Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 7, Episode 11 - Parallels - full transcript

Lieutenant Worf proudly returns, by shuttle, from a holiday in the Klingon Empire as winner of a bat'leth tournament. Back on the Enterprise nothing is normal, and everything keeps changing repeatedly. He's convinced it's not his memory. He finds himself promoted to XO and married to Deanna, with two children (instead of Alexander), but unable to work the command console during a battle with the Cardassians - a situation that never took place, even their empire is taken over. After analyzing Geordi was in all the subsequent transition scenes, standing at his autopsy, Data works out a quantum physics answer. This spells huge potential consequences, not just for Worf but for the whole ship, and even much more.

Personal Log, Stardate 47391.2.

I am returning from the bat'leth
competition on Forcas III.

The conditions were difficult.

Several contestants were maimed,
but I was triumphant.

I won Champion Standing.

I am looking forward to resuming
my duties aboard the Enterprise.

However, I am anticipating
a troubling situation.

It looks like we're going
to have to head

into the Argus Array.

This is the third time this year
it's stopped relaying data.

Starfleet's beginning to think



that it's more
than a simple malfunction.

I want you to start
a long-range scan once we get...

Lieutenant,
are you listening to me?

Hmm? Yes, sir.

You seem awfully tense

for a man who just came back
from vacation.

Today is my... birthday.

What's the matter with you?

Because it is my birthday

I assumed that you
or one of the others

would try to mount
an unexpected social gathering.

A surprise party?

Mr. Worf, I hate
surprise parties.

I would never do that to you.



I am sorry, Commander.

Settle in.

I'll meet you on the Bridge.

Aye, sir.

Surprise!

I love surprise parties.

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.

? Cha Worf Toh'gah-nah
Io Pre'tOk?

? Cha Worf
Toh'gah-nah Io Pre'tOk?

? Cha Worf Toh'gah-nah
Io Pre'tOk?

? Tu Mak Dagh Cha doh Borak!?

That was not a Klingon song.

It wasn't easy to translate.

There doesn't seem to be
a Klingon word for "jolly."

It's traditional
for the birthday boy

to cut the cake.

Captain Picard sends
his birthday wishes.

He was needed on the Bridge.

Happy birthday, Worf.

Thank you.

Ah...

a painting.

Yes. I have entered
my Expressionist phase.

This is my interpretation
of the Battle of HarOs.

The Battle of HarOs.

I think it's wonderful

and I know just where to put it.

What are you doing?

I always thought
this room could use

a little more color.

Nice.

The Battle of HarOs, right?

Worf, are you all right?

Yes... yes, I think
Data's painting

is making me dizzy.

Some cake.

Oh, thank you, Doctor.

I... I thought
the cake was chocolate.

Don't I wish.

This is from Alexander.

He gave it to me
just before he left

to visit your parents.

Thank you.

What is it, Worf?

It's a cast
of Alexander's forehead...

the ridges of a warrior.

He wished he could

have been here when you got back
from shore leave.

You should have seen him, Worf.

He stayed up all night

talking about how proud he was
of his father.

Thank you for watching him
while I was away.

Oh, it was my pleasure.

So, how old are you, Mr. Worf?

Captain... I was told
you could not attend.

I wouldn't miss this
for the world.

How old are you?

I am...

old enough.

Report.

The Array appears

to be functioning normally, sir.

That can't be right.

We were told the Array

stopped relaying data
six days ago.

The Array is still
transmitting data, sir

but it is no longer sending that
information to the Federation.

It appears someone has
redirected its imaging systems.

Where is the information
being sent now?

Sector 19658, sir.

I am unable to access
its main computer

so it is impossible to determine
its exact location.

What's in that sector?

It is uninhabited

but there could be a ship

or a subspace relay station
receiving the data.

Captain, I suggest we beam
a repair team aboard the Array.

We can begin downloading
their imaging logs

find out
what the Array's been observing

for the past six days.

Make it so.

Mr. Data?

Excuse me, Counselor.

Do you have a moment?

Of course.

