FARSCAPE

PREVIOUSLY ON FARSCAPE

Teaser opens with standard voiceover by "The SciFi Prime Chick": "Previously on Farscape."

Insert clips from "Thanks For Sharing":

JohnM: "You can tell I'm the original, right?"
JohnT: "Wrong... I'm the original."

Insert clips from "Infinite Possibilities, Part 2: Icarus Abides": John makes his not quick enough dive to close the cover on the displacement drive, cutting immediately to the deathbed scene.

John: "Radiation... massive radiation."

Insert clips from "The Choice": Stark's recorded 'farewell' words.

Stark: "It is vital you take what I have left you... to the Crichton on Moya."
Rygel: "Why would Stark leave this? What do you think the other Crichton wants with it?"

Standing on the ledge of the hotel room, Aeryn gives a shout out to an absent comrade.

Aeryn: "Crichton!"

Teaser closes with standard voiceover by the Scifi Prime Chick:

"And now... on Farscape."

---

COLD OPEN

STOCK CGI - Ext Space - a long shot of bright star filled sky scattered through with bright white nebulous stellar material, the hum of Moya's engines building as the ship hurtles toward camera in an obvious hurry, rushing overhead, camera angle up until out of frame.

INT Moya - COMMAND - D'Argo leads the way as he and John rush onto command. Running to catch up, John enters, barechested, behind D'Argo, a different shirt in each hand.

D'ARGO: Well, is it them, or isn't it?

PILOT: Moya can't be certain until she's closer.

JOHN: ( holding out the shirts in either hand ) Which one, green or black?

D'ARGO: This is not the time.

JOHN: D'Argo! Green or black?

D'ARGO: Well, the black of course!

John immediately discards the shirt in his left hand and pulls the black shirt over his head as D'Argo rattles on.

D'ARGO: I mean, far be it from me to say, but I've always thought that the cut of that green shirt doesn't suit the shape of your body.

[ Gotta disagree there, D. That green shirt was awesome! ]

JOHN: ( pulling the shirt on ) You know, it's gotta be them. We are near the rendezvous point.

Examining the readouts on one of the forward consoles, John adjusts the shirt over his shoulders. Standing across command at the opposite control console, D'Argo also examines the readouts there.

D'ARGO: If it is them... why are they on a transport pod, and where is Talyn?

Tucking the shirt in smoothly, John responds with a slight negative shake of his head. [ oh, man... very nice guys! ]

INT MOYA - QUARTERS

In Jool's Quarters - close on Chi, reflected in the mirror, slightly sour expression on her face as Jool rattles on in the background.

JOOL: Oh-ho-ho... Crichton is not going to like having the other Crichton around.

Camera pulls back to med as Jool approaches, sliding a 'boostier' in front of Chiana, holding it to her. Both reflected in the mirror and shot from slightly behind

CHIANA: He'll like having Aeryn aboard, though. ( beat ) You want me to wear this?

Jool steps around in front of Chiana, eyeing the outfit. From behind Chi we can see the vacant area standing out in front of Chiana's chest, the area that normally contains Jool's ample bosom. Chi's skeptical look is reflected in the mirror over Jool's shoulder. Jool grins happily.

JOOL: Yeah, you look blixk!

CHIANA: In this?

JOOL: Yeah.

CHIANA: I don't think so.

INT MOYA - COMMAND

Lomg shot across command, looking out the forward portal at a small object approaching. John and D'Argo stand leaning over the control consoles, John's still fidgeting with his shirt. [ Funky green screen effect here. Wha happened? ]

PILOT: The Transport Pod has turned and is heading our way.

JOHN: You make contact yet?

PILOT: Yes, but they're not responding.

D'Argo turns toward John, his voice subdued, camera cuts to long from behind D'Argo to John, and panning right as John moves to stand beside him, hands on hips, then fidgeting with the collar of his shirt.

D'ARGO: You know what? Perhaps they can't respond. In the last message we recieved, all they said is that they defeated a Retrieval Squad. We don't know at what cost.

JOHN: ( quietly ) D'Argo, if Talyn is a casualty, then...

D'ARGO: John, I'm sure everyone's all right.

PILOT: Rendezvous in 600 microts.

John pats D'Argo on the arm and bolts from Command, D'Argo turning to follow, gives a few last instructions.

D'ARGO: Pilot, there could be casualties. Have them land near the Med area, and get Jool and Chiana down here, fast!

CUT TO - STOCK CGI; Ext. Space - Transport Pod approaching Moya's open exterior hangar doors, disappearing inside.

CUT TO - INT. Moya - [ another funky green screen affect, looks unfinished ] Looking out from the Maintenance Bay, Transport Hangar doors open on a parked pod, ladder slowly unfolding and decending to the deck. Camera pans down; L to R from behind, John, Chiana, Jool and D'Argo; John pushes Chiana behind him as the doors widen and the base of the ladder hits the deck. Chia peers around his shoulder. On the far side of Jool, D'Argo holds his Qualta Blade at the ready. John looks like he's still panting from his run.

CHIANA: She's gonna be walkin' off that pod.

Camera cuts to long into Maintenance Bay, everyone looks calm and collected, except John, fidgeting badly, leaning against the worktable as she tries to reassure him.

CHIANA: I know it.

JOOL: Chiana's right. Aeryn's fine. I'm sure the other you has taken extra good care of her.

John turns a disbelieving look on Jool, Chiana and D'Argo also shoot her an extraspecial look. Standing erect, hands clasped in some serious lookin bondage gear, Jool seems oblivious until a few seconds after, cut to close on Jool and Chiana as her head jerks in John's direction. Contritely she attempts to backpedal and make it better.

JOOL: I mean... all I meant was that I'm sure that...

Chiana pantomines a disbelieving "Jool!" at her as she forges badly ahead.

JOOL: ...he did everything that you would have done if you had been with Aeryn... ( trailing off weakly ) all this time.

Cut to close on John, looking up and away, a fearful resigned look on his face. [ She's not saying something that hasn't been through his head a million times in the last half cycle I guess ].

Cut to Transport Pod as unexpected guests step out of a heavy mist. An oddly pale Scarran, red eyes burning in his face, hauling someone by the neck, someone else, still concealed in the mist stands to the Scarran's left.

Cut to the foursome in the Maintenance Bay, D'Argo bringing his Qualta Blade to bear and John unholstering his pulse pistol with alacrity. All four are badly startled.

JOHN: Don't move!

Cut to med on an odd threesome at the base of the Transport Pod's steps. Still walking forward, the pale, scaleless Scarren, hauling a green garbed Sebacean by the neck, and a pale and frightened looking Nebari. At John's command they slow and stop. Cut to closeup on John.

JOHN: Please... don't move.

Cut to the threesome in the Hangar, the Scarran taking in a deep breath, deep gashes across his face. The Nebari seems uninjured.

HUBERTO: I doubt that we could.

Cut to close on Chiana, a nifty, smaller size pulse pistol out in her hand, bearing on the 'guests'.

D'ARGO: Identify yourselves!

NAJ GIL: Our calling card...

The Scarran dumps the Sebacean on the deck. A DRD hovers close to the face of the semi-concious male.

NAJ GIL: ... a Peacekeeper tralk.

John spares a quick glance at the guy on the floor, then his gaze shoots back up to the Scarran. Close on the Scarran as a small bluish Hynerian female pokes her head up over his head and shoulders. [ She looks inspired by one of the Gabors, her blue hair curled over her head, and wearing an elaborate RED gown ]

ORRHN: ( groaning ) We have just escaped from imprisonment... can you help us?

Cut to D'Argo's "I cannot believe this" look, Cut to Jool and Chiana. Chi still holding her weapon on the threesome, Jool shoots her a "I cannot believe this" look. Cut to close on John's cold expression, still holding his weapon on the new arrivals.

END COLD OPEN

---

ROLL OPENING CREDITS

"My name is John Crichton... I'm lost... an astronaut... shot through a wormhole.... In some distant part of the universe.... I'm trying to stay alive... Aboard this ship-- this living ship... of escaped prisoners-- my friends. If you can hear me... beware... if I make it back... will they follow? If I open the door... are you ready? Earth is unprepared, helpless... for the nightmares I've seen. Or should I stay, protect my home, not show them you exist. But then you'll never know the wonders I've seen."

---

ACT I

CGI - EXT SPACE

The hum of Moya's engines drawing closer as she moves overhead and away, heading toward the rendezvous again.

INT MOYA - CENTER CHAMBER

Jool removes a heavily laden tray from the heating unit, she's serving a meal to the new arrivals while D'Argo 'interrogates' them.

D'ARGO: You were travelling through the Uncharted Territories in a Transport Pod?

RAJ GIL: A pod that was meant as a target for the weapons testing of a new Peacekeeper deep space device.

