ACT THREE
FADE IN:
17 KIRA
Sitting and talking casually, as if to a friend...
KIRA
I know some people will wonder
if I’m doing all this just to get
attention... and in a way
they’re right.
OPEN OUT to reveal...
18 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - COMMISSARY
...that Kira is sat at a table in the monastery’s dining room, the largest room available. The room is quiet...
KIRA
But the attention isn’t the goal,
that’s not the reason I started
down this path.
Also at the table are KASIDY and OPAKA, both listening to Kira talk...
...as are all the many refugees filling every other table in the room. They have all eaten heartily and happily, but now have all turned their ears towards Kira.
KIRA
I may be a vedek now, but I’m not
here to preach at you. Most of you
don’t believe the Prophets are gods,
maybe you haven’t ever even
heard of them. And that’s okay.
Around the edges of the room, the hospice’s nurses stand and listen, Ransel among them. Also here are Bashir, Cenn and Nog, plus Raiq and Vexh. All listen closely, since Kira is not orating, only talking.
KIRA
We have ended up thrust together,
all of us, because of the greatest
tragedy this galaxy has ever
known. In a time like this, it’s
natural to question... everything.
To contemplate the nature of a
universe that can be so cruel.
Raiq ponders this, relating it to her own history...
KIRA
My own faith grew out of a time
when Bajor was not an equal member
of the Federation, but a subject
world of the Cardassian Union. I
fought in the resistance, running
from ditch to cave to tunnel, and
losing friends and family became a
daily occurrence. My faith in the
Prophets kept me going when it
would have been easy to give up.
Kira looks adoringly to Opaka sat by her side...
KIRA
It certainly helped to have people
I could look up to... people who
seemed to embody that faith as
an active thing in your life. A call
to get up and do something.
She looks out across the gathered refugees listening.
KIRA
As for why I brought you all here
- well, that’s how I express my
faith. Not just by praying, but by
fighting. These days, it seems as
if we’re all like I was back then -
running, surrounded by death,
looking for answers. So I’m going
to fight for us all. I’m going to
get up and do something.
She relaxes a bit, chuckles to herself...
KIRA
I’m not here to tell you to have
faith in the Prophets. I am here
to tell you to embrace your faith,
and to embrace each other. That’s
what will lead us all out of those
tunnels, and into a new life.
Some of the refugees take it literally, and turn to actually embrace each other. Kira smiles bashfully.
KIRA
Okay, enough talking. These nurses
are here to heal wounds, and so am
I. If you need anything, even just
somebody to scream and yell and
rage at, we’re here for you.
Off Kira’s smile...
CUT TO:
19 INT. NEWS STUDIO
The same Bajoran News Network set-up we have seen before. A screen in the studio shows a low-res SCREEN-CAP of Kira at the table in the commissary, everyone listening enraptured.
On one side of the screen, regular newsreader TIANA FEEN moderates a discussion. The same two Bajoran COMMENTATORS 1 and 2 we saw in 10x02 “Brave New World” sit opposite her.
COMMENTATOR 1
Seriously, who does this woman
think she is? She already styled
herself the saviour of Bajor with
that silly prayers-across-the-
world stunt during the invasion,
and now this? Unbelievable.
COMMENTATOR 2
I think that’s pure cynicism. Is
it so difficult to believe someone
might actually mean what they say?
COMMENTATOR 1
If she didn’t want attention, as
she claims, then why was there
a camera to catch these images?
TIANA
Ah, there I must correct you - the
images are not from any official
media channel. They were captured
by one of the nurses at Vanadwan.
There’s no evidence Vedek Kira even
knew she was being recorded.
COMMENTATOR 2
Plus, look at the people she has
there supporting her.
Commentator 2 manipulates controls on the desk, and the image on the studio screen ZOOMS in, SHIFTS to the side... refocusing on Kira with Opaka and Kasidy at either side.
COMMENTATOR 2 (cont)
Opaka Sulan, former kai. Kasidy
Yates, wife of the Emissary.
COMMENTATOR 1
Oh yes, two of her best friends,
who happen to be two of the most
influential people on the planet.
Perfect way to avoid attention.
CUT TO:
20 INT. DS9 - MAIN OPS CENTRE
The news report is being played on Ops’ main VIEWSCREEN, with Commander RO, Major CENN and all of Ops watching. On the screen, Commentator 2 refocuses the image again...
COMMENTATOR 2 (screen)
She also has Starfleet officers, a
major in the Militia, and the two
Ascendants there with her. If all
those people can agree this was
the right thing, why can’t you?
TIANA (screen)
It does seem reasonable that if
Vedek Kira wanted to accomplish
something, she would call on her
friends to help.
CUT TO:
21 INT. SHIKINA MONASTERY – KAI’S OFFICE
Pralon is sat behind her desk, also watching the news report on her desk screen - not entirely happily.
COMMENTATOR 2 (screen)
Exactly. Kira was in the Militia,
she was in Starfleet, she was the
right hand of the Emissary, she’s
respected by humans and Klingons
and Cardassians and Ferengi. I see
nothing wrong with her using all
the resources at her disposal.
COMMENTATOR 1 (screen)
Look, I’m not saying she’s wrong
to want to help the refugees. I’m
just saying it’s naive to think
this entire thing wasn’t perfectly
calculated for maximum publicity.
This entire discussion is hitting home for Pralon - she has basically had the same argument in her head already.
COMMENTATOR 2 (screen)
And I’m saying, so what if it was?
She shouldn’t let worrying about
what people might think stop her
from doing the right thing.
COMMENTATOR 1 (screen)
You don’t think it renders her
motives questionable?
COMMENTATOR 2 (screen)
She’s not Winn. Or Yevir.
CUT TO:
22 INT. JANIR MONASTERY
Yevir reacts to this comment - is that really what people think of him? It’s not how he would wish to be remembered.
Tiana is now re-centred in the image of the news report...
TIANA (screen)
Okay, moving on from that issue,
we were able to get a few moments
with Second Minister Ledahn Muri
earlier today, and we asked him
why Kira’s idea of opening up the
monasteries to house the incoming
refugees was not being embraced
more widely.
CUT TO:
23 LEDAHN
Second minister LEDAHN (last seen 11x17 “Whistleblower”) has had a microphone shoved into his face - he looks caught off guard and distinctly uncomfortable.
LEDAHN
I really think that’s a question
for the Vedek Assembly to answer.
Minister Asarem’s administration
is doing everything it can to find
permanent accommodations for our
guests. But the monasteries are
the Assembly’s responsibility, and
it wouldn’t be appropriate for me
to comment on decisions regarding
their use... or lack thereof.
24 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR
The news reports are also being played on the screens in here, with the many other refugees who still remain on DS9 watching with great interest. QUARK is behind the bar...
COMMENTATOR 1 (screen)
He’s right, of course. It’s not
the government’s role to tell the
church what to do, or vice versa.
COMMENTATOR 2(screen)
Maybe not. But shouldn’t they be
working together? There are a lot
of people still in limbo, who need
solid ground beneath their feet
and a place to rest their heads.
Some of the gathered crowd CHEER at this.
CUT TO:
25 INT. NEWS STUDIO
The in-studio screen now features SCROLLING TEXT in Bajoran script - 24th-century social media. Kira has gone viral.
TIANA (o.s.)
Many members of the public would
seem to agree with you. The video
recording of Vedek Kira’s speech
to the refugees has been shared
via media networks all over the
planet, and as you can see, many
of the comments are strongly in
favour of Kira’s actions.
Returning to the two commentators, Statler and Waldorf...
COMMENTATOR 1
That doesn’t necessarily make them
the right actions. Honestly I see
this as the same kind of reckless,
ill-considered, snap judgement
Kira has built her career on.
COMMENTATOR 2
You can’t deny those judgements
inevitably get results.
COMMENTATOR 1
No, I cannot. But are they the
right results? Time will tell.
TIANA
Time will tell indeed. Thank you
both for your insights, we’ll have
more on this developing story in
the hours to come, but first -
CUT TO:
26 EXT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - TRANSPORTER PLAZA - DAY
Kira stands at the waist-high stone wall, gazing out across the amazing view that slopes down the side of the mountain.
A moment, then Ransel scurries up, excited and daunted.
RANSEL
Vedek?
(Kira turns)
A message for you from Shikina
Monastery. Kai Pralon wishes to
see you... immediately.
Kira takes a deep breath. Time to face the music...
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT THREE