1 starfield
vfx
credits over serene space when suddenly.....
an enormous explosion, sending debris flying at warp
velocities....
2 omitted
vfx
3 cu a teacup
widen to reveal
int. bridge, u.s.s. excelsior
the polyglot crew is busy
seated in the captain's chair, a familiar face: sulu
he has his own command, and is drinking a cup of tea.
the science officer stands next to him, conferring,
handing him a datacount. sulu muses over the contents.
sulu
according to this, we've completed
our exploration the the entire section.
science officer
fifty-four planets, and their
gaseous atmospheric anomalies. our
sensing and analytic equipment
worked really well.
sulu
time we were heading home. three years
is......
the ship starts to tremble
4 angle on sulu's tea cup
shaking in its saucer.....sulu and the crew look at
each other as the shaking increases. the teacup
smashes.
science officer
i have an energy wave from 240
degrees, mark six port....
sulu
visual!
4 on the screen
4 continued
vfx
an enormous gaseous wave, a subspace shock front.
sulu
(continuing)
my god!!! shields!!
5 ext. the galaxy
vfx
meteors and asteroids smashing past, burning chunks
fly by at warp speeds. excelsior reels.
6 int. u.s.s. excelsior bridge
the ship rolls, throwing everyone off balance.
sulu
what the hell is going on?
the crew jumps to. computers light up. information
flies across screens and monitors. the ship is battered
like a fighter's punching bag with shocks and jolts and
tremors.
7 int. crew's quarters, galley, corridors, etc.
sleeping members are thrown from their berths. the
claxon alarm sounds pervasively......
crew, etc.
what the --- look out! ---
stations --- etc.
8 int. excelsior bridge
lojur
captain, she's not answering the
helm.....
sulu
starboard thrusters. turn her into
the wave!
9 int. excelsior engine room
chaos. valves hiss purple. crew running, knocked
about.
engineer
engine room. what's going on up....
10 int. excelsior bridge
10 continued
sulu
quarter inpulse power!
excelsior has been knocked about and everyone on the
bridge is holding on or sliding around. she settles
and one by one, her crew resume their stations.
sulu
damage report!
voice (filtered)
seem to be in one piece, captain.
we're checking all systems.....
10 the main viewscreen
vfxa
shows excelsior getting bumped about by the final
fragments drifting past, bouncing off the shields.
sulu
(to science officer)
don't tell me that was any meteor
shower.
science officer
(over his console)
negative. the subspace shock wave
originated at bering three-two-three,
mark seven-five, the location of....
(turns to sulu)
praxis. a klingon moon. barren of
indigenous life forms out...
sulu
essential as a resource. praxis is
their key energy production facility.
(thinks)
send to klingon high command:
'this is excelsior, a federation
starship traveling through beta
quadrant. we have monitored a
large explosion in your sector. do you
require assistance?
communicationss officer
aye, sir!
sulu
mr. valtane, any more data?
10 continued
science officer
i have confirmed the location, sir,
but....
sulu
what is it?
science officer
....i cannot confirm the existence
of praxis.
sulu reacts, goes over to the science console and looks
at the screen. nothing there.
sulu
magnify.
the science officer hits the buttons
10 on the viewscreen
vfxb
a barren moon with three-fourths of its mass blown away
drifts lifelessly in a black void.
sulu
praxis?
science officer
what's left of it.
communications officer
captain, i'm getting a message from
klingon high command.
sulu
onscreen.
11 on viewscreen:
a snowy picture of a wild-eyed klingon officer.
officer
this is an emergency! we have
suffered.....
he looks around, the ground is shaking under him, as
sulu watches, the pictures collapses, then comes on
again, with a different face.
kerla
this is brigadier kerla, speaking
for the klingon high command.
11 continued:
kerla (continuing)
there has been an incident on
praxis, however everything is
under control. we have no need for
assistance. obey treaty stipulations
and remain outside the neutral zone.
tranmission ends now!
12 the screen goes black. sulu looks incredulous.
sulu
an incident?!?
communications officer
do we report this, sir?
sulu
are you kidding?
