You are Cordially Invited...

To the wedding of Worf and Jadzia Dax

TITLE: You are Cordially Invited...
EPISODE: Season 6, Episode 7
WRITER: Ronald D. Moore
DIRECTOR: David Livingston
US AIRDATE: Nov 10, 1997
STARDATE: 51247.5

Over the image of the station we HEAR KLINGON DRUMS, which carries us to...

A pair of N.D. Klingons are beating a steady rhythm on their drums near the now vine-bedecked railing. MOVE TO REVEAL that Quark's has now been converted into a full-blown Klingon wedding chapel. The room is crammed with PEOPLE from all over the station and lit only by torches and candlelight. Sisko, Bashir, O'Brien and Martok are in the front row, wearing their ceremonial robes and all clutching their Ma'Stakas. Alexander is carrying two brightly polished bat'leths. Odo, Kira, Jake, Nog, Leeta, Rom, Quark and Morn can be seen in the crowd. Everyone is looking at Sirella, who is standing in the middle of the room on a raised platform.

Worf is standing nearby. Worf and Sirella are both wearing special costumes for the wedding which should be different in style and color from anything else we've ever seen on a Klingon.

Sirella raises a hand and the drumming DIES AWAY SLOWLY. Sirella should have the assembled crowd in the palm of her hand as she conducts the ceremony.

SIRELLA
"With fire and steel did the gods forge the Klingon heart. So fiercely did it beat, so loud was the sound, that the gods cried out, On this day we have brought forth the strongest heart in all the heavens. None can stand before it without trembling at its strength. But then the Klingon heart weakened, its steady rhythm faltered and the gods said, Why do you weaken so? We have made you the strongest in all of creation."

Worf steps up onto the platform.

SIRELLA
(continuing)
"And the heart said..."

WORF
"I... am alone."

SIRELLA
"And the gods knew that they had erred. So they went back to their forge and brought forth another heart..."

Sirella stretches out a hand and the crowd PARTS to clear the way for Dax, who is ENTERING the room wearing a stunning Klingon wedding dress. She strides right up to the platform and then steps up to face Worf.
 

Alexander hands them each a Bat'leth, which they take without looking.

                                                                             SIRELLA
"But the second heart beat stronger than the first, and the first was jealous of its power."  Worf swings his Bat'leth right at Dax, but she parries the blow easily, and slips her blade under his guard and puts it to his neck.

SIRELLA
"Fortunately, the second heart was tempered by wisdom."
 

DAX
(to Worf)
"If we join together, no force can stop us."

Dax takes her blade from his neck and each of them grabs the other with their free hand and they pull each
other so close that their faces are nearly touching.



SIRELLA
"And when the two hearts began to beat together, they filled the heavens with a terrible sound.  For the first time, the gods knew fear. They tried to flee, but it was too late. The Klingon hearts destroyed the gods who created them and turned the heavens to ashes. To this very day, no one can oppose the beating of two
Klingon hearts..."

(quiet, to Dax)
"...Not even me."

Dax and Sirella exchange a look and Dax knows in that moment
that she's been accepted. Sirella moves on with the ceremony,

SIRELLA
"Worf, son of Mogh... does your
heart beat only for this woman?

WORF
"Yes."

SIRELLA
"And will you swear to join with her and stand with her against all who oppose you?"

WORF
"I swear."

SIRELLA
"Jadzia, daughter of Kela, does your heart beat only for this man?"

DAX
"Yes."

SIRELLA
"And do you swear to join with him and stand with him against all who would oppose you?"

DAX
"I swear."

SIRELLA
(to all)
"Then let all present here today know that this man and this woman... are married."

A CHEER goes up from the crowd as Worf and Dax finally kiss. The Klingon drums begin beating again and the
room is filled with celebration.

BASHIR is standing in the crowd, eagerly fingering his Ma'Stakas as everyone keeps cheering.

BASHIR
(to Martok)
"Now?"

MARTOK
"Not yet."

Worf and Dax break the kiss, they wave to the crowd, then Worf is embraced by Sirella.

BASHIR
"Now?"

MARTOK
"Patience."

Sirella turns to Dax, and there's a moment's hesitation before Dax bows her head in obeisance.

DAX
"My lady."


SIRELLA
"Welcome to the House of Martok... my daughter."

They finally embrace.

MARTOK turns to Bashir.

MARTOK
"Now, doctor."

Bashir leads O'Brien in a CHARGE toward the platform, their Ma'Stakas held high and blood in their eyes. As
they EXIT frame...

CUT TO BLACK.

And then we hear the BLOOD-CURDLING SCREAMS and the THUDDING and CLASHING of FIGHTING mixed in with GRUNTS, YELPS of PAIN, Klingon CURSES and the sound of BREAKING GLASS.