STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Hands of the Prophets" #40511-420 Written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe Directed by David Livingston THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT. Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This script is not for publication or reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department. Return to Script Department FINAL DRAFT PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION April 2, 1993 DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/05/93 - CAST STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Hands of the Prophets" CAST SISKO NEELA O'BRIEN WINN KIRA VENDOR ODO BAREIL BASHIR VOICES DAX QUARK KEIKO JAKE COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking Non-Speaking BAJORAN CREWMEMBERS MONKS VARIOUS STUDENTS DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - SETS STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Hands of the Prophets" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE PROMENADE SCHOOLROOM BAJORAN CAPITAL SECURITY OFFICE TURBOLIFT MONASTERY COMMANDER'S OFFICE OPS POWER CONDUIT RUNABOUT AIRLOCK DOCKING BAY AIRLOCK CORRIDOR DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/05/93 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Hands of the Prophets" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ABBAS uh-BAHS AQUINO uh-KEY-no BAJOR BAY-jor BAJORAN bah-JOR-an BALETH BAY-leth BAREIL buh-RILE CABRODINE CAH-broe-dine FELORAN fuh-LORE-an ILVIA ILL-vee-uh INFERNITE IN-fur-nite JUMJA JUM-juh NEELA NEE-luh TRITANIUM try-TAY-nee-uhm VEDEK VEH-deck WINN WIN DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "In the Hands of the Prophets" TEASER FADE IN: 1 INT. PROMENADE at the Kiosk - close on a glop on a stick in a VENDOR's hand... KEIKO (O.S.) Too early for me... Moving with the glop to reveal O'BRIEN who takes it... O'BRIEN You sure? KEIKO (makes a face) It's so sweet. O'BRIEN It's a natural sweetness from the sap of the jumja tree... filled with vitamin C. He takes a lick. They move away from the Kiosk. KEIKO Since when did you become such an expert on jumja sticks? O'BRIEN Hmm? Oh, Neela told me. The name Neela gets a subtle response from Keiko. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - TEASER 2. 1 CONTINUED: KEIKO Did she... ? (beat) So. Is she working out any better than the last one? O'BRIEN Neela? She's terrific. She's even taught me a few things. KEIKO (very dry) I'm glad to hear her expertise doesn't end with jumja sticks... O'BRIEN (slow on the uptake) Oh yeah, she's a good engin... (now he realizes) hold on... KEIKO What? O'BRIEN You're not thinking... She keeps walking, poker faced... O'BRIEN Keiko... She smiles, satisfied, secure in her marriage... KEIKO (teasing) Just keeping you on your toes, O'Brien. O'BRIEN Very funny, O'Brien. KEIKO (flirtatious) Be careful who you share your jumja with... Smiles sexily and walks away... off O'Brien's reaction... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - TEASER 3. 2 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) The wormhole illuminates in the background as a ship goes through. KEIKO (V.O.) Now, as we discussed in yesterday's lesson, the wormhole was discovered by Commander Sisko and Lieutenant Dax earlier this year. After a beat, PULL BACK TO REVEAL... that in fact, we're in... 2A OMITTED 3 INT. SCHOOLROOM - KEIKO (OPTICAL) is standing in front of a large monitor/blackboard with the wormhole displayed. As usual, most of Keiko's students are Bajoran, with a handful of humans and other aliens. JAKE is present, but Nog is not. As she moves away from the monitor... KEIKO (continuing) Does anyone know what makes this wormhole so unusual? Jake raises his hand... KEIKO Jake? JAKE It's stable... ? 4 NEW ANGLE As Keiko speaks, a Bajoran woman ENTERS the schoolroom. The woman, VEDEK WINN, is dressed in religious garb similar to, but easily distinguishable from, the clothing worn by the monks on the station. In attitude and bearing, Winn comes across like your favorite aunt: helpful, sympathetic, and caring. The Vedek stands quietly at the back of the class like a principal observing... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - TEASER 3A. 4 CONTINUED: KEIKO (continuing) It's stable, that's right, Jake... it's the first stable wormhole known to exist... Keiko notices the Vedek... smiles an acknowledgement, as she continues the lesson, curious about her... the Vedek nods hello... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - TEASER 4. 4 CONTINUED: (2) WINN (smiles, I don't wish to interrupt) Please... continue... KEIKO (nods) A stable wormhole is very important because it allows us to travel secure in the knowledge that neither end will shift location. Who knows why the wormhole is stable... ? The students seem disconcerted by the presence of a stranger... no one raises their hand... KEIKO Because it was artificially constructed. Commander Sisko encountered the entities who created the wormhole when he... WINN Excuse me, by the "entities," do you not mean "the prophets"... ? KEIKO (beat, senses the issue) Yes... on Bajor... the entities are worshipped as prophets. (beat, moving quickly on) Our studies of the wormhole have shown that it was formed by unique particles we call verterons that are apparently self-sustaining... this begins to explain how a ship at impulse can safely pass through... WINN Ships are safely guided through the passage by the hands of the prophets. KEIKO (beat) In a manner of speaking... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - TEASER 5. 4 CONTINUED: (3) WINN (deceptively sweet) Not apparently your manner of speaking... This has gone too far in front of the children... KEIKO Perhaps we should discuss this after... WINN Do you believe the celestial temple of the prophets exists within the passage... ? KEIKO I respect that the Bajoran people believe it does. WINN But that's not what you teach. Keiko understands now that there is to be no avoiding this. Firm, confident, but not aggressively and without hostility -- KEIKO No, I don't teach Bajoran spiritual beliefs. That's your job. Mine is to open the children's minds... to history... to literature... to mathematics... to science... Winn sounds sad. Like she is deeply hurt by what she is being forced to say. WINN (very apologetic) You are opening the children's minds... to blasphemy. And I cannot permit it to continue. Her strong eyes study... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - TEASER 6. 5 KEIKO We hold on Keiko's troubled expression for a moment, then we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 7. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) 6 INT. SECURITY OFFICE (VPB) NEELA, O'Brien's Bajoran apprentice, works on something inside an open panel under the security monitors (which are blank). Neela is in her early twenties, bright, pretty, and eager to please. O'Brien ENTERS, carrying his tool case. O'BRIEN Sorry I couldn't get here sooner. Another fusion reactor went down. How's it going? Neela keeps working, she tweaks a few things, and then... NEELA Done. O'BRIEN (pleasantly surprised) Done? (off her nod) Did you remember to re-initialize the isolinear co-processor? NEELA (nods again) I did it exactly like you showed me. Should I test it? O'BRIEN Let me. You know us old folks. We like to feel useful. O'Brien keys in some commands on Odo's security desk and the wall monitors come back to life. O'BRIEN Not bad, not bad at all. (to Neela, kidding) If you keep this up, I'm going to be out of a job. NEELA (smiles) I doubt that. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - 04/02/93 - ACT ONE 8-8A. 6 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Let's close her up. 6A NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) O'Brien and Neela place the panel back in place. Neela takes a small high tech tool and plays it over the edge of the panel. O'BRIEN (re: the tool) Not that one... this is a security seal. You need an E-J-Seven Interlock to open or close it. NEELA (confused) E-J-Seven? Neela looks at her tool kit. O'BRIEN (goes for his own tool box) Never mind... I've got one. 6B BACK TO SCENE O'Brien searches his tool box, but he can't find what he's looking for. He double-checks, but it's not there. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 9. 6B CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Bloody hell. NEELA What's wrong? O'BRIEN My E-J-Seven. It's missing. NEELA Maybe you left it in Ops. O'BRIEN (beat, shakes his head) I don't misplace my tools. On his concerned expression... 7 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE Keiko is talking to SISKO. He's grim, concerned. SISKO I'm not exactly surprised. KEIKO You knew this was going to happen? SISKO A confrontation like this was inevitable. (rises) Sometimes, I wonder if we'll ever find the common ground we need to bring Bajor into the Federation. Sisko opens the door to Ops... calls to Kira -- DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 10. 7 CONTINUED: SISKO Major, would you join us? Kira comes in... SISKO We've been talking about an incident this morning at the school... KIRA I heard... Vedek Winn has been meeting with some of the Bajoran civilians about it... Sisko frowns... SISKO What do you know about her? KIRA She's from an orthodox order... she has some support to become the next Kai... but probably not enough... KEIKO The question is how much support does she have on this station? KIRA (casual) She has mine. Sisko reacts... KEIKO You can't possibly believe teaching the facts about the wormhole amounts to blasphemy... KIRA (not hostile) I think some revisions in the school curriculum might be appropriate... you teach a lot of Bajoran children... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 11. 7 CONTINUED: (2) KEIKO (confrontational) I'm not going to let a Bajoran spiritual leader dictate what can or can't be taught in my classroom... Kira reacts, obviously she's dealing with a closed mind here... looks to Sisko... KIRA (to Sisko) Then maybe we need two schools on this station... one for Bajoran children and another for the Federation... Sisko sighs, a beat... SISKO If we start separating Bajoran and Federation interests... KIRA A lot of Bajoran and Federation interests are separate, Commander... I've been telling you that all along. SISKO Nobody's saying there can't be spiritual teaching on this station, Major... but why can't it be in addition to what's taught in Mrs. O'Brien's classroom... KIRA But if she's teaching a fundamentally different philosophy... KEIKO I'm not teaching any philosophy... I'm trying to teach pure science... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 12. 7 CONTINUED: (3) KIRA Some might say pure science, taught without a spiritual context, is a philosophy, Mrs. O'Brien... Keiko is very frustrated... SISKO My philosophy is that there is room for all philosophies on this station. (beat, to Kira) How do you suggest we deal with this? KIRA I'm not sure you can. The "you" is deliberate. There is no we yet. 7A thru OMITTED 7B 8 INT. PROMENADE Activity as usual... finding Sisko entering the Bajoran Shrine. A Bajoran monk, dressed in vestments similar to Winn's, steps aside to let Sisko in. 9 INT. BAJORAN SHRINE An ornate candlelit interior. A string instrument (audio only) making soft, pulsating sounds adds to the mystical feeling. Vedek Winn is bowing her head before a shrine, cupping her ear in a ritual gesture with her eyes closed... as Sisko moves inside, reluctant to disturb her. Without opening her eyes to see him, she speaks... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 13. 9 CONTINUED: WINN I can't tell you how much I've looked forward to this moment. Now, she opens her eyes and turns to him... WINN I'm honored to meet the Emissary to the prophets. SISKO If you'd let me know you were coming, Vedek Winn, I would have greeted you sooner. WINN Pardon me, Emissary... I did not wish to bother you with my insignificant visit... SISKO I'd hardly call it insignificant. WINN (deliberately mistaken as a compliment) Thank you, Emissary. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 14. 9 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO I wish you wouldn't call me that... I'm Commander Sisko... or Benjamin, if you'd like... WINN But you are the Emissary. Don't you know the cherished place you've earned in the Bajoran spiritual life... ? SISKO I'm not sure I'm comfortable in that role. WINN The course the prophets choose for us may not always be comfortable. But we must follow it. Her hand reaches toward his ear... pauses... WINN May I? Sisko doesn't stop her... she presses the ear as the Kai did in the pilot... they study each other for a long beat... nods... WINN Still the disbeliever. (beat) I once asked Kai Opaka why a disbeliever was destined to seek the prophets. She told me one should never look into the eyes of one's own gods. (shakes her head) I disagreed. I told her I would do anything to look into their eyes. She suggested that I sit in darkness for a day and quite properly so. She cannot be replaced. I miss her deeply. SISKO (beat) It's important to me that we resolve your problems with the school. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT ONE 15. 9 CONTINUED: (3) WINN The prophets have spoken to me through the orbs, Emissary. I understand my duty to defend the Bajoran faith. The teacher has dishonored the celestial temple. If she does not recant, I cannot be responsible for the consequences. Hold on Sisko's reaction for a moment, then... 10 thru OMITTED 13 FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 16. ACT TWO FADE IN: 14 INT. OPS (VPB) O'Brien and Neela are at work at the Engineering station. We join them in mid-conversation. NEELA This still seems like an awful lot of trouble to go through to find one tool. O'BRIEN With that Interlock, someone could access every critical system on the station. As she acknowledges... DAX comes over... DAX Chief, have you seen Ensign Aquino recently? O'BRIEN (looks around Ops) No... now that you mention it. DAX He didn't report for duty this morning. The computer says he's not on the station, but he didn't log out. O'BRIEN (worried) Have you talked to Odo? DAX I guess I'd better. She EXITS to the Turbolift... NEELA Scanners are ready. O'BRIEN Computer, show location of any independent tritanium sources... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT TWO 17. 15 ANGLE - MONITOR (VPB) Looking at the monitor... NEELA Level three, section five... O'BRIEN That's the tool locker... I've been through everything in there three times... O'Brien presses another panel... the image on the monitor changes... O'Brien reacts as he looks at the monitor... O'BRIEN Now what's that? NEELA Looks like something in a power conduit on level twelve, section eight. O'BRIEN What would tritanium be doing in there? (thoughtful beat) Computer, shut down that conduit... reroute the power flow. COMPUTER Conduit deactivated. O'BRIEN (to Neela) Come on... They EXIT... 16 thru OMITTED 17 18 INT. POWER CONDUIT O'Brien uses a tricorder to scan the Jefferies tube-like power conduit. Behind him, Neela scans the other side. NEELA Over here, Chief. O'Brien joins Neela and examines a pile of slag on the floor of the conduit. He scans it with his tricorder. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 18-20. 18 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN It's a tritanium composite, all right. Looks like our missing Interlock. NEELA It must have been melted by the conduit's plasma flow. O'BRIEN (while continuing his scan) That still doesn't explain how it got here in the first place. (notices something on his tricorder) Huh... Neela looks over his shoulder at the display. O'BRIEN (continuing) I'm picking up traces of organic material. Neela runs her own tricorder over the material. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT TWO 21. O'Brien looks unhappy with the results of his scan. He resets the tricorder and tries again, but still looks unsatisfied. O'BRIEN Whatever it was, it's been pretty well cooked by this conduit. O'Brien puts away the tricorder and takes out a new tool. O'BRIEN Let's take a sample to Doctor Bashir, see what he makes of it. 19 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. 20 INT. PROMENADE The next morning. O'Brien and Keiko walk together. We pick them up in mid-conversation moving to the Kiosk... O'BRIEN (troubled, unsatisfied) Ensign Aquino made a log entry the night he disappeared about some sort of plasma flow irregularity in the conduit... he indicated he was going to fix it... KEIKO Then, it was an accident... O'BRIEN I guess. Bashir confirmed the remains were human... I'm sure the DNA trace will show it's Aquino... As they reach the Kiosk... O'BRIEN (to the vendor) I'll take one. (looks at Keiko) Unless you're feeling adventurous today. VENDOR Sorry, we're all out. O'Brien sees a half dozen Jumja sticks on the back shelf. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 22. 20 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN What are you talking about... I can see them with my own eyes. The Vendor doesn't even look... stares at Keiko with hostility... VENDOR These aren't for sale... O'Brien looks at him looking at Keiko who turns away, hurt... O'Brien loses it... O'BRIEN Not for sale, huh... He reaches across and grabs the guy's collar and pulls him halfway out of the Kiosk... passersby react, ODO is nearby, sees and starts moving over... O'BRIEN How would you like a jumja stick... KEIKO Miles... ODO Is there a problem? O'BRIEN You're damned right... VENDOR I don't have to sell anything to them if I don't want to. ODO (honestly confused) Why wouldn't you want to sell to them? KEIKO (hurt and uncomfortable) Miles, can we go... O'Brien doesn't want to leave it, but sees the pain his wife is in... drops it... O'BRIEN Forget it... They walk away... Odo exchanges a glance with the Vendor... who spits the words out at Keiko's back -- DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 23. 20 CONTINUED: (2) VENDOR Seek the prophets. Odo reacts and exchanges a look with the Vendor, walks away, murmuring out of earshot... ODO Seek them yourself. 21 ANGLE - ON O'BRIEN AND KEIKO O'BRIEN (looking back at the Kiosk) Maybe you were right... we've got no business here... I'll just put in for a transfer and that'll be... KEIKO No... I can't run away from this now... (beat, looking ahead) What's this... 22 NEW ANGLE - A GROUP OF BAJORANS waiting outside the entrance to the classroom. The group is composed of ten Bajoran parents and the children (including Jake) plus Vedek Winn, a monk from her order, and eight or so Bajoran civilians. WINN (to the parents) If we abandon the Prophets, then everything we have will be... As parents look over her shoulder and react to Keiko's arrival, she stops in mid-sentence, turns, smiles... WINN Here's Mrs. O'Brien now. KEIKO (without a smile) Good morning. WINN Are you Mister O'Brien? O'BRIEN That's right. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 24. 22 CONTINUED: WINN A pleasure to meet you. I've been listening to many wonderful things about your wife from the parents of these children. She's apparently an excellent teacher. O'BRIEN She doesn't deserve what you're doing to her. WINN (taken in stride) I feel your anger toward me... I accept it and forgive you for it. (to Keiko) Mrs. O'Brien, if I've misjudged you, I am terribly sorry. Have I? Is there a place in your school for the prophets? A long beat as they lock eyes. A cutaway of Jake studying this interchange with concern. The parents want desperately for her to say yes. KEIKO (softly but firm) No. The onlookers murmur with hostility... but Winn never joins that sentiment... WINN I admire you for standing by your convictions. Even though I disagree with them. Please believe me, I want to find a way to allow these children to stay in your school... KEIKO I'm sure the children and their parents are happy to hear you say that. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 25. 22 CONTINUED: (2) WINN Let me be the one to make the first concession. I will no longer request that you teach anything about the celestial temple. A beat. More murmers of surprise... Keiko glances at O'Brien. WINN Just don't teach anything about the wormhole at all. KEIKO (reacts) Ignore it... ? WINN Find other things to teach the children. KEIKO And when we get to theories of evolution or the creation of the universe, what then... WINN We'll face those issues when we come to them. KEIKO I'm a teacher. My responsibility is to expose my students to knowledge. Not hide it from them. The answer is no. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT TWO 26. 22 CONTINUED: (3) Winn looks at the parents, shakes her head, sadly. WINN (beat) I've tried to be reasonable. She puts her arm around a Bajoran child and ushers her away... the others and the parents all follow... we take a moment to see Jake, who's standing there with a handful of other students (three humans and an alien), now looking terribly concerned about all this... and finally, Keiko watches them go in pain... as O'Brien puts his arm around her and comforts her... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 27. ACT THREE FADE IN: 23 INT. OPS Sisko, Kira, O'Brien, Odo, and Dax in conference around the Ops table. SISKO If Aquino turned off the conduit to fix the relay... why did it reactivate. O'BRIEN The Cardassians only equipped those power conduits with one flow regulator per level. The computer could've realigned it. When the power flow was rerouted back, it could've caught him inside. DAX You don't sound entirely convinced. O'BRIEN No, it all adds up only... I don't know... SISKO Spit it out, Chief. O'BRIEN (laughs sadly, it seems ridiculous in context) He borrowed one of my tools without asking. KIRA It was four in the morning. Maybe he didn't want to bother you. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 28. 23 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN The repairs could've waited til the next day. (beat) He was a Starfleet engineer... you don't take the Chief's tools without asking... it's unheard of... ODO Are you suggesting it might not have been an accident? O'BRIEN I don't know what I'm suggesting. I only know what I know. He should've asked. Odo's mind begins to work... in the background, Jake arrives on the Turbolift... SISKO Constable, maybe you ought to take a closer look into this... Odo acknowledges and EXITS... Sisko looks over to see Jake moving to him... surprised to see him here... SISKO Dismissed. (rising, to Jake) Hi. JAKE Can I talk to you for a minute. SISKO Sure. Moving into the Commander's office. SISKO (continuing) I heard what happened at school. 24 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS SISKO (continuing) Did Mrs. O'Brien call off classes? DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 29. 24 CONTINUED: JAKE No. There was only me and four other kids left, but she still kept the school open. They sit away from the desk.JAKE (CONTINUING) She changed the lesson to teach us about Galileo. Did you know he was tried by the Inquisition for teaching that the earth moved around the sun? SISKO Tried and convicted. His books were burned. JAKE How could anyone be so stupid? SISKO It's easy to look back seven centuries and judge what was right and wrong. JAKE But the same thing is happening now! All this stuff about a celestial temple in the wormhole is dumb. Sisko studies him for a beat... SISKO No, it's not. You've got to understand something, Jake. For over fifty years, the one thing that allowed Bajorans to survive the Cardassian occupation was their faith. The prophets were their only source of hope and courage. JAKE But they weren't prophets. They were just some aliens that you found in the wormhole. SISKO To those aliens, the future is no more difficult to see than the past. So why shouldn't they be considered prophets? DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 30. 24 CONTINUED: (2) JAKE Are you serious? SISKO My point is it's a matter of interpretation. It may not be what you believe, but that doesn't make it wrong. If you start to think that way, you'll be acting just like Vedek Winn. Only from the other side. (beat) We can't afford to think that way, Jake. We'd lose everything we've worked for here... Jake begins to understand... JAKE (beat, studying his dad) You're worried, aren't you... Sisko nods silently. JAKE What're you gonna do? SISKO I'm not sure. But I think I've got to find some help. 25 EXT. BAJORAN CAPITAL - DAY (MATTE) (STOCK) Establishing shot of the Bajoran Capital. 26 EXT. MONASTERY OF THE KAI - WOODED GARDEN - DAY Sisko wanders through a quiet garden inside the walls of the Kai Temple complex. VEDEK BAREIL, a short Bajoran man about fifty-five in religious garb, ENTERS the garden and approaches Sisko. Bareil is a soft-spoken and gentle man, somewhat reminiscent of Gandhi or the Dalai Lama. BAREIL I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, Commander Sisko. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT THREE 31. 26 CONTINUED: SISKO Vedek Bareil... ? The open face of the spiritual man acknowledges, looks into the eyes of Sisko who smiles... Sisko bows his head and turns it to the side so the Vedek can reach his ear... BAREIL Please. There is no need to pay tribute to me, Commander... SISKO (awkward) Pay tribute... ? No, I was just... (beat) Usually, when I meet one of Bajor's spiritual leaders, the first thing they do is grab my... BAREIL ... Ear? Sisko acknowledges... Bareil laughs warmly... BAREIL Unpleasant, isn't it. SISKO I've been far too polite to admit it. BAREIL I was five the first time one of the monks grabbed my ear... he was a stern old crow who could virtually squeeze the pagh right out of you with his thumb and forefinger... and as a chronic misbehaver, I was his favorite victim. I swore that one of my life's goals would be to do away with that archaic ritual. SISKO (feeling comfortable with this man, smiles, not too serious) You can count on the Federation's support. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/12/93 - ACT THREE 32. 26 CONTINUED: (2) BAREIL (leading the way) I hope you don't mind if I get a little planting done while we talk... All the hours listening to a hundred and twelve Vedeks talking at once makes me yearn again for the sanctity of my arboretum... They walk... SISKO Is this yours? BAREIL (acknowledges) I started my service at the monastery as the gardener, Commander. I had no ambitions other than to grow the most lovely Feloran bromiliads on the planet. But the prophets did not allow me that peaceful life. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 33. 27 NEW ANGLE as they change paths... BAREIL (continuing) I understand my friend Vedek Winn has brought her blessings to your station. SISKO I was hoping you might be able to arrange an audience with the assembly so I could discuss our school. BAREIL Why me? SISKO You are the leading candidate to be the next Kai. And, if I've been correctly informed, your ideology is quite different than Vedek Winn's. BAREIL You have been correctly informed. He pauses. BAREIL I'm sorry. But the Vedek Assembly will not see you, Commander. SISKO Why not? BAREIL Some fear you as the symbol of a Federation they view as godless. Some fear you as the Emissary who has walked with the prophets. Some fear you because Vedek Winn told them to. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 34. 27 CONTINUED: BAREIL We're all very good conjuring up enough fear to justify whatever we want to do. Today, I am only a Vedek. If the prophets will it, someday, I may be Kai. And I can be a better friend to you then. SISKO In other words, being my friend now might hurt your chances. BAREIL The prophets teach us patience. SISKO It appears they also teach you politics. That's almost an accusation... but Bareil dismisses it... BAREIL I'm sorry you've made the long trip for nothing. Please stay and enjoy the gardens as long as you like. He moves away. On Sisko's expression. 28 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. 29 INT. OPS Sisko ENTERS from the Turbolift. Kira, Dax and O'Brien are at their stations. Neela is helping O'Brien, but there are no other Bajorans in Ops. Sisko notices. SISKO Is it my imagination or are we a little short handed today? KIRA Three Bajoran crewmen didn't report for duty. (beat, obviously untrue) They... said they weren't feeling well. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/05/93 - ACT THREE 35. 29 CONTINUED: Sisko understands that this is not a coincidence. SISKO Do you think it's contagious, Major? KIRA It's too early to tell. Sisko is feeling this whole relationship between the Federation and Bajor slipping away... and the frustration is getting to him. He is quiet but sharp with Kira here... but not loud enough to draw O'Brien and Neela's attention away from what they're doing... SISKO Are your people willing to throw away everything we've accomplished during the past seven months? KIRA (would never go that far) Everyone knows that if the Federation leaves the Cardassians will be back... SISKO With all due respect, Major, protecting your borders is not the primary reason the Federation is here and it's not why I'm here. I'm here to build a trusting relationship with your people... and I'd like to start feeling that somebody... (unstated: like you) ... somebody on your side is giving something back to this effort. KIRA I think I've given you all the support I can, short of... And this is too loud, for the first time getting O'Brien and Neela's attention -- SISKO (interrupting) It's not enough. A beat. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT THREE 36. 29 CONTINUED: (2) KIRA (hurt, quiet) I thought there was room on this station for all philosophies. Sisko's gone too far and he knows it but is unable to admit that here... he's just too angry... quietly -- SISKO You tell our sick Bajoran crewmen that they better get well immediately or they'll recover on the way to their next assignment. KIRA Yes. Sir. During the above, Odo and BASHIR arrive on the Turbolift... she EXITS as they move to Sisko... ODO Commander, Doctor Bashir has found some new evidence about Ensign Aquino you should see... And Sisko reacts, this is by comparison a nuisance, drawing his attention away from where it ought to be... Bashir hands Sisko a PADD... O'Brien moves over to check this out... Sisko examines the PADD with no understanding... BASHIR I've finally managed to reconstruct the victim's DNA. It's definitely Aquino. But the power flow in the conduit didn't kill him. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT THREE 37. 29 CONTINUED: (3) BASHIR (re: the PADD) You see, the plasma disruption in his cellular membranes indicates he was exposed to a directed energy discharge before he was placed in the conduit. O'BRIEN A directed energy discharge. From a phaser? ODO (acknowledges) Set to kill. Off reactions... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 38. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 30 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) 31 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE Sisko, Kira, Dax, Bashir, Odo and O'Brien are in conference in Sisko's office. If we see into Ops, we will notice that the Bajoran Crewmembers are back at work. SISKO Could this murder be related in any way to the tensions over the school issue? KIRA (defensive) If you're suggesting he was killed by a Bajoran just because he was from the Federation... BASHIR (shortcutting) The analysis proves he was killed the night before Vedek Winn arrived. There wasn't any school issue yet. Kira looks satisfied. SISKO Any ideas about a motive? Silence. SISKO All right then, let's start from the beginning. Ensign Aquino goes to make a repair to a power conduit... ODO One moment Commander, I'm not convinced of that... KIRA But the log... ODO It might have been altered by our killer to cover his tracks. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 39. 31 CONTINUED: ODO I checked the Turbolift records the night of the murder. Aquino did take a Turbolift to level three but not to the power conduit where he was found... DAX Where did he go? ODO Runabout Pad "C"... O'BRIEN A runabout... ? What was he doing at a runabout at four in the morning? ODO Apparently, he was getting murdered. Off reactions... 32 INT. RUNABOUT AIRLOCK Neela works inside an open access panel on the side of the airlock corridor. O'Brien emerges from the runabout. O'BRIEN Everything in the runabout seems perfectly normal. NEELA It doesn't look like the airlock systems have been tampered with. O'BRIEN (beat) Let's run a level one diagnostic of the runabout's computer interface, then we'll call it a day. NEELA I already have. Everything's normal. They sit on the floor by the open panel... letting go for a moment... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 40. 32 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Hell, I don't even know what we're looking for. If anything happened here, it's been pretty well covered up. Neela nods, frustrated, a quick brief shudder passes across her shoulders... softly vulnerable, and sad -- NEELA Did you know him well? O'BRIEN Aquino? Barely knew him at all. Just the welcome aboard, if you need anything speech. You? NEELA Not really. Bajoran and Starfleet officers don't socialize too much... O'BRIEN How come? NEELA I don't know. I guess we just keep to ourselves. O'BRIEN You're not like that with me. NEELA (smiles) You're not like the others. (off O'Brien's curious reaction) You know. You don't put on any airs... You're just... nicer. She smiles warmly at him. A beat. And suddenly it's just a little too intimate for O'Brien's comfort... he gets up. O'BRIEN Well, uh, look, I'll close up here... why don't you take off... NEELA You sure? O'BRIEN (double meaning) Yeah. I'm sure. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 41. 32 CONTINUED: (2) NEELA (smiles) Good night. She picks up her tool kit and EXITS, O'Brien watches her go a beat, starts to finish up his work... O'BRIEN (murmuring to himself) On your toes, O'Brien. A beat. His mind comes back to the investigation, taps his finger on the console... a new thought -- O'BRIEN Computer, expand diagnostic to include linkups to Runabout Pads A and B. COMPUTER VOICE Diagnostic initiated. Function will require three minutes forty seconds. O'Brien goes back to finishing up the work... 33 INT. PROMENADE Odo is observing the arrival through the airlock of many Bajorans... most of them dressed in traditional (Storyteller) garb... QUARK moves up beside him... QUARK You were looking for me? Odo grunts an acknowledgement, but is watching the faces of the arriving Bajorans... like a camera clicking them off for later reference... Quark follows his attention... QUARK Don't tell me... there's a Bajoran convention on the station that I didn't know about... thanks, Odo, I need to call in more dabo girls... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 42-42A. 33 CONTINUED: ODO It's not a convention. They're from an orthodox spiritual order coming to support Vedek Winn's efforts to keep the Bajoran children out of school... QUARK Orthodox. In that case, I'll need twice as many dabo girls. These spiritual types love those dabo girls. Odo moves away from the airlock... they move slowly down the Promenade together... ODO This is not what I wanted to talk to you about. What do you know about the murder of Ensign Aquino? QUARK (reacts) You wound me. All the years together. I thought you knew me. Odo, I am not a killer. ODO No. But most of your friends are. QUARK True. And I would gladly sell one of them to you if I could. But unfortunately, none of them have taken credit for the death of the Starfleet officer. Sorry. In the background, O'Brien arrives, moving with a purpose, sees Odo, moves toward him... O'BRIEN Odo... Odo sees him coming, stops, getting rid of Quark -- ODO Keep your ears open. QUARK Are you kidding? That's the seventh rule of acquisition. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT FOUR 43. 33 CONTINUED: (2) Quark acknowledges O'Brien, leaves... O'Brien hands Odo a small electronic component... O'BRIEN It's a security bypass module. ODO You found this at Runabout Pad "C"? O'BRIEN No, that's just it... it wasn't at Pad "C"... that was clean as a whistle... just to be safe, I ran a diagnostic across the board and this showed up at pad "A"... ODO Pad "A"... ? O'BRIEN Aquino never went near Runabout "A"... Doesn't make sense. ODO On the contrary, it makes perfect sense. Ensign Aquino goes to Runabout "C" because some sensor shows an anomaly in the security net there... he interrupts whoever is tampering with it and is killed. The killer puts the body in the conduit and instead of going back to pad "C," which might be traced with Aquino's Turbolift log, he changes his plan and moves to pad "A." O'BRIEN But what was the plan? Everything else seems normal. ODO I'd guess somebody wanted to steal a runabout. O'BRIEN We're not missing any. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FOUR 44. 33 CONTINUED: (3) ODO Curious. They went to a lot of trouble to defeat the security net and then didn't go through... Odo is interrupted by the SOUND of a HUGE EXPLOSION. People all over the Promenade are staggered by the blast. O'Brien immediately realizes... O'BRIEN The school. He bolts in that direction... Odo right behind him... 34 INT. PROMENADE - OUTSIDE KEIKO'S SCHOOL Odo and O'Brien round a curve in the Promenade to find Keiko's school fully engulfed in flames. O'Brien tries to rush inside the school, but Odo grabs him. O'BRIEN Keiko... Fire BLASTS out of the schoolroom as it is rocked by a secondary explosion. 35 ANGLE ON O'BRIEN As the light from the flames flickers on his face. A beat later, Keiko runs around the bend and he sees her, and his eyes fill with tears of relief... as she reacts with shock... he moves to her, holds onto her for dear life... and as their embrace is framed by the fire... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 45. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 36 INT. PROMENADE - OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLROOM A crowd has gathered to see the smoldering wreckage. Kira and Neela are examining the rubble. They are joined by Sisko and Odo. In the background, Odo's two deputies control the crowd. O'Brien and Keiko are no longer there. SISKO What've you got? KIRA (consulting tricorder) I'm reading traces of cabrodine and infernite, common explosives, both easily obtained. ODO Then we're looking at a simple, homemade bomb. Sisko nods his agreement, but is distracted by the wallah of the crowd. Looks to see -- 37 ANGLE - VEDEK WINN Approaching through the crowd... accompanied by her monk assistant... moves to Sisko, she looks very upset... WINN Where is Mrs. O'Brien? SISKO Her husband took her home. WINN Was she hurt? Was anyone hurt? SISKO No. WINN (relieved) The prophets have been kind today. SISKO (containing his anger) The prophets... had nothing to do with what happened here today. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 46. 37 CONTINUED: SISKO (Cont'd) This was the work of a disturbed and violent mind... who listened to your voice... not to the prophets. WINN (with an edge) Is the Emissary holding me responsible for this act of terrorism? SISKO The commander of this station is. WINN May the prophets forgive you for abandoning them. She begins to move away... Sisko won't let her get away so easily... louder, getting the attention of others... SISKO You claim the prophets as your personal constituency, Vedek Winn. I'm not convinced that's justified. Who do you speak for? An order that is barely listened to in your assembly... so you come here looking for a more receptive audience. And now she turns, declaring war, cold as ice... WINN Is that what your friend, Vedek Bareil told you? He's as misguided as you are. (beat) No, that's not fair... you are not simply misguided... as I once thought. Now I see that you want nothing less than to destroy us. Sisko gives her more rope... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 47. 37 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO Destroy you... WINN You live without a soul, Commander. You and your Federation exist in a universe of darkness and you would drag us in there with you. But we... will... not... go. Sisko studies her, and finally relaxes, grins. SISKO You've just made your first mistake, Vedek. WINN Have I. SISKO The Bajoran people who have lived with us on this station... who have worked with us for months... who helped us move this station to protect the wormhole... who have joined us to explore the Gamma Quadrant... who have begun to build the future of Bajor with us... these people know that we are neither your enemy nor... the devil. His eyes find -- 38 ANGLE - INCLUDE KIRA as his words reach her. SISKO (continuing) We don't always agree. We have some damn good fights in fact. But we always come away from them with a little more understanding and appreciation for each other. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 48. 39 BACK TO WINN AND SISKO SISKO (continuing) You won't succeed here. This school will reopen. When your rhetoric gets old, the Bajoran parents will bring their children back. WINN We'll see. Sisko nods and EXITS through the crowd... stay a beat on Winn as she considers this... several of the orthodox move to the Vedek to express their support in walla... VOICES (WALLA) You're right, Vedek... they're godless... we should drive them out of there... this isn't your fault... he had no right to say that... he will pay in eternity for his blasphemy... She doesn't care about any of them, works her way through the crowd until by chance she makes eye contact with -- 40 ANGLE ON NEELA who looks at her. 41 WINN nods with recognition. 42 NEELA almost imperceptibly, acknowledges the nod. 43 INT. OPS Sisko ENTERS on the Turbolift... Dax and O'Brien are at their stations... he's burying his fury in his work, working on his sensors... SISKO How is she, Chief? DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT FIVE 49. 43 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Pretty shaken up, but she's planning to hold classes tomorrow in one of the small cargo bays if that's okay. SISKO (smiles) You tell her Jake'll be there on time. O'BRIEN That'll make her feel a lot better, sir. In the background, Kira, Neela and a Federation crewman arrive... SISKO Anything new on Aquino? O'BRIEN Yessir. I found a security bypass module at Runabout Pad "A"... looks like someone might have wanted to steal a runabout. That's probably why Aquino went there in the first place... 44 ANGLE - NEELA who has arrived at the engineering station reacts as she hears this... O'BRIEN I've put security seals in place at all three pads... and I'm checking for any other anomalies down there... Sisko acknowledges... DAX Benjamin, incoming transmission from Vedek Bareil aboard a Bajoran transport... SISKO On screen... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 50. 45 ANGLE (OPTICAL) include the screen, showing Bariel, onboard a Bajoran ship, accompanied by his Attache (a monk of the same order). BAREIL Commander, I've decided to accept your gracious invitation. SISKO Invitation? BAREIL (poker-faced) You did invite me to tour your facility... ? SISKO Yes, yes, of course, Vedek. We'd be honored. Unfortunately, we have some damage on our Promenade we won't have time to clean up before you arrive. BAREIL Yes. I heard about it. (pointed) Perhaps I can help you clean it up. SISKO That would be very much appreciated. BAREIL It's the least a friend can do. I look forward to seeing you again. The transmission ends. On Sisko's delighted reaction... 46 INT. BAJORAN SHRINE Neela ENTERS the Bajoran Shrine, where Vedek Winn is talking quietly to her monk. Winn notices Neela... sends the other monk away. WINN (gently) My dear, you should not be here. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 50A. 46 CONTINUED: NEELA (worried) Vedek, they found out about the runabout. WINN I see. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 51. 46 CONTINUED: (2) NEELA I have no way to escape. WINN Then, we must accept that as the will of the prophets. NEELA But if I go through with it now, I'll be caught and executed. Winn takes her hands and looks deeply into her eyes... WINN Sometimes the sacrifices the prophets call on us to make are great, my child. But the rewards they give will last through eternity. Neela nods her understanding. 47 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) A Bajoran Transport approaches the station. 48 INT. DOCKING BAY AIRLOCK Vedek Bareil and a monk exit the airlock and find Sisko and Kira. BAREIL Commander... SISKO (deeply sincere) Thank you for coming, Vedek. BAREIL (acknowledges) I'm just another voice. But perhaps some of the Bajorans on your station will listen to what I have to say... KIRA Everyone's heard you were on the way... There's quite a crowd on our Promenade to greet you, Vedek. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 52. 48 CONTINUED: SISKO (introducing) My first officer Major Kira Nerys. Bareil takes one hand in both of his... studies her deeply... almost with love... mystical. BAREIL Nerys. I know more about you than you realize. I am very pleased to begin our friendship. KIRA (taken aback) Thank you. BAREIL (intimate) I realize you may disagree with me today... if your heart is with Vedek Winn, embrace her... KIRA (disconcerted) After what's happened... I'm... not sure where my heart is, Bareil. BAREIL May the prophets allow me to be the one to help you find it again. Another long beat as he looks at her, smiles... takes her arm... Kira glances uneasily at Sisko as Sisko motions the way... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 53. 49 INT. OPS (OPTICAL) O'Brien works on the console at his station... reacts as he finds something... repeats the function... Dax at hers... O'BRIEN (to himself) What the hell... ? (beat) Computer, identify subprogram labelled "A-N-A"... COMPUTER VOICE That file is protected by a personal security access code. O'BRIEN On whose authority? COMPUTER VOICE Chief of Operations Miles O'Brien. O'BRIEN Me? I never saw this file before. Override command. COMPUTER VOICE Unable to comply. State security code to release protection. He reacts, moves to the pit... O'BRIEN (to Dax) Lieutenant, I've got to do a manual isolation of an anomalous file... it's in the security field subsystem... labelled "A-N-A"... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 54. 49 CONTINUED: DAX (off monitor) That file is going to be protected by a series of encryption sequences. I'll run an adaptive program. O'BRIEN We're lucky for once we're dealing with a Cardassian computer... it shouldn't have any more than seven sequences. DAX Beginning decryption. As a monitor in the pit lights up... the screen is filled with lists of rapidly changing numbers... O'BRIEN Online... patched to subroutine "A- N-A"... Dax's monitor has them too... she presses a few panels... the first digit a "4" sticks and the computer continues to figure out the rest... 50 INT. PROMENADE Bareil, Sisko, Kira exit the airlock. The Promenade is crowded with people. Every Bajoran on the station is packed into either the upper or lower level. Odo and a handful of Deputies do what they can to control the crowd. Bashir comes out of the Infirmary to see. Bareil pauses to mix with the people, smiling, chatting, being spiritual... the people push forward to be close to the future Kai... arms reaching out, touching him... much Walla and excitement... moving to find at the back of the crowd... Neela... holding her tool box... 51 INT. OPS - CLOSE ON MONITOR (OPTICAL) which has now figured out six of the seven digits... and as the seventh one clicks into place... making "4100RLX"... move back to find O'Brien... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 55. 51 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN That's it... computer access subprogram "A-N-A"... code four-one- zero-zero-R-L-X. He moves out of the pit... moving quickly back to his station, Dax comes over to look over his shoulder... COMPUTER VOICE Accessing. O'BRIEN Identify commands within the file. COMPUTER VOICE Commands are sequential overrides of security fields approaching Runabout pad "A"... O'BRIEN The forcefields? Display sequence on screen. 52 ON MONITOR (OPTICAL) A station display appears... and starting from the Runabout... it highlights the forcefield overrides going backwards... until it reaches the Promenade... DAX (curious) Right to the Promenade. O'BRIEN Computer, run a level three sensor sweep through the Promenade... report any anomalous reading... COMPUTER VOICE Working. O'BRIEN (beat, thoughtful) An escape route... DAX An escape from what? O'BRIEN Got me. COMPUTER VOICE One anomalous reading detected. STXTÉ § DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 56. 52 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Identify. COMPUTER VOICE A short range subspace relay was activated in the Security Office nine minutes, seven seconds ago. O'BRIEN Activated to do what? COMPUTER VOICE Unknown. Insufficient data. They frown. On the move -- O'BRIEN I'm going down there. DAX I'll run a diagnostic on the other security systems and call you as soon as I have anything. O'Brien reaches the Turbolift... 53 INT. PROMENADE Bareil, Sisko, Kira and Bareil's attache have made progress getting through the crowd with Odo's help... moving to find Neela, being pushed in the crowd... a solemn, even expression on her face. 54 ANGLE as Bareil sees Winn and her monk near the temple... Bareil smiles and moves to her... she smiles, they embrace, pleasing the crowd... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT FIVE 57. 54 CONTINUED: WINN I expected you sooner, Bareil. BAREIL It seems our paths have grown apart. Perhaps we can bring them together again. WINN Nothing would please me more. BAREIL Come with me to the school... let's both show a commitment to the peaceful conclusion of this series of events... Just a touch of hesitation... WINN Of course. They move forward... making better progress this time... finding Neela again in the crowd... 55 NEW ANGLE to find O'Brien arriving, on the Turbolift... moving to security... 56 INT. SECURITY OFFICE O'Brien ENTERS, uses his tricorder to trace the subspace device... it leads him right back to the place where Neela had been working in Act One. O'Brien does a take... thinks about Neela... can't believe it... O'BRIEN (off tricorder) Computer, is the subspace device integrated into the isolinear co- processor? COMPUTER VOICE Confirmed. O'BRIEN O'Brien to Dax. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/12/93 - ACT FIVE 58. 56 CONTINUED: DAX'S COM VOICE Go ahead. O'BRIEN It's in the isolinear co-processor. DAX'S COM VOICE Didn't you just repair that unit two days ago? O'BRIEN Yeah, I did... with Neela. 57 INT. PROMENADE - ON NEELA slowly moving between people, getting closer to the front of the crowd... they've reached the school now... the parents, Jake and Keiko are there... Bareil never lets go of Winn's hand... BAREIL (to the crowd) Looking around at your faces... I believe you feel the shame that I feel at this sight... 58 INT. SECURITY OFFICE (VPB) O'Brien shaking his head, angry at himself for being a fool, for liking her, still not entirely believing it, not wanting to believe it, there's gotta be a better explanation... he's working a computer console... O'BRIEN It's gotta be the weapon detectors on the Promenade... that's the only thing those co-processors could possibly affect... DAX'S COM VOICE All weapon detectors appear to be functional, Chief... O'BRIEN (half to himself, convincing himself) No, that's gotta be it... she's real good... she could make it look like they're normal... it's gotta be the scanners... He sighs, it's the only answer. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 59. 58 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN O'Brien to Sisko... INTERCUTTING: 59 INT. PROMENADE Bareil is holding up one hand to quiet the crowd... he looks deeply saddened by what he sees, never let's go of Winn's hand... BAREIL Once our world was a center of learning... Sisko responding to O'Brien's call, has taken a moment to move away from center stage to keep his conversation from disrupting Bareil... SISKO What's up, Chief? O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE Sir, I'm not entirely sure... but I think the weapon detectors on the Promenade have been disabled. SISKO (instantly alert to the crowd) What do you mean you're not sure? O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE I mean, I think Neela disabled them. SISKO Your assistant... ? O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE Yessir. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 60. 59 CONTINUED: BAREIL (over the above) ... It attracted travelers from many other worlds... now, to see a schoolhouse destroyed, to see the pursuit of education halted... it is indeed a sad day for Bajor. The years of oppression have changed us. They have left us violent. They have left us afraid. They have left us distrustful. Sisko's eyes scan the crowd... sees Neela moving closer to Bareil, reaching into her tool box... BAREIL It is time to forge a new beginning... to accept new ideas, not to be afraid of them... to reject violence as a solution, to join hands with all peoples and begin to trust again... Begin slow motion... 60 WINN'S HAND disconnects with Bareil's... 61 KIRA just happens to be looking that way and notices... 62 BAREIL glances at Winn (and she is calm and placid as ever, only the hand gives her away)... 63 NEELA'S HAND pulls out a phaser... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 61. 64 SISKO charges into the crowd at her... SISKO No! 65 ODO turns to the sound of the voice... sees -- 66 SISKO pushing people out the way to get to her... 67 KIRA reacts, barely starts to move toward Bareil to protect him but she's not sure from what... 68 NEELA raises the weapon... no one seems to notice, they're all looking at Sisko... 69 ODO tries to get to... 70 BAREIL who looks perplexed by the commotion... 71 SISKO (OPTICAL) Slow motion ends as he gets to Neela and throws his body in the air... Neela sees him out of the corner of her eye, moves to get a better shot, he hits her arm as the gun discharges twice, hitting the ceiling... and now people are screaming, and scattering and all hell is breaking loose... 72 O'BRIEN comes out of security to see what the hell has happened... Keiko finds him, they lock arms... DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 62. 73 ODO ushers Bareil, who is clearly shaken and pale, away to safety... 74 SISKO pulls Neela to her feet, having wrestled the gun away from her... NEELA (without apology) The prophets spoke. I answered their call. The prophets spoke. I answered their call. 75 ANGLE - WINN saying a silent prayer and as she looks up, she finds Kira staring at her... off Winn's curious reaction -- KIRA (almost doesn't believe it herself) It was all to get him here, wasn't it. The school, the protests... the bombing. You knew that would bring him out of the monastery. You did it all to kill him, to stop him from becoming Kai. Winn studies her evenly for a long moment, chooses not to grace the accusation with a reply... moves quickly away... a beat on Kira's reaction... 76 SISKO Sisko leads Neela toward security and they pass O'Brien and as he makes eye contact with Neela -- she says it again, but this time trying to personally explain it to him because she really does like him. NEELA The prophets spoke. I answered their call. And she disappears with Sisko inside. We stay on O'Brien's reaction a beat and then ... 77 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 63. 78 INT. OPS It's late at night now... a skeleton crew is in charge... in fact all we see is one Bajoran supernumerary in the background and she quickly moves out of sight... Sisko arrives, exhausted, on the Turbolift, reacts as he sees Kira sitting alone at her station at the table... staring ahead in thought... trying to make some sense out of all this... He moves beside her, lays a hand on her shoulder which breaks her trance. She looks up at him and he sits beside her. It's a gentle, subdued moment between them. SISKO Neela insists she acted alone. Unless you want to consider the prophets co- conspirators. KIRA She'll never tell us the truth. We'll never be able to prove Winn was involved. SISKO (beat, studying her) You okay? KIRA (sighs) Okay... ? I've forgotten "okay." Haven't seen "okay" in what seems like years. (beat) I've been sitting here thinking. Last year at this time, I was fighting the Cardassians in some nameless swamp. If you'd've stopped by and told me in just one year, they'd be gone, and I'd be wearing a uniform, up here in charge of protecting some wormhole... SISKO ... protecting your celestial temple... KIRA (beat) I envied Vedek Winn because she was a true believer... I wanted my faith to be as strong as hers. DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/06/93 - ACT FIVE 64. 78 CONTINUED: SISKO Maybe it is. Kira thinks that over. Sisko rises. SISKO I have a report to put together for Starfleet... you ought to get some rest... KIRA I'd rather help you... He nods, okay, come on... she rises... KIRA Commander... (beat) I heard what you said to Vedek Winn at the school. I just wanted you to know... you were right about the Bajorans here, about me at least... I don't think you're... (beat, using his words) ... "the devil." He smiles warmly. SISKO Then I guess we've made some progress after all. She smiles back. He puts his arm around her shoulder and as they move into his office... 79 thru OMITTED 80 FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END ç