












                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                              
                           "True Q" 
                          #40276-232 
                              
                          Written by 
                        Rene Echevarria 
                              
                          Directed by 
                        Robert Scheerer 


THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING
WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If
lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department.

                         FINAL DRAFT


  STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - "True Q"- 09/04/92 - CAST 

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                           "True Q" 

                             CAST                               
                              
                PICARD             Q
                RIKER              AMANDA ROGERS
                DATA               ORN LOTE
                BEVERLY            
                TROI               
                WORF               
                GEORDI             
                NURSE'S COM VOICE  

                Non-Speaking       Non-Speaking
                  SUPERNUMERARIES    AMANDA'S PARENTS

  STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - "True Q" - 09/04/92 - SETS 

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 
                           "True Q" 

                             SETS 

            INTERIORS                  EXTERIORS
          
            USS ENTERPRISE             USS ENTERPRISE
              MAIN BRIDGE
              ENGINEERING              TAGRA
              TEN FORWARD
              READY ROOM
              SHUTTLEBAY TWO
              OBS. LOUNGE
              MEDICAL LAB
              CORRIDOR
          
              GAZEBO
              AMANDA'S QUARTERS
          
              TAGRAN CONTROL ROOM

         STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - TEASER         1.

                STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION                  
                           "True Q"                                
                            TEASER                              

	FADE IN:

1    EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	holding position near a starbase.

					PICARD (V.O.)
			Captain's Log, Stardate 46192.3.
			We have arrived at Starbase
			one-one-two and are loading relief
			supplies destined for Tagra Four,
			an ecologically devastated planet
			in the Argolis Cluster. We have
			also taken on a rather unusual
			passenger.

2    INT. READY ROOM - CLOSE - PICARD

					PICARD
			Welcome to the Enterprise. We're
			delighted to have you aboard.

3    WIDEN

	to include BEVERLY and eighteen-year-old AMANDA
	ROGERS.

					AMANDA
			Thank you, Sir.

	Amanda is excited and a bit nervous; she can hardly
	believe she's being welcomed to the Enterprise by its
	Captain.

					PICARD
			Congratulations. I understand
			you were selected from among
			hundreds of applicants for this
			internship.

					AMANDA
			Yes, sir. I still can't believe
			they chose me... there were lots
			of people with better records...

         STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - TEASER         2.

3    CONTINUED:

					BEVERLY
			Your transcript is very
			impressive...
				(to Picard)
			She's done honors work in
			neurobiology, plasma dynamics,
			and eco-regeneration. I'd call
			that pretty well-rounded.

					AMANDA
			That's a nice way of saying I
			haven't made up my mind about
			what I want to do with my life.

					BEVERLY
			I've arranged to have you work
			in all the major departments while
			you're here. I'm willing to bet
			that by the time it's over you'll
			have a pretty good idea what field
			you're interested in.

					PICARD
				(smiles)
			Or at least what fields you're not
			interested in.

	Amanda smiles; they're making her feel welcome aboard
	this strange new ship. The door chime SOUNDS.

					PICARD
			Come.

	RIKER ENTERS.

					RIKER
			We're bringing up the last of the
			cargo, sir. We should be ready
			to leave within the hour.

	Picard nods his acknowledgement.

					PICARD
			Commander, would you escort Ms.
			Rogers to her quarters? I have
			to discuss the Tagran's medical
			needs with Doctor Crusher.

	Riker nods; Amanda stands.

         STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - TEASER         3.

3    CONTINUED: (2)

					PICARD
			You've won yourself a rare
			opportunity. Avail yourself of
			it.

					AMANDA
			I will, sir.

	Picard smiles; she crosses toward the door.

4    INT. CORRIDOR

	as Riker and Amanda make their way down it. She walks
	with downcast eyes, stricken with shyness in front of
	the dashing First Officer. Riker smiles to himself,
	decides to try and put her at ease.

					RIKER
			It'll take a few days before you
			know your way around. If you
			ever need help just use one of
			the companels...

	He gestures to a companel as they pass it.

					AMANDA
			We're on deck seven, section...
				(unsure)
			Four?

					RIKER
				(surprised)
			That's right.

					AMANDA
				(smiles)
			I practically memorized the specs
			on the way here.

					RIKER
			You're a quick study.

	They've arrived at the door to her quarters.

					RIKER
			This is it.

	INT. AMANDA'S QUARTERS

	as she and Riker ENTER. Her bags are already there,
	having been brought directly from the Transporter Room.

         STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - TEASER         4.

5    CONTINUED:

	Amanda looks around, seems a little surprised.

					AMANDA
			Is this for me?

					RIKER
			All yours.

					AMANDA
			It's so... big.

					RIKER
				(smiles)
			For honor students, only the best.

	She looks around.

					AMANDA
			I could've brought The Zoo.

					RIKER
			The zoo?

					AMANDA
			That's what my parents call it.
			Three dogs isn't so many, is it?

					RIKER
				(smiles)
			Depends how they get along.

					AMANDA
			I'd have a dozen, but my mother
			said enough is enough.

	They share a smile.

					AMANDA
			I'm sure going to miss them.

					RIKER
			We'll try and keep you so busy
			you won't have time to.
				(he smiles)
			I'd better be going; I have to get
			back to the Cargo Bay.

					AMANDA
			Thanks for walking me down.

	Amanda watches Riker EXIT, her eyes linger on the door
	as it shuts behind him. She turns and suddenly her
	eyes widen in shock.

         STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - TEASER         5.

6    NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)

	Amanda's room is suddenly full of PUPPIES... a dozen
	of them, yapping and wagging their tails. Amanda's
	hand flies to cover her mouth in dismay.

					AMANDA
			Oh, no... I didn't mean it...

	She kneels as the puppies rush to her feet.

					AMANDA
			You can't be here... Go away.

	A handful of the puppies DISAPPEAR.

					AMANDA
			All of you.

	The rest of the puppies in front of her DISAPPEAR as
	well, leaving two behind her. She can't help but pet
	them for a moment before saying:

					AMANDA
			You too.

	They VANISH also. Amanda flops herself down so she's
	sitting on the floor. She looks scared... like someone
	keeping a terrible secret... Off her reaction we...

                                             FADE OUT.

                         END OF TEASER                          

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        6.

                            ACT ONE                             

	FADE IN:

          (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.)            

7    INT. MEDICAL LAB (OR STORAGE AREA)

	Beverly is showing Amanda the readout dials on a
	medical TRICORDER.

					BEVERLY
			See these readouts? This is your
			heart rate, your blood pressure...
			all your vital signs.

	Amanda looks at the dials with interest.

					BEVERLY
			You're in good shape.
				(wry)
			You might just live to be my age.

	Amanda smiles. Beverly indicates the storage shelf
	from which she took the device.

					BEVERLY
			All these tricorders have to be
			tested before they get put in the
			supply containers we're taking
			to Tagra.

	She indicates the small carrying cases stacked on a
	nearby table.

					AMANDA
			So I scan myself with each one
			to make sure all the readouts are
			working?

					BEVERLY
				(nods)
			If they're not, put that unit
			aside and we'll run a diagnostic
			on it.

	Beverly puts the tricorder she's been holding in a
	container.

	Amanda takes another tricorder off the shelf and starts
	scanning herself.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        7.

7    CONTINUED:

					BEVERLY
			So I understand you were accepted
			to the Academy... I have a son
			there.

					AMANDA
			Being posted on the Enterprise,
			I guess you don't get to see him
			very often... ?

					BEVERLY
				(smiles)
			Not as often as I'd like.

					AMANDA
			Do you have any other children?

					BEVERLY
			My husband died a number of years
			ago. Wes was our only child.

	Amanda is quiet for a moment.

					AMANDA
			Was he old enough to know his
			father?

					BEVERLY
			Jack died when he was five.

					AMANDA
			My parents died when I was a baby.
			I don't remember anything about
			them... Sometimes I wonder what
			they were like.

	Beverly can appreciate how she might want to know about
	them.

					BEVERLY
			I understand your adopted parents
			are in Starfleet.

					AMANDA
				(nods)
			They're marine biologists... They
			were just posted to the Bilaren
			system.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        8.

7    CONTINUED: (2)

	Beverly is called on the com.

					NURSE'S COM VOICE
			Sickbay to Doctor Crusher... you
			wanted to be told when the
			cultures were ready.

					BEVERLY
			On my way.
				(to Amanda)
			I have to go. When you've
			finished with the tricorders,
			Nurse Ogawa can help you take them
			down to the Shuttlebay for
			loading.

					AMANDA
			Okay.

	They share a warm smile and Beverly leaves her to her
	task.

8    EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	at impulse.

9    INT. SHUTTLEBAY TWO

	The place is buzzing with activity. NDs bustle around
	packing crates and loading them into the SHUTTLECRAFT.

	Amanda has just delivered the tricorders she's been
	checking to GEORDI; he holds a PADD and has his hands
	full coordinating everything.

					GEORDI
			Thanks for your help. We need
			every spare hand we can get; this
			is one of the biggest relief
			efforts we've ever mounted.

					AMANDA
			Why are you taking everything down
			in shuttlecraft?

					GEORDI
			We can't use the transporters
			because of all the ionization in
			the Tagran atmosphere.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        9.

9    CONTINUED:

					AMANDA
			From the barystatic filters?

					GEORDI
				(a little surprised)
			How'd you know that?

					AMANDA
			I did a paper on eco-regeneration.

	Geordi smiles and motions for Amanda to follow him over
	to a shuttlecraft.

					GEORDI
			Then you know that a thousand
			barystatic filters put out a lot
			of ionization...

					AMANDA
				(that many?)
			A thousand... ?

					GEORDI
			They've managed to pollute their
			atmosphere pretty badly.

					AMANDA
			It's amazing... that they go to
			such lengths to clean the air...
			instead of regulating the
			emissions that cause the problem.

					GEORDI
				(simply)
			You're right.

	Geordi and Amanda share a rueful look; it all seems
	so shortsighted to them.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        10.

9    CONTINUED: (2)

	Riker ENTERS and we see him in the background talking
	to an ND. Amanda's attention is diverted.

	Geordi is half way inside a console by now so he
	doesn't notice.

					GEORDI'S VOICE
			All the filters can do is keep
			things from getting worse. They
			shoot negative ions into the
			planet's stratosphere --

	Amanda watches Riker as he takes a PADD from an ND and
	begins checking it over. The ND moves away, leaving
	Riker standing alone near the overhang which contains
	the control booth.

					GEORDI'S VOICE
				(continuing)
			-- where they come into contact
			with airborne pollutants and
			transfer their charge. The
			filters have positively charged
			intake vents that the pollutants
			become attracted to; that sets
			up a kind of ionic current in the
			atmosphere.

	Amanda isn't even hearing his techno-ramble, her
	attention is now completely on the handsome figure cut
	by the First Officer.

9A   CLOSE ON A TOOL CASE

	on the railing of the overhang. It suddenly moves
	forward, as though of its own volition, and teeters
	on the edge of the stack.

9B   ANGLE ON AMANDA

	as her eye is caught by the movement. Then, the
	case shifts forward again and begins FALLING right
	toward Riker. There isn't even time to shout a
	warning...

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE       10A.

9B   CONTINUED:

	Amanda reaches out instinctively and suddenly the
	case's fall is diverted -- as if some unseen force
	lanced out from her outstretched arm -- and it crashes
	to the ground just a few feet away from him.

	Everyone in the room reacts with a start. It looks
	for all the world to have been a near miss.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        11.

9B   CONTINUED: (2)

					GEORDI
				(calling from across
				 the room)
			Commander, are you all right?

	Riker's a little shaken. Geordi crosses toward him.

					RIKER
			Yeah... I didn't even see it
			coming...

	No one except Amanda knows what really happened. And
	from the look on her face, we can see that she is
	disturbed and frightened by the strange event.

10   INT. AMANDA'S QUARTERS

	Amanda is alone in her quarters, mulling over the
	strange events of the past few days. If only there
	was someone she could talk to about it all. But what
	if they thought she was a freak? They used to burn
	witches!

	A SOUND at the door. Amanda leaps off the bed and
	stares at it. Maybe they've found her out?

					AMANDA
				(hesitantly)
			Come in.

	The door opens to reveal TROI standing there holding
	a puppy.

					TROI
			Commander Riker told me you liked
			dogs...

	Amanda is delighted. She moves forward to take
	the puppy.

					AMANDA
				(to puppy)
			What's your name?

					TROI
			This is Henry.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        12.

10   CONTINUED:

					AMANDA
				(smiles)
			Henry?

					TROI
				(shrugging)
			Don't ask me.

					AMANDA
			Where'd he come from?

					TROI
			Ensign Janklow is going to the
			Gantol excavations for three
			weeks. He's been trying to find
			someone to take care of Henry.

					AMANDA
				(instantly)
			I'll do it.

					TROI
				(smiles)
			Okay. But be warned -- he has
			an appetite for boots.

	Amanda laughs and puts Henry down to explore the room.

					AMANDA
			By the time Ensign Janklow gets
			back I'll have Henry shaking
			hands.

	She and Troi move to chairs and sit.

					TROI
			Doctor Crusher tells me you're
			considering a career in zoology.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        13.

10   CONTINUED: (2)

					AMANDA
			I was... but this morning I
			decided to become a Starfleet
			doctor... then by this afternoon
			I realized I was really meant to
			be a Chief Engineer.

	They share a smile.

					AMANDA
			What does a ship's counselor do?
			Maybe that's what I'll want to
			be by tomorrow.

	Troi smiles at the young woman's enthusiasm.

					AMANDA
			There are just so many things I'm
			interested in... sometimes I worry
			that I'll never focus on just
			one thing...

					TROI
			There's nothing wrong with keeping
			your options open.

					AMANDA
			I'm just afraid I won't have
			enough time for everything I want
			to do. I mean --
				(ticking them off)
			-- there's school, and then
			graduate study, and a career...
			and of course I want to get
			married and have children -- lots
			of children -- and more animals...
				(beat, reflecting)
			Maybe I should study
			agriculture... have a big farm
			somewhere...

	Troi laughs at her boundless eagerness and energy.

					TROI
			Amanda... whatever you choose,
			I'm sure you'll be good at it.

					AMANDA
			I know one thing... I wouldn't
			mind coming back to the Enterprise
			when I graduate.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE       13A.

10   CONTINUED: (3)

					TROI
			Who knows? Maybe you will.

	Off Amanda's reaction...

11   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	as it cruises at impulse.

12   INT. ENGINEERING

	as Geordi and Amanda cross away from the warp core
	toward the pool table, where DATA is working.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        14.

12   CONTINUED:

					GEORDI
			-- this is the main control area.
			We can access just about any
			primary circuit from these panels.
				(indicating)
			That's a Jeffries tube over there
			--

					AMANDA
			Where most of the major systems
			conduits are routed.

					GEORDI
				(smiles)
			You've done your homework.

	She looks back toward the warp core... humming
	strongly, blue lights rippling.

					AMANDA
			It's hard to imagine how much
			energy is being harnessed in
			there...

	Data overhears this.

					DATA
			Imagination is not necessary; the
			scale is readily quantifiable.
				(glancing at console)
			We are presently generating twelve
			point seven-five billion gigawatts
			per second.

	Amanda smiles at him -- then, suddenly an ALARM sounds.
	Geordi hurries to a console near Data.

					DATA
			The temperature in the reaction
			chamber has increased by
			forty-seven percent.

					GEORDI
				(working)
			The injector couplings are frozen
			-- I can't slow the reaction...

					DATA
			Temperature increase is at one
			hundred six percent... and rising.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE        15.

12   CONTINUED: (2)

					GEORDI
				(to com)
			La Forge To Bridge!

					PICARD'S COM VOICE
			Picard, here.

					GEORDI
			We're heading for a core breach!
			We're going to have to try and
			vent the plasma!

					DATA
				(working)
			Plasma inductors are not
			responding.

					GEORDI
			We're going to lose containment...

13   NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)

	favoring Amanda, with the pulsing reactor behind her.

					GEORDI
				(to Data)
			Bring down the isolation door -
			we have to eject the warp core.

	Data works the control.

					GEORDI
				(to others)
			Everybody out! Move it!

	Suddenly a blinding white FLASH obscures the warp core
	(the explosion is so powerful that we don't see pieces
	of metal flying toward us, just the OPTICAL EFFECT).

	Amanda's hands fly up in an instinctive gesture... the
	roiling EFFECT surges toward her -- and stops expanding
	just before it touches her hands.

	Everyone turns and looks at her in amazement. Slowly,
	as if she's exerting some great effort, she forces the
	explosion back... back... until it is once again
	contained in the reaction chamber.

	Only when she's finished and everyone is safe does she
	allow herself to react to the enormity of what she's
	done...

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT ONE       15A.

13   CONTINUED:

	Suddenly she's a scared young girl again...

					DATA
			Temperature in the reaction
			chamber is back to normal.

	Data, of course, is unflappable. But the impossibility
	of what they've just witnessed has left everyone else
	in the room stunned silent.

                                             FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT ONE                          

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        16.

                            ACT TWO                             

	FADE IN:

14   INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE (OPTICAL)

	Picard, Riker, Geordi, and Troi look up as Beverly
	ENTERS.

					BEVERLY
			She's a little shaken up, but
			she'll be all right.

	Everyone's relieved to hear this -- despite the mystery
	posed by the incident in Engineering, they've all grown
	quite fond of Amanda.

					RIKER
			You said she was adopted... could
			she be an alien?

					BEVERLY
			She's human... and there's nothing
			unusual about her, not that my
			instruments can detect.

					PICARD
				(to Geordi)
			Commander, have you been able to
			determine the cause of the warp
			breach?

					GEORDI
			No, sir. Everything was normal
			and then... it's like the laws
			of physics suddenly went out the
			window.

	Suddenly Q APPEARS in one of the seats. He's wearing
	a Starfleet uniform.

					Q
			And why not? They're terribly
			inconvenient.

					PICARD
				(dismayed)
			Q...

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        17.

14   CONTINUED:

					Q
			Mon Capitan.

					PICARD
			Are you responsible for the
			incident in Engineering?

					Q
			Of course. I needed to find out
			if what I suspected about the girl
			was true.

					PICARD
			That being?

					Q
			That she's Q.

	This notion, dropped lightly by Q, falls like a
	bombshell on the others.

					TROI
			Amanda... is a Q... ?

					BEVERLY
			How is that possible? Her
			parents... her biological
			parents... were human.

					Q
			Not exactly.

	They regard him curiously.

					Q
			They had assumed human form...
			in order to visit Earth. For an
			amusement, I suppose... but in
			vulgar human fashion they
			proceeded to conceive a child.

	He shrugs, not comprehending this strange behavior.

					Q
			Then, like mawkish humans, they
			became attached to it. What is
			it about those squirming little
			infants that you find so
			appealing?

					BEVERLY
			I'm sure that's beyond your
			comprehension, Q.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        18.

14   CONTINUED: (2)

					Q
			I desperately hope so.

					TROI
			What happened to Amanda's parents?

					Q
			They died in an accident. None
			of us knew whether the child would
			inherit the capacities of a Q...
			but recently, they began to
			emerge. As an expert on humanity
			-- I was sent to investigate.

					RIKER
				(sarcastic)
			You, an expert on humanity... ?

					Q
				(likewise)
			Not a very challenging field of
			study, I'll grant you...

					GEORDI
			Are you saying you caused the core
			breach -- just to test her?

					TROI
			What if she hadn't been able to
			stop it?

					Q
				(it's obvious)
			Then I would've known she wasn't
			Q.

	There are reactions to this cavalier attitude.

					BEVERLY
			Now that you know, what do you
			intend to do?

					Q
			Instruct her, of course. If that
			child doesn't learn how to control
			her power... she could accidently
			destroy herself. Or all of you.
			Perhaps your entire galaxy.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        19.

14   CONTINUED: (3)

					PICARD
			Somehow I find it hard to believe
			that you'd come here to do us a
			favor...

					Q
			You're quite right -- I wouldn't.
			But there are those in the
			Continuum who have an exaggerated
			sense of responsibility... and
			think we should take precautions
			to keep the little dear from
			running amuck.

					BEVERLY
			And once you've taught her...
			you'll go away?

					Q
			And leave her here... when she's
			Q? Of course not... she'll come
			to the Continuum, where she
			belongs.

					BEVERLY
				(irate)
			Wait a minute... you can't just
			come in here and take her away
			from everything she's known...

					Q
			I assure you, I can --

					BEVERLY
			She has plans for herself... she
			wants a career, a family --

					Q
			I can rescue her from that
			miserable existence.

					BEVERLY
			That "miserable existence" is all
			she's known for eighteen years.
			You have no right to take it away
			from her.

					Q
			Mon Capitan... I really think we
			need to speak privately.

	He lifts his hand -- there's a FLASH... and the two
	of them are suddenly in --

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        20.

14A  OMITTED

15   INT. READY ROOM

					Q
			There. Isn't that better? Doctor
			Crusher gets more shrill with each
			passing year...

					PICARD
			What is it you really want, Q?
			Why bring Amanda here... to the
			Enterprise?

					Q
				(expansively)
			Where better than here, among my
			dear friends? After all... you
			know so much about the Q...
			you're the perfect people to
			introduce me to the child. Let
			her know she can trust me.

	This brings an outright laugh from Picard.

					PICARD
			Trust you -- !

					Q
			Jean-Luc... you wound me...

					PICARD
			I don't trust you and I certainly
			wouldn't expect Amanda to.

					Q
			She'd better -- because I'm all
			she's got. She needs me to
			prepare her... for her future with
			the Q.

					PICARD
			She may not want that future.
			The decision is hers.

					Q
			Yes, yes -- fine.
				(amused by the thought)
			But do you really think she'll
			want to remain a feeble mortal?

	Picard ignores his mocking tone, thinks for a moment...
	not liking what he comes up with.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        21.

15   CONTINUED:

					PICARD
			If Amanda is a Q... she'll need
			to understand what that means.
				(firm)
			I'll introduce you, but we cannot
			continue to fight like this in
			front of Amanda. For her sake,
			we'll have to appear to be...

					Q
			Pals?

					PICARD
			Civil.

	Q shrugs his assent.

					PICARD
			We need time to explain this
			to her.

					Q
			I knew I could count on you,
			Jean-Luc.

	Q DISAPPEARS. Picard EXITS the Ready Room.

15A  INT. BRIDGE

	as Picard crosses to Data.

					PICARD
			Mister Data... I want you to
			access any available records on
			Amanda Rogers.

					DATA
			Yes, Captain.


        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        22.

15A  CONTINUED:

					PICARD
			I want to know more about her
			biological parents... about their
			death. I find it odd that any
			Q could die in an accident.

					DATA
			It does not seem consistent with
			what we know of them.

					PICARD
			I'm convinced Q isn't telling
			us everything. See what you can
			find out.

					DATA
			Aye, sir.

16   INT. AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)

	Beverly and Amanda are sitting together on the couch.
	Though she is still grappling with the enormous
	implications of what she's been told, the news does
	explain certain things that have been happening.

					AMANDA
			It started happening about six
			months ago... things I wished for
			suddenly appearing... objects
			moving on their own... I thought
			I was going crazy...
				(beat)
			In a funny way, finding this out
			is kind of a relief.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        23.

16   CONTINUED:

					BEVERLY
			I can understand that.
				(beat)
			The person I mentioned... from
			the Q Continuum... would like to
			meet you. If you want to...

	Amanda takes a breath. Things are moving awfully fast,
	but she might as well start facing what's coming.

					AMANDA
			I'm ready.

	Beverly starts toward the door... but before she
	reaches it, Q WALKS THROUGH IT, heading right for
	Amanda, who looks startled.

					Q
			There's my girl!

	Beverly gives him a look.

	The door OPENS, revealing Picard, who ENTERS, and moves
	toward Amanda, trying to make this a comfortable
	introduction. He finds himself in the odd position of
	having to put Q in the best possible light.

					PICARD
			Amanda, this is Q.
				(beat)
			He is...
				(searching)
			... an acquaintance of ours. We've
			known him for years.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        24.

16   CONTINUED: (2)

	Q is circling Amanda, sizing her up as though she's
	a race horse. It makes her quite uncomfortable.

					Q
			Very impressive the way you
			contained that explosion. What
			else have you done?

	His brusque tone isn't helping to put Amanda at ease.

					AMANDA
			I... don't understand.

					Q
			Telekinesis, teleportation,
			spontaneous combustion of someone
			you didn't like -- that sort of
			thing.

	Amanda looks baffled and Picard steps in to help.

					PICARD
			I think what Q means to ask is...
			have you deliberately used your
			abilities... ?

					AMANDA
			Not until I came here. The first
			time was when the container almost
			fell on Commander Riker.

					Q
			You did so well with that I
			decided to give you a real
			challenge... the warp core
			breach.

	He takes her face in his hands, turning it this way and
	that.

					Q
			She clearly has potential. I see
			no reason why she can't come back
			to the Continuum right now.

					AMANDA
			What?

					PICARD
				(warning)
			Q --

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        25.

16   CONTINUED: (3)

					AMANDA
			I don't want to go anywhere...

					Q
			Don't worry. With time you'll
			be able to overcome the
			disadvantages you suffered as a
			child. No one will hold it
			against you that you were human.

	Amanda turns to Picard in distress.

					AMANDA
			Captain Picard -- ?

	Q advances on Amanda.

					Q
			Let's go, Amanda.

					PICARD
				(stepping forward)
			She doesn't want to --

	But as Q reaches Amanda she reacts, lifting her arm...
	and suddenly Q goes flying across the room, crashing
	into a wall.

					AMANDA
			Leave me alone! I'm not going
			anywhere with you!

	A shaken Q looks at her with new respect... and the
	awareness that this isn't going to be as easy as he
	thought.

17   INT. READY ROOM

	Picard is with Q; he's irate at Q's behavior. Q is
	vaguely listening; he fussily brushes and tugs at his
	uniform, as if it had been mussed in his fall.

					PICARD
			You agreed she has the right to
			decide her own future... yet the
			first chance you get you try to
			abduct her.

					Q
			You overreact as usual, Jean-Luc.
			I assure you -- I was merely
			testing her power. She's quite
			a little spitfire, isn't she?

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO        26.

17   CONTINUED:

					PICARD
			What's going on, Q? What's your
			real purpose in being here?

					Q
			I've made that quite clear. The
			Continuum has a vested interest
			in this young woman...

					PICARD
			If you intend to protect that
			investment, I suggest you approach
			her differently.

					Q
			She's just a little skittish.
			She'll have to start behaving like
			a Q.

					PICARD
			If I'm not mistaken, she just did.

	Q flashes him an irritated look, not appreciating the
	reminder.

17A  INT. AMANDA'S QUARTERS

	Beverly is with Amanda, still upset after the incident
	with Q.

					AMANDA
			I don't want anything to do with
			that Q person. I don't care about
			having powers...

	She looks at Beverly, pleading her case for denial.

					AMANDA
			You understand, don't you? I have
			things I want to do... I'm going
			to the Academy... I want a career,
			I want to join Starfleet...

					BEVERLY
			You can still do those things...

					AMANDA
			But now it's so -- complicated.
			This power I have... it's just
			going to get in the way. I don't
			want to have to deal with it...

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO       26A.

17A  CONTINUED:

	Beverly regards her sympathetically... understanding
	the feelings, but knowing the truth.

					BEVERLY
			But you have to.

	Amanda looks at her.

					BEVERLY
			I know how you feel. It would
			be so much easier if none of this
			had happened... if it would just
			go away.
				(beat)
			But it's not going to go away.

	Amanda is silent, hearing the cold wash of reality.

					BEVERLY
			You need someone to help you.
			And the person who can help you
			-- is Q.

					AMANDA
			But he's horrible.

					BEVERLY
			But he's the only one who can help
			you understand who you are. There
			are hard choices you're going to
			have to make about your future...
			and you can't make them by
			ignoring the truth.

	Amanda stares at her... and accepts, for now, her
	plight.

					AMANDA
			You're right.
				(beat)
			But I don't want any of this to
			disrupt my time here. I want to
			do everything I'm expected to
			do... and I don't want you to
			treat me any differently.
				(beat)
			Please?

	Beverly smiles, recognizing the young woman's need for
	normality.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT TWO       26B.

17A  CONTINUED: (2)

					BEVERLY
			You've got a deal. The first free
			hour you have, report to me in
			the medical lab. I have an
			experiment I need help with.

	Amanda grins; the familiarity of the routine is
	comforting to her.

					AMANDA
			Yes, ma'am.

	Beverly EXITS.

17B  INT. CORRIDOR

	Q walks along the corridor on his way to Amanda's
	quarters. No one is around. Suddenly a DARK SHADOW
	appears on the wall ahead of him. Q stops, annoyed.
	We HEAR the voice of the shadow... it is futzed and
	sepulchral.

					Q SHADOW
			Your progress, Q?

					Q
			As anticipated there have been
			some problems... but the humans
			are cooperating. I need more
			time.
				(matter-of-fact)
			There is a possibility we won't
			have to terminate her.

	The businesslike tone of Q's report makes it that much
	more chilling...

                                             FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT TWO                          

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       27.

                           ACT THREE                            

	FADE IN:

0A   INT. CORRIDOR

	as Q walks toward Amanda's quarters. He stops outside
	the door, takes a breath, and starts to walk through
	the door. Then he checks himself and, with a grimace,
	makes himself push the control.

18   INT. AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)

	as she hears the chime.

					AMANDA
			Come in.

	The door opens and Q ENTERS. Amanda stays seated and
	composed.

					Q
				(ingratiating)
			Hello, my dear...

	But Amanda stares stonily at him, not responding at
	all. Q takes a breath... realizes he's going to have
	to eat some crow. It doesn't come easily.

					Q
			I've been told that I behaved
			badly. I...
				(almost choking)
			... a-pol-ogize...

	Amanda nods a cool acknowledgement.

					Q
			Apparently you had every right
			to chastise me...
				(he's had enough of
				 groveling)
			... but what's done is done.
			Right?

	Amanda eyes him, steely.

					AMANDA
			I'd like to ask you some
			questions.

	He recognizes the edge in her voice, which is
	challenging and not to be intimidated.

					Q
			Anything...

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       28.

18   CONTINUED:

					AMANDA
			What, exactly, are the Q?

					Q
			It would be so much easier to show
			you than to tell you. If you'd
			just agree to take a short visit
			to the Continuum --

	But Amanda's having none of that.

					AMANDA
			No. Just tell me.

					Q
			To put it simply... we are
			omnipotent. There is nothing --
			nothing -- we can't do.

					AMANDA
			And what do you do with this
			power?

					Q
			Whatever we want.

					AMANDA
			Do you use it to help others?

					Q
			I think you've missed the point.
			You've obviously spent far too
			much time among humans.

	He moves closer to her, trying to spin a web of
	enticement.

					Q
			As a Q, you can have your heart's
			desire instantly... whatever it
			might be. Would you like precious
			jewels? Works of art? Would you
			like to visit the rings of
			Tautine?

					AMANDA
			I don't care about any of those
			things.

      STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE      28A.

18   CONTINUED: (2)

					Q
			Of course not. You're a Q. But
			surely there is something you
			want... something you never
			dreamed would be possible...

	Amanda is silent... Q senses that there is something
	she longs for. There is a long beat.

					Q
			What is it, Amanda? Just tell
			me...

	She looks up at him, wrestling with this... she doesn't
	exactly trust him, but if she's going to find out about
	these strange new abilities of hers...

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       29.

18   CONTINUED: (3)

					AMANDA
			I've always wanted to see what
			my parents looked like... my real
			parents.

					Q
			How quaint.
				(beat)
			So do it.

					AMANDA
			What do you mean?

					Q
			Summon the image.

					AMANDA
			But... I don't know how.

	Q reacts with a little exasperation.

					Q
			Think about them... evoke the
			memory...

					AMANDA
			But --

					Q
			Amanda. You can do this. Trust
			me.

	He kneels near where she's seated.

					Q
			Close your eyes... concentrate...

	Amanda wants this so badly she puts aside her
	skepticism and does as he asks.

					Q
			In your mind, return to the time
			when you were an infant... think
			about your parents... try and
			remember them... now, open your
			eyes.

	An IMAGE begins flickering on the couch... finally
	MATERIALIZES completely... a young man and woman, she
	holding a swaddled baby. They are playing with the
	baby, tickling it under the chin, etc. and smiling
	with what could only be described as unadorned love.

	Amanda opens her eyes... sees the image... is
	transfixed. She rises, walks toward the couple,
	staring at them.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       30.

18   CONTINUED: (4)

					AMANDA
			They look so happy...
				(realizing)
			They loved me...

	Amanda stares at the group on the couch... raw emotion
	swelling in her. Q smiles... he knows he's gotten to
	her.

	Amanda turns around to him... but when she does... he's
	gone. She's left with a lot to think about.

19   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	as it cruises at impulse.

20   INT. MEDICAL LAB (OPTICAL)

	Beverly is walking Amanda through the various steps
	involved in the neural tissue experiment she's been
	working on.

	Amanda uses a DROPPER to add a tiny amount of liquid
	to a BEAKER of solution.

	She then takes a TRICORDER and scans the beaker.

					AMANDA
			Ten percent benasopil.

	Beverly gives her a nod of encouragement. Amanda seems
	distracted, unable to concentrate.

					AMANDA
			So I add thirty milliliters to
			each of the cultures...

					BEVERLY
			Twenty milliliters...

					AMANDA
			Right, twenty... I wait for it
			to be metabolized... add --
			another twenty?
				(off Beverly's nod)
			... wait for it to be
			metabolized... over and over until
			the bacilli can't absorb any more.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       31.

20   CONTINUED:

					BEVERLY
			That's it.
				(hands her a PADD)
			Just be sure and record the rate
			of mitosis in each dish.

					AMANDA
			Mitosis... right.

	Beverly regards her, aware that her concentration is
	fuzzy.

					BEVERLY
			You seem a little distracted.

					AMANDA
			Well... I just saw my parents.
			My real parents.

	Beverly stares at her, amazed.

					AMANDA
			Q showed me how...

	She looks up at Beverly.

					AMANDA
			Can you imagine how that felt... ?

					BEVERLY
			No... I don't think I can.

					AMANDA
			You were right... I can't ignore
			what's happened to me...
				(a beat as she fights
				 choking up)
			...but... I don't know if I can
			cope with it.

	Beverly's heart aches for this overburdened child.

					BEVERLY
			You're stronger than you think,
			Amanda...

	There is a beat as Amanda struggles with her feelings.

					AMANDA
			When I looked at my parents...
			right there, in front of me...
			I realized -- I caused this to
			happen.
					(MORE)

      STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE      31A.

20   CONTINUED: (2)

					AMANDA (Cont'd)
			I wanted to see them... and I did.
				(beat)
			If it were you... if suddenly you
			could have anything you wanted...
			what do you think you'd do?

					BEVERLY
				(slight laugh)
			I have no idea --

					AMANDA
			No, think about it. Really think.
			Suddenly you have the power to
			do anything. What would it be?

	Forced into looking at it from this perspective,
	Beverly is a bit overwhelmed.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       32.

20   CONTINUED: (3)

					BEVERLY
			I... I'm not sure. I'd probably
			want to cure people... people who
			were hopelessly ill.

					AMANDA
			Would you bring your husband back?

	Beverly stares at her. She is overwhelmed by the
	question...

					BEVERLY
			Oh, Amanda, I don't know... I
			don't think I could decide about
			something like that until I was
			faced with it...

					AMANDA
				(simply)
			I am faced with it.

	Beverly regards her... understanding more than ever the
	heavy weight that Amanda bears. She returns to the
	commonplace --

					BEVERLY
			Go on with your work. I'll be
			back to check on you later.

	Beverly EXITS. Amanda turns and begins working. After
	a moment, Q APPEARS.

					Q
			I thought she'd never leave.

					AMANDA
				(startled)
			I don't think I'll ever get used
			to that...

					Q
			It's time for another lesson.

					AMANDA
			I have to do this experiment
			first.

      STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE      32A.

20   CONTINUED: (4)

	Q peers at the work, unable to fathom that it could
	hold any interest.

					Q
			What is it you're doing?

					AMANDA
			We're delivering live vaccine
			bacilli to Tagra. I'm supposed
			to find the best nutrient solution
			for keeping them alive while
			they're in stasis.

					Q
				(sarcastic)
			How fascinating...
				(suddenly animated)
			I have a splendid idea. We'll
			combine your work... with our
			lesson. I'll show you how to
			finish this in no time.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       33.

20   CONTINUED: (5)

					AMANDA
				(hesitant)
			I think I'd better do it the way
			Doctor Crusher showed me.

					Q
			Why? I'm sure the Doctor would
			be delighted if you could speed
			things along. Think what it would
			mean... you could handle double...
			triple the work load.

	This sounds reasonable.

					AMANDA
			Well... I guess so.

	Q motions that she look at the culture dishes.

					Q
			All right. As you look at the
			tissue samples... form an image
			of them in your mind...

	Amanda's curiosity is mounting. She stares at the
	culture dishes... concentrating on the image...

21   INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL)

	Data is working at an Aft Science Station. Picard
	ENTERS from the Ready Room and approaches Riker, who
	is in his chair.

					PICARD
			Number One... Doctor Crusher has
			some live vaccine bacilli for
			delivery to Tagra... they'll need
			to be shipped in a stasis field.
			Will you make the arrangements?

					RIKER
			I'll get right on it.

	He heads up the ramp to the Turbolift.

					DATA
			Captain, there is a message from
			Tagra Four.

					PICARD
			On screen.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       34.

21   CONTINUED:

	An alien humanoid named ORN LOTE appears on the
	Viewscreen; he is in a small room which is a control
	station for one of the planet's barystatic filters.

					ORN LOTE
			Enterprise, I am Orn Lote,
			Engineer. We are having
			difficulties with the reactor that
			powers our barystatic filters on
			the southern continent. We may
			have to shut it down for repairs.

					PICARD
			Perhaps my Chief Engineer could
			assist you... ?

					ORN LOTE
			I hope so. If we are forced to
			disable the reactor, it would take
			months to re-establish the ionic
			currents the filters have formed
			in the atmosphere.

					PICARD
			Send us your design specifications
			-- I'm sure we can do something.

					ORN LOTE
			Thank you, Captain.

	Lote's face disappears and is replaced by a starfield.

					DATA
			Captain... may I see you for a
			moment?

	Picard starts up the ramp.

					PICARD
			What is it, Mister Data?

					DATA
			I have some information regarding
			Amanda Rogers' parents.

	Picard reaches the Aft Science Station.

					DATA
			Records indicate that they died
			in Topeka, Kansas.
					(MORE)

      STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE      34A.

21   CONTINUED: (2)

					DATA (Cont'd)
			Their home was destroyed during
			a tornado.

					PICARD
			A tornado? Why wasn't it
			dissipated by the Weather
			Modification Net?

					DATA
			Unknown, sir. The bodies were
			found in the rubble after the
			storm had passed.

					PICARD
				(a beat as he ponders)
			See if you can find out any
			details. I'd like to know more
			about that storm.

					DATA
			Yes, Captain.

22   INT. MEDICAL LAB (OPTICAL)

	Riker ENTERS and stops when he sees Q and Amanda. Q is
	standing in front of her... her eyes are closed, as
	though concentrating on something. The minute Q sees
	Riker --

					Q
			If it isn't Number Two...

					RIKER
				(ignoring him; to
				 Amanda)
			I'm looking for Doctor Crusher.
			I don't know what nutrients she
			wants to ship with the bacilli.

					AMANDA
			I'm not sure... I'll tell her to
			contact you.

					RIKER
			Thanks.

	He smiles and turns to go. She doesn't want him to
	leave and blurts out the first thing that comes to
	mind.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       35.

