1 Starfield
vfx
Credits over serene space when suddenly.....
an enormous explosion, sending debris flying at warp
velocities....
2 omitted
vfx
3 cu a teacup
widen to reveal
int. bridge, U.S.S. excelsior
the polyglot crew is busy
seated in the captain's chair, a familiar face: SULU
he has his own command, and is drinking a cup of tea.
the Science officer stands next to him, conferring,
handing him a datacount. Sulu muses over the contents.
SULU
according to this, we've completed
our exploration the the entire section.
Science officer
Fifty-four planets, and their
gaseous atmospheric anomalies. Our
sensing and analytic equipment
worked really well.
Sulu
Time we were heading home. Three Years
is......
The ship starts to TREMBLE
4 Angle on Sulu's tea cup
Shaking in its saucer.....Sulu and the crew look at
each other as the Shaking increases. The teacup
smashes.
Science officer
I have an energy wave from 240
degrees, mark six port....
Sulu
Visual!
4 On the screen
4 Continued
vfx
an enormous gaseous wave, a subspace shock front.
Sulu
(continuing)
My God!!! SHIELDS!!
5 Ext. The Galaxy
vfx
Meteors and asteroids smashing past, burning chunks
fly by at warp speeds. Excelsior reels.
6 Int. U.S.S. Excelsior bridge
The ship rolls, throwing everyone off balance.
Sulu
What the hell is going on?
The crew jumps to. Computers light up. Information
flies across screens and monitors. The ship is battered
like a fighter's punching bag with shocks and jolts and
tremors.
7 Int. crew's quarters, galley, corridors, etc.
sleeping members are thrown from their berths. The
claxon alarm sounds pervasively......
Crew, etc.
What the --- Look out! ---
Stations --- etc.
8 Int. Excelsior Bridge
Lojur
Captain, she's not answering the
Helm.....
Sulu
Starboard thrusters. Turn her into
the wave!
9 Int. Excelsior engine room
Chaos. Valves hiss purple. Crew running, knocked
about.
Engineer
Engine room. What's going on up....
10 Int. Excelsior Bridge
10 Continued
Sulu
Quarter inpulse power!
Excelsior has been knocked about and everyone on the
bridge is holding on or sliding around. She settles
and one by one, her crew resume their stations.
Sulu
Damage Report!
Voice (Filtered)
Seem to be in one piece, Captain.
We're checking all systems.....
10 The Main Viewscreen
vfxa
Shows Excelsior getting bumped about by the final
fragments drifting past, bouncing off the shields.
Sulu
(to Science officer)
Don't tell me that was any meteor
shower.
Science officer
(over his console)
Negative. The subspace shock wave
originated at bering Three-two-three,
Mark seven-five, the location of....
(turns to Sulu)
Praxis. A Klingon moon. Barren of
indigenous life forms out...
Sulu
Essential as a resource. Praxis is
their key energy production facility.
(thinks)
Send to Klingon high command:
"This is Excelsior, a Federation
Starship traveling through Beta
Quadrant. We have monitored a
large explosion in your sector. DO YOU
REQUIRE ASSISTANCE?
Communicationss officer
Aye, Sir!
Sulu
Mr. Valtane, any more data?
10 Continued
Science officer
I have confirmed the location, Sir,
but....
Sulu
What is it?
Science officer
....I cannot confirm the existence
of Praxis.
Sulu reacts, goes over to the Science Console and looks
at the screen. Nothing there.
Sulu
Magnify.
The Science officer hits the buttons
10 On the Viewscreen
vfxb
a barren moon with three-fourths of its mass blown away
drifts lifelessly in a black void.
Sulu
Praxis?
Science officer
What's left of it.
Communications officer
Captain, I'm getting a message from
Klingon high command.
Sulu
Onscreen.
11 On Viewscreen:
a snowy picture of a wild-eyed Klingon officer.
Officer
This is an emergency! We have
suffered.....
he looks around, the ground is shaking under him, as
Sulu watches, the pictures collapses, then comes on
again, with a different face.
Kerla
This is Brigadier Kerla, speaking
for the Klingon high command.
11 Continued:
Kerla (continuing)
There has been an incident on
Praxis, however everything is
under control. We have no need for
assistance. Obey treaty stipulations
and remain outside the Neutral Zone.
Tranmission ends now!
12 The screen goes black. Sulu looks incredulous.
Sulu
An INCIDENT?!?
Communications officer
Do we report this, Sir?
Sulu
Are you kidding?
(swivels to the
communications officer)
Send to Starfleet Command....
13 Ext. Space
vfx
Excelsior warps off into the galaxy.
14 omitted
thru
22
22a CU Starfleet Insignia
Kirk walks into shot.
Kirk
What are we doing here?
Widen to reveal
23 Int. Starfleet briefing room - day
the room fills with bemedaled brass, Kirk's crew among
them - the only starship complement in the room. They
can't help looking at each other, questioning. They
are in uniform.
Bones
Search me. Anybody know how come
we made the "A" list?
22 Continued:
Uhura
My shore leave was just cancelled.
Scotty
Isn't this just for top brass?
Chekov
Where is Mr. Sulu?
Kirk
CAPTAIN Sulu is on assignment...
anyone seen Spock?
A door opens and a Starfleet ADC, austere and Impressive
enters and gavels the meeting to order.
ADC
This briefing is classified. There
will be no recording devices.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Commander in Chief.
All rise as the Starfleet Commander in Chief enters,
with a briefcase and pulls materials from it.
Commander in Chief
As you were... I'll make this as
simple as possible. The Klingon
Empire has roughly 50 years of life
left to it.
All look at each other in disbelief.
Commander in Chief
(Continuing)
For full details, I am turning the
briefing over to our special
Federation Envoy..
He makes a sign and another door opens. Spock walks to
the podium. Kirk and company are astounded.
Spock
Good morning. Two months ago a
Federation starship monitored an
explosion on the Klingon moon
Praxis. We believe it was caused
by overmining and insufficent
safety precautions. The moon's
decimation means an almost eighty
percent loss of available energy and
a deadly pollution of their ozone. They
will have depleted their supply of
23 Continued
oxygen in less than half a century.
Due to their enormous military
budget, the Klingon economy does not
have the resources with which to
combat this catastrophe. Last
month, at the behest of the, uh....
Vulcan Ambassador, I opened a
dialogue with Gorkon, Chancellor of
the Klingon high council. He proposes
to commence negotiations at once.
Admiral Donald
Negotiations for what?
Spock
The dismantling of our space
stations and star bases along the
Neutral Zone. An end to seventy
years of unremitting hostility,
which the Klingons can no longer
afford.
Audible mutterings. Pan the crew. Is the war over?
Spock
(Continuing)
If the Klingons sue for peace, we
could accumulate savings in defense
expenditures, leaving the
Federation ecomony free to grapple
with urgent social problems......
A Military Man
Bill, are we talking about
mothballing the Starfleet?
Commander in Chief
I'm sure our exploration and
science programs would not be
affected, but the facts speak for
themselves, Captain.
Admiral Donald
I must protest. To offer the
Klingons a safe haven within
Federation space is suicide. And
if we dismantle the fleet, we'd be
defenseless before a Bellicose
people with a foothold on our
territory, led by an unprincipled
tyrant. The opportunity here is to
embargo trading, force them to run
23 Continued:
through their own resources faster,
and bring them to their knees.
Then we'll be in a far better
position to dictate terms.
a vocal minority of the briefing supports this, but not
all. Kirk simply stares at Spock.
Commander in Chief
Starfleet in under civilian
control, Admiral. The decision is
a political, not a military one,
and it's been made.
Kirk
Sir.....
Commander in Chief
Captain Kirk?
Kirk
(Eyes Spock briefly)
Sir, I'm no diplomat, but the
Klingons have never been
trustworthy. I'm forced to agree
with Admiral Donald. This is...
(He gropes for tact)
....a terrible, a terrifying idea!
the Admiral whispers to the Commander in Chief
Commander in Chief
Your son was killed by a Klingon,
wasn't he, Captain?
Kirk
Yes, Sir.
Commander in Chief
I'm sorry, but Commander Spock has
persuaded the Federation that this
situation is too promising to
ignore.
Spock
It is imperative that we act now, to
support the Gorkon Initiative, lest
more conservative elements persuade
his empire that it would be better
to attempt a military solution and
die fighting.
23 Continued:
Commander in Chief
Captian Kirk, you are to be our
first olive branch.
Kirk
Me?
Spock
We have volunteered to rendezvous
with the Klingon ship that's
bringing Chancellor Gorkon here,
and escort him safely through
Federation space.
Kirk is too startled to speak.
Commander in Chief
As it happens, Kirk, the Chancellor
specifically requested you and your
officers.
Kirk
Why, in God's name?
Commander in Chief
There are some Klingons who feel
the same about a peace treaty as
yourself, and Admiral Donald.
They'll think twice about attacking
the Enterprise under your command.
Spock
I have personally vouched for you
in theis matter, Captain.
Kirk
You have personally.....
Commander in Chief
You will accord Chancellor Gorkon
full diplomatic coutesy, Captain
Kirk.
Kirk
(Straining)
Surely, a full Ambassador would be
better equipped to....
Commander in Chief
If there's no further business, I
wish you and your crew Godspeed.
Thank you all.
23 Continued
He charges out as all rise. Everyone files out.
Admiral Donald
I don't know whether to
congratulate you or not, Jim.
He moves off before Kirk can reply. The room is
empty except for Spock, still at the podium and
Kirk sitting alone in the auditorium. He is
curious, betrayed and Spock knows it.
Kirk
WE volunteered?
Spock
There's an old Vulcan proverb: only
Nixon could have gone to China.
Kirk
(Incensed)
How could you vouch for me?
That's.....
(words fail him)
.....arrogant presumption.
Spock
I was asked by my father to open
negotiations with the Klingon
high council on behalf of the
Federation. Under the circumstances,
I was inclined to agree.
Kirk stands, and walks out of the room.
24 Omitted
25 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
The elevator doors open. An attractive Vulcan
Lieutenant leaps out of the command chair, whips
to attention.
McCoy
Well, I've heard some whoppers in
my time.....
Uhura
(Overlaps)
They're mothballing the fleet?
25 Continued
Chekov
(Overlaps)
Ve vill regret this....
Lt. Valeris
Captain on the bridge.
The crew stands to.
Kirk
As you were. Lieutenant...?
Lt. Valeris
We were told you
would need a helmsman.....
(to Spock)
.....so I volunteered.
She salutes, Kirk smiles, returns the salute.
Spock
Lieutenant, I am please to see
you.
(to Kirk)
The Lieutenant is the first Vulcan
to ge graduated at the top of her
class at the Academy.
Kirk
Congratulations, Lieutenant. That
must make you very proud....
Lt. Valeris
I don't believe so, Sir.
McCoy
She's a Vulcan all right
Kirk
(Down to business)
All right, let's get this over
with....departure stations....
(pushes the intercomm)
Scotty?
The crew assume their familiar stations.
Scotty's voice (Filtered)
Aye, Sir?
Kirk
You find the engine room?
25 Continued:
Scotty's Voice
Right where I left it, Sir.
Kirk
Standby. Get me the dock master,
Uhura.
Uhura
Control tower, reading, Sir.
Kirk
Control, this is Enterprise,
requesting permission to depart.
Voice over (filtered)
This is Control. Enterprise, you
are granted permission to depart
30 seconds for port gates....
Lt. Valeris
Clear all moorings.....
Kirk
Awaiting port gates from this
mark....
Voice over
Mooring lines cleared.....
Lt. Valeris
Aft thrusters.....
Kirk
(Overlaps)
Thank you, Lieutenant, one quarter
impulse power......
Lt. Valeris
(She turns to face him)
Captain, may I remind you that
regulations specify thrusters only
while in space dock?
The crew, old and young, watch this exchange keenly.
Spock is poker faced.
McCoy
(next to Chekov)
Uh, Jim....
Kirk
You heard the order, Lieutenant.
25 Continued:
Lt. Valeris swivels away, rolling her eyes so Kirk can't
see, and hits the panel....
The ship begins to rattle slightly, then
26 Ext. Space dock
vfx
the Enterprise screams out of the dock and exits through
the just opening bay doors into outer space.
27 OMITTEED
THRU
29
30 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise - night
Kirk sits comfortably with a smile on his face
Kirk
(Continuing)
Lieutenant.....
Lieutenant Valeris faces him.
Kirk
(Continuing)
I don't care if I am senile. If
I sit in this chair and give the
word, you jump!
Spock watches.
Lt. Valeris
Aye, Sir.
Kirk
Plot a course for Kronos,
Lieutenant.
Lt. Valeris
Kronos, Sir?
Kirk
I'm still in the chair, Lieutenant!
Lt. Valeris
Aye, Sir.
Other reactions. Kirk has taken command.
31 Ext. Space
vfx
Enterprise cruises purposefully through the void.
Kirk's voice over
Captain's log, Stardate 8679.259.
They say you can't teach an old dog
new tricks, and maybe they're right.
It seems to me our mission to escort
the Chancellor of the Klingon High
Council to a peace summit is
Problematic at best.
32 Int. Kirks cabin
Kirk is unpacking his bags as he dictates, hanging up
his uniforms, his shaving tackle going next to the
sink, etc.
Kirk
(Continuing)
I have never trusted Klingons, and
never will. I have never been able
to forgive them for the murder of
my boy. Spock says this could be
an historic moment, and I'd like to
believe him, but how on earth can
history get past people like me?
He sets up a photo of David next to his berth.
A delicate cough.
Kirk realizes he's not alone. Swivels to face:
Lieutenat Valeris standing in the bulkhead doorway.
Lt. Valeris
Sorry....
Kirk
Come on, Lieutenat, you could knock!
Lt. Valeris
We're almost at the rendezvous, I
thought you'd want to know.
Kirk
Right.
He stands up, and puts on his jacket. She watches.
Lt. Valeris
Permission to speak freely, Sir?
32 Continued:
He doesn't stop her
Lt. Valeris
I gather you are not enthusiastic
about the assignment, I don't
think many on board are.
Kirk
You piloted well out of spacedock,
Lieutenant.
Lt. Valeris
(Almost Smiles)
I always wanted to try that.
Kirk
(Passing her)
Only don't try putting words in my
mouth.
And leaves her with that!
33 Int. corridor outside Spocks quarters
Lt. Valeris approaches, this time she's smart enough to
knock.
Spocks voice
Enter.
34 Int. Spocks quarters
In contrast with his spartan personality, the room is a
voluptuous incense-laden lair, filled with curtains and
smoke. Spock lights a votive candle, surveys her. He is
out of uniform.
Spock
You have done will, Lieutenant. As your
sponsor at the Academy, I have
followed your career with... great
satisfaction. And, as a Vulcan...
Lt. Valeris
Sir, I speak to you as a kindred
intellect. Do you not recognize
that a turning point has been
reached in the affairs of the
Federation?
34 Continued
Spock
I am not certain such speculations
are included among your duties,
Lieutenant.
Voice (Filtered)
Klingon battlecruiser off the port
bow. All hands on deck. Repeat.....
She's startled.
Spock
(Off her look)
In time you may come to view so-called
turning points with....skepticism.
He starts to get into uniform.
Spock
(Continuing)
You must have faith.
Lt. Valeris
Faith....?
Spock
That the universe will unfold as it
should.
35 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
The cruise is proceeding evenly as Kirk arives out of
one turbo-lift. Spock and the Lieutenant emerge from
another.
Voice
Captain on the bridge.
Chekov
Captain, shall we raise our
shields?
Spock looks at Kirk: "Trust me". Kirk scowls at him and
stares at the viewscreen. They all follow his gaze.
35 The main viewscreen
vfx
A Klingon battlecruiser. Huge.
Kirk
(Finally)
Never been this close!
35 Continued:
Spock
the Chancellor is undoubtedly
awaiting our signal.
Boy, is this hard for Kirk..........Finally:
Kirk
Uhura, hailing frequencies. Hard
starboard, bring us alongside....
Lt. Valeris
Hard starboard, Z plus five degrees.
Uhura
Channel open, Captain.
Kirk
This is the Starship Enterprise,
Captain James T. Kirk, Commanding.
36 Gorkon comes up on the main visual display.
Gorkon
This is Kronos one. I am
Chancellor Gorkon.
Kirk
Chancellor. We've been ordered to
escort you through Federation space
to your meeting on Earth.
Gorkon
Thank you, Captain.
Kirk
(Does his best)
Uh....Would you and your party care
to dine this evening aboard the
Enterprise with my officers as guests
of the United Federation of Planets?
37 A few of the crew look around at Kirk.
Gorkon
We'd be delighted to accept your
gracious invitation.
Kirk
(nuts)
We'll make arrangements to have you
beamed aboard at 1930 hours.
37 Continued:
Gorkon
I shall look forward to it.
He disappears. Kirk turns to Spock.
Kirk
I hope you're happy.
Lt. Valeris
Captain....
Kirk turns to face her.
Lt. Valeris
(Continuing)
...there is a supply of Romulan ale
aboard, it might make the evening
pass more......smoothly?
Kirk smiles, relieved.
Kirk
Officer thinking, Lieutenant.
38 At the communication console
Chekov leans over to Uhura.
Chekov
Guess who is coming to dinner?
39 Ext. Space
vfx
Both ships cruise parallel in space.
40 Int. Enterprise transporter room.
Scotty stands by the console. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy
stand next to him. They are in dress uniform.
Scotty
Maybe if their particles just got a
wee bit mixed......
Kirk
Energize....
40
vfx The beams reflect on the glass shield as half dozen
Klingons, including one woman, start materializing.
NB Separate beam-ins for Gorkon, Azetbur, Chang.
Gorkon descends first. He is tall, splendidly Barbaric.
40 Continuing
Kirk
Chancellor Gorkon.
The Klingons are lordly, formal, bow, taking in their
surroundings. An electronic bosun's whistle pipes
them aboard.
Kirk
(Continuing)
Chancellor, may I present Commander
Spock, whom I believe you know, Doctor
Leonard McCoy, Chief medical officer,
Montgomery Scott, chief engineer...
Gorkon
(To Spock)
Commander, face to face at last....
you have my thanks.
Spock bows.
Gorkon
(Continuing)
Gentlemen, this is my daughter,
Azetbur....my military adviser,
Brigadier Kerla....and this is
General Chang, My Chief of Staff.
Chang wears a patch over one eye. He advances on Kirk,
with a grim smile, one eyeball to eyeballs.
Chang
I've always wanted to meet you,
Captain Kirk.
Kirk
(Smiles)
I'm not sure how to take that!
Kerla
Sincere admiration, Kirk.
Chang
(soft)
As one warrior to another....
Kirk
(ducks this)
Uh, right this way, gentlemen, I
thought you might enjoy a brief tour....
40 Continuing
The party leaves. As they move past two crewmen....
1st Crewman
They all look alike.
2nd Crewman
What about that smell? You know
only the top of the line models can
even talk.
They turn to find themselves facing an expressionless
Lieutenant Valeris.
Lt. Valeris
You men have work?
1st Crewman
Yes, Sir.
Lt. Valeris
Then snap to it.
41 Int. R deck corridor
Leaving the Enterprise Science Labs.
Gorkon
Your research laboratory is most
impressive.....
Kirk
Starfleet's been charting and
cataloging planetary atmospheres.
All vessels are equipped with
chemical-analytic sensors....
Gorkon
This cannot be easy for you,
Captain......
(off of Kirks look)
.....I would feel awkward
if I had to give you a tour of our
vessel.
The man's courtesy makes Kirk feel guilty....
Kirk
Would you care to go topside?
Chang
Very much.
41 Continuing
Chekov
(Pulling Kirk aside)
Captain, you're not going to show
them the bridge??
Kirk
(Clenched teeth)
Full diplomatic courtesy, Mr.
Chekov....
The party passes Uhura and a younger crewman.
Younger crewman
Would you want your daughter to
marry one?
42 OMITTED
42 Repeat 39 VFX
VFX
The two ships cruise parallel.
43 Int. officers mess, Enterprise
A window irises open reveling the stars gliding by.
A hand pours deep blue Romulan ale into Gorkon's
crystal goblet. Dinner well underway. Principals from
both parties are at the table. Stewards keep food and
drink in motion.
Gorkon
I give you a toast:
"The undiscovered country"
(off their looks)
The future.
All drink Romulan ale, echoing "the undiscovered
country". The Klingons eat with their fingers,
scorning utensils.
Spock
Hamlet, act three, scene one.
Gorkon
You have never experienced
Shakespeare until you have read
him in the original Klingon.
Chang turns to Kirk with a malicious twinkle.
43 Continued
Chang
"To be or not to be, that is the
question" which preoccupies our
people, Captain Kirk. We need
breathing room.....
Kirk
I beg your pardon?
Kerla
Captain Kirk, I thought Romulan ale
was illegal.
It takes Kirk a moment to regain his composure.
Kirk
One of the advantages of being a
thousand light years from
Federation headquarters.
Silence.
McCoy
To you, Chancellor Gorkon; one of
the architects of our future.
All drink. As Romulan ale flows throughout the scene,
tongues get looser. Gorkon watches.
Scotty
Perhaps we are looking at something
of that future here.
Azetbur
Commander Spock, mindful of all
your work behind the scenes, and
despite the cordiality at this
mess, I do not sense an acceptance
of our people throughout your ship.
Spock
They're naturally wary, ma'am.
We've been at war a long time.
Uhura
How do both sides overcome
engrained prejudice?
Chekov
Perhaps with a few small steps at a
time. Like this one.
43 Continued
McCoy
And perhaps with a large step or
two. Like a peace treaty.
Chang
Captain Kirk, are you willing to
give up Starfleet?
Kirk stares
Spock
(Looks at Kirk)
I believe the Captain feels that
Starfleet's mission has always been
one of peace.
Kirk
(Glares)
Far be it from me to dispute my
first officer. Starfleet has
always......
Chang
Come now, Captain, this dinner is
off the record: in space all
warriors are cold warriors.
Scotty
We have never tried to.....
Kerla
You hypocritically presume that
your democratic system gives you a
moral prerogative to force other
cultures to conform to your
politics.
McCoy
That's not true.....!
Kerla
No?
Uhura turns to the Klingon next to her - all tact.
Uhura
General, are you fond of
Shakespeare?
He looks at her, his hands and mouth full of food.
Ugh! Chekov pursues.
43 Continued
Chekov
Ve do not impose democracy on
others. Ve do believe that every
planet has a sovereign claim to
human rights.
Azetbur
(Spits)
"Human rights". Even the name is
racist. The Federation is basically
a "Homo Sapiens" only club.....
Spock reacts to this. Chang is amused.
Chang
Present company excepted, to be sure...
Uhura
Well, I suppose we're not perfect.
Scotty
(rising)
Don't let them put words in your
mouth! I haven't served 30 years
in the engine room of a Starship
to be accused of gunboat diplomacy!
Kerla
In any case, we know where this is
leading, the annihilation of our
culture. Klingons will replace
those on the lowest rung of the
Federation employment ladder,
taking menial jobs and performing
them for lower pay......
Chekov
That's economics, not racism!
Uhura
But you have to admit it adds up to
the same thing.
McCoy
Don't be naive, Commander!
Uhura
Who are you calling "naive"?
Kirk stares sullenly down the table throughout this.
43 Continued:
Chekov
We're explorers, not diplomats!
McCoy
Starfleet's killed an awful lot of
natural phenomena in the name of
"exploration"......
Scotty
We follow orders......
Chekov
Since when has THAT been an excuse?
Diplomacy must resolve these.....
Scotty
Right! Leave it to the politicians
to muck it up and leave us
defenseless....!
A cough interrupts the fight. All eyes on Gorkon.
The Klingons conceal their amusement.
Gorkon
Well. I see we have a long way to go.
Reactions from Kirk and his officers.
44 Int. Transporter room, Enterprise
Both parties are gathered, saying goodbyes.
Gorkon
Thank you, Captain Kirk. The
evening has been most....edifying.
Kirk
(wooden)
We must do this again soon.
Gorkon stares at him, smiles slightly.
Gorkon
You don't trust me.
Kirk can't look at him.
Gorkon
(Continuing)
I don't blame you. If there is to
be a "Brave new world", we old people
will have the hardest time living it it.
44 Continued
Gorkon
(Turns to Spock)
Commander Spock.
Spock
Chancellor. A pleasure to meet
you, Ma'am
Azetbur
Captain, Commander.....
Kirk
General Chang, a pleasure.....
Chang
(Grins)
"Parting is such sweet sorrow,
shall we say goodnight till it
be morrow"?
Kirk is ready to slug him, but turns his fist into a
salute. The Klingons step on the trasporter platform.
Chang speaks into his communicator, nods to Kirk.
Kirk
Energize.
44 They disappear. The Bosun's whistle.
vfx
Scotty
Thank God.
Chekov
Did you see the way they ate?
Terrible table manners.
Spock
I don't believe our own conduct
will distinguish us in the annals
of diplomacy.......
Kirk
I'm going to sleep this off. Let
me know if there's some other way
we can screw up tonight.
He starts out, others follow....
45 Int. Kirks quarters
He comes in slightly drunk and pushes the button on his
log. Lies on his bunk and speaks. The ships bells give
45 Continued
0100.
Kirk
Captains Log. Stardate 8679.15.
The Enterprise hosted Chancellor
Gorkon and company for dinner last
night. Our manners were not
exactly Emily Post. Note to the
galley: Romulan ale no longer to be
seved at diplomatic functions.
He leans back, sighs, thinking -
Kirk
(Continuing)
But it wasn't the ale. That was
just the excuse we needed to say
all the things there were really on
our minds.....
Spocks voice
(filtered)
Captain Kirk, you are wanted on the
bridge. Captain Kirk......
Kirk reacts, tries to shake himself awake.
46 Int. Enterprise bridge
Kirk enters. Glances at the main visual display: the
46 battlecruiser still travels silently alongside.
vfx
Vulcan Lt. still has the conn. Spock is at his post.
Spock
Captain.
Kirk
(rubs his eyes)
What is it?
Spock
I am uncertain
Kirk
Spock, I'm really tired....
Spock
We are reading an enormous amount
of Neutron radiation.
46 Continued
Kirk
(tries to focus)
Where?
Spock
Curiously, it appears to emanate
from us.
Kirk
From Enterprise?
Spock remains silent. Kirk is distrubed, paces,
watching the displays.
Kirk
Lieutenant, you know anything about a
Neutron energy surge?
Lt. Valeris
Sir?
Kirk
Mr. Chekov, anything unusual?
Chekov
Just the size of my head....
Kirk
I know what you mean.....
46 A photon torpedo suddenly streaks from the botton of
vfxb the screen and hits the hull of the Presidents
flagship!
Kirk
What the......
Spock
We've fired on the Chancellor's
ship.
Chekov
Torpedo room.....
Kirk
Uhura, monitor!
Lt. Valeris
Direct hit!
Uhura
Confirmed, Captain!
46 Continued
46 A second photon torpedo shoots out from the botton of
vfxc the display screen towards the Presidents ship!
Kirk
(frantic)
Who's doing that???
The Vulcan Lt. hits panel controls, trying to find out.
47 Int. Gorkons stateroom, Klingon flagship
Gorkon, several advisers, and soldiers were seated, but
the impact has thrown them about. They speak subtitled
Klingon.
The entire flagship is drenched in amber emergency
light.
Adviser
We're hit...!
Another blast. They start floating helplessly in the
air! Everything mobile rises, weapons float out of
reach...
Soldier
Gravity generator!
48 Int. Transporter room, Flagship
close on
48 Two sets of heavy gravity boots, as the materialize.
vfxa the legs inside them wear Starfleet uniforms, and
carry phasers at their sides. They shoot the Klingon
transporter officer. They stomp heavily throught the
alarms and chaos, firing at the helpless, floating
crew...cries of the wounded. Weapons ploat out of their
holsters just out of reach in the amber light.....
48 Klingon blood floats in the air.
vfxb
49 Int. Flagship corridor
Where Klingon crew are floating helplessly. The
gravity boots shoot anything in their way, walk on
walls, etc. as they hurry along to:
50 Int. Gorkons stateroom, Flagship
Where they blast a guard at the door, severing his arm
and enter. The Klingons have weapons, but are floating
50 Continued
and unable to aim. They are quickly shot as the two
hit men make their way toward Gorkon.
50 Blood now floats about as well as debtris in the
vfx crackling emergency lighting. A good deal of hissing
steam......
Chancellor Gorkon is shot. The hit men turn and exit
quickly. Linger on a scene of weightless carnage and
assassination.
51 Int. Flagship corridor - night
vfx
The hit men hurry back the way they came in their
awkward magnetic boots. Bodies and blood floating
around them.
52 Int. Transporter room, Flagship
52 The heavy boots step on the platform and de-materialize.
vfx (One foot treads on floating Klingon blood)
53 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
53 A snowy picture on the visual display, then Chang comes
vfxa on (still in amber light)....
Chang
(He's screaming in Klingon,
reverting to his native
language under stress.)
Uhura
He says we've fired on them in a
blatant act of war.
Kirk
We haven't fired....
Spock
According to the data bank, we have....
....Twice!
Lt. Valeris
Captain, they're coming about!
53 Main viewscreen
vfxb
One battlecruiser flagship now heading for Enterprise.
Spock
They're preparing to fire.
53 Continued
Chekov
Shields up, Captain?
Kirk hasn't moved. He's staring at the display,
thinking.
Lt. Valeris
Captain, our shields!
Kirk
Uhura, signal our surrender.
Uhura
Captain....!
Kirk
WE SURRENDER!
Uhura Chekov
This is Enterprise, Captain, if they fire
we surrender. Repeat, at us with our shields
Enterprise surrenders! down........!
Kirk
Torpedo bay! Did we fire those
torpedoes?
54 Omitted
55 Int. Enterprise torpedo bay
Scotty
Negative, Captain. According to
inventory, we're still fully loaded.
56 Int. Enterprise bride
Angle on Spock
reacting. How can this be? He checks data banks again.
56 CU data banks: they confirm, two photon torpedoes fired.
vfx
Kirk
Stand down your weapons.
Scotty (V.O.)
Captain, if.....
57 Another angle
Kirk
STAND DOWN, Mr. Scott. All stop.
That's an order!
57 Continued
Scotty
Aye, Sir!
McCoy rushes in, carrying his stuff.
McCoy
What the hell's going on?
Kirk
I wish I knew. Uhura?
Uhura
It's pretty chaotic over there.
There's been some weapons fire and
a lot of shouting....
Kirk
I'm going aboard. Spock, you have
the conn.
He heads for the turbolift. Spock blocks him.
Spock
I am responsible for involving you
in this. I will go.
Kirk
(Bitter)
I'M going! You're going to be
responsible for getting me out of
this! Meanwhile we're not going to
be the instigators of a full scale
war on the eve of universal peace.
Spock
Perhaps you're right.
And Spock uncharacteristically pats him on the back
Spock
Good luck, Captain.
McCoy
I'm going too. They may need a
doctor.
Kirk
Uhura, tell them we're coming. And
tell them we're unarmed.
They hurry out.
58 Int. Gorkons stateroom, Flagship
Chang and his assistants are trying to sort things out
without gravity. Chang shouts efficient orders in
Klingon as he finds and tries to help Gorkon.....
Chang keeps himself upright by grabbing a handhold, but
the stricken are still floating...
A few more orders from Chang, then the lights flicker,
then all the bodies and blood slam to the ground as the
gravitational source is restored. Lighting is normal.
59 Int. Flagship transporter room
vfx
Kirk and McCoy materialize. They are quickly
surrounded by armed soldiers. Kirk puts his hands out
to indicate they are not carrying weapons. They are
searched as Kerla enters.
Kerla
Have you lost your mind?
Kirk
I give you my word, I don't
understand what has happened.
McCoy
We're here to help......
Kerla
(hesitates, furious)
Follow me.
He leads them along the corridor
60 Int. flagship corridor
same path, a scene of destruction, which the hit men
took, right into
61 Int. Gorkons stateroom, Flagship
where dead and wounded are being separated.
Kerla hurries over to Gorkon, askew on the rug, blood
running everwhere. Azetbur is holding him, now bloody
herself (she wasn't in the room during the assignation)
McCoy
Chancellor Gorkon!
He goes to him immediately. Chang rises from next to
Gorkon.
61 Continued
Kirk
My God, what happened here?
Chang
You feign ignorance?
Kirk
WHAT HAPPENED?
Chang
You crippled our gravitational
field with a direct torpedo hit,
and two Starfleet crewmen beamed
aboard in magnetic boots and did
this! We have witnesses!
Kirk has no response, is shocked.
McCoy
Jim!
McCoy is being held back from Gorkon by two Klingons.
Kirk
He's a DOCTOR!
Chang
How can I trust....
McCoy
Are you carrying a surgeon?
Chang
We were, until you fired your torpedoes!
McCoy
Then let me help!
Chang hesitates, then signals. McCoy is released.
McCoy
I need some light. Can we get him
onto the table?
Klingons lift Gorkon onto his table, someone produces
light. McCoy whips out his medical scanner. His hands
are shaking.
McCoy
(To Kirk)
Hold him.
Kirk grabs Gorkons arms.
61 Continued
McCoy
(Continuing)
Sweet Jesus....! He's lost a lot of
whatever this stuff is....
Kirk
Can you.....?
McCoy
Jim, I don't even know his anatomy
McCoy furiously goes over Gorkon with his anabolic
photoplaser. Shakes his head. Gorkon clutches Kirk.
McCoy
The wounds aren't closing....
Kerla
You're killing him!
Kirk grabs Chang before he can get to McCoy
Kirk
NO!
McCoy
Chancellor Gorkon, can you hear me?
Chancellor.......?
No response. McCoy rips open Gorkon's collar....
Azetbur
Father.....!
Kirk
Bones.....?
McCoy
He's gone into some kind of
arrest.....COME ON, DAMMIT!!
He tries a medical tricorder.
Frantically, he whumps Gorkon's chest, as Kirk, et al,
look as Gorkon feebly opens his eyes, sees kirk....
Gorkon
Are you alright?
Gorkon freezes, McCoy looks at his scanner. It burns
bright red. Gorkon is dead. Kirk is in shock, he can't
believe it.
61 Continued
McCoy
(Stunned)
I've lost him......
Azetbur sits holding Gorkon, dry-eyed. Kirk pulls at
McCoy
Chang
(grim triumph)
Under artickle 184 of Interstellar
Law, I place you both under arrest.
You are charged with assassinating
the Chancellor of the High Council.
Kirk
He just tried to save him!!!!
Chang
(Klingon)
Take them away.
They are handcuffed. Both are in shock.
62 Int. bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
Uhura is listening carefully. Scotty has joined Spock
and the others on the bridge.
Uhura
They've been arrested.
All eyes go to Spock. We can guess how he feels.
Chekov
Mr. Spock, we've got to do
something!
The others crowd in, waiting for orders. Depending on
him.
Spock
(finally)
I assume command of this ship as of
(he checks)
0130 hours. Uhura, send to
Starfleet HQ. Explain precisely
what has taken place, and request
instructions.
Uhura
Yes, Sir.
62 Continued
Lt. Valeris
But we can't allow them to be taken
back to Kronos as prisoners!
Spock
What do you suggest, Lieutenant?
Opening fire won't retrieve the
Captain, and an armed engagement
was precisely what he wished to
avoid.
Scotty
At least we must keep track of
where they are taken, Sir. I....
Spock
I've already addressed that
question, Mr. Scott. We'll be able
to follow the Captain's movements.
Lt. Valeris
How did you....?
Spock
In the meantime, we must endeavor to
piece together what happened here
tonight. According to our data
banks, this ship fired those
torpedoes.
Scotty
NO WAY!
Spock
Mr. Scott, you forget yourself.
Please accompany me.
He starts out.
Chekov
And if we can't piece together what
happened? What then, Sir?
Spock turns unhappily.
Spock
Then, Mr. Chekov, it resides in the
hands of the diplomats.
63 Int. Office of the Federation President - Day
63 Continued
The Federation President and the Klingon Ambassador.
With them is the Vulcan Ambassador, Sarek, Spock's
father, and Nanclus, the Romulan Ambassador.
Klingon Ambassador
The Chancellor of the High Council
is dead, the result of an
unprovoked attack while he
travelled to see YOU under a flag
of truce on a mission of peace.
Captain Kirk was legally arrested
for the crime. May I remind you
that he, and Doctor McCoy boarded
Kronos One of their own free will.
None of these facts are in dispute,
Mr. President. And as a matter of
these facts, the Klingon people
have a right to justice. What I am
asking now is, does the Federation
plan to stand in the way of our
justice? Or do you consider your-
self and all Federation personnel
above the law?
A mumbling is heard thoughout the court at this line.
Klingon ambassador
I am waiting for your answer, Mr.
President!
Long pause
President
This President is not above the
law!
The Klingon Ambassador bows and takes his leave.
The President is left with the two Ambassadors
Sec'y voice
Mr. President, Starfleet Command is
here from San Francisco.
President
Send them in.
Three officers from Starfleet, including Admiral
Donald, and the Commander in Chief, enter from a
different door.
Admiral Donald
Mr. President.
63 Continued
President
Admiral Donald...Bill....
Admiral Donald
Mr. President, we cannot allow
Federation citizens to be abducted!
President
At present, I'm awaiting a full
report from Enterprise. Pending
that I am constrained to observe
Interstellar Law.
A stand off. Donald nods to another officer.
Officer
We've prepared Operation Retrieve
based on the rising danger of
terrorism between the Klingon
Empire and the Federation. Sir, we
can go in and rescue the hostages
and be out in 24 hours with an
acceptable rate of loss in manpower
and equipment. We have the technology
to......
President
Suppose you precipitate a full
scale war?
Officer
Then, quite frankly, Mr. President,
we can clean their chronometers.
Ambassador Nanclus
Mr. President, they are vulnerable.
There'll never be a better time....
Pause as the president considers.
President
I'd prefer not to be the President
to push the button if I can avoid
it, not for two hostages.
Admiral Donald
The longer we wait, the less
accessible the hostages will be,
Sir!
President
I'll bear that in mind, Admiral.
63 Continued
President
(continuing)
I think that's all......Sir!
The president looks at Admiral Donald on this line
Commander in Chief
Those men have literally saved this
planet, and you know it!
President
I do know it. And now I'm afraid
they're going to save it again. By
standing trial.
They're dismissed. The President puts his head in his
hands.....finally looks up at Sarek.
President
Do you know I agree with everything
they said?
Ambassador Sarek
I'm sorry, Mr. President. And I
know my son must feel equally
responsible. It was at my request
that he persuaded Kirk to undertake
this mission.
The President looks at him.
President
I want the crew of the Enterprise in my
office tomorrow morning.
Ambassador Sarek
They're still in space, Mr.
President, adjacent to the
Neutral Zone.
President
Then tell your son to get the hell
back here before the end of the
week.
He swallows some pills.
64 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
Uhura's communications panel. Chekov stands over her
shoulder. In Uhura's earpiece we can hear filtered
screaming! She can hardly stand the volume.
64 Continued
Uhura
(understates)
We are to report back at once.
Chekov
Ve cannot abandon Captain Kirk and
Doctor McCoy!
He looks at the rest of the crew. The Vulcan Lt.
wanders over.
Lt. Valeris
Trouble?
Uhura
We've been ordered to....
Lt. Valeris
Four hundred years ago, on the
Planet Earth, workers whose lives
were threatened by automation, flung
their wooden shoes, called Sabots,
into the machines to stop them.
Hence the word Sabo-tage.
Uhura
We are experiencing a technical
malfunction. All backup systems
inoperative.
Chekov
Excellent. I mean too bad.
Lt. Valeris
I will inform Captain Spock.
65 Office of the Federation President - Day
The President is meeting with six civilian advisers.
Munitions Businessman
You have our total support, Mr.
President. My factories can gear
up to full weapons production in
less that a week.
President
Thank you, Henry. Right now, we're
pursuing diplomatic channels....
Munitions Businessman
Of course. No one wants a war.....
Ambassador Sarek
If I may, Mr. President. the
important thing is too keep the
peace process alive. If the new
Chancellor is so disposed, perhaps
we can attach a rider, get some
assurance that these men won't be
executed. Then, in a year.....
Sec'y Voice
Mr. President, you have the new
Chancellor of the High Council
calling.
They all swing to look at the far wall, which
65 lights up as a visual display. After a snowy
vfx beginning, Azetbur appears.
66 Int. Azetbur's office
Azetbur
Mr. President, I've been named
Chancellor of the High Council in
my father's place.
67 Int. office of the president
Reactions in the room.
President
Madam Chancellor, you have my
sincerest condolences on your
recent loss. I want to assure you
that this shamefull deed......
Azetbur
Mr. President, let us come to the
point. You want the conference to
go forward and so said my father. I
will attend in one week, after I've
had the opportunity to master the
details of his position, on one
condition: we will not extradite
the prisoners, and you will not
attempt to rescue them in a
military operation. We would
consider any such attempt, an act
of war!
67 Continued
President
We look forward to meeting with you
next week, Madam Cahncellor. I hope
you will be our guest here on .....
Azetbur
After recent events, you will
understand I prefer a neutral site.
And in the interests of security,
let us keep the location secret.
President
As you wish, Madam Chancellor.
She clicks off. The President and his advisers are a
little speechless at her strength and brusqueness.
More pills.
68 Int. Azetbur's office - day
She's gotten off the compic. We are now in Klingon.
Kerla
Attack them now, Madam Chancellor,
while we still can....!
He unfurls battle plans......
First General
Attack, or be slaves in their world!
Second General
We can take whole by force what they
propose to divide.....!
Azetbur (weary)
You don't seem to grasp our
situation, General. War is now
obsolete. As we are in danger of
becoming.
Kerla
Better to die on our feet, than living
on our knees...!
Azetbur
That wasn't what my father wanted!
Chang (bitter)
He was killed for what he wanted!
That sinks in. Azetbur hardens. Faces Chang.
68 Continued
Azetbur
Kirk must have a fair trial.
Chang
Of course.
Azetbur (Stony)
But I want a conviction. You will
represent the State, General Chang.
Chang
With pleasure, Madam Chancellor.
69 Int. Torpedo bay, U.S.S. Enterprise
Spock and Scotty hover over the torpedo console,
looking at numbers and lights. Spock thinks hard.
Eight bells sound. It is perfectly clear: according to
the Inventory program, all torpedoes are still aboard!!!
Scotty
It's as I said, Mr. Spock,
Inventory still registers every
torpedo!
Spock (musing)
Yet the data banks insist we fired,
twice. one computer is lying.
Scotty
A computer canna lie, Sir.
Spock
Then we must check the torpedoes,
Visually!
Scotty
That could take hours!
Spock
Nevertheless.
Scotty
And if they're all in place?
Spock
Then someone forced a data bank
computer entry.
The Vulcan Lt. descends into the bay.
69 Continued
Lt. Valeris
They've named Gorkon's daughter
Chancellor, it was on the news.
Scotty
I'll bet that Klingon bitch killed
her father.....
Spock
Her own father....?
Lt. Valeris
It is an old story, Sir.
Scotty
They don't place the same value on
life that we do, Mr. Spock. You know
that, take my word! She didn't shed
one bloody tear...!
Spock
That's hardly conclusive, Mr.
Scott, as Klingons have no tear
ducts.
Before Scotty can react.
Spock (Continuing)
Any reply from Starfleet to our
dispatch, Lieutenant?
Lt. Valeris
Not as yet, Sir.
Spock
(Looks at her keenly)
Curious.
Lt. Valeris
Commander Uhura has been
experiencing technical difficulties,
Sir.
Spock
Very well. For twenty-four hours
we'll agree that this conversation
did not take place!
Lt. Valeris
A lie?
69 Continued
Spock
An omission. After that.....
Scotty
Twenty-four hours from now, we won't
have a clue where the Captain is.
Spock
I know precisely where he'll be!
Scotty and Lieutenant Valeris react.
Scotty
You do? Where?
70 Tight on Kirk's eyes. Jump back to reveal
vfx
The Klingon empire in all its barbaric splendor
A cavernous stadium arranged in circlular tiers cut from
jagged stone. A place from a bygone age, of savage and
awesome beauth. Something between a circus and a
cathedral.....
.....turned for the occasion into a gigantic courtroom
with thousands of spectators, screaming: "Kirk! Kirk!
Kirk!"
Many in the audience hold spears with lighted heads.
Kirk and McCoy in the dock, stand in the bottom at the
very center of the circle, surrounded by a Klingon
audience in rising tiers, while hooded Klingon judges
sit invisible in a darkened dugout. (One judge is an
albino.)
Chang wears the prosecutor's mantle.
In the audience is President Azetbur and her advisers.
The trial is being broadcast and special cameras
abound.
Near Kirk and McCoy sits their young, eager Klingon
defense attorney. Kirk keeps his cool thoughout,
though McCoy tends to steam.
The rules are different. Attorneys are empowered to
ask their witnesses a question at any time, and to mix
this up with statements and charges.
The proceedings begin in subtitled Klingon. Kirk and
McCoy wear headphones. When they speak, a translator
70 Continued
converts to Klingon.
As Chang gets going, we zoom into his mouth and he
converts to english... the judges gavel is a grotesque
nailed glove.
Chang
The State will show that Enterprise
fired on Kronos One without
provocation, the Chancellor and his
advisers having been lulled into a
false sense of security with an
invitation to a state dinner aboard
Captain Kirk's vessel at 1930 hours
that same evening.
(Turns to Kirk
Do you deny all this?
The mob howls "Kirk!", as the Judge gavels.
Judge
The Prisoner will respond.
Kirk
I don't deny we invited them to
dinner.
71 Angel on Chancellor Azetbur
Chang
Were you drunk at that dinner,
Captain?
72 Int. President's UFP's office - Day
72 The President and his advisers, including Sarek, watch
vfx the proceedings unhappily onscreen. Translator's voice
over.
Kirk
What?
Chang
Isn't it a fact that you served
Romulan ale, a beverage illegal in
the Federation because of its
overwhelming potency?
Kirk
The drink was served.
The Commander in Chief and President wince.
72 Continued
Commander in Chief
This is a damned show trial.
73 Int. klingon courtroom - Day
Chang
And you still maintain your ship
did not fire on Kronos One? Would
you have known if she had? Come
now, Captain. the record clearly shows
there were no other ships in the
sector.
Kirk
There....were no other ships in the
sector.
Chang
Did you have occasion to refer to
your ship's data banks during that
night?
Kirk
I checked the data banks, yes.
Chang
And what did they tell you?
Kirk (Reluctant)
That we fired two Photon Torpedoes.
But.....
The mob howls.
Chang
The witness is excused, for the
time being.
Chang whirls off as the Judge gavels.
74 Int. Klingon Courtroom - Day
One of President Gorkons Guards is on the stand,
he is missing an arm.
Guard
After the first hit, we lost our
gravitational field, I found myself
weightless and unable to function.
Then 2 Starfleet crewmen came
walking towards us.
75 Widen to reveal we are watching aboard Enterprise.
Spock, et al, are receiving the transmission on their
main visual display. They watch in silence.
Translator's voice.
Defense Attorney
Perhaps they merely wore Starfleet
uniforms....
Chang
I move that remark be stricken as
purely speculative....
Judge
So ordered. Colonel Worf, we are
interested in facts, not theories.
Defense Attorney
If the gravitatinal field was not
functioning, how could these men
have been walking?
Guard
They appeared to be wearing
magnetic boots.
Murmur. The Defense Attorney wishes he hadn't asked.
Spock
Gravity boots.....
76 Int. Klingon Courtroom - Day
Chang
They fired on you?
Guard
With Starfleet issue phasers. They
dashed into the Chancellor's
stateroom, we could hear more
phaser fire, then they went back
the way they'd come.
Chang
Towards the transporter room?
Guard
Yes, Sir.
Swish pan to CU Sulu
77 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Excelsior
77 Continued
Sulu and his crew are watching the trial on their
visual display as well.
78 Int. Klingon Courtroom - Day
Chang
Doctor McCoy, what is your current
medical status?
McCoy
Aside from a touch of arthritis,
I'd say pretty good.
Sulu has to smile. Chang is not amused, waits.
McCoy (continuing)
For 27 years I have been Ships
Surgeon and later Chief Medical
Officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.
In three months, I'm due to stand down.
Chang
Stand.....?
McCoy
Retire.
Chang (soft)
Ah. I believe you also consumed
Romulan ale at the officers mess
on the night in question, Doctor?
Defense Attorney
Objection!
Judge
Sustained.
McCoy (angry)
We all did. But that doesn't
mean.....
Judge
General Chang, come to the point or
abandon this line of inquiry.
Chang
Was Chancellor Gorkon alive when
you first examined him?
McCoy
Barely.
78 Continued
Chang
Have you saved patients as "barely"
alive as he was?
President Azetbur flinches at the memory.
McCoy
I didn't have the knowledge of
Klingon anatomy I needed.
Chang
You say you are due for retirement.
May I ask: Do your hands shake?
Defense Attorney
Objection!
Judge
Overruled.
McCoy
I was nervous.
Chang
You were incompetent! Whether
deliberately, or as a result of age,
combined with drink, this court will
determine.
McCoy
I tried to save him! I was
desperate to save him! He was the
last best hope in the universe for
real peace.
Chang
The Chacellor herself will testify
that the defendant's hands shook!
79 Int. UFP President's office.
79 The President, et al, watch unhappily
vfx
80 Int. Klingon Courtroom - Day
Chang
And now, we come to the architect of
this tragic affair, Captain James
Tiberius Kirk. I put it to you,
Captain, that you were seeking
revenge for the death of your son!
80 Continued
Kirk
That isn't true.....!
Chang
That, either as an instrument of
Federation policy, or acting on your
own drunken initiative, you and
your fellow conspirators, crippled
Kronos One, and cold-bloodedly
assassinated the Chancellor of the
High Council. Then, you and Doctor
McCoy went aboard to make certain
the job was complete.
Defense Attorney
Objection: Captain Kirk has not
been identified as the assassin.
Judge
Sustained.
Chang
I offer into the record the
following excerpt from Captain
Kirk's personal log.
He signals. Kirk's voice stills the room.
Kirk's voice
I have never trusted Klingons, and
never will. I have never been able
to forgive them for the murder of
my boy.....
An explosive babble fills the court. The Judge pounds
his glove for order....quick reaction shots:
81 The Enterprise
82 The President's Office
83 The Excelsior - then back to the courtroom
84 Int. Courtroom - Day
Chang
Are those your words?
Kirk
Yes.
84 Continued
Chang
Spoken by you?
Kirk
Yes.
Chang
Louder, please. We cannot hear you.
Kirk (firmer)
Those words WERE spoken by me.
85 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Excelsior
85 Sulu is speaking confidentially to his communications
vfx officer. On screen behind them, the trial continues.
Sulu
Send to commander Enterprise: "We
stand ready to assist you. Captian
Sulu, U.S.S. Excelsior." Attach our
co-ordinates.
Communications officer
Is that wise, sir? I mean, given
their situation-
(off Sulu's look)
Aye, Sir!
He leaves. Sulu looks up at the screen, unhappily.
85A Courtroom
Defense Attorney
Objection, your honors. My
clients' political views are not
on trial here.
86 Int. Enterprise Bridge
86 The trial is on several monitor BG. Spock, next to
vfx Uhura.
Uhura
Sulu's giving us his position and
telling us he's standing by.....
Spock
(unhappy)
He's placing himself in a most
awkward situation......
86 Continued
Chang (V.O.)
On the contrary, Captain Kirk's
views and motives are at the heart
of this matter. This officers record
shows the accused to be an insubordinate,
unprincipled career opportunist, with
a history of violating the chain of
command when it suited him.
87 Int. Klingon Courtroom - Day
Chang (continuing)
Indeed the record will show that
Captain Kirk was once "Admiral"
Kirk and that Admiral Kirk was
broken for taking matters into his
own hands in defiance of
regulations and the law. Do you
deny you were demoted on these
charges, Captain? DO NOT WAIT FOR
THE TRANSLATION, ANSWER ME NOW!!!
Defense Attorney
Don't answer - objection!
Judge
Objection overruled. The Prisoner
will answer the question.
Kirk
I cannot deny it.
Chang
You were demoted.....
Kirk
Yes.
Chang
For insubordination.
Kirk
I have on occasion disobeyed
orders.
Chang
And were you obeying or disobeying
orders the night you arranged the
assassination of Chancellor Gorkon?
87 Continued
Defense Attorney (overlapping)
I Object!
Kirk (overlapping)
I was unaware of the assassination
until I boarded his ship!
Chang (overlapping)
You deny Enterprise fired on Kronos
One?
Kirk
Well, I.....
Chang (overlapping)
You deny that your men beamed
aboard Kronos One, and shot the
Chancellor?
Kirk
I cannot confirm or deny actions
which I did not witness.
Chang
Captain Kirk, are you aware that
under Federation law, the Captain
of a Starship is considered
responsible for the actions of his
men?
Kirk
I am.
Chang
So, if it should prove members of
your crew did in fact carry out
such an assassination?
McCoy
Jim! They're setting us up! Your
honors, I protest!
Judge
The defendant will be silent!
Captain Kirk, you will answer the
question.
Kirk (heavily)
As Captain, I am responsible for the
conduct of the crew under my command.
87 Continued
Chang
Your honors, the State rests.
An excited babble. Kirk and McCoy turn to their
attorney.
McCoy
Is it our turn, now?
Defense Attorney (grim)
According to Klingon law, both sides
present their cases at the same
time, we have had our turn!
On McCoys and Kirks reaction. The Judges nailed fist
crashes down with a flurry of sparks.
Judge
It is the judgement of this court
that the defendants are guilty as
charged.
Sensation in court. A booming chant "Koom, Koom!!" as
all the light spears are pointed at Kirk and McCoy.
Chang is stone-faced, again, the horrible gauntlet.
Judge
Captian James T. Kirk, Doctor
Leonard McCoy.....
They face the Judges' box. Intercut this moment with
88 Int. Enterprise Bridge - Day
Spocks face - What has he done?
89 Int. Klingon Courtroom
Judge
Have either of you anything to say
before this court passes sentence?
Kirk and McCoy look at each other.
McCoy (simply)
We were framed.
Defense Attorney
(Rises passionately
I wish to note for the record that
the evidence against my clients is
entirely circumstantial. I beg the
89 Continued
court to consider this when framing
its sentence.
Judge (beat)
So noted. In the interests of
amity for the forthcoming peace
talks, the sentence of death is
commuted.
(the crowd roars)
It is the judgement of this court
that without possibility of
reprieve or parole, you be taken
from this place to the Dilithium
mines on the Penthe asteroid,
there to spend the rest of your
natural lives.
Off Kirks and McCoys reactions.
90 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
Uhura (tearfull eyes)
Rura Penthe!
Chekov
Known throughout the galaxy as the
Aliens' graveyard.
Scotty
Better to kill them now and get it
over with......
It takes Spock a moment to recover himself.
Spock
Let's see it again, Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Valeris pushes a button. As attention is
diverted, Spock mops his brow.
The crew watch in silence as the monitor replays the
hit. (Sc. 46 vfxb)
Chekov (hopeless)
It is Enterprise. We fired.
As the replay indicates this, Spock stares.....
Scotty (anger & confusion)
It's na possible!! All weapons
VISUALLY accounted for. Sir!
90 Continued
Lt. Valeris
Commander? It it not logical to
consider ALL possibilites?
(off their looks)
This is most difficult to say, but
has it occurred to....to any of
us....that the Captain is...that
is, we know his feelings about
Klingons, what they did to his....
Spocks gaze stops her.
Lt. Valeris (continuing)
Well, it is a possibility!
After an impenetrable pause -
Spock
Again.
Another replay as they watch.
Spock
Hold.
They stare at the frozen image.
Spock (continuing)
An ancestor of mine maintained that
if you eliminate the impossible
whatever remains - however
improbable - must be the truth.
Uhura
What exactly does that mean?
Spock
It means that if we cannot have
fired those torpedoes, then someone
else did!
Scotty
They dinna fire on themselves. And
there were no other ships present.
Spock
(grasping at straws)
There was and enormous neutron
energy surge.
Scotty (insisting)
Not from us!!
90 Continued
Chekov (square one)
A neutron surge that big could only
be produced by another ship.....
Uhura
Kronos One?
Spock
Too far off. Very near us.
Perhaps....underneath us....!
Scotty
If another ship had been beneath us,
the Klingons would have seen her!
Spock
Would they?
Long pause.
Lt. Valeris
Bird of Prey!
Chekov
Cloaked!?
Spock says nothing.
Scotty
A Bird of Prey canna fire when
shes cloaked!
Spock
All things being equal, Mr. Scott,
I would agree. However, "things"
are not equal, this one can!
Scotty
Then you're talking about a
dreadful new engine of destruction,
Mr. Spock!
Spock
I believe I am.
Lt. Valeris
We must inform Starfleet Command....
Scotty (enraged)
Inform them of what? A new weapon
that isn't visible? Raving
lunatics - that's what they'll call
90 Continued
us! They'll say we're so desperate
to exonerate the Captain, we'll say
anything!
Spock
And they would be right. We have no
evidence - just a theory that
happens to fit the facts.....
Uhura
Even assuming you're correct, Mr.
Spock, why would they fire on their
own President?
Spock
I want this ship searched from bow
to stern. Lieutenant, you are in
charge. Start with the transporter
room, and work your way outwards!
Lt. Valeris
Sir.....
Chekov
I don't understand. If there vas
a ship underneath us, surely the
assassins beamed aboard from that
wessel, not Enterprise.
Spock
You are forgetting something:
(off their looks)
the data banks say we fired. If we
did, the killers are here. If we
didn't, whoever altered the data
banks is on board. Either way, what
we are searching for is here....
Chekov
What are we searching for, Mr.
Spock?
Spock
You tell them, Lieutenant.
90A Close on Vulcan Lieutenant
Lt. Valeris (it's elementary)
Two pairs of gravity boots!
Spock is well pleased with her.
91 Ext. Rura Penthe Penal Colony - Day
91 Three suns glare down on a huge vista, an ice field,
vfx the coldest habitable place in the solar system.
A small moving dark mass as we push in, reveals
Fifteen prisoners in leg irons and five Klingon guards
with jackal-mastiffs moving slowly across the frigid
plain.
Kirk and McCoy, likewise shackled, are among them.
Guards and prisoners alike wear ragged furs.
They reach a lone totem and a guard holds up his hand
for a halt. He presses and instrument emitting a high-
pitched whine.
In response, a huge trap door buried in the snow,
yawns open. A Klingon guard emerges from steps below,
and places a box before the gaping door.
As Kirk and McCoy watch, the commandant of Rura Penthe
and his jackal mastiff emerge. He mounts the box.
Commandant
This is the gulag Rura Penthe.
Observe: there is no stockade, no
guard tower, no electrified
fence! They are not needed here!
Only a magnetic shield prevents
beaming. Your new home awaits....
underground!
He blows a mechanical whistle. In response, two guards
emerge from below with a screaming Klingon convict.
Prisoner
No! Nooooo!
Commandant
Punishment means exile from prison
to the surface - on the surface,
nothing can survive.
The guards dump the screaming convict on the ice -
without furs. The weather immobilizes him at once -
his cries become fainter.
Commandant
Below, no one can escape. Work well,
and you will be treated well. Work
badly, and you will die.
91 Continued
He leaves. The box is removed by a guard and proceeds
him through the huge door, and down the steps.
91A Long shot
as the prisoners are herded after him, and the door
shuts, leaving the frozen vista as it was: snow
flurries obscure the trap door almost instantly. Only
the frozen corpse of the convict is left - until it too
is covered.
91B Int. Rura Penthe
Start looking up at the closing trap door, outside we
can see snow flurries as the panel shuts with a clang.
Pan down to reveal
A huge underground labyrinth with an enormous courtyard
surrounded by prisoners huts open to the center.
Prisoners wander freely within. The scum of the universe
Everyone wears furs, leg irons, and is freezing.
An endless scaffolding above, the guards.
Many of the prisoners look like they could snap Kirk
and McCoy in half, with one hand.
Kirk and McCoy step gingerly around the outside wall,
watching the yard. A shadow falls across them.
Their POV: It's a behemoth alien. He speaks in a
guttural, incomprehensible language.
Alien
Auog wok na pushnat.
Kirk
I'm afraid our universal translator
was confiscated.
Alien
Ring notsa loskent!
Kirk
Sorry......
Alien
Rangnit ascru, unto pram moreoscue
shondik!!!!
91B Continued
McCoy
He's definitely on about something!
Alien
Quog wok na pushnat!!!
The alien picks Kirk up.
Kirk
If this is your spot, we'll move
on.....
The alien is about to behead Kirk
Martia (O.S.)
He wants your obedience to the
Brotherhood of Aliens.
Kirk
He's got it!
Martia
And your coat.
Kirk
'Fraid not. It wouldn't fit him,
anyway.
Martia
Krandog aranty.
The alien puts Kirk down.
Martia (continuing)
Fendo pompsky.
The alien nods and wanders off.
Kirk
Thanks......
McCoy
What's the Brotherhood of Aliens?
Martia
Prisoners from outside the Klingon
Systems. They tend to band together.
I'm Martia.
She's a tall, and very good looking female, boots to
her thighs, exotic furs, tattered but clearly humanoid.
91b Continued
She's smoking something, offers them a hit.
Martia
This'll help keep you warm. You're
Kirk and McCoy.
Kirk takes the hit, offers McCoy....it does warm you!
Kirk
How did you know...?
Martia (shrugs)
We don't get many Presidential
assassins.
Kirk
We didn't kill Gorkon.
Martia (deadpan)
Of course not. (looks around)
There's a reward for your death!
McCoy (looks around also)
Figures.
Kirk
We've been set up all along.
Martia
Somebody up there wants you out of
the way.
McCoy
I don't believe we can get more out
of the way than this!!
Martia
They'll make it look like an
accident.....
McCoy
What are you in for, if you don't mind
my asking?
Martia
I don't mind. Smuggling. Guilty.
I come from Arc. Smuggling is an
ancient and respected trade there.
Kirk
How much time's left of your
sentence?
91b Continued
Martia (smiles grimly)
Don't you know? Everyone on Rura
Penthe is here for life!
Kirk and McCoy didn't know.
92 Int. Galley, U.S.S. Enterprise
Under Lt. Valeris's watchful eye, crewmen are taking the
kitchen apart. All sorts of dishes and cutlery litter
the place. Spock, Scotty and Chekov enter.
Spock
Any progress?
Lt. Valeris
We've got a crew of three hundred
turning the own quarters inside
out, but the killers may be among
them. Surely they've disposed of
these boots by now. Wouldn't it
have been logical to leave them on
Gorkon's ship?
Spock
Even logic must give way to
physics. Gravity hadn't been
restored by the time they escaped.
Without their boots, they would not
have stayed on the Klingon
transporter pads.
Chekov (mimes with his finger)
Why not simply vaporize them?
Lt. Valeris
Like this?
She whips out her phaser and fires, incinerating a pot.
Alarms and claxons howl! Chekov covers his ears.
Lt. Valeris
As you know, sir, no one can fire
an unauthorized phaser aboard a
starship.
She switches off the alarm and has another thought:
Lt. Valeris
Suppose when they returned, they
threw the boots into the garbage?
92 Continued
Spock
I'm having the garbage searched.
If my surmise is correct, those
boots will cling to the killers
necks like Tiberian bats. They
couldn't make their escape without
them, nor can they simply throw
them out a window for all to see.
No, they're here. Somewhere!
Uhura comes into the galley, Stepping over pots and
pans. She is not happy.
Uhura
Did someone shoot off a phaser,
Mr. Spock?
He turns.
Uhura (continuing)
I've pulled out my - ah, wooden shoe
and Starfleet is screaming for us
to return to port!
Spock
Mr. Scott, any progress on
repairing our warp drive?
Scotty
There's nothing wrong with the
bloody......
Spock coughs hard.
Scotty
.......Could take weeks, Sir!
Spock
Thank you, Mr. Scott. Were we to
return to spacedock, the killers
would surely manage to dispose of
their incriminating footwear.
(turns to Uhura)
Please report our situtation to
Starfleet.
Lt. Valeris
A lie?
Spock
An error.
92 Continued
Uhura
I'll tell them someone threw a
gravity boot into it!
Angle on Spock
Reacting. He looks at Lt. Valeris
Lt. Valeris
Right, a gravity boot in the warp
drive...
She goes off, shaking her head.
Uhura
You understand that we have lost
all contact with Captain Kirk....?
Spock
At present, he's surrounded by a
magnetic shield. If my calculations
are correct, he should be deep into
his escape planning by this time.
93 Int. Rura Penthe penal colony.
Kirk gets hit in the face. It's already bloody. It's
a prison fight. Kirk and an alien are surrounded by
prisoners who are sneering and jeering.
Kirk and McCoy are distinctly grubbier.
Kirk scrambles to his feet and circles. The alien
swings a large paw, but Kirk ducks, comes in with an
uppercut. He connects, but does little damage. They
circle some more. The alien dives legs first, and
scissors Kirk, who goes down roughly. Wrestling, Kirk
slips free.
McCoy and Martia watch....the leg irons make it
complicated, they can also wrap around someone's
neck....
The alien moves in closely, hits Kirk again. Kirk
fights back with a kick to the chest, which doubles
over the alien.
Then Kirk slams the alien on the neck and he goes down.
Kirk starts to walk away.
But a paw reaches out and grabs him by the ankle. Kirk
looks back and the alien is grinning, drags him in.
93 Continued
The alien stands, and grips Kirk, chest to back, in a
giant bear hug. Surely, he will crush the life out of
Kirk. He lifts Kirk right off of the ground. Kirk,
almost gone, lifts his legs up high, and swings down
hard, smashing the alien in the knee. That does it. The
alien falls to the ground, screaming and holding his
knee. Kirk staggers away, catching his breath.
Martia
They'll respect him now....
McCoy
That's a comfort!
Kirk
I was lucky that thing had knees.
They look back. The alien is still on the ground
Martia
That's not his knee!
(off Kirk's look)
Not everybody keeps their genitals
in the same place, Captain!
Kirk
Anything you want to tell me?
Before she can answer.
Kirk (Continuing)
McCoy, why don't you see what you
can do? Let them know we're not
holding a grudge.
McCoy
Suppose HE'S holding a grudge?
McCoy tentatively goes forward, and examines the knee.
He is without any medical tools of any kind.
The alien yells, but lets him look. He manipulates the
leg, then ties a kind of splint with an old rag....
94 Angle on Kirk
Kirk
There's gotta be a way out of this
place......
Martia looks at him, moves off.
95 Int. Sulu's cabin, U.S.S. Excelsior.
Sulu is asleep, awakened by a knock.
Sulu
Come in....?
His communications officer enters.
Officer
Sorry to wake you, Sir, but
Starfleet ugently requests any
data we may have on the whereabouts
of the Enterprise.
Sulu (groggy)
What?
Officer
Apparently they're refusing to
acknowledge a signal to return
to spacedock, Sir.
Sulu
Signal Starfleet that.......
we have no idea of the location
of the Enterprise.
Officer (astonished)
Sir?
Sulu
You have hearing problems, Mister?
Officer
No, Sir!
He salutes and leaves. Sulu stays awake.
Dissolve:
96 Int. Hut on Rura Penthe - Night
Kirk and McCoy try to sleep on rude cots in a hut off
the main courtyard, tattered, exhusted wrecks.
McCoy
Three months till retirement. What
a way to finish.
Kirk (thinking)
We're not finished.
McCoy
Speak for yourself. One day or one
night......
96 Continued
He makes a gesture across his own throat.
McCoy (continuing)
Kobyashi Maru!
Close on Kirk
Kirk
Bones....are you afraid of the
future?
McCoy
That was the general idea I
intended to convey.
Kirk
I didn't mean this future.
McCoy
Are we playing multiple choice?
Kirk
Some people ARE afraid of the
future, of what MIGHT happen.
(pauses)
I was frightened, really
frightened!
McCoy
I've looked death in the eye a
thousand times and tried to be
professional about it. Of course
it wasn't usually MY death I was
looking at.
(pause)
What frightened you, specifically?
Kirk
No more neutral zone. I was USED
to hating Klingons...that's why I
failed in our assignment. It never
even occurred to me to take Gorkon
at his word. Spock was right.
McCoy
Well, don't be too hard on yourself,
we all felt exactly the same.
Kirk (shakes his head)
Uh uh. Somebody felt much worse.
And I'm starting to understand why.
96 Continued
McCoy
Well, if you've got any bright
ideas, now's the time to.....
Kirk
Time's a problem. You heard the
Judge: the peace conference is on
again. Whoever killed Gorkon will
sandbag the whole thing all over again
unless we find a way out of here!
Suddenly, McCoy puts his hand over Kirk's mouth. They
pretend to sleep. Something crawls towards them in the
dark. they sweat....Kirk clenches his fists.....
Martia (whispers)
Kirk? It's me, Martia
Kirk opens his eyes, McCoy plays possum.
Martia (continuing)
Listen, no one has ever escaped
from Rura Penthe.
Kirk (ready)
Except us!
Martia
It is possible.
He regards her warily
Martia (continuing)
I know how to get outside the
shield.
Kirk
Where do we come in?
Martia
Getting outside the shield is easy.
After that it's up to you to get us
off the surface before we freeze.
Can you?
Kirk
Possibly.
Martia
I can't make it alone. You're the
likeliest candidate to come to this
hellhole in months.
96 Continued
Kirk
Candidate for what?
Their whispering has brought them very close. Martia
is vamping him. She pulls off her fur hood....kisses
him. He doesn't resist.
97 Angle on McCoy
Rolls his eyes.
Martia
Go to "C" lift in the morning for
mining duty. I'll meet you there.
She disappears into the shadows. McCoy, who has been
watching this whole thing, gets up on one elbow.
McCoy
What is it with you, anyway?
Kirk
Still think we're finished?
McCoy
More than ever!
98 Ext. Rura Penthe asteroid - night
The wind howls in an otherwise barren landscape.
99 Int. Transporter room, U.S.S. Enterprise
Chekov is examinging the platform and environs
carefully. He comes across spots of violet. He
scrapes samples into an evidence tube, and seals it,
then hurries out.
100 Int. Science lab, U.S.S. Enterprise
Spock studies the sample under a microscope.
Spock
Klingon blood!
Chekov
They must have walked through it when it
was floating, and tracked it back here.
Spock
This is the first evidence that
corroborates our theory.
100 Continued
Chekov
Now we go to Starfleet?
Spock
Now we expand our search to include
uniforms!
Chekov
All uniforms?
Spock looks at him.
Chekov (starts out)
Aye, Sir....ALL uniforms!
Spock
Mister Chekov.
Chekov turns.
Spock
The longer we wait, the greater
danger in which we leave the
Captain and Doctor McCoy!
101 Montage: the Enterprise is strip-searched. Lockers,
thru wardrooms, laundry, sickbay, jeffries tube, cupboards,
105 observation deck, instrument panels, etc... you name
it...piles and piles of clothing being sorted by the
crew, piles of boots being examined as the Vulcan
Lt. prowls the corridors and checks off locations on
a lightplan of the ship....
106 Int. crew quarters
Suddenly, an excalmation brings her running over.
A crewman has opened a locker, and now holds up an
enormous gravity boot. As all watch, he puts the boot
on the metal locker.....it sticks!
The Vulcan Lt. looks up at the locker, and sees the
name: Dax! Poker-faced triumph.
107 Int. Crew quarters.........later
Spock, Uhura, Chekov, et al, wait with impassive
faces as crewman Dax enters the area. He is an alien.
Spock
You are crewman Dax?
107 Continued
Dax
Yes, Sir. What has happened?
Chekov (triumphant)
Perhaps you know the Romulan epic of
Cinderella? If the shoe fits, wear it!
Dax looks confused.
108 Camera pans down to his legs
No way could those webbed feet make it into those
boots.
Expressions of shagrin on everyones face.....
109 Int. Rura Penthe Penal Colony - morning
Kirk and McCoy, their legs still shackled, walk across
the huge courtyard and line up behind a dozen brutes,
everyone flapping arms to keep warm.
They wait in front of, and then enter the "C" lift.
110 Int. "C" lift
Like the old style caged elevators.
McCoy (looks for the girl)
I think we've been had!
Martia's voice
No you weren't, Doctor
They look around. No girl. Just a big brute next to
them. Puls other convicts.
Martia's voice
Get off at the first level and join
the gang going into the mine.
(explains)
They don't take girls!
It's him! With her voice! Kirk is thunderstruck. He
stares at the brute!
110 VFX or model: the lift lights disappear into blackness.
111 Int. Mine - Day
The lift doors open
111 Continued
Kirk and McCoy climb out with the others. They follow
the brute throught the labyrinthine darkness.
McCoy
What kind of a creature is this?
Last night you two were spooning....
Kirk
Don't remind me!
112 Omitted
113 Inside the mine
Everyone is issued a drill and a light helmet. As
beams ricochet about, they start digging dilithium
crystals out of the rock and putting them into a flatbed
shuttle. Kirk and McCoy, and the brute do likewise,
under the watchfull eye of fur-clad Klingon guards.
An alien next to Kirk sneaks several of the crystals
into his garment.
113 A guard blasts him with a phaser and he disappears.
VFX
McCoy openly takes his crystal and places it in the
tray, making sure the guard sees him!
114 Later - Int. Mine
Kirk and McCoy are filthy and sweaty. The brute looks
at them, turns around. The guards are eating with
their backs turned. Kirk and McCoy look to the brute
for guidance.
114 Before their eyes, he re-materializes into a ten year
VFX old girl.
115 CU her skinny legs.
As Kirk and McCoy watch, she slips out of her leg
irons. Too bad they can't do likewise.....
Martia's voice (whispers)
Follow me....
She puts her drill down and walks silently into the
depths of the mine. They follow, looking back to make
sure the guards aren't watching.
The girl quickly scrambles through a small hole, turns
and waves them on. They have to get down on their
115 Continued
stomachs and crawl through. Kirk goes first, turns,
pulls McCoy. This takes time, especially if your legs
have chains on them......
116 On the guards
who finish their lunch, and look around. Notice a
suspicious space where 3 workers used to be. Wander
over. Look further into the mine. Find the hole.
They hurry back, shouting.
117 Int. Mine tunnel - on the trio
The hole has led to a new tunnel and the girl
rematerializes into the brute as they crawl. Kirk and
McCoy, still chained, struggle to keep up.
They make their way to a large, abandoned opening and
come out on
118 Ext. the mine, Rura Penthe - Day
A high ice ledge. By scrambling down the ledge and
jumping, the brute leads them onto the frigid
snowfield. The surface environment is killing.
119 Later - Ext. Frozen river - Day
The trio slip and slide on the ice across a frozen
river. The ice begins to crack beneath their feet...
The three climb the farther bank. They are barely
alive. Shaking....
McCoy
I can't......
Frantically, Kirk tries to keep McCoys circulation
going.
Martia
We're at the edge of the shield
119 They follow her look: an ice desert.
VFX
Kirk
Come on, KEEP MOVING!
They stagger on.
120A Int. Klingon listening post
Grimy, underfunded and undermanned. God knows what
forsaken place this is. Rocks and lit by scopes.
A sleepy Klingon dozes before his scanners. A bottle
in front of him tells the story. Suddenly a blip. He
forces himself into alert attention.
120B His POV
On the scope a beeping dot...he frowns, hits a switch.
Sleepy Klingon (Subtitled Klingon)
What ship is that? Over....
An interminable pause. Now a Second Klingon sit next
to the first. What's going on?
Voice filtered (Subtitled Klingon)
We art thy freighter...Ursva. Six weeks
out of ....Kronos....Over.....
Second Klingon (Subtitled Klingon)
Whither are you bound, over....
Another long pause. They squint at the delay.
121 Omitted
122 Int. Enterprise Bridge.
Uhura and company are frantically paging throught old
Klingon glossaries, manuals and dictionaries.
Uhura (Subtitled Klingon)
We art delivering food....things and
....supplies to Rura Penthe....
over.....
Pause....
Klingon voice filtered (Subtitled)
Don't catch any bugs!
The voice laughs raucously. Spock gestures. Uhura
returns the laugh....over and out. They look at each
other.
Spock
Was that so bad?
123 thru
125 Omitted
126 Ext. Rura Penthe ice desert - Dusk
126 The three cold suns are setting.
VFX
The brute, Kirk and McCoy stumble and crawl across the
ice. They, especially McCoy, are more dead than alive.
As they pull themselves along, it becomes darker....
McCoy
Jim, leave me, I'm finished....
Kirk
No way.
(off McCoy's look)
You see this?
He displays a stain on the back of his ragged coat.
Kirk (continuing)
It's the viridition patch Spock
slapped on my back right before we
went aboard Gorkon's ship.
McCoy (faint)
The cunning little Vulcan.....
Kirk
Once we're beyond the shield, they
should be able to pick it up two
sectors away!
McCoy
If they're even looking for us....
Kirk
Spock's looking for us....
Martia's voice (points to a ridge)
We're almost there. Once we're
outside, we'll make camp.
127 Later - Ext. ice desert ridge - night.
The ridge in darkness. They arrive. exhausted.
The brute takes a stick out of its clothes, breaks it
in half. It glows brightly like a neon flare. He tosses
it in the middle of the area and if forms a kind of
fire, throwing shadows all around. Otherwise it's dark.
There is some heat.
McCoy
Would you mind explaing that
little trick you do?
127 Continued
Martia's voice
I'm a Chameloid. That's why we're
such good smugglers.
Kirk
I've heard of Chameloids, "shape-shifters",
I thought you were mythical.
Martia's voice
Give a girl a chance, Captain.
The brute smiles at him.
127 And before his eyes, becomes the enticing Martia again
VFX
Martia
It takes a lot of effort.
McCoy
I don't wonder. Stop me if I'm
wrong, but do we really have any way
of knowing if this is the real you?
Martia (smiles at Kirk)
I thought I would assume a pleasing
shape. (beat) We're outside the
shield. Now it's your turn, Kirk.
Kirk
If you say so.
Wham! He slugs Martia on the jaw, she goes down, her
mouth running green blood.
McCoy
ARE YOU CRAZY?
Kirk
She didn't need our help getting
anywhere....where did she get these
convenient clothes? And don't tell
me that flare is standard prison
issue.....
127 Martia sits, rubbing her mouth....and changing
VFXB
Kirk (continuing)
It's to let them know where we are.
Ask her what she's getting in return.
The brute gets up, rubbing his bleeding mouth, now the
blood is blue!
127 Continued
Martia's voice
A full pardon - which doesn't cover
this....
McCoy
uh oh!
Kirk and the brute circle each other, Kirk's chains
clanking.....
Kirk
An accident wasn't good enough....
Martia's voice
Good enough for one. Two would
look suspicious. Killed while
attempting escape, now that's
convincing for both!
127 The fight is on. Problem is, Martia keeps changing
VFXC shapes...Kirk grabs him, holds him tight...
127 And he wriggles free as a miniature person...tries
VFXD to run off, but McCoy grabs it, and they fall
rolling in the snow....
127 It comes up an exact copy of James T. Kirk!
VFXE
Martia's voice
Surprise!
He smashes McCoy and leaps to face his double...
Kirk
Your friends are late....
Martia's voice
They'll be here.....
More fighting between Kirk and "Kirk", they clinch.
Kirk
I can't believe I kissed you.
"Kirk"
Must have been your lifelong
ambition!
The fight goes on!
128 Int. Officer's mess, U.S.S. Enterprise
Deserted. Scotty, exhausted, is quietly having a cup
of coffee and checking off places searched on a table
map.
He runs a finger around his collar. It's warm in here.
Perplexed, he puts his hand over the vent. Nothing
coming out. Something's blocking it.
Scotty commences to remove the vent cover. Not easy.
As he continues his efforts, he is unaware of the two
crewmen we met the night of the banquet, watching.
They remain concealed, pull knives....one wants to go
for scotty. The other holds him back.
Scotty removes the vent cover and pulls out what's been
blocking the air circulation: two violet-stained
Starfleet uniforms, with names on them....
Excited by his discovery, Scotty looks around, replaces
the vent cover, and hurries out with the uniforms.
129 Int. Enterprise corridors
THRU
131 The crewmen follow surreptitiously, camer tracking
after Scotty through the labyrinthine corridors...
132 Ext Rura Penthe campsite - Night
The two kirks are still slugging it out as McCoy starts
to come around.
Kirk
Isn't it about time you became
something else?
Martia's voice
I like it here....
Gripping each other, they roll right into
A large and terrifying muzzle. A jackal-mastiff on a
leash.
Both Kirks spring apart...
They are surrounded by a dozen fur garbed Klingon
guards with weapons. Several have leashed jackal-
mastiffs. And the commandant, who walks forward.
132 Continued
Kirk (thinks fast)
What took you so long?
Martia's voice
Kill him! He's the one!!
Kirk
Not me, idiot....HIM!
132 The Commandant appears briefly confused, then
VFXA zaps the fake Kirk, who dies horribly, as McCoy
watches. Kirk sighs.
Commandant (smiles)
No witnesses....
He aims at Kirk and McCoy.
McCoy (conversational)
Damned clever, if you ask me....
Kirk (agrees)
Killed trying to escape...it's a
classic...
Commandant
That's what he wanted....
Kirk
Who? Who wants us killed?
Commandant
Why not tell you? His name is.....
132 Suddenly Kirk and McCoy dematerialize!
VFXB
Kirk's voice fading
SONOVABITCH!!
As the Klingons rake the area with disruptor fire!
133 Int. Enterprise transporter room
133 Kirk and McCoy rematerialize to where Spock
VFXA and Chekov await them, with heavy weather blankets,
which they don gratefully. They look scarcely
recognizable. Spock and Chekov are appalled.
Kirk's rising (continuing)
Dammit! Dammit all to hell!!!
Jesus Christ, couldn't you wait two
seconds before.....
133 Continued
VFXB
Chekov produces a phaser and burns open their chains.
Spock is deeply moved to see Kirk again, though Kirk
is too busy swearing as his chains are cut off to
notice....
Spock
Captain?
Kirk
He was just about to explain the
whole damned.....
Uhura
Who?
Chekov
You want to go back...?
McCoy (hasty)
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
Kirk
Come on.....
They start out at warp speed.
133A Int. Bird of Prey bridge.
CU, back of a Kligon head. Klingon is spoken.
Voice
Escaped?
He's talking to the Prison Commandant onscreen.
Commandant
They were beamed aboard a
Federation Starship!! I could
trace....
The Klingon hits a button, and the Commandant
disappears. The chair swivels revealing Chang.
He faces the 2nd Klingon General we met in Azetbur's
office (Sc. 68)
Chang
Escaped.
Second Klingon General
It does not matter. Kirk cannot
know the location.
133A Continued
Chang (softly)
Are you sure? Are you willing to
take that change?
The General hesitates, decides.
Second Klingon General
Helmsman, new course! Engage
cloaking device!
133B Ext. Space
VFX
The Bird of Prey wheels about, disappearing...!
134 Int. Enterprise corridor
Kirk, Spock, et al, walk briskly.
Spock
The Klingons have a new weapon: a
Bird of Prey that can fire while
cloaked. She torpedoed Gorkon's
ship.
Kirk
So that's it!!!
Spock
Not entirely. I have reason to
believe Gorkon's murderers are on
this vessel.
Kirk
You don't know how right you
are...has hte peace conference
begun?
Chekov
Who knows? They are keeping the
location secret....
Kirk never breaks his stride.
Kirk
There's always something.....!
Scotty runs up, carrying the bloodstained uniforms.
Scotty
Captain...! Mr. Spock, I've found
the missing uniforms with Klingon
blood on them! They belong to....
134 Continued
They round the corner and all stop short.
135 Their POV
The two crewmen who were stalking Scotty lie dead.
McCoy kneels, conducting a hasty examination.
Scotty (continuing)
But...the uniforms...they belong to
these men!!
(checks the names)
Burke and Samno!
McCoy
Not any more. Phaser fire on
"stun". At close range.
Chekov
Get close enough to a man, and you
can kill him on "stun" without
setting off the alarm, of course
you can't get rid of the body.....
Kirk
First rule of assassination: always
kill the assassins.
Scotty
Now we are back to square one!
Kirk looks at Spock meaningfully.
Kirk
Can I talk to you?
As they watch, Kirk and Spock move down the corridor
and confer in an undertone.
136 CU Spock
pulls back
Spock (white)
I knew it!
136A CU PA speaker
PA voice over
Attention: Court recorder to sick
bay. Yeomen Burke and Samno have
been shot and wish to make
statements. CODE BLUE URGENT!
136A continued
PA Voice over (continuing)
Deposition required at once for
Yeomen Burke and Samno. Wounds are
serious. Court recorder to sick bay
on the double.
136B Various angles
Crew reacting all over the ship...to various PA's...
136C Int. Sick bay
All the lights are out. A figure enters, looks around.
136D Figure's POV
Two bodies stretched out in darkness....
The figure approaches the first body, looks down.
Suddenly the light goes on, revealing Spock
Spock
I couldn't believe it was you!
Lt. Valeris
Spock (continuing)
You have to shoot.
She reacts.
Spock (continuing)
If you are logical.
Lt. Valeris
I don't want to.
Spock
I believe You. Please.....
She produces a phaser. The other body sits up: Kirk.
Kirk
I'd just as soon you didn't
Lt. Valeris reacts. McCoy moves out of the shadows, arms
folded.
McCoy
The operation is over
137 Int. Enterprise Bridge
CU Kirk
Kirk
Let's not waste time, Lieutenant.
Name your co-conspirators and give
us the location of the peace conference.
In exchange, I'll retain the murder
charge, and drop the rest of the
specifications. Commander Uhura, make
a record of everything said by the prisoner.
Uhura
Aye, Sir.
Widen to reveal
Lt. Valeris under guard.
Lt. Valeris
You cannot prove anything
Kirk
Yes I can. At my trial, my personal
log was introduced as evidence
against me.
137A
Thru
137D Omitted
137E Quick flash back to scene 32
Lt. Valeris waiting outside Kirk's cabin.
Kirk's voice over
How long did you stand outside my
quarters before you coughed, Lt.?
137F Back to scene
Lt. Valeris trapped, turns to Spock
Lt. Valeris
You knew?
Spock says nothing.
Lt. Valeris (continuing)
I tried to tell you....you wouldn't
listen.
Spock is in as much pain as we will ever see.
137F Continued
Spock
Neither of us was hearing very well
that night, Lieutenant. There were
things I tried to tell you, about
faith.
Lt. Valeris
You have betrayed the Federation -
all of you.
McCoy
What do you think YOU'VE been doing?
Lt. Valeris
Saving Starfleet. Klingons cannot
be trusted, Sir, you said so yourself.
They killed your son. You would make
peace with them? Did you not wish
Gorkon dead? "Let them die" you said.
Did I misinterpret you?
Kirk cannot look at her.
Lt. Valeris (continuing)
And you were right, they conspired
with us to assassinate their own
Chancellor! How trustworthy can
they be?
Kirk
Who is "us"?
Lt. Valeris
Everyone who stands to lose from
peace. The universe was a well-ordered
place. We all knew our roles. Why
change that?
Kirk
NAMES, Lieutenant....!
Uhura
I can send a message to Starfleet Command.
Lt. Valeris
Unlikely. Enterprise has dispobeyed
orders and harbors two escaped
convicts. All your subspace
transmissions will be jammed.
Kirk
Spock.
137F Continued
Spock approaches and puts a hand on Lt. Valeris' face
the mind meld. She tries to avoid it. Spock concentrates
Spock (finally)
Admiral Donald.
137G Quick flashback to scene 23
Admiral Donald
....To offer the Klingons a safe
haven within Federation space is
suicide.
137H Back to scene
Chekov
From Starfleet??
Kirk
Who else...
Spock concentrates.
Spock
General Chang...
137J Quick flashback to scene 43
Chang
....In space, all warriors are cold
warriors....
137K Back to scene
Uhura
Gorkon's own man??
Kirk
Who else?
Spock (concentrating)
The Romulan Ambassador...Nanclus.
137L Quick flashback to scene 63
Nanclus
Mr. President, they ARE vulnerable.
137M Back to scene
Scotty
This is incredible!
137M Continued
McCoy
Is she telling us that Klingons, and
Federation members are conspiring
TOGETHER....?
Kirk (to Spock)
Where is the conference?
Spock tries again. Shakes his head. Removes his hand.
Spock
She doesn't know.
Scotty
Then we're dead!
Spock (to Lt. Valeris)
I've been dead before. Uhura,
raise Excelsior. She ought to
have the co-ordinates.
Kirk
Why would they give them to us?
Spock
The Commander is an old friend of
yours!
McCoy (can't resist)
What was it like - being dead?
Spock, lost in thought, doesn't answer.
Sulu (O.S.)
This is Captain Sulu, U.S.S.
Excelsior.
Kirk
SULU!
138 Main Bridge, U.S.S. Excelsior
Sulu
Standing by, Captain Kirk.
Kirk
You understand that by even talking
to us, you're violating regulations,
Captain.
138 Continued
Sulu
I'm sorry, Captain, your message
is breaking up.
Kirk (under his breath)
Bless you, Sulu
(aloud)
Where's the peace conference?
They're going to attempt another
assasination.
Sulu
The Conference is at Camp Khitomer,
near the Romulan border. I'm
sending the exact co-ordinates on a
coded frequency.
Kirk
I'm afraid we may need more than
that. There's a Bird of Prey on
the lookout for us. And she can
fire while she's cloaked.
Sulu
Surely not!
Kirk
I'm telling you. Hang on.
(to Lt. Valeris)
How many of those things are there?
Come on, Lieutenant, you want any
more of your brain drained?
Lt. Valeris
Just one prototype
Kirk
You hear that?
Sulu
I'm getting underway now. But, I'm
now in Alpha Quadrant. The chances
of my reaching the conference in
time are slim.
Kirk
When does this conference start?
Sulu
According to my information, today!
138 Continued
Kirk
Thank you, Captain Sulu
Sulu
Don't mention it, Captain Kirk.
Sulu hangs up. Finds himself facing his 1st officer
First officer
Sir...! You realize you've just
committed treason?
Sulu puts his feet up on the console....
Sulu (serene)
To be candid, I always hoped that
if the choice ever came down to
betraying my country, or betraying
my friend, I'd have the guts to
betray my country. Warp nine,
Mister!
139 Ext. Space
vfx
Excelsior explodes across the starfield.
140 Ext. Space
VFX
From a different direction, Enterprise ditto.
141 Int. Spock's Quarters
The lights are dim as Kirk knocks. He has shaved,
showered, and put on a fresh uniform.
Kirk
Spock?
No answer. Kirk makes to hit the switch.
Spock
I'd prefer it dark.
Fair enough. Kirk enters.
Kirk
Are you dining on worms?
Spock (finally)
You were right. It was arrogant
presumption that got us into this
situation. You might have died.
141 Continued
Kirk
The night is young. Anyway, it was
logical.
(he must feel his way)
You know, you're a great one for
logic. I'm a great one for....
(shrugs)
...rushing in where angels fear to
tread. We're both extremists.
Reality is probably somewhere in
between us.
Spock says nothing. Kirk runs a finger over dust.
Kirk (continuing)
I was blind. I couldn't see past
the death of my son. I couldn't
trust.
Spock (sighs)
I, too was blind. I knew about
HER - and I did nothing. I trusted
too much.
Kirk
You couldn't have known she was
listening the night I dictated that
entry into my log. You were proud
of her achievements as a Vulcan....
Spock
I was prejudiced by those achievements.
Kirk (understands)
Gorkon had to die before I understood
just how prejudiced I was......
Spock looks at him for the first time.
Spock
Can we two have grown so old and
inflexible that we have outlived
our usefulness?
(looks at Kirk)
Would that constitute as a joke?
Kirk
Someone said the difference between
comic and cosmic is the letter "S".
You haven't outlived your usefulness
to me. And you are not responsible
just because she is also Vulcan!
141 Continued
Spock
I should have been....
Kirk
Not for the actions of another. No
one is responsible for any actions
but his own. Human beings....
Spock
But I am not human. I am only...
Kirk
Spock, you want to know something?
Spock looks at him. Kirk kneels next to him.
Kirk (continuing)
Everyone's human. We're too old to
play games. We're only human.
He holds out his hand. After hesitating, Spock takes
it, presses it to his forehead. Hard. Harder.
142 Ext. Camp Khitomer, Romula - Day
vfx
The idyllic site of the Peace Coference. Lush green.
A huge building on the horizon from within which we can
hear music. Outside, masses of people and flags....
(Matte Painting)
142A Int. Camp Khitomer - Day
Inside huge #1 pod doors opening, revealing the
council chamber.
Very loud music as we follow the Federation Delegation
(green), lead my Admiral Donald, into the room. Reverse
on #2 pod doors opening, as Sarek leads the Vulcan
Delegation (yellow) in as they take their places....
143 Int. Bridge. U.S.S. Enterprise
Everyone at their stations. Kirk in the Captain's
chair.
Chekov
Captain, when we get to Camp
Khitomer, how will we defend
ourselves? I mean, if this new
Bird of Prey can fire while she
is invisible.....?
143 Continued
McCoy
Now there's a poser.
Kirk and Spock exchange looks.
Spock
I do not think anxiety is called for.
(off their looks)
According to my calculations, we
have another five minutes and
twenty-two seconds to resolve
this dilemma.
144 Space
vfx
Enterprise thunders by at warp nine.
145 Int. Camp Khitomer conference site - Day
More of the opening ceremonies.
Camera pans to reveal pod #3 with the Klingon
delegation (brown) lead by their ambassador and pod
#4, Earth (green) delegation emerging and taking their
places.....the Klingon and UFP Presidents, complete with
advisers, retinues, entourages and attendants. Flags
are everywhere....
Among them is Colonel Worf, Brigadier Kerla, Admiral
Donald, the Munitions businessman, and a Klingon face
we haven't seen before.....
The music thunders to a halt. The place looks like the
UN security council + the Olympics. All color coded...
UFP President
Madam Chancellor, members of the
diplomatic corps, honorer guests:
the United Federation of Planets
welcomes you to Camp Khitomer. Now
that we are assembled, I move we
conclude these ceremonies and get
down to business. Madam Chancellor?
Azetbur
Agreed.
Applause!
During the above, we catch the expressions on the faces
of the various conspirators - uneasy. Other faces....
...which one?
145A Ext. Enterprise
vfx
Screeches out of warp nine and cruises slowly.
stalking......
146 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
On the main visual display, a starfield. Kirk studies
it, walks over to where Spock views his sonar. Kirk
looks over his shoulder. Spock is studying it
intently.
Kirk
Close enough to beam down?
Spock
Not yet.....Section 4236.....
146 Nothing on the scanner.
vfxB
Spock
Section 4237.....
Nothing. There's a lot of tension on the bridge.
147 Omitted.
148 Int. Camp Khitomer conference site - day
The pod doors are closed, and the delegations seated.
UFP President
We are gathered here today in high
hopes, believing that differing
civilizations of good will can work
together to overcome intolerance.
We believe that with understanding,
and patience, it will be possible to
resolve what separates us. Let us
redefine progress to mean that just
because we can do a thing, it does
not necessarily follow that we must
do that thing!
Applause.
UFP President (continuing)
We believe that the responsibility
for destiny rests squarely on our
own shoulders.....
There's that Klingon face again, looking around. He's
carrying some sort of suitcase.....
149 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
Kirk
She's here....somewhere.
Chekov
But if she's cloaked....?
Kirk
Then all we've got is a neutron
radiation surge...and by the time
we're close enough to record it,
we're ashes....
Spock
Captain, perhaps we're going about
this the wrong way! Our job is to
get to the conference. Her job will
be to stop us.
Kirk
Make ourselves a target?
Spock looks at him.
Kirk (continuing)
Shields. Battle stations.
Chekov (reads the display)
Shields up. Battle stations.
They are bathed in emergency red light. Alarms sound.
Kirk
Mr. Chekov, take us forward,
thrusters only, one half impulse
power.....
Chekov
Aye, sir; thrusters.....
It feels like walking on eggs.
Kirk
Uhura?
Uhura
Nothing, Captain. If they're here,
they're rigged for silent running.
Spock
If she fires, she has a perfectly
valid excuse.
149 Continued
Spock (continuing)
We're a renegade ship, coming
dangerously close to two heads of
state during a vital interstellar
conference.....
McCoy
Thanks for sharing that, Spock.
Dead slilence, then a crash of noise!
150 Int. Camp Khitomer conference site - day
Applause for the President's sppech! Now Chancellor
Azetbur rises to make her opening remarks.
The Klingon face makes eye contact with Admiral Donald
who nods discreetly. The suitcase starts moving....
151 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise, Engine room, Etc.
as before. Closeups on various faces, sweating...
Suddenly an explosion! The ship shudders, hit!
Claxons!
152 Ext. view of Enterprise, widen to reveal
vfxA
Int. cloaded Bird of Prey
Featuring the Enterprise onscreen. They are rigged
for silent runnig - no one is making a sound.
Their bridge is bathed in green light.....
Chang stands next to the gunner.
He points towards Enterprise, nudges the man, who nods,
hits controls.....
Another torpedo sails off, and explodes against the
shields of the Enterprise...
153 Int. Entprise bridge.
Kirk and his crew grab ahold of things, tight lipped...
McCoy
This is fun...
Chekov
Captain, shall we attempt to return fire?
153 Continued
Kirk
At what, Mr. Chekov?
Wham! Hit again. Everyone goes flying....
Instinctively, Kirk looks at the main display - sees
nothing.
Kirk
Scotty, reverse engines. All
astern one half impulse power.
Back off. Back off!
154 Ext. Space
VFX
The battered Enterprise reversed field, backing away
from nothing.
155 Int. Bird of Prey bridge
Chang (watching this maneuver)
What's she doing?
The helmsman shrugs. Chang nudges him to follow....
156 Int. Enterprise bridge
The empty starfield
Kirk
What's she waiting for?
Spock
Probably trying to figure out why
we're reversing, wondering if we
detect her.
On the main visual display, where everyone's attention
is riveted. A flare from black space.
Chekov
Incoming!
157 Omitted
158 Int. Engine room
The "Shield" lights flicker as the room recoils....
Scotty
She canna take much more of this,
Captain....
159 Int. Enterprise Bridge
Close on Kirk
Reacting. Don't I know it.
Kirk
Sulu, where the hell are you?
160 Ext. Space
VFX
Excelsior warping as fast as she can.....
Int. Excelsior bridge, SHAAAAKKKINNNNG
Sulu
In range?
Helmsman
Not yet, Captain...
Sulu
Come on, come on....!
Helmsman
She'll fly apart....!
Sulu
Fly her apart, then!!!
162 Int. Camp Khitomer conference site - Day
Azetbur
....Many people speculated about my
father's motives. There were those
who said he was an idealist, driven
by "visionary" notions; others said
he had no choice, that he was a
pragmatic technocrat, making the
best of a devastating situation.
Great men are seldom good men. the
truth is, my father was both: a
pragmatist and an idealist. If
Praxis had not exploded, then quite
possibly his idealism would not
have found expression. Nor would
mine. We are a proud race. We are
here because we intend to go on
being proud.... (grim)
....if we cannot make war, (pause)
....we will make peace....
163 CU the suitcase on the move through people listening...
164 Int. Bird of Prey, bridge.
VFX
All watching Enterprise. Chang signals and the
torpedo officer fires off another one.
165 Int. Enterprise bridge
Kirk
Ahead full impulse!
166 Ext. space
VFX
Enterprise buzzes off! The torpedo misses....
167 Int. Enterprise Bridge
Kirk smiles ruefully...score one for the home team.
168 Int. Bird of Prey Bridge.
Reactions. Chang is startled, then smiles....
Chang
After her.... (beat)
Poor thing. Doesn't know which way
to go.
Shakes his head, amused.....
169 Ext. Space
VFX
Enterprise, screaming through the void...followed by
another screaming sound in full pursuit....
170 Int. Enterprise Bridge
Uhura
Captain, we can't see her, but she
gives off heat.....
Kirk
Not from a distance. She won't
show up on any type of scan.
McCoy
Too bad we can't smell her.
Kirk
It's a pity Starships were never
equipped with bloodhounds....
Wham! Hit again! Everybody grabs onto something,
steam hisses down from the ceiling.....
170 Continued
Spock
I didn't think Starfleet could have
envisioned our current predicament.
Uhura
Maybe we should write them a
letter?
Scotty's voice
Better post date it!
Wham! Even harder this time....Spock thinks....
Spock
Under impulse power, she expends
fuel like any other ship. We call
it "Plasma" - I do not know its
Klingon name, but by any
designation it is merely ionized
gas.
Uhura
Well, what about all that equipment
we're carrying to catalogue gaseous
anomalies? (beat)
The thing's gotta have a tailpipe.
They look at each other like she's crazy. Then -
McCoy (starts out)
I'm going to perform surgery on a
torpedo - you never know....
Spock (going with him)
You may need assistance, Doctor....
McCoy (he's been waiting all his life)
Fascinating.....
They race out as the ship is hit again.....
Kirk
Mr. Chekov, slow down. Take us
forward, thrusters only, one
quarter impulse power....
Chekov
Aye, Sir, thrusters.....
171 Int. Khitomer conference site - day
171 Continued
Applause for Azetbur's speech. Donald looks around.
Sees the face, nods discreetly...the UFP President
applauds....he's vulnerable. The face moves off.
Commander in Chief Starfleet rises to speak, blocking
the President...
172 Ext. Space
VFX
Enterprise moving slowly, alone. Beat. Wham! hit
again.
173 Int. Enterprise corridors, outside the lab
McCoy and Spock emerge with a bulky heat sensor and run
down the trembling corridors....
McCoy
Bet you wish you'd stood in bed....
Spock
I see no profit in standing in bed,
Doctor - Vulcans sleep lying
down.....
For a moment McCoy buys it, then, on their backs...
McCoy
Spock, that was actually funny.
Spock
We DO sleep lying down.
Wham! They almost fall over.
174 Int. Engineering, Enterprise
Scotty and his men have obviously felt the impact as
well. Some "Shield" lights are blinking off.
Scotty
Captain, she's packing quite a
wallop. Shields weakening.
175 Ext. Enterprise
VFX
Scarred, trace lines of torpedo visible.
175A Int. Excelsior Bridge
Sulu, et al, watching.
175A Continued
Sulu
Shields up. Tell them that the
cavalry's here!
175B A torpedo flashes out at nothing
VFX
176 Int. Bird of Prey
VFX
Chang watches it go by, sees Excelsior as well
Chang
So!
He points to Excelsior, nudges the gunner, who fires.
177 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
VFX
They see Excelsior's shields take the torpedo hit.
Kirk
Hold us steady, Mr. Scott. Ready
to fire...Bones...!
Reactions from the battered crew...
178 Omitted
179 Closeup
a hand opening a case: inside the disassembled parts of
a rifle phaser with telescopic mount. We don't know
where we are exactly, but we can hear the conference
echoing....
180 Int. Enterprise torpedo bay
McCoy and Spock descend on the torpedo life with a
torpedo, frantically trying to drill a hole in its nose
to accommodate and atmosphere sensor as the whole bay
trembles with the hit.....
Kirk's voice over
Bones, where's my torpedo??
McCoy
Me and my big mouth....
Spock
Calm yourself Doctor, the
operation is almost complete....
180 Continued
McCoy (one final twist)
Thank you, nurse! Jim, she's
ready! Lock and load!
They jump off the lift, and out of the way as the
torpedo starts forward
McCoy
Pity they're retiring us just as I
was starting to understand you, Spock!
Spock (agreeing)
We were beginning to hit our stride
together, Doctor....
181 Int. Engine room
We can see the Shield lights dimming....
Scotty (frantic)
Shields collapsing.....!
181 Even as he speaks, the Bird of Prey, fires at
VFX Enterprise. the photon trajectory is clear....
182 Ext. Space
VFX
Enterprise takes another hit.....
183 Int. Enterprise officers mess
No shields this time! Explodes! WOW! Autotight
bulkhead doors close, protecting the vessel from space
exposure. Smoke, liquids squirting everywhere...
Things tumbling off shelves, out of overheads...Doors
whooshing closed!
184 Int. Bird of Prey
Chang smiles; this is more like it...he can see the
Enterprise is damaged.....
185 Int. Camp Khitomer - Day
The hands assembling the special phaser....
186 Int. Enterprise Bridge
Kirk
Fire!
Close up on a hand pushing a button!
187 Close up, another hand on a phaser button...
188 Ext. Space
VFX
Enterprise's torpedo tracks the heat; it goes in a
strange trajectory, but then again we can't see what
it's heading towards....
189 Int. Bird of Prey Bridge
As Chang watches in fascination, the damn thing
circles and heads right for them! He realizes....
Chang
..."or not to be...!"
190 Ext. Space
Enterprise fires a direct hit, and the Bird of Prey is
illuminated in the firelight. She spins around, trying
to regain her position, debris fragmenting.....
191 Int. Bridge, U.S.S. Excelsior
Sulu
Aim for the center of that
explosion, and fire!
192 Ext. Space
VFX
Excelsior and Enterprise, having trapped the "Black
hole" in a triangle between them, fire.
The Bird of Prey suddenly blows apart. As she
explodes, she decloaks.....
193 Int. Camp Khitomer - Day
VFX
Kirk, et al, materialize and starts running through
masses of people who are too startled to stop them...
194 CU, the trigger finger...tightening as....
....Kirk fights his way to the center of the room!!
Kirk
Mr. President!
He flings his body on the President, pushing him out of
the way, just as the phaser fires....
Panic in the room, people scrambling.
194 Continued
Admiral Donald
Arrest those men!
Spock
Arrest yourself!
He stands aside to reveal Vulcan Lt. in handcuffs.
McCoy
We've got a full confession.
195 The assassin's niche
He turns to run, but scotty whirls and fires!
As all gasp, the Assassin sways, falls off the balcony,
clutching his face where the phaser hit, and screaming,
the Klingon face comes melting off, revealing the
Starfleet officer, who prepared operation "Retrieve".
Not a Klingon after all!!!
The other conspirators race for the exit, only to be
blocked by....
196 Sulu
VFX
As he materializes, phaser in hand.
Sulu
Just a minute!
The conspirators race in another direction, they are
blocked by Kerla, and McCoy!
Kerla (slugs one)
And you!
197 Presidential guards move in....
The UFP President stands up, stares with disbelief.
So does Chancellor Azetbur.
Chancellor Azetbur
What's the meaning of this?
Kirk
It's about the future, Madam
Chancellor. Some people thing the
future means the end of history....
Kirk walks up to the Romulan Ambassador, now under
guard!
197 Continued
Kirk (continuing)
...But we haven't run out of history
just yet. (remembers)
Your father quoted Hamlet: He called
the future "The undiscovered Country".
Spock
I always assumed Hamlet was
was speaking of death!
Kirk
Gorkon thought the undiscovered
country might mean something else -
another kind of life. People can
be very frightened of change. I
know I was.
We walks to Vulcan Lt.
Kirk (continuing)
There's an old expression: it takes
one to know one.
When Vulcan Lt. looks at Kirk, there are tears in her
eyes. Spock stands motionless next to her.
Kirk turns to face Azetbur.
Azetbur
You've restored my father's faith.
Kirk
You've restored my son's.
He hugs her hard. No one says a word....
198 Ext. Space
VFX
Enterprise, her hull blackened with torpedo scars,
idles next to the much larger excelsior.
199 Int. Enterprise Bridge
They're back!
Uhura
They might as well arrest me, too!
I felt like the Lieutenant!
Spock (pointed)
But you didn't join a conspiracy.
199 Continued
McCoy (half for Spock)
They don't arrest people for having
feelings!
Chekov
If they did, we'd all have to turn
ourselves in. How can we rely on them?
Kirk (looks at Spock)
The only way to find out if a man's
trustworthy....
Spock
...is to trust him!
A wintry smile.
Sulu's voice
Captain Kirk....?
Kirk
Kirk here.
199 Sulu appears on the viewscreen
VFX
Kirk (continuing)
As much to the crew of the Enterprise,
I owe you my thanks, Captain Sulu.
Sulu
Nice to see you in action one more
time, Captain Kirk. Take care.
200 Ext. Space
VFX
Excelsior gets underway with a roar.
201 Int. Enterprise Bridge
All watch.
McCoy
By God, that's a big ship
Scotty
Not so big as her Captain, I think.
Kirk
Time we got underway ourselves,
gentlemen. (stretches)
Once again, we've saved civilization
as we know it.
201 Continued
McCoy
And the good news is they're not
going to prosecute!
Kirk (sighs)
To be -
Spock
Or not to be -
McCoy
That's the question -
Chekov
Course heading, Captain?
Kirk (smiles)
Second star to the right, and
straight on till morning.....
202 Ext. Space
VFXA
The battered Enterprise makes way.
Kirk's voice over
Captian's log, U.S.S. Enterprise,
Stardate 8769.24. This is the
final cruise of the Starship
Enterprise under my command. This
ship and her history will shortly
become the care of a new
generation. To them and their
posterity we will commit our
future. They will continue the
voyages we have begun, and journey
to all the undiscovered countries,
boldly going where no man....where
no one has gone before...
202
VFX The signature William Shatner scrawls across the screen,
still featuring the moving starfield. then Leonard
Nimoy's, then Deforest Kelley's, James Doohan's, George
Takei's, Walter Koenig's, Nichelle Nichols'...one by one
The signatures grow smaller and smaller as the galaxy
races by, and they disappear into the distance.
Roll end credits
Finis!