Flummoxed by Orion

FLUMMOXED

Disclaimer: ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ and its characters are owned by Paramount. This , however, is my story.
Set in season 6. PG.

NOTE:-
INT: Internal
EXT: External
POV: Point of view
O.S.: Off screen
b.g.: Background
SPFX: Special Effects.
V.O.: Voice over.

FADE IN:

INT. VOYAGER/ ASTROMETRICS LAB

SEVEN
is at her CONSOLE, working on her astrometrical charting.

NAOMI WILDMAN

enters and walks up to Seven. Seven turns around to see Naomi.

SEVEN
(dryly)
Naomi Wildman.

NAOMI
Hello Seven.

SEVEN (continues to work at her console)
Why aren’t you in your science class?

NAOMI
The Doctor let us go early today because we all passed our tests.

SEVEN (raises an eyebrow) and turns to her.

SEVEN
Congratulations.

NAOMI walks up nearer to Seven.

NAOMI
Whatcha doing?

SEVEN
I am attempting to chart all of the nebulas, pulsars, and quasars
in grid 11, in order to make Voyager’s maps more efficient.

NAOMI (sighs)
I have a new holodeck program that Neelix put together for me.

SEVEN (busy with her work)
How nice for you.

NAOMI
You could play too, if you want.

SEVEN (stops working)
I am busy mapping right now.
(after an afterthought)
…maybe later.

NAOMI (excited)
Great! I’ll wait.

Seven continues to work while Naomi waits.

CUT TO:
INT. SICKBAY

TOM is about to leave sickbay when the DOCTOR stops him.

DOCTOR
Where are you going, Mr. Paris?

TOM
Ah, I’ve got a date with B’Elanna , Doc.

DOCTOR
Not now, you don’t. You promised me that you would
catalog all the medical files today.

TOM
As much fun as that sounds Doc, I’m gonna have to pass.

DOCTOR
I don’t think so, Mr. Paris.
You wouldn’t want the Captain thinking that you’ve been
neglecting your duties, would you?

TOM
Ah,…take it easy, Doc. I’ll be back soon.
(with a smirk)
You can trust me.

DOCTOR
Hardly, Mr. Paris..

TOM begins to leave.

DOCTOR
(calling)
Mr. Paris……Mr. Paris….

TOM leaves.

CUT TO:

INT. TOM’S QUARTER’S

THE DOORBELL SOUNDS.

B’ELANNA (O.S.)
Come in.

THE DOOR OPENS AND TOM ENTERS.

He walks over and sits on the COUCH.

TOM
Okay, so tell me again why I rang my own doorbell?

B’ELANNA (carrying TWO GLASSES OF WINE ) WALKS INTO FRAME.
She sits next to Tom.

B’ELANNA
Because you’re in for a surprise.

B’ELANNA begins to hand a glass of wine to Tom, but, is stopped when…

TOM
(remembering something)
Oh! ‘The Untouchables’ is on.

He hurries over to the TELEVISION SET and switches it on.

CLOSE ON B”ELANNA as she sips some wine (not at all bothered by Tom’s disinterest).

CLOSE ON THE T.V. SET as it doesn’t come on.

TOM
(referring to the t.v.set)
What’s going on?
Something’s wrong with it.

B’ELANNA gets up slowly from off the couch and walks over to the t.v.set.
She (barely) looks at the back of the set and then sips some more wine.

B’ELANNA
Looks like somebody took out the oscilloscope.

B’ELANNA WALKS OUT OF FRAME.

TOM
Who would do something like that?

As soon as he’d finished saying that, a GLASS OF WINE is put in front of his face (by B’Elanna).

B’ELANNA
Probably someone who thought you could use some wine.
I would call the Chief Engineer to look at it, but, I hear she’s busy.

Tom takes the glass of wine . He brings it into a position for a toast.

TOM
I’ll toast to that.

They toast and then sip some wine.

B’ELANNA
It’s twentieth century merlot.

TOM
It’s good.

Tom takes away both glasses and puts them down on a TABLE.
He walks closer to B’Elanna , looks into her eyes , and is about to kiss her when…

HARRY (V.O)
Ensign Kim to Lt. Torres,
B’Elanna, you there…

Tom and B’Elanna sigh.

B’ELANNA
Yeah, Harry, go ahead.

HARRY (V.O)
We have a problem in engineering.

B’ELANNA
Can’t you deal with it , Harry?

HARRY (V.O)
We’re losing all of the holodeck grid matrices.
I could use some help.

B’ELANNA (to Harry)
(sighs)
I’m on my way.

TOM
There goes our evening.

B’ELANNA (as she begins to leave)
Don’t you dare fix that t.v. set while I’m gone.

TOM smiles.
B’ELANNA leaves.

TOM (to himself)
Okay, Doc, today is your lucky day.
TOM leaves.

CUT TO:

INT. ENGINEERING

HARRY is working at a CONSOLE.

B’ELANNA ENTERS and walks up to him.

B’ELANNA
What’s going on, Harry?

HARRY
All of the holodeck matrices are missing or lost.
I can’t find the holodeck character subroutines either.

B’ELANNA
(working on another console)
Have you tried a sweep of the data logs?

HARRY
Yeah, it didn’t work.
I’m going to try a sweep of all the logs.

HARRY presses some keys on his console.
As soon as he is finished, THE ROAR OF A LION IS HEARD ( coming from behind them.)

HARRY and B’ELANNA turn back to see A ROARING LION facing them.

OFF THEIR SURPRISED AND TERRIFIED LOOKS,

MAIN TITLES.

CUT TO:

ACT ONE

INT. ENGINEERING

CLOSE ON THE LION as it continues to ROAR at them.

ANGLE ON HARRY AND B’ELANNA (both shocked and nervous).
While Harry continues to stare at the lion, B’Elanna turns around and presses keys on her console.

NEW ANGLE of the lion as it positions itself for a strike.
B’ELANNA finishes with the keys on her console and quickly turns back to the lion.

THE LION leaps into the air and towards them , but stops IN MID-AIR (SPFX).
HARRY lets out a sigh of relief and turns to B’Elanna.

HARRY
What did you do?

B’ELANNA
I froze the program.

HARRY
What?

B’ELANNA AND HARRY turn back to the console.

B’ELANNA (clicking keys on the console)
(pointing out something to Harry on it)
Look, it’s part of Lt. Terry’s holodeck program.

HARRY gives her ‘a look’.

B’ELANNA
It’s part of his circus program.
(pause)
He pretends to be the lion tamer.

HARRY
(going along with that)
Okay, so, what’s it doing here?
I mean, we have no holo-emitters in engineering.

B’ELANNA
(pressing keys on the console)
I know, I have no idea.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Janeway to engineering.

B’ELANNA
Yes, captain.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Is there something going on over there that
I should know about?

HARRY
We’re having some trouble with the holomatrices,
Captain.

JANEWAY (V.O)
We’re getting reports from all decks about holodeck
characters appearing where they shouldn’t.

HARRY
We’re working on it.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Are all safties on?

B’ELANNA
Yes, Captain.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Let me know when you have something.

HARRY
Yes, ma’am.

CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE

CLOSE ON JANEWAY as she stares (in awe) at SOMEONE (WHO IS OFF CAMERA-NOT SEEN).

JANEWAY
(still staring at the person)
Janeway to all hands.
(pause)
I know we have a lot of ‘unexpected visitors’ on board.
I suggest that we ‘play along’ until
this problem is solved.
Janeway out.

JANEWAY begins to walk towards the person (still NOT SEEN)
CHAKOTAY walks up to her. She stops walking.
Chakotay stares at the person also.

CHAKOTAY
(referring to the person)
He’s not the real thing, you know.
He’s part of Ensign Blower’s holodeck program.
She’s trying to ‘ analyse his genius’.

JANEWAY
(nods)
Impressive.

Janeway continues to walk towards the person (Chakotay fades into the b.g.)
Janeway walks up directly behind him (the person).

JANEWAY
(to the person)
Dr. Albert Einstein, I presume.

CLOSE ON ALBERT EINSTEIN as he turns around to acknowledge her.

ALBERT
(in a german accent)
Yes, and who are you?

JANEWAY
I’m Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager.
It’s very nice to meet you, Dr.

ALBERT
It is nice to meet you too. A female captain ?
We did not have that in the war.

JANEWAY
(amused)
Well, a lot of things have changed since then.

ALBERT
Did you say ‘starship’?

JANEWAY smiles and guides him gently (with her hands) towards her READY ROOM.

JANEWAY
Why don’t we take this up in my ready room?

THEY WALK TOWARDS THE READY ROOM.

CUT TO:

INT. READY ROOM

JANEWAY ENTERS FOLLOWED BY ALBERT.

Janeway walks over and sits down on her COUCH.
Albert walks over to the couch.

JANEWAY
Please sit.

Albert sits on the couch and stares at the STARS (through the WINDOW) (SPFX-STARS).

ALBERT
Are we on a ‘starship’?

JANEWAY
Yes, you see, Dr……

ALBERT
We are in a different time, are we not?
(getting excited)
So, now we sail through the universe in starships.
How wonderful it must be to ride the photonic waves!

JANEWAY SMILES

ALBERT
My first vision was of me riding a light wave.

JANEWAY
I know. What a radical concept that was, which, eventually
led humans to this –spaceflight.

ALBERT
…but everything comes with a price.
(sighs)
The transition from
gruelling mental exercises to dinner at the family table
never quite fitted together. After using a
hammer all day, it is difficult to play the violin .
People put you on a pedestal where their expectations
now dictate the way you work. You become a slave to your
position in life and lose the ordinary in the bargain.
(pause)
But my physics, my physics, made my life fulfilling…
even when nothing else did.

JANEWAY
It is difficult to hold a position and still maintain a familiar
relationship with others.

ALBERT
But without work, we would not be here, sailing through
the cosmos.

JANEWAY
(smiles)
Indeed.

ALBERT
It must be interesting…flying this starship.

JANEWAY
Our pilot seems to think so.

CUT TO:

INT. SICKBAY

In the middle of sickbay, there is a WRESTLING RING surrounded by a bunch of LOUD SPECTATORS.
TOM and the DOCTOR are standing in a corner, looking at the ring. The Doctor is DRESSED UP AS A
WRESTLER. His MOBILE EMITTER is attached to the outside of the outfit.
ANGLE ON THE RING as a WRESTLER (BONECRUSHER) is in the center of the it.
CLOSE ON BONECRUSHER as he eyes the spectators and then finally sees Tom and the Doctor.
BONECRUSHER’S POV OF TOM AND THE DOCTOR.
Bonecrusher gets out of the ring and walks towards them (Tom and the Doctor).

BONECRUSHER (as he reaches them)
(in a deep, rough voice)
Which one of you will fight the BONECRUSHER?

TOM looks at the DOCTOR.
CAMERA PANS THE DOCTOR (from head to toe) to reveal his outfit.
CLOSE ON TOM as he is amused by the Doctor’s outfit.
The Doctor is not aware of ‘his change of clothes’.
TOM
(to the Doctor)
Nice outfit, Doc.

ANGLE ON THE DOCTOR as he takes a look at his outfit.

DOCTOR
(to Tom)
What? How did this happen?
Mr. Paris?

BONECRUSHER
(to both of them)
Who will fight me?

Tom looks at the Doctor.

TOM (pointing to the Doctor)
(to Bonecrusher)
He will.

DOCTOR (caught completely off guard)
Mr. Paris!

TOM (to the Doctor)
Look at me, Doc.
You’re the one with the outfit.

BONECRUSHER (to the crowd)
(shouting)
This excuse for a man will fight ME?
(laughs)

THE CROWD laughs , hoots and hollers.

TOM
(to Bonecrusher)
Hey! He CAN and WILL fight you!

BONECRUSHER
(to Tom)
Him? What is his name?

TOM
(to Bonecrusher)
He’s called THE DOCTOR.

BONECRUSHER laughs scornfully.

TOM
(to Bonecrusher)
I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

DOCTOR
(to Tom)
What are you doing, Mr. Paris? No one needs to fight here.

TOM (to the Doctor)
I think the only way to close this program is have a fight.
(to Bonecrusher)
You don’t know what you’re in for.

BONECRUSHER
(to Tom)
Why? What can
(mockingly)
‘the Doctor’ do?

TOM (to Bonecrusher)
When he gets you into that ring, he’ll re-arrange
your bones so badly, you’ll think he did an operation.

CLOSE ON BONECRUSHER as he grinds his teeth.
DOCTOR (fearfully)
(to Tom)
Mr. Paris! What do you think you ‘re doing?!

TOM
(to the Doctor)
They do this all the time, these wrestlers.
They rile each other up. I’m riling him up for you.

DOCTOR (to Tom)
Mr. Paris, I am of the expert opinion that if this
man were any more ‘riled up’, his subroutines would burst!

TOM pushes the Doctor OUT OF FRAME (and towards the ring –NOT SEEN).
Bonecrusher follows the Doc OUT OF FRAME and towards the ring.
HOLD ON TOM.

TOM (as he pushes the Doctor)
Go get them, Doc!

We hear SOUNDS OF THE FIGHT.
HOLD ON TOM as he watches the fight.
TOM (squirming)
(whispers to himself)
Ouch….Doc…

CUT TO:

INT. ENGINEERING

B’ELANNA AND HARRY are working on the console.
There is a PARROT IN A CAGE , behind them (on a DESK).

B’ELANNA
Okay, I’m gonna try to put all of our loose
grids into one place . Ready?

PARROT
Grids into one place, ready?

HARRY
Almost ready , B’Elanna.

PARROT
Almost ready, B’Elanna.

B’ELANNA looks at Harry.

B’ELANNA
(referring to the parrot)
I think I prefer the lion instead.

Harry laughs.

B’ELANNA (slaps her COM BADGE)
Torres to Captain Janeway.

PARROT
Torres to Janeway.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Go ahead, B’Elanna.

B’ELANNA
We want to try a grid transfer, Captain.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Proceed when ready, Lt.

CUT TO:
INT. READY ROOM

JANEWAY (as she gets up from the couch)
I’ll be back soon, Dr.

ALBERT (looking at the stars)
Take your time. I shall busy myself with these visions
that take my breath away.

JANEWAY (smiling) EXITS the ready room.
CUT TO:

INT. BRIDGE

JANEWAY ENTERS and walks straight towards her SEAT. She sits.
Chakotay (who is sitting in his SEAT) smiles at her.

CHAKOTAY
What’s he like?

JANEWAY
(excited)
He’s amazing.

They exchange smiles.

CUT TO:

INT. ENGINEERING

B’ELANNA AND HARRY are busy working on consoles, getting ready for the grid transfer.

B’ELANNA
Grid transfer in 20.1 secs.

PARROT
20.1 secs.

B’ELANNA
(fed-up with the parrot)
This’d better work.

HARRY
Initializing transfer…

CUT TO:

INT. SICKBAY

TOM is looking at the fight, when we HEAR A BELL RING.
THE DOCTOR ENTERS FRAME (AND NEXT TO TOM)

DOCTOR
(exhausted)
Mr. Paris, you….have …to …stop…this…..match.

TOM (patting him on the back)
Nonsense Doc, you’re doing fine.
You need to intimidate him.

DOCTOR
With all his muscular assets, how can I
intimidate him?

TOM
It’s all in the mind, Doc.
You have to ‘mess up’ his mind.
Use psychology.

DOCTOR
Psychology? How, Mr. Paris?

TOM
Say something like,’ You overgrown piece of lint!
Did your mother have any children?’

DOCTOR
(seriously)
Mr. Paris, that doesn’t make any sense.

TOM
I know, but, it’ll mess with his mind.

DOCTOR
Mess with his mind, okay.
Are you sure, Mr. Paris?

TOM
Trust me, Doc.

DOCTOR
I find no comfort in those words, Mr.Paris.

THE BELL RINGS (SIGNALLING ANOTHER ROUND)

TOM
Put your ‘mean face’ on Doc . Go do it!

CLOSE ON THE DOCTOR as he ‘puts on a mean face’ and grunts.
He heads OFF CAMERA (TOWARDS THE RING).

CUT TO:

INT. ENGINEERING

HARRY
Transfer in 5,4,3,…
CUT TO:

INT. BRIDGE

HARRY (V.O)
2,1. Transfer completed.

THE DOCTOR SUDDENLY APPEARS IN THE CENTER OF THE BRIDGE (SPFX)
He is now in a starfleet uniform.
DOCTOR (with a mean face)
YOU OVERGROWN PIECE OF LINT!!!!!!!!
DID YOUR MOTHER HAVE ANY CHILDREN?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANGLE ON JANEWAY AND CHAKOTAY as they get up from their seats.
THE DOCTOR sees them and realises that he’s not in sickbay anymore.

JANEWAY (jerks her head slightly backwards)
(to the Doctor)
Doctor?

DOCTOR (embarrassed)
(voice cracking)
Captain?

CUT TO:

ACT TWO

INT. BRIDGE

As Janeway continues to stare at the Doctor,

HARRY (V.O)
Did it work, Captain?

JANEWAY (to Harry)
(continuing to stare at the Doctor)
No, Mr. Kim.
CLOSE ON THE DOCTOR as he is shocked into silence.

HARRY (V.O)
Reversing transfer, Captain.

JANEWAY
(to Harry)
Acknowledged Mr. Kim.
(to the Doctor)
Good-bye Doctor.

THE DOCTOR (WITH HIS MOUTH AGAPE) DISAPPEARS (SPFX)

JANEWAY turns to look at Chakotay.

CHAKOTAY smiles.
JANEWAY(shaking her head), smiles back.

CUT TO:

INT. ASTROMETRICS

A BALLERINA is dancing in the middle of astrometrics (not bothering with Seven and Naomi)
NAOMI is looking at the ballerina with wonder in her eyes.
SEVEN is uncomfortable.

NAOMI (referring to the ballerina)
Isn’t she beautiful, Seven?

SEVEN
She is…..
(pause)
beautiful….yes.

NAOMI
This is the program that Neelix put together for me.

NAOMI takes SEVEN’S hand in hers.

NAOMI
(to Seven)
Want to dance?

SEVEN
(forcefully)
No.

Seven takes her hand away from Naomi and retreats to a corner of astrometrics. She begins to work on
a console.

NAOMI follows her.

NAOMI
Why don’t you want to dance, Seven?

SEVEN
Dancing is irrelevant.

NAOMI
No, it isn’t.
It’s fun.

SEVEN (wryly)
A waste of energy.

NAOMI
But…it’s a GOOD waste of energy.

CLOSE ON SEVEN as she is surprised by Naomi’s answer. She nods.
NAOMI takes her hand and leads her to the ballerina.

NAOMI (to the ballerina)
Hi, can you teach us how to dance?

THE BALLERINA stops dancing and smiles at them. She nods and walks over to a corner
of astrometrics , picks up TWO PAIRS OF BALLET SHOES, and brings them over to
Naomi and Seven.

BALLERINA
(to both of them)
Would you like to put these on?

NAOMI takes them and hands one pair to Seven.
NAOMI begins to put hers on.
SEVEN hesitates.
Naomi sees her (Seven’s) hesitation.

NAOMI (to Seven)
(encouraging her)
Put them on Seven .
Seven takes a deep, quick breath and puts her pair on.
BALLERINA
(to both)
Now get up on your toes and spin.
(she spins to show them how)

CLOSE ON NAOMI AND SEVEN as they attempt this.

NAOMI struggles but Seven does it perfectly.
NAOMI giggles.

NAOMI
(to Seven)
That’s good, Seven.

SEVEN
(to Naomi)
It is…..adequate.

BALLERNIA
(to both)
Good, both of you.
Now let’s practice spinning in a circle.
Follow me.

THE BALLERNIA begins to spin around (to begin the circle) followed by Naomi and then Seven .

OVERHEAD SHOT OF THE THREE OF THEM spinning around (creating a big spinning circle).
HOLD ON THEM FOR A WHILE.
CUT TO:

INT. SICKBAY

THE DOCTOR (looking oppressed) is sitting on one of the BUNK BEDS .

TOM
Where have you been?

DOCTOR
You don’t want to know, Mr. Paris.
(getting angry, slapping his COMM BADGE)
Doctor to Lt. Torres.

B’ELANNA (V.O)
What is it, Doctor?

DOCTOR
(to B’Elanna)
I just took an unexpected trip, Lt.

B’ELANNA (V.O)
Do you have your mobile emitter on?

DOCTOR
(to B’Elanna)
Yes.

B’ELANNA (V.O)
Take it off, Doctor.

THE DOCTOR takes his mobile emitter off.

B’ELANNA (V.O)
Is it off?

DOCTOR
(to B’Elanna)
Yes.

B’ELANNA (V.O)
Problem solved.

DOCTOR (sighs)
(to B’Elanna)
Thank-you Lt.

THE DOCTOR looks around the sickbay. (NOTE: THE RING , BONECRUSHER AND THE
SPECTATORS ARE ALL GONE).

DOCTOR
What happened to the ring and Bonecrusher?

TOM
They disappeared when you did.
(getting sarcastic)
But you came back.

THE DOCTOR looks at TOM.

DOCTOR (getting up)
Well, since I’m here now, maybe you should get started
on those medical logs.

The Doctor goes over to a DESK , takes up a PADD and hands it to Tom.

TOM (takes it)
(sighs)
No rest for the wicked.

CUT TO:

INT. READY ROOM

JANEWAY ENTERS.
ALBERT is sitting on the couch.

JANEWAY GOES TO THE REPLICATOR.

JANEWAY
I need some coffee.

ALBERT
May I trouble you for a cup?

CLOSE ON JANEWAY as she smiles.

JANEWAY
(to the replicator)
Two coffees.

THE REPLICATOR REPLICATES TWO COFFEES (SPFX)
Janeway removes them from the replicator.

JANEWAY
(to replicator)
Three sugars.

THE REPLICATOR REPLICATES THREE SUGARS (SPFX)
Janeway removes them from the replicator.
She brings everything over to the couch.

ALBERT puts the sugars in his coffee.
JANEWAY drinks hers black.

JANEWAY (sighs)
(after a huge sip of coffee)
Hmmmm…. that hits the spot.

ALBERT (drinks some of his coffee)
It always does. I did a lot of my thinking in a coffee shop.
I never used to go to my University. You see, I used to
go to the coffee shop and wait for my colleagues. They
would come after their classes, to teach me the day’s work.
It was so, that I finished my studies. I mean I would go in
for tests and such, but, never for classes. We formed a sort
of society that defied the norm of that day. We would go on
long walks to discuss the ‘science of life’. It was on one of
those walks that the idea of relativity came to me. I could
never have done it without Marcel though.

CLOSE ON JANEWAY as she wonders about Marcel.

JANEWAY
Marcel? Marcel Grossman.

ALBERT
One of my colleagues. He was every bit the
mathematician. I lack the ‘patterned thinking’
of a mathematician. He helped to give me my theory.

JANEWAY
(drinks some more coffee)
The General Theory Of Relativity.

ALBERT
(smiles a little)
Yes.

JANEWAY
You know, Dr., that was the foundation on
which space exploration was built.

ALBERT
I see that. Science , guided by an unseen hand, has brought
you here.
(pause)
And me as well.
Your science has brought me here to speak to you.

JANEWAY
Yes, it has.

THERE IS SILENCE WHILE THEY DRINK COFFEE.

ALBERT (getting up)
May I take a tour of your ship, captain?

JANEWAY (getting up also)
Of course. I’ll send for someone to take you.

ALBERT
I would like to go alone, if that is acceptable.

CLOSE ON JANEWAY as she thinks about it.

JANEWAY
Alright, I look forward to your thoughts.
JANEWAY SMILES.
ALBERT leaves.
CUT TO:
INT. ENGINEERING

THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS from the CAPTAIN PROTON holodeck program ,
is in a corner of engineering, screaming.
DAMSEL
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(pause)
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

B’ELANNA (working on her console)
(to Harry)
I’ll break her vocal chords in another nanosecond.
HARRY smiles, and presses keys on his console.
THE DAMSEL still ‘mouths’ the screams but WE HEAR NOTHING.

B’ELANNA
(to Harry)
What did you do?

HARRY (smiling)
I put her on ‘mute’.

B’ELANNA smiles and continues working on her console.
HER EYES WIDEN.

B’ELANNA
(referring to something on the console)
What’s this?

HARRY
What is it?

B’ELANNA
The power nacelles on deck 7
are fluctuating. I’m going to have a look.

B’ELANNA leaves.
CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY

B’ELANNA is walking along the hallway.
TOM enters from an ADJOINING HALLWAY.
He walks up quickly to catch up with her.

B’Elanna sees him.
They are walking side by side each other (in the hallway).

TOM
Hey.

B’ELANNA
Hey.
Tom smiles.
B’ELANNA
What are you doing wandering the hallways?

TOM (smiles)
I’ve just finished my shift with the Doc.
(sarcastic)
Exhilarating, as usual.

B’Elanna laughs.
They get into the TURBOLIFT.

B’ELANNA
Deck 7.

Tom begins to laugh.

B’ELANNA
What are you laughing at?

TOM (continues laughing)
The Doc had to fight in a wrestling match today.
Against the Bonecrusher.

B’ELANNA (laughs)
A lion tried to attack Harry and me in engineering.

TOM (surprised)
A lion, huh?
(playfully)
Should’ve known better than to mess with a half- Klingon.
B’ELANNA smiles broadly .
The turbolift doors open and B’Elanna exits.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY/ CONTINUOUS

CAMERA FOLLOWS B’ELANNA as she walks down this hallway and over to a WALL HATCH
(JEFFERIES TUBE)
She opens the hatch and gets into the Jefferies tube.
CUT TO:
INT. JEFFRIES TUBE/ CONTINUOUS
NEW ANGLE OF B’ELANNA as she crawls along, inside the tube.
She stops crawling at a certain point, holds up a TRICORDER and opens a WALL UNIT.
ANGLE ON THE NACELLES (IN THE WALL UNIT).
Some of the nacelles lights are flickering.
B’Elanna begins to scan the nacelles with her tricorder.
The tricorder makes a HIGH PITCHED SOUND.
B’ELANNA silently reads the information on the tricorder.
She slaps her comm badge.

B’ELANNA
Torres to Janeway.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Go ahead, B’Elanna.

B’ELANNA
Captain, I think I’ve found the source of the
holomatric disruptions.

JANEWAY (V.O)
What is it, Lt?

B’ELANNA
A virus, Captain.

HOLD ON B’ELANNA
CUT TO:
ACT THREE

INT. MESS HALL

The mess hall has been transformed into a CASINO.
There are MANY PLAYERS playing all different types of GAMES in the hall.
NEELIX is busy serving all of them.
TUVOK is trying to avoid everyone.
NEELIX makes his way over to Tuvok.

NEELIX
(referring to the casino)
Pretty exciting, isn’t it Lt.?

TUVOK
(upset)
No, Mr. Neelix.

NEELIX
Oh come now Lt., people are enjoying themselves.

TUVOK
Trying repeatedly to win at a meaningless
game while becoming a victim of chance
is not a logical way to ‘have fun’, Mr. Neelix.

NEELIX
That’s because you’re thinking about it too much.
Look….

NEELIX guides TUVOK over to a CRAPS TABLE and gives him (Tuvok) a PAIR OF DICE.

NEELIX
Try to throw a seven.
I saw the rest of the people playing it.

TUVOK
(exasperated)
Mr. Neelix…

NEELIX
Just take one chance…
You could be lucky.

TUVOK
Mr. Neelix, the probability of throwing a seven,
is one in three ,excluding variables. I will not throw
three times.

NEELIX
(excited)
I’ll help. We’ll take turns.

TUVOK sighs, shakes the dice and throws it on to the board.

ANGLE ON THE BOARD , SHOWING THE DICE.
Tuvok throws a two and a three.
ANGLE ON TUVOK as he retrieves the dice and hands them to Neelix.

NEELIX (kisses the dice)
(throws them)
Come on, seven!
ANGLE ON THE BOARD (SHOWING DICE)
Neelix throws a one and a three.
NEELIX sighs and hands the dice back to Tuvok.

TUVOK throws the dice.
ANGLE ON THE BOARD (SHOWING THE DICE)
Tuvok throws a two and a five (seven)

NEELIX (excited)
Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You threw a seven, Lt.!

SUDDENLY, THE CASINO PROGRAM DISAPPEARS (SPFX)
THE WRESTLING PROGRAM APPEARS (SPFX)

CLOSE ON NEELIX AND TUVOK as they watch (surprised) as these events occur.

THE BONECRUSHER (when he appears) , walks over to Tuvok and Neelix.

BONECRUSHER
(to Tuvok and Neelix)
Who will fight the Bonecrusher?

TUVOK (to Neelix)
I believe, Mr. Neelix, it is now your turn.

CLOSE ON NEELIX as he is shocked.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Senior staff and ensign Paris to the briefing room.

TUVOK (to Neelix )
(referring to the situation with Bonecrusher)
Good ‘LUCK’ , Mr. Neelix.

TUVOK exits, leaving Neelix alone with Bonecrusher.

CUT TO:

INT. BRIEFING ROOM

The briefing room has been transformed into a twentieth century VIDEO ARCADE.
There are MANY VIDEO GAMES surrounding the BRIEFING ROOM TABLE.
HARRY, B’ELANNA, CHAKOTAY are sitting around the table, staring at the ‘new décor’.
TOM ENTERS and sees the video games.
He walks up to one of the games (BATMAN CLEARLY WRITTEN ON THE FRONT OF IT).

TOM (wide-eyed)
Oh wow, ‘Batman’!
ANGLE ON TOM as he begins to play the ‘Batman’ game.

TOM (to everyone)
Who’s holodeck program is this?

CHAKOTAY
(to Tom)
Ensign David’s.
He always playing it.

TOM (to everyone)
(while playing it)
This is great!
I’ve got to drop by his quarter’s later to
check out the rest.

CLOSE ON B’ELANNA as she looks at Tom disbelievingly.
He doesn’t see her (his back is to her).

JANEWAY ENTERS, FOLLOWED BY TUVOK.
JANEWAY stops, and takes a look around the briefing room (arcade). She turns back and looks at Tuvok
(who raises an eyebrow).
They go over and sit at the table.
Tom stops playing, walks over and sits at the table (across from B’Elanna)

JANEWAY
(to everyone)
B’Elanna has informed me that we a virus on our hands.

B’ELANNA
(to Janeway)
A virus that likes holomatrix sequences, Captain.
As far as I tell, the virus is attracted to the photons
emitted by the holo images. It attaches itself to the
holo grids and absorps the photons, turning itself
into a portable holo emitter.

HARRY
(to Janeway)
That’s why we’re getting holo programs all
over the ship , Captain. Wherever the virus travels,
so do the holo photons.

CHAKOTAY
(to everyone)
So, how do we stop the virus?

JANEWAY (to everyone)
Suggestions?

B’ELANNA
(to Janeway)
Well, Harry and I thought that we could set up
a containment field in cargo bay 11, download all
of the holomatrices into the field and draw the virus
to them. We’ll need to set up emitters on every deck.

JANEWAY
(to Harry and B’Elanna)
You’re creating a trap.

HARRY
That’s right, Captain.

TOM
(to Janeway)
But, we could lose some of the programs
in the containment field, Captain.

B’ELANNA
(sarcastically)
Heaven forbid we lose some FICTIONAL holodeck characters.

CLOSE ON TOM as he is surprised (and offended) by her remark.

JANEWAY
Any other suggestions?

There is silence.

JANEWAY
(to Tom)
Sorry Tom, it looks like this decision has been made for us.
(to Harry and B’Elanna)
Harry,
B’Elanna,
do it.

JANEWAY, TUVOK, CHAKOTAY EXIT.
HARRY, B”ELANNA AND TOM FOLLOW.
CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY/ CONTINUOUS

EVERYONE is walking (out of the briefing room) , into the hallway.
JANEWAY, TUVOK AND CHAKOTAY fade into the background as THE CAMERA FOLLOWS
HARRY, B’ELANNA AND TOM.
HARRY (as he walks past B’Elanna)
(to B’Elanna)
I’ll set up the emitters.

B’ELANNA
Thanks Harry.

HARRY WALKS OUT OF FRAME. CAMERA STAYS ON B’ELANNA AND TOM (as they
continue walking)

TOM walks up to B’Elanna.

TOM
What was that all about?

B’ELANNA
What was what all about?

TOM
That crack about the holoprograms.

