FARSCAPE

"The Way We Weren't"

Written by,
Naren Shankar



This transcript provided by: Farscape Ally!
Suggestions for corrections/revisions gratefully accepted.


Starring:
Ben Browder
Claudia Black
Anthony Simcoe
Virginia Hey
Gigi Edgley
Commander John Crichton
Officer Aeryn Sun
Ka D'Argo
Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan
Chiana
Guest Starring:
Alex Dimitriades
Lani Tupu
Lieutenant Velorek
Captain Bialar Crais


Writer: Naren Shankar

Who also wrote:

(2:13) "Beware Of Dog", (2:19) "Liars, Guns & Money, Part 2: With Friends Like These".



Director: The Amazing 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", (2:10*) "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
Co-Executive Producer: Richard Manning
Co-Executive Producer: Naren Shankar
Producer: Sue Milliken
Creative Consultant: Justin Monjo





COLD OPEN



To the beat of what sounds like something off the soundtrack of “Batman” six Peacekeeper Soldiers march briskly behind a Peacekeeper Officer, down a Hammond passage. They all enter the Pilots Den and confront the Pilot there.

PILOT: Lieutenant Velorek-this display of force will change nothing!

VELOREK: This is not a display. I offer you one final chance to cooperate.

PILOT: I have been bonded to this Leviathan for twenty-one cycles. Two minds, two bodies-intertwined as one. Whatever your secret project is… I will not participate.

VELOREK: This Leviathan will do what I wish, if you lead her to do so.

PILOT: You Peacekeepers… subjugate us… torture us. And now you expect us to cooperate with you? You have no understanding of the covenant between Leviathan and Pilot!

VELOREK: ( speaking in alien language ) ‘Et art eta’.

PILOT: ( whispering ) Another… Pilot?

VELOREK: He’s being held down in the transport bay, awaiting your decision.

PILOT: I insist you reverse the control collar anesthetic, and reawaken this Leviathan at once!

There is a minor disruption in the background as Captain Crais enters the Pilot’s Den.

CRAIS: You “insist”? Lieutenant, what is taking so long?!

VELOREK: I’m offering her one last chance to see the folly of her…

CRAIS: You have secured a replacement Pilot?

VELOREK: Yes, Captain. But…

CRAIS: FIRE!

The Peacekeeper Soldiers obey the order without hesitation. They shoulder their arms and loose a long volley of pulse rifle fire against the helpless Pilot, who writhes and screams in pain! Velorek, who turned to greet the Captain, doesn’t turn back, but listens grimly as the Pilot is slaughtered. ( arg ) After a microt or so, the firing ceases, and the sizzle of scorched ‘meat’ can be heard. ( double arg )

CRAIS: How long will it take to replace it?

VELOREK: I can’t be certain until we extract the body.

CRAIS: Then stop wasting my time. Get your unit working! MOVE!

Crais exits. Camera mounted on ‘Camera Guy’s’ helmet pans from the back of Velorek’s head to the dead Pilot, back left to fellow soldier.

PK CAM GUY: How far down there do you think it is?

SOLDIER: I don’t know. We’ll find out soon enough.

PK CAM GUY: I hate waste removal.

VELOREK: Keep your opinions to yourselves! - Is that clear!?

Camera guys rocks and pans camera wildly, startled by the approach and orders of his superior officer, the camera settles on one soldier who is removing her helmet to reveal-Aeryn.
ALL: Yes, Sir!

The camera zooms in on her face - leaving no doubt to the identity - ultimately passing ‘through’ the image to reveal Crichton, sitting on the other side of the projection. He looks-thoughtful-disturbed.

CRICHTON: ( His eyes not leaving the frozen visage of Aeryn on the projection ) Where did you find this?

CHIANA: Top tier. Digging through all the dren stored up there.

CRICHTON: Must be some kind of Peacekeeper recording device.

CHIANA: Did you see what I see? This is Aeryn… It-it shows she’s been aboard Moya…

CRICHTON: ( Not acknowledging what Chiana is saying, he is transfixed by the projection ) Peacekeepers must have kept these things running twenty-four/seven, to spy on their own people.

CHIANA: Crichton, that is Aeryn. She’s been aboard Moya before.

Crichton’s eyes cut to Chiana

CHIANA: She killed a Pilot.

Crichton’s eyes return to the image of Aeryn on the projection-they look, afraid. The camera pulls back from Crichton’s face, still fixed on the image of Aeryn before him-the camera pulls back ‘through’ the image and we see Aeryn’s face again.



END COLD OPEN










OPENING CREDITS ROLL



“My name is John Crichton, an astronaut... ...A radiation wave hit and I got shot through a wormhole... Now I'm lost in some distant part of the universe on a ship-- a living ship full of strange alien life-forms... Help me... Listen, please. Is there anybody out there who can hear me? ...I’m being hunted by an insane military commander... ...Doing everything I can... I'm just looking for a way home.”








ACT I



EXT. SPACE

Panning exterior shot, as Moya passes overhead, we have a nice view of her right side, nose to tail as she passes us - cut to interior Crichton’s Quarters. The recording is playing again - starting from Velorek’s comment about ‘giving her one last chance to see the folly of her ways.

INTERCUT

INT. MOYA -- CRICHTON'S QUARTERS

As Crais again gives the order to fire, we see all are gathered in Crichton’s quarters, watching the recording. Aeryn sits at the table where Crichton was; and Rygel stands on the table beside the projector, near where Chiana was, in the teaser. Chiana sits on the low shelves that line the far wall, and D’Argo and Zhaan (judge and jury) stand across from her, watching the projection, from the other side.

John cannot be seen, but presumably is behind Aeryn out of camera range. - Ah, yes. We finally see Crichton in close-up, as Crais gives the order to ‘get your unit working!’ Then cut to Aeryn as she watches herself remove the helmet, and all soldiers chorus, “Yes, Sir!”

Aeryn pulls the recording ‘chip’ from the projector and slams it on the table.


AERYN: Yes, it’s me. I admit it. Are you happy now?

Camera pulls back and Crichton can indeed be seen sitting ‘behind’ Aeryn on the low shelf that lines the wall.

ZHAAN: This shows you have been aboard Moya before.

D'ARGO: Why didn’t you ever tell us?

RYGEL: Criminally obvious, isn’t it? She helped murder a defenseless Pilot!

AERYN: It must have been about three cycles ago. I’ve been aboard hundreds of Leviathans, and I had no idea that it was Moya.

CHIANA: Oh, so all non-sebaceans look alike. Is that it?

AERYN: I didn’t know, Chiana.

Crichton stands and walking forward, he ‘backs’ Aeryn even more distinctly.

CRICHTON: Look-the Aeryn on that tape, is not the Aeryn we know. That was a long time ago.

RYGEL: Three cycles isn’t that long. Heh! I was aboard Moya by then.

ZHAAN: ( eyeing Aeryn angrily ) As was I.

RYGEL: Maybe you were one of the ones who took a turn at torturing me! Ever torture a Hynerian?

D'ARGO: Perhaps you helped torture me, too.

AERYN: ( shouting ) No!

CRICHTON: Aeryn… just don’t…

Crichton reaches out… touching her gently on the arm-but she slaps his hand away.

CRICHTON: Okay, everybody. Neutral corners. Let’s chill out for a microt-we all have things in our past that we’d rather not have on instant replay.

ZHAAN: True enough, John. But I still can’t accept the cold-blooded slaughter of such a helpless creature.

AERYN: Oh! It’s perfectly fine to cut off one of his arms then, is it Zhaan!?

Zhaan glowers at this comment, clearly ready to execute a little rage.

RYGEL: ( hisses ) Peacekeeper murderer!

Aeryn leaps across the table attempting to grab Rygel by his froggy little neck! Crichton leaps forward as well!

CRICHTON: Aeryn! No!

John grabs her arms, pulling her back, then backpedals quickly as she turns on him - he’s leaning backward, almost pinned against the wall by an enraged Aeryn!

CRICHTON: ( whispering ) Don’t… you’re not helping your case.

CHIANA: What have you guys been thinking all this time? What? She was out picking Rauliss Buds while all the other mean Peacekeepers did all the really nasty stuff?

Chiana glances toward Aeryn, some compassion in her eyes.

CHIANA: She was a Peacekeeper.

AERYN: Yes. I was a Peacekeeper... and things were very different then.



INTERCUT

EXT. SPACE

A Peacekeeper armada sweeps ominously past our POV.

AERYN: [O.V.] My priorities… my values… and my relationships…


FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Viewer POV follows a prowler as it flies from exterior of space, through docking bay doors, down the entry corridor, disappearing down the curve of the tunnel toward the docking bay. Cut to Aeryn in full black Peacekeeper Solider gear, holding a black pulse rifle, standing in the middle of a bustling Leviathan transport bay, many Sebaceans mill about attending to various tasks, mainly in handling cargo.

MAN 1: Artillery is taking off.

MAN 2: Yes, sir.

VELOREK: Officer Sun. Wish you were back flying prowlers again, eh? You’re a very fine Pilot. I’m glad you were reassigned to fly my transport.

Aeryn doesn’t respond to this friendly query / conversation

VELOREK: We were in space for… twenty-two solar days…? And not once did you ask what the cargo was.

AERYN: I get yanked from Prowler duty-without cause, and reassigned to transport duty. That’s fine-I do what I’m ordered to do, but it doesn’t mean I have to be interested.

VELOREK: Healthy curiosity isn’t against regulations, officer.

AERYN: Asking questions is, and besides, if I had a question to ask my superiors, it would be ‘why was I pulled from Prowler detail, and when do I get to go back.

Muffled groaning attracts the attention of both Aeryn and Velorek. Velorek turns and crosses the transport bay, approaching a large enshrouded object-Velorek rips the netting away, revealing the muzzled face of Pilot.

VELOREK: The replacement Pilot.

INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

CRICHTON: Aeryn. You saw Pilot-our Pilot-being brought on board.

AERYN: I was sent on the cargo transport mission, and that was my cargo. If I’d known that it was Moya-that it was our Pilot-I would have said something long ago.

D'ARGO: ( Scowling a fabulous Luxan scowl ) I can’t tell if you’re lying or not. One thing I do know-for all our sakes-Pilot had better never see this recording.

D’Argo takes up the recording chip and the projector and exits.

ZHAAN: What’s done is done. There’s nothing we can do about it now. If you’ll excuse me, I’d rather spend the next few arns alone.

CHIANA: So… our Pilot wasn’t Moya’s first Pilot…. Well, I su-sure didn’t know you could replace them.

AERYN: ( looking at John ) You can replace them all right, but it’s a long… difficult, dangerous procedure.

CHIANA: ( Chi sensors working overtime ) I-I think I’ll go check up on Zhaan.

CRICHTON: So, the guy on… the tape… that was his job? Replace Miss Pilot with Mr. Pilot?

AERYN: It was Velorek’s job to bond the new Pilot to the ship. To Moya… any way he could.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

In the transport hangar, Velorek comforts Pilot.

PILOT: ( babbling in alien language )

VELOREK: Remember what we discussed… remember what we discussed. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

AERYN: I can’t understand what he’s saying.

VELOREK: He’s speaking in his species ancient language. Once sentence can carry over a hundred different facts… concepts, emotions-far too complex for our translator microbes.

Velorek continues to stroke Pilots cheek, calming him.

VELOREK: Once he’s calmed down, once he’s comfortable here, then he’ll start to simplify his sentences for us.

There is a slight disturbance in the background as Crais enters, Velorek takes a small hand device from a tech standing nearby, and ‘electrocutes’ Pilot a little-Pilot writhes in agony ( arg )

VELOREK: ( continues to ‘electrocute’ Pilot ) You will straighten out, and you will do so immediately-is that clear!?

Velorek finishes 'encouraging' Pilot, and noting the new observer, greets him.

VELOREK: Captain Crais.

CRAIS: Running into problems already, Lieutenant? You’re not filling me with confidence.

VELOREK: Not a problem, sir.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

AERYN: No. It’s happened. It’s over. Like Zhaan said, what’s done is done. I can’t undo it.

CRICHTON: I just thought… perhaps, if you talked…

AERYN: “No” means no, John

Aeryn stands and ‘marches’ out of John’s quarters, leaving him to watch her retreat.



INTERCUT

Outside in the hammond passage, Aeryn walks unsteadily from a sub-passage with one hand over her mouth, leaning forward weakly. She turns and leans against the bulkhead, resting on one outstretched arm.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Crais and Velorek march briskly down a hammond passage, Aeryn in tow, following quickly behind.

VELOREK: I estimate that insertion will be complete in 83 arns.

CRAIS: You may have 60.

VELOREK: It can’t be done.

CRAIS: Then you will find a way. Your sole responsibility is to install this new Pilot and teach her to command this Leviathan as I direct her.

VELOREK: This Pilot is a-he, sir. With all due respect-I understand my responsibilities. But this Pilot is young and inexperienced.

CRAIS: That is why the Peacekeeper Military Tech sent me you. You were the only one who could do what I want-as quickly as I want.

Crais slows the pace, stopping to turn to Lt. Velorek.

CRAIS: The success of my project depends on it. Are you telling me you can’t?

VELOREK: It will take time to acclimate him… more time to conform physiology… and even more time to teach it. And that is what my report will say.

CRAIS: And my report will say that they’re merely excuses to mask your own incompetence. Who’s report do you think will be believed? Don’t you threaten me Lieutenant! Take a lesson from your new Pilot… anyone can be replaced.

Crais turns to march off, but is forestalled by Aeryn, speaking up at last.

AERYN: Captain Crais? Officer Aeryn Sun, Icarion Company, Pleisar Regiment… currently reassigned ( smiling slightly ). I’d like to state my case for being returned to my regular assignment as a Prowler--

Crais turns and stalks off, disappearing down a darkened sub-passage-the sound of a metallic door slamming can be heard-Aeryn looks, disappointed, Velorek, angry.

VELOREK: I guess were stuck with each other for at least a little longer.

Velorek stalks away as well. Two soldiers from her unit, approach Aeryn in the passage… they’re covered in… ‘gunk’

SOLDIER 1: Well, well, if it isn’t our high and mighty little prowler Pilot.

SOLDIER 2: ( wiping gunk on the left chest of her uniform ) … Too good to get down in the hull with us and dig out that old Pilot’s guts… eh?

SOLDIER 1: All those nerve fibers ( wipes gunk on the right chest of Aeryn’s uniform )... I couldn’t believe how far down that beastie got into the ship-

SOLDIER 2: ( wiping more gunk on her cheek and neck ) Well you’re one of us now - you’ll be digging guts with us next time-

Aeryn scowls and shoulders between them, stalking away.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

Aeryn, in the cargo bay, pounds the training bag for all she is worth while we glimpse flashbacks of the killing of the Pilot. Finally the fury of her attack knocks the bag backward and she collapses to the mat-sobbing brokenly, knuckles of both hands a bloody mess. The sound of footsteps, slowly approaching can be heard, and a pair of peacekeeper boots enters the frame near her head - we hear John’s voice.

CRICHTON: You’re makin’ hamburger there.

John drops to his right knee, placing one hand gently on her shoulder and another on her arm. She jumps at his touch, and tries to push him away again, but he is insistent as he kneels down, crouching next to her.

CRICHTON: ( whispering ) Talk to me… come on. ( leaning on one elbow, whispering in her ear ) What happened back then? ( lifting her head from the floor ) …huh?

As he lifts her, cradling her head against his shoulder, she flails her arms at him weakly, attempting to push him away, trying to pull away at the same time, without much success- her broken sobbing continues unabated, but her struggling subsides, he cradles her in his arms, stroking her hair, rocking slightly, consoling her.

CRICHTON: ..shhhh…



END ACT I










ACT II





INTERCUT

John and Aeryn sitting together on the work out mat, facing each other across the red triangle.

AERYN: Crichton… you might have noticed that at times I’ve… kept you at a distance.

CRICHTON: Many times… Vast… Distances

AERYN: There’s a reason for that.

CRICHTON: Just one? ( pause ) Go ahead.

AERYN: Most Peacekeepers are bred… and reared, for one purpose… military service. Procreation is… assigned. There’s no such thing as a life long mate.

CRICHTON: But you have relationships… the male-female kind?

AERYN: Of course, as many and as often as you want. Peacekeeper High Command understands the troops biological needs. Only, you don’t connect with anyone openly… and never with any longevity…. ( sighs ) … I guess-the point is-my relationships, back then, tended to be somewhat … ( pause )

CRICHTON: Empty?

AERYN: Painful.

