ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE
Shuttlepod 01 slowly tumbles through space.
INT. SHUTTLEPOD 01
The interior is dark now, the only illumination being provided by a flashlight that floats above Ensign Cutler, and the PADD that Major Reed is once again working on. Commander Tucker tends to Ensign Cutler, who’s now floating a few centimeters off of the bench in the null gravity.
Tucker wraps another blanket around the young woman’s body before snatching a PADD out of the air and joining Reed at the back of the shuttlepod. Both men are now dressed in heavy cold weather gear.
TUCKER
(trying to be upbeat)
Just gotta try and keep warm until Enterprise finds us.
Tucker offers Reed a smile, but the SF looks unconvinced. Tucker starts to absently tap at the PADD he’s holding.
TUCKER
I wouldn’t count us out just yet, Major. The cap’n’s pulled my ass out of the fire more than once.
Reed grunts.
REED
(wryly)
Fire. Now there’s a nice thought.
Reed and Tucker share a small laugh, even as they react to the extreme cold around them. Tucker goes back to his PADD, which Reed notices with some bemusement.
REED
(sarcastically)
Why, Commander, I thought you were still holding out for rescue.
Tucker looks at him questioningly and Reed nods at the PADD the engineer is typing on. Tucker smiles sheepishly.
TUCKER
Well I did say I’d write those letters if we couldn’t fix life support.
(beat)
Besides, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
REED
(wryly)
I guess that’s one way of looking at it.
The two men glance at Ensign Cutler, the fog of her breath an obvious sign that she’s still alive.
REED
I actually feel a little sorry for the ensign, not being able to write any letters of her own.
TUCKER
(reflecting)
I suppose I could write a letter for her folks…
REED
And I suppose I should stop putting off my letter to Corporal Forbes’s next of kin.
Both men sigh at the thought of writing death letters for their unfortunate companions.
TUCKER
Actually, Ensign Cutler will outlive us both. If worse comes to worse that is.
(beat, off Reed’s look)
Unconscious like she is, she’s not using as much air as we are.
Reed nods absently. His expression becomes distant. Tucker looks at him for a moment, then goes back to writing on his PADD. After a BEAT, Reed clears his throat.
REED
I never would’ve thought that my career was building toward this…
TUCKER
What? Enterprise?
REED
Yes, well, mostly that.
TUCKER
(teasing)
Never thought you’d wind up serving on a Space Probe Agency ship did you?
REED
(wryly)
Babysitting the lot of you isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I was starting out a fresh cadet.
Tucker laughs sharply and feigns insult.
TUCKER
Babysitting!?
(beat, half-teasing)
Well what else do you “Security Forces” types do?
Reed offers Tucker a small smile before becoming serious again.
REED
Usually serving as security on board military vessels, and on our bases planetside or in orbit.
TUCKER
Doesn’t sound all that exciting to me.
REED
Normally not, at least not in the last few years, but Enterprise has proven to be “interesting” enough for only serving so many months on a civilian ship.
(beat, off Tucker’s confusion)
Sometimes, I think you’re all too busy being bright eyed and fuzzy tailed at the wonders of space to mind even your own safety. Especially the captain and his constant demands to “keep a low profile”.
TUCKER
There’s something to be said for making a good first impression with strangers.
REED
That’s just it though; when you don’t know enough about the situation, it’s best to let security handle it until they determine that it’s safe enough for the rest of you.
(beat)
It’d make our jobs easier at the very least.
TUCKER
(slightly defensive)
What? Babysitting us?
REED
(heartfelt)
No, keeping you safe.
Tucker considers the major’s words for a BEAT.
TUCKER
Has it really been that bad?
REED
It hasn’t really been bad per say, just … frustrating.
(beat, offering a small smile)
Besides, I’ve met a few interesting characters along the way. I must say, I’ve been putting in a considerable effort to figuring you out, Commander.
TUCKER
Really? I never thought I was all that complicated.
REED
(wryly)
Definitely. I’ve never met anyone else who can be so damn frustrating one minute, and set you so completely at ease the next.
TUCKER
All you really need to do is sit down and talk to me for a few minutes.
REED
(somewhat shyly)
I’ve never really been one for doing that, I’m afraid.
(beat, reflecting)
It used to serve me well in my line of work not to form anything more than professional relationships.
TUCKER
(confused)
In the Security Forces?
REED
In point of fact, I started my illustrious career in special operations…
(beat, teasing)
The kind that I’d have to kill you if I told you about them.
(beat, serious)
I saw a lot of things that made me reconsider my career, so I cross-trained and transferred to the Security Forces, where things were more cut and dry.
(beat, offering Tucker a smile)
So how about you, Commander? How did your career in engineering start?
TUCKER
(thinking)
I guess in some ways, I’ve known all my life that I’d be an engineer. I was already pretty good at taking things apart before I got out of diapers.
(beat, smiling)
Not so good about putting them back together though. Folks took to putting all the appliances on the shelves where I couldn’t reach them.
Tucker and Reed share a laugh.
TUCKER (CONT’D)
I guess I was pretty focused on engineering all through high school, so it was a no brainer what degree I was going to apply for when I went to college. Getting accepted into the UESPA training program was just the icing on the cake.
The two men are silent for a BEAT. Their attention is drawn to each others PADDs.
REED
(curious)
So, who are you writing letters to if I may ask?
TUCKER
Just to my little sister Elizabeth and to Jon…Cap’n Archer.
(beat)
I was always too focused on my work to really make any friends, and I don’t really have a very good relationship with the rest of my family.
Reed shows a flicker of empathy.
REED
I don’t have a very good relationship with my family either.
TUCKER
Oh?
REED
I’m descended of a long line of navy men, and was expected to live up to the family tradition.
(beat, a hint of pride)
I knew how to handle a boat before I was old enough to ride a bicycle.
(beat)
Was never much one for the water though. Turns out that I have a very deep-rooted case of aquaphobia.
Tucker laughs at that.
TUCKER
You? Afraid of water?
Reed draws himself up as best he can in the null gravity.
REED
It’s not the water I’m afraid of, it’s the drowning.
TUCKER
Still pretty impressive if you ask me.
(beat, off Reed’s questioning look)
Learning how to sail must’ve been pretty tough if you were afraid; that’s quite a bit for a kid to put up with.
REED
Yes, I suppose you could say that. Father was proud of me, too.
(beat, scoffs)
Broke his bloody heart when I didn’t join the Royal Navy. The ocean never held much interest in me, but the stars on the other hand, those were worth seeing.
(beat)
“Guess the ocean wasn’t big enough for ‘im,” is all he’ll ever say about it anymore.
The two men share another short laugh.
TUCKER
(nodding at Reed’s PADD)
So who are your letters to?
REED
Oh, I have a few old acquaintances I always meant to get in touch with again, but the first ones I did were to my sister Madeline, and to Charlie.
Reed seems to grow more distant again, as if losing himself in thought.
TUCKER
(thinking)
Charlie? Who’s that?
REED
(tightly)
You might know her better as Major Holmberg.
TUCKER
The infantry commander from Lexington?
REED
Yeah.
TUCKER
Ah.
Both men are silent again for a BEAT, unsure how to broach the uncomfortable subject.
REED
I met her during an exercise in Germany.
(beat)
She was on the other team.
Reed looks at Trip, who is listening with interest, before continuing.
REED (CONT’D)
I was in command of the company defending Einsiedlerhof Aerospace Station, and she was in command of the mock “enemy” company trying to infiltrate it.
(beat)
I wouldn’t exactly say it was love at first sight or any trifle old sentimental thing like that. But there was definitely something when she managed to capture me.
Reed gets a mischievous look on his face. Tucker smiles back.
TUCKER
(teasing)
So, you have something for domineering women.
Reed gives the engineer a withering look.
REED
Nothing like that. I simply admire an intelligent, tenacious woman who knows what she wants, and won’t take “no” for an answer.
TUCKER
So, how did you two…
REED
About a year later, we ended up being assigned to Ramstein.
TUCKER
And things just … took off from there?
REED
(nodding)
You could say that.
(beat)
It was definitely nice while it lasted.
TUCKER
So what happened?
Reed’s face shows his sadness and regret at the mistakes of his past.
REED
I broke things off. It wasn’t … appropriate for the two of us to be involved.
(beat)
Soon after, I requested a transfer back to a ship-board duty station, and got it.
The two men are silent for a BEAT. Both of them look at Cutler.
TUCKER
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting a bit of a headache.
Reed closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.
REED
Either the oxygen levels are getting too low, or the carbon dioxide levels are getting too high.
TUCKER
Wonder if there’s any tri-ox in the med-kit.
REED
Probably. But what would be the point? It would only give us a few more hours.
TUCKER
Maybe. But that’s a few more hours that Enterprise would have to find us.
(beat, off Reed’s incredulous expressions)
Or if nothing else, it’s a few more hours to write some letters and to tell a few more stories.
(beat)
Besides, we should try to keep the ensign going a little bit longer if we can. I owe her.
Reed exchanges a look with Tucker, and sees the sincerity in the engineer’s expression. He nods as best he can (because it’s really cold), and retrieves the medkit, which is floating nearby. He opens it, and looks inside.
REED
There’s two doses here.
Both men show that they already know what that could mean.
TUCKER
(nodding toward Cutler)
Give one of them to her.
Reed pulls out the hypospray and inserts one of the two vials he spoke of. Finding the carotid artery in the young woman’s neck, he presses the hypospray to it and injects the tri-ox. That done, Reed makes his way back to his former position, taking the kit with him.
REED
Should we save the last one for her, for later on?
TUCKER
(shaking his head)
We wouldn’t be conscious.
REED
You take it, sir; you’re the most valuable person in here.
TUCKER
No. I don’t think I could live with myself.
(beat)
You take it.
REED
(frustrated)
It’s my job to make sure you survive. If that means my life, then so be it.
TUCKER
Take it! That’s an order!
Reed gives him a somewhat skeptical look.
REED
To be frank, Commander, I’m not really sure if an officer from a civilian organization can give a military officer an order.
Tucker gives Reed a withering look.
TUCKER
You listen to the cap’n.
(beat)
Besides, I thought one of the conditions for posting the military on board was that you had to respect our chain of command.
Reed gives him an expression that lets him know that he wasn’t being entirely serious. Tucker puts his hand out.
TUCKER
Hand it over.
Reed discards the spent vial, sending it off toward the front of the shuttlepod. After inserting the last tri-ox vial, he reluctantly hands over the hypospray.
REED
I hope this means you’ll take it.
Tucker makes a show of checking over the hypospray. He adjusts something on it, then pulls back the sleeve of his coat and puts the hypospray to his wrist. There’s a hiss as he injects himself, which earns him a relieved look from Reed. Before the SF can react, Tucker quickly presses the hypospray to the other man’s neck and injects him. Reed is taken completely by surprise. He looks at Tucker with shock and indignation.
REED
Crazy Yank! What’d you do!? Inject me with air!?
TUCKER
Gave us both a half dose.
Reeds shock starts to wear off.
REED
(critically)
What good will that do? We’ll both only last an hour or so now.
TUCKER
It’s better than nothing.
REED
(wryly, rubbing the injection point)
Just when you think you can let your guard down around someone…
TUCKER
(sarcastically)
You’ll thank me for it later.
(beat, nodding toward Cutler)
At least she’s set for a while.
The two men look at Cutler again. Their expression tells us that both of them, including Tucker, are resigning themselves to the unpleasant fate they think is awaiting them. After a BEAT, Tucker finds his PADD and starts typing again. Reed looks at him questioningly.
TUCKER
(muttering)
Letters won’t write themselves.
Reed watches him for another BEAT, then retrieves his own PADD, and likewise resumes typing as we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Continue to Act Four
