Date: Thu, 10 Oct 91 16:29:00 -0600
From: Allen Melinda Kay 
Subject: Just a Bit of Light, Part Three

Part three of "Just a Little Bit of Light."  Again, please note that it
takes place between "Meltdown" and "Ripper at LMC1."

[Muirden, Kabeta and Aren are still standing on the Bridge of the Melbourne.
Aren looks quite anxious.  We see King Stephen on the viewscreen.]

Aren: (puzzled)  Missing?  How could this be?  Sharina never leaves the
     Ancient Caverns.

Stephen: Nevertheless, she is not there.  We have sent messengers across
     Xavion, to no avail.  Either she is not here or she doesn't want to
     be found.  There is a slight possibility she has gone to Terim--
     that's where she was born, and word has just arrived that the
     Teriman king lies near death.  She was Smarag in Melathrion's
     household many years ago, and perhaps she has returned to him in
     his illness.

Aren: Has a messenger been sent there?

Stephen: I am already preparing for the trip--I would like to see King
     Melathrion anyway.  Will you join us in the search?

Aren: Yes, if Captain Muirden allows.

Muirden: Certainly.  We have a passenger who wants to visit Terim.

Aren: Well, then, what are we waiting for?  Your Majesty, you are
     welcome to travel aboard the Melbourne, if you like.

Stephen: No, thank you, Brother.  I am accustomed to my own small
     ship--I'm afraid I'd feel lost in yours.  My ship will arrive at
     Terim in five hours--I'll meet you there.

Muirden: Very well.  Melbourne out.

Aren: (agitated, to Muirden) What are we going to do?  Sharina's nowhere
     to be found.  For all we know, the Antareans killed her.

Muirden: You could talk to Eliana instead.  You're a trained Smarag.

Aren: That wouldn't work--I'm too much a part of what's going on with
     her.

Muirden: Is there any other choice?

Aren: No, I guess not.
*******************************************************************************
STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION  Just a Bit of Light, Part Three
By Dave Learn and Melinda K. Allen

Thanks, Dave, for taking over when I needed to take a break from working on
this episode.  It couldn't have come this far without your hard work.  

Guest Starring Ian Lamb as King Stephen of Xavion


Directed by     Devyn Lee Gavryth

Music by        Michael Card
		Colcannon
Lighting by     Lighting Up Xavion

*******************************************************************************
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Are you embarrassed to hum in public?
Do you just mouth the words during sing-alongs?
Are you afraid to let people hear you croak out the lyrics to the latest hits?

Then we're here to help you.

Now you too can take that feeble squawk and turn it into something wonderful
with 

RENT A VOICE!  

Yes, that's right--RENT-A-VOICE.

For opera fans, we have Pavarotti 
[a few bars of Pavorotti singing something from Don Giovanni are played in the
background]

And there's Kenny Rogers for all you country-western types.

[strains of "The Gambler" or whatever one of K.R.'s songs is called]

Or how about some Nana Mouskouri?

[we hear a deep and exotic alto voice with a hint of a Greek accent singing
"Morning Has Broken]

And we've even got Amy Grant!!

[The song "El Shaddai" is played.]

Now, how much would you be willing to pay for this incredible offer?  200
dollars?  Nope.  100?  Not even!  50?  You're getting closer.  This amazing
offer is yours for for only $19.99.  That's right, folks--just $19.99.  And
we'll even throw in this set of Ginsu knives for no extra charge.  So call us
now at 1-800-55VOICE!  

[the words, "offer available only for a limited time" flash across the screen,
which then fades to black.]

[Muirden and Aren are walking down to Eliana's quarters.  Dave, ever faithful,
still stands guard with his loyal and devoted squire.]

Muirden: Lieutenant, step aside.

Quixote: No.

Muirden: Lieutenant, I do not like having to give an order twice on my
     ship.  Now step aside.

Quixote: Though you give the order a dozen times, milord, I will not
     stand aside.

Muirden: (turning red, sputtering) That does it!  The Lady Eliana--the
     Lady Counselor--Eliana needs her husband's help, and you're
     preventing us from helping her.  Now back off, or I will make you
     back off.

Quixote: Hell has not seen, nor Heaven created the one who can defeat
     me, O King.

Muirden: Well, I'll do my best.

[Muirden attacks Quixote, and the two go to the floor, wrestling.  First
Muirden is on top, then Quixote.  The two struggle fiercely, shouting
loudly, first one, then the other.  "Let us pass!" Muirden cries.  "The
Lady Eliana has forbidden it!" Quixote responds.  The two continue in
their struggle, and roll down the hallway, making a ruckus as they go. 
Cut to: Aren's face.  He is somewhat amused, but also concerned about
the outcome.  He rushes into the room as Quixote's attention is focused
entirely on Muirden.  As he enters the room, cut to the hallway, from
inside Eliana's room.  Muirden has Quixote pinned, though it is obvious
that he cannot hold him like this for very long.  Muirden taps his com
pin.]

Muirden: Grunto, lock on to Quixote and store him in the croutonizer's
     memory.

[Quixote disappears in a haze of croutons.  Muirden suddenly pitches
forward and lands on his face.  In a matter of hours, he will have a
large bruise on the greater portion of his face.  For now he merely
groans and sits up.]

Muirden: Send a message to King Stephen and tell him that we're about to
     beam Quixote over, and then croutonize him to the king's ship.

Grunto: (ic) Yes, sir.

[On board Stephen's personal ship.]

Stephen: I understand, Lieutenant.  I will be ready for him.

[There is a familiar hum as Quixote materializes on the floor, face up.]

Quixote: What new adventure awaits me now?  O Lady Dulcinea, protect me
     now as Jesu sends me on some new, perilous quest!

Stephen: (bemused) You must be Dave Quixote.  I have, ah, heard about
     you.  Welcome to my ship.  Is that . . . (touches sword point,
     yanks hand back suddenly) real?  OW!  I suppose it is.  Please, be
     careful where you put that thing. 

Quixote: (bowing) I am that same knight of whom you speak.  How may I
     serve you, lord?

Stephen: Just sit back and take it easy.  We will land on Terim in a few
     short hours, and then you may find more adventure than you know how
     to deal with.

Quixote: 'Struth, it is always so with knights in the service of God. 
     The annals of knight-errantry relate a tale of the most worthy
     Amadis de Gaul, who . . .

[Stephen covers his head and groans while Quixote continues.  Meanwhile,
in Eliana's and Aren's quarters.]

Aren: Eliana?

Eliana: What is it, Aren?

Aren: We can't find Sharina anywhere.  Stephen suspects she may have
     gone to some relatives, or perhaps died.  We don't know.  There is
     no trace of her anywhere.

Eliana: Oh.

Aren: Have you slept at all?

Eliana: I don't want to sleep.  I keep having the nightmares.

Aren: Eliana, you're living a nightmare right now by letting it rule you
     so completely.  You're letting the memories haunt you.

Eliana: It--it's not the memories that bother me.

Aren: Oh?

Eliana: I feel guilty over what happened.  I feel as though I should
     have been able to do something, to save drewid, or find you sooner.

Aren: (to himself) So that's it.  (out loud)  Eliana, are you being
     completely honest with Shonyo about this?

Eliana: What?

Aren: Have you told him how you feel?  Have you just yelled at him, and
     let it all out?

Eliana: I couldn't do that.

Aren: But you have to.  He wants you to be honest with him about every-
     thing you're feeling.  He knows what you're going through, and you
     can't hide it from him.  So tell him, Eliana.  Be honest with him
     about it all.

Eliana: That's crazy.  How can I yell at Shonyo?

Aren: How can you lie to Shonyo?

Eliana: But . . . I just don't know how to talk with him anymore.  It's
     been so long.

Aren: Then I'd say it's about time, wouldn't you?

Eliana: Aren, everything you are saying--it's exactly what I would say
     to someone I was counseling.  Why doesn't it make sense anymore?

Aren: Because when you counsel someone else, you're at least removed
     from their problems.  It's not as easy to be removed from your own
     problems.  (beat)  But I think we've talked enough.  Maybe you   
     should spend some time talking with Shonyo by yourself.

[Eliana does not respond, and Aren quietly rises and leaves the room. 
After a moment, Eliana stands and feels her way around the room to a
corner.  There she sinks down and begins to cry.]

Eliana: (sobbing)  Alexis...please!  Teryk...come back...why?  Why?!   
     (yelling)  Shonyo!  Answer me!  (voice dropping to a pleading sob)  
      Please, answer me!  Why did you take them?  Why?  Give them back! 
     I beg of you, Shonyo!  (breaks off crying, voice hardens)  But what
     do you care?  You...a monster who says he loves us, but so rejoices
     in our suffering that he allows it to go on and on!  What is my
     sorrow to you?  (yelling again)  Answer me, Shonyo!  Damn you,
     Shonyo, answer me!  (falls silent for a moment as if awaiting a
     reply, then the tears come again)  I hate you Shonyo!  I hate you. 
     What kind of god are you?  I'll tell you--you're evil, worse than
     all the other gods.  You torture us with dreams and visions of
     glory.  You prophesy and promise, and raise up on high--and then
     you take it all away.  Damn you anyway, you selfish, heartless
     monster.  You strip away from us everything that matters to us, and
     all for some nebulous "plan" you have.  Get out of my life, you
     monster.  Leave me alone!

[Eliana ceases yelling and merely rocks back and forth, sobbing.  The
camera cuts to a view of Aren, alone in their corridor and also weeping. 
The scene then returns to Eliana, still crying in the corner.  Aren's
voice breaks in over her sobs.]

Aren: (voice-over, soothingly)  Eliana...Eliana, shh.

[Eliana's sobs begins to subside and now she gulps for air.]

Eliana: (v-o)  Aren!  He's left me...Shonyo is gone from me.  Help me,
     Aren.  I feel so alone.  I've never been this alone before.

Aren: No.  He has not left you--he will never leave you.  Listen to him, 
     Eliana.  Let him speak, and he will calm your heart.

Eliana: No.  He is gone.  I said I hated him, and so he has left me. 
     Now I only hate myself.

Aren: You have hated yourself for too long--blamed yourself for sorrows 
     you had no part in causing, things you never could have prevented.

Eliana: Come to me, Aren!  Please.  I can't bear the loneliness.  Come
     to me.

Aren: Ssh.  I am coming.

[The doors open and Aren hurries in.  Out in the hall is Muirden, still
holding his bloody nose tenderly and cursing under his breath all
knight-errants, at least the Spanish ones.]

Eliana: (v-o)  Don't leave me, Aren.  Never leave me.

Aren: (v-o)  Hush, now.  I will not leave you.

[Telepathically, he calms her, and soon she falls asleep from utter
exhaustion.  Aren sits with her and strokes her hair as we fade to
black.]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Announcer: Would you prefer a Wendy's burger, which is juicy and freshly
     made, or would you prefer to try our competition's burger, which
     was made fifteen hours ago?

Man: Actually, I don't like hamburgers.  I only came here to be on TV.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[Eliana is stretched out in bed, sleeping.  Aren sits in a chair next to
her, holding her hand.  She is far from peaceful, as evidenced by her
frequent tossing and turning.  The sheets of the bed lie strewn across
the floor.  Gradually the camera pans in on Eliana's face: it is
streaked with sweat.  We hear the sound of a raging river which
increases in volume as we move closer.  Another scene slowly
superimposes itself over Eliana, at first only in outline, but gradually
replacing the bedroom scene completely.]

[Eliana is now on the bank of a river.  All around her is the twisted,
burnt ground where a battle has apparently been fought.  The air is
acrid with smoke.  Eliana winces and tries not to shut her eyes.  She
repeatedly wipes at her face and clothing, as if to remove a grubby
feeling  all over her.  On the other bank is an Elysian setting, with
verdant grass and  flowers of every variety.  A butterfly flits from one
flower to another, and birds can be heard singing from the other side. 
There is a large wolf on the other side, too, a rather imposing and even
frightening figure. He stares at Eliana, and in a deep-throated voice,
he speaks.]

Wolf: Come across.  Come to me.

Eliana: I can't.

Wolf: Follow my voice.  Come across.

Eliana: I want to come--really I do.  But the river is so loud and fast. 
     How am I supposed to cross it?

Wolf: You must trust me.  When you walk through the waters, you will be
     mine.  Trust me.

Eliana: How can I trust you?  You'll let me drown.

Wolf: You must trust me, daughter.  Come.  I will not let you drown.

[Eliana tentatively puts her foot in the river.]

Eliana: The water's too cold.  I'll wait until it's warmer.

Wolf: There is no time to wait.  Come now.

[She puts her second foot in, and slips.  She falls into the river with
a loud splash.]

Wolf: Look at me, daughter.  Look at me and cross the river.

Eliana: I . . . I . . .

[She stands up, and with her eyes fixed firmly on the wolf, begins to
cross the river.  She is only five feet in when the water is above her
waist.  She stares at the wolf and keeps walking.  But--what if the wolf
lied to her?  What if he is luring her to destruction?  The water rises,
now to her shoulders.  She takes another step.  Where is the wolf?
There.  Another step forward.  The water rises a little higher.  No! 
She's been duped.  The wolf was going to let her drown.  Better never to
have left the other side!  The water moves faster, threatening to drag
her downstream.  She turns around and looks back at where she came from. 
There is only darkness.  She looks wildly around, and all she can see is
darkness.  She has been abandoned.  The river, raging in all its fury,
lifts her up and bears her downstream.  She struggles to lift her head
above the water, but the current is too strong.  She goes back under the
surface, water rushing into her nostrils, her mouth, her ears, weighing
heavily upon her.  She sees no light as the current thrusts her down to
the bottom of the river bed.  There is a sudden splash as something
grabs her by the shoulders.]

Aren: Eliana!  Eliana!  What is it?  What's wrong?  You were screaming. 
     Eliana, what happened?  Eliana!

[Eliana is silent.  She turns her back to Aren and rolls over.  Aren
remains for a few minutes, shocked by her hostility.  At last he stands
up, walks out of the room, and closes the door.  Close up on Eliana's
pale, sweat-streaked face for the remainder of the scene.]

Muirden: What happened?

Aren: I don't know.  She won't tell me.

Muirden: What about your link with her?

Aren: It's dead.

Muirden: Dead?

Aren: Dead.  She has completely cut myself and everybody else off from
     her.  The only way anyone will be able to reach her is if she will
     lower her defenses and let us in.


TO BE CONTINUED!

-----------------------------------


Date: Wed, 16 Oct 91 16:57:38 -0600
From: Allen Melinda Kay 
Subject: Just a Bit of Light, Part Four

[Exterior: the Melbourne and Terim.  At impulse.]

Muirden: (v/o) Captain's log, supplemental.  After receiving permission
     from Admiral Bradford to visit Xavion in order to aid Counselor
     Eliana, we have since learnt that the Smarag Sharina is nowhere to
     be found.  We are now in orbit around Terim, hoping to find some
     sign of Sharina there.  Counselor Eliana has grown increasingly
     hostile to other members of the crew, particularly her husband.  If
     we cannot find help for her soon, I fear for what may happen.

[Interior: Bridge of the Melbourne.  Muirden sits in the captain's
chair, Kabeta and Aren stand at his side.]

Muirden: Any sign of her?

St. Cyr: None at all, Captain.  I downloaded the information on Sharina
     from King Stephen's databanks, but sensors cannot detect any sign
     of her.

Kabeta: Are sensors functioning properly?

St. Cyr: Already checked that out, Commodore.  Sensors are functioning
     well within acceptable range.

Muirden: No sign of her at all.  (pause, Muirden curses under his
     breath)

Larkin: Sir?  I didn't catch that last order.

St. Cyr: (confused) I didn't give any orders.

Larkin: Not you.  Captain?

Kabeta: I didn't give any orders, either.

Aren: Don't look at me.  I'm not even a Captain.

[Larkin groans and says nothing.]

Aren: So what do we do now?

Muirden: Give up, I suppose.

Aren: What?  You can't just leave Eliana like this--we have to do
     something to help her.

Muirden: (exasperated) You're speaking like a husband, Aren, not like a
     Star Fleet officer.  I have done everything within my capabilities
     to help Eliana, and it has all been fruitless.  What do you want me
     to do?  Keep a starship locked up in one star system in case a
     Smarag happens to turn up?  I can't do that--you know that.

Aren: I--you're right, Captain.  I'm sorry.

Kabeta: Not so fast, Captain.  I still get to visit Terim.  That was how
     you got out here in the first place.

Muirden: True enough.  All right, you can beam down when--

Lt: Captain, we are being hailed from Terim.  It's King Stephen.

Muirden: On screen.

[On the screen appears King Stephen, somewhat haggard from his trip with
Quixote.]

Stephen: Have you had any luck?

Muirden: None.  Our sensors detect nothing.

Stephen: I'm sorry to hear that.  (pause) But no doubt Shonyo will bless
     you for your efforts.  (a beat) Will you be croutonizing down to
     the surface?

Muirden: I, well--

Stephen: Remember, you owe me for taking in that lieutenant of yours.

Muirden: We'll be down in a few minutes.

*******************************************************************************
STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
Just a Bit of Light, Part Four
By Dave Learn, Christina Marzano and Melinda K. Allen

All thanks be to Shonyo.

Guest Starring

Ian Lamb as King Stephen of Xavion

Daniel de Loup as Prince Evox of Terim

Christina Marzano as Alexis of Xavion


Directed by       CLVM

Music by          Colcannon

Lighting by       Lighting Up Xavion, Inc.

*******************************************************************************

[On Terim.  Aren has just croutonized down with Muirden and Kabeta, and
is greeting King Stephen.]

Aren: Stephen, my King.  

Stephen: My Brother (embraces Aren), it is good to see you!  (bows to
     Kabeta) Your Highness, I am ever honoured by your presence.  Thank
     you for coming.

Kabeta: (stiffly) The honour is mine, your Majesty.  

Stephen: And Captain Muirden, it is a great honour to have you here. 
     Please, will you join me at table this evening?  A great feast is
     even now being prepared.

Muirden: Of course, your Majesty.  I thank you for your kindness.

Stephen: It is I who am in your debt.  (to everyone) Now, if you will
     excuse Aren and me, I should very much enjoy some time alone with
     my Chief Advisor.  Please, make yourselves at home.

[The others wander off together, towards what looks and sounds to be a
marketplace.  Muirden sees a group of young women and gravitates towards
them.  The camera follows King Stephen and Aren as they walk towards a
small stream.  As their path veers to run alongside the stream, they
follow it, deeply involved in their conversation.  The entire dialogue
is telepathic with voice-overs.]  

Stephen: Now, if only Evox were here, our circle would be complete.  But
     he has not been seen since the Great Battle. Some say he died, but
     there are rumours that he escaped.

Aren: I have missed him.

Stephen: I too.  (Sighs out loud, long pause) But it does my heart good
     to have you here--even in such a sorrowful circumstance. 

Aren: I hope that we will find Sharina soon.  Eliana has not spoken to
     anyone  since yesterday morning.  She has completely cut herself
     off from  everyone who cares about her, and I am at a loss as to
     what I should do to help her.  

[Stephen puts his arm on Aren's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.]

Stephen: She'll come around, Friend.  She'll come around.

[The two are startled by the sound of a galloping fethor (remember,
that's the Xavionite equivalent to a horse!)--it is solid black, and the
rider is dressed in black as well.  He reins in the fethor and comes to
a full stop right beside Aren and the king.  In his hand is a parchment,
which he hands to Aren.  Then he sits silently and awaits a reply.]

[Aren reads aloud]

Thadnik Stormraven VIII, of the House of the Brothers of the Tyolki,
noble and ancient order of Terim, post of Xavion, Knight of the
Alliances under the Star and the Sun, Guardian of the Horn of Scalegna,
to Aren, son of Teryn, son of Fyl, of the House of Volkov, sometime
slave in the Anterean provinces, greetings.

For to put an end to your unlordly churlishness, it is our pleasure to
adventure our noble person in clean wager of battle against your
Lordship, on grounds that your Lordship has proved false to Xavion and a
vassal of the most vile Antereans, responsible for death, injury, and
otherwise harm to countless Xavionite citizens.  Wherefore we most
heartily provoke, challenge, and defy your Lordship to the said combat
and duel, and have sent these letters by hand of our well beloved and
noble cousin, Kaenys of Blackwolf, to whom we have given full power of
determining with your Lordship all conditions of said wager.  Given at
our lodging in Gryffonrock this Sixth Sun of the month Kaeran, in the
22nd year of his Majesty King Stephen of the Wolf's Paw, Silver Arrow,
Knight of the Alliance Under the Wolf.

[Aren looks about angrily as he crumples the parchment into a ball and
tosses it at the messenger.  It hits him square in the face and bounces
off onto the ground.]

Aren: (glaring at the rider)  Tell your master I will meet him today on
     the Torbis Field, at 11 marks.  There he will learn that his
     accusations are dust in the wind.

[The dark rider nods silently and then wheels his horse around and
gallops away.]

Stephen: (after a pause) Aren, are you sure about this?

Aren: I've not had much practice these past years, and my arm may not be
     quite as strong as it once was, but this is a matter of honour.

Stephen: I know.  

Aren: Who is this Thadnik Stormraven?  I've not heard of him.

Stephen: Nor I.  The only Stormraven I know is a Smarag so old he hasn't
     the strength to lift a sword, let alone the malice to make such a
     challenge.  He is called "Thadnik," though.  Perhaps this man is a
     great-grandson, or some other relative.  (pauses, puts his hand on
     Aren's shoulder) May Shonyo be with you, Brother.  Who will be your
     witness?

Aren: Well, I would have you as witness, but it would not be right.  So,
     I think I shall ask Dave to stand for me.

Stephen: (laughing)  Dave?

Aren: Yes.  One of his senses has left him, but other than that, he
     seems  quite sane.  He will be quite pleased to have such a
     position.  (grins)  'Tis a proper, knightly sort of thing to do.

Stephen: (laughs and claps Aren on the back)  And besides that, perhaps
     we can avoid the fight by getting Stormraven to laugh himself to
     defeat!

Aren: (solemnly)  Hold your tongue, Brother.  I've not talked overly
     much with this Dave Quixote, but I do not believe he is a man to be
     mocked.  His words to me have seemed amazingly sane.

Stephen: Well, if you vouch for his character, then I believe you. 
     (looking to the sun) It is ten marks now.  You have just enough time
     to don your armour and hasten to the field.  

Aren: (stopping short)  Armour?  Why didn't I think of that!!  I have
     none now.

Stephen: Mine is in the pavilion.  You will wear it.  Come now, we must
     hurry.

[The two move with all haste towards the King's Pavilion, where Aren
quickly pulls on a suit of finely worked chainmail, over which he slips
a black and silver tunic.  Stephen then hands him an ancient looking
sword.  Aren looks amazed as he handles the intricately carved weapon.]

Aren: Stephen!  The royal sword!  Are you sure?

Stephen: Take it, and may it serve you well.

Aren: Thank you, Brother.  

[They leave the pavilion and walk a short distance to a great field. 
Here, astride a reddish-brown fethor, waits a knight in a grey and
crimson tunic.  His face is entirely covered by an elaborately engraved
helmet.  To the side stands a short figure with veiled face and
traditional black armour--this is the knight's witness.]

Knight: (mockingly, in a low, gruff voice.)  So, the coward has come!  I
     did not think you would accept my challenge.

Aren: (calmly, through gritted teeth)  Your challenge is a pack of lies. 
     I fight for my honour.

Knight: You have no honour.  Where is your witness?

Aren: He has been fetched.  He will be here shortly.

[Elsewhere, Dave Quixote is engaged in mortal combat with a pair of
fulling mills in the middle of a large stream.  Kabeta happens by and
watches, amused, as he hacks away at their bases.]

Quixote: Foul, wretched castles!  Free your prisoners, or I shall call
     upon all knights in the service of the Emperor, and we shall lay
     seige to you until you surrender those good men you hold captive
     within your walls!

