COLD OPEN
EXT SPACE - CGI
Another glorious CGI representation of deep space which, of course, is not complete without a golden nebulous cloud in the background. Shot pans R to reveal John in full EVA suit hanging virtually motionless in space. Continue panning R to reveal Moya in the near distance.
Cut to long on John with the Nebula behind him, arms and legs making vague swimming motions as the shot pulls slowly back.
MOYA - COMMAND - CGI
Shot is still on John with the golden nebula as backdrop, but we hear Aeryn's voice in the background softly and as shot continues to pull back we see her; perched in the far right curve of the forward portal. John's notebook folded open in her hands. Her brow furrowing slightly, long black hair loose over her shoulders.
AERYN:
(soft)
Exist…
(nodding)
Exist…um…. Existence. Existence? Yeah. Existen-ay. Um.
Chiana entering, moves close over Aeryn's right shoulder.
CHIANA:
How's the English?
Apparently not well.
AERYN:
(mild frustration)
Oh. They start small, they grow and then they change. I don't know—twenty-six symbols, it should be easy.
CHIANA:
Well, they can barely escape their own gravity.
They both laugh and Aeryn returns her concentration to working out the words written in the notebook. Chiana peers over her shoulder at the distant form hanging in space.
CHIANA:
He's been out there a long time.
AERYN:
Hm?
Aeryn looks up to join Chi in surveying the man.
AERYN:
Oh… yeah, he seems to like this particular wormhole for some reason.
CHIANA:
Hmm. He's just learned to speak the language of wormhole.
Keeping her eyes on John, Aeryn pronounces the word with varying emphasis.
AERYN:
Wormhole. Wormhole.
Aeryn's lips and tongue carefully enunciating the word while her eyes never leave the man. She looks nothing less than completely infatuated.
CHIANA:
If you want to get him back… that's not the language you need to learn.
White out—and in someone's minds-eye; John's curled fingers brush against her lips, his lips press lightly against her brow. [There's that unaired footage].
EXT. SPACE / MOYA - PASSAGE
Close on John's helmeted face, D'Argo's voice over comms interrupting reverie.
D'ARGO:
(over comms)
John, are you there? We're on secure comms.
JOHN:
Is there a problem?
D'Argo manhandles Noranti down a corridor.
D'ARGO:
I just caught this apothecary placing drugs in your quarters.
He stops hustling the old woman along and Noranti yelps an outraged protest as D'Argo shoves her down the passage, he turns back to speak to John.
D'ARGO:
She says they help you forget Aeryn.
JOHN:
They just dull the pain.
Cut to rush of images— John using the distillate of laka followed by a stream of Aeryn images, similar to those seen with each use. [although there's a new one in there that looks unaired— Aeryn looking too much like her mother for my comfort.]
D'ARGO:
Do they work?
White out—and in John's minds-eye he's curled against Aeryn's welcoming neck. White out—to close on John's closed eyes. They open before he answers the question.
JOHN:
When I double the dose, yeah.
D'ARGO:
How much perspective have you lost? You know if you take anything this witch gives you you halve the dose.
JOHN:
D'Argo… it ain't none of your business so forget about it.
Noranti sidles up underneath D'Argo's chin.
NORANTI:
I could make something that will help you remember—
D'Argo hisses, shoving her down the hall again.
NORANTI:
Oh! Souless Luxan!
D'ARGO:
John…
(sighing)
Oh, John, you have to let her go.
White out—and their lips meet in an oh so tender kiss. White out to close on John, nearly grinding his teeth now, his voice not betraying the tension… much.
JOHN:
It's more complicated than that. Crichton out.
In the corridor D'Argo sighs in frustration. He drops the laka on the passage floor and crushes it beneath his boot.
MOYA - THE DEN
Behind the console with Pilot, Rygel maneuvers, grunting slightly; dodging Pilot's moving arms.
RYGEL:
How is Moya doing?
PILOT:
Much better now that her new filters are blocking this region's electrostatic surges.
RYGEL:
Excellent. Next thing you have to do is get over your fear of wormholes. Defying all logic, Crichton may actually figure out how to get us away from the Peacekeepers forever.
PILOT:
Without disrespect… he oftentimes leaps to conclusions prior to leading us into—
RYGEL:
Not here, Pilot. Trust me. I wouldn't have risen to Dominar if I wasn't good at recognizing things before they happen!
Pilot's response drips with snarky irony.
PILOT:
You were deposed in a coup led by your own cousin…
RYGEL:
Hmm. Just… be ready.
MOYA - SCORPY'S QUARTERS
A table, new to his quarters, is scattered with scientific looking paraphenalia and his carryall. The bed is back in place behind him, and he looks right at home.
Sikozu enters the wide open door as he sits at the table examining a bright red coolant rod. She struts closer, examining the rod as well as they speak.
SIKOZU:
None of them seem to take your warnings very seriously.
SCORPIUS:
Why should they? They… have only anecdotal evidence of the Scarran's intent.
She grips the free end of the coolant rod and his attention moves from the rod to her eyes. There's a beat of tension before he releases it to her. [and is the girl's cleavage a bit more… agressive here or what?]
SCORPIUS:
Unlike you and I.
Her eyes lower to his… rod, and he stands, crossing behind her while she moves closer to the table.
SIKOZU:
Should I accept your proposal—to be allies—what assurances do I have that you will watch my back?
Sikozu bends over the table, working some magic or other with the rod. Scorpius picks up another device from the table and it warbles a soft electronic harmonic as he brushes it over the back of her hair.
SCORPIUS:
Apart from the pleasantness of the task…
He puts the device back down on the table and leans in close over her shoulder, voice soft in her ear.
SCORPIUS:
…you instantly… become the most important one to me.
Sikozu lifts the red coolant rod to eye level, a thin tool pressed into one end.
SIKOZU:
Most important save… Crichton.
SCORPIUS:
Always save Crichton.
Her gaze slides to the side to encompass Scorpius as, with a flick of her wrist, the tiny tool twists against the end of the rod and the fluid within shifts from red to blue instantaneously. She smiles, turning toward him.
SIKOZU:
Agreed.
Scorpius breathes out… hard, an expression of admiration. Or something.
EXT SPACE
Close on John, eyes closed again.
JOHN:
Three, two, one…
In the silence a rumbling begins, John's eyes slide open as the rumbling builds to a low crecendo preceding the opening of a whirling blue vortex just below him.
JOHN:
(laughs softly)
Ain't you a beautiful thing?
MOYA - COMMAND - CGI
Reclined back against the far right curve of the forward portal, Aeryn lifts her head to watch the small figure now backdropped against the blue/white funnel of the wormhole.
JOHN:
(over comms)
Damn, check this puppy out.
EXT SPACE - CGI
The gently swirling vortex begins to bob and weave. John's lips and eyes tighten with tension but his tone is only slightly worried.
JOHN:
Hey, Pilot, about time for that pickup, I think.
MOYA - COMMAND
Aeryn sits forward in the ledge of the portal.
AERYN:
John?
JOHN:
(over comms)
Break out the docking web. Anytime now.
AERYN:
Pilot?
EXT SPACE - CGI
JOHN:
Pilot?!
The wormhole grows brighter, surging forward and back, less stable by the second.
MOYA - COMMAND
AERYN:
D'Argo, you might want to get the ship…
EXT SPACE
JOHN:
Pilot!!
MOYA - COMMAND - CGI
Crouching on the ledge of the portal Aeryn watches as the wormhole flares and disappears, taking John with it.
AERYN:
…ready.
WORMHOLE - CGI
Inside the wormhole John rockets along, this time sans space ship. Body tumbling out of control. Up ahead a split in the wormhole creates two separate funnels and it looks as though he may careen into the wall between them. Instinctively his hands lift to protect his head and cut to…
ROLL OPENING CREDITS
ACT I
NEXUS
Act opens with close on John, on his back, eyes closed, in a field of white. Eyes opening almost immediately, he lifts his head slightly, peering through the clear face shield to take in his surroundings. His voice expresses low certainty, and then mild disgust.
JOHN:
Kansas… in the winter.
Cut to long and angle down as he levers himself to hands and knees and then to feet. He looks around what appears to be a large ice floe at the center of a black, featureless sea. Pillars of white ice surround a fractured central valley.
JOHN:
(comming)
D'Argo… Pilot….
(to self)
Ah, hell, I'm gettin' that "goin' to the Island of Misfit Toys" thing.
He moves to the edge of the ice floe and peers into the blackness, then looks around the ice.
JOHN:
(continues muttering to self)
Or just waitin' on the Titanic. Well, as long as this whole deal doesn't end up with me as an old man.
(shouting)
Hello! Nanook?! Beelzebub?!
His hail is interrupted by a swirling noise as the water around the ice floe churns with several black whirling vortexes which surround the ice.
JOHN:
Yeah, let's get it on. Get it over with.
In the relative silence John turns abruptly, correct in sensing someone behind him. On the other end of the ice floe a man wearing a black suit and tie stands, hands folded at his waist, his eyes black and fathomless. They watch each other silently for a long beat broken by John's caustic good humor, replacing that compassionate understanding thing.
JOHN:
Nice threads. Helps to humanize you. Makes it easier for me to sympathize with your problems.
MAN:
Time.
John tilts his head slightly, makes no response.
MAN:
Time.
JOHN:
Zzup?
MAN:
Time.
JOHN:
Flies.
MAN:
Time.
JOHN:
Bandits.
MAN:
Time.
The man begins moving closer, John's response taking on a harder edge.
JOHN:
Wounds all heels.
MAN:
Time.
JOHN:
(singing)
Rosemary and Thyme…
MAN:
Time.
John pulls a small pulse weapon from the flight harness over the EVA suit and fires.
JOHN:
Zzup.
The energy of the pulse bolt freezes about a foot from the well dressed man's face. The man looks… vaguely disappointed, turning he moves back toward the far side of the ice floe, muttering one more time…
MAN:
Time.
John eyes the small pistol wryly.
JOHN:
(to self)
Either stop pointin' guns at people or get a bigger gun.
John takes a few steps closer, almost following the well dressed man who appears to be examining the frozen pulse bolt, which is, itself, continuing in it's flight… at a much subdued rate.
MAN:
Time is…
Long pause while John takes another, disinterested look around.
JOHN:
Infinite.
Clearly thinking of a better answer, giving it with greater interest.
JOHN:
Relative.
The energy of the pulse bolt winks out as the well dressed man turns back toward John.
MAN:
You are quite a simple organism to possess the knowledge you do.
JOHN:
You're only sayin' that 'cause you don't know me.
MAN:
Time is meaningless and yet it is all that exists.
JOHN:
Very Morrissey. My name is Jo—
MAN:
Yes.
JOHN:
And yours is…
MAN:
Unimportant to our encounter.
JOHN:
(mirthless chuckle)
Exactly. I love how you lay it out there, Einstien. So let me ask you, without… getting existential on me— why am I, why are we… here?
EINSTEIN:
You are present to perish, I am present to effect that outcome.
Finely honed self-preservation reflexes has John backpedaling before Einstein can finish. Einstein starts after him and he turns about in full retreat. Flash to very quick cut of wormhole interior and cut to…
UR — MOYA — PASSAGE / COMMAND
Outfitted in the orange IASA flightsuit, John is prodded into Command by an aggressive DRD. He's greeted by the sound of alien voices and a view of attacking prowlers through the forward portal. Immediately recognizing the time and place John's suprise is relatively mild compared to his initial sighting of real live aliens.
JOHN:
Oh my God.
Smiling eagerly he walks further into the Command.
JOHN:
Day one.
The squealing of the DRD draws D'Argo's attention, however, rather than fear and intimidation, John oozes bravado, tossing D'Argo a jaunty salute.
JOHN:
How ya'll doin'. My name's John, John Cri…
Of course the bravado does nothing for D'Argo who still hauls him off his feet by a firm grip on his neck, snarling at him in unintelligible Luxan.
JOHN:
(choking)
Got to wait for the translator microbes, buddy…
The DRD scoots forward and injects obediently.
ZHAAN:
(alien language becomes…)
…answer him quickly, you know how Luxan's can be.
JOHN:
(choking)
Oh, you betcha.
D'ARGO:
You're ship, what kind is it?
JOHN:
(choking)
It's a… four cylinder. Got a plastic Jesus on the dashboard.
The ship rocks under another explosion and D'Argo tosses John across Command, heading to a control console.
D'ARGO:
Pilot! I demand you give me manuverability now!
PILOT:
There is nothing I can do. Not while the control collar is still in place.
Knelt up against the wall, a smiling John offers a bit of advice.
JOHN:
Hey, why don't you try rippin' out that control panel?
Clever, looks like D is takin' that advice as he moves to the indicated console.
PILOT:
Moya can't withstand this assault much longer!
D'Argo lifts the top of the console off and starts ripping connections. Rygel enters and this time John knows enough to be out of the way.
JOHN:
Here's Rygel!
Rygel hovers past, turning to give John the eye.
JOHN:
Hey, Sparky!
RYGEL:
They brought you on board, didn't they? Don't worry, I'll protect you. I'll look after you now; you look after me later.
JOHN:
No offense, Buckwheat, but you couldn't look after a Chia Pet.
Rygel hawks vigorously and spits, John ducks the projectile easily. Leaping to his feet and pushing Rygel out of the way.
JOHN:
Why don't we move this along?
He sets his back to D'Argo deliberately, raising his voice, emphasizing each word.
JOHN:
What.is.the matter.with you.people?!
Points at his neck.
JOHN:
Tongue.
D'Argo obliges and he drops like a rock, but not without a last word.
JOHN:
Thank you.
Cut to quick trip inside a wormhole and cut to close on John, again on his back on the ice floe, eyes closed, opening almost immediately.
JOHN:
Thanks for the memories.
Lifts his head uncertainly, hands go immediately to his chest. The flight harness and helmet are removed, the EVA suit unzipped revealing the black shirt beneath. He looks around, a bit disoriented, sits up, then kneels. He's on top of one of the short ice pillars that dot the verges of the ice floe, Einstein below him on the flat.
NEXUS
JOHN:
Where's the rest of my suit?
EINSTEIN:
This atmosphere will sustain you. Space and time are fused. A set of coordinates for each required to locate a specific event.
JOHN:
Everything happens at a time, in a place. Relativity.
Einstein circles the pillar below him. The weirdest classroom ever.
EINSTEIN:
Movement at speed through space becomes movement through time.
JOHN:
Einstein again, 1905. You publish anything since?
EINSTEIN:
Wormholes bridge space-time… creating a unique ability to navigate.
JOHN:
Yeah. Wormholes. Been there done that.
EINSTEIN:
Many times it seems. And now you …unerringly position yourself prior to them opening. How do you possess such knowledge?
JOHN:
Bad luck…
Insert Shot: Jack reveals himself; AHR.
JOHN:
…really bad luck.
Insert Shot: The Ancient reveals himself; AHR.
JOHN:
It's a long story, maybe later…
He looks away, but we cut to a long series of shots from AHR, NERVE, THM; indicating the information Einstein wants is being taken.
MEMORY FLASHBACK
Quick series of shots from AHR, and IP1. The Ancient known as Jack clues us in: "The unconscious knowledge we've given you will guide you."
On the ice floe, John begins to react, unfavorably.
JOHN:
No!
Series of shots move on to Nerve and Hidden Memory. Jack finishes: "You were already on the right path."
John scrambles across the ice.
JOHN:
Get out of my head!
Takes refuge at a higher point, Einstein looking up at him.
EINSTEIN:
Time… Ancients?
JOHN:
Yeah.
Flash cut to a series of interview style shots, close on different individuals on a black background and it's "This is Your Life: John Crichton". John seems to be listening in on the words of praise.
CAROLINE:
I never met… another man who was… more in touch with his own feelings.
TEACHER:
A real hell-raiser, and you couldn't help but love him.
COACH:
Kind of man who would finish a game with a broken leg.
DK:
Rescued me from out of nowhere and dropped me right in the middle of my dream job… working on the Farscape Project.
WOMAN 3:
Stephen Hawking is a genius all right, but John is… more toward that end of the spectrum than the rest of us.
REVEREND MILLER:
He would share whatever he had with others.
CAROLINE:
(sadly)
I can't bear to be without him.
DK:
(choked up)
Sorry.
CAROLINE:
(sighing happily)
He was so good in bed.
Flash cut back to the ice floe, John chuckling mildly.
EINSTEIN:
Wormholes are the one feature that traverse both our realms, which adjoin though never intersect. An aggressive perforation of one would allow an unacceptable incursion of material… from your existence into ours.
JOHN:
And who would want to do that?
EINSTEIN:
The biologics of your realm are infinitely more aggressive than ours.
JOHN:
Perhaps. Why don't be table that discussion. Tell me about the Ancients.
EINSTEIN:
Members of my species substantially modified to live in your realm.
Insert shots of the Ancient in his Jack guise as well as the spindly little critter. Shots from IP1, AHR and IP2.
JOHN:
They're here to spy on us. Narcs.
EINSTEIN:
To catalogue, report and influence. When they disappeared we decided to investigate the state of wormhole knowledge in your realm.
Insert shots from UR and DWTB.
JOHN:
You hauled Moya's ass down a wormhole.