Both Raj and Orrhn are sitting at the table, D'Argo stands inside the entrance, Qualta Blade still held at the ready, but not pointed at anyone in general. Jool places the tray in front of Orrhn and turns to move away.

ORRHN: Uh... you have more Janeray Syrup?

Jool turns around, placing her hands on hips in an irritated manner.

JOOL: ( sighs ) She is like Rygel.

ORRHN: ( whimpers )

D'ARGO: What were you doing in a pod meant for weapons testing?

RAJ GIL: We were part of the test.

ORRHN: They wanted to see how different species would react to fire from their new weapon.

RAJ GIL: How we would die.

ORRHN: The Peacekeeper Tech was doing a last microt check of the pod. We were able to... overpower him--

RAJ GIL: I... was able to overpower him.

ORRHN: --and blast ourselves... out of there.

D'Argo cautions Jool as she moves to 'serve' the Scarran a platter of foodstuffs.

D'ARGO: Ah, ah, ah! Not too close. He's a Scarran.

Jool cautiously extends the tray to the Scarran.

RAJ GIL: If you are concerned because of my heat protection...

Raj pulls a covering away from his chest, revealing a long line of heavy black staples sealing a long awful looking incision curving across his left breast.

RAJ GIL: First thing Peacekeepers do with Scarran prisoners. By... removing the gland, it protects them and... weakens me.

INT - TRANSPORT POD

Chiana, John and the Nebari, Hubero, enter the darkened and completely trashed pod. Crap and goo hanging from pretty much everywhere, as well as strewn across the deck.

CHIANA: Frell. This pod is comin' apart at the seams.

HUBERO: The weapon the Peacekeepers were testing destroys the bonding of metallic molecules. That's why this pod is so damaged.

Flashlight perched on his shoulder, John moves the beam across the pod interior.

JOHN: What exactly are we lookin' for?

HUBERO: A Boolite.

JOHN: And what does he look like? Big, small, hairy, blue, green?

HUBERO: He doesn't... look like he used to. You see... Boolites have a much much higher metal content than other species, so... when the weapon hit our pod...

John spots a piece of quivering yuck on the deck near the pilot's chairs.

JOHN: Excuse me.

He plucks the piece of crap from the floor, holding it up in the light, showing it to Hubero.

JOHN: What the hell is this?

HUBERO: That's the Boolite. Or at least, a part of him.

John hastily discards the piece of Boolite onto the Pilot's station.

JOHN: Okay.

HUBERO: Boolite body parts can survive independent of the main body for as much as half a cycle.

JOHN: Right. And he's still alive?

HUBERO: You have to try to save him. Help put him back together.

John eases carefully backward, eyes on the yuck coated deck, his steps accompanied by wet squishing noises.

JOHN: Right.

CGI - EXT SPACE

Talyn moves slowly from fl to fr, red stellar nebula in the bg. Stock CGI.

INT TALYN - THE BRIDGE

RYGEL: ( irritably ) Why aren't they at the rendezvous point? If I have to spend two more microts on this midget ship... I'm going to vomit!

CRAIS: Talyn has found Moya... at the extreme range of his senses.

RYGEL: ( crankyasslike ) Oh! Was it too much to ask that they be where they said they'd be?!

Aeryn enters, crosses the Bridge and places Stark's mask on the console.

AERYN: Talyn, set intercept course.

INT MOYA - PILOTS DEN

Close on Pilot.

PILOT: He's coming! He's coming! It's Talyn...

INT MOYA - CORRIDORS

Medium shot on John and D'Argo listening.

PILOT: He's on an intercept course.

Camera zooms to close on John and D'Argo, D'Argo watching indulgently as John fidgets nervously, carefully subdued panic in his blue eyes. Finally, turning toward D'Argo, he notices the 'indulgent' look.

JOHN: What?

D'ARGO: Why don't you go and, ah, welcome them back? I'll make sure our guests don't get into any trouble.

JOHN: ( small smile ) Thanks, man.

John turns and runs for the Transport Hangar, shot cuts to long on his retreating length, affectionately patting Moya's bulkhead as he jogs along, disappearing around the bend. Cut to close on D'Argo, shakin' his head a bit.

CGI - EXT SPACE - MOYAS EXTERIOR HANGAR DOORS

Transport Pod on approach to Moya's exterior hangar doors, angle down, camera pans down to observe pod entering hangar. Stock CGI [ "Pilot, I'm bringin' Miss Kitty back from the OK Corral." ].

INT MOYA - TRANSPORT HANGAR

Long shot across the hangar, into the bay from the side of the decended pod ladder. John runs in, pulling up just outside the Transport Hangar, close on John's expectant expression, a wide smile on his face. Already down at the base of the ladder, Rygel, a frown on his face-- earbrows tipped down sadly, hovers toward John. Rygel's lips quirk into a brief smile at a familiar greeting.

JOHN: Sparky! How you doin', man? Long time no see.

RYGEL: ( uneasily ) Yes, ah... good to see you too! But if anything is missing from my quarters, blood is going to spill. ( chuckles )

Rygel glides past John, who looks down at him affectionately, still smiling.

JOHN: Whatever.

Crais decends the ladder, a heavy bag in his right hand, small black and red backpack over his left shoulder. He also looks grimly solemn, approaching John and stopping before him. John even has a smile for him.

JOHN: ( nods a greeting ) Crais.

Crais nods in return and walks past him, John looks up again as Aeryn decends the ladder. Unsurprisingly, she also looks very grim. Also carrying a couple of bags, she stops at the bottom of the ladder as John happily takes in the sight.

JOHN: Well, there's a familiar face.

Aeryn approaches slowly, silent and unsmiling, she stops just before him. His smile wans a bit but shines forth again, he nods greetings, in anticipation.

AERYN: Hello, John.

He nods again, smile brightening just a bit, but slowly fading as she walks by him without speaking further. Hands still on his hips, and head slightly turned he blinks in slight confusion. Just listening to her retreating footsteps. Cut to long on his slightly turned head and close on Aeryn as she makes her way out of the Maintenance Bay. Cut to close on Crais as she passes. He is definitely feeling her pain as well as he watches her go before turning back to Crichton. Cut to wide shot on John and Crais, John walking slowly across the Maintenance Bay, eyes fixed on Aeryn's retreat. Passing Crais he slows and stops, looking back at him.

JOHN: What's wrong?

CRAIS: The, uh... other... Crichton... is dead.

Crais hands John the heavy bag he was carrying as he passes on this news. Close on John trying to comprehend. With a thump he drops the bag at his feet, turning to Rygel for confirmation. In this thronesled Rygel sadly inclines his body in that confirmation. Cut to close on John's confused expression which abruptly vanishes as his head turns quickly toward Aeryn's exit. Close on John, a grim and saddened expression, his emotions mostly unreadable, but exuding an almost palpable pain. a heavy shadow falling directly across his face. Behind him, Crais only watches silently.

Cut to close on Rygel, head uplifted, sniffing the air.

RYGEL: ( sniffing ) Ah... you have, ah, visitors on Moya?

JOHN: ( haltingly ) Yeah, there's um...

RYGEL: ( sniffing ) A female!

INT MOYA - QUARTERS

Close on Zhaan's regal portrait of Rygel, pan R to Orrhn examining various doodads on a table as Rygel hovers into the room.

RYGEL: Oh, it is... a female ( chuckling )

Orrhn turns, startled, and on seeing Rygel, bows.

RYGEL: Oh! Please rise. You... recognize me?

ORRHN: Who could forget the Royal Profile?

RYGEL: ( appreciative murmur )

ORRHN: You're alive.

RYGEL: Indeed. And you are...?

ORRHN: Orrhn Pak, from the Jensile Province.

RYGEL: Oh...

ORRHN: Or, at least... I was.

RYGEL: And you have been a Peacekeeper prisoner?

ORRHN: Arrested... because I refused allegiance to... Dominar Bishan.

RYGEL: Oh, that's no crime. It's an act of courage.

ORRHN: Oh! I shouldn't have been speaking of myself, of my travails, when I am in... your presense. Forgive me... your highness. Forgive me.

Orrhn bows obsequiously.

RYGEL: No... it is permissable... for you to be the focus of attention, if I desire it. And I, uh, I...

Orrhn bats her eyelashes seductively.

RYGEL: I... do so... desire it.

CUT TO INT. MAINTENANCE/MED BAY - close on a drawing Hubero is attempting.

HUBERO: I'm not well-schooled in the arts.

Camera pulls out and wide, Chiana stands on the opposite side of the table, coaching Hubero. Behind them, Jool is moving some equipment around in the medical section of the bay.

CHIANA: It just needs to give us some idea of what the Boolite looks like.

The Scarran, Naj Gil, enters, followed by a Qualta bearing D'Argo.

D'ARGO: Stand there!

NAJ: As you instruct.

D'ARGO: And don't even think about moving.

Naj stops in the middle of the bay, D'Argo past him, stopping a few feet away.

D'ARGO: Chiana.

Chiana leaves Hubero's side and meets D'Argo for a brief catch-up, voices slightly subdued.

CHIANA: Have you seen Aeryn and the others?

D'ARGO: Only for a moment.

CHIANA: Not quite the reunion we were expecting. The other Crichton, dead, and-- and Stark searching for Zhaan's spirit.

D'ARGO: Well, with a single Crichton and Stark missing, perhaps it will restore some sanity to the ship.

Quick cut to long on all five in the Maintenance/Medical Bay. Chiana at center, back arched, arms back, and eyes focused on a point opposite D'Argo... shot ramps at high speed to quick close up on Chiana. She snaps her pistol out, aiming toward the point she had been looking.

CHIANA: Stand back!

D'ARGO: What?

Everyone looks around nervously.

CHIANA: The pulse blast. Didn't you hear it?!

D'ARGO: ( annoyed ) No.

Raj fidgets and Chi turns her weapon on him.

CHIANA: Stay there. ( looks back at D'Argo ) No?

D'Argo doesn't bother to conceal his irritation.

CHIANA: Okay, okay... it's happenin' again. I'm frellin' sensin' stuff before it happens.

D'ARGO: ( scowling ) So much for sanity.

D'Argo heads out, herding Naj before him.

D'ARGO: Move! ( beat ) Move!

CHIANA: D'Argo, I heard a pulse blast! ( beat ) Frell!

CUT TO INT. CORRIDOR - Aeryn walks solo down a corridor, her solitude interrupted by frantic shouts.

TAL: ( shouting ) Hey! Hey, come on. You can't leave me in here!

Aeryn follows the shouts around a curve in the corridor, to the young Sebacean male peering out the bars of a closed cell door. She stops a slight distance away. [ Oh, and the reason this actor looks familiar to me; he played "Mouse", in The Matrix. Whew. ]

TAL: You're a Peacekeeper. They beat me... they took me hostage.

AERYN: You're a fugitive.

She turns away slightly.

TAL: I'm a member of the Peacekeepers. If you help me out of here, they'll be a big... big reward.

AERYN: ( smirking ) What? 200 darcats for a Tech?

She walks away, stopping again at his voice.

TAL: Those escaped prisoners you have on your ship... they're dangerous. Don't you care?

She turns back, eyeing him silently, then turns away.

AERYN: No, not any more.

She walks away.

CUT TO INT. JOHN'S QUARTERS - close on his hands, unzipping the heavy bag given him by Crais. Spreading the opening slightly his hands pause as he surveys the contents.

Cut to long on John, standing on the opposite side of his bed, the bag open on it. He pulls out the EVA suit the other John used on Talyn, eyeing it briefly before tossing it on the bed. Next he pulls out and unfolds the heavy PK Coat. Lifting it to eye level, he surveys it briefly, and then presses the material to his face, inhaling. Cut to close on John, eyes closed, appreciating whatever scent lingers in the fibers of the coat. Pulling back abruptly, a quizzical look creases his brow and he tosses the coat on the bed on top of the EVA suit.

Close on the bag as his hands pull out the holstered Pulse Pistol. Camera pans up slightly, close on his hands unholstering the familiar weapon, tossing the holster aside. His hands clasp the butt of the pistol holding the weapon at arms length. Tilting the weapon slightly he sites along the barrel his dispassionate gaze in bg, holding the weapon briefly in both hands before passing the weapon into his left hand, unholstering the weapon at his right hip.

Shot stays close on the identical weapons. He holds them paired, extended at arms length, slowly spreading his arms wide, holding each weapon far apart. Shot pans from Winona in his left hand, to the identical weapon in his right. Discarding the weapon in his right hand; the replacement, he returns Winona to the holster at his hip.

Reaching into the almost empty bag he pulls out Starks mask. Examining it briefly before tossing it onto the bed. As he reaches into the bag once more, a bright light emanates from the mask, resolving into a small holo representation of Stark. John looks up at the light, not even slightly startled, he stands slowly upright, appearing slightly mesmerized, expression fading from his face as the apparition 'speaks'.

STARK: ( over holo ) If this image has appeared, it means my mask has reached it's destination, and you have made contact with it. I have a message for you, Crichton. For you alone. Listen... listen Crichton, there's a message...

PILOT: Crichton...

The holo fades away at the intruding voice.

PILOT: Moya has detected a signal.

Appearing slightly disoriented as the golden light fades from his face, John runs a distracted hand over his face.

JOHN: Lousy timing, Pilot, really. Lousy timing. What kind of signal?

PILOT: A Peacekeeper distress signal.

JOHN: How close is it?

PILOT: Crichton, you don't understand. The signal was sent from here! Somebody aboard Moya just broadcast a distress call... to the Peacekeepers.

END ACT I

---

ACT II

CENTER CHAMBER/EXT. CORRIDOR - Aeryn forms the dividing line in the doorway between the trio of newcomers in the Center Chamber, and comrades discussing recent events in the corridor behind her. D'Argo, Chiana and Rygel between the two furthest points; John and Aeryn. She stands silent watch, eyes focused on the trio in the Center Chamber.

JOHN: Pilot, can you isolate the source of the signal?

PILOT: It appears to have come from Tier 7 or 8. I have DRDs searching there now.

JOHN: Has anyone answered it yet?

PILOT: We're not going to give them time. Moya will initiate Starburst in... 100 microts.

AERYN: What about Talyn?

PILOT: Crais has ordered him to Starburst alone on a similar vector. Talyn will make contact as soon as he can locate us.

RYGEL: Why would anybody here want to signal the Peacekeepers?

D'ARGO: What about the Tech? He was a Peacekeeper.

CHIANA: No, no, no. The Tech is kept in a cell on Tier 11. I put my currency on the Scarran.

D'ARGO: Well, normally I'd agree with you, but Naj Gil has been with me the whole time. What about the Nebari?

CHIANA: Hubero has never left my sight.

RYGEL: And ah, since she arrived, sweet Orrhn has been atop me. Or, ah, beneath me. Or, ah...

John, D'Argo and Chiana all shift uncomfortably and/or groan.

JOHN: Okay... there's a mental polaroid we can all live without, Ryge.

RYGEL: ( chuckles proudly )

JOHN: Okay, plan. We gotta double-time prep on the pod. We gotta get them outta here as soon as we can, and until we do we should lock 'em all up for safekeeping. Agreed?

D'ARGO: No, John. I will not imprison Naj Gil. He hasn't done anything wrong. He's gonna stay with me.

D'Argo scowls and stalks into the Center Chamber.

CHIANA: And Hubero... never leaves my side. Just like before.

Chiana joins her fellow Nebari in the Center Chamber.

RYGEL: And Orrhn and I will just be...

JOHN: ...be making the Hynerian with two backs-- trunks, whatever. Just... remember, one of 'em sent the signal. Be careful.

Rygel hovers into the Center Chamber, leaving the space in the corridor between Aeryn, who hasn't turned from watching the occupants of the Center Chamber, and John, head down and deeply frustrated, leaning on one hand braced against the bulkhead.

JOHN: ( softly ) Be careful.

Looking up, John watches Aeryn briefly, her back firmly turned against him. Resigned, he turns and walks slowly away, alone.

PILOT: [ O.V. ] Starbursting, now.

CUT TO EXT. SPACE - Moya initiates Starburst and disappears within the corona.

CUT TO INT. MOYA - Medical Section. Close up on mass of Boolite parts on the med table. Jool and Crais, gloved and gowned, work on the puzzle of putting the Boolite's parts together again.

CRAIS: According to Hubero's rendering of the Boolite-- this obviously... goes here.

Crais places a large lump of blue on the table, attempting to place a long, thick, purplish looking thing between it and a large purple lump.

JOOL: Wrong. It's clearly vascular, not skeletal. Put this piece there, attach that piece to there... then there.

Jool gestures to a few malformed pieces that look like bits of large intestine, Crais takes it in rather well, still hanging onto the long, thick purplish thing.

CRAIS: Yes, well, that would seem to be correct ( clears throat ). I was hoping that once we got enough of him together that he would be able to tell us how to do the rest. That's why I'm starting on the head and mouth first.

Crias gestures with the large bluish lump in one hand and the long, thick purplish thing in the other. Jool smirks slightly, enjoying herself.

JOOL: ( nodding knowingly ) Head and mouth...

Crais eyes the 'head' and 'mouth' again, then glances at Jool, eyebrow arched.

CRAIS: What, you don't think that that's the head and that's the mouth?

JOOL: Well... not unless he sits on his mouth.

Still smirking she walks out of frame, cut back to Crais glancing with disgusted surprise at the long thick purplish thing, slapping it, with a squishing noise, back on the table.

CUT TO INT. TRANSPORT POD - Aeryn and John work on double-time repairs to the pod.

JOHN: Mag-stet.

Long pause as Aeryn studiously ignores him, working on something underneath the forward control console, her tools humming almost constantly, her face completely in shadows. Stretched out on the floor, working inside a deck panel just in front of the pilot's station, John looks up expectantly at the delay. Aeryn ceases work for a moment and slides a tool, without looking, across the floor. John catches it and returns to work. Moments later, need for another tool causes him to break the silence again.

JOHN: Turbo-sealer.

Without delay, Aeryn ceases work and slides another tool toward him. He catches this one as well, glancing up at her briefly before returning to work. Almost immediately, some need to provoke a response causes him to look up and attempt it.

JOHN: Fluffy pink slippers...

Aeryn ignores him, or maybe she's pretending he's not there, continuing to work, her tools humming.

JOHN: Donald Duck... Micky Mouse... Huey, Luey, and Duey...

Provoking no response whatsoever, John tosses the tool aside and sits up, leaning against one arm braced against the floor, head cocked slightly to the side.

JOHN: You wanna talk?

Aeryn continues to ignore him, merely shifting her position to face the opposite direction, perhaps for a better angle, or perhaps so he will be completely out of her line of sight. At any rate, her face is out of the shadows and it is completely expressionless, only slight signs of concentration gracing it.

JOHN: Okay, fine, no talking.

He moves as if to stretch out on the floor again to resume work on the panel, but immediately changes his mind. Shot is med on both with Aeryn working studiously in fg and John just slightly behind and to the left.

JOHN: No, you know what? I wanna talk. I had words with Crais, and, ah... he told me that you and the other me....

Close on Aeryn, switching tools, eyes fused to the open panel, behaving as if he doesn't exist. Her face is a hard mask which he cannot see. He stumbles, hesitating over what he might say next, breath a heavy exhale as he abandons what it may have been-- looking away briefly before proceeding.

JOHN: Actually he didn't... tell me anything. He ah... told me to talk to you. ( long pause ) So, I assume... Aeryn, I'm sorry.

Close on Aeryn, still silently working on the open panel above her head.

JOHN: ( faltering ) I... maybe you're right....

Aeryn places the tools on the floor beside her, spins about, stands, and walks away.

JOHN: ( softly ) Maybe we shouldn't talk.

He drops down onto his elbow, despondently settling on returning to the repairs. Aeryn silently passes D'Argo as he enters the pod. D'Argo gets a look at John from over the Pilot's seats and glances at Aeryn's back as she exits. He turns back to John and walks around in front of the seats.

D'ARGO: Want some advice?

Head concealed behind arms extended inside the open deckplate, studiously working on the repairs, John forces a 'nothing whatever wrong here,' response.

JOHN: Nope.

D'Argo nods silently, but John's head is gonna explode, along with his heart. Pushing up from the open deckplate, he slaps the tool to the deck and sits up, back propped against the wall, hands pressed over his eyes. The red flush and strained tendons in his neck are testament to the level of control he's attempting to exercise here. D'Argo crouches before his friend while John attempts to recover a level of composure, hands crossed over his eyes, air being forced past a constricted throat.

JOHN: ( quietly ) What?

Lowering his hands, brushing away tears with his fingers and the back of his hand. Eyes lowered, but more than willing to grasp at anything.

JOHN: What?

D'ARGO: Oh, my friend, I... I don't know what to say. I don't have any advice. It's difficult, isn't it? You're... jealous... of the other you. Aren't you?

JOHN: He died... the other guy. ( beat ) The copy.

D'ARGO: And now Aeryn thinks that you are the copy.

Arms resting on upraised knees, John lowers his chin to the back of his hands, eyes focused on a distant point. He makes no answer.

JUMP CUT TO INT. RYGEL'S QUARTERS - close on pile of Hynerian snoozin'. Rygel, grinning in his sleep, snoring slightly, cradled against the bosom of his lady love. Sound of the door swinging open. The occupant of a pair of black boots creeps silently toward the bed. Shot pans up as John kneels beside the bed. Close on Rygel, John's hands slipping under his head, lifting it slightly. Cut to close on John and Rygel. John leans forward, blowing gently on Rygel's earbrow, then claps his hand over Rygel's lips as he wakes. They both whisper, to prevent Orrhn from waking.

JOHN: Hey, man. How ya doin'?

RYGEL: Crichton...?

JOHN: ( fingers to lips ) Shh, shh, shh.

Close on Orrhn, stirring slightly, but not waking.

RYGEL: What... do you want?

JOHN: Their transport pod is stocked, and it's, ah, almost repaired. Is Barbarella ready to vamoose?

RYGEL: I'm not sure I want her to go. In fact, I'm sure I don't.

JOHN: Rygel, look, I-I completely understand, but... you cannot let the little appendage start tellin' the big appendage what to do.

RYGEL: John. I think I'm... in love with her. And... I think she loves me.

[ OMG! Rygel calls him "John", the world quakes! ]

JOHN: Well... that may be the best reason of all to get her out of here as quick as you can. You still have half an arn.

John gives him a wink and quietly departs.

RYGEL: I... ah...

ORRHN: I heard what you said.

RYGEL: I... didn't mean...

ORRHN: I liked it, Rygie. Are you ready to go again, hm?

RYGEL: Again!?

ORRHN: We've got half an arn. I've heard Dominars never need rest.

Laughing flirtatiously she 'pounces' on him [ for lack of a better word ], a little ravenous Hynerian kissin', including little growling noises.

ORRHN: Growl like a Luxan!

[ Did we need that? *shiver* Puppet-lovin'! ]

CUT TO INT. QUARTERS - shot pans over the top of the privacy screen fronting the shower, revealing Chiana and Hubero standing in the quarters. Hubero examines the few items on the small table on the far side of the room, while Chiana stands in front of the privacy screen.

CHIANA: So, what'd you do? Why'd they imprison you?

HUBERO: Actually, when the Peacekeepers found me, they tried to give me back, but... Nebari Prime didn't want me. To them I'm just... another mouth to feed in a non-conformist colony.

CHIANA: Non-conformist? What? Why? What?

Close on Hubero as she moves to lift the front of her garb, shot cuts to Chiana watching, a shocked look on her face.

CHIANA: ( stuttering ) You're an... an... an... an, androgen.

HUBERO: Not exactly male, not exactly female. Not exactly anything.

CHIANA: When I was growing up, I was told about androgens and.... But... I, ah, they were always taken... right after birth. I... I never met one.

HUBERO: At least you didn't think you ever did.

CUT TO EXT. SPACE - Moya transits space.

CUT TO INT. MAINTENANCE BAY, MEDICAL SECTION - shot long across the bay from medical to the entrance. John enters at a jog. Crais and Jool still gowned and gloved, work over the Boolite bits.

JOHN: What's happening?

CRAIS: He's talking.

JOOL: Listen, listen...

John leans in, listening carefully to gurgling noises that sound out a single repeated word. Cut to close on the disconnected mouth of the Boolite, lips forming the word.

BOOLITE: ( gurgling ) ...traitor... traitor...

CRAIS: He keeps repeating the same word, over and over.

JOHN: Traitor?

JOOL: I bet he still thinks he's on the transport pod.

CRAIS: So, the traitor...

JOHN: ...was on the pod. Can he hear us?

BOOLITE: ( gurgling ) ...yes...

JOOL: Well... there's a ear here somewhere.

JOHN: ( uneasy ) Okay... this is... a little too Naked Lunch.^

[ Okay, but he could'a just said "bizarre"... not as funny tho.]

Jool shoots him a 'what the frell?' look.

JOHN: Can you tell us who the traitor is?

BOOLITE: ( gurgling ) ...I... I don't remember...

Jool just looks disgusted while John looks like he's about to hurl his lunch.

CRAIS: I've used all the brain matter we've found so far. It is possible the... part of his memory that holds the answer isn't here.

JOHN: Either that, or we're trackin' it all over the ship with our shoes.

PILOT: Shots fired! Shots fired!

JOHN: Shots, where?

Quick cut to D'Argo kneeling over the fallen Scarren in a corridor.

D'ARGO: Pilot, it's D'Argo, I'm in the Center Chamber! Naj Gil has been shot!

Quick cut to John, bolting from the med section.

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Aeryn arrives at a run, crouching at Naj Gil's head. The Scarran's chest heaves, working hard at breathing, a red sheath of blood across his left breast.

AERYN: What happened?

