STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

Article 66895 of rec.arts.startrek:

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From: mears@hpindda.cup.hp.com (David Mears)

Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek

Subject: ST:TNG script: `The Ghosts of Yesteryear'

Message-ID: <4650262@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Date: 2 Feb 91 00:43:11 GMT

Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA

Lines: 272

Last year, Eric Klien worked with me to help me take a story idea

that I had and turn it into a script that we could submit to Paramount

for consideration. As those of you who've seen the posting of the

rejection letter in RASI are already aware, it was turned down. I

thought that some of you might find it interesting to read a fan

script that was actually read by Paramount. You can make your own

judgements as to how well it compares to stories that have been

selected for use and airing. Because only a small percentage of sites

are able to receive alt.startrek.creative, I will post it in

rec.arts.startrek as well, but to avoid posting a single large file

all at once (and to drag things out interminably for those who want

to know how it ends! :-) I will be posting the script one act at a

time at about one act per week (or maybe slightly faster). So,

without further ado, here begins, for your enjoyment `The Ghosts of

Yesteryear.'

David B. Mears

Hewlett-Packard

Cupertino CA

hplabs!hpda!mears

mears@hpinddf.cup.hp.com

---------------

Rights Reserved.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

The Enterprise is orbiting a blue-green planet below.

PICARD (V.O.)

Captain's Log, Stardate 44103.9.

We are in orbit around Alpha

Centauri where the Enterprise has

come for a much needed rest and

relaxation period. We have made

full use of the time off to

regenerate sagging spirits and

tired bodies. I almost feel,

though, that our time here has

been too short.

INT. TURBOLIFT

PICARD and RIKER are present.

PICARD

You should have been there to see

it, Will!

(beat)

It was near the end of the final

chukker and the match was tied.

There were three defenders between

myself and the goal. I lined up

to shoot, but instead I tapped the

ball beneath my mount to Smythe,

who made a clean shot on goal.

They never had a chance to block

it. Ah, Number One, it was

exhilarating!

RIKER

Better than the match you played

on the holodeck last week?

PICARD

The holodeck's a fine toy, but

nothing can quite take the place

of reality. To strive against

real players with real horses is

infinitely more satisfying in the

long run.

The turbolift comes to a stop and opens onto the

bridge, where everyone is present except BEVERLY and

WESLEY. Picard and Riker step out.

WORF

Captain, I'm receiving a Priority

message for you from Starfleet

Central. It's from Admiral

Raintree and it's marked Captain's

Eyes Only.

PICARD

Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll take

it in my ready room.

Picard exits the bridge. Riker sits down in the

center seat, next to Counselor Troi.

RIKER

(to Troi)

I hope it isn't anything serious.

It's been too long since I've seen

the Captain relaxed and enjoying

himself.

TROI

I agree. The Captain tends to let

the stress of his job build up

inside of him. He so rarely has

an opportunity to just relax and

be a person like everyone else.

RIKER

It sometimes seems like the

Captain actually thrives on

stress.

TROI

Still, he needs to leave it behind

from time to time.

Picard reenters the bridge. He looks pale and

disturbed.

TROI

(to Riker)

Something's very wrong.

RIKER

Even a non-Betazoid can tell that,

Counselor.

PICARD

Number One, please call Doctor and

Ensign Crusher to the bridge.

(beat)

The message and the mission we've

been given portends of difficult

times ahead for the Enterprise and

her cap--- her crew.

(slight pause)

The Crushers are particularly

affected by this and will need to

be aware of what's transpiring.

Please review the message with

them and the senior staff, then

come see me.

Picard is heading towards the turbolift.

RIKER

Of course, Captain. Where will

you be?

The turbolift doors close.

EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

Still orbiting the planet below.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

Everyone but Picard is present. Riker signals to Worf

who puts Admiral Raintree on screen. The Admiral is

an elderly woman of Native American ancestry. Her jet

black hair has begun to take on a salt and pepper

look.

RAINTREE

Hello, Jean-Luc. Your bridge crew

will need to hear this, but I owed

you the privilege of hearing it

first. About two weeks ago, a

Tyrolean Swifter on a special run

found itself passing near the

Anjinn star system. They'd been

having communications troubles,

and were performing tests when

they intercepted a beacon signal

in the old light speed bands. The

time stamp in that signal was only

five years old.

(beat)

Considering the delicate nature of

this issue, I wanted you to be the

one to investigate. Be careful,

Jean-Luc. You know what happened

the last time a Federation ship

was in that area.

Viewscreen goes off.

RIKER

I suppose I should already know,

but what's so special about the

Anjinn system?

BEVERLY

Ten years ago, Captain Picard was

in command of the science vessel

Beagle on an Academy training

mission to the Anjinn star system.

During the mission, the Beagle was

attacked and forced to defend

herself. When it was over, there

was a single casualty -- Science

Officer John Andrew Crusher.

RIKER

Starfleet couldn't think this

message means your husband is

still alive out there.

WESLEY

I don't see how they could. I saw

them bury my father.

BEVERLY

I'm afraid, Wesley, all you saw

was an empty casket. The burial

was a symbolic gesture on the part

of Starfleet.

RIKER

There was a Starfleet cover-up?

BEVERLY

There was no attempt to hide the

truth. But there was no attempt

to publicize it either. Wesley,

you were too young to understand

the difference, and I never could

bring myself to tell you the

truth.

WESLEY

(quietly, to himself)

I can't believe she lied to me!

RIKER

Helm, plot a course for the Anjinn

system. Be ready to leave orbit

on the Captain's orders.

Computer, where is the Captain?

COMPUTER VOICE

Captain Picard is in holodeck

four.

DATA

Commander, may I join you?

Riker waves for Data to join him. They leave the

bridge.

BEVERLY

Wesley, we need to talk.

WESLEY

You should have talked to me about

this years ago. Right now, I need

to think about things to myself.

Beverly starts to speak but pauses, then leaves the

bridge. After she leaves, Wesley also leaves.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

Article 67507 of rec.arts.startrek:

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From: mears@hpindda.cup.hp.com (David Mears)

Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek

Subject: Re: ST:TNG script: `The Ghosts of Yesteryear'

Message-ID: <4650266@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Date: 7 Feb 91 17:18:32 GMT

References: <4650262@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA

Lines: 414

As promised, here's the next part of `The Ghosts of Yesteryear'

David B. Mears

Hewlett-Packard

Cupertino CA

hplabs!hpda!mears

mears@hpinddf.cup.hp.com

---------------

Rights Reserved.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

Geordi is sitting next to counselor Troi.

GEORDI

Do you think Jack Crusher could

still be alive out there?

TROI

I don't know, but someone had to

send that message.

GEORDI

Could a man survive alone for ten

years?

TROI

We don't know that he has. The

message was five years old.

GEORDI

I'd go crazy if I found myself all

alone with nothing to do for even

five years.

TROI

You'd be surprised what a person

can endure when necessary.

Survival is the strongest instinct

there is in humans, as well as in

many other species. Remember when

you were trapped on Galornden

Core?

GEORDI

I was only on the planet for a few

hours, and I wasn't alone.

TROI

Ten years IS a long time for a man

to live with no one but himself

for company. If we do find Jack

Crusher alive, he may not be the

man who was left behind.

WORF

When the Romulans attacked

Kittemar and left me to die, I

survived without adverse effect.

GEORDI

You'd just come through the middle

of a war zone, Worf. And you'd

just seen your parents killed.

That couldn't help but affect you.

TROI

Jack's experience was much the

same. He'd been through a battle,

and just as the Captain assumed

that Jack had been killed, for all

Jack knew, the Beagle had been

destroyed and the Captain killed.

GEORDI

It must be hard on the Captain,

knowing he may have to confront a

man he abandoned like that.

TROI

Though I've sensed some guilt from

the Captain, he knows what command

responsibility means, and he knew

it then. He'll be fine.

GEORDI

Well, I certainly don't envy him

right now.

TROI

Nor do I.

WORF

A true warrior always finds

strength through adversity.

INT. CORRIDOR

Riker and Data are walking from the turbolift to

holodeck four.

DATA

Commander, do you believe this

transmission came from Commander

Crusher?

RIKER

I think if Starfleet and Captain

Picard didn't believe it possible,

the Captain wouldn't have looked

so upset.

DATA

I do not believe I have ever seen

the Captain so disturbed. Do you

think he will be all right?

RIKER

We'll know in a minute, Data.

They arrive at the holodeck entrance.

RIKER

Computer, request permission to

enter holodeck.

COMPUTER VOICE

Simulation is not secured.

(beat)

You may enter when ready.

Riker and Data look at each other briefly then enter

the holodeck.

INT. HOLODECK

It is a recreation area filled with gymnastic

equipment, duotronic games, and a small juice bar to

the side. Seated alone at a small table by the bar is

Picard, nursing a pulpy orange colored drink.

RIKER

This looks like the Rec Bar at the

Academy.

PICARD

It is, Number One. I suppose I

wanted to be in an old familiar

place to think about the past.

DATA

No people, Captain?

PICARD

At the time, Data, I felt more

like being alone with my thoughts.

Picard swirls the juice in his glass and takes a sip.

RIKER

It's not like you to brood,

Captain.

PICARD

Being reminded of the death of my

closest friend is not something I

have to deal with every day,

Number One. Jack Crusher and I

spent a lot of time here going

through the Academy together.

(beat)

It's also where Jack and I spent

our last few planet bound hours

before leaving on his final

mission.

RIKER

I'm afraid I'm not as familiar

with the details of that mission

as I should be. What happened out

there?

PICARD

It was just after the Stargazer

had been lost in battle. There

was a hearing to determine the

extent of my culpability, and I

was exonerated. They even ended

up giving me a bloody medal for

bravery, though I never felt

comfortable with that decision.

DATA

Starfleet does not bestow

citations without reason, Captain.

PICARD

Afterward, I was given command of

the SS Beagle for a cadet training

mission to the Hirgato sector. We

were to identify and study the

source of Beckett waves coming

from there.

RIKER

You were exonerated, yet they only

gave you a small science vessel on

a cadet training mission?

PICARD

There were no ships of the line

available at that time.

RIKER

Jack Crusher was also assigned to

the mission?

PICARD

Jack was at the Academy, giving a

guest lecture series on the

quadrature variant of the

superstring theory. I knew he had

an interest in Beckett waves, and

I needed a good Science Officer so

I asked him to join me. That was

my first of several decisions that

would ultimately lead to his

death.

Picard pauses for a moment, looking at his drink.

RIKER

But he may not really be dead,

according to Starfleet.

PICARD

We had no way of knowing that at

the time. Upon arriving at the

Hirgato sector, we localized the

source of the Beckett waves as

coming from the Anjinn star

system. Jack wanted to get some

preliminary measurements away from

the ship to avoid the interference

produced by the warp chamber. He

took a shuttle craft out, away

from the ship, and was setting up

his instruments when it came.

RIKER

It?

PICARD

The Ghost ship. It came upon us

without warning.

DATA

A ghost ship, Captain?

PICARD

A figure of speech, Mr. Data. We

could see the ship on visual, but

none of the other ship's sensors

could pick it up.

RIKER

The ship was cloaked and yet it

didn't affect visual sensors?

PICARD

You can't assume all alien

technology is either better or

worse than ours, Number One.

Sometimes, it's just different.

When you come across the

different, you take precautions.

I signaled to Jack to pack up and

get back as quickly as he could,

and I ordered shields raised just

to be safe. An overly eager cadet

energized ship's phasers as well.

RIKER

And the mysterious ship sensed

that and attacked you?

PICARD

Yes. It wasn't a strong attack,

really only a good shaking. But

those cadets were just children,

they weren't prepared for battle.

I suppose after the Stargazer, I

wasn't much in the mood myself.

(beat)

I'd wanted to wait for Jack to get

back but there wasn't enough time.

So I ordered a tractor beam locked

onto the shuttle and we left as

quickly as we could without losing

tractor lock.

DATA

Pulling a shuttle craft in tractor

lock, even at low warp, is highly

unusual, Captain.

PICARD

It was a calculated risk. One

unfortunately that failed. The

Ghost ship came after us. They

fired again, stronger this time.

(beat)

I knew we weren't going to escape

cleanly so I ordered the phasers

fired at the enemy vessel.

Apparently, we scored a lucky blow

because the viewscreen was filled

with a blinding flash of light.

When the smoke cleared, so to

speak, they were gone.

RIKER

The Ghost ship?

PICARD

The Ghost ship, and the shuttle.

Ship's sensors were damaged and we

had only limited visual

capability. We searched for

nearly a full day but without

luck. We finally had no other

choice but to return to Starbase.

RIKER

And so you had to leave your

friend behind, not knowing if he

was alive or dead.

PICARD

But knowing that if he wasn't

dead, he likely soon would be.

Which is why Starfleet declared

him dead and ordered a memorial

service. They didn't want too

many people asking too many

questions right after the

Stargazer incident.

Picard picks up his drink and swirls its contents.

PICARD

(continuing)

I've often wondered if things

would have turned out differently

if I'd waited just the minute or

two longer it would have taken for

Jack to get safely back to the

Beagle. The first attack wasn't

that severe. Perhaps if we'd

waited; if I'd tried to reason

with the other ship instead of

fight. Perhaps ...

RIKER

You can't let the ghosts of the

past continue to haunt you,

Captain. You can't change what

happened.

PICARD

No, but I mustn't fail to let it

teach me how to deal with the

future either, Number One.

RIKER

I've had a course laid in for the

Hirgato sector. It's waiting only

your orders to proceed. But we

don't have to go. Admiral

Raintree gave you the opportunity

to answer the call. She didn't

order you to.

PICARD

No, Number One. A good captain

not only must never second guess a

decision once made, he must also

be able to face up to the

consequences of that decision and

never run from the

responsibilities it entails. We

will go.

PICARD

(downing the remaining liquid)

Now, I think it's best we all get

back to work.

Riker nods and they all leave.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

Article 68066 of rec.arts.startrek:

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From: mears@hpindda.cup.hp.com (David Mears)

Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek

Subject: Re: ST:TNG script: `The Ghosts of Yesteryear'

Message-ID: <4650271@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Date: 13 Feb 91 18:35:45 GMT

References: <4650262@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA

Lines: 551

ACT TWO, coming up.

David B. Mears

Hewlett-Packard

Cupertino CA

hplabs!hpda!mears

mears@hpinddf.cup.hp.com

---------------

Rights Reserved.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. TEN FORWARD

Wesley is seated at a table near the windows looking

out at the stars going by. Troi enters and comes over

to him.

TROI

Need some company?

WESLEY

Can we talk?

TROI

You should be talking to your

mother.

WESLEY

I can't talk to my mother about

this. Not after what she did.

