STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Emissary"
#40511-721
Teleplay by
Michael Piller
Story by
Rick Berman
Michael Piller
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Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
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AUGUST 10, 1992
STAR TREK: DS9 "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - C
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Emissary"
CAST
BENJAMIN SISKO PICARD
JAKE SISKO CON OFFICER
MILES O'BRIEN TACTICAL OFFICER
KIRA NERYS OPS OFFICER
ODO VULCAN CAPTAIN
NOG MONK #1
QUARK MONK #2
KAI OPAKA JENNIFER
JULIAN BASHIR FERENGI PIT BOSS
JADZIA DAX A LIEUTENANT
KEIKO FEMALE TRANS. CHIEF
GUL DUXAT CHANCELLOR
(ON MONITOR)
CARDASSIAN OFF. #1
COMPUTER VOICE CARDASSIAN OFF. #2
FEMALE COMPUTER VOICE BATTER ALIEN
GUL JASAD
CARDASSIAN OFFICER
BAJORAN BUREAUCRAT
(ON MONITOR)
DORAN, WOUNDED WOMAN
Non-Speaking CARDASSIAN OFF. #3
FERENGIS
2 YEAR OLD (Mollie)
SEVERAL BAJORANS
Non-Speaking Non-Speaking
SEVERAL CARDASSIANS BAJORAN DEPUTY
ALIENS CURZON,
DYING OLD MAN STAR TREK: DS9 - "Emissary" REV. FINAL- 08/10/92 SETS
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Emissary"
SETS
INTERIORS EXTERIORS
DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE
AIRL0CK
PROMENADE THE SARATOGA
MONASTERY
SISKO'S QUARTERS BAJOR CITY
OPS
COMMANDER'S OFFICE BEACH
ASSAYING OFFICE CARDASSIAN WARSHIP
SECURITY OFFICE
JAKE'S ROOM
QUARK'S RUNABOUT
INFIRMARY (MEDICAL FACILITY)
LABORATORY BRUTAL TERRAIN
CORRIDOR
RUNABOUT GARDEN
MEDICAL FACILITY
OPERATING ROOM
BAJOR CITY ASTEROID BELT
TEMPLE
MONASTERY THE WORMHOLE
CHAMBER BENEATH MONASTERY
BASEBALL FIELD
BEACH
PARK
THE SARATOGA
BRIDGE FISHING POND
CORRIDOR
SISKO'S QUARTERS USS ENTERPRISE
BORG SHIP
ESCAPE POD
HOL0DECK (FISHING POND)
CORRIDOR
USS ENTERPRISE
OBS. LOUNGE
O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS
BEDROOM
MAIN BRIDGE
TRANSPORTER ROOM
CARDASSIAN WARSHIP
CORRIDOR
BRIDGE STAR TREK: "Emissary" - REV. FIN. 08/25/92 - PRONUNCIATION
STAR TREK: DEEP-SPACE NINE
"Emissary"
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
KIRA NERYS KIH-ruh nar-EES
ODO OH-doo
KAI OPAKA KI o-PAH-ku
BASHIR bah-SHEER
JADZIA DAX jahd-ZEE-uh DAX
QUARK Kwark
GUL DUKAT gull du-KOT
GUL JASAD gull jahs-SAD
KYUSHU kee-OOSH-ooh
KUMOMOTO koo-moh-MUH-toh
BAJORAN bah-JOR-an
BAJORA bah-JOR-uh
CARDASSIAN car-DASS-ee-en
LOCUTUS low-KEW-tus
UTOPIA PLANITIA yew-TOH-pea-uh
plah-NIM-shee-uh
KAI TALUNO XI tah-LOO-noh
IDRAN IH-drahn
DENORIOS dohn-OHR-ea-uhs
CURZON KIHR-zahn
GILGO GIHL-goh
DABO DAH-bow
LAPOLIS lah-PO-lis
MORAVIAN mohr-A-vee-ahn
SETLIK SET-lik
ROLADAN rohl-AH-dun
FRUNALIAN frow-NAY-lee-an
RIO GRANDE REE-oh GRAND
YANGTZEE KIANG yang-se key-an
BAJOR BAY-jor
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - TEASER 1.
DEEP SPACE NINE
"Emissary"
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 WHITE LETTERS ON BLACK:
On Stardate 43997, Captain Jean-
Luc Picard of the Federation
Starship Enterprise was kidnapped
for six days by an invading force
known as the Borg. Surgically
altered, he was forced to lead
an assault on Starfleet at WOLF
359
FADE TO BLACK.
AFTER A BEAT:
PICARD/LOCUTUS (V.O.)
You will be assimilated.
Resistance is futile.
HARD CUT TO:
2 CLOSE UP OF LOCUTUS (VIEWSCREEN) (OPTICAL)
PICARD/LOCUTUS
You will disarm all weapons and escort
us to sector zero zero one.
If you attempt to intervene, we will destroy you.
3 REVERSE ANGLE - INT. BRIDGE - THE SARATOGA (OPTICAL)
A Battle Bridge... a male Vulcan Captain, a burly male Bolian
tactical officer (Lieutenant rank), female humans at Con and
Ops (Ensign rank)... our primary attention is on Lieutenant
Commander BENJAMIN SISKO, the first officer, a rugged,
charismatic man in his late thirties... they react to the
viewscreen pronouncement... Sisko is monitoring signals on a
panel...
SISKO
Sir, Admiral Hanson has deployed the
Gage, the Kyushu and the Melbourne...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - TEASER 2.
3 CONTINUED:
CAPTAIN
Move us to position alpha, Ensign...
CON OFFICER
Aye, sir...
CAPTAIN
Load all torpedo bays... ready
phasers...
4 EXT. SPACE - THE SARATOGA (OPTICAL)
fires phasers and photons as the Borg ship sends out a cutting
beam at the Melbourne... when the Melbourne's shields fail,
there is a massive explosion. The Borg ship immediately
turns its attention to the Saratoga... sending out another
tractor beam...
5 INT. SARATOGA - BRIDGE
A shake...
TACTICAL OFFICER
The Borg are attempting to lock on
to us...
CAPTAIN
Evasive maneuvers... delta pattern...
5A EXT. SPACE - THE BORG SHIP (OPTICAL)
LOCKS ON TO THE SARATOGA
5B INT. SARATOGA - BRIDGE
CON OFFICER
Delta pattern initiated...
OPS OFFICER
(interrupting)
They've locked on...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - TEASER 3.
6 EXT. SPACE - THE SARATOGA (OPTICAL)
caught in the Borg tractor beam... two more Starfleet ships
come to the rescue... fire several rounds at the Borg without
success...
7 INT. BORG SHIP - LOCUTUS - (OPTICAL)
watches the battle on a viewscreen with dispassion...
8 INT. SARATOGA BRIDGE
As before...
OPS OFFICER
Our shields are being drained...
sixty-four percent... forty-two...
CAPTAIN
Recalibrate shield nutation...
TACTICAL
Modulation is having no effect...
OPS OFFICER
Shields have failed.
CAPTAIN
Full reverse... maintain...
He is interrupted by a huge explosion on the Bridge... that
obliterates our view... and when it clears there is smoke
and fire... and massive damage... the forward consoles are
spitting sparks... emergency lights come on... Sisko has
been thrown to the floor, his forehead is cut... he tries to
regain his bearings...
SISKO
Damage report...
No answer...
SISKO
Damage report...
The tactical officer is the only other one alive in the room
and he's hurt worse than Sisko... he struggles to his feet
to read his console...
TACTICAL OFFICER
Direct hit... decks one through
four...
Sisko has checked the dead Captain and other officers...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - TEASER 4.
8 CONTINUED:
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning. Damage to warp core.
Containment failure in four
minutes...
The Tactical Officer is still trying to make something on
his console work...
SISKO
Let's get the civilians to the escape
pods, Lieutenant...
The Tactical Officer acknowledges, follows Sisko out...
9 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
engulfed in fire... yelling and cries in the background...
stabilizers are failing, and everything is leaning left just
a little bit... we find a Turbolift door opening and Sisko
and the Tactical Officer come out... react to the sight...
they fight their way through the fire... find some injured
civilians, trying to gather personal possessions in their
arms to take with them... Sisko is alert, professional...
SISKO
Leave everything... Go to your
assigned evacuation area now.
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning. Damage to warp core.
Containment failure in three
minutes...
He reacts as they come to a wounded woman struggling to get
down the hallway...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - TEASER 5.
9 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Doran...
She leans exhausted into him... the Tactical officer lifts
her...
TACTICAL OFFICER
I'll take care of her... go on...
SISKO
(to the woman)
Have you seen Jennifer...
She looks at Sisko with mournful eyes... and his heart jumps
into his throat... he moves down the hallway with more
focus... comes to a door that is jammed open... smoke is
billowing out...
10 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)
Destroyed... an explosion has ripped a hole in the floor...
fire and smoke is streaking up through it...
outside the window we can see evidence that the battle with
the Borg ship is continuing... Sisko enters, sees his wife
buried in rubble... He urgently pulls things away to get to
her... he uncovers the upper part of her body... beside her
is an unconscious nine year old boy...
SISKO
(calm, controlled)
It's gonna be okay... I'll get you
out of there... you're gonna be
okay...
But he can't lift the wreckage that has crushed her lower
half... his calm demeanor is betrayed by...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/31/92 - TEASER 6.
11 HIS HANDS
desperately trying to lift heavy debris...
12 RESUME
as he ignores the pain... but fails to make any headway, so
he returns to the front and tries to pull the boy free...
he's small enough to be eased out... he moves slightly,
barely conscious, but not hurt critically...
SISKO
Okay, Jake... we'll just get your
Mom now and get outta here...
Jake is still very groggy, doesn't respond...
13 ANGLE
the tactical officer ENTERS...
TACTICAL OFFICER
(let's go)
Commander...
SISKO
Help me...
The officer moves in... examines Jennifer's lifeless body
with his tricorder... quickly determines she's dead...
TACTICAL OFFICER
Sir, we have to get to the...
He stops, reacting as he sees --
14 SISKO'S HANDS
incredibly bloody and burned...
15 SISKO
glances numbly at the hands...
SISKO
Just help me get her free...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - TEASER 7.
16 RESUME
as the Tactical Officer picks up the boy...
TACTICAL OFFICER
She's gone. There's nothing we can
do...
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning. Damage to warp core.
Containment failure in two
minutes...
Sisko shakes his head... takes her hand in his...
SISKO
You go ahead, Lieutenant. Take the
boy.
His voice is calm and reassuring and another man might leave
him behind... but as a security man sticks his head in the
door, making one last check through the quarters, the tactical
officer hands off the boy to him and firmly pulls Sisko to
his feet...
TACTICAL OFFICER
Now, sir...
His calm is undermined by the force he uses to resist the
tactical officer's attempts to pull him out... the officer
needs all of his Bolian strength to force his commanding
officer to leave... Sisko is without emotion, tight... he
feels no pain from his hands... and yet he holds them up
above the elbow level like a beggar...
SISKO
Dammit... we can't leave her here...
And they're out...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - TEASER 8.
17 INT. ESCAPE POD (OPTICAL)
as the tactical officer leads in Sisko... where the security
officer is seated holding Jake... along with a dozen others
in cramped lifeboat fashion.
The tactical officer presses panels... the door slides shut
and then without ever cutting outside, there is a woosh and
a shake and in the window, we see the Saratoga as our pod
shoots away from it... and Ben Sisko never takes his eyes
off it... and we may see other pods as we get further away...
and other wreckage of broken ships... and notice the flashes
of lightning from continued warfare with the Borg not far
away... but we stay inside the pod... and then the Saratoga
explodes... and the light fills Ben's face...
FADE TO BLACK
18 SUPER WHITE LETTERS:
STARDATE 46421
THREE YEARS LATER
HARD CUT TO:
19 CORK ATTACHED TO A FISHING LINE (DAY #1)
bobbing in the water...
SISKO (O.S.)
Jake?
And move to find twelve year old JAKE SISKO holding a fishing
pole, sitting on a rock... and we're
20 EXT. FISHING POND - DAY (OPTICAL)
Jake's trousers are rolled up to the knees, his bare feet
dangling in the water, his shirt unbuttoned... he turns to
the sound of the voice... and a moment later, Sisko appears,
dressed in his Starfleet uniform, a full Commander now... he
smiles at the vision before him...
SISKO
There you are...
The boy gives him a reluctant grin. Sisko comes over, sits
beside him on the rock...
SISKO
How they biting?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - TEASER 9.
20 CONTINUED:
JAKE
Small fries. Threw 'em back.
You want to go for a swim?
SISKO
Don't have time. We've got to get
ready.
Jake frowns. Sisko notices.
SISKO
It won't be so bad. I've heard Bajor
is a beautiful world...
JAKE
So why can't we live on the planet
instead of some old space station?
SISKO
Well, it's what Starfleet decided...
JAKE
You promised we'd stay on shore duty.
SISKO
(defensive)
The station is in orbit of Bajor,
Jake. It'll be just like shore duty.
JAKE
Will there be kids there?
SISKO
Absolutely. Lots of kids.
Sisko hopes he's telling the truth.
FEMALE COM VOICE
Bridge to Sisko.
SISKO
Yes, Captain...
FEMALE COM VOICE
We're approaching Deep Space Nine,
Commander. We'll be docking in seven
minutes.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - TEASER 10.
20 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
Acknowledged.
(puts his arm around
Jake)
C'mon, we'll take the pond with us.
The boy is not happy and doesn't give his father the
satisfaction of a smile.
SISKO
Computer, end program.
And the yellow grid of the Holodeck walls replace the woodsy
setting... and as Jake carries his incongruous fishing pole...
21 INT. CORRIDOR (NOT THE ENTERPRISE) (OPTICAL)
They exit the Holodeck, Jake carrying the pole over his
shoulder... and as they come to an observation window...
they pause as they see outside...
JAKE
Is that it?
Sisko acknowledges with a nod... and we move with them to
see what they see -- the strange, intriguing shape of the
alien space station designated Deep Space Nine by Starfleet...
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT ONE 11.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
22 EXT. SPACE - DS9 (OPTICAL)
Establishing. In this angle, we can see the Enterprise and
a few other ships are docked.
SISKO (V.O.)
Commence station log, Deep Space
Nine, Commander Benjamin Sisko,
Stardate xxxxx.x. At the request of
the Bajoran provisional government,
Starfleet has agreed to establish a
Federation presence in this system
following the withdrawal of Cardassian
occupational forces.
23 INT. AIRLOCK - CLOSE ON MILES O'BRIEN
his face straining with physical exertion... sweating...
pulling back to find him working inside an open panel manually
working the levers and gears... this is not Starfleet
technology by any means... as he struggles, the airlock slowly
opens to reveal Sisko and Jake standing there... they ENTER...
O'BRIEN
Sorry about that, Commander... all
the interlock servos in this airlock
were stripped by the Cardassians...
