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Apollo, piloting Recon Viper 3 away from a pursuing hoard of Cylon Raiders, desperately pleads for help from Galactica's Blue Squadron. Boomer and Starbuck (members of Blue Squadron) want to scramble their vipers to rescue Apollo, but Adama refuses, disclosing that Apollo expects no help because he is bluffing, purposefully leading the Cylons away from the Fleet.
Apollo evades the Cylons but runs out of fuel for his turbo engines, crash-landing in the Hatari Sector on the planet Equellus, a low-tech planet similar in motif to the American West circa 1800s.
Apollo is found by Equellus residents Vella and her son, Puppis, after hearing his Viper flyby and crash. Vella tells Apollo to leave immediately, but since his Viper is out of fuel, Vella's second option is to hide the Viper and Apollo.
With no one having the heart to tell Boxey that his father is missing, Starbuck and Boomer keep him occupied in the Officers Quarters with the pilots, playing pyramid and drinking fruit juice.
Vella and Puppis in "The Lost Warrior"
Apollo learns that the town bully, Lacerta, has been taking "tribute" for nearly 10 yahrens, leaving only enough ovines (cattle) for a family to live on; no one has stopped him because of his laser-toting henchman, "Red-Eye". Vella reveals her hatred for guns because her husband was killed by a gun. Apollo sympathizes with her, stating that he lost his wife to gun violence as well.
Red-Eye - a Cylon Centurion - arrives on horseback and questions Vella and Puppis about the noise (from Apollo's Viper), but they feign ignorance and claim to have heard only a howling lupus (a wolf-like creature) in the woods. Puppis kicks Red-Eye in the shin, voicing his disdain for the mechanized thug.
Vella's brother, Bootes, arrives to check on his sister and inadvertently contradicts Puppis' story by saying that he heard a loud noise too. However, Red-Eye learns nothing more about the noise and departs. Bootes meets Apollo and immediately recognizes him as a Colonial WarriorCaptain with a laser pistol.
Apollo learns that Vella's husband, Martin, was also a Colonial Warrior who had crashed on Equellus over 10 yahren prior. Nursed back to health by Vella, they fell in love and were married, producing Puppis. Martin, though, was killed a yahren later by Red-Eye.
Bootes encourages Apollo to kill Red-Eye. Apollo declines, not wanting to reveal himself, as he believes there may be additional Cylons present. Bootes quickly grows angry at Apollo's inaction.
Aboard Galactica, Boxey is winning at pyramid, much to Starbuck's chagrin. Boxey is pulled away from the game by Cassiopeia, though, who chastises the pilots for teaching Boxey how to drink, gamble and smoke. After they leave, Boomer and Starbuck hatch up a plan to find Apollo, with or without the Commander's blessing.
Wearing native clothing to blend in with the locals, Apollo enters a saloon in town and strikes up a conversation with Red-Eye, who challenges him to a dual. Lacerta interrupts his card game (which he was winning) to intervene, saving Apollo's life from Red-Eye's wrath. Apollo, pretending to be seeking employment, is told to return the following day.
Having learning little more about either Red-Eye or Lacerta, Apollo returns to Vella's ranch to discover that Puppis has sneaked out a window to pursue a lupus which had attacked their herd. Apollo finds Puppis' horse, Strider, and is about to defend the boy from the lupus only to have Puppis kill the lupus with his numo rifle. After this, Apollo gives Puppis a pep-talk. They return to the house, much to Vella's relief.
Adama initially refuses to mount a rescue operation to avoid the perception that he is endangering the fleet in favor of his son. However, Tigh convinces him otherwise, and when Adama acquiesces, Tigh orders the immediate launch of a patrol (Boomer and Starbuck), whose Vipers "just happened" to be ready and waiting in the launch tubes.
Apollo reveals to Vella that Puppis reminds him very much of Boxey. He realizes that he is running out of time (until the fleet is too far out of range) and is eager to discover Lacerta's connection to the Cylon Empire. He also believes that there may be a Cylon base from where he can steal fuel, before the Fleet goes out of range.
Jason arrives at Vella's, telling her that Red-Eye took half of Bootes herd as tribute; enraged, Bootes began drinking heavily and was last seen riding into town. Apollo agrees to try to resolve the situation, but refuses to take his laser pistol with him.
Drunk and defiant, Bootes angrily confronts Lacerta, refusing to pay any more tribute. Bootes engages in a gunfight with Red-Eye; he loses. When Jason and Puppis attempt to shoot Red-Eye, Apollo disarms them to save their lives. Puppis screams that he "hates" Apollo and storms out. Jason expresses his disgust for Apollo; Vella, however, understands and tells him that she is certain he did the right thing.
Pushing their Vipers to the limit, Boomer and Starbuck decide to chop the power to their engines, so as to drift another 40 or 50 centons in the hopes of finding their lost comrade.
Macy, a waitress in the saloon who knows that Apollo is "different," informs Apollo that Marco (another of Lacerta's henchmen) wants to kill him, in order to regain the favor of Lacerta. He also learns that Red-Eye was discovered in the wreckage of a crashed ship, a Cylon Raider, along with two other destroyed Cylons. When Red-Eye "awoke," he saw Lacerta and said "By your command." Ever since, Red-Eye has obeyed Lacerta.
Realizing now that Red-Eye is an "independent" and no longer connected with the Cylon Empire, Apollo straps on his laser pistol. Marco challenges Apollo to a duel, but backs down when he sees Apollo's laser. In fear, Lacerta calls for Red-Eye.
Red Eye meets his fate
Red-Eye confronts Apollo in a duel. Red-Eye draws first, but is beaten to the trigger by Apollo, who blasts Red-Eye through the swinging doors of the saloon. Red-Eye explodes, his metronomic red eye extinguished forever.
Back at the ranch, Puppis excitedly recreates the laser duel, much to the dismay of both his mother and Apollo. As Apollo grabs the young boy, telling him to settle down, he accidentally calls him Boxey. When Puppis states a desire to grow up to be a "hero" like Apollo, Apollo tells him that there was nothing heroic about his actions. Red-Eye's destruction was something he had to do, and that he was indeed scared.
Vella volunteers the information on the location of Martin's crash site, which might have the fuel needed by Apollo's stranded Viper. If it weren't for Boxey, Apollo might have chosen to stay on Equellus forever.
After almost abandoning all hope, Boomer and Starbuck receive Apollo's faint transmissions. They guide the Viper home to Galactica, while on Equellus, Vella and Puppis gaze up into the stars, awaiting Apollo's return....
This is the first episode to make use of a promotional teaser, prior to the show's opening.
This is an "Apollo episode".
The episode is based off the western novel Shane. According to Anne Lockhart, Bellisario wrote a similar show to this one for the television series Tales of the Gold Monkey, except the antagonist is Japanese and the events are set in 1936.[1]
Equellus was apparently a fringe colony, descended from the Colonies (given their common language and customs), but had lost contact with the Colonies long before their destruction in the Cylon attack.
Wolves are called "lupus"; "lupi" is apparently the plural form of the word.
In another deleted scene, Bootes escorts Apollo to the edge of town. Bootes refuses to enter for fear that his anger be his undoing. In that same scene, it is told that Lacerta owns most of the town and that he could be found if one followed the sound of the music.
The Colonials have detailed maps of the Hatari sector (which Adama looks over). As they had knowledge of the system, why did they not have any knowledge of the inhabitants?
Starbuck and Boomer are loyal to Apollo, clearly willing to risk their careers to go after him.
The characters Equellus, Lupus, Lacerta, Bootes, Puppis and Vella are named after star constellations visible from Earth. Jason in mythology commanded the ship Argo Navis, an ancient constellation. While some constellations have mythical origins Lacerta is only 400 years old. Puppis and Vella were created out of the ancient Argo constellation 300 years ago. They are considered Argo's stern and sails.
Adama (Lorne Greene) first time said during endings : "Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny, the last battlestar, Galactica, leads a ragtag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest: a shining planet. Known as Earth."
Some have suggested that this episode is based on the classic western Shane.
The issue with this episode is not that this is a character piece; it is a short character piece that goes on too long. In essence, it is a Western episode set in the backdrop of Galactica universe with a plot that could be easily solved in two acts, if not less. For example:
Apollo crash lands on planet.
Apollo discovers the people being terrorized by a lone Cylon.
Apollo shoots Cylon; threat eliminated.
Obviously, the episode wouldn't work like that, as there would be other acts to fill.
Despite the performances of all the actors involved, the episode falls flat because of a lack of genuine tension. All the roadblocks set in place by the writer, Don Bellisario, are logical but superficial. For example, Apollo's fear of additional Cylons is unbelievable–and easily dismissed by Bootes.
