"Departure II"

ACT THREE

 

CUT TO INT. CARGO BAY TWO-SPACE

 

Tight on WEI, sitting in a stool now, with CALLAHAN and FROST watching him.

 

 

WEI

The whole thing started about ten years ago, a few attacks on Romulan ships, and a couple of pirate raids on some colonies. Nobody thought much of it at the time.

 

FROST

I doubt the Tal Shiar would let something like that slip.

 

WEI

They did and they didn’t. There are too many pirates and freedom fighters for the Romulans to keep track of out here. So the Tal Shiar has a policy of ‘ignore them till they’re a problem’.

 

FROST

And this pirate…he became a problem I take it?

 

 

WEI nods.

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. KOVIR’S TAILOR SHOP-DAY

 

Tight on KOVIR telling his story.

 

 

KOVIR

Before the Romulans and the Vulcans became two races, we shared both a culture and a polytheistic religion. While the Vulcans abandoned that religion after embracing Logic, many Romulans continue to practice it even to this day.

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. CARGO BAY TWO-SPACE

 

 

WEI

He started hitting the trade routes, the big ones between the border and the Empire’s core systems. Things got so bad the Romulans sent one Warbird into the Neutral Zone to find this guy. I mean they actually risked a war with the Federation to make the whole thing stop. Less then a week later, this pirate makes that ship disappear into thin air. Poof. Gone for good. Ever since then the Romulans have been scared shitless of the guy. Gave him a nickname: The Bone Lord

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. KOVIR’S TAILOR SHOP-DAY

 

 

KOVIR

When someone dies their soul enters the after life where Magavira the Lord of Bones judges them. If they are found worthy, Magavira allows their soul to enter paradise and sends a spirit animal to watch over their grave to make sure it is not disturbed. But if that soul is found unworthy then Magavira will skin their corpse and remove the bones, wearing them around his neck to warn others of the price for leading a wicked life.

 

 

CU on SARA, she’s amazed by the whole story.

 

 

SARA

So the Bone Lord is some sort of devil or boogey man?

 

KOVIR

A crude reinterpretation but yes.

 

 

Tight on KOVIR, The comm. badge has started beeping and he starts putting it back together.

 

 

KOVIR

I believe that I have repaired it.

 

 

SARA is preoccupied with the story she just heard but takes the comm. badge and pins it to her chest.

 

 

SARA

I want to thank you for what you’ve done.

 

KOVIR

There is no need for gratitude; I was merely doing my part to aid the Federation.

 

SARA

And the Federation won’t forget it. I won’t forget it either.

 

 

She taps it. It beeps.

 

 

SARA

Lyons to Nelson…anybody up there?

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE

 

DECKER’S manning an auxiliary communications console while RAND works to get the Sensor/Comm station back in working order.

 

 

DECKER (relieved)

Commander? We thought we’d lost you!

 

 

RAND stops what he’s doing and stands next to DECKER, he’s just as relieved.

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. KOVIR’S TAILOR SHOP-DAY

 

CU on SARA

 

 

SARA

Good to hear you too, Ensign. Is Mr. Wolfe on the Bridge?

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE

 

Two shot, DECKER and RAND

 

 

DECKER

He’s in the Brig with Lieutenant Fros- (stops himself)

 

 

RAND smacks him in the arm and gives him a “How stupid are you?”-look.

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. KOVIR’S TAILOR SHOP-DAY

 

CU on SARA

 

 

SARA

The Lieutenant. I see. As soon as you can, get me out of here. I’ve had more then my fill of Feron Prime.

 

DECKER (comm.)

Aye, sir.

 

SARA (to Kovir)

Thank you again.

 

KOVIR

Live long and prosper, Commander.

 

SARA (into comm.)

Energize.

 

 

SARA dematerializes.  As soon as she’s gone, T’VEL enters the room.

 

 

KOVIR

Please go prepare for dinner. (Picks up his sewing kit) I must be ready for our next customer.

 

 

 

FADE TO INT. NELSON TRANSPORTER ROOM-SPACE

 

SARA rematerializes on the transporter pad. WOLFE, FROST, NERI, and RAND are waiting for her as she arrives.  She steps off the pad and looks her staff over.

 

 

SARA

Mr. Frost, I seem to remember confining you to your quarters.

 

WOLFE

That was actually my call. I needed his help with-

 

FROST

He doesn’t know what the buttons on the command chair are for.

