THE LOST WARRIOR

Written by Donald Bellisario

Transcribed by Clay Arden for ByYourCommand.net

 

 

(Apollo’s Viper is pursued by Cylon Raiders.)

 

APOLLO

Recon Probe Three to Galactica.  Am under attack.  Repeat, am under attack.  Will try to make it back to you.  Send help.  Galactica, Recon Probe Three.  Where’s Blue Squadron?  I’m running out of time.  Galactica, Recon Probe Three.

 

(Galactica bridge)

 

STARBUCK

Commander, Blue Squadron ready to scramble. 

 

ADAMA

There will be no scramble. 

 

BOOMER

But, sir, Apollo’s in trouble. 

 

ADAMA

I know what he’s doing.  He’s leading the Cylon patrol away from us.  You couldn’t reach him in time.  And if you did, it would undo everything that he’s risking h—

 

APOLLO (over communicator)

Galactica, Recon Probe Three.  Where’s Blue Squadron?  I’m running out of time.  Where’s Blue Squadron?  I’m running out of time. 

 

ADAMA

He’s not expecting any help, Boomer.  Those transmissions are for Cylon ears.

 

(fighters in space)

 

CYLON FLIGHT LEADER

Flight leader to base.  Pursuing Colonial Viper, Hetari sector, bearing Delta Nine mark seven.  Pilot is attempting to reach Galactica.

 

APOLLO

It’s about time.

(hits reverse thrusters)

Surprise.

(destroys one of the Raiders, but his engine starts failing)

Full booster, run out of fuel.  First lesson you learn as a cadet. 

(flips on scanner and sees planets nearby)

Thank you, Lord. 

(sighs)

 

CENTURION

Colonial Viper has turned away.  We have lost him on our scanner.

 

CYLON FLIGHT LEADER

Forget him.  He is trying to lead you away. 

 

REAR CENTURION

Continue on his original heading, Delta Nine.  Seek the Galactica. 

 

(On the planet’s surface, Puppis is brushing Strider the pony.)

 

PUPPIS

I coulda got him today if you hadn’t growled.

(Strider growls)

Yes, just like that.  I had that old lupus in my sights and ya spooked him.  Don’t ya understand, Strider?  The lupus is killing our stock.  He’s bad!  Like Redeye. 

(Strider growls again)

No, no, Redeye isn’t coming.  Boy, if I could get that lupus in my sights—

 

(Apollo’s Viper glides overhead and makes a forced landing nearby.  Puppis gets on Strider and starts to ride in the direction of the sound.)

 

VELLA

Puppis!  No!

 

(Apollo climbs out of his Viper, which has crashed into some trees.)

 

APOLLO

(breathing heavily)

Captain, you are one lucky pilot.  Ahh.

 

PUPPIS

(behind him)

You okay, mister?

 

APOLLO

(wheels on him with laser drawn)

Hey, I didn’t mean to frighten you.

(holsters laser)

I won’t hurt you.  Where am I?

 

PUPPIS

My mom’s place.

 

APOLLO

No, no, what – what – what planet?

 

PUPPIS

Equellus!

 

APOLLO
Equellus? 

 

PUPPIS

(nods)

 

APOLLO

Equellus. 

 

PUPPIS

(noticing Apollo’s Viper)

Wow!  It’s beautiful!

 

APOLLO

You’ve never been close to a starship before?

 

PUPPIS

(with a slight laugh)

I’ve never even seen one.  Bootes told me about ships that fly in the stars.  I thought he was just makin’ it up.  Do you fly in the stars?

 

APOLLO

Not very well without fuel. 

(sighs)

Who’s Bootes?  Your father?

 

PUPPIS

M-my uncle.  M-my father’s dead.

 

APOLLO

I’m sorry.

 

PUPPIS

It happened a long time ago, when I was a kid.

 

APOLLO

Oh.  And you’ve never seen another ship?  No freighters, tankers, fighters?

 

PUPPIS

Yours is the first.  Is it a fighter? 

 

VELLA

(leveling numo at Apollo)

Puppis, move away from him!  Come here. 

 

APOLLO

Take it easy.  I’m not here to harm anyone.

 

PUPPIS

Don’t worry.  My mom can’t hit the side of a granary with a numo.

 

VELLA

Puppis, get over here and light this torch, now! 

 

PUPPIS

Yes, ma’am. 

(goes to Vella’s side)

If he wanted to, he woulda shot you, Mom.  He’s fast!  And wait until you see his gun!

 

VELLA

Would you be quiet and light that torch?

 

(Puppis lights the torch and shines a blinding light in Apollo’s face.)

 

APOLLO

Hey, is that really necessary? 

 

VELLA

Shut it off. 

 

APOLLO

Thank you. 

 

VELLA

Now, you’d better get back in your ship and leave, quickly. 

 

APOLLO

(sighs)

I’d like nothing better, but I’m out of fuel.

 

VELLA

(sighs)

Well, then we’re gonna have to hide it.  It and you. 

 

APOLLO

Cylons?

 

PUPPIS

What are Cylons?

 

APOLLO

Well, if you don’t know, then there aren’t any around.  And be thankful for that.  What are you afraid of?

 

VELLA

Please, just do as I say.  Let’s hide it, now.

 

(Galactica bridge)

 

BOXEY

What’s going on?  Is anything wrong?

 

ADAMA

Oh—

(laughs)

No.  No, we’re just, uh, tryin’ to keep some of the slower ships in formation. 

 

BOXEY

(looks around)

Hi, Starbuck, Boomer! 

 

STARBUCK

Hiya, kid.  Checkin’ up on your grand—  uh, Commander?

 

BOXEY

Nope.  Dad’s on patrol.  He told me to wait up for him. 

 

STARBUCK

Good Lord, I almost forgot.  Your dad asked me to tell you that the, uh, patrol might go on longer than he expected. 

 

BOXEY

Longer?  How much longer?

 

STARBUCK

Well, eh, he landed on a planet.  Check it out, you know.  Eh, right, Commander?

 

ADAMA

Yes, yes, he – he’s going to be a little longer than we thought. 

 

BOXEY

(nods disappointedly)

 

STARBUCK

And he asked Boomer and me if we’d let, eh, you spend the night with us in the, uh, bachelor officers’ quarters?

 

BOXEY

With the pilots?

 

BOOMER

Yep.  And we can, uh, have a couple?  Fruit juices.  Fruit juices, and, uh, talk shop, and maybe even a couple of hands of Pyramid.

 

BOXEY

Can I, Grandpa?

 

ADAMA

Yes, you may, of course.  If that’s what your father wanted. 

 

STARBUCK

Oh, yes.  He did.

 

BOXEY

Oh, boy!  I get to spend the night with the Blue Squadron! 

(leaps into Boomer’s arms)

 

BOOMER

Let’s go!  All right!

(exits with Boxey)

 

ADAMA

Thank you, Starbuck.

 

STARBUCK

(nods)

Yeah.

 

(In Vella’s house, Apollo examines the rifle.)

 

APOLLO

I’ve never seen a numo before.  Hm.  Fires on compressed air?

 

PUPPIS

(nodding)

It can kill a lupus within ten metrons. 

 

APOLLO

It can?

 

PUPPIS

Well, if you hit it just right. 

 

(Vella brings food to the table and silently takes the numo away from Apollo.)

 

APOLLO

(raises eyebrows, then tries the food)

Mmm.  It’s very good. 

 

VELLA

(only half-smiles)

 

APOLLO

How long has this man Lacerta been taking tribute?

 

VELLA

Nearly ten yahrens.  He just lets us keep enough ovines to get by on. 

 

APOLLO

Why doesn’t somebody stand up to him?

 

PUPPIS

Redeye’ll kill ’em.  Zap!

 

APOLLO

He’s the one with the, uh—

 

VELLA

Puppis, you’re forgetting your chores.

 

PUPPIS

With the gun like yours.

 

VELLA

Your chores. 

 

PUPPIS

Yes, ma’am. 

(leaves table and reaches for numo above fireplace)

 

VELLA

Leave it.  You don’t need a numo to feed Strider and the layers. 

 

PUPPIS

But what if the lupus comes aroun—

 

VELLA

I said leave it! 

 

(Puppis exits.)

 

APOLLO

I thought you said the only guns here were numos.

 

VELLA

What difference does it make?  A gun is a gun.  I hate them all.  If it weren’t for the lupus that come after the stock, I’d destroy every numo, every—

(sighs)

My husband was killed by a gun, a gun like yours.

 

APOLLO

(sighs)

I know how you feel.

 

VELLA

Do you?

 

APOLLO

My wife was killed by a gun.  Like mine.

 

PUPPIS

(entering)

Someone’s coming! 

 

VELLA

(grabs numo, motions to Apollo)

You’d better go in there.

(Apollo hides and listens as the visitor rides up on an armored horse)

What do you want, Redeye? 

 

(Redeye is seen to be a Cylon.)

 

REDEYE

We heard a sound in town.  Lacerta sent me to investigate. 

(dismounts as Apollo watches from a window)

Did you hear a sound?

 

VELLA

No. 

 

PUPPIS

I did.  I heard a lupus howl and a nightflier hoot, down by the woods. 

 

REDEYE

Those are not the sounds I am seeking. 

 

PUPPIS

They’re not? 

(Redeye walks toward them)

You don’t scare me.

(kicks Redeye’s leg)

 

VELLA

Puppis! 

 

REDEYE

Why do you people persist in foolish acts?  You cannot hurt me.

 

PUPPIS

I can try.

(kicks him again)

 

REDEYE

Did you hear the sound I seek?

 

BOOTES

Let ’em be. 

 

REDEYE

What are you doing here, Bootes?

 

BOOTES

Dropped by to see my sister.  And I heard a noise.

 

REDEYE

A noise?

 

BOOTES

Yeah, crossed over my place, passed over this way.  Sounded like it went on into town.

 

REDEYE
In town it sounded like it came out here.

 

BOOTES

Well, you know these hills at night.  Sound travels in strange ways.  It can deceive you.

 

REDEYE
Humans deceive, not sound waves.

 

BOOTES

Well, what is it?  Do you know?

 

REDEYE

No, but I will find out.

(remounts his horse)

It would not go well for you to lie to me.  You are both behind in tribute as it is. 

(rides off)

 

BOOTES

Now, what is going on, sister?

 

VELLA

(sighs)

Inside.

 

(They enter the house.)

 

PUPPIS

Uncle Bootes, this is Apollo.  He flies one of those ships that you told me about. 

 

BOOTES

Am I glad to see you, Captain.

 

APOLLO

You know who I am?

 

BOOTES

I know what you are!  A Colonial warrior, a captain.  And that, bless my eyes, is a laser pistol! 

 

PUPPIS

And he’s fast!  Faster than Redeye, I bet. 

 

BOOTES

Why didn’t you destroy him? 

 

PUPPIS

’Cause he was afraid of hittin’ me or Mom.

 

APOLLO

Hey, just hold it a second.  This is all going by at light speed.  How do you know who I am?  Puppis didn’t, or his mother.

 

BOOTES

Vella?  Vella knew.  She just never told the boy. 

 

PUPPIS

Told me what?

 

VELLA

That your father was a Colonial warrior. 

 

PUPPIS

A warrior?  A pilot like Apollo?

 

VELLA

Very much so. 

 

PUPPIS

Did he fly a fighter, and wear a laser pistol?

 

BOOTES

Come on, Puppis.  If I know you, you haven’t tended the flock yet.

 

PUPPIS

I wanna know!  I wanna know about my father!

 

BOOTES

I’ll tell you.  Come on. 

(nods to Vella as they exit)

 

APOLLO

(sighs)

What happened?

 

VELLA

Bootes found Martin wandering in the field, wounded and half dead.  There’d been a battle up there, among the stars, and Martin crashed in the desert.  He must have wandered for Lord knows how long.  And I tended him.  It took a long time.  And we fell in love.  I think he was happy here with us.  I mean, as happy as he could be.  He was stranded with no way to get home.  But he never talked about it, except once. 

(laughs)

The night before our wedding.  Bootes brought over a jug of homemade buzzer. 

(laughing)

I was so mad I coulda strangled both of ’em.

(Apollo grins)

I guess he told my brother things that night he never told me.  But I knew.  I’d find him outside, lying on his back, with Puppis on his stomach – he was just a yahren then – staring up at the stars. 

 

APOLLO

This, um, Cylon, Redeye – he was wearing a Colonial pistol.  Martin’s?

 

VELLA

(nods)

One day, Lacerta appeared with Redeye.  We’d never seen him before.  And Martin went crazy the moment he saw him.  I mean, there was no way I could stop him.  He ran into the bedroom, where he kept his pistol hidden, and when he came out—  That was nine yahrens ago, and I can still see it like it just happened. 

 

APOLLO

And you never told Puppis.

 

VELLA

No.  And neither will my brother.  He gave me his word.

 

APOLLO

He’ll find out someday.  Someone will tell him.

 

VELLA

No!

 

APOLLO

He has a right to know!

 

VELLA

No!  I will not have Puppis going after the thing that killed his father.  Spending the rest of his life as a warrior?  Fighting, killing, dying?  For what?  Why did Martin go after him like that?  Why?

 

APOLLO

Redeye is a Cylon.  And they have one objective – to destroy all humans.  Your husband knew that.

 

VELLA

But Redeye – this Cylon, as you call him – he hasn’t destroyed all of us.  He only kills those who try to kill him. 

 

(Bootes and Puppis enter the house.)

 

APOLLO

That doesn’t make any sense.  I don’t understand what’s happening here, but I intend to find out. 

 

VELLA

How?  By going after Redeye with your laser?

 

BOOTES

Yes!  From what Puppis tells me, the Captain here is faster than a lupus.

 

APOLLO

No!  I’ll avoid the Cylon.  I’ll go into town dressed in clothes like yours, unarmed. 

 

BOOTES

But you can kill him!  You have a laser gun!

 

APOLLO

Where there’s one Cylon, there’s others.  If they see my laser pistol, they’ll know I’m a Colonial warrior and they’ll hunt down my ship.  Or worse, destroy every human inhabiting this planet! 

 

BOOTES

When Redeye killed Martin, he saw the laser pistol.  He took it!  No one came to hunt us down! 

 

APOLLO

I can’t risk it.  No gun.  You’ll just have to understand.

 

BOOTES

Oh, I understand, Captain!  If you’re not man enough to use it, give it to me! 

 

APOLLO

No gun. 

 

(In the Blue Squadron barracks, Boxey plays Pyramid with the pilots, using jellybeans for stakes.)

 

GILES

(making a face)

This fruit juice is just—

 

BOOMER

Great. 

 

GILES

Yeah, it’s, uh – it’s terrific.

 

BOXEY

Quit stallin’, Starbuck.  Are you gonna call or not?

 

STARBUCK

Give me a few centons, will you, kid? 

(raises a jellybean to his mouth)

 

BOXEY

You’re eating your bet.

 

(The other warriors laugh.)

 

STARBUCK

(puts jellybean down and sighs)

All right.  Call.

(adds more jellybeans to the pot)

Three-quarters of a pyramid.

 

GILES

That beats me.

 

JOLLY

Me too.

 

BOOMER

I’m clean.

 

STARBUCK

Well—

(starts to rake in the pot)

 

BOXEY

Not so fast, Starbuck.  A full pyramid! 

(the other warriors laugh again)

Your deal, Giles.

 

GILES

Thanks, kid. 

 

BOOMER

Well, I’m glad we’re not playin’ for cubits.

 

STARBUCK

Ah, if we had, it woulda been different. 

 

BOOMER

(gives him a skeptical look)

 

CASSIOPEIA

(entering)

That does it!  He should have been in bed centons ago!  And what are you hotshots doing, teaching him to drink and play cards and smoke?

 

BOOMER

It’s only fruit juice!

 

GILES

He’s the one that’s winning.

 

STARBUCK

Nah, I’m not letting him smoke.

 

CASSIOPEIA

(waves away smoke in air)

Oh, you’re not?

(to Boxey)

Now, listen.  To bed, young man.

 

BOXEY

Oh, Cassiopeia, just one more hand.

 

CASSIOPEIA

Now.

(turns to Starbuck with a meaningful laugh; Starbuck laughs tentatively)

And no more smoking around Boxey.

 

STARBUCK

(nods)

 

BOXEY

But I’m sleeping in here tonight!

 

CASSIOPEIA

Oh!  Well, that’s after you say your prayers and wash your face and brush your teeth, okay?

 

BOXEY

Okay.

 

CASSIOPEIA

(to Starbuck)

And recirculate the air in here!

 

(The other warriors laugh as Cassiopeia and Boxey leave.)

 

JOLLY

Boy, that does it.  Uh – next time you have a big game, uh, don’t call.

 

STARBUCK

(nods sarcastically)

 

BACKGROUND VOICES

Excuse me.

Hey, sure.

Hey, is this yours?

 

STARBUCK

I’m going up on the bridge, see if they’ve picked anything up on the scanner.

 

BOOMER

They woulda told us.

 

STARBUCK

Yeah.  Well, we can’t just leave Apollo out there.  We’ve got to do something. 

 

BOOMER

Really?  Any suggestions?

 

STARBUCK

One.  If we can get the Colonel and the Commander to go along.

 

BOOMER

And if they don’t?

 

STARBUCK

Then we do it alone.  Boxey’s lost one parent; he’s not gonna lose two.

 

(In the saloon, Lacerta plays cards with Marcos.)

 

LACERTA

What’s the wager, Marco?

 

MARCOS

Two bladers. 

 

LACERTA

Make it two hundred. 

 

MARCOS

I don’t have two hundred.  You know that.

 

LACERTA

Then fold.

 

MARCOS

But I’ve got you beat. 

 

LACERTA

(smiles)

I know. 

 

(Marcos folds.  Apollo enters the saloon and spots Redeye sitting in a corner.)

 

BACKGROUND VOICE

Hey, you’re on my foot!

 

APOLLO

(to barman)

Vignon. 

 

(Lacerta snaps his fingers and motions Marcos to go over to Apollo.)

 

MARCOS

(shoves Apollo, making him spill his drink)

Aren’t you gonna apologize?

 

APOLLO

If it’ll make you feel better.

 

MARCOS

(sniffs, takes Apollo’s hat and rips it)

The only way you stinkin’ oviners can make me feel better is to stand downwind.

 

(Apollo walks away and Marcos follows him.)

 

APOLLO

Don’t tell me.  You want me to move again, right?

(sighs)

Tell you what.  How ’bout if I sit with my friend, will that be okay?

 

MARCOS

Friend?  Ovines have no friends. 

 

APOLLO

(indicating Redeye)

That one.

(goes and sits next to Redeye)

My name’s Apollo. 

(sighs)

I don’t suppose you want a drink?

 

REDEYE

I do not ingest consumables. 

 

APOLLO

Well, in this case you’re not missing anything.  I’ve never seen anyone like you before.

 

REDEYE

You are lying.

 

APOLLO

No.

 

REDEYE

I sense you want to destroy me.  You would not be the first.  Nine have died trying.  I cannot be destroyed by a numo. 

 

APOLLO

I can see that.  You seem to have run into a few dents.

 

REDEYE

(rises and reaches toward his laser)

Still, you will try.

 

APOLLO

I’m unarmed.

 

REDEYE

That does not matter.

 

LACERTA

(snaps fingers)

Redeye, sit!

 

(Redeye obeys.  Lacerta snaps fingers again and Macy walks over to Apollo.)

 

MACY

Lacerta wishes to see you.

 

APOLLO

Does everyone jump when he snaps his fingers?

 

MACY

(nods)

 

APOLLO

That’s fine for a machine, but not for a human. 

 

LACERTA

(snaps fingers again, directing Marcos to vacate his chair for Apollo)

You owe me your life.

 

APOLLO

Perhaps I can return the favor.

 

LACERTA

What are you drinking?

 

APOLLO

Vignon.

 

LACERTA

(snaps fingers) 

 

(Macy starts to go for the drink, but Apollo stops her.)

 

APOLLO

The barman can bring it, thank you very much.

 

(Lacerta widens his eyes.  He nods to Macy and she leaves.)

 

VI

Macy, who is he?

 

MACY

I don’t know, but he’s different.

 

(The barman brings Apollo’s drink.)

 

APOLLO

Thank you. 

 

LACERTA

You have courage.  A foolish trait.  It gets men killed.  Why are you here?

 

APOLLO

I heard of your Redeye.  I was curious.

 

LACERTA

Another dangerous trait.

 

APOLLO

Where’d you find him?

 

LACERTA

Do not mistake my benevolent attitude for stupidity!  What do you want?

 

APOLLO

To work for you.

 

LACERTA

Why didn’t you say so?

 

APOLLO

I had to impress you.

 

LACERTA

(laughs, joined by Apollo and others)

By Equus, you’re right! 

(laughs some more)

Come back tomorrow.  I’ll see what I can do.

(Apollo walks to the door, then looks back at Lacerta, who laughs again)

Had to impress me!

(laughs uproariously)

 

(Outside, Puppis is carrying the torch and hears the lupus running nearby.) 

 

(Apollo arrives back at Vella’s house.)

 

VELLA

Oh!

 

APOLLO

What’s wrong?

 

VELLA

A lupus came after the stock.  I took Puppis in the house, but he must have gone out a back window.

 

APOLLO

Which way?

 

VELLA

Out near your ship, I think.  Hurry!

 

(Apollo rides after Puppis, dismounts next to Strider, and retrieves his laser from his saddlebag.)

 

(Puppis, threatened by the lupus, raises the numo.  He shoots, misses, and reloads as the lupus charges toward him.  Puppis gets off a fatal shot just as the lupus leaps for him.  Apollo emerges from the woods.)

 

PUPPIS

I did it!  I killed the lupus!

 

APOLLO

(laughs)

Yes, son, you killed a lupus.

