"A Place of Comfort"
Picard deals with old pains when his
father comes aboard the Enterprise as part of a civilian team evaulating
the risk of a dangerous experiment.
A Romulan friend of Geordi is sent
to sabotage the experiment.
Finally, after teasing you
about this story, here is a bit of "Time Enough," a scene with Picard's
father that you will never see:
FADE IN:
INT. ENTERPRISE - HALLWAY - MOVING
People, young and old,
populate the halls. A variety of clothing is seen, from uniforms
to unique casual wear. As one intersection is passed, Picard enters
the SHOT, the CAMERA FOLLOWING behind him.
The door OPENS and DR. JULIAN PICARD appears, about to exit the room. Dr. Picard is a man of 85 years, very fit in spite of his age. He is nearly bald, slightly taller than the Captain, and heavier. A physical similarity is most apparent in their faces.
The two make immediate
eye contact. Captain Picard looks as if it hurts to be this close
without warning.
CAPTAIN PICARD
Father.
(hesitates)
I... was surprised
to hear that you were heading this project. I haven't heard from
you since Deneb Five.
(a beat)
How have you been?
DR. PICARD
Well enough.
Come in, we can talk.
INT. ENTERPRISE - DR. PICARD'S QUARTERS
The multiple-room suite
is decorated befitting an honored guest, and is specially adorned with
several French Impressionistic paintings.
CAPTAIN PICARD
I understood that
you could not leave what you were doing.
You never mentioned
that you had moved into Astrophysics. I thought you were working
on propulsion systems.
DR. PICARD
I have been.
And we've made significant progress after a few difficult setbacks.
Captain Picard walks toward
the exit, then stops and turns.
EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
The ship flies through warp space, stars gliding past.
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M'Dean was less than a year of age when
he was captured. Not realizing what was happening he had whimpered
and cried almost continuously at first, but as he was given food and warmth
he learned to be content. Once the elders were sure he would survive
he was given to Terliss--a gift for her sixth birthday.
She vividly remembered the excitement of
owning her own pet and how she soon learned of the responsibility it brought.
Each day it needed to be cleaned, fed and amused. Guided by lessons
from her mother, the care of the beast became entirely her own.
Three hours later twilight haunted the scant
home. The animal had been removed in preparation for the ceremony.
Terliss sat staring at the stone wall, submerged in thoughts of the eight
years past and the years yet to come.
A sudden voice reverberated through the
caves, deep and rising like the call of an animal ready to mate.
Terliss latched onto the sound, transfixed by the moment that was hers.
She turned and walked out of the room, leaving her childhood behind.
M'Dean had been placed on a stone plateau
outside the mountain. He sat contented on the ground, occupied with
a heap of his favorite foods. Members of the clan sat watching from
great distances, perched at viewing points near their own homes.
Terliss appeared at the cave of the plateau,
enthralled by a peaked sense of tradition. She strode forward to
meet her beloved pet, orange swirls of evening light dancing on her unblinking
eyes. As she reached the animal's side she felt a sudden surge of
hunger.
The little human looked up at his provider,
not at all concerned as the dragon leaned forward and placed its toothed
jaws around his soft neck.