109

"Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down"; An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 9
Writer(s)	Jeff Vlaming
Story by
Director	Edward James Olmos
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	109
Nielsen Rating	2.1
US airdate	2005-03-04
CAN airdate	2005-03-12
UK airdate	2004-12-13
DVD release	20 September 2005 US; 28 March 2005 UK
Population	47,905 survivors ( 49)
Additional Info
	Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Related Information
	Official Summary
	R&D Skit – View
	Podcast Transcript – View
	[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}\|IMDb entry]]
	Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery	@ BW Media
	Promotional Materials
	Online Purchasing
	Amazon: Standard Definition \| High Definition
	iTunes: USA \| Canada \| UK

"Space Croppers"; An episode of the Galactica 1980 series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 9
Writer(s)	Robert L. McCullough
Story by
Director	Daniel Haller
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	1.9
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	1980-04-27
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate
DVD release
Population	survivors
Additional Info
	Full Credits
Episode Chronology
	[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}\|IMDb entry]]
	Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery	@ BW Media
	Promotional Materials
	Online Purchasing
	Amazon: Standard Definition \| High Definition
	iTunes: USA

"The Young Lords"; An episode of the Original Series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 9
Writer(s)	Donald Bellisario ; Frank Lupo ; Paul Playdon
Story by
Director	Donald Bellisario
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	50905
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	1978-11-19
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate
DVD release	2004-12-28
Population	survivors
Additional Info
	Full Credits
Episode Chronology
	[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}\|IMDb entry]]
	Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery	@ BW Media
	Promotional Materials
	Online Purchasing
	Amazon: Standard Definition \| High Definition
	iTunes: [{{{itunes}}} USA]

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After crash-landing on a Cylon-occupied planet, Starbuck joins forces with a group of young human renegades.

Summary

While on patrol in the Omega sector, Boomer and Starbuck are suddenly attacked by four Cylon Raiders of Canus patrol. When the remaining two Raiders attempt to flee, Starbuck pursues and destroys one; the other enters Starbuck's blind spot and causes severe damage to the undercarriage of Starbuck's Viper before Boomer causes the lone Raider to retreat.
Boomer visually inspects the damage to Starbuck's undercarriage, claiming that "everything back of your anti-burn baffles is gone"
On his scanner, Boomer locates Attila, a habitable Delta-class planet for Starbuck to land his crippled fighter on. Running low on fuel, Boomer returns to Galactica to bring back help.
In a Cylon-controlled garrison on the planet Attila, the two Vipers are tracked on scanner. When one Viper is seen crash landing on the planet's surface, garrison commander Specter, an IL-series Cylon, orders a squad of Centurions to capture the downed pilot.
Starbuck pulls himself from the wreckage of his viper, but his leg is badly injured. Meanwhile, the Cylon patrol looms closer and closer, approaching the Colonial Warrior through tall marsh reeds. Starbuck tries to evade the Cylons, but he collapses on the riverbank in exhaustion, only to be captured by the pursuing Centurions.
Specter informs Baltar (aboard his basestar) of the warrior's capture. Baltar, of course, seeks information about the location of the last remaining battlestar.

Returning to the garrison with Starbuck, the Cylon patrol is ambushed by a group of young fighters (children, really) who destroy the Cylons and rescue Starbuck, who passes out cold.
Aboard Galactica, an ill Adama is told the bad news about Starbuck. They decide that Apollo and Boomer will pilot a shuttle, so as not to attract attention to themselves, back to Attila to fetch Starbuck. They have 24 centares before the fleet is out of range.
On Attila, Starbuck is helped back to the children's campsite, inside a cave. The children turn out to all be siblings of the true owners of the garrison currently occupied by the Cylons. The children have been waging war against the "tin cans" ever since.
The eldest son, Kyle, is their de facto leader. Eldest daughter Miri is their moral leader and acting mother. The other children include Ariadne and brothers Nilz and Robus.
With his father away on the mission to rescue Starbuck, Boxey crawls into bed with his grandfather, with Boxey telling Adama a story about Mushieland as they drift off to sleep.
Kyle, who had previously lied to Starbuck that his father (Megan) was dead, has secretly conspired with Specter and the Cylons to trade Starbuck for his imprisoned father. Specter gives the good news to Megan, who reluctantly agrees to cooperate.
Lucifer expresses his distrust of Specter, who is an earlier IL-series model, to Baltar. Lucifer notes that Specter's garrison has ordered the most laser pumps and petro in the system, Baltar dismisses it as merely stockpiling. Specter lies while reporting to Baltar, concealing the fact that Starbuck has escaped.
Starbuck, pleading to Miri's and Kyle's better judgment, finally convinces them to not proceed with the trade. Instead, they put a dummy (wearing Starbuck's flight jacket) on a raft, and push it across the moat to the Cylons.
Specter and the Cylons, who had the same plan, push a likewise-fake dummy of Megan in a raft across the moat to the children. When Specter realizes that he has been deceived, the Cylons open fire on the children's position.
Kyle finally agrees to allow Starbuck to lead their forces, although Kyle will remain as the second-in-command. Together with their whole clan they compose a battle plan, and a rhyming poem to match, to attack the Cylons occupying their castle:

Through the tunnel, under the land/Starbuck and Miri creep hand on hand.

We swim the moat to the petro dump/And blow it up with a great big whump!

At the bridge, the youngest daughter/Drops tin cans into the water.

And around the castle, the son firstborn/Rides at a gallop and blows his horn.

We go up the steps to the castle floor/And sneak a peek through the secret door.

Although the dump is double-guarded/We'll sneak across when the guards are parted.

