FADE IN:
17. EXT. ALPHA BUILDING - MAIN ENTRANCE - DAY
We look up at the huge Alpha Building, then PAN DOWN and INTO the MAIN ENTRANCE. Dozens of Cadets move in and out the large doors.
CAMERA FOLLOWS the back of one head, belonging to 2ND CLASS CADET HIKARU TAKANI, a human male. He walks inside.
18. INT. ALPHA GAMMA - MAIN ATRIUM - DAY - CONTINUOUS
Hikaru walks down the huge OPEN ATRIUM, which stretches five decks up, and is brilliantly lit by a skylight/prism system similar to the Auditorium. Topiary from a dozen worlds can be seen, along with marble benches, hallways and TURBOLIFT DOORS.
It’s these that Hikaru steps up to. The doors open, and Hikaru enters. He turns, so we can see him for the first time.
HIKARU
(to turbolift)
Hotel Deck.
The doors close.
19. INT. ALPHA HOTEL - ENTRYWAY - DAY
The turbolift doors open, and Hikaru EXITS.
We’re in the 24th Century equivalent to a STUDENT UNION. It’s noisy and raucous (for a Starfleet facility), and the Cadets are much more relaxed. Hikaru walks to the CADET PX.
20. INT. ALPHA HOTEL - CADET PX - DAY - CONTINUOUS
Hikaru ENTERS, and a 3RD CLASS FEMALE CADET behind the counter smiles.
FEMALE CADET
Good afternoon.
HIKARU
(in mild flirt mode)
Good afternoon. Is the order for Nova Squadron ready?
FEMALE CADET
Let me check.
She consults her terminal while Hikaru peruses the Academy insignia merchandise. After a few seconds, the Female Cadet pipes up.
FEMALE CADET
Cadet? It’s ready.
(beat)
I just have to go back to get the box, though.
HIKARU
Sure.
She EXITS to the storeroom. Hikaru continues browsing until an ALIEN (ARGOSIAN) 2ND CLASS CADET, KI TALCHOS ENTERS.
KI
Greetings, Hikaru.
HIKARU
Oh, hi there, Ki.
KI
The day finds you well?
HIKARU
Very well, in fact.
(beat)
What are you up to?
KI
I am selecting mementos for my younger siblings before they return
home.
HIKARU
Ah, souvenirs. Did your family enjoy the Engineering School ceremonies?
KI
Yes, they did.
(beat)
And you, Hikaru, what brings you here?
HIKARU
I’m picking up a special order.
Right on cue, the Female Cadet REENTERS, carrying a LARGE BOX.
FEMALE CADET
Here they are.
HIKARU
Terrific.
He opens the box, exposing tissue paper. He fishes around, pulling out an antique-looking “leather” BOMBER JACKET. Patches include Starfleet Academy and Federation insignia and the back is “painted” with a Nova Squadron logo. Turning it around, we see it has a place for a combadge, and a nameplate that reads:
“Snake Eyes”
“TAKANI, HIKARU”
“Cadet 2C”
(callsign, name and rank) Hikaru gazes at it in awe. He shows it to Ki.
HIKARU
What do you think?
KI
(flatly)
Impressive.
(beat)
What is it?
HIKARU
It’s called a “bomber jacket.” Terran pilots have been wearing
them since the earliest days of flight on this planet.
FEMALE CADET
It took an entire month’s worth of the team’s replicator time to make
them.
HIKARU
And that’s after we had to figure out what to make them out of.
KI
There is one of these jackets for each member of the flight team?
HIKARU
That’s right.
KI
I believe your teammates will be very pleased.
(beat)
Whose idea were they?
HIKARU
(not completely enthused)
Our resident historian, of course– Jaredan.
CUT TO:
21. INT. CHARLIE TWO ALPHA - JAREDAN’S DORM ROOM - STUDY CORNER - LATE AFTERNOON
CLOSE - ON what looks like a CONSTITUTION CLASS STARSHIP.
WIDEN TO SHOW:
Jaredan carefully hangs a relatively primitive MODEL of the original Starship Enterprise from the ceiling near his DESK by an almost invisible filament. Out the window, we see day just beginning to fade.
Jaredan looks around, satisfied. The SHOT WIDENS to show that he’s just about moved in– there are pictures on things, clothes are visible in the closet, etc.
JAREDAN
Now it’s looking better.
The DOOR CHIME sounds.
JAREDAN
(to door)
Come in.
Kara appears behind the open door. She snaps to attention and salutes smartly.
KARA
Cadet First Officer Kara Lionetti reporting for duty, sir!
Jaredan steps toward her, looking sour.
JAREDAN
That’s not fair, Kara. You know I’d be the first one to say you
deserve a command.
Kara drops her hand and shakes her head.
KARA
Jaredan, I’m not angry– I was just fooling with you.
(sincerely)
Look, I know why it happened. In fact, I expected it. You
come into the program a semester behind, and you’re bottom of the seniority
ladder. Captain Liat explained it to me when he gave me my orders.
(beat)
Besides, you don’t have to have been a Cadet Captain to be a real one.
JAREDAN
(relieved)
So, seriously– no hard feelings?
KARA
(smiling)
Only if you make us late for dinner.
JAREDAN
Oh, right. Sit down while I make myself presentable.
He EXITS to the “bedroom” and closes the privacy screen. Kara plops down on the sofa and calls after him.
KARA
I don’t think we can wait that long!
JAREDAN (OS)
Thanks a lot, Kara!
Over at the sofa, Kara leans over and picks up a framed HOLO PICTURE on the table. It depicts five Cadets under a caption reading “NOVA SQUADRON”. Among the team are Jaredan, Kara, and Hikaru.
KARA
(calling into the bedroom)
So, what did Captain Liat say to you when he gave you your orders?
Jaredan REENTERS, looking freshened up.
JAREDAN
(almost embarrassed)
Well, it wasn’t Captain Liat.
KARA
(joking)
So Admiral Brand actually came down from the ivory tower of Alpha Building?
JAREDAN
Well, ah… no.
(beat)
It was… Captain Picard.
Kara almost jumps up, unbelieving.
KARA
Now you’re fooling with me, right?
JAREDAN
Nope.
KARA
(jealousy starting to show)
I don’t believe it.
JAREDAN
(almost apologizing, now)
It was pure luck. He was helping Capt. Liat hand them out, and
he got mine.
KARA
Well, did he say anything?
JAREDAN
Yeah, he said…
(in his best Picard impression)
“It takes a special kind of individual to make it through this program,
and an exceptional one to excel. You won’t know into which, if either,
of those you fall until the very last day.”
(beat)
“Persevere.”
(beat, smiling)
Not that I remember it word for word, or anything.
KARA
(awed)
Wow. It’d take me an hour to write something like that, and he
just makes it up off the top of his head?
JAREDAN
You think he looks imposing on the stage? You’ve got no idea.
KARA
I’ll bet.
(beat)
Ready?
JAREDAN
Yep. Let’s go.
They HEAD OUT the door.
22. INT. OUTSIDE JAREDAN’S DOOR - LATE AFTERNOON - CONTINUOUS
Kara stops.
KARA
(doing Picard)
“Persevere,” huh?
JAREDAN
(also doing Picard)
Uh-huh. “Persevere.”
(beat)
Makes you feel real excited about the next two years, eh?
They walk off down the hall.
CUT TO:
23. INT. CHARLIE ONE INDIA - DOUBLE ROOM (PARAN & ELENA’S ROOM) - EVENING
We’re inside a different kind of room. It occupies about the same space as the singles, but consist of a small common room (what we see now), with sofa, replicator, desks and table. There are screens for the two small sleeping areas and a door to the bathroom. The screen for one sleeping area is closed.
The front door opens. ENTERING is a male 2ND CLASS BAJORAN CADET, wearing a uniform with gold department colors, TOR PARAN. He drops a satchel onto the sofa.
