ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
INT. ENTERPRISE – SICKBAY
We resume with the familiar contours of the medical bay. Atop one of the biobeds is Crewman Edwell. He is staring at the ceiling, unblinking. As we focus on him, we can't help but to note that his pupils are once again dilated far beyond normal. As we hold on him, we can hear voices.
MALE VOICE (OS)
Get your ass over here, Tommy!
FEMALE VOICE (OS)
Yeah! It's your turn to deal!
Edwell blinks once and tears of blood leak from his odd-looking eyes.
INT. EAGLE - GALLEY
And suddenly, we're in the past, in a memory of fifty-three years gone. The colors are strangely muted (as befits a flashback) and Master Chief Granholm is glowering at a plain-looking woman wearing chief petty officer rank. A stack of poker chips is piled in front of her and she's giving the master chief a mocking grin. Next to her is a dark-skinned man wearing petty officer rank. All three of them are looking toward the camera.
GRANHOLM
I want a better hand this time! None of that crap that I got dealt last hand.
FEMALE
(laughing)
Are you trying to get him to cheat for you?
We move forward, toward the table and realize that we're seeing this through Edwell's eyes.
INT. ENTERPRISE – SICKBAY
We return to the present as the chimes on the biobed suddenly change to a single, ominous tone. As we PULL BACK, we reveal a pair of grim-looking doctors, LUCAS and PHLOX. They exchange a look devoid of their normal difficulties, and Phlox takes several steps away to the nearby communication panel. He depresses the transmit button.
PHLOX
Phlox to Captain Archer. Please report to Sickbay.
A BEAT passes.
ARCHER (COMM. VOICE)
On my way.
And, off Phlox's expression, we...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – OUTSIDE SICKBAY
Captain Archer approaches the medical facility, attention mostly centered on the clipboard he is carrying. He pauses long enough to allow the doors to slide open before continuing.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
He immediately strides toward the waiting Doctor Phlox.
ARCHER
You needed to see me?
The doctor gestures, a somber expression on his face, and we follow his gesture to a biobed where Crewman Edwell rests. Doctor Lucas gives the captain a grim look before drawing a sheet over the young man's face.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
(confused)
Wha...I don't understand. What happened to him?
PHLOX
He suffered a massive cerebral aneurysm, Captain.
(off Archer's shock)
We did what we could but, by the time he was brought to Sickbay, it was already too late.
(beat)
I'm sorry.
Archer nods, a crushed look on his face as he stares at the unmoving young man on the biobed.
ARCHER
(sad)
It seems like a waste...to have come so far and die like this.
(suddenly alarmed)
Did we do this? When we pulled him out of that cryo tube? Did we-
PHLOX
(interrupting)
No, no, no. It was nothing you did, Captain.
He gestures to a wall monitor that has an electronic image of a brain upon it.
PHLOX (CONT'D)
(pointing)
Do you see this damage here, and here?
(off Archer's nod)
That's from cryogenic failure. That freezing unit was never properly sealed.
The captain looks at him in shock.
PHLOX (CONT'D)
Even if we had been able to open that pod aboard Enterprise, there is a good chance he would have died anyway.
Archer turns away.
ARCHER
Thank you, Doctor. I'll have Trip coordinate with you for the burial.
And, with his shoulders slightly drooping, Archer walks from the medical facility. Off that, we...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - HANGAR DECK
Standing straight and bearing a somber expression, Captain Archer stands before much of the crew who are assembled for a burial in space. Dress uniforms are on every person present, although Sub-Commander T'Pol looks out of place in her ceremonial robes. Even Doctor Phlox is dressed in dark clothes. As we cut into this scene, Archer is already speaking.
ARCHER
Most of us didn't know Petty Officer Edwell. He came into our lives and was gone before we could get to know him, but he had a profound effect on us, nonetheless.
We begin ranging through the formations, pausing slightly to focus on various faces as the captain speaks.
ARCHER (OS)
His death, and the deaths of the rest of the crew of the UES Eagle, is a reminder of the danger we face every single day.
Ensign Sato is biting her lower lip, features crunched in thought.
ARCHER (OS)
It is a reminder that our job demands courage and sacrifice.
Ensign Mayweather is frowning as he stares at the casket.
ARCHER (OS)
It is a reminder that we are the pioneers of our age, ever seeking to know what is beyond that next hill no matter the danger before us.
Commander Tucker is also frowning but he's looking down, as if he were thinking of something else.
ARCHER (OS)
So, in his memory, and in the memory of all of those who have gone before, we have a duty to continue forward in this grand crusade.
Sub-Commander T'Pol is listening to the captain without apparent reaction.
ARCHER (OS)
To continue seeking out new life and new civilizations.
We're back to Archer as he stands before the crew.
ARCHER
(solemn)
We therefore commit his body to the deep, to be returned to the stars from where we came, and to where we all shall return.
He gives a discreet nod to Trip.
TUCKER
(loudly)
Detachment: atten-shun!
There is a loud CLACK as the assembled crew snap to attention.
REED
(loudly)
Present arms!
The UEM troopers present sharply salute the casket and hold the position. We can see T'Pol quirk an eyebrow at that. As "Taps" begins to play, the pallbearers lift the casket and begin marching it toward the open hangar bay door. We PUSH IN tight and focus on Captain Archer's creased face; for all of his noble words just now, he looks troubled.
After a BEAT of focusing on him, we note that Commander Tucker is silently watching his commanding officer, a concerned look on his face. And, off that look, we...
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - CORRIDOR
Commander Tucker is now wearing his regular duty uniform as he walks through the corridor. Under his arm is a large, old-style book of some sort. He is walking with a purpose.
Rounding a corner, he nearly runs into Sub-Commander T'Pol but her quickness prevents a collision.
T'POL
Commander.
The Vulcan starts to walk by and continue on her way, but Trip speaks up.
TUCKER
T'Pol.
(off her look, sheepish)
I owe you an apology.
She lifts an eyebrow at that.
T'POL
For what?
TUCKER
You were right about the currents. I didn't do enough research and made a bunch of assumptions that didn't pan out.
(sheepish)
So...I'm sorry for being such an ass.
She studies him for a BEAT before inclining her head slightly.
T'POL
Your apology is accepted, Commander Tucker.
Trip smiles and starts to turn away.
T'POL (CONT'D)
Commander.
(off his look)
I have been reviewing our mission data aboard the Eagle...
(beat)
During your time aboard that craft, did you see any bodies?
Trip pauses for a BEAT as he clearly considers it.
TUCKER
(surprised)
Aside from that master chief atop Edwell's freezer pod, I don't remember seeing any at all.
(beat)
But, now that you mention it, there should have been some bodies.
T'POL
Agreed.
From his expression, Commander Tucker is now very curious and perhaps a little freaked out.
TUCKER
Have you mentioned this to the cap'n?
T'POL
No. He is...
(beat, considering)
Distracted.
TUCKER
I know. I'm on my way to talk to him now. I'll mention it to him.
(off her nod)
Good night, T'Pol.
They go their separate ways and follow Trip to a familiar-looking door. He hits the announce button outside and, a BEAT later, we hear a response.
ARCHER (COMM. VOICE)
Enter!
The door opens and Trip steps into...
INT. ENTERPRISE - CAPTAIN ARCHER'S OFFICE
The captain is behind his desk, dressed in his UESPA sweats. He doesn't look like he's been working.
TUCKER
Evening, sir.
ARCHER
What's up, Trip?
Without asking permission, Tucker sits down in one of the chairs across from the captain. He gives the captain a long look.
TUCKER
I wanted to see how you were doing, Cap'n. You looked pretty rough at the funeral.
The captain sighs and leans back in his chair.
ARCHER
Yeah...
(beat, off Trip's look)
It was such a senseless waste. He was just a kid, Trip! He had his entire life to live and look at how he died.
TUCKER
We all knew it wasn't going to be easy out here.
ARCHER
I know...but nobody said anything about trying to tell a seventeen year old kid that everything he knows is wrong, that everyone he knows and loves has died and then burying him a day later.
(beat, sad)
You should have seen his eyes, Trip. I told him what year it was and he couldn't believe it. It was just too much for him.
(beat)
Would have been too much for me, too.
Trip is silent and the two men sit in silence for a BEAT. Finally, Archer reaches into his desk and produces a bottle of bourbon and two small glasses. He begins to speak again as he pours.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
And then, to have gone through so much pain, so much terror...
(beat)
To die in such a senseless way...
TUCKER
We all die eventually.
ARCHER
I know.
(beat, as he pushes a glass to Trip)
But I want my death to have meaning, Trip. I don't want to die of something stupid like that!
They drink.
TUCKER
Cap'n, his time was up. There wasn't anything you could do.
(off Archer's look)
I talked with the doc. The kid was lucky to have been able to walk in the first place. Phlox thinks Edwell was semi-conscious for the entire time he was in that cryo unit.
ARCHER
(horrified)
My God...
TUCKER
(nodding)
The human brain was never intended for something like that.
ARCHER
(into his glass)
Such a stupid, senseless waste...
Trip frowns and studies the captain for another BEAT.
TUCKER
It's more than that though, isn't it?
(off Archer's look)
Isn't it?
Archer sighs again.
ARCHER
Yeah.
(beat)
I can't help but to wonder if us being out here is the right thing.
(off Trip's shock)
How many have we lost since Enterprise launched, Trip?
Tucker pauses to consider but the captain continues.
ARCHER
Eleven.
(beat, frowning)
And that's not including the seventeen that have rotated back to Earth due to injuries.
(beat, a little angry)
Eleven men and women depended upon me and I let them down.
(with sadness)
Add one to that number now.
TUCKER
Cap'n...
(beat)
Jon.
(off Archer's look)
Every person on this ship knew the risks when they signed up.
(beat, considering)
Grieve for the dead, but don't let 'em sway your course.
(with a grin)
Never give up. Never, never, never. Isn't that what your dad used to say?
Archer smiles at that.
ARCHER
He stole it from Winston Churchill, but yeah. He did say that.
TUCKER
One wise man quoting another. Works for me.
The dark mood that surrounded the captain when Tucker entered has lifted somewhat and Trip smiles.
TUCKER
I thought you might want this. As a reminder of why we're out here.
He puts the book on Archer's desk.
ARCHER
What is...
(beat, surprised)
Is this...?
TUCKER
Eagle's logbook. One of Reed's SFs found it and the good major gave it to me.
(with a smile)
This is why we're out here, Jon. To explore and see things no human being has seen before.
Archer is nodding as he begins to turn the pages of the logbook as if it were a holy book.
ARCHER
This belongs in a museum...
TUCKER
(smiling)
I won't tell anyone if you don't.
The captain smiles and the two clink their glasses together. And, off that, we...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
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