11:59
Episode 117
Part E

Events in the year 2000 involving Shannon O'Donnel appear in this style.

 

In her Ready Room, Janeway is reading the original sources about her ancestor. The door signal sounds. door signal "Come in." standard doors Chakotay enters carrying a PADD. Chakotay hands her the PADD: "Ship's status report." Janeway: "Let me guess: the holographic engineer is having problems with her program, Neelix the Cardassian cook is low on supplies, Seven of Twelve is regenerating, and Captain Chakotay is doing just fine. Just wondering how they'll piece together our lives a few hundred years from now." Chakotay: "Depends on how big the pieces are." Janeway: "A PADD here, captain's log there, maybe a couple of holodeck programs. It won't be as much to go on as we might think. I've gone through dozens of histories written about 20th century Earth, all of the biased in one way or another. The Vulcan described First Contact with a 'savagely illogical race'. Ferengi talk about Wall Street as if it were holy ground. The Bolians expressed dismay at the low quality of human plumbing. And human historians: the exact same story. Every culture saw it in a different way. So I go back to the raw material: birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, census surveys, voter registration forms, housing records, medical, employment, court records. It's all fragmented and incomplete." Chakotay: "So did she exist?" Janeway: "Her name was Shannon O'Donnel. She did train to be an astronaut. But she didn't finish. She was an engineer but never worked on the Mars missions." Chakotay: "Did she work on the Millennium Gate?" Janeway: "Only as a consultant." Chakotay: "What about all the opposition you spoke of? You said she fought to get the project underway." Janeway: "There was no opposition. In fact the Millennium Gate was greeted with open arms by the local population, except for one man." Chakotay: "Henry Janeway." Janeway: "She married him, and changed her name. She certainly never changed history." Chakotay: "Don't be too hard on her. She may not have known she was supposed to live up to your expectations." Janeway: "Oh, I'll get over it. The question is when we get back to Earth how will I break the news to Aunt Martha?" Chakotay laughs.

Collins is reporting live on television. "With less than three hours to go, Henry Janeway still refuses to co-operate with Millennium Gate representatives. I'll return with live updates as midnight approaches. Marci Collins, Channel 3 News."

Moss and Shannon watch her on the television. Moss: "I don't suppose there's any chance he'll change his mind." Shannon: "By midnight? Doubtful." Moss: "It looks like we'll have to scrub the launch, at least where Portage Creek is concerned. It's a shame how one ignorant man can stand in the way of progress." Shannon: "It's not that simple." Moss: "Henry's a very likeable guy, but he's playing for the wrong team. He's looking back. This town needs people who look towards the future." Shannon: "Well, while you're looking forward I'll be driving to Florida." Moss: "Wait a minute. I'm not about to turn a fellow-explorer out into the cold." Shannon: "I didn't hold up my end of the bargain." Moss: "If we didn't think you had something to add to this project we never would've made the offer in the first place. Henry Janeway's pigheadedness doesn't change that. We could still use your help, just not here." He hands her a business card. "My associate in Canton, I'll tell him you're on the way. He'll find a place for you."

Jason hurries into the bar looking for her. "Shannon." Shannon: "What's the matter?" Jason: "It's Dad." Moss tells her: "See you in Ohio?" He leaves.

Jason: "He won't leave the shop. There's all these people outside. The police are there!" Shannon: "Your father can take care of himself." Jason: "Please, won't you talk to him? He'll listen to you." Shannon: "No, he doesn't, Jason."

Jason: "Where're you going? What's all this about 'I'll see you in Ohio'?!" Shannon: "Ohio, Florida." Jason: "What's wrong with this place?" Shannon: "It didn't work out." Jason: "I thought you liked us." Shannon: "I do." Jason: "Then why are you leaving?" Shannon: "I'm sorry." She hurries out, leavng behind a perplexed and disappointed Jason.

Shannon is driving away from Portage Creek on the interstate highway. She dictates into her tape recorder: "December 31st, 2000, 11.15 p.m. I've got 95 miles of interstate before I have to decide whether to head east or south, but those 95 miles won't be uneventful. My guidebook tells me I'm not too far from Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, recreated entirely in corn." She passes a sign that announces: 'You are now leaving Portage Creek. Drive safely.' "The last few days have been memorable, to say the least. I met Henry Janeway. Interesting man. Liked to talk. Unfortunately he doesn't listen to anybody but himself. Gave me a place to stay, though. And we had dinner, in Paris no less. He has a son, good kid, bright like his father." She stops the recording and starts to eat a cookie but looks thoughtful. Shannon returns to Portage Creek. She parks as close to Alexandria Books as she can. She is unable to get past the police cordon. A policeman bars her way. Moss is being interviewed by Collins and is using the interview to address the townspeopeople. "I personally don't regret a single day I've spent in this lovely town. I want to thank you all for your encouragement and support." Collins: "Would you consider extending your deadline?" Moss: "I'm afraid that's not possible. We'd like to express our deepest regret to the town of Portage Creek-" He notices Shannon's arrival. "Excuse me." Collins notices too and orders her camera crew: "Get this!" The camera captures the events. Moss tells the policeman who is barring the way to Shannon: "Let her through." The policeman does so. Shannon makes her way past Jason and heads towards Alexandria Books.