E N T E R P R I S E
"Broken Bow"
Parts I & II
written by
RICK BERMAN
&
BRANNON BRAGA
based upon "STAR TREK" created
by GENE RODDENBERRY
ENTERPRISE
"Broken Bow" Parts I & II
FADE IN:
FLASHBACK: CLOSE ON A STARSHIP HULL (OPTICAL)
White, featureless. We hear the sound of a
TICKING CLOCK.
A PAINTBRUSH held in a BOY'S HAND enters
frame and begins
to apply gun metal gray paint to
the hull. We realize that
the ship is actually a
scale MODEL of an early 22nd
century Starfleet
transport. Its name and number are
painted on the
hull. The boy makes some rocket-like
whooshing noises, then
YOUNG ARCHER
"Where
no man has gone
before.
"
FATHER
Doctor
Cochrane would be
proud of you.
YOUNG ARCHER
I know the
whole speech by
heart
FATHER
(re: model)
Watch out...
you're
painting over the
Captain's
windows.
YOUNG ARCHER
Sorry
FLASHBACK: WIDER ANGLE -YOUNG ARCHER AND FATHER
(OPTICAL)
are working on the starship model at a table in
the SUN
PORCH of an APARTMENT in SAN FRANCISCO.
Sunlight is
pouring through the windows, which
overlook the CITY. An
old pendulum CLOCK ticks
on the wall. YOUNG ARCHER is age
nine; his
FATHER is in his 40's; both are wearing 22nd
century civilian clothing.
YOUNG ARCHER
When's it
gonna be ready to
fly?
FATHER (SMILES)
Let the paint
dry first.
YOUNG ARCHER
No. I mean
the ship
FATHER
Not for a
while. It hasn't
even built
yet.
YOUNG ARCHER
How big will
it be?
FATHER
Pretty big
FLASHBACK: CLOSE ON A JAR OF BLUE PAINT
(OPTICAL)
as the father opens it, and Young Archer dips
his brush
inside.
YOUNG ARCHER
Bigger than
Ambassador
Pointy's ship?
FATHER
His name is
Soval... and
he's been very
helpful...
and I've told you not
to
call him that.
As they talk,Young Archer paints the leading
edge of a
nacelle.
YOUNG ARCHER
Billy Cook
said we'd be
flying at five by
now if
the Vulcans hadn't kept
things from us.
FATHER
They have
their reasons.
(wry)
God knows
what they are.
As they work on the starship
DISSOLVE TO:
CRANE SHOT -MOVING ACROSS CORN FIELDS – DAY
(OPTICAL)
SUPER: Broken Bow, Oklahoma -30 Years Later
CAMERA stops on the jarring sight of a smoking CRASHED
KLINGON SHUTTLECRAFT.
CUT TO:
EXT. CORN FIELD -GROUND LEVEL -DAY (OPTICAL)
KLAANG, a seven foot tall Klingon Warrior,
is running
desperately through the rows
of corn. We only catch
glimpses of him,
but we can tell from his breathing that
he's
running for his life. The BLAST from an alien
weapon
flashes past him, searing the stalks.
NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)
Two humanoid FIGURES are chasing Klaang,
weapons drawn.
We'll come to know that these
are SULIBAN --a genetically
engineered species
with an unusual dappled texture to
their skin.
They continue to FIRE.
CUT TO:
EXT. FARMHOUSE -DAY
A middle-aged FARMER steps out the front door,
looking in
the direction of the weapons fire.
HIS POV (OPTICAL)
We see flashes of LIGHT and MOVEMENT in the cornfield, as
well as a plume of SMOKE from
the crashed shuttle.
THE FARMER
urgently heads back into the house.
KLAANG
breaks into the clear, quickly surveys the
scene. He spots
a nearby SILO and runs toward
it with intent.
THE TWO SULIBAN
emerge from the field and see Klaang.
AT THE SILO
Klaang quickly opens a large DOOR and steps
inside. We
hear the door LOCK.
THE FARMER
steps out of his house, armed with a 22nd
century PLASMA
SHOTGUN. He runs down the
porch steps and heads toward the
cornfield...
THE- SULIBAN (OPTICAL)
have reached the locked silo door. One of
them lowers
himself to the ground and
proceeds to DISLOCATE his
SKELETAL STRUCTURE.
His SKULL flattens as his BODY
slithers beneath
the six inch opening at the bottom of the
door.
THE SILO DOOR
unlocks from within. The Suliban who crawled
inside opens
the door and his partner enters.
WIDE SHOT -THE SILO (OPTICAL)
Klaang breaks out another DOOR fifteen feet
above ground.
He LANDS on a nearby SHED, LEAPS to the dirt and draws his
DISRUPTOR. He runs
twenty feet, spins, and FIRES a single
SHOT at the broken door he just came out of.
BOOOM! (OPTICAL)
The SILO EXPLODES in a FIERY EXPLOSION!
KLAANG (OPTICAL)
who has been blown to the ground, stands and
staggers away
from the BURNING silo.
FARMER (O.C.)
Stop right there!
Klaang looks up to see the farmer, who is approaching him,
shotgun raised.
FARMER
(very nervous)
I mean it!
Klaang, who doesn't understand the farmer,
responds in
Klingon:
KLAANG
Ro~nuh,
t2ag:h ~oH! Mang:
juH!
The farmer is terrified --he's never seen an
alien before,
not to mention a Klingon Warrior with a disruptor in his
hand.
FARMER
I have no
idea what you're
saying... but
I guarantee
you, I know how to
use
this.
Klaang continues to rant as he steps closer.
KLAANG
Qag:h DoQ!
RIch ghaH!
The farmer tenses, then FIRES an elongated
FLASH
of ENERGY
which HITS Klaang square in the chest,
BLASTING him
backward into the corn! OFF the
farmer's shaky reaction...
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON A STARSHIP HULL (OPTICAL)
CAMERA PULLS BACK slightly to reveal we're in
SPACEDOCK in
orbit of EARTH. We only see a small section of what we'll
learn is the STARSHIP
ENTERPRISE. A tiny ORBITAL
INSPECTION POD enters
frame and flies along the underside
of the hull.
INT. ORBITAL INSPECTION POD (OPTICAL)
CAPTAIN JONATHAN ARCHER and CHIEF ENGINEER,
COMMANDER
CHARLIE (CHARLIE) TUCKER sit side by side in the
cramped
cockpit. Archer, early 40's, is in civilian
clothing.
Unlike the Starfleet Captains in centuries
to come, he
exhibits a sense of wonder and excitement.
Charlie, early
30's, is a Southerner who enjoys using
his offbeat, often
sarcastic sense of humor to disarm
people.
They're both looking straight up through a
ceiling
PORTAL at a section of the HULL.
CHARLIE
The Ventral
Plating Team
says they'll be
done in
about three days.
ARCHER
Be sure they
match the
color to the nacelle
housings.
CHARLIE
You aiming to
sit on the
hull and pose for
some
postcards?
ARCHER
Maybe...
He continues to look upward and inspect the
hull.
ARCHER
God, she's
beautiful
CHARLIE
And fast.
(beat)
Warp four
point five next
Thursday.
ARCHER
(awed)
Neptune and
back in six
minutes.
(beat)
Let's take a
look at the
lateral sensor array.
CHARLIE
Give me a
sec.
Charlie whips the control throttle to his left
(intentionally harder than he needs to).
EXT. SPACEDOCK (OPTICAL)
The orbital pod ROLLS steeply to a 90 degree
angle
as it
continues along the side of the hull.
INT. ORBITAL INSPECTION POD (OPTICAL)
Archer looks a little queasy --he's obviously
not
comfortable in such a tiny vessel. Charlie is
enjoying
this --he likes to get a rise out of people.
CHARLIE
If I didn't
know better,
I'd think you
were afraid
of flying.
ARCHER
If I'm afraid
of anything,
it's the scrambled
eggs I
had for breakfast.
CHARLIE
Pretty soon
you'll be
dreaming about
scrambled
eggs. I hear the
new
resequenced protein isn't
much of an
improvement.
ARCHER
My number one
staffing
priority was finding
the
right chef. I
think you'll
be impressed.
CHARLIE
Your galley's
more
important to you
than your
warp core. That's a
confidence-builder.
ARCHER
A starship
runs on its
stomach, Charlie.
(sees something)
Slow down.
There. Those are
the ports that
buckled
during the last
test. They
need to be reinforced.
Charlie grabs a high-tech stylus and pad, makes
a
note.
With his hands off the controls, the pod
drifts slightly
toward Enterprise.
EXT. SPACEDOCK (OPTICAL)
The pod gently BUMPS into the hull.
INT. ORBITAL INSPECTION POD (OPTICAL)
CHARLIE
Sorry.
Archer cranes his neck to inspect the point of
impact
ARCHER
Great. You
scratched the
paint.
A COM CHIRP goes off. Charlie taps a control.
CHARLIE
(to com)
Orbital Six.
COM VOICE
Captain
Archer, sir?
ARCHER
Go ahead.
COM VOICE
Admiral
Forrest needs you
at Starfleet
Medical right
away.
OFF Archer.
CUT TO:
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO -NIGHT (OPTICAL)
The 22nd century skyline.
INT. STARFLEET MEDICAL -ICU ANTEROOM -NIGHT
A dimly-lit chamber with a large window looking
into a
22nd century intensive care unit. Klaang is
lying on a
bed, unconscious, with myriad tubes and
monitoring devices
attached to his gigantic body. A
small team of doctors and
nurses are busily tending
to him. Two armed Security
Guards stand watch.
In the anteroom, a heated discussion is taking
place
between three Starfleet Officers (ADMIRALS MAXWELL
FORREST
and DANIEL LEONARD, and COMMANDER WILLIAMS)
and three
Vulcan dignitaries (AMBASSADOR SOVAL, TOS
and a striking
young female named T'POL).
CMDR. WILLIAMS
Who was
chasing him?
SOVAL
We don't
know. They were
incinerated
in the methane
explosion,
and the farmer's
description
was vague at
best.
ADMIRAL LEONARD
How did they
get here? What
kind of ship?
TOS
They were using some kind
of stealth
technology.
We're still analyzing our
sensor logs.
CMDR. WILLIAMS
I'd like to
see those logs.
SOVAL
(patronizingly calm)
The Klingons
made it very
clear... they want to
expedite this.
ADMIRAL LEONARD
It happened
on our soil.
TOS
That's
irrelevant
ADMIRAL FORREST
(interrupting, to
Soval)
Ambassador...
with all due
respect, we have a
right to
know what's going
on here.
SOVAL
You'll be
apprised of all
pertinent information.
CMDR. WILLIAMS
And just who
gets to decide
what's pertinent?
At this point, the door opens and Archer
ENTERS, still
in
civilian clothes. The conversation stops as everyone
turns
to him.
ARCHER
(to Forrest)
Admiral.
ADMIRAL FORREST
Jack... I
think you know
everyone.
Archer sees the unconscious Klaang through the
window.
ARCHER
(walking to the window)
Not everyone.
ADMIRAL LEONARD
He's a
Klingot.
TOS
A Kling-Qn.
ARCHER
Where'd he
come from?
CMDR. WILLIAMS
Oklahoma.
Archer reacts.
ADMIRAL FORREST
A corn farmer
named Moore
shot him with a
plasma
rifle... says it
was
self-defense.
TOS
Fortunately,
Soval and I
have maintained
close
contact with Kronos
since
the
incident occurred.
ARCHER
Kronos?
ADMIRAL LEONARD
It's the
Klingon's
homeworld.
ADMIRAL FORREST
(re: Klaang)
This
gentleman is some sort
of courier.
Evidently, he
was carrying
crucial
information back to
his people.
SOVAL
(pointed)
When he was
nearly killed
by your "farmer."
ADMIRAL FORREST
(carefully)
Ambassador
Soval thinks it
would be best if we
push
off your launch until
we've
cleared
this up.
ARCHER
(dry)
Well, isn't
that a
surprise? You'd think they'd've
come up with something a
little
more
imaginative this time.
SOVAL
Sarcasm
aside, Captain, the
last thing your
people need
is to make an
enemy of the
Klingon Empire.
TOS
If we hadn't
convinced them
to let us take Klaang's
corpse back to Kronos,
Earth would
most likely be
facing a squadron of
Warbirds by the end of the
week.
ARCHER
Corpse? Is he
dead?
Archer walks to the door leading to the ICU,
opens it
and
signals to one of the doctors, who approaches.
ARCHER
Excuse me...
is that man
dead?
PHLOX, an exotic-looking alien physician
wearing hospital
garb, responds in a hurried voice and slight,
distinctive
accent:
PHLOX
(quickly)
His autonomic
system was
disrupted by the blast
but
his redundant
neural
functions are still intact
which --
ARCHER
Is he going
to die?
PHLOX
Not
necessarily.
Archer turns back to the room.
ARCHER
(to Vulcans)
Let me get
this straight...
you're going to
disconnect
this man from
life
support...
even though he could
recover.
Where's the logic
in that?
SOVAL
Klaang's
culture finds
honor in death. If
they saw
him like this he'd
be
disgraced.
Archer remains puzzled.
TOS
They're a
warrior race...
they dream of dying in
battle. If you understood
the
complexities of
interstellar diplomacy you
would --
ARCHER
(interrupting, temper
rising)
So your
"diplomatic"
solution is to
do what they
tell you... pull the
plug?
TOS
Your metaphor
is crude, but
accurate.
ARCHER
(back at him)
We may be
crude, but we're
not murderers.
(then to Forrest)
You're not
going to let
them do this, are
you'?
SOVAL
(to Forrest)
The Klingons
have demanded
that we return
Klaang
immediately.
ARCHER
(ignoring him, to
Forrest)
Admiral?
ADMIRAL FORREST
We may need
to defer to
their
judgement.
ARCHER
We've been
deferring to
their judgement for
a
hundred years!
ADMIRAL FORREST
(a warning)
Jack...
Archer knows he's crossing the line, but he
can't help
himself.
ARCHER
How much
longer?
T'Pol steps toward Archer. She's a science
attache
with
the Vulcan contingent headquartered in San
Francisco. Her
look is severe yet sensual. Although
she's been living
amongst humans for several months, she is cautious and
guarded around them.
T'POL
Until you've
proven you're
ready,
ARCHER
Ready to
what?
T'POL
look beyond
your provincial
attitudes and
volatile
nature.
ARCHER
Volatile? You
have no idea
how much I'm
restraining
myself from knocking you
on
your ass.
T'Pol raises an eyebrow at this. Archer turns
to Forrest.
ARCHER
These
Klingons are anxious
to get their man
back?
Fine. I can have my
ship
ready to
go in three days.
(to Vulcans, pointed)
We'll take
him home...
alive.
SOVAL
This is no
time to be
imposing your
ethical
beliefs.
Forrest considers, turns to Admiral Leonard.
ADMIRAL FORREST
Dan?
ADMIRAL LEONARD
(to Archer)
What about
your crew? Your
Comm Officer's in
Brazil...
you haven't selected a
Medical Officer yet...
ARCHER
Three days,
that's all I
need.
The Vulcans can't believe what they're hearing.
SOVAL
(protesting)
Admiral...
ADMIRAL FORREST
We've been
waiting nearly a
century, Ambassador...
this
seems as good a
time as any
to get started.
SOVAL
(agitated, louder)
Listen to me.
You're making
a mistake!
ARCHER
(calmly, chiding him)
When your
logic doesn't
work, you raise your
voice?
You have been on
Earth too
long.
Displeased, Soval realizes the debate is over,
EXITS with
his colleagues. Forrest turns to Archer with a
slight
twinkle in his eye. We get the sense that he
invited
Archer knowing that he'd provoke this very
outcome.
ADMIRAL FORREST
I had a
feeling their
approach wouldn't sit
too
well with you.
(then)
Don't screw
this up.
As they EXIT, Archer walks to the large window
and
raps on
the glass. Phlox and a couple of nurses turn
to look.
Archer gestures Phlox over. Phlox looks
surprised -- "me?"
As he moves to Archer, curious...
EXT. SPACEDOCK (OPTICAL)
in orbit of Earth, as before. The Starship
Enterprise
is
docked inside, but just barely visible at this angle.
INT. ENTERPRISE -TRANSPORTER ALCOVE (OPTICAL)
TACTICAL OFFICER, LIEUTENANT MALCOLM REED and
the
HELMSMAN, LIEUTENANT TRAVIS MAYWEATHER are standing by
the
transport platform as a shipment of CARGO CONTAINERS
MATERIALIZE.
Reed is a buttoned-up Englishman in his 30's;
Mayweather
is an African-American in his 20's. As the beam-in ends,
they step up and begin to examine the cargo. Both men are
in Starfleet uniform.
MAYWEATHER
heard this
platform's been
approved for
bio-transport.
REED
I presume you
mean fruits
and vegetables.
MAYWEATHER
I mean Armory
Officers and
Helmsmen.
REED
I don't think
I'm quite
ready to have
my molecules
compressed into a data
stream.
MAYWEATHER
They claim
it's safe.
REED
Do they
indeed? Well, I
certainly hope
the Captain
doesn't plan on making us
use it.
MAYWEATHER
Don't worry,
from what I'm
told, he wouldn't even
put
his dog through this
thing.
Reed has opened a canister and breathes a sigh
of
frustration.
REED
This is
ridiculous. I asked
for plasma coils
and they
sent me a case
of valve
sealant. There's no chance
I can have the
weapons
on-line in three
days.
MAYWEATHER
We're just
taking a sick
man back to his
homeworld...
why do we need
weapons?
REED
Didn't you
read the profile
report on these
Klingons?
Apparently, they
sharpen
their
teeth before they go
into battle.
Mayweather gives him an uneasy half-smile,
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE -CORRIDOR
Minutes later. Reed and Mayweather are walking
along.
Crewmembers are putting finishing touches on the ship,
working at wall panels and opened deck plating.
REED
No doubt
Mister Tucker will
reassure me
that my
equipment will
be here
tomorrow.
(imitating Charlie's
Southern accent)
"Keep
your shirt on,
Lieutenant. "
MAYWEATHER
Is it me, or
does the
artificial gravity seem
a
bit heavy?
Reed takes a few measured steps.
REED
Feels all
right... Earth
sea level.
MAYWEATHER
My father
always kept it at
point eight G. He
thought
it put a little
spring in
his
step.
