NOTE: This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page.
This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. Also, if you wanted to search for the term "106", click here.
Herded into a confined area of space, the Fleet must pass within close range of a lethal Cylonpulsar cannon—unless an expedition from Galactica can assault the ice-bound fortress housing the weapon. Apollo, Starbuck, and Boomer lead a team of cut-throat demolitions and cold-weather experts (and the stowaway Boxey). Along they way, they encounter the misguided human scientist who originally built the weapon, as well as his legions of clones.
On Galactica, Adama suspects that despite recent successes, they are being herded into this particular region of space. He is unable to send out extra patrols, though, as his crew is already stretched to the point that they are using cadets for patrol duty.
The Viper patrol makes contact with a small planetoid. The icy planet appears to be covered with diethene storms. The patrol asks permission to take a closer inspection, which is granted. The patrol is warned to stay out of the orbit of the planet.
A Cylon garrison is shown on the planet, and they detect the Vipers on their sensors. Garrison commander Vulpa orders the gun crews to readiness.
Cadet Bow sees a flash on the planet surface and veers off to investigate, only to be killed by the first shot of the Ravashol pulsar. Starbuck and Boomer are amazed at the range, and warn Galactica (which goes to alert status and stops the fleet).
The cadets attempt to engage the pulsar themselves, while Starbuck and Boomer attempt to call them off. Vulpa orders his crew to capture one of the pilots alive. Cadet Shields is killed by the pulsar, while Cadet Cree is forced down by Cylon Raiders. Starbuck and Boomer reluctantly return to Galactica, unable to help Cree.
Adama believes that a single shot from the Ravashol Pulsar would destroy Galactica, which explains why they are being herded into that particular sector. Adama determines that a small commando team would have the best chance of destroying the pulsar, and orders a computer search to determine the personnel with the appropriate skills.
While the computer is running its search, Starbuck enters the computer room. Starbuck feigns ignorance regarding computers, then persuades Corporal Komma to briefly abandon his post in order get a chance to see the new female Viper pilots. While Komma is gone, Starbuck sits down at the console and alters the program.
The computer finishes its report, and Starbuck is surprised that most of the specialists selected are criminals. Boomer and Starbuck are sent to the Prison Barge to retrieve the selected prisoners.
The prisoners selected include a former ice planet garrison commander Croft, demolitions expert Wolfe, alien environment expert Thane, and sub-zero experienced medic Leda. Leda reveals that she is Croft's wife, and that putting them together is dangerous.
Apollo successfully argues his way into mission, suspicious that somebody (possibly Adama) had tampered with the computer results. Gunners Haals and Vickers are also attached to the mission, as well as weapon specialist Voight. Boomer and Starbuck are also assigned.
Adama lays out the plan to the assigned crew. The Cylon basestars will catch up in "eight or nine hundred centons". The crew is told the fleet will be moving on in 700 centons, with or without them.
Starbuck becomes agitated when somebody tried to pack up Cadet Cree's personal items. He insists that Cree is not dead yet.
Down on Arcta, Cree is approached by four Centurions. He manages to shoot one before his laser pistol malfunctions and he is captured.
Apollo tells Boxey that he is going away on a mission to an ice planet. Boxey wants to come, having never seen snow, but Apollo insists that he stay.
The crew fights amongst themselves while preparing in the shuttle, and Apollo breaks them up. Apollo points out that they might have set off a hand mine if they had continued.
The shuttle takes off, escorted by a Viper piloted by Killian. Killian manages to fight off a raider as they approach Arcta, but is destroyed by the pulsar. Lacking an escort, the shuttle is damaged and forced down. The Galactica loses contact with the shuttle, unable to contact them without giving away the position of the fleet.
The crew assesses the situation, and find that Voight is severely injured. Wolfe manages to secure Voight's laser pistol while they are tending to him. The shuttle is too damaged to fly again or even sustain life, so the crew will have to transfer to the snowram. A raider spots the crash site, so the crew must hurry. As Apollo boards the snowram to offload of the shuttle, he discovers Boxey and Muffit in the cabin. The snowram offloads, and Starbuck mans the turret on top of the snowram, using it to shoot down the Cylon raider.
Vulpa orders a foot patrol of Centurions to retrieve the humans.
Cree is being interrogated by the Cylons regarding Galactica's location. Cree fails to cooperate, and the Cylons decide to hook him up to a brain probe to retrieve the information.
As the crew is finishing loading up the snowram, some of the criminals are plotting the best way to escape. Croft is more concerned with completing the mission, while Thane and Wolfe are looking for their chance to get away.
As the snowram heads out, there is not enough room in the cabin for everybody. They will have to rotate two people at a time on top of the snowram. Haals and Wolfe (despite his objections) are the first two to ride on top.
Wolfe, fed up from the cold, attempts to use Voight's laser pistol on Haals, but ends up knocking on the power systems on the snowram.
A diethene storm is approaching the crew, so they pile into the snowram and hope to wait it out. Croft warns that they are doomed if the diethene reaches death point, the temperature at which the air turns liquid. Muffit, unaffected by the diethene, runs out of the snowram and off into the snow. A group of four Centurions finds the wreckage of the shuttle, and a backpack that was left that has Galactica insignia on it. They begin to follow the tracks of the snowram.
The crew awakens alive, inside some sort of a cave. A bearded man tells them they are lucky to have been found. Apollo asks if they are free to go, but the man insists that the storm will prevent that for now, but in the meantime he will get them some water as they are likely dehydrated from their diethene exposure. The man leaves out one door, and appears to enter from the opposite side a second later. When questioned, he is very gruff and does not have the promised water. The man returns (from the door he originally left), along with some other identical men. They give the crew food and water.
Apollo realizes that they are clones, but a female points out that they prefer to be called Theta-class lifeforms.
The crew is told that Dr. Ravashol, the Father-Creator, was responsible for creating the Thetas as well as the pulsar.
Apollo reveals that it is their plan to destroy the pulsar. The Thetas seem to believe this is not possible, until the crew reveals they have brought solonite. The Thetas agree to lead them to their village.
Starbuck inquires with the female if they have seen any other Warriors, or where they would be taken if they were captured. The female indicates that she has not seen any others, and does not know where they would be taken.
As the crew is led by the Thetas to the village, Wolfe shows Thane that he has the laser pistol and tells him that he is ready to use it at the right opportunity.
The crew has to freeze and hunker down near the entrance to the village, as a patrol of Centurions passes overhead.
Baltar is shown in his command chair. Lucifer reports that Galactica is passing near Arcta as Baltar had planned. Baltar requests extra basestars be brought up. Lucifer reminds Baltar that recent losses have nearly depleted their supply of raiders, but Baltar points out that Adama does not know that.
Titles for this two-parter included "Crossfire," "The Nari of Sentinel 27," and "Ultimate Weapon". "Nari"/"Crossfire" is the one hour episode, which was expanded to the two hour teleplay "Ultimate Weapon". "Ultimate Weapon" was the shooting script for the episode, with a few changes during production.
It seems likely that the episode "Bastille Day" in the Re-Imagined Series was partially inspired by elements of this episode. In both episodes, a group of criminals is conscripted from a prison ship to work on the icy surface of a hostile planet. A notable difference between the two episodes lies in how the workers were chosen. While the workers in "Bastille Day" are chosen in part for their expendability, the conscripts in "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero" are chosen for their expertise in harsh environments and in demolition work.
This was actually the second episode in order of filming, hence Cassiopeia's absence, as she was originally not intended to be a continuing character. In fact, she had been scripted to die on Carillon at the hands of the carnivorous Ovions.
"The Gun on Ice Planet Zero" is another episode that borrows from other Hollywood productions. In particular 1961's The Guns of Navarone starring Gregory Peck and the Rock Hudson classic Ice Station Zebra that was released in 1968. Both movies involve teams of military men accomplishing difficult missions—in the first story to capture a large gun manned by Germans on a Greek island, and the second to rescue a crew from a weather station high in the arctic. In The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, both elements are combined, a team must infiltrate an enemy outpost on the ice planet Arcta to capture a large gun manned by Cylons. The final element of the show, the use of prisoners to accomplish the task, is also a well known plot device, but was perhaps best depicted in the 1967 World War II classic The Dirty Dozen.
