STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Schisms" #40276-231 Written by Brannon Braga Directed by Robert Wiemer 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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 AUGUST 14, 1992 STAR TREK:TNG ""Schisms" - FINAL - REV. 08/17/92 - CAST STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Schisms" CAST PICARD MOT RIKER LIEUTENANT SHIPLEY DATA ENSIGN RAGER BEVERLY KAMINER (CIVILIAN) TROI CREWMEMBER WORF MEDICAL TECH. GEORDI COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking TWO CREWMEMBERS N.D ENGINEERS ONE N.D. MEDICAL ONE N.D. SECURITY STAR TREK: TNG - "Schisms" - FINAL 08/14/92 - SETS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Schisms" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE ENGINEERING SICKBAY OBS. LOUNGE TEN FORWARD CARGO BAY HOLODECK CORRIDOR BARBER SHOP RIKER'S QUARTERS ALIEN LAB STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Schisms" TEASER FADE IN: 1 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) at impulse in a vast and starry region. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 46154.2. The Enterprise has entered the Amargosa Diaspora, an unusually dense globular cluster. We are faced with the daunting task of charting this vast region. 2 INT. RIKER'S QUARTERS RIKER is lying in bed, just starting to wake up. He lies there a moment, groggy, staring into middle distance... then finally sits up. Every move is a struggle. He swings his legs over the bed... rubs his hands over his face... yawns... he just can't get going... He stands up and stretches... slowly crosses the room... 3 ANGLE ON SINK AREA (OPTICAL) Riker enters and activates the sink. He splashes cold water onto his face, then looks at his tired face in the mirror... And stops, remembering something. He reaches to a nearby panel and taps a button -- the TIME appears: it's ten thirty-seven. Riker reacts, realizing he's late for something. He rushes to a nearby dressing area and starts to get ready... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - TEASER 2. 4 INT. ENGINEERING GEORDI and DATA are working at a console; LIEUTENANT SHIPLEY and VARIOUS ND'S also present. A console monitor displays a MAP of the AMARGOSA DIASPORA. GEORDI (re: map) Lieutenant Shipley -- let's get a triangulation on these sector points... (TECH) SHIPLEY Aye sir. Shipley works. Riker ENTERS, looking harried, like he just woke up. He crosses to Geordi. RIKER (to Geordi) Sorry I'm late... I overslept again... (beat) What have you got? Geordi indicates the map. GEORDI The cluster's a lot more dense than we thought. It's going to take three days just to map one tenth of it. RIKER Three days? GEORDI I think we've found a way to speed this up. We've been testing a method of channeling warp energy to the main deflector grid. It enhances the long-range sensors... DATA The modification would increase our sensor efficiency and imaging resolution by twenty-five percent or more. Riker considers. RIKER Sounds like that would take a lot of warp energy... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - TEASER 3. 4 CONTINUED: GEORDI We'd channel it through the EPS mains on Deck Thirteen... near Cargo Bay Four. Riker is convinced. RIKER It's worth a try. GEORDI (to Data) Data, let's get those subspace field taps on-line... Data stands to go... stops by Riker. DATA (to Riker) Commander -- I would like to remind you about my poetry reading this afternoon. RIKER Wouldn't miss it for the world. Data EXITS. Riker and Geordi exchange a look... GEORDI I can hardly wait to see what he came up with... As they work... 5 INT. TEN FORWARD Later. Data is giving his poetry reading to a small audience, including Riker, Geordi, PICARD, TROI, WORF and KAMINER (A FEMALE CIVILIAN). STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/17/92 - TEASER 4. 5 CONTINUED: Data sits perched on a stool, reading from a PADD. His voice is sonorous, measured, his timing utterly perfect: DATA (reading) "Then we sat on the sand for some time and observed How the oceans that cover this world were perturbed By the tides from the orbiting moon overhead 'How relaxing the sound of the waves is,' you said. (beat) "I began to expound upon tidal effects When you told me to stop, looking somewhat perplexed So I did not explain why the sunset turned red And we watched the occurrence in silence instead." There is APPLAUSE from the audience. Data acknowledges the crowd. Riker lets out a huge yawn. Troi throws him a look. RIKER (softly, to Troi) I don't understand this... I can barely keep my eyes open... DATA (to audience) That poem was written in anapestic tetrameter. For my ninth poem, we move to the iambic septameter mode. (beat) Throughout the ages, from Keats to Jorkemo, poets have composed odes to the individuals who have had a profound effect on their lives. In keeping with that tradition, I have written my next poem in honor of my cat. I call it "Ode to Spot." Data looks at the page, takes in a breath... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - TEASER 4A. 5 CONTINUED: (2) DATA (reading) "Felis catus is your taxonomic nomenclature An endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses Contribute to your hunting skill and natural defenses." It is evident from the audience's responses that Data has been reading for a long while -- too long. People are starting to shift uncomfortably. Riker looks like he might fall asleep at any moment. While Data's poetry is technically flawless, it is also dry and tedious, without passion. DATA (continuing) "I find myself intrigued by your sub-vocal oscillations A singular development of cat communication That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection... " STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - TEASER 5. 5 CONTINUED: (3) People try to look enthused as Data reads... but it's difficult. Many are fighting boredom. Geordi and Worf exchange a look... Picard crosses and uncrosses his legs... Riker is struggling to stay awake -- he can barely keep his eyes focused... he shifts in his seat, stifles a yawn... DATA (continuing) "A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotions." Suddenly, from somewhere in the audience, a SNORE is heard. 6 ON RIKER who has fallen asleep. Troi nudges him. He wakes with a start, disoriented, and automatically starts to applaud. Data stops reading. People look over. Riker realizes what's happened... DATA (to Riker) You have prematurely anticipated my denouement, Commander. However, I appreciate the sentiment. (beat) I will continue. Data continues to read. DATA "Oh Spot, the complex level of behavior you display Connotes a fairly well-developed cognitive array And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend... " Over this, Troi throws a look at Riker, who is disturbed by his overwhelming fatigue. OFF his face, as he stifles another yawn, wondering how he could be so exhausted... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT ONE 6. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) 7 INT. SICKBAY Riker sitting on an examination table, looking fatigued. Beverly scans him with a medical tricorder. RIKER I don't have any problem getting to sleep... and I think I'm sleeping all night... but when I wake up, I feel exhausted... BEVERLY How long has this been going on? RIKER The last two, three nights... Riker eyes the tricorder, growing agitated as Beverly waves it near his head. RIKER (re: tricorder) Do you have to hold that thing so close? Beverly moves the tricorder away, surprised by the remark. Riker relaxes a little. RIKER I'm sorry... I've been on edge all day. Beverly completes her scan. BEVERLY Other than some muscle tension in your neck, I don't see anything wrong with you physically... (beat) Have you been having bad dreams? Riker thinks, rubs his sore neck. RIKER Not that I can remember... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT ONE 7. 7 CONTINUED: Beverly considers. BEVERLY This may be the result of a lack of REM sleep... RIKER What do you recommend? Beverly picks up a PADD, taps something into it -- hands the PADD to Riker. BEVERLY (continuing) Drink this before you go to bed. RIKER (re: PADD) What is it? BEVERLY A recipe for a warm milk toddy. RIKER (playful) Warm milk toddy... you're kidding. BEVERLY (right back at him) The heat activates amino acids in the lactose -- which acts as a natural sedative. (beat) Besides, this is a recipe of the Captain's Aunt Adelle. It's delicious. Riker stands to go. RIKER At this point, I'll give anything a try. (beat) Thanks. Beverly smiles. Riker EXITS... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/17/92 - ACT ONE 8. 8 INT. ENGINEERING (OPTICAL) Geordi and Data are working at a console; Lieutenant Shipley and N.D.s also present. Geordi looks excited by their work -- this is an important moment for him. GEORDI (off console) Everything's in place... deflector grid couplers... subspace field taps... (beat) Let's do it. Lieutenant Shipley -- initiate warp power transfer... SHIPLEY Aye sir... (works) Sensor array on-line... Geordi watches the console closely, eager for this to work. GEORDI Come on... work... Data monitors his console for a moment. DATA (to Geordi) Geordi -- active scanner output has increased by twenty-six percent. Geordi is pleased -- he turns to Shipley. GEORDI (to Shipley) Inform Astrophysics that the new La Forge sensor array is on-line and awaiting major scientific discoveries. SHIPLEY Yes sir. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT ONE 9. 8 CONTINUED: Shipley EXITS. Geordi moves to a console. A beat as they work. Data turns to Geordi, curious. DATA Geordi... may I make a personal inquiry? It concerns my poetry reading. Geordi looks uncomfortable at the mention of it... keeps working... GEORDI Sure, Data... what is it? DATA I noticed that many spectators seemed distracted during my presentation. Was my poetry uninteresting? Geordi hesitates, awkward. GEORDI Well... it was very well constructed... a real tribute to form... (beat) I especially liked your Haiku poem... Data looks puzzled. DATA My Haiku was only three lines long. GEORDI Yeah... it was great... very... brisk... DATA Brisk... (beat) Geordi, are you saying that the shorter my poems, the better? GEORDI No... well... sort of... (beat) To be honest, Data... some of your longer poems were a little dry. Data considers. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/17/92 - ACT ONE 9A. 8 CONTINUED: (2) Geordi comes clean. GEORDI Maybe some of your poems were a little... formal. Data considers. DATA I have found poetry more challenging than other artistic endeavors. Unlike painting and musical composition, it demands a more articulated emotional content. GEORDI Next time, don't worry so much about rhyme and meter. Some of the world's greatests poets didn't pay attention to rules... Suddenly, a warning ALARM goes off. Geordi reacts, looks toward the large wall DISPLAY of the Enterprise. A section of the ship is FLASHING. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT ONE 10. 8 CONTINUED: (3) GEORDI (re: alarm) That's the power grid warning... They quickly move to the wall display, study it. DATA (off display) I am reading a massive EPS explosion. GEORDI Where? DATA I am attempting to localize it... (works) It is Cargo Bay Four. GEORDI (reacts) I've got three people down there! (taps communicator) Damage control, medical team, to Cargo Bay Four! (to Data) Let's go... As Geordi and Data run out... 9 INT. CORRIDOR ON THE MOVE with Worf and ONE SECURITY N.D. running along, emergency gear in-tow. They converge outside the CARGO BAY FOUR doors, where Geordi, Data and Shipley are already taking tricorder scans. Beverly and TWO MEDICAL N.D.s arrive a second later, with a gurney and various medical gear. DATA (off tricorder) The field imbalance has subsided. I believe it is safe to enter. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT ONE 11. 9 CONTINUED: Worf motions for everyone to move aside. WORF (to all) There may still be a residual discharge. Stand clear. Worf and the security N.D.'s position themselves on either side of the door, emergency gear at-the-ready. Once they're in place, Worf works the control panel on the wall and the doors OPEN... A beat as nothing happens. Then Worf nods and the security team quickly enters the bay... 10 INT. CARGO BAY Continuous. Worf and the security N.D.'s rush in -- and stop at what they see. Geordi and the others quickly follow, and also react to the sight -- 11 ANGLE ON CARGO BAY The THREE CREWMEMBERS are carrying a piece of equipment, stopped in mid-stride, staring back at Worf and the others with looks of utter surprise. They are unharmed. The Cargo Bay is undamaged. There has been no explosion. Nothing is wrong. CREWMEMBER (to Worf) Is there something wrong, sir? As Worf and the others exchange a mystified look... 12 INT. CORRIDOR Later. Riker and Geordi walking along, mid-conversation. GEORDI We analyzed the power conduits -- there's no evidence of an EPS explosion. RIKER Sensors seemed to think there was... Geordi hates to admit this, but... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT ONE 12. 12 CONTINUED: GEORDI I think my modification to the sensor array may have caused a pattern recognition failure. RIKER Just a sensor glitch? GEORDI That's my guess. They walk for a beat. RIKER Perform a level three diagnostic on the internal sensor network. Make sure we haven't overlooked anything. GEORDI Aye sir. Riker slows to stop -- it's been a long day and he's clearly exhausted. RIKER Maybe we should pick this up in the morning, Mister La Forge -- get a fresh start. (beat) And would you do me a favor? Stop by my quarters at oh-seven hundred hours. I've been having trouble waking up. GEORDI Sure. Goodnight. RIKER Goodnight. As they part ways... 13 INT. RIKER'S QUARTERS Riker dressed in his nightclothes, ready for bed, standing at a replicator slot. Offscreen, we HEAR a glass of warm milk MATERIALIZE. He picks up the glass, takes a sip, winces at the taste. He crosses to the bed and sits down.... takes a long drink of the milk... sets the glass on a nearby table. He touches a panel on the table and the lights DIM. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT ONE 13. 13 CONTINUED: He crawls under the blankets, exhausted, settling in for the night... His head hits the pillow and he lets out a long sigh... closes his eyes. His breathing starts to deepen... HOLD on Riker for a few beats as he drifts off to sleep... 14 NEW ANGLE ON RIKER The door CHIMES. Riker opens his eyes, groggy. Did he hear something? The door CHIMES again. RIKER (calls out) Who is it? GEORDI (O.S.) Commander La Forge. Riker reacts, curious and a little annoyed. He throws off the covers and stands, crosses the room and taps a panel by the door. The door slides open to REVEAL Geordi, who is surprised to see Riker still dressed in his nightclothes. GEORDI (to Riker) Good morning, sir. RIKER (confused) Morning? I just went to bed... An awkward beat. GEORDI Sir -- it's oh seven hundred hours. Riker reacts -- how can that be? He glances at his bed, then back at Geordi. OFF his confused expression... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 14. ACT TWO FADE IN: A15 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) at impulse. 15 INT. BARBER SHOP MOT the Barber is with a colleague. Worf ENTERS. Mot turns, sees Worf and his face drops -- he's not pleased to see the intimidating Klingon. Worf fixes him with a baleful look, as Mot nervously tries to make Worf welcome. MOT Mister Worf! My good Klingon, sir, welcome. It's a pleasure to have you with us again... so... soon. Worf walks to a barber chair, sits down. Mot picks up a smock and starts to drape it around Worf... MOT Haircut today, Lieutenant? Trim your beard? Worf glares him. WORF I would like my hair trimmed. MOT Ah. A trim, of course... WORF (ominous) Not like last time. MOT (quickly) Oh no -- just a little off the top... took way too much off last time... Mot starts to adjust Worf's chair, lowering it... 16 FAVOR WORF as he reacts to the adjustment -- for some reason, the movement of the chair is making him uneasy. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 15. 16 CONTINUED: MOT (continuing) I was just telling my colleague Mister Setti how thick and luxuriant Klingon hair is... it's such a pleasure to cut, sometimes I get carried away... As he talks, Mot takes hold of Worf's head and moves it forward a bit. Worf reacts again, not liking the feeling... Mot picks up a comb and a pair of hair-cutting SCISSORS... MOT (continuing) All those Away Missions... wind... dry air... the elements are very harsh on the hair. I'd like to suggest you start using a conditioning agent... Mot moves the scissors toward Worf's head... 17 CLOSE ANGLE ON SCISSORS as they move toward Worf. The light glints off the shiny metal blades... 18 WORF grabs Mot's wrist, as if in self-defense. For some reason, the scissors have struck a primal chord in Worf. Mot stops, startled. Worf stares intensely at the scissors, trying to place his fear of them. Mot is shaken, afraid Worf is going to kill him. MOT I promise -- not too much off the top! Worf glances at Mot... lets go of his wrist... throws off the smock and stands. The feeling goes away just as quickly as it came. At a loss, Worf EXITS. Mot looks faint. OFF his reaction... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT TWO 16. 19 INT. CARGO BAY Riker and Geordi are looking at an opened PANEL on the bulkhead -- a cluster of circuitry is exposed. Geordi is tracing the circuitry with a tricorder... GEORDI (re: circuitry) Just before the grid alarm sounded, we were running warp power through this junction... somehow, it must've tripped the internal scanners... RIKER And they showed it as an EPS explosion... Geordi nods, steps away from the panel. GEORDI The question is, why? I've made modifications to the sensors before... and nothing like this ever happened. Riker considers. RIKER We can't waste time chasing down sensor ghosts. Keep the array off-line until you have a chance to take a closer look. Geordi nods, and lets out a yawn. GEORDI (yawning) Aye sir... RIKER (re: his yawn) I know the feeling... the past few nights, it seems the second my head hits the pillow, it's time to get up again. GEORDI We could all use some shore leave after this survey. Riker nods. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 17. 19 CONTINUED: RIKER Definitely. (beat) Keep me informed. Riker turns and EXITS. Geordi moves to a nearby free-standing console, where Data is working. GEORDI (to Data) Data, will you give me a hand? I've got to run a structural integrity scan. I want to make sure the conduit wasn't weakened by the -- Geordi stops, reacting to a sudden pain in his VISOR. GEORDI Ow... Geordi adjusts his VISOR. Data looks at him, curious. DATA What is it? GEORDI (continuing) This is the second time today my VISOR's cut out... Geordi reacts to something else -- a sudden feeling of discomfort -- more than VISOR pain, a sense of anxiety that he can't quite place... DATA Are you alright, Geordi? Geordi takes a few uncertain steps around the room... trying to place the feeling... GEORDI I don't know... I just had a weird feeling... (beat) I think I'd better get to Sickbay... DATA I will run the integrity scan. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 17A. 19 CONTINUED: (2) GEORDI Thanks... Geordi EXITS, leaving Data alone in the Cargo Bay. As Data starts to work the console... 20 INT. SICKBAY Geordi's VISOR is off. Beverly scans a medical tricorder across the blinking terminal points on either side of Geordi's head. BEVERLY This is curious... (beat) There's a slight bacterial infection around your neural inputs... it was probably interrupting the data stream. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 18. 20 CONTINUED: GEORDI (reacts) Infection... from what? BEVERLY (off tricorder) It doesn't match any bacterial strains on record... Beverly picks up a small MEDICAL TOOL. She holds Geordi's head steady and activates the tool -- sweeps across both of his inputs. BEVERLY I'm going to sterilize the area... but I'll need to run a resonance tissue scan to look for signs of additional infection... Beverly indicates a nearby diagnostic INSTRUMENT (as seen in "Cause and Effect). BEVERLY Come over here... Geordi crosses to the instrument and sits down. Beverly positions his head in the instrument... BEVERLY You'll need to hold still... Beverly activates the instrument and begins to enter commands... 21 INT. CARGO BAY Geordi ENTERS. Data is working at the console, in the same position as he was when Geordi left him in the previous Cargo Bay scene. GEORDI How's the scan going, Data? Data looks at Geordi. DATA I have just started the scan. I thought you were going to Sickbay. Geordi is surprised. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 18A. 21 CONTINUED: GEORDI I've been there for the past hour and a half. Data looks puzzled. DATA That is not possible. (thinks a beat) My internal chronometer indicates it has been exactly one minute, fifteen seconds since you left the room. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 19. 21 CONTINUED: (2) GEORDI I'm telling you, Data, I've been gone for over an hour. They look at each other a moment, confused. DATA (to computer) Computer -- what time is it? COMPUTER VOICE The time is fourteen twenty-seven hours. Data thinks. DATA You are correct. Ninety-two minutes, seventeen seconds have passed since you left the room. GEORDI What have you been doing all this time? DATA (thinks) I have no memory of events during that period. (beat) When we are finished here, I will perform a self-diagnostic. Geordi is getting suspicious... GEORDI First we pick up a false EPS explosion... then my VISOR cuts out twice... now you lose an hour... all in the Cargo Bay... (taps communicator) La Forge to Engineering -- I want a diagnostic team to Cargo Bay Two immediately. SHIPLEY'S COM VOICE On our way, sir. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT TWO 20. 21 CONTINUED: (3) OFF Geordi's concern... 22 INT. BRIDGE Riker, N.D.s, and ENSIGN RAGER at Conn. Riker is in his chair, looking at his armchair console, still fighting fatigue. RIKER (to Rager) Ensign Rager -- cartography needs a better position to study cluster FGC-thirteen. (beat) Bring us about, heading one twenty three mark four. RAGER Aye sir. (works console) Helm won't lock to those coordinates, sir. Riker moves to her -- sees the problem. RIKER First time navigating through a globular cluster, Ensign? Rager nods, a little embarrassed. Riker smiles and motions that he wants to take over the Conn. Rager stands to let Riker sit down... 23 FAVOR RIKER as he sits down at the Conn behind the console... RIKER You've got to compensate for gravimetric interference before you... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 21. 23 CONTINUED: Riker stops -- struck by a feeling of discomfort. He stares at the console... entranced by it... glides his hand across the smooth, polished surface of the display... as if remembering something... Suddenly, panic overwhelms him -- he feels trapped. Instinctively, he gets out of the chair... Rager isn't sure how to react. RAGER Sir... is there something wrong? Riker glances at her, shaken... realizes how this must look, but cannot explain the feeling... RIKER No... I don't know... (indicates chair) Maintain your original course, Ensign... Rager takes over the Conn. Riker backs away and sits down in his command chair... bewildered at what just happened... 24 INT. CARGO BAY VARIOUS ND ENGINEERS are scanning and inspecting the large room. Geordi is working the console; Data and Lieutenant Shipley are working nearby. A small BEEP goes off on the console. Geordi hits a few commands... The BEEP sounds in response. Geordi looks frustrated. GEORDI (re: console) Don't tell me... Geordi works the controls. Again, the BEEP. GEORDI This can't be right... (calls to Data) Data, can you come take a look at this? Data joins him at the console. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT TWO 22. 24 CONTINUED: GEORDI (continuing) I think we've got another sensor glitch. Curious, Data works the console. DATA The sensors are functioning normally... (beat) They are detecting a subspace particle emission originating from within this room. GEORDI (reacts) Within this room... that's not possible... Data flips open his tricorder, starts scanning the room... starts walking toward the far wall... DATA (off tricorder) The emission is emanating from this direction... Data walks toward the far wall... starts scanning the bulkhead... and stops at a particular point on the wall (the point where the panel was removed earlier). Data reacts to what he sees... DATA Geordi... Geordi crosses to Data, reacts to the sight -- 25 INCLUDE BULKHEAD (OPTICAL) A small section of the wall is PULSATING -- as if the metal itself has come alive, and is undulating in perpetual waves -- rippling. OFF Geordi's astonishment... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT THREE 23. ACT THREE FADE IN: 26 INT. CARGO BAY (OPTICAL) Data and Geordi reporting to Picard. Shipley is working nearby. They are standing near the altered bulkhead, which continues to PULSATE. DATA (to Picard, re: bulkhead) The structure of the bulkhead is being altered on a subatomic level. The metal itself is in a state of quasi-molecular flux. Picard eyes the wall. PICARD What's causing it? Geordi and Data exchange a look. GEORDI This is where it gets pretty wild, Captain... (beat) Behind this panel, there's a junction we were using to transfer warp power to the sensor array. We're picking up a subspace particle stream emanating from that junction... DATA It appears to be composed of spatially-inverted tetryon particles. (beat) We believe they are emanating from a tertiary subspace manifold. PICARD (surprised) I thought tetryons were unstable in normal space... GEORDI We don't understand it either, sir. (MORE) STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT THREE 24. 26 CONTINUED: GEORDI (Cont'd) Something from that deep in subspace shouldn't be able to exist in our universe... (indicates bulkhead) But here it is. They watch the rippling wall a moment. PICARD (re: wall) Does this pose a danger to the ship? GEORDI Not unless it spreads... if it does, we could beam the bulkhead into space and erect a forcefield in its place. PICARD Keep that option ready. For now, proceed with the analysis. GEORDI Aye sir. Picard takes a final glance at the wall, then EXITS. As Data and Geordi continue to work... 27 INT. TEN FORWARD Riker and Troi sitting at a table, mid-conversation. Riker is weary and frustrated, struggling to find the right words... RIKER When I sat down at the console, it triggered a response... like I was trapped... I had to get out of there... TROI Was it something about the console itself? Riker thinks. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT THREE 25. 27 CONTINUED: RIKER No... it seemed disconnected somehow... maybe it's something I dreamed... Troi is troubled by what she's heard. TROI Wil... you're the third person today who's come to me with something like this... an intense emotional response provoked by an object... Riker reacts. RIKER Did anyone know why they had that reaction? TROI No... they couldn't explain it any more than you could... (beat) At this point, I'm not willing to say it's coincidence. RIKER Maybe we should all get together. Troi nods. TROI Talking about it might help you understand the response... (beat) I'm going to find out if anyone else on the ship has been having experiences like this... Riker nods. OFF his anxious expression... 28 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) at impulse. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT THREE 26. 29 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Troi, Riker, Worf, Geordi and Kaminer (the civilian seen in the Teaser) sitting in a semi-circle. Troi is leading the discussion. There is a sense of uneasiness in the room. TROI (to Riker) Wil... you said you had an unusual reaction when you sat down at the console. What was it like? Riker concentrates, trying to grasp the feelings... RIKER It's hard to describe... it was vague... like the way you recall a dream... (beat) I remember the sensation of being trapped... and something about a smooth surface... A pause. Everyone knows exactly the feeling Riker is talking about -- they felt it too -- but what to make of it? TROI (to all) Can anyone else describe what they felt? Worf shifts, awkward -- is reluctant to admit this type of vulnerable feeling, but it's nagging at him... WORF I had a similar response... to a pair of scissors. TROI Have you had any dreams about scissors recently? Worf thinks, uncertain. WORF I may have... I do not have a distinct memory of it... A beat as they try to remember more... struggling... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT THREE 26A. 29 CONTINUED: GEORDI When my VISOR cut out in the Cargo Bay, I had a weird feeling too... something about a smooth surface... (beat) Smooth... and cold... I think it was cold... This strikes a chord in Kaminer. KAMINER Yes, cold... Worf is hit by a memory... gropes with it, barely able to recall... WORF It was elevated... a platform... Geordi wrestles with the image... GEORDI Right... a bench... Geordi glides a hand over the Observation Lounge table... GEORDI Or a table... Everybody reacts to the word "table" -- they exchange an uneasy look. TROI It sounds like you've all had a similar experience... (beat) Do you remember anything more about it besides the table? They think... unsure... RIKER Maybe there's a way we can help ourselves remember more... OFF Riker's determination... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT THREE 27. 30 INT. HOLODECK (OPTICAL) The room is bare, except for the familiar GRID. Riker, Worf, Geordi and Kaminer are there, standing around the room... each of them looking inward, trying to remember. Troi stands off to one side, lending guidance to the others. TROI (to all) You all remember a table... let's start with that... (to computer) Computer -- show me a table... COMPUTER VOICE There are five thousand forty-seven classifications of tables on file. Specify design parameters. They all think a moment, trying to see the table in their minds. TROI (to all) Can you remember anything specific about the table? You mentioned it was cold, and smooth... (beat) Do you remember what shape it was? Kaminer has an image... KAMINER Long... it was long... GEORDI Yeah... a rectangular shape... TROI (to computer) Computer -- create a rectangular conference table. A TABLE APPEARS -- a rectangular conference table, made of wood. They eye it carefully... trying to distinguish their feelings and vague impressions... Geordi walks up to the table and lays his hands on it... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT THREE 28. 30 CONTINUED: GEORDI (to himself) It's too high... (to computer) Computer... decrease table height by... twenty-five percent... The table LOWERS a notch. Geordi looks to the others. Worf walks up to the table... takes a long look at it... isn't satisfied with the way it looks... WORF (re: table) No... the table was smaller... and it was inclined... Worf wrestles with the image in his mind... WORF (to computer) Computer -- decrease the table's surface area by... twenty percent... (beat) And incline the top... fifteen degrees... The table is REPLACED by a table that fits Worf's description -- smaller and inclined a few degrees -- now about the size of a person. They stare at the table... struck by the familiarity of it... RIKER It wasn't made of wood... it was smoother... more metallic... TROI (to computer) Computer -- make this a metal table. The table CHANGES to a METAL TABLE. They look at it. GEORDI (re: table) That's starting to look right... There is a long pause. Troi tries to draw out more... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT THREE 29. 30 CONTINUED: (2) TROI Was there anything else in the room? Furniture... chairs... a door... other people... They looks around the grid. Kaminer shakes her head, not seeing any of it... KAMINER No... it was dark... RIKER Dark, right... you couldn't see beyond the table... TROI (to computer) Computer -- lower the surrounding light level. The room around the table DARKENS. Geordi looks above the table, as if seeing something... GEORDI There was a light right in my face... a bright light... (beat) Computer -- give me a bright light... right above the table... COMPUTER VOICE Specify light source. GEORDI (struggles) I couldn't tell.. it was above me... an overhead lamp... COMPUTER VOICE Estimated distance of light source. GEORDI (annoyed) I don't know... (beat) It seemed like it was at least... two, three meters above... A bright LIGHT streams down onto the table. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - 8/14/92 - ACT THREE 30. 30 CONTINUED: (3) GEORDI (to computer) Brighter... The light gets BRIGHTER. GEORDI (to computer) Brighter. The light INTENSIFIES, almost blinding. A beat as they absorb the feel of the room... this is getting creepy... Troi turns to Riker. TROI (to Riker) Wil... you said you were uneasy when you sat down at the Conn position... Riker shakes his head, frustrated by his inability to recall... RIKER Yeah... I felt trapped by the console... (beat) But it wasn't like this... there was something else here... TROI A restraint of some kind? Riker reacts to the word "restraint" -- it's slowly coming to him now... RIKER Yes... a restraint... it came down over my legs... (beat) No, no... my chest... it came across my chest... Riker moves to the table, touches it, grasping for more details... TROI It was holding you down... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT THREE 30A. 30 CONTINUED: (4) RIKER (nods) Yes... it was part of the table... He runs his hands along the side of the table... trying to "see" what it was like... stops his hand half-way down the side of the table... RIKER Here... right here... A beat. TROI (to computer) Computer -- create a restraining arm... attached to the right side of the table, at the mid-point... Something resembling a metallic BODY RESTRAINT appears. TROI (re: restraint) Was it like that? Riker stares at it. RIKER (to computer) Computer -- put controls on the restraint... a control panel... lights... The restraining arm LIGHTS UP with blinkies. Riker reacts, uncomfortable at the sight... They gaze at the restraint, all standing around the table now... hands upon it... striving to remember. Kaminer eyes an area just above the table, mid-air... "sees" something in her mind... KAMINER There was something else here... above me... a metal swing arm... (to computer) Computer -- create a metal swing-arm, double-jointed, total length one meter... (as she points to table) Connect it to the head of the table... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT THREE 30B. 30 CONTINUED: (5) A METAL SWING-ARM APPEARS at the head of the table. Worf walks up and studies it... WORF There was something attached to it... (beat) A tool of some sort... scissor-like... Worf stares at the table. WORF (to computer) Computer -- produce a pair of scissors... attached to the armature... A pair of SCISSORS APPEAR on the end of the swing-arm. Worf stares at them... groping for details... WORF (re: scissors) The handle is wrong... (to himself) ... It wasn't scissors... (to computer) Computer -- make the handle a single grip... ten centimeters long... solid metal... The scissor handle is REPLACED by a handle that fits Worf's description -- a plain metal grip. WORF (to computer) Make one blade longer... and curved inward... One blade of the scissors becomes LONGER and CURVED. WORF (continuing) Give the second blade a... jagged edge... The second blade becomes JAGGED. Worf eyes the tool, uneasy. Riker exchanges a look with Troi, who is watching all of this with concern. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT FOUR 32. 32 CONTINUED: PICARD Tetryons... the same particles in the Cargo Bay... They consider the implications. Data ENTERS the room, crosses to Picard and Beverly. They turn to him, eager to hear what he has to say. DATA (to Picard) I have completed my self-diagnostic, and confirmed that I was not aboard the Enterprise for ninety minutes, seventeen seconds yesterday afternoon. PICARD Explanation? DATA Whenever I am on the ship, the warp field leaves an electromagnetic signature on my internal servo fluid system. Yesterday, between twelve fifty-four and fourteen twenty-six hours that signature is missing. Reactions. Picard thinks of something, suddenly concerned. PICARD (to computer) Computer -- are there any crewmembers missing from the Enterprise? A beat. COMPUTER VOICE There are two crewmembers unaccounted for. PICARD Identify them. COMPUTER VOICE Lieutenant Edward Hagler and Ensign Sariel Rager. PICARD When did they leave? STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT FOUR 32A. 32 CONTINUED: (2) COMPUTER VOICE They have not been present since twenty-three thirty-two hours. RIKER How did they leave? COMPUTER VOICE Method of departure unknown. Reactions. The reality and horror of the situation hits them suddenly. PICARD (taps communicator) Picard to Bridge. N.D.'S COM VOICE Bridge here. PICARD (to com) Raise shields and maintain a Level Four security alert -- I want to know if anyone goes on or off this ship. N.D.'S COM VOICE Aye sir. Picard looks to the others, urgent. PICARD (to Data, Geordi) Mister La Forge, Mister Data -- I believe if we find the source of those tetryon emissions, we may also find our missing crewmembers. GEORDI We'll get on it, sir. From offscreen, a medical N.D. calls to Beverly -- MEDICAL N.D. (O.S.) Doctor Crusher -- you'd better take a look at this... Beverly, Picard and Data move to the N.D., who had been examining Riker. Riker has his arm in a diagnostic INSTRUMENT. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT FOUR 33. 32 CONTINUED: (3) The N.D. looks shaken -- he indicates the instrument, and Beverly reads some information off the screen -- reacts to what she sees, incredulous. BEVERLY My God... RIKER What is it? Beverly turns to Riker, not sure how to put this... BEVERLY (to Riker) Commander... it looks as though your arm has been severed and reattached. Reactions. RIKER What? Beverly hits a few commands into the instrument and a nearby WALL MONITOR shows a GRAPHIC of Riker's ARM. The graphic MAGNIFIES to highlight a series of miniscule markings in the bone. Beverly indicates the graphic... BEVERLY The skeletal structure in your radius and ulna is offset by point zero two microns... (beat) Your arm has been amputated... then surgically reattached. Riker looks down at his arm, dismayed. Off their unsettled reactions... 33 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) at impulse. 34 INT. CARGO BAY Geordi and Data ENTER. Lieutenant Shipley turns to them, concerned. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT FOUR 34-35. 34 CONTINUED: GEORDI (to Shipley) Any progress, Lieutenant? SHIPLEY Take a look at this... Shipley motions to the center of the room -- 35 ANGLE ON CARGO BAY (OPTICAL) Visible in the middle of the room is a tiny TEAR IN SPACE, swirling, distorting the area around it. 36 DATA AND GEORDI react. Data flips open his tricorder and walks toward the rupture to take readings... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/19/92 - ACT FOUR 36. 37 ANGLE ON GEORDI (OPTICAL) as he opens his tricorder and moves to the same PULSATING wall we saw in Act Three. The wall is worse -- DISTORTING like crazy, in larger waves. Geordi reacts to his tricorder, concerned. GEORDI (to Data, re: bulkhead) Data -- the tetryon emissions have intensified. They seem to be focusing in this direction... Geordi follows the readings with the tricorder -- tracing an invisible stream of particles through the air, toward the rupture at the center of the Cargo Bay... 37A ANGLE ON DATA (OPTICAL) standing a few feet away from the tear in space, scanning it. Geordi stops next to him -- he motions to the spatial rupture. GEORDI (continuing, re: rupture) ... coalescing here... they're reading as a point of subspace energy. DATA (re: rupture) It appears to be the beginnings of a spatial rupture. Geordi reads his tricorder. GEORDI The way the tetryon emissions are modulating... it's like somebody is controlling the flow of energy... A beat as they watch the rupture. Geordi starts to realize... GEORDI Data... some of the signals from the modifications I made to the sensor array dipped pretty deep into subspace... (MORE) STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 36A. 37A CONTINUED: GEORDI (Cont'd) (beat) Maybe they caught somebody's attention... They consider. Data completes his readings of the rupture. DATA At the rate the rupture is expanding, we are in danger of a hull breach. GEORDI Let's try surrounding it with a subspace containment field... As they move off to work... 37B INT. BRIDGE Picard, Riker, Worf, N.D.s. Picard and Riker are at the aft science station, studying a GRAPHIC of various sensor logs. RIKER Other than the tetryon emissions in Cargo Bay Four, none of the internal sensors recorded anything unusual over the past three days. Picard looks at the graphic. PICARD Initiate a metallurgical analysis of the ship's hull -- subspace field incursions might have left a trace. Riker nods. A warning ALARM sounds on Worf's console. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 37. 37B CONTINUED: WORF (off console) Captain -- sensors indicate that Lieutenant Hagler has returned to the Enterprise. He is in his quarters, Deck Seven, Section Nineteen. Reactions. As Picard and Riker EXIT... 38 INT. CORRIDOR ON THE MOVE with Beverly, running down the hall. She reaches a door and taps the control pad next to it. No response. BEVERLY (to computer) Computer -- emergency entry, Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher. The doors slide open -- from within the darkened quarters, LIEUTENANT HAGLER comes stumbling out, dressed in nightclothes, a blueish-gray cast to his skin, arms groping at the air. Beverly grabs hold of him -- he starts to convulse, delirious with pain. Beverly lowers him to the floor... scans him with a medical tricorder... reacts to what she sees, amazed... BEVERLY (hits communicator, urgent) Crusher to Sickbay -- get a plasma infusion unit to Deck Seven, Section Nineteen! Picard and Riker arrive a second later. Beverly continues scanning... BEVERLY (re: Hagler) His blood is transforming into some sort of... liquid polymer... A beat as she scans... then reacts as Hagler dies. She closes the tricorder... stands... looks to Picard and Riker, shaken. OFF their horrified reactions... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 38. 39 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard, Riker, Data, Troi, Geordi, Beverly, Worf. Picard is pacing, restless -- he's unnerved by the helplessness he feels at the situation. GEORDI We've set up a containment field in Cargo Bay Four. But the rupture just keeps expanding. I'd say we've got another five or six hours before it breaches the hull. PICARD Can we still beam the affected sections into space? DATA No sir. The spatial rupture is creating severe nucleonic interference. It is impossible to obtain a positive lock on the bulkheads. They consider. PICARD (to Geordi) Has your analysis suggested any way to seal the rupture? Geordi thinks. GEORDI We think we could close the rupture by neutralizing the tetryon emissions with a coherent graviton pulse. But we'd have to do it at the source. RIKER How do we find the source? GEORDI That's a good question. The emissions are coming from a tertiary subspace domain. But subspace has an infinite number of domains... (beat) It's like a huge honeycomb with an endless number of cells. We need to isolate the exact cell the emissions are coming from... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 39. 39 CONTINUED: A beat. PICARD (to Geordi) If someone homed in on subspace signals created by our modified sensor array... can we do the same thing to them -- track the tetryon emissions to their universe? DATA Tetryon particles have a random momentum. Our sensors are unable to track them. They think for a moment. Worf gets an idea... WORF Perhaps we could make a homing device -- something our sensors could track. Geordi takes a beat, considers. GEORDI Good idea. But there's no way to get that device to the source. RIKER Yes, there is. (beat) Give it to me. They look at him. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 40. 39 CONTINUED: (2) RIKER It's pretty clear I've been taken each of the past few nights... if I'm right, there's every chance it'll happen again tonight. GEORDI (onto the idea) If you had a homing device, we could track it to your location in subspace... then, as soon as they send you back to the ship... we could transmit the graviton pulse and neutralize the tetryon emissions... TROI If they send him back. Ensign Rager still hasn't been returned... RIKER They're going to take me whether I want to go or not. A beat as Picard considers. PICARD (to Riker) We'll wait as long as we can for you to be returned, Number One. But as soon the spatial rupture threatens the ship... we'll have to transmit that graviton pulse. RIKER Understood. A grim beat. PICARD (to Riker) Perhaps we can give you an advantage... a way of keeping you conscious after they take you... Picard looks to Beverly. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 40A. 39 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD (to Beverly) Doctor -- can you develop a counter-agent to the neuro-sedative they've been giving the crew? BEVERLY I could try a neuro-stimulant -- but the dosage would have to be pretty high to counter the effects. It might be risky. RIKER It's a risk I'm willing to take. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 41. 39 CONTINUED: (4) PICARD (to Beverly) Make it so. (to Geordi) Mister La Forge -- begin work on a homing device. As they rise to go... 39A INT. SICKBAY Geordi, Beverly, Riker. Geordi is making a few adjustments to a tricorder. Beverly injects Riker with a hypospray. Riker shakes his head, feeling lightheaded. BEVERLY It should be enough to ward off their neuro-sedative for about twelve hours. RIKER I hope that's enough. BEVERLY It'll have to be. I can't risk giving you a higher dosage. Geordi completes his adjustments, hands Riker the tricorder. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FOUR 42. 39A CONTINUED: GEORDI I've locked the tricorder into continuous scan. That way, it'll keep recording whether you open it or not. (beat) Maybe you can bring back some information about their universe. Riker takes the tricorder. Geordi picks up an armband DEVICE (as seen in "Cause and Effect") and shows it to Riker. Geordi presses a button on the device and a LIGHT comes on. GEORDI (re: device) When you see this indicator light up, it means we've locked onto the signal. Riker nods. RIKER Understood. As Riker straps the device to his arm... 40 INT. RIKER'S QUARTERS Later. Riker alone, on his back, lying in bed, eyes open, unable to sleep. He's in uniform, a phaser attached to his waist and a tricorder in his hand. The homing device armband is strapped to his left arm. (Note: the tricorder is active). A quiet moment passes by as he lies there, waiting... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 43. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 42 INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) CLOSE ON RIKER, who carefully opens his eyes, disoriented -- where is he? He steals a look at the strange surroundings, testing the situation... all the while, trying to appear as though he is semi-conscious... The room resembles the Holodeck lab from Act Three -- a pool of light shining down on a smooth operating table, darkness all around -- except it is more detailed, embellished with various alien gadgets and markings. It has a DISTORTED quality -- surreal and dream-like, as though our perceptions are being altered. SOUNDS echo back and forth, disorienting. The CLICKING NOISES can be heard -- suggestive of the Holodeck recreation, but more strange and alien-sounding. We are in another space -- tetryon space. We see the examination table, which resembles the Holodeck table, but is embellished with various alien markings and appliances. Riker is trapped beneath an alien CONSOLE on top of his arms and chest, holding him down. Attached to the swing-arm on the table is the familiar TOOL -- its jagged blades all the more vivid and terrifying in real life. Riker looks beside him. Ensign Rager is lying on a nearby platform on the floor. Her eyes are open, but her expression is blank. Clearly, she's been heavily sedated and is semi-conscious. Riker sees it's hopeless and looks elsewhere, into the surrounding darkness... Barely visible in the darkness, several shadowy FIGURES are rustling about, making the clicking sounds. An alien-looking CONSOLE is visible as well as an empty PLATFORM. One of the figures approaches Riker. It is clearly ALIEN. A dark, contorted body... jerky movements... strange chattering, clicking noises... always obscured by shadow, so we never get a clear view of it, only terrifying glimpses... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 44. 42 CONTINUED: Riker continues to feign semi-consciousness. The clicking sounds intensify, and a bright light SHINES into Riker's face. Riker watches as a small PEDESTAL is moved next to the table, near his left hand. On top of the pedestal there are several bizarre and frightening ALIEN TOOLS. An ALIEN HAND reaches into the light and removes the phaser from Riker's waist, then takes the tricorder out of his hand. (Note: Although closed, the tricorder stays activated throughout the scene.) The alien then removes the homing device from Riker's arm... and sets all three instruments on the pedestal. The alien moves back into the darkness. Riker steals a look to make sure the alien has left... glances at the alien tools on the pedestal, worried. OFF his face as he furtively watches... 42A INT. ENGINEERING Geordi is working in his office. Shipley and several N.D. are working in the b.g. The situation is tense. Picard ENTERS and crosses to Geordi. PICARD (to Geordi) Report. GEORDI (off console) I still can't locate the homing signal... (beat, working) We've covered the entire upper-subspace energy band. We're extending the scan to adjacent energy levels... Geordi works. PICARD (taps communicator) Picard to Data. Your status? STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 45. 43 OMITTED 44 INT. CARGO BAY (OPTICAL) Data is working the freestanding console. Visible in the middle of the room, the tear in space is LARGER... swirling... distorting the space around it... DATA (to com) The rupture has expanded another four point two percent. Without further reinforcement, containment field integrity will fail in approximately fourteen minutes. 44A INT. ENGINEERING Picard turns to Geordi. PICARD Can you divert more power to the containment field? GEORDI I can try to augment the field with auxiliary power, but it won't be much... PICARD Make it so. GEORDI Aye sir. As Geordi works... 45 INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) Riker watches furtively as an alien figure crosses the room to Rager... stoops over her and begins to do something to her that we cannot see. We HEAR Rager moan, as though in pain... Riker reacts slightly, his instincts compelling him to help Rager -- but he's strapped down, helpless, and must continue to feign semi-consciousness... The alien figure finishes with Rager... approaches Riker... stops at the table and SHINES the light into his face... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 45A. 45 CONTINUED: An alien hand takes one of the alien tools off of the pedestal... moves the tool into the light and begins to wave it around Riker's head. The tool sends out a STRANGE NOISE, as if the alien is scanning him. The alien pulls the tool away, as if to read it... Riker is sweating now... it's all he can do to stay calm and under control... The alien hand moves the tool back into the light, begins to wave it around Riker's head again. It sends out the awful NOISE. After a beat, the alien figure retreats into the darkness... 45A NEW ANGLE - THE PEDESTAL Suddenly, the small LIGHT on the homing device starts to FLASH. Riker takes note... the alien does not see it... 45B OMITTED 45C INT. ENGINEERING A small ALARM is sounding. Geordi reacts to his console. GEORDI Captain -- I've located the homing signal. Locking onto it now... (beat) It's coming from a subspace energy level of sixteen point-two K-E-V... PICARD Stand by to initiate the graviton pulse. They work. SHIPLEY Graviton emitters at full power, sir. Standing by. PICARD (to com) Picard to Data. How much time? STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 46. 45C CONTINUED: DATA'S COM VOICE At the present rate, containment failure will occur in approximately nine minutes. Picard and Geordi exchange a tense look... 45D INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) Riker still on the table, feigning semi-consciousness; homing device still flashing. He watches as another alien figure approaches and stops at the table. An alien hand comes into the light and touches a control on the console over Riker's chest. The console automatically raises off of Riker's chest, freeing him... The alien turns its body away, begins to work at something that Riker cannot see. Riker realizes he's got an opportunity to get out of here... he glances down at the pedestal... slowly starts to move his hand toward the tools... while keeping an eye on the alien, so as not to alert it... Riker's hand is just closing around one of the alien instruments, when suddenly the alien turns around -- we see that it is holding the wicked scissor-like tool... The alien is moving the scissor-tool toward Riker's chest... the shiny blades coming closer and closer... Riker wraps his fingers around an instrument, ready to use it as a weapon... suspense builds... 45E INT. CARGO BAY Data working. LIGHT from the rupture FLASHING. DATA (to com) Captain -- the containment field is beginning to fluctuate. Failure anticipated in three minutes, eleven seconds. 45F INT. ENGINEERING As before. Tension building. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 47. 45F CONTINUED: PICARD We can't afford to wait any longer... (beat) Begin the graviton pulse. Geordi, realizing the gravity of what he's about to do, moves to the controls. GEORDI (works) Initiating pulse... now. As Geordi hits a control: 45F INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) Riker and the alien react to A FLASH OF LIGHT that occurs offscreen. A strange ALARM starts to sound. The alien starts clicking loudly, and quickly retreats into the darkness. The shadowy figures scurry about... clicking... clearly reacting with concern to something that has happened. They crowd around the alien console, working frantically... Riker waits a beat, hand still poised on the tool, and watches with interest... 46 INT. CARGO BAY Data is working. DATA (to com) Data to Engineering. The graviton pulse is having an effect. The tetryon emissions have decreased by nineteen percent... From offscreen, the rupture sends out a FLASH OF LIGHT. Data reacts to the console. DATA (to com) Captain -- additional subharmonics have appeared. They are reinforcing the tetryon emissions... (MORE) STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 48. 46 CONTINUED: DATA (Cont'd) (reads console) They appear to be counter-acting the graviton pulse... (beat) The rupture is beginning to expand again. 46A INT. ENGINEERING Concern. Geordi reacting to various console information. GEORDI Looks like somebody's fighting back... PICARD Can you strengthen the graviton pulse? GEORDI (nods) I'll try setting up a random frequency shift. If we can keep them from guessing our pulse modulation... they might not be able to compensate... As he works... 47 INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) Riker watches from the table. The alien figures are working the console, clicking and chattering, unhappy about something. Clearly, they have more important things to do than worry about Riker, who they believe is sedated. In a darkened corner, just above the alien PLATFORM, a TEAR IN SPACE OPENS UP -- a large, distorted RUPTURE. VISIBLE THROUGH THE VORTEX IS THE ENTERPRISE CARGO BAY. Riker reacts to the sight, starts to realize... 48 INT. CARGO BAY (OPTICAL) ANGLE ON SPATIAL RUPTURE as it starts to CHANGE COLOR and ALTER SHAPE. It EXPANDS OUTWARD briefly. (NOTE: The alien lab is not visible through the rupture.) STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 49. 49 OMITTED 50 DATA is working. DATA (off console) Tetryon emissions continue to increase. (beat) The rupture is still expanding. Hull breach is imminent. 50A INT. ENGINEERING Tension building. GEORDI (off console, frustrated) They're reacting faster than we can shift frequencies... Geordi gets an idea. GEORDI (to Shipley) Shipley -- program the emitters for full spectrum pulse compression. I want to channel all of the graviton energy into a single burst... (beat) Let's see if they can handle that... SHIPLEY (works) Ready, Commander. Geordi hits a couple of controls, then moves to a nearby wall panel. Determined, he hits a final button... STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 50. 50B OMITTED 51 INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) The rupture is still looking out into the Enterprise Cargo Bay, like a window. Suddenly, the room SHAKES. The rupture shudders, starts to get smaller -- closing down. The alien figures react, unhappy with the situation. Riker reacts too -- he sees his window of opportunity starting to close down... 51A OMITTED 51B INT. ENGINEERING As before. DATA'S COM VOICE The rupture is beginning to close. Picard and Geordi exchange an excited look. GEORDI (to Shipley) Recharge the emitters! Let's hit them again! Shipley works, recharging the emitters. A long beat. GEORDI (impatient) Come on... SHIPLEY Ready. Geordi hits a button on the wall panel again... 52 INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) The room SHAKES again. Riker decides to take the opportunity while the Aliens are distracted. Slowly, he steps off the table... pauses... glances at the aliens... He steadies himself, keeping his balance in this distorted environment isn't easy. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 50A. 52 CONTINUED: He makes a quiet move toward the smaller table... gingerly picks up his phaser... then his tricorder, which is still blinking, active. The clicking noises intensify. Riker turns and sees that two of the aliens are aware of his movements, and are rushing toward him. Riker aims his phaser and FIRES at the aliens, BLASTING them back into the shadows. (NOTE: The phaser blasts should have an unusual look in this universe). The clicking sounds become panicky SCREECHES. Riker quickly moves to Rager, kneels down to pick her up, but stops at what he sees -- several TUBES are connected to Rager's neck, like alien IV's -- the tubes are attached to a small alien INSTRUMENT that is next to the platform. A beat as Riker decides what to do. In the background, an alien figure is approaching Riker... 52A INT. ENGINEERING DATA'S COM VOICE The rupture is ninety-six percent closed. GEORDI We're almost there. One more burst should do it... SHIPLEY Emitters recharging... They wait a beat... SHIPLEY Ready. Geordi hits the button... 52B INT. ALIEN LAB (OPTICAL) As before. The room SHAKES violently. Finally, Riker picks up Rager and the alien instrument -- gathers them over his shoulder and, with great effort, starts to carry them across the room, in the direction of the spatial rupture... The alien figures are converging on Riker, who FIRES several phaser BLASTS in their direction. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 50B. 52B CONTINUED: Screeching, the alien figures scatter out of the way. Still holding Rager, Riker bolts forward and JUMPS THROUGH THE SPATIAL RUPTURE -- 53 ANGLE ON RUPTURE (OPTICAL) IN A FLASH OF LIGHT, Riker and Rager VANISH into the rupture -- STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/20/92 - ACT FIVE 51. 54 INT. CARGO BAY Data reacts to a FLASH OF LIGHT that occurs offscreen -- 55 ANGLE ON RIKER AND RAGER (OPTICAL) having just come through the rupture -- they slump to the floor. 56 OMITTED 57 ANGLE ON SPATIAL RUPTURE (OPTICAL) As the rupture starts to close down, an ALIEN SHAPE EMERGES -- a huge COIL OF ENERGY which snakes out of the rupture -- quick and violent -- then across the Cargo Bay and through the wall out into space... 58 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as the strange COIL OF ENERGY EMERGES through the hull of the ship, and flies off into space. 59 INT. CARGO BAY The spatial rupture is gone. Silence. Riker and Data exchange a look. What the hell was that? As they stare at the Cargo Bay wall, mystified... 60 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) at impulse. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 46119.2. The tetryon emissions in Cargo Bay Four have ceased, and there have been no further indications of alien intrusions. All Enterprise crewmembers are safe and accounted for. But we are still left with some unanswered questions... 61 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard, Riker, Data, Geordi. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FIVE 52. 61 CONTINUED: DATA Based on the information gathered by Commander Riker's tricorder, we have determined that the molecular structure of the alien life forms is solanogen-based. GEORDI We think that's why they couldn't come through into our space, as easily as they could take us into theirs... (beat) They needed to learn how to remodulate their cellular energy states in order to survive in our universe. DATA The tricorder readings indicate they created a small pocket of our universe in their lab to keep those who were abducted alive. RIKER Like putting a fish in a bucket of water... GEORDI They were probably trying to do the same thing in Cargo Bay Four -- create a pocket of their universe in ours. A beat. PICARD What can we do to prevent this from happening again? GEORDI It looks like they found us initially by discovering my modified sensor signal. We should warn all Starfleet ships not to make the same mistake. A quiet beat as they contemplate. STAR TREK: "Schisms" - REV. 8/18/92 - ACT FIVE 52A. 61 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD (to Data, Geordi) Have you any idea what came through the rupture, before you were able to shut it down? DATA No sir. We were unable to track it once it left the Cargo Bay. GEORDI Maybe it was a probe of some kind... DATA Perhaps they are simply curious. Explorers, like ourselves. Riker is grim-faced. RIKER Ensign Rager and I were lucky to escape... and Lieutenant Hagler's dead... (beat) I have a feeling that whoever sent that thing... was more than simply curious. As they consider the foreboding prospects that lie ahead... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END