STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                              
                       "Distant Voices" 
                    (fka "Too Many Rooms") 
                          #40513-464 
                              
                           Story by 
                          Joe Menosky 
                              
                          Teleplay by 
             Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe 
                              
                          Directed by 
                          Alex Singer 

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 1994 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 This script is not for publication or 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
                        January 11, 1995

       STAR TREK: DS9 - "Distant Voices" 01/11/95 - CAST 

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                       "Distant Voices" 
                             CAST 

          SISKO                    GARAK
          KIRA                     ALTOVAR
          ODO                      DABO GIRL #1

          BASHIR                   CROWD
          DAX                      INHABITANTS
          O'BRIEN                  BAJORAN NURSE
          QUARK                    
          Non-Speaking             Non-Speaking
          N.D. SUPERNUMERARIES     

  STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - SETS 

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                       "Distant Voices" 
                             SETS 


        INTERIORS                     EXTERIORS
        DEEP SPACE NINE                 DEEP SPACE NINE
          REPLIMAT                      
          CORRIDOR                      
          PROMENADE                     
          INFIRMARY                     
          QUARK'S                       
          SECURITY OFFICE               
          HABITAT RING CORRIDOR         
          TURBOLIFT                     
          WARDROOM                      
          CARGO BAY                     
          CONDUIT                       
          OPS                           

    STAR TREK: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - PRONUNCIATION 

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                       "Distant Voices" 
                      PRONUNCIATION GUIDE 

          ALTOVAR                  AL-toe-var
          ANAPHASIC                AN-a-FAZE-ik
          HYDROCORTILINE           HIE-droe-cor-tih-line
          INPEDREZINE              in-PED-ruh-zeen
          LETHEAN                  LETH-ee-un
          BIO-MEMETIC              BIE-oe-muh-MEH-tik
          OSTEOGENIC               ah-STEE-oh-JEN-ik
          SHOGGOTH                 SHOW-goth
          TRIPDECEDERINE           TRIP-duh-SED-uh-rin
          YIGRISH                  YIH-grish

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           1.

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE                    
                           "Distant Voices"                            
                            TEASER                              

	FADE IN:

1    INT. REPLIMAT

	GARAK and BASHIR are at their usual table, eating their 
	traditional lunch.

					BASHIR
			You're sure I can't interest you in 
			some Yigrish cream pie.

					GARAK
			Thank you, Doctor, but I'm quite 
			full.

					BASHIR
			You barely touched your food.

					GARAK
				(embarrassed)
			The truth is, I've been trying to 
			lose a little weight.  Hemming women's 
			dresses may provide me with a modest 
			income, but it doesn't offer much in 
			the way of exercise.

					BASHIR
			If you'd like, I could help you set 
			up an exercise program in one of the 
			holosuites.

					GARAK
			I might take you up on that.  But 
			speaking of holosuites...

	Garak takes out an isolinear rod with a ribbon around it and 
	hands it to Bashir.

					GARAK
			Happy Birthday.  I know it's a few 
			days off, but I wanted to give you 
			your present early.

					BASHIR
			Thank you, Garak.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           2.

1    CONTINUED:

					GARAK
			It's a Cardassian holosuite program.  
			An adaptation of one of Shoggoth's 
			enigma tales.

					BASHIR
			I see.

					GARAK
			You sound disappointed.  I thought 
			you liked mystery novels.

					BASHIR
			I do.  Human mystery novels.  The 
			problem with Cardassian enigma tales 
			is that they all end the same way.  
			All the suspects are always guilty.

					GARAK
			Yes, but the challenge comes from 
			determining exactly who is guilty of 
			what.
				(a beat)
			Is Lieutenant Dax throwing you another 
			"surprise" party this year?

					BASHIR
				(glum)
			So I'm told.

					GARAK
			You don't seem very enthused about 
			it.

					BASHIR
			It's not that I don't appreciate all 
			the trouble she goes to.  But the 
			thing of it is... this year's a little 
			different.

					GARAK
			How so?

					BASHIR
			This will be my thirtieth birthday.

					GARAK
			And?

					BASHIR
			You know, Garak, sometimes I forget 
			you're not human.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           3.

1    CONTINUED:	(2)

					GARAK
				(smiling)
			It's an important thing to keep in 
			mind, Doctor.

					BASHIR
			Well, in many human cultures, the 
			thirtieth birthday is considered a 
			sort of milestone.  It marks the end 
			of youth and the beginning of the 
			slow march into middle age.

					GARAK
			And that's... considered bad?

					BASHIR
			No.  It's just that... once you hit 
			thirty, it becomes harder and harder 
			to ignore the passage of time.

					GARAK
			Doctor, are you trying to say that 
			you're afraid of growing old.

					BASHIR
			Of course not.  It's nothing to do 
			with fear.  I'm just having a 
			little... difficulty accepting the 
			aging process.

					GARAK
			I wasn't aware that humans saw growing 
			old as a negative experience.  On 
			Cardassia, advanced age is seen as a 
			sign of power and dignity.

					BASHIR
				(defensive)
			I'm well aware that aging is part of 
			the natural cycle of life.  I just 
			don't want to be reminded of it.
				(exasperated)
			Look, Garak, the fact is, in two 
			days I turn thirty, and if I want to 
			be grumpy about it, that's my 
			prerogative.

					GARAK
			By all means, Doctor, be as grumpy 
			as you want.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           4.

1    CONTINUED:	(3)

					BASHIR
				(sort of means it)
			I appreciate the support.

2    NEW ANGLE

	As QUARK approaches their table, accompanied by a hulking, 
	hideous looking alien, ALTOVAR.  Quark looks a little nervous.

					QUARK
			Excuse me, Doctor.  Do you have a 
			moment?

					BASHIR
			What can I do for you, Quark?

	Quark glances over his shoulder at the looming alien.

					QUARK
			Uh... my friend... Altovar here is 
			looking to purchase a small quantity 
			of...
				(embarrassed)
			Bio-memetic gel.  And I was wondering 
			if you might know how he could obtain, 
			let's say, a few hundred milliliters.

	Bashir looks suspiciously at the alien.

					BASHIR
			Bio-memetic gel is a restricted 
			substance.  Its sale is strictly 
			forbidden by Federation law.

					QUARK
				(relieved)
			I thought so.
				(to Altovar)
			You see.  I told you.

	But Altovar makes no move to leave.

					ALTOVAR
				(to Bashir)
			I'm willing to pay whatever's 
			necessary.  Name your price.

					BASHIR
			Why do you need it?

					ALTOVAR
			That's my business.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           5.

2    CONTINUED:

					BASHIR
			I'm sorry, but Bio-memetic gel can 
			be very hazardous if not handled 
			correctly.  It's not for sale.  At 
			any price.

	There's a beat as the alien stares at Bashir.  Quark tries 
	to break the moment.

					QUARK
			Well, we tried.  Thank you, Doctor.

	The alien just stares at Bashir for a long beat, then finally 
	turns and walks away.

					BASHIR
			Quark, you should warn your friend 
			that even attempting to obtain Bio-
			memetic gel is a felony under 
			Federation law.

					QUARK
			I know.  I told him that.  But he 
			insisted that I ask you anyway.  
			Letheans can be incredibly stubborn.
				(a beat)
			I hope you'll forgive the 
			interruption.

	Quark turns to leave, then looks back at their plates.

					QUARK
			You know, we just introduced a new 
			lunch menu at the bar.

					BASHIR
				(with an edge)
			Good-bye, Quark.

					GARAK
				(to Quark)
			Don't take it personally.
				(conspiratorial)
			He's turning thirty.

	Bashir makes a sour face.  Garak smiles.

3    INT. STATION CORRIDOR

	Bashir is walking down the hallway.  The Turbolift doors 
	open and DAX EXITS.  She sees Julian and, smiling, falls 
	into step beside him.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           6.

3    CONTINUED:

					DAX
				(glad to see him)
			Julian.  What's new?

					BASHIR
			Dax, if you're trying to find out if 
			I know about my "surprise party" 
			Chief O'Brien has already told me 
			about it.

					DAX
			He did?  That does it.  That's the 
			last surprise party I let him help 
			me plan.  Every year he insists on 
			being involved, and every year he 
			manages to spoil the surprise.

