'I want to quote for you, to you, from the oldest history book in Western Civilization.
Not just because it's a book -
but I think this is a point one can make about any history course, it doesn't matter what the subject is.
It can be Social History, Political History, Intellectual History, any history.
It can be the History of Ancient Rome, it could be Post-1945 United States, it could be any history.
But any history course ought to do the two things that Herodotus named in the opening sentence of the oldest history book we have.
This is Herodotus,
The History.
Isn't it great when you're writing The First Book,
what are you going to call it?
The History;
no subtitles, nothing fancy, just--
"I, Herodotus of Halicarnassus, am here setting forth my history, that time may not draw the color from what Man has brought into being, nor those great and wonderful deeds manifested by both the Greeks and the barbarians, fail of their report, and together, with all of this, the reason why they fought one another."
I don't know how closely you listened to that, but what has Herodotus just said?
He's basically said
History is two things.
It's The Story, it's the color, it's the great deeds, it's the narrative that takes you somewhere;
It's The Story, it's the color, it's the great deeds, it's the narrative that takes you somewhere;
but it's also The Reason Why,
it's also the explanations.
That's what history does.
It's supposed to do both of those things.
Destiny is Male,
That's what history does.
It's supposed to do both of those things.
Destiny is Male,
Fate is Female
JOSEPH,
Father of Ben :
I heard about Quentin Swofford.
I'm sorry.
Benjamin SiSKO :
Look, Dad, I know I haven't been very good company the last few days.
JOSEPH,
Father of Ben :
I didn't come here to be entertained.
I came to see you and Jake.
Benjamin SiSKO :
Well, you certainly picked an interesting time to take your first trip away from Earth.
JOSEPH,
Father of Ben :
Well, I figured it was now or never.
Besides, I've been worried about you.
Last couple of times we've talked it seemed like you were carrying the weight of the entire Alpha Quadrant on your shoulders.
Benjamin SiSKO :
Sometimes it certainly feels that way, Dad.
JOSEPH,
Father of Ben :
Just say it, son.
Benjamin SiSKO :
I don't know how much more I can take.
I don't know how many more friends I can lose.
Every time I achieve a real victory, something like this happens and everything seems to turn to ashes.
JOSEPH,
Father of Ben :
So what do you want to do?
Benjamin SiSKO :
Maybe it's time for me to step down, let someone else make the tough calls.
JOSEPH,
Father of Ben :
I see.
No one is indispensable, son.
Not even you.
Whatever decision you make, I'll support.
Of course, if Quentin Swofford was here I'd bet he'd have a few things to say to you.
Benjamin SiSKO :
But he's not here,
and that's The Whole Point.
JOSEPH,
Father of Ben :
I'd say you have some thinking to do,
and I've got a dinner date with my grandson,
so you'd better get to it.
[Magazine office]
KAY:
What about,
It Came From Outer Space.
JULIUS:
It's a smashing title.
JULIUS:
It's a smashing title.
Wish I'd thought of it.
(Benny is let in.)
HERBERT:
Hey, Benny.
(Benny is let in.)
HERBERT:
Hey, Benny.
Long time no see.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Is it here?
JULIUS:
Not yet.
Is it here?
JULIUS:
Not yet.
Pabst is still at the printers.
KAY:
We're waiting for his return with baited breath.
ALBERT:
We heard that you were
KAY:
We heard they beat the hell out of you.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
KAY:
We're waiting for his return with baited breath.
ALBERT:
We heard that you were
KAY:
We heard they beat the hell out of you.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
I'm okay.
ALBERT:
Glad to see that you're, you know, up and about.
DARLENE:
Tell him the good news, Albert.
ALBERT:
Oh, it's nothing.
KAY:
Nothing?
ALBERT:
Glad to see that you're, you know, up and about.
DARLENE:
Tell him the good news, Albert.
ALBERT:
Oh, it's nothing.
KAY:
Nothing?
He sells a novel to Gnome Press
and he says it's nothing.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
A novel. Albert, congratulations!
ALBERT:
Thank you.
BENNY,
A novel. Albert, congratulations!
ALBERT:
Thank you.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Robots?
ALBERT:
What else?
(Pabst enters.)
JULIUS:
It's about time.
HERBERT:
Douglas? Magazine?
PABST:
There isn't any magazine.
Robots?
ALBERT:
What else?
(Pabst enters.)
JULIUS:
It's about time.
HERBERT:
Douglas? Magazine?
PABST:
There isn't any magazine.
Not this month anyway.
Mister Stone had the entire run pulped.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
He can't do that.
PABST:
He can't do that.
PABST:
Oh, he can and he did.
He believes, quote,
‘This issue did not live up to our usual high standards’,
unquote.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
What's that supposed to mean?
PABST:
It means he didn't like it.
What's that supposed to mean?
PABST:
It means he didn't like it.
Which means the public will simply going to have to get along without any Incredible Tales this month.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
What exactly is it that he did not like?
What exactly is it that he did not like?
The artwork, the layout?
What high standards is he talking about?
KAY:
Take it easy, Benny.
BENNY,
KAY:
Take it easy, Benny.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
No, it's about my story, isn't it?
No, it's about my story, isn't it?
That's what this is all about.
He didn't want to publish my story and we all know why.
Because My Hero is a coloured man.
PABST:
Hey! This magazine belongs to Mister Stone.
PABST:
Hey! This magazine belongs to Mister Stone.
If he doesn't want to publish this month,
we don't publish this month.
End of story.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
That doesn't make it right and you know it.
PABST:
Don't tell me what I know.
That doesn't make it right and you know it.
PABST:
Don't tell me what I know.
Besides, it's not about What's Right, it's about What Is.
And I'm afraid I've got some more bad news for you, Benny.
Mister Stone has decided that your services are no longer required here.
HERBERT:
What!
BENNY,
HERBERT:
What!
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
You're firing me?
PABST:
I have no choice, Benny.
You're firing me?
PABST:
I have no choice, Benny.
It's his decision.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Well, you can't fire me.
Well, you can't fire me.
I quit.
To hell with you, and to hell with Stone.
JULIUS:
Try to stay calm, Benny.
BENNY,
JULIUS:
Try to stay calm, Benny.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
No. I'm tired of being calm.
No. I'm tired of being calm.
Calm never gotten me a damn thing.
PABST:
I'm warning you, Benny.
PABST:
I'm warning you, Benny.
If you don't stop this I'm going to call The Police.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
You go ahead! Call them!
You go ahead! Call them!
Call anybody you want.
They can't do anything to me.
Not anymore.
And nor can any of you.
I am a Human Being, damn it.
You can deny me all you want but you cannot deny Ben Sisko.
He exists!
That Future, that Space Station, all those people, they exist in here.
In My Mind, I created it.
And every one of you know it.
You read it.
It's here.
You hear what I'm telling you?
You can pulp A Story
but you cannot destroy An Idea.
Don't you understand?
That's Ancient Knowledge.
You cannot destroy An Idea.
That Future, I created it,
and it's Real.
Don't you understand?
It is Real!
I created it and it's Real!
It's Real! Oh, God.
(Benny collapses, sobbing.)
[New York Street]
AMBULANCE MAN:
Easy.
(Benny is wheeled out to a very old ambulance even by 1953 standards.)
AMBULANCE MAN:
One, two three.
[Ambulance]
(Benny is in Starfleet uniform. He puts on his glasses.)
PREACHER:
Rest easy, Brother Benny.
(Benny collapses, sobbing.)
[New York Street]
AMBULANCE MAN:
Easy.
(Benny is wheeled out to a very old ambulance even by 1953 standards.)
AMBULANCE MAN:
One, two three.
[Ambulance]
(Benny is in Starfleet uniform. He puts on his glasses.)
PREACHER:
Rest easy, Brother Benny.
You have walked in The Path of The Prophets.
There is no greater glory.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Tell me, please. Who am I?
PREACHER:
Don't you know?
BENNY,
Tell me, please. Who am I?
PREACHER:
Don't you know?
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Tell me.
PREACHER:
You're The Dreamer and The Dream.
(There are stars streaking past the rear windows.)
[Isolation Ward]
(Benny Russell has been writing on the walls of his padded cell)
WYKOFF:
I said, put down the pencil. Put it down, Mister Russell.
BENNY,
Tell me.
PREACHER:
You're The Dreamer and The Dream.
(There are stars streaking past the rear windows.)
[Isolation Ward]
(Benny Russell has been writing on the walls of his padded cell)
WYKOFF:
I said, put down the pencil. Put it down, Mister Russell.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
But I haven't finished my story yet. Captain Sisko has found the Orb of the Emissary.
But he hasn't opened it yet.
WYKOFF:
Mister Russell, you promised not to write on the walls.
BENNY,
But I haven't finished my story yet. Captain Sisko has found the Orb of the Emissary.
But he hasn't opened it yet.
WYKOFF:
Mister Russell, you promised not to write on the walls.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
No one will give me any paper.
WYKOFF:
I thought we agreed that you weren't going to write at all. That you needed to rest.
BENNY,
No one will give me any paper.
WYKOFF:
I thought we agreed that you weren't going to write at all. That you needed to rest.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
No, I don't need to rest. I need to tell my stories.
WYKOFF:
You were doing so well, Benny.
Making real progress.
We were all so proud of you.
BENNY,
No, I don't need to rest. I need to tell my stories.
WYKOFF:
You were doing so well, Benny.
Making real progress.
We were all so proud of you.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
I need to go home.
I need to go home.
I don't belong here.
WYKOFF:
We're going to send you home as soon as you're well.
BENNY,
WYKOFF:
We're going to send you home as soon as you're well.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
I'm fine.
WYKOFF:
But you're not fine.
I'm fine.
WYKOFF:
But you're not fine.
People who are fine don't write on walls.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Then get me a typewriter.
WYKOFF:
Then get me a typewriter.
WYKOFF:
You're not listening.
The stories have got to stop, Benny.
The stories have got to stop, Benny.
They're too dangerous.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Too dangerous to whom?
WYKOFF:
To you. This world you've created, this Deep Space Nine. Captain Sisko and Kira and the others. None of it is real.
BENNY,
Too dangerous to whom?
WYKOFF:
To you. This world you've created, this Deep Space Nine. Captain Sisko and Kira and the others. None of it is real.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
Oh, it is to me.
Oh, it is to me.
If I don't finish My Story, if Captain Sisko doesn't open the Orb box, then he cannot contact the Prophets.
WYKOFF:
It doesn't matter, Benny.
WYKOFF:
It doesn't matter, Benny.
The Prophets don't exist either.
They're all figments of your imagination.
Get rid of them.
It's the only way that you're going to get well.
Now give me the pencil, Benny.
BENNY,
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
But My Story!
WYKOFF:
It's over. Just let it go.
[Desert]
(Sisko is sitting with his hands on the box.)
EZRI DAX,
But My Story!
WYKOFF:
It's over. Just let it go.
[Desert]
(Sisko is sitting with his hands on the box.)
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
Benjamin, what are you waiting for?
Benjamin, what are you waiting for?
Open it. That's why we're here, right?
JAKE,
JAKE,
Son of Ben Sisko :
He can't hear you.
(Jake puts his hands on his father's and is thrown backwards)
EZRI DAX,
He can't hear you.
(Jake puts his hands on his father's and is thrown backwards)
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
Jake! Jake, are you all right?
JAKE,
Jake! Jake, are you all right?
JAKE,
Son of Ben Sisko :
Yeah.
[Isolation Ward]
(The doctor is offering Benny a roller of white paint.)
WYKOFF:
Take it, Benny.
BENNY,
Yeah.
[Isolation Ward]
(The doctor is offering Benny a roller of white paint.)
WYKOFF:
Take it, Benny.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
What for?
WYKOFF:
I'm offering you an opportunity few people ever get.
You can wipe away all your mistakes.
BENNY,
What for?
WYKOFF:
I'm offering you an opportunity few people ever get.
You can wipe away all your mistakes.
BENNY,
Meaning 'Son of' :
You want me to paint over My Story?
WYKOFF:
They're only words.
Meaningless words that no one cares about.
Get rid of them and you can walk out of here a free man.
(The last line on the wall says 'Sisko reaches for the Orb box and...' )
WYKOFF:
Go ahead.
Save yourself.
(Benny holds the paint roller close to the writing.)
[Desert]
EZRI DAX,
You want me to paint over My Story?
WYKOFF:
They're only words.
Meaningless words that no one cares about.
Get rid of them and you can walk out of here a free man.
(The last line on the wall says 'Sisko reaches for the Orb box and...' )
WYKOFF:
Go ahead.
Save yourself.
(Benny holds the paint roller close to the writing.)
[Desert]
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
Ben?
Ben SISKO :
Ben?
Ben SISKO :
Got to cover it up.
Bury it.
EZRI DAX,
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
Ben, what are you doing?
[Isolation Ward]
WYKOFF:
It's for your own good, Benny.
[Isolation Ward]
WYKOFF:
It's for your own good, Benny.
Wipe away the words.
Destroy them before they destroy you.
[Desert]
EZRI DAX,
[Desert]
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
Ben, stop.
(Sisko raises his shovel to smash down on the box.)
EZRI DAX,
Ben, stop.
(Sisko raises his shovel to smash down on the box.)
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
No!
Ben SISKO :
No!
Ben SISKO :
Get out of my way.
