STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"In the Hands of the Prophets"
#40511-420
Written by
Robert Hewitt Wolfe
Directed by
David Livingston
THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
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WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
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PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION
April 2, 1993
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/05/93 - CAST
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"In the Hands of the Prophets"
CAST
SISKO NEELA
O'BRIEN WINN
KIRA VENDOR
ODO BAREIL
BASHIR VOICES
DAX
QUARK
KEIKO
JAKE
COMPUTER VOICE
Non-Speaking Non-Speaking
BAJORAN CREWMEMBERS MONKS
VARIOUS STUDENTS
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - SETS
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"In the Hands of the Prophets"
SETS
INTERIORS EXTERIORS
DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE
PROMENADE
SCHOOLROOM BAJORAN CAPITAL
SECURITY OFFICE
TURBOLIFT MONASTERY
COMMANDER'S OFFICE
OPS
POWER CONDUIT
RUNABOUT AIRLOCK
DOCKING BAY AIRLOCK
CORRIDOR
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/05/93 - PRONUNCIATION
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"In the Hands of the Prophets"
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
ABBAS uh-BAHS
AQUINO uh-KEY-no
BAJOR BAY-jor
BAJORAN bah-JOR-an
BALETH BAY-leth
BAREIL buh-RILE
CABRODINE CAH-broe-dine
FELORAN fuh-LORE-an
ILVIA ILL-vee-uh
INFERNITE IN-fur-nite
JUMJA JUM-juh
NEELA NEE-luh
TRITANIUM try-TAY-nee-uhm
VEDEK VEH-deck
WINN WIN
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - TEASER 1.
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
"In the Hands of the Prophets"
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. PROMENADE
at the Kiosk - close on a glop on a stick in a VENDOR's
hand...
KEIKO (O.S.)
Too early for me...
Moving with the glop to reveal O'BRIEN who takes it...
O'BRIEN
You sure?
KEIKO
(makes a face)
It's so sweet.
O'BRIEN
It's a natural sweetness from the
sap of the jumja tree... filled with
vitamin C.
He takes a lick. They move away from the Kiosk.
KEIKO
Since when did you become such an
expert on jumja sticks?
O'BRIEN
Hmm? Oh, Neela told me.
The name Neela gets a subtle response from Keiko.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - TEASER 2.
1 CONTINUED:
KEIKO
Did she... ?
(beat)
So. Is she working out any better
than the last one?
O'BRIEN
Neela? She's terrific. She's even
taught me a few things.
KEIKO
(very dry)
I'm glad to hear her expertise doesn't
end with jumja sticks...
O'BRIEN
(slow on the uptake)
Oh yeah, she's a good engin...
(now he realizes)
hold on...
KEIKO
What?
O'BRIEN
You're not thinking...
She keeps walking, poker faced...
O'BRIEN
Keiko...
She smiles, satisfied, secure in her marriage...
KEIKO
(teasing)
Just keeping you on your toes,
O'Brien.
O'BRIEN
Very funny, O'Brien.
KEIKO
(flirtatious)
Be careful who you share your jumja
with...
Smiles sexily and walks away... off O'Brien's reaction...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - TEASER 3.
2 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
The wormhole illuminates in the background as a ship goes
through.
KEIKO (V.O.)
Now, as we discussed in yesterday's
lesson, the wormhole was discovered
by Commander Sisko and Lieutenant
Dax earlier this year.
After a beat, PULL BACK TO REVEAL... that in fact, we're
in...
2A OMITTED
3 INT. SCHOOLROOM - KEIKO (OPTICAL)
is standing in front of a large monitor/blackboard with the
wormhole displayed. As usual, most of Keiko's students are
Bajoran, with a handful of humans and other aliens. JAKE is
present, but Nog is not. As she moves away from the
monitor...
KEIKO
(continuing)
Does anyone know what makes this
wormhole so unusual?
Jake raises his hand...
KEIKO
Jake?
JAKE
It's stable... ?
4 NEW ANGLE
As Keiko speaks, a Bajoran woman ENTERS the schoolroom. The
woman, VEDEK WINN, is dressed in religious garb similar to,
but easily distinguishable from, the clothing worn by the
monks on the station. In attitude and bearing, Winn comes
across like your favorite aunt: helpful, sympathetic, and
caring. The Vedek stands quietly at the back of the class
like a principal observing...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - TEASER 3A.
4 CONTINUED:
KEIKO
(continuing)
It's stable, that's right, Jake...
it's the first stable wormhole known
to exist...
Keiko notices the Vedek... smiles an acknowledgement, as she
continues the lesson, curious about her... the Vedek nods
hello...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - TEASER 4.
4 CONTINUED: (2)
WINN
(smiles, I don't wish
to interrupt)
Please... continue...
KEIKO
(nods)
A stable wormhole is very important
because it allows us to travel secure
in the knowledge that neither end
will shift location. Who knows why
the wormhole is stable... ?
The students seem disconcerted by the presence of a
stranger... no one raises their hand...
KEIKO
Because it was artificially
constructed. Commander Sisko
encountered the entities who created
the wormhole when he...
WINN
Excuse me, by the "entities," do you
not mean "the prophets"... ?
KEIKO
(beat, senses the
issue)
Yes... on Bajor... the entities are
worshipped as prophets.
(beat, moving quickly
on)
Our studies of the wormhole have
shown that it was formed by unique
particles we call verterons that are
apparently self-sustaining... this
begins to explain how a ship at
impulse can safely pass through...
WINN
Ships are safely guided through the
passage by the hands of the prophets.
KEIKO
(beat)
In a manner of speaking...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - TEASER 5.
4 CONTINUED: (3)
WINN
(deceptively sweet)
Not apparently your manner of
speaking...
This has gone too far in front of the children...
KEIKO
Perhaps we should discuss this
after...
WINN
Do you believe the celestial temple
of the prophets exists within the
passage... ?
KEIKO
I respect that the Bajoran people
believe it does.
WINN
But that's not what you teach.
Keiko understands now that there is to be no avoiding this.
Firm, confident, but not aggressively and without hostility --
KEIKO
No, I don't teach Bajoran spiritual
beliefs. That's your job. Mine is
to open the children's minds... to
history... to literature... to
mathematics... to science...
Winn sounds sad. Like she is deeply hurt by what she is
being forced to say.
WINN
(very apologetic)
You are opening the children's
minds... to blasphemy. And I cannot
permit it to continue.
Her strong eyes study...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - TEASER 6.
5 KEIKO
We hold on Keiko's troubled expression for a moment, then
we...
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 7.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
(NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.)
6 INT. SECURITY OFFICE (VPB)
NEELA, O'Brien's Bajoran apprentice, works on something inside
an open panel under the security monitors (which are blank).
Neela is in her early twenties, bright, pretty, and eager to
please. O'Brien ENTERS, carrying his tool case.
O'BRIEN
Sorry I couldn't get here sooner.
Another fusion reactor went down.
How's it going?
Neela keeps working, she tweaks a few things, and then...
NEELA
Done.
O'BRIEN
(pleasantly surprised)
Done?
(off her nod)
Did you remember to re-initialize
the isolinear co-processor?
NEELA
(nods again)
I did it exactly like you showed me.
Should I test it?
O'BRIEN
Let me. You know us old folks. We
like to feel useful.
O'Brien keys in some commands on Odo's security desk and the
wall monitors come back to life.
O'BRIEN
Not bad, not bad at all.
(to Neela, kidding)
If you keep this up, I'm going to be
out of a job.
NEELA
(smiles)
I doubt that.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - ACT ONE 8-8A.
6 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Let's close her up.
6A NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)
O'Brien and Neela place the panel back in place. Neela takes
a small high tech tool and plays it over the edge of the
panel.
O'BRIEN
(re: the tool)
Not that one... this is a security
seal. You need an E-J-Seven Interlock
to open or close it.
NEELA
(confused)
E-J-Seven?
Neela looks at her tool kit.
O'BRIEN
(goes for his own
tool box)
Never mind... I've got one.
6B BACK TO SCENE
O'Brien searches his tool box, but he can't find what he's
looking for. He double-checks, but it's not there.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 9.
6B CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Bloody hell.
NEELA
What's wrong?
O'BRIEN
My E-J-Seven. It's missing.
NEELA
Maybe you left it in Ops.
O'BRIEN
(beat, shakes his
head)
I don't misplace my tools.
On his concerned expression...
7 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE
Keiko is talking to SISKO. He's grim, concerned.
SISKO
I'm not exactly surprised.
KEIKO
You knew this was going to happen?
SISKO
A confrontation like this was
inevitable.
(rises)
Sometimes, I wonder if we'll ever
find the common ground we need to
bring Bajor into the Federation.
Sisko opens the door to Ops... calls to Kira --
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 10.
7 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Major, would you join us?
Kira comes in...
SISKO
We've been talking about an incident
this morning at the school...
KIRA
I heard... Vedek Winn has been meeting
with some of the Bajoran civilians
about it...
Sisko frowns...
SISKO
What do you know about her?
KIRA
She's from an orthodox order... she
has some support to become the next
Kai... but probably not enough...
KEIKO
The question is how much support
does she have on this station?
KIRA
(casual)
She has mine.
Sisko reacts...
KEIKO
You can't possibly believe teaching
the facts about the wormhole amounts
to blasphemy...
KIRA
(not hostile)
I think some revisions in the school
curriculum might be appropriate...
you teach a lot of Bajoran children...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 11.
7 CONTINUED: (2)
KEIKO
(confrontational)
I'm not going to let a Bajoran
spiritual leader dictate what can or
can't be taught in my classroom...
Kira reacts, obviously she's dealing with a closed mind
here... looks to Sisko...
KIRA
(to Sisko)
Then maybe we need two schools on
this station... one for Bajoran
children and another for the
Federation...
Sisko sighs, a beat...
SISKO
If we start separating Bajoran and
Federation interests...
KIRA
A lot of Bajoran and Federation
interests are separate, Commander...
I've been telling you that all along.
SISKO
Nobody's saying there can't be
spiritual teaching on this station,
Major... but why can't it be in
addition to what's taught in Mrs.
O'Brien's classroom...
KIRA
But if she's teaching a fundamentally
different philosophy...
KEIKO
I'm not teaching any philosophy...
I'm trying to teach pure science...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 12.
7 CONTINUED: (3)
KIRA
Some might say pure science, taught
without a spiritual context, is a
philosophy, Mrs. O'Brien...
Keiko is very frustrated...
SISKO
My philosophy is that there is room
for all philosophies on this station.
(beat, to Kira)
How do you suggest we deal with this?
KIRA
I'm not sure you can.
The "you" is deliberate. There is no we yet.
7A
thru OMITTED
7B
8 INT. PROMENADE
Activity as usual... finding Sisko entering the Bajoran
Shrine. A Bajoran monk, dressed in vestments similar to
Winn's, steps aside to let Sisko in.
9 INT. BAJORAN SHRINE
An ornate candlelit interior. A string instrument (audio
only) making soft, pulsating sounds adds to the mystical
feeling. Vedek Winn is bowing her head before a shrine,
cupping her ear in a ritual gesture with her eyes closed...
as Sisko moves inside, reluctant to disturb her. Without
opening her eyes to see him, she speaks...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 13.
9 CONTINUED:
WINN
I can't tell you how much I've looked
forward to this moment.
Now, she opens her eyes and turns to him...
WINN
I'm honored to meet the Emissary to
the prophets.
SISKO
If you'd let me know you were coming,
Vedek Winn, I would have greeted you
sooner.
WINN
Pardon me, Emissary... I did not
wish to bother you with my
insignificant visit...
SISKO
I'd hardly call it insignificant.
WINN
(deliberately mistaken
as a compliment)
Thank you, Emissary.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 14.
9 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
I wish you wouldn't call me that...
I'm Commander Sisko... or Benjamin,
if you'd like...
WINN
But you are the Emissary. Don't you
know the cherished place you've earned
in the Bajoran spiritual life... ?
SISKO
I'm not sure I'm comfortable in that
role.
WINN
The course the prophets choose for
us may not always be comfortable.
But we must follow it.
Her hand reaches toward his ear... pauses...
WINN
May I?
Sisko doesn't stop her... she presses the ear as the Kai did
in the pilot... they study each other for a long beat...
nods...
WINN
Still the disbeliever.
(beat)
I once asked Kai Opaka why a
disbeliever was destined to seek the
prophets. She told me one should
never look into the eyes of one's
own gods.
(shakes her head)
I disagreed. I told her I would do
anything to look into their eyes.
She suggested that I sit in darkness
for a day and quite properly so.
She cannot be replaced. I miss her
deeply.
SISKO
(beat)
It's important to me that we resolve
your problems with the school.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 15.
9 CONTINUED: (3)
WINN
The prophets have spoken to me through
the orbs, Emissary. I understand my
duty to defend the Bajoran faith.
The teacher has dishonored the
celestial temple. If she does not
recant, I cannot be responsible for
the consequences.
Hold on Sisko's reaction for a moment, then...
10
thru OMITTED
13
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 16.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
14 INT. OPS (VPB)
O'Brien and Neela are at work at the Engineering station.
We join them in mid-conversation.
NEELA
This still seems like an awful lot
of trouble to go through to find one
tool.
O'BRIEN
With that Interlock, someone could
access every critical system on the
station.
As she acknowledges... DAX comes over...
DAX
Chief, have you seen Ensign Aquino
recently?
O'BRIEN
(looks around Ops)
No... now that you mention it.
DAX
He didn't report for duty this
morning. The computer says he's not
on the station, but he didn't log
out.
O'BRIEN
(worried)
Have you talked to Odo?
DAX
I guess I'd better.
She EXITS to the Turbolift...
NEELA
Scanners are ready.
O'BRIEN
Computer, show location of any
independent tritanium sources...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT TWO 17.
15 ANGLE - MONITOR (VPB)
Looking at the monitor...
NEELA
Level three, section five...
O'BRIEN
That's the tool locker... I've been
through everything in there three
times...
O'Brien presses another panel... the image on the monitor
changes... O'Brien reacts as he looks at the monitor...
O'BRIEN
Now what's that?
NEELA
Looks like something in a power
conduit on level twelve, section
eight.
O'BRIEN
What would tritanium be doing in
there?
(thoughtful beat)
Computer, shut down that conduit...
reroute the power flow.
COMPUTER
Conduit deactivated.
O'BRIEN
(to Neela)
Come on...
They EXIT...
16
thru OMITTED
17
18 INT. POWER CONDUIT
O'Brien uses a tricorder to scan the Jefferies tube-like
power conduit. Behind him, Neela scans the other side.
NEELA
Over here, Chief.
O'Brien joins Neela and examines a pile of slag on the floor
of the conduit. He scans it with his tricorder.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 18-20.
18 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
It's a tritanium composite, all right.
Looks like our missing Interlock.
NEELA
It must have been melted by the
conduit's plasma flow.
O'BRIEN
(while continuing his
scan)
That still doesn't explain how it
got here in the first place.
(notices something on
his tricorder)
Huh...
Neela looks over his shoulder at the display.
O'BRIEN
(continuing)
I'm picking up traces of organic
material.
Neela runs her own tricorder over the material.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT TWO 21.
O'Brien looks unhappy with the results of his scan. He
resets the tricorder and tries again, but still looks
unsatisfied.
O'BRIEN
Whatever it was, it's been pretty
well cooked by this conduit.
O'Brien puts away the tricorder and takes out a new tool.
O'BRIEN
Let's take a sample to Doctor Bashir,
see what he makes of it.
19 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
Re-establishing.
20 INT. PROMENADE
The next morning. O'Brien and Keiko walk together. We pick
them up in mid-conversation moving to the Kiosk...
O'BRIEN
(troubled, unsatisfied)
Ensign Aquino made a log entry the
night he disappeared about some sort
of plasma flow irregularity in the
conduit... he indicated he was going
to fix it...
KEIKO
Then, it was an accident...
O'BRIEN
I guess. Bashir confirmed the remains
were human... I'm sure the DNA trace
will show it's Aquino...
As they reach the Kiosk...
O'BRIEN
(to the vendor)
I'll take one.
(looks at Keiko)
Unless you're feeling adventurous
today.
VENDOR
Sorry, we're all out.
O'Brien sees a half dozen Jumja sticks on the back shelf.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 22.
20 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
What are you talking about... I can
see them with my own eyes.
The Vendor doesn't even look... stares at Keiko with
hostility...
VENDOR
These aren't for sale...
O'Brien looks at him looking at Keiko who turns away, hurt...
O'Brien loses it...
O'BRIEN
Not for sale, huh...
He reaches across and grabs the guy's collar and pulls him
halfway out of the Kiosk... passersby react, ODO is nearby,
sees and starts moving over...
O'BRIEN
How would you like a jumja stick...
KEIKO
Miles...
ODO
Is there a problem?
O'BRIEN
You're damned right...
VENDOR
I don't have to sell anything to
them if I don't want to.
ODO
(honestly confused)
Why wouldn't you want to sell to
them?
KEIKO
(hurt and uncomfortable)
Miles, can we go...
O'Brien doesn't want to leave it, but sees the pain his wife
is in... drops it...
O'BRIEN
Forget it...
They walk away... Odo exchanges a glance with the Vendor...
who spits the words out at Keiko's back --
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 23.
20 CONTINUED: (2)
VENDOR
Seek the prophets.
Odo reacts and exchanges a look with the Vendor, walks away,
murmuring out of earshot...
ODO
Seek them yourself.
21 ANGLE - ON O'BRIEN AND KEIKO
O'BRIEN
(looking back at the
Kiosk)
Maybe you were right... we've got no
business here... I'll just put in
for a transfer and that'll be...
KEIKO
No... I can't run away from this
now...
(beat, looking ahead)
What's this...
22 NEW ANGLE - A GROUP OF BAJORANS
waiting outside the entrance to the classroom. The group is
composed of ten Bajoran parents and the children (including
Jake) plus Vedek Winn, a monk from her order, and eight or
so Bajoran civilians.
WINN
(to the parents)
If we abandon the Prophets, then
everything we have will be...
As parents look over her shoulder and react to Keiko's
arrival, she stops in mid-sentence, turns, smiles...
WINN
Here's Mrs. O'Brien now.
KEIKO
(without a smile)
Good morning.
WINN
Are you Mister O'Brien?
O'BRIEN
That's right.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 24.
22 CONTINUED:
WINN
A pleasure to meet you. I've been
listening to many wonderful things
about your wife from the parents of
these children. She's apparently an
excellent teacher.
O'BRIEN
She doesn't deserve what you're doing
to her.
WINN
(taken in stride)
I feel your anger toward me... I
accept it and forgive you for it.
(to Keiko)
Mrs. O'Brien, if I've misjudged you,
I am terribly sorry. Have I? Is
there a place in your school for the
prophets?
A long beat as they lock eyes. A cutaway of Jake studying
this interchange with concern. The parents want desperately
for her to say yes.
KEIKO
(softly but firm)
No.
The onlookers murmur with hostility... but Winn never joins
that sentiment...
WINN
I admire you for standing by your
convictions. Even though I disagree
with them. Please believe me, I
want to find a way to allow these
children to stay in your school...
KEIKO
I'm sure the children and their
parents are happy to hear you say
that.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 25.
22 CONTINUED: (2)
WINN
Let me be the one to make the first
concession. I will no longer request
that you teach anything about the
celestial temple.
A beat. More murmers of surprise... Keiko glances at O'Brien.
WINN
Just don't teach anything about the
wormhole at all.
KEIKO
(reacts)
Ignore it... ?
WINN
Find other things to teach the
children.
KEIKO
And when we get to theories of
evolution or the creation of the
universe, what then...
WINN
We'll face those issues when we come
to them.
KEIKO
I'm a teacher. My responsibility is
to expose my students to knowledge.
Not hide it from them. The answer
is no.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 26.
22 CONTINUED: (3)
Winn looks at the parents, shakes her head, sadly.
WINN
(beat)
I've tried to be reasonable.
She puts her arm around a Bajoran child and ushers her away...
the others and the parents all follow... we take a moment to
see Jake, who's standing there with a handful of other
students (three humans and an alien), now looking terribly
concerned about all this... and finally, Keiko watches them
go in pain... as O'Brien puts his arm around her and comforts
her...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 27.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
23 INT. OPS
Sisko, Kira, O'Brien, Odo, and Dax in conference around the
Ops table.
SISKO
If Aquino turned off the conduit to
fix the relay... why did it
reactivate.
O'BRIEN
The Cardassians only equipped those
power conduits with one flow regulator
per level. The computer could've
realigned it. When the power flow
was rerouted back, it could've caught
him inside.
DAX
You don't sound entirely convinced.
O'BRIEN
No, it all adds up only... I don't
know...
SISKO
Spit it out, Chief.
O'BRIEN
(laughs sadly, it
seems ridiculous in
context)
He borrowed one of my tools without
asking.
KIRA
It was four in the morning. Maybe
he didn't want to bother you.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 28.
23 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
The repairs could've waited til the
next day.
(beat)
He was a Starfleet engineer... you
don't take the Chief's tools without
asking... it's unheard of...
ODO
Are you suggesting it might not have
been an accident?
O'BRIEN
I don't know what I'm suggesting. I
only know what I know. He should've
asked.
Odo's mind begins to work... in the background, Jake arrives
on the Turbolift...
SISKO
Constable, maybe you ought to take a
closer look into this...
Odo acknowledges and EXITS... Sisko looks over to see Jake
moving to him... surprised to see him here...
SISKO
Dismissed.
(rising, to Jake)
Hi.
JAKE
Can I talk to you for a minute.
SISKO
Sure.
Moving into the Commander's office.
SISKO
(continuing)
I heard what happened at school.
24 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
SISKO
(continuing)
Did Mrs. O'Brien call off classes?
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 29.
24 CONTINUED:
JAKE
No. There was only me and four other
kids left, but she still kept the
school open.
They sit away from the desk.JAKE
(CONTINUING)
She changed the lesson to teach us
about Galileo. Did you know he was
tried by the Inquisition for teaching
that the earth moved around the sun?
SISKO
Tried and convicted. His books were
burned.
JAKE
How could anyone be so stupid?
SISKO
It's easy to look back seven centuries
and judge what was right and wrong.
JAKE
But the same thing is happening now!
All this stuff about a celestial
temple in the wormhole is dumb.
Sisko studies him for a beat...
SISKO
No, it's not. You've got to
understand something, Jake. For
over fifty years, the one thing that
allowed Bajorans to survive the
Cardassian occupation was their faith.
The prophets were their only source
of hope and courage.
JAKE
But they weren't prophets. They
were just some aliens that you found
in the wormhole.
SISKO
To those aliens, the future is no
more difficult to see than the past.
So why shouldn't they be considered
prophets?
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 30.
24 CONTINUED: (2)
JAKE
Are you serious?
SISKO
My point is it's a matter of
interpretation. It may not be what
you believe, but that doesn't make
it wrong. If you start to think
that way, you'll be acting just like
Vedek Winn. Only from the other
side.
(beat)
We can't afford to think that way,
Jake. We'd lose everything we've
worked for here...
Jake begins to understand...
JAKE
(beat, studying his
dad)
You're worried, aren't you...
Sisko nods silently.
JAKE
What're you gonna do?
SISKO
I'm not sure. But I think I've got
to find some help.
25 EXT. BAJORAN CAPITAL - DAY (MATTE) (STOCK)
Establishing shot of the Bajoran Capital.
26 EXT. MONASTERY OF THE KAI - WOODED GARDEN - DAY
Sisko wanders through a quiet garden inside the walls of the
Kai Temple complex. VEDEK BAREIL, a short Bajoran man about
fifty-five in religious garb, ENTERS the garden and approaches
Sisko. Bareil is a soft-spoken and gentle man, somewhat
reminiscent of Gandhi or the Dalai Lama.
BAREIL
I'm sorry for keeping you waiting,
Commander Sisko.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT THREE 31.
26 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Vedek Bareil... ?
The open face of the spiritual man acknowledges, looks into
the eyes of Sisko who smiles... Sisko bows his head and turns
it to the side so the Vedek can reach his ear...
BAREIL
Please. There is no need to pay
tribute to me, Commander...
SISKO
(awkward)
Pay tribute... ? No, I was just...
(beat)
Usually, when I meet one of Bajor's
spiritual leaders, the first thing
they do is grab my...
BAREIL
... Ear?
Sisko acknowledges... Bareil laughs warmly...
BAREIL
Unpleasant, isn't it.
SISKO
I've been far too polite to admit
it.
BAREIL
I was five the first time one of the
monks grabbed my ear... he was a
stern old crow who could virtually
squeeze the pagh right out of you
with his thumb and forefinger... and
as a chronic misbehaver, I was his
favorite victim. I swore that one
of my life's goals would be to do
away with that archaic ritual.
SISKO
(feeling comfortable
with this man, smiles,
not too serious)
You can count on the Federation's
support.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/12/93 - ACT THREE 32.
26 CONTINUED: (2)
BAREIL
(leading the way)
I hope you don't mind if I get a
little planting done while we talk...
All the hours listening to a hundred
and twelve Vedeks talking at once
makes me yearn again for the sanctity
of my arboretum...
They walk...
SISKO
Is this yours?
BAREIL
(acknowledges)
I started my service at the monastery
as the gardener, Commander. I had
no ambitions other than to grow the
most lovely Feloran bromiliads on
the planet. But the prophets did
not allow me that peaceful life.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 33.
27 NEW ANGLE
as they change paths...
BAREIL
(continuing)
I understand my friend Vedek Winn
has brought her blessings to your
station.
SISKO
I was hoping you might be able to
arrange an audience with the assembly
so I could discuss our school.
BAREIL
Why me?
SISKO
You are the leading candidate to be
the next Kai. And, if I've been
correctly informed, your ideology is
quite different than Vedek Winn's.
BAREIL
You have been correctly informed.
He pauses.
BAREIL
I'm sorry. But the Vedek Assembly
will not see you, Commander.
SISKO
Why not?
BAREIL
Some fear you as the symbol of a
Federation they view as godless.
Some fear you as the Emissary who
has walked with the prophets. Some
fear you because Vedek Winn told
them to.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 34.
27 CONTINUED:
BAREIL
We're all very good conjuring up
enough fear to justify whatever we
want to do. Today, I am only a Vedek.
If the prophets will it, someday, I
may be Kai. And I can be a better
friend to you then.
SISKO
In other words, being my friend now
might hurt your chances.
BAREIL
The prophets teach us patience.
SISKO
It appears they also teach you
politics.
That's almost an accusation... but Bareil dismisses it...
BAREIL
I'm sorry you've made the long trip
for nothing. Please stay and enjoy
the gardens as long as you like.
He moves away. On Sisko's expression.
28 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
Re-establishing.
29 INT. OPS
Sisko ENTERS from the Turbolift. Kira, Dax and O'Brien are
at their stations. Neela is helping O'Brien, but there are
no other Bajorans in Ops. Sisko notices.
SISKO
Is it my imagination or are we a
little short handed today?
KIRA
Three Bajoran crewmen didn't report
for duty.
(beat, obviously untrue)
They... said they weren't feeling
well.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 35.
29 CONTINUED:
Sisko understands that this is not a coincidence.
SISKO
Do you think it's contagious, Major?
KIRA
It's too early to tell.
Sisko is feeling this whole relationship between the
Federation and Bajor slipping away... and the frustration is
getting to him. He is quiet but sharp with Kira here... but
not loud enough to draw O'Brien and Neela's attention away
from what they're doing...
SISKO
Are your people willing to throw
away everything we've accomplished
during the past seven months?
KIRA
(would never go that
far)
Everyone knows that if the Federation
leaves the Cardassians will be back...
SISKO
With all due respect, Major,
protecting your borders is not the
primary reason the Federation is
here and it's not why I'm here. I'm
here to build a trusting relationship
with your people... and I'd like to
start feeling that somebody...
(unstated: like you)
... somebody on your side is giving
something back to this effort.
KIRA
I think I've given you all the support
I can, short of...
And this is too loud, for the first time getting O'Brien and
Neela's attention --
SISKO
(interrupting)
It's not enough.
A beat.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT THREE 36.
29 CONTINUED: (2)
KIRA
(hurt, quiet)
I thought there was room on this
station for all philosophies.
Sisko's gone too far and he knows it but is unable to admit
that here... he's just too angry... quietly --
SISKO
You tell our sick Bajoran crewmen
that they better get well immediately
or they'll recover on the way to
their next assignment.
KIRA
Yes. Sir.
During the above, Odo and BASHIR arrive on the Turbolift...
she EXITS as they move to Sisko...
ODO
Commander, Doctor Bashir has found
some new evidence about Ensign Aquino
you should see...
And Sisko reacts, this is by comparison a nuisance, drawing
his attention away from where it ought to be... Bashir hands
Sisko a PADD... O'Brien moves over to check this out... Sisko
examines the PADD with no understanding...
BASHIR
I've finally managed to reconstruct
the victim's DNA. It's definitely
Aquino. But the power flow in the
conduit didn't kill him.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT THREE 37.
29 CONTINUED: (3)
BASHIR
(re: the PADD)
You see, the plasma disruption in
his cellular membranes indicates he
was exposed to a directed energy
discharge before he was placed in
the conduit.
O'BRIEN
A directed energy discharge. From a
phaser?
ODO
(acknowledges)
Set to kill.
Off reactions...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 38.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
30 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
31 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE
Sisko, Kira, Dax, Bashir, Odo and O'Brien are in conference
in Sisko's office. If we see into Ops, we will notice that
the Bajoran Crewmembers are back at work.
SISKO
Could this murder be related in any
way to the tensions over the school
issue?
KIRA
(defensive)
If you're suggesting he was killed
by a Bajoran just because he was
from the Federation...
BASHIR
(shortcutting)
The analysis proves he was killed
the night before Vedek Winn arrived.
There wasn't any school issue yet.
Kira looks satisfied.
SISKO
Any ideas about a motive?
Silence.
SISKO
All right then, let's start from the
beginning. Ensign Aquino goes to
make a repair to a power conduit...
ODO
One moment Commander, I'm not
convinced of that...
KIRA
But the log...
ODO
It might have been altered by our
killer to cover his tracks.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 39.
31 CONTINUED:
ODO
I checked the Turbolift records the
night of the murder. Aquino did
take a Turbolift to level three but
not to the power conduit where he
was found...
DAX
Where did he go?
ODO
Runabout Pad "C"...
O'BRIEN
A runabout... ? What was he doing at
a runabout at four in the morning?
ODO
Apparently, he was getting murdered.
Off reactions...
32 INT. RUNABOUT AIRLOCK
Neela works inside an open access panel on the side of the
airlock corridor. O'Brien emerges from the runabout.
O'BRIEN
Everything in the runabout seems
perfectly normal.
NEELA
It doesn't look like the airlock
systems have been tampered with.
O'BRIEN
(beat)
Let's run a level one diagnostic of
the runabout's computer interface,
then we'll call it a day.
NEELA
I already have. Everything's normal.
They sit on the floor by the open panel... letting go for a
moment...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 40.
32 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Hell, I don't even know what we're
looking for. If anything happened
here, it's been pretty well covered
up.
Neela nods, frustrated, a quick brief shudder passes across
her shoulders... softly vulnerable, and sad --
NEELA
Did you know him well?
O'BRIEN
Aquino? Barely knew him at all.
Just the welcome aboard, if you need
anything speech. You?
NEELA
Not really. Bajoran and Starfleet
officers don't socialize too much...
O'BRIEN
How come?
NEELA
I don't know. I guess we just keep
to ourselves.
O'BRIEN
You're not like that with me.
NEELA
(smiles)
You're not like the others.
(off O'Brien's curious
reaction)
You know. You don't put on any
airs... You're just... nicer.
She smiles warmly at him. A beat. And suddenly it's just a
little too intimate for O'Brien's comfort... he gets up.
O'BRIEN
Well, uh, look, I'll close up here...
why don't you take off...
NEELA
You sure?
O'BRIEN
(double meaning)
Yeah. I'm sure.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 41.
32 CONTINUED: (2)
NEELA
(smiles)
Good night.
She picks up her tool kit and EXITS, O'Brien watches her go
a beat, starts to finish up his work...
O'BRIEN
(murmuring to himself)
On your toes, O'Brien.
A beat. His mind comes back to the investigation, taps his
finger on the console... a new thought --
O'BRIEN
Computer, expand diagnostic to include
linkups to Runabout Pads A and B.
COMPUTER VOICE
Diagnostic initiated. Function will
require three minutes forty seconds.
O'Brien goes back to finishing up the work...
33 INT. PROMENADE
Odo is observing the arrival through the airlock of many
Bajorans... most of them dressed in traditional (Storyteller)
garb... QUARK moves up beside him...
QUARK
You were looking for me?
Odo grunts an acknowledgement, but is watching the faces of
the arriving Bajorans... like a camera clicking them off for
later reference... Quark follows his attention...
QUARK
Don't tell me... there's a Bajoran
convention on the station that I
didn't know about... thanks, Odo, I
need to call in more dabo girls...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 42-42A.
33 CONTINUED:
ODO
It's not a convention. They're from
an orthodox spiritual order coming
to support Vedek Winn's efforts to
keep the Bajoran children out of
school...
QUARK
Orthodox. In that case, I'll need
twice as many dabo girls. These
spiritual types love those dabo girls.
Odo moves away from the airlock... they move slowly down the
Promenade together...
ODO
This is not what I wanted to talk to
you about. What do you know about
the murder of Ensign Aquino?
QUARK
(reacts)
You wound me. All the years together.
I thought you knew me. Odo, I am
not a killer.
ODO
No. But most of your friends are.
QUARK
True. And I would gladly sell one
of them to you if I could. But
unfortunately, none of them have
taken credit for the death of the
Starfleet officer. Sorry.
In the background, O'Brien arrives, moving with a purpose,
sees Odo, moves toward him...
O'BRIEN
Odo...
Odo sees him coming, stops, getting rid of Quark --
ODO
Keep your ears open.
QUARK
Are you kidding? That's the seventh
rule of acquisition.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT FOUR 43.
33 CONTINUED: (2)
Quark acknowledges O'Brien, leaves... O'Brien hands Odo a
small electronic component...
O'BRIEN
It's a security bypass module.
ODO
You found this at Runabout Pad "C"?
O'BRIEN
No, that's just it... it wasn't at
Pad "C"... that was clean as a
whistle... just to be safe, I ran a
diagnostic across the board and this
showed up at pad "A"...
ODO
Pad "A"... ?
O'BRIEN
Aquino never went near Runabout "A"...
Doesn't make sense.
ODO
On the contrary, it makes perfect
sense. Ensign Aquino goes to Runabout
"C" because some sensor shows an
anomaly in the security net there...
he interrupts whoever is tampering
with it and is killed. The killer
puts the body in the conduit and
instead of going back to pad "C,"
which might be traced with Aquino's
Turbolift log, he changes his plan
and moves to pad "A."
O'BRIEN
But what was the plan? Everything
else seems normal.
ODO
I'd guess somebody wanted to steal a
runabout.
O'BRIEN
We're not missing any.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 44.
33 CONTINUED: (3)
ODO
Curious. They went to a lot of
trouble to defeat the security net
and then didn't go through...
Odo is interrupted by the SOUND of a HUGE EXPLOSION. People
all over the Promenade are staggered by the blast. O'Brien
immediately realizes...
O'BRIEN
The school.
He bolts in that direction... Odo right behind him...
34 INT. PROMENADE - OUTSIDE KEIKO'S SCHOOL
Odo and O'Brien round a curve in the Promenade to find Keiko's
school fully engulfed in flames. O'Brien tries to rush inside
the school, but Odo grabs him.
O'BRIEN
Keiko...
Fire BLASTS out of the schoolroom as it is rocked by a
secondary explosion.
35 ANGLE ON O'BRIEN
As the light from the flames flickers on his face. A beat
later, Keiko runs around the bend and he sees her, and his
eyes fill with tears of relief... as she reacts with shock...
he moves to her, holds onto her for dear life... and as their
embrace is framed by the fire...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 45.
ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
36 INT. PROMENADE - OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLROOM
A crowd has gathered to see the smoldering wreckage. Kira
and Neela are examining the rubble. They are joined by Sisko
and Odo. In the background, Odo's two deputies control the
crowd. O'Brien and Keiko are no longer there.
SISKO
What've you got?
KIRA
(consulting tricorder)
I'm reading traces of cabrodine and
infernite, common explosives, both
easily obtained.
ODO
Then we're looking at a simple,
homemade bomb.
Sisko nods his agreement, but is distracted by the wallah of
the crowd. Looks to see --
37 ANGLE - VEDEK WINN
Approaching through the crowd... accompanied by her monk
assistant... moves to Sisko, she looks very upset...
WINN
Where is Mrs. O'Brien?
SISKO
Her husband took her home.
WINN
Was she hurt? Was anyone hurt?
SISKO
No.
WINN
(relieved)
The prophets have been kind today.
SISKO
(containing his anger)
The prophets... had nothing to do
with what happened here today.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 46.
37 CONTINUED:
SISKO (Cont'd)
This was the work of a disturbed and
violent mind... who listened to your
voice... not to the prophets.
WINN
(with an edge)
Is the Emissary holding me responsible
for this act of terrorism?
SISKO
The commander of this station is.
WINN
May the prophets forgive you for
abandoning them.
She begins to move away... Sisko won't let her get away so
easily... louder, getting the attention of others...
SISKO
You claim the prophets as your
personal constituency, Vedek Winn.
I'm not convinced that's justified.
Who do you speak for? An order that
is barely listened to in your
assembly... so you come here looking
for a more receptive audience.
And now she turns, declaring war, cold as ice...
WINN
Is that what your friend, Vedek Bareil
told you? He's as misguided as you
are.
(beat)
No, that's not fair... you are not
simply misguided... as I once thought.
Now I see that you want nothing less
than to destroy us.
Sisko gives her more rope...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 47.
37 CONTINUED: (2)
SISKO
Destroy you...
WINN
You live without a soul, Commander.
You and your Federation exist in a
universe of darkness and you would
drag us in there with you. But we...
will... not... go.
Sisko studies her, and finally relaxes, grins.
SISKO
You've just made your first mistake,
Vedek.
WINN
Have I.
SISKO
The Bajoran people who have lived
with us on this station... who have
worked with us for months... who
helped us move this station to protect
the wormhole... who have joined us
to explore the Gamma Quadrant... who
have begun to build the future of
Bajor with us... these people know
that we are neither your enemy nor...
the devil.
His eyes find --
38 ANGLE - INCLUDE KIRA
as his words reach her.
SISKO
(continuing)
We don't always agree. We have some
damn good fights in fact. But we
always come away from them with a
little more understanding and
appreciation for each other.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 48.
39 BACK TO WINN AND SISKO
SISKO
(continuing)
You won't succeed here. This school
will reopen. When your rhetoric
gets old, the Bajoran parents will
bring their children back.
WINN
We'll see.
Sisko nods and EXITS through the crowd... stay a beat on
Winn as she considers this... several of the orthodox move
to the Vedek to express their support in walla...
VOICES (WALLA)
You're right, Vedek... they're
godless... we should drive them out
of there... this isn't your fault...
he had no right to say that... he
will pay in eternity for his
blasphemy...
She doesn't care about any of them, works her way through
the crowd until by chance she makes eye contact with --
40 ANGLE ON NEELA
who looks at her.
41 WINN
nods with recognition.
42 NEELA
almost imperceptibly, acknowledges the nod.
43 INT. OPS
Sisko ENTERS on the Turbolift... Dax and O'Brien are at their
stations... he's burying his fury in his work, working on
his sensors...
SISKO
How is she, Chief?
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT FIVE 49.
43 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Pretty shaken up, but she's planning
to hold classes tomorrow in one of
the small cargo bays if that's okay.
SISKO
(smiles)
You tell her Jake'll be there on
time.
O'BRIEN
That'll make her feel a lot better,
sir.
In the background, Kira, Neela and a Federation crewman
arrive...
SISKO
Anything new on Aquino?
O'BRIEN
Yessir. I found a security bypass
module at Runabout Pad "A"... looks
like someone might have wanted to
steal a runabout. That's probably
why Aquino went there in the first
place...
44 ANGLE - NEELA
who has arrived at the engineering station reacts as she
hears this...
O'BRIEN
I've put security seals in place at
all three pads... and I'm checking
for any other anomalies down there...
Sisko acknowledges...
DAX
Benjamin, incoming transmission from
Vedek Bareil aboard a Bajoran
transport...
SISKO
On screen...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 50.
45 ANGLE (OPTICAL)
include the screen, showing Bariel, onboard a Bajoran ship,
accompanied by his Attache (a monk of the same order).
BAREIL
Commander, I've decided to accept
your gracious invitation.
SISKO
Invitation?
BAREIL
(poker-faced)
You did invite me to tour your
facility... ?
SISKO
Yes, yes, of course, Vedek. We'd be
honored. Unfortunately, we have
some damage on our Promenade we won't
have time to clean up before you
arrive.
BAREIL
Yes. I heard about it.
(pointed)
Perhaps I can help you clean it up.
SISKO
That would be very much appreciated.
BAREIL
It's the least a friend can do. I
look forward to seeing you again.
The transmission ends. On Sisko's delighted reaction...
46 INT. BAJORAN SHRINE
Neela ENTERS the Bajoran Shrine, where Vedek Winn is talking
quietly to her monk. Winn notices Neela... sends the other
monk away.
WINN
(gently)
My dear, you should not be here.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 50A.
46 CONTINUED:
NEELA
(worried)
Vedek, they found out about the
runabout.
WINN
I see.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 51.
46 CONTINUED: (2)
NEELA
I have no way to escape.
WINN
Then, we must accept that as the
will of the prophets.
NEELA
But if I go through with it now,
I'll be caught and executed.
Winn takes her hands and looks deeply into her eyes...
WINN
Sometimes the sacrifices the prophets
call on us to make are great, my
child. But the rewards they give
will last through eternity.
Neela nods her understanding.
47 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
A Bajoran Transport approaches the station.
48 INT. DOCKING BAY AIRLOCK
Vedek Bareil and a monk exit the airlock and find Sisko and
Kira.
BAREIL
Commander...
SISKO
(deeply sincere)
Thank you for coming, Vedek.
BAREIL
(acknowledges)
I'm just another voice. But perhaps
some of the Bajorans on your station
will listen to what I have to say...
KIRA
Everyone's heard you were on the
way... There's quite a crowd on our
Promenade to greet you, Vedek.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 52.
48 CONTINUED:
SISKO
(introducing)
My first officer Major Kira Nerys.
Bareil takes one hand in both of his... studies her deeply...
almost with love... mystical.
BAREIL
Nerys. I know more about you than
you realize. I am very pleased to
begin our friendship.
KIRA
(taken aback)
Thank you.
BAREIL
(intimate)
I realize you may disagree with me
today... if your heart is with Vedek
Winn, embrace her...
KIRA
(disconcerted)
After what's happened... I'm... not
sure where my heart is, Bareil.
BAREIL
May the prophets allow me to be the
one to help you find it again.
Another long beat as he looks at her, smiles... takes her
arm... Kira glances uneasily at Sisko as Sisko motions the
way...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 53.
49 INT. OPS (OPTICAL)
O'Brien works on the console at his station... reacts as he
finds something... repeats the function... Dax at hers...
O'BRIEN
(to himself)
What the hell... ?
(beat)
Computer, identify subprogram labelled
"A-N-A"...
COMPUTER VOICE
That file is protected by a personal
security access code.
O'BRIEN
On whose authority?
COMPUTER VOICE
Chief of Operations Miles O'Brien.
O'BRIEN
Me? I never saw this file before.
Override command.
COMPUTER VOICE
Unable to comply. State security
code to release protection.
He reacts, moves to the pit...
O'BRIEN
(to Dax)
Lieutenant, I've got to do a manual
isolation of an anomalous file...
it's in the security field
subsystem... labelled "A-N-A"...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 54.
49 CONTINUED:
DAX
(off monitor)
That file is going to be protected
by a series of encryption sequences.
I'll run an adaptive program.
O'BRIEN
We're lucky for once we're dealing
with a Cardassian computer... it
shouldn't have any more than seven
sequences.
DAX
Beginning decryption.
As a monitor in the pit lights up... the screen is filled
with lists of rapidly changing numbers...
O'BRIEN
Online... patched to subroutine "A-
N-A"...
Dax's monitor has them too... she presses a few panels...
the first digit a "4" sticks and the computer continues to
figure out the rest...
50 INT. PROMENADE
Bareil, Sisko, Kira exit the airlock. The Promenade is
crowded with people. Every Bajoran on the station is packed
into either the upper or lower level. Odo and a handful of
Deputies do what they can to control the crowd. Bashir comes
out of the Infirmary to see. Bareil pauses to mix with the
people, smiling, chatting, being spiritual... the people
push forward to be close to the future Kai... arms reaching
out, touching him... much Walla and excitement... moving to
find at the back of the crowd... Neela... holding her tool
box...
51 INT. OPS - CLOSE ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)
which has now figured out six of the seven digits... and as
the seventh one clicks into place... making "4100RLX"...
move back to find O'Brien...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 55.
51 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
That's it... computer access
subprogram "A-N-A"... code four-one-
zero-zero-R-L-X.
He moves out of the pit... moving quickly back to his station,
Dax comes over to look over his shoulder...
COMPUTER VOICE
Accessing.
O'BRIEN
Identify commands within the file.
COMPUTER VOICE
Commands are sequential overrides of
security fields approaching Runabout
pad "A"...
O'BRIEN
The forcefields? Display sequence
on screen.
52 ON MONITOR (OPTICAL)
A station display appears... and starting from the Runabout...
it highlights the forcefield overrides going backwards...
until it reaches the Promenade...
DAX
(curious)
Right to the Promenade.
O'BRIEN
Computer, run a level three sensor
sweep through the Promenade... report
any anomalous reading...
COMPUTER VOICE
Working.
O'BRIEN
(beat, thoughtful)
An escape route...
DAX
An escape from what?
O'BRIEN
Got me.
COMPUTER VOICE
One anomalous reading detected.
STXT É §
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 56.
52 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
Identify.
COMPUTER VOICE
A short range subspace relay was
activated in the Security Office
nine minutes, seven seconds ago.
O'BRIEN
Activated to do what?
COMPUTER VOICE
Unknown. Insufficient data.
They frown. On the move --
O'BRIEN
I'm going down there.
DAX
I'll run a diagnostic on the other
security systems and call you as
soon as I have anything.
O'Brien reaches the Turbolift...
53 INT. PROMENADE
Bareil, Sisko, Kira and Bareil's attache have made progress
getting through the crowd with Odo's help... moving to find
Neela, being pushed in the crowd... a solemn, even expression
on her face.
54 ANGLE
as Bareil sees Winn and her monk near the temple... Bareil
smiles and moves to her... she smiles, they embrace, pleasing
the crowd...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT FIVE 57.
54 CONTINUED:
WINN
I expected you sooner, Bareil.
BAREIL
It seems our paths have grown apart.
Perhaps we can bring them together
again.
WINN
Nothing would please me more.
BAREIL
Come with me to the school... let's
both show a commitment to the peaceful
conclusion of this series of events...
Just a touch of hesitation...
WINN
Of course.
They move forward... making better progress this time...
finding Neela again in the crowd...
55 NEW ANGLE
to find O'Brien arriving, on the Turbolift... moving to
security...
56 INT. SECURITY OFFICE
O'Brien ENTERS, uses his tricorder to trace the subspace
device... it leads him right back to the place where Neela
had been working in Act One. O'Brien does a take... thinks
about Neela... can't believe it...
O'BRIEN
(off tricorder)
Computer, is the subspace device
integrated into the isolinear co-
processor?
COMPUTER VOICE
Confirmed.
O'BRIEN
O'Brien to Dax.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/12/93 - ACT FIVE 58.
56 CONTINUED:
DAX'S COM VOICE
Go ahead.
O'BRIEN
It's in the isolinear co-processor.
DAX'S COM VOICE
Didn't you just repair that unit two
days ago?
O'BRIEN
Yeah, I did... with Neela.
57 INT. PROMENADE - ON NEELA
slowly moving between people, getting closer to the front of
the crowd... they've reached the school now... the parents,
Jake and Keiko are there... Bareil never lets go of Winn's
hand...
BAREIL
(to the crowd)
Looking around at your faces... I
believe you feel the shame that I
feel at this sight...
58 INT. SECURITY OFFICE (VPB)
O'Brien shaking his head, angry at himself for being a fool,
for liking her, still not entirely believing it, not wanting
to believe it, there's gotta be a better explanation... he's
working a computer console...
O'BRIEN
It's gotta be the weapon detectors
on the Promenade... that's the only
thing those co-processors could
possibly affect...
DAX'S COM VOICE
All weapon detectors appear to be
functional, Chief...
O'BRIEN
(half to himself,
convincing himself)
No, that's gotta be it... she's real
good... she could make it look like
they're normal... it's gotta be the
scanners...
He sighs, it's the only answer.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 59.
58 CONTINUED:
O'BRIEN
O'Brien to Sisko...
INTERCUTTING:
59 INT. PROMENADE
Bareil is holding up one hand to quiet the crowd... he looks
deeply saddened by what he sees, never let's go of Winn's
hand...
BAREIL
Once our world was a center of
learning...
Sisko responding to O'Brien's call, has taken a moment to
move away from center stage to keep his conversation from
disrupting Bareil...
SISKO
What's up, Chief?
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Sir, I'm not entirely sure... but I
think the weapon detectors on the
Promenade have been disabled.
SISKO
(instantly alert to
the crowd)
What do you mean you're not sure?
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
I mean, I think Neela disabled them.
SISKO
Your assistant... ?
O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE
Yessir.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 60.
59 CONTINUED:
BAREIL
(over the above)
... It attracted travelers from many
other worlds... now, to see a
schoolhouse destroyed, to see the
pursuit of education halted... it is
indeed a sad day for Bajor. The
years of oppression have changed us.
They have left us violent. They
have left us afraid. They have left
us distrustful.
Sisko's eyes scan the crowd... sees Neela moving closer to
Bareil, reaching into her tool box...
BAREIL
It is time to forge a new beginning...
to accept new ideas, not to be afraid
of them... to reject violence as a
solution, to join hands with all
peoples and begin to trust again...
Begin slow motion...
60 WINN'S HAND
disconnects with Bareil's...
61 KIRA
just happens to be looking that way and notices...
62 BAREIL
glances at Winn (and she is calm and placid as ever, only
the hand gives her away)...
63 NEELA'S HAND
pulls out a phaser...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 61.
64 SISKO
charges into the crowd at her...
SISKO
No!
65 ODO
turns to the sound of the voice... sees --
66 SISKO
pushing people out the way to get to her...
67 KIRA
reacts, barely starts to move toward Bareil to protect him
but she's not sure from what...
68 NEELA
raises the weapon... no one seems to notice, they're all
looking at Sisko...
69 ODO
tries to get to...
70 BAREIL
who looks perplexed by the commotion...
71 SISKO (OPTICAL)
Slow motion ends as he gets to Neela and throws his body in
the air... Neela sees him out of the corner of her eye, moves
to get a better shot, he hits her arm as the gun discharges
twice, hitting the ceiling... and now people are screaming,
and scattering and all hell is breaking loose...
72 O'BRIEN
comes out of security to see what the hell has happened...
Keiko finds him, they lock arms...
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 62.
73 ODO
ushers Bareil, who is clearly shaken and pale, away to
safety...
74 SISKO
pulls Neela to her feet, having wrestled the gun away from
her...
NEELA
(without apology)
The prophets spoke. I answered their
call. The prophets spoke. I answered
their call.
75 ANGLE - WINN
saying a silent prayer and as she looks up, she finds Kira
staring at her... off Winn's curious reaction --
KIRA
(almost doesn't believe
it herself)
It was all to get him here, wasn't
it. The school, the protests... the
bombing. You knew that would bring
him out of the monastery. You did
it all to kill him, to stop him from
becoming Kai.
Winn studies her evenly for a long moment, chooses not to
grace the accusation with a reply... moves quickly away... a
beat on Kira's reaction...
76 SISKO
Sisko leads Neela toward security and they pass O'Brien and
as he makes eye contact with Neela -- she says it again, but
this time trying to personally explain it to him because she
really does like him.
NEELA
The prophets spoke. I answered their
call.
And she disappears with Sisko inside. We stay on O'Brien's
reaction a beat and then ...
77 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)
Re-establishing.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 63.
78 INT. OPS
It's late at night now... a skeleton crew is in charge... in
fact all we see is one Bajoran supernumerary in the background
and she quickly moves out of sight... Sisko arrives,
exhausted, on the Turbolift, reacts as he sees Kira sitting
alone at her station at the table... staring ahead in
thought... trying to make some sense out of all this... He
moves beside her, lays a hand on her shoulder which breaks
her trance. She looks up at him and he sits beside her.
It's a gentle, subdued moment between them.
SISKO
Neela insists she acted alone. Unless
you want to consider the prophets co-
conspirators.
KIRA
She'll never tell us the truth.
We'll never be able to prove Winn
was involved.
SISKO
(beat, studying her)
You okay?
KIRA
(sighs)
Okay... ? I've forgotten "okay."
Haven't seen "okay" in what seems
like years.
(beat)
I've been sitting here thinking.
Last year at this time, I was
fighting the Cardassians in some
nameless swamp. If you'd've
stopped by and told me in just one
year, they'd be gone, and I'd be
wearing a uniform, up here in
charge of protecting some
wormhole...
SISKO
... protecting your celestial temple...
KIRA
(beat)
I envied Vedek Winn because she was
a true believer... I wanted my faith
to be as strong as hers.
DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 64.
78 CONTINUED:
SISKO
Maybe it is.
Kira thinks that over. Sisko rises.
SISKO
I have a report to put together for
Starfleet... you ought to get some
rest...
KIRA
I'd rather help you...
He nods, okay, come on... she rises...
KIRA
Commander...
(beat)
I heard what you said to Vedek Winn
at the school. I just wanted you to
know... you were right about the
Bajorans here, about me at least...
I don't think you're...
(beat, using his words)
... "the devil."
He smiles warmly.
SISKO
Then I guess we've made some progress
after all.
She smiles back. He puts his arm around her shoulder and as
they move into his office...
79
thru OMITTED
80
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
THE END
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