TROI

You know you're going to have to

talk to her eventually, Wes.

WESLEY

Even if she hadn't lied to me, I

still don't think I could talk to

her now. It's too personal.

Troi sits down with Wesley.

TROI

Then tell me all about it.

WESLEY

I hardly ever talk about him, and

I guess I never really knew how to

express it to him, but I did love

my father. He was my role model

for wanting to learn all about the

sciences.

TROI

Your father was a great scientist,

Wes. He was an inspiration to

many people.

WESLEY

Captain Picard was a close friend

to both my parents, but he would

always avoid me when he came to

visit. I had to sneak around so I

could hear him tell my parents all

sorts of wonderful tales of space.

It was the Captain that gave me

the desire to serve on board a

Starship.

TROI

And then, one day...

WESLEY

My father told us he had the

opportunity to serve on a mission

with Captain Picard. I never saw

him again after that. And until I

came aboard the Enterprise, I only

saw Captain Picard one other time.

TROI

When he came to bring the news of

your father's death.

WESLEY

It felt like someone had kicked me

in the stomach. At first I hated

the Captain for bringing the news,

and I blamed him for killing my

father. It was a very long time

before I understood it really

wasn't his fault.

TROI

And now that word has come that

your father might still be alive

out there somewhere, all those old

feelings have returned.

WESLEY

I feel like I should be looking

forward to seeing my father again,

but instead all I feel is a sense

of dread and fear. Why is that?

TROI

Wesley, how old were you when your

father disappeared?

WESLEY

Eight.

TROI

And how long ago was that?

WESLEY

About ten years.

TROI

Wesley, you've lived more years

since your father left than you

knew him before. That's a long

time.

(beat)

Remember back to the year your

mother spent at Starfleet while

you stayed here on the Enterprise?

How did you feel when she came

back after that year?

WESLEY

A little strange, I guess. I was

glad to see her back, but I felt

awkward around her for awhile.

TROI

Exactly! Wes, when we love

someone very much and we don't see

them for awhile, it's a little

strange seeing them again for the

first time. You don't feel

strange around your mother

anymore, do you?

WESLEY

No. In some ways, we're closer

than we've ever been. At least I

thought so until today.

TROI

The same thing will happen with

your father, if we find him. But

it's going to be harder for you

because you were much younger when

he left and it's been a much

longer time since you've seen him.

WESLEY

I think I understand, but I'm not

sure.

TROI

It's all right to be confused.

Just don't let it get in the way

of living your life.

Wesley stands up.

WESLEY

Thanks.

TROI

You really should talk to your

mother, Wes.

Wesley nods and leaves the room.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

DATA

Entering the Hirgato Sector now,

Captain. I am receiving the

beacon signal, originating from

the second planet in the Anjinn

system.

PICARD

Estimated time to orbit?

DATA

Five minutes.

PICARD

Very good. Please notify me in

the transporter room when we make

orbit. Worf, Counselor, you will

accompany me to the surface of the

planet.

Picard glances at Riker out of the corner of his eye,

but Riker merely looks back at him with an expression

that clearly says "I'm not about to argue you on this

one, Captain."

PICARD

Wesley, if you'll call your mother

to the transporter room, the two

of you will be joining us as well.

WESLEY

I'll notify my mother, Captain,

but I think I'd rather stay on

board.

Picard starts to say something, but Counselor Troi

puts her hand on his arm and speaks softly so that

only he can hear.

TROI

It's alright, Captain, he's just

not ready yet.

PICARD

Very well. Data, I want every

visual sensor on full sweep. I

don't want any surprises like the

last time I was here.

DATA

(pressing controls on his panel)

Aye, sir.

Picard and the rest of the away team leave the bridge.

INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM

The away team and CHIEF O'BRIEN are present. Beverly

is just entering the room.

BEVERLY

I don't know why I bothered to try

to make myself look more

presentable. It didn't do any

good.

PICARD

(matter-of-factly)

Don't worry. You look beautiful.

BEVERLY

Really?

O'BRIEN

Captain, I'm reading a small

structure at the source of the

beacon. I can put you down behind

a small rise nearby.

PICARD

Very good. Energize!

EXT. GRASSLANDS

This is a semi-barren world, with mostly scrub for

vegetation.

WORF

(studying tricorder)

This way.

They go around the small rise. Picard and Worf lead,

with Beverly and Troi behind. In front of them is a

small white hut glistening in the bright sunlight.

Next to it, about twenty feet away, is a small garden

plot with corn, tomatoes, beans and other fresh

vegetables growing in neat little rows. The hut has

an open doorway but it is too dark to see inside.

PICARD

Hello, in the hut, is anyone

there?

JACK

(from inside the hut)

I know that voice!

A man appearing to be in his mid-fifties emerges from

the open doorway, squinting and shading his eyes with

his hand.

JACK

Jean-Luc? Is that you? Could it

really be you after all these

years?

PICARD

Jack? Jack Crusher?

JACK

My God! It IS you! It's been so

long I'd given up hope anyone

would ever hear my signal.

(beat)

I lost the subspace radio when I

crashed but I was able to patch up

a lightspeed transmitter attached

to a marker buoy I found in

storage. I was afraid I'd die of

old age before anyone heard it.

Yet, here you are. And what of

Beverly? Have you kept up with

her, Jean-Luc? Do you know how

she's been doing?

PICARD

I think there's someone else who

should answer that question for

you.

Beverly steps forward.

JACK

Beverly?

Beverly runs toward him.

BEVERLY

Jack!

They embrace and kiss.

PICARD

(quietly)

Counselor, what do your empathic

skills tell you about this man?

TROI

Considering what he must have gone

through these last ten years,

everything he's feeling now is

completely normal, and completely

human.

JACK

How? Why are you here?

BEVERLY

I've been serving under Captain

Picard, off and on, as Chief

Medical Officer aboard the

Starship Enterprise for a little

over three years now.

Jack gives a brief glance to Picard, then turns back

to Beverly again.

JACK

What about Wesley? Is he alright?

What's he been up to? He must be,

what, eighteen or nineteen by now?

BEVERLY

He's on board the ship, Jack.

He's serving as an ensign on the

Enterprise. He's done so many

things and learned so much, Jack,

you'll be very proud of him.

JACK

He's on the ship? Why didn't he

come with you, Bev? I want to see

him!

BEVERLY

Be patient, Jack, this whole thing

has been very hard on Wes. Just

give him a little time and a

little space and I know he'll come

around.

JACK

Captain, I'd like to leave for the

ship now, if you don't mind. I'll

come back and gather the things I

want to take with me before we

leave orbit. Do we need to leave

right away?

PICARD

You know what happened the last

time we were here, but I suppose

we can stay for a little while.

The Enterprise should be able to

give a much better showing of

herself than we were able to with

the Beagle.

(using communicator)

Enterprise, five to beam up.

INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM

Wesley, Riker, and O'Brien are here.

WESLEY

I don't know. I'm still not sure

this was a good idea.

RIKER

Come on Wes, you're going to have

to face him sooner or later.

O'BRIEN

You're lucky to have known your

father. Mine was lost in the

Lamdovan Riots before I was born.

My very pregnant mother barely

managed to get on the last

transport out and she wasn't able

to bring anything with her, not

even a single picture of my dad.

RIKER

A second chance isn't something to

throw away, Wes. They don't come

along that often. I nearly lost

the one chance I had to make

things right again with my father,

but I finally came to my senses.

Don't throw away this opportunity.

WESLEY

(tapping head)

I know here what you guys are

trying to tell me.

(placing hand over heart)

But I just don't feel it here yet.

I promise you, though, I won't let

myself lose it.

PICARD'S COM VOICE

Enterprise, five to beam up.

O'BRIEN

Acknowledged.

The away team and Jack are beamed up.

JACK

Wesley? Is that you?

Wesley just stands there.

BEVERLY

Yes, Jack, this is our son.

JACK

Wesley, just look at you! You've

grown into such a fine young man.

Come greet your long lost father.

Wesley just stands there.

BEVERLY

Wes! The least you could do is

say hello to your father.

WESLEY

I lost my father ten years ago. I

don't think I can just welcome him

back like nothing happened. This

man is a stranger to me.

BEVERLY

Wes!

JACK

It's alright, Bev. I've waited

ten years, I can wait a little

longer.

(to Wesley)

Wesley, although I'm still your

father, I guess you really have no

reason to think of me that way.

If you're not quite ready to deal

with that and to accept me back, I

can live with that, for awhile.

BEVERLY

In the mean time, Jack Crusher,

I'm going to get you to sickbay

where I plan to give you a

thorough, and long overdue,

checkup.

PICARD

I'm afraid that will have to wait,

Doctor. I want to convene a

debriefing session before we leave

orbit, and I'm not sure I want to

stay any longer than necessary.

Do you feel up to it, Jack?

JACK

I'm a little beat but I'd rather

get it over with so I can spend

some serious time sleeping and

being with my family without

interruptions!

Jack turns and winks at his wife. Everyone but

Beverly and Wesley leaves the room.

BEVERLY

You may be a Starfleet officer,

young man, but that doesn't excuse

you from being rude. How can you

treat your father like that?

WESLEY

How can you act like the last ten

years never happened? I can't

just pretend things are the way

they were before.

BEVERLY

If I've learned one thing in life,

it's that you can't depend on

things going the way you want.

Time is too precious a thing to

waste, and now that I've got your

father back, I'm not going to run

the risk of losing him again.

Beverly turns and leaves the room leaving Wesley

standing there.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

Article 68577 of rec.arts.startrek:

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From: mears@hpindda.cup.hp.com (David Mears)

Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek

Subject: Re: ST:TNG script: `The Ghosts of Yesteryear'

Message-ID: <4650273@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Date: 18 Feb 91 23:37:46 GMT

References: <4650262@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA

Lines: 620

When last we left our adventurous spacemen, . . Oh, nevermind.

Act Three --

David B. Mears

Hewlett-Packard

Cupertino CA

hplabs!hpda!mears

mears@hpinddf.cup.hp.com

---------------

Rights Reserved.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM

Everyone including Jack is present.

PICARD

After the destruction of the

unknown vessel, we retraced our

path and spent a full day

searching for you before we were

forced to give up.

JACK

When you first started dragging me

out with the tractor beam, I

honestly thought you were crazy.

I had barely enough time to try to

hold on with bare knuckles. When

the ship came after us and opened

fire the second time, I was thrown

from the seat, struck my head and

blacked out.

RIKER

Then you had no idea what had

happened with the Beagle?

JACK

When I came to, the shuttle was

tumbling out of control, headed

directly for the planet where you

found me. I just barely managed

to land in one piece.

RIKER

So you had no idea how long you

were out or where you were? Did

you try to make contact with the

Beagle?

JACK

The subspace radio was but one of

many casualties. I found an old

locator buoy, but without a

functioning subspace transducer

coil, it seemed pretty hopeless.

I managed to get it transmitting

on the old broadband frequencies,

but I knew it would be a long time

if ever before anyone heard it.

PICARD

If the Tyroleans hadn't passed

through the area, we still

wouldn't have heard your signal.

You were very lucky.

Jack turns to look Picard squarely in the face.

JACK

Sometimes luck is all you can

count on.

The Enterprise personnel sit in stunned silence as the

meaning of the veiled accusation sinks in.

JACK

(continuing)

With the matter of calling for

help out of the way, I decided to

do a little exploring. My only

functioning tricorder gave no

clues so I picked a direction that

looked promising, and took off.

Just over the ridge I found

another ship about twice the size

of my own.

DATA

Could you describe the other ship?

JACK

It was boxy, no struts or legs to

hold it up, sitting flat on the

ground. I tried checking it out

with the tricorder, but it didn't

even register. Yet my own

shuttle, back over the ridge, did.

DATA

That does correlate with a similar

phenomenon mentioned by Captain

Picard concerning the ship that

attacked the Beagle.

PICARD

I don't know if we destroyed that

ship or not, but from your

description, I'm certain it was at

least ten times the size of the

one you found. They must have

launched a shuttle undetected

during the commotion of battle.

BEVERLY

You never found any inhabitants

from the ship you found?

JACK

Absolutely none.

RIKER

That's curious.

DATA

But possibly not unexpected.

PICARD

Explain, Mister Data.

Data starts to speak, then looks at Jack and stops.

Finally he looks back at Picard and continues.

DATA

I have yet to complete my data

analysis, and am not prepared at

this time to report on my

findings.

PICARD

Very well, but please do so as

quickly as possible. We're in

dangerous space.

DATA

Certainly, Captain.

JACK

By cannibalizing both ships, I was

able to construct the hut you

found me in down below. It's

mostly just the main body of the

alien ship.

RIKER

Our transporter chief had no

trouble in locating your hut with

ship's sensors. How could that be

if what you told us is true?

JACK

I don't know. Maybe the effect

wears off with time. Maybe it

stopped when I pulled the thing

apart. To be honest, I never

thought about it again.

BEVERLY

I think you should have all the

information you need for now,

Captain.

PICARD

Yes, quite. We can let Jack go

for now.

BEVERLY

Now I'm going to get you to

sickbay for that checkup.

JACK

I'm very tired, Bev. Can you give

me an hour's nap before we get

into that?

BEVERLY

Very well, but don't think for a

moment you're going to get out of

this! I've got some lab work to

finish, but I'll join you in my,

in our cabin shortly.

PICARD

Lieutenant Worf, please escort

Commander Crusher to the doctor's

cabin.

WORF

If you'll follow me, sir.

Worf and Jack leave through the door out into the

corridor. The remaining people leave through the door

to the bridge, but Riker holds Picard back for a

moment.

RIKER

Shouldn't we have Worf put a

security guard outside the cabin?

PICARD

I don't think that will be

necessary, Number One. Jack

Crusher is not a threat to this

ship.

RIKER

Until we know for sure what

happened on that planet, I don't

think it's wise to make any

assumptions.

PICARD

Commander, I was forced to leave

Jack Crusher behind to die ten

years ago. I will not now insult

him by treating him as you

suggest.

Picard turns and leaves for the bridge.

INT. TURBOLIFT

Worf and Jack are in the turbolift.

JACK

You know Lieutenant, it pleases me

to see a Klingon warrior aboard

the Enterprise. It could prove to

be very useful.

WORF

Sir?

JACK

Ten years ago when I was marooned,

the Klingon-Federation Alliance

was very young, and the years of

conflict preceding it were many.

It wouldn't have taken much to

turn an uneasy truce into a costly

war. Yet here you are, serving

aboard a Federation Starship.

WORF

Even today there are those who are

not pleased being in the alliance.

Many still live who served during

the conflicts. Memories sometimes

die harder than those who fought

in battle.

The turbolift comes to a halt and they exit to the

corridor.

JACK

Ghosts of the past.

WORF

(indignantly)

Klingons do not believe in ghosts,

or spirits.

JACK

It's just a figure of speech among

humans, Lieutenant. It means that

memories live on, even after the

times and people are gone.

WORF

The Klingons do have a saying:

SuvwI' Heghpu' 'ach bortaSDaj

ratlh. (shoov-WEE khegh-poo, uch

bor-TASH-dooj rah-TLL. A warrior

dies, but his vengeance remains.)

JACK

Tell me, Lieutenant, how is it you

not only live with those ghosts,

but can also work so closely with

humans without having the memories

affect your work?

WORF

My parents were killed in a

surprise attack by the Romulans

who left me to die a slow and

honorless death. A Federation

scout found me and I was taken to

be raised by a human family. It

allowed me to see both sides.

JACK

Having the experiences of many

lives can make a very powerful

warrior.

Worf stops outside a door and Jack follows suit.

WORF

We have arrived at the Doctor's

cabin.

Worf opens the door and Jack enters the room and turns

to face the Klingon through the open door. The camera

perspective changes to be from inside looking out to

Worf.

JACK

Thank you, Lieutenant, for the

company and the conversation. We

must find time to talk again.

WORF

Yes. I would like to learn more

of Captain Picard's past, and his

ghosts.

The door closes and we see now only Jack.

JACK

Before we are done, my warrior

friend, the entire crew will learn

more than any of you bargained

for.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

Data is seated at the science station at the back of

the bridge viewing records on the console. Wesley

comes and sits down next to him.

WESLEY

(quietly)

Data, do you remember Dr. Soong

very well?

DATA

I remember all of my experiences

in perfect detail.

WESLEY

That's not what I mean.

DATA

Ah, you are thinking of Dr. Soong

as my father and wishing to equate

your experiences now to my own.

WESLEY

Something like that.

DATA

While I spent time with Dr. Soong

during the few weeks before I was

shut off to save me from the

crystal creature, I can not really

say I knew him.

WESLEY

What if you suddenly found out he

was still alive out there

somewhere? How would you feel?

DATA

I would not feel anything.

WESLEY

If you met him again, what would

you say to him?

DATA

I would first ask him what had

happened to him during the last

years, and then I would ask him to

tell me more about myself and his

motivations for creating me, and

my brother Lore.

WESLEY

What would you call him?

DATA

I would call him Doctor Soong.

WESLEY

Data, no, you don't understand.

DATA

I am afraid I do not, Wesley.

WESLEY

When my father left, I was only

eight years old. I called him

Dadaw. But that's a child's name

for a father. I'm an adult now

and it wouldn't be appropriate.

Calling him Father seems too cold.

I'm having trouble feeling close

to him anymore, but I don't want

to exaggerate the problem.

DATA

You could call him Doctor Crusher,

or perhaps just Jack.

WESLEY

Data, you're no help.

DATA

I am sorry Wesley. Counseling

humans in emotional issues is not

an area in which I am proficient.

Perhaps Counselor Troi can help

you find the answers you seek.

WESLEY

We've already talked.

DATA

Then perhaps you can find them

within yourself.

Wesley gets up and leaves and Data goes back to

studying his computer readouts.

INT. DEANNA TROI'S CABIN

Deanna is sitting and reading on a sofa amid several

large overstuffed cushions. The door chime rings.

TROI

Come in.

The door opens and Riker enters. Troi smiles as she

sees him.

TROI

(continuing)

Hi, Will.

Her smile quickly fades.

TROI

(continuing)

You're worried about the Captain,

aren't you?

RIKER

Deanna, I wish you'd stop telling

me how I feel before I have the

chance to tell you.

TROI

I'm sorry. You ARE worried!

What's wrong?

RIKER

I'm worried about the Captain. I

fear he's letting his personal

feelings for Commander Crusher

cloud his judgement concerning the

safety of the ship.

TROI

I have sensed a certain amount of

guilt from the Captain. It's

possible he's overcompensating for

those feelings by treating the

Commander with extra care.

RIKER

I've never seen him let personal

matters get in the way of ship's

business before. I'm worried it

may endanger the ship.

TROI

Have you talked with him about it?

RIKER

No, I wanted someone to tell me

I'm not imagining things before I

go accusing him of anything so

drastic.

TROI

I've never seen the Captain

intentionally endanger the lives

of those around him. And I've

never seen him refuse to listen to

constructive criticism. You need

to talk this out with him, to

clear the air. Both of you will

feel better for it.

RIKER

I suppose you're right.

Riker turns to leave and the door opens to let him

out. Riker exits, then turns to face Deanna again.

RIKER

(continuing)

And I hope I'm wrong, about Jack

and the Captain, for all our

sakes.

INT. CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

Picard is sitting at his desk looking at something on

his display which we cannot see. He is pondering.

The chime for his door sounds.

PICARD

Enter.

The doors open and Riker enters.

RIKER

Captain, why haven't we left yet?

PICARD

Commander Crusher has been too

busy to bring up his belongings

from the surface.

RIKER

We could have gathered his things

for him hours ago without having

to bother him.

PICARD

That wouldn't be polite, Number

One.

RIKER

Permission to speak candidly, sir?

PICARD

Always.

RIKER

I don't think this has anything to

do with politeness. I think

you're feeling guilty for having

left Jack Crusher behind all those

years ago, and now you're bending

over backward to be nice to him,

even if it endangers the ship.

PICARD

What is it you're really trying to

say, Commander?

RIKER

Captain, I don't feel comfortable

staying here with the possibility

of another Ghost ship returning.

PICARD

I almost hope they do. I'd like

another chance to talk to them and

find out more about them.

RIKER

Do you think that's wise?

PICARD

It may not be wise, Number One,

but it IS the reason we're out

here. We could have the

opportunity to interact with

beings completely unlike any we've

met before. And even if there is

a confrontation, I believe the

Enterprise can take care of

herself.

Neither man says anything for a moment.

PICARD

(continuing)

Is there anything else, Commander?

RIKER

No, sir.

PICARD

Very well. Dismissed.

Picard returns to looking at his display and Riker

leaves.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

Article 69324 of rec.arts.startrek:

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From: mears@hpindda.cup.hp.com (David Mears)

Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek

Subject: Re: ST:TNG script: `The Ghosts of Yesteryear'

Message-ID: <4650275@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Date: 25 Feb 91 18:19:12 GMT

References: <4650262@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA

Lines: 598

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

David B. Mears

Hewlett-Packard

Cupertino CA

hplabs!hpda!mears

mears@hpinddf.cup.hp.com

---------------

Rights Reserved.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. DOCTOR CRUSHER'S CABIN

Jack Crusher is sitting at a computer studying

something on the viewscreen. A door behind him,

leading between the Doctor's cabin and her sickbay,

opens. He turns off the computer display before

anyone can see what he has been looking at.

BEVERLY

(entering through the door)

I thought you were going to get

some rest.

JACK

I guess the excitement of being

rescued was more than I thought.

I just couldn't get any sleep.

(motioning to the nearby bed)

Come, sit, let's talk.

BEVERLY

We really should get you to

sickbay for that exam. That's

what I came here for.

JACK

The exam can wait, Bev. I haven't

had the chance to talk to you for

ten years. There's so many things

I want to say, so many things I

need to ask.

Beverly hesitates for a moment, then sits.

BEVERLY

Where do we begin after ten years

apart?

JACK

Tell me, what did you do to try to

deal with my death? And how did

you end up here, on the

Enterprise, with Picard?

BEVERLY

I left the University to set up a

clinic in a small town in Iowa. I

had to get away from the coast,

the University, Starfleet, and

anything else that reminded me of

you or of him.

JACK

But you didn't stay.

BEVERLY

No, I couldn't really get away

from your memory. And Wesley was

suffering. He had such a

voracious appetite for learning

and he was being stifled by the

very small town limitations I had

gone there to find. He was

growing up and I could see the

same wanderlust in him that I'd

seen in both yours and Jean-Luc's

eyes so many years before.

JACK

You were afraid of losing Wesley,

weren't you?

BEVERLY

I couldn't stand the thought of

losing him after having already

lost you. He was the only part of

you I had left. When he started

talking of wanting to join up with

Starfleet I knew the only way I'd

keep him was to go myself and

bring him with me.

JACK

But why the Enterprise? Why

Picard?

BEVERLY

When I heard Starfleet was about

to launch a new Galaxy Class ship,

with families on board along with

the officers and crew, I knew that

was where I needed to be. And

when I found out Jean-Luc was

going to be her Captain, I

realized I finally had to face

him.

JACK

I'm not sure I understand why

you'd want to put yourself through

that.

BEVERLY

The Captain didn't understand it

either. When he found out I'd

been assigned to the Enterprise,

he graciously offered me the

opportunity to transfer to another

ship. You should have seen the

look on his face when I told him

I'd requested assignment to the

Enterprise.

JACK

So there was nothing between the

two of you, then?

BEVERLY

(laughs)

Is that why you've been acting so

cold around Jean-Luc? You know he

feels badly enough about what

happened as it is.

(shakes her head in disbelief)

I won't say I haven't thought

about it from time to time. He's

an attractive man and you were

dead as far as anyone knew. Was I

supposed to just shrivel up and

die? Anyway, the Captain's too

busy with his ship to pay

attention to a woman.

(beat)

Most of the time, anyway.

(beat)

But now you're back in my life,

and I still love you, Jack

Crusher, and I always did no

matter what you may think.

(stands up)

And we've spent enough time

jabbering. It's time for your

physical.

JACK

(yawning)

You know, Bev, all this talk has

used up all that nervous energy I

had before. I think I WILL take

that nap now. I'll see you later

for the exam, OK?

BEVERLY

Jack Crusher, you may be my

husband, and Jean-Luc Picard may

be Captain of this ship, but when

it comes to medical matters, I'm

the boss around here.

(points to doorway)

Now move it, Mister!

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

Picard reenters the bridge from his ready room.

DATA

Captain, I have finished my

records search and I believe I

have found information relevant to

both the Beagle mission and our

present situation.

PICARD

What is it, Data?

DATA

A search of Starfleet records for

related material turned up nothing

beyond your own report. I also

found nothing in the Federation

Science records, as well as those

of the Klingon Empire, the Nordane

Protectorate, the Bryzantean

Syndicate, the---

PICARD

(interrupting)

But you did find something.

DATA

Yes, sir, in the Federation

Archeological Archives.

Expeditions to two different

planetary systems by unrelated

archaeological teams reported

similar mythos found among the

remains of the civilizations on

their respective planets. Each

civilization had expired more than

a thousand years before the Beagle

contact, and neither civilization

had ever made contact with the

other. Yet each team reported

information closely matching that

from your report. Each system was

within twenty-five light years of

the other and of the Anjinn

system.

RIKER

Do you think there's a connection

between the dead civilizations and

the Beagle encounter?

DATA

The research teams reported

numerous accounts of visitations

by alien ships which seemed to

appear out of nowhere without

being detected by planetary sensor

systems. And although widely

discredited by the official

planetary governing bodies, there

were claims that aliens were

merging themselves with some

citizens.

RIKER

Merging themselves? Do you mean

the aliens were replacing the

natives?

DATA

I do not know, Commander, I am

only able to quote from the

reports. A few of the people who

were supposed to have been taken

over were examined, but no

evidence was ever found they were

not who they claimed to be.

Eventually, all those who had made

the claims recanted them as having

been an elaborate hoax.

PICARD

You say these things happened in

nearly identical fashion in each

of the two lost cultures?

DATA

It appears each civilization died

out without explanation within one

century of the first alien

reports. They simply ceased to

exist.

RIKER

(to himself)

Merged?

(aloud)

What a horrible way to die. To

exist and yet not exist. To no

longer be you, but some alien

creature.

DATA

Captain, assuming this to be true,

it is possible Commander Crusher-

PICARD

(interrupting)

Might not really be himself, but

an alien from the Ghost Ship.

DATA

Commander Crusher did say no

evidence was found of any being in

the other ship.

RIKER

Surely the Enterprise' instruments

are much better than those of the

two dead civilizations. I'm sure

we'd be able to tell if Jack had

been taken over.

PICARD

He has seemed to display some

reluctance to participate in a

medical examination.

(using communicator)

Sickbay. Doctor Crusher, are you

there?

BEVERLY'S COM VOICE

Yes, Captain, what can I do for

you?

PICARD

Has Jack come by for his checkup

yet?

BEVERLY'S COM VOICE

It took some convincing to get him

here, but yes, he has. In fact he

left here just a few minutes ago.

PICARD

Any results, yet? Did anything

out of the ordinary show up?

BEVERLY'S COM VOICE

Everything was completely normal.

PICARD

Anything too normal? Any old

injuries that don't show up?

Anything like that?

BEVERLY'S COM VOICE

Well, there was that old fencing

injury, but the scar was still

there.

(sounding worried now)

Why, Jean-Luc? Is something

wrong?

PICARD

One moment, Doctor.

Picard pushes a control on his arm rest control pad.

Picard and Riker then turn to look at each other for a

moment.

PICARD

Computer, please locate Jack

Crusher.

COMPUTER VOICE

All ship's personnel accounted

for. Unregistered person located

in Main Engineering.

PICARD

Picard to Engineering. Jack, are

you down there?

(pause)

Lieutenant LaForge, can you

respond?

After a long pause, Worf heads for the turbolift.

PICARD

Worf, I want you here to

coordinate security activities.

Mr. Data will check out

Engineering.

Data gets up and leaves. Picard pushes the button on

his arm rest again.

PICARD

(continuing)

Beverly, it appears there's some

trouble in Engineering, your

services might be needed. And

yes, something could be very

wrong. We now believe the man we

brought back to the Enterprise is

not really Jack Crusher, but an

alien who has taken over his body.

BEVERLY'S COM VOICE

(hesitantly)

I see.

PICARD

Well, Number One, it looks like we

were both wrong. Apparently, our

sensors aren't any better at

detecting these creatures than

those civilizations' were. I only

hope my indulgence in accepting

the creature as Jack Crusher won't

prove to be fatal.

INT. MAIN ENGINEERING

Data is just arriving. He finds several engineering

personnel laying sprawled on the floor, and Beverly

kneeling over Geordi who was in the same general state

as his fellow engineers.

DATA

Are they all right, Doctor?

BEVERLY

They're alive.

DATA

(using communicator)

Captain, I am in Engineering.

Doctor Crusher is here

administering to the needs of the

engineering crew who appear to

have been attacked.

BEVERLY

(so as to be heard)

They're all in a state of heavy

stun. It's similar to a phaser

stun, but appears to be more long

lasting.

DATA

Several of the engineering panels

appear to have been tampered with.

I cannot at this time assess the

damage.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

PICARD

Doctor, is Lieutenant LaForge

there?

BEVERLY'S COM VOICE

Yes, Captain, I'm looking after

him now.

PICARD

Can you bring him safely back to

consciousness? I need him to

assess the damage.

BEVERLY'S COM VOICE

I'll do what I can.

PICARD

Worf, alert your security teams to

be on the lookout for the alien.

Use extreme caution, he's

apparently armed and dangerous.

WORF

They're already on their way.

INT. CORRIDOR

Wesley is walking down a corridor mumbling to himself,

trying to decide how best to address his father when

he sees him. He is nearly run down by Jack coming in

the opposite direction as he rounds a corner.

WESLEY

Dad!

Wesley turns and follows his father who is walking at

a good clip.

WESLEY

(continuing)

I was just coming to see you, to

apologize for the way I've been

acting since you came aboard.

JACK

That's alright, Wes. I know you

must have been filled with so many

confusing thoughts and emotions.

Soon all that will be over. Soon

you'll understand everything.

As Wesley and Jack round a corner, they run into two

SECURITY GUARDS with phasers drawn.

WESLEY

What's the meaning of this?

GUARD ONE

Orders from Lieutenant Worf.

We're to locate and detain Jack

Crusher until the Lieutenant can

interrogate the prisoner.

WESLEY

Prisoner?

Camera follows as Jack pushes Wesley away from him and

onto the floor. Phaser blasts hit above Wesley where

Jack was. Then the camera pulls back to show that the

guards are stunned and Jack is gone.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

WORF

A security team in sciences has

reported they are closing in on

Commander Crusher.

WESLEY'S COM VOICE

Captain Picard? This is Wesley.

I was with my father when two

guards stopped us and claimed he

was a prisoner. The next thing I

knew, he pushed me down to the

floor, they were stunned and he'd

disappeared. What's going on?

PICARD

Wesley, the man you were with is

not your father, but an alien.

Your report, however, may be of

critical value in helping us deal

with him. Worf, please pull your

security teams out between the

science labs and transporter room.

WORF

Sir?

PICARD

Jack, or whatever he is, is headed

in that direction and I don't want

anyone else hurt. We're not ready

yet to face him.

(to com)

Chief O'Brien, Jack Crusher's

headed your way. I want you out

of the way. Whatever happens, do

not interfere with him.

O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE

Will do, Captain.

RIKER

If this man, or whatever he is, is

so dangerous, why are we letting

him leave the ship?

PICARD

It's precisely because he IS so

dangerous that I want him off the

ship.

(beat)

Mister Worf, I want you to

accompany myself and Commander

Riker to the planet. Select two

guards to accompany us.

RIKER

Captain, I said nothing before

because Jack Crusher was such a

close friend of yours, but I must

strongly object to your going

after him now. It's too

dangerous.

PICARD

Your objections have been noted,

Commander. But I believe I'm the

only hope we have of stopping him.

Picard goes towards the turbolift. Riker is not

following him.

PICARD

(continuing)

Coming, Number One?

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

Article 70072 of rec.arts.startrek:

Path: ariel.unm.edu!news.cs.indiana.edu!samsung!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc05!hpcuhb!hpindda!mears@hpindda.cup.hp.com

From: mears@hpindda.cup.hp.com (David Mears)

Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek

Subject: Re: ST:TNG script: `The Ghosts of Yesteryear'

Message-ID: <4650278@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Date: 1 Mar 91 23:29:34 GMT

References: <4650262@hpindda.cup.hp.com>

Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA

Lines: 586

Bullwinkle: Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull Act V out of my hat!

Rocky: That old trick? That never works!

Bullwinkle: Oh yeah? Watch this!

---------------

Rights Reserved.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

"The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM

Two new security guards are ready for beam down.

O'Brien is at the controls. Picard, Worf, and Riker

are entering the room.

O'BRIEN

I kept out of sight as ordered,

but was able to see what happened.

Jack Crusher transported himself

and a bundle to the planet.

PICARD

What coordinates?

O'BRIEN

They're still set to the structure

where we beamed you up earlier.

GEORDI'S COM VOICE

Captain, I have a preliminary

report on engine room damage.

PICARD

Glad to hear you're feeling

better, Mr. LaForge. Let's hear

it.

GEORDI'S COM VOICE

Whoever did this knew what they

were doing. The main warp engine

coupling circuits have been taken

out. Also the primary backup, the

phaser couplings, and the shield

control circuits.

PICARD

Can the circuits be fixed?

GEORDI'S COM VOICE

Not without Starbase facilities.

This guy did a real professional

job. Shields and weapons are

definitely out for the duration.

RIKER

I think we may have overstayed our

welcome.

GEORDI'S COM VOICE

We may still have one chance left

with the Warp drive, but I haven't

been able to check it out yet.

PICARD

Do what you can, Geordi. If you

can't get Warp working again, then

get everyone in the saucer section

and we'll leave on maximum

impulse.

GEORDI'S COM VOICE

Yes, sir. Oh, and Captain,

there's a subspace transducer

assembly missing. It's not

critical, but I thought you'd like

to know.

WORF'S COM VOICE

Captain, I'm picking up a ship at

extreme range, but on visual scans

only. It's traveling toward us at

Warp three point four.

PICARD

How much time, Lieutenant?

WORF'S COM VOICE

Fourteen minutes.

PICARD

Geordi, forget the impulse

engines, get the warp drive

working any way you can! Mr.

O'Brien, reset transporter to our

original beamdown coordinates.

O'BRIEN

Got it.

Worf, Picard, Riker, and the security guards are

beamed down.

EXT. GRASSLANDS

Worf silently directs the security guards to take up

positions on two low hills overlooking each side of

the encampment. Picard takes out his phaser, and

leads the remaining three around the embankment and

into sight of the hut. He points the phaser at the

hut.

PICARD

Jack, or whatever you are now, we

know you're here.

Jack strolls out of the hut.

JACK

Do you really think you can stop

me? Your ship's disabled and I've

repaired my subspace radio, thanks

to the generosity of your

engineering department. My people

will soon be coming and there'll

be no way to stop us from taking

the Enterprise and her crew. With

that, the galaxy will at last be

ours.

PICARD

You have no right to do this!

JACK

We have the right to survive!

PICARD

Not at the expense of other

sentient species. You've already

killed off two civilizations that

we know of, and what has it gotten

you? You're still looking for

victims.

JACK

They were weak. They couldn't

help us to survive. You humans

are strong, though. We'll make it

this time. And I know enough of

your human heritage, Jean-Luc, to

know that your race hasn't always

abided by those lofty sounding

words of yours. You're just as

guilty as we are.

PICARD

Whatever evils the human race has

perpetrated, it's in the past.

JACK

Yet you hold those two

civilizations from the past

against my people.

PICARD

Then let's talk of the present,

and the future. The Federation

will help your people in any way

we can.

JACK

There's nothing your Federation

can give us, Captain, except your

bodies and your souls.

PICARD

Not if you're not willing to sit

down and negotiate, no.

JACK

It's the only way we can survive,

Captain. We will take what we

need to survive.

PICARD

Not if I stop you.

JACK

You? How? You don't know what

you're up against. I'm too good,

too fast.

(beat)

You don't believe me? Watch!

He quickly pulls out a weapon and stuns the two guards

up on the overlooks with two shots. Special effect

should show blurring motion too hard to follow.