Bellisario is essentially filling up space between Apollo's landing on Equellus to the final showdown with Red-Eye:
When he first sees Red-Eye, Apollo is hiding safely in a room with a clear shot at the Cylon. Puppis claims that Apollo doesn't shoot for fear of hurting himself or his mother.
Bootes confronts Apollo regarding his inaction. Apollo claims that he doesn't know how many more Cylons are around and he doesn't want to reveal his presence on Equellus, for he feared that the Cylons would sweep in and kill every human.
Bootes counters this by saying that Martin also has a laser pistol, which Red-Eye took, and that no other Cylons have come. Also, the Cylon clearly follows a human commander, who appears to be more worthless a person than even Baltar.
Apollo wants to learn about Lacerta's connection to the Cylon Empire.
The Cylons, being logical creatures, would not use Lacerta as their mouthpiece; they would have at least found someone else.
There are a few memorable moments though, which include: Boxey's playing pyramid with other pilots, Cassiopeia's (uncharacteristic) demonstration of motherlike behavior, Starbuck's pledge to not have Boxey lose two parents, and Adama and Tigh's argument about finding Apollo, and Adama's hesitation because of Apollo being the "Commander's son".
There is no true conflict to test Apollo's morality against Bootes' pro-violence view. The episode is, act by act, a means of filling an episode via posturing and throwaway dialogue. Episodes such as "The Hand of God" and "War of the Gods" do more to develop characters and have believable conflict.
Regarding, Boomer's and Starbuck's willingness to disobey orders to rescue Apollo: Unauthorized missions are a misuse of military property and are court martial offenses, particularly in wartime or a state of emergency. But since the Colonial military no longer exists in its previous form, the Fleet wouldn't be able to afford throwing Boomer and Starbuck in the brig, as they have proven their worth to the Fleet. The Fleet is in no position to replace experienced Viper pilots (they had enough trouble with this due to a virus Boomer contracted in "Lost Planet of the Gods"). So how to punish a Viper pilot that disobeys orders or steals military property, especially if the offenses are repeated?
If the Cylons have encountered Colonial resistance in the Hatari sector before, why have they not swept through the area?
Why don't the Colonials search for Martin?
How do the Colonials have detailed maps of the region, yet not have knowledge of settlements or inhabitants?
How does Red-Eye kill Martin and take his laser pistol? Is it with a numo?
Where exactly do the Cylon Raiders originate from? Is there a basestar or a base nearby?
How long ago was Equellus settled?
What exactly does Martin tell Bootes regarding Colonial Warriors?
How does Bootes recognize Apollo as a captain (considering the lack of visible rank insignia)?
If Vella really wants Apollo to leave when she first encounters him, why doesn't she simply point Apollo to Martin's crash site (with the Viper fuel) immediately?
Why doesn't Apollo take Vella and Puppis with him in his Viper when he finally did leave the planet?
How does Apollo transfer the fuel so quickly from Martin's crashed Viper to his own?
Does Apollo really promise that he would return to Equellus someday? He must know that he would be traversing the galaxy indefinitely, fleeing the Cylon tyranny in search of Earth.
Commander Adama meets with Dr. Zee in his chamber. Here, Zee tells Adama that he's "considered the consequences of endless pursuit upon the children of the Galactican Fleet," deciding that their children must be the first to settle Earth or they are sure to die in the wilderness of space. The task cannot be done openly or at once and negotiation with any faction on Earth is out of the question, for it would sew mistrust and paranoia on Earth, potentially leading to what Zee calls "the final war".
A shuttle approaches the freighter Delphi, the Fleet's school ship.
TV Guide Ad for The Super Scouts.
In a classroom on board, Dillon is instructing the children about gravity and atmosphere. During his lecture, he admonishes Moonstone, who tries to cheat by looking up terms on his wrist computron. Another student is able to answer and Dillon moves on to discuss atmosphere, which Starla participates in, and Dillon notes that the kids might get tired sooner due to the thinner gravity. During his discussion, Troy enters, mentioning that due to the lower gravity, they would be able to jump higher and run faster than Earth kids.
As the children cheer to this, Dillon kiddingly tells Troy that the class well behaved until he came in. Troy tells the children that study period is over, "at least for the instructor". Concerned, Dillon asks what the issue is, and Troy tells him that the ship is now dead in space.
Suddenly, the Delphi stops moving through space, having developed engine trouble.
Aboard Galactica, Boomer tells Adama that he's allowed the Delphi to slow to repair her main engines. Adama notes that he is aware of this fact, asking if the ship has regained its place in the Fleet. However, Boomer reports that this is not the case. Adama asks if Boomer recognizes the significance of that freighter, he replies that its the Fleet's schooling ship and notes that "all our children are on board".
Adama orders that a fighter escort be sent at once.
As the Vipers launch, the Cylons have spotted the Delphi and are on course to intercept it.
As Troy and Dillon walk through the corridors, Dillon warns Troy that if the "old tub" sits still long, their shuttles won't have the range to reach the Fleet. Dillon replies that they'll "crash load" them and abandon ship. The attack klaxon blares; Dillon voices his belief that this must be a mistake, as the Cylons haven't attacked in a generation.
The Cylon attack wing (including a new Cylon attack craft) begins tearing into it. Troy and Dillon are thrown across the ship's bridge as it explodes.
As the Cylon's attack continues, a crew member informs Troy and Dillon that there are shuttle pilots wanting to lift off before they are trapped on the ship. Troy orders that no ships are to launch until they have a full load. When the same crew member notes that there are sealed compartments, Dillon replies that they'll unseal them to rescue everyone.
Troy and Dillon quickly comb through the ship to ensure everyone is evacuated. They run across another civilian crew member, who tells them that there's children in a sealed compartment. Telling them that he can't open the door, Troy blasts the door with his laser pistol. The kids inside scream in reaction as the door falls to the ground.
Leading a Viper attack wing, Boomer radios Galactica, alerting them that Delphi is under attack. The Vipers kick some chrome plated arse as Troy and Dillon rescue the kids in the trapped compartment.
With the dozen kids, Troy and Dillon reach the shuttle, where they meet up with a goofy major, who informs them that 125 kids are accounted for. When Troy tells them that they have 12, the chipper bloke replies "That makes 137. All accounted for!" After the bloke helps load the kids on the shuttle, he stays behind on the ship.
A pilot asks Boomer for permission to pursue the Cylons, who are breaking off their attack. Boomer replies in the negative.
Troy tells the children to secure their braces. As he goes to start up the shuttle, Dillon helps secure the kids into their seats. Starla and Wellington[1] refuse Dillon's help to be buckled in. Dillon backs off, noting to Troy that they're a "feisty bunch," which Troy affirms, claiming they had to be in order to survive.
Troy and Dillon launch the shuttle from the ship, the engines firing at full thrust. They launch.
Watching from a distance, Boomer tells them to "Come on, come on!"
The shuttle manages to escape as the Delphi explodes. However, the shuttle experiences damage, causing a loss of fuel. Dillon transfers what is left of the fuel into the left bank.
Boomer contacts the shuttle, giving the Fleet's coordinates to them. After running the figures through the computron, Dillon and Troy discover that they cannot go back to the Fleet. They can't hide in space and await for help, since a Cylon force would surely destroy them. Troy makes the decision to head to Earth, which results in cheering from the children.
A 747 passenger jet, Flight 427 outbound from Los Angeles, ascends to 30,000 feet and are in range of Omaha center. After finishing the communication, the flight begins ascension to 35,000 feet and switches over to Omaha.
The co-pilot tells the captain of 427 to "look out," and the captain pilots the ship deftly out of the way of the descending ship, which happens to be the Super Scouts' shuttle. The captain angrily growls to the co-pilot to get Omaha and, believing that the shuttle is military, voices his strong feelings regarding how sick he is of hot shots clogging up the commercial air lanes.
On an USAF installation, Colonel Jack Sydell gets a phone call from Major Harvey Jensen, who informs him of the incident with 427. Jensen admits that they don't know what it is and tells him that he'll be reviewing the radar tapes to review the incident; Sydell notes that this incident is something he was waiting for, and boasts that he has a large enough budget to find out "who these guys really are".
After ending the conversation, Sydell tells his secretary to have a plane ready for him in 10 minutes.
The shuttle lands in a field on Earth. Troy instructs the children that it's "absolutely necessary" that they obey every order they are given, encouraging them to remember their training.
They exit the shuttle, the children fearfully and, in awe, slowly exiting the shuttle as well. One of the children picks up a flower and smells it. Starla comments that she wishes her parents and baby brother could see Earth as well. She then asks if there was a way to let her family know that they're all right, to which Dillon replies in the affirmative.
