Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 1, Episode 22 - Skin Of Evil - full transcript

Captain's log, stardate 41601.3.

We are crossing through
the Zed Lapis sector

to rendezvous with shuttlecraft 13
carrying Deanna Troi

who is returning
from a conference.

Because Engineering is working
on our dilithium crystals,

we are traveling on impulse power.

Deep sensor probes show no obstacles
or vessels within three light years.

Confirm.

The martial-arts competition
is in three days.

Are you prepared?

I will be if you come
to the holodeck later.



I need help with the Mishiama
wristlock and break.

If it works on you,
I can use it on anyone.

A valid assumption.
Who is your first competitor?

- Science Officer Swenson.
- You will defeat him easily.

I'm more concerned
with Lt Minnerly's kick boxing.

You are favored in the ship's pool.

- You bet on me?
- A sure thing.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

Captain.

Rendezvous with the shuttle
in one hour and ten minutes.

- Thank you, Lieutenant.
- Aye, sir.

It'll be good to have Counselor
Troi back, won't it, Number One?

It certainly will.

Sir. I'm receiving an emergency
transmission from the shuttle.



On main viewer.

I can't. We're receiving audio only.

Open the frequency.

What a jolt!

Position report.

Sir, on-board systems failure.

- Tell me where I am.
- Coordinates at 370.236. Confirm.

I can't confirm.
My instruments are haywire.

Lt Prieto,
is Counselor Troi alright?

Yes, sir. Just a little shaken.
We're being buffeted a bit.

Losing more power!
My flight-control computer's fried.

Main Engineering.

Lt Cmdr Leland T Lynch, here, sir.

How long before we return
to warp power?

I'm realigning
the dilithium crystals.

There is an emergency.
We need warp drive. How long?

- 20 minutes or more.
- We don't have it.

- I'll align it by hand.
- Whatever it takes.

Shuttle, this is the Enterprise.
Your coordinates now read 237.101.

Ben, you're dangerously close
to a planet.

I can see it!

The planet is Vagra II.
Zed Lapis sector. Uninhabited.

Lieutenant, report.

This is Counselor Troi.
I'll relay, sir.

The pilot is busy. We've lost
most of our impulse power.

Engineering, status report.

Working on it. Three minutes.

But there are no guarantees.

We're out of control.
We're caught in planet's gravity.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages
of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission,
to explore strange new worlds...

...to seek out new life
and new civilizations...

...to boldly go
where no one has gone before.

Captain's log, supplemental.

We've lost contact
with shuttlecraft 13.

We can only assume
they've crash-landed on Vagra II.

Meanwhile, Engineering is trying
to return us to warp power.

Forget the final check.

Initiate start-up sequence.

- Beginning checklist.
- Override.

Go directly to start-up.

- That is not recommended.
- Understood. Now!

Prime matter/antimatter injectors.

Set ratio at 25 to one.

Ratio set.

Power engine core. Inject reactants.

Leland T Lynch here.
We now have minimum warp drive.

- Course set for Vagra II, sir.
- Warp eight.

I said "minimum" warp drive.

- You heard the order. Make it so.
- Yes, sir.

Approaching Vagra II.

Strange, sir. There's no emergency
signal from the shuttle yet.

What is this place?

There is little information on file,
beyond the fact of its existence.

Our sensors show no signs of
life forms. Virtually no vegetation.

- Atmosphere?
- Minimum for our needs, sir.

- Standard orbit.
- Aye, sir.

I've located the shuttle.

- Life signs?
- Not yet, sir. Still probing.

It appears to be buried
under a lot of debris.

I may have something, sir.

Faint life signs.

- Very faint.
- How many?

We can't tell from here.

Can we beam up the injured?

No, sir. Our sensors
cannot penetrate this debris.

- It's very unusual.
- Yes, sir. I cannot explain.

- Number One, prepare an away team.
- Data. Yar.

Dr Crusher, have you been
monitoring this?

