ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
We open with another establishing shot of the two starships. As we PUSH IN toward Enterprise, we can tell that both ships are in much, much better shape than before. Repairs appear to be nearly complete.
T'POL (VO)
Status report, continued.
Instead of transitioning to an interior shot, however, we continue to PUSH IN toward Enterprise as a pair of EV-suited figures move along the outer hull.
EXT. SPACE - ON THE HULL OF ENTERPRISE
The two figures resolve into Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol as they work on what appears to be the communication array. Flashes of light emerge from the transmitter connections as the two commanders apply what appear to be futuristic soldering guns to those connections.
T'POL (VO)
More so than any other member of Enterprise's crew, Commander Tucker exemplifies the necessity for personal trust. His loyalty to Captain Archer is without question, but he has demonstrated an unlikely sense of empathy for one who appears so emotionally volatile.
The sub-commander looks up from her work.
T'POL
I do not understand why you required my assistance for this, Commander.
Trip looks up, noting instantly that the sub-commander's expression is tightened in confusion.
TUCKER
Come again?
T'POL
This does not appear to be an urgent task.
The commander grins at his Vulcan counterpart.
TUCKER
It's not.
The sub-commander digests this reply for a BEAT.
T'POL
(annoyed)
You lied.
TUCKER
I exaggerated.
(beat)
These repairs do need to be completed, but they're not a time critical problem.
The Vulcan frowns as she glances toward the distant Ti'Mur.
T'POL
I see.
Concern is on Trip's face.
TUCKER
You looked like you were a couple words away from blowing T'Lyr out the airlock...
(off her startled look)
...so I thought you needed a change of scenery.
He smiles, holding his arms out in an expansive gesture that encompasses the vastness of space. We can see T'Pol raise an eyebrow at the gesture.
T'POL
Your concern is...appreciated.
She returns her attention to the transmitter.
TUCKER
Is this about the letter?
The Vulcan looks up sharply to find Trip studying her.
T'POL
(tight)
Commander, I asked you not to mention that.
Trip leans forward and manipulates something in the transmitter array; instantly, the lights illuminating it from underneath go dark.
TUCKER
No one can hear us, Sub-Commander. Not now.
He shows her a communication component and she raises an eyebrow.
TUCKER (CONT'D)
So it's just you, me and God.
(beat, smiling)
I think you can trust the two of us.
A BEAT passes as the Vulcan considers.
T'POL
Sub-Commander T'Lyr was reminding me of my duty.
TUCKER
To go home and marry this Koss guy, right?
T'POL
Yes.
Trip frowns. It's pretty obvious that he doesn't quite understand the specifics.
TUCKER
I don't get it. You love the guy, right?
T'POL
Love is an emotion, Commander.
(beat)
And I have never met Koss.
TUCKER
What?
(off her look)
How can you marry him if you've never met him?
T'POL
My mother arranged this union. I had nothing to do with it.
Commander Tucker is aghast. For a BEAT, He stares at T'Pol with wide eyes, disgust on his face, and we can see that he is trying to figure out what to say.
TUCKER
(disgusted)
That's barbaric!
T'Pol's expression barely changes but she doesn't appear to completely disagree with Trip.
T'POL
It is the Vulcan way.
(beat)
Vulcans must marry.
The commander digests her comments as she stares off in space for a BEAT. He's obviously struggling to keep himself from saying exactly what he wants to say.
TUCKER
Okay...
(beat)
If you don't love him, can't you marry him and then come back to Enterprise?
T'POL
Traditionally, newly married Vulcan couples are expected to reside together for a year.
Trip frowns at that and is silent for a BEAT.
TUCKER
So, what are you going to do?
She gives him a flat look.
T'POL
I am obligated by duty to obey my mother's arrangement.
TUCKER
(angry)
Why?
The Vulcan raises an eyebrow at his tone.
T'POL
It is my duty.
TUCKER
(angry)
It's wrong! Why the hell should you be expected to marry some guy you've never met?
(beat, angry)
And I thought the Orion slavers were bad.
At that, the sub-commander frowns.
T'POL
(tight)
Criticizing the traditions of my people is unnecessary, Commander.
TUCKER
Not when they don't make any sense!
(beat, hotter)
You're being treated like a piece of property! There's no logic in that!
T'Pol starts to turn away.
T'POL
This is accomplishing nothing.
(beat)
I must inform Captain Archer about my intent to resign. Ti'Mur can return me to Vulcan.
TUCKER
T'Pol.
She stops, looks at him.
TUCKER (CONT'D)
What do you want to do?
T'POL
My personal desires are irrelevant. I have a duty to my heritage and my family.
TUCKER
You've also got an obligation to yourself.
(off her look)
Where's the logic in marrying some guy you've never met?
T'POL
You don't understand.
TUCKER
I understand that you don't want to do this.
(off her look)
Seems to me that your heart is already made up.
The Vulcan is silent, her eyes now locked on the distant Ti'Mur.
TUCKER (CONT'D)
So the question is, what do you want to do?
We PUSH IN and focus on T'Pol's face as she considers his words.
T'POL (VO)
Despite his simplistic human-centric view on matters that he does not fully comprehend, Mister Tucker's comments regarding my situation were remarkably insightful.
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - CAPTAIN ARCHER'S QUARTERS
As we PAN AROUND the captain's cabin, we can hear the distinct sound of a shower running. The as yet unnamed beagle is curled up in the middle of twin-sized bed and lifts his head in interest at the sound of the shower ending. The dog stares in the direction of the bathroom with ears perked and, a BEAT later, Captain Archer emerges, a towel wrapped around his waist. He is drying his hair with another towel.
T'POL (VO)
And it forced me to acknowledge that he was correct: I did not wish to return to Vulcan aboard the Ti'Mur.
The chirp of a door announcer draws his and the dog's attention, and Archer gives the cabin a once-over.
ARCHER
Enter!
The door slides open, revealing Commander Tucker. The engineer takes two steps forward before recoiling with a look of disgust on his face.
TUCKER
God, what's that smell?
Archer gives the dog an irked look as the beagle eyes Trip warily.
ARCHER
Porthos here apparently doesn't like cheese.
TUCKER
Porthos? You named him?
The captain smiles as he sits down on the bed and scratches the beagle's ears.
ARCHER
It was Hoshi's idea.
(beat, amused)
And it annoyed Lieutenant Picard for some reason so I went with it.
Trip smiles as he hands a clipboard to the captain.
TUCKER
Repairs are mostly complete, Cap'n. We're ready to get underway again.
The captain flips through several pages of the clipboard as he nods.
ARCHER
Good work, Trip.
TUCKER
Don't thank me, sir. Thank my team. They did the work.
Archer smiles as he sets the clipboard aside. He looks up at Trip, noting the distracted air around the commander.
ARCHER
Something else, Trip?
TUCKER
(hesitant)
Have you...
(beat)
Have you talked to T'Pol?
The captain's smile hardens and he glances away.
ARCHER
I haven't had the chance to apologize to her, if that's what you mean.
TUCKER
No, that's not what I'm talking about.
(beat)
She hasn't said anything to you?
ARCHER
About what?
Trip rolls his tongue inside his mouth and looks really uncomfortable.
ARCHER
Is something going on that I need to know about?
Once more, Trip is silent for a BEAT.
TUCKER
No, sir.
(off Archer's look)
It's personal.
The light of understanding appears to flicker with the captain's eyes.
ARCHER
(knowing)
The letter.
(off Trip's nod)
What was that about anyway?
TUCKER
(frowning)
It's personal, Cap'n.
ARCHER
(almost teasing)
I could make it an order.
From his expression, the commander isn't amused.
TUCKER
Don't.
(off Archer's surprise)
Please, sir. Let it go.
Archer is silent for a BEAT, open curiosity on his face. Finally, he nods.
ARCHER
Okay. But only because you asked me to.
The comm. system prevents Tucker from replying.
SATO (COMM. VOICE)
Bridge to Captain Archer.
The captain stands and quickly approaches the comm. panel, quickly depressing the transmit button.
ARCHER
This is Archer.
SATO (COMM. VOICE)
Sir, Ti'Mur is getting ready to leave. You wanted me to remind you...
ARCHER
Right. Thank you, Ensign. I'll be up in five minutes.
Trip is heading toward the door as Archer releases the button.
TUCKER
I'll wait outside while you get dressed, sir.
Off Archer's nod, we...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
The turbolift door opens, allowing Captain Archer and Commander Tucker to emerge onto the bridge. We can't help but to note that Tucker's eyes immediately seek out the science station, and that he smiles slightly at the presence of Sub-Commander T'Pol. The Vulcan gives the two men a look, but returns her attention to her console without comment.
T'POL (VO)
It is a curious thing, allowing one's personal desires to dictate momentous decisions.
Archer strides to the command chair and gives his communications officer a nod. Behind him, Trip slows to a stop beside the science station.
ARCHER
Open a channel to Ti'Mur, Ensign.
SATO
Aye, sir.
A BEAT passes as she manipulates her controls.
SATO
Ti'Mur, this is Enterprise.
The main viewer suddenly snaps into an image of Colonel Vanik. As before, the Vulcan colonel appears calm and resolute.
VANIK
Captain Archer.
ARCHER
Colonel.
(beat)
I understand you're heading out.
The colonel lifts an eyebrow at the statement, perhaps puzzling out the human phrasing.
VANIK
Ti'Mur's presence is required elsewhere, Captain.
ARCHER
Duty calls.
(beat, tight)
Once again, thank you for your assistance.
The Vulcan colonel nods slightly.
VANIK
Ti'Mur out.
The transmission blinks out and is replaced with an image of the Vulcan ship. With a flash of light, the cruiser makes the jump to warp and disappears.
T'POL (VO)
But more surprising was the realization that, despite my initial misgivings about this assignment, I am more at home among the humans than I have been with my own people for many years.
Exhaling heavily, Archer lowers himself into his command chair. It appears that the tension that has been riding his shoulders has lifted somewhat.
ARCHER
Let's get out there and see what we can see.
(to T'Pol)
Where does Command want us to go next?
T'POL
A possible trinary system six point three five light years from our present position.
ARCHER
Travis, set a course, warp factor four. Get us out of here.
MAYWEATHER
Warp four, aye.
The hum of Enterprise's engines spikes. A BEAT later, Sub-Commander T'Pol straightens at her station.
T'POL
Captain.
(off his look)
With your permission, I would like to return to Astrometrics to begin analysis of the data we acquired.
ARCHER
Granted.
(to Trip, teasing)
Get off my bridge, Commander.
(off Tucker's look)
Go get some sleep.
Trip grins as he starts toward the turbolift.
TUCKER
(mocking)
Aye, aye, Cap'n.
We follow the two commanders into...
INT. ENTERPRISE - TURBOLIFT
The door closes on them and Trip immediately glances to his Vulcan colleague.
TUCKER
You stayed.
T'POL
(wry)
Obviously.
TUCKER
Well, I'm glad.
(off her look)
It just wouldn't be the same without you.
We focus on T'Pol's expression as she digests this comment, clearly trying to determine if he has just insulted her or not. From the glint in his eyes, Tucker is quite aware of her dilemma over his words.
T'POL
I shall endeavor to not be insulted by that comment, Commander.
The lift begins to slow.
TUCKER
Trip.
(off her look)
My friends call me Trip.
The door slides open and the sub-commander steps through it, pausing only long enough to reply.
T'POL
(wry)
I'll try to keep that in mind.
We focus on Trip's sudden grin at her words before the lift door slides shut on him. On that, we...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. VULCAN AMBASSADORIAL BUILDING
We're once more in the ambassadorial office as he looks out over the city. In the distance, it appears that the sun is rising, an indication that he has been standing here all night. Atop the desk is T'Pol's report, removed from the package and placed within a playback machine.
AMBASSADOR SOVAL stands at the window, facing the city. Once more, his hands are clasped behind his back. During this final monologue from the playback machine, the ambassador does not move.
T'POL (VO)
I accepted this assignment because it was my duty to obey. Unexpectedly, I find myself eager to venture into the unknown.
(beat, amused)
Perhaps the enthusiasm of my human colleagues is contagious.
(beat, somber)
Or perhaps I am simply learning to live again.
(beat)
Status report ends.
As the playback machine chirps and ends, we focus on Soval's face. He grunts slightly as his lips tighten. It is impossible to determine if he is pleased or upset.
And, off that, we...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
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