ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. GOVERNMENT BUILDING
The sun has just started to creep above the alien horizon. Its brilliant golden rays cast a warm gentle light on the city, giving us our first clear view of the capitol. There are hundreds of buildings, most of them well over twenty stories tall that surround the expansive grounds of the government building.
We move through the trees of the front lawn and push into a second story window, into the meeting room from before.
INT. GOVERNMENT BUILDING – MEETING ROOM
The entire landing party has been gathered in the room, and all are involved in a discussion about the current situation. Archer paces in front of the table, still looking exhausted but doing his best regardless of his fatigue.
ARCHER
The bottom of the line is this: they will not be happy unless everyone is getting something out of this.
(beat)
Granted, they will be in the long run, but they want to see something now…not ten years from now.
Archer looks among his officers to see their reactions for a BEAT before continuing.
ARCHER (CONT’D)
Ensign Sato and I have been going over the main historical events from the past twenty years. Ranging from minor disputes, to ones that nearly ended in war.
(beat)
From what we can gather, this planet has always been just one word away from hostilities breaking out.
REED
Sounds like a bad situation, Captain
.
ARCHER
You have no idea, Major.
(beat, defeated)
I honestly don’t think there is anything I can do to help this situation. It seems to me like they want conflict.
There’s a silence in the room, Major Reed glances at his people and then back at Archer.
REED
Captain, we’ll be ready to get you out of here with a fight if we have to.
ARCHER
Thanks, Major, but I hope it doesn’t come to that.
Archer plops down into the chair behind him. He leans in over the table to continue his thoughts on the current situation when the door to the room opens. An unknown woman walks in; she looks nervous and speaks with a quiet voice.
AIDE
[President Meltak requests your presence it’s an…emergency]
She doesn’t wait for an answer from Archer through Sato but instead turns and leaves immediately.
ARCHER
(to Sato)
Ensign, you’re with me.
CUT TO:
INT. GOVERNING CONGRESS OF PEACE – HALL
Meltak, Archer, and Sato are walking hurriedly down a hall of the Governing Congress of Peace. Meltak is speaking quickly, with Sato translating as fast as she can.
MELTAK
[I’m terribly sorry you had to get involved in any of this, Captain.]
(beat)
[I almost wish you had never shown up. This entire situation is embarrassing.]
ARCHER
Don’t worry about it, Mister President.
They round a corner and enter the main chamber.
INT. GOVERNING CONGRESS OF PEACE – MAIN CHAMBER
All the nations’ representatives have gathered again in the room but this time there is a dead silence among them. The situation has just become much worse.
ARCHER
(to himself)
This can’t be good.
They take their seats up front as before to discover that the Speaker is already sitting at the podium.
SPEAKER
[It seems that a new situation has developed.]
(beat, bitterly)
[Representative Gresht, you may speak.]
Gresht moves out from behind his area and into the small walkway between sections.
GRESHT
[The nation of Lont, as well as the nations of Nildat and Congrel, wish to formally declare our intention to secede from the Governing Congress of Peace.]
(beat)
[We feel that there is no longer a place for us here, this organization that claims to work towards unity yet does nothing for it.]
Ensign Sato has stopped translating in the middle of Gresht’s statement.
ARCHER
What did he say, Hoshi?
Sato collects herself for a BEAT.
SATO
They are seceding, sir.
Archer looks over to Meltak, and sees a look of horror on the President’s face. We immediately…
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Picard has arrived on the bridge and taken his post. T’Pol and Tucker are still at their posts as the Enterprise speeds along at warp. We PAN to see the viewscreen, which displays the image of the Boomer freighter. We move back and focus on T’Pol as she issues orders.
T’POL
Hail the freighter.
The image of the freighter captain appears on the screen. He looks even more ragged than before.
T’POL
You are ordered to disengage your warp engines and surrender your ship.
CAPTAIN
I won’t do that…I won’t turn over my ship and my crew!