Yes. I'll meet the away team
in transporter room four.

Let's go. The life signs are weak.

What is this?

No idea.
Go round, to be on the safe side.

Let's try the other way.

Enterprise, we've got a problem.

What kind of problem?

I'm not sure. A kind of slick
is blocking our path.

Will keep you apprised.

- Maintain an open frequency.
- Aye, sir.

- Analysis, Mr. Data.
- Inconclusive, sir.

I cannot tell you what it is,
but I can tell you what it is not.

Explain.

No evidence of neural
or circulatory systems.

No internal organs.

Cellular structure unknown.

No proteins known to us.

It's narrow here. We can get over it.

- How is it moving?
- I do not know, sir.

It does not have a skeletal framework
or musculature.

Then what's causing it to move?

It appears to be following us, sir.

No sign of intelligence, no brain,
yet evidence of thought?

Insufficient information, sir.

Is it a life form, Data?

Again, insufficient information, sir.

Theorize.

It is possible.

Very good, Tin Man!

What is it, Number One?

What are you seeing?

Trouble.

Captain's log, supplemental.

On a mission to rescue survivors
from a shuttle crash,

the away team has encountered
a strange creature

which is able
to assume different forms,

including one which
resembles humanoid.

Easy. Let's find out
what we're dealing with.

Agreed, Captain.

Number One, I don't believe
the location of the crash

and the proximity of the creature
is a coincidence.

I am Cmdr William Riker
of the USS Enterprise.

I am Armus. Why are you here?

We mean no harm. We have injured
crewmen in the shuttlecraft.

We need to get to them. May we pass?

You haven't given me
a good enough reason.

Preserving life.
All life is very important to us.

Why?

We believe everything
has a right to exist.

An interesting notion
which I do not share!

You may leave now, if you wish.

We're not going without our crew.

- I warn you...
- Enough!

Our people need attention.

We won't hurt you,
but we must help them.

Number One!

The creature attacked us.
Lt Yar is down.

- It seems to feed on our phaser.
- We had no effect on it.

What's Lt Yar's condition?

- Dr Crusher, report!
- She's dead.

Transporter room, get them up. Now!

I need her in sickbay now.

Go to yellow alert, Lt Worf.
I'll be in sickbay.

Aye, sir.

- Status, Doctor?
- Unchanged.

- Can you bring her back?
- We'll see. Neural stimulator.

- Neural stimulator locked in.
- Interlock current feeds.

- Set sensitivity factor to 4.4.
- Affirmative.

Monitoring 2.3, 1.8.

- You did it!
- No. She's on total support.

There is no independent
brain function.

Current feeds operating.

No response. Her synaptic
network is breaking down.

Inject norep.

Neurons are beginning
to depolarize.

Direct reticular stimulation.

- Direct?
- Do it!

Increase to 70 microvolts.

85 microvolts.

Again.

90!

She's gone.

Gone?

There was too much synaptic damage.

That thing sucked the life
right out of her.

There's nothing I can do.

Your friends have deserted you.

They're not coming back.

You're wrong.

I killed one of them!

Yes.

I know.

How could you be in there
and know that?

I felt her die.

Do you want to know
why I killed her?

Your answer would be meaningless.

That act had no reason.

Exactly! It had no meaning.

I did it because I wanted to.
It amused me.

No. You thought it would
amuse you, but it didn't.

You felt no satisfaction.

No.

It was too easy.

You wanted her to suffer.

You have a great need.

- I need nothing.
- Liar.

End this. Let us go.

Not yet.

They won't give you what you want.

And what is that?

To break their spirit.

Is that what I want?

If breaking their spirit will amuse
me, then that's what I will have.

Never.

She didn't do anything.
Her phaser was lowered.

She only wanted to get to Troi.

She was killed in a senseless act.

Lt Yar's death
is very painful for all of us.

We must try to deal with it for now.

Until the shuttle crew
is safely back aboard,

our feelings will have to wait.
Understood?

Lt Worf, you are now
Acting Chief of Security.

I will do my best, sir.

Doctor, how are the shuttle crew?

We're receiving faint life signs,
but the readings fluctuate.

They may not be accurate.

Armus is capable of creating
undefined force fields.

We cannot communicate or use
the transporter, unless it allows it.

A creature against whom
we seem to have no defense.

- Number One?
- It's on that planet waiting for us.

It killed Tasha, and it could've
killed us, but it didn't.

Deanna and Ben are alive
for a reason.

It knows that we won't leave
while they're still alive.

You're saying its attack on Yar
was part of some tactic?

To find out, we have to go back down.

I may see something
in the creature that's helpful.

Agreed. Prepare an away team.

I will remain on the ship.

The object is not to engage it
in battle.

The goal is the safe return
of Counselor Troi and Lt Prieto.

I can best accomplish this
at the tactical station.

Very good. Number One?

We're approaching the shuttlecraft.
The creature is covering it.

I lied to you. They came back.

- Let me talk with them.
- No!

Why? Does the thought of my having
contact with them make you uneasy?

No.

Not being able to contact you,
not knowing if you are alive,

makes them uneasy.

Can't you feel how worried they are?

Yes.

They are worried.

They care for you.
You must be very special.

We are members of a community.
We all care for one another.

Equally?

You were really surprised
they came back.

Yes.

Why? Because the others did not?

What others?

You can't hide the emptiness
from me.

The others. The ones who hurt you.

Who left you alone, rejected.

The ones who make you so angry.

What do you know of them?

Only what you tell me.

I will tell you nothing.

Not now.

But soon.

Captain, look at this.

The energy field around the shuttle
decreased for a few moments

when the creature
was draped over it.

- Low enough to beam them out?
- Almost.

It's approaching the away team.

The energy field over the craft
is back to full intensity.

- Chart it. Look for a pattern.
- Aye, sir.

She said you'd be back.

- Then she is alive?
- For now.

Why have you returned?

We've no choice.
We must negotiate for our team.

- What do you want?
- Maybe I want nothing.

- Then you would have killed us all.
- I still might.

What do you want? Tell me.
Maybe we can reach an accommodation.

If I tell you,
will you give it to me?

I might. It depends.

I am a doctor. I need to treat
our injured friends.

Say "please."

You asked nicely.

I will allow it.

Wait!

I've changed my mind.
Talk to her from here.

How?

Troi, can you hear me?

Deanna, are you alright?

I can hear you.

Are you alright?

Yes.

We've encountered some difficulty.

I know.

She needs our help!

So what?

Our friends are suffering, meters
away, yet you block our path. Why?

You are all... ungrateful!

What is he made of?

It did not register on the tricorder.

"It"?
Does that mean I am not alive?

No. Clearly, you are some kind
of intelligent form.

But you said I did not register
on your instrument.

Perhaps your instruments
are useless.

Don't help him.

Half-meter to the right.

Aren't you going to lead him
to his sight again, robot?

No. You will just move it again.

- I will not help you hurt him.
- Then give it to him.

I will find something else
to amuse me.

You said they wouldn't amuse me.
You were right.

And the emptiness remains.

You sound so alone.

I am alone.

Abandoned.

Who deserted you?

Creatures whose beauty
now dazzles all who see them.

They would not exist without me.

You were together?

They perfected a means
of bringing to the surface

all that was evil and negative
within.

Erupting, spreading, connecting...

In time, it formed
a second skin, dank and vile.

- You.
- Yes.

They discarded you and left.

And here I am.

You have my pity.

Your pity?

Save that for yourself!

Something's got me!

Touch him and he dies.

No, don't!

Armus has... enveloped Cmdr Riker.

I'm beaming you up.

If any of you leave now, he dies.

And so do
the survivors of the crash.

Captain's log, supplemental.

