This transcript provided by: FarscapeAlly!
Suggestions for corrections/revisions/expansions are, as always, gratefully accepted.
| Starring: | ||
|
Ben Browder
Claudia Black Anthony Simcoe Gigi Edgley Paul Goddard Lani Tupu Wayne Pygram |
Commander John Crichton Officer Aeryn Sun Ka D'Argo Chiana Stark Crais Scorpius | |
| Guest Starring: | ||
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Linda Cropper Thomas Holesgrove Dominique Sweeney |
Senior Officer Xhalax Sun Colartas Tracker, Vek Colartas Trackers, Thek & Kek | |
|
Guest Stars Reappearing: Linda Cropper: Linda reprises her role as Aeryns' mum, Peacekeeper Senior Officer Xhalax Sun, leader of the Peacekeeper Retrieval Squad. Linda previously appeared on Farscape as Xhalax Sun in "Thanks For Sharing", and as the infinitely less creepy Plokavian Inquisitor, Fento, in the Season 2 episode, "The Ugly Truth". Thomas Holesgrove: Thomas, having the distinction of being the 'most killed' character on Farscape ( You ROCK, Tommy! ), returns inside the skin of the weird alien shapeshifting tracker species, Colartas. Thomas previously appeared on Farscape as the late Halosian, Tak ( Out Of Their Minds ), the late Scarran, Cargn ( Look At The Princess Trilogy ), the late Scarran, Gahv ( Won't Get Fooled Again ), the late Sheyang, Teurac ( Liars, Guns & Money, Parts 2 & 3: With Friends Like These & Plan B ), the late Diagnosian, Tocot ( Season Of Death ), as well as the late Scarran, Erathran Plonek ( Season Of Death), and last, but certainly not least, the late Moordil ( Suns & Lovers). While it's highly likely Thomas was inside the skin of the Colartas in "Thanks For Sharing", he survived the ep, which is likely why no one was credited for the part. I love this! Dominique Sweeney: A lot of familiar names ( if not faces ) in Season 3. Dom returns to Farscape inside the ultra-cool body suit of a new, less hairy, tracker species; Colartas. Dom previously 'appeared' in Farscape in the early Season 2 episode, "Out of Their Minds" as the Halosian, Yoz. Writer: Rockne S. O'Bannon Who also wrote: Director: Peter Andrikidis Who also directed: | ||
| PRODUCTION CREDITS: | |
| Created by: | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
| Directed by: | Peter Andrikidis |
| Written by: | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
| Consulting Producer: | Sue Milliken |
| Co-Producer: | Andrew Prowse |
| Line Producer: | Lesley Parker |
| Supervising Producer: | Justin Monjo |
| Executive Producer: | Richard Manning |
| Produced by: | Anthony Winley |
| Executive Producer: | David Kemper |
| Executive Producers: |
Juliet Blake Robert Halmi, Jr. Brian Henson |
| Executive Consultant: | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
| Director of Photography: | Russell Bacon |
| Production Designer: | Tim Ferrier |
| Music by: | Guy Gross |
| Editor: | Wayne Le Clos |
| Costume Designer: | Terry Ryan |
| Second Unit DOP: | Danny Batterham |
| Makeup/Hair Supervisor: | Jen Lamphee |
| Story Editor: | Lily Taylor |
| Script Editor: | Matt Ford |
| Production Executive: | Robert E. Wozniak |
| Voice of Rygel: | Jonathan Hardy |
| Voice of Pilot: | Lani Tupu |
| Creature Shop Creative Supervisor: | Dave Elsey |
| Supervising Art Director: | Scott Bird |
| Visual Effects: | Animal Logic |
|
| |
TRANSCRIPT BEGINSPREVIOUSLY ON FARSCAPETeaser opens with standard voiceover by Claudia Black: "Previously On Farscape" Longest teaser in teaser history (1 min, 50 sec) recapping the Recovery Squad storyline from "Eat Me" and "Thanks For Sharing". Opening with the discovery of the crippled Leviathan, Talyn, and closing with Aeryn's vow to prevent the Peacekeepers from capturing Talyn: "They are hoping that my mother's presence will divide my loyalties, but I will not let them get Talyn back. Even if it means I have to kill her." Teaser closes with standard voiceover by Claudia Black: "And now... on Farscape." COLD OPENEXT. Planet Gorgeous CGI of an alien planetscape, panoramic view of a forrested area with several distant jutting peaks. Camera POV quickly pans down through the dense forest, limbs occassionally draped with interesting looking vipers. The semi-darkness of the forest proper also inhabited by flying critters and drooping vines. A thick mist coats the forest floor. Our view travels quickly through the alien environment, approaching Talyn, lying silent and draped in thick vines on the forest floor. Cut to INT. Talyn -- The Bridge. Crais stands silent and brooding, looking out the forward portal into the forest beyond. Cut to INT. Talyn -- Storage Chamber. Singing a refrain of a 'song', Stark enters, prancing, what looks to be a small storage area aboard Talyn.
His 'song' ends abruptly as he slams both hands down on a makeshift bed on either side of a sleeping form.
The Hynernia bolts upright, wakened abruptly.
Seeing it's only Stark, Rygel groans.
Stark cups both hands protectively over his crotch.
Stark moves a few steps to the bulkhead at the head of Rygel's 'bed'. Cupping his hand against the wall, and pressing his ear close, he listens intently as Rygel continues to rant, glancing back at Stark.
Yawning mightily, Rygel lies back in his bed. Stark continues to listen for signs of life on the other side of the bulkhead. Cut to INT. Talyn -- The otherside of the bulkhead. Suspiciously familiar bits of black clothing litter the floor... [ Suspicious murmurings and shouts of exhultation from the audience ]. ...two sets of black boots, discarded against the wall-- as the camera pans slowly upward-- [ Suspicious murmurings build to screams! ] --the edge of a red blanket and a pair of empty trousers droop over the edge of a recessed bunk area. Bare toes peek out from the bottom of the blanket, two sets of toes belonging to two bare feet... one small, one larger, the smaller foot resting on top of the larger foot. The camera pans 'up' the bed. Two bodies spooned under a large wooley red blanket. Aeryn's arms lie outside the blanket, one curled languidly in front, the other curved and tucked under her head, her long spill of black hair pulled forward and away from the face that is pressed close to her back, the red blanket pulled up over his shoulder, only the side of his head visible, but her bunkmake is mostly definitely John Crichton. In heaven. Crichton wakes slowly, warming her back with his breath, the fingers of his right hand, resting lightly in her hair begin to caress the softness there as well. Aeryn begins to stir as he softly kisses her back, then whispers in her ear.
Sitting up on one elbow, Crichton slams his fist into the wall, groaning loudly.
Cut to... well, the other side of the bulkhead! Rygel sits bolt upright once more at the loud banging and moaning.
Cut to John banging and groaning. Aeryn lies beside him grinning, almost laughing.
Cut to Rygel, shaking his head in disgust. Cut to John and Aeryn, he's still happily 'performing' for their audience, she slaps him on the ass [ off camera of course ], smiling indulgently. Cut to Stark, ear pressed to the bulkhead, throughly enjoying the performance. Cut to John and Aeryn [ Sharing an incredible moment of happiness with us. It's sweet, but bitter cause I can't help thinking, "Poor John!". *snif* ]
Curled close together, their warm laughter is abruptly cut short as he presses his lips urgently to her neck. Cut to Stark, smiling and laughing as if knowing he's about to enjoy the 'real' show. Cut to John and Aeryn warming up for another 'bout'. Her head cradled in his arm, he seeks her lips and they kiss. A long appreciative kiss with entwined arms and bodies. A kiss uninterrupted by the ensuing conversation.
Long break in the conversation as Aeryn wraps her arm around his neck and the kiss delves more deeply.
One hand moving to his neck, the other cruising elsewhere, her mouth moves to his shoulder. Hands twined across her back and into her hair, his lips taste the soft skin at the join of her shoulder and neck. Cut to INT. Talyn -- The Bridge. Crais powers up the weapons console.
Cut to John and Aeryn. John looks up at the sound of the voice over comms looking a bit disoriented, Aeryn glances over as well, listening.
Cut to Crais.
Cut to John & Aeryn.
Aeryn makes a soft 'moue' of disappointment, and they share one last quick kiss, then roll quickly apart. Back to business. Cut to Bridge -- Stark hurries in, chanting as usual.
Crais continues working on various systems, Stark on his heels the entire time chanting "Friend or foe, friend of foe...?"
Starks annoying chanting tapers off and ceases. [ Thank you, Rygel! ]
John and Aeryn arrive at half-speed, both still checking to see if everything is 'in place'. Slowing as he enters, John snaps his weapons belt into place. Aeryn hasn't had time to braid her hair, it hangs free in a loose ponytail.
Crichton spares Crais a brief, dismissive glance, walking across the bridge to a forward control console.
As he speaks, Crais and Aeryn share a much longer glance [ some unspoken text there which, I'm sure, shall be up for discussion ].
Crichton ignores Stark, focusing instead on the control console.
Aeryn stands silently at the centerpoint, doing her best to ignore Rygel and Crais.
Crichton adds emphasis to his order with a stoney glare and two fingers pressed into Rygel's neck.
INTERCUT EXT. Planet Surface. Amid the many trees, vines and mist, the Retrieval Squad has arrived on planet. [ I can't count more than one Prowler, but at least one other ship is also likely ]. Xhalax Sun appears with Pulse Rifle at the ready, followed by a bipedal red crocodile wearing an odd headress.
The alien is in obvious pain and laboring under two to three times it's normal weight.
Casually, Xhalax turns her rifle on the alien and fires, Thek grunts and drops to the ground. On the other side of the Prowler, two more Colartas appear, one only slightly larger, the smaller armed with a large pulse rifle. Xhalax glances toward them.
END COLD OPENROLL 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, yot show them you exist. But then you'll never know the wonders I've seen." ACT IPlanet's Surface Cutting from the exterior shot of Talyn to the interior corridors. Talyn's crew march with purpose through the turnings of several corridors, discussing the plan to elude the Retrieval Squad. Stark skitters beside Crichton, with Crais and Aeryn trailing.
Cut to Storage Area --
Aeryn enters, followed by Crichton, Crais and Stark. Rygel must already know some 'short-cuts', arriving before them. He's playing Aeryn's PK Vid Chip on another of those cool tables. this one has a semi-circular extension on one end.
John impatiently confronts Rygel at the table, while Crais and Aeryn open storage containers at the rear wall. Xhalax's voice continues softly in the background.
John yanks the chip out of the slot and tosses it on the table.
Again, for emphasis, John snags the Hynerian by the neck with both hands.
Glancing back at Crichton for a moment, Aeryn and Crais continue pulling weapons out of the open crate while Stark watches John intimidate a not easily intimidated Rygel.
Cut to EXT. Planet -- Xhalax and the two Colartas march through a smelly bug infested jungle [ seriously ! ]
They all stop at the sound of pulse fire.
The three member squad moves, following the larger Colarta. Cut to the trio of Talyn's crew, also marching, single file, through a smelly, bug infested jungle. Aeryn in the lead and Crais taking up the rear. Crichton fires another shot before his pulse rifle begins to give him problems.
Crichton moves ahead as Aeryn pauses, intently searching the jungle with her eyes.
Aeryn reaches out one cautionary hand, pulling Crichton to a stop.
With the butt of her pulse rifle, Aeryn knocks a small object from the vine blocking Crichton's path. The object, a silvery 'pumpkin' shaped object falls to the forest floor and bursts open, spilling a substance which begins to foam and burn the vegetation beneath it. [ Hey, this 'could be' a Spiderman reference, small explosive 'pumpkin bombs' being the weapon of choice of one of the S man's most dire enemies. hehe ]
Aeryn and Crichton watch the juice of the Oarusk fruit burn away the vegetation. Crichton ducks carefully under the low lying vine.
Cut to INT. Talyn -- Stark scuttles beside Rygel's thronesled as they make their way down Talyn's corridors. They're both bundles of nerves, Stark humming a single flat note and Rygel hiccuping ceaselessly.
Stark resumes humming.
Rygel's glaring at Stark as Stark's eye widens. He pulls Rygel's thronesled to a stop.
Stark points ahead to the bend in the corridor. The corridor is densely decorated by vines drooping from the ceiling of the corridor.
Stark's hum increases in volume, his hands 'washing' nervously. Rygel's gasp builds to levels which could signal the onset of a full fledged attack of the Intons. Cut to EXT. Planet -- The Retrieval Squad marches single file through the jungle, Vek in the lead, Kek taking up the rear.
Cut to Talyn's Trio. Aeryn leads, stepping near a small mound of dirt just as it spurts an explosion of gas. She immediately covers her mouth and ducks away, coughing. Crichton covers his nose and mouth with his hand, his voice muffled.
All three skirt the spurting gas, mouths covered. Cut to Retrieval Squad --
Cut to INT. Talyn -- Stark hacks at the vines in the corridor with a small knife, finally foregoing it and just yanking the vines out of the ceiling. Rygel follows behind, helpfully 'coaching', but doing nothing with the 'much' larger blade in his hand.
Cut to EXT. Planet -- The Retrieval Squad silently stalking their prey, crouch behind cover as they get first sight of Talyn's crew. Aeryn, followed by John step into full view, unaware they've been spotted.
Close behind John, who carries his pulse rifle slug casually across his shoulder like an ax, is Crais; weapon at the ready, continuously scanning the dense vegetation. Aeryn consults the small red 'compass' in her hand. Xhalax has 'someone' in her sights, but holds fire.
Xhalax holds stead, sighted straight on someone, close on her sweat beaded face.
Aeryn 'sensing' something, slows her advance a bit.
As the trio closes on the squad's position, Xhalax appears ready to open fire within the next microt or so. Aeryn stops, fully certain something is 'wrong'.
Instantly alert, Crichton pulls his rifle into his hands, at the ready.
Crais also examines the area more closely, Xhalax prepares to fire, her weapon charging, the hum of the rifle instantly alerting Talyn's trio. They dive to left and right into cover, Crichton following Aeryn to the right. All hell subsequently breaks loose as the Squad opens fire into the jungle.
The extended standing firefight continues, punctuated by several near misses. Aeryn quickly plays for better position.