Troy tells the children he is sure they've never experienced the "sensation of being on land with open skies and fresh air," telling them that it's absolutely essential that they stay together for their own protection. Some of the kids begin taking advantage of the lighter gravity, jumping high into the air. After Troy tells the children to stop and Dillon comments about their babysitting duties not being easy, two hunters run into them.
Before they are able to fire their rifles, the Warriors stun the two Earthlings. Troy devises a plan to use the Earthlings' vehicle to move the Super Scouts to another location and launch the shuttle into space again, so that it cannot fall into the hands of the US government. This effectively puts them on their own. He tells the children that they'll locate apparel that will allow them to blend in with Earth's children.
In the morning, Dillon and Troy ride on their turbines down a highway, where they attract the attention of two California Highway Patrol officers since their bikes lack license plates. They take an off-ramp and hide behind a sign, which one of the two CHiPs see as it's one of his favorite hiding places. However, upon riding up to the sign, they find that the legs and feet they saw are no longer there—as the Warriors activated their invisibility field. The second CHiP makes it clear that the first CHiP made a mistake, laughing that "from now on, I'm in charge".
Standing in front of a department store, Troy looks up the term in the wrist computron. Troy subsequently instructs Dillon to obtain clothing here while he goes to the bank across the street to exchange cubits for U.S. currency. He believes that since their ancestors have a common ground, the bank will be able to recognize the value of the cubits, which are made from gold (or auric, as it's known to the Colonials). He seared off the markings with his laser, believing that they can quickly analyze the metal.
When Dillon attempts to enter the building via the revolving door, he is spit back out again. Confused, he asks Troy whether or not their Earth brothers have some form of alien detector. Assuring him that the Earthlings have no such device, Troy tasks Dillon with exchanging the cubits for currency, while taking a crack at the revolving door himself. The same thing happens to Troy, which amuses Dillon.
On the second try, Troy manages to enter the department store, while Dillon narrowly avoids being hit by cars as he jaywalks across a busy street.
In the store, Troy runs across a sign for the Cub Scouts. As he's looking around, he encounters a chatty saleslady, who makes the assumption that he's a scoutmaster. During the conversation, she asks what scout council he is from. His reply, "the Council of Twelve," leaves her a bit flummoxed, but she comments that it "must be out of this area". When he picks up a handbook, he mentions that 12 would be fine, which segues into a large order of "12 of everything', leaving her in awe.
Meanwhile, Dillon approaches a bank teller and attempts to exchange the cubits for U.S. dollars. She notes that the markings have been seared off, which Dillon claims to have happened in a fire. She mentions that this is unfortunate, as rare coins are more valuable than gold. Dillon mentions that he is in a bit of a hurry and misunderstands the teller when she claims that it'll take time for the gold to be analyzed. He claims he can wait, but when she mentions that the gold needs to be sent out to be assayed, he first offers to analyze the cubits with his wrist computron. He quickly realizes his error when she asks about the foreign device, and instead asks for the cubits back.
Feeling that something is off, she asks pointedly where he got the gold and, as she does this, she presses a silent alarm button underneath the counter. Dillon notices this and the situation spirals out of control when she acts on her ill-found assumption that he is a thief. She calls out to Harry, a nearby bank guard, but he is stunned by Dillon. With his pistol now in hand, he is shocked when the teller begins throwing the cubits and bundles of dollar bills into a sack. She gives it to him and yells out that Dillon has a gun and should give him anything he wants.
He tries to give the bag back to her, but he hears the sirens and surmises that she's summoned the police. She beseeches him to give up his attempt to rob the bank, telling him that he needn't get killed over a "few lousy bucks". He promises to pay back the money, asking her where she lives. After initially resisting, he points the gun at her and she reveals that she lives on 327 Harrat Street, but is "moving just as soon as you finish robbing this bank". After Dillon runs off, she collapses on the counter.
Dillon b-lines it to the department store, repeating his near death jaywalking experience of earlier.
As the saleslady finishes loading up a bin, she tells Troy that someone will be around to help him bring the items to his car. When she asks how he'll be paying, he hems-and-haws briefly until Dillon arrives and gives her a bunch of crumpled up bills, asking if it would suffice. She replies that it would and jests "what'd you do, rob a bank?" and she laughs as she counts the money.
Troy asks Dillon where he's been. Dillon begins telling him that they need to leave quickly, but interrupts himself when he queries about the content of the large wheeled bin in front of them. After Troy confirms that its all there's, Dillon pulls Troy to the side.
Outside the bank, a police car pulls up. An officer already at the bank runs up to the arriving unit, telling them that witnesses claim the robber (Dillon) ran to the department store. The senior officer instructs the reporting officer to have him and his partner cover the back entrances of the store, while they'll cover the front.
Dillon has told Troy that he's robbed a bank. Troy admonishes him, claiming that he could be killed. When they note the presence of two police officers entering the building, Dillon replies that being killed isn't out of the question even now. They use their invisibility field.
The saleslady comes back with their change and a receipt, noting that the cart is wheeling away from her by an invisible force.
As Troy and Dillon ride down the highway once more, the same two CHiPs see them and decide that they aren't going to get away from them again. They pursue and Dillon and Troy use the flying feature of their bikes to evade the now confused patrol men. The patrol man leader asks: "How come this never happens to those two guys on TV?"
Out in a field, Colonel Sydell and a team of people are scouring over Shuttle Alpha's landing site. They can't find anything. Present with Sydell is Mr. Brooks, who is surprised when Jamie Hamilton arrives. She mentions that she got word over the wire and is told about Sydell, who is with Air Force Special Detachment One, a USAF team that investigates UFOs and other unknown phenomena. He asks her again what she's doing there, and she concocts a story about her compulsion for such stories.
Captain Bannister approaches Sydell, informing him that they searched everything within a 15 mile radius, noting that there's nothing of note, except an encampment of boy scouts camped in the woods. Believing them to be more willing to share information—information which is likely to be more accurate than two hunters who've had too much "eggnog" to drink—he proceeds to seek them out, as he tells Brooks, who overheard the conversation.
After Sydell walks off to his car, Brooks tells Hamilton that he believes that there's no story now, and that Sydell is grasping at straws. Brooks tells her that he'll see her back at the station. She heads off to her car as he walks away.
Back at the Super Scout's camp, two children are horsing around in a tent. Troy and Dillon approach, asking for their attention. One of the Super Scouts corrects Troy on his use of the word encampment in lieu of the word "tent". As they're lined up, Lancer jumps high above the trees, noticing that three cars are approaching their position. Dillon confirms this and the children are excited about seeing Earth vehicles.
Colonel Sydell introduces himself to the group. Behind him is Hamilton, who recognizes the scout masters as Troy and Dillon. As Sydell questions Troy and Dillon, the Super Scouts are fooling around with his car, honking the horn, deflating the tires, and other hijinks. Sydell notes this and comments that "boys do love cars, don't they". Sydell asks if they mind if he talks to the children, Troy tells him to go right ahead.
After he heads to talk to the children, Troy tells Dillon to go with Sydell. Hamilton tells Troy that he can't be hiding behind kids, but in further talking about it, she realizes that the children aren't of Earth, and begins reeling from the shock of that. Troy convinces her to smile, for it wouldn't do too good to faint.
At the car, Sydell asks the children if they saw anything last night. He is interrupted by a Super Scout who blasts the horn. He tells the kid to stop, then grabs his arm, noticing the wrist computron. He believes it to be some fancy scout watch and then asks if they've seen anything. The scouts reply in the negative. Furthermore, Troy informs them that the children were asleep during the event, and almost lets out that they "landed," but corrects himself.
Sydell offers Troy his card, letting him know that the Air Force is interested in information, regardless of how mundane it is. Sydell then questions about the lack of a car, which Troy explains away as it being in town getting supplies. Sydell wishes them to have a nice encampment, noting that he used to be an Eagle Scout himself.
Moonstone looks up the term in his computron, which leads to a bit of humor over the literal meaning of the term.
That night, the Super Scouts, the Warriors and Hamilton are sitting around a campfire. The Super Scouts are singing a song. At the conclusion of this, Hamilton is the only one clapping, saying that she wants to learn the song.
Starla comes out of a tent, telling Dillon and Troy that Moonstone is sick. Troy and Dillon respond quickly. Using the wrist computron, Troy scans him, finding that his pulse and respiration are 80 percent below normal. Hamilton believes Moonstone is in shock. When questioned, Starla offers that he's been sick for only a few minutes.
Another Super Scout tells the Warriors that a fellow Super Scout has also fallen ill. Troy scans him, coming to the conclusion that they are dying.
Troy, Dillon and Hamilton take the three sick children to the Paradise Valley Medical Center. The nurse, Valerie, helps move them to a room. Moonstone is placed on the centermost bed, as Troy notes that he's the sickest.