					BASHIR
			The chief's a man of many talents, 
			but keeping a secret isn't one of 
			them.

					DAX
				(playful)
			Well now that you know about it, you 
			may as well help with the final 
			details.  We've narrowed the choices 
			down to two different holosuite 
			programs.  Would you rather have 
			your party at a Greek palace on Mount 
			Olympus or at Louis Pasteur's house 
			in Paris?  Or as Quark put it, wood 
			nymphs or can-can girls?

					BASHIR
			I'm going to have to think about 
			that one.

					DAX
			Of course there's always game seven 
			of the nineteen sixty-four World 
			Series.

					BASHIR
			Let me guess... Commander Sisko's 
			idea.

					DAX
			He says that's one of the greatest 
			baseball games of all time.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           7.

3    CONTINUED:	(2)

					BASHIR
			If you care about that sort of thing.
				(a beat)
			So why don't we say...
				(makes up his mind)
			Wood nymphs.

					DAX
			I knew it.  I'll tell Quark first 
			thing in the morning.
				(grins evilly)
			Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to 
			have a little chat with Chief O'Brien.

					BASHIR
			It's pretty late.  He's probably 
			asleep.

					DAX
				(mischievous)
			Good.  I'll wake him.

	And with that Dax walks off.  Bashir smiles and watches her 
	go.

4    INT. INFIRMARY

	Bashir ENTERS the darkened Infirmary.

					BASHIR
			Lights.

	The lights come on, but to Bashir's surprise, Altovar, the 
	alien from the Promenade, is ransacking the storage shelves.

					BASHIR
			What do you think you're doing?

	In response to Bashir's challenge, Altovar tries to escape.  
	Bashir rushes to block his EXIT.  They struggle.  Bashir 
	gets in one or two good punches, but then...

5    CLOSE ON BASHIR (OPTICAL)

	Altovar grabs Bashir by the temples.  Some kind of electrical 
	discharge arcs from the alien's hand to Bashir's head.  Bashir 
	convulses and then goes limp, collapsing to the floor.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - TEASER           8.

5    CONTINUED:

	Altovar hurries out of the room.  Hold on Bashir's 
	unconscious face for a beat, and then...

									FADE OUT.

                         END OF TEASER                          

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE          9.
                            ACT ONE                             

	FADE IN:

	(Note:  Episode credits fall over opening scenes.)

6    INT. INFIRMARY

	Close on Bashir as he slowly regains consciousness.  The 
	lights in the Infirmary are flickering fitfully and the 
	monitors are full of static.

	As Bashir gets up, we see traces of gray hairs at his temples.  
	The effect is subtle, but enough to make him look slightly 
	older.

	Bashir looks around at the ransacked medical supply shelves, 
	the flickering lights and the inoperative monitors.  He's 
	still a little disoriented and surprised by the strangeness 
	of his surroundings.

					BASHIR
				(to com)
			Bashir to Security.
				(no answer)
			Bashir to Ops.
				(no answer)
			This is Doctor Bashir.  Is anyone 
			reading me?
				(to com)
			Computer, locate Commander Sisko.
				(no answer, insistent)
			Computer, please respond... Computer?

	There's still no answer.  Bashir tries to manually access 
	the computer at one of the consoles, but has no more luck 
	than he did with verbal commands.  Almost absentmindedly, 
	Bashir picks up a chair that was knocked over during his 
	scuffle with Altovar.

	As he puts the chair back in place, he suddenly stops, as we 
	hear the faint, sibilant sound of distant whispering.  Though 
	it's impossible to distinguish what is being said, we should 
	get the distinct impression that more than one person is 
	talking.

					BASHIR
				(looking around)
			Hello?

	There's no response, but the whispering continues.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         10.

6    CONTINUED:

					BASHIR
			Is someone there?

	The whispering continues, but it's no louder or more distinct.

	Trying to follow the voices to their source, Bashir EXITS 
	out the Promenade door.

7    INT. PROMENADE

	Bashir steps out of the Infirmary and into an eerily deserted 
	Promenade.  There's not a soul in sight and any monitors 
	that are visible display static.  The station lights continue 
	to flicker.

	Bashir walks out into the middle of the Promenade and looks 
	up.  The upper level, like the lower level, is completely 
	deserted.

					BASHIR
			Hello?  Is anybody here?

	He begins walking from store to store, checking inside 
	doorways, sometimes even disappearing in the store for a few 
	seconds.

					BASHIR
				(to himself)
			Where is everyone?

	The whispers have even faded away.  The Promenade is empty 
	and quiet.  Bashir catches his reflection in a mirrored 
	surface.  He notices the graying around his temples.  But 
	before he can completely absorb this change in his appearance, 
	there's a CRASHING SOUND from Quark's.

	Bashir goes to investigate.

8    INT. QUARK'S

	Bashir ENTERS.  The bar is dark, even darker than usual.  
	The lighting is slightly surreal, almost chiaroscuro, with 
	unexpected areas of light and shadow.  (There does not have 
	to be any logical correlation between the lighting levels on 
	the Promenade and in the bar.)  Some of the chairs and tables 
	have been upturned and the monitors are full of static.

	Bashir halts, allowing himself to get used to the darkness.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         11.

8    CONTINUED:

	Suddenly Bashir hears a rustling behind the bar, followed 
	by a muted whimpering.

					BASHIR
			Who's there?

	Bashir cautiously approaches the bar and looks over it.

9    BEHIND THE BAR

	QUARK is huddled in a corner.  He looks terrified.

					BASHIR
			Quark?

	Quark looks up at Bashir, his eyes filled with fear.  He 
	tries to curl himself up even tighter.

					BASHIR
			It's all right.  It's me.  Bashir.

	Bashir comes around the bar and approaches Quark, who tires 
	to press himself back closer to the bulkhead.

					BASHIR
			What is it?  What's going on?  Tell 
			me.

	Bashir crouches down beside Quark.

					QUARK
			He's going to kill us.  He's going 
			to kill us all.

					BASHIR
			Who?  Who are you so afraid of?
				(off Quark's frightened 
				look)
			Where's Sisko?  What happened to the 
			rest of the crew?

	Quark shakes his head as if he doesn't know, and as if it 
	doesn't matter.

					BASHIR
				(reassuring)
			Look, why don't you come with me?  
			We'll go try to find them.

					QUARK
			No.  Don't you see.  If we move, 
			he'll find us.  But if we stay here, 
			we might be safe.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         12.

9    CONTINUED:

					BASHIR
				(insistent)
			Safe from whom?
				(a beat)
			Quark, you have to tell me.

	But before Quark can answer, there is noise from the second 
	level of the bar.

					QUARK
				(whispered)
			He's here.

	Bashir looks over the bar to see who's up there, but it's 
	too dark.  And now the sounds of movement are unmistakable.

					BASHIR
			We've got to get these lights back 
			on.

	Quark shakes his head, his panic building.

					QUARK
			It's too late.  He's found us.  We've 
			got to get out.

	And Quark suddenly makes a dash for the EXIT.

					BASHIR
			Wait.

	But Quark scampers out the door.

10   CLOSE ON BASHIR

	Now alone behind the bar.  For a moment he's torn between 
	going after Quark and staying to find out who's approaching 
	from out of the darkness.  The noise of movement keeps getting 
	louder.  Finally Bashir stands and defiantly looks out at 
	the darkness.

					BASHIR
			Who's there?  Show yourself.

	Suddenly a table comes flying at Bashir out of the darkness.  
	Bashir narrowly avoids it by ducking back behind the bar.  
	The table is followed by the sounds of furniture being broken 
	as the room is destroyed.  Bashir is unarmed and doesn't 
	know what he's up against.  He decides not to take any chances 
	and retreats back to...

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         13.

11   INT. PROMENADE

	Bashir ENTERS the Promenade from Quark's.  Behind him, the 
	sounds of destruction inside the bar continue.  Bashir looks 
	around for Quark.

					BASHIR
				(calling sotto voice)
			Quark?  Quark!

	But there's no answer and after a beat, Bashir continues 
	down the Promenade.

12   INT. REPLIMAT

	The Replimat is deserted and the lights are low (though 
	not as low as Quark's).

	Bashir ENTERS.  He's disappointed to find the area deserted, 
	but by now, he's not surprised.  We hear the sound of pouring 
	liquid.  Bashir reacts to the noise and notices something 
	strange about the replicators.

13   CLOSE ON ONE OF THE REPLICATORS

	Which is pouring out a slow and steady stream of a light 
	brown, watery liquid.

14   ANGLE ON BASHIR

	As he approaches the replicator.  The liquid continues to 
	pour.  Bashir looks at it closely, then dips his finger in 
	the stream and tentatively tastes it.

					BASHIR
				(perplexed)
			Tarkalean Tea?

	This explains nothing to Bashir.  If anything, it makes the 
	situation even stranger.  Bashir looks across at the other 
	replicator, which is also pouring liquid.  But before he can 
	go investigate, he hears a scraping noise from down the 
	Promenade.

14A  ANGLE ON SECURITY - BASHIR'S P.O.V.

	Bashir looks toward the source of the sound, which seems to 
	have come from Odo's office.

					BASHIR
			Constable?

	There's no answer.  The doors to the office are closed and 
	the lights are off.  Bashir moves cautiously toward Odo's 
	office.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         14.

15   INT. SECURITY OFFICE

	Bashir ENTERS, but before he gets very far, he is grabbed 
	from behind and slammed into a bulkhead.  Bashir tries to 
	fight back, but then realizes his assailant is none other 
	than Garak.

					BASHIR
			Garak?

					GARAK
			What are you doing here, Doctor?

					BASHIR
			I was about to ask you the same thing.

					GARAK
			I was looking for Constable Odo.  
			Everyone on this station seems to 
			have disappeared.

					BASHIR
			Not everyone.  I just saw Quark.  He 
			was cowering behind his bar.  He 
			thinks someone is terrorizing the 
			station.  And I'm not sure I disagree 
			with him.

					GARAK
			What do you mean?  Tell me what's 
			going on.

					BASHIR
			There was some... thing in Quark's... 
			tearing up the place.  I never got a 
			good look at it, but believe me, it 
			wasn't friendly.

	During the above, Bashir crosses over to Odo's desk and begins 
	trying to access the main computer.  The console is full of 
	static.

					BASHIR
				(to com)
			Computer.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         15.

15   CONTINUED:

					GARAK
			It's no use.  As far as I can tell, 
			the station's suffered some kind of 
			massive systems failure.  Aside from 
			life support, and simple functions 
			like turbolifts and doors, nothing 
			seems to be working.  It's been like 
			this for hours.  I was up late 
			programming some replicator patterns 
			for a suit I'm designing, and 
			everything just went dead.

					BASHIR
			I can't believe that you, Quark and 
			I are the only people left on the 
			station.  Sisko and the others must 
			be here somewhere.

					GARAK
			Maybe.  Or maybe they've fallen victim 
			to some kind of rampant virus, or 
			space anomaly, or Dominion plot.

					BASHIR
			All the more reason to try to locate 
			them.

	Bashir pauses as he tries to formulate a plan of action.  
	But as he does so, we begin to hear the distant whispers 
	once again.

					BASHIR
			Wait.  Do you hear that?

					GARAK
			Hear what?

					BASHIR
			That sound.  It's like voices 
			whispering.

					GARAK
			I don't hear anything.  But then 
			Cardassian hearing isn't quite as 
			acute as human's.
				(studies Bashir)
			Doctor, are you feeling all right?  
			You look... different somehow.

	Garak examines Bashir's face.  There's a little more gray in 
	Bashir's hair.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         16.

15   CONTINUED:	(2)

					BASHIR
			What is it?

					GARAK
			Your hair.  It seems to be turning 
			gray.

					BASHIR
			So I've noticed.

					GARAK
				(going for the joke)
			I guess you had reason to worry about 
			turning thirty after all.  Either 
			that, or your job is more stressful 
			than I thought.

					BASHIR
			Look, Garak, we don't have time for 
			this.  We have to find out what's 
			going on here.

					GARAK
			I agree.  Maybe we should split up.  
			I can search the Docking Ring while 
			you look around the Habitat Ring and 
			the Central Core.

	Bashir goes to a panel and opens it, retrieving a pair of 
	phasers and two hand beacons.

					BASHIR
				(agreeing)
			We'll meet back on the Promenade in 
			an hour.
				(a beat)
			Be careful.

	Bashir gives Garak a palm beacon and a phaser.

					GARAK
			You, too.
				(re: his hair)
			And Doctor, try to relax.

	Garak EXITS through the side door, leaving Bashir alone in 
	Odo's office.  The whispers continue, but Bashir still isn't 
	able to make any sense of them.

16   INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR

	Bashir is walking along, carrying the hand beacon and phaser.  
	The light level is low and the whispering can still be heard.  
	Bashir opens a door, scans the room with the beacon, then 
	returns to the corridor.  As he does, the light at the far 
	end of the corridor winks out behind him.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT ONE         17.

16   CONTINUED:

	Bashir looks at the light.  He shines his beacon down the 

	hall, but there's no one there.

	Bashir suddenly has the eerie feeling that someone else is 
	present.  He turns away from the dark end of the corridor to 
	continue his search, but as he does so, another light goes 
	out behind him.

	Bashir begins backing away from the darkness, his uneasiness 
	building as slowly one light after another goes out.

17   NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)

	As Bashir backs away he suddenly bumps into a SECURITY 
	FORCEFIELD that flashes into existence behind him.  He 
	realizes he's trapped.  He can't go any farther.

18   CLOSE ON BASHIR

	As he watches another light go out, his back to the 
	forcefield, and...

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT ONE                          

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO         18.
                            ACT TWO                             


	FADE IN:

19   INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR (CONTINUOUS)

	Bashir watches as one light after another goes out in the 
	corridor and the darkness approaches him like a wall.  Just 
	before the darkness consumes him, Bashir lunges to one side 
	and hits a wall panel.  Doors open and Bashir spins into...

20   INT. TURBOLIFT

	Bashir reaches the inside of the Turbolift and hits a control 
	to close the door.  As the door closes, the last light goes 
	out in the corridor, plunging it into darkness.

					BASHIR
				(to Turbolift)
			Level H-One, Section "A."

	Bashir relaxes.  But before the door can completely shut, a 
	HAND reaches out of the darkness and grabs the door, trying 
	to pry it open.  The hand is gnarled and clearly alien.  The 
	Alien grabs the other side of the door and Bashir finally 
	catches a quick glimpse of his face.

	It's Altovar, the alien from the Promenade.

					BASHIR
				(realizing)
			Altovar.

	The Lethean tries to force the door open, straining against 
	the Turbolift's closing mechanism.  He's actually making 
	progress when Bashir rears back and kicks his hands.

	Altovar loses his grip and the door finally closes.

21   CLOSE ON BASHIR

	As the Turbolift starts to move and Bashir leans back against 
	the wall of the Turbolift in relief.

	But seconds later there's a LOUD THUMP like something landing 
	on the roof of the Turbolift.  Bashir looks up and sees that 
	the ceiling has been deformed as if a large weight has been 
	dropped on it.

       DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/18/95 - ACT TWO       19.

21   CONTINUED:

	This is followed by a series of booming THUDS as the 
	Lethean pounds on the roof of the lift, trying to break 
	through.  Bashir takes out his phaser and waits for Altovar 
	to pound his way into the lift.  THUD after THUD echoes in 
	the confined space of the Turbolift.  But just when it looks 
	like the Lethean will break in...

	The Turbolift comes to a halt and the doors open.  Bashir 
	EXITS into...

22   INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR

	A flickeringly lit corridor.  As Bashir ENTERS the corridor, 
	keeping his phaser trained on the lift doors, he hears the 
	distant sound of people talking.  But unlike the previous 
	whispers, these voices are clearly arguing.  Though it's 
	impossible to make out the words.

					DAX'S VOICE
				(indistinct)
			Look, what are we doing standing 
			around here?

					O'BRIEN'S VOICE
				(indistinct)
			What do you want to do?  Rush out 
			and get us all killed?

					DAX'S VOICE
				(indistinct)
			It's better than doing nothing.  
			Let's go.

					ODO'S VOICE
				(indistinct)
			Of course.  And follow you right 
			into a trap.  Is that what you want?

					KIRA'S VOICE
				(indistinct)
			You're all crazy.  None of this is 
			helping us deal with the Lethean.

	Bashir follows the voices and burst into...

23   INT. WARDROOM

	Bashir ENTERS to find KIRA, O'BRIEN, ODO and Dax in the 
	midst of a heated argument.  In regular light, we get a good 
	look at Bashir's features.

       DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/17/95 - ACT TWO      19A.

23   CONTINUED:

	He looks about fifty-five.

					O'BRIEN
			I say we don't do anything until we 
			get reinforcements from Bajor.

			DAX						KIRA
	Julian.  There you are.  		Bajor.  Bajor doesn't even 
	Where have you been?			know we're in trouble.

			BASHIR					ODO
	Looking for you.					(accusatory)
							And we can't tell them unless 
							you can get the communications 
							system back on-line.

			DAX						O'BRIEN
	Well, I'm glad you're here.			(voice of doom)
							It'll take hours.  There's too 
							many system's sabotaged... My 
							work crews are all missing... I 
							can't manufacture any new parts 
							until we get the replicators fixed...

	Dax breaks off her conversation with Bashir and jumps in on 
	O'Brien, Odo and Kira.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO         20.

23   CONTINUED:

					DAX
				(frustrated)
			The first thing we have to do is 
			neutralize the Lethean.

					BASHIR
			The Lethean?  You mean Altovar?

					KIRA
			You know him?

					BASHIR
			We've met.  He attacked me in the 
			Infirmary.

					O'BRIEN
			And now he's trying to kill us all 
			by destroying the station.

					DAX
			What are we waiting for?  Let's get 
			some phasers and hunt him down.

	Bashir is surprised at Dax's vehemence.

					DAX
				(continuing)
			If you ask me, none of us will be 
			safe until he's dead.

					O'BRIEN
			If we go out looking for the Lethean, 
			we're the ones who'll end up dead.

					KIRA
			Tell you what, while we're looking 
			for the Lethean, maybe we can find 
			your backbone.

					ODO
				(re: O'Brien)
			Maybe he doesn't want us to find the 
			Lethean.  Maybe he's in league with 
			him.

					BASHIR
				(stern)
			All right, that's enough.
				(to com)
			Computer, scan the occupants of this 
			room for any anomalous readings.

      DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO 21-21A.        

23   CONTINUED:	(2)

	The computer doesn't answer.

					KIRA
			Doctor, what are you doing?

					BASHIR
			You're all acting very strangely and 
			I intend to find out why.
				(to com, impatient)
			Computer?

					ODO
			Don't bother, Doctor.
				(glaring at O'Brien)
			For some reason, the computer doesn't 
			seem to be working.

					O'BRIEN
			Don't go blaming me, Constable.  
			None of this would've happened if 
			Security had been doing its job.

					BASHIR
			Look, I said, that's enough.
				(a beat)
			Where's Sisko?  Where are O'Brien's 
			work crews?  I've been wandering 
			around for hours and the only people 
			I've seen are Quark and Garak.  
			Where's everyone else?  There's 
			something very wrong here.

					DAX
			I'll say there is.  Have you looked 
			in the mirror lately?

					BASHIR
			What are you talking about?

					DAX
			You're face.  You look... older.

					BASHIR
			If you're referring to my hair, I'm 
			already aware--

					DAX
				(cutting him off)
			It's more than that.  You've got 
			wrinkles.

	Bashir lifts his hand up to his face, and just as he does, 
	the whispering begins again.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO         22.

23   CONTINUED:	(3)

					BASHIR
			Hold on... Does anyone else hear 
			that?

					KIRA
			What?

					ODO
				(suspicious)
			I don't hear anything.

	Bashir listens intently.

					BASHIR
				(half to himself)
			Garak didn't either.

					DAX
			Julian, what are you talking about?

					BASHIR
			I know it sounds strange, but I keep 
			hearing voices.

					O'BRIEN
				(to the others)
			And he says we're acting peculiar.

					ODO
			So what are these so-called voices 
			saying?

					BASHIR
			That's the problem.  I can't make 
			out the words.

					KIRA
			I think you're the one who needs 
			help, Doctor.  Not us.

					DAX
			Maybe you should lie down.

					BASHIR
			I'm fine.

					O'BRIEN
			Except that you're hearing voices 
			and you seem to have aged twenty-
			five years in the last few hours.

	Bashir ignores him.  He knows there has to be a reason for 
	everything that's happening and tries to figure it out.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO         23.

23   CONTINUED:	(4)

					BASHIR
			There has to be a logical explanation 
			for this... maybe some kind of 
			virus... or a subspace anomaly...
				(more specific theories)
			A neural inversion field... anaphasic 
			parasites...

					DAX
			Keep thinking, Julian.  While you 
			try to figure it out, I'm going to 
			find the Lethean and stop him before 
			he sabotages any more systems.

					O'BRIEN
			What good will that do?  You don't 
			have any idea where he is.  We don't 
			even know what we're up against.  
			How strong is he?  Can he be hurt by 
			phaser fire?

					DAX
			Don't worry Chief.  I'm not asking 
			for any help from you.  If he's here, 
			I'll find him.  Even if I have to do 
			it by myself.

	Bashir's getting tired of this.

					BASHIR
			Dax, settle down.  You're not going 
			anywhere.  Not yet, anyway.  There 
			are too many strange things going on 
			here.  My aging, the missing 
			crewmembers, the sabotage to the 
			station, your abnormal behavior.

					ODO
				(paranoid)
			You think it's all connected 
			somehow?

					BASHIR
			I think we need to find out.
				(to O'Brien)
			Chief, is there any way to get the 
			internal sensors on-line?

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO         24.

23   CONTINUED:	(5)

					O'BRIEN
			There's a computer processing junction 
			not far from here.  I might be able 
			to repair the internal sensors from 
			there.
				(to all)
			But I'm not going alone.

					KIRA
			What a surprise.

	Odo glares at O'Brien suspiciously.

					ODO
			Don't worry.  I'm not letting you 
			out of my sight.

					BASHIR
			We'll all go together.  Let's get 
			moving.

	And as the five of them EXIT...

									CUT TO:

24   INT. CARGO BAY

	Dax and O'Brien are working on an open panel in the Cargo 
	Bay.  Odo and Kira are on guard against the Lethean.  Bashir 
	is looking over O'Brien's shoulder.

					O'BRIEN
			It's even worse than I thought.  The 
			entire sensor array is burnt out and 
			there's extensive damage to the 
			computer's central processor.  The 
			only system that looks salvageable 
			is the subspace communication relay.

					BASHIR
			That would at least let us contact 
			Bajor.

					DAX
			See what you can do, Chief.

	Odo's eyes keep searching around the room, eternally vigilant.

					KIRA
			Constable, would you stop doing that?

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO        24A.

24   CONTINUED:

					ODO
			Doing what?

					KIRA
			Looking around like that.  It's 
			getting on my nerves.

					BASHIR
			There's no harm in keeping both eyes 
			open.

					KIRA
			I don't remember asking for your 
			opinion.

					ODO
			If the Lethean's around, I want to 
			know it.

					BASHIR
			The last time I saw him, he was in 
			the Central Core.

	This gets both Dax's and O'Brien's attention.

					DAX
				(as they continue to 
				work)
			The Central Core?  What level were 
			you on?

					BASHIR
			Level Five.  But I doubt he's still 
			there.  I think I lost him.

					O'BRIEN
				(worried)
			You think?

					BASHIR
			Just keep working, Chief.

	O'Brien keeps working, but he doesn't like it.

					O'BRIEN
			For all we know, he could be right 
			outside the door.

					ODO
				(to Bashir, accusatory)
			And if he is, then you'll have led 
			him here.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO         25.

24   CONTINUED:	(2)

					DAX
			That's fine with me, I'd just as 
			soon finish this here and now.

					O'BRIEN
			Hold on Lieutenant, I think I've got 
			the communications relay working.

					BASHIR
			Open hailing frequencies.  Try to 
			contact Bajor.

	O'Brien tries to comply, but with no luck.