(swivels to the
communications officer)
send to starfleet command....
13 ext. space
vfx
excelsior warps off into the galaxy.
14 omitted
thru
22
22a cu starfleet insignia
kirk walks into shot.
kirk
what are we doing here?
widen to reveal
23 int. starfleet briefing room - day
the room fills with bemedaled brass, kirk's crew among
them - the only starship complement in the room. they
can't help looking at each other, questioning. they
are in uniform.
bones
search me. anybody know how come
we made the 'a' list?
22 continued:
uhura
my shore leave was just cancelled.
scotty
isn't this just for top brass?
chekov
where is mr. sulu?
kirk
captain sulu is on assignment...
anyone seen spock?
a door opens and a starfleet adc, austere and impressive
enters and gavels the meeting to order.
adc
this briefing is classified. there
will be no recording devices.
ladies and gentlemen, the commander in chief.
all rise as the starfleet commander in chief enters,
with a briefcase and pulls materials from it.
commander in chief
as you were... i'll make this as
simple as possible. the klingon
empire has roughly 50 years of life
left to it.
all look at each other in disbelief.
commander in chief
(continuing)
for full details, i am turning the
briefing over to our special
federation envoy..
he makes a sign and another door opens. spock walks to
the podium. kirk and company are astounded.
spock
good morning. two months ago a
federation starship monitored an
explosion on the klingon moon
praxis. we believe it was caused
by overmining and insufficent
safety precautions. the moon's
decimation means an almost eighty
percent loss of available energy and
a deadly pollution of their ozone. they
will have depleted their supply of
23 continued
oxygen in less than half a century.
due to their enormous military
budget, the klingon economy does not
have the resources with which to
combat this catastrophe. last
month, at the behest of the, uh....
vulcan ambassador, i opened a
dialogue with gorkon, chancellor of
the klingon high council. he proposes
to commence negotiations at once.
admiral donald
negotiations for what?
spock
the dismantling of our space
stations and star bases along the
neutral zone. an end to seventy
years of unremitting hostility,
which the klingons can no longer
afford.
audible mutterings. pan the crew. is the war over?
spock
(continuing)
if the klingons sue for peace, we
could accumulate savings in defense
expenditures, leaving the
federation ecomony free to grapple
with urgent social problems......
a military man
bill, are we talking about
mothballing the starfleet?
commander in chief
i'm sure our exploration and
science programs would not be
affected, but the facts speak for
themselves, captain.
admiral donald
i must protest. to offer the
klingons a safe haven within
federation space is suicide. and
if we dismantle the fleet, we'd be
defenseless before a bellicose
people with a foothold on our
territory, led by an unprincipled
tyrant. the opportunity here is to
embargo trading, force them to run
23 continued:
through their own resources faster,
and bring them to their knees.
then we'll be in a far better
position to dictate terms.
a vocal minority of the briefing supports this, but not
all. kirk simply stares at spock.
commander in chief
starfleet in under civilian
control, admiral. the decision is
a political, not a military one,
and it's been made.
kirk
sir.....
commander in chief
captain kirk?
kirk
(eyes spock briefly)
sir, i'm no diplomat, but the
klingons have never been
trustworthy. i'm forced to agree
with admiral donald. this is...
(he gropes for tact)
....a terrible, a terrifying idea!
the admiral whispers to the commander in chief
commander in chief
your son was killed by a klingon,
wasn't he, captain?
kirk
yes, sir.
commander in chief
i'm sorry, but commander spock has
persuaded the federation that this
situation is too promising to
ignore.
spock
it is imperative that we act now, to
support the gorkon initiative, lest
more conservative elements persuade
his empire that it would be better
to attempt a military solution and
die fighting.
23 continued:
commander in chief
captian kirk, you are to be our
first olive branch.
kirk
me?
spock
we have volunteered to rendezvous
with the klingon ship that's
bringing chancellor gorkon here,
and escort him safely through
federation space.
kirk is too startled to speak.
commander in chief
as it happens, kirk, the chancellor
specifically requested you and your
officers.
kirk
why, in god's name?
commander in chief
there are some klingons who feel
the same about a peace treaty as
yourself, and admiral donald.
they'll think twice about attacking
the enterprise under your command.
spock
i have personally vouched for you
in theis matter, captain.
kirk
you have personally.....
commander in chief
you will accord chancellor gorkon
full diplomatic coutesy, captain
kirk.
kirk
(straining)
surely, a full ambassador would be
better equipped to....
commander in chief
if there's no further business, i
wish you and your crew godspeed.
thank you all.
23 continued
he charges out as all rise. everyone files out.
admiral donald
i don't know whether to
congratulate you or not, jim.
he moves off before kirk can reply. the room is
empty except for spock, still at the podium and
kirk sitting alone in the auditorium. he is
curious, betrayed and spock knows it.
kirk
we volunteered?
spock
there's an old vulcan proverb: only
nixon could have gone to china.
kirk
(incensed)
how could you vouch for me?
that's.....
(words fail him)
.....arrogant presumption.
spock
i was asked by my father to open
negotiations with the klingon
high council on behalf of the
federation. under the circumstances,
i was inclined to agree.
kirk stands, and walks out of the room.
24 omitted
25 int. bridge, u.s.s. enterprise
the elevator doors open. an attractive vulcan
lieutenant leaps out of the command chair, whips
to attention.
mccoy
well, i've heard some whoppers in
my time.....
uhura
(overlaps)
they're mothballing the fleet?
25 continued
chekov
(overlaps)
ve vill regret this....
lt. valeris
captain on the bridge.
the crew stands to.
kirk
as you were. lieutenant...?
lt. valeris
we were told you
would need a helmsman.....
(to spock)
.....so i volunteered.
she salutes, kirk smiles, returns the salute.
spock
lieutenant, i am please to see
you.
(to kirk)
the lieutenant is the first vulcan
to ge graduated at the top of her
class at the academy.
kirk
congratulations, lieutenant. that
must make you very proud....
lt. valeris
i don't believe so, sir.
mccoy
she's a vulcan all right
kirk
(down to business)
all right, let's get this over
with....departure stations....
(pushes the intercomm)
scotty?
the crew assume their familiar stations.
scotty's voice (filtered)
aye, sir?
kirk
you find the engine room?
25 continued:
scotty's voice
right where i left it, sir.
kirk
standby. get me the dock master,
uhura.
uhura
control tower, reading, sir.
kirk
control, this is enterprise,
requesting permission to depart.
voice over (filtered)
this is control. enterprise, you
are granted permission to depart
30 seconds for port gates....
lt. valeris
clear all moorings.....
kirk
awaiting port gates from this
mark....
voice over
mooring lines cleared.....
lt. valeris
aft thrusters.....
kirk
(overlaps)
thank you, lieutenant, one quarter
impulse power......
lt. valeris
(she turns to face him)
captain, may i remind you that
regulations specify thrusters only
while in space dock?
the crew, old and young, watch this exchange keenly.
spock is poker faced.
mccoy
(next to chekov)
uh, jim....
kirk
you heard the order, lieutenant.
25 continued:
lt. valeris swivels away, rolling her eyes so kirk can't
see, and hits the panel....
the ship begins to rattle slightly, then
26 ext. space dock
vfx
the enterprise screams out of the dock and exits through
the just opening bay doors into outer space.
27 omitteed
thru
29
30 int. bridge, u.s.s. enterprise - night
kirk sits comfortably with a smile on his face
kirk
(continuing)
lieutenant.....
lieutenant valeris faces him.
kirk
(continuing)
i don't care if i am senile. if
i sit in this chair and give the
word, you jump!
spock watches.
lt. valeris
aye, sir.
kirk
plot a course for kronos,
lieutenant.
lt. valeris
kronos, sir?
kirk
i'm still in the chair, lieutenant!
lt. valeris
aye, sir.
other reactions. kirk has taken command.
31 ext. space
vfx
enterprise cruises purposefully through the void.
kirk's voice over
captain's log, stardate 8679.259.
they say you can't teach an old dog
new tricks, and maybe they're right.
it seems to me our mission to escort
the chancellor of the klingon high
council to a peace summit is
problematic at best.
32 int. kirks cabin
kirk is unpacking his bags as he dictates, hanging up
his uniforms, his shaving tackle going next to the
sink, etc.
kirk
(continuing)
i have never trusted klingons, and
never will. i have never been able
to forgive them for the murder of
my boy. spock says this could be
an historic moment, and i'd like to
believe him, but how on earth can
history get past people like me?
he sets up a photo of david next to his berth.
a delicate cough.
kirk realizes he's not alone. swivels to face:
lieutenat valeris standing in the bulkhead doorway.
lt. valeris
sorry....
kirk
come on, lieutenat, you could knock!
lt. valeris
we're almost at the rendezvous, i
thought you'd want to know.
kirk
right.
he stands up, and puts on his jacket. she watches.
lt. valeris
permission to speak freely, sir?
32 continued:
he doesn't stop her
lt. valeris
i gather you are not enthusiastic
about the assignment, i don't
think many on board are.
kirk
you piloted well out of spacedock,
lieutenant.
lt. valeris
(almost smiles)
i always wanted to try that.
kirk
(passing her)
only don't try putting words in my
mouth.
and leaves her with that!
33 int. corridor outside spocks quarters
lt. valeris approaches, this time she's smart enough to
knock.
spocks voice
enter.
34 int. spocks quarters
in contrast with his spartan personality, the room is a
voluptuous incense-laden lair, filled with curtains and
smoke. spock lights a votive candle, surveys her. he is
out of uniform.
spock
you have done will, lieutenant. as your
sponsor at the academy, i have
followed your career with... great
satisfaction. and, as a vulcan...
lt. valeris
sir, i speak to you as a kindred
intellect. do you not recognize
that a turning point has been
reached in the affairs of the
federation?
34 continued
spock
i am not certain such speculations
are included among your duties,
lieutenant.
voice (filtered)
klingon battlecruiser off the port
bow. all hands on deck. repeat.....
she's startled.
spock
(off her look)
in time you may come to view so-called
turning points with....skepticism.
he starts to get into uniform.
spock
(continuing)
you must have faith.
lt. valeris
faith....?
spock
that the universe will unfold as it
should.
35 int. bridge, u.s.s. enterprise
the cruise is proceeding evenly as kirk arives out of
one turbo-lift. spock and the lieutenant emerge from
another.
voice
captain on the bridge.
chekov
captain, shall we raise our
shields?
spock looks at kirk: 'trust me'. kirk scowls at him and
stares at the viewscreen. they all follow his gaze.
35 the main viewscreen
vfx
a klingon battlecruiser. huge.
kirk
(finally)
never been this close!
35 continued:
spock
the chancellor is undoubtedly
awaiting our signal.
boy, is this hard for kirk..........finally:
kirk
uhura, hailing frequencies. hard
starboard, bring us alongside....
lt. valeris
hard starboard, z plus five degrees.
uhura
channel open, captain.
kirk
this is the starship enterprise,
captain james t. kirk, commanding.
36 gorkon comes up on the main visual display.
gorkon
this is kronos one. i am
chancellor gorkon.
kirk
chancellor. we've been ordered to
escort you through federation space
to your meeting on earth.
gorkon
thank you, captain.
kirk
(does his best)
uh....would you and your party care
to dine this evening aboard the
enterprise with my officers as guests
of the united federation of planets?
37 a few of the crew look around at kirk.
gorkon
we'd be delighted to accept your
gracious invitation.
kirk
(nuts)
we'll make arrangements to have you
beamed aboard at 1930 hours.
