Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 2, Episode 8 - Persistence of Vision - full transcript

- Paris to the Captain.
- Janeway here.

I analysed our route
through Botha space.

Whenever you can check it out...

I'm going to engineering.
I'll be with you soon.

The computer told me
I'd find you on deck 11,

section 4B, starboard side,
and here you are.

- What can I do for you?
- Don't you want to talk?

- About?
- About the Botha.

We're headed for their space.
You must handle them carefully.

I understand, but I'm late for a meeting.

I wouldn't put this off too long.
We're getting closer.



Yes, I know.
And I will be with you as soon as I can.

- Sorry I'm late. What do you have?
- We're ready to make our first attempt.

Will the Doctor be able
to move around the entire ship?

Holo-emitters will be set up in certain
key areas, where we can transfer him.

Like we transfer him to the holodeck?

Exactly. But in an area where there's
no emitter field, he'll dematerialise.

- We're ready to start.
- Proceed. I don't have much time.

Engineering to sickbay.
Doctor, we're ready.

- I'm standing by.
- OK. Here goes.

Initiating transfer.

Here he comes.

This is a brilliant feat of engineering.

- What happened?
- The imaging interface wasn't stabilised.

Just a small oversight.
No pun intended.



- Very amusing.
- How long will it take to correct this?

A couple of hours.

I have to assess our navigational
plan and make contact with aliens.

I can't drop everything
whenever you call.

- Tuvok to Janeway.
- Go ahead.

I would like half an hour
of your time

to review security
before we encounter the Botha.

Yes, Mr Tuvok.
Somehow... I will find half an hour.

Excuse me, Captain.
Would you come down here?

- Yes.
- When did you last take shore leave?

About two months ago.

How long since you've done
something pleasurable?

I know I'm testy today,
but I can assure you...

How long?

It's... been a while.

I have a holonovel programme.
It helps me unwind.

I haven't had time to run it
for a few weeks.

- Well, I want you to... now.
- Doctor, I'm really very busy.

I've checked Starfleet regulations.
I outrank you in health matters.

This may be the first time a hologram
has given an order to a captain,

but I'm ordering you
to report to the holodeck... now.

Aye, sir.

And the two of you can get busy
undoing this ridiculous blunder of yours!

Good afternoon, my lord.
Will the children be joining us for tea?

Presently.

- Lord Burleigh, is something wrong?
- Yes.

Terribly wrong.

I have fallen in love with you, Lucie.

My lord.

Hello, Father.

We're ready for tea. I want cucumber
sandwiches.

Wait your turn, young man.
What may I serve you, my lord?

Nothing. Thank you.

I see.

I want my tea in this cup, please.
I don't want a cucumber sandwich.

I don't like the way Cook cuts them.

You'll be pleased with
the children's progress in their studies.

Henry shows a talent for mathematics
and Beatrice turns out to be musical.

Beatrice? Musical?

- I don't know what she means.
- She's modest about it.

I've heard her several times
in the music room,

playing a lovely Mozart sonata.

But whenever I ask her to play it for me,
she won't.

She should be encouraged.
Would you consider lessons?

I didn't know she could play the piano.

- I'm sorry.
- It's just a cup. Don't be a goose.

- It's the flower cup, Mother's cup.
- It doesn't matter.

Mrs Templeton,
please take the children to the nursery.

Yes, my lord. Come.

Stay here, Mrs Davenport.

- Beatrice is upset. I should be with her.
- I want you here.

What's happening here? How can you
not know Beatrice plays the piano?

Why can't I go to the fourth floor?

- You must not ask those questions.
- I am asking them.

I worry about the children.
Beatrice fantasises her mother is alive.

- Don't pursue this.
- Bridge to the Captain.

Freeze program.

Janeway here.

A representative of the Bothan
government would like to talk to you.

I'll be right there.

Sorry, my lord. Duty calls.

- We should have talked this morning.
- Tell me what you know.

I've been in subspace contact with
old friends, nomads, as I used to be.

They can gather information
on their travels.

- What they said doesn't sound good.
- In what way?

There are rumours of ships in Bothan
space, never heard from again.

My sources say
they have lost a number of vessels.

The Botha protect their territory fiercely.

- We aren't aggressors.
- They aren't either.

They don't want anyone
crossing their borders.

Will they negotiate,
respond to diplomacy?

It's hard to say. There's a belief they
don't even have a claim to the space,

that they're pernicious, odious vandals.

