****
As the Sea Churns
Episode 7: “On Angel’s Wings”
Open on Henderson’s quarters.
Her quarters haven’t changed much. There’s a plant (of the non-carnivorous variety) on her desk, along with a few textbooks on learning disorders. Addison is conspiciously absent.
Ford and Henderson are sitting on the bed together, holding hands and giving each other dreamy eyes.
Brody materializes, and sits on the edge of the bed, away from them, looking bitterly at the moonstruck couple. Ortiz fades in a few moments later, and begins to wander about the room, peering inquisitively at Henderson’s possessions. He’s sniffing the blooms on the plant when:
BRODY
(angry, lashing out)
What’s with you? You thinking of moving in or something?
ORTIZ
(grinning)
I certainly might.
(with a laugh)
If I was still alive.
Ortiz starts to laugh. Brody gives him a you-are-such-an-idiot look, which only makes Ortiz laugh harder. Ortiz calms down in a few moments, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, as Brody’s look only gets more intense.
ORTIZ
Lighten up, Jim. You’re dead. Live with it.
Brody groans at the joke, while Ortiz howls in laughter.
BRODY
(aggravated)
That’s not the point.
(fiercely)
I can’t stand how I died!
ORTIZ
Hey, at least you died a hero.
(beat)
(pointedly)
At least people know how you died. At least your family had a body to bury.
Brody falls silent, as Ortiz struggles to contain his own bitterness. After a few minutes, Ortiz wanders over to the bed next to Brody, and sprawls on the floor. Both are steadily ignoring the hormone-struck couple next to them.
ORTIZ
(softly)
What happened to you?
A flashback drizzle-fades us to the Macronesian launch bay. Members of Henderson’s rescue party and Henderson are stealthily creeping to the launch, hoping against hope they won’t be caught. All is as it was before.
The scene shifts to show Brody, frantically checking his energy charge and looking worriedly at Henderson.
BRODY
(V.O.)
We were almost to the launch. We were almost there! I was worried about Lonnie, she’d been through so much already, and I was hoping nothing would go wrong.
Several Macronesian soldiers appear from nowhere, firing and screaming, followed by more and more and more. The scene turns to chaos. The rescue team and Henderson dash for cover, and crouch behind any they can find. The air is heavy with smoke.
BRODY
(V.O.)
Then soldiers started pouring in on our position. The only way they could have found us so quickly is if they’d been warned . . .
A soldier fires at Henderson and Hudson, who’d been forced out from behind cover by the oncoming soldiers . . .
BRODY
(V.O.)
And I wound up throwing myself at her. Literally.
Brody falls to the deck, Henderson screams . . . .
Fade to white.
A flashback drizzle-fades us back to the present. Ford and Henderson are still gazing at each other. Brody and Ortiz are still sprawled nearby.
BRODY
(bitterly)
I died to save her life. I died because Ford wanted me dead.
ORTIZ
(amazed)
How did Ford know where you’d be?
BRODY
We’d discussed the plan beforehand in a meeting. He was there. He knew where we would be, when we would be there, and what we planned to do.
ORTIZ
(utterly unbelieving)
And Ford was willing to risk Lonnie’s life like that?
(beat)
Ford wanted to kill you so badly, to kill you to keep you away from her, that he would risk killing her?
Brody shrugs -- how should I know?
BRODY
Ford took a risk. He knew our mission was to get Lonnie out. He knew I was going. He knew he could call the Macronesians, and risk the results.
ORTIZ
(grinning)
He knew he could count on you to be such a Boy Scout that you’d throw yourself on a bullet if necessary.
Brody gives him a dirty look.
BRODY
He knew there was a chance I’d die.
(beat)
And if that hadn’t worked, he’d just try something else.
ORTIZ
(sadly)
All for the love of Lenore Henderson . . . .
BRODY
(disgustedly)
For the love of something, anyway.
(beat)
But what are we going to do about it?
Ortiz looks up at him and smiles.
ORTIZ
Not what.
(beat)
Who.
**end episode 7**
******
As The Sea Churns
Episode 8: “Ashes in your Mouth”
Open on Piccolo’s quarters.
Piccolo is lying on his bunk, reading an adult mag of some kind. Every part of the room is a mess. Ortiz and Brody materialize next to him and look down. Piccolo is oblivious, unable to see them.
BRODY
(with disbelief)
You’re joking, right?
Ortiz shakes his head; he’s serious. Brody shakes his head, as if to clear it; he can’t believe he’s doing this.
BRODY
Do you really want to risk our afterlives on Piccolo?
ORTIZ
(firmly)
Tony’ll come through for us.
Piccolo shifts the magazine to ogle the centerfold.
BRODY
That is so reassuring.
Ortiz grins.
ORTIZ
We need to do this without scaring him too much.
Ortiz mutters something under his breath, and the pair slowly becomes solid -- like watching a sponge soak up water.
ORTIZ
(softly, gently)
Tony?
PICCOLO
Huh?
(he drops the magazine, sees Ortiz and Brody, and jerks back in horror)
Oh, man, I’m dreaming --
Ortiz sits on the bed next to Piccolo, who cringes away, staring.
ORTIZ
(reaching over to touch Piccolo on the shoulder)
Tony, it’s okay . . . .
Piccolo jerks back, falling over the other side of the bed.
Ortiz looks back in exasperation at Brody, who shrugs -- this wasn’t my idea, remember?
BRODY
(grinning)
You’re right, we don’t want to scare him.
Ortiz gives him a will-you-just-shut-up look.
From the other side of the bed, Piccolo is moving around, trying to get up.
PICCOLO
(muttering)
Man, oh man, that was a bad dream. What --
Piccolo peeks over the bed, sees the pair, and stops short. He’s shocked, he’s amazed, he’s almost speechless. Brody, resigned, sighs and sits on the bed next to Ortiz.
BRODY
(to Piccolo)
We need your help.
PICCOLO
(still shocked)
You guys are dead.
ORTIZ
(agreeable)
Right.
PICCOLO
I’m still alive.
ORTIZ
Right.
PICCOLO
I’m awake.
ORTIZ
Right.
Piccolo has now visibly calmed, having apparently accepted the fact that there are two ghosts sitting on his bed, that he’s talking to them, and that they’re answering.
BRODY
We need your help. We didn’t just die.
ORTIZ
(gently, trying to soften the coming blow)
We were murdered, Tony. We need you to bring our murderer to justice for us.
PICCOLO
(infuriated)
Who was it?
Ortiz and Brody look briefly at each other, wondering how he’ll take the news.
ORTIZ
(continuing)
Ford.
(beat)
It was Commander Ford. He murdered us.
Off Piccolo’s horrified reaction, we . . .
Cut to Lucas’ quarters.
Lucas is seated at the computer, knee-deep in printouts. A few vidlink directories are nearby. A cup of coffee and a bowl of M&Ms (tm) sit next to him. He yawns, leans back, and stretches.
LUCAS
(talking to himself)
Okay. What have I found out so far -- not much. Adoption records are sealed up tighter than Tony’s wallet.
(he drinks some of his coffee)
I found my birth certificate, but it has my adoptive parents’ names on it. So --
(deep in thought, he pops a handful of candy into his mouth)
What does that mean?
He turns back to his data accessing, busily typing in a link.
LUCAS
(thoughtful)
Maybe I was switched at birth. Now, what other babies were born at the same hospital around the same time?
(he creates a search profile, adding the relevant data)
Male, date of birth, estimate weight, estimate length . . .
Here goes.
(he hits the send key)
Lucas fidgets for a moment, leaning back in his chair.
LUCAS
(dreamily)
I wonder what my real parents were like . . . .
The computer beeps at him, signaling the search results. He bends to read it.
LUCAS
(horrified)
Oh no. Please no.
Lucas drops his head to his hands and crouches over the keyboard. Looking like a broken toy, he sobs into the backs of his hands.
The camera pulls in closer to the computer screen until we can read the words on the monitor:
One entry found.
Mother’s name: Janette Lynch
Father’s name: Alexander Bourne
**end episode 8**
*****
As The Sea Churns
Episode 9: “With Malicious Intent”
Open on Bridge.
Everyone except Hudson, Lucas, and Piccolo are in their proper places. All is calm and quiet. seaQuest is traveling along at its normal pace, when the boat shakes wildly, alarms begin to wail, and crewmembers are shaken about like bugs in a bottle.
FORD
(shouting, trying to make himself heard)
Henderson, what’s going on?
(turns to O’Neill)
Call --
Ford stops, seeing that O’Neill is already calling General Quarters and Captain to the Bridge. He catches O’Neill’s eye, and gives him a brief nod of approval -- he doesn’t have time for much more.
FORD
(loudly)
What was that? Source?
HENDERSON
(angry and shocked)
Explosion in Engineering!
(shouts into the nearest com)
Get crews in there, seal off that hull breach!!
(she frantically works her board, then pounds on it in frustration)
The whole control board is dead!!
(shouts into the com)
Patterson! Shut down the reactor!! Do it manually!!
On hearing the words “reactor” and “manually” in the same breath, Ford freezes. He wants to know what’s going on, but he also wants to stay out of Henderson’s way so she can do her job. A few moments pass, as Henderson continues trying to “persuade” her control board to work, until:
FORD
(frustrated)
What happened?
Lucas and Piccolo run in and dash to their stations. Lucas is dazed, barely in the realm of the sane, still shocked from his discovery. Piccolo, on the other hand, is fairly blasting rage and agitation.
HENDERSON
(equally frustrated)
I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.
Suddenly, another explosion rocks the seaQuest. Again, the boat shakes, and crewmembers fly across the deck. Lucas nearly falls out of his chair. Henderson crashes into her own control board, and falls to the deck.
Ford staggers over to her, as best he can, and helps her off the floor. After righting herself, she pushes him away.
HENDERSON
(angry)
I don’t need special protection, Jonathan.
Ford just stares at her. Neither of them see the hateful glare Piccolo shoots at Ford, visible for only a second. Another alarm screams, demanding attention.
PICCOLO
Explosion in Hudson’s office.
FORD
(to O’Neill)
Call MedBay. Have a team sent to Engineering also.
O’Neill nods, and begins speaking into his headset. No one sees that he is quietly shaking with laughter.
Henderson is bent over her control board. It’s still dead. She runs to another board -- one which is marked Internal Security -- and begins checking its data.
HENDERSON
(calls out, hurriedly)
Only the one breach in Engineering.
The panic is calming, but the bridge crew is very tightly wired. Alarms can still be heard screeching.
FORD
(trying to calm everyone)
Alright, take it easy. We’re currently at full stop.
(to O’Neill)
Contact UEO Command, give them our situation, and ask for instructions.
(beat)
Send it on a secure channel. No need to give our friend Bourne any more information than we need to.
Lucas chokes at this, but manages to stay in control. No one notices. He looks as if he wants to cry some more.
O’Neill nods again, and busies himself at his console.
Ford looks around and shakes his head -- how did this happen, why did it happen, and what else could go wrong?
Cut to MedBay.
Several hours have passed, the boat’s artificial “night” lighting is on. Ford is quietly sitting in a chair next to Hudson’s bed, just staring at his captain. Then Hudson wakes up, looks around dizzily, and groans -- not here, again!!
HUDSON
(still dazed)
I’ll be fine, Doctor Perry says.
(with a wry smile)
This time.
Mostly bruises, cuts, and a bump on the head.
(he shakes his head, with a sigh)
I’m just in here for observation, Commander. I’ll be released in the morning.
FORD
(concerned)
You were lucky.
HUDSON
(back to business, as best he can)
Damage report?
FORD
(he has bad news, and knows it)
Damage control crews are rotating on four-hour shifts to repair the damage. We’re at full stop until the hull breach is completely sealed and until Henderson is satisfied with the condition of the fusion reactor.
Hudson nods -- he is not happy, but is relieved all the same. It could have been a lot worse.
FORD
(continuing)
Injuries were mostly minor ones. No fatalities.
(he looks at Hudson pointedly)
In that, we were very lucky.
HUDSON
(wholeheartedly)
Agreed.
FORD
(continuing)
A forensics team is examining the explosion sites to determine the cause or causes.
(beat)
UEO Command wants us to return to New Cape Quest -- they’re concerned about the reactor.
Ford rises to leave, and let his captain rest, then:
HUDSON
(firmly)
I know one thing, Commander. If these turn out to be bombs, then they were planned.
(beat, looking Ford square in the eye)
Planned with malicious intent.
Ford nods.
**end episode 9**
Note: I used a 4-hour shift because Navy ships (like aircraft carriers) have a system dividing the day into a series of watches, and each watch lasts 4 hours. The beginning and end of each watch is signaled by a numerical sequence of bells, which also signal which watch it is.
I am assuming that the same system might hold true on a submarine -- and thus the work crew would shift with the watch. I have no idea whether this is the case, but it’s equally plausible that Ford could put the work crew on 4-hour shifts to keep them fresh and alert at their jobs.
****
As The Sea Churns
Episode 10: “What A Tangled Web We Weave”
Open on Piccolo’s quarters.
Ortiz is sprawled on the bed, and Brody is stretched out in the chair. Both of them are bored, bored, bored. Then Piccolo enters, just as agitated as before.
PICCOLO
Hey, wake up!
Ortiz stirs. Brody opens his eyes.
BRODY
(quietly)
We’re not sleeping, Piccolo.
Piccolo throws himself on the bed, next to Ortiz.
PICCOLO
(glancing at the still Ortiz)
Yeah, sure, right.
(makes a gimme motion with his hands)
C’mon, guys, details. What happened? I need to know.
BRODY
(shaking his head)
You don’t need to know --
PICCOLO
(taking offense and getting angry)
Whaddya mean I don’t need to know? Of course I need to know.
(waving his arms and raising his voice)
Just because two of my friends got wasted by another friend, oh, that’s no reason why I need to know, is it?
(shouting, tauntingly)
I suppose, Sir, I should just do whatever you say, Sir, and --
The argument rouses Ortiz, bringing him back to the world.
BRODY
(shouting and getting in Piccolo’s face)
I expect you to follow orders --
Ortiz stands up on the bed, jumps between them, and shoves them apart.
ORTIZ
(shouting)
Enough!! Break it up, guys!!
They sit on the bed, Brody and Piccolo glowering at each other. Ortiz, seated between them, rolls his eyes to the sky, a Why-me-God expression on his face.
There is a pounding on the door. It opens, and a young female seaman enters.
SEAMAN
(hesitantly)
Are you okay? I heard you shouting . . . .
Piccolo does his best to come up with a plausible reply. The young woman apparently can’t see either ghost.
PICCOLO
I’m fine, thanks.
(shoots a look at Brody)
It was nothing.
Brody scowls. Ortiz grins.
Now looking at Piccolo strangely, the seaman nods, and leaves.
ORTIZ
(calmly)
The short versions.
Piccolo nods.
ORTIZ
I died on Hyperion because my pistol was rigged to explode. Brody died because a Macronesian soldier shot him. Commander Ford is responsible for both our deaths.
PICCOLO
Why are ya so sure?
ORTIZ
Ford got my weapon for me, and had plenty of opportunity to rig it.
(nods at Brody)
Brody died because the soldiers had been tipped off about the rescue attempt.
Piccolo is stunned.
PICCOLO
(shocked)
We all coulda died?
Brody nods.
PICCOLO
(continuing)
When he really wanted just to waste you?
Brody nods again.
Piccolo can’t believe it, doesn’t want to believe it, but why would Brody and Ortiz lie? They wouldn’t lie about this. He’s horrified, he’s terrified, but rage is taking over. Betrayed!!
PICCOLO
(infuriated)
I’ll kill him.
BRODY
(firmly)
No.
Piccolo starts to fly at Brody again, and opens his mouth to make a snide or insulting comment, but:
ORTIZ
(stepping in)
No, Tony. That’s not what we need you for.
Piccolo looks at him. Ortiz gives him a smile and a shrug -- trust me.
ORTIZ
We need you to expose him. Find evidence. Anything to put him in jail.
(glances at Brody)
Then we can go.
PICCOLO
(not getting it)
Go?
Ortiz smiles, and points upward. Piccolo’s eyes widen.
Piccolo nods, and extends his hand. Both Brody and Ortiz grab on and hold tight. Their hands clasped in agreement and support, they look at each other.
PICCOLO
(quietly)
Okay.
**end episode 10**
****
As The Sea Churns
Episode 11: “The Search”
Open on Sea Deck.
Hudson and Ford are leaning up against the moon pool. Darwin can be seen swimming nearby; he may even be eavesdropping. Hudson is clearly frustrated by the events of the last several days.
HUDSON
(angry)
What is wrong with the crew lately?
(beat)
Wolenczak is a zombie, Piccolo is a nervous wreck, and O’Neill is barely active even when he’s on duty!!
He throws his hands up in frustration, and begins to pace back and forth. Ford watches him, giving a good impression of a spectator at a tennis game.
Ford takes a deep breath -- he has bad news and doesn’t like it.
FORD
(unhappily, but “doing his duty”)
The news doesn’t get any better.
(beat)
The results on those explosions came back from Forensics. The first one, in Engineering, was apparently caused by a fault in the console panel. Ensign Williams did find some electrical fragments that could indicate a bomb, but she said that if it was, it was designed not to be found.
Hudson is not happy.
FORD
(continuing)
The second explosion, in your office, was definately a bomb.
Hudson is even less happy. We can practically see the storm clouds.
FORD
(continuing)
That bomb left a chemical residue because it didn’t go off properly.
(beat)
Or so Williams says.
HUDSON
(wryly)
It worked well enough from my point of view.
Ford smiles briefly, sharing the joke, then it’s back to business.
FORD
Williams also said that its chemicals weren’t balanced properly, which caused it to explode later than it should have.
(pointedly)
While you were still in your office.
(even more pointedly)
And unaware.
We can practically see lightning and rain now over Hudson’s head.
HUDSON
(shocked and angry)
Any clues as to who set them if there really were two bombs?
FORD
(concerned)
Not at this time.
(beat)
UEO Command wants us drydocked for repairs and, for safety’s sake, because of the reactor.
(beat)
Our ETA at New Cape Quest is tomorrow morning, approximately ten hundred hours.
(beat)
If nothing else goes wrong.
Hudson nods.
Ford exits. Hudson sighs, turns around, and spots Darwin floating behind him.
HUDSON
(looking at Darwin)
This is all your fault, isn’t it, fish?
DARWIN
(through vocorder)
Darwin not fish.
(beat)
Darwin mammal.
Hudson groans, exasperated -- I give up!!
Cut to Lucas’ quarters.
Lucas is sitting, dejectedly, on his bunk. He’s been weeping again.
LUCAS
(despondent)
Now I know how Luke Skywalker felt . . . .
He sits there, brooding and sniffling, for a few moments.
LUCAS
(trying to think of something)
Well, maybe I can find more information.
(beat)
Maybe there’s some other answer.
He trudges to the computer, flips it on, and begins to search different databases.
The scene shifts to show us the chronometer, keeping Lucas in the background.
It changes to show us that three hours have passed. The scene shifts back to Lucas again. He’s tired, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his eyes.
LUCAS
(talking to himself, trying to keep awake)
Notations on both these birth certificates, my original and --
(he shudders slightly)
The one with Bourne listed as the father, led to a --
(he reads from the screen)
Marion-Carpenter Medical Center, and a Doctor Lorraine Hassett.
(thoughtfully)
I wonder what the computer can find on them?
Lucas sets his computer searching, and leans back to rest. A few minutes later, the computer beeps with information. He leans forward to read.
LUCAS
(horrified)
Oh, my God.
(whispering)
What does this have to do with me?
He just sits there, stunned, as the camera moves forward to read the information on the screen. A list of newspaper clippings, dated June 2003, and the headlines read:
Marion-Carpenter Medical Center Closed by Court Order.
Doctor Lorraine Hassett Before Medical Board.
Hassett’s Assistant Dead; Suicide, Say Police.
Hassett’s Collegues Claim No Knowledge.
Claims of Illegal Human Experimentation Raised.
“Atrocious Experimentation on Babies” Say Medical Board.
Doctor Lorraine Hassett Disbarred From Practice.
**end episode 11**
Note: I’m dating Lucas’ birthdate as December 23, 2002.
****
As The Sea Churns
Episode 12: “Projections”
Open on a section of seaQuest’s undercorridor (i.e., the bilge).
It’s greasy, dirty, dark, and cramped. Wires, thick cables, and instrument anels cover the walls and ceiling. Dagwood enters, bent over and uncomfortable. He moves along, slowly, until he reaches a panel marked “Navigation and Helm”.
Dagwood opens the panel, places a miniature computer inside, hooks it to the wiring, and presses a red button on its surface. Red and green lights blink on and off sequentially.
A few minutes later, the mini-computer beeps. Dagwood removes it from the panel, stuffs it into his uniform pocket, closes the panel, smiles, and leaves.
Cut to Deon’s office.
Deon is sitting at his desk, doing some kind of paperwork. He looks very smug, clearly pleased with himself. The camera draws closer so we can see he’s examining a rough schematic of the seaQuest.
DEON
Everything’s working perfectly.
(checks the schematic)
Now . . .
(beat)
How to further the seaQuest’s deterioration?
(beat, thoughtful)
What would hurt them the worst, what would best draw my little fishie into my great
(beat)
Big
(beat)
Net?
Deon thinks for a few minutes, studying the schematic. Then he laughs, and stabs his finger at a section of it.
DEON
(triumphantly)
There!
The camera pulls in to show us what Deon’s pointing at -- the section of the seaQuest schematic marked “Communications”.
Cut to Bridge.
Everyone is in their places. Piccolo is thoughtful. Lucas is still dazed and sort of “out of it”. Hudson is alternately glancing between and frowning at Lucas and O’Neill.
The boat then lists to starboard -- all react. Hudson suppresses a groan (what now!!), Ford doesn’t look much happier, and everyone else busies themselves at their respective consoles.
NONCOM AT NAVIGATION
Sir?
(beat)
We’re drifting off course.
Hudson turns toward the helm station, and raises an eyebrow. He might as well have raised an energy pistol.
NONCOM AT HELM
Helm is sluggish, Sir, just barely responding.
NONCOM AT NAVIGATION
(sighing, exasperated)
My readings just went haywire.
LUCAS
(muttering)
And we’re not even in the Bermuda Triangle.
Hudson sighs, ignoring Lucas’ comment for now -- what else is going to go wrong? He turns to Lucas, who is busily checking his computer readouts.
HUDSON
(hoping for good news, just this once)
Wolenczak?
Lucas shakes his head unhappily. This is not what Hudson wants to hear.
LUCAS
(thoughtful, scrolling through his readouts)
It looks like some Tirocian faults developed in the navigation and helm programming subroutines.
Hudson just nods -- he has no idea what Lucas is talking about.
HUDSON
Can you fix it?
LUCAS
(still thoughtful)
Yeah.
(beat)
Maybe.
Hudson does not want to hear this. Not today.
LUCAS
(still thoughtful, and scrolling down some more)
And it looks like there are other problems too.
(looks at Hudson)
Maybe that memory wipe Captain Bridger did backlashed on us.
(beat, pointedly)
Or, of course, it could be because the system’s ten years old.
HUDSON
(picking up the cue)
And she’s due for a refit. I’ll mention it to Secretary General McGath.
Lucas nods.
HUDSON
Go to work, Ensign. Get those faults cleared up.
Hudson shakes his head -- he can’t believe this. Lucas catches his reaction.
LUCAS
(thoughtfully)
Chief Crocker would say we’ve got a Jonah on board.
HUDSON
(unhappily)
What else can go wrong?
