STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Battle Lines"
#40511-413
Story by
Hilary Bader
Teleplay by
Richard Danus
and
Evan Somers
Directed by
Paul Lynch
THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING
WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If
lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department.
Return to Script Department FINAL DRAFT
PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION
JANUARY 21, 1993
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 01/21/93 - CAST
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Battle Lines"
CAST
BENJAMIN SISKO SHEL-LA
MILES O'BRIEN ZLANGCO
KIRA NERYS
ODO
JULIAN BASHIR
JADZIA DAX
KAI OPAKA
COMPUTER VOICE
Non-Speaking Non-Speaking
SUPERNUMARIES NIMA
BAJORAN MONK VARIOUS ENNIS
VARIOUS NOL-ENNIS DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 01/21/93 - SETS
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Battle Lines"
SETS
INTERIORS EXTERIORS
DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE
PROMENADE
OPS MOON
COMMANDER'S OFFICE
AIRLOCK RUNABOUT
RUNABOUT SATELLITE
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/25/93 - PRONUNCIATION
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Battle Lines"
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
BAJOR BAY-Jor
BAJORAN bah-JOR-an
CARDASSIAN car-DASS-ee-en
ENNIS EH-nis
GOLIN GOH-lin
HYSTERESIS his-teh-REE-ses
IDRAN IH-dran
KAI OPAKA KYE oh-PAH-kah
NOL-ENNIS NOHL EH-nis
RIO GRANDE REE-oh GRAND
SHEL-LA shel-LAH
VAYAN VAYE-yahn
YANGTZEE KIANG YANG-se KEY-an
ZLANGCO ZLANG-koe
MESON MAY-zon
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE xx.
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"Battle Lines"
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE
DAX and O'BRIEN are standing before the Commander's desk as
SISKO examines a series of files on his access monitor.
O'BRIEN
What's funny is where the files were
located: right there in Ops protocols.
DAX
The encryption system was extremely
easy to break.
SISKO
(looking up)
So they wanted us to find these.
DAX
Or they didn't care.
Sisko pops out a data clip and the monitor goes blank.
SISKO
Well, there's nothing of strategic
value here. Just personal logs and
some files on Bajoran terrorists.
But it is a glimpse into the
Cardassian mind.
O'BRIEN
You might want to warn Kira before
she sees her file.
KIRA ENTERS at that moment and Sisko immediately stands.
KIRA
Warn me about what?
SISKO
Oh, ah, Dax and Chief O'Brien
discovered some of the last Prefect's
personal files. There's a file on
you, but you may find it...
disappointing.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/21/93 - TEASER 2.
1 CONTINUED:
KIRA
I'm a big girl, Commander.
Sisko reluctantly places the data clip on his desk, then
EXITS, quickly followed by Dax and O'Brien.
2 INT. OPS - CONTINUOUS
Sisko, Dax and O'Brien assume their Ops stations alongside
various N.D.s to await the fallout from Kira.
BASHIR'S COM VOICE
Bashir to Sisko!
SISKO
Sisko here.
BASHIR'S COM VOICE
(excited)
I'm at Airlock Fourteen, Commander.
I think you'd better get down here.
SISKO
What's the problem, Doctor?
BASHIR'S COM VOICE
I was about to begin off-loading
some medical specimens from the
Bajoran transport... and... well...
The Kai is here!
SISKO
(disbelieving)
Kai... Opaka? Why would she be here?
BASHIR'S COM VOICE
She says you once offered her a tour
of the station.
Sisko, O'Brien and Dax exchange surprised looks. At that
moment Kira bursts out of the Commander's Office, furious.
KIRA
"A minor operative whose activities
are limited to running errands for
the terrorist leaders."
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - TEASER 3.
2 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(to Bashir)
Tell her I'll be right there.
(approaching Kira)
Major, when you're through feeling
underappreciated, perhaps you'd join
me in welcoming the Kai aboard.
Kira stares at Sisko, speechless.
3 INT. PROMENADE AT BAJORAN TEMPLE
OPAKA and Kira emerge from the temple, followed by one Bajoran
monk. A beat later Sisko and BASHIR emerge. ODO and a few
strategically scattered BAJORAN DEPUTIES watch vigilantly
from across the Promenade.
4 BASHIR AND SISKO
They watch as Opaka moves along the Promenade, oblivious to
the passersby who stare reverently or curiously at her.
BASHIR
(quietly)
You say she's never been here before?
SISKO
She's never even left Bajor before.
BASHIR
Excuse me for saying so, Commander,
but she looks preoccupied.
5 THE SECOND LEVEL - KIRA AND OPAKA
entering from the stairway... The Kai, strangely silent,
drifts to a viewport, gazes out into open space.
KIRA
(all concern)
Is something wrong, Opaka?
Opaka is thoughtfully fingering a pendant she wears around
her neck. She takes Kira's hand.
OPAKA
... Contemplating prophecy.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - TEASER 4.
5 CONTINUED:
KIRA
Interesting you chose this viewport.
(pointing)
The wormhole is just out there.
Sisko and Bashir step up behind them. BASHIR
It's a spectacular sight to see.
SISKO
Unfortunately, it can only be seen
when a ship enters it or exits, and
nothing's scheduled for today.
OPAKA
A shame.
Opaka smiles inwardly. She turns to Sisko and stares at him
with anticipation. After a beat...
SISKO
(tapping com badge)
Sisko to O'Brien.
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Go ahead Commander.
SISKO
Prepare the Yangtzee Kiang for launch,
Chief. Kira and I are taking the
Kai through the wormhole.
Kira acknowledges her inclusion with a thankful nod.
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Right away, sir.
Sisko looks to Opaka for confirmation that he read her mind
correctly. She has an almost relieved expression.
OPAKA
Thank you.
Sisko notices Bashir staring plaintively at him.
SISKO
I didn't want to keep you from your
duties, Doctor.
BASHIR
It's a slow day.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - TEASER 5.
5 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
(beat)
All right.
(takes Opaka's arm)
This way --
He leads her away. Kira and Bashir follow.
6 INT. DOCKING AIRLOCK - ON DOORS OF YANGTZEE KIANG
O'Brien and a Bajoran crewmember emerge from the Runabout,
wiping their hands and packing up a tool chest. Sisko, Kira
and Opaka approach, followed by Bashir. Seeing the Kai, the
Bajoran bows his head and O'Brien straightens up.
SISKO
Is the ship ready, Chief?
O'BRIEN
Prepped and ready for departure,
Commander.
(to Opaka, sincerely)
Ma'am --
SISKO
(to Opaka)
After you.
Opaka and Sisko step toward the Runabout, but Opaka stops
just short of entering. She fingers the pendant around her
neck, then looks up at O'Brien.
OPAKA
You have a child, don't you?
O'BRIEN
I do. I have a little girl, ma'am.
OPAKA
(pleased)
Would you give her this for me.
Opaka removes the pendant and hands it to him, then enters
the Runabout. Baffled, O'Brien looks to Sisko for an answer
but he has none. He simply shrugs his shoulders and follows
Kira and Bashir into the Runabout. The doors shut as O'Brien
walks away, gazing curiously at the pendant.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/21/93 - TEASER 6.