					O'BRIEN
			It's not working.  I still can't 
			transmit.  But I'm receiving a signal.  
			Audio only.

					KIRA
			Let's hear it.

       DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/17/95 - ACT TWO       26.

24   CONTINUED:	(3)

	O'Brien does something to the controls.  At first, all we 
	hear are the same whispers Bashir's been hearing all along.  
	But they slowly grow louder and more distinct until the words 
	become clear.

					DAX'S COM VOICE
				(mid sentence)
			... four CC's of cordrazine, but there 
			was no response.

					ODO
			It sounds like you, Lieutenant.

					SISKO'S COM VOICE
			There has to be something we can do.

					KIRA
			That's Sisko's voice.

					NURSE'S VOICE
			We've tried everything we can think 
			of, but we haven't been able to 
			counteract the telepathic damage.

					BASHIR
				(to O'Brien)
			Where's this signal coming from?

					O'BRIEN
			I don't know.  Somewhere outside the 
			station.

					SISKO'S COM VOICE
			Give me the bottom line.

					DAX'S COM VOICE
			The bottom line is that Julian's in 
			some kind of telepathically induced 
			coma.  And unless we can get him out 
			of it he'll be dead in less than 
			three hours.

	Dax and O'Brien just stare at Bashir.

24A  OMITTED

25   CLOSE ON BASHIR

	As he reacts to what he's heard.

          DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT TWO         27.

25   CONTINUED:

					SISKO'S COM VOICE
				(concerned)
			I'll be in my office.  Keep me 
			informed.

	There's a beat, then...

					DAX'S COM VOICE
				(worried)
			Don't give up, Julian.  Please.  
			You'll pull through.  I know you 
			will.

					O'BRIEN
				(belligerent)
			What the hell is going on here?

	Bashir wordlessly picks up a tricorder which Dax has been 
	using to examine the computers.  He points it at himself.  
	The results leave him thoughtfully stunned.

					BASHIR
				(to himself)
			Delta waves.
				(to all)
			When I scan myself for brain activity, 
			all I get are low frequency delta 
			waves.

					O'BRIEN
			And what's that supposed to mean?

					DAX
			It means those voices were telling 
			the truth.

					BASHIR
			I'm in a coma.

	And off this moment...

26
thru   OMITTED
27

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT TWO                          

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE        28.
                           ACT THREE                            

	FADE IN:

28   INT. CARGO BAY (CONTINUOUS)

	Bashir is still trying to absorb the realization that he is 
	in a coma.  No one else is taking the idea too well either.

					KIRA
				(angry)
			How can you stand there and say that 
			you're in a coma?  That's crazy.

					BASHIR
			Not necessarily, Major.

					DAX
			I suppose the next thing your going 
			to tell us is that we're unconscious 
			too.

	Bashir scans them with the tricorder.

					BASHIR
			Not according to these readings.

					O'BRIEN
			I'm glad to hear it.

					BASHIR
			Actually, I'm not picking up any 
			life signs from you at all.

					O'BRIEN
			Let me see that.

	O'Brien grabs the tricorder and points it at Dax, then 
	himself, then Bashir.  He doesn't like what he sees.

					O'BRIEN
			You want to know what this means?  
			It means this tricorder's broken, 
			that's all.

					BASHIR
				(softly)
			I don't think so.

					ODO
			What are you saying, Doctor?  That 
			we don't exist?

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE        29.

28   CONTINUED:

	Bashir doesn't respond, but his silence speaks volumes.

					KIRA
				(angry)
			I've had enough of this.  I'm not 
			some figment of your imagination.

					BASHIR
			But don't you see, that explains why 
			you've all been behaving so strangely.

					O'BRIEN
			I'm not behaving strangely.
				(to Dax)
			Am I?

	Dax looks to Bashir.

					BASHIR
			You all are.  Dax isn't the kind of 
			person who solves her problems by 
			running around with a phaser.  Chief, 
			you're not usually so pessimistic.

					KIRA
			This is a waste of time.  That Lethean 
			could be here any minute.

					DAX
				(to Bashir)
			So if you're in a coma, and we're 
			not real, then what are we doing 
			here?

					ODO
				(sarcastically)
			Maybe we're just here to give him 
			someone to talk to.

					KIRA
			A paranoid, a coward, a hothead, 
			and... me?  You'd think he'd pick 
			better company.

					BASHIR
			I haven't picked anyone.  I'm in a 
			coma.  I'm the only one who's really 
			here.

     DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE 30-31.        

28   CONTINUED:	(2)

					BASHIR (Cont'd)
			Which means when I talk to you, I'm 
			really just talking to myself.

					O'BRIEN
			I wish you'd stop saying that.

					BASHIR
			But there's no other possible 
			explanation.

					KIRA
			So you're saying that I'm you?

					BASHIR
			In a manner of speaking.

					KIRA
				(pointing to Odo)
			And I suppose he's you, too?

					BASHIR
				(putting it together)
			All of you are.  It's like you each 
			embody a different aspect of my 
			personality... a different voice in 
			my head.

					O'BRIEN
			I don't believe we're having this 
			discussion.

					BASHIR
			If I had to guess, I'd say you 
			represent doubt and disbelief.

					O'BRIEN
			I do not.

	O'Brien catches himself as he realizes what he's said only 
	confirms Bashir's theory.

					BASHIR
				(smiles)
			I knew you'd say that.
				(to Kira)
			Major, you're the perfect choice to 
			represent my aggression.  Odo, you 
			embody my suspicions and fears.  And 
			Dax... to me you've always represented 
			confidence and a sense of adventure.

					DAX
			Thank you, Julian.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE        32.

28   CONTINUED:	(3)

					ODO
			You're forgetting something, Doctor.  
			What about the Lethean?  What's he 
			supposed to represent?

					BASHIR
			I suppose he represents the telepathic 
			damage that the real Lethean did to 
			my mind.

					KIRA
			So why is this Lethean running around 
			sabotaging the station?

					BASHIR
				(piecing it together)
			It's not the station he's sabotaging.
				(the light dawns)
			It's my mind.  The station represents 
			my mind.  Just like you represent 
			aspects of my personality.
				(a beat)
			Think about it... when Chief O'Brien 
			fixed the communications relay, we 
			were able to hear what was happening 
			in the real world.

					DAX
			It's like he restored your hearing.

					BASHIR
			Exactly.  So maybe if we can repair 
			the station...

					ODO
			You'd wake up.

					O'BRIEN
				(to Bashir)
			Yeah?  And if you wake up, what 
			happens to us?

	Before Bashir can answer...

29   NEW ANGLE

	Altovar appears behind Dax, grabbing her and dragging her 
	back into the turbolift.

					DAX
			Julian.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE       32A.

	Bashir, Kira, Odo, and O'Brien turn toward Dax, but before 
	they can do anything...

					BASHIR
			Jadzia!

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE        33.

	The turbolift doors slam closed.

30   CLOSE ON BASHIR

	As he rushes over and bangs on the doors.

					BASHIR
			Jadzia, Jadzia.

	Bashir cocks back his hand to bang on the door again, and 
	suddenly...

									CUT TO:

31   INT. PROMENADE

	Bashir is now standing in the middle of the Promenade, holding 
	a tennis racket.  He looks up and sees that a net has been 
	strung across the Promenade and Garak is standing on the 
	other side of the net, also holding a racket.

					GARAK
			Ready, Doctor?

	Garak serves.  They begin to play.

					BASHIR
			How did I get here?

					GARAK
			Don't ask me.  After all, we're in 
			your mind.
				(as they volley)
			It's a shame about Lieutenant Dax.

					BASHIR
			How'd you know about that?

					GARAK
			I'm part of you, remember?  I know 
			what you know.  Maybe even a little 
			more.

					BASHIR
			Still the man of mystery?

					GARAK
			You wouldn't have me any other way.

	Bashir has to stop.  He's out of breath.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE        34.

					BASHIR
			I think I'm getting a little too old 
			for this.

					GARAK
			Apparently so.  You, or should I say 
			"we," are running out of time.
				(a beat)
			Your serve, Doctor.

					BASHIR
			I can't stay here.  I've got to get 
			the main computer back on line.

					GARAK
			Then you'd better get to Ops.  If 
			repairs are to be done, that's the 
			place to do them.

					BASHIR
			You're right.  You try to find Odo, 
			O'Brien and Kira.  Tell them to meet 
			me in Ops.

					GARAK
			I'd be delighted.  I wonder if any 
			of them plays tennis.

	Bashir looks at Garak thoughtfully.

32   INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR

	Dark and empty.  Suddenly a light shines in the darkness.  
	It's Bashir, feebly illuminating the corridor with a palm 
	beacon.  He walks in and out of frame, half-expecting the 
	Lethean to attack at any moment.

33   INT. ANOTHER PART OF THE CORRIDOR

	Bashir searches through the darkness.  He turns a corner and 
	finds himself...

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE        35.

34   NEW ANGLE

	In a corridor full of indistinct station inhabitants, slumped 
	on the floor.  We can't see any specific wounds or injuries, 
	but obviously they're in bad shape, moaning and writhing in 
	pain.

					INHABITANTS
				(wallah)
			Help us... Doctor... Help... We need 
			you...

	Before Bashir can respond, suddenly...

35   ANOTHER ANGLE

	SISKO arrives, accompanied by Bashir's Bajoran NURSE (the 
	one who's voice we heard in the Cargo Bay).

					SISKO
			I'll handle this, Doctor.

	Sisko is carrying a medkit and looks totally in control of 
	the situation, cool and competent.  Sisko kneels beside the 
	first patient, whips out a tricorder and scans the man.

					SISKO
				(to nurse)
			Give this man ten milligrams of 
			hydrocortiline.  And some 
			tripdecederine for the pain.

	The Nurse nods.  Sisko immediately moves over to the next 
	patient and scans her.

					SISKO
				(to Bashir)
			What are you standing around for?  
			You've got to get to Ops.
				(to Nurse)
			She's suffering from cranial trauma, 
			treat the fracture with an osteogenic 
			stimulator and follow it up --

					BASHIR AND SISKO
				(simultaneously)
			--with two CC's of inpedrezine.

					BASHIR
				(to Sisko)
			How did you know that?

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT THREE       35A.

35   CONTINUED:

					SISKO
			I'm just doing my job.

					BASHIR
			No you're not.  You're doing my job.

	Sisko moves on to the next patient.

					BASHIR
			And doing it every bit as well as I 
			would.

					SISKO
				(to the Nurse)
			Give him a coagulation activator to 
			stop the bleeding.

					BASHIR
				(realizing)
			You must represent my skills, my 
			professionalism.

					SISKO
			So what are you saying?  That I'm 
			you?

					BASHIR
			In a manner of speaking, yes.  The 
			best part of me.

					SISKO
			I'm flattered.

					BASHIR
			Come on.  You've got to come with me 
			to Ops.

      DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/17/95 - ACT THREE      36.

35   CONTINUED:	(2)

					SISKO
			But I'm needed here.

					BASHIR
			If I'm going to repair this station, 
			I'm going to need all the help I can 
			get.

	Sisko thinks it over for a beat, then...

					SISKO
			I suppose you're right.
				(to the Nurse)
			Take care of things here.  I won't 
			be long.
				(to Bashir)
			All right, let's--

	But before Sisko can finish the sentence...

36   OMITTED 

37   NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)

	An arm reaches out of the wall, grabs Sisko from behind, and 
	pulls him inside the bulkhead.

38   ANGLE ON BASHIR

	As he backs away then turns to run.

39   NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL)

	As Bashir rounds a corner, looking back, the Lethean steps 
	out from around the corner blocking his path.

					ALTOVAR
			You're not going anywhere, Doctor.

	Bashir pulls out his phaser and fires at the Lethean.  The 
	beam strikes him but has no effect.

					ALTOVAR
			You're staying right here, trapped 
			on this station, watching while I 
			destroy you piece by piece.  And 
			when all the best parts of you are 
			gone, when there's nothing left but 
			a withered shell, then, and only 
			then, will I put you out of your 
			misery.

      DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/17/95 - ACT THREE      37.

39   CONTINUED:

	And with that, the Alien steps away.  Bashir steps back, 
	then turns and races away down the corridor.

					ALTOVAR
				(calling after him)
			You can't escape, Doctor.  You can 
			run if you want, but you can't 
			outrun death.

	And of this, we...

									FADE OUT.

                       END OF ACT THREE                         

11:[2,#b],66:[3,#b],119:[8,#b]
         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FOUR         38.
                           ACT FOUR                             

	FADE IN:

40   INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR

	Not long after the end of Act Three.  Bashir is running helter 
	skelter down the corridor, gripped by a dream-state fear 
	that he can't shake.  He looks about seventy-five now, and 
	he's gasping audibly from the effort.

41   NEW ANGLE

	Bashir turns a corner to find Kira's dead body slumped in a 
	sitting position against the bulkhead.

	Bashir goes to check on her.

					BASHIR
			Major.

	There's no response.  He feels her pulse.  She's dead.

					ODO (O.S.)
				(weak)
			Doctor...

	Bashir turns toward the sound of Odo's voice.

42   INCLUDE ODO (OPTICAL)

	Who is lying a little further down the corridor, his body 
	twisted and distorted, stuck in mid-morph and scattered across 
	the hallway.

					BASHIR
			Odo, what happened?

					ODO
			The Lethean.  He came out of nowhere.

	Bashir hesitates, not sure what to do.

					BASHIR
			He's trying to rob me of my 
			confidence, my strength, my 
			intelligence... I've got to get to 
			Ops while I still can.

					ODO
			Use the maintenance conduits.  They're 
			your best chance.

	Bashir nods and EXITS.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FOUR         39.

43   INT. ANOTHER PART OF THE CORRIDOR

	Bashir pries off the access plate to a conduit and climbs 
	inside.

44   INT. CONDUIT

	Bashir begins crawling down the conduit, his breathing 
	labored.

45   NEW ANGLE

	Bashir climbs down a vertical conduit.  He looks up for signs 
	of pursuit, pauses to catch his breath, then continues.  
	He's exhausted and close to collapse.

46   INT. ANOTHER PART OF THE CONDUITS

	Bashir comes to a "T" intersection.  As he passes the side 
	corridor, he's surprised to find O'Brien huddled in a corner.

	O'Brien starts when he sees Bashir.

					BASHIR
			Chief.

					O'BRIEN
			Julian... What the hell are you doing 
			here?

					BASHIR
			I'm trying toget to Ops.

					O'BRIEN
			You'll never make it.

					BASHIR
			I've got to do something, don't I?  
			I can't just let the Lethean kill 
			me.

					O'BRIEN
			Do whatever you want.  It won't make 
			any difference.  The Lethean's too 
			fast... too strong.  He's going to 
			kill us all.

					BASHIR
			You sound awfully sure of that.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FOUR         40.

46   CONTINUED:

					O'BRIEN
			I know you can't stop him.  You look 
			like you've got one foot in the grave 
			already.

					BASHIR
			I'll tell you one thing, Chief... I 
			like the real O'Brien a lot better 
			than you.

	Bashir begins to crawl towards an access plate.  O'Brien 
	follows behind him.

					O'BRIEN
			Where are you going?

					BASHIR
			I've got to get out of these conduits.  
			It's hard enough for me to walk, let 
			alone crawl.

					O'BRIEN
			Mind if I come along?

					BASHIR
			I thought you said I didn't have a 
			chance.

					O'BRIEN
			I'm hoping I'm wrong.

					BASHIR
			So am I.

	As they open the access panel.

					O'BRIEN
				(to himself)
			But I doubt it.

									CUT TO:

47   INT. PROMENADE  (VPB)

	Bashir and O'Brien come through one of the airlock entrances 
	to the Promenade.

					BASHIR
			How did we get back here?

					O'BRIEN
			You tell me.  It's your mind.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FOUR         41.

47   CONTINUED:

	As they walk down the Promenade, they pass monitors which 
	display medical graphics.

	Bashir stops to read the graphics.

					BASHIR
			These monitors... they're displaying 
			my vital signs.

					O'BRIEN
			What's the prognosis?

					BASHIR
			Pulse is thready... blood pressure 
			dropping steadily... I'm dying.

					O'BRIEN
			I could've told you that just by 
			looking at you.

	The two of them hear a group of people yelling "dabo." They 
	exchange a look, then head to...

48   INT. QUARK'S

	Bashir and O'Brien ENTER.  There's a crowd gathered around 
	the dabo table, blocking it from view.  Bashir and O'Brien 
	push their way through and find...

49   NEW ANGLE

	Bashir (looking identical to the current older Bashir) lying 
	on a medical bed which is standing in place of the dabo table.

	A flurry of betting is going on around them.

					CROWD
				(wallah)
			The kidneys... the heart... brain 
			hemorrhage... one hour... fifteen 
			minutes...

50   CLOSE ON BASHIR

	Who is stunned by what's going on.

					QUARK (O.S.)
			Can I offer you gentlemen a drink?

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FOUR         42.

50   CONTINUED:

	Bashir turns and find Quark standing behind them.  Quark 
	seems a lot less worried than he did the last time we saw 
	him.

					BASHIR
			Quark, where did all these people 
			come from?

					QUARK
			Just goes to show you... give the 
			people what they want, and they'll 
			show up in droves.
				(smiles)
			Now... care to place a wager.

					BASHIR
			A wager?  On what?

					QUARK
			You name it... On how much longer 
			you've got to live... What organ 
			will fail first... ultimate cause of 
			death.  The house is covering all 
			bets.

					BASHIR
			What if I want to bet that I'll 
			survive?

					QUARK
			It's a longshot, but if you want to 
			throw your money away, who am I to 
			stop you?

	As Bashir reacts to this...

					CROWD
			Dabo!

	Bashir and Quark turn back to the table and see that O'Brien 
	is now dead on the slab.

51   CLOSE ON QUARK

	As he leans over the body.

					QUARK
				(scared)
			Oh-oh.  Looks like all bets are off.

	Suddenly a hand reaches into frame and grabs Quark by the 
	neck.  It's the Lethean, who has replaced O'Brien on the 
	slab.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FOUR         43.

52   INCLUDE BASHIR

	As the Lethean sits up on the table, still holding Quark by 
	the head.  He lowers his arm, dropping Quark's limp body to 
	the ground.

					ALTOVAR
			Including the house.

	Bashir backs away, then turns and half runs, half staggers 
	out of the bar.

53   CLOSE ON THE LETHEAN

	Laughing as Bashir runs.

54   INT. THE PROMENADE

	Bashir runs down the Promenade, barely able to keep on his 
	feet.  Finally, he loses his balance, staggers and falls.  A 
	hand reaches out and grabs his shoulder.  Bashir is sure 
	that it's the Alien, but...

	It's Garak.

					BASHIR
				(exhausted)
			Garak.  The Lethean.  He's in Quark's.

					GARAK
			He hasn't caught you yet, Doctor.  
			Let's get you out of here.

					BASHIR
			No.  I've got to go to Ops.

	Bashir tries to stand, but his leg gives out.

					GARAK
			What's wrong?

					BASHIR
			I don't believe this.  I've broken 
			my hip.  I can't walk.

	And on this, we...

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT FOUR                         

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         44.
                           ACT FIVE                             

	FADE IN:

55   INT. PROMENADE (CONTINUOUS)

	As before.  Garak is crouched over Bashir, who is in a great 
	deal of pain.

					GARAK
				(can't help but smile)
			Well, Doctor, it was a good game 
			while it lasted.

					BASHIR
			I've got to keep moving.

					GARAK
			And how do you propose to do that?

					BASHIR
			You're going to help me.

					GARAK
			Doctor, I admire your tenacity, but 
			I'm afraid it's over.  Look at 
			yourself.  Your bones are as brittle 
			as twigs, you can barely catch your 
			breath, and you can't even stand, 
			let alone walk.

					BASHIR
				(smiles)
			But other than that, I feel wonderful.  
			Now are you going to give me a hand 
			or not?

					GARAK
			It would be a privilege.  Now what 
			would you like me to do?

					BASHIR
				(isn't it obvious?)
			Help me up.

					GARAK
			Of course.

	Garak helps a grimacing Bashir to his feet.  Garak smiles 
	and as they walk off...

									CUT TO:

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         45.

56   INT. OPS

	Close on one of the doors.  We hear the sound of a phaser 
	beam cutting through metal.  The sound stops, then the doors 
	are slowly pried open by Garak.  Garak peers into Ops.

					GARAK
			Anyone home?

	There's no response, but Garak reacts to what he sees off-
	screen with mild surprise.  He pries the doors open the rest 
	of the way, and then reaches into the hall and help Bashir 
	hobble in.  Bashir looks about a hundred years old.  He looks 
	around at Ops.

57   NEW ANGLE - BASHIR'S P.O.V.

	Ops is festooned with streamers and party balloons.  There's 
	a big "Happy Birthday!" banner hanging across the door to 
	Sisko's office.

	TWO DABO GIRLS appear at either side of the doorway.  They 
	take hold of Bashir.

					DABO GIRL #1
			Surprise!

	One of them puts a party hat on his head, the other gives 
	him a noise maker.

					BASHIR
			What's all this?

	Dabo Girl #1 launches into "Happy Birthday."

	Bashir looks over at Garak, who smiles and toots a noisemaker.  
	Garak joins in for the final few lines of "Happy Birthday."

					DABO GIRL #1
				(singing)
			"Happy Birthday, Dear Julian... "

	GARAK AND DABO GIRL #1

					(SINGING TOGETHER)
			"Happy Birthday to you."

					GARAK
				(singing, alone)
			"And many more."
				(smiles)
			Doctor, I really must congratulate 
			you.  You have a fascinating mind.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE        45A.

57   CONTINUED:

					BASHIR
			Look, I'm sorry, but I don't have 
			time for this.

					DABO GIRL #1
			But it's a party.  And it's all for 
			you.

       DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/17/95 - ACT FIVE      46.

57   CONTINUED:	(2)

					GARAK
			You should try to enjoy yourself.  
			It's your birthday.

					BASHIR
			Garak, get me over to the engineering 
			station.  Now.

					GARAK
				(to the Dabo Girl)
			Sorry, my dear.

58   NEW ANGLE

	Garak helps Bashir walk up the stairs.

					BASHIR
			There has to be a way to reactivate 
			the station's central computer 
			network.

					GARAK
			Any ideas on how to go about doing 
			that?

					BASHIR
			My Engineering extension classes at 
			Starfleet Medical focused mainly on 
			starship operations, but I think if 
			I can re-route the primary command 
			processor to bypass the disabled 
			systems, I should be able to get it 
			operational.

					GARAK
			So which panel accesses the computer?

					BASHIR
				(bitterly)
			If you were really Garak, you could 
			tell me.  In fact, you could probably 
			fix this computer without my help.

					GARAK
			But I'm not really Garak, am I?  I'm 
			just another part of you.

	Bashir nods.  He knows.  He goes to the console behind 
	engineering and starts to try to pry off a panel.

       DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/17/95 - ACT FIVE      47.


					BASHIR
			Help me get this panel off.

	Together, Bashir and Garak pry off the access panel, and 
	several dozen tennis balls pour out of the bulkhead and onto 
	the floor.

					BASHIR
			Tennis balls?

	He and Garak exchange surprised looks.

					GARAK
			This station is in worse shape then 
			we thought.

	Calling on his dwindling reserves of energy, Bashir tries to 
	reach another panel, but he loses his balance and falls to 
	the floor, landing painfully on his bad hip.

					BASHIR
			Garak...
				(holds out his hand 
				for help)
			One of these panels has to have the 
			computer controls behind it.  I just 
			have to find the right one.

					GARAK
				(doesn't move to help 
				him)
			Face it, Doctor, there's no way to 
			repair the damage.  It's too 
			extensive.

	Using his arms, Bashir drags himself across the floor.

					BASHIR
			If you won't help me, I'll do it 
			myself.

					GARAK
			I'd be more than willing to help, if 
			I thought it would accomplish 
			anything, but you're only delaying 
			the inevitable.

	Bashir reaches another panel.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         48.

58   CONTINUED:	(2)

					BASHIR
			That doesn't sound like the Garak I 
			know.

	Bashir opens the panel and another stream of tennis balls 
	pours out.

					GARAK
			Doctor, we've been through this.  
			I'm not Garak.  I'm you.

					BASHIR
			It doesn't sound like me either.

	Bashir gets a determined look on his face and arduously pulls 
	himself to his feet.

					BASHIR
			I've been thinking... Why has the 
			Lethean let you live?  He killed 
			everyone else who could've helped 
			me.  And exactly what part of me are 
			you supposed to represent?  My 
			conscience, my curiosity, my sense 
			of humor?

					GARAK
			You tell me.

					BASHIR
			I don't think you're any part of me.  
			In fact, I don't think you belong 
			here at all.

	There's a beat, then...

					BASHIR
			So that leaves me with one question.  
			Who are you?

59
thru   OMITTED
61

62   CLOSE ON GARAK (OPTICAL)

	who smiles and transforms into the Lethean, Altovar.

					ALTOVAR
			You've put up an entertaining 
			struggle, Doctor.

					BASHIR
				(sarcastic)
			I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.

       DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/17/95 - ACT FIVE      49.

62   CONTINUED:

					ALTOVAR
			But now it's time for you to make 
			things easy on yourself.

					BASHIR
			You mean just give up?  I don't think 
			so.

					ALTOVAR
			Why not?  Isn't that what you've 
			always done?
				(a beat)
			Remember, Doctor, I'm inside your 
			head.  I know all about you.

	Altovar picks up a tennis ball.

					ALTOVAR
			When you were younger, you wanted to 
			be a tennis player, didn't you?

					BASHIR
			I wasn't good enough to play 
			professionally.

					ALTOVAR
			You can't lie to me.  Not in here.  
			You were good enough.  But you knew 
			your parents wouldn't approve.  So 
			you gave up.  And became a doctor 
			instead.

					BASHIR
			I love medicine.

       DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - REV. 01/18/95 - ACT FIVE      50.

62   CONTINUED:	(2)

					ALTOVAR
			But you loved tennis more.
				(a beat)
			And what about medical school?  You 
			should've been first in your class, 
			what went wrong?

					BASHIR
			I made a mistake on the final exam.

					ALTOVAR
			You mistook a pre-ganglionic fiber 
			for a post-ganglionic nerve.

					BASHIR
			That's right.

					ALTOVAR
			But pre-ganglionic fibers and post-
			ganglionic nerves aren't anything 
			alike.  Any first year medical student 
			can tell them apart.
				(forceful)
			You purposely gave the wrong answer.

					BASHIR
			That's ridiculous.

					ALTOVAR
				(pressing)
			You didn't want to be number one in 
			your class.  You couldn't take the 
			pressure.

					BASHIR
			That's not true.

					ALTOVAR
			Isn't it?
				(smiles wickedly)
			Then let's talk about Lieutenant 
			Dax.  You like her, don't you?

					BASHIR
			Dax is my friend.

					ALTOVAR
			She could've been more if you'd tried 
			a little harder.  But you'd rather 
			give up than fight, wouldn't you?

					BASHIR
			We'll see about that.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         51.

62   CONTINUED:	(3)

	Bashir turns and half falls, half staggers into a 
	turbolift.

					ALTOVAR
			Wait.  Where are you going?

	But Bashir doesn't respond.  The turbolift lowers into the 
	floor.

									CUT TO:

63   INT. INFIRMARY (VPB)

	Bashir ENTERS the Infirmary.  The lights are flickering and 
	all the monitors are full of static.

64   NEW ANGLE

	To reveal Altovar, who is waiting for him.

					ALTOVAR
			What do you think you're doing?

					BASHIR
			The mistake I made was trying to 
			repair the station from Ops.  That 
			may be the nerve center of the real 
			station, but this...
				(indicates the 
				Infirmary)
			Is the center of my world.

	Bashir opens a panel.  Instead of tennis balls, the inside 
	is full of wiring and cables.

					ALTOVAR
				(menacing)
			Get away from that panel.

					BASHIR
				(begins working on 
				the cables)
			Or what?  You'll kill me.  Go ahead.  
			What's stopping you?  You've had 
			plenty of chances.  It must not be 
			as easy for you as you make it sound.

	Bashir continues fiddling around with the cables.  Suddenly 
	the lights in the Infirmary stop flickering.

					BASHIR
			That's better.
				(to Altovar)
			You know, you don't look half as 
			threatening in normal light.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         52.

64   CONTINUED:

	Bashir continues working and the monitors come to life, 
	displaying the same image, Bashir lying on the table, being 
	attended to by the Bajoran Nurse.

					ALTOVAR
				(re: the monitors)
			Take a close look, Doctor.  You're 
			dying.  Why can't you just accept 
			it?

					BASHIR
				(still working)
			Because that's what you want me to 
			do.  You may be inside my head, but 
			you don't understand me nearly as 
			well as you think you do.  Take Dax...
				(smiles)
			I do have feelings for her, but the 
			important thing is... she's my friend.  
			And I wouldn't trade that friendship 
			for anything.  And as far as my career 
			is concerned... I may have been a 
			good tennis player, but I'm a great 
			doctor.  Maybe I could've been first 
			in my class, but it wouldn't have 
			made any difference in my life.  I 
			still would've chosen this assignment.  
			This is where I belong.
				(closes panel, to com)
			Computer activate quarantine field 
			three-Jay.

65   ANGLE ON ALTOVAR (OPTICAL)

	As a forcefield flashes into existence around him.

					ALTOVAR
			You can't do this.

					BASHIR
			I can do anything I want.  It's my 
			mind.
				(to com)
			Begin sterilization.

	A light floods the area where Altovar is trapped and he slowly 
	disintegrates.

					ALTOVAR
			Noooooooo.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         53.

65   CONTINUED:

	And then Altovar is gone.

66   CLOSE ON THE AGED BASHIR

	As he smiles and closes his eyes in weary triumph.

	MATCH CUT TO:

67   INT. INFIRMARY

	Close on Bashir (at his normal age) as his eyes open.

					DAX (O.S.)
			Julian... He's awake.

68   NEW ANGLE

	To include Dax, Sisko, and the Bajoran Nurse.  We're back in 
	the real world.

					BAJORAN NURSE
			Vital signs have stabilized.  His 
			brain wave activity's normal.

					SISKO
			Welcome back, Doctor.

					BASHIR
			You'll never believe where I've been.

69   EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) (STOCK)

	Re-establishing.

70   INT. REPLIMAT

	Bashir and Garak are having lunch.  We pick them up in mid-
	conversation.

					BASHIR
			As for the real Altovar, he triggered 
			a security alert when he broke into 
			the Infirmary.  He barely got two 
			meters before Odo arrested him.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         54.

70   CONTINUED:

					GARAK
			It sounds like he was a lot more 
			dangerous in your mind than he was 
			in the real world.

					BASHIR
			Actually, I did some checking on 
			Letheans.  Their telepathic attacks 
			are almost always fatal.  I guess I 
			was lucky.

					GARAK
			Cardassians don't believe in luck, 
			Doctor.  You survived because you 
			were strong.

					BASHIR
			I didn't feel strong.
				(a beat)
			One thing's for sure, after 
			experiencing life at the age of a 
			hundred plus, turning thirty doesn't 
			seem so bad anymore.

					GARAK
			In that case, Happy Birthday.
				(smiles)
			You know, Doctor, the thing I find 
			most fascinating about this entire 
			incident is how your unconscious 
			mind chose people you know to 
			represent the various parts of your 
			personality.

					BASHIR
			It did make things interesting.

					GARAK
			What I find interesting is how your 
			mind ended up casting me in the role 
			of the villain.

					BASHIR
			I wouldn't read too much into that, 
			Garak.

					GARAK
			How can I not?  To think, after all 
			this time, all our lunches together... 
			you still don't trust me.

	Bashir looks embarrassed.  Garak gives him a friendly pat on 
	the shoulder.

         DEEP SPACE: "Distant Voices" - 01/11/95 - ACT FIVE         55.

70   CONTINUED:	(2)

					GARAK (Cont'd)
			There's hope for you yet, Doctor.

	They share a smile, and we...

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT FIVE                         
                            THE END                             


¸