Bastille Day

Overview[edit]

Continuing from the events of Water, the Battlestar Galactica and the fleet face a chronic water shortage. Their only recourse: persuade 1,500 prisoners on the transport vessel Astral Queen to help them mine water ice from a nearby Moon.

Summary[edit]

The Galactica's water supplies - critical to the fleet - have been sabotaged (33)
A source of water has been located on a nearby moon - but it is in the form of ice, and must be mined, which will require a crew of around 1,000
As that number cannot be spared from Galactica's crew, and it is unlikely civilians will volunteer, an attempt is made to persuade the prisoners on the Astral Queen mine the ice in return for their freedom
A delegation is sent to the Astral Queen and are confronted by Tom Zarek, a political prisoner, who has other ideas in mind
The delegation is taken hostage as the prisoners take over the ship, and Zarek forces a show-down
With Starbuck leading marines aboard the Astral Queen, and with orders to shoot Zarek given the chance, it is down to Lee Adama to defuse the situation

Elsewhere, Baltar is forced to stop equivocating over his Cylon detector

On Caprica[edit]

Helo and Valerii reach a relatively undamaged city
As they explore the city, they are observed by Doral and Six from a rooftop
Doral and Six discuss their hertiage as Cylons - the "children of humanity", Six expressing regret that humans must be destroy. Doral is less compassionate

Review[edit]

THE CYLONS WERE CREATED BY MAN. THEY REBELLED. THEY EVOLVED. THEY LOOK AND FEEL HUMAN. SOME OF THEM ARE PROGRAMMED TO THINK THEY ARE HUMAN. THERE ARE MANY COPIES. AND THE HAVE A PLAN.

Re-cap[edit]

The Astral Queen is carrying 500 prisoners (Mini-Series)
Galactica has lost her water reserves (Water)
Helo is on Caprica with Valerii.

Teaser[edit]

The teaser opens with a shot of the fleet standing-off a planetoid. The Galactica's intercom chimes, and is followed by an announcement that it is early morning, shipboard time. In Tigh's quarters, the Colonel rises from his cot and helps himself to two bottle-caps of his booze. We then see him turn up in the briefing room bright and cheery, "So what do we have?"

Tyrol informs him they have scouted the entire ice moon and found it contains a subsurface ocean. But: temperatures of 180 and below have been registered, together with the venting of methane and CO2, "It's going to be a bitch to work down there, sir."

Tigh tells Tyrol to lighten up: they're lucky to have found the water, and they have water riots breaking out all over the fleet. "Civilians! Whiny, civvie cry babies..." He points out that Galactica herself is "down to less than 10,000 JPs of water." He goes on to examine the results of water samples gathered by drilling the ice. The samples are 13% sodium chloride - salt water. Tigh is disgusted: the people can't drink salt water!

Tyrol agrees and states that's why he had Cally tested the ice - which is pure water. Tigh is pleased by this: "A couple of lemons and we could make lemonade!" - A comment that raises a snigger from Cally. It is evident that event on two capfuls of booze, he is a slightly “happy” man. Trying to bring order back to the meeting Tyrol points out that they'll have to melt the ice before bringing it up to the ship. Specialist Socinus adds it will take "high-capacity heaters, expansion tanks, D-25 plasma torches, pyrex hoses, centrifical pumps...."

"Sounds like a lot of manpower?" Tigh observes. Tyrol admits it will take 1,000 men. Tigh wants to know where they are going to come from....

....And the camera cuts to Adama's quarters, as Roslin states, "Slave labour." Adama points out "they" are prisoners who have been sentenced to hard labour. "And this is very hard labour. Not to mention physically dangerous." Lee points out that "their ship" wasn't designed for long-term incarceration, and that "these men" have been stuck in cramped cells for weeks - they might even prefer to get out and do something, even if it is dangerous.

Roslin agrees - providing they volunteer. The prisoners are not slaves, and she won't have them treated as such. Lee suggests they offer incentives to the prisoners: by doing the work, they can earn points towards their freedom and rehabilitation into the general populace. Adama is not happy: "You want to start releasing hardened criminals into the fleet?"

Lee responds that the prisoners were on their way to Caprica for parole hearings, which means that some of them may be ready for release. Adama tries to object, but Roslin cuts him off, "Make it happen, Captain." She then instructs Billy to address Commander Adama's concerns by going along and setting up a screening procedure to "weed out" the hardened criminals. Adama insists on having a representative from the Galactica participate in the screening, who will report directly to him on security issues - a statement which surprises Lee. Billy suggests "Dee", meaning Dualla. Adama agrees, but also wants someone from the ground crew to attend as Roslin hides a smirk at Billy's use of the familiar when referring to Dualla. Adama justifies the ground crew selection in that the selected men must be able to handle the equipment. Roslin agrees.

As she turns to leave, Billy reminds her about a "doctor." Roslin then asks Adama about his medical officer. Adama replies he has a Major Cottle, and asks if anything is wrong. "Nothing urgent," Roslin replies, "Allergies." Adama informs her that Cottle is out among the fleet, checking medical conditions, but he'll inform the doctor that she wants to see him.

Out in the corridor, Roslin teases Billy about his selection of Dualla. When Billy states he's taking her strictly for the technical details, Roslin smiles with an "Uh-huh." At the same time, in another corridor, Lee catches up with Adama. "Something on your mind, Captain?" Adama asks. "I just thought you might have something you wanted to say?" Lee replies. Adama replies flatly: "I have nothing to say to the personal representative of the President."

Lee points out that he is still the Galactica's lead pilot. Adama responds that he has nothing to say to him, either. "Every man has to decide for themselves which side they're on," he adds. Angered, Lee replies that he didn't know they were picking sides, and walks off without a salute. Watching him go, Adama mutters, "That's why you haven't picked one yet."

The camera cuts away to a ship as it makes a beauty pass, the words ASTRAL QUEEN PRISON TRANSPORT VESSEL appearing on screen as she does so. Aboard her, Lee, together with Billy, Dualla and Cally is walking with the Captain and a guard. The Captain informs them that he has 1500 prisoners on board. He doesn't have their names or their files - they're just numbers. They arrive at a PA console, which the Captain activates and hands the microphone to Lee. "All right, they're all yours."

Lee addresses the prisoners, introducing himself as "Captain Lee Adama, personal representative of the president." He then outlines the situation – the fact that thousands are on the verge of dying," and asks for the prisoner's help to get the water, and that any man volunteering to help will be granted "freedom points" that can be used towards an early release. He asks anyone interested to step out of their cell.

The doors to the cages open, but nothing happens. Then one man steps out of his cell: "Thank you for your offer,” he calls, “We...respectfully...decline."

Billy reacts as he recognises the speaker: "Oh my God...that's...that's Tom Zarek!"

"The terrorist?" Dualla questions, stepping forward, as chants break out in the cages below. Cups are banged on bars, building to a crescendo of noise as Zarek stand calmly in the aisle, looking up at Lee on the gantry, and the scene fades to the opening titles.

Acts[edit]

In a control room aboard the Astral Queen her Captain asks, "So who the hell is Tom Zarek?"

His voice edged with admiration, Billy replies that he is a freedom fighter, a prisoner of conscience. Dualla challenges him flatly: "He's a butcher." Billy replies that Zarek's colony was exploited by the other 11 for centuries, his people marginalised and brutalised. Dualla again cuts him off, reminding him that she is a Sagittaron, "and that man does not speak for all of us. He blew up a government building and there's no excuse for that."

As an argument threatens to engulf them, Cally reports to Lee that she's been watching the clock and that if they are going to get anyway, they need to move on. Lee agrees, stating Zarek has the prisoners united, so they must go through him.

Meanwhile, on CYLON-OCCUPIED CAPRICA, Helo and Valerii have reached a city and considering Caprica was bombarded from space using nuclear weapons, it is looking in remarkably good shape – not even the windows have been blown-in by any shock waves. Helo is bellowing at the top of his voice for anyone who can help - an odd thing to be doing in "occupied territory".

As the camera pans the city, we’re drawn down on the two of them, with the titles KARL C. AGATHON, CALLSIGN "HELO". DAY 12 ON CAPRICA appearing as Valerii pleads, "No more shouting, you're making me nervous." They move between two buildings, Valerii wondering where everyone is. "Dead," Helo replies, "In their beds, at their desks. Those that aren't probably ran for the hills..." Valerii accuses him of being morbid. He points out he's on the planet longer than her.

They are distracted by the sound of metal falling over and animal screams. Crossing to one of the building, they find a body on the sidewalk being eaten(?) by rats. Valerii reacts by almost vomiting. Helo puts a shot into the corpse to burn it. As smoke rises from off-camera, he realises Valerii is about to lose it and leads her away, hugging her and chiding her gently. As possible intimacy flares, he looks around, a little discomfited. "Let’s find a hospital and find some anti-radiation packs. We’ve got three days’ worth left." He steadies her as she look set to throw-up again, "Sharon, we made it this far, we're going to make it all the way...we're doing good, real good - someone must be watching over us!"

As they walk off together, we see them from the perspective of the roof of the building, and a voice states, "She's good," and we see Doral and Six watching Helo and Valerii. "So far," Six concedes. "Jealous?" Doral enquires. We look out over the city as Six and Doral walk. "This all makes me so sad," she states. Doral points out that humanity would have destroyed itself anyway, so the Colonials deserved what they got. "We are the children of humanity," Six points out. "That makes them our parents in a sense."

"True," Doral replies. "But parents have to die. It's the only way children come into their own."

Back on the Astral Queen, Lee enters Zarek's cage, escorted by a guard. After "formalities" are sorted - prisoners are forbidden to talk unless asked a direct question - Lee is shut in Zarek's cell to talk, while the guard retreats down the corridor. As he does so, the prisoners start tapping on the bars of their cages as he passes....

In Zarek's cell, Lee gets to the point: the Colonials need Zarek's men to help them. Zarek replies that the prisoners are not his men, pointing out that as prisoners, Lee "owns" them: "You're the master, we're the slaves."

Outside the guard continues to walk, the tapping on cell bars following him.

Lee tries to appeal to Zarek as a man of principle - citing the book he wrote; the book that Zarek points out was written in a labour camp and had to be smuggled out as prisoners are not allowed freedom of expression. Lee admits to having read the book in college – despite it being a banned text - and that, while radical, it had caused him to challenge some of the things he had previously accepted. He uses this to try and convince Zarek that he understands him, but that Zarek needs to understand that people in the fleet are going to start dying.

Outside of the cell area, the guard has reached the upper catwalk where the controls to the cells reside. Calling out to a colleague, he pulls a telescoping nightstick, "It's time for your break," he announces, felling the other guard with a blow from the stick. He then crosses to the cage controls....

...On the bridge, Dualla and Billy are still arguing about Zarek, when the Captain notices the security monitors failing...

...In Zarek's cell, Lee opens up to Zarek: "All I want - all the president wants - is a chance for you to earn your freedom." Zarek nods, "Now you've said the truth. Freedom is earned."

...On the gantry, the renegade guard releases the door locks, and in the cell blocks, doors swing open. Hearing this, Lee turns, only to be told by Zarek: "Say where you are, Captain. It'll all be over soon."

In the control centre, the door bursts open, the guard, now armed, leading armed prisoners who quickly take control of the Captain, Billy, Dualla and Cally.

As more prisoners spill into the corridor in the cell block, Lee dashes from Zarek's cell and lays into four of the prisoners before being knocked to the floor. Zarek reclines on his cell bunk as we hear the sounds of fists striking flesh and more prisoners heap on Lee....

Later, in the Astral Queen’s control room, the renegade guard informs Zarek that the crew and the hostages have been put in separate cells. Lee Adama, bloodied and bruised is unconscious on the floor, a prisoner standing over him with a shotgun. Zarek thanks the guard, "I knew I could count on you."

In the cells, Dualla tries to reassure Billy everything is going to be all right. Billy isn't so sure, all his comments about freedom fighters now evaporated. Cally points out they won't be hurt because that won't get “them” what they want. "Which is what?" Billy asks.

On Galactica, Baltar has been summoned to Adama's quarters, but is slightly lost. Turning to retrace his steps, he sees Starbuck, swaggering down the corridor with Boxey in tow. "Lieutenant Thrace, how nice to see you!" Thrace smiles and strokes his jacket as she passes. "How nice to see you to!" she responds. "Really?" Baltar asks. "No," she laughs, sharing a high-five with Boxey.

Watching them go, Baltar mutters, "I wonder if she's a real blonde?" From beside him, and not a little cattily, Six replies, "I doubt it."

In the pilots’ ready room, Starbuck - now smoking a cigar and wearing sunglasses - is apparently filling-in for Lee Adama while he is on the Astral Queen. She proceeds to rib one of the pilots about his heavy landings. She asks Boxey who this might be, and is informed it is Flat Top.

As the ribbing continues, Tigh enters and stands at the back of the room. As Thrace dismisses the pilots, he steps forward, "There's no smoking in the ready room." Starbuck replies, "My room, my rules. Sir." Looking at Boxey, Tigh asks, "Where's your mommy?" Which earns him a surly, near-sneering reply of, "Dead. Where's yours?" Ignoring him, Tigh asks, "I'm looking for Boomer." Boxey again replies, equally surly, "It's 14:00. Boomer's in the tool room," then turns and walks out. After he's gone, Tigh turns on Thrace, laying into her about treating heavy landings as a joke. Her response is to state that shouting at people doesn't always get the best results - and she learned that at officer candidate school - a comment that earns her another, "You are right on the edge" warning from Tigh. "Careful you don't fall off," he adds. Sniffing at his breath Starbuck retorts, "Talking of falling off. Good to see you've found a way to quench your thirst," and she also walks out of the ready room.

On the Astral Queen, Zarek enters the (locked) control room and starts examining the consoles. Watching him, Lee Adama informs him that there will be no negotiations while he is holding hostages. Zarek replies that he doesn't want to negotiate. He wants his crew to be treated like men, not animals. He then informs Lee they are going to talk. "What about?" Lee asks. "Your father," Zarek replies with a smile.

As the conversation starts, we cut to Adama's quarters. Baltar, having found his way there, is admiring a painting on the cabin wall as Adama pours them both a drink of water. Sensing something is wrong, Baltar starts babbling about the artist, attempting to flatter Adama - failing miserably. "Where's my Cylon detector?" Adama asks flatly.

Baltar starts making excuses as Adama sits, refusing to look at him, adding to Baltar's unease. Six appears to Baltar, "It's not working this time, Gaius," she mocks. "He can see right through you." This sets Baltar into another babble of excuses. "Cut the BS," Adama states quietly. "You said you had a way of detecting human from Cylon. Do you or don't you?"

For a moment Baltar freezes, summoning his courage, then states quietly, "I don't." Six is stunned by this, "What?" Glancing across the cabin to where she is apparently standing, Baltar continues that he doesn't believe that he is the right person for the work.

This causes Six to approach him, her look stern, "You have to do this," she tells him flatly. Baltar continues to babble to Adama, talking faster to try and cut her off: he's putting the job off because his subconscious telling him...telling him....that he's not the right man for the job...His tone becomes pleading, almost begging Adama.

Six interrupts him, moving between him and Adama, “Listen to me,” her voice is low and angry, “If you don't tell him what he wants to hear, he's going to find you out. And when he does, they're going to rip your head off..." The camera closes on her face as it twists into a mask of rage, "AND THROW YOUR BODY OUT OF AN AIRLOCK!"

The outburst shocks Baltar to the extent he drops his glass of water, smashing it. He apologies immediately to Adama, blaming his actions on a lack of sleep. Adama inhales deeply, his patience clearly running out. “Unfortunately, Doctor – for both of us – you’re the last man we have. So what's the game plan - Doc?"

Caught between the devil and the deep blue, Baltar steals a "peek" at Six, who is still angry. "This is what you say," she tells him, her voice menacing. Baltar then repeats her instructions, shocking himself as much as Adama when she has him ask for a nuclear warhead.

On the Astral Queen, Zarek is pumping Lee for information, asking him if his father's position is the reason Lee got to be the president's representative. When Lee replies this is hardly the case, Zarek surmises that Adama and Roslin don't get along.

"They have their differences," Lee allows, "But not when it comes to dealing with terrorists." This provokes an ironic smile from Zarek, "I thought you said you respected me. Read my book?" Lee nods, "That was before you resorted to violence and taking hostages." Zarek's smile fades. "It's always easier when the oppressed don't fight back, isn't it?"

On Galactica, Adama looks up at Baltar, "A warhead."

Baltar continues to follow Six's prompting, explaining that "technically" he needs the plutonium inside - and at that point she snarls, "Figure out the rest for yourself." Baltar does, falteringly at first and then, perhaps realising he actually has something, he continues more firmly and sure of himself.

As he finishes his explanation, Adama states that the Galactica has only five nuclear warheads left aboard, "We may need them." Baltar agrees, stating he understands, and that if Adama considers the project low priority...Adama makes to pour his unfinished water back in the jug. "You'll get your warhead," he states quietly, and Six turns to Baltar, all smiles, "Good boy."

"Thank you," he replies to her, then realising he's spoken aloud, he looks at Adama, "Commander."

In the hanger deck equipment locker, Tyrol is trying to reassure Boomer following recent events (Water). The Master-at-Arms has been through the small arms locker and hasn't found anything connecting the missing explosives with her. Boomer is still worried. As they hug, the door opens, and Tigh enters with a growl, causing them to part in embarrassment. Tigh states he needs to speak to Boomer on her own, and Tyrol exits. Tigh then chastises Boomer for the relationship, pointing out everyone from Adama on down knows about it. "We're just friends," she protests. Tigh isn't deflected. "Back when the ship was being decommissioned, we let you get away with it. Hell we let everyone get away with murder. But that was then and this is now. We're at war, this is a combat unit and you're his superior officer. Put a stop to it. That's an order." He then leaves as he is summoned to CIC.

He arrives in time to hear Zarek state the crew of the Astral Queen are his prisoners, but that they will not be harmed. Zarek goes on to make his demands in order to secure the release of his captives: 1. the immediate resignation of Laura Roslin as president; 2. open and free elections to choose a new leader. He concludes the broadcast - which has gone out to the entire fleet - with the words, "I make these demands not for me....but for you, the people. The survivors of the holocaust and the children of humanity's future. I am Tom Zarek, and this is the first day of a new era."

Following the broadcast, Adama jams the transmissions from the Astral Queen and contacts Roslin. She thinks the jamming is too late. Adama doesn't believe people will listen. Roslin states he has a lot to learn about public opinion and that there are those who would be willing to listen to Zarek - a prisoner of conscience ("a terrorist" Adama responds). She points out that rebellion is a contagious thing, and people are already rebelling as a result of the water crisis, and as such, they can't afford to destabilise her government. Adama agrees, and Roslin wants to know what he is "going in." Adama suggests she and Zarek talk first. Roslin responds that the government doesn't negotiate with terrorists. Adama replies that he didn't mean negotiate, he meant talk. She still refuses, even when Adama states he needs time to prepare. Roslin stands firm: her talking with Zarek gives his position legitimacy and recognition.

As Adama comes of the call, promising to let Roslin know what happens, he joins Tigh and Starbuck at the plot table, where Starbuck is running through an assault scenario using three Raptors and armed personnel. As she explains the plan, Tigh pulls her up: "What's this 'we' crap?" Thrace looks at Adama as she answers, "I'm going with them." Tigh objects and Adama upholds the objection. "We have a few marines left aboard the Galactica, Starbuck. Let them handle it." Starbuck points out the marines don't have a sniper - and that she's the best shot in or out of the cockpit. Tigh agrees with her, drawing a barely-hidden sideways look of surprise from Starbuck as she tries to suppress a smile. "Wonders never cease," Adama states, looking at the two of them. Then he confirms Thrace is on the mission and tells her that if she gets a clear shot at Zarek, she is to take it. "I want to control that ship immediately."

On the Astral Queen, Dualla wonders how she drew this particular detail, and Billy owns up. A few cells away, a prisoner strolls up to Cally's cell. Words are exchanged, the prisoner believing Cally is mocking him. He warns her that he and "Tom" go back a long way, and that she should be nice to him. Cally rolls over in her cot, ignoring him. On Galactica, the Raptors are prepared and the marines and Starbuck board them as engines wind up.

Back aboard the prison transport, Zarek challenges Lee: who voted for Laura Roslin? Lee replies that she was sworn in under the law. They argue the point, Zarek stating that they need to be "free" otherwise they are no different than the Cylons. As Lee walks away, Zarek tries a different approach, pointing out that Lee is named after a Lord of Kobol, one with conflicting responsibilities: god of the hunt and god of healing. He points out that while a god might be able to reconcile such conflicts, a mortal can’t. A mortal must pick a side. Has Lee picked a side?

At that point a call comes in from Galactica: Adama wishes to speak to Zarek. "Zeus is calling," Zarek says, crossing to the comms console. Taking the call, Zarek allows Lee to briefly speak to his father. Lee tries to tell him where the others are being held, but Zarek stops him. "How long until you storm the ship?" he asks Adama. For his part, Adama responds that he hopes it won't be necessary, that the two of them can talk things out. Zarek isn't fooled, "Your men are on their way, even as we speak." He demands Adama gets Roslin to step down. Adama replies that won't happen. "Then I look forward to meeting your men," Zarek ends the contact.

Outside the Astral Queen, three Raptors come up under the ship and invert themselves relative to her and clamp onto her hull.

On the prison block, Cally is taken by the prisoner who spoke to her earlier and led down the corridor, Billy and Dualla first trying to reassure her, and then calling for Lee.

In the control centre, Zarek and Apollo continue their conversation, Lee pointing out that it sounds as if his father is willing to talk. When Zarek doesn't respond, Lee realises the truth: Zarek wants Adama to send troops in. Outside, docking collars are extended to the hull of the Queen from the Raptors, a seal is formed and the collars pressurised. Plasmas torches start burning through the hull. Zarek admits that yes, he wants the troops to storm the Queen - he wants a massacre - but not for the reasons Lee puts to him: to "go out in a blaze of glory"; rather because he knows that if there is a bloody confrontation on the Astral Queen in which prisoners and hostages are killed, then the people will reject Roslin as their leader.

Starbuck and her teams make it into the Queen. In her cell, Duella tries to reassure Billy that Cally will be all right. The silence is shattered by a terrified scream - Cally. It shocks Duella and Billy. It shocks prisoners in the corridor and it freezes Starbuck and her team.

The only ones not to hear it are Zarek and Lee, who doesn't believe Zarek's statement; "You've been saying everything you're doing is for freedom. But the truth is it's all about Tom Zarek and his personal death wish." They are interrupted by the arrival of the renegade guard with the news that something has happened." As they rush from the control centre, there is a single gunshot, which leads Starbuck to believe the hostages are being killed. She moves her team out at the double as another team moves board the ship and starts taking out prisoners. Then the sound of a man screaming fills the air...

...In the prison block, a crowd is gathering at one cell. Locked inside is the prisoner who took Cally, bleeding profusely from his right ear, and Cally herself, on the floor with a gunshot wound to her midriff. Zarek arrives and demands to know what is going on. The prisoner in the cell cries out that Cally bit his ear off. With bloodied mouth and clutching her wound, Cally screams, "Frak you!" before spitting out the rest of his ear.

Lee demands the door to the cell be opened. He turns to Zarek. "You said they weren't animals. What do you call this? He's going to kill her. DO something!"

Zarek rounds on him, blaming Lee. "You did this! You put him in a cage! You made him a monster!"

Above them, a prisoner on the gantry is taken out: the third team from Galactica has arrived. In the cell the prisoner threatens to shoot Cally again, as Starbuck takes up position on the gantry. Lee turns to Zarek. "He's going to kill her!" Zarek snarls back, "You reap what you sow!" As all eyes focus on the prisoner and Cally, Lee moves: striking the armed renegade guard, he grabs his firearm and in short order shots the prisoner and puts the gun to Zarek's head. Above him, Starbuck also takes aim, but her shot is partially obscured by Lee. She mutters for him to shoot Zarek. "How about it, Tom?" Lee asks, unaware of the Galactica's presence. "You still have a death wish? You ready to leave this world, right here. Right now?" Looking him in the eye, Zarek nods. "Yes."

"Too bad," Lee replies. He then tells Zarek he's going to tell his men to help secure the needed water, that they are going to earn their points and their freedom - and then Zarek will get his elections. He goes on to state that Zarek is right about democracy and the consent of the people, and the people of the fleet will have democracy: and Zarek can have it to, or a bullet.

Zarek wants to know how he can be sure Adama and Roslin will go along with what Lee is saying. Lee admits he doesn't but if he lets the hostages go, they'll leave the ship in his hands, and if the worst comes to the worst, he can still have his last stand here. "It's your choice," Lee concludes. "You reap what you sow."

Zarek agrees and orders the prisoners to lower their weapons. Lee shoots his way into the cell and checks Cally, assuring her she's going to be OK. Zarek follows him to check on the prisoner. In doing so, he exposes himself to Starbuck, who flicks on the laser targeting unit on her gun. Seeing the dot on Zarek's temple, Lee pulls him out of the line of fire under the cot and Starbuck fires, missing Zarek, but causing a panic. Lee orders a cease fire, a cry that is taken up by the marines, and for the first time the prisoners realise they are surrounded. Weapons are lowered and Lee calls to the marines for a medic.

Later, on Colonial One, Lee faces Roslin, "I don't believe it," and Adama, "It's unacceptable." Lee looks at them both. "The prisoners have full control of the Astral Queen. We evaced all the guards and support personnel. It's their ship." Adama responds that they are a threat to the entire fleet. Lee disagrees: they've been disarmed, their ship has no weapons. "The ship itself is a weapon!" Adama snaps in reply. Lee continues, stating the Astral Queen is totally dependent on the rest of the fleet for food and fuel and the prisoners have agreed to help with obtaining the water. Roslin confronts him on the subject of the elections he has committed her to holding. Lee points out that she is in effect serving out the remainder of President Adar's term, and as such, elections would have been due in 7 months anyway, he therefore only committed her to obeying the law.

Roslin and Adama are still indignant, both of them launching into counter-arguments. Lee cuts them both off. "I swore an oath to defend the Articles. The Articles say there is an election in seven months. Now if you're telling me we're throwing out the law, then I'm not a Captain," looking at Adama: "You're not a commander;" looking at Roslin, "And you are not the president and I don't owe either of you a damned explanation for anything."

Roslin and Adama exchange looks. "He's your son," she admits. "He's your advisor," Adama counters. Roslin agrees to the election and Adama steps up to his son. "I guess you've finally picked your side." He then leaves.

Tag[edit]

On Galactica, Starbuck enters Tigh's cabin and produces a hip flask. Taking two cups, she hands one to Tigh and fills them both. Without a word, she salutes him with her cup and they both drink, Tigh somewhat suspiciously. "What the hell is this? Water?"

"You bet your ass. And there's plenty more where that came from," she smiles, refilling his cup. She then admits, "I have my flaws too." Tigh's reply is immediate, "The difference is, my flaws are personal; yours are professional." The comment causes Starbuck to almost choke on her second cup of water. Sipping at his, Tigh nods, "Thank you, Lieutenant. That will be all." Dismissed, Thrace turns and leaves, and Tigh finishes his drink.

In sickbay, Tyrol and some of his crew visit a recovering Cally. "Is it true you bit off his ear?" Socinus asks. "He's lucky that's all I bit off," she replies.

Back on Colonial One, Roslin is resting when Lee Adama knocks on her cabin bulkhead. He apologises for disturbing her, but wanted to say goodbye before heading back to Galactica, and to explain he wasn't being disloyal in what he arranged with Zarek - and that in the election's she'll have his vote. This admission prompts Roslin to reveal her cancer to him; making Lee only the second person in the fleet to know about her condition.

Questions[edit]

Both Six and Zarek make references to "humanity's children", is there a connection?
Is Zarek genuinely willing to die for the cause of anarchy?
Can Baltar really use a nuclear warhead to build a Cylon detector, or does Six have some other plan? (Flesh and Bone

Analysis[edit]

Another good episode, if a little contrived towards the end.

Certainly, this is Lee Adama's episode through and through, and the kid is finding his feet: he stands by those principles he signed-up to in joining the military, he faces off against his father and risks earning Roslin's scorn, and he handles himself with Zarek admirably well. He not only grows dimensionally as a character as the episode progresses he also matures as a man, finally and truly stepping out of his father's long shadow.

Jamie Bamber turns in an excellent performance as Lee Adama, hitting his mark perfectly throughout, and his scenes with Richard Hatch are perfect for not only the dynamic that grows between the two characters, but also for the amount of background information that is very carefully crafted into the dialogue.

Indeed, alongside Jamie Bamber, this is very much Richard Hatch's episode. He turns in a fine performance as Zarek and one can instantly understand why he has been invited back. It would be interesting to put Hatch's Zarek face-to-face against Olmos' Adama; both hold a tremendous amount of power when on-screen.

It is interesting how the imagery abounds in this episode: how the old cliché that "one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist" is subtlety reviewed against the more traditional lines of argument (the byplay between Zarek and Lee Adama played out behind the deliberate verbalising of the cliché through Dualla and Billy); how the question of “taking sides” and reconciling conflicts are encompassed in Lee Adama’s ability to resolve the hostage situation through actions that are neither aligned with Adama or with Roslin.

Dynamics are strong elsewhere in the episode as well - most obviously between Baltar and, respectively, Six and Adama.

The former dynamic again takes a new twist as this is the first time we see her "angry" with Baltar and able to go beyond gentle manipulation of his thoughts and move into outright domination of his conscious thinking.

In his confrontation with Adama, Baltar manages to come across as simultaneously weak, intelligent, child-like and borne of wisdom beyond his years. Genius personified? Perhaps - but that is precisely what Baltar is supposed to be; albeit flawed, and James Callas combines all of it so powerfully on screen.

As with previous episodes, "Bastille Day" continues to touch on pieces from the mini and earlier episodes. Despite all that is packed into this one, we still find three minutes in which the Boomer / detonator plot is moved forward, and we get the confirmation that the Boomer / Tyrol relationship is well-known throughout the ship. At the same time, Tigh's alcoholism is touched upon; and the Starbuck / Tigh conflict renews itself - this time with more subtlety than in the Mini Series.

At the conclusion of the mini, Tigh made overtures to Starbuck following her manoeuvres that rescued Lee Adama when his Viper was crippled. At the time, Starbuck rejected Tigh's attempts at reaching an understanding out-of-hand. Now, in "Bastille Day", it is Starbuck's turn to make overtures following Thigh's support of her in putting together the plan to re-take the Astral Queen - only to be rejected by Tigh. In keeping with one of the motifs of the episode, Starbuck reaps what she has sown.

However, there are a few minor irritants in the episode:

The resolution to the hostage crisis being precipitated by problems within the ranks of the hostage-takers (Cally being taken away by another prisoner) came across as a trifle contrived, having been done often enough one way or another in the past to be considered in some ways trite.
The way Helo, supposedly deep in enemy-held territory walks around town shouting at the top of his lungs – and act he could reasonably expect would bring any nearby Cylons down on him and Valerii like a tonne of bricks.
The fact that, despite hearing about and seeing the nuclear bombardment of Caprica in the mini-series, the city Helo and Valerii enter is totally undamaged. Not a broken window, not a collapsed building not a single uprooted tree. Given the size of the warheads the Cylons were using and the devastation they wrought (witness the shockwave that took out Baltar’s house in the mini-series), this is unfortunate. At least some of the skyline of the city could have been CGI’d to look as if it had been bombed.

--Colonial Archivist 09:49, 15 Jan 2005 (EST)

Notes[edit]

Richard Hatch played the character of Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica television series.
Events here take place 4 days after those of Water.
The Astral Queen is actually a prison ship carrying some 1500 prisoners, and not 500 as stated in the Mini Series.
Starbuck is a crack shot with a rifle.
The Colonials are going to be facing a fuel shortage at some point.
Raptors are designed for marine assault and include an extendable docking skirt in their underside that can be pressurised (and possibly used in rescue operations?).
The Galactica has a small contingent of marines onboard - perhaps around the 20-30 mark.
The Galactica has five "remaining" nuclear warheads.
The Lords or Kobol are the Olympian gods of Greek mythology.
The quip made by the Astral Queen's captain, "I'm a bus driver, not a warden", is a homage to the original Star Trek television series. It is similar to Doctor Leonard McCoy's trademark quote, "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer", or whatever fits at the time in the latter portion of the statement.

Noteworthy Dialogue[edit]

Choosing Sides[edit]

Adama: Every man has to decide for themselves which side they are on.
Apollo: I didn't know we were picking sides. (walks off)
Adama: That's why you haven't picked one yet.

Children of Humanity[edit]

On Cylon-occupied Caprica:

Doral: She's good.
Six: So far.
Doral: Jealous?
Six: This all makes me so sad.
Doral: (matter-of-fact) They would have destroyed themselves anyway. They deserve what they got.
Six: We're the children of humanity. That makes them our parents in a sense.
Doral True - but parents have to die. It's the only way children come into their own.

Later, aboard the 'Astral Queen', in a broadcast by Tom Zarek:

Tom Zarek: I make these demands not for me....but for you, the people. The survivors of the holocaust and the children of humanity's future. I am Tom Zarek, and this is the first day of a new era.

Official Statements[edit]

Statistics[edit]

Guest Stars[edit]

Writing & Direction[edit]

Written by Toni Graphia
Directed by Alan Kroeker

Production Notes[edit]

Series: 1 (2004 / 2005)
Production Number: 1.03
Airdate Order: 3 (of 13)

First Run Air Dates & Releases[edit]

UK Airdate: 1 November 2004 (Sky One)
US Airdate: 28 January 2005 (Sci-Fi Channel)
DVD Release: N/A