EINSTEIN:
I was surprised to discover a Leviathan. The expectation was a Pathfinder vessel.
Insert shots from SIW1/2 [ships collide; Moya impaled; John & Aeryn confront Neeyala on Command; Zhaan's sacrifice; ships separate; Neeyala gives them the bad news: "I have just infused our beacon into the Leviathan's superstructure"]
EINSTEIN:
Those I questioned… knew nothing of wormholes. They did however, mention you repeatedly.
Flashcut to Noranti, unaired footage: "He knows… Crichton knows." and Pilot: "Wormholes are… his obsession."
JOHN:
You set them loose to find me.
EINSTEIN:
Your knowledge is quite extraordinary for one of your realm.
JOHN:
Thanks.
EINSTEIN:
And your many travels inside wormholes… troubling.
Einstein starts to drift upward, John's height advantage disappearing.
EINSTEIN:
But now that I've glimpsed your mind I'm aware this has made you a target of more aggressive species. A liability… which must be dealth with.
JOHN:
You stay the hell away from me.
Twisting away he dives off the side of the ice pillar. Cut to brief transit down a wormhole. Cut to…
UR - MOYA - PASSAGE
John finds himself staggering, EVA suit gone, he grabs at the edges of his black jacket, hands going next to the pulse weapon, he looks up and around, comming semi-instantly.
JOHN:
(comming)
D'Argo! Pilot?!
The ship is filled with smoke, small fires burning in the chamber behind him. Also behind him a lithe grey figure cowers behind the open door.
CHIANA:
Crichton?
JOHN:
(comming)
Aeryn!
Turns at the hail.
JOHN:
Pip… Aeryn?
CHIANA:
It's you.
And yes, it's Pip, but it's Aeryn… it's an AerynPip. Oy.
JOHN:
What the hell's goin' on here?
CHIANA:
Frelled— right up the ass. It's a great plan you came up with.
JOHN:
What about the others?
CHIANA:
Dead. Sheyangs got 'em. We're the only ones left.
JOHN:
(shouting)
This is not funny! We're done here!
CHIANA:
We're done all right. Everything's gone, and we're next.
JOHN:
(sighing)
All right, if we're gonna do this… what about the pods— my module?
Chi gets to her feet and leaps into his arms, legs wrapped firmly around his hips.
CHIANA:
Maintenance Bay. It's ah— it's a furnace.
JOHN:
Space suits?
CHIANA:
This floor is the only one… that isn't filled with toxic dren.
Another explosion rocks the boat and John falls backward, Aer…er, Chiana on top of him. Chi looms in closer, tongue extended to lick him on the, well, lips, nose, whatever. John scrunches his face, twisting away.
JOHN:
Whoa, oh!
CHIANA:
Oh, come on, just once. You and me, like we should have, from the very beginning.
JOHN:
Pip, knock it off. Let's just get out of here.
Another explosion and Chi gasps in fright, but immediately returns her attention to potential face licking.
CHIANA:
Come on, Crichton, we're gonna die. I just wanna die do something fun. Something I like. Something that makes me feel… good.
John laughs.
CHIANA:
Your plan didn't work. This is mine.
She moves down his body, furry white head almost disappearing before John grabs for her; he shouts and she squeals simultaneously.
JOHN:
No!
Cut to brief trip down a wormhole and then cut to John collapsing on the ice floe, Einstein beside him.
NEXUS
He crawls slowly to hands and knees.
JOHN:
(whispering)
Spectacular.
Sits, resting his back against an ice pillar.
JOHN:
Boy, I gotta hand it to you, you give great— great illusion. Now I know how Copperfield got Shiffer.
EINSTEIN:
What you experienced was real.
JOHN:
Well, it felt real.
EINSTEIN:
Real.
JOHN:
Real like the water's not wet real? Real like you see with no eyes?
Einstein raises a hand, pointing to John's. John looks down, raising his hand, fingering the strands of gray hair trapped between his fingers. He flashes to the memory, wrestling a gray head between his hands, her squealing as he shouts, "No!".
EINSTEIN:
Time… wormholes. The knowledge to unravel events.
John looks up at Einstein, almost immediately looking back at the strands of hair he turns over and over in his fingers.
EINSTEIN:
For that alone I should kill you.
John shoots him a hard look as he stands, but his eyes return to the gray strands of hair and…
Fade to black
END ACT I
ACT II
Continuous from end of Act I; John examining the tuft of white hair in his fingers. Cut to black background interview style shots of John's UT friends and allies — more 'This is Your Life' stuff.
ZHAAN:
As a Pa'u, I'm generally the teacher… but with John, I… I learned as much as I gave.
JOOL:
Whenever he touched me there was an almost…
(sighs)
…electric caring.
CRAIS:
John Crichton… made me a better Captain…
STARK:
I sensed a, a purity of spirit.
CRAIS:
…a better leader…
STARK:
A purity of soul.
CRAIS:
…a better man.
Cut back to the ice floe, close on John's hand, the white hairs in his fingers, panning up to Einstein.
JOHN:
And I'm supposed to just take your word for it. This hair could be as fake as this iceberg, this… world… you.
John blows the hair from his fingers.
EINSTEIN:
That hair represents a possible outcome. An unrealized reality.
Cut to interview style black backdrop shots of John's Earth friends and allies… although this time they don't seem quite so friendly. Interview shots at interspersed with shots of John listening in.
CAROLINE:
When he'd come over… I'd have to cover up all the mirrors… just so he'd spend some of the time looking at me.
WOMAN 2:
My dad and John's mom were brother and sister.
COACH:
Crichton blew a key tackle. My three year old niece could'a tripped this guy up!
WOMAN 2:
It hurt dad, because he loved family so much, but… we were forbidden to hang out with John after he was about 15.
DK:
You know why he's dead? Pig-headed.
WOMAN 3:
He actually made a couple of passes as me…
DK:
We weren't ready for a space trial, not really.
WOMAN 3:
…like I'm gonna sleep with a guy who only has one graduate degree.
CAROLINE:
He was a cheap date, a lousy drunk, and a red-neck.
REVEREND MILLER:
If I say "blasphemous", I don't mean in his attitude toward God, I mean… his attitude toward life.
CAROLINE:
And he was lousy in the sack.
The red head lifts her hand with a smirk, thumb and index finger spread just about two inches apart.
Cut back to John, sitting on the ice, elbow propped on a low outcropping.
JOHN:
(to self)
Damn, I always knew Reverend Miller didn't like me but… Caroline… that's, that's a bit of a shock.
EINSTEIN:
This wormhole, you lingered so long I was able to locate you. Describe its facination.
John stands, restless hands adjusting the fit of the EVA suit here and there.
JOHN:
I don't know… something just struck me.
EINSTEIN:
It is part of an extensive system. One of untold number which permeate the space and time of your realm.
JOHN:
Tell me about… unrealized reality.
Cut to quick trip down a wormhole.
UR - DAY ONE - LATER
Fade in to close on John's profile, he's on his back, eyes closed. Without opening his eyes he talks, mostly to himself.
JOHN:
Oh no, this is that dream where I wake up in the cell… naked.
Shot cuts to long across the cell, John's eyes open and he lifts his head, somewhat relieved to note that he's dressed [white t-shirt], he lowers his head again, sighing quietly.
JOHN:
Thank heaven for simple mercies. One out of two.
He lets his head roll to the side and notes the familiar armored form of Aeryn Sun slumped against the wall across the room.
JOHN:
So you won again.
He rolls to his side, climbing to hands and knees, grinning to himself.
JOHN:
Two of three.
He stands up and takes one barefoot step toward Aeryn as she pulls her helmet off and shakes her head, slightly disoriented, black hair falling across her cheek.
JOHN:
Officer Aeryn Sun…
She puts her helmet aside, and gives him suspicious side-long glance.
JOHN:
Special Peacekeeper Commando… Icarian Company, Pliesar Regiment. My name Jose Jimenez. We got a lot to catch up on.
She eyeballs him as he crosses the floor and extends his hand in a friendly manner, presenting only the side of his body and at the length of his arm. She takes his hand and tries to slam him against the wall but he's not off balance this time and they only circle each other, he pulls his hand away easily.
She brings her hands up and attacks, a few quick, brutal blows which he deflects easily. They both bring fists in tight to their chests, eying each other warily.
JOHN:
Pretty good, huh? I learned from the best.
Her brow furrows slightly.
JOHN:
You.
Her questioning look fades and she smiles one of those warm seductive smiles.
AERYN:
Why are you out of uniform?
She takes a step closer, hands lowering. He declines to answer, his gaze locked on hers.
AERYN:
What is your rank and regiment?
