STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Extreme Measures" (fka "Night Tremors") #40510-573 Written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle Directed by Steve Posey 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 1999 Paramount Pictures Corporation. AllRights 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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 March 5, 1999 STAR TREK: DS9 - "Extreme Measures" - 03/05/99 - CAST STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Extreme Measures" CAST SISKO FEMALE SHAPE-SHIFTER KIRA WEYOUN BASHIR GARAK O'BRIEN SLOAN WORF BANDEE EZRI OPERATIVE ODO JESSICA Non-Speaking Non-Speaking N.D. SUPERNUMERARIES STAR TREK: DS9 - "Extreme Measures" - 03/05/99 - SETS STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Extreme Measures" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS DEEP SPACE NINE SPACE AIRLOCK CORRIDOR DEEP SPACE NINE CAPTAIN'S OFFICE CARDASSIA PRIME BASHIR'S QUARTERS HABITAT RING CORRIDOR INFIRMARY PROMENADE QUARK'S SCIENCE LAB SURGERY TURBOLIFT WARDROOM DOMINION BRIEFING ROOM STARFLEET CORRIDOR STAR TREK: DS9 - "Extreme Measures" - 03/05/99 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Extreme Measures" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE HARANA HUH-rah-nuh TILAVAN TILL-uh-vuhn BOSLIC BOZ-lik CORDRAZINE CORE-druh-zeen RADODINE RAD-uh-deen LIDESTOLININE lid-uh-STOLE-uh-neen ASPORANINE as-PORE-uh-neen DEEP SPACE NINE: 'Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 2. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Extreme Measures" TEASER FADE IN: 1 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Establishing the station. BASHIR (V.O.) Chief Medical Officer's Log: Stardate 52645.7. Colonel Kira and Garak have brought Odo back to the station for treatment. 2 INT. SURGERY BASHIR is running some kind of scan on ODO, who's lying in some kind of half-open CYLINDRICAL bed. Odo looks like hell and he watches the Doctor's face carefully. BASHIR (V.O.) However, despite my best efforts, I have yet to make any progress in finding a cure for the changeling disease. ODO How long do I have? BASHIR I can't be sure. ODO You can make an educated guess. BASHIR Yes... but first, I'm going to try to slow down the progress of the disease with a series of nadion bursts combined with -- ODO I want a time-frame, Doctor. BASHIR A week. With the nadion therapy, maybe two. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 2. 2 CONTINUED: ODO Thank you. I want to see Kira now. BASHIR Let me emphasize again, that I have not given up hope and it's very important that you not give up either. ODO Understood. Now, let me see Kira. Bashir goes to the door and steps outside. There's a beat, then KIRA ENTERS. She goes to Odo and takes his hand without hesitation, unconcerned by his horrific appearance. KIRA How do you feel? ODO Better. (re: bed) This... contraption of Julian's seems to alleviate the pain. KIRA Good. ODO You should be going soon. KIRA I'm not going anywhere. Garak and Damar can lead the rebellion without me. ODO Damar needs someone who's actually fought with a resistance movement. That's you, not Garak. KIRA I'm not leaving until I know you're going to be -- ODO I want you to leave. That stings and it shows. KIRA Why? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 3. 2 CONTINUED: (2) ODO You watched Bariel die in this very room and I know how that's haunted you. I don't want your last memory of me to be... witnessing my death. KIRA Shouldn't that be my choice? ODO Maybe it should. Maybe I'm being selfish telling you all the things I want, but... I don't want the last thing I see to be a look of pain in your eyes. KIRA You'd be surprised how well I can hide my feelings when I need to. ODO Not from me. You have to go, Nerys. Kira takes a moment and pulls it together. KIRA All right. She leans down to kiss him, but Odo hesitates. ODO I can't be a very pleasant sight. KIRA I don't care how you look. He relents and she kisses him, then stands up again. KIRA There's so much to say... I don't know where to start... ODO Just say you love me. That's all I've ever cared about. Then give me your smile... and go. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 4. 2 CONTINUED: (3) KIRA I love you, Odo. ODO I love you, Nerys. She holds his eyes for a beat, smiles, then turns and EXITS without another word. CUT TO: 3 INT. INFIRMARY SISKO is talking with GARAK and O'BRIEN, while Bashir works at a console in the b.g. O'BRIEN ... so I forwarded the schematics of the Breen weapon to Starfleet Engineering. They should have a preliminary -- He breaks off as they see Kira ENTER from Surgery. She's very aware that every eye in the room is on her. But if she's going to break down, it sure as hell isn't going to be here. KIRA (to Sisko) Garak and I should be getting underway. GARAK The commander is correct. We have to evade several Jem'Hadar patrols in order to reach Damar's base. If we wait too long, they might alter their patrol routes. SISKO I see. (beat) Chief, do you need anything else before they go? O'BRIEN No, sir. I think we have all the data we need. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 5. 3 CONTINUED: SISKO Well, then. (to Kira & Garak) Good hunting to you both. KIRA (difficult) Thank you. She turns to go, then hesitates on the threshold. KIRA (without looking back) Julian... BASHIR I'll do everything I can. She nods and EXITS with Garak. There's a quiet beat in the Infirmary after she's gone. SISKO (to Bashir) Is there anything I can do to help? Any additional resources from Starfleet Medical that you might want? BASHIR No, sir. At this point, I have everything I need. Beat. O'BRIEN We should tell you that research isn't the only avenue we're pursuing. BASHIR Miles... O'BRIEN He needs to know. SISKO Let me settle that. Whatever's going on, I want to know right now. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 6. 3 CONTINUED: (2) Bashir exchanges a somewhat put-out look with O'Brien, then launches into an explanation. BASHIR We're... trying to lure someone from Section Thirty-one to the station. SISKO Section Thirty-one? What do they have to do with this? O'BRIEN We believe they're responsible for infecting Odo in the first place. SISKO What! BASHIR We think Odo was infected three years ago when he was supposedly undergoing tests at Starfleet Headquarters. O'BRIEN Evidently, Section Thirty-one hoped that Odo would transmit the disease to the others when he linked with them. Sisko has to take a moment to let that sink in. SISKO Genocide. (beat) Committed by people who call themselves Federation citizens... (beat) Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? O'BRIEN We felt that if we did -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 7. 3 CONTINUED: (3) BASHIR The chief wanted to tell you, but as senior officer, I ordered him not to. It's my fault. SISKO I'm still waiting for an answer to my question. BASHIR We have no proof. Besides... I knew that if we told you what we suspected, you'd feel an obligation to report it to Starfleet Command. And once you did, Section Thirty-one would most likely find out that we were onto them and go even deeper into hiding. SISKO What difference does that make? BASHIR There came a point where I had to admit that my research was going nowhere. I wasn't going to find a cure in the lab. So, the chief and I decided to look for it in Section Thirty-one itself. A few days ago, I sent a false message to Starfleet Medical announcing that I had found a cure. O'BRIEN The idea is that when Thirty-one hears about it, they'll want to destroy Julian's research to prevent it from falling into the Dominion's hands. SISKO So you're trying to lure one of their operatives to the station. Okay, let's say it works. What then? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - TEASER 8. 3 CONTINUED: (4) BASHIR We capture him, or her, and then try to find out what they know about the disease, who's involved, and maybe even where to find the cure. SISKO And how do you propose to do that? I doubt they'll be very cooperative. Bashir and O'Brien exchange a look. BASHIR I've... managed to get my hands on a Romulan memory scanner. SISKO Since they're illegal in the Federation, I'll assume that's another reason why you didn't come to me. BASHIR Yes, sir. Sisko takes a moment to let this all sink in. SISKO Setting aside the legal and ethical issues involved... this still seems like a long shot. BASHIR It is. But I'm afraid it may be the only shot Odo has. OFF Sisko's face as he realizes just how dire Odo's situation really is... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 9-10. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) 4 thru OMITTED 5 6 INT. SURGERY Odo is still in his cylinder bed when QUARK ENTERS. QUARK I just wanted to... come by to see how you're doing... Odo barely stirs as Quark pulls up a stool. QUARK I hear the prognosis is... well... Silence. QUARK There's something you might like to know, before... (beat) Something we've never talked about... even though I'm sure it's always been... in the back of our minds... (beat) It has to do with the... Tilavan art theft. I think I know who stole the holo-sculptures. That gets Odo's attention for the first time. ODO (weakly) Tell me. QUARK On second thought... why bother? ODO What? QUARK It's not like you're in any shape to do something about it. Forget I brought it up. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 11. 6 CONTINUED: ODO I've spent nine years working on that case QUARK I know. That's why it's such a shame that you won't have time to close it before you... Odo physically rallies... lifts himself up on an elbow and there's a glimmer of the old Odo again. ODO You're going to tell me exactly what you know and you're going to do it right now. Quark was hoping for just that reaction. QUARK Oh. Suddenly you're not so sick after all. You want to crack the case? Then stop malingering and get back to work. When you do, you know where to find me. With that, Quark EXITS. Odo stares after him for a beat, astonished... then realizes what Quark was trying to do and that it actually worked. He's sitting up for the first time in a long time. Odo smiles and eases himself back down in the bed. CUT TO: 7 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing the station. 8 INT. PROMENADE It's the middle of the night and the Promenade is mostly deserted. O'Brien is walking along, carrying his tool box and suppressing a yawn. He's about to go into the Infirmary, when he HEARS a familiar THUNK sound. Then he hears it again. And again. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 12. 8 CONTINUED: He notices that the door to Quark's is open and he goes inside. 9 INT. QUARK'S - CONTINUOUS O'Brien ENTERS. The only other person in the bar is Bashir, who's throwing dart after dart at the board. O'BRIEN Can't sleep? BASHIR (still playing) No. O'BRIEN How'd you get in? BASHIR The lock's not that complex. (beat) What are you doing up? O'BRIEN I was running another power test on the Breen weapon. O'Brien picks up a handful of darts automatically and they begin to play (Julian standing farther away from the board than Miles.) BASHIR I was trying to read, but I found myself reading the same page over and over again. O'BRIEN What are you reading? BASHIR "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... " O'BRIEN A Tale of Two Cities. My mother's favorite book.... BASHIR I'm enjoying it so far. But tonight my mind was elsewhere... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 13. 9 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Odo? BASHIR Section Thirty-one... I kept thinking about how many people had to be involved in the conspiracy to infect Odo with the disease. Doctors... security officers... admirals... computer experts... clerks... (beat) I came up with at least seventy- three people. O'BRIEN I was afraid you were going to say seventy thousand. Bashir throws the darts with anger. BASHIR This organization -- this thing that's slithered its way into the heart of the Federation -- it has to be destroyed. O'BRIEN You'll get no argument from me. (beat) But for now, let's stay focused on curing Odo. That's the priority. BASHIR Right. O'BRIEN (re: darts) I think I've had enough. You? BASHIR Sure. He flings his last dart and then heads for the door with O'Brien. BASHIR But sleep lightly. Section Thirty-one may still take the bait and show up. O'BRIEN I'll be ready. CUT TO: DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 14. 10 INT. BASHIR'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL) Bashir is asleep on top of his bed (still in uniform, but with his jacket open) and with a hardbound copy of A Tale of Two Cities open on his chest. Something's wrong. He opens his eyes... sits up... and sees SOMEONE is sitting in a chair in front of the window. BASHIR Lights. The lights come ON, revealing SLOAN sitting in the chair. SLOAN Hello, doctor. BASHIR I didn't think I'd ever see you again. SLOAN I have another assignment for you. BASHIR Really? What a coincidence. I have an assignment for you. Bashir hits a control on his nightstand and a FORCEFIELD FLASHES ON around Sloan. He's startled, but tries not to look too panicked. SLOAN I take it I'm supposed to feel shocked and humbled by your ingenuity. Bashir is up and out of bed. BASHIR Frankly, I don't care how you feel. (to com) Bashir to O'Brien. O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE (sleepy) Yeah... ? BASHIR Mister Sloan is here, Miles. I've got him in the containment field. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 15. 10 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE I'm on my way. BASHIR Good. Bashir out. SLOAN What is it you want, Doctor? Bashir goes to a drawer and takes out a phaser. BASHIR Why the same thing you want -- the cure to the disease. SLOAN What are you talking about? You already have the cure. (beat, realizing) No, you don't. Your message to Starfleet Medical... was just bait. BASHIR Which I'm happy to see that you swallowed. SLOAN So now you've got me. What good do you think will come of this? Turning me over to Starfleet Security will be a waste of time. You don't have a shred of evidence. BASHIR I'm not interested in turning you over to anyone. He presses the control button on the nightstand again, the FORCEFIELD FLASHES OFF, and then in the next second, Bashir STUNS Sloan with the phaser. Sloan slumps to the floor. CUT TO: 11 INT. SCIENCE LAB (OPTICAL) Where Sloan wakes up on a bio-bed. Bashir and O'Brien are busily setting up several monitors and other medical devices around the room. Sloan tries to sit up, but another FORCEFIELD keeps him pinned to the bed. The sound makes Bashir turn around. BASHIR Hello, again. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 16. 11 CONTINUED: SLOAN Shooting an unarmed man? That's a little ungallant of you, isn't it? BASHIR Somehow, I didn't think you'd walk in here of your own volition. SLOAN You're probably right. Sloan eyes O'Brien, tries another tactic. SLOAN Hello, Chief. How's the family? Everyone okay at home? O'Brien turns on him. O'BRIEN What's that supposed to mean? SLOAN Nothing. I'd just hate to see anything happen to them... BASHIR Don't listen to him, Chief. He's playing games with you. SLOAN Easy for him to say, he doesn't have a wife and children to worry about. But, trust me, Chief, if something were to happen to me -- BASHIR What? They'll be killed? I'm disappointed in you, Sloan. You don't usually wield such a blunt instrument. O'Brien takes a beat, then goes back to work. Sloan turns back to Bashir. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 16A. 11 CONTINUED: (2) SLOAN So am I supposed to guess what's going on or do I lie here in "terror" waiting for you to tell me? BASHIR I told you. I want the cure to Odo's disease and you're going to help me find it. SLOAN What makes you think I know anything about it? BASHIR You came here because you thought I'd discovered the cure and you wanted to destroy it. But first you'd have to find it in my lab. And how would you do that unless you knew exactly what you were looking for? SLOAN You call that reasoning? If I wanted to eliminate your work, all I'd have to do is destroy your lab. BASHIR You'd never do anything so... sloppy. You prefer surgical precision. You came here to destroy the cure, which means somewhere in that brain of yours is the information I want. SLOAN You don't really expect me to tell you. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 17. 11 CONTINUED: (3) BASHIR Oh, I suspect you'll resist to the bitter end. O'Brien finishes his work. O'BRIEN We're ready. Bashir goes to a tray and picks up a pair of Romulan scanning devices (like the ones seen in "Inter Arma... ") Bashir shows him the devices. BASHIR Recognize these? Romulan mind probes. Not the most pleasant devices, but very efficient. SLOAN They're also illegal in the Federation. BASHIR I hope you appreciate the irony of that statement. Bashir places the devices on Sloan's temples. Sloan is starting to sweat it now. SLOAN I'm telling you, I don't know anything about the cure. BASHIR Then I won't find anything, will I? Bashir goes to a console and begins working. SLOAN When Sisko finds out what you're doing he'll -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 18. 11 CONTINUED: (4) O'BRIEN The captain already knows what we're doing, Sloan. And he's given us his full support. Sloan sees that he's not going to get anywhere and that he has only one choice left. SLOAN I can't let you have the cure, Julian. Too much is at stake. BASHIR (working) I'm afraid the choice is no longer yours. SLOAN I misread you. I thought you were just a misguided idealist. But you're a dangerous man. People like you would destroy the Federation if given a chance... but fortunately there are people like me who will die to protect it. Sloan's eyes lose focus and then his head suddenly TWITCHES and BLOOD begins to trickle out of both ears. ALARMS begin to go off all over the room. BASHIR Damn! DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT ONE 19. 11 CONTINUED: (5) O'BRIEN What's going on? BASHIR (off monitor) He activated a neuro-depolarizing device in his brain. Bashir hits a control on the side of the bed and the forcefield over Sloan FLASHES OFF. Bashir quickly begins using various devices on Sloan as he struggles to resuscitate him. BASHIR He's trying to kill himself! (urgently working) I've got to stabilize him before he suffers irreversible damage! Bashir puts devices on Sloan's chest and activates them. Sloan CONVULSES. O'BRIEN If he dies... BASHIR ... The cure for Odo dies with him... As Bashir continues to frantically work... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 20. ACT TWO FADE IN: 12 INT. SCIENCE LAB (VPB) A few minutes later. Sloan is still on the bed, and Bashir and O'Brien are looking anxiously at one MONITOR, which is showing a FLATLINE. (Some kind of EEG or other brainwave monitor.) They wait... a few breathless seconds go by... And finally, the LINE begins to FLUCTUATE. Bashir and O'Brien both let out long sighs of relief. Bashir continues to work the equipment. O'BRIEN What's the verdict? BASHIR Well, he's stable... for now. But the neuro-depolarizer has damaged his brain. Even with full life support, his higher cortical functions are going to fail within the next hour. A grim beat. O'BRIEN (can't believe it) He committed suicide to keep us from finding the cure. BASHIR (bitter) We had him cornered and he knew it. He couldn't let one of Section Thirty-one's darkest secrets get away from him. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 21. 12 CONTINUED: Bashir glares down at Sloan, who still manages to look triumphant even in this state. BASHIR The frustrating thing is that the cure is still in there, somewhere... O'BRIEN I know this sounds a little... morbid, but... what if you used the Romulan mental probes now? BASHIR Sloan's memory pathways have been scrambled -- probably to prevent anyone from doing exactly what you proposed. Bashir glares down at Sloan, his brain racing for a solution. BASHIR (to Sloan) I'm not going to let you win this one, Sloan. There has to be a way to retrieve that data... O'BRIEN Maybe we should just let him die in peace... BASHIR (puts it together) Miles, I need a multitronic engrammatic interpreter. Bashir swings into action, begins moving some devices aside and activating others. O'BRIEN Or maybe I'll get you a multitronic engrammatic interpreter... CUT TO: DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 22. 13 INT. SCIENCE LAB Moments later. Bashir and O'Brien are hooking up optical cabling to a piece of equipment that looks like it belongs in engineering rather than a medical lab. O'BRIEN This is crazy. BASHIR It'll work, Miles. CUT TO: 14 INT. SCIENCE LAB O'Brien lying on his back, under a console, reaching up and ripping out the guts of the machine. O'BRIEN You've got me re-routing so many power relays and transfer coils that I can't guarantee any of this will work without running a series of diagnostics. PAN UP to see Bashir rapidly working the control panel on the same console O'Brien is working on. BASHIR I've already done the diagnostics in my head. CUT TO: 15 OMITTED DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 23. 