|
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INT.
MEDICAL LAB (OR STORAGE AREA)
Beverly is showing Amanda the readout dials on a medical
TRICORDER.
BEVERLY: See these
readouts? This is your heart
rate, your blood pressure... all
your vital signs.
Amanda looks at the dials with interest.
BEVERLY: You're in
good shape. (wry)
You might just live to be my
age.
Amanda smiles. Beverly
indicates the storage shelf from
which she took the device.
BEVERLY: All these
tricorders have to be tested
before they get put in the supply
containers we're taking to
Tagra.
She indicates the small
carrying cases stacked on a nearby
table.
AMANDA: So I scan
myself with each one to
make sure all the readouts are working?
BEVERLY(nods): If they're not, put that unit aside
and we'll run a diagnostic on
it.
Beverly puts the tricorder she's been holding in a container.
Amanda takes another tricorder
off the shelf and starts scanning
herself.
BEVERLY: So
I understand you were accepted to
the Academy... I have a son there.
AMANDA: Being posted on
the Enterprise, I guess
you don't get to see him very
often... ?
BEVERLY(smiles): Not as
often as I'd like.
AMANDA: Do you have any
other children?
BEVERLY: My husband
died a number of years ago.
Wes was our only child.
Amanda is quiet for a
moment.
AMANDA: Was he old
enough to know his father?
BEVERLY: Jack died when
he was five.
AMANDA: My parents died
when I was a baby. I
don't remember anything about them...
Sometimes I wonder what they
were like.
Beverly can appreciate how she might want to know about them.
BEVERLY: I understand
your adopted parents are
in Starfleet.
AMANDA(nods): They're
marine biologists... They were
just posted to the Bilaren system.
Beverly is called on the com.
NURSE'S COM VOICE: Sickbay
to Doctor Crusher... you wanted
to be told when the cultures
were ready.
BEVERLY: On my way.
(to Amanda) I
have to go. When you've finished
with the tricorders, Nurse
Ogawa can help you take them down
to the Shuttlebay for loading.
AMANDA: Okay.
They share a warm smile and Beverly leaves her to her task.
EXT. SPACE
- THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
at impulse.
INT.
SHUTTLEBAY TWO
The place is buzzing with activity. NDs bustle around packing
crates and loading them into the SHUTTLECRAFT. Amanda
has just delivered the tricorders she's been checking
to GEORDI; he holds a PADD and has his hands full
coordinating everything.
GEORDI: Thanks for your
help. We need every
spare hand we can get; this is
one of the biggest relief efforts
we've ever mounted.
AMANDA: Why are you
taking everything down in
shuttlecraft?
GEORDI: We can't use
the transporters because
of all the ionization in the
Tagran atmosphere.
AMANDA: From the
barystatic filters?
GEORDI(a little surprised): How'd
you know that?
AMANDA: I did a paper
on eco-regeneration.
Geordi smiles and motions for Amanda to follow him over to
a shuttlecraft.
GEORDI: Then you know
that a thousand barystatic
filters put out a lot of
ionization...
AMANDA(that many?): A thousand... ?
GEORDI: They've managed
to pollute their atmosphere
pretty badly.
AMANDA: It's amazing...
that they go to such
lengths to clean the air... instead
of regulating the emissions
that cause the problem.
GEORDI(simply): You're
right.
Geordi and Amanda share a rueful look; it all seems so
shortsighted to them. Riker ENTERS and we see him in the background
talking to an ND.
Amanda's attention is diverted. Geordi
is half way inside a console by now so he doesn't
notice.
GEORDI'S VOICE: All
the filters can do is keep things
from getting worse. They shoot
negative ions into the planet's
stratosphere --
Amanda watches Riker as he takes a PADD from an ND and begins
checking it over. The ND moves away, leaving Riker
standing alone near the overhang which contains the
control booth.
GEORDI'S VOICE(continuing): --
where they come into contact with
airborne pollutants and transfer
their charge. The filters
have positively charged intake
vents that the pollutants become
attracted to; that sets up a kind of ionic current in the atmosphere.
Amanda isn't even hearing his techno-ramble, her attention
is now completely on the handsome figure cut by
the First Officer.
A CLOSE ON A TOOL CASE on
the railing of the overhang. It suddenly moves forward,
as though of its own volition, and teeters on
the edge of the stack. ANGLE ON AMANDA as
her eye is caught by the movement. Then, the case
shifts forward again and begins FALLING right toward
Riker. There isn't even time to shout a warning...
Amanda reaches out instinctively and suddenly the case's
fall is diverted -- as if some unseen force lanced
out from her outstretched arm -- and it crashes to
the ground just a few feet away from him. Everyone
in the room reacts with a start. It looks for
all the world to have been a near miss.
GEORDI(calling from
across the room):
Commander, are you all right?
Riker's a little shaken. Geordi crosses toward him.
RIKER: Yeah... I didn't
even see it coming...
No one except Amanda knows what really happened. And from
the look on her face, we can see that she is disturbed
and frightened by the strange event.
INT.
AMANDA'S QUARTERS
Amanda is alone in her quarters, mulling over the strange
events of the past few days. If only there was someone she could talk to
about it all. But what if
they thought she was a freak? They used to burn witches!
A SOUND at the door. Amanda leaps off the bed and stares
at it. Maybe they've found her out?
AMANDA(hesitantly): Come
in.
The door opens to reveal TROI standing there holding a
puppy.
TROI: Commander
Riker told me you liked dogs...
Amanda is delighted. She moves forward to take the
puppy.
AMANDA(to puppy): What's
your name?
TROI: This is Henry.
AMANDA(smiles): Henry?
TROI(shrugging): Don't
ask me.
AMANDA: Where'd he come
from?
TROI: Ensign Janklow is
going to the Gantol
excavations for three weeks.
He's been trying to find someone
to take care of Henry.
AMANDA(instantly): I'll
do it.
TROI(smiles): Okay. But
be warned -- he has an
appetite for boots.
Amanda laughs and puts
Henry down to explore the room.
AMANDA: By the time
Ensign Janklow gets back
I'll have Henry shaking hands.
She and Troi move to chairs and sit.
TROI: Doctor
Crusher tells me you're considering
a career in zoology.
AMANDA: I was... but
this morning I decided
to become a Starfleet doctor...
then by this afternoon I
realized I was really meant to be
a Chief Engineer.
They share a smile.
