Daybreak, Part I

"Daybreak, Part I" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 4, Episode 19
Writer(s)	Ronald D. Moore
Story by
Director	Michael Rymer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	421
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	March 13, 2009
CAN airdate	Early 2009
UK airdate	Early 2009
DVD release
Population	39,516 survivors ( 5)
Additional Info
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Islanded In a Stream of Stars	Daybreak, Part I	Daybreak, Part II
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
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Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
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Overview

Galactica begins to be stripped of parts, and Adama calls for volunteers for a final mission.

Summary

Act 1

In Caprica City

• The Act opens with a montage, including a galaxy, a bird trapped in a skylight, water falling into a pool, and light over a planet. A shot of a city can be seen, with the words "Caprica City - Before the Fall".
• Bill Adama is conversing with another gentleman in a shaded room. Adama talks about his combat experience, commanding billions of cubits of men and materials, but doesn't want to go through with something. The man responds that he's only asking for one hour of his time, and that "sometimes there are things that you gotta do."
• Across the city, Dr. Gaius Baltar is speaking with Caprica-Six in a limo, talking briefly about having things done for you as opposed to being independent. Baltar and Caprica-Six begin fooling around in the limo, when a call comes through. Baltar is immediately shaken, he apologizes, and asks the other person to wait for him. The other person sounds ready to leave, but Baltar tells the person on the other end to wait for him, or he will sue them for abandonment.
• Laura Roslin is sending out the last guest from a baby shower she hosted for her sister. Laura and her two younger sisters then sit on the couch, celebrating and laughing together.
• In an apartment kitchen, Kara Thrace is contemplating something and preparing food when the doorbell rings. Kara is surprised, saying they're early, and greets Lee Adama at the door, carrying flowers. Kara invites him in, and calls for Zak. Zak Adama comes out and greets his brother, and introduces Kara as his girlfriend.
• Baltar pleads with Nurse Barbara to stay with his father Julius at his apartment, after she is stabbed with a steak knife, but she refuses and leaves. Caprica-Six walks in, despite Baltar's instructions to stay in the car. Baltar starts berating his father over the fact that he's driven away three nurses, at great cost to him, while his father starts talking about Baltar's past. Baltar starts yelling and hitting his father, demanding that he shut up. Baltar then sends Caprica-Six away, saying he will be spending the rest of the evening with his father.
• Laura Roslin is approached by two Caprica City Police officers at her apartment. The two inform her that last night her father and her sisters have died, sideswiped in a car accident. The other driver survived, and had been intoxicated. Roslin, upset but calm asks the officers to leave. Still in her pajamas, she walks to a nearby fountain, and rests on a nearby rock, letting the fountain wash over her. The drops of water falling into the pond match what was seen in the earlier montage.

Aboard Galactica

• The scene cuts to an IV drip, overlooking Laura Roslin resting in Sickbay.
• In the Hangar Bay, Lee Adama is complaining about the amount of materials the ship captains want from Galactica. Lee is signing a number of documents, when a deckhand argues over the fact that the magnetic accelerators are being stripped. While Lee points out that they can be used as autoloaders for the civilian ships, the deckhand says that "it's like tearing the old girl's heart out", as it's used in launching Vipers. Lee compromises that the accelerators will be last thing they remove from Galactica, then they'll "turn out the lights, and let the old girl die in peace."

Act 2

Aboard Galactica

• The act opens with Admiral Adama finished packing the last of his belongings into boxes to be moved to the Cylon Basestar. As the last of his belongings is closed, the rattling of the hull can be heard overhead.
• Paulla tells Baltar that they now control a majority in at least half the ships in the fleet. While Paulla continues to cheer about their political power, Baltar looks up to see Virtual Six. Six points out that "humanity's final chapter is about to be written," with him as the author. Baltar turns back to Paulla, thinking back.
• In Anders' room, Kara sits with him, contemplating the notes she got from Hera (Someone to Watch Over Me). With equations and notes, Kara continues to ponder.
• In the CIC, Lt. Hoshi is cleaning up a spill, while Tigh is announcing that the Admiral will fly out the last Viper personally. He orders that the deck gang keep one launch tube intact and ready for remote activation. Tigh comments on Hoshi's inability to clean up the spill, saying "you won't make Admiral like that."
• In the Brig, Helo and an imprisoned Tyrol argue over the uniqueness of the Eights. Helo points out that Tyrol's relationship with Boomer, much like his with Athena's, are unique. Tyrol scoffs, calling himself a "frakkin' idiot" for not realizing that they're just machines, not people. The Eights are all the same because "the [Final Five] made them the same." Tyrol says that they can't be trusted, at which point, Helo ends the conversation abruptly.

In Caprica City

• As Baltar escorts a lovely young woman into his house, he walks in to find Caprica-Six there, sitting. Baltar shoos the young woman upstairs, while Baltar declares Caprica an intruder and orders her out. Caprica-Six mentions that she had Julius moved to the Regency, a full-time care facility. Caprica mentions that he loves his new arrangements, and that the last time she saw him, he seemed happy.

Inside the Colony

• Hera is drawing notes on a large paper, while Cavil points out that they're just "little dots." Simon suggests that they feed Hera through tubes, while Boomer insists that she's just missing her mother. Cavil rejects this idea coldly, saying Hera is just a hybrid who holds the key to Cylon salvation, nothing more. Cavil leaves as Simon prepares a large need with Hera and Boomer in view.

Notes

• This episode is the first part of a three hour series finale.
• The episode does not have an opening teaser beyond the "Previously..." segment and a brief depiction of Galactica deckhands and several Baseship Number Eight pilots guiding passengers to ships and other Galactica bound ships from the Baseship. Nor does the opening credits include clips from the episode, the first time this has happened since the start of Season 3.
• We finally learn Cottle's first name: Sherman. Adama calls him by it when telling him he's too valuable for the fleet to lose.
• It is revealed that Laura Roslin had two sisters (one pregnant), and that they and her father were killed in an automobile accident at some point before she was appointed as Secretary of Education under the Adar Administration.
• Baltar's father appears for the first time, and it's confirmed that Baltar's accent is an affected one as Baltar had previously admitted to doing so in Dirty Hands.
• Baltar specifically told Caprica Six he forgot her name, albeit it is possible that he has yet to learn it, despite having a relationship with her.
• Cultural oddity: keep an eye on the rear window of Baltar's limo for a recognizable Vancouver, B.C. street sign.
• After several episodes leaving the facts open to speculation, it is confirmed that the Galactica pilots that took part in the mutiny, such as Racetrack, were incarcerated and not executed. Ronald D. Moore had previously said that Racetrack, Skulls and other mutiny participants were confined on the prison ship Astral Queen in his podcast for Deadlock. Also confirmed Galen Tyrol was imprisoned for his role in unwittingly helping Boomer to escape with Hera (a scene indicating this was filmed for "Islanded in a Stream of Stars" but cut from the televised version).
• For the first time in many episodes, the six surviving members of the Significant Seven appear in the same episode (albeit Leoben appears only in the opening recap). This was the first time we have seen A Doral or a Simon since The Hub.
• In the flashback to Starbuck's apartment, the painting of the Eye of Jupiter can be seen behind her when she opens the door.
• As Hybrid Anders is reciting his seemingly random phrases to a listening Admiral Adama and Captain Thrace he says "Slip the surly bonds of Earth and touch the face of perfection" This is a variation of a real life quote made by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. in his 1941 poem High Flight: "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings..." [1] The poem goes on and concludes with "Put out my hand and touched the face of God." This was quoted by Ronald Reagan much closer to Ander's rendition on January 28, 1986 when addressing the nation after the Challenger disaster "We will never forget them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God."
• At the end of the episode, Lee Adama can be seen wearing his old Major's uniform (with white piping), but without his rank insignia or pilot wings.

Analysis

• Cavil plans to use Hera to find out how she was created in order to continue the Cylon species, presumably through normal reproduction.
  • It also proves Cavil intends to dissect Hera to discover the secret of procreation, confirming both Starbuck's and Athena's worst fears.
• Roslin likely feels quite protective of Hera as despite being barely able to walk, she volunteers for the rescue mission (although her love for Adama likely also played a part in her decision).
• Cottle may be either the best doctor in the fleet or one of the only ones as Adama says he's too valuable for the fleet to lose on the rescue mission.
• Baltar seems conflicted when volunteers are called. This inner conflict stems from his earlier conversation with Lee Adama where he confessed that he had never done anything for purely selfless motivations with no gain for himself. He does not, however, cross the line and join the volunteers.
  • If Baltar does join, then it would seem likely that all the elements are in place to fulfil the Opera House vision: Athena, Roslin, Caprica Six and Baltar will all be in pursuit of Hera.
• Much of the crew is loyal enough to Adama that they're willing to go on a likely one way mission to rescue someone just because he asked.
• In the brig Tyrol tells Helo-who is surprisingly civil even sympathetic toward Tyrol given his hand in the abduction-that they are all the same referring to the Eights. He says it as a word of advice and warning. That he made them the same and therefore can only expect betrayal from Athena as what happened to Tyrol at the hands of Boomer. However, given the fact that he has no first hand knowledge of making the Eights and the other Cylons and the psychic pain Galen suffered at the betrayal, his opinion most likely comes from deep, deep, abiding pain and not a intellectual analysis in his disregard of the individuality of Athena and the other Eights and particularly Athena's track record of loyalty. This also maybe a case of misery loves company and Tyrol wants to see Helo and Athena split up to allay his own feelings of being duped, by saying they are all a like and putting doubt in Helo's mind. Also, by claiming that Athena and the other Eights are just machines this could mitigate the guilt for his role in the abduction and possible death of Hera. If Athena is just a machine, then she cannot be hurt emotionally. She has no emotions, just a programmed facsimile. Tyrol wouldn't have to feel responsible for such pain he caused her since, as a machine, she can't really feel it sparing himself a lot of pain.
• Tyrol is himself a Cylon machine, so his rant speaks of denial and projected self-hatred as well as bitterness.
• The finale appears to be taking a character-driven approach, devoting significant screen time to pivotal flashbacks for the central characters that relate to their current circumstances.
  • We see the first time Starbuck and Apollo' met, with hints alluding to their future romantic relationship.
  • Roslin deals with the sudden death of her sisters and father by wading into a fountain. The gushing water cuts to a shot of her IV drip as she lies dying on Galactica.
  • Baltar and Caprica six begin their relationship with an act of compassion on Six's part towards Baltar's father. Baltar's selfishness, a theme raised repeatedly in the episode, is contrasted with Caprica Six's seemingly genuine concern for Julius.
• One of the shots in the opening sequence is of a sun rising over a blue planet: daybreak. The theme may symbolize an end to the fleet's long four years of gloom and darkness.
  • In that image of the planet, Antarctica is clearly seen, specifically the Ronne Ice Shelf, Queen Maud Land, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Where southern South America and southern Africa would be, the surface is covered by clouds, and the location of southern Australia/New Zealand is too dark. Although not as recognizable as the image of North America in Crossroads, Part II, it is clear that the planet shown here is our Earth.
• Hera is drawing "dots", as Cavil calls them, on the Colony. These are much more numerous than the simple line that she gave Starbuck, its at least a full page long. It seems to be an entire musical score. However, not knowing that they are music notes, Cavil doesn't see this.
• Someone left a picture of Athena about to kiss Hera on the head on the now abandoned memorial wall. It may have been Athena herself, who has given up on Hera's survival.
• Baltar's reaction to Lee's accusation that he has never done a selfless thing in his life shows how much the character of Baltar has grown, especially in the Fourth Season. Previously, whenever someone called Baltar's motives or attributes(especially his loyalty) into question, he reacted very passionately, and angrily, to defend himself(and often led to him being coaxed into doing what Virtual Six wanted, to the detriment of the humans in the fleet). On this occasion, however, Baltar not only does not even attempt to defend himself, he resignedly admits that he wouldn't trust him either(tacitly admitting both that Lee is correct in his assertion and that his self-serving actions have been extremely detrimental in the past). This change in attitude visibly surprises Lee who seems quite taken aback and appears to momentarily contemplate talking to Baltar again when he returns to the Hanger Deck.

Questions

Flashbacks

• To what is Adama's flashback conversation referring?
• Who was the drunk driver that killed Roslin's sisters and father? Is he alive in the fleet today?
  • Was the driver Lee Adama? Was his drunken tirade upon returning home just after the accident?
• Who is Sean Allison and why does his name sound familiar to Roslin?
• What is the time frame for the flashbacks, and is it the same for all characters?
  • Since Zak Adama is still alive, the Starbuck/Zak/Apollo flashbacks must be 2 years or more before the Cylon attack on the 12 Colonies.
  • Baltar and Caprica Six began their relationship just under two years prior to the Cylon attack, putting these scenes somewhat later.

Mission to save Hera

• How is Sam Anders able to provide the new location of the Colony? What transpired between him, Starbuck, and Adama?
• Did any of the other former mutineers, besides Racetrack and Skulls, volunteer to participate in the mission?
• As the episode began, Galactica was already being cannibalized for parts; does this mean it will be lacking vital components during the upcoming mission, or has Adama stopped the salvaging?
  • It is very doubtful that Adama would send Galactica in harms way if she weren't adequately equipped for the mission he has in mind.
    • However, this likely will be a one-way mission for Galactica, just as it is for the volunteers, as Adama has already stated his intention to "send the old girl off in style." Further, Adama is willing to use a group of Raptors for the mission and leave "Galactica" behind entirely, if there isn't an adequate crew. These facts suggest that "Galactica" will not retain components that Adama is not willing to abandon or have destroyed.

Cavil's Plan

• Has Cavil given up on the idea of salvaging Resurrection Technology?

Miscellaneous

• With Commander Adama, XO Tigh, President Roslin and Vice-President Lee Adama all joining the Hera rescue mission, who will assume military and political leadership of the Fleet?
  • Is this the reason why Baltar hesitates to volunteer for the mission?
    • His unwillingness for self sacrifice absent personal gain, as Lee Adama charged.
  • Will Baltar or another representative of "his people" step into this power vacuum, despite Lee's refusal to grant them a place on the Quorum (prior to the Admiral's announcement regarding the rescue mission)?
• Does the Admiral's offer to any over the age of 15 mean that 15 is considered legal age under colonial law?
  • Could this also mean a now "adult" Boxey will take part in the mission?
  • Boxey has been dropped as a character but he would had been 17 years old by now so yes he could had gone.
• With Hotdog being one of the volunteers, and especially being aware that he may not return alive, who will take care of Nicholas?

Noteworthy Dialogue

"No one should feel obligated to join this mission in any way. This is a decision I have made for myself. If it turns out that there are not enough personnel to crew Galactica, I will lead a Raptor assault with anyone who is willing to join me. Let there be no illusions; this is likely to be a one-way trip! So don't volunteer out of sentiment or emotion. There is a line running down this deck. Volunteers, move to the starboard side; Everyone else, to the port. Make your choice!"

--Admiral Adama's speech to the assembled crew.

"You didn't think you were gonna to take off without me, did you?"

--Laura Roslin volunteering for the rescue mission despite barely being able to walk.

"Spins and turns, angles and curves. The shape of dreams, half remembered. Slip the surly bonds of earth and touch the face of perfection - a perfect face, perfect lace. Find the perfect world for the end of Kara Thrace. End of line."

--Anders's hybrid-speak when powered on to speak with Kara Thrace and Admiral Adama.

"She’s right, Gaius. The end times are approaching. Humanity’s final chapters are about to be written. And you - you will be its author."

--Virtual Six to Gaius Baltar.

Guest Stars

• Rekha Sharma as Tory Foster
• Kate Vernon as Ellen Tigh
• Dean Stockwell as Number One
• Rick Worthy as Number Four
• Matthew Bennett as Number Five
• Donnelly Rhodes as Dr. Sherman Cottle
• Bodie Olmos as Lieutenant Brenden "Hotdog" Costanza
• Kerry Norton as Layne Ishay
• Lara Gilchrist as Paulla Schaffer
• Leela Savasta as Tracy Anne
• Tobias Mehler as Zak Adama
• Leah Cairns as Lieutenant Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson
• Brad Dryborough as Lieutenant Louis Hoshi
• Colin Lawrence as Lieutenant Hamish "Skulls" McCall
• Colin Corrigan as Marine Allan Nowart
• Darcy Laurie as Dealino
• Finn R. Devitt as Nicholas Tyrol
• Iliana Gomez-Martinez as Hera Agathon
• Antony Holland as Julius Baltar
• Simone Bailly as Shona
• Elan Ross Gibson as Nurse Barbara
• France Perras as Sandra
• Sarah Deakins as Cheryl
• Tiffany Burns as Reporter Carolyn
• Kevin McNulty as Frank Porthos
• Stefanie Samuels as Police Officer
• Richard Jollymore as Marine #1
• Anthony St. John as Marine #2
• Leo Li Chiang as the tattooed pilot (uncredited)