In which case,
diplomacy would fall on deaf ears.

- We're being hailed again.
- On screen.

I'm Kathryn Janeway
of the starship Voyager.

You are in our space
without permission.

We didn't realise.
On what basis do you claim it?

I have no intention
of explaining myself to you.

- You're violating our territory.
- I assure you, we mean no disrespect.

We are from another part of the galaxy,
trying to get home.

We'll send a ship
to rendezvous with you.

If you meet the criteria,
we'll consider your request.

- Thank you. What are the criteria?
- We'll discuss that when we meet.

Friendly fellow.

- At least they're talking.
- Why wouldn't he let us see his face?

I suspect it was a calculated move
to intimidate us.

Commander, you have the bridge.
Mr Neelix, join me in my ready room.

Captain, if I may...
When was the last time you ate?

Ate? Oh, I had some soup last night.

Then I suggest
we conduct our talk in the mess hall.

We're serving
a sumptuous repast for lunch.

Right. Lunch it is.

Your habit of skipping meals can do
horrible things to your electrolyte levels.

- Sometimes I get too busy to eat.
- All you have to do is give me a call.

I'll be there in a trice with food so
delectable you won't be able to resist.

I do think I've outdone myself this time.

An exquisite pâté
made from Seltin wood fungus.

Brine-soaked neccel strips.

Devilled wood throk.

- Where did these come from?
- Lieutenant Hargrove asked for them.

Is something wrong?

No, just a funny coincidence.
Something I saw on the holodeck.

Thank you, Neelix.
This looks delicious.

It's bound to boost my electrolyte levels.

- Where did you get that cup?
- I'm not sure.

I think I found
several of them in storage.

Unusual, isn't it?

Captain, is everything all right?

It's perfectly all right, Neelix.

I just have to remind myself
that coincidences do happen.

I can't help myself.
I've fallen in love with you.

My mother is alive
and my father loves her, not you.

Have you accessed
any of the holodeck programs?

- No.
- Where did you get this holo-projector?

We found several in storage
and reconfigured them.

So you haven't worked with
any projectors on the holodecks?

Is there anything you've done that
would cause holographic objects

to appear outside the holodeck?

Not that I'm aware of.

I was sure your experiments
would explain it.

There has to be a reason for
these delusions and we'll figure it out.

The Doctor pointed out that I've been
under some stress. I can't ignore that.

We should check out
the imaging systems.

- There might be a malfunction.
- Good idea.

We can run a diagnostic.
Activate the program first.

I'll contact you from the holodeck.

- Janeway to engineering.
- Torres.

- Have you set it up?
- We're ready.

- Go ahead.
- Lucie. Thank God you've come back.

Why are you dressed so strangely?

- It's... a costume.
- You'd look lovely in anything.

I've thought of you constantly.

Remembered your touch,
your perfume, your lips...

Computer, delete character.

Torres to Janeway.
We didn't find any malfunctions.

Recalibrate and try it again.

- I'll check something else.
- Aye, Captain.

Captain! I'm delighted to see you.
Do you want a snack?

No, I'm fine.
But I wanted to ask you about lunch.

- Didn't you like it?
- It was delicious.

I was trying to remember all the dishes.
There was the Seltin pate.

- Delectable.
- The neccel strips.

- Exquisite.
- The devilled throk.

- Sublime.
- And the cucumber sandwiches.

Cucumber sandwiches?

- Weren't there cucumber sandwiches?
- I don't know what that is.

The other item on the menu
was a fried murt cake. You ate one.

And the cup you served my tea in?

One of these.
The ones I found in storage.

- I thought... it had flowers on it.
- Flowers?

Well, no, I don't see any flowers.

Maybe there was another cup,
but I don't think so.

Would you like a cup with flowers on it?
I can replicate one.

It's all right, Neelix.
You've told me what I need to know.

I don't detect anything so far.

No evidence of aneurysm,
subdural haematoma, stroke.

Could it be... stress?

Possibly. Did you go to the holodeck
as I ordered?

- Yes.
- And was that relaxing?

It was interesting.
I'm not sure how relaxing it was.

There are other possibilities.

I want to scan for airborne bacteria
and viruses.

We should investigate
the possibility of an alien.

I'd like to do
a cerebro-cortical scan on you.

Oh!

Kes?

I don't know. Strange.

- Suddenly I felt cold, shivery.
- Someone was walking on your grave.

Hm?

It's just an old saying on Earth.

A way of describing
an odd feeling like that.

- How macabre.
- It's a human expression.

My programmers
didn't clutter me up with trivia.

They programmed me
with important data.

Kes,
would you get my sub-neural scanner?

Yes, Doctor.

What about my mother's grave?

There's no one inside.
The coffin is empty.

Doctor.

Who do you see here?

- I see you.
- And I see you.

But I also see a little girl
from my holodeck program.

What happened?

I'm not sure. The image of the little girl
suddenly rushed at me.

I saw it, too.

When I came in, I felt as though
something hit me, bounced off me,

then I saw the little girl moving into you.

As though you became a mirror.
You reflected her back toward me.

I've been doing some mental exercises
with Tuvok,

but we haven't done anything like this.

Captain, until I determine
the cause of these hallucinations,

I'd prefer you return to your quarters,
get some rest.

Vegetable bouillon. No, cancel that.

Coffee ice cream.

Hello?

- Is anyone there?
- Kath, are you there?

Computer, is there anyone
in these quarters except me?

Negative.

Kath, are you there?

- Who's that?
- Come look at the puppies.

Mark?

I've missed you so much, Kath.
When are you coming back?

I don't think you've missed me.

Someone else is in your thoughts now.

- Is there someone you're thinking of?
- Computer, open the door.

Everything was fine
until you came here.

I took care of him. He trusted me.
But when you arrived, all that changed.

- Security, intruder alert.
- You've only caused trouble.

We don't want more trouble in our lives!

Security to the Captain's quarters!
Tuvok, respond!

Can you see the hallucinations?

Yes, the woman
is receding into the Captain.

Captain, listen to me!
You are in sickbay.

You are all right. Captain!

Neelix can help you.
No one knows much about the Botha.

He's been doing research.

Have him on the bridge
when they arrive.

Torres and Kim are trying to transfer
the Doctor out of sickbay.

It's not a priority, but stay on top of it.

There was a problem
with a deflector shield. Follow that up.

Stellar Cartography
want a review of their report.

Tuvok wanted
to discuss weapons storage.

Captain, you've trained your crew well.
We can do without you for a few days.

We're continuing diagnostics
on all ship's systems.

There's a reason for
this and we'll find it.

- Thank you.
- My patient has to rest.

- I'm sure you want to go to the bridge.
- Call me if I can do anything.

Report to me after you meet the Botha.

Take a seat on a bed.
I'd like to do some tests.

Prepare the Captain
for a cerebro-cortical scan.

Certainly.
I saw your hallucination again.

- What did you see?
- You were struggling with a woman.

- She had a knife and tried to hurt you.
- That's right.

Like with the little girl, the image
reflected off me and moved into you.

- Your telepathic abilities are increasing.
- It's more than that.

Something strange is happening
and it's not just you.

I am picking up a ship on sensors.
It is a design we have not encountered.

- It's on a direct intercept course.
- Our welcoming party.

They're in a hurry. Closing fast.

- They are hailing.
- On screen.

- Where is your captain?
- She's not available right now.

I'm Commander Chakotay.
I can speak for her.

We observe rather strict protocols.
I'd prefer to negotiate with the captain.

She's not able
to come to the bridge now.

And in her absence, I assume her place.

Our request is the same.
We want to cross through your space.

- We'll do it quickly.
- What weapons do you possess?

That information is not necessary.

How do I know you aren't an invader
here to attack settlements?

I don't know how to convince you,
but we're peaceful. If you doubt us...

- What happened?
- I terminated the transmission.

I made it look like an accident.
I am concerned about sensor readings.

I'm getting
residual energy displacements,

one off the port bow,
one off starboard.

We have to consider
possible cloaked ships.

- Reverse course.
- Aye, sir.

Two ships, decloaking.

- It is powering up weapons.
- Evasive manoeuvre Gamma 5.

- Report!
- Shields at 87%.

Minor damage on decks 4 and 12.

- Turning for another strike.
- Evasive pattern Beta 2.

- Get weapons on-line.
- Powering up lateral phaser arrays.

- Shields down to 83%.
- Return fire.

A direct hit,
but their shields were not penetrated.

- I can't stay here.
- I can't allow you to leave.

Sorry. If we're in trouble,
my place is on the bridge.

Something weird is going on. I'm not
reading lifesigns on the two ships.

- No crew?
- Looks like they're automated.

Controlled by the Bothan ship.

Return fire, Tuvok.

We hit their weapons array,
but didn't disable it.

They are manoeuvring to surround us.

- Get us out of here, Paris.
- I'm trying.

The ships are preparing to fire.

- That volley took our shields to 21%.
- Damage on all decks. Injuries.

All stop.

- The lead ship is hailing us.
- On screen.

Your ship is damaged
and your captain incapacitated.

I will accept your immediate surrender.

You're not getting one.
The captain is fine.

I don't think so.
I think the battle is over now.

Mark.

Don't you recognise the man you love?

Mr Paris,
who do you see on the viewscreen?

- It's... my father.
- I hope you've been behaving yourself.

- I see my girlfriend Libby.
- Mr Kim, shut down visual.

I'm trying, Captain. It won't terminate.

Mr Tuvok, do a multiphasic scan.
I want evidence of weakness.

Prepare the forward photon
torpedoes for launch.

- Tuvok.
- I do not understand how this can be.

Don't try to understand, Tuvok.
Just accept it. We're together again.

- No. You are not my wife.
- Of course I am.

I'm T'Pel. And there,
right in front of you, is your lute.

The one you used to play for me.

And look.

Look around you.
You're back home, on Vulcan.

Tuvok? Tuvok, answer me.

- Tuvok!
- Captain, I'll do it.

- Running a multiphasic scan.
- Torres to the Captain.

We're having problems here.

- People are delusional.
- It's happening here.

I know why. An energy field
is coming from those ships.

It's bioelectric,
modulating on a delta-wave frequency.

It has psionic properties
and is permeating the hull.

A psionic field
explains the hallucinations.

Try remodulating the shields.

I'll set up a resonance burst to block the
field, but it'll take a while to set up.

Notify the Doctor. He might have
some ideas how to neutralise it.

Give Torres a hand in engineering.

Mr Neelix, the crew need
a morale officer. See if you can help.

Kath,
do you always have to be Captain?

Can't you relax for a minute?
I want to talk to you.

Mr Kim, remodulate the shields
on a rotating frequency.

- Janeway to Kes.
- Yes, Captain.

Come to the bridge. We need you.

- Right away.
- Paris, are you still with me?

Sure am.
I'm running scans on those ships.

- Don't look at the viewscreen.
- It's not even tempting.

- How is it going?
- Not good.

I can't get a response from anybody.
They're catatonic.

It's the same all over the ship. I must
have seen 50 people sitting, staring.

There was an interruption
in the psionic field.

Were there any indications
an alien came on board?

I'll find out. Chakotay to Janeway.

Chakotay to the Captain.
Please respond.

Chakotay to anyone on the bridge.
Kim, Paris, anybody.

- We may be the last ones left.
- What do we do?

We should take an escape pod. We
passed an M-Class planet yesterday.

- We should get there in a week.
- A week? That might be too late.

- It may be our only hope.
- I have to set up the resonance burst.

- Do I have to order you?
- I can't believe you.

- We have to help the others.
- I want you with me.

- You aren't Chakotay.
- I'm the Chakotay you want me to be.

The one who loves you.

This is what you want, isn't it?
The secret you've been keeping?

You want us to be together.

And we can be.

- I have to help the others.
- I want you. I've always wanted you.

You feel the same way, too.

Yes.

I'm getting results from the scans.
No apparent defensive weaknesses.

Metallurgical analysis inconclusive.

Try moving us out of here. If we can
get away, we might block the effects.

Yes, ma'am.

Can you do it
without causing an accident?

You usually make
a mess of everything.

Let me say something
I've always wanted to say.

- Get out of my life!
- I'm telling you what you already know.

When the going gets tough,
you crumble.

Not any more.

Not any more.

You don't really believe that
in your heart.

You believe you'll fail again.
And of course you will.

You can't do anything right. You'll fail.

Why even try?

Tom?

Tom.

Janeway to engineering.
Janeway to Torres. Are you there?

Engineering, respond. I'm on my way.

Computer, put bridge controls
on security lockout.

Deck 11.

Now, maybe you have time
to talk to me.

You're so strong, Kath.

That's one of the things I loved in you.

What's the matter?
You used to love that.

I don't know who you are, what you are,
but I won't let you touch me.

What about the man on the holodeck?
You didn't mind him touching you.

In fact, I think you liked it.
Now, I ask you, Kath, is that fair to me?

I've stayed faithful. I vowed
to wait for you no matter how long.

Shouldn't you do the same?