**end episode 12**
Note: the phrase is, to the best of my knowledge, a real seaman’s usage. “Having a Jonah on board” means “to be jinxed” or “to have bad luck follow”. It’s supposedly related to the fable of Jonah being swallowed by the whale.
*****
As The Sea Churns
Episode 13: “Tony Piccolo, Private Dick”
Open on Henderson’s quarters.
Henderson is absent, but Piccolo is searching her quarters, looking for evidence against Ford. He’s trying to be quick and careful about his search; he doesn’t want to trash the place and raise any suspicion.
Then Piccolo walks to the desk (the only item left), shakes his head disgustedly at its tidiness, and pages through the books on Henderson’s desk.
Then we hear the door open. Tony’s eyes widen, and he turns with the book in his hands. Henderson enters, and her eyes widen with rage when she spots Piccolo in her quarters.
HENDERSON
(angrily)
What are you doing here?
This is the last thing Piccolo wants to deal with.
PICCOLO
(thinking fast)
Lookin’ for you.
Henderson brightens.
HENDERSON
Really?
Piccolo nods.
PICCOLO
(thinking fast)
I got this date set up, Lonnie, a real looker, in New Cape Quest but she wants to go dancing.
(looks at the deck)
And I don’t know how to dance, and well . . . .
Henderson tips her head to one side (awww!!) and lifts up Piccolo’s chin with her fingertips, looking into his eyes.
HENDERSON
(softly)
I can teach you.
(with a seductive lilt)
I’m good at all kinds of dancing . . . .
Henderson takes the initiative, and kisses Piccolo. A little startled, he returns the kiss.
Cut to Bridge.
Ford is preparing to leave, but he stops at Lucas’ station on his way out. Lucas looks exhausted -- he’s all but asleep on his keyboard.
Ford shakes him gently, trying to wake him. Lucas mutters sleepily.
FORD
(amused)
Go to bed, Lucas.
(beat)
Sleep a little. You’ll feel better in the morning.
LUCAS
(sleepily, not really wanting to leave)
But then I’ll have nightmares.
FORD
(concerned)
Nightmares?
LUCAS
(realizing what he’d just said)
Nothing. Never mind.
Lucas exits hurriedly -- the last thing he wants is for Ford to find out who Dad might really be. Ford watches him leave, shaking his head -- kids!! Ford leaves.
Cut to corridor outside Henderson’s quarters.
Ford walks up, carrying a wrapped package. He knocks on Henderson’s door.
A few minutes later, Henderson opens the door a crack and looks out. Then Piccolo peeks out, next to and just behind her. Both are red-faced and their clothing is disheveled.
Ford’s eyes narrow. He doesn’t like this at all.
FORD
(upset and angry, but trying to cover)
Did I interrupt anything?
Ford glares at Piccolo.
HENDERSON
(nonchalantly)
No. We were almost finished anyway.
(sweetly)
I was teaching Tony how to dance.
Ford’s not buying it.
FORD
(pursuing)
And that’s all?
HENDERSON
(starting to get angry)
Is that what you think of me?
(turning to Piccolo, and ignoring a fuming Ford)
Do you think you’ll need another lesson?
PICCOLO
I’ll manage.
(grinning)
Thanks for your help.
HENDERSON
(purring at Piccolo)
Anytime.
Piccolo sidesteps Henderson and Ford, then exits.
Ford suddenly remembers he’s holding something, steadies himself, and takes a deep breath.
FORD
I brought you a gift.
Henderson’s eyes brighten -- what a good day this is turning out to be! She waves Ford into her quarters.
Cut to Henderson’s quarters.
Henderson and Ford are sitting on the bed. She is frantically attacking the package, shredding the gaily-colored wrapping.
HENDERSON
(finally getting it open)
Oh, Jonathan, you shouldn’t have!
Ford beams.
Henderson lifts the gift up -- we can see it’s a toy bear with a bright red bow around its neck. She’s delighted.
HENDERSON
(happily)
I think I’ll name him Addison Two.
FORD
(wryly)
I thought you might.
Henderson and Ford make goo-goo eyes at each other for a few moments. Then they kiss, sandwiching Addison Two between them.
**end episode 13**
****
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