Picard hangs from hand-cuffs locked into a mechanism in the ceiling. He is naked, and sleeping. The door opens. Madred and two guards enter.
Madred: Good morning. I trust you slept well.
Madred carries a small container resembling a thermosflask. The guards releases the latch suspending Picard. Madred sits behind his desk and opens up the flask. Picard is lead over. Madred sips his drink.
Madred: Thirsty?
Picard manages a nod.
Madred: I would imagine so.
Madred continues to sip his drink.
Madred: Well. It's time to move on.
Picard: I've told you all that I know.
Madred: Yes, I'm sure you have.
Madred activates a set of 4 large spotlights above his head using a device in his hand. Picard winces under the glare.
Madred: How many lights do you see there?
Picard: I see... four lights.
Madred: No. There are five. Are you quite sure?
Picard: There are four lights.
Madred: Perhaps you are aware of the incision in your chest? While under the influence of our drugs you were implanted with a small device.
Picard scratches slightly at a scar just under his left collar bone.
Madred: Remarkable invention.
Madred picks up another control pad from his desk.
Madred: By entering commands in this Padd I can produce pain in any part of your body, at various levels of severity. Forgive me, I don't enjoy this, but I must demonstrate, it will make everything clearer.
Madred actives the device. Picard collapses in agony on the floor.
Madred: Surprising isn't it? Most people feel at first they can steel themselves against it but they are completely unprepared for the intensity of the pain. That was the lowest possible setting.
Picard: I know nothing about Minos Korva.
Madred: But I told you that I believe you. I didn't ask you about Minos Korva. I asked how many lights you see.
Picard: There are four lights.
Madred: I don't understand how you can be so mistaken.
Madred reactivates the device.

...

Madred's daughter Orra is with Madred at his desk. They are feeding a small rodent. Picard sits in a chair behind them. He is dozing.
Madred: I want you to be very careful with your wompit from now on Jil Orra. Now that she is separated from her mother she depends on you.
Orra: I will father.
Orra looks over at Picard.
Orra: Do humans have mothers and fathers?
Madred: Yes. But human mothers and fathers don't love their children as we do. They're not the same as we are.
Orra: Will you read to me tonight?
Madred: Yes of course I will. I'll see you later.
Orra leaves with the wompit.
Picard: You daughter... is lovely.
Madred: Yes, I think so. And unusually bright. It's amazing isn't it? They way they are able to sneak into your heart. I must admit I was completely unprepared for the power she had over me, from the moment she was born.
Picard: I'm surprised... you let her come in here..
Madred: Why?
Picard: To expose a child to.... this. To someone who is suffering. To see that it is you that inflicts that suffering.
Madred: From the time Orra could crawl she has been taught about the enemies of the Cardassian's and that enemies deserve their fate.
Picard: When children learn to devalue others, they can devalue anyone, including their parents.
Madred: What a blind, narrow view you have. What an arrogant man you are? What do you know of Cardassian history?
Picard: I know that once you were a peaceful people.. with a rich spiritual life.
Madred: And what did peace and spirituality get us? People starved by the millions. Bodies went unburied. Disease was rampant. Suffering was unimaginable.
Picard: Since the military took over hundreds of thousands have died.
Madred: We are feeding the people. We acquired territory during the wars. We developed new resources. We initiated a rebuilding program. We have mandated agricultural programs. And that is what the military has done for Cardassia. And because of that, my daughter will never worry about going hungry.
Picard: Her belly may be full, but her spirit will be empty.
Madred strikes Picard with the back of his hand. He slowly walks back to his desk.
Madred: Shall we begin again?
Madred reactivates the lights.
Madred: How many lights are there?
Picard: What lights?
Madred actives the torture device.

...

Picard lies on the floor under a table. He is delirious, muttering the words to a song. Madred walks over and puts a foot on his chest.
Madred: Wake up. Where were you?
Picard: Home. Sunday dinner. We would all sing afterwards.
Madred: What a charming picture. The Picard family, voices raised in song. Is that what's keeping you from breaking? Memories of home and hearth. Images of happier times? I must congratulate you, you are remarkably strong willed. I see no point in keeping your further, you may go.
At this Picard stirs a little.
Madred: Someone will give you clean clothing before we return you to your ship.
Madred actives a Padd that opens the door. Picard struggles to his feet and begins to stagger to the door.
Madred: We will get what we need from the human female.
Picard stops.
Picard: What female are you referring to?
Madred: The human who was part of your abortive assault team of course.... Doctor Beverly Crusher.
Picard turns to face Madred.
Picard: What have you done to her?
Madred: Not a thing. She's quite safe. I wanted to finish my interviews with you before I interrogated her. I had hoped it might not be necessary.
Picard: Lieutenant Worf?
Madred: He left us few options. We had to kill him. I'm more optimistic about getting what we need from the woman.
Picard begins to return to the centre of the room.
Picard: Doctor Crusher has no knowledge of Starfleet operations. She's a medical officer.
Madred: You might be right, I'll have to determine that for myself.
Picard staggers over to the desk at sits back in his seat.
Madred: Are you.. choosing to stay with me?
Picard nods.
Madred: Excellent. I can't tell you how pleased that makes me.

...

Picard dozes with his head resting on Madred's desk. Sat at his desk, Madred cracks open a large egg. Picard stirs a little.
Madred: Aaah, you're awake! Have something to eat. I insist. Boiled taspar egg. It's a delicacy I'm happy to share with you.
Madred hands Picard an egg and a knife. Picard opens up the egg and examines the live taspar for a second before wolfing the contents down.
Madred: Wonderful! Wonderful. I like you, human. Most people become ill at the sight of live taspar. I remember the first time I ate a live taspar. Six years old and living on the streets of Lakat. There was a band of children, four, five, six years old, some even smaller. Desperately trying to survive. We were thin, scrawny little animals. Constantly hungry, always cold. We slept together in doorways like packs of wild gettles for warmth. Once I found a nest. Taspars had mated and built a nest in the eve of a burnt out building, and I found three eggs in it. It Like finding treasure. I cracked one open on the spot and ate it, very much as you just did. I planned to save the other two. They would keep me alive for another week. But of course an older boy saw them, and wanted them. And he got them. But he had to break my arm to do it.
Picard: Must be rewarding to you to repay others for all those years of misery.
Madred: What do you mean?
Picard: Torture has never been a reliable means of extracting information. It is ultimately self-defeating as a means of control. One wonders it is still practised.
Madred: I fail to see where this analysis is leading.
Picard: Whenever I look at you now, I won't see a powerful Cardassian warrior. I will see a six year old boy who is powerless to protect himself.
Madred: Be quiet!
Madred turns the lights back on.
Picard: In spite of all you have done to me I find you a pitiable man.
Madred: Picard! Stop it, or I'll turn this on and leave you in agony all night.
Picard: Ah ha! You called me Picard.
Madred: What are the Federation's defence plans for Minos Korva?
Picard: There are four lights.
Madred activates the device.
Madred: There are FIVE lights. How many do you see now?
Picard: You are six years old! Weak and helpless! You cannot hurt me!
Madred: How many?
Picard wails incoherently, shaking with the pain.

...

Picard wakes in his chair. The room is empty. The control device sits on the desk. He gets up, examines it for a second and start to uselessly beat it against the desk. The door opens and Madred returns.
Madred: That won't help, I have many more.
Picard: Still, it felt good.
Madred: Enjoy your good feeling while you can. There may not be many more of them. I've just received word. There's been a battle, the Enterprise is burning in space. The invasion of Minos Korva has been successful.
Picard: ..don't believe you.
Madred: There's no need for any further information. Our troops were successful in spite of your refusal to help me. You could have saved yourself a great deal of torment by yielding at the beginning.
Picard: I want to see a neutral representative.
Madred: There is no such person. The word will be that you perished with your crew. No-one will ever know that you are here with us, as you will be for a long, long time. You do, however, have a choice. You can live your life out here in misery, subject to my whim. Or you can live in comfort with good food and warm clothing, women as you desire them. Allowed to continue your studies of philosophy and history. I would enjoy debating with you, you have a keen mind. It's up to you. A life of easy and reflection and intellectual challenge... or this.
Picard: What must I do?
Madred: Nothing really. Tell me... how many lights you see.
Picard looks up at the lights anew.
Madred: How many? How many lights? This is your last chance.
The door opens and several people enter.
Madred: The guards are coming. Don't be a stubborn fool.
Lemec: You told me he would be ready to go.
Madred: We had some.. unfinished business.
Lemec: Get him cleaned up, a ship is waiting to take him back to the Enterprise. Captain Picard, if you go with the guards they will take care of you.
Picard turns to Madred.
Picard: (shouting) There are FOUR lights!
He turns a walks out of the room, refusing help from the guards.