STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Chase" #40276-246 Story by Ronald D. Moore & Joe Menosky Teleplay by Joe Menosky Directed by Jonathan Frakes FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT. Copyright 1992 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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 FEBRUARY 4, 1993 STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/05/93 - CAST STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Chase" CAST PICARD GALEN RIKER GUL OCETT DATA HUMANOID BEVERLY TROI NU'DAQ WORF ROMULAN CAPTAIN GEORDI COMPUTER VOICE MOTT Non-Speaking Non-Speaking ENSIGN THREE ROMULANS N.D. CARDASSIAN STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - SETS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Chase" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE OBSERVATION LOUNGE CARDASSIAN SHIPS TRANSPORTER ROOM PICARD'S QUARTERS PLANET SURFACE LAB SICKBAY TEN FORWARD ENGINEERING READY ROOM STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/05/93 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Chase" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE VOLTERRA vol-TAIR-ah GALEN GAY-lin NAISKOS NAY-skos TARQUIN TAR-kwin KEA KEY-ah AOLIAN a-O-lee-in SATAARAN suh-TAIR-ran SOTHIS SO-this SCHLIEMANN SCHLAY-mn M'TELL muh-TELL YA'SEEM ya-SEEM AL-LEYAN al-LEE-in CAERE kye-AIR RAHM IZAD ROM-a-zod NU-DAQ new-DOK STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Chase" TEASER FADE IN: 1 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The ship moving at impulse against softly glowing bands of gaseous material. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's log, Stardate 46731.5. We are in the midst of the Volterra nebula, a stellar "nursery." Our three week mission is a routine analysis of several dozen protostars in various stages of development. 2 INT. BRIDGE PICARD, TROI, WORF are at their stations; DATA is at the aft science station, working his console. DATA Captain, I have completed the spectral evaluation of the outer shell. (beat) Our survey of this protostar is complete. Picard acknowledges with a nod. PICARD (to Con) Ensign, lay in a course to the next one, three quarters impulse. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - TEASER 2. 2 CONTINUED: The Ensign works her controls. RIKER'S COM VOICE Riker to Captain Picard. PICARD (to COM) Yes, Number One? RIKER'S COM VOICE May I see you in the Observation Lounge, Sir? Picard is puzzled but not alarmed. PICARD (to COM) Of course. I'll be right there. Picard stands and heads for the Observation Lounge door. 3 OMITTED 4 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard ENTERS from the Bridge -- his attention is immediately riveted toward an OBJECT on the middle of the table. It is a TERRA-COTTA FIGURINE, roundish, about a foot wide and tall, of vaguely HUMANOID shape, with a serene look on its face -- like some alien Buddha. Its surface is worn, it looks ancient. Picard is stunned to see it. PICARD My God... 5 INCLUDE RIKER AND PROFESSOR RICHARD GALEN PROFESSOR GALEN is in his sixties, tall, slender, greyhaired, and seems to emanate dignity and intelligence. Riker has a smile on his face. GALEN Then you can identify this object, Mister Picard. Picard is taken aback by the man's face and voice. PICARD Professor Galen. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - TEASER 3. 5 CONTINUED: GALEN (lightly) I suppose I should say -- Captain Picard. Picard glances toward Riker. RIKER (explains) Professor Galen hailed me from his shuttle an hour ago. He suggested that we surprise you. GALEN To clarify... I insisted and your First Officer was kind enough to accommodate me. I hope I haven't been overly presumptuous... (beat) My star pupil now being master of the stars... Picard brushes it off with a wave of his hand. PICARD No one is more welcome on my ship. He turns again to the figurine on the table. PICARD (continuing) I never thought I would see a Kurlan naiskos. (to Galen) Fifth Dynasty? GALEN Is that your conclusion, Mister Picard. (catching himself) Forgive me again, Captain. PICARD Please. "Mister" will do just fine. Riker reacts to this with a smile, as Picard examines the figurine more closely, suddenly the student attempting to shine before his mentor. PICARD (continuing) The overall configuration is certainly Fifth Dynasty. But the surface ornamentation... STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - TEASER 4. 5 CONTINUED: (2) GALEN Yes... Picard steps closer, leans toward the object, sees an extremely faded HINT OF COLOR. PICARD Green polychrome over the eyes... And the eyes themselves... open. (smiles) Third Dynasty. From the workshop of the Master of Tarquin Hill. The Professor nods, pleased. GALEN Well done. Picard explains to Riker. PICARD The Master of Tarquin Hill created ceramic designs that were three centuries ahead of his time. We only know him by his work -- his name has never been discovered... Picard indicates the figurine. PICARD (continuing) This object is over twelve thousand years old... RIKER The planet Kurl? That's a hell of a long way outside Federation territory. As if that was Picard's next question, the Captain turns to his former instructor. PICARD Indeed. I thought you had completed your studies of Kurlan artifacts some time ago. GALEN I happened to be in the neighborhood last summer. I couldn't resist. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - TEASER 5. 5 CONTINUED: (3) Picard doesn't seem to consider this an answer to his question, but the Professor immediately refocuses his attention onto the figurine. GALEN (continuing) Go ahead. Picard is surprised. PICARD It's complete? Galen answers with a smile. Picard steps over to the figurine, grasps its sides with both hands and LIFTS -- the top half separates from the bottom, revealing a hollow interior. Inside are over a dozen TINY FIGURINES, similar in shape to the original. Riker steps over to look inside as Picard explains with excitement. PICARD The Kurl believed every individual is a community of individuals. Inside us are many voices, each with its own desires, its own style, its own way of viewing the world. Picard picks up one of the tiny figurines. PICARD (continuing) But Kurlan civilization died out thousands of years ago. It's rare to find a figurine intact. (to the Professor) A truly incredible find. GALEN It's yours, Jean-Luc. Picard shakes his head. PICARD How could I accept this -- GALEN ... Graciously, Mister Picard. You could accept it graciously. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - TEASER 6. 5 CONTINUED: (4) Picard nods, touched. PICARD How long can you stay? There's so much to talk about. RIKER The Professor is scheduled to meet a Vulcan transport the day after tomorrow. Picard's face falls. PICARD Two days? That's not nearly enough time... GALEN We may have considerably more than that. PICARD I don't understand. GALEN I am currently on an expedition. A journey into unexplored historical territory. (beat) And I intend to take you with me. Picard and Riker exchange a surprised look. OFF their expressions... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 7. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes) 6 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The Enterprise at impulse speed in the protostar nebula. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's log, supplemental. It has been over thirty years since I last saw my archaeology professor. His presence has taken me back to a time when I had considered a very different career... 7 INT. TEN FORWARD Picard is at a table having tea with Professor Galen. The Captain doesn't frequent Ten Forward, and draws a few curious glances from the other patrons. GALEN I read your paper on the Kea Four excavation that you delivered at last year's symposium. It was... informative. Picard smiles. PICARD Damning with faint praise. GALEN (shrugs) One can hardly serve two masters. For a Starfleet Captain at the helm of the Federation flagship... attendance alone would have been impressive enough. But you still managed to present a piece of original research. (beat) A small piece, granted. Nevertheless, I admire your tenacity. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 8. 