Alexander Siddig credited as playing...
Doctor Julian Bashir • Julius Eaton
- Herbert Rossoff: [Douglas walks into the office] Douglas - magazine?
- Douglas Pabst: There isn't any magazine. Not this month anyway. Mr. Stone had the entire run pulped.
- Benny Russell: He can't do that.
- Douglas Pabst: Oh, he can. And he did. He believes quote - this issue did not live up to our usual high standards - unquote.
- Benny Russell: And what's that supposed to mean?
- Douglas Pabst: It means he didn't like it. Which means the public will simply have to get along without any Incredible Tales this month.
- Benny Russell: [Benny's starting to lose it] What exactly is it that he did not like? The artwork? The layout? What high standards is he talking about?
- Kay Eaton: [gently] Take it easy, Benny.
- Benny Russell: It's about my story, isn't it? That's what this is all about. He didn't want to publish my story. And we all know why - because my hero is a colored man.
- Douglas Pabst: Hey! This magazine belongs to Mr. Stone. If he doesn't want to publish this month we don't publish this month. End of story.
- Benny Russell: That doesn't make it right and you know it.
- Douglas Pabst: [Douglas is starting to lose it too] Don't tell me what I know! Besides, it's not about what's right. It's about what is. And I'm afraid I've got some more bad news for you, Benny. Mr. Stone has decided that your services are no longer required here.
- Herbert Rossoff: What?
- Benny Russell: You're firing me?
- Douglas Pabst: I have no choice, Benny. It's his decision.
- Benny Russell: Well, you can't fire me. I quit. To hell with you and to hell with Stone!
- [Benny takes his walking stick and sweeps everything off a desk]
- Julius Eaton: Try to stay calm, Benny.
- Benny Russell: No, I'm tired of being calm. Calm never got me a damn thing.
- Douglas Pabst: I'm warning you, Benny. If you don't stop this I'm going to call the police.
- Benny Russell: [Benny loses what little restraint he has left] You go ahead! Call them! Call anybody you want! They can't do anything to me! Not anymore! And nor can any of you?
- [Benny starts sobbing]
- Benny Russell: I'm a human being, dammit. You can deny me all you want. But you cannot deny Ben Sisko. He exists. That future. That space station. All those people. They exist. In here. In my mind. I created it. And everyone of you know it. You read it. It's here. Do you care what I'm telling you? You can pulp a story, but you cannot destroy an idea! Don't you understand? That's ancient knowledge. You cannot destroy an idea! That future! I created it! And its real! Don't you understand? It is real! I created it! And its real! It's real! Oh, God!
- [Benny finally collapses to the floor, a spent force]
- Herbert Rossoff: Would someone please shoot me and put me out of my misery?
- Julius Eaton: Oh, how I long for a gun!