Transcript provided by: Farscape Ally!, with invaluable assistance from 30d954A
Additional editing provided by $al-Man.
| Starring: | |
|
Ben Browder Claudia Black Virginia Hey Anthony Simcoe Gigi Edgley |
Commander John Crichton Officer Aeryn Sun Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan Ka D'Argo Chiana |
| Guest Starring: | |
|
Matt Day Felicity Price Wayne Pygram Jonathan Hardy Francesca Buller Tina Bursill Felix Williamson David Franklin Thomas Holesgrove Bianca Chiminello Aaron Cash Jennifer Fisher Nicholas McKay |
Counselor Tyno Princess Katralla Scorpius Kahaynu ro-NAH Empress Novia Prince Clavor Lieutenant Braca Sastaretski Cargn Jenavian Chatto Dregon Cazanova PK Skipper Voice of Cargn |
|
Writer: David Kemper Who also wrote: | |
Director: Andrew Prowse & Tony Tilse Andrew Prowse also directed: Tony Tilse Also Directed: | |
| Co-Executive Producer: | Richard Manning |
| Co-Executive Producer: | Naren Shankar |
| Produced by: | Sue Milliken |
| Written by: | David Kemper |
| Directed by: | Andrew Prowse & Tony Tilse |
| Executive Producers: |
David Kemper Brian Henson Rod Perth Robert Halmi, Jr. |
| Executive Consultant: | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
| Creative Consultant: | Justin Monjo |
| Executive Story Editors: | Gabrielle Stanton & Harry Werksman, Jr. |
| Director of Photography: | Russell Bacon |
| Production Designer: | Tim Ferrier |
| Associate Producer: | Andrew Prowse |
| Music by: | Guy Gross |
| Costume Designer: | Terry Ryan |
| Editor: | Neil Thumpson |
| Second Unit DOP: | Danny Batterham |
| Story Editor: | Lily Taylor |
| Script Editor: | Grant McAloon |
| Production Executive: | Robert Woznian |
| Creature Shop Creative Supervisor: | Dave Elsey |
| Visual Effects by: | Animal Logic |
COLD OPENINT. PALACE -- The Regent's Quarters Crichton's screams are cut off as an unknown assailant enters the fray, on his side, kicking the assassin upside the head, his weapon cutting off. Crichton collapses to the floor as the other would be assassins move against the intruder. The intruder, Jenavian, in wedding drag, having effectively interrupted the quick kill, proceeds to kick the crap out of the four assassins. Crichton assists by taking out one, pounding him senseless while Jena takes out three more would be assassins. Jenavian takes out the final assassin with a slim stiletto blade that springs from her wrist. Crichton pulls himself up onto the corner of the bed, and sits, gasping for breath, watching as the final assassin slumps to the floor. Clavor's 'fianceé' fixes her eyes on him. JENAVIAN: Which branch are you with?Crichton couldn't answer if he wanted to. He sits half slumped on the edge, watching her closely but still panting heavily. JENAVIAN: Which branch?Jena watches him panting, finally getting the message that he can't answer just yet. She approaches him slowly, stepping over the bodies, introducing herself while Crichton regains his breath. JENAVIAN: Jenavian Chatto, Distruptor, Peacekeeper Special Directorate. Which branch?Jenavian turns back to the bodies of the assassins. Crichton attempts to look casual as he straightens his red silk pajama duds, and tries to clean himself up a bit. CRICHTON: So-- what's your assignment?Jenavian wanders around the room, checking on the failed assassins-- kicking one for good measure. JENAVIAN: Stay close to Prince Clavor-- my vapid little fianceé, and if he assumes the throne, kill him.Jena returns to the bed, peering closely into Crichton's eyes. JENAVIAN: I admire your dedication. Wouldn't let them make me a statue for 80 cycles.A long pause... a very long pause.... while Crichton turns and assesses Jena as closely as she had assessed him. CRICHTON: Jenavian-- right? Thanks.Crichton bolts from the room, leaving Jena sitting on the bed, the room littered with bodies. END COLD OPENOPENING CREDITS ROLLMY name is John Crichton, an astronaut... ...a radiation wave hit, and I got shot through a wormhole... now I'm lost in some distant part of the universe, on a ship-- a living ship, full of strange alien life-forms.... Help me. Listen please... is there anybody out there who can hear me? ....I'm being hunted by an insane military commander... doing everything I can... I'm just looking for a way home. ACT IINT. PALACE -- Clavor's Quarters Crichton walks into the Prince's Quarters unannounced, Clavor is trying to leave, but Crichton 'prevents' him. Crichton's in a foul mood. He grabs Clavor by the lapels and thrusts him back into the room. CLAVOR: Get away from me. How dare you?Crichton slaps the Prince upside the head a couple of times. CLAVOR: Help! Guards, help!Clavor tries to dart past his sister's irate fianceé, but Crichton grabs his face with one hand and walks him backward into his room. CRICHTON: No, no, no, no, no. Guards are takin' five so the brothers-in-law can get to know one another.Crichton slaps him slightly on the cheeks twice more, the force used doing nothing more than batter the Prince's ego. CLAVOR: You cannot strike me! I am royalty!Crichton stares at the guy in disbelief, then balls up his fist and asserts his left against the prince's nose! He grabs him by the shirt again and sits him firmly down on the bed. A privacy screen in the background reveals the silouette of someone having a wash. CLAVOR: ( groans ) What do you want?Crichton is well... enormously pissed, but keeps a tight rein on it, along with a tight hold on Clavor's nose! Crushing the Prince's nose in a vicious grip, the sound of cartilage grinding, emphasizes Crichton's first statement. CRICHTON: I want off this planet-- Now you're going to find a way to get Scorpius off my back.Crichton, using his hold on Clavor's nose, nods Clavor's head up and down, indicating Clavor's agreement with his command. Jenavian's pleasant voice interjects on the moment from behind the privacy screen. JENAVIAN: Have we company?Crichton looks away from Clavor, sees Jenavian looking wet and sleek, her head now above the screen, one arm draped casually across the top. CRICHTON: Oh, my. The future Mrs. Valiant. We're just getting to know one another. You should get dressed.Crichton turns his attention back to Clavor, his expression grim. CRICHTON: Do not try to kill me again. It makes me angry. ( nods Clavor's head )Crichton departs without fanfare. CLAVOR: Get my mother. ( pause ) Get my mother! INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- Corridor Counselor Tyno strides through a non-descript palace hallway, dogged by D'Argo; the pair are followed by Crichton and Chiana. D'ARGO: I demand better protection for him!To punctuate this point, Princess Katralla arrives in the hallway, grabs Crichton by his shoulder, pulling him around to face her. She hauls back and with practiced ease; applies a slap that *ROCKS* his world! KATRALLA: ( coldly ) Follow me.Katralla turns and walks away, with only a brief backward glance to ensure compliance. Crichton, left eye closed, likely stinging from the blow, gives D'Argo a glance just packed with irony-- a wry grin graces his features as well-- the moment-- is simply-- priceless! INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- Hallway / Private Room Katralla holds a door open for Crichton to enter a private room-- he scoots by quickly, hunching his shoulders and wincing comically as she *slams* the door closed behind them. He turns slowly to face her and she stalks up to him, riven with cold anger. KATRALLA: You humiliated me.She reaches her arm *way* back and launches another stinging blow-- his head *rocks* under it. CRICHTON: ( grunts ) That's enough, okay? You have made your point.Without *much* warning, Katralla reaches back and rocks Crichton's world with another solid smack to the face-- the girl can hit! *WHAM!*-- Crichton's face is getting a workout. CRICHTON: Okay ... I did deserve that. INTERCUT INT. MOYA PILOT: Zhaan. There's no doubt-- the smoke tendril has definately invaded Moya.The smoke resolves itself into a form within the smoke cloud. Zhaan immediatey bows her head and begins a muted prayer. KAHAYNU: Be calm, Priest. I am the ship's deity, not yours.Pilot's transmission on the clamshell is cut off. KAHAYNU: Pilots do not speak to Kahaynu. INTERCUT EXT. PALACE Aeryn and Chiana sit at the edge of a lakeside. AERYN: Honestly, Chiana, as long as Crichton's all right, I don't know what else I can do.Dregon approaches, interrupting another private conversation. He crouches beside Aeryn in the grass. DREGON: I trust I'm not disturbing you, but... I'm planning a trip to the edge of the barren lands to watch the Peligrinos migrate, and I thought...Dregon offers yet another 'compatibility vial'. DREGON: Besides, you never know... we could be, uh... extremely compatable.Aeryn takes the vial and glances back over her shoulder at Chiana, then looks into Dregon's eyes. Without glancing away, she tosses the vial over her opposite shoulder-- its disappearance is quickly followed by a gentle splash as it lands in the lake. AERYN: Now, dont feel bad. It's not you; it's me. I don't like you.INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- PRIVATE ROOM Crichton sits on a couch while Katralla circles behind it, and then sits beside him. KATRALLA: So, now you want to marry.As Crichton gestures 'heavenward', he notices a large metallic orb hanging in the air above them. It slowly lowers, lights blinking and humming. Crichton and Katralla eye it with vague curiosity... the orb beeps at this scrutiny. CRICHTON: Do we... know this...?They both stand and move toward the door, ducking under the orb as it follows them. Katralla reaches the door and tries to open it, while Crichton watches the orb warily. KATRALLA: John! It's locked!Crichton tries the door as well, taking his eyes off the orb only momentarily. The door refuses to open and Katralla starts pounding on it, shouting for help. The orb approaches them, lowering slightly. Crichton takes a wild swing at it. The orb rises swiftly and begins to emit a heavy white vapor. KATRALLA: Hello? Hello. Can anyone hear me? Open the door! Hello?!Unable to reach the orb, Crichton dashes across the room and tries to smash out a small window. Katralla remains at the door, pounding on it, calling for help. They both begin coughing as the vapor rapidly fills the room. KATRALLA: Can anyone hear me? Hello? Hello! Open the door!Crichton abandons his attempt to break through the window and runs back through the smoke filled room, pulling Katralla to the floor with him. CRICHTON: Katralla! Get down!Lying on flat on the ground, their faces pressed close to the floor, coughing as the vapor continues to decend. Crichton looks for a way out, but visibility is nil. CRICHTON: Is there another way out?Looking up from the floor, Crichton sees a form resolving in the smoke, it's eyes glowing red, it draws closer and beckons them to follow. RO-NAH:: This way!Crichton pulls Katralla's arm, urging her to follow him, crawling on the floor-- following ro-Nah's form as it retreats through the smoke filled room. INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- Hallway Outside the smoke filled room, ro-Nah, Crichton and Katralla sprawl on the floor of the hallway, still coughing badly, but recovering. KATRALLA: I doubted you... I'm sorry.INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- Yet another room NOVIA: That's unacceptable, Dominar Rygel. John Crichton may not leave this planet, but I will protect him.INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- Private Room Scorpius, PK Skipper, and ro-Nah, conspiring together-- go figure. PK Skipper attends to Scorpius' needs, the coolant rod carriage whirs outward from his skull, and she ably replaces the red rod with a fresh new, blue rod, the carriage whirs back into his skull. ro-Nah watches the entire process, entirely weirded out about it. SCORPIUS: Something wrong?Scorpius drags ro-Nah onto his lap and she squeals in fright. SCORPIUS: I predict that very shortly you'll be the wealthiest Jackench in this part of the galaxy.Scorpius releases her and she scurries away. SCORPIUS: Interesting creature.PK Skipper departs. SCORPIUS: Oh, to be there when the scales fall from John Crichton's eyes. ( snarls ) END ACT IACT IIINT. TRANSPORT POD CRICHTON: We are clear.Crichton grudgingly accepts this logic, and the chip, but he does not like it. CRICHTON: All right. Thank you.Crichton switches out the transequence ident chips, slapping in the new one in place. CRICHTON: Buckle in, boys and girls. Emergency exits, hammond side...Crichton shoo's ro-Nah out of the left hand pilots chair. CRICHTON: I'm driving. INTERCUT MOYA ZHAAN: Pilot! You must arrest her actions. Moya cannot be doing this willingly. INTERCUT INT. PALACE D'Argo, Chiana, and Aeryn confront poor Counselor Tyno-- and Rygel, regarding the disappearance of a friend. D'ARGO: You weren't going to tell us that John was leaving the planet?!D'Argo stalks out, in search of the half-breed. AERYN: No, it's the Scarran--Aeryn tries to leave in search of the Scarran, but Chiana stops her. CHIANA: Hey! Hey, hey, you and the Scarran... not a good idea. Remember the last time? Let me try first.Chiana darts out before Aeryn can contradict her. RYGEL: I'll, uh... be with the Empress.Rygel tries to slide is Thronesled past Aeryn unnoticed, but she thwacks him a good one upside the head before he can escape. He grunts and makes good his escape, leaving Aeryn and Tyno alone. TYNO: I'm sorry. I know the worst is being left behind.Tyno leaves... leaving Aeryn alone in the room. INTERCUT INT. TRANSPORT POD Crichton and ro-Nah sit in the forward seats on the Transport Pod, the two Paladins, Crichton's guards, lurk in the background; guarding. CRICHTON: Is there a reason your ship is so far from the others? INTERCUT INT. PALACE Jena and Kat primp inside the 'ladies' JENAVIAN: Poor Katralla. So unaware of what it takes.The sniping match is interrupted by Aeryn, arriving unexpectedly, she presses a couple of matching faces against the mirror to emphasis her point. AERYN: Hello ladies.Aeryn departs as quickly as she came, both Jena and Kat resume primping, attempting to maintain their composure in front of each other. Kat departs soon after, presumably to tell on Aeryn. INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- Private Room Clavor and the Scarran plot together, well Clavor mostly whines, before being interrupted. CLAVOR: He came into my chambers, and he affronted me b-before my fianceé! I will have his head on a post...!Chiana busts in on the party. CHIANA: Am I interrupting? Hey... ( chuckles ) Well of course I am. Yeah, yeah... it's so, so hard to conduct a conspiracy without privacy. Well, ask me. I should know.Chiana beats a hasty retreat. CLAVOR: What was the hezmana was that all about?INTERCUT EXT. SPACE The Transport Pod approaches and docks with an orbiting freighter. INTERCUT INT. FREIGHTER A large door opens with a high-pitched whine, silhouettes in the darkness define the two paladins flanking the much taller Crichton as they enter the Freighter. An alarm sounds and emergency lights begin to rotate. COMPUTER VOICE: Invader alert! Invader alert! 20 microts to forced-depressurization.ro-Nah darts past Crichton and his guards, heading toward the forward control room. Shortly after she disappears inside, the alarm stops. RO-NAH:: [O.V.] Occupant lighting low.Ambient lightening increases dramatically. Crichton and the Paladins are temporarily blinded by the light. Crichton merely squints up into the light, while the Paladins shield their eyes with white Pulse Rifles. RO-NAH:: [O.V.] Reduce by half.The lighting reduces to a more comfortable level. Crichton and the Paladins move forward. CRICHTON: Wow. This place sure has an interesting smell. It's not exactly a five-star hotel, is it? But at least it's off the main road.A sudden burst of pulse fire and the Paladin guarding Crichton's rear is taken out. PALADIN: Get down!Another burst of pulse fire, and the Paladin guarding Crichton's flank is taken down. Crichton crouches quickly, bending over the Paladin's body, he grabs for the fallen pulse rifle, he isn't quick enough. A shadowy form presses the muzzle of a pulse pistol against his neck. MALE VOICE: Don't.Crichton freezes, he turns his head slightly toward the weapon pressed to his neck and sees a familiar face. Scorpius' minion, Lieutenant Braca. BRACA: Oh, how dissapointing you are in the flesh.Crichton stands slowly, wary of the pulse pistol still pressed against his neck. BRACA: Notify Scorpius as instructed. Subpost shielded frequency.ro-Nah appears from her hiding place, and crosses to the communications console, implementing Braca's order. Braca smirks at Crichton. BRACA: A little reunion is in order, don't you think? Hm? END ACT IIACT IIIINT. FREIGHTER Crichton sits at a chair in the forward control room. Braca stands over him, holding his weapon trained on him. RO-NAH:: I've cut his Transport loose. It's drifting away.The debate is interrupted by a high-pitched beeping. BRACA: Ah, that will be him now.ro-Nah crosses the control room to the communications console, Crichton notes her passing and temporarily abandoning his 'thinking' pose, he points an angry finger at ro-Nah. CRICHTON: You do not get the toaster.ro-Nah gives Crichton a very familiar 'huh'? look, and Crichton returns to his internal musings. CRICHTON: So, no one knows where we are.An image of Scorpius appears as a holographic projection. SCORPIUS: [O.H.] Inventive. Evasive. In custody. My commendations, Lieutenant Braca. See to it that our... quarry... remains secure.ro-Nah sighs in extreme satisfaction. SCORPIUS: [O.H.] Your admirable associate, Ka D'Argo, was just here to see me. Of course, since I have no idea where you are, he left feeling... well... unfulfilled.The holo-projection of Scorpius winks out. CRICHTON: ( mumbling ) ... unique ... unique...Crichton reaches up, flicking a control on the console overhead. BRACA: Stop, or I will shoot you.Crichton stands quickly, turning toward Braca. CRICHTON: You promise?Braca turns Crichton around, trying to force him to sit. Crichton resists the direction. Choosing to stand. BRACA: I said sit down!Braca steps back and adjusts the aim of the pulse pistol. BRACA: Sit down! Or I'll shoot your limbs off, one at a time.Crichton waves his hands in the air, dismissively. CRICHTON: Uh, uh. No, no, no. See-- Human, Sebacean, Human, Sebacean-- we're different. One wound-- I bleed out. ( imitating Scorpy ) "Oh, Officer Braca! What the frell happened!" Huh? Mm-hm. Fine. Let's do it! Let's do this thing!Crichton grabs Braca's pistol, and presses the muzzle firmly agains his own forehead. Braca desperately tries to maintain control of the weapon, but he can't pull it away. CRICHTON: Come on! Shoot me, right here! Right here! ( pause ) Oh, no, no, no, not the brain... he wants the brain...A thoughfully manic Crichton, adjusts the aim of the pistol, while Braca grips it desperately, shooting wordless pleas for help at ro-Nah, but she is too terror-stricken to move. Crichton begins a litany of locations where Braca might best shoot him... Braca continues to struggle in vain for control of the weapon. CRICHTON: The heart, here... the heart... shoot me in the heart... uh, kind of your left, right? Oh, yeah! My right, your left... my left, your right.Crichton wobbles the aim of the pistol, pressing it to his chest, left, then dragging it right. Not satisfied with this aim, or the best location, he aims the weapon lower down. CRICHTON: Here, John Wayne Bobbitt. Vienna Boys' Choir! ( sings a soprano note... off key )Crichton adjusts the aim of the pistol yet again, pressing the muzzle into the palm of his right hand. Braca hangs on for dear life! CRICHTON: My sex life! Kill my sex life! Now, quick, shoot! Just shoot!!Crichton braces himself for the shot, but it doesn't come. Abruptly, he releases the weapon and stalks away across the control room, muttering 'something' to himself. Reaching the communication station he begins flipping random controls, switches and dials, moving across all the control consoles as he moves. The panels emit electronic beeping noises. ro-Nah, finally leaps into action, she tries to pull Crichton away from a control console, but just as she touches him, he spins around, a completely manic gleam in his eye, pressing an index finger against his neck. CRICHTON: Ah! Get back! Get back, or the white boy gets it!ro-Nah steps back gasping. CRICHTON: ( voiced altered for the full effect ) Oh, man! Don't let 'em kill me! Don't let-- ( in 'normal' voice) You people are so dumb!Crichton turns back to the consoles, continuing to toy with random controls. BRACA: Sit down!Crichton finally obeys the order, but he continues flipping switches and dials on the console in front of the chair, playing the controls like piano keys. The controls bleep and whine randomly. BRACA: What's he doing?ro-Nah whimpers and Crichton continues 'playing' the control console. Braca finally grabs him and pulls him away from the panel. Crichton wanders to the back of the room while Braca tries to shut the weapons down. BRACA: Shut down! Shut the weapons down!Crichton flings his hands into the air and moves away from the comms station. MALE VOICE: ( over comms ) Undeclared craft... ... a tactical-free zone. Identify yourselves immediately.The automatic pulse cannons begin firing on the freighter. All additional hell breaks loose inside. BRACA: Shut down now!In the back of the room, Crichton dances madly! CRICHTON: Whoo, whoo, whoo!ro-Nah shrieks and attacks Crichton, he lifts her up easily and slams her to the deck... it's WWF in the uncharted territories! Crichton grunts and yells, flexing his biceps. ro-Nah charges him again, but he dodges her easily. She turns and charges him again, he grabs her by the arms. CRICHTON: Ho, ho, ho!Crichton flings ro-Nah backward and she collides with the wall, exposed electronic circuits fry her throughly as she screams, and then slumps to the floor, quite dead. CRICHTON: Oh.Braca attempts to slip by Crichton, making for the exit. Crichton dives on top of him, pinning him to the deck. BRACA: You're insane!Crichton pulls Braca to his feet and marches him to the exit, flinging him up against the hatch. BRACA: Do you want us both to die?!Crichton steps back and Braca takes the opportunity to spin about, smashing him in the face with the helmet of his pressure suit. Crichton sprawls face down on the deck and Braca exits through the airlock. BRACA: Bye, Crichton! The ship's yours, but I've got the helmet!Crichton staggers to his feet, watching Braca escape through the hatch portal. He's in a towering frenzy, jumping up and down, flailing his arms and screaming. CRICHTON: Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! Frell! ( shouts incoherently )Crichton stalks back into the control room, he's completely out of control, the ship is falling apart around him under the assault of the automated pulse cannons. Reaching the comms station, Crichton tries to communicate with the planet. CRICHTON: This is John Crichton! I'm in the ship that--An explosion rocks the freighter. CRICHTON: This is John Crichton!Another explosion rocks the vessel, the comms station flares with electric discharge. Crichton abandons hope of reaching someone over comms, and turning, he walks out of the control room, then stops, defeated-- out of options. A familiar voice prompts him from within. SCORPIUS: "Focus, John. Panic is unacceptable. You will survive."Unable to argue longer with this voice, he walks back to the exit hatch, retrieving a pulse rifle on the way. Panting heavily, panic barely restrainted, the interior hatch slides open before him and he steps into the airlock. He stands briefly at the exterior door, looking out the portal. CRICHTON: Never get off the boat. Never get off the boat, man!!One final exhale, and the exterior hatch opens-- Crichton dives into the void of space! ( And we all go, "o-my-god!" What follows is 52 seconds of heart-pounding, gut-wrenching cinema! ) INTERCUT EXT. SPACE Floating in space in his street clothes, Crichton spins away from the freighter, when his spin faces him toward the freighter, which is still under heavy attack, he fires the pulse rifle, propelling him faster toward the floating Transport Pod. The time spent in vacuum is interminable, finally, the freighter gives way under the assault of the cannons and explodes. Debris from the freighter, and Crichton, are propelled rapidly toward the transport pod. Crichton latches onto the hatch and pulls himself inside. Still floating in vacuum in the airlock of the Transport Pod, Crichton pulls himself up the access way, his features twisted in agony. INTERCUT INT. TRANSPORT POD The interior airlock door opens with a whir, Crichton staggers in across the open hatchway, manages a few steps and collapses on the deck. His body convulses as it draws oxygen into his deprived lungs. Finally with oxygen to spare, his head is flung back, eyes swollen, a trickle of blood leaking from his nose, and he howls out his agony. END ACT III ACT IVINT. MOYA Zhaan wanders around the darkened ship. ZHAAN: Kahaynu! Present yourself! Kahaynu, I will speak with you now! INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- The Regent's Quarters Crichton's laid out on the padded bench at the foot of his bed, a clear plastic mask over his face. Lights on the electrodes seated in the mask flicker randomly. D'ARGO: I've, uh... spoken to the Empress, John. She's not going to do anything.Crichton removes the mask and sits on the bed next to D'Argo, rubbing his face and eyes gently with his fingertips. CRICHTON: I'm tired of this.Crichton notes that Aeryn has entered the room and is standing quietly near the exit. He points, drawing D'Argo's attention to her presence. D'Argo rests his hand briefly on Crichton's shoulder, then rising he passes Aeryn as he leaves. Aeryn approaches the bed and sits on the bench facing Crichton, he's still resting his face in his hands-- the very expression of weariness. AERYN: I'm very proud of you.Hesitantly, Crichton reaches out and gathers a small lock of her hair in his fingers, toying with it gently. CRICHTON: With you?Crichton strokes her hair gently, and moves to stroke her chin but pulls his hand back before it can make actual contact. He slides back on the bed. AERYN: What? You can't just quit!Crichton lowers his back onto the bed, tucking a pillow and then his hands under his head, he stares at the ceiling. CRICHTON: I'm not quitting. I just can't go on.Crichton is silent, his gaze locked on the ceiling. Aeryn turns and leaves. INTERCUT INT. PALACE Aeryn passes Dregon, who's being fitted for something red. She pauses momentarily on her way out. AERYN: I'm exploring the barren lands... if you think you can keep up.Aeryn blows out of the room, Dregon hot on her heels. INTERCUT Crichton lies on the bed, curled on his side, knees pulled up, arms wrapped around himself, but his eyes are open, staring into the near distance. Suddenly he rises, looking as if he might follow Aeryn, but doesn't make it past the foot of the bed. Slowly he sits again, resting his face on his hands. INTERCUT INT. MOYA PILOT: Moya has... slipped from my conciousness... she is gone and... I am shortly to follow.Zhaan sighs and strokes Pilots cheek gently. PILOT: Don't feel sad. Our lives were good. Moya is right. We are... fulfilled. INTERCUT INT. PALACE -- The Wedding Crichton enters, looking exquisite in his red wedding garb. He greets his future brother in law. CRICHTON: Hey, bro. Glad to see you could make it.Clavor gives him a distainful look and moves away. Crichton allows himself a small smile. Jenavian appears briefly, quietly giving her well wishes before moving away. JENAVIAN: ( whispering ) Much fortune.Crichton's next visitor appears just as unexpectedly, but Crichton handles it well, allowing himself another slight smile. SCORPIUS: You're making a, uh... mistake, Crichton.Scorpius moves off, just as dramatic music begins to play. Crichton looks toward the far doorway, watching as Katralla enters on the arm of the current Regent, her father. The crowd begins to kneel, and so, following suit, Crichton also moves to bent knee, but is stopped by a whisper from the Empress. NOVIA: Not you.Katralla and her Father move through the crowd, greeting all the guests, lightly touching hand to upraised hands. They make a circuit of the crowd, finally stopping at Crichton's side. NOVIA: In the presence of the spirit of all who have sacrificed so that we may rule ourselves in peace, I call public the joining of my daughter and her betrothed in the sacred ceremony that shall ensure compassionate governance, and harmony. Should anyone among you, feel cause to sway the will of love, to question the ability, the sincerity, or the destiny of this union... rise now, and be heard.Crichton surveys the crowd, among them, his friends, save Aeryn, and his many enemies. No one makes a sound. Well, the Scarran growls quietly. He appears to have a last hope that someone... perhaps Tyno, would stop this train wreck. This hope is crushed. NOVIA: With your silence as benediction, I invite you to now rise, and witness the crux of power pass from one generation to the next. You will now be wed.Novia steps away from where she had been standing, between her daughter and betrothed. Crichton, one final hope, looks to Katralla, but that hope also is crushed as the dimwit girl smiles beautifically at her intended. END ACT IVEPILOGUEINT. PALACE -- The Wedding Crichton and Katralla stand side by side, their joined hands bound lightly by a red ribbon. The crowd surrounding them watches in silence. NOVIA: It is more obligation than honor. You are not only responsible for each other, but for the lives of your subjects. Do you accept this burden in matrimony?After a slight hesitation. CRICHTON: Without hesitation.Novia steps forward, pulling the ribbon from their joined hands. Crichton, appears to be in deep shock here, he blinks blearily as the Empress approaches, then watches his hand as she pulls the ribbon off-- he seems deeply facinated by their hands, which remain pressed together, even without the ribbon. NOVIA: As reigning monarch, it gives me great pleasure to formally introduce our successors. The future Empress and Regent of this great and peaceful civilization: Katralla, and John.Crichton just stands, dumbstruck or numb, or numbstruck, who knows! The crowd applauds diligently. RYGEL: ( muttering ) Magnificent. I smell power again. ( chuckles )Katralla turns to Crichton, she kisses him gently and embraces him warmly, whispering a message to him. KATRALLA: Pieces of different kindling often build the strongest fire.And if he wasn't just in such deep shock, the whole thing would be totally cool. Katralla moves into the crowd, accepting well wishes from family and friends. Crichton seeks out his friends. KATRALLA: ( greeting a guest ) Thank you.Crichton's friends find him in the crowd. CHIANA: Hey, you were great.Chiana takes the recorded chips from Crichton, and then embraces him. CHIANA: Hey, I love you.Crichton looks toward Katralla, standing inside the 'gizmo' that will turn them into statues for 80 cycles. KATRALLA: I will stand beside you for 80 cycles with love in my heart, and long for the day when we may revive.Crichton nods and smiles slightly, watching as the machine beeps and whirs. Cold, internal fire courses through Katralla's form, converting her from living flesh to motionless statue. Hmm. looks kinda like 'carbonite' CRICHTON: Whoa.The crowd applauds again! Tyno joins Crichton, one final 'surprise' for him. TYNO: It's calibrated only for Sebaceans. Endure the pain... and rule wisely.Taking this latest shock quite well, considering everything else, Crichton lowers his head, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. D'ARGO: The time has come for farewells, my friend.Crichton steps up inside the 'gizmo', standing beside frozen Katralla. D'ARGO: Well, now I can only speak the truth. And that comes as good and bad news.Crichton eyes his friend with wry disbelief CRICHTON: What's the good news?Crichton turns his head, peering at his friend, not believing what he's just heard. D'Argo grins and starts laughing. D'Argo's grin is slowly echoed on Crichton's face, and he begins laughing in kind with his friend. Laughing still, he turns back to the onlooking crowd, lifting both arms in triumph, he flings a double "V" for victory sign. CRICHTON: Whoo!A buzzing whir signals the machines activity and the cold internal fire races up Crichton's body. He has a singularly different response. Screaming in agony, he drops to one knee, his features contorted, his arms seem to fending off an unseen assailant. His scream fades with the completion of the process, his body converted to lifeless statue. The crowd applauds again. D'Argo sighs heavily, the bravado and laughter gone, replaced by an immense weight of anger, sadness and guilt. The crowd continues their applause. TO BE CONTINUED |