FARSCAPE

"Self-Inflicted Wounds, Part 2: Wait For The Wheel"

Written by,
David Kemper



This transcript provided by: Farscape Ally!
Suggestions for corrections/revisions gratefully accepted.
Many thanks to 30d954A for rooting out my many glitches and grammatical errors!

Eureka! Thanks to Scaper1984 for providing the 'unintelligible' words of Scorpius in the 'theatre of the mind!' Yeah! Thanks Scaper1984!


Starring:
Ben Browder
Claudia Black
Anthony Simcoe
Virginia Hey
Gigi Edgley
Paul Goddard
Lani Tupu
Wayne Pygram
Commander John Crichton
Officer Aeryn Sun
Ka D'Argo
Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan
Chiana
Stark
Captain Bialar Crais
Scorpius
Guest Starring:
Tammy MacIntosh
Victoria Longley
Nicholas Hope
Jool
Neeyala
Kreetago


Writer: David Kemper

Who also wrote:

(1:12*) "Rhapsody In Blue", (1:17) "Through The Looking Glass", (1:21*) "Bone To Be Wild", (1:22*) "Family Ties", (2:10) "Look At The Princess, Part 1: A Kiss Is But A Kiss", (2:11) "Look At The Princess, Part 2: I Do, I Think", (2:21) "Look At The Princess, Part 3: The Maltese Crichton", (2:22) "Die Me Dichotomy", (3:03) "Self-Inflicted Wounds, Part 1: Could'a, Would'a, Should'a".



Director: Tony Tilse

Who also directed:

(1:07) "PK Tech Girl", (1:11) "Till The Blood Runs Clear", (1:15) "Durka Returns", (1:18) "A Bugs Life", (1:22) "Family Ties", (2:03) "Vitas Mortis", (2:07) "The Way We Weren't", (2:10*) "Look At The Princess, Part 1: A Kiss Is But A Kiss", (2:21*) "Look At The Princess, Part 2: I Do, I Think", (2:11*) "Look At The Princess, Part 3: The Maltese Crichton", (2:13) "Beware Of Dog", (2:16) "The Ugly Truth", (2:20) "Liars, Guns & Money, Part 3: Plan B", (3:03) "Self-Inflicted Wounds, Part 1: Could'a, Would'a, Should'a".




Created 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: Guy Gross
EDITOR: Wayne Le Clos
COSTUME DESIGN: Terry Ryan
SECOND UNIT DOP: Danny Batterham
STORY EDITOR: Lily Taylor
SCRIPT EDITOR: Matt Ford
PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE: Robert Wozniak
CREATURE SHOP CREATIVE SUPERVISOR: Dave Elsey
VISUAL EFFECTS: Animal Logic





COLD OPEN





INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

Crichton dangles from the bridge, the serpent hovering close over head, it's maw opening wide. Hanging on with only his left hand, Crichton drops his right to the weapon at his thigh, pulling it from the holster.

CRICHTON: Winona, don't fail me now.

The serpent dives toward him and he opens fire. Four wild shots, some appear to strike the body of the serpent, and it sweeps past him, disappearing into the depths of the ship. Crichton reholsters his weapon and pulls himself back onto the bridge. He walks swiftly to Pilot's console and retrieves the damaged 'gizmo'.

CRICHTON: Crap.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

Aeryn and Zhaan have joined Crichton in Pilot's Den.

CRICHTON: I'm tellin' you, Aeryn... it was from Earth. A television transmission.

AERYN: What, you mean, like that Yoda from Degobah?

Aeryn examines the gizmo. Zhaan crouches behind Aeryn studying something on the bridge, and Crichton kneels excitedly beside Aeryn who is sitting on the bridge, legs dangling over the side.

CRICHTON: No, no, no, no, no! Three Stooges. Whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo...

He performs a quick, and to her eyes, quite bizarre, Three Stooges imitation.

AERYN: Well, whatever was in there, it's not any use to us now.

CRICHTON: Do you know what this means?

AERYN: No I don't.

CRICHTON: It means that some part of this wormhole is 10, 20, 30, 40 light years at most, away from Earth. It's doable, I could get home.

ZHAAN: Amidst our misfortune. I'm pleased for you, John.

CRICHTON: Yes... I know.... Selfish.

Crichton's enthusiasm vanishes under their irritation, waning even more as Moya lurches through another gap in the wormhole.

CRICHTON: Forget it.

Crichton stands, turning his back he paces away slowly.

ZHAAN: Where is Neeyala's injured crew member?

CRICHTON: What are you talking about?

ZHAAN: Well, this is their blood.

CRICHTON: No, serpent blood.

ZHAAN: No, no. This is Neeyala's species blood, John.

CRICHTON: Zhaan, there was no one here.

AERYN: What about their crewmember... who died, lost a limb during Starburst. Could the serpent have done that?

ZHAAN: Well... possibly, but why would they lie?

CRICHTON: Yo, both of you. Even if Mr. Wiggles did chew on that guy, there was no one here.

AERYN: Their Phaztillon... Generator... what does it do?

CRICHTON: It alters the phase physicality of an object...

Aeryn looks at him pointedly, his impatience evaporates.

CRICHTON: conceivably.

AERYN: We wouldn't be able to see it.

CRICHTON: Invisible.



INTERCUT

INT. Alien Vessel

KREETAGO: I grow weak... Neeyala.

NEEYALA: They must continue to believe that their Leviathan deteriorates faster than it is. Even the remotest hope will cause them to rally to her.

Kreetago places a hand on the generator, his body shimmers and disappears.

NEEYALA: Shut down their thermal condensers. Losing ability to regulate temperature should convince them to abandon ship.

KREETAGO: I will do what needs to be done. Including destroying them... if I must.



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





INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

Crichton, Chiana and Rygel

CHIANA: There's no way to tell if this is sabotage.

RYGEL: Doesn't matter anymore if it is. Moya's frelled, and our only option is to go on Neeyala's ship.

CRICHTON: And what if they are screwing us?

RYGEL: Especially if they've screwed us. Means they have the upper claw.

CRICHTON: Nah. I'm with D'Argo on this. I think we need to know the truth.

Rygel rips the bandage off his forehead, grunting silghtly.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Maintenance Bay

Aeryn, D'Argo, Zhaan and Stark.

D'ARGO: I do not trust Crichton's judgement.

AERYN: Agreed, he claims to have seen Earth again, and I'm sure he's still talking to Scorpius.

D'ARGO: Hm.

STARK: We all know where Rygel's loyalties lie.

D'ARGO: Sadly, Chiana's too.

ZHAAN: All right. Then whether they agree or not, we must stick to plan.



INTERCUT

CRICHTON: First thing we do... everybody acts normal.



INTERCUT

AERYN: Don't tip them off-- surprise may be our only ally.



INTERCUT

CRICHTON: If Neeyala's people aren't sabotaging Moya... we'll go with them.



INTERCUT

AERYN: If they are, we defeat them.



INTERCUT

CHIANA: I'll repair some of the Nexus points.



INTERCUT

STARK: So they're isolated from Moya's main systems.



INTERCUT

CHIANA: That way, if they fry again...



INTERCUT

STARK: We'll know it's them.



INTERCUT

RYGEL: Do you actually believe they're using their generator to turn themselves invisible?



INTERCUT

D'ARGO: It would explain the sequence of decompressions.



INTERCUT

CRICHTON: It's geographically consistent with someone running--



INTERCUT

D'ARGO: --from place to place.


INTERCUT

CRICHTON: Which leads us to the blood in Pilot's Den.



INTERCUT

ZHAAN: The cavern beneath must be searched.



INTERCUT

CRICHTON: Can we rely on you, Rygel?

RYGEL: ( grunts )



INTERCUT

STARK: Can we rely on Rygel?



INTERCUT

RYGEL: All right. But not for you...



INTERCUT

D'ARGO: He has been on Moya the longest.



INTERCUT

RYGEL: ... for Moya!



INTERCUT

AERYN: Keep comms on restricted frequency.

Aeryn stands, turning to leave the Maintenance Bay.



INTERCUT

CRICHTON: Switch comms to Deka.

Crichton stands, turning to leave the Neural Cluster.

INTERCUT

ZHAAN: Neeyala?

AERYN: Neeyala... Neeyala is mine. First thing I want ( choking ) to get from them ... ( choking )... is a head count.

Aeryn pulls something out of her mouth, glaring at her hand in revulsion.

AERYN: What is this?!

STARK: She sheds.

Jool, still bound and gagged, leaning against a stanchion, shrieks muffled protests.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Hangar

A liquid drips from the underside of Farscape, forming a small puddle on the ground. Crichton touches the puddle with a finger and brings it to his nose, smelling the substance.

Hearing a noise in the empty hangar, Crichton turns toward the alien shuttle. A ramp decends from it's underside. Crichton unholsters his pistol and approaches warily, he sighs and reholsters the weapon as D'Argo descends the ramp.


CRICHTON & D'ARGO: ( simultaneously) What are you doing?

D'ARGO: Well, now that we've both asked...

CRICHTON: I made 17 loops through the wormhole-- fried the organic bits on my module. If we stick with Moya, she makes less than one, and I'm just looking for... anything. ... Now, what the hell are you doing?



INTERCUT

INT. ALIEN SHUTTLE

A whirring sound accompanies the opening of a forward sheild on the alien shuttle. The sheild lifts revealing a forward portal. Crichton and D'Argo sit in a pair of seats just inside the shuttle. Crichton sits tensely, hands resting on his knees. D'Argo is laid back, quite at home, examining the interior controls.

D'ARGO: Formulating ideas.

CRICHTON: Formulating ideas? Well, here's an idea. Since we know nothing about this craft, how 'bout you stop... pushin' buttons?

D'Argo presses another control, the ship emits a humming sound, but nothing untoward occurs.

CRICHTON: All right. Two for two-- you're not still feeling a little suicidal, are you?

D'ARGO: Not in the least. Now, this looks interesting.

D'Argo leans forward and presses another panel, a red light briefly flashes under his hand and the ship emits a high pitched whine. Outside the vessel, an array of thin green lazer beams rotate under the craft.

D'ARGO: Now, what do you suppose it does?

CRICHTON: So far, scare the crap outta me.

D'ARGO: This ship feels somehow familiar to me.

CRICHTON: Yeah, you know, we have a crisis goin' on out there?

D'ARGO: I said I was formulating ideas.

CRICHTON: I heard you.

D'Argo flips another control, the humming changes tone and the green lazer beams stop rotating.

D'ARGO: Being on Moya... a fugitive. It's changed me.

CRICHTON: Well, if you're not feeling suicidal, now is a bad time for a mid-life crisis.

D'ARGO: Chiana's a young woman. She needs attention.

CRICHTON: D'Argo... you were focused on your son. It's completely understandable.

D'ARGO: Still, I neglected her. Do you know what troubles me the most? I did my best. I did the best I could, and it wasn't enough. I still lost them both.

CRICHTON: My Grandmother used to say that life is... a great wheel. Sometimes it grinds you down into the mud, and other times it... lifts you up into the light.

D'ARGO: Are we strapped to this wheel?

CRICHTON: That's a given. ... Point is is that, most times, you get a second chance. Just gotta wait for the wheel.

RYGEL: ( over comms ) Aeryn, I'm nine tiers below



INTERCUT

RYGEL: Pilot's Den. I've ah, found the alien girl. Well, half of her.

Rygel examines the body of the young alien girl, Shreena, entangled in cables, her body neatly sheared in half a the waist.

RYGEL: Looks like a serpents


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

RYGEL: ( over comms ) bite to me.

AERYN: All right, well, open the gills on her head, and carefully remove some of the needles.



INTERCUT

RYGEL: ( gasps ) What in hezmana for?



INTERCUT

AERYN: I like to know my enemy.

Zhaan enters Command and brushes past Aeryn, weaving between the slanting white pylons of the alien vessel, she makes her way toward the entry point.

AERYN: Zhaan?

Aeryn follows Zhaan.

AERYN: Zhaan!

Aeryn grabs Zhaan, pulling her back. Zhaan turns on Aeryn, red eyes blazing, and slams her back against one of the pylons.

ZHAAN: That woman was invisible when she was killed in Pilot's den. Their betrayal must be punished.

AERYN: Not like this, Zhaan. It won't help Moya.

Moya lurches, Zhaan stumbles, crouching on the floor.

ZHAAN: I must control myself.

AERYN: It was a bad trade, Zhaan... your health for mine.

Zhaan looks up at Aeryn, her eyes once again their normal vibrant blue.

ZHAAN: Don't undervalue yourself.

AERYN: I'm just a soldier.

Zhaan stands, caressing Aeryn's cheek gently.

ZHAAN: Don't underestimate yourself.

AERYN: I'm being realistic.

ZHAAN: Don't be afraid to understand yourself. We're not as different as you assume. Violent past, no faith in the future, and then a transformative experience aboard this very ship. My time grows short, and yours stretches before you. Use it wisely.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passageway.

Stark sits near the wall, performing some maintenance inside a small access panel. Jool whimpers and whines behind him. The gag is gone, but she's still cuffed behind her back.

JOOL: A living ship... I've never heard of such a beast.

STARK: Which obviously means it can't exist.

JOOL: Oh, you've 'so' figured me out.

STARK: I'm not trying to. Be quiet, please. The gag remains an option.

JOOL: Is it true what the animal said? that you're all prisoners?

STARK: At some time or another, yes.

JOOL: Great... just great. I take a multi-civilization tour for my birthday and barely make it through the first stop. I lose my deposit. My cousins get murdered. I've been frozen for 22 cycles. I've been captured by degenerate aliens. Attacked by a huge serpent's...

STARK: Dead! All of us, dead! My love, dead! My dreams, dead! You, dead! Me, dead. You dead, me dead, you dead, me dead, you dead, me dead.... Your list is short and unworthy of entree to this ship of horror. Tortured by demons you can never know. Mocked by love that will never be.

Jool cowers away, whimpering as Stark rages beyond reason.

STARK: Oh, you want to cry young creature? I will show you something that will make you cry forever.