- I haven't been unfaithful.
- Oh, Kath.

Sickbay to engineering.
Lieutenant Torres, please respond.

Doctor to the mess hall.
Mr Neelix, are you there?

This is the Doctor
to anyone on the ship.

If you can hear me, please reply.

Communication is malfunctioning,
or everyone is in a delusional state.

Except you and me.

If the psionic field is to be blocked
and the crew restored to normal,

it's up to us.

You have to complete Torres's
efforts to create a resonance burst.

- I don't know how.
- I will assist you.

- Do you know how to do it?
- I discussed the matter with Torres.

I think I understand
the principle behind it.

How hard can it be?

- All right.
- Go to engineering. I'll contact you.

Tom, what happened?

A plasma leak caught me in the face.
Help me.

Can you get to sickbay?
The Doctor is there.

- Come with me.
- I can't. I have to get to engineering.

You can't leave me like this. It hurts.

Tom, you can walk. You have to get
to sickbay on your own.

Kes, please. I can't.

You don't want me to get to engineering.
I'm hallucinating.

Kes, wait.

Come back. Don't leave me!
Come back!

Finally. What took you so long?

We have to set this up quickly.
I've started hallucinating.

Then see
if Torres's last program is active.

I think I have it. It's a program
to open a symmetrical warp field.

All right. Sequence
the magnetic plasma constriction

to the following formula - T equals
C sub-1 over Theta times P sub-E.

- How do I do that?
- I'm not sure.

Wait. I'll see if I can access
Starfleet's interactive database.

Sweeting! Thank goodness I found you.

- Are you all right?
- Where have you been?

In the mess hall, helping the poor souls.

- You didn't answer the hails.
- I didn't hear them.

The com system must be down.
And I was a little busy.

Ashmore thought I was a Kazon.
He tried to kill me with a knife.

- How do I know you're really Neelix?
- Who else would I be?

Kes, all I want to do is protect you,
to keep you safe.

We have to get away from here,
get to my shuttle.

Have you figured out
how I enter that sequencing code?

Do you know
where the command module is?

- Of course.
- Select magnetic plasma sequencing.

You're becoming annoying.

I've got it. It's activated.

It's asking me
to enter the core temperature.

Move away from that console.

We need a temperature high enough
to emit the resonance burst,

but not so high as to irradiate everyone.
Try three million kelvin.

- Kes, look at him.
- It hurts!

- Look at him. Focus.
- I can't.

Yes, you can. The mirror.

- Remember?
- It hurts too much!

Kes, look at him.

What's the matter? Can't lift your head?

Focus.

Stop it!

I'm all right now. I've entered
a temperature of 3 million kelvin.

- All you do is activate the warp field.
- All right. Here we go.

Captain, if you can hear me,
please report to engineering.

- What happened?
- It's a long story, but it's all right.

Is that who's responsible for this?

Apparently. He looks harmless.
Hard to believe he almost destroyed us.

You're a powerful little thing.
I must say, you surprised me.

Why did you do this to us?

Because I can.

Is it just telepathy,
or is there technology involved?

- Does it matter?
- It matters to me.

I don't intend to let
you continue preying on others.

How would you propose to stop me?

We could destroy your technology.

Or adjust your brain wave patterns
to prevent telepathy

and turn you over
to the government of Mithren.

We could even keep you confined
in our brig behind a force field.

I'm sure you're very well-intentioned,
Captain...

...and I'd like to be able
to accommodate you...

...but, you see, I'm not really here.

Captain's log, supplemental.

We have no explanation for the
disappearance of the telepathic alien.

We can't even be certain
he was actually here.

He has left us with
any number of unanswered questions.

I'm surprised to see you here, Captain.

This is the day you're usually
in the holodeck with your novel.

I thought, after our experience, that I'd
take a break from fantasy for a while.

I don't blame you. I think
it had quite an impact on all of us.

Do you think it's true?

That the alien was reading our minds,
creating images from our experiences?

It seemed that way.

He had an uncanny ability to... bring
buried thoughts out into the open.

- Why?
- Oh, it's just...

I experienced something
I'd rather not admit.

I know. Me, too.

But, in a way,
maybe he did us all a favour.

Maybe it's better to look
those feelings in the eye...

...than to keep them locked up inside.

I guess. I'll have to think about that.

I have an early watch tomorrow,
so I'd better turn in.

- Good night, Captain.
- Good night, B'Elanna.

Sweet dreams.

Thanks.

You, too.