EZRI DAX,
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
Ben, you came here to find The Prophets, remember?
Ben SISKO :
Move!
EZRI DAX,
Ben, you came here to find The Prophets, remember?
Ben SISKO :
Move!
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU,
The First Friend :
No, listen to me.
No, listen to me.
You promised Jadzia you would make things right.
Well now is your chance.
Open the box, Ben.
(Sisko raises the shovel, Benny holds the roller. They both drop them.)
[Isolation Ward]
WYKOFF:
No!
(Benny punches Wykoff and the male nurse, picks up his pencil and writes 'Opens it.')
[Desert]
(Sisko obeys. The glow of the crystal orb shoots of into space, then)
[Limbo]
(Sisko watches the energy shoots past DS9 and WHOOSH! the wormhole reopens.)
[Limbo]
Ben SISKO :
Show yourselves.
(Sisko raises the shovel, Benny holds the roller. They both drop them.)
[Isolation Ward]
WYKOFF:
No!
(Benny punches Wykoff and the male nurse, picks up his pencil and writes 'Opens it.')
[Desert]
(Sisko obeys. The glow of the crystal orb shoots of into space, then)
[Limbo]
(Sisko watches the energy shoots past DS9 and WHOOSH! the wormhole reopens.)
[Limbo]
Ben SISKO :
Show yourselves.
I've come to speak with you.
[Sisko's restaurant]
(The baseball rolls off the piano and is picked up by)
SARAH,
[Sisko's restaurant]
(The baseball rolls off the piano and is picked up by)
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Sisko has completed His Task.
Ben SISKO :
Ben SISKO :
Sarah?
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Kosst Amojan no longer threatens us.
Ben SISKO :
You mean the Pah wraith?
The Kosst Amojan no longer threatens us.
Ben SISKO :
You mean the Pah wraith?
It's no longer in the wormhole?
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
I have cast it out.
Ben SISKO :
Is that why The Prophets sent me to Tyree?
I have cast it out.
Ben SISKO :
Is that why The Prophets sent me to Tyree?
To release you from The Orb?
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Kosst Amojan tried to stop you with a False Vision.
The Kosst Amojan tried to stop you with a False Vision.
But you did not waver.
You fulfilled Your Destiny.
Ben SISKO :
My Destiny?
Ben SISKO :
My Destiny?
You talk as if My Life was over.
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Sisko must still face many Tasks.
Ben SISKO :
I don't suppose you'll tell me what they are.
[Sisko's restaurant - alley]
SARAH,
The Sisko must still face many Tasks.
Ben SISKO :
I don't suppose you'll tell me what they are.
[Sisko's restaurant - alley]
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Emissary is Corporeal. Linear.
Ben SISKO :
Linear or not, I need some answers.
SARAH,
The Emissary is Corporeal. Linear.
Ben SISKO :
Linear or not, I need some answers.
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Sisko is intrusive.
Ben SISKO :
Are you Sarah Sisko?
The Sisko is intrusive.
Ben SISKO :
Are you Sarah Sisko?
Are you My Mother?
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
Sarah Sisko was corporeal.
Sarah Sisko was corporeal.
For a time, I shared her existence.
[Sisko's restaurant]
Ben SISKO :
You took over her body, made sure she married My Father so that she'd give birth to Me.
SARAH,
[Sisko's restaurant]
Ben SISKO :
You took over her body, made sure she married My Father so that she'd give birth to Me.
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Sisko is Necessary.
Ben SISKO :
And once you didn't need her anymore, you left her.
The Sisko is Necessary.
Ben SISKO :
And once you didn't need her anymore, you left her.
No wonder she walked out on My Father.
She didn't chose him, you did.
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Sisko would prefer different answers.
Ben SISKO :
What you're telling me isn't easy to accept.
The Sisko would prefer different answers.
Ben SISKO :
What you're telling me isn't easy to accept.
You arranged my birth.
I exist because of you?
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
The Sisko's Path is a difficult one.
Ben SISKO :
But Why Me?
The Sisko's Path is a difficult one.
Ben SISKO :
But Why Me?
Why did it have to be Me?
SARAH,
SARAH,
meaning 'My Princess' :
Because it could be
No One Else.
[Desert]
(Sisko closes the Orb box.)
EZRI DAX,
(Sisko closes the Orb box.)
EZRI DAX,
or ENKIDU, The First Friend :
Benjamin? That must have been some Orb experience.
Ben SISKO :
I'll tell you about it someday.
Benjamin? That must have been some Orb experience.
Ben SISKO :
I'll tell you about it someday.
