STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Explorers" #40513-468 Story by Hilary Bader Teleplay by Rene Echevarria Directed by Cliff Bole 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 1995 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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. Return to Script Department FINAL DRAFT PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION February 27, 1995 STAR TREK: DS9 - "Explorers" 03/07/95 - CAST STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Explorers" CAST SISKO LEETA KIRA ELIZABETH ODO GUL DUKAT BASHIR DAX O'BRIEN QUARK COMPUTER VOICE JAKE MORN Non-Speaking Non-Speaking N.D. SUPERNUMERARIES ë11:[5,#b],17:[1,#b],18:[2,#b] STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE: "Explorers" - 02/28/95 - SETS STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Explorers" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE CARGO BAY COMMANDER'S OFFICE BAJORAN SHIP INFIRMARY O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS LEXINGTON OPS PROMENADE QUARIK'S REPLIMAT SISKO'S QUARTERS BAJORAN SHIP STAR TREK: "Explorers" - 03/01/95 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Explorers" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ANDORIAN an-DOOR-ee-un DENORIAS deh-NOHR-ee-us ERIB AIR-ib FANALIAN FUH-nail-ee-un IKO EE-ko JARED JAIR-ed LEETA LEE-tah LENSE lenz TACHYONS TACK-ee-onz CYGNIAN SIG-nee-un DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Explorers" TEASER FADE IN: 1 INT. QUARK'S where BASHIR is sitting at the bar reading a novel on a PADD and sipping COFFEE. SUPERNUMERARIES as needed. After a moment, an attractive Bajoran dabo girl, LEETA, approaches. LEETA Excuse me... Bashir looks up, smiles at his visitor. LEETA You're Doctor Bashir, aren't you? BASHIR That's right. LEETA I'm Leeta. I've been meaning to come by the Infirmary to see you. She puts a hand to her mouth and manages to eke out two dainty little coughs. Bashir is left with the distinct impression that she's just trumping up an excuse to talk with him, and he's more than happy to play along. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - TEASER 2. 1 CONTINUED: BASHIR Oh, dear... how long have you had this cough? LEETA A few days now... He stands... reaches to put a hand on her bare back. BASHIR May I? She nods it's all right... BASHIR Cough for me... She performs two more of her cute little coughs... BASHIR Hmm... Leeta looks at him as if gravely concerned. LEETA Is it serious, Doctor? BASHIR No... but it's a good thing you came to me when you did... Bashir sits her down and signals for the waiter. As the FERENGI makes his way over... BASHIR We need to start your treatment right away. (to waiter) Can I have a Fanalian toddy, very hot. The Ferengi nods and starts to move away, but Bashir stops him. BASHIR Make that two... (off Leeta's look) I've been feeling a bit of a cough coming on myself... They both know full well this isn't true, but the rules of this particular flirtation dictate that they play along... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - TEASER 3. 1 CONTINUED: (2) LEETA I'm sorry to hear that, Doctor. BASHIR Please... call me -- DAX (O.S.) Julian. Bashir turns to see DAX standing at his side with a smile on her face. Bashir gives her a cursory greeting. BASHIR Hi... When he fails to introduce her, Dax introduces herself. DAX (to Leeta) I'm Jadzia... LEETA (friendly) Leeta... Bashir can see Dax is about to join them, he suddenly starts to work his PADD. BASHIR (to Dax) Before I forget, here's the immunological data you asked for... Before she can ask what he's talking about, he hands her the PADD. Puzzled, Dax looks down at the screen. 1A INSERT - THE PADD where the words GO AWAY are clearly written. 1B RESUME SCENE as Dax realizes he wants her to leave. DAX (wry) How sweet of you to put this together for me so quickly... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - TEASER 4. 1B CONTINUED: DAX (Cont'd) (beat) I think I'll go look it over right now... She nods a goodbye to Leeta and starts to leave, then seems to remember something, turns back to Bashir. Though pretending to be relaying some casual information, there's a mischievous quality to her as she does so. DAX Oh, by the way... I just heard the Lexington is going to be docking here for a few days... Bashir seems almost stricken to hear this. BASHIR The Lexington... ? But before he can recover enough to ask her to clarify, Dax EXITS to the Promenade. Bashir considers for a beat, then: BASHIR (to Leeta) Excuse me for just one second. And with that, he leaves a baffled looking Leeta behind and follows Dax out into: 2 INT. PROMENADE as Bashir catches up with Dax. SUPERNUMERARIES as needed. BASHIR Jadzia... Dax turns and sees him... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - TEASER 5. 2 CONTINUED: BASHIR Do you happen to know when the Lexington is coming? DAX Three weeks. (beat) Don't you have a friend aboard? Bashir makes a show of thinking it over. BASHIR Do I... ? DAX The medical officer... Elizabeth Lense... BASHIR (as if trying to remember) Elizabeth Lense... I think she may have been in my class at Starfleet Medical. DAX Wasn't she the valedictorian? DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - TEASER 6. 2 CONTINUED: (2) BASHIR That's right... DAX And you were... salutatorian? BASHIR (nods) Second in my class... (minimizing it) If I hadn't mistaken a pre-ganglionic fiber -- DAX For a post-ganglionic nerve, I know. BASHIR (trying to shrug it off) I would've been valedictorian. DAX (equally dismissive) Oh, well... (beat; brightly) You must really be looking forward to seeing her... Bashir puts his best face forward. BASHIR I can hardly wait. (beat) I'd better get back to Leeta... And with that, he turns and heads off in the wrong direction, away from Quark's. He's so distracted he doesn't even realize. DAX Julian... ? (gesturing) That way. He nods and moves away... off Dax's bemused expression... 3 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Establishing. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - TEASER 6A. 4 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS where JAKE is standing by the window looking out at the stars, lost in thought. He paces a bit as if trying to work something out, seems to get an idea, then moves over to the table where he has a PADD. He picks it up, starts working it in a definitive manner... after a beat, the door OPENS and SISKO ENTERS carrying a SATCHEL. He seems upbeat, excited, and is sporting a week-old beard. SISKO Jake! Jake reacts as if he'd rather not have his dad see what he was working on. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - TEASER 7. 4 CONTINUED: JAKE Hey, Dad. Jake stands to greet his father, and in a casual but deliberate move, tosses the PADD face down onto a nearby chair. Jake notices his Dad's beard for the first time. JAKE What's this? SISKO I just thought it was time for a change... (stroking it) What do you think? JAKE I like it. (beat) How was Bajor? SISKO Beautiful, you should've come with me. JAKE The re-opening of some old Library isn't exactly my idea of a good time. SISKO This wasn't just any old Library... we're talking about the most extensive collection of Bajoran antiquities on the planet. I saw manuscripts that date back to before the Fall of the First Republic. JAKE (less than enthused) Great... SISKO Look at this... Sisko takes a PADD from his satchel and shows it to Jake. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - TEASER 7A. 5 INSERT - THE PADD where we see a blueprint of some kind, though it should be hard for us to tell what exactly we're looking at. 6 RESUME SCENE JAKE What is it, some kind of ship? DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - TEASER 8. 6 CONTINUED: SISKO According to legend, the ancient Bajorans used ships like these to explore their star system... eight hundred years ago... JAKE (impressed) You mean that when humans were first sailing across the oceans, Bajorans were already going to other planets? SISKO Some scholars think they made it all the way to Cardassia... JAKE (studying the PADD) Seems hard to believe... what are these? SISKO Solar sails... these ships were propelled by light pressure... JAKE (intrigued) Like a sailboat catching the wind... SISKO Exactly... Jake studies the PADD for a beat... JAKE I wonder if a ship like this could really fly... ? SISKO I don't know... that's why I'm going to build one... Off Sisko's smile and Jake's reaction, we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT ONE 9. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes) 7 INT. CARGO BAY as Sisko ENTERS at a brisk clip, followed by KIRA and O'BRIEN. SISKO -- I'm expecting a lumber shipment from Bajor this afternoon. O'BRIEN (struck by this odd request) Okay... SISKO Which reminds me... I'll also need a saber saw. O'BRIEN A saber saw? SISKO You know... to cut wood. O'BRIEN Why not use a laser cutter? SISKO Because I want to use the same types of tools the Bajorans had. O'Brien and Kira exchange a look as Sisko looks around the room. SISKO This should do fine, Major... As soon as these cargo containers are out of the way, I'll start construction. O'Brien looks down at the PADD he's holding. O'BRIEN Sir, I've looked over the specifications you brought back from Bajor... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT ONE 9A. 7 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN ... I'm not sure the design is spaceworthy, and I'm positive a ship like this couldn't have made it from Bajor to Cardassia. KIRA (disagreeing) Why do you say that? O'BRIEN At sublight speeds, the trip would've taken them years, and that's assuming ideal conditions. One unexpected ion storm in the Denorias Belt would've torn the sails to pieces and left them stranded. KIRA Well maybe they were lucky and didn't run into any storms. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT ONE 10. 7 CONTINUED: (2) O'BRIEN I just don't see how a ship like this could've made the trip. They didn't even have replicators back then... they would've had to store their air supply... (indicates PADD) -- and there's only enough room onboard for a few weeks worth. KIRA Maybe they recycled it somehow... using some kind of photosynthetic plant. O'BRIEN (politely skeptical) Maybe... KIRA You sound like a Cardassian... O'BRIEN (bristling) I beg your pardon? KIRA They've denied the possibility of ancient contact for decades because they can't stand the idea that Bajor had interstellar flight before they did. O'BRIEN With all due respect, Major... you're beginning to sound like a Romulan. KIRA A Romulan? O'BRIEN There's no piece of technology in existence that they don't claim they invented before everyone else... Sisko smiles and decides to intervene. SISKO Look... I'm not planning to spend the next few years sailing to Cardassia... I just want to build one of these ships and prove that it's spaceworthy... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT ONE 11. O'BRIEN A computer model could do that... why go to all the trouble? Sisko turns and looks at O'Brien... SISKO Why? (smiles) Because it'll be fun... Sisko turns away to case out the room, and his colleagues exchange looks... they haven't seen their commander this excited about something in a long time... 8 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. 9 INT. CARGO BAY (OPTICAL) A MONTAGE showing Sisko working... welding pieces of metal together, fitting glass, etc. He's wearing a workman's jumpsuit, and in some shots a welder's mask. He seems like the happiest man alive... 10 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS Where Jake and Sisko are having dinner. Sisko is in his workman's jumpsuit, now stained and worn. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT ONE 12. 10 CONTINUED: SISKO I've been thinking... according to the star charts, the most difficult part of the trip between Bajor and Cardassia would be getting through the Denorias Belt. After that, it would be smooth sailing the rest of the way. Jake isn't terribly interested, he's just being polite. JAKE Really... SISKO Just being able to make that part of the trip would go a long way toward demonstrating that the Bajorans could have made the journey to Cardassia. JAKE Seems reasonable... Sisko starts fishing here to see if Jake might be interested in coming along. SISKO It would only take about... four, five days... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT ONE 13. 10 CONTINUED: (2) JAKE That's not so long... SISKO So... JAKE (unsure) What? SISKO What do you say you come with me? We'll have a great time. The ship'll be ready to go in another week. JAKE I don't know, Dad... Nog's birthday is next week... I promised I'd do something with him. SISKO All right. We can do it after his birthday. JAKE (grasping) That's when Leanne is supposed to get back from Bajor. I really want to see her, and I don't know how long she's going to be here. Sisko realizes Jake is making excuses. He's a little hurt, but doesn't push his son. SISKO Oh... well... if you can't do it, you can't do it. JAKE I'd like to, but... it's just not good timing, you know? Sisko is disappointed but tries not to show it. SISKO Sure. I understand. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - ACT ONE 14-15. 10 CONTINUED: (3) They fall into silence for a few moments and eat, each alone with their thoughts... off this moment... 11 INT. REPLIMAT where Bashir is having COFFEE at a table, reading over a medical journal on a PADD. After a moment, Dax approaches carrying a raktajino and reads over his shoulder: DAX (reading) A survey of Cygnian Respiratory diseases... (wry) Fascinating... Bashir realizes she's on to him, admits it. BASHIR I'm reading everything I can get my hands on so I won't be caught flat- footed by the intrepid Doctor Lense. It's useless, of course... she's probably discovered the cure to aging by now... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/02/95 - ACT ONE 16. 11 CONTINUED: DAX I take it the two of you were... competitive. BASHIR Absolutely. We were neck and neck right up to the final exam. And then I blew it. (a beat) And that's how she wound up on the Lexington. A post virtually everyone in our graduating class was hoping for. DAX Including you? BASHIR No, this is the assignment I wanted. DAX Then what does it matter? BASHIR Don't you see? She could've had this post, she could've taken it from me. Somehow... no matter what I accomplish while I'm here, that'll always make me feel... second best... And with that, Bashir turns and EXITS to the Promenade... leaving Dax to wonder if maybe she should stop teasing him so much... 12 INT. BAJORAN SHIP where Sisko is using a BAJORAN LASER TORCH to weld together a winch that's used to trim the sails. The ship's interior has taken shape around him. The walls and floor reflect the gentle, graceful curves of the exterior design. Compressed air tanks are built into the walls, and in places we get a suggestion of their existence. There might be little nooks and ledges formed where the walls and floor meet, places a person might perch themselves to read. Because this was a zero-gravity ship, the ceiling is quite low, and like the walls and floor, there are handles on it for the crew to grab onto. The interior has an almost Jules Verne feel to it. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT ONE 16A. 12 CONTINUED: You can see it in the ornate details worked into the bulkhead, the use of rich woods, the pipes and valve assemblies that emerge from the bolted iron walls, the analog gauges, the portholes (which are placed not just in the walls, but in the floor and ceiling as well). Much of the wall space is taken up by four winch assemblies that occupy each corner of the room. These extend from floor to ceiling and are used to control the sails; they consist of gauges, cranks, gears and levers. There's a table against one wall for reading star charts, with a rack for holding the rolled up charts. A complex looking SEXTANT hangs from the ceiling near the portholes. Because the crew needs to be able to move unencumbered around the cabin to work the winches, there are no chairs or beds. When it comes time to sit or sleep, the crew will use pillows or string up a hammock. A door in one wall leads to the head... and against another wall there's a small zero-gravity GALLEY. After a moment, Dax peers through one of the windows, then ENTERS through the opening where a door will eventually be. She's carrying a "picnic basket" with food. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - ACT ONE 17. 12 CONTINUED: (2) DAX Hi... Sisko looks up briefly from his work. SISKO Come on in... DAX I brought you something to eat... SISKO Thanks... let me just finish welding this and I'll take a break. Dax sets the basket down, looks around. She's struck by the unusual design and the fine craftsmanship that went into executing it. DAX Benjamin... I can't believe the work you've put into this... SISKO (modestly) I'm just following the blueprints... DAX (touching a carved surface) But you didn't have to bother with detail like this to prove the ship is spaceworthy. Sisko sets down the welder, moves to join her. SISKO I suppose not... but I want everything to be just right... it's an exact replica... (admitting it) Except for the gravity net I installed in the floor... weightlessness makes me queasy... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT ONE 18. 12 CONTINUED: (3) Dax sees how happy he seems and can't help but smile. She starts pulling food and drink from the basket. DAX I haven't seen you like this in a long time... SISKO Like what? DAX So caught up in something... so excited... (considers) Not since... not since you and Jennifer decided to have a baby. Sisko smiles self-deprecatingly... SISKO The nursery... DAX I don't think anyone's ever put more effort into making a room for their baby... SISKO But you have to admit it turned out pretty well... DAX Especially the starscape on the ceiling... SISKO Jake loved that ceiling... when we moved out of the house, he couldn't understand why we couldn't bring it with us. A quiet moment... DAX You're disappointed he's not going with you on this trip, Aren't you? SISKO He's got other things he'd rather be doing, friends he'd rather spend time with. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT ONE 19. 12 CONTINUED: (4) SISKO (considers) It's funny... a year or two ago, nothing would've stopped him from coming with me on an adventure like this. (with regret) I guess I waited too long... There's a quiet moment between them... DAX You'll have other adventures together, Benjamin... they'll just be different. Believe me, I know. I've been a father a couple of times, myself. (thinking back) I could tell you stories... SISKO (smiling) You already have... DAX That's right... I have, haven't I? (shrugs) Then you know I'm right. And with a smile of encouragement she EXITS; Sisko picks up the welder to resume work... but we can see that he's still troubled... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT TWO 20. ACT TWO FADE IN: 13 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS as Jake ENTERS from the corridor with the air of a person glad to be home after being gone for a few hours. JAKE Computer... We hear the SOUND of the Computer engaging. JAKE Are there any messages for me? COMPUTER VOICE One... a communication from Wellington, New Zealand. Jake moves toward the computer monitor. JAKE Display it on screen... As Jake reads off the screen we first get the impression that he's received some surprising but welcome news... after a moment, however, a look of concern crosses his features... off his thoughtful face... 14 INT. BAJORAN SHIP The vessel is now complete. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - ACT TWO 21. 14 CONTINUED: Sisko is stowing away a briefcase-sized STARFLEET COMMUNICATIONS UNIT. As he works, Jake ENTERS from the door. Sisko turns and sees him. SISKO Jake... JAKE Hey, Dad... Sisko gestures around the cabin with a smile of pride. SISKO So what do you think? JAKE It's terrific... maybe a little small for two people... but I think I could get used to it. Sisko reacts, unsure what Jake means... JAKE That is, if you still want me along. He breaks into a broad grin... after a beat, Sisko returns it... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - ACT TWO 22. 14 CONTINUED: (2) Off this moment between father and son... 15 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. 16 INT. OPS as Sisko and Kira EXIT from his office. He's in CIVILIAN CLOTHES, carrying a duffel BAG, and is giving his last orders before departing. SISKO (remembering) I'm expecting a report from Starfleet Command. You'd better relay it to me aboard the Baraka as soon as it comes in. KIRA The Baraka... ? SISKO That's what I named the ship... it's Swahili for "good fortune"... Kira smiles appreciatively. Suddenly Dax turns from her console. DAX Benjamin, there's an incoming message from Gul Dukat... he says it's urgent he speak with you. SISKO (gesturing to his office) Patch it through to my office... As Sisko EXITS to his office, Kira and Dax share a look of concern... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/02/95 - ACT TWO 23. 