REAL LIFE
Episode 64
Part F

 

"You never think of the consequences of your actions, the effect they might have on others." Doctor: "I'm sorry."

In Sickbay, the Doctor is performing a medical check-up on Paris. Doctor: "Your hard head has protected you again, Lieutenant. It was only a mild concussion." Paris chuckles. "It was worth it, though. That was one wild ride." Doctor: "I'm sure it was." Sharply: "And it's a wonder you're not dead. People like you who court danger should be thrown into the Brig." Paris: "Doc-" Doctor: "You never think of the consequences of your actions, the effect they might have on others. Oh no, live for the moment, take risks you shouldn't!" He stops, realising that he is taking out his family problems on Paris. He turns and faces Paris. "I'm sorry." Paris comes up to him: "Are you alright?" Doctor: "I..... It's my family. My daughter Belle had an accident. She's a child who tends to take risks. She's going to die." Paris: "I'm so sorry." Doctor: "I'll be alright. I shut down the program. I'm not going back." Paris: "Maybe you should think about that, Doc." Doctor: "I couldn't begin to face it. It was too difficult." Paris: "I guess all of us would avoid that kind of pain if we could, but most people don't have that choice." Doctor: "Well fortunately I do." Paris: "Is it so fortunate? You created that program so you could experience what it's like to have a family - the good times and the bad. You can't have one without the other." Doctor: "I fail to see why not." Paris: "Well, think about what's happened to us here on Voyager. Everyone left people behind, and everyone suffered a loss. But look how it's brought us all closer together. We found support here and friendship, and we've become a family, in part because of the pain we shared. If you turn your back on this program you'll always be stuck at this point. You'll never have the chance to say goodbye to your daughter, or to be there for your wife and son when they need you, and you'll be cheating yourself of the chance to have their love and support. In the long run, you'll miss the whole point of what it means to have a family." He leaves.

In the empty holodekc, the Doctor orders: "Computer, continue Doctor's Family Program beta rho, from the last point of deactivation."

He is back in the hospital room. Belle: "Daddy, what's going to happen to me? When will I be able to see again?" Doctor: "I'm not sure. You're a very sick girl."

Belle: "Am I going to die?" Doctor, almost crying: "You, you're too sick to get better." Belle: "So I'm going to die?" Doctor: "Yes." Belle, weeping: "If you'll stay with me I won't be afraid."

Charlene and Jeffrey come in. Doctor to Belle: "I'll stay right here, I promise." Charlene holds Belle's hand.

Jeffrey: "Dad." He and the Doctor embrace, their quarrel forgotten.

Then Jeffrey turns to Belle. "There you go, shorty. It's your blanket."

Belle is glad to feel her blanket as it is arranged for her.

Charlene: "We're here, Belle, we're all here."

Belle: "It's getting darker. I'm sleepy." Doctor: "It's alright. Go to sleep. We're alright here."

She relaxes. Her eyes close and her head flops. The Doctor scans her with a medical tricorder.

He does not need to report the result. They all know she is dead. with fade-out

Charlene and Jeffrey hug each other, comforting each other in their grief.

Then the Doctor joins in, experiencing their love and support too. Now he knows what it means to have a family.