This is an episode with new effects and a broad scope that is involving and action filled. With the possible exception of some of the longer segments where the heroes are slogging through the snow, the story moves along at a good pace, and a real sense of tension is built up.
The character of Doctor Ravashol and the relationship he has with the clones he created is an interesting one. Instead of being governed by a god complex, he seems to have a benign neglect for the clones, and his lack of concern for the uses the Cylons have put his laser to suggests an absent minded professor who loves to tinker, as opposed to a person who thinks more deeply about the uses of his creations. In this way, Dr. Ravashol is a scientific genius that seems to work totally against the usual type in science fiction. Although his laser is ultimately destroyed, he seems to have no fear of the technology itself, or even of the Cylons who are the best example of technology gone amock in the series.
Perhaps due to the casting choices, or perhaps because of some long lost backstory, the society of clones has an almost Scandinavian feel, and the expressions of pacifism and egalitarianism actually resonate.
The episode showcases excellent model work. The crash sequences of the shuttle and of the Viper remain some of the best effects work in the Original Series.
The premise and science of the episode is questionable. Give the vastness of space, how could the Cylons herd Galactica excactly towards one specific planet? The Fleet should easily be able to bypass it in any direction.
In the Re-imagined Series episode "Razor," a battlestar group attacks an ice planet believed to contain an "ultimate weapon". This look-back to a Cylon War-era battle with a similar premise is an homage to this Original Series episode. (The "ultimate weapon" on the Re-imagined ice planet was the development of what was to become the humanoid Cylon.)
Benedict: We just finished a show that takes place on an ice planet. The set was so real you kept looking for the ski lifts. I kept singing "White Christmas." They used a new kind of snow that even smelled like snow. With huge shakers at the top of the stage, they can control the density of it and everything.[1]
"The wardrobe was quite heavy. Earl Bellamy, who was a friend of mine, was also Head of Production at Universal Studios and I said to Earl, ‘Earl, you’ve got to do me a favor. You got to let me rent two air conditioners for that stage. The entire crew are dressed up in these parkas. And if I can’t cool that stage down to say, 50 or 55 degrees, we’re never going to get this thing shot because people are going to be sweating themselves to death!’ And so he said, ‘Let’s see how it goes the first couple of days.’ Well, the makeup guy must have gone through 400 boxes of Kleenex the first day! Every time we were ready to roll we had to quit because everybody wore these plastic masks. Well, people would sweat, they would frost up, and it was just impossible the first couple of days. I started shooting on Wednesday, and on Friday afternoon Earl called me and said, ‘the second air conditioner is on its way,’ so we hooked it up Friday night and to my recollection it was right between 50 and 55 degrees by Monday morning. And what we did is we told the whole crew, ‘wear your parkas, crew,’ so the entire crew were wearing parkas and things that at 50 degrees would keep them comfortable and made the filming immensely easier to commence and to keep going. When you’ve got a 2-hour movie and you’ve got 24 days to do it, you’ve got to do six or seven pages a day, six or seven pages a day is almost an episodic schedule and you can’t shut down every two minutes because you’ve got perspiration running down people’s noses.
"We had probably 15 or 20 what are called sieves on the ceiling that held this plastic snow which is like a cornflake. And it was constantly showering down on us. We all had to wear masks with regulators, because you did not want to inhale that plastic. And some of us wore full masks because it was easier for us to keep the snow out of our eyes as well. So the entire crew was running around with parkas and masks on, as is the cast, and I’d yell across to Enzo [Martinelli], ‘mumblemumblemumble!’ and he’d go, ‘Take the mask off and tell me what you want!’ I would say that those were the most difficult two items to overcome."[2]
Starbuck and Boomer encounter Thane for the first time:
Thane: I work with breathing gear. Rare gases, chemical blends. I can take you through land, air, fire and water.
Starbuck: Says here you're in for murder.
Thane: Hmm. That too.
Adama briefs the prisoners on their mission:
Adama: There's not all that much difference between you and your fellow convicts and us. We are all living for the promise of freedom, and we're all threatened by a similar death.
Wolfe: Perhaps it was the chains that made the difference.
Adama recounts the events that have lead up to the episode, mentioning the rogue Council member Xaviar, the "imminent and final Cylon attack," and the Super Scouts inability to perfectly blend in with Earth's children due to their abilities.
On Earth, Troy and Dillon are riding their turbines to an open field. They park their bikes under a tree upon seeing a Viper (Galactica Probe 1) become visible. As they park and dismount, Dillon asks what the "sudden urgent mission" was all about, but Troy doesn't know. They leave their bikes, activating their invisibility field as they meet up with a Colonial Warrior named Lieutenant Nash.
Nash tells them that he's brought the Viper to them so that they may carry out their mission. Troy asks him about the mission, saying that the instructions were most vague, since they were using the scrambler and that no one would be able to intercept or decode the transmission. Dash tells them that one person could: Xaviar.
Dash informs them that Doctor Zee has confirmed Xaviar's re-entry into the present time frame.
Dillon tells Troy that he's waited for a chance to get his hands on Xaviar; Dash replies that his chance has come. Dash informs them that their orders are sealed into the computron and the coordinates for Xaviar's locations have been programmed into the auto flight.
Upon addressing the issue of his being stranded on Earth, Nash informs them that he's to watch over the Super Scouts while they conduct their mission.
Troy appears to like the idea, seeing as the children will have someone to relate to who has a similar background. He tells Nash that the children are with Jamie Hamilton and can be reached through the United Broadcasting Company. Nash assures Troy to not worry and that he'll give the children "extra special care". As Troy and Dillon put on their helmets, Troy tells Nash that they'll be back in a hurry.
As they close the canopy for launch, Nash twirls his mustache and says, "I wouldn't count on it, Captain."
Elsewhere in the country, Colonel Jack Sydell is on the phone discussing budget problems. He yells into the phone angrily, saying that he's basically flying a desk at public relations. His secretary, an Air Force Lieutenant, arrives with a file folder, which she places on his desk. After he gets off the phone, he tells her that the consensus appears to have turned against him, for they believe he's spending too much of the taxpayers' money on tracking down UFOs. His secretary tells him that tracking down UFO's is his job, but Sydell sees it differently: he's to explain away odd occurrences as easily as possible.
After she asks to leave, Sydell reviews the packet he's given. He sees a newspaper clipping of The Daily News that tells of the story of Dr. Donald Mortinson's capture. Seeing that Hamilton is somehow linked to the two Warriors, "whoever they are," he tells his secretary that he will be gone for a while and does not want people to know, since it is top secret.
At the UBC building, Hamilton is taking the Super Scouts on a tour of the stages. She tells the children to be careful of the wires as they walk through. She has them promise her that they'll be on their best behavior and tells them that the tour booklets will tell them all about how television works on Earth.
Starla asks Hamilton how long she'll be gone. Hamilton replies that she won't be gone long, but she does have a job she has to do, or she'll get fired.
Wellington tells her not to worry and that he'll lead the tour. Much to Hamilton's surprise, he reveals that he's finished reading the tour booklet in three minutes. She tells him to keep them busy until she gets back.
Jamie and the Super Scouts.
Wellington begins his "seminar" by going over the "primitive, but fascinating" television camera. He believes he can best explain it by taking it apart.
In Mr. Brooks' office, he begins doling out assignments to his reporters. He tells Harris to take a team to cover the recall election in a California county, then after that cover the illegal alien situation down in the Garment District. Just as he explains the latter part, Hamilton enters the office and sits down quickly. He asks a reporter next to her about the "aliens," and Brooks interjects with the "illegal worker type" and "not the kind of aliens who land in flying saucers," which elicits a chuckle from the people at the table.
Brooks goes into a human interest story on Billy Eheres, a former National League "bonus baby" whose camp for underprivileged children, Casey's Camp, is in financial trouble. He asks Chuck to cover it after Chuck covers the Mayor's office. However, Hamilton decides to take the story and talks him into giving it to her, figuring that she can bring the Super Scouts here (though she doesn't voice the fact). Hamilton gets the assignment and everyone disperses. As she also moves to leave, Mr. Brooks tells her to stay.