Robus sets one bomb and then the other/Leaving the rest to his older brother.

When all is ready across the moat/Kyle will sound the signal note.

At the bridge, the youngest daughter/Drops tin cans into the water.

Through all the confusion, noise, and bother/Starbuck and Miri rescue father.

As the plan comes to fruition, Specter files one final (bogus) report with Baltar. Immediately thereafter, the entire Cylon force departs Attila, as it is "too rusty for their circuits".
With the Cylon presence gone from their castle, Megan is reunited with his children.
Apollo and Boomer land the shuttle to bring Starbuck home to Galactica, arriving just in time to see Starbuck get a passionate farewell kiss from Miri.

Notes

This is a "Starbuck episode."
In the opening sequence just before Starbuck's viper is damaged, three incoming Raiders are seen on Boomer's scanner. However, there are four Raiders in the actual dogfight.
The report to Baltar from Specter was used in the direct-to-video release, Conquest of the Earth.
In the separate continuity tie-in comic book, Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck 1, the instructor Starbuck refers to is named Wyler.

Analysis

Kyle says of his siblings, "They watched the Tin Cans slaughter our people" and later, "Our fortress held out longer than any of the others when the Tin Cans attacked." Therefore, we may infer that Megan and his family were not the sole inhabitants of the planet, originally. However, since it seems all the other humans on Attila were exterminated, the family may well be the last inhabitants of their planet—since six blood relatives do not constitute a genetically viable population. The family uses the typical Star Trek line about "This planet is our home now" and refuses to leave when offered passage on Galactica. And no one from Galactica opts to stay on Attila; thus ensuring that the human presence on Attila will eventually die out.

At the end of the episode, Megan explains that "Our ancestors originally migrated here from the Colonies." Thus the Colonials do not look to Megan and his family for clues about Earth.

More generally, in Experiment in Terra, Adama theorizes that the humans they have encountered during their flight are probably offshoots of the Thirteenth Tribe, who split off from the Tribe during that ancient journey. Since the humans they have encountered are no more technologically advanced than the Colonials (often less), that may be a reason why Adama basically ignores them and keeps looking for Earth—since he hopes and believes that Earth would be a strong ally against the Cylons. Realistically, it seems silly and/or callous that Adama doesn't:

try to work with these offshoot colonies for mutual aid or even resupply
allow the Colonials the choice of settling on one of the human-populated worlds
spend any time whatsoever researching the legends or history of these offshoot humans for clues about Earth
in the case of Terra, for example, at least warn his fellow human beings that they may encounter a war fleet of fantastically advanced hostile robots bent on the destruction of the life form known as man.

One possible motive why the Colonials never show much interest in the human worlds they encounter along their journey: the humans aren't advanced enough.

Questions

Why do the Cylons so ruthlessly pursue Galactica as the "last remnants of humanity" when, in reality, humans clearly exist in abundance everywhere they go? Nearly every episode has them encountering some forgotten "fringe colony" teeming with humanity, yet the Cylons turn a blind eye toward them and myopically follow Galactica.
When Colonials encounter a planet such as Attila (specifically, a planet populated with humans), why don't they become inquisitive about the human inhabitants? In other words, why don't they assume that they're getting closer to Earth? After all, they left their devastated home worlds (Saga of a Star World), then went through a vast, unknown magnetic void (Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I), and have since emerged into what is effectively "uncharted space". So when they find humans, shouldn't they be a little more inquisitive (or, at least, excited?) rather than dismiss them as an unimportant fringe colony? (Analysis)
How old are Specter and Lucifer?
Wouldn't the Centurions under his command file reports as well, thus contradicting everything Specter reported?

Noteworthy Dialogue

Starbuck recalls the words of an old flight instructor:

Starbuck: A Viper pilot only flies three fighters–the one he trains in, the one he escapes from, and the one he dies in.

Boomer consoles his friend, Starbuck, whose Viper is damaged:

Boomer: I'll be back with a clean uniform before you know it.

Starbuck is captured and carried by Centurions:

Centurion: These humanoids are not well constructed. They damage easily.

Starbuck: At least we don't rust.

Centurion: Silence.

Lucifer mutters a familiar expletive when Specter's blatant flattery appears to work on Baltar:

Lucifer: Oh, felgercarb...

Specter expresses his disbelief as Megan's children attack the Cylon held castle:

Specter: Oh, no! Not again.

Centurion: The petro dump is exploding.

Specter: I know the petro dump is exploding!

Baltar responds favorably to Specter's felgercarb, much to Lucifer's chagrin:

Baltar: Excellent idea. Scorched planet policy. You're a wonder, Specter.

Boomer is reminded of his promise of a clean uniform:

Starbuck: About time you showed up. Got the clean uniform?

Boomer: Wh--? The clean--?

Starbuck talks to Miri before leaving:

Starbuck: Ah, yes, Miri, you could have broken half the hearts on the Galactica, including mine. (kisses Miri)

Boomer: I, um... I don't know how he does it.

Apollo: Neither do I. Starbuck, we have to go... Starbuck!

Deleted Scenes

See: The deleted scenes from this episode.

Guest Stars

Charles Bloom as Kyle
Bruce Glover as Megan
Audrey Landers as Miri
Brigitte Muller as Ariadne
Jonathan B. Woodward as Robus
Adam Mann as Nilz
Murray Matheson as Specter (voice, uncredited)

Warning: Default sort key "Young Lords, The" overrides earlier default sort key "109".

After a Cylon attack that destroys two of the Galactican Fleet's Agro ships, Troy and Dillon are sent to Earth to set up an agricultural colony. In Southern California, they befriend a local Hispanic farmer who is struggling to keep his farm in the face of drought and the influence of his neighbor, a powerful rancher who controls the access to water for irrigation.

Summary

Act 1

On a Cylon basestar, positioned not far away from Earth, the Imperious Leader is addressing a Centurion.

He declares a new strategy in the war on the humans, ordering the targeting of Galactican Fleet's agricultural ships. The Imperious Leader (stock footage is used, with Dennis Haysbert's voice overdubbed for the Imperious Leader) hopes that the Colonials will have no choice but to flee to Earth for food and, as such, will lead the Cylon fleet there as well.

Dozens of Cylon raiders are immediately launched to attack Galactican Fleet, which they are able to detect their electro-magnetic transmissions. They begin carrying out their order for agricultural ship destruction.

On Galactica, Commander Adama calls a red alert. Vipers are launched.

After breaking through the perimeter of Vipers guarding the fleet, the Raiders succeed in destroying two of the Agroships, all of which Adama and Doctor Zee watch from Zee's chamber.

Adama and Zee discuss the attack. They discuss why the agricultural ships were attacked and why the Cylons haven't come in for the final attack. They immediately surmise that the Cylons feel that the Fleet is their only link to Earth, and they're trying to force their hand by bringing the Fleet to Earth, inevitably leading the Cylons to the last outpost of humanity.

Zee notes that Lieutenant Dante's men have been most successful in keeping the Cylons from Troy and Dillon during the Warriors' constant trips to and from Earth. Troy and Dillon are in position on Earth and Adama believes they are their only hope of replenishing their food sources.

Boomer informs Adama that Troy and Dillon are ready to launch, as are the decoy squadron. Adama is extremely happy that they are about to establish their first colony on Earth.

They are interrupted by an unidentified captain who complains that D Squadron, nicknamed the Daggits. Boomer points out that there aren't many people who would volunteer to bring the fight to the Cylons, which Adama supports, saying that their mission requires a certain "devil-may-care attitude". However, the captain reports that they have been modifying their Vipers by removing the limiters from the turbochargers, which concerns Adama.

Troy, Dillon, and D Squadron launches. Troy and Dillon head to Earth while D Squadron engages the Cylons. Having successfully entered the Solar System undetected, Dillon tells Troy of his optimism of setting up a Galactican colony on Earth.

After landing in the Alonzo's farm field and hiding their ships, they run across a scarecrow, believing it to be an Earthling, Hector Alonzo. However, as they round to face it, Troy posits that it might be either some primitive burial symbol or a crude attempt at artistic expression. They head toward the Alonzo's home.

Gloria Alonzo, Hector's teenage daughter, gives a plate to her mother, Louise Alonzo. Gloria asks why her father is depressed and expresses her optimism that someone will answer his ad. Louise replies that Hector feels foolish for running the ad, believing that everyone in town will see it and believe he's giving up. Gloria replies that he's hanging on; Louise blames herself for talking him into the ad. Gloria consoles her mother, telling her that Hector cannot hold his emotions bottled up. They hug after she asks if Hector realizes that they know what's happening to him, even Chris Alonzo.

Louise approaches her husband and asks if he'd like to go outside. He silently puts his arm around her and proceeds to go on the porch with his wife. On the porch, he reveals that it'll kill him to sell his land, particularly to John Steadman. Hector stops her from saying "don't worry," telling her to save it for the children. However, she tells them that they already know.

Chris is next to his bed praying to God for help for his parents, realizing that his parents work hard for him and his sister and that they may have to sell because they can't afford it. He pleads with God to send people to help his dad.

Dillon and Troy approach the Alonzos outside and, after noting that they didn't come in a vehicle, inquire about the ad for help on the farm.

That morning, Troy and Dillon talk to Hector about the ad, which he offers to sell half-interest in his farm and requires farm hands. Hector warns them that they may be throwing their money away, since they don't have enough water to support their farm. The problem stems from two sources: the worst drought in years and the irrigation quota. He tells them that the water is controlled by Steadman of the Growers Association, who makes it impossible for small farmers like him to succeed.

Gloria comes over and doles out food to Dillon, who initially refuses. However, Dillon concedes to the obviously smitten Gloria, who says she's cooked the food herself. Louise notes that they're lucky to eat meat twice a week.

Hector tells Troy that Steadman has dammed up the water supply. Dillon asks if he complained to the association, but he notes that the dam is on Steadman's property and Steadman has a lot of say on the association. Dillon notes that the inequity of the situation. Hector dejectedly replies that if he came to talk about fair, he came to the wrong place.

Troy asks to look at the dam. Louise pipes up, saying that Steadman treats trespassers harshly. Dillon replies that he doesn't think Steadman would mind meeting his neighbors.

Upon visiting Steadman's property, Troy notes that it is very green. Hector notes that it's "about the same color as his money," noting that his wealth is the reason he has clout with the association. He further adds, much to Troy and Dillon's confusion, Steadman's negative attitude of Hispanics, who he views as peasants.

On cue, Steadman arrives with two of his lackeys, Maze and Barrett. Steadman greets Hector and then notes that his people have orders to eliminate any "critters that don't belong here, and that includes coyotes, dogs and trespassers." Hector replies that he thought Steadman would like to meet his new neighbors; Steadman assumes that he's sold the property without giving him first bid, but Hector informs him that Troy and Dillon are his new partners.

Troy points out the dam. Steadman laughs and tells him that what he does on his property is his business, but he haughitly "corrects" himself and notes that it is controlled by the association. He says that since the drought, there are strict allotments made for the water. Troy notes that they're interested in the association, the local farmers, and the quota system. Steadman replies that he too works under the quota, adding that "the man with the biggest spread and the biggest overhead is gonna get the largest quota". He assures them that it works out "proportionally" for everyone concerned.

Troy attempts to argue that "farmers are brothers of a kind," but Steadman deflects this point and notes that they're standing on private property and would appreciate it if they leave.

As they leave, one of the Steadman's men notes that Hector's kind is "always trying to get somethin', because of what they are, instead of working for it". Steadman assures the boys that they'll take care of it in "our own good time".

Act 2

Later, Troy and Dillon go with Hector and Chris to buy seed. Hector tells them he would understand if they would pull out upon seeing the problems he faces. Hector finds it odd that his new partners tell him not to worry, particularly when faced with the water situation, including their purchasing of seed he thinks will not grow in such weather. He also points out that beans, being legumes, require cobalt and molybdenum in order to grow. His soil does not have these elements in great enough supply to support beans, but the Warriors again tell him not to worry assuring him that they have a special treatment process. He concedes that all they can do is give it a try.

Maze and Barrett believe that Hector's got them conned and decides to "deal with that situation". They enter their Ford pickup truck.

As they pass Hector's truck on the two-lane road, Maze throws a cigar into the back of the truck. It begins to burn at the burlap. Maze then begins heckling Hector.

Dillon asks Hector why he puts up with the heckling. Hector replies that while it bothers his family, he's gotten over it.

Troy smells something burning. Chris notes that the truck is on fire and they pull over and stop. They take out the sacks of seed, but it's too late for them. Hector ruefully notes that he's lost crops before, but never so quickly.

Dillon finds the cigar in the truck bed. Hector believes that the cigar belonged to "Old Maze," as he is a cigar aficionado.

Hector explains to the Warriors that the reason why Steadman's men destroyed their supplies was because of their association with a Latino. Chris mentions that he doesn't understand their hatred. Hector explains it has to do with prejudice and racism. Dillon tells them he's getting angry; Troy replies that he was getting angry five centons ago.

At Steadman Acres, Steadman convinces Maze to ride Satan, telling him that anyone who can ride the wild horse will win $1,000. Maze states that the amount won't even cover medical expenses, to which Steadman replies that he'll take care of them.

As Steadman and Barrett enjoy the show, which ends as Satan dumps Maze into a water trough.

Troy and Dillon arrive at Steadman Acres to confront Steadman, and demand compensation for the burned seed. Steadman asks his employees if their claim is true; Barrett mocking chastises Maze, telling him that he should use ashtrays. Steadman, who claims that the incident wasn't one of malice, decides to have a good play with his employees, deciding to take the payment out of the henchmen's wages for the supplies lost.

Steadman offers to help them with anything else they may have forgotten at the store, but Troy replies that they'll be satisfied with what they had. He can't resist the opportunity to put one over on Troy and Dillon, and, knowing they are new, tells them about his offer regarding Satan. Claiming that it's the "best horse flesh" in the county, Steadman asks if Hector has a horse at his place, knowing full well that he doesn't. He tells them that it's an acquisition for them to think about. When asked on the cost, Steadman replies that Satan will have to choose his owner. He then tells them about his offer: anyone who can ride him, owns him, plus $1000 to boot.

Dillon and Troy accept the offer, Dillon notes that he seems friendly enough when spoken to. Troy gives the buck to Dillon, noting his affinity for such situations.

Steadman mockingly comments to Barrett and Maze about not wanting to see Hector go under, which Maze playfully replies that Steadman's offer is a charitable one.

After holding the animal by the reins, Dillon notes that the animal seems upset. Troy replies that "I would be too if I had Earthlings climbing all over my back".

The horse begins resisting. Dillon uses his wrist computron to determine that Satan has disturbed brain wave patterns. Troy surmises that the animal is mistreated. Dillon notes that the animal didn't seem different to what was on Caprica and gives the creature a burst of alpha waves.

The horse is now calm, much to the astonishment of Steadman and his workers. Dillon rides the horse successfully. Steadman protests that he shouldn't be able to do that and it's a trick of some kind. Troy notes that Dillon seems to have a way with animals.

Steadman throws his hat on the ground, vociferously claiming that the horse can't be ridden. Dillon rides up, with the horse crushing the hat under-hoof, and says that they owe them $1,000 and want the horse delivered to Alonzo's ranch. A red-faced Steadman tells his boys to get the Warriors their things.

Dillon presents the horse to Gloria, noting that Satan would like her over Mr. Steadman. Gloria asks Dillon if he has a girlfriend. Unfamiliar with the term, he asks her why, to which she replies that she thinks he's cute. She walks away, allowing him to look up the term. Chris, who has the horse's reins, tells Dillon that he's got trouble.

Maze and Barrett arrive with their seed. Much to their chagrin, they find that the seed is not heavy for Troy or Dillon, who they believed would lose their balance over the heavy seed. Troy says he could handle another bag, which he catches with one hand.

Barrett notices Satan and their new owners, Gloria and Hector. He comments that the horse is nice, but tells her "good luck watering it". Gloria claims they have enough water for Satan, to which he replies that this won't be the case when Steadman cuts off the irrigation quota for them.

Dillon notes that they'll complain to the Growers Association, which is a prospect the lackeys laugh at. Hector notes that it'll be months before they get a hearing.

Troy walks away, having been summoned by Commander Adama. He tells Adama of the situation. Adama notes that with the food gone, it is imperative that they complete the project. He notes that while they have seedlings, they need water.

Chris comes up behind Troy, who confers with Adama. Zee orders that they plant the seedlings, for he'll be able to provide the water. He orders that the ground must be prepared no later than tonight.

Chris asks who Troy was talking to with that "watch" of his. Troy replies that he was going over some things in his head; Chris notes his father's belief that people who talk to themselves are trouble.

Dillon arrives and Chris is sent away to help the others. Troy notifies Dillon that they need to begin planting as soon as possible.

Hector is having problems getting farm hands; no one within 50 miles that he knows will help them. Money isn't the problem, but the farmers fear Steadman. He notes that the time table is unrealistic; it'll take one to two weeks to sow and plant the ground. Troy tells Hector that he'll get them help.

Jamie Hamilton arrives with the Super Scouts. Hector doesn't believe what he is seeing, but Hamilton assures him that they're a specialized branch of the scouts with a lot of agricultural training.

Lancer assure Hector that they're a lot tougher and stronger than they look. Chris asks how far they can throw a ball; Lancer is about to reply a good 3000 feet, until he is stopped by Troy.

Troy asks where the children can sleep, Hector points out a barn where they can stay.

Hamilton later asks Troy for a situation report. Troy tells her that he'll explain later. Hector tells them to bring their belongings inside and that they'll soon have dinner.

A team of agricultural experts dressed in Earthling farmer clothing enters the anti-gravity ship. Adama tells them that they will remain there to help the farm and form a colony, should the rain-making process be effective.

Zee explains that the process is simple. The mist the ship creates upon entering Earth's atmosphere will create clouds and, using their technology, will create precipitation. They'll seed the clouds with super-cooled carbon dioxide and do a bunch of other mumbojumbo.

Steadman meets with his henchmen, who inform him that Alonzo is looking for help and is calling everyone in the valley. He's sure that the two "yokels" (Troy and Dillon) are somehow involved in Alonzo's determination.

That night, under cover of darkness, Troy and Dillon begin plowing the fields with their lasers. Steadman drives up and sees this.

Starla inquires about the nutrient monitors. Lancer asks how they can grow plants without computers. The Super Scouts respond incredulously to Hamilton's claim that Earthlings plant things naturally.

Troy and Dillon use their superhuman jumping ability to rapidly seed Alonso's fields. Steadman watches from a distance, noting that they are jumping 50 feet in the air.

Act 3

Agricultural experts from the Fleet are outfitted with local garb

The anti-gravity ship makes its descent towards the valley. Zee tells Adama that carbon dioxide emissions are proceeding as scheduled. The next pass over the clouds will make it rain.

A rain storm begins, first with lightning and thunder, which Troy, Dillon, and Hamilton watch occur. It begins to rain, much to Steadman's surprise.

Zee responds to Adama's question regarding their food supply reserves. He informs Adama that with the special nutrients dispersing with the rain, the crops will grow faster and become plentiful within a few Earth hours.

Awakened by the lightning and thunder, Chris runs to the window of his room. He is surprised when he sees a flying saucer, actually Dr. Zee's antigrav ship, begin landing beyond the mountains.

The crops shoot up overnight.

The next morning, Steadman goes to the Grower's Association, blaming the problems of the valley on Hector Alonzo. Tom Rogers asks how Hector can cause a threat. He then dissolves into frantic revelations of jumping aliens and flying saucers at Alonzo's place, giving a call to arms for the townsfolk to get the sheriff and law enforcement involved.

Hector and his wife react to the bountiful crop they now have. Also present are agricultural experts from Galactican Fleet, who masquerade as agricultural students studying advanced, experimental farming techniques. Troy assures Hector that they'll work on their share of the farm and will be of no burden.

Steadman and his cronies arrive. Steadman makes his accusations. The police subsequently arrive, lead by the Sheriff and Mr. Rogers. They follow up on Steadman's claim of Alonzo's harboring of illegal aliens.

Hamilton presents herself as a reporter with United Broadcasting Company and she shows them her identification.

Steadman tells them to check out the identification of the others, but Roger himself asks Steadman for ID. Steadman claims that he never carries any on his person, since everyone knows who he is. The scouts, however, point out that they don't know who he is; Lancer adds that he doesn't want to know Steadman at all.

Steadman claims to the police that he saw them arrive last night. After Hamilton pretends to be interested in Steadman's story, Steadman reveals that he saw a ship. It is revealed through more direct questioning that the ship was an UFO. Once Steadman spills what he saw, Hamilton notes that she should call her station and get a crew on the story right away. However, Rogers says that it isn't necessary to call them. The sheriff agrees, saying they should leave Alonzo and his friends alone. Rogers also goes on to say that they've been having second thoughts about the water situation.

Rogers says that he's calling an emergency meeting, where he pledges that the dam won't be there by tomorrow morning.

Steadman claims that everything he's said is the truth. He points out that Dillon was able to ride Satan, a feat that he claims no human could do. However, on cue, he is proven wrong when Chris rides Satan within plain sight.

Rogers laughs at Steadman, telling him not to take any wooden saucers now.

Rogers has his emergency meeting and, despite the loud protestations of Steadman, have the dam removed in addition to other strictures. Overwhelmingly, Rogers proposition is supported. Hamilton is pleased when Steadman storms out in defeat.

Gloria is sad to see Dillon go. She asks if he'll come by again, which he replies that, as their friends are there, of course they will. She kisses him on the cheek and runs off.

Louise tells Dillon her belief that Gloria has a crush on him; Chris tells him not to worry, since she'll grow out of it.

Hector thanks the Warriors and Hamilton for everything they've done. Troy replies that it is they who should thank him. Hector assures them that Troy's people will be taken care of like they were members of his own family.

Troy and Dillon ride off in their turbines, talking about how beautiful the place was—and Gloria. They fly off into the sky.

Notes

Episodic Notes

The final series episode, "The Return of Starbuck" was being filmed around the same time as this episode.
"Space Croppers" is the final episode of the series to include the central cast outside of Adama and Doctor Zee.
The voice of the Imperious Leader is furnished by actor Dennis Haysbert from 24 fame; Patrick Macnee typically did the voice work for the Imperious Leader, and may have not been available (or offered, due to budget constraints) to reprise the role. It should be noted that Haysbert was also working on Larson's Buck Rogers in the 25th Century series, also being filmed around this time.
Whether the voice change was intentional or a byproduct of casting, it does leave the impression that there is a new Imperious Leader in place at the time of the 1980 series.
An early draft of "Space Croppers" was entitled "Harvest Home." In some guides, this episode is sometimes erroneously called that name.
This episode was sent out on satellite only twenty minutes before air time, which shows just how rushed the series was.
Troy claims the horses weren't much different from what was on Caprica. However, Troy lived in a major city on Caprica before the Cylon holocaust (Serena's son, then called Boxey). It is unclear how much Troy could recall about Caprican horses after fleeing the planet at a young age and living aboard the Fleet nearly his entire life.
There is an episode of Lost In Space which is also named The Space Croppers. It involves Dr. Smith's marriage to a space cropper named Sybilla, who grows man-eating plants.

Cinematic Notes

The exteriors was filmed at Disney's Golden Oak Ranch in rural Los Angeles county, a favorite location for Galactica 1980.
Ana Alicia (Gloria) also played Aurora in the Battlestar Galactica episode "Take the Celestra," which was, like "Space Croppers," the second to last episode of that series.
The Daggit Squadron is introduced in this episode.
The Viper pilots wear a new style of helmets. These were built from motorcycle helmets for better protection of the actors when riding the turbocycles during the series; they would only be used for this episode, and come in two distinct colors: the ochre-beige to mirror the Original Series helmets, and bronze as worn by the D Squadron pilots.
The voices of the Cylons differ for both the Imperious Leader and the Centurion.
Adama and Dr. Zee's extended conversation about rain, precipitation, etc., is yet another example of the educational dialogue required by the network.
The license plate on Steadman's car is 956 QHK.
The laser pistols used by Dillon and Troy to prepare the ground for planting are not Colonial pistols, but those of the Eastern Alliance. It should be noted that the Eastern Alliance pistols are re-uses of the Earth Defense Directorate from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Analysis

"Space Croppers" continues the storyline of Galactica's arrival at Earth, suggesting that the Cylons are now very close to finding out the location of the planet, and establishing the first colony from the Fleet on the Earth.
In fact, the opening battle apparently takes place near Saturn in our solar system since the planet is seen in the background, courtesy of reused Agro Ship footage from the 1972 film Silent Running.
If the series had continued, a conflict at Earth between the Colonials and the Cylons would have seemed to be a logical next step for the storyline.
Unbelievably, the Alonzo family accepts the existence of aliens from another world without any question.

Flubs and Continuity Errors

Adama states that two agro ships have been destroyed in the Cylon attack, yet after the events of "The Magnificent Warriors" there was only one agro ship left.^[1] This may imply that two additional ships were later built or acquired somehow during the 30 year journey.
The Gemini freighter is seen during the Cylon attack. It was destroyed in The Super Scouts Part 1.
A Cylon tanker is also seen in the fleet during the attack.

Noteworthy Dialogue

The Imperious Leader orders an attack on Galactican Fleet's agricultural ships:

Imperious Leader: I'm growing impatient waiting for Galactican fleet to lead us to the last outpost of humanity. Launch a full-scale attack on their agricultural ships. We must destroy their food supply, thereby forcing them to lead us to Earth.

Centurion: By your command.

Official Statements

Chris Bunch discusses the episode in his interview with Susan Paxton:

Chris Bunch: [The episode] aired simply because Glen [Larson] has the wonderful habit of rolling paper into the typewriter, whackin’ away, and sooner or later coming up with a plot. In this case, he came up with a plot about page 56. So he simply wrote on and at page 62 typed END OF PART ONE. The turkey ran three parts before he finished, and was shown with Bob [McCullough]’s script in the middle.^[2]

Galactica 1980 story editor Chris Bunch on this episode:

Q: How far in advance were the episodes filmed?

Bunch: Space Croppers went out on satellite to New York twenty minutes before air time. This was the only freelance script or even staff script that was filmed because there were problems, like Larson was stuck on an episode or couldn't get the Lear Jet to pick him up in Hawaii or whatever.