17 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE (OPTICAL) where Sisko is talking with GUL DUKAT on a MONITOR. Their conversation has a veneer of civility, but they're gauging each other's motives the whole time. DUKAT I understand you're planning a trip. SISKO Word gets around. DUKAT I can't believe that a man of your intelligence would take stock in Bajoran fairy tales about ancient contact. SISKO If you recall, you thought the Celestial Temple was a Bajoran fairy tale... (a small smile) -- until we discovered the wormhole. Dukat gives Sisko a cold look. DUKAT I suggest you reconsider your plans; solar vessels are very fragile, and it's a long way to the Denorias Belt at sublight speeds... SISKO Don't worry. I'll have emergency equipment aboard. If something goes wrong, Major Kira can get a runabout to me within an hour. DUKAT An hour can be a long time... especially if you happen to encounter something unexpected. SISKO Like what? DUKAT Oh, I don't know. A Maquis ship, perhaps... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT TWO 24. 17 CONTINUED: SISKO Why would the Maquis have any quarrel with an unarmed ship sailing toward the Denorias Belt... they have nothing at stake here, nothing to prove... or should I say, disprove. DUKAT Commander, I contacted you out of concern for your safety, but you seem to be intimating that I've made some sort of threat. SISKO I'm glad I was wrong. For a moment there I thought you'd been put in charge of the Cardassian Ministry for the Refutation of Bajoran Fairy Tales... Dukat stiffens... DUKAT Since I don't seem to have dissuaded you from undertaking this little voyage of yours, I'll wish you luck instead. Let's hope you don't need it. And with that, Dukat terminates the transmission. Off Sisko's thoughtful features... 18 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) as the tiny capsule drifts away from the station, its sails not yet deployed. 19 INT. BAJORAN SHIP as Sisko and Jake prepare to deploy the sails. The iris shutters on the portholes are closed. SISKO All right... first we've got to deploy the mainsails. (indicating) I want you to take that winch over there... Jake moves to the winch his father indicated. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT TWO 25. 19 CONTINUED: SISKO When I tell you, start cranking with all you've got... Sisko mans a different winch assembly... SISKO Let's do it... The two men start cranking away... it's not easy, but they both seem to be enjoying the exertion... SISKO Keep at it, nice and steady... Sisko moves to a different winch and starts cranking... 20 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) as the two main sails unfurl from the capsule. 21 INT. BAJORAN SHIP as the Siskos crank away... the cabin shifts unpredictably due to the movement of the sails outside... Jake cranks until it won't go any further. JAKE That's as far as it'll go... SISKO Okay... (indicating another winch) I'll work on the spritsails while you deploy the jib... Jake moves to the winch indicated by Sisko and gets to work... Sisko takes another winch... SISKO (encouraging) Put your back into it... Jake redoubles his efforts... SISKO (smiles) That's it... we'll make a sailor out of you, yet... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT TWO 26. 21 CONTINUED: Sisko is clearly enjoying every moment of this, and Jake can't help but feel his enthusiasm too. 22 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) The jib is moving into its position above the capsule... and the spritsails are moving to their positions at its sides... 23 INT. BAJORAN SHIP as Sisko and Jake stop cranking... both have broken into a sweat from the exertion... Sisko opens the iris shutters and they move to look through a porthole toward the sails... JAKE Now I get it... SISKO What? JAKE Why you wanted to build this ship. Jake and Sisko take in the sight... 24 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) All the sails are now in position. As they catch the light, the ship starts to move away... it's a stunningly beautiful sight... off this moment we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT THREE 27. ACT THREE FADE IN: 25 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) as it sails past... 26 INT. BAJORAN SHIP where Sisko is looking out one of the portholes through the sextant... Jake is unrolling a star chart and fastening it to the table using the clamps that run along its sides. SISKO (off sextant reading) Jake, trim the starboard sprit by about six degrees... Jake takes a crank handle and complies... Sisko looks out a nearby porthole at the sail... JAKE O.K. How's that? SISKO That should do it... we'll start picking up speed as the pressure on the sails builds... Sisko swings the sextant around to the other porthole and takes another reading. Meanwhile, Jake takes a look around the room... JAKE Hey, Dad... where do we sleep? SISKO (as he works) There are hammocks we can string up later... Jake nods, moves to open the door to the bathroom. Though Jake's body blocks most of our view, we can see that it's tiny, barely large enough to stand in. JAKE This is the bathroom? SISKO It was designed for a zero-gravity environment... JAKE (at a loss) How do you... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT THREE 28. 26 CONTINUED: SISKO You'll get the hang of it... Sisko finishes his readings, cranks a winch a few turns, and moves to look at the star chart. Using nautical-looking NAVIGATIONAL TOOLS (a parallel ruler, a compass, etc), he works out their flight plan as Jake watches... SISKO We'll be tacking against the light most of the way... we'll run like this for the next ninety minutes or so... then we'll come about and I'll calculate our next leg... Jake takes this in, fascinated... SISKO How about something to drink... ? Sisko goes to the galley and takes out two POUCHES of water, tosses one to Jake. Jake reacts to the zero-gravity ration... JAKE Don't tell me we only have zero- gravity rations... SISKO (lightly) That's all the ancient Bajorans had... Sisko settles onto the floor, his back against the wall, lets out a contented breath. Jake settles onto the floor nearby. After a quiet moment... SISKO Listen... Jake cocks his ear for a moment... JAKE I don't hear anything... SISKO Exactly... not even the hum of an engine... Sisko smiles to himself, caught up for a moment in the romance of sailing... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT THREE 29. 26 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO It's almost like being on the deck of an old sailing ship... except the stars aren't just up in the sky, they're all around us... (a beat) Imagine what the ancient Bajorans must've felt... heading out into space in ships like this one... not knowing what they would find... or who they would meet. Jake is looking at his father, glad to see him swept up in something... Sisko looks at him for a quiet moment... SISKO Jake... I know you didn't really want to come on this trip... Jake starts to protest but Sisko holds up a hand to stop him. SISKO I just want to say I'm glad you're here... A moment between father and son... JAKE Dad... there's something I need to talk to you about... SISKO Sure, what is it? Jake stands to go get his duffel bag and remove a PADD from it. JAKE First you should read this... This is a difficult moment for him, as if he's both proud of something and yet embarrassed by it. He activates the PADD and hands it to his father. JAKE It's a story I wrote... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT THREE 30. 26 CONTINUED: (3) SISKO A story... (lightly, re: PADD) -- so that's why you kept putting this away every time I walked into the room... Jake smiles, a little embarrassed over being caught. SISKO If you keep an eye on the rigging, I'll read it right now... JAKE (smiles) Deal... Sisko moves to sit on one of the nooks formed by the bulkhead where the floor and wall meet. As Jake mans the rig, he casts a couple glances over at his father, who's now absorbed in the PADD... will he like it... ? 27 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) with a Galaxy-class starship docked on one of the upper pylons. (STOCK) 28 INT. INFIRMARY where Bashir is walking around, straightening up the already immaculate Infirmary. He sees a smudge on a console and wipes it with his sleeve. He moves some piece of equipment to another location on a countertop and studies it for a beat as if to decide whether it looks better. Suddenly ODO speaks from off camera, startling Bashir. ODO (O.S.) It looked better where it was before... 28 WIDEN TO INCLUDE ODO as Bashir turns and sees him. ODO I thought you might want to know that the Lexington docked a few minutes ago... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT THREE 31. 29 CONTINUED: BASHIR (nonchalant) Already... ? I thought it wasn't coming for another day or two... Odo gives him a knowing smile... ODO She's at Quark's... And with that, he EXITS to the Promenade... leaving Bashir to wonder how Odo knows so much about his life... 30 INT. QUARK'S where we pan across the SUPERNUMERARIES, including MORN, to find O'Brien and Bashir sitting at a table. Their glasses are empty, as if they've been there a while. O'Brien casts an impatient glance at a distracted-looking Bashir. O'BRIEN Are you going to go talk to her or not? Bashir glances over toward another table, where we see DOCTOR ELIZABETH LENSE talking with two other officers from the Lexington (they're wearing TNG uniforms). BASHIR She's busy... O'Brien rolls his eyes. QUARK suddenly appears at their table. QUARK (to Bashir) You never mentioned she was beautiful... Bashir can't believe Quark knows about her too. BASHIR (sharp) I never mentioned her at all, not to you anyway. QUARK Morn gave me three-to-one odds that you'll exchange awkward pleasantries for a few minutes and say goodbye... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT THREE 32. 30 CONTINUED: QUARK (with a wink and a nudge) I'm betting that your charm will take you further... Bashir's cold glare makes Quark realize he's not too happy... Quark smiles awkwardly and takes his leave... O'Brien sees that Lense and her colleagues are saying goodbye... O'BRIEN She's getting up... O'Brien gives him a reassuring pat on the back. Bashir sees that she's going to pass near their table as she heads for the exit. He straightens his uniform, frames a smile on his face, and times standing up so that they'll just "happen" to run into each other. She approaches, gets closer... Bashir acts as if he just saw her, breaks into a grin... she looks right at him... and walks right past... Bashir can't believe it... he turns and looks at O'Brien... what can he do but shrug at the inexplicability of what happened... 30A EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) as it sails past... (Same as Scene 25) 31 INT. BAJORAN SHIP where Sisko is still reading the PADD. Jake is on tenterhooks waiting to see what his Dad will think. Sisko smiles at something he reads, and Jake just stares at him, trying to guess what it might be. After another moment, Sisko looks up at his son. Jake meets his eye and waits what seems like forever for him to say something. JAKE So... what do you think... ? SISKO (simply) I liked it... Jake hears the sincerity in his voice and breaks into a grin. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT THREE 32A. 31 CONTINUED: JAKE You're not just saying that? SISKO No... it's good... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT THREE 33. 31 CONTINUED: (2) JAKE What did you think about the part where Jared thinks he's been betrayed? SISKO I'm not sure he'd confront Iko about it... at least not right away. JAKE Yeah... I guess he could wait until after he gets back from the Demilitarized Zone. SISKO That'd be more believable. JAKE So you really think it was good, huh? SISKO I think it shows a lot of promise. Jake's features falter, he isn't quite sure how to take this. JAKE Promise... ? SISKO In a few places you're writing about things you haven't actually experienced. At least... I hope you haven't experienced. Unless you've joined the Maquis without telling me. JAKE (poker faced) I can't talk about it... A beat as Sisko gauges Jake's face, then Jake can't hold it anymore and breaks into a smile. JAKE I had you going there... They share a smile... SISKO (re: PADD) I'm impressed, Jake, I really am... You should keep writing. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT THREE 34. 31 CONTINUED: (3) JAKE I'm thinking about it. SISKO Don't think about it, do it. Jake grows quiet for a moment, as if considering whether or not to say something... JAKE What I mean is... yesterday I got a communication from the Pennington School in New Zealand... they offered me a writing fellowship... Sisko couldn't be more taken by surprise. He's both proud and distressed, because taking it would mean Jake's leaving DS9. SISKO That's terrific, Jake... I... didn't even know you'd applied... JAKE I didn't really. What happened is, I showed a story I wrote to Mrs. O'Brien... I guess she liked it because she showed it to a friend of hers who knows someone at the school and -- Jake is cut off when one of the winches suddenly groans and gives way... it starts to UNCRANK rapidly, and just as Sisko hurries toward it the ship suddenly leans hard to one side, throwing him against the bulkhead... 31A EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) (FORMERLY SCENE 32) The starboard spritsail is askew so that it's now roughly perpendicular to and partially blocking the starboard mainsail. Off this moment we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FOUR 35. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 32 OMITTED 33 INT. BAJORAN SHIP where Sisko and Jake are struggling to get the craft under control. The problem with the sails is causing the ship to shift unpredictably, making their task that much more complicated... Sisko is appraising the situation through one of the small portholes that look out onto the sail... SISKO A mast support gave way... the starboard sprit is fouling one of the mainsails... JAKE Can we fix it... ? SISKO I don't think so... we're going to have to jettison the sprit... Sisko moves to one of the winches, gestures that Jake should go to another... SISKO Let's fall off a little... take some pressure off the sails... Jake lets the crank unwind, and the cabin rights itself to a certain extent. Sisko starts cranking hard, straining against the pressure... SISKO (straining) Lock it down and give me a hand... Jake hurries to his father's side and throws his weight against the crank... they manage to move it a bit... then a little more... SISKO (straining) One more turn... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT FOUR 36. 33 CONTINUED: And with one last burst of effort they get it... SISKO Good work... Sisko moves to a control panel and works it... SISKO All right... I'm going to jettison the sprit... 34 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) as a small charge DETONATES at the base of the starboard sprit, snapping the support and sending the sail away from the ship... as it starts to tumble away we cut back into... 35 INT. BAJORAN SHIP Sisko moves to a porthole, peers up at the sail. SISKO That's better... but it looks like we're getting a lot of spill off the sails... we won't make as much headway on each tack... He turns to Jake, lays it on the line for him. SISKO I don't know if we'll be able to get to the Denorias Belt like this. But Jake refuses to give up so easily... JAKE The ancient Bajorans probably ran into these kinds of problems, too. SISKO I suppose they did. JAKE Did they give up and go home? SISKO Seems to me we're here to prove they didn't. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FOUR 37. 35 CONTINUED: They're both in agreement that they should press on, and this act of resolve is energizing to both. JAKE Then what are we waiting for? SISKO Let's get to work. Sisko gestures to a winch and takes another himself. When they're in position... SISKO Coming about... They both start cranking away, and as the cabin tilts to reflect the course change we cut out... 36 OMITTED 37 INT. O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS Bashir, O'Brien, and a half-empty bottle of scotch. O'BRIEN AND BASHIR (singing) Bring me my bow, of burn - ing gold... Bring me my ar - rows of de - sire... Bring me my spear! O clouds ? un-fold... Bring me my cha - ri-ots of fire! I will not cease, from men-tal fight... Nor shall my sword sleep in hand... Till we have built, Je-ru - sa - lem... In Eng-land's green and plea-sant land... Bashir, who is drunker than O'Brien, is visibly moved by the song... BASHIR That was beautiful, Chief... just beautiful. You know what we should do... ? O'BRIEN What? DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 02/28/95 - ACT FOUR 37A. 37 CONTINUED: BASHIR Go to Quark's... and sing it for everyone there... O'Brien is sober enough to see this is a bad idea... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - ACT FOUR 38. 37 CONTINUED: (2) O'BRIEN Maybe we should switch to synthale... BASHIR No... this isn't a synthale kind of night... (somber) She walked right by me, Chief. Acted like I wasn't even there. O'BRIEN You know what I think... I think she's in love with you... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - ACT FOUR 39. 37 CONTINUED: (3) A beat as Bashir considers this unlikely thought. BASHIR I don't think so. O'BRIEN It's the only explanation. (considers) Unless of course, she ignored you because she can't stand you. BASHIR (hopeful) Isn't there an explanation somewhere in between? O'BRIEN You're not an in-between kind of guy. BASHIR What do you mean? O'BRIEN People either love you or hate you. BASHIR Really? O'BRIEN I hated you when we first met. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT FOUR 40. 37 CONTINUED: (4) BASHIR I remember. O'BRIEN But now... Bashir waits for O'Brien to finish the sentiment, but he doesn't continue... BASHIR But now... ? O'BRIEN Now... (can't quite bring himself to say it) I don't. Bashir reacts as if O'Brien had just come out and told him that now he loved him. BASHIR (sincere) That means a lot to me, Chief, it really does... O'BRIEN That's from the heart, too... I really do... (tripping on it again) -- not hate you anymore... A warm moment between them. O'BRIEN If you want to find out why she ignored you, you're going to have to confront her. BASHIR You're right... (stands) I'm going to go up to her and ask her flat out where she gets off walking past me like that. He heads for the door as if intending to do it now, but O'Brien stops him. O'BRIEN Better wait until tomorrow... BASHIR Why should I? Why not right now? DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FOUR 41. 37 CONTINUED: (5) O'BRIEN Because right now you can barely stand up. Bashir considers for a beat, then agrees. BASHIR Good point. O'Brien gives him a mischievous smile, then begins to softly sing... O'BRIEN And did those feet in an-cient time... Walk up-on Eng-land's moun-tains green? Bashir joins in... O'BRIEN AND BASHIR And was the Ho - ly Lamb of God... On Eng-land's plea-sant pas - tures seen? As they continue the song we... CUT TO: 38 INT. BAJORAN SHIP Sisko and Jake are still hard at work, now manning different winches from before. Jake seems winded, near exhaustion. Sisko is looking up at the sails through a porthole... SISKO This'll be the last time we have to come about for a while... JAKE Good. SISKO Ready... ? (off Jake's nod) Now... They start working their winches and the craft starts to come around... they work for a few moments, then Sisko moves to a different winch, checks the sail through a porthole, and makes a few adjustments... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/06/95 - ACT FOUR 41A. 38 CONTINUED: When he's done, he gives Jake a reassuring slap on the shoulder. SISKO Nice job. Come on... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FOUR 42. 38 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO Let's set up the hammock and take a break... They quickly string up the hammock, and Sisko motions to Jake... SISKO Hop in... Jake crawls inside the hammock... JAKE Not bad... Sisko smiles, after a moment... SISKO So, I suppose congratulations are in order. Pennington's a good school... very competitive... JAKE Dad, before you say anything... I'm turning down the Fellowship... Sisko is surprised to hear this... SISKO Turning it down... why? DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FOUR 43. 38 CONTINUED: (3) JAKE I'm just... not ready to go. Sisko considers for a moment... his first thought is that Jake isn't going because he's afraid to leave the security of home... SISKO Jake, an opportunity like this doesn't come along every day... JAKE I can defer admission for a year. If I want to go then, I still can. SISKO That's great, but... why would things be any different in a year? The question seems to make Jake uncomfortable. JAKE I don't know... they just might be, that's all. Sisko sees that Jake seems uncomfortable... he considers how best to advise his son. SISKO You know... I wasn't much older than you are when I left for San Francisco to go to Starfleet Academy. For the first few days, I was so homesick I went back to my house in New Orleans every night for dinner. Sisko smiles as he remembers. SISKO I'd materialize in the living room at six-thirty and take my seat at the table like I'd just come down the stairs... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT FOUR 44. 38 CONTINUED: (4) JAKE You must've used up a month's worth of Transporter Credits... SISKO My parents... they never said anything about it... just "How you doing, son, how was school today?" They knew I'd get over being homesick soon enough, and they were right. By the third or fourth day, you couldn't have pried me away from the campus. Jake smiles at his father's story... SISKO Of course... if you go to Pennington, you won't be able to beam back to the station to have dinner with your old man, but after a week or so, you'll get over it... Jake sits up in the hammock, he isn't quite sure how to say this. JAKE Dad, it's not me I'm worried about... it's you. SISKO Me? JAKE If I go, you'll be all alone... Sisko is touched by his son's concern, even though he doesn't share it... SISKO Jake, I appreciate you thinking about me... but don't turn down this opportunity on my account. I'll have plenty of people to keep me company. I can have dinner with Dax, or Doctor Bashir... even Quark. JAKE (unconvinced) I guess... but I'd feel a lot better if... you had someone... you know... someone special... like a girlfriend... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT FOUR 45. 38 CONTINUED: (5) Sisko reacts to this unexpected statement. SISKO I see... JAKE The thing is... you haven't had a date in over a year. A year, Dad... What can Sisko say? It's true. Sisko finds himself responding as he would to a friend, a peer... he's forgotten for the moment that this is his son. SISKO I guess I've been too busy... JAKE You've got to make time for these things... SISKO You're right... Suddenly Sisko smiles to himself... SISKO I can't believe this... I'm getting advice about women from my son... JAKE Don't think of me as your son right now. Just think of me as another guy. (a beat) Another guy who happens to know a very attractive lady who wants to meet you. Sisko can't believe his ears. SISKO Are you trying to set me up? JAKE Why not? Before Sisko can reply the cabin lurches violently... JAKE What was that... ? Sisko rushes to the forward porthole to check the sails... STXTX 6127:[4,#b] DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FOUR 46. 38 CONTINUED: (6) SISKO I'm not sure... but whatever hit us almost tore off the port mainsail... Suddenly the ship is hit by a second, more violent eddy -- 39 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) Through a mild distortion effect we see the ship being buffeted by a light eddy so powerful it tears the port mainsail off (the starboard spritsail has already been jettisoned). As the ship is caught up and whisked away we cut back to -- 40 INT. BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) as Sisko and Jake hang on for dear life... they look out the windows and are startled to see the stars shooting by at warp... off this moment we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FIVE 47. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 41 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) As it's swept along by some invisible current, the jib is torn away. The stars streak by in a warp effect, indicating the ship is traveling at faster than light speeds. 42 INT. BAJORAN SHIP Main power has failed, and the cabin is lit by dimmer emergency lights. Sisko is desperately trying to get control of the violently lurching ship... He has to raise his voice to be heard over the SOUND of groaning metal... SISKO Main power is off-line. We're moving at warp... JAKE How can that be... ? SISKO I don't know... Just as suddenly as they were caught up in it, the current throws the ship free... the SOUND of groaning metal stops... 43 NEW ANGLE We can see through the window that the ship is no longer traveling faster than light. JAKE What happened... ? SISKO Good question... Sisko moves to look at the star chart that's laid out on the table... SISKO There's no record of any spatial anomalies in this region... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/07/95 - ACT FIVE 47A. 43 CONTINUED: As Sisko considers the problem, Jake looks down at the chart... JAKE What are these... ? Sisko answers almost distractedly, as if he doesn't think his answer is relevant. SISKO Tachyon eddies... they run all through this area... JAKE Could we have gotten caught up in one... ? SISKO No... tachyons don't have enough mass to affect a ship of this... He stops himself as he realizes something... JAKE What is it? SISKO (thinking out loud) But this isn't any ordinary ship, it has a lot more surface area relative to its mass... JAKE Because of the sails... SISKO (putting it together) And since tachyons travel faster than light, it could be that their impact on the sails somehow accelerated us up to warp speeds... (beat) We could be light years off course... JAKE The question is, where did we end up? STXT.   DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FIVE 48. 43 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO You check the rigging, I'll try to figure that out... Jake looks through a porthole at the sail and Sisko moves to the sextant... JAKE We lost the jib and port mainsail... Sisko looks through the navigational sextant and is dismayed to see that the main lens is shattered. SISKO Damn... Jake reacts to his father's dismay... JAKE What? Sisko shows him the shattered lens. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - 02/27/95 - ACT FIVE 49. 43 CONTINUED: (3) SISKO It's useless... He swings it away in frustration. SISKO There's no way for us to figure out where we are... or where we're going... They look at each other for a long moment, neither wanting to admit defeat... finally... SISKO We'd better contact the station, let them know they're going to have to come get us... Sisko takes out the portable com unit, starts to work it. Jake watches, dejected... After a moment... JAKE (crestfallen) We were so close... another day and we would've reached the Denorias Belt. SISKO Hey, we did pretty well making it as far as we did... Sisko works the unit... Jake sees that he seems concerned. JAKE Is something wrong? SISKO The station's not responding... JAKE Is the com unit damaged? SISKO (working the unit) Not as far as I can see... Sisko considers for a moment, then realizes... SISKO Maybe they haven't received the message yet... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FIVE 50. 43 CONTINUED: (4) JAKE Do you think we could have been carried that far away from the station... ? Sisko looks out at the stars... SISKO I suppose it's possible... Jake sees the look on his dad's face... JAKE They'll find us eventually... right? Sisko tries not to look worried... SISKO Sure... But Jake can see the concern in his father's features... off this moment... 44 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing, the Lexington might be in view. 45 INT. QUARK'S SUPERNUMERARIES as needed. A hung-over Bashir is surreptitiously watching Doctor Lense, who is sitting with a fellow officer at the bar. After a beat, the other officer leaves. Bashir steels himself, then approaches... BASHIR Excuse me... She looks up at him... ELIZABETH Yes... ? There seems to be a flicker of recognition on her features. BASHIR We went to medical school together. I'm Julian Bashir. She reacts with surprise, though the name is definitely known to her. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FIVE 51. 45 CONTINUED: ELIZABETH You're Bashir... ? BASHIR You seem surprised... ELIZABETH I... thought you were Andorian... BASHIR What... ? ELIZABETH Someone pointed out an Andorian to me at a party and said he was Julian Bashir. It was New Year's Eve... at Bruce Lucier's, four years ago. BASHIR (realizing) I went to that party. With my friend Erib... he's Andorian. They're both smiling now that they realize what happened. ELIZABETH I must've gotten you mixed up... all these years, I thought you were someone else. BASHIR Didn't you see me give my speech at graduation? ELIZABETH No, I was backstage waiting to give my speech. I was so nervous I almost passed out. BASHIR I know what you mean... They look at each other for a beat the way you do when you run into a classmate... smiling, memories cascading back at you. ELIZABETH So... you gave me quite a run for my money. (lightly) If it hadn't been for that pre- ganglionic fiber... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FIVE 51A. 45 CONTINUED: (2) BASHIR You know about that? ELIZABETH I know that if you hadn't gotten it wrong you would've been valedictorian. BASHIR I never got a chance to congratulate you... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FIVE 52. 45 CONTINUED: (3) Elizabeth reacts with genuine modesty... ELIZABETH Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it... ? BASHIR Not so long... (beat) So... you got the Lexington... you must've had quite an adventure out there... exploring uncharted space, meeting fascinating new races with fascinating new diseases... Her face registers uncertainty, an inner shrug... ELIZABETH Actually, it ended up being more of a charting expedition. Sometimes it would be months between planetary systems. You wouldn't believe how excited I'd get if we actually found something living -- even if it was just some moss under a rock. Bashir isn't sure if she's just trying to make him feel better. ELIZABETH Don't take this the wrong way... but there were times when I regretted not taking your assignment. BASHIR Really... ? ELIZABETH I read your paper on the immuno- therapy project you've been doing on Bajor. It was brilliant. BASHIR Thank you... ELIZABETH I really envy the opportunity you have to work on that kind of long- term project. On the Lexington, it was collect your samples and then on to the next system. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FIVE 53. 45 CONTINUED: (4) BASHIR I suppose I am lucky at that... ELIZABETH So what's happening on Bajor? Were you able to get the T-cell anomalies under control... BASHIR If you're really interested, why don't we go to the Infirmary and I can show you my latest results? ELIZABETH I'd love to... As they move away to EXIT the bar, we DROP OFF on Quark, who's eyes go wide with hope... he rushes over to Morn, who's sitting at the bar. QUARK Morn... He gestures toward Bashir and Elizabeth, who are now EXITING to the Promenade... QUARK About that bet. I believe the odds were three to one. Off Morn's disappointed face... 46 EXT. SPACE - BAJORAN SHIP (OPTICAL) as it limps along with its remaining sails... 47 INT. BAJORAN SHIP where Sisko is working the com unit, sending out another distress call. Jake sees that he seems worried, and it worries him, too. JAKE So, dad... we're not going to run out of air or anything, are we? SISKO Don't worry. Someone'll find us before that happens. Sisko decides to make conversation to try and take Jake's mind off their situation. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FIVE 54. 47 CONTINUED: SISKO Why don't you tell me about this woman you want me to meet? JAKE Well, she's a freighter captain. SISKO (not sure if he likes this) A freighter captain? JAKE Dad, trust me... you'll like her. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FIVE 54A. 47 CONTINUED: (2) A quiet moment... then... SISKO All right, I'll meet her... on one condition... JAKE What? SISKO (lightly) That you won't base your decision about going to Pennington on how our date turns out... JAKE (smiles) Don't worry... I won't. I've already decided to wait at least a year. SISKO How come? JAKE I've heard that you can only write about what you've experienced... and you've got to admit, Deep Space Nine is a pretty good place to get experience. DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FIVE 55. 47 CONTINUED: (3) Suddenly Jake reacts with concern to something he sees out the window over Sisko's shoulder... JAKE Dad... Sisko sees the look on his face and turns toward the window... 48 NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) as they look out the window and see THREE CARDASSIAN WARSHIPS moving toward them... SISKO (grim) We've got company... JAKE What do you think they want... ? 49 RESUME SCENE (OPTICAL) Suddenly the com unit beeps. SISKO Looks like we're about to find out... Sisko moves to it, activates the monitor... Dukat's face appears on the screen... SISKO What can I do for you, Dukat? Dukat seems put upon, annoyed... DUKAT Let me be the first to congratulate you, Commander... SISKO Congratulate me? DUKAT For managing to get all the way here... SISKO All the way where? DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/02/95 - ACT FIVE 55A. 49 CONTINUED: DUKAT Don't you know? You've just entered the Cardassian system... Sisko and Jake exchange an astonished look. JAKE The tachyon eddy... it must've taken us past the Denorias Belt and brought us here... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/13/95 - ACT FIVE 56. 49 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO The same thing must've happened to the ancient Bajorans... They spontaneously move to grab hold of each other... JAKE We did it... we proved the trip was possible... There's a moment as they both contemplate the wonder of what's happened... then... DUKAT I hate to interrupt your celebration, but I've been asked to convey a message from the Cardassian Government... He picks up a PADD, reads hastily, as if he can't wait to get through it. DUKAT "Your voyage is a testament to the spirit of the ancient Bajorans who first ventured out into space... it could not be more appropriate that your arrival coincides with the discovery here on Cardassia of an ancient crash site... " Dukat clears his throat as if to distract attention from the unlikely scenario he's been asked to portray... DUKAT "A site that our archaeologists believe contains the remnants of one of the Bajoran vessels whose journey you have just recreated... " SISKO (wry) What an amazing coincidence... DUKAT (even) Yes... Dukat turns and gives a curt nod to someone off screen... suddenly a BURST of colored LIGHT shines onto Jake and Sisko through the window... DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/01/95 - ACT FIVE 57. 49 CONTINUED: (3) DUKAT (a forced smile) Welcome... They move to the window and smile at what they see... 50 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) The Cardassian ships are firing photon torpedoes that explode into FIREWORKS like starbursts... welcoming the voyagers with a festive display of light... 51 INT. BAJORAN SHIP Jake and Sisko standing at the window looking out at the fireworks... the light from the explosions playing on their beaming features... and as the music swells with a Reprise of Jerusalem, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END ¢