Jool shrieks, obviously causing Stark some amount of pain, the tools he was working with being to melt. Suddenly the panel he was working on overloads and shorts out. Stark runs back to the panel.

STARK: It's me. ( panting ) Uh, tier five, hammond level. A circuit blew, but I had it off line. Someone was here, invisible. Get ready.



END ACT I










ACT II



INT. MOYA, Command

NEEYALA: The priviledge of working with techology is guaranteed by our families. Should we fail to return this ship, they will all be executed.

ZHAAN: Why didn't you just lie and tell us both ships could survive separation? We would have happily remained here and perished with Moya.

NEEYALA: I did not wish to see you die. But, I incorrectly assumed that given the choice, you would take the rational option.

CRICHTON: So, just to be sure you helped things along. You cripple a living ship and we jump at the chance to escape with you. ... I trusted you.

NEEYALA: Your feelings for Moya and Pilot are matched by those for our families. ... Allow personal passions to cancel each other out. What's left?

AERYN: ( laughs bitterly ) Wormhole techology.

NEEYALA: Yes, garnered at great cost. With potential beyond measure. Would you compare that with the lives of a ship and Pilot which, I assure you, are doomed anyway.

ZHAAN: Moya lives, Neeyala. You misjudged her will and ours.

NEEYALA: Will? ( gurgling noise ) is a poor substitute for beersien alloy, when crushed by astronomical tidal forces.

AERYN: That's still no excuse for sabotaging Moya. Stop Kreetago.

NEEYALA: He carries no communications device. That would give him away. He will continue his mission until your ship is incapacitated.

AERYN: Then we shall find a way to stop him.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Cargo Bay

The door swings open, a heavy white mist fills the bottom few inches on the Cargo Bay, the mist stirs in accompaniment to the sound of footfalls. A small access panel drops open and the circuits inside short out. The lights go out, plunging the bay into darkness.

D'ARGO: DRD's... find this frelling bastard.

Several DRD's roll into the the darkend Cargo Bay, their green sensor beams illuminate the space in eerie swirling green bands. Kreetago's form is temporarily silouetted by the green light. D'Argo and Chiana enter cautiously.

CHIANA: Very krell, D'Argo. How'd you think of it?

D'ARGO: Watch for disruption in the beams.

Kreetago's silouette appears inside the beams, he turns toward D'Argo and Chiana, the sound of his gills readying his needles alerts D'Argo to danger.

D'ARGO: His needles!

With awesome ease, D'Argo parries four needles with his Qualta Blade. ( Too cool! ) Chiana falls.

CHIANA: ( screams ) My leg!

D'Argo fires twice at Kreetago, who runs out of the Cargo Bay. D'Argo gives chase.

CHIANA: D'Argo! I'm hit!

D'ARGO: Tourniquet. It'll stop the poison.

CHIANA: With what?!

D'Argo runs back to her side, gripping her thigh powerfully, just above the needle, and drags her out of the room. Chiana screams!



INTERCUT

D'Argo steps into the passage outside the Cargo Bar. Chiana is slung on his back, her arms around his shoulders, legs gripping his hips.

D'ARGO: He's out here somewhere.

CHIANA: Where?

D'ARGO: Don't look... listen.

They both hear the sound of Kreetago's gills readying to deploy his needles, Chiana screams, and D'Argo aims his rifle one-handed down the passage toward the noise, and fires, a progressive spread of three shots. The third shot finds it's mark blind, a splash of whitish blood marks the kill.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Zhaan and Neeyala are alone on command, Zhaan cuffs Neeyala hands behind her back.

D'ARGO: ( over comms ) Zhaan. Chiana's got one of their needles in her leg.

ZHAAN: Rygel, do you still have the spikes from the alien corpse?

RYGEL: Yes, why?

ZHAAN: Meet me in my lab now.

Zhaan turns Neeyala to face her.

ZHAAN: If this young girl dies, I will come back for you and I will most certainly lose any chance I have left... of meeting my Goddess.

Zhaan turns to leave but stops short as a shrill pulsing whine sounds, she observes Aeryn and John returning, and so she departs.

AERYN: Explain.

NEEYALA: The generator has reached optimization phase.

CRICHTON: And what does that mean?



INTERCUT

INT. ALIEN VESSEL

Neeyala, with hands cuffed behind her back, precedes Aeryn and Crichton, through the entry from Moya's Command.

NEEYALA: Once activated, the powercell will engorge a final time. And when it releases... we'll find out if our ships are destined to separate.

CRICHTON: Aeryn, you want to hold off?

NEEYALA: Impossible! Even now the reactor shuts down permanently. Listen! ... My crew is dead. This is our one chance to avoid the certainty of joining them.

Crichton pulls his pistol from his holster, and Aeryn removes Neeyala's cuffs.

AERYN: Go ahead.

Neeyala manipulates a few controls.

NEEYALA: Be aware, should our vessels disengage, the built-in timing favors yours being the one destroyed.

CRICHTON: How long do we have?

NEEYALA: Hard to discern with the damage. Maybe an arn, not more.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passageways

Rygel hovers down a passage, discussing options and plans with D'Argo and Stark via comms. Stark and D'Argo move quickly down another main passageway.

RYGEL: Ridiculous. We tried Starburst. Everybody heaved.

D'ARGO: Neeyala has fixed it so that when we separate, she enters the wormhole while Moya is ejected through wall and into normal space.

STARK: From hetch-impossible to a dead stop. That's sub-atomic dispersal!

At a passage junction, Stark and D'Argo fall in behind Rygel, they continue the discussion. ( And hey, bravo Tony, lovely! )

RYGEL: All perfect reasons to be on her ship, strapping in for the ride.

D'ARGO: Starburst could rotate Moya so it's us who go into the wormhole,

RYGEL: Where's she'll get ripped apart from the stress. I've flown there, remember?

STARK: We voted, Rygel.

RYGEL: I didn't get to vote.

STARK: I was your proxy.

RYGEL: Pilot's in a coma. Moya's half-decompressed. Nothing works. Fine! I'll kill half an arn.

D'ARGO: I want you to reconnect Pilot to Moya's external senses.

STARK: The Neural Cluster? D'Argo, we shredded those synapses.

D'ARGO: It'll take all three of us. Splice and hook, nothing permanent, I want to give Pilot a chance.

RYGEL: He's unconcious.

D'ARGO: Well, do your part. He'll be awake.

RYGEL: What if we're not done when the time comes?

D'ARGO: Then we race to the other ship.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Crichton and Aeryn move rapidly down a corridor, weaving between the narrow white pylons of the alien vessel piercing Moya.

CRICHTON: We gotta seal all the chambers on the outer rim. Starburst is gonna spin us like a top. One decompression and we're vapor.

AERYN: Once secure, I'll overload Pilot with Moya's adrenal secretions.

CRICHTON: I really blew this one, Aeryn.

AERYN: Not done yet.

A, by now, distinctive shriek pierces the air and Crichton and Aeryn pull weapons and run back into Command. Jool cowers by the defense screen, shrieking her head off. Neeyala cowers to the side, liquid dripping from the edges of the cuffs that secure her hands behind her back. Jool's scream is 'melting' the handcuffs! (Why isn't everyone deaf?! hehe)

Aeryn and Crichton run in and begin firing at the serpent hovering over Jool. The serpent turns toward them, and they duck and the serpent sweeps overhead and out the door. Jool continues that god-awful shrieking, tapering off slowly.

AERYN: It didn't disappear. That's new.

CRICHTON: 'Cause the generator's fully on, right?

NEEYALA: Correct. We now share the serpents phase existence, and will, until separation.

CRICHTON: It just keeps gettin' better. ... One-Adam-Twelve, guys. The critter's part of our reality now. Be careful out there.

AERYN: I'll try and chase it to the outer rim.

Aeryn exits and Crichton attempts to follow.

NEEYALA: You do anything to upset the balance that I have set into place...

CRICHTON: Zip it, T Lady! You had your shot, we're takin' ours.

Crichton leaves.

JOOL: You can't leave us tied up like this! What if that thing comes back?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Lab

Zhaan uses her 'microscope' to analyze the venom from the alien quill. Chiana lies on the lab table. D'Argo hovers.

ZHAAN: Mm. These are very similar to the quellian tibor's mating spikes. Pliable root, tensile fiber stalk, metalline venom tip.

D'ARGO: Will she be all right?

ZHAAN: Well I believe so. But not if Rygel hadn't secured these other needles for anti-body serum.

Chiana attempts to rise to the moment, but Zhaan urges her to lie back down on the table.

CHIANA: I heard the plan, I'm ready to go.

ZHAAN: Uh, uh, uh. The more your blood pumps, the more chance you'll make a liar out of me, child.

Zhaan stumbles and nearly falls, but D'Argo is there to catch her, guiding her to a safer landing on a crate. D'Argo kneels before her.

ZHAAN: Ever my protector.

D'ARGO: It is not you that needs protecting. It's the rest of the universe I fear for.

ZHAAN: When I was first incarcerated on this ship... wild and murderous. I could not conceive how I would survive. I heard a rumor that a Luxan Warrior was a fellow prisoner. I actually prayed that the brute would succumb to hyper-rage and kill me.

Zhaan strokes his check gently.

ZHAAN: How ironic is that?

D'ARGO: There is a planet out there that will heal you.

ZHAAN: The intent is noble. The result is in the hands of the gentle Goddess.

Zhaan takes D'Argo's hand in hers and presses it gently to her face.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

Stark and Rygel work on making the connections D'Argo described.
RYGEL: Too bad about Pilot, I liked him.

STARK: He liked you too.

RYGEL: Hm? How do you know?

STARK: He told me.

RYGEL: He did?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Crichton charges back into command collapsing to his knees in front of Jool who still sits cuffed in front of the Defense Screen. He places a comms chip indelicately between her breasts, and moves behind her to remove the cuffs. He's all business with no time for nonsense.

CRICHTON: Comms chip.

JOOL: What are you doing?

CRICHTON: Deputizing you, debutante. See those lights? They're cycling faster. Hear that noise?

JOOL: Ow!

CRICHTON: Pitch is rising. At some point... we're out of time.

He pulls Jool to her feet.

CRICHTON: I want you to make a judgement call. When you think it's gonna blow... you get us back here.

Crichton shoves a pulse rifle into her arms and turns to leave. Jool is unspeakably confused!

JOOL: What?! I mean... I don't know how...

CRICHTON: Look... princess! I know that this ... trip to Krugerland was not on your itinerary, but believe it or not, I know exactly how you feel.

Insulted, Jool stands, one hand on hip, pulse rifle dangling like a purse.

JOOL: Don't presume to know anything about me.

Crichton returns to her, pulling the pulse rifle up, aiming it for her, at Neeyala.

CRICHTON: You hold this steady, be more afraid of what you're aiming at.

Crichton points an emphatic finger at Neeyala and turns to leave-- again.

JOOL: ( whining ) I've never done anything like this before.

CRICHTON: None of us have.

JOOL: ( shouting angrily ) You killed my cousin!

Crichton turns about at the door, angry himself now.

CRICHTON: Not on purpose! He was a corpsicle, and your other cousin... he didn't last half a minute defrosted.

JOOL: Then why did I survive?

CRICHTON: I don't know. You're not sick. Maybe they shanghaied you for body parts. You're the freebie.

JOOL: Everything I have seen so far is despicable!

Crichton flings both arms up into the air.

CRICHTON: Welcome... to the Federation Starship, SS Buttcrack!

Crichton turns to leave again, twice slapping both hands against his buttocks to emphasize his point



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Subpassage

Moya vibrates heavily, D'Argo staggers in the passage.
D'ARGO: Decompression, Tier 3!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Crichton, running out of command, stumbles and falls heavily against the bulkhead as Moya lurches and heaves to one side.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Moya lurching heavily, Zhaan leans against a bulkhead, holding on.
ZHAAN: It's rolling! Internal airtights are giving way!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

STARK: Zhaan, do not enter Pilot's access corridor.
Stark grabs a support as the ship lurches again.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Lab

Chiana watches the many vials on the table beside her vibrate, a gentle breeze stirs her hair.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main passage

D'ARGO: Vent Tier Three and Four Air Bladders-- back-pressure the hatches.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

CRICHTON: On three, big man, you go four.

ZHAAN: ( over comms ) He's going to be cut off. Do something!

Moya rocks and rolls and Crichton is bounced off the bulkhead, recovering quickly he continues forging rapidly ahead. Aeryn passes him quickly, coming from the opposite direction.

AERYN: No blocked-- outer hull rupture. Long way.

Crichton wheels about and follows Aeryn at a run.

CRICHTON: Chiana's okay.

AERYN: So I heard.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Neeyala lurches forward under the ships unsteady footing. Liquified metal still dripping from the cuffs. Jool wheels about from the alien ships control console and points the pulse rifle fearfully at Neeyala. Neeyala's gaze shoots over Jool's head and she screams a warning.
NEEYALA: Serpent!

Jool hops up and down in a panic, shrieking wildly! Neeyala cringes.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Aeryn and Crichton round a bend the the passage, continue running to their goal.

CRICHTON: It's a good call on Rygel and the gill darts. Anybody ever tell you how good you are around here?

AERYN: Matter of fact, just recently.

They round another bend in the passage.

CRICHTON: Whoa!

They both turn, running back the way they came. The serpent continues to glide toward them from the bend in the tunnel ahead. -- However, realizing that they need to go that very direction, they stop, turn and pulling their weapons, open fire on the serpent. The serpent is unphased by the weapons fire and keeps on coming, much more rapidly of course. Aeryn and Crichton cease fire and run!

CRICHTON: Go on, keep movin'. I got a plan.

AERYN: Don't tell me you have a plan.

CRICHTON: What's wrong with them?

AERYN: They never work.

They bolt into the Maintenance Bay, closing the door between themselves and the serpent.

CRICHTON: Damn these doors.

Crichton pushes against the door just as the serpent slams against it from the passage side. They both press their backs against the door, holding it closed as the serpent continues to slam against the door which refuses to lock.

CRICHTON: They always work.

AERYN: Not the way you detail them.

CRICHTON: Hey, look, I get results. You're hung up on details!

AERYN: Your plans never work!

CRICHTON: This way.

Crichton abandons the door. Running into the hangar bay, he heads up the ramp into the alien shuttle. Aeryn following reluctantly.

AERYN: How did this ship get open?

CRICHTON: Aeryn, get in here!

Crichton stumbles on the last step, making it into the ship on hands and knees. He scrambles toward the forward cockpit, eying the controls with frantic haste.

AERYN: But we don't know anything about it.

CRICHTON: Aeryn! Just get in here.

AERYN: This is wrong.

CRICHTON: D'Argo rubbed the damn thing, now get in!

The Maintenance Bay door opens, admitting the Serpent. One glance back and Aeryn climbs into the shuttle behind Crichton. Crichton flips a few random controls and the shuttle whirs to life, a loud beeping sound fills the hanger. The serpent heads directly toward them.

AERYN: Crichton, you idiot!

Crichton looks back and sees the serpent, nearly upon the shuttle, his eyes go 'round', and he turns back to the controls, trying a few more controls. Aeryn moves rapidly forward in the cockpit, but the serpent will soon have them trapped in a very tight enclosed space.

CRICHTON: D'Argo found a forcefield here somewhere. Just gotta find the button.

Crichton flips open a panel and sees a large red button. Lacking other options he presses it just as the serpent's head enters the shuttle. The defense shield snaps on, neatly slicing the serpent in two. The parts flop onto the floor of the shuttle and the hangar bay.

CRICHTON: ( panting ) Idiot? Ha! World class plan.

ZHAAN: ( over comms ) Why hasn't anyone vented Tier Four's airbladders?
(uh-oh, Crichton had Tier Three. Big man had Tier Four.)

CRICHTON: Zhaan. Uh, sorry. We ran into a little problem here.

ZHAAN: The passageway's beyond have opened to space. There is no way I can get to Pilot. Your excuses have failed him again, John.



END ACT II










ACT III





INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Crichton seals another door.
CRICHTON: That's it. All the outer chambers are sealed. How'd you go, Heavy D?

D'ARGO: The air bladders are completely vented, but we don't have enough back pressure to reverse the damage done on Pilot's quarters.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

RYGEL: If... Pilot's dead...

STARK: Yes-- we're out of here.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

CRICHTON: Aeryn, it's all you now.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA

Power's out in this location, a door swings open and Aeryn, in black pressure suit and helmet, enters with a lantern.
AERYN: Link number four... open to space.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Lab

CHIANA: Only one more to go.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

CRICHTON: Jool, how's the timing?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

JOOL: I'm not sure.

CRICHTON: ( over comms ) Do better.

JOOL: Faster... maybe.

NEEYALA: Approximately one third increase. Geometrically building.

JOOL: The alien says I'm right.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA

AERYN: Third level in is compromised... like the last two.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's quarters.

Zhaan is seated, crystals in hand... praying fervently. More intensely than we've yet seen.
ZHAAN: I beseech your wisdom. Hatale, I entreat your spirit. Hatala, I petition your mercy. The gentle are stricken, the kind are helpless, the silent uncounted.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA

AERYN: I'm approaching Pilot's Den.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's quarters.

ZHAAN: Even as a tenth level Pa'u I am weary and without resources. Oh, Goddess of all things holy. Hear my soul.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

Aeryn walks down a short length of passage, and enter's Pilot's Den. She slowly walks toward the console.
ZHAAN: [O.V.]This gentle ship is pledged to my care and I am powerless. Though I am but a mote upon your winds...


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Quarters.

ZHAAN: ... grant me one supplication. Ask anything in return.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

Aeryn, standing beside Pilot's motionless form, removes her helmet and inhales sharply.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Quarters

ZHAAN: Just spare them their lives.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

AERYN: The seal has held. The air is thin, but it is breathable.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

CRICHTON: Yes!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA

D'Argo growls with approval.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

RYGEL: Yotzah!

STARK: ( whispering ) Yeah.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Lab

Chiana stumbles and falls, her unsteady footing not up to the random lurches of the ship. (And where is that frelling wind coming from?)



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Quarters

ZHAAN: Thank you. ... Thank you. ... Thank you.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Neeyala appears quite unhappy.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

Aeryn gently pries open one of Pilot's eyelids, peering at him carefully.
AERYN: If we're going to try this, I'm going to need Moya's adrenal secretions pumping on my command.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Quarters

ZHAAN: Just tell me when.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

AERYN: So, we're agreed? One shot.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

CRICHTON: Go!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

STARK: Go!

RYGEL: Go!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Quarters

ZHAAN: Go!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Chiana's limping madly down the corridor, D'Argo jogs behind her easily closing the gap between them.
D'ARGO: Go!

CHIANA: Go!

D'Argo slows his pace at Chiana's shoulder.

D'ARGO: You should'nt be up.

CHIANA: These hands... can wire a whole lot of neural cluster.

Chiana grabs his shoulder and hops into his arms with a grunt of pain.

CHIANA: Get me there!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Maintenance Bay

Crichton runs into the Maintenance Bay.

CRICHTON: Time?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command



JOOL: Fractionally faster. ... John?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA,

Crichton grabs a diagnostic tool from a workbench as he walks toward the module.

CRICHTON: Yeah?

JOOL: ( over comms ) Why... is this ship...



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command



JOOL: ...so important?

CRICHTON: ( over comms) Still worried about your parents after 22 cycles?

JOOL: Yes.

CRICHTON: ( over comms ) That's how we feel about Moya. She raised us.

Behind Jool, Neeyala has been struggling with her bonds. Abruptly her struggles bear fruit, one hand slips out of the cuffs, and she's free. Free and pissed.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Maintenance Bay

Crichton, stands bent over the module, fussing with something inside. But he has uninvited company.

SCORPIUS: Bravo! Bravo!

Crichton freezes, as Scorpius, in a black suit and white shirt applauds from behind him. Crichton steps slowly down from the module, still not turning, as Scorpius rants on.

SCORPIUS: Magnificent! Encore, encore, John! John Crichton... was riviting in the role of cheerleader.

Crichton gently strokes the side of the module as Scorpius approaches.

SCORPIUS: Rallying his comrades in aid of the stricken ship he had earlier betrayed...

Crichton wheels on Scorpius, gripping his throat with one hand and driving him backward... right into the grill of a white Ford Semi.

Back in the 'Theatre Of The Mind', Crichton holds Scorpius pressed against the truck, they are both formally attired.


CRICHTON: That's my dad's Tux. Take it off!

Crichton abruptly releases Scorpius, examining his own attire. They speak simultaneously!

CRICHTON: This is not mine! This is not my Tux!

SCORPIUS: You can choose the venue, John, but I'm going to make sure we look good. Yeah!

Crichton takes in his surroundings.

CRICHTON: Macon... Georgia. Macon, Georgia.
Scorpius also seems to be 'remembering' the locale. They continue speaking simultaneously.

SCORPIUS: Ah! College-- spring break, hitch hiking to see the strippers--

CRICHTON: --on the way to Lauderdale-- this is the truckstop...

SCORPIUS: -- at Fort Lauderdale!

Crichton turns on Scorpius, cutting him off, shouting vehemently.

CRICHTON: Hey! Yo, yo! No, you do not enter my reality! You do not talk to me in my reality! If I want you, I'll call! Those are the rules!
They now stand nose to nose, Crichton enraged; Scorpius calm.

SCORPIUS: Unacceptable. And I suggest you sue for peace now. Your distractions are many, while I'm totally dedicated to getting a measure of freedom. No more dumpsters, John.

CRICHTON: Tabled. What do you want?

Crichton walks away, hands elegantly in pockets, Scorpius follows, walking by his side.

SCORPIUS: You might fool them with your rah-rah... but I know the disappointment of letting Neeyala's ship be destroyed.

Crichton glances back over his shoulder as a vehicle slowly approaches.

CRICHTON: Yeah, well you can't have everything you want.

Crichton turns, facing the vehicle, and sticks his thumb out. Scorpius, watching him, copies the gesture. Oh-my, they're hitchin' a ride!

CRICHTON: I'll figure out wormholes by myself.

The vehicle glides slowly past, not stopping. Crichton gives it a close look.

CRICHTON: Green Chevy... I had one of those.

SCORPIUS: It's not too late to change the outcome.

CRICHTON: Oh, you know everything about me. Do you want to make a point?

SCORPIUS: Excellent, excellent-- yes. And with familiarity, we might develop a shorthand which will... benefit us both. Try this... You would do... well, anything to save your ship-- Anything.

CRICHTON: Make a point.

SCORPIUS: Why assume less of Neeyala?

Crichton contemplates this for a split second and bolts... right out of the 'Theatre of the Mind', and into the Maintenance Bay. He runs a few steps back toward the module, slides to a stop, and spins about, and bolting for the exit, his feet slipping a bit before finding traction.

CRICHTON: Jool?! Jool!



INTERCUT

INT MOYA, Command

Crichton enters, weapon drawn and ready. All is silence save the rapid beeping of the alien console. Jool is on the floor, cradling her head with one hand and moaning softly.



INTERCUT

INT MOYA, Main Passage

Zhaan works on a bundle of fibers.

ZHAAN: Adrenal secretions fully opened, Aeryn. Goddess speed.



INTERCUT

INT MOYA, Pilot's Den

Aeryn, braced against the console, leaps into the air and kicks Pilot vigrously in the side, his body wobbles slightly. She kicks him again, and again, he does no more than wobble slightly and moan.

AERYN: Pilot!

PILOT: ( moans )

AERYN: Come on, Pilot. Feel that nice warm adrenaline flow.

She strokes his shoulder lovingly, then kicks him in the side again.

AERYN: Everywhere!

Pilot wobbles, his eyes blinking blearily, his voice sluggish.

PILOT: Officer Sun? Hello.

Aeryn laughs lightly, quite relieved. She strokes the side of his face, smiling radiantly.

AERYN: Hello.
Pilot's eyes start to roll closed again and he falls unconcious.

AERYN: No... n...

Desperation pushing her, she leaps up and kicks him again.

AERYN: Wake up!



INTERCUT

INT MOYA, Alien Vessel

Crichton steps into the access way and moves into the vessel, weapon drawn. The beeping and the lights continue thier rapid pattern. Neeyala is at a control console. Crichton approaches her, weapon held high, pointed up.

CRICHTON: Neeyala. Let's work together on this. We'll all survive. We'll get you home.

NEEYALA: Family executed. Me to follow. Knowledge lost. No thanks. ... We both defend that which we love.

Crichton brings his weapon to bear on her.

CRICHTON: You shouldn't have lied.

NEEYALA: You should not have been in our path. And I should have listened to Kreetago and destroyed you when I had the chance. ... I have failed my crew, and my ship. Now I will make it up to them.

Neeyala moves to another console and presses another control.

CRICHTON: Don't make me shoot you.

NEEYALA: Ion-charged hydrostatic vapor residue in atmospheric suspension.

CRICHTON: One spark and we're nuclear?

NEEYALA: Meager as it is, you do know more than any species we're aware of.

CRICHTON: We can find a way!

NEEYALA: If my ship survives, even without me, a beacon will attract our flight command. If by some... unfathomable circumstance, your vessel survives...

Neeyala depresses another control.

NEEYALA: We share a joined hull. I have just infused our beacon into the Leviathan's superstructure.

Disbelieving smile on his face, he approaches Neeyala, waving his hands in the air.

CRICHTON: We're gonna have... another set of bad guys chasing us across the universe.

Crichton backs away, laughing.

NEEYALA: Unfortunately, Commander, not you.

CRICHTON: I don't think so.

Crichton darts behind the generator structure. Neeyala circles around the other way, and deploys her quills as he appears. All four bury themselves into the white pylon just in front of his face. He pauses for a split second and runs the other way. Neeyala circles back again, trapping him behind the generator, she fires again, but clearly misses. Crichton keeps the generator between them.

CRICHTON: Hey, Neeyala! You think this is gonna get you what you want?!

NEEYALA: What I want you cannot give!

Neeyala darts around the side of the generator and launches her quills again. Crichton dodges away blindly, colliding heavily with Jool, who has just staggered in from Command, still clutching her head. They both fall to the floor.

CRICHTON: Jool, you nitwit!

Crichton pulls himself off the floor, managing his knees, just as Neeyala circles the generator again, she has a clear shot at him, the generator is no longer between them, he has no where to go. Jool sees her and begins shrieking!

NEEYALA: I have never before released my bristles to kill. Your forgiveness.

Jool's shriek intensifies-- an earsplitting banshee wail--, her hair blazing red. Neeyala's bristles deploy from her gills, striking Crichton square in the chest. They bounce off and clatter to the floor. Crichton sweeps one up, examining the tip.

CRICHTON: Melted tips?

Rising from his knees he discards the quill and charges Neeyala, clapping his hands against her gills, preventing her from firing again. Jool continues her ear splitting shreik. Neeyala struggles with Crichton, trying to free herself.

CRICHTON: Neeyala, what's the matter? Can't you hear me?

Neeyala struggles with Crichton, and Jool rolls away from them, her shrieking finally ceasing. Crichton is slammed against a pylon and Neeyala pulls his hands away from her head, shoving him back between two crossed pylons, firing her bristles once more. Crichton grips the pylons and swings forward, kicking her in the gut, hurling her backward.

Neeyala staggers back, colliding with the generator. The generator hums, and she sizzles, disintegrating quickly, leaving nothing but a pile of pebbled sand on the floor where she stood.

The remains of Neeyala still trickling into a small pile, Crichton bends down and picks up another one of her quills from the floor, examining the melted metallized tip. He drops the quill and looks at Jool.


CRICHTON: That's a hell of a scream. Thanks. Come on!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Crichton runs back into Command, leaping over and ducking under the large pylons of the alien vessel, Jool follows, whimpering almost constantly in terror. The beeping of the generator is reaching a peak.

CRICHTON: We're almost out of time.