REED
After being
raised on cargo
ships, it must've
felt like
you had lead in
your boots
when you got to Earth.
MAYWEATHER
It did take
some getting
used to.
Reed pauses at an opened wall panel, where a
young female
CREWMAN is "tuning" a series of power conduits with a
small device.
REED
You may find
that if you
re-balance the
polarities,
you'll get that done
a bit
faster,
Crewman.
They continue down the corridor
INT. ENTERPRISE -MAIN ENGINEERING
Unlike the spacious, brightly-lit engine rooms
of future
starships, this is more like the cramped, red-lit nerve
center of a nuclear submarine. We see crewmembers busily
getting the ship ready for launch.
Charlie is in his element --he's working atop
the WARP
CORE, which extends horizontally across the room.
CHARLIE
(shouting down)
Okay, Alex,
give it some
juice!
A crewman below throws a series of levers, and
a pulsing
pillar of PLASMA courses through the warp core.
CHARLIE
(shouting down)
Beautiful!
Lock it off
right there!
Charlie ducks and weaves through various
outcroppings and
slides down an access ladder, dropping to the deck below.
He eyes the warp core, notices something, reaches in his
pocket, pulls out a handkerchief and polishes off a small
smudge on the casing. As he proudly inspects his work...
REED (O.C.)
I believe you
missed a
spot.
Charlie turns to see Reed and Mayweather
standing at the
rail.
REED
(making the
introductions)
Commander
Tucker,
Lieutenant Travis
Mayweather. He just
arrived.
Charlie, ducking under the rail, extends his
hand.
CHARLIE
Our
"Space Boomer."
Mayweather shakes his hand, but can't keep his
eyes off
the engine.
MAYWEATHER
How fast have
you gotten
her?
CHARLIE
Warp four...
we'll be going
to four-five as
soon as we
clear Jupiter.
Think you
can
handle it?
MAYWEATHER
(in awe)
Four point
five...
REED
(all business)
Pardon me,
but if I don't
realign the
deflector, the
first grain of
space-dust
we
come across will blow a
hole through
this ship the
size of your fist.
CHARLIE
Keep your
shirt on,
Lieutenant. Your
equipment'll be here in the
morning.
Reed gives Mayweather a look.
CUT TO:
EXT. AMAZON UNIVERSITY -DAY (OPTICAL)
A series of futuristic structures set in the
Brazilian
jungle.
EXT. CLASSROOM- DAY (OPTICAL)
Twenty or so human college STUDENTS are sitting
in an
open-air classroom, the lush jungle visible beyond.
They're speaking in unison. The refrain
they repeat is in
a very alien language containing
clicks and bizarre
guttural sounds.
STUDENTS
Ghlungit !tak
nekl.ee!c.
HOSHI (O.C.)
Very good.
Again.
STUDENTS
Ghlun~it !tak
nekleet.
At this point, we reveal ENSIGN HOSHI SATO, a
spirited
young woman. Hoshi is an exo-linguist and the Enterprise
COM OFFICER. At the moment, she's teaching alien language.
On a blackboard behind her,
we see alien writing.
HOSHI
(prompting)
Carlos.
CARLOS recites the next phrase alone.
CARLOS
Ltrunghi !krgltt!
Hoshi corrects one specific word. She does so
with a
sound that seems almost impossible for a human to make.
HOSHI
!krgltt!
Carlos attempts to repeat it, but can't quite
get it
right.
CARLOS
!krgltt!
HOSHI
Tighten the
back of your
tongue
(demonstrating)
!kr~ltt!
As Carlos futilely attempts to get the word
right, Hoshi
notices Captain Archer standing at the back of the class.
He's wearing a muted Hawaiian shirt, jeans and tennis
shoes.
HOSHI
Keep trying.
You've almost
got it.
(to all)
I'll be right
back.
As Hoshi heads toward Archer...
CUT TO:
EXT. AMAZON UNIVERSITY -JUNGLE PATH -DAY
Archer and Hoshi are walking along,
mid-conversation
HOSHI
There's two
more weeks
before exams.
It's
impossible for me to leave
now.
ARCHER
You've got to
have someone
who can cover for
you.
HOSHI
If there was
anyone else
who could do what I do,
you
wouldn't be so
eager to
have
me on your space ship.
ARCHER
Hoshi...
HOSHI
I'm sorry,
Captain. I owe
it to these kids.
ARCHER
I could order
you.
HOSHI
I'm on leave
from
Starfleet, remember?
You'd have to
forcibly
recall me, which would
require a reprimand which
would
disqualify me from
serving on an
active
vessel.
ARCHER
I need
someone with your
ear.
HOSHI
And you'll
have her... in
three weeks.
Archer removes a small DEVICE from his breast
pocket,
and
taps a button on it. We HEAR the sound of a voice
speaking
the Klingon language. Hoshi reacts, intrigued.
HOSHI
What's that?
ARCHER
Klingon.
(beat)
Ambassador
Soval gave us a
sampling of their
linguistic database.
HOSHI
I thought you
said the
Vulcans were
opposed to
this.
ARCHER
They are. But
we agreed to
make a few...
compromises.
Hoshi listens to the Klingon voice
HOSHI
What do you
know about
these...
Klingons?
ARCHER
(seductively)
Not much. An
empire of
warriors with eighty
poly-guttural dialects
constructed
on an adaptive
syntax.
HOSHI
Turn it up.
Archer taps a control, and the Klingon voice
gets louder.
As Hoshi listens...
ARCHER
Think about
it. You'd be
the first human to talk
to
these people.
(beat)
Do you really
want someone
else to do it?
Hoshi looks at him, breathes a sigh. They both
know she's
been hooked.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACEDOCK (OPTICAL)
in orbit. Enterprise is barely visible docked
inside.
INT. ENTERPRISE -READY ROOM (OPTICAL)
Archer and Charlie are standing at the window,
looking at
a section of the Spacedock
CHARLIE
Since when do we have
Vulcan Science Officers?
ARCHER
Since we needed starcharts
to get to
Kronos.
CHARLIE
So we get a few maps... and
they get to put a
spy on
our ship?
ARCHER
Admiral Forrest says we
should think of her
more as
a "chaperone."
CHARLIE
I thought the whole point
of this was to get
away
from the Vulcans.
ARCHER
Four days there, four days
back... then she's
gone. In
the meantime, we're to
extend her every courtesy.
CHARLIE
I don't know... I'd be more
comfortable with
Porthos on
the Bridge.
The door CHIMES.
ARCHER
Here we go.
(to com)
Come in.
T'Pol ENTERS from the Bridge, wearing her
Vulcan uniform,
holding a PADD.
T'POL
(hands Archer a PADD)
This confirms that I was
formally transferred
to
your command at oh eight
hundred hours. Reporting
for duty.
Archer eyes the PADD. There's an uncomfortable pause.
T'Pol sniffs the air and glances about --it's obvious
something smells
unpleasant to her. She looks to one
corner, where PORTHOS, the Captain's DOG,
lays sleeping.
Archer looks up from the PADD and notices her nasal
distress.
ARCHER
Is there a problem?
T'POL
No, sir
Archer realizes he's found a button to push.
ARCHER
Oh, I forgot... Vulcan
females have a heightened
sense of smell.
(re: dog)
I hope Porthos isn't too
offensive to you.
T'POL
(with attitude)
I've been trained to
tolerate offensive
situations.
CHARLIE
I took a shower this
morning... how about you,
Captain?
ARCHER
I'm sorry. This is
Commander Charles Tucker.
(to Charlie)
Sub-Commander
T'Pol.
Charlie extends his hand
CHARLIE
I'm called
Charlie
T'POL
(dry)
I'll try to remember that.
Archer eyes T'Pol.
ARCHER
While you may not share our
enthusiasm about
this
mission, I expect you to
follow our rules... what's
said in this room and
out
on that Bridge is
classified... privileged
information.
(beat)
I don't want every word I
say being picked
apart the
next day by the Vulcan High
Command.
T'POL
My reason for being here is
not espionage. My
superiors
simply asked me to assist
you.
ARCHER
Your superiors don't think
we can flush a
toilet
without one of you to
"assist" us.
T'POL
(cool)
I didn't request this
assignment,
Captain... and you can be certain that when the
mission's
over, I'll be as pleased to leave this ship as you'll be
to have me
go.
She glances down at Porthos, who is sniffing at
her leg.
T'POL
If there's nothing else...
Archer waits a beat, letting Porthos sniff
away.
ARCHER
Porthos!
The dog obediently moves back to its bed.
ARCHER
That'll be all.
As T'Pol EXITS...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SPACEDOCK- OBSERVATION DECK (OPTICAL)
Admiral Forrest is addressing a large group of
invited
guests, including various Starfleet brass, a contingent of
Vulcan
dignitaries, and the senior staff of Enterprise:
Archer, Charlie, T'Pol, Reed,
Mayweather, and Hoshi. Part
of ENTERPRISE can be seen out the observation
window.
ADMIRAL FORREST
When Zefram Cochrane made
his legendary warp
flight
ninety years ago... and
drew the attention of our
new friends, the
Vulcans,
we realized that we weren't
alone in the galaxy.
(beat)
Today we're about to cross
a new threshold. For
nearly
a century, we've waded
ankle-deep in the
ocean of
space... now it's finally
time to swim.
The crowd applauds enthusiastically. The
Vulcans observe
them stoically.
ADMIRAL FORREST
(continuing)
The warp five engine
wouldn't be a reality
without men like Doctor
Cochrane and Henry Archer,
who worked so hard to
develop
it. So it's only
fitting that Henry's
son,
Jonathan Archer, will
command the first
starship
powered by that engine.
Forrest nods to Archer, who leads his crew
toward a nearby
set of doors.
ADMIRAL FORREST
(continuing)
Rather than quoting Doctor
Cochrane, I think we should
listen to his own
words
from the ground breaking
ceremony for the Warp Five
Complex... thirty-two
years
ago...
Forrest looks toward the large window, which
also serves
as a VIEWSCREEN. It comes alive with ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE of
an elderly
ZEFRAM COCHRANE giving a speech.
Standing beside him at a construction site are
a number of
fellow scientists, including Archer's father, Henry, who
is only a
few years younger than when we saw him in the
opening scene.
COCHRANE
On this site, a powerful
engine will be
built... an
engine that will someday
let us travel a hundred
times faster than
we can
today.
As the speech continues...
INT. ENTERPRISE -BRIDGE
Far more basic than future starship, this
command center
lacks the "airport terminal" feel of Enterprises A
through
E. A central Captain's chair is surrounded by various
stations, the floors and walls, are mostly steel, with
source light coming nom myriad glowing
panels. No carpets
on the floors, no wood paneling on the walls, high-tech
gauges, dials.
COCHRANE (O.C.)
(continuing)
Imagine it. Thousands of
inhabited planets at
our
fingertips.
T'Pol, Reed, Mayweather and Hoshi take their
stations...
and Archer takes the Captain's chair...
COCHRANE (O.C.)
(continuing)
And we'll be able to
explore those strange new
worlds... and seek out new
life and new civilizations.
INT. OBSERVATION DECK (OPTICAL)
Cochrane on the Viewscreen...
COCHRANE
(continuing)
This engine will let us go
boldly... where no
man has
gone before.
EXT. SPACEDOCK (OPTICAL)
Mooring lines SNAP AWAY in bursts of frozen
vapor.
INT. ENTERPRISE -MAIN ENGINEERING
Charlie stands before the now throbbing warp
core.
INT. BRIDGE
Archer and his crew,as before. Archer leans
forward in the
Captain's chair.
FLASHBACK: CLOSE ON YOUNG ARCHER'S FACE
(OPTICAL)
as a tiny ANTI-GRAV UNIT the size of a Dixie
cup floats up
into frame. The humming unit hovers before the transfixed
child.
FLASHBACK: CLOSE ON ARCHER'S FATHER (OPTICAL)
working a small control unit, smiles warmly at
his son.
FLASHBACK: WIDER ON YOUNG ARCHER'S FACE
(OPTICAL)
as the anti-grav unit settles back on the
table. The
ather plucks the unit out of the air and hands it to the
boy, who inserts it into the starship model.
RESUME CAPTAIN ARCHER
as he reflects a beat, then:
ARCHER
Take her out... straight
and steady, Mister
Mayweather.
EXT. SPACEDOCK (OPTICAL)
The great ship is moving out of its berth. On
the hull, we
see the name ENTERPRISE - NX-01.
EXT. SPACE -ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
Our first full view of the majestic ship as it
clears the
dock and moves into open space. Enterprise is lean and
masculine, yet
its twin warp nacelles suggest the shape of
Starfleet vessels to come.
INT. BRIDGE
Archer taps a button on the arm of his chair
ARCHER
How are we doing, Charlie?
INT. MAIN ENGINEERING
Charlie working at the warp core, which is now
pulsing at
full power.
CHARLIE
Ready when you are.
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
Prepare for warp one.
INT. BRIDGE
MAYWEATHER
Course laid in, sir.
(beat)
Request permission to get
underway.
T'Pol studies her console and turns to Archer.
T'POL
(critical)
The coordinates are off by
point two degrees.
Archer won't let her spoil the moment he's
waited so long
for.
ARCHER
Thank you.
(to Mayweather)
Let's go.
EXT. SPACE- ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
A crescent of EARTH is seen as the ship BLASTS
to WARP.
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -TEMPORAL CHAMBER (OPTICAL)
Dimly-lit, filled with labyrinthine technology.
The room
is bisected by an archway that creates a rippling BARRIER
of ENERGY.
This is a place where people from two different
time frames can briefly coexist;
the Suliban come here to
meet with visitors from a distant century.
Two men stand on opposite sides of the barrier.
On our
side is a Suliban named SILIK; on the other, we can barely
make out the
image of a HUMANOID FIGURE. Both men stand at
identical high-tech podiums.
As they speak, their WORDS and IMAGES seem to
PRE-ECHO in
a strange effect -- we can see and hear things a
split-second before
they happen. It's a disquieting and
eerie feeling of two worlds slightly out of
phase with
each other.
Silik, in his fifties, has the same dappled
skin as the
Suliban we briefly saw at Broken Bow. He's a high-ranking
member of
the Suliban Cabal. The Humanoid Figure who faces
him is a male of indeterminate
age; we can barely make out
his appearance or his words. Mid-scene
HUMANOID FIGURE
Where's
Klaang?
SILIK
The humans have him.
HUMANOID FIGURE
Did you lose anyone else?
SILIK
Two of my soldiers were
killed. One of them was a
friend. Can you prevent it?
HUMANOID FIGURE
Our agreement doesn't
provide for correcting
mistakes.
(firm)
Recover the evidence.
SILIK
I will... I promise you.
(beat)
When will we speak again?
HUMANOID FIGURE
Don't be concerned with
when.
The figure vanishes... and a moment later, so
does the
barrier of energy. OFF Silik...
EXT. SPACE -ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
as it dramatically flies past at warp.
CLOSE ON ARCHER'S FACE
distorted through a JAR he's holding that's
filled with
viscous pink fluid. Tiny corkscrew ORGANISMS flit through
the
liquid. As he turns the jar back and forth, studying
the tiny creatures...
ARCHER
Love what you've done with
the place.
PHLOX (O.C.)
Those are immunocytic gel
worms... try not to
shake
them.
REVEAL we're in --
INT. ENTERPRISE -SICKBAY (OPTICAL)
Where Phlox (the quirky alien seen at Starfleet
Medical)
is carefully placing various medical paraphernalia on
shelves. The jars
and tools are definitely not Starfleet
issue. In the b.g., Klaang (the Klingon)
is lying on a
bio-bed, unconscious. Archer hands Phlox the jar of pink
fluid,
and continues to pass him other articles out of a
large packing case during the
conversation.
ARCHER
So what'd you think of
Earth?
PHLOX
Intriguing. I especially
liked the Chinese
food.
Have you ever tried it?
ARCHER
I've lived in San Francisco
all my life.
PHLOX
Anatomically, you humans
are somewhat
simplistic...
but what you lack
biologically you make up
for with your
charming
optimism... not to mention
your egg
drop soup.
(re: his medical gear)
Be very careful with the
blue box.
Archer gingerly passes him a small blue box
with breathing
holes on either side. Some unseen creature skitters
within.
ARCHER
What's in there?
PHLOX
An Altarian marsupial...
their droppings
contain the
greatest concentration of
regenerative enzymes found
anywhere.
ARCHER
(uncomfortably)
Their droppings?
PHLOX
(philosophical)
If you're going to try to
embrace new worlds...
you
must try to embrace new
ideas. That's why the
Vulcans initiated the
Interspecies Medical
Exchange... there's a lot
to be learned!
ARCHER
I'm sorry I had to take you
away from your
program...
but our doctors haven't
even heard of a
Klingon.
PHLOX
Please, no apologies! What
better time to study
human
beings than when they're
under
pressure? It's a rare
opportunity.
(re: Klaang)
And your Klingon friend...
I've never had a
chance to
examine a living one
before.
ARCHER
Lieutenant Mayweather tells
me we'll be to
Kronos in
about eighty hours. Any
chance he'll be conscious
by then?
PHLOX
There's a chance he'll be
conscious within the
next
ten minutes... just not a
very good one.
ARCHER
Eighty hours, Doctor. If he
doesn't walk off
this ship
on his own two feet, he
doesn't stand much of a
chance.
PHLOX
I'll do the
best I can.
(off his doubtful look)
Optimism,
Captain!
Phlox SMILES a grin of inhuman proportions (and
with the
help of a VISUAL EFFECT, it will be like no smile we've
seen before). Archer realizes he's gotten all he's
going to get out of his new doctor. He walks to Klaang, stops
for a beat, then heads for the door...
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE- CRAMPED CRAWLSPACE (OPTICAL)
Charlie is climbing up a ladder through a
narrow
passageway. As he reaches the top, he stares above him...
CHARLIE
You're
upsidedown,
lieutenant.
CAMERA WIDENS to reveal Mayweather comfortably
sitting on
what appears to be the CEILING.
MAYWEATHER
Yes, sir.
CHARLIE
Care to
explain why?
MAYWEATHER
When I was a
kid, we called
it the
"sweet spot. " Every
ship's got one.
CHARLIE
(intrigued)
Sweet spot.
MAYWEATHER
It's usually
about halfway
between the
grav-generator
and the bow plate.