I have been meaning to speak
with you about Alexander.

Oh?

It has never been easy for me
having Alexander on board.

I have tried to be a good
father, to give him guidance

but he seems to have
his own mind about some things.

Most children do.

I could not have come this far
without your help

and Alexander looks up to you.

At times, I have felt that you
were like a mother to him.

Worf, that's one
of the nicest things

anyone's ever said to me.

One time when I thought
I was going to die

I asked you
to watch over Alexander.

I was wondering
if you would consider

formalizing that arrangement.

I want you to be
Alexander's Soh-chlm.

His... Soh-chlm?

You would become
his surrogate mother.

In case anything
ever happened to me

you would be
responsible for him.

I don't know what to say.

It's a great honor.

So, um, that would make me
your...

The closest analogy is...

stepsister.

That would make my mother
your stepmother.

I had not considered that.

It is a risk
I am willing to take.

I accept.

Lieutenant Worf,
please report to Engineering.

I am on my way.

We have analyzed
the imaging logs.

It appears the Array
was reprogrammed

to observe several
Federation sites.

This is Deep Space 5,
Starbase 47

the ladara Colony and
the Utopia Planitia Shipyards.

They're responsible
for new starship development.

Someone is using the Array

for covert surveillance
of the Federation.

That is our theory.

We believe unauthorized access
was made six days ago.

The imaging logs from that day

show a ship
approaching the Array.

That is a Cardassian ship,
Galor-class.

We're only three light-years
from Cardassian space.

They would have easy access
to the Array.

Mr. Worf, start
a long-range scan of the region.

See if there are
any Cardassian ships nearby.

Aye, sir.

Worf, here's
a propulsion analysis

of the Cardassian vessel.

You might try scanning
for its energy configuration.

Lieutenant, are you all right?

I feel dizzy.

Worf, you don't look so good.

Maybe you ought
to go to Sick Bay.

Yes... yes, perhaps I will.

Any nausea or blurred vision?

No.

However, I did experience

some dizziness earlier today
at my birthday celebration.

Sounds like you're having
some of the side effects

from the concussion.

I can give you some vertazine
for the dizziness

but I'd like you to rest.

Doctor, perhaps you are thinking
of another patient.

I have no concussion.

Worf, you came in here
this morning

complaining of ringing
in your ears.

I scanned you.
You had a concussion.

You don't remember any of this.

No.

Temporary memory loss

is common
for this kind of injury.

Do you remember telling me
about the bat'leth tournament?

You said that one
of the competitors

hit you over the head.

That's why you lost the match.

I won that tournament,
and I can prove it to you!

What's wrong?

It says "ninth place."

This is not the same trophy.

Someone is playing
a trick on me.

Worf, try to stay calm.

Memory loss can be
very disorienting.

The log...

I recorded a personal log

on my way back
to the Enterprise.

Computer, access personal logs
on Shuttlecraft Curie.

Show my log entry
for Stardate 47391.2.

Personal Log, Stardate 47391.2.

I am returning from the bat'leth
competition on Forcas III.

The conditions were difficult.

Several contenders were maimed.

One of the contenders used
an illegal T'gha maneuver on me.

The judges chose to ignore it

and I was robbed
of my rightful standing.

I was awarded ninth place.

I am looking forward

to resuming my duties
aboard the En...

I do not understand.

Worf, I'm sure this is
very disturbing for you

but don't worry.

Your memories will return.

Now, the best thing you
could do right now

is to settle back into
your normal routine...

but slowly.

Thank you, Doctor.

Let me know if you have

any more problems
with dizziness.

I'll give you a hypospray.

Lieutenant...

have you completed

the metallurgical scan
of the Array?

Sir?

The metallurgical scan.

Have you completed it?

I do not remember
you asking me...

Captain, there's
a Cardassian ship approaching...

Galor-class.

Open a channel.

On screen.

This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard
of the Starship Enterprise.

You are in Federation territory.

Please explain your presence.

We were wondering

the same thing about you,
Captain.