There is grave danger
to the crew on Vagra II.

My First Officer is missing,

attacked by this entity
known as Armus.

Captain, take a look at this.

The chart of the energy field
around the shuttle.

- A lot of fluctuations.
- Yes, but there is a pattern.

Here is where it killed Lt Yar.

Here is where it absorbed Cmdr Riker.

And here, here,
where the energy is lowest?

Both times
it had enveloped the shuttle.

It has something to do
with Counselor Troi.

Somehow, when it's dealing with her,
the energy field is affected.

I want to talk to her.
I'll beam down.

Lt Worf, you have the conn.

Imzadi!

No! Please, stop hurting him!

He resists.

If he would give himself over,
the pain would diminish.

He struggles.
You should feel his strength.

I can.

Should I let him go?

You only ask to torment me!

Perhaps.

How should I answer?

What can I offer except myself?

And would you give yourself for him?
Would you give that much?

Yes. Without hesitation.

Just for him?

No. Not just for him.

I would do the same
for any of the others.

Armus, you have me.

- Let them go!
- Perhaps.

Another has arrived.

You are the one in charge?

- Is Cmdr Riker alive?
- Answer, Tin Man!

I would guess that death is no longer
sufficient to alleviate its boredom.

Therefore, Cmdr Riker is alive.

Maybe.

Don't you want to ask me
what I want?

No.

Not even to protect
your own existence?

I want to see my people
in the shuttle.

Entertain me.

Then I will do it myself.

You, Tin Man.

Tell me, how would you feel

if you were the instrument
of death for your leader?

Don't struggle.

I do not control the phaser.

Therefore, I would not be
the instrument of his death.

Perhaps killing the Doctor
would engender more feeling.

No. The control is still yours.

And what about you, Doctor?
Are you ready to die?

Tell me you are not afraid.

I am afraid.

- Beg me to spare you.
- No.

One of you is going to die.
And you, Doctor, get to choose.

You don't like that, do you?

- Then I choose myself.
- No.

You are going to live.

One of them dies.

Maybe this one.

Though I would not call it death,
since he is only a device.

Tell me, Tin Man, how does it feel
to face your own extinction?

Curious.

You are capable
of great sadism and cruelty.

Interesting. No redeeming qualities.

So what do you think?

I think you should be destroyed.

A moral judgment from a machine.

Armus, we're finished dealing
with you.

I have your man in here.
And the others in the shuttle.

No matter. We will no longer
be a source of amusement.

I can kill them.

Yes. But only I can command them.
They follow my orders.

Have them amuse me.

Only if I see my people
on the shuttle first.

Not possible!

Then our business is concluded.

And you claim you care
about your comrades.

I care.
Which is why I must see them.

You want to see your people?

Then, here.

Look...

...at this one!

He's alive.

Don't move.

Is he alright?

All signs show normal.

So much frustration.
It had to get rid of me.

Now, let me see the others.

No.

My people will not entertain you
until you do.

They are incapable
of entertaining me.

I want you four out of here.
Enterprise, beam up the away team.

Aye, sir.

They're no longer involved.
This is between you and me.

They may leave.

- Now...
- I want to leave this place.

You want me
to give you transportation?

For which I will trade you lives.

I must see my people in the shuttle.

Will you give me what I want?

I have the means.
But first, I must see my people.

If you must.

Troi, are you alright?

Yes. But Ben is not.

He's alive.

Were you able to help Tasha?

No.

Troi, we must talk.

I believe we can outmaneuver this
creature, and beam you and Ben up.

We monitored the energy field
around the shuttle.

When the creature is here,
the field weakens.

- Do you know why?
- The creature is filled with rage.

Undirected, unfocused rage.

When he confronts it,
his guard goes down,

because he's feeling it
instead of suppressing it.

Acknowledging his needs
makes him vulnerable.

- What caused the rage?
- He was left here.

Abandoned.

The force field has to drop
below 2.7 before we can beam them up.