As Wellington explains the operation of the camera's various electronic pieces, an employee comes across them and is enraged to see the camera all taken apart. Wellington explains that he's explaining the basic rudiments of video transmission and welcomes him to listen.
Back in Brooks' office, Brooks is having a talk with Hamilton about her "running off" on her own and covering stories that she hasn't been assigned to, like "terrorists and flying saucers," and about her disappearances for days at a time. She replies that stories don't tell themselves from 9 to 5. He scoffs this, saying that he hasn't the time to talk about their philosophies of journalism, and encourages her to go to the camp to get its story, believing that she can't get into any trouble on that one.
Hal Fredricks, a camerman, enters the office. Hal is assigned to cover the story with Hamilton to get some pictures. Brooks fawns about Eheres, saying that he had the potential to be the greatest baseball player that ever lived, and he believes that people would be interested in hearing about him again. Hamilton says that she's right on the story, but has to make a stop. Brooks tells her that she is to go directly to the camp and Hal drags her to the door, saying that she "cannot pass go" and "cannot get 200 dollars". Brooks pleads with her to stay out of trouble, which segues into the employee barging into the room and telling her she's in a lot of trouble.
Back in the studio, Wellington is showing how the camera is able to reproduce Starla's image via 525 lines. As he explains the camera, Hamilton, the irate employee, and Brooks enter the studio. The irate employee points the scouts out to Brooks, telling them that they've caused the trouble. Hamilton goes to Wellington and asks him what he's doing and insinuates that the Scouts ruined $80,000 camera, which Wellington adamantly denies. The distraught employee then asks where they hid the pieces to the camera. Wellington notes that they didn't hide anything. In fact, he says that he noticed that the man was so upset that they put the camera back together again. The employee then notes that "there was a number four" piece that went to the camera, which Starla (propped on a ladder) produces.
The bewildered employee, with the number in his hand, adamantly points out "that there is no way on Earth" that the camera the scouts have reassembled is the camera 4. Brooks takes the number from the employee and places it on the camera, proving definitively that it is camera 4. Brooks asks the employee if some of his men may have been working on it. He replies that he "supposes so" and Hamilton points out the obvious, but absurd alternative: the children took it apart and were able to put it together again.
Brooks says that he thinks they owe Hamilton and the children a big apology. Hamilton says it's all right, as mistakes happen.
As Hamilton, Brooks and Hal walk down another part of the stage, Brooks notes that he now understands why Hamilton was gun-ho for the Eheres' story. He asks where the kids came from and she says she found them while covering the Paradise Valleypollution story, mentioning that they are orphans. Brooks believes that they may be able to tie the two stories together, mentioning that he'd like to "really see Billy Eheres' camp survive," and he grows fond of the angle of the orphans and the underprivileged kids.
He tells Hal to take great shots of the kids, saying that he'll put it on the 6:00 news' human interest segment. Hal happily agrees, claiming that he'll make the scouts a "household item". Brooks and Hal walk off, the former droning away about the types of shots he wants, much to Hamilton's consternation.
Troy and Dillon follow Nash's instructions and are on vector 1060. When they transfer to automatic feed, their ship slows to a halt and begins to lose power. The warning indicators do not indicate any malfunction and the computron has failed to take over their flight as programmed. Dillon voices that perhaps Zee made a mistake, but Troy quickly dismisses that possibility as Zee doesn't make mistakes.
Troy and Dillon try to switch back to manual control. It fails. Troy postulates that the function guard mechanism, which automatically reverts control from automatic to manual should the automatic features fail to function, is malfunctioning.
Troy notes that he should contact Galactica to notify them of their disposition.
Adama next to the real Nash
On Galactica, Adama is on the bridge as they receive the transmission. When Troy notes that the "program by Doctor Zee is malfunctioning," Adama grows concerned—as he has no idea of what they speak of. Troy tells Adama that they received their orders from Nash and took his Viper, as ordered. Adama says that's impossible, as Nash is standing right beside him.
Dillon tells Troy that there was only one other person who could have delivered the Viper: Xaviar.
Adama points out the obviousness of the trap that the Warriors managed to get themselves into, but all communication with the Viper is lost. Adama orders Nash to dispatch a recon probe.
The Viper itself is in complete power shutdown and they find they only have 24 hours of life support left at normal breathing capacity.
Adama confers with Zee, telling the prodigy that Xaviar is "totally evil" and mentions that Xaviar can change his appearance. Zee explains that such things are possible, since they've been quite successful with their own epidermal transformation and it is possible to look like anyone. Adama is confused as to what Xaviar hopes to accomplish, and all he can hope to gain is time. Zee postulates that this is what he's looking for, since he needs the Warriors out of the way to carry out his "nefarious scheme". Adama then stumbles on what Xaviar is after: the Super Scouts.
Zee further postulates that, as Xaviar cannot return to Galactica except as a prisoner, his plan is to use the children to barter for his freedom. Adama knows that they can't send other Warriors, since Dillon and Troy were the only two who know where the children went, and they can do nothing but wait and see.
Hamilton, Hal and the Super Scouts arrive at Casey's Baseball Park and are met by Billy Eheres, who insists he be called Billy. Hamilton introduces the scouts as orphans, thinking it'd be nice to see his camp. He encourages the kids to mingle with the other kids and, after being asked by multiple scouts, Hamilton agrees. Hal comes from the car to protest, saying he's not ready yet, but Hamilton assures him that there's plenty of time for pictures.
Kids are playing at a nearby baseball field. Hamilton and Eheres talk about people recognizing the importance of sports, which is why Eheres opened the camp in the first place. Hamilton asks for clarification, since she was lead to assume that it was a camp for underprivileged children. He replies that underprivileged kids play baseball as well. He mentions the team he has going to the regionals and that he's counting on them to win. Should they win, the baseball camp will get all the funding it needs from sponsors, and should they not, they'll lose the camp.
Hal arrives and reminds Hamilton that Brooks wanted pictures of the kids. He suggests that the scouts play ball with Eheres' kids. Eheres likes the idea, seeing as the team they were supposed to scrimmage with came down with the flu. Hamilton says no, saying that they don't know baseball and, where they come from, they've hardly seen daylight. Eheres comments that he'd like to keep them around for a few weeks and Hamilton seizes on the opportunity, but Eheres mentions he has a team going to the nationals.
Hal begins to question about the kids, but Hamilton brushes him off and follows Eheres.
A kid named Freddy hits the ball out to the Super Scouts, who watch it roll by on the ground. The kids asks for the ball, which Starla retrieves after being asked. She picks it up and asks Wellington, who informs her that it's called a baseball and begins to discuss the history behind baseball.
As Hamilton, Hal and Eheres approach the field, the kids in the field asks whether or not the scouts will throw it back.
As Starla decides to throw it back, Hamilton yells at her, telling her not to. Alas, she throws the ball and it flies over the tree line — over 300 yards away. The kids in the field believe they're wiseguys. Hamilton approaches the Scouts and Starla asks her if she's done something wrong.
Before she can answer, Hal motions her over. He points out that Starla threw the ball over a half-mile, which Hamilton tries to quickly explain away as an optical illusion. Hal comments that Starla's got the arm of Nolan Ryan and asks for the truth.
Hamilton tells him that the child is a genetic mutation and Starla can throw the ball that far repeatedly. Hal literally drools over this, telling Hamilton to have Starla do it again. Hamilton quickly replies not to shoot yet, since she has something very carefully choreographed. She appeals to Hal's egotistical side, saying that the footage she's choreographed could earn him an Emmy Award or a Pulitzer Prize, and he agrees.
Eheres' approaches the kids and asks them if they'd like to play ball. They agree and Eheres promises to tell them how the game is played. Hamilton tells Hal to get set up in a good position. He goes off and Hamilton talks to the scouts alone, telling them that they can't do anything to betray who they really are. Wellington clarifies this to his fellow scouts, telling them that they have to perform as "complete muscular disasters". The scouts are disappointed and amble towards the baseball field. Starla notes that it "won't be easy". Out of their earshot, Hamilton says to herself that "none of this is easy".
Dillon tells Troy they are in complete power shut down. Troy replies to Dillon's note of their using up the oxygen by saying that they have 8 hours left at normal breathing capacity. He suggests that they induce sleep mode in order to stretch that out, believing they can add a little over 2 additional hours to that number.
Dillon initially argues against this, saying they should try and communicate to Galactica. Troy suggests they take turns: one will sleep while the other tries to make contact, hoping they'll orbit back into Galactica's communications range. Dillon offers to take the first watch, since he can't sleep.
Troy induces sleep mode. Dillon ruefully notes that, after all they've been through, they're going to go out without a fight. He wonders if anyone knows their location.
Colonel Sydell visits Mr. Brooks at UBC, telling him he came to see Hamilton. Brooks tells her she's off on a story, but offers to help. He shows Brooks a folder with pictures of the Warriors. Brooks comments about their being "terrorists," but adds that she's covering a story on an ex-ballplayer who runs a camp for kids. Sydell picks up on this and asks if there are scouts involved. After Brooks replies in the affirmative, Sydell tells him that the scouts are impostors and asks where they are.
Brooks reveals that someone else (Xaviar) asked about their location earlier, who asked the "very same question".
At the camp, Hamilton walks by a large tree. From the other side of the tree, Xaviar grabs for her and startles her. Xaviar tells her not to be afraid and introduces himself as Nash, informing her that Adama sent him to help her with the children. She tells him that she thought him to be "Bigfoot or something," which prompts him to ask about the myth, but Hamilton says that it's not important.
Hamilton tells him that she's worn out from the children and can use the help. When asked about how good he is with children, he replies that he loves children, "very much".
As the scouts and children scrimmage, Hamilton and Xaviar arrive in Eheres' office. Hamilton thanks him for everything he's done so far and attempts to introduce Xaviar to Eheres, but he brushes them off and storms out.
Xaviar notes that he is not a "friendly sort" and Hamilton wants to tell him that she'll reimburse him for the room and board. The camp aide informs her that they're bankrupt and can't save the camp, since half the team came down with the flu themselves and, if they can get a full team, they forfeit. He adds that Stratton, the owner of the land the camp resides upon, would sell so fast that they would be waking up on someone else's land.
Hamilton asks about Billy's kids but doesn't get an answer when the phone rings. It's Mr. Brooks.
Hamilton answers the phone, tell him that the phone call is a surprise and she didn't expect to hear from him. He replies that he didn't expect to hear from the Air Force either, who didn't tell him much—but, as he contends, neither did she. He tells her that he believes her Boy Scouts are not who they appear to be and he asks for information about what happened at Paradise Valley, knowing that there was more there than she had lead him to believe. She leads him to believe that the story of Paradise Valley was just the "tip of the iceberg" and the story she's working on "is of major proportions".
Brooks sympathizes with her on keeping the story of "this magnitude" under her hat, but chastises her for not telling her own people. He says he's prepared to offer her all the assistance he can once Sydell arrives, he also adds that he had to tell him as she left him in a very awkward position. She thanks him and then hangs up.
She tells Xaviar that Sydell is on his way, which is a name he doesn't recognize. Noting this, she tells him that Adama must have said something about the Air Force investigation, to which he replies that he says, "Yes, of course."
Eheres is out in the field by himself with a ball in hand when Hamilton arrives with Starla. He is resigning himself to the fact that there won't be a game tomorrow and that he'll lose the camp. Hamilton offers to lend the assistance of the Super Scouts to Eheres, who is initially extremely skeptical of their ability to help him. However, once he sees what Starla can do (she throws a ball through the wood wall behind home base), he accepts.
As Eheres, Starla and Hamilton run off the field, Xaviar is watching from a nearby hill.
A crew woman contacts Adama, informing him of an emergency transmission. He has it piped to his quarters. It is Xaviar.
Adama asks what "diabolical plot" he is weaving. Xaviar says he wishes to bargain, but Adama will have none of it, saying he's placed himself outside of their laws.
Xaviar replies that this is untrue, but he merely disagrees with the policies of the "infantile wizard". He refuses to be lead by an adolescent.
Adama asks him for his bargain. Xaviar offers the lives of Troy, Dillon and the Super Scouts. Adama is angered by this, pointedly asking: "And you say you are not mad?" Xaviar retorts that he simply wants to live free and in peace on Earth. Adama asks him what time period he will live in, knowing that Xaviar will use his knowledge to live in a position of power of a powerful country. Xaviar replies that this is his business as so long as he obeys the "intergalactic laws".
Adama replies that he'll have to consult Zee and the Council of Twelve. Xaviar gives Adama 10 Earth hours to agree. After that, he claims, "Troy and Dillon will be beyond help".
In the Viper, Troy is still sleeping while Dillon attempts to reach Galactica with a priority red message. Troy wakes up an hour early, wanting to know their oxygen levels. Dillon replies that they'll run out long before the enter Galactica's communications range. Troy tells Dillon to sleep while he tries to take the computron apart in an attempt to fix the sabotage. Dillon tells Troy that it'll be hard for him to sleep knowing he may never wake up again.
At the playoffs, a cheerleading squad does their act that opens the Southern Conference Regional Playoffs, the game that pits the Southeastern champion, the Cougars, against the finalists from the Southwestern conference, the Polecats.
The announcer notes that they tried to interview the Polecats earlier, but found them to not be "very big talkers" and mentions that they "are not very big at all". In the announcer box, the announcer introduces and begins an interview with Eheres, who tells him that their main advantage is that he stresses the fundamentals of baseball.
In the locker room, the Polecats—the Super Scouts—are discussing baseball. Starla broaches the topic of "catching flies in the field," not knowing the reference. The other female scout replies that flies are disgusting.
Hamilton comes into the locker room, telling Xaviar that she sees a lot of reporters there and that the whole thing was a mistake. Xaviar assures her that it isn't, telling her what better place to hide than in a crowd right in front of people. Hamilton approaches the scouts and begins talking when Sydell shows up. Sydell notes that she looks terrified and asks about it, to which Hamilton replies that he merely startled her.
Hamilton tells the children that she can't talk now, to which Sydell replies that she can and she will. He instructs his sergeant to watch the children. Eheres enters then, telling the Colonel that he'll have to watch the children from the bleachers since they have a game to play.
Hal enters, answering Sydell's question about a game. He then asks about the Air Force's interest there, to which he does not receive an answer. When Hamilton sardonically asks if he has a statement to make to the press, Sydell replies that he can wait until he sees their performance on the field, which he believes will be interesting.
Eheres gives a pep talk to the Polecats and they soon rush to the field. The Cougars are awaiting them on the field, which Eheres leads the Polecats to. The game is about to start with a coin toss. The umpire begins the coin toss with the two captains. The Polecats rush to their dugout and begin to literally hit the bench, which leads to a moment of confusion from Eheres. Wellington explains that they're hitting the bench, just like the umpire said for them to do. Hamilton tells them to stop.
The umpire shows the kids a brand new silver dollar. The umpire gives the option to call the toss to the Polecat captain, who calls it a "brand new silver dollar," takes the coin, and runs off to the dugout to show the other scouts. He asks the other kid of the Polecat was just kidding, but runs after the Polecat captain.
The announcer notes the misunderstanding, which leads to laughing from the audience.
Eheres asks the umpire what the issue is and the umpire threatens to announce the Polecats' forfeiture of the game should the kid not return his dollar. The kid returns the dollar.
With the children now assembled, Hamilton tells them that the Air Force is watching them and they have to act like Earth children: they're going to have to lose.
The game starts. Wellington is the first batter. Moonstone is assigned as the next batter. Wellington is on his first strike.
The third base person comments that he has a better swing "hanging from a tree in my backyard," which adds insult to injury for Wellington. Eheres gives Wellington encouragement. After the second strike, Wellington looks over to Hamilton, who nods her head. Wellington strikes and he is out. Sydell looks on in consternation.
Dillon wakes up, expressing his hope that he had awakened on Galactica instead of the Viper. Dillon notes that the air is foul.
Troy informs him that Xaviar managed to seal off the circuit, noting that there's nothing more they can do from inside the Viper. They need to get outside to the master circuits. Dillon notes that the exertion involved would use up the last of their oxygen supply, but they have nothing to lose. Troy asks if he would rather die just sitting in the Viper, but Dillon replies in the negative. They begin donning the helmets to their space suits.
Back at the game, the Polecats have taken the field. Frankie Lupo, the lead off batter for the Cougars, hits a ball pitched by Starla deep in left field, which turns into a home run for Lupo. As Lupo makes the first point in the game, Eheres becomes suspicious and begins questioning Hamilton, who refuses to answer any of his questions.
Little Jeffy Frieley is the next batter up and Moonstone attempts to catch it, but the other scout tells him not to and he fumbles the ball. Eheres screams instructions out on the field and the other scout throws the ball, but not before Frieley is able to complete a home run.
As the audience cheers around him, Sydell whinges. Meanwhile, from the dogout, one of the Cougars tells the Polecats that they should've been called the Scaredy Cats. They begin to meow.
Back at the Polecats' dugout, Eheres insinuates that Hamilton is in cahoots with the land developers that want his camp. He says that she's done a good job in doing him in, not to mention his kids.
Outside the Viper, Troy and Dillon are effecting repairs. Dillon notes that they don't have the equipment necessary to fix the damage Xaviar's done.
Adama contacts Xaviar, who is at the game. The game itself has entered the sixth inning, with the game at 6 to 0. The Cougars are so far victorious.
Xaviar enters the dogout and answers Adama. Adama informs him that he's considered Xaviar's proposal and, after much deliberation, he refuses Xaviar's demands. Hamilton, who walks by, overhears the conversation and begins eavesdropping.
Adama concludes that should he accept Xaviar's demands, there is nothing to stop Xaviar from attempting to threaten them repeatedly. Adama hopes that Xaviar will see "how useless it would be to harm these innocent people to achieve your end" and vows that Xaviar will never escape the Galacticans' justice.
Xaviar bids Adama farewell, noting that he has condemned the children to death.
He rejoins Hamilton and tells her to ensure that every child moves directly to the bus. Hamilton asks why, to which Xaviar replies that it is to avoid Sydell. She reveals that she overheard the conversation, which pleases Xaviar, since everything is now in the open. He tells her that if she values her life and those of the childrens', she better do exactly as he says. He twirls his mustache and walks off, leaving Hamilton alone to ponder the next move.
The commentator announces the end of the sixth inning and that the Cougars are taking the field. The Polecats, Hamilton, Hal and Eheres return to the dugout. Hal notes that he's going to stay behind to take pictures of the winning team, saying that the whole world is going to want pictures of them. He assumes that the Cougars are going to be swamped by reporters. Hamilton conjures up a plan, telling Hal not to count the Polecats out, who rebukes her claim, noting that they haven't a chance. She notes that the game is not over until the very last out and Hal walks away in disbelief.
Hamilton turns to the team and tells them they're going home winners. Hamilton asks for a couple of seconds with the kids for a little pep talk. He replies that she's going to need more than a year, but gives her time alone anyway.
She tells the kids they have to win, and they're going to have to use all their skills to do it, even if it gives them an unfair advantage over the other Earth kids.
Starla is pleased at this, saying that she doesn't like that other team.
A Polecat goes up to bat and successfully hits a grounder, which sinks deep into the ground. Sydell watches the new development with renewed interest. As the Cougars dig for it, the scorer declares the hit a base hit.
The umpire is being yelled at by Jenkins, the groundskeeper, who in return tells him that it's not his fault if his groundskeepers are building swamps out in the field. He tells Jenkins to get off the field.
The second hitter squares the ball, which would otherwise make for an easy out, except that the Polecat has made it to the base.
Troy and Dillon take aim at Xavier in Spaceball.
Eheres runs up to the dugout, saying that all they need is a slugger. Hamilton suggests Wellington and, while initially very skeptical, he accepts her judgment. Despite a comment from a Cougar about how Wellington "couldn't hit a beach ball," Wellington does not fail to disappoint. Before hitting, he calculates what angle and with what force he should hit the ball at. He hits the ball and it goes well past the field. All the bases that were filled are now emptied, which the announcer comments upon as being the most remarkable comeback he's ever seen.
The home base player for the Cougars mentions that they were lucky, but Wellington tells him it was simple physics.
Troy and Dillon finish bypassing the sabotaged computron circuits. They reenter the Viper cockpit and hope for the best.
The Polecats are now one point behind the Cougars. They are making their comeback, which pleases Sydell as this gives him the evidence he's been looking for.
Troy asks Dillon if he's ready. Dillon replies that he's as ready as he'll ever be. They turbo away and head towards Earth.
The game is now Cougars 8, Polecats 9. The announcer mentions that defense is the Polecats' weakest part and will be hard-pressed to protect their slim lead, but he soon eats crow.
Starla pitches the ball, which is hit and caught by Starla herself. The Cougar batter looks at the broken bat then walks away, the umpire looks on as well, not sure what to make of it.
Starla pitches again. This time the batter manages to hit the ball between the fielders. Moonstone picks up the ball and throws it to Wellington, who gets the Cougar out thanks to the clutch throw.
Another Cougar batter hits. This time, it's a long fly ball to the left field, which is caught by the leftfielder who leaps high in the air. It is this catch that wins the Polecats the game. The audience cheers while Sydell looks pleased.
Hamilton is jumping ecstatically as everyone rushes out to the field to congratulate the Polecats on their stellar win. Xaviar walks up behind her, telling her to gather the children. She says that this would prove to be difficult. He admires her resourcefulness and says that they'll wait for the children inside.
Sydell tells the Sergeant to stay with the children while he heads to follow Hamilton and Xaviar.
Back on Earth, Troy and Dillon are en route in their turbines. Armed with coordinates to Xaviar's last transmission, Troy and Dillon are forced to fly there in order to reach them in time.
Hamilton and Xaviar enter the locker room, telling her that if she pulls a trick like that again, he'll be "forced to diminish [her] drastically". Sydell barges in, asking Hamilton if she's going some place. Hamilton tells him that the children will be available after the trophy's been awarded. She introduces Xaviar to Sydell, telling him that Xaviar wanted her the scouts to leave with him after the game. Sydell asks what Xaviar's interest is, since anyone who is interested in them is of interest to him. Xaviar insists that Sydell leave, but he refuses and so Xaviar twirls his mustache and pulls out a laser pistol.
Troy and Dillon arrive in a nick of time and start a fire fight with Xaviar. Sydell pursues them, despite Hamilton's protestation.
In a gymnasium/auditorium, Xaviar and the Warriors exchange laser blasts. Sydell happens to enter and, despite Dillon's warning, Sydell is shot. Troy and Dillon stay behind to attend to Sydell, with Troy later noting that if they continue to pursue Xaviar, they risk injuring others. Thus Xaviar makes good his escape.
Sydell will apparently live with proper medical attention.
Starla and basketball
Later, Dillon thanks Hamilton for all she's done for the children. She comments that she doesn't want to see another ball game as long as she lives.
Troy doesn't understand why, given the scouts' proficiency at it and given that proficiency in sports is something that is strived for on Earth. Hamilton replies that proficiency is good, but out of this world isn't.
Meanwhile, the scouts are watching a basketball game. The ball happens to bounce toward them. Starla grabs it and, along with the other scouts, looks at it. The players ask for the ball back.
Hamilton expresses that she hopes they don't learn any other game. Troy calls for the children to come with them.
The scouts walk away, Starla included. She has the ball, but gives it back to them by throwing it behind her, and manages to throw it through the hoop... much to Hamilton's dismay.
In the opening scene, Adama wears a wrist computron as well. Although the reason for it is never explained, as none of the other Galactica crew members wear the device when aboard their ship.
Adama says that the ability to alter one's physical appearance, as Xaviar has done, is shared by all Colonials.
The episode marks both the last appearance and mention of Xaviar, although he was slated to reappear again in the nearly filmed "The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra".
As in all other Galactica 1980 episodes, there is no time delay when Adama communicates with Xavier and the Colonial warriors on Earth. This implies that Galactica must be relatively nearby (perhaps hidden behind the Moon?) or that Colonial audio signals travel faster than the speed of light. The former seems far more likely since Adama states that the stranded Viper is within Earth's gravitational pull and that eventually it will orbit back within Galactica's range.
A 2-man Viper has life support for less than 24 hours, which seems reasonable considering its cramped cockpit.
Somehow, the new Viper craft have a cockpit accessible storage space for space suits. Their presence definitively proves that pilots in the ship do not have proper protection against the elements of space, which means that the pilots are not able to eject from the craft should escape from their enemies be impossible.
Barring a successful bid to steal another Viper (and a Viper outfitted with a time warp synthesizer), Xaviar is effectively trapped on Earth in the present time frame. However, it should be noted that in "The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra," an episode being prepped at the time Galactica 1980's cancellation order came down, Xaviar somehow managed to obtain a Viper with a time warp synthesizer.
While Sydell is shot and, as such, prevented from reporting his findings to the Air Force, there are a few variables that have no been accounted for, which can lead to the world wide revelation of the Super Scouts. The first is the sergeant that was with Sydell and subsequently tasked to watch the children. The second, and most troubling for the Galacticans, is the fact that the game was recorded. Also, now the government has pictures of each individual scout, given the press interest in their win. So they've just raised their visibility and will only help prove Sydell's point that something other-worldly is happening.
Adama: The Galactica continues to lead the Cylons away from the planet Earth. But so far, our brother Council member Xaviar, who has turned outlaw, continues to elude us. Two of our most able Warriors, Troy and Dillon, remain down on the planet Earth, seeking a place where we can send our young to prevent their destruction in what we know will be an imminent and final Cylon battle. With each day, it becomes increasingly difficult for our children to live as Earth's children. Being accustomed to a much denser gravity causes them to display super skills that are jeopardizing their ability to blend in down on Earth without detection. Still, they must try. Surely they face imminent destruction out in space.
Jamie Hamilton tells the Super Scouts to not show off their super skills when playing baseball for the first time:
Jamie Hamilton: Now listen, I want you to promise me you won't do anything to betray who you really are.
Wellington: Which means we have to perform as complete muscular disasters.
The following are noted differences between the script and the final episode:
The first act introduces Jamie Hamilton's plight: she's late for a meeting and needs a place to park the Super Scouts. The guard at the gate named Vic tells her to place them in one of the studios, noting that the studio tour will start in an hour.[1] It does not start off with Adama's "commander's log" monologue, as seen at the start of the show.
The UBC employee that discovers a disassembled camera is called Red.[2]
In Act 2, Jack Sydell and a man named Colonel Ben Lancaster are discussing Air Force Special Detachment One's budget, which Sydell feels is inadequate. Lancaster reminds him that his job is to run PR for the Air Force when the situation warrants, and not to search for UFOs on a full-time basis.[3] The scenes that follow this, namely Sydell's brief discussion with his secretary, Lieutenant Nancy Trent, are later moved earlier in the show just after Xaviar—impersonating Nash—gives Troy and Dillon the sabotaged Viper.
There is a discussion between Stratton and Billy Eheres over the status of the property Casey's Camp is on. Stratton gives his ultimatum here: he has until Monday to come up with funding, otherwise he will accept the deal presented by Intercontinental. The scene occurs before Hamilton and the Scouts' arrival at the camp.[4]
Eheres' motivations for running the camp are made clearer here. The scene is later truncated to the portion where Eheres offers the Super Scouts the chance to play baseball, despite Hamilton's objection.[5]
A plot regarding the dead Viper being detected by an American spy satellite, the Andromeda Six, appears in the script[6] but is later dropped since no mention of it is made in the episode. This section also includes the introduction of a character named Captain Riddle.
After Hamilton shows Starla's ball-throwing abilities to Eheres, she recommends they leave the camp so that the children do not get the flu, which is a ploy to prevent Sydell, who is en route, from following them.[7]
As Eheres is driving the bus with the kids on board that night, the bus suddenly develops engine trouble and Xaviar (in the form of Nash) appears, helping Eheres "fix" the problem that Xaviar induced in the first place.[8] This scene is the alternate introduction to Xaviar: on the final filmed version, Xaviar is already at the camp and it is still during the day when he arrives.
The scene where Xaviar makes his demands occurs only after the Scouts have arrived at the field. He finds an isolated room—the Coach's room—and makes his demands, which are overheard by Hamilton.[9]
The scenes regarding the epidermal transformation and Nash and Adama on Galactica are not included in the script.
When Aaron Doral turns up on Galactica and detonates a device made from the ship's own munitions, Adama orders a full investigation - and Galen Tyrol's relationship with Boomer becomes the focus of the investigation.
The visitor to Galactica is seen and recognized by Tigh, who covertly calls security. At the same time, he is seen and challenged by Commander Adama.
Turning to face them, the visitor turns to reveal himself as a copy of Aaron Doral, a suspected Cylon (TRS: "Miniseries") who has a bomb strapped to his chest, which he detonates―almost killing Adama and Tigh.
With three people killed in the blast, Adama orders an investigation into how Doral got aboard and accessed Galactica’s munitions store, and places his Master-at-Arms, Sergeant Hadrian, in charge of what becomes a public inquiry.
Interviewing hangar deck personnel, including Cally, Jammer and Socinus, Sergeant Hadrian is given three different locations for Tyrol’s whereabouts at the time Doral came aboard the ship. The time coincides with Tyrol's meeting with Valerii, and his people are covering for him.
At the same time, Laura Roslin holds a press conference, revealing the truth about humanoid Cylons and releasing pictures of Doral and Leoben Conoy. The news is greeted with a stunned reaction throughout the Fleet.
As a result of her investigations, Hadrian brings both Valerii and Tyrol before the board of inquiry for questioning.
Valerii is questioned first – specifically about her relationship with Tyrol, which she claims has stopped on the orders of the XO.
Hadrian then focuses on Tyrol and his whereabouts at the time of the bombing, and Boomer claims she has no idea.
Putting Tyrol on the stand, Hadrian questions him about a hatchway that was left open – a hatchway he should have ensured was closed, and which leads directly to the small arms locker from which the explosives had been stolen, and to which he had the access code.
In response, Tyrol points out that several people have the access code to the locker – including Hadrian herself, who is also responsible for internal security aboard the ship.
Hadrian challenges Tyrol as to whether Valerii may have left the hatch open. Remembering their meeting, in which she stated she had used the hatchway to avoid being seen on her way to him, Tyrol lies and states he has no idea.
He is then challenged to explain why his claim to have been in his bunk at the time of the bombing is disputed by three of his own crew, who put him in different places, doing different things at the time Doral was aboard.
When Hadrian accuses him of being a Cylon collaborator, Tyrol refuses to answer, citing his right to not self-incriminate himself under the 23rd Article of Colonization.
Specialist Socinus is next on the stand, and when he realizes his original statement has landed Tyrol in trouble, he changes his story: he actually left his post and went to the galley for food, using the companionway and hatch in question to get there.
When challenged about the hatch, he admits he was the one who left it open, thus accidentally providing the Cylon with the means to get to the explosives.
Hadrian still tries to involve Tyrol, demanding to know if he ordered Socinus to leave the hatch open. Socinus won’t be moved: he left the hatch open.
In sickbay, Gaius Baltar visits Kara Thrace, hoping to rekindle the attraction of their first card game ("Water"). She, however, is not in the mood. To get rid of him, she asks him about the bombing and whether he felt the Cylon was after his super secret project, which is located close to where the bomb went off.
This scares Baltar to the point where he leaves Thrace alone, demanding to know from Six as to why the Cylons are trying to kill him when he’s following her orders.
Six points out the Cylon were probably after the detector―and that anyway, the Cylons don’t know about her and Baltar.
