The script is called "Don't Gimme That Old-Time Religion," which I freely admit is a lousy title -- but while it's clunky, it's a little memorable, and that's what I was going for. So here's my STAR TREK: VOYAGER spec, circa 1999.
STAR TREK: VOYAGER "Don't Gimme That Old-Time Religion" TEASER FADE IN: INT - GENERIC CORRIDOR We're on Voyager, not far from the mess. HARRY KIM walks into view. With him is another young human, ENSIGN ARTHUR LEVESQUE. HARRY -- you've been on the late shift eight years?! LEVESQUE Yup. HARRY But Voyager was your first post. LEVESQUE Same as you. HARRY So how do you get eight? (stops in his tracks) The Academy?! Levesque has gone on ahead. Kim hurries to catch up. INT - GENERIC CORRIDOR / MESS HALL We rejoin the two coming around a corner. LEVESQUE The captain rechecked my files. I even know who to blame. Turns out, a certain student console jockey screwed up. Entered my species as Choosh. HARRY They're nocturnal. LEVESQUE And eight feet tall with glowing eyes and more genitals than the crew of a class two freighter. Harry is duly impressed. HARRY Wow. LEVESQUE On the bright side, I got a lot of dates. (beat) But if I ever get my hands on that Wesley Crusher -- The door to the mess slides open. CHAKOTAY (OS) Great Spirit, we are far from the sacred places of our ancestors -- INT - MESS Kim and Levesque step in and freeze. With good reason. There's no light but candles. A SERIES OF CLOSE SHOTS shows various CREW MEMBERS, including NEELIX, kneeling on the floor, eyes closed, meditating. In front of them are cloths weighted down by assorted personal knick-knacks: MEDICINE BUNDLES. It looks like a cult gathering. Unusual. Creepy. Unfamiliar. And at the head of the gathering, eyes closed, his back to the windows, is CHAKOTAY. He alone has the techno-thingie that we've seen used in various episodes as a peyote substitute. Call it a HALLUCINATRON. His right hand rests on it; lights blink. CHAKOTAY We ask you for guidance, and pray you will receive us... He picks up the hallucinatron, begins to pass it around. As Neelix rests his hand on the device, Kim and Levesque exchange a look, then slowly back out of the mess. The door slides closed. None of the people in the mess has so much as glanced in their direction. INT - CORRIDOR Kim and Levesque slump against the wall beside the door. They look like a couple of Southern Baptists who wandered into a Santeria church by mistake. It takes a moment for them to find any words. LEVESQUE That was very weird. (beat) What do you think that thing was? Kim looks blank. Levesque mimes the hallucinatron. HARRY Oh. He uses it to induce hallucinations. Visions. Whatever. LEVESQUE (intrigued) Hallucinations? (beat; unnerved:) Did you knew he was -- HARRY One-on-one, yeah. Not -- (beat) You think the captain knows? LEVESQUE I hope not. (off Harry's look) When we joined the Federation, we left all that behind. No gods, no myths... just us. On our own feet. HARRY There are plenty of religious people. They just keep it private, is all. LEVESQUE Oh, yeah. Real private. (beat) I'm gonna turn in. See you later. HARRY Later. Exit Levesque -- but for Kim, his words are resonating. FADE OUT. END TEASER.
ACT ONE FADE IN: INT - MESS The mess is brightly lit, cheery, full of people. Harry is sitting at an out-of-the-way table, eating breakfast with TOM PARIS. SEVEN OF NINE is in line waiting for food from NEELIX, who's serving. Tom and Harry converse in near-whispers. TOM My point is, most Federation worlds are atheist for a reason. HARRY But do I have to tell the captain? TOM Harry, you've got the first officer of a Federation ship secretly using a public space to hold late-night prayer meetings. HARRY Which violates every separations reg in existence, I know. But -- Tom gestures silence. ANGLE: SEVEN OF NINE is watching them. HARRY (again sotto voce) She can't hear us over there. SEVEN Borg audio centers are greatly superior to human ears. She approaches the table. TOM Is there *any* part of your anatomy that isn't artificially enhanced? -- forget