Still no answer. Just that look, going for a connection which hasn't got a basis for her, beyond the fact that he's just, god, so gorgous. Aeryn's fist to his gut folds him in half with a grunt and she tosses him across the room.
He crawls to hands and knees as she crosses the room and buries her foot in his gut, flipping him onto his back. She steps over him, kicking his arms away as she drops to her knees straddling his chest, pinning his arms to the floor with her legs, her right hand gripping his throat. He grins up at her, his voice slightly hoarse from the restriction of air.
JOHN:
Oh, baby, you had me at hello.
AERYN:
Rank and regiment. Now. And how… do you know my name?
JOHN:
What you should really ask… is how I know you've got a birthmark on the sweet spot of your hip.
She looks down at him, her head tilting just slightly. Her left hand darts out and wraps around the left side of his head. John's eyes have time to widen in surprise before she forces his head sharply around, a loud cracking sound precedes fade out to the wormhole.
NEXUS
Fade in to close on Einstein as he continues…
EINSTEIN:
Every wormhole system has millions of exits… each to a distinct time and place. Travel from A to B. Now, attempt to travel back. You could arrive at point A immediately after you left, or… a cycle later, or a cycle earlier, or ten or ten thousand, or… millions of permutations.
JOHN:
The secret… is understanding time.
EINSTEIN:
Not so much understanding, as accounting for. Unskilled wanderings create…
Einstein makes a slight gesture and the energy of the pulse bolt appears again, hanging in mid-air.
EINSTEIN:
…unrealized realities.
John slowly circles the corruscating blob of energy, examining it closely.
JOHN:
So what you showed me wasn't real.
EINSTEIN:
If I had not pulled you back… wherever it was you went would have become your reality from then on.
Insert shot of the UR Chiana laying on top of John, exploring his lips with her tongue.
JOHN:
Does not compute. Are you saying that there's millions of me running around with millions of pathetic lives?
EINSTEIN:
One of you with millions of potential realities. Depending on where and when you emerge from this system…
Einstein reaches out gently, pushing against John's shoulder, turning him slightly away just as the blob of energy darts between them.
EINSTEIN:
…if you do.
They both turn to looks at the hovering blob of energy. John lifts a hand, finger pointing.
JOHN:
Time.
The blob of energy winks out.
JOHN:
Going forward's not a problem, is it? Going backward. That screws the pooch.
John follows as Einstein moves slowly to the edge of the ice floe.
EINSTEIN:
Should a traveler appear earlier in the timeline of his own existence, he would be but… as a pebble… cast upon still waters.
Einstein tosses a lump of ice into the black water.
EINSTEIN:
But the ripples he creates would, over time, radiate upon far distant shores… geometrically altering events in its path.
JOHN:
Then your Ancients gave me just enough knowledge to be dangerous.
EINSTEIN:
Without such input, the odds of anyone else actually appearing at a destination they previously occupied is so remote as to be mathmatically disharmonious.
JOHN:
Then why am I not dead already?
EINSTEIN:
I trust the one who entrusted you. But I need to understand why he bestowed this ability.
Insert shots: The Ancient reveals himself from AHR, John's mezmerized by the wormhole in TTBRC, John destroys the equations from Incubator, John's memory revealed — the Ancients implant the equations from THM.
EINSTEIN:
Are you afraid of this knowledge?
John pulls back inside himself, the answer he gives probably can't be trusted.
JOHN:
No.
He turns and walks to the opposite side of the floe, Einstein following.
EINSTEIN:
There is still time.
John crouches, takes a hunk of ice in hand and tosses it into the black water.
Cut to short trip down the wormhole.
UR — COMMAND CARRIER
Fade in to close on John, wearing the red/black PK Captain's uniform previously as previously seen in ABL. This scene is entirely new. John looks around, somewhat surprised, examining the insignia on the sleeve. Braca appears at his shoulder.
BRACA:
Shall we go, sir?
Rocked, but so good at playing the cards dealt, John inclines his head.
JOHN:
Mm.
Braca steps out of the corridor in front of him, leading the way.
BRACA:
The Scarran spy, as you commanded.
John steps into the room, the black/red motif and design of a PK command carrier all around him. Cut to close on cuffed hands, panning up a familiar red outfit, to Sikozu's familiar and slightly different face. Hair done up in Disney-pop fashion, but the scales on her temples and throat a bit harsher, her face a bit harder.
JOHN:
Release her.
BRACA:
Sir?
JOHN:
Release. Her.
John steps out, crossing the room quickly.
BRACA:
After what happened, is that—?
JOHN:
Are you questioning my orders?
Braca follows.
BRACA:
Release the spy.
A helmeted soldier steps in close, the sound of cuffs being released accompanies John's hand landing on her shoulder. The soldier moves away and John propels Sikozu gently toward the windowed wall.
JOHN:
Now watch… and learn.
They stand at the windows, looking out through to a hangar area, John and Sikozu's reflection share the space with a black prowler.
JOHN:
(softly)
Be cool and no one will get hurt.
Braca watches the pair from across the room.
SIKOZU:
What of those already hurt?
JOHN:
Someone, sometime, has to end the madness.
John's fingers trace along the edge of her collar as she turns to face him.
SIKOZU:
I will never tell you what you want to know.
JOHN:
Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. I'm just trying to keep you alive.
She raises a hand, the back of her fingers gliding gently over his cheek.
SIKOZU:
Thank you.
At the top of the stroke she drags down abruptly and harshly, fingernails tearing into skin. John grunts and folds up.
BRACA:
Guards! Stop her!
She kicks a guard away and opens fire, dropping the guard with his purloined pistol. She dashes up and onto the glass wall for a clearer field of fire, taking out another guard just to John's left.
BRACA:
Captain, stay down!
Already taking that advice he ducks down beside a control console. Sikozu misses a third guard and his return fire begins to take out the panels of glass as she runs across the surface. The guard and John seem to be working at cross purposes as they both move in the same direction, but at least the guard continues to keep his fire high and over his Captain's head. Sikozu's fire finally takes out the third guard and he falls as Braca moves in to cover the Captain, but the shot that would have taken John in the chest takes Braca down instead. Braca falls, John going down to the floor with him. He looks up, amazed, at the girl clinging to the window, he stands slowly, breath quick and shallow. Sikozu's mouth twists into a mocking smile and John nods vaguely before her eyes harden with hate.
SIKOZU:
Weak species.
She raises her pistol to fire again and his arm comes up just that much faster and blows her right off the glass with Braca's pulse pistol. She falls, the shattered glass falling around her.
Close on John, twin trails of blood on the side of his face from her scratches and nearly shaking with unspent adrenaline before slowly calming, the tip of his tongue slides out and wets dry lips before a predatory smile turns up the corners of his mouth.
Cut to trip down the wormhole and cut to John dropping to his shoulder in the ice.
NEXUS
JOHN:
(breathless)
That… that wasn't me.
John rolls onto his elbow, disoriented, he raises his hands in a defensive gesture.
JOHN:
That's not me.
Einstein is crouched beside him.
EINSTEIN:
Whatever it was, would be you, could be you. Which is why our vigilence is so high. Why the knowledge to navigate wormholes must be surpressed, and why you trouble me.
JOHN:
You want me not to have the knowledge? Take it out of my head.
John lashes out with his foot, kicks Einstein in the face. The old man grunts and falls onto his back. John stands quickly but stops suddenly, looking down at Einstein… confused and uncertain again.
JOHN:
Kind of surprised that worked. Sorry.
He holds out his hands, looking at them as he shakes his head… completely adrift.
JOHN:
This is not me either.
Loud rumbling builds and the ice floe shakes, bits of ice break off and fall around them.
John offers his arm to Einstein as the shaking fades. After a slight evaluative delay, Einstein takes hold of his arm and lets himself be pulled to his feet.
EINSTEIN:
My ability to maintain this environment is weakening.
John leans against one of the ice pillars.
JOHN:
Just take back what your Ancients put in my head.
EINSTEIN:
Impossible. Impractical and possibly imprudent. What do you desire with wormholes?
JOHN:
For starters… to go home.
Insert shot a parade of yellowed family photos: A woman with a baby; a young boy on a porch; a baseball field shot from the stands; a boy in a scouting uniform and a group shot of four which looks like a man, two older boys and a young girl; a color image of a wooded area cloaked in the gold of fall; a woman; color image of a dog black and white mixed breed; color shot, Caroline kissing John; color shot, a farm in the bg two horses in the fg; older color photo of Jack and a male? teenager.
EINSTEIN:
Your place of origin is where you can do the most damage.
Insert shot: John [black t] running into a smoke filled area, small fires behind him; close on Rygel's autopsied corpse [AHR]; John peering through the rails of a fence? [looks unaired], he mutters to himself, "Oh, God."; Jack crouched in front of a white door he appears younger than in Premiere, he shouts through the door, "John!" as he pounds on the door; Jack again [shot from the back but in the same pink shirt as in prior shot, he's in a possibly smoke filled room, falling backward.
Cut to interview style shots again.
WOMAN 3:
He's never faithful to his girlfriends.
Insert shot: A man in a black suit is thrown against a brick wall. The bricks crumble and break apart on impact and the man falls into a room on the other side. It's impossible to tell who this person might be, but the aztec style wall hanging on the brick wall is simply… hideous. It's interesting to note that the man has a gun, wears suspenders and the shirt under the suit isn't white or doesn't appear to be, looks… lavender or light blue.
CAROLINE:
Oh, he made it perfectly clear that his work was a greater prior than I was.
Insert shot: A woman screaming, she's good at it too. And there's that brick wall and wall hanging just behind her; Jack again, this time the elder as we know him, in considerable pain and falling, hand going to his chest, maybe it's Christmas time 'cause there are wrapped packages behind him.
REVEREND MILLER:
The womanizing, the drinking…
JOHN:
Yes, I got the point…
REVEREND MILLER:
…the drugs.
EINSTEIN:
The point, yes, but the risk? People you don't recognize? A world changed irrevocably by the toss of a pebble?
JOHN:
Well just shove me back down the wormhole!
EINSTEIN:
I cannot.
JOHN:
Why not? You did it for Moya and Pilot.
EINSTEIN:
Propulsion. You are the first to be brought here without vehicle.
JOHN:
So how the hell am I supposed to get off this rock?
EINSTEIN:
Through the wormhole.
JOHN:
With what propulsion? The smoke you're blowin' up my ass?
EINSTEIN:
You. Possess. The knowledge!
Insert shot: Various images of the wormhole equations from Nerve, Incubator, Self-Inflicted Wounds, Part 1, and weird, there's a shot in there of an unaired image of Dam-ba-da in the Aurora Chair magic mirror. Cool.
The ice floe shudders heavily again.
EINSTEIN:
I have little time. From the moment the Ancients implanted that knowledge, you exist to service a larger—
JOHN:
(cutting in)
No.
(beat)
That's what you want. My name is John Crichton. I'm not your pawn.
A building rumble beneath Einstein's retort.
EINSTEIN:
Then… let us proceed.
The ice floe shudders, heavier than before, a wide crack appearing beneath John's feet. Einstein falls backward and John steps back against a pillar hanging on while the ice floe tears itself in two leaving John and Einstein on separate sides.
Fade to Black.
END ACT II
ACT III
Act opens on more of the black backdrop interview style shots of John's UT friends and allies, although the tone is decidedly hostile at this point.
ZHAAN:
John Crichton?
(pissy nodding)
Arrogant.
CRAIS:
Impulsive.
ZHAAN:
Self-absorbed.
CRAIS:
Insane.
ZHAAN:
Ignorant.
STARK:
You tell me… the guy was an idiot.
[And yep, that's "You tell me…" Can't tell if that's a tongue-in-cheek erpling warp thing or if Paul blew the line 'cause there is no saying "You ask me…" down under. Only the Aussies know for sure?]
ZHAAN:
I once shared Unity with that… Uuman, and the experience still haunts me.
JOOL:
Don't go any further, that is John Crichton.
STARK:
I'm glad he's dead.
Flash cut back to the ice floe, John and Einstein sitting on separate pieces as they float a small distance apart. John's sitting just about as far away as he can manage.
JOHN:
Why don't you just grab anyone that goes wormholing and be done with it?
EINSTEIN:
Simply the effort to encounter you was massive. We… can no more function in your realm than you in ours. Which is why the Ancients were important to us.
Even in repose John looks incredibly angry, Einstein looks whipped. The effort he speaks of translates to his weary posture and the cadence of his voice. This guy is awesome!
JOHN:
So modify more of your people and send them over.
EINSTEIN:
The effort is in hand, but requires time for metamorphosis. Have you truly chosen to help prevent aggressive species from acquiring this knowledge?
Einstein expends visible effort in an attempt to get to his feet.
JOHN:
As a career?
(shakes head slowly)
No.
EINSTEIN:
We have little time, and there is much… you need exposure to.
A loud rumble precedes the ice floe trembling and heaving again.
JOHN:
What's happening?
EINSTEIN:
I must soon… reenter my realm.
JOHN:
And what happens to me?
EINSTEIN:
If you have learned enough to survive… reinsertion to the wormhole. Now, pay attention and listen. Sagaciously.
John looks around uncertainly while Einstein props himself against one of the ice pillars. [Hang onto your butts, it's Physics For Fictional Characters time… oy]
EINSTEIN:
From every point of entry… a wormhole branches into multiple paths. The subdivision continues until…
Einstein's dissertation on wormhole time/space travel continues, his words overlaid with the voices of John's Earth family and friends. Within the dissertation they assume their roles as Ancients continuing the lesson. Shots of the individuals are also interspersed over the next minute with close shots of John, trying to take it all in, and Einstein as he also speaks. Voices fade in and out, the audio overlap mesmerizing as well as evocative of the very overlap of which they speak. Man, you must see this episode if only for this minute of show. DK's mind is an… interesting place.
DK [O.S.]:
The subdivision continues until, at length you are deposited back into space-time.
EINSTEIN: :
…at last you are deposited back into space-time.
WOMAN 2:
The journey can be random, or with purpose.
EINSTEIN: :
The journey can be random, or with purpose.
TEACHER:
Destination… is the key.
DK [O.S.]:
Every portal has a distinct space-time signature.
CAROLINE [O.S.]:
The only destinations you can realize by design are those of which you have foreknowledge.
REVEREND MILLER:
…those of which you have foreknowledge.
CAROLINE [O.S.]:
The more you travel—
WOMAN 3 [O.S.]:
The more you travel, the more signatures you will catalogue.
CAROLINE [O.S.]:
Our Ancients have given you the ability to recognize these subtle differences.
WOMAN 3:
…these subtle differences.
DK [O.S.]:
Since every destination is surrounded by similar unrealized realities…
WOMAN 2:
…unrealized realities…
TEACHER:
…the closer you travel…
DK:
…the more you must maintain…
REVEREND MILLER:
…absolute engrossment.
DK [O.S.]:
…absolute engrossment.
WOMAN 3:
And never return to a…
CAROLINE:
…to a familiar place prior…
COACH:
…prior to the last…
TEACHER:
…last time you left.
REVEREND MILLER:
…the last time you left.
DK [O.S.]:
…prior to the last time you left.
CAROLINE [O.S.]:
Your next journey… may lead to a permanent…
TEACHER [O.S.]:
…to a permanent unrealized…
DK:
…unrealized reality.
REVEREND MILLER:
…reality.
John looks… stunned. Einstein, even more drained, reaches out with one hand.
EINSTEIN:
H… here.
Flash cut to close on a gray-haired, uh, human holding a blackened and flaming hotdog.
DAD:
Hotdog?
John snaps out of pause mode and cuts his glance toward Einstein, still holding out his hand.
EINSTEIN:
Hurry.
Flash cut to close on the gray-haired man, another man reflected in the mirror sunglasses, still brandishing the flaming hotdog.
DAD:
Hotdog?
Einstein, sprawled on the ice and obviously on his last legs, pleads.
EINSTEIN:
Learn. See. Feel.
John rolls to a knee and cut to quick shot of wormhole, fading in on a short pier.
UR — CONQUERED EARTH
At the end of the pier a small barbecue set up, your average Weber grill a couple of small folding tables. The gray haired gentleman tending the coals. In the fg, a black clad shoulder. The elder man turns and seeing his company flings a query, the voice is familiar [Wayne Pygram].
DAD:
Did you bring the mustard and onions?
The black clad shoulder in the left fg raises its hand and displays a bottle of mustard, and also verbally responds to the query as he moves closer.
JOHN:
Uh… yeah.
John saunters down the pier, back to camera, typical Earth dress: Black zip front jacket, blue jeans, dark blue boat shoes, probably a light colored t-shirt of some kind.
DAD:
Glad you could make it, son.
JOHN:
Well, I can't stay long.
John puts the tray of onions and the bottle of mustard on the folding table joining other condiments and a few bottles of beer. There appears to be a large metal bracelet on his left hand.
JOHN:
I gotta get back to work.
DAD:
I was hopin' we could have a talk.
Dad turns from profile to a direct close shot and it's clear that while this may be Earth, this is not a conventional 'Human'. Silver-gray hair as per normal, but the features are rather cadaverous, with hollow cheeks and a hawk-like nose. Dad brandishes a flaming hotdog with tongs.
DAD:
Hotdog?
