Star Trek: The Next Generation

"Rosemary for Remembrance"

by Abbie Anderson
Originally completed in August of 1992; last revision 9/30/93

Notes re: conventions of teleplay format:
"INT."="interior" (i.e., a scene set indoors)
"EXT."="exterior"
"V.O."="voice-over" (i.e., the line is not spoken by a character in the scene, but is heard superimposed on the action--as in a narrator's voice or when we "eavesdrop" on a character's thoughts)


TEASER

FADE IN:
1. INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDORS

Picard and Riker walk side by side.

PICARD
I don't need to tell you, Number One, how much I'm looking forward to this assignment. The negotiations with the Vizhad for Federation entry were the most stimulating diplomatic work I've ever done. Everything they do has poetic overtones, and much of it was lost on me since the telepathic aspects of their language came to my mind only vaguely. And now to host the translation effort they've requested for their induction ceremonies--well, I can only say I'm delighted to be welcoming Dr. Dafwan and his wife on board.

RIKER
We're lucky the two of them could leave their cultural linguistics work at the Daystrom Institute in order to participate.

PICARD
Mm. Will Counselor Troi be joining us in the Transporter Room? Her services in the negotiations were invaluable, and I think she enjoyed the work even more than I did.

RIKER
Join us?! I'm sure she's already there--Dafwan's wife Licia is her best friend, since they were kids. She calls her "B'Rana," her Betazoid bondsister, even though Licia is human. This visit is all she's talked about for a week.

PICARD
Why is it that I never hear about these things?

Riker smilingly declines to answer this rhetorical question as the two men reach the Transporter Room.

CUT TO:
2. INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
Troi is already inside, wearing off-duty clothes, bouncing a little with nervous excitement. Picard nods to the transporter attendant, and Nathaniel and Licia Dafwan MATERIALIZE. Licia, a brunette of medium height and build, is nearly four months pregnant, and beginning to show. Nathaniel is of African descent, and of serious demeanor. They both wear civilian, African-styled clothing. Licia barely waits to materialize before rushing to embrace Troi, without pausing for protocol. Nathaniel descends and places a hand on his wife's shoulder.

NATHANIEL
Drs. Nathaniel and Licia Dafwan reporting for duty as requested; permission to come aboard, sir.

PICARD
Permission freely granted, Dr. Dafwan; we're delighted to have you both with us. I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard; this is my First Officer, Commander William Riker.

Licia glances up quickly and looks Riker in the face, which startles him.

PICARD
I assume you are already acquainted with Ship's Counselor Deanna Troi.

NATHANIEL
By reputation, sir.

PICARD
Ah, shall Counselor Troi escort the two of you to your quarters?

RIKER
I believe she's had them specially furnished for your stay.

Licia looks at Riker sharply again, with a mixture of curiosity and prejudiced assessment; he in turn looks Licia up and down, and looks away.

NATHANIEL
Perhaps the Counselor will take Licia there; I myself would like to see our working areas and get oriented to the ship, if it is not inconvenient.

RIKER (quickly: professional)
Dr. Crusher will be expecting the two of you in Sickbay at 1600 hours, after which I will be taking you to greet the Vizhad legation.

PICARD (turning to Riker)
I believe Commander Data is at work in the holodeck now.

Riker gives an affirming nod.

PICARD (to Nathaniel)
Very well, then: while your wife and Counselor Troi have their reunion, Mr. Data can show you the preparations that have been made for your project during the journey to the Vizhad homeworld, Perzhad.

Picard gestures for Troi and Licia to go ahead.

PICARD
Counselor, Mrs. Dafwan...?

Nathaniel stops Licia with a touch on her arm.

NATHANIEL (with real concern)
Don't wear yourself out too much, love--remember, we have a banquet and a reception to attend tonight.

LICIA
Don't worry about me. A little extra happiness today isn't going to make me collapse.

Licia goes out with Troi, looking quizzically at Riker again as she passes him. As the two women pass through the door we can hear Licia:

LICIA
That's Wil Riker?!? (laughter)

This gets a raised eyebrow from Riker, and the three men go out in the opposite direction from Troi and Licia.

FADE OUT.

ACT ONE

FADE IN:
3. INT. DAFWANS' QUARTERS
The doors close behind Troi and Licia, who have just entered. The room is decorated with West African baskets and water pots on the floor, and carved calabashes and woven hangings on the wall (no masks). A long, two-stringed African lute (called a garaya) stands in one corner.

LICIA
Oh, Dee, it's lovely. You've put a lot of effort into this.

She approaches the lute and picks it up.

LICIA
You even remembered the garaya. It seems so long since I wrote that paper on it.

TROI (enjoying Licia's pleasure)
It wasn't so hard. I just brought up some files on Earth's central Nigerian area, where Nathaniel's family came from, asked the computer what it could reproduce for me, and here we are. I know how much you've enjoyed being part of an African family.

Licia seems distracted as she looks around the room, approaching the bed in its alcove.

LICIA
It's such a rich heritage, so much to celebrate.

She has reached the bed; suddenly wincing, she puts a hand to her head and sits down on the edge of the bed, almost falling. Troi comes quickly to support her.

TROI
Have you been having these headaches long?

LICIA
A couple weeks. I get dizzy sometimes. My doctor said it was probably just my particular way of reacting to being pregnant.

Licia shrugs off her own pain, and Troi's worry.

LICIA
Oh, Dee, I'm so glad to be here. Working with the Vizhad is such an exciting opportunity for Nathaniel and me--and I get to be with you. It will be so good to meet all of your friends here. I feel guilty sometimes, knowing so much about them when I haven't met them yet.

TROI
They don't know much about you, I'm afraid. You've been something...private for me.

LICIA
I don't know whether to be touched, or offended!

TROI
When what you really are is concerned for me.

LICIA
You know, I'm always relieved that you know these things. (more seriously) I've wondered about how easy it can be for you, living with all these non-telepaths. (hesitant) Do you ever get lonely, Dee?

TROI
Ye-es. But you have more to say to me, don't you?

LICIA (steeling herself)
I worry about you sometimes, Dee. That professionalism, that stance you have to take all the time as Counselor, leaves you vulnerable to people like Devanoni Ral.

TROI
You're never going to forget about him, are you?! That was what, four years ago!

LICIA (insistent)
He seduced you empathically before you knew he was one quarter Betazoid. What did you tell me he said to you? "When you leave this office, who are you? You never do leave the office!"

TROI
What happened with him was upsetting enough at the time --it won't help me now to still be angry about it!

LICIA
No, you're not listening to me, that's not what I'm talking about. He could turn you because you wanted to be turned. He felt that need in you and exploited it.

Deanna attempts to object, but Licia overrules her.

LICIA
Deanna, you're a Betazoid, you need the real closeness and sharing you were raised in, and you're not too likely to get those things as Ship's Counselor when people get so defensive about being Counseled as soon as you open your mouth. How do you make room for Dee? I'll bet no one even calls you that here. Who does the Counselor go to? And don't you tell me the chocolate is enough!

TROI
I have found chocolate therapy to be most beneficial in this client's case. (pointed pause) I have a good life here, Lish, you know that.

LICIA
I know. There probably couldn't be a better job for you, and I'm glad you're a member of such a top-notch crew and have such a coveted position on board the mighty Enterprise herself. But that wasn't my question, and you still haven't answered me. (pause) Dee, you know how much I care about you. Am I mothering you again?

TROI
Oh, a little. But my own mother isn't so caring about it. Instead of asking me who I have to talk to, she tells me that working too hard makes me boring and I ought to take a lover or two. I don't enjoy myself enough, that's what's wrong with me.

LICIA
Dear Lwaxana. In a way it's a comfort to know she hasn't changed. It really will be good to see her when she joins us.

TROI
Don't remind me. I still have a week to prepare myself.

LICIA
I'll never forget the shopping sprees she insisted on when I came to stay with you. "But my dear, you can't walk around looking like that, people will think you do nothing but read!"

The two friends laugh, their recent tension dissolved.

LICIA
She was right, of course, in spirit; I really did need some distracting and drawing out after my parents split up. It was hard enough, just being fourteen. That year with you was a lifesaver.

TROI
And for me, B'Rana. (back-tracking) And you were right, I still haven't answered you. (sigh) Wil is my closest friend here, I go to him first; sometimes I'll talk to Guinan--she's the manager in Ten Forward, and quite a mystery all her own. Beverly doesn't like to talk about herself, but she'll listen to me when I need to let something out. I share a little with my clients, when appropriate. And I send you my letters.

Licia hears in Deanna's words the loneliness she had asked about earlier, and puts a comforting arm around Troi, who leans against her.

TROI
You're right, of course, it's not like home. But I'm not a full member on BetaZed, either. Among a race of telepaths I have something of a speech impediment.

Deanna draws herself up.

TROI
So on the Enterprise I can be Counselor Troi, and turn my disadvantage into an advantage; and at home I can be a Starfleet officer and an ambassador's daughter, doing productive and honorable work regardless of my handicap. (pause; philosophical) Everyone has to compromise with reality. All in all it works out quite well.

LICIA
That sounds like too much of a stock psychologist's phrase.

TROI
Well, maybe I'm a stock psychologist.

LICIA
No: that I won't believe. Being a psychologist can't be everything for you, just like Nathaniel and our research can't be everything for me. Oh, Dee, I miss you so much. I wish I could be closer to you all the time.

TROI
I know. I do, too.