I said that. SEVEN Lieutenant Paris is correct. (Tom makes a "thank you" gesture) Commander Chakotay's actions are a threat to ship stability. This is a little much for Tom. TOM Wait a second. Didn't you nearly blow up the ship with that whatchamacallit the Borg worship? SEVEN Omega is not a "whatchamacallit." It consists of billions of parts working in complete harmony. TOM Like my tricorder? HARRY It's a Borg thing. Social instability is a greater risk to the collective than physical harm. TOM So if we blow up, no loss. Seven half-smiles. The idea has some appeal. TOM Yeah, well, I think we need a human perspective. (off Seven's look) No offense. Tom gets up with his tray, walks off. Seven looks to Harry. HARRY He's right. (beat) I want your advice, you know that, but -- you just don't have the frame of reference. SEVEN You refer to my lack of familiarity with human social interaction? HARRY It's not your fault. But -- Seven, you were raised by the Borg. SEVEN You believe I do not understand. HARRY (reluctantly) I think you can't. Exit Harry. INT - MESS HALL / CORRIDOR Harry exits the mess hall. Tom is leaning on the corridor wall, then pushes off to join him. TOM Well, that was ugly. HARRY She meant well. TOM So did the Captain, and look where we are today. HARRY That's a little cynical. TOM Hey, maybe you forgot where I was before we wound up here. The other side of the galaxy is a step *up.* HARRY There's another thing. Captain Janeway's been pretty lax on the whole separation issue. I don't want this to backfire on me. INT - MESS HALL Neelix is rummaging in his kitchen. He pops up, and encounters Seven. He jumps. Catches his breath. NEELIX Have I told you that Talaxian women of your body type would be considered unhealthily thin? SEVEN I have heard you take spiritual counseling from Commander Chakotay. Neelix didn't expect this. NEELIX Yes. SEVEN Tell me about it. INT - CORRIDOR / TURBOLIFT Tom is in the open turbolift. Harry bids him farewell from the corridor. HARRY I think I need more advice. TOM What are you going to do? Take a poll? The turbolift doors slide closed. Harry considers. That doesn't sound like a bad idea. INT - SICKBAY Harry has waylaid THE DOCTOR. DOCTOR Ensign Kim, this isn't exactly my forte. HARRY I know. I'm sorry. But you're the only person other than Tom I can count on to keep quiet. DOCTOR Really? I thought it might have something to do with the Starfleet regulations at the core of my programming. HARRY You have to follow them, right? DOCTOR Which part of "the core of my programming" do you find difficult to follow? HARRY No loose interpretation? No swaying by strong emotion? DOCTOR Do you want the answer or not? HARRY Yes. DOCTOR No. HARRY What? DOCTOR Don't tell the captain. HARRY You've got to give me more than that! DOCTOR Did you want an answer, or a rationale? HARRY What about your core programming? DOCTOR I'm more than the sum of my bits! (beat) Commander Chakotay's actions have caused no disruption to the ship. And my patients who consult him tell me they do so because they want to find out who they truly are. That's a quest I won't deny to anyone, Ensign. INT - CORRIDOR Harry comes out of Sick Bay, looking a bit discouraged. Turning down the hall, he almost walks into TUVOK. TUVOK Mr. Kim. You're away from your station. Are you feeling unwell? HARRY No. Yes. (off Tuvok's look) I had to see the doctor about something. Advice. Personal. Harry lies very badly. TUVOK Of course. HARRY Tuvok -- could I ask you about a hypothetical situation? TUVOK At the risk of being recursive, may I conclude that the hypothetical nature of this question is itself hypothetical? HARRY Yeah, but I really wish you wouldn't. TUVOK I see. (beat) If you would prefer I not know, then do not ask. HARRY You're right. Thanks. Harry approaches the turbolift. Tuvok's about to leave. HARRY Vulcans rejected religion early, didn't they? Mostly? The question surprises Tuvok. He considers his answer. TUVOK Religion's decline was essential to the rejection of illogic