BRIDGE
TVOTN: The stockings were hung on the railing with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…
(THE CAPTAIN, CHAKOTAY, and BE'LANNA TORRES walk on to the bridge.)
CHAKOTAY: Well, we couldn't find a new kitchen rat.
TOM PARIS: Be'lanna!
BE'LANNA TORRES: Tom! (They share that little ritual greeting. Off THE CAPTAIN'S look.) What, we're married!
RANDOM GOLD SHIRT AT OPS: Where's Ensign Kim?
THE CAPTAIN: Where do you think? It's the same place he is after EVERY away mission.
ALL: Sick Bay.
THE CAPTAIN: (Noticing the socks) What's with the socks?
RANDOM GOLD SHIRT AT OPS: Chell. He's decided to take on Neelix's former position as morale officer and chef. He hung up our "stockings." He wanted some Christmas spirit, is all.
THE CAPTAIN: So long as he doesn't try to impersonate coffee with leola root. Ugh. Be'lanna, you cover for Harry for a while. Tuvok, you have the bridge.
BE'LANNA TORRES: Someone's already cove- (Ops explodes, RANDOM GOLD SHIRT AT OPS dies.) Oh. Where are you going?
THE CAPTAIN: Ready room. I have some essays of Icheb's to grade, and performance reviews to do.
TOM PARIS: Didn't you do performance reviews a few days ago?
THE CAPTAIN: I'm not finished. And I have some essays to grade. (Death glares TOM PARIS)
(THE CAPTAIN and CHAKOTAY leave for the ready room. TOM PARIS makes smoochy noises.)
THE CAPTAIN: I heard that! Oh, by the way, I need to see the ALL senior staff in one hour. IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, MR. PARIS!
TOM PARIS: Gee, how did she know what I was thinking?
BE'LANNA TORRES: The world may never know.