FADE TO:
4. INT. SICKBAY
Crusher stands, tricorder in hand, with Nathaniel and Nurse Ogawa. Troi and Licia arrive together a moment later, and Troi follows Licia to Nathaniel's side.

TROI
I'm sorry we're late, Beverly. Let me introduce you to my friend Licia Dafwan. Licia, this is Dr. Beverly Crusher.

Crusher and Licia shake hands.

LICIA
'm so happy to meet you--all of you here, really. Deanna has told me so much about you that I feel as if putting living faces to the names is a long overdue formality.

CRUSHER
I imagine the two of you had a lot of catching up to do.

TROI
Actually, no: we send letters to each other over the computer nets once a week or so, and talk on subspace whenever we're close enough. It's just--we haven't been together in a long time.

CRUSHER
Your husband checked out just fine in his physical, Licia: now it's your turn. Would you step over here and lie down?

While Crusher speaks her next lines, Licia lies in a bio-bed and is scanned by the large cover, which moves from her feet to her head and back again; a small arm takes a blood sample from her finger or forearm. Crusher and Ogawa work on tricorders, coordinating readouts with the wall displays.

CRUSHER
Just breathe evenly and relax. This procedure is simply regulation protocol for planned intensive first contact between species. We make completely sure we know everything about you physically so that if anything goes wrong on either side we know pretty much what variables we're dealing with. Then we cross-check with your medical records to be sure all is as it should be.

Crusher taps a few things into the tricorder, checks it with the wall displays, and flips the tricorder shut.

CRUSHER
All right, Dr. Dafwan, you can get up. (Licia sits up on the bench.) Everything lines up properly with your medical records...including the fact that your pregnancy is progressing nicely. You're getting into the second trimester now. How do you feel?

LICIA
Well, I don't know who called it "morning sickness", because it lasts all day, but that's starting to let up now; and I've had to start picking out maternity clothes. (hesitates) I've been having some trouble with headaches and bad dreams, but other than that I have no real complaints.

Crusher does a quick scan over Licia's head with the small hand-instrument.

CRUSHER
The headaches are a bit unusual, but I don't see anything here to worry about. The body has a lot of adjusting to do during pregnancy, so it's not surprising that you're feeling a little stress. Was your doctor prescribing any special treatment?

LICIA
She just had me learn some breathing techniques as relaxation aids, and had me come in to see her more often. She said she couldn't find anything definite, but she wanted to keep an eye on it.

CRUSHER
That sounds reasonable; I'll want to keep an eye on you, too.

The doors open and Riker enters.

RIKER (formally)
Excuse me: I've come to escort the Dafwans to the Vizhad quarters for their introduction. Counselor Troi and Dr. Crusher will rejoin us at the banquet this evening.

Troi and Licia embrace; Licia extends a shy hand to Crusher, who takes it. Nathaniel also shakes the doctor's hand, and Licia and Nathaniel exit with Riker.

CUT TO:
5. INT. VIZHAD GUEST QUARTERS
The four members of the Vizhad legation stand as Riker enters with the Dafwans. The Vizhad are bird-like, but human-shaped, with smooth skin and fringes of downy feathers on their heads and arms (no wings). They wear light-weight robes and sandals or boots. They move with a quick, spare grace, and have a way of hissing almost musically under their breath when concentrating.

RIKER
May I present Nathaniel and Licia Dafwan: the Vizhad Legation.

Riker remains at the door while the greetings are performed. Licia and Nathaniel step forward into the room. Prelna, an elder diplomat among her people, comes first, and wordlessly performs a half-dancing greeting with first Licia and then Nathaniel, who mirror her movements: each person sweeps his or her right arm in an arc to touch the other's left cheek with cupped fingers, then inverts the hand to spread above the partner's shoulder, palm down; then the hands come together between the two participants, and clasp to make a small horizontal circle.

PRELNA
I am Arbiter Prelna, a member of our World Council and now our Ambassador to the Federation.

The members of the legation coming after Prelna abbreviate the greeting to the final handclasp. Niklan, a young male, steps forward next.

NIKLAN
I am Niklan, the Arbiter's assistant, and a singer of songs and stories.

Now Mandazhin: her feathers are tinged with red.

MANDAZHIN
I am Legate Mandazhin, a representative of the Red Vizhad and administrator of my people. I am a healer.

Larnon, a middle-aged male, is next.

LARNON
I am Legate Larnon. You would call me an environmental scientist, I think; I deal mostly with the plants and the earth, which have their own songs.

LICIA
Now we remain. I am Licia, student of many people's songs; I, too, am a singer, and hope to learn your stories well.

NATHANIEL
I am Nathaniel, partner to Licia. I study ways of singing, but I do not sing.

Niklan turns to Licia, and places a hand on her belly.

NIKLAN
Our Lady, you are with child.

Licia shyly places her hand over Niklan's, performing the ritual properly.

LICIA
We hope to be fruitful. The infant greets you.

Each of the Vizhad comes forward in turn to place a hand on Licia's stomach in greeting for the unborn child. Licia distractedly rubs her forehead.

PRELNA
What is this pain, Lady?

LICIA
Oh, it's nothing. Forgive me. The baby inside me is changing my life before it's even born!

PRELNA (with humor)
Children have a way of doing that among us as well!

Mandazhin steps to Licia and places a hand on her forehead, then moves her hand over Licia's head, concentrating with a lightly musical hiss under her breath. Licia smiles as the headache goes away.

LICIA
Thank you, Mandazhin, the headache is gone.

MANDAZHIN
I am a healer: how could I allow you to remain in pain? I must learn more before I understand the cause. Are you well?

Licia looks up to Nathaniel and smiles.

LICIA
Yes, yes, I'm fine. I couldn't be in a better place.

Licia puts out her hand, palm up, in a Vizhad gesture of friendship and gratitude; Nathaniel places his hand with hers, and the Vizhad gather to each embracingly place one hand over the Dafwans' and one below, as Riker watches and Licia beams with the happiness of so much personal warmth. Niklan turns his head towards Riker and gestures for the First Officer to join them; Riker approaches and somewhat awkwardly adds one hand to the top of the pile.

FADE OUT.

ACT TWO

FADE IN:
6. INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE
The table is set for a formal banquet; the guests, in formal dress, are already seated and in conversation. Picard, Prelna, Niklan, Nathaniel, Licia, Troi, Riker, Worf, Data, Geordi, Crusher, Larnon, Mandazhin. In front of Licia is what appears to be a long-stemmed white rose, standing in a tall crystal vase.

RIKER
What is this flower you brought with you, Mrs. Dafwan?

Licia takes the rose from the vase: instantly it turns a deep green color.

LICIA
This is a chameleon rose, Commander Riker, a gift from Deanna. It changes color with the feelings of the person holding it.

TROI
It's something of a private joke, I'm afraid. We've always played a little game of "Tell me what I'm feeling," so this is a way to cheat once you know how to read the rose and manipulate it.

LICIA
And Deanna received one a long time ago, from a man who thought he would be her husband, so it's a bit of personal irony as well--she wouldn't have mentioned that part.

The rose has turned yellow in Licia's hand. She hands the flower to Troi, and it turns pink.

TROI
It's a long story, Lish.

Troi quickly twirls the rose in her fingers; it turns white, and she places it back in the vase.

LICIA
But a pretty good one. And you don't have to be an empath to play, "Tell me what I'm feeling," if you know people well enough.

Everyone smiles.

NIKLAN
We are curious: how did this friendship between the two of you begin, an empath and a human?

TROI
As you know, I am half Betazoid: my father was human. He died when I was very young, and my mother and I went back to Earth for his funeral. Licia's mother was a human friend of my father's from his university days on Earth, and had come for the funeral also. I was not empathic yet; Betazoid telepathy develops with adolescence. Licia and I met and became instant playmates.

LICIA
When Mrs. Troi had to return to BetaZed to perform her own grieving rituals, she decided to leave Deanna with me and my family. We were inseparable for about six months, and after Deanna went home our parents kept us in contact.

TROI
Since we insisted on it.

LICIA
Then when I was about fourteen my parents were going through a rather nasty break-up, and I threatened to run away if they didn't send me to BetaZed to be with Deanna.

TROI
Which they did, and she stayed with my mother and me for a year. It was the year of my telepathic coming-of-age, what we call the "upstep", when my empathic sense fully developed. That whole period is surrounded with a great deal of ceremony, and Licia became my ritual bond-sister, my B'Rana.

LICIA
Since then we've always stayed in touch, and we see one another whenever we can. It's been harder since Deanna joined Starfleet and I started my life of wandering research--we're rarely in the same sector at the same time.

PRELNA
We are exceedingly pleased to have brought about this happy reunion! Such love between people is basic to what we treasure in life at home on Perzhad. This is exactly the focus we wish to have as we begin translating your Earth's Shakespeare--and what we wish to bring with us to the Federation.

RIKER
Tell me, Arbiter, how did your team decide on Shakespeare's Hamlet for a subject?

PRELNA
It was difficult. We did discuss many others, several from Earth cultures as well as traditions from other Federation worlds. I was particularly intrigued by the works of Surak, the founder of Vulcan thinking on emotional restraint--what a strange concept, and such noble people.

MANDAZHIN
We settled on Shakespeare primarily because of his broad appeal among humanoid peoples, who make up so much of the Federation membership.

WORF
The Klingons have an honored Shakespearean tradition. He is a master of struggles for power.

MANDAZHIN
Yes, the Klingon relationship was certainly an argument in his favor, although our approach will be specific to ourselves and we are not so concerned with power.

Worf is only mildly annoyed by this slight rebuff.

LICIA
I suggested Hamlet because it works on so many levels and therefore is well suited for a project such as ours, and also because it centers on issues of relationship which struck me as being quite close to Vizhad cultural orientation.

LARNON
This work will not be easy for us, however. It can be difficult for us even to speak with you, since your minds will not hear half of what we say.

TROI
For the Vizhad to drop their telepathy and communicate only verbally is something like one of us trying to speak without using words with the letters "e" or "t", or trying to talk without moving half of your face.

LARNON
It is more so for me, since I am not a dancer like Niklan, a doctor like Mandazhin, or a diplomat like Prelna: I speak more with plants than with people.

CRUSHER
But each of you sounds like a poet!

MANDAZHIN
You humans seem to find us all poetic when we are simply speaking.

RIKER
We must seem rather uninteresting to you.

NIKLAN
Oh no, you are so different, we find you fascinating. That is why we have sought Federation membership. Meeting other species, particularly non-telepaths, has been a desirable challenge for us since we moved out into the stars.

PRELNA
As we approach Federation membership we have begun to study the social etiquette of different peoples. We have found that for us to respond as we would normally do to the thoughts and feelings of others can be considered impolite.

MANDAZHIN
Yes, this issue of politeness is of special interest to us. On Perzhad we share everything as a matter of course, but we have noted among the humanoids we have met, telepathic or otherwise, a requirement for what you call privacy.

NIKLAN
This is strange to us; we wish to understand, and we do not wish to offend.

LARNON
Counselor, how do you handle this issue of privacy on BetaZed?

TROI
Let me use the rose to demonstrate. You actually saw me do this a few minutes ago.

She picks up the rose; it turns a light blue.

TROI
Two of the disciplines we learn at upstep are first, how to regulate our own feelings, and second, how to control the ways we receive others' thoughts and feelings. For example, when Licia handed me this rose she had just reminded me about Wyatt Miller, the human to whom I was betrothed as a child. I felt embarrassed, both annoyed and amused at Licia, and nostalgic.

The rose fluxes pink, as before. Riker leans forward, interested in this rare revelation of Troi's feelings.

TROI
But I blanked my feelings, and the rose turned white. (It does so.) A person can do this in order to quell unwanted or inappropriate feelings, such as envy, misdirected anger, or an attraction for a person not available for deeper relationship.

She and Riker half-share a glance, and Riker sits back.

TROI
You can also do this to shut your feelings to someone else, which is generally an impolite thing to do. We can control how we "listen" to others, as well. Watch the rose while I give it what I feel from Licia right now.

Licia laughs; the rose turns a bright pinkish yellow.

TROI
She thinks this is great fun, but she's also shy in front of all of you. If I want to, I can stop "listening" to her. (the rose turns white) This can be done out of courtesy, if someone is occupied with personal matters; or in mild self-defense if their thoughts are unpleasant, which again can be somewhat rude, depending on the context. Sometimes it is done in anger, and then it is a serious breach of good behavior. Betazoid society is very embracing, and so the blanking gesture, whether of oneself or of another's presence, can be extremely hurtful.

She returns the rose to the vase, and it turns white.

MANDAZHIN
Is a Betazoid ever born telepathic, as we are?

TROI
Very rarely. The trauma of receiving others' thoughts as an infant and young child is usually so great that the person is either mentally or socially handicapped for most of his or her life.

MANDAZHIN
Is there no treatment for them?

TROI
Therapy can help. Often those who mature mentally become hermits. Isolation is easier for them.

MANDAZHIN
I asked you because difficulties with the telepathic sense are more common on Perzhad, and we have a body of medicine surrounding them. Perhaps our people can help yours.

TROI
I'm certain my people will be eager to learn from yours.

DATA
Counselor: I, too, am curious about something. You are not a full telepath, and yet you were raised in a telepathic society. Do you ever have difficulty communicating with other Betazoids?

TROI
At times, yes, if I don't know them very well. The bond is closest with my mother, but even she gets impatient with me. Living on the Enterprise I get out of practice, and she sometimes wants me to live as if I were fully Betazoid.

Niklan nods, responding to her thoughts.

NIKLAN
On BetaZed, are you considered handicapped?

TROI
Not exactly. There are many like me, since human-Betazoid marriages are fairly common. As an empath I can still participate in ceremonial life, which is very important. There are things I can't do, like advanced philosophy, which uses a great deal of telepathic rhetoric: it's difficult to construct an effective argument when you can't pronounce the words!

GEORDI
Ug--philosophy! I'm glad there are people who like to do those things, but me--well, you guys can translate Shakespeare, I'll be happy to be your set designer on the holodeck!

PICARD
We find ourselves returned to the same theme: it is our differences that enrich us, and that make us flexible enough to appreciate both our poets and our engineers.

PRELNA
And to allow engineers to be poets, and poets to be engineers. If there is anything to be learned in this galaxy it is that the two are not exclusive!

PICARD
Point well taken, Arbiter Prelna. (raises his glass) Let us indulge a practice of many peoples, and dedicate the symbolic act of drinking to an important principle: To our differences!

Smiles all around: "Our differences!" and all glasses upraised toward the center of the table.

FADE TO:
7. INT. TEN FORWARD
The room is filled with people talking and drinking; people with trays of food and drinks occasionally pass between the knots of those in conversation. Prelna is talking with a pair of Vulcans; Mandazhin is deep in some rather lively discussion with Worf; Larnon is with Geordi and Data and a couple of other engineers and scientists. Picard and Crusher are talking with Niklan. Riker is standing with Troi and the Dafwans. A man steps up to Troi, who immediately turns to Licia.

TROI
Licia, I have someone for you to meet. This is Lt. Miguel Romero. He's part of a folksong group here on the Enterprise--I thought you might like to join them while you're on board. Lt. Romero, this is Licia Dafwan.

LICIA
Lieutenant, I'm very happy to meet you! (to Troi) Oh, Dee, you've thought of everything! (to Riker) I look for people to sing with in every place we work--I'm not as single-minded a laborer as Nathaniel. (to Romero) Now I won't have to go to all the trouble of finding you on my own. When will you be singing next?

Troi and Licia go with Romero toward a cluster of people, apparently the choral group, and Licia begins talking and laughing animatedly with them. Nathaniel watches, smiling, and then speaks to Riker.

NATHANIEL
We appreciate your decision to take the long way 'round to Perzhad, so to speak, to give our on-board work more time. Licia and I have been studying Vizhad cultural materials, but the real test will be working with the Vizhad themselves. It's the kind of challenge I like, because Licia enjoys it so much and is so good at it. We often have trouble convincing people she's really working.

RIKER
What will your wife's role be in the work on board the Enterprise, Dr. Dafwan? The Daystrom Institute made it clear that she is your academic partner, but she has no official status with them.

NATHANIEL
As I said, we often have trouble convincing people.

Someone comes by with a tray, and the two men partake.

NATHANIEL
When I was offered the position at Daystrom, Licia decided to stay in the background, even though I wanted her to take more credit for her work. She'd gotten tired of struggling with the politics of official academia, and she wanted time for other things--like the singing groups she always manages to find wherever we go.

Nathaniel looks with a combination of ruefulness and pride at his wife talking so happily with the choir.

NATHANIEL
Actually, I wouldn't be able to do much of my part of the translation work without her. I analyze systems of relationships, but she works with the layers of meaning that make cross-cultural translation really worth doing. That kind of thing--understanding what people mean, and what they care about--has always come easily for her; sometimes it seems as if she's plucking it out of thin air. But then, she doesn't understand how I can do what I do, so I suppose we make a good team.

Riker and Nathaniel are both watching Troi and Licia.

NATHANIEL
So we work together, with my more conventional skills on staff, and her gifts employed as consultant. We've been very lucky.

RIKER
I'd say so. Not everyone gets to have that kind of partnership.

Troi and Licia part from the choir, and return.

TROI
They've been talking about us.

LICIA
Oh, I'm sorry--we did just leave you alone, didn't we?

She links her arm with Nathaniel's and then leans against him heavily, suddenly dizzy. In the background, the Vizhad each look up from their places.

NATHANIEL (tenderly)
It's been a long day, hasn't it? We should go.

LICIA (looking up at Troi)
Deanna, don't worry about me. I'm fine, believe me.

She embraces her friend.

TROI
Goodnight, then, Lish. Sleep well.

The Dafwans depart, and Troi watches her friend go; the Vizhad also watch the couple leave.

TROI (half to herself)
Sweet dreams, B'Rana.

Riker looks at Troi with a certain tenderness (perhaps places a hand on her shoulder) as the scene FADES OUT.

ACT THREE

FADE IN:
8. INT. HOLODECK
The Vizhad legation, Picard, Troi, Data and the Dafwans are seated at a table, watching a holographic performance of Hamlet. We come in on Ophelia's second appearance in her mad scene (Act IV, scene v). The disheveled Ophelia is carrying an armful of flowers (or weeds, or air, as it is sometimes done).

OPHELIA (to Laertes)
There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that's for thoughts.

LAERTES
A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted.

OPHELIA (to Claudius)
There's fennel for you, and columbines. (to Gertrude) There's rue for you, and here's some for me; we may call it herb of grace a' Sundays. You may wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they wither'd all when my father died. They say 'a made a good end-- (sings) "For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy."

LAERTES
Thoughts and afflictions, passion, hell itself, She turns to favor and to prettiness.

PICARD
Computer, freeze program.

