FADE IN:
4 EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL) 4
At warp speed, with the Okreepon spaceship following alongside.
5 INT: HOLODECK, DUNGEON SCENE 5
DOCTOR
(shocked, disbelieving) Seven..?
SEVEN HOLOGRAM
You heard me, you ugly slug! On... your... knees... Now! (cracks whip)
SCHINDLER (O.C.)
(from behind Doctor) Yes, Mistress Seven! I will obey!
Doctor spins around and sees a man kneeling on the floor, facing the Seven hologram with bowed head.
DOCTOR
(confused) Ensign Schindler?
SCHINDLER
I have been very bad, Mistress.
SEVEN HOLOGRAM
(cracks whip again) Then you shall be punished! Now... crawl to me!
DOCTOR
(disparagingly) Sorry Ensign, but I need to interrupt your... entertainment. I need your help to get out of here. (Schindler ignores Doctor) Ensign? Ensign, I'm talking to you...
Doctor reaches to touch Schindler on the shoulder, but his hand passes through Schindler like a ghost. Doctor stares at his hand in disbelief.
DOCTOR
What's going on? What's happened to me..?
6 INT. BRIEFING ROOM 6
Senior staff seated around table. Janeway enters.
JANEWAY
Okay, let's get... (looks around) Wait a minute... Where's the Doctor?
CHAKOTAY
I don't know. I assumed he was on his way. I sent him a notification of this meeting.
JANEWAY
(taps com badge) Janeway to the Doctor. We need you in the main briefing room, on the double. (pause) Doctor, respond please. (pause) Computer, locate the Doctor.
COMPUTER
The EMH program is off-line.
JANEWAY
(impatient) Well then, activate the EMH and have him report to the Briefing Room, pronto.
COMPUTER
Unable to comply. The EMH program is not available.
JANEWAY
Not available? That's odd. B'ellana, would you check that out, please?
TORRES
(nodding) Aye, Captain. (Torres exits)
JANEWAY
Okay then, let's get started. First order; Damage.
CHAKOTAY
No major damage. All primary systems are sound. Some minor sub-systems are still not fully operational. The replicators on decks 9 and 10 won't work, and we've lost all power in section 4 of deck 11. I'm beginning to think the good Doctor is another casualty. Anyway, everything should be back on-line within the hour.
TUVOK
Defensive systems are fully operational, should we need them.
JANEWAY
All right, good. Keep me posted. Next business; our new friends. What do we know about them?
SEVEN
This species is unfamiliar to the Borg.
TUVOK
I have done preliminary scans of their ship. Their technology seems to be at least comparable to ours in most respects.
PARIS
They seem kind of nice, but that sensor beam packed a lot of punch for a scan.
TUVOK
Agreed. They scanned us very deeply. They may have gotten as far as the computer core, but I can detect no evidence of a security breach. I do not believe that any critical encryption was compromised.
JANEWAY
That's good to know. Anything else unusual? Guesses? Gut feelings?
NEELIX
I have to say, Captain, they do seem very friendly.
JANEWAY
I agree, Mister Neelix, they do seem hospitable. We could use a break, so I hope they are what they seem. Well, I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt. We'll invite them over then, unless someone sees a reason not to? (staff shakes heads) Okay then, it's settled. Now, we'll need someone to go over there. Any volunteers?
CHAKOTAY
I'd like to volunteer, Captain. I haven't been off the ship in a while.
JANEWAY
All right, good. I'll call our hosts and extend the welcome mat. Chakotay, meet me in the Transporter Room in twenty minutes. Dress uniform. Everyone else, dismissed.
7 EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL) 7
At warp speed, with the Okreepon spaceship following alongside.
8 INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM 8
Janeway and Chakotay enter in dress uniforms. Supernumerary at console.
JANEWAY
Energize.
Supernumerary taps console. Pleetos materializes on pad, smiling.
JANEWAY
Welcome aboard the USS Voyager. We extended to you the hospitality of our happy races.
PLEETOS
(makes grateful arm gestures) Thank you, Captain. I am honored to be here.
JANEWAY
Allow me to introduce my first officer, Commander Chakotay. You mentioned earlier that we could visit your ship. I was hoping he could have that privilege.
PLEETOS
Of course, Captain. Yes, he'll do nicely. Please feel free to go over at your convenience. Just beam to the same coordinates from which I came.
CHAKOTAY
There's no time like the present. With your permissions, Captains, I'll head over.
PLEETOS
Enjoy yourself, Commander. I trust you will find our vessel intriguing.
CHAKOTAY
Thank you. (to Janeway) I'll report back within the hour, Captain. (he climbs onto transporter pad) Energize. (dematerializes)
JANEWAY
(gesturing toward door) Now, if you'd like, I'll show you around a bit.
ARGINESS
(cheerful) Thank you, Captain. I have been looking forward to this!
Janeway and Pleetos EXIT.
9 INT. HOLODECK; BIG BAND NIGHT CLUB SCENE 9
Kim, dressed in tuxedo, playing clarinet in front of large band, which is labeled "The Harry Kim Orchestra." Hologram of SEVEN dressed in evening gown is nearby, singing a big band era tune. Doctor watches from the sidelines, seated at a table.
DOCTOR (V.O.)
Doctor's personal log. I have been trapped in the holodeck for over four hours now. The Computer will not respond to my commands to shut myself down, or to transfer me out of here. I can't make myself seen or heard by anyone who enters the holodeck, and I can't leave the holodeck through the door because my Mobile Emitter is back in Sickbay. Last time I go anywhere without that! I've found I can access the holodeck control panel, but only when no programs are running, which, unfortunately, isn't very often. I suppose my only recourse is to wait and hope someone notices that I'm missing, and that they'll get me out of here soon. In the meantime, I've discovered a disturbing, yet uncomfortably familiar, trend in our crew's entertainment tastes.
DOCTOR
(chin supported on forearm, looking bored) Computer, exactly how many representations of Seven of Nine are there in the holo-buffer?
COMPUTER
There are currently sixteen representations of Seven of Nine.
DOCTOR
Sixteen! (to self, rolling eyeballs) I guess I can feel a little less guilty now. (out loud) Okay then, other than me, how many representations of the ship's Doctor are there?
COMPUTER
There is only one other representation of the Doctor.
DOCTOR
One?! Well... so what... I'm a doctor, not a celebrity.
Song and music end. Kim and Seven bow, audience applauds.
KIM
(to Seven) Outstanding as always, my dear. (out loud) Computer, end program.
Everything vanishes except Kim & Doctor. Kim EXITS. Doctor follows, but when he gets to door, he tries to stick his hand across the threshold. The Doctor's hand begins to vanish on the other side, so he pulls it back in. Doors shut.
DOCTOR
Damn! Well, at least maybe now I can find some answers before someone else shows up.
Doctor moves to console and begins tapping controls.
10 INT. BRIDGE 10
Janeway ENTERS, moves to Torres, who is working at console.
JANEWAY
B'ellana, Any word on our wayward Doctor?
TORRES
Not yet, Captain. His program is not in the sickbay memory buffer, where it should be when he's deactivated. His back-up program is there, if we need to restart him. There's no record of him being deleted though, so I think he's somewhere in the system. I'm just having trouble finding him for some reason.
JANEWAY
Okay, keep at it. Let me know if you find anything.
TORRES
(nods) Understood. (returns to work)
Janeway moves to Tuvok.
TUVOK
Our guest, Captain?
JANEWAY
Is with Seven getting a tour of Astro-metrics right now. I must say, they seem like a very enlightened race. I can't remember the last time I met such a warm and friendly people.
TUVOK
I concur. Their intellect seems to be on a par with that of Vulcan's, and their benevolence mirrors the best that humanity has to offer.
JANEWAY
He's invited us to stop by and visit their home world, which we'll be passing near. He's shown me some images of it. It looks like a beautiful planet, Tuvok.
TUVOK
...and our response?
JANEWAY
(shrugs) It would be rude to decline, and it's not really out of our way. Pleetos said they'd help us replenish our supplies. It would be a good break for the crew. We haven't been to any M-class planets in a while. I think we could stand to spend a few days in such good company, don't you?
TUVOK
I believe it would be illogical to pass up this opportunity, Captain.
JANEWAY
Who am I to question logic? I'll give our answer then. (addresses PARIS, at helm) Mister Paris, Any word from Chakotay?
PARIS
No, ma'am. But we have a lock on his bio-emitter. He seems fine over there.
JANEWAY
Open a channel. Voyager to Commander Chakotay. (pause) Voyager to Chakotay, respond please.
Chakotay appears on the main screen. He is smiling broadly.
CHAKOTAY
(very cheerful) Hello, Captain! Good to see you. How are things over there?
JANEWAY
(staid) Just fine, thanks. I was about to ask you the same question.
CHAKOTAY
Couldn't be better. These people are wonderful. They certainly know how to treat their guests!
JANEWAY
Good, I'm glad everything is working out. I look forward to seeing your full report. When are you coming back?
CHAKOTAY
If you don't mind, Captain, they've invited me to spend the night, and I'd like to take them up on it. They have some zero-gravity beds here that put our bunks to shame.
JANEWAY
(thinks it over, then shrugs) Well, we can't compete with that. Have a pleasant evening then, Commander. Report back in the morning.
CHAKOTAY
Will do, Captain. You have a good night also. Chakotay out. (Chakotay vanishes from screen.)
11 INT: HOLODECK; STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS, BANQUET ROOM 11
SENIOR STAFF wearing dress uniforms, assembled in a rough circle, drinking champagne, laughing and chatting. Doctor inspects hologram of himself.
DOCTOR
Well, at least I found my lone alter ego. (smiles at Neelix) Kudos to Mister Neelix. Say, I look good in a dress uniform! (looks at Doctor hologram's chest) I wonder how they pinned a medal on a hologram?
JANEWAY
(joining group) Congratulations, Mister Neelix. (jocular) Oops, I forgot... It's Ensign Neelix now, isn't it?
NEELIX
(smiling) Yes Ma'am, Captain. Oops, I forgot, it's Admiral now, isn't it?
PARIS
Oh, stop it you two. We all got promotions. Stop hogging the spotlight.
JANEWAY
Yes, who would have guessed that getting promoted would be so easy. All we had to do was get a starship from one side of the galaxy to the other.
NEELIX
And meet some mighty strange folks along the way!
SEVEN
(to Neelix, vaguely jocular) Some stranger than others.
NEELIX
Oh, come now Seven. That's no way to talk about a fellow ensign!
TORRES
(to all) I just can't believe they gave medals to Chakotay and me.
CHAKOTAY
Yes, I figured we'd get ten to twenty! I thought a pardon was generous, but this. (tugs at medal on his shirt)
KIM
(a little drunk) Look, who cares about the medals... or the promotions... We're home! We made it! That's what's important!
All
(raising glasses) Here! Here!
DOCTOR HOLOGRAM
I'd like to make a toast, if I may.
DOCTOR
It's about time you said something.
DOCTOR HOLOGRAM
(raises glass) To our fine and lovely Captain, whose leadership inspired us across the cosmos. To our crew, who had the wisdom to follow her. To the good ship Voyager, for having the mettle to carry us all home. And finally, and most important, to home itself. May we never be far from it again.
All, except Neelix
(raising glasses) Here! Here!
DOCTOR
(smugly, to self) I couldn't have said it better myself.
Crew continues chatting and laughing. Neelix wanders away from them, with a somber expression. He goes to a large window that looks out over the Golden Gate Bridge. Doctor notices him leave the group, and follows.
DOCTOR
What's the matter, Neelix? Didn't you like my toast?
ALIXA (O.C.)
(from behind) What's the matter, Neelix?
Doctor and Neelix turn around to see a young Talaxian woman behind them.
NEELIX
(not surprised, melancholy) Alixa, It's good to see you. Thanks for coming.
ALIXA
How could I not come see my own brother at his finest hour? I am so proud of you, Neelix. You look so handsome in your uniform. But I see you are sad. Why?
NEELIX
(sighs) Because of that, mostly. (gestures out window) Earth is a lovely planet. The people here are wonderful. But this... This isn't my home. It isn't Talaxia.
ALIXA
But you left Talaxia behind long ago. After the war. You said there was nothing there for you. After your family was killed. After I died.
NEELIX
(somber, looking out window) I know, I know. I died too, on that day, Alixa. I died inside. And I stayed dead for a long time. Until I met Kes. She was so gentle and kind to me. (voice begins to crack) She taught me to live again. (sighs, looks back at crew) The crew of Voyager; I love them. I love them now like I loved my family once. Like I loved you. But I only joined them to be with Kes. By God, if she had joined the Borg instead, I would have followed her there.
ALIXA
But Kes is gone now, Neelix. She left you.
NEELIX
Yes. Kes is gone. She had to leave. I don't blame her for that. But by then, I was too far from Talaxian space to go home. And I had already adopted these fine people as my new family. (sighs) But I'll probably never see my world again, nor another like me. I am surrounded here by friends. by family. but I feel alone. so very alone. Sometimes I wish I had never (pauses, chokes back tears, shakes off emotion) Oh, why do I do this to myself?! Sulking and whining about the past, here in a fabricated future! Some morale officer I am! Computer, end program.
ALIXA
Good-bye, Neelix. I am always here for you, if you need me.
Everything vanishes except Neelix and the Doctor.
NEELIX (CU)
(quietly, melancholy, to self) I know you are, Alixa. I know.
OFF Neelix's melancholy expression...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
