STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                              
                          "Accession" 
                  (fka "The Other Emissary") 
                          #40510-489 
                              
                          Written by 
                         Jane Espenson 
                              
                          Directed by 
                          Les Landau 

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 1996 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 This script is not for publication or 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 5, 1996

         STAR TREK: DS9   "Accession" - 01/05/96 - CAS

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                          "Accession" 
                             CAST 

          SISKO                    VEDEK PORTA
          KIRA                     ENSIGN LATARA
          BASHIR                   AKOREM LAAN
          DAX                      KAI OPAKA
          O'BRIEN                  BAJORAN WOMAN
          ODO                      
          QUARK                    
          WORF                     
          KEIKO                    
          MOLLY                    
          JAKE                     
          COMPUTER VOICE           

          Non-Speaking             Non-Speaking
          N.D. SUPERNUMERARIES     N.D. BAJORANS
          MORN                     

        STAR TREK: DS9 - "Accession" - 01/05/96 - SETS 

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                          "Accession" 
                             SETS 

        INTERIORS                     EXTERIORS
        DEEP SPACE NINE                 DEEP SPACE NINE
          O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS/BEDROOM    
          DOCKING RING CORRIDOR         
          OPS                           
          CAPTAIN'S OFFICE              
          INFIRMARY                     
          PROMENADE                     
          WARDROOM                      
          QUARK'S                       
          KIRA'S QUARTERS               
          SISKO'S QUARTERS/BEDROOM      
          REPLIMAT                      

        WORMHOLE                      

        RUNABOUT                      

    DEEP SPACE NINE -"Accession"- 01/05/96 - PRONUNCIATION 

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 
                          "Accession" 
                      PRONUNCIATION GUIDE 

          AKOREM                   uh-KOR-uhm
          D'JARRA                  duh-ZHAR-uh
          DAHKUR                   duh-KOOR
          GAUDAAL                  guh-DAHL
          IH'VALLA                 ih VAUL-uh
          IMUTTA                   ih-MOO-tuh
          JATARN                   JUH-tarn
          KITARA                   kih-TAR-uh
          LAAN                     LAWN
          LATARA                   luh-TAR-uh
          PORTA                    PORE-tuh
          STUKA                    STEW-kuh
          YRIDIAN                  yir-ID-ee-uhn
          TE'NARI                  tuh-NAR-ee

          Sisko's Blessing:        

          Zhia'kaluh tar'eh anu suur... te'von, aka'lu rez...
          ka'vor,mat'ana kel...    

          zhuh KAH luh TAR eh AH-noo soor
          TEH vone ah KAH loo rez  
          KAH vor muh TAH nah kell 

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER         1.

                  STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE                    
                             "Accession"                               
                            TEASER                              

	FADE IN:

1    INT. O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS

	as O'BRIEN and Bashir ENTER in their World War II FLYER
	COSTUMES. They're both agitated, as if they're running
	late, and Bashir reacts with aggravation when he sees
	the piles of EQUIPMENT strewn all around the room;
	pieces of twenty-fourth century technology, some broken and
	burned out, tangles of optical cabling, etc.

					BASHIR
				(annoyed)
			I thought you said you'd already
			started straightening up.

					O'BRIEN
			You should've seen the place
			before.

					BASHIR
				(exasperated)
			Keiko's shuttle is going to be
			here before we know it. We
			should've left the holosuite hours
			ago.

					O'BRIEN
			And let the Jerries get across the
			channel, never.

	They peel off their JACKETS and set about to start
	piling the junk into open packing CRATES. They work
	for a few beats, and then a thought occurs to Bashir...

					BASHIR
			It's sort of a shame to pack all
			this stuff away...

					O'BRIEN
			Wish I didn't have to.

					BASHIR
			It's almost like... sculpture. A
			monument to your year as a
			bachelor.

					O'BRIEN
				(smiles)
			I suppose it is.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER         2.

1    CONTINUED:

					BASHIR
			Who are we to dismantle this...
			piece of art?

					O'BRIEN
			I don't know. But if we don't,
			Keiko'll dismantle me.

	As they continue working...

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

	as a Bajoran transport approaches.

3    INT. DOCKING RING CORRIDOR

	O'Brien, now in uniform, is waiting outside the
	airlock, craning to see past the mostly Bajoran 
	SUPERNUMERARIES exiting the transport. MOLLY runs out
	of the airlock ahead of KEIKO, who is carrying a
	SHOULDER BAG.

					MOLLY
			Daddy!

					O'BRIEN
			Hi, Sweetie!

	O'Brien sweeps Molly up into his arms as Keiko
	approaches. They hug and kiss, then he sets her down
	and pulls Keiko into a big kiss. Lots of heat. It
	finally breaks.

					KEIKO
			Mmm. One good thing about going
			away... is coming home.

					O'BRIEN
			I don't ever want to be apart like
			that again.

	With all the attention off her, Molly has gotten
	impatient. She tugs on O'Brien's pant leg.

					MOLLY
			Daddy! Daddy! I have a little
			brother!

					O'BRIEN
				(chuckling)
			Really?

         DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER          

3    CONTINUED:

	O'Brien crouches down to her, sees the Bajoran-styled
	DOLL in her hand.

					O'BRIEN
			Is that him?

					MOLLY
			No.
				(pointing to Keiko's
				tummy)
			He's in there.

	O'Brien sees where she's pointing, looks up at Keiko...
	and her face says it all... She smiles, hoping that
	O'Brien is going to be happy at the news.

					KEIKO
			Surprise.

	O'Brien is so flustered by the unexpected news he
	doesn't return her smile.

					O'BRIEN
				(more to himself)
			A baby...

	Keiko's smile falters; she can't tell if he's happy or
	not.

					KEIKO
			I thought you'd be happy. I
			mean... we talked about it and
			decided we'd start trying.

					O'BRIEN
			I know. But your last visit...
			you were only here one night. I
			thought it would take a couple
			more nights. To be honest, a lot
			more nights.

					KEIKO
			I guess we just got lucky this
			time...

	O'Brien sees the need for reassurance in his wife's
	eyes and musters a smile...

					O'BRIEN
			I guess so...

	Off this unexpected reunion...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER        3A.

4    INT. OPS

	where KIRA is manning a console. SUPERNUMERARIES as
	needed. The TURBOLIFT ascends into view, ferrying
	three passengers: an older Bajoran Monk, VEDEK PORTA,
	a young Bajoran Woman in Bajoran Military Uniform,
	ENSIGN LATARA, and a Bajoran man in civilian clothes.

	Kira breaks into a smile when she sees the old monk.

					KIRA
			Vedek Porta...

					PORTA
				(smiling and waving)
			Nerys...

	She approaches, waves the group in off the turbolift.
	The couple look a bit nervous, as if they're unsure
	about being here.

					PORTA
				(gently scolding)
			So this is where you are when
			you're not at the Temple...
				(looking around)
			Very impressive.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER         4.

4    CONTINUED:

					KIRA
			Haven't you ever been to Ops?

					PORTA
			What business would an old monk
			have here...
				(smiles)
			... except maybe helping a young
			couple meet the Emissary.
				(unsure)
			Are you sure this is a good time?

					KIRA
			I think he'll be able to fit you
			in.

					LATARA
			Thank you so much for doing this,
			major.

					KIRA
			I'm glad to.

	She indicates that they should wait here, then crosses
	towards Sisko's office.

5    INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE

	SISKO sits at his desk and DAX sits across from him.

					DAX
				(intrigued by the
				possibility)
			Long-range sensors indicate it
			might be a trinary star system.
			I want to send a science team to
			run further scans.

					SISKO
				(nods)
			They can take the Rubicon.

	The door CHIMES and Sisko looks up to see Kira through
	the glass.

					SISKO
			Come in.

	The door OPENS and Kira steps in. She knows Sisko
	isn't going to be thrilled about what she has to ask
	him, but she's hopeful anyway.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER        4A.

5    CONTINUED:

					KIRA
			Vedek Porta's here with a young
			couple that just got married.
			They're hoping to get the
			Emissary's blessing.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER         5.

5    CONTINUED:	(2)

	Sisko looks uncomfortable, but knows he can't refuse.

					SISKO
			Bring them in.

	Kira turns to wave the couple in from Ops.

					DAX
				(to Sisko)
			You remember the words?

					SISKO
			The marriage blessing... ?
				(thinks)
			I think so.

	Latara and her husband ENTER, Vedek Porta and Kira hang
	back by the door, fairly beaming with happiness for the
	young couple.

					LATARA
				(nervous)
			Emissary. We're very grateful to
			you for seeing us.

					SISKO
			Not at all. Now if you'll just
			hold hands.
				(in Bajoran)
			Zhia'kala, tar'eh anu suur...
			te'von, aka'lu rez... ka'vor,
			mat'ana kel...