AERYN: ( over comms ) Crichton... it's Aeryn...



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

AERYN: Pilot's just doing the calculations now...



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

AERYN: ( over comms ) It won't be long.

Crichton reaches the control console of the alien vessel and one look tells him...

CRICHTON: We're out of time, Aeryn!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

AERYN: Just a little bit more?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

CRICHTON: We are out of time!



END ACT III










ACT IV





INT. MOYA, Command

Crichton pushes Jool toward the alien control console.
CRICHTON: Which ones? Which ones?!

JOOL: Stop yelling at me!

CRICHTON: The yelling starts in about two seconds-- which ones?

Jool examines the console intently, then gestures at a few controls.

JOOL: These! I'm pretty sure.

CRICHTON: You're sure? Be sure!

JOOL: I'm hurt! She hit me in the head!

CRICHTON: Well, did you see the order?!

The lights flash rapidly, and the beeping has achieved an almost constant whine. Zhaan arrives, gesturing at several controls on the console.

ZHAAN: This, this, this, this, this.

JOOL: ( nodding ) Yes.

CRICHTON: What the hell is that?

JOOL: Diagnostical Helix. The mathematical representation of quantum elasticity.

CRICHTON: Right, right, right. That's good, that's enough...

Jool continues to babble on, providing her logic, Crichton cuts her off and pushes her out of the way.

CRICHTON: Enough! Enough! Thank you... over there.

Jool doesn't enjoy being pushed out of the way and gasps indignantly at this treatment.

CRICHTON: Guys, I got Zhaan here with me. Where are you?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

AERYN: On my way. We're not quitting.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

CRICHTON: D'Argo? Stark?!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

D'ARGO: We're never gonna make it, John.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

D'ARGO: ( over comms ) We voted to stay together.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

D'ARGO: No matter what.

CRICHTON: ( over comms ) Even Rygel?

RYGEL: Pilot likes me!



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

JOOL: You know, I would care to say that anything that gets me out of here alive is what we should be doing!

ZHAAN: You are a very ungrateful and selfish woman. Please remain silent from now on!

CRICHTON: Zhaan, none of this is gonna matter if Pilot doesn't--

Pilot's image appears on the clamshell, he looks rocky.

PILOT: I am ready...

CRICHTON: Pilot, hey!

Jool has never seen the like of Pilot before, her eyes are huge, and her jaw is hanging open. A very attractive pose of the 'completely stunned'! Crichton's in complete 'manic' mode.

CRICHTON: Man, it's good to see ya! How you doin'? No, no, answer that later. We got a serious situation here! What-- what do we gotta do?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

PILOT: Impulse data from each test of their generator was stored in Moya's neural circuitry, allowing me to construct a statistical model...



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

CRICHTON: Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever-- I trust you to do the math. Just tell me what we gotta do!

PILOT: I must initiate Starburst approximately seven microts after the generator is unleashed.

JOOL: Oh, dear Chanu, please don't let me die this way, please!

PILOT: Who is that creature?

CRICHTON: That's ballast, ignore it. How exact do we have to be?

Jool raises her head from it's 'prayerful' pose, and stares daggers at Crichton's back, just as Aeryn runs in.

AERYN: Not as close as you think.

CRICHTON: Aeryn.

AERYN: Ah, once we start spinning... Moya's weight gives us an advantage with the gravitational pull of the wormhole.

ZHAAN: And Neeyala's vessel will be the one ejected directly into space.

CRICHTON: Pilot, you want to try a little manual point-and-shoot, just in case you fade?

PILOT: Yes... Commander.

Pilot engage manual controls, and the manual flight joystick rotates into place. Crichton pushes Aeryn toward it.

AERYN: Crichton, no!

CRICHTON: You feel lucky?

AERYN: No, no, no. I've never flown a wormhole. I think it should be you.

CRICHTON: Aeryn, it's easy... the exits are clearly marked, and you're better with Moya.

Crichton leaves Aeryn with the manual controls and moves back toward the alien control console.

ZHAAN: No, John.

Zhaan pulls Crichton away from the console, but he pulls away from her. He holds her head in his two hands, using all his persuasiveness.

CRICHTON: Zhaan... I've got this.

AERYN: What's going on?

JOOL: Well, just a guess, but somebody's got to actually trigger the generator.

Aeryn abandons the manual control and moves with purpose toward Crichton and Zhaan.
AERYN: Get back. Both of you, get back.

Aeryn reaches Crichton's side and tries to pull him away from the console, but he resists her as well, pushing her away from the console, forcing her to look on the infiltration of the white pylons of the alien vessel throughout Command.

CRICHTON: No! Aeryn. Aeryn, do you see this disco? I put it here; I'm gonna take it away!

Crichton tries to get back to the console, but Aeryn won't let him. Zhaan interrupts them both.

ZHAAN: Crichton... Aeryn... enough. You are both so good at gauging reality. Yet in this instance...

CRICHTON: Zhaan... there's a planet out there.

ZHAAN: A long shot at best, John. The illness that is ravaging my body... is frighteningly efficient.

Zhaan pulls the pale blue cowl from her head, revealing all the disruptions on her lovely head.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

STARK: No!

Stark runs out of the chamber.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command



ZHAAN: So, while I'm still sound of mind and spirit, I choose this path for myself.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

D'ARGO: Zhaan, you're needed here.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

ZHAAN: At one time, I believe I was, but then a family was born.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

D'ARGO: You birthed it.

CHIANA: We love you, Zhaan.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Stark runs up against a sealed door. Unable to get through.
STARK: Decompression, decompression. Where to go, where to go, where to go?



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

CRICHTON: Zhaan, it'll be easy. I'll start the generator; I'll come across.

ZHAAN: If it is so easy, allow me.

AERYN: Zhaan, no!

ZHAAN: No... n... No more. If I am so needed, and so valued, and so wise. Then you will honor my words. You will obey me.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main passage

Stark runs up against another sealed door.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

ZHAAN: For the longest time I feared physical demise, because my spiritual essence was suspect, but now I know I'm worthy. Now I know the transgressions have melted from my soul. Now I know I shall meet my Goddess, and be accepted to her bosom. Sensitive D'Argo... exhuberant Chiana... wise Rygel... selfless Aeryn... innocent Crichton... My children. My teachers, my loves. There is no guilt. There is no blame. Only what is meant to be. Grow through your mistakes, and know that if patient, redemption will find you.

She looks at Crichton and Aeryn, smiling. Her gaze begs their understanding and acceptance.

CRICHTON: ( softly ) "Wait for the wheel."

ZHAAN: Thank you, John Crichton.

Zhaan steps close and kisses him softly, in the human way. Turning to Aeryn she caresses her cheek gently, with love. Zhaan backs slowly toward the alien control console, but Aeryn can't let her go. She lunges forward, trying to prevent her, but Crichton holds her back.

AERYN: No.

CRICHTON: No.

Crichton holds her tightly against him, and she weeps, looking away.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Stark stands before another closed and sealed door. He wails in agony, unable to reach his love, falling to his knees his wail continues, heartrending in it's intensity. In his pain, Zhaan reaches out to him through unity, calming him.
**Stark? Stark... link with me, my beautiful. Guide me to the place of rest. Melt into my spirit, Stark... so that I may share my last moments, with the man I love.**



INTERCUT

INT. Moya, Neural Cluster

RYGEL: Good-bye, you big, beautiful, blue bitch.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Crichton and Aeryn watch as Zhaan activates the controls on the alien vessel's console. Aeryn's agony is clear upon her face, but Crichton conceals whatever he may be feeling, his emotions tightly controlled. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes never leave Zhaan's as her body wavers, becoming insubstantial, and finally disappears, along with the white pylons of the alien vessel, blowing away like a fog.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Neural Cluster

D'ARGO, CHIANA & RYGEL: No!



INTERCUT

EXT. SPACE

The alien vessel begins to separate from Moya's hull, it's long structure extruding like a gianormous splinter. The ships separate with a huge jolt.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

The jolt of the separation tosses Aeryn and Crichton to the deck. They look up through the forward portal to see Zhaan, aboard the alien vessel, drifting away from Moya.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Kneeling silently in the corridor, Stark remains joined with Zhaan.
**Always together. Joined as one.**



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Aeryn and Crichton continue watching through the portal, the alien vessel moving further away, they see Zhaan perform one last ritual, she bows serenely, passing her hands across her face and over her head.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Stark, utterly still and silent, remains on his knees, listening to the final thoughts of his beloved.
**Peace of mind, peace of spirit, piece of soul.
Goodbye my love.**


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Command

Crichton and Aeryn watch through the forward portal as the alien vessel is ripped apart by extreme forces, yet Zhaan's form remains in place as the shards of the vessel are swept away. Her form transforms to that of a tall swirling, golden flame. It burns brightly before Moya, growing smaller as it seems to rise.

Zhaan is gone to the next level. Whatever that might be.

The sound of a muffled explosion brings Crichton back to reality, and as Moya begins to lurch and spin in the wormhole, he staggers to his feet, dragging Aeryn with him.
CRICHTON: Aeryn, you gotta fly this baby.

They reach the manual control stick, but Aeryn only has control for a microt before the ship lurches badly and they are both thrown backward. All onboard stagger as Moya hurtles unguided through the wormhole.

Crichton and Aeryn struggle back to the stick and she latches onto it again, Crichton bracing her from behind, but another wild lurch from Moya sends them both flying backward again. All aboard are battered against walls and floors. Pilot groans in pain in concert with Moya no doubt. The ship speeds uncontrolled through the wormhole!




END ACT IV










EPILOGUE





EXT. SPACE

Moya glides gently through normal space, her engines hum per usual.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA

Inside she fares much worse. Emergency lights flicker in almost total darkness. In Command, debris litters the floor, gas vents into the air from leaks in the superstructure, and cabling is strewn across the deck.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Pilot's Den

Two DRD's and Rygel keep Pilot company. From the sound of Pilot's voice, the return to normal space has done much for his and Moya's welfare. Rygel sits next to him, stroking the join of one of his arms ( And oh-my-gosh, Rygel has NEVER seemed quite so small as he does here, when compared with Pilot's bulk. )
PILOT: I... appreciate your concern, Rygel. It's just that, you've never paid this much attention to me before.

RYGEL: ( laughs ) I think maybe you haven't noticed. I like you Pilot. I like you a lot. And I know Zhaan did too. Shame you didn't get to say good-bye.

PILOT: When I was unconcious and in pain... she came to me, inside my mind. I already... miss her.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Main Passage

Chiana limps down the passage, Jool following after her as best she can, she stumbles and falls clumsily.
JOOL: Ow! Oh... wait for me!

Jool scrambles to her feet, but Chiana doesn't slow her pace.

CHIANA: Not that way on Moya. You want to move faster? Get better shoes. Or maybe, get in better shape.

JOOL: Do you know how much these shoes cost, young whore?

CHIANA: For me? Three sex acts. Probably double that for you.

Jool grabs her by the arm, spinning Chi around to face her.

JOOL: You have some nerve to talk to me that way.

CHIANA: One of my very-- very best friends has just gone. Right now, I'm-- I am nothing but nerve. You want someone to like you? Invest in a mirror.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Hangar Bay

The shield over the front portal open again, D'Argo sits in the pilot's seat of the alien shuttle, quietly contemplative.


INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Lab

Stark stands facing the table, working at something and Aeryn sits on it just behind him.
STARK: Honestly, Aeryn, you don't have to hover over me.

AERYN: To be honest in return, Stark. I'd expect you to be a bit more upset.

STARK: Oh, after fifteen thousands deaths... what's fifteen thousand, and one.

AERYN: The woman you loved.

Stark turns around, facing Aeryn, a small knife in his hand. Aeryn reaches out carefully and removes the knife from his hand. The intensity of his features relax.

STARK: Those I minister to in their final moments, are usually resistant to the process. Not Zhaan. Imagine being so at peace, so certain what was next was better. She doesn't want us upset. She wants us to carry on in her spirit. Positive, and hopeful.

AERYN: And you can do that?

STARK: Not always. I would appreciate you hovering then.

Aeryn hands him back the small knife and he turns back to his work.



INTERCUT

INT. MOYA, Zhaan's Quarters

Zhaan's possessions sit untended, broken, melted, or damaged in some other way. Zhaan's essence is everywhere in the room, in the warped sections of the mirror a brief image of Zhaan can be seen before the eye of the camera moves on.

In a niche, just past the mirror, next to the fire damaged robes of a Pa'u, sits an unmoving and downcast Crichton.




INTERCUT

THEATRE OF THE MIND, The Drive-In

A movie is projected on the screen, ironically, the Three Stooges. The laugh track of the film provides an awful counterpoint to the grim cirumstances.
MOE: You're in a court, not in Clancy's pool room. Sit down!

Crichton leans back against the bumper of the yellow convertable. He's dressed in mourning, black suit and tie, the jacket open. His eyes are downcast, his mood black with loss, a beer bottle dangles lax from his fingers. Scorpius, his silent companion, watches the film, mezmerized.

CURLY: I'm a victim of circumstance.

MOE: Ah, Who are you hitting?


SCORPIUS: Why is it always the gentle ones that pay the price for everyone else's ambition? Hmm?

Scorpius turns to his companion, as if expecting an answer. Crichton takes a slow pull from the almost empty bottle.

Exploding suddenly in fury, Crichton hisses his rage and pain, hurling the bottle against the screen... ... glass shatters.




CUT TO BLACK










ROLL CLOSING CREDITS








For your amusement & total body immersion:
Check Out the Following Reviews, Episode Synopsis, & 'CIL' for:
"Self-Inflicted Wounds, Part 2: Wait For The Wheel"
at the scifi.com "Farscape" Bulletin Board

News From SACC :"Wait For The Wheel"
A SICC Perspective on SIW : "Self-Inflicted Wounds"
FaDoP Review:SIW2 AND Tribute To Zhaan
Captain Hornblower Reviews: " Self-Inflicted Wounds "
RydraWong; "SIW2: Incoherent Brit ramblings"
" Bama's Observations : Wait For The Wheel "





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