STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                              
                       "The First Duty" 
                          #40275-219 
                              
                          Written by 
                Ronald D. Moore & Naren Shankar 
                              
                          Directed by 
                          Paul Lynch 


THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING
WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If
lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department.

                         FINAL DRAFT

                       JANUARY 22, 1992


         STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - CAST 

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                       "The First Duty" 

                             CAST                               
                              
                PICARD             NICHOLAS LOCARNO
                RIKER              JEAN HAJAR
                DATA               SITO
                BEVERLY            ADMIRAL BRAND
                TROI               CAPTAIN SATELK
                GEORDI             BOOTHBY
                WORF               LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
                                   ALBERT
                WESLEY     
        
                Non-Speaking       
                  CADETS             
                  TEACHERS           
                  YOUNG MALE CADET   
                  PARENTS            
                  SUPERNUMERARIES    

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/23/92 - SETS 

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                       "The First Duty" 
                      
                             SETS 

            INTERIORS                  EXTERIORS
          
            USS ENTERPRISE             USS ENTERPRISE
              BRIDGE
              READY ROOM               STARFLEET ACADEMY
              ENGINEERING              GROUNDS
              CORRIDOR
              SICKBAY
              BEVERLY'S OFFICE
          
            STARFLEET ACADEMY
              WESLEY'S DORM ROOM
              HEARING ROOM

  STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/23/92 - PRONUNCIATION 

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                       "The First Duty" 
                      
                      PRONUNCIATION GUIDE 

              Hajar               ha-ZHAR
              Kolvoord            kol-VORD
              Locarno             la-CAR-no
              Mimas               MEE-mas
              Pareses Squares     pah-REE-seez Squares
              Satelk              suh-TELK
              Sito                SEE-to
              Titan               TY-tan
              Yeagar              YAY-ger

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - TEASER       1.

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION                  
                       "The First Duty"                            
                            TEASER                              

	FADE IN:

1    EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	The ship at warp.

					PICARD (V.O.)
			Captain's log, stardate 45703.9.
			We are en route to Earth, where
			it will be my pleasant duty to
			deliver this year's commencement
			address at Starfleet Academy.
			I'm also looking forward to seeing
			Wesley Crusher again. His flight
			team will perform a demonstration
			near Saturn that will be
			transmitted to the graduation
			ceremonies.

2    INT. BRIDGE

	PICARD, TROI and RIKER are at their seats; WORF is
	at tactical, DATA at ops.

					WORF
			Captain, Starfleet Academy is
			requesting an update on our
			estimated arrival.

					PICARD
			Mister Data?

					DATA
				(off console)
			We should arrive at Earth in ten
			hours, sixteen minutes, sir.

					PICARD
				(to Worf)
			Please inform the Academy and send
			my regards to Superintendant
			Brand.

					WORF
			Aye, sir.

	Worf works his console and sends the message.

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - TEASER       2.

2    CONTINUED:

					TROI
				(to Picard)
			Do you know Admiral Brand?

					PICARD
			We've met a few times. She's
			a... formidable woman.

					RIKER
				(ruefully)
			If she's anything like my
			superintendent...
				(off Picard's look)
			When I was at the Academy, we
			had a Vulcan superintendent who
			memorized the personnel file of
			every single cadet. He knew
			everything. It was like having
			your parents there with you. All
			the time.

					PICARD
			My superintendent was a Betazoid
			-- a full telepath. When he
			called you into his office, he
			didn't have to ask what you'd
			done.

					RIKER
				(very curious)
			You got called into the
			superintendent's office? That
			sounds like a story I'd like to
			hear.

	Picard is not about to tell; he self-consciously
	straightens his uniform. They're interrupted by a
	beeping from Worf's console.

					WORF
			Captain, we are being hailed by
			the Academy again. It is Admiral
			Brand.

					PICARD
			On-screen.

	There's a short beat as Picard waits for the screen
	to activate.

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - TEASER       3.

2    CONTINUED: (2)

					WORF
			Sir, she is requesting a private
			channel.

	Picard and Riker exchange a puzzled look. He gets up
	and heads for the ready room.

					PICARD
			In my ready room.

3    INT. READY ROOM (CONTINUOUS)

	as the doors open and Picard enters. He sits down and
	activates his monitor.

					PICARD
			Admiral Brand... what can I do
			for you?

4    ON THE MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	is ADMIRAL ANDREA BRAND, a mature, elegant woman with
	a commanding voice.

					BRAND
			Hello, Captain.

	She pauses for a beat... there's clearly something
	wrong.

					BRAND
			I know you're a close friend of
			the Crusher family.

					PICARD
			Yes... ?

					BRAND
			I wanted to inform you
			personally... There's been an
			accident.

	Off Picard's reaction.

									FADE OUT.

                         END OF TEASER                          

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE       4.

                            ACT ONE                             

	FADE IN:

          (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.)            

5    EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	The ship drops out of warp.

6    INT. BEVERLY'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)

	Beverly and Picard are seated across from each other.
	Beverly is trying to stay calm; she is quiet and
	subdued, but there's an edge in her voice. She's
	concentrating on the medical angle for now... trying
	not to let her emotions show through.

					PICARD
			... he had second degree burns on
			his chest and a multiple fracture
			of his right arm. But he's going
			to be fine.

					BEVERLY
			Have they completed the
			regeneration series?

					PICARD
			I'm... not certain.

					BEVERLY
			Wesley's allergic to metorapan
			treatments... they'll have to use
			a bicaridine substitute.

					PICARD
			Beverly...

	She picks up a PADD and begins quickly entering some
	information.

					BEVERLY
			I should send his complete records
			to the Academy infirmary... They
			probably have them already, but
			it never hurts to be sure. I'll
			also send them some information
			on a new rybotherapy I've been
			working on.

	Picard moves to her and his voice becomes softer, more
	intimate.


       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE       5.

6    CONTINUED:

					PICARD
			Beverly...
				(she looks up at him)
			He's fine.

	Beverly holds up a hand and takes a step away from him
	for a beat... looks back at him and tries to keep a
	very firm grip on her emotions, but there are tears
	just beneath the surface.

					BEVERLY
			I know he's fine... I know he's
			fine. Let's talk about something
			else.
				(ignoring her own
				 advice)
			How did it happen?

					PICARD
			Apparently, Wesley's squadron was
			practicing on the Academy flight
			range near Saturn... they were
			in close formation when there
			was a collision... all five ships
			were destroyed.
				(beat)
			Four of the cadets managed to
			transport out... one did not.

					BEVERLY
			Do you know who it was?

					PICARD
			His name was Joshua Albert.

					BEVERLY
			Wesley talked about him... They
			were friends...

	A beat; she knows it could have just as easily been
	Wesley.

					BEVERLY
			Wesley was so excited about making
			the flight team... it made me a
			little nervous, but I was proud
			of him...
				(difficult)
			... even though I knew there was
			always the chance that...
			something might...

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE       6.

6    CONTINUED: (2)

	Picard moves to her as Beverly's emotions rise to the
	surface once again.

					PICARD
				(firmly)
			Beverly. Wesley is alive and
			well.

	Beverly looks at Picard... she manages to nod and
	smile at him a little through the tears in her eyes.

					PICARD
			Admiral Brand will be holding a
			full briefing after we arrive.
			I'll let you know as soon as we're
			in orbit.

	Beverly takes his hand for a beat and squeezes it
	tightly.

					BEVERLY
			Thank you.

	Picard EXITS. On Beverly as she sits down and tries
	not to cry.

									CUT TO:

7    EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	in orbit around Earth.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT ONE    7.

8    EXT. STARFLEET ACADEMY (MATTE)

	Est. shot of the Starfleet Academy campus. A large,
	sprawling campus in the San Francisco Bay Area.

9    INT. ACADEMY HEARING ROOM

	This is one of the oldest buildings in the Academy, and
	a powerful sense of tradition pervades it. The room
	is probably used for both hearings and lectures. There
	are several tables, on the right wall is a large
	viewscreen, and several rows of benches form a gallery.

	There's a small group of people sitting in the gallery:
	N.D. PARENTS of the flight team, including LIEUTENANT
	COMMANDER ALBERT, the father of the dead cadet. Picard
	and Beverly are here as well. The atmosphere is somber
	and subdued. Brand is standing in front of the small
	table; she's trying to keep this low-key and informal.
	She is holding a PADD which she consults periodically.

					BRAND
				(refers to PADD)
			There was very little left to
			salvage from the wreckage. We
			did recover one of the ships' data
			recorders, but it was badly
			damaged. We're attempting to
			restore the information, but it's
			going to take some time.
				(beat)
			Standard procedure calls for an
			immediate investigation by two
			command-level officers. Captain
			Satelk and I will begin taking
			depositions from Nova Squadron
			at fifteen-hundred hours today.
				(she turns to Albert
				 in the audience)
			Commander Albert... I'm sure that
			everyone in this room joins me
			in conveying my deepest sympathies
			to you on the tragic loss of your
			son.

