(Music) [Bridge]
(Riker and Troi are beamed directly to the bridge)
Are you both all right? RIKER: None the worse for wear.
My mother bought our freedom, Captain. She doesn't want to stay with Tog.
Hail the Krayton. Frequencies open. DaiMon Tog responding.
On screen. TOG [on viewscreen]: Captain Picard, so good
of you to meet us. We were on our way to Betazed to return our guests.
Of course you were, DaiMon. But you're still holding Lwaxana Troi.
LWAXANA [on viewscreen]: When will you get it through your thick head that it's over
between us, Jean-Luc? (mute transmission)
I think I know what she's doing. You have to fight to get her back, Captain.
Open. Er, er. It's not over between us, Lwaxana.
You're mine and I will not let you go. I insist you return to my side immediately.
LWAXANA [on viewscreen]: You mean, you still care? (Picard ploughs into a hotchpot of lines
from Shakespeare's sonnets, 147, 141 and 8.) My love is a fever, longing still for that
which longer nurseth the disease. Tell me more.
In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes, for they in thee a thousand errors see. But
'tis my heart that loves what they despise, who in despite of view are please'd to dote.
Shall I compare the to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
[Tog's quarters] (As the declaiming goes on in the background)
TOG: You didn't tell me that you and Captain Picard were
You said you didn't want to hear about my other romances. I have a new love, Jean-Luc.
[Bridge] LWAXANA [on viewscreen]: And you can't keep
killing all my lovers. That simply has to stop.
TOG [on viewscreen]: Killing? LWAXANA [on viewscreen]: Oh, he's insanely
jealous. Listen, Tog, I must possesses Lwaxana. And
if that means destroying your ship in the process, so be it.
TOG [on viewscreen]: Captain, I had no idea Lwaxana was
LWAXANA [on viewscreen]: Don't let him threaten you. You can defeat him. The only way you'll
ever get me back is over Tog's dead body! PICARD [on viewscreen]: That can be arranged.
Mister Worf, arm phaser banks and photon torpedoes. If Lwaxana Troi is not in my arms in ten seconds,
throw everything you've got at the Krayton. TOG [on viewscreen]: But you will destroy
Lwaxana! When I have plucked the rose, I cannot give
it vital growth again. It needs must wither. Nine, eight. 'Tis better to have loved and
lost than never to have loved at all. (Tennyson, In Memoriam, 27) Seven, six
TOG [on viewscreen]: No, wait. Five, four
TOG [on viewscreen]: Beam her to their Bridge, now!
Two, one (Lwaxana appears, and sits on Picard's knee)
You wonderfully jealous fool, you. TOG [on viewscreen]: Captain, I trust there
will be no further action taken against us? Such as my reporting this incident to your
superiors who may question your competency as DaiMon? I will think about it. Screen off.
Thank you, Jean-Luc. You were most convincing. You certainly convinced me.
I am truly grateful, Mrs. Troi, that you risked your life to save my people. I'll have you
home within a few hours. Oh, no, no, no, no, that won't be necessary.
I'd just love to hear more of your poetry. Perhaps another time. (finally manages to
stand up. Please. Mister Crusher, set course for Betazed. Warp nine. (Music)