DEEP SPACE: "In the Hands... " - REV. 04/08/93 - ACT THREE     31.

26   CONTINUED:

					SISKO
			Vedek Bareil... ?

	The open face of the spiritual man acknowledges, looks into 
	the eyes of Sisko who smiles... Sisko bows his head and turns 
	it to the side so the Vedek can reach his ear...

					BAREIL
			Please.  There is no need to pay 
			tribute to me, Commander...

					SISKO
				(awkward)
			Pay tribute... ?  No, I was just...
				(beat)
			Usually, when I meet one of Bajor's 
			spiritual leaders, the first thing 
			they do is grab my...

					BAREIL
			... Ear?

	Sisko acknowledges... Bareil laughs warmly...

					BAREIL
			Unpleasant, isn't it.

					SISKO
			I've been far too polite to admit 
			it.

					BAREIL
			I was five the first time one of the 
			monks grabbed my ear... he was a 
			stern old crow who could virtually 
			squeeze the pagh right out of you 
			with his thumb and forefinger... and 
			as a chronic misbehaver, I was his 
			favorite victim.  I swore that one 
			of my life's goals would be to do 
			away with that archaic ritual.

					SISKO
				(feeling comfortable 
				with this man, smiles, 
				not too serious)
			You can count on the Federation's 
			support.