7 CONTINUED: PICARD I had hoped to see you there. You said in your last letter that you might go. GALEN Much too busy, I'm afraid. I was on the far side of the Aolian Cluster at the time. Picard reacts with surprise. Then... PICARD Professor Galen, may I ask a frank question? GALEN Please. PICARD Your published writings have been... sporadic over the last ten years or so. Your appearances at symposia have been rare -- or scheduled and then cancelled at the last minute. The finest archaeologist of the century has become shrouded with an air of mystery. GALEN And my reputation as a result has no doubt grown. PICARD (smiles) I've yet to run across anyone that didn't love a good mystery. GALEN The Sataaran of Sothis Three disdain them. (nods) Nevertheless, as a general principle, your statement holds. A beat. Picard leans forward. PICARD Professor, what have you been doing for the last decade? STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 9. 7 CONTINUED: (2) GALEN Are you familiar with micropaleontology? PICARD (nods) Studying fossil records at a microscopic level. I remember reading your papers on the subject. But that was years ago... Then your work seemed to stop. GALEN No. The work continued. The man lowers his voice. GALEN (continuing) I made a discovery so profound in its implications that silence seemed the wisest course. He pauses a moment. GALEN (continuing) This... work has occupied my every waking thought, it's intruded upon my dreams. It's become my life. And when it's finished, when I announce my findings... (beat) It will be heard half-way across the galaxy. Picard reacts. PICARD Tell me -- STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT ONE 10. 7 CONTINUED: (3) GALEN ... I'm sorry, Mister Picard. But that information has a price -- your agreement to join me on the final leg of this expedition. A silent beat. PICARD For how long? GALEN Three months. Perhaps a year. If we had a starship and complete diplomatic access -- a matter of weeks. But we'll have only my shuttle, the transports we can arrange, and our combined talents. PICARD Why can't you do this without me? The Professor looks at him for a moment, then glances away. GALEN I'm not a young man. There will be hazards along the way. I don't want my own inadequacies to jeopardize the completion of this work. PICARD Professor, I'm honored that you'd think of me. But I have a responsibility -- GALEN ... to History. What if you could have helped Schliemann discover the City of Troy? Or if you had been with M'Tell as she stepped upon Ya'Seem for the first time? (beat) How could anything compare? A long, silent beat. Picard stands. PICARD May I sleep on it? The Professor nods. GALEN Dream not of today, Mister Picard. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 11. 7 CONTINUED: (4) Picard smiles, remembering. PICARD "Dream not of today." The night blessing of the Yash-El. GALEN As I recall, you missed that question on the final exam. PICARD I've had a few years to look it up. (beat) The Enterprise is yours, for as long as you're here. Galen acknowledges the gesture with a nod of thanks. PICARD (continuing) Dream not of today, Professor. Picard heads for the door. OFF Galen's contemplative face... 8 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) At impulse in the protostar nebula. 9 INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS Picard is at a table, staring into space. The ancient FIGURINE is in front of him, open, the tiny figures visible inside. The door CHIMES. PICARD Come. The door opens and BEVERLY steps inside, her cheeriness in sharp contrast to Picard's contemplative mood. BEVERLY Good morning. (beat) You look like you've been up for awhile. She goes to the replicator. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT ONE 12. 9 CONTINUED: PICARD Yes. Beverly reacts, then turns to the replicator. BEVERLY (to replicator) One tea, Earl Grey, hot. One macchiato. The SOUND of the replicator. She turns away from it with a mug of tea and a tiny cappuccino in an espresso cup. She takes them over to Picard, then sits next to him. BEVERLY (continuing) Let's hear it... PICARD I had a long talk with Professor Galen last night. He asked me to leave the Enterprise -- to join him on an archaeological expedition that could last a year. BEVERLY Jean-Luc... that must be tempting. PICARD I wouldn't leave the Enterprise. But the offer itself has made me feel a certain... regret. BEVERLY That you could have been an archaeologist instead of a starship Captain? PICARD Not exactly. I'm certainly not sorry about the path I've taken... STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT ONE 13. 9 CONTINUED: (2) Picard sips his tea, sets it down. PICARD (continuing) But... there's a certain... passion that comes with the singleminded pursuit of the past. He picks up one of the tiny figurines. PICARD (continuing) To be captured by an image created by another's hand, hundreds or thousands of years ago. A being long dead, who still speaks to you through that image, who says "I was alive, as you are alive." Picard sets the figurine on the table in front of them. PICARD (continuing) I've only approximated that feeling. Professor Galen made it his life. He places the tiny figurine into the larger one with the others. PICARD (continuing) The Professor didn't choose this figure at random -- the many voices inside the one. He knows that the past is one of the most insistent voices inside me. This gift was meant to remind me of that. BEVERLY And the exploration of space? Surely that counts for something... Picard smiles. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT ONE 14. 9 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD I wouldn't trade it for anything. And I'd still make the same decision I made all those years ago. (beat) I'm just sorry I have to say no to him a second time. BEVERLY You two were very close, weren't you? PICARD I had a father. But Professor Galen was like a father who understood me. And he had children -- but none followed in his footsteps. So, I was like the son who understood him. BEVERLY I guess it was difficult for both of you when you left. PICARD The Professor is somewhat... internal. He doesn't express feelings easily. But it was difficult for me. Picard picks up the top half of the larger figurine and replaces it onto the lower. PICARD (continuing) In some ways, I wish he'd never come on board. OFF the figure, with its enigmatic expression... 10 INT. LAB Professor Galen is working at a console. A mid-sized Viewscreen displays a star chart, color-coded for political boundaries. The door opens and Picard ENTERS the lab. GALEN Good morning, Mister Picard. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT ONE 15. 10 CONTINUED: PICARD Professor. Picard joins him at the console, staring at the star chart. GALEN (re: screen) The Vulcan ship can take us as far as DS-Four. An Al-Leyan transport is scheduled to arrive at the station three weeks later. They'll take us as far as Caere and we can use the shuttle to get to Indri Eight. Our first stop. Picard looks at him. PICARD I'm afraid I won't be going. The Professor doesn't answer. PICARD (continuing) The Enterprise isn't something I can leave and then come back to. If I go, I go for good. I'm not prepared to do that. GALEN This isn't some undergraduate study project you're turning down. This is the chance of a lifetime. (beat) Don't make the same mistake twice. PICARD You can't believe that my career in Starfleet has been a mistake. Galen flashes with sudden anger. GALEN What are you doing at this very moment? A "survey mission." You're like a Roman centurion off patrolling the provinces -- the maintenance of a dull and bloated Empire. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 16. 10 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD We both know that isn't true. GALEN I know this. As a scholar, you're nothing but a dilettante. Picard is stung by the words. GALEN (continuing) Years ago, I offered you the chance to become the finest archaeologist of your generation. Your achievements could have surpassed even my own. (beat) But you decided to turn your back on a life of profound discovery. (beat) And you turned your back on me. Picard suddenly sees the depth of the Professor's disappointment -- a bitterness suppressed for decades. PICARD I never wanted -- Galen holds up a hand, stopping him. There is pain in his voice, suddenly quiet and beaten and old. GALEN Will you come with me? PICARD I can't. The Professor's eyes suddenly harden. He taps the computer console and the star chart on the screen goes blank. He heads for the door. GALEN Then I'll be going. PICARD You aren't scheduled to rendezvous with the Vulcan ship for two days... GALEN There's nothing else for me here. He pauses at the door. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT ONE 17. 10 CONTINUED: (3) GALEN Goodbye, Captain. He steps out the door and it closes behind him. OFF Picard's wounded expression. 11 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The Enterprise at warp. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, supplemental. We have completed our mission in the nebula and are en route to a diplomatic conference on Atalia Seven. I must admit that I have lost my enthusiasm for those proceedings. 12 INT. BRIDGE Picard, Riker, Worf, Data and Troi. DATA At present speed, we will arrive at the Atalia system in thirty-seven hours. Picard nods -- he appears subdued. Troi looks at him with concern. She steps over to his side. TROI (quietly) Captain, I'm going for a walk in the arboretum. I wouldn't mind some company. He glances at her, considers the offer, then nods. As Picard stands to go -- WORF (off instruments) Captain! A distress call from Professor Galen's shuttle. (works controls) Onscreen. Everyone reacts with alarm. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 17A. 13 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) Professor Galen is staring at them, fear in his eyes, the interior of his Federation shuttle in the background. GALEN Enterprise! I'm being boarded -- STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 18. 13 CONTINUED: The screen goes to normal background. WORF Transmission has been blocked. PICARD Locate the call's origin and set course, warp eight. Everyone goes into action. 14 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) At high warp across a field of stars. 15 INT. BRIDGE Picard, Riker, Worf, Data and Troi. The tension is high. DATA I have located the shuttle. It is under attack, Captain. PICARD Take us out of warp. On screen. 16 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) A Federation shuttle is close to a YRIDIAN ATTACK SHIP -- much smaller than the Enterprise, but wasp-like and deadly-looking. WORF A Yridian destroyer. RIKER Battle stations. WORF Aye. Worf works his console, the RED ALERT sounds and the lights come on. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT ONE 19. 16 CONTINUED: DATA Professor Galen is still inside his vessel. (looks up) His vital signs are barely registering. PICARD Get him out of there. WORF The shuttle is within a tractor beam -- the Transporter cannot penetrate it. RIKER Hail the Yridians. WORF (works console) They are not responding. A sudden BLAST from the Yridians rocks the Enterprise. PICARD Return phaser fire, disable their offensive systems. 17 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The Enterprise fires a short phaser blast that hits the Yridian ship -- it violently EXPLODES. 18 INT. BRIDGE The Bridge crew reacts with surprise as the Enterprise is shaken by the shock wave. RIKER Worf? WORF I don't understand, Commander. The phaser blast was not powerful enough to destroy the ship. DATA The Yridian vessel was overloading its power generators. That, combined with the phaser blast, caused it to explode. Picard heads for the door. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT ONE 20. 18 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD (to COM) Transporter Room One, lock onto Professor Galen and transport him directly to Sickbay... 19 INT. SICKBAY (OPTICAL) The door opens and Picard rushes inside. Beverly is standing next to Galen, who is on a diagnostic bed -- his vital signs on the monitor are almost nil. BEVERLY (to Picard; sotto) He took a disruptor hit point blank. There's nothing I can do. Picard steps over to his side. The Professor stares at him for a moment, then shuts his eyes. GALEN Jean-Luc... I was... too harsh... The vital signs go flat. Professor Galen is completely still. OFF Picard's anguished face. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 21-22. ACT TWO FADE IN: 20 thru OMITTED 21 22 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard and Worf are at the table. Data and Geordi are at the far end, near the Viewscreen. Picard's mood is noticeably somber. GEORDI I'd say at least three Yridians boarded the Professor's shuttle. PICARD What were they after? GEORDI We're not sure, but it looked like they were trying to download something from his computer. DATA When he was attacked, Professor Galen began to protect certain files in his computer memory. GEORDI We were able to do a partial (TECH)-reconstruction on the shuttle computer, so we have at least some of those files. 23 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN The screen displays a BLOCK of RAW NUMBERS. GEORDI We found nineteen different blocks of numbers like this one. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT TWO 23. 23 CONTINUED: PICARD What do they mean? DATA They could mean almost anything. Unless we can narrow the parameters of the search, it would be impossible for the computer to identify the patterns with any accuracy. GEORDI We tried every decryption key on record -- in case Professor Galen was using some kind of code. (indicates screen) We still can't make heads or tails of them. WORF Were the Yridians able to get these number blocks? GEORDI At least some of them. It's hard to say how many. A silent beat. PICARD Apparently, the Yridians knew more about the Professor's work than we do. (re: Viewscreen) They may have known what these numbers mean. GEORDI If they did, that knowledge died with them. PICARD Not necessarily. The Yridians are information dealers. They could have been delivering the number blocks to someone else. Did they send any signals before they were destroyed? WORF We detected no transmissions. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 24. 23 CONTINUED: (2) GEORDI There weren't any vessels in the immediate area. A long beat as they consider what to do. PICARD Do the shuttle's flight logs show where Galen had been before coming on board the Enterprise? DATA (nodding) The logs indicate that Professor Galen visited an unexplored star system -- Ruah Four. PICARD What's the distance from our current position? DATA Four days at warp six. A beat. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 25. 23 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD The conference can wait. (beat) Lay in a course to the Ruah system. Picard stands and leaves the table. OFF the faces of the others as they watch him go. 24 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The Enterprise is entering orbit above a blue-green, earth-like planet. 25 INT. BRIDGE - INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) Picard, Riker, Data, Worf, Troi and the Ensign at the CONN. The Viewscreen displays the blue-green planet. RIKER (to Ensign) Standard orbit, Ensign. DATA (off instruments) Ruah Four is an M class planet. Sixty-seven percent of the surface is covered with water. The landmass contains multiple animal species, including a genus of proto-hominids. PICARD (beat) Scan for any evidence of monuments or earth works which might suggest an ancient civilization. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 26. 25 CONTINUED: DATA (works) There is nothing to indicate former occupancy by even a primitive culture, sir. PICARD Then what was the most renowned archaeologist in the Federation doing here? A long silent beat as Picard stares at the Viewscreen in frustration. Nobody says anything. A beat, Picard appears to be thinking out loud. PICARD When he left the Enterprise, he was going to take a Vulcan ship to Deep Space Four. And from there... (trying to recall) An Al-Leyan transport as far as Caere... Then the shuttle to... Indri Eight. Picard steps toward Data. PICARD Mister Data, what do we know about Indri Eight? DATA The Indri system was first identified by Federation vessels nearly sixty years ago. (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 27. 25 CONTINUED: (2) DATA (Cont'd) The eighth planet is L-class, covered by deciduous vegetation... unexplored, but with no apparent evidence of civilization, present or past. In fact, the planet possesses no animal life whatsoever. A beat as Picard considers this. PICARD Number One, we'll proceed to Indri Eight. Everyone reacts with surprise, and Riker exchanges looks with Worf. RIKER Sir, with all due respect... we've run into one dead end... and it doesn't sound like Indri Eight is any more promising. We're already late for the conference on Atalia Seven... PICARD (sharply) I know Starfleet's timetable. (beat; indicates screen) Professor Galen visited this planet only days ago. And he was headed to Indri Eight when he was killed. There is a connection between the two planets. And I'm going to find it. RIKER Aye, Sir. Picard EXITS to the Ready Room. RIKER (to CONN) Lay in a course, Ensign. Warp seven. 26 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The Enterprise at warp speed across a field of stars. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 28. 27 INT. READY ROOM (OPTICAL) Picard is staring at the small COMPUTER on his desk. A NUMBER BLOCK seen before in the Observation Lounge briefing is displayed on the screen. He taps the keyboard and the screen displays a different number block. The Professor's FIGURINE gift is now on a shelf in the background. The door CHIMES. PICARD Come. The door opens and Troi steps inside. Picard doesn't look up. TROI How's it going? PICARD It's not. (indicates screen) I thought if I stared at these number blocks long enough I might start to see some kind of pattern. Picard taps the keys -- another number block replaces this one. Picard shakes his head. PICARD (re: screen) Nothing. Troi steps over by his side. TROI What I really meant was -- how's it going with you? PICARD As well as can be expected, given the circumstances. They are silent for a moment. PICARD If I had only gone with him -- STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 29. 27 CONTINUED: TROI ... You might both be dead. Captain, you can't start thinking like that. You didn't abandon him. You chose not to abandon a life-long career. It was the right decision. And it was in no way responsible for his death. PICARD Yes, I realize that. TROI (gently) I know how much the Professor meant to you... and how much you want to find out what happened... but staring at these numbers isn't going to bring him back. (beat) The conference on Atalia Seven has been scheduled for six months. Starfleet is relying on your mediation efforts to -- Picard looks at her -- his manner is firm. PICARD Counselor, this isn't a case of my taking the Enterprise and its crew on some wild goose chase in order to purge myself of guilt or remorse. (beat) I simply will not allow Galen's death to be in vain. If that means inconveniencing a group of squabbling delegates for a few more days, then so be it. The responsibility is mine. It's a dismissal. Troi nods. TROI Captain. She turns and heads for the door. Picard stares back at the computer. OFF: the silent block of numbers on the screen. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT TWO 29A. 28 INT. BRIDGE Riker, Data, Worf and the Ensign. WORF We are in range of the planet. RIKER Riker to Picard... we're approaching Indri Eight. PICARD'S COM VOICE On my way. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT TWO 30. 28 CONTINUED: Data looks up from his console, puzzled. DATA Sensors are picking up severe atmospheric fluctuations on the planet... Everyone reacts. RIKER Assume a high orbit. The Ensign works the CONN. Picard ENTERS from the Ready Room. PICARD Mister Worf, onscreen. 29 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN - (OPTICAL) The green planet is slowly turning brown before their eyes, changing color along a single front. WORF (off instruments) Some kind of plasma reaction is consuming the lower atmosphere. PICARD Can we stop it? WORF No, Sir. The reaction is global... Data looks up from his console. DATA All life on the planet is being destroyed. OFF their grim reactions. FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/08/93 - ACT THREE 31-33. ACT THREE FADE IN: 30 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The ship is in orbit around the burned out planet. 31 INT. MAIN BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) As before. RIKER Why would anyone want to destroy all the life on an uninhabited, neutral planet with no strategic importance whatsoever? Picard stares at the image of the dead planet for a moment. PICARD All the life... (beat then to others) What if the Professor's number blocks have something to do with organic material? DATA Narrowing the search parameters to the biological database would increase the chances that the computer could find a match. PICARD (on the move) I'll be in the lab. As he EXITS... CUT TO: STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT THREE 34-35. 32 INT. LAB - INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) Picard and Beverly are watching the Viewscreen anxiously. The number block is shifting and changing as the computer searches for a match. Finally, the screen stops and the number block is matched side by side next to an identical number block. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT THREE 36. 32 CONTINUED: COMPUTER VOICE Pattern match found. Picard and Beverly react, hopeful. BEVERLY Specify. The number block is replaced by several different segments of DNA. The screen looks as though there are small pieces of rope all perfectly lined up and sitting on an imaginary grid. COMPUTER VOICE The number blocks are mathematical representations of fragments of deoxyribonucleic acid strands. PICARD (reacts, amazed) DNA fragments! BEVERLY (off screen) Each from a different lifeform... from nineteen different worlds. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT THREE 37. 32 CONTINUED: (3) Picard inspects the screen -- each gene fragment has the name of its planet of origin underneath it. He turns to Beverly, who continues to stare at the screen, as if her mind is racing. PICARD The planets these fragments come from are scattered across the quadrant. No wonder it took the Professor years to collect them. But why? Beverly stares at the screen for another beat. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT THREE 38. 32 CONTINUED: (3) BEVERLY (excited) Wait a minute. These fragments all have similar protein configurations... they could be chemically compatible. PICARD How can that be possible? They're different species... from different planets. There shouldn't be any compatibility at all. BEVERLY I know, but look at the base pair combinations, they're uniform. (beat) If I'm right... (beat) Computer, connect the DNA fragments according to protein-link compatibility. The fragments on the screen move and shift... linking together one by one like Lego pieces... finally they form a grid-like shape. The design is similar to a CIRCUIT CHIP. PICARD (amazed) What is it? BEVERLY I have no idea... OFF the screen. 33 INT. ENGINEERING - ON VIEWSCREEN Which is showing the same geometric matrix just seen in the Lab. Geordi and Data are talking to Picard and Beverly. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT THREE 39. 33 CONTINUED: GEORDI (indicating genetic shape on screen) This is not a natural design. Captain, this is part of an algorithm... coded at the molecular level. PICARD An algorithm? Are you saying these DNA fragments are elements of some kind of computer program? GEORDI I know how it sounds, but there's no way this could be a random formation. It's definitely part of a program. A beat as they digest this information. They react and Beverly points to one of the fragments on the screen. BEVERLY (beat) This fragment has been part of every DNA strand on Earth since life began there... and the other fragments are just as old. (beat) Someone would've had to write this program over four billion years ago. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/10/93 - ACT THREE 40. 