(laughs again; slight time lapse forward)

Feeling good?

 

PUPPIS

I feel like I could fly.

 

APOLLO

(laughs)

Yeah, I know.  But your mom’s scared, and she’s probably gonna be very angry when she sees you. 

 

PUPPIS

You mean she’ll treat me like a little kid?

 

APOLLO

Puppis, I know you’re a man.  But your mom, well, that’s gonna take a little time.  She loves you very much.  Give her that time.

 

PUPPIS

I think I know what you mean.

 

APOLLO

I think you do, too. 

 

PUPPIS

And, Apollo—

 

APOLLO

Hmm?

 

PUPPIS

I know you’re not afraid of Redeye.     

 

APOLLO

(sighs)

 

(Apollo brings Puppis home.)

 

VELLA

Oh, Puppis! 

(hugs him)

Oh!  Oh! 

(grabs his arms)

Don’t you know that you could have been killed?  Didn’t I tell you never to go after them, never? 

 

PUPPIS

I’m sorry, mom.

 

VELLA

Sorr—?

(hugs him again as Puppis and Apollo exchange a knowing look)

 

(On the Galactica, Tigh enters Adama’s quarters.)

 

TIGH

The scanners are still clean, sir.  No sign of pursuit.  Evidently Apollo’s ploy worked.

 

ADAMA

(looking at photos of Apollo and Athena)

Yes.

 

TIGH

Adama, they want to go after him. 

 

ADAMA

Starbuck and Boomer?

 

TIGH

Every pilot on the Galactica – including me!

 

ADAMA

Don’t you think I do? 

(sighs)

I’ve been studying battle charts from the Hetari system for centons.  It’s filled with planets and asteroids.  If Apollo hasn’t been – if he hasn’t been shot down, if he’s eluded pursuit, if he’s been able to land on one of those surfaces, if he hasn’t run out of fuel – if all those things happen, then theoretically he’ll be within our range for a few hundred centons longer.  If, if, if, if!  There’re so many ifs it’s incalculable.

 

TIGH

But possible.  Why not slow the fleet, buy him more time?  Send a patrol back.  Not deep enough to penetrate the Hetari system and risk detection.  Just enough to lead him to us if he comes out. 

 

ADAMA

All that effort and risk for the Commander’s son.

 

TIGH

That’s utter feldigarb and you know it!  If it was Starbuck, or Boomer, or a first-orbit cadet, you’d do it!  Adama, don’t diminish his chances because he’s your son! 

 

ADAMA

(sighs)

Well, we can’t bring the fleet to dead slow.  But launch a patrol when ready.

 

TIGH

(goes to desk)

Bridge, Colonel Tigh. 

 

OMEGA (over communicator)

Yes, sir.

 

TIGH

Launch patrol.

 

(Starbuck and Boomer launch.  Adama looks at Tigh quizzically.)

 

TIGH

I guess there were two Vipers ready to launch.

 

(On Equellus, Apollo enters the house.)

 

VELLA

Hi.

 

APOLLO

Hi. 

 

VELLA

Did you two talk through the entire sleep period?

 

APOLLO

Yeah.  He finally fell asleep a few centons ago. 

 

VELLA

(with a laugh)

I don’t know how you stayed awake.

 

APOLLO

Well, I think I, uh, dropped off a couple of times. 

(laughs)

Boxey always used to keep me—

(Vella reacts with surprise and Apollo sighs)

Boxey is my son.  A few yahrens younger than Puppis, but very much like him. 

 

VELLA

It never occurred to me.  You must miss him very much.

 

APOLLO

Very much.

(sighs)

That’s why I have to find Lacerta’s connection to the Cylon Empire. 

(sighs again)

Redeye’s proof they land here.  They might have a hidden fuel depot.  Stealing their fuel is the only chance I have of getting back. 

(sighs)

And I’m running out of time.

 

VELLA

Apollo—

(a growl is heard outside and hoofbeats approach; Vella looks out the door)

Oh, it’s all right.  It’s only my cousin Jason. 

 

(They go outside.)

 

JASON

Redeye showed up at Bootes’ a little while ago.  Took half their herd.  Tribute.  Bootes started drinking, and the next thing I know, he rode towards town. 

 

VELLA

No!  Apollo, please do something.  They’ll kill him.

 

JASON

Bootes told me about your gun.  Your gun is the only chance we have. 

 

APOLLO

(sighs)
I’ll go into town, but no gun. 

 

(In the saloon, Bootes hammers loudly on the bar.)

 

BACKGROUND VOICE

He’s out of control.

 

(Bootes tastes the drink he is served, then grabs the barman violently.  His friends try to pull him away.)

 

BOOTES

No! 

(shakes them off)

A man can only be pushed so far.  He can’t work, and bleed, and turn everything over to some fat pig!

(points at Lacerta and advances toward him)

Pay tribute, give up half your ovines, perform like a trained daggit.  No more.  Not this oviner.  You’ve had your last tribute from me!

 

LACERTA

I think I have.

 

BOOTES

(with a laugh)

Right!  I’m not afraid anymore.  One of these times, one of us is gonna penetrate that tin-plated machine with a numo!

 

LACERTA

Maybe it will be you.

 

BOOTES

(laughing defiantly)

Yeah, maybe it will!

 

LACERTA

(snaps fingers)

 

(The other patrons clear out as Redeye stands up.)

 

BOOTES

Bring it on, Marcos! 

 

BACKGROUND VOICES

Get out of the way!  Get out of the way!

Watch out!

Watch out!

 

(Bootes and Redeye face off for a showdown.  Apollo enters the saloon with Jason, Vella, and Puppis.)

 

APOLLO

No!

 

(Bootes goes for his gun and is shot by Redeye.)

 

VELLA

(screams)

 

(Puppis fires his numo at Redeye, who then turns toward him.)

 

APOLLO

Stop him, Lacerta!

 

LACERTA

The boy is armed.

 

(Apollo takes the numo from Puppis and smashes it.  Jason draws his pistol.)

 

APOLLO

Gimme that gun! 

(wrests it from Jason and throws it away; then addresses Lacerta)

Please. 

 

LACERTA

(snaps fingers)

Sit.

 

(Redeye holsters his weapon and sits.)

 

PUPPIS

(to Apollo)

I hate you!

(runs out)

 

APOLLO

(to Lacerta)

We won’t give you any more trouble.

 

LACERTA

I hope the rest of you will learn from the example of Apollo.  He understands respect.  That’s all I ask. 

(suppressing a giggle)

That, and a little tribute.

 

(Apollo walks toward where Vella is grieving over the dead Bootes.  Jason knocks him aside and leads Vella away.)

 

(Vipers in space)

 

BOOMER

Halfway mark, Starbuck.

 

STARBUCK

A little farther, huh?

 

BOOMER

A little farther and we might not get back.

 

STARBUCK

Chop your power.

 

BOOMER

Have you gone crazy?

 

STARBUCK

Oh, we can drift for forty or fifty centons.  If we don’t spot him by then— (sighs) —he’ll be out of range for good.  What do you say?

 

BOOMER

Chopping power.

 

(outside the saloon)

 

APOLLO

(sighs)

Vella, I’m sorry. 

 

VELLA

No.  They don’t understand.  I do.  You did the right thing. 

 

APOLLO

(looks over at Puppis and sighs)

I’m not so sure. 

 

VELLA

I am. 

(kisses Apollo on the cheek and rejoins Jason)

 

MACY

(in hushed tones)

Apollo!  I don’t have much time; he’ll miss me. 

 

APOLLO

What is it?

 

MACY

You’re different.  We can all see that.  Except Lacerta.  You’ve blinded him by the way you talk to him – appeal to his vanity.  But not Marcos.  You put him down, and he’s working on Lacerta to kill you.  I know Lacerta.  He won’t stay blinded long. 

 

APOLLO

He’ll unleash Redeye?

 

MACY

No.  Marcos wants to kill you to get back in Lacerta’s graces.  He used to be his right hand before we found Redeye. 

 

APOLLO

You found him? 

 

MACY

(nods)

 

APOLLO

Where?

 

MACY

Th-the mountains.  Well – we were riding one night and we heard this roar in the sky, and then an explosion.  Pieces of metal fell like rain. 

 

APOLLO

(whispers)

Cylon fighter.

 

MACY

What?

 

APOLLO

Wh-what happened then? 

 

MACY

(sighs)

We found two others like Redeye, destroyed.  We got scared and turned the wagon to run, and – that’s when we saw Redeye.  He had that awful dent in his head, and – it was strange.  He looked up at Lacerta and said, “By your command.”  He’s been doing what Lacerta says ever since. 

(Lacerta’s laughter is heard)

I gotta go. 

 

APOLLO

Thank you. 

(sighs, retrieves his laser from his saddlebag and buckles it on)

 

LACERTA

(emerging from saloon)

Apollo, my man Marcos wants a word with you.

 

MARCOS

Someone give this oviner a numo, so I can bury his smell! 

 

APOLLO

(wearing the laser, steps out from behind his horse)

That won’t be necessary. 

 

MARCOS

I, uh – maybe I was wrong. 

 

LACERTA

Uh—

(snaps fingers)

Redeye!

 

PUPPIS

I knew he wasn’t a coward!

(jumps down from wagon to stand behind Apollo)

 

VELLA

Puppis! 

(sees the showdown about to happen in the street)

Oh, my God.  Not again.

(grabs Puppis safely out of the way as Redeye comes out of the saloon)

 

REDEYE

(seeing Apollo’s laser pistol)

Oh-oh. 

 

(The two face off.  Apollo draws faster and destroys Redeye.  Jason picks up Redeye’s laser and Lacerta and Marcos make a discreet exit.  Vella and Puppis hug Apollo amid congratulations from the crowd.)

 

(later, in Vella’s house)

 

PUPPIS

Zap!  Pchew!  Pchew!  Zap!  Zap!  Zap!  Pchew!  Pchew!  Zap!  Zap!  Zap!  Zap!  Pchew!  Pchew!  Bootes would have been proud of you, Apollo.  Redeye was fast, but you were faster.  Zap!

 

APOLLO

Hey.

 

PUPPIS

Pchew!  Pchew!

 

APOLLO

Hey.

 

PUPPIS

Zap!  Zap!  This a— 

 

APOLLO

Hey, now hold it!  Hold it, Boxey! — Puppis.

 

PUPPIS

Someday I’ll be a hero like you.  I will, Apollo.

 

APOLLO

Now, you listen to me.  Do you remember when you killed the lupus? 

 

PUPPIS

(nods)

 

APOLLO

Did you feel heroic? 

 

PUPPIS

I felt scared.

 

APOLLO

That’s how I felt against Redeye.

 

PUPPIS

No, you weren’t— 

 

APOLLO

Scared!  You killed the lupus because you had to.  Even though you were frightened.  That’s all I did, something I had to do.  There was nothing brave or heroic about it.  There never is, no matter what you kill.  And I pray to God it’s something neither of us will ever have to do again. 

 

VELLA

Apollo, I know where Martin’s ship crashed.  I don’t think it can fly, but it may have the fuel you need. 

 

APOLLO

(hugs her)

If it weren’t for Boxey—

 

(Vella nods and Apollo draws Puppis into the embrace.)

 

(Vipers in space)

 

BOOMER

He’s out of time.

 

STARBUCK

Boomer, let’s give him another centon.

 

BOOMER

We did that five centons ago, Starbuck.  I want to see him come out of there as much as you do, but if we don’t leave now we’ll never get back.

 

STARBUCK

(sighs)

Right.  Firing my engines.

 

APOLLO (voice on scanner)

Galactica, Recon Probe Three.  Do you read me? 

 

STARBUCK

Apollo?

 

APOLLO

Do you read?

 

STARBUCK

Apollo, is that you?  Apollo!  Apollo, is that you?

 

APOLLO

Starbuck?

 

STARBUCK

Got you on the scanner.  Take an Omega One heading.  Apollo, here we come!

 

BOOMER

Yeeeeeeeehaaaaa!

 

APOLLO

What are you guys doin’ out here?

 

BOOMER

Oh, we just thought we’d take a little ride.  The stars are kinda nice in this galaxy.

 

APOLLO

(laughs)

 

STARBUCK

We’d just about given up on you, buddy.  Where have you been?

 

APOLLO

Let’s go home.

 

(On Equellus, Vella lies on her back with Puppis cradled in her arm, staring up at the stars.)

 

VELLA

It must be beautiful.

 

PUPPIS

He’ll be back, mother.  Someday.  He promised he would.

 

VELLA

Yes, he did.  Someday.

 

 

-END TRANSCRIPT-

 

 

NOTES

 

The planet’s name, Equellus, is a variation of Equuleus, meaning “little horse” in Latin, which, like Bootes (“ox-driver”), Lacerta (“lizard”), and Puppis (“poop deck”), is the name of a constellation.  The name Vella is derived from Vela (“sails”), a constellation adjacent to Puppis within the larger Ptolemaic constellation Argo Navis (representing Jason’s ship, the Argo).

 

The name “Redeye” is transcribed here as one word, in deference to the Colonial (and Equellan) custom of single names.

 

Lacerta addresses Marcos the first time as “Marco,” although he is called “Marcos” thereafter.