"Design"
ACT TWO
FADE TO INT. THE IMPERIAL HOME-DAY
The EMPEROR smashes his fist on the table in front of him, shouting at the PRINCESS in Klingon. She responds, also in Klingon and angry. They exchange harsh words to one another and the PRINCESS storms from the room.
The EMPEROR walks to the window to find, MARTOK staring down at the
The EMPEROR sighs.
EMPEROR
I can do nothing. She will not budge.
MARTOK
Then you must do as Duras wishes, you must repair his house or the dishonor when they marry would be-
The EMPEROR nods.
EMPEROR
The title of Emperor would pass to him when I die. He would be my only male heir and the Duras House would become the imperial family.
MARTOK scowls.
EMPEROR
There is nothing to fear, my friend. Just as I am a figurehead for your power, Duras would be the same. The law would never give him any real authority.
MARTOK
The Emperor may have no power but he is influential. Just as your word blessed my Chancellorship, Duras could bless Kahl’s own rise. (angry) Through deceit and trickery, Kahl has placed a loyal ally a heartbeat away from your throne and we are powerless to stop it.
They grow quiet.
MARTOK gets a faraway look in his eyes
MARTOK
My father told me about the days of the Augment Virus. He was just a boy but he remembered Klingons who schemed like humans and forgot the old ways, fascist dogs ruled over the Empire during that time and the depths of dishonor to which we plunged…(trails off, then shouts out louder then ever) If Kahl became Chancellor we would see a return to the darkest days of our kind.
EMPEROR
Then he must not become Chancellor.
MARTOK stares at the EMPEROR, and then scowls.
MARTOK
What you speak of has no honor. I should challenge him to single combat!
EMPEROR
Such a challenge would split your supporters; you would face opposition from all sides and from every house on the council. You are a politician now; there is never honor in being a politician. Kahl must be stopped at any cost and I can do nothing so there is only one course left.
MARTOK fights the urge to agree, then finally relents.
MARTOK
It cannot happen here.
The EMPEROR nods.
EMPEROR
Choose a neutral place, some place he would never expect and then create a reason for his presence. (he thinks a moment) I have a friend…perhaps he will aid us in this.
MARTOK stares out the window. He’s haunted by this, he hates it.
MARTOK
Kahless help me.
CUT TO EXT. USS NELSON IN SPACE-SPACE
The Nelson clips along at a steady warp pace, stars streak by.
CUT TO INT. SICKBAY-SPACE
Once again, WOLFE is in Sickbay. He hates Sickbay but he’s injured and NERI is running a dermal regenerator over his wounds. He winces and flinches but NERI continues to manhandle him.
NERI
Hold still you big baby!
WOLFE
It hurts.
NERI
Then next time you shouldn’t go toe to toe with a seven foot Nausicann, now stop moving.
WOLFE keeps flinching but tries to hold still.
WOLFE
Don’t heal it entirely; I want Mor and Mag to see it when they get here.
NERI ignores him but continues her questioning with curiosity.
NERI
Those are your brothers?
WOLFE
Two of them. All three of them are on their way with the Klingon delegation: Mor, Mag, and Mokar. (eyes cloud over with memory) I remember growing up with them, god we were inseparable.
WOLFE points to a scar on his neck.
WOLFE
When I was a kid, my oldest step brother got to walk through a gauntlet of painsticks on his birthday. I wanted to do it with him but my Murgh, my step father, said no. So my brothers got a couple of sharp pieces of wood and jammed them in me until I started to bleed.
NERI (shocked)
You could’ve been killed.
WOLFE
They wanted to make me feel like I was part of the family. It was nice.
NERI makes a face.
WOLFE
What?
NERI
You just told me a heartwarming story about family assisted self mutilation and you’re laughing. (Goes back to work) I’d call you a macho idiot but I know you’d take that as a compliment.
WOLFE blushes a little.
WOLFE (sheepish)
You really think I’m macho?
NERI smiles in spite of herself. This idiot is starting to grow on her.
NERI
Very macho, now let me see that stab wound in your back.
He lifts up his shirt…
They stop as a female voice broadcasts over the intercom.
INTERCOM
All department heads, please report to the transporter room.
They share a look as WOLFE shoves his shirt back down.
WOLFE
Is there a Starfleet rule about bleeding during a staff meeting?
NERI (annoyed)
If there is, you’re about to break it.
FADE TO-INT. NELSON TRANSPORTER ROOM-SPACE
SARA and most of her senior crew (FROST, DECKER, and MUKET) are lined up at the transporter. FROST is practically bouncing.
SARA
Everyone ready?
FROST looks a little excited. It’s a little funny for an older guy to be so excited.
FROST
Am I ever!
SARA (raises an eyebrow)
I forgot how much you loved negotiations.
MUKET (confused)
Negotiations? What negotiations?
Everybody stares at MUKET.
DECKER
You don’t know?
MUKET
Know what?
DECKER (aghast)
About the summit!
SARA (annoyed)
I sent out a memo.
MUKET
We have memos?
DECKER
I put it on your desk.
MUKET looks positively stunned.
MUKET
I have a desk?
SARA sighs and hands a pad to MUKET.
He reads the heading out loud.
MUKET
“The Tengu Gas Mining Treaty?”
FROST
It’s an extremely old financial treaty between the Orion government and the Klingons. The gravitational drift in the Tengu system means they have to constantly renegotiate the finer points of who gets what.
SARA
The negotiations are minor, they happen every six months, but they are extremely important…for us. Starfleet thinks we’re all screw ups flying through the ninth circle of hell, this summit will show them that we can do something that doesn’t involve hitting or shooting someone. I don’t know about the rest of you but I wouldn’t mind serving a detail that was a little more normal.
The doors open, NERI and WOLFE enter the room. WOLFE is wearing his “office” uniform, a semi formal dress uniform with a ribbon bar (an extremely thick ribbon bar, WOLFE’S seen a lot of action) and the beret with the UFP pin on the front.
SARA raises an eyebrow.
SARA
You’re late.
NERI
Captain Bravery here wanted to get dressed up.
WOLFE ignores everyone; he’s staring at the transporter pad.
SARA taps her comm badge.
SARA
Any sign of our Klingon guests yet, Mr. Walsh?
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
WALSH is sitting at the science console, watching the telemetry come in.
WALSH
There’s a ship decloaking off our port bow it’s….big.
CUT TO EXT. USS NELSON IN DEEP SPACE-SPACE
A Neg’var Battleship shimmers out of cloak just off the port bow. It’s huge and completely dwarfs the Nelson. The “Klingon Music” from the TOS movies plays for a brief moment. That “Dun da, dun da, dunananah” from the first scene of the first film.
CUT TO INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
Tight on SARA.
WALSH (comm)
The Klingons are hailing us, they’re ready for transport.
SARA
Best behavior everyone, (nods at transporter chief) energize.
A group of Klingon warriors appear on the pad, at the center of the group is KAHL, looking disgusted.
MOG, MAG, and MOKAR are at the back. MAG is the tallest and MOG is a lot stockier (chunky), MOKAR is the oldest and looks the most serious. They’re dressed like typical warriors and are also wearing a baldric of nobility, the thing Worf used to wear.
SARA
General, it is a pleasure to finally meet you.
KAHL (cold)
Yes. A pleasure.
SARA
We’ve made arrangements for you to stay on board during the course of the summit.
KAHL
That will not be needed; I do not intend to remain here long.
SARA
As you wish sir, if you’ll just come with me…
She motions for KAHL and his delegation follow her out the door. The room starts to clear out. NERI tries to pick out WOLFE’S brothers from the crowd.
NERI
So which ones are you-
MUKET, WOLFE, and NERI remain behind with MOG, MAG, and MOKAR still standing on the pad.
WOLFE is looking at his brothers with undisguised admiration.
WOLFE
[Speaks Klingon, sounds mock angry]
MOG
[Speaks Klingon, sounds mock angry]
MUKET (to NERI)
Is everything okay?
NERI
I think they’re saying hello.
MAG and MOG jump from the pad and tackle WOLFE, there’s some wrestling around for a moment but suddenly it dissolves into laughing.
MAG
It is good to see you, brother!
WOLFE
Good to see you too, Mag! (looks at MOG) Still afraid of vegetables, Mog?
MOG smacks his brother on the arm.
MOG
My girth has not yet harmed my reputation with the females of this galaxy!
MAG
How could it harm a reputation that doesn’t exist?
MOG and MAG exchange punches for a moment.
MOKAR
Enough.
MOKAR steps down from the pad, eyes WOLFE with a bit of unease.
WOLFE doesn’t seem to notice the tension in his brother, smiles and embraces him.
WOLFE
Mokar! How are you?
MOKAR (standoffish)
I am well, how have you been?
WOLFE (curious)
I’m fine…is something the matter?
MOKAR motions to MOG, changing the subject almost instantly.
MOKAR
Mog has brought you a gift.
MOG (excited)
Yes, brother, you must see this.
MOG produces a carefully folded baldric, lightly decorated with the insignia of House Murgh.
MAG
It was made official this morning, brother.
MOG
We are noble men!
He hands the baldric to WOLFE, who takes it with unmasked joy.
MAG
Welcome to the House of Murgh.
WOLFE (stunned)
They let you name it after father?
MOG
An unusual request to be sure, but warrior or not, he is a great citizen of the Empire and Martok finally relented. Even our sister is now a member!
MAG (excited)
Put it on, brother! Put it on and join the House of Murgh!
NERI and MUKET watch with fascination as WOLFE pulls the baldric over his uniform.
WOLFE (to NERI)
How do I look?
NERI (amused)
Very dashing.
MUKET
Very Klingon.
MOKAR stares at his brothers, something unreadable in his eyes.
MOKAR
I am most weary from my journey…I wish to fill my belly with something.
WOLFE
Let me take you to my quarters, brothers, I’ll make you a nice plate of gagh.
MOG
With fried Brez?
WOLFE (annoyed)
With steamed Brez you fat fool! Lose some weight.
MOG, MAG, and WOLFE laugh as they leave the room. MOKAR hangs back. He looks over at NERI and MUKET, gives a curt nod of his head. Then follows his brothers.
MUKET raises an eyebrow.
MUKET
And I thought my family was odd.