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Main
Deep Space Nine: "The comforter"
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. QUARK'S -- NIGHT
A drunken, sarcastic Cardassian faces off against a burly
Klingon at the bar. Quark looks on, worried, and tries to
mollify them both.
CARDASSIAN
Go, on, Klingon! Say that again.
QUARK
Now, now fellas, let's just settle
down --
KLINGON
I said, Cardassian, that my people
may be fierce warriors -- but we
are not perverse, torturing scum.
QUARK
Hey, listen, why not check out the
action at the Dabo wheel? Lovely
girls, game of chance --
CARDASSIAN
Your people haven't been warriors
since you were co-opted by the
Federation of Planets.
KLINGON
(Roaring with rage)
Arrrr! And what has happened to
your Empire, since you signed the
peace treaty? Eh?
QUARK
You know, Quark's is having a
special tonight, fifth drink of the
evening --
The Cardassian lunges at the Klingon. They grapple. As Odo
and one of his security personnel come running in, the
Cardassian tries to poke the Klingon's eye out; the Klingon
sharply bends back his opponent's finger.
The Cardassian screams; as Odo pulls the Klingon off of him,
he keeps screaming.
INT. THE BRIG -- NIGHT
The Cardassian is in a cell, behind a force field; he paces,
half-doubled over, holding the injured finger out at an odd
angle, in agony. Odo stands by, watching him.
ODO
Be still, now. I've wakened Dr.
Bashir. He'll be here shortly.
CARDASSIAN
Leave me alone, you cloud of
gaseous muck. Why don't you turn
yourself into a length of rope, and
hang yourself?
ODO
That is not a physically practical
suggestion.
As Odo speaks, Julian enters.
JULIAN
Tough patient, Constable?
ODO
Mmm. I believe he'll allow you to
examine him. His hand was injured
in a drunken fight -- I'll keep you
covered.
Odo draws his phaser, and lowers the force field wall.
Julian enters the cell and speaks gently to the prisoner.
JULIAN
Now, if I am to help you, you must
let me examine you.
CARDASSIAN
Help yourself. Just keep that
Dominion shapeshifter away from me.
Julian examines the injured hand with his medical tricorder,
and draws a wrap-around device from his kit. He applies a
pain-killer.
JULIAN
It's a clean break. I'm going to
have to set the bone. I've killed
the pain, but this may feel a bit
odd for a moment.
He holds the patient's good hand, and applies the wrap-around
device to the finger of the bad. The Cardassian grunts, then
sighs in relief. As Julian removes the device, a gel remains
on the finger.
JULIAN
Now, let this substance form a
bandage -- it will harden in a
minute. It's full of nutrients to
mend the bone -- we'll keep it on
for a few days.
CARDASSIAN
Thank you, Doctor.
Julian pats his shoulder, and leaves the cell. Odo activates
the force field. They walk out together.
ODO
You do your job well, Doctor. It
must be a pleasurable life, always
dispensing comfort.
JULIAN
Well, I don't know if pleasurable
is quite the word -- but I like to
be a help. I shouldn't like to
have your job, I can tell you that.
ODO
Why not?
JULIAN
Oh, well . . . I suppose I'm not
much good at being the "heavy."
ODO
(stiffly)
Security is necessary to maintain
on a station like this.
JULIAN
(aware he may have
offended)
Yes, of course. It's an important
job, and you do it well. I'm very
glad of your presence. It just
seems a bit Spartan and -- harsh.
To live this way, I mean.
ODO
Mmm.
JULIAN
But perhaps you'll have a break
soon. There's a rumor afloat that
Commander Sisko may be sending you
on some sort of mission.
ODO
Where?
JULIAN
To Cardassia Prime!
(making a little joke)
Perhaps you can give our friend
back there a lift.
ODO
Commander Sisko must know that I
prefer to remain here. It's a busy
time, the station is full of
rabble --
JULIAN
Well, it may be only a rumor, after
all. I heard it was some sort of
quick, mysterious two-person
mission.
ODO
Who is the other person?
JULIAN
Rumor has it, Major Kira.
Odo takes this in, looks away.
ODO
I see.
FADE OUT
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. OPS LOUNGE -- DAY
Odo, Kira, Dax and O'Brien sit; Sisko paces, agitated.
SISKO
I want to know how Dr. Bashir came
to hear of it! This is supposed to
be a secret operation!
O'BRIEN
Well, you can blame me, Commander,
for the first leak. Dax asked me
why I was doing so much work on the
runabout; I said you were planning
some sort of mission.
DAX
And I did the rest. You've been
speaking to representatives of
Cardassia Prime so much -- I
checked the duty rosters, made an
inference, and mentioned it to
Julian. That's all.
O'BRIEN
He swears that Odo is the only one
he said anything to, Commander.
And, while Julian can be a bit
indiscreet now and then, I think we
can take the man at his word.
SISKO
Sounds to me, Chief, like he isn't
the only one who's been indiscreet!
Now listen, all of you. This is a
very important mission -- and
secrecy is the most important
element!
DAX
(gently)
We didnt' know that, Benjamin. We
do now.
KIRA
Would someone please tell me what
this is all about?
SISKO
(sighs)
All right. Odo, Kira. We have on
this station two former members of
the Maquis who have been held in a
detention center since their
capture. They now wish to
cooperate with the Cardassian
authorities, to ease tensions in
the demilitarized zone.
KIRA
They're going to pass on
information about the Maquis?
SISKO
In the name of keeping the peace
and building trust, yes. And your
job is to get them to Cardassia
without the Maquis finding out.
ODO
In the runabout?
SISKO
That's right.
KIRA
The runabout? Commander, at least
let us take the Defiant. If the
Maquis catch up with us in the
runabout we won't stand a chance!
SISKO
If the Maquis catch up with you in
the Defiant, it would mean a major
battle, a major galactic incident.
Star Fleet doesn't want that, and
neither does Cardassia. The
runabout is much less conspicuous.
KIRA
What makes everyone so sure these
prisoners are ready to betray the
Maquis?
SISKO
They've undergone a number of
tests. Star Fleet is confident
they're telling the truth. That's
all I know. I have my orders.
Now our job is to make this look
like some sort of . . . business
trip to Cardassia Prime.
ODO
And how are we to do that?
SISKO
I've told Quark to prepare a file
on merchandise available through
Quark's and other outlets here on
the station. I told him the
Cardassians are looking to invest,
and that Bajor may allow it.
KIRA
And he believed that?
SISKO
I think so. Let's hope the Maquis
believe it, also.
INT. QUARK'S -- AFTERNOON
Odo and Kira are at the bar. They do not look enthused.
Quark is in raptures; he is running the tape he has prepared,
on a small viewscreen.
QUARK
Now, these Denebian glow rocks
aren't actually in stock on the
station at the moment -- but you
can assure the Cardassians that
through a personal friend of mine,
one of the shrewdest Ferengis in
the quadrant, I can get my hands on
them for a very reasonable price.
ODO
I thought you didn't much care for
Cardassians, Quark.
QUARK
Well, no, they are a bunch of
murdering, violent bastards -- but
they're sneaky, and that indicates
a good head for business.
KIRA
(muttered)
And wouldn't they love to get back
into Bajor as a market.
QUARK
Just remind them, please, that the
fire water we import is from a
limited --
ODO
Don't worry. We'll let your tape --
speak for itself.
QUARK
Oh, but I wish I'd had more time to
prepare it! I wish I could go with
you -- if I could just trust that
worthless brother of mine to keep
an eye on --
KIRA
It's a beautiful tape, Quark. All
the merchandise looks very . . .
appetizing.
QUARK
You think the Cardassians will
bite? 'Cause, see, I don't
normally sell stock in Quark's
itself, but if the right investor
made an offer --
ODO
We'll let you know what they say.
He picks up the viewer that played the tape. He and Kira
exchange glances and leave the bar. Quark calls after them:
QUARK
Hey! Don't forget to mention the
Holo-suite honeymoon packages!
INT. DOCKING BAY -- AFTERNOON
Kira and Odo join Commander Sisko and the two former Maquis
fighters by the door. One is an Asian young man. The other
man is older, and Bajoran.
SISKO
Odo, Major, this is Siuwan Wong,
formerly a lieutenant in Star Fleet
-- and this is Reenen Bri.
Kira focuses on the older Bajoran.
KIRA
Your reputation precedes you, sir.
(to Sisko and Odo)
Reenen Bri was something of a
legendary fighter, during the years
of the Resistance.
BRI
And your reputation precedes you,
Major. You too have had an
interesting career.
His tone unsettles Kira. He turns to address Sisko.
BRI
Every precaution has been taken,
Commander?
SISKO
So far as I know, only my most
trusted command personnel are aware
of the real purpose of this trip,
or even of your presence on this
station.
WONG
Good, if they knew we were aboard
the runabout, the Maquis would
never let us reach Cardassia.
The door of the docking bay rolls open. They step through.
INT. RUNABOUT -- AFTERNOON
The two Maquis renegades walk toward the back; Kira and Odo
stand with Sisko.
SISKO
Remember. If anyone hails you, use
the communication device that
disguises you as Ferengi. Say you
work here on the station -- and let
them have a look at Quark's tape.
KIRA
(sarcastically)
What a treat.
ODO
We understand, Commander.
SISKO
Good luck, both of you.
EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE
The runabout shoots away from the station. We FOLLOW it
through space.
INT. RUNABOUT -- AFTERNOON
Kira and Odo sit at the bridge controls. Their two
passengers are not in the immediate vicinity. Kira rubs her
eyes, and shakes her head to clear it.
ODO
Are you all right, Major?
KIRA
Well . . . you might want to keep
an eye on me. I'm not exactly in
the best condition to pilot. I
couldn't sleep last night. The
last place I want to visit is
Cardassia! I mean, I understand
why Commander Sisko chose me. If
we run into problems, I've got the
combat experience. But Cardassia!
ODO
If you would like to lie down and
rest for a while . . .
KIRA
No, I'll be okay.
(whispered)
I'd rather stay here, and not have
to face Reenen Bri. I was upset
enough about this mission -- I
didn't know he was one of the
turncoats!
ODO
That may not be the most politic
way to refer to them.
KIRA
But it doesn't make sense! Reenen
Bri was a childhood hero of mine.
When I was growing up in the camps,
his slogan was always "Death before
submission to Cardassia." He
inspired me to join the Resistance.
And now he's become an informant?
Bri and Wong step into the room; Kira and Odo turn their
attention to the controls.