MUSIC MIXES UP AGAINST AN EERIE ELECTRONIC PING…
KIRK (V.O); Kirk to Enterprise… Kirk to Enterprise… Come in Enterprise…
His VOICE gets LOST, GARBLED amidst STAR NOISE…
FADE IN:
STREAKS OF LIGHT AGAINST BLACK that RESOLVE INTO a SWEEPING CITYSCAPE
Part futuristic metropolis, part throwback to Chicago or New York of the late 1920s…
KIRK (V.O): Life’s a gamble. And the deck is usually stacked against us.
CUT TO:
A MAN’S HANDS
Shuffling a strange deck of cards, single-handed… struggles with it…
KIRK (V.O.): I used to believe the only way to win is cheat. And lay ‘em down before I’m beat. Command teaches you something different.
We HEAR a run along PIANO KEYS… a WOMAN”s VOICE SINGING scales…
CUT TO:
ANOTHER MAN’S HANDS Skillfully tinkling assured jazz from the ivories…
KIRK (V.O.): When I was thirteen, my mother sent me to live with her dad on Tarsus Four. I always thought I survived the genocide there out of dumb luck, a gamble…
WOMAN’S FOREFINGER
Taps an old-fashioned microphone— SCREECH of FEEDBACK… her lips ENTER FRAME and she SINGS to the piano, the ’30s standard, “Good Night, Sweetheart.”
SWEEPING CITYSCAPE
ANGLING toward a TENEMENT BUILDING as the woman SINGS…
KIRK (V.O.): Looking back, I always kidded myself that luck is always on my side.
CUT TO:
CARD HANDS
His control of the deck, more assured… “Good night, sweetheart, til we meet tomorrow, Good night, sweetheart, sleep will vanish sorrow…”
KIRK (V.O): Grandpa wasn’t so lucky. I thought he just made the worst choice for himself and wound up in a hole in the ground with a few thousand other dumb bastards.
CUT TO:
PIANO HANDS
Works the keys as the woman SINGS, “Good night, sweetheart, though I’m not beside you…”
KIRK (V.O): Commanding a ship of the line, Starfleet’s flagship, sending men and women into harm’s way, I understand better the cheat my grandpa, Jim, made. Only it was no cheat. It was something he told me the old time astronauts used to say. But he liked to say it , too…
SWEEPING CITYSCAPE
CLOSING ON the light in a window of the tenement… “Good night, sweetheart, Dreams will still unfold you…”
KIRK (V.O.): Sometimes there’s a pooch that can’t be screwed.
SUPER: Against the tenement, CLASS M PLANET SIGMA IOTIA II, STARDATE 2262.09
IN THE TENEMENT
JIM KIRK, in 1920s work clothes masters the one handed shuffle with a proud grin… “Good night, sweetheart… Goodnight…”
There’s a JANGLE of keys outside the door— and the cards go FLYING! Kirk grabs his phaser— thinks better of it— pulls an old time pistol— ducks behind the door… and yanks his gun at CAROL MARCUS As she ENTERS, lovely but dressed plain. She drops a paper bag of groceries, freaked by his drop on her…
CAROL: Jim! Uh, Captain!? What the hell?!
He pulls the gun away, slams the door shut—
KIRK: Sorry, Carol! Sorry! But we can’t play it too safe. Not after last week. I’m not about to let Oxmyx put the bag on you again.
CAROL: How very gallant.
She bends down, gathers the groceries. Kirk joins her.
CAROL: But I don’t blame you, I didn’t sign aboard your ship to spend my time bound and gagged in an ancient warehouse as a bartering chip for a thug. Any word from Mister Scott?
Kirk holds up some leafy greens.
KIRK: Why does it always have to be vegetables? Three weeks and nothing but lettuce and carrots.
CAROL: They’re good for you. And I remembered your cold cuts and hard roll. Now answer me straight
for once. Did you hear from the Enterprise? I’m… concerned.
KIRK: Who are you, my mother? It’s happening tonight. There’s an emergency out there. Organia.
He stands over her. She matches him, sweeps up some of the playing cards, displays a weird-looking Jack…
CAROL: One more game with Oxmyx first?
KIRK: You know me, Doctor Marcus…
CAROL: You always have a trick up your sleeve.
Off his smart-aleck grin… her reluctant smile. She laughs lightly as he pulls her close with a deep kiss. The cards go FLYING again…
EXT. CITY STREET - TEPO’S BAR (SIGMA IOTIA II) - NIGHT
Jammed with funky old autos RAMMING each other with drunken abandon…
DR. MCCOY, BONES, climbs out of a taxi in a zoot suit, a FLOOZIE on each arm.
BONES: Ladies, drinks’re on me. It’s Red Hour somewhere, I figger.
FLOOZIE #1: Y’ever get what he’s jawin’ ‘bout?
Floozie #2 shrugs.
FLOOZIE #2: He’s Bela’s new sawbones. What’s not to love? Money talks.
BONES: Y’all got that right, honey pie.
They head into
INT. TEPO’S BAR (SIGMA IOTIA II) - NIGHT
A busy high-end joint. A lotta booze. No Volstead on this parallel world. Commander SPOCK, in a tux, plays piano… Lieutenant UHURA, in a slinky dress, is on stage singing “Midnight, the Stars and You,” nods at Spock then over at McCoy at the bar, WHOOPIN’ IT UP with the floozies and knockin’ back Sigma Iotia’s brand of bourbon.
Spock frowns…
BONES: It’s like my wife Dorothy said about me. Lennie, she said, you’ll be the death of me.
FLOOZIE #1: Murdered your wife, huh?
BONES: Only with a surfeit of good intentions.
FLOOZIE #2: Oh, surfeit! I love that perfume!
Two SHADOWY MEN IN SUITS appear on either side of Bones.
MAN #1: Doctor McCoy, your voice is carrying.
MAN #2: You may not vant to be discussing dis in… uh, public?
Bones turns to find Lieutenant SULU and Ensign CHEKOV on either side of him looking like extras out of a John Garfield movie. Bones winks at ‘em.
BONES; Relax, good sirs. I took a Ferengi sobriety pill. These Iotian women are insatiable.
TIME CUT TO:
TEPO’S BAR (SIGMA IOTIA II) - AT PIANO (LATER)
Spock noodles as Uhura, on break, joins Bones, Sulu and Chekov…
SPOCK: Doctor, I am now convinced more than ever that your displays of spectacle are engineered to personally annoy me.
BONES: You play a mean piana, Mister Spock. You know “Summertime”?
SPOCK: And the living is easy, yes. But normally I don’t take requests.
He plays…
CHEKOV: Pardon my ignorance but I’ve been meaning to ask— but being junior participant on this detail—
BONES: Spit it out, man.
CHEKOV: A Federation starship, Horizon, sent this planet on some crazy course two hundred years ago based on children’s book about old Earth gangsters they left behind—
SPOCK: The Iotians are a very intuitive and imitative people, Mister Chekov.
SULU: What he means, Commander, is how can we alter these strange developments they’re on in just one fell swoop?
SPOCK: The Captain takes such responsibilities most seriously, Mister Sulu. And that’s not his intention. He intends to take his “cut.” Whatever that means.
BONES: Just both a you keep your gats handy.
CHEKOV: Our gats?
Uhura pulls a Derringer from a garter holster…
UHURA: I don’t know about you fellas but I’m ready to get back to work. In outer space?
Spock spares her a small smile. He plays, anachronistically, a robust Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say?!” and Uhura leaps to the mike and BELTS IT OUT!
Bones glances across the bar…
Kirk and Carol ENTER. She’s on his arm and they’re dressed to the Nines, gangster and gun moll…
BONES: Captain Responsibility, right on cue. Gentlemen, Organia waits for us.
Bones, backed by Sulu and Chekov, heads across the bar to KIRK AND CAROL
As they push through the revellers…
BONES: I recognize that look in your eyes.
KIRK: I’m just here for a friendly game of cards.
BONES: Dear lord—! Jim, we’re warpin” outta here in less than an hour.
KIRK: And I’m leaving with Sigma Iotia in my pocket.
BONES: You’re making this personal. He’s makin’ this— Doctor Marcus, Carol, you got any sway here?
Carol glances at Jim, affects Bones with his own drawl…
CAROL: Doc, I’m just an old fashioned particle physicist.
BONES: Dear lord…
Bones pushes his way to a PRIVATE TABLE
A hulk of a gangster plays cards. Bryl Cream, shark skin suit, heavy black eyeglasses, crime boss BELA
OXMYX glances over a shoulder.
OXMYX: Let the doc through, boys. I got angina.
BONES: Bela, you remember Captain— uh, my pally, Jimbo.
As Kirk and Carol push past the crime lord’s bodyguards…
OXMYX: Oh, sure. The Rocket Man. Right. And his brainiac girlfriend!
Oxmyx holds up a half-empty tumbler at Carol.
OXMYX: Fix me up, doll face.
Before she can answer angry—
KIRK: Mister Oxmyx, Bela, this game you’re playing, it’s child’s play.
OXMYX: Who’s asking you, Rocket Man?
KIRK: On Beta Antares Four they play a real game. A man’s game. But it’s probably beyond you. It requires intelligence.
Oxmyx gathers up the cards, slams them in front of a lackey.
OXMYX: You, out. Take the cards, Rocket Man. Show me your play.
CHEKOV: Keptin, I know culture of Beta Antares. They don’t play games. They kill vith their wery eyes—
Sulu gives him a swift nudge in the ribs. Kirk sits, takes up the cards, shuffles them confidently. One handed.
OXMYX: Wanna make this innaresting, huh?
KIRK: How much for just the planet?
Bela laughs a little…
Kirk’s poker-faced…
Bela laughs harder…
OXMYX: Deal. You win, Sigma’s yers. You lose, I get yer Federation. And I get yer girl, the blondie brainiac.
As Carol rolls her eyes, Jim lays out the cards…
KIRK: The game is Fizzbin.
Bones buries his face in a hand.
CAROL: This another joke of his I don’t get?
AT PIANO
Spock pulls his CHIRPING communicator, plays one-handed as Uhura scats at the mike…
SCOTTY’S VOICE (filtered over COMM): Almost in orbit, sir. Satellites confirm Organia’s a disaster situation.
SPOCK: Prepare Excelsior-drive systems.
SCOTTY’S VOICE (filtered over COMM): Y’canna be serious! My bairns have never even been tested with that particular brand of nonsense!
SPOCK: I’m always serious, Mister Scott. Emergency beam on my signal. Warp nine point nine five.
Spock shuts off as
USS ENTERPRISE (SPACE)
SMASHES out of WARP SPEED and DRIFTS INTO orbit of Sigma Iotia II.
INT. USS ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
Scotty leaps from the command chair for the turbo lift…
SCOTTY: Mister N’Gara, you have the conn.
A sluggish HORTA slithers into the center seat.
INT. USS ENTERPRISE - ENGINEERING
As Scotty arrives, addresses his team…
SCOTTY: Ladies n’ gentlemen, the Command grade officers of our fine ship have officially lost their senses. Excelsior drive systems, warp nine point nine five at my signal.
Off the team’s startled looks, Scotty makes an emphatic gesture… “Get on wi’ it!”
INT. TEPO’S BAR (SIGMA IOTIA II) - NIGHT
As Kirk flips playing cards…
KIRK: Round the horn, Bela. Each player gets six cards except for the player on the dealer’s right.
OXMYX: On the right.
KIRK: Look at you! You have two Jacks already!
OXMYX: So, I need another Jack.
KIRK: No! In that case you’d have a, uh… a shronk. You need a Queen. Or a Deuce.
OXMYX: Except at night.
KIRK: On a Thursday. But the odds of getting a Royal Fizzbin are astronomical— Carol, honey, what are the odds of getting a Royal Fizzbin?
CAROL: I don’t know. I’ve never calculated them. Jimbo.
KIRK: Well, they’re astronomical, let me assure you—
THE DOORS TO THE CLUB EXPLODE IN GUN FIRE!
BONES: Cheese it! It’s a raid!
Sulu kicks over the card table as they duck behind it!
OXMYX: Krako!
KIRK: Jojo Krako? Looks like I picked the wrong criminal maniac.
A greasy fat-bellied gangster pushes past his cops — KRACKO.
KRAKO: I’ma heah for da Rocket Man!
As the oblivious CHORUS GIRLS break into an Iotian “Anything Goes,” Uhura and Spock fight their way out of the Club together.
Sulu SMASHES one of Oxmyx’s over-sized thugs, tosses a machine gun to Chekov who wildly BLASTS in the general direction of the raiders as Sulu jerks a revolver!
Carol grabs Kirk and pulls him through the CHAOS!
KIRK: Bela, you’re one unscrewable pooch!
EXT. TEPO’S BAR (SIGMA IOTIA II) - NIGHT
Kirk and Carol CRASH through a window, followed by Bones, Sulu and Chekov waving gunfire! Spock and Uhura are already there, yanking open a taxi. Spock grabs and pitches the startled cabbie. Carol looks at Jim, impressed…
KIRK (nods at Spock, shrugs): He gets me.
EXT. CITY STREET - TAXI - NIGHT
CHASED BY WHAT SEEMS LIKE A HUNDRED OLD POLICE CARS!
IN THE TAXI
Kirk drives, throws his crew around.
KIRK (to Bones): Who’s the better shot? Sulu or Spock?
BONES: Just keep your eyes on the damn road!
KIRK: Hikaru, if you please.
Sulu grabs the machine gun from Chekov— CRACKS the rear window and lays down hot lead!
The cop cars CAREEN, all crazy!
KIRK
Grins, pleased with himself. Looks at Carol beside him with a cocky “what’d ya think a me?” raise of his eyebrows.
SPOCK: Captain—
KIRK: Congratulate me later, Spock.
CAROL: Jim!!!
He looks up — a WALL of POLICE CRUISERS are aimed right at them, Tommy guns ABLAZE!
Just as Kirk’s cab is about to SLAM INTO THE CRUISERS—
TRANSPORTER BEAM!
INT. USS ENTERPRISE - HANGAR DECK
As the cab BEAMS ABOARD in a WILD SPIN amongst shuttlecraft…
Kirk and his crew fall out, Jim’s met by Scotty.
SCOTTY: Very nice threads, sir.
KIRK: Excelsior systems?
SCOTTY: Ready.
KIRK: Really?
SCOTTY: Your guess is as good as mine.
INT. USS ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
As Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov arrive…
HORTA N’GARA (garbled through translator): Captain—On-The-Bridge.
Kirk punches the intercom, still dressed as a gangster…
KIRK: All hands, prepare for Excelsior drive, Organia in seconds. We don’t know what we’re rushing into but I can assure you it’s going to be hot. This is the Captain.
Kirk looks at Spock, still dressed in tuxedo…
KIRK: I love being the Captain.
Off Spock’s raised eyebrow…
USS ENTERPRISE TWISTS INTO AN IMPOSSIBLE SHAPE and snaps away…
MAIN TITLE and MAIN MUSICAL THEME…
(end of PROLOG)