This is a sample sequence from an episode of the one-hour sci-fi drama "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." In standard teleplay format, it came out to six pages. I've reformatted it for this web page without removing any of the elements that were included in the standard version. It doesn't look like standard format, but you can get a feel for my writing with this. Thanks for your patience. (Note: this script was not produced by the makers of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.)



DS9: "Visage" - REV. 00/00/96 - TEASER 1.

STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE

"VISAGE"

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. BATHHOUSE - NIGHT

A luxurious adult playground surrounds a jacuzi hugging TWO BEAUTIFUL BAJORANS sipping wine. After a beat, a virile DOPTERIAN enters, smiling and approaches them.

The Bajorans giggle like schoolgirls. He jumps in, submerging himself. When he surfaces, he sees...

EXT. OCEAN - DAY

When the Dopterian opens his eyes, he's jolted. His eyes bulge as he surveys the scene. There's no land in sight.

After a beat, a SHARK FIN swims by. The bulges increase.

DOPTERIAN
What the Hell is this?

Suddenly, he's yanked under. When he surfaces...

EXT. FROZEN POND - DAY (OVERCAST)

Our Dopterian friend breaks through the ice, startling the nearby SKATERS. He frowns as he hoists himself up.

DOPTERIAN
Quark! Quark!

After a beat, a HOLOSUITE DOOR appears, then opens. QUARK walks through it with a scowl on his face.

QUARK
What seems to be the...

Problem? Quark sees the problem clearly. The Dopterian approaches him with the look of an unsatisfied customer.

DOPTERIAN
Is this your idea of a joke?

As the Dopterian nears him, Quark begins backing up.

QUARK
I'm sorry. The holosuites have
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

DS9: "Visage" - REV. - 00/00/96 - TEASER 2.

CONTINUED:

QUARK (Cont'd)
been malfunctioning lately. Let me set your program up in suite number three. It hardly ever...

DOPTERIAN
I'm going to make you malfunction, Quark!

INT. QUARK'S - ON HOLOSUITE

Quark backs out, followed by the Dopterian as ODO passes.

QUARK
Now, let's not be hasty!

Odo pauses next to Quark to witness his latest mess.

DOPTERIAN
I'll show you hasty!

ODO
Looks like you'll have to give him a refund, eh Quark?

Quark spins around to whisper to the Security Chief.

QUARK
The First Rule of Aquisition: "Once you have their money, you never give it back."

Quark spins back around to face the Dopterian, who seems chastened by the presence of the Head of Security.

ODO
(to himself)
I knew he'd say that.

QUARK
I assure you, that was an... aberration. I'll get your program up and running in suite four in five minutes and I'll extend the duration by... ten percent at no extra charge.

ODO
Ten percent? Quark, you're getting generous in your old age. It's rare that Quark gives away anything at no extra charge. I'd suggest you seize the opportunity.

(CONTINUED)

DS9: "Visage" - REV. 00/00/96 - TEASER 3.

CONTINUED:

DOPTERIAN
I'd rather take the extra ten percent out of his...

ODO
And that way, I won't have to throw you in the brig.

Odo smiles as only he can. The Dopterian relents.

DOPTERIAN
Alright, but if it malfunctions again, I'm going to show Quark the Dopterian body slam.

ODO
You have my blessing.

Quark frowns as Odo and the Dopterian share a smile.

QUARK
So, if you'll wait in suite four, I'm sure it'll work this time.

The Dopterian exhales, turns and heads for the suite. Quark turns toward Odo who has turned and begun his exit.

QUARK
Odo, if you see O'Brien, would you remind him of my two-day-old request for his assistance in repairing the holosuites?

ODO
I'll try and remember, Quark, but the senior officers have him tied up helping out with our impending visitors.

QUARK
He's killing my business!

ODO
As surprising as it may seem to you, Quark, there are more pressing matters to Starfleet than your financial health. In case you've forgotten, we're hosting treaty talks between the Ballards and the Buelltons starting today.

QUARK
Oh, I haven't forgotten. I've stocked up on their favorite beverages and introduced a new game that I'm sure will...

(CONTINUED)

DS9: "Visage" - REV. 00/00/96 - TEASER 4.

CONTINUED:

DOPTERIAN (O.S.)
QUARK!

Quark is reminded of the Dopterian's temper.

QUARK
Just remind O'Brien for me please.

Quark turns around and dashes off. Odo exits smiling.

INT. DS9 - HALLWAY

Odo joins DAX, KIRA, SISKO, BASHIR, WORF and O'BRIEN as they walk along the corridor together toward a docking bay. Sisko and crew seem full of purpose.

SISKO
Ah, Odo, there you are. I've asked Worf to be at the ready to back you and Major Kira up should anything out of the ordinary occur upon the arrival of the Buelltons or the Ballards.

ODO
I'm sure that won't be necessary.

SISKO
Just the same, Starfleet is particularly anxious for these treaty talks to go well, considering the proximity of the Ballards' and Buelltons' homeworlds to the other end of the wormhole.

DAX
They could make a lot of trouble for the Federation if their conflict escalates any further.

KIRA
People will be afraid to go near the wormhole if there's a raging war happening a light year away.

SISKO
Exactly.

WORF
How long has this conflict lasted?

BASHIR
I've been hearing about their civil war since I was a child.

(CONTINUED)

DS9: "Visage" - REV. 00/00/96 - TEASER 5.

CONTINUED:

O'BRIEN
My father always compared their conflict to Northern Ireland in the twentieth century. Neither side wants to give in.

DAX
But if they keep this up, their ways of life will become nearly intolerable, considering their depleting natural resources.

BASHIR
Not to mention the depleting number of able-bodied soldiers.

SISKO
All the more reason for us to do our best to help ensure that the talks go off without a hitch.

JAKE rushes in, excited.

JAKE
They're here, dad. They're here.

SISKO
Don't you have homework to do?

JAKE
Yeah.

SISKO
Off you go then.

JAKE
Can't I...

Sisko's expression stops Jake who heads for his quarters.

BASHIR
Which contingent is arriving now?

SISKO
The Buelltons.

KIRA
Known for their aggressive nature.

SISKO
Look at the Ballards and the Buelltons like this: Their history and nature are similar to the Vulcan/Romulan situation. They come from the same place and
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

DS9: "Visage" - REV. 00/00/96 - TEASER 6.

CONTINUED:

SISKO (Cont'd)
share the same ancestors, but since their split, their customs and philosophies have gone in two distinctly different directions.

DAX
Where the Ballards have turned inward and use covert methods to achieve military success, the Buelltons simply use brute force.

WORF
So, if the Ballards are like the Vulcans, the Buelltons are like...

O'BRIEN
Romulans. I don't like Romulans.

He and Worf share a look containing memories of their various Enterprise experiences with Romulans as the crew halts by a large window next to the docking bay doors.

After a beat, a BUELLTON VESSEL comes into view, heading toward the docking bay at a high rate of speed.

SISKO
Here we go people. Remember how important this is to Starfleet.

The Buellton vessel veers off course and executes a 'fly-by' just above the docking bay. As the ship passes overhead, it fires two streams of five photon torpedoes.

The two torpedo streams fly by either side of the docking bay, just missing the station as the ship comes about.

The crewmembers react with shock to this turn of events.

SISKO
Battle stations people!

All except O'Brien and Worf scatter. They gaze upward.

O'BRIEN
I was afraid of this.

Worf performs his pattented angry sigh as their gazes shift toward each other. After a beat, they scatter as the Buellton vessel resumes its approach toward DS9.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER