Star Trek: The Motion Picture Page #8

Kirk leans over to the intercom, speaks into it:

KIRK:

Put it on the viewer here...!

91 ON THE REC DECK VIEWER (O) 91

as all eyes turn to the viewer which fades into a view

of Commander Branch, in the Epsilon 9 monitor room.

Branch is tense, reflecting extreme urgency. Near

Branch, working intently at the console are the Female

Lieutenant and a Technician.

BRANCH:

(from the viewer;

checking console

readings)

Enterprise... the Cloud is

definitely a powerfield of some

kind... Measures... My God!

Over 82 A.U.'s in diameter...

Must be something incredible

inside there generating it.

(looks up from

console)

We're transmitting linguacode

friendship messages on all

frequencies. No response.

TECHNICIAN:

I have a null reading at the

center of the 'cloud,' sir.

LIEUTENANT:

Definitely something inside..

there but all scans are being

reflected back.

(studies readings)

Receiving an odd pattern now..

(toward Branch)

They seem to be reacting to

our scans, sir.

BRANCH:

(inspecting another

console)

Some kind of energy surge...

(looking up)

Enterprise... they could be

mistaking our scans as a

hostile act...

(reacts at readings)

Deflectors, emergency full!

Branch hits an alarm button; we HEAR ALARM KLAXON

SOUNDING. The viewer IMAGE DISTORTS, clears again

while Branch -- facing his viewer, continues urgently:

BRANCH:

(continuing)

We are under attack...!

KIRK:

(to Uhura)

External view...!

92 ON THE VIEWER - EXT. THE DESTRUCTION OF EPSILON 9 (O) 92

as the image of Branch is immediately replaced by an

external view of the plantoid, and the LUMINESCENT

CLOUD (at about the same distance from which the

Klingon cruisers were attacked).

Then it STRIKES the plantoid WITH FULL, CATACLYSMIC

FORCE. The viewer IMAGE BREAKS UP -- and immediately

the entire Starfleet base becomes a maelstrom of FLAR-

ING ENERGY, shattered structure, flying debris. And

then, all at once, there is nothing -- empty space,

Epsilon 9 is gone. We SEE only the stars; and the

mysterious LUMINESCENT CLOUD moving across the distant

sky.

(NOTE:
The above is entirely SILENT, and when it is

finished, not a word is spoken.)

KIRK (O.S.)

Viewer off.

93 ANOTHER ANGLE - KIRK 93

as the viewer goes blank, all still facing the screen.

Then Kirk turns to the room as if to comment. Then he

stops -- nothing he can say will add at all to what

they've just seen. Instead:

KIRK:

Pre-launch countdown will

commence in forty minutes.

94 ANOTHER ANGLE - CREW 94

The scene they have just witnessed still vivid in their

minds as they gaze somberly up toward Kirk who is exit-

ing. The bridge crew follows him out. Not a word is

said as the remainder of the crew waits another moment,

then begins to disperse toward their duty stations too.

95 EXT. THE ENTERPRISE IN DRYDOCK (S) 95

Spectacular ORBIT VIEW of the giant starship in the

process of release. BEYOND US, in half light, EARTH

LOOMS HUGE. The dock welders are gone; the supply pods

float away from the ship. Little tongues of blue flame

spurt from the ship's maneuvering jets.

96 CLOSER - ON ENTERPRISE (S) 96

as the large dock umbilical is released, floats free of

its starship attachment. Dock departure is imminent.

97 INT. BRIDGE 97

Kirk in the center seat, intently studying the Naviga-

tion console in front of him (at the Navigator's

station, which is unoccupied.) Other bridge personnel

are busy with their pre-launch duties.

UHURA:

Transporters Room and Chief

Engineer Scott report trans-

porter system fully repaired

and now functioning normally,

sir.

SULU:

Dock signals clear, Captain.

KIRK:

Rely we are holding position

awaiting final crew replacements.

UHURA:

Captain, Transporter Personnel

reports the Navigator...

(consults console)

... Lieutenant Junior Grade Ilia

(Eye-lee-ah) is already aboard,

and en route to the bridge.

98 ANGLE ON DECKER - AT THE SCIENCE STATION 98

as Decker (now wearing Commander stripes) reacts,

almost startled, and Uhura continues:

UHURA:

She's a Deltan.

Uhura's tone and expression convey "Deltan" in a

certain, special manner.

KIRK:

(reprovingly)

And there are no finer navigators

in Starfleet, Commander.

The last is interrupted by:

98A ANGLE ON THE ELEVATOR DOORS 98A

as they snap open, and there emerges a breathtakingly

beautiful young woman (uniformed as a Navigator Lieu-

tenant) who strides purposefully onto the bridge. A

stunning figure, but hairless, entirely bald but or

delicate eyebrows and eyelashes. Her bald head is not

at all unattractive, in fact exudes an aura of sensual

nudity. Indeed, her whole being exudes sensuality.

(This is a racial characteristic, not a deliberate

presence.) She approaches Kirk

(NOTE:
Throughout this sequence, Sulu eyes ILIA with

unrestrained admiration.)

ILIA:

Lieutenant Ilia reporting for

duty, sir.

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