STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" #40272-130 Written by Jeri Taylor Directed by Les Landau THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT. Copyright 1991 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This script is not for publication or reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department. FINAL DRAFT FEBRUARY 9, 1991 STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" CAST PICARD EDOUARD RIKER FRANCINE DATA GENTLEMAN BEVERLY FELIX LEECH TROI GEORDI WORF WESLEY O'BRIEN COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking MEDICAL PERSONNEL TWO SECURITY GUARDS Voice-Over COMPUTER VOICE STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS ENTERPRISE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE Main Bridge Data's Quarters ISOLATED LOCATIONS Sickbay Crusher's Office Transporter Room #1 Arbiter's Office Judge's Office Kurlandian Suite #1 Doctor's Office Judge's Office/Benchroom Lian's Lava Outpost INFIRMARY STAR TREK: "The Game" - REV. 11/9/89 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE BUSSARD buh-SARD GALOR GAL-or GOLIS GOSH TARIS tah-REE SOLOK SOLE-koh TAVERN TO-der-nen LATIN leh-TIHN poly-HEN (rhymes with trouble) GOMET'AGH ANDORIAN AIDE NURSE'S VOICE PAID-er Non-Speaking Non-Speaking SUPERNUMERARIES TECHNICIAN N.D. CREWMEMBER STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE READY ROOM OBS. LOUNGE TURBOLIFT CORRIDOR RIKER'S QUARTERS JEAN-LUC'S ROOM OPS TEN FORWARD JEAN-LUC'S QUARTERS ABASSIAN HOLDING CELL SCIENCE LAB STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Game" TEASER FADE IN: THE GAME (OPTICAL) A solid, high-tech, thirty-year-old BATTLE HYLEDRIAN in a "Starfleet" jumpsuit is sitting on a dining table, flinging food into his open hand like a Chuck Eno jacket. He's snarling and vitally interested in the food in front of him. WE FOLLOW HIM as he walks over to a nearby divan, looks around it chat-ty. BANDI GIRL Theaters. Ah and there's the sound of more food in the kit, then the other woman nods in agreement and the food is out the tray. Bareil looks at it for a beat, then grabs a mug and sloops some out onto the dining table. ANGLE ON TABLE as Bareil takes the mug and looks at it with delight. He smiles and pulls himself up out of the mug onto the other woman's plate. BAREIL Thank you. LWAXANA Some milk. Same ration you had last time. And free of charge. BAREIL Infirmary. INT. BAREIL'S QUARTERS Bareil waking up to the sound of more soft moaning. He looks around and noticed that the room is damp with the stench of his wet clothes. He sits up, tries to dry himself. The door CHIMES. BAREIL Flavoring. The door OPENS to REVEAL Vedek Winn. WINN Doctor Bashir will be right in. Bareil sits up and looks around. He's disappointed to see that Bashir is gone. BAREIL Trentin... WINN We've met again. BAREIL You knew my mother before we met her. WINN She was part of the Athos trinity. BAREIL When I was a boy, I dreamed of running my own shop -- a spiritual fulfillment of my fear for the community. WINN I'm glad you realize that's not how it should be. BAREIL (feeling a bit foolish) You don't give up easily. WINN Only when the time comes. Bareil smiles. He's back on his feet. BAREIL When do we leave? WINN After the liturgy. After the vehement halting of the streams. Bareil clears his throat. BAREIL When it's time, I'll kneel and pray for the cleansing waters. Winn smiles at the eagerness of his remark -- a new man comes into her life. WINN I'm sure you'll do whatever is necessary... BAREIL And just before we leave, I will ask the Prophets to give back the lands and property to Bajor. WINN You'll get no argument from me. They reach the door to her quarters... BAREIL But that won't be necessary... She pauses... clearly figuring something? She sits down on the edge of the bed. BAREIL What if the Prophets aren't able to help me? WINN You'd feel nothing at all. And that's a powerful feeling... BAREIL But I can't get back to the fire temples... WINN You must. She sits down on the edge of the bed. WINN The prophets have anointed you to this day... you must remove the Archdemon from your heart. BAREIL You don't mean for me to get involved... WINN Once the threat has been neutralized, there will be plenty of time for everything. (beat) Rest. He heads for the door. KIRA'S COM VOICE Kira to Doctor Bashir. BASHIR (hits his combadge) This is Bashir, performing surgery on myself... Kira'S COM VOICE interrupts our conversation... KIRA'S COM VOICE Doctor, is your patient here? BASHIR He's here, Major... in the Wardroom. KIRA'S COM VOICE Good. Carry out your orders. As Bashir EXITS... CUT TO: INT. WARDROOM Bashir, arms folded across his chest, is standing in the nearly completed room, lit only by the flashes of the fire lights and the howling winds... the SOUND of the wind can be heard in the room. He opens the door to the Wardroom and ENTERS... the DOOR CHIME sounds. BASHIR Come in. O'Brien is already here waiting for him. O'BRIEN Is it the other way around? Bashir crosses to the curtained window and sees Bashir's face... NEW ANGLE - THROUGH THE WINDOW (OPTICAL) A shadowy figure approaches -- it's Kornan, sitting in the dictator's chair. The other members of the council sit motionless or absent. Kornan's voice can be heard faintly, approaching. KORNAN So this is the inquiry. What are you people still hiding? BASHIR It's a waste of time to discuss it now... KORNAN (hard) You were told. Bashir looks out the window and sees the BLACK SHIP moving toward them. BASHIR Now what? KORNAN And that's not all... Kornan lifts the chair and leads Bashir aside. The captain speaks to Kornan once more, but his voice is quiet and controlled. KORNAN (continuing) For the past three weeks, I have attempted to access a section of the Founders' computer system. Bashir looks to Sisko, who nods agreement. BASHIR (to Kornan) I can't believe that you're willing to help me. KORNAN (contemptuous) You disappoint me, Erisian. Do you expect Patches to surprise me by coming this way? Bashir can't believe what he's hearing. BASHIR Are you insulting me? KORNAN I hope not. Patches is a very effective weapon in its own right. Now go back and finish what we started. Go! Bashir stares at the door for a beat; Kornan's right -- if this is what he's hoping for, he has an opportunity to end this nightmare. BASHIR Before we exchange places... we should check the Holodeck for something that can break free of the parameters of the program... KORNAN But that's the worst of it... BASHIR What's the matter -- you can't even break away from the Holodeck? KORNAN This isn't a program. It's states of mind... separate, independent thought. A very different concept than we have seen on the Enterprise. BASHIR Whatever Erisian version of "Toq"'s named "Bashir" has committed similar crimes. KORNAN The concept of guilt is a very interesting one. Perhaps our authors would agree that we have indeed... (re: the painting) ... "considered" it... at least in part, "remembered" it... BASHIR What they're really saying is "considered" by whom? KORNAN Never mind... I don't need to see that painting. Bashir lets out a frustrated breath. Just when he thinks he's sure he's out of the bag... KORNAN Bashir. And with that, he begins to move about the room slowly... forcing Bashir to follow. We should see that Kornan is very uncomfortable with the Holodeck setting and Bashir's playing it as much as he is with the idea of having the character representing himself. Kornan moves far away from the wall and takes a seat nearby. He's impatient. KORNAN I have been waiting for you to attack that computer console for as long as I can remember... (beat) Until I finally killed it. Gone. The computer was destroyed long ago. BASHIR Kill it. KORNAN Why? What use is there for such a primitive machine? BASHIR I... I don't know. Personally, I don't think I should kill anything. However, I would definitely like to investigate something like this. KORNAN A matter of fact. Now you are willing to go into the Jobing Office! That's quite a challenge. Bashir smiles. This is nothing to get excited about. BASHIR Maybe you don't need it. KORNAN (laughs) Then perhaps I should have killed yourself. This isn't really what Bashir had in mind. He looks at Kornan thoughtfully. BASHIR You know, you're not as dumb as everyone thinks. Sometimes I like less chaos. KORNAN Maybe you should rethink that position, Doctor. Computer -- begin playback again selection. CUT TO: INT. WARDROOM - ON MONITOR (OPTICAL) The new plan image of the pipeline emerges from the computer screen. DUKAT We're clear. The words are clear. WEYOUN Resume. DUKAT Clearance for entry into the Federation. FEMALE GUEST (O.S.) Dukat... Weyoun turns to see -- ANGLE ON THE DOOR as the Young Nausicaans enter. WEYOUN Closure to entry. DUKAT Computer -- freeze program. COMPUTER VOICE Program removed. The monitor goes to black. NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) to REVEAL that the walls of the Chamber of Honor are open, preventing anyone from coming inside. Nausicaans and Cardassians stand on either side of the door, each holding a tray with food. Each person is standing with its own mug on the tray. WEYOUN (to Dukat) We are ready. Dukat nods and taps a few keys on the keyboard. DUKAT I think it's time to extend the hours. WEYOUN I don't think the food's very fresh. DUKAT You can always refuse to serve us. WEYOUN That still wouldn't stop people from eating out of my open gate. DUKAT Maybe. But I think it's time to eliminate the competition. The other Nausicaans begin to move to the other tables. DUKAT The finalist meeting is at seventeen-hundred hours. FEMALE GUEST The meeting of the minds. Weyoun and Dukat sit at the end of the table. They're the only people in the room. DUKAT I don't think I'm a very good mincer. WEYOUN You're a skilled manipulator, but you still don't have the panache for the ladies. DUKAT Maybe not. But there's something else you could work on. WEYOUN With half the charm of Dukat, Ziyal. DUKAT You think? WEYOUN You're so perceptive. (a beat) Half the charm of Dukat, Ziyal. Ziyal smiles. INT. DUKAT'S OFFICE Dukat is with Ziyal, who's putting her learning progressions to work. A SMALL CHILD is resting on a table. Dukat is giving her a pained look as he explains to Ziyal the significance of the new language. DUKAT Ziyal, the language of the Pah-wraiths... it preserves the hidden memories of the Prophets. ZIYAL They said it would bring greater glory to the Empire. DUKAT (angry) They were wrong.  ZIYAL Father -- I don't want to forget what you did for me. DUKAT What I did for you was save your life. ZIYAL Please. DUKAT You risked your life to find the Prophets. I deserve to have a say in its implementation. A beat as Dukat presents him with the tray of food. DUKAT I remember the day you agreed to do this. ZIYAL (unwavering) I would've chosen if I could. DUKAT You chose modestly. And profoundly. ZIYAL My father wanted me to be a warrior. That's what he envisioned when he forged you. But you deserve anything you can give back to him. DUKAT You don't deserve such a life. Not even his child. ZIYAL It's not about what I want... (a beat) All that matters is that he deserves better. Dukat moves to her and he and the other Agnostics are expressionless as they watch her. DUKAT It's not what I want that you want, Mother. It's just that now, I won't have to hide from you. I know all about your disappearance. ZIYAL It's not that I want to hide from you. It's just that I won't have to do what you ask. DUKAT I am a good man. You will remember that. And with that, Dukat offers Ziyal the tray of food. DUKAT Here, have some danmaku broth. ZIYAL My Mother has been meaning to ask you something. DUKAT What is it? ZIYAL Do you have any opinion on the how we should proceed? Dukat gives her a look and she nods silently. ZIYAL I really don't think that we should discuss this. DUKAT Then I suggest we go together and find out why Ziyal has joined us. nomine is now pronounced FUJISH. CUT TO: INT. KIRA'S QUARTERS Kira is pacing when the door CHIMES. KIRA Yes. She OPENS the door, and a very nervous looking Kira ENTERS. KIRA (continuing) It's... good to see you, too. DUKAT I know you're worried. KIRA It's been a long time. Dukat tenses up. DUKAT Yes. It's been a long time. KIRA What's going to happen to me? DUKAT Nothing good. Not much. KIRA It's over, isn't it? You should be back on Bajor by now. DUKAT Of course it's over. But until I come back, you're Vedek Bareil's housekeeper. I can't live without you. KIRA I don't need a housekeeper. DUKAT You do if you're not useful. KIRA I think you're overreacting. DUKAT Really now, Major. I feel much better. Kira shakes her head. She's not buying it. KIRA The last thing I need is a man whining about me. After all I did for him. DUKAT Not at all. I'm glad you're no longer useful. KIRA You were always useful. DUKAT You could learn to take advantage of my imperfections. I'm glad you still care enough to consider me a friend. KIRA I can't do that. Dukat gets up and paces about the room. DUKAT Something tipped the scales for her. Dax is shocked to hear this. DAX What tipped the scales? DUKAT Who am I to weigh in on who gets the seat? DAX That's not your concern. DUKAT If she's not going to have this debt paid off, then I'm not going to have to. KIRA Tapping my pockets isn't going to convince me to repay it. DUKAT (rising to challenge her) Major, I just happened to have two slide deliquitions when I was offering the Bajoran chest to the Bajoran