He points to a thin conduit that crosses below
him
MAYWEATHER
Grab hold of
that conduit.
Charlie reaches for the conduit.
MAYWEATHER
Now swing
your legs up.
Charlie hesitates.
MAYWEATHER
Swing your
legs.
Charlie swings his legs up, and to his
amazement, they
stay up -- his curled body floating in ZERO G.
CHARLIE
Wow
MAYWEATHER
Now let go.
Charlie releases his grip, and his entire body
FLOATS
in
mid-air. Charlie laughs in delight as he slowly turns.
He tries to control his movements, but CRASHES onto the
"ceiling" where Mayweather is sitting.
MAYWEATHER
Takes
practice.
As Charlie settles in next to him...
MAYWEATHER
Ever slept in
zero G?
CHARLIE
Slept?
MAYWEATHER
Like being
back in the
womb.
Charlie eyes him, curious.
CHARLIE
Captain tells
me you've
been to Trillius
Prime.
MAYWEATHER
Took the
fourth, fifth and
sixth grades to get
there.
I've also been to
Draylax
and both the Andorian
Moons.
CHARLIE
I've only
been to one
inhabited planet
besides
Earth... nothing
there but
dust-dwelling ticks.
(beat, curious)
I've heard
the women on
Draylax
have...
MAYWEATHER
(nodding)
Three... it's
true.
CHARLIE
(impressed)
You know that
first-hand?
MAYWEATHER
First-hand,
second-hand,
and third-hand.
CHARLIE
I guess
growing up a boomer
has its
advantages.
They share a smile...
CUT TO:
INT. CREW MESS
Busy. A dozen or so CREWMEMBERS are sitting at
long, metal
tables, helping themselves at the food line, and getting
drinks at a row of high-tech beverage
dispensers. Charlie
ENTERS and starts walking across
the room, passes a group
of crewmen having dinner.
CREWMAN FLETCHER
(to Charlie)
Got an empty
seat here,
Commander.
CHARLIE
Sorry. Dinner
with the boss
tonight.
Charlie heads toward a small door at the end of
the
room...
INT. CAPTAIN'S MESS
A small, nicely-appointed room with a table for
four (six
in a pinch) that is covered by a white
tablecloth.
The
room is warmly lit by two candles at the center of
the
table. Archer and T'Pol are seated across from each
other,
mid-conversation.
ARCHER
The Grand
Canyon?
T'POL
No.
ARCHER
Big Sur
Aquarium?
T'POL
Sightseeing
was not one
of my
assignments.
ARCHER
All work and
no play...
(off her puzzled look)
Everyone
should get out for
a little R
& R now and
then.
T'POL
All our
recreational needs
are provided at
the
Compound.
The door CHIMES.
ARCHER
Come in.
Charlie ENTERS from the Mess Hall.
CHARLIE
You should've
started
without me.
Archer indicates the chair to his left.
ARCHER
Sit down
Charlie takes, aseat and reaches for a bread
stick,
starts
chomping. T'Pol raises an eyebrow at his noisy
eating
habits. Archer extends the basket to T'Pol, who
removes a
bread stick and places it on her plate.
ARCHER
(to Charlie)
T'Pol tells
me she's been
living at the
Vulcan
Compound in Sausalito.
CHARLIE
(chomping away)
No kidding. I
lived a few
blocks rom there
when I was
at the Academy.
(sarcastic)
Great parties
at the Vulcan
Compound.
T'Pol doesn't respond to this --she's too busy
trying to
cut the bread stick with her knife and fork. But it's too
crisp, and crumbles.
ARCHER
(diplomatic)
It might be a
little easier
using your fingers.
T'POL
Vulcans don't
touch food
with their hands.
She changes her tack --holds the bread stick
with her
fork, gently sawing it with the edge of her knife.
CHARLIE
Can't wait to
see you
tackle the spare ribs.
T'Pol glances at Archer.
ARCHER
Don't worry.
We know you're
a vegetarian.
At this point, the door leading to the kitchen
opens
and a
STEWARD enters carrying three plates of food. As
he places
them down, we see that Archer and Charlie are
being served
meat, while T'Pol receives a platter of
grilled
vegetables.
CHARLIE
Looks
delicious.
(to Steward)
Tell Chef I
said thanks.
The steward nods and EXITS. As the two men
begin to eat,
T'Pol continues to methodically saw at the bread stick.
T'POL
You humans
claim to be
enlightened,
yet you still
consume the
flesh of
animals.
CHARLIE
(mouth full, wry)
Grandma
taught me never to
judge a
species by their
eating
habits.
ARCHER
"Enlightened" may be too
strong a word, but
if you'd
been on Earth fifty
years
ago, I think you'd be
impressed by what we've
gotten done.
T'POL
You've yet to
embrace
either
patience or
logic...
you remain
impulsive
carnivores.
CHARLIE
Yeah? How
about war...
disease... hunger?
Pretty
much wiped 'em out in less
than
two generations. I
wouldn't call
that small
potatoes.
T'POL
It remains to
be seen
whether humanity will
revert to its baser
instincts.
CHARLIE
(tweaking her)
We used to
have cannibals
on Earth. Who knows how
far
we'll revert? Lucky this
isn't a long mission.
ARCHER
Human
instinct is pretty
strong -- you can't
expect
us to change overnight.
She finally saws off a section of bread stick,
and
gracefully slides it onto her fork.
T'POL
With proper
discipline,
anything's possible.
As she places the bread into her mouth
EXT. SPACE- ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
Streaking at warp. The ship seems to pick up
speed and
RACES past CAMERA.
INT. ENTERPRISE -BRIDGE
Archer, T'Pol, Reed, Mayweather, Hoshi and
various
crewmembers at their stations. Everyone is quiet, as
though anticipating something. We hear the low HUM of
the ship at warp.
ARCHER
Seems okay to
me.
(to Mayweather)
Why don't you
try
four-three?
Mayweather works the helm. There's a slight
change of
pitch in the sound of the ship's engines.
MAYWEATHER
Warp four
point three, sir.
Another quiet moment as they all listen,
waiting for
something to happen.
REED
Not much of a
change.
HOSHI
I don't
know... does
anybody else feel
that?
ARCHER
Feel what?
HOSHI
Those...
vibrations... like
little
tremors.
T'POL
(cool)
You're
imagining it.
ARCHER
(to Mayweather)
Bring us to
four-four,
Lieutenant.
Mayweather works. A tiny SHUDDER and the deep
sounds
of
engines working as the ship accelerates. Hoshi
grabs the
sides of her seat.
HOSHI
There! What
do you call
that?
T'POL
The warp
reactor was
recalibrating. It shouldn't
happen again.
A small ALARM sounds at Reed's station.
HOSHI
(anxious)
Now what?
REED
The
deflector's sequencing.
It's
perfectly normal.
T'POL
(dry, to Hoshi)
Perhaps you'd
like to go to
your quarters
and lie down?
Hoshi doesn't like T'Pol's slightly
condescending
attitude.
HOSHI
(in Vulcan, an insult)
Ponfo mirann.
T'POL
(with matching
attitude)
I was
instructed to speak
English during this
voyage.
I'd appreciate it if you'd
respect that.
Archer, who's concerned these two aren't
getting along,
tries to change the subject.
ARCHER
(lightly)
It's easy to
get a little
jumpy when you're
travelling at thirty
million kilometers a
second. Should be old-hat
in a week's
time.
Another TONE is heard. Hoshi tenses. Archer
taps a
button
on the arm of his chair.
ARCHER
(to com)
Archer.
PHLOX'S COM VOICE
This is
Doctor Phlox,
Captain. Our patient is
regaining
consciousness.
ARCHER
On my way.
(stands)
Hoshi.
Hoshi joins him and they head for the Turbolift
CUT TO:
TIGHT ON KLAANG
seated on the bio-bed, babbling in Klingon.
(See ADDENDUM
for any unscripted Klaang dialog.) We will shortly learn
that he's delirious and not making any sense.
KLAANG
(shouting)
Pung: g:hap
HoS!
WIDEN to see --
INT. SICKBAY
Archer, Hoshi and Phlox are gathered around the
bio-bed. A
SECURITY GUARD armed with a PLASMA RIFLE stands watch.
Hoshi is
working a PADD.
ARCHER
(to Hoshi)
What's wrong?
HOSHI
The translator's
not
locking onto his
dialect...
the syntax won't align.
KLAANG
(shouts)
DujDaj Hegh!
Hoshi hesitates, finding the words.
ARCHER
Tell him we're taking him
home.
HOSHI
(to Klaang, in Klingon)
Ingan Hoch...
juH.
Klaang responds:
KLAANG
Tujpa'qyl Dun?
HOSHI
(to Archer)
He wants to know who we are
Archer nods -- tell him.
HOSHI
(to Klaang)
Ou'ghewme~
Enter~rise.
PugloD.
KLAANG
Nenta~ lu~Hom.
HOSHI
"LupHom" ..."ship" ...
(to Archer)
He's asking for his ship
back.
ARCHER
Say it was destroyed.
HOSHI
(to Klaang)
SonchI~.
KLAANG
Vengen Sto'vo'kor Dos!
Hoshi frowns, puzzled.
HOSHI
I'm not sure... but I think
he's saying
something about
"eating the afterlife.
ARCHER
(frustrated)
Try the translator again.
Hoshi works the PADD, shakes her head.
HOSHI
I'm going to need to run
what we've got through
the
phonetic processor
KLAANG
(urgent)
MajOa blmoHgu!
HOSHI
He says... "his wife has
grown ugly."
Archer sighs.
HOSHI
I'm sorry, Captain... I'm
doing the best I can.
PHLOX
Excuse me.
They turn to him. Phlox is checking an alien
scanning
device.
PHLOX
His pre-frontal cortex is
hyperstimulated... I
doubt
he has any idea what he's
saying.
KLAANG
HljolOaOqu'na~!
HOSHI
I think the Doctor's right,
Captain...unless
"stinky
boots" has something to do
with all this.
Suddenly, the ship SHUDDERS as it drops out of
warp. Hoshi
instinctively grabs the Captain's arm.
HOSHI
That's the warp reactor
again, right?
KLAANG
OaOgu'na~!
Concerned, Archer taps a nearby com button.
ARCHER
Bridge, report.
T'POL'S COM VOICE
We've dropped out of warp,
sir. Main power is
--
A brief burst of static, then the com goes
dead. The
lights start to FLICKER and the consoles begin to GO OUT
one by one.
INT. BRIDGE
T'Pol, Reed, Mayweather and assorted
crewmembers react as
the lights and consoles continue to GO OUT.
REED
(confused, re: his
console)
I think I saw something off
the starboard
bow...
T'POL
What?
REED
I don't know... it may've
just been the sensors
going
down...
EXT. SPACE -ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
The few remaining lights GO OUT, leaving the
ship in total
darkness.
INT. ENGINEERING
Darkness. A handheld BEACON lights up,
following by three
more. Charlie and several crewmembers are working at the
now
inactive warp core. Charlie leans over to a com panel
and taps it.
CHARLIE
Captain.
(taps it again)
Captain!
He realizes it's dead.
CHARLIE
(to crewman)
Lock off the coolant tanks!
INT. CORRIDOR -SULIBAN "NIGHT VISION"
POV (OPTICAL)
A pixilated, monochromatic POV moving quickly
through the
corridor. We see the grainy image of another SULIBAN
moving ahead of
us...
INT, SICKBAY (OPTICAL)
Darkness. Archer, Hoshi and Phlox have beacons.
Klanng
continues to bellow over the scene (see ADDENDUM). Chirps
and whistles
come from the various alien lifeforms the
doctor has brought with him.
ARCHER
Auxiliary power should've
kicked in by now...
Another outburst from Klaang.
ARCHER
(to Hoshi)
Do you know how to tell him
to shut up?
Hoshi, who's growing more nervous, flashes her
beacon from
wall to wall.
HOSHI
(to Klaang)
Shut up!
Klaang continues to shout.
ARCHER
(to Phlox)
Sedate him if you have to.
I need to get to the
Bridge.
Archer heads for the door.
HOSHI
(sotto, urgent)
Captain!
He turns. Hoshi is moving her beacon across a
wall.
HOSHI
(sotto)
There's someone here.
ARCHER
(doubtful)
Hoshi...
HOSHI
I'm telling you, there's
someone --
She stops as her beacon illuminates a HUMANOID
FORM. Like
a chameleon, it has takenon the appearance of its
background and is
barely visible. Once discovered, the
figure LEAPS back into the darkness.
A glimmer of recognition falls over Klaang's
face as he
shuts up for the first time.
KLAANG
(quietly)
Suliban.
Archer's beacon finds a second SULIBAN perched
like a
spider
high on a WALL (he is not camouflaged like the
first Suliban).
ARCHER
(to guard)
Crewman!
As the guard raises his rifle, the Suliban
LEAPS to the
ground,
where we see a third SULIBAN quickly dart into the
shadows.
The guard FIRES toward them! Bright red PLASMA
BULLETS
illuminate the room in a series of quick, stroboscopic FLASHES!
RAPID CUTS:
KLAANG
looks around in confusion, shouting in Klingon!
HOSHI
is crouching low to avoid the gunfire,
erratically
scanning with
her beacon.
THE GUARD
senses motion behind him, turns to take aim --
HIS POV
Of a Suliban lunging toward him!
THE GUARD
HITS the deck hard --his weapon goes sliding
across the
floor!
ARCHER (OPTICAL)
reacts quickly, LUNGES and ROLLS toward the
weapon,
GRABS it and whirls toward the Suliban.
BLAM-BLAM-BLAM! He
FIRES!
THE SULIBAN IS HIT (OPTICAL)
and goes flying backward!
KLANNG
senses movement above, looks up to see --
A SULIBAN ON THE CEILING
directly over him! The creature DROPS into
CAMERA!
SILENCE
No movement. All we can hear is the agitated
clicking and
chirping
of the alien lifeforms.
HOSHI (O.C.)
(worried)
Captain?
Suddenly, we hear the SURGE of warp power
coming back on-line...
and the lights and consoles begin to COME ALIVE
one by one.
ANGLE- THE ROOM
The Guard is lying on the floor, dazed. Phlox
rushes to
help him.
Hoshi is crouching on the deck, as before. She
glances down, sees
a DEAD SULIBAN sprawled just inches
from her! Disgusted, she
edges away.
Archer is staring at the bio-bed, which is now
empty.
Klaanq and
the Suliban are gone. OFF his reaction...
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE (VPB)
Archer is on his feet, pacing, agitated. T'Pol,
Reed,
Mayweather,
Charlie, Hoshi and crewmembers at their
stations. Mid-scene,
tense:
ARCHER
(frustrated)
We've got
state-of-the-art
sensors...
why the hell
didn't we detect
them?
MAYWEATHER
Mister Reed
thought he
detected something
right
before we lost power...
Archer turns to Reed, who's working his
console.
REED
The starboard
sensor logs
recorded a
spatial
disturbance.
Charlie looks over Reed's shoulder.
CHARLIE
Looks more
like a glitch.
HOSHI
Those weren't
glitches in
Sickbay.
ARCHER
(to Charlie)
I want a
complete analysis
of that
disturbance.
Charlie heads for the door...
ARCHER
(to Reed)
here do we
stand on
weapons?
REED
I still have
to tune the
targeting
scanners...
ARCHER
What're you
waiting for?
Reed joins Charlie and they EXIT together.
T'Pol crosses
to
Archer.
T'POL
Captain...
ARCHER
(ignoring her, to
Hoshi)
The Klingon
seemed to know
who they were.
See if you
can translate
what he said.
HOSHI
Right away.
Hoshi turns to go.
T'POL
Captain.
He turns to her.
T'POL
(consoling)
There's no
way you could
have anticipated
this. I'm
sure Ambassador
Soval will
understand.
ARCHER
(an order)
You're the
Science Officer.
Why don't you
help Charlie
with that
analysis?
T'POL
The
astrometric computer in
San Francisco
will be far
more effective.
ARCHER
We're not
going to San
Francisco, so
make-do with
what we've got
here.
T'POL
You've lost
the Klingon.
Your mission is
over.
ARCHER
I didn't lose
the
Klingon... he was taken.
And I'm going to find out
who
took him.
T'POL
How do you
plan to do that?
(slightly patronizing)
Space is very
big,
Captain... a shadow on
your
sensors won't help you find
them. This is a foolish
mission.
Archer heads for his Ready Room.
ARCHER
Come with me.
T'Pol follows...
INT. READY ROOM
As Archer and T'Pol ENTER...
ARCHER
(continuing)
I'm not
interested in what
you think about
this
mission. So take your
Vulcan cynicism and bury
it along
with your
repressed emotions.
T'POL
Your reaction
to this
situation is a perfect
example of why your species
should remain in its own
star system.
ARCHER
(heated)
I've been
listening to you
Vulcans tell us what
not to
do all my life. I watched
my
father work his ass off
while
your scientists held
back just enough
information to keep him
from
succeeding.
(beat)
He deserved
to see that
launch. You may have life
spans of two hundred
years... we
don't.
A tense moment. T'Pol can see she's not going
to win this
argument.
T'POL
You are going
to be
contacting Starfleet...
to
advise them of our
situation.
ARCHER
No, I'm not.
And neither
are you!
T'Pol raises a skeptical brow.
ARCHER
Now get the
hell out there
and make yourself
useful.
T'Pol EXITS. Archer watches her go... then
walks to the
window
and stares out into space...
CUT TO:
INT. SICKBAY (OPTICAL/VPB)
Dimly-lot, except for a single bright surgical
lamp
shining
down on the dead Suliban. Although we can't see it
clearly,
Phlox's hands are busy inside the opened chest of
the Suliban.
He's enthusiastically picking through the
entrails. Archer
looks on.
PHLOX
Mister Klaang
was right
about one thing... he's
a
Suliban. But unless I'm
mistaken, he's no ordinary
one.
ARCHER
Meaning?
PHLOX
His DNA is
Suliban... but
his anatomy has
been
altered.
(re: corpse)
Look at this
lung.
Archer peers into the open chest cavity.
PHLOX
Five
bronchial lobes.
Phlox points to a monitor at the head of the
bio-bed,
which
shows an intricately complex biological diagram.
PHLOX
You see? It
should only
have three.
(back to the corpse)
And look at
the alveoli
clusters... they've been
modified to process
different
kinds of
atmospheres.
