusion. 68 NEW ANGLE on the turbolift doors opening. A tall FIGURE steps out of the brightly-lit interior -- a dramatic silhouette against the light. As the doors close, the figure raises up an arm, aiming a device toward the room, causing -- A series of BRIGHT WHITE FLASHES OF LIGHT. The effect is blinding and erratic, like a flashbulb going off in the darkness. With each flash of light, we see faces, reactions: -- FLASH! Picard and Beverly react, wide-eyed and stunned, the light blinding them. -- FLASH! FLASH! Worf and Riker fall back, hands in front of their eyes, the light causing them pain. -- FLASH! Troi and Geordi stumble back, dazzled by the light. A beat of darkness, then... DATA (o.s.) Computer, resume normal illumination. STAR TREK: "The Game" - 8/23/91 - ACT FIVE 53A. 69 ANGLE - DATA As the bridge lights come BACK ON. Data is standing in the turbolift doorway, holding a palm beacon that's been modified to send out flashes of light. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT FIVE 54. 69 CONTINUED: He has the beacon trained and ready to fire again, if necessary. But the bridge crew looks dazed, like they're coming out of a deep sleep. Some are rubbing their eyes... others simply regaining their balance. DATA (quickly) Mister Worf, you will find a small alien ship off the starboard bow. Secure it with a tractor beam and raise our shields. Worf is at first uncertain, looks to Picard. Picard nods, okay. Worf works the console. WORF Engaging tractor beam. 70 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) As it seizes the Ktarian ship with a tractor beam. 71 INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS DATA (to Picard) Are you all right, Captain? Picard considers, head still foggy. PICARD I think so... WORF Captain, we are being hailed by the alien vessel. PICARD On screen. 71A INTERCUT: VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) Etana appears on the viewscreen, her outrage barely contained. ETANA Picard, explain yourself. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/4/91 - ACT FIVE 54A. 71A CONTINUED: PICARD The explanation is simple -- your attempt to capture this ship has failed. ETANA Release us immediately. Or we will open fire. RIKER Tactical analysis, Mister Worf? WORF (off console) Their weapons capability is substantially inferior to ours. They are not a threat. RIKER Get her off the screen. The viewscreen returns to a starfield. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/5/91 - ACT FIVE 55. 71A CONTINUED: (2) GEORDI (shaken) I can't believe what we were about to do... A beat... Beverly moves to Wesley -- there's a relieved look between them. Riker approaches Data, surprised... RIKER Data... we deactivated you... WESLEY (to Riker) I managed to reconnect his positronic matrix. DATA Wesley's subsequent diversions gave me adequate time to modify the palm beacon... (re: beacon) The optical burst patterns we programmed were successful in counteracting the addictive effects of the game. PICARD (to Data) And the rest of the crew? DATA We have programmed the main computer to transmit the same optical pulse to all display screens, work stations and terminals throughout the ship. RIKER That'll reach almost everyone. Send out medical teams to treat the rest. DATA Aye sir. Beverly joins Data and they head for the turbolift. Picard takes the command position, regaining his composure, but still rattled by the whole experience. PICARD We'll take the alien vessel to the nearest Federation starbase. Ensign, lay in a course. STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 9/5/91 - ACT FIVE 55A. 71A CONTINUED: (3) OFF Picard's expression... 72 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE - (OPTICAL) (STOCK) The Enterprise at impulse speed. Several days have passed. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's log, stardate 45212.1. We have delivered the Ktarian vessel to Starbase Eighty-two. We are now on a course to rendezvous with the Starship Merrimack, which will take Wesley Crusher back to the Academy now that his vacation is over... STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 56. 73 thru OMITTED 78 79 INT. GUEST QUARTERS Wesley standing at the bed, dressed in Academy uniform, packing his travel bag. Robin is beside him, handing him clothing. She holds up a pair of swimming trunks. ROBIN I never saw you wear these. Afraid someone might see your birthmark? He takes the shorts form her. WESLEY Who started that birthmark rumor, anyway? She shrugs innocently; he pulls her close and they kiss. A moment, and they part gently. It's clear their relationship has matured over the past few days. ROBIN Wish you didn't have to go. WESLEY Me too. ROBIN You'll write, won't you? WESLEY Somebody's got to kill those rumors you keep hearing about me. They smile, and embrace one last time. RIKER'S COM VOICE Mister Crusher, we've rendezvoused with the Merrimack. (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 8/27/91 - ACT FIVE 57. 79 CONTINUED: RIKER'S COM VOICE (cont'd) Please report to transporter room two. WESLEY (taps communicator) On my way, sir. Wesley closes his travel bag. A moment between them -- this is goodbye. WESLEY (continuing) I'd better go. ROBIN Here... Robin hands him a small red BOOK. ROBIN (re: book) A gift. So you'll remember. Wesley takes the book, curious. ROBIN (continuing) Robin's Laws. All one hundred and two of them. Wesley is moved by the gesture. Arm in arm they walk toward the door... WESLEY Law number one hundred and three... ROBIN Yes? WESLEY A couple of light years can't keep good friends apart. As they EXIT... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END