Thanks to: https://www.geocities.com/ussmunchkin7/Star_Trek_VI.htm Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer & Denny Martin Flinn Story by Leonard Nimoy & Nicholas Meyer Fifth Draft 12/28/90 CONFIDENTIAL DO NOT PHOTOCOPY UNDER ANY CONDITIONS TO ALL RECIPIENTS OF THIS SCRIPT: We are determined to protect the secrecy of our materials, and of our project. 1. Your script is numbered and is for your use alone. 2. In addition to your script number in each page, all scripts have been coded (by number) by a method known only to this office. Reproduction of all or part of these materials will be traceable. Needless to say, if you have this script, you are a colleague in our mutual endeavor. Please take care of your material and treat it with the confidentially it deserves. Thank you. Distribution 2/15/91 R. Winter Star Trek VI/Script It has come to my attention that unauthorized copies of the STAR TREK VI script have been made and distributed. Requests for copies of the script should only be made through my office (956-5797) Each script has been assigned both a number and an internal code, which allows us to trace the script even if the red number written on each page is somehow removed. A wide distribution of the script weakens the impact that STAR TREK can have at the box office. Please return your script to my office if it is not essential to the making of this film. Please understand that this is necessary to help us deliver a fresh movie to our dedicated audience. Please help us maintain the secrecy of our project. Thank you for your help and cooperation. /rrb ....................................................................... 1 STARFIELD 1 VFX VFX Credits OVER serene space when SUDDENLY... an enormous EXPLOSION, sending debris FLYING at WARP velocities... 2 OMITTED 2 VFX VFX 3 CU A TEACUP 3 WIDEN TO REVEAL INT. BRIDGE, USS EXCELSIOR The polyglot CREW is busy. Seated in the CAPTAIN'S CHAIR, a familiar face: SULU. He has his own command and is drinking a CUP of tea. The SCIENCE OFFICER stands next to him, conferring, handing him a datacount. Sulu muses over the contents. SULU According to this we've completed our exploration of the entire sector. SCIENCE OFFICER Fifty-four planets - and their gaseous atmospheric anomalies. Our sensing and analytic equipment worked well. SULU Then it's time we were heading home. Three years is... The ship starts to TREMBLE. 4 ANGLE ON SULU'S TEA CUP 4 shaking in its saucer... Sulu and the CREW look at each other as the SHAKING increases. The TEACUP SMASHES. SCIENCE OFFICER I have an energy wave from 240 degrees mark six port -- SULU Visual! 4 ON THE SCREEN 4 VFX VFX an ENORMOUS GASEOUS WAVE, a subspace shock front. SULU (continuing) My God. SHIELDS. 5 EXT. THE GALAXY 5 VFX VFX Meteors and asteroids SMASHING PAST. Burning chunks fly by at WARP speeds. EXCELSIOR reels. 6 INT. USS EXCELSIOR BRIDGE 6 The ship rolls, throwing everyone off balance. SULU What the Hell is going on? The crew jumps to. Computers light up. Information flies across screens and monitors. The ship is BATTERED like a fighter's punching bag with shocks and jolts and tremors. 7 INT. CREW'S QUARTERS, GALLEY CORRIDORS, ETC. 7 Sleeping members are thrown from their berths. The CLAXON alarm sounds pervasively... CREW etc. What the -- Look out -- stations -- etc. 8 INT. EXCELSIOR BRIDGE 8 LOJUR Captain, she's not answering her helm -- SULU Starboard thrusters. Turn her into the wave! 9 INT. EXCELSIOR ENGINE ROOM 9 Chaos. Valves hiss PURPLE. Crew running, knocked about. ENGINEER Engine room. What's going on up -- 10 INT. EXCELSIOR BRIDGE 10 SULU Quarter impulse power! EXCELSIOR has been knocked about and everyone on the bridge is holding on or sliding around. She settles and one by one her CREW resume their stations. SULU Damage report. VOICE Seems to be in one piece, Captain. We're checking all systems... 10 THE SCREEN 10 VFXA VFXA shows Excelsior getting bumped about by the final fragments drifting past, bouncing off the shields. SULU (to Science Officer) Don't tell me that was any meteor shower. SCIENCE OFFICER (over his console) Negative. The subspace shockwave originated at bearing three-two- three, mark seven-five, the location is... (turns to Sulu) Praxis. A Klingon moon. Barren of indigenous life forms but - SULU Essential as a resource. Praxis is their key energy production facility. (thinks) Send to Klingon High Command: "This is Excelsior, a Federation Starship traveling through Beta Quadrant. We have monitored a large explosion in your sector. Do you require assistance?" COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Aye, sir. SULU Mr. Valtane, any more data? SCIENCE OFFICER I have confirmed the location, sir, but... SULU What is it? SCIENCE OFFICER ... I cannot confirm the existence of Praxis. Sulu reacts, goes over to the science console and looks at the screen. Nothing there. SULU Praxis? SCIENCE OFFICER What's left of it. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Captain, I'm getting a message from Klingon High Command. SULU Onscreen. 11 ON SCREEN: 11 a snowy picture of a WILD-EYED KLINGON OFFICER. OFFICER This is an emergency! We have suffered - He looks around, the GROUND is shaking under him; as Sulu watches, the pictures collapse, then comes on again, with a different face. KERLA This is Brigadier Kerla, speaking for the High Command. There has been an incident on Praxis. However everything is under control. We have no need for assistance. Obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the Neutral Zone. Transmission ends now. 12 The screen goes black. Sulu looks incredulous. 12 SULU An INCIDENT? COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Do we report this, sir? SULU Are you kidding? (swivels to the communications officer) Send to Starfleet Command... 13 EXT. SPACE 13 VFX VFX Excelsior warps off into the galaxy. 14 OMITTED 14 THRU THRU 22 22 22A CU STARFLEET SHIELD 22A Kirk walks into shot. KIRK What are we doing here? WIDEN TO REVEAL 23 INT. STARFLEET BRIEFING ROOM - DAY 23 The room fills with BEMEDALED BRASS, Kirk's CREW among them - the only starship complement in the room. They can't help looking at each other, questioning. They are in uniforms. BONES Search me. Anybody know how come we made the A list? UHURA My shore leave was just cancelled. (reacting) Isn't this just for top brass? CHEKOV Where is Mr. Sulu? KIRK Captain Sulu... on assignment... anyone seen Spock? A door opens and STARFLEET ADMIRAL DONALD, austere and impressive, enters and gavels the meeting to order. ADMIRAL DONALD This briefing is classified. There will be no recording devices. Ladies and Gentlemen, the C-in-C. All rise as the STARFLEET COMMANDER IN CHIEF enters with a briefcase and pulls materials from it. CinC As you were. I'll make this as simple as I possibly can. The Klingon empire has roughly 50 years of life left to it. They look at each other in disbelief. CinC (continuing) For full details, I am turning this briefing over to our Special Federation Envoy. He makes a sign and another door opens. Spock walks to the podium. Kirk and company are astounded. SPOCK Good morning. VFX OMITTED VFX SPOCK (continuing) Two months ago a Federation Starship monitored an explosion on the Klingon moon Praxis. We believe it was caused by over mining and insufficient safety precautions. The moon's decimation means an almost eighty percent loss of available energy and a deadly pollution of their ozone. Due to their large military expenditures, the Klingon economy is in a very weakened condition. They do not have sufficient resources to manufacture air shelters in large enough quantities to sustain anything like their current population. Last month - at the behest of the, uh, Vulcan Ambassador - I opened a dialogue with Gorkon, Chancellor of the Klingon High Council. He proposes to commence negotiations at once. ADMIRAL DONALD Negotiations for what? SPOCK The dismantling of our space stations and star bases along the Neutral Zone, an end to seventy years of unremitting hostility - a hostility the Klingons can no longer afford. Audible mutterings. PAN the crew. Is the war over? SPOCK (continuing) If the Klingons sue for peace, we could accumulate savings in defense expenditures, leaving the Federation economy free to grapple with urgent social problems... A MILITARY MAN Bill, are we talking about mothballing the Starfleet? CinC I'm sure our exploration and science programs would not be affected, but the facts speak for themselves, Captain. ADMIRAL DONALD I must protest. To offer the Klingons a safe haven within Federation space is suicide. Klingons would become the alien trash of the galaxy. And if we dismantle the fleet, we'd be defenseless before a bellicose people with a foothold on our territory. The opportunity which presents itself here is to embargo trading, force them to run through their own resources faster, and bring them to their knees. Then we'll be in a far better position to dictate terms. A vocal minority of the briefing supports this, but not all. Kirk simply stares at Spock. CinC Starfleet is under civilian control, Admiral. The decision is a political not a military one - and it's been made. KIRK Sir - CinC Captain Kirk? KIRK (eyes Spock briefly) Sir, I'm no diplomat, but the Klingons have never been trustworthy. I'm forced to agree with Admiral Donald. This is - (he gropes for tact) - a terrible, a terrifying idea... CinC Your son was killed by a Klingon, wasn't he, Captain? KIRK Yes, sir. CinC I'm sorry. But Commander Spock has persuaded the Federation that this situation is too promising to ignore. SPOCK It is imperative that we act NOW to support the Gorkon initiative, lest more conservative elements persuade his empire that it would be better to attempt a military solution and die fighting. CinC Captain Kirk, you are to be our first olive branch. KIRK Me? SPOCK We have volunteered to rendezvous with the Klingon ship that's bringing Chancellor Gorkon here, and escort him safely through Federation space. Kirk is too startled to speak. CinC As it happens, Kirk, the Chancellor specifically requested you and your officers. KIRK Why, in God's name? CinC There are some Klingons who feel the same about the peace treaty as yourself and Admiral Donald. They'll think twice about attacking the Enterprise under your command. SPOCK I have personally vouched for you in this matter, Captain. KIRK You have personally - CinC You will accord Chancellor Gorkon full diplomatic Courtesy, Captain Kirk. KIRK (straining) Surely a full Ambassador would be better equipped to - CinC If there's no further business I wish you and your crew Godspeed. Thank you all. He charges out as ALL RISE. Everyone files out. ADMIRAL DONALD I don't know whether to congratulate you or not, Jim. He moves off before Kirk can reply. The room is empty... except for Spock, still at the podium and Kirk sitting alone in the auditorium. He is furious, betrayed. Spock knows it. KIRK WE volunteered? SPOCK There's an old Vulcan proverb: only Nixon could go to China. KIRK (incensed) How could you vouch for me? That's... (words fail him) ... arrogant presumption - SPOCK I was asked by my father to open neg- KIRK I know your father's the Vulcan Ambassador for heaven's sake, but you know how I feel about this: they're animals. SPOCK Jim, there is an historic opportunity here - KIRK DON'T TRUST THEM. DON'T BELIEVE THEM - SPOCK They're dying. KIRK LET THEM DIE. Spock looks at him in silent reproach. Kirk hears himself and doesn't like it. KIRK (and what's more) Has it occurred to you that this crew is due for retirement in three months? WE'VE DONE OUR BIT FOR KING AND COUNTRY. Spock is patient. They stare at each other. ON Kirk's face. KIRK (finally) You should have trusted me. 24 OMITTED (POSS. ALTERNATE) 24 & & 24 VFX 24 VFX 25 INT. THE BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 25 The elevator doors open. An attractive VULCAN LIEUTENANT leaps out of the command chair, whips to attention. BONES Well, I've heard some whoppers in my time... UHURA (overlaps) They're mothballing the fleet? CHEKOV (overlaps) We will regret this... LT. SAAVIK Captain on the bridge. The CREW stands to. KIRK As you were. Lieutenant...? LT. SAAVIK Saavik, sir. We were told you'd need a helmsman - (to Spock) ... so I volunteered. She salutes. He smiles, returns the salute. SPOCK Lieutenant, I am pleased to see you. (to Kirk) The Lieutenant is the first Vulcan to be graduated at the top of her class as the Academy. KIRK Congratulations, Lieutenant. That must make you very proud... LT. SAAVIK I don't believe so, sir. BONES She's a Vulcan all right. KIRK (down to business) All right, let's get this over with... departure stations... (pushes the comm) Scotty? They assume their familiar stations. SCOTTY'S VOICE Aye, sir? KIRK You find the engine room? SCOTTY'S VOICE Right where I left it, sir. KIRK Standby. Get me the dock master, Uhura. UHURA Control tower, reading, Sir. KIRK Control, this is Enterprise requesting permission to depart. VOICE OVER This is control. Enterprise, you are granted permission to depart... 30 seconds for port gates... LT. SAAVIK Clear all moorings... KIRK Awaiting port gates from this mark. FILTERED VOICE Mooring lines cleared... LT. SAAVIK Aft thrusters - KIRK (overlaps) Thank you. Lieutenant, one quarter impulse power... LT. SAAVIK (she turns to face him) Captain, may I remind you that regulations specify thrusters only while in space dock? The CREW - old and young - watch this exchange keenly. Spock is poker faced BONES (next to Chekov) Uh, Jim... KIRK You heard the order, Lieutenant. Saavik swivels away, rolling her eyes so Kirk can't see and hits the panel - The ship begins to rattle slightly, then 26 EXT. SPACE DOCK 26 VFX VFX the Enterprise SCREAMS out of the dock and exits through the just-opening bay doors into outer space. 27 OMITTED 27 THRU THRU 29 29 30 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE - NIGHT 30 Kirk sits comfortably with a smile on his face. KIRK (continuing) Lieutenant... Saavik faces him. KIRK (continuing) ... I don't care if I'm senile. If I sit in this chair and give the word you jump. Spock watches. LT. SAAVIK Aye, sir. KIRK Plot a course for Kronos, Lieutenant. LT. SAAVIK (startled) Kronos, sir? KIRK I'm still in the chair, Lieutenant. LT. SAAVIK Aye, sir. Other reactions. Kirk has taken command. 