Star Trek Generations Page #17

GUINAN:

I can't leave. I'm already there, remember?

Picard looks crestfallen for a moment. Guinan gives him an enigmatic

smile.

GUINAN:

I know just the guy.

Suddenly there's the cry of a hawk from o.s. Picard turns at the sound.

162EXT. KIRK'S HOME- DAY 162

Picard finds himself standing outside a rustic, but architecturally

striking house with spectacular views in the Canadian Rockies. A hawk is

circling overhead, making the crying sound that Picard heard. The air is

cold, frigid- Picard can see his breath. Picard is just starting to

adjust to this sudden change in location when he hears the sound of wood

being chopped from around the corner of the house. Picard moves to look

around the corner and sees James T. Kirk. He's still in his uniform and

looks exactly as he did the last time we saw him aboard the Enterprise-B

at the beginning of the film. He is vigorously chopping wood with an

axe. He's enjoying himself, lost in the sheer pleasure of the manual

labor. He's never felt this good in his life. There's no trace of back

pain or any other ailment. Picard recognizes the famous captain- as

would any 24th-century Starfleet officer.

PICARD:

James Kirk.

Kirk pauses, looks up at the strange man before him. His expression is

wondrous, almost child-like. Like in Picard's Christmas sequence, Kirk

is immersed in the sensual feeling of the Nexus. It's like a dream that

has overpowered him.

KIRK:

Beautiful day, isn't it?

PICARD:

Yes, yes, it is.

Kirk points to a nearby log on the woodpile.

KIRK:

Do you mind?

It takes Picard a beat before he realizes that Kirk wants him to put the

log on the chopping block for him.

PICARD:

Oh.

Picard places the log on the block and Kirk gives it a vigorous chop

with the axe.

PICARD:

Captain, do you realize that-

But Kirk interrupts as he sees something o.c.

KIRK:

Wait a second. I think something's burning.

Picard follows his look to see smoke billowing out of one of the windows

of the house. Kirk rushes into the house, and Picard follows.

163INT. KIRK'S HOME- KITCHEN- DAY- CONTINUOUS 163

Kirk rushes in. The kitchen's decor is 19th-century with a few

23rd-century touches- copper pans and an antique stove mixed comfortably

with computer consoles and Starfleet paraphernalia. Picard hesitates in

the doorway- a little unsure about rushing into some stranger's house.

Kirk yanks a burning frying pan of food off the stove. It's very hot- he

quickly sets it down near the sink, waves the smoke away with his hand.

KIRK:

Looks like someone was cooking eggs. (to Picard) Come on in, it's all

right. This is my house- or at least it used to be, I sold it years ago.

Picard comes in and tries to orient Kirk to what's going on.

PICARD:

I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise.

Before Kirk can react to this remark, an antique clock on a shelf chimes

as it strikes the hour. Kirk moves to the shelf and looks at the clock

in surprise and wonder- he is entranced by this experience, beginning to

connect with things and memories from his past.

KIRK:

This clock, I gave this clock to Bones.

PICARD:

(pressing on)

I'm from what you would consider the future; the 24th-century.

Kirk hears what Picard is saying, but like Picard in his fantasy, he is

more interested in the sights and sounds around him. A dog barks from

o.c. They both look as a large black dog bounds into the room and greets

Kirk with enthusiasm.

KIRK:

(affectionately)

Jake! Jake, you miserable old mutt. How can you be here? (to Picard)

He's been dead seven years.

Kirk is still looking around the kitchen when suddenly we hear a WOMAN"S

VOICE from somewhere upstairs that stops Kirk in his tracks. As she

speaks, we can see the shock on Kirk's face.

ANTONIA'S VOICE

Come on, Jim, I'm starving. How long are you going to be rattling around

that kitchen?

A beat.

KIRK:

(amazed)

That's Antonia!

Kirk looks at the food on the stove. He's beginning to realize

something.

KIRK:

Wait a minute.

Kirk glances at Picard.

KIRK:

The future.What are you talking about? This is the past.

Kirk moves to a drawer and opens it. Inside is a horseshoe with a tiny

red bow tied to it. This confirms things for Kirk. He picks up the

horseshoe.

KIRK:

This is nine years ago, the day I told her I was going back to

Starfleet.

Kirk is swept up in the moment, overwhelmed by memeories, sensations,

feelings. He goes back to the frying pan and looks at the contents with

a sudden burst of recognition.

KIRK:

These were Ktarian eggs- her favorite. I was cooking them to soften the

blow. (re:
horseshoe) And I gave her this.

Picard steps in.

PICARD:

I know how real this must seem to you, but it's not. This isn't really

your house. We've both been caught up in some sort of temporal nexus.

But Kirk's mind is clearly elsewhere. He's being swept away by the

emotion of the moment, realizing the opportunity he suddenly has.

KIRK:

Dill weed.

Kirk indicates a shelf, as if asking Picard to go to it.

KIRK:

There's a bottle of dill weed on the second shelf to the left, right

behind the nutmeg.

Kirk moves to the stove and tosses out the ruined eggs. He cracks open

two new eggs on the skillet and begins preparing a breakfast. Picard

waits for a moment, then goes to the shelf, grabs the dill weed and

hands it to Kirk.

PICARD:

How long have you been here?

Kirk takes the bottle and uses it to season the eggs.

KIRK:

I don't know. I was on the Enterprise-B, in the deflector control

room...keep stirring these, will you?

Kirk moves to a cabinet and begins putting plates on a breakfast tray.

Picard is getting a little impatient, but stirs the eggs anyway.

KIRK:

The bulkhead in front of me disappeared, then I was out there chopping

wood. (back to stove) Thanks.

Kirk takes the pan of eggs back from Picard.

PICARD:

History records that you died saving the Enterprise-B from an energy

ribbon eighty years ago.

But Picard's words mean almost nothing to Kirk. He is thoroughly

enjoying himself and Picard is almost a distraction. Kirk begins serving

the eggs onto the plates and grabs a small vase of flowers to put on the

tray.

KIRK:

(amused)

So you're telling me this is the 24th-century, and I'm dead?

PICARD:

Not exactly. As I said, this is some kind of-

KIRK:

Temporal nexus, yeah, I heard you. (frowns at tray) Something's missing.

Then he remembers and turns to look at a nearby toaster- as if on cue,

two slices of toast pop out. Kirk grins and puts the toast on the

plates. Kirk picks up the tray and heads for the door.

PICARD:

Captain, I need your help. I want you to leave the Nexus with me.

Kirk goes out of the kitchen and Picard follows.

164INT. KIRK'S HOME- LIVING ROOM- DAY- CONTINUOUS164

Kirk and Picard both on the move. Kirk heading for a staircase.

PICARD:

We have to go back to a planet called Veridian III and stop a man from

destroying a star. There are millions of lives at stake.

Kirk tries to keep it light, hoping this man will go away.

KIRK:

You said history considers me dead. Who am I to argue with history?

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes