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Course Change - Act 1TEASER FADE IN: EXT. - SPACE - ENTERPRISE -- STOCK SHOT Enterprise is orbiting the planet Earth. CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL that this is an image on a newscreen. In front of this is a NEWSCASTER, reading the latest report: NEWSCASTER The image is snapped off. CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL INT. - 602 CLUB -- NIGHT Which is totally deserted, except for the proprietor/barmaid, RUBY, and Enterprise's former Captain, JONATHAN ARCHER. RUBY ARCHER He doesn't seem to want to talk much; instead, he looks moodily into his beer. RUBY ARCHER RUBY Archer doesn't reply. RUBY (CONT'D) Still no reply. RUBY (CONT'D) Archer still does not reply. RUBY (CONT'D) ARCHER RUBY ARCHER Both smile sadly. Archer coughs, looks around. ARCHER (CONT'D) RUBY CUT TO: EXT. - 602 CLUB -- NIGHT Archer is standing outside the club. It's foggy and the street is deserted. An eerie, haunted night. As he stands there, the 602 sign abruptly goes out, further darkening the street. He shivers slightly, and pulls the collar of his coat up, begins to walk up the street. EXT. STREET - SAN FRANCISCO - NIGHT Archer walks up the street, his footsteps echoing in the foggy night. Up ahead of him, he sees a man's figure, also walking. This man is the same height, build and coloring as Trip, and is wearing the same type of jacket Trip wore on shore leave. Archer utters an exclamation of surprise, and hurries to catch up to him. ARCHER The man does not respond, but he does not hurry, either, and Archer is able to catch up to him. He lays a hand on the man's shoulder, and the man begins to turn towards Archer (and us). But before we can see his face -- SMASH CUT TO: INT. - ARCHER'S BEDROOM, EARTH APARTMENT -- NIGHT Archer wakes up in his own bed in his San Francisco apartment. His beagle, PORTHOS, is at the end of the bed. Archer blinks, groans, and rubs his face wearily with his hand. It's obvious that he's had this dream before. Porthos whines, worriedly. ARCHER His door chimes. He sighs, gets out of bed. Goes to the door, opens it. ANGLE ON the doorway. Standing in the door, wearing his trademark mischievous smile, is TRIP TUCKER. He's holding a padd. Archer is flabbergasted. ARCHER (CONT'D) TRIP He disappears. The padd falls to the floor with a tremendous clatter.
Archer jolts awake for real this time. CAMERA PUSHES IN on his weary, haunted face. FADE OUT: END OF TEASER
FADE IN: ESTABLISHING SPACE - ENTERPRISE ORBITING PLANET WITH SHUTTLEPOD -- STOCK SHOT (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) CUT TO: INT. - SHUTTLEPOD -- CONTINUOUS Archer is in a shuttlepod, piloting it. He looks out the pod's windscreen. (NOTE: All characters are in civilian clothes for this episode.) DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK (NOTE: Flashbacks should be washed-out and in sepia tones; as if we are seeing old photographs.) Insert scene from "BROKEN BOW" where Trip and Archer are inspecting Enterprise for the first time. End this flashback where Trip scratches Enterprise with the pod. DISSOLVE TO: INT. - SHUTTLEPOD -- MOMENTS LATER ARCHER TRIP (O.S.) Shocked, Archer looks over. The formerly empty chair beside/behind him is no longer empty; Trip is lounging comfortably in it. He's not looking at Archer, however; he's studying Enterprise through the pod's windows. (NOTE: Trip is wearing his uniform throughout the episode.) TRIP Archer puts his hand over his eyes. When he takes it away, the chair is empty again. CUT TO: INT. - ENTERPRISE CORRIDOR -- MOMENTS LATER TRIP (O.S.) Archer jumps slightly, then sets his jaw and continues walking. CUT TO: INT. - TRIP'S QUARTERS -- MOMENTS LATER Trip's quarters are dim and silent. They've been stripped of any and all personal mementos; they could be any officer quarters. Archer enters. TRIP (O.S.) Archer looks around, and sees Trip leaning nonchalantly against his desk. Trip looks around, then begins walking around. TRIP Archer finally decides to speak to this phantom. ARCHER TRIP ARCHER TRIP ARCHER MAYWEATHER (O.S.) Archer whirls around, sees TRAVIS MAYWEATHER, who has entered the cabin and is standing behind him. Archer looks around the room, but of course Trip is gone. MAYWEATHER ARCHER MAYWEATHER ARCHER There is silence for a beat. MAYWEATHER ARCHER MAYWEATHER The ship suddenly, violently, shakes. ARCHER MAYWEATHER ARCHER MAYWEATHER ARCHER MAYWEATHER ARCHER MAYWEATHER ARCHER MAYWEATHER They shake hands, and Mayweather exits. Archer looks around, as if waiting for Trip to make some comment, but there is nothing but silence left in this room. It's too much for him, and he, too, exits. CUT TO: INT. - BRIDGE -- LATER Archer enters and stands. He looks around, and notes that the viewscreen is on, showing planet Earth. HOSHI (O.S.) Archer turns, and sees HOSHI SATO at her station. He walks over to her as she continues: HOSHI ARCHER HOSHI Archer is silent. HOSHI (CONT'D) ARCHER They share a sad smile. HOSHI ARCHER HOSHI TRIP He is now leaning against her console. He grins at Archer. Hoshi does not see or hear him. ARCHER TRIP HOSHI ARCHER HOSHI TRIP HOSHI TRIP HOSHI TRIP ARCHER HOSHI TRIP ARCHER HOSHI TRIP ANGLE ON Archer and Hoshi. Trip can no longer be seen. ARCHER There is bittersweet silence for a moment, then: HOSHI ARCHER HOSHI ARCHER HOSHI They hug. CUT TO: INT. - ENTERPRISE ARMORY -- LATER MALCOLM REED is working with Enterprise's torpedoes. He drops a tool. REED Archer enters. REED (CONT'D) TRIP (O.S.) Archer glances up; Trip is on the second level catwalk. Reed becomes aware of REED ARCHER REED ARCHER REED ARCHER REED DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK Insert scene from "SHUTTLEPOD ONE"; Malcolm and Trip huddled together to keep warm. Insert scenes from "DEAD STOP"; Malcolm and Trip on their hands and knees in repair station conduit; being beamed onto Enterprise's bridge. Insert scene from "UNITED", Malcolm and Trip being blown into space from the alien ship. DISSOLVE TO: INT. - ARMORY -- CONTINUOUS TRIP REED TRIP ARCHER REED TRIP Archer puts his hand over his eyes. REED ARCHER REED They shake hands, and Archer exits. Malcolm looks at the closed door for a beat, then shakes his head and goes back to his work. CUT TO: INT. - ENGINEERING -- LATER Engineering is silent, dim, deserted. It has a hushed, expectant air; like an empty church. The hatch opens, and Archer enters. Slowly, he walks in, looks around. This is the moment he's been dreading; this is Trip's domain; his handiwork is everywhere. ARCHER He goes over to the warp core, places a hand on it. ARCHER (CONT'D) Slowly, he walks its length. ARCHER (CONT'D) I kept myself busy so I wouldn't have to His voice breaks. ARCHER (CONT'D) His eyes fill with tears. ARCHER (CONT'D) There is no response. Suddenly, the ship shakes violently, much harder than before, and Archer is thrown about. He hits the floor, unconscious. FADE OUT: END OF ACT ONE
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