ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise cruises through space, approaching a small, metallic object that drifts in the distance. ZOOMING IN we see that it’s Shuttlepod 01.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Archer watches T’Pol, his expression expectant. T’Pol finishes checking her monitor.
T’POL
Confirmed, contact is Shuttlepod One.
ARCHER
(to Sato)
Recall the other shuttlepods.
(to Mayweather)
Lay in an intercept course and prepare to bring them aboard.
(to T’Pol)
What condition are they in?
T’Pol is already looking into her holo-viewer.
T’POL
(without looking up)
Their power levels are at zero.
(beat)
Three human life signs, very weak.
(beat, looking at Archer)
The atmosphere contains toxic levels of carbon dioxide; we must get them aboard quickly if they are to survive.
Archer absently nods his agreement and thumbs the comm. panel on his armrest.
ARCHER
Bridge to Cargo Bay Two.
BEAT
CRANE OPERATOR (COMM. VOICE)
Go ahead, Bridge.
ARCHER
I need you to grapple the derelict shuttlepod we’re approaching and bring it aboard.
CRANE OPERATOR (COMM. VOICE)
Understood.
Archer thumbs the comm. panel again, closing the channel and opening a new one.
ARCHER
Bridge to Sickbay.
PHLOX (COMM. VOICE)
Sickbay here, Captain.
ARCHER
We’re bringing Shuttlepod One aboard; send a medical team to Cargo Bay Two.
PHLOX (COMM. VOICE)
On our way, Sickbay out.
Archer deactivates the comm. panel and leans forward in the command chair, watching the wounded shuttlepod grow larger on the viewscreen as they rapidly approach it.
ARCHER
Time to intercept?
MAYWEATHER
(checking his console)
One minute, forty-five seconds.
Archer taps his fingers impatiently on the armrest of his chair for a BEAT.
MAYWEATHER
Shuttlepod in range… now.
T’POL
(off console)
Aft grappler deployed…
EXT. SPACE
We focus on the aft grappler as it swings around to face the drifting shuttlepod. It adjusts as it draws a bead on the wounded ‘pod before firing both grapplers.
The electromagnetic grapplers strike solidly on the side of the shuttlepod and take hold.
INT. SHUTTLEPOD 01
We watch from the bench as the shuttlepod is suddenly jerked in the direction of the grapplers are now pulling it in, making Reed and Tucker appear to be jostled from their position.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
T’Pol watches her monitor, which displays a graphic of the shuttlepod.
T’POL
Positive lock confirmed. Grappler retracting.
His anxiety showing very clearly, Archer stands and quickly makes his way toward the turbolift.
ARCHER
I’ll be waiting in Cargo Bay Two. You have the Bridge, Sub-Commander.
T’Pol watches impassively from her position at the Science station as Archer enters the turbolift. She exchanges a brief look with Lieutenant Picard, who also appears to be anxious, but is keeping a better handle on it than Archer.
CUT TO:
INT. SHUTTLEPOD 01
We focus on the inside of the hatch. Though the window is frosted over, we can see light again. It’s just a glimmer through the ice at first, but it soon grows to a blinding light as we cross the threshold into Enterprise.
There’s a loud hydraulic whine followed by the clanking of metal. The shuttlepod is jarred slightly, and then, silence.
BEAT
We can hear voices, but we can’t understand what they’re saying. There’s a pounding on the door, and the sound of metal grating on metal. Suddenly, the hatch opens, and we can see several enlisted CARGO CREWMEN, who have just pried open the hatch.
CREWMAN (1)
We got it open!
PHLOX (OS)
Make way! Make way!
INT ENTERPRISE – CARGO BAY TWO
The three crewmen back away from the open hatch of the shuttlepod, as DOCTOR PHLOX and his medical team approach with stretchers. The first one there, Phlox climbs inside the damaged shuttlepod.
INT. SHUTTLEPOD 01
Phlox shivers as he quickly makes his way to his new patients. After a quick look, he decides that Cutler needs attention first, and runs his scanner over her. There’s a mild look of surprise on his face as he sees the readings, but this soon goes away as he turns his attention to Reed and Tucker, who are now sprawled on the floor. He runs the scanner over them and we
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – SICKBAY
We focus on Tucker, lying asleep in a bed, covered in blankets. His face clearly shows the effects of frostbite. He blinks and inhales deeply, slowly waking up.
LUCAS (OS)
(wryly)
Well, well, seems Mister Tucker has decided to join us after all…
Tucker blinks hard again and looks confused. He looks around a little, trying to focus his eyes.
TUCKER
(mumbling)
What? Where?
We change angles slightly to see DOCTOR LUCAS, Phlox, and Archer close to Tucker as he lies on one of Sickbay’s beds.
PHLOX
(smiling)
You’re back on Enterprise, Commander, and just in time I might add.
Tucker is almost fully awake now, but there’s still a little drowsiness that stubbornly holds on to him.
