STAR TREK: RENAISSANCE "Right There Behind You, Part I" Story by Rob Jelley Teleplay by Rob Jelley & Dan Carlson This teleplay is originally from www.startrekrenaissance.com "Star Trek" and related names are registered trademarks of Paramount Pictures, Inc. This original work of fiction is written solely for non-profit purposes. Copyright 2002 by The Renaissance Group All rights reserved RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 1. TEASER FADE IN: EXT. SPACE The Enterprise travels at impulse through the Sol System, passing the giant, awe-inspiring body of Jupiter. A title appears: STARDATE 78996.8 TWO WEEKS AGO INT. ENTERPRISE -- BRIDGE It's quiet, almost empty. Only TALORA, QUINLAN, DOJAR and TWO CREWMEN are present and none of them seem particularly busy. Another title appears: THREE DAYS AFTER THE STRIKE ON COULAR III The power that once ran through the command center seems distant, even though three days ago it pulsed with energy and was the central hub of destruction, raining fire down on the surface of Coular Three. Perhaps that is why it is so empty. Finally, someone breaks the silence. DOJAR Commander, I'm receiving a hail from Earth. It's Admiral Delfune. Talora sighs, looks back at Dojar. TALORA Put her through to the Captain's ready room. She stands and walks towards the door, pausing for a second, as though she is about to chime through -- but stops, realizing something, and continues walking as the doors slide open. We remain on the Bridge -- a feeling of isolation and solemnity sweeps over it. QUINLAN So who's in charge now? DOJAR Me... I think. QUINLAN Unless the Captain shows up. RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 2. DOJAR (confirming) Unless the Captain shows up. He sighs. CUT TO: INT. ENTERPRISE -- READY ROOM Talora has positioned herself on the side of the table she is used to sitting on, the side she is used to looking at her captain from, and has activated the viewer. TALORA What has provoked this change? DELFUNE Starfleet feels that the Enterprise will be safer, and better cared for at Utopia Planitia. TALORA You mean that they want the ship out of the way? DELFUNE I meant what I said, Commander. Talora's not pleased with the answer, but she's not going to do anything about it. TALORA What are our orders once the Enterprise has docked? DELFUNE There's a fleet of transports awaiting your crews arrival. You're all to travel to Earth to be debriefed. TALORA The crew has already been debriefed. DELFUNE The brass has decided that they would like to debrief you again. They're looking for someone to point a finger at. TALORA (under her breath) How surprising. DELFUNE I didn't quite catch that last comment, Commander. RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 3. TALORA It doesn't matter -- there must have been some interference. Delfune raises an eyebrow. TALORA If there's nothing else, Admiral? DELFUNE I was expecting Captain Cross to respond to my hail. TALORA Captain Cross has... (beat) is in his quarters. DELFUNE I expect to see him in person upon your return to Earth. TALORA I'm sure that you will. Delfune nods. DELFUNE Delfune out. The image of Delfune is replaced by the Starfleet insignia, leaving Talora looking at the screen -- but not for long. She stands and EXITS. CUT TO: INT. ENTERPRISE -- CORRIDOR Talora walks down a corridor, stops outside a door leading to Cross's quarters. She taps the chime -- a beat, and nothing. She taps it again. Another beat, she taps her commbadge. TALORA Talora to Cross. (beat) Capt- Before she can finish speaking the doors slide open, revealing Cross stood at the door. He hasn't shaved for at least the past two days and looks like he couldn't care less. He looks at her for a long beat. CROSS What do you want? RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 4. TALORA Starfleet has ordered us to dock at Utopia Planitia. CROSS You could have told me that over the comm. TALORA I thought that perhaps you'd like to be present when we arrive... CROSS You could have told me that over the comm as well. A beat. TALORA Captain, it's been three days... CROSS (interrupts, voice raised) And five since those bastards killed Admiral Portman. Do you really think that I care, Commander? At all? Another beat. CROSS (softly) Is there anything else? TALORA Would you like me to inform the crew? CROSS Of Starfleet's orders? Talora nods. CROSS Yeah -- I'll be here. Cross nods, and turns to return to his quarters, as the door shuts