Mirage S

by Rhea's Teleplays

After being bit by a snake, T'Pol revives believing she's human. As her behavior becomes increasingly problematic, the crew realize they have to convince her she's Vulcan.

3. Act Two

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. SHUTTLE POD ONE - DAY

SUPER: April 1, 2158

T'Pol regains consciousness. She slowly pulls herself back to her knees and bandages her head wound.

Lethargically she moves to the other bench, pulls blankets out and makes a bed on the floor. She climbs in it, pulling the blankets tight around her. T'Pol's eyes start to drift close.

ARCHER (O.S.)
(whisper)
T'Pol, stay with me.

T'Pol opens her eyes, staring across the empty shuttle pod.

ARCHER (O.S.)
Fight for me, T'Pol. You're
stronger than this.

A hand lies on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.

T'POL
Cold. I'm so cold.

ARCHER (O.C.)
(whisper)
Hold on, T'Pol.

T'Pol's eyes drift close.

DISSOLVE:

INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY

SUPER: February 7, 2158

T'Pol opens her eyes, finding Doctor Phlox's chest in her line of sight. He's leaning over her to change screens on the monitor overhead. T'Pol smiles.

T'POL
Doctor Phlox, that color does
nothing for you.

Phlox smiles, leaning back. When he sees her smile, his fades.

PHLOX
T'Pol... You're smiling.

T'Pol softly chuckles, closing her eyes.

T'POL
I usually do to jokes, Doc.

PHLOX
I... Wasn't aware of that.

T'POL
My arm hurts real bad. Got any drugs?

PHLOX
The swelling hasn't gone down
completely but your fever broke and--
(stops short)
Do I got any drugs?

T'POL
Yeah. My arm's killin' me.

Phlox retrieves a hypospray from a tray nearby. T'Pol turns her head while he gives her the shot, finding Trip asleep on the bio-bed next to her.

T'POL
How's Trip doin'?

T'Pol looks at Phlox when he doesn't reply. He is staring at her. He gives her the shot and walks away without answering. He returns with a scanner and scans her from head to toe.

PHLOX
T'Pol, what do you remember about the Osewa?

T'POL
We visited them, they got into a
brawl, I got decked and was
bitten by a snake. I don't
remember much past that.

Trip wakes up, taking interest in the conversation.

PHLOX
Do you feel all right otherwise?

T'POL
Actually, I kinda feel like I'm
not quite awake. You know how it
is when you wake up from a dream
that feels completely real? Sorta
there, sorta not.
(beams)
Or like the gravity plating has
been turned off. Is that normal?
It's kind of fun.

PHLOX
Fun?

Trip lifts up on his elbow, staring at T'Pol.

TRIP
You think that floating feeling is fun?

T'POL
(beams)
Hi ya, Trip!

PHLOX
I'll be right back. Stay in bed, T'Pol.

Phlox walks over to a companel, calls someone and talks very quietly.

T'POL
Wonder what his deal is.

TRIP
Gee. Could it be you're talking
and acting strange?

T'POL
No I'm not. I'm acting like I always have.

TRIP
No. You're not.

T'Pol looks at him with a sour expression.

T'POL
Okay. I'll bite. How else would I
be talking or acting?

TRIP
Like a Vulcan.

T'POL
(grins)
Well then. Right there's the prob.

TRIP
What's the problem?

T'POL
I'd have to be a Vulcan to be
acting like one.

Trip sits up like a springboard

TRIP
PHHHHHHHLOX!

INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY - LATER

T'Pol is wearing a loose garment. She sits on the edge of her bio-bed, one leg crossed over the other, looking utterly bored as she examines her fingernails.

Trip sits on the edge of his bio-bed with a blanket pulled tight around him, watching T'Pol. Archer and Phlox stand between them.

PHLOX
I have run all tests five times
and found nothing abnormal. The
only hypotheses I can come up
with is that she's suffering from
delusions brought on by the venom
or antivenin.

ARCHER
How long is this going to last?
How extensive is it?

PHLOX
I don't know how long this will
last. And as for how extensive,
she thinks her parents are from Earth.

T'POL
(mutters)
Because they are.

PHLOX
She also believes she was part of
the San Francisco police force
before she joined Starfleet.
Moreover, she insists she is not a Vulcan.

T'Pol cocks her head to the side, glaring at Phlox.

T'POL
Ya know, Doc, I'm sitting right
here. You could talk about me
like I'm in the same room.

ARCHER
Didn't the Osewa say the venom
wouldn't affect Vulcans?

T'POL
If the venom isn't supposed to
affect Vulcans and I'm a Vulcan
like everyone thinks I am, then
why am I affected? That really
doesn't make much sense now does--

ARCHER
T'Pol, hush!

T'Pol looks away with a crooked grin.

PHLOX
They said that this genus of
snake has never bitten a Vulcan,
not that Vulcan's were immune.

T'POL
(frustrated)
I am not a Vulcan!

Trip starts shaking his head, staring at T'Pol in disbelief.

PHLOX
And yet, T'Pol, you cannot
explain why you have pointed ears.

T'POL
Albeit unusual, a deformity.

TRIP
Noooo!

The three look at him. Trip gets to his feet and walks up to her bed, looking her in the eye.

TRIP
You are a Vulcan, T'Pol. For
crying out loud, your name is Vulcan!

T'POL
Because my parents liked the name
and Vulcans. They were a minority.

ARCHER
If that's the case, let's contact

your parents, T'Pol. Where are they?

T'POL
We can't contact them.

ARCHER
Why?

T'POL
You know why.

ARCHER
Humor me.

T'POL
They're dead. My father owned a
freighter, they were attacked,
and the ship and all hands were lost.

TRIP
DAMNIT, T'POL, THEY AREN'T DEAD!
They aren't even human. They are VULCAN!

T'POL
You know, Commander, this
conversation doesn't involve you,
and you're being rude.

TRIP
Doesn't involve me? T'Pol, you and I ha--

ARCHER
Trip.

TRIP
Cap'n, she can't even remember--

ARCHER
Now really isn't the time, Trip.
Just getting her to remember what
species she is more important.

T'POL
(angry)
I can't remember what, Trip?

ARCHER
Doc, when can Trip go back to duty?

T'POL
I can't remember what?

PHLOX
In a couple of days.

ARCHER
Can you release him to his
quarters? I have a feeling you're
going to have your hands full here.

PHLOX
I can release him now.

TRIP
No. Uh-uh, Cap'n. I'm staying. I--

ARCHER
Trip, this isn't a suggestion.
Phlox has his work cut out for
him and you're only going to be in his way.

TRIP
But, I--

ARCHER
Trip!

Trip falls silent, casting his eyes to the floor.

T'POL
Tell me what?

Trip walks away.

T'POL
What isn't he supposed to tell me, Captain?

ARCHER
It doesn't matter. I need you to
focus on getting your memories back.

T'POL
I have my memories back, Captain.
I don't need to focus on anything.

At the door Trip looks back with a longing look. T'Pol notices, but he walks out before she can ask him about it.

INT. ENTERPRISE - MESS HALL

SUPER: February 15, 2158

The room is crowded with crewmen. Trip looks up when T'Pol steps up to the breakfast bar beside him. He stares at the large assortment of food on her tray.

TRIP
Isn't all that going to make you sick?

Trip forks a few pancakes on his plate.

T'POL
(flat)
No.

Trip shrugs as he walks away. He gets a glass of milk from the replicator and then sits down at the last open table in the mess hall. Trip hunkers over his tray, starting to eat.

He glances up and sees T'Pol looking for a table, but her eyes keep coming back to the three open chairs at his table. Trip avoids her eyes. She starts toward him, stopping at a chair. T'Pol clears her throat before speaking.

T'POL
Commander, may I--

TRIP
(gruff)
I don't care.

T'Pol sits down in the chair and begins eating in silence. She keeps glancing at Trip, watching him shovel his food.

Hoshi enters the room and gets her breakfast.

T'POL
You were going to say something
in the Sickbay. What was it?

Hoshi starts through the room, spotting the open chairs at Trip and T'Pol's table.

TRIP
Nothin'

T'POL
I don't believe that.

Trip stops eating. He stares at his plate as he pokes at his food. Hoshi walks up behind T'Pol.

TRIP
You don't remember uh--

HOSHI
Do you mind if I join you?

The two look up at Hoshi. There is a tense silence that quickly erases Hoshi's smile.

HOSHI
Or I can find another--

T'POL
(smiles)
No. You can join us.

Hoshi sits down in an open chair.

HOSHI
It's really crowded this morning!

T'POL
I guess everyone else heard Chef
was making blueberry pancakes and waffles.

HOSHI
(smiles)
Wow.

T'POL
What?

HOSHI
Captain Archer had told us you
would be different. He said you'd
forgotten everything about who you were.

T'POL
That's nonsense. I remember
everything, he and Phlox just
don't want to believe that.

Trip grits his teeth.

TRIP
(low)
T'Pol, you cannot remember
anything, including that you're a Vulcan.

Trip stands, walking around the table. He leans near her but she doesn't look at him.

TRIP
And the sooner you get that
through that stubborn head of
yours, the better off everyone will be.

T'Pol looks up at him, her eyes narrowing with the anger. Trip doesn't back down, but there is a hint of nervousness in his face.

T'POL
You should probably leave,
Commander. Your company is unwelcome.

Trip slams a fist on the table, making everyone look up. T'Pol doesn't even flinch from the action.

TRIP
Damnit, T'Pol! Snap out of this!

T'Pol looks back at her plate, resuming eating. Trip storms off.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO