Trek Script!
By
Robert T. Jeschonek
*****
Read the whole Trek It! Series
Trek Script!
Trek Script 2
*****
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Copyright © 2011 by Robert T. Jeschonek
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*****
A Grain From A Balance
A Trek Script
By Robert T. Jeschonek
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(in order of appearance)
SYNTH, an android helmsman aboard the star cruiser ESS Infinitude
RUDY RENEAU, the ship's chief engineer, a blind man wearing a sight-restoring device
ENSIGN FERRIS, a female friend of Synth and Rudy's
JEAN-CLAUDE PHILIPPE, captain of the ship
JAMES HARBINGER, the ship's first officer
ERIN MCNALLY, the ship's doctor
TORK, the ship's security chief, a member of the warlike Gorlack species
MALE VISITOR/ONE
FEMALE VISITOR/TWO
ATHENA, the ship's counselor, an alien Synodd female with empathetic powers
NURSE
*****
Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance,
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.
-Book of Wisdom, 11:22
TEASER
INT.: LAST CALL LOUNGE ABOARD THE STAR CRUISER ESS INFINITUDE
SYNTH and RUDY are seated at a table with a drink or two. They are discussing one of the crew’s recent poker games.
RUDY
Synth, I’ve gotta’ stop playing poker with you. It’s just too hard on my ego.
SYNTH
Rudy, I am not sure that I understand. I thought that you enjoyed our poker games.
RUDY
Well, I do. It’s just that lately, I’ve been on this awful losing streak, and you…well, you’ve had an amazing winning streak.
SYNTH
Would you enjoy it more if I did not win as often?
RUDY
No no, Synth. I just wish my luck would improve. I can’t seem to get a decent hand anymore.
SYNTH
(thinking)
I see.
(pauses)
What can be done to improve your “luck,” Rudy?
RUDY
Nothing that I know of, Synth. That’s the whole problem.
As SYNTH and RUDY talk, ENSIGN FERRIS approaches. FERRIS is an attractive young woman, a casual acquaintance of SYNTH’s and RUDY’s; she is wearing an outrageous hat, something high and overloaded, like something Carmen Miranda might wear.
FERRIS
(excited, fidgeting with the hat)
Rudy, hi! Look what I got on shore leave on Perlis VII!
RUDY
(awkwardly but politely)
Oh, yeah. That’s really..an interesting hat, Ellen.
FERRIS
I just adore it! The shopkeeper said it’s the latest style in the system, but this particular one is one of a kind!
RUDY
I’ll…bet it is, Ellen.
FERRIS
So, do you really like it? It’s not too much, is it?
RUDY
(after a good, long look)
No, no…I mean, uh, yeah. I like it. It’s very…unique.
FERRIS
You really think so?
RUDY
Yeah. I really do.
FERRIS
(delightedly)
Oh, thank you! Wait…I’ve got to go show it to Lieutenant Bell!
(she hurries off)
RUDY
(to SYNTH, in hushed voice)
Boy, that was some hat, huh? Wow.
SYNTH
It was unique.
RUDY
It was a little TOO unique.
SYNTH
What do you mean, Rudy? Did you not like it?
RUDY
“Like’s” a strong word, Synth.
SYNTH
But you told Ensign Ferris that you liked it.
RUDY
Well, I did, Synth…but I guess I sort of told a little white lie.
SYNTH
I did not know that there were different types of lies. What is a “little white lie,” Rudy?
RUDY
It’s…it’s a small lie, one that shouldn’t cause anybody any harm. In this case, I used one so I wouldn’t hurt Ensign Ferris’ feelings.
SYNTH
Why would you have hurt her feelings by supplying an accurate assessment of your opinion of the hat?
RUDY
Well, I could see how much she liked it, Synth. She was really enjoying that hat, and if I’d told her what I really thought of it, she might not have enjoyed it so much anymore. It might’ve made her self-conscious and unhappy.
SYNTH
I see. So what you are saying is that a “little white lie” is socially acceptable, and that it can be beneficial in certain circumstances.
RUDY
(uncomfortable)
I suppose. Sometimes, you just can’t tell someone what you really think. Sometimes, the truth does more harm than good.
SYNTH
How do you know when a “little white lie” is
appropriate, though? If you should not always tell the truth, how do you know when to tell the truth and when to lie?
RUDY
(sighs)
It’s pretty complicated, Synth. It all depends on the person, the situation, a lot of factors. I guess it’s just something that you have to learn from experience.
SYNTH
(after a thoughtful pause)
How will I do that, Rudy? Would experimentation be of use? Should I apply a “little white lie” in various situations and the truth in various situations, then compare the results?
RUDY
(at a loss)
I don’t know about that, Synth. That might not be such a good idea. Maybe you oughtta’ just stick to the truth.
SYNTH
But if this is a common element of human interaction, and I function within a human society, then should I not understand and practice it?
RUDY
Not necessarily, Synth. You’ve gotten along okay without it so far, and…
Still bubbly and breathless, ENSIGN FERRIS swoops back to the table. She is still wearing the hat, but has rearranged and adjusted it into a new and even sillier configuration.
FERRIS
Rudy! What do you think now? I changed it a little!
RUDY
Uh…well…
FERRIS
The hat’s convertible! It has over a hundred different configurations, and they’re all so EASY to create! What do you think?
RUDY
Well, Ellen…to be perfectly honest…
SYNTH
Ensign Ferris.
FERRIS
(turning to listen)
Yes, Commander?
SYNTH
I find that your headwear has a pleasing symmetry. In both this and its earlier configuration, its form and color have produced a subtle visual effect which has served to highlight and enhance your features.
FERRIS
(thrilled)
Oh, THANK YOU, Commander Synth! Thank you for saying so!
SYNTH
(seen from behind)
You are welcome, Ensign Ferris.
FERRIS
(as she hurries off)
Oh, I can’t WAIT to try the matching epaulets I got!
RUDY
(lifting glass for a drink, then stopping to stare at Synth)
Uh, Synth?
SYNTH
(off-screen)
Yes, Rudy?
RUDY
(stunned, staring)
Did you just lie to Ellen Ferris?
SYNTH
(still off-screen)
Why do you ask, Rudy?
RUDY
Your nose…
SYNTH
What about it, Rudy?
RUDY
(as camera begins slow sweep around from back of Synth’s head)
It’s GROWING.
Camera continues to dolly around SYNTH’s head, stopping on a closeup of his face, revealing his enlarged nose. It has elongated by about two inches.
***CUT TO STANDARD OPEN***
*****
ACT I
Exterior INFINITUDE; voice over (vo) CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PHILIPPE
PHILIPPE
Captain’s Journal: The INFINITUDE is en route to a cluster of unexplored systems in Quadrant One-One-Six-Zed-Alpha. We will be investigating several Class-M planets which have been detected by frontier observatories…and we will also attempt to trace a series of radio signals which may originate from intelligent life in the quadrant.
As we set out to resolve the mystery of these signals, I find that one of my officers is involved in a mystery of his own…
INT.: A DIAGNOSTIC LAB IN ENGINEERING. SYNTH is seated, with cables attached to his head and a sensor array surrounding his face. RUDY is examining him and consulting a scanalyzer and other equipment. PHILIPPE, COMMANDER WILL HARBINGER AND DOCTOR ERIN MCNALLY are observing.
SYNTH’s nose is about an inch longer than it was at the end of the teaser.
RUDY
Well, it’s still growing, all right.
HARBINGER
At what rate, Rudy?
RUDY
About a centimeter every fifteen minutes. It’s a constant rate, anyway. It hasn’t changed since I started examining Synth.
HARBINGER
You said the condition’s confined to his nose?
RUDY
That’s right. There’s no abnormality anywhere else on his body.
MCNALLY
(staring thoughtfully at SYNTH)
Amazing. This reminds me of a story I heard when I was a little girl. It was about a puppet called “Pinocchio” who wanted to be a real boy, and whenever he told a lie, his nose grew.
SYNTH
That is interesting, Doctor. However, I told no lie. All compliments which I made regarding Ensign Ferris’ headwear were genuine. In fact, my programming discourages lying except in certain special circumstances…for example, when I am ordered by a superior officer not to tell the truth.
RUDY
It was a crazy coincidence, though. It seemed like you might be practicing the “little white lies” we were talking about…and right on cue, your nose got bigger.