ARCHER
Are you
saying he's some
kind of mutant?
PHLOX
Yes, I
suppose I am. But
this was no accident,
no
freak of nature. This man
was
the recipient of some
very
sophisticated genetic
engineering.
Phlox is like a kid in a candy store. He picks
up a thin
instrument and activates it. A deep red light comes on.
Phlox shines the light on the Suliban's dappled face.
He moves the light away, revealing that the
skin has
CHANGED COLOR, perfectly matching the hue and intensity.
PHLOX
Watch this.
He taps a control on the instrument, and the
color of the
light changes to BLUE. He shines the light on the
Suliban's clothing, moves it away --the clothing has
ADAPTED to the
color.
PHLOX
(re: dappled skin)
Subcutaneous
pigment sacs.
Archer reacts.
PHLOX
(re: clothing)
A bio-mimetic
garment.
PHLOX
The eyes are
my favorite.
Phlox lifts an eyelid, exposing a super-dilated
pupil
glowing
with phosphorescence.
PHLOX
Compound
retinas. He most
likely saw things
even your
sensors couldn't
detect.
ARCHER
It's not in
their genome?
PHLOX
Certainly
not. The Suliban
are no more evolved
than
humans.
(re: corpse)
Very
impressive work,
though. I've never
seen
anything quite like it.
Archer doesn't share his excitement about this
discovery.
He's uneasy.
ARCHER
What do you
know about
them? Where do they
come
from?
PHLOX
They're
nomadic, I believe.
No home world. I
examined
two of them years ago...
a
husband and wife...
very cordial.
As Archer considers...
CUT TO:
INT. MAIN ENGINEERING
Charlie and T'Pol are working at a station that
displays
various sensor data. Charlie is upbeat, T'Pol is detached.
CHARLIE
(points at some data)
How about
this?
T'POL
It's just
background noise.
Your sensors
aren't capable
of isolating plasma decay.
CHARLIE
How can you
be so damn sure
what our sensors can
do?
T'POL
Vulcan
children play with
toys that are more
sophisticated.
As they work...
CHARLIE
(fed up)
You know,
some people say
that you Vulcans do
nothing
but patronize us... but if
they were here now... if
they could
see how far
you're bending over
backwards to help me,
they'd eat
their words.
T'POL
(pointed)
Your
Captain's mission was
to return the
Klingon to
his people. He no longer
has the
Klingon.
CHARLIE
I realize
he's only a
simple
Earthling...but did
it ever occur to you that
he might know what he's
doing?
T'Pol is silent.
CHARLIE
It's no
secret Starfleet
hasn't been around
too
long... God knows you
remind us
of that every
chance you get...
but does
that mean the man who's
been put in charge of this
mission
doesn't deserve our
support?
(pointed)
Then again,
loyalty's an
emotion, isn't it?
T'Pol glances at him, but before she can
respond, the door
opens and Archer ENTERS.
ARCHER
Having any
luck?
CHARLIE
(re: T'Pol, ironic)
Not really.
T'POL
(to Archer)
My analysis
of the spatial
disturbance
Mister Reed saw
indicates a
stealth vessel
with a tricyclic
plasma
drive.
CHARLIE
(off that)
If we can
figure out the
decay rate of their
plasma,
we'll be able to find
their
warp trail.
T'POL
Unfortunately, your sensors
weren't designed to measure plasma decay.
Over the above exchange, we see Hoshi ENTER the
room.
It's
obvious she hasn't been to Engineering before. She
glances
around, intrigued, but gets a little hesitant
as she
approaches the pulsing warp core.
HOSHI
(re: warp core,
half-joking)
Are you sure
it's safe to
stand so close to
that?
ARCHER
What've you
got?
HOSHI
I've managed
to translate
most of what
Klaang said.
But none of it makes
sense.
She hands him a PADD.
ARCHER
Nothing about
the Suliban?
HOSHI
Nope.
ARCHER
(to T'Pol)
That name
ring a bell to
you?
T'POL
They're a
somewhat
primitive species from
Sector Three Six Four
One. But
they've never
posed a threat.
ARCHER
Well, they
have now.
(to Hoshi)
Did he say
anything about
Earth?
HOSHI
The word's
not even in
their database.
Archer eyes the PADD.
HOSHI
It's all
there. There were
only four words I
couldn't
translate. probably just
proper nouns.
Archer carefully pronounces the words.
ARCHER
(off PADD)
"Jelik...Sarin...Rigel.,.
Tholia."
Archer looks up to T'Pol.
ARCHER
Anything
sound familiar?
T'Pol hesitates. Clearly, something has rung a
bell. In
typical fashion, she tries not to show it.
ARCHER
T'Pol?
She pauses again... glances at Charlie, who
says nothing
but gives her a pointed look. Finally:
T'POL
(to Archer)
Rigel is a
planetary
system... approximately
fifteen light years from
our
present position.
ARCHER
(sensing more)
Why the
hesitation?
T'Pol realizes she's about to piss Archer off.
T'POL
According to
the
navigational logs salvaged
from
Klaang's ship... Rigel
Ten was the
last place he
stopped before
crashing on
your planet.
As angry as Archer is, he's not surprised.
ARCHER
Why do I get
the feeling
you weren't going to
share
that little piece of
information?
T'POL
I wasn't
authorized to
reveal the details of
our
findings.
Charlie and Hoshi exchange a look --they're
uncomfortable
with the tension.
ARCHER
(controlled anger)
The next time
I learn
you're withholding
something... you're going
to spend the
rest of this
voyage confined to
some
very cramped quarters.
Understood?
T'Pol's reaction is hard to read. Archer hits a
com panel.
ARCHER
Archer to
helm.
MAYWEATHER'S COM VOICE
Aye, sir.
ARCHER
Go into the
Vulcan
starcharts and find a
system
called Rigel... then
set a course
for the tenth
planet.
As Archer gives T'Pol a final look…
EXT. SPACE -ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
jumps to warp.
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -INTERROGATION ROOM
Klaang is restrained in an elaborate chair. Two
SULIBAN
DOCTORS monitor sinister-looking tubes
and devices that
are connected to the Klingon's body.
Source light from an
off-camera window bathes the scene
in a steely BLUE GLOW. Silik, the Suliban seen earlier,
is questioning Klaang.
It's clear that Klaang has been
drugged. Mid-scene.
SILIK
(in Klingon)
ReH suvro~?
(subtitle reads)
Where is it?
KLAANG
Du bog:h.
(subtitle reads)
I don't know.
SILIK
Chonta~
qhe'tor. Q.a!
(subtitle reads)
We're not going to harm you. Tell me where it
is.
KLAANG
Du Bog:h.
(subtitle reads)
I don't know.
Silik looks to one of the Doctors.
SILIK
Are you
certain he's
telling the truth?
SULIBAN DOCTOR
Absolutely
certain.
Silik turns back to Klaang.
SILIK
Hovme~
lup;Hom. Pente daO?
Enter~rise DaHjaj?
(subtitle reads)
Did you leave it on your ship... did you hide
it
somewhere... is it on Enterprise?
KLAANG
Du boqh g:uch.
(subtitle reads)
I don't know what you're looking for.
SILIK
B1Heqh Rigel wo'tul?
(subtitle reads)
What were you doing on Rigel Ten?
KLAANG
MajQa tlharn.
(subtitle reads)
I was sent to meet someone.
SILIK
Doh?
(subtitle reads)
Who
KLAANG
MajQa rot.
Sarin Poh nI.
(subtitle reads)
A Suliban female... named Sarin.
Silik's expression darkens. He recognizes the
name.
SILIK
Dah Sarin saj'Kogh?
(subtitle reads)
And what did Sarin give you?
KLAANG
RQgh.
(subtitle reads)
Nothing.
Silik turns to the Doctors
SILIK
Keep him
alive while I'm gone.
As Silik EXITS with intent...
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE -ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
drops out of warp distance.
We PAN to reveal RIGEL TEN in the distance.
INT. ENTERPRISE -LAUNCH BAY
TWO SHUTTLEPODS can be seen in the b.g. Archer,
T'Pol,
Charlie, Reed, Mayweather and Hoshi are wearing jackets
for their Away Mission. T'Pol is handing out
communicator/translation devices to the crew...
ARCHER
(mid-speech, to all)
Once we've
disembarked,
we'll be descending
into
the trade complex.
It's
comprised of
thirty-six levels...
T'POL
Your
translators have been
programmed
for Rigelian.
However, there are
numerous
other species working on
the colony. Many of them
are known to
be impatient
with newcomers.
None of
them have seen a human
before.
You have a tendency
to be...
gregarious. I
suggest you try to
restrain
that tendency.
CHARLIE
You forgot to
warn us about
drinking the
water.
T'POL
(not getting it)
Doctor Phlox
isn't
concerned with the food and
water. But he does caution
against intimate contact.
An amused glance between Charlie and
Mayweather.
ARCHER
(all business)
The Vulcans
told us Klaang
was a courier. If
he was
here to get something,
then
whoever gave it to him
might
know why he was
taken.
(trying to be
optimistic)
That was only
a few days
ago... a seven foot
Klingon
doesn't go unnoticed.
CUT TO:
EXT. RIGEL TEN -TRADE COMPLEX -NIGHT (OPTICAL)
This towering, weather-worn, multi-leveled
structure looks
as though it's been constructed over many decades. It sits
among the icy crags of inhospitable ARCTIC TERRAIN. The
upper-level is comprised of a series of DOCKING PORTS
where
ships of varying shapes and sizes are coming and
going.
Huge plumes of STEAM blast out of GEOTHERMAL VENTS
lining
the top of the structure.
CLOSER ANGLE -DOCKING PORT (OPTICAL)
Enterprise's six-passenger, sub-warp SHUTTLEPOD
swoops
into
position and settles onto the busy, snow-blown
landing deck.
CUT TO:
INT. TRADE COMPLEX -LEVEL TWO - NIGHT (OPTICAL)
A dark, cavernous thoroughfare of concrete and
iron.
Latticeworks of conduits criss-cross the damp, poorly-lit
concourse. A haze hangs in the air, punctuated by shafts
of
artificial light. Aliens from myriad species go about
their
business, moving in and out of concealed trading
alcoves.
Some are in uniform, some aren't, many carry
sidearms.
T'Pol and Charlie are moving through the
strange setting.
T'Pol, who has been here before, is taking everything in
stride. For Charlie, it's an extraordinary yet
disorienting
experience.
As they duck under an unusually low support
beam, a large
ALIEN INSECT lands briefly on Charlie's shoulder.
Startled,
his body jerks in response and the insect flies
away. T'Pol
shoots him a look, disapproving of his
childish reaction.
As they keep walking, eerie, dissonant ALIEN
TONES catch
Charlie's attention...
CHARLIE'S POV
The sounds are coming from inside a NARROW
DOORWAY. We
can't
see clearly into the room beyond, but we catch
glimpses of
frenetic movement within.
CHARLIE
is drawn toward the doorway.
CHARLIE
(curious)
What in the
world...?
T'POL
It's nothing
that concerns
us.
As they keep moving...
CUT TO:
INT. DOCK MASTER'S CONTROL TOWER -NIGHT
(OPTICAL)
Through large windows we can see the landing
lights of
alien
ships coming and going through the snowy air. The
room is lit
only by the monitors of various control
stations, and the
occasional sweep of a landing light from
outside. Archer and
Hoshi are talking to the DOCK MASTER,
a burly alien who is
preoccupied monitoring the traffic.
DOCK MASTER
Five or six
days ago? Do
you realize how
much
traffic we process in a
single day?
ARCHER
You must keep
records. This
was a one-man,
Klingon
scout ship.
DOCK MASTER
(eyes him)
What species
are you?
ARCHER
Human. We're
called humans.
Beep-beep! An alarm sounds. The Dock Master
speaks into a
microphone...
DOCK MASTER
(into mic)
Elkan nine,
raise your
approach vector by
point
two radiants.
Archer and Hoshi are frustrated by his seeming
lack of
attention. The Dock Master checks a monitor.
DOCK MASTER
(to Archer, off
monitor)
It was seven
days ago... a
K'toch Class vessel.
ARCHER
(encouraged)
Does it say
who he was here
to see.
DOCK MASTER
(doesn't have time for
this)
What it says
is that he
arrived at docking port
six... and was given a
level one
bio-hazard
clearance.
ARCHER
You don't
seem to be very
interested in what
people
do here
DOCK MASTER
(getting pissed)
Our visitors
value their
privacy. It wouldn't
be
very --
(suddenly in alien)
--tusorop ko
tuproya plo --
(back to English)
--business
they're in.
Archer looks to Hoshi, who's adjusting the
communicator/translation device she has taken out of
her
jacket pocket.
HOSHI
It's all
right. Rigelian
uses a pronominal
base. The
translator's just
reprocessing the syntax.
ARCHER
(to Dock Master)
Do you have
any records of
a Suliban
vessel coming in
around the same
time?
The Dock Master reacts to this, but quickly
covers:
DOCK MASTER
(evasive)
Suliban? I
don't know that
word. Your device
must
still be
malfunctioning.
As he goes back to work...
CUT TO:
INT. TRADE COMPLEX -LEVEL FIVE -NIGHT
Reed and Mayweather are following a furtive
ALIEN MAN.
This section of the structure is filled with a
cacophony
of strange sounds and deep, blue-green lighting.
MAYWEATHER
Shouldn't we
call the
Captain?
REED
Maybe we
should wait.
MAYWEATHER
(to Alien Man)
How much
longer?
ALIEN MAN
It's not very
far. I
promise you.
REED
Are you sure
his name was
Klaang? Couldn't it
have
been another Klingon you
saw?
ALIEN MAN
It was Klaang.
I'm certain.
I'll show you
exactly where
he was.
As they keep moving.
CUT TO:
INT. TRADE COMPLEX -LEVEL TWO -SITTING AREA
-NIGHT
A small "rest stop" off the main
thoroughfare with a few
benches and chairs. Charlie sits among a bizarre
assortment of aliens, waiting, uncomfortable.
He glances at a nearby WINDOW, where we can see
T'Pol
through the glass, talking to a uniformed "alien
official."
The sound of CRYING draws Charlie's
attention...
AN ALIEN CHILD
is nearby, wearing an exotic BREATHING
APPARATUS. The
MOTHER is tweaking a small control on the device,
seemingly
taunting the child, who is crying.
CHARLIE
is unsettled. He glances back at the window.
T'Pol
finishes talking to the official, exits through a small
door, and heads toward the sitting area. She motions to
Charlie, who joins her. T'Pol removes
her communicator and
flips it open.
T'POL
(to com)
T'Pol to Archer.
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
Go ahead.
Charlie glances back at the alien child, who is
in
increasing distress. He can no longer control himself.
CHARLIE
(to mother)
Hey...
The woman shoots him a dirty look and ignores
him
T'POL
(to com)
Central Security claims to
have no record of Klaang.
But they told me about an
enclave on Level Nineteen
where Klingons have
been
known to go. Something
about live food.
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
Where on Level Nineteen?
T'POL
The easternmost
subsection... by the
geothermal
shafts.
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
I'll meet you there as soon
as I can. Archer
out.
The alien child is now nearly hysterical. The
mother has
disconnected the breathing tube and the child appears to
be
suffocating. Charlie instinctively moves to help.
CHARLIE
(on the move)
What're you doing? Leave
the kid alone!
T'Pol grabs him by the arm.
T'POL
Don't get involved.
CHARLIE
(protesting)
Do you see what she's
doing? He's going to
suffocate.
T'POL
They're Lorillians. Before
the
age of four, they can
only breathe methyloxide.
(pointed)
The mother is simply
weaning her son.
CHARLIE
(beat)
Could've fooled me.
He notices that the child is beginning to
breathe on his
own. As they exit the sitting area...
T'POL
Humans can't refrain from
drawing conclusions.
(sharply)
You should learn to
objectify other cultures...
so you can determine when
to interfere, and when not
to.
Charlie glances back at the child. He doesn't
like being
lectured to, but realizes he's made a mistake.
NEW ANGLE -A FIGURE
is watching them from the shadows. The figure
steps into
the light, revealing dappled flesh and dilated pupils...
Suliban. OFF
the ominous moment...
CUT TO:
TWO BEAUTIFUL ALIEN WOMEN (OPTICAL)
scantily clad, exotic features, swaying to an
alien
rhythm. Hanging between them is a thin, undulating
lantern, surrounded by
dozens of flitting butterflies. The
women slowly move closer to the lantern...
seductively,
one of them opens her mouth and arches her head. An
eight-inch
TONGUE quickly darts out and snares a
butterfly. The other woman does the same
–thwiip we're
in –
INT. TRADE COMPLEX -LEVEL FIVE -RED LIGHT
DISTRICT - NIGHT(OPTICAL)
Reed and Mayweather are standing in a crowd of
spectators,
watching the butterfly-women with a mixture of arousal and
disgust.
The Alien Man seen earlier stands nearby, eyeing
them.
ALIEN MAN
Would you like to meet
them? I can arrange it.
MAYWEATHER
Is this where you saw
Klaang?
ALIEN MAN
No, no, not here. I'II show
you where. But
first, you
should enjoy yourselves!
(to Reed, re:
butterfly- women)
Which one would you prefer?
Reed is uncomfortable in this setting... but
he's
intrigued by it all despite himself.
REED
We're here to learn about
the Klingon...
(eyes women)
Are those real butterflies,
or some -kind of
holograms?
MAYWEATHER
We should get going, sir.
REED
Yes, absolutely, you're
right.
They start walking through the narrow arcade
filled with
erotic pleasures... including a topless fire-eater who we
only see
from behind.
ALIEN MAN
(sensing they're
getting away)
Gentlemen, gentlemen!
Perhaps you'd prefer to
watch the inter- species
performance!
MAYWEATHER
You don't know anything
about Klaang, do you?
ALIEN MAN
Of course I do, but there's
no reason to hurry.
REED
"Inter-species
performance?"
MAYWEATHER
Lieutenant... this man has
no intention of helping us.
REED
(to Alien Man,
politely)
Perhaps another time
The Alien Man shakes his head, disappointed,
and
disappears into the crowd. As the two of them move away
from the action...
MAYWEATHER
(re: Alien Man)
I can't believe we fell for
that.
REED
(glancing back over his
shoulder)
We are explorers.
