DEEP SPACE NINE: "The Assign... " - REV. 09/12/96 - ACT ONE     11.

6    CONTINUED:	(3)

					BASHIR 
			I better go. I left a patient on 
			the operating table.
				(heading for the door) 
			I'll see you later.

					KEIKO
				(re: the plant) 
			Thanks, Julian. This was sweet.

	Bashir smiles, EXITS. O'Brien drops the pretense.

					O'BRIEN 
			A party? Tonight?

					KEIKO
			It is your birthday.

					O'BRIEN
			We can't have all those people 
			here. We'll have to cancel it.

					KEIKO
			And raise suspicions? It's better 
			if the dinner goes on as planned.
				(a smile) 
			Besides, your wife went through a 
			lot of trouble to arrange it.

	O'Brien knows she has all the cards. He takes a 
	breath.

					KEIKO 
			You'd better get to work -- you 
			don't want to be late for your 
			shift briefing and I've got a lot 
			of cooking to do.

	Bristling but controlling himself, O'Brien picks up 
	his PADD and heads for the door.