After learning from a
young Enterprise resident named Clara that she has an
"Invisible friend," Troi reassures the girl's father,
Daniel Sutter, that the practice is normal. Since Clara
has been moved from starship to starship, Troi explains
that her imaginary friend "Isabella" provides her with a
constant companion. Meanwhile, the Enterprise
investigates a rare nebula that has formed around a
neutron star. As the exploration proceeds, a strange
energy source makes its way onto the ship and begins to
conduct an exploration of its own. The being discovers
Clara playing in the Arboretum, and immediately
materializes into the image of her friend Isabella.
Clara is astonished to see her imaginary friend come to
life. Isabella convinces the girl to take her on a tour
of the ship, concentrating on forbidden areas like
Engineering, the Bridge and the Ten-Forward. The crew is
shocked to see Clara popping up in such unexpected
places, especially when she blames her "companion"
Isabella, whom none of the adults can see. At the same
time, Picard and the crew are troubled by mysterious
energy strands which have surrounded the ship like a web
and are causing it to lose power.
Troi decides Clara
should meet some other children, and arranges for her to
attend a ceramics class. The girl immediately hits it
off with Worf's son Alexander, that is, until Isabella
arrives and destroys one of Alexander's creations. Since
Alexander can't see Isabella, he blames Clara. Later, a
tearful Clara confronts Isabella, asking why she has
been so mean to her. Isabella coldly replies that when
the "others" come, Clara and everyone else on the ship
will die.
Terrified, Clara
confesses to her father that she is afraid of Isabella.
Sutter calls Troi in, and the counselor accompanies the
little girl back to her room to assure her that she is
safe. She looks under the bed and in the bathroom in an
effort to prove to Clara that nothing is lurking in the
shadows. However, when she opens the door to Clara's
closet, Isabella appears before her and knocks Troi
unconscious with a strand of red energy.
Making a connection
between Isabella and the beings that are draining the
ship's energy, Picard begins a search for the girl. He
finds her with Clara's help, and she tells them that she
was on board to assess the ship's energy sources. When
Picard tells her there are ways of providing her race
with energy without destroying the ship, she replies
that she plans to destroy it anyway. But when Clara asks
her to spare them, Isabella changes her mind. She
dematerializes, and moments later, the energy strands
vanish. Picard orders Geordi to drive the warp engines
to full power and direct the energy into the nebula,
providing the aliens with the needed nourishment. Later,
Isabella says goodbye to Clara in her quarters, and the
two pledge to always remain friends. |
 |
Production: 222
Season: 5 Episode: 22
Air Date: 05.04.1992
Stardate: 45832.1 |
 |
|
 |
Patrick Stewart as
Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes as William Riker
Brent Spiner as Data
LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn as Worf
Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi |
 |
|
 |
|
|
Brian Bonsall as Alexander
Patti Yasutake as Nurse Ogawa
Shay Astar as Isabella
Noley Thornton as Clara
Sheila Franklin as Ensign
Jeff Allin as Daniel Sutter |
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|
 |
| • Whenever possible, stock
footage is used to save money...so to those who thought
the Klingon ship in Heart of Glory looked familiar, it
should. The footage came from ST:TMP. |
|
Click this link to view the
complete script in a TXT format
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Imaginary Friend"
(f.k.a. "Invisible Friend")
#40275-222
Teleplay by
Brannon Braga
Directed by
Gabrielle Beaumont
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
FEBRUARY 24, 1992
STAR TREK: "Imaginary Friend" - 2/24/92 - CAST
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Imaginary Friend"
CAST
PICARD CLARA SUTTER
RIKER DANIEL SUTTER
DATA ISABELLA
BEVERLY
TROI
GEORDI
WORF
GUINAN
ENSIGN FELTON
ALEXANDER
NURSE OGAWA
Non-Speaking
SUPERNUMERARIES
STAR TREK: "Imaginary Friend" - 2/24/92 - SETS
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Invisible Friend"
SETS
INTERIORS EXTERIORS
USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE
BRIDGE
OBSERVATION LOUNGE
CORRIDOR
TEN FORWARD
ENGINEERING
TROI'S QUARTERS
CLARA'S QUARTERS
SUTTER'S QUARTERS
ARBORETUM
DAYCARE CENTER
TURBOLIFT
STAR TREK: "Imaginary Friend" - 2/26/92 - PRONUNCIATION
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Imaginary Friend"
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
BRENTALIA bren-TAL-ee-uh
CHAMPS ELYSEES shahns-el-ee-ZAY
DAVILA DAH-vih-la
JOKRI JOCK-ree
KEIKO KAY-ko
KRYONIAN kry-OWN-ee-n
NASTURTIUMS nah-STUR-shumz
TELANA tay-LAHN-uh
Click this link to view the
complete script in a TXT format |