Why would Starfleet's flagship
want to venture so close

to the Cardassian border?

We are repairing
one of our subspace telescopes.

I see.

May we offer our assistance?

No, thank you.

Everything is under control.

If you don't mind my asking

what exactly is this telescope
of yours designed to do?

It is a long-range
subspace array.

We use it for gathering data
on astronomical phenomena.

I'm certain
it would never be used

to observe
a neighboring species.

Certainly not.

Well, then,
best of luck with your repairs.

Just try to make certain

that your studies are limited
to astronomical phenomena.

Charming fellow.

Captain, that ship
was responsible

for reprogramming the Array.

What are you saying?

It is the same class
and energy configuration

as the ship we saw
in the imaging logs.

The imaging logs?

Are you suggesting
that you have evidence

that the Cardassians
have tampered with the Array?

They are using the Array
as a surveillance device.

You saw the logs yourself.

I haven't heard anything
about this.

Neither have I.

Commander Data,
show them the logs

you downloaded from the Array.

I know of no such logs.

Mr. Worf, are you feeling
all right?

Yes.

Mr. Data, perhaps you
had better reexamine the Array.

See if you can find any evidence
to support Mr. Worf's claims.

Dr. Crusher says I am
experiencing further memory loss

but my instincts tell me
it is more than that.

I remember those imaging logs.

I could tell you
every detail, every word!

Worf, let's assume
for a second you're right...

that things did happen
as you remember them.

Are you saying that everyone's
memory on this ship

has been altered but yours?

Enter.

Counselor.

Worf, I wanted you to know

that we reexamined
the imaging logs.

They don't show
a Cardassian ship

or any evidence that the Array
was reprogrammed.

From what we can tell

the Array suffered
a simple mechanical failure.

That is not right!

I was certain that...

What's wrong?

Counselor, the painting
that Commander Data gave me...

it has moved.

Worf, I hung that painting
there...

at your birthday party,
remember?

No...

The painting has changed.

Don't you see it?

Your hair, and your clothing...

they have changed as well!

Worf, maybe you should come
with me to Sick Bay and...

Now, Mr. Worf.

Now!

What are you waiting for?!
Raise the shields!

This panel configuration
has been altered.

I do not know how...

Direct hit, Engineering section
and deck 42.

Shield generators
are overloading.

Number One.

Firing photon torpedoes.

Full spread.

Direct hit
on their main reactor.

They're returning fire.

Captain, we have sustained

heavy damage
to the deflector systems.

Hull breaches
on decks 17 and 36.

Ensign, take us out of here.
Maximum warp.

Aye, sir.

Are they pursuing us?

No, sir.

They are firing
on the Argus Array.

They destroyed it, sir.

Bridge to Engineering.

Mr. La Forge,
what's your status?

This is Ensign Hayes, sir.

Commander La Forge
has been taken to Sick Bay

with plasma burns.

There's serious damage
to the secondary plasma conduit

but I think we've got it
under control.

Acknowledged.

Ensign, lay in a course
to Starbase 129.

Aye, sir.

What happened back there,
Mr. Worf?

I believe I experienced
another memory loss.

Memory loss?

What are you talking about?

I do not feel well.

Request permission

to be temporarily
relieved of duty, sir.

Granted.

Computer, access personal logs
on Shuttlecraft Curie.

Play log entry
for Stardate 47391.2.

There is no log entry

from the Shuttlecraft Curie
for that stardate.

Computer,
display any log entries

concerning the bat'leth
tournament on Forcas III.

Personal Log, Stardate 47391.2.

There has been a malfunction
in the ship's main deflector.

It will require
two more days of repairs.

As a result,
I will not be able to compete

in the bat'leth tournament
on Forcas III.

I have asked my brother
to take my place.

He does not have my prowess
with the blade, but...

Why did you lock the door?

Why shouldn't I?

I heard what happened
on the Bridge.

Are you all right?

I am not sure.

Do you want to talk about it?

I would rather not, Counselor.

Very well... Lieutenant.

Hot chocolate.

Is there something
I can do for you?

Actually, there is.

Come and sit down.

I just want you
to relax for a minute.

There.

You are so tense.

Now, I know you
don't want to talk

about what happened
on the Bridge

but there are times

when it's just best
to let things out.

Come on.

If you can't talk to me,
who can you talk to, hmm?

Aw!

I do not believe
this is appropriate behavior.

Even for your wife?

Wife?!

Worf, what's wrong?

I do not know.

Things are changing.

What's changed?

I do not remember us...
you and I... being mates.

It is as if events
and circumstances

continue to change
from moment to moment

but I am the only one
who seems to be aware of it.

Are you saying you don't
remember the last three years?

You don't remember us
falling in love

and getting married?

I do remember
the last three years

but they were different.

We did not have
this relationship.

We were friends.

And the Enterprise did not have
a battle with the Cardassians.

And no one believes me.

Whatever's wrong

whatever happened

I want you to know

that I believe you

and that I love you.

And together, we'll find out
what's happening.

I am initiating a subspace scan

to search for
temporal anomalies

both on and off the ship.

Counselor Troi,
please report to Sick Bay.

I'm on my way.

Let me know
if you find anything.

Commander, how long have I been
married to Counselor Troi?

Two years, one month
and 12 days.

And when did this
relationship begin?

It is my understanding

your romantic affiliation began
shortly after you recovered

from your spinal injury
on Stardate 45587.

It was six months later
that you asked Commander Riker

for his formal permission
to court Counselor Troi.

You felt to do otherwise
would be dishonorable.

And then we mated?

I am not privy

to the exact details
of when, where or how

your first coupling took place.

I could investigate it.

No, that is all right.

I am detecting

no temporal anomalies
in this system.

Perhaps we should attempt
to pinpoint the exact moment

when events
became discontinuous.

Do you remember
the first change?

I was in Sick Bay.

Dr. Crusher told me
I had a concussion

but I do not remember
that happening.

Think back... are you certain
that was the very first change?

Before...

Yes.
Yes, I was in Engineering.

I felt a wave of dizziness

and when I looked up,
you and Commander La Forge

were on the opposite side
of the room

and Captain Picard was gone.

I thought I had
blacked out for a moment

and had not observed
your movements.

And at my birthday party,
the cake was chocolate

and then it was yellow.

And Commander Riker told me

Captain Picard
was not going to attend

and then suddenly he was there.

Hmm... we should try to find

the commonalities
in these events.

Who were the people
you were with?

Everyone was
at my birthday party.

Then I was with Counselor Troi

then Commander La Forge
came in...

Geordi...

Geordi was present
at all three locations

and he was near me in each case

just before
I noticed the differences.

There has to be a connection.

It is possible.

We should speak
to Commander La Forge.

Doctor, is Geordi well enough
to answer a few questions?

Geordi's dead.

There do not appear to be
any unusual readings.

Energy residuals
from the plasma burns

the beginnings of
cellular decomposition...

I see nothing that connects
these bio-readings

to your recent sense
of discontinuity.

What about his VISOR?

I still see nothing unusual.

Perhaps we should activate it.

Hook it up
to the diagnostic array

and I'll check it out.

The VISOR is active.

Worf, are you all right?

Have you noticed
another discontinuity?

Dr. Crusher was not here.

Dr. Ogawa was.

Doctor Ogawa?

And my uniform has changed.

What is my rank and position?

You're a Commander

and First Officer.

Are we still married?

Yes.

I am detecting a quantum flux
in your cellular RNA.

What does that mean?

I do not know.

I will have to analyze
these readings.

I have found
that the quantum flux

in Worf's cellular RNA

extends
to the subatomic level.

It is asynchronous
with normal matter.

In essence, Captain

Mr. Worf does not belong
in our universe.

What?

All matter in the universe

resonates on a quantum level
with a unique signature.

That signature is constant.

It cannot be changed
through any known process.

It is the basic foundation
of existence.

Are you saying
that Worf's quantum signature

is different from ours?

Yes, sir.
I cannot explain it.

It is as if he originates from
a different quantum universe.

Mr. Worf, you say
the discontinuities started

to occur after you returned

from a bat'leth tournament
on Forcas III.

Yes, sir.

Now, I know for a fact
that you never attended

that tournament,
and that no shuttlecraft

has left the Enterprise
for over a month.

I understand that

but I also clearly remember
attending the tournament

and returning to the ship
in a shuttlecraft.

Do you remember the route
you took to return?

Yes.

Let's backtrack that course.

See if there are any
unusual readings or anomalies.

Aye, sir.

If I may inquire, sir

how long have you been Captain
of the Enterprise?

Four years.

Ever since
Captain Picard was killed

in the incident with the Borg.

You don't remember
any of this, do you?

I do remember.

I just remember it differently.

Captain

I'm picking up a minor
subspace disturbance

off the port bow.

- Full stop.
- Aye, sir.

Analysis, Mr. Data.

It appears to be
a quantum fissure

in the space-time continuum.

On screen.

The anomaly cannot be seen

but I believe I can enhance it

with a warp field
to make it visible.

Is it dangerous?

Not from this distance, sir.

I am also detecting an ion trail
intersecting the phenomenon.

I believe it was left

by a Starfleet
type-6 shuttlecraft.

So I was here.

I have an explanation, sir.

I believe the quantum
fissure we discovered

is a fixed point across
the space-time continuum...

a keyhole which intersects
many other quantum realities.

What do you mean,
"quantum realities?"

For any event, there is
an infinite number

of possible outcomes.

Our choices determine
which outcomes will follow

but there is a theory
in quantum physics

that all possibilities
that can happen, do happen

in alternate quantum realities.

And somehow I have been shifting
from one reality to another.

That is correct.

How did this happen?

When Worf's shuttlecraft

came into contact
with the quantum fissure

I believe its warp engines
caused a small break

in the barriers
between quantum realities.

Worf was thrown
into a state of quantum flux.

He immediately shifted
into other realities.

And Geordi's VISOR
somehow triggered that effect.

Exactly.

The VISOR uses
a subspace field pulse.

I believe that whenever Geordi
came near Worf

the field pulse intensified
the quantum flux

and pushed Worf
into another reality.

Well, how can we find
my original quantum state

and return me too it?

We could scan
the quantum fissure

using a subspace
differential pulse.

Maybe we could find
the quantum state

that shares Worf's signature

and find a way to get him back.

An excellent idea, Lieutenant.

Worf...

from what I understand

there's a good chance
my Worf won't return.

I guess it's just hard
for me to accept

that there's a reality out there
where you never loved me.

Deanna, I have always
considered you a close friend.

And although I have never

seriously considered
a romantic relationship

I would not be opposed
to the possibility.

What about our children?

Children?

You didn't know?

When the last shift
occurred in Sick Bay

we did not have any children.

We have a little girl,
Shannara.

She's two years old.

And a three-year-old boy,
Eric-Christopher.

What about Alexander?

Alexander?

He was my son
in another reality.

I've used a differential pulse

to analyze
over 10 million quantum states

within the fissure

but I still haven't found
one with your signature.

This may take some time, sir.

Captain, a Bajoran ship
is approaching.

Red Alert.

The Bajorans?

Ever since the Bajorans

overpowered
the Cardassian Empire

they've become
more and more aggressive.

Yesterday, they destroyed
one of our subspace telescopes

because they thought we were
using it to spy against them.

They're charging
their weapons, sir.

Shields!

Return fire.

They've damaged
our power systems, sir.

It's caused an energy surge
within the subspace pulse.

The quantum fissure
is beginning to destabilize.

Can we disengage the pulse?

Too late, sir.

What the hell is happening?

The barriers between quantum
realities are breaking down.

Other realities
are emerging into our own.

The Bajoran ship
is disengaging, sir.

The rate of quantum incursions
is increasing exponentially.

At this rate, the sector
will be completely filled

with Enterprises
within three days.

Captain, we're receiving
285,000 hails.

I wish I knew what to tell them.

Mr. Data, can we stop
these incursions?

Perhaps.
If we can find the ship

that matches Commander Worf's
quantum signature.

How would that help?

It was Worf's shuttlecraft
which traversed the fissure

and weakened the barriers
between quantum realities.

If he reenters the fissure
in his original shuttle

and emits
a broad-spectrum warp field

it may be enough
to seal the fissure

and stop additional realities
from entering our own.

What then?

How do we get the Enterprises

that are already here
back to where they belong?

In theory,
the act of sealing the fissure

should restore the barriers
between quantum states.

The ships would return
to their own realities.

Lieutenant Crusher,
send a general hail... all ships.

Aye, sir.

This is Captain Riker
of the Enterprise.

That is, the Enterprise

that is indigenous
to this universe.

We've all encountered
a quantum anomaly.

We think we have found a way

to return us all
to our proper realities

but we need to find that ship

which exhibits
a certain quantum signature.

Our Mr. Data will transmit
that signature to you now.

Anything?

There's too much com traffic,
sir.

It's tough to isolate
who's talking to who.

Wait a minute.

Here it is.

Someone's responding.

On screen.

Captain, it would appear
that we have found

the quantum signature
you were looking for.

Data believes

that by sending Worf back
through the fissure again

it would return us all
to our proper realities.

Our Data has said
the same thing.

We need you to send us
your Shuttlecraft Curie.

We're launching it now.

Thank you.

It's good
to see you again, Captain.

It's been a long time.

Did they send the right shuttle?

Yes, sir.
It matches Commander Worf's

quantum signature precisely.

I have remodulated
the shuttle's engines

to emit an inverse warp field.

You will need to activate
that field

at the precise moment
you enter the fissure.

Assuming it works

will I find myself
near my own ship?

That is one possibility.

However,
the uncertainty principle

dictates that time is a variable
in this equation.

You may end up

several days before the event
or several days after.

There is no way to tell.

I understand.

Good luck.

Setting course for the fissure.

Acknowledged.

Captain, the shuttlecraft
is under attack.

The Bajorans again.

No, sir.
It's one of the Enterprises.

They're hailing us.

On screen.

We won't go back.

You don't know what it's like
in our universe.

The Federation's gone!

The Borg is everywhere!

We're one
of the last ships left.

Please, you've got to help us!

I'm sorry, there's no choice.

If this works,
everything will return...

No! We won't go back!

Sir, they're firing
on the shuttlecraft.

Open fire.
Try to disable them.

Direct hit.

Their shields have collapsed.

Their engine core's
overloading.

What happened?

It looks like

the ship had already
taken heavy damage.

Their warp containment field
must have been weak.

Probably from fighting
with the Borg.

Captain,
Worf is entering the fissure.

Charging primary systems.

Initiating inverse warp field.

Worf to Enterprise.

Enterprise here.

Captain,
is everything all right?

Yes, Lieutenant.
Is there a problem?

No, I do not believe so

but I will explain
when I arrive.

How was
the bat'leth tournament?

It was fine, sir.

I won Champion Standing.

So, you think
this quantum fissure

is nothing
that we need to worry about?

No, no, I believe

the inverse warp field
resealed it.

I'm looking forward
to reading your report.

Something wrong?

I know what you
are planning, sir.

I will not be surprised.

Surprised? I don't know
what you're talking about.

Of course you don't.

Welcome home, Worf.

I hope you don't mind
I let myself in.

I promised Alexander

I'd feed his Dalvan
hissing beetle

while you were both away.

So, you do not live here.

What's that supposed to mean?

It is a long story.

Happy birthday, Worf.

Will wanted to give you
a surprise party, but I knew

you'd hate it,
so I talked him out of it.

Thank you.

I know Klingons like to be alone
on their birthdays.

You probably want to meditate

or hit yourself
with a painstik or something.

Deanna...

you do not have to leave.

Oh?

I... have not had dinner.

Would you care to join me?

I'd love to.

Champagne.