and emotion. (beat) Although my wife would disagree. The implication being that this is a point of contention in the marriage. HARRY Thanks, Tuvok. Harry gets into the turbolift and is gone. Tuvok, now very concerned, looks after him for a few moments... and then turns his thoughtful gaze towards the door of Sickbay. INT - CORRIDOR Tom and Harry exit the turbolift and walk toward the mess. HARRY ... and Arthur's afraid that if he says anything, he'll go back on the night shift. So -- TOM So nothing. (beat) Your call. But it's not what the Federation is about. HARRY I always thought tolerance was part of the package. TOM Only of weird alien religions the xeno-anthropologists haven't finished studying yet. (beat) I've got a prior engagement. See you. He takes a different corridor. Harry walks on. INT - MESS SEVEN AND CHAKOTAY are deep in conversation. CHAKOTAY You're sure you don't want to come to the meeting? SEVEN I prefer to experience humanity on my own terms. I will meet with you alone. 2100 hours? CHAKOTAY Fine. She steps away from him, and goes to the door as HARRY enters the mess. SEVEN Ensign Kim. Your timing is excellent. HARRY Neelix just took a break? SEVEN Amusing, but incorrect. I wish to ask you for a date. HARRY A what? SEVEN We will meet by the holodeck, but you should reach me by communicator with a reminder. At 2100. Promptly. HARRY Um -- yes! I'd love to. Um, what exactly brought this on? SEVEN I wish to expand my knowledge of human interaction. HARRY (gulp) I'll be glad to help. SEVEN 2100 hours. Do not forget. Exit Seven. Harry wipes his forehead. INT - SICKBAY Tuvok interrogates the Doctor, who's trying to go about his business. TUVOK I would like to know the nature of your consultation with Ensign Kim. DOCTOR Why don't you ask Ensign Kim? TUVOK He proved recalcitrant. DOCTOR How unfortunate. TUVOK His conversation implied a breach in regulations that, if it exists, would be serious. DOCTOR Really? TUVOK Perhaps seeking your advice would be uncharacteristically logical of him, but -- DOCTOR I'm afraid I can't discuss the nature of a private conversation with a patient. That regulation -- TUVOK -- only applies if Ensign Kim received medical evaluation. Did he? DOCTOR It's none of your business. TUVOK You are programmed to cooperate with Starfleet security. DOCTOR I am also programmed to respect my patients' privacy. Privilege or no. (beat) This interview is over. Computer, deactivate Emergency Medical -- Tuvok goes to a console, starts pressing buttons. DOCTOR -- what are you doing? (no answer) Tuvok, that's encrypted -- TUVOK Only the medical records. Your personal, non-medical memory is readable. If Ensign Kim was ill -- DOCTOR Tuvok, stop. Please. You can't do this -- TUVOK It is the logical course of action, Doctor. A hologram's memory is admissable in cases of -- DOCTOR Just a hologram, yes! But not me! If you press that button, you're just using me as a tool again -- I can't -- (anguished) If our friendship means anything to you... don't do this. TUVOK Your argument is based in emotion, Doctor. (beat) Though it may appeal to me... as a Vulcan, I must reject it. And he stabs the button. The doctor reacts as part of his memory is copied to Tuvok's PADD. It doesn't hurt. But he hates it. DOCTOR How could you? TUVOK You would do anything for the welfare of your patient. (beat) Voyager is mine. Exit Tuvok. The Doctor stands, numb and alone. INT - JANEWAY'S OFFICE Janeway is at her desk. Tuvok enters. She gives him The Stare. JANEWAY I've spoken with the doctor. (beat) You'd better have a *damn* good explanation. TUVOK Regrettably, I do. He hands Janeway the PADD. CUT TO: ANGLE - THROUGH A PEEPHOLE We see a brightly-lit room in BG, and then an eye. It blinks. INT - TOM'S QUARTERS The bed is rumpled. Tom and Belanna are dressed, but only partway; they've just completed a lunchtime assignation. Belanna is holding a black object about the size and shape of a cantelope. It's open on one end, and she's peering into it. The device is a PEEPHOLE HOLO. Nearby, Tom continues dressing. BELANNA Wow. Now that's what I call flexible. TOM She was something. BELANNA Actually, I meant you. But she's impressive. Who is she? TOM "She" is Caitlin Reilly. Her family got displaced from one of the worlds on the Cardassian border. She resented it. Made me resent it too. That's why I went Maquis. BELANNA Plus she could do that thing with her tongue? TOM A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. BELANNA Among other things. So what happened? TOM I got caught, remember? She got away -- but sent me that. BELANNA She sent an explicit peephole holo of the two of you to you in *prison?* TOM To my parents. Mom kept it on the mantel. She wanted to torque off my dad. BELANNA You're lying! (off his look) You're not. TOM My new stepmother was eighteen and wore tighter clothes than Seven of Nine. BELANNA How'd she get blood to her brain? TOM Really wasn't an issue. (beat) What about you? The Maquis. Why'd you join? BELANNA Same as you. TOM (mock surprise) You knew Caitlin? Belanna hits him with a pillow. BELANNA No, you goof. The displacement. I hated the idea of people being kicked out of their homes so Cardassians could move in. TOM (beat) What about the religious issues? BELANNA Huh? TOM There was an upsurge in the old religions. Lot of people in the Maquis turned into true believers. BELANNA Yeah, but that's not what it was about. TOM Not even for Chakotay? BELANNA What? TOM You served with him. He probably had prayer meetings every night or something. BELANNA (beat) Tom, what's going on? Tom's stuck -- but then THE COM PANEL pops on, revealing Harry. HARRY Tom, you are not gonna believe -- oh. Hi, Belanna. Belanna waves. TOM What's up? HARRY Meet me in my quarters. As soon as possible. (beat) You won't *believe* this. Com panel turns off. TOM Gotta run. (kisses her) Bye. Tom exits. BELANNA Tom -- She's puzzled. Hits her com badge. BELANNA Torres to Chakotay. INT - JANEWAY'S OFFICE CHAKOTAY I'm with the Captain. I'll get back to you. (to Janeway) Sorry, Captain. What's up? JANEWAY I've been informed that you're using the mess to hold late-night religious gatherings in violation of the separation regulations. (beat) I'm going to have to insist that you put a stop to it. Chakotay is stunned. FADE OUT. END ACT ONE.
ACT TWO FADE IN: INT - CHAKOTAY'S QUARTERS Chakotay's sitting alone. The DOORBELL CHIMES. He doesn't answer it the first time, or the second. Finally, he gets up and trudges to the door. It opens, revealing Seven of Nine. She has a bag. SEVEN Commander. I know I am early -- (beat) Are you all right? CHAKOTAY I've been better. Come in. (she enters) Did you bring some items of personal significance? Seven upends the bag, pours a heap of BORG HARDWARE onto a table. CHAKOTAY What the hell --? SEVEN Borg implants. These were removed by the Doctor when I came on board. As she explains, Chakotay picks up an bowl-shaped implant. He doesn't know what it's for. Flips it over, cups it in his palm. Then he realizes: it's part of a Borg bustier. Puts it down fast. CHAKOTAY The Doctor let you take these out of containment? SEVEN He was in no mood to object. INT - SICKBAY Tuvok enters. Sickbay is deserted. Tuvok looks around for several moments, delaying the inevitable, until -- TUVOK Computer -- activate Emergency Medical Holographic Program. The Doctor flickers into existence. DOCTOR You! What are you doing here? TUVOK I wish to apologize. DOCTOR Fine. You've done it. Go away! The Doctor flickers out again. INT - CHAKOTAY'S QUARTERS Chakotay and Seven are seated at a table. CHAKOTAY After the meditation, I'll ask you to rest your hand on this. He hands her the hallucinatron. She examines it. CHAKOTAY Just don't touch the top. That activates it. SEVEN What does it do? She touches the hallucinatron with her augmented hand. In ECU: SMALL TUBULES EMERGE FROM HER FINGERTIPS. Contact the device. CHAKOTAY It takes you into your mind, opens you up. In the old days, we used cactus candy, oxygen deprivation. This is easier, safer. (beat) Besides, cactus candy always made me sick. My father was mortified. As he speaks, SEVEN'S AUGMENTED POV shows her view of the hallucinatron OVERLAID WITH A TECHNICAL READOUT. She's secretly scanning the device. Just as she finishes -- Seven's combadge BEEPS. HARRY (VO, FILTER) Kim to Seven of Nine. SEVEN Seven of Nine. Thank you for the reminder. I am on my way. (to Chakotay) I had forgotten a previous engagement. Another time? Chakotay's taken by surprise. CHAKOTAY Of course. You know where to find me... Seven exits. CHAKOTAY ...if you're ever really interested. (beat) Too bad I can't fit everyone who *is* in here. Suddenly, he has an idea. He gets up. INT - CORRIDOR Tom, holding a bunch of flowers, gives Harry a bit of unheard last-minute advice, then ducks around a corner. The turbolift doors open -- -- Tom realizes he still has the flowers, signals Harry -- -- and tosses them over, just in time. Seven half-exits the lift. HARRY Hi! It's great to see you. He hands her the flowers. Seven, puzzled, takes them. SEVEN Thank you. (beat) I must cancel our date. HARRY What? SEVEN "I am sorry." "Something has come up." "Thank you for understanding." Seven steps back into the lift and is gone. Tom re-enters. Harry, agonized, makes futile gestures towards the turbolift door. Tom shrugs, looks on the bright side. TOM She took the flowers. INT - ANOTHER CORRIDOR Seven stuffs the flowers into a RECYCLING CHUTE and keeps walking. INT - CHAKOTAY'S QUARTERS Chakotay shoves a sofa against the wall, then stands back to look. DOORBELL CHIMES. CHAKOTAY Come in! (Belanna enters) What do you think? All of Chakotay's furniture has been pushed against the wall. BELANNA I think you have absolutely no future in interior design. CHAKOTAY But can I fit about thirty people in here for a religious ceremony? BELANNA (raised eyebrow) What kind of religion do you have in mind? (then) That was a cheap shot. I'm sorry. CHAKOTAY It doesn't matter. He gets up, crosses to a bar, pours a drink. BELANNA What, that's it? CHAKOTAY What did you expect? BELANNA I don't know, but redecorating wasn't high on the list. CHAKOTAY As opposed to, oh, pointing out the Captain's blatant hypocrisy? BELANNA You noticed. CHAKOTAY I did mention Neelix's Talaxian festivals, and the Omega incident. You know, the Captain's even consulted me from time to time. Belanna raises an eyebrow. CHAKOTAY That's not a euphemism. BELANNA So what's next? CHAKOTAY I think a couple more drinks. By then I should be too buzzed to care. BELANNA You can't fool me. Your religion matters more than this. CHAKOTAY I thought you were an atheist. BELANNA I worship personal freedom. Just like you. (beat) Don't you know what's going on? Have you heard what Tuvok -- ? CHAKOTAY I heard about the doctor! (beat) And all the times before. First Janeway came for Tuvix, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a combined life form. Then she came for Seven of Nine, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Borg. Then she came for me, and there was no one left to speak on my behalf. BELANNA (beat; cold) I just came up from the mess. It's full of people who'll speak up for you. If you'll quit wallowing in self-pity and let them. (beat) Couch looks good there. Belanna exits. Chakotay sits a moment, as her words sink in. INT - CORRIDOR Chakotay, carrying his MEDICINE BUNDLE, enters turbolift. INT - TURBOLIFT CHAKOTAY Mess. COMPUTER VOICE Unable to comply. CHAKOTAY Computer, is there a problem with this turbolift? COMPUTER VOICE Turbolift is functioning within normal parameters. CHAKOTAY My ass. COMPUTER VOICE Please repeat destination. CHAKOTAY Mess hall, please. The doors close again. Chakotay's getting suspicious. The doors open, on INT - THE BRIDGE and Janeway, who looks pointedly at Chakotay's medicine bundle. JANEWAY We need to talk. INT - MESS There's a sizable crowd assembled -- actually, it's everyone who was here last night, and then some. Neelix pours a drink for Belanna. NEELIX I'm surprised to see you here. BELANNA Why? NEELIX His beliefs have helped a lot of people. Saved