CUT TO:
INT. TRADE COMPLEX -LEVEL NINETEEN -NIGHT
In contrast to the lively "red light
district", this level
is desolate and eerie. Deep grinding noises from the
power
generators below can be heard echoing through the damp
floors. Archer and
Hoshi are moving cautiously past rows
of GEOTHERMAL DUCTS which are violently
venting STEAM
HOSHI
Isn't an enclave supposed
to have people?
ARCHER
"Enclave" could mean a lot
of things.
They keep walking. Hoshi is getting a little
spooked.
HOSHI
T' Pol said something about
"live"
food. I don't see
any restaurants...
Archer's senses are at full alert. He sees
something.
In the distance, two KLINGONS are quickly
moving through
the shadows away from them.
ARCHER
(calls out)
Hello... excuse me!
The Klingons don't respond, but continue to
move away with
urgency. Archer doesn't like what he's seeing.
HOSHI
(calls out, in Klingon)
Ha'quj jeg!
Silence. They're gone.
HOSHI
They looked Klingon to me.
Odd scratching sounds cause them both to look
about.
Something isn't right here. Archer flips open his
communicator.
ARCHER
(to com)
Archer to T'Pol.
(beat)
T'Pol, come in.
No response. A noise above causes them both to
look up.
HOSHI
(anxiety rising)
Maybe we should get back to
where there are
more
people.
Archer draws his pistol.
ARCHER
There are plenty of people
right here.
(quietly)
Stay behind me.
Archer and Hoshi move through the shadows. The
pounding
machinery below seems accentuated. They pass by an
erupting geothermal
duct... steam billowing around them...
when suddenly:
A SULIBAN
emerges from the steam and grabs Hoshi, who
screams!
Archer whirls to take aim, but TWO more SULIBAN quickly
rush at him
from different directions! Archer's pistol is
KNOCKED from his hand. He swings
and gets off a couple of
good PUNCHES at one of the attackers, but the Suliban
is
unfazed and they quickly immobilize him.
As Archer and Hoshi are pulled into the
darkness...
CUT TO:
INT. TRADE COMPLEX - GEOTHERMAL ACCESS LEVEL -
UNDERGROUND (OPTICAL)
A steamy maze of vertical, diagonal and
horizontal
conduits. Archer and Hoshi are led in by the three
Suliban, who now
hold the plasma pistol. They're brought
into a small open area, where T'Pol and Charlie are being
held. One of the Suliban works a hand-held device, and we
see
an ENERGY FIELD flash OFF. Hoshi is led into the
energy field. The guard exits
and we see the field flash
ON again. (NOTE: These Suliban are dressed
differently
than the ones we saw on Enterprise.
Our people have now begun to sweat from the
intense heat.
The Suliban are unaffected by the temperature.
As Archer is led away by two of the Suliban,
T'Pol's look
toward him says "I told you so" in no uncertain terms.
NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)
Archer is led into an area with beds, tables
and chairs,
as well as a few high-tech computers. This underground
level serves
as the base of operations for a small group
of Suliban dissidents.
The two Suliban EXIT the area, leaving Archer
alone in the
peculiar setting. After a beat, a quiet female VOICE is
heard:
SARIN (O.C.)
You're looking for
Klaang... why?
ARCHER
(glancing around)
Who the hell are you?
SARIN steps out of the shadows. She's
strikingly beautiful
and appears to be human.
SARIN
My name is Sarin.
(beat)
Tell me about the people
who took Klaang off
your
ship.
ARCHER
I was hoping you could tell
me... they looked a
lot
like your friends outside.
Sarin steps toward him...
SARIN
Where were you taking him?
ARCHER
How come you don't look
like your friends?
She's uncomfortably close now...
SARIN
Would you prefer I did?
ARCHER
What I'd prefer is that you
give me Klaang
back.
SARIN
So you could take him
where?
ARCHER
Home... we were just taking
him home.
Sarin is now inches away... she seems to be
gauging him...
ARCHER
(wry)
You'd better be careful.
I'm a lot bigger than
you
are.
Sarin moves her face close to his...
SARIN
If you're thinking about
harming me, I'd advise
against it.
She runs the back of her hand along his jaw
line.,,
ARCHER
What are you
doing?
SARIN
Why were you taking Klaang
home?
She moves her fingers across his face...
ARCHER
You know, under different
circumstances, I
might be
flattered by this, but...
She kisses him on the mouth. After a couple of
seconds,
she steps a few feet back... and her face and arms
TRANSFORM into the
dappled, creepy appearance of a
SULIBAN. Archer reacts.
ARCHER
That's never happened
before.
SARIN
I've been given the ability
to... measure
trust... but
it requires close contact.
ARCHER
You're Suliban...
SARIN
I'm a member of the
Cabal... but not any
longer. The price of
evolution was too high.
ARCHER
Evolution?
SARIN
(carefully)
Some of my people are so
anxious to "improve"
themselves that they've
lost perspective.
Archer, baffled by what she's saying, gets to
the point.
ARCHER
So you know I'm not lying
to you... now what?
SARIN
Klaang was carrying a
message to his people...
ARCHER
How do you know that?
SARIN
I gave it to him.
ARCHER
What kind of message?
SARIN
The Suliban have been
staging attacks within
the
Klingon Empire... making it
appear that one faction is
attacking another.
(beat)
Klaang was bringing proof
of this to his High
Council. Without that
proof, the Empire could be
thrown into chaos.
ARCHER
Why would the Suliban want
that?
SARIN
The Cabal doesn't make
decisions on its
own.
They're simply soldiers...
fighting a Temporal Cold
War.
ARCHER
Temporal? You've lost me.
SARIN
They're taking orders from
the distant future.
ARCHER
(baffled)
What?
Over the following, we SEE one of Silik's
Suliban skitter
across the ceiling in the b.g. He goes unnoticed and slips
into
shadow.
SARIN
(changing subject)
We can help you find
Klaang... but we don't
have
a starship. You'll have to
take us with you.
Suddenly, there's a blinding FLASH of blue
light as a
Suliban weapons DISCHARGE strikes the nearby computer
station, blowing it apart! They react, startled.
Another weapons BLAST hits closer to them.
Sarin and
Archer rush out of the area just as two SULIBAN ATTACKERS
move into view and start FIRING toward them!
NEW ANGLE -GEOTHERMAL ACCESS LEVEL -ON THE AWAY
TEAM 104 (OPTICAL)
All hell is breaking loose. T'Pol, Charlie and
Hoshi are
trapped within the energy field as a BATTLE RAGES nearby
--Suliban
versus Suliban! In the b.g., we can hear weapons
fire and people yelling.
One of Sarin's Suliban lies dead nearby...
while another
is exchanging weapons FIRE with two Suliban Attackers.
Sarin's
Suliban BLASTS one attacker, who falls to the
ground... but he is KILLED by the
second!
The Suliban Attacker then turns on the Away
Team. He
starts FIRING at the energy field, trying to disrupt it!
The field flashes and fritzes, terrifying!
Sarin steps into view. She takes aim and FIRES
at the
Attacker, who's blown off his feet. She rushes to a
control panel and
works it. The field FLASHES OFF. Sarin
opens a nearby locker and starts handing
the crew their
phase-pistols.
SARIN
(to Archer)
Where's your vessel?
ARCHER
On the roof... Docking Port
three.
Hoshi glances up to see --
TWO SULIBAN (OPTICAL)
One is chasing the other along the underside of
a diagonal
conduit high above the ground. Both appear to defy
gravity, rapidly
crawling along the pipe.
HOSHI
reacts.
SARIN
This way.
As Sarin leads them off... a SULIBAN ATTACKER
drops into
CLOSE UP, threatening!
TWO OF SARIN'S SULIBAN (OPTICAL)
are ducking and weaving through the maze of
conduits with
heightened agility, firing at off-camera assailants. One
is struck
down by a weapons blast!
HIGH ANGLE -ARCHER AND SARIN (OPTICAL)
In the distance, we can see FLASHES of WEAPONS
-- the
battle rages on. We BOOM DOWN to find Archer and Sarin on
the movie with
T'Pol, Charlie and Hoshi. Tension as they
navigate the jungle of pipes, weapons
fire in the b.g.
Sarin reaches a massive VERTICAL CONDUIT, hits
a control,
which opens a HATCH leading into the large pipe. Inside we
see a
circular PLATFORM a couple of feet above the deck.
Sarin goes to a control mechanism and stands by
as Archer
helps Hoshi climb onto the platform... followed by
T'Pol... weapons fire STREAKS by! Everyone
tenses. Charlie
jumps up onto the platform, followed by Archer.
Sarin pulls a series of LEVERS, and we HEAR the
rushing
sound of thermal energy... and the platform begins to
TREMBLE slightly.
Sarin moves toward the platform when WHAM!
she's hit in
the back by a weapons blast! REVEAL --
SILIK (OPTICAL)
who has just fired the shot from across the
room, weapon
trained on Sarin. He FIRES again!
SARIN (OPTICAL)
falls! The points of impact glow and sizzle as
they BURN
their way into Sarin's writhing body.
ARCHER AND CHARLIE (OPTICAL)
jump off the platform! As Archer moves to Sarin...
Charlie
takes aim and starts FIRING his pistol at the (off-camera)
attacker.
SILIK (OPTICAL)
takes cover behind an outcropping of pipes
ARCHER (OPTICAL)
kneels down to help Sarin, who is dying
SARIN
(ragged, to Archer)
Find Klaang.
Sarin starts to lose consciousness. Archer
realizes
there's nothing he can do and stands.
ARCHER
(calls out)
Charlie!
Archer jumps back onto the trembling platform,
quickly
followed by Charlie. A weapons blast strikes nearby!
Archer slides the hatch SHUT, and the moment he
does --
INT. VERTICAL SHAFT -LOOKING DOWNWARD (OPTICAL)
Archer and his team react as the platform
BLASTS UPWARD
through the shaft, shooting PAST at rapid speed, propelled
by a
roiling pillar of steam!
CUT TO:
EXT. TRADE COMPLEX -ROOFTOP DOCKING PORT -NIGHT
(OPTICAL)
A ferocious ARCTIC STORM blankets the scene. An
ACCESS
PORT on the deck OPENS automatically. We HEAR the roaring
sound of the approaching platform. Seconds later, the
PLATFORM EMERGES, stopping two feet
above the deck. STEAM
blasts out in all directions from the opening below the
platform, billowing into the freezing air.
ARCHER AND HIS TEAM
still covered with sweat from the heat below,
react to the
frigid wind and snow. Archer jumps off the platform.
ARCHER
(over wind)
Let's go!
Charlie, T'Pol and Hoshi follow him onto the
deck, is a
bit overwhelmed by tbe last few
minutes, but manages to
hold berself togetber.
HOSHI
(over wind)
Where's the pod?
CHARLIE
(over wind)
Over here!
T'POL
(over wind)
No, it's this way!
Archer quickly weighs the two options, and
chooses to go
in T'Pol's direction.
ARCHER
(pointing, over wind)
Come on!
The four of them start heading toward an
obscured shape
with two light sources -- what they believe is their
shuttle.
Archer removes his communicator and flips it
open.
ARCHER
(over wind, to com)
Lieutenant Reed, this is
Archer! Come in!
A beat, then we hear a heavily fritzed voice:
REED'S COM VOICE
(unintelligible)
zzzzzzzk-gggggguzzzzzzt
ARCHER
(over wind)
We're on the roof! You need
to get up here as
quickly
as --
INT. ENTERPRISE SHUTTLEPOD -NIGHT
Reed and Mayweather are warm and dry, as the
snow storm
rages outside the window. The shuttle is parked on the
landing deck.
Reed is working the com. Archer's
unintelligible voice is heard:
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
(continuing)
--zzzzzzzzk
REED
(to com)
We've been trying to reach
you, Captain --we're
back
in the shuttle.
Mayweather is at a monitor.
MAYWEATHER
Ask him where they are.
This storm's getting
worse.
REED
(to com)
Captain, what's your
location? The weather is
--
EXT. ROOFTOP DOCKING PORT -NIGHT (OPTICAL)
Archer and the others still on the move.
REED'S COM VOICE
(continuing)
--gzzzzzzt --zzzzzk
Archer closes his communicator in frustration
as he
approaches the two lights. They move closer to the
obscured shape... until
they see that it's nothing more
than an empty DOCKING PORT.
HOSHI
(over wind)
Great!
CHARLIE
(over wind)
Like I said, it's over
there!
Suddenly, a Suliban WEAPONS BLAST shoots past
them,
blowing one of the lights off the docking port!
ARCHER
Weapons!
They draw their pistols and follow Archer
across the icy
deck...
ANGLE- SILIK (OPTICAL)
and two of his men FIRE their weapons at the
distant
figures of Archer and his team, who vanish into the storm.
The Suliban
move after them...
ARCHER AND HIS TEAM (OPTICAL)
Running, searching for the shuttle. Suliban
weapons fire
STRIKES nearby and our team is forced to SCATTER! In the
darkened
storm, the FIRE-FIGHT takes on an almost eerie
beauty. Starfleet pistols firing
deep red plasma bullets;
Suliban weapons firing hot blue beams; all of it
cutting
through the swirling snow.
INT. ENTERPRISE SHUTTLEPOD -NIGHT
Reed and Mayweather, as before. There's a muted
FLASH of
LIGHT outside the window. They react.
REED
I've never seen lightning
in a snowstorm
before.
MAYWEATHER
(works)
The storm's kicking up too
much interference...
I
can't isolate human
bio-signs. They could be
anywhere in the complex.
There's a slight THUMP from outside. Reed turns
for an
instant, but returns to his work.
REED
Try Vulcan bio-signs
Mayweather works. THUMP-THUMP! He turns at the
sound and
sees...
T'POL AT THE WINDOW
being battered by the storm outside
MAYWEATHER
I found her.
Reed looks over. Both men quickly move to an
EMERGENCY
HATCH on the side of the ship and fire the release
mechanism. The door
pops out a few inches and slowly
begins to lower, a gush of cold air blowing
into the
shuttle...
EXT. ROOFTOP DOCKING PORT -NIGHT (OPTICAL)
Our three other people, shivering cold, are
looking for
cover as the Suliban weapons fire strikes around them.
CHARLIE (OPTICAL)
ducks behind a low wall, continues to FIRE
back.
ARCHER AND HOSHI (OPTICAL)
on the move. Archer has one hand on Hoshi's
arm, while he
FIRES toward the Suliban.
THE SHUTTLE HATCH
is lowering into place
SILIK AND HIS MEN
are closing in on our people. Suddenly, a loud
ROARING
SOUND from above! Silik looks up to see –
ANGLE -A DEPARTING ALIEN VESSEL (OPTICAL)
is PASSING slowly OVERHEAD! Only its running
lights can be
seen through the storm. The blast from its THRUSTER
EXHAUST blows
wildly across the deck!
SILIK AND HIS' MEN
squat down and protect their faces
T'POL (OPTICAL)
is directly below the passing ship, caught in
its powerful
exhaust. She's KNOCKED OFF HER FEET and BLOWN ACROSS the
slippery
deck!
ARCHER AND HOSHI
watch the (off-camera) ALIEN SHIP as it moves
away. The
roar dies down. Archer turns to see that T'Pol is now
isolated halfway
between the shuttle and the Suliban.
T'POL
is lying on the deck, dazed. She's alone...
unarmed... an
easy target.
SILIK AND HIS MEN
stand and see the defenseless woman.
ARCHER REACTS (OPTICAL)
He turns to Hoshi.
ARCHER
(over wind)
Get to the ship --now!
Hoshi moves toward the shuttle. Archer raises
his pistol
and starts FIRING as he RUNS directly at the Suliban!
ONE OF SILIK'S MEN (OPTICAL)
is HIT! Silik and his remaining cohort take
cover...
ARCHER (OPTICAL)
reaches T'Pol's weapon and scoops it up without
missing a
beat.
ARCHER
(over wind, to T'Pol)
Go!
T'POL
(over wind)
Enterprise needs its
Captain! Give me the
weapons!
ARCHER
(over wind)
I said go!
Their eyes meet for a brief instant, and T'Pol
realizes
she's not going to change his mind. She takes off toward
the shuttle.
Archer provides cover for her, edging toward
the shuttle while FIRING BOTH
WEAPONS!
INT. SHUTTLEPOD
Charlie and Hoshi are now on board.
Mayweather's at the
helm, preparing for launch. Reed reaches out of the open
hatch and pulls T'Pol inside to safety.
ROOFTOP DOCKING PORT (OPTICAL)
Archer is getting closer to the shuttle, firing
shot after
shot...
SILIK AND HIS MAN
have now separated, forcing Archer to choose a
target.
ARCHER (OPTICAL)
has almost reached the shuttle. He aims
slightly left and
is HIT in the LEG by a blast from Silik's weapon! He falls
and
grimaces as the point of impact BURNS its way into his
flesh. Another SHOT hits
nearby, barely missing him!
Charlie and Reed jump onto the deck. Reed OPENS
FIRE as
Charlie pulls Archer through the hatch!
INT. SHUTTLEPOD
Mayweather working the helm. We HEAR the hatch
CLOSE and
the WHINE of the ENGINES.
MAYWEATHER
The starboard thruster's
down!
T'POL
(taking charge)
Ignore it. Take us up.
Mayweather works. Hoshi kneels by Archer, who
is badly
wounded, lying on the floor, barely conscious. The shuttle
JOLTS
slightly... then again! Hoshi grabs hold of a
bulkhead.
EXT. ROOFTOP DOCKING PORT (OPTICAL)
Silik and his man are FIRING at the SHUTTLE,
which
disappears into the storm above. They lower their weapons.
Silik turns to
his cohort, grim-faced.
SILIK
(over wind)
We need instructions.
OFF his concern...
INT. SHUTTLEPOD
Mid-flight, trembling from the storm, lights
flickering.
Mayweather at the helm. T'Pol, Charlie and Reed are
seated, Hoshi
beside Archer on the floor.
T'POL
(to Mayweather)
Open a channel.
He hits a control.
T'POL
(to com)
Sub-Commander T'Pol to
Enterprise.
COM VOICE
Go ahead.
T'POL
We'll be docking in four
minutes. Have Doctor
Phlox
meet us in Decon.
COM VOICE
Acknowledged. Is someone
wounded?
T'POL
(matter-of-fact)
The Captain. I'm taking
command of Enterprise.
CLOSE ON ARCHER
as he hears this, far too weak to respond. We
PUSH IN on
his face as he slowly loses consciousness...
DISSOLVE TO:
FLASHBACK: A WINDY BEACH -DAY (OPTICAL)
Billowy clouds and trees swaying in the stiff
breeze.
Young Archer stands working a small control
unit, while
his father sits in the sand beside him.
FATHER
Your pitch is too low.
Bring up the nose.
THE STARSHIP MODEL (OPTICAL)
is buffeted by the wind, hits the branches of a
tree and
crashes into the sand.
YOUNG ARCHER (OPTICAL)
looks frustrated.
FATHER
It's okay, you almost got
it. Try again.
Young Archer works the controls...
THE MODEL (OPTICAL)
is airborne again, but wavers as it heads
toward the sand.
YOUNG ARCHER (OPTICAL)
works the device, frustrated.
YOUNG ARCHER
I can't do it!
FATHER
Yes, you can. Take her
up... straight and
steady.
THE MODEL (OPTICAL)
smashes into a sand dune.
YOUNG ARCHER
Damn
Young Archer kneels at the slightly bruised
model, his
father beside him.
FATHER
You can't be afraid of the
wind... learn to
trust it.
The boy hears something and turns his head,
HIS POV - T'POL (OPTICAL)
is standing silently against the bright sky,
watching
them.
FADE TO BLACK.
A long beat, then within the darkness, a small
METAL SLAT
slides open. Doctor Phlox peers in through a window, his
voice
amplified over the com:
PHLOX
It shouldn't take more than
a few moments.
REVEAL we're in --
INT. ENTERPRISE -DECON CHAMBER
Charlie and T'Pol are standing in the small
room,
dimly-lit by ultraviolet light. Their uniforms are still
wet from the
blowing snow.
CHARLIE
(impatient)
Is this really necessary?
PHLOX
The others scanned
negative. You two,
unfortunately, were exposed
to a protocystian spore.
I've loaded the appropriate
decon-gel into
compartment-B.
Resigned, Charlie and T'Pol begin to undress...
T'POL
(to Phlox)
Tell Mister Mayweather to
prepare to leave
orbit.
CHARLIE
How's the Captain?
PHLOX
I'm treating his wound
CHARLIE
Will he be all right?
PHLOX
Eventually
The metal slat slides SHUT. Charlie and T'Pol
open small
LOCKERS. T'Pol places her uniform on a hook,
while Charlie simply tosses his in. Charlie
strips down to
his shorts; T'Pol, to a pair of underwear and a
short-cropped
tee-shirt. They open a compartment labeled
"B" and remove two small
CANNISTERS containing a deep blue
gelatinous compound.
Over the following scene, they begin applying
the gel to
their bodies. It's obvious that this is a part of their
training...
modesty is not a question. The phosphorescent
gel glistens on their skin in the
ultraviolet light.
CHARLIE
Correct me if I'm wrong,
but aren't you just
kind of
an "observer" on this
mission? I don't remember
anyone telling
me you were
a member of Starfleet.
T'POL
My Vulcan rank supersedes
yours.
CHARLIE
Apples and oranges. This is
an Earth vessel.
You're in
no position to take
command.
T'POL
As soon as we're through
here, I'll contact
Ambassador Soval. He'll
speak to your superiors and
I'm certain they'll support
my authority in this
situation.
Charlie knows that if she makes that call, the
mission is
over.
CHARLIE
You must really be proud of
yourself. You can
put an
end to this mission while
the Captain's still
unconscious in Sickbay. You
won't even have to look him
in the eye.
They continue rubbing their bodies with the
glowing gel.
T'POL
Your precious "cargo" was
stolen...
three Suliban,
perhaps more, were
killed... and Captain
Archer has been
seriously
wounded. It seems to me
this "mission" has put an
end to
itself.
(beat)
Turn around.
Charlie turns and T'Pol begins to smear the gel
on his
back, rhythmically rubbing it slowly down to the waistband
of his shorts.
As sensual as this might seem, they
continue talking as though it's business as
usual.
CHARLIE
Let's say you're right...
let's say we screwed
up
just like you always knew
we would.
(beat)
It's still a pretty good
bet that whoever blew
that
hole in the Captain's leg
is connected somehow to the
people who took Klaang.
T'POL
I fail to see your point.
She finishes with the back of his thighs,
stands and
turns. As Charlie begins to rub decon-gel on her back, she
raises the
tee-shirt up to her shoulders.
CHARLIE
Captain Archer deserves a
chance to see this
through.
If you knew him, you'd
realize that's what he's
about. He needs to
finish
what he starts.
(pointed)
His daddy was the same way.
T'POL
You obviously share your
Captain's belief that
my
people were responsible for
impeding Henry Archer's
accomplishments.
CHARLIE
He only wanted to see his
engine fly... they never
even gave him a chance to
fail.
(beat)
And here you are, thirty
years later, proving just
how consistent you Vulcans
can be.
T'Pol takes this in, affected by his words but
revealing
nothing...
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON CAPTAIN ARCHER
as he opens his eyes, regaining consciousness.
He's lying
on a bio-bed. He grimaces in pain, looks down toward his
legs. REVEAL
we're in --
INT. ENTERPRISE -SICKBAY
Archer is partially reclined on the bio-bed.
Doctor Phlox
is working on Archer's left thigh, carefully removing a
saucer-sized, leech-like ALIEN CREATURE from the
now-healing wound.
PHLOX
(sees he's awake)
Very nice, very nice...
your myofibers are
fusing
beautifully.
Phlox places the creature into a jar of liquid.
ARCHER
How long have I been...?
PHLOX
Less than six hours. I
thought it best to keep you
sedated while the osmotic
eel cauterized your wound.
Archer looks at the creature swimming in the liquid.
ARCHER
Thanks.
T'Pol and Charlie ENTER and move to the bio-bed.
CHARLIE
How are you doing, Captain?
ARCHER
That depends. What's been
going on for the last six
hours?
Charlie glances at T'Pol.
T'POL
As your highest ranking
officer, I assumed command
while you were
incapacitated.
Archer senses that the ship is moving.
ARCHER
(to Charlie)
Are we underway?
Charlie nods.
ARCHER
(to T'Pol)
You didn't waste much time,
did you?
T'POL
(to Phlox)
Is he fit to resume
command?
PHLOX
As long as he returns for
more eel therapy tomorrow.
ARCHER
(to Charlie)
How long before we get back
to Earth?
CHARLIE
Earth, sir?
T'POL
We're currently tracking
the Suliban vessel that
left Rigel shortly after
you were injured.
Archer is surprised and a little skeptical.
ARCHER
You got their... plasma
decay rate?
T'POL
With Mister Tucker's
assistance, I modified the
sensors. You now have the
resolution to detect their
warp trail.
Archer is bolstered by this, tries to sit up, wincing a
little.
ARCHER
What happened to "this is a
foolish mission?"
T'POL
It is a foolish mission.
The Suliban are clearly a
hostile race with
technology far superior to
yours.
(beat)
But as Acting Captain, I
was obligated to anticipate
your wishes.
ARCHER
As Acting Captain, you
could've done whatever the
hell you wanted to do.
T'Po1 doesn't respond. After a beat:
T'POL
I should return to the
Bridge.
ARCHER
(still skeptical)
Dismissed.
T'Pol turns and EXITS.
CHARLIE
(carefully defending
T'Pol)
Modifying the sensors was
her idea, sir.
OFF Archer's puzzled look...
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON A TACTICAL MONITOR (VPB)
which shows a complex TRACKING PATTERN. We HEAR the
"pings" of various SENSORS .
HOSHI (O.C.)
What are the symptoms of
frostbite? We're in –
INT. BRIDGE
T'Pol in the Captain's chair, Mayweather and crewmembers
at their stations. Reed and Hoshi sit together at
tactical.
REED
Your "appendages blister,
peel, turn gangrenous...
HOSHI
(staring at her right
hand)
I think I have frostbite.
REED
Let me see.
She holds out her hand.
REED
(tongue in cheek)
Doctor Phlox may have to
amputate.
HOSHI
(still eyeing her
fingertips)
I never had to worry about
frostbite in Brazil.
Suddenly, the "pings" take on a different sound.
MAYWEATHER
(off console)
They're getting too far
ahead of us...
T'POL
Match their speed.
MAYWEATHER
I'm not authorized to go
beyond four-four.
T'Pol taps a button.
CHARLIE'S COM VOICE
Engineering.
T'POL
(to com)
Mister Tucker, would you
please give the helmsman
permission to go to warp
four point five.
CHARLIE'S COM VOICE
It's okay, Travis. I'll
keep an eye on the engine.
Mayweather works. As the "pinging" returns to normal...
EXT. SPACE- ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
at warp.
ARCHER (V.O.)
Enterprise Starlog, Captain
Jonathan Archer. Date:
xxxx.x...
INT. ARCHER'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)
Archer is sitting in a chair with his injured leg up on a
pillow. He's wearing a dark tee-shirt and pair of pants.
WARP STARS streak by outside the window.
ARCHER
(continuing, to com)
No, no, delete that.
(thinks)
Begin recording...
(computer beeps)
Captain's Starlog, Date
xxxxx.x.
(beat)
We've been tracking the
Suliban's ship for ten
hours, thanks to our...
Science Officer, who came
up with a way to tweak the
sensors.
(beat)
Computer, pause.
The computer beeps. Archer glances at someone off-camera.
ARCHER
(venting)
I save her life, and now
she's helping us with the
mission. "One good turn
deserves another" ...
doesn't sound very Vulcan.
The off-camera person is silent.
ARCHER
(to com)
Resume log.
(computer beeps)
I have no reason to believe
Klaang is still alive...
but if the Suliban woman
was telling the truth, it's
crucial that we try to find him.
(beat)
Computer, pause.
Archer stands, thoughtful, tries out his foot, which seems
to be fine, moves across the room.
ARCHER
(to off-camera person)
Have you ever known a
Vulcan to return a favor?
The CAMERA PANS to reveal that Archer is talking to his
dog, Porthos.
ARCHER
(after a beat)
No, neither have I.
(to com)
Resume log.
(computers beeps)
I still haven't decided
whether to ask
Sub-Commander T'Pol about
this "Temporal Cold War."
My instincts tell me not to
trust her.
A beat, then Archer senses something. He glances out the
window to see the ship is dropping OUT OF WARP.
ARCHER
Computer, pause.
(a beep, then to com)
Archer to T'Pol. Report.
T'POL'S COM VOICE
If you're feeling well
enough to come to the
Bridge, Captain, now would
be a good time.
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
T'Pol in the Captain's chair, others at their stations.
Everyone is looking at the VIEWSCREEN, which shows a
distant ORANGE PLANET. As Archer ENTERS from the
Turbolift, T'Pol rises.
T'POL
It's a gas giant.
ARCHER
(nodding)
From the looks of it, a
Class Six or Seven.
T'POL
Class Seven.
(beat)
The Suliban vessel dropped
to impulse a few hours ago
and altered course. Their
new heading took them
through its outer-
radiation belt.
ARCHER
(realizing what this
means)
We've lost them?
T'Pol reluctantly nods.
ARCHER
(to Mayweather)
Move us in closer.
Mayweather works. Archer paces as the orange planet grows
LARGER.
ARCHER
(to Reed)
Anything?
REED
(working)
The radiation's dissipated
their warp trail. I'm only
picking up fragments.
Archer turns to T'Pol.
ARCHER
You finished helping us?
T'Pol walks to Reed's station and hits a control. The
Viewscreen shows a new GRAPHIC of the GAS GIANT --above it
we can see a FRAGMENTED ION TRAIL, like a contrail that's
been broken up by winds.
T'POL
(eyes graphic, to Reed)
Run a spectral analysis of
the fragments.
Reed hits a series of controls. On the graphic, a sequence
of NUMBERS appears by each fragment; the sequences are all
different.
REED
(re: graphic,
discouraged)
There's too much
distortion... the decay
rates don't even match.
T'Pol reacts to this, realizing something... she steps
toward the Viewscreen.
T'POL
(to Reed, re; graphic)
Calculate the trajectory of
each
fragment.
Reed looks a bit confused, looks to the Captain. Archer,
catching on, steps forward next to T'Pol.
ARCHER
(to Reed)
Over
this:
You heard her.
Reed works --he doesn't have a clue what they're looking
for. Archer and T'Pol exchange a look: despite their
mistrust of each other, they're both thinking alike for
the first time. The Viewscreen graphic now displays
TELEMETRY for each of the fragments. Archer nods to T'Pol,
who moves to a nearby station and starts working.
ARCHER
(to Crewman)
Recalibrate the sensor
array -- narrow-band,
short-to-mid-range.
CREWMAN
Aye.
T'POL
(to Mayweather)
Measure the particle
density of the
thermosphere.
ARCHER
(to all, re: graphic)
Those "fragments" weren't
from one Suliban ship...
T'POL
(off console)
...they were from
fourteen... and all within
the last six hours. I
believe we've found what
we're looking for.
Archer takes a beat, then makes a difficult decision:
ARCHER
(to Reed)
How are your targeting
scanners?
REED
Aligned and ready, sir.
ARCHER
(nods)
Bring the weapons
on-line... and polarize the
hull plating.
Reactions all around. No one expected an armed conflict
during during this journey. As they brace themselves...
ARCHER
(to Mayweather)
Lay in a sixty degree
vector. We're going in.
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -TEMPORAL CHAMBER (OPTICAL)
As seen earlier. Dimly-lit, cylindrical, bisected by a
barrier of energy. Silik is reporting to the murky
Humanoid Figure. As they speak, their words and images
PRE-ECHO in the strange, time-shifting effect:
HUMANOID FIGURE
Did Sarin give them
anything?
SILIK
I don't know.
HUMANOID FIGURE
What do you know?
SILIK
They followed us here.
HUMANOID FIGURE
Looking for Klaang, or for
you?
SILIK
I don't know... but I'll
destroy them before they
locate the Helix.
HUMANOID FIGURE
We didn't plan to involve
the humans or the
Vulcans... not yet .
(an order)
Sarin's message cannot
reach Kronos. If the humans
have it, you must stop
them.
As Silik takes this in...
CUT TO:
EXT. GAS GIANT -UPPER-ATMOSPHERE (OPTICAL)
ENTERPRISE is moving slowly through the orange gas, its
running lights cutting through the dense layer.
INT. ENTERPRISE -BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
Archer in command, others at their stations. The
Viewscreen shows the gaseous layer rushing past.
Everyone's tense:
HOSHI
Sensor resolution's falling
off at about twelve
kilometers...
ARCHER
(concerned)
Travis?
MAYWEATHER
(intensely working
helm)
I'm okay, Captain...
T'Pol is busy at her console.
T'POL
Our situation should
improve. We're about to
break through the
cyclohexane layer.
All eyes on the Viewscreen as the orange layer of gas
gives way to an even DENSER LAYER of ROILING BLUE LIQUID.
The ship instantly begins to TREMBLE violently.
ARCHER
(holding on)
I wouldn't exactly call
this an improvement.
T'Pol, calm and fascinated, activates a small viewer at
her station and peers into its eyepiece.
T'POL
Liquid phosphorous. I
wouldn't have expected
that
beneath a layer of
cyclohexane.
The ship continues to buffet. Hoshi's doing her best to
cover her white-knuckle anxiety.
HOSHI
(to Archer)
You might think about
recommending seat belts
when we get home.
ARCHER
It's just a little bad
weather.
A few more seconds of intense shaking... and then: PERFECT
CALM as Enterprise descends into a CLEAR LAYER. On the Viewscreen, we see roiling gasses above. Beep-beep-beep!
HOSHI
We've got sensors!
ARCHER
(to Mayweather)
Leveloff.
(to Hoshi)
Go to long-range scans.
T'POL
I'm detecting two
vessels... bearing
one-one-nine mark seven.
ARCHER
(to Hoshi)
Put it up.
Hoshi works, and the Viewscreen changes to show TWO
SULIBAN CELL SHIPS moving away in the distance. The unique
vessels are quite small, about twice the size of one of
our shuttlepods.
REED
(working fast)
Impulse and warp engines.
ARCHER
What kind of weapons?
REED
We're too far away.
MAYWEATHER
(off console)
Sir, I'm picking up
something at
three-forty-two mark
twelve... it's a lot
bigger.
Hoshi works the Viewscreen, which now shows the SULIBAN
HELIX.
ARCHER
(quickly, to T'Pol)
All sensors --get whatever
you can!
T'Pol works, rapidly gathering data on the Helix.
ARCHER
Go tighter.
Hoshi taps a control, and we get a CLOSER VIEW of the
HELIX. It's comprised of hundreds of smaller, modular
Suliban ships which are interlocked to form a massive,
spiral-shaped space station. A few individual CELL SHIPS
are seen engaging and disengaging from the Helix.
ARCHER
(to Hoshi)
Bio-signs?
HOSHI
Over three thousand... but
I can't isolate a
Klingon,
if there is one.
A sudden JOLT!
REED
That was a particle weapon,
sir.
BOOM! We're HIT again!
INT. MAIN ENGINEERING
Mid-emergency, trembling. A couple of conduits are spewing
GAS. Charlie has his hands wrapped around a pressure VALVE
that's HISSING ominously.
CHARLIE (to com)
Bridge, we're taking damage
down here! What's going on?
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
Just a little trouble with
the bad guys.
INT. BRIDGE
T'POL
(calmly)
I suggest we return to the
phosphorous layer.
Another HIT!
ARCHER
(to Mayweather)
Take us up.
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
ENTERPRISE rapidly ASCENDS into the roiling LIQUID-BLUE
LAYER above, vanishing from view. The approaching Suliban
CELL SHIP breaks off its pursuit, and heads back toward
the distant HELIX.
INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
Trembling. Archer's crossing to T'Pol, who is now working
a monitor near Hoshi.
ARCHER
What've you got?
The monitor displays an IMAGE of the Suliban HELIX from directlyabove. T'Pol taps the controls, and the image
SHIFTS so we can see it from the side.
T'POL
(off monitor)
It appears to be an
aggregate structure...
comprised of hundreds of
vessels. They're held in
place by an interlocking
system of magnetic seals.
Hoshi's been busy working, as well. On the monitor, a
column of bio-data appears next to a small section of the
Helix.
HOSHI
There, right there!
