Showing posts with label Planet of The Apes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Planet of The Apes. Show all posts

Thursday 10 June 2021

The HyperTime of Planet of The Apes

 





Now here is a painting of a landscape. 
Now the artist who painted that picture said that something was missing, what is it?

“It is I myself, who was part of 
the landscape I painted.”

So he mentally takes a step back, or regresses, and paints a picture of the artist painting a picture of the landscape.

But still something is missing, that something is still his real self painting the second picture. So he regresses further, and paints a third, a picture of the artist painting a picture of the artist painting a picture of the artist painting a picture of the landscape.

Now because something is still missing, he makes a fourth and a fifth - until he paints a picture of the artist painting a picture of the artist painting a picture of the artist painting a picture of the artist painting the landscape.

So, Infinite Regression is?

It is the moment when our artist has regressed to the point of infinity and he, himself, becomes apart of the landscape he painted, and is both The observer and the observed.

Well now in that peculiar position what would he be observing, if he were observing once at a time?

He would perceive that Time is like a freeway 
with an infinite number of lanes. 

Time is like a freeway with 
an infinite number of lanes, 
all leading from The Past to The Future. 

However nothing is the same, 
A Driver may crash, A Driver may survive - 
it follows that Driver by changing The Future.

I think that Time can only be fully understood 
by An Observer with the godlike gift of infinite regression

Do you believe that?

Absolutely. I think it was the only explanation

Sunday 6 June 2021

But Even That Extraordinary Physical Feat is Surely NOT The Point of Interest.





"Help us."


Van Helsing : 

So it struck you as strange, of course.


HARKER :

Well, clearly, there was someone

trapped in The Castle.


Van Helsing :

No. No. The writing

"Help us."


HARKER :

It was upside-down.


Van Helsing :

Well, yes, of course

because whoever wrote it 

was obliged to hang that way.


But even that extraordinary physical feat 

is surely not the point of interest.


HARKER :

Then what is?


Van Helsing :

What is remarkable, Mr Harker,

what is convenient, is that 

The Words were in English.


HARKER :

Oh...

I didn't think of that.


Van Helsing :

Of course not.

You are an English...man -- 

A combination of presumptions beyond compare.


Proceed.


HARKER :

Well, I knew I had the day to myself,

so I determined to find the room above mine

and see if anyone required my assistance.



Astronaut TAYLOR :

That completes my final report until we touch down.

We're on full automatic, in the hands of the computers.


l've tucked my crew in for the long sleep, 

and l'll be joining them soon.


In less than an hour we'll finish

our sixth month out of Cape Kennedy.


Six months in deep space.

By our time, that is.


According to Dr Hasslein's theory of time in a vehicle traveling nearly the speed of light, the Earth has aged nearly 700 years since we left it, while we've aged hardly at all.


It may be so. 

This much is probably True :


The men who sent us on this journey are long since dead and gone.


You who are reading me now are a different breed.


I hope a better one.


I leave the 20th century with no regrets. 

But one more thing...

If anybody's listening, that is.


Nothing scientific.

It’s purely personal.


Seen from out here, everything seems different.


Time bends. 

Space is, boundless.


It squashes a Man's Ego —

I feel lonely.


That's about it.


Tell me, though... 

Does Man, that marvel of the universe, that glorious paradox who has sent me to the stars, still make war against his brother, keep his neighbor's children starving?



 

Are you all right?


Stewart?

Stewart?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

We're in the soup. She's sinking.

Dodge, read The Atmosphere.


Landon, get out a last signal.


Astronaut LANDON :

What signal?

To Earth. That we've landed.


The air's OK. 

Blow the hatch before we lose all our power.


It’s no use. The power's gone.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Forget it. Abandon ship.


Astronaut LANDON :

She's sinking.


Going...

Going...

Gone.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

OK. We're here to stay.


Astronaut LANDON :

Well, where are we? 

Do you have any notion, skipper?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

We're 320 light years from Earth on an unnamed planet in orbit around a star in the constellation of Orion.

Is that close enough for you?


Astronaut DODGE :

That could be Bellatrix.


Astronaut LANDON :

It’s too white for Bellatrix.


Astronaut DODGE :

You didn't have time to read the tapes. 

So you really don't know, do you?


Astronaut LANDON :

What went wrong? 

We weren't programmed to land in the water.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

The Question is not so much 

where we are as when we are.


We've had enough sleep for a while.

Let's start earning all that back pay.


Dodge, run your soil test.


Got your sensors?


Astronaut DODGE :

Right.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Geiger counter?


Astronaut DODGE :

Got it.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Let's see... One pistol, 20 rounds

ammo, a medical kit, camera, TX9.


We've got Food and Water enough 

for three days.


Astronaut LANDON :

How long is a day?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

That's a good question.

Landon... Hey, Landon.

Join the expedition.


Astronaut LANDON :

Sorry. I was thinking about Stewart.

What do you suppose happened?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Air leak. She died in her sleep.


Astronaut LANDON :

You don't seem very cut up about it.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

It's a little late for a wake.

She's been dead nearly a year.


Astronaut LANDON :

That means we've been away

from Earth for 18 months.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Our time.

You've gone gray.

Apart from that you look pretty

chipper for a man who's 2,031 years old —

I read the clocks :

They bear out Hasslein's hypothesis.

We have been away from Earth for

2,000 years, give or take a decade.

Still can't accept it? 

Time's wiped out everything you ever knew.

It's all dust.


Astronaut LANDON :

Prove it.

If we can't get back, it's still just a theory.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

It's a fact, Landon. Buy it. 

You'll sleep better.


Astronaut DODGE :

Nothing will grow here. 

There's just a trace of carbohydrates.

All the nitrogen is locked into the nitrates.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

No dangerous ionization?


Astronaut DODGE :

No.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Well...

If there's no Life here, we've got just 72 hours to find it.

That's when the groceries run out. 

Let's go. 


Astronaut DODGE :

Which direction?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

That way.


Astronaut DODGE :

Any particular reason?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

None at all.

Come on...

Everybody all right?

Water check.


Eight ounces.


Astronaut LANDON :

It doesn't add up. 

Thunder and lightning,and no rain. Cloud cover at night.


Astronaut DODGE :

That strange luminosity, yet no moon.

If we could just get a fix.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

What would that tell you? 

I've told you Where You Are and When You Are.


Astronaut LANDON :

All right, all right.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

You're 300 light years

from your precious planet.


Your loved ones are dead and

forgotten for 20 centuries.


20. Even if you could get back, they'd think you were something that fell out of a tree.


Astronaut DODGE :

Taylor, quit riding him.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

There is just one reality.

We are here and it is now.

You get hold of that, 

or you might as well be dead.


Astronaut DODGE :

I'm prepared to die.


He's prepared to die —

Doesn't that make you misty? Chalk up another victory for the human spirit.


Clue me in on something, will you?

Why did you sign on for this trip?


You volunteered. Why?

Never mind. I'll clue you in. You were

the golden boy of the class of '72.


When they nominated you,

you couldn't turn it down.


Not without losing your all-American image.


Astronaut LANDON :

Climb off, will you?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

And the glory. Don't forget that.

There's a life-size bronze statue

of you standing out there somewhere.


Probably turned green by now 

and nobody can read the nameplate.


But never let it be said we forget our heroes.


Astronaut LANDON :

Taylor, climb off my back.


And there's one last item. Immortality.

You wanted to live for ever, didn't you?


Well, you damn near made it. Except for me and

Dodge, you've lived longer than anyone ever born.


And with our lovely Lieutenant Stewart dead,

it looks like you're the last of the line.


You got what you wanted, Tiger. 

How does it taste?


Astronaut LANDON :

OK. You read me well enough.

But why can't I read you?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Don't bother.


Astronaut LANDON :

Dodge, there. He's not like me at all. 

But he makes sense.


He'd walk naked into a live volcano if he thought

he could learn something that no other man knew.


But you... You're no seeker. 

You're negative.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

And I’m not prepared to die.


Astronaut LANDON :

I'd like to know why not.

You thought life on Earth was meaningless. 

You despised people.

So what did you do? You ran out.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

No. It's not like that, Landon.

I'm A Seeker too. But My Dreams aren't like yours :

I can't help thinking somewhere there has to be something better than Man. Has to be.


Astronaut DODGE :

Taylor, over here.

Life.

Where there's one, there's another. 

And another and another.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Let's find 'em.


Astronaut DODGE :

Skipper.

Look.

Scarecrows?


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Let's see.


To hell with the scarecrows.


Whoo-hoo.


Hey. Yay. Yay.


Ah.


Ah-hoo.


Whoo. Whoo.


Ah.


Taylor.

Look at this.

Taylor, look.


They didn't leave much, did they?


Well, at least they haven't tried to bite us.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

Blessed are the vegetarians.


Astronaut DODGE :

They look more or less human,

but I think they're mute.


Astronaut LANDON :

We got off at the wrong stop.


Astronaut TAYLOR :

You're supposed to be the optimist,

Landon. Look on the bright side.


If this is the best they've got around here,

in six months we'll be running this planet.

Smile.






Which one was wearing the strange clothes?


This one.


Will he live?


I don't know.


This beast has lost a lot of blood.


- There's no probe here. Find one.

- Yes, sir.


This place is dirty, Doctor.

Doctor, these animals are dirty.


They stink. They carry diseases. Why aren't

they cleaned up before they're brought here?


- You don't sound happy in your work.

- l'm little more than a vet in this laboratory.


You promised to speak to Dr Zaius about me.


I did. You know how he looks

down his nose at chimpanzees.


But the quota system's been abolished. 

You made it. Why can't I?


What do you mean "made it"? 

I'm an animal psychologist, that's all. 

We have no authority.


You do all right getting

space and equipment.


That's because Dr Zaius realizes our work has value.


The foundations of scientific brain

surgery are being laid right here 

in studies of cerebral functions of these animals.


They're still dirty, doctor. 

And their bite is septic. 

There. Look at that.


Hold his jaw.


Good morning, Dr Zira.

Morning, Julius. 

How's our patient?


No change. The minute you open

the door, he goes into his act.


Well.


And what do we want this morning?

Do we want something? Come on. Speak.


Come on, speak.


Do we want some sugar, Old-Timer?


You could get hurt doing that, doctor.


Don't be silly. 

He's perfectly tame.


They all are, ‘til they take a chunk out of you.



Well, Bright Eyes. Our throat feeling better?

Still hurts, doesn't it?



See? He keeps pretending he can talk.


That Bright Eyes is remarkable.

He keeps trying to form words.


You know what they say —

Human see, human do.

Sunday 18 April 2021

The Toys Belong to Me





In my opinion, there really shouldn't have been an actual Xorn - he had to be fake, that was the cruel point of him - and it should have been the genuine Magneto, frayed to the bare, stupid nerve and schizoid-conflicted as he was in Planet X, not just some impostor. 




THE PULSE: 
Before you ever even penned one issue of X-Men, it seemed as if people were jumping up and down calling for an "off wif 'is 'ead" sort of Alice in Wonderland thing. 

Have a lot of people changed their tunes and given you some different feedback once the issues got going?

CHUCK AUSTEN: 
Yes and no. 
More have than haven't. 

Writing other things has helped. 

People see that I have a broader voice as a writer, and might actually find something I do that they like, or realize the way I handle X-Men isn't my one and only voice. 

And a lot of people have realized, 
"Hey. It's the X-Men. 
If I wanted High Art, 
I could read actual literature

Let it be what it is." 

And they've gone away, or let up on me

But there are still a few polemics out there.

[ Yeah, they hate you, and What You Wrote, FOR MONEY -- that happens. ]

THE PULSE: 
I guess one of the biggest questions anyone will have after reading issue 157, the first part of Day of the Atom, is which Xorn is this? 

The one Scott Summers found in New X-Men Annual 2001 ... or something different?

AUSTEN: 
Time will tell 

[smiles].

[ No, it won’t.]

THE PULSE: 
What made you want to utilize Xorn and how do you regard this character?

AUSTEN: 
Marvel liked him and wanted him back. 

I liked him, 
and came up with a way that works. 

It was being discussed way back when Grant first began. 

His plan to make Xorn Magneto, contrary to what I hear some people are saying, was set in motion since before I came on. 

They told me I couldn't use Magneto for exactly that reason. 

But the editors always liked "Xorn" and were hoping Grant would decide to keep him a separate character. 

He didn't, and so Marvel asked me 
to find a way to bring him back. 

That's work-for-hire.

THE PULSE: 
So many people are skeptical about the X-Men Reload. 
How do you feel being a part of this event?

AUSTEN: 
I liked the idea, initially, 
and felt proud to be included. 

They were talking about re-launching all the series with new number ones, and they expected to have me on one, Grant [Morrison] on another, and Chris [Claremont] on the third. 

Then things changed, obviously, Grant left, and they got Joss [Whedon], although they kept that a secret for a very long time, even from the other writers. 

I think Joss is brilliant, I'm a big fan of his movie scripts, 
so I'm sure he'll do great things.

Reload evolved into less of an event than I expected, at least for me. 
I think it's been very successful for Marvel. 

I wound up losing some characters I really wanted to keep, 
including Xavier, who I loved, 
and I had serious mixed feelings about undoing so much of Grant's stuff so quickly, 
what with Xorn in my first issue, 
and Magneto in Excalibur's first issue.

But at the same time, these are Marvel's characters. Work-for-hire. 

Marvel saw value in Magneto not being a mass-murderer of New Yorkers, and in keeping Xorn and other characters and ideas Grant had created during his run, so they made that choice. 

Grant was such a fountain of creativity that they wanted to keep a lot of what he originated. 

It'll happen when I leave, too. 
They'll undo a lot of what I did, or the next writer will, depending on what the company considers valuable at the time. 

As I said, it's work-for-hire, and you have to accept that aspect of it, or go nuts. 

They're not my characters. 
They're not Grant's. 

The Toys belong to Others.”






Sisko plays baseball with Vulcan team





[Captain's office]

(There is a starship docked at a lower pylon.)

KIRA [OC]: 
Kira to Sisko.

SISKO: 
Go ahead, Colonel.

KIRA [OC]: 
Captain Solok of the Starship T'Kumbra is here to see you.

SISKO: 
Send him in.

(A Vulcan enters)

SISKO: 
Welcome to Deep Space Nine, Captain.

SOLOK: 
Your welcome is acknowledged.

SISKO: 
Have a seat. It's been a long time.

SOLOK: 
Ten years, two months, five days.

SISKO: 
You mean you don't know it to the minute?
SOLOK: 
Of course I do. But humans are often irked by such precision. 
Especially the more emotional humans. 
Our repair list. 
I understand you were recently honoured with the Christopher Pike Medal for Valour. Congratulations.

SISKO: 
Thank you. And congratulations to you. 
I heard you received your Medal last month.

SOLOK: 
My second, actually. 
The T'Kumbra has been in combat for over six months. 
Spending time behind the lines will be a welcome change.

SISKO: 
This isn't exactly a safe harbour. 
We have seen our share of action.

SOLOK: 
Of course you have.

SISKO: 
We can upgrade your inertial dampers by the end of the day, 
but to begin to overhaul your warp core would take at least a week.

SOLOK: 
That is most inefficient.

SISKO: 
War's an inefficient business.

SOLOK: 
A somewhat unprofessional attitude. 
However, I have come to expect a lack of professionalism 
and efficiency on starbases run by human officers.

SISKO: 
You're welcome to take your ship to a Vulcan station. 
I think there's one about fifty light years away. 
If you're planning to stay here with us behind the lines, 
my Chief of Operations will see to your requests.

SOLOK: 
Very well. There is another matter not listed on the formal report. 
I need use of a holosuite. 
The T'Kumbra holodecks are currently under repair.

SISKO: 
To arrange holosuite time you have to go through Quark. 
He owns the only ones on the station.

SOLOK: 
Then I will speak to Quark. 
I have created a special programme for my senior staff 
and they are quite eager to resume using it.

SISKO: 
Really?

SOLOK: 
Yes. In fact, you may find the programme of some interest. 
It is based on an Earth Game.

SISKO: 
And what game would that be?

[Ops]

(Solok walks through, almost smirking. Sisko is right behind him.)
SISKO: Colonel, assemble the senior staff in the wardroom. Now.

[Wardroom]

SISKO: 
As you probably know, the Starship T'Kumbra is docked at our station. 
What you may not know is that their Captain considers his crew, 
an all-Vulcan crew by the way, 
to be the finest in the fleet. 
I happen to think the people sitting at this table comprise the finest crew in the quadrant.

EZRI: 
You're not going to get much of an argument from this group.

SISKO: 
I didn't think so. 
Which is why when their Captain challenged us to a contest of Courage, Teamwork and Sacrifice, I accepted on your behalf.

WORF: 
We Will Destroy Them.

SISKO: 
I was hoping for that reaction.

BASHIR: 
So, when is this clash of the titans?

SISKO: 
Two weeks, in holosuite five.

KIRA: 
What's the contest?

SISKO: 
Baseball.




[Sisko's quarters]

(Sisko is getting a back rub.)

KASIDY: 
Oh, that's quite a knot.
Your back is like a minefield of bruised muscles.

SISKO: 
Yeah, you tell me something I don't know.

KASIDY: 
Okay. You're lifting your foot at the plate.

SISKO: 
What?
KASIDY: 
Okay, take a swing.

(Sisko gets up and does as he's told.)

KASIDY: 
Stop! Right there. 
Look. You're lifting your foot in the backswing. 
It's been messing up your whole rhythm. Not that bad. 

I know that look. It's the 
'I'd really like to smash something but she'll think I'm crazy' look. Well, don't let me stop you. They're your quarters. 
Smash away if it'll make you feel better.

SISKO: 
The only way I'll feel better is to beat Solok tomorrow.

KASIDY:
So, do I get to hear the Solok story now? 
And before you say no you'd better consider the fact that if you don't tell me, you won't have a third baseman.

SISKO: 
We were in the same class at the Academy. 
One weekend I was with some friends at a bar off campus, the Launching Pad. 

And Solok came in with some Vulcan cadets. 
He said they were doing research on illogical human bonding rituals. 
We didn't take kindly to that.

KASIDY: 
And you'd had a few drinks

SISKO: 
One or two. We got into a debate. 
Solok said that Vulcans were naturally superior to humans 
and other emotionally handicapped species. 

Of course I took the opposite position. 

So there I am, drunk and debating logic versus emotion with a smug and very sober Vulcan. 

Well, to make a long story short, I decided the best way to prove that humans were every bit the equal of Vulcans 
was to challenge him to a wrestling match.

KASIDY: 
Wrestling?

SISKO: 
All I wanted to do was to wipe that arrogant look off his face, 
so in the heat of the moment I challenged him.

KASIDY: 
And?

SISKO: 
I ended up in the Infirmary with a separated shoulder, 
two cracked ribs and a very bruised ego.

KASIDY: 
Oh, Ben, I don't mean to laugh, but what did you expect? 
A Vulcan has three times the strength of a human.

SISKO: 
And they're faster too. 
But you're right. I got what I deserved. 

And if it had ended right there, it would have been fine. 
But it didn't. 

Solok took every opportunity to remind me of the match. 
He used to point me out whenever I walked across the campus. 
In fact he wrote FIVE psychology papers about our match -- 
I became the living embodiment of why Vulcans were inherently superior to humans.

KASIDY: 
You don't mean he was gloating? A Vulcan?

SISKO: 
That's exactly what I mean. 

He may have hidden it beneath that Vulcan calm, 
but he loved every minute of it. 

And you'd think that once we graduated it would have stopped, but it didn't

Over the years, Solok wrote over a dozen papers on Vulcan human comparative profiles and in the beginning of every paper is an analysis of that damned wrestling match!


KASIDY: 
And now he comes to Your Station and announces that he's put together a baseball team.

SISKO: 
HE doesn't care about baseball -- 
ALL he wants to do is rub my nose in it one more time. 
But now he is using MY Game, MY Game, to DO it!

KASIDY: 
You should tell that to the Niners. 
They don't understand why you're so caught up in this.

SISKO: 
Oh, no. I'd rather they think I'm just caught up in some baseball game 
than pursuing an adolescent rivalry.

KASIDY: 
Just tell them The Truth -- They'll understand. 
They need to know how personal this is to you.

SISKO: 
Oh, no. No. I mean it. 
And you can't tell them either. I want you to promise me.

KASIDY: 
All right, I promise.

[Wardroom]

KASIDY: 
He made me promise not to tell you, 
so you have to keep this under your hats.

EZRI: 
Curzon and Jadzia always wondered why Benjamin hated Solok but he'd never talk about it.

KASIDY: 
Well, he's embarrassed -- 
He's calling it an adolescent rivalry, but Solok's the one that's kept this thing going.

O'BRIEN: 
And now he's trying to beat The Captain at His Own Game.

WORF: 
It is a dishonourable motive.

NOG: 
I'm beginning to hate him myself.

QUARK: 
So, what are we going to do about it?

KIRA: 
I'll tell you what we do. 
We go out there tomorrow and we put that Vulcan in his place. 
We win it for the Captain.

BASHIR: 
And for all our emotionally handicapped races.

O'BRIEN: 
Now there's something worth fighting for. Right?

(O'Brien puts his hand on the table. Kasidy puts hers on top, then Ezri and the rest.)

KASIDY: 
Niners.

ALL: 
Niners!

[Ballpark]

(The UFP anthem finishes, and the twentieth century crowd plus Rom applauds.)
O'BRIEN: Okay, Niners, let's go, let's go, come on. Show these guys.
SISKO: Let's dispense with the crowd. My team has never played in front of people before.
SOLOK: If you wish. Computer, eliminate the spectators.
ODO: Play ball!
(And looks around as it all goes quiet behind him. Rom is now alone.)

ODO: 
Batter up!

(The Logicians bat first.)

SISKO: 
All right, Niners, let's hear some chatter.
KASIDY: 
Hey, batter, batter, batter, batter.
LEETA: 
Hey, batter, batter, batter, batter.
WORF: 
Death to The Opposition.

KASIDY: 
Strike him out.

(It's out of the park.)

SISKO: 
Lucky swing. All right.
NOG: Hey, don't worry, you'll get the next one. Okay? Okay?
JAKE: Okay.

NOG: 
All right. 
(The scoreboard moves up to Logicians 4, Niners 0. Note - Kasidy has number 47 on her back, Kira is number 9. In the dugout.)

SISKO: 
All right. You're making mental errors out there. 
Stupid mistakes! You have to start thinking about what you're doing. 
Colonel, you have to charge the ball, don't wait for it to come to you. 
Ezri, you're playing too deep. 
(to Jake
They rattled you.

JAKE: 
Yeah. 
They're pretty good.

SISKO: 
What are you talking about, 
"They're pretty good"!? 
You'd better stop admiring them 
and start striking them out!

ODO: 
Batter up.

SISKO: 
Let's play ball.
(Bashir misses.)
ODO: Strike three.
(Kira misses.)
ODO: Strike three.
(Worf misses.)

ODO: Strike three.
SISKO: 
Let's go.

(In the fourth, the scoreboard reads - Logicians 4 1 1 1 - 7 runs, 9 hits, 0 errors. Niners 0 0 0 0 - 0 runs, 2 hits, 3 errors.)

(Sisko catches and throws to Kira who gets her foot on the plate before the runner gets there and knocks her over.)

ODO: 
Out!

KIRA: 
(to the runner) 
You want to try that again?

SISKO: 
Hey, hey, hey. Colonel, stay cool! 
Don't do anything to get yourself thrown out.

KIRA: 
I wouldn't dream of it, Captain. 
You're out, by the way.

SISKO: 
Play ball.




(Back in the dugout.)
NOG: 
Was that slide at second legal?


KASIDY: 
Afraid so.

BASHIR: 
Doesn't seem very sporting.

JAKE: 
These guys are playing to win. 
Sporting doesn't enter into it.