37 continued:
gorkon
i shall look forward to it.
he disappears. kirk turns to spock.
kirk
i hope you're happy.
lt. valeris
captain....
kirk turns to face her.
lt. valeris
(continuing)
...there is a supply of romulan ale
aboard, it might make the evening
pass more......smoothly?
kirk smiles, relieved.
kirk
officer thinking, lieutenant.
38 at the communication console
chekov leans over to uhura.
chekov
guess who is coming to dinner?
39 ext. space
vfx
both ships cruise parallel in space.
40 int. enterprise transporter room.
scotty stands by the console. kirk, spock, and mccoy
stand next to him. they are in dress uniform.
scotty
maybe if their particles just got a
wee bit mixed......
kirk
energize....
40
vfx the beams reflect on the glass shield as half dozen
klingons, including one woman, start materializing.
nb separate beam-ins for gorkon, azetbur, chang.
gorkon descends first. he is tall, splendidly barbaric.
40 continuing
kirk
chancellor gorkon.
the klingons are lordly, formal, bow, taking in their
surroundings. an electronic bosun's whistle pipes
them aboard.
kirk
(continuing)
chancellor, may i present commander
spock, whom i believe you know, doctor
leonard mccoy, chief medical officer,
montgomery scott, chief engineer...
gorkon
(to spock)
commander, face to face at last....
you have my thanks.
spock bows.
gorkon
(continuing)
gentlemen, this is my daughter,
azetbur....my military adviser,
brigadier kerla....and this is
general chang, my chief of staff.
chang wears a patch over one eye. he advances on kirk,
with a grim smile, one eyeball to eyeballs.
chang
i've always wanted to meet you,
captain kirk.
kirk
(smiles)
i'm not sure how to take that!
kerla
sincere admiration, kirk.
chang
(soft)
as one warrior to another....
kirk
(ducks this)
uh, right this way, gentlemen, i
thought you might enjoy a brief tour....
40 continuing
the party leaves. as they move past two crewmen....
1st crewman
they all look alike.
2nd crewman
what about that smell? you know
only the top of the line models can
even talk.
they turn to find themselves facing an expressionless
lieutenant valeris.
lt. valeris
you men have work?
1st crewman
yes, sir.
lt. valeris
then snap to it.
41 int. r deck corridor
leaving the enterprise science labs.
gorkon
your research laboratory is most
impressive.....
kirk
starfleet's been charting and
cataloging planetary atmospheres.
all vessels are equipped with
chemical-analytic sensors....
gorkon
this cannot be easy for you,
captain......
(off of kirks look)
.....i would feel awkward
if i had to give you a tour of our
vessel.
the man's courtesy makes kirk feel guilty....
kirk
would you care to go topside?
chang
very much.
41 continuing
chekov
(pulling kirk aside)
captain, you're not going to show
them the bridge??
kirk
(clenched teeth)
full diplomatic courtesy, mr.
chekov....
the party passes uhura and a younger crewman.
younger crewman
would you want your daughter to
marry one?
42 omitted
42 repeat 39 vfx
vfx
the two ships cruise parallel.
43 int. officers mess, enterprise
a window irises open reveling the stars gliding by.
a hand pours deep blue romulan ale into gorkon's
crystal goblet. dinner well underway. principals from
both parties are at the table. stewards keep food and
drink in motion.
gorkon
i give you a toast:
'the undiscovered country'
(off their looks)
the future.
all drink romulan ale, echoing 'the undiscovered
country'. the klingons eat with their fingers,
scorning utensils.
spock
hamlet, act three, scene one.
gorkon
you have never experienced
shakespeare until you have read
him in the original klingon.
chang turns to kirk with a malicious twinkle.
43 continued
chang
'to be or not to be, that is the
question' which preoccupies our
people, captain kirk. we need
breathing room.....
kirk
i beg your pardon?
kerla
captain kirk, i thought romulan ale
was illegal.
it takes kirk a moment to regain his composure.
kirk
one of the advantages of being a
thousand light years from
federation headquarters.
silence.
mccoy
to you, chancellor gorkon; one of
the architects of our future.
all drink. as romulan ale flows throughout the scene,
tongues get looser. gorkon watches.
scotty
perhaps we are looking at something
of that future here.
azetbur
commander spock, mindful of all
your work behind the scenes, and
despite the cordiality at this
mess, i do not sense an acceptance
of our people throughout your ship.
spock
they're naturally wary, ma'am.
we've been at war a long time.
uhura
how do both sides overcome
engrained prejudice?
chekov
perhaps with a few small steps at a
time. like this one.