(re: monitor)
These bio-readings are not
Suliban.
T'POL
(eyes them)
We can't be certain they're
Klingon.
Hoshi shoots her an irritated look.
ARCHER
Even if it ~ Klaang, we'd
have a tough time getting
him off of there...
REED
We could always try the
transporting device...
ARCHER
No. We've risked too much
to bring him back
inside-out.
(an idea, to Reed)
Would the grappler work in
a liquid atmosphere?
REED
I believe so...
ARCHER
Bring it on-line.
(heading to his chair,
determined)
One more time, Mister
Mayweather
OFF Archer's intent -- he's got a plan...
CUT TO:
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
THREE CELL SHIPS are patrolling just beneath the LIQUID
SURFACE. Suddenly, ENTERPRISE BURSTS into the CLEAR! On
the hull, two hatches open and a pair of LAUNCH TURRETS
emerge, swiveling toward their target. They fire
futuristic TORPEDOES, rapid blasts of energy that resemble
luminous artillery shells. Their weapons STREAK toward --
THE CELL SHIPS (OPTICAL)
But our weapons miss their targets. The cell ships return
FIRE!
INT. BRIDGE
A JOLT as we're HIT!
REED
The ventral plating's down!
(works, frustrated)
I'm having trouble getting
a weapons lock... these
scanners weren't designed
for a liquid atmosphere.
Another HIT!
REED
(wry)
Evidently, theirs were.
WHAM! A hard SHAKE causes a console to SPARK near Hoshi,
who leaps back, startled.
ARCHER
(to Mayweather)
Hold your position...
REED
The lead ship's closing...
seven thousand meters...
six thousand...
WHAM! The hardest HIT yet!
T'POL
We should ascend!
ARCHER
Hold your position!
REED
One thousand meters...
Another JOLT!
REED
Forward plating's off-line!
ARCHER
Now, Mister Reed!
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
A CELL SHIP is closing on ENTERPRISE when suddenly --
A DOCKING ARM (OPTICAL)
is lowering from the Launch Bay on the bottom of
Enterprise. Two GRAPPLING DEVICES shoot out of ports on
the arm, trailing THIN CABLES!
THE CELL SHIP (OPTICAL)
is HIT by the two "grapplers", which magnetically LATCH
onto its hull!
CLOSER ANGLE -CELL SHIP COCKPIT (OPTICAL)
The cockpit hatch springs open and a SULIBAN PILOT
EJECTS
from the ship in a blast of vapor! As the pilot TUMBLES
through the clear layer below...
ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
swiftly ascends into the roiling layer above, REELING IN
the cell ship like a spider with its prey!
INT. ENTERPRISE -BRIDGE
Mild trembling begins as we re-enter the turbulent layer.
Reed eyes his station.
REED
(a little cocky)
Hello!
(turns to Archer)
Their ship's in the Launch
Bay.
Archer nods to him -- good work. OFF Reed, pleased.
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE- SITUATION ROOM (VPB)
A tactical center off the Main Bridge, filled with various
read-outs and a large TABLE GRAPHIC. Archer, Charlie and
Mayweather are huddled around the table, which shows
numerous graphics of the CELL SHIP -- different angles of
the exterior, engine schematics, flight controls, etc.
Mild trembling.
MAYWEATHER
(points to graphic)
All right, what's this?
CHARLIE
(smiles with
confidence)
The pitch control.
MAYWEATHER
(pointing to another
spot)
No, that's the pitch
control. This is the
guidance system.
CHARLIE
Pitch control... guidance
system. ..got it.
MAYWEATHER
(to Archer)
The docking interface.
How
do you deploy it?
ARCHER
(using graphic)
Release the inertial clamps
here, here, and here...
then initialize the coaxial
ports.
MAYWEATHER
Good.
(to Charlie)
Where's the auxiliary
throttle?
Charlie hesitates.
CHARLIE
(points)
Hmm. It's not this one...
MAYWEATHER
(to Archer)
With all due respect to
Commander Tucker... I'm
pretty sure I could fly
this thing, sir.
ARCHER
I don't doubt it, but I
need you here...
CHARLIE
(points)
There... that's it... the
auxiliary throttle.
The scene is interrupted by a low-frequency booom... which
grows louder and then WHAM! The ship is JOLTED!
T'POL (O.C.)
Captain.
They turn to see --
NEW ANGLE -INCLUDING THE MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
T'Pol is at her station, looking to Archer with concern.
T'POL
That charge contained a
proximity sweep. If we
remain here, they're going
to locate us.
Archer nods, turns to Mayweather.
ARCHER
You're gonna have to speed
this up a little, Travis.
CHARLIE
How complicated can it be?
Up, down, forward,
reverse... we'll figure it
out.
Archer's look tells us he doesn't share Charlie's
confidence...
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
Two larger Suliban CELL SHIPS are cruising side by side
directly below the blue phosphorous layer. After a beat,
they each release inverted DEPTH CHARGES, which slowly
rise into the clouds above.
EXT. GAS GIANT -PHOSPHOROUS LAYER (OPTICAL)
ENTERPRISE can barely be seen through the murk. The two
DEPTH CHARGES rise into frame in the foreground... and
DETONATE.
INT. READY ROOM
Two low-frequency booms are heard, followed by two JOLTS
more quickly than before. Over this, Archer is giving
T'Pol final instructions. There's a sense of urgency:
ARCHER
We'll be back before you
know it. Have Mayweather
plot a course for
Kronos.
T'POL
There's a Vulcan ship less
than two days away. It's
illogical to attempt this
alone.
ARCHER
I was beginning to think
you understood why we have
to do this alone.
T'POL
You'll have other
opportunities to
demonstrate your...
independence.
ARCHER
Never put off 'til
tomorrow...
T'POL
You both could be killed.
ARCHER
Am I sensing concern? Last
time I checked, that was
considered an emotion.
T'POL
(covering)
If anything happens to
either of you, the Vulcan
High Command will hold me
responsible.
Archer smiles. The door CHIMES.
ARCHER
Come in.
Reed ENTERS, carrying two silver equipment cases.
ARCHER
(to Reed)
You're finished?
As Reed sets the cases on the desk, and flips the lid on
one of them to reveal a RECTANGULAR DEVICE.
REED
(re: device)
It should reverse the
polarity of any maglock
within a hundred meters.
(indicating the
controls)
Once you've set the
sequence, you'll have five
seconds.
Archer nods, studying it.
REED
One more thing.
He flips open the other equipment case, and pulls out two
Starfleet HAND PHASERS with pistol-grips. He gives them to
Archer.
ARCHER
Ah. Our new weapons.
REED
They're called
phase-pistols. They have
two settings: stun and
kill. It would be best not
to confuse them.
Another low boom... then a startling JOLT!
ARCHER
(to T'Pol)
The ship is yours.
He turns for the door.
CUT TO:
EXT. GAS GIANT -PHOSPHOROUS LAYER (OPTICAL)
ENTERPRISE moving slowly through the blue gas. The Suliban
CELL SHIP LAUNCHES from the Shuttlebay and heads downward.
INT. SULIBAN CELL SHIP (OPTICAL)
Cramped, trembling. Archer and Charlie are sharing the
single cockpit bench; surrounded by alien technology.
Their visibility through the blue gas is non-existent.
A light on a side panel begins to blink, and an ALARM is
heard.
ARCHER
What's that?
CHARLIE
Travis said not to worry
about that panel.
ARCHER
That's reassuring.
The ship is buffeted by a sudden pocket of turbulence, and
the two men are knocked together. Charlie, holding an
alien steering mechanism with both hands, overcompensates,
and the ship weaves for a moment before it stabilizes.
Archer looks a bit queasy.
ARCHER
They sure didn't build
these things for comfort.
CHARLIE
Wait 'til we get the
Klingon in here with us.
(off panel)
If I'm reading this right,
we should be about twenty
kilometers from Enterprise.
ARCHER
Drop the pitch thirty
degrees.
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE
We hear the low-frequency boom of a depth charge...
REED
(to all)
Hold on.
Everyone braces as the ship JOLTS.
MAYWEATHER
That one was a lot
closer...
REED
If we change our position,
they'll have to start from
scratch.
T'POL
If we change our position,
the Captain will have no
way of finding us.
OFF the tension...
INT. SULIBAN CELL SHIP (OPTICAL)
Trembling, as before...
CHARLIE
I think we're there.
ARCHER
Bring the docking interface
on-line.
Charlie goes to press a button, thinks better of it, then
presses another one. The interface HUMS to life.
ARCHER
Coaxial ports.
Charlie hits another control. We hear a brief HISSING
sound.
CHARLIE
Open.
Archer takes a deep breath.
ARCHER
Let's go.
Charlie takes the steering mechanism in both hands, and
gently begins to ease the ship downward. Through the
windows, we see the blue phosphorous clouds begin to thin
out... and we abruptly BREAK THROUGH into CLEAR SPACE. The
trembling stops.
CHARLIE
(looking around,
confused)
Where is it? It was right
here.
Archer studies an alien graphic.
ARCHER
Bank starboard, ninety
degrees.
Charlie moves the steering controller, and the ship BANKS
SHARPLY, dizzily revealing the huge SULIBAN HELIX directly
below them.
CHARLIE
(jazzed)
There you are!
ARCHER
(indicating)
That's the upper-support
radius. Drop down right
below it.. .and start a
counter-clockwise sweep.
Archer removes a hand-held scanner from his belt
starts working it.
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
The tiny CELL SHIP descends down past the numerous levels
of the HELIX. Other CELL SHIPS, mostly larger, engage and
disengage from the huge structure.
INT. SULIBAN CELL SHIP (OPTICAL)
Charlie slows their descent, and begins maneuvering the
ship horizontally, the hull of the HELIX moving past the
windows.
ARCHER
(still working his
scanner)
A little more... more...
Scrr-r-aape! The ship abruptly BUMPS into the Helix and
both men are again thrown together. Archer shoots Charlie
a look, recalling their moment on the inspection pod.
ARCHER
(off scanner)
Right here.
The ship STOPS. Through the window, we see a circular
AIRLOCK protruding from the Helix. They exchange a look,
then Archer nods. Both men begin to carefully manipulate
the alien controls, as the ship edges SIDEWAYS toward the
airlock.
CHA-CHUNK! The ship jolts slightly and we hear a series of
whirring mechanical sounds as the docking ports lock into
place.
A beat, then the HATCH OPENS to reveal a darkly-lit
CORRIDOR. As both men react...
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -CORRIDOR
Archer and Charlie on the move, phase-pistols drawn.
Charlie carries the silver equipment case; Archer eyes his
scanner. They round a corner...
ANGLE -A SULIBAN (OPTICAL)
is caught by surprise. He draws his sidearm, but Archer
FIRES first and the Suliban is knocked to the ground,
unconscious.
ARCHER
(re: weapon)
Stun seems to work.
They keep moving.
CUT TO:
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
As two CELL SHIPS fly by camera, they each release an
inverted DEPTH CHARGE into the clouds above.
INT. BRIDGE
Everyone's tense, waiting for Archer's return. Hoshi
presses a small, hand-held EARPIECE to her left ear.
T'POL
(to Hoshi)
Anything?
HOSHI
(listening, shakes her
head)
The phosphorous is
distorting all the EM
bands...
Suddenly, something causes Hoshi to jerk the earpiece
away.
HOSHI
(to all)
Grab on to something --
Two rapid booms are followed almost instantly by two
powerful JOLTS! Bulkheads BLOWOUT and consoles GO DOWN.
DEBRIS and streams of spewing GAS envelop the Bridge. A
beat as everyone recovers.
Reed, Mayweather, Hoshi and two crewmembers start working
their stations... the spewing gas subsides and consoles
flicker back to life.
REED
This is ridiculous! If we
don't move the ship,
Captain Archer won't have
anything to look for when
he gets back.
T'Pol hesitates, realizing he's right.
T'POL
(to Hoshi)
We're going to need that
ear of yours.
Hoshi presses the device to her ear.
T'POL
(to Mayweather)
Move us away, five
kilometers.
MAYWEATHER
In what direction?
T'POL
Any direction.
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -INTERROGATION ROOM
Klaang is alone, restrained in the elaborate chair seen
earlier; tubes and devices are still connected to his
body. He's semi-conscious. Steely blue light from the
phosphorous layer above pours in through a window.
THE DOOR
slides open. Archer and Charlie rush in, pistols drawn.
They both seem surprised and relieved that there's no one
here but Klaang.
Archer stands guard at the door, while Charlie moves to
the chair and begins to unstrap Klaang. The Klingon stares
at him.
CHARLIE
(to Archer, low)
This is gonna be easier
than I thought.
(to Klaang)
It's okay. We're getting
you off this thing.
As Charlie releases the third and final restraint, Klaang
swings his arm up and KNOCKS Charlie across the room!
Klaang gets to his feet, savagely pulling the tubes and
wires from his body. Archer locks his stance and takes aim
at Klaang with both hands.
ARCHER
(to
Klaang)
I really don't want to have
to carry you out of here.
Klaang eyes Archer, hesitant.
ARCHER
(to Charlie)
I think he gets the idea.
Give him a hand.
Charlie pauses, not too anxious to get close to the
Klingon again, but steels himself and helps Klaang follow
Archer out the door...
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
Archer, pistol at-the-ready, is leading the way. Charlie
follows, bearing part of the weight of the enormous Klingon, who again begins to bellow.
KLAANG
Qu'taw bob
ARCHER
Be quiet.
KLAANG
Muh tok!
They keep moving... until a Suliban weapons BLAST tears
away a large chunk of the wall! The three men DIVE for
cover!
KLAANG
(screaming obscenities
at the
Suliban)
Dajvo tag:h!
Borat!
CHARLIE
You tell him, big guy.
ARCHER
(to Charlie)
Give me the box.
Charlie takes the silver case off his shoulder and hands
it to him. Just then, a SULIBAN ATTACKER rushes into view
from an adjoining corridor, catching them by surprise! As
the Suliban takes aim at Archer and Charlie.
WHAM! Klaang STRIKES the creature with Klingon force,
knocking him into a bulkhead! He grabs the Suliban and
POUNDS him with a couple of powerful blows, knocking him
unconscious! A beat, then he turns to Archer and Charlie
with a triumphant smile.
CHARLIE
Thanks.
Another Suliban weapons BLAST whizzes by!
ARCHER
Get to the ship. I'll be
right behind you.
As Charlie and Klaang take off down an adjoining corridor,
Archer opens the case and removes the RECTANGULAR DEVICE
seen before. He activates it and attaches it to the wall.
He works a series of controls, and goes to his knees,
covering his head. We hear a low- pitched whine... and
then the device emits a BLINDING ENERGY PULSE that
RADIATES in all directions!
As the light recedes, Archer gets to his feet. The
corridor begins to TREMBLE, and we hear the sounds of
docking ports UNLOCKING. He looks down to see --
THE FLOOR (OPTICAL)
is SEPARATING before him!
THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
SPLITS APART! FORCEFIELDS flash on as the interlocking
elements making up this section of the Helix lose their
cohesion.
ARCHER (OPTICAL)
realizes he's been cut off from Charlie and Klaang. A
Suliban weapons BLAST strikes nearby. He has no choice but
to turn and run.
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
The entire UPPER-SECTION of the HELIX is DISMANTLING. Some
sections are huge, comprised of dozens of CELL SHIPS still
connected to one another. Other sections are made of only
one or two ships. The myriad sections tumble slowly away
from the core.
INT. SULIBAN CELL SHIP
Trembling. Charlie and Klaang are cramped into the tiny
cockpit. Charlie talks into his communicator:
CHARLIE
Captain?
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
It worked.
CHARLIE
Where are you?
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
I'm still on the central
core. Get Klaang back to
Enterprise.
CHARLIE
What about you, sir?
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
Get him to the ship. You
can come back for me.
CHARLIE
It's going to be hard to
isolate your bio-signs...
so stay as far away from
the Suliban as you can.
ARCHER'S COM VOICE
Believe me, I'll try.
CUT TO:
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
The tiny CELL SHIP disengages from a large, floating
section of the Helix and begins to wend its way UPWARD
through the chaos.
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -CORRIDOR
Archer is cautiously moving along, rounds a corner...
stops when he sees two SULIBAN moving down the adjoining
hall, their backs turned to him. He quickly pulls back...
waits a beat... then pulls out a hand-held SCANNER. He
activates it, then starts moving in the opposite
direction...
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN CELL SHIP
Charlie at the controls, Klaang cramped in next to him. Klaang, still somewhat delirious, bellows at Charlie.
Neither man understands a word the other says:
KLAANG
RaQ~o jadICH!
CHARLIE
I don't particularly like
the way you smell, either.
Klaang bangs the bulkhead with his fist
KLAANG
MajQa!
Charlie checks a reading.
CHARLIE
I don't get it, this is
right where they're
supposed to be...
OFF Klaang's growing agitation...
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE
A low-frequency boom... followed a few seconds later by a
moderate JOLT.
REED
The charges are getting
closer again...
T'POL
(to Mayweather)
Another five kilometers,
Lieutenant.
MAYWEATHER
(working)
At this rate, the
Captain'll never find us.
HOSHI
Wait a minute... I think
I've got something...
Everyone turns to her. She's holding the earpiece tightly
to her left ear.
T'POL
Amplify it.
Hoshi taps a control, and we hear a CACOPHONY of radio
signals, background noise, and distortion.
HOSHI
(listening)
It's Commander Tucker
REED
All I hear is noise
HOSHI
Sshh... listen... it's just
a narrow notch in the
mid-range...
(hearing him)
He says he's about to
ignite his thruster
exhaust...
T'Pol quickly moves to her viewing device and peers
inside. A long, tense beat.
T'POL
(to Mayweather)
Coordinates: one
fifty-eight mark one three.
MAYWEATHER
(works)
Laid in.
T'POL
Ahead, fifty KPH
She turns to Hoshi, guardingly appreciative
T'POL
(in Vulcan, thank you)
Esparan.
It's the first time T'Pol has acknowledged Hoshi's
abilities. Hoshi offers a slight smile.
HOSHI
You're welcome.
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -CORRIDOR
Two armed Suliban are searching for Archer. As they move
down the hall and out of view...
CLOSE ANGLE -SCANNER (OPTICAL
Two BLIPS representing the Suliban are moving away from a
central indicator.
