227:[1,#b]
         DEEP SPACE: "The Homecoming" - 07/02/93 - ACT FIVE         57.

68   CONTINUED:	(2)

					LI (Cont'd)
			One of them recognized him as Gul 
			Zarale, responsible for the massacre 
			of a half-dozen Bajoran villages.  I 
			tried to tell them what happened, 
			but they had already convinced 
			themselves that I killed Zarale during 
			some kind of savage struggle.
				(a beat)
			Which is what they insisted on telling 
			every Bajoran we met.  And no matter 
			how hard I denied it, the story 
			continued to spread until it seemed 
			all of Bajor had heard it.  Soon 
			every victory won by the resistance 
			was attributed to my leadership.  
			Stories of my courage, my brilliance, 
			my daring grew more and more 
			unbelievable... yet people insisted 
			on believing them.  My reputation 
			even followed me into the labor 
			camp... my presence alone seemed to 
			inspire my fellow prisoners... and 
			all I had done was shot an unarmed 
			Cardassian in his underwear.  I'll 
			never forget that look on his face 
			as he died.  He was so... embarrassed.
				(a beat; ruefully)
			Commander, I did what Bajor needed 
			me to do.  I've allowed myself to be 
			a slave to my reputation all these 
			years.  Isn't that enough?

					SISKO
			They still need you.

					LI
			But I'm not the man they think I am.

					SISKO
				(thoughtful)
			Perhaps not.
				(smiling)
			But Bajor doesn't need a man, it 
			needs a symbol, and that's what 
			you are.

	Sisko steps out from behind his desk and approaches Li.