STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Tapestry" #40276-241 Written by Ronald D. Moore Directed by Les Landau 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 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This script is not for publication or reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department. FINAL DRAFT STAR TREK: "Tapestry - 11/30/92 - CAST STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Tapestry" CAST PICARD Q RIKER MARTA DATA MAURICE BEVERLY NAUSICAAN #1 TROI MALE VOICE WORF PENNY GEORDI COREY COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking TWO NAUSICAAN'S STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - SETS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Tapestry" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE SICKBAY TEN FORWARD TURBOLIFT BEVERLY'S OFFICE TROI'S OFFICE OBSERVATION LOUNGE STARBASE PICARD'S QUARTERS MARTA'S QUARTERS BONESTELL FACILITY GAMBLING CENTER BAR STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/03/92 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Tapestry" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE BATANIDES buh-TAN-ih-deez BONESTELL BON-es-tell NAUSICAAN NAW-si-can SCOBEE SKO-bee STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Tapestry" TEASER FADE IN: 1 INT. SICKBAY (OPTICAL) The room is in a state of frenetic activity. N.D. NURSES and DOCTORS are rushing about, grabbing equipment and moving consoles in preparation for some imminent emergency. BEVERLY grabs her medical tricorder as she directs people to action. BEVERLY (to Nurse) Get the stasis units in here and bring them on-line. (to another Nurse) Tell Doctor Selar to use ward three for the ambulatory cases, I'll take the -- COM VOICE Transporter Room Four to Sickbay. They're coming in now. BEVERLY Acknowledged. (to everyone) Back everyone. They all clear out the center of the room as RIKER, PICARD, WORF, and THREE N.D. CREWMEMBERS MATERIALIZE. Worf is carrying Picard over one shoulder. Riker has a nasty-looking head wound and is pointing his phaser as if defending them. One N.D. is also injured and lying on the floor, while the other two are standing up with phasers drawn. Once the beam-in has finished, Beverly and the Nurses rush to aid the wounded. Beverly moves to Picard as Worf puts him down on the operating table. We can now see that there is a large SCORCH mark on Picard's chest. Beverly immediately begins scanning him with her tricorder. BEVERLY What happened? RIKER The Lenarians attacked us outside the conference room. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - TEASER 2. 1 CONTINUED: BEVERLY (off tricorder) He's in cardiac arrest. (to Nurse) Get the pulmonary support unit. The CLAMSHELL is moved into place over Picard's chest. Worf and Riker move away to give them room and they look on with concern. Beverly continues to read the tricorder. BEVERLY Internal hemorrhaging... the bioregulator in his artificial heart's been fused... damage to the spleen and liver... what kind of weapon did this? WORF A compressed teryon beam. BEVERLY (to Nurse) Forty cc's inoprovaline... An ALARM SOUNDS from the clamshell. BEVERLY Activity in the isocortex is falling. Cortical stimulator. A Nurse hands her a device, which Beverly places on his forehead. A monitor in the room begins to show a flatline and ALARMS are continuous now. BEVERLY Now. Picard's body JERKS... then nothing. BEVERLY Again. His body JERKS again... nothing. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - TEASER 3. 2 NEW ANGLE We are now looking DOWN at the scene in Sickbay from directly overhead... as we begin to PUSH DOWN onto Picard's face, Beverly and the others can be seen working frantically on him, but there is NO SOUND except for a slowly building RUSHING NOISE, similar to the sound of the ocean. As Picard's face fills the frame, the rushing sound builds to a ROAR and suddenly the scene... FADES TO WHITE. FADE IN: 3 LIMBO SILENCE. Picard is standing in blindingly WHITE LIMBO without walls or ceiling. He is dazed and confused... unsure where he is or what's happening to him. He struggles to look around, but he cannot discern anything in this uniformly bright place. Suddenly an even more INTENSE LIGHT fills part of the scene. Picard holds up a hand to shield his eyes from this painfully intense light, but he does not retreat. He struggles to look into the light. 3A POV PICARD (OPTICAL) The glowing luminescence has a form... it is the shape of a FIGURE standing in the light. 3B PICARD determined to find out who this is, moves toward the silhouetted figure. He finally stops in front of it. He can barely look into the light at all. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - TEASER 4. 4 THE FIGURE (OPTICAL) reaches out for him with one hand. 5 PICARD reaches out toward the hand... they clasp hands and suddenly... 6 NEW ANGLE revealing Q standing with Picard, holding his hand. Q is wearing white flowing ethereal robes. Q Welcome to the afterlife, Jean-Luc. (beat) You're dead. OFF Picard's shocked reaction... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT ONE 5. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes) 7 LIMBO - CONTINUOUS Picard angrily drops Q's hand. PICARD What's going on, Q? Q I told you. You're dead. This is the afterlife. And I'm God. PICARD You are not God. Q Blasphemy! You're lucky I don't cast you out, or smite you or something. Picard is unamused. PICARD I don't know what game it is you're playing, but I am not going to participate. Q What an ego. (sarcastic) Did you think the great Jean-Luc Picard would never die? PICARD Q, whatever you've done to -- Q I haven't done anything. (beat) Check your heart rate. Go ahead. Picard hesitates... then puts a hand to his throat... he reacts with shock as he finds nothing. Q No pulse? What a surprise. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/07/92 - ACT ONE 6. 7 CONTINUED: Try as he might to deny it, Picard is coming to the realization that Q is on the level. But he still fights against a facile acceptance of Q's word. PICARD How do I know this isn't another one of your tricks? Q Think, Jean-Luc. Why would I go to all the trouble of faking your death when I could simply kill you whenever I felt like it? PICARD Is that what happened? Q I wouldn't want to steal the credit... it was a rather disgruntled Lenarian actually. This strikes a chord with Picard. He begins to remember what happened... PICARD The conference... Q (impatient) Yes, yes. The conference, the unexpected attack, the compressed teryon beam... the bottom line is, your life ended about five minutes ago under the inept ministrations of Doctor Beverly Crusher. Picard takes a moment to think about this. He pushes away the idea that Q might be telling the truth. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT ONE 7. 7 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD No. I am not dead. I refuse to believe there is an afterlife which is run by you. (beat) The universe is not that badly designed. Q gives a bored and frustrated sigh. Q Very well. If you really require more evidence of your post-mortem status, I'll just have to provide some... Suddenly, Picard hears a deep VOICE coming from behind him. MAURICE'S VOICE Jean-Luc... Picard freezes in place at the all-too familiar voice. 8 NEW ANGLE Picard slowly turns around and sees his father, MAURICE PICARD standing behind him. Maurice is in his eighties, but seems healthy and vital. PICARD (shocked) Father... Maurice is clearly disapproving. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/08/92 - ACT ONE 8. 8 CONTINUED: MAURICE I told you not to go running off to that Academy. I told you that Starfleet would bring you to a bad end. But you wouldn't listen. Now look at you... dead before your time. Picard's words are meant for Q, but he can't take his eyes off of his father's face. PICARD All right, Q... enough. Q (innocent) Enough what? MAURICE Why couldn't you listen? Didn't you understand that I was only looking out for your best interests? Picard turns to Q in rage. PICARD (hard) Q, stop this. MAURICE Even now, after all these years... you still manage to disappoint me, Jean-Luc. 9 ON PICARD The words knife through Picard. He turns back around... but Maurice is GONE. Picard stares out into the white emptiness for a moment. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/08/92 - ACT ONE 9-9A. 9 CONTINUED: PICARD I hope you're enjoying this, Q. Q This isn't for me. This is for you, Jean-Luc... I wanted to give you an opportunity to make peace with your sordid past. Picard turns back to Q after a beat, determined not to let Q call the tune. PICARD I find it hard to believe that you're doing this for the benefit of my soul. Q Now that you've finally shuffled off the mortal coil, we're free to spend some time together. I simply want you to be at peace with yourself. PICARD "Some time together?"... how much time? Q Eternity. Beat. PICARD So I'm in hell. Q That's the spirit, Jean-Luc. Don't let a little thing like death slow down that rapier wit. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/08/92 - ACT ONE 9B. 9 CONTINUED: (2) Q (beat) Now you're sure you don't have any regrets or feelings of guilt about your former life? I can't have you whining and complaining through eternity. PICARD If I'm truly dead, then my only regret is dying... and finding you here. Q (mock) You wound me, Mon Capitain. After all, I wasn't the cause of your death... STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/08/92 - ACT ONE 10. 9 CONTINUED: (3) He holds up a hand and a DEVICE APPEARS in it. It's about the size of a softball and part of it is burnt and fused. Q (re: device) ... this was. Picard recognizes the form, but it's still a shock. PICARD Is that... Q Your artificial heart. He tosses the device to Picard, who catches it. Picard looks down at it with a sort of horrific wonder. There is something very strange about holding one's own heart. He examines it closely. Q You might have lived if you'd had a real heart instead of this unreliable piece of technology. (beat) How did you manage to lose yours anyway? Picard pauses... looks at the device for a long moment. PICARD (quiet) It was a... mistake. Q immediately senses that he's onto something here. He presses Picard further. Q Something you regret? PICARD (finally admitting) I regret a great many things from those days... Q Really? Q looks off to one side. 9A OMITTED STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT ONE 11. 10 NEW ANGLE In the direction Q is looking, there are now three people standing in the dark: NAUSICAAN #1, #2, #3, and a YOUNG PICARD. The Nausicaans are large, burly aliens with hideous features. The Young Picard is about twenty-one years old and is wearing an old-style Starfleet uniform. The following happens very quickly: Young Picard has Nausicaan #1 on the ground and is holding him in some type of wrestling lock. Nausicaan #2 pulls a nasty-looking weapon with a long serrated blade from his belt as Nausicaan #3 grabs Young Picard's arms. Nausicaan #2 then DRIVES his weapon THROUGH Young Picard's back. The Young Picard LAUGHS just before he falls to the ground. 11 ON PICARD AND Q Who have just seen the above action play out. Q It wasn't very smart of you to take on three Nausicaans like that. Picard walks over and stands above the still form of his younger self which is lying on the ground. (The Nausicaans are gone.) PICARD No, it wasn't. Q And did I hear you laugh? It's so unlike you to have a sense of humor... especially about getting stabbed through the back. Picard still can't take his eyes off the image of his younger self. PICARD I was... a different person in those days... an arrogant, undisciplined, young man with far too much ego and far too little wisdom. (beat) I was more like you. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT ONE 12. 11 CONTINUED: Q I'm sure you were far more interesting in those days. A pity you had to change. PICARD The only pity is that I had to be impaled through the back before I learned my lesson. (beat) I started that fight with the Nausicaans... I started it because I was young and cocky... He looks down at the artificial heart he is still holding. PICARD If I had been more responsible at that age... I wouldn't have needed this heart... and I wouldn't have died from a random energy surge thirty years later. Q So if you had it to do all over again... ? 12 ON PICARD He looks thoughtful as he recalls the events of his youth. PICARD (quiet) Things would be different... We MOVE IN CLOSE on Picard's face and suddenly a WOMAN'S HAND SLAPS him across the face. CUT TO: 13 INT. STARBASE - PICARD'S QUARTERS Picard is wearing an old-style Ensign's uniform and he is standing in a standard set of quarters on a Starbase. An angry WOMAN is standing in front of him. OFF Picard's shocked expression. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT TWO 13. ACT TWO FADE IN: 14 INT. STARBASE - PICARD'S QUARTERS (CONTINUOUS) Picard is still shocked. The angry Woman turns on her heel and EXITS in a huff. Suddenly there is APPLAUSE and LAUGHTER from o.c. Picard turns to see... 15 COREY AND MARTA (OPTICAL) who are standing in the room. COREY ZWELLER is a tall, lanky, twenty-one year old, with long hair that probably barely passes regulations. MARTA BATANIDES is a short, pretty woman, and is also roughly twenty-one. They are both wearing old-style Starfleet Ensign uniforms and the jackets are unbuttoned, suggesting a casual gathering. Picard immediately recognizes them both, but he's still trying to adjust to where he is. Corey and Marta are both laughing and applauding Picard -- neither knows that the man standing before them is not twenty-one. MARTA (applauding) Bravo! Bravo! COREY (applauding) Nicely done. PICARD Cortan? Cortan Zweller? COREY (surprised) Of course it's me... boy, she must've hit you pretty hard. Marta moves to him and jokingly pats his cheek where the woman slapped him. MARTA You're slowing down, Johnny. You should've seen that one coming. Picard looks at her with real warmth. PICARD Marta... STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT TWO 14. 15 CONTINUED: Marta frowns at him... she's starting to become genuinely concerned. MARTA Are you okay? PICARD I'm... just a little disoriented... COREY Oh, please. Now he's just playing for sympathy. Corey begins to button up his jacket. COREY I want to get something to eat and head over to the casino at Bonestell. Who's coming? PICARD I'll... catch up with you later. Marta is still concerned about Picard. MARTA Are you sure you're all right? PICARD No, no. I'm fine Marta -- Marty, really. Marta still isn't quite convinced, but Corey only rolls his eyes. COREY Come on, Marty. I bet he has another date anyway. Marta gives Picard a wry look. MARTA That's it, isn't it? (pokes him in chest) You are incorrigible. Marta begins buttoning her jacket too as she and Corey head for the door. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT TWO 15. 15 CONTINUED: (2) COREY (to Picard) Try not to end up in the hospital. They EXIT. Picard looks after them for a beat, trying to ground himself in what's going on. He looks down at his own uniform and notes the insignia. Q suddenly APPEARS, wearing a normal Captain's uniform and holding a swagger stick. Q (barks) Attention on deck, Ensign Picard! Picard almost stands at attention out of reflex before catching himself. PICARD (irritated) Q... Q That's Captain Q to you, young man. PICARD What's the point of creating this... fantasy? Q It's no fantasy. This is all very real, I assure you. You're twenty-one years old again... a brash young man, fresh out of the Academy. Picard looks down at his hands and then looks at himself in a mirror. PICARD I don't look it. Q To everyone else, you do. Picard tries to punch holes in Q's story. PICARD I thought you said I was dead... now you tell me I'm alive? Q You mortals can be so obtuse. Why do you persist in believing that life and death are such static and rigid concepts. (MORE) STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT TWO 15A. 15 CONTINUED: (3) Q (CONT'D) (beat) I can take your life and then give it back to you with the snap of a finger. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT TWO 16. 15 CONTINUED: (4) PICARD Let's say for the moment that it's true... what purpose does it serve to bring me here? Q You said you regretted a great many things from this time in your life. Well, now you have a chance to change some of them. Picard takes a moment to assess all this... it's a great deal to assimilate. PICARD Change. You mean change the past. Q, even if you have brought me back in time somehow... surely you must realize that any alteration in this timeline could have a profound impact on the future -- Q Spare me your egotistical musings on your pivotal role in history. Nothing you do here will cause the Federation to collapse or the galaxy to explode. To be blunt... you're not that important. PICARD I won't do it. I won't alter history. The look on Picard's face tells Q that he's not getting anywhere. Q Oh, very well... if you attach so much importance to the continuity of time... I can personally guarantee that nothing you do here will end up hurting anyone, or have an adverse affect on what you know as history. The only thing at stake here is your life and your peace of mind. (beat) You have my word. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT TWO 17. 15 CONTINUED: (4) Picard laughs in his face. Q It's bad form to laugh at one's god. Whether you believe me or not, you're here and you have a second chance... what you do with it is entirely up to you. (beat) Do you know where you are? Picard looks around for a beat and thinks back. PICARD Starbase Earhart... we came here just after graduation... to wait for our first deep space assignments. Q makes himself comfortable on a couch. Q That's right. It's two days before your unfortunate encounter with a Nausicaan sword... you have that long to make whatever changes you wish. If you can avoid getting stabbed through the heart this time -- which I doubt -- I'll take you back to what you think of as the present and you can go on with your life... with a real heart. PICARD So then I won't die? Q Of course you'll die. It'll just be at a later time. PICARD What if I don't avoid the fight... what if I don't make any changes? Q Then you die on the table and we spend eternity together. PICARD Wonderful. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/04/92 - ACT TWO 17A. 15 CONTINUED: (5) Q I'm glad you think so. (beat) I am curious about one thing... Johnny, why did that rather attractive woman slap you just now? Something you said? Picard thinks back, trying to remember. PICARD That woman's name was... Corlina. I was supposed to take her to dinner... on this night... (beat) But then she found out that... (embarrassed) I'd made a second date with another woman... named Penny. Corlina was... somewhat upset. Q I'm impressed. I had no idea you could be such a cad. Picard suddenly remembers something. PICARD Computer, what time is it? COMPUTER VOICE Sixteen eleven hours. Picard's expression sags a little and Q picks up on it immediately. PICARD In fact, Penny should be... waiting for me... right now. OFF his expression. CUT TO: 16 INT. BONESTELL FACILITY - BAR The bar is a dilapidated, run-down, hole in the wall with mismatched furnishings, dirty walls, and indifferent service. The clientele consists mostly of passed-out bodies and disreputable figures conducting illegal deals in the shadows. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT TWO 17B. 16 CONTINUED: In short, it is exactly the kind of place to attract young Starfleet officers fresh from the Academy and looking for a little adventure. (NOTE: No Ferengi should be seen in this episode. They had not been "discovered" during this time period.) There is a DOORWAY off to one side which leads to a connecting room. Picard is sitting at the bar on a stool with one leg too short talking to a woman named PENNY. She is an attractive woman, well into her forties and beginning to show it. Penny has a world-weary look of experience and she sees Picard only as a twenty-one year old. Picard is very uncomfortable and there is a long silence. PENNY You're awfully quiet today. What happened to the dashing young Ensign from last night... the one with the winning smile and the smooth talk about my eyes? PICARD Nothing. I'm just a little more... contemplative. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/03/92 - ACT TWO 18. 16 CONTINUED: (2) PENNY And what are you contemplating? She crosses one leg over the over, exposing a good deal of skin in the process. Picard can't help but notice. PICARD Penny, perhaps we could just... talk for a while. I don't know anything about you... where you come from... what your interests are... your last name... PENNY (matter of fact) I come from Rigel, my last name is Muroc and I like men in uniform. She leans over and begins running her hand over his thigh. Her look is openly seductive. PENNY I think that's enough talk. At this moment, Corey and Marta walk through the Bar area. They both give Picard knowing smiles and looks before EXITING through the opposite DOORWAY. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT TWO 19. 16 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD Penny... I don't think it would be fair... to you to pretend that I'm really interested in a... relationship right now... PENNY Who said anything about a relationship? She kisses him full on the mouth... then pulls away at his lack of response. Penny considers him for a moment... her expression hardens and an edge creeps into her voice. PENNY What's wrong... Don't I look as attractive as I did last night? PICARD What? No, not at all. You're a very... handsome woman. PENNY Handsome... that's something you say to old ladies. She moves to leave, but Picard reaches out and stops her. PICARD Penny. To me you are definitely not an old lady. Penny grabs her drink and throws it in his face. PENNY I wasn't after your pity. She EXITS. Picard begins to wipe the drink off his face with a hand... suddenly someone hands him a TOWEL from behind the bar. Q'S VOICE Penny for your thoughts? 17 NEW ANGLE Picard turns and discovers Q standing behind the bar dressed as a Bartender. Picard takes the towel in irritation and dries his face. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/03/92 - ACT TWO 20. 17 CONTINUED: Q You never told me you were such a lady's man. PICARD I was a puerile adolescent who let himself be ruled by his hormones instead of his head. There is suddenly the NOISE of a CROWD YELLING APPROVAL coming from o.c. Picard and Q turn toward the DOORWAY. Q It seems your friends know how to have a good time. Maybe you should go take some lessons. Suddenly a pushy VOICE is heard coming from the other end of the bar. MALE VOICE (o.c.) Hey, you! Get over here with those drinks before I tear your head off! Q looks over toward where the voice came from. Q (to Picard) Excuse me. (to o.c. customer) Are you addressing me... ? Another CHEER can be HEARD coming from the doorway. Picard moves toward it in curiosity. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/25/92 - ACT TWO 21. 18 INT. BONESTELL FACILITY - GAMBLING CENTER If the Bar was decrepit, the Gambling Center is disgusting with even more decay and filth. There are various gaming devices and tables scattered around the room, but the center is dominated by a large DOM-JOT TABLE. Dom-Jot is a cross between billiards and craps. People place bets on various multi-colored images on the table as players take turns hit balls with cue sticks. There are many bumpers and pockets and lights come on according to the state of play. Picard ENTERS and sees that the CROWD gathered around the Dom-Jot table is cheering on Corey, who is wielding his cue stick with professional confidence. Corey's opponent is an ALIEN who holds his cue stick in misery. Picard moves to stand next to Marta. MARTA (re: Corey) He's winning. PICARD Of course. MARTA I thought you had a date. PICARD (beat) She... decided to leave. MARTA (ironic) You're getting old, Johnny. Corey hits a final ball and a LIGHT goes on. The crowd goes wild. The Alien opponent puts down his stick in disgust and throws a few gold ingots on the table. Corey triumphantly collects his winnings as the crowd disperses to other tables. COREY Thank you... thank you all... Picard and Marta move over to him. MARTA Very nice... forget about Starfleet and just play Dom-Jot for a living. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/03/92 - ACT TWO 22. 18 CONTINUED: COREY (cocky) This is nothing... it's just a little trigonometry, and some minor wrist action. Barokie -- now there's a game. Suddenly there is VOICE from o.c. NAUSICAAN #1'S VOICE (loud) Human! 19 NEW ANGLE Revealing that Nausicaan #1 has just entered the Gaming area. The three officers turn to look at him. NAUSICAAN #1 (to Corey) Play Dom-Jot... Human? He smiles a predatory smile. Picard reacts with dread... he recognizes the Nausicaan and knows the events that are about to unfold. OFF Picard's reaction... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 23. ACT THREE FADE IN: 20 INT. BONESTELL FACILITY - GAMBLING CENTER Continuous action from Act Two. Corey sizes up the Nausicaan... thinks he sees an easy mark. COREY (smiles) I think I could be persuaded to play one more game. Picard moves quickly to Corey. PICARD (quiet, urgent) No, don't play him. COREY Why? PICARD It'll cause trouble. Corey looks at him quizzically. Picard needs to think of something quickly. PICARD He's a Nausicaan... they can be very ill-tempered when they lose. COREY (flip) So can I. Corey turns to play, but Picard grabs his arm. PICARD (forcefully) Corey, listen to me. This is a bad idea. Don't play him. Corey pulls away from Picard's grip. He looks at Picard with a trace of irritation. COREY What's gotten into you? (to Nausicaan) Let's go. Corey and the Nausicaan set up the table as Picard looks on with frustration. Marta throws him a quizzical glance, but shrugs it off and then moves to get a good look at the game as a CROWD begins to gather around the table again. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 24. 21 NEW ANGLE As Q (still dressed as the Bartender) ENTERS and moves to stand with Picard. The game between Corey and the Nausicaan begins in the b.g. as Q and Picard talk. Q I see you've found your Nausicaan friend. Q pointedly looks at Picard's back and chest. Q (continuing) You seem un-impaled so far. PICARD Sorry to disappoint you. Corey scores a point on the table and exchanges a pleased look with Marta. The Nausicaan is unmoved and Picard looks grim. Q Ensign Zweller seems to be doing well. PICARD He's going to lose. The Nausicaan is cheating. Q Really? I'm beginning to like these Nausicaans. PICARD If history repeats itself, Corey will figure it out later tonight and then he'll want revenge. Q And will you help your best friend avenge this injustice? The tables have turned in the game and the Nausicaan is starting to pile up a series of points one after the other. PICARD I did the first time. I found a way to rig the table so that Corey could win in a rematch. Q You? Cheated? Picard, I'm impressed. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 25. 21 CONTINUED: PICARD It was a foolish mistake. The Nausicaan and his two friends didn't take the loss very well. They were outraged... they wanted a fight... (beat) And I gave them one. Q A beautiful story... (puts fist to his chest) Gets you right here doesn't it? The Nausicaan is now running the table on Corey, wracking up point after point. Corey is watching him carefully, with anger and suspicion mixing on his face. The Nausicaan scores the final point and the crowd CHEERS. NAUSICAAN #1 Dom-Jot! (as if the idea were a joke) Human play Dom-Jot! The Nausicaan laughs heartily and throws his stick at Corey, who has little choice but to catch it. The Nausicaan scoops up his winnings and EXITS. Corey's face hardens in cold fury. CUT TO: 22 INT. STARBASE - PICARD'S QUARTERS Corey, Marta and Picard are gathered here. Corey is very upset. COREY I've played a lot of Dom-Jot, in a lot of places, and I've never seen the balls roll that well for anyone. Did you see the way he rolled the terik into straight nines? That's a one in a million shot and he did it twice. MARTA So he was cheating... PICARD It may have simply been extraordinary luck. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 26. 22 CONTINUED: COREY I was watching the way he held the cue. Every time he needed to make a tough shot, he held the cue close to his waist. I think he had some kind of magnetic device in his belt. It must've been controlling the balls. MARTA (angry) That's terrible. COREY We have to get even. MARTA What do you have in mind? COREY We could do the same thing to him that he did to us. Cheat. We'll rig the table so his device will backfire on him. Picard puts his foot down before this goes any farther. PICARD That won't solve anything. COREY It'll teach him that he can't go around cheating Starfleet Officers. PICARD What it will do is provoke him. And provoking a Nausicaan is not a good idea. COREY (cocky) I can handle him. PICARD What if he's not alone... what if he brings some friends along next time? COREY Well... then I guess I'll have to depend on my friends to help me out. PICARD Corey... there must be a better way to handle this... STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 27. 22 CONTINUED: (3) Corey looks at him in astonishment. COREY When did you start backing away from a good fight? PICARD We're not cadets anymore... we're officers. We have to start... setting a higher standard for ourselves. Corey still can't believe he's hearing this from Picard, but Marta has begun to agree with Picard. MARTA Maybe he's right... maybe this isn't such a good idea. COREY (pleading) Look, we've only got one more day before we all have to report to our ships. Let's have one last adventure together... we may not see each other again for a long time. Marta is on the fence, but Picard holds firm. PICARD No. I'm sorry Corey, but I won't do it. That swings Marta's vote. MARTA It was a good idea, Corey... but let's just forget about it... Corey looks at them both with amazement and disappointment. He almost says something... then finally just shakes his head in disgust and EXITS without a word. There is a long beat before Marta turns to Picard. MARTA He'll get over it. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/03/92 - ACT THREE 28. 22 CONTINUED: (4) PICARD I hope so. Marta smiles at him in a strangely amused sort of way. She is seeing him a little differently now... starting to see something very attractive about this new attitude from Picard. He notices her look. PICARD What? MARTA Nothing... it's just that usually you'd be the one plotting revenge. PICARD (dry) That would be more in character, wouldn't it? MARTA Much. (with humor) But I always suspected you had a hidden streak of responsibility somewhere. PICARD (ironic) Maybe I'm just getting... a little older. Marta touches the rank insignia on Picard's uniform. MARTA (re: insignia) Maybe these bars are starting to feel a little heavy, Ensign. (beat) Ensign Picard and Ensign Batanides... sounds weird, doesn't it? PICARD (ironic) It's going to take some getting used to. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 29. 22 CONTINUED: (5) Marta gives him a very direct look. MARTA It's too bad we can't get used to it together. Picard looks at her in a little surprise. Marta realizes that she's given voice to more than she meant to -- she's definitely attracted to Picard as more than just a friend. She quickly amends her statement so it doesn't sound so intimate. MARTA (quickly) The -- the three of us, I mean. But Picard has picked up on the subtext and is not fooled by her hasty retreat. PICARD Of course. They look at each other for a long moment... the sexual tension in the room fairly crackles. But before things progress any farther, the door CHIMES and the moment is broken. PICARD Come. Q ENTERS, dressed as a delivery boy and carrying a large arrangement of flowers. Q Is there a John-Luck Pickard here? Marta gives Picard a resigned look. MARTA (with humor) From one of your conquests, no doubt. I guess some things aren't going to change. She smiles and EXITS. Once she's gone, Q turns to Picard. Q Did I interrupt something sordid I hope? PICARD No, you did not. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 29A. 22 CONTINUED: (6) Q Pity. She's quite attractive. PICARD We were friends, nothing more. Q Is that another regret I hear? Q has touched a nerve here and Picard can't deny it. Q My, my... we're simply riddled with regrets about our youth, aren't we? PICARD My friendship with Marta is not something I regret. Q But you do wish you'd been more than just... friends, don't you? (beat) Well... here's your chance to change all that. Picard faces Q squarely, determined not to let Q get to him. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 30. 22 CONTINUED: (7) PICARD (irritably) What do you want, Q? Q I thought you might like to know that Mister Zweller has decided to ignore your advice. Picard is shocked. Q (continuing) He's in the Bonestell Facility right now... rigging the table to beat the Nausicaan. I guess you weren't that persuasive. Picard thinks for a beat, then EXITS with a determined look on his face. Q smiles and smells the flowers with a satisfied look on his face. CUT TO: 23 INT. BONESTELL FACILITY - GAMBLING CENTER - NIGHT The Gambling Center is closed for the evening and the lights are off. Corey is underneath the Dam-Jot table, working with a couple of tools when Picard quietly ENTERS. Picard looks around quickly, but they're clearly alone. He moves silently over to the table. PICARD (softly) Corey... Corey smacks his head into the table in surprise. COREY Ow! Corey sees Picard and breathes a sigh of relief. COREY Johnny... don't sneak up on me like that. I thought you were the gambling foreman. PICARD Sorry. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/03/92 - ACT THREE 31. 23 CONTINUED: COREY It's all right. I'm glad you're here. (points to tool) Hand me the magna-spanner. He leans back under the table. PICARD I'm not here to help you, I'm here to stop you from making a serious mistake. Corey looks at him in disbelief... he still isn't taking him seriously. COREY (sarcastic) You sound like my mother. PICARD Cheating the Nausicaan could have serious consequences for all of us. It's a risk we can't afford to take. COREY You are my mother. (mocking) Well, Mom... gee, I guess I'll have to go tell the Nausicaans I don't mind if they cheat me -- STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 32. 23 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD (hard) This isn't a joke, Corey. The humor fades from Corey's face. COREY It better be. A tense beat between the two of them. Corey finally breaks the silence... he keeps his voice low and very even. COREY Now, I'm going to finish my work here. If you want to help me -- fine. If you don't, then I'll see you back at the Starbase. Corey turns back to the table, but Picard takes him gently but firmly by the arm. PICARD I said you're not doing this. Picard's expression is unyielding. Corey looks from Picard's face down to the hand on his arm. COREY (quiet) Are you going to hit me, Johnny? Picard considers him for a beat... realizes that he won't cross that line with his friend. Picard drops his hand after a beat. PICARD No. (beat) But I will tell the gambling foreman that someone's been tampering with his Dom-Jot table. Corey can't even put his sense of betrayal and anger into words. He stares at Picard for a long beat... then drops the tool in his hand. COREY (cold) All right, have it your way... (with contempt) ... Ensign Picard. With a pained and angry look, Corey EXITS, leaving Picard alone in the deserted center. CUT TO: STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 33-33A 24 INT. STARBASE - MARTA'S QUARTERS - NIGHT A redress of Picard's Quarters. Marta has taken her jacket off and is sitting on the edge of the bed, listening to Picard, who is upset about the prior scene. PICARD I just couldn't make him understand. MARTA At least he did finally give it up... PICARD Yes, but... he didn't take it very well. MARTA Oh, you know Corey... he'll forget all about it by tomorrow. PICARD I hope so. We were friends for many years after this. (off her look) Or at least... I hope we will be. Marta looks at him for a moment... a smile keeps playing about her lips as if she is about to burst out laughing. PICARD (puzzled) You keep smiling at me. MARTA (light) I've just never seen you like this before. You're so... serious. PICARD Do I really seem that different? MARTA (smiles) I don't know... maybe I'm just not used to seeing you in an officer's uniform... (beat, then more thoughtful) No... it's more than that... you do seem different... (beat) I mean, I'm not complaining... I think it suits you. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT THREE 34. 24 CONTINUED: Marta gives him a very direct look... and that spark of sexual tension can be felt in the room again. PICARD Really? MARTA Yes. I think it's very... (she hesitates) ... attractive. There is another silent moment as they search each other's expression. The tension between them begins to build. Picard struggles with the feelings, begins to turn away in order to break the moment... but Marta stops him. MARTA Johnny... have you ever thought about us... getting together? PICARD Actually... I have. For a long time. There is a charged silence. Picard is trying to resist, uncomfortable with the fact that, for him, many years have passed. MARTA Why didn't you ever say so? PICARD I... don't know. (beat) At the moment... I can't imagine why I didn't... MARTA Well... you've said it now. They hold each other's eyes for a moment... then Marta takes a step toward him... she lifts a hand and brushes her fingertips across his lips... then carefully moves closer... their lips touch briefly in a tentative kiss. They part slightly and look at each other again... then they kiss in a deep and passionate embrace. FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 35. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 25 INT. STARBASE - MARTA'S QUARTERS - DAY (OPTICAL) CLOSE ON Picard, who is sleeping in the bed alone. It's the next morning. A HAND reaches out and strokes his face gently... Picard smiles and slowly rolls over... he opens his eyes and finds Q lying on top of the covers next to him. Q Good morning, darling. Picard jerks back in shock. Q smiles as Picard grabs his uniform and begins to dress. Q A little jumpy this morning, are we? Feeling guilty perhaps? PICARD I don't have anything to feel guilty about, Q. Q No? (mocking) "We were friends, Q. Nothing more." PICARD You're the one who gave me the opportunity to change things... Q So what happens next? Picard thinks for a beat. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 36. 25 CONTINUED: PICARD I don't know. But I do know that things will be different. Q looks at him for a beat. Q I'm sure. Q VANISHES. CUT TO: 26 INT. BONESTELL FACILITY - BAR - DAY It's still pretty early in the day for there to be many customers at the bar. Picard ENTERS and looks around for a beat before seeing Marta sitting at a far table with her back toward him. Picard smiles and moves to her. He puts a hand on her shoulder and gently kisses her head. PICARD Morning. Marta stiffens in her seat. MARTA Johnny. Picard moves around and suddenly sees the expression on her face -- she looks miserable and has probably been crying recently. Picard sits down with concern. PICARD What's wrong? A long beat as Marta tries to put words together. She toys with a mug of coffee in front of her and has a great deal of difficulty meeting Picard's eyes. She tries to smile. MARTA Well... this is the morning after, huh? STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 37. 26 CONTINUED: Picard is suddenly in uncharted waters. He wasn't expecting this reaction from her and he's not sure how to deal with it. PICARD I suppose so. An awkward beat. MARTA I... don't quite know where to begin... He takes her hand gently. PICARD Marta... I don't regret what happened last night... and I hope you don't, either. She looks into his eyes, but her emotions are in turmoil. MARTA I don't know... we've been friends for a long time... and now... PICARD I hope last night has only brought us closer. A long beat as Marta looks down into her coffee. MARTA Do you remember the first day we reported to the Academy? PICARD (smiles) Very well. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FOUR 37A. 26 CONTINUED: (2) MARTA They marched us into Scobee Hall in our stiff new uniforms... and then Admiral Silona gave us the old welcome aboard speech. (beat) He said, I want you all to look to the left of you and then look to the right of you... PICARD (remembering) ... One of you isn't going to make it through the next four years. MARTA I remember thinking... that's me. I'm not going to make it. Then I looked to my right... and there you were with this cocky look on your face... and you said, "we'll see about that." From that moment, I knew I wanted you as a friend. She looks into his eyes... her face fills with pain. MARTA And now... I'm afraid we've ruined that friendship. Picard realizes what a profound mistake this has been. He thinks for a long beat... then tries to reach out to her and make things better. PICARD Perhaps we should just... pretend that this never happened and try to... He trails off as she shakes her head. MARTA I wish I could. It would make it easier to say good-bye tomorrow. (takes deep breath) We're all supposed to get together later... the last big night on the town before we ship out... now I'm not sure it's such a good idea... PICARD I don't want you to do anything that'll be uncomfortable... STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 37B. 26 CONTINUED: (3) She regards him sadly, then -- MARTA I'll be there. We planned this... I don't want to disappoint Corey. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 38. 26 CONTINUED: (4) She stands and quickly EXITS. Picard sits alone at the table for a long beat. 27 NEW ANGLE Revealing Q standing near Picard. Q Let's see... in the past twenty-four hours, you've managed to get slapped by one woman, have a drink thrown in your face by another, and alienate your two best friends. I'd say you're doing quite nicely so far. Picard doesn't respond... his thoughts are still on the scene with Marta. Q Just one more thing to do... avoid getting stabbed through the heart tonight. Picard nods to himself... he's ready for this to end. CUT TO: STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/07/92 - ACT FOUR 39. 28 INT. BONESTELL FACILITY - GAMBLING CENTER - NIGHT The Gambling Center is bustling with activity again. Picard, Corey, and Marta are sitting at a table in one of the corners. There is an awkward tension between the three of them and the drinks before them go largely untouched. A few beats of silence go by, then Picard tries to get the conversation going. PICARD (to Corey) I think you'll like serving aboard the Ajax... I understand Captain Narth is an excellent officer. COREY (not really responsive) So I hear. Another awkward silence. Marta glances at Picard, then looks away. The tension is heavy. Picard tries one last time to break the ice. PICARD (lifts a glass) Well... here's to the class of 'twenty-seven. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/07/92 - ACT FOUR 40. 28 CONTINUED: Corey and Marta try to smile as they all clink glasses and drink. As Corey drinks, he notices something at the far end of the room. 29 NEW ANGLE which shows Nausicaans #1, #2, and #3 all ENTER the gambling center. Corey puts down his drink at the sight of the three burly aliens. Picard and Marta follow his gaze just as Nausicaan #1 sees Corey at the table. Corey tries to ignore the Nausicaans and forces himself to look down at his drink. But Nausicaan #1 moves over to the table and his two companions follow him. NAUSICAAN #1 (taunting) Play Dom-Jot, Human? Give you a better chance. (no response) Give you a bigger stick maybe. The Nausicaans laugh. Corey slowly looks up at them and Picard stands up to intercede. PICARD I don't think we're interested. NAUSICAAN #1 (to others) They are Undari. (to Corey) Cowards. Corey and Marta stand up. COREY What did you say? STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - REV. 12/07/92 - ACT FOUR 41. 29 CONTINUED: Picard gets between them. NAUSICAAN #1 (to Corey) Coward. Like all Starfleet. You talk and you talk... but you have no guramba. Corey takes a step toward him. COREY Why don't we find out -- Picard puts a hand to his chest and keeps them apart. Picard notices as Nausicaan #2 puts a hand on the hilt of his sword. PICARD (to Corey) Don't be a fool. (to Nausicaan) There are plenty of other people to play Dom-Jot. Go on about your business. The Nausicaan ignores him and looks from Corey to Marta. NAUSICAAN #1 (to Marta) Maybe I play with you... give you a good time. That tears it for Corey. The following happens very quickly: Picard sees Nausicaan #2 begin to draw his weapon as Corey cocks back his arm to throw a punch. Picard throws an elbow into Corey's chest, knocking him backward and preventing him from starting a fight. Corey is caught completely by surprise and he tumbles hard over the table and chair. There is a beat of shocked silence from everyone. Suddenly the Nausicaans begin to laugh at the spectacle of the quarreling officers. The tension is broken as they go off to another area of the gambling center. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 42. 29 CONTINUED: (2) NAUSICAAN #1 (to others) Orcho lok resnik Starfleet... As they move away, Picard turns around to see Marta helping Corey up. Picard holds out a hand, but Marta's eyes flash at him. MARTA You've done enough. PICARD Corey, I'm sorry. He was drawing a weapon... He trails off as Corey gets to his feet and takes a step toward him. The anger and pain in Corey's eyes is obvious. For a moment, it looks as if Corey might actually hit Picard. But in the end he just speaks softly and firmly. COREY I don't know who you are anymore... but you're not my friend. The words wound Picard just as surely as if Corey had hit him. Corey walks away. Marta holds Picard's eyes for a moment. MARTA Good-bye, Johnny. Marta EXITS. Picard is left standing alone in the gambling center as his two best friends in the world walk out of his life. Q moves into view and stands next to Picard. Q (quietly) Congratulations, Mon Capitain. You did it. Picard doesn't respond to Q. Suddenly we HEAR Worf from o.c. WORF'S VOICE Can I help you? Picard turns around and we... CUT TO: STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 43. 30 OMITTED 31 INT. ENTERPRISE - MAIN BRIDGE Picard is standing near the aft science station and Worf is standing next to him. Picard is wearing a blue uniform with the rank of Lieutenant and he is holding a PADD. DATA is sitting at the aft station. Worf impatiently repeats his question. WORF Can I help you, Mister Picard? PICARD Worf... Picard is confused by the transition and he takes a moment to get his bearings. Worf finally takes the PADD out of his hand. Data turns around in curiosity. WORF (off PADD) This is not for me. You should take it to Commander La Forge in Engineering. Worf gives the PADD to Picard and turns back to his console. Picard looks down at his uniform in surprise. PICARD (to himself) What's happened... ? WORF Is something wrong? PICARD I'm not sure... (beat, then to Worf) Mister Worf, what's my rank and position? Worf and Data exchange concerned looks. WORF (puzzled) You are a Lieutenant junior grade... the assistant astrophysics officer. Picard puts a hand to his head as if he were dizzy. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FOUR 44. 31 CONTINUED: DATA Are you feeling all right? Picard doesn't answer. PICARD Who's the Captain of this ship? Worf and Data are genuinely concerned now. DATA Captain Thomas Halloway. (beat) Perhaps I should escort you to Sickbay. PICARD (quickly) No. I think I can find my way. Thank you, Commander. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FOUR 45. 31 CONTINUED: (2) Picard EXITS to a Turbolift. CUT TO: 32 OMITTED 33 INT. BEVERLY'S OFFICE (OPTICAL) Picard ENTERS the office. Someone is sitting in Beverly's chair, which is turned away from the doorway. PICARD Beverly, something's happened to me. I'm not sure -- He stops as Q turns around in the chair, wearing a white lab coat and a reflective mirror on his head. Q (German accent) Vhat seems to be de trouble, Lieutenant Picard? PICARD Q, what have you done? Q I've done exactly what I promised, Jean-Luc. I've returned you to the present. PICARD This is not the present I remember. You said nothing would change. Q And nothing has changed... except for you. But then, that's what you wanted, wasn't it? To change the man you were in your youth? Well, you did it -- and this is the man you are today. (beat) You should be happy... you have a real heart beating in your chest and you get to live out the rest of your life in safety... running tests... making analyses... and carrying reports to your superiors. Q VANISHES. OFF Picard's reaction... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 46. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 34 INT. ENGINEERING GEORDI and an N.D. ENGINEER are working near the pool table as Picard (still in blue uniform) ENTERS, still carrying his PADD. Everything and everyone is exactly as it should be except for Picard. He looks around the familiar scene... unsure how to respond to all this. GEORDI (to Engineer) ... so tell Duffy that we'll need to adjust the main deflector later this afternoon. Oh, and have him look into that inducer problem. The Engineer nods and walks away. Geordi finally notices Picard. There is a change in how Geordi and everyone else knows and thinks about Picard: to them he's no longer the mighty captain, to them he's a mildmannered, slightly nerdy guy... similar to the way they view Barclay. GEORDI (moving to pool table) Hi, Jean-Luc. What's new in astrophysics? (beat) Do you need something? PICARD (remembering PADD) I have the... spectral analysis for you. He hands Geordi the PADD. Geordi glances at it briefly then sets it down. He's in the middle of something and the PADD isn't that important. GEORDI Thanks. (to Engineer) Lynch, try shunting the power through the lateral conduit. The woman nods and works. Geordi moves to his office. Picard can't help but follow to see what's going on... he's used to knowing everything that's happening aboard this ship. Geordi sits at his panel and frowns at the display. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 47. 34 CONTINUED: GEORDI (frustrated, to himself) So where's the problem... ? PICARD What's going on? GEORDI (distracted) Oh, something's causing a power spike in the starboard warp coil. If I don't track it down soon, the Captain's going to have my head on a platter. PICARD Have you tried flushing the transfer conduits with trioxina? GEORDI (dismissive) No. Geordi stands and moves to another console and begins to work. Picard continues to try helping. PICARD The conduits sometimes get blocked by neutrino emissions when the plasma -- Geordi smiles, puts his arm around Picard, and gives him a polite brush-off. GEORDI Hey... I know you're trying to make full Lieutenant this year... but I think we can handle this from here. Geordi moves away, leaving Picard standing alone and feeling totally out of place. After a beat, he EXITS. CUT TO: STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FIVE 48. 34 CONTINUED: (2) 34A INT. TEN FORWARD Picard ENTERS and looks around. After a beat, he sees Riker and TROI seated at a table near the window. He goes over to them. PICARD Am I interrupting? They look up. They, like Geordi, are not intimate friends with this man and are a little surprised to be approached by him. They exchange glances. RIKER Not at all. Have a seat. Picard sits down. PICARD (to Riker) I wonder if I could talk with you for a moment... about my future on the Enterprise. RIKER Of course, Lieutenant. Jean-Luc, isn't it? TROI Maybe I should go. PICARD No, please Counselor... I would very much like to hear your thoughts... They sit back and look at him expectantly. PICARD First of all... I'd like you to be straightforward with me. How do you evaluate me as an officer? They exchange glances again. TROI Your performance reports have always been good. You're thorough... dedicated... STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FIVE 48A. 34A CONTINUED: RIKER Reliable, steady... (beat, then, unable to come up with anything else) ...punctual. Picard understands that they're damning him with faint praise. PICARD I see. (beat) What would you say if I told you I thought I was capable of being more than that... RIKER Maybe we should discuss this at your next evaluation... PICARD I'd very much appreciate it if we could discuss it now. Another beat. They acquiesce. PICARD I would like to try... to move beyond astrophysics... into engineering or security perhaps. Something which might even lead to a command. Riker and Troi exchange a glance. RIKER Frankly, Lieutenant... I don't think that's realistic... PICARD Why? A waiter appears to clear their table. TROI I really don't think this is the place to be discussing -- STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FIVE 48B. 34A CONTINUED: (2) PICARD Please. This is important to me. I know I can do more. She gives another glance to Riker, then leans in to Picard. TROI Hasn't this been the problem all along? Throughout your career... you've had lofty goals... but you've never been willing to do what's necessary to attain them. Picard turns to Riker. PICARD Would that be your evaluation as well, Commander? RIKER (uncomfortable) I'd have to agree with the Counselor. You talk about wanting more... but when it comes to doing something about it, you hang back. If you want to get ahead, you have to take chances... stand out from the crowd... get noticed. PICARD I see. RIKER (trying to salve the wound) We don't want to lose you... you're a good officer. PICARD Just not -- one who stands out. RIKER Look... why don't I talk to Commander La Forge... maybe there's something in Engineering. (beat) PICARD But... command? RIKER Well... we'll see. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 48C. 34A CONTINUED: (3) This is clearly a crumb thrown to make him feel better. It doesn't. DATA'S COM VOICE Senior officers please report to the Captain's Ready Room. RIKER (to com) Acknowledged. TROI (to Picard) I think we should talk about this later. Riker and Troi EXIT, leaving Picard sitting alone at the table. He looks around for a moment. PICARD (quietly) All right, Q. Enough of this. You've made your point. But there is no answer. PICARD Q... ? Picard comes to the awful realization that Q isn't going to just wipe it away this time... that he may have to live out his life like this. GEORDI'S COM VOICE La Forge to Lieutenant Picard. I'm still waiting for your final sensor usage log. PICARD (to com, resigned) I'm on my way, sir. Picard gets up to leave. CUT TO: STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 48D. 34B INT. CORRIDOR/TURBOLIFT Picard ENTERS the Turbolift. PICARD (to com) Main Engineering. The lift starts MOVING. The expression on Picard's face is as depressed as we've ever seen him. PICARD Are you having a good laugh now, Q? Does it amuse you to think of me living out the rest of my life as a dreary man in a tedious job? The Turbolift finally STOPS and Picard EXITS TO: 35 LIMBO - CONTINUOUS The whiteness as seen before. Picard turns around and finds Q standing before him. Q I gave you something most mortals never experience... a second chance at life. And now all you can do is complain? PICARD I can't live out my days as that person. That man is bereft of passion and imagination. That's not who I am. Q Au contraire. He's the person you wanted to be... one who was less arrogant, and undisciplined as a youth. (beat) One who was less like me. A beat as Picard realizes that Q is right. Q takes the opportunity to rub it in. Q The Jean-Luc Picard you wanted to be, the one who did not fight the Nausicaan, had quite a different career from the one you remember. (MORE) STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 48E. 35 CONTINUED: Q (Cont'd) That Picard never had a brush with death... never came face to face with his own mortality... never realized how fragile life is... how important each moment can be... so his life never came into focus. He drifted through much of his career, with no plan or agenda... going from one assignment to the next, never seizing the opportunities that presented themselves... (beat) He didn't lead the Away Team on Milika Three to save that ambassador... he didn't take charge of the Stargazer's Bridge when its Captain was killed... and no one ever offered him a command. (beat) He learned to play it safe. And he never, ever got noticed by anyone. A beat as Picard is forced to admit that Q was right all along. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 49. 35 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD You're right. You gave me the chance to change and I took that opportunity. But I freely admit now that it was a mistake. Q's eyes sparkle for a moment. Q Are you asking me for something, Jean-Luc? Picard swallows his pride. PICARD Yes. (beat) Give me a chance to put things back to the way they were before. Q Before, you died in Sickbay. Is that what you want? Picard thinks for a moment, but he's determined. PICARD I would rather die as the man I was... than live the life I just saw. They look at each other for a long beat. Q seems to be waiting for something. Finally Picard breaks the silence. PICARD Please. Q smiles a self-satisfied smile as we suddenly... CUT TO: 36 INT. BONESTELL FACILITY - GAMBLING CENTER Picard is standing between Corey and Nausicaan #1. He has been put back into the scene from Act Four during the confrontation. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 11/30/92 - ACT FIVE 50. 36 CONTINUED: NAUSICAAN #1 (to Corey) Coward. Like all Starfleet. You talk and you talk... but you have no guramba. This time before Corey can respond, Picard looks up into the eyes of the Nausicaan. PICARD What did you say? Nausicaan #1 looks down at him in surprise... this human had been pretty conciliatory until now. NAUSICAAN #1 I said you are a coward. PICARD That's what I thought you said. Without a word Picard HITS the Nausicaan right in the face. The Nausicaan fairly explodes with rage. With a throaty ROAR, he swings at Picard, who manages to duck out of the way and deliver a swift blow to the Nausicaan's midsection. Marta and Corey quickly join in and a brief melee ensues as the six of them knock each other about and destroy half the furniture in the place. 37 PICARD Manages to hold his own for a while... taking on one, then another of the giant warriors in turn. There is a sense in his actions and bearing that he is enjoying this fight... enjoying it as he did when it originally happened many years ago. Then (repeating the action seen in Act One) Picard gets Nausicaan #1 on the ground in a wrestling lock. Nausicaan #2 pulls a nasty-looking weapon with a long serrated blade from his belt as Nausicaan #3 grabs Picard's arms. Nausicaan #2 then DRIVES his weapon THROUGH Picard's back. STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 51. 38 ON PICARD'S FACE As the serrated metal blade comes out of his chest. Picard drops to his knees and lets out a LAUGH of pure joy before falling to the ground... MATCH CUT TO: 39 INT. SICKBAY - ON PICARD'S FACE He is laughing, still on the operating table as seen in the Teaser. 40 WIDER Revealing Beverly, Worf, and Riker looking on in puzzlement. Only a few minutes have passed since the events seen in the Teaser. Beverly is leaning over him with a medical DEVICE. BEVERLY (off monitor) His vital signs are stabilizing... (beat) Captain... ? Jean-Luc... ? Picard's eyes open at last and he looks up at Beverly, still smiling. BEVERLY You've been injured... but I think it's going to be all right. Picard's surprised at being here at all. With a final chuckle, he closes his eyes. The others all exchange glances. CUT TO: 41 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The ship at impulse power. 42 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard is finishing a long talk with Riker. PICARD ... I still don't know what to make of it all. Was it a dream? Or one of Q's elaborate tricks? STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 52. 42 CONTINUED: RIKER A lot of people who've been near death have talked about strange experiences... but they're not usually so detailed. PICARD Part of me cannot accept the idea that Q would have given me a second chance... that he would demonstrate that much... compassion. (beat) But if it was Q... I owe him a debt of gratitude. RIKER In what sense? It sounds like he put you through hell. PICARD There were many things in my youth that I'm not proud of... they were loose threads... untidy parts of myself that I wanted to remove. (beat) But when I pulled on one of those threads... I unravelled the tapestry of my life. Riker smiles at some inner joke. RIKER (off Picard's look) I was just trying to imagine you as a hell-bent-for-leather young officer insulting a Nausicaan twice your size. I wish I'd gotten a chance to meet that Jean-Luc Picard. Picard smiles and leans back in his chair. He's more at ease discussing this part of his life than he ever has been before... a small demon has been put to rest and he can talk about his youth with a new joy and pride. PICARD Well, to tell the truth... that wasn't the first time I'd had a run-in with a couple of surly Nausicaans... STAR TREK: "Tapestry" - 12/01/92 - ACT FIVE 53. 42 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER Really? PICARD Oh, yes... (beat) During my sophomore year I was assigned to do some training on Morikin Seven. Well, there was a Nausicaan outpost on one of the outlying asteroids... 43 EXT. SPACE - ON OBSERVATION LOUNGE (OPTICAL) Picard and Riker are sitting in the Observation Lounge together. As Picard continues to tell Riker a tall tale from his youth, we PULL BACK and watch as the ship flies away into the star-filled void of space. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END