STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Pale Moonlight" (fka "Patriot") #40510-543 Story by Peter Allan Fields Teleplay by Michael Taylor Directed by Victor Lobl 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 1998 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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 January 26, 1998 STAR TREK: DS9 - "In the Pale Moonlight" - 01/26/98 - CAST STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Pale Moonlight" CAST SISKO GARAK KIRA DAMAR ODO WEYOUN BASHIR TOLAR DAX VREENAK WORF QUARK COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking Non-Speaking N.D. SUPERNUMERARIES STAR TREK: DS9 - "In the Pale Moonlight" - 01/26/98 - SETS STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Pale Moonlight" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE SISKO'S QUARTERS/ BEDROOM WARDROOM CAPTAIN'S OFFICE OPS GARAK'S SHOP QUARK'S PROMENADE TURBOLIFT HOLOSUITE/DOMINION MEETING ROOM CORRIDOR AIRLOCK CORRIDOR LANDING BAY DS9 - "In the Pale Moonlight" - 01/26/98 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Pale Moonlight" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE BETAZED BAY-tuh-zehd BIO-MEMETIC BIE-oe-muh-MEH-tik BIOGENIC BIE-oe-GEE-nic CALANDRA kuh-LON-druh CENTAURI SIN-tar-ree GLINTARA GLIN-tar-uh GRATHON GRAY-thun KALI-FAL KAL-eh-fall M'PELLA meh-PEL-uh OPTOLYTHIC op-TOE-li-thic PROCONSOL NERAL PRO-con-sol neh-RALL SOUKARA sue-KAR-uh TAL SHIAR TAL she-ARE TATALIA tah-TALL-ee-ah TELLAR TELL-ar TOLAR, TOE-lar VREENAK VREE-neck WHELAN WE-lan DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Pale Moonlight" TEASER FADE IN: 1 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS SISKO is sitting on his couch, his finger on a control pad on a nearby table. The room is DARK and moody. The captain has just gone through a long and trying ordeal and now wants to unburden himself. He faces camera and addresses us directly as he begins to dictate his private log. SISKO Captain's Personal Log: Stardate Five-one-seven... (unsure) Five-one-seven... four? He trails off, suddenly aware of the fact that he doesn't even know what day this is. SISKO (annoyed) Computer -- what day is it? COMPUTER VOICE Thursday. Stardate 51721.3. SISKO (to himself) It's only been two weeks... He loses himself for a beat, then remembers that he's recording a log. He looks up at us again. SISKO I need to talk about this. I have to justify what's happened... what I've done... at least to myself. I can't talk to anyone else... not even Dax. Maybe if I just lay it all out in my log, it'll finally make sense... and I'll see where it all went wrong... where I went wrong. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - TEASER 2. 1 CONTINUED: SISKO (Cont'd) (beat) I suppose it all started two weeks ago when I was posting the weekly casualty list in the wardroom... CUT TO: 2 INT. WARDROOM Sisko is working the control pad next to the large wall monitor. SISKO (V.O.) ... every Friday morning, for the past three months, I've posted the official list of Starfleet personnel killed, wounded or missing in the war. Sisko hits a final control and a large OKUDAGRAM APPEARS on the monitor: a long list of NAMES. They're grouped by ship or starbase and then alphabetized by last name. Each name has a brightly colored tag next to it: KIA, WIA, MIA. Sisko steps away from the monitor and we REVEAL that the room is FILLED with Starfleet Officers: BASHIR, WORF and DAX are among the many N.D. Officers waiting to take a look at the list. They all move slowly toward the list and begin reading it over. The mood is grim -- everyone is here hoping against hope that they won't find the name of a loved one or friend on that list. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - TEASER 3. 2 CONTINUED: FOLLOW Sisko as he moves across the room and watches the reactions as the officers read the board. As the scene continues, there should be MORE N.D. Officers ENTERING the Wardroom, while others EXIT after checking the board. SISKO (V.O.) (continuing, over above action) It's become something of a grim ritual around here. Not a week goes by that someone doesn't find the name of a loved one, a friend or an acquaintance on that damned list. (beat) I've grown to hate Fridays. Dax is running her finger down the list looking for anyone she knows. Worf and Bashir are relieved when they don't see anyone they recognize, but then Dax finds a name she knows and reacts. Worf puts an arm around her as they move aside to let others check the board. Sisko sees the look on her face and joins them just as Dax takes a seat in one of the lounge chairs. SISKO Someone you knew? DAX Leslie Wong. SISKO The skipper of the Cairo? DAX (nods) She was an instructor at the Academy when I was a sophomore. BASHIR Do you know what happened to the Cairo? SISKO Just that they disappeared on patrol near the Romulan Neutral Zone. But I'll look into it. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - TEASER 4. 2 CONTINUED: (2) DAX (bitter) Don't bother. I'm sure it's the same old story -- the Jem'Hadar crossed over the Romulan border and caught them off-guard. It's only about the hundredth time it's happened. BASHIR I can't believe the Romulans are allowing them to violate their territory so brazenly. How do they get away with it? SISKO The Romulans have a treaty of non- aggression and friendship with the Dominion. In practical terms that means they're willing to turn a blind eye to almost anything in the name of "friendship." WORF (bitter) It's an intolerable situation. We should cross the Neutral Zone and destroy the Dominion bases. DAX And risk war with the Romulans? No, thank you. We're losing enough good people as it is. The last thing we need is a war on two fronts. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - TEASER 5. 2 CONTINUED: (3) BASHIR What we need is to bring the Romulans into the war on our side. With the combined forces of the Federation, the Klingons and the Romulans we could finally go on the offensive. We PUSH in on Sisko as he listens to this idea and to Dax's response -- a thoughtful look comes over his face and we can see that he's mulling over something. DAX That's the last thing the Romulans want. Think about it -- they're in the perfect position. They get to sit back and watch as their biggest rivals slug it out in a long, bloody war. No one's threatening their interests. Why should they risk their necks? There's simply no reason for them to get involved in our war. No reason at all... HOLD on Sisko's thoughtful expression for a moment... SISKO (V.O.) That was the moment I made the decision. It was like I had stepped through a door and locked it behind me. I was going to bring the Romulans into the war. CUT TO: 3 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS As before. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - TEASER 6. 3 CONTINUED: SISKO I was absolutely sure it was the right decision -- that's the frightening part -- how right it seemed at the time. And now... now all I can do is learn to live with that decision. (beat) And I'll have to live with it for the rest of my life... Off the dark and brooding expression on Sisko's face... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT ONE 7. ACT ONE FADE IN: 4 INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE Sisko is pacing, thinking out loud and using Dax as a sounding board. SISKO It's in their own best interest to join the war -- that's the key, that's the reason the Romulans will finally take action. Not to do us any favors, but to protect themselves from the Dominion. DAX Okay. Let's say I'm the Romulan Proconsol. From where I'm sitting, the Dominion isn't a threat to me. I have a nonaggression pact with them. They're my allies. SISKO You're not going to put your faith in some piece of paper are you? DAX Not at all. I've been watching the Dominion very closely since the beginning of the war. And so far, they've kept their part of the bargain. The tone here starts getting more heated -- they're both pushing their roles and their arguments as hard as they can. SISKO They're violating your territory almost every day -- what kind of an ally is that? DAX So they're crossing through my backyard to give the Federation a bloody nose. I can't say that makes me very sad. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT ONE 8. 4 CONTINUED: SISKO You can't be naive enough to think the Dominion will stop with the Federation? When they're finished with us, they'll be coming after you. DAX (dismissive) That's speculation. SISKO The Founders see it as their sacred duty to bring order to the galaxy. Their order. Do you think they'll sit idly by and let you keep your chaotic empire next to their perfect order? No. If you watch us go under, what you're really doing is writing your own death warrant. DAX You're asking me to start a war based on wild theories. SISKO They're not theories, they're facts! DAX Prove it! DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT ONE 9. 4 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO How? DAX That's your problem. But before I plunge my people into a conflict that'll kill millions of loyal Romulan citizens, I'll need something more concrete than the self-serving arguments of a Starfleet officer. I'll need proof of Dominion duplicity. Not more words, proof! They glare at each other for a beat before Sisko breaks the moment and lets go of the emotion of the moment. SISKO Not bad, old man. You'd have made a decent Romulan. DAX (relaxing) Thanks. But I prefer spots to pointed ears. SISKO Okay you convinced me. They're going to need evidence... (beat) But, if there is evidence of a Dominion plan to attack Romulus, it's probably buried deep in the bowels of their headquarters on Cardassia Prime. DAX Not exactly the most accessible place in the galaxy. Beat. SISKO Not for us, maybe. But there is someone on this station who specializes in gaining access to places he's not welcome. CUT TO: DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT ONE 9A. 5 INT. WARDROOM GARAK is looking at Sisko with a surprised expression. GARAK I must say I'm flattered, Captain. I had no idea you held such a lofty opinion of me. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT ONE 10. 5 CONTINUED: GARAK (Cont'd) Your faith in my ability to retrieve classified information from my former homeland is most gratifying. SISKO I'm happy that you're happy. Now, can you do it? Garak pauses for a moment, then shifts gears. GARAK You know, I had assumed this meeting was about the modifications I suggested for your new dress uniform -- you have had an opportunity to look over my design, haven't you? The new piping along the collar, the exaggerated cut of the jacket hemline emphasizing the-- SISKO Mister Garak. Let's dispense with the usual repartee and concentrate on the issue at hand. Can you do the job or not? Garak sits back and considers Sisko with a cold eye as something icy and unpleasant comes over his features. GARAK No one wants to see the Dominion destroyed more than I do. But asking me to go to Cardassia Prime, penetrate one of the most heavily guarded facilities in the quadrant, steal top secret war plans and then return them safely to you is not just another "job." It's more like a suicide mission and that is well outside my field of expertise. SISKO I didn't say you had to go there yourself. I have to believe that a man like you still has a few contacts back home. A colleague from the Obsidian Order... DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT ONE 11-11A. 5 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO (Cont'd) ... an old friend... a reliable informant... someone who might owe you a favor. GARAK Perhaps... SISKO Well, then. I'd say it's time to call in a favor. Garak considers this for a long beat. GARAK It would mean calling in all my favors, captain. To do what you're asking would use up every resource I have left on Cardassia. And it may be a very messy, very bloody business. Are you prepared for that? SISKO I posted my fourteenth casualty list this morning. I'm already involved in a very messy, very bloody business. And the only way I can see to end it is to bring the Romulans into the war. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal, but I can't do it alone. I need help. Now, are you in or out? Garak looks into his eyes for a long beat, takes the measure of Sisko and his commitment, then stands and puts out his hand. GARAK I'm in. They shake hands. SISKO (V.O.) My father used to say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. CUT TO: DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT ONE 12-13. 6 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS Sisko is pacing around the room. SISKO (continuing) I laid the first stone right there. I'd committed myself. I'd pay any price, go to any lengths, because my cause was righteous. (beat) My... intentions were good. In the beginning, that seemed like enough. On this disquieting note... FADE OUT. 7 OMITTED END OF ACT ONE DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 14. ACT TWO FADE IN: 8 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS - BEDROOM Sisko is sleeping. SISKO (V.O.) If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that bad news invariably comes in the middle of the night. KIRA'S COM VOICE Kira to Captain Sisko. Sisko hits a control near his bed. SISKO (to com) Go ahead, major. KIRA'S COM VOICE We just received a priority-one communication from Starfleet Command. (beat) The Dominion has invaded Betazed. As he flings off the covers... CUT TO: 9 INT. OPS Sisko, Kira, Worf and Dax are gathered around the Ops table, which has a MAP of the Federation and the Dominion. A large ARROW is thrusting into the heart of the Federation. SISKO From the initial reports, it seems that the invasion force must have come from somewhere in the Calandra Sector. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 15. 9 CONTINUED: DAX Did Starfleet Intelligence know anything about a buildup in that Sector? WORF No. They believed Calandra was too far from Dominion supply lines to be a threat. SISKO There's plenty of blame to go around. The Tenth Fleet was supposed to be protecting Betazed and its outlying colonies, but they were caught out of position on a training exercise. What's worse, Betazed's own defense systems are obsolete and undermanned. (beat) The planet was theirs in less than ten hours. A grim, quiet beat. KIRA With Betazed in the hands of the Jem'Hadar, the Dominion's in a position to threaten Vulcan... Andor... Tellar... Alpha Centauri... DAX (pointed, to Sisko) If we ever needed a new ally... it's right now. Off the look of frustration on Sisko's face.. 10 INT. GARAK'S SHOP Sisko ENTERS to find Garak working on some clothes. Garak seems unusually subdued. SISKO It's been three days, Garak. Have you made any progress? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 16. 10 CONTINUED: GARAK Well... I suppose that depends on how you look at it. SISKO (pushing) How I look at it is that Betazed has just fallen to the Dominion and we need to get this operation underway. GARAK I share your desire for swift action, captain. In fact, after our last conversation, I made a few discreet inquiries among my former associates still living on Cardassia. As I anticipated, they shared my loathing for the current government and were more than willing to take on an assignment aimed at its destruction. SISKO That sounds like progress to me. GARAK Doesn't it? Unfortunately... they're all dead now. SISKO What? GARAK (distant) Yes. All killed within one day of speaking with me. I suppose that's a testament to the effectiveness of Dominion security. One should admire such... efficiency. He goes back to working on the clothes. SISKO I'm sorry. He turns to go, but Garak stops him. GARAK I hope you're not giving up that easily. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 17. 10 CONTINUED: (2) GARAK (Cont'd) (beat) After all, the stakes are much higher than a few dead operatives. The fate of the entire quadrant hangs in the balance -- or at least that's the case you made to me. SISKO Do you have another plan? GARAK As a matter of fact, I do. But I suspect that you won't like it. SISKO Try me. GARAK If you want to guarantee that we obtain evidence of a Dominion plan to attack the Romulans... I suggest we manufacture that evidence ourselves. Sisko looks at him in surprise. CUT TO: 11 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS Sisko is rubbing his temples. SISKO Maybe I should have put a stop to it right there. Said, "Thank you, very much for your input, Mister Garak, I'll take your suggestion under advisement," and then gone back to my office and forgotten about the whole thing. (beat) But I didn't. Because in my heart, I knew what he was saying made sense. CUT TO: DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 18. 12 INT. GARAK'S SHOP As before. SISKO I'm listening. Garak holds his eyes for a beat, then picks up a PADD and hands it to Sisko. 13 ON PADD - INSERT The PADD has a PHOTO of a Romulan Senator -- VREENAK. GARAK'S VOICE His name is Vreenak. He's been a key member of the Romulan Senate for the past fourteen years. 14 RESUME GARAK (continuing) He's Secretary of the War Plans Council, Vice-Chairman of the Tal Shiar, and one of the most trusted advisors to Proconsul Neral. SISKO He's also the man who negotiated the non-aggression pact with the Dominion. GARAK Since you're familiar with him, I'll skip the rest of his biography. What's important is that he continues to be one of the most ardently pro-Dominion voices in the Senate. If we can convince him that the Dominion is a threat, the rest of the Senate will follow. SISKO Okay. How? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 19. 14 CONTINUED: GARAK Ten days from now, Senator Vreenak will be making a trip to Soukara for a diplomatic meeting with Weyoun. I'm certain he could be persuaded to make a secret detour to D.S. Nine if he were invited by one Captain Benjamin Sisko. SISKO How do you know Vreenak's visiting Soukara? GARAK There are some things I'd rather not discuss. May I continue? (off his nod) When the Senator arrives, you will show him a holographic recording of a secret meeting held at the highest levels of the Dominion in which the planned invasion of Romulus is being discussed. You will tell the Senator that this information was obtained through various covert means at great cost to the Federation -- "at least ten good men lost their lives bringing it across the lines" -- that sort of thing. He will immediately suspect that it's a forgery, but you will assure him that such a thing would be impossible. (beat) "You see Senator, this is an official Cardassian transcript. It was recorded on a one-time optolythic data-rod used for official record-keeping. These rods are manufactured only as needed on Cardassia Prime. Information can only be transcribed on them once, and then cannot be altered." DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 20. 14 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO He'll want to examine it. GARAK Of course. And he'll discover to his amazement, that it's completely genuine. At least, so it will appear. SISKO And in reality... ? GARAK You will have handed him a genuine optolythic data-rod, but it will contain one of the most perfect forgeries ever fashioned. I'm still working on obtaining the data-rod, but I have located the man who will create the holo- recording. Garak pauses and looks at Sisko expectantly. Sisko takes a few steps around the room. It's a huge leap he's about to take. SISKO You realize, I can't authorize something like this on my own. I'll have to clear it with Starfleet Command. GARAK Of course. But I suspect that with the fall of Betazed they'll be ready to do whatever it takes to bring the Romulans into the war. SISKO I'll let you know. Sisko heads for the door, but Garak stops him. GARAK One last thing, captain. The man we need to forge the holo-program is currently sitting in a Klingon prison awaiting execution. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 20A. 14 CONTINUED: (3) GARAK (Cont'd) To save time and incidentally his life, I thought that perhaps you could contact Chancellor Gowron today and arrange a pardon. SISKO What's his name? GARAK Grathon Tolar. CUT TO: 15 INT. WARDROOM GRATHON TOLAR is sitting across from Sisko with a relieved expression on his face. Tolar is a small, weasel-faced ALIEN and does not look like someone who'd last very long in a Klingon prison. His clothes are clean and neatly worn, but there's a palpable oiliness to him that makes you want to bath immediately after any visit. He has a low, nervous laugh that only serves to get under Sisko's skin. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 21. 15 CONTINUED: TOLAR I can't tell you how grateful I am, captain. The Klingons were going to execute me tomorrow. Of course, they say that every day -- one of the little games they like to play. There's that laugh. SISKO You do understand the terms of your parole? TOLAR Oh, yes. I have to promise to stay away from the Klingon Empire. (laugh) That'll be tough. (laugh) And I have to create some kind of "special" holo-program for you. (laugh) I can't wait. I've never worked for Starfleet before. SISKO Let's be very clear about this -- you're not working for Starfleet. This entire matter is strictly off the record. As far as you're concerned, you're working for me. TOLAR Oh. Oh, I see. This is a personal matter. (laugh, then leering) Something "special." For your eyes only. Something with... perhaps, five or six Orion slave girls and-- SISKO (stands) I suggest you go wait in your quarters. Mister Garak will provide you with all the information you need. The fun all disappears from Tolar's demeanor and he shrinks back in his chair. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 22. 15 CONTINUED: (2) TOLAR Garak's here? SISKO That's right. TOLAR Oh. (half-laugh) Well. That's different. I'll... go wait in my quarters. Tolar EXITS to the Corridor, with a somewhat subdued and nervous attitude. SISKO (V.O.) Why I didn't listen to the voice in the back of my mind telling me not to believe a word he said, I'll never know. 16 INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE Sisko is working at his desk. SISKO (V.O.) (continuing) But it didn't take long for me to come face to face with the fact that I'd made a mistake. ODO'S COM VOICE Odo to Captain Sisko. SISKO (to com) Go ahead, Constable. ODO'S COM VOICE (awkward) I'm sorry to disturb you, but do you know a man named Grathon Tolar? Sisko is immediately concerned. SISKO Why do you ask? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT TWO 23. 16 CONTINUED: ODO'S COM VOICE Because he just tried to kill Quark. Sisko reacts with disbelief -- this is the last thing he needs. FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 24. ACT THREE FADE IN: 17 INT. QUARK'S Sisko ENTERS to find Odo waiting for him by the door. Tolar is sitting at a table, his hands in restraints and a pair of Bajoran Deputies standing guard over him. QUARK, whose chest is covered with BLOOD, is being attended to by Bashir on the other side of the room. A dabo girl with a torn dress sits near Quark, shooting Tolar daggers with her eyes. The bar has been emptied of all customers. SISKO What happened? ODO As I understand it, Mister Tolar over there came in about two hours ago and ordered a bottle of Whelan Bitters. Fifteen minutes later, he ordered a second bottle. Then a third. He was halfway through his fourth when he decided to dance with... (re: dabo girl) ...M'Pella. She was otherwise engaged running the Dabo wheel at the time and declined his invitation. He decided to force the issue and there was a brief struggle before Quark, in an uncharacteristic display of chivalry, attempted to intervene. So Tolar stabbed him. Sisko glares at Tolar, who gives him a half-smile and a shrug. ODO Normally, he'd be sitting in a holding cell, but he claimed that he was a friend of yours. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 25. 17 CONTINUED: SISKO He's no friend of mine. (beat, then sotto) But... he is working for me. It's an extremely sensitive matter involving Federation security. I can't afford to have any record of him being on the station. ODO I see. (beat) I'm certainly aware of the need for special security measures during wartime... but as a matter of law, if Quark chooses to press charges against Tolar, I have no choice but to make an arrest. SISKO Let me speak to Quark. Sisko moves over to where Bashir is scanning Quark with a tricorder. A medkit is sitting on a nearby table. SISKO (to Bashir) How is he? QUARK (re: blood) How do I look? I'm a man who just had a brush with death DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 26. 17 CONTINUED: (2) BASHIR He'll be fine. His ribs deflected the knife from his vital organs. The bleeding was superficial. QUARK Superficial? Do you know how much this shirt cost? SISKO Doctor, will you excuse us for a moment? BASHIR (to Quark) I'll check on you again tomorrow. Bashir EXITS and Sisko sits down next to Quark. SISKO Do you intend to press charges? QUARK You bet I do. SISKO (awkward) What would it take... to... convince you... otherwise? Quark stares at him in disbelief for a moment, then leans across the table. QUARK Are you offering me... a bribe? Sisko looks away, extremely uncomfortable with the position he's being forced into. Quark is positively gleeful. QUARK (smiles) I knew it. I've always liked you, captain. I suspected that somewhere deep down in your heart of hearts there was a tiny bit of Ferengi just waiting to get out. SISKO What's your price? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 27. 17 CONTINUED: (3) QUARK Well... let's start with replacing my clothes... and M'Pella's clothes. SISKO All right. QUARK I'm not finished. I think I should also be compensated for the loss of business I've suffered today, which I would calculate as no less than five bars of gold- pressed latinum. SISKO (grudging) Done. QUARK I'm also having a problem with station security -- they're holding some cargo containers I've been waiting for because of some kind of... missing import license or something. SISKO I'll handle it. Anything else? Quark looks at him with a satisfied grin. QUARK No. I think we can call it a bribe. And thank you, captain. Thank you for restoring my faith in the ninety-eighth Rule of Acquisition: "Every man has his price." Sisko gets up and heads for Odo just as Garak ENTERS the bar from the Promenade. SISKO (to Odo) He's dropped the charges. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 27A. 17 CONTINUED: (4) ODO Hmm. (to Deputies) Let him go. (to Sisko) If you'll excuse me... Odo EXITS. The Deputies release Tolar from his restraints and then EXIT also. While this is going on, Sisko has a moment with Garak. Sisko keeps his voice low, but there's barely restrained fury behind his eyes. SISKO (quietly boiling) Tolar is your responsibility. Keep him out of sight and under control or the next man needing medical attention will be you. Do you understand? GARAK Completely. Garak approaches Tolar, who visibly shrinks back from Garak as the Cardassian leans over him at the table. GARAK Hello, Grathon. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 28. 17 CONTINUED: (5) Sisko turns and EXITS. 18 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS CUT TO: Sisko has discarded his jacket and has opened his vest by now. SISKO Bribery and cover up -- those were new for me. That was my first moment of real doubt. I started to wonder if the whole thing was a mistake. (beat) Then I got back to my office and there was a new casualty list waiting for me. (angry) People are dying out there. Every day. Entire worlds are struggling for their freedom and here I am still worrying about the finer points of morality. I had to keep my eye on the ball. Winning the war, stopping the bloodshed -- those were the priorities. CUT TO: 18A INT. PROMENADE Sisko is walking toward a turbolift. SISKO (V.O.) So I pushed on. And every time another doubt appeared before me, I just found another way to shove it aside. Sisko presses the control outside the lift and waits. Garak steps up next to him. GARAK Mind if I join you? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 28A. 18A CONTINUED: SISKO Be my guest. The doors OPEN and they both EXIT to... 18B INT. TURBOLIFT - CONTINUOUS As they ENTER. SISKO Ops. The lift starts MOVING. GARAK Hold. The lift STOPS. GARAK The less I'm seen parading through Ops the better. SISKO I couldn't agree more. GARAK You seem angry. SISKO Who's watching Tolar? GARAK I've locked him in his quarters. I've also left him with the distinct impression that if he attempts to force open the door, it may... explode. SISKO I hope that's just an impression. GARAK It's best not to dwell on such minutiae. In any case, we have far more important matters to discuss. I've located a gentleman willing to sell us a genuine optolythic data-rod. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 28B. 18B CONTINUED: SISKO How do you know it's genuine? GARAK I trust the source, but rest assured I will confirm the rod's authenticity before I make payment -- which brings me to you. SISKO How much does he want? GARAK I'm afraid he's not interested in latinum. The gentleman in question has requested to be compensated with two hundred liters of bio-memetic gel. SISKO (surprised) What? GARAK I don't know why, exactly. One would assume that it has something to do with genetic experimentation. SISKO Offer him something else. GARAK Believe me, I wouldn't be relaying this request if I thought he'd accept anything else. SISKO Bio-memetic gel is strictly controlled by the Federation and not for sale at any price. Find someone else willing to sell us a rod. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 28C. 18B CONTINUED: (2) GARAK I was not exaggerating when I told you about the near-impossibility of obtaining a genuine Cardassian data-rod. It's something of a minor miracle that I've found one source, I'm virtually certain that I'll never find another. I'm afraid we either have to give him what he wants or forget the whole enterprise. SISKO Then let's forget it. (to com) Ops. The Turbolift starts MOVING again. There's a quiet beat as Garak decides not to push the matter. But Sisko hasn't really let it go. He struggles for a moment... SISKO (to com) Hold. The lift STOPS. SISKO Two hundred liters is out of the question. There isn't that much gel in this entire sector. GARAK I believe... the quantity is open to negotiation. Sisko thinks about that for another beat. SISKO (to com) Ops. The lift starts MOVING once more. 19 INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE Bashir is looking at Sisko with an incredulous expression. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 29. 19 CONTINUED: BASHIR Captain... bio-memetic gel is an extremely dangerous compound. I can't release it without some idea of where it's going. In the wrong hands, it could be used to develop biogenic weapons, or for illegal replication experiments or organo- explosives or-- SISKO Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, Doctor. This isn't a request, it's an order. You will package eighty-five liters of bio- memetic gel for interstellar transport and then deliver it to Cargo Bay Three, is that understood? BASHIR (stiffly) Yes, sir. But I'd like that order in writing. Sir. SISKO (hands him a PADD) I thought you might. Bashir glances at the PADD. BASHIR You should know that I'll note this in my log and file a protest with Starfleet Medical. SISKO That's your right. But I want the gel by the end of the day. Dismissed. Bashir is furious, but there's little he can do about it. He EXITS. CUT TO: 20 INT. HOLOSUITE/DOMINION MEETING ROOM WEYOUN, DAMAR, and two N.D. Cardassian Legates are sitting around a table in a conference room somewhere on Cardassia Prime. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 30. 20 CONTINUED: The room should have Dominion and Cardassian symbols prominently displayed. WEYOUN The Founders have decided to implement Stage Two ahead of schedule. DAMAR The invasion of Romulus? It's too soon. We're engaged in heavy fighting all along the border with the Federation. The Klingons are preparing to go on the offensive and -- WEYOUN Fortunately, the Founders have better vision than you do. They can see the opportunities in front of us even when you cannot. (beat) Consider: the Romulans do not expect an attack from Cardassia. The bulk of the Romulan fleet is still deployed along the Neutral Zone with the Federation. The Founders estimate that we could be on Romulus itself in less than three weeks. DAMAR (skeptical) Three weeks? I heard the same kind of estimates before we attacked the Federation. WEYOUN Those plans were ruined by the incompetency of your predecessor. 21 NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) Revealing Sisko, Garak and Tolar watching the simulation from a far corner of the room. Tolar is standing at a holosuite console and he taps a control or two as he watches the simulation play out with a practiced eye. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 31. 21 CONTINUED: DAMAR (fierce) Gul Dukat is a great man. WEYOUN (getting hot) Gul Dukat is a preening egotist and a fool. We offered him unchallenged control of the Alpha Quadrant and all he could think about was his daughter. (pleasant) Now... shall we get back to the business at hand? GARAK That's it. Freeze program. The Holograms FREEZE. GARAK (to Sisko) That's all the new material. The rest of the program plays out just as you saw before. What do you think? SISKO It's better. They seem more real. GARAK All I had to do was add a little petty bickering and mutual loathing. TOLAR So you're happy? SISKO It's satisfactory. GARAK You may record the program onto the data-rod now. Tolar works a control and the entire Dominion room VANISHES, leaving them in the empty Holosuite. Tolar then opens a small case on the floor and carefully removes a unique-looking DATA-ROD. He places it into a slot on the console and begins to work. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 32. 21 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO (quiet) I've received a message from Senator Vreenak -- he's on his way. GARAK Excellent. Tolar finishes his work and removes the rod from the console. He holds it up as if to toss it to one of them. TOLAR Done. Who gets it? GARAK (no humor) Just put it in the case. Tolar carefully replaces the rod. TOLAR Well. It's been a... a pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen. Call me again if you ever need -- SISKO You're not going anywhere. TOLAR (flustered, angry) What do you mean? SISKO You're not leaving until your work has been accepted by our... "client." DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 33 21 CONTINUED: (3) TOLAR (yelling) That isn't fair! You can't keep me here against my will! I haven't done anything wrong! We had an agreement! Sisko grabs him and slams him against the wall. SISKO I'm making a new agreement. If that program passes inspection, you walk free -- but if there's even the slightest flaw, I'll send you back to that Klingon prison and tell Gowron to take his time when he executes you. The ferocity of Sisko's anger takes all remaining bravado out of Tolar. There's fear in those eyes. Sisko lets him go and Tolar takes a few steps away before regaining his composure. TOLAR (nervous) Okay. It'll pass. You'll see. It'll pass. GARAK I sincerely hope so. Why don't you wait in your quarters. I'll be along shortly to... say hello. Tolar looks at the two of them with fear for a moment, then EXITS. GARAK Felt good, didn't it? Sisko looks at him, taken a little off-guard by the question. GARAK (continuing) To put your hands on a man and say, "You will do this or else." DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 34. 21 CONTINUED: (4) GARAK (Cont'd) (beat) After all the intrigue and deception you've had to engage in over the past week, you must've found that moment of pure brute force to be a... refreshing change of pace. Garak smiles at him pleasantly. There may be an element of truth in what he's saying, but what Sisko can't believe is the way Garak keeps poking and prodding at his psyche. Sisko begins to smile at the absurdity of it all. SISKO Mister Garak... why is it that no one has killed you yet? GARAK My innate charm? Sisko laughs and Garak smiles wider. Sisko laughs louder -- it's a release of tension and anxiety that's been building in him for over a week. As he laughs... CUT TO: 22 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS Sisko is standing behind the couch, and while there's a smile on his face at the memory, there's a bitter, rueful quality to his expression. SISKO It wasn't that funny. But I couldn't stop laughing. (beat) Maybe... I was under more pressure than I realized. Maybe it really was starting to get to me. (beat) At the time, I thought I was off the hook. Starfleet Command had given the plan their blessing and I thought that would make things easier. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 35. 22 CONTINUED: SISKO (Cont'd) (beat) But I was the one who had to make it happen. I was the one who had to look Senator Vreenak in the eye and convince him that a lie... was the truth. 23 OMITTED 24 OMITTED 24A INT. CORRIDOR Sisko and Garak are walking down the Corridor. GARAK While you're entertaining the Senator in the wardroom, I'll take the opportunity to make a quick search of his ship's database. SISKO For what? GARAK For any intelligence information on the Dominion he may have picked up on Soukara. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 35A. 24A CONTINUED: SISKO What if you get caught? GARAK I think that's highly unlikely. I doubt the senator will be traveling with more than four bodyguards at the most -- two will stand watch outside the wardroom and two will stay in the Landing Bay. I assure you, they'll never know I was anywhere near their ship. SISKO Just make sure you don't get caught. 24B INT. ANOTHER CORRIDOR Sisko and Garak round a corner and are met by Worf and a team of three armed N.D. Starfleet Security Guards. SISKO Report. WORF Sections Fifty-two Baker through Sixty-two Baker have been secured. I've posted armed guards at all entry points and I have personally scanned all compartments for signs of surveillance equipment. SISKO Very good, commander. Maintain your security measures until further notice. No one is to enter this area except for Mister Garak and myself. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 35B. 24B CONTINUED: WORF Aye, sir. Sisko passes by Worf and heads down the Corridor. Garak pauses for just a moment. GARAK It's always a pleasure to see you, Mister Worf. He gives Worf that infuriating smile and then follows Sisko down the hallway. 25 OMITTED 26 INT. AIRLOCK CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) As Sisko and Garak round the corner. KIRA'S COM VOICE Ops to Captain Sisko. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 36. 26 CONTINUED: SISKO (to com) Go ahead Major. KIRA'S COM VOICE We've just received the coded subspace signal you were waiting for. Should I reply? SISKO No reply, major. Sisko out. Sisko and Garak stop outside a doorway that has a MONITOR on the wall next to it. Sisko activates the monitor and it shows a high-angle view of the interior of a LANDING BAY. The space doors are closed and no one is inside. He works the controls for a moment and then FLASHING LIGHTS come on inside the bay. 27 INT. LANDING BAY (OPTICAL) The lights continue to FLASH and then the giant space door begins to OPEN. 28 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) As before. Sisko and Garak watching the doors on the monitor. 29 INT. LANDING BAY (OPTICAL) The doors STOP. Nothing stirs in the huge, silent bay. 30 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) As before. Sisko watches the image of the empty bay for a moment... then something BEEPS and Sisko works the controls again. 31 INT. LANDING BAY (OPTICAL) The space doors begin to CLOSE. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 37. 32 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) The doors just finish closing on the monitor. The flashing lights go OFF inside the bay, and Sisko and Garak wait again. 33 INT. LANDING BAY (OPTICAL) Suddenly a ROMULAN SHUTTLE DECLOAKS in the middle of the landing bay. Almost immediately, a GANTRY begins EXTENDING from the Landing Bay Airlock toward the hatch on the shuttle. 34 INT. AIRLOCK CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) The gantry can be seen moving toward the shuttle on the monitor. GARAK I'll take my leave of you now, captain. (hesitates) And one last thing -- Vreenak thinks he's on the winning side. Until you can prove otherwise, you may have to put up with a certain... acerbic attitude. SISKO After working with you for a week, Mister Garak, I've developed a very, very thick skin. GARAK (smiles) Good luck. Garak EXITS down the Corridor just before the Airlock hatch ROLLS OPEN and two armed N.D. Romulans ENTER. They look around for a moment, and then SENATOR VREENAK ENTERS. SISKO Welcome aboard, senator. I'm Captain Benjamin Sisko. Vreenak is a little bemused by this whole adventure and we get the feeling it may be hard for him to take Sisko seriously. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT THREE 38. 34 CONTINUED: VREENAK So you're the commander of Deep Space Nine. And the Emissary of the Prophets. Decorated combat officer, widower, father, mentor... (as if he just remembered) Oh and yes, the man who started the war with the Dominion. (beat) Somehow I thought you'd be taller. SISKO Sorry to disappoint you. VREENAK To be honest, my opinion of Starfleet Officers is so low that you'd have to work very hard indeed to disappoint me. SISKO (unfazed) If you'll come with me, I'll show you to your quarters. Vreenak doesn't move for a beat, enjoying making Sisko wait for him. VREENAK I'm looking foward to seeing your station -- while it's still here, that is. With the way the war's going for the Federation, it may not be around much longer. Vreenak smiles broadly, driving the point home. Sisko politely smiles back and then leads the Senator toward the EXIT. FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 39. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 35 INT. WARDROOM (OPTICAL) Sisko is sitting with Vreenak over in the "lounge" area of the Wardroom. They each have something to drink, but only Vreenak seems interested in his beverage. VREENAK (re: glass) A fair approximation. But somewhat lacking in aroma. Real kali-fal should forcibly open one's sinuses well before the first sip. SISKO We don't have much experience in replicating Romulan beverages. Of course, all that would change if we were allies instead of cold warriors. VREENAK You are persistent, I'll grant you that, captain. But I'm afraid dogged determination isn't enough to change the reality of your situation. Time is definitely not on your side. (beat) The Dominion shipyards are working at one hundred percent capacity -- your facilities are still being rebuilt. The Dominion is breeding legions of Jem'Hadar soldiers every day -- you're experiencing a manpower shortage. But more important, the Dominion is resolved to win the war, no matter what the cost -- and we both know the Federation has already put out peace feelers. (beat) Now I ask you, captain -- in all candor -- if you were in my position, which side would you choose? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 40. 35 CONTINUED: SISKO I'd pick the side most likely to leave me in peace when the dust settles. Maybe you're right, maybe the Dominion will win in the end. Then the Founders will control what is now called Cardassia, the Klingon Empire and the Federation. So instead of facing three separate opponents with three separate agendas, you'll find yourselves facing the same opponent on every side. There's a word for that -- surrounded. Vreenak takes another sip of his drink. VREENAK It really is a good replica. Even the aroma is starting to grow on me. For a moment there, I almost forgot that it wasn't the real thing. But only for a moment. (beat) You make some very good points, captain, but it's still all speculation and theory. Nothing that would warrant abrogating our treaty and plunging the Empire into war. SISKO What if I told you that the Dominion is planning a sneak attack on the Romulan Empire at this very moment? Vreenak stops his glass halfway to his mouth. His eyes narrow. VREENAK I'd want proof. SISKO And what if I showed it to you? What then? Would you join us in the war? Or would you wait until there were Jem'Hadar soldiers standing in your Senate Chamber before you decided that the Founders weren't your friends after all? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 41. 35 CONTINUED: (2) Vreenak sets down the glass and takes a moment. VREENAK (quiet) If what you say is true... that would be... a different matter entirely. Sisko hits his combadge. SISKO Sisko to Worf. WORF Worf here. SISKO Have you secured the holosuite? WORF'S COM VOICE Yes, sir. SISKO Very good, commander. Sisko out. Computer: stand-by to initiate site to site transport, authorization Sisko Two Five Alpha. COMPUTER VOICE Standing by. Sisko stands. SISKO Senator... ? Vreenak hesitates for a beat, then stands up. SISKO Computer -- energize. They DEMATERIALIZE. CUT TO: 36 INT. HOLOSUITE/DOMINION MEETING ROOM (OPTICAL) Sisko and Vreenak are watching the end of the same Dominion planning session we saw earlier between Weyoun, Damar and the N.D. Legates. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 42. 36 CONTINUED: (The free-standing console with the data-rod is in front of Sisko.) Weyoun is now at the large monitor, which has a schematic display of the Cardassian/Romulan border. Several clearly marked ARROWS are thrusting from Cardassia to points deep inside Romulan territory. WEYOUN ... and with the Cardassian Fourth Order protecting their flank, the Twenty-third Jem'Hadar division can begin its thrust across the Glintara Sector. They should begin the invasion of Romulus itself on the following day. Once we've taken the homeworld, organized resistance will crumble when the outlying systems and colonies begin looking out for themselves. Consolidation of the entire Empire will take three months at most. DAMAR What if the Romulan fleet reacts faster than you're anticipating? What if they pull all their forces away from the Federation border at the first sign of our attack? WEYOUN (growing tired of this) They've been staring across the Neutral Zone at the Federation for the better part of two centuries. It's become an obsession with their military leaders. There's not the slightest chance of them leaving the Neutral Zone undefended until they're sure the Federation isn't going to take advantage of the situation. And by then, it'll be too late. DAMAR You're placing a lot of faith in your ability to predict what the Romulans will or will not do. They could surprise us all -- they could even be anticipating this attack already. If that's the case, we could find ourselves fighting a war on two fronts without any -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 43. 36 CONTINUED: (2) WEYOUN I place my faith in the Founders. And they say that the Romulans are not ready for war and that they will not react fast enough once it begins. Now, do you wish to dispute their judgment? Damar doesn't like it, but he knows where his bread is buttered. DAMAR No. Of course not. I serve the Founders. WEYOUN As do we all. Meeting adjourned. The simulation VANISHES and is momentarily replaced with the FLOATING 3-D image of the CARDASSIAN LOGO, then that too VANISHES. Sisko turns to look at Vreenak, whose face carefully betrays no feelings. Vreenak takes a few steps around the room as he mulls over what he's just seen. VREENAK (quiet) I'd like to examine that data-rod. Sisko removes it from the console, and holds it out to Vreenak. The Senator moves to him, but before he takes it, he stares into Sisko's eyes, and seems to search them for a long beat, as if looking for the truth somewhere inside. Finally, Vreenak takes the data-rod and looks at it. CUT TO: 37 INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE Sisko is pacing in his office, lost in thought when Dax ENTERS. DAX Got a minute? SISKO Sure. What can I do for you? DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 44. 37 CONTINUED: Dax takes her time, this is a delicate subject and she doesn't want to rush into anything. DAX This may sound... crazy. But, think about it before you say no. SISKO Just say it. Beat. DAX What if we... tricked the Romulans into believing that the Dominion was about to attack them? Sisko is thunderstruck for a moment and Dax takes it as a reaction to her crazy idea. DAX Hear me out. (beat) We find a way to manufacture evidence of a planned Dominion attack. I'm not sure what it should be, uh... a series of coded messages from their central command, a Cardassian defector who smuggles out secret war plans -- I don't know. Something. Then we show it to the Romulans and try to convince them that they're one step away from disaster. Sisko takes a moment, decides to become his own devil's advocate. SISKO You want to start a war based on a lie? DAX I want to end a war, Benjamin. And I want the good guys to win. Besides, let's face it -- the Dominion will attack the Romulans eventually, it's just a matter of time. So, in a way we'd be doing them a favor by pulling them in now. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 45. 37 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO (hard) That's an easy way of rationalizing something you know is wrong. Dax takes a beat, goes cold and hard. DAX More wrong than war? Beat. SISKO I'll... think about it. DAX That's all I ask. She heads for the door, then stops, smiles to herself. DAX I suppose it's one thing to come up with an idea like this... and another to put it into motion. SISKO (re: pips) That's why they put these on my collar, old man. She smiles at him and then EXITS. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 46. 38 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS Sisko on the couch. He's got a bottle of something dark and amber now and he pours himself a drink. SISKO It was good to know that the old man was on my side, even if she didn't know what was really going on. (beat) In any case, I was way past the point of no return. There was nothing to do but wait and see how masterful Tolar's forgery really was. He takes a drink. SISKO So I waited. Tried to catch up on my paperwork, but I couldn't really focus on criminal activity reports or cargo manifests... I went back to pacing and staring out the window. (beat) I don't think of myself as an impatient man. I don't agonize over decisions once they're made. I got that from my father. He always said that worry and doubt were the greatest enemies of a chef. "The souffle will rise or it won't," he used to say. "There's not a damn thing you can do about it, so just sit back and see what happens." DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FOUR 47 38 CONTINUED: SISKO (Cont'd) (beat) But this time, the cost of failure was so high, that I found it hard to follow his advice. 39 INT. CORRIDOR Sisko is walking through the empty Corridor. SISKO (V.O.) If Vreenak discovered the data-rod was a forgery, if he realized that we were trying to trick them into war, it could push the Romulans even farther into the enemy camp. They could start to openly help the Dominion. If worse came to worst, they could actually join the war against us. I had the distinct feeling that victory or defeat would be decided in the next few minutes. Sisko pauses outside the door for a moment, takes a deep breath, and then EXITS to... 40 INT. WARDROOM - CONTINUOUS As Sisko ENTERS. Vreenak is already here, his face carefully neutral, giving no hint as to what he's found. He stares at Sisko for a long moment... then finally he lets his true feelings show. VREENAK (furious) It's a fake. Off the stricken look on Sisko's face... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FIVE 48. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 41 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS Sisko is rubbing his temples. The bottle has been set aside. SISKO So it blew up in my face. The lies and the compromises, the inner doubts and the rationalizations -- all for nothing. Vreenak was furious. I can't say I blamed him. I'd have reacted the same way. After telling me in no uncertain terms that he intended to expose this "vile deception" to the entire Alpha Quadrant, he got back in his shuttle and headed home. (beat) There didn't seem to be anything more to do... so I went back to work. (beat) Two days later we got the news. CUT TO: 42 INT. WARDROOM Sisko posts another casualty list on the monitor and turns to face another room full of N.D. officers, along with Dax and Bashir. Sisko's mind is far away and he moves through the crowd of people without seeing most of them. He finds a quiet corner of the room and sits down heavily in a chair as the others crowd around the monitor, searching the list of names once again. Bashir and Dax emerge from the crowd and move toward him. Sisko looks at them expectantly. BASHIR (to Sisko) No one for me today. DAX I had one -- Maria Tatalia -- wounded in action. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FIVE 49. 42 CONTINUED: BASHIR Friend? DAX Friend of a friend. I met her once, but I doubt she'd remember me. BASHIR Only one friend of a friend between the two of us -- as strange as it sounds, I'd say today's off to a good start. Worf ENTERS, looks around and goes directly to them. Worf is clearly excited. WORF Captain, we just received word from Starfleet Intelligence that a Romulan shuttle carrying a high- ranking senator has been destroyed. A chill goes down Sisko's back. SISKO Which Senator? WORF Senator Vreenak. He was returning to Romulus from a diplomatic mission to Soukara when his shuttle exploded. (beat) The Tal Shiar is investigating, but their preliminary report points to sabotage... (grins) ... they believe the Dominion is responsible. Dax and Bashir immediately realize what this means and they're ecstatic. DAX The Dominion assassinated a Romulan Senator... BASHIR On a diplomatic mission... DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FIVE 50. 42 CONTINUED: (2) WORF This changes everything. It could even bring the Romulans into the war. Sisko is on his feet and heading for the door. SISKO (abrupt) Excuse me. 43 INT. CORRIDOR Sisko marching down the Corridor, fury on his face. 44 INT. PROMENADE Sisko comes out of the turbolift and stalks across the Promenade, the anger still building on his features. He storms into... 45 INT. GARAK'S SHOP - CONTINUOUS Where Garak is working on some clothes. He looks up at Sisko dispassionately -- he was expecting a confrontation, but he wasn't expecting Sisko to haul off and DECK HIM. Garak hits the ground and looks up at the furious captain warily. SISKO Get up. Garak gets up, and warily keeps his distance. Sisko presses him and Garak backs away, but it's clear he won't give much ground here. SISKO You killed him. GARAK That's right. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FIVE 51. 45 CONTINUED: SISKO That's what you planned to do all along. You knew the data-rod wouldn't hold up to scrutiny, you just wanted to get him on the station so you could plant a bomb on his shuttle. GARAK It wasn't quite that simple. I did have hopes that the rod would somehow pass inspection. But I suspected that Tolar may not have been up to the task. SISKO What about Tolar? Did you kill him too? GARAK Think of them both as tragic victims of war. Sisko throws a punch, Garak blocks, but Sisko follows up and lands another blow to Garak's face, rocking him back, but not flooring him. GARAK If you can allow your anger to subside for a moment, you'll see that they did not die in vain -- the Romulans will enter the war. Sisko glares at him, his fury just barely restrained. SISKO There's no guarantee of that. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FIVE 52. 45 CONTINUED: (2) GARAK Oh, but I think there is. You see, when the Tal Shiar finishes examining the wreckage of Vreenak's shuttle, they'll find the burnt remnants of a Cardassian optolythic data-rod which miraculously survived the explosion. After painstaking forensic examination, they'll discover that the rod contains a recording of a high-level Dominion meeting at which the invasion of Romulus was being planned. SISKO And then they'll discover it's a fraud. GARAK I don't think so. Any imperfections in the forgery will appear to be a result of the explosion. (building, forceful) So, with a seemingly legitimate data-rod in one hand and a dead senator in the other, I ask you captain, what conclusion would you draw? Sisko takes a beat, tries to let his temper subside. SISKO That Vreenak obtained the rod on Soukara and that the Dominion killed him to prevent him from returning to Romulus with it. GARAK Precisely. And the more the Dominion protests their innocence, the more the Romulans will believe they're guilty... because it's exactly what the Romulans would've done in their place! Sisko glares at him, but it's clear that he sees the logic of what Garak's saying, as much as he doesn't like to hear it. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FIVE 53. 45 CONTINUED: (3) GARAK (continuing) That is why you came to me, isn't it, captain? Because you knew I could do the things you weren't capable of doing yourself? Well, it worked. And you'll get what you wanted -- a war between the Romulans and the Dominion. If your conscience is bothering you, you should soothe it with the knowledge that you may have just saved the entire Alpha Quadrant. And all it cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet Officer. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a bargain. CUT TO: 46 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS Sisko is toying with a full glass of scotch. SISKO This morning, at oh-eight-hundred hours, station time... the Romulan Empire formally declared war against the Dominion. They've already struck fifteen bases along the Cardassian border. (beat) So it's a huge victory for the good guys... perhaps the turning point of the entire war. There's even a "Welcome to the Fight" party in the wardroom tonight. (beat) I lied. I cheated. I bribed men to cover up the crimes of other men. I was an accessory to murder. But most damning of all... I think I can live with it. DEEP SPACE NINE: "In the Pale... " - REV. 2/11/98 - ACT FIVE 54. 46 CONTINUED: SISKO (Cont'd) And if I had to do it all over again... I would. Garak was right about one thing -- a guilty conscience is a small price to pay for the safety of the Alpha Quadrant. So I'll learn to live with it. He almost takes a drink, then firmly sets it aside and pushes it away. SISKO Because I can live with it. He glares into the lens and we're not sure if he's trying to convince us or himself. SISKO I can live with it. Sisko stares into the camera for a long beat. SISKO Computer -- erase that entire personal log. CUT TO BLACK. END OF ACT FIVE THE END