STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" (f.k.a. "A Price Far Above Rubies") #40273-156 Written by Hannah Louise Shearer Directed by Robert Scheerer 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 1989 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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. REVISED FINAL DRAFT SEPTEMBER 25, 1989 STAR TREK: "The Price" - 9/25/89 - CAST STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" CAST PICARD SETH MENDOZA RIKER DEVINONI RAL DATA BEVERLY Barzan TROI PREMIER BHAVANI GEORDI WORF WESLEY Caldonian COMPUTER VOICE LEYOR Ferengi DAIMON GOSS DOCTOR ARRIDOR Non-speaking TWO MEDICAL ASSISTANTS non-speaking WAITERS ROJAY FIVE OFF-DUTY CREWMEMBERS KOL TECHNICIAN STAR TREK: "The Price" - 9/25/89 - SETS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE SHUTTLECRAFT CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM OBSERVATION LOUNGE FERENGI SHIP TURBOLIFT FERENGI POD CORRIDOR TRANSPORTER ROOM WORMHOLE EFFECT TEN-FORWARD SICKBAY EXERCISE ROOM TROI'S QUARTERS FERENGI GUEST QUARTERS SHUTTLECRAFT INTERIOR FERENGI POD INTERIOR STAR TREK: "The Price - REV. 9/28/89 - PRONUNCIATION GUIDE STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE MENDOZA men-DOE-zah DEVINONI RAL DEV-in-on-ee Raal BHAVANI bah-VON-ee LEYOR LAY-or DAIMON GOSS DAY-maun GOSS KOL COAL ARRIDOR ARE-eh-door ROJAY ROE-jay FERENGI fir-ENG-ee BARZAN BAR-zan CALDONIANS cal-DOAN-ians CHRYSALIANS chris-AL-ians WORMHOLE WORM-HOLE MESON MAY-zahn LEPTON LEP-tahn 11:[5,#b],18:[1,#b],57:[1,#b] STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Price" TEASER FADE IN: 1 CLOSEUP OF O'BRIEN Sitting. O'BRIEN The truth is I'm a career man... you know, married to my job... Mitzi doesn't understand that... I like her a lot... but I just don't think I'm ready for two marriages if you know what I mean... 2 REVERSE OF TROI - TROI'S OFFICE She's placid as usual, listening, or perhaps on automatic pilot. O'BRIEN (continuing) But at the same time, you know I wouldn't want to lose her... TROI Maybe you should come in with her and talk about it together. O'BRIEN Oh, I couldn't ask her to do that... TROI Sure you could. Why don't I make another appointment for you... And as she calls up her schedule on a PADD. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - TEASER 2. 3 INT. CORRIDOR Troi walking, looking very tired... Wes sees her, calls... moves down another corridor to her... WESLEY Counselor Troi... ? She takes the fatigue off her face, stops and turns... TROI Yes, Wesley... WESLEY Can I talk to you a minute... I have a real problem with my mother. 4 ON TROI who listens patiently as Wesley continues... WESLEY (O.S.) She's being completely unreasonable... see there's a party on Holodeck Four tonight... and all the other kids are staying overnight... well, most of them and... As she nods... 5 INT. TROI'S QUARTERS Troi ENTERS, exhausted, starts to take off her jacket... TROI Computer, dispatches... COMPUTER A research inquiry from the Manitoba Journal of Interplanetary Psychology and three communiques from your mother... TROI (reacts, three?) Transfer my mother's letters to my viewer... (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - TEASER 3. 5 CONTINUED: TROI (Cont'd) (beat) ... and computer, I'd like a... a real chocolate sundae. COMPUTER (beat) Define "real" in context, please. TROI Real... not one of your perfectly synthesized, ingeniously enhanced imitations... real chocolate ice cream, real whipped cream... COMPUTER This unit is programmed to provide sources of nutritional value. Your request does not fall within current guidelines. Losing patience... TROI Listen, computer... COMPUTER (continuing) Do you wish to override program? PICARD'S COM VOICE Picard to Counselor Troi. TROI (frowns, to herself) Now what? (keys insignia) Yes, Captain? INTERCUT: 6 INT. TEN FORWARD A casual party in progress... PICARD, WORF, RIKER, DATA. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - TEASER 4. 6 CONTINUED: In the background, MENDOZA, a Federation negotiator, chats with several aliens including BHAVANI, the leader of Barzan, and LEYOR, the Caldonian representative. PICARD is smiling, jovial. A WAITER refills his champagne glass and not for the first time. PICARD The pleasure of your company is requested, Counselor. We're having an impromptu reception for the arriving delegates. TROI (reacts, not tonight) Captain, I'm not dressed for a reception... PICARD Oh, just throw on any old thing. We're about to get our first look at the wormhole. BACK TO: 7 INT. TROI'S QUARTERS TROI Of course, Captain. I'm on my way. Troi out. EXITING, frowns... TROI (to herself) God forbid, I should miss the first look at the wormhole. 8 INT. TEN FORWARD (OPTICAL) GEORDI and BEVERLY have joined the fun now too... waiters serve hors d'ouevres... Troi ENTERS, smiling, serene, our Troi... Riker goes to meet her... offers an arm... RIKER May I escort you in, Miss Troi... Moving with them... STAR TREK: "The Price" - 9/25/89 - TEASER 5. 8 CONTINUED: TROI Just tell me there's some chocolate here... PICARD Ah, Counselor Troi... allow me to do the introductions... Premier Bhavani of the Barzan... Bhavani is a strong, no-nonsense, elderly woman; an able judge of people. She wears a breathing device. TROI Your discovery has certainly produced a great deal of excitement, Premier. BHAVANI Hopefully, it will also produce a new era of prosperity for my people. MENDOZA We'll see to that... PICARD You know Mister Mendoza, the Federation negotiator... MENDOZA A pleasure to see you again, Counselor Troi. Mendoza is a middle-aged man with intelligent eyes and confidence. PICARD One of the Federation's worthy competitors in the bidding, Leyor of the Caldonians. LEYOR Madame. The Caldonian is more reserved -- with a quietness that comes more from academia than from shyness. Joining them is DEVINONI RAL, a well-dressed, strikingly attractive man with a disarming smile. On his arm is a stunning woman, an accessory. DEVINONI And I am Devinoni Ral. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - TEASER 6. 8 CONTINUED: (2) TROI Ship's Counselor Deanna Troi. And it's already there between them in the moment, they both feel it. Introducing his lady friend as a pro forma aside -- DEVINONI My traveling companion, Rojay. The woman, bored, barely acknowledges. MENDOZA My good friend, Ral, is the best hired gun in the business. TROI Hired gun? DEVINONI My "good friend", Mendoza means that I am a negotiator who serves a variety of clients... on this occasion I represent the Chrysalians. BHAVANI I believe it's almost time, isn't it Captain? PICARD Indeed. It will be visible directly ahead... The crowd moves to the windows... MENDOZA Is it always on time, Bhavani? BHAVANI Always. We see it every two hundred and thirty-three minutes... our scientists say it's due to radiation buildup in the acretion disk. The visible burst is very brief.. On her last line... the sky lights up with a dramatic revelation... a wormhole... reactions. STAR TREK: "The Price" - 9/25/89 - TEASER 7. 8 CONTINUED: (3) BHAVANI There it is, ladies and gentlemen. The Barzan Wormhole. The first and only stable wormhole known to exist. It's yours... for the right price. The group is overwhelmed at the spectacular sight before their eyes... except as we see Troi, she senses something else and as she turns, she sees Devinoni is not looking at the wormhole, but at her. Her eyes meet his... and he grins... and as the rest of the room sees stars... they see only each other as we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT ONE 8. ACT ONE FADE IN: 9 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) in orbit around the Barzan planet. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's log, Stardate 43385.7. We are in orbit around Barzan, a planet which is entertaining bids for control of what appears to be a most unique, stable wormhole. It could conceivably provide a permanent shortcut within our galaxy. 10 INT. OBSERVATION DECK (OPTICAL) Picard, Worf, Bhavani, Mendoza, Leyor, Devinoni. Bhavani is at the head of the table, addressing the others... BHAVANI And as you all know, the environment on my planet is completely inhospitable to most other life forms. So I'd like to express my appreciation to you, Captain Picard, and your fine crew for hosting these negotiations aboard the Enterprise. (Picard acknowledges) Remember, Mister Mendoza, it doesn't give the Federation an advantage. Chuckles around the table. Mendoza acknowledges. Devinoni studies his competition around the table. He deliberately plays back throughout the scene. But he's working. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/29/89 - ACT ONE 9. 10 CONTINUED: BHAVANI (getting serious) The Barzan has been a society dependent on others for generations. We want that to end. The appearance of this stable wormhole in our space provides us with our first true natural resource. We have neither the experience nor technology to exploit it. You do. Riker ENTERS, with some concern on his face... RIKER Excuse me, a delegation of... Ferengi... wishes to be beamed aboard... PICARD You were not expecting the Ferengi, Premier... ? BHAVANI No, but I do not wish to create ill will, Captain. If they are interested in bidding, I have no objection. Picard thinks about saying he does... but realizes it's not his place. Very well... PICARD (keys insignia) Chief O'Brien, this is Picard. Beam the Ferengi directly to the observation lounge. O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE Aye, Captain... Three Ferengi MATERIALIZE near Riker. Their leader is GOSS. The others are KOL AND ARRIDOR. GOSS On behalf of all Ferengi, I protest... why were we not invited to these negotiations... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT ONE 10. 10 CONTINUED: (2) Riker exchanges a glance with Picard... BHAVANI My apologies. We did not anticipate your interest. You are welcome to join us. GOSS I am DaiMon Goss. These are my consuls... Kol and Doctor Arridor. (to Riker) We'll need chairs... Standing... and this must all be a quick exchange -- PICARD DaiMon, I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise... I'm serving as host for these proceedings... GOSS Good, then see to it that we get chairs at once. PICARD (with an edge) Perhaps you misunderstood... GOSS Fine, fine, just have your Klingon servant... WORF (pointed) I am in charge of security. GOSS Then who gets the chairs? PICARD DaiMon, due to the intimate nature of these negotiations, all parties agreed that one representative would suffice. I will be happy to provide your consuls with accommodations... and you may have my chair... GOSS Very well. Kol, the bag... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/29/89 - ACT ONE 11. 10 CONTINUED: (3) Kol hands Goss a sack... Riker leads Kol and Arridor out. They EXIT. Picard moves toward the door as Goss exchanges places with him. GOSS We can handle all the pleasantries later. I'm sure I'll never remember your names anyway, eh? (laughs) Enough of this foolishness. Let's get down to business. He turns the sack upside down and a pile of gold bars spills out across the tabletop. GOSS I'll match anyone's best offer... and add the gold on top of it. He holds out his hands in a fait accomplit motion. Sits back in his chair, with a confident grin. Bhavani reacts, nonplussed. Picard EXITS... 11 OUTSIDE THE DOOR - CLOSEUP a beat as the doors slide closed behind him and his eyes look skyward with a my-God reaction... 12 INT. TROI'S OFFICE (OPTICAL) She is studying personnel files of O'Brien and his girlfriend... but her mind drifts for a moment and she smiles to herself... TROI Computer... show me the file on delegate Devinoni Ral... On her screen, a very good picture of Ral appears with a read out... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/26/89 - ACT ONE 12. 12 CONTINUED: COMPUTER Devinoni Ral, human, age forty-one, born Brussels, European Alliance, relocated at age nineteen to Hurkos Three, a non-aligned planet... There is a chime at the door... she presses a button to pause the readout... TROI Come in. The doors slide open to reveal Devinoni... she reacts. He ENTERS, smiles... DEVINONI Should I call for an appointment... ? TROI No... I... was just looking over some personnel files... Which she casually clears off the screen... DEVINONI Too bad. I had hoped you might be thinking about... me. Which of course she was. She smiles... TROI I thought you'd be deep into negotiations by now... DEVINONI In recess. I never play the opening rounds, anyway. Inconsequential. He sits on her desk, looking down at her. DEVINONI Besides there are more interesting things to negotiate on this ship. Like dinner tonight? TROI What about your... traveling companion? STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT ONE 13. 12 CONTINUED: (2) DEVINONI My traveling companion... is traveling. (off her look) I sent her home. TROI Why? DEVINONI You know why. She does. Almost as a defense mechanism... TROI Weren't you getting along? DEVINONI Don't do that. TROI What? DEVINONI Don't do "Counselor" Troi. TROI Was I? DEVINONI (nods, beat) When you leave this office, who are you? She reacts. How do you answer a question like that? DEVINONI (an insight about her) Oh. So that's how it is. He stands... studying her... moving around her chair... DEVINONI You never do. You never leave the office. He hits home. Uncannily. He's behind her now... his hands are in her hair... what the hell? TROI What are you... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/26/89 - ACT ONE 14. 12 CONTINUED: (3) DEVINONI Ssshh... His fingers begin to unpin her hair... and we begin a ballet of long hair and fingers and hands in constant motion -- 13 HER HAIR cascading free... 14 HIS HAND guiding the long strands down the back of her neck... stroking it... moving it... 15 HER HAND moving hair out of her eyes... finding his hand which takes hers... and turns her in... 16 THE SWIVEL CHAIR - REAR ANGLE long hair flowing over the back of the chair to face... 17 HER FACE twisting to meet... 18 HIS FACE and he takes her hair in both hands and moves it away from her mouth... and everything says he's going to kiss her but he doesn't... DEVINONI Dinner at eight? A quick gentle grin... and he's gone... we stay on Troi's face... we can hear the doors hiss open and closed... and Troi suddenly looks down and we move to find as she realizes her hands are gripping the arms of her chair as though she's on a perilous ride. And she is. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 15. ACT TWO FADE IN: 18A EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) 19 INT. CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM Picard, Riker, Data and Mendoza are studying the viewscreen where charts and graphs of the wormhole are displayed. DATA The data from the Barzan's probe into the wormhole is impressive, Captain. The wormhole delivered the probe beyond the Denkiri Arm, in the Gamma Quadrant. PICARD It would take us nearly a century at warp nine to cross that distance... DATA The same distance could be achieved in a matter of seconds through the wormhole. Riker groans. Off their looks... RIKER I was just imagining the Ferengi collecting tolls in front if we lose to them... MENDOZA I don't think the Ferengi are the greatest threat at the table... with all of DaiMon Goss' bluster, they don't have the resources the Barzans need. RIKER I'd say that fellow Devinoni's the one to watch out for... MENDOZA (reacts) An accurate observation... what made you recognize that? STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 16. 19 CONTINUED: RIKER He's the most comfortable man in the group... MENDOZA (appreciating) You must play poker, Commander... RIKER (grin) Poker, isn't that a game of some sort? PICARD Commander Riker teaches poker. MENDOZA Our skills are not dissimilar, Commander. PICARD Mister Mendoza, if this lives up to its billing... it is a discovery of extraordinary value... but it is a big "if"... RIKER Wormholes are here one moment, gone the next... a stable wormhole is unheard of. MENDOZA (reacts) Are you saying this may not be what it seems? DATA The Barzans do not have manned space travel, so they had to resort to an automated probe. Its findings are limited. It cannot be determined from these charts how stable the wormhole really is or how long it will remain intact. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 16A. 19 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD The Federation could wind up "buying" itself the proverbial lemon, Mister Mendoza. MENDOZA And once the contract is negotiated and closed, we would be obliged to fulfill the terms. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 17. 19 CONTINUED: (3) RIKER We really ought to see for ourselves. MENDOZA I don't think Bhavani could object to that... RIKER Geordi has continuous visual contact with the wormhole, Captain. He's the logical choice... DATA I would also like to volunteer, Captain... PICARD (acknowledges) Before anyone goes in there, we're going to conduct a full sensor analysis. I want to do everything possible to determine that it's safe. (beat) If we're satisfied, Data, you and Commander La Forge will enter the wormhole tommorrow. 20 INT. GUEST QUARTERS Goss and his aides, Kol and Arridor are huddled together, up to no good. Arridor has a syringe and is extracting from Goss's neck (with considerable pain to Goss) some fluid. ARRIDOR Just a moment of discomfort for a good cause, DaiMon. Arridor takes his fluid and does some quick work with it in a dish... ARRIDOR You understand this will not be lethal. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 17A. 20 CONTINUED: GOSS Doctor, you surprise me. I have no wish to kill anyone. A short term crippling will suffice. ARRIDOR Then, this will be just fine. He moves over and takes from his work a small (silver?) drop of fluid and squeezes a drop on Goss's left palm... it immediately changes color. ARRIDOR A distillation of your own blood pyrocytes... harmless to you... (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 18. 20 CONTINUED: (2) ARRIDOR (Cont'd) undetectable by the ship's bio-filters... but when absorbed through your victim's skin, it will provoke an extreme allergic reaction. GOSS I'd say it is time to extend the hand of the Ferengi to the representative of the Federation. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 19. 21 OMITTED 22 INT. CORRIDOR - AT TROI'S DOOR Devinoni rings the chime. The door slides open to reveal a very sexy lady... Deanna Troi, her hair still down, a lovely dress... DEVINONI Much... better. TROI Thank you. Come in for a drink? He ENTERS. 23 INT. TROI'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL) Looking around with a critical eye. DEVINONI Ah, Federation decor... TROI Not your style? DEVINONI Conformity is not my style. At the food dispenser... TROI What would you like? He considers that for a moment... then leans in and kisses her gently on the lips. DEVINONI I'd even like another. She turns slightly with a "hold on"... takes a deep breath... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 20. 23 CONTINUED: DEVINONI (teasing) There she is again... Counselor Troi... TROI I am not... computer, champagne... DEVINONI ... for two... A beat. The champagne arrives. He looks at her. She doesn't quite meet his eyes. DEVINONI (tongue-in-cheek) Am I moving too fast for you? TROI No, I'm moving too fast for me. DEVINONI Mmm, I like that better... TROI (and now she looks at him) I haven't been able to stop thinking about you all day... Upon which she kisses him... passionately. Afterwards... DEVINONI You must've had a nice day. TROI Anticipation is fun. They kiss again. TROI We'll be late for dinner. DEVINONI Very late. And as he picks her up in his arms and moves toward the bedroom... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT TWO 21. 23A INT. SICKBAY (FORMERLY 29) Mendoza ENTERS, walking unsteadily... sweating, looks a bit dizzy. Beverly notices, steps up. BEVERLY Mister Mendoza? MENDOZA I seem to be a bit warm... He stumbles -- and passes out. Beverly's right there; holding him, calling to a near-by MEDICAL SUPERNUMERARY... BEVERLY I need some help here... And as the assistant rushes to help her, supporting Mendoza to a bed... 23B INT. CAPT. READY ROOM (FROM SCENE 32) Picard and Riker are with the three Ferengi. GOSS You attempt to gain every unfair advantage, Picard... PICARD Premier Bhavani has no objection... GOSS Well, I most certainly do... First, you conveniently arrange to play host... now you plan to send your own manned probe into the wormhole... the Federation thinks it can do anything it wants to. And I will not tolerate it any longer... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 22. 23B CONTINUED: PICARD We will gladly share the results of our exploration with all the delegates... GOSS And you expect us to believe what you report? RIKER Then send in your own probe, Goss. GOSS That's exactly what I intend to do. And I strongly suggest you stay out of our way. They EXIT in a huff. PICARD Tell Data and La Forge to do themselves a favor and stay out of their way. Riker acknowledges. BEVERLY'S COM VOICE Captain Picard, please come to Sickbay... PICARD (keys insignia) Acknowledged, Doctor. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT TWO 23. 24 thru OMITTED 32 33 INT. SICKBAY Mendoza is unconscious on a diagnostic bed. Two MEDICAL ASSISTANTS tend to him. BEVERLY is working a computer, and not getting satisfaction from its readout. Picard and Riker stand over Mendoza's bed. Picard shakes his head at what seems an unfortunate turn of events. BEVERLY Whatever he's got is obviously not life threatening -- it's some kind of system-wide histaminic reaction. He certainly can't go back to the negotiations for several days. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT TWO 24. 33 CONTINUED: PICARD (a beat) Keep us advised. Moving with Picard and Riker out of Sickbay... PICARD The Federation's top negotiator taken out by a mysterious ailment. Suspicions? RIKER With the Ferengi around, always. 34 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS PICARD Well, I guess you'll have to fill in for him, Number One. RIKER Me? PICARD I am the designated host. It would be a most awkward transition. The next likely choice is you. Mister Mendoza would agree. He was quite impressed with your natural instincts. RIKER Excuse me, sir, but those weren't natural instincts... they're poker instincts... A parlor game doesn't exactly prepare me for this... PICARD Yes, the stakes are higher. But then... that's when the game gets interesting, doesn't it, Commander. STAR TREK: "The Price" - 9/25/89 - ACT TWO 25-27. 34 CONTINUED: He pats Riker on the back... and on the commander's reaction... FADE OUT. END ACT TWO STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT THREE 28. ACT THREE FADE IN: 35 INT. MAIN BRIDGE Picard, Worf, Wesley at their usual stations. Supernumerary at OPS. WESLEY The wormhole will reappear in thirty seconds. PICARD Shuttle nine, stand by... WORF Ferengi pod is moving into position, Captain... 36 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) The Ferengi pod moves into position beside the Enterprise shuttle. 37 INT. SHUTTLE Data and Geordi. Data is piloting. Looking out the window... GEORDI (transmitting) Ferengi pod, this is Lieutenant Commander La Forge in the Enterprise shuttle. INTERCUT: 38 INT. FERENGI POD Kol is the pilot... Arridor beside him. ARRIDOR This is Doctor Arridor, go ahead. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT THREE 29. 38 CONTINUED: GEORDI Would you care to take the point, Doctor? ARRIDOR We will gladly yield that honor to you, Lieutenant Commander. 39 EXT. SPACE - THE WORMHOLE (OPTICAL) As it suddenly blinks into existence in the center of the accretion disk. The subspace anomaly is itself a reflective half-sphere. It is rather like a soap bubble resting on the surface of a table, and can be entered from three planes. 40 INT. MAIN BRIDGE PICARD Proceed when ready. 41 EXT. SPACE - (OPTICAL) As the Enterprise shuttle noses into the bubble and VANISHES. The Ferengi pod follows a beat later. 42 EXT. SHUTTLE AND FERENGI POD (OPTICAL) The spectacular ride through the light show. A spectrum of primary colors are flowing in waves at the shuttle. There is a beautiful symmetry to these effects. A sense of something perfectly in balance. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT THREE 30. 43 OMITTED 44 INT. MAIN BRIDGE WORF Contact with the shuttle, sir. PICARD Pipe it in, Lieutenant. Data's voice comes over the speakers, but it is gradually getting very slow, finally so distorted that he cannot be understood... until it is mere broken sounds, no longer even connected. DATA'S COM VOICE Captain, we have penetrated the outer event horizon of the wormhole. Sensors read severe doppler shifts... (distorted) What the bridge crew is hearing is gibberish. Picard frowns. WESLEY It's the relativistic time dilation, sir. Time is moving more slowly inside their part of the wormhole. I can process the audio to compensate... PICARD Make it so. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/29/89 - ACT THREE 31. 44 CONTINUED: Wesley makes his adjustments, and now as Data's message becomes understandable... although it comes out with gaps between words, as though the computer is storing up and processing material and then playing it back. DATA'S COM VOICE ... and intense energy fields which appear to be stabilizing the wormhole. It is not clear why... Now approaching the singularity... The voice fades out... static... WESLEY They've passed beyond our communication capabilities, sir... Picard acknowledges and... 45 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Riker is at the table with the delegates, settling in... Devinoni studies Riker, senses his discomfort, decides to exploit it... but very, very cordially. DEVINONI Commander, I appreciate what a difficult position this is for you. If you don't understand something, I hope you won't be embarrassed to ask me... Riker recognizes the ploy... responds to it. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/29/89 - ACT THREE 32. 45 CONTINUED: RIKER I think I have an idea what the rules are. DEVINONI That's what makes it so interesting... the rules of the game change to fit the moment. RIKER In that regard, it's not unlike commanding a starship, Mister Ral. They nod to each other, formal adversaries. BHAVANI Commander, Mister Mendoza has already presented many of the details of the Federation proposal. Is there anything you would like to add? RIKER A complete analysis of our bid is available on the ship's computer for your consideration, Premier... If I may summarize... Riker rises, goes to the viewscreen, calls up, a complex graph showing the specifics of the proposal... we don't need to see it in detail, but Riker will refer to it for illustration... RIKER Our proposal includes technology that will enhance your food production, your mining capabilities, and space travel. 46 DEVINONI watches Bhavani's reaction STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/29/89 - ACT THREE 33. 46 CONTINUED: RIKER (O.S.) (continuing) We offer scholars and scientists to investigate the wormhole's potential. And perhaps most critical of all, we offer Starfleet. The security of this passage must never be compromised. We offer protection of the wormhole in perpetuity. Riker sits, feeling he's done pretty well for the first time up. Devinoni stays seated... his eyes still on Bhavani. Her eyes meet his... BHAVANI Mister Ral... ? DEVINONI (a beat, as though reluctant) Mister Riker's placed a great deal of emphasis on defense... a subject he obviously knows well, having served Starfleet in many a conflict. And Bhavani unconsciously barely nods... a tell... Devinoni catches it... stands... DEVINONI (continuing) The Chrysalians are enemies of no one... and choose to remain that way. Neutral. RIKER Neutral. And uninvolved, sir, in virtually all interstellar matters of consequence. Devinoni moves over to Riker's chart on the viewscreen as though to study it... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT THREE 33A. 46 CONTINUED: (2) DEVINONI (interrupting) No one would claim that the Chrysalians are as powerful as the mighty Federation, but we have resources and technology and scientists too. We have also had peace for ten generations. Riker reacts. Devinoni nods to him. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/26/89 - ACT THREE 34. 46 CONTINUED: (2) DEVINONI This is a fine proposal, Commander. He turns off the viewscreen. Overlapping... the groan of Deanna Troi... 47 INT. TROI'S QUARTERS - CLOSE ON HER FOOT is shiny with oil... as his hands work, slowly, methodically massaging it... DEVINONI (O.S.) I was just thinking... TROI (O.S.) Mmmm? DEVINONI (O.S.) Maybe I could stretch out these negotiations a few extra days. TROI (O.S.) Mmmm. DEVINONI (O.S.) Would you like that? TROI (O.S.) (yes) Mmm-hmmm. His hands continue to work... then her foot pulls away and after a beat, Troi's face lies in the same spot... (the camera can be locked)... his hands begin to massage oil into her fingers... looking up off camera... TROI Devinoni Ral, who are you? 48 NEW ANGLE - WIDER as he continues to massage her fingers... they are dressed in sexy nightclothes... his pajama top is off. STAR TREK: "The Price" - 9/25/89 - ACT THREE 35. 48 CONTINUED: DEVINONI What do your Betazoid senses tell you about me? TROI Not very much... (smiles) My human physical response must be blocking them out. DEVINONI Good. TROI It's never happened before. DEVINONI I rather like it that I'm more difficult to read than your other men... TROI I don't have any others... currently. DEVINONI How about Commander Riker? Mood breaker. She sits up. TROI Who have you been talking to... ? DEVINONI No one. I just sensed something when I saw the two of you together. TROI (reinstates the mood) Will Riker and I are good friends. DEVINONI Uh huh... She sort of pushes him playfully down on the bed, he rolls on his stomach and she climbs on his back... begins to knead oil across his back... TROI It was once a little more than that. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT THREE 36. 48 CONTINUED: (2) DEVINONI Mmmm-hmm... TROI And how come we're talking about me and not you? DEVINONI Don't you have enough people telling you about their lives? Who counsels the counselor? She smiles, he has a point. TROI Uh uh, I want to know about you now... He turns over. She's sitting on his lower chest. DEVINONI I am a man of commerce. And I'm what you see right now. No games, no strategies. Just me, wanting to run away with you. (she reacts) And knowing that if I asked you, you'd never leave this damned ship. Yes she would... right now, in this moment, she would... but she knows better than to trust the moment and avoids responding. TROI When I first saw you, I felt as if I'd been waiting for you. I've been trying to understand why or how that's possible. DEVINONI Does it matter? STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT THREE 37. 48 CONTINUED: (3) She shakes her head, no. DEVINONI It will... when I tell you. But you must promise never to tell anyone else. TROI What? DEVINONI I am partly Betazoid too. (she reacts) My mother was half... I am one quarter. TROI You're empathic? DEVINONI The only one of five children. I must admit I was never as comfortable sensing emotions as you seem to be... TROI That's why you left Earth... He acknowledges. DEVINONI I've learned to live with it, use it... as you have... but still, it isolates us, doesn't it... ? (she acknowledges) I thought it would always be that way for me. Now, all of a sudden the rules I live by don't mean anything any more. I had tucked my heart away... didn't need it, didn't want it. At the negotiating table it can be fatal to have a heart... but I never realized how much I missed it until I looked at you. And as she stretches out on top of him, leans down to be with him... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT THREE 37A. 48A EXT. WORMHOLE (OPTICAL) The shuttle continues to move through the light show. 49 INT. SHUTTLE (OPTICAL) GEORDI I'm picking up an increase in accretion matter filtering in from the terminus. 50 thru OMITTED 51 51A EXT. SPACE - WORMHOLE EXIT (OPTICAL) Calm. Quiet. A sharp contrast to the excitement of the last shot. No visible sign of the wormhole... and then suddenly the shuttle bursts out of "nowhere" ... a beat later, the Ferengi pod follows... 51B EXT. SHUTTLE (OPTICAL) As it stabilizes. GEORDI We made it... DATA Monitors are functioning normally again. GEORDI (to com) Ferengi pod, everybody in one piece over there? 51C INT. FERENGI POD ARRIDOR Our condition is no concern of yours, Enterprise shuttle. We are competitors in this venture, not partners. Ferengi pod, out. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT THREE 38. 51D INT. SHUTTLE GEORDI (to himself) Happy landings to you too. DATA (re: readings) Curious. GEORDI Huh? DATA We are not where we are supposed to be. GEORDI What do you mean... we're on the other side of the wormhole, aren't we... ? DATA According to the Barzan probe, we should be in the Gamma Quadrant... but the readings clearly indicate we are nearly two hundred light years away. In sector three-five-five-six of the Delta Quadrant. GEORDI Maybe the Barzan's readings were wrong... DATA Maybe their readings were correct. Their probe could have exited the wormhole at a different location. 51E ANGLE - WINDOW (OPTICAL) to see outside... the wormhole is still invisible. Geordi adjusts his VISOR, reacts to something he sees... GEORDI Data, I'm picking up a subatomic fluctuation... meson and lepton activity is increasing... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT THREE 39. 51E CONTINUED: As Data reacts, runs a check of the monitors... DATA Gravitational acceleration is also increasing... Push in on Geordi staring out... GEORDI Something very strange is happening to this wormhole. As his concern grows... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT FOUR 40. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 52 INT. EXERCISE ROOM The room is mirrored, set up for exercising. Beverly is stretching as Troi ENTERS late... TROI Sorry. She's clearly up and bouncy, does a liberating stretch, and shakes with good feelings... and Beverly has to notice... BEVERLY You're unusually "limber" this morning. TROI (smiles) I'll say. BEVERLY Uh huh... ? TROI Devinoni Ral. They begin dance stretching. Off Beverly's look -- STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT FOUR 41. 52 CONTINUED: TROI It's ridiculous. And wonderful. I feel... completely out of control. Happy. Terrified. There's nothing rational about this. BEVERLY Who needs rational when your toes curl up... ? TROI I'm afraid I'm going to lose myself... I can't get enough of him. Is it possible to fall in love in one day? BEVERLY I did. They change into another stretch. TROI It was like this for you and Jack? BEVERLY No, it was another fellow. Fell in love in a day. It lasted a week. But what a week. (beat, remembers) Then I met Jack... took months to figure it out with Jack. TROI Maybe I should slow down... catch my breath, not let this get out of control... They look at each other a beat. Both shake their heads at the same time... BEVERLY & TROI Nah. 53 INT. TEN-FORWARD A few off-duty crew members are scattered throughout. Goss is putting a few moves on a good-looking woman at the bar... she finally tires of him, walks out. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT FOUR 42. 54 DEVINONI AND LEYOR SIT by themselves. Leyor sips juice. DEVINONI To be honest, I was surprised to see the Caldonians here at all, Leyor... LEYOR You must think Caldonia very insular, Mister Ral. DEVINONI Not at all... on the contrary, I've respected your world's commitment to pure research. It's just that, well... (maybe I shouldn't) LEYOR Go ahead, please... DEVINONI Well, scholars don't always enjoy administrative demands... Leyor takes a beat... his eyes give Devinoni the tell... he feels the rest... DEVINONI And certainly we've seen here that the administration of the wormhole... LEYOR Yes... I must admit I have begun to feel some trepidation about that... DEVINONI (he's got him) I'm sure you have. I'm sure we all have, Leyor... (beat) Do you realize that during the next century, the number of ships... 55 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE All parties are seated with distance between them around the table. Bhavani brings the meeting to order. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/26/89 - ACT FOUR 43. 55 CONTINUED: BHAVANI Gentlemen, this open session is called by request of the Caldonian delegation. She nods to Leyor, who stands. LEYOR Madame Bhavani, Caldonia withdraws from these proceedings. Riker's eyes narrow... mind working... BHAVANI For what reasons, Leyor? LEYOR It has been made very clear that the maintenance and administrative requirements are beyond our ability... RIKER Leyor, the Federation would like to negotiate a trade agreement to acquire your planet's rich deposits of Trillium 323 which we will add to our bid, Premier Bhavani... LEYOR My apologies. We have already reached an agreement with the Chrysalians... As Leyor exits, Riker exchanges a look with Devinoni... who nods as the baron who just shot down a Federation bi-plane. RIKER Mister Ral, you either had very good instincts -- or foreknowledge of the Caldonian withdrawal. DEVINONI Some people just don't wish to transact business with the Federation, Commander. (to Bhavani) The Chrysalians hereby add the Caldonian Trillium 323 to its bid, Premier... Off Riker's reaction... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT FOUR 44. 56 EXT. SPACE - THE TWO SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) At the other side of the wormhole... which is still not visible... 56A INT. FERENGI POD Picking up in the middle of an argument... ARRIDOR I have no intention of leaving yet. We are not finished taking our readings... INTERCUT: 57 INT. SHUTTLE GEORDI I'm telling you, it's changing... Look, your readings must be showing you the same things we're getting... this is not the Gamma Quadrant. ARRIDOR I will not confirm your speculations... DATA It is not a speculation, Doctor. We are not where the Barzans said we should be... which would indicate that this side of the wormhole is not stable. GEORDI There are meson and lepton fluctuations... local gravitational fields are increasing exponentially... everything says we better get the hell out of here... ARRIDOR It will be visible again in forty seconds... we will make our own judgments then... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT FOUR 44A. 57 CONTINUED: GEORDI I can see it now... and I'm telling you that you don't have time to wait... not even forty seconds... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT FOUR 45. 57 CONTINUED: (2) ARRIDOR Ferengi pod, out. GEORDI Dammit, Arridor, we're seventy thousand light years away from our ships... follow us... we'll lead you in... No response. GEORDI Idiots. 57A ANGLE - (OPTICAL) to include the windows. Geordi takes the controls... GEORDI It's getting worse. I'm taking us in, Data... with or without them... Increasing speed... DATA Thrusters at half power... three-quarters... GEORDI Entering outer event horizon... Outside the windows, the light show begins... they're back inside the wormhole... 58 thru OMITTED 59 59A EXT. FERENGI POD - SPACE (OPTICAL) Alone in space. 60 INT. FERENGI POD (OPTICAL) ARRIDOR They panic quickly under pressure. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/28/89 - ACT FOUR 45A. 60 CONTINUED: The wormhole appears outside. ARRIDOR There, precisely as scheduled, right where I expected it to be. And a beat later, the hole suddenly twists into an odd shape and cracks away at super-warp speed... and disappears. On the Ferengis' open-mouth reaction... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FOUR 46. 61 INT. TROI'S QUARTERS A romantic candlelight dinner alone. They are dressed in nightclothes... he wears a robe, she is in her sexy nightgown... there is a little tension from Troi... TROI Everyone's talking about the way you absorbed the Caldonian bid today... DEVINONI It was there for the taking... (shrugs) So I took it... TROI Commander Riker didn't know how you managed it... DEVINONI Let me tell you something, Will Riker's good... the most dangerous man in the room to me... he has every instinct of a fine negotiator... TROI ... he just doesn't have an edge. Your edge. DEVINONI Our edge... and you make it sound unethical. TROI Isn't it? Devinoni smiles, this is not a conversation he wants to have. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FOUR 47. 61 CONTINUED: DEVINONI Deanna, it's just business... TROI (beat) Why haven't you told anyone that you're an empath? Disturbed that she won't let it go. DEVINONI I find it makes people uncomfortable. TROI I think you don't tell them... so you can gain an advantage. Trying to joke it away -- DEVINONI I used it to gain an advantage with you... and you didn't mind... But she won't be had... she looks at him. He puts down his fork. Okay, you want it? You got it -- DEVINONI The point of negotiating is to take advantage, Deanna. I don't know what the other side is offering, they don't know what I'm offering. We dance around each other until someone wins. I never cry foul when I lose. TROI But you're reading their emotional states, their inner selves, then using that to manipulate them. He becomes slightly impatient. DEVINONI Deanna, people have been doing that for thousands of years, by listening carefully, by watching body language. I just happen to be better at it. You do it. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT FOUR 48. 61 CONTINUED: (3) TROI I do it to help my crew, not outmanueuver them. And I don't hide that I'm an empath. DEVINONI You announce it to every alien culture you encounter? Or do you use it to give your side an advantage. Do you tell the Romulan in the ship about to attack that you can feel that he's bluffing or do you just tell it to your captain? Troi reacts, on the defensive... TROI That's different. It's a matter of protection... DEVINONI Your protection... your captain, your crew... your edge. (beat) Yes. It's a matter of life and death when you take the advantage. Me, I deal in property, in exchange... no one gets hurt. (beat) Which of us would you say has the greater problem of ethics? He rises from the table... leaving Troi alone to think about his question. She has no easy answers. FADE OUT. END ACT FOUR STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 49. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 62 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) 63 OMITTED 64 INT. TEN-FORWARD Riker is at a table alone, making some notes for his next round... Devinoni arrives with a drink in his hand. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT FIVE 50. 64 CONTINUED: DEVINONI May I join you, Commander? Riker motions to him to sit. RIKER Bought out the Ferengi yet, Ral? DEVINONI Think I should try? RIKER No. But I think you will. One way or another, it'll come down to you and me. Devinoni smiles. DEVINONI You know, you're very good at this... better than you realize. RIKER I hope I'm better than you realize, Ral. DEVINONI (smiles) The last mile of the marathon is always the toughest. That's when the winners are willing to take the big risks... are you ready to do that? RIKER We'll see, won't we... DEVINONI Well, let's see right now... I'm prepared to reach a firm agreement with Bhavani before we learn the results of your probe's expedition. Are you? Riker hesitates... DEVINONI Mmmm, that would not be looked upon favorably by the Federation, I'd imagine. (MORE) STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT FIVE 50A. 64 CONTINUED: (2) DEVINONI (Cont'd) See, you have to be willing to take that last step alone... or it isn't worth playing. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/25/89 - ACT FIVE 51. 64 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER Your point of view, not mine. DEVINONI Oh, I see that, Commander... otherwise you wouldn't be second in command of this ship. Devinoni gives Riker no time to react. DEVINONI You know, I feel responsible for you in a way... related. (smiles) Deanna. We both love Deanna... in different ways, of course. RIKER I'll remove the burden of that responsibility right now. My relationship with Deanna stands on its own. Without help from you. DEVINONI Of course it does. She's an extraordinary woman. Lovely, brilliant --- very passionate. He leans closer to Riker, still smiling. DEVINONI She could have been yours, Will. But you didn't do enough to keep her, and now, I'm here and I'm going to take her too. Riker really looks at Devinoni, as if he's seeing him for the first time. He relaxes back into his seat and smiles. RIKER You know, I think this is the first bad play I've seen you make... Devinoni reacts. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 52. 64 CONTINUED: (4) RIKER If you bring happiness into Deanna's life, nothing would please me more. You're not really a bad sort, Ral, you just don't have any values... beyond the value of today's bid, that is. She's just the one to give some meaning to your sorry existence... if you're smart enough to take it. I doubt that you are. Standing, toasting him -- RIKER To the last mile. Riker leaves, feeling better than he has in days. Devinoni watches him unhappily. Glances over to see... 65 ANGLE - GOSS at a table trying to pick up a couple of sexy crew women... but as he sits, they exchange a look and leave. Goss is disappointed. 66 DEVINONI gets up, and joins Goss at his table... DEVINONI Federation women have a game they call "playing hard to get". GOSS Yes, I do not at all find it amusing. DEVINONI On Chrysalia, the women outnumber the men four to one. They virtually throw themselves at your feet... As Goss' interest perks up considerably... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT FIVE 53-55. 67 thru OMITTED 74 75 INT. MAIN BRIDGE As before. WORF Sir, the Ferengi vessel is moving out of orbit, impulse power... (beat) They are approaching the entry to the wormhole, sir. PICARD (to com) Computer, is the Ferengi Goss still aboard the Enterprise? COMPUTER DaiMon Goss departed the Enterprise at fourteen hundred hours. WORF Ferengi are powering forward missile launchers... PICARD Yellow Alert. Hail the Ferengi. WORF DaiMon Goss responding. PICARD On screen. 76 ANGLE - VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) Goss is in the Ferengi captain's Ready Room. PICARD Request an explanation for your actions, DaiMon Goss. GOSS I have learned from informed sources that the Federation has manipulated these negotiations from the very beginning... and has already signed a secret agreement with the Barzans. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/26/89 - ACT FIVE 55A. 76 CONTINUED: PICARD That is not true... GOSS The Ferengi offer was never seriously considered. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT FIVE 56. 76 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD Premier Bhavani welcomed you to these proceedings, Goss... despite my better judgment... GOSS We will be ignored no longer. WORF They've fired a missile directly at the opening, sir! PICARD Destroy it. WORF Firing phasers. 77 ANGLE - VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) Seeing the Ferengi torpedo... as the Enterprise phaser hits it. It EXPLODES. 78 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Riker with Bhavani and Devinoni... BHAVANI Your offers both have merit, gentlemen... if I could find a deciding factor... Red Alert. Riker reacts, keys his insignia... RIKER Riker to Picard. What's happening, Captain? PICARD'S COM VOICE Goss has fired a missile at the wormhole... I need you on the bridge, Number One... RIKER (on the move) Excuse me. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 57. 78 CONTINUED: He EXITS. Bhavani and Devinoni exchange a concerned glance... DEVINONI Excuse me for saying so under the circumstances, Premier... But this fight is really between the Federation and the Ferengi... it is unconscionable that your wormhole is being used as a pawn in their power struggle. Off her reaction... 79 INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Riker arrives as does Troi... PICARD (to viewscreen) You must know we will not allow you to do this, Goss. GOSS If the Ferengi cannot have the wormhole, no one will... Picard signals Worf to mute the viewscreen. PICARD Can he possibly believe that a missile will have any destructive effect on a wormhole? And focus on Troi... as she begins to realize something is dreadfully wrong... RIKER One of those missiles would have a destructive effect if it exploded near our shuttle... Riker steps forward, signalling Worf to resume voice contact. RIKER Goss... don't you realize we both have shuttlecraft in there? STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 57A. 79 CONTINUED: GOSS Casualties of war, Commander. My men are prepared to die. Are yours? TROI Captain... PICARD (off her look) Viewscreen off. TROI He's lying. I'm almost sure of it. He does not mean what he says. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 58. 79 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER Why... what is he doing it for then? Push in on Troi, realizing... 80 ANGLE at the turbolift... Bhavani and Devinoni... BHAVANI Permission to enter the bridge, Captain... PICARD Premier, with all due respect... DEVINONI Captain, I believe I am in a better position to settle this with DaiMon Goss than you are... (Picard reacts) May I address him? Picard motions for them to come forward... 81 ANGLE - VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) DEVINONI DaiMon Goss, this is Devinoni Ral... Goss reappears on the viewscreen. GOSS I have nothing to say to you, Ral. DEVINONI Then, just listen. The planet of Barzan has reached an agreement with the Chrysalians for long term control of the wormhole. (Riker reacts) On behalf of the Chrysalians, I am prepared to offer the Ferengi free access to the wormhole in perpetuity... And stay on Troi as she follows this... GOSS I have your word on this? STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 59. 81 CONTINUED: DEVINONI My word, sir. In return for some Ferengi convoy privileges to be negotiated in good faith. GOSS This is an acceptable offer. WORF Ferengi vessel has shut down forward missile launchers. PICARD Stand down, Red Alert. BHAVANI Commander Riker, I'm sorry you had to learn about my decision this way. You represented the Federation well. But I have come to believe that the Chrysalians' neutrality and tradition of peace is more desirable to my planet. TROI Excuse me, Premier. There is something you should know... And Devinoni flashes a look at Troi... who reacts... TROI I'm sorry, was there something you wanted to say, Mister Ral? DEVINONI No... not at all... TROI I sense you are uncomfortable suddenly... DEVINONI Well, after all, this was a tense situation... TROI But that's what is so odd about it... it was not tense at all... I sensed no tension from DaiMon Goss... or you... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 60. 81 CONTINUED: (2) GOSS I was tense... I was ready to blow it up... I strongly protest... PICARD (enough already) Off screen. Goss' image disappears... TROI It was almost as though... you both were performing a scene for all of us... DEVINONI Excuse me, Captain, I think there's a slight conflict of interest here... TROI I agree. Entirely. Devinoni asked me not to tell anyone about his empathic powers... which he uses to manipulate competitors in a negotiation. Reactions. TROI Certainly, that put me in a conflict of interest which I hope I have now resolved. Premier, I believe Ral has used your fear of continuing aggression between the Federation and its enemies to undermine our position. I also believe this incident was staged by Ral and Goss to provide you with a reason to decide in favor of the Chrysalians. And Troi and Ral exchange a long look... and he finally grins at her... shrugs, well, it's just another deal. Wesley, who has been monitoring the sensors... reacts to something he hears. WESLEY (excited) Captain... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 60A. 81 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD (knows by the sound in his voice) On speaker. At first, it's just broken phrases and hiss, slowly coming together... GEORDI'S COM VOICE Shuttle nine to Enterprise... Shuttle nine to Enterprise... PICARD Shuttle, this is Picard... do you read... (no response) On screen... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 10/2/89 - ACT FIVE 61. 82 ANGLE - VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) The wormhole is not visible... but a tiny image of the shuttle suddenly appears out of nowhere... 83 OMITTED INTERCUT: 84 INT. SHUTTLE GEORDI This is Shuttle nine... reporting back... barely. PICARD The Ferengi pod? GEORDI They're trapped on the other side, sir. In the Delta Quadrant. We tried to warn them. They wouldn't follow us. PICARD Elaborate. DATA Captain, this end of the wormhole is currently stable but the other end apparently shifts position periodically. The Barzan probe had no way to recognize this. Eventually, both sides will be unstable. GEORDI It's a dry well, Captain. Worthless. 84A INT. MAIN BRIDGE PICARD Acknowledged, Shuttle nine. Main Shuttlebay, prepare for final approach. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 61A. 84A CONTINUED: WORF Captain, DaiMon Goss is demanding to know where his men are. PICARD Advise him to set his coordinates for the Delta Quadrant, Lieutenant... He might run into them in eighty years or so. Riker crosses to Devinoni. RIKER Mister Ral, I congratulate you on winning the rights to the Barzan wormhole... DEVINONI (tight) I take the risks. I stand by my agreements. Off Riker's half grin... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 62. 85 OMITTED 86 INT. CORRIDOR - AT TROI'S QUARTERS As the door opens to reveal Troi. She reacts as she sees... 87 REVERSE - DEVINONI A look. TROI Come in... 88 INT. TROI'S QUARTERS TROI When do you leave? DEVINONI Soon. I've... been recalled by the Chrysalians... explanations demanded and so forth. TROI I'm sorry. DEVINONI (shrugs) I've done all right for them over the years... they know the stakes. It'll be fine. They look at each other a long beat. "Fine" is not in their faces. DEVINONI I had to do it, Troi... Troi looks at him... can't accept that... STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/27/89 - ACT FIVE 63. 88 CONTINUED: DEVINONI Bhavani was ready to go with the the Federation. I sensed it. And I'd used up every card in the deck... I had to change the rules. TROI You must have known that I couldn't allow you to do that... DEVINONI (beat, grins) My human physical response must have blocked out my Betazoid senses. She knows, acknowledges. DEVINONI (beat) In a way, I'm glad you did it. It's made me take a hard look at who I am. I don't like what I see. He moves to her... she allows it. DEVINONI Deanna... I once asked you to run away with me. I'm asking you again. I need you. You could help me change. You could be my conscience. He kisses her. After they break... TROI I already have a job as a counselor. STAR TREK: "The Price" - REV. 9/26/89 - ACT FIVE 64. 88 CONTINUED: (2) He reacts. He slowly retreats to the door, shrugs... and EXITS. On her expression, with no regrets, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END