He sticks out his hand to shake then realizes that it is
covered with sludge from the panel he was just in and pulls
it back...
O'BRIEN
Miles O'Brien, your chief operations
officer...
Sisko is cordial... but throughout the first three acts,
there is a grudging subtext... he's doing his duty but he
doesn't want to be here.
SISKO
We would've transported aboard if
we'd known you were having problems,
Chief...
A Bajoran supernumerary manually closes the door behind them
as O'Brien leads them down the corridor...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT ONE 12.
23 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
That wouldn't have been possible
either, sir. We've got some stray
nucleonic emissions that have to be
tracked down before we can safely
reinstate transporter operations.
It's a junkyard the bloody Cardies
left us with, if you ask me...
They EXIT and...
24 INT. PROMENADE
As they enter from the Airlock Gate... they react with shock
to what they see... and we move with them to reveal our
first look at this extraordinary setting....
The striking Cardassian/Bajoran architecture is mysterious
and impressive... and we can see how exciting a locale this
could once have been. But now it is almost deserted... and
it has been ravaged by vandals... storefronts have been broken
out... trash and broken stock from the stores litter the
thoroughfare... phaser blasts have burned scars on the
walls... a statue has been toppled...
25 SISKO
reacts... his jaw tight... this is worse than he could have
possibly imagined...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT ONE 13.
26 MOVING WITH THEM
along the devastation... in one store, a Bajoran woman
cleaning the mess glances up at them as they pass... they
go by an outdoor cafe where only one despondent man is having
a drink...
O'BRIEN
I'm told the Cardassians decided to
have some fun the day they left...
four Bajorans were killed trying to
protect their shops...
They pass by the Bar... looking inside, they can see QUARK,
the Ferengi proprietor and a couple Ferengi AIDES are packing
up gambling and bar equipment...
SISKO
(tight)
Why hasn't anybody cleaned this up...
O'BRIEN
We've got all available personnel
assigned to repairing primary systems,
sir... the Cardassians took every
component of value, we have virtually
no defenses...
I discussed it with Major Kira, the attache assigned here by
the Bajoran government and we decided...
SISKO
Understood. But what about the
civilians who operated these shops... ?
O'BRIEN
A lot of them lost everything...
a few are trying to rebuild, but most are packing up to
leave...
27 ANGLE
to see ahead of them a Bajoran Monastery badly damaged by
vandals, but repairs are clearly underway... and as they
approach a strange old MONK (male) appears at the doorway...
his eyes lock onto Sisko's as they approach... it's an eerie
moment...
28 AT THE MONASTERY
MONK #1
Welcome, Commander. Please enter.
The prophets await you.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT ONE 14.
28 CONTINUED:
Beat. Sisko feels uncomfortable with the Monk's stare...
SISKO
Another time, perhaps.
They move on... And the camera lingers as the Monk's gaze
follows him a mysterious beat...
MONK #1
(beat)
Another time.
29 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS
As they ENTER... it is dark and grim with a huge outrageous
looking Cardassian master bed. The room doesn't raise Sisko's
spirits... O'Brien notices...
O'BRIEN
When my wife, Keiko, saw our quarters,
she started talking about visiting
her mother in Kumomoto...
Sisko examines the strange bed... as Jake goes and looks
into an adjoining bedroom... O'Brien takes the
opportunity alone with Sisko to say quietly --
O'BRIEN
Sir, I wouldn't allow the boy to go
roaming... we're still having some
security problems...
JAKE (O.S.)
Dad... !
Appearing at the door...
JAKE
There's nothing to sleep on in here
except a cushion on the floor!
O'BRIEN
We can get you a real bunk off the
Enterprise...
(to Sisko)
Oh, and I almost forgot, Captain
Picard wants to see you as soon as
possible.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT ONE 15.
29 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(eyes off O'Brien, a
throwaway)
He does...
O'Brien wouldn't notice an attitude, but we do because we
know of Sisko's experience with Locutus... a beat, as Sisko
deliberately ignores the urgency of the request...
SISKO
Any word on our science and medical
officers?
O'BRIEN
They're expected tomorrow.
Sisko acknowledges.
SISKO
Jake, I want you to stay here until
I come back...
JAKE
Is this the food replicator?
O'BRIEN
(pained)
I'm afraid they're all off-line...
there's plenty of emergency rations...
I could send some down...
JAKE
(I hate this place)
Dad...
SISKO
We're just gonna have to rough it
til we get things up and running,
Jake... okay?
JAKE
(not okay)
Okay.
SISKO
(this isn't going to
work, but I'll try
to make it look that
I really think it
will, smiles)
Okay.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/17/92 - ACT ONE 16.
29 CONTINUED: (2)
He looks at O'Brien and they EXIT. Jake frowns...
30 INT. OPS
Sisko and O'Brien ENTER from a Turbolift... the multi-tiered
facility lined with computer and life-support systems,
tactical controls, a master communications panel and
transporter pad. It is in disarray... panels are open...
noticeable gaps appear where machinery has been removed...
conduits hang out of panels... several Bajorans and a couple
of Starfleet supernumeraries are busily working on various
repairs... A beat as they move deeper inside, Sisko looking
around...
O'BRIEN
I'd like to ask the designer what he
was thinking about when they built
this place... I still haven't been
able to find an O-D-N access... that's
the Prefect's office up there...
Sisko looks up...
31 ANGLE
The office is on the mezzanine with a balcony like Mussolini
might have designed for himself... Sisko shakes his head...
SISKO
So all others have to look up with
respect. Cardassian architecture.
O'BRIEN
Yessir.
(awkward)
Major Kira has been using it...
They exchange a look. Sisko starts to move toward the
office...
SISKO
Is it my imagination or is it
unusually warm... ?
O'BRIEN
The environmental controls in Ops
are stuck at thirty-two "C"... we're
working on it.
As they reach the office...
SISKO
I guess it's time to meet Major
Kira...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT ONE 17.
31 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Sir, have you ever served with any
Bajoran women?
SISKO
No. Why?
O'BRIEN
(I warned you)
Just wondering, sir.
Sisko nods... and walks up the stairs to his office... as
he reaches the door which is open... he can hear her raised
voice in a conversation...
KIRA...
... YOU'RE THROWING IT ALL AWAY...
ALL OF YOU...
BAJORAN BUREAUCRAT...
(MONITOR)
... You're being a fool...
32 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE (OPTICAL)
Seeing Major KIRA NERYS for the first time... a striking
Bajoran woman in her early thirties... dressed in a Bajoran
military uniform... ending her conversation to the Bajoran
official on the monitor...
KIRA
(fuming)
... THEN DON'T ASK FOR MY OPINION
NEXT TIME!
She turns off her monitor with a slap of her hand... looks
immediately to Sisko at the door...
KIRA
Yes?
SISKO
I'm Benjamin Sisko...
KIRA
(without a beat)
I suppose you want the office.
Sisko does a take... suppressing an incredulous smile...
ENTERING...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT ONE 18.
32 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Well, actually I thought I'd say
hello first and then take the
office... but we could do it in any
order you'd like.
KIRA
(exaggerated)
Hello.
SISKO
Is something bothering you, Major?
KIRA
You don't want to ask me that,
Commander...
SISKO
Why not?
KIRA
Because I have a bad habit of telling
the truth... even when people don't
want to hear it.
SISKO
(pleasant)
Perhaps I want to hear it.
A beat. All right, fine...
KIRA
I don't believe the Federation has
any business being here.
Sisko nods, takes a beat, then...
SISKO
The provisional government disagrees
with you...
KIRA
The provisional government and I
don't agree on a lot of things...
which is probably why they've sent
me to this god-forsaken place.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT ONE 19.
32 CONTINUED: (2)
KIRA
(beat)
I have been fighting for Bajoran
independence since I was old
enough to pick up a phaser...
finally, we drive out the
Cardassians... and what do our new
leaders do... call up the Federation
and invite them in...
SISKO
The Federation is only here to...
KIRA AND SISKO
(in unison)
... help us/you.
KIRA
(continuing)
... yes, I know. The Cardassians
said the same thing sixty years ago.
SISKO
Major, when I was ordered here, I
requested a Bajoran national as my
first officer. It made sense. It
still does. At least to me. Now,
you and I are gonna have to...
An alarm goes off... Kira reacts... presses some panels...
moves to a companel... a map of the station comes on the
monitor... with a signal flashing at a certain location...
she hits a panel... the monitor changes to a closeup of ODO
in the security office. Odo has an unfinished face without
distinct features. We'll learn why later on.
KIRA
Odo, are you reading something at A-
fourteen?
ODO
My security array has been down for
two hours... I'll meet you there...
The monitor goes back to standard feeds...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT ONE 20.
32 CONTINUED: (3)
KIRA
(on the move)
We've been having a lot of break-ins
lately... no need to come along,
Commander...
But he ignores that and follows her out...
33 INT. ASSAYING OFFICE
A nervous teenage Ferengi (NOG), watching guard at the door,
glances back...
NOG
Hurry up.
Following his look to see the interior of the office is burned
out... finding a huge, hideous looking adult alien looting a
safe of some valuable mineral samples... putting them into a
pouch. And as he moves toward the door...
34 INT. PROMENADE
... they EXIT... react as they see Odo arriving...
ODO
All right, just stand where you are.
The thieves turn the opposite direction and take a few steps
before they see Kira and Sisko arriving, cutting off that
route of escape too... Nog knows he's caught, gives up (NOTE:
He doesn't put up his hands) but the other alien takes out a
knife-like weapon... and throws it at...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT ONE 21.
35
thru OMITTED
37
38 ODO (OPTICAL)
who twists his entire mid-section out of shape... and the
weapon flies by harmlessly and embeds itself in a wall...
meanwhile, the alien tries to sprint by him but Odo reforms...
39 WIDER (OPTICAL)
... and grabs him roughly... the alien's bulk makes him
difficult to contain... and it looks like it could be a long
fight but before it even gets started, they are interrupted
by a phaser blast above their heads... they both react and
turn to see --
40 SISKO
holding a phaser...
SISKO
That's enough.
ODO
Who the hell are you?
KIRA
This is our new Starfleet Commander,
Odo.
ODO
(unimpressed)
I don't allow weapons on the
Promenade. That includes phasers.
QUARK
(O.C.)
Nog? What's going on?
They turn to see Quark arriving (we saw him earlier in the
bar).
ODO
(to Quark)
The boy's in a lot of trouble.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT ONE 22.
40 CONTINUED:
The boy looks away from Quark's inquiring look...
Quark turns to Sisko...
QUARK
Commander, my name is Quark. I used
to run the local gambling
establishment... this is my brother's
boy... surely you can see that he
only has a peripheral involvement in
all this... we're scheduled to depart
tomorrow... if we could be permitted
to take him, I promise you he will
be severely...
Sisko's mind is working... Interrupting --
SISKO
That won't be possible.
(to Odo)
Take him to the brig.
Odo acknowledges, leads Nog and the alien away as Quark stares
bitterly at Sisko... then follows the others...
KIRA
(shakes her head)
Quark probably sent the two of them
here to steal the ore samples in the
first place...
SISKO
(thoughtful)
Major, there's a Ferengi legal
tradition... it's called Plea
Bargaining. I might let the boy
go... but I want something in exchange
from Mister Quark... something very
important...
She looks at him curiously, before she can ask what he's
talking about...
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
O'Brien to Commander Sisko.
SISKO
(presses his combadge)
Go ahead.
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Sir, the Enterprise hailed us again.
Captain Picard is waiting to see
you.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT ONE 23.
40 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(frowns)
Acknowledged.
(tight, to Kira)
This won't take long.
He leaves toward the airlock... as she watches him go...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT TWO 24.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
41 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
docked at DS9.
42 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE (OPTICAL)
Bajor is visible in the window... Picard sits at the end of
the table, going over some information on a PADD... a chime...
PICARD
Come.
The door opens and Sisko ENTERS... Picard rises to greet him
warmly...
PICARD
Commander, come in. Welcome to Bajor.
Picard shakes his hand.
SISKO
It's been a long time, Captain.
Picard looks at him curiously as they sit.
PICARD
Have we met before?
SISKO
Yessir. We met in battle. I was on
the Saratoga at Wolf 359.
Picard blinks, acknowledging that Sisko has said something
entirely inappropriate. He chooses to move on... but there
is a definite subtext that runs through the scene... Picard
is curt, remote... Sisko is Starfleet attentive but his eyes
are cold and angry...
PICARD
I assume you've been briefed on the
events leading to the Cardassian
withdrawal.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT TWO 25.
42 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Yessir... I understand they've spent
the last half century robbing the
planet of every valuable resource...
before abandoning it...
PICARD
(nods)
They've left the Bajorans without
any way to be self-sustaining...
the relief efforts we've been
coordinating are barely adequate.
He stands, deliberately putting distance between him and
Sisko, looks out the window at the planet in the distance...
PICARD
I've come to know the Bajora.
I'm one of the strongest
proponents for their entry into
the Federation.
SISKO
Is it going to happen?
PICARD
Not easily. The ruling parties
are at each others throats...
factions that were united against
the Cardassians have resumed old
conflicts...
SISKO
(with an attitude)
Sounds like they're not ready.
Picard turns and looks at him sharply.
PICARD
Your job is to do everything short
of violating the Prime Directive to
make sure they are.
Sisko defensively acknowledges. Picard moves closer.
PICARD
Starfleet has made me aware of your
objections to this assignment,
Commander. I would think that after
three years at the Utopia Planitia
yards, you'd be ready for a change.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT TWO 26.
42 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
(not backing off a bit)
I have a son that I'm raising alone,
Captain. This is not the ideal
environment.
PICARD
Unfortunately, as Starfleet officers,
we do not always have the luxury of
serving in an ideal environment.
SISKO
I realize that, sir. And I'm
investigating the possibility of
returning to Earth for civilian
service.
Picard reacts, studies him, doesn't like him.
PICARD
Perhaps Starfleet Command should
begin to consider a replacement for
you.
SISKO
That's probably a good idea.
A beat.
PICARD
I'll look into it. In the meantime...
Sisko rises... interrupting...
SISKO
In the meantime, I'll do the job
I've been ordered to do to the best
of my ability, sir... thank you for
the briefing.
He waits to be dismissed, locking eyes with Picard.
Obviously, Picard hadn't intended to end the discussion
here... but finally after a long beat...
PICARD
Dismissed.
Sisko EXITS and...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT TWO 27.
43 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) (DAY #2)
44 INT. SECURITY OFFICE - STARTING ON QUARK
who is sitting...
SISKO (O.S.)
It's really quite simple, Quark,
you're not going to leave.
Moving to reveal Sisko who is leaning against a wall,
casually... Odo's sitting at his desk... Odo reacts, looks
at Sisko...
QUARK
(reacts)
Not going to leave... But we're all
packed and ready to...
SISKO
Unpack.
