Star Trek: Destinies screenplay

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Another unfinished screenplay exercise from a couple years ago. For all you Star Trek fans you'll instantly recognize the introductory dialog. The original formated screenplay is here. Note the name "Que" is only written that way so that the reader can quickly track dialog. I felt "Q" was too small a word to use effectively. Hope you like!



STAR TREK: DESTINIES

Original Screenplay by R. Allen (incomplete)

FADE IN:

EXT. OUTER SPACE

The infinite blackness punctuated by a billion stars. Subtle
movement across the field of stars. Flashes of blurred greens,
blues, and reds splash across the screen. The blurred shapes
begin to focus into vividly colorful, active spiraling
galaxies and nebulas.

(The following is continuous voice-over dialog from The Next
Generation's "All Good Things")

PICARD (V.O.)
Are you saying that it worked? We
collapsed the anomaly?
(voice fades in)

One nebulas begins to go supernova. POV continues moving.

QUE
Is that all this meant to you? Just
another spatial anomaly, just another
day at the office?

PICARD
Did it work?

QUE
Well, you're here, aren't you? You're
talking to me, aren't you?

POV moves past galaxies towards the interior of the
recognizable Milky Way. Movement gradually decreases.

PICARD
What about my crew?

QUE
The anomaly, my ship, my crew, I
suppose you're worried about your
fish, too.

POV subtly highlights the Pisces star formation.

QUE (CONT'D)
Well, if it puts your mind at ease,
you've saved humanity, once again.

POV moves closer into the interior of the Milky Way; passing
the outer rim stars.

QUE (CONT'D)
We wanted to see if you had the
ability to expand your mind and your
horizons, and for one brief moment
you did. For that one fraction of a
second, you were open to options you
had never considered.

POV movement enters various solar system bodies and continues
it's speedy movements past stars and planetary bodies (some
with many satellites).

QUE (CONT'D)
That is the exploration that awaits
you. Not mapping stars and studying
nebulae, but charting the unknown
possibilities . . . of existence.

POV enters our solar system on a fly-by of Pluto, and
continues past Uranus, Neptune, Saturn (through rings).

PICARD
Q, what is it you're trying to tell
me?

Jupiter (and its many moons)... asteroid belt...

QUE
You'll find out. In any case, I'll
be watching... and if you're very
lucky, I'll drop by to say hello...

Mars...

QUE (CONT'D)
From time to time.

Moon...

QUE (CONT'D)
See you, out there.
(voice fades out)

Earth: A jewel of blues, greens, and white clouds of varies
shades mesh in the atmosphere.

CREDITS (2-row): Star Trek // Destinies

FADE TO:

FULL SHOT EYE -- CONTINUOUS

The shape of the Earth and its brilliant colors smoothly
transform into the colors and textures of a iris and pupil.
Within the iris a reflection of the Earth can be seen. Earth
and Pupil locked in an intense discovering of one another.

The pupil mechanically shutters taking in the nuances of
Earth. The raised subcontinent of Atlantis Prime shows the
surface have undergone recent changes. Familiar landmasses
such as the Americas, Europe, Asia now share space with human-
raised continents. A few hundred meters above shuttlecraft
travel their courses between locations.

POV begins to pull back to reveal pale, quasi-glossy skin.
The eye continues to gaze forward. POV pulls back further to
reveal more details. Moments later Data's face is seen. His
eyebrows furrow together and his facial expressions indicate
confusion and awe. B4 continues to peer out upon the Earth's
bustling activity.

DATA
Sir this is where my brother lived?

PICARD (O.S.)
Yes. For a time B4.

B4
And in that time he never had
emotions?

B4 turns to reveal a comfortable well accommodated room filled
with all sorts of amenities. Against a wall a prominent
bookself filled with classic literature rests. The lights
are subtle and peaceful. Furniture is neutral, inviting tones.
In the center of the room sits two sofa-like chairs positioned
in an "L" shape. Juxtaposed between them is a coffee table.
On it rests varies datapads. But the focal point is a glass
tri-level chess board game. In the sofa chair furthest from
B4's position sits PICARD.

PICARD
Correct.

B4
How could my brother live on a planet
full of emotions?

PICARD
Your brother was Pinochio.

B4
Mr. Picard?

PICARD
Access your database on children's
literature, circa 1880.

B4
Accessing... Media... Literature...
1800... 1850... 1880... Mr. Picard
this is proving to be difficult.
My cerebral cortax is having
difficulty establishing a valid
searching pattern in my database.

PICARD slowly stands and begins walking toward the door,
fatherly gesturing B4 follow him.

PICARD
You're doing fine B4. You're
progressing well. You've come a long
way. Perhaps we can continue this
tomorrow.

B4 stops before the exit.

B4
What about Pinocchio?
(child-like curiosity)

PICARD
Well I suppose we have time.

Both slowly stroll back towards the sofas.

PICARD (CONT'D)
Pinocchio is a classic children's
tale about an Italian woodcarver
named Gepetto. Gepetto created many
wooden puppets. One night while
Gepetto slept a fairy visited a
recently completed marionette and
bought it to life. Pinocchio was
alive but not human. Pinocchio
struggled to became a real boy.

B4 follows PICARD's story with child-like expressions.

PICARD (CONT'D)
You and Data have much in common
with the story of Pinocchio. Both of
you were created by a man like
Gepetto. And like Pinocchio both of
you are alive, but not human. For
his entire life Data struggled to
become more than his programming...

B4
And my brother died --

PICARD
-- More human, than human.
(beat)

B4
Do I need to die to become human
too?

PICARD
In the fairy tale Pinocchio lives
happily ever after.

B4 expressions indicates a confused satisfaction.

PICARD (CONT'D)
B4 we'll continue our chess game
tomorrow, same time.

B4
Thank you Mister Picard. May I watch
Earth from your quarters?

PICARD
By all means. I'll be on the bridge
if you need anything.

---