16 INT. SCIENCE LAB Bashir is checking over Sloan with a tricorder while O'Brien has another piece of equipment disassembled on the floor. Sloan is now wearing a HEADSET. BASHIR ... and the neural interface will then provide a basic pattern to my hippocampal nuclei. O'BRIEN I give up. You've explained it three times now and I still don't understand. BASHIR You just have to trust me, Miles. I know what I'm doing. O'BRIEN But even if you can link your mind to Sloan's, how are you going to find the cure? BASHIR The entire experience will be processed into images and sounds that my conscious mind can understand. In essence, I'll see the neuronal pathways of his brain as literal pathways or streets or corridors or something. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 24. 16 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN And you'll just... wander along these streets looking for a box labeled "the cure?" BASHIR As strange as it sounds, it might be just that simple. On the other hand, the experience could be much more surrealistic... I could find myself caught up in memories of Sloan's childhood. O'BRIEN Will he be... aware of what you're doing? BASHIR I won't know that until I'm there. We don't know what the conscious mind can perceive when it's this close to brain death. CUT TO: 17 INT. SCIENCE LAB Another bed has appeared in the lab and Bashir is sitting on it, holding a headset that is identical to the one that Sloan is now wearing. O'BRIEN How will you get out? BASHIR One of the advantages to being genetically enhanced is the ability to control your own vital signs. When I've found the cure and I want to leave, I'll send my hypothalamus a signal to raise my blood pressure forty percent. When that happens, the equipment will automatically break the link. O'BRIEN What if you get disoriented or... lost in some nightmare of Sloan's and then he dies? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 25. 17 CONTINUED: BASHIR Worst case scenario... I die with him. But I think the risk is manageable. Beat. O'BRIEN I'm going with you. BASHIR What? O'BRIEN You heard me. And it's not open to debate. If you're determined to go on this lunatic mission into Sloan's head... then someone with an ounce of sanity has to go with you. Beat. BASHIR (wry) You just don't want to be here when Captain Sisko finds out what we're doing. O'BRIEN That too. BASHIR Well... I guess we better get another bed. CUT TO: 18 INT. SCIENCE LAB There are now three beds in the lab. O'Brien and Bashir are lying down and everyone's wearing the headsets. Bashir is making a few adjustments to the equipment next to his bed. O'BRIEN How long do we have? BASHIR Sloan's brain will die in about forty-three minutes. We have that long to get in, find the cure and get out. (off equipment) DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 26. 18 CONTINUED: BASHIR (Cont'd) The analyzer is on-line. Ready? O'BRIEN No. But let's do it anyway. Bashir hits a final control and lies back. The equipment in the room begins to WORK. Bashir and O'Brien's eyes flutter then finally close... WHITE OUT. FADE IN: 19 INT. TURBOLIFT Which is MOVING DOWN. Bashir and O'Brien are standing in the lift. They're dazed for a moment... then gradually become aware of their surroundings. O'BRIEN Julian... ? BASHIR Hello, Miles... O'BRIEN Why are we in a turbolift... ? BASHIR I'm not sure... O'BRIEN I don't remember getting in here... are we-- BASHIR (realizing) We're in Sloan's mind. (off his confused look) Remember? O'Brien takes a moment... then seems to pierce the fog in his head. O'BRIEN Sloan. Right. But we're really still... in the lab. BASHIR Yes. This... turbolift is just an abstraction. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT TWO 27. 19 CONTINUED: The Turbolift is going FASTER. O'BRIEN So... where're we going? BASHIR I don't know, but we're not wasting any time getting there. The lift goes even FASTER... and FASTER. O'Brien tries to work the control panel. Nothing happens. BASHIR Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all... As the speed INCREASES... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 28. ACT THREE FADE IN: 20 INT. TURBOLIFT - CONTINUOUS As the Turbolift plunges still faster, O'Brien and Bashir continue to do whatever they were doing at the end of ACT TWO. They brace themselves against the railing for what they expect will be a devastating crash. BASHIR Aren't you glad you came along? O'BRIEN Wouldn't have missed it for the world. Just then, the Turbolift comes to a surprisingly gentle stop. Bashir and O'Brien exchange a puzzled look. BASHIR What do you think? O'BRIEN I think we stopped. BASHIR Are you sure? O'BRIEN Either that... or we're falling very, very slowly. BASHIR (re: their grips on the railing) Then we can let go. O'BRIEN No reason not to. But neither of them does. O'BRIEN Well? BASHIR You first. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 29. 20 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Why me? This little trip wasn't my idea. BASHIR All right, we'll let go together. O'BRIEN On three. BASHIR AND O'BRIEN One, two... three. Cautiously, they both let go of the railing. After a beat, they smile. BASHIR See? Nothing to worry about. O'BRIEN I wasn't worried. Suddenly, the Turbolift drops unexpectedly, throwing them off balance. Staggered, they manage to stay on their feet by grabbing onto the railing as the Turbolift lands with a LOUD CRASH. O'BRIEN Now what? BASHIR Good question. Just then, the DOORS OPEN to REVEAL -- 21 SLOAN dressed in casual, civilian clothes, and displaying a warm, welcoming smile. SLOAN Doctor! Chief O'Brien. Welcome. You don't know how happy I am to see you. Bashir and O'Brien step out of the Turbolift and join Sloan in the -- 22 INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR which looks exactly like your normal D.S. Nine Habitat Ring Corridor. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 30. 22 CONTINUED: BASHIR I'm glad you're happy, Sloan. Now tell us how to cure Odo and we can all be happy. SLOAN Believe me, Doctor -- nothing would give me greater pleasure. But first, there are a few people I'd like you to meet. O'BRIEN Look, Sloan -- we're a little pressed for time. SLOAN But you just arrived. (thinking it through) I see. You're afraid that if I die while you're still in here... you'll die, too. (sincere) We can't let that happen, can we? We'd better hurry. Sloan starts down the corridor. Bashir grabs him by the arm. BASHIR We're not going anywhere until you give us the cure. SLOAN All right. If you insist. It's a simple nucleotide marking sequence -- radodine... Sloan continues to speak but the words come out garbled. SLOAN (garbled) lidestolinine, asporanine, adenine... O'BRIEN You mind repeating that? SLOAN (still garbled) lidestolinine. asporanine. adenine... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 31. 