7 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
The Yangtzee Kiang rises off of its launch elevator on the
habitat ring and arcs away from the station...
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/21/93 - ACT ONE 7.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
(NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.)
8 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Traveling at impulse speed.
9 INT. RUNABOUT
Sisko and Kira in the pilot and co-pilot seats... Bashir and
Opaka behind them.
SISKO
(to Opaka)
We'll be entering the wormhole in
about a minute.
OPAKA
Thank you again for indulging me.
KIRA
(beating Sisko)
Not at all, Opaka. You honor us
with your presence.
SISKO
(to com)
Yangtzee Kiang to DS Nine. Estimating
time of return, fourteen hundred
hours.
DAX'S COM VOICE
Logged in... We'll expect you then.
KIRA
Flight stabilization at maximum...
Sisko examines a display, then quickly works controls.
SISKO
Here we go.
A jolt, then a burst of light explodes through the windows.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT ONE 8.
10 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
The ship is suddenly drawn forward into the kaleidoscopic
vortex which appears before them.
11 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
In the wormhole...
12 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
emerges from the other side of the wormhole...
13 INT. RUNABOUT - ON OPAKA
The last flickers of interactive light on her face...
BASHIR
Spectacular, isn't it...
OPAKA
More than I imagined...
14 ANGLE - KIRA AND SISKO
Kira works controls briefly.
SISKO
My smoothest ride yet, Major.
Everyone turns to Opaka, anticipating her response to the
experience, but she gazes off into space silently. Leaning
forward, Bashir points out the window for her.
BASHIR
There's Idran, the closest system.
It's a ternary star.
Oblivious, Opaka continues to gaze off into space silently.
OPAKA
(after a beat)
A doorway to the unknown...
SISKO
The other side of the galaxy, to be
precise. The Gamma quadrant is
seventy thousand light years from
Bajor. (MORE)
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT ONE 9.
13 CONTINUED:
SISKO
It would take our fastest starship
over sixty-seven years to get here.
OPAKA
I'm glad I got the chance to see it.
SISKO
You'll be seeing what this wormhole
means to Bajor in a few years.
OPAKA
If that is to be my fate, Commander.
KIRA
(to Sisko)
Should I reverse course?
OPAKA
So soon?
SISKO
(regretfully)
There isn't much else to show you
yet.
OPAKA
Prophecy is often vague, Commander,
that's why we must test it...
Sisko and Kira exchange confused looks.
SISKO
I don't understand, Opaka.
OPAKA
... You may return.
Sisko waits, hoping for a better answer, but none comes.
SISKO
Take us back to the wormhole, Major.
KIRA
Coming about...
But before she completes that, a short on-off pinging sound
emanates from her console. Kira studies a readout.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT ONE 10.
13 CONTINUED: (2)
KIRA
Sensors are picking up a narrow band
subspace signal...
SISKO
What do you make of it?
Kira presses panels and studies a display closely.
KIRA
Just a long stream of statistical
data followed by a request for
response... but I'm not reading a
reply.
SISKO
Launch a class two probe. We'll
follow it up later.
OPAKA
(genuinely surprised)
You're not going to investigate it
now?
SISKO
I'm not sure that's a good idea --
OPAKA
Because of my presence?
KIRA
There's no telling what it may be.
Opaka leans toward Sisko, smiling her most beguiling smile.
OPAKA
Please, Commander... I don't get out
here often.
Sisko glances at Kira and his expression says it all -- how
can you refuse the spiritual leader of Bajor?
SISKO
Can you get a fix on the source,
Major?
KIRA
... Point three-five light years.
Bearing... two-two-nine mark four-
one.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT ONE 11.
13 CONTINUED: (3)
SISKO
(reluctantly)
I guess we'd better take a look.
Kira hits some panels...
KIRA
Engaging warp...
14 OMITTED
15 EXT. MOON (OPTICAL)
A small meteor-pocked moon with a cloud-shrouded atmosphere...
move to find the Runabout moving into orbit.
16 INT. RUNABOUT
Opaka is leaning on the back of Sisko's chair, fascinated by
what she sees...
KIRA
This is definitely the origin of the
signal, but I'm having trouble
pinpointing the source... It isn't
coming from the surface...
Sisko presses panels and a graphic appears on a monitor.
17 INSERT - MONITOR (VPB)
The graphic reveals a network of dozens of satellites
distributed evenly around the moon. One of them is slowly
falling into the atmosphere...
SISKO (O.S.)
There's your answer: a network of
artificial satellites -- one of them
looks like it's malfunctioning --
its orbit is unstable...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT ONE 11A.
18 RESUME
SISKO
(continuing)
I'd bet the signals we picked up
were from the system trying to repair
it...
Something on Bashir's console gets his attention.
BASHIR
Commander, sensors are indicating
lifeforms... localized to a twelve
square kilometer area on the moon's
surface...
(checking)
They may be humanoid, sir...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT ONE 12.
18 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(reacts)
Humanoid... can you verify that?
BASHIR
I can't resolve the bio-patterns --
there's too much interference.
SISKO
(to Kira)
Take us in a little closer.
Kira presses panels... she reacts to a flashing light on her
console.
KIRA
We're being scanned by one of the
satellites.
(checking sensors)
I don't like this... it's heading
toward us...
SISKO
Shields up!
KIRA
(urgent)
... Reading a significant power build-
up in the satellite... six hundred
megawatts... nine hundred...
19
thru OMITTED
20
20A ANGLE - MONITOR (VPB)
to see the growing image of a satellite approaching...
releasing an energy burst...
KIRA
(continuing)
... it's firing... !
21
thru OMITTED
23
24 RESUME - WIDE
A huge shake... Red warning lights flash and a klaxon sounds.
Kira frantically presses panels. Smoke fills the cabin.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT ONE 13.
24 CONTINUED:
KIRA
Shields are down... forward thrusters
are gone... we're losing power...
SISKO
Attempting to compensate with
secondary boosters.
KIRA
Impulse generators failing --
Sisko and Kira struggle to control the shaking craft.
SISKO
Hold on... we're going down!
Opaka grabs Bashir's hand, holds it tightly. Kira shoots a
desperate glance back at the Kai...
25 ANGLE - TOWARD FRONT WINDOW (OPTICAL)
as they move down into the atmosphere... glimpses of the
moon peek through the cloud cover...
SISKO
Check contingency fuel cell output...
KIRA
Holding at sixty-five percent...
SISKO
Doctor, watch the hull temperature.
BASHIR
Aye, sir...
KIRA
Stabilizing attitude control response.
SISKO
Pitching up to twenty degrees...
BASHIR
Hull temperature nine hundred C...
nine-fifty... eleven hundred...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/26/93 - ACT ONE 14.
26 INT. RUNABOUT
Kira and Sisko look forward, concentrating...
KIRA
We're holding profile...
BASHIR
Twelve hundred C... thirteen...
SISKO
Ejecting antimatter pod...
He hits a panel... we hear a clang/woosh...
KIRA
Pitching up to sixty degrees...
prepare for final braking maneuvers...
SISKO
Brace for impact... !
After a beat, the Runabout shakes and rolls as it hits the
ground roughly. The four of them toss violently from side
to side. The lights fail, leaving the ship in utter
darkness... A final sound of twisting metal, and then...
27 EXT. MOON'S SURFACE
A barren, lifeless landscape dotted with gray, jagged rocks.
A fog hovers over everything. CAMERA PANS through the murk
until we see the broken Runabout. It has crashed against a
huge boulder... it is covered with smoke, broken vents spewing
nitrogen, sparks...
28 SISKO
claws his way out. He's dazed but able to function. He
tears at twisted metal. Bashir emerges from a distorted
doorway, coughing, dragging the limp body of the Kai with
Kira's help...
They manage to carry her a few yards away before collapsing
from exhaustion.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT ONE 15.
29 OMITTED
30 BASHIR
scans Opaka with his medical tricorder.
BASHIR
Pulmonary collapse... her upper
thoracic vertebrae have been
crushed...
He checks her pulse manually, then desperately tries standard
CPR techniques...
KIRA
Stay with us, Opaka... stay with
us...
But Bashir's efforts fail... he shakes his head sadly.
BASHIR
... I'm sorry.
Tears fill Kira's eyes as she realizes the Kai is dead. She
lays Opaka down. Holding her head low, and whispers a Bajoran
death chant in a deep, somber voice.
KIRA
Ahn-kay ya, ay-ya vasu. Coh-ma-ra,
di-nay-ya.
She repeats the sad chant as Sisko and Bashir watch
helplessly. Something disturbs Sisko. He spins around
rapidly to see...
31 NEW ANGLE
From the opposite side of a rocky knoll above them, hands
appear reaching over the rock's crest.
SISKO
... We've got company.
They start to reach for phasers but stop as they see it's
too late -- five humanoids have risen over the crest
brandishing menacing-looking weapons and have us well covered.
They wear an alien form of rugged but tattered outer garments
and their faces are battle-scarred to various degrees.
Off reactions...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT TWO 16.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
32 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
Establishing.
33 INT. OPS
Dax and O'Brien prepare for an away mission. They are
selecting phasers and tricorders when Odo ENTERS, clearly
worried. He follows them around Ops as they hurriedly finish
last minute business.
ODO
Still no contact with Sisko?
DAX
Not yet.
ODO
They're nearly three hours overdue.
O'BRIEN
Three and a half.
Dax accepts a data clip from an N.D. and joins O'Brien on
his way to the Transporter. Odo dogs their heels.
ODO
Opaka's people are on subspace to me
every five minutes...
O'BRIEN
Tell them one of our runabouts found
a trace of a warp eddy current...
it's gotta be from their ship...
DAX
With a little luck, we might be able
to determine the direction they were
heading...
ODO
That's not going to satisfy them on
Bajor... you have no idea what the
Kai means to them... when they heard
Sisko had taken her into the
wormhole...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT TWO 17.
O'Brien gets on the Turbolift...
O'BRIEN
(testy, worried)
Constable... you tell them we're
doing the best we can... okay...
As Dax joins him...
O'BRIEN
(to com)
Runabout Pad C...
The Turbolift begins to move...
DAX
(gentler)
Have the Bajorans station a ship on
the Gamma side, we'll stay in close
touch by subspace...
Odo acknowledges and they're gone... on his concerned
reaction...
34 INT. CAVE
The cave is really a tunnel which expands into a larger
chamber. Strings of odd-shaped lights are crudely hung on
the ceiling.
As Sisko, Kira and Bashir pass, the Ennis inhabiting the
cave halt their mundane activities (sewing, cleaning weapons,
eating) to stare at the strange aliens. All of them wear
tattered clothes.
They arrive before SHEL-LA, the Ennis leader, standing by a
fire. He is battle-scarred and tough-looking, but a great
weariness surrounds him. NIMA places the phasers and Bashir's
medical kit by him. Shel-la picks up a phaser and briefly
examines it, stands to examine his new arrivals.
SHEL-LA
Our first visitors...
(stops before Kira)
You are not all the same race.
KIRA
(angry and in pain)
I am a Bajoran!
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" 1/22/93 - ACT TWO 18.
34 CONTINUED:
SISKO
I'm Commander Benjamin Sisko.
(gesturing)
Major Kira Nerys and Doctor Julian
Bashir.
Shel-la turns toward Bashir and laughs a grim laugh.
SHEL-LA
A doctor? How... ironic.
(faces Sisko)
I'm Golin Shel-la, leader of the
Ennis. Why are you here?
SISKO
We were attacked by one of your
satellites. Our ship was damaged
and we crashed.
SHEL-LA
(impatient)
Of course -- but why did you come
here?
SISKO
We were exploring. We've recently
discovered a permanent wormhole
linking our quadrant of the galaxy
to yours. I command a space station
at the mouth of that wormhole.
SHEL-LA
So you know nothing of our home
planet... or the punishment?
SISKO
We're just beginning to explore this
sector. As I said, our home is on
the other side of the galaxy.
Shel-la is relieved. He resumes his position by the fire
and studies the phaser. Kira stifles a cry of pain and falls
to her knees, clutching her shoulder. Bashir helps her onto
a bench.
KIRA
I'm all right --
BASHIR
The hell you are.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT TWO 19.
34 CONTINUED: (2)
Bashir approaches Shel-la. Nima's gun is instantly on
him. Despite Nima's threat, Bashir points to the medical
kit next to Shel-la's throne. He is well aware of the danger
he's courting.
BASHIR
She needs treatment. Do you mind?
After a beat... Shel-la nods to Nima who picks up the kit,
looks through it briefly, then tosses it to Bashir. Bashir
hurries over to Kira. He scans her with his tricorder and
administers a hypospray.
SHEL-LA
I apologize for our cautious nature.
If you haven't realized... we are at
war.
SISKO
Who are you fighting?
SHEL-LA
(cold anger)
A brutal enemy who attacks at whim.
We must maintain a constant vigil.
(casual, re: the phaser)
Is this some sort of energy weapon?
SISKO
(beat, acknowledges
reluctantly)
Yes...
Shel-la grunts a laugh of uninterest... tosses it aside...
SHEL-LA
The Ennis stopped using directed
energy weapons centuries ago -- not
damaging enough.
Shel-la rises, gestures Sisko to follow him...
35 SISKO AND SHEL-LA
as they walk through the cave-encampment.
SHEL-LA
Your arrival complicates matters...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT TWO 19A.
35 CONTINUED:
SISKO
We don't plan to be here long.
SHEL-LA
(laughing)
You expect to repair your ship?
SISKO
No, but a rescue team is probably on
it's way right now.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/21/93 - ACT TWO 20.
35 CONTINUED: (2)
SHEL-LA
Like you, they'll have to deal with
the defense-net -- and that is beyond
my influence.
SISKO
You don't control the satellites?
