(To himself.) Guess we’ve shaken off those Capulets. Haven’t seen another ship within a hundred parsecs of us.

ROM enters. He is upset, despondent. (Tell Dulaq that the Redwings will win the Stanley Cup next year; that should work him up enough for this scene.) He glances at the viewsscreens, then goes to BEN and stands beside him.

BEN

(Looking up at Rom.) Greetings, cousin. How are you this day?

ROM

Not as good. (Shakes his head)

BEN

What’s the trouble, cousin?

ROM

I dunno. Must’a been somet’in I picked up back on Rigel Six. Maybe a bug....

“Cut!”

“Francois... the script says ‘virus,’ not ‘bug.’”

“Ahh. ‘Bug’ sounds better. I don’t like all dose fancy words.”

“Try to say ‘virus,’ will you? And watch your diction.”

“My what?”

“Your pronunciation!”

“Hey, you want me to say all dose funny words and pernounce everyt’ing your way? At de same time? Come on!”

“Take it from, ‘What’s the trouble, cousin.’”

BEN

What’s the trouble, cousin?

ROM

I dunno. Must’a been somet’in I picked up back on Rigel Six. Maybe a b... a virus or somet’ing.

BEN

(With a grin.) Or that Capulet girl you were eyeing, Julie.

ROM grabs BEN’s lapels and lifts him out of his chair.

ROM

(With some heat.) Hey, I don’t mess around with Capulets. Dey’re our enemies!

BEN

(Frightened.) Okay... okay! I was only joking.

ROM

(Lets him go. He drops back into his seat.) Some t’ings you shouldn’t kid about.... Go on back and grab somet’ing to eat. I’ll take over.

BEN

(Glad to get away.) Sure. It’s all yours, cousin.

BEN hurries off-camera. ROM sits at the command console, stares out at the stars.