behind him. Talora stands there for a while, looking at the door. CUT TO: EXT. SPACE The Enterprise approaching Mars. RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 5. INT. ENTERPRISE -- BRIDGE The Enterprise crew look on as Mars begins to fill the viewscreen. Now present, along with the bridge crew from earlier, is GREY. Moments after the scene begins ELRIS enters from a turbolift. ELRIS I never thought that it would end like this. Talora turns around. TALORA We are docking at Utopia Planitia as part of the scheduled investigation, Doctor. I doubt that Starfleet will keep us here any longer then is necessary. Elris walks closer to here, both speak quietly. ELRIS Are you really so blind? TALORA I am not. But for the sake of the crew... ELRIS This crew won't even be together by this time in two weeks... TALORA But until that time comes, I intend to function as any other crew would. ELRIS I guess you won't let Y'lan up here then. TALORA Captain Cross specifically said... ELRIS Captain Cross is in his quarters feeling sorry for himself -- I can hardly see him... TALORA (interrupts) Where the captain is is none of your concern, and you have no right to question his orders. RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 6. Elris nods, realizing that she's in the wrong as some of the closer Bridge officers turn, apparently listening into their conversation. ELRIS (louder) How long until we dock? TALORA We will have docked with Utopia Planitia by 1500 hours. Elris nods and steps back. CUT TO: EXT. SPACE -- UTOPIA PLANITIA FLEET YARDS The Enterprise docks at Utopia Planitia. INT. ENTERPRISE -- BRIDGE Same as before, Cross is still not present. QUINLAN Docking complete. Talora nods, taps some controls on her chair; activating the intercom. TALORA Talora to all crew, prepare to disembark. You will be given instruction as to how to proceed once you are within Utopia Planitia. She taps the controls again, and she is off, she turns to look at Grey. TALORA (CONT'D) Begin powering down the ship. Grey nods and EXITS through the turbolift, presumably on his way to Engineering. Quinlan stands up and leaves her console, the rest of the crew stand and also begin to step into the waiting turbolifts, except Talora. QUINLAN Wonder when I'll see this again... DOJAR Makes you wonder, doesn't it? RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 7. INT. ENTERPRISE -- TURBOLIFT -- CONTINUOUS As the turbolift doors begin to CLOSE, Dojar notices that Talora is still sat in the command chair, alone on the Bridge but it is too late for him to do anything, as the doors close and the lift begins moving. CUT TO: INT. ENTERPRISE -- BRIDGE The camera pans around the edge of the Bridge, with Talora sitting alone in the center. The camera has nearly completed a full rotation when we hear the turbolift doors HISS open, and hear and see footsteps. The footsteps get closer to Talora until: VOICE I think you're in my seat. The camera pulls up to reveal CROSS. TALORA As far as many of the crew are concerned, it has not been your seat for the past two days. CROSS It's my name on the plaque, Commander. He indicates the Enterprise's DEDICATION PLAQUE. TALORA For some reason, I don't think that's going to be there for much longer. Cross looks at it for a moment, before sitting down in the First Officer's seat. CROSS I know. (sighs, beat) I had a dream once, you know. To be here, where I am now. I can't tell you how much I wanted to be here. There's a beat, Talora looks at him. CROSS (CONT'D) I can't believe how far away it seems right now. (shakes head) Maybe it was the Dominion. (MORE) RENAISSANCE: "Right There Behind You, Part I" - TEASER 8. CROSS (CONT'D) Maybe all that time I spent thinking about it in the POW camp just blew it away... maybe it was when I lost Daniel... or maybe when I got this command. Maybe I just spoke it too loudly. (beat) Look at me. He sighs. CROSS (CONT'D) What are you planning to do when we get back to Earth? TALORA I have not yet made up my mind. CROSS How long's it been since you were last home? TALORA Two years, two hundred and sixty- four days, and this morning. CROSS Maybe you should go there... while you still can? TALORA (confused) Thank you for your advice. They sit in silence for a moment. TALORA (CONT'D) How long has it been since you last went home? CROSS I've not been home for a long time, Commander. (beat) I don't think I'll ever find it... Talora looks at him, hopefully, but Cross doesn't see it.