(Kira gets a hit and makes it to second base.)
ODO: 
Safe!

(The team are delighted.)

SISKO: 
It's about time!

(Worf comes up to bat.)

ODO: Strike one.

SISKO: 
If you're not there, let it go, all right? 
Don't reach for it.

ODO: Ball one.

SISKO: Hey, now. Good eye, Worf, good eye.
ODO: Ball two.

SISKO: Remember what we talked about. Keep your eye on the ball.
(Kira is starting to steal.)
ODO: Foul ball. Strike two.

SISKO: 
Big stick. 
Good eye, Worf. Good eye.

ODO: 
Ball three.

WORF: 
Time.

ODO: 
Time.
(Worf checks the scoreboard. The Logicians didn't get any runs in the 5th.)

ODO: 
Let's go, batter.

WORF: 
Do not rush me.

ODO: 
Strike three!

WORF: 
What? What are you talking about? 
That ball was at least half a metre! 
How could you call it a strike! 
Reverse the call! Reverse the call!

SISKO: 
That was low and outside.

WORF: 
That was clearly outside.

SISKO: 
What the hell were you looking about? 
You can't tell me that ball was over the plate. 
What were you doing, regenerating?

ODO: 
Caught the outside corner.

WORF: 
The outside corner?

SISKO: 
Outside corner, my foot. That was a ball and you know it. We have two men on! Two men on! Two men on!
ODO: 
Gentlemen, you are trying my patience.

SISKO: 
No way, no way. 
You stole the run from us. 
You stole it just as if you'd reached up 
and tore it off the scoreboard!

(Sisko prods Odo.)

ODO: 
You. You're OUTTA HERE!

SISKO: 
What?

ODO: 
"No player shall at any time make contact with the umpire in any manner;
The prescribed penalty for the violation is immediate ejection from The Game. "

Rule number 4.06 subsection a, paragraph four. 
Look it up, but do it in the stands --

You're GONE....!!

(In the dugout.)
SISKO: 
(walking past.) 
It was a ball. It was no strike. 
I know it was a ball.

BASHIR: 
Chief?
O'BRIEN: 
What?
BASHIR: I think that means you're in charge now.
O'BRIEN: You're right. What are you standing around for? You never seen a man thrown out of a game? Come on, get your gloves and get on that field. Let's go! Come on. Quark, wake up, you're in right. Julian, you're on second, Leeta, you're in left. Come on, let's go, let's go! We got a game to play. Come on, move it.
ODO: Play ball. Ball one.
(Sisko joins Rom in the stands, but a few rows away.)
ODO: Strike one.
LEETA: Grab it, Ezri.
(Ezri gets the ball just before it clears the fence, doing a somersault.)
SISKO: All right!
EZRI: Yeah.
BASHIR: Now that is a Fancy Dan!
ROM: All right!
(Ninth innings. Niners trail 0-10.)
ODO: Batter up.
(The Vulcan batter runs, as does the one on first.)
KASIDY: Home, Worf! Bring it home!
(Nog catches the ball as the Vulcan runs past him. We see that the Vulcan's foot does not actually touch home plate. Odo says nothing.)
NOG: What's wrong?
O'BRIEN: He didn't touch home, Nog.
NOG: Is that true? What do I do?
WORF: Find him and kill him!
O'BRIEN: Just tag him out! Jake, cover home!
(At the Vulcan dugout.)
NOG: Which one?
SISKO: Tag 'em all!
(Nog does, Odo shaking his head each time.)
JAKE: Come on, Nog. Hurry up!
ROM: No. Tag the next one.
(The last Vulcan runs out of the dugout.)
NOG: Jake!
(Nog throws, Jake catches and tags.)
ODO: You're out!
O'BRIEN: Yay! Nog, well done.
NOG: Great catch.
SISKO: He's out. Did you see that? That's what I love about this game. You never know what's going to happen next. Every situation is different.
ROM: It looks like a lot of fun.
SISKO: Rom, come here. Let's go.
ROM: Where're we going?
(9th innings, Logicians 10 runs, 14 hits, 0 errors. Niners 0 runs, 6 hits, 4 errors).
(Nog slides into third?)
ODO: Safe.
(Jake goes up to bat.)
SISKO: Chief? Chief, Chief, call time out.
O'BRIEN: Why?
SISKO: You're making a substitution.
O'BRIEN: What?
(Enter Rom in uniform.)
O'BRIEN: Time!
ODO: Time!
O'BRIEN: 
You're up, Rom.

QUARK: 
Oh, you've got to be kidding. 
We've got a man on third. 
We could score.

O'BRIEN: 
Sit down, Quark. Go ahead, Rom.

LEETA: 
You can do it.
NOG: 
All right, Dad. Come on, you can do it.

KASIDY: Okay, let's play ball.

SISKO: 
Computer.

ALL: 
Come on, Rom.
ANNOUNCER: 
Your attention, please. 
Now pinch hitting for Jake Sisko, number thirteen Rom.

(The crowd is back and they are roaring)

NOG: Come on, Dad you can do it. (sotto) I hope.
ODO: 
Strike one.

NOG: 
Come on, Dad.

LEETA: 
You can do it. Come on, Rom.

ODO: 
Strike two!

LEETA: 
It's okay, Rom. 

O'BRIEN: 
Julian. What was that thing called, 
you know, when you just tap the ball down the baseline?

BASHIR: 
A bunt?
O'BRIEN: 
That's it, a bunt. We've to give him the sign. Rom!
(O'Brien and Bashir tap their arms and then their caps.)

ROM: 
What? What?
(The ball bounces off Rom's bat. Nog runs.) 

ALL: 
Go!
(Nog gets to the plate before the ball.)

ODO: 
Safe!

EZRI: 
Rom, you did it!

(Logicians 10, Niners 1. Everyone runs out to congratulate Rom.)

SOLOK: 
Umpire, this is completely improper. 
The Game is not over.

(Odo turns away, and Solok puts his hand on his shoulder. Pops.)

ODO: 
You're GONE..!!

[Quark's]

SISKO: 
Hey, Jake that was a hell of a game! 
A hell of a game!

JAKE: 
I gave up ten runs.

SISKO: 
They're Vulcans. 
If they were humans you'd have held them to just two or three.

JAKE: 
When you put it that way.

SISKO: 
Yes. Now, pardon me. 
I owe you an apology.

ROM: 
No. Unless you really want to.

SISKO: 
I'm sorry.

ROM: 
Apology accepted.

SISKO: 
If you have some time one day, 
maybe you can teach me how to bunt.

ROM: 
Sure. 
(to Leeta) 
What's a bunt?


NOG: 
(to a Vulcan) 
That's my dad.

SOLOK: 
I fail to see why you are celebrating. 
The Ferengi's bunt was an accident. 
And you still lost the game.

SISKO: 
You are absolutely right. And I couldn't be happier. 
Quark, a round of drinks for the house on my tab.

QUARK: 
I'm way ahead of you, Captain.

SOLOK: 
You are attempting to manufacture a triumph 
where none exists.

KASIDY: 
I'd say he succeeded.

BASHIR: 
To manufactured triumphs.

SISKO: 
Manufactured triumph. Hear, hear!

NINERS: 
Hear, hear!

SOLOK: 
This is a typical human reaction, 
based on emotionalism and illogic.

SISKO: 
Did I hear irritation in that voice?

SOLOK: 
Certainly not.

BASHIR: 
That sounded positively defensive to me.

O'BRIEN: 
With a hint of anger.

QUARK:
 And just a touch of jealousy.

KASIDY: 
And a lot of bitterness.

EZRI: 
Are you always this emotional?

SOLOK: 
I refuse to engage in this human game of taunting.

EZRI: 
Human? Did I forget to wear my spots today?

QUARK: 
All that intelligence and he still doesn't know what a human looks like.

KIRA: 
Captain. Here's something else for your desk.
(She throws him a baseball signed by the team.)

SISKO: 
Well, will you look at that. Would you like to sign it?

(Solok leaves.)

SISKO: 
No.
(Sisko throws the ball up, which becomes DS9 as we fade out.)