Episode 249: "Rightful Heir" 

When Worf fails to report for duty, Riker goes to his quarters to investigate, finding the Klingon entranced in a ceremonial ritual, oblivious to everything and everyone until Riker's interruption. Concerned because of Worf's developing pattern of sub-par performance, Picard visits him in his quarters. Worf explains that his recent experience in the Carraya sector — from which he brought back some Klingon children — has left him empty inside. He has been trying to summon a vision of Kahless — the greatest of Klingon warriors, who united his people many centuries ago, and promised to one day return and lead them again. Picard grants him leave to visit the planet Boreth, where the Followers of Kahless wait for their leader's return. Worf attempts his ritual again in the ceremonial lava caves. This time, however, a sudden swirl of smoke and light reveals Kahless. Kahless is real — and he has returned!
Worf and the other Klingons, stunned and amazed, follow Kahless into the temple. Koroth doubts it is truly the legend returned, but Kahless then tells them the story of how the Klingon bat'leth sword was forged — a secret that was kept only with the High Clerics in order for them to verify Kahless's existence if he ever came back. This is proof enough for all present except Worf, who later scans Kahless with a tricorder, only to see that the being really is a Klingon.

Kahless and Worf talk privately about the new empire that will form, but Worf discovers some flaws in his hero — Kahless doesn't remember the taste of Klingon Warnog, or what existence is like in the Klingon afterlife known as Sto-Vo-Kor. Later, Worf and Gowron argue over the situation, with Gowron refusing to believe this is nothing more than an elaborate ploy by Koroth and his allies to seize power over the empire, but Worf implores him to open his heart and have faith that this is true. Only Worf's intervention stops Gowron from killing the warrior, but the moment has put doubt in the minds of all.

His heart filled with anger, Worf threatens Koroth later, making him reveal the truth. He and Torin used an organic sample of the original Kahless to create a clone, one in which they imprinted "memories" so even the clone would believe. But Koroth says they still need Kahless — in any form — to help bring together an empire that suffers under Gowron's corruption. Much to Koroth's objection, Worf reveals the truth about Kahless to Gowron, but also expresses the sentiment that their people need a moral leader, someone in whom the Klingons want to believe, to put their faith, and around whom they can rally. Worf suggests that the clone Kahless be made Emperor. Gowron would continue to run the High Council, but Kahless would guide the people and help return them to the honorable ways of long ago. Gowron is given no choice but to go along with this plan. A new era begins, but Worf is still feeling empty, until the clone Kahless tells him it doesn't matter whether or not the original returns, as long as they remember the words he left behind and follow his teachings.

Production: 249
Season: 6 Episode: 23
Original Air Date: 05.17.1993
Stardate: 46852.2
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
Alan Oppenheimer as Koroth
Norman Snow as Torin
Charles Esten as Divok
Robert O'Reilly as Gowron
Kevin Conway as Kahless
When the Enterprise was initially being designed for Next Generation, the producers conveniently located a transporter room directly off the main bridge. Gene Roddenberry nixed the idea, saying he wanted the characters to have conversations in the turbolifts before/after embarking on a mission.

Click this link to view the complete script in a TXT format

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                              
                        "Rightful Heir" 
                          #40276-249 
                              
                           Story by 
                         James Brooks 
                              
                          Teleplay by 
                        Ronald D. Moore 
                              
                          Directed by 
                          Rick Kolbe 
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
                        MARCH 8, 1993
         STAR TREK: "Rightful Heir" - 03/08/93 - CAST 
                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                        "Rightful Heir" 
                             CAST                               
                              
                PICARD             DIVOK
                RIKER              GOWRON
                DATA               KAHLESS
                BEVERLY            KOROTH
                TROI               TORIN
                WORF               VOICES (O.C.)
                GEORDI             CROWD
                                   KLINGON VOICE
                COMPUTER VOICE 
    
                Non-Speaking       Non-Speaking
                  N.D. CREWMEBERS    N.D. KLINGONS
                  TWO N.D. SECURITY  
         STAR TREK: "Rightful Heir" - 03/08/93 - SETS 
                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                        "Rightful Heir" 
                       
                             SETS 
            INTERIORS                  EXTERIORS
          
            USS ENTERPRISE             USS ENTERPRISE
              MAIN BRIDGE
              CORRIDOR                 BORETH
              READY ROOM
              OBSERVATION LOUNGE       KLINGON SHIP
              SHUTTLE BAY
              TRANSPORTER ROOM
              SICKBAY
              WORF'S QUARTERS
              KAHLESS' QUARTERS
              HOLODECK/TEMPLE
          
              BORETH
                LAVA CAVE
                TEMPLE
                WORF'S CHAMBERS
        STAR TREK: "Rightful Heir" - 03/09/93 - PRONUNCIATION          
                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION                  
                        "Rightful Heir"                             
                      PRONUNCIATION GUIDE                       
                   ALWANIR        al-WAH-ner
                   GARIMAN        GARY-man
                   CARRAYA        car-EYE-ah
                   DIVOK          DE-vok
                   KOROTH         KO-roth
                   MOLOR          MO-lor
                   KRI'STAT        KRE-stat
                   LUSOR          loo-SOR
                   BAT'LETH       BAT-leth
                   BORETH         BOR-reth
                   GOWRON         GOW-ron
                   BORTAS         BOR-tas
                   QUIN'LAT       KWIN-lat
                   WARNOG         WAR-nog
                   KAHLESS        KAY-less
                   MOGH           MOG
                   Q'APLA         k-PLAH

Click this link to view the complete script in a TXT format