PARAN
Hello? Anybody here?
The closed screen opens. A FEMALE 2ND CLASS CADET, of Latin descent, also with gold colors, sticks her head out– ELENA REYES
ELENA
(brightly)
Oh, hi. You must be Tor Paran.
She steps out and offers her hand. Paran shakes it firmly.
PARAN
(more reserved)
Uh, yeah. You’re Elena Reyes?
ELENA
Guilty as charged.
(gestures towards screen)
I hope you don’t mind, but I claimed this side of the room.
PARAN
That’s fine.
He tosses his satchel behind the other screen, then crosses to the replicator.
PARAN (CONT’D)
(to replicator)
Ice water.
The glass MATERIALIZES. Paran takes it and sits at his desk. Elena sits on the sofa. They sit in awkward silence for a minute. Finally, Paran takes a sip and speaks.
PARAN
So, Elena, where are you from?
ELENA
(smiling)
Ah, a standard small talk opening.
PARAN
(relieved)
Go with what works, right?
ELENA
Sure.
PARAN
(after a second)
So?
ELENA
Oh, right.
(leans back)
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Paran has a look of complete nonrecognition on his face.
ELENA (CONT’D)
That’s here on Earth, on the South American continent.
(Paran nods)
How about you? I mean, I figured you’re Bajoran…
The conversation gets more animated.
PARAN
Yeah. I grew up on a little farm in Dahkur Province.
ELENA
You lived on a farm? So did I! What did you raise?
PARAN
Mostly jumja. It’s a sweet, citrusy fruit that we use in a lot
of candies and desserts.
ELENA
Sounds good. We raised cattle. Cows, you know?
PARAN
Sure. You have a lot?
ELENA
Five thousand head. I guess it’s not really a farm, it’s more
of a big ranch…
She trails off as Paran nods, and the conversation dies again. After another pause, Elena breaks the silence.
ELENA
Do you know anything about anyone else on Gamma Team?
PARAN
Only the Captain and XO, and only by reputation.
ELENA
I’ve heard of them, too. And I took Starfleet History with our
Science officer.
PARAN
T’Ress, right? I’ve never worked with a Vulcan before.
ELENA
She was in my study section. I’ll say this much– having a Vulcan
around definitely keeps you on time and on track.
PARAN
I’ll bet.
(beat)
Computer: time.
The COMPUTER VOICE answers from nowhere.
COMPUTER VOICE (VO)
Eighteen oh-two hours.
PARAN
Eighteen hundred already?
(to Elena)
You want to grab some dinner?
ELENA
Sure.
Elena gets up, and they both EXIT through the front door.
CUT TO:
24. INT. CHARLIE TWO DELTA - HALLWAY - NIGHT
We see a silent hallway lined with doors. The TURBOLIFT DOORS OPEN. Jaredan, Kara, Kara’s Mother and Kara’s Father EXIT. They stand just past the doors.
JAREDAN
(bowing to the parents slightly)
Ma’am, Sir– thank you both very much for dinner. I had a nice
time.
KARA’S MOTHER
(still snooty)
You’re quite welcome, Jaredan.
JAREDAN
(to Kara)
I’ll give you a call tomorrow to set up a team conference?
KARA
That’s fine. Goodnight, Jaredan.
JAREDAN
Goodnight.
Nodding to them all, he REENTERS the turbolift. The DOORS CLOSE behind him.
25. INT. TURBOLIFT - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
JAREDAN
(to turbolift)
Alpha Deck.
The turbolift moves. Jaredan leans against the wall, sighing.
JAREDAN
Hoo boy.
CUT TO:
26. INT. CHARLIE TWO ALPHA - JAREDAN’S DORM ROOM - NIGHT
The BATHROOM DOOR opens, and Jaredan walks out, looking cleaned, but not wet, back in T-shirt and sweatpants. Jaredan groans as he heads for the sleeping area.
JAREDAN
And the adventure begins…
Jaredan EXITS, leaving the room dark and empty.
FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO