From: andres@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Andy C)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Once and Future Starship - Scene 4
Keywords: ASCII Text
Date: 11 Aug 91 17:45:20 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs

STAR TREK: "The Once and Future Starship"  8/9/91 - SCENE 4             1.



                            SCENE 4


FADE IN:


EXT. SPACE - THE TWO ENTERPRISES (OPTICAL)

The two Enterprises continue to orbit the planet as we begin
the voice over.


                           PICARD (V.O.)
          Captain's Log, Stardate 44636.7.  I have
          convened an Inquiry Panel to hear the facts
          in the case of Star Fleet versus the crew
          of the Enterprise-C.


INT. BRIEFING LOUNGE (OPTICAL)

Picard, Data, Riker, Troi and Crusher sit behind a table at the
head of a small briefing lounge.  Castille and Yar sit behind
another table facing them.  Other members of the Enterprise-C
crew sit behind Castille and Yar, including their daughter.  It
looks very much like a 24th Century courtroom.


                           PICARD (V.O.)
          My senior staff has assembled to hear the
          formal reading of the charges and to judge
          the defense offered by the accused.

Everyone is talking, Picard raises his hand and his voice.


                           PICARD
          Computer, begin recording.

Computer beeps can be heard as it becomes active.


                           PICARD (cont.)
          This Panel of Inquiry will now come to
          order.  Commander Riker will now read the
          formal charges.


                           RIKER
                    (uneasy)
          Acting Captain Castille and Acting First
          Officer Yar along with the remaining crew
          of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-C are
          formally charged with failing to report
          their ship's status to the proper
          authority.  They are also charged with
          being absent without leave, appropriating
          Federation property, the aforementioned USS
          Enterprise, and with willful and
          premeditated mutiny.
                    (a beat)
          How do you plead?

Castille and Yar stand, there is utter silence.


                           CASTILLE
          Guilty.

The place goes wild, the crew all start to speak at once,
shocked at what Castille has said.


                           PICARD
          Order!  There will be order, or I will have
          the  . . . prisoners removed.

Silence again reigns.  Castille and Yar sit.


                           PICARD
          That's better.  Now, Mr. Castille, are you
          authorized to speak for these people?



                           CASTILLE
          I am, Sir, and I repeat our plead of
          guilty.
                    (a beat)
          We will, however, present a case for
          extenuating circumstances that we believe
          will take precedence over the charges being
          levied against us.


                           RIKER
          What extenuating circumstances?


                           YAR
          All in good time, Commander, we need to
          establish a few facts first.  May we
          proceed?


                           PICARD
          By all means, proceed.


                           YAR
          Thank you, Sir.

Yar stands and moves around her table to stand in front of the
Inquiry Panel Members.  She paces back and forth in front of
them while she speaks.


                           YAR (CONT)
          First, does this panel concede that we had
          a brief encounter with the future, that I
          was in fact part of an alternate future and
          traveled back in time to twenty-three years
          ago?


                           CRUSHER
          DNA tests of your body are an exact match
          for our records on Tasha Yar.  You show
          aging consistent with the exact amount of
          time you claim to have spent in this
          timeline, there seems no other logical
          explanation.


                           PICARD
          Conceded.  Somehow the Enterprise-C
          traveled to an alternate version of this
          universe and brought you back to twenty-
          three years ago.


                           YAR
          Yes, an alternate timeline, but not unlike
          this one.  You were all there, except Troi
          and Worf.  The technology was the same,
          much of your history was the same, except
          the Battle at Norendra III and the war that
          broke out soon afterward.


                           RIKER
          This is old ground, Tasha, what's your
          point?


                           Yar
          Just this.  I had specific knowledge of
          events that had not yet happened in the
          time I traveled to, and knowledge of the
          technology of the future.  The others in
          the crew were also exposed to that
          technology.  We have records that show I
          used the Picard Maneuver to help us win the
          Battle of Norendra III, for example.


                           RIKER
          Yes, we understand that, but that doesn't
          excuse mutiny.  I still haven't heard any
          extenuating circumstances, unusual maybe,
          but not extenuating.


                           CASTILLE
          All in good time, Commander Riker.

Castille stands as he delivers his line.  Tasha returns to her
seat and he takes up a position in front of the Inquiry Panel
table.


                           CASTILLE (CONT)

          Now, our second point.  How would you
          describe the Federation of twenty-three
          years ago?


                           PICARD
          In what respect, Mr. Castille?  There are
          many ways to characterize that era of
          history.


                           CASTILLE
          With respect to technology say?
                    (a beat)
          Mr. Data, you have access to the records of
          the period in questions, how would you
          describe it in relation to say, today's
          technology.


                           DATA
          Many advances have been made since that
          time.  I would say that the Federation of
          that time had clearly inferior technology.


                           CASTILLE
          Clearly inferior technology.
                    (a beat)
          Wouldn't you also say that they were
          inferior in terms of social and political
          evolution?


                           DATA
          I am not an expert in those areas, but,
          yes, I think that the Federation as a whole
          was still immature, compared to today's
          standards.


                           CASTILLE
          But you're not an expert.  What do you say
          Counselor Troi?


                           TROI
          Many races of the Federation at that time
          were very mature in their thinking, but
          some, especially humans, were still
          somewhat immature, and perhaps still are in
          some respects.


                           PICARD
          Enough of this cross examination, Castille,
          you are the ones being investigated here.
          Please make your point.


                           CASTILLE
          Of course, Captain.  My point is this, the
          Federation of twenty-three years ago was
          technologically and socially inferior to
          the Federation of this era.


                           RIKER
          Agreed, but I still don't see how this all
          ties in to this case.


                           CASTILLE
          Bare with us, Commander, we have just one
          more point to make and it should all become
          clear.

Castille returns to his seat.


                           CASTILLE
          Tasha.

Tasha stands and leans on the table in front of her.


                           YAR
          Our final point has to do with the
          precedence of regulations.  There is an
          implied precedence in all our regulations,
          that's why we have numbered General Orders,
          for example.  If we had to break General
          Order 12 to, say, uphold General Order 4,
          we would do it and Star Fleet would have to
          back us up on that.  Is that true, Captain
          Picard?


                           PICARD

                    (thoughtful pause)
          I would agree to that, in theory.

Tasha moves out in front of her table again to pace in front of
the panel members.


                           YAR
          In theory, then, what is the highest ranked
          General Order, The only one we all swear to
          uphold, even if it means our own lives, the
          lives of our shipmates and the loss of our
          ships?

A light goes on over Riker's head as he realizes what they are
trying to accomplish with their line of reasoning.


                           RIKER
          The Prime Directive!


                           YAR
          Exactly, Commander.  The Prime Directive
          takes precedence over all General Orders,
          all regulations, even over our lives.
                    (a beat)
          What does the Prime Directive tell us?
          There is to be no interference with
          cultures that are technologically and
          socially inferior to our own.  No mention
          of any advanced technology or more evolved
          civilizations.


                           CASTILLE
          So you see, Captain, Commander, we were
          simply upholding the Prime Directive, the
          highest regulation of all, by not revealing
          the secrets of this time to a
          technologically and socially inferior
          culture, the Federation of twenty-three
          years ago!


                           RIKER
          Let me get this straight.  Your invoking a
          Federation directive on the Federation
          itself?


                           PICARD
          It's an interesting notion, but I don't
          ever recall it ever having happened before.


                           DATA
          The Prime Directive has never before been
          invoked on the Federation itself, Captain.
          At least not our Prime Directive.  Yet, I
          do believe it is a reasonable
          interpretation, Sir.

Picard tugs at his uniform and gives Riker a look.  They
silently confer on the topic and Picard makes up his mind.
Castille stands and joins Tasha in front of their table.


                           PICARD
          I concur, Mr. Data.  I do believe that
          these people made proper use of the Prime
          Directive as it applied to the Federation
          of that time.
                    (a beat)
          Let the record show that this Inquiry Panel
          finds for the defendants and acknowledges
          their use of the Prime Directive as a
          defense.

The crowd goes wild, Yar and Castille hug each other.  Rachel
can be seen in the background looking smug and unmoved by the
decree.  When they calm down a bit, Picard speaks again.


                           PICARD
          A copy of this hearing with attachments
          will be forwarded to Star Fleet Command
          with a recommendation that all charges be
          dropped against the crew of the Enterprise-
          C.  In the meantime, we will extend ship's
          privileges to that crew and their families,
          you are all now our guests until we hear
          back from Headquarters.

Riker stands and moves over to Yar and Castille.  He confronts
Tasha.


                           RIKER
          I hope you'll forgive the hard time I just
          gave you two.


                           YAR
          Of course, Commander, I know it's the job
          of the First Officer to play Devil's
          Advocate.


                           RIKER
          Thanks, and congratulations, that was some
          story you put together.

Riker and Yar embrace, Castille smiles. The other members of
the panel break up and move amongst the crew members offering
their congratulations.  Rachel makes her way through the crowd
to Data.


                           RACHEL
          So you're the android?


                           DATA
          That is correct, and you must be Tasha's
          daughter, Rachel.  The likeness to your
          mother at your age is uncanny.


                           RACHEL
          Yes, well I'll take that as a compliment.
          You did quite a good job up there.  You
          helped my parents get off.


                           DATA
          I was merely answering their questions to
          the best of my abilities.


                           RACHEL
          Of course.
                    (a beat, then in hushed tone)
          Listen, Data, I have a few questions.  Is
          there somewhere where we can speak  . . .
          alone?

Data motions toward the door of the room and they exit.


INT. DATA'S QUARTERS

Data and Rachel are now in Data's Quarters.  The lights are
bright, there is an unfinished painting in the background under
a cover.  Rachel examines the contents of the room.


                           RACHEL
          Nice room, Data, but how come there's no
          bed?


                           DATA
          I do not require sleep.


                           RACHEL
          That's not the only thing you can use a bed
          for you know.


                           DATA
          Ah, I see.  Did you come here to seduce me,
          Rachel?

Rachel closes in on Data and strokes his chest with an alluring
smile on her face.


                           RACHEL
          Perhaps, but would it be worth my while?
          Just how humanoid are you, Data?


                           DATA
          I am fully functional, Rachel, but I do not
          think that seducing me would be to your
          advantage.


                           RACHEL
          It's just as well, Data, that's not what I
          came here for anyway.  I need to ask you
          some questions.  You see, I plan to stay
          here and go back to the Federation.


                           DATA
          You are of legal age, Rachel, and a de
          facto citizen of the Federation since you
          were born on a starship.  If you wish, we
          can transport you to the nearest starbase.
          From there you can arrange for transport to
          any Federation world.


                           RACHEL
          Earth!  I want to go to Earth.  My father
          was born there you know.


                           DATA
          That is a very real possibility.

Rachel turns away suddenly.  She is upset


                           RACHEL
          Oh, but it can't be that easy.  My mother
          won't let me go!  You don't know her, Data,
          she is an evil woman.


                           DATA
          Perhaps I do not know your mother, but the
          Tasha Yar I knew died at the hands of pure
          evil.  I cannot believe that your mother is
          malicious.  She would never want to hurt
          her only daughter.


                           RACHEL
          Maybe you're right, Data.
                    (a beat)
          Would you speak to her for me?


                           DATA
          I believe it is you who should speak with
          her, Rachel.


                           RACHEL
          I can't,  we haven't really spoken in
          years.


                           DATA
          Might I suggest that you and your mother
          seek the aide of Counselor Troi.  She is
          skilled in resolving conflict.


                           RACHEL
          Do you think it would help?


                           DATA
          I believe it might, Rachel.  I shall
          suggest it to your mother as well.

Rachel smiles and throws her arms around Data.  Data hesitates
then returns the hug.


INT. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL)

Picard and Riker are seated at center stage, Worf is at his
post.  Data is at OPS and an extra is at the Helm station.
Establishing shot, then close up on Worf as a message comes in.


                           WORF
          Captain, I have a sub-space message coming
          in from Star Fleet Command.
                    (a beat)
          It's in real-time, Sir.  They are relaying
          via a sub-space repeater aboard the
          starship Potemkin.


                           RIKER
          Must be important for them to move the
          Potemkin into place between them and us.


                           PICARD
          Agreed.  I'll take it in my ready room.
          Number One, with me.

Riker and Picard exit to the Ready Room.


INT. READY ROOM

Riker and Picard enter, they take seats in front of Picard's
terminal.  He activates it and we see the same admiral as
before, Admiral Colltear.


                           COLLTEAR
          Captain Picard?


                           PICARD
          Yes, Admiral Colltear.


                           COLLTEAR
          We have received your transmission of the
          Inquiry Panel and reviewed your findings.
          Star Fleet has rejected the use of the
          Prime Directive as a defense in this case.

Picard and Riker exchange a shocked glance.


                           PICARD
          Surely, Admiral, Star Fleet must realize
          the applicability of the Prime Directive
          here.  It is an unusual case, but I believe
          the defense has merit.


                           COLLTEAR
          Yes, Captain, as I said, I have reviewed
          your recommendations.
                    (a beat)
          Listen, Picard, I sent a starship two
          sectors across space at maximum warp so
          that I could tell you this face to face.
          Star Fleet's hands are tied on this one.
          Orders come straight from the Federation
          Council.  They want to make an example of
          this case.  They feel it will send a strong
          message through the ranks.  After all, we
          can't have starship crews deciding to
          disappear with their ships everyday.
                    (a beat)
          I'll do what I can for them, Picard, but at
          this point  . . .

Another figure appears behind the Admiral on screen, the
Admiral turns to acknowledge the person, apparently he is the
Admiral's aide.  Picard and Riker listen with interest, then
try to break in.


                           PICARD
          Admiral, what is going on?  What has
          happened?


                           COLLTEAR
          I can't talk right now, Picard.  I have
          just been informed of a priority message
          coming in regarding this case  . . . from
          the Klingon High Command!
                    (a beat)
          I'll contact you when I know more.
          Colltear, out.

The screen goes blank, the camera closes on Picard's face.

FADE OUT.

                        END OF SCENE 4