QUARK
Why would you want me to stay?
ODO
(looking to Sisko)
I'm curious myself. The man is a
gambler and a thief.
QUARK
I am not a thief.
ODO
You are a thief.
QUARK
If I am, you haven't been able to
prove it for four years...
Sisko moves to the door, looking out to the Promenade...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 28.
44 CONTINUED:
SISKO
My officers, the Bajoran engineers,
all their families depend on the
shops and services of this
Promenade... but if people like you
abandon it, this is going to become
a ghost town. We need someone to
step forward and say, "I'm staying"...
"I'm rebuilding"... we need a
community leader... and it's going
to be... you, Quark...
QUARK
Me? A Community Leader?
He glances at Odo... who sort of leans back in his chair and
grins, kind of liking this situation that Quark finds himself
in...
ODO
(why not?)
You have all the character references
of a politician.
QUARK
How could I possibly operate my
establishment under Starfleet rules
of conduct?
SISKO
This is still a Bajoran station.
We're just here to administrate.
You run honest games, you won't
have any problems from me.
ODO
(grumps)
'Honest' games, hmph...
A beat. Quark shakes his head.
QUARK
Commander, I've made a career out of
knowing when to leave. This Bajoran
provisional government is far too
provisional for my taste. And when
governments fall, people like me are
lined up and shot...
SISKO
Well, there is that risk... but then
you are a gambler, Quark...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 29.
44 CONTINUED: (2)
ODO
... and a thief...
SISKO
(preparing to leave,
overly "sincere")
That poor kid is about to spend the
best years of his life in a Bajoran
prison. I'm a father myself. I
know what your brother must be going
through. The boy should be with his
family... not in a cold jail cell...
(beat)
Think about it.
He EXITS. Quark is stunned... turns and looks at an amused
Odo...
ODO
You know, at first I didn't think I
was gonna like him.
On Quark's reaction...
45 INT. PROMENADE
Kira lifting heavy fragments of a broken wall, putting them
in a trash bin... usually far too mundane a job for an
officer. Sisko arrives, reacts.
SISKO
Major... ?
KIRA
(shrugs)
Everyone else is busy repairing the
primary systems...
She pauses to make a point.
KIRA
(challenging)
I suppose Starfleet officers aren't
used to getting their hands dirty...
Sisko raises an eyebrow, moves to pick up a nearby
fragment...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 30.
KIRA
In the refugee camps, we learned to
do whatever had to be done... it
didn't matter who you were...
And as they start to load the fragments into the bin... two
passersby react to the odd sight...
SISKO
(changing the subject)
I was just talking to our good
neighbor Quark... he's laying odds
the government's going to fall...
KIRA
Quark knows a sure bet when he sees
it.
(off Sisko's reaction)
This government will be gone in a
week... and so will you...
SISKO
What happens to Bajor then?
KIRA
Civil War....
SISKO
You think it's inevitable...
KIRA
(nods)...
The only one who can prevent it...
is Opaka.
SISKO
Opaka?
KIRA
Our spiritual leader. She's known
as the Kai. Our religion is the
only thing that holds my people
together. If she would call for
unity, they would listen.
46 TWO SHOT
She kneels to pick up some smaller pieces, Sisko kneels down
next to her and helps...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 09/03/92 - ACT TWO 31.
46 CONTINUED:
KIRA
(continuing)
Leaders of all the factions have
been trying to get to her... but she
lives in seclusion and rarely sees
anyone...
But on that line, a shadow falls over them and they
look up to see --
47 LOW ANGLE - THE OLD MONK
standing above them looking down... a long beat.
MONK #1
Commander. It is time.
He moves away...
48 SISKO'S FACE
reacts curiously and he stands...
49 WIDE
as he finds himself drawn to follow the Monk. On Kira's
reaction...
50 EXT. BAJOR CAPITOL CITY - DAY - ESTABLISHING (MATTE)
Like Berlin after the war. Devastated... wreckage...
burned out buildings... what remains is a mystical looking
skyline with rounded domes and spherical shapes -- ancient
architecture that has somehow survived...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT TWO 32.
51 INT. MONASTERY - DAY
Dark, shadows... light streaming through cracks and holes in
the walls... close on a Monk (#2) who chants in mournful
three part harmony... as another, who is hobbled by injuries,
makes repairs to the building... moving to find Sisko who
is shocked by the damage before him... the desecration is
appalling... windows smashed out... walls crushed... statues
beheaded...
KAI OPAKA (O.S.)
Commander Sisko...
Sisko turns toward the shadows of an entry way to see
52 THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN
And as she emerges from the dark... we see a strange looking,
middle aged Bajoran dressed in a colorful sheath... there is
a centered calm in her, she seems to exist on a higher plane.
Yet there is a deep sadness in this woman who carries the
pain of her people. She has been hurt... her face is badly
bruised... her scalp has a small bandage... a cane supports
a bad limp...
KAI OPAKA
I apologize for the conditions in
which we greet you...
SISKO
(knowingly)
The Cardassians... ?
Opaka acknowledges, leads Sisko deeper into the Monastery...
they reach a sacred area featuring a lovely reflecting pool
in the center... Opaka sits not on a pulpit but in a casual
area side by side with Sisko on a wooden bench...
KAI OPAKA
(continuing)
Your arrival has been greatly
anticipated.
Sisko reacts, good, maybe this will be easy... and he can
make a quick exit...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 33.
52 CONTINUED:
SISKO
I'm glad to hear that. If Bajor can
join the Federation it will bring
stability...
KAI OPAKA
(interrupting)
I do not speak of the Federation.
I speak of your arrival...
SISKO
Mine?
Opaka doesn't respond but reaches out with a hand and gently
cups one side of Sisko's face like a grandmother studying
the face of a child...
KAI OPAKA
Have you ever explored your pagh,
Commander?
SISKO
Pagh?
Opaka's hand moves to Sisko's ear... a finger runs down the
outer rim slowly...
KAI OPAKA
A Bajoran draws courage from his
spiritual life... our lifeforce, our
pagh, is replenished by the
prophets...
An inner calm coming to her eyes, a witness to a miracle...
terribly moved... Opaka squeezes the earlobe... surprising
Sisko who's head jerks with pain...
KAI OPAKA
(knowingly, with
sympathy)
Breathe.
SISKO
(uncomfortable)
Kai Opaka, if we could discuss your
role in the post-Cardassian
transition...
KAI OPAKA
Breathe.
And begins to run her fingers back up the edge of the ear...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT TWO 34.
52 CONTINUED: (2)
KAI OPAKA
Ironic. One who does not wish to be
among us is to be the emissary.
Sisko reacts, the emissary to Bajor? What did she mean? Is
his lack of interest so obvious? Her face studies every
microridge... finally she is finished.
KAI OPAKA
Please come with me...
Opaka abruptly stands and Sisko reacts, rises ... as well...
she takes a tiny remote control out of her pocket and when
she touches it...
53 ANGLE - THE REFLECTING POOL (OPTICAL)
Disappears... it was a hologram... revealing a carved stone
stairway. Sisko follows her down...
54 INT. A SECRET CAVERN DEEP BELOW THE MONASTERY
Dark... mysterious... lit by candles... the...
stairway leads into a small dark cellar... Opaka, using her
cane, leads Sisko down the stairs...
KAI OPAKA
You are correct that Bajor is in
grave jeopardy... but it is the threat
to our spiritual life that far
outweighs any other...
SISKO
Perhaps, but I'm powerless until I
have a unified...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 35.
54 CONTINUED:
KAI OPAKA
I cannot give you what you deny
yourself...
SISKO
I'm sorry... ?
KAI OPAKA
Look for solutions from within,
Commander...
Sisko tries to figure that one out as Opaka moves to an ark
and opens it...
55 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
Inside, there is a mesmerizing sight... floating within a
forcefield is a strange, floating orb, shaped like an hour
glass... glowing green, transparent... Opaka steps away...
56 CLOSE ON SISKO
as he moves forward, studying it, his face green with the
reflected light...
SISKO
What is it?
57 ANGLE
to see Opaka behind him...
KAI OPAKA
The tear of the prophet.
She disappears behind a rockface, and as Sisko reacts,
turns...
58 REVERSE ANGLE (OPTICAL)
to see the orb's forcefield disappear... and suddenly the
green light spins out and envelops Sisko, like a whirling
cyclone, blinding out the surrounding chamber... and when it
clears... he's standing just as before, but he's no longer
in the chamber and no longer in his Starfleet uniform...
instead he finds himself on...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 36.
59 EXT. BEACH - DAY
wearing a bathing suit, holding a tray of three drinks...
he's fifteen years younger... looking around him...
SISKO
What... the hell... Opaka?
Some passers-by give him an odd look... after a second, he
realizes that
60 HIS FEET
are burning on the sand...
SISKO
(re: his feet)
Ahh...
He prances on his tip-toes looking for some relief...
61 ANGLE
Looking rather silly, finally, because he just has to do
it... he jumps on a stranger's blanket... inadvertently
kicking sand on a woman who is laying on her stomach...
JENNIFER
Hey!
SISKO
I'm sorry... it's just that the sand
was burning my...
He stops as she turns over, holding the loose bra to her
breast... she's wearing 24th century sunglasses... he is
stunned as he looks at her... doesn't say a word... as he
kneels down and reaches out... and she recoils a bit as she
doesn't know what he's doing... and he takes her sunglasses
off...
SISKO
Jen... Jennifer... ?
JENNIFER
(unrecognized blinks)
Yes... ? I'm sorry... did we meet
last night at George's party... ?
SISKO
George? Jennifer... wait a minute,
this is impossible.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 37.
61 CONTINUED:
He stands up... looks around in nightmarish confusion...
JENNIFER
Are you okay?
SISKO
(looking around,
stunned, to himself)
I know this place... This is Gilgo
Beach. Where we met.
JENNIFER
We've met here... before?
SISKO
I was carrying...
He looks at the three lemonades.
SISKO
... three lemonades...
She looks at him uneasily... ties her brassiere on...
SISKO
(continuing)
My feet were burning... I stopped
here... do you understand how
incredible this is? No of course
you don't. Jennifer.
He looks at her trying to contain the emotions...
there are so many things he wants to tell her... but
all he can get out is --
SISKO
Have a lemonade.
JENNIFER
Sorry, I don't accept drinks from
strange men on the beach...
She looks at him with vague amusement, gets up, starts to
walk briskly along the water's edge... he gets up, follows
her...
62 ALONG THE BEACH
as he catches up... they continue to walk...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 38.
JENNIFER
Tell me the truth. Did we really
meet before?
A beat. Sisko looks at her... how does he tell her... what
can he tell her... finally, he decides to tell the "truth"...
SISKO
No.
JENNIFER
(smiles, shakes her
head)
So how did you know my name?
SISKO
I...
(beat)
George told me... at the party...
JENNIFER
Are you going to tell me your name?
SISKO
Oh. Sorry. Ben Sisko. I...
I just graduated from Starfleet
Academy... I'm waiting for my
first posting...
JENNIFER
A junior officer. My mother warned
me to watch out for junior officers...
SISKO
Your mother's going to adore me.
JENNIFER
You're awfully sure of yourself.
SISKO
It's not every day you meet the girl
you're going to marry.
That stops her in her tracks... she laughs at his impudence.
JENNIFER
Do you use this routine a lot with
women... ?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 39.
62 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
No. Never before. And never again.
JENNIFER
Sure...
SISKO
How about letting me cook dinner for
you tonight... my father was a gourmet
chef... I'll make his famous aubergine
stew.
JENNIFER
I don't know...
SISKO
You're supposed to say yes...
63 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
The Orb is floating in the air above the beach... only he
can see it... he reacts... she looks at him and smiles, shakes
her head...
JENNIFER
I'll probably be sorry...
SISKO
(urgently)
Jennifer...
The green light spins out of the orb... The light envelopes
him... The light clears... he is back in...
64 INT. CHAMBER UNDER THE MONASTERY (OPTICAL)
As the experience has ended... he... sees Opaka standing
there... closing the ark, the orb inside... he is shaken by
the experience, his legs tremble... his attempt to disguise
the emotional impact of the event is far short...
SISKO
(softly)
Is it some kind of holographic device?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT TWO 40.
64 CONTINUED:
KAI OPAKA
No. What you experienced barely
begins to reveal its powers...
This orb appeared in the skies
over ten thousand years ago.
Eight others have been discovered
since. Tradition says they
were sent from the Celestial Temple.
What they have taught us has
shaped our theology.
She lifts the ark and hands it to Sisko... it is a meaningful,
spiritual moment for Opaka... Sisko reacts with curiosity...
KAI OPAKA
It will lead you to the Temple.
SISKO
Excuse me... ?
KAI OPAKA
(with greater emphasis)
You must find the Celestial Temple
and warn the prophets.
SISKO
(beat)
Warn "them" about what?
KAI OPAKA
The Cardassians took the other
eight orbs. They will stop at
nothing to decipher their
powers... even if it means
discovering where they came from.
If they do, they might destroy
the Celestial Temple itself...
which could mean the spiritual
disintegration of Bajor.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT TWO 41.
64 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
To expect me to go off on some sort
of... of quest...
KAI OPAKA
I cannot unite my people until I
know that the prophets have been
forewarned.
She looks at him -- it's as simple as that. Do this or I
cannot help you. A slight sympathetic smile crosses her
face... The Kai looks at him knowingly...
KAI OPAKA
You will seek the prophets. In the
end, not for Bajor and not for the
Federation... but for yourself, for
your own pagh. It is, quite simply,
Commander, the journey you have always
been destined to take.
Off Sisko's reaction...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT THREE 42.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
65 EXT. SPACE - DS9 (OPTICAL)
Establishing. The Enterprise is still docked.
66 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS
Dark as he ENTERS... he moves through the first room without
turning on the lights into...
67 JAKE'S ROOM
where the boy is asleep in his clothes on the floor on the
cushion, looking uncomfortable... we might see some 24th
century teenage paraphernalia to establish that the kid has
had something to do in his room all this time... Sisko looks
down at him and grins, kneels to pull a blanket over him...
finds that he has to remove a catcher's glove containing a
baseball from the boy's hand... Sisko studies the boy's
face... after a beat, the boy's sleepy eyes open and see
his father looking down at him...
JAKE
(sleepy)
What?
SISKO
(softly)
I was just thinking how much you
look like your mom.
The boy smiles in his sleep and Sisko strokes his hair once
and stands... and as he puts down the glove and baseball on
a table and... moves out of the room...
KIRA'S COM VOICE
Kira to Sisko...
Sisko closes the door behind him before responding...
SISKO
Go ahead, Major.
KIRA'S COM VOICE
Sorry to disturb you, Commander.
But there's something on the
Promenade you might want to see.
Off his reaction...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT THREE 43.
