Space Croppers

Space Croppers
"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
Previous		Next
The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II	Space Croppers	The Return of Starbuck
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Listing of props for this episode
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			@ BW Media
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Overview

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 the Galactican Fleet's agricultural ships. The Imperious Lizard 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 the 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 Alonso

• 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, one of them Maze. 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

John Steadman in "Space Croppers"

• 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.

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

• One of them throws a cigar into the back of the truck. It begins to burn at the burlap. The hicks then begin 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.

• Troy and Dillon go to confront Steadman, and demand compensation for the burned seed. Steadman has a good play with his employees, deciding to take the payment out of his henchmen's wages.

• He can't resist the opportunity to put one over on Troy and Dillon, and throws in an offer of untamed racehorse Satan - if they can ride him.

• The Galacticans make fool out of Steadman, secretly pacifying the animal with a burst of alpha waves from their wrist computers, making him easy to ride.

• Winning the bet, Dillon heads back to the ranch and presents the horse to Gloria.

• Adama calls on the communicator. In order to get the seed planted and grown to replenish the fleet's hydroponic capabilities without impacting the food supply, they have to do it right away.

• Dr. Zee plans to come down in his anti-gravity ship and coax the clouds into producing a good rain.

• That night, under cover of darkness, Troy and Dillon use their superhuman jumping ability to rapidly seed the Alonso's fields.

Act 3

• Steadman, who is passing by, can't believe his eyes. Young Chris is equally surprised when he sees a flying saucer, actually Dr. Zee's antigrav ship, soar past his window at roughly the same time.

Agricultural experts from the Fleet are outfitted with local garb

• Inside the antigrav ship are dozens of Galactican agricultural experts assigned by Dr. Zee to harvest the crops. Also arriving to help is Jamie Hamilton, who has of course brought the Super Scouts.

• The crops shoot up overnight.

• Steadman goes to the Grower's Association with frantic revelations of jumping aliens and flying saucers.

• His credibility gone, Steadman is laughed down and as a final insult they also vote to order the dam removed from Steadman's property and the water distributed freely.

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, which was 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.
• The episode contains a continuity error. In the Original Series it is established that the Colonials only have three Agro Ships, two of which are destroyed in "The Magnificent Warriors", thus leaving one remaining. However, there are three ships shown on screen during this "renewed" attack on the Colonial food supplies, due to battle footage from "The Magnificent Warriors" being reused.

Cinematic Notes

• Much of the episode was filmed at the Disney movie ranch in rural Los Angeles county, a favorite location for Galactica 1980.
• Ana Alicia also guest starred in the Original Series episode "Take the Celestra", which was, much like "Space Croppers", the second to last episode of that series as well.
• 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 Cylon.

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.
• 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.

Noteworthy Dialogue

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

Imperious Leader: I'm growing impatient waiting for the 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.

Guest Stars

• 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
• Joaquin Garay III as Chris Alonzo
• Dennis Haysbert as Imperious Leader (voice)
• Andy Jarrell as Maze
• Ned Romero as Hector Alonzo

Galactica 1980 definition: a member of the Fleet; Hamilton first uses the term when replying to Stockwell's question regarding Xavier's affiliation ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")}

Galactica 1980 definition: type of signals used in correcting disturbed brainwave patterns ^{(1980: "Space Croppers")}

Galactica 1980 definition: When John Steadman asks if the Warriors know anything about these creatures, Dillon looks this up ^{(1980: "Space Croppers")}

Galactica 1980 definition: Cylons' term for the Fleet ^{(1980: "Space Croppers")}

slang for a Cylon Heavy Raider ^{(TRS: "Maelstrom")}