Dodging into the open, Aeryn backtracks to better ground. Crichton steps into the open, snapping out several shots as he advances, covering Aeryn's retreat. Forces quickly spread out as Crais, Aeryn and John all move in different directions under the cover of the dense jungle. Pulse fire continues raining on the vegetation surrounding them. Crais's pulse rifle gives in first, and he discards it, for a pair of pulse pistols. Crichton runs through the jungle, snapping off pulse rounds at the pair of Colartas who continue advancing on Crais's position. Xhalax crawls beneath the rain of fire, pursuing Aeryn. Backing away from the advancing Colartas, Crais turns briefly to check his retreat and takes a shot in the shoulder, he goes down screaming. Crichton retreats into the jungle under pulse fire from the Colartas. Aeryn continues her retreat from Xhalax's pursuit, her rifle giving up next. Tossing the rifle away, she pulls out her pulse pistol. Xhalax flinches back from several quickly snapped off shots, her pulse rifle giving in next. Xhalax takes a stray shot in the back of the knee as she fiddles with her malfunctioning rifle. She goes down screaming. Crichton races through the jungle, ducking beneath and around a massive tree. We can hear Xhalax's cry from here. [ Presumably the shot came from him. ]
Aeryn paces through the undergrowth, unpursued, for now.
Cut to John, frantically surveying the vegetation pressing in on all sides.
Cut to Aeryn, concern building as she turns in a slow surveying circle.
Cut to John, angry and afraid, his search revealing nothing. Rifle useless, he tosses it to the ground.
Crichton pulls Winona from it's holster and bolts into the undergrowth. [ Camera at a gorgeous half-speed. God he's beautiful when he's worried! Okay, so is she, near tears it seems, in a fruitless search for him. ] Cut to Aeryn, fruitlessly searching for John. All her focus on that, she's easily jumped from behind and knocked to the ground by a backhand blow from Xhalax. Mom pounces and gets her in a headlock.
END ACT IACT IIPlanet Surface Aeryn continues to struggle in the firm grip of Xhalax. Both her hands pulling strongly against the restraining arm across her throat.
Aeryn gains a little leverage by driving a firm elbow into Mum's wounded knee. With an outcry of pain, Xhalax's grip loosens and Aeryn tosses her over her shoulder to the ground. Pouncing on top of mom she and Aeryn struggle, Aeryn trying mostly not to hurt her too badly.
Giving up on trying to make her give in, Aeryn knocks her cold with a huge roundhouse right. Panting heavily, Aeryn looks down on Xhalax's unconcious form. The familiar scar on the side of her face keeping company with a huge collection of new ones marring the side of her head and obliterating her left ear.
Cut to John -- Forcing his way past a cluster of vines, still searching intently. He's given up entirely on stealth.
Forcing his way past another bad patch, a familar voice cries out quietly, putting him back on alert.
Past another huge tree and he discovers Crais slumped to the ground at the base of another tree, his left shoulder braced against it, propping him up slightly. Crichton kneels beside him, taking a moment to rest.
Crichton crawls forward, taking a quick look at Crais's right shoulder.
Crichton moves to crawl away, about to get to his feet, he's called back by Crais.
Crichton doesn't see the problem.
Cut to Alien Trackers -- The two Colartas continue the hunt, the slightly smaller one, Kek, moving slowly, dribbles dark blood from his croc mouth. Grunting in pain he clutches his chest and leans against a tree. [ I'm saying 'he' cause he 'sounds' he-like, however evidence indicates that 'he's' a 'she' of the species, and once again, the better tracker. Hmm. Wonder if this is true of earthly predatory species as well. I also want to know who's voicing them. Don't believe Vek is being voiced by Dom, and Tom... well, it's unlikely. So... puppeteers? And if so, who? *sigh* Whatever happened to that "Voice Artist" credit? ]
The Colartas move off in pursuit of their target. Cut to Crichton & Crais -- a few Oarusk fruit cling to their heavy vines, a few more scattered whole on the ground. Some few are broken open, their shells forming rudimentary 'bowls' containing their acidlike green 'juice'. Crichton moves into frame, retrieving one of the 'bowls' and a 'whole' fruit. Moving back to Crais, he kneels behind him.
Crichton pours the content of the bowl on the wound in Crais's shoulder, the liquid disappears down a deep ugly looking hole.
Abruptly Crais screams in pain as the fluid begins to burn, a greenish foam pouring back out the hole. Startled, Crichton slaps a hand over Crais's mouth, muffling his screams. Crichton squints a bit in the smoke of the burning flesh, watching the acid do it's work. He has the grace to sound a bit contrite.
Crais continues to groan in pain, his screams muffled by John's hand [ yep, I'd say that's a little more than a little. ] Cut to Aeryn & Xhalax -- Xhalax, propped unconcious against a tree, her ankles bound. Aeryn completes the bindings on her wrists and leans her back against the tree. Sitting back on her haunches, Aeryn gazes at the silent face of her mother. Aeryn's expression soft, curiously loving. A slight smile curls her lips and she reaches out with a tenative hand, gently stroking the scar on her mothers check. Semi-concious, Aeryn's gentle touch causes mom to flinch and wake. She struggles briefly with her bonds. Aeryn busys herself with checking the rough bloodsoaked bandage on Xhalax's knee.
Mom looks at her like she's speaking an unknown language.
That uncertainty melts away, but not quickly.
Cut to INT. Talyn -- Rygel, still in the vine drenched corridor with his honkin' big knife, is joined by Stark.
Stark begins yanking vines down again.
Stark moves down the corridor, gleefully yanking vines down on top of them, Rygel hoving beside him.
Stark and Rygel chuckle wickedly.
Cut to Planet Surface -- The Colartas weave between dense vegetation in semi-darkness. [ cripes, wrong headresses. Vek and Kek, backwards. Geez. Is it just me? ]
Cut to Crais & Crichton -- Crichton driving the weak and wounded Crais along as quickly as possible.
Crais stumbles and collapses to his knees, groaning in pain.
Crichton yanks Crais roughly to his feet.
Crichton retains his supporting grip on Crais, forcing him to stumble onward.
Crichton yanks Crais to a stop, pulling him up to eye level, Crais groans in pain.
Crichton pulls Crais ahead again, increasing his pace without regard to his wounded companion.
Cut to Aeryn & Xhalax -- Aeryn drives Xhalax ahead of her at as quick a pace as possible.
Xhalax snorts a small disgusted laugh.
Aeryn gives mum a good shove to get her going again after she'd stopped to deliver that derisive comment.
Xhalax stops again to shoot her daughter a glare. Aeryn glares right back.
Daughter gives mom a good shove to get her going again. Cut to John & Crais -- Crichton's moving Crais along at a good pace, bearing at least 3-4 times his own weight in the heavy gravity, what with half carrying Crais.
Rounding yet another huge tree, Crichton collapses to his hands and knees. Crais drops to the ground groaning. Exhausted, Crichton falls on his back in the mist.
They both struggle to recover, adjusting their position on the ground.
For some reason, Crais edges slightly away from John [ probably the better not to bleed on him, rather than fear of catching some slight touch of insanity. ] Crichton lifts his head slightly from the ground, shouting, the better for 'Julie' to hear.
Crais tries to 'refocus' his nutso companion, but John's found something with his left hand which came to rest in some slimy goo.
Obsessed with 'smelling' every new substance he encounters, John lifts his hand to his nose inhaling slightly. He flinches away from his hand, eyes clenched against a horrific odor.
John rolls onto his side, fetching a large handful of the smelly goo.
Crichton smears a large glop over Crais's face, who groans and flinches away from the smell.
Crichton paints his face with the transparent goo, wincing gravely from the awful odor.
Crichton dabs more of the crap on Crais's face, who likewise struggles to cover his scent.
Cut to INT. Talyn -- Stark and Rygel removing the last of the vines from Talyn's corridor. Rygel actually hacking at one with his big frelllin' knife.
Aeryn arrives, propellling Xhalax ahead of her.
Startled, Rygel reverts immediately to his ingratiating toady voice.
Stark falls in behind Aeryn and Xhalax, following as she continues down the corridor.
Disturbed by Stark's lack of news, Aeryn grabs mum and directs her down another corridor, failing to notice the big ugly fingernail mom is using to slice into one of her loosely vine bound wrists. Cut to EXT. Planet -- Moving with purpose, the Colartas continue the hunt. In the lead, Kek suddenly stops, sniffing the air. [ Okay, legitimate screw up, the Colartas have the 'wrong' headresses on, according to voice, lines spoken and height. Oh, I know! They changed clothes! hehe ]
Vek's eye 'blinks', a film of white shuttering over a dark eye, then opening again.
Surveying the area in IR vision, the whites, grays, and black indicating relatively cool temperatures. His vision finally settles on two pools of deep red, indicating the heat absorbed by John and Crais's bodies as they rested.
Cut to Crais & John -- John returns from a forage carrying four lengths of straight wood, of about finger thickness. Kneeling beside Crais, curled on his side on the jungle floor, John drops three of the lengths over Crais's body.
Crais doesn't respond, John nudges him with one hand.
Crais doesn't respond, he's out of it for a bit. Crichton sighs a heavy, "what's next?" sigh, and starts sharpening the end of one of the lengths of wood with a flat white rock. He takes a few swipes at it before frustration stops him. Bent over the shaft and rock, he quietly coaches himself.
Taking a firm grip, he starts to sharpen the wooden shaft again, but he's interrupted by another soft voice.
John leaps to his feet, striding toward the black clad figure, angrily pointing the end of the shaft directly at Scorpy's eye.
Scorpius eyes the end of the shaft, not more than an inch or two from his eye.
His expression grimly blank, John pulls the point back, grasping the shaft with one hand, and takes a few steps closer to Scorpy.
Suspicion dawns again on Crichton's features.
Scorpius contemplates his answer, the camera cuts to close on Crais's unconcious face. Cut to INT. Talyn -- The Bridge. Xhalax sits against the wall, hands still tied, but struggling with her bonds as Aeryn and Stark busy themselves readying Talyn's systems, Rygel sits in a corner, big frellin' blade still in hand. Xhalax succeeds in slicing open her wrists [ a truely scary manuever! ] and sliding a long thin blade from the open wound [ yuck! ], instantly setting to work slicing through the vines.
Aeryn begins manipulating controls at a forward console as Xhalax suceeds in freeing her wrists. Aeryn becomes alert to a change in her prisoners status [ that slight grunt 'may' have given Xhalax away ], but before she can turn to deal with it, Xhalax peels back something in her hand, quickly inhaling, first from her left hand, then from the part in her right. Camera close on her eye as the pupil dialates dramatically, erasing the hazel iris. Xhalax stands quickly as Aeryn turns to deal with her, but the drug in her system, lending her additional strength, allows her to take Aeryn out with one kick. Aeryn collapses on the deck. Screaming, Stark charges mummy, who takes him out with a single right cross. Seeing both his companions out on the deck, Rygel uncharacteristically charges, big frellin' knife at the ready. Xhalax turns and 'guts' him, stabbing in and then slicing upward with her blade. Unmoving, Rygel gasps, his eyes unfocused, his grip on the big frelling knife loosening. Glancing at him dismissively, mum moves away to one of the control consoles. Green blood, almost florescent, scattered across his robes, Rygel groans again, leaning forward in his sled, dropping the big frellin' knife clattering to the floor. [ and this is where I said, "OMG! They're killin' the puppet! ] On the floor, Aeryn shakes it off while mom is otherwise distracted. Rising slowly, still disoriented, she attacks mom, another sharp blow to the wounded knee. Mom glances down, not even slightly distressed by the attack. Mom smiles at her. Kneeling on the floor, Aeryn realizes they are in grave trouble.
Orders cut off by a wicked back hand, Aeryn drops unconcious to the floor again. END ACT IIACT IIIINT. Talyn -- Storage Chamber Stark shrieks like a banshee just inside the closed and sealed gate to the storage chamber.
Stark turns away from the gate. Flexing stiff fingers, he scurries over to Rygel, who is lying silent and still on the cot against the wall.
Sitting beside the still body of the Hynerian, Stark quiets, his voice soft, examining the gaping wound in Rygel's gut.
As Stark strokes the Hynerians soft ear brow, Rygel's eyes flicker open slightly. RYGEL: ( weakly ) Help... me... please... Stark. Help... me... Stark glances around the chamber helplessly. Spotting something across the room, he moves toward the wall and begins pulling overgrown vines down. Cut to INT. Talyn -- The Bridge. Aeryn sits on the floor, tightly tied with vines, to one of the support structures, her hands and feet also bound. She struggles uselessly with her bonds [ a continuing theme ]. Xhalax works on Talyn's control console with a tool which throws bright sparks randomly. They both flinch whenever a circuit is cut and a huge spark flies. Without turning toward her, Xhalax speaks to her daughter.
Cut to John & Crais -- Back braced against a large outgrown root, Crais comes to abrupt conciousness, immediately determining that he's been tied, spread-eagle, hand and foot by the native vines. He briefly struggles with the bonds.
Crichton casually kneels beside Crais, his voice light and easy, as if nothing whatever is awry.
Crichton's voice lowers slightly, becoming slightly more cold, and a bit more deadly. Crais is sweating, he can't keep that important eye contact and he looks away momentarily.
Crichton, more pleased that pissed; 'cause he feels he's finally figured Crais out, stands, carefully stepping over Crais's bound legs.
Standing behind Crais, Crichton picks up a large steaming shell.
Crichton dumps a shell full of steaming water over Crais's head.
Crichton darts into the undergrowth, leaving Crais behind, hogtied, screaming, and spewing water.
Cut to INT. Talyn -- The Bridge. Talyn rumbles and shudders, as Xhalax continues trying to cripple him.
Xhalax goes back to work on Talyn's systems with her little tool.
Warm mother/daughter moment over, Xhalax goes back to work on Talyn's systems.
Both with fearful looks, Aeryn already certain of the answer, Xhalax perhaps reluctant or afraid to answer.
Cut to EXT. Planet -- The Colartas still on track, make their way through the dense jungle.
Both sniffing intently, Zek casts his gaze around the area, his eyes setting on his prey. Crais continues to struggle against the vines that secure him in place.
They move into a clear area, toward Crais. Kek, still dribbling blood from his mouth and wearing the 'correct' headress, halts their progress.
Camera pans across the area, revealing Crichton standing ready behind a large tree.
Crichton is calmly quiet behind the tree, listening as the Colarta scents the air.
The Colartas approach their helpless prey.
Vek clutches Crais's jaw with one large red clawed hand. Behind the tree, Crichton holds his slender spear level and steady, the sharpened point at eye level.
Crichton pulls the 'spear' back, making ready to launch, his expression hardening, his eyes cold.
Crichton launches his handmade spear, burying it in Colartas gut. Vek hisses and drops like a rock. As Kek turns to look at his fallen comrade, Crichton leaps from cover with a second spear, howling and making an incredible leap [ considering the gravity ], his weight takes the Colartas down and, howling like a banshee, he buries the small spear in Kek's chest. [ Total 'Tarzan' moment. ]
Crichton kneels beside Vek's, body, searching through his belongings he comes up with another of those cool red 'compasses'.
Crichton stands, walking away, leaving Crais behind... again.
Crichton rounds on him, hotly angry.
Honestly angry and afraid, Crais uses all his skill to manipulate Crichton [ Lani's accent bleeds through in a MOST lovely manner! ]
Crichton is dangerously angry, silently measuring his options, features twisting... instinct warring with reason. Crais knows him better than he'd like. Cut to INT. Talyn -- With Aeryn seated on the floor next to Stark, Xhalax puts the finishing touches on Aeryn's bonds, then moves to the strategy table to continue her work on subduing Talyn. Stark and Aeryn have a whispered conversation.
The camera pans to the small body of the Hynerian, his gut decorated with twisting vines, then cuts back to Aeryn and Stark as they both watch Xhalax silently for a moment.
Xhalax notices the vid chip on the table. Stopping her work for a moment she pops the chip in the player. Watching her, Aeryn smiles slightly.
Watching the vid, Xhalax is taken suddenly back to the past, to witness a moment long forgotten. A young dark haired girl, sits up in bed, wide eyes watching her silently. //FLASHBACK// //FLASHBACK// //FLASHBACK// //FLASHBACK// //FLASHBACK// A mother smiles lovingly at her child. Xhalax watches the recording, her expression crumbling. //FLASHBACK// Xhalax slams both her fists onto the table top, sparks fly and the recording is terminated.
Xhalax stalks from the room, the moment lost. END ACT IIIACT IVEXT. Planet Surface The bodies of the Colartas lie sprawled on the vine covered jungle floor. In the near quiet, Vek's eye slides open and he growls softly. Sitting up, the Colartas pulls the makeshift spear from his gut, and standing, continues the pursuit of it's prey. Cut to INT. Talyn -- Aeryn works at Stark's bonds with her feet, trying to rub the knots loose. A gurgling gasp from Rygel suddenly redirects thier attention.
Aeryn wrenches desperately at her bound hands.
Aeryn continues trying to slip one hand loose from the tightly tied vines. Rygel sits up slightly, groaning.
Close on the stitches, rough and hastily sewn [ ew! ]
Close on the stitches again, a combination of uneven sewing that closes flesh and robes together at once. Aeryn continues to struggle with her bonds while Stark and Rygel bicker.
Cut to EXT. Planet -- Xhalax arrives back at her prowler, popping the hatch she retrieves an operational pulse rifle from the cockpit. Cut to John & Crais -- Trudging through the jungle. Crichton consulting the 'compass', marches in the lead with Crais trailing, one hand holding a pulse pistol to his shoulder.
Cut to INT. Talyn -- Rygel squats on the floor in front of Aeryn, slowly sawing through the vines binding her hands.
Rygel continues sawing, panting slightly. Aeryn pulls strongly against the weakening vines, which finally burst apart, freeing her. She quickly unties the vines around her ankles.
Aeryn bolts from the room. Stark extends his wrists toward Rygel who holds the knife away, glowering and growling slightly.
Cut to Xhalax, not returning to Talyn yet, she's tracking her second target. Cut to John & Crais, following the direction finder, they walk silently and single file through the jungle. Cut to the Colartas, hot on the trail and hissing softly. Cut to John & Crais, their path taking them across a familiar spurting gas geyser.
The Colartas jumps Crais from behind, Crais shouts as he wrestles in the grip of the tracker. Xhalax hears the shouts and turns in that direction. Crichton turns and attempts to pull the alien off Crais. Elsewhere in the jungle, Aeryn hears the fracas and unholstering her weapon, heading in that direction. Zek sweeps Crichton off his back, John drops and rolls into the underbrush. Xhalax approaches as Crichton recovers and gives Zek a swift and vicious kick. Crais cannot bring his weapon to bear as he continues to wrestle with the tracker, Crichton trying to peel the alien off from behind again. Xhalax arrives on scene, and brings her weapon to bear on the three struggling forms. As she is snapping off a shot, Aeryn arrives, barrelling into her mother and spoiling her aim. The shot goes wild, striking the trees behind the trio. Xhalax and Aeryn wrestle on the ground for control of the pulse rifle. Mom gets the upper hand, smashing Aeryn's head against the ground. Crais and Crichton slowly subdue the growling Colartas, dragging it to the ground under their weight. Crichton is a bit distracted, trying to hold onto the alien and still see how Aeryn is faring.
Xhalax recovers the pulse rifle and gets off two wild shots before Aeryn strikes her to the ground again. Xhalax pistol whips Aeryn, dropping her to her back, stunned. Mom holds her weapon on her daughter.
Crichton and Crais still have their hands full, pulling the Colartas down, over the spurting gas vent.
They par-broil the alien while Aeryn attempts reason with her mother.
Crichton and Crais hold the struggling alien over the pulsing vent. Handicapped only slightly by concern, Crichton continually glances over to the tableau between mother and daughter. Xhalax would rather argue with her daughter than kill her.
Crichton drops on mom, who screams in pain, he pulls her off Aeryn and they roll away in a tangle of arms and legs, the pulse rifle firing wildly. Crichton pulls the rifle from her hands and tosses it away, rolling on top of her and pinning her to the ground while she struggles madly. Aeryn retrieves the rifle, taking aim at the two bodies on the ground. [ John... meet mom. ]
He promptly, does 'not' do that. Keeping his body between Xhalax and her daughter.
Crichton's eyes shift immediately to Xhalax's, he can't mistake noting her expression shifting from one of anger and desperation to recognition. The voice at her back is one she knows.
Crichton, still eye to eye with Xhalax, makes his intention clear.
Crichton stands quickly, taking the pulse rifle from Aeryn's willing hands.
Crais stands over Xhalax, pulse pistol holding her to her place on the ground.
Her face a mask of profound sadness and loss, tears glistening in her eyes, Aeryn kneels before her mother. Xhalax watches her with some surprise, her own mask slipping just a bit.
John's eyes shift from Aeryn to her mother, sharing her pain, he cannot bear to see her hurt this way.
Mother and daughter exchange a long look. Aeryn's expression unchanging, hope lost. Her eyes fill.
A single tear escapes, tracking quickly down her cheek. Crichton leans forward, pulling her up by one arm, whispering in her ear.
She lets him draw her deeper into the jungle, away from her mother. As they disappear, Xhalax's grim gaze shifts to Crais. She closes her eyes briefly as Crais draws firm aim on her, but he hesistates. Her eyes open and she watches him hold the pistol on her, not more than two or three feet from where she sits on the ground. Cut to Aeryn and John -- Camera at that gorgeous half-speed again as John leads her away, he pulls overhanging branches away from her face, knowing she is unaware of her surroundings. Shock making her silent and easily led. Cut to Crais and Xhalax -- Crais still hesitates to fire, he seems to be steeling his resolve rather than waiting for Aeryn to be far enough away.
He brings the weapon up higher.
Cut to John and Aeryn -- Supporting her with one arm, he continues to lead her quickly away, pushing aside branches and vines. What little of Aeryn's blank shock that remains, has given way to an awful grief stricken expression. FLASHBACK Cut to John & Aeryn -- More concerned with getting her away from the final act, Crichton doesn't notice her building anxiety. She pulls away from him, trying to turn back
He struggles with her briefly, trying to hold her back, but as pulse fire rings out she lunges into his arms, buring her face against his chest. He holds her close to him, his hand over one hear, his cheek pressed to the other. She clings to him, weeping bitterly. Holding her up, John walks her onward, pressing her close, pressing his lips to her temple, trying to comfort the comfortless. END ACT IVEPILOGUEEXT. Space Free of the planet, Talyn rockets through the blackness of space, disappearing into the distant blanket of stars. He's looking more black than red about now, red streaks across his upper hull the only remnant [ or I'm nuts, one or t'other. ] Cut to INT. Talyn -- Stark & Rygel's Quarters [ the storage compartment ]. Stark sits, cross-legged, face-to-face with Rygel, on the bed.
Stark fiddles with Rygel's robes, working on 'unthreading' the Hynerian.
Stark makes a motion over Rygel's head, outlining his head and shoulders twice, whispering...
Rygel squints at Stark, straining only slightly, a familiar squealing noise emanates from his body.
Rygel chuckles and winks at Stark. Cut to INT. Talyn -- The Bridge. Crias sits in sleep, back braced against the wall, neural link busily winking it's tiny lights. Crichton enters, crossing the centerpoint, eyeing the slumbering form closely as he walks. Turning to Aeryn as he approaches, his expression softens and his fingers glide gently across her shoulder, letting her know he is there. She looks up at him tiredly, her expression relaxing, lips curling in a soft smile as she watches him round her and stop just across the console.
They both turn their gaze to Crais. Aeryn and John lean on the console, their heads together, speaking in quiet tones.
Crichton's hard and distrustful gaze remains locked on Crais as she talks.
He glances toward her at the last comment, then back to Crais... then back to Aeryn as the 'implications' of her last words hit home. She pauses for a bit, letting that settle in.
She shrugs and smiles lightly, and his lips quirk in a smile, but it's transitory as his eyes slide back to Crais for a moment before returning to her.
His eyes slide back to Crais, his expression hardening again, accompanied by a slight exhalation of frustration and anger.
Aeryn turns to look at Crais as well.
Aeryn nods slightly, resting her forehead against John's.
Lifting her head, she looks into his eyes, that sadness returning.
John tenderly strokes her face with the back of his fingers, his expression and touch connecting them physically as well as emotionally.
Her grief swelling again she rests her forehead against his, rocking his head slightly he caresses her gently, wordlessly sharing her pain and loss. [ Fade to black on simply gorgeous two-shot ]. FADE TO BLACKROLL ENDING CREDITS |