SHEL-LA
We are all prisoners on this moon.
SISKO
Then, this is a penal colony...
SHEL-LA
My immediate concern regards your
partisanship. By your presence here,
you will be considered our ally.
Your lives are in danger.
Shel-la stops before a group of wounded Ennis.
SHEL-LA
The most recent victims of our enemy --
the Nol-Ennis.
SISKO
Where are your doctors?
SHEL-LA
We have none.
Sisko bends down and looks over the wounded -- they're all
in obvious agony. He stands and faces Shel-la, shocked.
SISKO
You have no medical personnel? How
can you survive without...
SHEL-LA
... We were "thrust" into this
situation with few resources. And
since you are here under similar
circumstances... I was hoping we
could help each other.
As Sisko reacts curiously...
36 BASHIR AND KIRA
as he applies a dressing to her wounded shoulder.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT TWO 21.
BASHIR
This should make you feel better...
But Kira is silent... the pain she feels is not for herself
but for the loss of the Kai... Bashir understands...
BASHIR
(after a beat)
Major, I'm sorry. I would've done
anything --
KIRA
(uncharacteristically
subdued)
It's all so senseless. Opaka has
always been a symbol of hope for me.
Her words gave meaning to our
struggle. Now she's dead, her life
ends on some unknown moon...
(a beat)
... and for what?
37 SISKO AND SHEL-LA
return with a few other Ennis. Bashir stands up to meet
them.
SISKO
Doctor Bashir will offer any medical
assistance he can. But understand
that we can't take sides in your
battle...
SHEL-LA
It doesn't matter what I understand
if the Nol capture you.
38 FAVORING SISKO, BASHIR AND KIRA (OPTICAL)
SISKO
Seems we're in the middle of a pretty
ugly war.
BASHIR
I gathered that.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT TWO 22.
38 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Shel-la says his people will protect
us from their enemy in exchange for
your services... they have no
doctors...
BASHIR
Perhaps I can train some of them in
the basics of field triage?
Sisko pats him on the back approvingly. He turns to Kira.
SISKO
How's the shoulder, Major?
KIRA
(as if it's a
punishment)
I'll live...
BASHIR
I still have to run a neuromuscular
scan on her when we get back.
SISKO
(confidentially)
Don't count on a quick rescue. This
moon is some kind of high security
prison colony.
Suddenly, the sounds of weapons fire at the mouth of the
cave... Shel-la grabs a weapon... and this all happens very
quickly...
Three Nol-Ennis charge into the cave, led by their commander,
ZLANGCO. They wear similar clothing to the Ennis but the
color patterns are different and they all have headbands.
A flurry of weapons fire ensues. Screams of pain fill the
air. Through the smoke, Zlangco sees Shel-la. Before
Shel-la can react, he is burned down by Zlangco. Distracted
by Shel-la's death, another Ennis is killed where she stands.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT TWO 23.
39 SISKO AND BASHIR
do the smart thing and move for cover... react as --
40 KIRA (OPTICAL)
scrambles toward where the phasers were left... in the middle
of the firestorm...
SISKO
Major... !
A Nol-Ennis fires at her, misses... a beat later, he is shot
and killed by Nima... who in turn is shot and killed a moment
later... Kira rolls painfully to a phaser... fires a burst
at the cave ceiling, bringing it crashing down on the Nol.
Zlangco moves back out of the way in time and quickly
retreats... A cloud of dust erupts... then silence.
41 VARIOUS ANGLES
As the smoke and dust begins to clear... Sisko, Bashir and
Kira stare at the scene of carnage before them. A groan of
pain breaks the silence. Bashir locates the survivor and
bandages his bleeding arm. Kira tears strips from another
survivor's shirt to wrap his leg.
42 SISKO
is searching through rubble for survivors when he notices
the silhouette of a person standing in the diffuse light at
the mouth of the cave. As the figure approaches, him --
slowly, unsteadily -- his mouth drops in amazement.
43 KIRA
notices the figure approaching Sisko and grabs her phaser.
KIRA
Commander, get down!
Sisko looks back at Kira without fear.
SISKO
... Put the phaser away, Kira.
The figure emerges from the shadows, revealing herself to be
Kai Opaka. Sisko, Kira and Bashir stand before her in stunned
silence.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/21/93 - ACT TWO 23A.
43 CONTINUED:
Off their expressions...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT THREE 24.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
44 INT. CAVE
Dead from both camps are strewn about the cave floor like
discarded broken dolls. A group of the surviving Ennis are
separating the Nol from their fallen comrades and dragging
them off toward a holding pen at the rear of the cave.
PAN TO Opaka sitting on a bench staring blankly at Bashir as
he scans her with his tricorder. Kira sits protectively by
her side. Sisko watches them.
BASHIR
(amazed)
... Her vital signs appear to be
normal.
(to Kira, defensively)
But I'm certain she was...
KIRA
(interrupting, equally
stunned)
I was there, Doctor...
SISKO
Opaka, are you aware of what's
happened?
OPAKA
(shaking her head, as
confused as anyone)
The surface was approaching so
quickly... I must admit I closed my
eyes, Commander... I felt the
impact... there was a deafening
whine... a wall of heat seemed to
pass through me... and then...
nothing...
She looks to Sisko for an explanation.
SISKO
After we crashed, we pulled you from
the wreckage... but you were...
OPAKA
(suddenly intuiting)
-- Dead?
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT THREE 25.
44 CONTINUED:
Sisko gives her an even look that answers her question...
she considers this a beat, exploring her pagh for answers...
rises, moves away thoughtfully... Kira studies her, grateful
for her return, not easily accepting miracles, trying to
figure all of this out herself... trails her like a protective
guard...
45 ANGLE FAVORING BASHIR AND SISKO
watching as the Kai takes in the bloody carnage... she moves
to a wounded Ennis and comforts him...
SISKO
How do you explain this, Doctor?
Bashir is still studying his tricorder readings...
BASHIR
Although she appears normal... her
physiology has been radically altered.
SISKO
How?
BASHIR
I'm not sure. The tricorder indicates
some kind of bio-mechanical presence
on the cellular level.
SISKO
Bio-mechanical? You mean something
artificial?
BASHIR
I wish I could tell you. Whatever
it is, it seems to be directly
controlling her metabolic processes.
SISKO
Is she in any danger?
Frustrated, Bashir looks at his tricorder as if it were
useless.
BASHIR
I'm sorry to keep saying it, but I
just don't know.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT THREE 25A.
45 CONTINUED:
BASHIR
(beat, thinking)
If the Runabout's computer were
functional, I might be able to do a
full analysis.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT THREE 26.
45 CONTINUED: (2)
KIRA (O.S.)
Commander, over here!
46 KIRA
is standing over Nima's body, which is starting to revive.
Sisko and Bashir quickly join her. Bashir moves to treat
Nima but she roughly shakes him off. Kira points to Shel-la
and the other "dead" Ennis who are also starting to move.
Off reactions...
47 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
in the Gamma Quadrant...
48 INT. RUNABOUT
O'Brien and Dax in pilot and co-pilot's seats. Both are
studying sensor readings.
DAX
There's still no sign of them on any
of the long range scanners...
O'BRIEN
Not even a transponder signal... if
they went down, we should at least
get something from their
transponder...
(pressing panels,
frustrated)
The warp eddy has traces of meson
particle emissions... that makes it
a Starfleet power reactor...
DAX
The current shows their heading was
approximately two-three-zero mark
four...
O'BRIEN
Anything interesting in that
direction... ?
DAX
(checking, sighs - a
big job)
An uncharted binary star system...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT THREE 27.
48 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Guess it's time to chart it...
DAX
Setting a new course...
49 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
Makes a quick turn as it prepares to go to... but doesn't
quite get to... warp...
50 INT. CAVE
Shel-la is still lying down as Bashir examines his injuries.
He gives Shel-la a hypospray, then scans him with his
tricorder from head to toe.
BASHIR
The same as Opaka. Virtually every
cell in his body shows signs of this
bio-mechanical presence... somehow
it has literally brought him back to
life...
This is not anything new to Shel-la, who is weak and in pain --
he will very slowly recover strength as the scene continues...
SISKO
You've died before.
SHEL-LA
Many times... too many to count.
All of this is an incredible discovery to Bashir...
BASHIR
Commander, I'd like to return to the
Runabout and try to get the computer
up and running...
SISKO
Doctor, we're in the middle of a
war...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT THREE 28.
50 CONTINUED:
BASHIR
This could be a breakthrough of
unprecedented magnitude...
SISKO
It's too dangerous...
But Shel-la is thinking three moves ahead... he might be
able to use this knowledge somehow... he slowly rises...
SHEL-LA
I'll see to his protection...
(off Sisko's reaction)
I'd like to know more about this
"breakthrough" myself...
Bashir looks to Sisko... who glances to see the Kai in the
background, moving among the wounded... turns to Bashir and
nods his approval...
As he moves off, Shel-la signals two ND Ennis to accompany
him... they EXIT as... Sisko glances toward the holding pens
at the rear.
As they walk and talk, Shel-la looks with compassion to the
recovering members of his group... makes eye contact,
acknowledges their pain... (but note: since Bashir has left,
all the doctoring requirements should be complete by now)...
SHEL-LA
Your doctor acts as though he's seen
a miracle.
SISKO
He's not alone.
SHEL-LA
If you lived with it as we have,
you'd see it as a curse.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT THREE 29.
50 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
How long have you been here?
SHEL-LA
It feels like an eternity... It's
all part of the punishment.
SISKO
What is this punishment, Shel-la... ?
SHEL-LA
Everything here has been designed to
prolong our suffering.
Their movements have brought them closer to Kira and the
Kai... Kira overhears the last line and moves over... the
Kai will drift this way too during the scene to listen...
SISKO
What was your crime?
Shel-la takes a beat... with irony, motioning to the scene
around him...
SHEL-LA
The Ennis and the Nol-Ennis sects
are ancient enemies. Generation
after generation fought the same
war. Our planet's leaders were unable
to mediate a peace. They finally
just sent us all to this moon... and
told us that we would serve as an
example to the rest of civilization.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT THREE 30.
50 CONTINUED: (3)
OPAKA
(with compassion)
How did your fight begin?
Shel-la studies her a beat...
SHEL-LA
Some say it was land. Others say it
was water. It is isn't very relevant
now...
OPAKA
Then what do you hope to gain by
continuing?
SHEL-LA
Vengeance.
(beat, quiet loathing)
Every one of us has seen our families
suffer incredibly at the hands of
the Nol.
SISKO
The Nol could say the very same
thing...
SHEL-LA
(so be it)
And probably do.
This makes sense on some level to Kira... she's listening to
the problem without looking beneath the surface... yet... so
it makes perfect sense to her when she says...
KIRA
If you must fight your war, the least
you can do is to learn to fight it
more effectively...
SISKO
Major, this is not our...
SHEL-LA
(overriding)
What do you mean?
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT THREE 31.
50 CONTINUED: (4)
KIRA
(growing angry)
... There were no guards at the
entrance when we arrived, you have
no system to alert your forces of an
attack, and your people are obviously
unprepared for fighting close-
quarter...
SISKO
That's enough, Major.
KIRA
We're trapped on this moon with only
his forces standing between us and
damnation. We've got to defend
ourselves to stay alive! When the
Nol attack again we have to be ready --
SISKO
I said, that's enough, Major!
Kira's about to protest again when Opaka takes her hand.
OPAKA
(gently but firmly)
It's not your war, Kira... It's not
your war.
Kira suddenly realizes the truth of Opaka's statement. She
slowly backs off, embarrassed. Shel-la seems amused by her
outburst.
SHEL-LA
We used to defend ourselves better...
Safety perimeters, counter-offensives
and preemptive strikes... but we
realized it was pointless. When you
cease to fear death, the rules of
war change.
(to Kira)
You'll understand as the years begin
to pass, Major...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/29/93 - ACT THREE 32.
50 CONTINUED: (5)
SISKO
Listen to me, Shel-la... our rescue
is not going to take years... days,
weeks maybe, but they will find us...
and then they'll find a way to
penetrate the defense-net and
transport us out of here...
SHEL-LA
Then you'll be luckier than we have
been...
SISKO
We'd be willing to transport all of
you away from here if that's what
you want.
Shel-la reacts... so moved by the possibility... that he
steps away to consider what it might be like...
SHEL-LA
(mostly to himself)
Away from here? To live one life
and then die... in peace? To us,
that's an ancient prayer that's never
been answered, Commander.
A long emotional beat.
SHEL-LA
You would do this for us?
SISKO
For both sides... the Ennis and the
Nol-Ennis alike...
(off Shel-la's
skeptical look)
After you leave, you can go wherever
you want to... just end this
nightmare. Stop fighting long enough
for all of us to get off this moon...
Shel-la takes a beat to think about it... he slowly moves
back into the reality of his existence here... abandons the
possibility...
SHEL-LA
Zlangco, the leader of the Nol would
never agree to a cease-fire...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/29/93 - ACT THREE 32A.
50 CONTINUED: (6)
SISKO
Ask him...
SHEL-LA
You don't understand them... all
they care about is...
SISKO
What do you care about? If you want
to end the suffering of your people,
at least try. Set up a meeting with
this Zlangco... talk about this...
what do you have to lose, Shel-la --
another day of fighting?
A beat.
SHEL-LA
You'll find that it's hopeless.
(beat)
But I will agree to meet... if he
will.
A small victory, but a crucial first step toward peace...
and on Sisko's satisfied look of hope...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/26/93 - ACT FOUR 33.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
51 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT
moving at impulse within a system...
52 INT. RUNABOUT
O'Brien glances with increased frustration up from a
readout...
O'BRIEN
I'm not reading a single M Class
planet in the system... if they went
down anywhere around here, they
couldn't have survived...
DAX
(reading her sensors)
I'm not sure we can believe the scans,
Chief... the star is putting out
abnormal levels of delta radiation...
O'BRIEN
(reacts, checks for
himself, sighs)
That would foul up our long range
scanners...
DAX
We'll have to survey each planet one
at a time...
O'BRIEN
Not to mention...
(trying to count)
... two dozen or so moons and an
asteroid belt...
(beat)
Bloody needle in a haystack...
He gets an idea, stands and goes to a rear work station,
begins to take some small tech gear out of a panel...
O'BRIEN
(murmuring to himself
again)
Bloody needle in a haystack... what
we need is a magnet...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FOUR 33A.
52 CONTINUED:
DAX
A magnet?
O'BRIEN
You want to pick a piece of metal
out of the straw, you need a magnet...
DAX
I don't think I'm following you...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FOUR 34.
52 CONTINUED: (2)
O'BRIEN
Runabout hulls are made out of
metallic composites that interact
with magnetic fields... We could
send out a few probes to scan the
system for those specific magnetic
resonance patterns. If Sisko's
Runabout is in the system, we might
just pick up a fluctuation in the
hysteresis curve...
DAX
The magnetic deflection of a Runabout
hull's going to be extremely weak.
The probes'll never be able to detect
it.
O'BRIEN
They will if I can outfit them with
a differential magnetomer...
DAX
A differential magnetomer?
O'BRIEN
(working)
Uh huh.
DAX
I've never heard of a differential
magnetomer, Chief. How does it work?
O'BRIEN
I'll let you know as soon as I've
finished making one...
Off her reaction...
53 EXT. MOON SURFACE
at the site of the Runabout... two Ennis guards stand outside
keeping watch...
54 INT. RUNABOUT - CLOSE ON FRONT PANEL
Bashir has his head inside the front panel... after a beat,
the front console lights up... makes a few beeps and Bashir
pushes himself out, delighted...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FOUR 34A.
54 CONTINUED:
BASHIR
Nice work, Julian... wait till O'Brien
hears about this...
He begins to enter information from his tricorder into the
main computer... by setting the tricorder on download and
holding it to a side panel...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FOUR 35.
55 INT. CAVE
Shel-la ENTERS with another Ennis, a messenger... moves to
Sisko who waits, sitting with Kira and the Kai as the
messenger branches off...
SHEL-LA
I'm surprised. Zlangco has agreed
to listen to your proposals...
SISKO
Good. When.
SHEL-LA
Right away. We'll meet them at a
neutral site near your vessel. We've
both agreed to bring no firearms.
KIRA
What if they use the opportunity to
set a trap?
SHEL-LA
(smiles with respect
at Kira)
We have taken appropriate precautions,
Major... but if you'd like to
personally check the security...
Sisko stands...
SISKO
Major Kira will be staying here with
the Kai...
SHEL-LA
A shame.
Sisko doesn't like any of this and gives a look to Kira who
avoids his eyes... Opaka studies her closely as Sisko and
Shel-la EXIT... after a long beat...
OPAKA
You can't bury it, Kira.
KIRA
(surprised)
What?
OPAKA
Do you recognize yourself in these
people?
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FOUR 36.
55 CONTINUED:
KIRA
Me? Not at all. They're content to
die. I've always fought to survive.
Opaka studies her for a long beat. Finally...
KIRA
(important)
I don't want you to have the wrong
impression of me, Opaka.
OPAKA
What impression do you think I have?
KIRA
That... that I... like... any of
this. I don't enjoy fighting. Yes,
I've spent my life... fighting...
for a good cause, our independence,
our freedom... but it was brutal and
ugly and... I had to be...
(beat)
... it's over for me... it's not who
I am any more. I don't want you to
think that I'm... this... violent
person... without a conscience...
without a soul... it's not who I am.
Kira stares at Opaka, begging with her eyes for Opaka to accept
her words even though she herself does not... Opaka looks at
her with compassion, reaches out with her right hand and
touches two fingers to the ridge of Kira's ear... at the touch,
tears come streaming down Kira's cheeks, she chokes back a sob
and moves into the Kai's embrace, burying her face in shame...
OPAKA
Don't deny the violence in yourself,
Kira. Only when you accept it, can
you move beyond it.
KIRA
I've known nothing but violence since
I was child.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FOUR 37.
55 CONTINUED: (2)
OPAKA
In the prophets' eyes, we are all
children... Bajor has much to learn
from peace...
KIRA
Opaka, I'm afraid the prophets will
never forgive me.
OPAKA
They're just waiting for you to
forgive yourself.
Off Kira's reaction...
56 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
57 INSERT - CLOSE ON AN OKUDAGRAM (VPB)
of three probes moving through a star system... on each probe
there is a number indicating the hysteresis readings...
COMPUTER VOICE
Twenty-two minutes into launch. All
readings within normal parameters...
58 INT. RUNABOUT
As Dax and O'Brien watch...
DAX
Probe "B" approaching planet six...
three moons...
(beat)
No change in the hysteresis curve...
Probe "C" approaching planet seven...
(beat)
... no change.
O'BRIEN
What the hell would they be doing in
this system anyway... it's a waste
of time... they could be twenty light
years from here and we wouldn't have
the first clue...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FOUR 37A.
58 CONTINUED:
DAX
Probe "A" approaching planet three...
one moon...
(reacts)
Chief...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FOUR 38.
58A INSERT - THE GRAPHIC (VPB)
While numbers on two probes remain constant, the numbers on
the third suddenly rise and fall in a flutter of activity...
COMPUTER VOICE
Probe "A" measuring a point zero-
zero-one-two fluctuation in the
hysteresis curve...
58B RESUME
O'BRIEN
It's the third planet...
DAX
No, look... it isn't... we're picking
up something from its moon...
Hands flashing across the console...
O'BRIEN
Laying in a new course... full
impulse...
59 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)
moves at full impulse...
60 EXT. MOON SURFACE - NEAR RUNABOUT CRASH SITE
Two fire poles light the hazy night... Bashir comes out of
the Runabout to see what is going on, just as Sisko and
Shel-la arrive with Nima and two Ennis lieutenants... his
two guards are gone... Shel-la motions to Sisko to stay
here while they go forward... the Commander moves to join
his doctor...
SISKO
Any progress, Doctor?
BASHIR
Yessir, I've got the computer up,
more or less... it's processing the
data now... but I've already confirmed
that these microbes are artificial...
rather like nanites in a way... I
should have a complete analysis from
the computer in a few minutes...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FOUR 38A.
60 CONTINUED:
BASHIR
(beat, re: the fire
poles)
What's going on?
SISKO
Talks about a cease fire.
BASHIR
No kidding... how'd you manage that?
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FOUR 39.
60 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
I told them we'd transport them off
this moon.
BASHIR
(casual humor, looking
at the fire)
Isn't that a bit like assisting a
jailbreak?
SISKO
(tight)
I don't need you to interpret the
prime directive for me, Doctor.
BASHIR
I only meant...
SISKO
Whatever crimes they've committed
have been paid for a hundred times
over. They've been altered somehow
and abandoned by their world... I
believe the Federation would recognize
them as separate and unique.
