"Design"
ACT FOUR
CUT TO INT. WOLFE’S QUARTERS-SPACE
MAG and MOG are sitting around the table with WOLFE, eating the meal WOLFE cooked them. MOKAR is in the “living room” eating off the coffee table.
MAG (whispering)
Really we are glad to see you, brother. Mokar is simply-
MOG
-A targ hole. He would not know what to do with his mouth if he didn’t hear the sound of his voice every hour.
WOLFE
It’s alright, I’m still glad to see him.
MAG
And we are glad to see you too. (takes a bite of food) Glad to see you one last time.
WOLFE looks at MAG curiously. What the hell was that about? He opens his mouth to ask what that meant but from across the room, MOKAR clears his throat.
MOG
What now?
MOKAR doesn’t look up from his meal, keeps talking between bites.
MOKAR
Is your door chime broken?
WOLFE shakes his head ‘no’.
MOKAR takes another bite of food.
MOKAR
Because someone has been standing outside for several minutes. (another bite) I believe they are eavesdropping.
WOLFE grows concerned, grabs his disruptor from a nearby shelf and heads through the door. His brothers, except for MOKAR, follow after him.
CUT TO INT. HALLWAY-SPACE
The leave the quarters, there’s tension in the air. WOLFE has his hand on his holster; MAG and MOG aren’t taking any chances and have their knives out. There’s no one in the hallway. They walk closer and closer to the corner. They hear footsteps.
WOLFE hugs the wall…
NERI walks around the corner, comes face to face with WOLFE and screams in surprise. She drops a collection of medical reports all over the floor.
NERI (scared and angry)
What the hell is wrong with you? You don’t sneak up people like that!
WOLFE
I’m sorry! I’m sorry! (looks over her shoulder, then down the hallway) It’s just…have you seen anyone near my quarters in the last few minutes?
NERI (seething)
The only person I’ve seen is a stupid pink skin running through the hallways scaring people to death!
MAG (to MOG)
I like this one, she’s got fire.
On the other side of the corridor, a disruptor shot rings out. WOLFE, NERI and the brothers run towards the sound and find MOKAR bleeding in the hallway. A large gold knife in his side. His disruptor barrel is smoking.
WOLFE
Mokar!
NERI gets on her hands and knees next to him, starts examining his injuries.
NERI
Try not to move. (taps comm) Emergency med team to Officer’s deck.
WOLFE
What happened?
MOKAR (in pain)
Someone came at me from behind, stabbed me.
MOG
Did you see anything?
MOKAR shakes his head.
MOKAR
No, it happened too fast.
NERI examines the handle of the knife.
WOLFE
What is it?
NERI
This knife…it’s Orion.
FADE TO INT. SICKBAY-SPACE
MOKAR is on a bio bed being worked on by SOPRIN and NERI, SARA and FROST are debriefing WOLFE.
KAHL stands off to the side, watching.
SARA
Jesus Christ, are you telling me we’ve got an intruder on the ship?
WOLFE
Yes ma’am.
SARA
Again?
WOLFE
Yes ma’am.
FROST
This is insane, how do people keep getting on our fucking boat?
WOLFE
I have no idea, sir.
FROST
That was rhetorical, Wolfe. (notices how tense WOLFE is) Shit, kid, unclench; your brother’s going to be fine.
WOLFE starts to get emotional, pacing back and fourth.
WOLFE
Give me six hours and the whole security team, ma’am. I’ll tear this place apart and find that little son of a bitch myself!
SARA
Calm down, Major. (pause) And stop calling me “ma’am”.
KAHL speaks up from his side of the room, slowly walking over.
KAHL
The Major is correct, Commander. You have a serious problem. Someone in the Orion delegation will try to take my life, or your life, or all our lives. If I were you-
SARA (slightly catty)
You’d be a woman…and that would be against tradition. (to WOLFE) Conduct a search of the ship, quietly, don’t make any accusations and don’t search the Orion delegation. (WOLFE looks like he’s about to raise an objection)…yet. I want to hear their side of the story first.
WOLFE seems placated by this and leaves. KAHL looks amused for a moment.
KAHL
A very cautious approach, Commander.
SARA
I’m a cautious girl, general.
KAHL gives a little bow, then leaves. FROST and SARA watch NERI pull the knife out of MOKAR.
FROST
I really hate that guy.
SARA
Agreed, I don’t know what’s going on here but I have the feeling we’re being played. Why would the Orions want to sabotage the negotiations like that?
FROST
They wouldn’t. That kind of political maneuvering leads to war and the Klingons supply the Orions with weapons contracts and import rights.
SARA
Why go to war with your biggest customer?
FROST
Exactly. There’s more too this.
SARA
Start an investigation, discreetly.
FROST (amused)
I thought that was Wolfe’s job.
SARA
The last thing I want is an angry marine questioning diplomats. He’ll conduct the search of the ship, you question the Orions.
SARA starts to leave.
SARA
How am I doing so far?
FROST (shrugs)
Still showboating.
SARA
Then let’s hope the show is worth watching.
FADE TO THE HANDBASKET LOUNGE-SPACE
The first look of this ship’s version of Ten Forward, according to canon every ship’s lounge has it’s own name and the crew calls their lounge ‘The Handbasket’. It’s a lot different then Ten Forward, this is more 23rd century gun metal bunker than 24th century Hilton Hotel bar and nobody tends the bar, people serve themselves.
The Orion HANDMAIDENS are at the center of the room, surrounded by male crew members. Even without the pheromones, they’re still Orions.
MUKET and MISTRESS PLEXIA are at a table, MUKET is blushing as PLEXIA suggestively rubs his thigh.
PLEXIA
You have such an…(sexy purr) interesting career, running a starship.
MUKET (blushing)
I don’t…I mean it’s not…it’s actually…I mostly just handle the warp core.
PLEXIA (sexy whisper)
(giggle) I would just love to hear all about your big, throbbing…warp core.
On the other side of the room, BARAN and ALKAIR are being questioned by FROST.
FROST
…That should be everything, I just need to know where you were last night.
ALKAIR
What are you implying, Lieutenant?
FROST
I’m not implying anything, a man was assaulted last night and I need to make sure everyone has an alibi.
ALKAIR (annoyed)
I am not a criminal, I require no alibi!
FROST (calm, diplomatic)
I’m just trying to establish where everyone was at 2200 hours last night. That’s all.
ALKAIR looks like he wants to smack FROST, BARAN calmly steps in front of him, easing the tension.
BARAN
Ah, Captain, perhaps it would be better if you answered the Lieutenant’s questions. (smile) We have nothing to hide.
ALKAIR grits his teeth, annoyed.
ALKAIR
I was with my wife the whole evening.
FROST raises his eyebrow.
FROST
Your wife?
ALKAIR motions with his head at MISTRESS PLEXIA, she’s practically sitting in MUKET’S lap.
FROST
I see.
ALKAIR
She is a very intoxicating woman, Mr. Frost. It’s rare that I get a chance to have her all to myself. (Slightly embarrassed) On those occasions, I prefer not to have…any interruptions.
FROST
Yes well…(shouts to MUKET) How’s it going Belar?
PLEXIA really is sitting in MUKET’S lap now, stirring his drink with her finger. MUKET looks like he’s going to have a panic attack.
MUKET
Uh…just great Paul.
FROST (slightly cautious tone)
How’s your wife?
MUKET nods, he gets it.
MUKET
Ah... My wife…thank you.
He delicately pushes PLEXIA off his lap. She laughs as he limps away from the table (trying to hide the erection). He stops near FROST on his way out the door.
MUKET
I’m gonna go take a cold shower.
FROST
TMI, mate.
MUKET leaves, ALKAIR goes over to “reclaim” his wife. FROST and BARAN are alone, FROST shoots BARAN a look that could melt steel.
FROST
And where were you last night?
BARAN
Does it really matter?
FROST (angry)
I asked, didn’t I?
BARAN
Yeah, you did.
FROST
And I’m waiting for your answer.
BARAN (amused)
Keep waiting.
BARAN walks away.
CUT TO INT. SICKBAY-SPACE
MOKAR is getting dressed as WOLFE and NERI watch him with concern.
NERI
I still think you should be in bed.
MOKAR (bitter)
I’ll be fine.
WOLFE
Mokar, maybe-
MOKAR (harsh)
I am fine.
WOLFE and NERI share a look, NERI goes off to reorganize her charts.
WOLFE
Did I do something to piss you off?
MOKAR (in Klingon)
Battlemaster Katar told me he offered you membership in the Advance Guard.
WOLFE (in Klingon)
Yes, he did.
MOKAR (in Klingon, angry)
And you turned him down.
WOLFE (in Klingon)
Yes.
MOKAR (in Klingon)
Again.
WOLFE
I…have other priorities right now; I prefer to remain with the Marines until-
MOKAR
You priorities should be to the people who raised you!
The room falls into silence. WOLFE doesn’t want to have this argument again.
WOLFE
I’m a Marine, Mokar. I don’t want to join the Klingon Army.
MOKAR snorts.
WOLFE
I don’t understand why this is such an issue for you, Mokar, I’m not a Klingon and I need to be with my people-
MOKAR
Your place should be with your family, Timothy, it should be on the Homeworld with father!
WOLFE (annoyed)
Oh for god’s sake, not this again.
MOKAR
He never sees you!
WOLFE
Do you know what this is? This is you feeling guilty. This is big brother Mokar, projecting his own guilt about leaving the family business on his little adopted brother! You left first, Mokar, you set the example!
MOKAR
You need to come home!
WOLFE
I see father every year, you see him when you feel like it!
MOKAR (insistent)
You need to come home.
Something about that catches WOLFE’S curiosity.
WOLFE
What do you mean?
MOKAR
Father will need you.
WOLFE
Need me for what?
MOKAR looks like he’s about to speak…then the comm beeps, interrupting him.
WALSH (comm)
Major, the Commander wants an update on the search party.
WOLFE looks over at MOKAR.
MOKAR (bitter)
Go. Your “priorities” call you.
WOLFE taps his comm.
WOLFE (sad)
I’ll be right there.