 

SARA

It’s alright Mr. Wolfe, I appreciate the effort.

 

NERI

Commander?

 

SARA

Yes?

 

NERI

Did you…did you do something to your uniform?

 

 

 

CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE

 

A turbo lift arrives at heads turn to see SARA walking onto the Bridge.  DECKER removes himself from the captain’s chair and the bridge crew starts to applaud SARA as she settles into the chair.  Everyone’s clapping…even FROST.

 

 

SARA (to FROST)

You’re still confined to quarters.

 

FROST (smiles)

You’re still a showboat.

 

 

The applause dies down and SARA’S all business again.

 

 

SARA

Alright Mr. Decker, chart a course to the nearest Starbase and notify them that we are carrying prisoners. (deep sigh) This is the last time I ever want to see the Tars Tavik outside that view screen.

 

 

 

CUT TO EXT. NELSON IN ORBIT-SPACE

 

The ship goes into warp, fires off into deep space, maybe even with triumphant music blaring.

 

The camera holds in place.

 

A few moments in the silence of space tick by, something is out there…

 

…The Shadow slowly decloaks into view.

 

Then it disappears, recloaking and speeding to warp at the same time.

 

 

 

FADE OUT TO INT. READY ROOM-SPACE

 

SARA’S typing away on her office console, still a little pleased with herself.  There’s a beep at the door.

 

 

SARA (without looking up)

Enter.

 

 

The door opens and DANNY RAND enters the room, standing at attention in front of her desk.  SARA finally looks up at him.

 

 

SARA

Anything I can do for you, Chief?

 

RAND

You told me you wanted to be notified when the ship was fully upgraded.

 

SARA

Yes?

 

RAND (rolls his eyes)

You’re notified.

 

 

They share a chuckle and SARA goes back to work.  RAND is still standing there.

 

 

SARA

Something else?

 

RAND

I was wondering if we could talk about Paul.

 

SARA (annoyed)

There’s nothing to talk about.

 

 

RAND breaks attention and leans over the desk.

 

 

RAND (pleading)

Please.

 

 

SARA motions to a nearby chair.  RAND pulls it up to the desk.

 

 

RAND

I know you’re unhappy with the guy but…(thinks a moment) I was hoping you could find it in your heart to not file a report with the Disciplinary Committee when we got home.

 

 

SARA pauses.

 

 

SARA

I doubt the Disciplinary Committee would revoke Mr. Frost’s retirement benefits. He’ll get the full Starfleet credit pension-

 

RAND

He’s not retiring.

 

 

SARA raises an eyebrow.

 

 

RAND

Paul thinks he’s retiring. He thought he was retiring just before Chin’Toka, he thought he was retiring just before Wolf 359, and when I first met him on this ship he wanted to quit Starfleet to become a botanist and that was just before the Cardassian Border Wars. The man is lifetime, Commander, (emphasizes) lifetime. He’s not like those other guys that take a couple of classes at the academy and call themselves officers, Paul worked his way from enlisted to officer and he earned every single crease in that uniform.

 

                                           SARA                                              

I understand you feel strongly about this, Mr. Rand, but you have to admit that Lieutenant Frost’s behavior as of late has not reflected that.

 

 

RAND rises from his chair and regards SARA with a bit of a sneer.

 

 

RAND

You see how jaded you are when you’ve been in the game as long as he has. (Muttering) Imagine how he feels, he’s served under Picard, Sisko, Baines….he’s seen the best in action and now he’s ending his career with you.

 

SARA

You are treading dangerously close to insubordination!

 

RAND (blunt)

Commander…you fucked up down on that planet. You know you did. The fact that you’re this upset when people point that out to you tells me that you know that too.

 

 

SARA takes a deep breath, he’s right. She knows he’s right and it’s killing her.  RAND pats her on the shoulder, a “go get ‘em kid” gesture.

 

 

RAND

Trust me, I’ve done worse. But part of being in charge means admitting when you’re wrong just as much telling people you’re right.

 

 

SARA nods, deep in thought.

 

 

SARA

Thank you….for the advice.

 

 

RAND gets up to leave.

 

 

SARA

Chief?

 

RAND

Yes, Commander?

 

SARA

Are you....lifetime?

 

 

RAND smiles.

 

 

RAND

I intend to die next to a warp core, Commander.

 

 

They share another chuckle and he leaves.

 

 

 

 

Continue on to ACT FOUR...