43 continued
mccoy
and perhaps with a large step or
two. like a peace treaty.
chang
captain kirk, are you willing to
give up starfleet?
kirk stares
spock
(looks at kirk)
i believe the captain feels that
starfleet's mission has always been
one of peace.
kirk
(glares)
far be it from me to dispute my
first officer. starfleet has
always......
chang
come now, captain, this dinner is
off the record: in space all
warriors are cold warriors.
scotty
we have never tried to.....
kerla
you hypocritically presume that
your democratic system gives you a
moral prerogative to force other
cultures to conform to your
politics.
mccoy
that's not true.....!
kerla
no?
uhura turns to the klingon next to her - all tact.
uhura
general, are you fond of
shakespeare?
he looks at her, his hands and mouth full of food.
ugh! chekov pursues.
43 continued
chekov
ve do not impose democracy on
others. ve do believe that every
planet has a sovereign claim to
human rights.
azetbur
(spits)
'human rights'. even the name is
racist. the federation is basically
a 'homo sapiens' only club.....
spock reacts to this. chang is amused.
chang
present company excepted, to be sure...
uhura
well, i suppose we're not perfect.
scotty
(rising)
don't let them put words in your
mouth! i haven't served 30 years
in the engine room of a starship
to be accused of gunboat diplomacy!
kerla
in any case, we know where this is
leading, the annihilation of our
culture. klingons will replace
those on the lowest rung of the
federation employment ladder,
taking menial jobs and performing
them for lower pay......
chekov
that's economics, not racism!
uhura
but you have to admit it adds up to
the same thing.
mccoy
don't be naive, commander!
uhura
who are you calling 'naive'?
kirk stares sullenly down the table throughout this.
43 continued:
chekov
we're explorers, not diplomats!
mccoy
starfleet's killed an awful lot of
natural phenomena in the name of
'exploration'......
scotty
we follow orders......
chekov
since when has that been an excuse?
diplomacy must resolve these.....
scotty
right! leave it to the politicians
to muck it up and leave us
defenseless....!
a cough interrupts the fight. all eyes on gorkon.
the klingons conceal their amusement.
gorkon
well. i see we have a long way to go.
reactions from kirk and his officers.
44 int. transporter room, enterprise
both parties are gathered, saying goodbyes.
gorkon
thank you, captain kirk. the
evening has been most....edifying.
kirk
(wooden)
we must do this again soon.
gorkon stares at him, smiles slightly.
gorkon
you don't trust me.
kirk can't look at him.
gorkon
(continuing)
i don't blame you. if there is to
be a 'brave new world', we old people
will have the hardest time living it it.
44 continued
gorkon
(turns to spock)
commander spock.
spock
chancellor. a pleasure to meet
you, ma'am
azetbur
captain, commander.....
kirk
general chang, a pleasure.....
chang
(grins)
'parting is such sweet sorrow,
shall we say goodnight till it
be morrow'?
kirk is ready to slug him, but turns his fist into a
salute. the klingons step on the trasporter platform.
chang speaks into his communicator, nods to kirk.
kirk
energize.
44 they disappear. the bosun's whistle.
vfx
scotty
thank god.
chekov
did you see the way they ate?
terrible table manners.
spock
i don't believe our own conduct
will distinguish us in the annals
of diplomacy.......
kirk
i'm going to sleep this off. let
me know if there's some other way
we can screw up tonight.
he starts out, others follow....
45 int. kirks quarters
he comes in slightly drunk and pushes the button on his
log. lies on his bunk and speaks. the ships bells give
45 continued
0100.
kirk
captains log. stardate 8679.15.
the enterprise hosted chancellor
gorkon and company for dinner last
night. our manners were not
exactly emily post. note to the
galley: romulan ale no longer to be
seved at diplomatic functions.
he leans back, sighs, thinking -
kirk
(continuing)
but it wasn't the ale. that was
just the excuse we needed to say
all the things there were really on
our minds.....
spocks voice
(filtered)
captain kirk, you are wanted on the
bridge. captain kirk......
kirk reacts, tries to shake himself awake.
46 int. enterprise bridge
kirk enters. glances at the main visual display: the
46 battlecruiser still travels silently alongside.
vfx
vulcan lt. still has the conn. spock is at his post.
spock
captain.
kirk
(rubs his eyes)
what is it?
spock
i am uncertain
kirk
spock, i'm really tired....
spock
we are reading an enormous amount
of neutron radiation.
46 continued
kirk
(tries to focus)
where?
spock
curiously, it appears to emanate
from us.
kirk
from enterprise?
spock remains silent. kirk is distrubed, paces,
watching the displays.
kirk
lieutenant, you know anything about a
neutron energy surge?
lt. valeris
sir?
kirk
mr. chekov, anything unusual?
chekov
just the size of my head....
kirk
i know what you mean.....
46 a photon torpedo suddenly streaks from the botton of
vfxb the screen and hits the hull of the presidents
flagship!
kirk
what the......
spock
we've fired on the chancellor's
ship.
chekov
torpedo room.....
kirk
uhura, monitor!
lt. valeris
direct hit!
uhura
confirmed, captain!
46 continued
46 a second photon torpedo shoots out from the botton of
vfxc the display screen towards the presidents ship!
kirk
(frantic)
who's doing that???
the vulcan lt. hits panel controls, trying to find out.
47 int. gorkons stateroom, klingon flagship
gorkon, several advisers, and soldiers were seated, but
the impact has thrown them about. they speak subtitled
klingon.
the entire flagship is drenched in amber emergency
light.
adviser
we're hit...!
another blast. they start floating helplessly in the
air! everything mobile rises, weapons float out of
reach...
soldier
gravity generator!
48 int. transporter room, flagship
close on
48 two sets of heavy gravity boots, as the materialize.
vfxa the legs inside them wear starfleet uniforms, and
carry phasers at their sides. they shoot the klingon
transporter officer. they stomp heavily throught the
alarms and chaos, firing at the helpless, floating
crew...cries of the wounded. weapons ploat out of their
holsters just out of reach in the amber light.....
48 klingon blood floats in the air.
vfxb
49 int. flagship corridor
where klingon crew are floating helplessly. the
gravity boots shoot anything in their way, walk on
walls, etc. as they hurry along to:
50 int. gorkons stateroom, flagship
where they blast a guard at the door, severing his arm
and enter. the klingons have weapons, but are floating
50 continued
and unable to aim. they are quickly shot as the two
hit men make their way toward gorkon.
50 blood now floats about as well as debtris in the
vfx crackling emergency lighting. a good deal of hissing
steam......
chancellor gorkon is shot. the hit men turn and exit
quickly. linger on a scene of weightless carnage and
assassination.
51 int. flagship corridor - night
vfx
the hit men hurry back the way they came in their
awkward magnetic boots. bodies and blood floating
around them.
52 int. transporter room, flagship
52 the heavy boots step on the platform and de-materialize.
vfx (one foot treads on floating klingon blood)
53 int. bridge, u.s.s. enterprise
53 a snowy picture on the visual display, then chang comes
vfxa on (still in amber light)....
chang
(he's screaming in klingon,
reverting to his native
language under stress.)
uhura
he says we've fired on them in a
blatant act of war.
kirk
we haven't fired....
spock
according to the data bank, we have....
....twice!
lt. valeris
captain, they're coming about!
53 main viewscreen
vfxb
one battlecruiser flagship now heading for enterprise.
spock
they're preparing to fire.
53 continued
chekov
shields up, captain?
kirk hasn't moved. he's staring at the display,
thinking.
lt. valeris
captain, our shields!
kirk
uhura, signal our surrender.
uhura
captain....!
kirk
we surrender!
uhura chekov
this is enterprise, captain, if they fire
we surrender. repeat, at us with our shields
enterprise surrenders! down........!
kirk
torpedo bay! did we fire those
torpedoes?
54 omitted
55 int. enterprise torpedo bay
scotty
negative, captain. according to
inventory, we're still fully loaded.
56 int. enterprise bride
angle on spock
reacting. how can this be? he checks data banks again.
56 cu data banks: they confirm, two photon torpedoes fired.
vfx
kirk
stand down your weapons.
scotty (v.o.)
captain, if.....
57 another angle
kirk
stand down, mr. scott. all stop.
that's an order!
57 continued
scotty
aye, sir!
mccoy rushes in, carrying his stuff.
mccoy
what the hell's going on?
kirk
i wish i knew. uhura?
uhura
it's pretty chaotic over there.
there's been some weapons fire and
a lot of shouting....
kirk
i'm going aboard. spock, you have
the conn.
he heads for the turbolift. spock blocks him.
spock
i am responsible for involving you
in this. i will go.
kirk
(bitter)
i'm going! you're going to be
responsible for getting me out of
this! meanwhile we're not going to
be the instigators of a full scale
war on the eve of universal peace.
spock
perhaps you're right.
and spock uncharacteristically pats him on the back
spock
good luck, captain.
mccoy
i'm going too. they may need a
doctor.
kirk
uhura, tell them we're coming. and
tell them we're unarmed.
they hurry out.
58 int. gorkons stateroom, flagship
chang and his assistants are trying to sort things out
without gravity. chang shouts efficient orders in
klingon as he finds and tries to help gorkon.....
chang keeps himself upright by grabbing a handhold, but
the stricken are still floating...
a few more orders from chang, then the lights flicker,
then all the bodies and blood slam to the ground as the
gravitational source is restored. lighting is normal.
59 int. flagship transporter room
vfx
kirk and mccoy materialize. they are quickly
surrounded by armed soldiers. kirk puts his hands out
to indicate they are not carrying weapons. they are
searched as kerla enters.
kerla
have you lost your mind?
kirk
i give you my word, i don't
understand what has happened.
mccoy
we're here to help......
kerla
(hesitates, furious)
follow me.
he leads them along the corridor
60 int. flagship corridor
same path, a scene of destruction, which the hit men
took, right into
61 int. gorkons stateroom, flagship
where dead and wounded are being separated.
kerla hurries over to gorkon, askew on the rug, blood
running everwhere. azetbur is holding him, now bloody
herself (she wasn't in the room during the assignation)
mccoy
chancellor gorkon!
he goes to him immediately. chang rises from next to
gorkon.
61 continued
kirk
my god, what happened here?
chang
you feign ignorance?
kirk
what happened?
chang
you crippled our gravitational
field with a direct torpedo hit,
and two starfleet crewmen beamed
aboard in magnetic boots and did
this! we have witnesses!
kirk has no response, is shocked.
mccoy
jim!
mccoy is being held back from gorkon by two klingons.
kirk
he's a doctor!
chang
how can i trust....
mccoy
are you carrying a surgeon?
chang
we were, until you fired your torpedoes!
mccoy
then let me help!
chang hesitates, then signals. mccoy is released.
mccoy
i need some light. can we get him
onto the table?
klingons lift gorkon onto his table, someone produces
light. mccoy whips out his medical scanner. his hands
are shaking.
mccoy
(to kirk)
hold him.
kirk grabs gorkons arms.
61 continued
mccoy
(continuing)
sweet jesus....! he's lost a lot of
whatever this stuff is....
kirk
can you.....?
mccoy
jim, i don't even know his anatomy
mccoy furiously goes over gorkon with his anabolic
photoplaser. shakes his head. gorkon clutches kirk.
mccoy
the wounds aren't closing....