CRICHTON: Wh-what does this have to do with the tape? Wha-- ah… this is about that guy… Velorek.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Aeryn enters her quarters on Moya, bag in hand. Velorek turns in profile as she enters, but she doesn’t ‘seem’ to notice him.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

CRICHTON: What about him?

AERYN: He… um…



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Aeryn takes her jacket off, Velorek stalks toward her in the darkness, approaching slowly from behind-she drops the jacket on the bed. Velorek grabs her from behind, spinning around to face him, trapping her in his arms.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

CRICHTON: ( whispering ) He what?

AERYN: ( struggling for words, eyes shining with unshed tears ) …we…



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Aeryn struggles in his arms, he clasps a hand over her mouth, and she pushes forward. They both fall onto the bed. Velorek slowly removes his hand from her mouth-she smiles, and … they kiss.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

AERYN: ( still struggling for words ) … we were lovers.

Crichton smiles, seeming slightly, surprized, then confused, then... hurt.

CRICHTON: Lovers-

Crichton exhales, a brief humorless laugh, and looks away... looking down at the mat.

CRICHTON: Lovers… um… interesting… I-I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use that word … before… uh. ( laughs briefly ) So. uh. You…

He doesn't quite know where to go now, he exhales-slightly, brows knit-slightly, smiles-slightly- in painful discomfort, he looks up, at last-with an entire question.

CRICHTON: Did you love him?

AERYN: Uh, I felt something for him that I never felt with any of the other men I… recreated with.

Crichton's eyes flinch infinitesimally, he nods slightly.

AERYN: I didn’t know what it was, but… ( looks at John )... I guess now I’d say that it was love.

Crichton he nods slightly, lips tight.

CRICHTON: … right...

In obvious discomfort, he swallows once before his voice will come.

CRICHTON: ... well, from the way you tell the story, he sounded kind of sadistic.

His head tilts to one side-in a patented ‘John Crichton tension reducer’-and glances sideways back up at her.

AERYN: No, the opposite, that was the problem.

PILOT: Officer Sun!

Both John and Aeryn look up, startled at the interruption, Pilot’s image is projected on the clamshell-- he holds the projector in one claw, seeming to brandish it.

PILOT: We must talk.

CRICHTON: How the hell did he get a hold of that?

AERYN: It doesn’t matter, he’s seen it, and I have to go talk to him.

CRICHTON: Fine, I’ll go with you.

AERYN: No, it has to be just him and me.



INTERCUT

Aeryn enters the Pilots den, walking slowly toward him. Pilot is seen in profile, but does not deign to look at her as she approaches.

AERYN: Pilot… this is difficult for both of us.

PILOT: Both of us!? It isn’t me on that recording committing barbaric slaughter-with no remorse!

AERYN: This is me, Pilot-Aeryn! We are closer than any two others on this ship. I still carry remnants of your DNA inside of me.

PILOT: That is why your betrayal cuts so deep.

AERYN: Your DNA is the same DNA as the Pilot on this recording--

She rips the recording chip from the datacam and slams it on the console.

AERYN: Do you have any idea how I felt when I saw it? When I was reminded of what I had done!?

Pilot growls in a fearsome rage and grabs Aeryn by the throat with one massive claw, lifting her off the ground.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

We see extensive footage of the insertion process. Pilot is lowered into the Pilot station in the Den while Techs and Velorek scurry about attending to the details, accompanied by the same Martial Music as attended the arrival of the soldiers who killed the first Pilot.

VELOREK: Prepare for all power units to connect!

TECH: We’re ready sir.

VELOREK: Ok, were ready to remove this thing now. So remember-calm and easy, okay? Okay, here we go.

Velorek removes the muzzle from Pilots mouth and is greeted by instant babbling Pilot-speak.

VELOREK: Slow, slow, slow. Remember, simple sentences. Yes?

PILOT: Am I there?

VELOREK: Indeed you are. Your new home.

PILOT: The ship…

VELOREK: Her name is Moya.

PILOT: “Moya”



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

In the den, Pilot still has Aeryn by the throat, screaming and throttling her.

AERYN: No! Crichton…. Crichton!



INTERCUT

Moya’s passage, at a junction, Crichton enters the main passage at a full run.

CRICHTON: Aeryn!

Crichton takes a left turn and is met by D’Argo who follows at a run.

D'ARGO: What happened?

CRICHTON: Aeryn went to see Pilot, he somehow got his hands on the recording.

Slowing slightly to take another branch in the corridor, they both run onward.

D'ARGO: I had that recording in my quarters-hidden!



INTERCUT

In Pilot’s Den, Pilot still in the grips of some horrible memory, continues to scream, Aeryn jangles about in his claw.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

In Pilot’s Den-Pilot and Velorek continue their conversation.

PILOT: Does she-know I’m here? Does she…

VELOREK: She’s under heavy sedation at the moment, she will be until the bonding is complete.

PILOT: But the bonding takes over a cycle. Sometimes two.

VELOREK: That is natural bonding; we don’t have time for that.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

The door to Pilot’s den swings open and Crichton and D’Argo enter, taking in the scene; seeing Aeryn bob about in Pilots claw, like a puppet-panic strikes and he bolts forward across the bridge, followed by D’Argo.

CRICHTON: NO!

D'ARGO: Pilot!

Crichton leaps onto the console, attempting to pry Pilots claw away from Aeryn’s throat. Pilot bats D’Argo and Crichton away with one claw-- they are both flung to the floor.

AERYN: ( choking cough ) John…

Pilot activates a control and the resulting powerful rush of air pushes John and D’Argo backward across the floor.

D'ARGO: ( shouting over the rush of wind ) He’s venting the chamber!

John and D’Argo are pushed by the escaping air, backward across the bridge to the door.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

PILOT: This ship-This “Moya”. She doesn’t know her old Pilot is dead, does she? When she is awakened, my presence here will be a complete surprise to her.

VELOREK: By then, the bonding process will be complete. There is no time to allow you further adjustments to your new surroundings.

Velorek goes below, where two techs continue working.

VELOREK: It’s best for all of us, the sooner we get this over with-

Velorek inserts his hand in a gap in Pilot’s ‘flesh’ and pulls out a large bundle of white nerve fibers-to Pilot’s attendant groaning ( arg! )



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

Pilot screaming still-flings Aeryn away and to the floor where she sprawls choking and coughing. Pilot depresses another control and the venting process slows to a halt.

PILOT: You killed this ships first Pilot! The Pilot who belonged here!

As the venting air abates, John staggers to his feet and runs back across the bridge.

PILOT: I will not have you aboard defiling her with your presence! Until Aeryn leaves this vessel--

John kneels by Aeryn’s side, examining her for injury and then looks back at Pilot, amazement and shock overriding any anger.

PILOT: --Moya will not move another metra!

Pilot depresses another control and the lighting becomes greatly subdued as we hear the sound of the engines slowly shutting down-cut to exterior shot of Moya as all lighting on exterior hull shuts off in sequence.



END ACT II










ACT III





COMMAND

D’Argo rages about command, manipulating controls and kicking things while Chiana and Rygel have a ‘little discussion’.

CHIANA: You stole the datacam from D’Argo’s room, didn’t ya?
Chiana holds Rygel in a head lock, Rygel grunts and groans appropriately.

CHIANA: You showed it to Pilot, didn’t ya?

RYGEL: He deserved to see the truth!

CHIANA: ( sighs ) Ah, the truth!

RYGEL: It was my ethical duty!

CHIANA: Ethical?!

RYGEL: I am a Dominar of principle, as well as action!

CHIANA: Principle!? No, no, no. I think you showed it to him so he owed you one! Yeah! A big one!

Chiana grabs Rygel by an earbrow and does her best to pull it off while Rygel screams! Meanwhile, John enters.

CRICHTON: Well?

D'ARGO: Pilot is a creature of his word. We have not moved one metra. We’re just drifting.

CRICHTON: You know, we’ve never seen Pilot like this before. Chop off an arm, the best he can muster is a few snotty remarks. But this… he shuts down the ship, and he tries to kill Aeryn.

D'ARGO: Shut down is right. We’re not moving unless he wants us to.

CRICHTON: There’s more to it than what’s on that recording. Kind of makes you wonder how bad things were back then.

D'ARGO: I wouldn’t know… I spent the whole time with my collarbones chained to the walls of my cell.

D’Argo stalks off while John looks appropriately abashed.



INTERCUT

In Aeryn’s quarters, Aeryn winces in pain as Zhaan, none too gently, administers to her injured neck.

ZHAAN: Ah-I didn’t ‘hurt’ you, my dear?

AERYN: You’re done Zhaan-Thank you for your compassion.

ZHAAN: Interesting… hearing ‘you’ speak of compassion.

AERYN: You think I lack compassion? That Pilot is right-and that I defile Moya with my presence?

Zhaan inclines her head slightly in mute agreement.

AERYN: Well, you know what? He’s right, and you are right!

Aeryn turns away and snags a back from the floor, dumping it on the shelf in her room.

AERYN: And I will be in my prowler and out of here in less than an arn!

She starts flinging things into the bag while Zhaan practices looking contrite.

ZHAAN: ( whispering ) I’m sorry.

AERYN: No, Zhaan… I am what I am… and I did what I did.

ZHAAN: Aeryn, you had no choice back them. You did exactly what was expected of you… In that world, that was the only kind of Peacekeeper you could be.

Aeryn turns slowly, half shouldering the packed bag.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Aeryn and Velorek, in Aeryn’s quarters.

VELOREK: Did you hear some call to battle stations that I didn’t?

AERYN: No. But we’re finished, and I have to get to my duty station.

VELOREK: Well, you’re not expected there for another half arn. Spend it here. With me.

Aeryn lies back down, sighing quietly.

VELOREK: You don’t-enjoy being here with me?

AERYN: Hmm. I enjoy it.

VELOREK: But… it just isn’t right-to actually ‘feel’ something for a fellow Peacekeeper, is it?

AERYN: Well, what’s the point? We won’t be assigned to be together forever.

VELOREK: We could be. I’m fairly high in the Military Tech Hierarchy. I could make it happen… if you wanted me to.

AERYN: Peacekeeper High Command makes all assignment decisions.

VELOREK: High Command doesn’t always make the right decisions. Come on Aeryn. You and I have been intimate since the second solar day of our voyage to get here. There’s something about you-something special-and I think you know it.

Aeryn sits up, pushing Velorek away.

AERYN: No. No. I’m not special.

VELOREK: Don’t take the Peacekeeper hard line, Aeryn. You understand what I’m saying. Can you honestly tell me… all you want is to fly prowlers, like a thousand others? And serve a madman like Captain Crais?

AERYN: That is outright insubordination!

VELOREK: No, it’s not. It’s observation. Think beyond the box the Peacekeepers put your mind into. Crais is a maniac, and his coveted ‘project’… is an abomination.

AERYN: No. I don’t know anything about Crais’ project, and I don’t want to know.

VELOREK: The project will likely kill this Leviathan. And I cannot let that happen. Will not.

AERYN: What does that mean?

VELOREK: Aeryn, I know how I feel about you. And I think I know how you feel about me. When I leave here… I want you to come with me. You can be so much more.

Crichton’s voice intrudes on the past.

CRICHTON: Aeryn.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

CRICHTON: What are you doing?

ZHAAN: ( leaving Aeryn’s quarters with med kit in hand ) She’s going to do as Pilot asks. She’s planning to leave Moya.

John and Aeryn eye each other in silence across the room.



INTERCUT

PILOT'S DEN

The door to Pilot’s den swings open, and John enters, approaching Pilot with resolve.

CRICHTON: Pilot, we have to talk. Let’s hash this out. Right here. Right now. Five cents, the Doctor is IN.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Velorek and his tech team continue working on Pilot installation.

VELOREK: Major systems grafts are complete now. Are you ready for this?

PILOT: I’m-I’m in a great deal of pain.

VELOREK: You’ll get used to the pain.

PILOT: Get used to it?! It-will go away, won’t it?

VELOREK: I’m afraid not, an unfortunate, but permanent side effect of the grafting process. Now, I’m about to reawaken the Leviathan. All of her senses will reawaken instantly, along with her consciousness. Remember, her senses are now yours. Nothing I can say will prepare you for what you are about to experience.

PILOT: I won’t cry out.

VELOREK: You will.

Velorek manipulates a few controls, and Moya reawakens… all hezmana breaks loose!

PILOT: ( groaning in pain ) Something is wrong! Something is horribly wrong!!

VELOREK: Moya can sense your presence. She knows that you’re not her old Pilot.

PILOT: ( yelping in sudden pain ) What is that!?

VELOREK: I’m sorry; it’s a pain pulse from her control collar. We must force her to accept you.

PILOT: It is unbearable!



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

In Pilot’s Den, John looks on in stunned silence.

PILOT: Moya only accepted me because she was tortured into it. Tortured into it!

Grimacing wildly, Pilot seeks out and pulls on the nerve fibers that are his connection to Moya-several minor explosions run across the control console. Pilot finally manages to rip the fibers from his body… deep purple ‘blood’ pumps from the ragged edges of the torn nerve fibers.

PILOT: Moya is free of me.

John takes one halting step forward, completely dumbfounded!

CRICHTON: Pilot, what the hell have you…

PILOT: I am no longer bonded to her.



INTERCUT

EXT. SPACE

Moya rocks and rolls-out of control.



INTERCUT

COMMAND

D'ARGO: I’m reading major variances in the life support system. The internal gravity bladders are all deforming, and Moya is trying to fix it herself.

ZHAAN: That’s because Pilot is off-line.

D'ARGO: Crichton! What the frell is going on down there?!



INTERCUT

PILOT'S DEN

John climbs up onto the Pilot’s console, peering over the edge to assess the damage.

CRICHTON: Pilot, what the hell have you done?! No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no. This is not good! No, no. Not good!!

PILOT: The pain is… finally gone.



END ACT III










ACT IV





COMMAND

John, Aeryn and D’Argo are in Command. John and Aeryn hold Flashlights trained on D’Argo, who is attempting to work something out at one of the command consoles.

CRICHTON: And Pilot’s been in pain all this time?

AERYN: Very likely, I remember that Velorek was forced to graft Pilot to Moya’s systems, instead of letting the process occur naturally.

D'ARGO: And why didn’t you tell us about this before?

AERYN: Because I didn’t know it was this Pilot, remember?!



INTERCUT

EXT SPACE

Moya rocks and rolls, out of control.



INTERCUT

COMMAND

John, Aeryn and D’Argo stagger a bit until Moya gets herself back under control.

CRICHTON: Kids! Save it for ‘after school’! Right now, how do we fix this thing so we stop bobbing about like three men in a tub?

D'ARGO & AERYN: ( simultaneously ) We don’t.

D'ARGO: We need Pilots help. He’s got to instruct us through the process manually.

CRICHTON: Yeah, well. I don’t think Pilot’s in a … ‘Leviathan for Dummies’ kind of mood right now.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Two technicians exit the Den as Aeryn is entering, she stands apart watching for an opportunity to approach.

PILOT: Yes, working.

VELOREK: Does that feel good?

PILOT: Yes.

VELOREK: You sure?

PILOT: Mm.

VELOREK: There, how’s that?

PILOT: Much better. The DRD’s are responding to my impulses now, hundreds of them.

Velorek climbs up to the main deck and is met by another technician; they speak in hushed voices.

TECH: Velorek, I’ve completed the task you asked for. Everything went according to plan.

VELOREK: The structures in place? The shaft is sealed?

Their whispered discussion continues and another tech joins them.

VELOREK: Good. Good. Great.

The two techs leave, and Aeryn turns to go as well-but stops at hearing Pilot’s comment.

PILOT: What secret project, Lieutenant Velorek?

VELOREK: I see your heightened senses are fully functional. This project is nothing for you to concern yourself with. I’ve just made certain that it should never be a threat to you, or the ship, ever again.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

In command all stagger again as Moya rocks and rolls out of control.

D'ARGO: Whoa!

AERYN: I have to talk to him.

Aeryn turns to leave, but John reaches out, detaining her by one arm.

CRICHTON: Aeryn. No, no, no, no. Pilot’s Etch-A-Sketch isn’t operating with all it’s knobs right now. I’m afraid seeing you won’t help.

D'ARGO: Besides, he’s locked himself inside his chamber, and the DRD’s have taken up defensive positions. He must have used voice command.

AERYN: It’s all my fault.

CRICHTON: I don’t buy that. Unless more happened back then … ( pause ) …So, what happened back then?

AERYN: ( pulling away ) I have to talk to him.

CRICHTON & D'ARGO: ( simultaneously ) Aeryn!

Both John and D’Argo stagger as Moya dips uncontrolled.

D'ARGO: I’ll go.

CRICHTON: No, no, no. I’m already into this!

D'ARGO: No, I can talks some sense into both of them.

CRICHTON: D’Argo, no.. look…

John raises his hand in a familiar fist and both he and D’Argo count out three drops. John flings ‘scissors’ and D’Argo drops ‘paper’ … John displays his ‘scissors’ form and bolts.

CRICHTON: See ya.

D'ARGO: I can’t believe it.



INTERCUT

Two DRD’s roll down a sub-passage, engines whirring. They stop and scan, and then roll onward. After the DRD’s pass, John and Aeryn step out of concealment. Both have flashlights and Aeryn has her pistol drawn-Moya rocks and rolls out of control, John and Aeryn stagger in the passage, then move ahead, the beams from their flashlights cross and re-cross as they make their way forward.

AERYN: The DRD’s are definitely in a defensive posture.

CRICHTON: What are you planning on saying to Pilot that you think is going to make a difference?

AERYN: You were right. This is about the past, and he’s remembering more and more about those days. I’m the only one who could possibly understand, so I figure, if I can get him to talk about it… it might help.

CRICHTON: So, you thing that talking will help?

AERYN: Mm-hmm.

CRICHTON: Why don’t you talk to me?

Aeryn stops and turns to look at John, but doesn’t speak.

CRICHTON: ( laughs ) Come on, Aeryn. Let me know. What-what’s got you so torn up about what happened? Aeryn. What happened with Velorek?… ( pause ) …It’s just you and me and the walls in here.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

Velorek and Aeryn in her quarters.

VELOREK: I have finished my assignment here. I’m going to be reassigned soon.

AERYN: I want to go with you.

VELOREK: You mean that? What about flying-prowlers?

AERYN: I’ve been through all the accepted channels of command. Without something to single me out, they’ll never listen to me.

VELOREK: I will make this as exciting for you as flying any prowler could ever be. I promise.

AERYN: Where would we go?

VELOREK: What does it matter? Somewhere else.

AERYN: I don’t know how to live somewhere else.

VELOREK: You only say that because this is all you’ve ever known, in the right new place, you’ll thrive.

AERYN: Change you mind.

VELOREK: What?

AERYN: Whatever you did with Crais’ plan, put it back.

VELOREK: What are you talking about, Aeryn? ( pause ) Aeryn, what is this about?

The doors open and two Peacekeeper Soldiers enter, Crais stands in the open threshold-Aeryn leaps up and stands at attention... she seems shaken and fearful.

VELOREK: What have you done? What is the meaning of this!?

The two soldiers take Velorek in hand, dragging him off the bed, and start to march him out the door.

CRAIS: What do you think it is, Velorek? You’re under arrest.

VELOREK: On what charge?!

CRAIS: Treason, of course, we can find no evidence of your attempts to sabotage my project. I think we may have caught you before you were able to do your damage. ( to Aeryn ) I assume you are the informant?

AERYN: Yes, Captain. Officer Aeryn Sun.

CRAIS: Just contact Lieutenant Teeg. She will see that you are rewarded with the assignment you requested.

AERYN: Prowler detail, sir.

CRAIS: Whatever. -- Bring him.

VELOREK: You found that something special to single yourself out with. Congratulations, Aeryn. No ordinary Peacekeeper would have attempted this. I told you, you were special.

The soldiers drag Velorek away, and Crais, before departing himself, gives Aeryn a long speculative look.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

In the sub-passage Aeryn finishes her story, she is looking out a grating.

AERYN: I got my duty.

CRICHTON: And what happened to Velorek?

Aeryn turns to look at John, he waits expectantly, but after a moment a look of realization comes over his face. Aeryn turns back to the grate. She looks down on Pilot and his den from somewhere above.

AERYN: But they never got him to talk. He never told them what he’d done to sabotage Crais’ plan. But I think I know now. It was Crais’ project to impregnate a Leviathan… Moya.

CRICHTON: To breed a Peacekeeper Leviathan Warship.

AERYN: Velorek installed the shield-- to prevent conception, the shield that D’Argo accidentally shattered.



INTERCUT

COMMAND

D’Argo, Chiana and Zhaan continue trying to work out their problems.

D'ARGO: It’s no use.

CHIANA: There must be some way to get Moya to help us.

ZHAAN: No, there isn’t. All interior life support is in Pilot’s hands.

D'ARGO: Not anymore.

ZHAAN: Even if we can communicate directly with Moya, there is nothing she can do on her own.

CHIANA: Just my luck, out of all the Leviathans in the universe, I end up aboard one with a second string Pilot.

ZHAAN: And how do we know Moya’s first Pilot was any better?



INTERCUT

PILOT'S DEN

Pilot sits quietly, contemplatively at his console, when a sudden thumping noise heralds John and Aeryn’s arrival. They drop precipitously from the open grating above the door.

PILOT: ( speaking alien language )

At Pilot’s ‘command’ the DRD’s begin firing at Aeryn and John. Aeryn, returning fire begins to run across the bridge, advancing on Pilot’s position… John, pulling his pistol, also returns fire, following Aeryn at a run.

CRICHTON: Pilot! No!

John and Aeryn, and the DRD’s exchange a veritable fusillade of fire, until the DRD’s are disabled, and John and Aeryn reach Pilot, flanking him on the right and left, pistols steady on his head.

PILOT: ( growling ) Get out of my chamber! Leave me alone!

AERYN: No, Pilot. We need to talk.

