Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!network.ucsd.edu!network.ucsd.edu!not-for-mail From: intertxt@network.ucsd.edu (Jason Snell) Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc,alt.startrek.creative Subject: SCRIPT: "Chain of Command" Date: 8 May 1992 17:07:55 -0700 Organization: University of California, San Diego Lines: 3145 Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: network.ucsd.edu Xref: moe.ksu.ksu.edu rec.arts.startrek.misc:5069 alt.startrek.creative:2272 (Note: I co-wrote this, and am posting it with my dear co-writer and friend Greg "Maddog" Knauss. He's to blame for the whole thing!!! If you want to mail comments, you may want to send them to both intertxt@network.ucsd.edu (me) and greg@duke.quotron.com (him). -J.S.) Here's yet another rejected TNG spec script. The turn-around time between when we sent it in and when they sent it back (with "Ha!" scrawled on the cover in chicken blood) was just a little over a month -- maybe that room full of scripts has emptied a little. Anyway, yes, we know the plot is several steps into improbable and in some spots the dialogue is pretty damn bad, but after looking at the same sixty pages for months and months and months... You potential TNG scriptwriters are welcome to use this as a layout guide and save yourself the fifteen bucks Lincoln Enterprises is asking for the production scripts -- we followed the standard TV conventions. Any comments or criticisms are welcome. Have at it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" Teleplay by Greg Knauss & Jason Snell Copyright (C) 1992 Greg Knauss & Jason Snell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" CAST PICARD BRYAN JENNINGS RIKER SUSAN JENNINGS DATA QUAN TROI COLLIER WORF GARRISON O'BRIEN DUFFY JEFFERSON PROTESTOR #1 PROTESTOR #2 THOLIAN Non-Speaking SUPERNUMERARIES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE READY ROOM USS GUARDIAN OBSERVATION LOUNGE TEN-FORWARD THOLIAN SHIPS ENGINEERING JENNINGS' QUARTERS PICARD'S QUARTERS CORRIDORS TRANSPORTER ROOM MEETING ROOM BATTLE BRIDGE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" TEASER FADE IN: EXT. ENTERPRISE The Enterprise is slowing from IMPULSE POWER to a stop next to the badly damaged U.S.S. GUARDIAN, a small Federation ship. The Guardian has extensive exterior damage and is obviously inoperable. It hangs unevenly in space, seemingly dead. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 46453.5. Interrupting a scheduled crew transfer and shore leave at Starbase 2-0-9, the Enterprise has been ordered into Tholian space to rescue the crew of the U.S.S. Guardian. A malfunction in the Guardian's experimental reactor core led to uncontrolled warp nine travel and the destruction of her engines. INT. CORRIDOR Several FAMILIES walk through the corridor, talking excitedly to each other, each a bit awed at being on the Enterprise. A young couple, BRYAN and SUSAN JENNINGS, are among them. Almost everyone carries a suitcase or satchel of some sort. PICARD (CONT'D, V.O.) While new crewmembers and their families move into quarters, we are attempting to remove all traces of Federation incursion into the Tholian Assembly. Physical proof of Federation trespass on their borders, accidental or otherwise, could easily be used by the Tholians as a pretext for war. If successful, only Starfleet Command and our bridge crew will know of the incident. INT. BRIDGE Riker is standing, nervously watching the image of the Guardian on the viewer. Picard is sitting, just as nervous, but showing it less. RIKER Away Team, your status? GEORDI'S COM VOICE Final adjustments are complete, sir. We've finished placing the detonators, and we're clearing out the last of remaining crew members right now. As soon as we're done, there won't be anything left for the Tholians to find but a cloud of atoms. RIKER Make it as fast as you can, LaForge. We don't want to be found. GEORDI'S COM VOICE Aye, sir. A SENSOR WARNING sounds. WORF Commander, we are being scanned at extremely long range. RIKER Tholians? WORF Unknown. However, the source of the scan is at least four hours away at maximum warp. The information should be reassuring, but Riker is still nervous. RIKER (looks to Picard) I don't like this. Picard shifts uneasily in his seat. INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS The Jennings are a young couple, Susan a Starfleet ensign and Bryan a civilian academic. Both are excited about being on board the Enterprise, and they've obviously just moved in. Boxes lie around, several containing old-style books. SUSAN Oh, Bryan, this is so exciting! I can't believe we're actually on the Enterprise. BRYAN You're the one who earned this assignment, Susan. You worked hard for it. I'm just along for the ride. He walks over to her and hugs her. SUSAN It's still incredible. I'm going to be on the bridge of the flagship! And you'll get to finally see some of the places you've written about. He laughs. BRYAN Most of the places I've written about, I don't want to see. Revolutions can be dangerous. They smile at each other and kiss. After a moment, as they pull apart, Susan notices something out the window and she moves past Bryan. SUSAN Hey... BRYAN What? SUSAN Something's happening out there. EXT. SPACE A small pinhole of light has appeared in space. It expands slowly for a moment, then suddenly rips wide open, sharp white light shining around its edges. INT. BRIDGE DATA Sir, I am picking up a radiation anomaly at heading 289, mark 6. PICARD Yellow alert. On screen. The view switches to a picture of the tear, a swirl of light pouring out of it. PICARD (CONT'D) A wormhole? DATA It appears so, sir. A WARNING SIGNAL sounds. WORF Sensors indicate activity within the wormhole. EXT. SPACE Suddenly, ramming trough the hole, the small, dart-like form of a Tholian craft appears. It brakes unevenly for a moment, then rounds on the Enterprise as the rip closes behind it. As it maneuvers, the ship fires phasers, barely missing a warp nacelle. INT. BRIDGE WORF Tholians! Picard stands. PICARD Red alert. The KLAXONS sound. RIKER Shields up, defensive phaser fire only. WORF Shields cannot be raised! The Away Team is in transport! PICARD Evasive maneuvers. Raise shields as soon as you can. EXT. SPACE The Tholian ship looms towards the Enterprise as the bigger ship attempts to veer away. The Enterprise's phasers fire, but are absorbed by the Tholian's shields. The Tholian ship fires again, this time scoring a glancing hit on the strut supporting the port nacelle. The blue glow in the nacelle flickers uncertainly for a moment, then goes out. INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS The Jennings are both rocked by the hit. The klaxons wail in the background. BRYAN (shouting) What's going on? SUSAN We're under attack! Hold on! They grab for something to hold on to. INT. BRIDGE The bridge shakes from the hit. WORF Port nacelle is dead! PICARD Continue evasive. Long's Gambit. RIKER O'Brien, report! INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM O'BRIEN Transporters are getting heavy interference, sir. I'm restabilizing the transmission now. O'Brien works feverishly at the controls. EXT. SPACE The Tholian ship banks and heads towards the Enterprise again. INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM O'Brien finishes his adjustments and Geordi and his team begin to appear on the transporter pads. INT. BRIDGE WORF Tholian ship is firing! O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE The Away Team is aboard! RIKER Raise shields! EXT. SPACE The Tholian ship fires again and hits the Enterprise with one phaser beam on the saucer section -- before the shields can go completely up. Explosions rock the ship, and debris and fires are visible as the Enterprise sweeps past the camera. FADE OUT. END OF TEASER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" ACT ONE INT. BRIDGE The crew is tossed around. WORF Shields are up. Moderate damage to decks fifteen and sixteen. RIKER Fire phasers! Take his shields down, scare him off. EXT. ENTERPRISE The Enterprise suddenly turns on the Tholian ship, shrugging off a couple of phaser hits. It fires a phaser spread that takes out the Tholian's shields. The Tholian ship turns and warps out. INT. BRIDGE WORF The Tholian ship is retreating, sir. Picard wants to ask about the casualties from the saucer hit, but knows his priorities. PICARD Set course for Federation space, Evasion Pattern Delta. Full impulse. Mr. Worf, continue long- range sensor scans. WORF Aye, sir. Casualty reports coming in. Picard waits for the information, stony-faced. WORF (CONT'D) Twenty-seven dead: six crew members, twenty-one civilians. Fifty-five injured, eight seriously. The third phaser blast hit crew quarters. Picard had hoped that it wouldn't be that bad. PICARD (to himself) Damn. FADE TO: EXT. ENTERPRISE The Enterprise is limping away on impulse, back toward Federation space. Suddenly, a small flare lights behind the ship -- the Guardian has been destroyed. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 46453.8. With the destruction of the Guardian, the Enterprise is attempting to return to Federation territory on impulse power alone, our warp drive seriously damaged in the Tholian attack. The death of twenty-seven people has only emphasized how precarious the situation is -- our capture in Tholian space would be a political and military disaster. INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS Susan is sitting at a table, obviously distraught. After a moment, Bryan walks through the door, very sullen. Susan stands and goes to her husband. SUSAN Did you find out? BRYAN Richard's dead. Michelle's going to make it, but she'll have to have an artificial arm. SUSAN Jimmy? BRYAN Dead. (beat) Presumed dead. They couldn't find his body. They think it was pulled outside. Susan pulls Bryan towards her and holds him tightly. SUSAN Oh, God, Bryan... BRYAN I know... I know... SUSAN It's so awful. Imagine losing your whole family... just like that. Bryan's jaw tightens as he continues to hold Susan. BRYAN (quietly) Shhh... Susan is near tears. SUSAN It seems so... so... Bryan seems different; angrier. BRYAN ...pointless. (beat) It all seems so pointless. INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Data is concluding a background briefing on the Tholians. DATA Little is known about the Tholians beyond rumor and myth. They are extremely territorial and have attacked several Federation outposts over the past decade, claiming the settlements are an incursion into their space. PICARD Thank you, Mr. Data. (beat) Discussion? WORF Where did that Tholian ship come from? Sensors detected no vessels in the entire sector. DATA The Tholian ship emerged from what presumably was an artificial wormhole. Such phenomena are extremely rare and the likelihood that a naturally occurring one would directly benefit the Tholians is remote. PICARD An _artificial_ wormhole? DATA It is the only available conclusion. RIKER It doesn't seem possible. There is a brief pause, each is silently considering options. GEORDI What about the Web? Everyone looks slightly surprised. But it makes sense. TROI The Web? DATA The Tholians, through unknown means, have the ability to create a field of distorted space-time called the "Web." The local effects of the Web are thought to be unstable, occasionally causing ships caught in it to be thrown through subspace. There is a standing Starfleet order to avoid Tholian ships traveling in the two-vessel configuration needed to create the Web. RIKER There are half a dozen cases where Federation ships were caught off- guard by the Tholians and either captured or transported light-years from their original position. Two were never heard from again, and were assumed to have been thrown clear of the galaxy. WORF But the Tholians do not use the Web on their own ships. PICARD That we are aware of. Perhaps the technology has been sufficiently refined as to be used as a method of safe transport. RIKER (brain-storming) If they were to shift from two-ship patrols to three-ship patrols, they could move the third ship to anywhere it needed to be. WORF That would explain how the outposts were surprised by their attackers. According to reports, there were no warnings. INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS Bryan's character, from here on out, changes. His grief over the death of his friend is intense, but he has trouble expressing it as grief. His trip on the Enterprise is the first time he has stepped outside of the Ivory Tower -- his first contact with the real world after being steeped in theory and academia for most of his adult life. In many ways, he is an intelligent infant, unable to understand why things are not the way he believes they should be. He is not a bad person, but he is very, very naive, and he is reacting the only way his life-experience lets him. He and Susan have been having a intense discussion that is slowly elevating into an argument. SUSAN Bryan! You can't talk like that. BRYAN Why not? Our friend is dead, Susan. His five-year-old son's body was sucked out of the ship. I just want to know why they died. SUSAN But you can't! BRYAN Why not? SUSAN You just can't. This is a Starfleet ship. You signed up to come with me. It's not like being on a planet. BRYAN I don't think that because I agreed to come aboard, I gave up all my rights as a Federation citizen. I have a right to know, Susan! Don't you want to know why Richard died? SUSAN Of course I do, but if Starfleet decides that I shouldn't, then that has to be good enough. BRYAN I can't believe you're saying that! If I died tomorrow, wouldn't you want to know if my death had some meaning? Some purpose? If Rich and Jimmy died to save a planet, or to rescue a ship, or even in an accident, fine. Great. But I want to know. Susan sighs. SUSAN I see your point. I really do. I understand what you're saying, so please try to understand what I am saying. BRYAN And that is? SUSAN This is a Starfleet ship. It's the defense of the Federation. Some things have to happen in secret. If you knew what the Enterprise was doing, so would everybody else -- including the Romulans and the Ferengi and the Borg and whoever that was shooting at us. BRYAN Whoever that was shooting at us already knows what the Enterprise is doing! Why can't we? SUSAN You _can't_. That's just the way it is. BRYAN Then the way it is... is wrong. INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE GEORDI The left nacelle strut is perforated and the warp field guidance conduit has been destroyed. I'm trying to extend the starboard warp bubble to enclose the entire ship, but even if it works, we'll still be lucky if we can hold warp one for more than a few days. We need to get to a starbase. PICARD How long will it take you to make the repairs? GEORDI About four hours. I've already got two teams working on it. Picard pauses a moment as he considers this. PICARD Data, how long will it take us to get out of Tholian space if we go to warp one in four hours? DATA Approximately three days, nine hours and forty-six minutes, assuming the most direct route. PICARD And using Evasion Pattern Delta? DATA Approximately five days, two hours. This is not welcome information. PICARD What are the chances of being found for both navigations? DATA Given known Tholian technology, there is a 99.5 percent probability of being detected if we use the shortest-distance route. If we remain on our current course, there is an 85 percent chance of being discovered. WORF Permission to ready defensive systems, Captain. PICARD Granted. RIKER We're going to need them. INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS Susan is changing into a red Starfleet uniform. Their argument has intensified and shifted focus, and Bryan is beginning to shout. Again, his anger at Starfleet, at the system, is his way of dealing with grief -- wrongheaded or not, he is attempting to give purpose to the deaths. BRYAN Dammit, Susan! If I'm going to die, I want to have some control over the situation. SUSAN You're not going to die! Why do you keep saying that? BRYAN I could die at any time! So could you, or anybody else on this ship! The difference is, you have some control over the situation. You get to sit up on the Bridge and know what's going on. I don't. None of the civilians do. SUSAN It's a Starfleet ship! I'm in Starfleet! BRYAN And because I'm not, I don't get to know what danger I'm going to be in? That's not fair! I signed my name, but I didn't give up control of my life. If fifty percent of the people on this ship are civilians, why don't we have fifty percent of the control? SUSAN I'm not going to argue with you anymore, Bryan. I've got to go... I'll be late for my first bridge shift. BRYAN (sarcastic) Great. Good luck. Drop me a line if we're all going to get killed. SUSAN That's really unfair, Bryan. You know it is. Maybe you should go see the ship's counselor. BRYAN So now it's a problem with me? SUSAN No. It's just that... This is normal, in a way. You feel trapped and helpless. They expect that. We read about it in the academy. You can do something about it. Bryan laughs bitterly. BRYAN Yeah, I'll do something about it. Susan looks uneasily at Bryan, then exits. BRYAN (CONT'D) But not with the ship's counselor. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" ACT TWO EXT. ENTERPRISE The Enterprise is in warp, and the port nacelle is dark. INT. MEETING ROOM A large group of people fill the room, most dressed in black or Starfleet formal wear. The small murmur that was running through the crowd rises slightly as soon as Picard and Troi, both dressed in formal wear, enter the room and everybody -- especially Bryan -- watches as they walk to a podium. TROI (quietly, to Picard) Because of the number of people killed, almost everybody on board either knew one of the dead, or knows someone who did. They are in a period of grieving. Their pain is acute, and it ranges from intense sadness to anger to denial. The sound of the crowd dies away as Picard reaches the podium and pauses to collect his thoughts for a moment. Troi stands behind him. PICARD Throughout history, intelligent beings have sought out the unknown. From wooden rafts to starships, the common bond between sentient species, no matter the cultural or biological differences, is exploration. We are here, deep in space, far from our home worlds, driven by a universal curiosity... But this quest, this need to know, brings costs. Picard pauses. PICARD (CONT'D) Today, we mourn those who have lost their lives fulfilling a destiny. They have sacrificed the most that any one being can sacrifice in the pursuit of-- Bryan suddenly leaps out of his seat, a combination of rage and deep sadness. Troi focuses in on him and her expression changes. BRYAN Stop it! Picard is taken aback. PICARD What? BRYAN Stop it! Stop with the patronizing! Stop with the condescension! Stop with the cliches! Picard, normally a diplomat, is angry that someone would upset such a formal and solemn event. He snaps at Bryan. PICARD Who are you? Identify yourself. BRYAN My name is Bryan Jennings. PICARD And? BRYAN And... my best friend is dead. Picard softens. PICARD I'm sorry. BRYAN (sadly) I am too. Bryan pauses for a moment, remembering Richard. Maybe he should just sit down and shut up... This is Bryan's point of no return, to accept the world the way it is, or to fight it. His anger resurfaces. BRYAN (CONT'D) There's something I'd like to know, Captain. Picard waits for the question. BRYAN (CONT'D) Why did my friend die? PICARD (a little surprised) I beg your pardon? BRYAN _Why_ did he die? Nobody will tell me. Yesterday I lost someone that I had known for almost ten years, and I can't find a reason for it. A ripple runs through the crowd, people begin murmuring. PICARD I'm sorry, Mr. Jenn-- BRYAN (angry) I know you're sorry. That's not good enough. Bryan pauses for a moment, as the people around him begin to get louder. BRYAN (CONT'D) What are we doing here, Captain? Who was that that attacked us? Why did my friend die? Picard sees where this is going and sets his jaw. PICARD (stern) I cannot tell you that. BRYAN Why not? PICARD It has been classified by Starfleet as secret. BRYAN (incredulous) _Secret_? My friend died for a secret? None of those people chose to "sacrifice" their lives -- we have a right to know why they were taken from us. The murmuring around Bryan gets louder. Another civilian, QUAN, stands up, tears running down his face. BRYAN (CONT'D) We are Federation citizens, Captain. We have every right to know what our government is doing, especially when it involves our lives. (beat) Who attacked us? PICARD I can not answer that, Mr. Jennings. Bryan turns to the crowd. BRYAN (CONT'D) Are we supposed to follow the man who managed to kill two dozen people before they even set foot in their quarters? The room is churning, turbulent. The crew members, conspicuous in their Starfleet uniforms, squirm uncomfortably in their seats as some of the civilians stand, shouting. Bryan slowly turns back to Picard. BRYAN (CONT'D) _What_ is going on? EXT. ENTERPRISE The Enterprise is limping along at warp one, the port nacelle still dark. INT. READY ROOM TROI and PICARD are seated, in the midst of an analysis of the events at the service. TROI Their emotions are gathering a focus they did not have before. For quite a few, grief and denial are being pushed aside by anger. PICARD The one who stood up. TROI Jennings. He is tortured, Captain. He is grieving intensely, but does not know how to cope with his pain. There is a ferocious urge to action in him -- he feels a need to change the world, to justify his friend's death. PICARD By revealing why he died. TROI I doubt that he would stop there. The door CHIMES. PICARD Come. Susan enters. SUSAN Ensign Jennings, reporting as ordered, sir. PICARD Please sit down, Ensign. Thank you, Counselor. Troi stands and exits as Susan sits down. PICARD (CONT'D) Ensign, it is not a habit of mine to welcome new bridge officers aboard with a private conference. In your case, however, I feel the need. SUSAN Because of my husband. PICARD Yes. SUSAN Captain, I don't know wh-- Picard holds up his hand. PICARD Ensign, your relationship with your husband is none of my business. But your position as a Bridge officer will give you knowledge of our orders... Knowledge that your husband, as a civilian, should not have. Susan straightens up in her chair. She sees Picard is all business and reacts to that. SUSAN (formally) Sir, what my husband chooses to say and do has no bearing on my position as an officer. Secret orders are just that... No matter what my husband might want to know. This is exactly what Picard expected to hear from a Starfleet officer. He stands, as does Susan. PICARD Welcome aboard, Ensign. SUSAN Thank you, sir. Susan turns and leaves. INT. TEN-FORWARD Bryan and a small group of people from the service sit at a table. They have been having a heated discussion. Bryan has collected himself and his political science training is surfacing. BRYAN And what I say is that the moral legitimacy of a government comes from the local level. Every other citizen in the Federation might think that Picard has the sole authority over this ship, but they're not here. We are. QUAN So...? BRYAN So we define if the government is legitimate or not. COLLIER (a little shocked) Are you saying we should reject the Federation? BRYAN No, no, not at all. You're misunderstanding me. The Federation is a good government, and it has the legitimacy that all good governments have: the ultimate source of authority is the people. COLLIER (thoughtfully) OK. BRYAN But the Enterprise is a government, too. We are Federation citizens, yes, but we are also citizens of the Enterprise. Our day-to-day lives have more to do with this ship than with anything else. QUAN And...? BRYAN And we have no control over what goes on here! We're trapped in a totalitarian society! COLLIER That's going a little overboard with the rhetoric, isn't it? BRYAN No, not at all. The key feature of totalitarianism is that the government controls every aspect of the society. That's exactly what the Enterprise is like: Picard doesn't want us to know why we were attacked, so we don't get to know. It's as simple as that. When was the last time you got to vote about something that this ship did? Would you have put my friend in danger? (indicating Quan) Or your wife? QUAN OK. Point made. So what do we do about it? BRYAN Now? Thoreau and Machiavelli, that's what we do. EXT. ENTERPRISE The Enterprise is at warp, and the port nacelle is unlit. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 46455.1. While the Tholians, to our knowledge, have not yet detected the Enterprise, a new situation has arisen on board. A group of citizens, claiming to represent the families of crewmembers, has made its existence known, loudly and repeatedly. They have scheduled an appointment with me, to present their "demands." INT. BRIDGE Susan is at Conn. The Turbolift doors open and Bryan and a small group, Quan and Collier among them, emerge. Bryan and Susan exchange cold glances. BRYAN The Citizens' Committee to see Captain Picard. INT. READY ROOM RIKER'S COM VOICE Captain? PICARD Yes, Number One. RIKER'S COM VOICE The "Citizens' Committee" is here. PICARD Send them in. The door opens and the Citizens' Committee walks in, Bryan leading. Bryan sees this confrontation as a test of wills, of democracy against totalitarianism, as his memorial to Richard. Picard sees it as a nuisance. PICARD Mr. Jennings. BRYAN (coldly) Captain Picard. PICARD Please sit down. BRYAN No, thank you. PICARD Very well. May I ask the reason for this meeting? Bryan straightens himself up, very formal. BRYAN Captain Picard, the members of the Citizens' Committee, recognizing that all power is derived from those governed, demand to be consulted by you on all matters affecting the health or safety of the people on board this ship. Picard leans forward. PICARD Consulted? BRYAN Yes. It is our belief that your sole executive control of this vessel is a violation of the democratic principles of the Federation. Picard sits silently. BRYAN (CONT'D) Therefore, as representatives of fifty percent of the individuals in this community, we demand an equal share of the authority. Picard remains silent. Bryan is a little flustered at Picard's lack of response -- he hadn't considered this possibility and is running out of oratory. BRYAN (CONT'D) You, er, you will consult with the Citizens' Committee before any major decision, and a mutual veto will be put in place between the military and civilian command. Picard slowly leans back in his chair. PICARD Mr. Jennings, are you finished? BRYAN (unsure of himself) Yes. I am. PICARD Then please remove yourself from my Bridge. Bryan is stunned. BRYAN What? PICARD Mr. Jennings, your "demands" are out of the question. I grieve for your friend, just as I grieve for everyone who was killed in the attack. But mutiny, or the threat of mutiny, will not be tolerated aboard this ship. Bryan begins to grow angry. BRYAN You misunderstand me, Captain. This isn't mutiny. We are simply trying to gain control of our lives. PICARD There is precious little difference, Mr. Jennings. This is the real world. You made certain concessions when you came aboard the Enterprise -- and that includes accepting that I am the commander of this ship. If you choose not to abide by that agreement, you may leave the ship when we reach Starbase 2-0-9. BRYAN And until then? PICARD Until then... I would advise you to cease your attacks on my authority. Bryan is now quite upset. BRYAN You've just made a very serious mistake, Picard. Remember your own history -- Louis XVI was French, too. He turns, pushes through the rest of the Citizens' Committee, and storms out. FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" ACT THREE INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE An "afternoon" briefing is in progress. GEORDI I'm sorry, sir, but the damage is just too extensive. Warp one is all that we're going to be capable of until we get to a starbase, and that's tenuous. RIKER Tenuous? GEORDI The modifications we did were all sleight-of-hand. The circuit re- routing isn't even close to standard and there's no guarantee that it will hold. The load required to maintain a warp bubble is incredible and the work we did is held together by spit more than anything else. RIKER Great. PICARD Mr. Data, our progress? DATA At our current speed, the edge of Tholian space remains forty-three hours and nine minutes away. If warp power were to fail, the journey would increase to approximately three weeks, two days, four hours. INT. TEN-FORWARD Bryan, Quan, Collier and about half a dozen others are crowded around a table. Bryan's emotional response has shifted from grief for Richard to anger at, and a determination to best, Picard. BRYAN (shaking his head) I still don't believe it. COLLIER You actually expected him to give you what you wanted? You thought he was just going to say, "Here, have it"? BRYAN No... No, I didn't. But the way he acted. He was so arrogant! (mocking) "Precious little difference, Mr. Jennings." He actually treated us with contempt! QUAN He's a power-monger. BRYAN He didn't even look at our demands. He brushed us off like we didn't matter. Like what the people think didn't matter. COLLIER You're the one who called him a dictator. BRYAN Looks like I was right. QUAN How do we get him? What now? BRYAN Now, we act. This is following the classic cycle. He might as well have said, "Let them eat cake." COLLIER So what do we do? BRYAN The first step toward revolution is organization. We organize. INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Troi is standing next to the computer screen, which is displaying a picture of Bryan with text next to it. TROI He graduated from the Gill Academy of Social Science on Stardate 39225. His thesis was titled "Authoritarian Regimes and Their Democratic Successors" and compared various popular uprisings throughout history. While Gill's graduation committee criticized his work for its use of overt rhetoric and ideology, Jennings was unanimously voted his degree. His wife, Susan, is an ensign currently assigned to the Conn during the second shift. WORF (to Picard) Sir, she should be removed from duty. If Jennings poses a threat, his wife could-- PICARD Mr. Worf, Susan Jennings is an Starfleet officer and a member of my crew. No matter what her husband's intentions, she will not endanger her ship any more than you or I. WORF I must object, sir. PICARD I refuse to punish a member of my crew simply because her husband dislikes me. WORF Then Bryan Jennings should be placed under surveillance. PICARD Lieutenant, I need hardly remind you that witch-hunts and dictatorships begin when we question the right to speak freely, no matter what is being said. Worf looks down at his hands. PICARD (CONT'D) (to the group) Mr. Jennings is to remain unmolested until he, or his group, commits a crime or endangers this ship. I am not the tyrant he believes I am. INT. TEN-FORWARD There is considerable heat in the discussion. BRYAN (passionately) Every democratic revolution in history has begun with just a few people standing up and asserting what was right. Half this ship is civilian, and we deserve half the control. If we're successful here, we could make the Enterprise into a Potempkin. It wouldn't just be _a_ revolution, but _the_ revolution -- the people would finally assert themselves in the last bastion of authoritarianism in the Federation. The petty tyrant who runs this boat will be beaten. (beat, softer) Richard's death will make sense. There is a brief pause. Bryan looks sad. QUAN (caught up, eager) How do we start? Bryan snaps back to the present. BRYAN The Citizens' Committee is already set up. If we use that as an organizing body, half the battle is won. We need to set up a voting structure; design how we are going to-- Bryan stops as he notices the Committee looking past him. Picard has entered Ten-Forward and stops short as he sees Bryan. Picard turns towards the bar and begins to order a drink. BRYAN Ignore him. They'll all be superfluous soon. After we set up the voting structure-- QUAN (to Picard) Murderer! Picard tenses up and turns towards the group at the table. He approaches stiffly. PICARD (angry) Who said that? Quan stands up. QUAN You killed my wife! Quan reaches for Picard, but is held back by the people at the table. PICARD Mr. Jennings... BRYAN You do what you have to do, Picard. We'll do what we have to. PICARD Inciting riots will get you thrown in the brig. BRYAN Riots? We're not like you, Picard. We think violence is immoral. This will be a bloodless revolution. PICARD (surprised) Revolution? BRYAN We have no choice. PICARD Everyone has choices, Mr. Jennings. You chose to come on this ship. BRYAN I didn't choose to die. I didn't choose to see my friends die. That's what this is all about. None of us has any choice. The people on the Bridge make our choices for us. That's what's wrong. That's why we're here. INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS BRYAN It was great! He just stood there. He knew I was right. SUSAN Bryan, you can't keep doing this. You're blowing this whole thing out of proportion. BRYAN Out of proportion? Remember Rich? Remember Jimmy? SUSAN Of course I do. But you're running around like a madman! The Captain actually had to question my loyalty. Bryan looks at Susan. BRYAN What did you tell him? SUSAN Bryan, I'm a Starfleet officer. BRYAN And what does that mean? SUSAN It means I'm loyal to Starfleet. BRYAN Loyal? Loyalty to tyranny is noting to brag ab... Bryan stops in mid-sentence, trailing off. Something has just occurred to him. BRYAN (CONT'D) You know, don't you? You know what's going on. Susan had hoped that it would never come to this. She sees what Bryan is going to do and considers it tremendously unfair. She stands silently. BRYAN (CONT'D) You _know_. You know why we're here... SUSAN I'm not going to answer that. BRYAN Do you know the entire mission? SUSAN I'm not going to answer that. BRYAN Tell me. Susan turns directly toward Bryan. SUSAN No. BRYAN Tell me! SUSAN No. Bryan suddenly looks vulnerable, almost pathetic. BRYAN Please. For Rich. I need to know. SUSAN (matter-of-factly) You can stop asking, Bryan. I'm not going to tell you. Bryan dissolves back to anger and disgust. BRYAN So that's it. You've made your choice. SUSAN What's that supposed to mean? BRYAN You've chosen the tyrant... over your husband. SUSAN I'm not choosing sides! I'm doing my job. BRYAN That's what they said at Nuremberg, Susan. That's what they said at New Delhi. There's a long silence. Susan takes a slow breath. SUSAN You're not the man I married, Bryan. You've changed. In three days, you've become a completely different person. BRYAN Susan, this is what I _am_. SUSAN (bitter) A lunatic? A demagogue? BRYAN I don't believe you. Do you mean to tell me that you're content to be one of Picard's lackeys? To follow him and oppress the rest of us? For a moment, Susan looks at Bryan, unbelieving. SUSAN Get out. Just get out of here. Find somewhere else to sleep. Bryan stares at her for a moment, anger spilling over. Suddenly, he turns and storms out. INT. MAIN BRIDGE The night watch is in place. SUPERNUMERARIES are working at all the positions, with GARRISON at Tactical. Data sits in the Captain's chair. DATA (to ceiling) Ship's Log, Stardate 46456.2. The Enterprise continues out of Tholian space on damaged warp engines. Despite the probability of Tholian contact, we have thus far avoided any confrontatio-- GARRISON Commander! There are irregular fluctuations in the warp bubble. DATA Are you able to stabilize them? GARRISON No, sir. The bubble is collapsing. EXT. ENTERPRISE The Enterprise drops out of warp. INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS Picard is asleep. An alarm wakes him. PICARD Yes? DATA'S COM VOICE Captain, the Enterprise has dropped out of warp. Picard stands and looks out the window. He begins to take off his pajamas. PICARD On my way. EXT. HALLWAY The door opens and Picard, now in uniform, takes one step out before pulling up short. The hallway is lined with people, all sitting on the floor, blocking any easy movement. Bryan is directly across the hall from Picard. BRYAN Good morning, Captain. FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" ACT FOUR INT. CORRIDOR PICARD Mr. Jennings? BRYAN Captain. I warned you that there would be a revolution. Welcome to it. PICARD Civil disobedience. BRYAN And passive resistance. Picard is deep in thought for a moment. PICARD I see. (beat) You will be asked to leave the ship when we arrive at Starbase 2-0-9. If your actions hamper the function of this ship in any way, I will have you confined to quarters. BRYAN Getting rid of me won't change the situation, Captain. This is a movement. There are hundreds of people like us, all over the ship. Picard looks surprised. BRYAN (CONT'D) Never underestimate the power of ideas, Captain. Freedom of information, freedom of choice, freedom to know just what's going on in our lives. That's what we want. PICARD Good-bye, Mr. Jennings. He turns to leave, but stops suddenly, just short of stepping on someone. BRYAN Good-bye, Captain. See you soon. INT. CORRIDOR Long shot down hall as Picard carefully picks his way though a dozen or so people laying across the floor. INT. BRIDGE Picard enters from the AFT TURBOLIFT. The bridge is at yellow alert, and the crew has shifted accordingly. Geordi is working at the engineering station, Riker has relieved Data of command, Data has moved to Ops, Worf has replaced Garrison at Tactical, and Susan is stationed at Conn. There is an urgency in everybody's actions. Nobody wants to hang around long. RIKER Captain? PICARD I was delayed, Number One. Mr. LaForge, the situation? GEORDI We've isolated the problem. It looks like we collided with a fairly large meteor. Normally the deflectors would have had no problem with the stress, but because we re- routed warp power through them... PICARD How long until repairs are complete? Geordi finishes working at the keyboard and stands up. GEORDI About five minutes. Some power feeds in Engineering need to be changed. PICARD Make it so. Geordi heads for the Aft Turbolift and exits. PICARD (CONT'D) Mr. Worf? WORF We have not been scanned, sir. Phasers and photon torpedoes are standing by. PICARD Very well. (beat) Data, is there a way to determine the number of people lying in corridors? RIKER (surprised) Sir? PICARD In a moment, Number One. Data types a bit. DATA Yes, sir. There are 120 people in corridors at the moment, 68 of whom are lying down. Picard is lost in thought. Riker snaps him out of it. RIKER Lying down, sir? PICARD Outside my quarters, I was confronted by Mr. Jennings. Lying across my doorway. RIKER Protests. PICARD So it would appear. (to ceiling) Picard to Engineering. Mr. LaForge, your progress? (beat) Mr. LaForge? INT. ENGINEERING DUFFY Uh, Captain, this is Lieutenant Duffy. Mr. LaForge isn't here. INT. BRIDGE Picard and Riker exchanged surprised looks. PICARD Thank you, Mr. Duffy. Computer, locate Mr. LaForge. COMPUTER (V.O.) Lieutenant Commander LaForge is in Aft Access Hallway 42. PICARD Data? Data types a bit. DATA No one is lying down, sir, but a large group of people is assembled in one area. PICARD Picard to LaForge. Geordi, what's your situation? INT. CORRIDOR Geordi is surrounded by about a dozen people, a different group than outside Picard's quarters. He is unsuccessfully attempting to push his way through clasped arms. There are angry shouts. PROTESTOR #1 Fascist! PROTESTOR #2 Killer! GEORDI Not good, Captain. I'm trying to work my way through a crowd... Geordi is hit, probably accidentally. GEORDI (CONT'D) Oof! INT. BRIDGE PICARD Worf, send a security detail. Get LaForge to Engineering. Stun the protesters if need be. WORF Aye, sir. Worf begins tapping keys, then suddenly reacts to a display. WORF (CONT'D) Sir! We have just been scanned! Riker reacts, Picard stands. PICARD Data? DATA Confirmed. A wormhole is forming to starboard. PICARD Shields up. WORF Aye, sir. PICARD Status of the security team? WORF (beat, shamed) Delayed. EXT. SPACE A Tholian ship rams through the wormhole and steers towards the Enterprise. INT. BRIDGE DATA The Tholian ship has cleared the wormhole. PICARD Defensive fire only. DATA Another wormhole is forming to port. PICARD The security team? WORF Still delayed. Picard makes a quick decision. PICARD Picard to Transporter Room. Beam LaForge directly to Engineering. Now! INT. CORRIDOR Considerably battered, Geordi continues to push his way through. GEORDI Let me _throu--_ He beams out. INT. ENGINEERING Geordi beams in, finishing his push against nothing. He regains his balance and heads for a console. GEORDI Engineering to Bridge. LaForge here, Captain. Give me five minutes. EXT. SPACE The second Tholian ship has just emerged from the wormhole and both turn towards the Enterprise. The Tholians fire, but their shots are absorbed by the shields. INT. BRIDGE The ships shakes slightly. PICARD Pericles Evasion. Worf, a photon torpedo between them. WORF Aye, sir. EXT. SPACE The Enterprise launches a photon torpedo directly between the Tholian ships, and it explodes as both ships veer off in opposite directions. INT. BRIDGE PICARD LaForge! GEORDI'S COM VOICE Almost! WORF Sir! The Tholians are forming a Web! EXT. SPACE The two Tholian ships have moved next to each other, directly in front of the Enterprise. Suddenly, they begin moving away from each other, the space between them growing murky and distorted. The ships begin to arc around the Enterprise, intending to surround it. INT. BRIDGE PICARD LaForge! INT. ENGINEERING Geordi finishes his work. GEORDI Done! INT. BRIDGE PICARD Warp one, any heading! EXT. SPACE The Enterprise stretches out and disappears. The Web being formed collapses and the two Tholian ships warp out after the Enterprise. INT. BRIDGE WORF The Tholians are in pursuit. PICARD Continual fire of aft photon torpedoes, random dispersal. WORF Aye, sir. EXT. SPACE Photons jet out of the back of the Enterprise. The Tholian ships attempt to dodge the explosions, but eventually give up and drop pursuit. INT. BRIDGE WORF They have dropped out of warp, Captain. Picard is very, very stern. PICARD (to Susan) Continue evasive course, Ensign. Riker approaches Picard. RIKER Shall I have Jennings arrested? Picard thinks for a moment. PICARD No... RIKER Something has to be done, sir. PICARD Something will be done, Number One. EXT. ENTERPRISE The ship is in warp, the port nacelle still dark. Several hours have gone by. INT. CORRIDOR PICARD'S COM VOICE Picard to Mr. Bryan Jennings. Report to the Bridge. People erupt in a cheer, clapping and whistling. Bryan smiles. He stands and walks to a comm panel. BRYAN Ride got a little bumpy there, Captain. PICARD'S COM VOICE (stern) Report to the Bridge, Mr. Jennings. BRYAN That sounded like an order. INT. BRIDGE The Bridge personnel have changed. Worf is gone, replaced by JEFFERSON at Tactical. A SUPERNUMERARY works at Conn and Data fills Ops. Riker and Picard stand. Picard grits his teeth. PICARD (overemphasized) Please come to the Bridge. BRYAN'S COM VOICE I won't be alone, Captain. The Citizens' Committee will be with me. PICARD So be it. INT. CORRIDOR The members of the Citizens' Committee stand to join Bryan. BRYAN This, my friends, is the first day of the future. He and the Committee exit. INT. BRIDGE The Aft Turbolift opens and Bryan and the Committee step out. BRYAN Captain. Picard whirls on Bryan. PICARD Mr. Jennings, you have made running this ship an impossibility. Your "passive resistance" very nearly cost everybody aboard their lives. Bryan is a little taken aback, but recovers quickly. BRYAN Come now, Captain. That's being a little dramatic, isn't it? (beat) But then I wouldn't know. Civilians aren't allowed to know when their lives are in danger. Picard fumes. BRYAN (CONT'D) You know what we want, Captain. I don't see that there's anything wrong with wanting to have the power to control our own lives. Picard nods. PICARD Indeed. And you shall have it. You have made the situation completely intolerable. I forfeit control of the Enterprise to you. Bryan really didn't expect this. He's taken completely by surprise. Riker appears to be. BRYAN You what? RIKER Sir? Picard ignores both Bryan and Riker. PICARD Number One, brief the... Citizens' Committee. Good-bye, Mr. Jennings. Picard walks stiffly to the Aft Turbolift and exits. Jennings stares at Riker, stunned. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Chain of Command" ACT FIVE INT. BRIDGE Bryan and the Citizens' Committee are all staggered. Riker glowers. BRYAN Well... Uh... Riker, does this mean I... I mean we, are in charge? Officially? Riker looks at Bryan with contempt. RIKER It means, Mr. Jennings, that you and your Citizens' Committee are now in command of this ship. BRYAN But... But if Picard resigns, shouldn't command fall to you? RIKER Data. Data is puzzled. DATA Sir? RIKER The regulation regarding a captain's abdication. DATA Yes, sir. (turns to Bryan) Within certain restrictions, a captain may temporarily relinquish command to whomever he wishes. BRYAN Temporarily? DATA Yes, sir. The decision can only be made in crisis situations, and can be countermanded by any Starfleet officer who outranks the captain. RIKER Until we re-enter Federation territory and establish sub-space communication... you are in charge. Bryan begins to recover -- he's won. BRYAN (to himself) I had no idea that it would be so simple. I mean, I'd read about it, but it actually happened... (beat, to Riker) Re-enter Federation territory? RIKER The Enterprise is currently in Tholian space. The odds are that there are Tholian ships out there, right now, trying to find us. Shall I call the Captain? BRYAN What? No. Of course not. The citizens are in charge, now. We'll do things my way. (barks out an order) Fill us in on the details of this mission, Mr. Riker. Riker sets his jaw. RIKER We're on a rescue mission. The Tholians surprised us while we were retrieving the crew of a damaged ship. BRYAN That's-- RIKER --what happened to the civilians. BRYAN Why are we still here? RIKER Our warp drive was damaged during the battle. We can barely hold warp one. Bryan understands now. BRYAN If you had just told us... RIKER It's a Starfleet secret. Bryan explodes. BRYAN Don't give me that! All of this could have been avoided if-- JEFFERSON Sir! We have just been scanned! RIKER Damn. BRYAN What? RIKER They've found us again. Data, begin defensive postu-- BRYAN Hey! I'm in charge here. (he indicates Council) We're in charge. RIKER You're kidding. BRYAN No, I'm not. We fought hard for this. RIKER You don't know what you're doing! BRYAN One more outburst from you, Riker, and I'll have you removed from the Bridge! If I need your advice, I'll ask. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. RIKER Jennings... A warning sound begins. DATA Readings show a wormhole has opened in our path. BRYAN (to Riker) Wormhole? RIKER It's how the Tholians travel! Bryan looks a little nervous. BRYAN OK. Uh, prepare to fire. Riker steps quickly toward Bryan. RIKER You can't do that! BRYAN Why not? DATA Sensors indicate a Tholian ship has emerged from the wormhole. RIKER Right now, all we've done is angered the Tholians by trespassing into their space. But destroying a Tholian ship would lead to war. You _can't_. BRYAN Uh... JEFFERSON The Tholians are firing! Bryan's eyes go wide. BRYAN Uh... A photon torpedo comes blazing straight toward the viewscreen. It hits. Some lights go out, others blink on and off, alert sounds are heard, and a few fuses blow -- the ship, however, does not shake. DATA Readings show we have dropped out of warp. JEFFERSON Moderate damage to secondary hull, sir. Casualty reports coming in. Bryan is stunned. BRYAN There were casualties? On the viewscreen, the Tholian ship loops towards the Enterprise. JEFFERSON The Tholians are firing again! Phasers lash at the ship. More lights go out. Sparks fly. A low rumble begins and builds. BRYAN What's going on? The rumble gets louder, followed by a horrible explosion. The ship still does not shake. BRYAN What was _that_? RIKER Computer, reverse angle on the viewscreen! The viewscreen changes to a view back over the spine of the Enterprise. The remains of a warp nacelle can be seen spiraling off into space as fires and small explosions run up and down along the strut. There is stunned silence for a moment. BRYAN Oh, my God... DATA Readings show complete destruction of all propulsion systems and a primary hull breach in Engineering. RIKER Bridge to Engineering! Geordi! Static plays for a moment. JEFFERSON The Tholians are requesting communication. Bryan still stares horrified at the viewscreen. JEFFERSON Sir? BRYAN What? Oh! Yes. Yes! The viewscreen switches to the face of the Tholian captain. THOLIAN Federation ship, this space is claimed by the Tholian Assembly. You will surrender immediately or be destroyed. BRYAN Uh... Look, can't we talk about this? This whole thing has been a mistake. THOLIAN Surrender immediately. BRYAN Listen to me. We apologize. If you would just let us go, we promise-- The communications channel closes. JEFFERSON They've cut communications, sir. Their phasers are powering up. Again, Bryan panics. BRYAN Get them back! Get them back! JEFFERSON Channel open. BRYAN We surrender! Riker jumps up out of his chair. RIKER You can't do that! JEFFERSON (to Bryan) No response, sir. BRYAN (to Riker, almost pleading) Riker, there's got to be a way to let them know that we'll surrender. RIKER We can't surrender. BRYAN Why not? RIKER You say you're representing the people of this starship. Does that mean that when you say you're willing to taken prisoner, you're speaking for everyone? BRYAN I don't... Of course not. (turns to Committee) Should we surrender? The Committee collectively takes a step back. They're more overwhelmed by all this than Bryan is. QUAN We, uh... We can't speak for the whole ship. It wouldn't be fair. BRYAN You're right. We need to have a vote. A warning sound turns Bryan's attention back to Ops. DATA Readings show another Tholian ship is entering scanner range. BRYAN What does that mean? RIKER They know we're wrecked. They're probably planning on towing us back home, taking us all prisoner and stripping the Enterprise for its technology. BRYAN So what do we do? Riker stares at Bryan. RIKER You're asking my advice? BRYAN Dammit, Riker! What? RIKER I recommend self-destruction. BRYAN What? RIKER Self-destruction. It's the only option left. BRYAN No. Uh-uh. That's ridiculous. I can't order the death of everyone on board! (beat) Mr. Data, do you have a recommendation? Data looks at Riker quickly, then back at Bryan. DATA No, sir, I do not. Bryan starts to speak several times, pulling up short. He knows he's out of options and begins to try to justify himself. BRYAN The only reason I started this whole thing was to get control of our lives! It was for Richard! It wasn't supposed to happen like this! The only reason we tried to... _do_ any of this was to know what was going on. We just wanted to know... Riker is bitter and ironic. RIKER Was it worth it? There is another warning sound. Data turns around to look at Bryan and Riker. DATA Readings indicate that the Tholians have locked on tractor beams and are towing us. (to Bryan) Your orders, sir? Bryan is dazed, confused, and lost. BRYAN I... uh... DATA Sir? Bryan sits heavily into the captain's chair, his head held in his hands. He is completely miserable. BRYAN Self-destruct. (beat) Self-destruct. INT. BATTLE BRIDGE A tight shot of Picard's face pulls back to reveal Worf at Tactical, a supernumerary at Ops, and Susan at Conn. Picard has been running the ship during the duration and the events on the Main Bridge were viewscreen graphics, rigged panels and rehearsed officers -- for Bryan's benefit. PICARD Status? SUSAN We'll be entering Federation space in sixteen minutes, twenty seconds, Captain. PICARD (to Worf) Any sign of Tholian pursuers? WORF No, sir. PICARD Plot a direct course for Starbase 2-0-9, Ensign. SUSAN Aye, sir. Course laid in. PICARD Engage. EXT. SPACE The Enterprise zooms by at warp, both nacelles intact, the left one still dark. FADE TO: EXT. STARBASE 2-0-9 The Enterprise is docked at the Starbase, work crews repairing the damaged port nacelle. INT. READY ROOM The chime rings. PICARD Come. The door opens and Bryan steps into the room. BRYAN Captain. PICARD Mr. Jennings. BRYAN I'll be leaving the ship soon, and I... I wanted to apologize. I let myself get carried away, caught up in what I believe. PICARD You needn't apologize for believing what you do, Mr. Jennings. I have seen many philosophies worse than yours. BRYAN I could have killed everybody on board... PICARD Indeed, and hopefully you've profited from the experience. The world is not made up of moral black and whites, Mr. Jennings. A little authoritarianism is sometimes... necessary. Bryan stands silently for a moment. They stare at each other. BRYAN (quietly) No, Captain. I think you're wrong. Picard's jaw tightens. PICARD Good-bye, Mr. Jennings. Bryan turns and leaves. Long shot on Picard, deep in thought. INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS Susan is in a Starfleet uniform. Bryan is packed and ready to leave. BRYAN I love you, Susan. Susan stands silently, facing away from Bryan. BRYAN (CONT'D) Dammit, Susan. Don't let it end like this. I made a mistake. I regret it. What else can I do? Susan still doesn't acknowledge him. BRYAN (CONT'D) Susan! She turns towards him. SUSAN What else can you do? Bryan, don't you see? You're like a child, seeing things in the shadows. Captain Picard is no more a tyrant than you're a liberator. Bryan's anger boils over for just a second. BRYAN Picard-- SUSAN --is a good man. The kind of man I used to think you were. He's practical, Bryan, and he knows where the real world starts. That's something you need to learn. Bryan looks around and sighs. BRYAN You're really going with them. SUSAN Yes. I am. Bryan picks up a few bags and heads to the door. He crosses the threshold and turns. BRYAN I love you, Susan. The door closes between them. SUSAN I love you, too. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END -- Jason Snell / jsnell@ucsd.edu / Ashamed owner of a Communication BA! InterText - A Net Fiction Magazine - ASCII or PostScript - Mail me for info! "What do you think, sirs?" -- "Push the button, Frank..." --MST3K