- Satisfied?
- Yes.

- Then can we leave?
- To go where?

Do you want to find those
who left you here?

She told you about them!

How long have you been here?

Since they left.

A very long time.

A long time to be alone.

Save your compassion.
It's revolting.

You offer it like a prize
when in fact it's an insult.

Because you feel unworthy.

You overrate your gift.
You humans are puny, weak.

But our spirit is indomitable.

And still you die
from a flake of my power.

A great poet once said,

"All spirits are enslaved
that serve things evil."

You do not understand.

I do not serve things evil.
I am evil!

No. You are not.

I am a skin of evil,
left here by a race of Titans,

who believed,
if they rid themselves of me,

they would free the bonds
of destructiveness.

Yes. So here you are.
Feeding on your own loneliness.

Consumed by your own pain.
Believing your own lies.

Set the computer.

When the energy level reaches
2.6.205, beam up Troi and Prieto.

We'll do a parallel transport
on the Captain.

You say you are true evil?

Shall I tell you what true evil is?

It is to submit to you.

To surrender our freedom,

our dignity,
instead of defying you.

I will kill you and those in there.

But you will still be here.

In this place.

For ever. Alone. Immortal.

Stand by for parallel transport.

The energy level
has dropped to 2.6.3.

That's your real fear.

Never to die!

Never again to be united
with those who left you.

Energy field is 2.6.
Computer beginning transport.

I'm not taking you anywhere.

Captain's log, stardate 41602.1.

The shuttlecraft
has been destroyed

to prevent any possibility
of Armus leaving the planet.

Vagra II will be declared offlimits.

But the damage has been done.

One of the saddest duties
I have ever had to perform

is now ahead of me.

We are here together to honor
our friend and comrade,

Lt Natasha Yar.

Coming to terms with the loss
of a colleague

is perhaps the most difficult task
we must face

in the work we have chosen to pursue.

We will all find time to grieve
for her in the days ahead.

But for now...

...she has asked
that we celebrate her life...

...with this.

Hello, my friends.

You are here watching this image
of me because I have died.

It probably happened
while I was on duty, and quickly,

which is what I expected.

Never forget I died
doing exactly what I chose to do.

I want you to know
how much I loved my life,

and those of you who shared it
with me.

You are my family.

You all know where I came from
and what my life was like before.

But Starfleet took that frightened
angry girl and tempered her.

I have been blessed with your
friendship and your love.

You are the best.

You trusted me,

you encouraged me,
and, most of all, you made me laugh.

You are capable of so much love.

You taught me
without ever having to say a word.

I realized I could be feminine
without losing anything.

We are so much alike, you and I.
Both warriors.

Orphans who found ourselves
this family.

I hope I met death
with my eyes wide open.

Your fierce devotion
comes from within.

It can't be diminished.

From you, I have learned to strive
for excellence...

...no matter what the personal cost.

I'm sorry I won't be able
to see you grow

into the exceptional man
you'll become.

But your kindness and innocence
are ageless.

In those moments
I felt the most despair,

you took my hand and helped me
to see things differently.

You taught me
to look beyond the moment.

My friend, Data, you see things
with the wonder of a child.

And that makes you more human
than any of us.

I wish I could say
you've been like a father to me.

But I've never had one,
so I don't know what it feels like.

But if there was someone in this
universe I could choose to be like,

someone who I would want
to make proud of me...

...it's you.

You who have the heart of an
explorer and the soul of a poet.

So, you'll understand when I say...

...death is that state in which one
exists only in the memory of others.

Which is why it is not an end.

No goodbyes.

Just good memories.

Hailing frequencies closed, sir.

Au revoir, Natasha.

The gathering is concluded.

Sir...

...the purpose of this gathering...
confuses me.

How so?

My thoughts are not for Tasha...

...but for myself.

I keep thinking how empty
it will be without her presence.

Did I miss the point?

No, you didn't. You got it.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.