33 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD So four billion years ago, someone scattered this genetic material into the primordial soup of at least nineteen different planets across the galaxy. DATA The genetic information must have been incorporated into the earliest lifeforms on those planets, and then passed down through each generation. BEVERLY But why would anyone do it in the first place? PICARD (to Geordi) Do you have any idea what this program could be designed to do? GEORDI We couldn't know that until we assembled the entire program and ran it. Geordi points to several places on the graphic of the "program" that appear to be missing pieces. GEORDI There are several fragments still missing. We've tried all the DNA material in Federation records, but we can't find any with compatible protein configurations. PICARD Then they must be from worlds outside the Federation. (beat) How many people aboard the Enterprise come from non-Federation planets? DATA Seventeen. PICARD It may be a long shot, but we ought to check each of those seventeen people to see if any of them have the correct protein configurations. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/10/93 - ACT THREE 40A. 33 CONTINUED: (3) BEVERLY I'll begin taking DNA samples. Beverly EXITS. Geordi has been thinking for a few minutes. GEORDI You know Captain... I've been thinking. Someone else must know about this program. Picard give him a questioning look. GEORDI I bet one of the missing fragments was on Indri Eight... and that's why it was destroyed -- PICARD To keep anyone else from getting that piece of the puzzle. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/10/93 - ACT THREE 41-42B 33 CONTINUED: (4) Picard looks at the mysterious shape on the screen. PICARD It's four billion years old... a computer program from a highly advanced civilization... hidden in the fabric of life itself. (beat) Whatever information is contained in that program could be the most profound discovery of our time. Or the most dangerous. And the Professor knew that. 34 OMITTED 35 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) Still in orbit above the now dead Indri Eight. 36 thru OMITTED 36B STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/10/93 - ACT THREE 43. 36B INT. SICKBAY Beverly is removing a sampling DEVICE from the arm of one ALIEN CREWMEMBER who is sitting on the bed. MOTT, the barber, is standing in the vestibule, waiting. BEVERLY (to Crewmember) That's it. Thank you. (to Mott) You're next, Mister Mott. Beverly indicates the bed and he moves directly to the bed as Beverly re-adjusts her sampling device. The Alien Crewmember EXITS. MOTT Glad to be of assistance, Doctor. You can always count on me in a pinch. (beat) What do I do? BEVERLY Nothing. I'm just going to sample some of your skin cells. She rolls up his sleeve. MOTT (apprehensive) Is this going to hurt? BEVERLY About as much as that pedicure you gave me last week. MOTT (alarmed) That was an accident. BEVERLY (smiles) Relax. You won't feel a thing. Beverly runs the instrument over his skin and then hits a control. 36B INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) which displays a long DNA strand. Suddenly a tiny segment of the strand is highlighted. BEVERLY (hopeful) That might be it. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/10/93 - ACT THREE 43A. 36B CONTINUED: MOTT Of course it is. (beat) Might be what? BEVERLY Let's see if it fits into the program. MOTT Obviously it fits. (beat) Fits what? Beverly works for a moment... then looks disappointed. BEVERLY Close... but no. MOTT Maybe you're not doing it right. BEVERLY (firm) Thank you, Mister Mott. That'll be all. Mott reluctantly EXITS. MOTT (grumbling) Just trying to help... no one ever listens to me... 36C INT. READY ROOM Beverly is with Picard, who is pacing. BEVERLY They all came up negative. PICARD I've gone through every page of the Professor's published work... hoping I'd find a clue about where to go next... but so far nothing. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/10/93 - ACT THREE 43B. 36C CONTINUED: A long beat. BEVERLY Maybe we've been at this too long. Why don't we both get some sleep and start again in the morning. Picard moves around the room for a moment... then stops. Something has caught his eye. He's staring at the FIGURINE against the wall. PICARD (remembering) "I was in the neighborhood." He turns excited to Beverly. PICARD (continuing) When I asked the Professor what took him all the way to Kurl, he said he was "in the neighborhood." Doing what? BEVERLY Collecting a DNA sample, perhaps... Picard rushes to the computer, hits a few keys, checks the screen. PICARD The only planet near the Kurlan system capable of supporting life is Loren Three. BEVERLY There's no Loren Three sample in the data we downloaded from the Professor's shuttle. If he did get one from there it must have been taken by the Yridians when they attacked. PICARD (to COM) Mister Data, set course for Loren Three, maximum warp. DATA'S COM VOICE Yes, Sir. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT THREE 44. 36C CONTINUED: Beverly heads out the door to the Bridge. Picard stares out the window. OFF his firm expression. 37 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) At high warp speed. 38 INT. BRIDGE Picard, Riker, Worf, Data and the Ensign. DATA We are approaching the Loren system. RIKER Slow to half impulse, and take us into orbit above the third planet. The Ensign works her controls. PICARD There's a good chance our competition has gotten here first. Battle stations, Mister Worf. WORF (works console) Aye. The RED ALERT comes on. DATA We are entering orbit.. RIKER (re: Viewscreen) You were right, Captain, we've got company. 39 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) TWO CARDASSIAN VESSELS are in orbit above the planet. RIKER (continuing) Cardassians. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT THREE 45. 39 CONTINUED: WORF They are hailing us. PICARD On screen. Worf touches his console -- a FEMALE CARDASSIAN CAPTAIN, GUL OCETT appears on the Viewscreen. (This is the first time we've seen an adult female Cardassian. They could possess the kind of sexual dimorphism apparent in many species -- the neck "veins" for instance, might be more pronounced and colorful in Cardassian females than in males.) GUL OCETT I am Gul Ocett. Identify yourselves and state your business in this star system. PICARD (to screen) I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise. And I fail to see why I should explain my presence to you. Cardassia has no claims on this sector. GUL OCETT No, I suppose not. But my admittedly hasty estimate shows one Federation Starship and two Cardassian war vessels. (smiles) Perhaps I've miscounted. Picard matches her dueling tone. PICARD Not at all. But the Enterprise is on a purely scientific mission. You have nothing to gain by interfering with us. GUL OCETT And you have nothing to lose by delaying a "purely scientific mission" for a few days. I invite you to withdraw... Picard and the Cardassian stare each other down. Suddenly Worf breaks the stalemate. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT THREE 46. 39 CONTINUED: (2) WORF Captain, a Klingon attack cruiser is decloaking off the starboard bow! (beat) They are hailing us. Worf works his console. KLINGON CAPTAIN'S VOICE This is the Klingon vessel Maht-H'a. What are you doing here? Everyone reacts shocked by the sudden turn of events. The Cardassian looks as surprised as the rest... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT THREE 46. 39 CONTINUED: (2) WORF Captain, a Bird of Prey is decloaking off starboard! (beat) They are hailing us. Worf works his console. KLINGON CAPTAIN'S VOICE This is the Klingon vessel Maht-H'a. Who are you and what are you doing here? Everyone reacts shocked by the suddent turn of events. The Cardassian looks as surprised as the rest... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 47. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 40 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The ship hanging in space, in a stand-off with two Cardassian battleships and one Klingon bird of prey. PICARD (V. O.) Captain's log, supplemental. It seems that we have not one, but two competitors in our attempt to complete Professor Galen's puzzle. I have prevailed upon the Cardassian and Klingon Captains to meet with me. 41 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard is at the table with the Klingon, NU'DAQ, and the Cardassian, Gul Ocett. PICARD I believe we all know why we're here. If we admit that much, we can move forward. But the Cardassian and Klingon merely stare at him in various guises of innocent bewilderment. GUL OCETT We are merely scouting the planet for possible colonization -- NU'DAQ Pah! A ridiculous story. GUL OCETT And why are you here, then? NU'DAQ Scientific research. The Cardassian laughs and the Klingon fumes. Picard steps in. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 48. 41 CONTINUED: PICARD There's no point in trying to deceive each other... we all know about Professor Galen's research and about the computer program which is composed of DNA fragments. The Klingon and Cardassian exchange looks, but say nothing -- trying to hang onto any advantage. Picard pushes on. PICARD I'll take your silence as confirmation. Now, it stands to reason that no one has all the DNA fragments necessary to complete the program. (to Cardassian) You were the first to arrive in this system. Do you have an organic sample from the planet below? Gul Ocett considers him for a moment, glances at the Klingon and calculates her response for a beat. Then she decides to move forward. GUL OCETT Yes. And I will open fire on anyone who attempts to obtain another one. NU'DAQ (with contempt) As if we fear Cardassian threats... PICARD (ignoring him) I believe one of you also has a fragment from Indri Eight. NU'DAQ (proudly) Yes. And there will be no other samples from Indri Eight. GUL OCETT What is that supposed to mean? STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 49. 41 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD He destroyed the planet's biosphere after taking the sample. GUL OCETT (sneer) Typical Klingon thinking... take what you want and then destroy the rest. NU'DAQ Thank you. PICARD All of us are missing some of the fragments... but not necessarily the same ones. Unless we combine what we have, we'll never learn the secret of this program. The Klingon brushes this all off with an impatient wave of his arm. NU'DAQ There is no secret. It is an ancient weapon design of incredible power. And the Klingon Empire will not allow it to fall into an enemy's hands. (to Picard) Or even a friend's... STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 50. 41 CONTINUED: (3) GUL OCETT A weapon? The Yridian who sold us the information claimed that the program would yield the key to an unlimited power source. PICARD Until we assemble the entire program no on can know its ultimate purpose. GUL OCETT He's right. For all we know it might be a recipe for biscuits. NU'DAQ Biscuits? If that is what you believe, then go back to Cardassia. I will send you my mother's recipe. PICARD Enough. Without cooperation we will get nowhere. A beat. GUL OCETT What do you propose? PICARD If you both bring the fragments you possess to the Enterprise, I will combine them with ours. The result will be observed by all parties simultaneously, giving no one the advantage. NU'DAQ And if we refuse? PICARD Then this endeavor stops dead, right here in this room. OFF the aliens' faces as they consider his words. 42 INT. LAB - INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN The screen shows the partly assembled ancient program we've seen before. It is obvious that several "pieces" are missing. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 50A. 42 CONTINUED: Data and Beverly are at the console. Picard is facing the screen with the Klingon and the Cardassian. Both aliens are holding small COMPUTERS -- basically, beefed-up looking TRICORDERS -- that they've brought over from their respective ships. DATA (to Klingon) Captain. The Klingon plugs his hand-held computer into a console interface. Data works the console controls. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/10/93 - ACT FOUR 51. 42 CONTINUED: (2) A MISSING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE suddenly appears in its proper place on the screen. NU'DAQ Excellent. The anticipation in the room goes up a few notches. The Klingon steps away with his machine, and the Cardassian takes his place, plugging her computer into the console interface. Data again works the controls. A beat -- then several of the remaining "holes" are filled in. Now, only one "hole" is left unfilled. BEVERLY There's still one missing piece... NU'DAQ Pahk! We have surrendered what we had for nothing. GUL OCETT You are remarkably short-sighted, Nu'Daq. We are closer to the answer than we were. PICARD And I think we're very close, indeed. The others stare at him, puzzled. NU'DAQ How can that be? We have no idea where to start looking for the missing DNA fragment. Picard begins to move about the room, trying to reason this all out. PICARD This is a... jigsaw puzzle... whose pieces have been scattered across the galaxy. (beat) Doesn't it seem reasonable to assume that the original designers meant for someone to find this puzzle -- why else would they put the pieces in our DNA? (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT FOUR 51A. 42 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD (Cont'd) (beat) And doesn't that in turn suggest that they would try to make it easy for us to find all the pieces? That there might be some... pattern to their distribution? BEVERLY If that's so... our computer might be able to find that pattern. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 52. 42 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD Doctor, program the computer to analyze the distribution pattern of the pieces we have, correcting for changes in star configurations over four billion years... and extrapolate for the missing piece. BEVERLY That'll take me a while to set up... and a few hours more to process. Picard turns to the aliens. PICARD If you wish, you may stay on board while we wait. NU'DAQ I intend to. The Cardassian nods, indicating her intention as well. 43 INT. TEN FORWARD Data is sitting at a table, working on a PADD. The Klingon Captain steps up to him. NU'DAQ Good evening, Commander Data. DATA Hello, Captain. NU'DAQ Is there any word yet on the missing fragment? DATA The computer is processing the data. I will be notified as soon as there is any information. The Klingon smiles, and, without being invited, sits opposite Data. NU'DAQ (continuing) Commander, your reputation for... physical strength is known even in the Klingon Empire. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 53. 43 CONTINUED: (2) NU'DAQ You are familiar with the B'aht Qul challenge? DATA I am familiar with many Klingon rituals -- including the B'aht Qul. The Klingon smiles -- his still poised arm continues to offer the challenge. A beat, Data calmly locks hands with him. They hold position. NU'DAQ (counting in Klingon) Wa'... Cha'... Wej -- Data puts him down without the slightest strain. NU'DAQ (amazed) Maw' tok. Data casually goes back to his PADD. The Klingon stares at him for a beat, scowls, then violently lashes forward with his headplate -- smashing right into Data's forehead. Data doesn't even budge -- the Klingon reels backwards, dazed. DATA (in explanation) My upper spinal support is a polyalloy designed for extreme stress. My skull is composed of cortenide and duranium. Data looks back down at the PADD. The Klingon recovers. He smiles, as if the ice has now been broken. NU'DAQ I understand your intellectual prowess is equally impressive. Data glances up as the Klingon leans forward conspiratorially, speaks almost in a whisper. NU'DAQ (continuing) If I were to learn the results of the computer search before the others... It would give the Klingon Empire a strategic advantage. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FOUR 54. 43 CONTINUED: (3) He stares with suggestion at the android. NU'DAQ (continuing) A... being of your abilities would go far in the Empire... Data thinks for a moment. Then answers matter-of-factly. DATA You are attempting to bribe me. The Klingon whips around toward the other tables, where nearby patrons have overheard Data. The Klingon gives them a toothy grin, then turns back to Data. NU'DAQ Not at all. DATA You suggested a plan that would work to your advantage, one that I would be capable of executing. You then implied a reward. Clearly -- NU'DAQ ... Commander, never mind. The Klingon stands, beaten on all counts. He leaves the table. OFF Data as he innocently goes back to his work... 44 INT. ENGINEERING Geordi is going about his standard work routine. As he passes a console something catches his eye. GEORDI (puzzled) What's this? He goes to the console, punches in some commands, is still puzzled by the result on the readout. GEORDI (to computer) Computer, perform a level three diagnostic on the primary defensive systems... Geordi taps his COM. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT FOUR 55. 44 CONTINUED: GEORDI (to COM) La Forge to Captain Picard... PICARD'S COM VOICE What is it, Geordi? GEORDI (to COM) You might want to come down here, sir. I found something... you should see. 45 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The Klingon and two Cardassian ships are close by. 46 INT. LAB Picard and the Klingon and Cardassian Captains are watching the Viewscreen as Data and Beverly stand near the console. DATA The computer has completed its analysis. 47 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) A map of our galactic neighborhood highlights two dozen evenly spaced stars -- which form an image closely resembling the design of the computer "program" formed by the DNA fragments. BEVERLY The computer was able to extrapolate this geometric pattern based on the distribution of the fragments. NU'DAQ The same shape as the program... BEVERLY Computer, highlight the missing section of the pattern. One section of the design is suddenly highlighted. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT FOUR 55A-56 47 CONTINUED: BEVERLY (indicates section) The missing DNA fragment should be in this system. DATA (reading screen) That star is in sector two-one-four-five-nine. (beat) The Rahm-Izad system. Everyone reacts. The Cardassian suddenly DEMATERIALIZES in a beam-out, catching everyone by surprise. 48 EXT. SPACE - THE CARDASSIAN SHIPS (OPTICAL) Simultaneously fire point blank at the Enterprise and Klingon ship. The ships seem completely at their mercy. The firing continues. FADE OUT: END OF ACT FOUR STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 57. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 49 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (CONTINUOUS) (OPTICAL) The Cardassians continue to fire on the Enterprise and the Klingon ship. 50 INT. BRIDGE Riker is in the command chair and Worf at tactical, the Ensign at the CONN. They seem unusually calm. WORF Direct hit on our port nacelle. The ship rocks a little. WORF (continuing) They are powering for another volley. RIKER Let's make it look good. Ensign, release the inertial dampers. The Ensign complies. WORF They are firing... This time, the ship rocks violently. 51 EXT. SPACE - THE CARDASSIAN SHIPS (OPTICAL) Stop firing at the Enterprise and take off -- leaving the Klingon ship and the Enterprise apparently crippled. 52 INT. BRIDGE Picard, Data, Beverly and Nu'Daq ENTER from the Turbolift. They too seem calm. PICARD Report, Number One. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/08/93 - ACT FIVE 58. 52 CONTINUED: RIKER The power boost to the structural integrity field protected the nacelles. We used the inertial dampers to simulate a complete shield failure. NU'DAQ It is fortunate that your Engineer discovered Gul Ocett's attempt to tamper with your defensive systems. (touches COM) Maht-h'a. Status. KLINGON VOICE Minor damage to starboard nacelle. We will be operational in less than one hour. NU'DAQ (to COM; furious) What? You incompetent Toh-pah. You were supposed to be prepared. WORF (off instruments) The Cardassian vessels have set a course for Rahm-Izad. PICARD It's not going to take them very long to realize that Rahm-Izad is the wrong planet. (to Nu'Daq) You're welcome to join us, Captain. NU'DAQ (grumbling) I will... go with you. Picard nods, turns to the CONN. PICARD Ensign, plot a course to the Vilmoran System. Warp nine. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 59. 52 CONTINUED: (2) OFF the excitement of the chase... 53 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) speeding across space at maximum warp. 54 INT. BRIDGE Riker, Data and Geordi. Geordi is filling in for Worf at Tactical. RIKER Take us out of warp. The Ensign works the CONN. DATA (off console) I am scanning all seven planets in the Vilmoran system -- none appears to support life. Everyone reacts. RIKER How could that be? The Professor's data depends on -- DATA (off console) ...Correction. The second planet shows evidence of an ancient ocean, now dry. GEORDI It once supported life. DATA Yes. And it still may, in a limited fashion not detectable by our long range sensors. RIKER Ensign, lay in a course, full impulse. The Ensign quickly works her panel. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/08/93 - ACT FIVE 60. 54 CONTINUED: RIKER (to COM) Riker to Transporter Room One. 55 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM Picard, Worf, the Klingon Captain and Beverly are waiting. Picard carries a small COMPUTER-LIKE DEVICE; Beverly has a TRICORDER and a palm-sized SAMPLING INSTRUMENT. RIKER'S COM VOICE (continuing) We've located a planet that may still support life. We'll know in a minute. PICARD Any sign of the Cardassians? RIKER'S COM VOICE Not yet. But I don't know how long it'll stay that way. PICARD (to COM) Acknowledged. Worf and Nu'Daq both pull out their weapons, keeping them at the ready as everyone moves to the Transporter pads. 56 INT. BRIDGE - INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) Riker, Data, and Geordi are facing the Viewscreen, which shows a barren, whitened planet. DATA (off instruments) I am reading a small pocket of vegetative life -- a primitive lichen growing in a fossilized seabed. RIKER (to COM) Transporter Room One -- I'm programming the coordinates. Stand-by. Riker works the console. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 60A. 57 EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY (OPTICAL) A dry, cracked, ancient seabed. Picard, Beverly, Worf and Nu'Daq suddenly MATERIALIZE. They spread out to search as Beverly quickly scans with her tricorder. BEVERLY There. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 61. 57 CONTINUED: She indicates a rockface on the other side of the seabed, its surface mottled by a bright yellow-red-green lichen. As they head for it -- RIKER'S COM VOICE Captain, we've got company. I'm ready to pull you out of there. PICARD (touches COM) Wait for my order, Number One. Gul Ocett and a CARDASSIAN GUARD MATERIALIZE right in front of the rockface. Gul Ocett has her small computer and a SAMPLING DEVICE hanging from her belt. Both are aiming weapons at the Away Team. The team stops in their tracks -- the Klingons both have their phasers raised. NU'DAQ You dishonorable pah-tak... GUL OCETT We can exchange insults some other time, perhaps. I'm a little busy right now... Gul Ocett takes the sampling device off her belt and starts edging backwards toward the lichen-covered rockface... 58 OMITTED STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT FIVE 62. 59 EXT. PLANET SURFACE As before, the Cardassians between the Away team and the rockface, Gul Ocett slowly backing toward it. FOUR ROMULANS suddenly step out from behind the rocks, weapons raised -- two have heavy-duty DISRUPTOR RIFLES. The ROMULAN CAPTAIN smiles. ROMULAN CAPTAIN It's been quite a chase, hasn't it, my friends? The others just look at him, still taken aback by the surprise arrival. NU'DAQ (stunned) How... ? ROMULAN CAPTAIN We intercepted several communiques between the Yridians and Cardassia. My ship was watching under cloak when Professor Galen's shuttle was attacked. PICARD You've been shadowing us ever since. ROMULAN CAPTAIN And now, the reward... (to Gul Ocett) Step clear, please. With superior firepower, the Romulans have the edge. But Gul Ocett suddenly turns her weapon toward the lichen-covered rocks. GUL OCETT I'll destroy this entire rockface... And all traces of DNA with it. The Romulans freeze. The Romulan Captain loses his smile. GUL OCETT (continuing) You'll go back to Romulus emptyhanded. Your superiors will be quite pleased. It's a standoff. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 63. 60 ON PICARD AND BEVERLY The are standing off to one side, away from the standoff. As the Romulan, Cardassian, and Klingon continue their squabble in the b. g.... Picard looks down at the dirt beneath his feet. 60A INSERT - THE SEABED There are imprints and fossilized remains of vegetation -- it should look like a "mold" of a leaf or fern. There should be a hint of greenish-brown coloring left on the imprints. 60B RESUME SCENE PICARD (sotto) The seabed... it may be only partially fossilized... it could still contain organic material. Beverly nods slowly. She cautiously crouches down, careful not to draw anyone's attention and scrapes at the FOSSILIZED SEA BED with her sampling device... 61 THE SCENE THIS SCENE IS THE BACKGROUND DIALOGUE TO BE PLAYED UNDER SCENES 60 AND 62. ROMULAN CAPTAIN (to Gul Ocett) Perhaps we can compromise... Let us have the gene code. And the Romulans and the Cardassians will share the result. The Cardassian considers. GUL OCETT What's to stop you from killing me as soon as I acquiesce? ROMULAN CAPTAIN You have my word. The Klingon Captain scowls. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 63A. 61 CONTINUED: NU'DAQ Etched in stone, no doubt. (beat) No terms. There will be no deals as long as I'm still alive. The Romulan Captain motions to his men -- all of them aim their disruptors directly at the Klingon. ROMULAN CAPTAIN Then I have only one recourse... STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/08/93 - ACT FIVE 64. 62 ON PICARD AND BEVERLY Picard is working the small computer -- Beverly's sampling device is now attached to it. Picard reacts to what he sees on the tiny screen. PICARD (to Beverly, sotto) The program has activated... (beat) I think it's reconfiguring the tricorder... it's modifying the emitter diode to project something... 63 THE SCENE The Romulans have their four weapons trained on the Klingon Captain, but he's not budging. A beat, then Worf steps up next to the Klingon, phaser ready. Another beat, Gul Ocett and her Cardassian guard take a couple of steps, adding their weapons to the side of the Romulans. It is now six against two. The Klingon Captain smiles. NU'DAQ (to Worf) We die together, Brother. Tash-Koh-Tah. Nu'Daq is an instant away from firing. 64 PICARD activates a control on the small computer, aiming it toward the middle of the fray. 65 THE SCENE (OPTICAL) Picard's computer SUDDENLY PROJECTS A HOLOGRAM directly into the middle of the scene. It is a HUMANOID -- in fact, one of the coolest humanoids we've ever seen, with a face wise and tragic and light-hearted all at once. It appears as if the flesh is life-like. Everyone reacts, staring with amazement as it addresses them. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 64A. 65 CONTINUED: HUMANOID You are wondering who we are; why we have done this; how it has come that I stand before you, the image of a being from so long ago. (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 65. 65 CONTINUED: (2) HUMANOID (Cont'd) (beat) Life evolved on my planet before all others in this part of the galaxy. We left our world, explored the stars, and found none like ourselves. We were alone. Our civilization thrived for ages. But what is the life of one race, compared to the vast stretches of cosmic time? We knew that someday we would be gone. And that nothing of us would survive. So we left you. Everyone reacts. HUMANOID (continuing) Our scientists seeded the primordial oceans of many worlds, where life was in its infancy. These seed codes directed your evolution toward a physical form resembling ours -- this body you see before you. The Humanoid opens her arms as if to indicate herself. HUMANOID (continuing) Which is, of course, shaped as yours is shaped. For you are the end result. The seed codes also contained this message, which we scattered in fragments on many different worlds. It was our hope that you would have to come together in cooperation and fellowship in order to activate this message. And if you can see and hear me, our hope has been fulfilled. After a few uneasy, guilty glances -- they know it wasn't so peaceful and cooperative. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/08/93 - ACT FIVE 66. 65 CONTINUED: (3) HUMANOID (continuing) You are... a monument. Not to our greatness, but to our existence. That was our wish. That you too would know life, and would keep alive our memory. There is something of us in each of you, and so, something of you in each other. A long pause. The Humanoid has a look of both joy and deep sadness. HUMANOID (continuing) Remember us... The hologram disappears. A long, silent beat. Everyone stares at each other, lowering their weapons... There's a sense that something magical could take place, a melting away of all differences and conflicts in a new spirit of fellowship -- NU'DAQ (livid) That is all? The moment is shattered. NU'DAQ (continuing) If she were not dead, I would kill her. Gul Ocett turns toward the Klingon Captain. GUL OCETT The very notion. That Cardassians could have anything in common with Klingons. (beat) It turns my stomach. Nu'Daq shoots her a dirty look. Everyone starts contacting their respective ships. PICARD (touches COM) Picard to Enterprise. Away Team is ready to beam up. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/09/93 - ACT FIVE 67. 65 CONTINUED: (4) RIKER'S COM VOICE Acknowledged. Picard and Beverly exchange a somewhat weary look... 66 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE still in orbit above the planet. PICARD (V. O. Captain's log, Stardate 46735.2. Our frequent use of high warp over the last few days has overextended the propulsion systems. We are finishing minor repairs before returning to Federation territory. 67 INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS Picard and Beverly are at the end of their morning tea; musing about the last few days. BEVERLY It's a shame Professor Galen wasn't able to see the end result of his search... PICARD I don't know of anyone who would have appreciated it more. BEVERLY If it hadn't been for you, Jean-Luc, his dream to solve that puzzle would never have been realized. You gave him a wonderful legacy... PICARD It would've been a more fitting legacy if the message had not fallen on deaf ears. A reaction, clearly, that wasn't present on the planet's surface. Beverly shrugs a wan smile. BEVERLY You never know. She rises. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 67A. 67 CONTINUED: BEVERLY I have to get this day started. Picard stands in a gentlemanly gesture. PICARD Both of us. BEVERLY See you this afternoon. Beverly heads for the door, it opens and she disappears into the hallway. Picard sits back down for a moment. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - REV. 02/05/93 - ACT FIVE 68. 67 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER'S COM VOICE Riker to Captain Picard. Incoming transmission from the Romulan command ship. Picard reacts, puzzled. PICARD (to COM) Put it through. RIKER'S COM VOICE Acknowledged. 68 INCLUDE PICARD'S VIEWSCREEN as he turns toward it. The face of the Romulan Captain appears. ROMULAN CAPTAIN Captain, my ships are leaving orbit for Romulan space. (beat) Until our next encounter... Picard is surprised by the overture. PICARD Until then. The Romulan pauses. ROMULAN CAPTAIN It would seem that we are not completely dissimilar after all... in our hopes or in our fears... Picard nods. PICARD Yes. A long moment as the Romulan struggles with the words. ROMULAN CAPTAIN Well, then. Perhaps one day... The Romulan seems to have gone as far as he can go with this sentiment. STAR TREK: "The Chase" - 02/04/93 - ACT FIVE 69. 68 CONTINUED: PICARD One day... The Romulan Captain nods. He turns toward an offscreen underling -- the transmission ends. Picard turns back to his tea. He takes a sip, sets it down, stares into space. OFF his quiet smile... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END