LIFE LINE
Episode 144
Part B

 

Sickbay. In his office, while humming 'La donna e mobile', the Doctor is startled to learn, as he is cut off suddenly, that he can no longer hum or sing.

He tackles Seven who is at a computer console modifying his program. Doctor: "My vocal processor." Seven: "It's not a malfunction. I've removed your singing algorithms. They'll be stored in the memory buffer until you return." Doctor: "Why?" Seven: "Your program's too large for the datastream. I have to extract all non-essential subroutines." Doctor: "They're essential to me. They're part of who I am!"

Seven: "Are you planning on performing opera during your visit?" Doctor: "No." Seven: "Will you be reciting poetry?" Doctor: "Doubtful." Seven: "Hoverball? Holophotography?" Doctor: "I may want to take a few snapshots to document my trip." Seven: "Sexual activities?" Doctor: "I get the point How much has to be left behind?" Seven: "12 megaquads."

Doctor, giving her a hurt look: "Hmm. I suppose you could get rid of my athletic abilities and my grand master chess program." Seven: "That leaves 3 megaquads. Your painting skills?"

Doctor: "Oh. If you must. Try to leave a few of my enhancements intact. I don't want to look like every other EMH on the block. I think Dr Zimmerman will be very interested to see what I've learned. He probably never imagined what one of his own creations could accomplish. I could spark a whole new field in holographic research."

The preparations have been made. The Doctor, Kim, Janeway and Seven are in the Astrometrics Lab.

Janeway to Doctor: "Bon voyage."

Doctor: "See you in a month."

Kim to the Doctor: "Don't get lost." He takes hold of the mobile emitter. The Doctor dematerialises as his program is despatched to the Alpha Quadrant.

Jupiter Station.

Haley, Dr Zimmerman's assistant, waves off an insect that has settled on a lettuce leaf which forms part of Zimmerman's salad lunch: "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, stay off the food!"

She fetches food from the replicator.

Haley pours a glass of water and puts the finishing touches to the lunch tray. At the same time, there comes Zimmerman's call. "Haley? What's the status of my lunch?!" Haley: "It's coming, Doctor!" Zimmerman: "As if things weren't bad enough, now I'm dying of starvation."

As she starts to take it in, the door signal sounds. Haley, puts down the tray for a moment, feeling harrassed. "Come in!" Barclay enters. Haley: "Mr Barclay. Is something wrong?" Barclay: "No. Just the opposite. Is he in?" Haley: "He's not taking visitors today." Barclay: "Tell him this is important." Haley: "He's in a prickly mood."

Barclay checks the canister he has brought with him. "I've brought something with me that might cheer him up. Computer, is the download complete?" Computer: "Affirmative."

Haley enters the lab. Haley: "Lunch." Zimmerman: "That's not pork chops." She spreads a napkin over his lap. Haley: "It's salad." Zimmerman: "I didn't ask for salad." Haley: "It's healthy." Zimmerman: "I'm dying. A piece of meat won't kill me any quicker. Give the plants to Leonard," indicating the iguana, "he's the one trying to watch his weight." Haley: "Lieutenant Barclay is here to see you." Zimmerman: "I told you I wasn't-" Haley: "He says it's urgent." Zimmerman: "Can't it wait 'til I'm dead? Alright, send him in. Three minutes. He's got three minutes." Haley: "Be civil to him, Lewis. He's worried about you. We all are."

After Haley has gone, Zimmerman starts to take a forkful of lettuce leaves but dislikes the thought and puts it down.

Very cheerful, Barclay enters the lab. Barclay: "I found a friend waiting for me at home." Zimmerman: "You don't have any friends." Barclay: "Well, I guess er you could say he's a friend of yours." Barclay activates the containment device....

.... and the Doctor materialises and announces with pleasure: "Please state the nature of the medical emergency."

Zimmerman to Barclay: "An EMH Mark 1. I'm not in the mood for nostalgia, Reginald."

The Doctor's optimism deflates rather when realises that his creator definitely does not find him welcome.

Barclay: "But this is the Mark 1 from Voyager." Doctor: "I was compressed into a datastream and transmitted from the Delta Quadrant." Zimmerman: "Congratulations. I recommend a tour of Jupiter's third moon. I hear the lava flows are lovely this time of year."

Doctor: "I'm not here for a vacation! I'm here to treat your illness." Zimmerman ignores him and says to Barclay sarcastically: "You brought a Mark 1 30,000 light-years to treat me? I was wrong about you, Reginald - you do have a sense of humour." Doctor: "Care to let me in on the joke?"

Zimmerman to Barclay: "You didn't tell him?" Doctor: "Tell me what?!"

Barclay: "Well, er, I-" Zimmerman to the Doctor: "You're obsolete, extinct, yesterday's news." Doctor: "My program was retired?"

Zimmerman: "Retired? Not at all. The EMH Mark 1 was reconfigured to scrub plasma conduits on waste transfer barges! I've been treated by the Mark 3, the Mark 4, not to mention the finest real doctors in Starfleet. None of them could help me!" Barclay: "He has been running almost continuously for 6 years. He has seen more things than most doctors could even imagine." Doctor: "I also have an exceptionally high tolerance for difficult patients." Zimmerman: "I didn't program you for sarcasm." Doctor: "You'll find I'm full of surprises." Zimmerman: "Show the good doctor to the plasma generator. I understand there's quite a build-up of residue."

Doctor: "If we had more time, I'd enjoy trading barbs with you." He gets out a medical tricorder and tries to scan Zimmerman, but Zimmerman is unco-coperative and keeps moving away, irritating the Doctor. "But right now there's a more pressing concern - your life. I'm working on a treatment based on a disease I found in the Delta Quadrant. But I'll need to run a complete analysis. However, if it's impossible for you to believe that a lowly Mark 1 could have anything useful to offer, I'll be happy to pack my bags and go explore those sulphur mines." Zimmerman: "Go ahead. Scan away." Barclay: "I'll be outside." Barclay leaves.

Doctor: "What were your initial symptoms?" Zimmerman: "Radical hair loss." He relents on the sarcasm and answers the question: "Fatigue, nausea, joint inflammation."

Doctor: "Have you travelled outside the solar system recently?" Zimmerman: "What's that got to do anything?" Doctor: "Just answer the question." Zimmerman: "I haven't left Jupiter Station in over 4 years." Doctor: "To your knowledge, have you been exposed to theta radiation?" Zimmerman: "No." Doctor: "Neutron flux?" Zimmerman: "Never."

Doctor: "Have you had intimate relations with a Bolian?" Zimmerman loses patience, moves away and sits down at the console. "These are questions first year medical students would ask!"

Doctor: "I'm just being thorough." Leonard, the iguana: "'Just being thorough.'" Doctor: "Did that creature just speak?" Zimmerman: "His name's Leonard. He's a hologram." Doctor: "Computer, deactivate iguana." The iguana dematerialises.

Zimmerman: "How dare you!" Doctor: "I'm a Doctor, not a zookeeper. Has there ever been an epidemic on this station?"

Zimmerman: "No! Enough questions! Finish your scans and get out of here!" Doctor: "Doctor-" Zimmerman: "I said get out of here!" Doctor: "I travelled halfway across the galaxy to treat you. The least you could do is show a little gratitude." Zimmerman: "Thank you. Get out of here!!"

Doctor: "I may be the only physician who can save your life. You need me." Zimmerman: "Like hell! I brought your matrix into this world and I can take it out!" Doctor: "I'm no longer a prototype. I have exceeded my programming. I'm no longer under your control!" Zimmerman: "Oh really. Computer, transfer EMH to the living quarters."

The Doctor finds himself in the living quarters. Hopefully, Barclay turns towards him. "How did it go?"