Much to Troy and Dillon's consternation, Valerie cannot help since she is legally bound to assist a doctor, but is unable to take the responsibility. She goes off to try and contact Dr. Spencer on the radio.
Troy uses a syringe in order to take a cell biopsy. Scanning it with the wrist computron, they find that there are poisons in the sample that Troy's never seen before, since there is no Galactican equivalent.
They determine that Moonstone is suffering from cell dehydration and have to introduce fluids. After finding there is a Earth equivalent to the six-carbon-chain supplement (glucose), Hamilton comes up with an IV bottle with 5% glucose.
Valerie has managed to get Spencer, telling him that he has to get back to the medical center as fast as he can.
She rejoins the Galacticans in the room, discovering that they've attached Moonstone to an IV drip. She attempts to remove it, claiming that if Spencer finds out about it, she'll lose her job. Troy stuns her before she can remove it.
On Galactica, Adama asks Zee why, after all this time, the Cylons decided to attack the Delphi. Zee theorizes that the Cylons have not been idle, building better and more improved machines. To make matters worse, they have "evolved beyond our wildest fears," claiming that in thirty years it is possible to create a totally new technology. The Cylons don't use this technology to destroy Galactican Fleet outright, since they want to test their machines against living targets.
When Adama asks about the shuttle, Zee tells Adama that the children's ability to survive on Earth is likely the best indication of all whether or not the Fleet's people can survive at all.
Dr. Spencer arrives at the medical center. He notes the IV and how sick Moonstone has. When asked about the IV, Troy takes responsibility for doing so, and Spencer replies that the act probably saved the boy's life. Despite Spencer's initial wariness of the Warriors' claims, he apparently trusts their judgment. Troy mentions that they need tests for stomach content and a full blood series, including a neuro-transmitter anogram. He agrees, but asks about the anogram. Dillon tries to skirt the question by telling Spencer to do the best he can. Hamilton explains that the Warriors are into all kinds of research, coming from an "astro-medics place outside of Cleveland".
Spencer accepts this explanation and asks for Valerie's help. Since she is still stunned, she doesn't reply immediately. Spencer notes that her pupils are dilated and her skin is flushed. Val comes around, replying with a message meant to aid in tuning the color on a television. Spencer assumes she is still in shock due to the situation, saying that she came through like a trooper. Valerie follows Spencer to the lab, the former still confused.
Troy and Dillon mention that they need to rush back to the other children, assuming that they are "scared to death". When Hamilton asks what's causing the illness, Troy surmises that human immunities are different than Galactican immunities. Here, Jamie mentions that a cold can be deadly to the Warriors and the children, but they'll know more when the results of the analysis are finalized.
Hamilton expresses her apology for the children not having a better welcome to Earth; Dillon tells her that at least Hamilton was there for them when she was needed.
The remaining, healthy scouts lead Troy and Dillon to the water where the three took a drink. Upon testing it, Troy declares that "murder" has happened here: the water is poisoned. Quickly, a security officer from the Stanford Chemical Plant comes to them. They talk briefly about environmentalists; the man replying that the environmentalists are always stirring up trouble in matters that are "none of their business". He tells them that they have the permission to fish.
After Troy finds out where the plant is located, in addition to Mr. Stockton's name, they leave. The security guard makes a point to make sure they mention him to Stockton, and the Warriors assure him that they'll do soon.
Troy and Dillon meet with Mr. Stockton at the Stanford Chemical Plant. Stockton adamantly denies that the illness that the scouts succumb to has anything to do with the plant. Stockton questions their ability to analyze the water, unaware of their superior technology, and claims that they test the water all the time out of concern for their neighbors. Troy says that as such, he should be seriously concerned, and makes the claim that they're all dying. Stockton scoffs this, but Troy assures him that it is a cumulative effect.
Stockton tells the Warriors that he'll look into it. Troy questions when this will occur, and Stockton becomes more defense and Dillon takes over the questioning. Stockton replies that they'll look into it "right away' using their own chemists. Dillon asks when they'll hear anything, and Stockton assures him that they'll hear something soon.
At the sheriff's office, Deputy Collins reacts to a message on the teletype machine, which he tears out and runs to Sheriff Ellsworth with. He tries to tell Ellsworth about the message, but Ellsworth is talking to Stockton, who wants him to deal with the scout troop. After an angry Stockton reminds Ellsworth that they were all out of work for six months due to the last shutdown caused by "wild-eyed nature group". Ellsworth reminds Stockton to keep his own men out of trouble and agrees to handle the scouts.
After hanging up, the deputy tells him that the scout troop apparently doesn't exist. He notes that the reason they know this is because Spencer contacted the police station to track down the families of the sick kids at his clinic. Ellsworth gets angry and orders his deputy to wrangle up the other deputies to get all the scouts, including the "phony scoutmasters".
Just then, Hamilton enters the police office. She asks what's going o, and Ellsworth becomes defensive, essentially claiming that the children's sickness is just a play by environmentalists who want to shut down the plant. He further insinuates that Hamilton is involved in creating the issue in order to get a story. Hamilton voices her resentment of the accusation, but Ellsworth points out that a reporter started the Spanish-American War in order to make headlines. He also tells her to not leave town, as he's going to check every last one of them "right down to their fillings".
Ellsworth gives his call to arms to his men and they leave. They rush to their cars and ride off, leaving Hamilton behind.
Just after they leave, Troy and Dillon ride up in their turbines. Hamilton warns them of Ellsworth's intent and the Warriors fly off to warn the children. After they fly off, a car comes behind her on the road and the driver honks the horn. Initially angry that she's in the road, the driver starts to rip into Hamilton, only to have his mouth left agape at the sight of the flying turbines.
The freighter Delphi, which is the Fleet's schooling ship, is shown in this episode. The stock footage that is shown is of the freighter Gemini from the Original Series—and its markings, complete with the name Gemini in huge letters, are clearly visible. The freighter is destroyed by the Cylons. Ironically, the Gemini freighter is also destroyed in Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming, the movie trailer created by Richard Hatch.
The pendant seen on Boomer's neck is the same one that adorned Cain's in "The Living Legend". It makes its first appearance in this episode.
In keeping with the mandate of programs in the early evening times lots to have educational value, the theme of this episode is environmental conservation, which also comes up in "Space Croppers". Other educational beats include information on atmosphere and gravity.
The Delphi develops engine trouble and stops "dead in space". However, the ship should still have inertia, thus continuing to move in space, until slowed or diverted by a gravitational pull or other outside force.
The Colonial preteen population seems to be fairly small since the episode establishes there are only ~137 schoolchildren on "Delphi" or less than one child per ship. Perhaps this is due to the fact most first-generation refugees from the Twelve Colonies are widowers/widows/elderly people who had to leave the children behind, or due to strict enforcement of zero population growth policies.
Valerie's "message meant to aid in tuning the color on a television" is a take-off of late 1970s commercials for the RCA Colortrak television set which featured famous celebrities noting the color of their surroundings and how good the RCA Colortrak system was at "locking the colors in."
During the attack on the Gemini, a new kind of Raider can be seen. This is later revealed to be the A-B Raider fully seen in "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I". It is the only holdover from the script, which would have revealed the existence of the Advanced Model Cylons that look like humans, and introduce the characters of Andromus and Andromicus. (Andromicus would likely be the character of Andromidus introduced in "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I".)
According to Zee, it's been 30 Earth years since the Battle of Cimtar, and in that time the Cylons have created new technologies that they wish to test on humanity. (The scene is later reused in "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I".)
Among a few of the differences between the script and the final product:
Scenes in the new Cylon war machine between Andromus and Andromicus, where Andromus orders the attack on Delphi and is subsequently pleased with the success of the attack. Further, a scene where a Viper pilot asks Boomer for permission to pursue the unknown ship are cut.
The dialogue for a character named "Sunbeam" is spoken by Starla in the episode.
John Stockton's was originally named "Jack Stockwell".
"Collins" is the name of the Bank Teller that Dillon "robs" at the bank. However, this name is attributed to Sheriff Ellsworth's deputy, and thus is viewed in that light.
The Stanford Chemical Plant was originally called the "Paradise Chemical Plant". The name was changed to accommodate the use of stock footage from a 1972 episode of Columbo, "Short Fuse" which took place at the "Stanford Chemical Plant" (all footage of the plant comes from the Columbo episode).
According to the script, Troy and Dillon are incarcerated by Sheriff Ellsworth (unnamed in the script until the second part) after warning Stockton about the pollution in the water. Later on at the jail, Ellsworth delivers news that one of the boy Super Scouts died, thus ending the first part of the story.
Galactica 1980 story editors Allan Cole and Chris Bunch on this episode:
Q: Were there any amusing incidents during filming?
