FADE IN:
50. EXT. FLYING DUTCHMAN BAR - NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT of the place. Like any college town, the area around the Academy has a large number of Cadet-oriented businesses, such as cafes, knick-knack stores, restaurants, etc. The popular Cadet hangout is the Flying Dutchman Bar.
51. INT. FLYING DUTCHMAN BAR - NIGHT
Inside, the lighting is dim, but the atmosphere is friendly.
Kara ENTERS, and walks through, scanning the tables. As she makes her way back, she NODS to people she knows. Finally, she reaches a BACK CORNER BOOTH, well-hidden and dark. Jaredan sits there, an empty mug and a half-full pitcher of synthale sit before him, next to a PADD, which he studies intently.
KARA
Jay. Jay!
Jaredan looks up slowly.
JAREDAN
(almost slurred)
What can I do for you? You’re calling me “Jay,” so you must be
in a friendly mood.
KARA
(taking a seat)
You can buy me a synthale.
JAREDAN
(towards bar)
Tony! Another mug!
Jaredan fills his own mug, and takes a long gulp.
KARA
This is some way to gear up for Nova Squadron’s first flight tomorrow.
Kara’s mug arrives as Jaredan talks. TONY is the bartender, and looks just like a bartender should look, and as bartenders have looked for millennia– heavy, pleasant, with a towel over his shoulder.
JAREDAN
(as he fills the new mug)
Kara, it’s synthale. After another pitcher, Tony’ll cut me off.
An hour after that, I’ll be stone cold sober.
(takes another gulp)
Remind me to slug the next Ferengi I meet for taking away my right
to get properly plastered.
(holds up his mug)
To Gamma Team.
Kara clinks her mug.
KARA
(humorlessly)
To Gamma Team, then.
(drinks)
Who’d have a field day if they saw you like this.
JAREDAN
Like any of them would need an excuse.
(drinks)
Even Hikaru, and I know him.
(drinks)
Where in the hell did I go wrong?
KARA
Well, Captain Picard seemed to point that out pretty well.
JAREDAN
Which reminds me of how little support I got out of my First Officer.
KARA
My job isn’t to be your yes-man, it’s to help you command well.
JAREDAN
Some help you were.
KARA
(snaps at him)
You want to know the truth?
(drinks)
I didn’t have the answers, either. I probably wouldn’t have done
any better.
JAREDAN
You wouldn’t have tried to take those ships in tow.
KARA
No.
(drinks)
I would’ve charged in before we were cautioned about the dust maybe
being volatile. Having done that, the simulation probably would’ve
made it volatile, and boom– there go the impulse engines.
(beat)
And I still wouldn’t have put us on yellow alert.
They both drink, somewhat amused.
JAREDAN
Well, it can’t get any worse, can it?
KARA
(looking towards the door)
Oh, yeah?
They both look. ENTERING the Dutchman are Maran, and a trio of his RED SQUAD CRONIES. Maran immediately sees them, and heads over. Maran stands beside the booth, fists on hips, looking like a caricature.
MARAN
(mocking)
So, I hear you two augured in today.
KARA
What’s it to you?
MARAN
(shrugging)
Nothing.
(smugly)
Absolutely nothing.
Maran and his Cronies walk off.
JAREDAN
(just loud enough to hear)
At least we didn’t have to abandon ship ten minutes into the mission.
Kara’s eyes go wide. Maran stops cold. Maran turns and goes back to the table, seething.
MARAN
Did you say something?
JAREDAN
Only reminding myself to let my engineer take care of locking down
plasma leaks, especially if I haven’t studied the specs.
MARAN
None of that was my fault!
JAREDAN
(slyly)
So it was you.
Maran leans in.
MARAN
Give me one good reason I shouldn’t drag you outside and beat the hell
out of you.
JAREDAN
(calmly)
Academy Cadet Guidelines, Article XII, Section 8, Paragraph 1: No Starfleet
Cadet may strike, accost, or otherwise assault another Starfleet Cadet
in anger, even in self defense.
Maran growls. He grabs the slightly inebriated Jaredan by his shirt and hauls him out of the booth.
MARAN
I don’t care. No one insults a member of Red Squad!
He shoves Jaredan into a nearby table. Jaredan stays on his feet, but the table and everything on top of it crashes to the floor. The PATRONS who were sitting around the table are not happy. They are also alien, and very large (Nausicaans, maybe?).
ANGRY PATRON #1
What the hell do you think you’re doing, boy?
JAREDAN
(head starting to clear)
Maybe you noticed that wasn’t my fault!
ANGRY PATRON #2
We don’t care!
ANGRY PATRON #2 takes a swing, which Jaredan ducks.
A classic Western-inspired BAR FIGHT ensues, involving several PATRONS and another two CADET EXTRAS. VARIOUS SHOTS of MAYHEM.
Kara remains in the booth, sipping her drink and shaking her head. Jaredan ends up grappling with ANGRY PATRON #1, right in front of her.
JAREDAN
(to Kara)
Are you gonna give me a hand, or what?
Kara claps softly. Jaredan rolls his eyes and flips his opponent over his shoulder.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
(to Kara)
You’re already here during a fight. You’ll get disciplined whether
you fight or not!
He gets tackled from the side. Kara shakes her head.
KARA
Ah, hell.
(to sky)
Well, Mother, you were worried he’d be a bad influence…
She gets up and joins the fight.
52. EXT. FLYING DUTCHMAN BAR - NIGHT
The SOUNDS of the brawl are heard as a pair of STARFLEET ACADEMY SECURITY FLOATERS (hovercars) pull up.
CUT TO:
53. INT. ALPHA BUILDING - ADM. BRAND’S OFFICE - ANTEROOM - NEXT MORNING
EIGHT Cadets stand at attention in the ANTEROOM of the SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE: Jaredan, Kara, Maran, his three Red Squad Cronies, and the two Cadet Extras from the fight scene.
Brand’s door opens. Liat enters the anteroom.
LIAT
Maran. Parker. Toshi. Franklin. Come with me.
Maran and his Cronies follow Liat out. As he leaves, Maran shoots a smug look at Jaredan.
Brand appears in her doorway.
BRAND
Cadet Denaan, Cadet Simmons– you are confined to quarters until further
notice.
The two Cadet Extras exit.
BRAND (CONT’D)
Cadet Aquino, Cadet Lionetti– come inside.
Brand turns, without waiting for a response. Jaredan and Kara follow her inside the door.
CLOSE - ON DOORWAY, looking into the office.
We see Jaredan and Kara take their places in front of Brand, who is behind her desk.
ANGLE PANS SLIGHTLY TO REVEAL:
Picard standing beside the desk.
54. INT. ALPHA BUILDING - ADM. BRAND’S OFFICE - MORNING
Jaredan and Kara stand at attention before the imposing sight of Brand, behind her desk. The Superintendent is backed by the Academy Seal, and flanked on one side by the Federation flag, and on the other by Picard.
Brand considers the Cadets with an exasperated look.
BRAND
Cadet Aquino, I would have assumed that after the… unpleasantness we
went through, what, just fourteen months ago?
(beat)
I have read the Academy Security Service’s report on this incident.
I must tell you that, as Superintendent, it is most unpleasant reading.
(beat)
Do you have anything to add, Cadet Aquino?
JAREDAN
(assuredly)
Only to reiterate that I did not instigate the incident, nor did I
strike another Cadet, sir. I was acting solely in my own self-defense.
BRAND
Yes, your deposition in the Security report was most detailed.
What I would like to know is whether or not you consider those actions
to be appropriate for a Starfleet Cadet, particularly one in the Command
School.
JAREDAN
No, sir, it was not appropriate.
BRAND
Well, at least we agree on that.
(beat)
Out of curiosity, do you have anything resembling an excuse for these
inappropriate actions?
JAREDAN
No, sir.
(beat)
Explanations, sir, but no excuses.
BRAND
And those explanations would be?
JAREDAN
Primarily, my team’s poor performance in our first mission simulation
yesterday. More specifically, my own poor performance as a commanding
officer.
(beat)
Also, I would have to include the callous– no, condescending attitude
of Cadet Maran towards that event, as well.
PICARD
(almost angry)
Are you blaming another Cadet for your actions, Mr. Aquino?
JAREDAN
Absolutely not, sir. Admiral Brand asked me for whatever explanations
I might be able to give.
(beat)
I take full and complete responsibility for my actions.
(beat)
And for those of Cadet Lionetti, as well.
BRAND
Is that so?
JAREDAN
As her Cadet Commanding Officer, yes.
If she could turn her head, Kara’s sidelong look could kill him.
BRAND
(to Kara)
That brings us to you, Cadet Lionetti. Do you have any explanation
for you actions?
KARA
Only that I was acting in defense of my Commanding Officer, sir.
BRAND
And it is that fact will save you from the most severe disciplinary
action possible.
(to Jaredan)
Cadet Aquino, as a Cadet Captain, you are held to the highest standard
of any Cadet in the Academy. You have been found severely wanting.
(she rises)
My first choice of disciplinary actions would be to expel you from
the Academy, with a dishonorable discharge from Starfleet.
To his credit, Jaredan remains unreadable.
BRAND (CONT’D)
However, you– both of you– have found an advocate in Captain Picard.
He spent a good deal of this morning in this office, arguing your case
before me.
(beat)
Cadet Jaredan Ryan Aquino… Cadet Kara Marie Lionetti… you are hereby
placed under the direct authority and responsibility of Captain Jean-Luc
Picard. It will be his duty to see to your disciplining.
(to Picard)
Captain?
Picard steps forward.
PICARD
Cadets, you are to assemble Gamma Team at the main entrance to Alpha
Building at 1400 hours today, prepared for at least one week off-world.
Is that understood?
KARA and JAREDAN
Yes, sir!
PICARD
You are dismissed.
JAREDAN
A question, sir?
(Picard nods)
What about Nova Squadron?
PICARD
I would not be requesting anything, Cadet, if I were in your position.
JAREDAN
Begging the Captain’s pardon, sir, but how much more trouble could
I possibly get into?
Picard and Brand fight back smiles.
PICARD
Nova Squadron is grounded for the time being.
(beat)
That, however, is subject to what will happen in the next few days.
(beat)
You’re dismissed.
Jaredan and Kara EXIT. Picard takes a seat in front of Brand’s desk.
CUT TO:
55. INT. ALPHA HOTEL - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Gamma Team is again assembled around the conference table. Everyone is silent, and an uncomfortable tension is in the air. Jaredan is already standing.
JAREDAN
Well, I’m sure that all of you have heard something by now about what
happened to both me and Cadet Lionetti last night. Here’s the truth:
(beat, collecting himself)
Last night, I made the mistake of thinking that I could at least dull
the disappointment in my performance as your CO during yesterday’s mission
with enough synthale.
The slightest ripple of shock passes through the Cadets: they didn’t think for a second that he’d take the team’s failure so personally.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
Add to that ill-advised and self-imposed impairment the effects of
Cadet Frank Maran and some of his Red Squad cronies…
The others look at each other, recognizing both the name and the attitude.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
No, that’s enough of that. I screwed up, and that’s the truth.
I screwed up, and I’ll be paying for it.
(beat)
Kara stepped in to help me and so unfortunately, she’ll be paying for
that.
(beat)
Lastly, since I’m a Cadet Commanding Officer, you all will be paying
too.
Stone faces meet his.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
I do promise, though, that as soon as I can get Captain Picard alone
for five minutes, those last two won’t be a problem anymore.
Satisfied looks from most of the team. Surprise from Kara.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
That said, Captain Picard has instructed us to report to him today
in four hours. We’re to be ready to spend at least a week off the
planet.
Surprise all around.
JENNIFER
What are we doing?
KARA
We don’t know. That’s all he told us.
PARAN
We’re probably going to swab out the Enterprise replicator tanks.
ELENA
Or scrubbing down the outside of Spacedock.
KARA
It doesn’t do us any good to start speculating about the punishment.
(beat)
Chances are, whatever Captain Picard can come up with, it’ll be a lot
worse than anything we can imagine.
A couple of chuckles. Then laughs. Soon, the entire table is laughing. It lasts a few seconds, then peters out.
JAREDAN
Well, that’s about the last thing I expected to happen.
HIKARU
Are you serious about talking Picard into letting all of us out of
the punishment?
JAREDAN
Absolutely. None of you have anything to do with what happened.
(beat, looks around)
Okay, then. I’ll meet you all back here at 1130. Dismissed.
The team files out, except for Kara and Jaredan. Jaredan is still sitting, and he rubs his temples. Kara puts a hand on his shoulder.
KARA
You don’t have to do it.
JAREDAN
Do what?
KARA
Try to get me out of being disciplined. I got involved in the
fight, there’s no getting around that.
JAREDAN
You did it for me.
KARA
You asked me to.
JAREDAN
That was the synthale talking.
KARA
Whether you were drunk or sober, I still had a choice in the matter.
Jaredan pats her hand.
JAREDAN
Go back to your quarters. Grab some sleep if you can.
KARA
(smiling)
Is that an order?
JAREDAN
(also smiling)
If it has to be.
KARA
Aye, sir.
She EXITS. Jaredan rises, and paces. With a shake of his head, he EXITS.
FADE OUT.
END ACT SIX