T’POL
You cannot outrun Enterprise, Captain. Attempting to do so serves no logical purpose.
The captain laughs nervously from the stress.
CAPTAIN
I don’t want to go to prison, and I’m not going to send my crew to that fate either!
We briefly focus on Travis as he witnesses again the desperation of his “people”, before turning back to the emotionless image that is T’Pol.
T’POL
Cooperation will likely mitigate the length of your sentence, Captain. If you are imprisoned, it is not likely to be a lengthy sentence.
CAPTAIN
Maybe before, but not now. Not after we hit that ship.
T’POL
It is not too late. If you surrender now.
The Boomer captain seems to consider this for a BEAT, clearly torn.
CAPTAIN
(with a hint of despair)
I can’t.
He closes the channel abruptly. T’Pol considers her options for a BEAT.
T’POL
Helm, move us to a position in front of the vessel.
(beat)
Tactical, prepare to fire on their warp engines. Plasma cannons only.
In the background we can see the somewhat surprised expression of Tucker.
PICARD
Yes, ma’am.
(beat)
Plasma cannons charged and locked.
EXT. SPACE – ENTERPRISE AT WARP
The Enterprise is at warp with the Boomer ship not far ahead of it. In one graceful and seemingly dangerous move, the Enterprise increases speed to pass above the Boomers. She moves out a distance ahead of them before settling in her new location.
Having anticipated their next move, the Boomers open fire on the Enterprise with what limited weaponry they have. The weak plasma blasts impact harmlessly on Enterprise’s hull, doing little to no damage. Moments later the Enterprise returns the favor, firing several of her aft facing plasma cannons. The bolts of energy slam into the warp engines of the old freighter, causing them to flicker briefly.
Another barrage from the Enterprise does the job, as the Boomer ship suddenly slips out of view. We watch the Enterprise continue along for several seconds before we…
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE – BOOMER SHIP
The Boomer ship is now slowing to a virtual stand still in space, no longer at warp. Its impulse engines fire up but ultimately fail under the strain. She is no longer able to run from the Enterprise. At that moment, the EX-01 drops out of warp and slows to a stop just kilometers away from her prey.
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
T’Pol sits on the edge of the command chair. She turns to the communications station.
T’POL
Hail them again.
The channel opens, this time to an image of the First Officer.
FIRST OFFICER
We surrender! Just stop firing!
T’POL
I had no intention of continuing the attack.
(beat)
Remain at your current location. Enterprise out.
The channel closes and we focus in on Tucker, who is still a little frazzled at what he just witnessed.
TUCKER
(sarcastically)
Great. The cap’n will probably have me out on the hull painting over any scorch marks thanks to you.
(beat, half joking)
I ought to make you do it.
T’POL
(wryly)
I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused, Commander.
TUCKER
Uh huh. Sure you do, Sub-Commander.
Tucker gives T’Pol a smirk, but she ignores him.
CUT TO:
INT. GOVERNING CONGRESS OF PEACE – GUEST AREA
Archer, Meltak, and Sato are in a small guest area isolated from the main lobby of the GCP building. Once again Meltak is pacing the room. Archer stands off to the side, giving the man plenty of room.
MELTAK
(to himself)
[Gods why?]
(beat)
[I need to alert my government. We need to prepare in case they plan to launch an attack.]
Sato’s eyes widen at the mention of attack but, in a sign of her professionalism, she translates without missing a beat.
ARCHER
I don’t think we’re to that point yet.
Meltak stops pacing for a BEAT. He turns to face Archer.
MELTAK
[Maybe we aren’t, but I can’t hesitate. If they attack, I can’t be caught off guard, too many would die.]
ARCHER
Then we need to give them a reason not to attack.
MELTAK
[What could keep them from doing that?]
ARCHER
(dead serious)
Fear.
Both Sato and Meltak look at the captain with curiosity and concern as we
CUT TO:
INT. GOVERNING CONGRESS OF PEACE – MAIN CHAMBER
Captain Archer stands in front of the podium where the Speaker sits; he is there to address everyone gathered as a whole.
ARCHER
Over the last few hours, my people have familiarized ourselves as best we can with your most recent history…and it tells us something.
(beat)
It tells us that you, as a people, are much like we were at one time, seemingly always on the brink of global conflict. Sometimes, even going to war with a massive loss of life as a result.
He pauses for a BEAT to see what visual cues he can gather from the audience as to how they are reacting to his words so far.
ARCHER (CONT’D)
Our arrival here seems to have caused a flare up in past disagreements and rivalries…and I won’t leave until it is settled to some degree. I will not be the cause of your destruction.
(beat)
You see, over a century ago my people were along the same development as you, and the disagreements between the nations of my world reached a head. In the resulting war six hundred million people were killed, with millions more wounded and left without hope of survival.
(beat, looking down)
We got lucky though, because not long after we nearly annihilated ourselves, a race of beings called the Vulcans showed up. They helped us in what ways they were willing to, and because of their help, we survived. Sure, they could have done more in my opinion, but what they did was enough to ensure our survival.
He stops, waiting for a reaction from the crowd. It comes from Gresht.
GRESHT
(snidely)
[What does this have to do with us, Captain? I believe we are allowed to make our own decisions.]
Archer is taken slightly aback, concerned that perhaps something was lost in translation.
ARCHER
You are, by all means do. We aren’t here to tell you how to live.
(beat)
The point is that we are here now, and I can’t guarantee that we will be here after you destroy yourselves. Because if you go to war, and if millions die as a result…we aren’t capable of helping you the way we can now. It’s much easier to help a world grow when they have a functioning society than it is to help them rebuild from the ground up.
This seems to strike a chord with the representatives present.
ARCHER (CONT’D)
But really, do what you want. We just won’t be here when you finish, and you’ll be on your own, alone and shattered. Whereas now, we are here willing to help, willing to show you the galaxy.
Gresht frowns in defeat and falls into his chair as those around him stand and clap. Not a loud victorious cheer, but a respectful applause at the efforts of this alien man. Archer quietly walks back to his seat next to Sato; he sits down and looks straight ahead.
ARCHER
Hope that wasn’t too hard, Ensign.
SATO
I just hope I translated it right, sir.
Archer thinks about that for a BEAT, but it’s clear that he has confidence in the young linguist.
ARCHER
I think the applause is an indication of your skill. Good job, Hoshi.
Sato smiles as we
CUT TO:
EXT. GOVERNING CONGRESS OF PEACE BUILDING
The crowd from the main chamber is gathered outside, with hundreds more gathered from the city. Archer and Meltak stand near the center of this mass, with Sato nearby, faithfully translating.
MELTAK
[Thank you Captain] Archer.
ARCHER
(smiling)
You’re welcome.
(beat)
When I return to my ship, I’ll contact my people about sending representatives. Your world has a bright future ahead of it, but only if you can maintain the peace.
MELTAK
[I’ll try.]
(beat)
[I hope you and your crew will stay for a little while longer though. You haven’t been able to enjoy what my people have to offer.]
Archer considers the man’s offer for a moment.
ARCHER
I’m afraid we can’t. Once my ship arrives I’ll be leaving.
(beat, smiling broader)
That doesn’t mean I won’t be back…maybe when I get some shore leave.
MELTAK
[I look forward to it.]
(beat, to Hoshi)
[I hope you come back as well, Ensign.]
SATO
[I have to, sir. He can’t speak language.]
Meltak laughs and Hoshi smiles at her small joke. Archer stands there confused, not being able to understand the transaction.
ARCHER
Should I be offended, Ensign?
Sato gives him a playful smile.
SATO
I…don’t think so, sir.
ARCHER
I’ll take your word for it.
On Sato’s childish grin and Archer’s still confused expression we slowly PULL BACK to see the crowd as a whole. We slowly PAN UP to the sky bringing the bright star into view. With this we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
Continue to Act Five
