"Chain of Command" Line-by-Line!

MADRED: That won't help. I have many more.

 

Picard: Still, it felt good.

 

MADRED: Enjoy your good feelings while you can. There may not be many more of them. I've just received word. There's been a battle. The Enterprise is burning in space. The invasion of Minos Korva has been successful.

 

Picard: I don't believe you.

 

MADRED: There's no need for any further information from you. Our troops were successful in spite of your refusal to help me. You might have saved yourself a great deal of torment by yielding at the beginning.

 

Picard: I want to see a neutral representative.

 

MADRED: There is no such person. The word will be that you perished with your crew. No one will ever know that you are here with us, as you will be for a long, long time. You do, however, have a choice. You can live out your life in misery, held here, subject to my whims, or you can live in comfort with good food and warm clothing, women as you desire them, allowed to pursue your studies of philosophy and history. I would enjoy debating with you. You have a keen mind. It's up to you. A life of ease, of reflection and intellectual challenge, or this.

 

Picard: What must I do?

 

MADRED: Nothing, really. Tell me how many lights you see. How many? How many lights? This is your last chance. The guards are coming. Don't be a stubborn fool. How many?

(Gul Lemec enters.)

 

Lemec: You told me he would be ready to go.

 

MADRED: We had some unfinished business.

 

Lemec: Get him cleaned up. A ship is waiting to take Enterprise. Captain Picard, if you'll go with the guards, they'll take care of you.

 

And now the line everyone's been waiting for...

PICARD: THERE. ARE. FOUR. LIGHTS!

(Picard brushes aside the Cardassians who attempt to help him and walks away, leaving Madred defeated.)

 

The Cairo rendezvous' with the Enterprise.

Picard and Riker enter the Bridge.

Jellico: Captain on the Bridge. Welcome home, Jean-Luc.

 

PICARD: Thank you.

 

Jellico: Just the way you left it. Maybe a little better. Computer, transfer all Command Codes to Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Voice authorization: Jellico Alpha 3-1.

 

COMPUTER: Transfer complete. USS Enterprise now under command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

 

Picard: I relieve you, Sir.

 

JELLICO: I stand relieved.

(He turns to address everyone.)

It's been an honor serving with you.

 

Picard: You have the Bridge, Number One.