22   CONTINUED:

					AMANDA
			You could wait for her here... ?

	She realizes how this sounds, tries to be more casual.

					AMANDA
			If you wanted to...

					RIKER
				(smiles)
			Just tell her I'll be in
			Shuttlebay Two.

	He EXITS, and Q eyes her, recognizing that she has
	feelings for Riker.

					Q
			You're attracted -- to him?

	Embarrassed, she turns away from him.

					AMANDA
			Of course not...

					Q
			I think you are. How repulsive...
			how can you stand that hair all
			over his face?

	But Amanda is saved from further inquiry by Beverly's
	entrance.

					AMANDA
			Doctor... Commander Riker was
			looking for you... he said he'd
			be in Shuttlebay Two.

					BEVERLY
			Thank you.

	She notices the apparatus of Amanda's experiment.

					BEVERLY
				(surprised)
			You've finished already?

	Amanda smiles; she feels a sense of satisfaction.

					BEVERLY
			How did you do it so quickly?

	Beverly picks up the PADD and looks it over.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       36.

22   CONTINUED: (2)

					AMANDA
				(proudly)
			Q helped me... we did it in less
			than half the time it would've
			normally taken.

					BEVERLY
			That explains this data.
				(puts the Padd down,
				 addresses Q)
			I needed to know the rates of
			mitosis. By artificially
			accelerating them you made the
			experiment useless. Now I'll have
			to do it over again.

					AMANDA
				(crestfallen)
			I'm sorry, Doctor...

					Q
			Don't be sorry. If she wants to
			do things the hard way, that's
			her business.

					BEVERLY
				(firm)
			Why did you interfere with what
			she was doing?

					Q
			She's Q... making her plod through
			human chores is an insult to her.

					BEVERLY
			She has asked not to be treated
			differently.

					Q
			That doesn't mean you have to bore
			her to death.

					BEVERLY
			I don't interfere with what you're
			trying to teach Amanda --

					Q
			You wouldn't be capable of
			interfering --

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT THREE       37.

22   CONTINUED: (3)

					BEVERLY
				(right over him)
			I don't think it's too much to
			ask for you to do the same --

	Q waves his hand and suddenly Beverly is TRANSFORMED
	into a YAPPING IRISH SETTER for a few beats. Q is
	amused by this, but Amanda is horrified. She waves her
	hand and TRANSFORMS Beverly back. Beverly continues
	with what she was saying, unaware of what happened.

					BEVERLY
			-- and you stay out of mine.

	Q nods in mock seriousness.

					Q
			Now that you put it like that,
			I think you're absolutely right.

	He smiles winningly at Beverly. Amanda is aghast, but
	mostly relieved that Beverly didn't seem to notice what
	happened.

                                             FADE OUT.

                       END OF ACT THREE                         

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR       38.

                           ACT FOUR                             

	FADE IN:

23   INT. BRIDGE

	Data is once more at the Aft Science Station.

					DATA
			Captain...

					PICARD
			Yes, Mister Data?

					DATA
			I have more information regarding
			the tornado that killed Amanda
			Rogers' parents.

	Picard crosses immediately to him.

					PICARD
			What is it?

	Data indicates the screen of the monitor (which we do
	NOT see), and Picard leans in to it.

					DATA
			It was unusually compact, yet
			extremely powerful -- its recorded
			wind velocity was characteristic
			of a funnel three times its size.

	A beat as Picard registers the implications of what
	he's just heard.

					PICARD
			Download the files to my Ready
			Room. I'll study them in
			there.

					DATA
			Yes, sir.

	He begins working as Picard heads for the Ready Room.

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR       39.

24   INT. AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)

	Amanda with Q.

					AMANDA
			Doctor Crusher was only trying
			to help me... you shouldn't have
			turned her into a dog...

	Q regards her with a twinkle in his eye. He knows she
	is feeling more receptive to him.

					Q
			Now, be truthful, Amanda. Wasn't
			it amusing?
				(beat)
			Just a little?

					AMANDA
				(acknowledging, a little
				 smile)
			Well...

					Q
			There, you see? My dear, what's
			the point of having these
			abilities if you can't enjoy them?
				(briskly)
			Now -- have you been practicing
			your teleportation?

       STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR       39A.

24   CONTINUED:

					AMANDA
			Yes. But it's kind of hard. I
			keep ending up somewhere I don't
			want to be.

					Q
			You're going to have to start
			honing your abilities. It won't
			do to be sloppy... let's see...
			perhaps a little game?

	He smiles warmly at her.

					Q
			I'm going to hide somewhere on
			the ship... you try to find me.

					AMANDA
			But how do I know --

	But he DISAPPEARS before she can finish. Amanda isn't
	sure what to do.

					Q'S VOICE
				(from all around)
			Don't worry, Amanda. You can do
			it...

	She closes her eyes and concentrates, as if she's
	trying to sense where he's gone. She seems to make
	a decision and DISAPPEARS.

                                             CUT TO:

25   INT. SHUTTLEBAY TWO (OPTICAL)

	as Amanda REAPPEARS amidst the bustle of activity in
	the room. A few people notice her but she ignores them
	as she looks around for Q.

	She turns around, perplexed, not seeing him. Then, she
	spots a STORAGE CONTAINER in a corner. She
	concentrates, and it DISAPPEARS, revealing Q inside.

					Q
			Not bad. Not bad at all.

	He DISAPPEARS again. Amanda once more concentrates to
	locate him and then DISAPPEARS herself.

                                             CUT TO:

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           40.

26   INT. ENGINEERING (OPTICAL)

	as Amanda APPEARS in the area between the pool table
	and the warp core.

	Geordi and Data are there but they don't see her
	because they're looking at a monitor and talking.
	Amanda looks around for Q as they work.

					GEORDI
			The trick is to come up with a
			field modulater that doesn't
			require shutting down their
			reactor...

					DATA
			If we use (TECH), we can devise
			a mechanism that integrates into
			the existing system while it is
			in operation.

	In the background Amanda has failed to find Q. She is
	about to wave her hand and look for him elsewhere when
	he sticks his head out of the pulsating chamber that
	is the heart of the warp core.

					Q
			You're still thinking like a
			human...

	Geordi and Data turn at the sound of his voice in time
	to see Q's head DISAPPEAR back into the reaction
	chamber and Amanda DISAPPEAR altogether a moment later.

	Off their reactions...

                                             CUT TO:

27   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	as Amanda APPEARS and is stunned to find herself
	standing on the ship's hull -- she has materialized
	outside, in space, atop the saucer section.

	Q stands nearby, smiling. Behind them we see the rear
	of the ship with its warp nacelles. There is no
	wind... no sound... a small but dramatic field of
	asteroids sweeps by them...

	It is a breathtaking moment... and Q lets the impact
	sink in.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           41.

27   CONTINUED:

	Amanda looks around, awestruck... after a moment she
	smiles a smile so bright it almost shames the passing
	stars.

	Q is pleased. This is exactly the reaction he had
	hoped for. He waves a hand and they both DISAPPEAR.

28   OMITTED

29   INT. AMANDA'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)

	as Q and Amanda APPEAR. She is still breathless with
	the wonder of what she has experienced. Q gazes at
	her, well aware of the impact of his little game.

					Q
			Now do you understand? What do
			humans have to offer that even
			begins to compare with that?

	She is still reeling...

					Q
			Your future contains wonders you
			can't even imagine... the universe
			could be your playground...

	The sudden intrusion of door CHIMES invades Q's
	rhapsodic vision. He eyes her.

					AMANDA
			Doctor Crusher and Counselor
			Troi... they're taking me to
			dinner.

	He shakes his head, annoyed.

					Q
			You don't have to eat, you know.
			It's just a nasty human habit you
			could easily do without.

	He DISAPPEARS. Amanda crosses to the door and opens
	it; Beverly and Troi are there.

					BEVERLY
			Hello, Amanda. Are you ready?

					AMANDA
			Yes...

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           42.

29   CONTINUED:

	But Amanda's attitude is one of reluctance, not
	anticipation.

30   INT. TEN FORWARD (OPTICAL)

	Where Amanda, Beverly, and Troi are having dinner.
	Amanda hasn't touched her food.

					TROI
			Is there something else you'd like
			to order, Amanda?

					AMANDA
			No, thank you. I'm just... not
			hungry.
				(beat)
			Actually, I don't even have to
			eat. It's a human trait.

					TROI
			I see.
				(beat)
			How are you feeling about all this
			now? It must be overwhelming.

					AMANDA
			It was at first. But now... I'm
			actually enjoying myself.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           43.

30   CONTINUED:

					RIKER'S VOICE
			Hello, ladies...

	They look up to see Riker has approached the table.

					TROI
			Hello, Wil...

	Beverly nods her greeting... and Amanda breaks out in
	an eager pleased smile.

					AMANDA
			Commander Riker... why don't you
			join us?

					RIKER
			Thanks, but I'm meeting someone.

	He smiles and moves off; Amanda's face falls and she
	gazes after him.

					BEVERLY
				(to Amanda)
			How are the lessons going? Is
			Q being patient with you?

	But Amanda isn't really listening. She's watching
	Riker, who joins an attractive WOMAN at another table.
	Troi and Beverly exchange glances.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           44.

30   CONTINUED: (2)

	Amanda watches Riker... laughing with the woman at some
	shared joke. Amanda's eyes narrow... and suddenly
	Amanda waves her hand and both she and Riker DISAPPEAR.
	Troi and Beverly are astonished.

31   EXT. A GAZEBO - NIGHT (OPTICAL)

	in the woods, as Amanda and Riker APPEAR under its
	roof. Amanda wears an elegant evening dress; Riker
	is formally attired.

	The gazebo's white slatted joints are intertwined with
	vines. It is night, and the few leafy branches that
	are visible are enough to suggest that the gazebo is
	deep in an enchanted forest.

	Riker realizes that the very elaborateness of what
	she's now doing demonstrates the depth of her
	infatuation with him, and he knows he needs to be
	careful with her feelings.

					RIKER
				(evenly)
			What's this all about?

					AMANDA
			I thought it might be nice for
			us to spend some time alone
			together.

	She smiles radiantly at him...

					RIKER
			I think you should take us back
			to Ten Forward.

	She moves toward him... wanting to be seductive...
	needing to be taken seriously as a woman.

					AMANDA
			Are you sure? Wouldn't you like
			to be here with me for a while?

	She gestures.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           45.

31   CONTINUED:

					AMANDA
			The moonlight is beautiful...
			isn't it nicer here than in Ten
			Forward?

					RIKER
			It's very pleasant. But that's
			not the point...

					AMANDA
			Oh... ?

	She twines her arms around his neck.

					AMANDA
			I think it is...

	He takes her wrists and pulls them off him.

					RIKER
			No...
				(beat)
			You can't just snatch people away
			and put them in your fantasies...
			and expect them to respond.

					AMANDA
			Don't you like me... even a
			little?

					RIKER
			I think you're a lovely young
			woman. But -- none of this is
			real.

	Amanda stares at him... she had expected that he would
	be swept off his feet by her grand fantasy.

					AMANDA
			My feelings are real...

					RIKER
			I know that... but -- you can't
			make someone... love you.

	Amanda's eyes narrow again.

					AMANDA
			Can't I?

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           46.

31   CONTINUED: (2)

	She concentrates... and Riker's expression suddenly
	changes. He looks at her with devotion...

					RIKER
			Amanda...

	He moves toward her, takes her in his arms in a
	passionate embrace.

					RIKER
			You're so beautiful...

	He kisses her fully, Amanda enjoying the exquisiteness
	of the moment... they break apart and he buries his
	head in her neck.

					AMANDA
			Do you love me?

					RIKER
			Yes... more than anything...

	She stands for a moment as he kisses her neck and
	shoulder... a sad expression steals over her. She
	steps back from him... and his expression changes back
	to normal Riker. He blinks, not sure of what's
	happened.

					AMANDA
				(softly)
			You're right... none of this is
			real...

	She turns her back on him, embarrassed now at the whole
	situation.

					AMANDA
			I thought it would be romantic...
			but it's empty...

					RIKER
				(solicitous)
			Amanda...

	But she's humiliated, near tears... moves away from
	him.

					AMANDA
			Just go back to Ten Forward...

	Riker DISAPPEARS. Then she bursts into tears, a young
	woman in a lovely gown... standing in the gazebo deep
	within the enchanted forest... alone in her fantasy.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR           47.

32   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	as it cruises at impulse.

33   OMITTED

33A  INT. READY ROOM (OPTICAL)

	Q APPEARS before Picard.

					Q
			Bon jour, mon Capitan. You wanted
			to talk to me?

					PICARD
			Yes. I want to ask you about
			Amanda's biological parents. When
			they decided to remain on Earth,
			what was the reaction in the
			Continuum?

					Q
			We found it incomprehensible.

					PICARD
			Were they pressured to come back?
			Were they threatened with
			punishment if they didn't?

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR          48A.

33A  CONTINUED:

					Q
			What are you getting at, Picard?

					PICARD
			The circumstance of their death
			was a bit odd... a tornado that
			escaped the Weather Modification
			Net... and then touched down in
			only one spot -- Amanda's home.

					Q
				(shrugs)
			You never can predict the
			weather...

					PICARD
			Tornadoes develop from existing
			storm fronts... and there were
			no storm fronts in Kansas that
			day. Witnesses reported that the
			funnel materialized
			spontaneously... directly over
			Amanda's home... destroyed it...
			and then disappeared.

					Q
			If you say so. I wasn't there.

					PICARD
			Were Amanda's parents executed...
			by the Q Continuum?

	Q hesitates before answering.

					Q
			And what if they were?

					PICARD
			Then I think Amanda has the right
			to know that before she makes a
			choice about her future.

					Q
			Don't be foolish, Picard. She
			has no choice. She never did.

	Picard starts to retort, but Q rides over him.

					Q
			If she is truly Q, she must come
			where she belongs, to the
			Continuum...

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FOUR          48B.

33A  CONTINUED: (2)

	Q pauses, looks levelly at Picard.

					Q
			But if she is some kind of
			hybrid... neither human nor Q...
			then I'm afraid she'll have to
			be...

	Q's gesture is clear; they will kill her.

					PICARD
			Are you that despicable, Q?

					Q
			Don't be naive. You have no idea
			what it means to be Q. With
			unlimited power comes the need
			for responsibility. Do you think
			we can allow an omnipotent being
			to roam free in the universe?

					PICARD
			And... what have you concluded?
			Does she live... or does she die?

					Q
			I haven't decided yet.

	And on that impasse...

                                             FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT FOUR                         

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           49.

                           ACT FIVE                             

	FADE IN:

34   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	now in orbit around Tagra. The planet's atmosphere is
	noticeably brownish from heavy smog.

					PICARD (V.O.)
			Captain's log, Stardate 46193.8.
			We have arrived at Tagra Four and
			have begun delivering supplies.
			In the meantime, I am faced with
			a crisis of a different nature.

35   INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE

	Picard with Beverly and Troi.

					PICARD
			I have no reason to believe Q is
			lying. He has orders from the
			Continuum... if Amanda doesn't
			prove herself to be fully Q...
			he must kill her.

					TROI
			We have to tell her...

					BEVERLY
			I'm not sure we should... it seems
			almost cruel.

					TROI
			Maybe she can protect herself...
			after all, she has a great deal
			of power.

        STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE 49A-51.          

35   CONTINUED:

					BEVERLY
			So did her parents, and it didn't
			save them.

	There is a silence as Picard reflects on the arguments.
	Then --

					PICARD
			I'm inclined to agree that Amanda
			deserves to know the truth of the
			situation. We don't have the
			right to withhold such crucial
			information.
				(beat)
			But it won't be easy telling
			her...

	The others are sympathetic to his plight.

36   INT. SHUTTLEBAY TWO

	Riker and Orn Lote in conversation.

					RIKER
			What's your impression of the
			field modulator, Mister Lote?

					LOTE
			Quite ingenious, quite ingenious,
			indeed...
				(coughs)
			I'm amazed at the way it can be
			incorporated into the existing
			system.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           52.