AMANDA: What does a
ship's counselor do? Maybe that's what I'll want to be
by tomorrow.
Troi smiles at the young woman's enthusiasm.
AMANDA: There are
just so many things I'm interested
in... sometimes I worry that
I'll never focus on just one
thing...
TROI: There's nothing
wrong with keeping your
options open.
AMANDA: I'm just afraid
I won't have enough
time for everything I want to
do. I mean -- (ticking
them off) --
there's school, and then graduate
study, and a career... and
of course I want to get married
and have children -- lots of
children -- and more animals... (beat,
reflecting) Maybe I
should study agriculture...
have a big farm somewhere...
Troi laughs at her boundless eagerness and energy.
TROI: Amanda...
whatever you choose, I'm
sure you'll be good at it.
AMANDA: I know one
thing... I wouldn't mind
coming back to the Enterprise when
I graduate.
TROI: Who knows? Maybe
you will.
Off Amanda's reaction...
EXT. SPACE
- THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
as it cruises at impulse.
INT.
ENGINEERING
as Geordi and Amanda cross away from the warp core toward
the pool table, where DATA is working.
GEORDI: --
this is the main control area. We
can access just about any primary
circuit from these panels. (indicating)
That's a Jeffries tube over
there --
AMANDA: Where most of
the major systems conduits
are routed.
GEORDI(smiles): You've
done your homework.
She looks back toward the warp core... humming strongly,
blue lights rippling.
AMANDA: It's
hard to imagine how much energy
is being harnessed in there...
Data overhears this.
DATA: Imagination
is not necessary; the scale
is readily quantifiable. (glancing
at console) We are
presently generating twelve point
seven-five billion gigawatts per
second.
Amanda smiles at him -- then, suddenly an ALARM sounds. Geordi
hurries to a console near Data.
DATA: The
temperature in the reaction chamber
has increased by forty-seven
percent.
GEORDI(working): The
injector couplings are frozen --
I can't slow the reaction...
DATA: Temperature
increase is at one hundred
six percent... and rising.
GEORDI(to com): La
Forge To Bridge!
PICARD'S COM VOICE: Picard,
here.
GEORDI: We're heading
for a core breach! We're
going to have to try and vent
the plasma!
DATA(working): Plasma
inductors are not responding.
GEORDI: We're going to
lose containment...
NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) favoring
Amanda, with the pulsing reactor behind her.
GEORDI(to Data): Bring
down the isolation door - we
have to eject the warp core.
Data works the control.
GEORDI(to others): Everybody
out! Move it!
Suddenly a blinding white FLASH obscures the warp core (the
explosion is so powerful that we don't see pieces of
metal flying toward us, just the OPTICAL EFFECT). Amanda's hands fly up in
an instinctive gesture... the roiling
EFFECT surges toward her -- and stops expanding just
before it touches her hands. Everyone
turns and looks at her in amazement. Slowly, as
if she's exerting some great effort, she forces the explosion
back... back... until it is once again contained
in the reaction chamber. Only
when she's finished and everyone is safe does she allow
herself to react to the enormity of what she's done...
Suddenly she's a scared young
girl again...
DATA: Temperature in
the reaction chamber is
back to normal.
Data, of course, is unflappable. But the impossibility of
what they've just witnessed has left everyone else in
the room stunned silent.
INT.
OBSERVATION LOUNGE (OPTICAL)
Picard, Riker, Geordi, and Troi look up as Beverly ENTERS.
BEVERLY: She's a little
shaken up, but she'll
be all right.
Everyone's relieved to hear this -- despite the mystery posed
by the incident in Engineering, they've all grown quite
fond of Amanda.
RIKER: You said she was
adopted... could she be
an alien?
BEVERLY: She's human...
and there's nothing unusual
about her, not that my instruments
can detect.
PICARD(to Geordi): Commander,
have you been able to determine
the cause of the warp breach?
GEORDI: No, sir.
Everything was normal and
then... it's like the laws of
physics suddenly went out the window.
Suddenly Q APPEARS in one of the seats. He's wearing a
Starfleet uniform.
Q: And why not?
They're terribly inconvenient.
PICARD(dismayed): Q...
Q: Mon Capitan.
PICARD: Are you
responsible for the incident
in Engineering?
Q: Of course. I needed
to find out if what I
suspected about the girl was
true.
PICARD: That being?
Q: That she's Q.
This notion, dropped lightly by Q, falls like a bombshell
on the others.
TROI: Amanda... is a
Q... ?
BEVERLY: How is that
possible? Her parents...
her biological parents...
were human.
Q: Not exactly.
They regard him curiously.
Q: They had assumed
human form... in order
to visit Earth. For an amusement,
I suppose... but in vulgar
human fashion they proceeded
to conceive a child.
He shrugs, not comprehending this strange behavior.
Q: Then, like mawkish
humans, they became
attached to it. What is it
about those squirming little infants
that you find so appealing?
BEVERLY: I'm sure
that's beyond your comprehension,
Q.
Q: I desperately hope
so.
TROI: What happened to
Amanda's parents?
Q: They died in an
accident. None of us
knew whether the child would inherit
the capacities of a Q... but
recently, they began to emerge.
As an expert on humanity --
I was sent to investigate.
RIKER(sarcastic): You,
an expert on humanity... ?
Q(likewise): Not a very
challenging field of study,
I'll grant you...
GEORDI: Are you saying
you caused the core breach
-- just to test her?
TROI: What if she
hadn't been able to stop
it?
Q(it's obvious): Then I
would've known she wasn't Q.
There are reactions to this cavalier attitude.
BEVERLY: Now that you
know, what do you intend
to do?
Q: Instruct her, of
course. If that child
doesn't learn how to control her
power... she could accidently destroy
herself. Or all of you. Perhaps
your entire galaxy.
PICARD: Somehow I find
it hard to believe that
you'd come here to do us a favor...
Q: You're quite right
-- I wouldn't. But
there are those in the Continuum
who have an exaggerated sense
of responsibility... and think
we should take precautions to
keep the little dear from running
amuck.
BEVERLY: And once
you've taught her... you'll
go away?
Q: And leave her
here... when she's Q?
Of course not... she'll come to
the Continuum, where she belongs.
BEVERLY(irate): Wait a
minute... you can't just come
in here and take her away from
everything she's known...
Q: I assure you, I can
--
BEVERLY: She has plans
for herself... she wants
a career, a family --
Q: I can rescue her
from that miserable
existence.
BEVERLY: That
"miserable existence" is all she's
known for eighteen years. You
have no right to take it away from
her.
Q: Mon Capitan... I
really think we need to
speak privately.
He lifts his hand -- there's a FLASH... and the two of
them are suddenly in --
INT. READY
ROOM
Q: There. Isn't that
better? Doctor Crusher
gets more shrill with each passing
year...
PICARD: What is it you
really want, Q? Why
bring Amanda here... to the Enterprise?
Q(expansively): Where
better than here, among my dear
friends? After all... you know
so much about the Q... you're
the perfect people to introduce
me to the child. Let her
know she can trust me.
This brings an outright laugh from Picard.
PICARD: Trust you -- !
Q: Jean-Luc... you
wound me...
PICARD: I don't trust
you and I certainly wouldn't
expect Amanda to.
Q: She'd better --
because I'm all she's
got. She needs me to prepare
her... for her future with the
Q.
PICARD: She
may not want that future.
The decision is hers.
Q: Yes, yes -- fine.
(amused by the thought)
But do you really think she'll
want to remain a feeble
mortal?
Picard ignores his mocking tone, thinks for a moment... not
liking what he comes up with.
PICARD: If
Amanda is a Q... she'll need to
understand what that means. (firm)
I'll introduce you, but we
cannot continue to
fight like this in front
of Amanda. For her sake, we'll
have to appear to be...
Q: Pals?
PICARD: Civil.
Q shrugs his assent.
PICARD: We need time to
explain this to her.
Q: I knew I could count
on you, Jean-Luc.
Q DISAPPEARS. Picard EXITS the Ready Room.
INT. BRIDGE
as Picard crosses to Data.
PICARD: Mister Data...
I want you to access
any available records on Amanda
Rogers.
DATA: Yes, Captain.
PICARD: I
want to know more about her biological
parents... about their death.
I find it odd that any Q
could die in an accident.
DATA: It does not seem
consistent with what we
know of them.
PICARD: I'm convinced Q
isn't telling us
everything. See what you can find
out.
DATA: Aye, sir.
INT.
AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)
Beverly and Amanda are sitting together on the couch. Though
she is still grappling with the enormous implications
of what she's been told, the news does explain
certain things that have been happening.
AMANDA: It started
happening about six months
ago... things I wished for suddenly
appearing... objects moving
on their own... I thought I
was going crazy... (beat)
In a funny way, finding this
out is kind of a
relief.
BEVERLY: I can
understand that. (beat)
The person I mentioned... from
the Q Continuum... would like
to meet you. If you
want to...
Amanda takes a breath. Things are moving awfully fast, but
she might as well start facing what's coming.
AMANDA: I'm ready.
Beverly starts toward the door... but before she reaches
it, Q WALKS THROUGH IT, heading right for Amanda,
who looks startled.
Q: There's my girl!
Beverly gives him a look. The door OPENS, revealing Picard, who ENTERS,
and movestoward Amanda, trying to make this a comfortable introduction.
He finds himself in the odd position of having
to put Q in the best possible light.
PICARD: Amanda, this is
Q. (beat)
He is... (searching)
... an acquaintance of ours.
We've known him for
years.
Q is circling Amanda, sizing her up as though she's a
race horse. It makes her quite uncomfortable.
Q: Very impressive the
way you contained that
explosion. What else
have you done?
His brusque tone isn't helping to put Amanda at ease.
AMANDA: I... don't
understand.
Q: Telekinesis,
teleportation, spontaneous
combustion of someone you
didn't like -- that sort of thing.
Amanda looks baffled and Picard steps in to help.
PICARD: I think what Q
means to ask is... have
you deliberately used your abilities...
?
AMANDA: Not until I
came here. The first time
was when the container almost fell
on Commander Riker.
Q: You did so well with
that I decided to give
you a real challenge...
the warp core breach.
He takes her face in his hands, turning it this way and that.
Q: She clearly has
potential. I see no
reason why she can't come back to
the Continuum right now.
AMANDA: What?
PICARD(warning): Q --
AMANDA: I don't want to
go anywhere...
Q: Don't worry. With
time you'll be able to
overcome the disadvantages
you suffered as a child.
No one will hold it against
you that you were human.
Amanda turns to Picard in distress.
AMANDA: Captain
Picard -- ?
Q advances on Amanda.
Q: Let's go,
Amanda.
PICARD(stepping forward): She
doesn't want to --
But as Q reaches Amanda she reacts, lifting her arm... and
suddenly Q goes flying across the room, crashing into
a wall.
AMANDA: Leave me
alone! I'm not going anywhere
with you!
A shaken Q looks at her with new respect... and the awareness
that this isn't going to be as easy as he thought.
INT. READY
ROOM
Picard is with Q; he's irate at Q's behavior. Q is vaguely
listening; he fussily brushes and tugs at his uniform,
as if it had been mussed in his fall.
PICARD: You agreed she
has the right to decide
her own future... yet the first
chance you get you try to abduct
her.
Q: You overreact as
usual, Jean-Luc. I
assure you -- I was merely testing
her power. She's quite a
little spitfire, isn't she?
PICARD: What's
going on, Q? What's your real
purpose in being here?
Q: I've made that quite
clear. The Continuum
has a vested interest in
this young woman...
PICARD: If you intend
to protect that investment,
I suggest you approach her
differently.
Q: She's just a little
skittish. She'll have
to start behaving like a
Q.
PICARD: If I'm not
mistaken, she just did.
Q flashes him an irritated
look, not appreciating the reminder.
INT.
AMANDA'S QUARTERS
Beverly is with Amanda, still upset after the incident with
Q.
AMANDA: I don't want
anything to do with that
Q person. I don't care about having
powers...
She looks at Beverly, pleading her case for denial.
AMANDA: You understand,
don't you? I have things
I want to do... I'm going to
the Academy... I want a career, I
want to join Starfleet...
BEVERLY: You can still
do those things...
AMANDA: But now it's so
-- complicated. This
power I have... it's just going
to get in the way. I don't want
to have to deal with it...
Beverly regards her sympathetically... understanding the
feelings, but knowing the truth.
BEVERLY: But you have
to.
Amanda looks at her.
BEVERLY: I know how you
feel. It would be so
much easier if none of this had
happened... if it would just go
away. (beat) But
it's not going to go away.
Amanda is silent, hearing the cold wash of reality.
