Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 1, Episode 7 - Justice - full transcript

Captain's log, stardate 41249.3.

We have orbited the two major
planets of the Beta Renner system,

taking aboard delegates
from those worlds.

Since conquering space,
their major life forms,

the Anticans and the Selay,
have become enemies.

But both have applied
for admission into our Federation.

We are to deliver these delegates

to a neutral conference planet,
called Parliament,

in the hope their dispute
can be resolved.

I'm Capt Picard. Welcome aboard.

We hope your journey
will be pleasant and comfortable.



Arranging that will be Cmdr Riker.

Welcome aboard. I'll show you
the accommodations...

We can already smell the Anticans.
They were taken aboard first?

Only because their world was first
on this heading to Parliament.

Will our quarters be near
the Anticans?

About 100 meters apart.

- Is that alright?
- No. Unsatisfactory.

We can accommodate your wishes.

We'll rearrange the assignments.
Follow me.

And we must be upwind
from the Anticans.

Of course, sir.

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

Neither seem promising
Federation candidates, sir.

Even Parliament's peacemakers
may find this case difficult.



But do you understand
this nonsense between them?

No, sir. I never understood
such hostility in Earth's history.

Really? These life forms
feel such passionate hatreds

over matters of custom, god concepts,

even, strangely enough,
economic systems.

Sir, my sensors are picking up
an unusual energy object.

On screen.

Confirmed, sir.
My sensors read nothing solid,

but a lot of energy
and changing patterns.

Also traveling at warp speed, sir.

Intriguing. I can find no match
with anything in our records.

Change course
to make a close sensor pass.

Then increase speed
to reach Parliament on schedule.

Aye, sir.

Worf, why the interest in this?

It's just routine maintenance
on the sensor.

Simple, Geordi.

Our Captain wants his junior officers
to learn, learn, learn.

Not just his junior ones.

Hold this relay off line,
while I adjust the circuits.

- Security to sensor maintenance.
- La Forge here.

We're making a close-sensor pass
on an unusual object.

- Any problems?
- Not at all.

All equipment on line
and functioning.

- Sensors ready, sir.
- Life-form reading?

- No life-form readings, sir.
- Begin the pass.

Sir, it is changing shape.

- Any readings of matter there?
- Negative, sir. Energy only.

Sickbay, we have a medical emergency.

I repeat,
this is a medical emergency.

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.

What happened?

He got hit by sensor feedback, maybe.

Get back!

- You got it, Doc?
- I got it.

Lt Worf,
can you hear what I'm saying?

- Let's get him up.
- OK.

Come on, big guy.
On your feet. Here we go.

That's it.

Are you OK?

He was monitoring the sensor console
when he jerked,

as though something hit him.

What my sensors showed was...

...was a glow, just for a second.
I can't explain it.

Could your visor have malfunctioned?

I doubt it, sir. It seemed like
what I saw was something real.

Sorry to call you, sir.
Not strictly Security.

It's about the dietary requirements
of the Antican delegates.

I thought that had been
taken care of.

So did we, sir.
Live animals were beamed aboard.

We were going to preserve the meat.

But they say
to bring it to them alive.

Then do so.

Lt Yar was... confused.

We no longer enslave animals
for food.

But we have seen humans eat meat.

You saw something as tasty as meat,
but inorganically materialized

out of patterns
used by our transporters.

This is sickening.

It's barbaric.

He's reading normal.
How did you manage that?

Yes. Normal.

- Are you alright?
- Yes, perfectly.

Both of us. Quite normal now.

What...?! Where am I?

Don't you remember?

You were in
the sensor maintenance room.

I remember monitoring
the sensor console.

What am I doing here?

That's a story
the Doctor will tell you.

You feel it's something
we should look at more carefully.

A mystery is only a mystery as long
as it remains uninvestigated.

I love a mystery.

But this one must wait till we
deliver the delegates to Parliament.

Time and tide, Lt La Forge.
Go to warp eight.

Warp eight, sir.

Hi, Mom. You're back early.

Yes.

Physical sciences class.

We're studying Dr Channing's theory
on dilithium crystals.

Tell me about it.

Really? You never seemed interested
in warp theory before.

Dr Channing thinks
it's possible to force dilithium

into even more useful crystals,
if, as shown here,

matter and antimatter
could be aligned efficiently.

Would that affect navigation?

This is engineering,
not helm control.

Oh, yes.
The helm's located on the bridge.

Mom?

Is something wrong?

This is the helm.

Unless there's been some changes
I don't know about.

Lt Worf is much improved,
ready to return to duty.

What was the diagnosis?

A temporary mental aberration.

Doctor?

When such a diagnosis concerns
a bridge officer,

I expect a better explanation.

Then I will have to run crosschecks
on the library computer.

Klingons are so unusual
in their reactions, aren't they?

Use science station two, Doctor.

Intriguing, Doctor.

What does helm control have to do
with medical crosschecks?

Why am I...?

Is something wrong, Doctor?

Are you alright?

Yes.

I'll do my work in my office.

That's where I should be.

Do you want someone
to accompany you?

Captain, there is a malfunction
in this station.

I cannot bring any information
up on it.

Science two
does not function either, sir.

Engineering to Capt Picard.

Something's wrong
with warp-drive circuitry.

Transporter room six to bridge.

Transporter console malfunction,
sir.

Data, this ship is less than a year
out of space dock.

What are the chances
of this occurring?

It is a virtual impossibility, sir.

So, what the hell is going on here?

And there are no explanations
for these malfunctions?

All the department heads have
reported the damage repaired.

That was not my question.
What caused the malfunctions?

I believe it was a rampant
electronic short

that jumped from system to system.

- But the only thing is...
- Yes, Mr. Singh?

That shouldn't be possible.

The affected systems
don't interact with each other.

And where they do, it wasn't an
interlink that was malfunctioning.

Have you spoken with
Chief Engineer Argyle about this?

With all Engineering staff, sir.
They're just as puzzled.

I'm not satisfied.

I want an explanation
by the time we reach Parliament.

But, sir...

By the time we reach Parliament,
Mr. Singh.

These weapons were taken
from two of your people.

They were loitering near
the Selay delegation's quarters.

Care to explain, sir?

These are not weapons.
They are tools.

We use these
to dispatch the animals we consume.

Your food is not on the same deck
as the Selay delegation.

And these could kill.

I admit some of my people
are impulsive.

And we all have reason
to hate the Selay.

They appear to have
the same feelings about you, sir.

The nature of politics.

You're on notice
that all your weapons,

no matter what their function,
are being confiscated.

Violence will not be tolerated
on the Enterprise.

Of course not.

And if any occurs, I assure you,

it will not be
we Anticans who start it.

Thank you, sir.

But... we will finish it!

- Sir, warp power is fading.
- Picard to Engineering.

What is the problem?

We have lost
the warp-engine computer tie.

Warp five, four, three, two.

State-of-the-art vessel?

Data, signal Parliament
we'll be delayed.

We will send a new arrival time
as soon as it is determined.

Sir, subspace radio is out.

Alright, gentlemen,

your theories on this sudden
vulnerability in our systems.

If the Enterprise were so fragile,
she never would've left space dock.

Her systems' failures
are not endemic to the ship

but are the result of the actions
of an adversary.

- We have a saboteur aboard.
- I believe I said that.

Gentlemen, the question is, who?

It can't be one of our own people.

Agreed. It must be someone
from either alien delegation.

If the Ferengi bribed even one
of them, that's all they'd need.

Ferengi contacts have been detected
on both Selay and Antica, sir.

Can either of you suggest
any other suspects?

You're sounding like a private eye.

Inquiry.

Private eye?

A private consulting investigator,
Data, who solves crimes.

Most interesting occupation.

In the world of fact, probably not.

However, in literature,

criminal detection can be
a fascinating exercise.

Sherlock Holmes would have
an interesting view of our mystery.

But I'm afraid
we'll have to find our solution

without history's greatest
consulting detective.

How about here, Mr. Singh?

If the control network
breaks off here...

It leads warp-engine commands
off into dead ends.

Excellent.

I can handle it from here,
Mr. Crusher.

But, sir...

You are scheduled for classwork now.
Sorry.

Yes, sir.

But I don't learn nearly
this much in school.

I tend to agree, but the Captain's
orders on this are very clear.

Hi.

Solve any new problems today?

I was starting to, maybe.
Mr. Singh sent me off to class.

You're only an acting ensign.

You gotta let commissioned officers
do some of the work.

Mom, I've learned a lot more
than they understand.

For example, the dilithium-crystals
theory I was telling you about?

When were you telling me about that?

This morning. Don't you remember?

Honestly, I don't remember.

Engineering to Capt Picard.
Security alert.

I just found Mr. Singh. He's dead.

Captain's log, stardate 41249.4.

I've ordered
an immediate investigation

into the death of
Assistant Chief Engineer Singh.

We continue to run
on impulse power.

He could've been working there,
restoring warp power.

According to these readings,
we could go back to warp speed now.

Those aren't the same readings
as when I left.

Singh probably repaired it
just before he was killed.

He couldn't have.
The problems were inside the engines.

Who else could have corrected it?
Inform the bridge of engine status.

Engineering to bridge.
We now have warp capacity, sir.

All power on line.

Well done. Warp engines
ready on previous heading.

Warp factor six.

I tolerate these questions,
Lt Yar,

because I need this vessel
to get us to Parliament.

Your shipboard problems
do not concern me.

They should.
Our delays are your delays.

The peace conference
will wait for us.

I must ask where you were
during this vessel's Earth hours

of 18:00 last night
and 07:00 this morning.

Eating.

Sir, we're talking about hours here.

It was a large meal, Lt Yar.

And a very interesting animal.

You wanted me, Doctor?

Yes, concerning your
memory block-out.

I still don't remember having one.

The same thing happened to me.

I want to try hypnosis
on both of you.

It may restore your memory
as to what happened.

One thing is clear.

Almost all of the peace delegates
answered our questions with lies.

Imprecise, Lieutenant.

They omitted certain truths, which,
in itself, tells us something.

We can learn something
from nondisclosure?

Indubitably, my good woman.

It's something the Captain mentioned.
Sherlock Holmes.

Indubitably,
Data has been studying him.

Has studied, sir. Every case.

As Holmes would've pointed out,

during the time in question,
something was afoot.

Afoot?

While both sets of delegates
say they were in their quarters,

our crew locator
sensed them passing here and here.

It doesn't show where they went.
We're still in the dark.

On the contrary, my dear colleague.

On their return,
they drew medical supplies,

appropriate to the treatment of
minor wounds on these life forms.

Which leaves one conclusion.

Exactly! They were too engaged
in their affairs

to disable the ship
and murder the engineer.

Given the choice, they would rather
kill each other than any of us.

It's elementary, my dear Riker.

Sir.

Beverly, can you hear me?

I want you to go back in your mind

to the moment when you first recall
the sensation of memory loss.

Picture it exactly as it occurred.

He's lying on the hospital bed,
sedated.

I'm walking up to him.

How do you feel as you lean over
to take the specimen?

I... feel someone... else.

There's someone else who's there.

Not... alone.

Get out. Get out of my mind!

That's almost exactly what you said.

As though there were something else
inside you.

It confirms the feeling of duality
I sensed earlier in both of them.

Why didn't you report it?

Because, sir, I assumed at first
it was the kind of duality

that we Betazoids feel
in all of you.

Even you, sir.

When you approach a decision

and ask yourself which direction
to go, who are you talking to?

Your hypnotism revealed
another form of duality.

Yes, sir.
I believe something invaded them.

It seems
the only possible conclusion.

Let's proceed without the pipe.

Yes, sir. If you wish, sir.

But I ask if you'd take it
as incontrovertible

that it cannot be a family member,
or one of the crew.

Yes. Very unlikely.

Then our investigation
was worthwhile.

We've eliminated the delegates
and the ship's complement.

What are you suggesting?

I'm referring to
the great detective's credo, sir.

I quote,

"We must fall back
on the old axiom

that when other contingencies fail,

whatever remains,
however improbable...

...must be the truth."

That engine computer net
wasn't repaired, sir.

It just suddenly became alright.

Sometimes,
it's the result that counts.

What the...? Oh, no!

- What is it?
- Helm control's down. No response.

Bridge to Captain.
You're needed immediately.

Wes, alert Engineering
from your panel, alright?

I'm trying.

Report.

Helm is down, sir.
There's no apparent reason.

Captain, we've just dropped
to impulse power.

Sir, are you alright?
I thought I just saw...

I'm fine.

Everything is fine now.

Why the drop to impulse power,
Lieutenant?

The helm is malfunctioning.

Malfunctioning?
You're wrong. Look again.

Captain, I was ju...

Mr. La Forge?

There's nothing wrong now, sir.
Everything is as it should be.

In that case, make our heading...
925, mark three... seven.

Sir?

You have a problem
with that heading?

You wanna double back on our course?

Isn't that what I ordered?

Yes, sir.

Sir? I'm puzzled
by your reversing our course.

That energy cloud. I believe it
important we have another look at it.

We're behind schedule for Parliament.

A very important scientific discovery
awaits us on this heading.

Perhaps you'd like to share
your reasoning on that.

Yes. Since we obtained minimal
information on our sensor pass.

Right, Data.
We must go back to learn more.

Counselor, do you believe a ship
captain should explain every order?

Of course not, sir.

I demand to see the Captain!

Stop! Return to your quarters!

What is that doing on our deck?

I demand to know why this starship
has changed its course.

Please, return to your quarters,
delegates.

A mere change of direction
hardly justifies mutiny.

Exactly what do you believe
you're sensing from him?

It's just the feeling that...

Well, that he's closed
part of his mind to me.

I just feel that the Captain
has become...

...perhaps dangerous.

If he's dangerous... If...

He'd have to be relieved of command.

Which you could do,
but it's trouble if you're wrong.

And it is all pure speculation.

He has done nothing to subject
the Enterprise to danger.

I'd need a medical log,
citing clear evidence of incapacity.

You could do it
without that problem.

Only if all command officers agreed
it was vital to do so.

But he has not shown
any overt unusual behavior.

Ultimately, I believe he will.

As second-in-command,
it's still in your corner.

I'll order medical
and psychiatric exams.

You'll have to back me up somehow.

First Officer's log, supplemental.

After meeting with senior officers,

Dr Crusher and I
will approach the Captain

regarding his recent behavior.

Yes?

I'd like you to come to sickbay
for some examinations, Captain.

I'll be glad to when I'm free.

I'd like to conduct them now, sir.

Why?

What can I do for you, Number One?

Sir, Troi has recommended
the examinations.

Same question. Why?

It is my duty to inform the Captain

we believe he may be under
some alien influence

which may constitute a danger
to this ship.

I consider it equally possible

that the two of you,
and Counselor Troi,

are overworked, and possibly
suffering hallucinations.

This is an order.

You will arrange
medical and psychiatric exams

both for yourself and them.

Doctor, are you aware that
everyone is behaving strangely?

I'm concerned that
you've changed the ship's course.

What's happened to your mind?

The search for knowledge
is always our primary mission.

I'm sorry, I...

I really am too busy
for this kind of nonsense.

Do I have to call Security
to force you to report to sickbay?

No, sir.

What the hell... !

Sorry. Wrong species.

Riker to Security Chief.

- Yar here.
- Security guard to Engineering deck.

Selays are playing
hide-and-seek with the Anticans.

I want them returned to quarters
under guard.

Right away, sir.

Come.

What do you want?

Here are the results
from the exams you ordered, sir.

You don't care to inspect them?

Please... are you Jean-Luc?

He is here.

- The Jean-Luc I know?
- And more.

- The "more" frightens me.
- And elates us.

We wish you could understand
the glorious adventure ahead.

You and...?

Soon we'll both be home.

First Officer's log, supplemental.

On the orders of Capt Picard,

we have returned to
the energy-pattern cloud.

I am convinced
that something from this cloud

now shares the Captain's mind.

But there seems to be nothing
we can do within regulations.

We're approaching the cloud, sir.

Very well, Mr. La Forge.

Bring us to within 10,000km
and hold us there.

Aye, sir.

Shall we begin the scientific tests?

They're already under way.

I have an announcement
for the entire bridge.

As many of you suspected,

when our ship passed through
the edge of... this,

it accidentally carried away
a sentient being.

Much like these energy patterns
we're seeing here.

Terrifying for any intelligent being.

As if a great claw had scooped
one of you from your homeworld.

Drawn into the energy circuits,
it found you, Worf.

Frantic at being taken
from its homeworld,

and recognizing you as sentient,
it pleaded for help,

but in ways you couldn't understand.

Desperately going
from person to person,

and then discovering
the computer intelligence

in this ship's memory circuits.

Simplistic intelligence,
but it furnished it enough

to slow this... Enterprise thing
that had captured it.

And it very much regrets the
accidental death of Engineer Singh.

Captain...

...do you exist in combination
with this entity?

Is it in control of you, sir?

Soon after we combined,
we learned much about each other.

A passion for the unknown.
We found we had similar dreams.

It offered your Captain

a way to realize them
beyond human expectations.

Captain, I must speak to you
privately now.

I understand.

As an energy pattern,
free of the limitations of matter,

he might travel anywhere
at any velocity.

Captain, do you hear me?

Sir, I see no way for you
to journey with an energy form.

Isn't there?

He's planning to beam himself
and the entity into that cloud.

The transporter need not pattern
your Captain into matter.

We'll beam energy only.

We will become a combined
energy pattern of our life forms.

A resignation from Starfleet
has been recorded.

I refuse to allow this, sir.

How does this resignation
threaten the ship or crew?

You are relieved of duty!

I judge you to be disabled
and mentally incapacitated.

Security!

Red alert!

Restrain the Captain!

Where is he?

This is blinding me!

Captain!
I'll help you if you'll let me!

Someone restrain the Captain!

First Officer's log, supplemental.
More than an hour has passed

since the Captain beamed out,
energy only.

Every effort has been made
to determine his whereabouts.

We have no idea
what the coordinates were.

He's just floating around?
How can we settle for that?

Give me a choice then.

Still no readings.
No sign of anything.

Mr. La Forge...

...it's time to set a course
for Parliament. Warp eight.

- We're really leaving him?
- Commander? Wait!

It's the Captain.
But only the Captain.

He's out there alone.

The entity...
Has it abandoned him?

No. But the combination
wasn't possible out there.

He's in trouble.
We have to beam him back.

As what?
He's nothing but energy now.

Sir, the entity was caught
in the ship's circuitry.

The Captain might try to get in
the same way.

Bring us in closer, La Forge.

Moving in, sir, but where?

There's no way to know.

Let's hope he can come part way
himself.

Troi, is there any way you can get
a message to him?

I wish I could.

Sensors monitoring the perimeter...

...ship's circuitry, sir. Nothing.

- Bring us into the edge of it.
- Aye, sir.

Sir? On my sensor controls.

There's something here. I feel it.

Just as before, going to Worf first.

Something crazy on my panel.

Commander Riker...

Static?

- P for Picard?
- He's in the ship's circuitry.

Come to the transporter room,
please.

There might be a way, sir. Hurry!

Is it a wild theory, Data?

We have the Captain's physical
pattern. He was the last to beam out.

- Is what you're thinking possible?
- Unknown.

I hope the Captain remembers
his pattern is here.

If he has, his energy will be in
the transporter relays now.

I wish we had some sign
that he was here.

I guess we've no choice
but to risk it.

Energizing, sir.

What the devil am I doing here?

Sounds like our Captain.

But confused. This Picard pattern
was formed before he went out there.

What's happening to me, Number One?

I was preparing to... beam out...
to somewhere.

I remember
there was talk of an entity?

But it all seems so vague.

I believe the Captain is now
his separate self, sir.

Much of what happened is missing.

What are you talking about?
Is this still Sherlock Holmes?

Indubitably, sir.

At least
you got rid of the damn pipe.

Dr Crusher has asked me
to steer you past sickbay.

She said you've been looking tired.

- Captain!
- Yes, Lieutenant?

Sorry, but Security Team Two

reports they discovered blood
outside the Selay quarters...

Lieutenant!
This couldn't have waited a moment?

It's good to see you, sir.

The problem is, a cook has been asked
to broil a reptile for the Anticans,

and it looks like
the Selay delegate.

Riker, what with the peace delegates
and all,

I think I do need a rest.
Take charge, Number One.

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