36   CONTINUED:

	Geordi approaches.

					GEORDI
			We're all loaded. We can head
			for the surface whenever you're
			ready.

					LOTE
			I'm eager to see the field
			modulator in place, Commander.

	He suddenly degenerates into a cough... he fumbles for
	a small oxygen-type mask that hangs from his belt, puts
	it over his nose and mouth, and draws few quick breaths
	to calm his inflamed bronchi.

					RIKER
			Why don't we get going... ?

36A
thru	OMITTED
36E

37   EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)

	in orbit of Tagra.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           53.

38
thru	OMITTED
38A

39   INT. READY ROOM (OPTICAL)

	Amanda is with Picard, who has told her of Q's true
	purpose. She is pale but composed.

					AMANDA
			Kill me? Why?

					PICARD
			They're not convinced you're fully
			Q.

	She stares at him, incredulous.

					PICARD
			They were responsible for the
			death of your parents...

					AMANDA
				(stunned)
			My parents -- ?

	There is a beat as she absorbs this dreadful
	information... and then begins to get angry.

					AMANDA
			What right do they have?

	She looks around the room, challenging Q to come
	forward.

					AMANDA
			Answer that, Q. Or are you afraid
			to face me?

	Q APPEARS.

					Q
			You're such a plucky little thing.
			I do enjoy you, you know.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           54.

39   CONTINUED:

					PICARD
			Amanda's question deserves an
			answer, Q. You've made yourself
			judge, jury, and -- if necessary
			-- executioner. By what right
			do you appoint yourself to this
			position?

					Q
			Superior morality...

					PICARD
			I recall how you used your
			superior morality when we first
			encountered you. You put us
			on trial for the crimes of
			humanity.

					Q
			The jury is still out, Picard.
			Make no mistake.

					PICARD
			Your arrogant pretense to being
			the moral guardians of the
			universe strikes me as a bit pale
			today. You have shown no evidence
			that you are guided by a superior
			moral code -- by any code
			whatsoever. You may be nearly
			omnipotent -- I won't deny your
			parlor tricks are impressive --
			but morality? No, I don't see
			it. I don't acknowledge it. I
			would put human morality against
			the Q's any day.

	Q looks at him sharply.

					PICARD
			Perhaps that's the fascination
			we humans hold for you... ? That
			by our puny example we give you
			a glimmer of the one thing that
			eludes your omnipotence -- a moral
			center.

	Q refuses to react in any way.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE          54A.

39   CONTINUED: (2)

					PICARD
			If so, I can think of no crueler
			irony than for you to destroy
			a young woman whose only crime...
			is being too human.

	Q has perhaps been struck by the truth of Picard's words...
	but of course can't acknowledge that. He applauds.

					Q
			Jean-Luc, Jean-Luc... sometimes
			I think the only reason I come
			here is to listen to these
			wonderful speeches of yours. But
			in this case your concerns are
			unwarranted. We've decided not
			to harm her. We're prepared to
			offer her a choice.

					AMANDA
				(wary)
			What kind of choice?

					Q
			You can come with me to the
			Continuum --

					AMANDA
			Or... ?

	Q eyes her.

					Q
			The other choice is more
			difficult.
				(beat)
			You have within yourself the
			ability to refrain from using the
			power of Q. If you can do that
			-- you can stay here.

					AMANDA
			Then I'm staying here.

					Q
			Think carefully... it won't be
			easy. Your parents were offered
			the same choice... and they were
			unable to resist using their
			power.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           55.

39   CONTINUED: (3)

					AMANDA
			All I've wanted... since this
			whole thing began... was to be
			a normal human being again. I
			know I can resist.

	Before Q can respond --

					WORF'S COM VOICE
			Worf to Picard -- there is an
			emergency message from Commander
			Riker.

					PICARD
			On my way.

	He goes immediately for the Bridge, followed by Amanda
	and Q.

40   INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL)

	as they emerge from the Ready Room. Riker is on the
	viewscreen from the reactor control room. Geordi and
	Lote are in bg.

					RIKER
			Captain, the damage to the reactor
			was greater than the Tagrans led
			us to believe. The field
			modulator is installed and
			operational, but it's not going
			to be enough... the reactor's gone
			into overload...

					PICARD
			Can you correct the problem?

					RIKER
			La Forge is trying to stabilize
			the unit now. We'll stay as long
			as possible... there are thousands
			of people in the area, and if that
			reactor goes...

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           56.

40   CONTINUED:

					LOTE
				(on viewscreen, to
				 Riker)
			Commander -- over here, quickly!

	Riker moves off toward Lote and Geordi in the
	background. Picard turns stonily to Q.

					PICARD
			Is this your doing, Q -- ?

	Q spreads his hands in genuine innocence.

					Q
			Not this time, Picard.

	And he DISAPPEARS.

					PICARD
			Mister Worf, see if there's
			anything we can do to cut through
			the interference and beam them
			out of there.

					WORF
			Aye, sir.

	Riker moves back toward the front of the Viewscreen.

					RIKER
			Captain, La Forge is trying a
			neutrino infusion. There's a
			chance it'll smother the
			reaction...

					WORF
			Sir, there is too much ionization
			in the atmosphere, transporters
			are useless.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           57.

41   ANGLE ON AMANDA

	Through all this, she has been staring at the
	Viewscreen, stricken with the possibility of what might
	happen.

					GEORDI'S COM VOICE
			It didn't work, sir. Meltdown
			is imminent.

	Amanda narrows her eyes...

42   ANGLE FAVORING VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)

	as Riker and Geordi stand there, helpless... then, from
	the back of the control room...

					LOTE
			Commander... look at this...

	They turn and inspect a console.

					GEORDI
			This is impossible...

	He turns back to the Viewscreen.

					GEORDI
			I don't know what's happening,
			sir -- but the reaction is
			stabilizing on its own.

	Picard turns... looks at Amanda... but she's
	concentrating on the Viewscreen.

					DATA
			Sir... I am reading a massive
			energy fluctuation in the planet's
			atmosphere.

					PICARD
			On screen.

	The control room disappears from the Viewscreen and
	is replaced by a view of the planet itself,
	smog-shrouded.

43   AMANDA

	stares at it... concentrating...

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE          57A.

44   ON THE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)

	The brown veil over the planet is dissipating... and
	Tagra is transformed into a lush, blue-green world...

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE          57A.

45   THE CREW

	stares at the phenomenal transformation.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           58.

45   CONTINUED:

					DATA
			Atmospheric contaminants have
			dropped to less than one part
			per trillion.
				(glancing at Picard)
			The ecosystem has been restored
			to its natural state.

					PICARD
			Amanda... ?

	She turns and looks at him... and then Q APPEARS.

					Q
			You see? It's harder to resist
			than you thought...

					AMANDA
			I couldn't let all those people
			die...

	She looks around the Bridge... at Picard... at Q...

					AMANDA
			Ever since I got here, I've been
			fighting this. Denying the truth.
			Denying what I am.

	She regards them all, a little sad, but knowing she's
	right.

					AMANDA
			I am Q.

	A look of concentration crosses her features and --
	Beverly APPEARS... looking a bit startled. Q is
	tapping his foot impatiently.

					AMANDA
			Doctor Crusher... I've decided...
			I can't stay...
				(beat)
			I can't stay here.

					Q
			Now that you've come to your
			senses, can we be off?

					AMANDA
			No. First I'm going to visit my
			parents. And it might take a
			while to explain all this, so
			you'll have to be patient.

            STAR TREK: "True Q" - REV. 9/04/92 - ACT FIVE           59.

45   CONTINUED: (2)

	Amanda turns to Beverly... Beverly opens her arms and
	hugs her.

					AMANDA
			I hope I can come visit you
			sometime...

					BEVERLY
				(smiling)
			You're a Q... you can do anything
			you want.

	Amanda smiles, pulls away. She regards them...
	bittersweet tears in her eyes... she and Q DISAPPEAR.

	Our people are left alone, with their memories of a
	very special young woman...

46
thru	OMITTED
48

                                             FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT FIVE                         

                            THE END                             