BEVERLY: You need
someone to help you. And
the person who can help you --
is Q.
AMANDA: But he's
horrible.
BEVERLY But he's the
only one who can help you
understand who you are. There are
hard choices you're going to have
to make about your future... and
you can't make them by ignoring
the truth.
Amanda stares at her... and accepts, for now, her plight.
AMANDA: You're right.
(beat) But
I don't want any of this to disrupt
my time here. I want to do
everything I'm expected to do...
and I don't want you to treat
me any differently. (beat)
Please?
Beverly smiles, recognizing the young woman's need for normality.
BEVERLY: You've
got a deal. The first free hour
you have, report to me in the
medical lab. I have an experiment
I need help with.
Amanda grins; the familiarity of the routine is comforting
to her.
AMANDA: Yes, ma'am.
Beverly EXITS.
INT.
CORRIDOR
Q walks along the corridor on his way to Amanda's quarters.
No one is around. Suddenly a DARK SHADOW appears
on the wall ahead of him. Q stops, annoyed. We
HEAR the voice of the shadow... it is futzed and sepulchral.
Q SHADOW: Your
progress, Q?
Q: As anticipated there
have been some
problems... but the humans are
cooperating. I need more time.
(matter-of-fact) There
is a possibility we won't have
to terminate her.
The businesslike tone of Q's report makes it that much more
chilling...
INT.
CORRIDOR
as Q walks toward Amanda's quarters. He stops outside the
door, takes a breath, and starts to walk through the
door. Then he checks himself and, with a grimace, makes
himself push the control.
INT.
AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)
as she hears the chime.
AMANDA: Come in.
The door opens and Q ENTERS. Amanda stays seated and composed.
Q(ingratiating): Hello,
my dear...
But Amanda stares stonily at him, not responding at all.
Q takes a breath... realizes he's going to have to
eat some crow. It doesn't come easily.
Q: I've been told that
I behaved badly. I...
(almost choking) ... a-pol-ogize...
Amanda nods a cool
acknowledgement.
Q: Apparently you had
every right to chastise
me... (he's had enough of groveling)
... but what's done is done.
Right?
Amanda eyes him, steely.
AMANDA: I'd like to ask
you some questions.
He recognizes the edge in her voice, which is challenging
and not to be intimidated.
Q: Anything...
AMANDA: What, exactly,
are the Q?
Q: It would be so much
easier to show you than
to tell you. If you'd just
agree to take a short visit to
the Continuum --
But Amanda's having none of that.
AMANDA: No. Just tell
me.
Q: To put it simply...
we are omnipotent.
There is nothing -- nothing
-- we can't do.
AMANDA: And
what do you do with this power?
Q: Whatever we want.
AMANDA: Do you use it
to help others?
Q: I think you've
missed the point. You've obviously spent far too much
time among humans.
He moves closer to her, trying to spin a web of enticement.
Q: As a Q, you can have
your heart's desire
instantly... whatever it might
be. Would you like precious jewels?
Works of art? Would you like
to visit the rings of Tautine?
AMANDA: I don't care
about any of those things.
Q: Of course not.
You're a Q. But surely
there is something you want...
something you never dreamed
would be possible...
Amanda is silent... Q senses that there is something she
longs for. There is a long beat.
Q: What is it, Amanda?
Just tell me...
She looks up at him, wrestling with this... she doesn't exactly
trust him, but if she's going to find out about these
strange new abilities of hers...
AMANDA: I've always
wanted to see what my
parents looked like... my real parents.
Q: How quaint. (beat)
So do it.
AMANDA: What do you
mean?
Q: Summon
the image.
AMANDA: But... I don't
know how.
Q reacts with a little exasperation.
Q: Think about them...
evoke the memory...
AMANDA: But --
Q: Amanda. You can do
this. Trust me.
He kneels near where she's seated.
Q: Close your eyes...
concentrate...
Amanda wants this so badly she puts aside her skepticism
and does as he asks.
Q: In your mind, return
to the time when you
were an infant... think about
your parents... try and remember
them... now, open your eyes.
An IMAGE begins flickering on the couch... finally MATERIALIZES
completely... a young man and woman, she holding
a swaddled baby. They are playing with the baby,
tickling it under the chin, etc. and smiling with
what could only be described as unadorned love. Amanda
opens her eyes... sees the image... is transfixed.
She rises, walks toward the couple, staring
at them.
AMANDA: They look so
happy...(realizing) They
loved me...
Amanda stares at the group on the couch... raw emotion swelling
in her. Q smiles... he knows he's gotten to her.
Amanda turns around to him... but when she does... he's gone.
She's left with a lot to think about.
EXT. SPACE
- THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
as it cruises at impulse.
INT.
MEDICAL LAB (OPTICAL)
Beverly is walking Amanda through the various steps involved
in the neural tissue experiment she's been working
on. Amanda uses a
DROPPER to add a tiny amount of liquid to
a BEAKER of solution. She
then takes a TRICORDER and scans the beaker.
AMANDA: Ten percent
benasopil.
Beverly gives her a nod of encouragement. Amanda seems distracted,
unable to concentrate.
AMANDA: So I add thirty
milliliters to each of
the cultures...
BEVERLY: Twenty
milliliters...
AMANDA: Right,
twenty... I wait for it to
be metabolized... add -- another
twenty? (off
Beverly's nod) ...
wait for it to be metabolized...
over and over until the
bacilli can't absorb any more.
BEVERLY: That's
it. (hands her a PADD)
Just be sure and record the
rate of mitosis in each
dish.
AMANDA: Mitosis...
right.
Beverly regards her, aware that her concentration is fuzzy.
BEVERLY: You seem a
little distracted.
AMANDA: Well... I just saw my parents. My real parents.
Beverly stares at her, amazed.
AMANDA: Q showed me
how...
She looks up at Beverly.
AMANDA: Can you imagine
how that felt... ?
BEVERLY: No... I don't
think I can.
AMANDA: You were
right... I can't ignore what's
happened to me... (a
beat as she fights choking
up) ...but... I don't
know if I can cope with
it.
Beverly's heart aches for this overburdened child.
BEVERLY: You're
stronger than you think, Amanda...
There is a beat as Amanda struggles with her feelings.
AMANDA: When I looked
at my parents... right
there, in front of me... I
realized -- I caused this to happen.
I wanted to see them... and I did. (beat)
If it were you... if suddenly
you could have anything
you wanted... what do
you think you'd do?
BEVERLY(slight laugh): I
have no idea --
AMANDA: No, think about
it. Really think. Suddenly
you have the power to do
anything. What would it be?
Forced into looking at it from this perspective, Beverly
is a bit overwhelmed.
BEVERLY: I... I'm not
sure. I'd probably want
to cure people... people who were
hopelessly ill.
AMANDA: Would you bring
your husband back?
Beverly stares at her. She is overwhelmed by the question...
BEVERLY: Oh, Amanda, I
don't know... I don't
think I could decide about something
like that until I was faced
with it...
AMANDA(simply): I am
faced with it.
Beverly regards her... understanding more than ever the heavy
weight that Amanda bears. She returns to the commonplace
--
BEVERLY: Go on with
your work. I'll be back
to check on you later.
Beverly EXITS. Amanda turns and begins working. After a
moment, Q APPEARS.
Q: I thought she'd
never leave.
AMANDA(startled): I
don't think I'll ever get used to
that...
Q: It's time for
another lesson.
AMANDA: I have to do
this experiment first.
Q peers at the work, unable to fathom that it could hold
any interest.
Q: What is it you're
doing?
AMANDA: We're
delivering live vaccine bacilli
to Tagra. I'm supposed to
find the best nutrient solution for
keeping them alive while they're
in stasis.
Q(sarcastic): How
fascinating... (suddenly
animated) I have a
splendid idea. We'll combine
your work... with our lesson.
I'll show you how to finish
this in no time.
AMANDA(hesitant): I
think I'd better do it the way Doctor
Crusher showed me.
Q: Why? I'm sure the
Doctor would be
delighted if you could speed things
along. Think what it would mean...
you could handle double... triple
the work load.
This sounds reasonable.
AMANDA: Well... I
guess so.
Q motions that she look at the culture dishes.
Q: All right. As you
look at the tissue
samples... form an image of
them in your mind...
Amanda's curiosity is
mounting. She stares at the culture
dishes... concentrating on the image...
INT. MAIN
BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
Data is working at an Aft Science Station. Picard ENTERS from the Ready
Room and approaches Riker, who is
in his chair.
PICARD: Number One...
Doctor Crusher has some
live vaccine bacilli for delivery
to Tagra... they'll need to
be shipped in a stasis field. Will
you make the arrangements?
RIKER: I'll get right
on it.
He heads up the ramp to the Turbolift.
DATA: Captain, there is
a message from Tagra
Four.
PICARD: On screen.
An alien humanoid named ORN LOTE appears on the Viewscreen;
he is in a small room which is a control station
for one of the planet's barystatic filters.
[ORN LOTE]: Enterprise, I
am Orn Lote, Engineer.
We are having difficulties
with the reactor that powers
our barystatic filters on the
southern continent. We may have
to shut it down for repairs.
PICARD: Perhaps my
Chief Engineer could assist
you... ?
[ORN LOTE]: I hope so. If
we are forced to disable
the reactor, it would take months
to re-establish the ionic currents
the filters have formed in
the atmosphere.
PICARD: Send us your design specifications --
I'm sure we can do something.
[ORN LOTE]: Thank you,
Captain.
Lote's face disappears and is replaced by a starfield.
DATA: Captain... may I
see you for a moment?
Picard starts up the ramp.
PICARD: What is it,
Mister Data?
DATA: I
have some information regarding Amanda
Rogers' parents.
Picard reaches the Aft Science Station.
DATA: Records indicate
that they died in
Topeka, Kansas. Their
home was destroyed during a
tornado.
PICARD: A tornado? Why
wasn't it dissipated by
the Weather Modification
Net?
DATA: Unknown, sir. The
bodies were found in
the rubble after the storm
had passed.
PICARD(a beat as he ponders): See
if you can find out any details.
I'd like to know more about
that storm.
DATA: Yes, Captain.
INT.
MEDICAL LAB (OPTICAL)
Riker ENTERS and stops when he sees Q and Amanda. Q is standing
in front of her... her eyes are closed, as though
concentrating on something. The minute Q sees Riker
--
Q: If
it isn't Number Two...
RIKER(ignoring him; to Amanda):
I'm looking for Doctor
Crusher. I don't know
what nutrients she wants
to ship with the bacilli.
AMANDA: I'm not sure...
I'll tell her to contact
you.
RIKER: Thanks.
He smiles and turns to go. She doesn't want him to leave
and blurts out the first thing that comes to mind.
AMANDA: You could
wait for her here... ?
She realizes how this sounds, tries to be more casual.
AMANDA: If you
wanted to...
RIKER(smiles): Just
tell her I'll be in Shuttlebay
Two.
He EXITS, and Q eyes her, recognizing that she has feelings
for Riker.
Q: You're attracted
-- to him?
Embarrassed, she turns away
from him.
AMANDA: Of course
not...
Q: I think you are. How
repulsive... how can you stand that hair all over
his face?
But Amanda is saved from further inquiry by Beverly's entrance.
AMANDA: Doctor...
Commander Riker was looking
for you... he said he'd be
in Shuttlebay Two.
BEVERLY: Thank you.
She notices the apparatus of Amanda's experiment.
BEVERLY(surprised): You've
finished already?
Amanda smiles; she feels a sense of satisfaction.
BEVERLY: How did
you do it so quickly?
Beverly picks up the PADD and looks it over.
AMANDA(proudly): Q
helped me... we did it in less than
half the time it would've normally
taken.
BEVERLY: That explains
this data. (puts the
Padd down, addresses Q)
I needed to know the rates of
mitosis. By artificially
accelerating them you made the
experiment useless. Now I'll
have to do it over
again.
AMANDA(crestfallen): I'm
sorry, Doctor...
Q: Don't be sorry. If
she wants to do things
the hard way, that's her
business.
BEVERLY(firm): Why did
you interfere with what she
was doing?
Q: She's Q... making
her plod through human
chores is an insult to her.
BEVERLY: She has asked
not to be treated differently.
Q: That doesn't mean
you have to bore her to
death.
BEVERLY: I don't
interfere with what you're trying
to teach Amanda --
Q: You wouldn't be
capable of interfering
--
BEVERLY(right over him): I
don't think it's too much to ask
for you to do the same --
Q waves his hand and suddenly Beverly is TRANSFORMED into
a YAPPING IRISH SETTER for a few beats. Q is amused
by this, but Amanda is horrified. She waves her hand
and TRANSFORMS Beverly back. Beverly continues with
what she was saying, unaware of what happened.