					LATARA
			Thank you, thank you so much.

	Sisko nods, and they turn to go. Porta catches Sisko's
	eye from the doorway and smiles.

					PORTA
			You're accent is getting much
			better, Emissary.

	Sisko musters a polite smile.

					SISKO
			I'm glad to hear it.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER         6.

5    CONTINUED:	(3)

	Once the door has shut on Kira, Vedek Porta, and the
	young couple, Sisko settles heavily into his chair.
	Dax sees his discomfort.

					DAX
			It's not that bad, is it... being
			the Emissary? A few ceremonies to
			attend, an occasional blessing.

					SISKO
			I never said it was that bad.
			It's just hard to get used to
			being a religious icon.

					DAX
			Really?
				(kidding)
			I think I'd like it.

					KIRA'S COM VOICE
			Kira to Sisko.

					SISKO
			Go ahead.

					KIRA'S COM VOICE
			You'd better get out here...
			there's something coming through
			the wormhole.

	Sisko and Dax react to her urgent tone and start out...

6    EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) 

	as a BAJORAN LIGHTSHIP emerges from the wormhole like
	the one seen in "Explorers." It's drifting, its sails
	tattered and bent, making it look like a crumpled
	butterfly. As it drifts toward the station we cut to --

7    INT. OPS (OPTICAL)

	where Sisko is now at Kira's side; Dax has moved to her
	console. All are looking at the viewscreen in
	amazement.

					SISKO
			A lightship...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER         7.

7    CONTINUED:

					KIRA
			I don't know where it came from...
			according to remote sensors it
			never entered the wormhole.

	They're all momentarily stunned by the strangeness of
	it.

					DAX
				(off console)
			From these readings... I'd say
			that ship's about three hundred
			years old.

	This is even stranger still.

					SISKO
			Lifesigns?

					DAX
				(off console)
			There's someone aboard... a
			Bajoran...

					SISKO
			Try hailing them...

					KIRA
				(beat)
			No response.

	Sisko studies the viewscreen intently.

					DAX
			Whoever's in there could be
			injured.

	With a "come with me" nod to Kira, Sisko heads for the
	turbolift.

					SISKO
				(on the move)
			Tractor that ship into transporter
			range and beam the passenger
			directly to the infirmary.

	As they EXIT...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - TEASER         8.

8    INT. INFIRMARY

	Sisko and Kira ENTER to find Bashir examining the
	unconscious occupant of the lightship, who we'll come
	to know as AKOREM LAAN. He's a Bajoran male, older
	than Sisko.

					BASHIR
			He's a little disoriented.

	Akorem stirs... he takes in his surroundings with an
	uncertain look...

					SISKO
				(gently)
			I'm Captain Benjamin Sisko...
			you're aboard a Federation Space
			Station near Bajor.
				(gesturing)
			This is Kira Nerys, my First
			Officer.

	Kira moves closer so he can see her... she gives him a
	reassuring smile...

					KIRA
			Who are you... ?

	He looks up at her, tries to focus... an almost
	beatific smile crosses his features...

					AKOREM
			I... am the Emissary...

	Kira turns, looks up at Sisko... off their reactions to
	his pronouncement we...

									FADE OUT.

                         END OF TEASER                          

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE        9.
                            ACT ONE                             

	FADE IN:

	(NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes)

9    INT. INFIRMARY - MOMENTS LATER

	where Sisko, Kira and Bashir are talking with Akorem,
	who's a little more focused now.

					AKOREM
			I was heading back to Bajor when
			my lightship was caught in an ion
			storm... it was nearly torn
			apart... a girder came loose from
			the bulkhead and impaled me
			through the shoulder... here.

	He reaches to indicate where, and we see that the
	fabric of his clothes is torn and bloodied, but there's
	no wound.

					AKOREM
			I remember thinking I was going to
			die, alone in space, when a
			strange opening appeared in the
			sky...

	He looks at Kira, half suspecting she won't believe
	what he's about to claim.

					AKOREM
			At first I was terrified, but then
			I realized what was happening...
			the Prophets were opening the
			gates of the Celestial Temple and
			drawing me to them.

					SISKO
			What happened then?

					AKOREM
			It's difficult to describe... the
			prophets took the form of people
			that I know -- my grandfather, my
			brother -- so that they could
			communicate with me.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       10.

9    CONTINUED:

					SISKO
			You spoke to them?

					AKOREM
			I didn't have to.

	His face shines with emotion as he describes what it
	was like.

					AKOREM
			I could sense their understanding,
			their grace. I've never felt such
			bliss. And then...
				(smiling)
			-- they healed me. A light washed
			over me and my wound was gone.
			They gave me back my life... I
			felt reborn.

	Sisko is starting to put something together.

					SISKO
			When exactly did you leave Bajor?

					AKOREM
			It couldn't have been more than a
			few days ago.

					SISKO
			What was the year?

					AKOREM
			Ninety-one seventy-four.

	Kira reacts -- this was a long time ago.

					KIRA
				(gently)
			That was over two hundred years
			ago...

	Akorem reacts... shocked.

					AKOREM
			Two hundred years... my wife... my
			parents...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       11.

9    CONTINUED:	(2)

	Kira gives his arm a gentle squeeze of sympathy. Our
	people give him a long moment to digest the truth.

					BASHIR
			If you tell us your name we can
			contact your descendants, let them
			know you're alive.

	Akorem answers distractedly, lost in thought.

					AKOREM
			Akorem... Akorem Laan.

	Kira reacts -- she recognizes the name.

					AKOREM
			But I have no descendants... my
			brother died last winter... my
			wife and I... we never had any
			children...

	He trails off, caught in the emotion of having lost
	her. After a moment, Kira asks something she seems
	half sure can't possibly be true...

					KIRA
			You're Akorem Laan... the poet?

					AKOREM
				(uncertain)
			I'm a poet, yes...

	Kira reacts as if she's meeting Shakespeare.

					KIRA
			You wrote "Kitara's Song"... and
			"The Call of the Prophets... "

					AKOREM
				(surprised)
			You know my work?

					KIRA
			You're considered one of Bajor's
			greatest poets... any schoolchild
			could recite "Gaudaal's Lament"
			from memory...

	Akorem is clearly moved at hearing that his work has
	survived time... but he's a little overwhelmed by it
	all...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       12.

9    CONTINUED:	(3)

					AKOREM
			People still read my work, after
			all this time... perhaps that's
			part of the Prophets' plan for me.

					SISKO
			Their plan?

					AKOREM
			It's not clear to me yet why the
			Prophets made me their Emissary...
				(with conviction)
			But I know that they gave me back
			my life for a reason...

	Sisko considers how best to handle the situation.

					SISKO
			Akorem... a great deal has
			happened while you've been gone.
			Maybe Major Kira could spend some
			time filling you in.

					AKOREM
			Major Kira?

					KIRA
			That's right.

					AKOREM
				(confused)
			Your family would be part of the
			artist D'jarra.

					BASHIR
			D'jarra?

					KIRA
			Bajor used to have a strict caste
			system... a person's work was
			dictated by what family they were
			born into.

					AKOREM
				(with concern)
			You don't follow your D'jarras
			anymore?

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       13.

9    CONTINUED:	(4)

					KIRA
			When the Cardassians occupied
			Bajor we gave up the D'jarras so
			we could fight them. We all
			became soldiers.

	Akorem can't quite absorb the misfortune that befell
	his people.

					AKOREM
			The Cardassians occupied Bajor... ?

					KIRA
			For over fifty years.

	Akorem is a bit disturbed by some of what he's heard.

					AKOREM
			It seems you're right, Captain...
			a great deal has happened since
			I've been gone.

	Off Akorem's thoughtful features...

10   EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)

	Re-establishing. Ships coming and going.

11   INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE 

	where Sisko is talking with Dax about the situation; he
	has a PADD in his hand.

					SISKO
			If you look at the Prophecies
			about the Emissary, a lot of them
			make more sense with Akorem in the
			picture.

					DAX
				(intrigued)
			Really?

					SISKO
			Every text I've seen says that the
			Prophets would name their Emissary
			by "calling him to them"... that
			he would "find the Celestial
			temple"... and that there, the
			Prophets would "give him back his life."

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE      13A.

11   CONTINUED:

					DAX
			Go on.

					SISKO
			They didn't give me back my life.

					DAX
			Not literally. But they did help
			you get your life back on track.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       14.

11   CONTINUED:(2)

					SISKO
			True enough. But I wasn't the
			first one to find the wormhole, or
			to meet the Prophets. Akorem was.

					DAX
			Benjamin, I thought you didn't
			believe in the Prophecies.

					SISKO
			I don't...

					DAX
			Then why are you using them to
			justify giving up your position?

	Sisko suddenly realizes the contradiction in what he's
	been doing and smiles.

					SISKO
			I guess I'm just looking for
			something to convince me I'm
			making the right decision.

					DAX
			So your mind's made up. You're
			going to step aside.

					SISKO
			Akorem will make a far better
			Emissary than I ever was. He's
			Bajoran, he's a revered poet, and
			he wants the job.
				(beat)
			Besides, Starfleet will be
			thrilled. They never liked the
			idea that the Bajorans saw me as
			a religious figure.

	Dax considers for a beat...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       15.

11   CONTINUED:	(3)

					DAX
			How do you know the Bajorans will
			accept Akorem as their new
			Emissary?

					SISKO
			I talked to Vedek Porta. He
			seemed to think that as long as I
			make it clear that I'm stepping
			aside voluntarily, they will.

					DAX
			So you're off the hook. How does
			it feel?

					SISKO
				(thoughtful)
			It feels... good. No more
			ceremonies to attend, no more
			blessings to give, no more
			Prophecies to fulfill. I'm just
			a Starfleet officer again. All I
			have to worry about are the
			Klingons, the Dominion and the
			Maquis.
				(wry)
			I feel like I'm on vacation.

	Off Dax's appreciative smile...

11A  INT. PROMENADE (FORMERLY SCENE 26)

	as O'Brien hurries along carrying a TOOLKIT.
	SUPERNUMERARIES as needed.

					BASHIR (O.S.)
			Chief!

	O'Brien turns and sees Bashir in the door to Quark's.
	He grins and approaches.

					BASHIR
			Congratulations, dad.

					O'BRIEN
				(smiles)
			You heard.

					BASHIR
			Great news. Come on, let's have
			a drink and celebrate.

	O'Brien would like nothing more, but --

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE      15A.

11A  CONTINUED:

					O'BRIEN
			I should be getting home.

					BASHIR
			One drink.

	Bashir pulls him inside.

11B  INT. QUARK'S (FORMERLY SCENE 27) 

	QUARK is behind the bar as Bashir and O'Brien approach.

					BASHIR
			Quark, did you hear? Chief
			O'Brien is going to have a baby.

					QUARK
				(confused)
			I thought your females carried
			your young.

					O'BRIEN
				(impatient)
			My wife. My wife is having the
			baby.

					QUARK
			Congratulations...

	Quark looks almost wistful as he starts to get Bashir
	and O'Brien their "usuals."

					QUARK
			I remember when my nephew Nog was
			a baby. Cutest thing you ever
			saw. You know babies... every
			little thing they pick up goes
			straight into their ears.

	O'Brien doesn't want to hear about it. He grunts the
	barest of acknowledgments.

					QUARK
			I used to love reading to him.
			You know, "See Brak acquire.
			Acquire, Brak, acquire."

	Overcome with nostalgia, Quark moves off to serve other
	customers.

					BASHIR
			Just think... soon there'll be two
			little O'Briens scampering around
			underfoot...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE      15B.

11B  CONTINUED:

	O'Brien tries to muster a smile.

					O'BRIEN
			Hard to believe, isn't it.

					BASHIR
			They say the second one is easier.
			Since you've already been through
			the diapers, the endless crying,
			the late nights --

					O'BRIEN
			Yeah.

					BASHIR
			Something wrong, Chief?

					O'BRIEN
			No. Not at all. Couldn't be
			happier.

	Bashir is about to ask why he sounds so unenthused when
	Quark calls out to WORF, who has just approached the
	bar.

					QUARK
			Did you hear? Keiko's going to
			have another baby.

	There is a flash of panic in Worf's eyes.

					WORF
			Now?

					O'BRIEN
			No, about seven months.

	Worf relaxes a bit.

					WORF
			I see.

	Worf signals Quark for a glass of his usual.

					O'BRIEN
				(to Bashir)
			Worf delivered Molly, you know.

					BASHIR
				(surprised)
			Really?

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE      15C.

11B  CONTINUED:	(2)

					O'BRIEN
			The Enterprise was damaged, and
			Keiko and he were trapped together
			when her time came.

	Worf nods, swallows, looks a little ill.

					BASHIR
				(teasing)
			Well, I'll be sure and call you
			when she's ready to deliver so you
			can lend a hand.

					WORF
			Did you say seven months?
				(off Bashir's nod)
			Unfortunately, I will be away from
			the station at that time.
				(making it up)
			Far away. Visiting my parents.
			On Earth.
				(beat)
			Excuse me.

	Worf EXITS, just as Quark was about to serve him...

					BASHIR
			I don't know who's more anxious
			about this baby... you or Worf.

	O'Brien decides to come out with what's bothering him.

					O'BRIEN
			The thing is, Julian... now that
			Molly's a little older, I was kind
			of looking forward to being able
			to spend some time with Keiko
			again. I thought maybe we'd, I
			don't know... go out at night.

	Bashir nods that he understands.

					O'BRIEN
			Don't get me wrong, I know that
			once I'm holding my little baby,
			I'll be the happiest man in the
			world... it's just, I wasn't
			expecting it to happen so soon.

	Bashir nods that he understands. A quiet moment, then
	O'Brien tries to shake it off...

					O'BRIEN
			How about a game of darts?

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       16.

11B  CONTINUED:	(3)

					BASHIR
			Don't you have to get home?

					O'BRIEN
			Right.

	Bashir nods, and O'Brien EXITS. Off Bashir's face as
	he watches him go...

12   EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE

	Re-establishing.

13   INT. PROMENADE 

	where Kira is at the rail that looks down onto the
	first level. A CROWD of mostly Bajoran SUPERNUMERARIES
	is gathering to hear Akorem make his first public
	appearance.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       17.

13   CONTINUED: 

	A PODIUM has been set up in front of the Temple. Vedek
	Porta and a few other Monks are making final
	preparations.

	The buzz of excitement in the air is palpable... Bajor
	has a new Emissary. ODO approaches Kira.

					ODO
			Major.
				(off her nod)
			Come to see Akorem speak?

					KIRA
			The Emissary's first public
			appearance? I wouldn't miss it.

	Odo is struck by her use of the word "Emissary"...
	considers for a beat.

					ODO
			I'm surprised to hear you call him
			that.

					KIRA
			Why? Akorem Laan was -- is a
			great man... he's been with the
			Prophets for over two hundred
			years, and now they've sent him
			back to us...

					ODO
			Yes, but... two days ago, you
			believed Captain Sisko was the
			Emissary.

	From her reply, we can tell Kira hasn't sorted it all
	out yet herself.

					KIRA
			He's made it clear that he wants
			to step aside.

	Odo considers, rolls it over in his analytical mind.

					ODO
			Does that mean he never really was
			the Emissary?

	Kira is unwilling to say this about Sisko.

					KIRA
			No.

	Odo is trying to sniff out the contradiction.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       18.

13   CONTINUED:	(2)

					ODO
			But... they can't both be.

					KIRA
				(frustrated)
			I don't know, Odo. What do you
			want from me?

					ODO
			Forgive me, Major, I don't mean to
			be difficult, but your faith seems
			to have led you to something of a
			contradiction.

					KIRA
				(simply)
			I don't see it as a contradiction.

					ODO
			I... don't understand.

					KIRA
			That's the thing about faith... if
			you don't have it, you can't
			understand it. If you do, no
			explanation is necessary.

	Odo takes this in... suddenly the Crowd erupts into
	Bajoran-style APPLAUSE. Kira looks down to see -- 

14   AKOREM

	coming out onto the Podium, dressed in the traditional
	clothes of the Emissary, something like what Winn
	wears. We hear sporadic SHOUTS of "Emissary" from the
	crowd. He waits for the applause to die down.

					AKOREM
			Ever since the Prophets returned
			me to my people, I've asked myself
			the same questions, over and over
			again. Why did they keep me with
			them for so long? Why did they
			return me to my people now?
				(beat)
			I now know the answers.

15   INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE (OPTICAL)

	where Sisko is watching Akorem's address to the people
	on a MONITOR.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       19.

16   INT. PROMENADE

	as Akorem continues.

					AKOREM
				(continuing)
			Bajor suffered a great wound while
			I was with the Prophets: the
			Cardassian occupation. The Bajor
			I have returned to has lost its
			way...

	In the crowd, we see people exchanging looks of
	agreement...

					AKOREM
			People no longer follow the path
			the Prophets laid out for them.
			They no longer follow their
			D'jarras. Artists have become
			soldiers...

17   ON KIRA

	as she reacts... he could be talking about her...

					AKOREM (O.S.)
				(continuing)
			Priests have become merchants...
			farmers have become politicians.

	And doesn't that describe Shakaar?

18   ON AKOREM

					AKOREM
			We must heal the wounds of the
			occupation... we must return to
			our D'jarras...

	He lets this sink in for a beat...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       20.