When Larson is worried about a show, or trying to make it work, he writes every script. Every goddamned script. So there was a lotta fallout with scripts being commissioned and abandoned right and left and down the center.^[3]

Guest Stars

Ned Romero as Hector Alonzo
Dana Elcar as Steadman
Ana Alicia as Gloria Alonzo
Anna Navarro as Louise Alonzo
Bill Cort as Trent
Bill McKinney as Barrett
Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Colonel Boomer
Booth Colman as Rogers
Joaquin Garay III as Chris Alonzo
Andy Jarrell as Maze
Phil Levien as Dante
Dennis Haysbert as Imperious Leader (voice, credited as "The Creature")
- Uncredited in his appearance as an unnamed D Squadron Viper pilot.
John Dantona as Foley
Gordon Haight as Deacon
Stefan Haves as Channon
Lance Mugleston as Pilot
Michael Brick as Super Scout
Ronnie Densford as Super Scout
Mark Everett as Super Scout
Georgi Irene as Super Scout
Tracy Justrich as Super Scout
Lindsay Kennedy as Super Scout
David Larson as Super Scout
Eric Larson as Super Scout
Michelle Larson as Super Scout
Kenneth Tobey as Sheriff (uncredited)
Uncredited as Maintenance Captain

References

↑ It should be noted that re-use of the footage from both Silent Running and "The Magnificent Warriors" play a large part in cost saving measures for this episode.
↑ Paxton, Susan J.. Battlestar Zone Interview: Chris Bunch (backup available on Archive.org) (in ). Retrieved on 11 August 2007.
↑ Galactic Sci-Fi Television Series Revisited. Alpha Control Press, 1995.

Colonel Tigh's world is turned upside down when his wife arrives on Galactica—but is she all she claims to be?

Summary

Laura Roslin comes aboard Galactica as Adama receives a report that Baltar’s Cylon detector is operational.
Unable to shake off Conoy’s words to her ^{(TRS: "Flesh and Bone")}, she wants Adama to take the test first; he reluctantly agrees.
When a lone Cylon Raider shows up, Lee Adama is ordered to intercept, and Tigh is stunned to learn Adama is off-ship.
The Raider is crippled, and a Raptor is dispatched to gather intel on it, particularly how its FTL drive operates.
Adama returns to Galactica on a Raptor with a further shock for Tigh: his wife, Ellen.
Roslin calls Baltar to check on the progress of Adama’s Cylon test – only to find Adama has cancelled so that a woman called “Ellen” can be tested. Roslin orders Baltar to restart Adama’s test immediately.
Roslin summons Tigh to Colonial One, reveals her suspicions regarding Adama, and challenges a defensive Tigh over Adama’s behavior in leaving Galactica unannounced.
Tigh takes the wind out of Roslin’s sails when he states Adama was off-ship so he could collect Tigh’s missing wife.
After Tigh has left her office, Roslin calls Baltar and orders him to stop Adama’s test and resume Ellen’s.
Later, at a dinner in Adama’s quarters, Ellen behaves with a mixture of her old self – trying to play footsie with Lee Adama under the table, and trying to flirt with him over the table – and a strange curiosity concerning Earth.
Adama deflects her probing by asking how it could be that she got aboard a ship, the Rising Star, without anyone having any knowledge of her or of treating her during her alleged 3 weeks of being unconscious.
Ellen simply shrugs off the questions in her apparently drunken state and breaks up the party with her “drunken” playing.
As she and her husband return to their quarters, they encounter Baltar, with whom she openly flirts, both annoying Tigh and raising Six’s curiosity.
After Baltar has departed, Ellen deflects her husband’s anger at her behavior by claiming Adama wants her, then dragging Tigh after Baltar.
In Baltar’s lab, a row is brewing over the various tests that should have been carried out; things become more complicated when Tigh and his wife arrive, and the disagreements and suspicions become a three-way argument, which is broken up when Adama, Lee and Tigh are summoned to CIC.
The Cylon Raider has stopped behaving oddly, and is on a collision course for Galactica. Alert Fighters are dispatched at Tigh’s order, and the Raider is destroyed.
Later, back in Baltar’s lab, Ellen’s test results come through and are apparently green. Baltar, however, simply states to Six that having everything turn up green makes life a lot easier.

On Caprica

Helo and Valerii are trying to avoid the Cylons by running through the storm drains under a city.
Valerii has a plan—she claims to have overheard the Cylons discussing a huge base at Delphi, she believes they can steal a ship from there and get off the planet.
Doral and Six are definitely affected by the fact that even though Valerii has run off, she is experiencing emotions they have never had—as is Helo.

Notes

The script was originally called "Secrets and Lies".
Three days have passed since the events of "Flesh and Bone".
There are now 47,905 survivors in the Fleet. A loss of 49 since "Flesh and Bone". Compared to other casualty figures in the first season, this is unusually high for a three-day period.
Colonel Tigh's drinking problem became drastically worse because of his wife's infidelity and their estrangement.
Keikeya's relationship with Dualla is picking up, despite his attempts to pump her for information.
Baltar apparently has no intention of being honest about the results of his Cylon tests.
Galactica has a forward observation lounge that has become a much sought-after trysting-place, with individuals and couples rotated through it at regular intervals.
The Cylons have established a major base at Delphi, another major city on Caprica.
The opera music that Baltar is listening to in his lab while talking to and getting intimate with Number Six is titled "Battlestar Operatica," and was written and composed by Bear McCreary. It is sung in Italian, and directly relates to Baltar's situation. The lyrics translate: "Woe upon your Cylon heart / There's a toaster in your head/ And it wears high heels / Number Six calls to you / The Cylon Detector beckons / Your girlfriend is a toaster / Woe upon your Cylon heart / Alas, disgrace! Alas, sadness and misery! / The toaster has a pretty dress / Red like its glowing spine / Number Six whispers / By your command" (translation given in the liner notes for the Season 1 soundtrack, reposted on this page, with permission).
Edward James Olmos, who portrays William Adama, also directed this episode. He was originally to direct "Flesh and Bone" but could not do so due to scheduling conflicts.
Boomer does not appear in this episode.