Sylvester: (not noble enough to be described as a Teriman, he is best 
	   called a "Terimite."  Poking his head out the window, he 
	   yells at Dave) Now cut that out--we're trying to grind our 
	   corn up into meal.  Be quiet.

Quixote: O evil, base, castellano, release your prisoners at once!

Sylvester: (taken back) Evil?  Base?  Why you--

[Sylvester gives Quixote a hefty shove, and the unfortunate knight falls
backwards into the stream.  Weighed down by his armor, Quixote is unable
to get up.  Although Sylvester has returned to the fulling mill and does
not see this, Kabeta has seen it all, and she dives in immediately to
retrieve the irritating knight.  She soon finds him under five feet of
water, struggling to get up, and hoists him to his feet.]

Quixote: (spitting water) One of the hazards of my profession.

Kabeta: Come on, get out of this stream.  Move it.

Quixote: (seeing who has saved him) O Dulcinea, I am in your debt as
     always.  You have saved me from a most ignoble and untimely death. 
     (resolved) But now I must attend to the rescue of those noble
     knights imprisoned within yonder castle.

Kabeta: (indignant) Will you stop calling me Dulcinea?  I am not your
     lady!

Quixote: My lady jests.

[Inside the fulling mill, Sylvester turns to one of his companions.]

Sylvester: There.  Her.  Do you see her?

Luke: Yes.  A Star Fleet captain.  Excellent choice.

Matthew: We'll kidnap her tonight, and then we'll have to be heard.

[Outside, on the bank of the stream.]

Man: (running up) I seek Dave Quixote de La Mancha, Knight of the Woeful
     Countenance.  Is he here?

Quixote: I am he who you seek.

Man: You are requested to serve as a witness for Aren of Xavion as he
     defends his honor in a trial by combat at the eleventh mark.

Quixote: Fifteen minutes from now.

Man: Yes.  Your role as witness is merely to observe and ensure that
     there is no foul play at all.

Quixote: I am honored.  Many are the knights who have proven themselves
     in trial by combat.  The annals of knight-errantry record that
     Lancelot of the Lake and Sir Gawain the Green once jousted over the
     matter of the fidelity of Gueni--

Man: (impatiently) Yes, yes.  I will lead the way to the Torbis Field. 
     Here, you must wear this veil.

[Hands Quixote a black witness' veil.  Quixote dons it at once.]

Quixote: Fair Lady Dulcinea, I would count it as a great honor if you
     would but accompany me to this trial and stand by my side as I
     watch the Lord Aren engage in combat.

Kabeta: All right.  It's been a while since I've seen this sort of
     thing, so why not.  But get this straight--my name is *NOT*
     Dulcinea.

[Back at the Torbis field.]

Quixote: My Lord Aren, I came as quickly as I could. 

Aren: Thank you, my good Knight.  I am honoured to have you here.  You
     know, don't you, that all you have to do is watch to be sure he
     doesn't cheat?  You must not get involved any more than that.

Quixote: Yes, milord.  May Jesu bless your sword and strengthen your
     arm. 

Aren: My thanks again. (to the knight)  Now, it is eleven marks.  Shall
     we begin?

Knight: As you wish.

[The knight dismounts and advances toward Aren.  Standing side by side,
they face Stephen and salute him.  Then they face each other and begin
one of those classic t.v. sword fights which are so wonderful to watch. 
Aren is quite good, but, presumably from lack of practice, not quick
enough to be a match for the strange knight.  He is fighting with every
ounce of strength he can muster but barely managing to keep the sword in
his hands.  About this time, two small boys, playing some sort of tag,
chance to run into the Torbis Field.  Dave is alarmed at this, fearing
that they will interfere, and runs after them to stop them from
intruding on the solemnities.  Unfortunately, the first boy runs to the
middle field, giggling, unaware of the importance of this duel.  Aren
sees him and moves aside to avoid bludgeoning him.  In this moment of
advantage, the Dark Knight knocks Aren's sword away from him and forces
him to the ground.  Close shot of the Dark Knight as he holds the tip of
his sword inches from Aren's neck as we fade to black.]

TO BE CONTINUED!

----------------------------------------