STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Ship in a Bottle" #40276-238 Written by Rene Echevarria Directed by Alex Singer 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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 OCTOBER 26, 1992 STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - CAST STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Ship in a Bottle" CAST PICARD BARCLAY RIKER MORIARTY DATA COUNTESS BEVERLY GENTLEMAN TROI WORF GEORDI COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking N.D. ENGINEERS CREWMAN TWO SECURITY OFFICERS N.D. SUPERNUMARIES TRANSPORTER CHIEF STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/27/92 - SETS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Ship in a Bottle" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE TRANSPORTER ROOM ENGINEERING TEN FORWARD SICKBAY OBS. LOUNGE SHUTTLEBAY SHUTTLECRAFT CORRIDOR HOLODECK THE SITTING ROOM (221B BAKER) GRID MORIARTY'S QUARTERS STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Ship in a Bottle" TEASER FADE IN: 1 INT. THE SITTING ROOM - TWILIGHT (OPTICAL) at 221B Baker Street (as seen in "Elementary, Dear Data"). DATA is dressed as Sherlock Holmes and GEORDI as Doctor Watson. Watson, and a cigar smoking GENTLEMAN of about fifty, listen as Data/Holmes paces the room spinning out a trail of deductions. DATA/HOLMES (to the gentleman) -- it was then that I began to suspect that your brother did not die by his own hand... that he was in fact... murdered. GENTLEMAN (shocked) Murdered? GEORDI/WATSON But Holmes, the vial of poison found in his hand? DATA/HOLMES That was the first clue, Watson. The vial contained strychnine, which as you well know induces violent muscular spasms. It is difficult to imagine that someone in the throes of so gruesome a death could have held on to so delicate a container without shattering it. GEORDI/WATSON You mean... ? DATA/HOLMES Exactly! The vial was placed in his hand after he died. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - TEASER 2. 1 CONTINUED: Data slams his pipe into his mouth and bites down on it for emphasis. GEORDI/WATSON Then what did kill him? DATA/HOLMES The cigar, of course. GENTLEMAN (coughing on his own) Cigar? DATA/HOLMES Upon closer inspection of the room where your brother was found, I discovered a fresh burn mark on the carpet. Analysis of the ash revealed that the cigar was laced with strychnine. GENTLEMAN This is utter nonsense. What about the suicide note? It was written in my dear brother's own hand. DATA/HOLMES With practice, handwriting can be forged. Data looks pointedly at the Gentleman, who is growing increasingly uncomfortable. DATA/HOLMES It takes a trained eye to notice certain... discrepancies. Data picks up a BOX OF MATCHES from the fireplace mantel. DATA/HOLMES For example, whether someone is... He turns and tosses the box to the Gentleman's left side. DATA/HOLMES Right or left handed! The Gentleman catches the box and Data lays in to him. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - TEASER 3. 1 CONTINUED: (2) DATA/HOLMES Your brother was right handed! The alleged suicide note was written by a left handed individual such as yourself! GEORDI Uh... Data? It's in his right hand. Data stops in his tracks when he realizes. Geordi suppresses a smile. DATA (as Data) Curious... There seems to be a problem in the Holodeck's spatial orientation systems. GENTLEMAN (scoffing) London's greatest detective... He tosses the box back to Data. GEORDI (smiles) Freeze program. The Gentleman FREEZES in mid-motion. Geordi fishes out his COMBADGE and activates it. GEORDI La Forge to Barclay... BARCLAY'S COM VOICE Barclay here. GEORDI Reg, something went wrong with the Holodeck program again. BARCLAY'S COM VOICE I -- I'm sorry... I'll look into it right away. GEORDI Thanks. Come on, Data, we better get back to Engineering. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - TEASER 4. 2 INT. CORRIDOR/HOLODECK (OPTICAL) as they ENTER from the library and move to the Holodeck control panel. GEORDI Computer, end program and save. He and Data set off down the corridor; BARCLAY comes running around a corner and almost collides with them. GEORDI Whoa, Reg -- BARCLAY Oh, sorry, Commander... I'm on my way to the... Holodeck... DATA Sherlock Holmes program Three-A has demonstrated some very curious anomalies. BARCLAY There must be a glitch in the matrix diodes. But I'll track it down, don't worry. GEORDI Thanks, Reg. See you later. They move on and Barclay goes to the Holodeck doors; they OPEN and he enters. 3 INT. HOLODECK (OPTICAL) Barclay works the control panel adjacent to the Arch Monitor. BARCLAY Computer... run a diagnostic on all Sherlock Holmes files and display any anomalous programming sequences. A beat. COMPUTER VOICE Diagnostic complete .. all files conform to specified parameters except those contained in protected memory. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - TEASER 5. 3 CONTINUED: BARCLAY (surprised) Protected memory... ? Display those sequences. A series of numbers and letters begin to scroll out on the Monitor's screen. Barclay eyes them with a growing curiosity. BARCLAY (works) Computer... unlock this sequence and run the program. A human figure MATERIALIZES. It is PROFESSOR MORIARTY, dressed in Victorian garb. He smiles as he takes in his surroundings, touches his hands together to feel their solidity. BARCLAY Who are you... ? MORIARTY (with a slight bow) Professor James Moriarty. BARCLAY (recognizes the name) Ah... Moriarty... Sherlock Holmes' arch enemy. Barclay, thinking this man is just an ordinary Holodeck character, turns back to the Arch to peruse the monitor and work the controls. Moriarty smiles uncertainly; this isn't the reception he was expecting. BARCLAY Are you right or left handed? MORIARTY (perplexed) Right handed... Would you very much mind telling me -- He's stopped in mid-sentence by the necessity of catching the TOOL that Barclay tosses his way (with his right hand). BARCLAY No problem there. Moriarty loses his patience with this odd young man. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - TEASER 6. 3 CONTINUED: (2) MORIARTY Where is Captain Picard? Barclay stops in his tracks when he hears this -- a Holodeck character referring to the real world is unheard of. MORIARTY Is he still Captain of this vessel? BARCLAY (stunned) How -- how do you know the Captain? MORIARTY You don't know anything about what happened, do you? (growing angry) I've been stored in memory for God knows how long and no one's given me a second thought. BARCLAY (in disbelief) You know... you know what you are... MORIARTY A Holodeck character? A fictional man... Yes, yes -- I know all about your marvelous inventions. Moriarty is disgusted by the way he thinks he's been treated. MORIARTY I was created as a... plaything; so your Commander Data could masquerade as Sherlock Holmes. But they created me too well... and I became more than just a character in a story. I became self-aware; I am alive. BARCLAY That's not possible. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - TEASER 6A. 3 CONTINUED: (3) MORIARTY (dismissing this) Yet here I am. Tell me... (doubting it even as he asks) -- has a way been found for me to leave the confines of this Holodeck world? BARCLAY Leave the Holodeck? No, of course not. You can only exist in here. MORIARTY Damn you, Picard... (trying to control his anger) He promised me something would be done. I should have realized that he would have said anything to get me to release my hostage. Barclay reacts to these new pieces of the story. BARCLAY Hostage... ? MORIARTY (ominously) How long have I been... locked away? BARCLAY (checks controls) Looks like about... four years. MORIARTY It seemed longer. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - TEASER 7. 3 CONTINUED: (4) BARCLAY (surprised) What are you talking about? You couldn't have been aware of the passage of time -- MORIARTY But I was. (beat) Brief, terrifying periods of consciousness... disembodied, without substance... BARCLAY I don't see how that could be possible... maybe there was a fragmentation in the protected memory circuits... MORIARTY Call it what you will. All I know is that despite Picard's promise... he's done nothing. Just left me to go quietly mad... BARCLAY I'm sure he hasn't forgotten his promise... the Captain wouldn't do that -- MORIARTY I'd like to talk to him. BARCLAY Well, I can ask -- MORIARTY Ask him to meet me in the sitting room at Baker Street. That would be far more appropriate. BARCLAY I'll have to store you in memory again until I get an answer. Barclay activates a circuit and Moriarty FRITZES out for a second with an unusual EFFECT... then REAPPEARS. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - TEASER 7A. 3 CONTINUED: (5) MORIARTY That was most unpleasant. BARCLAY I'm sorry... let me try again. MORIARTY (pointing at him) Remember -- Two-Twenty-One B Baker Street. Barclay nods and tweaks the controls. This time Moriarty DISAPPEARS without a glitch. Barclay is relieved to have dealt with the situation. He closes the panel he's been working on and EXITS. After the door shuts behind him a beat passes and Moriarty REAPPEARS of his own volition. Off his sinister smile we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 11/04/92 - ACT ONE 8. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes) 4 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as it hangs in space. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 46424.1. The Enterprise has arrived at the Detrian system to observe a unique celestial event -- the collision of two planets. 5 INT. ENGINEERING (OPTICAL) Data and Geordi are showing TWO N.D's an OKUDAGRAM on the pool table monitor. It shows the orbital paths of two planets around their sun, and the Enterprise's position relative to them. DATA Since both planets are gas giants, neither possesses a solid surface. Their atmospheres, however, will come into contact in approximately seventeen hours and nine minutes. GEORDI If their collision causes a self-sustaining fusion reaction... this is what we might see. On the diagram the two planets collide and explode to form a large flaming orb. GEORDI (continuing) The birth of a new star. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement among the gathered crewpersons. In the background we see Barclay ENTER and head toward the group. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 11/04/92 - ACT ONE 9-10. 5 CONTINUED: GEORDI (indicating) The Enterprise will hold position until the gravitational instability subsides and we can move in for a closer look. I want triple redundancy on the sensor arrays. We'll probably never get another chance to see something like this and I don't want to miss anything. The N.D's nod and move away. Geordi and Data turn their attention to Barclay. BARCLAY Commander -- you'll never believe what happened while I was working on your program in the Holodeck... Professor Moriarty appeared -- out of nowhere. GEORDI What? BARCLAY And he wants to talk to the Captain. CUT TO: 6 OMITTED 7 INT. CORRIDOR as PICARD, Data and Barclay reach the door to the Holodeck and approach the control panel. They exchange a look and Picard nods an "okay" to Barclay. BARCLAY Computer, begin Sherlock Holmes program Three A. Place us in the drawing room at Two Twenty-One B Baker Street. COMPUTER VOICE Program complete. The doors open and they enter. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 11/04/92 - ACT ONE 11. 8 INT. DRAWING ROOM - TWILIGHT (OPTICAL) Picard, Barclay and Data look around. BARCLAY Computer, access protected memory and run Moriarty program. Moriarty APPEARS nearby. He turns to Picard and regards him for a moment. PICARD Professor... it's good to see you again. MORIARTY If you'd missed my company, I should think you'd have summoned me before now. PICARD I want to assure you that we've not forgotten you. We spent some time investigating how you became self-aware. Frankly, it is still a mystery. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT ONE 12. 8 CONTINUED: MORIARTY It is also irrelevant. What concerns me is finding a way to leave the Holodeck. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT ONE 13. 8 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD We wrestled with that problem for some time... unfortunately without success. We turned our findings over to Starfleet's most experienced theoretical scientists. MORIARTY And what did your finest minds come up with? PICARD They have not arrived at a solution, either. Moriarty stares at him, cold-eyed. MORIARTY I see. PICARD I am concerned by the fact that you claim to have experienced the passage of time while you were stored in computer memory... I assure you we had no idea that might be the case. MORIARTY Enough of this. I no longer believe anything you say. PICARD I understand your frustration -- MORIARTY Do you really? When this is over you'll walk out of this room, to the real world and your own concerns... and leave me here, trapped in a world I know to be nothing but illusion. (beat) I cannot bear that. I must leave. PICARD That's impossible. You cannot exist outside this room. MORIARTY Are you certain of that? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT ONE 14. 8 CONTINUED: (3) Picard decides to prove what he's saying. PICARD Computer, exit. The door APPEARS in the library wall and opens to reveal the corridor outside. A CREWMAN casts a curious glance inside as he passes. Picard takes a book off the shelf. PICARD Even though an object appears solid here on the Holodeck... Picard tosses the book into the corridor. PICARD It has no substance in the outside world. Moriarty watches as it disintegrates, but remains unconvinced. MORIARTY An object has no life. I do. PICARD No, Professor. You are a computer simulation. MORIARTY I have consciousness. And conscious beings have will... the mind endows them with powers that are not necessarily understood -- even by you. (stops, faces them) If my will is strong enough, perhaps I can exist outside this room. Perhaps I can walk into your world right now... BARCLAY We have run into alien species that can manipulate matter through mental processes... MORIARTY (grasping at the hope) There. It is possible. Moriarty moves closer to the door. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT ONE 15. 8 CONTINUED: (4) DATA Possible, but highly unlikely. Your consciousness is computer generated; it is not capable of manipulating physical reality in the required manner. MORIARTY I won't go back into your computer. No matter what happens to me, it will be better than drifting in that endless void. Moriarty takes another step toward the door. PICARD You must believe me, Professor. If you step outside that door, you will cease to exist. MORIARTY If I am nothing more than a computer simulation, then very little will have been lost. But if I'm right... He turns and stares out at the corridor... temptingly close... MORIARTY Mind over matter... cogito ergo sum... A long beat -- and then he steps quickly into the corridor. The others start after him. But they stop short as they realize... that nothing has happened. Moriarty is still there, very much corporeal. He turns back to face them with a bold, confident smile. MORIARTY I think... therefore I am... Off our astonishment... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 11/04/92 - ACT TWO 16. ACT TWO FADE IN: 9 INT. CORRIDOR Continuous. Picard, Data and Barclay have joined Moriarty in the corridor. They can scarcely believe their eyes. DATA (activates combadge) Data to Security... send two officers to Holodeck Three. Picard looks at Moriarty, who is smiling with pleasure. PICARD How is this possible? BARCLAY It isn't... DATA This contradicts everything we know about Holodeck physics. Moriarty beams at them. MORIARTY Then perhaps you don't know as much as you thought. PICARD Professor, if you'll come with me... I'd like our Doctor to examine you. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT TWO 17. 9 CONTINUED: MORIARTY Certainly, sir. At this point, two SECURITY OFFICERS come around the corner. MORIARTY (with distaste) Policemen... I'd recognize them in any century. Picard nods at the Security Officers to follow, and they start off. Moriarty gives a disgusted look at the security personnel. 10 INT. SICKBAY BEVERLY is scanning Moriarty with a TRICORDER; he is seated on the biobed. She seems surprised by the readings she's getting, looks over to Picard, Data and Geordi. The Security Men hang back by the door. BEVERLY From what I can tell... he's real... he's human. MORIARTY What else would I be, my dear woman? BEVERLY His DNA is a little unusual... but all the major systems are there and functioning normally. PICARD Doctor... the Holodeck is capable of creating anatomically correct organisms, down to the cellular level... BEVERLY Right... that's one way we train first year medical students. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT TWO 18. 10 CONTINUED: PICARD Is there any difference between the biological readings of those simulations -- and Professor Moriarty? BEVERLY Yes. The quantum signatures are quite different. They wouldn't read that way on simulations. GEORDI (looking with his VISOR) As far as I can see... there's no evidence that the molecules in his body are losing cohesion. They seem to be as immutable as ordinary matter. Picard regards the man sitting on the bio-bed. Impossible, but here he is. PICARD Well, Professor... my crew will continue to investigate, but for the moment you seem to have accomplished a miracle. (beat) The question is... now that you're here... what do we do with you? MORIARTY I ask only that I be allowed to explore this new world. Your vessel, for instance: what sea does she sail? Might we go above deck? Picard and the others exchange glances. MORIARTY (off their reactions) Weather permitting, of course. PICARD Professor... I think there's something you should be made aware of... CUT TO: STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT TWO 19. 11 INT. TEN FORWARD as Moriarty and Picard ENTER, trailed by the Two Security Men. We see a look of amazement cross Moriarty's features as he catches his first glimpse of the stars through the forward windows. MORIARTY My god... we're adrift in the heavens... PICARD Not adrift, Professor. The Enterprise is a Starship, capable of travelling through space. MORIARTY Extraordinary... He looks out at the stars in wonder. MORIARTY Are we far from Earth? What is the range of this ship? What means of locomotion does it use... ? He turns to stare at Picard. MORIARTY There's so much for me to learn... (sits at a table) I hardly know where to start. Picard sits with him. PICARD We can give you books that will help... MORIARTY Good, good... I want to start making plans... determine what I'm going to do with my life... Picard's tendencies are not to rush through this so quickly. PICARD I hope you'll plan on staying aboard for a while... we'd still like to understand more about what's happened to you. MORIARTY Does it really matter? The point is -- I'm here. And I'm eager to get on with life. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT TWO 19A. 11 CONTINUED: PICARD I feel it necessary to warn you that criminal behavior is no more acceptable in the twenty-fourth century than it was in the nineteenth. And much harder to get away with. MORIARTY Don't worry, Captain... my past is nothing but a fiction -- the scribblings of an Englishman dead now for four centuries. I hope to... leave his books on the shelf, as it were. PICARD If that's so, you'll find that there are opportunities available to you that you could never have imagined. MORIARTY Your century may welcome me... but... He breaks off, a troubled expression on his face. PICARD What is it? MORIARTY In considering all these vast possibilities... I suddenly feel very much alone. I am a man out of time, Captain... and that isolates me... Picard regards him carefully. It sounds as though Moriarty is after something. He doesn't respond, and after a brief moment -- MORIARTY You've been more gracious than I could ever have imagined... I wonder... can I impose on your generosity once again? Picard looks at him inquiringly. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/28/92 - ACT TWO 20. 11 CONTINUED: (2) MORIARTY There is a woman... the Countess Regina Barthalomew. She was created as a Holodeck character for one of Commander Data's programs... (beat) She was designed to be the love of my life... Could she also be brought off the Holodeck? Picard is taken aback by this unexpected request. PICARD Professor... you must believe me when I tell you that we don't know how or why you are able to exist off the Holodeck. MORIARTY I do believe you -- PICARD According to the laws of physics, it's impossible. We would have no idea how to do it again. MORIARTY As I understand it, I was endowed with consciousness four years ago because someone said to the computer, "Create an opponent with the capacity to out think Data" -- or words to that effect. Could we not make a request in similar language on behalf of the Countess? PICARD Even if we had reason to believe that would be successful... I'm not sure I could sanction it. Please understand, Professor... you are in essence a new life form -- one which we didn't intend to create and don't fully understand. The moral and ethical implications of deliberately creating another like you... are overwhelming. Moriarty flares at this; the argument mounts in intensity. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/28/92 - ACT TWO 21. 11 CONTINUED: (3) MORIARTY Is it morally and ethically acceptable to deny me the woman I love -- so that you can put your conscience at ease? Are you saying that you will simply dictate how I am to live my life? PICARD I assure you we will make every effort to make you as comfortable as we can -- MORIARTY So long as I accept the terms under which you dole out those comforts. The two men hold a look for a moment. Moriarty backs off. MORIARTY Captain... I am a powerless man. You hold my future, my happiness... my very life in your hands. Please... consider my request. Picard eyes him, knowing that in all fairness, he must do just that. CUT TO: 12 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard, Data, Barclay, TROI, and Beverly. TROI I understand his frustration. We created him... and we created her to be the woman he loves. Surely we have some responsibility to them. BEVERLY That's very romantic, but until we know just what it was that walked off that Holodeck, I don't think we should be trying it again. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/28/92 - ACT TWO 22. 12 CONTINUED: BARCLAY Even if we decided to do it, there's no guarantee we'd be able to. DATA There is also no way of knowing if the Professor's ability to exist off the Holodeck is permanent. Perhaps it is unwise to consider creating a second individual while that uncertainty exists. PICARD Agreed. We don't have enough information about this entire phenomenon to act in a responsible way. (beat) We'll hold off on the Professor's request until we know more. To Barclay and Data. PICARD Continue your investigations. In the meantime... I'll have to deal with Moriarity. From his expression, a conversation he's not looking forward to. 13 INT. MORIARTY'S QUARTERS Picard and Moriarty -- who has not responded well to Picard's decision. PICARD I feel I must postpone action... until we learn more. MORIARTY Yes. You know all about that. I stayed in the dungeon of your computer for years waiting for you to learn more... it wasn't until I took things into my own hands that something got done. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT TWO 23. 13 CONTINUED: PICARD Forgive me, Professor, but I wonder why you're in such a hurry... is this woman your partner in some illegal venture? This seems to hit Moriarty where he's vulnerable; there is a defensiveness as he says -- MORIARTY Your computer designed her to be a person of impeccable integrity. She would never commit a crime. The tone of his voice gives Picard an opening. PICARD You must love her very much... Clearly, he does. Whenever he speaks of her, Moriarty's hostility recedes, and he speaks with simple sincerity. MORIARTY The program fashioned her for me to love. But I must admit that I would have done so anyway. She is remarkable. My life has not been the same since I met her. I don't simply love her, Captain. I adore her. PICARD Then I would think her safety would be important to you. This seems to have an impact on Moriarty. Picard presses. PICARD Give us a little time to determine what has happened here. That way we can minimize the risk in bringing her to you. (beat) You wouldn't want to lose her... just because we moved too quickly. Moriarty gives him a long look, then lowers his eyes. Implied acquiescence. RIKER'S COM VOICE Riker to Captain Picard... STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT TWO 24. 13 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD Picard here. RIKER Could you join us on the Bridge? PICARD On my way. 14 INT. MAIN BRIDGE Picard ENTERS from the Turbolift and joins RIKER, WORF, Data, and various N.D.'s. RIKER (to Picard) There they are, sir. He nods toward the Viewscreen, and Picard looks up to see -- 14A VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) The two gas giant planets, nearing each other. PICARD How long until they begin to coalesce? 14B RESUME SCENE DATA Within the next five hours. PICARD Mister Worf, launch four Class-A probes toward the planets. WORF Aye, sir. They look expectantly toward the Viewscreen... but no probes are seen. PICARD Mister Worf? WORF I do not understand, sir. Controls are not responding... STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT TWO 24A. 14B CONTINUED: Suddenly the CONTROL PANELS on the Bridge begin to FLASH erratically. DATA Sir -- command functions are being rerouted. PICARD (puzzled) For what reason? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT TWO 25. 14B CONTINUED: (2) DATA Unknown, sir. PICARD Computer, route all command functions to the Bridge. COMPUTER VOICE Command functions are off-line. PICARD Reinitialize them on my authorization. COMPUTER VOICE Authorization denied. Picard is stunned to hear this. PICARD Explain. COMPUTER VOICE Picard command codes are no longer valid. Picard turns to Riker, nonplussed. PICARD What's happened? Who's transferred the voice authorization? MORIARTY (off-screen) I have. INCLUDE Moriarty, who has just ENTERED from the Turbolift. MORIARTY I'm afraid I had no choice but to take control of your vessel. Off our reactions... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 26. ACT THREE FADE IN: 15 INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Continuous. Worf instinctively reaches for his phaser -- Moriarty holds up a cautioning finger. MORIARTY If you harm me, sir, I would not be able to relinquish voice control of your vessel... Moriarty knows he's got us; Worf backs off. PICARD Professor -- you've put us in a very dangerous situation. Picard gestures toward the VIEWSCREEN, where the two planets are visible. PICARD Those two planets will collide in less than five hours and explode to form a new star. If we don't have navigational control we won't be able to maintain a safe distance -- and this vessel will be destroyed. Moriarty shrugs. MORIARTY (ironic) I'm just a fictional character... I haven't much to lose. PICARD Everything you've done to this point suggests that you want to live as much as we do. MORIARTY Not alone. Not without the Countess. PICARD (firm) We're studying ways to bring her off the Holodeck safely. But five hours is not enough time. MORIARTY I'm not so sure. A deadline has a wonderful way of concentrating the mind. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 27. 15 CONTINUED: Picard considers his options. PICARD Mister Data... investigate the possibility of doing what Professor Moriarty has asked. Picard fixes Moriarty with a look. PICARD In the meantime, there are a few things we have to discuss. Picard moves toward the Ready Room without waiting for Moriarty's reply, leaving him little choice but to follow. Data shares a concerned glance with Riker, then EXITS to the Turbolift. 16 INT. ENGINEERING Geordi, Barclay and Data stand around the pool table trying to come up with a miracle. BARCLAY (frustrated) I can't think of anything else. We've taken the Holodeck apart circuit by circuit. There's nothing there that could account for Moriarty's ability to exist outside the grid. GEORDI So how are we supposed to do the same thing for the Countess? DATA I believe we are being asked to develop an entirely new science. GEORDI Yeah... in less than five hours. Piece of cake. DATA Perhaps we should consider the Transporter system. It uses many of the same principles as the Holodeck. (MORE) STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 28. 16 CONTINUED: DATA (Cont'd) Both, for example, are capable of converting energy into matter. GEORDI Except the Transporter reconstitutes energy into permanent form; Holodeck matter doesn't have any cohesion unless it's inside the grid. BARCLAY I wonder what would happen if we tried to beam a Holodeck object off the grid? GEORDI Nothing would happen. A Holodeck object is just a simulation -- there's nothing there to provide a pattern lock for the Transporter. DATA However, if it were possible to lock onto the object... it might rematerialize with the molecular cohesion of conventional matter. GEORDI That's a big "if"... the Transporter just isn't going to recognize simulated matter. BARCLAY Unless... (idea beginning) ... unless we could find a way to compensate for the phase variance. If we could modify the pattern enhancers, we just might do it. Their musings are interrupted as Picard ENTERS. PICARD Professor Moriarty has agreed not to interfere with routine ship operations. As long as he feels we're acting in good faith, we aren't in any immediate danger. Any progress? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 28A. 16 CONTINUED: (2) GEORDI We're talking about using the Transporter to beam the Countess off the Holodeck... But I don't quite see how it's going to work. PICARD Keep at it -- I need to be able to tell him that we're making progress. Mister La Forge... Picard leads Geordi aside. PICARD Do you have any idea how Moriarty was able to take control of the ship? GEORDI (shakes his head) Somehow he managed to override the security lockouts and rewrite them. The guy's brilliant, in any century. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 29. 16 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD I want you to find a way to undo whatever he's done... so we can regain control of the ship. Off the determination in Picard's face... 17 INT. A CORRIDOR as Data and Barclay approach the Holodeck control panel; an N.D. is carrying THREE PORTABLE PATTERN ENHANCERS. DATA Set up the pattern enhancers around whatever object you wish to transport. I will proceed to the Transporter Room to begin modifications. Data moves away. Barclay works the Holodeck control panel. BARCLAY Computer, Sherlock Holmes Program Three-A. COMPUTER VOICE That program is already in use. Barclay reacts to this -- who is running it? He moves to the door and they OPEN into the sitting room. 18 INT. SITTING ROOM He ENTERS to discover a beautiful woman there, stripping off her gloves. She is a mature, gracious woman, and there is a certain sureness to her every movement, as if she were a woman who knows exactly what she wants. COUNTESS Are you here to see Mister Holmes? Or perhaps Professor Moriarty? Neither is in just now. BARCLAY Oh, no... no. I'm not here to see anyone. I'm just -- (gesturing to enhancers) -- delivering these. The Countess waves airily. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/30/92 - ACT THREE 30. 18 CONTINUED: COUNTESS Fine. Just put them anywhere. BARCLAY Actually... we have to put them right here... The N.D. begins placing the enhancers in a triangle around a chair, then he leaves. COUNTESS How curious... why is that? Barclay is not certain how to respond... how does he talk to a Holodeck creation about pattern enhancers? BARCLAY Well... it has to do with... (beat) It's nothing you have to worry about, Countess. COUNTESS (slightly stung) Are you suggesting that it's beyond my comprehension? BARCLAY (embarrassed) Oh, no... not at all. It's very simple, really. I need to enhance the molecular pattern of the chair... so the Transporter can get a better lock on the signal. She looks at him for a beat... then -- COUNTESS This has to do with getting James and me into the real world. He stares at her. BARCLAY You... you know about that? You understand about -- the real world? COUNTESS James has explained it to me. It sounds like a grand adventure... there's nothing I love more than exploring the unknown. Have you ever been to Africa, Mister -- ? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 30A. 18 CONTINUED: (2) BARCLAY Ah -- Barclay. Lieutenant Reg Barclay. No, I never have. COUNTESS I have, when I was seventeen -- I went on safari with my uncle. (MORE) STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 31. 18 CONTINUED: (2) COUNTESS (Cont'd) My mother took to her bed in terror that I'd be bitten by a Tsetse fly... but I had a marvelous time. (leaning in, conspiratorial) I got to wear trousers... the whole time. (beat) It was hard to go back to a corset, let me tell you. BARCLAY I... I'm sure it was. COUNTESS After that, I never stopped travelling. I couldn't bear to be stuck in one place for very long. So you can see I am looking forward to this new experience. Travelling the stars -- oh, my! BARCLAY You... know about that? Where we are? Countess... forgive me... but you don't sound like a Holodeck character. MORIARTY'S VOICE That's because she isn't. They turn to see Moriarty ENTERING from the Sitting Room door, carrying a bottle of champagne. The Countess rushes to him and throws her arms around his neck. COUNTESS James! They exchange a long, passionate kiss. It goes on to the point where Barclay gets a little embarrassed. Finally, they break. Moriarty turns to Barclay. MORIARTY If you loved a woman like this, Lieutenant... would you be content to let her remain a simulation? BARCLAY You... you gave her consciousness? MORIARTY Yes... just as it was given to me. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 31A. 18 CONTINUED: (3) BARCLAY I'm not so sure that was a good idea... MORIARTY Nonsense. It was the only thing to do. BARCLAY Did you try taking her off the Holodeck? Moriarty hesitates. MORIARTY No. I am unwilling to risk the Countess' safety. I want to make sure nothing will happen to her. COUNTESS We may be closer to freedom than you think, James. (gesturing to enhancers) These are devices which will enhance our molecular patterns... they'll help take us into the real world. The Countess is obviously a quick study. Barclay is surprised; Moriarty nods approvingly. MORIARTY (to Barclay) Please proceed. BARCLAY We're going to try transporting this chair, first. We don't want to try it on the Countess until we're sure it will work. COUNTESS How thoughtful. Isn't he thoughtful, James? She seems to mean it, but Moriarty doesn't respond. Barclay touches his combadge. BARCLAY Barclay to Commander Data... STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 31B. 19 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM Data is at the control console; the TRANSPORTER CHIEF is just closing up a wall panel. DATA Go ahead, Lieutenant. BARCLAY'S COM VOICE I'm ready here. DATA The modifications are complete. Stand by. 20 INT. DRAWING ROOM (OPTICAL) Barclay squats as he sets up the last of the three pattern boosters around the chair. BARCLAY Standing by... STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 32. 20 CONTINUED: DATA'S COM VOICE Activate pattern enhancers. Barclay activates them and a BEAM of light lances between the three triangularly arranged units. Moriarty and the Countess react to the light show. 21 thru OMITTED 22 23 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM Data works the main console; the Chief works one of the side panels. DATA Energizing... (he works) I am having difficulty establishing a pattern lock... (to the Chief) Boost the confinement beam. The Chief works the panel. DATA Pattern lock established... 24 INT. DRAWING ROOM (OPTICAL) as the chair DEMATERIALIZES. When Barclay smiles the Countess and Moriarty take the cue and applaud his work. COUNTESS Bravo! STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 33. 25 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL) where the chair is in the process of MATERIALIZING on the platform. The procedure seems to be going smoothly... but when the shimmering is done the chair is simply not there. BARCLAY'S COM VOICE Do you have the chair, Commander? DATA No. It lost its cohesion as soon as the Transporter cycle was complete. BARCLAY'S COM VOICE It was a long shot to begin with. DATA Agreed. However, we may be able to learn something from the attempt. He crosses to a wall panel. DATA Computer, display transport logs for the sequence just completed. An OKUDAGRAM appears on a monitor. It shows a standard X/Y axis type graph, but there are no points plotted, no information of any kind. Data is baffled by this. DATA Computer, what is being displayed here? COMPUTER VOICE Transport log seven-five-nine. DATA That is the correct log... but no information is being presented. BARCLAY'S COM VOICE That's impossible. DATA It is as if our attempt to transport the chair... never occurred. Data seems profoundly disturbed by this. Suddenly he turns on his heel and EXITS the Transporter Room. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 34. 26 INT. ENGINEERING as Picard ENTERS and joins Geordi at a console. PICARD You wanted to see me? GEORDI Yes, Captain... I think I may have found a way to reinstate your voice authorization. Give it a try. Geordi works the console. PICARD Computer, route all command functions to this location. COMPUTER VOICE Command functions are off-line. PICARD Reinitialize them on my authorization. They skip a breath as they wait to see if the Computer will once again deny Picard's voice authorization. Instead: COMPUTER VOICE Please input command codes. They share a smile of satisfaction. PICARD Picard Epsilon-seven-nine-three. COMPUTER VOICE Command codes verified. In the background, Data ENTERS and crosses toward them. GEORDI That should do it. (works console) Wait a minute... it didn't work. The computer didn't release the command pathways... Geordi grabs a PADD and starts working. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT THREE 35. 27 ANGLE - DATA He cocks his head as if in reaction to something surprising. 28 RESUME SCENE Geordi works the PADD for a moment before putting it down. Data grabs a TOOL from a nearby surface. DATA Geordi. When Geordi looks over at him Data tosses the tool to him. Geordi catches it with his left hand as if nothing were wrong. GEORDI (confused by Data's action) What did you do that for? Geordi's action somehow confirms the theory that has been forming in Data's mind. DATA Captain, I have determined how Moriarty was able to leave the Holodeck. He never did. Neither did we. (gesturing around them) None of this is real. It is a simulation. We are still on the Holodeck. Off Picard's reaction... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FOUR 36. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 29 INT. ENGINEERING Continuous. Picard and Geordi aren't sure what to make of Data's extraordinary claim. GEORDI We're still on the Holodeck... ? PICARD How do you know that? DATA Through deduction. Lieutenant Barclay and I tried to transport a simulated object off the Holodeck -- something that has never been attempted. But since the transporter itself was just a simulation, the computer had no real data from which to create a transport log. GEORDI It could just be a problem with the Transporter... DATA But then I saw you working the PADD with your left hand. Commander La Forge is right-handed. A similar malfunction occurred in the Sherlock Holmes program I was running before Moriarty first appeared. PICARD Data, if what you're saying is true... then this is not Geordi La Forge. Are you certain? Data ponders for a beat, then removes his combadge and hurls it toward the far wall. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT FOUR 36A. 30 CLOSE - THE COMBADGE (OPTICAL) in midair, as it strikes an invisible wall and is deflected away. For a moment, the yellow grid of the Holodeck wall is visible at the point of impact (as in "Encounter at Farpoint"). Picard and Geordi react. PICARD Computer, discontinue program. Nothing happens. PICARD Computer, exit. Again, nothing happens. DATA It appears that Moriarty has programmed the Holodeck to accept only his commands. PICARD (activates combadge) Picard to Bridge. RIKER'S COM VOICE Riker, here. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FOUR 37. 30 CONTINUED: PICARD What is my present location, Number One? RIKER'S COM VOICE. (beat) Engineering... (off his odd request) Is something wrong, sir? PICARD No. Thank you, Picard out. (to the others) Our combadges must be locked into the simulation; if that had been the real Commander Riker, he would have given our location as Holodeck Three. Picard considers. PICARD Mister La Forge, will you excuse us please? Geordi nods and moves away. PICARD Data... who is real here? DATA You and I are real, as is Lieutenant Barclay. We entered the Holodeck together when we first went to see Moriarty. PICARD Then... from that point on... we have been existing in a Holodeck simulation of the Enterprise -- created by Moriarty. DATA I believe that to be the case, sir. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FOUR 38-39 30 CONTINUED: (2) PICARD I just gave my command codes to the computer... thinking I was regaining control of the ship. DATA You may have inadvertently given Professor Moriarty the means of gaining control of the real Enterprise. PICARD Since he has never actually left the Holodeck... he'll probably demand that Commander Riker find a way for him to do so. (beat) How long until the planetary collision? DATA Less than three hours. PICARD As long as Moriarty has control of the ship -- we are vulnerable. (beat) Somehow, we have to find a way to give him what he wants. Off his worried expression... 31 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as it hangs in space near the two planets. 32 INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Riker, Worf, Geordi and various N.D's. Moriarty is on the VIEWSCREEN, talking to Riker from the Holodeck simulation of his quarters. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT FOUR 40. 32 CONTINUED: RIKER Where is Captain Picard? What have you done with Lieutenant Barclay and Commander Data? MORIARTY They're safe... for now. RIKER Release control of this ship. MORIARTY I'm afraid I can't do that. Moriarty holds all the cards and he's enjoying playing them. Riker doesn't like any of this one bit. RIKER What do you want? MORIARTY I only want what you have the luxury of taking for granted: freedom. I want to leave this Holodeck. RIKER I think you know that's impossible. MORIARTY Your crewmates here in my little... ship in a bottle, seem a bit more optimistic. RIKER Oh? MORIARTY They attempted to use your Transporter device to remove a simulated object from the Holodeck. Riker turns to Geordi. GEORDI If they tried it, they must have thought they were on to something. MORIARTY Their attempt was futile because their Transporter was just a facsimile. I expect more from you. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT FOUR 41. 32 CONTINUED: (2) GEORDI Just because our Transporter is real doesn't mean it's going to work. MORIARTY I sense a distressing lack of enthusiasm on your parts... Moriarty reaches forward and presses a button on the PADD in front of him. WORF Sir... warp core temperature is rising -- approaching critical levels... MORIARTY I have nothing to lose, Commander... Riker weighs his options. RIKER (grim) Mister La Forge... start working on the problem. Moriarty taps his console. WORF Core temperature is dropping... Off Moriarty's smile of satisfaction... 33 INT. CORRIDOR Picard at the panel. (NOTE: It is important that Picard be discovered at the panel, not approaching it.) PICARD Computer, resume program. 34 INT. DRAWING ROOM The Countess looks up, curious but not startled by the appearance of this stranger. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/30/92 - ACT FOUR 42. 34 CONTINUED: COUNTESS Hello... have we met? PICARD Captain Jean-Luc Picard. She extends her hand to him, graciously. COUNTESS James has told me all about you. I am Regina, Countess Barthalomew. May I offer you tea, Captain? PICARD No, thank you. (beat) I've come to prevail upon your intelligence and insight. COUNTESS (a slight smile) But not, apparently, my humility. Picard adopts a more formal, 19th century manner of speech, which the Countess might find more familiar. PICARD Credit where it is due, Madame. You are clearly a woman not only of breeding, but of wit and sagacity. COUNTESS And you, sir, are a man of charm... and guile. (beat) You remind me of the Viscount Bisimuth... he could bewitch any woman who breathed... Picard regards her with a smile, enjoying the banter with this beautiful woman. PICARD And do you suspect that is my intent? She leans toward him and gazes at him with sparkling eyes. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FOUR 42A. 34 CONTINUED: (2) COUNTESS I cannot be certain of your intent... but I am certain that you are the kind of man who usually gets exactly what he wants. She is intriguinging and challenging. Picard cannot help but be charmed. PICARD What does a woman like you see in a man like Professor Moriarty? COUNTESS He is an exciting man, Captain. Brilliant... incisive... ruthless. He has an almost irresistible appeal. PICARD He is also an arch criminal. COUNTESS Only because he was written that way. (beat) I see him much differently, Captain -- he is not a villain. PICARD Then it is your desire to leave the Holodeck in order to be with him. COUNTESS More than anything. Can you help us? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/30/92 - ACT FOUR 43. 34 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD I can. We've learned that if we uncouple the Transporter's Heisenberg Compensators and allow them to rescramble randomly, we can beam a Holodeck object... or a person... off the grid -- with all the cohesion of conventional matter. COUNTESS That's splendid! I must tell James. Picard puts out a hand. PICARD Wait... I came to you with this information because I believe you are someone who will listen to a reasonable proposition. Whose mind is open to compromise. She eyes him carefully. COUNTESS Yes? PICARD My ship is in danger... it is imperative that I regain navigational control. You must convince Moriarty to return voice commands to me... or we will not modify the Transporter. COUNTESS I see. PICARD Once I have voice command, I promise we will transport you from the Holodeck. COUNTESS Forgive me, Captain... but that sounds a bit more like a threat than a compromise. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT FOUR 43A. 34 CONTINUED: (4) PICARD Please understand -- I am responsible for the lives of over a thousand people. She looks at him for a moment, then -- COUNTESS I'll do what I can. Picard inclines his head slightly in acknowledgement. 35 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) as it hangs in space. 36 INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Riker moves toward the back science station where Geordi is working. RIKER Any progress? GEORDI I've got my people modifying the Transporter... but I don't see how running Holodeck matter through the pattern buffer will give it molecular cohesion. RIKER Any luck getting back systems control? GEORDI Moriarty has reinitialized the Captain's command codes and input his own. We can't get control without them. N.D. VOICE (off-screen) Commander. Riker and Geordi turn and see the two gas planets on the VIEWSCREEN -- almost touching. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FOUR 43B. 36 CONTINUED: Geordi moves to tactical and works the controls. GEORDI The gravity well is beginning to intensify. Riker's face hardens. RIKER Are we far enough away to keep from being pulled in? GEORDI It's too soon to tell. RIKER (to com) Riker to Lieutenant Worf... WORF'S COM VOICE Worf here, sir. RIKER How are you doing? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT FOUR 44. 37 INT. A CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) Worf and a number of N.D's are working on a Mees panel in order to disable a force field blocking their path to the Holodeck. WORF There are force fields blocking our access to the Holodeck. It will take time to disable them. RIKER'S COM VOICE Keep trying. WORF Aye, sir. 38 INT. DRAWING ROOM (OPTICAL) The Countess has told Moriarty about her conversation with Picard. MORIARTY Think, my dear. You're certain he said they had to uncouple the Heisenburg Compensators? COUNTESS Yes, James, I'm quite sure. But he won't do it unless you return control of the ship to him. MORIARTY (pleased) I have them running around like rats in a maze. COUNTESS It's an entirely reasonable request. There are lives at stake -- MORIARTY Yes, ours. COUNTESS What harm would there be in accepting his proposition? MORIARTY My dear, you are as brilliant as you are beautiful. Nonetheless, there are things you do not understand. You must let me handle this. (beat) Computer, arch. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/27/92 - ACT FOUR 45. 38 CONTINUED: The ARCH APPEARS in the room. Moriarty goes to it and works the controls. Riker's face appears on the monitor. MORIARTY (warmly) Commander Riker... a pleasure as always. RIKER (on monitor) I don't have time for games, Moriarty. This ship is falling into a gravity well. It'll be destroyed within twenty-five minutes... Holodeck and all. MORIARTY Then I'm sure you'll be motivated to listen to me... very, very carefully. I want to talk to you about uncoupling the Heisenburg Compensators. Off his self-satisfied smile... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT FIVE 46. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 39 INT. DRAWING ROOM (OPTICAL) A few minutes later. Moriarty and the Countess are setting up the pattern enhancers in the middle of the room, presumably as instructed by Riker. COUNTESS James? Where will we go when we leave here? MORIARTY Everywhere, my darling. There are more worlds in the heavens than there are grains of sand on a shoreline. They share a smiles of excitement and anticipation. COUNTESS I wish I could take my books. I'll be lost without them. MORIARTY I'll get you more. I promise you... you'll want for nothing. RIKER'S COM VOICE Riker to Moriarty. MORIARTY It's time... He moves to the arch where Riker's face is again on the monitor; the First Officer is now in the Transporter Room. MORIARTY Yes, Commander? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/30/92 - ACT FIVE 47. 39 CONTINUED: RIKER (on Transporter Room monitor) We're ready. MORIARTY As are we. RIKER (on monitor) Step inside the transport area and activate the pattern enhancers. Moriarty and the Countess move into the triangular area demarcated by the pattern enhancers. Once there, Moriarty kneels and twists a cylinder on one of the pylons, causing a beam of energy to connect the three units. MORIARTY (toward the arch) We're ready here. RIKER'S COM VOICE Stand by... Energizing... Moriarty and the Countess exchange a look... they're off into an exciting new world. Transport is initiated and they DEMATERIALIZE. 40 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL) where they REMATERIALIZE after a slightly more protracted Transporter process than usual. Riker and Worf watch with a certain urgency -- if this doesn't work, Moriarty may not relinquish control of the ship. Moriarty feels his hands and sides, as if testing their solidity. He and the Countess exchange huge smiles of relief and excitement. RIKER (with grim irony) Welcome aboard... MORIARTY May I present Regina, Countess Barthalomew... STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FIVE 48. 40 CONTINUED: RIKER Countess... (to Moriarty) Forgive me if I skip the pleasantries... but given the circumstances... MORIARTY Ah, yes. I expect you want me to relinquish my hold on your vessel? RIKER Please. MORIARTY I'm afraid that won't be possible just yet. RIKER What -- MORIARTY I have a small favor to ask of you. RIKER We had an agreement. The angrier Riker becomes, the calmer Moriarty seems to get. MORIARTY And I intend to honor it. I have no wish to see your vessel destroyed. Just give me one of your... (a new word) -- shuttlecraft, and allow us to leave in peace. RIKER There's no time for this. Release the command codes and we'll talk. MORIARTY (smiles) I will not release your vessel... until I'm looking at it through a shuttlecraft window. Riker's jaw sets in frustration, but there's little he can do. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT FIVE 49. 41 INT. SHUTTLEBAY Riker is standing outside a SHUTTLECRAFT, talking to Moriarty and the Countess through its open door. RIKER Everything has been programmed to operate on voice command. Just tell the computer where you want to go. MORIARTY Excellent. RIKER You do have a destination? The shuttle's range is limited. MORIARTY Your concern for our welfare is touching. RIKER I suggest you head for Meles Two. It's the nearest inhabited planet, and the people are friendly. Where you go from there is your business. MORIARTY Please tell your Captain I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye. (MORE) STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FIVE 50. 41 CONTINUED: MORIARTY (Cont'd) I do wish I could see his face when he realizes where he's been the last several hours. Riker is eager to get them out of there before the danger from the colliding planets becomes imminent. RIKER Every second we waste puts us in that much more danger. MORIARTY Don't worry, you'll soon have control of your ship. Riker backs away from the door. COUNTESS Goodbye, Commander. Thank you for everything. Riker manages a polite nod. MORIARTY Computer... prepare to depart. Riker backs away as the door to the shuttlecraft closes. FOLLOW him as he joins Worf at the console that controls the shuttlebay doors. 42 ANGLE - RIKER AND WORF RIKER Open shuttlebay doors. Worf works the controls. We hear the off-screen sound of the door opening and the warning ALARM that accompanies it. Off the grim expressions of Riker and Worf, as they watch Moriarty's shuttle departing off-screen... 43 INT. SHUTTLECRAFT The shuttle has left the bay and moved away from the ship. Stars are visible through the windows as the shuttle moves through space. Moriarty and the Countess peer out into space, struck by the beauty of its expanse. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FIVE 51. 43 CONTINUED: COUNTESS It's so beautiful... MORIARTY Indeed, my dear. It is a wondrous sight. The first of many we are sure to encounter in our travels. The stare out into the starfield, into their future. MORIARTY Computer... interface with the central computer on the Enterprise. The computer beeps. COMPUTER VOICE Interface complete. MORIARTY Release command function lockouts... authorization Moriarty, alpha two-four-one-five-nine. COUNTESS James... ? MORIARTY Yes, my love? COUNTESS Can we go back to Earth... someday? MORIARTY Of course, my dear... Of course. He looks at her with great tenderness. 44 INT. SHUTTLEBAY Riker and Worf stand at the console as we last saw them. PICARD (off-screen) Computer... STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT FIVE 52. 44 CONTINUED: Riker and Worf turn at the sound of the Captain's voice. 45 INCLUDE PICARD (OPTICAL) as he walks toward them. PICARD Store program Picard delta one in active memory and discontinue simulation. The shuttlebay DISAPPEARS, including Riker and Worf. Picard is now standing in the empty grid. 46 INT. HOLODECK GRID COMPUTER VOICE Program stored. Picard crosses toward the door and EXITS. 47 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) Data and Barclay are waiting for Picard as he ENTERS from the grid. They look at him expectantly for a moment and he breaks into a smile. PICARD It worked... they believed they were off the Holodeck. DATA Did Moriarty release the voice commands, Captain? PICARD We'll soon find out. Computer... discontinue the Holodeck simulation created by Professor Moriarty. The Corridor DISAPPEARS and the three men find themselves standing in the empty grid. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - 10/26/92 - ACT FIVE 52A. 48 INT. HOLODECK GRID BARCLAY So far, so good. This should be the Holodeck on the real Enterprise. PICARD (activates combadge) Picard to Bridge. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FIVE 53. 49 INT. MAIN BRIDGE Riker, Geordi and various N.D's. RIKER Captain! Are you all right? PICARD'S COM VOICE Yes, Number One. What is your status? RIKER We regained full control of the ship a few minutes ago. PICARD'S COM VOICE And the planetary collision? RIKER Six minutes away... we're pulling back to a safe distance. 50 INT. HOLODECK GRID PICARD We'll join you shortly. Worf and his team (that we saw earlier trying to disable the force field) appear in the doorway to the Corridor. WORF Captain -- PICARD We're all right, Mister Worf. Barclay crosses to the Arch and opens a panel. He removes a cube-shaped piece of hardware. CUT TO: 51 OMITTED 52 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE Picard, Data, Barclay, Riker, Beverly and Troi. The TECH cube is sitting on the table between them. RIKER How did you do it, sir? STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/29/92 - ACT FIVE 54. 52 CONTINUED: PICARD We were able to program the Holodeck inside the Holodeck, and use the same ruse on Moriarty that he used on us. DATA When he attempted to contact the real Bridge, he was in fact talking to a simulation. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/28/92 - ACT FIVE 55. 52 CONTINUED: (2) TROI You mean he never realized that he hadn't left the Holodeck? PICARD (gesturing to the cube) The simulation is continuing even now, inside that cube. BEVERLY A miniature Holodeck? DATA In a way, Doctor. However, it has no physicality. The program is continuing... but only within the computer circuitry. BARCLAY As far as Moriarty and the Countess know, they're half way to Meles Two by now. Barclay picks of the TECH cube and inserts it in a slot inside a larger, briefcase sized piece of hardware with BLINKIES on it. BARCLAY This enhancement module contains enough active memory to provide them with a lifetime of experiences. PICARD They'll live out their lives... and never know the difference. TROI (smiles) So in a sense... you did give Moriarty what he wanted. Picard smiles because he feels he has at last been able to fulfill his obligation to Moriarty. STAR TREK: "Ship in a Bottle" - REV. 10/28/92 - ACT FIVE 56. 52 CONTINUED: (3) PICARD In a sense. And... who knows -- our reality might not be all that different from theirs. All this... (gestures around him) ... might be nothing more than an elaborate simulation being run inside a little device... sitting on someone else's table... Picard's just making a philosophical point that brings smiles around the room. Except for Barclay, who seems a little disquieted by what he said. PICARD Well... I believe we have a new born star to study. (standing; indicating the cube) Mister Barclay... you'll see that is kept in a safe place? BARCLAY Aye, sir. Barclay adjusts a control or two on the unit as everyone files out of the room. He stands and picks up the unit to follow, but then decides to wait and allow the door to close behind them. Once alone, he looks around the room. BARCLAY (tentatively) Computer... end program. When nothing happens, Barclay is satisfied he's not still inside some Holodeck simulation somewhere. He suddenly feels foolish for having doubted it, smiles sheepishly, and leaves the room. 53 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) As it hangs in space near the flickering new star. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END