BASHIR
Yessir. I... should be checking on
that analysis...
He retreats back inside the Runabout... a beat later,
Shel-la moves away from the pow-wow at the poles, motions
Sisko forward...
61 ANGLE - BY THE FIREPOLES
Shel-la and three lieutenants (including Nima) stand by one
pole near to, but clearly separated from, Zlangco and three
of his lieutenants who stand by the other pole... all are
armed with a variety of hand weapons... knives, swords,
tomahawks and the like...
ZLANGCO
So you are the leader of the aliens...
SISKO
Benjamin Sisko, Commander of a
Federation space station...
ZLANGCO
Federation?
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FOUR 40.
61 CONTINUED:
SHEL-LA
(impatient)
What does it matter to us, Zlangco?
ZLANGCO
It matters to me.
SISKO
The Federation is made up of over a
hundred planets who have allied
themselves for mutual scientific,
cultural and defensive benefits.
The mission that my people and I are
on is to explore the galaxy.
ZLANGCO
(suspicious)
Such a noble purpose... there will
be no reward for our release, you
know...
SHEL-LA
You're being a fool as usual...
ZLANGCO
A fool who can always outwit you,
Shel-la... as I have proven over and
over again...
SHEL-LA
If you care to die once more, all
you need to do is ask...
The two of them seem ready to move into conflict... Sisko
speaks over their heads to the lieutenants...
SISKO
If you've had enough of this, then
make your leaders stop and listen...
you are fighting a war for the sake
of war... your only reason to live
is to make each other suffer. If
you've suffered enough, then make
your leaders stop.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FOUR 41.
61 CONTINUED: (2)
Sisko makes eye contact with them all as the silence is
filled only with a breeze and the fluttering of the
firepoles... Shel-la and Zlangco move away from their
confrontation... the others listen, watch, interested...
SISKO
I'm not here to be a mediator... but
if you ask me for an alternative...
I'll give you one.
ZLANGCO
We're listening.
SISKO
In a matter of days, when our rescue
party arrives, I can arrange to
transport you and your people off
this moon... if both sides can simply
cooperate until then...
SHEL-LA
They will resettle us on different
planets, Zlangco...
SISKO
If that's what you wish...
ZLANGCO
(continually suspicious)
The two of you seem to have discussed
this plan in detail...
SHEL-LA
Of course. His crew has been with
us for two days...
ZLANGCO
(to Sisko)
Explain why you choose to ally
yourselves with the Ennis...
SISKO
We have allied ourselves with no
one...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FOUR 42.
61 CONTINUED: (3)
ZLANGCO
One of your people fired some kind
of weapon at us...
SISKO
We were defending ourselves...
And it quickly gets out of hand from here... Zlangco accepts
none of this, shakes his head...
ZLANGCO
I think you're lying...
(at his own lieutenants)
I don't know the alien. But I know
Shel-la. I know how his mind works.
I promise you this is an Ennis trick
to lure our entire population out of
hiding so they can be slaughtered...
SISKO
That's not...
ZLANGCO
Fine... then the Ennis will surely
be willing to make the first gesture
of peace... let them bring all of
their people out in the open first...
to prove their honorable intentions...
Sisko looks to Shel-la who sees that the jig is up... Zlangco
has been right about him all along, he laughs coldly, found
out...
SHEL-LA
Do you honestly think I would let a
single Nol escape this moon alive?
ZLANGCO
No more than I would let an Ennis go
free...
They pull weapons but before they can engage, Nima has gored
Zlangco from behind... and everyone joins in hand to hand
combat... Sisko finds himself in the middle of it... a Nol
comes at him with a weapon and Sisko takes him out niftily
with some quick moves and a punch to the jaw, but from behind
him another Nol has just "killed" Shel-la and now raises a
tomahawk about to throw at Sisko's blind side... just as the
man throws, Sisko is suddenly hit with a flying tackle and
knocked down... and the tomahawk clangs off the firepole
behind him...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FOUR 43.
62 ANGLE - BASHIR
is sprawled on the ground on top of Sisko...
BASHIR
Sorry, Commander, but I've discovered
we can't afford to die here -- not
even once.
Sisko reacts, curious at the words... but there's no time for
questions now as the two of them scramble away to safety,
we...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 44.
ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
63 OMITTED
64 INT. RUNABOUT (VPB) - CLOSE ON OKUDAGRAM
moving to find O'Brien standing, studies the same Okudagram
showing the ring of satellites around the moon...
O'BRIEN
(disappointed)
It's some kind of artificial satellite
system... that's what our probe must
have picked up...
DAX
(more hopeful)
Our sensors are reading lifeforms on
the surface, Chief...
(checking)
I think some of them are human...
O'BRIEN
(curious)
If the ship's down there, why wouldn't
the transponder be sending out a...
An answer comes to him... just as a signal alarm hits the
console...
DAX
We're being scanned...
And without warning, he jumps into his seat... presses lots
of panels...
O'BRIEN
Increasing orbital altitude...
The ship lurches a tad as it makes an adjustment..
DAX
Why?
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 45.
64 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
I'm thinkin' the only thing that
could block out a transponder signal
is a broad band damping field... and
that would require a low altitude
satellite system like this one...
and then suddenly we're being scanned
by these satellites and I'm
thinking...
DAX
(finishing his thought)
... maybe they had something to do
with our missing Runabout...
O'BRIEN
Exactly.
(checking sensors,
nods)
See, they're putting out a mutual
induction field that would block
ninety-nine percent of all
transmissions to and from the
surface...
DAX
Is there any way for us to get a com
line through the field?
O'BRIEN
I've got one percent to work with,
don't I?
Off her reaction...
65 EXT. MOON SURFACE
Starting on the "dead" face of Shel-la... fallen beside
Zlangco... Nima and the others (note - since these are hand
weapons, this time the make-up must include wounds and
blood)... coming to one Nol who is stirring and on his knees
in pain... slowly the others begin to show vague signs of
life as we move to find Sisko and Bashir studying the grisly
scene...
BASHIR
The analysis is very clear. Once
these microbes restore a body after
death, that body becomes permanently
dependent on them for all cellular
functions...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 46.
65 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(reacts)
Permanently...
BASHIR
It gets worse... The designers made
them environment specific... If the
microbes are removed from this
ecosystem, they'll stop functioning...
SISKO
(stunned)
So, if we transport anyone off this
moon, we'd kill them.
BASHIR
I'm afraid so.
SISKO
(realizing)
The Kai?
A look from Bashir confirms that she's infected too.
This is devastating news to Sisko... he searches his mind
for answers but can't find any... A moment later, O'Brien's
voice crackles over his com badge, obstructed by interference.
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
... Rio Grande to Sisko... do you
read me... ? This is O'Brien, come
in...
Bashir and Sisko exchange surprised looks. Sisko taps his
com badge.
SISKO
Go ahead, Chief... I can barely read
you...
DAX'S COM VOICE
Is everyone all right?
A beat, how does he answer that...
SISKO
We're alive. But the Yangtzee Kiang
was destroyed.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FIVE 47.