JOHN [O.S.]:
Yeah…
John's reflection in the mirrored sunglasses moves closer, enough to get a creepy Night of the Living Dead vibe, and the camera pans right. Right close on John's human features subsumed by the same cadaverous features sported by his father. Without sunglasses we also see sunken eyes and a slightly protruding brow. The similaries to Scorpius are fairly strong.
JOHN:
…I always loved your dogs.
DAD:
Corn on the cob, too. Watermelon, all your favorites.
John takes a long drink and moves to the end of the pier.
JOHN:
So… what did you want to talk about?
DAD:
You. A talk we should have had years ago.
JOHN:
I don't think I'm still a virgin… Dad.
Dad holds up his right arm, displaying the large metal bracelet on his own wrist.
DAD:
You can't beat this. And I hate to see you waste your energy on the impossible.
JOHN:
Impossible's a daily part of my life.
Dad crosses the pier to stand close.
DAD:
You remember what we were like centuries before the Scarrans conquered us? Weak genes, disease, death. I think our health and longevity outweight some personal freedoms, don't you, son?
JOHN:
No.
DAD:
You never change. But you're young. I never told you this, but when I was young, I wanted to fly too. Space. A dream. But it wasn't to be. And it won't be for you either.
JOHN:
I can't accept this. Any of it.
DAD:
I know I'm not much of a hero to you, son, but if it means anything… I'd still like to walk on the moon.
Cut to quick trip down the wormhole to close on John and Einstein both sprawled on the ice.
NEXUS
EINSTEIN:
This place… disintegrates…
JOHN:
(panting)
Don't let me go again. You gotta… you gotta put me back in my own time, my own place. Just put me back where you found me.
Pushing up from the ice, John turns toward Einstein who moans weakly and slides further down.
CAROLINE [O.S.]:
You can do that yourself.
Looking around warily and only slightly frantic, John climbs to his feet and moves behind an ice pillar.
JOHN:
I don't… understand any of this.
CAROLINE:
There's nothing to understand. It's not a science, John.
TEACHER:
It's an art.
JOHN:
You failed me in Art. Not to mention third grade English, and I still do not understand the proper use of a comma!
TEACHER:
You did not forget the A, Johnny— you wrote a report about Mark "Twin."
JOHN:
(softly)
You can hear me.
(beat)
How do I get back to Moya?
REVEREND MILLER:
Focus on the space-time signature where you entered the wormhole. Every system is like a maze that loops back upon itself.
JOHN:
Focus. Get back to Moya.
REVEREND MILLER:
After you have left her.
JOHN:
Well, what if I screw up? What if I get there before?
DK:
You afraid, buddy?
JOHN:
Yes. No. Maybe.
DK:
If you get back to the ship before you left, the pebble that drops will be close to you. Ignore the ripples. Fix the first thing that goes ape.
JOHN:
Fix the first thing… W-w-what was that about the ripples?
TEACHER:
The elasticity of time allows for unrealized realities to remain so.
REVEREND MILLER [O.S.]:
If events are matched closely enough to course…
CAROLINE [O.S.]:
…they have a way of restructuring themselves to familiar outcomes.
Flash cut to short sequence from …Different Destinations. Energy mis-match between Stark and the View-Master opens a time-dialation portal, while over all Harvey gives John a brief lesson in the elasticity of time.
HARVEY:
If nudged closely enough to course, events have a way of restructuring themselves.
John reacts to a realization, nearly wide-eyed with shock.
JOHN:
(softly)
Harvey knew.
And again with greater certainty.
JOHN:
Harvey knew.
Cut to long and angle down on the small ice floe on the black sea.
JOHN:
Harvey knew!
Cut back to medium shot on John, surprise and anger giving way to anger and disgust.
JOHN:
Scorpius knew. How?
Behind and off his left shoulder, the energy of the pulse bolt blast winks into being. John turns on his heel to look at it briefly before looking away, demanding an answer.
JOHN:
How?!
The pulse bolt takes flight and slams into the ice pillar behind John who staggers forward at the force.
Cut to quick trip down the wormhole and fade to black.
END ACT III
ACT IV
DK:
I mean I like him, but he was, ah…
JOOL:
…insolent.
WOMAN 2:
…selfish.
DK:
…competitive.
CAROLINE:
…obsessive.
WOMAN 3:
…obnoxious.
ZHAAN:
…unbearable.
Flash cut to a particular unrealized reality. John stands in a corridor of Moya, the UR Chiana appearing behind him [Aeryn in Chiana drag].
UR — THE UNCHARTED TERRITORIES
Bizarrely, this unrealized reality version of the Uncharted Territories contains a strange amalgam of the familiar and the completely unfamiliar. In it we see not only a strangely altered Chiana, but the same phenomenon has landed on everyone else of John's aquaintance normally aboard Moya. In this reality D'Argo is "Jool"; a female Luxan/Interion hybrid, Rygel is "D'Argo"; a Hynerian/Luxan mix, Chiana is "Noranti" and comes beneath the wrinkles and third eye of a Traskan, Sikozu "Stark"; warped and manic complete with half face shield over red hair, oh yes, and Noranti is "Rygel" under a particular layer of Hynerian drag and long red robes that are to die for. You'll have to fend for yourself from here through the remainder of the Act.
CHIANA:
Hey, I think we should run.
She sidles closer, peering over his shoulder into Command.
CHIANA:
You want to run? Let's run!
D'ARGO [O.S.]:
Chiana!
CHIANA:
Should've run.
Chiana steps into Command, a couple of pulse rifles tucked under her arms. John slowly follows.
D'ARGO:
Chiana.
CHIANA:
I'm comin'!
D'ARGO:
What did you find?
CHIANA:
Just these. Barely charged.
"Chiana" puts a pulse rifle on the console beside "D'Argo" and "Stark" who has been frantically pouring over transparencies at another console pounces on John as he enters.
STARK:
They're gone!
Grabbing his arm and pushing him forward, circling him frantically as she chants, the top of her head just above his shoulder.
STARK:
My love, your love, my love, your love—our loves! Gone!
She points out the forward portal where a transport pod hurtles toward the looming shape of a command carrier.
STARK:
Suicide! Suicide, and they're gone!
D'ARGO:
They're trying to make peace with the Peacekeepers. What are you doing?
"Stark" hangs her head uncertainly. John just looks tiredly pissed.
D'ARGO:
Plot a course.
STARK:
A course. A course—yes, yes.
And she scurries off to do that. "Noranti" sweeps in behind John carrying a tray of food, nudging his arm as she circles him.
NORANTI:
You should eat something… before you die.
Insert shot: Doc Tumii checks John's head for parasites. John screams.
Shot cuts in and out to more of the interview style shots of John's "friends/allies", they don't seem to remember him too well at this point, shots are interspersed with inserts of all the ways that the guy should have died. Here we go.
ZHAAN:
John Crichton?
STARK:
(uncertainly sounding out the name)
Crichton…
Insert Shot: EVA without a suit from LATP2, and the cargo ship blows.
DK:
(shakes head with vacuous look)
Nope. Not in the space program.
CAROLINE:
Glasses? (uncertain) Accountant.
Insert shot: Body by Halosian, mind by John; the body swap from "Out of Their Minds"
WOMAN 3:
See, our famlilies were never close so I think I only saw him once.
WOMAN 2:
I could look him up in the "Who's Who".
Insert Shot: The assassination attempt from LATP1.
JOOL:
Are you sure I know him?
COACH:
Maybe he went to state?
Back on the icefloe, Einstein is looking even worse, things are falling apart as the lesson repeats the images blurred and slightly slowed.
EINSTEIN:
Every point of entry a wormhole branches into multiple paths…
DK:
The subdivision continues until at length your deposited back into space-time.
EINSTEIN:
The subdivision continues until…
WOMAN 2:
The journey can be random, or with purpose.
EINSTEIN:
…at last you're… deposited back into space-time.
TEACHER:
Destination is the key.
WOMAN 3:
Destination is the key.
CAROLINE:
Destination is the key.
DK [O.S.]:
Destination is the key.
Flash cut back to UR Moya, "Noranti" still lurking by John's shoulder, "D'Argo" barking orders.
D'ARGO:
Pilot, I demand you give me Starburst now!
CHIANA:
Starburst? Zhaan and Aeryn are out there under a flag of truce.
Insert Shot: A glimpse of the "real" Aeryn from Mind The Baby, Aeryn giving the bad news to Crais.
AERYN:
D'Argo's regained conciousness. He and Crichton are eager to leave.
Insert Shot: And a look at the "real" Zhaan from Out of Their Minds, aboard the Halosian vessel.
ZHAAN:
Don't! Don't! They're peaceful! Please.
STARK:
No! Cannot leave. My lady, my love, my life!
RYGEL:
Transport pod's loaded with supplies, but there are marauders waiting to shoot us down, we can't escape!
JOOL:
(annoyed)
We're trapped?
RYGEL:
That's what "we can't escape" means. Go help Stark hyperventilate.
NORANTI:
Well, if you'd just let me negotiate.
Insert Shot: The "real" Noranti from Lava's A Many Splendored Thing: Noranti, "We mean you no harm."
D'ARGO:
No!
NORANTI:
Hm. Well, I cou- I could bake something.
Insert Shot: Chiana vomits one of Noranti's concoctions, from Lava's A Many Splendored thing, cut away just before John gets to join in.
Cut to close on John on the ice floe and then more of the Ancients repeating the lesson:
DK [O.S.]:
Since every destination is surrounded by similar…
WOMAN 2:
…unrealized realities…
COACH:
…the closer you travel…
WOMAN 2 [O.S.]:
…the closer you travel…
DK:
…the more you must maintain obsolute…
WOMAN 3:
…the closer you travel, the more you must maintain…
CAROLINE:
…the more you must maintain absolute engrossment.
WOMAN 3 [O.S.]:
…absolute engrossment.
Flash cut back to UR Moya where chaos reigns and D'Argo/Rygel blusters orders, Stark/Sikozu skitters about like a bug on a hot skillet and Jool/D'Argo stands, hip-shot and annoyed.
D'ARGO:
Pilot, where are you, you four-armed tralk!
PILOT:
Right now Moya couldn't Starburst the length of your stubby little arm!
D'ARGO:
This stubby little arm is—
PILOT:
Is short, as is our ability to maneuver, accelerate, or defend ourselves!
CHIANA:
Why doesn't anything work?!
PILOT:
Because, slutty tralk, of all the half-frelled modification for his wormhole experiments…
The Ancients continue the repeat on the lesson over Pilot's continued rant.
CAROLINE [O.S.]:
…and never return to a familiar place…
DK:
…prior to the last…
WOMAN 3:
…prior to the last time you left.
WOMAN 2:
…prior to the last time…
COACH:
(slowing)
…prior to the last time you left.
CAROLINE:
…prior to the last time you left.
Cut back to the UR Moya, close on Chi as she turns to shoot an accusing look at John.
COACH [O.S.]:
…prior to the last time you left.
Camera wobbles slightly, showing us a nice shot of Jool looming expectantly over John's shoulder, then pans quickly right to Stark, one eye gleaming with anticipation. Cut to close on John as he turns slowly to give Jool a side-long look.
JOOL:
Now just why won't you help us, Crichton?
Insert shots: other half-frelled moments. Talyn fires on Momma, from Mind The Baby; The plan doesn't work out too well and things go badly in Command, from Self-Inflicted Wounds, Part 1. Cut back to John's woebegone expression.
JOHN:
Because like everybody else here… I don't wanna be here anymore.
Insert shots of more half-frelled moments: Close on Talyn's big 'ol cannon firing, Chi and Jool ducking another blast in Command; Chi cuffed on the floor in Command as Pilot fakes it, from A Clockwork Nebari; more of Jool and Chi ducking a fireball in Command; Jool and Chi on the floor in Command amidst debris, hands over heads. Flash cut back to UR Moya.
Chiana grabs John's elbow and drags him bodily toward a control console.
CHIANA:
You have to fix what you've done!
JOHN:
But…
'Noranti' grabs his other arm and pulls him away. The two girls face off.
NORANTI:
Fix it? Can't you see he's distracted?
CHIANA:
No.
NORANTI:
Scat. Go on.
'Chi'… twitches, 'Noranti' sidles up to John dangling a large pouch. John eyes her warily, circling around and away.
NORANTI:
This… this will free you… from any throughts of your betrothed.
Insert shots: Noranti doing her dust blowing act from Dog With Two Bones and quick overlapping shots of Aeryn including at least one unaired.
JOHN:
No, no, no. Honestly, she-she's not on my mind anymore, Grandma.
NORANTI:
So big, so beautiful…
Insert unaired shot of that beautiful J/A kiss.
NORANTI:
…so blue.
Insert unaired shot of beautiful Z/J kiss.
STARK:
Aeryn!
Stark bolts across Command toward the forward portal while John gives Noranti a completely clueless look.
JOHN:
Blue?
STARK:
Come back to me!
Insert shot: Stark looms over Aeryn with unconscious Pilot behind them from SIW2. Creepy moment as Stark virtually sneers: "You're very pretty."
'Noranti' moves in for the kill, but John blows her dust back in her face, a nice evasion.
NORANTI:
Oh!
D'ARGO:
Fix it!
'Jool' grabs John by the shoulder and propels him toward the control console, a pulse pistol quickly pressed to his jaw.
JOOL:
Yes, fix it! You really should have picked me… over Zhaan.
JOHN:
Absolutely, next time, when I'm gonna move house.
PILOT:
The dren gets worse, morons!
JOHN:
(muttering)
All right, Einstein, anytime now.
Cut to ext. space shot, cgi of command carrier big 'ol frag cannons rolling into target.
Cut back to Command, Chi waxing eloquently on poetic justice.
CHIANA:
We haven't done anything
JOHN:
(muttering)
Einstein…
JOOL:
Fix Starburst, miscreant species!
She slams his head against the control console—nice rebound.
Cut to frag cannons firing.
Cut to long on Command as the direct energy of the cannons washes against the forward portal, cue mass chaos. Close on frag cannons firing again. On Command 'Jool' screams! trigging a cascade of insert shots of similar occurrances… Jool's first with John and Rygel reacting, Stark screams as he realises he can't make it to Command before Zhaan sacrifices herself, D'Argo and Chiana both scream 'No!' when they realize her plan. 'Jool' continues screaming on Command, Aeryn and Zhaan give Jool the glare of death re: the serpent scream, Chiana claps her hand over the screamers mouth, Zhaan gives good advice: "Shut up!".
Back on UR Moya Command, 'Rygel' cuts the screamer off with two fists to the gut. 'Jool' goes down.
RYGEL:
Crais, you yotz-fot bastard, we had a deal!
Blood trickling festively down his face, John attempts to get back on his feet.
D'ARGO:
A deal! You tried to sell us out!
RYGEL:
You bet your fekkik, tenka-head!
'Rygel' slugs 'D'Argo' and makes a break for it.
RYGEL:
It's every Hynerian for himself!
And he skuttles off Command.
PILOT:
We're being blasted apart!
Another blast kills the clamshell image, Pilot screams before his image disappears.
Cut to close on black uniforms of PK soldiers marching, complete with sound of rhythmic booted feet [appears to be stock footage from The Way We Weren't].
SOLDIER:
(over suit comm)
This way, weapons primed.
PILOT:
(in the den)
The Peacekeepers have boarded!
Command continues to tremble and shake, various small explosions throughout. John's still sitting on the ground looking a bit stunned. 'Chi' flinches at a nearby explosion. Cut to 'Noranti' just as 'Rygel' skitters out into the corridor.
NORANTI:
Oh, if company's coming, I can make some skrinberry muffins.
And 'Noranti' skuttles out as well.
Cut to 'Chi' as 'Noranti' makes her exit, she does a passable imitation of Chi's warwhoop, hoisting a pulse rifle in her arms.
CHIANA:
Let's go and kill Peacekeepers!
She turns to dart out of Command after 'Noranti', John's just now managing to drag himself to his feet.
D'ARGO:
Chiana! Remain at your post!
'Chi' turns to whine at 'D'Argo'.
CHIANA:
No!
She turns again to head into the corridor.
D'ARGO:
Starburst, rig for manual activation.
JOHN:
(groggy)
I got it.
An explosion in the corridor deters 'Chiana's departure, and she runs back inside.
CHIANA:
Well… that's it. That's it, I quit!
She puts her pulse rifle down on the table.
D'ARGO:
Stay at your post, Chiana!
CHIANA:
You know, you suck worse as a captain than you did in bed.
'D'Argo' tongues her and with a final 'twitch' she collapses.
JOHN:
That was helpful.
D'ARGO:
Can you fix Starburst.
JOHN:
I don't think so. What about your ship?
D'ARGO:
My ship?
JOHN:
Lo'la
Insert shot of Lo'la, gettin' ready for the big kill: Dog With Two Bones.
D'ARGO:
Lo'la was my wife.
'D'Argo' brandishes a teeny version of a Qualta Blade.
D'ARGO:
Are you mocking me on death's threshold?
John plucks what should be Chiana's fancy ray gun off the console and points it temporarily at 'Big D'.
JOHN:
Never, Little Big Man, never.
JOOL:
Um. Excuse me, but she is having some sort of fit. She's dying!