D'ARGO: We were in the Center Chamber. He heard a noise and came out. There was a pulse blast...

AERYN: Direction?

D'ARGO: I don't know. By the time I came out it was all gone. Can you get me something to stop the bleeding?

AERYN: Yeah.

Aeryn bolts as Chiana and Hubero arrive from the opposite direction, passing John as he enters via another passage, one hand assisting his high-speed turn, racing past D'Argo and edging roughly around Hubero, who stands, mouth agape, over the Scarran. John kneels by Naj Gil's head and applies pressure to the wound with his hand, blood spurting between his fingers and trickling over his knuckles [ very nice effect, BB moving 'just' fast enough to carry it off. ].

JOHN: I got him.

CHIANA: I knew it... I knew it. I knew someone was gonna get shot.

She kneels behind John, peering over his shoulder, he's stressin' just a bit, voice tense; tone, short.

JOHN: Pip, that is no help to us right now. If you can tell us who did it, that might be useful.

D'Argo turns on Hubero, slamming her against the wall.

D'ARGO: Perhaps you know!

HUBERO: No! I have no idea!

D'ARGO: Well, think... hard.

Chiana leaps up, attempting to slap D'Argo's hand away from Hubero.

CHIANA: Leave her alone!

D'Argo snarls at Chiana. Rygel arrives, chuckling madly, perched on the back of his thronesled, Orrhn driving.

RYGEL: ( chuckling ) What's all the noise about?

With his free hand, D'Argo siezes on Orrhn, glaring down at her.

D'ARGO: Where have you been?

RYGEL: Let go of her, you lunatic Luxan! She's never left my side.

JOHN: D'Argo... that's not helpin', man.

D'ARGO: One of them has to have done it.

CHIANA: Not Hubero. She's been with me the whole time.

RYGEL: And I've been with Orrhn. Release her, now!

JOHN: D'Argo!

John gives D'Argo a 'leave off' gesture with a abrupt motion of his head. D'Argo releases both the 'suspects'... reluctantly.

RYGEL: Get us away from this welnitz!

Orrhn turns the throne sled, and the Hynerian pair depart the way they came.

CHIANA: I agree... there's too much dren in this room. Come on.

D'ARGO: Chiana...

The Nebari pair also depart.

PILOT: There's been another signal.

JOHN: What!?

PILOT: DRDs are trying to find the source.

JOHN: Pilot, Starburst!

PILOT: Moya can't. Not for another arn. And this signal... it sent out Moya's coordinates.

JOHN: Who the hell is doin' this?

CUT TO INT. CORRIDOR - a sole DRD sits in a darkened corridor. Shot pans R through closed cell doors, to close on the PK Tech, Markir Tal, sitting quietly in the dark. [ Hey... is that a 'sinister look'? ]

END ACT II

---

ACT III

INT. MOYA; Pilot's Den - close on Pilot, John's hand holding a square device in fg, slowly rotating it in a cursory examination.

PILOT: This is the signaling device. DRDs found it attached to a Neural Cluster on Tier 8.

Pan L to close on John, a familiar perch on top of Pilot's console.

JOHN: Can you tell whose it is?

PILOT: It's constructed of parts easily found on Moya. But it required an impressive technical knowledge... to assemble.

John steps down from the console.

JUMP CUT TO - Corridor outside cell on Tier 11, John approaches the DRD posted outside the cell holding the Tech. He glances in the cell, seeing the Tech sitting on the shelf against the far wall, an interesting smirk on his face. John kneels beside the DRD, knocking on it's housing lightly.

JOHN: Anything?

TAL: It hasn't moved. Nor have I, if that's what you're wondering.

JOHN: ( softly ) Pilot, can you confirm that?

PILOT: The DRD has sensed no movement.

John glances toward the cell again as the tech approaches the closed door, peering out.

TAL: Is something wrong?

Still crouched beside the DRD, John glances up at Tal speculatively, then looks away, voice aside to Pilot again.

JOHN: Pilot, how long before their transport pod is repaired?

PILOT: The DRDs will finish within a half arn. Correction... a quarter arn.

John glances up at Tal again, rising slowly.

JOHN: We'll have you off this boat... as soon as we can.

Winking at the smarmy little boy, John moves on.

JUMP CUT TO CORRIDOR - John exiting the cell level area, engages comms with a blimp talking as he walks the corridor.

JOHN: Rygel... Chiana... listen up. Unless we got a tech who can walk through walls, or...

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Close on D'Argo, Qualta Blade at the ready as John's voice continues over comms. Aeryn steps into frame beside D'Argo, then both step out of frame. Camera remains on wall of corridor, zooming slowly to close-up on a small grate leading into a subpassage at the base of the wall.

JOHN: ( over comms ) ...hypnotize DRDs, the bad guy's gotta be with one of you. Now... we are not going to hurt anybody, but their transport is almost fixed...

CUT TO SUBPASSAGE - Rygel and Orrhn move silently through the subpassage on foot, John voice continues over comms.

JOHN: ( over comms ) ...so, we're going to load 'em with supplies and send them... to a very friendly commerce planet.

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Close on John, still moving down the corridor.

JOHN: Everybody goes their own way. Okay?

CUT TO CARGO BAY - John's voice continues over comms; Chiana with Hubero in tow, darts silently between the large storage containers. Crouching down behind one, they disappear from sight.

JOHN: Pip? ( beat ) Sparky? ( beat ) Okay?!

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Close on John, backing slowly away from camera, clearly frustrated at the lack of response.

JOHN: ( muttering ) Damn it!

Turning about, he bolts down the corridor.

CUT TO SUBPASSAGE - close on Rygel and his inamorata.

RYGEL: The others can leave... you'll stay.

ORRHN: And then?

RYGEL: And then, Orrhn, dear Orrhn. There are many things we must talk about.

ORRHN: Do we have to talk about them now?

Orrhn 'pounces' Rygel again, giggling girlishly.

RYGEL: Again? Here?

CUT TO MEDICAL SECTION - Close on Scarran stretched out on another table, Jool and Crais work with bloodstained gloved hands to patch up the damage.

JOOL: ( sighs ) I've managed to stop the bleeding. But I know even less about Scarrans than I do Boolites. I mean, I thought these guys were virtually impenetrable.

Shot pulls wide, Jool and Crais work intently on the wounded Scarran. Far across the room, John stands watching from behind a tall cart.

CRAIS: They are, but the skin hadn't fully healed from the removal of the heat gland. Whoever shot him knew exactly... where to aim.

Cut to close on John.

JOHN: ( aside ) Pilot, any sign of Rygel or Chiana?

PILOT: Nothing. They are still not responding to their comms.

CUT TO CARGO BAY - Shot pans R from behind a tall obstruction, gradually revealing the chamber fill with large storage containers. D'Argo steps into frame from behind the tall obstruction, Qualta Blade at the ready. Cut to close on Aeryn, both are silently searching the Cargo Bay. Shot cuts to wide, Aeryn walking past a row of containers in front of D'Argo who sighs in frustration and perhaps boredom.

D'ARGO: Aeryn.

Aeryn turns about, pistol at the ready, her eyes darting from side to side.

AERYN: What?

D'ARGO: ( hestitantly ) Crichton, he, uh...

Cut to close on Aeryn's closed expression, shaking her head slightly.

AERYN: D'Argo... don't.

She turns away and continues the search. Close on D'Argo watching her silently, determining to respect her wishes. For now. D'Argo walks out of frame, shot remains on the large container behind him as his footsteps fade away. In the following microts of silence, the lid of the container is pushed up from the inside and the Nebari pair peer out.

HUBERO: When they finally find us, they'll be angry at you for hiding me.

CHIANA: They get angry at me alot.

HUBERO: Do you trust Crichton? Would he really allow us to leave on the transport pod?

CHIANA: Yeah, I trust him.... But do you really wanna leave?

HUBERO: Oh, Chiana... I don't want to cause you any trouble. I'll wait in the transport pod until it's fixed.

Hubero stands, pushing the container lid onto the floor behind them.

CHIANA: W-w-wh-whoever shot you... would be in the pod.

HUBERO: What are you talking about? I haven't been shot.

CHIANA: I-I... I mean, Naj Gil.

Hubero climbs out of the container and walks away.

CHIANA: Whoever shot Naj Gil. Hubero?

Chiana climbs out of the container and follows her.

CUT TO MEDICAL SECTION - close on a puddle of Boolite, a small probe igniting sparks along the edge of the Boolite. Camera pans down and a large eye opens in the center of a blob of blue. [ Hey, it's the eyeball from Scratch 'N Sniff ]. The Boolite gurgles more words.

BOOLITE: ( gurgling ) Traitor...

Shot cuts to med on Jool, Crais and John standing around the table. Crais pauses in his 'welding' to listen to the gurgling.

CRAIS: What's he saying?

BOOLITE: ( gurgling ) Beauty... So... so beautiful...

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Hubero makes her way carefully through a corridor, alone.

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Chiana, having lost track of Hubero, runs silently through another corridor, searching. She turns toward the sound of a door swinging open.

CUT TO INT. CELL - shot zooms in to close on Tal, leaning with his back against the closed cell door. Transition shot 'through' the bars of the cell to long shot on the monitoring DRD. Abruptly the DRD is struck by a small explosion, the sound of pulse weapon fire. Cut to close on Tal, peering through the bars at the DRD as it's ocular stems wink out and droop abruptly.

INSERT SHOT - Close on Pilot

PILOT: More pulse fire!

CUT TO MEDICAL SECTION - Jool and Crais continue working on the Boolite as Pilot's report issues over comms.

PILOT: The DRD watching the Peacekeeper Tech has gone dead! And the cell door's open!

JOHN: On my way, Pilot.

John circles the table, heading out.

JOHN: Get the DRD's searching.

Close on Boolite, gurgling additional information.

BOOLITE: ( gurgling ) She... betrayed... us...

JOHN: ( freezing ) "She"?

John turns about and returns to the side of the table, as the Boolite continues gurgling.

BOOLITE: ( gurgling ) On pod... I caught her making a deal with Tech.

Cut to med on Scarran, awake and leaning on one elbow, but visibly weak. Crais's holstered pistol on a table near at hand in the foreground.

CRAIS: The name of the traitor? ( beat ) Name?

CUT TO SUBPASSAGE - Close on Rygel, dozing against the wall, is shaken awake by Orrhn.

ORRHN: Wake up. Wake up, now!

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Hubero, likely quite lost, makes her way down yet another corridor. Camera pans right to long shot down a parallel corridor, Chiana moves to camera, silently, in her 'Chianalike' way. Turning at the bend in the corridor, she brings her fancy little pulse pistol to bear on Hubero.

CUT TO SUBPASSAGE - Orrhn urges Rygel a bit more forcefully.

ORRHN: I really need you to move your ass, now!

She whips out a wicked little knife, brandishing it at Rygel's throat. Rygel, predictably, whimpers at this change of mood.

RYGEL: Huh?

ORRHN: I'm afraid I must insist!

END ACT III

---

ACT IV

INT. MOYA, Corridor - long shot down corridor as John runs at best speed to closeup at a junction, taking a turning and heading away down another corridor.

JOHN: Rygel. Chiana. It's Orrhn, she sent the signals.

CHIANA: ( over comms ) Gotcha, Crichton...

CUT TO CORRIDOR - close on Chiana running behind Hubero.

CHIANA: Hubero and I are on our way to the Maintenance Bay.

D'ARGO: ( over comms ) Keep your eyes out.

CUT TO CORRIDOR - long down yet another corridor as D'Argo and Aeryn step into frame from around a corner, walking to close.

D'ARGO: Orrhn must have shot Naj Gil.

AERYN: And let the Tech loose. Rygel, are you hearing--

CUT TO SUBPASSAGE - Orrhn forcing Rygel along at knife point.

AERYN: ( over comms ) --this?

ORRHN: Move!

D'ARGO: ( over comms ) Rygel!

RYGEL: Why, Orrhn, why? You were a prisoner of the Peacekeepers like the rest of us!

ORRHN: Because, my dear gullible Dominar, the odds of staying free stunk! So, I struck a deal with the Tech.

RYGEL: W-w-well, when you were on Moya, you were free.

ORRHN: For how long?

With a thump of her arm, she urges him forward.

ORRHN: I don't want to spend my life running from the Peacekeepers. And once I got here I found a superb bargaining chip; you.

RYGEL: Hm?!

ORRHN: They'll be far more interested in recapturing a full royal than a lowly soldier, like myself.

RYGEL: ( gasps ) You're... a soldier?

ORRHN: You might not have deigned to take pleasure with me if you'd known I was a common Soldier. And I needed you to take pleasure so you would fall asleep, and I could roam the ship. It was unfortunate that the Scarran saw me.

RYGEL: But... you slept too. All Hynerians sleep deeply after... pleasure ( chuckles ).

ORRHN: The "pleasure," Dominar, was all yours.

RYGEL: You were... faking?

ORRHN: Oh, males! Move it!

CUT TO CORRIDOR - close on John's running feet, pan up as he continues running down a corridor, slowing to a stop as he and D'Argo meet at the far end.

JOHN: You seen Aeryn?

D'ARGO: One tier down. The DRDs are searching all the other Tiers.

The ambient noise in Moya's corridor shifts to a deep rumbling. Closeup on John, looking up with a surprised expression.

JOHN: What the hell was that?

PILOT: Somebody has neutralized Moya's calorics... we're unable to move.

JOHN: They're gonna make a run for it and they got Rygel.

D'ARGO: Rygel could be going voluntarily.

JOHN: And maybe he's not.

They both run onward, shot pans R to close on the bulkhead as they reach the junction.

CUT TO MEDICAL SECTION - closeup on the Boolites eye, shot pulling wide. Boolite still lies spread out on the table like a gooey carpet.

JOOL: You're not really gonna leave the Boolite here like this, are you?

Crais, pulling his gown and gloves off, circles the worktable to stand beside Jool.

CRAIS: Under the circumstances, he can wait. I'm going to assist in the search...

JOOL: Uh, uh...

Jool's objection is cut off by an unwelcome arrival.

TAL: For... me?

They both look abruptly toward the door. The PK Tech, pulse rifles in both hands, leers at them menacingly. Squeezing off a couple of badly aimed shots. Crais dives on Jool, driving her to the ground.

CRAIS: Move! Get down!

The din of pulse fire and Jool's screams fill the Maintenance Bay.

TAL: ( firing ) Orrhn!

Jool crawls on hands and knees, to cover behind the table, Crais just behind her.

Cut to close on Rygel, tied to the back of his Thronesled as Orrhn cruises down a corridor, he wails plaintively.

RYGEL: Help!

Cut to Maintenance Bay, the Tech still firing badly aimed shots.

TAL: ( firing ) Orrhn, let's do it!

Cut to medium shot on Rygel, still pathetically wailing for assistance.

RYGEL: Help!

Cut to medium shot on Crais, crouched behind the table, spotting his pulse pistol across the room on top of a crate. Looking down, Crais spots a hunk of Boolite in a bucket, he grabs it, over his shoulder, Jool looks on in alarm.

TAL: Orrhn!

JOOL: Not that piece!

Crais hurls the hunk of Boolite in an over-the-shoulder arc, slamming the Tech in the chest with it without hardly aiming at all.

JOOL: ( wailing ) No...!

Crouched down, Crais rushes across the Bay, snagging his pulse weapon and diving for cover behind the crates as Tal opens fire again, still missing badly. The Scarran, sitting up on the table, drops to his knees behind the paltry cover of the narrow table top and the table's thin legs. The Tech can't even hit him.

CUT TO CORRIDOR - long down the corridor as Chiana runs to, sliding to a stop arm extended, aiming with her cool raygun lookin' pulse pistol.

ORRHN: [ O.V. ] Shut up, shut up, Dominar! Shut up!

Camera pans L over the junction wall to close on Rygel and Orrhn. Rygel facing the business end of Chiana's pulse weapon.

RYGEL: ( shouting ) Whoa, Chiana, don't shoot, it's me!

Cut to beauty close on Chi, poised to fire.

CHIANA: Down!

Cut to long on Orrhn and Rygel hoving in the corridor junction as Chi's pulse blast strikes wide on the bulkhead, missing three times as Orrhn heads the Thronesled toward the far corridor.

Cut to Chiana, diving to the floor, shouting her warning again.

CHIANA: Hubero, down!

Cut to close on Orrhn, a tiny weapon in her hand-- close on the weapon firing.


Cut to close on Hubero, screaming, she falls to the deck, struck by the pulse blast. Close on Orrhn as she tows Rygel down the corridor. Cut to long on Chiana standing crouched over Hubero as she lies on the floor whimpering in pain. Chiana kneels behind her, rolling her into her arms.

CUT TO MEDICAL SECTION - close on Jool's terrorized face, still cowering behind the table, pulse fire continuing.

JOOL: Oh!

Crias returns fire, the Scarran, kneeling behind a table just behind Crais. Tal returns his return fire, from the Hangar; he's now standing at the foot of the pod stairs. Crais drops and rolls to a better firing position, Jool shrieks from behind the worktable.

TAL: Orrhn!

JOOL: Crais!

Orrhn hovers in, Rygel strapped to the back of the sled.

RYGEL: Ah! Crais!

JOOL: Crais!

Crais turns slightly at the warning shouts, Orrhn snaps off a shot at Crais, missing barely. Holding both opponents back with a single shot, first at Tal, cowering behind the Transport Hangar doors, and then at Orrhn, shielding behind tall carts; Crais dives for cover on the floor behind the solid table with Jool. Fire from both sides continues to strike the table as Crais slides up, shoulder-to-shoulder with Jool. Some pulse fire strikes the Boolite, who gurgles in pain.

Cut to long on Tal, backing toward the pod ladder. Cut to pulse fire on the table, then close on Crais and Jool as Boolite bits rain down on them, Crais shielding his face and head with one arm, and Jool shrieking.

Abruptly a large bit of Boolite is blasted off the table and lands in Jool's lap. Her shrieking stops just as abruptly as she stares in horror at the Boolites eye staring up at her; Crais also is eyeing the bit of Boolite with horror.

The Boolite gurgle screams from Jool's lap.

Jool and Crais look up, into each other's eyes, then look back down at the Boolite, screaming in Jool's lap.

They both look away and scream in horror, simultaneously.

CUT TO CORRIDOR - Chiana cradles Hubero's head in her arms, Crais and Jool's screams echoing down the corridor. Chiana raises her head, a hoase muted wailing issuing from her lips as she mourns this latest death.

CUT TO HANGAR BAY EXIT CORRIDOR - long CGI as a Transport Pod launches toward the outer doors.

CUT TO INT. TRANSPORT POD - close on Orrhn, Rygel visible just behind her shoulder, shot pans R to the tech in the driver's seat.

ORRHN: Go, go, go, go!

CUT TO TRANSPORT HANGAR/MAINTENANCE BAY - long on partially opened hangar doors into Maintenance Bay as Crais charges through them, weapon at the ready, Jool stands in the Maintenance Bay in far bg.

Shot zooms through hangar bay doors, long on Jool as Crichton, followed by Aeryn and D'Argo arrive.

JOOL: Crichton! They've got Rygel.

D'ARGO: Pilot! Close the outer hangar doors!

Shot is long on D'Argo, Jool and Aeryn. Aeryn holsters her weapon.

PILOT: I can't... Moya's connection has been severed.

From quick insert shot on Pilot, cut back to long on all four in the maintenance bay, zooming to medium on John and Aeryn as they speak simultaneously.

JOHN & AERYN: I've got an idea--

Realization hits, John glances toward her, her eyes remain locked on the floor. John glances back toward the open hangar doors and shot speed ramps to slo-mo as Aeryn and John run back out the way they came. Shot remains close on D'Argo, Aeryn and John running out of frame. D'Argo ( sighing ) turns to follow and

CUT TO EXT. SPACE - nose of Transport pod enters shot from LL of frame and arcs away.

CUT TO INT. TRANSPORT POD

ORRHN: Begin broadcasting our location to the Peacekeepers.

CUT TO EXT. SPACE, MOYA - a tiny speck in the distance of a long CGI shot, D'Argo's newly acquired vessel launches from the open outer hangar doors, slowly moving to as wings, in sections begin to protrude from the top center of the vessel's outer hull. On closeup of wings as she flies below, shot angle down, the vessel's rockets fire and she speeds away in pursuit of the pod.

CUT TO INT. STEALTH SHIP - close on Aeryn's hands, priming a Tak for launch, she's suited for space in Talyn's EV suit, seated against the wall in the small back section of the Luxan stealth ship.

JOHN: We had the same idea.

Cut to long on John and Aeryn, both EV suited. D'Argo up front at the controls. John, with launcher in hand, moves to sit beside her. She edges away slightly, eyes still on the Tak, bracing her boot on a small case on the floor.

AERYN: No, I wanted to take your module.

JOHN: You didn't know D'Argo could fly this.

CUT TO INT TRANSPORT POD

TAL: Frelling dren! There's a ship gaining on us!

CUT TO EXT. SPACE - chase scene! The transport pod, on an evasive course, pursued by D'Argo's stealth vessel.

CUT TO INT. STEALTH SHIP - D'Argo, Aeryn and John as tossed about a bit as D'Argo 'over-corrects' on his pursuit course.

D'ARGO: Any word from Talyn?

CRAIS: ( over comms ) Negative!

CUT TO INT. MOYA, COMMAND - close on Crais, Jool at a console in bg.

CRAIS: He still hasn't caught up with us yet.

D'ARGO: ( over comms ) Okay...

CUT TO INT. STEALTH VESSEL - closeup on D'Argo.

D'ARGO: ...we're going in.

CUT TO EXT. SPACE - chase scene continues, pod still on an evasive course but D'Argo matching easily and closing.

CUT TO INT. TRANSPORT POD - close on Orrhn, Rygel still secured behind her.

ORRHN: They won't shoot us down with him aboard.

RYGEL: ( chuckles ) I wouldn't be so sure about that.

CUT TO EXT. SPACE - Transport Pod and Stealth Vessel racing away from close, D'Argo swooping just above and to the rear of the pod.

CUT TO INT. STEALTH VESSEL - close on D'Argo with a breathing regulator over his mouth and nose.

D'ARGO: Opening rear hatch.

Close on rear hatch, stairs decending, the hull of the pod below.

CUT TO INT. TRANSPORT POD - close on Tal looking up.

TAL: He's right above us!

ORRHN: What's their plan?!

RYGEL: Oh... they're gonna kill you, bitch.

CUT TO INT. STEALTH VESSEL - long on John and Aeryn in full EV, helmets on and lit up. John sets the Tak in the launcher. Kneeling beside him, Aeryn prepares to fire the Tak.

AERYN: Right, D'Argo, you're position is good. I will fire close to the hatch.

CUT TO INT. TRANSPORT POD - Tal drops a breathing regulator in Orrhn's lap and rushes back to the pilot's chair.

TAL: Put this on!

CUT TO INT. STEALTH VESSEL - close on John and Aeryn, both kneeling at the top of the open hatch; Aeryn with the launcher on her shoulder.

AERYN: Keep it steady D'Argo!

Cut to close on D'Argo, struggling with the controls and to match course with the pod, the vessel lurches.

D'ARGO: I'm trying!

Cut to close on John and Aeryn, jostled together in the close confines.

AERYN: Steady.

Cut to angle outward, John takes the cable in one hand, pulling it away from the line of fire.

JOHN: This cable gonna hold?

Cut to close on Aeryn, concentrating on the target, but losing focus.

AERYN: It's irridium alloy; of course it'll hold. Just like the Budong.

Cut to close on John, gaze sliding from the pod hull to Aeryn.

JOHN: Budong? What are you talkin' about?

Cut to close on Aeryn, her gaze cutting toward John.

AERYN: You--

Pausing as she realizes her error.

AERYN: Just... follow my lead.

Aeryn fires the Tak, the line unreeling from the deck. Cut to Transport Pod hull, the Tak striking home and sticking solidly.

D'ARGO: Go, now, Aeryn! Go!

Cut to med on John and Aeryn, both holding with left hands to a small apparatus attached to the cable. Their bodies pressed closely together, it appears Aeryn's right arm is wrapped firmly around John and his right arm, tucked behind his body, must be holding firmly to her arm. They both appear grimly focused, fear at what they are about to attempt, firmly reigned in. [ It's important to note that 'sarcasm' is basically saying the 'opposite' of what you really mean, often with a slight tightness in the voice ].

JOHN: ( tightly ) Well... this'll be fun.

Aeryn shoots him a quick look before they both 'leap out of the pod'.

Cut to EXT. SPACE, CGI - two EV suited bodies drop from the open hatchway of the stealth vessel. Only one has a grip on the cable, the other grip is firmly on the hand of the smaller form who trails slightly behind. As the two forms hurtle downward toward camera, the smaller form is hauled forward, settling hip to hip as they slide past camera and drop toward the hull of the pod.

CUT TO EXT. POD - long on the hull as John and Aeryn drop of the surface near a hatch. [ Ben shows us how he hurls himself across the deck in this shot ].

CUT TO INT. POD - close on Tal, breathing regulator strapped on, looks up at a thump on the outer hull.

TAL: They're on the hull!

CUT TO OUTER HULL - Aeryn places a small explosive device on the center of the hatch. John reachs a hand out to her as she turns back.

JOHN: Here.

AERYN: Yeah.

Both already fairly breathless from exertions so far, they shelter as far away as possible. The explosive device bleeps a couple of times and then blows.

CUT TO INT. POD - Tal diving away from the explosion and the accompanying rush of air.

TAL: They're coming in!

CUT TO EXT. HULL - Aeryn and John at the edge of the hatch opening, the Tak and cable still in place just to Aeryn's right. Aeryn moves to drop through the hatch.

CUT TO INT POD - close on Orrhn, her blue/white hair blowing about in the escaping air.

ORRHN: Shoot them! Shoot them!

Aeryn drops in, crouching behind the pilot's station, John follows shortly after. Cowering behind a protrusion in the bulkhead, Tal snaps off a few ill timed shots.

Popping up from behind the pilot's station, Aeryn fires twice, both shots striking Tal mid-chest, he staggers backward. Cut to John, snapping off one shot, which also strikes Tal in the chest. The PK Tech staggers backward slowly slumping to the floor.

Aeryn fires once more at Orrhn and she loses her grip on everything. She howls as the throne is pulled toward the open hatch. Aeryn bolts right toward the controls and John bolts left as the Thronesled is pulled upward just above him.

JOHN: Rygel!

Rygel and Orrhn howl as the throne is pulled out the hatch. John's hand latches onto Rygel's robes at the last possible moment. Cut to EXT. Pod, John's arm protrudes out the hatch, a fingertip grip on Rygel's robes.

JOHN: I gotcha, Sparky!

ORRHN: Help me, help me, Rygie!

Cut to INT. Pod, the escaping air pulls at John as well, lifting him off his feet.

JOHN: Aeryn, I got him.

AERYN: Good.

Cut to close on Rygel and Orrhn.

ORRHN: Rygie! What... what... what is going on?

Rygel puts his teeth to good effect and cuts the sash holding he and Orrhn together on the chair, her body is pulled rapidly away from the pod. She screams pathetically as she drifts swiftly away. Close on Rygel, watching as she grows smaller in the distance. Abruptly, John slaps a breathing regulator over his face.

JOHN: Hey, Buckwheat, how ya doin'?

RYGEL: ( muffled gasping ) I will not be taken to task... for having a trusting nature.

Close on John and Rygel, perched on the edge of the open hatchway, John turns to look at Orrhn as she drifts away in the far distance.

ORRHN: ( faintly ) Rygie!

JOHN: ( aside ) Ah... women.

CUT TO INT. STEALTH SHIP - Close on D'Argo, voice still faintly muffled by the breathing regulator.

D'ARGO: Talyn's back... he's found us.

AERYN: Tell Talyn to steer clear...

CUT TO INT POD - close on Aeryn

AERYN: ... the Tech hit the cell drive. This pod is going to blow. We've got to go... now!

Cut to close on D'Argo, maneuvering one handed, engaging a few overhead controls.

Cut to close on the trio on the outer hull, Rygel in front. Aeryn, crouching beside John on the outer hull, John wraps one arm around her waist, his other hand firmly gripping the end of the cable.

AERYN: Now, D'Argo!

Cut to close on D'Argo, pulling up on the stick.

Cut to EXT. Space, CGI. - The pod drifts slightly in place as John, Aeryn and Rygel, at the end of the cable are pulled rapidly toward close, the pod blowing in sequence from front to back as the trio are drawn out of frame. Fade to black on the hurtling debris.

END ACT IV

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TAG

EXT SPACE - close on Moya, shot pans down revealing Talyn hoving in space just beyond. Stock CGI.

CUT TO INT. MOYA, John's Quarters - closeup on the chessboard.

JOHN: ( over holo ) It's all in my head... which means it's in yours too. Wormholes-- A to Z.

Shot pans right from the chessboard to close on John's face, a pale blue light illuminating his face in the otherwise darkened quarters. His voice continues, but it isn't him speaking.

Shot cuts wide; John sits on the small stool at the table, back erect, facing... himself. A blue/white light form sits across from him, a holographic projection of John Crichton. The holo sits leaning forward, hands braced on knees, severely weakened and dying, but with an important message to pass on.

JOHN: You've probably already heard what... we did with it. And that's just the beginning. You could fry a whole solar system. ( laughs weakly and without humor ) Furlow is still out there... somewhere.

CUT TO CORRIDOR - outside John's quarters, Aeryn approaches silently, John's voice continues o.v.

JOHN: [ O.V. ] But for right now, the Scarrans are back to square one.

CUT TO INT. QUARTERS - John continues with his message, John listening silently.

JOHN: Peacekeepers-- they're your problem.

Cut to med on Aeryn, standing silently in the corridor.

JOHN: [ O.V. ] Look at me.

Cut to close on John, eyes averted from the hologram, expression troubled, his gaze reverts to the John across from him, cut to close on hologram.

JOHN: Now look at yourself.

Cut to close on John's surprised expression. They sit silently for a long moment. Cut to close on the dying John.

JOHN: You know.

Cut to close on John, alive for the moment and nodding silently. Cut to close on Aeryn.

JOHN: [ O.V. ] Don't let Scorpius crack this.

Cut to close on John.

JOHN: Whatever it takes.

Cut to close on John, his expression hard. Across from him, the hologram of John laughs weakly, this time with slight humor.

JOHN: Okay... I'm gonna... piss you off, now, man.

Close on John, lips tightening, preparing to be pissed off. Cut to close on holo image.

JOHN: Be smart.

Cut to close on John, blinking with surprise. Cut to close on John, shaking his head slightly.

JOHN: Don't... push her.

Cut to close on John, accepting his own insight. Cut to close on Aeryn, half in light, half in shadow, one eye sparkling with the hint a single tear. Cut to close on John, the holo wavering slightly.

JOHN: She takes... time.

Cut to close on John, a sad knowing expression as his gaze shifts down. Cut to Aeryn, the tear unshed. Cut to John, head hanging weakly, but remembering a final message.

JOHN: Oh, one more thing.

He lifts his fisted hand in invitation. John lifts his in an echo and they both raise and lower their fists in unison, once, twice, thrice. Both 'throwing' scissors. Draw... again. Shot keeps cutting to Aeryn, silent in the corridor. Completing the familiar ritual, and knowing the result without seeing it, John looks at his hand and laughs again, weakly, a wide, if unsteady, grin on his face. Illuminated by the hologram, John also smiles and laughs. Cut to close on John, a final farewell.

JOHN: Good luck, John.

The hologram wavers and fades away, the blue/white light fading from John's face. He sits, silently watching the empty space. Cut to close on Aeryn, tear still unshed. She turns and walks quietly away. Cut to long on John, still facing toward the vacant spot on the edge of the bed. Cut to close on John, brow knitting slightly, head cocked slightly to one side, his own voice o.v. in the next moment as his eyes remain fixed on the vacant spot.

JOHN: [ O.V. ] So that's what I'm doing...

CUT TO INT. PILOT'S DEN - long from behind John, standing at the end of the catwalk, facing his comrades and friends. D'Argo stands to John's left, Chi perched on the console behind him. Aeryn and Crais stand side-by-side to John's right, with Jool perched on the console behind them. Rygel hovers behind the console beside Pilot's massive form.

JOHN: You don't have to come along, you don't have to like it... I just wanted you to know.

All are silent for a microt, Crais sighing heavily.

PILOT: Moya and I are against this idea in totality. I am sure Captain Crais is aware that Talyn resists also.

CHIANA: You don't know how far Scorpius is in his wormhole research. You don't know where he keeps it, you don't know anything. How are you gonna stop him?

John's gaze shifts away from Chi making no answer, he keeps his gaze fixed ahead. Cut to close on Aeryn, standing silently, seeming to relax slightly. Cut to close on Jool, she's wearing an elaborate eyepatch over her right eye.

JOOL: I'll pass if you don't mind.

RYGEL: Why are you wearing an eyepatch?

JOOL: Boolite in my eye. ( glares at Rygel one-eyed ) Why are you such a moron?

RYGEL: ( snarling )

JOHN: ( interrupting ) Guys... I don't see another option. Scorpius has the knowledge from my brain, and I'm not gonna let him shaft the universe with it.

Close on Aeryn as he speaks, cutting to close on Crais and D'Argo as each accept what John is saying as true and necessary, but neither really liking it. Cut to close on Chiana, also gazing down in acceptance, her gaze slides toward Aeryn. Close on Aeryn as she pushes away from the console and walks to John's side, turning to face those that remain by the console.

Cut to close on Rygel, then to Crais as his thoughtful expression turns resolute and he too joins John, standing by Aeryn's side, turning to face the others. Cut to close on Chiana.

CHIANA: You're all gonna die.

Close on John.

JOHN: You see that one Pip, or are you just guessin'?

Close on Chi's defiant expression, but she gives no answer to his question.

JOHN: We choose our own path...

Cut to close on John, shot slowly zooming to closeup as he speaks.

JOHN: ... this one is mine. I'm going to the Command Carrier.

Cut to close on Pilot. Cut to close on Jool, shaking her head slightly. Cut to close on Rygel. Cut to closeup on John.

JOHN: I'm going to stop Scorpius.

Freeze on his resolute expression.

FADE TO BLACK

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ROLL ENDING CREDITS

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