BEVERLY: -- and you
stay out of mine.
Q nods in mock seriousness.
Q: Now that you put it
like that, I think
you're absolutely right.
He smiles winningly at
Beverly. Amanda is aghast, but mostly
relieved that Beverly didn't seem to notice what happened.
INT. BRIDGE
Data is once more at the Aft Science Station.
DATA: Captain...
PICARD: Yes, Mister
Data?
DATA: I have more
information regarding the
tornado that killed Amanda Rogers'
parents.
Picard crosses immediately to him.
PICARD: What is it?
Data indicates the screen of the monitor (which we do NOT
see), and Picard leans in to it.
DATA: It
was unusually compact, yet extremely
powerful -- its recorded wind
velocity was characteristic of
a funnel three times its size.
A beat as Picard registers the implications of what he's
just heard.
PICARD: Download the
files to my Ready Room.
I'll study them in there.
DATA: Yes, sir.
He begins working as Picard
heads for the Ready Room.
INT.
AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)
Amanda with Q.
AMANDA: Doctor Crusher
was only trying to help
me... you shouldn't have turned
her into a dog...
Q regards her with a
twinkle in his eye. He knows she is
feeling more receptive to him.
Q: Now, be truthful,
Amanda. Wasn't it
amusing? (beat) Just a
little?
AMANDA(acknowledging, a little smile):
Well...
Q: There, you see? My
dear, what's the point
of having these abilities
if you can't enjoy them? (briskly)
Now -- have you been
practicing your
teleportation?
AMANDA: Yes. But it's
kind of hard. I keep
ending up somewhere I don't want
to be.
Q: You're going to have
to start honing your
abilities. It won't do
to be sloppy... let's see... perhaps
a little game?
He smiles warmly at her.
Q: I'm going to hide
somewhere on the
ship... you try to find me.
AMANDA: But
how do I know --
But he DISAPPEARS before she can finish. Amanda isn't sure
what to do.
Q'S VOICE(from all around): Don't
worry, Amanda. You can do it...
She closes her eyes and concentrates, as if she's trying
to sense where he's gone. She seems to make a
decision and DISAPPEARS.
INT.
SHUTTLEBAY TWO (OPTICAL)
as Amanda REAPPEARS amidst the bustle of activity in the
room. A few people notice her but she ignores them as
she looks around for Q. She
turns around, perplexed, not seeing him. Then, she spots
a STORAGE CONTAINER in a corner. She concentrates,
and it DISAPPEARS, revealing Q inside.
Q: Not
bad. Not bad at all.
He DISAPPEARS again. Amanda once more concentrates to locate
him and then DISAPPEARS herself.
INT.
ENGINEERING (OPTICAL)
as Amanda APPEARS in the area between the pool table and
the warp core. Geordi
and Data are there but they don't see her because
they're looking at a monitor and talking. Amanda
looks around for Q as they work.
GEORDI: The trick is to
come up with a field
modulater that doesn't require
shutting down their reactor...
DATA: If we use (TECH),
we can devise a
mechanism that integrates into the
existing system while it is in
operation.
In the background Amanda has failed to find Q. She is about
to wave her hand and look for him elsewhere when he
sticks his head out of the pulsating chamber that is
the heart of the warp core.
Q: You're still
thinking like a human...
Geordi and Data turn at the sound of his voice in time to
see Q's head DISAPPEAR back into the reaction chamber and Amanda DISAPPEAR
altogether a moment later. Off
their reactions...
EXT. SPACE
- THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
as Amanda APPEARS and is stunned to find herself standing
on the ship's hull -- she has materialized outside,
in space, atop the saucer section. Q
stands nearby, smiling. Behind them we see the rear of
the ship with its warp nacelles. There is no wind...
no sound... a small but dramatic field of asteroids
sweeps by them... It is
a breathtaking moment... and Q lets the impact sink
in. Amanda looks
around, awestruck... after a moment she smiles
a smile so bright it almost shames the passing stars.
Q is pleased. This is exactly
the reaction he had hoped
for. He waves a hand and they both DISAPPEAR.
INT.
AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)
as Q and Amanda APPEAR. She is still breathless with the
wonder of what she has experienced. Q gazes at her,
well aware of the impact of his little game.
Q: Now do you
understand? What do humans
have to offer that even begins
to compare with that?
She is still reeling...
Q: Your future
contains wonders you can't
even imagine... the universe could
be your playground...
The sudden intrusion of door CHIMES invades Q's rhapsodic
vision. He eyes her.
AMANDA: Doctor Crusher
and Counselor Troi...
they're taking me to dinner.
He shakes his head, annoyed.
Q: You
don't have to eat, you know. It's
just a nasty human habit you could
easily do without.
He DISAPPEARS. Amanda crosses to the door and opens it;
Beverly and Troi are there.
BEVERLY: Hello,
Amanda. Are you ready?
AMANDA: Yes...
But Amanda's attitude is one of reluctance, not anticipation.
INT. TEN
FORWARD (OPTICAL)
Where Amanda, Beverly, and Troi are having dinner. Amanda
hasn't touched her food.
TROI: Is there
something else you'd like to
order, Amanda?
AMANDA: No, thank you.
I'm just... not hungry.
(beat) Actually,
I don't even have to eat.
It's a human trait.
TROI: I see. (beat)
How are you feeling about all
this now? It must be
overwhelming.
AMANDA: It
was at first. But now... I'm actually
enjoying myself.
RIKER'S VOICE: Hello,
ladies...
They look up to see Riker has approached the table.
TROI: Hello, Will...
Beverly nods her greeting... and Amanda breaks out in an
eager pleased smile.
AMANDA: Commander
Riker... why don't you join
us?
RIKER: Thanks, but I'm
meeting someone.
He smiles and moves off; Amanda's face falls and she gazes
after him.
BEVERLY(to Amanda): How
are the lessons going? Is Q
being patient with you?
But Amanda isn't really listening. She's watching Riker,
who joins an attractive WOMAN at another table. Troi
and Beverly exchange glances. Amanda
watches Riker... laughing with the woman at some shared
joke. Amanda's eyes narrow... and suddenly Amanda
waves her hand and both she and Riker DISAPPEAR. Troi
and Beverly are astonished.
EXT. A
GAZEBO - NIGHT (OPTICAL)
in the woods, as Amanda and Riker APPEAR under its roof.
Amanda wears an elegant evening dress; Riker is
formally attired. The
gazebo's white slatted joints are intertwined with vines.
It is night, and the few leafy branches that are
visible are enough to suggest that the gazebo is deep
in an enchanted forest. Riker
realizes that the very elaborateness of what she's now doing demonstrates
the depth of her infatuation
with him, and he knows he needs to be careful
with her feelings.
RIKER(evenly): What's
this all about?
AMANDA: I
thought it might be nice for us
to spend some time alone together.
She smiles radiantly at him...
RIKER: I think you
should take us back to
Ten Forward.
She moves toward him... wanting to be seductive... needing
to be taken seriously as a woman.
AMANDA: Are you sure?
Wouldn't you like to be
here with me for a while?
She gestures.
AMANDA: The
moonlight is beautiful... isn't
it nicer here than in Ten Forward?
RIKER: It's very
pleasant. But that's not
the point...
AMANDA: Oh... ?
She twines her arms around his neck.
AMANDA: I think it
is...
He takes her wrists and pulls them off him.
RIKER: No... (beat)
You can't just snatch people
away and put them in
your fantasies... and
expect them to respond.
AMANDA: Don't you like
me... even a little?
RIKER: I think you're a
lovely young woman. But
-- none of this is real.
Amanda stares at him... she had expected that he would be
swept off his feet by her grand fantasy.
AMANDA: My feelings are
real...
RIKER: I
know that... but -- you can't make
someone... love you.
Amanda's eyes narrow again.
AMANDA: Can't I?
She concentrates... and Riker's expression suddenly changes.
He looks at her with devotion...
RIKER: Amanda...
He moves toward her, takes her in his arms in a passionate
embrace.
RIKER: You're so
beautiful...
He kisses her fully, Amanda enjoying the exquisiteness of
the moment... they break apart and he buries his head
in her neck.
AMANDA: Do you love me?
RIKER: Yes... more than
anything...
She stands for a moment as he kisses her neck and shoulder...
a sad expression steals over her. She steps
back from him... and his expression changes back to
normal Riker. He blinks, not sure of what's happened.
AMANDA(softly): You're
right... none of this is real...
She turns her back on him, embarrassed now at the whole situation.
AMANDA: I thought it
would be romantic... but
it's empty...
RIKER(solicitous): Amanda...
But she's humiliated, near tears... moves away from him.
AMANDA: Just go back to
Ten Forward...
Riker DISAPPEARS. Then she bursts into tears, a young woman
in a lovely gown... standing in the gazebo deep within
the enchanted forest... alone in her fantasy.
EXT. SPACE
- THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
as it cruises at impulse.
INT. READY
ROOM (OPTICAL)
Q APPEARS before Picard.
Q: Bon jour, mon
Capitan. You wanted to
talk to me?
PICARD: Yes. I want to
ask you about Amanda's
biological parents. When they
decided to remain on Earth, what
was the reaction in the Continuum?
Q: We found it
incomprehensible.
PICARD: Were they
pressured to come back? Were
they threatened with punishment if they didn't?
Q: What are you getting
at, Picard?
PICARD: The
circumstance of their death was
a bit odd... a tornado that escaped
the Weather Modification Net...
and then touched down in only
one spot -- Amanda's home.
Q(shrugs): You never
can predict the weather...
PICARD: Tornadoes
develop from existing storm
fronts... and there were no
storm fronts in Kansas that day.
Witnesses reported that the funnel
materialized spontaneously...
directly over Amanda's
home... destroyed it... and
then disappeared.
Q: If you say so. I
wasn't there.
PICARD: Were Amanda's
parents executed... by
the Q Continuum?
Q hesitates before answering.
Q: And what if they
were?
PICARD: Then I think
Amanda has the right to
know that before she makes a choice
about her future.
Q: Don't be foolish,
Picard. She has no
choice. She never did.
Picard starts to retort, but Q rides over him.
Q: If she is truly Q,
she must come where she
belongs, to the Continuum...
Q pauses, looks levelly at Picard.
Q: But if she is some
kind of hybrid...
neither human nor Q... then
I'm afraid she'll have to be...
Q's gesture is clear; they will kill her.
PICARD: Are you that
despicable, Q?
Q: Don't be naive. You
have no idea what it
means to be Q. With unlimited
power comes the need for
responsibility. Do you think we
can allow an omnipotent being to
roam free in the universe?
PICARD: And... what
have you concluded? Does
she live... or does she die?
Q: I haven't decided
yet.
And on that impasse...
EXT. SPACE
- THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
now in orbit around Tagra. The planet's atmosphere is noticeably
brownish from heavy smog.
PICARD (V.O.): Captain's
log, Stardate 46193.8. We
have arrived at Tagra Four and have
begun delivering supplies. In
the meantime, I am faced with a
crisis of a different nature.
INT.
OBSERVATION LOUNGE
Picard with Beverly and Troi.
PICARD: I have no
reason to believe Q is lying.
He has orders from the Continuum...
if Amanda doesn't prove
herself to be fully Q... he
must kill her.
TROI: We have to tell
her...
BEVERLY: I'm not sure
we should... it seems almost
cruel.
TROI: Maybe she can
protect herself... after
all, she has a great deal of
power.
BEVERLY: So did her
parents, and it didn't save
them.
There is a silence as Picard reflects on the arguments. Then
--
PICARD: I'm inclined to
agree that Amanda deserves
to know the truth of the situation.
We don't have the right
to withhold such crucial information.
(beat) But
it won't be easy telling her...
The others are sympathetic to his plight.
INT.
SHUTTLEBAY TWO
Riker and Orn Lote in conversation.
RIKER: What's
your impression of the field
modulator, Mister Lote?
LOTE: Quite
ingenious, quite ingenious, indeed...
(coughs) I'm
amazed at the way it can be incorporated
into the existing system.
Geordi approaches.
GEORDI: We're all
loaded. We can head for
the surface whenever you're ready.
LOTE: I'm eager to see
the field modulator in
place, Commander.
He suddenly degenerates
into a cough... he fumbles for a
small oxygen-type mask that hangs from his belt, puts it
over his nose and mouth, and draws few quick breaths to
calm his inflamed bronchi.
RIKER: Why don't we get
going... ?
EXT. SPACE
- THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
in orbit of Tagra.
INT. READY
ROOM (OPTICAL)
Amanda is with Picard, who has told her of Q's true purpose.
She is pale but composed.
AMANDA: Kill me? Why?
PICARD: They're not convinced you're fully Q.
She stares at him, incredulous.
PICARD: They were
responsible for the death
of your parents...
AMANDA(stunned): My
parents -- ?
There is a beat as she absorbs this dreadful information...
and then begins to get angry.
AMANDA: What right do
they have?
She looks around the room, challenging Q to come forward.
AMANDA: Answer that, Q.
Or are you afraid to
face me?
Q APPEARS.
Q: You're such a plucky little thing. I
do enjoy you, you know.
PICARD: Amanda's
question deserves an answer,
Q. You've made yourself judge,
jury, and -- if necessary --
executioner. By what right do
you appoint yourself to this position?
Q: Superior morality...
PICARD: I recall how
you used your superior
morality when we first encountered
you. You put us on
trial for the crimes of humanity.
Q: The jury is still
out, Picard. Make no
mistake.
PICARD: Your arrogant
pretense to being the
moral guardians of the universe
strikes me as a bit pale today.
You have shown no evidence that
you are guided by a superior moral
code -- by any code whatsoever.
You may be nearly omnipotent
-- I won't deny your parlor
tricks are impressive -- but
morality? No, I don't see it.
I don't acknowledge it. I would
put human morality against the
Q's any day.
Q looks at him sharply.
PICARD: Perhaps that's
the fascination we
humans hold for you... ? That by
our puny example we give you a
glimmer of the one thing that eludes
your omnipotence -- a moral center.
Q refuses to react in any way.
PICARD: If so, I
can think of no crueler irony
than for you to destroy a
young woman whose only crime... is
being too human.
Q has perhaps been struck by the truth of Picard's words...
but of course can't
acknowledge that. He applauds.
Q: Jean-Luc,
Jean-Luc... sometimes I
think the only reason I come here
is to listen to these wonderful
speeches of yours. But in
this case your concerns are unwarranted.
We've decided not to
harm her. We're prepared to offer
her a choice.
AMANDA(wary): What kind
of choice?
Q: You can come with me
to the Continuum --
AMANDA: Or... ?
Q eyes her.
Q: The other choice is
more difficult. (beat)
You have within yourself the
ability to refrain from using
the power of Q. If you
can do that -- you can
stay here.
AMANDA: Then
I'm staying here.
Q: Think
carefully... it won't be easy.
Your parents were offered the
same choice... and they were unable
to resist using their power.
AMANDA: All I've
wanted... since this whole
thing began... was to be a
normal human being again. I know
I can resist.
Before Q can respond --
WORF'S COM VOICE: Worf
to Picard -- there is an emergency
message from Commander Riker.
PICARD: On my way.
He goes immediately for the
Bridge, followed by Amanda and
Q.
INT. BRIDGE
(OPTICAL)
as they emerge from the Ready Room. Riker is on the viewscreen
from the reactor control room. Geordi and Lote
are in bg.
[RIKER]: Captain, the
damage to the reactor was
greater than the Tagrans led us
to believe. The field modulator
is installed and operational,
but it's not going to
be enough... the reactor's gone into
overload...
PICARD: Can you correct
the problem?
[RIKER]: La Forge is trying to stabilize the
unit now. We'll stay as long as
possible... there are thousands of
people in the area, and if that reactor
goes...
[LOTE(on viewscreen, to Riker)]: Commander
-- over here, quickly!
Riker moves off toward Lote and Geordi in the background.
Picard turns stonily to Q.
PICARD: Is this your
doing, Q -- ?
Q spreads his hands in genuine innocence.
Q: Not this time,
Picard.
And he DISAPPEARS.
PICARD: Mister Worf,
see if there's anything
we can do to cut through the
interference and beam them out
of there.
WORF: Aye, sir.
Riker moves back toward the front of the Viewscreen.
[RIKER]: Captain, La Forge is trying a neutrino
infusion. There's a chance
it'll smother the reaction...
WORF: Sir, there is too
much ionization in the
atmosphere, transporters are
useless.
ANGLE ON AMANDA Through
all this, she has been staring at the Viewscreen,
stricken with the possibility of what might happen.
[GEORDI'S COM VOICE]: It
didn't work, sir. Meltdown is
imminent.
Amanda narrows her eyes... ANGLE FAVORING VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
as Riker and Geordi stand
there, helpless... then, from the
back of the control room...
[LOTE]: Commander...
look at this...
They turn and inspect a console.
[GEORDI]: This is
impossible... He turns
back to the Viewscreen.
[GEORDI]: I don't know
what's happening, sir
-- but the reaction is stabilizing
on its own.
Picard turns... looks at Amanda... but she's concentrating
on the Viewscreen.
DATA: Sir... I am
reading a massive energy
fluctuation in the planet's atmosphere.
PICARD: On screen.
The control room disappears from the Viewscreen and is
replaced by a view of the planet itself, smog-shrouded.
AMANDA stares at it...
concentrating... ON THE
VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) The
brown veil over the planet is dissipating... and Tagra
is transformed into a lush, blue-green world... THE CREW stares
at the phenomenal transformation.
DATA: Atmospheric
contaminants have dropped
to less than one part per
trillion. (glancing at
Picard) The ecosystem
has been restored to
its natural state.
PICARD: Amanda... ?
She turns and looks at him... and then Q APPEARS.
Q: You see? It's harder
to resist than you
thought...
AMANDA: I couldn't let
all those people die...
She looks around the Bridge... at Picard... at Q...
AMANDA: Ever since I
got here, I've been fighting
this. Denying the truth. Denying
what I am.
She regards them all, a little sad, but knowing she's right.
AMANDA: I am Q.
A look of concentration crosses her features and -- Beverly
APPEARS... looking a bit startled. Q is tapping
his foot impatiently.
AMANDA: Doctor
Crusher... I've decided... I
can't stay... (beat)
I can't stay here.
Q: Now that you've come
to your senses, can we
be off?
AMANDA: No. First I'm
going to visit my parents.
And it might take a while
to explain all this, so you'll
have to be patient.
Amanda turns to Beverly...
Beverly opens her arms and hugs
her.
AMANDA: I hope I can
come visit you sometime...
BEVERLY(smiling): You're
a Q... you can do anything you
want.
Amanda smiles, pulls away. She regards them... bittersweet
tears in her eyes... she and Q DISAPPEAR.
Our people
are left alone, with their memories of a very
special young woman...
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