On the floor, 'Chi' is having very dramatic convulsions.
D'ARGO:
It happens when I'm stressed.
JOHN:
Stark!
John wraps his hands around a babbling 'Stark' and drags him over to 'Chi'.
JOHN:
Pull yourself together. Send her to a better place.
'Jool' pastes 'herself' to John's back, clinging to him in a general panic.
JOOL:
Oh, please. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna go down like that.
'Stark' kneels over 'Chi' while John tries to peel himself off of 'Jool'.
JOHN:
Heal her pain.
D'ARGO:
(brandishing sword)
You want a fight, you got a fight.
'Stark' peels the mask back and golden rays wash over 'Chi's face while she convulses on the floor.
D'ARGO:
Do your worst, but I will never be taken prisoner again!
'D'Argo' screams as another explosion goes off practically in his face, and cut to the soldiers marching in the corridor, complete with dramatic music.
Back in Command, 'Jool' notices something on the palm of her pristinely white hand.
JOOL:
(screams)
Aah! I am bleeding! Will you look at me?! I am bleeding, I am…
John cuts 'her' off with a backhand to the face.
JOHN:
Calm down.
'Rygel' runs back in, broadcasting additional panic.
RYGEL:
They're on board! We give them what they want! Anything they want!
Cut to soldiers marching.
CRAIS:
(over suit comm)
Take no prisoners.
On Command, 'Stark' rises and starts babbling more or less coherently.
STARK:
Dead cannot die! Corporeal illusion. Return. Replenish. You. You shoot me! Shoot now!
John turns, already pointing the pulse pistol at 'Stark'.
JOHN:
Comin' back, Stark?
STARK:
Always.
JOOL:
No, no, no, no, no.
John turns the weapon on 'Jool' to keep her back.
JOOL:
What are you doing?
JOHN:
Giving her a second chance.
John turns the weapon back toward 'Stark' who has begun to chant, the chant cut off by something drawing her attention.
Cut to the soldiers marching.
CRAIS:
(over suit comm)
Execute on sight.
SOLDIER:
Yes, sir!
On Command, 'Stark' gives a desperate order.
STARK:
Shoot now!
Cut to John firing, 'Stark' shouts in pain and drops to the floor. Cut to the open Command doors as the phlanx of PK soldiers enter; John turns, weapon in hand to cover the doorway, but 'Jool' is between he and Crais as the latter enters. Jool yelps, then turns, screaming as 'she' sees John's weapon, attempts to run and is gunned down by one of the PK soldiers.
John holds his fire even as nothing remains between he and Crais, both holding weapons on each other. The armed soldiers on either side of Crais may also have something to do with the continued standoff as time stretches.
Insert shot from Premiere, Crais turning a look of utter hatred on John Crichton and accusing, "My brother's murderer."
John still holds his fire.
Insert shot from Nerve, Crais standing over an imprisoned John Crichton, his satisfaction nearly complete. "You are dead, Crichton."
On Command, Rygel attempts one last alliance.
RYGEL:
Captain Crais, I am Dominar Rygel the Sixteenth, I trust our deal will be hon—
Crais adjusts his aim slightly and shoots 'Rygel' who groans in pain and drops. No one remains alive on Command save John, Crais and the soldiers. The standoff continues as the voices of the Ancients echo in John's head…
EINSTEIN [O.S.]:
(echoing)
What you experienced was real…
DK [O.S.]:
(echoing)
You afraid buddy…?
EINSTEIN [O.S.]:
(echoing)
…wherever it was you went would have become your reality from then on.
John lowers his weapon slowly. Not lowering his, Crais begins to advance across Command as the voices continue to echo.
EINSTEIN [O.S.]:
(echoing)
Are you afraid of this knowledge?
Crais moves near enough that the muzzle of his pulse pistol is mere inches from John's forehead. John closes his eyes and leans into it.
The moment stretches and then Crais, flinging his arms wide, embraces John.
CRAIS:
Well done, comrade.
Chin on Crais's shoulder, John's eyes slide open and he rocks slightly as Crais enthusiastically whaps him on the back, pulling away, but still holding him by the upper arms, Crais continues to congratulate him.
CRAIS:
Well done.
John's wearily stunned look gives way to wary trepedation as the Ancients voices chime in.
DK [O.S.]:
Your next journey… may lead… to a permanent…
COACH:
…to a permanent…
WOMAN 3:
…to a permanent…
WOMAN 2:
…to a permanent…
CAROLINE:
…to a permanent unrealized reality.
Cut back to John's 'ah hell, not this' expression and then quick cut to a trip down the wormhole.
NEXUS
Einstein is leaned back against one of the pillars on the ice floe, looking not really good, very weak, drained.
EINSTEIN:
I almost… could not retrieve you.
John is also weary and resigned, his responses lack any definite energy.
JOHN:
Yeah, I noticed. We're runnin' out of real estate.
EINSTEIN:
This construct disintegrates. Next time… your reality… forever.
A long shot of the ice floe indicates this disintegration. John and Einstein now share a farely small bit of territory, but still sit as far away from each other as possible.
JOHN:
No next time. Leave me.
EINSTEIN:
To die? Why?
JOHN:
Too risky. All of it. Best to leave me.
EINSTEIN:
(sitting up)
Are you suddenly becoming afraid?
John's brief laugh is short and dry, a mere exhalation.
JOHN:
Yes. Of the damage I can do, yes.
EINSTEIN:
Fear… fear is the correct answer.
Intercut a few shots of travel down a wormhole, the perfect five-by-five shots where travel is nearly silent and turbulence free; with shots of John's dour expression as the camera moves to closeup on him and fade to black.
END ACT IV
TAG
NEXUS
Close on John, EVA suit helmet back in place, fear seeping from every pore. He sighs, flips the faceplate up.
JOHN:
Can't do it.
EINSTEIN:
You'd rather die?
JOHN:
Not particularly, but I liked my childhood and I don't wanna scramble the eggs.
EINSTEIN:
Should aggressive species puncture the wormhole, the consequences for both our realms would be unimaginable.
Inescapable fact, he closes his eyes, taking a couple of deep, shaky breaths.
JOHN:
Ah, screw it.
Slams the faceplate back in place, anger to cover the fear.
JOHN:
But I am not Kirk, Spock, Luke, Buck, Flash, or Arthur frelling Dent. I am Dorothy Gayle from Kansas, and you are going to hire more Ancients.
EINSTEIN:
Then simply permit yourself to perish prior to reaching a destination.
Eyes closed, John permits himself a bit of jaw clenching in response to that, then starts concentrating.
JOHN:
(softly)
Moya… after…
EINSTEIN:
Her space-time signature will be familiar. Powerful.
JOHN:
Moya.
(beat)
Home…
EINSTEIN:
Fear is your providence.
JOHN:
Feel The Force.
EINSTEIN:
Adjust. Maintain focus.
JOHN:
Focus.
EINSTEIN:
Harmony.
JOHN:
When this is over… you're gonna take this crap outta my head.
EINSTEIN:
Someday.
JOHN:
Moya…
EINSTEIN:
Should you survive.
JOHN:
…after…
EINSTEIN:
Do you now… know what it is?
Cut to long and the building crescendo of music cuts out as we see John standing on the surface of the black sea, no sign of Einstein or the ice floe. [and I don't know why but this gives me Space Odyssey vibes like you would not believe- the entire ep, really]. A long beat of time as the moment stretches out.
Cut to close on John, eyes still closed. He inhales slowly as his eyes open, another bit of silence passes and.
JOHN:
Time.
A loud rumbling precedes a flash of white/blue across his helmet. Looking down he sees a wormhole formed at his feet. Another moment as he seems to prepare himself and then his body shoots down into the wormhole. Cut to a broad flash of light as the wormhole winks out, collapsing into itself.
Cut to close on John, eyes closed, apparently not breathing because when he opens his mouth it's to take in a harsh breath.
JOHN:
D'Argo
Eyes flutter open.
JOHN:
Pilot?
Immediately his eyes lock on something, he stops hailing, and blinks instead as though to affirm his sight.
Cut to long across space from behind John, a small moon is in the near distance. Maneuvering himself about, John turns, and we are close on John for a moment, no time to react except in that stomach flipping over way.
Cut to long across space from over John's shoulder and this time a blue and green planet is below him, and yes, that is the North American continent, John. His hand reaches out toward it.
Cut to close on John as a beautiful smile breaks out, fading slightly after a moment, and completely after a moment more.
JOHN:
Whoops.
Cut to long across space, John EVA without an V, again. This time Earth below him, the sun peeking out on the horizon. Long beat as the music swells and...
TO BE CONTINUED
FADE TO BLACK
ROLL CLOSING CREDITS
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