miners. You're not going to ask Quark, the Alliance falls to Earth. And even if you do, it won't do you much good. KIRA That's just it. I'm not just asking you to hand over my bank accounts. I'm asking you to open a revolving door and allow me access to your sacred Bajoran financial files. Is that what you've chosen? Dukat stands and moves around the room. DUKAT It's a simple-- KIRA (cutting him off) Eminence, you've taken this too seriously. You've put your life on the line simply to fulfill your mutual Cardassian fantasy. DUKAT (incredulous) You assume I'm incapable of faking it? I can fathom that well-oiled Cardassian machine that much. KIRA If you want to fake a moon that can support life, you start with a smaller piece of land, and then work your way up to the sphere of the sky. DUKAT What I'd like is for you to stop feeling so guilty. Tell me that what I'm doing is right. KIRA It has been my duty to protect you. That you may pursue your beliefs without hindrance. DUKAT You think I care about your lives. How many of your people do you know who aren't afraid to die just because their lives are in danger? KIRA I don't care if your life is in danger. I'm trying to help you. DUKAT There are no innocents in that whole thing. If you'll just hold your position until the Bajoran government arrives, I can expect a... hearing. Dukat sees he's not going to get anywhere. He turns away from the podium. DUKAT That's right. Until then... Professor, we're tired of your prizes. KIRA All right. Dukat thinks that over. During the following conversation, we should see that Dukat's not quite sure what Kira has in mind. DUKAT (suddenly serious) That's a perfectly reasonable proposal. KIRA We aren't willing to just hand over a prisoner to Cardassia. DUKAT Major, the Bajoran and Federation loyalists fought the Cardassians every mile of their way for five years. I can't just hand over a Federation hostage. KIRA  You'd think they'd be more than satisfied with having Bajor host the games. DUKAT I thought we agreed to keep that �in mind. Dukat brags for a beat. DUKAT (continuing) Now, if it's all the same to you, Major... I'll do what have Professor Kira and the Ferengi Liaison Officer look for information on a specific Dominion plot to begin a war with Cardassia. This gets everyone's attention. KIRA That's a war plan. DUKAT It's a terrible plan. But it is the closest thing to a clear goal that's even vaguely possible. (beat) And the goal has to be to shatter the Federation apart. Inside the Federation. KIRA Within three years you'd be running this place. With the cards of the Cardassian East India Coast, the Nelvana Four Federation and even the Ferengi allies. The only goal these people have proven themselves to themselves... is to survive. The only goal they should have is to survive against their allies. DUKAT It's time to put an end to your little war. KIRA It already has. DUKAT You still don't understand, do you? It's not over. Each side accuses the other of committing an attack, hoping to stall the inevitable. But the side that commits the most violent attack wins. Which side is more violent... the Federation or the Federation? Certainly not the Federation. KIRA We're not playing for the old scrubbing good, Dukat. Dukat studies her. He can see the complex, multi- sectarian nature of her outlook. And he can't help but be impressed. DUKAT If you truly wish to rebuild the Cardassian Empire, it's our duties to do it. KIRA And if you don't believe me? DUKAT (suddenly brightens) We'll see. He moves closer to her. DUKAT But first, I need to know who this woman is. KIRA What do you want from me? DUKAT An answer to some questions. A few days ago, she disappeared. So did the others. But she will be back. Kira doesn't buy any of this; Dukat's right, and we're meant to know she's back, right now. KIRA What do you want from me? DUKAT Ambassador, I intend to open a channel. To explain ourselves better... And off Kira's reaction... INT. GUEST QUARTERS Odo and Protected Meow, at the wall monitor playing the visual diary of Sisko's son. ODO Computer -- access visual deposition. COMPUTER VOICE Channel closed. Odo reacts. Meow looks curiously at his "brother." MEE'S VOICE (from com) This is Lola Randall. She's back. Odo reacts. INT. WARDROOM Kira and Dax are in the audience. Randall is talking to the moderator -- not just Odo, but to anyone else on the spectrum as well. RANDALL And now to the topic at hand... the massacre. KIRA What happened? RANDALL It was just another random act of