PREVIOUSLY, ON BATTLESTAR GALACTICA…
Tory: You think Cally killed herself because of you, don’t you?
Tyrol: She thought we were having an affair.
Tory: …We weren’t.
Tyrol: No, that’s right. I’m not a cheater. I’m a Cylon.
(1) INT. GALACTICA – TYROL’S QUARTERS
***** TYROL IS IN THIS SCENE. NO DIALOGUE *****
[Tyrol jumps rope; his hair is shaved]
Baltar: (on wireless) “Now on my own journey I’ve been wronged, persecuted. I prayed to the Gods on my knees, begging them for mercy. Tortured. I received nothing in resp…”
[Tyrol turns off the wireless; Nicky begins crying and he turns it on again, calming him]
Baltar: (on wireless) “…I could’ve lived in that abyss of bitterness, but that will destroy you like nothing else. But I chose to forgive. And most importantly, I began with myself.”
(2) INT. GALACTICA – LAUNCH TUBE
[Tory joins Tyrol in the launch tube]
Tory: It may never make any sense. Hangar deck crew tells me you’ve been obsessing over this place. Going over the logs. Replaying the accident again and again.
Tyrol: “Accident.”
Tory: What is it?
Tyrol: I spoke to Cottle. Cally was on moxopan and cosapine. Antidepressants. How does she go from antidepressants to suicide?
Tory: Well, she was… emotionally disturbed.
Tyrol: She would’ve left me. She never would’ve left Nicky behind.
Tory: So… what do you think then? Someone killed her? Galen, you have to let it go.
Tyrol: No, I gotta figure out what happened.
Tory: What if she knew?
Tyrol: How would she have known?
Tory: (righteous) Maybe she sensed it. I mean, she was your wife. You’ve been … different since the Nebula. Maybe she was afraid of you. Maybe it was God’s will. We don’t know why these things happen, but God does. And he has plan for us. For whatever reason, her death, our awakening… You gotta trust that it’s all for the best.
Tyrol: Why are you here?
Tory: Because we are in this together. And I am here for you, Galen. I know exactly where you are right now. I have been there. Until Gaius helped me realize that what… Whatever has gone before, whatever I have done, it doesn’t matter. We can still change.
Tyrol: You spend way too much time with Baltar.
(3) INT. GALACTICA – HALLWAY
***** TYROL IS IN THIS SCENE. NO DIALOGUE *****
[Tyrol, working as a grunt, overhears Tracey and Paulla, carrying food]
Tracey: Think we have enough?
Paulla: It doesn’t matter, they’re not coming to be fed. They’re coming to hear Dr. Baltar’s word, and learn from it, just like we did.
[Tyrol decides to attend]
(4) CULT HQ
[Baltar broadcasts his sermon; Tyrol approaches]
Baltar: (broadcasting as Tyrol watches) “The past is written. Impossible to change. Why are so many of us living in the past? Living with the shame of what we have done. When we could live in awe of what we might do. What we might do. What will we do? Spiral endlessly through the heavens until humanity itself comes to a close? Or do we look inward… and find that strength within?”
Tigh: (behind Tyrol) Can you believe these people are actually buying into Baltar’s crap? We need to talk.
Tyrol: I don’t have anything to say to you.
Tigh: Well, then you can listen. Come with me.
Baltar: “Unity…life…love…”
Tigh: I’ve been cutting you some slack because of Cally, but that’s over. You gotta pull yourself together. Now.
Tyrol: Suck it up. Just like you, huh?
Tigh: Now what is that supposed to mean?
Tyrol: I hear you’ve been spending some time in the lockup with the Six. Remember when this all started? You said nothing would change you from the man you want to be. Well, how about it, Colonel? You still the same old Saul Tigh?
Tigh: Anything I’ve done, I can live with.
Tyrol: Well, that’s the difference between you and me. I can’t. Tory’s got in her head that we can be the salvation of the human race. All I know is if there is a God, He’s laughing His ass off.
(5) CULT HQ
[Tyrol approaches the stage as people mutter; Baltar finally takes the stage to chattering, applause]
Baltar: Please. Please don’t clap. What are you all doing here?
[Tyrol hangs back as they chuckle]
Baltar: The reason that we are all here is because the old ways have failed us. It doesn’t matter if you’re a believer or a nonbeliever. It certainly makes no difference to me, you are all welcome.
[Tyrol turns to leave]
Baltar:Tyrol: (finally turning and speaking over the crowd as he comes near) Cally wasn’t like me. She forgave you for New Caprica. Even read your bogus Manifesto. But not me. You may have your sheep fooled, they may be buying into your message of forgiveness, but let me tell you. There are some sins that even your imaginary God can never forgive.
Baltar: (face-to-face with him) I have not been talking about an imaginary God. I am asking you to take my hand. Take my hand, Mr. Tyrol. For Cally. …It’s what she would’ve wanted.
[Tyrol looks at the hand and then chokes Gaius, relentlessly, as the followers try to pry him off]
Baltar: Leave him! Leave him!
Tyrol: (leaving) You didn’t know her!
(6) INT. GALACTICA – TYROL’S QUARTERS / CORRIDOR OUTSIDE
***** TYROL IS IN THIS SCENE. NO DIALOGUE *****
[Tyrol rips his quarters apart, and finally pulls out a gun from a hidden cabinet, screaming. On the floor is a picture of Cally and Nicky; he stares]
(7) INT. GALACTICA – TYROL’S QUARTERS / CORRIDOR OUTSIDE
***** TYROL IS IN THIS SCENE. NO DIALOGUE *****
[Tyrol looks at a photo of him and Cally from New Caprica]
Jeanne: (outside) Gaius, I just don’t understand what you’re trying to accomplish. I mean, this man is psychotic.
Baltar: My message is for everyone, especially for the ones who don’t want to listen.
Paulla: I just don’t think it’s safe.
Baltar: (knocking on hatch and finally letting himself in) Five minutes, that’s all. Mr. Tyrol.
Jeanne: Gaius, I really don’t think–
Baltar: (dismissing her) There’s nothing to be afraid of.
[Tyrol lies on the bed, considering Gaius without moving or blinking]
Baltar: Look, uh, Chief. I’m … I’m here to ask for your forgiveness. About my presumption earlier. You were right, you know. I hardly knew your wife. I’m sorry. Would you mind if I… just, um… I know it’s hard to… make sense of things sometimes. In my own life, I… In my own life, I joined the Fleet as a scientist, as a skeptic, as supposedly a man of reason. Only to have fate turn that all on its head. But I understand now that there is a purpose to it. We change. We evolve. Maybe we even learn something along the way. I have committed… unconscionable crimes. And I have been offered one last chance at redemption. Because I chose to accept my fate, not fight it anymore. I’m so sorry for your loss, Chief. She was a very beautiful woman, your wife. I’m also told quite spiritual. You know, I don’t expect you to believe me, but… I would very much like to have known her better.
[Gaius looks at him a while, and turns to go; Tyrol wordlessly holds out his hand from the bed and Gaius clasps it]
Baltar: (voice shaking) … Thank you.
Transcript: Sci Fi SadGeezers