Chapter Text
Scene 1
Another time…
The door opens, and Doctor Wycoff steps out into the chilled January air. He looks around and sees the woman he knows has been waiting, for minutes, for years.
“Miss Jensen,” he says, walking down to the sidewalk where Cassie is standing, bundled up in a simple but sharp winter jacket. “Thank you for coming. The new board has given their final sign-off. Benny will be departing shortly.”
Cassie keeps her reaction cool and calm; these men may have helped Benny, perhaps, but she does not trust them. “Thank you, Doctor Wycoff. I am relieved to hear that.”
“It is my pleasure, Miss Jensen,” he says before stepping closer to her. “Benny is… a remarkable individual. It has been a pleasure to know him over the last several years. I am glad to say that he seems to have finally let go of his fantasies about Benjamin Sisko; he now is able to focus on reality.”
Cassie again keeps her reaction calm and deferential – the only reaction men like Wycoff are willing to accept from women like her. “Thank you for helping him, Doctor Wycoff.”
With that, Wycoff gives her a brief smile and walks back inside.
A minute, a year later, the doors open to reveal Benny Russell.
For a moment, an eternity, Cassie sees his face before he sees her: exhausted and spent. Her heart breaks.
Then Benny Russell sees the woman he loves, and breaks out into a smile bright enough to light New York City. They rush together into an embrace and a kiss, as Cassie whispers in his ear: “Welcome back.”
Scene 2
1962
“To Benjamin and Cassidy Russell!” says Herbert Rossoff as he raises his glass.
“To Benjamin and Cassidy Russel!” echo back the gathering of friends at the couple’s apartment.
Glasses clink and merriment bubbles throughout the evening.
Tales are told, and glories remembered. The past is toasted, and the future is imagined.
Benny plays at the piano.
“I was absolutely floored by Benny’s episode of The Twilight Zone ,” Kay Eaton tells Cassie Russell, “it was just remarkable! Even Jules enjoyed it,” she says as she gently slaps her husband’s arm.
“You always act so surprised when I appreciate fine art, my dear, as if you expect me to have no taste,” Julius replies wryly.
“Well, it’s true that she has had the dubious pleasure of knowing you the longest, Jules. Perhaps she knows something the rest of us don’t?” remarks Julius’ friend, Eli, to which Julius simply rolls his eyes.
Cassie rescues the poor man by returning to Kay’s original point. “You’re too kind, Kay, and I’m sure Benny would be touched to hear you say that. It’s been hard for him to find steady work, but between the restaurant and his ghostwriting, we’ve been managing to get by.”
“With any luck,” Julius says, “Benny will soon be the biggest ghostwriter in the business!”
Cassie smiles in agreement while her eyes drift over to Benny at the piano, as she hears him experiment once more with a melody he’s had stuck under his fingers for weeks.
Cassie decides to dream big, if only for a moment (a year): “With any luck, Benny will soon be the biggest writer in the business, ghost or otherwise!”
“Hear hear!” Eli says as he raises his glass.
“Hear hear!,” they all reply.
Scene 3
1963
Benny has mellowed , Pabst says to himself.
“Morality plays, eh Benny? Interesting idea…”, Pabst says aloud.
“We know the public enjoys stories about men from Mars,” Benny continues. “Why not tell them stories that actually mean something?”
Well, not entirely mellowed, I suppose, Pabst amends himself. “Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Benny. I think you’ve got a real idea here, but it won’t be easy.”
“That’s why I came to you, Douglas,” Benny says, his voice quiet and sincere. “I know you’re the man who can make this dream a reality.”
Pabst harrumphs in a sort of meaningless way, as a way to change the subject without acknowledging the praise.
“With a white captain, you say?”
“That’s right. And a racially integrated crew.”
“And on a spaceship as part of a sort of ‘Space UN’?”
“On a starship , Douglas.”
“Hmph. And a Martian science officer?”
Benny nods. “Neither white nor black – a green man with pointed ears.”
“They’ll still go ballistic about that down in Birmingham, you know. And the networks won’t like your idea for a woman as first mate. If we’re going to do this, we’ll have to compromise to see what’ll pass. Or otherwise we might as well just print the script on the sidewalk for all the people who will see it otherwise!”
Benny bristles quietly.
Are we going to be able to do this? Pabst wonders. Or is this just “Deep Space Nine, Revisited”? When is Benny finally going to learn to accept reality?
Then Benny stands up straight. “You and I: we have stories to tell. People may not be ready to hear them. So we’ll do whatever we need to do to get them ready.”
Pabst looks into Benny’s eyes, and makes a decision.
“You’ve got a deal.”
He extends his hand, and Benny grasps it, as he replies. “Let’s get started.”