TUCKER
(weakly, relieved)
Thought I was a dead man for sure.
LUCAS
A few more minutes and you would’ve been, or at least the part that counts would’ve been.
Lucas taps his temple with his index finger and gives Tucker a grim smile. Tucker doesn’t seem to know quite how to react to that.
Archer steps closer to stand next to his friend.
ARCHER
You had me pretty worried there, Trip; I thought maybe we’d lost you for good.
(beat, teasing)
Thought I’d have to start looking for a new chief engineer…
Tucker gives Archer a sour look at that. The captain smiles and puts a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
ARCHER
Good to have you back, Trip.
Tucker smiles back, for a BEAT, but soon he looks worried.
TUCKER
Not that I’m complaining about being okay and everything, but what about Major Reed and Ensign Cutler?
REED (OS)
(wryly)
I was wondering how bloody long it was going to take you to ask.
We change angles to see Reed lying on a nearby bed, also covered in blankets. The two men exchange wry looks.
TUCKER
Good to see that you’re bright and cheery like usual.
(beat, to Phlox)
What about the ensign?
PHLOX
(cheery)
She’s recovering quite nicely.
We change angles again to see Cutler resting on the main biobed.
PHLOX (CONT’D)
Barring any unexpected complications, I expect that she’ll make a full recovery, thanks to you two.
(beat, off Reed and Tucker’s reaction)
If it wasn’t for the good care that you gave her, to say nothing of the tri-ox you injected her with, the ensign would be long dead.
(beat)
She’ll have to continue treatment for the damage the disruptor caused, but a few months from now hopefully all she’ll have to show for it will be a scar.
The mention of the disruptor gets Reed thinking.
REED
Sir… about Private Forbes…
(beat)
The Orions didn’t...
ARCHER
(solemnly)
No. Seems they had more on their mind at the time than collecting bodies.
(beat, swallowing)
He’s in the morgue.
REED
I wrote a letter, on a PADD I had with me.
Archer nods.
ARCHER
I think the maintenance crew said something about finding two PADDs loose in the shuttlepod. I’ll see about having them brought here.
Tucker chuckles lightly.
TUCKER
(off Archer’s questioning look)
So how are they handling the shuttlepod? Is it a total loss?
ARCHER
Chief al-Tagrib wasn’t happy with what you did to the inside of his shuttlepod, or what Lieutenant Picard did to the outside for that matter, but he’s not going to give up on it yet.
TUCKER
All the same, I think we better put in for a new one.
(beat, deadpan)
Besides, I think that would qualify as its second crash.
Archer and Tucker look at each other with straight faces for a BEAT, before both of them crack smiles. Reed looks on from his bed, considerably less enthusiastic.
REED
Sorry to spoil this little reunion, but if you don’t mind, I could go for a nice warm shower.
LUCAS
I do mind, actually. You two need to stay in Sickbay and get some rest before you try to start walking around.
PHLOX
Agreed. Now that we’ve all gotten a chance to see that all is well, perhaps we should leave now so our patients can get some rest, hm?
Phlox gently ushers Archer toward the door.
ARCHER
(on his way out)
I’ll see you later, Trip
(to Phlox)
You’ll let me know as soon as he’s ready to return to duty?
PHLOX
Of course.
The doors close behind Archer and Phlox turns to face Lucas. Lucas gives him a somewhat unpleasant expression, then wordlessly excuses himself from the room, exiting through a side door. Phlox looks somewhat bewildered, but he shrugs it off and approaches Reed and Tucker again.
PHLOX
I’ll be in the Med-lab if you need me.
(beat, pulling a communicator out of his pocket)
If you need anything, just call.
Both men nod and Phlox makes his way to the main exit. On his way out, he keys a small panel next to the door, dimming the lights in Sickbay. Once he’s gone, Reed looks at Tucker with concern on his face.
TUCKER
What is it?
REED
It’s just… I never expected for us to survive that.
Trip offers him a smile.
TUCKER
See, I told you, the cap’n wouldn’t leave us behind.
REED
I … don’t really know what to say, other than… thank you, Commander.
TUCKER
(teasing)
Thought I told you to call me Trip.
(beat)
And don’t mention it, Major. We both kept each other going.
Reed seems uneasy. He’s silent for a BEAT.
REED
Trip….
(beat, off Tucker’s concern)
You have a very disarming personality and…
(beat)
Well, part of the reason I even said half the things I said was because I thought we were both going to die.
Tucker thinks for a BEAT
TUCKER
Same here actually.
REED
Right.
(beat)
I just… You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?
TUCKER
As far as I’m concerned, it stays between us, Major.
Reed visibly relaxes. He allows himself a small smile.
REED
Call me Malcolm.
Tucker smiles at that and looks up at the ceiling.
TUCKER
Sleep well, Malcolm.
REED
Sleep well, Trip.
We watch at a distance as both men rest. On this we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
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