THE CHUTE
Episode 45
Part D

 

"The Chute leads to a docking port, right?" "Now are you going to help me or not?"

Zio: "Sleep well?" Kim: "No." Zio: "How about your friend? Is he dead yet?" Kim: "Shut up! The Chute leads to a docking port, right? Some kind of ship must come to drop off food, drop off new prisoners, so maybe we could get aboard the ship." Zio, referring to the clamp and Kim's agitation: "It's getting the best of you." Kim: "I know we could do it." Zio: "You think they're just going to open the hatch and ask us if we'd like a ride home?" Kim: "We'd have the element of surprise." Zio: "And they'd have the pulse guns." Kim: "If we could hold them off, distract them, just for a few minutes, I could establish our location, get a message to Voyager, and they could get us out of here. We'll need weapons." Zio: "I've never let anyone see this, but I'm going to let you read my manifesto." He holds it out to Kim: "It'll teach you how to control the clamp." Kim: "I don't want to read your crazy manifesto." Zio: "Take it. Learn everything I know." Kim dashes the manifesto up out of his hand - the pages scatter. Kim, fiercely: "Now are you going to help me or not?" Zio, bending down and retrieving the scattered pages: "If I were like the others, I'd kill you. But I don't lose control. That's the difference between me and you." He leaves.

Akritirian prison - concourse. Kim, addressing all the prisoners who gather curiously: "Listen! Listen to me, everybody! This is important. I've got something to say. Something you'll want to hear. It's what you've been waiting for."

Pit: "What the hell do you want?"
Kim: "I've found a way out of here."
Everyone jeers and laughs.
Pit: "There's no way out."
Kim: "There is! Through the Chute! I've been inside! Listen! We have to work together! They'd like us all to kill each other, but we have to co-operate. If we do, we can get out of here."
Pit: "If you've been in the Chute, where does it lead?"
The prison inmates are on Pit's side. None can believe there is a way of escape.
Kim: "Space." Everyone laughs and jeers again. "It's the truth! We can escape if we work together!"

Below: Kim tries to persuade the prison inmates to work together to try and escape.

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Pit throws a heavy object at him, then another. Kim is knocked to the ground.

Akritirian prison - Zio's shelter. Paris is taking out the wire insides of the pipe.

Kim: "What the hell are you doing?!"

Paris: "Stay back."

Kim's temper detonates, unable to control himself under the clamp's influence. "You've ruined it! You-" He lunges at Paris and the two fight for the pipe. Paris: "It's mine! Mine!"

But Paris is ill and weak. Kim seizes the pipe and with a manic yell raises it over his head to smash it down on Paris' head.

Zio arrives in the doorway and tells Kim: "Go ahead. Finish him."

Paris waits for the death-blow. Kim freezes, and with great effort regains self-control. He drops the pipe and flees into the concourse.

Zio pursues Kim. "You wanted to kill him, didn't you?" Kim: "He's my best friend!"

Zio: "No, that's where you're wrong. He's too far gone to be your friend. All he is now is a burden." Kim: "That's not true!" Zio: "He eats your food. He ruined your device. He's given in to the clamp. You've got to get rid of him before he brings you down with him." Kim: "Quiet!"

Zio: "You've got a chance to make something of your life in here, but as long as that carcass is in my hut, we'll never be able to go on to more important things." Kim: "What the hell are you talking about?!"

Zio: "We've got to disseminate the manifesto. Gather our followers. Train them." Kim: "You're insane." Zio: "You want my protection? You want to live under my roof? Get rid of him." Kim: "I don't need your protection!"

Zio: "How long do you think you'll last against Pit and the others without me looking out for you?" He offers Kim the haft of his makeshift knife. "Go ahead, take it. Think of what a relief it will be not to have that responsibility, to be free of his ranting."

Kim: "I'm not a killer." Zio: "Do you want to survive in here? You'd better learn to be." Kim takes the knife.

Kim: "If that's what it takes to stay alive, then I'd rather die." He opens his hand and the knife clatters to the floor.

Zio: "Get out now, and take him with you, or I will kill him."

USS Voyager approaches Akritirian space.

Voyager's Bridge. Liria, on viewscreen: "Unless you've decided to relinquish control of your vessel, Captain, I suggest that you do not proceed across our border."

Janeway: "We've captured the ship and crew responsible for the bombing at the Laktivia Canteen." Liria, on viewscreen: "I see." Janeway: "I'm prepared to trade them for the immediate and unconditional release of Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim." Liria, on viewscreen: "Your crewmen have already been tried and convicted." Janeway: "Are you saying those convictions can't be reversed, no matter what new evidence is brought to light?" Liria, on viewscreen: "You are correct."

Janeway: "That is an outrageous policy!" Liria, on viewscreen: "I assure you, it has proved to be a most effective deterrent. Good day, Captain." Contact ends.

Chakotay: "So much for negotiating." Tuvok: "What should we do with the prisoners?" Janeway: "Bring Vel to my ready room, now!"