.
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. BAJOR – SISKO’S HOUSE - MORNING
Early, as the sun is rising over the distant hills and the local birds are fluttering and tweeting in reply. The Sisko homestead looks peaceful in the morning light.
2 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM
OPAKA sits in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, slowly rocking back and forth with baby REBECCA in her lap. She’s keeping the girl occupied with some simple toy.
KIRA emerges from the kitchen, in casual clothes. She’s carrying three mugs of morning coffee. She drops one off at the side-table next to Opaka’s rocking chair...
OPAKA
Oh, thank you, Nerys.
...and takes the other two to the couch. KASIDY gratefully receives, and Kira sits beside her. Kasidy is obviously filled with worry, clinging to the coffee cup for comfort.
KIRA
So he never came home?
KASIDY
No. Haven’t seen or heard from
him since I threw him out of
the house.
(sags)
Oh God, why did I do that? Any-
thing could have happened to
him when he’s in that state.
KIRA
Don’t beat yourself up, Kas.
You were scared, angry...
KASIDY
How’s Rena?
KIRA
She’s fine. Handling it better
than Jake is. I don’t think
I’ve ever seen him so angry.
Kasidy puts her mug down on the coffee table, gets up and begins to pace. Kira and Opaka can only sympathise.
KASIDY
Damn it, Ben! At least call me
and let me know you’re okay.
OPAKA
(gently)
Perhaps he worried he would not
be welcome after what happened.
Perhaps he did not wish to
burden you any further.
KASIDY
I’m his wife! He’s supposed to
burden me! I just hate when
he gets like this. All this
Prophets business screaming
around in his head...
Kasidy slumps back down into an armchair.
KASIDY
I’m sorry Nerys, Sulan. I don’t
mean to be insensitive to your
beliefs... I just wish those
Prophets of yours would leave
Ben out of it once in a while.
KIRA
I know what you mean. And I know
this probably isn’t what you
want to hear... but I believe
it’s all for a purpose.
Kira looks subtly over to Opaka. Opaka gets the message. She stands and hefts Rebecca onto her hip.
OPAKA
I’ll go and tidy Rebecca’s
things. I’m sure she can show
me where everything goes.
Opaka carries Rebecca into the bedroom, leaving Kira and Kasidy alone. Kira smiles gratefully, then turns back to her friend.
KIRA
Kasidy, please... try and hear
me. I know that the Prophets
wouldn’t ask him to do anything
unless it was absolutely vital
for the safety of Bajor. They
take care of us. Ben is Their
way of doing that.
KASIDY
But does it have to be so hard
for him? And for me?
KIRA
I can only tell you that in the
end, it’ll all be for the best.
Kasidy wishes she could be as confident. And really, Kira is trying to convince herself just as much.
KASIDY
I know he lies to me.
(beat)
Alright, maybe not lie, that’s
too strong a word. But he keeps
things from me. He hides and
pretends. It’s just because he
wants to protect me. But I hear
him mumbling in his sleep. I
know he’s scared. And I want
to protect him too.
KIRA
Perhaps you could talk to Jake
about it? Or encourage Ben to
talk to Jake if he can’t talk
to you.
KASIDY
(shakes head
firmly)
No. I don’t want to put Jake
in the middle of it. He has
his own life to lead now.
KIRA
Then maybe you could persuade
Ben to step back a bit. Take
more of a back seat. Vaughn
and Taran’atar and I can
handle what we need to do...
KASIDY
I can’t do that either. I could
never ask him not to go with
you. It’s all he’s thought about
and worried about since he came
back from the wormhole. Besides,
if I try to make him choose...
I’m afraid I’ll lose.
KIRA
You don’t seriously think he’d
choose the Prophets over you...?
Kasidy looks Kira in the eye, sad and resigned.
KASIDY
He already did once.
Kira doesn’t really have any answer for that. It’s a tough situation all round, and she has her own doubts about it.
There’s a BANG out on the veranda, at the back of the house. Kira and Kasidy look to each other, confused. They get up from the sofa and look to the back door...
...just in time to see SISKO half-collapsing against it.
Kira quickly rushes to the door, opens it and catches Sisko as he slumps into her arms. It’s not unlike when he lurched into the ward room at the end of 5x10 “Rapture.” He’s wracked with the same kind of shivers and sweats, like his head is too full of comprehension, trying to burst out.
Kasidy stays back, her hand to her mouth, almost in tears at the state her husband is in. Opaka has emerged from the bedroom at the commotion. Sisko looks up into Kira’s face, as if barely realizing where he is.
SISKO
Nerys...
KIRA
Ben... what is it?
SISKO
I understand now. You have to
gather everyone. Gather them
all, before it’s too late.
On Opaka, as she remembers...
FLASHBACK – 10x11 “HARMONY”
Itu has received revelation from their Orbs, during the last Ascendant attack. He stops another passing Eav’oq...
ITU
I understand now. You have to
gather everyone. Gather them
all, before it’s too late.
BACK TO SCENE
The same words. Opaka realizes – this is it.
FADE OUT:
END OF TEASER
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