65 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
Will you be able to beam us up?
INTERCUT:
66 INT. RUNABOUT
O'BRIEN
Not quite yet, Commander... we've
got to find a way to penetrate this
network of satellites... they're
making it impossible to lock on to
anything down there...
SISKO'S COM VOICE
Understood. By the way, those
satellites will come after you if
you get too close... they're armed...
one of them cut us down without any
trouble at all...
O'BRIEN
Yeah, we figured as much.
67 EXT. MOON SURFACE
SISKO
Let me know before you're ready to
make an attempt...
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Acknowledged. Rio Grande out.
Sisko notices a few of the Nol and Ennis are starting to
revive.
SISKO
(to Bashir, heavily)
... We have to talk to the Kai.
Bashir follows Sisko into the fog.
68 INT. CAVE
As they ENTER, Opaka and Kira move to meet them.
KIRA
Is there a cease-fire?
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FIVE 48.
68 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Neither side took it seriously.
Opaka looks away, considering what this means to her...
OPAKA
I'm not at all surprised.
(beat)
You were right, Kira. They don't
know how to do anything else but die --
they've forgotten how to live.
SISKO
The Rio Grande just made contact.
O'Brien and Dax are in orbit.
Kira is greatly relieved, but she notices Opaka looking
pensive as ever.
SISKO
(continuing)
They're working on a way to penetrate
the defense system...
He takes a beat and turns to Opaka about to break the news
that she must stay behind. Before he can speak...
OPAKA
I'll be staying, Commander.
KIRA
(astonished)
What... ?
OPAKA
It's the answer to all the prophecies
of my life...
KIRA
It's the wrong answer, Opaka... you
can't stay here...
Kira looks into Opaka's eyes and suddenly realizes Opaka is
deadly serious.
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 49.
68 CONTINUED: (2)
OPAKA
I didn't know how or why... but when
we came through the wormhole, I knew
I wouldn't be returning. You must
tell our people, Kira, that I have
answered the call of the prophets...
I have been brought here because it
is time for these people to begin
their healing process...
(beat)
... just as you were brought here to
begin yours.
Kira is beyond words.
69 INT. RUNABOUT (VPB)
Dax and O'Brien are studying a monitor with the satellite
ring graphic...
O'BRIEN
You know, all we really need to do
is find a way to create a gap in the
net...
DAX
Maybe a photon would destroy one of
the satellites...
O'BRIEN
Maybe.
(beat)
But you'd think they'd build a defense
network with that in mind... hell,
shoot one and the rest might swarm
up like Vayan horn flies. We should
go for something simpler... all I
need is about a fifteen percent wider
opening in the net...
(an idea, thoughtful,
to com)
Rio Grande to Sisko...
INTERCUT:
70 INT. CAVE
As before...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - 1/22/93 - ACT FIVE 50.
70 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Go ahead, Chief.
O'BRIEN
We're going to try to poke a hole up
here, sir, if you're about ready to
end your stay...
SISKO
Only three of us will be coming
back... Kai Opaka is remaining...
In the Runabout, O'Brien and Dax react to the scratchy
transmission...
DAX
Benjamin, please confirm... did you
say we're not transporting the Kai?
SISKO
(eyes on Opaka)
That's correct. I'll explain later.
O'Brien and Dax exchange a glance...
O'BRIEN
We'll need a few minutes, Commander.
Rio Grande out.
71 ANGLE - SHEL-LA
and a few Ennis have returned and are standing inside the
entrance to the cave. Shel-la holds his weapon loosely in
his hand.
SHEL-LA
Leaving without us?
Shel-la approaches them with a limp. A burn on his arm is
causing him obvious pain. Bashir steps forward.
BASHIR
My analysis of the microbes that
keep you alive showed that if you
were to leave the moon, you would
die...
As the reality of Bashir's words sink in, Shel-la turns
grim...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 51.
71 CONTINUED:
SHEL-LA
So there is no end.
Wrestling with confusion, Bashir turns to Sisko...
BASHIR
Commander, I find myself caught in a
moral dilemma. As much as I'm
dedicated to the preservation of
life, I wonder if we shouldn't help
these people end this torture...
SISKO
How could you do that?
BASHIR
Anything that is programmed can be
reprogrammed. If I can disable the
mechanism in these microbes, they
would no longer function when someone
was killed... these people would be
allowed to finally die...
This is a deliverance to Shel-la... who looks to Sisko with
urgency...
SHEL-LA
You've seen our lives here. Please...
it is the only solution left. Give
us a way to reprogram these
microbes... and it will mean the end
to this war.
KIRA
You really think the fear of death
would stop the fighting? It never
has in any other war.
SHEL-LA
No... but it will allow us to finally
win. Wipe out the Nol for good. On
this world, your disabled microbes
would be the ultimate weapon, Doctor --
one that we could use to truly destroy
our enemies.
Off stunned reactions...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 52.
71 CONTINUED: (2)
O'BRIEN
Rio Grande to Sisko... stand by for
transport...
SISKO
(eyes on Shel-la)
Ready.
72 INT. RUNABOUT (VPB)
DAX
Coordinates set.
O'BRIEN
Launching probe.
A sound effect and on the monitor, an Okudagram traces a
probe moving toward the satellite ring...
DAX
Twelve seconds to intercept...
O'BRIEN
(watching the monitor)
Come on, come on, go for it...
DAX
One of the satellites is breaking
orbit... moving toward the probe...
O'BRIEN
That's it...
73 OMITTED
73A ANGLE - MONITOR (VPB)
seeing the probe move into the satellite net... one satellite
moves toward it...
DAX
The satellite is showing a power
buildup... about eight hundred
megawatts...
It fires, destroying the probe...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 53.
74 RESUME - WIDE ANGLE
DAX
Probe destroyed...
O'BRIEN
(to com)
Rio Grange to Sisko. Trying to lock
on, Commander...
As he presses buttons...
75 INT. CAVE
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
(continuing)
Establishing pattern lock...
SHEL-LA
Wait... you can't leave without giving
us the...
SISKO
(interrupting, firm)
Energize when ready, Chief...
Suddenly, by the sound of massive firing and yells and screams
of pain outside the cave... Shel-la turns, drawn by the noise,
turns back to Sisko, angry, frustrated... runs out to join
the fight... the noise continues throughout as... Sisko turns
to Opaka...
SISKO
Opaka... if we can ever find a way...
She holds up her hand to stop him...
OPAKA
My work is here now, Commander...
But your pagh and mine will cross
again...
Sisko raises an eyebrow as...
76 KIRA (OPTICAL)
and the Kai exchange a long last look... and we know that
Kira has begun her healing...
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Energizing...
DEEP SPACE: "Battle Lines" - REV. 1/25/93 - ACT FIVE 53A.
76 CONTINUED:
They DEMATERIALIZE... and we are left with the Kai looking
pensive as the sounds of fighting continue behind her... she
turns her head a tad toward the sound... knows the work that's
ahead of her... as we push in to her face...
FADE TO BLACK:
The sounds of fighting continue over
a black screen...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
THE END