Bunch: The school ship episode! (The Super Scouts, part one) If you look at the shot where they burn up the school ship, the sequence is - Troy and Dillon come out of this entryway. There's a control panel to their right which explodes. They start down the steps, then there's another explosion. They do a pinwheel, they pick themselves up...
Cole: And then they look around for a minute with a puzzled look on their faces...
Bunch: Then they haul ass out of there! There was supposed to be this enormous I-beam that would come down from the rafters and almost nail them. Unfortunately, we weren't there during filming, but we saw it during one of the few times we watched dailies: the scene was over, but the camera was still rolling. Vince Edwards, the director of the episode walks onto what's left of the set and says, "Wasn't there supposed to be a beam...?" Way up in the rafters, you hear someone say, "Beam!" - and it comes crashing down and misses Vince Edwards by an inch and a half!
Also in that episode, the ship is on fire and Vince directed everyone to stroll along as if they were underwater or walking through maple syrup! We're watching this in the dailies and Larson is way in the back screaming, "Why aren't they running???"
Cole: Larson's fuming and you can't redo the scene because the set's burned to the ground![2]
Allan Cole: Basic rule of special effects. If you are going to burn something, you only get one go. And if you recall, there was a big damned fire scene. You should have heard GL [Glen Larson] scream at Vince [Edwards] for the slow pace of the direction. But he really blew his top in the big explosion scene. There were about three major bits missing, including a beam that collapses, mushing the whole bridge. I personally witnessed this. Vince cues each special in turn, cues the stunt men, cues the blast, and then the stunt men (standins for Kent [McCord], etc.) stand up, scratch their heads then trot off. Vince shouts cut. Then walks out onto the set, puzzling. "Hey," he says, "wasn't there supposed to be a beam?" Up above, a prop guy thinks he's just gotten the cue. "Beam!" he shouts. Said beam slams downward, narrowly missing Vince.
Vince also had the brainy kid[Patrick Stuart] terrified. So scared he was frozen and wouldn't move his head during the whole episode. During dailies, GL kept muttering loudly, "What's wrong with his neck? Call his teacher! Call his mother! Call anybody who can fix his neck!" Making things worse was the fact that the frightened kid's voice was changing. So everytime he said, "Adama" there would be this big falsetto crack. Very, very, funny. Too bad it wasn't intentional.[3]
Cole and Bunch on the chaotic nature of the show and its constantly changing premise:
Q: Do you know if Larson had any other flashback episodes planned?
Bunch: Larson never plans anything! He puts paper in the typewriter and starts typing! Along about page 56 an idea pops into his mind. He'll get to page 58 and type "End Part One". There wasn't enough story in the three-part pilot to fill a one hour script!
Cole: Also, the premise of the show seemed to change during filming! "We're going to use Xaviar - no, we're not going to use Xaviar. We're doing time travel - no, we're not doing time travel."
Bunch: "We've got this Air Force guy after them - no, we don't!" I still don't remember if we settled on the Air Force guy or not.[4]
Allan Cole on using kids on the show:
The kids on the show drove us all nuts. Shooting with children is probably the hardest kind of series to do. There are many, many restrictions. Plus they all have to have a teacher and if the kid is a star you have to listen to the teacher as if she were speaking from on high. And then there are the stage moms, all of whom ought to be locked up. It's a wonder any of the kids escape with a shred of sanity. If you have children, do not—I repeat: do not—urge them to take up a show biz career.
Do you recall the episode where all the kids from the mother ship troop into the Observatory? That was shot at night. And the only thing harder and more expensive than shooting at night (except for water, never, never do a water show) is shooting at night with children. They can only work a few hours at a time as it is. And night is golden time when it comes to wages—for both them, the teachers, and, obviously the rest of the cast and crew. This also means you can't shoot anything early the next morning. So if you don't have enough night stuff in your script to warrant another setup the following evening, you lose a whole day. The only way around it is to shoot on Saturday night, which gives you a natural Sunday "break."
In this case, because of the craziness on the show, neither option was open. Plus the kids were either all sleepy, or hyper—laughing hysterically or weeping; no inbetween. Or getting lost and you had to track them down again. Driving the planetarium staff out of their gourds.
I forget how many kids were in that scene, but the only way we could get it to work at all was to cast as many sets of twins as possible. Some kind of record—for casting twins—was probably set by that episode and the school ship episode.
But "Program Practices" was all over GL for not having enough kids. So, he said, "Okay, I'll give you kids crawling out of your ears." And he did![3]
Adama and Zee discuss their predicament regarding Earth:
Adama: Perhaps we could confer with the leadership on Earth.
Zee: To negotiate with one faction on Earth is to arouse the mistrust and paranoia of every other. We could inadvertently trigger the final war.
Adama: So, we have tools we cannot use, medicines we cannot offer, and knowledge we cannot share.
Zee: All these things we will give to them. First, we must prepare the way.
Dillon wants to repay the bank teller for the money she gives him as he "robs" a bank:
Dillon: I'll get this back to you in time. Where do you live?
Bank Teller:Are you crazy? You think I'm going to tell you where I live? (after Dillon points the laser gun at her) 327 Harrat Street. But I'm moving just as soon as you finish robbing this bank.
After Dillon tells Troy about his bank "transaction":
Troy: You did what?
Dillon: It's called "robbing a bank". I couldn't help it, it just happened.
In the department store:
Sales lady: And what council are you from?
Troy: The Council of Twelve.
Sales lady: That must be from out of this area.
After Troy pays Sales lady with a wad of stolen cash:
Sales lady: Whadja do? Rob a bank? (laughs)
Troy uses an Earth expression in reaction to the two CHiPs that pursue them:
Troy: Aw, nuts.
Dillon: Nuts? You're hungry at a time like this?
Zee answers Adama's question about why the Cylons attacked the Delphi:
Zee: Adama, since the time of our defeat, the Cylons have not been idle. Not only have they developed new machines, but they have evolved beyond our greatest fears.
Adama: In what way?
Zee: Consider this: In 30 Earth years, it is possible to create a totally new technology.
Adama: If they're so almighty powerful, why don't they simply destroy us?
Zee: They wish to experiment with their new machines.
When several Viper pilots are killed in a freak accident, Adama turns to Starbuck for help - but her involvement in the aftermath of the accident and in training new pilots causes the truth surrounding Zak Adama's death to finally surface.
As the celebrations continue, a communication drone stowed on the hangar deck breaks loose from its restraints, falling to the deck and igniting its motor. The drone flies across the hangar, smashing into the celebrating pilots where it explodes, killing Flat Top and twelve others and putting seven more in sickbay.
During the memorial service itself, she, Lee Adama and Bill Adama all have flashbacks – to Zak Adama’s funeral and (in Thrace's case) to her telling Zak he has qualified as a Viper pilot.
Following the service, Commander Adama asks Thrace to oversee the training of any new pilots they can find in the Fleet.
Thrace is initially hesitant, and the Commander guesses the cause is Zak's accident. He reassures her that his son’s death was not her fault – which causes Thrace to remember her admission to Lee Adama: that she passed Zak Adama through his basic training when he had in fact failed (TRS: "Miniseries").
She reluctantly accepts the duty, but memories of Zak Adama continue to haunt her as she plays cards with Gaius Baltar, oblivious to a conversation that takes place between Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo and Felix Gaeta concerning Baltar’s Cylon detector – a conversation that leaves Boomer very uncomfortable.
Elsewhere on Galactica, President Laura Roslin is examined by the ship’s medical officer, Doctor Cottle. His diagnosis is not good: her cancer is inoperable. Roslin decides that she wants to try alternative therapy using Chamalla extract – something with entirely unproven effectiveness.
Later, Thrace meets her first batch of recruits. They are all pilots – but none have ever flown a Viper. With no simulators aboard Galactica, the newbies – nuggets – are thrown straight into the cockpit of the real thing.
Their performance during their first training flight is hardly stellar, and Thrace is uncompromisingly hard on the first batch of recruits, washing them all out.
Captain Adama confronts her on her decision, and realizes it is caused more by guilt about Zak Adama than on the ability of the trainees. When she refuses to reinstate the trainees, he takes the matter up with Commander Adama.
Commander Adama initially supports Thrace's decision, but a misunderstanding between him and Lee Adama causes him to meet with Thrace to discuss Zak’s death.
When Starbuck tries to dodge the issue, Adama pins her down, and she admits the truth: Zak botched his final training flights, but she passed him because she was in love with him and they were engaged – but Zak really wasn’t the right material for flying Vipers.
Angered and hurt, Adama orders her to reinstate the trainees and to get out of his cabin.
Starbuck pilots Viper 1104 and leads a handful of the trainees on a training flight, about to begin a Thorch weave maneuver lesson when DRADIS detects a group of Cylon Raiders. Starbuck orders her nuggets to return to Galactica and enters the combat zone, initially unaware that Hotdog chose to stay as her wingman.
In the ensuing dogfight, Starbuck takes care of the Raiders (with Hot Dog's aid), but her Viper is damaged after dispatching (but not destroying) the last Raider, losing first her transponder and then complete flight control.
Hotdog's Viper is severely damaged, but he survives and awaits a SAR pickup.
Viper 1104 goes into a flat spin as Thrace and the last Raider (that's apparently dead) from the small squadron fall into the gravity well of a nearby moon. The moon's atmosphere eventually tears Viper 1104 apart, forcing her to eject.
The signal leads them to a restaurant in the city, which has a radiation shelter under it, stocked with everything they need to survive — water, food, blankets — even anti-radiation medication.
Their arrival at the restaurant is observed by a copy of Six.
It is 48 hours since the prisoner uprising on Astral Queen.
Water replenishment ops are still underway.
Galactica has a remaining contingent of 40 Vipers on top of at least 5 Raptors (revealed in "Water"), but now only has 21 combat-ready pilots and a further 8 newbie "nuggets".
Cylon Raiders have guns of an apparently similar nature to those mounted on Vipers.
Zak Adama and Kara Thrace were engaged, and that led to her passing him for flight duty.
Adama's relationship with Thrace is not as long-standing as the Miniseries appears to suggest: they have only served together for two years.
Word is leaking out about Baltar's Cylon detector.
Karl "Helo" Agathon and "Caprica" Valerii still appear to be the only "people" left alive on Caprica. Neither seem in any hurry to get off the planet. (More humans are discovered in the second season episode, "Resistance")."
Small inconsistency in set dressing: The books on the shelf that covers the fallout shelter's entrance are rectangular.
Also of note in the bookshelf scene is that the books are all from modern-day Earth; several titles and covers can be read as the bookshelf falls over, including "The Final Diagnosis" by Arthur Hailey, and another book prominently displaying the Nazi swastika, and what appears to be a photo of Adolf Hitler, on its cover.
While the Viper is burning on entry into the atmosphere, the Viper's altimeter is going in reverse, indicating altitude gain.
Ron D. Moore states on the DVD commentary that the munition activation that kills several pilots was inspired by a similar event on the USS Forrestal in 1967.
Also according to the DVD commentary, the ejection sequence at the beginning of each chapter is an homage to The Right Stuff.
This episode emphasizes many of the goals set at the series' creation to make a sci-fi series that is grounded in realism. The logistical limitations on the Fleet are readily apparent: this episode highlights how difficult it is for Galactica to train new combat-ready pilots, as there are no reserve pilots and civilians with little or no prior flying experience are all that they have to work with.
Further, this episode shows that sometimes accidents simply happen on a battlestar: this is not a perfect, pristine in-story universe but a worn, run-down real world. The accident on the flight deck occurred not through sabotage or some sort of technobabble space anomaly, but simply because an old piece of equipment wore out.
The realism highlighted by this episode is again apparent in the climactic scene between Starbuck and Commander Adama, in which she reveals that she was responsible for his son's death. The dramatic situation it focused on is not centered around some sci-fi concept, but the interactions between people which could have occurred on present-day Earth. If the script for this episode were ported onto another series set on a modern-day Navy aircraft carrier, there would be few if any changes to it. It is a drama script, which happens to be set in space, which was one of the goals of the series.
Moore: Because smoking is cool. Don't let anyone tell you different, kid. [...] Seriously, we're showing people doing what people really do and not all of their choices are smart ones. We smoke, we drink, we have sex with the wrong partners—we make lots of bad choices and some of them we do knowingly and in full cognizance of the risks and consequences. Dr. Cottle obviously knows the risks associated with smoking and he elects to do it anyway — that's his choice.[1]
Bodie Olmos talks about his most challenging day on-set:
Olmos: Interesting[ly] enough, probably the first episode I was in, "Act of Contrition". I was so excited, nervous and amazed that I was on the show. That for me was a rough day, let me tell you! I could hardly sit still and the day seemed so long. I just wanted to be good, and make sure I knew what this character was all about, which is very difficult. I think it evolves. One minute you may think he is like this but then you see that he actually believes something else. So I was definitely glad to make it through that one.[2]
In Adama's Cabin, with Thrace and Adama, discussing comments made earlier by Lee Adama:
Adama: He said something else. That you might have been feeling guilty about something you did for Zak. What did you do for him?
Thrace: I don't know. You'd have to ask Lee.
Adama: I'm asking you.
Thrace: Well I don't kn- I, ah...I don't really know what he was talking about, so...
Adama: Don't fence with me, Kara. I love you like a daughter. I don't deserve that.
Thrace: Ummm...Zak...failed...basic flight. He wasn't a bad pilot, he just had no feel for flying...and, um, when it came to his final check ride he...busted...three of the test manoeuvres, and I should have flunked him, but I didn't. The bottom line is your...son...didn't have the chops to fly a Viper...and I killed him.
Adama: (following a flashback) You did it because you were engaged.
Thrace: (breaking down) Because I made a mistake...because I was just...I was so in love with him...and I let that get in the way of doing my job...and um, and he um, he just wanted it so much, and I...I didn't want to be the one who crushed him...
Adama: Reinstate the trainees to flight status.
Thrace: I will...but I just want you to understand...that I...
Adama: Do your job.
Thrace: Yes sir...
Adama: And walk out of this cabin...while you still can...
Daniel Graystone readies himself for his appearance on Backtalk with Baxter Sarno. The Global Defense Department carries out searches on the Athena Academy and the Graystone home. Sam Adama waits patiently for his moment to kill Amanda Graystone, but Joseph Adama is slowly overcome with regret for calling in the hit on her.
Somewhere in Caprica City, a closed and empty Holo Cafe is bombed. Three hours later, Director Gara Singh and Agent Jordan Duram discuss the bombing, believing it to be either copycats or Soldiers of the One. During the conversation, Duram preens himself on obtaining a warrant from the Inter-Colonial Court on Libran, whereby they are not only permitted to search the Graystone Estate, but also the lockers that Zoe Graystone may have used at the Athena Academy. Singh gives his blessing on making the school search a media spectacle, but stresses that Duram should make the search "tasteful."
At the Willow home, Desiree, Nestor, Olaf and Clarice Willow awaken in the morning. As Nestor and Clarice start to be intimate, Clarice receives a call on her cellphone. She abruptly leaves the bedroom, leaving the rest of her partners to wonder what just happened.
Out on the steps of a building, Clarice Willow "accidentally" bumps into another man, taking out an e-sheet from the man's pocket. On it she types in "GDD RAID COMING," sends the message, and disposes of the e-sheet in a trash can.
Keon Gatwick receives Willow's message at Athena Academy and removes his detonators and explosives, throwing them into his bag. Just as he finishes, Agent Duram and various GDD agents are followed by reporters and Sister Willow. Duram announces that they are executing a search, and GDD agents begin cutting off locks and force students to empty their packs.
During the raid, Lacy Rand approaches Gatwick and asks him to follow her shortly after she leaves, so that they may talk. Instead, he chooses to walk away, leaving her behind.
At the Graystone Estate, Daniel Graystone reviews the list of talking points for the Backtalk with Baxter Sarno show. Daniel discusses how best to divorce his late daughter from the holoband technology with Priyah Magnus and Cyrus Xander, but is not pleased with calling his daughter troubled. Amanda Graystone briskly walks by, leading Daniel to note of her displeasure with his appearance on Sarno's show; Xander asks if she'll make another scene that'll contradict Daniel's statement, leading Daniel to assure him that this will not be the case.
When talking to Magnus, he very directly notes that the holoband wasn't the problem, thus earning her praise. They continue the pow-wow.
Outside across the river from the house, Sam Adama watches via bincoulars the ongoings inside the Graystone Estate from inside his car. He receives a phone call from Joseph Adama, who asks why Amanda was not killed yet. He tells his brother about Graystone's visitors and asks how much of a bloodbath Joseph would desire. Joseph quickly backtracks, realizing that he doesn't want one; Sam asks Joseph if he still wants Amanda killed. Joseph assures him that this is still his desire; Sam tells his brother to have patience and ends the conversation.
In the hallway, Sister Clarice Willow promises her students that the GDD's search will not happen again, and gives her students leave to return home for the day. After the students leave, she collapses to the floor and begins hitting a nearby locker as she screams in rage.
Daniel Graystone enters their bedroom, telling his wife that Priyah Magnus and Cyrus Xander have left for the studio. As Daniel looks for his suit jacket, he and his wife emotionally quarrel over "dancing" over "Zoe's grave" by going on Sarno's show. He reminds her that he's only doing it because of her actions in Apollo Park, wherein she opened a dialogue to greater Caprica. She appeals to him to say that they are going through a difficult time right now, but he points out that such a thing "doesn't play," much to her disgust. He storms out after noting that they are not parents.
In Daniel's lab, Zoe-R accesses the virtual world trying to get Lacy Rand. Zoe finds herself in the V-Club, and de-rezes when Philomon begins running his diagnostics. He notes that the robot needs a name.
Backstage of Sarno's show, Magnus and Xander continue to coach Daniel on what he should say, while Rebecca the makeup artist works on hiding most of Daniel's injuries from his encounter with Sam Adama. He wants to smoke, as he finds the thought of going on television nauseating, but Rebecca is insistent that he not smoke. After bribing her through an offer of a thousand cubits, Rebecca permits him to smoke.
At the Adama apartment, Ruth calls out William Adama on not going to school. Willie claims that he was with Uncle Sam, and asks if that's a problem. Ruth notes that this isn't a problem, but he shouldn't tell his father. She notes that on Tauron males are considered men at 13, and therefore capable of making their own decisions; she notes that whenever Joseph sees him, he shouldn't be angry. As Willie sits in a chair and is about to watch television, Ruth takes the remote from his hand and directly asks him what he wants to be right now. He tells her that he wants to take the job offered to kids, where they work inside the locker room of the pyramid players. During the conversation, Willie notes that his dad knows the owner, but they do not appear to be friends any more. She scoffs the comment, noting that one gets the best things from enemies, "because they're scared of you." Ruth adds that Sam can look into it, as he can get things done, and returns the remote to the now contemplative Willie.
Still sitting on a cliff overlooking the Graystone Estate, Sam sees Amanda going to the kitchen. Much to his chagrin, he receives a phone call from Joseph; he exasperatedly tells Joseph that he'll have to live with the murder of Amanda. During the phone call, he sees a group of GDD agents and civilian reporters barge into the mansion, much to Amanda's shock. Joseph is shocked at this development.
Inside the mansion, Agent Jordan Duram tells the press to remain outside. Amid Amanda's protests, Duram serves her their warrant, noting that they will only search the residence and stay away from Daniel's lab. He tries to talk her down, noting that all they want to do is find out who turned her daughter into a bomber.
Agent Jordan Duram and Amanda Graystone are in Zoe Graystone's former room as the GDD agents begin tearing it apart. As one of the agents extracts a cello from the room, she asks that they be careful with it; Duram reiterates this desire to the agent in question. Amanda brings up the necessity of the search, and Duram notes that he'd like to find out who brainwashed her into believing a "moral dictator named 'God'" or who blew up a Caprican business. Agent Youngblood discovers the infinity pendant in the jewelry box; Amanda quickly notes that she placed it there, after it was given to her by Natalie Stark. During the conversation, Duram notes that if they have to take apart Zoe's life to put other terrorists behind bars, then he's all right by that. Amanda tries to find out Duram's personal motivations, to which he replies that he lost everybody on that train.
Lacy Rand goes to Keon Gatwick's place of employment, Bike Kitchen, to follow up on how she can get Zoe's package to Gemenon. Gatwick replies that it is out of his control and, amidst her recrimination that he shouldn't have scampered away during the GDD search, tries to get her to leave by claiming that he has a pressing project that needs to be completed. She offers to help, as she has picked up technical expertise from her mother, who is a mechanic. Gatwick offers his concern about someone seeing them together, but she seems unconcerned.
Gara Singh and Duram review the results of the search; Singh is displeased at the lack of terrorist paraphernalia. Duram wants to go further, wanting to engage in electronic and telecommunication surveillance of those at the school. Duram assumes that other students were turned as well, and that they'll be able to find out who turned the kids there. Singh agrees to this surveillance on the condition that, should Duram be wrong, Duram takes the blame. Duram agrees.
In Daniel's lab, Philomon runs a diagnostic on Zoe-R's motor control, resulting in odd dancing between Zoe-R and Philomon. During this, Zoe-R seems to express feelings for Philomon, even if the robot is incapable of expressing them.
Youngblood brings in printouts of the last of the e-sheets from the students, as they do not have an up-to-date computer system to process them. Duram has her look for messages sent around 6 A.M. and assumes that it was a group-send to the student body. Frustrated, he upheaves a stack of papers, and expresses his frustration over having Ben Stark and then letting him go. He quickly clarifies his frustration for her, saying that everyone became complacent and that they all share the responsibility for the bombing. She then asks if they're all responsible for the bad wheat crop on Aerilon. Duram shifts the conversation to Youngblood's interest and dedication in the investigation, to which she replies that the Gemenese scum who lure "good Caprican kids into a killer cult" deserves to be destroyed.
Ruth chops up meat as she tells Joseph Adama that she bought Willie the Tauron equivalent of jacks, seeing as Joseph threw out his "fancy games." She morbidly jokes that they are bones from Tauron children who lost at jacks, although she later notes that they are bones from chicken feet. Joseph sees a commercial for Daniel Graystone's appearance on Backtalk with Baxter Sarno. Ruth notes that Daniel is the man that Joseph doesn't like, and Joseph promises that he'll be dealt with soon enough. Ruth is pleased at this, noting that the "dead don't really die until their death is avenged," noting that both their daughters are caught between life and death.
Baxter Sarno begins taping that night's show with a self-described "horrible monologue" that includes jokes about bombing "figuratively." Backstage, Daniel begins popping some pills and eyedrops into his eyes, for he is anxious and delays his entrance on the stage in order to collect himself. As Daniel walks on stage, Amanda barges backstage and tells Xander that the GDD just searched their estate, and that there are things that Daniel is wrong about. Sarno and Daniel begin talking, Daniel makes a joke about his solstice wish being for "free publicity," which bombs. Daniel is uncomfortable on stage, asking if the cup in front of him has water, which leads to Sarno joking about finding stuff that is "stronger." Sarno then goes in for the kill, beginning to broach the topic of Amanda's statement and how Zoe was connected to the lev bombing. Daniel claims that she was troubled (much to Amanda's chagrin), and tries to explain it when Sarno cuts him off, and goes into the issue of the holoband and the virtual world. Daniel deflects this claim by saying that Zoe didn't like the holoband and that she would actually agree with Sarno's many talking points. She barges on stage after Sarno makes a crack about the holoband making her want to "blow things up," and Sarno takes the opportunity to welcome Amanda on stage and then breaks for commercial.
On stage after the commercial break, Amanda Graystone declares that both Daniel Graystone and Baxter Sarno are wrong. After making a joke about his previous attempts at marriages, Sarno apologizes and allows her to continue. She says that Zoe Graystone wasn't crazy, but very angry, defiant, and rebellious, and Amanda asks him to point out any teenager that didn't act the same way. The conversation turns to Zoe being "morally blank," noting that the virtual world is a poor teacher; Daniel counters that Zoe would actually agree with Sarno on that, and notes that it is "exactly how the STO got to her." After explaining that she saw things in the virtual world that troubled her—ritual sacrifices, games like New Cap City, and other lurid things, he reveals that he talked to her. When pressed on this by his wife, Daniel reveals that he created an avatar of her. Daniel agrees that the very fact is disturbing, and notes that he wanted to understand his child—like other parents in the world.
As Daniel explains why he created the avatar of Zoe, Sam Adama is stopped by an assistant en route back stage. The assistant happens to be Tauron, which he sees by the tattoo on her hand; after speaking to her in Tauronese, she gives him her security badge and walks away.
On stage, Daniel says that technology may, in fact, be a problem. Backstage, Priyah Magnus and Cyrus Xander do not react well to the direction the conversation is taking. Daniel admits that they—meaning his company—believed they would be able to control the content in the virtual world, but admits that they have failed, given that the "temptation to hack the code is too great." When asked about a solution to this problem, Daniel admits that he doesn't know, but notes that for any beneficial change, one must take away the profit motive. He brings up the point of the legalization of drugs and then, in that vein, states that they will no longer make profit from the licensing of legal spaces of virtual world and, with his wife, notes that any profit from the holoband technology will go into a foundation for children to get the "right experiences."
Backstage, Magnus notes that the move is a great public relations act, however Xander disagrees, noting that the holoband licensing accounts for 60% of Graystone Industries' net. On stage, Daniel reiterates his pledge and asks Caprica to hold him to it. This results in applause from the audience, as Sarno offers his genuine surprise while crediting Amanda for a great save.
At the Adama apartment, Ruth asks Joseph Adama about Amanda's appearance. He notes that she shouldn't be there, and Ruth expresses her desire to kill Amanda with her hands and sleep well every night.
Daniel and Amanda part ways, as Daniel needs to talk to his people. As Daniel heads off, Sam introduces himself as Sarno's driver and offers to take her home, if she'd like. She happily agrees.
