ACT THREE
EXT. TITAN MOON CLEARING - DUSK
A desolate, rocky landscape with jutting spears of rocks, methane lakes, and a light snow dusting the surface in pockets. Corrigan, Finney, Dominguez, Merrick, and Timothy sit in a circle around a fire which burns with purple and green flames. Equipment and bedrolls are around them.
Ruth feeds the fire as Kirk approaches with more chunky fuel.
KIRK
(to Ruth)
Be careful how long you stay there. This fuel gives off trails of methane gas as well as heat.
RUTH
I can breathe methane. That's why I'm tending the fire.
TIMOTHY
I'd trade the breathable atmosphere for something to eat. I'm hungry.
There's a murmur of agreement: except for Kirk, whose had more than a passing acquaintance with hunger on Tarsus IV.
KIRK
I've been hungry. This isn't it.
He doesn't elaborate.
KIRK (CONT'D)
We'll need more fuel.
Kirk leaves the clearing and Ruth follows.
EXT. SECOND TITAN MOON CLEARING - CONTINUOUS
Kirk stares up at the sky as Ruth approaches behind him. Her gaze follows his.. as does ours...
KIRK'S POV
into the multiple, icy rings of Saturn: appearing close enough to touch them. A breathtaking view of multiple colors and textures.
BACK ON THE TWO CADETS
He doesn't turn as she nuzzles against his arm. You can hear the wonder in Kirk's eyes reflected in his voice.
KIRK
I love living in the twenty-third century.
RUTH
Did you enjoy these.. "scavenger hunts" as a child?
KIRK
No. The idea of someone hiding things just to make me look for them goes against my sense of justice.
Kirk turns and takes her in his arms.
KIRK (CONT'D)
But I could get used to this Academy exercise.
Ruth meets his gaze with dewy eyes. Kirk bends to kiss her, but is interrupted as...
...Spock MATERIALIZES near them.
Kirk wonders what he's done to piss off the universe.
SPOCK
Midshipman Kirk?
It's Kirk's first sight of the Vulcan. Their eyes meet. Even now, they both have a profound sense of things to come.
KIRK
Yes, Sir.
SPOCK
I'm told you sail.
Kirk didn't expect that question.
SPOCK (CONT'D)
Have you ever been around Cape Horn?
Spock.... smiles.
EXT. SPACE
Earth. The Enterprise is in the space dock.
INT. ENTERPRISE REC ROOM
DOCTOR MCCOY sits with his 6 year old daughter JOANNA, playing chess. A civilian with dark hair, his features are absent of the wear and bitterness from passing life. McCoy is a successful, married doctor before he's been jaded by divorce and space travel. Joanna is dressed in a pink tutu.
Spock ENTERS and approaches the table.
SPOCK
Dr. McCoy, I am Lieutenant Spock.
MCCOY
Pleased to meet you, son.
JOANNA
Daddy, how did he know who you were?
MCCOY
I'm the only civilian medic aboard, princess.
SPOCK
Your specialty in disaster survivor psychology will be of invaluable service in this mission.
MCCOY
God willing. And it'll give me a chance to see the sights.
Kirk ENTERS, wearing a lieutenant's uniform, and approaches.
Spock stares at Joanna: McCoy knows her presence is unusual.
MCCOY (CONT'D)
My daughter, Joanna. She came on my tour of the ship - and is keeping me company until we leave.
SPOCK
A tutu is inappropriate public attire.
MCCOY
(pleasantly)
My wife would agree with you.
(beat)
She's not here.
KIRK
(to Joanna)
Hello, Little Lady.
Joanna moves a piece.
JOANNA
Hello, Sir.
(to McCoy)
Checkmate.
KIRK
What kind of sawbones gets beat by a child at chess?
MCCOY
The kind that plays checkers. And you are?
KIRK
Kirk. Lieutenant Midshipman James T. Kirk.
(to Spock)
My team's aboard, Sir, and ready to go.
SPOCK
Very well.
(to McCoy pointedly)
We'll be getting underway now.
Acknowledging, McCoy readies to escort Joanna off.
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise slowly backs out of the Earth space dock.
INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE
Pike, Number One, Garrison are at their stations. Spock and Finney are at sciences. Kirk is at navigation, GARY MITCHELL and Scott at engineering.
McCoy ENTERS. He hesitates, looking out of place as the crew go about their business. He watches the...
viewscreen
... the space dock retreats as the ship backs away.
McCoy shifts nervously and edges over to Garrison
MCCOY
Is that difficult...backing up, I mean?
Garrison glances at the viewscreen briefly.
GARRISON
Nah.
At McCoy's relieved smile, Garrison leans closer.
GARRISON (CONT'D)
Going this slow: there's no risk of plowing into a star - like when we usually fly.
McCoy's smile evaporates.
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise flies through the Earth's solar system. As Pluto fades into the distance behind her...
...she goes to WARP.
INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDOR - LATER
The crew go about their daily lives.
PIKE (V.O.)
Captain's Log: Stardate XXXX.X The Enterprise in on route to the Drake Passage, where we'll be attempting a search and rescue mission.
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise flies through the star-filled sky.
PIKE (V.O.)
The Captain we hope to find...
INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE
As before. Pike works on a datapadd report while Colt waits.
PIKE
...is the father of one of our visiting Midshipmen.
As the crew goes about their business, McCoy wanders.
PIKE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I can only hope we're up to the task.
NUMBER ONE
Steady as she goes.
SPOCK
All available data on the Passage is being compiled into a sperate data bank.
PIKE
Get on it as soon as it's done. Ships this big don't have a record of making it through.
TYLER
Ships this big don't usually try.
McCoy leans over the shoulder of Mitchell at engineering.
MCCOY
Mitchell is it?
MITCHELL
Midshipman Gary Mitchell, Sir.
MCCOY
What are you doing there?
MITCHELL
I'm monitoring how the engines are working.
MCCOY
And are they? Working, I mean?
As Mitchell gives him an odd look, Boyce ENTERS and passes Colt as she EXITS.
Boyce steps down next to the command chair. He casts a glance at McCoy as he wanders over toward Spock.
BOYCE
What exactly is he doing here?
PIKE
He...
(looks toward McCoy, helplessly)
Just showed up.
BOYCE
I think I might be able to distract him, Chris.
Pike mouths a thank-you.
As Boyce approaches Spock and McCoy...
MCCOY
So exactly what was a Vulcan doing on shoreleave on Earth?
SPOCK
This Vulcan was attending the awarding of a chair at Cambridge to his Grandfather.
MCCOY
A Vulcan got a chair at Cambridge?
SPOCK
My Grandfather is English, as is the woman who bore me.
MCCOY
(delighted)
You're English, Spock?!
SPOCK
I am Vulcan.
MCCOY
If your mother is English, that means you are.
(to Spock's bland look)
The human part of you is English.
SPOCK
I am Vulcan, Doctor.
McCoy reacts...this is all new territory.
BOYCE
Doctor McCoy, I'd be honored if you'd let me give you a tour of the medical section.
At McCoy's hesitance...
BOYCE (CONT'D)
Relax: been here four years - no one's gotten lost in sickbay yet.
As they EXIT...
FINNEY
(to Mitchell)
I wish they could say the same thing about the Drake Passage.
EXT. SPACE
The Drake Passage. A massive expanse of violently shifting and colliding colors and elements: at it's center, an asteroid belt.
INT. ENTERPRISE BRIEFING ROOM
Gathered are Spock, Number One, Kirk, Mitchell, Finney. On the table are piles of data tapes, data padds, and various engineering equipment: as well as cups of coffee.
NUMBER ONE
(reading)
Asteroid storms, diamagnetic storms, electromagnetic storms, ion storms, plasma storms, neutronic storms.
MITCHELL
(grimly)
There's even antimatter and atomic waste in the passage.
Scott and Pitcairn ENTER and join the group.
FINNEY
And it's in an asteroid belt, to boot.
SCOTT
It's like every nightmare a spaceman can have thrown together in one spot.
SPOCK
I do not have nightmares.
No one is surprised. Scott takes a seat next to Kirk.
KIRK
I thought you got lost in the engine room.
From Scott's wistful look, he wishes he had.
FINNEY
We need to map each disturbance in order to plan the safest course through the passage.
MITCHELL
How do we plan "safe" when we don't even know what these storms are going to do to the ship?
SPOCK
The logical approach is to first identify the difficulties each phenomenon will cause this ship.
PITCAIRN
The Diamagnetic storms are going to polarize the hull plating.
KIRK
The electromagnetic storms will create havoc with all our delicate systems: especially navigation and sensors - so will the ion storms.
SCOTT
The antimatter, atomic waste, and neutronic storm will all be throwing high levels of radiation at us.
TYLER
(frustrated)
This brainstorming isn't getting us anywhere.
FINNEY
The only way to handle this is to break up into teams - each team handling the potential damage to a particular system.
NUMBER ONE
Agreed. Scott, Pitcairn: you take engineering. Finney and Mitchell: environmental and hull integrity. Kirk, you'll work with Spock and I on ship's computer systems.
The group begins to dissipate. Kirk approaches and hands a datapadd to Mitchell.
KIRK
Gary, you need to do more research on these calculations. You're assuming too much.
MITCHELL
They're small variables. You have to trust the universe, sometimes.
KIRK
A sloppy excuse that'll get someone killed someday. If you're lucky, it'll only be you.
Kirk EXITS. As Finney approaches...
MITCHELL
Are you as hard an instructor as he is?
Finney considers reassuring him. He thinks better of it.
FINNEY
Son, no one is. Buck up.. you'll find a way through it.
Mitchell's possessed by mute frustration - and determination.
INT. ENTERPRISE CORRIDOR
McCoy's stroll is markedly different than the crew's stride.
INT. PIKE'S QUARTERS
The Captain is lying on his bed reading as the door CHIMES.
PIKE
(sitting up)
Come.
McCoy ENTERS.
PIKE (CONT'D)
Can I help you, Doctor?
MCCOY
Yes. Even though I'm here to deal with whatever survivors we find, I thought I'd compare our new space-farers to you old seasoned salts. Do you actually like living in this sardine can?
PIKE
You don't specialize in survivors. You're here to keep an eye on our cadets - particularly the emotionally vulnerable ones.
McCoy isn't used to his subterfuge being so transparent.
PIKE (CONT'D)
(amused)
I'm the captain. I know what's happening on my own ship. So, what -- you know his mother? Dated her in college maybe?
MCCOY
Bought a horse from her last week. For Joanna.
PIKE
I don't know what kind of discount you got: but it wasn't enough.
It's a thought McCoy's considered.
MCCOY
Kirk never stops. When he's not working on getting through this fool passage, he's working on some...
(he tries to remember)
...Kobayashi Maru test at the Academy.
PIKE
The no-win scenario. It bothers every command cadet. The good ones, anyway.
MCCOY
He's already taken it twice. And he's determined to win.
PIKE
There is no way to win.
MCCOY
Exactly. This is a boy who doesn't accept defeat. Now you're dragging him across the galaxy in the outlandish hope he can save his long-lost father. You might as well have given him a white horse and a suit of armor! That horse, my dear captain, is going to die a bloody death.
PIKE
You think I'm cruel.
MCCOY
The thought crossed my mind.
PIKE
Come here.
McCoy approaches as Pike activates his television-viewscreen.
ON VIEWSCREEN - the Drake Passage.
PIKE (CONT'D)
The Drake Passage.
It's a daunting sight. As he talks, Pike adjusts the sounds emanating from the viewer.
PIKE (CONT'D)
Oil and vinegar don't mix. Unless you shake them up into a kick-ass salad dressing.
MCCOY
You lost me with your metaphor.
PIKE
Put Spock and Number One together to work and...
The sound is only a steady, rhythmatic beat of blips.
MCCOY
What is that?
PIKE
Morse code.
MCCOY
You're telling me someone is sending an SOS through all that?
PIKE
Exactly.
MCCOY
Does Jim know?
PIKE
It's an automated signal. I'm not cruel.
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise flies through space.
INT. ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING
At the control panel, a young, blond civilian woman is working: completely absorbed in what she's doing.
Kirk ENTERS, looks for her, and approaches. She's not impressed enough by his presence to stop working.
KIRK
Hello. I'm Jim Kirk.
(beat)
I'm on assignment from the Academy.
(beat)
My friend tells me you're one of the best research technicians in this quadrant.
MARCUS
Your friend would be right.
KIRK
I was hoping to get your help.
(beat)
Mr. Spock, Number One and I... several of us, actually...
(beat)
We're trying to find a safe, permanent route around the Vandara system and I was hoping you...
He has her attention.
MARCUS
You're trying to beat the Drake Passage?
KIRK
We're going to beat the Drake Passage.
She's not missing this opportunity. She offers her hand.
MARCUS
My name's Carol. Lead the way.
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise approaches the looming Drake Passage.
INT. ENTERPRISE BRIEFING ROOM
As before. Marcus, Boyce and McCoy have now joined the group.
Empty cups and plates with half-eaten food have joined the research materials. The group is getting desperate.
NUMBER ONE
(urgent)
I don't believe emotional debates are at all useful in our pursuit of knowledge.
SPOCK
You are wrong.
FINNEY
The problem is - there is no pattern.
PITCAIRN
The various storms are in a constant state of flux. Even if we know how to get through each one of them, we can't predict when they're going to hit.
BOYCE
That's going to cause havoc on the crew's morale. Their ability to respond is going to be as unpredictable as the storms.
MITCHELL
There's got to be a pattern to all this: we just haven't been able to figure it out.
MARCUS
He's right. We're the problem.
MCCOY
(unimpressed: to Scotty)
Is this what it's like to attend the Academy?
SCOTT
You're asking the wrong person.
SPOCK
We're simply going to have to blow through the passage with all rockets firing.
MCCOY
We don't have rockets.
(to Marcus)
Do we?
MARCUS
It's an expression.
KIRK
(mutters knowingly)
That annoys Number One.
Spock's heard it: which is fine with Kirk.
SCOTT
With a ship this size, that'd be sure suicide.
MARCUS
No captain is going to risk the lives of his crew on a...a...."let's hold our breath and run" strategy.
KIRK
Something's got to work! I can't believe with this gathering of minds we can't find a way to push our way through....
He stops suddenly and straightens: inspired.
KIRK (CONT'D)
It's not neutralizing the storms: it's pushing our way through them.
NUMBER ONE
Our deflector shields are not powerful enough.
SCOTT
(inspired as well)
No. But if ye couple it with the tractor beam it would be.
MCCOY
Wait. Tractor beam? Now we're going to bring the storms closer?!
KIRK
By reversing the polarity the beam will repel.
SPOCK
Set on a wide enough dispersal pattern, it will cover the ship.
SCOTT
And we'll sail through the storms without nary a scratch.
The group are dumbfounded by the simplicity of the solution.
MCCOY
My God, Jim! You've discovered the umbrella!
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise hangs in space facing the Drake Passage.
INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE
The bridge is overpopulated with the crew eager to help with - or least experience - this new frontier. Pike, Number One, and Garrison are at their stations. Kirk is at navigation, Mitchell and Scott at engineering, Spock and Finney at Sciences. Boyce next to Pike. On the edge of the deck, McCoy sits with his feet dangling and arms on the rail.
Tyler ENTERS and proceeds to his post.
SCOTT
Mister Pitcairn signals ready on your mark, Sir.
TYLER
(to Kirk)
Relieving you.
Kirk moves to comply, but can't bring himself to.
KIRK
Captain, I'm rated as a navigator. I'd like to see this through, Sir.
Pike isn't convinced of the wisdom of this. Kirk pushes.
KIRK (CONT'D)
With your permission, Sir.
Getting a look of confidence from Tyler, Pike agrees.
PIKE
Permission granted.
Tyler moves to take the navigation station next to Spock.
Pike hits the intercom.
PIKE (CONT'D)
Mr. Pitcairn...
(a beat)
Unfold our umbrella.
PITCAIRN (V.O.)
Aye, aye, Sir.
SCOTT
Negative tractor beam and deflectors at full power.
SPOCK
Shields at one hundred percent.
PIKE
Set course for Shoal, Mister Kirk.
KIRK
Course set and laid in, Sir.
NUMBER ONE
Captain, I recommend WARP drive to counteract the magnetic storms.
PIKE
WARP two on my mark.
The crew braces: this is a moment when breathing itself takes too long.
PIKE (CONT'D)
Now!
EXT. SPACE - CONTINUOUS
The Enterprise jumps to WARP...and into the mass of swirling, shifting forces of the Drake Passage. It rocks to and fro, bucking like an unbroken horse as it fights it's way forward.
INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
The bridge crew hang on for dear life, fighting to keep working as the ship rocks and jerks: battling the forces pulling her in a thousand different directions.
The ship is suddenly yanked hard to starboard and Number One flies out of her chair.
PIKE
KIRK!
KIRK
Correcting! Correcting!
SPOCK
Captain, the fields are shifting again!
KIRK
I've got it!
Kirk punches his board.
An EXPLOSION rocks the ship: a BLAST OF LIGHT crashing into the bridge from the viewscreen...
...obliterating all sight of our crew.
smash cut to:
WHITE
END ACT THREE