STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Afterimage" (fka "Untitled Dax") #40510-553 Written by Rene Echevarria 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 1998 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 This script is not for publication or reproduction.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 July 24, 1998 STAR TREK: DS9 - "Afterimage" - 07/24/98 - CAST STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Afterimage" CAST SISKO GARAK KIRA ODO BASHIR O'BRIEN WORF QUARK EZRI JAKE Non-Speaking Non-Speaking N.D. SUPERNUMERARIES MORN STAR TREK: DS9 - "Afterimage" - 07/24/98 - SETS STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Afterimage" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE PROMENADE/SECOND LEVEL HOLOSUITE/CLIFF BAJORAN TEMPLE QUARK'S CAPTAIN'S OFFICE GARAK'S SHOP GUEST QUARTERS HABITAT RING CORRIDOR REPLIMAT AIRLOCK CORRIDOR INFIRMARY WORF'S QUARTERS TURBOLIFT WARDROOM DS9 - "Afterimage" - 07/24/98 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Afterimage" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE AUDRID ODD-rid CURZON KIHR-zahn EMONY EM-oh-knee JORAN juh-RAN FANALIAN FUH-nail-ee-un GOLANA goh-LA-nah I'DANIAN ih-DANN-ee-un NOLABERRY NO-luh-berry RAYMER RAY-mur TALPET TAWL-pet RAKTAJINO ROCK-ta-GEE-no TOBIN TOE-bin TORIAS tuh-RYE-us ELIM EE-lim DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Afterimage" TEASER FADE IN: 1 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Establishing. 2 INT. PROMENADE - SECOND LEVEL CLOSE on EZRI DAX, who's standing at the rail looking wistfully at the CROWD below. EZRI It's funny... before yesterday, I'd never set foot on this station -- but it's as familiar to me as the back of my hand. ADJUST to REVEAL -- 3 MORN standing next to her. EZRI Isn't that odd? Morn blinks uncomprehendingly. EZRI You have no idea who I am, do you? Morn shrugs. EZRI I didn't think so. (mustering a smile) Thanks for listening anyway.. Morn turns and heads off. Ezri sighs, moves away... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 2. 4 INT. PROMENADE As Ezri takes in the sights, she walks with her HANDS CLASPED BEHIND HER BACK the way Jadzia used to. As she passes the Bajoran Temple, she stops. She finds herself drawn to it, but at the same time she's hesitant about going in. She comes to a decision, EXITS through the doorway. 5 INT. BAJORAN TEMPLE as Ezri ENTERS the empty room and tentatively approaches the alcove where the Orb is kept. Standing near the spot where Jadzia was killed is a strange sensation for her, and she's not sure what to make of it. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 3. 6 KIRA ENTERS and crosses toward a SHRINE set up with lit CANDLES. As she reaches for the ritual LIGHTER, Ezri turns toward her and they recognize one other. The two women stand there for a moment, not sure how to deal with each other -- Ezri sees Kira as an old friend, but Kira sees her as a relative stranger. Finally, Ezri blurts out what's on her mind -- EZRI I was killed here. Kira is nonplussed by her sudden declaration -- EZRI I mean, Jadzia was. Kira reacts to this grim reminder of the friend she lost, remembering her own role in what happened. KIRA I try not to think about that. If I did, I'm not sure I could come here. EZRI (looking down at the spot) It's a strange sensation. Dying. No matter how many times it happens to you, you never get used to it. It's odd to hear someone talk about dying, and having no experience with it, Kira just listens respectfully. EZRI It must be a little disconcerting for you -- knowing that I have Jadzia's memories. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 4. 6 CONTINUED: EZRI (Cont'd) (sympathetic) No wonder you're uncomfortable. Kira can't deny that she is, but she wants Ezri to know that time might change things. KIRA It's a lot to get used to... EZRI Tell me about it. An awkward silence... not wanting to push things, Ezri decides to leave... EZRI Well... I'll let you get to your prayers... Kira nods, and Ezri EXITS. Off Kira's face as she tries to make sense of her feelings... 7 INT. QUARK'S A quiet afternoon. FERENGI WAITERS are preparing for dinner and a few DABO GIRLS stand at the wheel gossiping. QUARK is going over some PADDS at the bar. Ezri approaches tentatively. EZRI How's my favorite Ferengi? QUARK (without looking up) That depends which Ferengi you're talking about. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 5. 7 CONTINUED: EZRI I'm talking about you, Quark. Who else would I be talking about? Quark looks up and sees the young Trill officer standing in front of him, quickly realizes it must be the new Dax he's heard about. QUARK Dax. EZRI (smiling) Hi. Liking what he sees, Quark decides to be a little more charming. QUARK I was wondering when you were going to drop by. They stand there, smiling and nodding like two people at a high school reunion, not sure what to say each other. Finally: DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 6. 7 CONTINUED: (2) QUARK I can't believe it's really you. EZRI Me, neither. (off Quark's confused expression) I mean... of course I can believe I'm really "me" as in Ezri. It's just I haven't gotten used to the idea of "me" as in Dax. Quark tries not to let her confusion derail him. QUARK Well, whoever you are, let me buy you a drink. He pours her a TANKARD of bloodwine. She picks it up, takes a sniff. EZRI (unsure if she likes it) Bloodwine... QUARK That's the good stuff -- same vintage I served when you and Worf got married. EZRI Smells awful... QUARK It used to be your favorite. EZRI (handing over the glass with her right hand) I used to be left-handed, too. A lot of things have changed since I was joined. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 6A. 7 CONTINUED: (3) QUARK I can imagine. Seven lifetimes worth of memories would mix anybody up. (beat) Or is it eight? EZRI Who knows anymore? QUARK (giving her something else to drink) It'll be easier once you get settled in. Have you picked out your quarters yet? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 7. 7 CONTINUED: (4) EZRI I'm not staying. I'm going back to the Destiny to be assistant ship's counselor. QUARK You're a therapist? EZRI Why does everyone sound so surprised when they hear that? QUARK It's just... (reaching) You're so young. Ezri looks unconvinced -- QUARK Why are you in such a hurry to leave, anyway? Why not stay for a while, get to know your old friends again. Part of Ezri wants to, but... EZRI I don't want to force things. People need time to get over losing Jadzia. QUARK I started getting over her the minute you walked in. No offense. EZRI None taken. (beat) I think. She studies him for a beat. EZRI You know something, Quark. Besides Benjamin, you're the only one of Jadzia's friends who doesn't seem uncomfortable around me. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 8. 7 CONTINUED: (5) QUARK She and I were close, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be close, too. Ezri is oblivious to Quark's continued attempts to charm her -- QUARK Remember all those late night tongo games? EZRI Who could forget? (realizing) Wait a minute... you owe me ten slips of latinum from our last game. Quark wishes he hadn't brought it up. QUARK I don't think so. EZRI I won with a Full Consortium. I remember. QUARK Your memory must be playing tricks on you. EZRI Don't say that, Quark. I'm confused enough as it is. QUARK (distracting her) Look who's here! He motions to someone off-screen -- 8 NEW ANGLE to include WORF, who's just ENTERED the bar and is standing in the doorway. QUARK I bet you two have a lot to talk about. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - TEASER 9. 8 CONTINUED: This is the first time Ezri's seen Worf since Jadzia died. She smiles tentatively, but as soon as Worf sees her, he stiffens, turns away, and EXITS. QUARK Maybe not... Off Ezri's face as she tries to make sense of Worf's reaction... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 10. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes) 9 INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE where SISKO, absorbed in something he's reading off a PADD, is crossing behind his desk. The door CHIMES. SISKO Come in. When the door doesn't open, he turns to look. Strangely, there's no one standing outside in Ops. He moves toward the sliding glass doors to investigate. Another CHIME, and Sisko realizes it's coming from the other door to his office, the one he rarely uses. Puzzled, he moves toward it, works the PANEL, and OPENS it to reveal Ezri in the corridor. SISKO (surprised) Dax... She peers past him to make sure no one's there with him. EZRI Are you alone? SISKO (gesturing her in) Why are you sneaking in this way? EZRI I didn't want to go through Ops, in case Worf was there. Dejected by her predicament, Ezri comes inside, making sure to stay clear of the glass doors to Ops. EZRI (continuing) We bumped into each other last night in Quark's. SISKO It didn't go well, I take it? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 11. 9 CONTINUED: Ezri shakes her head. SISKO (gently) You weren't expecting him to accept you right away, were you? EZRI Of course not. But he wouldn't even talk to me. Sisko realizes it went worse than he thought, wonders if there might be a simple explanation. SISKO Maybe he's just trying to respect your customs -- he knows that joined Trill aren't supposed to get involved with the people their previous hosts were married to. EZRI That doesn't mean we can't talk to each other. Worf knows that. SISKO Are you sure? EZRI I told him all about Trill traditions -- Jadzia did. We discussed them. (frustrated with the pronoun confusion) They discussed them. SISKO (it's okay) I understand. EZRI (shaking her head) These pronouns are driving me crazy. Ezri cautiously leans over so she can peek out through the glass doors into Ops. In the background, we can see Worf at his post. EZRI Look at him, Benjamin. He's in pain. Sisko peeks out and studies the impassive Klingon. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 11A-13. 9 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO How can you tell? EZRI I was his wife. I can tell. Ezri moves away from the door and settles heavily on the couch. EZRI I don't want to put him through any more heartache than he's already going through. It's a good thing I'm going back to the Destiny. SISKO (wishing it weren't true) So you're still planning on leaving? EZRI I can't stay. I couldn't do that to him. Besides, I think it might be easier for me on the Destiny. There are too many memories here... As much as he doesn't want to face the fact that she's leaving, Sisko has to accept it. SISKO I'm going to miss you, old man. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 14. 9 CONTINUED: (3) EZRI I'm going to miss you too, Benjamin. Off the moment between the two old friends... 10 INT. QUARK'S where ODO, BASHIR and O'BRIEN are sitting with GARAK. Garak is busy working a CARDASSIAN PADD, not really paying attention to the conversation. BASHIR (to O'Brien) -- no, I'm going to be Travis. You're Crockett. ODO And who am I going to be again? BASHIR General Santa Anna. (to Garak) When can our costumes be ready? Garak is so intent on his work he doesn't hear Bashir. BASHIR Garak? GARAK Hmm? BASHIR Our holosuite costumes -- when can they be ready? GARAK I'm afraid you're going to have to get them from somewhere else. THREE STARFLEET OFFICERS approach a nearby table to talk to their friends -- they end up standing right behind Garak's chair, crowding the space between tables. GARAK My shop's closed. O'BRIEN Still? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 14A. 10 CONTINUED: GARAK Starfleet Intelligence is keeping me quite busy these days. BASHIR What if we let you be Crockett? O'BRIEN (objecting) Hey. Garak glances at the people looming behind him, scoots his chair in a little. GARAK Even if I was interested, I don't have the time. Do you have any idea how long it takes to decode a Cardassian military transmission? I invented some of the basic encryption protocols when I was with the Obsidian Order, and it still takes me days to decipher a simple sentence. BASHIR You've got to take a break sometime. GARAK I intend to. As soon as the Dominion has been driven off Cardassia. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 15. 10 CONTINUED: (2) GARAK (Cont'd) (turning suddenly to the people behind him) Must you stand so close? It comes out a little sharper than Garak seemed to have meant it too, and Bashir, O'Brien and Odo aren't sure what to make of it. The three officers Garak snapped at are a bit taken aback, but they comply and move out of the way. BASHIR That was a little harsh. GARAK I don't like people looming over me. (standing) I have to get back to work. (all smiles again) Thank you for your company, gentlemen. And with that, Garak takes his leave. Odo watches him go, and Bashir and O'Brien exchange "what was that all about?" looks. Off this moment... 11 thru OMITTED 12 DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 16-17. 13 INT. GARAK'S SHOP (VPB) We can see that the shop has been closed for some time. The MANNEQUINS are BARE, and any CLOTHES in the racks are wrapped and bound. Several WORK CONSOLES have been set up in the room. Garak is sitting at a console, trying to decode a Cardassian transmission. He seems to be having trouble concentrating, and we might notice a SHEEN OF SWEAT on his forehead. As he works the console, we see some of the CARDASSIAN SYMBOLS change and regroup into Cardassian LETTERS. As he studies the monitor, he tugs at his collar as if it's too tight. He touches his forehead and is alarmed to see how damp it is. Trying to fight back a mounting sense of panic, his BREATHING starts to become shallow and labored. We hear a faint rhythmic SOUND that starts to build as the scene progresses -- Garak's HEARTBEAT. Behind him, Odo ENTERS, carrying a STARFLEET PADD. 13A NEW ANGLE - GARAK'S POV We see Odo's mouth move, but we can't hear anything except the SOUND of Garak's breathing. ODO (mouth silently moving) Starfleet intercepted another Cardassian military transmission. Garak stares at him -- we hear the SOUND of his BREATHING, the quickening of his HEARTBEAT. ODO (mouth silently moving) Are you all right? Garak panics, starts to hyperventilate -- as he falls to the floor, we cut to -- 13B NEW ANGLE ODO (audible now) Garak! GARAK (gasping for breath) Can't... breathe... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT ONE 18. 13B CONTINUED: ODO (slaps combadge) Odo to Infirmary -- we have a medical emergency. Off this moment, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 19. ACT TWO FADE IN: 14 INT. INFIRMARY Bashir is using a MEDICAL TRICORDER to scan Garak, who's sitting on a BIO-BED. Sisko and Odo look on. ODO (to Sisko) He had a claustrophobic attack in his shop... SISKO His shop? (to Garak) I don't understand. That's a good sized space. GARAK (still shaken) I know. (trying to make sense of it) I've been claustrophobic for as long as I can remember, but lately it seems to have gotten worse. Rooms that I once found completely tolerable suddenly feel alarmingly cramped. As he says this, he glances around the Infirmary, as if it too were starting to feel too close for comfort. BASHIR (closing tricorder) I wish I had an explanation, but I don't. He checks out fine. GARAK (annoyed) Well, I don't feel fine. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 20. 14 CONTINUED: GARAK (Cont'd) (getting off the bio-bed) Would you gentlemen mind terribly if we continued this conversation on the Promenade? Sisko and the others exchange looks, and the captain gestures that they should file out. 15 INT. PROMENADE as Sisko, Bashir, Odo and Garak step outside. He takes a breath, seems to relax a little in the larger space. ODO Better? GARAK A little. SISKO Mister Garak, as much as I sympathize with your situation, I'm not sure why you asked to see me. GARAK I was hoping you'd be kind enough to express my regrets to Starfleet Intelligence. When I get like this, my concentration isn't what it should be. I'm afraid I'm not going to be up to decoding transmissions for a while. Sisko frowns... this is not good news. SISKO Can I let them know when you might be back on the job? GARAK I wish I could say. (off Sisko's disappointment) Believe me, captain, I'm not happy about it either. I want to see this war end as much as you do. Sisko acknowledges with a nod. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 20A. 15 CONTINUED: GARAK Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hem some pants. (off their puzzled looks) For some reason, sewing seems to calm me down. Sisko and the others watch as Garak moves away. ODO (puzzled) Sewing? SISKO (to Bashir) We can't afford to lose Garak right now. Is there anything you can do for him? BASHIR To be blunt, our friend Garak needs to have his head examined. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 21. 15 CONTINUED: (2) Off Sisko's reaction, we cut to -- 16 INT. GUEST QUARTERS - CLOSE - EZRI Her face UPSIDE DOWN in FRAME. EZRI Me? You want me to work with Garak? 17 ADJUST TO REVEAL Sisko crouched next to Ezri, who's standing on her head, her legs propped against the wall. SISKO You're a counselor, aren't you? EZRI Assistant counselor. I'm still in training. SISKO Come on, Dax. What are you going to learn in the next few months that you haven't already learned in the last three hundred years? EZRI How to keep from breaking into tears for no reason; how to resist the urge to stand on my head -- things like that. SISKO Why are you standing on your head? EZRI Emony used to do it. SISKO The gymnast? EZRI She found it relaxing. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 22. 17 CONTINUED: SISKO Do you? EZRI Actually, it's giving me a headache. She lets her legs fall to the ground and gets into a sitting position. She and Sisko continue their talk sitting on the floor. EZRI What about Julian, can't he work with Garak? SISKO Julian's a good physician, but he's not a counselor -- (before she can point it out) -- or even an assistant counselor. And besides, he doesn't have eight lifetimes of experience under his belt. EZRI I bet he doesn't stand on his head for no reason, either. SISKO You can do this, old man. I know you can. EZRI (giving in) All right. I'll try. I just wish I had as much confidence in me as you do. Off this moment... DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 23. 18 INT. QUARK'S as Quark sidles up to Bashir at the bar. SUPERNUMERARIES as needed. QUARK So what do you think? BASHIR About what? QUARK About her. BASHIR (getting exasperated) Who? QUARK Dax. BASHIR Ezri? She seems... nice. QUARK Meaning what? BASHIR Meaning... nice. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 24. 18 CONTINUED: QUARK Come on, Doctor. I know the way you felt about Jadzia. BASHIR She's not Jadzia. QUARK She's the next best thing. (beat) So are you interested? BASHIR Sounds to me like you're the one who's interested. QUARK It's not every day you get a second chance with a woman. BASHIR She's not the same woman. QUARK She's still Dax, isn't she? BASHIR More or less. QUARK That's good enough for me. (beat) Ready for a little competition? BASHIR You're insane. QUARK And you... are going to lose. And with that, Quark moves off, leaving Bashir with his own thoughts... 19 INT. GARAK'S SHOP Garak has pushed the computer consoles he was working with aside in order to make way for a sewing TABLE. The shop is still closed, but he's pulled out unfinished work to do, and we find him using a handheld DEVICE to work on a pair of women's PANTS. He seems much calmer now, just like he said he'd be. The door OPENS and Ezri ENTERS. EZRI Am I interrupting? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 25. 19 CONTINUED: GARAK (waving her in) You must be Ezri Dax. The captain told me you'd be dropping by to... "counsel" me. EZRI Is that all right? In truth, it's Garak's intention to get her out of there as quickly as possible, though he intends to be polite about it. GARAK That depends on what's involved. You see, I'm a very private person. EZRI I understand. So is it helping? Garak isn't sure what she's talking about -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 26. 19 CONTINUED: (2) EZRI (off his look) The sewing. Is it making you feel better? Garak decides to use this as an opening to start getting her out of there. GARAK Thankfully, yes. In fact -- EZRI (before he can continue) You're lucky, nothing helps me. Garak just can't seem to get enough of a bead on her to implement a polite eviction. GARAK Are you claustrophobic, too? EZRI What makes you say that? GARAK You just said -- EZRI (realizing the misunderstanding) No, I get spacesick. Ever since I was joined. I'm very sensitive to motion. I can even feel the station spinning. GARAK (amazed) Really? EZRI (nods) It's because of what happened to Torias. He died in a shuttle accident. GARAK (confused) Why would that make you spacesick? EZRI Because I blame myself for what happened. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 26A. 19 CONTINUED: (3) GARAK You were piloting? EZRI Yes. No. Depends on how you look at it. Torias was my fifth host. Didn't I say that? GARAK No. EZRI Well, he was. And I think the reason his death has stayed with me for so long is that I just can't seem to forgive him for getting himself killed. GARAK But you said it was an accident. If he wasn't to blame, then you're not to blame, either. EZRI I know. But somehow I can't help punishing myself for it. GARAK (seeing if he follows) By getting spacesick. EZRI Exactly. We can see that Garak is starting to feel comfortable around her -- he's responding to the way she's able to connect with his experiences by drawing on things that happened in her many lifetimes. GARAK Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds to me like you're the one that needs to see a counselor. EZRI You're probably right. But I didn't come here to talk about my problems. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 27. 19 CONTINUED: (4) EZRI (Cont'd) Do you remember anything traumatic happening to you when you were young -- something that involved getting trapped in a confined space. GARAK If I'd been that careless, my father would've left me there to teach me a lesson. EZRI Sounds like he was strict. GARAK He didn't get to be the head of the Obsidian Order without a sense of... discipline. EZRI Did he discipline you? GARAK He'd punish me when I misbehaved. What father wouldn't? Ezri files Garak's response away and presses on -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 27A-28. 19 CONTINUED: (5) EZRI Did your mother approve of his punishments? GARAK Not that it mattered. She didn't have a key to the closet. EZRI The closet? GARAK (matter of fact) My father used to lock me in when I misbehaved. EZRI (why didn't you tell me?) Garak, I asked you if you'd ever been trapped in a confined space when you were young. GARAK I wasn't trapped. I knew he'd let me out when I learned my lesson. We may start to notice Garak beginning to exhibit the first signs of an incipient claustrophobic attack -- despite his matter-of-fact tone, all this talk of being locked in a closet is getting to him. EZRI (incredulous) Learned your lesson? GARAK (tugging at his collar) I could be very stubborn. EZRI That's not the point. Nothing a child could do justifies locking him in a closet. Garak isn't sure if he accepts that -- after all, it's how he was raised. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 28A. 19 CONTINUED: (6) EZRI No wonder you get claustrophobic. It's just like me getting spacesick. We're both punishing ourselves for things that weren't our fault. Garak considers what she's saying for a long beat... GARAK Are you saying that if I can stop blaming myself, my claustrophobia will just disappear? EZRI Not overnight, but letting go of all this misplaced guilt would be a good start. Garak takes this in, decides to take it under advisement. GARAK (dabbing his forehead) Well, I'll certainly give your advice some thought. EZRI (noticing his face) Are you all right? GARAK To tell you the truth, I'm starting to feel a little claustrophobic. EZRI Probably because we've been talking about it. (steadying herself) Actually, I'm starting to feel a little spacesick myself. GARAK If you don't mind, I think I'll get back to my sewing. EZRI Good idea. GARAK (picking up his seamer) Thank you for coming by. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 29. 19 CONTINUED: (7) EZRI (dizzy) My pleasure... She heads for the door, weaving a little as she walks. Garak looks up from his work for a beat, then gets back to it. Off this moment... 20 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. 21 INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR as Ezri makes her way toward her quarters. She's still a little dizzy, and as she rounds a corner, she bumps smack into -- 22 WORF their eyes lock, a thousand things they have to say to each other going through their heads. Finally... EZRI (softly) Hello, Worf. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT TWO 30. 22 CONTINUED: The sound of her voice snaps him out of it. WORF Ensign. With a curt nod, he starts to move past her. EZRI Ensign? That's all you have to say to me? WORF What more is there to say? EZRI (incredulous) I was your wife. WORF (hard) You are not Jadzia. She died and went to Sto-vo-kor. I do not know you, nor do I wish to. And with that, he moves away, leaving Ezri stunned and shattered. Off this moment, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 31. ACT THREE FADE IN: 23 INT. GUEST QUARTERS Ezri is standing at the window looking out at the stars, trying to decide if the station's spinning is still making her spacesick. A CHIME at the door. EZRI (without turning) Come in. The door OPENS to reveal Sisko. He studies Ezri for a beat. SISKO Dax... ? EZRI Do you think the chief could adjust the inertial dampers so the station would spin a little slower? SISKO I don't know. Why? EZRI Never mind. (turning to him) To what do I owe the pleasure? SISKO I'm not going to say I told you so, but Garak dropped by Odo's office this morning. He wanted to pick up the latest Cardassian transmissions for decoding. EZRI (surprised) Really? SISKO Looks like his claustrophobia is under control. EZRI (can't quite believe it) I guess our talk must've helped... SISKO Told you so. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 31A. 23 CONTINUED: EZRI I thought you said you weren't going to say that. SISKO Couldn't resist. Ezri smiles, but Sisko can see that something's still troubling her. SISKO You all right? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 32. 23 CONTINUED: (2) EZRI I talked with Worf. SISKO How'd it go? EZRI He doesn't want to have anything to do with me. Sisko takes this in for a beat... SISKO Maybe I should have a talk with him. EZRI Absolutely not. You intimidate him. SISKO Me? EZRI Don't tell him I told you. SISKO (trying to get used to the idea) I intimidate Worf. EZRI You like that, don't you? SISKO Of course not. EZRI Come on. I've been a man, I know. Sisko isn't about to admit anything, tries to get back on track. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 33. 23 CONTINUED: (3) SISKO Look, we're not talking about me and Worf, we're talking about you and Worf. Now, I sympathize with what he's going through, but as far as I'm concerned, you have as much right to be here as he does. EZRI (sensing he's taking this somewhere) What are you getting at, Benjamin? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 34-35. 23 CONTINUED: (4) SISKO This war hasn't been good for morale around here. I've been thinking the station could use a counselor. I can't think of anyone better suited for the job. EZRI (touched) Thanks for saying that. But even if Worf wasn't an issue, I'm still just an assistant counselor. SISKO I took the liberty of contacting Starfleet Medical. They're willing to waive the rest of your training and give you a commission as a full counselor with the rank of lieutenant. EZRI (amazed) How'd you talk them into that? SISKO I asked them what they thought you were going to learn in the next few months -- EZRI (finishing for him) That I haven't already learned in the last three hundred years. SISKO They saw my point. I wish you would, too. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 36. 23 CONTINUED: (5) EZRI Benjamin, it means a lot to know that you want me to stay. But I can't. SISKO Because of Worf... EZRI Mostly. SISKO Just say the word, and I'll go intimidate him for you. EZRI You'd like that, wouldn't you? Off their shared smile... 24 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. 25 INT. REPLIMAT where Ezri is standing at the replicator trying to decide what to have. SUPERNUMERARIES as needed. EZRI (to Replicator) I'danian spice pudding. No, cancel that. I'll have kilm steak, rare. No, Tobin was a vegetarian. Give me... (at a loss) BASHIR (O.S.) Two Fanalian toddys, hot. She turns to see Bashir standing behind her. EZRI How'd you know? BASHIR Lucky guess. He takes the TWO MUGS from the replicator slot. BASHIR Join me? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 37. 25 CONTINUED: EZRI Sure. They settle around a table. BASHIR So... here we are. They regard each other for a beat, and Ezri catches a thought flicker across his features. EZRI What was that? BASHIR What was what? EZRI That look. BASHIR (unsure if he should tell her) This might be the last thing you want to hear right now... but you have Jadzia's eyes. (off her discomfort) I shouldn't have said anything. EZRI Don't flirt with me, Julian. Please. BASHIR I'm not. EZRI I remember the way you used to flirt with Jadzia. BASHIR (innocent indignation) It was just an observation. EZRI Good. Because I'm not like her. She knew how to handle it. (come to think of it) In fact, she enjoyed it. Bashir finds himself feeling absurdly pleased. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 37A. 25 CONTINUED: (2) BASHIR Really? EZRI (surprised) You didn't know? BASHIR (covering) Well, I suspected... EZRI You can be very charming. (knowing this will mean a lot to him) And you want to know something? If Worf hadn't come along, it would've been you... This means more to him than he can say, and he looks away to keep her from seeing his eyes going moist. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 38. 25 CONTINUED: (3) She sees the emotion in his face, lets go of her mug to take his hand. 26 ADJUST TO REVEAL Worf looking on from the shadows under the spiral staircase, his eyes boring in on the scene. His features grow hard, and he turns and stalks away. 26A INT. REPLIMAT EZRI You really miss her, don't you? BASHIR (smiles sadly) I suppose I always will... but somehow, talking to you seems to help. Ezri's touched, but the moment's shattered when a COM VOICE interrupts. COM VOICE Deputy Talpet to Doctor Bashir. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT THREE 38A-39. 26A CONTINUED: BASHIR Go ahead. COM VOICE We have a medical emergency in Airlock Seven. It's Garak, sir. Bashir and Ezri exchange a look as they stand -- BASHIR On my way. As they head off... 26B INT. AIRLOCK CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) as Bashir and Ezri arrive at the mouth of the airlock, where TWO DEPUTIES are standing watch. They look inside the airlock and are stunned to see Garak at the airlock door, frantically trying to roll it open so he can get out into the OPEN SPACE beyond. GARAK Open it! Let me out! He pounds on the airlock control panel, exasperated that he doesn't know the access code. 26C EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) From outside the airlock door, we can see the panic and desperation in Garak's face as he peers out at the STARS, which are faintly REFLECTED in the glass. Off this image, we... 27 thru OMITTED 29 FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 40. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 30 OMITTED 30A EXT. HOLOSUITE CLIFF - DAY (OPTICAL) Ezri and Garak are sitting on a LEDGE overlooking an alien OCEAN. A slight BREEZE whips up occasionally around them; we can hear the distant SOUND of waves crashing against the shore. She's brought him here to calm him down, and while he's no longer panicked, he's still shaken from his experience. When we cut in, she's leading him through some breathing exercises. EZRI (inhaling) Breathe in... He takes a deep breath... EZRI (exhaling) And out. (repeating the process) In... and out. (a beat) Better? He nods slightly, but we can see that he's still rattled. EZRI (trying to get him to take in the view) Beautiful, isn't it? Look at that sky. It just goes on and on. GARAK No, it doesn't. It's an illusion. There's a holosuite wall not ten meters in front of us. EZRI But you can't see it. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 41. 30A CONTINUED: GARAK I can feel it. EZRI We could call up another program. GARAK (angry with himself) I can't believe the way I humiliated myself back there. (trying to make sense of what he did) I just wanted to... get out. I couldn't breathe. EZRI (wry) If you were looking for fresh air, you were knocking on the wrong door. GARAK (trying to rally himself) I have to get this situation under control. If I don't, I'm going to be forced to leave the station. (panic rising) Where would I go? I can't go back to Cardassia... I doubt I'd be welcome on Bajor... Ezri can see that he's in danger of getting himself worked up again -- EZRI You're not going to have to leave the station. I'll talk to Quark and tell him to make this holosuite available to you twenty- six hours a day. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 42. 30A CONTINUED: (2) EZRI (Cont'd) Whenever you feel like walking out the nearest airlock, you can come here instead. Garak nods, taking some comfort in having an escape valve. EZRI It's going to be all right we're going to get this under control. I promise. A quiet moment as they look out at the water... GARAK If you don't mind, I'd like to sit here and be alone for a while. EZRI I'll check in on you later. Garak nods, and Ezri puts a comforting hand to his shoulder. She stands, EXITING the frame as she starts back across the ledge. We HOLD on Garak until we hear the SOUND of the holosuite door opening and closing. 30B NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) Off the image of Garak alone on the ledge, looking out at the ocean... 31 OMITTED 32 INT. INFIRMARY Bashir is using some TWEEZERS to try to get something out of Quark's ear. It's clearly a delicate procedure, and Quark is bracing for some pain. QUARK Ow! DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 43. 32 CONTINUED: BASHIR Hold still. (probing) I think I've got something. Bashir pulls the tweezers out and is surprised to see that he's retrieved a small FEATHER. QUARK (frowns) I knew it. Never get a Tympanic Tickle from an amateur. BASHIR Tympanic Tickle... ? (before Quark can explain) Never mind. I don't want to know. (crossing away) Sit tight. I'm going to get you an antibiotic. Bashir crosses into the other room, over to the dispensing closet. As he starts searching the bottles, a HAND claps down on his shoulder. ADJUST to REVEAL -- 33 WORF standing at his side. WORF We need to talk. BASHIR About what? Worf pushes Bashir up against the wall. WORF Do not toy with me, Doctor. I know how you felt about Jadzia. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 44. 33 CONTINUED: BASHIR Worf, that was a long time ago. WORF (anger rising) I saw you with her. BASHIR (confused) With Jadzia? WORF You know who I'm talking about. BASHIR You've got it all wrong. WORF Stay away from her. BASHIR (indignant) Now wait just a minute. Bashir tries to free himself from Worf's grip so that he can continue, but he can't do it. He decides to continue anyway. BASHIR You have no right to tell me who I can be friends with. WORF If you dishonor Jadzia's memory, you will regret it. His point made, Worf heads for the door. When he sees Quark peeking in from the other room. WORF That goes for you too, Ferengi. And with that, Worf EXITS. QUARK What did I do... ? Off Bashir and Quark as they consider his warning... 33A EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 45-46. 34 OMITTED 34A INT. QUARK'S Quark is behind the bar talking with one of the FERENGI WAITERS when he sees Ezri ENTER. QUARK Uh-oh. (to waiter) Keep an eye out for Worf. The Waiter nods and moves off. EZRI Hi, Quark. Can I have a cup of coffee? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 46A. 34A CONTINUED: QUARK (trying to get rid of her) Why would you want to pay me for coffee when you can get it for free at the Replimat? Quark catches sight of a figure in his peripheral vision, turns to see a KLINGON standing at the window to the Promenade. QUARK (thinking it's Worf) Ah. (realizing it's not) Oh. Ezri's too busy to ask what his problem is. EZRI Can I have a cup of coffee, please? I want to get back up to Garak. QUARK He's gone. He left about an hour ago. EZRI (surprised and concerned) Where'd he go? QUARK I don't know. (shooing her off) Well, don't just stand there. Go find him. Off Quark's relief as she moves off... 34B INT. PROMENADE as Ezri approaches Garak's shop she stops short at what she sees. Garak is pulling a DRESS off a rack and TEARING it at the seams. 34C INT. GARAK'S SHOP - CONTINUOUS as Ezri ENTERS. EZRI Garak... ? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 46AA-46B. 34C CONTINUED: He turns to look at her and we can see that he's clearly agitated, but not in the way we've seen when he's feeling claustrophobic -- he's angry, frustrated and fed up. He grabs his SEAMER and starts to flatten the torn dress on his work table. EZRI I thought you were going to stay in the holosuite for a while. GARAK I got tired of looking at a fake landscape and pretending I was outside. Work is the answer. My father always used to say that a person should throw themselves into their work. (sewing frantically) Do your chores, Elim. I told you to do your chores. EZRI (sensing an opening) And if you didn't? What would he do to you? GARAK Oh, no. Don't start. Spare me your insipid psychobabble. I'm not some quivering neurotic who feels sorry for himself because his daddy wasn't nice to him. (a beat; pointed) You couldn't begin to understand me. Ezri tries not to be thrown by Garak's sudden attack on her -- she knows patients sometimes direct misplaced anger at their therapists. EZRI I'd like to try. Garak tosses his work aside and approaches her, his anger rising. GARAK I'm sure you would. You'd like nothing more than to pry into my personal affairs. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 46C. 34C CONTINUED: (2) GARAK (Cont'd) Well, I'm not interested in dissecting my childhood... all I want is to free my people from the Dominion. I don't need someone to come in here and hold my hand, I need someone who can help me get back to work. And you, my dear, aren't up to the task. Ezri's stung... he's speaking to her greatest fears. GARAK Look at you. You're pathetic. A confused child trying to live up to the legacy left by her predecessors. You're not worthy of the name Dax. I knew Jadzia -- she was vital -- alive. She owned herself. But you -- you don't even know who you are. (in her face) How dare you presume to help me? You can't even help yourself. Ezri has no answers for his withering criticisms. GARAK (calm) Now, get out of here. Before I say something unkind. She turns and hurries out before the tears spill from her eyes. Off the satisfaction in Garak's face at having driven her out... 34D INT. PROMENADE as Ezri hurries past people, trying to keep from breaking down. Needing a place to hide, she ducks into the Temple. 34E INT. BAJORAN TEMPLE as Ezri ENTERS the empty room. She slumps against the wall, slides down to a sitting position, and tries to choke back the sobs welling up inside her. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FOUR 47. 34E CONTINUED: Her eyes fall to the place where Jadzia was killed, and she loses it... as she buries her face in her hands, we... 35 thru OMITTED 36 FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 48. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 37 thru OMITTED 37A 37B INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE Sisko is seated at his desk looking at a PADD. Ezri is standing in front of him. SISKO What's this all about? EZRI What does it look like? I'm resigning from Starfleet. SISKO Why? EZRI Because I can't do my job. Garak's right -- how can I help other people when I can't even help myself? SISKO I know this has been a hard time for you, old man -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 48A. 37B CONTINUED: EZRI (cutting him off) Don't call me that! I'm not the old man. I'm not Curzon. Or Jadzia. SISKO No, you're Ezri. Ezri Dax. You've been given eight lifetimes worth of experience -- I know it's confusing right now, but in time you'll see it's a wonderful gift. EZRI It's a gift I don't deserve. Sisko slams the PADD on his desk -- SISKO If that's the way you feel, then go back to Trill. Talk to the Symbiosis Commission -- maybe you can convince them to take the symbiont out of you. EZRI I wish they could. But removing the symbiont would kill me, you know that. Sisko stands and moves around his desk. SISKO If you're leaving Starfleet, you're going to have to find something to do. Maybe you could be one of those people who takes care of the symbiont pools? It's quiet in those caves. No one around, no one expecting great things from you. You could spend the rest of your life underground, in the dark, stirring mud. Eighty or ninety years of that might be just what you need. (beat) And as for Dax? That symbiont's had eight amazing lives -- so what if the ninth is a waste? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 48B-51. 37B CONTINUED: (2) EZRI Stop it, Benjamin. I thought you of all people would understand-- SISKO (cutting her off) I do understand. You were right. You don't deserve the Dax symbiont. And frankly, you don't deserve to wear that uniform. Ezri is speechless. Sisko picks up the PADD. SISKO I'll pass this on to Starfleet Command. Dismissed. Stung, she turns and heads out the side door. 37C INT. HABITAT RING CORRIDOR Ezri emerges from Sisko's Office and rounds the corner. She leans back against the wall to try to collect herself. Off her face as she grapples with what Sisko has said to her... 38 OMITTED 39 INT. WORF'S QUARTERS Worf is sharpening his BAT'LETH when the door CHIMES. WORF Yes. The door OPENS to reveal O'Brien holding a bottle of BLOODWINE. WORF Not again. O'BRIEN (holding up the bottle) Compliments of Doctor Bashir. Worf frowns, realizing Bashir must've told O'Brien about what happened. WORF He sent you here? DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 52. 39 CONTINUED: O'BRIEN It was my idea. (coming inside) Now, if you want to skip the drinking and get right down to talking, I'm game. WORF (getting back to his bat'leth) What do you wish to discuss? O'BRIEN Julian swears there's nothing going on between him and Ezri. There's no reason for you to be jealous. WORF (anger rising) This has nothing to do with jealousy. I know the Doctor cared for Jadzia. But this woman is not Jadzia. And treating her as if she were dishonors her memory. O'BRIEN No, treating Ezri like a stranger dishonors Jadzia's memory. O'Brien's words speak to the confusion Worf is feeling, and in a sudden motion, he vents his frustration and swings his bat'leth down to SMASH the table -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 53. 39 CONTINUED: (2) WORF It doesn't make sense. She is not Jadzia, yet she is. How can I honor the memory of the woman I loved when she's not really dead? O'Brien sees the pain in Worf's features, gives him a moment to calm down. O'BRIEN I don't have an answer for you, Worf. But let me ask you this: how do you think Jadzia would've wanted you to treat Ezri? WORF There is no way to know. O'BRIEN Yes, there is. And the person who can tell you is the person you've been avoiding ever since she got here. And with that, O'Brien EXITS, leaving Worf with a lot to think about... 40 OMITTED 40A INT. GARAK'S SHOP where Garak is working at his sewing table when Ezri ENTERS. GARAK I didn't think you'd darken my doorstep again. EZRI I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I wish I'd been able to help you. GARAK (pointed) So do I. EZRI Well, don't worry. I won't be bothering you anymore. I'm leaving in the morning. GARAK Yes, I heard the Destiny was going to be arriving tomorrow. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 54. 40A CONTINUED: EZRI They're putting in for supplies before they head to the front. But I won't be going with them. I've decided to go back to Trill. GARAK (could care less) How nice for you. EZRI (thinking he might be interested) Actually, the Destiny's going to join the Seventh Fleet at Kalandra. GARAK Kalandra? EZRI (giving him his due) Those transmissions you decoded last week must've convinced Starfleet that it's a good place to launch a new offensive. Garak turns away to busy himself with his sewing table, his features vaguely troubled. GARAK Yes... the transmissions did indicate it was somewhat vulnerable. EZRI If the offensive goes well, Starfleet will have you to thank for it. GARAK (tugging at his collar) That's very gratifying... EZRI I just thought you should know... Garak slaps his SEAMER down, turns away. EZRI Are you all right? Garak seems to be trying to steady his breathing. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 55. 40A CONTINUED: (2) GARAK Of course I'm all right. That's very good news about Kalandra. Ezri is starting to realize that she's stumbled onto something here -- a key to what's been troubling Garak. EZRI Let's just hope it goes well. The Cardassians will put up a strong fight. GARAK Indeed they will. But in the end, they'll lose. EZRI How can you be so sure? GARAK Because they won't be expecting an attack. (bitter) They have no idea I broke their code. He dabs at the sheen of SWEAT on his forehead, trying to cover his condition. GARAK (more to himself) All those Cardassians are going to die... because of me... EZRI I suppose that's one way to look at it. Garak starts to pace, trying to fight back the claustrophobic panic he's feeling. GARAK What other way is there? EZRI That by helping to end the war, you're saving lives. GARAK Who will I be saving -- Humans, Klingons, Romulans? EZRI And Cardassians. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 56. 40A CONTINUED: (3) GARAK No, not Cardassians. They're going to fight to the end. The Dominion will see to that. Garak's breath catches in his throat and he has to fight to regain it -- his legs give way underneath him and he has to hold on to the table for support. Ezri moves to him and he fiercely grabs hold of her. GARAK (fiercely) Don't you see? I wanted to believe I was helping my people, liberating them, but all I've done is pave the way for their annihilation. I'm a traitor! I've betrayed -- (throat catching) -- every... (gasping) -- thing... He collapses, desperately struggling for breath. Ezri can see that he's literally in danger of choking to death -- EZRI (slaps combadge) Dax to Infirmary, I need a medical team. Off this moment... 40B EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Re-establishing. 40C INT. INFIRMARY where Garak is lying on a bio-bed as Ezri approaches. EZRI How are you feeling? GARAK (embarrassed) Well... I'm breathing a lot better than I was. A moment as they regard each other. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 57. 40C CONTINUED: EZRI At least we found out what's been triggering these claustrophobic attacks you've been having. GARAK (trying to make sense of it) When I first agreed to help Starfleet, I was convinced that it was the right thing to do. I didn't allow myself to doubt it, even for a moment. I never realized how much it was gnawing away at me. (a beat) I suppose I was looking for a way out... and the claustrophobia gave me an excuse to stop fighting against my people. EZRI (gently) Now that you know that, what are you going to do? Garak knows there's only one thing he can do. GARAK Get back to work. What else can I do? The Dominion has to be stopped. Even if it means the destruction of Cardassia. EZRI The captain's going to be glad to hear you're back on the job. GARAK He has you to thank for it. (beat) And so do I. A moment between them. GARAK So what about you? Are you still planning on going back to Trill? Ezri hadn't thought about it, but now that he brings it up, she realizes things have changed. EZRI No. I'm going to stay in Starfleet. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 58. 40C CONTINUED: (2) GARAK I'm sure the captain will be glad to hear that, too. EZRI (remembering) My resignation -- CUT TO: 41 thru OMITTED 44 45 INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE where Ezri is once again standing in front of Sisko's desk -- a mirror image of scene 37B. SISKO (re: the PADD in his hand) Now what? EZRI It's my request to be reinstated into Starfleet. SISKO I can't send this to Starfleet Command. EZRI Why not? SISKO Because I never sent in your resignation. EZRI (smiles) I had a feeling you didn't mean all those things you said to me. You were just trying to rattle my cage. SISKO You've done it to me often enough. I'm glad it worked. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 58A. 45 CONTINUED: SISKO (Cont'd) (off her look) Garak's asked that the latest Cardassian transmissions be sent to the Infirmary. (beat) Well done. Sisko is sincere in his congratulations, but a bit subdued. EZRI Thanks. (studying him) Somehow I thought you'd be happier to hear I'm staying in Starfleet. SISKO I guess I'd be happier if you were staying here at D.S. Nine. EZRI Me, too. (rueful) But you know I can't. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 59. 45 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO I hope Captain Raymer knows how lucky she is. She's getting a hell of a counselor. Off the moment between them... 46 INT. GUEST QUARTERS where Ezri is packing her SUITCASE. A CHIME at the door. EZRI Yes. To her surprise, the door OPENS to reveal Worf. Neither of them knows quite what to say. WORF May I come in? EZRI Of course. Worf ENTERS, and we can see that coming here has made him very uncomfortable. WORF I understand that you are leaving in the morning. EZRI That's right. WORF (with difficulty) I am not certain that I have treated you the way Jadzia would've wanted me to. EZRI You'll get no argument from me there. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 60. 46 CONTINUED: Worf turns away as he tries to make sense of his feelings... WORF I loved her with all my heart. Ezri takes a step toward Worf's back, wanting to hold him and make him feel better, but she stops herself, knowing that she can't. EZRI (softly) And she loved you... WORF Part of me is glad to know that she is not gone forever... but even so, in some ways it would be easier if she were. Ezri's eyes well with tears. Though Worf's back is to her, she can sense the pain underneath his stoic exterior. EZRI I know. WORF I have heard that the captain has offered you a position as station counselor. (turning to face her) I would not want you to decline on my account. Ezri is overwhelmed by Worf's gesture, but she wants to be sure he means it. EZRI Worf, I can't stay. I couldn't do that to you. WORF Do you wish to stay? EZRI (admitting it) Very much. WORF Then do. Jadzia would not have wanted you to leave because of me. EZRI (touched) Thank you. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 61. 46 CONTINUED: (2) He nods that it's settled. With a last look between them, he heads for the door. Before leaving, he has one last thing to say. WORF It will be a long time before I can accept that I have lost her. Until then... Worf stops, unsure how to put it. EZRI (gently) You need some breathing room. I understand. With a last, emotionally charged look between them, Worf EXITS. Off Ezri's face as she watches him go... 47 INT. WARDROOM - CLOSE - A HAND as it pins a PIP to a collar. ADJUST to REVEAL that Sisko is giving Ezri her lieutenant's insignia in a promotion ceremony. JAKE, Kira, Odo, Bashir, O'Brien, Quark, Garak and Morn stand at the forefront of a SMALL CROWD. There are TWO FERENGI WAITERS, a few BAJORAN DIGNITARIES and the rest are STARFLEET OFFICERS -- including a VULCAN and a BOLIAN. The wardroom table has been moved out to make room, and Quark has set up a BUFFET table along one wall. Worf is nowhere to be seen. SISKO Congratulations, lieutenant. APPLAUSE from the gathered group. SISKO I want you to take a good look around. (grave) Because you've just agreed to take responsibility for the mental health of everyone in this room. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 62. 47 CONTINUED: SISKO (Cont'd) (smiling) You've got your work cut out for you. LAUGHTER and smiles all around. Some people head for the buffet, while others gather round to congratulate Ezri. BASHIR It's a good thing they made you a lieutenant. I can't see taking advice from an ensign. O'BRIEN Since when do you take advice from anyone? Ezri smiles, and the pair move off to the buffet table. Odo and Kira approach. ODO Why don't you join us for dinner tonight? Ezrils sure they're just doing this to be kind. EZRI I don't want to put you out. KIRA Please come. It'll take the pressure off me. He just sits there and counts how many times I chew. EZRI (smiles) I'll be there. Kira and Odo move off, and Ezri scans the room, looking for the one face that's missing -- Worf. As she moves to look for him, we DROP OFF on -- DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 63. 48 SISKO AND JAKE JAKE (watching Ezri pass) She is cute. SISKO She's also about three hundred years too old for you. Jake's smile falters as he remember this is true, and we PICK UP Quark as he passes by, carrying a PLATE of food. He approaches Ezri, who's still looking to see if Worf's around. QUARK (all charm) I took the liberty of putting together a plate for you. EZRI (taking the plate) Thanks, Quark. (hopeful) Worf's not here, is he? QUARK (suddenly worried) Good question. He hurries off, in case Worf is around. Ezri scans the room, looking for Worf, and bumps into -- 49 GARAK A moment as they regard each other. GARAK Congratulations, quite a crowd. EZRI I hope it's not making you uncomfortable. GARAK (a beat) Not at all. A moment between them, and he moves off. Ezri looks around, catches sight of a figure in the back. It's Worf, standing by himself with a TANKARD of bloodwine in his hand. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Afterimage" - REV. 08/11/98 - ACT FIVE 64. 49 CONTINUED: When their eyes meet across the room, she breaks into a smile, surprised and touched to see that he's here. Worf holds her gaze, then raises his glass slightly -- a gesture of goodwill that means everything to her. The moment between them is broken when Sisko swoops down on Ezri and takes her by the arm. SISKO I need you to explain something to someone. 50 WORF as he watches her move off with Sisko, then heads for the door. 51 EZRI trying to explain things to Morn, as Sisko and a few of the others look on. EZRI Morn, it's me. Dax. Morn shakes his head -- he's not buying it. Sisko and the others break into smiles, and we start to PULL BACK from the group. Off the image of Ezri surrounded by the people Jadzia loved, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END