	Albert wants to know why his son is dead... he pushes
	Brand.

      STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE      7A.

9    CONTINUED:

					ALBERT
			Was there any indication of a
			problem before the crash? What
			exactly were they doing out there?
			Did they file a flight plan?

	Brand stops him. Her attitude is sympathetic... she
	understands this is a very difficult time for him.

					BRAND
				(gently)
			Commander... I'm sorry... right
			now, we don't have those answers.
			But I assure you we will
			investigate this matter
			thoroughly.

	Albert pulls himself back and nods... he knows she's
	right.

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE       8.

9    CONTINUED: (2)

					BRAND
				(continuing, to all)
			There will be a memorial service
			for Cadet Albert this evening in
			the west garden.
				(beat)
			It has been suggested that we
			should cancel the graduation
			ceremonies in light of what's
			happened.
				(she indicates Albert)
			Commander Albert and I have
			discussed this and we've agreed
			that commencement should go
			forward as planned. The cadets
			should know that even after a
			tragedy like this, there are still
			duties to perform... and that life
			continues. Thank you all for
			coming.

10   ANOTHER ANGLE

	as the meeting breaks up. Picard moves to Brand and
	they shake hands.

					BRAND
			It's good to see you again,
			Captain. I wish it were under
			better circumstances.

					PICARD
			It's an unhappy way to begin
			commencement. If you require any
			assistance, Admiral, the
			Enterprise is at your disposal.

					BRAND
			I'm sure we can handle the
			investigation... but thank you
			for the offer.

11   ANOTHER ANGLE

	as Beverly approaches Lt. Commander Albert. He is
	quiet and shaken.

					BEVERLY
			Commander Albert?

					ALBERT
			Yes?

       STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE       9.

11   CONTINUED:

					BEVERLY
			Hello, I'm Beverly Crusher. I
			just wanted to say... I'm sorry
			about your son.

					ALBERT
			You're Wesley's mother...

					BEVERLY
			Yes.

					ALBERT
				(beat; his voice begins
				 to break)
			Josh once told me that Wesley was
			the only reason he made it through
			astrophysics.

	There's a long, difficult silence.

					BEVERLY
			If there's anything I can do...

	Albert nods his head. It's an awkward moment. What
	can anybody do?

									CUT TO:

12   INT. WESLEY'S DORMITORY ROOM

	In contrast to quarters on the Enterprise, the Academy
	dorm room looks older and more lived-in. It's sparsely
	furnished with a desk, a couple of chairs, and a single
	bed. Everything is neat and ship-shape.

	Wesley is sitting on the edge of his bed. His arm is
	in a 24th-century therapeutic device. He's practicing
	flexing his arm... it's difficult to fully bend his arm
	and he winces in pain. The effort tires him and he
	takes off the device. He massages the arm with his
	other hand; it's still not a hundred percent.

	The door chimes. He gets up, straightens his uniform,
	and takes a deep breath. He moves to the door and
	opens it. It's Beverly and Picard.

					BEVERLY
			Wes.

					WESLEY
			Hi.

      STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE      10.

12   CONTINUED:

	Wesley is stiff and distant. Beverly reaches out and
	hugs him tightly. Finally, she releases him, and all
	three move into the room. Wesley and Picard shake
	hands.

					PICARD
			How are you feeling, Wesley?

					WESLEY
			Not too bad... the arm's still
			a little sore.

					BEVERLY
				(gently)
			We were so sorry to hear about
			Joshua.

	Wesley just nods and says nothing. There's a brief,
	awkward silence. Beverly tries to draw him out.

					PICARD
			Would you like to talk about
			it... ?

					WESLEY
			No. I don't think so. Thank you.

	Another long beat.

					WESLEY
			I know you're trying to help,
			sir... but it seems like I
			haven't talked about anything
			else for the past two days. I
			don't want to go over it all
			again.

					PICARD
			I understand. But I want you to
			know I'm available if you should
			change your mind.

	A beat as Beverly decides to change tacks.

					BEVERLY
			All your friends on the Enterprise
			wanted you to know they're
			thinking about you... Commander
			Riker, Data, Robin Lefler...
			everybody.

      STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE      11.

12   CONTINUED: (2)

					WESLEY
			That's nice.

	He doesn't go any further and there is an awkward
	silence. After a beat, the door CHIMES.

					WESLEY
			Come in.

	The doors open and Cadet 1st Class NICHOLAS LOCARNO
	enters. He's well-built, charismatic, a born leader.
	(Production note: cadet rank are signified by vertical
	bars in place of the rank pips normally worn by
	Starfleet officers.) As Locarno walks in, he sees
	Picard and immediately comes to attention.

					LOCARNO
			Captain, sir.

					PICARD
			At ease, Cadet.

	Wesley makes the introductions... but Locarno's
	entrance has definitely put him on edge.

					WESLEY
			This is my squadron leader,
			Nicholas Locarno... This is
			Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the
			Enterprise... my mother, Doctor
			Beverly Crusher.

					LOCARNO
			Hello, Doctor... Captain Picard.

					PICARD
				(shakes his hand)
			Mister Locarno.

					LOCARNO
			I came by to see if Wes had healed
			up all right...

					BEVERLY
			How are you doing, Nicholas?

	Locarno's feelings are sincere... he's been deeply
	affected by the cadet's death.

      STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE      12.

12   CONTINUED: (3)

					LOCARNO
			I'm OK.
				(beat)
			I... just never lost anyone under
			my command before.

					PICARD
				(sympathetically)
			I'm afraid it doesn't get any
			easier.

	Wesley is starting to get a little edgey... he wants
	Picard & Beverly out of there.

					WESLEY
			Excuse me, Mom, Captain... but
			Nick and I have some things to
			talk about.

					BEVERLY
			Of course.

	Beverly gives him another hug.

					BEVERLY
			If you need anything at all...

					WESLEY
			I know.

					PICARD
			We'll see you at the inquiry.
				(to Locarno)
			Good to meet you, Mister Locarno.

					LOCARNO
			You too, sir.

	Beverly and Picard EXIT.

	Once they're gone, Locarno turns to Wesley, a more
	serious look on his face.

					LOCARNO
			The inquiry is scheduled for
			fifteen-hundred hours. Are you
			ready?

	Wesley sits down. He suddenly looks physically and
	mentally exhausted.

      STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT ONE      12A.

12   CONTINUED: (4)

					WESLEY
				(unsure)
			I think so.

	Locarno immediately picks up on Wesley's discomfort.
	Locorno doesn't want any wavering from Wesley and so
	he immediately moves to shore him up.

					LOCARNO
				(strongly)
			Don't worry about it, Wes.
			Everything's going to be all right
			-- as long as we stick together.

	Wesley nods, but he is clearly troubled. Off Wesley's
	expression.

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT ONE                          

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT TWO    13.

                            ACT TWO                             

	FADE IN:

13   EXT. ACADEMY GROUNDS - DAY

	The grounds of the Academy are similar to any large
	university: Neatly manicured lawn and hedges, one or
	two statues or busts of alumni, possibly a fountain,
	etc. SEVERAL CADETS can be seen moving to and from
	class or talking in small groups... there is a somber
	atmosphere here as the recent tragedy is still on
	everyone's mind. In the distance, the Federation flag
	can be seen at half-mast on a flagpole. Picard is
	walking slowly across the grounds, lost in thought...

14   NEW ANGLE

	As Picard comes to a quiet contemplative spot with a
	view of the rest of the grounds. There is a large TREE
	here with a couple of nearby benches. Sitting at the
	foot of that tree (not on a bench) is a young MALE
	CADET reading a book. It's a picture-perfect image
	that is almost pastoral.

	Picard stops and looks at the young boy for a long beat
	as if seeing a page from his youth suddenly brought to
	life.

	Suddenly, a man wearing well-worn coveralls and boots
	appears -- this is Boothby. He's an older man with
	a rumpled appearance and an irascible disposition...
	he holds a sharp-edged gardening tool in his hand...
	a grin comes to Picard's face as he watches at a
	distance. The old man moves calmly to the tree... the
	cadet looks up, reacts as Boothby frowns, looks at --

14A  SCHOOL BOOKS

	lying in a nearby flowerbed, crushing some plants...

15   BOOTHBY

	eyes of fire shoot at...

15A  THE CADET

	who grows pale... and he promptly grabs his books and
	takes off...

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT TWO    14.

15B  WIDER

	as Boothby shakes his head with disdain and kneels down
	and begins to repair the damaged plants... Picard
	quietly moves over to the tree...

					PICARD
			Boothby?

	Boothby looks up, irritated... raises an eyebrow as he
	sees Picard.

					PICARD
				(prompting)
			Jean-Luc Picard... class of
			twenty-seven.

					BOOTHBY
			I know that. What happened to
			your hair?

	Picard smiles...

					PICARD
			How are you?

					BOOTHBY
			I'm pretty damned cranky, thank
			you. I've already replanted this
			bed four times this week.

	Picard kneels beside him to help...

					PICARD
			Let me give you a hand...

					BOOTHBY
				(reacts)
			You?

					PICARD
			I've acquired an interest over
			the years.

					BOOTHBY
			Well, careful you don't plant 'em
			too deep... the leaves...

					PICARD
			-- will rot...

	Boothby reacts to Picard's knowledge... meanwhile --

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT TWO    15.

15C  ANGLE - A CADET

	is walking along the path. He suddenly freezes in
	his tracks and reacts as he sees a Starfleet captain
	on his knees with the gardener...

					PICARD
			Something wrong, Cadet?

					CADET
			Nossir, Captain.

	And hurries away.

15D  RESUME PICARD AND BOOTHBY

	Boothby -- who knew Picard when he was just a cadet --
	is faintly amused by the lofty status he's now
	achieved.

					BOOTHBY
			Captain Picard... of the
			Enterprise, no less... giving the
			commencement address...

	He chuckles...

					PICARD
			You sound... surprised...

	Boothby rises, brushes off his hands...

					BOOTHBY
			Surprised? Uh uh. Nothing you
			ever did surprised me, son.
			Nothing. Except that time you
			caught that Ligonian with a
			reverse body lift and pinned
			him in the first fourteen seconds
			of the match... didn't think you
			had it in you...

					PICARD
				(grins at the memory)
			Was all in the legs... from all
			the running I used to do...

	Boothby starts to walk... Picard follows him... and
	uncharacteristically struggles with saying what he
	wants to say to the old man... this is like finding the
	words to say "I love you" to your father... Picard
	seems quite young during it...

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT TWO   15A.

15D  CONTINUED:

					PICARD
			Boothby...

					BOOTHBY
			Hmmm?

					PICARD
			I don't know that I've ever really
			told you... how much... I
			appreciate...

					BOOTHBY
			... there's nothing to tell...

					PICARD
			Yes, there is... I just wanted
			to... while I was here...
				(beat)
			You know as well as I do I would
			never have made it to graduation
			if you hadn't...

					BOOTHBY
				(interrupting)
			You made a mistake. There isn't
			a man among us who hasn't been
			young enough to make one...

					PICARD
			Nevertheless, you...

					BOOTHBY
			You knew what you had to do...
			I just made sure you listened to
			yourself...

					PICARD
			At the time I thought you were
			a mean-spirited, vicious old man.

					BOOTHBY
			I was. By the way, I was about
			the same age you are now.

					PICARD
			I didn't speak to you for months.

					BOOTHBY
			You needed to find your bearings.
			I knew that. Important thing is
			what you did with your life
			afterwards... seems you did
			okay... that's all the thanks I
			need...

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT TWO    16.

15D  CONTINUED: (2)

	Picard smiles. They reach their destination as Boothby
	begins to put his tools away (?) ... a beat as Picard
	changes the subject...

					PICARD
			Did you know the boy from Nova
			Squadron who was killed?

	Boothby glances up... and the tone of the conversation
	changes notably... there is trouble in Boothby's eyes,
	subtle concern in his voice...

					BOOTHBY
			Josh Albert? Yeah.

	He says the next looking straight at Picard.

					BOOTHBY
				(carefully)
			Crusher. Hajar. Sito.
				(beat)
			Locarno. I know them all.

	And with that Boothby abruptly moves away... and it is
	such an unexpected and unsettling answer (and
	delivery), that Picard cannot help but feeling
	unsettled by the moment. On his reaction...

									CUT TO:

16
thru	OMITTED
17

17A  INT. WESLEY'S DORM ROOM

	Wesley, Locarno, Sito, and Hajar (as described in scene
	18). They are getting ready to go into the inquiry and
	Locarno, as squadron leader, is checking over the other
	three as they stand at loose attention. Locarno is
	a coach here, not a martinet... he's building them up,
	getting them ready for some tough times ahead.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT TWO   16A.

17A  CONTINUED:

	He brushes off some lint from Hajar's uniform.
	Locarno stays in front of Sito, who seems a little
	tense.

					LOCARNO
				(to Sito)
			Nervous?

					SITO
			No.
				(beat)
			Yes.

	Locarno smiles... he's confident, poised... it's easy
	to see why people follow him.

					LOCARNO
			That's okay... so am I.
				(to everyone)
			But we're going to be all right.
			We have some tough times ahead...
			but we've always come through for
			each other.

	They all exchange a few looks... this is a tightly knit
	group of people. Locarno takes a beat.

					LOCARNO
				(quiet)
			Whatever happens... I want you
			all to know... that leading this
			team has been the high point of
			my years at the Academy. No one
			could have asked for a better
			team... or better friends.

	A special moment as they silently acknowledge the bonds
	that tie them to each other.

					LOCARNO
			Let's go.

	They all file out of the room.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT TWO    17.

18   INT. ACADEMY HEARING ROOM (OPTICAL)

	The room has been set up for an informal court of
	inquiry.

	The flags of the Federation and Starfleet have been
	displayed behind the judges' table. Admiral Brand is
	seated at the head table facing the rest of the room
	along with CAPTAIN SATELK, a male Vulcan officer. An
	antique ship's bell sits on the table in front of them.
	Seated at a table facing these officers are the members
	of the cadet flight team: Cadet First Class SITO, a
	female Bajoran; Cadet Second Class JEAN HAJAR, a female
	Human; and Wesley. SPECTATORS are seated behind the
	cadets, including Picard, Beverly, and the other
	parents seen earlier. Lt. Cmdr. Albert is here also.

	Locarno is standing near the large monitor, giving
	testimony. The monitor shows a schematic DISPLAY of
	SATURN, its MOONS, and the five small SHIPS of the Nova
	Squadron. The ships are moving slowly toward one of
	the moons. Locarno is pointing to the display as he
	speaks... his attitude is honest and straightforward...
	a completely believable cadet.

					LOCARNO
			... at this point we accelerated
			and executed a starboard turn of
			twenty-seven degrees. We came out
			of the turn on course for Titan.

					BRAND
			And you were still in the lead
			position?

					LOCARNO
			Yes, sir.

					BRAND
			Continue.

					LOCARNO
			As we entered Titan's
			gravitational sphere, I gave the
			signal to tighten up and move into
			a diamond slot formation.

19   ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The monitor ZOOMS close on the graphic symbols for the
	ships as they change formation... four ships move into
	position as four "points" of a diamond, while one ship
	slides into the middle "slot" position. Each ship is
	clearly labeled by pilot: Locarno in the lead, Hajar
	in the slot, Wesley and Albert on either wing, and Sito
	in the rear.


    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT TWO    18.

20   RESUME SCENE

					LOCARNO
			Remaining in the diamond
			formation, we executed a low
			apogee turn around Titan... then
			began a z plus twenty-five degree
			climb in preparation for a Yeager
			loop.

20A  ANGLE ON PICARD & BEVERLY

	As they watch the proceedings. Picard is paying very
	close attention to the testimony and the computer
	simulation. Beverly is also watching carefully, but
	she can't help but glance at Wesley every now and then.

21   ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The ships on the monitor begin to turn in an intricate
	looping maneuver.

					LOCARNO
				(o.c.)
			Approximately nine seconds later,
			Cadet Albert's ship collided with
			Cadet Hajar's.

	On the monitor, Albert's ship hits Hajar's and all the
	ships MERGE TOGETHER before WINKING OUT.

22   RESUME SCENE

					LOCARNO
			We had less than two seconds to
			activate our emergency
			transporters and beam to the evac
			station on Mimas. Everyone made
			it... except Josh.

	Locarno is genuinely affected by the loss of his team
	mate and it shows.

					BRAND
			Thank you, Mister Locarno.

	Locarno sits down at the table. Wesley and the other
	cadets look a little tense.

					BRAND
			Cadet Hajar...

	Hajar stands at attention.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT TWO    19.

22   CONTINUED:

					BRAND
			As Team Navigator, you filed a
			flight plan with the Academy Range
			Officer before the exercise,
			correct?

					HAJAR
			Yes, sir.

					BRAND
			Did Nova Squadron deviate from
			that flight plan after you entered
			the Saturn range?

					HAJAR
			No, sir.

	Brand picks up a PADD and examines it for a moment.

					BRAND
			How do you explain the fact that
			the low apogee turn around Titan
			was at least two thousand
			kilometers closer to the moon than
			indicated in your plan?

					HAJAR
			We were still within flight safety
			parameters, sir.

	A frown creases Brand's forehead at the evasion.

					BRAND
				(curt)
			That wasn't my question, Cadet.

	Hajar pauses before answering. She doesn't lose her
	composure... looks Brand right in the eye when she
	answers. Whatever she's feeling she tries to keep
	inside.

					HAJAR
			We had discussed changing the
			approach after I filed the flight
			plan. The final decision was made
			en route to Saturn. I didn't
			consider it significant enough
			to mention here.
				(beat)
			I apologize for the confusion,
			sir. I should have been more
			precise.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/30/92 - ACT TWO    20.

22   CONTINUED: (3)

	Brand holds Hajar's eyes for another beat, then she
	turns to Satelk and lets him ask the next question.
	They aren't pushing the cadets at this point. This is
	still an informal hearing and not a court.

					SATELK
			Did you see Mister Albert's ship
			break formation before it collided
			with your ship?

					HAJAR
			No, sir. My first indication of
			trouble was when my proximity
			alarm went off.

					SATELK
			Did any of you see the collision
			take place?

					LOCARNO
			No, sir...

	The others shake their heads, no.

22A  ON PICARD

	He frowns at this litany of denial. Something here
	isn't making sense.

22B  BACK TO SCENE

	Satelk turns his gaze to Sito. Sito returns the gaze,
	but we sense that inside she's uncomfortable.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/30/92 - ACT TWO 21-21A.       

22B  CONTINUED:

					SATELK
			Ms. Sito, you were in the tail
			position; therefore, you should
			have been able to see any sign
			of trouble from Cadet Albert...
			and yet you saw nothing?

	Slight hesitation from Sito.

					SITO
			That is correct, sir.

					SATELK
			Did your attention falter?

	Sito is in a tough position... she doesn't have an
	answer to the question and is forced to manufacture one
	on the spot.

					SITO
			No, sir. I was... flying on
			sensor readings at the time...
			I did not have visual contact with
			Cadet Albert's ship when he broke
			formation.

	Keeping his expression carefully neutral, Satelk shuts
	off the monitor. Brand leans to confer with him.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/30/92 - ACT TWO    22.

23
thru	OMITTED
24

25   ON PICARD & BEVERLY

	Beverly turns to Picard with concern.

					BEVERLY
				(sotto)
			What's wrong?

					PICARD
				(sotto)
			It's unusual to fly on sensors
			alone in that type of maneuver.
			A pilot relies on the visual cues
			from the other ships to maintain
			formation.

	Brand taps the bell and brings the room to order before
	Picard can speculate further.

26   NEW ANGLE

	As Brand looks at Sito.

					BRAND
			If you were flying on sensors
			alone, perhaps you could tell us
			the orientation of his ship just
			before the collision.

					SITO
			I... don't know, sir.

					BRAND
				(voice hardens)
			You were flying in a ship
			traveling eighty thousand k.p.h.,
			with Cadet Albert's ship less than
			ten meters away... and you don't
			know what his orientation was?

					SITO
			I... don't remember, sir.

	Brand is about to really go after Sito when Locarno
	stands again.

					LOCARNO
			Sir, if I may?

	Brand considers them both, then nods after a beat.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT TWO    23.

26   CONTINUED:

					LOCARNO
			Admiral...

	Locarno is struggling... he seems very uncomfortable
	with what he's about to say.

					LOCARNO
			Josh was a good pilot... but
			lately he'd been having...
			difficulties. He would get
			nervous during close flybys and
			pull away in the final seconds...
			his formation flying was a little
			erratic.

					BRAND
				(sharp)
			And you didn't report any of this?

	Locarno faces her squarely... he is the leader taking
	responsibility and he is totally believable.

					LOCARNO
			No sir, I didn't. We'd flown
			together a long time... I thought
			he could handle it if I gave
			him a chance. I was wrong.

					BRAND
			Then you're saying that the
			accident was Cadet Albert's fault?

					LOCARNO
				(beat, then very
				 reluctant)
			I think Josh got frightened and
			tried to pull out of the turn
			prematurely... and then crashed
			into Cadet Hajar.
				(beat; tries to explain)
			Josh was our friend... we didn't
			want him to be remembered as
			someone who panicked.

26A  ON WESLEY

	He's shocked by what Locarno's just said -- but keeps
	it inside. The other two cadets trade nervous glances,
	but try not to let their anxiety show.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT TWO   23A.

26B  ON ALBERT

	Lt. Cmdr. Albert is shaken by Locarno's statement...
	it's a hard thing to hear about your own son.

26C  ON PICARD

	Picard is disturbed... not quite sure what to make of
	this new piece of information.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT TWO    24.

26D  NEW ANGLE

					BRAND
			Please be seated.

	Locarno sits and ignores the looks from Wesley and the
	other cadets. Brand confers briefly with Satelk for a
	moment. Brand looks directly at the members of the
	Nova Squadron for a long beat. There is an edge of
	anger in her voice.

					BRAND
			I am... disturbed by what I've
			heard here today. By your own
			admission, you allowed your
			teammate to fly when you knew he
			was having difficulties
			maintaining formation. That
			demonstrates a serious lack of
			judgment.
				(beat)
			I am also disturbed by the fact
			that you did not come forward with
			this information immediately.
				(picks up PADD)
			We should have the first data
			from Mister Crusher's flight
			recorder tonight. We will
			reconvene at thirteen hundred
			hours tomorrow.

	She taps the bell and everyone stands up as the inquiry
	is recessed.

26E  ON THE FLIGHT TEAM

	They stand up and Wesley turns to face Locarno.
	Locarno is cool... he smiles confidently.

					LOCARNO
			Everything's fine. Trust me.

	Locarno EXITS along with the crowd. Hajar and Sito
	follow him and Wesley is left feeling a swirl of
	conflicting emotions.

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT TWO                          

     STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT THREE     25.

                           ACT THREE                            

	FADE IN:

27   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	The ship in Earth orbit.

28   INT. MAIN ENGINEERING (OPTICAL)

	Picard is talking with GEORDI and Data near the pool
	table.

					GEORDI
				(dubious)
			Captain, the Academy has one of
			the best reconstructive analysis
			labs in Starfleet. I'm not sure
			we'll have much to contribute to
			the investigation.

					PICARD
			That may well be the case.
			However...
				(softer)
			Wesley is one of our own.

					GEORDI
			Understood, sir. We'll get right
			on it.

					PICARD
			Good. I've spoken with Admiral
			Brand and she has agreed to allow
			us access to all of the physical
			evidence and testimony.

					PICARD
			Thank you, gentlemen.

	Picard EXITS. Data moves to a computer terminal.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   26.

28   CONTINUED:

					DATA
				(to com)
			Computer, initiate a link between
			this station and the Starfleet
			Academy Database.

	The Academy logo comes up on the screen and Data begins
	working the terminal. Geordi moves to stand next to
	Data.

									CUT TO:

29   INT. WESLEY'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT

	Wesley, Locarno, Hajar, and Sito are gathered in the
	room, in the middle of a heated discussion.

					SITO
			You shouldn't have said it, Nick.
			Josh wasn't responsible for what
			happened.

					LOCARNO
			I had to do something...

					WESLEY
			You said we wouldn't have to lie
			to them. We all agreed not to
			lie to them.

					LOCARNO
			I didn't lie. Everything I said
			was true.

					WESLEY
			The accident was not Josh's fault.

	Locarno's tone becomes more personal. He's rallying
	his troops during a crisis... trying to make them all
	pull together.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   27.

29   CONTINUED:

	He's part priest, part politician -- an earnest,
	believable young man with the capacity to sway people
	to his cause. There's nothing consciously manipulative
	in Locarno; he's one of the best and the brightest.
	His only flaw is ambition -- without that, he might
	have been one of the best the Academy has ever seen.

					LOCARNO
				(gentle)
			Look... he was my friend, too.
			I worked to get him on this team.
			But the truth is... he panicked.

					WESLEY
			We don't know that...

					LOCARNO
			Of course we do... none of us has
			wanted to say it out loud... but
			we've all had the same thought.
			Haven't we?

	He looks at Hajar and Sito... they don't deny it.
	Hajar finally nods.

					HAJAR
			He must have pulled away too soon.
			I think he got scared.

					LOCARNO
			Sito?

	Sito looks away... then nods reluctantly. Locarno
	turns back to Wesley. Wesley is still upset about
	this... he turns away from the others. Locarno tries
	to gently bring him back into the fold.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. /29/92 - ACT THREE   27A.

29   CONTINUED: (2)

					LOCARNO
				(patient)
			Wes... I know you want to protect
			his memory... we all do. But --
			we have to look out for
			ourselves now.
				(sarcastic)
			What do you want us to do, walk in
			and tell them everything that
			happened?

	There's a silent beat. Sito fills in the gap.

					SITO
			We might as well turn in our
			uniforms and start packing our
			bags.

					LOCARNO
				(to everyone)
			Are we ready for that?

	A long beat. None of them, even Wesley, is ready to
	leave the Academy. Sito and Hajar are now firmly with
	Locarno although Wesley is still struggling. Locarno
	picks up a PADD.

					LOCARNO
			We'll take this one step at a
			time.
				(hands PADD to Wes)
			This is the preliminary report
			on your flight recorder.
					(MORE)

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   28.

29   CONTINUED: (3)

					LOCARNO (cont'd)
			It was so badly damaged in the
			crash, the lab was only able to
			retrieve a third of the total
			telemetry on the recorder... and
			all of it is from before the
			collision.
				(beat)
			There is no problem here.

	Wesley looks at the PADD for a beat... struggles...
	finally looks up at Locarno.

					WESLEY
			Nick... I don't think I can do
			this.

	Locarno knows this is a crucial moment, but he doesn't
	push... he doesn't want to come down too hard on
	Wesley... that might make him dig in his heels. He
	lets Sito step in.

					SITO
			You don't have to lie... just
			don't volunteer any new
			information.

	It's three against one... but Wesley still isn't
	entirely comfortable with this. Locarno eyes him,
	smiles ruefully.

					LOCARNO
			The first night I met you, Wes...
			I knew I wanted you on this squad.
			I knew what you'd bring to it...
			you, more than any of the others,
			would understand what it means
			to be able to count on someone.
			You've been out there, putting
			yourself on the line... you know
			you've got to be able to trust
			the people on your team...
			because your life is in their
			hands.
					(MORE)

  STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT THREE  28A.

29   CONTINUED: (4)

					LOCARNO (cont'd)
				(beat)
			And their lives are in yours.

	Wesley is definitely being moved by this speech.
	Locarno moves closer, becoming more passionate.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   29.

29   CONTINUED: (5)

					LOCARNO
			We made a promise, right in the
			beginning, that we'd stick
			together. We were Nova Squadron
			-- nobody else could say that.
			And even after we graduated we'd
			try to get posted to the same
			duty... we were going to be a
			team -- for a long time.

	He looks at Hajar and Sito... back to Wesley.

					LOCARNO
			Josh can't be a part of those
			plans anymore. But I think he'd
			still want us to be a team.
			What do you think?

	Wesley looks at his friends... feels the bonds that tie
	him to these people... and finally nods in acceptance.

									CUT TO:

30   OMITTED

30A  INT. HEARING ROOM - NIGHT (OPTICAL)

	The room is empty and the lighting is subdued. Wesley
	is standing near the large monitor, holding the PADD
	seen earlier. On the screen is another SCHEMATIC
	DIAGRAM of Saturn and the Nova ships similar to the one
	seen earlier during Locarno's testimony. Wesley looks
	from the screen to the PADD and makes some notations
	on the PADD. Albert's voice interrupts his work.

					ALBERT (o.c.)
			Mister Crusher?

30B  NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)

	Wesley turns around to find Lt. Cmdr. Albert has just
	entered and is standing near the back of the room. He
	is carrying a sweater in one hand. Wesley quickly
	stands at attention.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   30.

30B  CONTINUED:

					WESLEY
			Sir.

					ALBERT
			At ease.
				(beat)
			Am I interrupting?

					WESLEY
			No, sir. I was just going over
			my deposition for tomorrow.

	Wesley touches a control on the wall and the image on
	the monitor DISAPPEARS. Albert moves into the room...
	this is an awkward meeting for him... but he needs to
	do this.

					ALBERT
			They told me... I could find you
			here.

	Wesley nods and there is a long beat. Albert looks at
	the sweater for a moment.

					ALBERT
			I... found this in Josh's room...
			I... I think it belongs to you.

	He hands the sweater to Wesley, who looks at it for a
	moment... then remembers.

					WESLEY
			The ski trip...
				(looks at Albert)
			We went to Calgary last month...
			Josh forgot his sweater... so he
			borrowed one of mine.

	Albert nods and there is a silent beat as Wesley looks
	at the jacket. This is a very difficult conversation
	for both of them. Albert is trying to reach out to
	Wesley... even to apologize in some small way for his
	son's mistake, and this only makes Wesley's feelings
	of guilt even more intense.

					ALBERT
			He told me you... helped him with
			his classes.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   31.

30B  CONTINUED: (2)

					WESLEY
			A little... he only needed help
			with statistical mechanics.

					ALBERT
				(slight smile)
			If Josh had one weakness, it was
			mathematics...

					WESLEY
			He could do it...
				(smile)
			He just didn't like to.

					ALBERT
			His mother and I thought he'd
			never make it out of calculus.
			Then he found out what the Academy
			entrance requirements were like...
			that turned him around. He stayed
			after class, got a tutor... he
			worked really hard.

	Albert smiles proudly at the memory.

					ALBERT
			He never gave up on anything...
				(beat, then very
				 difficult)
			I... I know that... he had a lot
			of respect for you, and everyone
			on the team. I realize this was
			his fault... and that... you
			could've all been killed. I...
			I wanted to... to say...

     STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT THREE     32.

30B  CONTINUED: (3)

	Albert's emotions are coming to the surface despite his
	best efforts. Wesley feels trapped, unable to put this
	man's mind at ease and yet horrified at the pain Albert
	is obviously in. Albert steels himself and looks
	Wesley straight in the eye.

					ALBERT
				(voice breaking)
			I wanted to say that I'm sorry.
			I'm sorry he let you down.

	Albert turns and EXITS before his feelings get the
	better of him. Wesley is left standing alone in the
	room holding his jacket and feeling a swirl of
	conflicting emotions.

									CUT TO:

31   EXT. STARFLEET ACADEMY (MATTE)

	The Academy as seen before.

									CUT TO:

32   OMITTED

33   INT. HEARING ROOM

	Wesley is standing near the wall monitor and everyone
	else is in the same positions as seen in Act Two,
	including Picard and Beverly. The strain is starting
	to show on Wesley... he is tired and worn.

					BRAND
			Are you ready, Mister Crusher?

					WESLEY
			Yes, sir.

	Brand touches a button on her table and the LIGHTS in
	the room DIM.

34   ANGLE ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The wall monitor shows a caption reading "SHIP'S LOG:
	CADET FOURTH CLASS WESLEY CRUSHER" and bearing the
	appropriate stardate. After a beat, the monitor comes
	to life and shows an INTERIOR VIEW of the cockpit of
	Wesley's ship.

     STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT THREE     32A.

34   CONTINUED:

	The perspective is from over the head of the pilot,
	giving us a look out the front of his canopy. The top
	of Wesley's flight helmet is visible in the bottom of
	the frame, but most of the cockpit is hidden from view.
	Superimposed over the picture are various computer
	readouts showing speed, course, g-forces, sensor
	information, etc.

	The footage is quite distorted; as Wesley talks, the
	image JUMPS and FUZZES periodically and sometimes
	breaks up altogether. At the moment, no other ships
	can be seen out of the canopy.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   33.

35   ON WESLEY

					WESLEY
			This is the beginning of our run
			toward Titan. I'm on the right
			wing.

					BRAND
			Where was Mister Albert at this
			point?

					WESLEY
			He was on my port quarter, about
			fifty meters away.

36   ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The view out the front of the canopy changes... a ship
	comes into view on the right of Wesley's canopy. The
	computer information on the screen indicates a change
	in course and speed.

37   RESUME SCENE

					WESLEY
			We just received the signal to
			begin the diamond slot formation.
			That's Cadet Locarno coming into
			view.

38   ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The view from Wesley's ship changes... the stars move
	to indicate a turn... and then a MOON suddenly moves
	into view as the ship swoops down near its surface.

					WESLEY (o.c.)
			We're in a twenty degree turn,
			coming around Titan...

	The view from the canopy is almost completely taken up
	by the moon... the interference is getting worse and
	worse...

39   RESUME SCENE

	Wesley is having trouble making out what he's seeing on
	the screen.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   34.

39   CONTINUED:

					WESLEY
			We should be coming out of Titan's
			gravity well about now...

40   ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The moon is just leaving the canopy on the screen when
	the picture finally BREAKS UP.

41   WIDER

	Including Brand and Satelk.

					BRAND
			That is the extent of the data
			we were able to recover from the
			flight recorder. Mister Crusher,
			will you describe what happened
			after you left orbit of Titan?

					WESLEY
			Once we'd cleared the moon...
			Mister Locarno led us into a
			Yeager loop... about nine seconds
			later, everything seemed to happen
			at once: the proximity alarm went
			off, I tried to veer away, but
			it was too late... I was hit...
			I lost control of the ship and
			a power coupling exploded in the
			cockpit... I don't know how, but
			I managed to activate my escape
			transporter... the next thing
			I remember was finding myself in
			the emergency evac station on
			Mimas with the rest of the
			squadron... except Josh.

					BRAND
			Do you have anything to add to
			your testimony?

					WESLEY
			No, sir.

	Brand and Satelk exchange a look. Satelk folds his
	hands in front of him and regards Wesley severely.

					SATELK
			Mister Crusher, will you describe
			a Yeager loop?

     STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT THREE     35.

41   CONTINUED:

					WESLEY
				(demonstrates with
				 hands)
			The ships begin in a diamond slot
			formation. They climb and loop
			backwards at a steep angle... at
			the peak of the loop, all five
			ships flip over and accelerate
			in a new direction.

	Satelk gives Wesley a very direct look.

					SATELK
			Mister Crusher, did your team
			remain in formation throughout
			the loop?

	Wesley takes a long beat before he answers.

					WESLEY
			Yes, sir.

					BRAND
			I want you to be absolutely clear
			on this point, Mister Crusher.
			Before the collision, was Nova
			Squadron in a diamond slot
			formation?

					WESLEY
			Yes, sir.

	Brand and Satelk exchange a look again. Brand looks
	at all four cadets in turn before she nods to Satelk.

					SATELK
				(to com)
			Computer, display Saturn NavCon
			file six dash three seven nine.

42   INCLUDE MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The monitor comes alive again and shows a view of space
	as seen from Saturn. The rings can be seen stretching
	away from the camera and one or two moons are visible.

					SATELK
			These images were obtained by a
			navigational control satellite
			in orbit around Saturn during a
			standard sensor sweep.

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT THREE   36.

43   ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	On the monitor, a cluster of tiny DOTS suddenly appear
	near the right edge of the frame.

					SATELK (o.c.)
			Computer, freeze image.

	The picture FREEZES with the dots still visible.

44   RESUME SCENE

					SATELK
				(to com)
			Magnify sector gamma three and
			enhance.

45   ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)

	The picture ZOOMS to the dots... revealing them as FIVE
	SHIPS. The ships are heading towards each other in
	a formation clearly different from the diamond slot
	seen earlier.

46   RESUME SCENE

	The tension level in the room rises a notch. Locarno
	and the other two cadets glance at each other in
	shock... they can't believe this.

47   ON PICARD

	In the audience, Picard immediately understands what's
	going on and he's shocked by the implications.

48   RESUME SCENE

	Wesley stiffens slightly and braces himself for what
	he knows is coming.

					SATELK
			This image was recorded when your
			ships moved briefly into the
			satellite's sensor range.
			According to the time index,
			what you see on the monitor took
			place seven seconds after Nova
			Squadron completed the Yeager loop.

  STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT THREE  36A.

48   CONTINUED:

					BRAND
			Mister Crusher, are these ships
			in a diamond slot formation?

     STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT THREE     37.

48   CONTINUED:

	Beat.

					WESLEY
			No, sir.

					BRAND
			What is your explanation, Mister
			Crusher?

	Beat. Wesley is forced to stonewall, and yet he
	maintains an outward appearance of confusion.

					WESLEY
			I have none.

	On Wesley's reaction...

									FADE OUT.

                       END OF ACT THREE                         

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT FOUR   38.

                           ACT FOUR                             

	FADE IN:

49   INT. WESLEY'S DORM ROOM

	Beverly and Wesley. Beverly is taking charge; her
	maternal instincts have been aroused, and she's looking
	for a way to protect her son.

					BEVERLY
			Everything's going to be okay,
			Wes. There's got to be an
			explanation for all this.

	Wesley says nothing. Beverly is on her feet, moving
	around the room, full of energy.

					BEVERLY
			Data and Geordi are already
			analyzing the flight recorder and
			the satellite transmission.

	Wesley reacts with surprise.

					WESLEY
			Why?

					BEVERLY
			There must be something wrong
			with the satellite data... it
			might have been tampered with...

					WESLEY
			Mom... that doesn't make any
			sense...

					BEVERLY
			Well there has to be some
			explanation... I know you're
			telling the truth... but that
			satellite data made it look like
			you were lying.

	Wesley suddenly feels a tremendous burden of guilt as
	his mother rises to his defense.

					BEVERLY
			I've spoken with the other
			parents...
					(MORE)

   STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT FOUR   39.

49   CONTINUED:

					BEVERLY (cont'd)
				(beat)
			I'm going to go to Admiral Brand
			and ask that she delay the inquiry
			for at least--

	Wesley can't let his mother put herself on the line
	like this. He stops her.

					WESLEY
				(firmly)
			Mom. No.
				(beat)
			You can't do that.

					BEVERLY
				(determined)
			I'm not going to let them destroy
			your career, Wes... you haven't
			done anything wrong.

	Wesley looks at her for a long beat. Beverly's faith
	and belief in her son only compounds his sense of
	guilt.

					WESLEY
			Don't try to protect me, Mom...
			Please just... stay out of it.

	Beverly looks at Wesley. She suddenly realizes he's
	telling her that he's not completely innocent. The
	revelation takes the wind out of her sails. Her
	reaction is one of shock and sorrow, not recrimination.
	She now knows just how much trouble Wesley's in.

	A long beat. She reaches out for him. They hold each
	other and embrace tightly.

									CUT TO:

50   EXT. ACADEMY GROUNDS - DAY

	As seen before. Boothby is kneeling in his flower bed,
	holding a clump of weeds and a withered plant as Picard
	comes over to him.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT FOUR       40.

50   CONTINUED:

					BOOTHBY
				(re: plant)
			Look at this... weeds keep
			popping up in the primrose
			beds... poor flowers never have
			a chance to grow...

					PICARD
				(dry)
			You could use a good herbicide
			instead of crawling about on your
			hands and knees pulling weeds.

					BOOTHBY
			And you could explore space on
			a holodeck instead of a
			starship.

	Touchˇ. Picard smiles a little to himself as Boothby
	returns to pulling weeds. Picard takes a beat, then
	kneels down next to Boothby and adopts a more personal
	tone.

					PICARD
			Boothby... tell me more about
			Nova Squadron.

					BOOTHBY
			Not going well is it?

					PICARD
			No.

	Beat as Boothby turns back to work with the flowers.

					BOOTHBY
			Remember the parrises squares
			tournament in 'twenty four?

	Picard thinks for a second, then smiles at the memory.

					PICARD
			That final game against Minsk...

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT FOUR       41.

50   CONTINUED: (2)

					BOOTHBY
			It took me three weeks to repair
			the grounds after the celebration.

					PICARD
			We had a lot to celebrate. Our
			team wasn't supposed to win.
				(beat)
			We were proud of them...

					BOOTHBY
			Well... the cadets today are just
			as proud of Nova Squadron. The
			celebration they held after Nova
			won the Rigel Cup made 'twenty-four
			look like a dinner party.
				(beat)
			To the other cadets, the members
			of that team are gods... and
			that's a hard image to live up
			to. But Nick Locarno... he
			watches out for them... he keeps
			them together.
				(beat)
			Nick is what makes that team
			special... he's their coach,
			surrogate father, and best friend
			all in one... a natural leader.
				(looks at Picard)
			The members of that team love
			him... if he asks them to do
			something, they do it... even
			if it means going right over a
			cliff.

	Boothby returns to his gardening... and Picard is left
	with something to ponder.

									CUT TO:

51   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	still orbiting Earth.

    STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT FOUR 42-42A.      

51A  INT. CORRIDOR

	Picard and Beverly on the move, heading toward
	engineering.

					BEVERLY
			He all but admitted to me that
			he was lying.

					PICARD
			What exactly did he say?

					BEVERLY
			He just asked me not to help
			him... but it was the way he said
			it ... the look on his face...
			Jean-Luc, I know my son, and he's
			in trouble.

	Picard's look says that he grimly agrees with her.

52   OMITTED

53   INT. MAIN ENGINEERING - CONTINUOUS

	Picard and Beverly ENTER. Geordi and Data are working
	at the pool table.

					PICARD
			Report.

					GEORDI
			Nothing conclusive.

	Geordi points to a monitor on the pool table (which
	we don't see).

					GEORDI
			We do know the collision occurred
			about four seconds after the
			satellite images were recorded.
			But we still don't know how the
			ships got into the new formation
			or how the crash occurred.

					DATA
			We have unsuccessfully tried over
			fifty different computational
			models in an effort to simulate
			the movements of Nova Squadron
			just prior to the crash.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT FOUR       43.

53   CONTINUED:

					GEORDI
			There're just too many variables
			to take into consideration...
			speed, attitude, course...

	Picard thinks for a moment.

					PICARD
			Did Wesley's flight recorder
			indicate there was anything...
			unusual about the ship or the way
			it was operating?

	Geordi looks at Data and tries to think.

					GEORDI
			Well, the starboard power flow
			was fluctuating.

					DATA
			However, it was well within
			operational limits.

					GEORDI
				(thinking)
			The fluidic pressure in the
			landing struts was low, but I
			don't know what difference that
			would make.

					DATA
				(thinks)
			We did find that Wesley had
			opened his coolant interlock just
			before beginning the maneuver
			around Titan.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FOUR       44.

53   CONTINUED: (2)

					GEORDI
			Which is a little unusual. The
			interlock is normally closed
			unless you're performing a check
			on the engine coolant levels.
			But there's no evidence Wesley
			was running that kind of check.

					PICARD
				(musing)
			Filling the primary coolant tanks
			requires an open interlock...
			but that can only be done in a
			maintenance bay. What other
			reasons are there to open that
			valve?

					GEORDI
			It's the first step in purging
			the plasma exhaust.

					DATA
				(objecting)
			That procedure would be extremely
			hazardous while the ship was in
			flight.

					GEORDI
			Yeah, the engine would probably
			ignite the plasma.

	Suddenly, Picard puts it together... he suddenly
	understands it all.

					PICARD
			Ignite the plasma... that's
			exactly what they were trying to
			do.

	Picard stares at the screen and his face turns grim as
	he realizes the astonishing implications. On his
	reaction...

54
thru	OMITTED
57

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT FOUR                         

          STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT FIVE          45.

                           ACT FIVE                             

	FADE IN:

58   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	The ship in orbit.

59   INT. READY ROOM

	Picard is sitting at his desk looking at something on
	the terminal when the door CHIMES.

					PICARD
			Come.

	The door OPENS and Wesley ENTERS. He's a little
	apprehensive about this meeting... but he's ready for
	it.

					WESLEY
			Captain.

	Picard studies him for a moment... pointedly does not
	offer him a chair... then he turns around the terminal
	on his desk so that Wes can see it. Picard activates
	the terminal.

					PICARD
			Can you tell me what maneuver this
			is?

60   ON TERMINAL (OPTICAL)

	The screen shows a computer simulation of the five Nova
	ships as they head around Titan. The ships slingshot
	around the moon as seen before... go into a loop...
	then shoot off in opposing directions and perform an
	intricate maneuver which results in all five ships
	coming together at one point and then bursting outward
	simultaneously... a trail of BURNING PLASMA left in
	their wake. The image FREEZES on the five ships in the
	sunburst pattern.

61   RESUME SCENE

	Wesley looks up at Picard who has never taken his eyes
	off him.

					WESLEY
			It's the Kolvoord Starburst.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/23/92 - ACT FIVE       46.

61   CONTINUED:

					PICARD
			Five ships crossing within ten
			meters of each other and then
			igniting their plasma trails.
			One of the most difficult and
			spectacular demonstrations of
			precision flying. It hasn't been
			performed by an Academy team in
			over a century. Do you know why?

					WESLEY
			It was banned by the Academy
			following a training accident.

					PICARD
			An accident in which all five
			cadets lost their lives.
				(beat)
			Nicholas Locarno wanted to end
			his Academy career in a blaze of
			glory... so he convinced the four
			of you to learn the Kolvoord
			Starburst for the commencement
			demonstration. If it worked,
			you'd thrill the assembled
			guests... and Locarno would
			graduate as a living legend.
			Except it didn't work... and
			Joshua Albert paid the price.

	There is a long beat.

					PICARD
			Am I correct?

	Wesley looks away and Picard's voice turns harder.

					PICARD
				(hard)
			I asked you a question, Cadet.

	Wesley's head snaps up at the tone of command, but he
	doesn't yield.

					WESLEY
				(stiffly)
			I... choose not to answer, sir.

	Picard regards him seriously... he gets up from the
	desk and moves closer to Wesley. His attitude is firm
	and unbending.

          STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT FIVE          47.

61   CONTINUED: (2)

					PICARD
			You choose not to answer... and
			yet you've already given an answer
			to the inquiry... and that answer
			was a lie.

					WESLEY
			I said the accident occurred after
			the loop, and it did.

					PICARD
				(hard)
			But you neglected to mention the
			fact that following the loop your
			team executed a dangerous maneuver
			which was the direct cause of the
			crash.
				(beat)
			Yes, you told the truth... but
			only to a point. And a lie of
			omission is still a lie.

	Wesley says nothing and Picard takes a couple of steps
	away from him.

					PICARD
			Do you remember the day you first
			came aboard this ship? Your
			mother brought you to the
			bridge...

					WESLEY
			Yes.

					PICARD
			You even sat in my chair. It
			annoyed me at first... a
			presumptuous child playing on my
			ship. But I never forgot the way
			you knew every control and
			display before you ever set foot
			on the bridge. You acted like
			you belonged there.

					WESLEY
				(quiet)
			I remember.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/23/92 - ACT FIVE       48.

61   CONTINUED: (3)

					PICARD
			Later... when I decided to make
			you an acting ensign, I was
			convinced you would be an
			outstanding officer. I've never
			questioned that conviction...
			until now.

	Picard turns and moves in on Wesley... finally standing
	only a couple inches away from Wesley even as his voice
	drops down to nearly a whisper.

					PICARD
			The first duty of every Starfleet
			officer is to the truth... be it
			scientific truth, historical
			truth, or personal truth. It is
			the guiding principle upon which
			Starfleet is based. If you cannot
			find it within yourself to stand
			up and tell the truth about what
			happened... you do not deserve
			to wear that uniform.

	Picard's gaze is withering... but Wesley manages to
	stand there and take it without flinching. Picard
	finally breaks the look and moves back to sit at his
	desk.

					PICARD
			Mister Crusher... I'll make this
			simple for you. Either you come
			forward and tell Admiral Brand
			what really took place... or I
			will.

					WESLEY
			Captain...

					PICARD
			Dismissed.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/23/92 - ACT FIVE       49.

61   CONTINUED: (4)

	They look at each other for another beat... then
	Wesley EXITS. Off Picard's expression...

									CUT TO:

62   INT. WESLEY'S DORM ROOM

	Wesley is waiting in the room as Nick ENTERS. Wesley
	is very disturbed... uncertain about to do and a little
	scared.

					LOCARNO
				(concerned)
			Your message said it was urgent...

					WESLEY
			They know, Nick. They know what
			we did.

	Locarno immediately goes into damage control mode.
	He is motivated by more than just self-preservation...
	he is the leader of a team and the team is in trouble.

					LOCARNO
				(taking charge)
			Calm down... now tell me exactly
			what happened.

					WESLEY
			Captain Picard called me to the
			Enterprise... when I got there
			he said he'd figured it out...
			the Kolvoord manuever, the
			cover-up, everything. He said
			that if I didn't come forward now
			and tell the truth... he would.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FIVE       50.

62   CONTINUED:

	Locarno takes a moment to think... he takes a couple of
	steps around the room as he quickly considers the
	situation.

					LOCARNO
			You said he'd "figured it out"...
			did he have any evidence?

					WESLEY
			No... but he still knew exactly
			what happened.

	Locarno breathes a little easier... he sees a way out.

					LOCARNO
			Captain Picard doesn't know
			anything... he has a theory. Let
			him tell the inquiry what he
			thinks happened... they'll ask
			us, "Is it true?" and we'll say,
			"No, sir". There's no evidence,
			so there's no case... and we'll
			get off with a reprimand.

	Wesley takes a moment... he's getting in too deep and
	warning bells are going off in his head.

					WESLEY
			You're asking me to call Captain
			Picard a liar.

	Long beat.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FIVE       51.

62   CONTINUED: (2)

	Locarno can see that Wesley is deeply conflicted...
	he moves to shore up his friend's doubts, but the
	strain of holding things together is starting to show
	on Locarno. His tone has a slight edge to it.

					LOCARNO
			Wesley... we just have to hold
			on a little longer... then this
			will all be over.

					WESLEY
				(quiet)
			It's wrong...

					LOCARNO
			Wesley...

					WESLEY
				(hard)
			No. I'm going to tell them what
			happened.

	Locarno's eyes flash with anger and his temper beings
	to wear thin.

					LOCARNO
			You're going to tell them what
			happened. You. Alone. Are going
			to decide what happens to me...
			to Sito... to Jean. You're going
			to decide that.

					WESLEY
			I'm not going to lie to them
			again, Nick... I can't live with
			it.

	Locarno moves in on Wesley... his pain and anger
	building with his every move.

					LOCARNO
			You can't lie to them... you can't
			live with it... you have to tell
			them what happened. Who the hell
			are you?

	As Locarno asks Wesley this last question, he SHOVES
	Wesley back. Wesley is surprised by the physical
	manifestation of Locarno's betrayal. Locarno keeps
	moving forward.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FIVE      51A.

62   CONTINUED: (3)

					WESLEY
				(shocked)
			Nick...

					LOCARNO
				(shoves him again)
			You're going to turn us in?

					WESLEY
			Hey, wait a minute...

					LOCARNO
				(shoves him hard)
			No, you wait a minute...

	Wesley's temper rises and he SHOVES Locarno back. They
	both freeze and there is a tense moment... finally
	Locarno takes a couple of steps away from Wesley to
	get a grip on his temper. After a beat, Locarno turns
	back to face Wesley.

					LOCARNO
			He got to you, didn't he? Picard
			gave you a big speech about duty
			and honor...

	Wesley doesn't say anything, but it's clear that
	Locarno is right.

					LOCARNO
				(bitter)
			It must've been a pretty good
			speech to make you want to turn
			your back on your friends.

					WESLEY
			We're Starfleet cadets, we have
			a duty to the truth.

					LOCARNO
			What about your duty to your
			friends?

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FIVE      51B.

62   CONTINUED: (4)

	Locarno takes a beat... he feels angry, hurt,
	betrayed... and he doesn't hesitate to let Wesley know
	it.

					LOCARNO
			I got you on this team... I gave
			you a chance when there were
			upperclassmen waiting in line.
			I said, "He won't let us down.
			He was on the Enterprise. He
			knows what it's like to trust
			somebody with his life." I guess
			I was wrong...

	Locarno's words hit Wesley hard... he's really
	struggling here.

					WESLEY
			Nick, if we all come forward
			together... tell Admiral Brand---

					LOCARNO
			We don't want to come forward...
			Sito and Jean and me... we don't
			have a problem with this.

	Locarno looks at Wesley for a long beat.

					LOCARNO
			But if you do... then resign your
			appointment to the Academy and
			walk away. Don't make us pay for
			your guilty conscience.

	Wesley looks at him for a beat... he's beginning to
	see another side of Locarno here... the driving
	ambition that is his hidden flaw.

					WESLEY
			You'd let me do it, wouldn't you?
			You'd let me throw my career away
			just to save your neck.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FIVE      51C.

62   CONTINUED: (5)

					LOCARNO
			To save the team. That's more
			important than you and it's more
			important than me.
				(beat)
			And if I was in your place... I'd
			do it. Without hesitation.
				(beat)
			But that's me.

	Locarno turns his back on Wesley and walks out of the
	room. Off Wesley's expression...

									CUT TO:

63   INT. HEARING ROOM

	It's the next day. The room is once again filled with
	spectators, the flight team, Beverly, Picard, and
	Albert. Everyone is waiting... finally Brand and
	Satelk ENTER and take their seats. Brand strikes the
	bell and brings the room to order. She regards the
	flight team with a grim expression... her tone is
	somewhat challenging... she knows that something's
	wrong and that the cadets hold the answer, but she
	can't do anything about it.

					BRAND
			Captain Satelk and I have gone
			over your testimony and the
			physical evidence from the crash.
				(beat)
			Your statements cannot be
			reconciled with the data collected
			from the NavCon satellite.
			Your unwillingness to offer any
			explanation for this contradiction
			is disappointing, and it raises
			suspicion. We cannot escape the
			conclusion that either the data
			is faulty in some way... or you
			have lied to us.
				(beat)
			However... suspicion is not
			proof... and I have no proof that
			you have lied to this inquiry.
					(MORE)

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FIVE      51D.

63   CONTINUED:

					BRAND (cont'd)
			Therefore... unless further
			evidence is presented, I have no
			choice but to close this
			investigation.
				(long beat)
			For filing an inaccurate flight
			plan, and for allowing Cadet
			Albert to fly despite the fact
			that you knew he had been having
			difficulties, I am ordering a
			formal reprimand placed on each
			of your permanent records. I am
			also revoking your flight
			privileges.
				(beat)
			This inquiry is closed.

64   ON WESLEY

	As he stands.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/28/92 - ACT FIVE       52.

64   CONTINUED:

					WESLEY
				(to Brand)
			Sir... I would like to add
			something to my testimony.

65   ON PICARD

	he's concerned... he doesn't know what Wesley is going
	to do, but he hopes he'll do the right thing.

65A  ON LOCARNO

	He's not sure what Wesley's going to do either... will
	he resign or turn them all in?

66   NEW ANGLE

	Brand glances at Satelk for a beat.

					BRAND
			Proceed, Mister Crusher.

					WESLEY
			Yesterday, I testified that the
			crash occurred following a Yeager
			loop. That's not entirely true.
				(beat)
			We did perform the loop. But
			after that, we broke formation...
			and attempted a Kolvoord
			Starburst.

	Reactions from Satelk and Brand... they recognize the
	maneuver and all that it implies.

					WESLEY
			We knew it was prohibited and that
			it would be dangerous, but we
			wanted to do something spectacular
			for the commencement
			demonstration... So we pushed
			Josh... and he wasn't ready.
			We thought we could do it... we
			thought we could do anything.
			We were wrong... and Josh died.

	Wesley turns to face Albert's father sitting in the
	audience.

					WESLEY
			Josh didn't let us down, sir.
			It wasn't his fault.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/27/92 - ACT FIVE      52A.

66   CONTINUED:

	Albert nods in silent understanding. Wesley sits
	down. After a beat, Brand turns to the rest of the
	flight team.

          STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT FIVE          53.

66   CONTINUED: (2)

					BRAND
			Cadet Sito, is this true?

	A beat as Sito makes the decision.

					SITO
				(quiet)
			Yes, sir.

					BRAND
			Cadet Hajar?

	Beat.

					HAJAR
			Yes, sir.

					BRAND
			Mister Locarno, you're the leader
			of Nova Squadron... do you have
			anything to say?

	Locarno doesn't move. A long beat passes.

					BRAND
			Mister Locarno?

	Beat. Locarno stands at attention.

					LOCARNO
				(quiet)
			No, sir.

	Hold for a beat...

									CUT TO:

67   EXT. STARFLEET ACADEMY (MATTE SHOT)

	The Academy as seen earlier.

68   EXT. ACADEMY GROUNDS - DAY

	As seen earlier. Wesley is standing near the elm tree,
	waiting. After a beat, Picard comes over to him.
	Picard is grim... Wesley doesn't have to ask the
	question.

					PICARD
			Mister Locarno has been expelled.

          STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - 1/22/92 - ACT FIVE         53A.

68   CONTINUED:

	Wesley reacts with shock and disbelief.

					WESLEY
				(bitter)
			They should've expelled all of
			us.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT FIVE       54.

68   CONTINUED: (2)

					PICARD
			They almost did. But... Mister
			Locarno made an impassioned plea
			for the rest of you. He said he
			used his influence as squadron
			leader to convince you all to
			try the Kolvoord maneuver and
			then to cover up the truth.
			He asked to take full
			responsibility.

	Hearing about his friend's final gesture makes this
	even harder on Wesley.

					WESLEY
				(a sad laugh)
			He did exactly what he said he
			would -- he protected the team.
				(beat)
			I feel awful... I've let everybody
			down... my friends, Mom, you.

					PICARD
			You should feel bad... and you
			will pay for what you did.
			Admiral Brand has decided that,
			in addition to a formal reprimand,
			your academic credits for the past
			year will be cancelled and you will
			not advance with your class.

	Wesley is a little taken back by this punishment...
	but he doesn't complain.

					WESLEY
			I understand.

	Picard considers him for a beat.

					PICARD
			It won't be easy... staying here
			on campus with everyone knowing
			what you did... I think you have
			some rough times ahead.

					WESLEY
			Yes, sir.
				(beat, heartfelt)
			Captain... thank you.

        STAR TREK: "The First Duty" - REV. 1/24/92 - ACT FIVE      54A.

68   CONTINUED: (3)

					PICARD
				(echoing Boothby's
				 words)
			You knew what you had to do...
			I just made sure you listened
			to yourself.
				(beat)
			Good-bye, Cadet.

	They shake hands.

					WESLEY
			Good-bye, Captain.

	They leave in opposite directions.

69   OMITTED

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT FIVE                         

                            THE END