TAG
INT. ENTERPRISE SICKBAY
Spock, McCoy and Boyce stand by the bed. Kirk sits on it. There are no close shots of his face while they speak.
BOYCE
You're lucky to be alive, son. If McCoy hadn't figured out a way to flush those toxins we wouldn't be talking now.
KIRK
How'd you do it?
MCCOY
I gave you a massive dose of Retinax V. One toxin to chase out the others. It's like sending a cat in after a rat.
(beat)
Problem is, you're left with the cat.
KIRK
(growing alarmed)
What do you mean?
The two Doctors exchange an uncomfortable glance.
BOYCE
You're going to be allergic to Retinax V for the rest of your life.
KIRK
Is that it?
BOYCE
No.
No further explanation.
KIRK
Bones...what is it?!
MCCOY
(apologetic)
Jim, it was a matter of your life in exchange for one..."small"... side effect.
McCoy hands him a mirror.
His face hidden, Kirk studies the image in the mirror.
MCCOY (CONT'D)
I'm afraid it's permanent.
Kirk lowers the mirror
CLOSE ON his face and BROWN eyes.
....Midshipman Kirk MORPHS into...
EXT. IOWA HILL - DUSK
Captain James Kirk, his BROWN eyes intense as he stands in the fading light.
(resume scene #19)
SCOTT (O.C.)
They never fixed the date.
We PULL BACK to see George Kirk's black memorial tombstone in front of them.
Kirk shrugs...it's not important.
PETER KIRK moves up beside Kirk. Uncomfortable, he holds a small bouquet of daisies.
He joins them staring down at the tombstone a moment.
Then Peter steps forward and as he leans down, we see:
A SECOND BLACK GRANITE TOMBSTONE on a new grave - which he places the daisies in front of.
As he straightens...
ANGLE : On the new tombstone. The inscription:
Carol G. Kirk
2204 - 2268
Devoted wife and mother
"If I Can Dream..."
The group stands in silence a moment as the light fades around them.
Peter's quiet voice intrudes on the silence.
PETER
Do you still wish I didn't enter the Fleet, Uncle Jim?
Kirk barely considers the words - barely a terse shake of his head his only answer. He knows there was never a question about what Peter was going to do with his life... no more than there was ever a question about what Jim was going to do with his.
Kirk's eyes raise to the sky: where he can see...
The FIRST STAR of the evening sky.
Eyes fixed on that star, Kirk puts his arm around Peter's shoulder.
He squeezes the young man's shoulders.
KIRK
The adventure...is just beginning.
FADE OUT.
ROLL CREDITS.
THE END
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This script was inspired by the desire to see the origin story done right, and by the announcement that Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II was going to try to do it. () This is MY version of what I think it would look like...but that explains Peter's presence at the end, as I think his presence makes the moment. And also explains my attempt to rationalize why they've cast a "midshipman Kirk" with blue eyes while their "Captain Kirk" has brown eyes!
Kirk's mother was named after Carol Fogg, and her tombstone inscription honors that. It's the least I could do.
Every person in this story is TOS canon. If you don't remember their name, look them up!
There are two canon violations: Kirk "met Pike when he was a Fleet Captain" (according to Kirk) so I accept responsibility for it. And, well, Peter should only be 14 at the end of this story. This is Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II's canon violation... so I don't accept responsibility that one!!
This script is registered with the WGA.