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From Star Trek: The Next Generation

Encounter at Farpoint

TEASER

FADE IN:

1 EXTERIOR SPACE -- STARSHIP (OPTICAL)

The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-D traveling at warp speed through space.

PICARD (voice-over)
Captain's log, stardate 42353.7. Our destination is planet Cygnus IV, beyond which lies the great unexplored mass of the galaxy.

2 OTHER INTRODUCTORY ANGLES (OPTICAL)

On the gigantic new Enterprise NCC 1701-D.

PICARD (voice-over)
My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world. Meanwhile...

3 INTERIOR ENGINE ROOM

Huge, with a giant wall diagram showing the immensity of this Galaxy-class starship.

PICARD (voice-over)(continuing)
I am becoming better acquainted with my new command, this Galaxy-class U.S.S. Enterprise.

4 CLOSER ON VESSEL DIAGRAM

Showing the details and size of this enormous starship.

PICARD (voice-over)
I am still somewhat in awe of its size and complexity.

5 INTERIOR LOUNGE DECK

With its huge windows revealing the immense span of the starship's outer surface.

PICARD (voice-over) (continuing)
...my crew we are short in several key positions, most notably...

6 INTERIOR BRIDGE -- WIDE ANGLE

PICARD, TROI, and DATA seated in the command area. Starfleet LIEUTENANT WORF, a young Klingon, is at the Ops station and a SUPERNUMERARY is at conn.

PICARD (voice-over)(continuing)
...a first officer, but I am informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William Riker, will be waiting to join our ship when we reach our Cygnus IV destination.

7 ANGLE EMPHASIZING PICARD AND DATA

As Picard turns to Data:

PICARD
You will agree, Data, that Starfleet's instructions are difficult?

DATA
Difficult...how so? Simply solve the mystery of Farpoint Station.

PICARD (smiles)
As simple as that.

TROI
Farpoint Station. Even the name sounds mysterious.

PICARD
The problem, Data, is that another life-form built that base. How do I negotiate a friendly agreement for Starfleet to use it while at the same time snoop around finding how and why they built it?

DATA
Inquiry...the word snoop...?

PICARD
Data, how can you be programmed as a virtual encyclopedia of human information without knowing a simple word like snoop?

DATA
Possibility...a kind of human behavior I was not designed to emulate?

It is all Troi can do to keep from smiling.

PICARD
It means "to spy, to sneak"...

DATA (interrupting; delighted)
Ah! To seek covertly, to go stealthily, to slink, slither...

PICARD (wanting to cut it off)
Exactly, yes...

DATA
...to glide, creep, skulk, pussyfoot, gumshoe...

Data trails off his words, finally becoming aware of the annoyance registering on Picard's face. Troi cannot keep back the smile now...then suddenly her face is contorted in pain.

TROI
Captain...I'm sensing a...a powerful mind....

Interrupted by the sound of a BRIDGE ALARM.

8 WIDER ANGLE

All checking their consoles, puzzled at readings they're getting.

WORF
Something strange on the detector circuits...

OVERLAPPED by an ever more compelling SECOND BRIDGE ALARM (similar to the old naval HONKING SOUND) begins to sound. At the same time, the main viewer FLICKERS and an unusual SHINING, SPARKLING GRID SHAPE APPEARS stretching across the whole of the galaxy ahead of them.

9 EXTERIOR SPACE -- ENTERPRISE AND GRID (OPTICAL)

Emphasizing the incredibly SHINING GRID which the Enterprise is approaching. Seeming impossibly large, yet in some ways as delicate as a spiderweb, it is composed of interlocking geometrical shapes.

10 INTERIOR BRIDGE -- VARIOUS ANGLES

Data is looking up from his command position console, showing as much alarm as we'll ever see on his face.

DATA
It registers as solid, Captain....

TROI
Or an incredible powerful force field. But if we collide with either...

PICARD (to conn)
Go to Yellow Alert. And shut off that damned noise.

Conn turns OFF honking sound. Picard is taking time to check all readings but we're now coming very close to the strange grid.

WORF
Shields and deflectors, up, sir.

Milking the drama of approaching collision. Then, conversationally:

PICARD
Reverse power, full stop.

CONN
Controls to full stop, sir.

The strange shimmering GRID on the viewer is now very close to us as Enterprise movement stops.

CONN
Now reading full stop, sir.

Overlapped by something akin to a ROLLING THUNDERSTORM accompanied by a BRILLIANT AND SUSTAINED FLASH OF LIGHT ON THE BRIDGE to the side of Picard. The light burst physically shakes all bridge crew for an instant, then RESOLVES ITSELF INTO A HUMAN-SIZE FIGURE standing at that point on the bridge. As the bridge crew's eyes adjust, it does indeed appear to be a human...but one dressed and posturing as an Elizabethan-era sea captain wearing Sir Walter Raleigh-type "court dress," complete with neck ruffles, lace, leg stockings, ceremonial sword, etc. Now and later, we shall know this life-form as Q.

11 ANOTHER ANGLE (OPTICAL)

As Q (Elizabethan) makes a formal bow (of that same era) to Picard. At which the turbolift doors snap open and TWO SECURITY CREW members start to ENTER, led by Security and Weapons Officer NATASHA YAR. However, Q merely gives a nod in that direction and a miniature of the space grid outside APPEARS AT THE TURBOLIFT ENTRANCE, barring the security team's entrance, and CLOSES THE TURBOLIFT DOORS. Then turns toward Picard.

Q (ELIZABETHAN)
You are notified that your kind has infiltrated the galaxy too far already. You are directed to return to your own solar system immediately.

12 ANGLE TO INCLUDE OPS AND CONN

We will see Conn stealthily, carefully reaching to the small phaser on his belt.

PICARD
That's quite a directive. Would you mind identifying what you are?

Q (ELIZABETHAN)
We call ourselves "the Q." Or you may call me that; it's all much the same thing.
(indicating costume)
And I have presented myself to you as a fellow ship captain so that you will better understand me.
(indicates)
Go back from where you...

13 ANOTHER ANGLE (OPTICAL)

Interrupted by Conn drawing his phaser. But Q barely nods toward conn at which a FLUTTERING ELECTRIC BLUE WAVE envelopes that bridge crew member, and we HEAR THE BRIEF BEGINNINGS OF A SCREAM as conn falls with the SOUND of a frozen hard object striking the deck. Picard comes to his feet, ignoring Q as:

Q (ELIZABETHAN)
Stay where you are!

14 EMPHASIZING PICARD

Who is clearly very angry as he kneels at the prone form of conn, who appears to have been instantly frozen solid. Troi hurries INTO SHOT kneeling too. There is even white evaporation vapor rising up from the body.

PICARD
Data, call medics!

TROI
He's frozen. Can you feel the cold?

Picard grabs up conn's phaser from the deck (reversing it, wisely), stands and puts it under Q's nose.

PICARD
He would not have injured you!
(indicates phaser)
Do you understand this; the stun setting?

Q (ELIZABETHAN)
Knowing humans as you do, Captain, would you want to be captured helpless by them?
(moves closer)
Now, go back or you will certainly die!

FADE OUT.

Copyright © 1998 by Paramount Pictures