The holographic players freeze. Picard addresses those assembled at the table.

PICARD
The symbolism of the flowers here is important for understanding what Ophelia is doing in this scene.

MANDAZHIN
Yes, we have studied. The fennel and columbines she gives to Claudius represent flattery and ingratitude, so this tells us something of Ophelia's true opinion of her king. The rue for Gertrude stands for sorrow and repentance; the daisies are for deception, and the violets for faithfulness.

PRELNA
Her speech shows us how much her heart has been torn by the violence in the lives of all her loved ones, from the death of Hamlet's father at Claudius' hand to the death of her own at Hamlet's.

TROI
No wonder she loses her mind: every consolation is denied her, and the men she loves and owes obedience to have been using her against each other.

PICARD
For them she is just a pawn, easily manipulated because of her duty toward them. In Act III we saw how Claudius and her father Polonius tried to use her to entrap Hamlet, the man she has loved and who she thought loved her. Hamlet for his part is so caught up in the "antic disposition" he is hiding behind in the court that he fails to recognize Ophelia's pain.

MANDAZHIN
What cruelty: the nunnery he tells her to go to was often used to hide the mistresses of wealthy men, or mothers with no husbands--the very conditions her father had warned that Hamlet might bring her to.

PICARD
At the same time his own conflicts surface, as well: sending her to a nunnery is also an impulse to protect, to shelter, to seek a place that might be more sacred than the corrupt world he has been describing. The conflict in his feelings ultimately is too great, and he begins to question the sanity of his actions.

DATA
Shakespeare, then, would seem to be defining madness as the stress resulting from internal emotional conflict.

LARNON
Specifically, in our point of view, from contradictory demands on relationships. No room is left for bringing these demands together because the people do not or cannot attempt real communication.

LICIA
In the "nunnery" scene, Ophelia can't tell Hamlet how she really feels because she is being watched by Claudius and her father, and Hamlet is so angry at the world that he doesn't seem to really know what he is feeling at all.

NATHANIEL
And he doesn't seem to care who gets in his way.

PICARD
Hamlet's pain and confusion keep lashing out at other people: assaulting Ophelia and later his mother Gertrude, accidentally killing Polonius, and deliberately sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths. Between Hamlet and Claudius, the whole court of Elsinore is lost.

PRELNA
This is an important lesson, one which we find in our traditions on Perzhad as well: that the holding of wrong within oneself infects both the person and the community.

NIKLAN
Especially in our society, one cannot isolate either wrongdoing or pain: if I compromise myself, or if I try to keep my hurt apart, that hurt will inevitably emerge and spread to all who deal with me.

PRELNA
Thank you, Captain, this will be an important point of translation.

PICARD
I'm glad that our thinking has some common ground.

FADE TO:
9. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM
This is the same room where Data read his oh-so-memorable poetry. A choir of ten or twelve people, male and female, human and otherwise, are warming up their voices and chatting. They hold either songbooks or hand-held text computers. A SCAN finds Licia, who is talking with a woman next to her. The voices cease with that seemingly instinctive "critical mass" that occurs in a group of performers. A leader in the center of the group (probably Lt. Romero) begins the singing with the pick-up to "Amazing Grace" ("A-"), joined in harmony on the downbeat ("-mazing"). PANNING back across the room as they sing, we see an out-of-focus figure in the background near the door, which is RESOLVED into Deanna Troi; SLOW ZOOM in on her happy, rapt expression as she listens. The door behind Troi opens, not disturbing the choir: it is Riker. The door closes behind him and he puts his hand on Troi's shoulder; she turns and smiles at him, then turns back to watch her friend. Riker stands with her a moment, listening, his hand still on her shoulder, then bends down to speak to her.

RIKER
Deanna, I feel like I haven't seen you for days. How about a drink in Ten Forward with an old friend?

Troi nods, and goes out with him.

CUT TO:
10. INT. TEN FORWARD
Troi and Riker are seated together at one of the glowing tables; they do not yet have their drinks.

RIKER
So how's the big project going?

TROI
Oh, it's been wonderful. And exhausting. The Vizhad have an enormous aesthetic capacity, and their comments on Hamlet have been fascinating. The Captain is having such a lovely time--it's really refreshing being around him when he's enjoying himself so much. This is probably the best "vacation" he could have. And the Vizhad dote on Licia: they call her "Our Lady," it's really touching.

RIKER
I haven't spent much time with the legation, my duties have been elsewhere. What is it like, working with them?

TROI
Quite fun, really. As an empath I find them delightful. Their language makes them seem very formal, but very intimate at the same time, which is really quite nice once you get used to it: you feel extremely well treated. And their sense of humor is just a marvelous thing to receive.

Troi pauses as a bar attendant comes by with their drinks and sets them down.

TROI
It's as if as they spoke they were sketching outlines of leaping and rolling shapes (gestures with her hand), and then the shapes fill in with pulsing colors to illustrate and add to what is being said.

RIKER
Hmp. What are humans like, compared to that?

TROI (hedging)
Some people, of course, are more controlled than others, or more aware of themselves, and different people are more or less emotionally expressive, just as the Vizhad are different from one another in what I just tried to describe. A lot depends on individual background and personality.

RIKER
And?

TROI
Well, to continue the analogy, I suppose humans are like accidental smudge-makers, or fingerpainters. You run into your feelings more than you wield them, it's just the way you're set up as human beings.

RIKER
Great. What about Betazoids?

TROI
Betazoids are...oil painters. (pleased with the metaphor) They like to give you landscapes and portraits--or self-portraits. It's not structurally linguistic, like the Vizhad's telepathy, but it's definitely communicative. (shudders) You're lucky you can't read Mother.

RIKER
Oh, I think I can read her well enough --she's not a lady to keep things to herself much.

TROI
My mother is a bravura performer, Wil, but you should be thankful you can't tell what she's really thinking. I've been trying to brace myself for her arrival--

RIKER
Yes, the Captain asked me to greet her when she comes aboard this evening.

TROI
It will be good to have Licia here during this visit; she always has a softening effect on Mother, somehow. (pause) Wil, I want to thank you for taking on so much extra responsibility while the Vizhad are with us. You may be feeling a little left out of things....

RIKER
Maybe a little. All of a sudden I don't feel very important.

TROI
Important? To whom?

RIKER
Well, to you. To Picard. I'm the good little boy who didn't get invited to the party.

TROI
Oh, Wil. Somebody has to run the ship. And you are very important. It's because we trust how good you are as First Officer that we can even do this. If the Captain didn't have the utmost confidence in you, we wouldn't have taken on this project in the first place. Believe me, he's not taking you for granted. And neither am I. (pause) And just because I'm delighted to see Licia doesn't say that you mean any less to me.

Riker gives her a dubious silence.

TROI
Wil, she's my oldest and dearest friend, my B'Rana, my bond-sister: surely you don't grudge me that. She's the one who should be jealous of you. I see you every day, I see her once every few years if we're lucky.

RIKER
OK, OK. But I bet you don't glow like that and bounce up and down at the thought of seeing me.

TROI
Am I supposed to? (pause) No one else can be to me what Licia is, that's a simple fact of history. But it is also a fact that I'm very grateful for Wil Riker in my life, too. (She takes his hand across the table.) Your friendship means a great deal to me, Wil; surely you know that.

RIKER
Yes, I know. I'm sorry. I guess I'm feeling a little lonely, that's all. (He withdraws his hand and leans back.) So. Tell me some more about your B'Rana, so I can think she's as wonderful as you do.

TROI
Would you like a personality profile? All right. She has a very open mind--in the empathic sense, I mean: very receptive, very responsive. She is keenly oriented to the feelings of people around her, and to the workings of relationships, but she tends to lack confidence in herself.

Troi pauses thoughtfully, sipping her drink.

TROI
Her emotional openness makes her more like a Betazoid than any human I've ever known--but she's not a Betazoid mentally at all. That means a great deal to me. She's almost the other half of me, coming from the other direction, from the human side, I mean.

Riker is savoring Troi's openness with him, glad to not say much and simply listen.

RIKER
Sounds pretty special.

TROI
Yes--yes, she has been. (happy pause) You know, it's funny; we really haven't spent all that much time together in so long, and yet every time we see each other, or talk on subspace, it's like there's no distance at all. Our lives have changed so much, and yet that never changes. Sometimes I think she's the only person I really talk to. She often seems to know my feelings better than I do--and she's very protective of me. (smiles slyly) You know, Wil, she didn't think I should get involved with you. She wouldn't talk about it because she didn't want to hurt my feelings, but she was so relieved when I told her you were on the Enterprise and we were just friends.

RIKER
Why?! What did she think was wrong with me?

TROI
I'm not sure she really knew exactly. An instinct. Maybe you should ask her. (Quizzical look from Riker.) But don't worry. She dislikes disliking people, and I'm sure she'll find a way to see your lovable qualities--or invent some, if she has to.

CUT TO:
11. INT. TROI'S QUARTERS
Troi and Licia are seated on a sofa, laughing.

LICIA (through her laughter)
Oh, Dee, you didn't!

TROI
You should have seen the look on his face when I told him, Lish, it's going to bother him for days.

LICIA (laughter subsiding)
I'm so sorry, Dee. I know you two are close; I can see he has a good heart and is good at his job, but he just gives me the creeps, especially now that I've met him in person. I've watched him at work, you know, when I've had the chance. I mean, the way he stands--

Licia stands and does a Riker stance, hands on hips with feet spread apart, head slightly lowered with a scowl of concentration. Troi cracks up.