my life. But you -- BELANNA I don't believe in his gods, but I believe in him. (beat) As long as he's not hurting anybody, he ought to be able to do any damn fool thing he wants. Neelix chokes on his drink. INT - JANEWAY'S READY ROOM Janeway and Chakotay are seated on opposite sides of her desk, on top of which lies Chakotay's open medicine bundle. CHAKOTAY Diverting any turbolift heading for the mess whose payload includes a detectable amount of sage, sweetgrass... (re: hallucinatron) ...and one of these. That's very good. Tuvok? JANEWAY Tuvok. CHAKOTAY Tuvok. JANEWAY I don't object to your beliefs, Commander. They make your life easier, fine. People want to learn from you, fine. But it's a private matter. Not a public display. Chakotay casually indicates his TATTOO. Janeway gives him The Look. JANEWAY Don't be cute, Chakotay. CHAKOTAY What if the public disagrees with you? JANEWAY I got the petition. CHAKOTAY There was a petition? JANEWAY I can't do a good job without my crew's input, but I won't be strong-armed by them. (beat) Find another spot, a suitable one, and you will have my full support. But that's your job, not mine. Clear? CHAKOTAY Crystal. JANEWAY It had better be. Pause. CHAKOTAY So... where's Tuvok now? INT - MESS The door opens and everyone turns toward it. TUVOK enters. There is a moment of tension as he surveys the room. He raises an eyebrow. One of the UNNAMED CREWMEN folds his arms, standing stiffly defiant. Belanna looks at him, shakes her head. Then she coolly steps past Tuvok and walks out toward the hall. In unison, the crewmembers rise to follow her out. Tuvok watches them go. Belanna turns back, exchanges a frosty look with Tuvok as the crewmen pass her and enter the hallway, then follows along with them. INT - CORRIDOR Where she finds Tom and Harry, who've been cut off from their exit by the throngs of crew. They were surreptitiously checking out the scene. Now they're just uncomfortable. Tom looks at Belanna. She looks back. Neither is pleased to see the other just now. HARRY That's it. This situation could not *possibly* get any worse. INT - SEVEN'S CARGO BAY SEVEN'S HAND detaches from an input device. Moves to a keypad, enters data. And her replicator makes a duplicate of Chakotay's hallucinatron. FADE OUT. END ACT TWO.
ACT THREE FADE IN: INT - MESS Chakotay is conferring with Belanna and Neelix. BELANNA There's got to be a catch. CHAKOTAY And it's right up front. This is a public area. We're the public. We have a right to use it. NEELIX Do we have to make a fuss? CHAKOTAY You sound like my great-great grandfather. NEELIX (flattered) Really? CHAKOTAY His skeleton's in a museum in Guatemala. NEELIX Oh. BELANNA Open protest wouldn't work. CHAKOTAY Who needs it? She'll support us. I say we let her. BELANNA Make her regret her promise. How do you plan to do that? (beat) Oh. Great. We're the brain trust. NEELIX What's wrong with the holodeck? BELANNA Too expensive. CHAKOTAY We're talking about a lot of use. Almost nightly. Even if we pool our energy rations, we couldn't swing that. Pause. Neelix considers. NEELIX So where's it written that we have to turn it on? Chakotay and Belanna look at each other, then at Neelix, their jaws hanging open. Neelix has had a really good idea. INT - CORRIDOR They exit the mess. NEELIX I'm off to spread the word! He ambles off down the corridor. Belanna and Chakotay walk away in the opposite direction. Belanna gives Chakotay a dirty look. BELANNA Your great-great grandfather donated his body to science. CHAKOTAY Worked, didn't it? They walk off-camera, and we go to: INT - SEVEN'S CARGO BAY The door opens. Ensign Levesque enters, PADD in hand. He checks the place out; it's his first time here. LEVESQUE Hello? You wanted some data? He wanders a bit -- and encounters Seven. She's seated, with her hand resting on the top of her replicated hallucinatron. Her eyes stare into space. Levesque stares. Seven's hand lifts off the hallucinatron. She stands up and goes to her workstation, where, with her back to Levesque, she bends far over to make an entry. Levesque cocks his head to the side and stares, an incredulous expression on his face. Momentarily, Seven notices. She turns her head to look at him. SEVEN Yes? LEVESQUE (honestly curious) Is that *comfortable?* SEVEN What? LEVESQUE I know you're Borg and all that, but -- when you have to -- *go,* um -- (then) Do you have *help* putting that on? SEVEN Who are you? I was expecting Ensign Arthur Levesque. LEVESQUE That's me. Now Seven's puzzled. She stares at him. SEVEN You do not look Choosh. Levesque, deflated, hands over the PADD. LEVESQUE Here. Some stuff for Astrometrics. When you get up there. Seven takes it, turns away. Levesque's gaze turns to her hallucinatron. LEVESQUE Harry didn't say anything about you being in Chakotay's... classes. SEVEN I am not. LEVESQUE Oh. (then) Huh? SEVEN Commander Chakotay uses the device in conjunction with focused meditation. (beat) I have found that without such direction, it produces a most interesting effect. LEVESQUE What do you mean? CUT TO: SEVEN OF NINE stands tall against a background of swirling colors. She's strong, beautiful, glowing with radiance. Her body is outlined in bright light; puddles of light and pools of shadow ripple over her form. Other images swirl in the background behind her, never quite achieving definition before they're gone from view. It's a Foundation Imaging wonderwork, eerie and blazingly beautiful. A twenty-fourth-century acid trip. This is Seven as seen from the POV of Arthur Levesque, who has his hand on the hallucinatron. Finally, Levesque lifts his hand and *instantly* snaps back to normal. He gets out of the chair, awed. Seven isn't even looking at him. Her attention is all on the PADD Levesque gave her. LEVESQUE Wow. (beat) I feel normal. No dizziness, no headache, no weird taste in my mouth -- (beat) That thing has the Jewels of Sound beat all hollow. SEVEN (re: PADD) Thank you for the data. LEVESQUE Yeah, sure, no problem. (beat) Listen, do you think you could replicate another one of those? For me? And off Seven's look, we go to INT - ENGINEERING Belanna's working at a console. Tom enters with a PADD. Her back is to him. When he notices she can't see him, he moves forward quietly and places the PADD on a console behind her -- but the slight noise it makes with the contact gets Belanna's attention. She sees him. They regard each other for a moment, then he turns to go. BELANNA Wait. (he waits) I have to ask. Tuvok came in and busted the meeting, you were right outside the door. Did you know? TOM No. We were just walking by. We knew about the service, saw Tuvok -- BELANNA Put two and two together. TOM Harry told me. I don't know how Tuvok found out. BELANNA Seven said he checked the Doctor's memory after Harry -- no, it doesn't matter. (beat) I'm sorry I doubted you. TOM I don't exactly sympathize with Chakotay. I don't like what he's doing. I don't like your jumping on because now it's a political cause. But it wasn't my place. (beat) But if it was, I would have. BELANNA I don't agree with that. TOM I know. He turns and begins to exit. BELANNA Tell Harry he tried to do the right thing. Exit Tom Paris. INT - CORRIDOR Levesque, carrying his new hallucinatron, encounters a young female crewmember. Her name is JANIS MONTGOMERY. JANIS Arthur, hey! Welcome to daylight! LEVESQUE Thanks, Janis. Have I missed a lot? JANIS You kidding? This is day shift. We get all the action. Firefights, shuttle crashes, aliens, more shuttle crashes -- one time, Tom Paris turned into a newt. LEVESQUE A newt? JANIS He got better. Levesque digests this. Janis sees the hallucinatron. JANIS What's that? LEVESQUE You wouldn't believe me if I told you. (beat) I can show you. Not now. Tonight. My quarters. JANIS Okay, you do know I'm still dating Mary, right? LEVESQUE Bring her along. (off her look) Not like that. I promise. This little thing will blow your mind. (beat) I just hope you've been stockpiling replicator rations. 'cause you're gonna want your own. FADE OUT. END ACT THREE.
Part two is here.