Course Change - Act 2

Author - Pippin
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ACT TWO

FADE IN:

ANGLE ON

Archer, unconscious on the floor. He blinks, winces, and tries to sit up.

A helping hand is extended into the frame.

PHLOX (O.S.)
Slowly, Captain.

ARCHER
Phlox?

PHLOX
In the flesh.

Archer, remembering his recent experiences, does a small double-take.

OFF of his look ...

CUT TO:

INT. - ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY -- LATER

Phlox is running a scanner over Archer, who is sitting on the diagnostic table.

PHLOX
No trauma from what I can see, Captain.

ARCHER
(very low voice)
That's what you think.

PHLOX
I beg your pardon?

ARCHER
Never mind.
(a beat)
So what's your excuse?
(off of Phlox's look)
For being on board.

PHLOX
I have to take care of my animals
and get them ready for transport.
My edosian slugs are particularly
sensitive. Although
(he looks around)
They've all been somewhat
unsettled today.
(shrugs)
They must be aware of a change,
I suppose.

He gives Archer a bright, piercing look.

PHLOX (CONT'D)
Tell me, Captain - when was the last time you ate?

ARCHER
(startled by the change in topic)
Ah ... I can't remember.

PHLOX
I thought so.

The doors to Sickbay open, and SUBCOMMANDER T'POL enters, carrying a large box.

TRIP
Well look who's here.

Trip is now leaning on the console by the imaging chamber.

Archer looks at T'Pol in surprise, and she in turn arches a brow at him.

OFF of this ...

CUT TO:

INT. - ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY -- LATER

Phlox, T'Pol and Archer are gathered around one of the counters, eating Chinese food. Trip is lounging on a biobed, watching, a small smile on his face.

ARCHER
(around a mouthful of noodles)
How exactly did you get a hold
of this? The galley is closed.

PHLOX
Simple. I called Madame Wong's,
and when the order was ready ...

T'POL
... I beamed it up.

TRIP
That's got to be the farthest take-out delivery ever.

Archer nods. Then, to T'Pol:

ARCHER
Not that I'm not glad to see you,
but why exactly are you here?

T'POL
There were things which
required my attention.

TRIP
(sarcastically)
Right.

ARCHER
Really? Such as?

T'POL
Various so-called "housekeeping" duties.

ARCHER
(teasing)
Care to specify?

T'POL
I could list all of the items in question,
but suffice to say individually they
are not of great urgency; however,
taken as a sum total, they are
quite important.

ARCHER
Ah. I see.

TRIP
Give it up. She'll never admit to missing this place.

Taking Trip's advice, Archer turns to Phlox:

ARCHER
How did you know I was in Engineering?

PHLOX
Initially, I had no idea. But once I had
been approached by Lieutenants Sato
and Mayweather, and by Commander Reed,
I ran a scan and saw there was a
bio-reading in Engineering. Since it was
human, and since there was no one else
aboard, it was obvious that it was you.
I then went to Engineering, and the rest
you know.

And he goes back to eating.

Archer has stopped eating, however, and he is staring at Phlox.

ARCHER
Why were Hoshi and Travis and
Malcolm talking to you about me?

PHLOX
They were concerned about you.
And I can see why.
(a beat)
Do you wish to discuss it, Captain?

ARCHER
(with some asperity)
Discuss what?

At this, T'Pol rises, and prepares to head out.

ARCHER (CONT'D)
No, stay.

TRIP
Yeah. I'm dying to hear what she says about this.

ARCHER
(sotto voce)
I really wish you wouldn't use that expression.

T'Pol gives Archer a sharp look.

T'POL
Did you say something?

ARCHER
No - yes, I said you don't have to go.
(to Phlox)
Just exactly what should I be
talking about?

TRIP
Don't be so damn coy.

PHLOX
Really, Captain. One does not have to
be a physician to tell that something
is wrong with you. It's evident you're
not eating, and I would surmise you're
not sleeping, either.

Archer doesn't answer.

T'POL
It's Trip, isn't it.

Her tone of voice is that of someone stating a fact, not asking a question.

Archer starts.

T'POL (CONT'D)
You grieve for him.

ARCHER
No.

T'POL
No?

TRIP
NO??

ARCHER
I mean, yes, but that's not it.
(a beat; softly)
I think I'm losing my mind.

He looks beseechingly at Phlox.

OFF of this look...

CUT TO:

INT. - ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY -- LATER

Phlox is examining read-outs he has taken of Archer. T'Pol is standing, waiting, and Trip is still in the picture, leaning against a wall.

PHLOX
There are no abnormalities here that
I can see. Brain chemistry is normal
and there is no trauma. I would say,
Captain, that - aside from the understandable
stress and emotional trauma caused by
recent events- you are in good mental health.

ARCHER
How can that be? I told you, I'm seeing
and hearing Trip everywhere!

PHLOX
(patiently)
Yes, but you are aware that these things
are not real. If you were indeed psychotic,
you would be incorporating these things
into your worldview. Messages from God,
or some such thing. The mere fact that
you recognize them as hallucinations tells
me that you are fundamentally sane.

ARCHER
But having hallucinations can't be good!

PHLOX
On the contrary. Denobulans believe that
hallucinations are an excellent way to
relieve psychic stress. And having
experienced them myself ...

They all stare at him and he coughs, embarrassed.

PHLOX (CONT'D)
Yes, well, it's all in my log. As I was
saying, they can provide excellent
insights into your subconscious.

TRIP
(dryly)
No kidding.

PHLOX
So, Captain, what do you think these mean?

Archer does not answer.

TRIP
Don't keep us in suspense! Spill the beans already!

ARCHER
What you say sounds good, but I think
there might be another explanation.

He looks around at all of them.

OFF of this

ANGLE ON T'POL:

T'POL
(flatly)
His katra.

ANGLE ON PHLOX

PHLOX
(surprised)
His katra?

ANGLE ON TRIP

TRIP
My WHAT??!!

BACK TO SCENE

Archer is uncomfortable and defensive, but he presses on.

ARCHER
Is that so hard to believe? It would
explain everything, wouldn't it?

TRIP
What the hell is a katra?

T'POL
It's possible but highly improbable.

ARCHER
Why? I carried Surak's katra. He taught
me a lot of things during that time. And
I was with Trip when he died. I touched
him just before...
(a beat)
Couldn't we have somehow unconsciously
transferred his katra?

T'POL
As I said, possibly, but highly unlikely,
Captain. What makes you think this is
the case?

ARCHER
Because of everything that's happened
in the past few days. And this feeling I
have. I know it's illogical, but I can't help
it. And there's something else ...

T'POL
(prompting)
Yes?

ARCHER
He winked at me. Why would he do that?

T'POL
To comfort you? To reassure you?

ARCHER
Maybe. But still ... is there a way to find out?

TRIP
Yeah, I'm dying ...
(stops)
I'd really like to know myself.

PHLOX
Unfortunately, I know of no medical test for diagnosing a katra.

T'POL
A mind-meld would answer the question.

ARCHER
Then would you?

T'POL
No.

ARCHER
No?

TRIP
And why the hell not?

T'POL
I am not sufficiently adept. But I believe
there is one who has the requisite skill.

ARCHER
If anyone can help, I'd be very grateful.

TRIP
Me, too.

Archer shoots him a look.

T'Pol and Phlox also look in that direction, but of course they see nothing. They look back at Archer.

OFF of this...

CUT TO:

INT. - VULCAN COMPOUND - -- LATER
It is a dimly lit room, sparsely furnished. A temple made for meditation. An IDIC adorns one wall; a ceremonial fire sits in the middle of the highly polished floor. The room is stern and austere in its look, but the very austerity has its own severe beauty.

Archer, T'Pol and Phlox enter, accompanied by an N.D. Vulcan, who bows slightly and leaves. They look around.

T'POL
This is one of the meditation chambers.
It will be adequate for our needs.

ARCHER
I appreciate this, T'Pol.

T'POL
It is the only logical course of action,
Captain. You need to determine if what
you believe is indeed true.

ARCHER
After all this time, you must know that
we humans need to say "thank you".

T'POL
You should not be thanking me, but
rather the one who will be performing
the mind meld.

ARCHER
And that is --?

As if on cue, Vulcan AMBASSADOR SOVAL enters.

SOVAL
That would be me, Captain.

Archer does a double take, but recovers quickly.

ARCHER
Then in that case, thank you, Ambassador.
It appears that I am in your debt.

SOVAL
Thanks are unnecessary, Captain.

PHLOX
(breaking in)
If you will excuse me - medical
curiosity and all ...

SOVAL
But of course, Doctor.

PHLOX
May I ask just precisely what this
procedure will entail? Obviously, I am
familiar with the concept of the Vulcan
mind meld, but I am wondering what
you hope to accomplish.

SOVAL
I will join my mind to the Captain's and
then search his consciousness to see
whether Commander Tucker's katra -
what humans might call his "essence",
or "soul" - is present.

ARCHER
And if it is? Then what?

TRIP
I'd like to know that, too.

Trip is now standing beside Phlox, who is of course unaware of his presence.

SOVAL
If you are indeed carrying Commander Tucker's
katra, then I would recommend that you go
to Vulcan. There are priests there who can
contact the katra, discover its wishes.
(off of Archer's look)
They can set it free to continue its journey,
if it so desires. Or, should its desire be to remain
with you, then you can be taught how to deal
with carrying the katra of another.
Although I must warn you, Captain - the chances
that you have the Commander's katra are slight.

ARCHER
I understand.

SOVAL
Are you ready to proceed?

ARCHER
I am.

TRIP
Let's get this show on the road.
The suspense is killing me.
(off Archer's look)
Bad choice of words. Sorry.

Archer and Soval kneel, facing each other. Soval places his hand on Archer's face in the mind-meld position, and begins to intone:

SOVAL
Our thoughts are drawing nearer ...
My mind to your mind ... I know what
you know ... I know what you feel ...
Our thoughts are melding into one ...
Our minds are melding into one ...

ARCHER AND SOVAL
(together; simultaneously)
We are one.

INTERCUT

A quick montage from "THESE ARE THE VOYAGES" of the moments before Trip died.

Each flashback is intercut with a shot of Archer or Soval, and each flash of memory hits the two men like a blow.

End montage with final image of Trip giving Archer the thumbs-up.

END INTERCUT

BACK TO SCENE

Soval jerks his head back as if he's been slapped, hard. He gasps, and pulls his hand away as if Archer's face were red-hot and he's burned himself.
OFF of his obvious emotional distress ...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO



Continue to Act 3

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