LICIA
--the way he looks at women....

Licia sits down again.

LICIA
You can't tell me you like that kind of thing, especially when you can feel what he feels. (grimaces) Deanna--how could you ever have been attracted to him?

TROI
Well, to be honest, I think it was because he was attracted to me, and he was so uncomplicated about what he wanted. And he has a great tenderness that most people don't get to see--that's a powerful thing to receive from someone.

Licia nods, already beginning to be persuaded; this is something she knows in her relationship with Nathaniel.

TROI
He genuinely likes people and likes them to feel at ease, so it's easy to be comfortable around him. He has a real capacity for delight--you see it most in his hobbies-- and loves to share his pleasures with other people. I think that's a part of his attitude toward women and his own sexuality, actually, although his behavior may have its less noble aspects. (pause) And for an empath, he has interesting emotional textures. He has many layers of hurt underneath the surface. His relationship with his father has been very stressful, and he lost his mother at an early age. (voice lowers) Perhaps that was part of the attraction, too.

LICIA (feeling her friend's old grief)
Mm, something in common. Together you have a complete pair of difficult parents. (pause) I'm glad he's a good friend for you, Dee.

TROI
And you still hope he stays that way. That's all right. (pause) I've really enjoyed working with Nathaniel, Lish.

LICIA
I'm so glad you can read me! I was just about to ask you what you thought of him.

TROI
Well for one thing, he loves you very deeply. You don't have to be empathic to notice that. He's more private than you are, and he's extremely dedicated to his work--and he has a lovely playfulness when he's enjoying himself.

LICIA
You like him, then?

TROI
Oh, yes--but Licia, he's probably the last person I would have imagined for you. I always thought you'd end up with some brilliant, troubled poet or musician.

LICIA
And I ended up with a brilliant, troubled linguist. (pause) I always thought that the one I'd fall in love with would have to be to me the way you are, Dee--like a reflection of me, like a part of my own mind. But Nathaniel is completely different--alien, even. Loving him takes a lot more work. Sometimes I swear I might as well have married an Andorian!

TROI (teasing)
But you didn't, you just married a man!

LICIA
Oh, please, spare me. I know I'm just as hard on him as he is on me --especially lately. I've been pulling my chameleon routine again, I can feel it, adopting the mind-set of the people we work with. And on top of everything I've been extra moody and impatient--I suppose that comes with being pregnant. (pause) I feel more myself when I'm with you, Dee. You remind me of who I am, and it's so comfortable, being with you.

TROI
You do the same thing for me, B'Rana. You've got to promise to stick close to me while Mother's here. When she's around I tend to forget how old I am, and act as if I'm six years old, or sixteen, again. I think it would help if she didn't act like she was sixteen, too. (smile)

LICIA
Let her surprise you, Dee. That is what she's best at, after all: being a surprise. I think she's a more sensible woman than you want to believe.

TROI
All right. I know Mother has her own wisdom. But she's still not my favorite thing about being Betazoid. (thoughtful pause) Licia, I'm so glad to have you--you help me celebrate my human half.

FADE OUT.

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:
12. INT. HOLODECK JAZZ CAFE SET
This is the set where Riker met Minuet in "11001001". Riker is playing trombone with two holodeck musicians in the rhythm section (piano and bass), and fellow Enterprise personnel of various persuasions on clarinet, cornet, sax, and drums. Licia is seated in the audience at one of the tables towards the rear, smiling and tapping her toes and patting her tummy as she watches Riker enjoy himself. The set ends, and Riker congratulates his fellow musicians expansively.

RIKER
Now that cooked. You're coming along really well. Keep practicing, and I'll see you all here next week.

The group begins to disperse into collections of chatting people, as everyone begins to leave. Riker turns to set his trombone on its stand; Licia gets up and goes over to greet him. He turns and is startled to see her.

RIKER
Mrs. Dafwan, I didn't know you were here.

LICIA
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the workshop. I got here late, but it was great fun to hear you play. (pause) I also wanted to apologize. Deanna told me what she told you in Ten Forward today.

RIKER
Is there anything you two don't tell each other?!

LICIA
No, not really. But I promise you, we're no threat to anybody. Anyway, there's a little time before we go to meet Lwaxana.

She rubs her forehead, shaking off a headache, and gestures to the bar.

LICIA
Would you like a drink, Wil Riker?

Riker smiles, and the two settle down on barstools.

FADE TO:
13. INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM

Riker, Troi, Licia, and Nathaniel have all gathered.

TRANSPORTER ATTENDANT
The Starbase signals they are ready for transport, Commander.

RIKER
Make it so, Lieutenant.

The lieutenant does so, and Lwaxana Troi MATERIALIZES on the transporter pad, dressed in one of her extravagant gowns, a large suitcase accompanying her.

LWAXANA
Ah, Licia!

She descends from the pad and embraces Licia with genuine affection, which Licia happily returns.

LICIA
It's so good to see you, Lwaxana. It's been too long. You are always so lovely, I don't know how you manage it!

LWAXANA
Some of us know the secrets of perpetual youth, my dear, and you don't get there by studying all the time, I can assure you!

Licia smiles at this semi-private joke, and Lwaxana turns to Nathaniel.

LWAXANA
Nathaniel, in person at last.

NATHANIEL (somewhat stiffly)
It is an honor to meet you, Lady Ambassador.

LWAXANA (V.O.)
Oh, he's a proper one, Licia.

LICIA (abruptly looking up at Mrs. Troi)
You're doing it again, aren't you? I can always tell by the look on your face.

LWAXANA
For some reason I still expect you to hear my telepathy. Never mind, I'll tell you later.

Licia rubs her forehead again, and shakes her head as Nathaniel puts a concerned arm around her; Lwaxana passes to Troi and Riker, and embraces her daughter.

TROI (V.O.)
Welcome, Mother.

LWAXANA (aloud, sincere)
Thank you, Deanna. (she pulls back to get a better look at her daughter) What have you done to your hair, my dear? You look so...old!

TROI
Mother, I'm not sixteen, you know.

LWAXANA
Of course not. (V.O.) I'm sorry, Deanna, I'm too careless. We'll talk later, too.

She moves to Riker and takes his hand.

RIKER
Mrs. Troi. It's a pleasure to welcome you aboard again.

LWAXANA
Yes, William, I'm happy to see you, too. Now. I've left Mr. Hom behind this time. Who will carry my bag?

RIKER
I'd be glad to, Mrs. Troi.

This time the suitcase is not a threat and Riker has little trouble lifting it; they all go out.

CUT TO:
14. INT. DAFWANS' QUARTERS
The doors close behind Nathaniel and Licia. Licia is suddenly startled, and turns on Nathaniel.

LICIA
If you think I'm such a fool, you should say so to my face!

NATHANIEL
What?! I didn't say anything!

LICIA
I heard you, I heard you mutter something about how I was too gushy with Lwaxana. Good Lord, you have to be gushy with Lwaxana, there's no other way to talk to her. (voice rising to a shout) If you don't like me the way I am by now, maybe you should trade me in--oh!

Licia clutches at her stomach and sits abruptly.

LICIA
Ooh--the baby doesn't like it when I shout like that.

Nathaniel, looking shaken and a little grim, caresses her shoulders from behind.

NATHANIEL
Neither do I.

Licia twists to look up at him.

LICIA
Oh, Nathaniel, I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that. I don't know what's gotten into me lately.

NATHANIEL
We've both been wrapped up in our work. And I did deserve it. You were right: I expect you to treat an Ambassador like an Ambassador, not like a giggling schoolgirl.

Nathaniel can't hide his displeasure, but the apology is sincerely intended. He comes around and sits or kneels beside her.

NATHANIEL
We haven't had much time lately just to be together.

Licia tenderly caresses his face.

LICIA
Well, maybe we can do something about that, love.

They kiss, and we politely DISSOLVE TO:

15. INT. PARTIALLY PROGRAMMED HOLODECK
CLOSE-UP on Larnon's bird-like hand, working with a hand-tool on the blossom of a flower, adjusting its color and its shape; we can hear his melodious hissing as he works. PULL BACK to reveal the yellow grids of the holodeck showing through patches suggesting a plaza area, with two carved stone pillars at one end and a bed of flowers between two trees at another, where Larnon is working. Data and Geordi are near the pillars, manually feeding Vizhad cultural and ecological data into tricorders which are linked to the holodeck computer. As they work, gaps in the plaza are being filled; small, bright birds or insects flit past, and there is a tinkling in the breeze which gently wafts through the fronds of ferns and trees. They are creating a Vizhad performance space, a kind of village or city square, where the translation team will work out their version of Hamlet. Larnon straightens, grunting softly, and turns toward Geordi and Data.

LARNON
Ah, gentlemen. The work on this revision is good, and I thank you for your skill. (looks around) It is good to see something that looks like home. But now I believe it is time for rest!

He hooks his tool on a belt around his waist, and solemnly clasps hands with Geordi and Data in turn. Data has his curious-but-happy smile, Geordi is awkward. Larnon goes out. Geordi shakes his head as he and Data gather their tools.

DATA
Something appears to trouble you, Geordi.

GEORDI
Oh, it's just working with the Vizhad. It's been weeks since they came on board, but I'm still having trouble getting used to them. Nothing personal against Larnon and the others, but I get the eeriest feelings being around them--like I'm almost seeing things.

DATA
Several crew members who have come into contact with the Vizhad have made similar comments. It seems that different individuals receive the Vizhad's telepathy in different ways when the Vizhad speak to them. Some people think they hear music, or sounds like water flowing, or they smell a fragrance of some kind. Others seem to see shapes or colors. Some have reported tactile sensations, as if they are being touched or are being given things to hold. These impressions are apparently the brain's attempt to process the Vizhad's mental input in ways which are more easily grasped by the individual, since the mind is not able to receive the telepathy as such.

GEORDI
Data, do you sense anything from the Vizhad?

DATA
No, my positronic brain cannot receive such input, nor would it misinterpret it in such a fashion if it did. The closest thing to telepathic contact which I can experience is a computer linkup.

GEORDI
Maybe you're lucky. It's a queasy kind of feeling, like something is trying to move around in my brain.

DATA
But the Vizhad do not enter minds. That cannot be what you are feeling, Geordi. They send and receive linguistically, but consider mental entrance or communion a highly intimate act which must be reciprocal. Indeed, such an act has spiritual implications for them, and requires the closeness of family, partnership, or deep friendship, although it can also be used in a medical or personal emergency.

GEORDI
No, no, Data, that's not what I meant. It's as if something inside my brain is rolling over in its sleep, like something in me is trying to wake up but can't.

DATA
That is most likely an accurate assessment of your experience, Geordi, since extra-sensory perception is a latent potential in many humans.

GEORDI
I'll take the perceptions I already have, thank you! It's like the first time I put on my visor --the wave of sudden input was really frightening. I didn't know how to sort it out, it didn't mean anything.

DATA
But you did learn how to use your visor, and you now rely on its special abilities daily, do you not?

GEORDI
Yes, but that still doesn't mean I'd want to go through that first time again, or anything like it.

DATA
I have heard Counselor Troi refer to her empathic upstep with the same sentiment, even though she also considers that period in her life a highly significant and valuable one. When I reflect upon my own development of sentience, I must confess to a similar assessment: it is not an experience I would like to repeat, but I could not now exist as I am without the benefits which came from it. I must cross-reference this problem with my philosophy databases; a study of this issue may prove useful as work with the Vizhad continues.

GEORDI (laughing, slapping Data's shoulder)
That's what we love about you, Data: you're the working man's philosopher.

QUICK FADE TO:
16. INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDORS
Troi is walking happily, humming to herself. She slows and stops, wincing as she senses someone in extreme pain and confusion...and then identifies the source.

TROI
Licia?

Troi rounds a bend in the corridor and we see the staggering Licia, hand to her head, looking wildly about her with no recognition of where she is.

TROI
Lish!

Troi runs and catches Licia in her arms, and taps her communicator pin.

TROI (grimly)
Troi to Sickbay: emergency treatment needed for Licia Dafwan, we're on deck six, on our way.

FADE TO:
17. INT. SICKBAY
Licia is seated on a bench, eyes closed and leaning against Troi, who is standing behind her. Crusher is circling Licia's head with her small hand-held tool.

CRUSHER
It looks like you're having a rather extreme stress reaction, Licia. There is some unusual brain activity, particularly in the language centers; whether your stress is from the brain activity, or the brain activity is from the stress, is difficult to tell. (She scans Licia's belly.) The pregnancy seems fine--the little one's a bit restless, but that's normal at this stage.

LICIA (weakly)
I feel the baby all the time, even when it's not moving--sometimes I'd swear I can tell what it's feeling. I hope it can't feel my headaches.... Mandazhin can help with the pain, but they keep coming back. I feel like my head is an egg and something's trying to hatch out. You can't be pregnant in your brain, can you? I've been having such awful dreams, senseless stuff that has nothing to do with me at all--sometimes in the dream I'm a man, or I'm not even human.... Never mind, I'm babbling again.

Crusher gives a slight smile, and does a final check on Licia's head. Finishing, she puts her tools aside.

CRUSHER
I don't want to give you drugs because of the pregnancy. What I can do is give you these brain-wave regulators to help you relax and get some rest. You put them on your temples like this.

The doctor produces a pair of square chips with blinking lights (these were used to put Troi into deep sleep for "The Survivors" in third season), calibrates them and secures them on Licia's forehead. Licia pulls in her breath sharply as the chips kick in, and then gives out an "ooh," steadying herself against Deanna.

CRUSHER
I also recommend a trip to the masseuse. The Argelian technique can work wonders. You'll feel like a very happy, very limp rag when they're done!

LICIA
Can I walk with these on?

Crusher looks to Troi before answering.

CRUSHER
Yes, of course.

Licia eases off the bench with Deanna's help, and they begin to go out. Crusher gently stops Troi with a hand on her arm.

CRUSHER
Deanna--don't worry.

Troi gives the doctor a tight smile and goes out with Licia leaning on her arm.

FADE TO:
18. INT. DAFWANS' QUARTERS
Troi is tucking Licia into bed; the chips are still on Licia's forehead. The lights in the room are lowered, and soft music is playing in the background.

LICIA
Thank you, Dee. I feel so silly. I was on my way to the next session, and my head kicked in, and I just...got lost.

TROI
It's all right. Just relax and don't think about it.

LICIA
I feel like Hamlet: "I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself king of infinite space--were it not that I have bad dreams."

Licia obediently relaxes, lying still for a moment as her mind wanders. She smiles.

LICIA
You know, I'm actually starting to like your Wil Riker.

TROI
I told him you would.

LICIA
Hmp. I always try.

TROI
That's what I told him.

LICIA
You know me so well. But, Dee--I'm not myself lately, am I?

TROI
No, Licia, you haven't been. I've never seen you this way. It frightens me.

LICIA
Me, too. (pause) This shouldn't be so hard. I don't understand why this is happening now--now, of all times, when we're working on this terrific project I enjoy so much, and when this precious little person is inside me. (growing increasingly distressed) I--I feel like people are always pressing in on me and pulling me every which way until there's nothing of me left--and it doesn't make sense! (Licia hears the panic in her voice, and ceases.) I'm sorry.

TROI
Shh, B'Rana. Just let yourself rest.

Nathaniel enters and quickly crosses to the bed.

NATHANIEL
Licia, I'm here. (to Troi) Thank you for calling me. I've just spoken with Dr. Crusher on my way here. (to Licia) How bad is it, love?

LICIA
Just give me a kiss and go back to work. I'll be a good girl, I promise. These things are putting me right to sleep. (she yawns) It feels wonderful.

Nathaniel kisses her tenderly, and he and Troi exit.

CUT TO:
19. INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDORS
Troi and Nathaniel stride to the conference session.

NATHANIEL
Deanna, I'm worried about her.

TROI
I know. I don't understand it, either.

NATHANIEL
Last night she complained about noise and insisted she could hear people talking through the walls.

TROI
But that's impossible, the quarters are completely sound-proofed.

NATHANIEL
I know.

CUT TO:
20. INT. HOLODECK: VIZHAD PERFORMANCE PLAZA
A stone table is now between the two pillars we saw earlier. Lwaxana, Picard, and Prelna are seated at the table; Niklan and Mandazhin are in the open performance space, dancing (perhaps Gates McFadden would like to choreograph). This activity ceases as Troi and Nathaniel enter; those at the table stand.

PRELNA
And what of Our Lady?

LWAXANA
Yes, Deanna, is Licia all right?

TROI
She is resting now; she may join us later. (V.O.) Mother, I'm scared.

LWAXANA (V.O.)
I know, Little One, I know.

Prelna moves around the table to escort Nathaniel to his seat next to her own, resting her hand on Nathaniel's arm; Troi moves next to her mother.

NIKLAN
We have grown concerned for your partner, Dr. Dafwan. The pain and confusion she experiences are unusual, are they not?

NATHANIEL
Yes, very. The doctor calls it some kind of stress reaction, but neither Licia nor I knows why it should be happening now.

Prelna places her hands on Nathaniel's shoulders and then moves around him to take her seat; they all sit down, including Niklan and Mandazhin, who sit at the head of the table on the other side of Troi.

PRELNA
We fear it may be our presence which troubles her.

MANDAZHIN
There is no need for mystery, Prelna. What we observe in your partner, Dr. Dafwan, are symptoms which on our world would indicate a temporary disjunction of the telepathic sense. It can occur in young people and the elderly, when the mind is in a state of growth or decay. Amongst ourselves it is treatable. We said nothing until now because of our inexperience in dealing with your kind.

PRELNA
I'm afraid we enjoy Our Lady's company so much that we have not always restrained ourselves while working with her, and have spoken freely. A few times, we have even felt we received responses from her that were nearly coherent.

PICARD
Arbiter, what are you saying? What do you suspect?

PRELNA
Mandazhin has studied your medical materials, but has not found anything conclusive. We cannot know what this means for a human, Captain, since your speech and your minds are not like ours. As Niklan said, we are concerned, and felt you should be informed.

MANDAZHIN
We can do nothing until we know more. I suggest we continue with this session and await the report of Our Lady when she awakes. Your Dr. Crusher should no doubt be alerted to our concerns.

Picard and Troi exchange glances, Nathaniel grim. Lwaxana takes her daughter's hand on the table, and the Counselor suddenly looks very small.

FADE OUT.

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:
21. INT. CRUSHER'S LAB/OFFICE
Crusher is studying information on her personal computer screen and checking other data on her tricorder. Licia enters, looking tentative.

LICIA
Hello, Doctor. Nathaniel said you wanted to see me.

Crusher sets down the tricorder, clears the screen of her computer, and stands up.

CRUSHER
Yes, I was just looking at some data Mandazhin gave me on Vizhad medicine. She says what you're going through looks a bit familiar to her, and thought their practices might be of use to me. However, I'm not a telepath and can't even diagnose the way they do, much less treat, but the information is still interesting.

Crusher leads Licia out of the office and into Sickbay.

CUT TO:
22. INT. SICKBAY
Crusher takes Licia to a biobed and has her sit down.

CRUSHER
If you don't mind, I'd like to do a few more specific tests.

LICIA
Yes, please. I'd really like for there to be a reason for all this, other than that I'm a woman who loses her mind when she has a baby.

Crusher smiles, and begins calibrating and then using the hand-held instrument, doing a more careful scan of Licia's skull, then down her spinal column; she stops and checks the tricorder for a few things, then scans Licia's abdomen, again more thoroughly than before. She remains silent for what is for Licia a painfully long time before setting down her instruments.

CRUSHER
All right. This makes more sense now. Like some others on board you're having a semi-telepathic response to the Vizhad's language. Your response is more intense because you're working with them so closely, and that is what is causing the peripheral stress reactions. I don't see any reason why you can't go back to work. (Licia brightens) But you have to promise me two things: one, take it easy, and go home and rest with those chips the minute you feel stressed; and two, go see that masseuse!

LICIA (much relieved)
Thank you, doctor, I'll make an appointment right away!

Licia goes out, but Crusher's face turns to uncertainty once she is gone.

FADE TO:
23. INT. HOLODECK: VIZHAD PERFORMANCE PLAZA
The Vizhad are sitting around the table with Picard, Lwaxana, Troi, the Dafwans, and Data. Mandazhin and Niklan wear their lighter-weight dancing robes.

MANDAZHIN
Niklan and I have continued to work on our dances as Hamlet and Ophelia, but we have not been able to agree on their songs.

LICIA
I have an idea. I've been thinking about the "get thee to a nunnery" scene, and your song, "My Love Has Changed", keeps coming to mind.

PRELNA
Ah! An old song, and very sad, and one whose themes have often been used in our more modern works--yes, I think that would bring the right connotations to this scene.

NIKLAN
Yes--and if we were to add parts of the traditional dance for that song to her "mad" scenes, that would bring back the echo of the earlier scene and its pain for her.

MANDAZHIN
Just as not including the song's dance in the "nunnery" scene would underscore the disruption of Hamlet's and Ophelia's feelings for each other.

Without further comment Prelna begins to sing; Mandazhin and Niklan rise and begin dancing (see Appendix for text and music). A few beats into the song, Licia surprises the group by joining Prelna in harmony. Prelna turns toward Licia and continues to sing, and the dancing is not interrupted. Licia's eyes are closed, and she sways a bit with the song. Before the song has finished, however, her words fade to a hum; the swaying becomes a slump, and Nathaniel and Troi both put out an arm to steady her, Troi looking alarmed. The dancers quickly come to the table, Mandazhin reaching across it to place a hand over Licia's brow. Licia shakes herself and sits up.

LICIA
I'm fine, I was just thinking about the song....

Troi watches Licia intently.

TROI
Licia, you know you can't pretend with us.

Licia looks at Troi, then Picard, and Prelna, and Lwaxana. She turns to Nathaniel.

LICIA
Nathaniel, they're going to send me home!

NATHANIEL
And they're right. Do you want me to go with you?

LICIA
No, no, you should keep working.

Licia gets up and starts to leave. Data stands.

DATA
I will go with you, Mrs. Dafwan. Commander LaForge expects me in Engineering soon.

LICIA
All right, all right; and I suppose you'll put me to bed, too.

DATA (puzzled)
If you feel it is necessary.

PICARD
No, Data, escorting Mrs. Dafwan will be sufficient.

LICIA (defeated)
I'm sorry, every one. Computer, Exit!

She and Data go out quickly as the door appears.

TROI
Captain, if I'm not mistaken, for a moment Licia was singing that song--singing it as a Vizhad would sing it, not merely repeating the words.

MANDAZHIN
We do not understand this. Even if she were a telepath, we've been told the inflections of our songs are very difficult to learn. She seemed to be instinctively adapting her mind to Prelna's in order to sing with her.

NATHANIEL (uncomprehending)
It's what she always does. It's her profession.

TROI
Captain, this shouldn't be happening.

MANDAZHIN
Perhaps it should be. We don't yet know what "it" is.

CUT TO:
24. INT. DAFWANS' QUARTERS
The lights are low; Licia is sitting on the bed. The sleep-inducing chips are lying beside the bed and she fingers them, having mixed feelings about her need for them. Sighing, she leaves the chips alone, then stretches and rubs her neck. She reaches a hand to the garaya lute, now leaning next to the bedstand. Suddenly she turns her head towards a corner of the dim room, convinced she's heard something. She slides off the bed, tensed for action.

LICIA
Who is it? Who's there?

She again hears something, and whirls around to face an opposite corner. She rubs her forehead, momentarily confused, then registers motion out of the corner of an eye and immediately, with the frightened determination of self-defense, taps her communicator pin.

LICIA
Licia Dafwan to Security, I have an intruder in my quarters!

Several tense heartbeats go by; Licia steps to the garaya and picks it up to use as a club. The doors open and Worf looms large in the doorway, one or two security officers behind him, with the light from the corridor spilling over his shoulders.

WORF
Computer: Lights!

The lights come up, and Licia looks rather silly with the garaya held over her shoulder. She is suddenly wondering why she hadn't turned on the lights herself, and starting to feel foolish.

WORF
You may put that down, Mrs. Dafwan. We will search the room.

Worf and the security contingent fan out, phasers ready, checking closet space and nooks and crannies. One of them uses a tricorder to scan the room for unusual energy fluctuations, etc. Nothing. Licia sits meekly down on the bed and brings her knees up to her chin, her face troubled. The security force regathers in the center of the room.

WORF
Mrs. Dafwan, it seems there is no one here.

LICIA
I--I'm sorry, Mr. Worf. I was so certain I heard something.... I guess on top of everything else I'm hallucinating now. I'm sorry to have bothered you.

WORF
Think nothing of it. You should get some rest.

LICIA
Apparently so.

WORF
Shall I inform Dr. Crusher?

Licia nods defeatedly, eyes hollow. Worf and the security officer(s) go out. Licia drops her head on her knees, rocking herself.

FADE TO:
25. INT. LWAXANA'S GUEST QUARTERS
Troi is sitting down, while her mother is standing.

LWAXANA
We'll have to get to the next session soon, Deanna.

TROI
I hope Licia's sleeping. Beverly did finally give her a sedative, but she's so upset with herself....

LWAXANA
Yes, I was there too, you know. I couldn't help her, either. She's so withdrawn right now she's almost unreadable. I never do like sedatives when someone's sick at heart --it makes them that much harder to read.

TROI (V.O.)
You don't care that it helps someone, you just don't want it getting in your way!

LWAXANA (V.O.)
Or in yours, Little One. (aloud) If you could feel your B'Rana respond to you right now the way she always has, clear and true, you wouldn't be hurting so much.

TROI
Oh, Mother, how can you be so calm?

LWAXANA
I believe, Deanna, that Licia has more strength than you think. And I also believe that when I don't understand all the factors in a situation, I can do myself and those around me no good whatsoever by indulging in self-blame and self-pity as I try to find the perfect solution, without the necessary information.

Lwaxana sits down next to her daughter.

LWAXANA (gently)
Licia has to find her own way through this, Deanna, and you don't need me to quote your psychology textbooks at you to know that. Come on. Let's go to work.

FADE TO:
26. INT. DAFWANS' QUARTERS
Licia is again in bed, chips in place. She wakes, disoriented. She sits up and puts a hand to her head, rubbing it and dislodging the chips; with a sudden, impatient gesture she rips them off, clambers out of bed and looks confusedly around the dim room as a babble of voices, laughter, moans and cries begins to swell almost deafeningly around her. She falls to her knees, grabbing at a chair and knocking it over.

LICIA
DEANNA!

CUT TO:
27. INT. HOLODECK: VIZHAD PERFORMANCE PLAZA
The four Vizhad are now wordlessly dancing a version of Ophelia's mad scene, Mandazhin handing flowers to the others in turn as they dance. Picard, Lwaxana, Troi and Nathaniel watch from the table. The dancers are suddenly startled, and Troi leaps to her feet in panic.

TROI
Licia! Computer, Exit!

Troi immediately dashes out of the holodeck as the exit door appears. Lwaxana has felt Licia's cry as well; all except Nathaniel are now on their feet, Nathaniel momentarily stunned into immobility.

LWAXANA
Deanna--oh, this is terrible!

Lwaxana sweeps out, not waiting for the others. The Vizhad rapidly follow, too urgent for speech.

PICARD
Sickbay, we have an emergency situation in the Dafwan guest quarters! Computer, save program!

The plaza becomes the plain holodeck grid as Nathaniel shakes himself and follows Picard out at a run, passing the Captain at the door.

CUT TO:
28. INT. DAFWAN'S QUARTERS
Troi is on the floor with Licia, cradling her friend's head on her lap. Licia is now on her back, having a grand mal seizure (an electrical storm in the brain), stiffened and spasming, a frightening thing to watch; Troi is bent over her, sobbing with pain in an intense empathic connection. Lwaxana and the Vizhad arrive and fan out into the room, taking it all in; they are followed closely by Nathaniel, who moves to stand behind Troi, placing his hands on her shoulders as if to keep himself from falling. Picard enters, and Troi manages to look up at him, pulling out of Licia's pain enough to speak.

TROI
Oh my God...she's empathic!

She twists to look up at Nathaniel, the sobs returning.

TROI
She's feeling all of us--everyone--everyone on the ship!

Troi breaks down, leaning heavily against Nathaniel.

TROI (moaning)
It's too much, it's too much, she doesn't know....

The Vizhad move in closer, and Nathaniel draws Troi away in white-knuckled anguish. Troi weeps into Nathaniel's shoulder while his hurt eyes are fixed on Licia. The Vizhad kneel around Licia, Mandazhin at her head, and place their hands on her body, humming in harmony. Lwaxana has moved next to Picard, and takes his arm with an anguished face. Gradually the twitching ceases and Licia's body relaxes. The emergency medical team arrives, Crusher at the head.

MANDAZHIN (not looking up)
We will care for her. It is best. We can go to your Sickbay if you wish, but not yet.

Crusher moves in and begins scanning Licia with her tools.

FADE TO:
29. INT. SICKBAY
In the foreground Licia is sitting up in a bio-bed, Troi sitting next to her on the bed. Licia is holding the chameleon rose, which fluxes through a cascade of colors; the two friends are trying to help Licia focus emotional input by manipulating the rose (biofeedback). Its empty vase is on a stand next to the bed. Mandazhin and Niklan confer with Ogawa at one of the wall readouts; Crusher and Nathaniel are near the door.

CRUSHER
Licia's recovery has already been remarkable, with the Vizhad's help. The pregnancy is fine, and physically I don't think Licia or the baby has suffered any lasting harm. (hesitates) Mandazhin suspects that the baby may be born empathic as well.

Nathaniel has barely glanced at the doctor: he is fixed on Licia.

NATHANIEL
They tell me that the baby as a small presence inside her was a part of this, too. (pause) Arbiter Prelna wants us to continue our translation work, but I don't know how much I can do without--

CRUSHER
The work can wait, for now. (pause) Nathaniel, have you gotten any sleep?

NATHANIEL (suddenly snapping)
What do you think?! (containing himself) Thank you, Doctor, for your concern. You're right, I suppose the best thing I can do for Licia now is keep out of the way.

Nathaniel turns to go out, but Licia has looked up and sees him leaving.

LICIA
Nathaniel?!

Nathaniel turns and quickly goes to her, and Troi moves out of his way as he embraces his wife.

LICIA
Nathaniel, hold on to me, keep holding onto me....

NATHANIEL
I will, love, I will. You just do what you have to do to be well, and I'll try to stay in one piece, too.

He releases her gently, with a kiss, and goes out quickly, without looking at any one. Mandazhin and Niklan have looked up to monitor the exchange. The rose, still in Licia's hand, is a deep blood red. In the doorway Nathaniel nearly runs into Lwaxana and Riker on their way in, and quickly brushes past them. Crusher is now consulting with the Vizhad and Ogawa; Lwaxana and Riker watch as Licia and Troi resume work with the rose, which is once again in flux. It resolves rather shakily into a pale blue-green.

LICIA
Oh, Deanna, I'm so worried.... (She concentrates, and the blue-green color becomes stronger.) No, wait --that's not me, that's you.

Licia realizes what she has said, and panics; the rose turns black.

LICIA
B'Rana, tell me what I'm feeling!!

Deanna quickly takes her friend in her arms and rocks her, blinking back her own sudden tears. FOCUS on Lwaxana and Riker.

LWAXANA
It's so hard to see her like this.

RIKER
Licia, or Deanna?

LWAXANA
Licia is a very enduring person, Wil, very good at adapting herself to an uncertain universe. She only seems fragile because she focuses so much on other people. (pause) I always had a feeling something like this would happen with her--she has such depth of heart. She has been like another daughter to me, really, and how could my daughter be anything but spectacular? (pause) But this hurts Deanna. The two of them are so close, and now everything is changing.

RIKER
I wish I could help somehow.

LWAXANA
Believe me, William, you are helping just by caring about her. She feels it, you know.

Lwaxana gives Riker's arm or hand a squeeze, then moves forward and gently places a hand on Troi's shoulder.

LWAXANA (V.O.)
Come away, Little One. Let her rest. (aloud) It's time to go, Deanna.

Licia lies back on the bed; Lwaxana takes the rose from her (it turns violet) and places it in a vase next to the bed (the rose turns white), as Troi strokes Licia's cheek. Licia smiles, shadows flitting across her face. Troi gets up to go with her mother; she pauses for a tender hug from Riker before going out, looking back over her shoulder as Mandazhin and Niklan gather at Licia's head, Crusher behind them. Riker stands a moment, watching, and exits.

FADE TO:
30. INT. LWAXANA'S GUEST QUARTERS
Troi and Lwaxana are nestled together on a sofa.

TROI
Oh, Mother. Why didn't I see this coming? Why didn't I help her? Now she'll be going away to Perzhad, and I can't do anything for her.

LWAXANA
Don't blame yourself, Deanna. The Vizhad didn't understand it all either, until it was done. Perhaps she was meant to be this way. Haven't you always said that she's almost more Betazoid than human?

TROI
Yes; in a way she was both things, like me.

LWAXANA
And now that's changing, and part of you is afraid your friendship with her will change, too. But Deanna, the two of you are B'Rana. The love between you, that very special bond, won't ever go away, unless you choose to insist that it does by not accepting the change.

TROI (laughs and wipes her eyes)
I've heard someone who strongly resembles myself telling that to my clients upon occasion. (pause) You know, Mother, soon after Licia got here she asked me, "Who does the Counselor go to?" I didn't say you.

LWAXANA
Well, I haven't exactly been a selflessly supportive parent. (V.O.) I've pushed you too much. I expected you to be like me.

TROI (V.O.)
Expected? Demanded!

LWAXANA (aloud)
But you have your father's stubbornness; and do you know, I've always been a little proud of you for standing up to me. (V.O.) And for reminding me of him, even though that hurt a little, too. (aloud) I loved him very much, you know.

A single tear traces down Lwaxana's face; Deanna reaches up to catch it and the mother holds her daughter's hand against her cheek, smiling a little. [Majel Barrett can be truly radiant.]

TROI (almost whispering)
Yes, Mother, I know--I'm sorry. I didn't always believe it.

LWAXANA
Oh, I don't want to think about grief, Little One. Losing loved ones is one of the few constants in the universe. But so is keeping them--close to your heart.

PULL BACK, music swells, and SLOW FADE OUT.

THE END


APPENDIX A:

Supplementary and Informational Material

It may or may not be useful to know that the name Dafwan is common among the Mwaghavul people (a.k.a. Sura) of the Jos Plateau in Nigeria, a region of many Christians and multiple ethnic minorities but influenced by the regionally powerful and numerous, Islamic Hausa people of the north. The men tend to wear the Middle Eastern-influenced robes, suits and caps common throughout Islamic Africa (often in colorful prints rather than the solid whites and pastels of the northerners), while the women wear blouses, head-ties, and wrappers. I stipulate no masks in the Dafwans' quarters since in most parts of West Africa masks are spiritual symbols only brought out for festivals and rituals which the spirits will visit, and thus are not appropriate (or exactly safe) for display in the home.

While the Vizhad have no wings, they could have a gliding membrane between arms and body; normally this would remain hidden beneath clothing, but it would be delightful to have a performance moment, when they are dancing, when this would show. A soft prosthetic beak, cupping over the nose and mouth for ease of speech and breathing, would I hope not be too difficult to devise for an avian alien, whether for this episode or any other. And of course it would not be an utter tragedy if they were made more humanoid, if bird-face makeup would be costly.

In the Hamlet scene, Marina Sirtis could play Ophelia (using her own accent), with Jonathan Frakes as Laertes, Patrick Stewart as Claudius (a role he played superlatively in the BBC production with Derek Jacobi), and Gates McFadden as Gertrude. Alternatively, the actors playing the Vizhad could take these four roles (only two of which are speaking in this brief excerpt), without their Vizhad makeup.

I realize that this is not exactly an orthodox Star Trek teleplay, with no captain's logs (Picard's opening speech could easily be a log entry, but I couldn't make others fit), and not a single scene on the bridge. The excellent DSN episode "Duet" encouraged me on this point, since it, too, lacked officers' logs and had pacing similar to mine. As my sister, an electrical engineer who designs satellites, queried: "No photon torpedoes? No tractor beams?" Not a high-tech episode, which may well be a virtue in terms of production costs, although it does provide opportunities for what might be interesting special effects.

I did not originally intend for Lwaxana Troi to come along on this one, but her voice occurred to me as a good foil for Deanna, and I have admired Majel Barrett's (and the writers') work with her character. I'm fully aware that the fact that I don't really know what I'm doing writing for television clearly shows. I really enjoyed pursuing the story, which is, of course, the whole point.


PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Vizhad "vision" + "facade" (vi-ZHAD)
Mandazhin "mandarin" + "vision" (MAN-da-zhin)
Perzhad "pear" + "sod" + "vision" (PER-ZHAD)
garaya "guh-RAY-uh"


My Love Has Changed

(traditional Vizhad song)



My love has changed
His heart is snow and melts away
We are estranged
His mind has gone so far away

He does not know what he will see
When he turns his eyes to me
He thinks the light of life has flown
With every joy he's ever known

O turn your eyes to me, my love
Look away from the dark, and see

It is too late
My love has gone away
From who he was
And now my heart will stay
alone


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