22 CONTINUED: (2) Bashir is losing his patience, slamming Sloan against the bulkhead. BASHIR We don't have time for games, Sloan. SLOAN (unruffled) Believe me, I want to tell you everything you need to know. BASHIR Then tell us. SLOAN Because I can't. (still garbled) lidestolinine, asporanine, adenine... You see? (a realization) I suppose there's a part of me that doesn't want to tell you -- not until you come with me to the wardroom. O'BRIEN Maybe we should do as he says. BASHIR It could be a trap. SLOAN I don't blame you for being suspicious, doctor -- but if you want the cure, you're going to have to trust me. (a beat) The clock is ticking. O'BRIEN (to Bashir) He's right about that. Bashir reluctantly lets go of Sloan, who smiles pleasantly. SLOAN Follow me. And they do. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 32. 23 INT. ANOTHER SECTION OF CORRIDOR As Sloan leads them toward the wardroom, he notices that O'Brien and Bashir remain tense and alert. SLOAN Relax, doctor. I'm the one dying, not you. O'BRIEN Why Deep Space Nine? SLOAN Excuse me? O'BRIEN I'm just wondering why the inside of your head looks like our space station? SLOAN I wanted to make you feel at home. Comfortable. BASHIR Why? SLOAN I thought it was the decent thing to do. They arrive at the door, which OPENS TO REVEAL -- 24 INT. WARDROOM Where a lively party is in progress. The PARTYGOERS are all humans, dressed in civilian clothes. Everyone stops and smiles at the newcomers. 25 ANGLE ON SLOAN as he leads Bashir and O'Brien into the room, then turns to address the crowd. SLOAN Everyone... if I can have your attention, please. (re: Bashir and O'Brien) Now that we're all here... I hope you'll forgive me if I take a moment to say a few words. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 33. 25 CONTINUED: Sloan is clearly filled with genuine emotion and there are times in his speech when he has to stop and regain his composure. SLOAN As I stand here, reunited with my friends and family for one last time... I want you -- the people I love -- to know just how sorry I am for all the pain I've caused you. I dedicated my life to the preservation and protection of the Federation. This duty, which I carried out to the best of my ability, took precedence over everything else... my parents, my wife, my children... (a beat) I lived in a world of secrets. Of sabotage and deceit. I spent so much time erasing my movements, covering my tracks... and now that I look back at my life, I find... nothing. It's as if I never really existed. I cheated you all out of being in my life. And what's more, I cheated myself as well. (a beat) I know a simple apology won't change that. Still, I feel the need to apologize anyway. Sloan looks around at the tear-stricken crowd. SLOAN No tears, please. My death isn't a tragedy, it's a celebration. In death, I can finally step out of the shadows and prove to myself that I existed. That I lived. 26 THE CROWD bursts into APPLAUSE. An attractive woman steps out of the group -- 27 JESSICA SLOAN hurries over to Sloan. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 34. 27 CONTINUED: JESSICA Luther -- that was beautiful. They hug and kiss with romantic passion. Sloan then turns to Bashir and O'Brien. SLOAN Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet my wife -- Jessica. This is Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien -- (to Jessica) If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here. JESSICA (to Bashir and O'Brien) I can't thank you enough for all you've done for Luther... and for me. Frankly, being married to him was a living hell. But thanks to you, that's all changed. Neither Bashir nor O'Brien know what to say. O'BRIEN Congratulations. SLOAN Doctor, you've been a beacon of light to me. You're living proof that ideology is a poor substitute for kindness and decency and that at the end of the day, it's our actions, not our beliefs, that define who we are... what we are. Bashir can no longer deny the sincerity of Sloan's words. BASHIR I'm glad I could help. Now, if you don't mind... SLOAN (nodding) You want me to tell you how to cure Odo. Gladly, doctor. (to his wife) My dear -- I need that PADD I gave you for safekeeping. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 35. 27 CONTINUED: (2) Jessica opens her pocketbook, searching. JESSICA I know I have it somewhere. After rummaging a bit through her purse, she pulls out a PADD. JESSICA Here it is. 28 SLOAN (OPTICAL) takes the PADD and looks it over. SLOAN Thanks, muffin. (to Bashir) Here you go, Doctor -- But just as Sloan offers Bashir the PADD, a PHASER BOLT hits him in the back. Sloan goes down as Jessica SCREAMS -- 29 BASHIR AND O'BRIEN look towards the door to see another SLOAN, this one dressed in Section Thirty-one black, holding a phaser. SLOAN I'm sorry, doctor, but I can't let you have that. And with that, Sloan slips out the door. 30 ANOTHER ANGLE as Bashir and O'Brien find themselves standing in an empty Wardroom. Sloan, Jessica, the guests, and the PADD with the cure are all gone. O'BRIEN Julian... BASHIR Don't look at me for an explanation. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT THREE 36. 30 CONTINUED: And with that, they hurry out the room into the corridor -- 31 INT. STARFLEET CORRIDOR But instead of the station corridor, Bashir and O'Brien find themselves in a narrow, dark, twisty, Starfleet corridor they've never been in before. O'BRIEN I knew it. BASHIR Knew what? They turn to see that the door they just came out of is no longer there. O'BRIEN That this wasn't going to be easy. And as they look around and wonder what to do next: FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 37. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 32 INT. SCIENCE LAB O'Brien, Bashir, and Sloan lie unconscious on the bio-beds, wired as they were last seen. SISKO (O.S.) Mind telling me what going on? REVEAL a worried Sisko and Ezri staring down at the supine figures. Sisko's worry is tinged with irritation. EZRI I have no idea. The chief was supposed to fix my sonic shower this morning, but he never showed up. I asked the computer where he was, and when I came in... this is what I found. (looking at Sloan) Any idea who that is? SISKO Sloan. He works for Section Thirty-one. That raises alarm bells for Ezri. EZRI (re: the bodies) Then I'd guess this isn't some kind of obscure meditation therapy. SISKO Definitely not. (taps combadge) Sisko to Infirmary. INFIRMARY COM VOICE Infirmary. SISKO I need a medical team in Science Lab Four, right away. Off Sisko's concerned face... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 38. 33 INT. STARFLEET CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) Bashir and O'Brien cautiously make their way down the dark passage. Ahead of them, the corridor trails off into darkness. They're methodically checking each and every door they pass -- they're all locked. O'BRIEN I wish I knew how long we've been in here. BASHIR (matter-of-factly) Twenty-three minutes, eleven seconds. O'BRIEN Show off. BASHIR That leaves us less than twenty minutes to find a cure and get out. O'Brien presses another control panel, but the door doesn't open. O'BRIEN (frustrated) Locked, just like the others. For all we know, Sloan could be hiding in any one of these rooms. Or he could've taken that turn- off we passed. BASHIR What's your point, Miles? O'BRIEN We're not going to find him unless he wants to be found -- after all, we're on his playing field. Bashir is about to check another door when suddenly-- MALE VOICE Stop right there. They turn around to see -- 34 A SECTION THIRTY-ONE OPERATIVE phaser in hand. He steps between them and the door. BASHIR Now what? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 39. 34 CONTINUED: OPERATIVE You're in a restricted area. O'BRIEN (dry, sotto) I thought we were in the cerebellum. 35 BASHIR (OPTICAL) takes a step towards the operative. BASHIR We're looking for Sloan. OPERATIVE Mister Sloan is not available at the moment. BASHIR Dammit -- we don't have time for this. We need to speak to Sloan! Bashir takes another step towards the operative, who FIRES his phaser. Bashir is hit in the shoulder and falls. O'Brien rushes to his side. O'BRIEN (outraged) You shot him! BASHIR That really hurts! OPERATIVE He's a threat to the Federation. O'Brien lunges at the operative, slamming him against the wall before he can fire again. They struggle fiercely for a moment. The operative manages to squeeze off another shot that hits O'Brien in the side. O'Brien manages to deliver a vicious blow to his head before doubling over and collapsing to the floor. The operative also topples to the deck and DISAPPEARS. O'Brien groans as he manages to pull himself into a sitting position against the wall, next to Bashir. The faces of both men are contorted with pain and their breathing is labored. O'BRIEN You all right? BASHIR Do I look all right? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 40. 35 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN It doesn't make sense... if none of this is real, how come it hurts so much? BASHIR Sloan's mind could be sending sensory stimuli into ours, causing us to experience pain, just as we would if we'd really been shot... of course, that's just a theory. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 40A. 35 CONTINUED: (2) O'BRIEN (touching his wound) Makes sense to me. Maybe this is a good time for you to get us out of here. BASHIR (growing weaker) I can't... O'BRIEN Why not? BASHIR I just tried the hypothalamic feedback loop... I think I'm too weak... O'BRIEN What do you mean you're too weak? Julian -- we have to get out of here! BASHIR I know that! But I've been shot -- at least my body thinks I've been shot. O'BRIEN (with growing frustration) I don't believe this. BASHIR I'm sorry. A look passes between them as the reality of their situation sinks in. O'BRIEN (wearily) I guess this is it then... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 41. 35 CONTINUED: (3) BASHIR Looks that way. There's a long beat. Then: O'BRIEN I should've left Keiko a note... told her what we were planning. BASHIR Why worry her? O'BRIEN I want her and the kids to understand why I had to do this... BASHIR She'll understand, Miles. She'll know you did it for me. O'BRIEN That's what's going to hurt her most of all. She always said I liked you better than her. Another beat. Their ragged breathing is the only sound in the empty corridor. BASHIR That's ridiculous. (beat) Well, maybe a little. O'BRIEN What, are you crazy? She's my wife. I love her. BASHIR Of course you love her. But maybe she's right. Maybe you like me more. O'BRIEN I do not! BASHIR You spend more time with me. O'BRIEN We work together. BASHIR More than that; we have a lot in common. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 42. 35 CONTINUED: (4) O'BRIEN Julian -- you're starting to annoy me. BASHIR Racquetball, darts, Vic's lounge, the Alamo... need I go on? O'BRIEN (shoring up his resolve) I love my wife. BASHIR And I love Ezri. O'BRIEN You do? BASHIR Passionately. (a beat) At least I think I do. O'BRIEN Have you told her? BASHIR Not yet, but I will. O'BRIEN When? BASHIR When I'm ready. But that's not the point. I love her -- but I like you more. (a beat) You see? I can admit it. O'Brien can't hide his smile, secretly pleased at Julian's loyalty. But he won't give in. O'BRIEN Well, I love my wife. Something off screen catches Bashir's attention. He looks to see -- 36 BASHIR'S POV of one end of the corridor suddenly flooded with an intense, bright WHITE LIGHT. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 43. 36 CONTINUED: BASHIR Miles... what's that? O'BRIEN My God, it's the tunnel! BASHIR What tunnel? O'BRIEN You know the tunnel -- to the Great Beyond! BASHIR You're right. I must say I'm a bit disappointed... I was hoping for something a little more... elaborate. A beat, then O'Brien decides to fight on. O'BRIEN No. No. Come on Julian, we can't let it end like this sitting here, accepting death. On your feet, man! He pulls Bashir to his feet and the two men stand there unsteadily for a beat as the WHITE LIGHT gets BRIGHTER. O'BRIEN Let's check one more door. BASHIR What's the point? O'BRIEN The point is to die like men -- like Travis and Crockett. Doing our duty right up until the end. That gets Bashir, he manages a smile. BASHIR Like Travis and Crockett... O'Brien turns and looks at the next door. O'BRIEN One more door... They limp painfully down the Corridor and are about to finally open that door when -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 43A. 37 INT. SCIENCE LAB - CLOSE ON BASHIR The headset still on his head. His eyes blink open, to see -- 38 WORF - BASHIR'S POV The Klingon stares down at him. Not a comforting sight. WORF Doctor Bashir's regaining consciousness, captain. Worf heads for O'Brien's bio-bed as Bashir sits up and removes his headgear, groggily trying to re- orient himself. An N.D. Nurse works the equipment, supervised by an unhappy Sisko. NURSE BANDEE is tending to Sloan. BASHIR How's Miles? Bashir's gaze finds the Chief sitting on his bio- bed, trying to shake the cobwebs out. O'BRIEN I'm fine. SISKO (to Bashir) Did you get the information you were looking for? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 44. 38 CONTINUED: BASHIR I'm afraid not. (re: Sloan) We have to go back in... WORF That would not be wise, Doctor. SISKO (agreeing) Sloan's dying. We can't risk losing you as well. That information galvanizes Bashir to full alertness. He immediately gets to his feet and goes to check -- 39 SLOAN The comatose agent's face is wan, his eyes sunken. BASHIR He can't die. Not yet! Bashir's eyes flash to Sloan's bio-readouts. it takes only an instant for him to evaluate the situation. BASHIR (to the N.D.) Cordrazine. Ten milligrams. The N.D. Nurse picks up a hypospray, and adjusts it as Bashir quickly removes the headset from Sloan. BANDEE His alpha waves are attenuating. BASHIR (to Bandee) Cortical stimulator. Bandee rushes to get the stimulator. The first Nurse puts the hypospray in Bashir's hand. He applies the device to Sloan's neck and rechecks the readouts. They don't look good. BASHIR You're not getting away from me that easily, Sloan. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 45. 39 CONTINUED: Bandee hands him the stimulator, which Bashir feverishly adjusts and places on Sloan's forehead. A MED ALARM SOUNDS. BASHIR Amplify the resonance frequency ten percent. The stimulator's BLINKIES reflect the change. Sloan looks no better. BANDEE (off the readouts) No response. His neurosynaptic activity is failing. BASHIR I can see that. Fifteen milligrams neurotropan. The N.D. nurse slaps another hypospray into his hand, which Bashir administers. BASHIR Come on, Sloan. Come on back. Another ALARM. BANDEE Complete neural failure. BASHIR No! Bashir won't give up. He pulls Bandee away from the equipment and frantically works it. Sisko casts a questioning look at Bandee. She shakes her head apologetically. Sisko absorbs this and finally nods to Worf, who places his hand on Bashir's shoulder. WORF He's dead, Doctor. Bashir brushes the Klingon's hand aside and stays focused on his equipment for another beat. O'BRIEN It's over, Julian. He's gone... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FOUR 46. 40 BASHIR - CLOSE He looks as if he may punch the machine for a second, then, resigned, he switches it off. The ALARM stops. He turns to stare at the corpse. BASHIR (to Sisko) And so's any hope of curing Odo. On this bleak announcement, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 47. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 41 INT. SURGERY Bashir stands next to Odo, who's still lying in his cylinder. He looks the same as he did in the teaser, but he's noticeably weaker. Bashir's just told him the bad news, and feels terrible about his failure to help his friend... BASHIR ... I wish I had better news. I'm sorry. ODO I understand, doctor. You've done all you could -- more than I would've thought possible and I appreciate it. A beat as the two men absorb this. BASHIR Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable? ODO Thank you, but right now I simply want to be alone. BASHIR Of course. Bashir walks toward the door, then pauses to look back at his patient, a look of helpless resignation on his face. After a beat, Bashir EXITS INTO -- 42 INT. INFIRMARY where O'Brien is waiting for him. O'BRIEN How'd he take it? BASHIR Better than I would. O'Brien nods, then shakes his head wearily. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 48. 42 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN I need some sleep. So do you. But O'Brien can see that Julian is still wrapped up in a sense of failure. O'BRIEN Look, Julian -- BASHIR I know -- I did all I could. (a beat) It's small comfort. O'Brien gives Julian a sympathetic nod. He knows there's nothing he can say to improve Julian's mood. 43 INT. BASHIR'S QUARTERS - NIGHT Bashir, wearing pajamas, climbs into bed. He sits there for a moment wearing a defeated expression. He sighs and takes A Tale of Two Cities from his bedside table, opens it to his bookmark (in the center of the book) and begins to read. A quizzical look rapidly spreads over his face. BASHIR "It was the best of times... " 44 INT. O'BRIEN'S QUARTERS O'Brien holds Bashir's copy of A Tale of Two Cities, looking at the same page Bashir was just reading. O'BRIEN (reading) "... it was the worst of times." WIDEN TO REVEAL Bashir standing beside him. O'BRIEN It's the first line of the book. BASHIR That's right. So why is it on page two hundred and ninety-four? O'Brien flips between the front of the book and the middle, looking over the text. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 49. 44 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN Must be a misprint... the entire book starts over again. BASHIR It can't be. Ezri loaned it to me -- it used to be Jadzia's and I know for a fact that she read it. O'BRIEN You and Ezri are exchanging books? BASHIR Forget about that. Don't you see what's going on? O'BRIEN She's playing a practical joke. BASHIR No. It's Sloan. We're still inside his mind. O'Brien looks around in bewilderment. O'BRIEN What? These are my quarters -- Keiko's sleeping in the other room. BASHIR No, she's not. Sloan is drawing on our memories... making us think we're back on the station. That's why the book is incomplete... because I hadn't finished reading it. O'BRIEN (catching on) And because you didn't know what happened after page two-ninety- four... BASHIR He couldn't fill in the rest of the story. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 49A. 44 CONTINUED: (2) O'BRIEN He's trying to keep us from looking for the cure. BASHIR Which means we must've been very close to finding it. O'BRIEN The door -- the one we were about to open when we woke up --the cure must be in there. The ROOM SHAKES VIOLENTLY and SEVERAL LIGHTS GO OUT. O'BRIEN What's going on? BASHIR Sloan's dying. His mind's shutting down. We're running out of time. They EXIT. 45 thru OMITTED 46 DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 50-51. 46A INT. STARFLEET CORRIDOR Dark and twisty as before. O'Brien and Bashir ENTER and start walking along. The LIGHTS get even DARKER and the Corridor SHAKES again. They start running. 46B INT. ANOTHER SECTION OF CORRIDOR They run around the corner, then Bashir pulls up short at one door. BASHIR This is it! O'BRIEN Are you sure? BASHIR I can tell. They exchange a look, then hit the control panel. The door OPENS to... 47 INT. SECTION THIRTY-ONE (REDRESS DEFIANT MESS HALL) -- a shadowy and cluttered room. The walls are lined with bookshelves crammed with disheveled stacks of PADDs, books, binders, loose leaf paper and spread sheets. The paperwork spills off the shelves and litters the floor. Monitors are scattered around the room, scrolling a continuous amount of information. At the far end of the room, Sloan slumps behind a desk in a high-backed chair, wearing his Section Thirty-one uniform. Bashir cautiously approaches him. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 51A. 47 CONTINUED: BASHIR Sloan? SLOAN (weakly) Welcome to Section Thirty-one, Gentlemen... As they draw nearer, we see that Sloan's face is pale and coated with sweat. BASHIR You know what we're here for. SLOAN You don't really expect me to help you... Bashir and O'Brien exchange a look, then begin digging through the debris, hunting for the cure. The room gets DARKER again. 47A BASHIR is rapidly reading papers and PADDs, then tossing them aside. 47B O'BRIEN is doing the same. 47C SLOAN watches Bashir carefully. Bashir glances at a PADD, then throws it away. SLOAN You sure you want to throw that one away... ? BASHIR (still searching) I'm looking for medical information, not surveillance reports... SLOAN That's not just any report... it's on Garish Inyo. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 51B. 47C CONTINUED: Bashir stops and grabs the PADD again. BASHIR Former President Inyo? SLOAN The one and only. BASHIR (reading file) My God... Thirty-one had a man inside his cabinet... SLOAN Just one of the little nuggets lying around in this... once-tidy room. You'd be amazed at what you could find in here. O'Brien is still frantically searching. O'BRIEN Don't let him distract you. Bashir goes back to digging through the debris, but Sloan continues his siren song. Bashir opens a thick binder. BASHIR Current operations on Chronos... Chancellor Martok would love to get his hands on this... O'Brien suddenly finds the PADD seen in the Wardroom. O'BRIEN Julian! He takes the PADD to Bashir, who looks it over quickly. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 52. 47C CONTINUED: (2) BASHIR (reading) Radodine, lidestolinine, asporanine, adenine... (nodding) This is it. The ROOM SHAKES VIOLENTLY AGAIN, SPARKS FALL FROM THE CEILING. O'BRIEN I think it's time to get out of here. The ROOM SHAKES AGAIN, MORE SPARKS. BASHIR Hold on a moment. O'BRIEN What for? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 53. 47C CONTINUED: (3) BASHIR (re: the room) These files contain all of Sloan's memories of Section Thirty-one. (a realization) With this information... we could destroy the entire organization. The ROOM SHAKES AGAIN, MORE SPARKS. O'BRIEN That'll have to wait. SLOAN It's not that simple, Chief. There's no building... no room like this in the real world. Section Thirty-one has no headquarters. These files... they exist only in the minds of a very select group of people. I happen to be one of them... The ROOM SHAKES AGAIN. More LIGHTS go OUT. SLOAN (to Bashir) If you really want to destroy Section Thirty-one... it's now or never. BASHIR He's right. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Miles. We can't pass it up. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 54. 47C CONTINUED: (4) Another SHAKE. Bashir rushes around the room, desperately grabbing PADDs and files -- trying to read everything he can get his hands on. O'Brien grabs Bashir and slams him against the bulkhead. O'BRIEN Julian! BASHIR Leave me alone -- O'BRIEN Listen to me -- he's trying to keep us here. He wants us to die with him. And if we die -- Odo dies too! Bashir looks over at Sloan, who can barely raise his head to look back at the doctor. SLOAN All my secrets are yours for the taking, doctor... if you want them badly enough. It's still a siren's song for Bashir. The ROOM SHAKES again. O'BRIEN Odo needs you, Julian. He's counting on you. Bashir looks at the last PADD he grabbed, then over to Sloan and lets the PADD fall from his hand. SLOAN You're making a terrible mistake, doctor... BASHIR I don't think so. And as the room SHAKES again, Bashir closes his eyes and presses his fingers against his temples... WHITE OUT: DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 55. 47C CONTINUED: (5) FADE IN: 48 INT. SCIENCE LAB - CLOSE ON BASHIR His eyes are shut. The Romulan device still BLINKS at his temples. EZRI'S VOICE Julian, are you with us? His eyelids flicker open and gaze up into the lovely face of -- 49 EZRI DAX looking down at him. BASHIR Ezri... you look beautiful. Ezri is a little startled by Bashir's observation, then smiles with embarrassment. Sisko steps up next to her. SISKO Were you able to find the cure? BASHIR I think so, but there's only one way to know for sure... Bashir stands up, clears the cobwebs, then looks over to a shaky O'Brien, sitting up from his bio-bed. Bashir then gazes at Sloan's body, lying motionless on the bio-bed. BASHIR Sloan? SISKO He died about two minutes ago... Almost took you with him. Bashir glances back at O'Brien. O'BRIEN Julian, next time you take a trip into someone's mind... you're going alone. BASHIR Right. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 56. 49 CONTINUED: And with that, he EXITS -- 50 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Time cut. 51 INT. SURGERY The desiccated Odo now lies weakly upon a bio-bed. Bashir, holding a hypospray, is by his side. BASHIR I should warn you... you might feel some discomfort. ODO If you mean it's going to be painful, just say so. BASHIR It's going to be painful. ODO (nods) All right then. Go ahead. 52 NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) Bashir applies the hypospray to Odo's neck. Nothing happens for a beat, then the changeling arches his back and grimaces. At that moment, the CORRODED PATCHES OF ODO'S BODY START TO SMOOTH OUT FROM THE POINT OF INJECTION, FOLLOWING THE DIFFUSION PATH of the antiviral agent LIKE RIPPLES IN A POND, UNTIL ODO'S ENTIRE FACE AND BODY ARE FREE FROM THE CORRUPTION. Odo sags back onto the bed, completely exhausted. After a beat, he looks at -- 53 HIS HANDS no longer parched from the disease. 54 ODO lowers his hands and gives a tired but grateful smile at Bashir. Bashir smiles back -- unable to hide his sense of triumph. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 57. 55 INT. QUARK'S After hours again. Bashir is throwing darts while O'Brien rummages around underneath the bar. O'BRIEN How long before Odo's up and around? BASHIR His morphogenic matrix needs time to heal. He should be his old self again in a few days. O'Brien sees something under the bar. O'BRIEN Ah -- here we go. He brings out a bottle of something and sets it on the bar along with two glasses. Bashir comes over to the bar and sets one dart on the bar as O'Brien pours them each a drink. Bashir looks over the bottle. O'BRIEN I knew Quark was hoarding a bottle of the good stuff in here somewhere. BASHIR (re: label) This is older than I am. O'BRIEN What? He grabs the label and reads it, then makes the depressing realization that Bashir is indeed that young. O'BRIEN I can't believe I'm drinking with a child. Bashir lifts his glass in a toast. BASHIR (re: O'Brien) To aging gracefully? O'BRIEN Very funny. (a toast) To Odo. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 58. 55 CONTINUED: They clink glasses and drink. BASHIR Wow. O'BRIEN Wow is right. O'Brien sets them up again. O'BRIEN Let me ask you something... if you'd had time to read more of the data in Sloan's mind... you really think we could've brought down Section Thirty-one? BASHIR (considers it) We'll never know, will we? One thing's for sure -- Sloan knew it was the perfect bait... that I wouldn't be able to resist it. Luckily he failed to consider one thing... O'BRIEN What's that? BASHIR You. (a toast) To Miles Edward O'Brien. O'Brien is a little embarrassed, but joins him in the drink. O'BRIEN To friendship. There's a beat as they savor the drink. BASHIR O'BRIEN One more? Maybe just one. O'Brien pours another round. BASHIR To friendship. O'BRIEN We already did that. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Extreme Measures" - REV. 04/05/99 - ACT FIVE 59. 55 CONTINUED: (2) BASHIR Let's do it again. They down the drinks. O'BRIEN I've got to get home. Keiko's holding dinner for me. BASHIR This late? O'BRIEN She's a helluva woman. BASHIR That's why you love her. O'BRIEN That's right. That's why I love her. O'Brien heads for the door... then pauses and turns around. O'BRIEN You wanna come? BASHIR Sure. They grin and head for the door. Just before he leaves, Bashir turns and THROWS his last dart-- 56 ON THE DARTBOARD The dart hits. Bullseye. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END