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DS9 12x12 - "Life of a Statesman"

DS9Continuing

DS9Continuing

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
 
Meanwhile...

TNG 17x12 – “THE LIBERATED”

Enterprise explores the sentient star cluster looking for Einstein. Communing with the Noh-Angel entities, T’Ryssa Chen understands that they sent the Borg ship away, separating it and Rhea without taking sides. Suddenly a Borg ship appears, but it is not Einstein – it is the Liberated Borg ship commanded by Hugh (TNG 7x01 “Descent, pt 2”). Einstein is coming right behind him to assimilate the Noh-Angels’ natural slipstream. But when Enterprise engages, the Noh-Angels interfere again, refusing to allow them to fight. It sees both sides as squabbling children, amusing to watch but no real threat. Chen cannot seem to get the entity to understand that the Borg are dangerous and must be stopped. Meanwhile, Hugh asks Crusher for help in making his Liberated Borg fertile so they can solidify their new community – an awkward request since she and Picard are currently in conflict over whether to bring a child into such a dangerous world.

TTN 1x12 – “FEAR IN A HANDFUL OF DUST”

After their shuttle crash, Jaza and Y’Lira find what appears to be the wreckage of Titan. They have moved through time, thanks to the energy tesseract in orbit. Elsewhere, the rest of the away team bickers – Vale is sure Titan is destroyed, Troi tries to maintain hope, Ra-Havreii blames himself. They find the same wreckage, but a thousand years old. Devastated, Troi admits that she suffered a miscarriage, and her emotional turmoil has been transmitting to the crew, hence all the arguing. In the past, Jaza explains his faith in the Prophets’ plan. As a child of the Occupation, he did not always believe, but now he does – this is where he is meant to be. In the present, Orishans attack and kidnap Ra-Havreii and drag him back to their base, deep underground. The others give chase, and are captured too. But luckily, Ra-Havreii has worked out that the crashed ship out there... is not Titan at all.

VOY 10x12 – “REVENANT”

Disgraced former Starfleet cadet Nick Locarno (TNG 5x19 “The First Duty”) helps the privateer crew of Celtic access a crippled Starfleet ship. When he realises it is Reston, assimilated by the super-cube (VOY 10x09 “Hungry”), he wants to run, but Celtic’s captain Walsh insists this is a unique opportunity. Boarding the abandoned ship, they find dead drones everywhere, looming and haunting. Locarno tries to restart the Reston’s computers, but the Borg tech identifies Celtic as a threat and destroys it, Walsh included. The surviving crew turn on each other, imagining monsters round every corner. When one of them is assimilated, he reveals that they have a traitor – Walsh brought them here deliberately, and they have been slowly assimilating since they stepped on board. Starfleet has standing orders to destroy Reston if found, and they cannot operate the ship to escape because they are not Borg. Locarno realises that the only way to survive... is to become Borg.
 
TEASER​


FADE IN:


1 INT. PALAIS - MONET ROOM


A portrait of former president THELIAN hangs on the wall - a middle-aged Andorian thaan with receding white hair.

Move sideways to the next portrait in line - AMITRA, a female Pandrilite, a bulky blue-skinned species with a monkey-like nose and flopping pointed ears.

On to the next portrait - JARESH-INYO, the male Grazerite seen in DS9 4x11 “Homefront” / DS9 4x12 “Paradise Lost”.

Then to MIN ZIFE, the male Bolian seen in several earlier episodes. Next to the hefty Jaresh-Inyo, he looks tiny.

And finally to the face gazing solemnly at all four of these portraits - NAN BACCO. She is the latest in their line, and today she feels that weight more than ever.

Behind her, the door opens and PIÑIERO enters. The two old friends are alone. They are both wearing traditional formal Cestus dress - a tunic that reaches down to mid-thigh and up to the throat, forcing the chin up, plus black leggings.


PIÑIERO
We’re almost ready ma’am. Agent
Wexler is giving the shuttle a last
check, our course is set for Mars,
and Fred’s working on your
speech as we speak.​


Bacco smiles a bit at the word play, but doesn’t otherwise respond. She just keeps gazing at the portraits.


PIÑIERO
Everything alright, ma’am?

BACCO
It’s a hell of a responsibility,
Esperanza. One person responsible
for the lives of billions. I know -
I’m stating the obvious.

PIÑIERO
You carry it well, ma’am.

BACCO
Do I? Well, I guess that’s up to
history to decide. But look at
these people. Look at what
they all had to deal with.​


She sweeps her arm around the room, revealing the other Federation presidents who preceded Thelian - a line that goes back 200 years and among whom we can recognise the Efrosian male RA-GHORATREII (“The Undiscovered Country”), the human male HIRAM ROTH (“The Voyage Home”) and right at the beginning, the human male JONATHAN ARCHER (Enterprise).


BACCO (cont)
Ra-Ghoratreii signed the Khitomer
Accords, balancing an entire
Federation’s century-long distrust
of the Klingons with the one-in-a-
million chance for lasting peace.
(beat)
Roth had an alien probe visit his
homeworld and nearly boil it to
death just to talk to some whales.
(beat)
Thelian was in office at first
contact with the Cardassians...
and we all know how that went.
(beat)
Jaresh-Inyo signed the peace
treaty with Cardassia, thereby
inadvertently creating the Maquis.
And then he let paranoia about
changeling infiltration trick him
into a Starfleet coup.
(beat)
And Zife. The second Borg attack.
The Dominion War. The Gateways.
The Trill symbiont crisis. The
Ontailians... and Tezwa.​


Piñiero stiffens at the mention of that world.


BACCO (cont)
Kind of a shame that history tends
to be broken up by conflict, don’t
you think? Everybody talks about
remembering this war or that fight
or the other invasion, but nobody
mentions the periods of peace in
between. But I think those are the
more interesting bits. And a lot
harder to pull off if you ask me.
(re portraits)
History records every one of these
people... but it doesn’t record
everything. It doesn’t know about
the kind of decisions that have to
be made. It just sees the results.

PIÑIERO
Ma’am... none of us has any
control over what history will
think of us. All you can do is
the best you can do at the time.
I believe Zephram Cochrane said
something along those lines.

BACCO
Who we now know was a raging
alcoholic.

PIÑIERO
Yes, but that’s kind of the point,
isn’t it? Personal failings don’t
detract from genuine achievements.
Conversely, they say Dukat loved
his daughter. Doesn’t mean he
wasn’t a war-mongering despot.

BACCO
I feel like we’ve got off topic.

PIÑIERO
I’m just trying to say... buck up,
I guess. You’ve got a job to do.​


Bacco straightens her tunic and turns to face Esperanza.


BACCO
Well! After such an inspired bit
of motivation, how can I refuse?​


The door opens again, and Admiral ROSS enters.


ROSS
Sorry to interrupt, Madam President.
But the shuttle is ready to take you
to Mars.

BACCO
Thank you, Admiral. Please tell
Agent Wexler I’ll be right there.

ROSS
Yes, ma’am.​


Ross leaves the room again. Bacco purses.


PIÑIERO
I already told him I would fetch
you. He’s the Starfleet liaison to
the President, not your keeper.

BACCO
I seem to recall it was your
idea to give him the job.

PIÑIERO
Well, you know what they say,
ma’am. Keep your friends close...
but keep your enemies closer.​


Bacco and Piñiero exchange a look. That wasn’t a joke. Then they draw themselves up and exit the room together.


FADE OUT


END OF TEASER​
 
ACT ONE​


FADE IN


2 EXT. MARS - SQUIRES AMPHITHEATRE - DAY


A WIDE SHOT of a large public space, a gigantic stadium or auditorium laid out in a semi-circle, with a stage along the diameter. The place is standing-room-only with family, friends, dignitaries and other well-wishers.

PIÑIERO and one of her deputies, PHIRI, stand at the back, looking out across the giant crowd towards the stage, where Jaresh-Inyo’s entire extended Grazerite family stand around a marble plinth which carries the former president’s body.

Also visible on the stage are Bacco, former president Amitra (seen in one of the portraits), and a Starfleet honour guard of four, in their dress whites.


PHIRI
Standing room only. Which means
a lot more to a Grazerite than it
does to a human.

PIÑIERO
He was a good man. He deserves the
accolades - and to have a thousand
people at his funeral.

PHIRI
Isn’t it de rigueur for all living
presidents to attend this kind of
thing? I see Bacco and Amitra.
But I don’t see Thelian or Zife.

PIÑIERO
Thelian’s too old and frail. His
advisors told me if they put him
on a flight from Andor to Mars,
there’d be a second state funeral
by the time he got here.

PHIRI
What about Zife?

PIÑIERO
Haven’t a clue. And it’s not for
lack of trying. I got in contact
with several of his staff members,
who weren’t overly happy about
talking to one of the people who
took their jobs. But no-one seems
to know where he is. If we can’t
find ‘em, we can’t get ‘em here.​


On the stage, the Starfleet honour guard steps forward, carrying a triangular piece of cloth. Between them, they fold it out, until it reveals a large FEDERATION FLAG. They drape the flag over Jaresh-Inyo’s body, covering it head to toe, hanging off the edges of the plinth, then step back. A moment later, the flag-draped body disappears in a TRANSPORTER BEAM. A SIGH passes through the gathered crowd.


PHIRI
(whisper)
Well, the tradition does call for
complete destruction of the body.
That’s one way of doing it.​


BEEP BEEP. Piñiero’s comm is beeping. As the people nearby look around at her, she grits her teeth in annoyance at the faux pas and instantly turns to exit through a nearby door.


3 INT. SQUIRES AMPHITHEATRE - CORRIDOR


A grey concrete corridor where concert-goers might exit, currently deserted. She pulls out her comm, taps to answer.


PIÑIERO
What is it, Ziff?

Z4 BLUE (comm)
I asked you not to call me that.

PIÑIERO
When you contact me in the middle
of a state funeral, you’d better be
glad that’s all I call you.

Z4 BLUE (comm)
Jorel just contacted me. He says
he has a journalist in the press
room who’s demanding to speak
to the president immediately.

PIÑIERO
The president’s busy.

Z4 BLUE (comm)
I know, but Jorel said this woman
was so insistent, he felt he ought
to at least pass on the message.
And Jorel was so insistent, that
I felt I ought to do the same.

PIÑIERO
(sigh)
Did she at least say what it was
about? What was so urgent?

Z4 BLUE (comm)
She said that she knows the real
reason Zife resigned.​


Piñiero blanches, struck dumb. This is very, very bad.


Z4 BLUE (comm)
Esperanza?

PIÑIERO
Yeah, I’m here, Zee. The president
is about to give a speech at Jaresh-
Inyo’s funeral. But tell this woman
that as soon as we get back to
Earth, I’ll meet with her.

Z4 BLUE (comm)
Are you sure? If it’s just some
crazy conspiracy theorist...

PIÑIERO
I’ll speak to her, Zee-Four. Just
tell this woman, whoever she is,
that she’ll have to be patient.

Z4 BLUE (comm)
Understood. Palais out.​


The line drops. Piñiero puts her head in her hands, takes a moment to absorb the sheer badness of this. Then she rallies and returns to the amphitheatre.


4 EXT. MARS - SQUIRES AMPHITHEATRE - DAY


Piñiero returns to stand next to Phiri.


PHIRI
Everything alright?

PIÑIERO
(covering)
Fine. What did I miss?

PHIRI
The president’s about to speak.​


Phiri gestures towards the stage, where we can see Bacco taking the central position next to the now-empty plinth. There is an auto-prompter before her, and she is presumably wearing a microphone because Piñiero and Phiri can hear her perfectly clearly, even at the back of the amphitheatre.


BACCO
About a hundred-and-fifty years
ago, the people of the Federation
elected a wonderful Trill woman
by the name of Madza Bral to the
office of president. She was the
first person not from one of the
five founding worlds to serve in
that office. “The Presidency,” she
said, “is perhaps the worst job in
the Federation. The hours are
long, the work is difficult, your
successes are unappreciated, your
failures blown out of proportion.
Having said all that, I would never,
under any circumstances, trade
these years for anything.”
(beat)
I only met Jaresh-Inyo a handful
of times, but I found him to be a
good man. It’s easy to criticise
him now as the leader who failed
to foresee the Dominion threat, or
who let Earth be put under martial
law. It’s just as easy to ignore his
achievements - expanding the
rights of sentient beings. Opening
new relations with the Children of
Tama. Normalising relations with
the Cardassian Union. None of this
was the stuff of salacious news
reports. But it cannot be ignored.
(beat)
This Federation is remarkable. We
now have one-hundred-and-fifty-
four members, many with more
than one world under their purview.
That’s hundreds of planets. The
president’s job is to keep those
worlds, populated as they are by
the most diverse and cantankerous
collection of species you’re likely
to find in this universe, from
flying apart. Any president who
comes to the end of their term
with the Federation still intact,
has done the job. I’ve only been
in office for a few months, but
I’ve already learned that that’s
the only true test for success.
(beat)
Jaresh-Inyo passed that test. For
that, and for so much else, we
honour him today. I am proud to
be part of the same family as him.
As President Amitra. As Presidents
Thelian and Zife, who couldn’t be
with us. And as President Bral.
(beat)
I close, as I began, with her
words. “What matters, in the end,
is that the Federation endures.”
Because of Jaresh-Inyo, we’ve
endured. Thank you.​


Bacco steps back. The crowd erupts in thunderous APPLAUSE. At the back of the room, Phiri joins in enthusiastically.


PHIRI
Damn, that was a hell of a speech.​


Piñiero nods, applauding somewhat more demurely. Everything that should have just sounded encouraging and uplifting, now sounds ominous as hell, given what she might face next.


5 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - DAY


The lower levels of the central government building...


6 INT. PALAIS – PRESS ROOM


Esperanza Piñiero enters, finding the room deserted - the empty podium on the stage, the empty rows of seats tidily filling the room. All except for one, which is occupied by OZLA GRANIV. The young Trill journalist looks up as Piñiero enters, and stands. She looks tired, but still determined.


PIÑIERO
Ms Graniv. I’m Esperanza Piñiero,
President Bacco’s chief of staff.
My apologies for the delay. The
president and I were off planet,
at Jaresh-Inyo’s funeral on Mars.

OZLA
I suppose I can’t argue with that.
But if you’re back, then she is
too. And I didn’t ask to speak to
you, I asked to speak to her.

PIÑIERO
One thing you need to understand
before this goes any further, Ms
Graniv. Nobody gets access to the
president without going through
me. Not the councillors, not the
admirals, and not journalists who
are threatening to tear down her
administration. What you have
to say, you will say to me. I will
then decide whether to bring it
to her attention. Is that clear?

OZLA
It’s clear. But I’m not making a
threat, Ms Piñiero. I’m simply
doing my job. Through good old-
fashioned journalism, I uncovered
the truth about why Zife resigned,
clearing the way for Nan Bacco to
take that office. I want to give
her the chance to tell me her side
of the story, and maybe even to
convince me why I shouldn’t run
with it. If she either can’t do
that or is unwilling to try, then
I will have no choice but to do
what my conscience requires of
me - and print what I know.​


Piñiero pauses to consider this. If there is even a chance that Ozla could make good on this threat...


PIÑIERO
I’m afraid the president isn’t
available right now.

OZLA
Don’t you dare fob me off -

PIÑIERO
I’m not. Today alone so far, she
has overseen the resignation of
one of her councillors and spoken
at the funeral of her predecessor,
and is now attending a summit with
her counterparts from the Klingon
and Romulan empires. The first two
were emergencies that could not be
ignored, the last has been planned
for months. I hope you see that
maintaining peaceful relations with
the Klingons trumps whatever you
believe you have discovered.

OZLA
Peace with the Klingons, eh?
That’s ironic.​


Piñiero covers her reaction again. Maybe Ozla does know.


PIÑIERO
Please understand that I am not
minimising your concerns. I am
merely asking you to be patient.

OZLA
I’ve already waited for hours -

PIÑIERO
And if you want to speak to the
president, you’ll have to wait a
few more. I advise you to cool
your engines, Ms Graniv, if you
want to reach your destination.
Rash decisions help none of us.​


A moment’s consideration, and Ozla gives in. Her story is worth a little more patience. Piñiero sees this reaction.


PIÑIERO
Thank you. Do you have somewhere
to wait? The Palais is not equipped
with personal quarters.

VAUGHN (o.s.)
I can help with that, Ms Piñiero.​


Piñiero turns, shocked and worried that someone has been overhearing them. VAUGHN stands there, in uniform, having entered the room silently.


PIÑIERO
Who the hell are you?

VAUGHN
Forgive the intrusion. Captain
Elias Vaughn of the James T Kirk
at your service.

PIÑIERO
Hmmm... The president’s ride to
Cestus and back. She mentioned
she’d had a very interesting
conversation with you.

VAUGHN
I’m flattered. In fact, I’m here
with Ms Graniv. I came to her aid
recently regarding a situation
with the Orion Syndicate, and I
brought her to Earth to speak with
the president. She’s welcome to
stay with me aboard the Kirk.

OZLA
Where I’ll be safe from anyone who
wants to stop me from talking.

PIÑIERO
(stunned)
What the hell kind of people do
you think we are?

OZLA
I guess I’ll find that out when I
speak to the president. Won’t I?

VAUGHN
The Kirk will remain in orbit, Ms
Piñiero. We’ll be expecting your
call. Have a nice day.​


Vaughn opens the door for Ozla, who joins him in leaving the room. Piñiero stands there, rubbing her forehead, stunned at how badly this is going...


FADE OUT


END OF ACT ONE​
 
ACT TWO​


FADE IN


7 EST. DEEP SPACE NINE


Bringing us home to the station...


8 SCREEN


The SCREEN shows a view of Jaresh-Inyo’s funeral, with Bajoran ideograms along the bottom of the screen. The image then changes to our regular Bajoran newsreader TIANA FEEN.


TIANA (screen)
After that stirring speech from
President Nan Bacco, the gathering
went on to hear from Jaresh-Inyo’s
close family. Bacco, meanwhile,
has returned to Earth to prepare
for her summit with Chancellor
Martok and Praetor Tal’Aura.​


9 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR


QUARK stabs the channel closed in disgust.


QUARK
The speech wasn’t that great. Mine
was better. But do we get half the
coverage? Do we frinx. No-one
gives the Ferengi any respect.​


ROM sits opposite him, in everyday clothes rather than his Nagal regalia, a glass of snail juice on the bar.


ROM
Don’t worry about it, brother.
I thought you did a great job.

QUARK
You’d be impressed with any old
half-plagiarised garbage.​


Rom looks sadly into his drink. Quark takes pity.


QUARK
I’m sorry, Rom. When do you leave?

ROM
Soon. I just wanted one last look
at the old place. I don’t get to
just sit and enjoy a snail juice.

QUARK
No, you get a hundred servants
bringing you any drink you want
the moment you say the word.

ROM
I think I preferred it the old way.
I dream about it sometimes.

QUARK
Don’t you dare. You’ve got the
greatest job in the Alliance. So
what if a Cardassian vole could
do it better than you? You’re the
Nagus, dammit. Now act like it.

ISHKA (o.s.)
Quark! Be nice to your brother.​


The brothers turn to see ISHKA entering the bar, PRINADORA and NOG (carrying a travelling bag) trailing behind her.


QUARK
That’s what I’m trying to do. He
doesn’t make it easy.

ISHKA
Rom, sweetie, we’re ready to head
back to Risa. I thought you might
want to say goodbye...?​


She unsubtly hints towards Prinadora, his ex-wife and Nog’s mother. She is hovering back, still not sure of herself.


ROM
You’re right, moogie. Prinadora,
it’s been good seeing you again.

PRINADORA
You too, Rom. You seem nice. I
think I probably must have liked
being married to you. Leeta does.
You should stay married to her.​


The younger Ferengi woman is completely naive, too innocent to lie or have any ulterior motive. It’s endearing, really.


ISHKA
Nog, would you help your mother
to the docking port?

NOG
Sure. Come on, moogie.​


Nog guides Prinadora back towards the door. The others watch them go, Ishka and Quark shaking their heads.


ISHKA
Poor woman. Had the brains all but
bred out of her by her father. But
she’s learning, slowly.
(beat)
Rom, sweetie? Are you okay?

ROM
I guess. Just sad to leave.​


Rom looks around the now almost-empty bar...


FLASHBACK - THE FUNERAL


The bar is packed to the rafters with shrieking, wailing, clothes-rending Ferengi, all worshipping the dead Zek.


FLASH - BACK TO SCENE


He looks around himself now. No-one is worshipping him.


ROM
Moogie... do you think they’ll ever
love me like they loved Zek?

ISHKA
Rom... they love you now.​


Quark SNORTS with derision. Ishka glares his way - Quark rolls his eyes and moves away further down the bar.


ISHKA
Rom... you’re right that Zekkie
was very popular as the Grand
Nagus. But think of it this way.
Now that he’s dead... he can’t
overshadow you anymore. You’re
the one and only Nagus now.​


Rom shrugs - that’s vaguely uplifting, he supposes. She gives him a hug, looks over to Quark who was watching with a small smile, waves, and then turns to leave.


10 INT. DS9 - PROMENADE


Nog walks along the Promenade, Prinadora at his side.


NOG
Have a nice trip back to Risa.
Once you get back... I thought
maybe we could stay in touch?
We could write each other letters.

PRINADORA
I’m not very good with writing.
But I could ask Ishka to help
me. I think I’d like that.

NOG
Me too.​


Nog passes the bag to Prinadora. She suddenly shouts...


PRINADORA
Oh! I almost forgot! Ishka says
I’d forget my lobes if they
weren’t attached to me...​


She opens the bag and rummages in it - and pulls out a toy, a MARAUDER MO FIGURINE. She holds it out to Nog...


PRINADORA
I brought this for you.

NOG
I don’t understand.

PRINADORA
Honestly, neither do I. When my
father went to prison and Ishka
took me in, she paid for all his
assets to be packed up and brought
to Risa with us. She said they
belonged to me now, but I didn’t
really understand what she meant,
so I didn’t look at it for a long
time. But Ishka was having a clean
out recently, and she found this.
I think it must have been yours
from when you were little.​


Astonished, Nog gently takes the figurine from his mother. It means more to him than he could have ever expected. She kept something from his childhood. She does love him. Just as he might be about to burst from the emotion of it, Ishka catches up with them, all large and flouncy.


ISHKA
Right! Let’s get on that ship and
back to the beach.

PRINADORA
Zek’s probably waiting for us.​


Prinadora turns to enter the airlock. Still stunned, Nog turns to his grandmother in confusion.


ISHKA
Poor thing. She hasn’t accepted
it yet. I’m not entirely sure she
understands what happened.​


With a sad nod, Nog hugs his grandmother and they part at the airlock. Nog watches the door cycle closed, waving with one hand while the other holds the figurine...


NOG
Bye, moogie.​


15 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - AFTERNOON


The upper levels of the central government building...


16 INT. PALAIS - MONET ROOM


Bacco sits with the array of portraits behind her. Klingon Chancellor MARTOK sits to one side, his boisterous armour and medals filling the space. Romulan Praetor TAL’AURA sits on the other, economical and precise, in an elegant dress.


BACCO
So it is agreed. The Klingon Empire
will cease its current expansionist
policies... And in return, the
Federation will renew several trade
agreements and open up a few
new ones, including more
extensive technology sharing.

MARTOK
Agreed. Regarding the Remans...
(insincere smile
towards Tal’Aura)
Since the move to Klorgat Four is
complete, the Empire will withdraw
from its role as protector.

BACCO
Thank you, Chancellor. Now, there
is one more thing I’d like to bring
up. It wasn’t on the agenda, so
we don’t have to, but I do think
it’s important.

MARTOK
The agenda was due to the labours
of the High Council and Ambassador
K’mtok. I feel no need to adhere to
their demands, Madam President.​


They grin at each other. Tal’Aura remains stony.


BACCO
Are you familiar at all with a
scientific organisation called the
Matter of Everything? I believe
the Klingons call it HapHoch.

MARTOK
The HapHoch was condemned
by the Science Institute for -

BACCO
For violating every tenet of known
scientific enquiry, I know. The
problem is, the Science Institute
used to sponsor the HapHoch.
They only withdrew their support
when the group brought in one
scientist in particular - a Mizarian.

MARTOK
Mizarians are the vermin of the
galaxy. You cannot ask me to
reverse centuries of -

TAL’AURA
- of Klingon bigotry?​


Martok must stop himself from stabbing her where she sits.


BACCO
There’s a human cliché, Praetor,
that people who live in glass
houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Or shall we go into Romulan
treatment of the Remans,
the Miridians -

TAL’AURA
Point noted, Madam President.

BACCO
Fine, then shut the hell up.
(back to Martok)
Just a couple of weeks ago, I met
Benjamin Sisko. He told me a story
from the war, about how your ship
rendezvoused with the Defiant
because you wanted to see the
Starfleet doctor instead of the
one in your own sickbay.

MARTOK
What does that have to do with -

BACCO
I am fully aware of the Klingon
prejudice against good medical
practise, and also that that has
changed in recent years, in part
thanks to your own initiatives.
That sounds to me like reversing
centuries of tradition for the sake
of something better - longer-
lived, healthier Klingons who have
the opportunity to extend their
record of battle and have a better
chance of entering Sto-Vo-Kor.​


Martok pauses, eventually growling his way into a grin.


MARTOK
K’mtok told me to be wary of you.
Very well, Madam President. It is
a long time since I have been able
to convince the High Council of
anything. But I will tell them I
wish the Empire to support the
HapHoch. Despite the Mizarian.

BACCO
Thank you, Chancellor. The galaxy
is too small for us to keep hiding
behind neutral zones. And I think,
my friends, that that’s it.

TAL’AURA
I’m afraid there is one more thing
I must discuss with you both.​


Tal’Aura has said so little this whole time that this comes as a surprise. Bacco checks with Martok.


BACCO
Well, I already went off playbook,
so I’m in no position to argue.
Chancellor?

MARTOK
Given how hard her people worked
to get her here, at a summit that
was only supposed to be between
the Empire and the Federation, I
confess I am morbidly curious.

TAL’AURA
(icy look)
Since the slaughter by the madman
Shinzon, I have fought to hold the
Star Empire together. Donatra has
opposed me every step of the way.
Now... she has seceded altogether.

BACCO
Intriguing. Do you know her plans?

TAL’AURA
She will announce herself “Empress
Donatra”, and declare Achernar
Prime, plus all the worlds in that
system and several more besides,
to be the Imperial Romulan State.

MARTOK
And what do you want from us?

TAL’AURA
To not recognise the Imperial
State. To refuse to trade with
them, to impose sanctions upon
them, and to aid me in retaking
their worlds for the Star Empire.

MARTOK
You expect me to commit Klingon
warriors to fight for a united
Romulan Empire?

TAL’AURA
If you don’t, my people will
starve. Donatra has stolen all
our most fertile farming worlds.

BACCO
There, we’ll be happy to help you.
If your people need food, we’ll
provide it. But we’re not gonna
take sides in your own conflict.

TAL’AURA
Then you condemn the Romulan
people to a miserable death.​


Bacco speaks with more iron than Martok would have guessed.


BACCO
No, Praetor. You did that, when
you put a thalaron bomb in the
senate on Shinzon’s behalf. That
is what set you on this path, and
if you now find that you can’t
turn around, I’ll sympathise, and
I’ll help wherever I can. But I’ll
be damned if I will let you foist
the blame on me. If the Imperial
State does indeed declare itself a
sovereign entity, the Federation
will carefully consider whether
or not to recognise it. But I can
tell you this for damn sure - what
makes your life easier will be
extremely low on that list.

TAL’AURA
I assume that the Klingon Empire
trails behind the Federation like
a pet eager for approval?

MARTOK
No. The Federation may require
time to make that decision, but
the Empire’s is already made. We
recognise any political entity that
breaks the Romulans further.​


After a long and icy pause, Tal’Aura stands and walks to the door. Outside we see a Romulan guard, a Klingon guard and Agent WEXLER. Tal’Aura sweeps out, the Romulan guard following her. Wexler quietly closes the door behind them.


BACCO
I’d say this summit is concluded,
Chancellor. I think we’ve done
some good work here. I hope
it isn’t the last time.

MARTOK
My only hope is to die in battle
and cross the river of blood to
Sto-Vo-Kor. Whatever happens
on that journey, happens.

BACCO
I’m a little more concerned with
getting the most of out this life.
But I think we’ve done a pretty
good job on both ends.​


She stands and holds out her hand to shake - he takes it.


BACCO
Qapla’, Martok, son of Urthog.

MARTOK
Qapla’, Nan Bacco.​


FADE OUT


END OF ACT TWO​
 
ACT THREE​


FADE IN


17 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - EARLY EVENING


The sun is beginning to set across the Paris cityscape...


18 INT. PALAIS - RECEPTION AREA


The ante-room to President Bacco’s office. Her personal bodyguard, Agent Wexler, stands at the ornate double doors. Her ancient Vulcan male secretary SIVAK sits at his own desk nearby. The doors to the turbolifts open...

...revealing Ozla Graniv, with Esperanza Piñiero and Elias Vaughn just behind her. They step out together into the foyer. Ozla gulps with nervousness. Sivak looks up from his desk, unimpressed, and stabs a comm control.


SIVAK
Madam President, Ms Piñiero is
here with her... guests.

BACCO (comm)
Send them in, Sivak.​


Sivak looks back down at his work, not bothering to pass on the message they obviously overheard. Instead Wexler opens the double doors and we see...


19 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE (CONTINUOUS)


...President Bacco sat at her desk, calmly waiting for them, the grand picture window making a dramatic backdrop.

As Piñiero, Vaughn and Ozla pass through the doors, Wexler joins them. Ozla can’t help but feel wary of the black-clad and armed agent, who is clearly very capable and dangerous. He shuts the door, closing them all into the office.


PIÑIERO
Madam President - may I present
Ozla Graniv, Palais correspondent
for the Seeker.

OZLA
Thank you for agreeing to see me,
Madam President.

BACCO
You didn’t give me much choice in
the matter, did you? Take a seat.​


Hesitantly, Ozla does so. Vaughn joins her.


BACCO
Thank you, Esperanza, I’ll take it
from here. You too, Steven, we’ll
be fine. While you’re at it, tell
Sivak to take a break too.

PIÑIERO
As you wish, Madam President.
But you know he’ll protest.

BACCO
He can protest all he likes as long
as he does it somewhere else.​


Piñiero covers a smirk, and then she and Wexler leave.


BACCO
Now then, young lady. Esperanza
tells me you seem to think you’re
in some kind of danger. Is that
why you’ve brought the captain?

OZLA
Partially. He’s come to my aid
several times in the past.

BACCO
It might interest you to know that
Captain Vaughn swore himself to
my side only a couple of weeks ago.

VAUGHN
Not to correct you, ma’am, but it
was my understanding that we
were all on the same side.

BACCO
I’m in no mood for word games,
Captain. From what I’ve been told,
this young woman is threatening to
topple my administration. I’d like
to hear her story straight before
I decide what to do about it.
(back to Ozla)
Start at the beginning. Both of you.
And you’d damn well better make
it worth my time.

VAUGHN
I’ve already told you some of it -
that I noted some anomalies about
your election. Zife’s resignation,
sudden and in odd circumstances.
The sheer speed of your campaign.
Your lack of experience on the
galactic scene. There was even a
suggestion that you conspired with
First Minister Asarem of Bajor in
return for including her closest
advisors in your cabinet, while
she fomented a planetary crisis
of her own to distract attention.

BACCO
You can’t be serious.

VAUGHN
Extreme, perhaps. But not without
precedent. But over-riding it all
was an undeniable sense that the
situation on Tezwa was connected
to everything. That’s when I
became aware of Ms Graniv.

OZLA
I was already planning on going
there anyway. Captain Vaughn
tried to warn me off, but I talked
him into helping me instead.

VAUGHN
We helped each other.

OZLA
I suppose. He helped me get to
Tezwa even though somebody
didn’t want me there. I helped
him by telling him what I found.

BACCO
Very well. What did you find?

OZLA
That Tezwa is a defeated planet.
I’d been interviewing Starfleet,
survivors, locals. My latest was a
woman called Zelemka, who I heard
was doing a lot for the orphans.​


20 INT. TEZWA ORPHANAGE


A clutter of found items and half-repaired machines. Ozla sits at a kitchen table, opposite ZELEMKA, a Tezwan female - bird-like features with feathers instead of hair.


OZLA (v.o.)
We talked about how she got the
house - apparently she was having
an affair with one of the minor
ministers and he bought it for
their secret liaisons. We talked
about how Starfleet was helping
out with the recovery.

ZELEMKA
They’ve been so good. I always
knew they’d be here to help.

OZLA
What do you mean, ‘always’?

ZELEMKA
Well, the Federation’s always been
here to protect us. It became more
overt after Kinchawn went crazy,
but Olorun told me about how they
gave us those cannons years ago.

OZLA
He... I’m sorry, say that again.

ZELEMKA
Say what again?

OZLA
Minister Olorun told you that the
Federation supplied Kinchawn with
the weapons he used to destroy
the Klingon fleet? You’re sure?

ZELEMKA
I don’t see what the big deal is.
The news said they were Starfleet
weapons originally. I kind of wish
they hadn’t given them to us to be
honest, considering what happened.
But they’ve been making up for it.​


21 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE


Bacco and Vaughn sit listening to Ozla’s story.


BACCO
If that’s all you’ve got, Ms
Graniv, I’m not impressed. We all
know the cannons were Starfleet
technology, prototypes stolen
by the Orion Syndicate.

OZLA
Zelemka specifically said she was
told that the Federation provided
them to the Tezwans.

BACCO
Told third-hand, by a low-ranking
minister trying to impress his
illicit mistress.

OZLA
I did actually consider these
points, ma’am. That’s why I didn’t
stop my investigation there.​


22 INT. STORAGE ROOM


Ozla is huddled in a pile, her hands tied behind her back and her face bruised and beaten. She looks around herself at the nondescript storage space, filled with crates and boxes, stone walls with no windows, no identifying marks.

As a figure enters, she jerks backwards in terror, pushing herself back into the corner. The figure is IHASZ, a suave but threatening TAKARAN male (as seen in TNG 6x22 “Suspicions”).


OZLA
Ihasz.

IHASZ
The infamous Ozla Graniv. It’s a
pleasure to meet you at last. I’ve
been wanting to thank you for your
lovely exposé on the Syndicate.

OZLA
You wanted to thank me?

IHASZ
Absolutely. You pointed us towards
several breaches in our hull, so to
speak. Besides, it was a really
excellent piece of reporting. And
now... you’re looking into some
merchandise we moved to Tezwa.

OZLA
(evasive)
What makes you think that?

IHASZ
Don’t play stupid, Ms Graniv. It
makes me angry, and when I get
angry, I shoot things. You spoke
with Intral, you spoke with Fiske,
you spoke with Tanaa... and brava
on being able to hold your breath
while in the same room as him,
by the way. But I’m afraid you
wasted your time. You should
have just come straight to me.

OZLA
I beg your pardon?

IHASZ
Your presence on Deneva can result
in only one of three things. The first
is that you keep on asking questions,
inevitably turning up more information
on the Syndicate, and I’d rather that
didn’t happen. The second is that I
kill you, but that causes more problems,
as you are quite high-profile, and high-
profile deaths tend to bring down law
enforcement. The third is that I tell
you what you want to know, and you
go on your merry way. Yes, the
Syndicate provided the nadion-
pulse cannons to Tezwa.

OZLA
That’s public record.

IHASZ
But where we got them from isn’t.

OZLA
You’re criminals. You stole them.

IHASZ
Exactly the cover story they were
hoping for. Whereas in fact, the
person who commissioned me to
deliver those cannons to Tezwa,
six years ago, was an Antedian
gentleman named Nelino Quafina,
who had just been made secretary
of military intelligence by one
Federation President Min Zife.​


Ozla blanches at the implications of this news. It is a moment before she can find her croaky, quavering voice.


OZLA
Why are you telling me this?

IHASZ
When Zife resigned, I lost one of
my best customers - before the
final payment, I might add. When
that happened, I took steps to
discover who was responsible for
Zife’s removal from power.

OZLA
Nobody removed him, he resigned.

IHASZ
(chuckling)
Oh no no no, it’s not that simple.
You see, there was no reason for
him to resign. No reason for the
truth of our little arrangement to
ever come out. If Zife talked, it
would mean war with the Klingons.
And if anyone in my organisation
talked, well, I believe I already
outlined the consequences of that.

OZLA
So who did find out?

IHASZ
The only other party who had no
hidden agenda - Starfleet. One of
their admirals, a human named
William Ross, forced Zife out of
power... at phaser-point.

OZLA
That’s ridiculous!

IHASZ
Of course it is! As ridiculous as
the Federation President secretly
arming an independent world and
sending his own troops, and the
troops of an allied nation, to that
world without revealing the
weapons were there, then covering
it all up afterwards. Ridiculous!​


Job done, Ihasz stands. Ozla flinches back again.


IHASZ
That’s everything. My guards will
escort you back to your hotel. My
only conditions are that you leave
Deneva immediately, and that you
do not print this story unless you
are able to corroborate it from at
least one other source. Follow
those terms, and I have no doubt
you’ll be winning your next Gavlin
Award before you know it. Violate
them, and you’ll be dead less than
twenty-four hours later. Have a
nice trip home, Ms Graniv.​


Ihasz walks out of the room, leaving Ozla wondering what the hell she just got into...


23 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE


Bacco sits absorbing the tale, expressionless.


VAUGHN
So that’s it, Madam President.
That’s what our investigations
turned up - that your predecessor
was a craven idiot whose actions
led to the deaths of millions of
Klingons, Tezwans and Starfleet
officers, and rather than face what
he’d done, he fought to cover it
up, at the cost of more lives, until
a Starfleet admiral had no choice
but to remove him by force.

BACCO
And you think that I am complicit
in this, Captain, because I
happened to benefit from it?

VAUGHN
Madam President, that’s not -

BACCO
(turns on Ozla)
And you - you come to me for
corroboration. So that you can
print your story and start a war
with the Klingons without getting
killed by the Orion Syndicate?

OZLA
I don’t want to start a war, damn
it! I want you to tell me it’s not
true. I want this all to be some
insane fever dream that I’ll wake
up from any minute and go back to
reporting about water reclamation.
But I need to know the truth!

BACCO
Are you sure? No going back.

OZLA
I’m sure. Tell me.

BACCO
Very well, then. Here’s your
corroboration - it’s true.

VAUGHN
Madam President, you can’t -

BACCO
That’s the truth. Damn us all
because every word of it is true.
And I’ve known all along.​


Off Bacco’s resolve, and Vaughn and Ozla’s amazement...


FADE OUT


END OF ACT THREE​
 
ACT FOUR​


FADE IN


24 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - EVENING


The backdrop of Paris is darker now. As Bacco sits firm and stern, Vaughn gets to his feet in horror...


VAUGHN
You knew about this all along?

BACCO
Take a seat, Captain.​


At that undeniable steel in her voice, the same steel she showed to Tal’Aura, Vaughn sits back down as ordered.


BACCO
And you can wipe that look of
disgust and betrayal off your face
as well. All that tells me is that
you have no idea what it’s like to
be the one who sits in this chair.

VAUGHN
Ma’am... if you knew, why didn’t -

BACCO
Haven’t you been paying attention?
If Martok knew the Federation was
responsible for the deaths of
thousands of his best warriors,
we’d be back at war before I could
finish the sentence. Are you that
eager for more bloodshed?

VAUGHN
Of course not, but -

BACCO
I have spent every moment since
I took this office just fighting to
keep my head above water. Three
days after I was sworn in - three
days - Tal’Aura slaughters the
entire Romulan senate and sends a
madman with a doomsday weapon
in our direction. Then there’s Remans
pleading for help, a lost Earth colony
from a different galaxy, a dead
Tzenkethi baby and another damned
Borg attack. I spent this morning
eulogising the man who let the
Klingon alliance fall apart, spent
this afternoon making sure that
never happens again, and I am
sure as hell not going to let you
try and guilt me into throwing
it all away in the evening.

OZLA
Sounds to me like you’re just
trying to avoid a scandal.

BACCO
If I was worried about scandal, I
wouldn’t have just sold out one of
my own cabinet to make a point.
I don’t care what people think of
me. I care about the Federation,
and I will do whatever it takes to
make sure that Federation does
not fall on my watch. Is that clear?

OZLA
Does that mean letting a Starfleet
admiral stage a literal coup?
Because that’s what happened
here. Ross removed a legitimately
elected chief executive from
office at phaser-point.

VAUGHN
(grudging defence)
It wasn’t a coup. Ross didn’t take
over the government. He stopped a
war, removed a criminal from this
office and let the constitutional
process play out. President Bacco
was elected, not appointed.

OZLA
You’re nitpicking, Captain.

VAUGHN
I don’t think so. What Ross did
may have been unthinkable, but
what else was he supposed to do?

OZLA
He didn’t have to do anything!

BACCO
So he should have just let Zife,
Azernal and Quafina carry on as
if they weren’t responsible for
the deaths of millions?

OZLA
Are you telling me you actually
agree with what Admiral Ross did?

BACCO
Of course I don’t agree with him!
But the deed was done long before
I ever sat my wrinkled old ass in
this chair, so what the hell do
you expect me to do about it?​


Ozla goes quiet as she tries to figure out her answer.


BACCO
Alright, let me ask you this, Ms
Graniv. Now that you’ve got your
second source, do you still plan
on publishing your story? Even
knowing what will happen?

OZLA
I don’t know.

BACCO
What will it take to convince you?
What will you exchange... to let
this nightmare die with us?​


Once again, Ozla considers the question...


25 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - NIGHT


Full dark now, the glittering skyline an ominous backdrop.


26 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE


The room seems quiet. The double doors open, and Admiral Ross gingerly pokes his head in.


ROSS
Madam President?​


He finds Bacco over at the replicator, where she is just picking up a glass of something strong.


BACCO
It’s finally late enough to let
these things give me a decent
drink. Take a seat, Admiral.​


He closes the door behind him. He sits, a little confused. Bacco sips her drink, looks out of the window.


ROSS
Was there an emergency, ma’am? Ms
Piñiero said you needed to see me
at once. Are the others coming?

BACCO
There are no others, Admiral. It’s
just you and me. We need to talk.

ROSS
About what, ma’am?

BACCO
My predecessor in this office.

ROSS
President Zife? What about -

BACCO
(spins on him)
Cut the crap, Admiral. You and
I both know what he did.

ROSS
(jaw drops)
...how long...

BACCO
Long enough. At first, I was more
worried about what Zife did than
what you did. But what you did...
(pause, shakes head)
For the past six months, I have
watched you come into this office
every day, and I’ve wondered...
what happens when I piss you off?
Will you do the same to me?

ROSS
Ma’am, there are many reasons I
am proud to serve in your cabinet,
but the greatest is that I have
faith in your inability to ever
put me in the position Zife did.

BACCO
Maybe I should have said something
when I found out. But I thought it
was best to let it lie. We needed to
move past what Zife did, and we
couldn’t do that if we rehashed
Tezwa all over again.

ROSS
I take the fact that we’re having
this conversation to indicate
that something has changed.

BACCO
There’s a reporter in Jorel’s press
room right now, and she knows
it all. She knows that Zife was
responsible for the cannons. She
knows that Quafina used the
Orion Syndicate to get them to
Tezwa. She knows that Starfleet
found out, and they - or rather
you - forced Zife to resign.

ROSS
(panicked)
You’re not going to let her run
the story, are you? I mean, there
must be some way to stop her -

BACCO
What do you suggest, Admiral? That
we make this person disappear?
That’s not how we do things.​


The stricken look on Ross’s face - that he tries to cover up, but too late - provides Bacco a horrible realisation.

SMASH - the glass has slipped from Bacco’s hand and crashed to the floor. Stunned, she collapses against her desk.


BACCO
...Is it how we do things?

ROSS
Ma’am?​


Ross pretends not to know what they now both know. Bacco stares at him in horror, barely able to articulate it.


BACCO
Jaresh-Inyo’s funeral. Esperanza
couldn’t find Zife. Couldn’t find any
sign of him. Nobody on Earth, on
Bolarus, anywhere knew where to
find the most prominent person in
the Federation for the last seven
years. It shouldn’t be that hard,
if all he did was retire.​


Ross looks back at Bacco, unable to admit it out loud.


BACCO
You know, when I started this
conversation, I was upset about
what I had to do. But the more
I talk to you, Admiral, the less
problem I have with it.

ROSS
I don’t understand...?

BACCO
That reporter gave me an ultimatum
- a much nicer one than you gave
Zife. There is one condition upon
which this story will in fact be
buried where no-one can find it.

ROSS
(stands)
My resignation?

BACCO
The terms weren’t that specific.
Just as long as you go away. As
long as you become an ordinary
Federation citizen who has no
influence at all over the running
of the Federation or Starfleet.

ROSS
Then I’ll resign immediately.

BACCO
No... not resignation. Resigning
sends up red flags. People resign
in protest or to avoid a scandal.
Retirement though - that’s normal,
particularly for someone like you.

ROSS
Then I’ll announce my retirement
first thing in the morning.​


She nods once, and turns away. He turns to leave.


ROSS
Thank you, Madam President.

BACCO
(one more thing)
Bill... why? I can understand why
you had to remove him from power,
but... why take the next step?

ROSS
Because they killed millions of
people, directly or indirectly. Worse,
they killed more just to cover up
the crime, and they did it from a
distance, so they could keep their
hands clean. And so for five minutes
last year, I became them. That
reporter downstairs is absolutely
right that there should be
consequences for that. I’m only
sorry I didn’t take this action before
it endangered you, ma’am.​


After a long pause, during which Bacco tries to decide if she can believe that or not, she nods once again. Ross turns to leave. Bacco returns to looking out the window.


27 INT. PALAIS - RECEPTION AREA


Ross quietly pulls the double doors closed, resting his forehead against them for a moment as he absorbs the enormity of recent events. Then he turns and STARTS...

...because Vaughn is there, in the otherwise empty room.


ROSS
Captain...?

VAUGHN
I had a feeling all along. Even
when I became convinced she
was innocent, I knew they were
in it somewhere. I could smell it.

ROSS
I have no idea -

VAUGHN
Section Thirty-One, Admiral.

ROSS
(furious whisper)
Keep your voice down!​


Vaughn smiles sadly - he just tricked Ross into admitting it. Ross sees that too. Damn it.


VAUGHN
You used them... to assassinate a
sitting Federation President, his
chief of staff, and his secretary
of military intelligence.

ROSS
They know how to keep secrets.

VAUGHN
Do you see the kind of people
you’re in bed with, Admiral? The
kind of people you can ask to do
such a thing... and they do it?

ROSS
You cannot ever let her know. Do
you understand? She cannot know.
If they even suspect she knows
they exist, they’ll kill her... some-
how. And that cannot happen.

VAUGHN
Why not?

ROSS
Because she’s the only one who
might have the tiniest chance of
standing up to them... and maybe
even of stopping them one day.​


Vaughn considers Ross for a moment... then nods and steps aside. Ross proceeds to the turbolift, enters, and holds Vaughn’s gaze as the doors close.


FADE OUT


END OF ACT FOUR​
 
ACT FIVE​


FADE IN


28 INT. PALAIS – PRESS ROOM


Admiral Ross stands at the podium before a room packed with reporters. JOREL stands to the side. A reporter asks...


MARIA
So when can we expect your memoirs,
Admiral?

ROSS
Oh no - no memoirs. My entire
career is on record as it is.

EDMUND
Then what will you do now?

ROSS
I’m going to find somewhere very
quiet and peaceful, and enjoy a
well-earned rest.​


Ozla sits silently towards the back of the room, lost among the other reporters who are clamouring for attention. She watches Ross from afar, hiding in plain sight.


T’NIRA
Is it not strange, Admiral, for two
members of President Bacco’s
cabinet to resign in such close
proximity? Does that speak to a
fragility in her administration?

ROSS
Absolutely not. First, this is not
a resignation, it’s a retirement -
and a long-awaited one. Second,
President Bacco’s administration
is rock solid, and I have no doubt
she already has a line of admirals
eager to take my place. Third, as
much as I admire the president, it
was not her decision. It was mine.​


From her place in the crowd, Ozla watches Ross lie.


ROSS
Thank you, that’ll be all.​


Ross steps back. Jorel steps up to take his place.


JOREL
Right, you heard the man. That’s
all for now, I’ll have more for
you this afternoon.​


Jorel presses his favourite button, and the reporters’ holographic projections all wink out one by one. One of the last to go is Ozla... Jorel holds her gaze, as they both know that something else just happened here. Then she too is gone. Regretfully, Jorel turns back to Ross...


JOREL
Admiral.​


...and walks out of the room. Ross is the last one left. He gazes out across the empty room, at the results of his actions. Then he too turns and leaves the room.


29 INT. PALAIS - MONET ROOM


The portrait of ZIFE sits on the wall, the middle-aged Bolian man looking ordinary and unimpressive. President Bacco is back in the room, staring at him. Behind her, Esperanza Piñiero quietly enters the room.


PIÑIERO
Ma’am...? It’s done. Ross handed
in his notice to the Starfleet
C-in-C, and he’s just finished
his announcement to Jorel’s
press room. It’s over.

BACCO
Been a hell of a day, Esperanza.
A hell of a day.

PIÑIERO
I know, ma’am.

BACCO
And it’s not over, not by a long
shot. It’ll never be over until
I’m up on that wall next to Zife
and this all becomes the next
poor sucker’s headache.

PIÑIERO
It’s worth that headache, ma’am.
The Federation needs you in that
office. Specifically you.

BACCO
Maybe I should just become a
dictator like Kinchawn or Dukat,
then. Bossing people around all
day. I’d probably enjoy that.

PIÑIERO
How would we tell the difference?​


Bacco gives her a withering look. They both know it’s all in fun. Esperanza comes and stands beside her, looking up at the portraits, trying to be the old friend she is.


PIÑIERO
You have more right to be on that
wall than half these people. Look
at them. Ra-Ghoratreii almost
didn’t sign the peace treaty with
the Klingons because he couldn’t
get past his own distrust. Jaresh-
Inyo let the Dominion tear that
treaty apart. Zife almost started
a war with them. But because
of you, that alliance is stronger,
deeper, and more meaningful
today than it has ever been.
(turns to her)
Look at me. Ma’am, please.​


Bacco strains to tear herself away from the portraits.


PIÑIERO
Those people on that wall, they’re
the past. You’re here now. And in
the end, what matters is that the
Federation endures. Because of
you... we’ve endured.​


Bacco smiles gratefully at her old friend, and pulls her in for a hug. As they separate and head towards the door...


PIÑIERO
Oh by the way, I bumped into
Captain Vaughn on my way up here.
He asked me to give you a message.

BACCO
Really. And what did he have to
say for himself?

PIÑIERO
He said I should tell you, that
look on his face wasn’t betrayal.
It was just disappointment...
(Bacco frowns
in confusion)
...that you really are only
human, after all.

BACCO
Well that’s just rude.​


They leave the room together.


30 EXT. SPACE - PLANETARY ORBIT


A beautiful blue-green world, gently swaddled in wispy white cloud. This is RISA.


31 EXT. RISA - SURFACE


A remote bluff overlooking the sparkling blue sea. With golden sand below, palm trees dotted about, and one solitary house clinging precariously to the cliff.


32 INT. BEACH HOUSE - LIVING ROOM / BEDROOM


Ishka, still extravagant and flouncy, bustles through the doors, carrying her luggage. Prinadora trails behind her, still struggling to keep up with everyday life.


ISHKA
Maihar’du!​


As she calls this into the otherwise deserted apartment, she directs Prinadora to start putting her things away.


ISHKA
Maihar’du!​


Finally the enormous silent Hupyrian manservant MAIHAR’DU appears from another room. She is glad to see him.


ISHKA
Oh good, there you are. How is
everything here? Okay?​


Maihar’du nods enthusiastically. Ishka ushers him back the way he came - into the bedroom - and follows along.


ISHKA
Good. Everything went perfectly on
Deep Space Nine. The funeral was
lovely, we made a lot of money,
and Quark played the dutiful host
perfectly. I knew he would.​


She begins flinging clothes off in a rush to strip naked. Maihar’du follows her around, catching whatever she flings.


ISHKA
He’s a sweet boy, really. When
he’s not being a raging gumprat.
I’m glad to be back though. I’ve
been thinking about this mud
bath since I left. It’s so dry on
that station. It’s unnatural.​


Now completely naked, the wrinkled old Ferengi female throws open the French doors, and emerges onto...


33 EXT. BEACH HOUSE - BALCONY


... the open air balcony. She walks up to the railing, looks out across the gorgeous view across the water. Then she turns, sees what she’s looking for, and grins...


ISHKA
There you are!​


She rushes over to the big round mud bath, eagerly clambers into it, sinks down to her shoulders, and sidles up to... ZEK, the former Grand Nagus, alive and well and sitting up to his shoulders in the muck.


ZEK
Ishka, my sweet! You’re home!​


They nuzzle their big rubbery noses together romantically and relax into the warm, soothing mud bath.


ISHKA
That’s right, Zekkie. I’m home,
and the plan worked perfectly.
That clone fooled everybody -

ZEK
I hope so, I paid for the best.

ISHKA
And now everybody thinks you’re
dead. I feel a little bad lying to
Quark and Rom - they’re such
good boys, in their own way.

ZEK
Ah, they’re better off not knowing.
And now Rom can run things
however he wants.

ISHKA
And everyone can remember you
as the greatest Nagus there ever
was. And we have a huge auction
payout to enjoy.

ZEK
But didn’t you say that money was
going to...
(swallows vomit)
...charity?

ISHKA
Most of it. But the rest is going
into enough secret funds for us
to live out the rest of our lives in
peace and privacy in our personal
paradise, on the best vacation
planet in the entire galaxy.​


Zek cackles with glee at that prospect.


ZEK
Oh, Ishka, my sweet. You’re so
devious. What would I ever do
without you?

ISHKA
You’ll never have to find out.​


They nuzzle noses again, giggling all the way. We pan across to the gorgeous scenery, and...


FADE OUT


END OF SHOW​
 
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