At the Bike Kitchen, Keon Gatwick and Lacy Rand celebrate the successful repair of a motorbike. She asks him if he had anything in his locker and whether or not he received a warning, a subject that he is reticent to discuss. She pleads with him to get her and Zoe's package to Gemenon, and he notes that the only one who can get her any help within the STO is Barnabas Greeley. She thanks him.
Amanda asks about Sam's tattoos, and he reveals that he is Tauron and, as he reveals the reasons why a Tauron might get a tattoo, she tells him that she can get rid a few of of his mistakes via plastic surgery. He notes that it wouldn't be real. She becomes aware that they're not going the right way to her residence. He remains silent.
At the apartment, Joseph Adama frets. He begins leaving texts to Sam, telling him not to kill Amanda. He then calls Larry, and asks Larry to get Sam to call him as soon as possible. Ruth watches on.
In the car, Amanda tells him that they're going the wrong way. He claims that there is an accident on the throughway, and tells her that he knows a shortcut through Little Tauron. He assures her that there are good people there, and they are not nosy. Sam touches on the subject of the bombing; he reveals that he lost his sister-in-law and niece in the bombing. Amanda grows increasingly concerned for her safety, after he says that all they can do is find balance, to "even things out." He goes on to explain that he believes that Tamara would "make us all proud."
Joseph awakens from his sleep at the dinner table, finding Sam washing up in the kitchen; Sam claims that Larry hates it when he comes home bloody. After Joseph questions him about the deed being done, Sam replies in the affirmative. Sam goes on to explain how he murdered Amanda at the kitchen of Connie's restaurant. After leading him on for some time, Sam tells him he didn't kill her, but went through the motions of scaring her a bit to teach Joseph a lesson about yanking him around. Sam assures a distraught, questioning Joseph that he didn't kill her, revealing that he doesn't turn off his phone for other people call him; he notes that he received 60 text messages. He reveals that he's frakking with his brother, because he knew that Joseph couldn't go through with it, calling him a "frakkin' Caprican in a Tauron body."
At the Graystone Estate, Daniel and Amanda discuss his revelation regarding the avatar. He claims that it is a simple avatar made from a photo. She asks him why he did it and why he didn't talk to her about it earlier, and they both snuggle, saying how much they miss their daughter. They joke about their appearance on Sarno, saying how rich, disgusting, and ridiculous they are.
As Philomon cycles through music selections in Daniel's lab, the Colonial Anthem is briefly heard.
Ruth's quip that Tauron males are considered men at 13 is odd as it does not match up with Willie Adama's age, which is 11.
The source music for Backtalk with Baxter Sarno, such as the opening theme and the walkout music heard when Daniel walks onto the set, is the same source music heard at the dance at the end of "Colonial Day."
The public's deep suspicion of the Holoband as discussed on Backtalk With Baxter Sarno is mirrored in real life Earth over worries of the Holoband's presumed predecessor in the Colonies, the Internet. Much of the same issues of parental control, the youth losing its way on it due to, as the adult public sees it, nefarious forces are much the same as the public worries of the net on Earth in First World Nations, particularly with social networking sites. This phenomenon is called a Moral Panic when a new powerful trend that generates anxiety in a population, mostly among the middle age adult and older as they worry as to the effect on the new cultural touchstone on children, teenagers and young adults; in particular adolescents. Past Moral Panics have included video games in the 1980's through the early 21st century, Hip Hop Music, in particular Gangsta Rap in the 1990's, Skateboarding in the 1970's, Rock 'n Roll music in the 1950's and 1960's, Comic books in the 1950's. Such panics sometimes involved congressional investigations such as The United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency in early 1954 to investigate the Comic Book industry over what it saw as very violent content of detective and horror comic books. This lead to the voluntary adoption of the industry created Comics Code Authority to police itself. Then the Congressional investigations of content in video games deemed to have a violent content in 1993. As with the Comic Book industry in the 1950's such concerns led the video game industry to adopt voluntary ratings rankings of video games such as the ESRB rating system in the United States and Canada, as well as the PEGI rating system in Europe to placate public and governmental concerns and to head off actual governmental regulation (congressional attempts failed due to First Amendment issues). Daniel Graystone at the spur of the moment pledged to take the profit motive out of using the holoband in response to public suspicion that it was somehow the holoband, which seems overwhelmingly "populated" by teenagers that caused Graystone's "troubled" daughter to blow up the commuter train. Graystone pointed out that it was because her daughter saw lack of moral direction on the Holoband that lead her to join the STO, not that it caused her to lack moral direction.
Daniel Graystone's lie regarding the Zoe avatar's abilities will undoubtedly cause further strain between the Graystones.
Joseph Adama's unwillingness to go through with the hit on Amanda Graystone is further indication of a loss of direction, and his lack of dealing with his grief. This is addressed in "There is Another Sky."
Lacy Rand's character is becoming increasingly fleshed out over the past few episodes, from her economic situation to her willingness to help Zoe-R go to Gemenon. Her continued persistence has lead to various relationships, including an awkward bond between herself and Clarice Willow, and an equally odd relationship between herself and Keon Gatwick, whom she has apparently never truly interacted with before. During her time at Bike Kitchen, she expresses a willingness to engage in a relationship with Keon Gatwick, and seems to express affection to him after promising to bring her desire up to Barnabas Greeley, thus leading to an awkward moment between them.
Daniel Graystone: We thought we could control the content on V-World, especially for kids, but we've failed. Clearly. I think the temptation to hack the code is too great.
Daniel: I don't know. I... For there to be any beneficial change you'd have to take away the profit motive. Like when we legalized drugs, for instance.
Sarno: Ok. That's a good point. You're also talking about something that took decades of pretty violent arguing back and forth in...
Daniel: Well, why not? Why couldn't we try it?
Sarno: But this is a huge leap you're talking about.
Daniel: Graystone Industries will no longer charge for licensing of any legal spaces and any profit we make off the bands will go to some charity...
Amanda Graystone: Or foundation that we can create...
Daniel: ... for young people to find the right experiences and the right values.
Sam Adama: [washing up at the sink] Hey, Larry hates it when I come home bloody.
Joseph: [softly] Did you do it?
Sam: Can't hear you over the water.
Joseph: Is it done?
Sam: Yeah, it's done. Why do you think I'm washing up, huh? She was getting a little, uh... A-po-play-ktay in the car. Didn't want a fight in a closed space so... I ordered her out of the car, said we were having engine trouble. Told her to go inside this restaurant... Connie's place, remember? Used to go there in high school.
Joseph: I know Connie's place.
Sam: Yeah. Sent her inside, right? [sees the jacks made of bone on the table] Jacks, nice... and she notices right away that there's no one inside. Could've called ahead just in case. So... we're standing the front with the knives, tsfa-gi-dess... yeah.
Sam: She tries to get out back to the alley, but it's locked.
Joseph: You killed her in the kitchen?
Sam: Well, the stuff they spray at crime scenes can't tell the difference between animal blood and human blood.
Joseph: You really did it.
Sam: No, I'm messing with you to teach you a lesson about yanking me around like this.
Joseph: Wait... what?
Sam: Hmm?
Joseph: Are you... Was that sarcastic?
Sam: What do you think?
Joseph: I can't tell, Sam! Stop frakkin' around—did you kill her?
Sam: I don't turn off my phone, Yusef. I've got other people who call me, you know. So yeah, I got your like 60 text messages... I didn't kill her. Scared her a bit... but she's getting a lot of that right now.
Joseph: You were frakkin' with me.
Sam: Oh yeah, I'm frakkin' with you, because I knew you couldn't go through with it. Frakkin' Caprican in a Tauron body.
Amanda and Daniel jokingly discuss their appearance on Backtalk:
Amanda Graystone: Wanna watch TV? Graystones are on Sarno tonight.
Original Series definition: region of space or planet, see also Quadrant. Usually named after a Greek letter (space sectors), or a geographic formation on the surface of a planet (geographic sector, e.g. Sector Hekla on the planet Arcta")
Re-imagined Series definition: the process of using the FTL engines to make an near-instantaneous apparent faster-than-light transport of a ship from one point in space to another
Galactica 1980definition: When Hamilton asks Troy and Dillon for a dollar, Dillon looks the term up and then replies "No, I'm sorry, but we just used our last denomination of currency ourselves." (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
Galactica 1980definition:Moonstone looks this up after Colonel Jack Sydell mentions that he used to be an Eagle scout; there is subsequent humor over the term as it literally means "a large bird," and does not provide the definition of the Boy Scout level (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
Re-imagined Series definition: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training (TRS: "Fragged"); and basic flight training (TRS: "Miniseries")
1978-10-08
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