Analysis

Continuing from the previous episode, Caprica-Sharon now seems to be honestly trying to lead Helo away from the Cylons and truly escape.
This is the first mention of the city of Delphi and Helo's hostile reaction to the news of its being used as a Cylon hub. Plausibly the emotional reaction is due to Delphi being a spiritual center for the Twelve Colonies.
The test apparently takes 11 hours to generate results (although Boomer’s result in "Flesh and Bone" was obtained in far less time than this – "a couple of minutes," according to Baltar, and about 60 seconds of screen-time).
- Baltar claims in "Resistance" that he allowed Boomer to believe she was human "for [his] own purposes". Does he have the ability to determine other Cylon infiltrators in a much shorter time frame than he chooses to admit in this episode? Perhaps he was just going through the math in his head - but then why the half-serious jokes about suicide as he contemplates the task?
- Perhaps a "positive" result with a real Cylon takes much less time, but it takes 11 hours to be definitely sure someone isn't a Cylon.
- There was a scene change between Baltar agreeing to Sharon's test and Baltar and Sharon getting the final results. It is possible that Baltar conducted the bulk of the test in the intervening time, and the audience only saw him conduct the final phase of the test after the bulk of the eleven-hour process was completed off-screen.
Is it possible that the Cylon Raider is there to transmit instructions to other Cylons within the Fleet (as later in "Final Cut")?
- In a deleted scene, it is mentioned that they noticed a high-frequency burst which could have been a Cylon within the Fleet sending out a signal, but couldn't track which ship it came from.

Questions

Answered Questions

For answers to the questions in this section, click here.

Is Ellen Tigh a Cylon?
What is Baltar hoping to gain from keeping the test results secret?

Unanswered Questions

None yet.

Official Statements

"'Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down' was originally called 'Secrets and Lies', or 'Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down' by Jeff Vlaming. And when I saw those titles on the script, I knew we had to go with 'Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down'. It was too good. Too good a title to let lie on the cutting room floor."—Ronald D. Moore podcast
"'Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down' began life as a very different episode than it ultimately came out to be. It was originally going to be a riff on 'Crimson Tide'."—Ronald D. Moore podcast
"It did feel right that, perhaps, there was one place; that perhaps there was one area of the ship, which accepted a window or a port to look out and that it would be a fairly confined space for the crew on these very long, deep space missions that probably lasted months, if not years. And that there might be a place where they can go to and just stargaze. And in this situation, it seemed like there would be a lot of people lining up to try and look out at the stars, you know, a break from the monotony of staring at metal walls."—Ronald D. Moore podcast, talking about the observation area of the Galactica
"The long and the short of it was that we had just come out of a very heavy, very dark, very disturbing episode. And the very next episode was supposed to be 'Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down' which was all about a very disturbing, very dark, very (sort of) unhappy episode where our two—two of our lead characters started pointing guns at one another. So there came a point when I just decided, well, let's just punt. Let's not do the dark and brooding episode. Let's try a different tone. Let's see if the show can withstand something lighter. Let's try something that's closer to a comedy, or as close to a comedy as Galactica can withstand."—Ronald D. Moore podcast

Noteworthy Dialogue

As Commamder William Adama and Laura Roslin talk in CIC:

Wiliam Adama: Madam President, we are the proud owners of the universe's first bona fide Cylon detector.

Laura Roslin: Well, that is great news. So... when do we begin?

Adama: Doctor Baltar would like to start widespread testing as soon as possible, but there are some serious limitations, because he can only do one person at a time and verification takes hours.

Roslin: So, who's going to go first?

Adama: [thinking for a second] The test... right. I think people in sensitive positions should go first.

Roslin: I completely agree. How about you?

Adama: Excuse me?

Laura Roslin: If you're a Cylon, I'd like to know.

Commander Adama: If I'm a Cylon, you're really screwed.

[Adama and Roslin both start laughing.]

Laura Roslin: Seriously, I do think you should go first. Show everyone in the fleet that they can trust the people at the top.

Commander Adama: Well then, maybe YOU should go first. [silence] All right... I'll go first.

As William Adama, Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, Lee Adama, and Laura Roslin are eating dinner:

Ellen Tigh: So Bill, now the question on everyone's mind—and, I do mean everyone—is "Where's Earth?" and "When are we going to get there?"

William Adama: Yeah... that's classified information.

Ellen: Oh, there's that word again!

Saul Tigh: Ellen, leave the man alone.

Tigh: Come on! If there aren't privileges to being an XO's wife, then what's the point? I mean, Bill, we're all family here, so come on!

Laura Roslin: The need for secrecy is paramount, Ellen. Oh, I'm sorry. Perhaps you don't know that the Cylons look like us now.

Ellen: Oh... that. Yes. Yes, I knew that.

Roslin: It's recent news. Most people just found out a few days ago.

Ellen: [thinking] A thing like that would travel fast.

Adama: Any one of us could be a Cylon.

[The entire table goes silent.]

Ellen Tigh: BOO!

[Everyone jumps in their seats, while Ellen and Saul start laughing.]

"End of Line" An episode of the Caprica Series

Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 9
Writer(s)	Michael Taylor
Story by
Director	Roxann Dawson
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	109
Nielsen Rating	0.5^[1]
US airdate	March 26, 2010
CAN airdate
UK airdate
DVD release
Population	{{{population}}} survivors
Additional Info	Season 1.0 / Mid-Season Finale
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Ghosts in the Machine	End of Line	Unvanquished
Related Information
Official Summary
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[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}\|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials

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When the demand for Cylon production is dramatically changed, Daniel Graystone and the Zoe avatar are forced to take drastic actions. Barnabas Greeley tests Lacy Rand's allegiance to the Soldiers of the One. Amanda Graystone's mental health is pushed to the brink. Joseph Adama's quest to find his daughter in V-World comes to an end.

Summary