A man wearing peculiar clothes.

TROOPER

What kind of clothes?

Kirk looks around (without being melodramatic) and pulls a parcel toward them. He opens it enough to show Trooper the Enterprise comet insignia, the velour material, the bright color, so stark beside Trooper’s own drab garb.

KIRK

He’d be carrying a…weapon.

TROOPER

What’dya want him for?

KIRK

For about two bucks.

TROOPER

Let’s see it.

Kirk fishes out two crumpled dollar bills. Trooper touches them with an outstretched hand. But doesn’t take them.

TROOPER

I s’pose I gotta find out before you give it to me.

Kirk gives him the two crumpled balls of money. Trooper is astonished. It is the first real life we’ve seen in his face.

KIRK

I think I can trust a man who fought at Verdun.

There is disbelief and a kind of grandeur in Trooper’s face as he is confronted with dignity, trust and honesty. He nods firmly as Kirk rises, the legs MOVE OUT OF FRAME and Trooper watches him go. Then, determined, he gathers his wares and, using two padded blocks of wood with hand-grips, he propels himself down the sidewalk on the roller skate platform as we

DISSOLVE TO:

89 INT. EDITH’S APARTMENT—KIRK & EDITH—NIGHT

That plain little room. They are eating cake and having coffee, at that same little square table covered with oilcloth. There is MUSIC OF THE PERIOD UNDER.

EDITH

Too rich?

KIRK

(preoccupied)

Pardon?

EDITH

The cake. Did I make it too sweet?

KIRK

No, it’s delicious. I’ve never tasted anything like it before.

EDITH

(surprised)

You’ve never tasted angel food cake before?

(beat)

Jim…?

KIRK

(still distracted)

Uh-huh…?

EDITH

I’d like to ask you a great manyquestions. But I’m afraid you might give me answers.

Kirk lays down his fork, gets up and walks to the window. He stares out at the night. She follows him in the shadowy room, stands behind him, barely touching.

EDITH

A skyful of stars.

KIRK

(softly)

You’ll never know how many.

EDITH

Are you going away, Jim?

KIRK

Perhaps. I don’t want to.

EDITH

It’s that Chinese fellow, isn’t it?

KIRK

In a way. I know him. And he knows me.

Edith turns him to her. She puts her arms around him, lays her head against his chest.

EDITH

All my life I’ve belonged to other people. I know things will be cleaner, happier, I try to tell them, so they’ll wait, so they’ll hope. But now I don’t belong to anyone. And I’m losing my own hope…Jim…

He holds her away for a moment, speaks earnestly.

KIRK

You’re right. There are a million tomorrows. The one you believe in is the best one. I know.

EDITH

How do you know, Jim?

KIRK

(helplessly)

Because I love you…and I know.