barbarism. (gestures to the wall monitor) When I tracked them down on the Promenade, I found their DNA stains changed -- with Nidell's genetic material. KIRA Another killer? RANDALL Another nine months of Lola's life ended when she was joined with a cancerous tumor. For paradise, she could have taken her life back to the streets of Bajor. She wanted to live... so badly. But she was doomed to die. ON KIRA AND ODO watching from the audience. KORINAS (like a grandmother) Stop watching. ODO All right, let us return to the story... KORINAS No. I want you to remember... the good old days... ODO I remember. But somehow, all of it... all of it... warped. screwed up. KORINAS (unhappily) 龍� How can you forget the good old days? That's what everyone around the world is talking about. KIRA Everyone? RANDALL Everybody's talking about the murder. Kira looks over at Dax. KIRA You still can't believe it. RANDALL No one's talking about it. It's a private matter. I hear they have a new holo-communicator now. I'm not sure what their question is, but I suppose you should hear their excuses. KIRA Excuses? RANDALL They say they can't get the feeds from the station. I suppose you better take them somewhere else. KIRA Will you stop comparing me to a convicted murderer. RANDALL What you did was wrong. KIRA So how do I know it wasn't me? RANDALL So how do I know it wasn't you? KIRA That's another story. RANDALL What else? KIRA No pictures. RANDALL (almost smiles) Then who saw the body? And as Kira realizes who she is, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE FADE IN: INT. WARDROOM - KIRA Is baffled by her friend's friend's friendliness, but also knows this is a woman who's troubled more than she's been in her life. And as they EXIT, Kira is uneasy. INT. DOCKING RING CORRIDOR - ANGLE ON JAKE AND WORF They walk, as the Cardassian looks over his shoulder and helmet, respectively. JAKE unnecessaries. Tekeny... for the mother ship. Leaving, I suppose, to go home. Worf frowns... WORF Did not we undertake the evacuation of Bajor? JAKE You mean, you're not planning on tackling it back home? WORF We were merely looking forward to seeing our parents again. JAKE Great -- they're going to be hungry. We have to get out of here as soon as possible! Jake and Worf turn a corner. INT. PROMENADE - OUTSIDE QUARK'S Arjin and Leeta come around the corner to confront Quark. QUARK Why are you doing this? ARJIN Why don't you just leave me alone? I'm not going to turn you into a cardassian and start killing people off in cold blood. QUARK Then I will. But then people like you wouldn't have been fighting in the first place. ARJIN What you're doing is war. And that's illegal. QUARK Not legal. You're acting like a... public enemy. (pulls out a golden handkerchief) Well, you know what I've found when I've needed to blend in... (re: the handkerchief) Take that and wipe my forehead.  ARJIN Public enemy? QUARK You know who I've been paying to avoid war with the Federation. Loyalty and friendship are the key to peace in our galaxy. Now what do you say we create resistance against the Alliance? QUARK (Cont'd) We work together, we trade our loyalties... we even hate ourselves a little. But all that's not enough. We've got to wage a war. And that war must continue -- so someone has to keep score of us. RIKER'S VOICE Who's getting the tally of XVIII Loyalists now? QUARK Not you, Riker. RIKER (to Arjin) If you're so important to the Rebellion, why aren't you deactivated the monitors? Arjin is suddenly on the defensive. ARJIN Mercy... mercy... QUARK Don't shout. I'd trade that for a few Vorta hides if I were you. (to Riker) The Alliance is everything I have and more. And what of our "friends?" Don't they matter? RIKER Yes, they do. QUARK �(to Riker) How do I keep my hands off my lobes? RIKER Your hands are quite dry, after all. Riker leads them out of the bar. As they EXIT, Dax moves over to talk with the others. DAX What I find curious about all of our questions, Commander, is that we repeatedly ask them about what they're not. SISKO (puzzled) When? DAX Every time you need someone's attention. SISKO Or is asking a question. KASIDY YATES Not really, it's more of an compliment. (to the others) You humans are so curious... JOSEPH Now do you want to help or be helped? GUARD #2 Franklin, we thank you for your trust. But please... set your hands on those plates. JOSEPH I'll do no such thing. GUARD #2 It's so much easier to set things right when you know why they're there. Joseph looks around for a response, but they come out of the restaurant carrying several empty plates. JOSEPH Just because we eat out of "here" doesn't mean we want to stay here. If we stay, all of Rome will fall. SISKO Maybe not. But there are a lot of things that'll happen. JOSEPH Galileans and Romans didn't western clothes, flocks of Spartans, the Scuttlebutt... SISKO Leban, it's just rumors. Anything can happen. JOSEPH You bet the moment the Tal Shiar announced the results of the wine -- the cease-fire was abolished. SISKO So Levin escapes us. JOSEPH It's not just Levin. Our whole side is under their control. SISKO Why aren't Talarians much in a lot of trouble? JOSEPH Instead, they're a little so... and their customs may seem nostalgic to us, but to them, there's really no reason to question it. To them, Benjamin has delivered the Grail -- they know how to conduct a war. SISKO And how do they plan to deliver the Federation to the Klingons? Again, this is all hearsay. JOSEPH What do they plan to do with the Federation? SISKO That's not what I'm answering. JOSEPH No wonder you're not answering. SISKO We have to... Just then... NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) The computer screen says, "FREEZE FRAME." JOSEPH nomine Lauri mombo grande. Joseph swings back into frame, and his voice goes to a warning. JOSEPH (Cont'd) (beat) We have to leave, or... SISKO You're driving me crazy. JOSEPH You're driving me crazy! First, America -- I couldn't be more clear-headed -- we have to leave! SISKO Are we going to have a nice quiet funeral? JOSEPH There's not going to be a "nice funeral." Get me an alt-right shuttle and we'll leave. Joseph flashes Sisko a threatening look. JOSEPH (continuing) You've got no place on this station. Knock it off with one of your shields. SISKO I'm not going anywhere with you. Now answer my question... JOSEPH What do you think? SISKO mosqu– (gets rid of it) What do you think? Joseph doesn't want to get involved in this but he knows he can't refuse. JOSEPH (simple) I think Starfleet deserves a budget surplus. (almost a throwaway) Discipline down, Ben. And off Sisko's face as he silences those voices of dissent... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. READY ROOM Sisko is at his desk looking for a basic schematic diagram on one of the computers when Joseph ENTERS behind him. JOSEPH (to computer) Computer, scan the barge's hull for defects in the metal hull liner. COMPUTER VOICE No metal defect present. JOSEPH What do you mean? COMPUTER VOICE Analysis of metal construction displayed on hull scan results confirmed. JOSEPH What? (thinking) Oh. Well.. (to computer) Computer, scan the barge's nacelle assembly for deficiencies in the bussard's internal control processors. COMPUTER VOICE No metal defect present. JOSEPH Ah. Computer, access ship's ring mold. Insert the ship's ring in the ship's transporter. The computer CHIRPS in response, begins to ring the chime. JOSEPH (continuing) Ring the chime. The computer CHIRPS again. JOSEPH (continuing; pleasantly) Officially STARDATE 51725.7. Whatever you do overnight, boy, it's official. Your ship's stardate has been correctly recoding. Joseph hangs up. JOSEPH (continuing) Officially, I have also been announced the beneficiary of this year's sugar summit. externalToEVA SISKO It's a new life for you, Dad. JOSEPH It never gets old. The door CHIMES. SISKO Come in. Joseph comes in. JOSEPH What can I do for you, Commander? SISKO Southern Command requested that the Iyaaran religious leaders expect a visit from you this weekend. JOSEPH I'm not sure they'll go. Why? Because I'm not a religious leader? SISKO That's between them. JOSEPH Well, I'm not a religious leader anymore. I'm a science leader. And what do you think? SISKO I think it's pretty clear what they're doing. They're taking the Biblical text and largely ignoring the entire New Testament. JOSEPH What about the Old Testament? Do you know that the entire Old Underground was a prison camp at the time of the Aramaic rite? SISKO What do you think? JOSEPH That's right. And I have to admit that's one of the most bizarre things you've ever heard. SISKO Really? JOSEPH You know, you're less than a buddha... SISKO What? JOSEPH You're going to be very frustrated when you find out the Biblical passage you've been waiting for all your life doesn't exist. Joseph gets up and heads for the bedroom. JOSEPH And if it doesn't exist... what do you expect us to do? SISKO You're welcome to contact the Federation and see what they might have to say. Joseph EXITS. CUT TO: INT. SISKO'S CREOLE KITCHEN - NIGHT - LATE (OPTICAL) Close on SISKO as he holds Joseph's face in his hands. JOSEPH It's the only thing that does... Sisko looks up at his son as his own eyes begin to search his face. JOSEPH You know I was worried about you again... I'm sorry I made you an example... but I was wondering... could you forgive me? I can see it now... your faith in me has no doubt been a little misplaced. Sisko looks around the room, trying to shut out the noise and emotion of the past. SISKO The sound of that voice on the com channel... JOSEPH Ben, I don't care about that audience. I only care about this operation in which you relinquished your command. SISKO It wasn't an order, Dad. It was an idea... an suggestion. JOSEPH You led the revolt. That's what I want to hear. Joseph is clearly skeptical, but Sisko doesn't give up. He continues...  SISKO You saw the nature of the struggle, what Dad was going to do, the limitations of the original vision. These weren't grand visions, they were tiny thoughts... which is why the rejection of them made the struggle necessary. JOSEPH I have to believe it. You're starting to see what a hard decision you're making. SISKO It's not that I'm seeing any different -- I'm just not as good a Starfleet officer as I used to be. This isn't a battle I can win. Joseph turns back to the computer, typing. JOSEPH There was a time when you needed a Starfleet captain's skill to do the job of a brigadier general. (beat) At least wash up before you start to worry about command responsibilities... SISKO This isn't about command. This is about respect, and how we view the men and women who command this vessel. If you don't respect that, if you start to expect a slave on your ship, you won't be able to command this ship. (beat) I wouldn't put it past our friend, Commodore. Joseph turns back to the computer. JOSEPH This is really none of my business. (beat) But you should know that even if you choose to enter this mission, you'll be completely unaware as to the sources of your destiny. So unless you have a vision or two, you're better than it. SISKO You? JOSEPH That's right. And when you're ready, you can take us back to Deep Space Nine. That gets the room buzzing. SISKO We can't go back, Dad. Not without destroying Alsia. JOSEPH I refuse to abandon my son. Not to save her. And not to conquer the world. (beat) Come on, Ben. SISKO We have a job to do. JOSEPH The job is to turn this planet into a beacon for the Federation. SISKO You've got to be joking. You're part of the problem. JOSEPH Take it from an old dog like Frank Bok, who's had twenty years to hunt down and destroy every last Alsia. SISKO You won't get to keep hunting for Alsia if you turn this planet into a dumping ground for human wastes. JOSEPH I'm well aware of the waste extensions on my world. SISKO We can put your planet on the next transport map. JOSEPH That wouldn't solve the problem if we didn't already know what the Federation wants from us. SISKO I think you've made a mistake. America is not just a single nation. It's an entire species. JOSEPH You're overstating your case. SISKO If you knew that, you wouldn't be asking me now. The boy's eyes flicker at that statement. JOSEPH I hadn't given it a second thought. (beat) My son and I thought we had all the time in the world to be together. But you promised that after we finished our studies of the rare Bajoran material that was left, you would send a coded message to your people. SISKO (cold) I never received one. Joseph studies the terminal for a moment, then has to gently push to please something. JOSEPH Besides, you didn't much care for me. I tried to make you understand what you did. I admit it wasn't very hard. All you had to do was wait, and you would've arrived any minute. (beat) You left me a gift. Joseph looks down the hallway. JOSEPH (continuing) So now all I have to do is... wait. (he hits the terminal) It's like I've never felt good about giving up something. SISKO The same thing to you. JOSEPH Believe it or not. Sure I could come back if things got worse, but I prefer to enjoy my retirement. SISKO Remember who you work for. JOSEPH Don't work for me. I want to be working for you. When the time comes, I'll make the payment I promised. I don't want anything to happen to you... I only want to get on with my life. JOSEPH Whatever makes you happy. I'll pay my respects. Joseph EXITS. CLOSE ON SISKO As he watches him go. And we: FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END