JACK

(continuing)

Oh, don't worry, Captain, they're

not dead. We'll need all the

bodies we can get. Can't you see

your position's hopeless? There's

nothing you can do.

PICARD

I don't believe that, because I

believe there's still some small

part of the real Jack Crusher left

in you.

JACK

I have Jack Crusher's body, right

down to the cell structure and

DNA. I have all his memories, a

knowledge of his likes, his

dislikes, every one of his

emotions and every bit of his

personality at my recall if I need

them. But I'm not Jack, he's been

gone for ten years.

PICARD

I believe you may have done too

good a job of assimilating Jack.

I think there's enough of him in

you that he and I together will

defeat you.

JACK

Then you're a fool, Captain. The

moment you begin to thumb the

trigger on your phaser, I'll take

you out just like the guards. And

before your two friends can help

you, I'll take them out too.

Then, there'll be nothing left to

do but wait for your replacements

to come and claim your bodies.

ON PICARD'S THUMB

Picard moves his thumb closer to the phaser trigger.

WIDE ANGLE

Jack looks nervous. Picard looks calm.

ON PICARD'S THUMB

Picard's thumb twitches.

WIDE ANGLE

Suddenly, a large discharge of energy envelops the

space between the two men and they are thrown to the

ground from the resulting blast. For a few seconds,

it is unclear who has won the battle.

PICARD

Am I still here, Number One?

RIKER

It appears so.

Riker helps Picard up and they walk towards Jack's

body. Then the body is surrounded by a glowing area

and it slowly dissolves. For several seconds, they

all stare at the now empty ground without anyone

speaking.

PICARD

We must destroy that transmitter.

Picard points his phaser at the hut and the other two

follow suit. Together they fire and destroy the

structure.

PICARD

(using communicator)

Enterprise.

DATA'S COM VOICE

Data here, Captain. I trust you

were successful.

PICARD

The creature is destroyed and the

transmitter disabled. Do you have

a status report on the engines?

GEORDI'S COM VOICE

Our one chance panned out,

Captain. The creature apparently

didn't know about the secondary

Warp backup system in the

auxiliary engineering room. It's

still intact and we've coupled it

into the main reactors. We will

have to limit ourselves to Warp

four, though, until we can get to

a repair dock.

PICARD

Good work, Geordi. We'll need

every bit of engine power you can

deliver to outrun that incoming

ship.

WORF'S COM VOICE

Captain, the ship is now less than

two minutes away from our

position.

PICARD

Then we have no time to waste.

Enterprise, beam us up. And

notify Doctor Crusher her

professional skills will be

needed.

The three standing and two guards on the overhangs are

all beamed back to the ship.

INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM

As the away team beams back in, Dr. Crusher is waiting

for them. Picard and Beverly look at each other

without speaking. Then Picard shakes his head and

speaks.

PICARD

I'm sorry, Beverly.

She tries to speak but only nods in return without

saying anything. She wordlessly goes to the injured

guards on the transporter and begins to tend to them.

Picard leaves the transporter room.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE

Picard enters the bridge and sits in the command

chair.

PICARD

Status, Mister Worf.

WORF

We are pulling away.

ANGLE ON VIEWSCREEN

The ship is getting smaller. Suddenly, it appears

confused, turning first one way then the other in its

attempts at pursuit.

WORF

(continuing)

We appear to be beyond their

sensor capability.

PICARD

Good. They won't be able to track

us to Federation space. Notify

Starfleet of their last known

position and mark it in our logs.

We must return and try to find

them again when we're back to full

strength.

WORF

Aye, sir.

Picard stands and prepares to leave the bridge.

PICARD

Notify me if the situation

changes.

INT. DOCTOR CRUSHER'S SICKBAY OFFICE

Beverly is sitting at her desk trying to attend to

paperwork type matters but is not able to concentrate.

The outer door opens and Wesley enters.

WESLEY

I guess it's too late to have that

talk, huh?

BEVERLY

It's too late for a lot of things,

Wes. You were right, not to

bother wasting your time with that

thing.

WESLEY

No, Mom, you were the one who was

right. For a few hours, in your

own mind, you had Dad back. It

doesn't matter that he wasn't

really Dad, he was to you. I'm

just sorry I never really got to

know my father.

BEVERLY

(smiles)

There's an awful lot of him in

you, you know.

Beverly and Wesley hug.

INT. HOLODECK

Same simulation as before. Picard is here and Riker

is entering the room.

RIKER

May I join you, Captain?

Riker sits down at the little table where Picard is

seated. There is a second glass of fruit juice at his

place.

PICARD

I suppose I owe you an apology,

Number One. I'm sure you were

wondering about your captain,

waiting around for dangerous

aliens to come back again.

RIKER

Captain, I---

PICARD

(interrupting)

There was another part of

Starfleet's message that you

didn't see. I was to locate and

make contact with the aliens if at

all possible. The Federation

wanted to determine if friendly

contact could be made and

maintained between our cultures.

But I was to prevent them from

locating Federation space at all

costs if negotiations were

impossible.

(looking down)

They're all gone, Number One. The

only close friends I had at the

Academy. Jack Crusher, Walker

Keel, Harrison Palmer. The best

men I've known during my career

and my life, and they're all gone.

Yet I'm still here.

RIKER

You can't feel guilty for

surviving, Captain.

PICARD

But I did feel guilty about what I

did to Jack ten years ago. Even

though I did have orders to stay

and make contact, I got careless.

My feelings for an old friend

nearly got us all killed. The

only thing that saved us was pure

luck.

RIKER

Some say ships named Enterprise

have always been blessed with luck

enough to save even the most

foolhardy. When fortune smiles on

you, you don't question it. You

learn from your mistakes and move

on.

PICARD

But what a cost those mistakes

sometimes exact, Number One.

RIKER

I know how you must feel.

PICARD

Do you? Have you ever given an

order knowing it would result in

the death of someone you loved?

Have you ever actually killed

someone you cared about?

(beat)

Yes, I suppose you have. But tell

me, have you ever had to kill your

closest friend?

RIKER

That was ten years ago, Captain,

and you didn't kill him, you only

did what you had to, leaving him

behind.

PICARD

I'm not talking ten years ago,

Will, I'm talking down there, on

that planet, today.

RIKER

That thing down there wasn't Jack

Crusher. It was something that

had taken him over many years ago.

PICARD

You still don't see it, do you,

Number One? I knew as soon as we

got Wesley's report. That's why

my going down to the planet was

the only hope we had.

(beat)

Wesley said Jack pushed him out of

the way before the fire fight with

the guards. There was something

buried deep in him that didn't

want Wesley getting hurt. You saw

how fast he took out the security

guards on the planet. They

outflanked him and had nearly

perfect defensive positions. Yet

he took them out without the

slightest problem. You don't

think I was any real match against

that, do you Number One?

Riker remains silent and Picard stares into his glass.

PICARD

(continuing)

If there hadn't been a bit of Jack

left in him, to slow him down just

a little, we never would have made

it. Jack gave his life down there

for us today. And I'll have to

live the rest of my life knowing I

was the one to take it.

Riker picks up his glass and holds it toward Picard.

RIKER

To old friends!

Picard hesitates for a moment, then clinks his glass

against Riker's.

PICARD

To new friends.

(beat)

You know it just doesn't feel

right for this place to be so

empty. Computer, some people

please.

The room is now filled with noisy, playing, laughing

people having a good time.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FIVE

THE END.

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STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Ghosts of Yesteryear"

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