FALSE PROFITS
Episode 47
Part A

 

Janeway: "Captain's log, stardate 50074.3. We have detected evidence that a wormhole recently appeared, and then disappeared, in a nearby solar system. We're on our way there to investigate."

On Voyager's bridge, Janeway, Chakotay and Kim are at Kim's station, Ops, looking at the scanner read-outs. Kim: "Based on the residual neutrino levels I'd estimate it's been at least six months since the wormhole's last appearance." Chakotay: "From the dispersal pattern of the interstellar plasma it looks as if it isn't fixed. It seems to be travelling through space." Janeway: "It may not be fixed on this end, but if it's shown up in one place more than once it's possible that it's exit point is constant, and it's wagging round the Delta Quadrant like a tail on a dog."

Paris: "Approaching the last known co-ordinates of the wormhole, Captain." Janeway: "All stop. Mr Kim, initiate continuous neutrino scans." Kim: "Aye, Captain."

Janeway: "Mr Tuvok, scan the planets in this system for lifesigns. Maybe there's someone around here who can give us some helpful information." Tuvok: "I am picking up an M-class atmosphere on the second planet, humanoid lifesigns. However, metallurgic analysis indicates a pre-industrial civilisation, a Bronze Age level of technology. Curious, Captain."

Janeway: "What is?" Tuvok: "I'm detecting evidence that these people have had contact with the Alpha Quadrant." Janeway: "What kind of evidence?" Tuvok: "It is a modulated energy discharge that appears to be consistent with the recent use of a replicator."

Kim, with burgeoning hope: "If they've got a replicator, it could mean the wormhole leads to the Alpha Quadrant, and that someone's travelled through it."

Janeway: "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Ensign, but before we indulge in too much speculation let's see if we can back up your assumptions with some facts. Commander Chakotay, I want you and Lieutenant Paris to go down to that planet and have a look around." To Tuvok: "Launch a high-resolution reconnaissance probe to gather information about the local population's dress and appearance." Tuvok: "Aye, Captain."

Janeway to Kim, "In the meantime, Ensign, why don't you and Lieutenant Torres get started on a phase profile of this elusive wormhole's neutrino emissions. Let's see if we can confirm that it leads to the Alpha Quadrant."

Voyager arrives at the planet. Janeway: "Captain's log, stardate 50074.5. Based on information provided by the probe we have replicated local attire for Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Paris. They have gone to the surface to investigate."

Some natives in the marketplace. One is a sandal-maker. Another sells small pottery jars.

Chakotay takes surreptitious scans with a tricorder.

Paris: "This is where we picked up a replicator signature?" Chakotay: "Hard to believe, isn't it?"

A beggar-cum-bard, wearing an eye-patch over his right eye, collars them and recites the first verse from The Song of the Sages:

Oh those many years ago The people's hearts were sad and low. Then the Sages to the city came. They came upon a burning flame Just as the Seers said they would. They lifted Takar's blinding hood- He turns to them: "Well, what did you think?"

Paris is amused. Chakotay tells the Bard tactfully: "It was very nice."

Bard: "Nice?! I'll wager you've never heard the 'Song of the Sages' more beautifully or faithfully recited."

Paris to Chakotay, with heavy irony: "He's got a point. We have never heard the 'Song of the Sages' more beautifully recited." Bard, wheedling: "As you know, the first verse is free, but the next verse will cost you...." he guesses at the sum he can attain from them: "three frangs?" He holds out his hand for the money. Chakotay: "I'm sorry, not today." Bard, begging, pointing to his right eye with a patch over it: "Oh, but I need money for ointment for my eye, please, gentlemen!"

A merchant appears and bustles the Bard out of the way. "Go away, old man! Can't you see? These are men of commerce. They have no business with your silly poems."

Having got rid of the Bard, and having captured the exclusive attention of these potential customers, he remarks: "And may I say, gentlemen, you both have very fine shoes." Paris: "Excuse me?" Merchant: "Well, the Sages say you can tell a great deal about a man from his shoes, and I can tell from your shoes that you're men of refinement, affluence." Chakotay: "We've really got to be going."

The Merchant is persistent: "Well, you're obviously new in Takar. Perhaps I could interest you in some property?" Paris: "Er no, thank you. We're not planning on settling here."

Merchant: "Oh, what about some transportation? The Sages say, 'Time's an asset.' And you shouldn't waste your assets walking everywhere you go. You'd be wearing out those fine shoes of yours." Paris: "I'm sorry, but we're really not interested."

Chakotay, who has managed to walk away a little distance so he can carry out further discreet tricorder scans, calls out: "Tom."

Paris to the Merchant: "Excuse me." He joins Chakotay. Chakotay: "I'm picking up a narrowband EM dampening field around that building. It looks like some sort of temple." Paris: "Then I'd say the temple's where we ought to look."

The Merchant overhears them and pushes in on their conversation. "Oh, thank the Sages I found you. You can't enter the Temple without wearing your ears!" Paris: "Look, friend, I thought I told you-" Chakotay interrupts to ask the Merchant: "What do you mean, 'wearing your ears'?" Merchant: "You're really not Takarian, are you? Nobody visits the Temple without displaying at least one ear." He indicates the ears on his own ears-pendant.

Chakotay and Paris look around, and see everyone else is wearing ears - a woman wears one in her hair, a man wears a string of ears on a pendant. Chakotay, in an aside to Paris: "Must be some sort of fetish."

Merchant: "If you're not wearing an ear, you could be fined, even arrested. You wouldn't want that to happen." merchant re ears: edited Paris: "And let me guess - it just so happens that you could sell us a couple of these ears." Merchant, holding aloft his trade bundle: "As a matter of fact, I can."

He rolls out his bundle of merchandise to display his wares.

He looks down at their shoes, indicating what he wants in trade for the ears.