TEASER
FADE IN:
1. INT. STARFLEET ACADEMY - JAREDAN AND KI’S QUADS DORMITORY SUITE - COMMON ROOM - MORNING
It’s about five thirty in the morning, and we’re looking at the COMMON ROOM of a Quad dorm suite. Our view looks towards the large window with its view of the campus (mostly nondescript buildings and just a peek at the Golden Gate Bridge). There’s little to distinguish it as the twenty-fourth century. There’s a large sofa and coffee table. A number of doors lead off from the room. One of them OPENS.
STARFLEET 2ND CLASS CADET JAREDAN AQUINO, a young human male, walks slowly out of the open door, in old-looking sweatpants and Starfleet Academy T-shirt (exactly like the kind you can buy in any comic store). His hair is disheveled, and he holds a steaming mug of coffee in one hand. It’s obviously been a rough night. He walks in front of the common room window.
Jaredan yawns loudly, then looks out the window, sipping his coffee.
JAREDAN
(ironically)
Another beautiful San Francisco morning.
(beat)
I hate mornings.
From OS, there’s a BEEP.
INSERT: TABLE COMPUTER TERMINAL
The terminal located on the coffee table is BEEPING, with the words “INCOMING MESSAGE” FLASHING on its screen.
TEXT APPEARS onscreen:
“San Francisco, Earth”
“Stardate 51153.7”
“0630 hours”
Jaredan drops to the sofa to face the terminal. He taps the front. TEXT DISAPPEARS.
CADET 2ND CLASS KARA LIONETTI, a female human (Betazoid), appears on the computer terminal screen, also looking first-thing-in-the-morning.
KARA
(drowsily)
Mornin’ Jaredan. In the mood for a run?
JAREDAN
Sure, Kara. Give me ten minutes?
KARA
I’ll meet you in the lobby.
She vanishes. Jaredan as he gets up and stretches, then starts heading for his door.
CUT TO:
2. EXT. QUAD TWO - FRONT DOORS - MORNING
Kara and Jaredan are in the dormitory’s doorway, stretching before their morning run. They’re both dressed in red and black Cadet running clothes, complete with combadges. Kara yawns.
JAREDAN
(smirking)
Late night?
KARA
(smirking right back)
And the xenobiology reading didn’t take you long?
JAREDAN
Well…
KARA
Let’s just go.
They set off at a quick pace.
3. EXT. WINDING PATH - ACADEMY CAMPUS - MORNING - CONTINUOUS
Jaredan and Kara run down a tree-lined path, the destination obscured by flora for a few moments. They outpace the camera as they turn a corner. The CAMERA catches up and TURNS TO REVEAL:
4. EXT. CENTER OF CAMPUS - MORNING - CONTINUOUS
Kara and Jaredan head for the CENTRAL POND AND PATHS, all with beautiful landscaping.
Just past the trees, we see the majestic sight of ALPHA BUILDING, the main and tallest edifice on campus. A few other buildings are in sight on the edges.
5. EXT. ALPHA BUILDING - MORNING - CONTINUOUS
Alpha Building is the magnificent main Academy building. Towards its top is a huge STARFLEET DELTA, with the words “STARFLEET ACADEMY” around it.
A small SHUTTLECRAFT (CGI) APPEARS from behind the building, and banks toward the camera. We FOLLOW until it reaches:
6. EXT. SHUTTLE LANDING PAD - SHUTTLECRAFT - MORNING - CONTINUOUS
The shuttlecraft from the previous shot hovers to a landing.
The shuttlecraft settles, a few gasses flushing, lights powering down. We can read it marked with the name “Galileo” and the registry number “NCC-1701-E-5”
The main side door begins to open.
CLOSE - ON BASE OF SHUTTLECRAFT DOOR
The door opens. A pair of black Starfleet-issue BOOTS steps out. The CAMERA PANS UP AND WIDENS, REVEALING a Starfleet uniform, command division.
WIDEN TO REVEAL:
CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD standing proudly on terra firma again.
WIDEN TO REVEAL:
Picard, ADMIRAL BRAND and CAPTAIN LIAT, the three figures beside the shuttle. ACADEMY SUPERINTENDENT ADMIRAL MARTA BRAND and COMMAND SCHOOL COMMANDANT CAPTAIN LIAT are here to greet Picard.
Brand holds out her hand.
BRAND
Captain Picard. It’s good to see you again.
PICARD
And you, Admiral Brand. I’m glad it’s under better circumstances
this time.
BRAND
Most definitely.
(she turns to Liat)
You know Captain Liat, the Commandant of the Academy Command School?
PICARD
Only by reputation.
(shakes hands with Liat)
A pleasure, Captain.
LIAT
(not entirely genuine)
An honor, Captain Picard.
(gesturing back towards campus)
Shall we get you settled and have some breakfast?
PICARD
Absolutely.
BRAND
Will your shuttle be returning to the Enterprise?
PICARD
(almost embarrassed)
Well, ah… no. Like myself, it’s on loan to the Academy while
the Enterprise is in Spacedock for liberty and repairs.
(beat)
Plus, I wanted to pilot her in myself.
CAMERA PULLS BACK AND WIDENS as the three officers head off towards campus.
Picard, Brand and Liat are WALKING towards the main campus, seen in a HIGH CRANE ANGLE.
CUT TO:
7. INT. ALPHA BRAVO - ADMIRAL BRAND’S CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING
Picard, Brand and Liat sit at one end of the Superintendent’s conference table, having breakfast as promised. The room is much like the conference room of a starship, but with a majestic view of the San Francisco Bay.
LIAT
Not to sound ungrateful, Captain Picard, but just how did Admiral Brand
rope you into spending your planetside time with us?
PICARD
(chuckling)
It’s still something of a mystery to me, actually. In fact, Admiral
Brand, I don’t exactly recall you giving me any choice in the matter.
BRAND
(matter-of-factly)
I have my sources at Command that let me know when high-profile persons
such as yourself are going to be “in town.” Once I knew you weren’t
going to be attached to another ship or to a Strategic department, I pulled
the necessary strings.
8. EXT. MOVING SHOT - CONFERENCE ROOM TO CAMPUS GROUNDS - MORNING
As the conversation continues, the CAMERA moves from the chatting officers towards the wide window, then OUTSIDE.
It “FLIES” down the side of Alpha Building, and OUT along the GROUNDS (complete with a few early-riser CADETS) until it comes to:
9. EXT. GAGARIN FOUNTAIN - MORNING - CONTINUOUS
Jaredan and Kara sit beside the monument and its wide oval pool, drinking from water bottles, taking a breather.
JAREDAN
So, have you gotten your new room assignment?
KARA
Yep. Charlie Two Delta– a single suite. You?
JAREDAN
A single, too– Charlie Two Alpha.
KARA
(teasingly)
Ooh, a penthouse suite, huh?
JAREDAN
C’mon, Kara, you know that all singles are the same.
(beat)
It’s going to be weird adjusting to life without a roommate.
KARA
I know what you mean.
(beat)
Have you heard anything about team and ranking assignments yet?
JAREDAN
Last I heard was that we’d know sometime after the Opening Ceremonies
tomorrow.
(slyly)
Why, are you gunning for a command?
KARA
I just might be.
She gets up and stretches.
KARA (CONT’D)
Come on, Jay, let’s get something to eat.
The CAMERA STAYS PUT as they continue to chatter, walking into the distance.
FADE OUT.
END TEASER
OPENING CREDITS