68 INT. PROMENADE
On a Turbolift as Sisko arrives... reacts to what we don't
see yet... but we do hear alien music and as he leads us
there, we reveal that Quark's is open for business... and it
is a beacon for the otherwise unlighted thoroughfare... people
are arriving... we can see smiling faces for the first time...
69 INT. QUARK'S - CLOSE ON A SPINNING VERTICAL WHEEL
an alien version of roulette... moving to find the Ferengi
Pit Boss running the game...
PIT BOSS
Fortune's fates are with you today,
friends... prompt wagers, please...
I'm sorry, Madame, Quark's does not
accept travelers' vouchers... gold
or hard currency, please... final
wagers...
And as we continue to move to see a crowded, smoky gambling
facility... various gaming tables, some games we recognize,
some we don't... at one table, a voice yells --
FEMALE VOICE
Dabo!
And everyone at the table groans like someone lost big... we
continue our move to see an alien musician playing a strange
instrument... past the stairs, where a couple is being
escorted up by a Ferengi... finally coming to the entrance
where Sisko is ENTERING from the Promenade... glancing
around... he moves toward the Bar...
70 AT THE BAR
Quark moves to him...
QUARK
What'll you have, Commander?
SISKO
How's the local synthale?
QUARK
You won't like it.
(off Sisko's reaction)
I love the Bajorans... such a deeply
spiritual culture... but they make a
dreadful ale.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT THREE 44.
70 CONTINUED:
QUARK
Don't ever trust an ale from a god
fearing people...
During the above, Quark has been drawing an ale from beneath
the bar... and as he places it front of Sisko, with
punctuation...
QUARK
(continuing)
... or a Starfleet Commander who has
one of your relatives in jail.
Over Sisko's even reaction...
PIT BOSS VOICE (O.S.)
Dabo!
71 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) (DAY #3)
The Enterprise still in dock. Another ship arriving.
SISKO (V.O.)
Station log. Stardate xxxxx.x.
The Enterprise has been ordered
to the Lapolis system. They're
scheduled to depart at zero-five
hundred hours after offloading
three runabout class vessels.
Meanwhile, our medical and science
officers are arriving... and I'm
looking forward to a reunion with
a... very old... friend.
72 INT. PROMENADE
Sisko and Kira ENTER from the Airlock Gate accompanied by
two officers in Starfleet blue uniforms... one is DOCTOR
JULIAN BASHIR, human, male, mid-twenties, wide-shouldered
with a boyish face, cocky with a little too much confidence.
He carries a shoulder bag. The other is LIEUTENANT JADZIA
DAX, late twenties, very attractive with a serene manner and
a dry, affectionate sense of humor...
KIRA
Commander, if you'd like me to give
them a tour of the station...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT THREE 45.
72 CONTINUED:
SISKO
You and Doctor Bashir go ahead...
I'm afraid I have to put Lieutenant Dax right to work...
As she begins to lead him toward the Promenade, Bashir
turns to Dax trying not very successfully to disguise
a deeper interest with a casual invitation --
BASHIR
Maybe we could get together later,
Jadzia... for dinner or a drink...
DAX
I'd be delighted.
Sisko raises an eyebrow at Bashir's interest... and they
separate. We stay with Dax and Sisko as they move down a
thoroughfare... There's a quick, familiar repartee to their
exchanges...
SISKO
He's a little young for you, isn't
he?
DAX
(slightly amused)
He's twenty-seven. i'm twenty-
eight.
SISKO
Three hundred and twenty-eight, maybe.
Did you tell him about that slug
inside you?
Meant and received as an affectionate insult that only one's
closest friend would make. She smiles.
DAX
Yes, Benjamin, he knows I'm a
Trill. He finds it fascinating.
He's never met a joined species
before.
SISKO
I wonder if he'd've been as fascinated
if you still looked the way you did
the last time I saw you.
DAX
(teasingly)
Perhaps not.
A beat. Sisko grins, shakes his head...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT THREE 46.
72 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
This is going to take some getting
used to.
DAX
Don't be ridiculous. I'm still the
same Dax...
(a beat)
... more or less...
They walk into a Turbolift.
73 INT. INFIRMARY
Kira leads Bashir inside a small, examining room type
facility... one table... some panels... major damage has
been done by vandals...
KIRA
I'm afraid we've had some security
problems... looks like looters got
in here...
Bashir looks around... rather than being depressed by the
size or lack of equipment... there is an excitement in his
eyes...
BASHIR
This'll be perfect... real...
(searching for the
right description)
... frontier medicine...
KIRA
Frontier medicine?
BASHIR
Major... I had my choice of any job
in the fleet...
Noting the arrogance...
KIRA
Did you...
BASHIR
(gung-ho)
I didn't want some cushy job... or
a research grant... I wanted this.
The farthest reaches of the galaxy.
One of the most remote outposts
available.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT THREE 47.
73 CONTINUED:
BASHIR
This is where the adventure is.
This is where heroes are made.
Right here. In the wilderness.
KIRA
(dry)
This wilderness is my home.
BASHIR
(reacts)
I didn't mean...
KIRA
(sharp, with sarcasm)
The Cardassians left behind a lot of
injured people, Doctor... you can
make yourself useful by bringing
some of your Federation Medicine to
the "natives"... you'll find
them a friendly, simple folk...
She EXITS... on his reaction... ...
74 INT. LABORATORY - CLOSE ON THE ORB (OPTICAL)
behind the forcefield...
SISKO
We do have one advantage. The monks
have been studying these things for
ten thousand years...
I've had our computers set up to interface with their
historical data banks...
DAX
That should give us something...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT THREE 48.
74 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(acknowledges)
Soon as possible, Dax. The eight
other orbs are undoubtedly in some
Cardassian laboratory... being turned
upside down and inside out...
She nods. He begins to leave...
DAX
Benjamin...
(he pauses)
I was happy when I heard you'd
accepted this assignment... I'd been
worried about you...
He looks at her evenly. With affection --
SISKO
It's good to see you too, old man.
She smiles and he EXITS. Dax takes a thoughtful beat, where
to begin?... moves to a console...
DAX
Computer, create a chronological
data base for all historical
references to the orbs... plus...
(thinking, shrugs,
why not)
... all reports of any unexplained
phenomena in Bajoran space...
including all supernatural
occurrences recorded in Bajoran
mythology...
COMPUTER VOICE
Time parameters?
DAX
Ten millenia.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/31/92 - ACT THREE 49.
74 CONTINUED: (2)
COMPUTER VOICE
Initializing data base. Requested
function will require two hours to
complete.
Dax nods, leans back... stretches, takes a deep breath...
she looks at...
75 ANGLE - INCLUDE THE ORB (OPTICAL)
behind the forcefield... and as she studies it, her curiosity
cannot be denied... she stands... walks over and after a
beat, presses a panel... and the forcefield disappears...
and the green light swirls out and envelops her... and when
it disappears she is no longer in the laboratory but in...
76 OMITTED
77 INT. OPERATING ROOM - DAY
Dax is on an operating table, dressed in a hospital gown,
reacts to the sudden change. She tries to get her bearings.
Beside her on another table is a very old man (CURZON) who
is dying...
DAX
(recognizes him,
surprised)
Curzon... ?
The old man reaches out a frail hand and take her hand
and squeezes it, smiles weakly at her... in the
background, we can see glimpses of people standing
(no faces) as though some kind of ceremony is taking
place...
78 ANGLE - TWO SHOT
to see the old man's table in the background of Dax's table...
as a dripping wet worm-like symbiont is guided by a pair of
hands out of an orifice in the general area of the human
navel... and as the hands lift it, another pair of hands
uses ritual gold surgical scissors to clip an umbilical
connection to the old man...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT THREE 50.
79 ANGLE - DAX'S STOMACH
... when the worm is placed on her stomach, it burrows its
way into her orifice... and as it does...
80 DAX'S FACE
is filled with an enlightenment... a wonder... an
excitement... new wisdom... new peace...
81 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
to include the orb in the shot... and as the green light
begins to swirl... the light envelopes her... and when it
clears... she is back...
82 INT. LABORATORY (OPTICAL)
As before... as she stares at the orb....
83 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
docked at the station...
84
thru OMITTED
84A
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/7/92 - ACT THREE 51.
85 INT. MAIN BRIDGE
The Turbolift opens... O'Brien comes out, walks along the
aft stations looking at command which is on nightwatch
lighting, manned by supernumeraries... a Lieutenant glances
over and sees O'Brien looking around...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT THREE 52.
85 CONTINUED:
LIEUTENANT
The Captain's in the ready room,
Chief... Should I tell him you're
here?
O'BRIEN
(a beat, shakes his
head)
That's okay. Thanks.
After a last sentimental look around, O'Brien EXITS to the
Turbolift.
86 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
O'Brien ENTERS... a female transporter chief is waiting...
O'BRIEN
Transport me to the Ops pad, Maggie...
TRANSPORTER CHIEF
Yessir.
O'Brien moves to the pad when a voice behind him, stops
him...
PICARD (O.S.)
Mister O'Brien...
87 ANGLE
O'Brien turns to see Picard ENTERING...
PICARD
I believe I just missed you on the
bridge...
O'BRIEN
Yessir... I didn't want to disturb
you...
Picard motions for the transporter chief to leave... she
does.
PICARD
Your favorite transporter room, isn't
it... ?
O'BRIEN
Number three, yessir.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT THREE 53.
87 CONTINUED:
PICARD
(nods)
You know, yesterday, I called down
here... and asked for you without
thinking. It won't be quite the
same...
O'BRIEN
(shrugs)
It's just a transporter room, sir.
Picard nods, they grin at each other, knowing the sentiment
that comes with leaving your old station... it's about as
much sentiment as O'Brien can handle.
O'BRIEN
Permission to disembark, Captain... ?
PICARD
Permission granted.
88 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
O'Brien climbs onto the pad. Picard moves to the console.
They look at each other a long beat.
O'BRIEN
Energize.
Picard presses the panels and O'Brien DEMATERIALIZES... on
Picard...
89 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
moves away from the docking position... and after a beat, it
warps away...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT FOUR 54.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
90 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE (DAY #4)
Sisko presses a control panel on a monitor and watches a
recorded transmission from a university chancellor on Earth...
CHANCELLOR (MONITOR)
Just a follow-up, Ben... that old
house you asked about on Moravian
Lane is available... it's yours if
you want it... we look forward to
hearing your decision.
A panel appears noting the end of transmission. Sisko stares
at the screen.
KIRA'S COM VOICE
Kira to Commander Sisko. A Cardassian
warship has just entered Bajoran
space...
He rises...
SISKO
On screen.
Walks out to his balcony...
91 INT. OPS (OPTICAL)
O'Brien is at his station... Kira is at the command center...
some Bajoran supernumeraries are continuing repairs... on
the viewscreen: a huge Cardassian warship moves toward them...
O'BRIEN
Message coming in from their
commander, Gul Dukat...
KIRA
Dukat. He used to be the Cardassian
Prefect of Bajor...
O'BRIEN
He's requesting permission to come
aboard... to greet us...
(sarcastic)
Surely a coincidence that the
Enterprise just left...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/31/92 - ACT FOUR 55.
91 CONTINUED:
They look to Sisko for orders... as he studies the
screen --
SISKO
Mister O'Brien, tell Gul Dukat I
look forward to meeting him.
And we push into him... as he awaits his first confrontation
with the Cardassians...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/31/92 - ACT FOUR 56.
92 OMITTED
93 INT. PROMENADE
showing the Gestapo-like arrival of a dozen Cardassian
officers. The officers move toward Quark's.
94 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE
Sisko is at his desk... Dukat ENTERS without knocking.
DUKAT
Good day, Commander.
SISKO
(nods a greeting,
rising)
Gul Dukat...
DUKAT
Excuse my presumption, but this was
my office only two weeks ago...
He sits down... he is overly cordial as classic bullies can
be...
DUKAT
So, have you been able to get the
food replicators to work properly?
SISKO
Frankly, no.
DUKAT
Neither could we. That's one
technology you have over us. You do
know how to make a perfect onion
soup.
He stands up again, uncomfortable...
DUKAT
I'm not used to being on this side
of the desk.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FOUR 57.
94 CONTINUED:
He stands up, looks out at the Ops area below that used to
be part of his domain.
DUKAT
I'll be honest with you, Commander.
I miss this office.
I wasn't happy about leaving it.
SISKO
Drop by any time you're feeling
homesick...
DUKAT
You are very gracious. And allow me
to assure you that we only want to
be helpful in this difficult
transition. You are far from the
Federation fleet, alone in this remote
outpost, with poor defense systems.
Your Cardassian neighbors will be
quick to respond to any problems you
might have.
SISKO
We'll try to keep the dog off your
lawn.
Dukat looks at Sisko, measuring him. Abruptly changing the
subject...
DUKAT
So what did you think of Kai Opaka?
Sisko looks at him evenly for a beat... Dukat barely pauses...
DUKAT
Oh, I stay informed... I know you
went to the surface to see her...
I understand you brought back one of the orbs. We thought
we had them all. Perhaps we could have an exchange of
information, pool our resources.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 09/15/92 - ACT FOUR 58.
94 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
I don't know anything about an orb.
Dukat takes a beat and nods, okay, if you insist on this
game...
DUKAT
We will be in close proximity should
you wish to reconsider my suggestion.
In the meantime, I assume you have
no objection to my men enjoying the
hospitality of the Promenade.
(nods, goodbye)
Commander...
And he EXITS. On Sisko's reaction...
95 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
The Cardassian ship station moves about a kilometer away
from DS9.
96 INT. LABORATORY
Sisko ENTERS to find Dax at a computer station... she's
working panels... reading off monitors...
DAX
What do you know about the Denorios
Belt?
SISKO
Your basic charged plasma field...
nobody gets anywhere near it unless
they have to...
DAX
(summarizing what
she's reading)
In the twenty-second century, a ship
carrying Kai Taluno was disabled for
several days in the Denorios Belt...
where he claims he had a vision...
SISKO
Let me guess -- he saw the Celestial
Temple of the Prophets.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 09/15/92 - ACT FOUR 59.
96 CONTINUED:
DAX
Not quite, but he did say "the heavens
opened up and nearly swallowed his
ship... "
SISKO
Are we reduced to chasing metaphors
to solve this?
She punches up some data on the monitor...
DAX
That's not all. At least five of
the orbs were found in the Denorios
Belt...
Calling up another reference on the monitor... he sits beside
her...
DAX
(continuing)
... There have also been twenty-three
navigational reports over the years
of severe neutrino disturbances in
the same area...
Pressing another panel...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FOUR 60.
96 CONTINUED: (2)
DAX
(continuing)
And thirty-two years ago, a vessel
of unknown origin appeared there,
carrying a single lifeform, a species
never encountered before.
I've correlated all these reports in one analysis grid...
97 ANGLE
To include the monitor so we can see it... the three
dimensional grid creates and emphasizes a small delineated
area in space...
DAX
(lightly)
Our Celestial Temple?
SISKO
(shrugs)
Worth a look...
98 RESUME
Sisko stands... thoughtful...
SISKO
We've got a Cardassian on our back
doorstep... we need to get by them
undetected...
A thoughtful beat...
99 INT. QUARK'S
Lots of action... a roar from the tables as the Cardassians
win... they have accumulated a lot of gold... moving to find
Kira and O'Brien ENTERING the door, she glances around, picks
up a metal mug and bangs it loudly on the Bar... gets the
attention of the room...
KIRA
Can we have your attention, please...
this establishment is being closed...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FOUR 61.
99 CONTINUED:
Groans from the crowd...
100 ANGLE TO FIND QUARK
as he explodes in a rage... moving to confront Kira...
QUARK
What do you mean? You can't do this.
O'Brien moves to block his accostment of Kira...
O'BRIEN
If you have a problem, sir, you'll
have to take it up with Commander
Sisko...
QUARK
I intend to. This is outrageous...
my apologies friends... a minor
misunderstanding that will be
rectified shortly...
People start to leave... Quark sees the Cardassians with all
the gold before them... to one of his female croupiers...
QUARK
Give them something to put their
winnings in...
The croupier acknowledges, moves a short distance away,
reaches under a table and pulls out a knapsack... As the
Cardassians begin to load their gold into the knapsack, we
may catch a glance passed between Quark and a deadpanned
Kira and O'Brien...
101 EXT. SPACE - THE CARDASSIAN WARSHIP (OPTICAL)
102 INT. CARDASSIAN WARSHIP - CLOSE ON THE KNAPSACK
being carried by a Cardassian officer down a corridor...
CARDASSIAN OFFICER #1 (O.S.)
... because we were winning too much,
of course...
Group laughter...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT EIGHT xx.
102 CONTINUED:
CARDASSIAN OFFICER #2 (O.S.)
Leave it to Starfleet to ruin a fine
day...
We never see who's talking as the knapsack is placed...
103 INSIDE THE LOCKER (OPTICAL)
And the door is shut... a beat later the knapsack begins to
lose its shape...
103A
thru OMITTED
103C
104 INT. CARDASSIAN SHIP - ON THE LOCKER (OPTICAL)
Panning down to the floor to see an odd substance, the same
color as the knapsack, oozing out of the cracks of the
locker... a pool of it forming on the floor and then...
105 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
the pool reshapes and grows into Odo... who looks both ways
and moves quickly down the corridor...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT FOUR 62A.
106 INT. RUNABOUT
Dax and Sisko ENTER, take their positions...
SISKO
(to com)
Rio Grande to Ops. Initializing pre-
launch systems...
KIRA'S COM VOICE
Confirmed.
107 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
A hatch in the habitat ring opens and a runabout class ship
comes up on an elevator...
108 INT. OPS
Kira and O'Brien at master control...
O'BRIEN
Major, scanners are picking up
fluctuations in the Cardassian's
energy distribution net...
Kira checks her panels... reacts, delighted...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT FOUR 63.
108 CONTINUED:
KIRA
Their computer's crashing... shields
and sensors are down...
Odo's done it... Ops to Rio Grande...
SISKO'S COM VOICE
Go ahead.
109 INT. RUNABOUT
Sisko and Dax in the cockpit, going through pre-flight
routine...
KIRA'S COM VOICE
We're in business.
SISKO
Beginning launch sequence.
110 INT. OPS
KIRA
Maintain visual blackout. Set audio
to secure channel three-five-zero.
111 OMITTED
112 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
is launched...
113 INT. OPS
A signal flashes on the master control panel...
KIRA
Odo's reached the transport site...
O'BRIEN
Trying to lock on...
A short delay...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FOUR 64.
113 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
I've never done this with a Cardassian
Transporter...
O'Brien presses more panels... nothing...
O'BRIEN
Dammit, what's the problem...
Finally, he kicks the control panel and...
114 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
to include the Transporter pad... as Odo
MATERIALIZES...
KIRA
Nice work, Constable.
Odo acknowledges with a simple nod...
115 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
races past the camera, the space station in the background...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 65.
ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
116 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
as it moves at impulse into the Denorios Belt marked by
streaks of blue space dust...
117 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Dax and Sisko take readings... the plotted grid analysis is
on her monitor...
DAX
Approaching grid perimeter...
SISKO
Slowing to one quarter impulse.
A beat. They check their sensors.
DAX
(reacting to something)
Computer, give me visual at bearing
two-three, mark two-one-seven, range
thirty-one hundred kilometers...
The monitor display looks routine... off Sisko's look
--
118 INT. OPS
Kira and O'Brien listening... monitoring the ship on
sensors... Bajoran supernumeraries man other stations...
DAX'S COM VOICE
(curious)
Sensors are picking up unusually
high proton counts...
SISKO'S COM VOICE
Setting a new course to those
coordinates...
119
thru OMITTED
120
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 66.
121 OMITTED
122 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
moving deeper into the belt...
123
thru OMITTED
124
125 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Dax working panels with both hands... checking multiple read-
outs...
DAX
(hard to believe)
All external wave intensities are
increasing rapidly but... checking...
confirmed... there is no corresponding
increase inside the cabin... how is
that poss...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FIVE 67.
Suddenly there is a lurch... a hard shift... an incredible
burst of light through the windows...
126 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
going into a giant rip in the fabric of space...
127 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Sisko and Dax trying to maintain control...
SISKO
Sensors are not functioning...
DAX
(trying a panel)
We've lost all contact with the space
station...
128 INT. OPS
O'Brien at his station...
O'BRIEN
Scanners are reading a major subspace
disruption at their last known
coordinates...
Kira moving to join him...
KIRA
What the hell is happening out there?
O'BRIEN
I don't know, sir. They're just...
(beat)
...gone.
129 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
inside the wormhole now... an incredible light show surrounds
the small craft...
130 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Sisko is frantically checking readings... hitting panels...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT FIVE 68.
SISKO
(reacting)
Are your navigational readings going
crazy?
DAX
(calm, confirming)
I'll recalibrate them when I have a
moment.
SISKO
(hanging on for dear
life)
Take your time.
Another lurch and suddenly they're out... into clear space...
131 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
coming out of the other side of the wormhole... which
disappears behind them...
132 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
SISKO
Can you get a fix on our
coordinates... ?
DAX
(checking)
There's a star just under five light
years away... no M class planets...
Computer, identify closest star
system...
COMPUTER VOICE
Idran... a ternary system consisting
of a central supergiant and twin O-
type companions...
SISKO
(reacts)
Idran... that can't be right...
DAX
Computer, basis of identification...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 69.
132 CONTINUED:
COMPUTER VOICE
Identification of Idran is based on
the hydrogen-alpha spectral analysis
conducted in the twenty-second century
by the Quadros-One probe of the Gamma
Quadrant.
SISKO
(stunned)
The Gamma Quadrant. Seventy
thousand light years from Bajor?
I'd say we just found our way into
a wormhole...
DAX
(checking panels)
It's not like any wormhole I've ever
seen. There were none of the usual
resonance waves...
A beat as they take this all in...
SISKO
Could this be how the orbs found
their way into the Bajoran system?
DAX
Not an unreasonable hypothesis.
SISKO
If it's true, that would mean this
has been here for ten thousand years.
We might have just discovered the
first stable wormhole known to exist.
As they exchange a glance...
DAX
You may want to wait until we get
safely back before you put your name
in the history books, Benjamin...
SISKO
Our names, old man, our names...
bring us about, Lieutenant...
133 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
comes around and moves forward... and the wormhole illuminates
into view again... the Runabout moves back in...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 09/03/92 - ACT FIVE 70.
134 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
A light show in the window again... Dax works her panels...
DAX
I'm modifying the flight program to
compensate for the spatial
discontinuities. We should have a
smoother ride this time.
The shaking subsides a bit.
SISKO
(noticing something)
Did you reduce impulse power?
DAX
No...
SISKO
We're losing velocity...
135 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
in the wormhole... slowing down...
136 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Reactions. Checking panels...
DAX
(confused)
Power output is still constant...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 71.
136 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Increasing impulse reactor output...
He does... nothing...
DAX
(shakes her head)
Forward velocity down to one twenty
kph...
He reacts... rechecking his controls...
SISKO
(incredulous)
Engine output is running seventy
percent above normal...
DAX
Down to eighty kph...
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning, impulse system overload...
auto shutdown in twelve seconds...
SISKO
(working)
Disengaging engines.
DAX
Velocity is twenty kph.
(reacts)
I'm picking up an atmosphere,
Benjamin...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FIVE 72.
137 ANGLE
to include the windows... filled with bright light...
SISKO
Inside a wormhole?
DAX
Capable of supporting life...
Suddenly, there is a bump... a reaction... checking
readings... glances at Dax...
DAX
We've just landed...
SISKO
On what?
Off reactions...
138 EXT. RUNABOUT - DAY
Close on the hatch as it pops open... and Sisko comes through
first, holding his phaser... as he comes out
and looks around... move with him to reveal --
139 EXT. BRUTAL TERRAIN - DAY (OPTICAL)
Rock cliffs, dark, strange electrical storms, winds swirling
around him...
140 EXT. RUNABOUT - DAY
Angle back on the hatch as Dax comes out... holding a
tricorder... and as we move with her, we reveal the
same setting to be --
141 EXT. GARDEN - DAY
And Sisko is standing in the garden with her... but of course
he doesn't see it at all...
DAX
It's beautiful.
He glances at her... and as we change
142 ANGLE TO FAVOR HIM
we're back in the rugged terrain... storms everywhere...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FIVE 72A-73.
SISKO
You have a strange eye for beauty...
143 ANGLE TO FAVOR HER
in the garden...
DAX
You don't think this is one of the
most idyllic settings you've ever
seen... ?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FIVE 74.
144 ANGLE TO FAVOR HIM
in the rugged terrain...
SISKO
(sarcastic)
It can't beat the sulfuric mine pits
of Hadas Four...
DAX
How can you say that? The colors...
all the flora...
And now he begins to realize there is something more than
meets the eye...
SISKO
I don't see any flora, Dax...
She reacts...
145 ANGLE FAVORING HER
In the garden.
DAX
We're standing in a garden...
146 ANGLE FAVORING HIM (OPTICAL)
in his rugged terrain...
SISKO
We're standing on a rockface...
(beat)
Do you see the storms?
147 ANGLE FAVORING HER
In the garden.
DAX
Clear as a summer's day.
Their eyes are caught by...
148 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
still in the garden... an orb appears floating twenty yards
ahead... they both react to the appearance...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FIVE 75.
148 CONTINUED:
SISKO
You see it too...
DAX
Yes.
149 ANGLE - FAVORING HIM (OPTICAL)
in the rugged terrain... the orb sends out a scanning green
beam that probes these new entities from head to toe... Dax
checks her tricorder...
DAX
Low level ionic pattern, it's probing
us...
SISKO
Someone's idea of shaking hands,
maybe...
The probe seems to stutter and change to uneven color as it
reaches her abdomen... and then the scanning beam shuts off...
Sisko takes a step forward to speak...
150 ANGLE - FAVORING HER (OPTICAL)
in the garden, as Sisko takes another step...
SISKO
I am Commander Benjamin Sisko of the
United Federation of Planets...
But suddenly the orb sends out a cutting blade of light which
splits the reality in two... and for a brief instant we see
both of Dax's and Sisko's perceptions as their universes are
literally torn in half... and Sisko and Dax are thrown
apart...
151 DAX (OPTICAL)
Her garden collapses around her into a spinning orb-
like ball of green light on a blank background with only
residual traces of the garden's color...
152 SISKO (OPTICAL)
being sucked into an incredibly bright, white light... winds
and storms crash around him...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 76.
153 HIS P.O.V. (OPTICAL)
he sees the orb forming around Dax... but there is nothing
he can do about it... she is completely wrapped by the orb
and suddenly it is flung into the sky as...
154 SISKO (OPTICAL)
disappears into the light...
155 EXT. SPACE - THE WORMHOLE (OPTICAL)
illuminates into view and the orb containing Dax comes out...
156 INT. OPS
O'Brien at his station... Kira at master... Bajoran
supernumeraries at various stations...
O'BRIEN
(reacting to sensors)
Another neutrino disruption...
KIRA
Scanners are picking up an object
near their last known coordinates...
it isn't a ship...
O'BRIEN
(checking)
Major, there's something inside it...
some kind of lifeform...
More information in from the sensors.
KIRA
Are the Cardassian sensors picking
it up?
O'BRIEN
They should be back on line by now...
We have to assume they know everything
we know...
Kira takes a moment to consider the consequences...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FIVE 77.
KIRA
Yellow alert... secure Ops. Beam it
aboard Mister O'Brien, but put it in
a level one security field...
O'BRIEN
Aye, sir... locking on...
He presses some panels...
157 ANGLE ON THE TRANSPORTER PAD (OPTICAL)
As the orb MATERIALIZES... and the orb disintegrates into
spinning light and disappears revealing Dax. Off reactions.
158 WHITE SCREEN (OPTICAL)
Discovering a state-of-the-art optical effect to be
determined... that suggests Sisko in an altered state... no
reality we've ever experienced... it may be just his eyes in
some disengaged fashion... for this draft, it will be
described as "WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S
EYES." A heartbeat and breathing the only sounds...
suddenly --
159 RUSH OF IMAGES (OPTICAL)
Five separate shots, each less than a second:
--Jennifer looking up at the beach...
--Sisko's bloody burned hands...
--A baseball landing in a catcher's mitt...
--Locutus on a viewscreen...
--Jennifer's lifeless hand on the Saratoga...
160 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
As before. Heartbeat... breathing...
SISKO
Who are you?
No response... only --
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT FIVE 78.
161 ANOTHER RUSH OF IMAGES (OPTICAL)
Five, each less than a second --
--Jennifer and Sisko kissing on a picnic
blanket...
--A newborn baby crying...
--Kai Opaka looking at Sisko as she cups her
hand to his face...
--Jake fishing at the pond...
--Doran's mournful eyes in the burning
corridor of the Saratoga...
162 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
As before. The heartbeat... the breathing...
SISKO
Who are you?
163 EXT. BEACH - DAY
As we saw it in the first orb sequence... Jennifer is looking
up, holding her brassiere, but it is not Jennifer, it is
alien, remote...
(NOTE: In this, and all "alien" sequences, extras beyond 50
feet of camera position will be considered atmosphere and
continue normal activity... all extras within 50 feet will
be considered aliens and will stop whatever they're doing
and display curiosity about Sisko and what he's saying... )
JENNIFER ALIEN
(observing him)
It is corporeal... a physical
entity...
164 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
SISKO
What... what did you say...
165 INT. ENTERPRISE OBSERVATION LOUNGE - PICARD
As we saw him in Act Two, except it is not Picard, it is
alien...
PICARD ALIEN
It is responding to visual and
auditory stimuli... linguistic
communication...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT FIVE 78A.
165A REVERSE ANGLE - SISKO IN THE OBSERVATION LOUNGE
stares at Picard, understands that he is not really Picard
but an alien...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 79.
165A CONTINUED:
SISKO
Yes, linguistic communication...
are you capable of communicating
with me?
A woman's hand cups his face and turns him to...
166 INT. MONASTERY - DAY
And it is Kai Opaka who has his face in her hand... as we
saw in Act Two... but it is not Opaka... it is alien... making
eye contact with him, talking to him, not about him...
KAI OPAKA ALIEN
What are you?
167
thru OMITTED
169
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/26/92 - ACT FIVE 80.
170 REVERSE ANGLE - SISKO
SISKO
My species is known as human.
We come from a planet called Earth...
170A EXT FISHING POND - DAY
JAKE ALIEN
Earth?
Sisko groping for definition... motions to the surrounding
environment...
SISKO
This... this is what my planet looks
like...
Jake alien looks around with no appreciation... A beat...
this is getting nowhere...
SISKO
You and I are very different species.
It will take time for us to understand
one another.
JAKE ALIEN
Time. What is this? Time...
A reaction from Sisko as he realizes the magnitude of the
situation he's in...
171 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
As before. Heartbeat. Breathing.
172 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) (DAY #5)
Establishing.
173 INT. OPS
At the master control table... Kira, Odo, Dax, O'Brien and
Bashir... planning a rescue attempt...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT FIVE 81.
173 CONTINUED:
DAX
It's not an ordinary wormhole.
My analysis suggests it isn't even
a natural phenomenon...
BASHIR
Not natural... you mean it was
constructed... ?
DAX
(acknowledges)
It's very possible that whoever made
the orbs also created this wormhole.
O'Brien is monitoring sensors on his panel... reacts as he
sees something...
O'BRIEN
The Cardassians are leaving their
position... on a course toward the
Denorios Belt.
Kira frowns... stands...
KIRA
(beat, to O'Brien)
What would it take to move this
station to the mouth of the wormhole?
O'BRIEN
This isn't a starship, Major.
We've got six working thrusters to power us and that's it.
A hundred-sixty million kilometer trip would take two months.
KIRA
It's got to be there tomorrow.
O'BRIEN
(reacts)
That's not possible, sir...
KIRA
That wormhole might just reshape the
future of this entire quadrant. The
Bajorans have to stake a claim to
it...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 82.
173 CONTINUED: (2)
KIRA
(beat, character
movement)
And I have to admit that claim will
be a lot stronger if there's a
Federation presence to back it up.
DAX
(calm, to O'Brien)
Couldn't you modify the subspace
field output of the deflector
generators... just enough to create
a low-level field around the
station...
A beat. O'Brien begins to get her logic...
O'BRIEN
So we could lower the inertial mass...
DAX
(nods)
If you can make the station lighter,
those six thrusters would be all the
power we'd need.
O'BRIEN
(a beat, it might
just work)
This whole station could break apart
like an egg if it doesn't work...
DAX
Even if it does work, we're going to
need help from Starfleet once we get
there...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 83.
173 CONTINUED: (3)
O'BRIEN
The Enterprise is still the nearest
starship... it would take them two
days to get here...
DAX
Advise Starfleet that we will require
their assistance.
O'Brien acknowledges.
KIRA
You have Ops, Mister O'Brien...
(on the move)
Lieutenant, you're with me... you
too, Doc, time to be a hero...
BASHIR
Yes, Sir...
As they EXIT... hold a beat on Odo, thoughtful...
174 INT. CORRIDOR
Kira, Dax and Bashir on the move... after a beat, Odo moves
up behind them, keeping step... Kira reacts to his arrival...
KIRA
Constable...
ODO
(anticipating, right
on top of her voice)
This is a security matter... I'm in
charge of security...
KIRA
... security here, on the station.
She stops.
KIRA
(continuing)
I can't justify taking you into this
wormhole... we don't know what we're
dealing with in there... it could be
hostile... DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT FIVE 83A.
174 CONTINUED:
ODO
Major, I was found in the Denorios
Belt. I don't know where I came
from... no idea if there are any others
like me.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT FIVE 84.
ODO
All my life, I've been forced to
pass myself off as one of you...
always wondering who I really am.
The answers to a lot of my
questions may be somewhere on the
other side of that wormhole.
He walks ahead...
ODO
You coming?
She reacts, glances at the others... and after a beat, they
follow...
175 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
as the Runabout is launched and runs by the camera into
space...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SIX 85.
ACT SIX
FADE IN:
176 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
Heartbeat. Breathing.
177 INT. ENTERPRISE OBSERVATION LOUNGE - SUBJECTIVE POV -
ECU OF PICARD
as we saw him in Act Two... but it
is an alien Picard...
PICARD ALIEN
The creature must be destroyed before
it destroys us.
178 INT. SARATOGA BRIDGE - VIEWSCREEN - SUBJECTIVE POV -
LOCUTUS (OPTICAL)
LOCUTUS ALIEN
It is malevolent.
179 EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - SUBJECTIVE POV - DAY -
BASEBALL PLAYER
in a batter's box, dressed in a
Chicago Cubs uniform of the early
1920s...
BATTER ALIEN
Aggressive. Adversarial.
180 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE
PICARD ALIEN
It must be destroyed.
INTERCUTTING:
181 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
SISKO
I'm not your enemy... I've been sent
here by the people you contacted.
PICARD ALIEN
Contacted?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/24/92 - ACT SIX 181.
181 CONTINUED:
SISKO
With your devices. Your orbs...
PICARD ALIEN
We seek contact with other
lifeforms... not corporeal creatures
who would annihilate us...
SISKO
I have not come to annihilate
anyone...
182
thru OMITTED
183
184 INT. SARATOGA BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
Locutus on the viewscreen. Growing tension... voice upon
voice...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/26/92 - ACT SIX 87.
184 CONTINUED:
LOCUTUS ALIEN
Destroy it now...
Sisko sees that there is a growing danger here, moves
to encounter it head on... Aggressively --
SISKO
My species respects life above all
else. Can you say the same?
The aliens study him... Sisko is making progress...
SISKO
I do not understand the threat I
bring to you. But I am not your
enemy. Allow me to prove it.
184A INT. CHAMBER BENEATH THE MONASTERY - OPAKA ALIEN
KAI OPAKA ALIEN
Prove it?
SISKO
(a beat, mind working)
It can be argued that a human is
ultimately the sum of his experiences.
You obviously have access to mine.
185 EXT. FISHING POND - DAY
JAKE ALIEN
"Experiences" - what is this?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT SIX 88.
185 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Memories... events from my past...
like this one...
JAKE ALIEN
Past?
SISKO
Things that happened before now...
Jake Alien looks at him blankly...
SISKO
(mostly to himself)
You have absolutely no idea what I'm
talking about.
JAKE ALIEN
What comes before now is no different
than what is now... or what is to
come. It is one's existence.
SISKO
(beginning to
understand)
Then, for you, there is no linear
time...
186 EXT. BEACH - DAY
JENNIFER ALIEN
"Linear time" - what is this?
SISKO
My species lives in one point in
time. And once we move beyond that
point, it becomes the past.
The future... all that is still to come... does not exist
yet for us...
JENNIFER ALIEN
(alarmed)
Does not exist yet?
SISKO
That is the nature of a linear
existence. And if you examine it
more closely, you will see that you
do not need to fear me.
A beat as Jennifer alien studies him and...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/17/92 - ACT SIX 89.
187 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
Breathing. Heartbeat. A long beat.
188 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
Establishing...
189 INT. OPS - MOVING WITH O'BRIEN
Bajoran supernumeraries in the background... with much
urgency... lights dip and thrum... a definite strain to the
reactor sounds...
O'BRIEN
Dammit! Computer... analyze subspace
field integrity...
COMPUTER VOICE
Power frequency imbalance is
preventing field closure...
O'BRIEN
Add reactor three to the power grid...
190 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
to see the warp field struggle to zap into place but reaches
only about ninety percent of the station...
191 INT. OPS
As before.
COMPUTER VOICE
Partial field established.
Instability at twelve percent.
O'BRIEN
(reacts)
Partial field.
(a beat, dammit)
Is the station's inertial mass low
enough to break orbit?
COMPUTER VOICE
Procedure is not recommended.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT SIX 90.
191 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Dammit, I didn't ask for an opinion...
just tell me whether or not we can
get enough thrust with only a partial
field established...
COMPUTER VOICE
Affirmative.
O'BRIEN
All right. Initiate transit mode,
three-axis stabilization. Engage
thrusters.
192 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
Close on the thrusters firing... the huge structure rumbles...
193 ANGLE - LONG SHOT (OPTICAL)
as the station breaks orbit, gaining velocity...
194 OMITTED
195 INT. OPS
O'Brien moving along his console... checking readings... a
klaxon rings...
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning. Field integrity declining.
Instability at twenty-one percent.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT SIX 91.
195 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
(on the move, to
supernumeraries)
We've got to close that gap in the
field... or we're going to tear
ourselves into a million pieces.
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning - Subspace field collapse in
sixty seconds...
The vibrations continue... O'Brien moves to his console,
searching for an answer... looking at the Cardassian
symbols... after a beat... yells to the room--
O'BRIEN
Does anyone here know if the inertial
dampers can feed the deflectors?
The Bajoran supernumeraries look at him with blank stares...
O'Brien's on his own... he sighs, turns back to the
console... ?
O'BRIEN
(to himself)
A good time to find out.
Starts working panels furiously...
O'BRIEN
Computer, transfer energy from the
inertial dampers to reinforce the
subspace field...
COMPUTER VOICE
Procedure is not recommended.
O'BRIEN
Dammit... transfer the energy!
COMPUTER VOICE
Unable to comply. Level One safety
protocols have cancelled request.
O'BRIEN
(reacts)
Cancelled it...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT SIX 92.
195 CONTINUED: (2)
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning. Subspace field collapse in
thirty seconds.
O'BRIEN
(yelling to
supernumeraries)
I'm gonna transfer it manually...
(to one)
On my mark, redirect the flow to the
deflectors...
(to another)
Keep the power balanced...
COMPUTER VOICE
Field collapse in fifteen seconds...
O'BRIEN
Now!
O'Brien and supernumeraries look like a trio of pianists
playing three baby grands... hitting panels, flipping
busbars... the lights dim again... the whine changes...
O'Brien looks up, did it work...
196 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
as the field zaps completely into place surrounding the
station...
197 INT. OPS
The vibration stops and the whine disappears...
COMPUTER VOICE
Field energy now within flight
tolerances.
Everybody reacts... O'Brien smiles weakly at the others and
then mutters...
O'BRIEN
Computer... you and I have to have a
little talk...
198 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
As it moves through space...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT SIX 93.
199 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Kira and Dax in the pilot and co-pilot seats (left and right
respectively)... Odo behind Kira, Bashir behind Dax...
DAX
The Cardassian warship is in visual
range...
KIRA
On screen...
On monitors, the Cardassian ship appears... checking
readings... confirmed...
KIRA
(sighs, angry)
They're going right to it...
Kira taps her fingers, thoughtfully...
BASHIR
They've got to listen to reason,
haven't they? When we warn them
what could happen if they go in
there...
ODO
(forever cynical)
Doctor, most people in my experience
wouldn't know reason if it walked up
and shook their hand. You can count
Gul Dukat among them.
Kira presses some panels... hailing the Cardassian ship...
KIRA
This is the Federation ship Yangtzee
Kiang... Major Kira Nerys in
command...
Some beeps and the image of Gul Dukat appears on the
monitors...
DUKAT
Yes, Major...
KIRA
Gul Dukat, we know you're headed for
the wormhole...
DUKAT
Wormhole? Which wormhole is that?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SIX 94.
199 CONTINUED:
KIRA
I strongly suggest you do not proceed.
We encountered a hostile lifeform
inside...
DUKAT
Perhaps they would be less hostile
to Cardassians than to humans...
ODO
(wearily impatient)
Dukat, you know I won't lie to you...
and I know you probably won't listen
to me... but these people are trying
to save you from a lot of trouble.
DUKAT
(sarcastic)
Really... I suppose you'd also tell
me these are not the lifeforms that
sent the orbs... or that your
Commander Sisko is not negotiating
for their technology...
(beat)
Thank you for your concern. But I
think we'll see for ourselves.
The monitor returns to the Cardassian ship moving
through the Denorios Belt... Odo glances at Bashir --
ODO
So much for reason...
200 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
Heartbeat. Breathing.
201 EXT. PARK - DAY
And Jennifer alien and a younger Sisko are on a picnic
blanket... a basket of food spread out... she's wearing a
flowered spring dress... they are reclining, she's laying,
cradled in his arm...
JENNIFER ALIEN
(identifying herself)
Jennifer.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SIX 95.
201 CONTINUED:
He takes a moment to realize where he is, reacts... quickly
detaches himself from her... sits across from her... a beat...
SISKO
Yes, that was her name.
JENNIFER ALIEN
She is part of your existence.
SISKO
She is part of my past. She's no
longer alive.
JENNIFER ALIEN
But she is part of your existence.
SISKO
Yes, she was a most important part
of my existence. But I lost her
some time ago.
JENNIFER ALIEN
"Lost" - what is this?
SISKO
In a linear existence, we can't go
back to the past to get something we
left behind... so it's lost...
JENNIFER ALIEN
(come on, you've got
to be kidding)
It is inconceivable that any species
could exist in such a manner... you
are deceiving us...
SISKO
No, this is the truth...
Standing, taking in the setting...
SISKO
This day... this park... it was
almost... fifteen years ago. Far in
the past. It was a very important
day to me... a day that shaped every
day that followed.
That is the essence of a linear existence... each day affects
the next...
She studies him intently... we pan to follow her look
as she sees --
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SIX 96.
202 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
An exact duplicate of the setting we were just in...
a second set of Sisko and Jennifer are reclining on the
ground... in each other's arms... playful children's voices
are way in the background... this is a replay of the actual
experience... Jennifer Alien and Sisko watch their doubles...
SISKO #2
(enjoying the moment)
Listen to it...
JENNIFER
To what?
SISKO #2
The sound of children playing.
What could be more beautiful...
JENNIFER
So you like children... ?
SISKO #2
(beat)
That almost sounds like a domestic
inquiry...
203 ANGLE - TWO SHOT
Losing Jennifer Alien and Sisko.
JENNIFER
I've heard Starfleet officers don't
want families because they complicate
their lives.
SISKO #2
Starfleet officers don't often find
mates who want to raise families on
a starship...
JENNIFER
That almost sounds like a domestic
inquiry...
SISKO #2
(smiles, the question
in his eyes)
I think it was...
Her answer to him is a deeply felt kiss...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT SIX 97.
204 SISKO AND JENNIFER ALIEN
She reacts curiously to the kiss... the emotional impact is
heavy on Sisko but he watches... tries to remain the detached
instructor...
SISKO
As corporeal entities, humans
find physical touch to cause
pleasure...
JENNIFER ALIEN
"Pleasure" - what is this?
SISKO
Good feelings... happiness...
... but the words get lost in his throat as the moment finally
hits him... rack focus as Jennifer alien turns to observe
him... Sisko turns his eyes away and finds
himself looking at --
205 DORAN, THE WOMAN IN THE FIERY CORRIDOR
with the mournful eyes, except she's an alien... and suddenly
he's back on the Saratoga...
206 REVERSE ANGLE - INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
as he looks around... sees the Bolian Tactical Officer
(an alien) next to him... he reacts... he does not want to
revisit what is at the end of this... the aliens notice the
reluctance... he looks down the corridor toward his
quarters... does not want to go...
DORAN ALIEN
(what's the problem?)
This is your existence...
SISKO
Yes. But... it is difficult to return
here... more difficult than any other
memory...
TACTICAL OFFICER ALIEN
Why?
And this is hard for him, analyzing the death of his wife,
standing by the flames that killed her... impossible to
stay detached from the emotions this raises...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SIX 98.
206 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Because this was the day... I lost
Jennifer...
(beat, exhausted)
... And I don't want to be here...
And now he looks up to see the incongruous arrival of Jennifer
alien in her bathing suit... moving cooly down the fiery
hallway to him...
JENNIFER ALIEN
Then why do you exist here?
SISKO
I... I don't understand...
JENNIFER ALIEN
(confused)
You exist here.
He looks at her... feeling miserable, confused... but before
any further explanations can be attempted...
something startling occurs... the images freeze and begin to
melt away...
INTERCUTTING:
207 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
SISKO
What's wrong... what's happening?
But like an optical version of film getting caught in a
projector and burning, the effect continues, accompanied by
an eerie shrill sound we've never heard before...
208 EXT. SPACE - THE CARDASSIAN SHIP (OPTICAL)
is at the mouth of the wormhole which illuminates as the
ship goes into it...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/17/92 - ACT SIX 99.
209 INT. SARATOGA CORRIDOR (OPTICAL)
As it completely MELTS away...
210 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
heartbeat... breathing... The shrill alien sound grows louder
as...
211 EXT. SPACE - THE CARDASSIAN SHIP (OPTICAL)
in the wormhole, being shaken badly by the turbulence...
after a beat, it comes out the other end into the Gamma
Quadrant, a piece of the ship clearly damaged by the
experience...
212 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
Stronger heartbeat... heavier breathing... the shrill sound
growing...
212A INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
As before...
DAX
We should be reaching the wormhole
coordinates in two minutes...
KIRA
Slowing to one-third im-...
Suddenly in the windows there is a huge explosion...
213 EXT. SPACE - THE RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
The wormhole shattering into a million points of light in
front of them...
214 EXT. SPACE - THE CARDASSIAN SHIP (OPTICAL)
as the shattering continues behind them... leaving them
stranded...
215 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
The shrill sound ends abruptly. Stronger heartbeat...
heavier breathing...
216 EXT. SPACE - THE RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
as the last sparks of the collapsed wormhole blink out...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SIX 99A.
217 INT. RUNABOUT
The turbulence ends... off reactions...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT SIX
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SEVEN 100.
ACT SEVEN
FADE IN:
218 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) (DAY #6)
still in transit, moving into the Denorios Belt...
219 INT. OPS (OPTICAL)
seeing the Runabout crew on screen...
O'BRIEN
Are you sure it collapsed... it could
have withdrawn deeper into subspace...
Dax is working furiously, pressing panels, taking readings...
DAX
We haven't found any indication of
that, but we're still checking.
O'BRIEN
Should I turn this thing around and
go back?
INTERCUTTING:
220 INT. RUNABOUT
O'Brien on monitors.
KIRA
What's your position?
O'BRIEN
I'll be at your coordinates in less
than three hours...
KIRA
Maintain your course. We'll
rendezvous here... by then our scans
should be complete...
O'BRIEN
Aye, sir.
(beat)
By the way... we've been getting
queries from the Cardassians since
their ship disappeared from the sensor
field...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT SEVEN 101.
220 CONTINUED:
KIRA
I'm sure you have.
ODO
(without humor)
They'll see Gul Dukat in about sixty
or seventy years if he starts back
right away.
O'Brien acknowledges and...
221 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
as it continues to search for some trace of the wormhole.
222 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
Heartbeat. Breathing.
SISKO
Talk to me. Are you still there?
What just happened?
223 EXT. BEACH - DAY - JENNIFER ALIEN (OPTICAL)
walking along the shore as seen in Act Two...
JENNIFER ALIEN
More of your kind.
INTERCUTTING:
224 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
SISKO
Another ship... in the wormhole?
JENNIFER ALIEN
"Wormhole" - what is this?
SISKO
It is how we describe the kind of
passage that brought me here...
225 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE
PICARD ALIEN
It is terminated.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SEVEN 102.
225A REVERSE ANGLE - SISKO IN THE OBSERVATION LOUNGE
SISKO
Terminated...
PICARD ALIEN
Our existence is disrupted whenever
one of you enters the passage...
226 INT. SARATOGA BRIDGE
CONN OFFICER ALIEN
Your linear nature is inherently
destructive.
OPS OFFICER ALIEN
You have no regard for the
consequences of your acts.
SISKO
That's not true. We're aware that
every choice we make has a
consequence...
CAPTAIN OFFICER ALIEN
But you claim you do not know what
it will be...
SISKO
We don't...
227 EXT. FISHING POND - DAY - JAKE ALIEN
JAKE ALIEN
(interrupting)
Then how can you take responsibility
for your actions...
SISKO
We use past experience to help guide
us.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT SEVEN 103.
SISKO
(beat)
For Jennifer and me, all the
experiences in our lives prepared us
for the day we met on the beach...
helped us recognize that we had a
future together. When we married,
we accepted all the consequences of
that act, whatever they might be...
including the consequence of you.
JAKE ALIEN
Me?
SISKO
My son, Jake...
228 INT. STARSHIP SICKBAY - CLOSEUP ON A NEWBORN BABY
BOY
and Sisko finds himself holding his
child in his hands for the first
time... as a Starfleet doctor and
nurses, all aliens, tend to Jennifer
in bed... who looks up in her post
labor flush...
JENNIFER ALIEN
The child with Jennifer.
SISKO
Yes.
JENNIFER ALIEN
(beginning to
understand)
Linear... procreation... ?
SISKO
(acknowledges)
Yes. Jake is the continuation of
our family...
JENNIFER ALIEN
(remembering)
"The sound of children playing."
229 CATCHER'S MITT
as a bat swings and misses a ball as it pops into the glove.
Pan up to find Jake Alien is the catcher... and a batter
stands in front of him, both dressed in Chicago Cubs uniforms
of the early 1920s...
BATTER ALIEN
(accusing)
Aggressive. Adversarial.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/17/92 - ACT SEVEN 104.
230 REVERSE ANGLE - EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - DAY
Sisko is standing on a pitcher's mound, wearing a Cubs cap
circa 1923... and his Starfleet uniform... in the background,
the rest of the Cubs' team works out... playing catch, hitting
fungos, fielding... a few spectators and reporters in straw
hats mill about...
SISKO
(correction)
Competition. For fun. It's
a game... that Jake and I play...
on the Holodeck... it's called
baseball.
And Jake alien stands out of his crouch and as he takes off
the mask and looks at it curiously... and then looks around
at the environment... joining Sisko on the mound...
JAKE ALIEN
"Baseball" - what is this?
SISKO
I was afraid you'd ask that...
A beat... How the hell do you explain baseball to an alien...
he takes a deep breath, well, here goes...
SISKO
I throw the ball to you... and this
other player stands between us with
a bat, a stick... and he... he tries
to hit the ball in between these two
white lines...
Jake alien blinks with confusion, Sisko pauses... regroups...
getting another idea... his delivery growing with confidence
as he continues...
SISKO
The rules aren't important... what's
important is -- it's linear.
Every time you throw this ball a
hundred different things can happen
in the game... he might swing and
miss, he might hit it... the point
is you never know... you try to
anticipate, set a strategy for all
the possibilities as best you can...
but in the end it all comes down to
throwing one pitch after another...
and seeing what happens. With each
new consequence, the game begins to
take shape...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SEVEN 105.
230 CONTINUED:
BATTER ALIEN
(grasping the meaning)
And you have no idea what that shape
is until it is completed...
SISKO
(beat)
That's right. In fact, the game
wouldn't be worth playing if we knew
what was going to happen.
JAKE ALIEN
(flabbergasted)
You value your ignorance of what is
to come?
SISKO
(acknowledges, driving
home his point)
That may be the most important thing
to understand about humans.
It is the unknown that defines
our existence. We are constantly
searching... not just for answers
to our questions... but for new
questions. We are explorers...
we explore our lives day by day...
and we explore the galaxy, trying
to expand the boundaries of our
knowledge. And that is why I'm
here. Not to conquer you either
with weapons or with ideas. But
to co-exist and learn.
231 JAKE ALIEN
studies him curiously for a beat...
232 SISKO
waits hopefully for a response... reacts as he looks down at
233 HIS HANDS
bloody and burned as they were at the Saratoga.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT SEVEN 106.
234 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS
and he's back on the Saratoga... his quarters in flames...
his wife dead... his son unconscious... standing with the
Tactical Officer...
TACTICAL OFFICER ALIEN
If all you say is true... why do you
exist here?
Sisko reacts, confused and...
234A THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
Heartbeat. Breathing.
235 INT. OPS - VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
Three huge Cardassian warships approaching.
236 REVERSE ANGLE
to see Kira at Master watching... with O'Brien, Dax, Odo and
Bashir at various stations...
KIRA
Mister O'Brien, can you establish a
high energy Thoron field before they
get into sensor range... I don't
want them to be able to scan our
defense systems...
O'BRIEN
Aye, sir...
DAX
They're hailing us.
KIRA
On screen.
237 ANGLE - INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
The Cardassian Commander, GUL JASAD, appears, in his ready
room.
KIRA
This is First Officer Kira Nerys.
JASAD
(arrogant)
May I speak with the Starfleet
Commander?
KIRA
He's not available.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/26/92 - ACT SEVEN 107.
237 CONTINUED:
JASAD
I'm not used to talking to Bajoran
Majors.
KIRA
I'm all you've got.
A beat. He studies her.
JASAD
I am Gul Jasad of the Cardassian
Guard, Seventh Order. Where is our
warship?
KIRA
With any luck, they're in the Gamma
Quadrant. On the other side of the
wormhole.
JASAD
(explodes)
What wormhole? Our sensors show no
indication of a wormhole in this
sector.
KIRA
That's because it just collapsed.
DAX
We believe it was artificially
created. That may be why our sensors
never picked up any of the usual
quantum fluctuation patterns...
JASAD
(furious)
You expect me to believe that someone
created a wormhole...
And now conveniently disassembled it?
He cuts transmission... his ship reappears on the viewscreen.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT SEVEN 108-109.
238 ANGLE - LOSING THE VIEWSCREEN
DAX
They're flooding subspace with anti-
lepton interference... it'll cut off
our communications with Starfleet...
O'BRIEN
... They're powering up their forward
phasers...
KIRA
Red alert. Shields up.
O'BRIEN
What shields?
Kira reacts but before she has any time to pursue the
matter...
DAX
They're hailing us again.
KIRA
(beat)
Open the channel.
239 ANGLE INCLUDE THE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
JASAD
We do not accept your explanation.
Somehow you have destroyed our warship...
KIRA
Gul Jasad, I assure you...
JASAD
We demand the unconditional surrender
of this station. Or we will open
fire.
A beat. Kira glances at O'Brien, his last warning about the
shields in her mind... back to the viewscreen.
KIRA
(playing for time)
I'll need at least a day to make the
necessary preparations...
JASAD
You have an hour.
He signs off... his ship reappears... on reactions...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT SEVEN
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT EIGHT 110.
ACT EIGHT
FADE IN:
A240 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
B240 INT. OPS
As before. O'Brien on the move to his station...
O'BRIEN
I can transfer all available power
to establish partial shields around
critical areas... but if they hit
the docking ring we'll sustain heavy
damage...
KIRA
(to Odo)
Constable... if you would coordinate
moving all personnel to safer
locations...
He acknowledges, EXITS... turning to Dax --
KIRA
What was the last reported position
of the Enterprise?
DAX
At least twenty hours away...
KIRA
We've got to hold out till they get
here...
BASHIR
I can't believe the Cardassians would
ever attack a Federation outpost...
O'BRIEN
Doctor, you ever studied your military
history of the border wars? Ever
heard of the Setlik Three massacre?
KIRA
I assume, Mister O'Brien you would
agree that surrender is not a
preferable option...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT EIGHT 110A.
B240 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
You know what they do to their
prisoners, sir...
Kira nods silently a beat... thoughtful... glances at
Bashir...
KIRA
Did I mention, Doctor, that heroes
often die young?
Off his reaction...
C240 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
Heartbeat. Breathing.
240 INT. SARATOGA - SISKO'S QUARTERS
As before... Sisko and the Tactical Officer alien...
the fire and smoke billowing up around them...
SISKO
What is the point of bringing me
back again to this?
241 ANGLE - JENNIFER ALIEN AND JAKE ALIEN
are there (Jennifer is dressed in her park costume, Jake is
wearing his fishing pond costume)... standing by Jennifer's
dead body and Jake's unconscious body still on the floor...
JAKE ALIEN
We do not bring you here.
JENNIFER ALIEN
You bring us here.
TACTICAL OFFICER ALIEN
You exist here.
Sisko blinks, not entirely understanding... but is impatient
to be done with it...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT EIGHT 110B.
SISKO
Then give me the power to lead you
somewhere else.
242 ANGLE - KAI OPAKA ALIEN
is there...
KAI OPAKA ALIEN
We cannot give you what you deny
yourself...
Sisko reacts, looks at her... as she says the familiar
words...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT EIGHT 111.
242 CONTINUED:
KAI OPAKA ALIEN
Look for solutions from within,
Commander...
SISKO #2 (O.S.)
Just help me get her free...
Sisko turns to see --
243 THE SAME SETTING
and a replay of the actual events (as we did with the picnic
in the park)... Sisko and the alien versions of Jake,
Jennifer, Opaka and the Tactical Officer watch Sisko #2 and
the duplicate Tactical Officer...
TACTICAL OFFICER
She's gone... there's nothing we can
do...
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning. Damage to warp core.
Containment failure in two
minutes...
Sisko #2 takes his dead wife's hand...
SISKO #2
You go ahead, Lieutenant. Take the
boy.
The security man ENTERS and the Tactical Officer gives Jake
#2 to him... The real Sisko watches, his eyes glued to the
horror, his mouth dry as cotton...
SISKO
I was ready to die with her...
TACTICAL OFFICER ALIEN
"Die" - what is this?
And it is Jennifer Alien who answers... as understanding
begins to grow...
JENNIFER ALIEN
The termination of their linear
existence.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT EIGHT 112.
244 JENNIFER ALIEN AND SISKO (OPTICAL)
As she studies him and sees his pain... and then reaches out
and places it on his shoulder with comfort... he reacts to
the touch of her hand and looks into her eyes... and they
aren't so alien anymore... it is the first overt physical
contact they have made with him... a link... an
understanding... she looks back at the scene --
TACTICAL OFFICER
Now, sir...
As the Tactical Officer lifts him by the shoulder...
He continues to pull him out of the room...
SISKO #2
Dammit... we can't leave her here...
During the above, Sisko is beginning to make a realization...
SISKO
I've never left this ship...
JENNIFER ALIEN
You exist here.
SISKO
I... exist here.
The Tactical Officer leads Sisko #2 out... Sisko steps slowly
forward and moves to his dead wife taking the place of his
double... picks up her hand...
SISKO
(to the aliens)
I don't know if you can understand.
I see her like this every time I
close my eyes... in the darkness in
the blink of an eye, she's there...
like this...
JENNIFER ALIEN
None of your past experiences helped
prepare you for this consequence...
Sisko shakes his head, slowly...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT EIGHT 113.
244 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(softly)
And I've never figured out how to
live without her.
JENNIFER ALIEN
So you choose to exist here.
He nods, unable to speak... she moves closer...
JENNIFER ALIEN
It is not linear.
And of course it is so simple in its truth...
SISKO
No. It's not... linear.
Sisko gently places down the hand of his dead wife...
and as he accepts that this is really the end of their
life together, tears roll down his cheeks, and he
begins to truly grieve his loss. After a beat, he
stands, turns... and Jennifer alien is no longer there.
He understands, exchanges a meaningful look with the remaining
three aliens (Tactical officer, Opaka, and Jake). In this
moment, two species have finally come to understand one
another... to learn from one another... it is the end to the
conflict... and the beginning of a shared future. There is
something of a compassionate smile from Jake alien that seals
it... and as Sisko returns his smile with an appreciation
for what they've done...
245 THE WHITE SCREEN - SISKO'S EYES (OPTICAL)
thoughtful, showing the impact of what has occurred...
heartbeat... breathing...
246 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
as before.
247 INT. OPS
Kira, O'Brien, Dax, Bashir... O'Brien and Dax at their
stations...
DAX
Their lead ship is hailing us...
Gul Jasad wants an answer...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT EIGHT 114.
KIRA
(acknowledges, a beat)
Are you ready, Mister O'Brien... ?
O'BRIEN
Yessir... when they penetrate our
Thoron field, it should raise a few
eyebrows over there...
KIRA
All right, then, let's give them our
answer. Fire six photon torpedoes
across Jasad's bow...
O'BRIEN
(reacts)
We only have six photons, Major...
KIRA
We're not going to win this battle
with torpedoes, Chief.
O'BRIEN
Aye, sir...
247A
thru OMITTED
247B
248 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
launches six torpedoes... that explode off the lead ship's
starboard bow...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT EIGHT 114A.
249 INT. OPS
O'BRIEN
An urgent hail from Jasad.
BASHIR
I guess we got his attention.
KIRA
On screen.
250 ANGLE INCLUDE THE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
Jasad is incredulous, but calm.
JASAD
This is your answer... ?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT EIGHT 115.
250 CONTINUED:
KIRA
You don't think Starfleet took command
of this space station without the
ability to defend it, do you?
JASAD
Defend it? Your space station could
not defend itself against one
Cardassian warship...
A beat as she steps forward to the viewscreen...
KIRA
You're probably right, Jasad. And if
you were dealing with a Starfleet
officer, they'd probably admit we
have a hopeless cause here... but
I'm just a Bajoran who's been fighting
a hopeless cause against Cardassians
all her life... So if you want a
war, I'll give you one.
Jasad shakes his head, cuts off transmission and the screen
returns to the Cardassian ships... O'Brien studies her with
a trace of admiration...
O'BRIEN
Major, remind me never to get into a
game of Roladan Wild Draw with you...
Off her reaction...
251 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
with the Cardassian ships.
252 INT. CARDASSIAN BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
Jasad studies the space station on a viewscreen...
his officer ENTERS...
CARDASSIAN OFFICER #3
They were using a Thoron field to
block our sensors but we were able
to penetrate it...
JASAD
What are their defenses... ?
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT EIGHT 116.
CARDASSIAN OFFICER #3
According to our scans, an estimated
5000 photons... integrated phaser
banks on all levels...
He hands Jasad a padd with information on it...
JASAD
When did they receive these armaments?
How did they install them without
our knowledge?
Jasad throws the padd across the room... the officer reacts...
JASAD
Somehow they've created a massive
illusion of duranium shadows...
CARDASSIAN OFFICER #3
But if it is not an illusion...
JASAD
It is!
CARDASSIAN OFFICER #3
Why risk a confrontation? The Fourth
Order can be here in a day...
JASAD
And so can Starfleet.
A beat on Jasad as he thinks and...
253 INT. OPS (OPTICAL)
The Cardassian ships on the viewscreen... the crew waits for
a response...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/25/92 - ACT EIGHT 117.
253 CONTINUED:
Dax is checking readings...
DAX
The lead ship is sending out a
subspace message asking for
reinforcements...
BASHIR
Yes...
KIRA
(watching the screen)
Too soon for a victory celebration,
Doctor... Mister O'Brien... ?
O'BRIEN
The ships are being deployed into a
standard attack formation, sir...
The mood quickly shifts...
KIRA
(quietly)
Battle stations.
254 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
as the Cardassians open fire... several charges explode off
the docking ring...
255 INT. PROMENADE
Emphasis on Jake among civilians, who have crowded onto the
main street... The area shakes with the impact of the
explosions...
256 INT. OPS
Shaking...
O'BRIEN
They may just be testing us...
I could run a pulse compression
wave through the phaser banks,
put out a blast that'll make them
think twice...
KIRA
Do it...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/31/92 - ACT EIGHT 118.
257 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
firing a huge phaser blast... connecting with a Cardassian
ship that sustains some damage... but the Cardassians' fire
shows no sign of letting up, connects with a lower deck...
258 INT. OPS
A major shake...
KIRA
Damage report...
O'BRIEN
Direct hit... level fourteen...
empty storage bays... no casualties...
DAX
Shields are down to twenty-seven
percent...
259 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
The firing continues... the Cardassians connect with a fuel
depot... there is a huge explosion... and a series of three
smaller ones along a fuel line moving toward...
260 INT. PROMENADE (OPTICAL)
where an underground line ruptures and the fire shoots through
the floor... people scatter as Bajoran supernumeraries move
quickly with 24th century fire gear to contain the damage...
Jake quickly moves out of the path of the surging crowd...
261 INT. OPS
DAX
(reacts)
A fuel conduit has ruptured on the
Promenade...
KIRA
(to O'Brien)
Can you divert the main power flow...
O'BRIEN
(trying in vain)
Controls are locked...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/31/92 - ACT EIGHT 118A.
261 CONTINUED:
ODO'S COM VOICE
Odo to Ops...
KIRA
Go ahead.
261A INT. PROMENADE
Odo tending to the wounded...
ODO
(barking)
I've got wounded people down here.
Have you seen that doctor of yours
anywhere?
261B INT. OPS
BASHIR
(reacts)
I'm on my way...
He EXITS onto a turbolift as the station is rocked with more
explosions...
O'BRIEN
(on the move)
I'm gonna have to shut down the
primary power flow or the whole
promenade will go up...
(beat, to himself)
Bloody Cardies... we just fixed the
damned thing...
He swings down into the hole and begins to work on a
console...
261C EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
The Cardassians continue to pummel the station with phaser
shots...
261D INT. PROMENADE (OPTICAL)
The lights go out... Jake and others react with alarm...
the shaking continues... moving to find Bashir arriving
carrying a medical kit... he moves to Odo who is with a
civilian Bajoran woman who is seriously hurt... her neck is
bleeding... Bashir takes a quick tricorder reading, his eyes
narrow with concern...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/21/92 - ACT EIGHT 118B.
261D CONTINUED:
Bashir grabs Odo's hand, surprising him, guides his finger
to the woman's neck..
BASHIR
Press there... hard...
ODO
(awkward)
Look, Doctor... maybe I should find
you someone...
BASHIR
(fully in command)
Hold it there...
And Odo blinks, obeys... Bashir uses a laser-like device on
the woman's neck as he holds her head firm with his free
hand (3 hands are clearly required... ) his eyes determined
to save her... the lights come back on... reactions...
261E INT. OPS
O'Brien still in the hole...
O'BRIEN
That should do it for awhile...
He climbs out of the hole as another blast rocks the
station...
DAX
Shields at eighteen percent and
falling...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT EIGHT 119.
261E CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
I might still be able to give you
one more phaser blast, Major...
A beat. Kira knows it's hopeless... there's nothing else to
do...
KIRA
No. Signal the lead Cardassian ship
that we will proceed with the...
DAX
Major... I'm reading a huge neutrino
disturbance... fifteen kilometers
off the forward docking ring...
(beat)
It's the wormhole...
KIRA
On screen...
262 ANGLE TO INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
in time to see the wormhole explode into view...
263 REACTIONS
interactive lighting from the screen...
264 INT. CARDASSIAN BRIDGE - JASAD (OPTICAL)
As he reacts to the viewscreen displaying the wormhole...
behind the space station...
KIRA'S COM VOICE
What did I tell you, Jasad...
There's your wormhole...
265 EXT. SPACE - THE WORMHOLE (OPTICAL)
to see an incredible sight... the tiny Runabout towing out
the huge Cardassian warship, at the end of a tractor beam,
fifty times larger than the Starfleet vessel...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/14/92 - ACT EIGHT 120.
266 INT. OPS
SISKO'S COM VOICE
Rio Grande to D-S Nine.
KIRA
On screen. Go ahead, Commander.
267 ANGLE INCLUDING VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
SISKO
Sorry to be so late. I didn't know
we were having company.
Clear me for docking, Mister O'Brien.
O'BRIEN
Aye, sir... cleared for pad "C"...
On the elated reactions of the crew...
268 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
as the Runabout moves in for a landing...
269 INT. PROMENADE
As Sisko walks out of the Airlock gate... he sees the damage
to the promenade, reacts, begins to move perceptibly faster...
and he has to be wondering about Jake... he finally finds
Odo and Bashir tending to the wounded... The Bajoran woman
is lying nearby, conscious, holding hands with a member of
her family...
SISKO
Casualties... ?
BASHIR
Thirteen injured, Commander...
No fatalities...
And Sisko's face eases immediately... as he looks up to motion
in the crowd and Jake pushes to the front... smiles as he
sees his father... Sisko grins back with love... and as the
boy runs to him, Sisko lifts him up and carries him on his
hip... and as they move down the thoroughfare...
FADE TO BLACK.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/13/92 - ACT EIGHT 121.
FADE IN:
270 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) (DAY #7)
Revealing the Enterprise arriving...
SISKO (V.O.)
Station log, Commander Benjamin Sisko,
stardate xxxxx.x. The lifeforms who
created the wormhole have agreed to
allow safe passage for all ships
traveling to the Gamma Quadrant.
With the arrival of the Enterprise,
the Cardassians have left the area...
271 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE
there is no hostility from Sisko this time... Sisko has
finished briefing him as we cut in...
PICARD
(dry)
I suspect the sight of their warship
being towed back by a Starfleet
runabout took the heart out of their
fight...
SISKO
We're not done with the Cardassians
yet. Not with the strategic
importance that wormhole brings...
PICARD
It seems you've put Bajor
on the map, Commander.
This will shortly become a
leading center of commerce and
scientific exploration...
(beat, with purpose)
And for Starfleet, one of our most
important posts...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/12/92 - ACT EIGHT 121A.
271 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(beat)
Captain, regarding our conversation
about someone to replace me...
PICARD
I'm sorry, I haven't had the time to
communicate it to Command...
SISKO
I would prefer you ignore it, sir.
PICARD
(a beat, not so easy)
I'm not sure I can, Commander...
are you certain this is what you
want? Because we can't afford to
have someone in command here who...
SISKO
I'm certain, sir.
A beat, Picard studies the man, quite a different man than
the last time they met. He nods... shakes his hand...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 08/10/92 - ACT EIGHT 122.
271 CONTINUED: (2)
PICARD
Good luck, Sisko.
And Picard EXITS... a beat on Sisko...
272 EXT. BAJOR - MATTE SHOT - ESTABLISHING (OPTICAL)
273 INT. MONASTERY - DAY (OPTICAL)
Pulling back on the ark as it's placed in a shrine... moving
to find Opaka is doing it... and that Sisko is with her...
SISKO
Fourteen planets have already
contacted us about opening trade
routes through Bajoran space...
KAI OPAKA
(nods)
The prophets have been generous...
SISKO
I have a lot to tell you about your
prophets, Opaka.
KAI OPAKA
Does it surprise you that I do not
wish to hear?
Sisko reacts, not really.
KAI OPAKA
Perhaps that is why a disbeliever
was destined to seek them -- one
should never look into the eyes of
his own gods...
SISKO
(wanting to share at
least this much)
It was... quite a journey.
KAI OPAKA
It was only the beginning of your
journey, Commander.
On Sisko's reaction...
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 09/14/92 - ACT EIGHT 123.
274 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
275 INT. PROMENADE
Moving to find Bashir walking with Odo...
BASHIR
So, where can someone practice with
his phaser around here... ?
Losing them as they pass by Quark's, where the camera picks
up Kira and Quark coming out of the door...
QUARK
New rules... ?
KIRA
You're can't cheat every customer
who walks through your door anymore,
Quark... you're a community leader
now...
Quark puts his hand on her hip in an awkwardly intimate
move...
QUARK
Very well. Very well. Perhaps we
could discuss these new rules over a
drink...
KIRA
If you don't take that hand off my
hip, you'll never be able to raise
another glass with it.
She gives him a hard look, moves away... as Quark watches...
QUARK
I love a woman in uniform...
And he gasps as he sees Dax pass in her uniform with
O'Brien... and we stay with them as they walk to greet Sisko
arriving from the Turbolift...
DAX
Benjamin, three Frunalian science
vessels are requesting permission to
dock...
O'BRIEN
Problem is we've been retro-fitting
the Airlocks, sir.
DEEP SPACE: "Emissary" REV. FINAL 09/14/92 - ACT EIGHT 124.
275 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Half of them were damaged during the
move... and most of the others when
the Cardassians blew out the...
And during the above, they move away out of earshot as we
pull back for the wide shot of the activity...
276 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
as the three ships arrive...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT EIGHT
THE END