31 EXT. SPACE 31 VFX VFX Enterprise cruises purposefully through the void. KIRK'S VOICE OVER Captain's log. Stardate 8679.225. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks - and maybe they're right. It seems to me our mission to escort the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council to a peace summit is problematic at best. 32 INT. KIRK'S CABIN 32 Kirk is unpacking his bag as he dictates, hanging up his uniforms, his shaving tackle going next to the sink, etc. KIRK (continuing) I have never trusted Klingons and never will. I have never been able to forgive them for the murder of my boy. Spock says this could be an historic moment and I'd like to believe him, but how on earth can history get past people like me? He sets up a photo of DAVID next to his berth. A delicate COUGH. Kirk realizes he's not alone. Swivels to face LIEUTENANT SAAVIK standing in the bulkhead doorway. LT. SAAVIK Sorry - KIRK Come on, Saavik, you COULD knock - LT. SAAVIK We're almost at the rendezvous - I thought you'd want to know... KIRK Right - He gets up and puts on his jacket. She watches. LT. SAAVIK Permission to speak freely, sir? He doesn't stop her. LT. SAAVIK (continuing) I gather you are not enthusiastic about the assignment... I don't think many on board are. KIRK You piloted well out of spacedock, Lieutenant - LT. SAAVIK (almost smiles) I always wanted to try that. KIRK (passing her) Only don't try putting words in my mouth. And leaves her with that. 33 INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE SPOCK'S QUARTERS 33 Saavik approaches; this time she's smart enough to KNOCK. SPOCK'S VOICE Enter. 34 INT. SPOCK'S QUARTERS 34 In contrast with his Spartan personality, the room is a voluptuous incense-laden lair, filled with curtains and smoke. Spock lights a votive candle; surveys her. He is out of uniform. SPOCK You have done well, Saavik. As your sponsor at the Academy I have followed your career with... satisfaction. And as a Vulcan. LT. SAAVIK (intense) Sir, I speak to you as a kindred intellect. Do you not recognize that a turning point has been reached in the affairs of the Federation? SPOCK I am not certain such speculations are included among your duties, Lieutenant. VOICE FILTERED Klingon battlecruiser off the port bow. All hands on deck. Repeat... She's startled. SPOCK (off her look) In time you may come to view so- called turning points with... skepticism. He starts to get into uniform. SPOCK (continuing) You must have faith. LT. SAAVIK Faith...? SPOCK That the universe will unfold as it should. 35 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 35 The cruise is proceeding evenly as Kirk arrives out of one turbo-lift. Spock and Lt. Saavik emerge from another. VOICE Captain on the bridge. CHEKOV Captain, shall we raise our shields? Spock looks at Kirk: trust me. Kirk scowls at him and stares at the screen. They all follow his gaze. 35 THE MAIN DISPLAY 35 VFX VFX A KLINGON battlecruiser. HUGE. KIRK (finally) Never been this close. SPOCK The Chancellor is undoubtedly awaiting our signal. Boy is this hard for Kirk - finally: KIRK Uhura, hailing frequencies. Right standard rudder, bring us alongside... LT. SAAVIK Right standard rudder, Z plus five degrees... UHURA Channel open, Captain. KIRK This is the Starship Enterprise, Captain James Kirk commanding. 36 GORKON comes up on the main visual display. 36 GORKON This is KRONOS One. I am Chancellor Gorkon. KIRK Chancellor. We've been ordered to escort you through Federation space to your meeting place on Earth. GORKON Thank you, Captain. KIRK (does his best) Uh, would you and your party care to dine this evening aboard Enterprise with my officers as guests of the United Federation of Planets? 37 A few of the crew look around at Kirk. 37 GORKON We'd be delighted to accept your gracious invitation. KIRK (nuts) We'll make arrangements to have you beamed aboard at 1930 hours. GORKON I shall look forward to it. He disappears. Kirk turns to Spock. KIRK I hope you're happy. LT. SAAVIK Captain. He turns. LT. SAAVIK (continuing) - there is a supply of Romulan ale aboard - it might make the evening pass more... smoothly? Kirk smiles, relieved. KIRK Officer thinking, Lieutenant. 38 AT THE COMMUNICATION CONSOLE 38 Chekov leans over to Uhura. CHEKOV Guess who is coming to dinner. 39 EXT. SPACE 39 VFX VFX Both ships cruise parallel in space. 40 INT. ENTERPRISE TRANSPORTER ROOM 40 Scotty stands by the console. Kirk, Spock and Bones stand next to him. They are spiffed up. SCOTTY Maybe if their particles just got a wee bit mixed... KIRK Energize... 40 The beams reflect on the glass shield as half dozen 40 VFX Klingons, including one WOMAN start materializing. VFX (NB Separate BEAM-INS for Gorkon, Azetbur, Chang). Gorkon descends first. He is tall, splendidly barbaric. KIRK Chancellor Gorkon. The Klingons are lordly, formal; bow, taking in their surroundings. An ELECTRONIC BOSUN'S WHISTLE pipes them. KIRK (continuing) Chancellor, may I present Commander Spock, whom I believe you know, Dr. Leonard McCoy, chief medical officer, Montgomery Scott, chief engineer... GORKON (to Spock) Commander, face to face at last.. you have my thanks.. Spock bows. GORKON (continuing) Gentlemen, this is my daughter Azetbur... my military advisor Brigadier Kerla... and this is General Chang my chief of staff. Chang wears a PATCH over one eye. He advances on Kirk with a grim smile, lone eyeball to eyeball. CHANG I've always wanted to meet you, Captain. KIRK (smiles) I'm not sure how to take that. KERLA Sincere admiration, Kirk - CHANG (soft) As one warrior to another... KIRK (ducks this) Uh, right this way, gentlemen. I thought you might enjoy a brief tour... The party leaves. As they move past TWO CREWMEN... 1st CREWMAN They all look alike. 2ND CREWMAN What about that smell? You know only the top of the line models can even talk. They turn to find themselves facing an expressionless Lieutenant Saavik. LT. SAAVIK You men have work? 1st CREWMAN Yes, sir. LT. SAAVIK Then snap to it. 41 INT. R DECK CORRIDOR 41 leaving the Enterprise Science Labs... GORKON Your research laboratory is most impressive... KIRK Starfleet's been charting and cataloging planetary atmospheres. All vessels are equipped with chemical analytic sensors... GORKON This cannot be easy for you, Captain... (off the look) I would feel awkward if I had to give you a tour of OUR vessel... The man's courtesy makes Kirk feel guilty... KIRK Would you care to go topside? CHANG Very much. CHEKOV (pulling Kirk aside) Captain, you're not going to show them the bridge?? KIRK (clenched teeth) Full diplomatic courtesy, Mr. Chekov... The party passes Uhura and a YOUNGER CREWMAN. YOUNGER CREWMAN Would you want your daughter to marry one? 42 OMITTED 42 42 REPEAT 39 VFX 42 VFX VFX THE TWO SHIPS CRUISE PARALLEL 43 INT. OFFICERS' MESS, ENTERPRISE 43 A WINDOW IRISES OPEN REVEALING the stars gliding by. A HAND POURS DEEP BLUE ROMULAN ALE into Gorkon's crystal goblet. Dinner well underway. Principles from both parties are at table. STEWARDS keep food and drink in motion. GORKON I give you a toast: the undiscovered country - (off their looks) the future. All drink ROMULAN ALE, echoing "the undiscovered country." The KLINGONS eat with their fingers, scorning utensils. SPOCK HAMLET, act three, scene one. GORKON You have never experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon. Chang turns to Kirk with a malicious twinkle. CHANG "To be or not to be, that is the question" which preoccupies our people, Captain Kirk. We need BREATHING room... KIRK I beg your pardon? KERLA Captain Kirk, I thought Romulan ale was illegal. It takes Kirk a moment to regain his composure. KIRK One of the advantages of being a thousand light years from Federation headquarters. Silence. BONES To you, Chancellor Gorkon: one of the architects of our future. All drink. As Romulan ale flows throughout the scene, tongues get looser. Gorkon WATCHES. SCOTTY Perhaps we are looking at something of that future here. AZETBUR Commander Spock, mindful of all your work behind the scenes, and despite the cordiality at this mess, I do not sense an acceptance of our people throughout your ship. SPOCK They're naturally wary, ma'am. We've been at war a long time. UHURA How do both sides overcome ingrained prejudice? CHEKOV Perhaps with a few small steps at a time. Like this one. BONES And perhaps with a large step or two. Like a peace treaty. CHANG Captain Kirk, are you willing to give up Starfleet? Kirk stares. SPOCK (looks at Kirk) I believe the Captain feels that Starfleet's mission has always been one of peace - KIRK (glares) Far be it for me to dispute my first officer. Starfleet has always - CHANG Come now, Captain, this dinner is off the record: in space all warriors are cold warriors. SCOTTY We have never tried to -- KERLA You hypocritically presume that your democratic system gives you a moral prerogative to force other cultures to conform to your politics. BONES That's not true...! KERLA No? Uhura turns to the Klingon next to her - all tact. UHURA General, are YOU fond of Shakespeare? He looks at her, his hands and mouth full of food. Ugh. Chekov pursues - CHEKOV We do NOT impose democracy on others. We do believe that every planet has a sovereign claim to human rights. AZETBUR (spits) "Human rights." Even the name is racist. The Federation is basically a "homo sapiens" only club... SPOCK reacts to this. Chang is amused. CHANG Present company excepted, to be sure... UHURA Well, I suppose we're not perfect - SCOTTY (rising) Don't let them put words in your mouth - ! I haven't served 30 years in the engine room of a starship to be accused of gunboat diplomacy! KERLA In any case, we know where this is leading: the annihilation of our culture. Klingons will replace those on the lowest rung of the Federation employment ladder, taking menial jobs and performing them for lower pay... CHEKOV That's economics, not racism - UHURA But you have to admit it adds up to the same thing. BONES Don't be naive, Commander -! UHURA Who you calling naive -? Kirk stares sullenly down the table throughout this. CHEKOV We're explorers not diplomats! BONES Starfleet's killed an awful lot of natural phenomena in the name of "exploration"... SCOTTY We follow orders... CHEKOV Since when has THAT been an excuse? Diplomacy must resolve these - SCOTTY Right - leave it to the politicians to muck it up and leave us defenseless...! A COUGH interrupts the fight. All eyes on Gorkon. The Klingons conceal their amusement. GORKON (finally) Well. I see we have a long way to go. Reactions from Kirk and his officers. 44 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM, ENTERPRISE 44 Both parties are gathered, saying goodbyes. GORKON Thank you, Captain Kirk. The evening has been most... edifying. KIRK (wooden) We must do this again soon. Gorkon stares at him, smiles slightly. GORKON You don't trust me. Kirk can't look at him. GORKON (continuing) I don't blame you. If there IS to be a Brave New World, we old people will have the hardest time living in it. Commander Spock. SPOCK Chancellor. A pleasure to meet you, Ma'am. AZETBUR Captain, Commander... KIRK General Chang, a pleasure... CHANG (grins) "Parting is such sweet sorrow, shall we say goodnight till it be morrow?" Kirk is ready to slug him but turns his fist into a SALUTE. The Klingons step on the transporter platform. Chang speaks into his communicator, nods to Kirk. KIRK Energize. 44 They disappear. The Bosun's whistle. 44 VFX VFX SCOTTY Thank God. CHEKOV Did you see the way they ate? Terrible table manners. SPOCK I don't believe our own conduct will distinguish us in the annals of diplomacy... KIRK I'm going to sleep it off. Let me know if there's some other way we can screw up tonight. He starts out; others follow... 45 INT. KIRK'S QUARTERS 45 He comes in slightly drunk and pushes the button on his log. Lies on his bunk and speaks. The SHIP'S BELLS give 0100. KIRK Captain's log. Stardate 8679.15. The Enterprise hosted Chancellor Gorkon and company for dinner last night. Our manners were not exactly Emily Post. Note to the galley: Romulan ale no longer to be served at diplomatic functions. He leans back, sighs, thinking - KIRK (continuing) But is wasn't the ale. That was just the excuse we needed to say all the things that were really on our minds... SPOCK'S VOICE (filtered) Captain Kirk, you are wanted on the bridge. Captain Kirk... Kirk reacts, tries to shake himself awake. 46 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 46 Kirk enters. Glances at the main visual display: the 46 battlecruiser still travels silently alongside. 46 VFXA VFXA Saavik still has the conn. Spock is at his post. SPOCK Captain. KIRK (rubs his eyes) What is it? SPOCK I am uncertain. KIRK Spock, I'm really tired... SPOCK We are reading an enormous amount of neutron radiation. KIRK (tries to focus) Where? SPOCK Curiously it appears to emanate from us. KIRK From Enterprise? Spock remains silent. Kirk is disturbed, paces, watching the displays. KIRK Saavik, you know anything about a neutron energy surge? LT. SAAVIK Sir? KIRK Mr. Chekov, anything unusual? CHEKOV Just the size of my head - KIRK I know what you mean... 46 A photon TORPEDO suddenly streaks from the bottom of 46 VFXB the screen and hits the hull of the President's VFXB flagship! KIRK What the - SPOCK We've fired on the Chancellor's ship - CHEKOV Torpedo room--? KIRK Uhura, monitor! LT. SAAVIK Direct hit - UHURA Confirmed, Captain! 46 A second photon shoots out from the bottom of the 46 VFXC display screen toward the President's ship VFXC KIRK (frantic) Who's doing that? Saavik hits panel controls, trying to find out... 47 INT. GORKON'S STATEROOM, KLINGON FLAGSHIP 47 Gorkon, several advisors and soldiers were seated but the impact has thrown them about. They speak SUBTITLED KLINGON. The entire FLAGSHIP is drenched in AMBER emergency LIGHT. ADVISOR We're hit --! Another blast. They start floating helplessly in the air! Everything mobile RISES...WEAPONS FLOAT OUT OF REACH... SOLDIER Gravity generator! 48 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM, FLAGSHIP 48 CLOSE ON 48 TWO SETS OF HEAVY GRAVITY BOOTS as they materialize. 48 VFXA The legs inside them wear STARFLEET UNIFORMS and VFXA carry PHASERS at their sides. They SHOOT the Klingon Transporter OFFICER. They STOMP HEAVILY through the ALARMS and chaos, firing at the helpless, floating CREW... CRIES of wounded... WEAPONS FLOAT out of their holsters just out of reach in the AMBER LIGHT... 48 KLINGON BLOOD FLOATS IN THE AIR 48 VFXB VFXB 49 INT. FLAGSHIP CORRIDOR 49 where Klingon crew are FLOATING helplessly. The GRAVITY BOOTS shoot anything in their way, WALK ON WALLS, etc. as they hurry along to 50 INT. GORKON'S STATEROOM, FLAGSHIP 50 where they BLAST a GUARD at the door, SEVERING HIS ARM and enter. The KLINGONS have weapons but are floating and unable to aim. They are quickly shot as the two HIT MEN make their way toward Gorkon. 50 BLOOD NOW FLOATS about as well as debris in the 50 VFX crackling emergency lighting. A good deal of HISSING VFX STEAM... Chancellor Gorkon is shot. The Hit Men turn and exit quickly. Linger on a scene of WEIGHTLESS carnage and assassination. 51 INT. FLAGSHIP CORRIDOR - NIGHT 51 The Hit Men hurry back the way they came in their 51 awkward magnetic boots. Bodies and blood floating 51 VFX around them VFX 52 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM, FLAGSHIP 52 52 The HEAVY BOOTS step on the platform and de-materialize. 52 VFX VFX (One FOOT TREADS ON FLOATING KLINGON BLOOD) 53 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 53 53 A snowy picture on the visual display, then Chang comes 53 VFXA on (still in AMBER LIGHT)... VFXA CHANG (He's screaming in Klingon, reverting to his native language under stress.) UHURA He says we've fired on them in a blatant act of war. KIRK We HAVEN'T fired - SPOCK According to the data bank, we HAVE - twice... LT. SAAVIK Captain, they're coming about! 53 ONSCREEN 53 VFXB VFXB the battlecruiser/flagship now heading for Enterprise. SPOCK They're preparing to fire. CHEKOV Shields up, Captain --? Kirk hasn't moved. He's staring at the display, thinking. LT. SAAVIK Captain, our shields -- ! KIRK Uhura, signal our surrender. UHURA Captain -- KIRK WE SURRENDER. UHURA This is Enterprise. We surrender. Repeat Enterprise surrenders -- CHEKOV Captain, if they fire at us with our shields down -- KIRK Torpedo bay! DID we fire those torpedoes? 54 OMITTED 54 55 INT. ENTERPRISE TORPEDO BAY 55 Scotty at the console. SCOTTY Negative, Captain. According to Inventory we're still fully loaded. 56 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 56 ANGLE ON SPOCK reacting. How can this be? He checks DATA BANKS again. 56 CU DATA BANKS: they reconfirm - two photon torpedoes 56 VFX fired. VFX KIRK Stand down your weapons. SCOTTY Captain, if -- 57 ANOTHER ANGLE 57 KIRK Stand DOWN, Mr. Scott. All stop. That's an order. SCOTTY Aye, sir. Bones hurries in, carrying his stuff. BONES What the Hell's going on? KIRK I wish I knew. Uhura? UHURA It's pretty chaotic over there. There's been some weapons fire and a lot of shouting... KIRK I'm going aboard. Spock, you have the conn. He heads for the transporter room. Spock blocks him. SPOCK (blocks Kirk) I am responsible for involving you in this. I will go. KIRK (bitter) I'M going. You are going to be responsible for getting me out of this. Meantime we're not going to be the instigators of a full-scale war on the eve of universal peace. SPOCK Perhaps you're right. And Spock uncharacteristically pats him on the back. SPOCK (continuing) Good luck, Captain. BONES I'm going too. They may need a doctor. KIRK Uhura, tell them we're coming. And tell them we're unarmed. They hurry out. 58 INT. GORKON'S STATEROOM, FLAGSHIP 58 Chang and his ASSISTANTS are trying to sort things out without gravity. Chang shouts efficient orders in Klingon as he finds and tries to help Gorkon... Chang keeps himself upright by grabbing a handhold, but the stricken are still floating... A few more orders from Chang, then the lights flicker, then all the bodies and BLOOD slam to the ground as the gravitational source is restored. Lighting is "NORMAL." 59 INT. FLAGSHIP TRANSPORTER ROOM 59 VFX VFX Kirk and Bones materialize. They are quickly surrounded by ARMED SOLDIERS. Kirk puts his hands out to indicate they are not carrying weapons. They are searched as Kerla enters. KERLA Have you lost your mind? KIRK I give you my word I don't understand what has happened. BONES We're here to help... KERLA (hesitates; furious) Follow me. He leads them along the 60 INT. FLAGSHIP CORIDOR 60 same path - a scene of destruction - which the hit men took, right into 61 INT. GORKON'S STATEROOM, FLAGSHIP 61 where dead and wounded are being separated. Kerla hurries over to Gorkon, askew on a rug, blood running everywhere. Azetbur is holding him, now bloody herself (she wasn't in the room during the assassination). BONES Chancellor Gorkon! He goes to him immediately. Chang rises from next to Gorkon. KIRK My God, what happened here? CHANG You feign ignorance? KIRK WHAT HAPPENED? CHANG You crippled our gravitational field with a direst torpedo hit, and two Starfleet crewmen beamed aboard in magnetic boots and did this! WE HAVE WITNESSES! Kirk has no response, is shocked. BONES Jim! Bones is being held back from Gorkon by two Klingons. KIRK He's a DOCTOR! CHANG How can I trust -- BONES Are you carrying a surgeon? CHANG (enraged) We were until your torpedoes! BONES Then let me help! Chang hesitates; signals. Bones is released. BONES I need some light. Can we get him onto the table...? KLINGONS lift Gorkon onto his table; someone produces LIGHT. Bones whips out his medical scanner. His hands are SHAKING. A spage-age REMBRANDT painting. BONES Sweet Jesus...! He's lost a lot of whatever this stuff is... KIRK Can you - ? BONES Jim, I don't even know his anatomy. Bones furiously goes over Gorkon with his anabolic photoplaser. Shakes his head. BONES (continuing) The wounds aren't closing... KERLA You're killing him! Kirk grabs Chang before he can get to Bones. KIRK No! BONES Chancellor Gorkon, can you hear me? Chancellor...? No response. AZETBUR Father...! KIRK Bones...? BONES He's gone into some kind of arrest... come on, dammit! He tries a medical tricorder. Frantically, he WHUMPS Gorkon's chest... as Kirk et al, look, Gorkon feebly opens his eyes, sees Kirk... GORKON Are you all right? HE FREEZES; Bones looks at the scanner. It burns bright red. Gorkon is dead. Kirk is in shock: he was for real. Azetbur sits holding Gorkon, dry-eyed. Kirk has to pull the stunned Bones away. CHANG (grim triumph) Under article 184 of Interstellar Law, I place you both under arrest. You are charged with assassinating the Chancellor of the High Council. KIRK He just tried to save him! CHANG (Klingon) Take them away. They are handcuffed. Both are in shock. 62 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 62 Uhura is listening carefully. Scotty has joined Spock and the others on the bridge. UHURA They've been arrested. All eyes go to Spock. We can guess how he feels. CHEKOV Mr. Spock, we've got to do something! The others crowd in, waiting for orders. Depending on him. SPOCK (finally) I assume command of this ship as of (he checks) 0130 hours. Uhura, send to Starfleet HQ. Explain precisely what has taken place, and request instructions. UHURA Yes, sir. LT. SAAVIK But we can't allow them to be taken back to Kronos as prisoners. SPOCK What do you suggest, Lieutenant? Opening fire won't retrieve the Captain; and an armed engagement was precisely what he wished to avoid. SCOTTY At least we must keep track of where they are taken, sir. I - SPOCK I've already addressed that question, Mr. Scott. We'll e able to follow the Captain's movements. LT. SAAVIK How did you - ? SPOCK In the meantime we must endeavor to piece together what happened here tonight. According to our data banks, this ship fired those torpedoes. SCOTTY NO WAY! SPOCK Mr. Scott, you forget yourself. Please accompany me. He starts out - CHEKOV And if we can't piece together what happened? What then? Sir. Spock turns unhappily. SPOCK Then Mr. Chekov, it resides in the hands of the diplomats. 63 INT. OFFICE OF THE FEDERATION PRESIDENT - DAY 63 The FEDERATION PRESIDENT and the KLINGON AMBASSADOR. With them is the VULCAN AMBASSADOR, SAREK - Spock's father - and NANCLUS, the ROMULAN AMBASSADOR. KLINGON AMBASSADOR The Chancellor of the High Council is dead - the result of an unprovoked attack while he traveled to see YOU under a flag of truce on a mission of peace. Captain Kirk was legally arrested for the crime. May I remind you that he and Doctor McCoy boarded KRONOS ONE of their own free will. None of these facts are in dispute, Mr. President. PRESIDENT I will demand a full investigation. You can be assured we will cooperate with all our power to get to the bottom of the matter. In the meantime -- KLINGON AMBASSADOR In the meantime we expect the Federation to abide by the articles of Interstellar Law you claim to cherish. Kirk and Doctor McCoy WILL stand trial for the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon. PRESIDENT Out of the question. Ambassador Sarek, there must be some way to extradite these men - AMBASSADOR SAREK (heavily) Mr. President, I share a measure of personal responsibility in this matter, but I am obliged to confirm my esteemed colleagues legal interpretation: Kirk and Dr. McCoy were properly arrested, and the Klingons are within their rights to try them. PRESIDENT And what is the position of the Romulan government, Ambassador Nanclus? AMBASSADORT NANCLUS (wily) In the absence of specific instructions from my government, I must concur with my colleagues. PRESIDENT But surely you cannot believe that James Kirk assassinated the Chancellor of the High Council. AMBASSADOR NANCLUS ("reluctant") Mr. President, I don't know what to believe. KLINGON AMBASSADOR I am waiting for your answer, Mr. President. Long pause. PRESIDENT This President is not above the law. The Klingon Ambassador bows and takes his leave. The President is left with the two Ambassadors. SEC'Y VOICE Mr. President, Starfleet Command is here from San Francisco. PRESIDENT Send them in. Three OFFICERS from Starfleet - including Admiral Donald and the CinC - enter from a DIFFERENT DOOR. ADMIRAL DONALD Mr. President. PRESIDENT Admiral Donald...Bill... ADMIRAL DONALD Mr. President we cannot allow Federation citizens to be abducted. PRESIDENT At present I'm awaiting a full report from Enterprise. Pending that I am constrained to observe Interstellar Law. A stand off. Donald nods to another OFFICER. OFFICER I've prepared Operation Retrieve based on the rising danger of terrorism and hostility between the Klingon empire and the Federation. (hands the President a CD) Put simply, we can go in and rescue the Starfleet hostages and be out in 24 hours with an acceptable rate of loss in manpower and equipment. We have the technology -- PRESIDENT Suppose you precipitate a full scale war? OFFICER Then, quite frankly, Mr. President we can clean their chronometers. AMBASSADOR NANCLUS Mr. President, they ARE vulnerable. There'll never be a better time... Pause as the President considers. PRESIDENT I'd prefer not to be the President to push the button if I can avoid it. ADMIRAL DONALD The longer we wait, the less accessible the hostages will be, Mr. President. PRESIDENT I'll bear it in mind, Admiral. I think that's all. CinC Sir. The President looks at him. CinC (continuing) Those men have literally saved this planet - and you know it. PRESIDENT I do know it. And I'm afraid they're going to save it again. By standing trial. They're dismissed. The President puts his head in his hands...finally looks up at Sarek. PRESIDENT Do you know I agree with everything they said? AMBASSADOR SAREK I'm sorry, Mr. President. And I know my son must feel equally responsible. It was at my request that he persuaded Kirk to undertake this mission. The President looks at him. PRESIDENT I want the crew of Enterprise in my office tomorrow morning. AMBASSADOR SAREK They're still in space, Mr. President - adjacent to the Neutral Zone. PRESIDENT Then tell your son to get the hell back here before the end of the week. He swallows some pills. 64 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 64 Uhura's communications panel. Chekov stands over her shoulder. In Uhura's EARPIECE we can HEAR filtered SCREAMING! She can hardly stand the volume. UHURA (understates) We're to report back at once. CHEKOV We cannot abandon Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy. He looks at the rest of the CREW. Lt. Saavik wanders over. LT. SAAVIK (quietly) Trouble? UHURA (reluctant) We've been ordered to - LT. SAAVIK In nineteenth century France, workers who felt their livelihood threatened by machines, flung their wooden shoes - called SABOTS - into the gears to stop them. Hence the word SABOTAGE. UHURA We are experiencing a technical malfunction. All backup systems inoperative. CHEKOV Excellent. I mean too bad. LT. SAAVIK I will inform Captain Spock. 65 OFFICE OF THE FEDERATION PRESIDENT - DAY 65 The President is meeting with SIX civilian ADVISERS. MUNITIONS BUSINESSMAN You have our total support, Mister President. My factories are standing by. We can gear up to full weapons production in less than a week. PRESIDENT Thank you, Henry. Right now we're pursuing diplomatic channels... MUNITIONS BUSINESSMAN Of course. No one wants a war... AMBASSADOR SAREK If I may, Mr. President. The important thing is to keep the peace process alive. If the new Chancellor is so disposed, perhaps we can attach a rider, get some assurance that these men won't be executed. Then, in a year - SEC'Y VOICE Mr. President, you have the new Chancellor of the High Council calling. They all swing to look at the far wall, which 65 lights up as a visual display. After a snowy 65 VFX beginning, Azetbur appears. VFX 66 INT. AZETBUR'S OFFICE 66 AZETBUR Mr. President, I've been named Chancellor of the High Council in my father's place. 67 INT. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 67 Reactions in the room. PRESIDENT Madam Chancellor, you have my sincerest condolences on your recent loss. I want to assure you that this shameful deed -- AZETBUR Mr. President, let us come to the point: you want the conference to go forward and so did my father. I will attend in one week - after I've had the opportunity to master the details of this position - on one condition: we will not extradite the prisoners and you will not attempt to rescue them in a military operation. We would consider any such attempt an act of war. PRESIDENT We look forward to meeting with you next week, Madam Chancellor. I hope you will be our guest here on -- AZETBUR After recent events you will understand I prefer a neutral site. And in the interests of security, let us keep the location secret. PRESIDENT As you wish, Madam Chancellor. She clicks off. The President and his advisers are a little speechless at her strength and brusqueness. More pills. 68 INT. AZETBUR'S OFFICE - DAY 68 she's just gotten off the phone. KERLA Attack them now, Madam Chancellor - while we still can...! He unfurls battle plans... FIRST GENERAL Attack or be slaves in their world! SECOND GENERAL We can take whole by force what they propose to divide...! AZETBUR (weary) You don't seem to understand our situation, General. War is... obsolete. As we are in danger of becoming. KERLA Better to die on our feet than live on our knees... AZETBUR (quickly) That wasn't what my father wanted - CHANG (bitter) He was killed for what he wanted. That sinks in. Azetbur hardens. Faces Chang. AZETBUR Kirk must have a fair trial. CHANG Of course. AZETBUR (stony) But I want a conviction. You will represent the State, General Chang. CHANG With the greatest pleasure, Madam Chancellor. 69 INT. TORPEDO BAY, USS ENTERPRISE 69 Spock and Scotty hover over the torpedo console, looking at numbers and lights. Spock thinks hard. EIGHT BELLS SOUND. It is perfectly clear: according to the "INVENTORY" program ALL TORPEDOES ARE STILLL ABOARD. SCOTTY It's as I said, Mr. Spock: Inventory still registers every torpedo. SPOCK (musing) Yet the data banks insist we fired: twice. One computer is lying. SCOTTY A computer canna lie, sir. SPOCK I think not. SCOTTY You can check the torpedoes visually, if you like - SPOCK We'll have to check every one of them, Mr. Scott. SCOTTY That could take hours! SPOCK Nevertheless. SCOTTY And if they're still in place? SPOCK Then someone forged a data bank entry. Lieutenant Saavik descends into the bay. LT. SAAVIK They've named Gorkon's daughter Chancellor - it was on the news. SCOTTY I'll bet that Klingon bitch killed her father... SPOCK Her own father...? LT. SAAVIK Such things have happened before, sir. SCOTTY They don't place the same value on life that we do, Spock - you know that... take my word: she didn't shed one bloody tear... SPOCK That's hardly conclusive, Mr. Scott, as Klingons have no tear ducts. Before he can react. SPOCK (continuing) Any reply from Starfleet to our dispatch, Lieutenant. LT. SAAVIK Not as yet, sir. SPOCK Curious. You haven't been assisting Commander Uhura with her radio transmissions, have you, Lt? LT. SAAVIK Commander Uhura has been experiencing technical difficulties sir. SPOCK Very well. For twenty-four hours we'll agree that this conversation did not take place. LT. SAAVIK A lie? SPOCK An omission. After that - SCOTTY Twenty-four hours from now we won't have a clue where the Captain is. SPOCK I know precisely where he'll be. Scotty and Lieutenant Saavik react. SCOTTY You do? Where? 70 TIGHT ON KIRK'S EYES. JUMP BACK TO REVEAL 70 VFX VFX THE KLINGON EMPIRE IN ALL ITS BARBARIC SPLENDOR A cavernous stadium arranged in circular tiers cut from jagged stone. A place from a bygone age, of savage and awesome beauty. Something between a CIRCUS and a CATHEDRAL. ... turned for the occasion into a gigantic COURTROOM with thousands of spectators... SCREAMING: "KIRK! KIRK! KIRK! Many in the AUDIENCE hold SPEARS with lighted HEADS. Kirk and Bones in the dock, stand in the bottom at the very center of the circle, surrounded by a Klingon AUDIENCE in rising tiers, while HOODED KLINGON JUDGES sit invisible in a darkened dugout. (One Judge is an ALBINO.) CHANG wears the prosecutor's mantle. In the audience is President Azetbur and her ADVISORS. The trial is being BROADCAST and special CAMERAS abound. Near Kirk and Bones sit their young, eager Klingon DEFENSE ATTORNEY. Kirk keeps his cool throughout, though Bones tends to steam. The rules are different. Attorneys are empowered to ask anyone present a question at any time. And to mix this up with statements and charges. The proceedings BEGIN in subtitled KLINGON. Kirk and Bones wear HEADPHONES. When they speak a TRANSLATOR converts to Klingon... As Chang gets going, we ZOOM into his MOUTH and he converts to ENGLISH... the JUDGES' GAVEL IS A GROTESQUE MAILED GLOVE. CHANG The State will show that Enterprise fired on KRONOS One without provocation, the Chancellor and his advisers having been lulled into a false sense of security with an invitation to a state dinner aboard Captain Kirk's vessel at 1930 hours that same evening. Do you deny all this? The mob howls "Kirk!" as the Judge gavels. JUDGE The Prisoner will respond. KIRK I don't deny we invited them to dinner. 71 ANGLE ON CHANCELLOR AZETBUR 71 CHANG Where you drunk at that dinner, Captain? 72 INT. PRESIDENT UFP'S OFFICE - DAY 72 72 The President and his ADVISERS, including Sarek, watch 72 VFX the proceedings unhappily onscreen. TRANSLATOR'S VFX VOICE OVER. KIRK What? CHANG Isn't it a fact that you served Romulan ale, a beverage illegal in the Federation because of its overwhelming potency? KIRK The drink WAS served... The CinC and President wince - CinC This is a damned show trial. 73 INT. KLINGON COURTROOM - DAY 73 CHANG And you still maintain your ship did not fire on Kronos One? Would you have known if she had? Come now, Captain. The record clearly there were no other ships in the sector. KIRK There... were no other ships in the sector. CHANG Did you have occasion to refer to your ship's data banks during that night? KIRK I checked the data banks, yes. CHANG And what did they tell you? KIRK (reluctant) That we fired two photon torpedoes. But - The mob howls. CHANG The witness is excused - for the time being. Chang whirls off as the Judge gavels... 74 START ON TV: INT. KLINGON COURTROOM - DAY 74 One of PRESIDENT GORKON'S GUARDS is on the stand. He is MISSING AN ARM. GUARD After the first hit, we lost our gravitational field; I found myself weightless and unable to function. Then 2 Starfleet crewmen came walking toward us - 75 WIDEN TO REVEAL WE ARE WATCHING ABOARD ENTERPRISE 75 Spock et al are receiving the transmission on their main visual display. They watch in silence. TRANSLATOR'S VOICE. DEFENSE ATTORNEY Perhaps they merely wore Starfleet uniforms - CHANG I move that remark be stricken as purely speculative... JUDGE So ordered. Colonel Worf, we are interested in facts, not theories. DEFENSE ATTORNEY If the gravitational field was not functioning, how could these men have been walking? GUARD They appeared to be wearing magnetic boots. Murmur. The Defense Attorney wishes he hadn't asked. SPOCK Gravity boots. 76 INT. KLINGON COURTROOM - DAY 76 CHANG They fired on you? GUARD With Starfleet issue phasers. They dashed into the Chancellor's stateroom, we could hear more phaser fire; then they went back the way they'd come. CHANG Towards the transporter room? GUARD That's right. SWISH PAN TO CU SULU 77 INT. BRIDGE, USS EXCELSIOR 77 Sulu and his crew are watching the trial on their visual display as well. 78 INT. KLINGON COURTROOM - DAY 78 CHANG Doctor McCoy, what is your current medical status? BONES Aside from a touch of arthritis, I'd say pretty good. Sulu has to smile. Chang is not amused; waits. BONES (continuing) For 27 years I have been Ship's Surgeon and later Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Enterprise. In three months I'm due to stand down. CHANG Stand...? BONES Retire. CHANG (soft) Ah. I believe you also consumed Romulan ale at the officers' mess on the night of question, Doctor? DEFENSE ATTORNEY Objection! JUDGE Sustained... BONES (angry) We all did. But that doesn't mean - JUDGE General Chang, come to the point or abandon this line of inquiry. CHANG Was Chancellor Gorkon alive when you first examined him? BONES Barely. CHANG Have you saved patients as "barely" alive as he was? President Azetbur flinches at the memory. BONES I didn't have the knowledge of Klingon anatomy I needed. CHANG You say you are due for retirement. May I ask: do your hands shake? DEFENSE ATTORNEY Objection! JUDGE Overruled - BONES I was nervous - CHANG You were incompetent! - whether deliberately or as a result of age combined with drink this court will determine. BONES I tried to save him! I was desperate to save him! He was the last best hope in the universe for real peace. CHANG The Chancellor herself will testify that the defendant's hands shook. 79 INT. UFP PRESIDENTS OFFICE 79 79 The President et al watch unhappily. 79 VFX VFX 80 INT. KLINGON COURTROOM - DAY 80 CHANG And now we come to the architect of this tragic affair, Captain James Tiberius Kirk. I put it to you, Captain, that you were seeking revenge for the death of your son. KIRK That isn't true...! CHANG That, either as an instrument of Federation policy or acting on your own drunken initiative, you and your fellow conspirators crippled KRONOS One and cold-bloodedly assassinated the Chancellor of the High Council. Then you and Doctor McCoy went aboard to make certain the job was complete. DEFENSE ATTORNEY Objection: Captain Kirk has not been identified as the assassin. JUDGE Sustained. CHANG I offer into the record the following excerpt from Captain Kirk's personal log. He signals. Kirk's VOICE fills the room. KIRK'S VOICE I have never trusted Klingons and never will. I have never been able to forgive them for the murder of my boy... An explosive babble fills the court. The Judge POUNDS HIS GLOVE for order... QUICK REACTION SHOTS: 81 THE ENTERPRISE, 81 82 THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, 82 83 THE EXCELSIOR - THEN BACK TO THE COURTROOM 83 84 INT. COURTROOM - DAY 84 CHANG Are those your words? KIRK Yes. CHANG Spoken by you? KIRK Yes... CHANG Louder, please. We cannot hear you. KIRK (firmer) Those words WERE spoken by me. 85 INT. BRIDGE, USS EXCELSIOR 85 85 Sulu is speaking confidentially to his communications 85 VFX officer. Onscreen behind them the trial continues VFX SULU Send to commander Enterprise: "We stand ready to assist you. Captain Sulu, USS Excelsior." Attach our co-ordinates. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Is that wise, sir? I mean, given their situation - (off Sulu's look) Aye, sir. He leaves. Sulu looks up at the screen, unhappily. 85A COURTROOM 85A DEFENSE ATTORNEY Objection, your honors. My clients' political views are not on trial here. 86 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 86 86 The trial is on SEVERAL MONITORS BG. Spock, next to 86 VFX Uhura VFX UHURA Sulu's giving us his position and telling us he's standing by... SPOCK (unhappy) He's placing himself in a most awkward position... CHANG (V.O.) On the contrary, Captain Kirk's views and motives are at the heart of the matter. This officer's record shows the accused to be an insubordinate, unprincipled career opportunist with a history of violating the chain of command when it suited him. 87 INT. KLINGON COURTROOM - DAY 87 CHANG (continuing) Indeed the record will show that "Captain" Kirk was once "Admiral" Kirk and that Admiral Kirk was broken for taking matters into his own hands in defiance of regulations and the law. Do you deny you were demoted on these charges, Captain? DO NOT WAIT FOR THE TRANSLATION ANSWER ME NOW! DEFENSE ATTORNEY Don't answer - objection -! JUDGE Objection overruled. The Prisoner will answer the question. KIRK I cannot deny it. CHANG You were demoted... KIRK Yes. CHANG For insubordination. KIRK I have on occasion disobeyed orders. CHANG And you were obeying or disobeying orders the night you arranged the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon? DEFENSE ATTORNEY (overlapping) I object -! KIRK (overlapping) I was unaware of the assassination until I boarded his ship! CHANG (overlapping) You deny Enterprise fired on KRONOS One? KIRK Well, I - CHANG (overlapping) You deny that your men beamed aboard KRONOS One and shot the Chancellor? KIRK I cannot confirm or deny actions which I did not witness. CHANG Captain Kirk, are you aware that under Federation law, the Captain of a Starship is considered responsible for the actions of his men? KIRK I am. CHANG So if it should prove members of your crew did in fact carry out such an assassination - ? BONES Jim! They're setting us up! Your honors, I protest-! JUDGE The defendant will be silent! Captain Kirk, you will answer the question. KIRK (heavily) As Captain I am responsible for the conduct of the crew under my command. CHANG Your honors, the State rests. An excited BABBLE. Kirk and Bones turn to their attorney. BONES Is it our turn, now? DEFENSE ATTORNEY (grim) According to Klingon law both sides present their cases at the same time; we've HAD our turn. On Bones' and Kirk's reaction, the Judge's mailed fist crashes down with a flurry of sparks. JUDGE It is the judgment of this court that the defendants are guilty as charged. Sensation in court. A BOOMING CHANT "KOOM! KOOM!" as all the LIGHT SPEARS are pointed at Kirk and Bones. Chang is stone-faced. AGAIN THE HORRIBLE GAUNTLET. JUDGE Captain James T. Kirk, Doctor Leonard McCoy... They face the Judge's box. INTERCUT THIS MOMENT WITH 88 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE - DAY 88 SPOCK'S FACE - what has he done? 89 INT. KLINGON COURTROOM 89 JUDGE Have either of you anything to say before this court passes sentence? Kirk and Bones look at each other. BONES (simply) We were framed. DEFENSE ATTORNEY (rises passionately) I wish to note for the record that the evidence against my clients is entirely circumstantial. I beg the court to consider this when framing its sentence. JUDGE (beat) So noted. In view of Colonel Worf's plea, the sentence of death is commuted. It is the judgment of this court that without possibility of reprieve or parole, you be taken from this place to the Dilithium Mines on the penal asteroid archipelago of Rura Penthe, there to spend the rest of your natural lives. Off Kirk's and Bones' reactions 90 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 90 UHURA (her eyes fill) Rura Penthe! CHEKOV Known throughout the galaxy as the Aliens' graveyard. SCOTTY Better to kill them now and get it over with... It takes Spock a moment to recover himself. SPOCK Let's see it again, Lieutenant. Saavik instructs the panel. As attention is diverted, Spock mops his brow. The CREW watch in silence as the MONITOR REPLAYS THE HIT. (sc.46 VFXB) CHEKOV (hopeless) It is Enterprise. We fired. As the replay indicates this, Spock stares... SCOTTY (anger & confusion) It's na possible!! All weapons VISUALLY accounted for. Sir. LT. SAAVIK Commander? This is most difficult to say, but has it occurred to... to any of us... that the Captain is... that is, we know his feelings about Klingons, what they did to his... Spock's gaze stops her. LT. SAAVIK (continuing) Well, it IS possible. After an impenetrable pause - SPOCK Again. Another replay as they watch. (OVERSHOULDER) (Sc46 VFXC) SPOCK (continuing) Hold. They stare at the frozen image. SPOCK (continuing) An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminate the impossible whatever remains - however improbable - must be the truth. UHURA What exactly does that mean? SPOCK It means that if we cannot have fired those torpedoes then someone else did. SCOTTY They dinna fire on themselves. And there were no other ships present. SPOCK (grasping at straws) There was an enormous neutron energy surge. SCOTTY (insisting) Not from us! CHEKOV (square one) A neutron surge that big could only be produced by another ship... UHURA KRONOS One? SPOCK Too far off. Very near us. Perhaps... underneath us... SCOTTY If another ship had been beneath us the Klingons would've seen her! SPOCK Would they? Long pause. LT. SAAVIK A Bird of Prey! CKEKOV Cloaked!? Spock says nothing. SCOTTY A Bird of Prey canna fire when she's cloaked! SPOCK (thoughtful) This one can. SCOTTY They you're talking about a dreadful new engine of destruction, Mr. Spock. SPOCK I believe I am. LT. SAAVIK We must inform Starfleet Command - SCOTTY (enraged) Inform them of what? A new weapon that isn't visible? Raving lunatics - that's what they'll call us! They'll say we're so desperate to exonerate the Captain we'll say anything - SPOCK And they'd be right. We have no evidence - just a theory that happens to fit the facts... UHURA Even assuming you're correct, Mr. Spock, why would they fire on their own President? SPOCK (decision) I want this ship searched from bow to stern. Lieutenant Saavik, you are in charge. Start with the transporter room and work your way outwards... LT. SAAVIK Aye, sir - CHEKOV I do not understand. If there was a ship underneath us, surely the assassins beamed aboard from that vessel, not Enterprise. SPOCK You're forgetting something. (off their looks) the data banks say WE fired. If we did, the killers are here; if we didn't, whoever altered the data banks is here. Either way, what we're searching for is here... CHEKOV What ARE we searching for, Mr. Spock? SPOCK You tell them, Lieutenant. It's elementary. LT. SAAVIK Two pairs of gravity boots. Spock is well pleased with her. 91 EXT. RURA PENTHE PENAL COLONY - DAY 91 91 THREE SUNS glare down on a huge vista: an ICE FIELD 91 VFX - the coldest habitable place in the solar system. VFX A small moving DARK MASS as we push in, REVEALS FIFTEEN PRISONERS in leg irons and FIVE KLINGON GUARDS with JACKAL-MASTIFFS moving slowly across the frigid plain. Kirk and Bones, likewise shackled, are among them. GUARDS and PRISONERS alike wear ragged furs. They reach a lone TOTEM and a GUARD holds up his hand for a halt. He presses an instrument emitting a high- pitched WHINE. In response, A HUGE TRAP DOOR, buried in the snow, yawns open. A KLINGON GUARD emerges from steps below and places a BOX before the gaping DOOR. As Kirk and Bones watch, the COMMANDANT of RURA PENTHE and his JACKAL MASTIFF emerge. He mounts the box. COMMANDANT This is Rura Penthe. Observe: there is no stockade, no guard tower, no electrified frontier. They are not needed. Only a magnetic shield prevents beaming. Your new home is underground. He blows a mechanical WHISTLE: in response, TWO GUARDS emerge from below with a SCREAMING KLINGON CONVICT. PRISONER NO! NOOOOO! COMMANDANT Punishment means EXILE from prison to the surface - on the surface nothing can survive. The GUARDS dump the screaming CONVICT on the ice - without furs. The weather immobilizes him at once - his cries become fainter. COMMANDANT (continuing) Below no one can escape. Work well and you will be treated well. Work badly and you will die. He leaves; the box is removed by a guard and proceeds him through the huge door and down the steps. 91A LONG SHOT 91A as the prisoners are herded after him and the door shuts, leaving the frozen vista as it was; snow flurries obscure the trap door almost instantly. Only the frozen corpse of the CONVICT is left - until it too is covered. 91B INT. RURA PENTHE 91B START LOOKING UP AT THE CLOSING TRAP DOOR - outside we can see SNOW flurries as the panel shuts with a CLANG. PAN DOWN TO REVEAL A huge underground labyrinth with an enormous courtyard surrounded by prisoner huts open to the center. PRISONERS wander freely within. The scum of the universe. Everyone wears furs, LEG IRONS and is FREEZING. On endless scaffolding above, the GUARDS. Many of the PRISONERS look like they could snap Kirk and Bones in two with one hand. Kirk and Bones step gingerly around the outside wall, watching the yard. A shadow falls across them. Their POV: It's a behemoth ALIEN. He speaks in a guttural, incomprehensible language. ALIEN Quog wok na pushnat. KIRK I'm afraid our universal translator was confiscated. ALIEN Ring notsa loskent! KIRK Sorry. ALIEN Rangnit ascru, unto pram moreoscue shondik!!! BONES He's definitely on about something. ALIEN Quog wok na pushnat!! The alien picks Kirk up. KIRK If this is your spot, we'll move on... The Alien is about to behead Kirk. MARTIA (O.S.) He wants your obedience to the Brotherhood of Aliens. KIRK He's got it. MARTIA And your coat. KIRK Fraid not. It wouldn't fit him, anyway. MARTIA Krandog aranty. The Alien puts Kirk down. MARTIA (continuing) Fendo pompsky. The Alien nods and wanders off. KIRK Thanks... BONES What's the Brotherhood of Aliens? MARTIA Prisoners from outside the Klingon system. They tend to band together. I'm Martia. She's a tall and very good looking female, boots to her thighs, exotic furs, tattered but clearly humanoid. She's smoking something; offers them a hit. MARTIA (continuing) This'll help keep you warm. You're Kirk and McCoy. Kirk takes the hit; offers Bones... it does warm you. KIRK How did you know...? MARTIA (looks around) There's a reward for your death. BONES (looks around too) Figures. KIRK We've been set up all along. MARTIA (shrugs) We don't get many presidential assassins. KIRK We didn't kill Gorkon. MARTIA (deadpan) Of course not. Anyway, somebody up there wants you out of the way. BONES I don't believe we can get more out of the way than this. MARTIA They'll make it look like an accident... BONES What are you in for, if you don't mind me asking? MARTIA I don't mind. Smuggling. Guilty. I come from Arc. Smuggling is an ancient and respected trade there. KIRK How much time's left of your sentence? MARTIA (smiles grimly) Don't you know? Everyone on Rura Penthe is here for life. Kirk and Bones didn't know. 92 INT. GALLEY, USS ENTERPRISE 92 Under Lt. Saavik's watchful eye, CREWMEN are taking the kitchen apart. All sorts of dishes and cutlery litter the place. Spock, Scotty, and Chekov enter. SPOCK Any progress? LT. SAAVIK (head shake) We've got a crew of three hundred turning their own quarters inside out, but the killers may be among them. Surely they've disposed of these boots by now. Wouldn't it have been logical to leave them on Gorkon's ship? SPOCK Even logic must give way to physics. Gravity hadn't been restored by the time they escaped. Without their boots they would not have stayed on the Klingon transporter pads. CHEKOV (mimes with his finger) Why not simply vaporize them? LT. SAAVIK Like this? She whips out her PHASER and FIRES, incinerating a POT. ALARMS and CLAXONS HOWL! Chekov COVERS HIS EARS. LT. SAAVIK As you know, sir, no one can fire an unauthorized phaser aboard a starship. She switches off the ALARM and has another thought: LT. SAAVIK (continuing) Suppose when they returned they threw the boots into the garbage? SPOCK I'm having the garbage searched. If my surmise is correct these boots will cling to the killers' necks like Tiberian bats. They couldn't make their escape without them; nor can they simply throw them out a window for all to see; no - they're here. Somewhere. Uhura comes into the galley, stepping over pots and pans. She's not happy. UHURA Did someone shoot off a phaser? Mr. Spock. He turns. UHURA (continuing) I've pulled out my - uh wooden shoe and Starfleet is screaming for us to return to port. SPOCK Mr. Scott, any progress on repairing our warp drive? SCOTTY There's nothing wrong with the bloody - Spock coughs hard. SCOTTY (continuing) - could take weeks, sir. SPOCK Thank you, Mr. Scott. We were to return to spacedock, the killers would surely manage to dispose of their incriminating footwear. LT. SAAVIK A lie? SPOCK An error. UHURA (unhappily) I'll tell them someone threw a gravity boot into it... ANGLE ON SPOCK reacting. He looks at Saavik... LT. SAAVIK Right, a gravity boot in the warp drive... She goes off, shaking her head... UHURA You understand that we have lost all contact with Captain Kirk...? SPOCK At present, he's surrounded by a magnetic shield. If my calculations are correct, he should be deep into his escape planning by this time. 93 INT. RURA PENTHE PENAL COLONY 93 Kirk gets hit in the face. It's already BLOODY. It's a prison fight. Kirk and an ALIEN are surrounded by PRISONERS & GUARDS cheering and jeering. Kirk and Bones are distinctly grubbier. Kirk scrambles to his feet and circles. The Alien swings a large paw but Kirk ducks, comes in with an uppercut. He connects, but does little damage. They circle some more. The Alien dives legs first and scissors Kirk, who goes down roughly. Wrestling, Kirk slips free. Bones and Martia watch... the leg irons make it complicated - they can also wrap around someone's neck... The Alien moves in closely, hits Kirk again. Kirk fights back with a kick to the chest, which doubles over the Alien. Then Kirk slams the ALIEN on the neck and he goes down. Kirk starts to walk away. But a paw reaches out and grabs him by the ankle. Kirk looks back and the Alien is grinning, drags him in. Stands and grips Kirk's chest to back in a giant bear hug. Surely he will crush the life out of Kirk. He lifts Kirk right off the ground. Kirk, almost gone, lifts his legs up high and swings down hard, smashing the Alien in the knee. That does it. The Alien falls to the ground, screaming and holding his knee. MARTIA They'll respect him now... BONES That's a comfort... KIRK I was lucky that thing had knees. They look back. The Alien is still on the ground. MARTIA That's not his knee. (off Kirk's look) Not everybody keeps their genitals in the same place, Captain. KIRK Anything else you want to tell me? Before she can answer. KIRK (continuing) Bones, why don't you see what you can do? Let them know we're not holding a grudge. BONES Suppose HE'S holding a grudge? Bones tentatively goes forward and examines the knee. He is without any medical tools of any kind. The Alien yells but let's him look. He manipulates the leg, then ties a kind of splint with an old rag... Kirk looks at Martia. She shakes her head. MARTIA When whoever it is makes their move, you won't be here to ask if he's the one. 94 ANGLE ON KIRK 94 KIRK There's gotta be a way out of this place... She looks at him, moves off... 95 INT. SULU'S CABIN, USS EXCELSIOR 95 Sulu is asleep; awakened by a knock. SULU Come in...? His COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER enters. OFFICER Sorry to wake you, sir, but Starfleet urgently requests any data we may have on the whereabouts of Enterprise. SULU (groggy) What? OFFICER Apparently they're refusing to acknowledge signal to return to spacedock, sir. SULU Signal Starfleet that... we have no idea location of Enterprise. OFFICER (astonished) Sir? SULU You having hearing problems, mister? OFFICER No, sir. The man salutes and leaves. Sulu stays awake. 96 INT. HUT ON RURA PENTHE - NIGHT 96 Kirk and Bones try to sleep on rude cots in a hut off the main courtyard: tattered, exhausted wrecks. BONES Three months till retirement. What a way to finish. KIRK (thinking) We're not finished. BONES Speak for yourself. One day... one night... He makes a gesture across his own throat. BONES (continuing) - Kobayashi Maru... CLOSE ON KIRK KIRK Bones, are you afraid of the future? BONES That was the general idea I intended to convey. KIRK I didn't mean this future. BONES Are we playing multiple choice? KIRK Some people ARE afraid of the future; of what MIGHT happen; (pause) I was frightened, really frightened. BONES Specifically of...? KIRK No more neutral zone. I was USED to hating Klingons... that's why I failed in our assignment. (guilty) It never even occurred to me to take Gorkon at his word. Spock was right. BONES Well, don't be too hard on yourself - we all felt exactly the same - KIRK (shakes his head; can't put his finger) Uh uh. Somebody felt much worse. And I'm starting to understand why. BONES Well, if you've got any bright ideas, now's the time to - Suddenly, Kirk puts a hand over Bones' mouth. They pretend to sleep. Something crawls towards them in the dark; they sweat... Kirk clenches his fists... MARTIA (whispers) Kirk? It's me, Martia. Kirk opens his eyes; Bones plays possum. MARTIA (continuing) Listen. No one has ever escaped from Rura Penthe. KIRK (ready) Except us. MARTIA It IS possible. He regards her warily. MARTIA (continuing) I know how to get outside the shield. KIRK Where do we come in? MARTIA Getting outside the shield is easy. After that it's up to you to get us off the surface before we freeze. Can you? KIRK Possibly. MARTIA I can't make it alone. You're the likeliest candidate to come to this god-forsaken place in months. KIRK Candidate for what? Their whispering has brought them very close. Martia is vamping him. She pulls off her fur hood... kisses him. He doesn't resist. 97 ANGLE ON BONES 97 rolls his eyes. MARTIA A partnership. Go to "C" Lift in the morning for mining duty. I'll meet you there. She disappears into the shadows. Bones, who has been watching the whole thing, gets up on one elbow. BONES What is it with you, anyway? KIRK Still think we're finished? BONES More than ever. 98 EXT. RURA PENTHE ASTEROID - NIGHT 98 the wind howls in an otherwise barren landscape. 99 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM, USS ENTERPRISE 99 Chekov is examining the platform and environs carefully. He comes across spots of VIOLET. He scrapes samples into an evidence tube, and seals it; then hurries out. 100 INT. SCIENCE LAB, USS ENTERPRISE (FORMERLY SPOCK'S QTR) 100 Spock studies the sample under a microscope. SPOCK Klingon blood. CHEKOV They must have walked through it when it was floating and tracked it back here. SPOCK This is the first evidence that corroborates our theory. CHEKOV Now we go to Starfleet? SPOCK Now we expand our search to include uniforms. CHEKOV ALL uniforms? Spock looks at him. CHEKOV (starts out) Aye, sir... ALL uniforms... CHEKOV Mister Chekov. Chekov turns. SPOCK (continuing) The longer we take, the greater danger in which we leave the Captain and Doctor McCoy. 101 MONTAGE; the Enterprise is strip-searched. LOCKERS, 101 THRU WARDROOMS, LAUNDRY, SICKBAY, JEFFERIES TUBE, CUPBOARDS, THRU 105 OBSERVATION DECK, INSTRUMENTS PANELS, etc... you name 105 it... piles and piles of CLOTHING being sorted by the CREW; piles of BOOTS being examined as Lieutenant Saavik prowls the CORRIDORS and checks off locations on a LIGHTPLAN of the ship... 106 INT. CREW QUARTERS 106 Suddenly an EXCLAMATION brings her running over. A CREWMAN has opened a LOCKER and now holds up an enormous gravity BOOT. As all watch, he puts the boot on the METAL LOCKER... It sticks. Saavik looks up at the locker and sees the name: DAX. 107 INT. CREW QUARTERS 107 LATER Spock, Saavik, Uhura, Chekov, et al wait with impassive faces as CREWMAN DAX enters the area. He is an alien. SPOCK You are Crewman Dax? DAX Yes, sir. What's happened? CHEKOV (triumphant) Perhaps you know the Romulan epic of Cinderella? If the shoe fits, wear it! Dax looks confused. 108 CAMERA PANS DOWN HIS LEGS 108 no way those webbed feet could make it into those boots. Expressions of chagrin on everyone's face... 109 INT. RURA PENTHE PENAL COLONY - MORNING 109 Kirk and Bones, their legs still shackled, walk across the huge courtyard and line up behind a dozen brutes, everyone flapping arms to keep warm... They wait in front of and then enter the C Lift. 110 INT. C LIFT (FORMERLY SHUTTLE TRUCK) - DESCENDING 110 Like the old Welsh mine caged elevators. BONES (looks for the girl) I think we've been had. MARTIA'S VOICE No you weren't, Doctor. They look around. No girl. Just a big BRUTE next to them. Plus other CONVICTS. MARTIA'S VOICE Get off at the first level and join the gang going into the mine. (explains) They don't take girls. It's him! With her voice. Kirk is thunderstruck. He stares at the Brute. 110 VFX OR MODEL: THE LIFT LIGHTS DISAPPEAR INTO BLACKNESS 110 VFX VFX 111 INT. MINE - DAY 111 Kirk and Bones climb out with the others. They follow the Brute through the labyrinthine darkness. BONES What kind of creature is this? Last night you two were spooning - KIRK Don't remind me. 112 OMITTED 112 113 INSIDE THE MINE 113 Everyone is issued a DRILL and a LIGHT HELMET. As BEAMS ricochet about, they start digging DILITHIUM crystals out of the rock and putting them on a flatbed shuttle. Kirk and Bones and the Brute do likewise, all under the watchful eye of fur-clad KLINGON GUARDS. An ALIEN next to Kirk sneaks several of the crystals into his garment. 113 A GUARD blasts him with a PHASER and he disappears. 113 VFX VFX Bones openly takes his crystal and places it on the truck, making sure the guard sees him. 114 LATER - INT. MINE 114 Kirk and Bones are filthy and sweaty. The Brute looks at them, looks around. The guards are eating with their backs turned. Kirk and Bones look to the Brute for guidance. 114 Before their eyes, he re-materializes into a TEENAGED 114 VFX GIRL. VFX 115 CU HER SKINNY LEGS 115 as Kirk and Bones watch, she slips out of her leg irons. Too bad they can't do likewise... MARTIA'S VOICE (whispers) Follow me. She puts her DRILL down and walks silently into the depths of the mine. They follow, looking back to make sure the Guards aren't watching. The girl quickly scrambles through the small hole, turns and waves them on. They have to get down on their stomachs and crawl through. Kirk goes first, turns, pulls Bones. This takes time, especially if your legs have chains on them... 116 ON THE GUARDS 116 who finish their lunch and look around. Notice a suspicious space where 3 workers used to be. Wander over. Look further into the mine. Find the hole. They hurry back, shouting. 117 INT. MINE TUNNEL - ON THE TRIO 117 The hole has led to a new tunnel and the girl rematerializes into THE BRUTE as they crawl. Kirk and Bones, still chained, struggle to keep up. They make their way to a large, abandoned opening and come out on 118 EXT. THE MINE, RURA PENTHE - DAY 118 a high ice ledge. By scrambling down the ledge and jumping, the BRUTE leads them onto the frigid snowfield. The surface environment is killing. 119 LATER - EXT. FROZEN RIVER - DAY 119 The three slip and slide on the ice across a frozen river. The ICE BEGINS TO CRACK beneath their feet... Eventually the three climb the farther bank. They are barely alive. Shaking... BONES I can't... Frantically, Kirk tries to keep Bones' circulation going. MARTIA We're at the edge of the shield. 119 They follow her look: AN ICE DESERT 119 VFX VFX KIRK Come on. KEEP MOVING! They stagger on. 119A INT. SPOCK'S QUARTERS 119A Spock, out of uniform, reclines in his berth, eyes open; thinking. His expression changes. 119B HIS POV 119B The votive candle burning in its shrine. Spock's eyes narrow. What is the candle trying to tell him...? UHURA'S VOICE OVER Mr. Spock, I've got them! 120 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 120 A blinking BLIP on Uhura's oscilloscope. UHURA (O.S.) There they are! PULL BACK. Uhura is monitoring their position. Spock, Scotty and Chekov stand over her shoulder. Spock heads for his console and starts peering at electronic charts... SPOCK They're outside the beaming shield. Mr. Scott, start your engines. SCOTTY Aye, aye, sir. Scotty heads for the lift. CHEKOV (from the helm) Mr. Spock, Rura Penthe's deep in Klingon territory. If we're discovered... SPOCK (looks up) Quite right, Mr. Chekov. What is now required is a feat of linguistic legerdemain - and a degree of intrepidity. Before the Captain and Doctor McCoy freeze to death. 120 OMITTED 120 VFX VFX 120A INT. KLINGON LISTENING POST 120A Grimly, under funded and undermanned. God knows what forsaken place this is. Rocks are lit by SCOPES... A SLEEPY KLINGON dozes before his scanners. A bottle in front of him tells the story. SUDDENLY A BLIP. HE forces himself into alert attention. 120B HIS POV 120B On the scope a BLEEPING DOT... he frowns, hits a switch. SLEEPY KLINGON (subtitled KLINGON) What ship is that? Over... An interminable pause. Now a SECOND KLINGON sits next to the first. What's going on? VOICE FILTERED (subtitled KLINGON) We art thy freighter... URSVA six weeks out of Kronos... Over... KLINGON (subtitled KLINGON) Whither are you bound? Over... Another LONG pause. They squint at the delay. 121 OMITTED 121 VFX VFX 122 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 122 Uhura and company are FRANTICALLY paging through old Klingon glossaries, manuals and dictionaries. UHURA (subtitled KLINGON) We art delivering food... things and...supplies to Rura Penthe... over... Pause... KLINGON VOICE FILTERED (subtitled KLINGON) Don't catch any bugs! The VOICE LAUGHS RAUCOUSLY. Spock gestures. Uhura returns the laugh...over and out. They look at each other. SPOCK Was that so bad? 123 OMITTED 123 THRU THRU 125 125 VFX VFX 126 EXT. RURA PENTHE ICE DESERT - DUSK 126 126 THE THREE COLD SUNS are setting 126 VFX VFX The Brute, Kirk and Bones stumble and crawl across the ice. They - especially Bones - are more dead than alive. As they pull themselves along, it becomes darker... BONES Jim, leave me - I'm finished... KIRK No way. (off Bones' look) You see this? He displays a STAIN on the back of his ragged coat. KIRK (continuing) It's the viridium patch Spock slapped on my back right before we went aboard Gorkon's ship. BONES (faint) That cunning little Vulcan... KIRK Once we're beyond the shield they should be able to pick it up two sectors away. BONES If they're even looking for us... KIRK Spock's looking for us... MARTIA'S VOICE (the Brute points to a ridge) We're almost there. Once we're outside, we'll make camp. DISSOLVE TO: 127 LATER - EXT. ICE DESERT RIDGE - NIGHT 127 the ridge in darkness. They arrive, exhausted. The Brute takes a stick out of its clothes, breaks it in half. It glows brightly like a neon FLARE. He tosses it in the middle of the area and it forms a kind of fire, throwing shadows all around. Otherwise it's dark. There is some HEAT. BONES Would you mind explaining that little trick you do? MARTIA'S VOICE I'm a chameloid. That's why we're such good smugglers. KIRK I've heard of chameloids - "Shapeshifters" - I thought you were mythical. MARTIA'S VOICE Give a girl a chance, Captain. The Brute smiles at him. 127 And before his eyes becomes the enticing Martia again. 127 VFXA VFXA MARTIA It takes a lot of effort. BONES I don't wonder. Stop me if I'm wrong but do we really have any way of knowing if this is the real you? MARTIA (smiles at Kirk) I thought I would assume a pleasing shape. (beat) We're outside the shield. Now it's your turn, Kirk. KIRK If you say so. WHAM! He slugs Martia on the jaw; she goes down, her mouth running GREEN blood. BONES ARE YOU CRAZY? KIRK She didn't need our help getting anywhere... where did she get these convenient clothes? And don't tell me that flare is standard prison issue... 127 Martia sits, rubbing her mouth... and CHANGING... 127 VFXB VFXB KIRK (continuing) It's to let them know where we are. Ask her what she's getting in return... The BRUTE gets up, rubbing his bleeding mouth - MARTIA'S VOICE A full pardon - which doesn't cover this - BONES Uh oh - Kirk and the Brute circle each other, Kirk's chains CLANKING... KIRK An accident wasn't good enough... MARTIA'S VOICE Good enough for one - two would look suspicious... killed while attempting escape... now that's convincing for both. 127 The fight is on. Problem is, Martia keeps changing 127 VFXC shapes... Kirk grabs him, holds him tight... VFXC 127 And he wriggles free as a child... tries to run off, 127 VFXD but Bones grabs it and they fall rolling to the SNOW... 127 it comes up an exact copy of JAMES T. KIRK! 127 VFXE VFXE MARTIA'S VOICE Surprise! He smashes Bones and leaps to face his double... KIRK Your friends are late... MARTIA'S VOICE They'll be here... More fighting between Kirk and "Kirk" - they clinch. KIRK I can't believe I kissed you. "KIRK" Must have been your lifelong ambition - The fight goes on! 128 INT. OFFICER'S MESS, USS ENTERPRISE 128 Deserted. Scotty, exhausted, is quietly having a cup of coffee and checking off places searched on a table map. He runs a finger around his collar. It's warm in here... Perplexed, he puts his hand over the vent. Nothing coming out. Something blocking it? Scotty commences removing the vent cover. Not easy. As he continues his efforts, he is unaware of the TWO CREWMEN we met the night of the banquet, watching. They remain concealed, pull knives... one wants to go for Scotty. The other holds him back. Scotty removes the vent cover and pulls out what's been blocking the air circulation: two violet-stained Starfleet uniforms, with names on them... Excited by his discovery, Scotty looks around, replaces the vent cover and hurries out with the uniforms. 129 INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDORS 129 THRU THRU 131 The Crewmen follow serreptitiously, CAMERA tracking 131 after Scotty through the labyrinthine corridors... 132 EXT. RURA PENTHE CAMPSITE - NIGHT 132 The TWO KIRKS are still slugging it out as Bones starts to come round. KIRK Isn't it about time you became something else? MARTIA'S VOICE I like it here... Gripping each other, they roll right into A LARGE AND TERRIFYING MUZZLE. A JACKAL-MASTIFF on a leash. Both Kirks spring apart. They are surrounded by a dozen FUR- GARBED KLINGON GUARDS with weapons. SEVERAL have leashed jackal- mastiffs. And the COMMANDANT, who walks forward. KIRK (thinks fast) What took you so long? MARTIA'S VOICE Kill him! He's the one!! KIRK Not me, idiot - HIM! 132 The Commandant appears briefly confused, then 132 VFXA ZAPS the FALSE Kirk, who dies horribly, as Bones VFXA watches. Kirk sighs. COMMANDANT (smiles) No witnesses - He aims at Kirk and Bones - BONES (conversational) Damned clever if you ask me... KIRK (agrees) Killed trying to escape - it's a classic... COMMANDANT That's what he wanted... KIRK Who? Who wants us killed? COMMANDANT Why not tell you? His name is - 132 SUDDENLY KIRK AND BONES DEMATERIALIZE! 132 VFXB VFXB KIRK'S VOICE FADING SONAVABITCH!! As the Klingons rake the place they were with FIRE! 133 INT. ENTERPRISE TRANSPORTER ROOM 133 133 Kirk and Bones REMATERIALIZE to where Spock 133 VFXA and Chekov await them, with heavy weather BLANKETS VFXA which they don gratefully. They look scarcely recognizable. Spock and Chekov are appalled. KIRK'S RISING (continuing) Dammit! Dammit all to Hell--! Jesus Christ, couldn't you wait two seconds before GODDAMNSONOVABITCH! 133 Chekov produces a LASER and burns thru their chains. 133 VFXB Spock is deeply moved to see Kirk again - though Kirk VFXB is too busy swearing as his chains are cut off to notice... SPOCK Captain... KIRK He was just about to explain the whole damn - UHURA Who-? CKEKOV You want to go back? BONES (hasty) ABSOLUTELY NOT! KIRK Come on... They start out at speed. 133A INT. BIRD OF PREY BRIDGE 133A CU BACK OF A KLINGON HEAD. Klingon is SPOKEN. VOICE Escaped? He's talking to the Prison Commandant onscreen. COMMANDANT They were beamed aboard a Federation starship! I could trace - THE KLINGON hits a button and the COMMANDANT disappears. The chair swivels REVEALING CHANG. He faces the 2nd KLINGON GENERAL we met in Azetbur's office. (Sc.68) CHANG Escaped. SECOND KLINGON GENERAL It does not matter. Kirk cannot know the location. CHANG (softly) Are you sure? Are you willing to take that chance? The General hesitates; decides. SECOND KLINGON GENERAL Helmsman, new course! Engage cloaking device. 133B EXT. SPACE 133B The Bird of Prey wheels about, DISAPPEARING...! 134 INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDOR 134 Kirk, Spock et al walk briskly. SPOCK The Klingons have a new weapon: a Bird of Prey that can fire while cloaked. She torpedoed Gorkon's ship. KIRK So, that's it.. Scotty runs up, carrying the bloodstained uniforms. SCOTTY Captain - ! Mr. Spock, I've found the missing uniforms with Klingon blood on them! They belong to - They round the corner and all STOP SHORT. 135 THEIR POV 135 the TWO CREWMEN who were stalking Scotty lie dead. Bones kneels, conducting a hasty examination. SCOTTY (continuing) But - the uniforms - they belong to these men! (checks the names) Burke and Samno! BONES Not any more. Phaser rifle on "Stun" - at close range. CHEKOV Get close enough to a man and you can kill him on "Stun" without setting off the alarm - of course you can't get rid of the body... KIRK First rule of assassination: always kill the assassins. SCOTTY Now we're back to square one. Kirk looks at Spock meaningfully. KIRK Can I talk to you? As they watch, Kirk and Spock move down the corridor and confer in an undertone. 136 CU SPOCK 136 pulls back. SPOCK (white) I knew it. PA VOICE OVER Attention: Court Recorder to sick bay. Yeomen Burke and Samno have been shot and wish to make statements. CODE BLUE URGENT; deposition required at once for Yeomen Burke and Samno. Wounds are serious. Court Recorder to sick bay on the double. 136B VARIOUS ANGLES 136B CREW reacting ALL OVER THE SHIP... to various PA's... 136C INT. SICK BAY 136C All the lights are OUT. A FIGURE ENTERS, looks around. 136D FIGURE'S POV 136D TWO BODIES stretched out in darkness... THE FIGURE approaches the first body; looks down. SUDDENLY the light goes on REVEALING SPOCK. SPOCK I couldn't believe it was you. Saavik. SPOCK (continuing) You have to shoot. Saavik reacts. SPOCK (continuing) If you are logical. LT. SAAVIK I don't want to. SPOCK I believe you. Please... She produces a phaser. The other body sits up: Kirk. KIRK I'd just as soon you didn't. Saavik reacts. Bones moves out of the shadows, arms folded. BONES I believe the operation is over. 137 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 137 CU SPOCK SPOCK The charge is murder. WIDEN TO REVEAL Kirk, and Bones with Saavik under guard. The CREW is STUNNED. SPOCK (continuing) You must have cursed yourself, for having programmed our data banks, Lieutenant. Only they revealed something wrong aboard Enterprise. CHEKOV She programmed the torpedo hits? 137A QUICK FLASHBACK (TO SCENE 46) 137A we see Saavik programming while supposedly trying to figure out who's firing. SPOCK'S VOICE OVER But she was unable to erase them from Mr. Scott's inventory. The computers contradicted each other... 137B BACK TO SCENE 137B SPOCK (continuing) You were clever about the boots, Lieutenant - too bad you were in such a hurry you planted them on a Megazoid... 137C QUICK FLASHBACK 137C Saavik jamming the boots into Dax's locker... 137D BACK TO SCENE 137D SPOCK (continuing) But it was when you tried to persuade me the Captain was guilty that I should have understood. LT. SAAVIK You can't prove any of this... KIRK Oh yes I can. At my trial my personal log was introduced as evidence against me. 137E QUICK FLASHBACK (TO SCENE 32) 137E Saavik waiting outside Kirk's cabin. KIRK'S VOICE OVER How long did you stand outside my quarters before you coughed, Lieutenant? 137F BACK TO SCENE 137F Saavik, trapped, turns to Spock. LT. SAAVIK You knew? He says nothing. LT. SAAVIK (continuing) The whole time? Still nothing. LT. SAAVIK (continuing) I tried to tell you... you wouldn't listen. Spock is in as much pain as we will ever see. SPOCK Perhaps neither of us was hearing very well that night, Lieutenant. There were things I tried to tell you too - about having faith. LT. SAAVIK You've betrayed the Federation - all of you. BONES What do you think YOU'VE been doing? LT. SAAVIK Saving Starfleet. Klingons can't be trusted, sir, you said so yourself. They killed your son. They conspired with us to assassinate their own Chancellor. You'd make peace with them? KIRK (quietly) Who is "US?" LT. SAAVIK I won't allow Starfleet to be dismantled over some Klingon promises. KIRK Starfleet will be around long enough for me to convene a Court Martial on this ship, Lieutenant. Win, lose or draw it will be on your record. Long pause. LT. SAAVIK Admiral Donald. 137G QICK FLASHBACK (TO SCENE 23) 137G ADMIRAL DONALD ... to offer Klingons a safe haven within Federation space is suicide. 137H BACK TO SCENE 137H CHEKOV From Starfleet? KIRK Who else? LT. SAAVIK General Chang - 137J QUICK FLASHBACK (TO SCENE 43) 137J CHANG ... In space all warriors are cold warriors... 137K BACK TO SCENE 137K UHURA Gorkon's own man?? KIRK Who else? LT. SAAVIK The Romulan Ambassador - Naclus... 137L QUICK FLASHBACK (TO SCENE 63) 137L NACLUS Mr. President, they ARE vulnerable. 137M BACK TO SCENE 137M Spock stares at her. SCOTTY This is incredible - KIRK WHO ELSE...? LT. SAAVIK Are you all so naive? Everyone who stands to lose from Peace. Who manufactures photon torpedoes? 137N QUICK FLASHBACK (TO SCENE 65) 137N MUNITIONS BUSINESSMAN No one wants a war. 137P BACK TO SCENE 137P LT. SAAVIK Who spends millions developing the new Klingon cloaking device? (furious) The universe was a well-ordered place! (TO SPOCK:) We all knew our roles! Why change them? SCOTTY Are you telling us Klingons and Federation members are conspiring TOGETHER...? BONES In a sick way I suppose it represents progress... SPOCK (suddenly) The peace conference. KIRK What peace conference? SPOCK Azetbur has agreed to meet the Federation at a undisclosed location to continue her father's work... the conspirators obviously intend to try again... They turn to Saavik; she stares back, composed. UHURA We can send a message to Starfleet Command - LT. SAAVIK I do not think so. Enterprise has disobeyed orders and harbors two escaped convicts. Admiral Donald will make certain all your ship-to- shore transmissions are jammed. CHEKOV Where IS the conference? KIRK She's only a cog in the wheel - no way she knows that. LT. SAAVIK And no way you'll find out. SCOTTY Then we're dead. SPOCK (to Saavik) I've been dead before. Uhura, raise Excelsior. She ought to have the co-ordinates. KIRK Why would they give them to us? SPOCK The Commander is an old friend of yours. BONES (can't resist) What was it like - being dead? Spock, lost in thought, doesn't answer. SULU (O.S) This is Captain Sulu, USS Excelsior. KIRK Sulu! INTERCUT WITH 138 INT. MAIN BRIDGE, USS EXCELSIOR 138 SULU Standing by, Captain Kirk. KIRK You understand that by even talking to us, you're violating regulations, Captain. SULU I'm sorry, Captain - your message is breaking up. KIRK (under his breath) Bless you, Sulu. (aloud) Where's the peace conference? They're going to attempt another assassination. SULU The Conference is at Camp Khitomer, near the Romulan border. I'm sending the exact coordinates on a coded frequency. KIRK I'm afraid we may need more than that. There's a Bird of Prey on the lookout for us. And she can fire while she's cloaked. SULU Surely not. KIRK I'm telling you. Hang on. (to Saavik) How many of those things are there? Come on, Lieutenant, you're charged with murder... LT. SAAVIK Just the prototype. KIRK You hear that? SULU I'm getting underway now. But you should know, I'm in alpha Quadrant. The chances of my reaching the conference in time are slim. KIRK When does this conference start? SULU According to my information, today. KIRK Thank you, Captain Sulu. SULU Don't mention it, Captain Kirk. He hangs up. Finds himself facing his 1st OFFICER. FIRST OFFICER You realize you've just committed treason, Captain. SULU (serenely) To be candid, I always hoped that if the choice ever came down to betraying my country or betraying my friend, I'd have the guts to betray my country. Warp nine, mister. 139 EXT. SPACE 139 VFX VFX Excelsior explodes across the starfield. 140 EXT. SPACE 140 VFX VFX From a different direction, Enterprise ditto. 141 INT. SPOCK'S QUARTERS 141 The lights are dim as Kirk knocks. He has shaved, showered and put on a fresh uniform. KIRK Spock? No answer. Kirk makes to hit the switch. SPOCK I'd prefer it dark. Fair enough. Kirk enters. KIRK Are you dining on worms? SPOCK (finally) You were right: it was arrogant presumption that got us into this situation. You might have died. KIRK The night is young. Anyway, it was logical. (he realizes he must feel his way) You know, you're a great one for logic. I'm a great one for (shrugs) rushing in where angels fear to tread. We're both extremists. Reality is probably somewhere in between us. Spock says nothing. Kirk runs a finger over dust. KIRK (continuing) I was blind. I couldn't see past the death of my son. I couldn't trust. SPOCK (sighs) I too was blind. I knew about HER - and I did nothing. I trusted too much. KIRK You couldn't have known she was listening the night I dictated that entry into my log. You were proud of her achievements as a Vulcan. SPOCK I was PREJUDUCED by those achievements. KIRK (understands) Gorkon had to die before I understood how prejudiced I was... Spock looks at him for the first time. SPOCK Can we two have grown so old and inflexible that we have outlived our usefulness? (looks at Kirk) Would that constitute a joke? KIRK Someone said the difference between comic and cosmic is the letter "S." You haven't outlived your usefulness - to me. And you are not responsible just because she is also Vulcan - SPOCK I SHOULD have been - KIRK Not for the actions of another. No one is responsible for any actions but his own. Human beings - SPOCK But I am not human. I am only - KIRK Spock, you want to know something? Spock looks at him. Kirk kneels next to him. KIRK (continuing) Everyone's human. We're too old to play games. We're only human. He holds out his hand; after hesitating, Spock takes it, presses it to his forehead. Hard. HARDER. 142 EXT. CAMP KHITOMER, ROMULA - DAY 142 The idyllic site of the Peace Conference. Lush GREEN. A HUGE BUILDING on the horizon from within which we can HEAR MUSIC. Outside, MASSES OF PEOPLE and FLAGS... 142A INT. CAMP KHITOMER - DAY 142A INSIDE HUGE #1 POD DOORS OPENING, REVEALING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. VERY LOUD MUSIC as we follow the FEDERATION DELEGATION (GREEN), lead by DONALD, into the ROOM...REVERSE ON #2 POD DOORS OPENING, AS SAREK LEADS THE VULCAN DELEGATION (YELLOW?) in as they take their places... 143 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 143 Everyone at their stations. Kirk in the Captain's chair. CHEKOV Captain, when we get to Camp Khitomer, how will we defend ourselves? I mean, if this new Bird of Prey can fire while she is invisible...? BONES Now there's a poser. Kirk and Spock exchange looks. SPOCK I do not think anxiety is called for. (off their looks) According to my calculations we have another five minutes and twenty-two seconds to figure something out. 144 EXT. SPACE 144 VFX VFX Enterprise THUNDERS by at warp NINE. 145 INT. CAMP KHITOMER CONFERENCE SITE - DAY 145 More of the opening ceremonies. CAMERA PANS TO REVEAL POD#3 with the KLINGON DELEGATION (BROWN?), lead by their AMBASSADOR and POD #4 EARTH (GREEN) DELEGATION emerging and taking their places...the Klingon and UFP PRESIDENTS, complete with ADVISORS, RETINUIES, ENTOURAGES and ATTENDANTS. FLAGS everywhere... Among them COLONEL WORF, BRIGADIER KERLA, ADMIRAL DONALD, the MUNITIONS BUSINESSMAN and a KLINGON FACE we haven't seen before... The MUSIC THUNDERS to a halt. The place looks like the UN Security Council + the Olympics. All COLOR CODED... UFP PRESIDENT Madam Chancellor, members of the diplomatic corps, honored guests: the United Federation of Planets welcomes you to Camp Khitomer. Now that we are assembled, I move we conclude these ceremonies and get down to business. Madam Chancellor? AZETBUR Agreed. APPLAUSE! During the above, we watch the expressions of the faces of the VARIOUS CONSPIRATORS - uneasy. Other FACES...which one? 145A EXT. ENTERPRISE 145A VFX VFX SCREECHES out of WARP NINE and cruises slowly. Stalking... 146 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 146 ON the main visual display, a starfield. Kirk studies it, walks over to where Spock views his SONAR. Kirk looks over his shoulder. Spock is studying it intently. VFXA OMITTED VFXA KIRK Close enough to beam down? SPOCK Not yet... Section 4236... 146 Nothing on the scanner. 146 VFXB VFXB SPOCK Section 4237... Nothing. There's a lot of tension on the bridge. 146 OMITTED 146 VFXC VFXC THRU THRU 147 VFX 147 VFX 148 INT. CAMP KHITOMER CONFERENCE SITE - DAY 148 The POD DOORS are closed and the delegations seated. UFP PRESIDENT We are gathered here today in high hopes, believing that differing civilizations of good will can work together to overcome intolerance. We believe that with understanding and patience it will be possible to resolve what separates us. Let us redefine progress to mean that just because we CAN do a thing it does not necessarily follow that we MUST do that thing. APPLAUSE. UFP PRESIDENT (continuing) We believe that the responsibility for destiny rests squarely on our own shoulders... There's that KLINGON FACE again, looking around. He's carrying some sort of SUITCASE... 149 INT. BRIDGE, USS ENTERPRISE 149 KIRK She's here - somewhere. CHEKOV But if she's cloaked... KIRK Then all we've got is a neutron radiation surge - and by the time we're close enough to record it, we're ashes... SPOCK Captain, perhaps we're going about this the wrong way; our job is to get to the conference; HER job will be to stop us. KIRK Make ourselves a target? Spock looks at him. KIRK (continuing) Shields. Battle stations. CHEKOV (reads the display) Shields up. Battle stations. They are bathed in emergency RED LIGHT. Alarms SOUND. KIRK Mr. Chekov, take us forward, thrusters only, one half impulse power... CHEKOV Aye, sir; thrusters... It feels like walking on eggs. KIRK Uhura? UHURA Nothing, Captain. If they're here, they're rigger for silent running. SPOCK If she fires, she has a perfectly valid excuse. We're a renegade ship coming dangerously close to two heads of state during a vital interstellar conference. Dead silence, then a CRASH OF NOISE! 150 INT. CAMP KHITOMER CONFERENCE SITE - DAY 150 APPLAUSE for the President's speech! Now President Azetbur rises to make her opening remarks. The KLINGON FACE makes eye contact with ADMIRAL DONALD, who nods discreetly. The SUITCASE starts moving... 151 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE, ENGINE ROOM, ETC. 151 as before. CLOSE UPS of various faces, sweating... SUDDENLY AN EXPLOSION! The SHIP shudders, hit! CLAXONS! 152 EXT. VIEWS OF ENTERPRISE WIDEN TO REVEAL 152 VFXA VFXA INT. CLOAKED BIRD OF PREY featuring the ENTERPRISE onscreen. They are rigged for silent running - no one else is making a sound. They're bridge is bathed in GREEN light... Chang stands next to the GUNNER. He points towards ENTERPRISE, nudges the man, who nods, hits controls... 152 Another torpedo sails off and explodes against the 152 VFXB shields of the ENTERPRISE... VFXB 153 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 153 Kirk and his crew grab hold of things, tight-lipped... BONES This is fun... CHEKOV Captain, shall we attempt to return fire? KIRK At what, Mr. Chekov? WHAM! Hit again. Everyone goes flying... 153 Instinctively Kirk looks at the main display - sees 153 VFX nothing VFX KIRK Scotty, reverse engines. All astern one half impulse power. Back off. Back off! 154 EXT. SPACE 154 VFX VFX The battered Enterprise reverses field, backing away from nothing. 155 INT. BIR OF PREY BRIDGE 155 155 watching the maneuver. 155 VFX VFX CHANG (very soft) What's she doing? The HELMSMAN shrugs. Chang nudges him to follow... 156 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 156 The empty starfield. KIRK What's she waiting for? SPOCK Probably trying to figure out why we're reversing, wondering if we detect her. 156 ON the main visual display, where everyone's attention 156 VFX is riveted. A flare from black space. VFX CHEKOV Incoming. 157 OMITTED 157 158 INT. ENGINE ROOM 158 The "SHIELD" LIGHTS flicker as the room RECOILS... SCOTTY She canna take much more of this, Captain... 159 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 159 CLOSE ON KIRK reacting. Don't I know it. KIRK Sulu, where the Hell are you? 160 EXT. SPACE 160 VFX VFX EXCELSIOR warping as fast as she can... 161 INT. EXCELSIOR BRIDGE, SHAAAKINNNG 161 SULU In range? HELMSMAN Not yet, Captain... SULU Come on, come on...! HELMSMAN She'll fly apart...! SULU Fly her apart, then! 162 INT. CAMP KHITOMER CONFERENCE SITE - DAY 162 AZETBUR ... many people speculated about my father's motives. There were those who said he was an idealist, driven by visionary notions; others said he had no choice, that he was a pragmatic technocrat, making the best of a devastating situation. Great men are seldom good men. The truth is my father was both: a pragmatist and an idealist. If Praxis hadn't exploded, then quite possibly his idealism would not have found expression. Nor would mine. We are a proud race. We are here because we want to go on being proud... (grim) if we cannot make war, (smiles) we will make peace... 163 CLOSE UP 163 the SUITCASE ON THE MOVE through people listening... 164 INT. BIRD OF PREY BRIDGE 164 164 All watching Enterprise. Chang signals and the 164 VFX Torpedo OFFICER FIRES off another one. VFX 165 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 165 KIRK Ahead full impulse! 166 EXT. SPACE 166 VFX VFX Enterprise buzzes off! The Torpedo MISSES... 167 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 167 Kirk smiles ruefully... score one for the home team. 168 INT. BIRD OF PREY BRIDGE 168 reactions. Chang is startled, then smiles... CHANG After her... (beat) poor thing. Doesn't know which way to go. Shakes his head, amused... 169 EXT. SPACE 169 VFX VFX Enterprise, SCREAMING through the VOID... followed by another SCREAMING SOUND in full pursuit... 170 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 170 UHURA Captain, we can't see her, but she gives off heat... KIRK Not from a distance. She won't show up on ANY type of scan. BONES Too bad we can't SMELL her. CHEKOV In space, no one can hear you sweat. KIRK It's a pity Starships were never equipped with bloodhounds... WHAM! Hit again... Everybody grabs onto something... SPOCK I don't think Starfleet could have envisioned our current predicament. UHURA Maybe we should write them a letter? SCOTTY'S VOICE Better post date it. WHAM!... even harder this time... Spock thinks... SPOCK Under impulse power she expends fuel like any other ship. We call it "Plasma" - I do not know the Klingon name for it, but by any name it is merely ionized gas. UHURA Well, what about all that atmospheric equipment we're carrying to catalogue gaseous anomalies? They look at each other like she's crazy. Then - BONES (starts out) I'm going to perform surgery on a torpedo - you never know... SPOCK (going with him) You may need assistance, doctor... BONES (he's been waiting all his life) Fascinating... They race out as the ship is HIT again... KIRK Mr. Chekov, slow down. Take us forward, thrusters only, one quarter impulse power. CHEKOV Aye, sir; thrusters... 171 INT. KHITOMER CONFERENCE SITE - DAY 171 APPLAUSE for Azetbur's speech! Donald looks around. Sees THE FACE... nods discreetly... The UFP President applauds... he's vulnerable... the face moves OFF... CinC Starfleet rises to speak, blocking the President... 172 EXT. SPACE 172 VFX VFX Enterprise moving slowly, alone. Beat. WHAM! Hit again. 173 INT. ENETERPRISE CORRIDORS OUTSIDE THE LAB 173 Bones and Spock emerge with a bulky HEAT SENSOR and run down the shaking corridors... BONES Bet you wish you'd stood in bed... SPOCK Vulcans sleep lying down... For a moment Bones buys it - then, on their backs - BONES Spock, that was actually funny. SPOCK We DO sleep lying down. WHAM - they almost fall over. 174 INT. ENGINEERING, ENTERPRISE 174 Scotty and his men have obviously felt the impact as well. Some "SHIELD" lights are blinking off. SCOTTY Captain, she's packing quite a wallop. Shields weakening. 175 EXT. ENTERPRISE 175 VFX VFX scarred, trace lines of torpedo visible. WIDEN TO REVEAL 175 INT. EXCELSIOR BRIDGE 175 Sulu, et al, watching. SULU Shields up. Tell them the Cavalry's here. 175A A torpedo flashes out of nothing... 175A VFX VFX 176 INT. BIRD OF PREY 176 176 Chang watches it go by. Sees Excelsior as well 176 VFX as Enterprise. VFX CHANG So. He points to Excelsior, nudges the gunner, who fires. 177 They see Excelsior's shields take the torpedo HIT. 177 VFX VFX KIRK Hold us steady, Mr. Scott. Ready to fire... Bones...! Reactions from the battered CREW... 178 OMITTED 178 179 CLOSE UP 179 a hand opening a CASE: inside, the disassembled parts of a rifle PHASER with telescopic mount. We don't know where we are exactly, but we can HEAR the CONFERENCE ECHOING - 180 INT. ENTERPRISE TORPEDO BAY 180 Bones and Spock DESCEND ON THE TORPEDO LIFT WITH A TORPEDO, frantically trying to drill a hole in its nose to accommodate an ATMOSPHERE SENSOR as the whole bay TREMBLES with the hit... KIRK'S VOICE OVER Bones, where's my torpedo? BONES Me and my big mouth... SPOCK Calm yourself, doctor, the operation is almost complete... BONES (one final twist) Thank you, nurse. Jim, she's ready! Lock and load! They jump off the lift and out of the way as the torpedo starts forward. BONES (continuing) Pity they're retiring us just as I was starting to understand you, Spock... SPOCK (agreeing) We WERE beginning to hit our stride together, doctor... 181 INT. ENGINE ROOM (FORMERLY ENTERPRISE BRIDGE) 181 We can see the SHIELD lights dimming... SCOTTY (frantic) Shields collapsing...! 181 Even as he speaks, the Bird of Prey, fires at 181 VFX Enterprise. The photon trajectory is clear VFX 182 EXT. SPACE 182 VFX VFX ENTERPRISE TAKES ANOTHER HIT.... 183 INT. ENTERPRISE OFFICERS MESS (?) 183 NO SHIELDS this time! EXPLODES! WOW. AUTOTIGHT BULKHEAD DOORS CLOSE, PROTECTING THE VESSEL FROM SPACE EXPOSURE. SMOKE, LIQUIDS SQUIRTING EVERYWHERE... Things tumbling off shelves, out of overheads...DOORS WHOOSHING CLOSED! 184 INT. BIRD OF PREY 184 Chang smiles; this is more like it...he can see the Enterprise is damaged... VFX OMITTED VFX 185 INT. CAMP KHITOMER - DAY 185 The HANDS assembling the special phaser... 186 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 186 KIRK Fire! CLOSE UP a hand pushes a button... 187 CLOSE UP 187 another hand on a phaser trigger... 188 EXT. SPACE 188 VFX VFX Enterprise's torpedo tracks the HEAT; it goes in a strange trajectory but then again we can't see what it's heading towards... 189 INT. BIRD OF PREY BRIDGE 189 189 As Chang watches in FASCINATION, the damn thing 189 VFX circles and heads right for them! He realizes... VFX CHANG ... "or NOT to be..." 190 EXT. SPACE 190 VFX VFX Enterprise fires a direct hit, an the Bird of Prey is illuminated in the firelight. She spins around, trying to regain her position, DEBRIS fragmenting... 191 INT. BRIDGE, USS EXCELSIOR 191 SULU Aim for the center of that explosion and FIRE! 192 EXT. SPACE 192 VFX VFX Excelsior and Enterprise, having trapped the "black hole" in a triangle between them, fire. The Bird of Prey suddenly blows apart. As she explodes she DECLOAKS... 193 INT. CAMP KHITOMER - DAY 193 193 Kirk et al MATERIALIZE and starts running through 193 VFX masses of PEOPLE who are too startled to stop them ... VFX 194 CU THE TRIGGER FINGER 194 tightening as... ... KIRK fights his way to the center of the room! KIRK Mr. President! He flings his body on the President, pushing him out of the way, just as the phaser FIRES... Panic in the room, PEOPLE SCRAMBLING. ADMIRAL DONALD Arrest those men! SPOCK Arrest yourself. He stands aside to reveal LT. SAAVIK in handcuffs. BONES We've got a full confession. 195 THE ASSASSIN'S NICHE 195 he turns to run, but SCOTTY whirls and fires! As all GASP, the ASSASSIN sways, falls off the balcony, clutching his face where the PHASER HIT, and SCREAMING... The KLINGON FACE COMES MELTING OFF REVEALING the STARFLEET OFFICER who prepared OPERATION "RETRIEVE". Not a Klingon, after all. The other conspirators race for the EXIT, only to be blocked by 196 SULU 196 196 as he MATERIALIZES, phaser in hand - 196 VFX VFX SULU Just a minute. The conspirators race in another direction: they are blocked by KERLA... and Bones - KERLA And you. 197 PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS MOVE IN... 197 The UFP President stands up, stares with disbelief. So does President Azetbur. PRESIDENT AZETBUR What's the meaning of this? KIRK It's about the future, Madam Chancellor. Some people think the future means the end of history. Kirk walks up to the ROMULAN AMBASSADOR, now under guard - KIRK (continuing) But we haven't run out of history just yet. (remembers) Your father quoted Hamlet: he called the future - "the undiscovered country"... SPOCK I always assumed Hamlet meant death. KIRK Gorkon thought the undiscovered country might mean something else - another kin of life. People can be very frightened of change. I know I was. He walks to Saavik. KIRK (continuing) There's an old expression: it takes one to know one. When Saavik looks at Kirk there are tears in her eyes. He turns to Azetbur. AZETBUR You've restored my father's faith. KIRK You've restored my son's. 198 EXT. SPACE 198 VFX VFX Enterprise, her hull blackened with torpedo scars, idles next to the MUCH LARGER EXCELSIOR. 199 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 199 They're back. UHURA They might as well arrest me, too; I felt like Lieutenant Saavik. SPOCK (pointed) But you didn't join a conspiracy. BONES (half for Spock) They don't arrest people for having feelings. CHEKOV If they did we'd all have to turn ourselves in. How CAN we rely on them? KIRK (looks at Spock) The only way to find out if a man's trustworthy... SPOCK ... is to trust him. A wintry smile. SULU'S VOICE Captain Kirk...? KIRK Kirk here. 199 SULU APPEARS ON THE SCREEN 199 VFX VFX KIRK (continuing) As much to the crew of the Enterprise, I owe you my thanks, Captain Sulu. SULU Nice to see you in action one more time, Captain Kirk. Take care. 200 EXT. SPACE 200 VFX VFX Excelsior gets underway with a roar. 201 INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE 201 all watch. VFX OMITTED VFX BONES By God, that's a big ship. SCOTTY Not so big as her Captain, I think. KIRK Time we got underway ourselves, gentlemen. (stretches) Once again, we've saved civilization as we know it. BONES And the good news is they're not going to prosecute. KIRK (sighs) To be - SPOCK Or not to be - BONES That's the question - CHEKOV Course heading, Captain? KIRK (smiles) Second star to the right - and straight on till morning... 202 EXT. SPACE 202 VFXA VFXA The battered Enterprise makes way. KIRK'S VOICE OVER Captain's log, U.S.S. Enterprise, Stardate 8769.24. This is the final cruise of the Starship Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of a new generation. To them and their posterity will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun and journey to ALL the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man... where no ONE has gone before. 202 The signature William Shatner scrawls across 202 VFX the screen, still featuring the moving VFX starfield. Then Leonard Nimoy, then DeForest Kelley's, James Doohan's, George Takei's, Walter Koenig's, Nichelle Nichols'... one by one... The signatures grow smaller and smaller as the galaxy races by, and they disappear into the distance. ROLL END CREDITS THE END