EXT. M5O-0024 – CRICHTON SETTLEMENT – CITYSCAPE – DAY
On the Federation colony M5O-0024, a violet-and-mauve gas giant looms large in the northern sky, the distant white sun of the system shining just off to the northeast, casting its bright, clean light down on the coastal buildings of Crichton Settlement, the O-class moon’s largest city.
INT. APARTMENT COMPLEX/KUBAKA & NYOTA’S APARTMENT – DAY
Entering the apartment, we travel to the bedroom, where we find a suitcase – open and partially packed – sitting atop the large, king-sized bed.
Moving out of the bedroom, we come to the living room, where we find two dark-skinned Humans standing together. 1ST LIEUTENANT NYOTA UHURA, a pretty woman with short, black hair, dark brown eyes, and a strong, toned body, is of Terran extraction, a native of the African Confederation. Kabaka Bubunga – a man with short, curly hair, a thin mustache, and a taller, finer build than that of his companion – is of similar heritage.
KABAKA BUGUNGA: So you’re really going, Nyota?
UHURA: Yes, Kabaka. Did you really expect otherwise?
KABAKA BUGUNGA: (shakes his head with confusion) I didn’t know. I … (looks down at his pants and reaches into a pocket) Here, I have something for you.
Pulling the object – a small ebony box – out, he presents it before Uhura, resting a hand lovingly on her shoulder as he does so. Taking the box, she opens it; inside, nestled against scarlet velvet lining, is a beautiful electrum ring with an ornately cut turquoise set in it.
UHURA: A wedding ring? (beat) Kabaka, that’s very sweet, but –
Gently but firmly, Kabaka directs Uhura over to a sofa and sits her down in it.
KABAKA BUGUNGA: (sits down beside Uhura, facing her) Marry me, Nyota. What do you need space for when you’ve got someone who you loves you right here?
UHURA: And I love you, Kabaka … but I can’t just abandon my career. Comm officer of the Enterprise is a promotion I can’t refuse.
KABAKA BUGUNGA: (frowns) And you expect me to wait for you, is that it?
UHURA: No … no.
Taking one last look at the wedding ring in its box, she slowly closes it and replaces it in Kabaka’s hands, closing his fingers over it as she does so.
UHURA: (cont’d) I’ll wait for you.
Apparently a poor choice of words. Upon hearing them, Kabaka’s face contorts with intense, sudden anger. Bolting up from the sofa, he gazes down upon his lover, cheeks livid with rage.
KABAKA BUGUNGA: Don’t bother, Uhura ….
Taking the ring, Kabaka hurls it away from him. Hitting the far wall, it drops to the floor with a low THUNK.
KABAKA BUGUNGA: (cont’d) … I won’t be here when you get back.
Turning on his heel, he makes his way to the door out of the apartment. By the time Uhura goes to stop him, he has already stormed out.
UHURA: (staring after him) Goodbye ….
INT. ENTERPRISE/CORRIDOR OUTSIDE CREW QUARTERS
On board the Constitution-class starship Enterprise, in the corridor wherein the crew quarters are located, a man comes to a halt before a specific door. Clad in a gold command jacket nearly identical to Kirk’s, he keeps his hands clasped behind his back, an aura of what can only be described as relaxed but contemplative focus worn about him. A tall, lanky man who wears his dark black hair shorn short and his facial expression neutral, he looks almost like an average, nondescript Human male; only the greenish tinge to his light skin, his upturned eyebrows, and his pointed ears betray the extrahuman side of his heritage. This is MAJOR S’POCK, the Vulcan/Human hybrid science officer of the USS Enterprise.
Bringing up a hand, he presses the door’s buzzer.
CAPT. PIKE: (O.S.) Come.
The door slides open, allowing S’Pock to step inside.
INT. ENTERPRISE/CAPT. PIKE’S QUARTERS
As the door closes behind him, S’Pock finds CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE seated behind his deck. A handsome man in his early forties, Pike has dark brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and a gold jacket. Elbows resting upon the desktop and his chin resting upon his fists, he stares at holographic images of old friends, family, and colleagues being projected from a data crystal held in a data reader upon his desk. His eyes are solidly fixed on the three dimensional images, his expression pensive.
Glancing up from the images, Pike seems to take notice of S’Pock for the first time. Bringing his head up, he passes a hand over the data reader, shutting the holograms off.
CAPT. PIKE: Good afternoon, Mr. S’Pock.
S’POCK: Commodore Pike.
CAPT. PIKE: Not Cdre. Pike. Not yet. I’m still a captain ‘til the week’s end.
Taking the data crystal out of the reader, Pike drops it in a drawstring bag. Scooping up other such crystals from the desktop, he deposits them in the bag, too.
S’POCK: Very well, Capt. Pike.
CAPT. PIKE: Ship’s business?
S’POCK: No, sir. The Enterprise is prepared for change of command.
CAPT. PIKE: Good.
Drawing the string of the bag tight, Pike then ties the bag shut and tosses it into a nearly empty suitcase.
CAPT. PIKE: Not much to show for eleven years, is it?
S’POCK: (cocks an eyebrow) Sir?
CAPT. PIKE: Nevermind. I’m just feeling my age.
S’POCK: Yes, Captain. (beat) Congratulations, sir.
CAPT. PIKE: Congratulations?
S’POCK: Yes, sir. In regard to your promotion, your increased responsibilities.
CAPT. PIKE: Oh, right. (smiles humourlessly) Did you want to talk to me about something in particular, Mr. S’Pock?
S’POCK: Change of command offers little opportunity for conversation, Captain. I came to speak to you now … merely to wish you farewell.
CAPT. PIKE: Merely?
S’POCK: Yes. Words of farewells are perhaps not logical, based as they are in superstition, in wishes for good fortune, but … I have learned much from you, Captain.
CAPT. PIKE: (smiles) That’s high praise, Mr. S’Pock. Thank you.
S’POCK: Perhaps we will have the opportunity to work together again, sometime in the future.
CAPT. PIKE: Does that bother you, Mr. S’Pock?
S’POCK: What, Captain?
CAPT. PIKE: I never asked you if you wanted to be promoted off the Enterprise with me. I could have recommended that. If I had, you’d be on your way to being my executive officer on a starbase.
S’POCK: I am aware that this is often done. Capt. Kirk has recommended one of his senior officers for a position on the Enterprise. That is his privilege, as it is your privilege to choose your own executive staff.
CAPT. PIKE: I probably should have talked to you about it, but I made the choice for you. I was afraid that if I made you the offer, you might feel compelled to accept it, compelled to leave the Enterprise. Did I make a mistake?
S’POCK: (frowns) Sir?
CAPT. PIKE: You have a highly developed sense of responsibility, Mr. S’Pock. You don’t necessarily choose the path that’s best for you.
S’POCK: “Best” is a highly subjective term, Captain. Vulcans attempt to eliminate subjective terms from their decisions. The goal of a Vulcan with my background and training is to increase the store of knowledge available to sapient beings.
CAPT. PIKE: Maybe I didn’t make a mistake, after all.
Pike rises from his chair, putting him on equal stature with the half-Vulcan.
CAPT. PIKE: (cont’d) When people of my background and training say goodbye, they shake hands, but Vulcans ….
S’POCK: I will shake your hand, Capt. Pike, if you wish it.
The captain and science officer then clasp hands for the first and final time.