PILOT: ( growling ) Talk?! You want a chance to tell me how non-violent you are now. Or what? You’ll blast me into pieces like you did the Pilot who used to sit here?!

Aeryn steps forward, almost shoving her pistol Pilot’s face, very angry or panicked. Tensions rage at the boil.
PILOT: Stay away from me!

CRICHTON: Aeryn!

AERYN: Tell me now, Pilot! Talk to me right now, or I swear, I will…

CRICHTON: Aeryn--

Pilot growls yet again, in an utterly foul mood.

CRICHTON: Pilot-we’re just here to help. If you stay disconnected from Moya, you’ll starve to death.

PILOT: And with no one to regulate them, your precious life support systems won’t function properly.

CRICHTON: Fine, fine… yes. We all want you back in the seat. And Moya must be pretty worried, wondering where the hell you got to.

PILOT: Doesn’t matter. She’ll be better off without me.

Aeryn slowly lowers her pistol and tosses it aside with an echoing clang. Crichton appears a little suprised and concerned at this.

AERYN: That recording brought back memories of a time none of us wanted to remember. Based on my actions back then, I deserve to die, and if you wish to kill me, right now… I’m not going to stop you. But please, spare the others… and yourself.

PILOT: ( softly ) Aeryn Sun… It is not you who deserves death. It is I.

CRICHTON: Okay, so you’re not Moya’s original Pilot, you replaced her. You can’t blame yourself for that.

PILOT: I didn’t only… replace the old Pilot.



INTERCUT

FLASHBACK PERSPECTIVE (THREE CYCLES AGO)

In a great ‘location shot’, we are taken to Pilot’s home world, the scene is set on a vast sea of diffuse mist, with a range of higher elevation in the far distance, the entire piece is set against a sapphire blue night sky, random meteorites race overhead.

PILOT: The Elders have already judged me. They said I was not yet-worthy to Pilot a Leviathan.

Velorek perches on an outcropping above the mist, speaking to Pilot, who is half risen above the surface… we cannot determine what might lie beneath-all that’s missing in this scene is an apple -- the temptation he offers Pilot here is palpable!

VELOREK: If you believed that, you wouldn’t be here right now. So, why are you here?

PILOT: I want to be joined so badly…

VELOREK: I can make that happen, young one.

PILOT: But the Elders-the Elders have not yet decreed it to be my destiny.

VELOREK: I offer you the chance to make your destiny. Look up. What do you see?

PILOT: The stars!

VELOREK: That's what I offer you… the stars.

PILOT: I dream of nothing else.

VELOREK: I offer you a Leviathan. All you have to do is agree to help me.

PILOT: But… you said that for me to be joined, the old one would have to die.

VELOREK: That Pilot will die no matter what you do. If you don’t come with me, I’ll find someone else who will. Someone who isn’t afraid to take their place amongst the stars.



INTERCUT

FLASH FORWARD PERSPECTIVE (THE PRESENT)

PILOT: The fate of Moya’s true Pilot was sealed at that moment… So you see, Aeryn-- it wasn’t really you who caused her death. It was me. If I hadn’t agreed to come, Velorek may never have found a replacement Pilot. But… But I just wanted so desperately to see the stars.

AERYN: Do you remember when you first came aboard Moya? Velorek stroked your cheek like this to calm you-- back then, I couldn’t fathom why he would do a thing like that… and now, I couldn’t fathom not doing it. We’ve come a long way since then, Pilot. And we’ve still got a long way to go-Take the journey with me.

Pilot reaches out gently with one claw and strokes Aeryn’s cheek, she clasps his claw in one hand, eyes shining with unshed tears.

PILOT: I know a procedure… Some temporary connections that can be made… that will give me back rudimentary control of Moya’s systems.

Aeryn laughs gently, tears spilling down her cheek. Crichton looks on, smiling, greatly relieved.

CRICHTON: Okay, lets’ get started.



END ACT IV










EPILOGUE



PILOT'S DEN

Below deck in Pilot’s Den, D’Argo works on forming those rudimentary connections.

PILOT: The connections you’ve made are working just fine. You realize… if you finish what you’re doing now… allowing me to bond with Moya naturally, it could take an entire cycle before the process is complete. During the bonding period, I won’t have as much control of Moya’s systems as I had before. It will make it even more tenuous for all of us.

D'ARGO: It doesn’t matter, Pilot. You deserve to be bonded to Moya naturally.

PILOT: I will work hard to deserve it.

D'ARGO: I’m finished. How does it feel?

PILOT: There’s no pain. No longer any pain.



INTERCUT

John and Aeryn sit at the table in Command.

CRICHTON: Velorek said that he’d always remember you. And you, have you…?

AERYN: Mm. He said that in the right new place, I would thrive.

CRICHTON: He was right.

AERYN: You know. That time when he asked me to go with him, he said, “You can be so much more.” That was exactly what you said to me on the first day I was here.

CRICHTON: And you… say you think… you love this man?

Aeryn sighs and looks at John, a small smiles seems to form briefly, then she looks away, and John looks down… Aeryn looks back at him and he glances back at her…. All of this... fraught with meaning… what meaning, is anyone's guess.






END CREDITS ROLL








For your amusement & total body immersion:
Check Out the Following Regular Features, Reviews, and Episode Synopsis' for:
"The Way We Weren't"
at the scifi.com "Farscape" Bulletin Board

TWWW: A FaDoPi Review:"The Way We Weren't"
News From The SACC: "The Way We Weren't"
Bama's Observations: "The Way We Weren't"
Captain Hornblower Reviews: "The Way We Weren't"
ql's WROCS :"The Way We Weren't"
QuietI; Reconsidering TWWW: "The Way We Weren't"





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