ARCHER
is watching the scanner. He's squatting on a metal BEAM
eight feet off the floor. He JUMPS to the deck, holds up
his scanner...
ON THE SCANNER -(OPTICAL)
Archer hits a button, which gives a WIDER VIEW of the
vicinity. Other BLIPS representing other Suliban can be
seen. There is a large area with no bio-signs.
ARCHER
takes this in, figures out which way to go to find the
empty area, then heads down the corridor...
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE
As before.
MAYWEATHER
(working helm)
Two kilometers, dead ahead.
T'POL
Initiate docking
procedures.
HOSHI
I'm only picking up two
bio-signs.
(worried)
One Klingon... one human.
OFF T'Pol's impenetrable look...
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -TEMPORAL ENTRYWAY (OPTICAL)
A narrow passageway that looks completely different than
the corridors we've seen so far. It ends at a single DOOR.
Archer reaches the entrance to this strange hallway...
glances at his scanner, which is now heavily DISTORTED.
This piques his interest... and he cautiously approaches
the door, which OPENS automatically. As he tentatively
moves inside...
INT. TIME-LOCK (OPTICAL)
A small vestibule. As soon as the door LOCKS and SEALS, a
TEMPORAL COMPRESSION sequence begins: reverberating sound
echoes through the room, and the lights begin to flash.
Archer's movements are SLOWED DOWN as time shifts and
equalizes... he can barely move... it's like being
underwater.
As the sequence gradually ENDS, Archer's movements
return to normal. Another door OPENS leading to a dimly-
lit chamber. Archer steps through...
INT. TEMPORAL CHAMBER (OPTICAL)
The dark, labyrinthine room seen earlier, but the energy
barrier is inactive. Archer takes a few steps inside,
until he notices something odd. As he walks, his arms BLUR
in a PRE-ECHO EFFECT, swinging upward a split- second
before the real arm does the same.
He looks down at his feet, and realizes that the sounds of
his footsteps precede the actual step. Puzzled, he stops
and gently claps his hands together --again, the sound
precedes the action.
Unnerved, Archer slowly begins to explore the room. The
architecture is unlike anything he's seen before... the
futuristic alien technology is undecipherable...
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE -BRIDGE
Everyone looks on as Charlie reports to T'Pol, mid-
conflict, urgent:
T'POL
Our mission is to return
the Klingon to his
homeworld. Another rescue
attempt could jeopardize
that mission.
CHARLIE
The Captain specifically
told us to come back for
him.
T'POL
As Commanding Officer, it's
my job to interpret the
Captain's orders...
CHARLIE
(passionate)
I just told you his orders!
What's there to interpret?
T'POL
Captain Archer may very
well have told you to
return for him later
because he knew how
stubborn you can be.
CHARLIE
What the hell is that
supposed to mean?
T'POL
You might've risked
Klaang's life in a foolish
attempt to swing back and
rescue the Captain.
CHARLIE
I can't believe this!
Over the above, a low boom... then JOLT! Tension rising:
T'POL
The situation must be
analyzed logically.
CHARLIE
I don't remember the
Captain "analyzing"
anything when he went back
for you on that roof.
T'POL
That's a specious analogy.
CHARLIE
Is it?
OFF T'Pol's unreadable expression...
CUT TO:
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -TEMPORAL CHAMBER (OPTICAL)
Archer is inspecting the podium that we saw Silik standing
at earlier. The opposing podium is not present. He eyes
the metallic archway overhead...
Suddenly, we hear the low, reverberating sound of the tirne-lock. Archer draws his weapon and turns for the
door, which is OPENING. The dark vestibule beyond appears
empty as the door closes and seals.
Archer slowly backs away, silently listening, senses
heightened. After a long beat, he hears a very quiet
pre-echoing effect, followed by another... and another...
he realizes they're the footsteps of an unseen assailant.
Archer ducks behind one of the sides of the archway. We
hear Silik's VOICE pre-echoing:
SILIK'S VOICE
You're wasting your time.
Klanng knows nothing.
The eerie sounds of Silik's footsteps can again be heard.
Archer tries to track the sound with his raised pistol.
SILIK'S VOICE
It would be unwise to
discharge that weapon in
this room.
ARCHER
What is this room? What
goes on in here?
SILIK'S VOICE
You're very curious, Jack.
May I call you Jack?
The footsteps continue, Archer trying to follow them with
his weapon...
ARCHER
Am I supposed to be
impressed that you know my
name?
SILIK'S VOICE
I've learned a great deal
about you... even more than
you know.
ARCHER
Well, I guess you have me
at a disadvantage. So why
don't you drop the
invisible man routine and
let me see who I'm talking
to?
Silence. OFF the tension...
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE -BRIDGE
T'Pol in command. Reed, Mayweather, Hoshi, crewmen all
working their stations.
REED
Hull plating's been
re-polarized.
T'POL
(to Mayweather)
Stand by impulse engines.
(taps a control)
Mister Tucker, status?
CLOSE ANGLE -ON CHARLIE
working in another part of the ship. We can't tell where
he is.
CHARLIE
The auto-sequencer's
on-line... but annular
confinement's still off by
two microns.
T'POL'S COM VOICE
That should suffice.
CHARLIE
Easy for you to say.
INT. BRIDGE
T'POL
(to com)
If the Suliban have
re-established their
defenses, we'll have no
other option.
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -TEMPORAL CHAMBER (OPTICAL)
Archer searching the darkness for signs of movement,
pistol raised...
SILIK'S VOICE
You wouldn't have come
looking for Klaang if Sarin
had told you what she knew.
(beat)
That means you're no threat
to me, Jack... but I QQ
need you to leave this
room.
The time-lock door hisses OPEN.
SILIK'S VOICE
Now.
Archer hears the footsteps again, but this time he sees
something --a slight DISTORTION against the far wall. He
quickly FIRES! A blurred PRE-ECHO of the shot precedes the
blast itself.
Both miss Silik, and STRIKE the far wall. A jagged WAVE of
temporal energy emanates from the point of impact and
sweeps across the room. Archer is knocked against a
bulkhead, where he holds his head in pain until the wave
dissipates.
SILIK'S VOICE
I warned you not to fire
the weapon.
Archer again sees the slight distortion as Silik moves
across the room...
ARCHER
This chameleon thing...
pretty fancy.
(pointed)
Was it payment for pitting
the Klingons against each
other? A trophy from your
Temporal Cold War?
Suddenly, a BLUR of PRE-ECHO MOTION rushes at Archer,
immediately followed by Silik, who becomes VISIBLE and
SMASHES into him! Archer is knocked hard to the ground,
his pistol slides away...
Archer quickly gets to his feet. Silik trains the pistol
on him.
SILIK
I was going to let you go,
Jack.
ARCHER
(slowly backing away)
Really? Then you obviously
don't know as much about me
as you thought you did.
SILIK
On the contrary. I could've
told you what day you were
going to die... but I
suppose that's about to
change.
Silik FIRES the pistol! The PRE-ECHO HITS Archer square in
the chest, but before the real beam can reach him, Archer
DARTS to his left and the blast MISSES him by inches!
As Archer LEAPS behind a large bank of alien consoles, the
SHOCK WAVE of temporal energy sweeps across the room,
knocking Silik to the ground!
Archer glances around the room, trying to figure out how
to get to the open time-lock.
ARCHER
What's the matter? No
genetic tricks to keep you
from getting knocked on
your butt?
As Silik gets into position to make his next move...
SILIK
What "you call tricks we
call progress.
(beat)
Are you aware that your
genome is almost identical
to that of an ape? The
Suliban don't share
humanity's patience with
natural selection.
ARCHER
So to speed things up a
little, you struck a deal
with the devil?
During the above speech, Archer has positioned himself
between Silik and the open time-lock. Still hidden behind
the consoles, he's removed the communicator from his belt.
Carefully calculating the next trajectory of the temporal
wave, he THROWS the communicator against a monitor on the
far wall!
Quick action:
-- The PRE-ECHO effect of the communiicccatorr flying through
the air draws Silik's attention!
-- On impact, the monitor SPARKS! Silliiik whhirls and FIRES
the pistol!
The SHOCK WAVE emanates outward! Silik braces himself
against the wave of temporal energy, and manages to remain
standing!
-- Archer, however, has situated himself in the perfect
spot to be THROWN into the open time-lock! The door begins
to CLOSE...
INT. TIME-LOCK- CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL)
An instant before the door shuts, Silik slips inside! The
door LOCKS and SEALS and the temporal decompression
sequence begins.
Archer and Silik are momentarily disoriented, their
movement SLOWED by the forces in the room. Each man is
desperately trying to be the first to regain control of
his body...
Slowly, Silik is raising the weapon.
Archer, using every ounce of strength, manages to push
against the wall behind him and SMASHES into Silik in
eerie SLOW-MOTION. The pistol is jarred out of Silik's
hand and tumbles toward the floor...
The SOUND of it hitting the deck signals that time is
gradually returning to normal.
The-two men begin to struggle...
CUT TO:
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
ENTERPRISE is roaring toward us, directly below the
roiling blue clouds. Several CELL SHIPS are strafing it,
firing weapons. We PAN with Enterprise to see it's heading
toward the HELIX, FIRING TORPEDOES as it goes!
INT. BRIDGE
Continuous SHAKES and JOLTS from the attack outside.
REED
We have four more coming up
off starboard!
T'POL
(to Mayweather)
Can we dock, Lieutenant?
A huge SHAKE !
MAYWEATHER
(urgently working helm)
These aren't ideal
conditions!
T'POL
(taps corn button)
Mister Tucker... we're
going to Plan B.
INT. SULIBAN HELIX -TIME-LOCK (OPTICAL)
Archer and Silik on the floor, locked in combat. Time has
returned to normal. As the sound of the temporal
decompression comes to an end, the outer-door begins to
OPEN...
The men struggle for the nearby pistol. Archer gets the
upper-hand and forces Silik to the floor, pinning his
upturned wrists. A tense beat, then Silik begins to
DISLOCATE his wrist in a grotesque rotation, allowing him
to reach the gun!
Archer realizes he's no match for this... PUNCHES Silik
hard in the face, which gives him the opportunity to leap
off him and BOLT out the door! As Silik grabs the pistol
and heads after him --
INT. TEMPORAL CORRIDOR -CONTINUOUS
Archer on the' run, coming directly toward us! In the b.g., we see Silik coming out of the time-lock...
INT. BRIDGE
Shaking!
T'POL
(an order)
Now
INT. TEMPORAL CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
Archer, running right at us, begins to DEMATERIALIZE in
MID-STRIDE! Silik takes aim and FIRES! But the blast
passes harmlessly through the Transporter effect and
whizzes past camera!
INT. ENTERPRISE- TRANSPORTER ALCOVE (OPTICAL)
Archer MATERIALIZES on the Transporter pad. He stumbles
forward, stopping his forward motion, glances around,
startled... slowly realizing what's just happened. Charlie
approaches from the Transporter control station.
CHARLIE
(to com)
Bridge, we've got him!
(to Archer)
Sorry, Captain. We had no
other choice.
There's a strong SHAKE from the attack outside. Archer is
oblivious to it, as he pats down his body, checking that
he's in one piece.
CUT TO:
EXT. GAS GIANT -CLEAR LAYER (OPTICAL)
ENTERPRISE veers off, roaring BACK UP into the blue layer!
EXT. SPACE -GAS GIANT, OUTER-ATMOSPHERE (OPTICAL)
Our ship BLASTS into normal space and JUMPS to WARP!
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. KRONOS - DAY (OPTICAL)
The gothic towers of the Klingon High Council Chamber rise
above the smoggy yellow haze of the teeming capital city.
INT. KLINGON HIGH COUNCIL CHAMBER (OPTICAL)
The ancient room is constructed of stone and wood beams;
huge torches create eerie shadows. Four KLINGON COUNCIL
MEMBERS sit on raised thrones above the chamber floor.
They wear ceremonial regalia adorned with primitive
weapons. Twenty or so other Klingons stand below them,
including numerous armed guards. The Council Members are
in the middle of a heated debate, yelling at each other in
Klingon (see ADDENDUM) .We get the feeling that there is
great strife among them.
There's a knock at a large wooden door. One of the
members, the CHANCELLOR, stands and calls an order to the
guards below.
CHANCELLOR
Malja'gor!
Three of the guards move to the door; one works a huge
latch, while the other two pull it open. FOUR FIGURES
stand silhouetted against the outer-chamber. One of them
steps forward... shakily...
It's Klaang. He walks toward the dais and stops. We reveal
that his silhouetted colleagues are Archer, T'Pol and
Hoshi. Archer and Hoshi are taking in the scene with
fascination and awe --it's the most alien environment
they've seen yet. T'Pol, however, is unfazed.
Klaang tries to muster as much strength and dignity as he
can.
KLAANG
(to Chancellor)
Wo'mig:h
Oag:h! Q'a12la
Hoshi leans in to Archer:
HOSHI
(sotto)
Something about disgracing
the Empire... he says he's
ready to die.
The Chancellor stands and slowly walks down the great
stone steps, pulling a jagged DAGGER from its sheath.
Klaang tenses as the Chancellor stops before him and
raises the knife...
Archer, T'Pol and Hoshi look on, fearing the worst...
The Chancellor grabs Klaang's wrist and draws the blade
across his palm. Klaang looks puzzled. The Chancellor
calls to a nearby aide:
CHANCELLOR
Pog!
The aide approaches with a small VIAL. He holds it up, as
the Chancellor turns Klaang's hand, allowing a few drops
of BLOOD to fall into it.
The aide carries the vial to a large APPARATUS, which
seems far more high-tech than anything else in the
chamber. He pours a drop of blood onto a sensor pad, and
inserts it into the apparatus. A large SCREEN illuminates,
displaying highly magnified KLINGON BLOOD CELLS. As the
aide works the controls, the image continues to MAGNIFY.
The Council Members mutter guttural sounds of approval.
The enlarging image now shows spirals of DNA, which
continue to magnify... until we can see a new, distinctive
PATTERN taking form within the MOLECULES themselves.
The High Council continues to mutter in anticipation.
Archer, T'Pol and Hoshi watch silently.
The aid keeps working the controls, and each piece of
the molecular pattern begins to ROTATE, revealing hidden
SULIBAN DATA: coordinates, maps, text, schedules, etc.
The chamber ERUPTS with shouts of gruff approval! The room
quiets as the Chancellor turns and walks toward our team.
He lifts the dagger to Archer's throat.
CHANCELLOR
(to Archer)
ChugDah heg:h... volcha
va~.
With that, the Klingon lowers the blade and walks away.
ARCHER
(sotto, to Hoshi)
I'll take that as a thank
you.
HOSHI
I don't think they have a
word for thank you.
ARCHER
What'd he say?
HOSHI
(unnerved)
You don't want to know.
As Archer takes this in...
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE -ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
in orbit of KRONOS.
INT. READY ROOM
Porthos is lying on his back, his four legs in the air,
while Archer scratches his belly. The door chimes.
ARCHER
(standing)
Come in.
T'Pol and Charlie ENTER, having been summoned.
ARCHER
I've just gotten a response
to the message I sent to
Admiral Forrest. He enjoyed
telling the Vulcan High
Command about the Suliban
we ran into.
(tweaking T'Pol)
It's not every day he gets
to be the one dispensing
information.
T'Pol raises an eyebrow.
ARCHER
I wanted you both to hear
Starfleet's orders before I
inform the crew.
CHARLIE
Orders?
ARCHER
(to T'Pol)
Your people are sending a
transport to pick you up.
T'POL
I was under the impression
that Enterprise would be
taking me back to "Earth.
ARCHER
It would be a little out of
our way.
(to Charlie)
Admiral Forrest sees no
reason why we shouldn't
keep going.
CHARLIE
(enthused)
Son of a bitch!
ARCHER
I have a feeling Doctor
Phlox won't mind staying
around for a while. He's
developing a fondness for
the human endocrine system.
CHARLIE
I'll get double shifts on
the repair work.
ARCHER
I think the outer-hull's
going to need a little
patching up. Let's hope
that's the last time
somebody takes a shot at
us.
CHARLIE
Let's hope
Charlie and T'Pol turn for the door.
ARCHER
T'Pol... would you stick
around for a minute?
She stays behind as Charlie EXITS. Archer takes a
moment...
ARCHER
Ever since I can remember,
I've seen Vulcans as an
obstacle... always keeping
us from standing on our own
two feet.
T'POL
I understand.
ARCHER
No, I don't think you do.
(beat)
If I'm going to pull this
off, there are a few things
I have to leave behind.
Things like preconceptions.
holding grudges...
mistrust...
(pointed)
This omission would've
failed without your help.
T'POL
I won't dispute that
Archer
resists the temptation to
retort... he's getting used
to her dry humor.
ARCHER
I was thinking a Vulcan
Science Officer could come
in handy, but if I asked
you to stay, it might look
like I wasn't ready to do
this on my own.
T'POL
Perhaps you should add
pride to your list.
ARCHER
Perhaps I should.
T'Pol considers, then:
T'POL
(letting him off the
hook)
It might be best if I were
to contact my superiors and
make the request myself...
with your permission.
ARCHER
Permission granted.
OFF the moment between them...
INT. BRIDGE
Archer and T'Pol ENTER from the Ready Room. Reed, Mayweather, Hoshi, crewmembers at their stations.
ARCHER
I hope nobody's in a big
hurry to get home.
(to all)
Starfleet seems to think
we're ready to begin our
mission.
Excited reactions
ARCHER
I understand there's an
inhabited planet a few
light years from here.
REED
(checks station)
Sensors show a
nitrogen-sulfide
atmosphere.
HOSHI
Probably not humanoids
ARCHER
That's what we're here to
find out.
(to Mayweather)
Prepare to break orbit and
lay in a course.
As Mayweather works, Archer takes his chair.
MAYWEATHER
(off station)
I'm reading an ion storm on
that trajectory, sir...
should I go around it?
As we PUSH IN on Archer.
ARCHER
We can't be afraid of the
wind, Lieutenant.
(beat)
Take us to warp four.
CUT TO:
FLASHBACK: THE MODEL STARSHIP (OPTICAL)
flies across the morning sky! Young Archer and his Father
are running along a sand dune, trying to keep up with the
tiny ship. Young Archer holds the control unit.
As the starship sails gracefully into the distance father
and son chasing their dream...
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
| 