18   CONTINUED:

					AKOREM
			We must reclaim what we were...
			and follow the path the Prophets
			have laid out for us... it is
			their will that the farmers return
			to their land, painters to their
			canvasses, priests to their
			temples...

19   INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE (OPTICAL)

	as Sisko reacts with uncertainty to what Akorem is
	proposing...

20   INT. PROMENADE

					AKOREM
			If we do this, if we follow our
			D'jarras, then Bajor will flourish
			again... and become the green and
			peaceful land I remember. It will
			be as if the occupation never
			happened.

21   ON AN OLDER BAJORAN WOMAN

	whose face is etched with suffering.

					AKOREM (O.S.)
			By returning to our D'jarras, we
			will have erased it... forever.

	She is moved nearly to tears by this thought.

22   RESUME SCENE

	Akorem stands looking out at the people. After a
	moment, the crowd erupts with the sound of whispered
	exchanges. The crowd reaction is clearly divided.

	Some people are clearly thrown by what Akorem has
	proposed, shocked and ready to take issue with it...
	others agree wholeheartedly, and we hear them
	applauding appreciatively.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT ONE       21.

23   ON KIRA

	as she reacts with uncertainty to what she's heard...

24   INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE 

	as he listens to the divided reactions and wonders what
	will come of all this...

									FADE OUT.
                        END OF ACT ONE                          

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO       22.
                            ACT TWO                             

	FADE IN:

25   INT. WARDROOM

	where Sisko is meeting with Akorem to air his concerns
	about his proposals. He's trying to be very
	diplomatic, since it's not his place to pass judgment
	on Bajoran affairs. Vedek Porta is present, acting as
	Akorem's assistant.

					SISKO
			I wanted to talk to you before you
			left for Bajor.

					AKOREM
			Of course.

					SISKO
			I was surprised by your speech.
			I had no idea you were going to
			advocate change on such a massive
			scale.

					AKOREM
			It's what the Prophets want for
			Bajor. It's why they sent me.

					SISKO
			You're sure of that?

					AKOREM
			Absolutely.

					PORTA
			The Emissary knows that what he's
			proposing will be difficult for
			some people to accept; he doesn't
			expect things to change overnight.

					SISKO
				(to Akorem)
			So you're not planning to ask
			First Minister Shakaar to step
			down and go back to farming?


        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO       23.

25   CONTINUED:

					AKOREM
			Of course not. But, frankly, by
			the next election, I doubt
			there'll be many people left on
			Bajor who would elect a farmer to
			political office.

					PORTA
			It's our hope that eventually, the
			people will support enforcement of
			the D'jarras by legal sanction.

					SISKO
			So if someone defies their
			caste...

					AKOREM
			Society will have appropriate
			remedies at it's disposal. Such
			as deportation.

	Sisko considers how best to put what he wants to say.

					SISKO
			You realize that caste-based
			discrimination goes against the
			Federation charter. If Bajor
			returns to the D'jarra system, I
			have no doubt its petition to join
			the Federation will be rejected.

					AKOREM
			Kai Winn and I have already
			discussed it. We're willing to
			make that sacrifice in order to
			follow the will of the Prophets.

	Sisko is not surprised to hear this.


        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO       24.

25   CONTINUED:	(2)

					SISKO
			I had a feeling Winn would see it
			that way.

	Sisko is deeply troubled by the thought that something
	he's worked for for three years could go down the drain
	in one swoop, but it's not his place to say so.

					PORTA
			Well... the Emissary's transport
			leaves shortly.

	Akorem and Porta stand, ready to go. Sisko joins them
	near the door... decides he has to say something.

					SISKO
			As a Starfleet Officer, I'm bound
			by oath not to interfere in
			Bajoran affairs. But...
				(how to put it)
			... as a friend to Bajor, I have to
			say that giving up Federation
			membership would be a mistake.

	Akorem hears the emotion is Sisko's voice, acknowledges 
	his words with a nod. He reaches up and cups one side
	of Sisko's face to read his pagh. After a moment...

					AKOREM
			Your pagh is strong...

	Akorem moves his hand to a slightly different
	position...

					AKOREM
			I see now why Kai Opaka believed
			you were the Emissary...
				(smiles)
			... and why Winn fears you...

	A moment between them, then Akorem removes his hand.

					AKOREM
			Good-bye... captain.

					SISKO
			Good-bye... Emissary.

	This is the first time Sisko has called someone else
	that, and he's surprised how it makes him feel. Akorem
	and Porta EXIT... off Sisko's face as he watches them
	go...

    DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO 25-28.       

26
thru OMITTED
27

28   EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)

	Re-establishing.

29   OMITTED 

29A  INT. REPLIMAT (FORMERLY SCENE 37) 

	where Sisko is sitting at a table having a MUG of
	coffee. It's the morning rush and the place is full of
	SUPERNUMERARIES; Kira is in line for one of the
	replicators and there's not an extra chair in sight.
	When she finally gets her raktajino she crosses to
	Sisko.

					SISKO
			Morning.

	She looks around, sees there's no place to sit.

					KIRA
			I guess I'll take my raktajino
			with me.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO      28A.

29A  CONTINUED:

	Before Kira can move off, a Bajoran woman in civilian
	clothes, JIA, gets up from the table next to Sisko's
	and offers Kira her chair.

					JIA
			Please.

	Kira is a bit confused -- the food on the woman's tray
	is only half-finished.

					KIRA
			You're not finished.

					JIA
			I'll find someplace else to sit.

	The woman slides the chair to Sisko's table, avoids
	Kira's eye.

					KIRA
			You don't have to get up for me.

					JIA
			You're Ih'valla...
				(indicating her own
				earring)
			I'm te'nari.

	And before Kira can even digest this, the woman moves
	away, EXITS to the Promenade. Sisko sees that Kira is
	decidedly uncomfortable with what just happened.

					SISKO
			It's been going on all morning --
			whenever someone from a higher
			ranking D'jarra comes in.

	Kira considers what to do for a beat; though she feels
	awkward about it, she decides to take the seat.

					KIRA
			I guess I'm going to have to start
			getting used to being treated like
			that.

	Sisko nods thoughtfully...

					SISKO
			I remember when I got promoted to
			lieutenant. It took me a while to
			get used to being called "Sir" by
			my friends who were still ensigns.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO       29.

29A  CONTINUED:	(2)

					KIRA
			That's different. You'd earned
			the right to be treated with
			respect. I haven't done anything.

	Sisko senses her discomfort with the whole thing.

					SISKO
			Sounds like you have some
			reservations about bringing back
			the D'jarras.

	Kira considers how best to phrase her position.

					KIRA
			I have some... questions, sure.
			The Emissary is asking something
			very difficult of us, but we have
			to have faith that he's guiding us
			toward something.

					SISKO
			Even if what he's guiding you
			toward doesn't include the
			Federation?

	She clearly regrets the possibility, but the bottom
	line is this:

					KIRA
			It's not our place to question the
			Emissary.

					SISKO
			No matter what?

	Kira considers how best to explain the regard her
	people have for the role of Emissary.

					KIRA
			Maybe you never realized this,
			Captain, but we would've tried to
			do whatever you asked of us when
			you were Emissary, no matter how
			difficult it seemed.

	Neither of them quite know what else to say about the
	subject. A moment between them, then Kira stands to
	go...

					KIRA
			I'd better get to Ops.

	Off Sisko's features as he watches her go...

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO       30.

29B  EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)

	Re-establishing.

30   INT. SISKO'S BEDROOM

	Sisko is asleep... but we can see it's a restless
	slumber, as if he's having a bad dream. Suddenly he
	bolts upright in bed, sweating, breathing hard.

	He gets up, clears his head, and walks out into --

 31   INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS

	as Sisko ENTERS and is surprised to find JAKE on the
	couch, writing on a PADD.

					SISKO
			Jake...

					JAKE
			I know, I know. It's late. I
			just want to finish this thought.

	Jake sees the look on Sisko's face.

					JAKE
			Something wrong?

					SISKO
			Just a bad dream. I was working
			in Grandpa's restaurant, cooking.
			Starfleet had revoked my
			commission.

					JAKE
			Why?

         DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 ACT TWO        31.

31   CONTINUED:

					SISKO
			They wouldn't tell me.

					JAKE
				(considering what it
				means)
			Huh...

					SISKO
			The kitchen was a mess... I was
			getting all the orders wrong...
			putting too much cayenne in the
			jambalaya, not enough butter in
			the potatoes... customers were
			complaining, walking out...
				(beat)
			Pretty weird, huh?

					JAKE
			Not really. When you think about
			it, cooking is sort of the "Sisko
			D'jarra"... and considering how
			worried you are about what's
			happening on Bajor, it's not
			surprising that you'd dream about
			it...

	Sisko reacts, struck by what Jake's saying.

					SISKO
			When did you get to be such an
			expert on dreams?

	Jake shrugs and they share a grin...

					SISKO
			I think I'll take a little walk,
			maybe get some work done.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO      31A.

32   INT. PROMENADE 

	Sisko, now in his uniform, takes his walk through the
	station. It's the middle of the night cycle, around 4
	AM, and the Promenade is still and quiet. Even Quark's
	is closed.

	Sisko walks on, looking a little ragged, lost in his
	own thoughts. He is startled by a strange RUSTLING
	SOUND nearby, as if of robes. He turns to look.
	Nothing.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO       32.

32   CONTINUED:

	Sisko keeps walking. The lights of the Promenade seem 
	DIMMER now. The background hum of the station has
	dropped away. The feel is ominous... strange... he
	hears the RUSTLING again, whips around toward the
	source.

	No one.

	Disturbed, he turns to continue walking -- and finds
	himself face-to-face with...

33   KAI OPAKA

	Sisko couldn't be more surprised.

					KAI OPAKA
			Who are you?

	There's an urgency in her voice that says she's not
	asking him to identify himself, but asking who he is.

					SISKO
			Kai Opaka...

	She stares at him for a moment.

					SISKO
			What are you doing here? How did
			you --

34   NEW ANGLE

	Suddenly Opaka is standing behind Sisko.

					KAI OPAKA
				(urgent)
			Who are you?

					SISKO
				(turning to face her)
			Don't you know me?

35   NEW ANGLE

	Opaka is now somewhere to Sisko's left.

					KAI OPAKA
			How can I know someone who doesn't
			know himself?

	Sisko doesn't know what to make of her words.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT TWO       33.

36   NEW ANGLE

	Opaka is gone. Sisko whips around, trying to catch
	sight of her, but she's no where to be found. He's
	alone, and the Promenade around him is back to normal.
	Off his disturbed features we...

									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT TWO                          

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE      34.
                           ACT THREE                            

	FADE IN:

37   OMITTED

37A  INT. INFIRMARY

	where Bashir is scanning Sisko with a MEDICAL
	TRICORDER.

					BASHIR
			I think you had what the Bajorans
			call an "Orb Shadow."

	Bashir sees that Sisko has never heard of this.

					BASHIR
			Sometimes people who've been
			exposed to the Orbs of the
			Prophets experience
			hallucinations... weeks, even
			months later.

					SISKO
			What triggers them?

					BASHIR
			An excess of neuropeptides. I can
			give you an inhibitor to make sure
			it doesn't happen again.

	Sisko nods that he go ahead; he doesn't want to go
	through another experience like the one he had. As
	Bashir starts putting a HYPO together:

					BASHIR
				(tongue half in cheek)
			Of course if I do, you risk never
			finding out.

					SISKO
				Finding out what?

					BASHIR
			The Bajorans believe you only have
			a Shadow experience if you ignore
			what the Prophets tried to tell
			you during your Orb encounter.

	Sisko considers how one might interpret what happened
	to him in this light.

     DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE 35    -36.

37A  CONTINUED:

					SISKO
			Interesting.

	As Bashir administers the hypo:

					BASHIR
			So... any idea what they might've
			been trying to tell you?

					SISKO
			Sure.

	Bashir reacts, he wasn't expecting Sisko to take this
	seriously.

					SISKO
				(smiles)
			That I have too many neuropeptides
			rolling around in my head.

	And with that, Sisko EXITS... off Bashir's appreciative
	smile...

37B  INT. KIRA'S QUARTERS 

	Kira has set up a workbench in her quarters for clay
	sculpting. Stripped down to her t-shirt, she's
	working on a figure of a bird. It's rough, barely
	recognizable, with a twig for a beak and a body made of
	awkwardly cobbled together lumps of clay.

	But Kira is too engrossed in her work to realize just
	how far off the piece is. Right now she's working a
	small clump of clay into what she hopes will be one of
	the bird's wings. Her features determined, she gets
	the proto-wing close to where she wants it, then tries
	to stick it onto the appropriate place.

	She works the clay so that it'll stick on, then takes
	a half-step back to study her creation. She stares at
	it for a long beat... then it hits her. It's awful.

	She lets out a frustrated breath... reaches and tries
	to improve things by changing the angle of the twig
	"beak," but the whole head ends up coming off in her
	hands.

	Unable to control the impulse, she mashes what's left
	of the body into a lump...

	She turns, and we follow her gaze to REVEAL a handful
	of similarly abortive attempts at making a bird on a
	nearby table. Off Kira's frustration...

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE      37.

38   EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)

	Re-establishing. Ships coming and going.

39   INT. PROMENADE

	where Kira is talking to Vedek Porta, who's standing
	outside the Temple calling people inside for services
	with a ritual INSTRUMENT. It looks like a crescent
	moon with bells strung across it, and Porta strums it
	now and then to make an ethereal SOUND.

					PORTA
			A bird is a difficult thing to
			sculpt. Maybe you should have
			started with something simpler.
				(to passersby)
			Come in, come in -- services are
			about to begin.

					KIRA
			But I can tell I have no aptitude
			for it.

					PORTA
			That's because you didn't give
			yourself over to what you were
			doing.

					KIRA
			How can you say that? I was up
			half the night.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE      38.

39   CONTINUED:

					KIRA (Cont'd)
			I have a flock of flightless birds
			sitting in my quarters.

	Porta suddenly turns to her... his voice has an edge we
	haven't heard before.

					PORTA
			But you're still wearing that
			uniform. You're still clinging to
			a false life.

	Kira is starting to realize what he's asking of her,
	and she doesn't want to hear it.

					PORTA
			You must do what the Emissary has
			asked and follow your D'jarra with
			all your heart. Because if you
			give yourself over to the
			Prophets, they will guide you
			along the path they've chosen for
			you.

	He reaches and cups her face in his hands, smiles
	kindly.

					PORTA
			And you'll know more joy than you
			ever thought possible.

	With that, Porta turns and EXITS to the temple... off
	Kira's face as she contemplates his words...

40   INT. O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS - CLOSE ON A DARTBOARD

	as a magnetic DARTBALL hits it...

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE     38A.

41   REVEAL

	that the players are Miles and Molly O'Brien. O'Brien
	has mounted the board at Molly's height on a wall in
	their quarters and he kneels next to her as he
	instructs.

					O'BRIEN
			Good shot, Molly!

					MOLLY
			Did I win?

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE      39.

41   CONTINUED:

					O'BRIEN
			We're just practicing. We'll play
			a game later.

	Molly looks unsure about his whole darts thing, but
	hasn't lost interest yet.

					O'BRIEN
			Try another one.

	Molly takes it and throws, and just then Keiko sticks
	her head in from the other room, holding O'Brien's KILT
	from "The Bar Association."

					KEIKO
			Miles?

					O'BRIEN
				(embarrassed)
			Oh. That's mine.

	Keiko looks as if she's trying to picture him in it.

					O'BRIEN
			Don't worry. I only wear it in
			the holosuites.

					KEIKO
			I suppose Julian has one, too.

	She puts the Kilt on a chair, moves to him. Molly uses
	the fact of O'Brien's distraction to go back to what
	she really wants to be doing, COLORING on paper.

					KEIKO
			You two certainly spent a lot of
			time in the holosuites.

					O'BRIEN
				(pulling her close)
			You should be glad. Kept me out
			of trouble.

					KEIKO
			Remind me to thank Julian next
			time I see him.

	Keiko smiles, strokes his hair... and they kiss. When
	they part, O'Brien casts a glance at Molly, then
	inclines his head toward the bedroom in a "do-you-think-
	she'd-notice?" gesture.

					O'BRIEN
				(quiet)
			What do you say we try for
			twins... ?

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE      40.

41   CONTINUED:	(2)

					KEIKO
				(smiling)
			I don't think that's the way it
			works. You'd better brush up on
			your biology.

					O'BRIEN
			Teach me.

	Suddenly Molly is at their side with a drawing.

					MOLLY
			I drew a pony.

					O'BRIEN
			Let me see, sweetie...
				(off PADD)
			Does pony have a name?

					MOLLY
			I'm coloring.

	She sprawls on the floor to keep drawing.

					KEIKO
				(to O'Brien)
			Listen, I've still got a lot of
			specimens to catalog from the
			survey.

					O'BRIEN
			Go ahead. I'll play with Molly.

	A warm look between them...

					KEIKO
			It's good to be home, Miles...

	He smiles, and Keiko moves off to collect the things
	she needs for her work. O'Brien moves to get the
	darts.

					O'BRIEN
			Come on, Molly. Let's play darts.

					MOLLY
			I don't wanna.

	O'Brien is a bit disappointed, but decides to roll with
	it.

					O'BRIEN
			Can daddy color, too?

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE      41.

41   CONTINUED:	(4)

					MOLLY
				(absorbed in her work)
			I'm coloring.

	Keiko glances up from her work and sees O'Brien's
	face... he knows that Molly is just being a kid, doing
	exactly what strikes her fancy, but he's left with
	nothing to do...

	Keiko watches as a O'Brien sits there on the floor for
	a beat, trying to convince himself that he's not bored.
	After a beat, he turns and looks at the kilt on the
	chair... his features almost wistful...

	Off Keiko as she takes this in...

42   INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE

	where Sisko and Kira are going over PADDS, talking
	station business. He seems impatient, distracted.

					KIRA
			-- the four-shift rotation also
			seems to be improving performance.
			Fewer mistakes due to fatigue.

					SISKO
				(abrupt)
			Fine, let's make the change
			permanent. Anything else?

	Kira takes a breath, steels herself for something
	difficult.

					KIRA
			I was wondering if you might have
			time in the next few days to meet
			with Major Jatarn.

					SISKO
				(brusque)
			Sure.

					KIRA
			Is something wrong, sir?

	Sisko lets out a frustrated breath.

					SISKO
			Sorry. I just got a communique
			from Starfleet Command responding
			to my report on the Bajoran
			situation.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE     41A.

42   CONTINUED:

					KIRA
			That bad?

					SISKO
			Not yet. But I can read between
			the lines.

	He gets up, moves around the room as he talks.

					SISKO
			I was sent here to help bring
			Bajor into the Federation. That
			doesn't look like much of a
			possibility anymore, so as far as
			Starfleet's concerned, I've failed
			my mission.

					KIRA
			That's not fair. It's not your
			fault.

					SISKO
			It is from where they're sitting.

	Sisko is struck by a thought.

					SISKO
			The ironic part is that Starfleet
			was always trying to get me to
			distance myself from "that
			Emissary business." And now that
			I have...

	Sisko shakes his head, struck by the irony.

					KIRA
			Maybe I could talk to First
			Minister Shakaar about sending
			Starfleet a communique explaining --

					SISKO
				(interrupting)
			Thanks, but, it'll blow over.
			It's not that.
				(beat)
			I guess I'm just feeling that...
			I did fail. That it is my fault.

					KIRA
				(objecting)
			Sir...

	Sisko holds up a hand to stop her. He clearly doesn't
	want to talk about it anymore.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE     41B.

42   CONTINUED:	(2)

					SISKO
			Anyway, why did you want me to
			meet with Jatarn?

	Kira now feels that this isn't a good time to say what
	she has to say.

					KIRA
			We can talk about it later.

					SISKO
			What is it, Major?

	Kira swallows back her emotion. She doesn't want to do
	this, but feels she must.

					KIRA
			I think held make an excellent
			first officer.
				(off Sisko's look)
			As soon as you find someone to
			take my post, I'm going to resign
			my commission.

	Sisko is stunned... sits heavily...

					SISKO
			So you can follow your D'jarra...

					KIRA
				(trying to make the best
				of it)
			I'm planning to move back to
			Dahkur province... a lot of
			artists live in the capitol. I
			have a friend there who's willing
			to apprentice me.

	She sees the devastated look on Sisko's face...

					KIRA
			I'm sorry. The last thing I want
			to do is add to your problems...
			but this is something I have to
			do.

	Sisko tries to keep the emotion from his voice because
	he doesn't feel it's his place to dissuade her.

					SISKO
			I understand.

	They look at each other, both wanting to say more...
	she: "I don't want to do this... " he: "please don't... " but
	they hold back...

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT THREE      42.

42   CONTINUED:	(3)

					KIRA
			If you don't hit it off with Major
			Jatarn, I can think of a few other
			people. It shouldn't be that hard
			to find someone to replace me.

					SISKO
			I don't doubt I can find someone
			to fill your post... but replace
			you... ?

	He shakes his head... no way. The tears well up in her
	eyes... she musters a smile of thanks... then turns
	and EXITS, as if not wanting to lose it in front of
	him... off Sisko's face as he watches her go...

									FADE OUT.

                       END OF ACT THREE                         

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       43.
                           ACT FOUR                             

	FADE IN:

43   INT. PROMENADE 

	as O'Brien makes his way down it, carrying his TOOLKIT,
	heading home after work like he was in Act Two.
	SUPERNUMERARIES as needed. As he passes Quark's,
	O'Brien stops, considers whether to go in.

					O'BRIEN
				(hits combadge)
			Computer, time.

					COMPUTER VOICE
			Nineteen twenty-one hours.

					O'BRIEN
			Where is Doctor Bashir?

					COMPUTER VOICE
			Doctor Bashir is in Quark's bar.

	O'Brien decides to pop in...

44   INT. QUARK'S

	where Bashir is playing darts with Morn as TWO DABO
	GIRLS look on. SUPERNUMERARIES as needed.

	O'Brien ENTERS from the Promenade, craning his head
	around to look for Bashir. When he spots him,
	O'Brien's features falter, as if he wasn't expecting to
	see Bashir having such a good time without him. Just
	then, Bashir glances his way.

					BASHIR
			Chief!

					O'BRIEN
			Julian...

	Bashir says goodbye to his friends and moves to join
	O'Brien at the bar.

					BASHIR
			How've you been?

					O'BRIEN
			Not bad. You?

					BASHIR
			All right.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       44.

44   CONTINUED:

					O'BRIEN
			I was just heading home, thought
			I'd drop by for a pint.

	A Ferengi WAITER appears behind the bar and Bashir
	signals for two pints.

					BASHIR
			Been a while, eh?

					O'BRIEN
			Seems like weeks.

	They regard each other for a moment... both are
	thinking how much they've missed each other, but
	neither is about to come out and say it.

					O'BRIEN
				(indicating Morn)
			I see you've found someone to play
			darts with.
				(off BASHIR's look)
			I set up a board in my quarters so
			Molly and I could play.

					BASHIR
				(charitably)
			Morn's pretty good.

					O'BRIEN
			So's Molly.

	A beat, then both at the same time...

					BASHIR/0'BRIEN
			It's not the same.

	They mean "without you," but neither of them wants to
	just come out and say it.

					O'BRIEN
			I mean, Molly's just a kid. We're
			playing with magnets.

					BASHIR
			Morn couldn't hit a Yridian Yak
			from five paces.

					O'BRIEN
			You and I were evenly matched.

					BASHIR
			We had a good rivalry going.

					O'BRIEN
			It kept us sharp.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       45.

44   CONTINUED:	(3)

					BASHIR
			Exactly.

	They both understand what the other is saying, and as
	far as they're concerned they've just been as
	demonstrative as if they'd hugged and wept.

	They regard each other for another long moment... Quark
	approaches from the other side of the bar.

					QUARK
				(to both)
			You're late.

					O'BRIEN
			What are you talking about?

					QUARK
			It's Thursday. I've got your
			usual holosuite reserved.

					O'BRIEN
				(to Bashir)
			Didn't you cancel?

					BASHIR
			No... I was hoping maybe...
				(you'd show)

					O'BRIEN
			Can't do it. I've got to get
			home.

					QUARK
			What about you, Doctor? The
			Battle of Britain awaits, and you
			know my policy on cancellations.
			No refunds.

					O'BRIEN
			Go ahead... maybe Morn is better
			in the cockpit of a spitfire than
			he is at darts.

	A beat, then Bashir shakes his head...

					BASHIR
			Wouldn't be the same...

	O'Brien looks at him, grateful to hear him say it...
	and happy to provide a non touchy-feely reason why it
	wouldn't be...

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       46.

44   CONTINUED:	(4)

					O'BRIEN
			Yeah... Morn's probably never even
			heard of England...

	O'Brien drains his glass, and with a last look at
	Bashir, EXITS. Bashir heads back for the dartboard,
	leaving Quark shaking his head and wondering what makes
	these humans tick...

45   INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE

	where Sisko is working on a PADD. After a beat, Odo's
	COM VOICE interrupts.

					ODO'S COM VOICE
			Odo to Sisko.

					SISKO
			Go ahead.

					ODO'S COM VOICE
			You'd better get down here.
			Someone's been killed on the
			Promenade.

	Off Sisko's reaction...

46   INT. PROMENADE 

	Sisko meets up with Kira, also heading for the scene of
	the crime.

					SISKO
			What happened?

					KIRA
			I don't know yet.

	They approach a small crowd of SUPERNUMERARIES who are 
	being kept away from the crime scene by Odo and several
	of his DEPUTIES.

	Sisko and Kira push their way through to find a Bajoran
	MONK lying dead on the floor. Vedek Porta stands
	nearby, his features grave.

					ODO
				(to Sisko)
			He fell from the second level.
			His neck was broken on impact.

					SISKO
			Did anyone see it happen?

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       47.

46   CONTINUED:

					PORTA
			I did.

	Sisko, Odo and Kira turn to him.

					ODO
			Was it an accident?

					PORTA
			I pushed him.

	Our people are stunned by this admission. Porta is
	extremely reasonable, calm.

					PORTA
			His family name is Imutta. Their
			D'jarra is unclean.

	Sisko doesn't know what he means, so a stunned Kira
	explains...

					KIRA
			They prepare the dead for
			burial...

					PORTA
			I asked him to set the right
			example and resign from our order.
			He refused.

	Our people can hardly believe what they're hearing.

					SISKO
			You killed him... because of his
			D'jarra?

					PORTA
			I had to. If a Vedek can't do
			what the Emissary has asked of us,
			how can we expect anyone else to?

	Porta gestures as if to say "what else could I do?"
	Kira is crushed... a man she respects and admires has
	committed a terrible crime.

					SISKO
				(grim)
			Get him out of here.

	Odo and his Deputies move to comply... Off Sisko's
	steely features...

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       48.

47   EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)

	Re-establishing.

48   INT. WARDROOM

	as Akorem and two Attendant MONKS ENTER to join Sisko.
	The Monk hangs back by the door as Sisko rises and
	motions Akorem to a chair.

					SISKO
			Thank you for coming.

					AKOREM
			I would've come even if you hadn't
			requested to meet with me.
				(off Sisko's questioning
				look)
			I intend to ask the magistrate to
			be lenient with Vedek Porta.
			After all, he was only trying to
			do what the Prophets have asked of
			us...
				(with regret)
			-- even if he did go too far.

					SISKO
			Too far... What should he have
			done, just roughed Imutta up a
			little?

	Akorem is a bit taken aback by Sisko's tone; he's
	gotten used to being treated with deference.

					AKOREM
			Of course not. I abhor violence.
			I regret what happened here today
			as much as you do. But change is
			never easy. The road the Prophets
			have asked us to walk won't always
			be a smooth one.

					SISKO
			And forcing people to follow their
			D'jarras won't make it any
			smoother. What happened on the
			Promenade was just the beginning.

					AKOREM
			Must I remind you, Captain, I am
			merely fulfilling the will of the
			Prophets.

					SISKO
			How do you know that?

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       49.

48   CONTINUED:

					AKOREM
				(simply)
			I'm the Emissary.

					SISKO
				(emphatic)
			And what you've done with the
			position has made me wish I'd
			never given it up.

					AKOREM
			But you did. And it was the right
			decision. You never truly
			accepted the role in the first
			place.

	Sisko knows how Akorem is going to react to what he has
	to say next.

					SISKO
			I'm willing to accept it now.

	There's a moment of stunned silence, and then Akorem
	realizes why Sisko called him here.

					AKOREM
			You're challenging my claim...

					SISKO
			You've left me no choice.

	Akorem hears the conviction in Sisko's voice, takes
	another tack.

					AKOREM
			If we went to the people and asked
			them to choose between us, it
			would be chaos...

					SISKO
			I don't want to divide Bajor
			any more than you do.

					AKOREM
			It wouldn't be divided for long.
			In the end the people would choose
			me, because my claim rests on what
			was foretold in the ancient texts.
			I was the first to find the
			wormhole, I was the first to be
			with the Prophets -- they gave me
			back my life.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FOUR       50.

48   CONTINUED:	(2)

					SISKO
			We're not going to settle this by
			arguing over ancient texts.

					AKOREM
			Then how?

					SISKO
			There's only one way to be sure
			which one of us is the Emissary...
			we have to go to the wormhole and
			ask the Prophets.

	Akorem is taken aback by the audacity of what Sisko is
	proposing. But he sees this is the only way, and after
	a beat, nods his agreement... off this moment...

49  
thru   OMITTED
50 
									FADE OUT.

                        END OF ACT FOUR                         

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       51.
                           ACT FIVE                             

	FADE IN:
A51   EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
	as a Runabout enters the wormhole (STOCK).

51   INT. WORMHOLE (OPTICAL)

	as the Runabout navigates through the brilliant tunnel
	(STOCK).

52   INT. RUNABOUT

	where Sisko is piloting; Akorem sits nearby.
	INTERACTIVE LIGHT plays on their features. Sisko works
	the controls and we hear the SOUND of the ship slowing
	down.

					SISKO
			Going to half thrusters...

	Akorem is a bit more apprehensive than Sisko since he's
	about to see his gods again.

					AKOREM
			Now what... ?

					SISKO
			We wait.

	Akorem closes his eyes to meditate, and Sisko crosses
	his arms across his chest and looks at the light show
	out the window.

53   INT. WORMHOLE (OPTICAL)

	the Runabout moving slowly.

54   INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL)

	Sisko and Akorem in slightly different positions to
	indicate the passage of time. The INTERACTIVE LIGHT
	plays on their features for a moment... then suddenly
	INTENSIFIES so that the screen...

55   WHITES OUT (OPTICAL) 

	and we begin the WORMHOLE SEQUENCE. We hear the SOUND
	of heartbeats, breathing... and suddenly find ourselves
	in:

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       52.

56   INT. INFIRMARY (OPTICAL)

	where Akorem is on the examining table like he was in
	Act One. Sisko stands nearby, as do KIRA ALIEN and
	Bashir ALIEN. The scene has that OVEREXPOSED quality
	we've seen in other wormhole experiences, with a
	fuzziness around the edges of the screen.

					KIRA ALIEN
			You are the Sisko.

	Bashir Alien looks at Akorem.

					BASHIR ALIEN
				(to Kira)
			This is the one that was injured.

	Akorem speaks to them with great respect and reverence.

					AKOREM
			Yes. I was. And you gave me back
			my life, just as the texts
			foretold.

	The Aliens look at him blankly, as if they have no idea
	what he means by this. Suddenly the scene shifts to:

57   INT. WARDROOM (OPTICAL)

	where Sisko and Akorem find themselves with PORTA
	ALIEN, standing near the door in roughly the same
	configuration as they were toward the end of Scene 25.

					PORTA ALIEN
			Why are you here?

	It takes Akorem a beat to re-orient himself and answer.

					AKOREM
				(re: Sisko)
			To prove to this nonbeliever that
			you sent me to put Bajor back on
			the right path.

	Porta Alien just stares at him.

					AKOREM
			Please, tell him you chose me to
			be the Emissary.

	Suddenly we shift back to --

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       53.

58   INT. INFIRMARY (OPTICAL)

	Sisko, Akorem, Kira Alien and Bashir Alien as before.
	The Aliens just look at Akorem without replying.

					AKOREM
			Tell him that I fulfilled the
			ancient Prophecies... that I was
			the first to find the Celestial
			temple, the first to meet with
			you.
				(indicating Sisko)
			He came to you centuries later.

					BASHIR ALIEN
			First... later...

					KIRA ALIEN
			They have no meaning to us.

	Akorem's features falter... this seems to repudiate
	what he's claiming.

59   INT. PROMENADE (OPTICAL)

	where Akorem finds himself on the Podium from which he
	spoke to the people. The same SUPERNUMERARIES are
	there, but now they're Wormhole Aliens, and they stand
	there in eerie silence, staring at Sisko and Akorem.

	Kira Alien, Bashir Alien, Odo Alien, and Porta Alien
	stand nearby. Sisko sees that Akorem is a bit
	flummoxed by the Alien's reply to his request and
	addresses them.

					SISKO
			The Bajorans believe you are their
			Prophets... that you've chosen one
			of us to be your Emissary.

	The Aliens regard each other, as if silently
	conferring. Finally the Odo Alien speaks, and we get
	the sense that he's trying to put a difficult concept
	into words.

					ODO ALIEN
			We... are of Bajor...

	Sisko reacts, intrigued, wanting to know more.

					SISKO
			Go on.

	The Odo Alien seems perplexed that Sisko doesn't
	understand what he's trying to say, turns to the other
	Aliens.

        DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 ACT FIVE        54.

59   CONTINUED:

					ODO ALIEN
			They are linear.

					KIRA ALIEN
				(agreeing)
			It limits them.

					PORTA ALIEN
			They do not understand.

	Suddenly the scene shifts back to:

59A  INT. INFIRMARY (OPTICAL) 

	as before; Kira Alien, Bashir Alien, Sisko and Akorem.

					SISKO
			But we want to understand. That's
			why we're here.
				(re: Akorem)
			You saved his life. Why?

					KIRA ALIEN
				(simply)
			He was injured.

					BASHIR ALIEN
			We kept him with us.

59B  INT. WARDROOM (OPTICAL) 

	Sisko, Akorem and Porta Alien. Akorem is desperate to
	get some validation from the Prophets.

					AKOREM
			Yes... so that I would be spared
			the occupation... so that I could
			bring the D'jarras back to Bajor.

	Porta Alien just looks at him blankly; he has no idea
	what he's talking about.

					SISKO
			Is that true? Is that what you
			want?

	Porta Alien considers before replying.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE      54A.

59B  CONTINUED:

					PORTA ALIEN
			The D'jarras are part of what the
			Sisko would call... the past.

59C  INT. PROMENADE (OPTICAL)

	as before.

					KIRA ALIEN
			The Sisko taught us that for you,
			what was, can never be again.

	Akorem's features falter... this sounds like he's been
	wrong.

					AKOREM
			But if the D'jarras belong in the
			past... why did you send me into
			the future?

	The Aliens turn to each other as if consulting for a
	beat, then turn back to Akorem.

					ODO ALIEN
			For the Sisko.

					SISKO
			For me?

	Akorem asks the question he now knows the answer to.

					AKOREM
			You're saying... he's your
			Emissary...

					BASHIR ALIEN
			He is the Sisko.

	Akorem seems to visibly deflate... he retreats inward,
	as if trying to figure out what went wrong...

					AKOREM
			Then... I was wrong... about
			everything...

	He's defeated, shattered... Sisko looks at him with
	sympathy; he feels no victory in the moment.

					AKOREM
			You should have let me die...

	A moment as the Aliens consider this.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE      54B.

59C  CONTINUED:

					KIRA ALIEN
				(to the others)
			We still can.

	Their matter-of-factness is chilling.

					PORTA ALIEN
			We can return him to the moment we
			found him.

					ODO ALIEN
			Allow him to die.

	Sisko realizes that if they have this power, maybe they
	can do something else...

					SISKO
			No...
				(beat)
			Why not return him to his own time
			as he is now -- uninjured -- so he
			can get back to Bajor safely?

	The Aliens regard each other, silently confer.

					ODO ALIEN
			He would remember nothing of what
			has happened.

	Akorem is still reeling from the unwelcome truth...
	this seems like a way out... a chance to reclaim his
	life.

					AKOREM
			I could be with my wife... my
			family.

	Akorem considers for a moment... then turns to look at
	Sisko. Sisko can see he wants to go home, that he
	needs someone to say yes, go, it's all right. He gives
	Akorem a small nod, and that's all he needs. Akorem
	turns to the Aliens...

					AKOREM
			I'm ready to go home...

	After a beat, there's a FLASH... and Akorem is gone...
	Sisko reacts to his disappearance, looks around...

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       55.

60   INT. PROMENADE (OPTICAL) 

	where Sisko finds himself face to face with Opaka Alien
	in another part of the Promenade. They're alone, and
	she studies him appraisingly for a moment:

					OPAKA ALIEN
			Why do you stay here?

					SISKO
			Because I still have questions.

	Opaka Alien seems to feel they've said all there is to
	say.

					OPAKA ALIEN
			We... are of Bajor.

	She says this as if this were the closest she can come
	to explaining it to a humanoid.

					SISKO
			What does that mean? What does it
			have to do with me?

	Opaka Alien does her best to put it into words.

					OPAKA ALIEN
			You... are of Bajor.

	Sisko reacts. A moment... then there's a FLASH of light
	and we cut to --

61   INT. RUNABOUT 

	where Sisko, finds himself alone in the pilot's seat...
	the wormhole experience is over. INTERACTIVE LIGHT
	plays on his features as he takes a moment to collect
	himself, pondering the meaning of what happened... then
	he reaches and works the controls...

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       56.

62   EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)

	Re-establishing.

63   INT. O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS 

	A quiet night at the O'Briens. Keiko is working at the
	table with some PADDS as O'Brien ENTERS from Molly's
	room.

					O'BRIEN
			Molly loves that book Jake gave
			her. She made me read it three
			times before she fell asleep.

	Keiko smiles distractedly, keeps working. O'Brien
	flops down on the couch, looks around for something to
	do... but can't think of anything and lets out an
	unconscious sigh. Keiko looks up.

					KEIKO
			I'm going to be working for
			another few hours.

					O'BRIEN
			That's okay... I'll...

	He picks a PADD off the coffee table, tries to sound
	enthusiastic.

					O'BRIEN
			Read...

					KEIKO
			If you want to go do something...

					O'BRIEN
			I'm fine.

	She shrugs a smile, gets back to work. A quiet
	moment... then O'Brien lets out another unconscious
	sigh as he reads.

					KEIKO
			Miles... I promised I wouldn't say
			anything... but...
				(coming out with it)
			It's Julian.

					O'BRIEN
			What about him?

					KEIKO
			I ran into him the other day
			and... he seemed depressed.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       57.

63   CONTINUED:

					KEIKO (Cont'd)
			He'd never admit it, but he really
			misses you.

					O'BRIEN
			Poor guy... no family to come home
			to every night.

					KEIKO
			Why don't you go find him? You
			know... cheer him up.

	O'Brien tries to contain his excitement.

					O'BRIEN
			Depressed, is he?

					KEIKO
			Very.

					O'BRIEN
			Maybe I should spend an hour with
			him.

					KEIKO
			Maybe two.

	He's up in a flash, grabs his Bomber Jacket, and heads
	for the door. Before he ducks out, O'Brien regards
	Keiko for a moment.

					O'BRIEN
			I'm a lucky man.

	She smiles, and O'Brien EXITS... Keiko lets out a
	relieved sigh, then activates a DESKTOP COMPUTER.

					KEIKO
			Keiko to Doctor Bashir.

									INTERCUT WITH:

64   INT. INFIRMARY

	as Bashir responds. He's working alone at his desk.

					BASHIR
			Go ahead.

					KEIKO
			Julian, it's about Miles. I
			promised I wouldn't tell anyone,
			but he's been really depressed
			lately.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       58.

64   CONTINUED:

					BASHIR
			Oh?

	Off Keiko's smile as she continues putting her plan
	into motion...

65   INT. QUARK'S 

	where Sisko is at a table reading a PADD.
	SUPERNUMERARIES as needed. Kira approaches him from
	behind and sets a CLAY BIRD similar to the one she made
	in Scene 37B down in front of him.

					KIRA
			I want you to have this.
				(taking a seat)
			It's an original Kira Nerys...
				(wry)
			-- could be very valuable some
			day.

					SISKO
				(playing along)
			I hear she didn't make that many.

	They share a smile...

					KIRA
			I thought your speech went well
			yesterday. It was the right thing
			to do.

					SISKO
			I wanted people to know what
			happened to Akorem... and that the
			Prophets said nothing about
			returning to the D'jarras.

					KIRA
			I think almost everyone was
			relieved to hear it...

	Just then, O'Brien and Bashir pass by in full Irish
	warrior regalia.

					O'BRIEN
			Why didn't you back me up?

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       59.

65   CONTINUED:

					BASHIR
			How was I supposed to know you
			were going to insult the King of
			Leinster in his own keep?

	They pass out of hearing range and belly up to the bar.
	Sisko and Kira exchange a smile.

					SISKO
				(re: PADD)
			I was just reading one of Akorem's
			poems: The Call of the Prophets.

	Kira nods as if it were one of her favorites.

					KIRA
			That was always one of my
			favorites. It's a shame he never
			finished it.

					SISKO
			He did.

	Kira reacts with surprise.

					SISKO
			Look...

	Sisko hands the PADD to her. She glances at it for a
	beat, confused by the implications.

					KIRA
			This is very confusing... the last
			time I read this poem it ended
			after the twelfth stanza.
				(trying to make sense of it)
			If the timeline's been changed...
			then why do I remember things the
			way they used to be?

	Sisko shrugs a smile.

       DEEP SPACE NINE: "Accession" - REV. 1/17/96 - ACT FIVE       60.

65   CONTINUED:	(2)

					SISKO
			The Prophets work in mysterious
			ways.

	Kira can't argue with that. Just then a Bajoran
	Lieutenant of about forty, ONARA, approaches their
	table, his DAUGHTER of fourteen at his side.

					ONARA
			Excuse me, sir.

					SISKO
			Yes... ?

					ONARA
			I'm sorry to bother you, but...
			tomorrow, after evening services
			in the Temple...
				(with pride)
			-- we're having my daughter's
			ih'tanu ceremony.

	Onara can see from Sisko's look that he doesn't know
	what this means exactly.

					ONARA
			She's turning fourteen.

					SISKO
			Happy Birthday.

					ONARA
			We were wondering if there was any
			chance you could come and give her
			your blessing. It would mean so
			much to us.

	Kira looks to Sisko, expecting to see him wince, but to
	her surprise he breaks into an utterly sincere grin.

					SISKO
			I'd be happy to.

					ONARA
			Thank you, Emissary.

	Sisko reacts to being called Emissary, as if accepting
	it for the first time.

					SISKO
			You're welcome.

	Father and daughter move off and Sisko returns to
	reading Akorem's poem... off Kira's smile as she
	studies the Emissary's face...

									FADE OUT.

                        END OE ACT FIVE                         
                            THE END