STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"We'll Always Have Paris"
#40271-124
Written by
Deborah Dean Davis
&
Hannah Louise Shearer
Directed by
Robert Becker
THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING
WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
Copyright 1988 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If
lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department.
FINAL DRAFT
FEBRUARY 22, 1988
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - CAST
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"We'll Always Have Paris"
CAST
PICARD EDOUARD
RIKER FRANCINE
BEVERLY GABRIELLE
DATA LAURA MANHEIM
TROI DR. PAUL MANHEIM
WORF
GEORDI
TRANSPORTER CHIEF
Voice-over
COMPUTER VOICE
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - SETS
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"We'll Always Have Paris"
SETS
INTERIORS EXTERIORS
USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE
GYMNASIUM
MAIN BRIDGE PARIS CAFE (HOLODECK)
CORRIDORS
BY HOLODECK THE PLANET VANDOR
BY DE-CONTAMINATION AREA
SICKBAY
SICKBAY OUTER OFFICE
TRANSPORTER ROOM
CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM
CONFERENCE ROOM
PICARD'S QUARTERS
DR. CRUSHER'S OFFICE
VANDOR
CORRIDOR
MANHEIM'S LABORATORY
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - TEASER 1.
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"We'll Always Have Paris"
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
as it streaks through the stars at warp speed.
PICARD (V.O.)
Captain's log, stardate 41886.9.
We are en route to Sarona 8 for
much needed R and R. The entire
crew is looking forward to the
diversion. On a personal note,
I have allowed myself the luxury
of a head start.
2 INT. ENTERPRISE - GYMNASIUM
It is starkly and simply set up for competitive saber
fencing. PICARD and RIKER are dressed in traditional
white jumpsuits, gloves, shoes and masks. They stand
in the middle of three long lanes about six feet apart.
They snap their masks in place.
PICARD MOVES HIS
right leg forward, weight centered, hand on hip. His
saber is down.
HE TURNS THE SABER
so the cutting edge of the blade moves to the left,
then brings it to his head with a flourish.
PICARD
En garde.
PICARD STEPS FORWARD
as his blade comes up, pointed at the Riker's face.
THEIR BLADES CROSS
as Riker half-lunges forward, arm extended, to a chest
shot. Picard steps back and parries.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - TEASER 2.
2 CONTINUED:
PICARD SNAPS AND BEATS
Riker's sword, knocking it to the side. He does a full
lunge forward, with a downward slice.
RIKER HIGH BLOCKS
the move, and lunges forward with a flank cut to
Picard's ribs. He continues with a fleche, then a head
cut, continuing with fleche parries.
RIKER SCORES
with an inverted thrust to Picard's heart. Picard
steps back and salutes. Riker answers in kind.
THEIR MASKS
come off, but not their rank.
RIKER
I took advantage...
PICARD
No, no. The advantage was yours,
Number One. I'm out of
practice... too much time on the
bridge. En garde!
PICARD REPLACES HIS MASK
and they begin again.
PICARD FAKES RIKER
out with a cheek cut, turning his blade down, then, in
a swashbuckling movement, he SLAMS the heel of his
sword right on Riker's guard, comes in with a cheek
cut, then rolls the sword and quickly lunges in with a
head cut, pulls the sword back in and THRUSTS it to
Riker's heart. Riker is surprised as
PICARD SCORES
and they step back and salute each other with their
swords.
RIKER
Interesting move. What technique
was that?
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - TEASER 3.
2 CONTINUED: (2)
PICARD
The technique of a desperate man.
Shall we...
He is interrupted by the GREAT SHUDDER AND ROLL of the
ship as the Enterprise is hit by some MASSIVE FORCE.
He and Riker are thrown around like dolls as LIGHTS
FLICKER ON AND OFF. Finally, the ship stabilizes.
PICARD AND RIKER HURRY TO
the com panel.
COMPUTER VOICE
Yellow Alert.
PICARD
Picard to bridge. Report.
3 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
THE BRIDGE CREW MOVE TO THEIR STATIONS, returning to
normal.
DATA
It is not an attack that we know
of, Captain. Origin unknown.
Sensors did not detect the force
until immediately prior to impact.
Shields did not have time to
respond. Damages unknown.
PICARD'S COM VOICE
We're on our way, Mister Data.
WORF
Damage reports from all decks
coming in, sir.
DATA
Injuries?
WORF
Minor.
DATA LOOKS AT HIS
instruments, puzzled.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - TEASER 4.
3 CONTINUED:
DATA
I still am unable to determine
the cause of the energy force.
There is nothing within a
reasonable distance of this ship
powerful enough to cause an impact
of that magnitude.
THE TURBOLIFT OPENS
and Picard and Riker ENTER the bridge, still dressed
in their fencing clothes.
RIKER
Mister Data?
DATA
Damages and injuries are minimal.
PICARD
Where did it come from?
DATA
I am still checking, sir.
PICARD
Hazard a guess, Mister Data.
DATA
It appears to originate from the
Pegos Minor sector.
PICARD
That far?
DATA
Yes, sir.
PICARD TAKES
his Command Chair.
PICARD
Lieutenant La Forge, set
coordinates for that sector.
Shields at full power.
GEORDI
Aye, sir. Coordinates laid in.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - TEASER 5.
3 CONTINUED: (2)
WORF
Sir, I am receiving a transmission
from Pegos Minor. It's an S.O.S.
PICARD
Put it on audio, Lieutenant.
A SHAKEN VOICE ECHOES
through the bridge. The crew listens intently.
MANHEIM'S COM VOICE
I repeat, this is Doctor Paul
Manheim. We are in need of help.
Urgent. Any ship please respond.
Coordinates are six-six-seven
eight point nine by
seven-zero-seven-five-four-two
point two. Manheim out.
The transmission is on a loop and begins to REPEAT.
WORF
I can't get through, Captain.
PICARD
Turn it off. Lay in a course for
those coordinates, La Forge. Warp
eight.
GEORDI
Aye, sir. Plotted and laid in.
DATA
Estimated arrival four hours,
seventeen minutes, thirty-five
seconds.
RIKER
Isn't Manheim the one who was
thrown out of the Institute for
unauthorized experiments?
DATA
Quite the contrary, Commander.
He left of his own volition.
Professor Manheim is the most
highly reputed scientist within
the Federation. A brilliant
visionary who...
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - TEASER 6.
3 CONTINUED: (3)
PICARD STANDS UP
and moves to the turbolift.
PICARD
... Who disappeared over fifteen
years ago. Along with his wife,
Laura.
RIKER
Did you know him, Captain?
PICARD
No. He was teaching at the
University when I was in Paris,
but I never had the pleasure.
Number One, you have the Conn.
Inform me half an hour before we
reach the coordinates.
RIKER
Aye, sir.
PICARD LEAVES
the bridge.
4 INT. CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE HOLODECK
Picard stands there a beat, hesitant to put in the
program.
PICARD
Computer, this is Captain Picard.
COMPUTER VOICE
What is your pleasure, Captain?
PICARD
Paris. Twenty-two years ago.
A warm spring day. April ninth.
Eighteen hundred hours -- three
o'clock.
5 INT. HOLODECK
Paris in the spring. The BIRDS ARE SINGING, BRILLIANT
LIGHT reflects on the outdoor tables of the Cafe Des
Artistes. Couples in love complete the ambience.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - TEASER 7.
5 CONTINUED:
THE TABLEAU IS UNMOVING
until Picard WALKS UP TO a WAITER (EDOUARD).
WITH GREAT FLOURISH
the waiter puts himself at Picard's service.
EDOUARD
Monsieur, welcome to Cafe Des
Artistes. Is this your first time
in Paris?
PICARD
No, I've been here before.
Picard turns and sees the exact table where he used
to sit.
PICARD
(continuing)
That table.
EDOUARD
Mais oui, we are here to please
you.
He ushers Picard to the table on the balcony
overlooking the city.
MEMORIES FLOOD PICARD
as he looks out over the city he loves more than any
other city in the whole galaxy.
PICARD
I've been away far too long.
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 8.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
6 INT. HOLODECK - PARIS - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Two lovely French girls, just barely nineteen, take
the table next to Picard. They are very involved in
their own conversation and take no notice of him.
PICARD APPRECIATES
the look and liveliness of the two of them. They too,
evoke memories. Memories of youth and of love.
THE WAITER INTERRUPTS
his reverie with a menu.
EDOUARD
Some wine, some cheese, a perfect
tarte tatin...
PICARD
I'm afraid I'm not hungry. I
really came for the view.
EDOUARD
Perhaps what you hunger for is
not on the menu?
PICARD
Perhaps not. It was many years
ago, I had a rendezvous -- I was
to meet someone, a young woman,
here, at this very table.
EDOUARD
She did not come?
PICARD
I don't know, actually. I've
always imagined that she did.
THE WAITER TAKES the menu back, with a knowing
expression.
EDOUARD
You, however, did not. Trust
Edouard. I will bring something
special, just for you.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 9.
6 CONTINUED:
ONE OF THE GIRLS
FRANCINE, stands and throws some money on the table.
FRANCINE
I'm not staying if all you're
going to do is talk about him.
GABRIELLE
What is this for?
FRANCINE
My lunch. Feed it to the birds.
FRANCINE LEAVES
in a swish of silk and color.
GABRIELLE SIGHS AND STARES
out over the city, not unlike Picard.
GABRIELLE
He will come. He will.
PICARD HEARS THIS
and turns his chair so that he can see her more
clearly.
PICARD
Yes, I'm sure he will.
GABRIELLE LOOKS AT
Picard and smiles back at him -- thankful for the
compliment and for the assurance.
GABRIELLE
He's a military man, just like
you. We're going to get married
and he's going to stay here in
Paris and never leave me.
PICARD
He's stationed here?
GABRIELLE
Not yet, but that's the way I've
got it planned. Last night, well,
after last night, he just couldn't
leave. He couldn't.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 10.
6 CONTINUED: (2)
Her eyes fill with tears.
PICARD CANNOT BEAR
to see her cry. He wants to make it better somehow.
PICARD
If he's as young as you are, maybe
he doesn't know yet exactly what
he wants to do.
GABRIELLE
You're an important Starfleet
officer -- what would you advise
my lover to do -- go off and
explore the galaxy or stay here
and explore something which has
no boundaries -- love?
PICARD
I would tell him that he must be
the person he is meant to be...
and that you deserve nothing less
than that.
THE WAITER DELIVERS
a simple tray of various cheeses and meats to Picard.
He pours himself a glass of deep red wine.
EDOUARD
Bordeaux, a very passionate year.
PICARD
A glass for the young lady.
The waiter pours a glass of wine for Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE RISES AND MOVES
to Picard's table. There is more confidence in her
demeanor than before. She knows more about this man
and can deal on a more emotional level.
GABRIELLE
Do I remind you of the girl you
left behind?
PICARD
No. Yes, you do. It's hard to
say, it has been many years.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 11.
6 CONTINUED: (3)
GABRIELLE
Then you have forgotten her face.
PICARD STARES THROUGH GABRIELLE
as if he is directly connected to someone else.
PICARD
Not a single detail. I can see
every inch of her to this day and
being here -- I can feel the
softness of her in the breeze,
smell the fragrance of her in the
flowers. I have not forgotten.
GABRIELLE
What was her name?
PICARD
Laura.
HE STARES OFF
into the City of Lights, letting the memory of Laura
wash over him.
7 INT. MAIN BRIDGE - DAY
Picard, a little angrier than usual, APPROACHES Data.
PICARD
You've been at that console twice
as long as you estimated.
DATA
My estimation was incorrect,
Captain.
DATA SWIVELS IN HIS CHAIR
facing Picard.
DATA
(continuing)
And I think it would be best if
what I am about to tell you were
also incorrect.
PICARD
Nonsense. Out with it.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 12.
7 CONTINUED:
DATA
Someone, I would assume Professor
Manheim, opened up a window. A
window into another dimension.
Picard strains to garner more information out of what
little information Data is giving him.
PICARD
You don't know how?
Data shakes his head "no."
RIKER
You don't know what it is?
PICARD
What came through this window?
Data shakes his head "no" again.
PICARD
(continuing)
A window, that's all you know.
Data shakes his head "yes."
DATA
Sir, the answers to your questions
will be the most important
scientific answers of the
twenty-fourth century.
PICARD LOOKS TO THE VIEWSCREEN
answers, answers, they are all out there.
PICARD
Manheim.
GEORDI
Captain, we've reached the
coordinates specified. There's
nothing here.
WORF
I am receiving new coordinates.
It's a relay signal, the same
source as the first one.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 13.
7 CONTINUED: (2)
PICARD
Set course for the new
coordinates.
GEORDI
Aye, sir.
RIKER
Why would someone make it this
difficult to find him if he truly
wants to be found?
WORF
A failsafe, I would imagine.
8 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
speeds towards the new coordinates at warp 8.
9 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Everyone is at their post.
GEORDI
Captain, my sensors are picking
up what appears to be a small
planet.
PICARD NODS
leaning forward in his chair, trying to get there
sooner.
PICARD
Mister La Forge, standard orbit.
Give me a visual.
GEORDI
Aye, sir.
WORF
Viewscreen on.
10 MAIN VIEWSCREEN - THE PLANET VANDOR (OPTICAL)
floats VIOLET in space. There is a GLIMMERING EFFECT
surrounding it.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 14.
11 THE CREW STARES
at it.
WORF
There's a forcefield of some kind
surrounding the planet, sir.
PICARD
Penetrable?
DATA
No, sir.
PICARD
Open hailing frequencies.
WORF
Hailing frequencies open, sir.
PICARD
This is the USS Enterprise
responding to your signal for
help.
A WOMAN'S VOICE comes through. She is bordering on
hysteria.
LAURA (V.O.)
Help. Please help me. I don't
know what to do. It's only the
two of us. He's shaking. Please.
PICARD'S FACE
melts a little, just hearing her voice.
THE CREW LOOKS
to him to give an order, he is just a small beat slower
than usual.
PICARD
Can you lock onto her coordinates?
GEORDI
No, sir. The forcefield is
preventing any kind of contact
other than audio.
PICARD
Mrs. Manheim, this is... the
captain of the Enterprise. Is
your husband conscious?
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 15.
11 CONTINUED:
LAURA (V.O.)
No. You've got to help him.
PICARD
There's a force field surrounding
your planet.
LAURA (V.O.)
Yes. I know.
Picard gently guides a "civilian" through.
PICARD
Good. Then you must be very brave
and leave his side long enough
to shut down the system that is
preventing us from helping you.
THE PLANET VANDOR
slowly STOPS SHIMMERING AND BECOMES A CRYSTAL CLEAR
VIOLET GLOBE.
PICARD
(continuing)
Good.
(to crew)
Lock onto their coordinates and
beam them up.
PICARD SITS IN HIS CHAIR
like the weight of the world has just been placed on
his shoulders.
RIKER
I'd like extra decontamination
precautions, Captain.
Without even moving, Picard responds.
PICARD
Fine, Number One.
12 INT. - OUTSIDE THE DE-CONTAMINATION AREA
Picard and Riker wait outside, Picard nervously shifts
his weight from foot to foot.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 16.
12 CONTINUED:
RIKER
The professor seems to be going
in and out of consciousness.
PICARD
Well, the first time he's "in"
be sure you find out what the hell
he was up to down there.
The Captain paces like a new father.
RIKER
Is anything wrong, sir?
PICARD
No.
THE DOOR OPENS
and a medical team RUSHES OUT with the convulsing body
of Professor Manheim. Riker FOLLOWS THEM to Sickbay.
THE CAPTAIN
stands aside leaving them plenty of room.
PICARD LOOKS UP
and standing in the same doorway:
PICARD'S POV - LAURA
She looks unearthly, almost like an angel, an even more
beautiful woman than girl.
THE TWO OF THEM
stand staring at one another for a long beat.
LAURA STEADIES HERSELF
against the doorway, stunned.
LAURA
Jean-Luc?
PICARD
Laura.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 17.
13 INT. SICKBAY
BEVERLY hurriedly takes readings of the uncontrollably
shaking body of Paul Manheim.
SHE FINALLY GIVES
him an injection.
MANHEIM SHIVERS
and falls into a deep sleep.
BEVERLY LOOKS UP
from her patient to the concerned face of Riker.
BEVERLY
It's not good.
RIKER
When will I be able to question
him?
BEVERLY
I don't know.
PICARD AND LAURA ENTER SICKBAY
and Laura RUSHES TO her husband's side, frightened by
his stillness.
LAURA
Is he dead?
BEVERLY
No. I've sedated him.
She puts her hand on Laura's shoulder.
BEVERLY
I'll do everything I can to save
him.
RIKER
Doctor, we need to talk to this
man as soon as we can.
LAURA STARTS TO CRY
and Picard puts his arm around her, very affectionately
comforting her.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT ONE 18.
13 CONTINUED:
BEVERLY WATCHES THIS SHOW
of familiarity and is surprised by it.
BEVERLY
I'll let you know as soon as he
regains consciousness.
LAURA
Thank you. Thank you, all.
HER EYES HOLD
on Picard's and there is much more there than the
thanks of a woman in distress.
THE SHIP IS JOLTED
by a huge BLAST of God only knows what. COLORS flood
the room.
THEY ARE THROWN
around the cabin in a radical manner.
MANHEIM'S BODY
GLOWS VIOLET.
14 EXT. SPACE - VANDOR (OPTICAL)
TURNS FROM A BRIGHT VIOLET TO A HOT PINK AND BACK
again.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 19.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
15 INT. SICKBAY - CONTINUOUS ACTION
The crew picks themselves up from the deck.
PICARD STEADIES
Laura, then touches his insignia.
PICARD
Bridge, Picard. Status report.
WORF'S COM VOICE
Shields are holding, Captain.
Ten percent loss of power.
Minimal damage, all decks.
PICARD IMPATIENTLY
turns to Riker.
PICARD
We can't wait for this man to wake
up to find out what's going on
here. Clearly, whatever this
window is, it's still open.
RIKER
Agreed, Captain. I'll have Data
start immediately on a thorough
evaluation of all of Doctor
Manheim's theories.
Riker EXITS as
MANHEIM BEGINS TO GLOW
shades of VIOLET, the RETURNS to normal. His eyes open
white and he YELLS OUT:
MANHEIM
Head gone. Must fill up. It's
in the cross!
LAURA RUSHES TO HIS
side, REACTING in horror. When she touches him, it
looks as if he may become coherent, then he fades back
into convulsions.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 20.
15 CONTINUED:
BEVERLY GIVES HIM
another injection. He becomes quiet. Picard turns
to Laura.
PICARD
When did this start?
LAURA
Right before he sent out the
S.O.S. -- after he -- well, he'd
been in the lab for at least three
days.
PICARD AND BEVERLY
exchange looks. He turns to Laura, his attitude softer.
PICARD
Laura, I'm afraid I need to ask
you a number of questions - and
time is of the essence.
Beverly looks at the two of them.
BEVERLY
You can use my office.
Picard leads Laura to the outer room.
BEVERLY'S EYES FOLLOW
them through the door. She quickly turns back to her
patient.
16 INT. SICKBAY - OUTER OFFICE
Laura and Picard stand and face each other for a long,
intense moment.
LAURA SMILES BITTERSWEETLY
at Picard.
LAURA
This is not how I imagined it.
PICARD
Nor I.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 21.
16 CONTINUED:
LAURA
You've done well. Exactly as
you'd hoped.
PICARD STRUGGLES
with his duty -- and his emotions.
PICARD
Not exactly. Nothing works just
as you hope... Laura, I'm sorry
about your husband.
(beat)
I need some information from you.
LAURA SENSES THE
change in him. She moves back slightly.
LAURA
I don't know what I can tell you,
Jean-Luc. At best, I'm a
glorified laboratory assistant.
Paul's mental capabilities are
so far beyond yours and mine, he
couldn't discuss his work with
me.
PICARD
But you must know something of
the nature of his experiments.
LAURA SHRUGS
almost indifferent.
LAURA
He lectures me, he practices on
me, but he doesn't confide in me.
I stopped listening long ago.
PICARD
Why did he come here? Why Vandor?
LAURA
He said it was because it was far
enough away, no one would or could
steal his theories... or stop him
from trying to prove them.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 22.
16 CONTINUED: (2)
PICARD
What he was working on is
unquestionably quite dangerous
as well as out of control.
LAURA STARES AT
Picard as if she's just had a revelation.
LAURA
He's a little like you, Jean-Luc.
He loves, he needs the challenges
of the unknown... all I do know
is that he's been very close to
a major breakthrough. He's been
excited and agitated and working
around the clock for the past few
months.
PICARD LOOKS QUESTIONINGLY
at her.
PICARD
Why weren't you affected?
LAURA
Every time he began an experiment,
he insisted I stay in what he said
was a protected room. I guess
he was right.
PICARD BEGINS TO PACE
the room.
PICARD
Fifteen years here? By yourself?
LAURA
There was no place left for Paul
to go -- and I am his wife.
(beat)
Our destiny isn't always exactly
what we expect. Isn't that what
you just said?
TEARS FORM IN
Laura's eyes. She begins to feel overwhelmed.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 23.
16 CONTINUED: (3)
PICARD STEPS BACK
from the emotion.
PICARD
I must send a team to the planet.
LAURA
You can't. It's protected.
Paul's made sure no one can get
in.
SHE LOOKS UP AT HIM
and lets the tears come.
PICARD PUTS HIS ARMS
around her gently. She collapses into him as if they'd
never been apart. He holds her sympathetically, as:
BEVERLY STRIDES INTO
the office. She stops dead in her tracks and Picard
lets go of Laura.
BEVERLY
Excuse me.
Laura wipes her tears away and becomes strong again.
LAURA
Is he worse?
BEVERLY
He's resting. I'd like to have
you undergo some tests as well.
BEVERLY GESTURES TO THE
Nurse.
BEVERLY
(continuing)
He'll start them.
LAURA
Thank you for your kindness,
Doctor.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 24.
16 CONTINUED: (4)
LAURA LOOKS BACK
at Picard a moment, clasps his hand, then follows the
Nurse into Sickbay.
BEVERLY UNCOMFORTABLY
addresses Picard, all business.
PICARD
She's an old friend.
BEVERLY
I gathered that. It's her husband
I'm more concerned with at the
moment.
PICARD
What's his prognosis?
BEVERLY
So far, he's dying and there's
nothing I can do about it. His
entire genetic structure is
altering -- constantly. I don't
know how or why. I've never
encountered anything like it
before.
PICARD
How long does he have?
BEVERLY
Maybe a couple of days. It's not
predictable. All I can do is
attempt to maintain him until we
find out what's causing the
damage.
PICARD
Can I talk to him?
BEVERLY
You may never be able to talk to
him. He may never be coherent
again.
BEVERLY STARTS BACK
into Sickbay.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 25.
16 CONTINUED: (5)
PICARD
Doctor.
SHE TURNS BACK
and faces him.
PICARD
(continuing)
I haven't seen Mrs. Manheim since
Paris.
BEVERLY
You needn't explain, Captain.
PICARD
It was a very long time ago.
BEVERLY
Yes. She's a lovely woman.
She LEAVES Picard, who's feeling very frustrated.
17 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Data is working furiously at the Aft Console when
Picard ENTERS.
RIKER
Were you able to get any
information, sir?
PICARD SHAKES HIS
head.
PICARD
Mrs. Manheim is in the dark about
her husband's work. And he may
never come out of the state he's
in. What have you found out?
DATA
Sensors show there's an immense
volume of energy being reflected
from a small point on the planet's
surface... near the main
Laboratory.
PICARD
Reflecting what?
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 26.
17 CONTINUED:
DATA
We do not know yet, sir. It
appears to be moving from a thin
beam into wider beams and back
again in an unstructured manner.
PICARD PUSHES
him for something more.
PICARD
Is this "beam" responsible for
the jolt we just felt?
DATA
Not directly, sir. It is possible
the beam is responsible for
opening the "window."
RIKER
But that's pure assumption. We
still know virtually nothing about
Manheim's work.
DATA
About this particular work, sir.
Professor Manheim is renowned for
his work in perfecting subspace
communications, and
thermodynamics, but those
particular achievements seem to
have no bearing on what he is
trying to do on Vandor.
PICARD IS
impatient.
PICARD
To the point, Mister Data.
DATA
When he disappeared fifteen years
ago, he had been working on
theories of non-linear time. His
colleagues apparently questioned
his obsession -- and his
methodology.
PICARD
How far did he get?
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 27.
17 CONTINUED: (2)
DATA
No one knows. He became angry
about their doubts that he could
enter other dimensions. He left
the Institute. That is the last
anyone heard of him until now.
RIKER
Can we deal with what's happening
down there from the ship?
DATA
Unlikely. I would need to see
the Doctor's notes. And even then,
his mind is of such unparalleled
brilliance, I am not sure I could
decipher them.
PICARD REACTS
and turns to Riker.
PICARD
There is an elaborate defense
system to protect his work.
WORF STANDS TO
his full height.
WORF
We can get through any system.
RIKER
It's worth a try.
PICARD
Agreed. Take a small away team.
See what you can find down there.
RIKER GETS UP
and gestures to Worf and Data.
RIKER
Worf. Data.
THEY FOLLOW HIM
onto the turbolift.
PICARD LOOKS AFTER
them.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 28.
18 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL)
Riker, Worf and Data step onto the pad. Riker nods
to the Transporter Chief.
RIKER
Energize.
The chief adjusts the console and the three figures
begin to BEAM DOWN.
19 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
as THREE AMORPHOUS FIGURES OF FLICKERING LIGHT begin
the BEAM DOWN to the planet.
THE THREE FLICKERING FIGURES
BOUNCE and JUMP and MELD INTO ONE>
THE SINGLE FLICKERING LIGHT
swirls forming a frenzied funnel.
OUT OF THE FUNNEL
crashes the face of a DRAGON.
QUICKLY SUPERIMPOSED
by FLASHING LIGHTS, COLORS AND SHADOWY FIGURES.
THE FUNNEL VIBRATES
with the SOUNDS from ANOTHER DIMENSION.
A GREAT WHITE LIGHT
shines through the swirling reflections of the away
Team.
IN A FLASH
the spinning out of control away team breaks away, as
if looking for a way home.
THEY TRAVEL FAST
directly toward the planet.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT TWO 29.
19 CONTINUED:
THEN SMASH INTO
an invisible wall and tiny, disjointed PARTICLES SHOWER
SPACE AND DRIFT OFF into... nothingness.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 30.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
20 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL)
Picard RUSHES INTO the room, Troi CLOSE BEHIND him.
PICARD
I don't care if you have a signal
or not -- bring them back!
THE TRANSPORTER CHIEF
doesn't even look up from his panel. He furiously
works.
TROI SEEMS TO WILL
their very bodies back onto the Enterprise.
TROI
They will return. Please, they've
got to.
THE TRANSPORTER CHIEF
sees something on his console.
TRANSPORTER CHIEF
I have a reading, it's not much,
not complete...
PICARD
... Lock on, man. Beam them back!
THE TECHNICIAN PUNCHES
in the proper instructions and...
RIKER AND DATA
slowly SHIMMER BACK ONTO THE TRANSPORTER PAD, dazed.
PICARD AND TROI WAIT MOTIONLESS
until another SHIMMERING EFFECT OCCURS.
WORF REAPPEARS
in the Transporter Room.
EVERYONE IS RELIEVED
they have made it back.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 31.
20 CONTINUED:
THEN WORF COLLAPSES
on the pad.
PICARD
Medical Emergency Team in
Transporter Sixteen.
PICARD HOLDS WORF'S
head gently in his arms and turns to Riker and Data.
PICARD
Good God, what happened out there?
RIKER AND DATA
look at one another as if they still can't believe it.
RIKER DATA
Sir, it was... The most incredible...
PICARD
One at a time.
RIKER DATA
It's hard to... Modern science does not...
WORF STIRS SLIGHTLY
as if he's coming to after a brutal barroom brawl.
PICARD
Stop! I'll wait for Lieutenant
Worf.
THE MEDICAL STAFF
RUSHES IN and administers to Worf... gently taking him
from the captain and helping him to his feet.
WORF
I'm all right!
PICARD
I'll see you all in my Ready Room.
21 INT. CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM
Picard sits, trying to understand what his crew members
are saying.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 32.
21 CONTINUED:
PICARD
A dragon?
WORF
Not exactly, sir, but a monster
that...
RIKER
(interrupts)
... It wasn't anything at all like
that. It was beautiful --
godlike.
DATA
It was completely logical in the
most disorganized way possible.
Colors, sounds, lights. Not light
you see, but light you feel.
PICARD
You each experienced something
different and it affect you in
dissimilar ways.
TROI
Sir, Worf is a warrior. He
probably confronted his dragon
and fought with it. Professor
Manheim also tried to analyze
whatever it is that comes through
this window. They were both
struck down.
RIKER
I experienced it.
DATA
I observed.
PICARD
However interesting this may be,
it is not, as far as I can tell,
bringing us any closer to closing
that damn window.
PICARD TURNS TO DATA
with a real flourish.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 33.
21 CONTINUED: (2)
PICARD
Check and re-check all the sensor
readings that were taken while
you were "out there."
DATA
Yes, sir.
PICARD TURNS TO RIKER
who is still glowing a bit from his experience.
PICARD
Number One, are you clear-headed
enough to do some research?
RIKER
Yes, sir.
PICARD
Good, then go over all the
material that Mister Data collected
on Manheim's various theories.
Maybe you'll be able to see
something that ties in. Something
that explains the experience you
just had.
RIKER
Yes, Captain.
Riker and Data LEAVE.
PICARD
Lieutenant Worf... go to your
quarters and rest...
WORF
... I feel fine, Captain.
PICARD
That's an order. There will be
plenty of "dragons" left when you
awaken.
WORF
Yes, sir.
WORF MARCHES OUT
of the room, trying not to show how exhausted and
shaken he still is.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 34.
21 CONTINUED: (3)
PICARD
This has nothing to do with their
subconscious fears and dreams?
TROI
I'm afraid not, sir. This is
real.
PICARD
That's what I was afraid you'd
say, Counselor.
CUT TO:
22 INT. SICKBAY
Laura sits patiently near her husband's bedside.
PAUL MANHEIM'S EYE CLICK OPEN
and they are crystal clear. There is a completely
normal air about him as he gazes around Sickbay.
MANHEIM
Where am I?
LAURA RUSHES TO HIS SIDE
and is truly happy to see her husband looking so well.
LAURA
Thank God. We're on the USS
Enterprise. They answered your
distress signal.
MANHEIM
I sent an S.O.S.?
LAURA
Yes. Oh, Paul, you're going to
be fine.
MANHEIM CHANGES
looking a little manic suddenly. He holds Laura's arm,
a little too tightly.
PAUL
I'm not fine, Laura. I'm not even
close to fine.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 35.
22 CONTINUED:
She is frightened by his intensity, but he holds her
there and makes her listen to him.
MANHEIM
(continuing)
Always remember this one thing...
BEVERLY SEES WHAT'S HAPPENING
and touches her insignia.
BEVERLY
Professor Manheim is conscious.
She moves to check his vital signs, trying not to
interrupt the moment between the husband and wife.
NO ONE COULD INTERRUPT
him, he is obsessed with what he's telling his wife.
MANHEIM
Remember... It was worth it. What
happened, what will happen, all
of it. It was all worth it.
His eyes are the eyes of a wild and tortured man.
LAURA PULLS AWAY
from him, frightened.
LAURA
The Board was right. We should
have stayed at the Institute.
MANHEIM
Then you never would have seen
your Picard.
LAURA
What are you talking about?
MANHEIM
Fate.
BEVERLY HEARS THIS
and tries hard to maintain her professional composure.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 36.
22 CONTINUED: (2)
LAURA
But, how could you know, I never
told you about Jean-Luc?
MANHEIM
I know more things now than I
could have learned in twenty
lifetimes. And one of the things
I know is that you, my darling,
belong with him. It's your
destiny.
LAURA TURNS AWAY
not wanting her husband to see that she feels what he's
saying is true.
MANHEIM GRABS HER AGAIN
obsessed.
MANHEIM
Laura, don't you understand, none
of that's important now. I've
been on the other side!
BEVERLY IS AFRAID
he might collapse into another seizure.
BEVERLY
Doctor Manheim, please try to stay
calm. There are many questions
we need to ask you.
PICARD BURSTS INTO
Sickbay. Troi and Data FOLLOW him IN.
PICARD
Professor Manheim.
MANHEIM
Captain Picard.
The two men look at one another for a short beat...
like two rams ready to lock horns.
PICARD
We need your help. The situation
is not good.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 37.
22 CONTINUED: (3)
MANHEIM
And I need yours. My body seems
to be in poor physical condition.
I need you to go down to the
planet and collect my notes, my
calculations.
PICARD
We intend to. What exactly were
you working on when this window
to another dimension was opened?
MANHEIM IS SHOCKED
that they even know this much.
MANHEIM
How were you able to determine
that?
PICARD
We are not totally without
resources.
MANHEIM
I'll speak to the Science Officer.
PICARD ISN'T THREATENED
as Mister Data STEPS FORWARD and faces his hero.
DATA
Lieutenant Commander Data at your
service, Professor.
MANHEIM'S
I have spent the last twenty years
struggling with time/gravity
theories.
Data is impressed.
DATA
I suspected it but I could not
be sure.
MANHEIM
There is one security system after
another on your way down to the
planet.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 38.
22 CONTINUED: (4)
DATA
We had the privilege of running
into one of them when we tried
to beam down.
PICARD
What about time/gravity?
MANHEIM'S
It's all in my notes.
PICARD
I'd rather hear it from you
personally, a condensed version.
MANHEIM
There is hardly a condensed
version of the most complex theory
of the twenty-fourth century,
Captain Picard, but if you insist,
I'll attempt one that even you
will be able to understand.
PICARD WANTS TO KNOCK
this guy right out of Sickbay and back out in space,
but he controls himself.
MANHEIM
A star four light years away went
nova. I have been able to
mathematically... "latch" onto
the incredible gravity of this
smooth back globe and direct that
energy, that nearly immeasurable
force, into space.
DATA IS TRANSFIXED
by the pure simplicity of it all -- even though he
realizes this is like a grain of sand to the whole
theory.
PICARD
So -- this energy, directed into
space, then what?
MANHEIM
Then, abracadabra, Captain Picard,
we all see God! A window to
another dimension, isn't that how
you put it? So pedestrian.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 39.
22 CONTINUED: (5)
PICARD
Fine. My scientific knowledge
isn't the issue here -- yours is.
You opened it. Are you brilliant
enough to close it?
MANHEIM LOOKS AT
Picard and starts to laugh.
THE LAUGH BECOMES HYSTERICAL
and Beverly quickly moves to Manheim's side to
administer a shot.
MANHEIM GRABS HER WRIST
until the hypospray falls out of her hand on the
floor.
DATA AND PICARD
try to aid Beverly, but they are forced back with an
unseen BLAST OF ENERGY emanating from him.
MANHEIM
Give me thirty cc's of trisinov.
I'll give you the correct
coordinates to beam safely to
Vandor and the electrical codes
you'll need to bypass security
systems to get into my lab.
THEY ALL STARE AT MANHEIM
he seems bigger than before, almost as if his upper
body has grown. His legs however seem shriveled and
weak.
23 INT. CONFERENCE ROOM
The starscape glows with a VIOLET HUE through the
conference room windows.
TROI
I'm sorry Captain, my powers
appear to be quite useless in this
particular instance. Whatever
Professor Manheim is going through
is to feelings what white is to
color. I cannot distinguish one
feeling from another. They are
all there.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 40.
23 CONTINUED:
PICARD
Certainly hostility.
TROI
It would seem he has reason to
feel hostile to you, sir, his
wife...
PICARD
Yes, Counselor, let's stick to
the important issues. Lieutenant
Worf.
WORF
Yes, sir?
PICARD
I want every heading that Manheim
gave Mister Data checked out and then
rechecked. No one's beaming down
to Vandor until we can be
reasonably sure they'll make it
through.
WORF
Right away, sir.
WORF AND DATA LEAVE
the conference room.
PICARD TURNS TO RIKER
a little frayed around the edges.
PICARD
I'll be in my quarters, Number
One.
RIKER
Everything's under control,
Captain.
PICARD LOOKS AT RIKER
knowing that even Number One can't "control" what's
going on out there or in the battle between his head
and heart.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 41.
23 CONTINUED: (2)
PICARD LEAVES
the conference room.
TROI TURNS TO RIKER
and with understanding.
TROI
He has had a great emotional
shock. This, coupled with the
strain of command, is wearing on
him.
RIKER
Women!
TROI IS ANGRY
with Riker's response until she sees:
RIKER SMILES THAT
devilish smile of his... he's teasing her.
TROI GATHERS HER PAPERS
and prepares to leave the room.
TROI
I would think that someone who
has so recently seen God would
be a little more... well...
RIKER
... No one ever said that God
didn't have a sense of humor.
SHE LEAVES AND HE FOLLOWS
close behind.
RIKER
Did you ever hear the one about...
24 INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS
The captain ENTERS and with one deep breath releases
some of the postures of command. He moves to a
shelving unit in his room and takes a tiny glass
figurine off the shelf.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 42.
24 CONTINUED:
LAURA (O.S.)
You saved it. All these years.
PICARD TURNS TOWARD HER
He is surprised and yet;
PICARD
I wondered when you would come.
PICARD'S POV - LAURA
looking more ravishingly beautiful than any woman has
a right to. She poses in a comfortable lounge chair.
PICARD SETS THE FIGURINE
down and kneels at Laura's side.
PICARD
You are so beautiful, my throat
feels as if it will close and I
will never be able to tell you
how beautiful you truly are.
LAURA'S EYES SWIM IN TEARS
as she takes Jean-Luc's face in both her hands and
bends towards him.
LAURA
My love, why didn't you come to
meet me that last day in Paris?
PICARD CAN'T LOOK AT HER.
He leans his head in her lap.
PICARD
Fear. Fear of losing you. Fear
of staying and losing myself.
LAURA TILTS HIS
chin up so that they are eye to eye.
LAURA
Not a day went by that I didn't
look up into the sky and will you
to know...
(MORE)
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT THREE 43.
24 CONTINUED: (2)
LAURA (Cont'd)
(beat)
... to know that I loved you still.
I always did and Jean-Luc, I
always will.
PICARD TENDERLY KISSES HER
and she melts down out of the chair into him.
THEIR KISSES REKINDLE
the passion of two young people in Paris and then go
far beyond that, into the fuller passion of two adults.
PICARD
My love. I cannot live without
you.
LAURA
I'll never leave you again.
PICARD HOLDS LAURA
to him as he stands and walks to the bed.
THEIR EYES NEVER WAVER
boring holes into each other.
THEY SINK ONTO THE BED
and into each other's arms, sealing the bond they have
just made.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT THREE
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 44.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
25 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
in orbit around Vandor
26 INT. SICKBAY
Beverly is checking Paul's vital signs when he drifts
into consciousness. He stares at her intently for a
moment.
MANHEIM
Who are you?
BEVERLY
I'm Doctor Crusher and I'm trying...
MANHEIM
Imposter! Touch me and you touch
whatever your head can't
understand. I am real. You are
illusion.
BEVERLY
Try to rest.
MANHEIM
I am rest. I am action. I am you.
Imposter.
MANHEIM LAPSES BACK
into a fevered fitful sleep.
BEVERLY
I wish I could talk to you --
Professor Manheim. I bet you were
really something.
TROI QUIETLY ENTERS
Sickbay. Beverly is surprised to see her and joins
her at the door.
BEVERLY
Deanna?
TROI
I wanted to see how he was doing.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 45.
26 CONTINUED:
BEVERLY
The same. Nothing I do seems to
make any difference.
BEVERLY SMILES
at Troi.
BEVERLY
That's not why you're here.
TROI SHAKES
her head "no."
TROI
I'm supposed to be the empath.
Beverly gestures her to follow her to the outer office.
27 INT. SICKBAY - DR. CRUSHER'S OFFICE
Beverly keeps working as Troi talks to her.
TROI
Are you all right?
BEVERLY
Why wouldn't I be? I've got one
of the medical wonders of the
galaxy dying in my Sickbay.
TROI
That isn't what I meant.
BEVERLY
I don't think I want to talk about
what I think you mean.
BEVERLY BUMPS INTO
a table and pushes it out of the way as she continues
to work.
TROI
You're not helping the situation
by pretending it doesn't exist.
BEVERLY WHIRLS AROUND
almost knocking a tube off the table.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 46.
27 CONTINUED:
BEVERLY
I'm making it worse?
TROI
I didn't say that. I said you're
not helping it. Or yourself.
Or the captain.
BEVERLY
That's his problem.
BEVERLY MOVES THINGS
from place to place. Troi calmly looks at her, willing
her to stand still.
BEVERLY
All right. I'm still not sure
how I feel about him. Now it
looks as if I'll never know...
are you happy? I said it.
TROI
Talk to him.
BEVERLY
No. I can't compete with a ghost
from his past. No one could.
TROI
She's not a ghost. She's here
right now.
BEVERLY
She may be in the here and now,
but it's the ghost he sees. No
Deanna, he'll have to work it
through without my... input.
SHE SLAMS A PIECE
of equipment back into its place.
BEVERLY
There. Now I feel better.
thanks, Deanna.
TROI STARES KNOWINGLY AFTER
Beverly as she WALKS BACK into Sickbay.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 47.
28 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Picard impatiently taps his fingers on the command
chair. Data pores over his console as Riker watches.
PICARD
How soon, Mister Data?
DATA
I am almost through comparing the
calculations, Captain.
PICARD IS STARTLED
when Beverly's voice comes through.
BEVERLY'S COM VOICE
Bridge, this is Sickbay. Doctor
Manheim is awake and asking to
speak with you, Captain. Alone.
PICARD
On my way, Doctor.
HE JUMPS UP
from the Command Chair and HURRIES TOWARDS the
turbolift.
RIKER AND DATA
return to their calculations. Data finishes and looks
at Riker.
RIKER
Can we do it?
DATA
I believe so. But it must be
soon. Sensors indicate a rapid
deterioration of the atmosphere.
RIKER LOOKS AT
Data. He'd like a little more assurance.
DATA
I cannot be more sure than that,
Commander. Not until I see what
is in Professor Manheim's
laboratory.
RIKER
Okay. Let's get ready. Worf.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 48.
29 INT. SICKBAY
Picard ENTERS, not having any idea what he'll find.
Beverly gestures to Manheim.
MANHEIM IS SITTING
up, conscious, but battling with an unseen enemy.
PICARD WALKS BRISKLY
to his bedside.
PICARD
You asked for me.
Manheim struggles to make sense.
MANHEIM
You belong with Laura. It's the
way it's supposed to be. Give
me your word you'll take care of
her.
PICARD IS FURIOUS
at the arrogance of this man. And he's feeling a
little guilty too.
PICARD
I did not come here to discuss
her. I will not discuss her with
you until your irresponsible
actions are checked and until my
away team is back on this ship
safe and sound.
MANHEIM'S FEVERED EYES
bore into the captain.
MANHEIM
It is only Laura who concerns me.
PICARD
Then she is wrong. We are very
different, you and I. For which
I am grateful.
PICARD STRIDES TOWARDS
the door.
MANHEIM
Good. You will take care of her.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 49.
30 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL)
Geordi is at the controls this time as the three away
Team members STEP ONTO the pad. They carry very small,
portable respirator packs on their chests.
GEORDI
I have the coordinates exactly
in the corridor the Professor
specified.
RIKER
We're ready.
GEORDI
Good luck.
Geordi operates the controls and the away team BEAMS
DOWN.
31 INT. VANDOR - CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
as the away team BEAMS IN. It is DARK and they
immediately feel the difference in atmosphere.
RIKER
Respirators on.
They turn their packs on and move as quickly as they
can, Worf in the lead, towards the laboratory door.
SUDDENLY ANOTHER STRONG
burst of ENERGY BLASTS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR, sending
the away team flying and ROLLING to safety.
The corridor PULSATES WITH THE VIOLET COLORS of the
other dimension.
32 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
WAVES OF COLOR RADIATE OFF THE ENTERPRISE.
33 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
The bridge crew holds its own against the assault.
GEORDI
Shields barely holding, sir.
Damage reports coming in.
PICARD
Contact the away team!
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 50.
34 INT. SICKBAY
Laura is at the side of her husband, trying to hold
him down, trying to will him to be well. With every
assault, he too is assaulted.
35 INT. VANDOR - CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
The onslaught over, the away team cautiously makes its
way towards Manheim's laboratory.
PICARD'S COM VOICE
Maintain an open frequency, Number
One.
RIKER
Frequency open, sir.
NEXT TO THE LABORATORY
Data removes a panel next to the door, and begins to
insert the code Manheim gave them. Worf watches the
corridor carefully.
DATA FINISHES ENTERING
the code and the lab doors OPEN partially.
SUDDENLY WORF NOTICES
several openings along the edges of the wall.
WORF
Look out!
THE THREE DIVE
for cover as LASER FIRE COMMENCES.
THEY ROLL BACK AND FORTH
out of range of attack.
ALL THREE PULL
their phasers and RETURN FIRE to the source of the
attacks.
QUIET SETTLES
in the corridor. The away team cautiously pick
themselves up.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FOUR 51.
35 CONTINUED:
RIKER
Manheim forgot to mention that
one.
THEY LOOK AT EACH
other and allow themselves a slight REACTION.
THE THREE OF THEM SQUEEZE
through the narrow opening into the darkness of the
lab.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 52.
ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
36 INT. VANDOR - MANHEIM'S LABORATORY - CONTINUOUS ACTION
Data touches a wallplate and the LIGHTS GO ON. His
eye is immediately attracted to an instrument panel
-- a floating RED LIGHT, a small board of numbers, a
narrow slot and a clock.
THE CLOCK COUNTS DOWN
the micro-seconds... starting from ten minutes.
WORF
What is it?
DATA
Hopefully, an easily deactivated
alarm system.
RIKER
More surprises.
DATA IS ALREADY
examining the board. He sticks his hand in the slot
and the seconds keep on disappearing.
RIKER
Captain, a problem with Manheim's
security. Any chance he's awake?
37 INT. MAIN BRIDGE (INTERCUT AS NEEDED)
Picard and Troi REACT.
PICARD
No, Commander. Doctor Crusher
is under orders to inform me if
the professor regains
consciousness.
(beat)
What's the problem?
DATA FINISHES TAKING
his readings and turns to Riker.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 53.
37 CONTINUED:
DATA
Professor Manheim's state of
consciousness is of little use
to us.
PICARD
Explain.
DATA
It appears, sir, he was more
interested in making certain his
notes were destroyed than in
our safety. When we came into
the lab we triggered an explosive
device. In less than ten minutes
the lab and whoever is in it will
cease to exist.
PICARD
I'd like to wake him up myself.
DATA
Do not bother, sir. Manheim
himself could not stop this. It
is deactivated by a photogenetic
code. Manheim's is altered.
RIKER
My suggestion is to continue the
mission posthaste.
PICARD
You've got seven minutes. I don't
care what you've found or what
you're doing, clear?
RIKER
Yes, sir. Worf check the outer
perimeter -- carefully. And
Data...
DATA IS ALREADY
immersed in the computer. His face shows the magnitude
of what he's learning and the respect he has fo this
knowledge.
THE COMPUTER SCREEN
speeds through Manheim's notes.
DATA
Truly incredible.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 54.
38 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Geordi reports to Picard.
GEORDI
Sir, the sensor findings from the
last blast are in.
PICARD
And?
GEORDI
They're different from all
previous waves.
PICARD
In magnitude, in energy mass, in
composition?
GEORDI
In every way, sir. It would seem
we are dealing with something
that's not even remotely easy to
classify. We might sit here for
the next hundred years being
blasted daily, and no two blasts
would be the same.
TROI
Anything could happen. We're
dealing with another dimension.
PICARD
Are you saying it could
arbitrarily, or even with fine
methodology, change direction and
instead of blasting us, draw us
in... suck us through the window?
GEORDI
That would certainly be a viable
possibility, sir. One of
trillions.
TROI
With so much to fear, there is
truly nothing to do but remain
calm.
39 INT. VANDOR - MANHEIM'S LABORATORY
The clock shows seven minutes and a few seconds.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 55.
39 CONTINUED:
DATA CALMLY WORKS
at the computer. Worf and Riker stand by... not so
calmly.
DATA
It is the only chance we have.
RIKER
What is?
DATA
A reversal of the same effect
Doctor Manheim has programmed into
the computer.
WORF
How?
DATA
There is no time to reprogram.
You will need to physically change
microchips the same time I program
the correct instructions here.
RIKER
Captain, we have a plan.
PICARD
Proceed, and report at regular
intervals.
DATA IS UP AND OPENS
two steel doors electronically.
THEY ENTER A SILO-TYPE
structure. The walls are perfectly smooth.
Occasionally brooken by small grill work, shielding the
guts of the machinery.
DATA POINTS UP
to the top of the twenty foot structure.
THEIR POV - UP
to the very top.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 56.
39 CONTINUED: (2)
DATA (O.S.)
Someone must climb to the top.
The circuits we need to change
are in that panel.
RIKER AND WORF
look at one another... both of them are suffering from
the lack of oxygen and yet both of them want to go.
DATA
Whoever goes will be in more
danger than falling. A great heat
is generated in this chamber.
Enough to disintegrate any of us
in seconds.
RIKER
What about the doors, the ones
we came in? If they stay open,
would the system short out? Heat
of that magnitude requires a seal
of some sort, doesn't it?
DATA
We cannot do it electronically.
I need to use full power to
reverse the effect.
WORF
I will keep the doors from
closing.
THEY PREPARE TO EXECUTE
the plan.
THE CLOCK NOW READS
less than five minutes.
RIKER TAKES HIGH-TECH CLIMBING GEAR
out of his chest pack. He ENTERS the cylinder.
WORF READIES HIMSELF
between the steel doors, summoning all the Klingon
strength of the ages.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 57.
40 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Captain Picard waits on the Enterprise.
PICARD
Away team, report.
DATA
Sir, we are executing the plan.
RIKER CLIMBS
up the cylinder.
PICARD
You've got three minutes, no more.
Transporter Room, lock onto their
coordinates and be ready to beam
them up the instant of my command.
DATA WAITS AT THE COMPUTER
like a church organist ready to play for the coronation
of the pope.
WORF LOOKS UP
and signals to Data.
WORF
He's past the halfway mark.
RIKER HANGS BREATHLESS
on the wall of the cylinder.
RIKER
Captain, I need more time.
PICARD
You haven't got it.
RIKER PRESSES FORWARD QUICKLY
not looking back.
WORF
(to Data)
He's almost there.
WORF PRESSES HIS MASSIVE
arms against the doors and crouches in a weight lifter
crouch.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 58.
40 CONTINUED:
DATA TOUCHES A BUTTON
on the panel and the SOUND OF MACHINERY coming to life
fills the lab.
WORF STRAINS WITH EVERY CELL
in his body to hold the doors open.
RIKER REACHES THE TOP
and barely has the breath to speak, but manages:
RIKER
Go, Data.
DATA BEGINS THE PROGRAM
and calmly touches his insignia and speaks to Riker.
DATA
Remember Commander -- it is the
blue chip you switch with the
yellow chip.
WORF STRAINS, SWEAT
pouring down his face.
DATA
(continuing)
Ready, five, four, three, two,
one.
RIKER SWITCHES THE CHIPS
and clings to the wall like he's hugging his mother.
WORF EXHALES
with purpose as a BLAST of hot air WHOOSHES past him
and through the lab.
OUTSIDE THE LAB
a BEAM OF LIGHT starts from high up in the sky and is
drawn to the tip of the cylinder.
THERE IS A FLASH
OF LIGHT and..
PICARD
Beam them back.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 59.
41 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL)
As the away team MATERIALIZES on the pad. They are
exuberant with the feeling of brotherhood.
RIKER
Did it work?
DATA
It is well patched... Closed in
this sense would be an equation...
RIKER
Patched is good enough.
DATA TILTS HIS
head and shares his inner clock with them.
DATA
By my calculation, the laboratory
just disintegrated.
42 INT. SICKBAY
Paul Manheim is sitting straight up in bed and he is
a new man, completely different in demeanor and look
than ever before.
BEVERLY
But this is amazing. All your
readings are completely normal.
There's even been a complete
nerve regeneration.
PAUL MANHEIM GRASPS
Beverly's hand in a gentle and kindly gesture.
MANHEIM
Where is my wife? Is Laura all
right?
PICARD AND LAURA ENTER
Sickbay at the same time.
LAURA
Paul?
MANHEIM
The effect has been reversed,
darling. It's safe now.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 60.
42 CONTINUED:
She RUSHES TO HIM and is genuinely happy to see that
he is going to be all right.
BEVERLY
There are no residual effects.
MANHEIM TURNS TO BEVERLY
and gentlemanly corrects her.
MANHEIM
No, Doctor, I am not the same man
I was before.
He holds his wife to him.
MANHEIM
(continuing)
I still have the same vision, but,
Captain Picard, I would like to
request a science team to help
me rebuild. I would like to start
fresh, and do everything the right
way this time.
PICARD
I'm sure the Federation will want
to help you in any way they can,
as long as you are willing to now
be a part of the Federation.
MANHEIM NODS
and strokes Laura's hand.
PICARD
The science team will be arranged.
MANHEIM
All volunteers, I insist. No one
on Vandor will be there unless
they want to be there.
He looks at Laura and Laura looks from this great,
great man, who has just become even greater to...
PICARD WATCHING HER
with an understanding look.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 61.
43 INT. HOLODECK
Jean-Luc Picard sits at the same table in the same cafe
in Paris. He sips a glass of red wine.
LAURA WALKS INTO
the picture.
LAURA
I hope you don't mind. I
convinced the technician you
wouldn't.
PICARD TURNS TO HER
and stands, offering her a chair.
LAURA
Oh, no, I won't be staying.
PICARD
I know.
LAURA
I wanted to say good-bye here,
not in the Transporter Room.
PICARD
You have more courage than I did.
LAURA
More courage than a young man in
first love, yes. More courage
than Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of
the USS Enterprise -- I doubt
there are many who could boast
that.
HE STANDS AND HOLDS HER
in the warmest embrace... one that he will treasure
through the decades, an embrace of the deepest kind
of love.
PICARD
I eat, sleep and dream your
softness -- could it be enough?
LAURA
We would have been the richest,
most gloriously happy two people
in all the worlds.
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 62.
43 CONTINUED:
SHE TURNS TO GO
and doesn't look back.
PICARD WATCHES HER LEAVE
memorizing her step, everything about her.
PICARD
I cannot say good-bye to you.
44 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
Riker, Troi, Data, Geordi and Worf are all on the
bridge.
THE CAPTAIN ENTERS
and they all look at Picard as if they are slightly
worried about him.
PICARD
Is anything wrong?
Everyone goes about their business.
RIKER
No, sir.
PICARD
Then set course for Sarona Eight.
As I remember we were on our way
for some much needed R and R.
GEORDI
Aye, sir. Course set and laid in.
PICARD
Warp five. Engage.
GEORDI MAKES THE
necessary computations.
RIKER
I've only been there once, but
there's this great bar -- I can't
remember the name of it, they
serve these blue concoctions...
STAR TREK: "... Paris" - 2/22/88 - ACT FIVE 63.
44 CONTINUED:
TROI
... It's across the square from
the Zanza Men's Dance Palace.
They both look at her. Troi half-smiles.
PICARD LOOKS FORWARD
into his future without Laura, the future that begins
on Sarona 8. He turns to Riker.
PICARD
It's called the Blue Parrot Cafe
-- and you're buying.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
THE END