With Socinus apparently the guilty party, Adama discusses the outcome of the inquiry with Roslin – when he is called before the board himself, where Hadrian comes close to building a picture of conspiracy rising all the way to Adama.
Realizing things are out of hand, Adama calls a halt to things, confining Hadrian to her quarters and disbanding the board of inquiry.
Roslin holds a second conference, issuing Socinus’ name and stating he has been removed from duty and placed in the brig for dereliction of duty.
Hearing this, Tyrol goes to Adama to try and secure Socinus’ release. Instead, he is confronted by the truth: as a result of his unauthorized tryst with Valerii, he has created a poor example of leadership and can’t actually say where Socinus was or what he was doing. Socinus will remain in the brig.
As a result, Tyrol meets with Valerii and ends their relationship. He then asks her if she left the suspect hatchway open the last time they met. She refuses to answer.
Litmus is a chemical substance used to determine whether a solution is acidic or basic. In politics a litmus test is a question posed to a candidate in order determine whether or not he or she will be nominated for a certain office, thus deciding a political career.
Cultural oddity: when Adama sets down his glasses, a volume of the Reader's Digest Condensed Books series is clearly identifiable, including the Reader's Digest logo.
Number Six intimidates Baltar with the line, "Don't make me angry, Gaius. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." This is a possible play on the classic Bill Bixby line from the pilot episode of the Incredible Hulk. The line is partially repeated in flashback in "Six Degrees of Separation" and again in "Collaborators" by Adama.
The building seen prominently in the background of the first shots of the Caprican city can be clearly identified as a ScotiaBank building in downtown Vancouver, used as shooting locations for various Caprican series in both the re-imagined series and its spin-off Caprica.
According to Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion, "Litmus" is a "cost saving episode," a pattern which happens several times on genre shows: the season premiere (TRS: "33") is intentionally given a larger share of the special effects budget to try to attract new fans, but to balance this out an episode later in the season must involve little or no new special effects or new sets. Often these episodes are "filler," but "Litmus" strongly contributes to the ongoing storylines in the series and seems to have avoided these potential problems.
This episode features the minor characters on the deck crew to a large degree, giving them scenes with actual substance. Their reactions show how the common people in the fleet are affected by the decisions of people at the "top," Roslin and Adama. Rather than being "redshirts" who do not appear again, these characters will continue to reappear throughout the season, demonstrating how the series features a large ensemble cast, and given time even many tertiary characters become fully fleshed out.
For answers to the questions in this section, click here.
Why did Hadrian fixate on the Tyrol / Valerii relationship? This line of questioning was distinct from her attempts to expose Tyrol as a "Cylon conspirator."
"Major question: it looks like discipline hasn't really improved on the ship in the first few episodes. In some ways, it's getting worse. Commander Adama didn't help matters at all in "Litmus" when he essentially declared himself to be above the law."
Security and discipline are definitely problems on Galactica and they're not going away. The ship was far from the best of the best at the time of its retirement and the people on board weren't either. The discipline was lax and many procedures had been allowed to fall by the wayside. Now, this ship and its crew are forced to operate far above what they considered to be the norm and it's not an easy transition for any of them.
This was a deliberate creative choice. It's one thing for the finest ship, with the finest crew to deal with the end of the world and a long flight from a relentless enemy, it's quite another when you were just a bunch of people trying to get by. I find it a more challenging and interesting environment to tell stories in and I find these people more heroic in their actions just by the nature of the obstacles they have to overcome in their day to day existence.
Adama, to Sergeant Hadrian and her Board of Inquiry:
Adama: You’ve lost your way, Sergeant. You’ve lost sight of the purpose of the law: to protect its citizens, not persecute them. Whatever we are, whatever’s left of us – we’re better than that. Now these proceedings are closed. You’ll be transported back to your ships and we appreciate your help.
Board Chair: This is an independent board. You have no power to close our inquiries.
Adama: This is a witch-hunt. I will not have it aboard my ship.
Adama to Tyrol, after Socinus has been incarcerated:
Adama: What I can’t do is I can’t let someone who wears this uniform get up on the witness stand and lie under oath. And that’s what your man did. He either lied the first time or he lied the second time. And it doesn’t matter. He’s guilty, and he’ll pay the price. You? You’ll pay a different price. You’ll have to walk out on that hangar every day knowing that one of your men is in the brig because you couldn’t keep your fly zipped. You are the most experienced non-commissioned officer we have left. You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly.
Tomas Vergis comes to Caprica to seek vengeance on Daniel Graystone for two workers who were killed during the theft of his meta-cognitive processor. Sister Clarice tries to steal Zoe Graystone's avatar, a move that will reveal her plan and gain attention from STO soldiers who now follow the reckless Barnabas Greeley.
At the headquarters of the Vergis Corporation in Tauron City, Tomas Vergis walks to his lab--and notices that a keypad lock has been ripped out of the wall. He pushes the door open and enters the corporation's MCP Research Laboratory. A piece of equipment is missing. When he looks up, he sees blood smears on a wall, and on the floor beneath, two dead bodies.
One month later, at a museum on Caprica, Daniel and Amanda Graystone are enjoying a black tie function attended by many Graystone Industries shareholders; Daniel is receiving congratulations from the shareholders, the C-Bucs have won today's game, and some time has passed since anyone has called Amanda "Terror Mom." As they dance, Daniel freezes upon seeing Vergis standing next to a sculpture. Vergis defends himself against Daniel's accusation of crashing the party, and abruptly tells him about the theft and murders. "We should get together while I'm on-world," Vergis says. "Discuss the situation."
Upon returning to the Graystone Estate, Amanda asks about the exchange. Daniel claims that Vergis' only interest was a claim of intellectual property infringement related to the U-87. In the middle of their discussion, Serge interrupts to announce that Cyrus Xander has arrived. As Daniel walks downstairs, Amanda calls out to him, "You'll tell me the rest when you're ready, yeah?"
Xander asks Daniel for more details about Vergis' claims, while holding on to the hope that since there have been no legal charges related to the theft or the murders, Graystone and their company are still safe. Gradually, Daniel reveals that the Ha'la'tha was involved. Xander is flabbergasted and furious--and eavesdropping from inside the U-87, Zoe-A is troubled by the revelation. Xander calms down and offers advice for his meeting with Vergis. Daniel leaves to talk to someone about the matter, which Xander guesses is his "mob friend."
Joseph Adama comes home with an Emptor Electronics bag, from which he takes out a holoband package. He activates the holoband, puts it on, and is transported to the interior of the virtual Graystone Industries building. Before he can get his bearings, a very bright-eyed, cheerful, and loud copy of Daniel welcomes him. Joseph tries repeatedly to get help finding his wife and daughter and accessing the "hacked worlds," but the avatar insists on showing him menus for licensed areas, while reminding him of the penalties for illegal operation. From somewhere, Joseph hears footsteps.
Without warning, Daniel is standing over him in the apartment, backed up by his bodyguard, and removing Joseph's holoband. He accuses Joseph of intentionally allowing Vergis to know about his involvement in the MCP theft. Joseph counters by telling him that Vergis is a friend of the Guatrau, and that if Vergis had known, Joseph would already be dead. He changes tracks, telling Daniel about Tamara-A, which Daniel refuses to believe. They start to yell until Willie wakes up. The two men quietly finish, warning one another.
Daniel cuts vegetables in his kitchen, thinking all the time about Vergis' claims and imagining the murders.
Clarice listens to a wireless report about another bombing of a holo cafe. Olaf and Nestor Willow think it is Barnabas Greeley, a move that Clarice believes is badly timed. Nestor interrupts, telling her about a swipe drive which can be used to capture the Zoe avatar and to create more avatars. Clarice acknowledge it, but reminds him that Zoe-A is not just an avatar, but a continuation of the eternal soul. Nestor tells her that she has to get close to Daniel's computer with the swipe drive, and use it to take Zoe.
Amanda takes a call. Clarice tells Amanda that she was "wonderful" on Sarno, and asks if she could come to the house to say goodbye to Zoe. Amanda walks into an empty room and tells Clarice that the Global Defense Department took all of Zoe's things. Clarice offers to bring some of Zoe's books to Amanda.
Joseph asks Sam Adama if there is anything the Guatrau could trace back to the two of them. Sam denies it, but Joseph pushes. Impatiently and vaguely, Sam tells his brother he did his job.
In the Graystone Industries boardroom, Vergis eats an imperfect Tauron steak in front of Daniel, who is confused by Vergis' change of mood. Daniel tells him flatly that he had no part in the crimes--but Vergis interrupts, informing him that now he is interested in buying the Caprica Buccaneers for 300 million cubits. He offers several explanations why, but ends by reminding Daniel that Graystone Industries needs cash in order to buy enough time to solve its problems with the MCP.
Philomon takes a break in the Graystone Industries U-87 lab to smoke and to check his V-Match account; to his dismay, no one seems to be interested in him. He has a mock conversation with the U-87 about dating--until Daniel walks in.
In a warehouse on the Caprica City docks guarded by men with machine guns, Keon Gatwick informs Barnabas Greeley about Lacy's request. Keon vouches for her. Greeley walks out of his room, and shocks Keon with the sight of his right arm wrapped tightly and painfully with barbed wire; as Greeley puts it, "Pain keeps our brain from going down bad paths." He tells Keon that if God is guiding Lacy, then she will be accepted.
Clarice uses her holoband, and is sitting in a small confessional-like room with her disguised STO contact, Alvo. S/he tells Clarice that the "Conclave" supports Greeley over her quest for apotheosis. She argues that she needs more time in order to give the Conclave something tangible.
Walking through the halls of Graystone Industries, Xander tries to convince Daniel of the merit in Vergis' offer for the C-Bucs. Nothing they have done so far with the MCP has been successful, and the cash could give them the opportunity to find a solution. Daniel, however, remain suspicious.
Serge greets Clarice at the front door of the Graystone estate. Clarice is unsure how to respond to Serge, seemingly inexperienced with robots. Amanda intercedes and invites her in cheerfully, but grows quiet after accepting Zoe's books. They talk briefly about Agent Jordan Duram, and then Clarice notes a decanter of Scorpion Ambrosia. Both have a taste for it, even though most Capricans detest it. They start to drink, and Amanda invites Clarice into Daniel's lab to see Zoe's drawings.
At the Adama apartment, Joseph shows security camera photographs of Tad Thorean to Evelyn, and asks her to personally locate him.
Clarice's attention is drawn from Zoe's pictures to the U-87. She manages to place the swipe drive onto Daniel's computer and starts to download. She and Amanda talk about Zoe's hatred of Daniel's work and how she would react to having a "killer robot" in the house. Just as the download is completed, Amanda excuses herself for being drunk. They say farewell and embrace, with Clarice still clutching the drive.
Keon and Lacy arrive at the dock and meet with Greeley. Lacy hesitates to tell him the nature of what she wants transported offworld, admitting only that Zoe died trying to do so. Greeley rejects the request and dismisses her. He erupts at Keon for bringing her, but calms himself and encourages Keon to find out the nature of the cargo before making a final decision.
Alone in the estate lab, Zoe-A accesses a computer and hastily types a response to Philomon's V-Match profile.
In the Caprica mediasphere, Vergis' offer for the C-Bucs is announced, the Global Defense Department raises the security threat level to "Serious," and the latest episode of Backtalk with Baxter Sarno begins.
Baxter Sarno introduces his next guest, an inventor, philanthropist, and an "excellent kisser"--Vergis. He presents Sarno with Tauron cigars, jokes about his rivalry with Daniel, and expresses sympathy for the Graystones and for others who were close to the victims of the Maglev bombing. He then pleasantly surprises the audience by announcing his intention to become a Caprican citizen.
Philomon is working late when he receives an alert about a V-Match response from "Rachel." He slips on a holoband and enters the V-Club to meet her. Although Zoe-A is wearing glasses, Philomon instantly recognizes the face of Zoe Graystone. "Rachel" explains it as a failed attempt to protect herself from unwanted attention. Philomon confesses that despite the bombing, he admires Zoe Graystone's sense of principles.
Olaf and Nestor find Clarice at the Dive Bar, close to unconsciousness from alcohol and other drugs. However, they quickly find the swipe drive and note that she has completed her mission.
Daniel wakes up in the middle of the night, consumed with thoughts about the murders in Vergis' laboratory.
Evelyn enters the Adama apartment with copies of Tad Thorean's Caprica City driver's license and high school ID. She asks to look underneath a bandage at the tattoo on his chest. They both become awkwardly aware of their proximity to one another.
Talking over drinks in his living room, Daniel confidently rejects Vergis' offer for the C-Bucs and calls him out on his pretense of Caprican identity and allegiance, all a part of a scheme to win over Daniel's military contract. Vergis does not lie about his desire for the contract, but he continues that his real goal is "to tear up your dream." The two men killed during the break-in were close to him, "like brothers," so close that he served as no-ness to their children. He rolls up his sleeve and shows Daniel a long row of Tauron tattoos covering his forearm, with two marks near the top indicating these children, who are now orphans. Vergis pledges to take away the precious things in Daniel's life: the C-Bucs, Graystone Industries, and more.
According to The Caprican, the art Daniel Graystone and Tomas Vergis appreciate while speaking to one another is from Kobol. It is also real-life art by Bill Reid, Raven and the First Men, on exhibit in Vancouver and displayed on the back of the "Canadian Journey" series twenty dollar bill.
The first on-screen depiction of Tauron City is borrowed from Libran as shown in "The Plan." A small number of buildings were added to the shot, along with a wider view of the nighttime sky.
Philomon's V-Match profile identifies him as a fan of Gemenese monster movies and Backtalk with Baxter Sarno. Gemenese monster movies were previously referenced by Amanda Graystone in "Rebirth," stating that the U-87 reminded her of a monster that was depicted trampling Oranu.
In this episode, Sister Clarice confirms that her faction of the STO intended to use Zoe's avatar as a means for achieving immortality, which she terms "apotheosis." This is a curious parallel to both Daniel Graystone and Joseph Adama's own intents with the technology, as well as to the resurrection capabilities of the humanoid Cylons. It is likely that this latter parallel is intentional and possibly connected, although it is also known from "No Exit" that the Final Five are responsible for (re)creating resurrection technology. Additionally, "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?" makes it clear that the Significant Seven do not know how the technology works. The difference is that the process of Cylon resurrection does not create a digital clone of a person's personality, but rather downloads the same personality back into a humanoid Cylon body. The duplication part of "apotheosis" parallels the existence of multiple copies of the Cylon models.
Just prior to the attacks on the Twelve Colonies as shown in "The Plan," the Hybrid reporting on the progress of the attack utters the line "Apotheosis was the beginning before the beginning," possibly confirming a link between Clarice's aims and the evolution of the Cylon race.
Although Lacy Rand's meeting with Barnabas appeared to be fruitless, it was not necessarily so. Barnabas revealed in the following conversation with Keon that he is willing to work with Lacy, so long as he knows what she's up to.
It is possible, given the STO's interest in Zoe Graystone's avatar program that they will attempt to create digital avatars of themselves, as well as dead people they know.
Evelyn's intimate moment with Joseph Adama, while brief, indicates that Evelyn may indeed become Willie's stepmother, which would validate his parentage as established in "Hero".
The STO are headed by a body called the Conclave, for which Barnabas acts as an enforcer.
Did Clarice really obtain Zoe's avatar program? If so, will she and the STO make more avatars with it? (Answer)
Will the program ever be used to make more than one avatar of the same person?
Given the similarities between "apotheosis" (as described by Clarice's faction) and resurrection is there any connection between the two? If so are Zoe-A and Tamara-A related to the Significant Eight's original selves (before they assumed humanoid form)?
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: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training (TRS: "Fragged"); and basic flight training (TRS: "Miniseries")
Re-imagined Series definition: in military parlance, directive to continue the attack; otherwise used to refer to journalists (TRS: "Maelstrom")
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")
1978-10-22
{{{CAN airdate}}}
