ACT ONE

FADE IN:

7 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE

Ro sits in the lounge area, padd in hand, more spread out on the seat beside her. Major CENN sits opposite.

CENN
So I’ve got the Iltari Aerial
Troupe on the lower level, outside
the replimat. Didn’t want them
to be on the upper level, do some
spectacular manoeuvre and go
flying over the balcony.

RO
Probably a good idea.

CENN
Upper level is taken by Aleesh
Kismari, a new musical group
that’s the big thing in Rakantha
at the moment, apparently.

RO
Never heard of them.

CENN
No, me either. So I’m pretty sure
that’s everything. Except for...

RO
Except for what?

CENN
For who’s going to be Presider.
Who’s going to lead the opening
ceremonies. It’s getting late in
the day not to have decided.

RO
Give it to Vedek Capril. Or
Lieutenant Commander Evik. He’s
all about community, isn’t he?

CENN
They’ve both got their own affairs
to attend to.
(delicate)
I really think it should be you.

RO
Me?! No. Absolutely not. Nuh-uh.
No way. I’ve had quite enough
publicity lately, thank you.

CENN
Commander, you are the community
leader now. The senior Bajoran
officer on the station.

RO
Why can’t you do it? Aren’t you
always saying you’re the only
real Bajoran left, or something?

CENN
(chuckle)
I’d be honoured to, but I think
you need it more than me.

RO
Need it? In what way do I need
to be the Presider?

CENN
Look... can I speak freely, sir?

RO
If you must.

CENN
Ever since we met, you’ve been...
well, uncomfortable about your
relationship with Bajor. About
leaving during the Occupation,
about joining Starfleet, about
the lack of religion in your life.

RO
I hope this is going somewhere.

CENN
It is. I realise I haven’t helped
exactly. But... you are Bajoran.
And there’s no harm in letting
yourself just... be Bajoran. You
came home. Let yourself enjoy
it now that you’re here.

RO
I appreciate your perspective.
I’m just not sure I’m there yet.

CENN
Up to you. But you’ve only got
a few hours left to decide.

RO
Thank you, Major. You’ve got work
to do. Off you go.

Cenn gets up and leaves the office. Ro remains sat there, pondering what he’s said.

8 EXT. B’HALA DIG SITE - DAY

Establishing the archaeological dig at the ancient city...

9 INT. B’HALA CAVES

The caves and warrens of the ancient city, now draped with decorations and banners and lights for the upcoming party. Monks and volunteers work feverishly to prepare everything.

SOOL (the young female monk who supervises the volunteers, as seen in 11x12 “Vigil”) emerges from the crowd to greet Sisko, Kasidy and Rebecca. Neither Ben nor Kasidy are comfortable with her fawning, although he hides it better.

SOOL
Emissary! Oh it’s so wonderful
that you came.

SISKO
Ranjen Sool. I’d like you to meet
my wife Kasidy, and my daughter
Rebecca.

SOOL
It’s a pleasure to meet you both.
Of course we’re all honoured that
you’d agree to act as Presider for
the festival, Emissary. It means
a lot to us all.

SISKO
It’s my pleasure. If you’ll excuse
us, we’d like to freshen up before
we dig in.

SOOL
Of course, Emissary. We’re all at
your disposal.

Sool backs away, and Ben and Kasidy walk on into the caves, Kasidy keeping a tight hold of Rebecca by the hand.

KASIDY
They sure do love calling you
Emissary.

SISKO
They mean it respectfully.

KASIDY
Oh, I know that. Didn’t you used
to try to discourage it though?

SISKO
It’s their culture, Kas. I don’t
think I’m ever going to get them
to stop.

KASIDY
Stay close, Rebecca, sweetheart.
It’s very important that you stay
in my sight, okay?

REBECCA
Okay mommy.

KASIDY
I mean it. There’s lots of places
to get lost in here.

REBECCA
I will, mommy.

KASIDY
Good girl.

They walk on through the crowds of preparing people...

10 INT. B’HALA CAVES – BUNK ROOM

The space with the sleeping bags on the ground and lockers against the wall. Sisko and Kasidy enter, with Rebecca. Kasidy gives the whole thing the side eye. Sisko sees.

SISKO
It’s not that bad.

KASIDY
If you say so.

SISKO
I’ve taken a couple of naps here
while we’ve been working. Once
you accept it for what it is...

Rebecca runs off deeper into the room, towards the shadowy areas at the back.

KASIDY
Rebecca! I told you to stay close!

REBECCA
I’m not going far, mommy.

SISKO
It’s okay – there’s just a smaller
area with some basins to wash in.
There’s no danger. Besides, we’re
hardly going to be living here full
time, like these people do. We’re
just here for the party.

KASIDY
Ben... I appreciate the thought.
But I don’t think one party is
going to solve all our problems.

Ben gets serious for a moment, addresses this directly.

SISKO
I know. That’s not what I’m trying
to do. I’m not trying to ignore it
all or just paper over the cracks.
I just thought that if we spend
some time together, as a family,
at a place where the whole point
is to let go of all your troubles
and be happy for what you have...

KASIDY
(takes his hands)
You’re right. It will help.

LUKA (o.s.)
Benjamin?

Sisko turns, and sees that LUKA, his Ohalavaru friend (last seen 11x12 “Vigil”) has poked his head around the edge of the cave. Sisko grins and grabs him in a big manly hug.

SISKO
Luka! Great to see you.

LUKA
You too, Benjamin. So they roped
you in after all, did they?

SISKO
Ah, you know. The burdens of being
me. Kasidy - this is Luka Tirem.
He’s been a good friend. My work
buddy at B’Hala. My... ‘guide’.

Luka smiles bashfully at the reference. He shakes Kasidy’s hand, bows politely.

LUKA
Mrs Sisko, it’s a real pleasure to
meet you.
(looks past)
Oh... and I know who this must be.

Ben and Kasidy turn and see that Rebecca is across the room, hovering nervously, not sure about this stranger.

SISKO
Rebecca honey? Come and meet
my friend Luka. It’s okay.

Still unsure, Rebecca nevertheless trusts her father, and comes forward. She sticks close to her mother though.

REBECCA
Hello, Mister Luka.

Luka crouches down to Rebecca’s level with a big smile.

LUKA
Hello to you too. You are a very
special young lady, Rebecca Sisko.
Did you know that?

REBECCA
I am?

LUKA
Of course you are. You’re Benjamin
Sisko’s daughter, and he’s a very
important man. So you would have
to be important too, right?

REBECCA
(shy)
I guess so.

LUKA
Right.

Luka stands up again, with a grimace at his old bones.

LUKA
Well, there’s still lots to do. So
I’ll leave you be for the moment.
But we’ll catch up at the party.

SISKO
Absolutely.

Luka turns to leave. But before he goes, he glances back at Rebecca, gazes for a moment as if he can’t quite believe he’s seeing her. Then he turns at last and goes.

KASIDY
He seems like quite a character.
Have you got to know him well?

SISKO
We talk. Kind of a tragic past, but
then what Bajoran hasn’t? He’s a
good guy. Come on! Let’s freshen
up, and then we can join the fun!
How does that sound, Rebecca?

REBECCA
Okay, daddy.

Rebecca turns and runs back into the depths of the cave, to the ‘bathrooms’. Holding hands, Ben and Kasidy follow her.

11 INT. B’HALA CAVES – BANTACA CHAMBER

A little while later. The huge spire at the centre of the buried city towers above the crowd of milling Bajorans and a couple of guest aliens. The whole area is dressed for a party, with flashing colours and flaming braziers and enough light to make it seem like we’re not underground.

Dotted among the caves are stalls where people sell fresh food, or trinkets to mark the occasion, or where musicians play their instruments. The people mill about between these booths, all enjoying themselves. Sisko, Kasidy and Rebecca are among them, exploring all the nooks and crannies.

At periodic intervals are small woven baskets, carrying paper scrolls. Sisko reaches to grab one. But as he does, he stops, worried. He looks to Kasidy. He doesn’t want to insult her by doing this. But she looks back reassuringly and grabs a scroll of her own. Sisko relaxes.

REBECCA
What are those for, daddy?

SISKO
Well, honey, the idea is that you
write all your problems on this
piece of paper. Everything that’s
bothered you or upset you over the
last year, you just write it down.
Then, when the ceremony starts,
you put the scroll into the fire. So
that when the scroll burns away
to ashes, your troubles go with it.
And you can start the next year
fresh, with no problems.

REBECCA
Can I do one?

KASIDY
(chuckle)
Sure, if you want, honey. But what
does a little girl of not-quite-three
have to be upset about?

REBECCA
(cheerful)
I’ll think of something.

Sisko hands Rebecca a scroll and a pen, and she plonks herself down on the ground right where she is and starts scribbling. Sisko and Kasidy smile at the sight.

Then a hush spreads through the crowd. Something has happened. Confused, Sisko and Kasidy look over to the main entrance, draped in braids and lanterns. And there, standing in the doorway are KIRA... and RAIQ.

All the Bajorans are reacting to the sight of the Ascendant woman. And off Sisko and Kasidy’s similar reaction...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE