Hey. I remember last year (possibly a lot longer ago than that!) talking about how I'd like if there had been a scene in Measure of a Man wherein Data's friends offer to help him escape the trial and get away from the reach of Starfleet. I always thought it was a missed opportunity to have a scene like the one when Worf offers to help Riker rescue Soren in 'The Outcast'. Anyway, I tried my hand at writing it in a shooting script style. Here's hoping it's not offensively bad! Hope you get something out of it.
===
FADE IN:
INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDOR
Crew are returning to their quarters, coming off day shift.
INT. ENTERPRISE, ANOTHER CORRIDOR
The ship is settling down for the night. A blue-uniformed
SENIOR SCIENCE OFFICER steps out of a turbolift and
turns back to a JUNIOR SCIENCE OFFICER inside,
remembering something.
SENIOR SCIENCE OFFICER
Oh, Mesner, remind me to try reversing the polarity on
that new pseudo-matrix tomorrow. That was a good
idea. I think it should yield some interesting results.
The JUNIOR SCIENCE OFFICER is slightly startled but smiles
a moment later.
JUNIOR SCIENCE OFFICER
Oh, I will. Thank you, sir.
As the turbolift doors begin to close, the SENIOR SCIENCE OFFICER
waves goodbye and walks off-camera. At the end of the corridor,
opposite the turbolift, a large dark shape moves across the T-junction
and out of sight.
INT. ENTERPRISE - DATA'S QUARTERS
DATA is seated at his work station, staring at a screen, a look of concentration on his face.
The door chimes.
DATA
Come.
Worf enters, dressed entirely in black. Data tilts his head,
looking puzzled.
DATA
Worf, can I be of assistance?
WORF shakes his head slowly, almost smiling, amazed
that DATA can maintain generosity when his very
right to exist is on trial.
WORF
No, thank you, Mr Data... Perhaps it is
I who can be of some assistance to you.
DATA stands up from his work station, studying WORF. Perhaps
he is just understanding, or perhaps he understood the reason for
WORF's visit as soon as WORF entered in his all-black clothing, but
DATA nods importantly, signalling to WORF that much can go unsaid.
DATA indicates a seat and WORF sits.
DATA
Some firewine?
WORF
Please.
DATA goes to his replicator.
DATA
Firewine... hot?
The firewine materialises and DATA hands WORF a goblet and then
sits down himself.
WORF
Data, there are places a man may go... disappear... if a man were
inclined to. Places even Starfleet may not go.
DATA's head tilts. He grasps that WORF has not detected that he
wished the conversation to be less overt. Nevertheless, DATA
plunges on.
DATA
I will not run.
WORF sips his firewine, nodding approvingly, at the drink and
at DATA's bravery.
WORF
If any man can turn the decision your way, that man
is Picard. But suppose the decision has already
been made. Suppose this is all nothing more than
opera. Humans have honour and courage,
yes, but certain considerations have a way of making people
set those things aside. What will you do if
this proves to be the case? I will never understand
how Riker could agree to...
WORF shrugs, bewildered. DATA looks intently at him, perhaps
realising he has underestimated him.
DATA
I would not see my friends caught up in this, and you
do Commander Riker a disservice. He is doing his duty,
as shall I. If I am to be handed over to Maddox, I will-
The door chimes. DATA stands up, frowning.
DATA
Come.
GEORDI enters. He is in his yellow and black Engineering uniform.
He sees WORF and DATA. He is holding a tricorder, which he taps.
GEORDI
I'm sorry I'm late. Got held up by a hinky power
coupling and couldn't think of a good explanation for just
walking away. Now, Worf, I've got this thing set up so that
the sensors won't be able to get a read on him for just over
an hour. Are you absolutely sure your, uh, friends can get
us out of the system and back by then?
WORF looks at DATA.
WORF
He is refusing to go.
GEORDI is perplexed.
GEORDI
Won't... go? Data, they're going to take you apart like,
like you're just a... piece of hardware. You can't let that
happen. We won't let that happen to you!
DATA crosses the room to stand before GEORDI. He puts a hand on
GEORDI's shoulder. It is completely mannered and completely genuine.
DATA looks at GEORDI for a long moment.
DATA
It is a matter of principle for me, Geordi. I have
always had faith in what we are doing here. It is what drew
me in the first place. Starfleet, the Federation, its ideals.
Worf finishes his firewine, looking contemplative. We sense that he too
feels similarly about the Federation, though perhaps not about its individuals.
GEORDI
I just can't believe you're gonna let them-
A transporter glimmer pulses and sparkles in the middle of the room.
A figure slowly solidifies, a figure dressed like WORF... the bald-headed figure of...
Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself. DATA is at a loss for words, but
GEORDI and WORF merely nod to their captain.
PICARD
All set, gentlemen?
DATA
Captain! I-
PICARD
I'll have no protests, Mr Data. There will be time to remonstrate
when we have you safely aboard the Kukri. Now-
DATA turns away a moment and then turns back to face the three men.
DATA
I will not go, my friends. To go would be to betray myself
fundamentally. Captain, if you choose to take me against my will, whatever your
reasoning, you will be taking the part of Maddox and all who believe as
he does. No, Captain. That is not in your nature. Nor yours, Geordi.
Nor yours, Worf.
Captain, I believe you will state my case and win my freedom.
I believe that even if you do not.
WORF, GEORDI and PICARD look at each other, heeding DATA's words.
CLOSE-UP of Picard's face, deep in thought. It is the expression of a man with a great task before him.
===
FADE IN:
INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDOR
Crew are returning to their quarters, coming off day shift.
INT. ENTERPRISE, ANOTHER CORRIDOR
The ship is settling down for the night. A blue-uniformed
SENIOR SCIENCE OFFICER steps out of a turbolift and
turns back to a JUNIOR SCIENCE OFFICER inside,
remembering something.
SENIOR SCIENCE OFFICER
Oh, Mesner, remind me to try reversing the polarity on
that new pseudo-matrix tomorrow. That was a good
idea. I think it should yield some interesting results.
The JUNIOR SCIENCE OFFICER is slightly startled but smiles
a moment later.
JUNIOR SCIENCE OFFICER
Oh, I will. Thank you, sir.
As the turbolift doors begin to close, the SENIOR SCIENCE OFFICER
waves goodbye and walks off-camera. At the end of the corridor,
opposite the turbolift, a large dark shape moves across the T-junction
and out of sight.
INT. ENTERPRISE - DATA'S QUARTERS
DATA is seated at his work station, staring at a screen, a look of concentration on his face.
The door chimes.
DATA
Come.
Worf enters, dressed entirely in black. Data tilts his head,
looking puzzled.
DATA
Worf, can I be of assistance?
WORF shakes his head slowly, almost smiling, amazed
that DATA can maintain generosity when his very
right to exist is on trial.
WORF
No, thank you, Mr Data... Perhaps it is
I who can be of some assistance to you.
DATA stands up from his work station, studying WORF. Perhaps
he is just understanding, or perhaps he understood the reason for
WORF's visit as soon as WORF entered in his all-black clothing, but
DATA nods importantly, signalling to WORF that much can go unsaid.
DATA indicates a seat and WORF sits.
DATA
Some firewine?
WORF
Please.
DATA goes to his replicator.
DATA
Firewine... hot?
The firewine materialises and DATA hands WORF a goblet and then
sits down himself.
WORF
Data, there are places a man may go... disappear... if a man were
inclined to. Places even Starfleet may not go.
DATA's head tilts. He grasps that WORF has not detected that he
wished the conversation to be less overt. Nevertheless, DATA
plunges on.
DATA
I will not run.
WORF sips his firewine, nodding approvingly, at the drink and
at DATA's bravery.
WORF
If any man can turn the decision your way, that man
is Picard. But suppose the decision has already
been made. Suppose this is all nothing more than
opera. Humans have honour and courage,
yes, but certain considerations have a way of making people
set those things aside. What will you do if
this proves to be the case? I will never understand
how Riker could agree to...
WORF shrugs, bewildered. DATA looks intently at him, perhaps
realising he has underestimated him.
DATA
I would not see my friends caught up in this, and you
do Commander Riker a disservice. He is doing his duty,
as shall I. If I am to be handed over to Maddox, I will-
The door chimes. DATA stands up, frowning.
DATA
Come.
GEORDI enters. He is in his yellow and black Engineering uniform.
He sees WORF and DATA. He is holding a tricorder, which he taps.
GEORDI
I'm sorry I'm late. Got held up by a hinky power
coupling and couldn't think of a good explanation for just
walking away. Now, Worf, I've got this thing set up so that
the sensors won't be able to get a read on him for just over
an hour. Are you absolutely sure your, uh, friends can get
us out of the system and back by then?
WORF looks at DATA.
WORF
He is refusing to go.
GEORDI is perplexed.
GEORDI
Won't... go? Data, they're going to take you apart like,
like you're just a... piece of hardware. You can't let that
happen. We won't let that happen to you!
DATA crosses the room to stand before GEORDI. He puts a hand on
GEORDI's shoulder. It is completely mannered and completely genuine.
DATA looks at GEORDI for a long moment.
DATA
It is a matter of principle for me, Geordi. I have
always had faith in what we are doing here. It is what drew
me in the first place. Starfleet, the Federation, its ideals.
Worf finishes his firewine, looking contemplative. We sense that he too
feels similarly about the Federation, though perhaps not about its individuals.
GEORDI
I just can't believe you're gonna let them-
A transporter glimmer pulses and sparkles in the middle of the room.
A figure slowly solidifies, a figure dressed like WORF... the bald-headed figure of...
Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself. DATA is at a loss for words, but
GEORDI and WORF merely nod to their captain.
PICARD
All set, gentlemen?
DATA
Captain! I-
PICARD
I'll have no protests, Mr Data. There will be time to remonstrate
when we have you safely aboard the Kukri. Now-
DATA turns away a moment and then turns back to face the three men.
DATA
I will not go, my friends. To go would be to betray myself
fundamentally. Captain, if you choose to take me against my will, whatever your
reasoning, you will be taking the part of Maddox and all who believe as
he does. No, Captain. That is not in your nature. Nor yours, Geordi.
Nor yours, Worf.
Captain, I believe you will state my case and win my freedom.
I believe that even if you do not.
WORF, GEORDI and PICARD look at each other, heeding DATA's words.
CLOSE-UP of Picard's face, deep in thought. It is the expression of a man with a great task before him.
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