B’ELANNA stops walking and faces Tom (who stops walking also).

B’ELANNA (angry)
I don’t know, why don’t I drop off the merlot at ensign David’s
quarter’s and you and he can figure that out after you’ve played with
batman.

B’ELANNA WALKS OUT OF FRAME,
CAMERA HOLDS ON TOM as he sighs (realising his fault).

CUT TO:

INT. ASTROMETRICS

SEVEN has just finished setting up an emitter and slaps her comm badge.

SEVEN
Seven to Ensign Kim.

HARRY (V.O)
Yes, Seven.

SEVEN
The emitter is on-line.

CUT TO:

INT. ENGINEERING

HARRY is at his console.

HARRY
Okay, thanks Seven.
(to himself)
Alright, that’s all…..

Harry slaps his comm badge.

HARRY
Ensign Kim to Lt. Torres.

B’ELANNA (V.O)
Go ahead, Harry.

HARRY
All of the emitters are on line, B’Elanna.

CUT TO:

INT. CARGO BAY 11

B’ELANNA is working at a console.
There is a HUGE TRANSPARENT CYLINDER in front of the console. (SPFX)

B’ELANNA
Good, thanks Harry.

B’Elanna presses a few keys on her console.

B’ELANNA (slaps her comm badge)
Torres to Janeway.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Report, Lt.

B’ELANNA
We’re ready, Captain.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Proceed, B’Elanna.

B’ELANNA presses some more keys on her console.
THERE IS A LOUD ‘VACUUMING SOUND’ as we SEE CONDENSED (SQUISHED) VERSIONS
OF THE HOLODECK SCENES (WRESTLING RING, CASINO, ARCADE, ETC) enter the cylinder.
(SPFX)

CLOSE ON B’ELANNA as she watches the cylinder.

NEW ANGLE OF THE CYLINDER as the holodeck scenes begin to dissipate as the virus (tiny white
lights) enter the cylinder. Soon, the entire cylinder is filled with the virus ( it becomes a huge, glowing
white light) (SPFX).

B’ELANNA is watching it, when, her console BEEPS.
She looks down at it and presses a few keys.

B’ELANNA (slams her comm badge)
Torres to Captain Janeway.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Go ahead, Lt.

B’ELANNA
The virus has been contained, Captain.

JANEWAY (V.O)
Good work, Lt.

CUT TO:

INT. B’ELANNA’S QUARTERS

THE DOORBELL RINGS.

B’ELANNA (O.S)
Come in.

TOM ENTERS and walks into her LIVING ROOM AREA.
He is carrying the merlot.
B’ELANNA ENTERS .
CLOSE ON B’ELANNA as she isn’t pleased to see him.

TOM
(shows her the merlot)
I thought we could use this.
B’ELANNA doesn’t say a word, but, folds her arms.

Tom puts the merlot down on a TABLE.

TOM
I had enough holoprograms for one day.

B’ELANNA
(angry tone)
For ONE day?

TOM (half smiles)
Well, a few days.

B’ELANNA sighs and turns her back on him.

TOM walks over to her.

TOM
It’s not exactly thrilling to be an ensign.
The holoprograms give me something to do
with my free time.
(pause)
B’Elanna , those are just fantasies.

B’ELANNA turns to face him.

TOM
(sighs)
I’m sorry. I know I overdo it…
(smiles)
a bit….

B’ELANNA unfolds her arms.

TOM
The fantasies are great but they’re not
(looks into her eyes)
the REAL thing.

He brings her closer to him.

TOM
(almost whispering)
The real thing ….is much better.
He kisses her.
They stop .

B’ELANNA (shaking her head)
Tom Paris, what am I gonna do with you?

TOM
Kiss me.

They kiss.

CUT TO:

EXT. VOYAGER

is flying slowly through space (SPFX)

JANEWAY (V.O)
Captain’s log, supplemental.
The crew is getting back to normal after our
‘visit’ with the virus.
I, myself, am now coming to terms with… the loss.

WE HEAR THE DOORBELL RING

CUT TO:

INT. READY ROOM

CHAKOTAY ENTERS (holding a padd), and walks over to Janeway.
JANEWAY (with a cup of coffee in hand) is sitting on the couch, staring out the window.

CHAKOTAY (hands her the padd)
Status report, captain.

JANEWAY (taking the padd)
Thank-you Chakotay.

CHAKOTAY
He was lost in the containment field.

JANEWAY (nodding)
I know.

CHAKOTAY
You’re sad it’s over.

JANEWAY (after a sip of coffee)
Over? No, it’s not over.
We continue to build on his theory everyday and
every brick used is a new beginning.

CHAKOTAY smiles and leaves.

CLOSE ON JANEWAY as she continues to look out the window (reflecting).

FADE OUT.

THE END.

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY