Battlestar Galactica (1980) s01e01 Episode Script

ADAMA: The great ship Galactica.
Majestic and loving, strong and protecting Our home for these many years we've endured the wilderness of space And now we near the end of our journey Scouts and electronic surveillance confirm that we have reached our haven, that planet which is home to our ancestor brothers Too many of our sons and daughters did not survive to share the fulfillment of our dream We can only take comfort and find strength in that they did not die in vain We have at last found Earth.
You wish to see me, Dr.
Zee.
DR.
ZEE: The transmissions continue to disturb me.
Our tenacious pursuit of Earth has been founded on her ability to help us defeat our enemies.
I now believe we have visible proof that the Earth is not scientifically advanced enough to help us.
We cannot land.
Dr.
Zee.
How can I tell my people that That we cannot end our journey? All those who survived, all those who were born in space as you were.
We are here.
We are within reach of Earth.
So are our enemies.
Our enemies? We haven't seen the forces of the Cylon Alliance in a billion star miles.
Because they haven't wanted us to know they were there.
What are you saying? That they simply let us lead them to the last remaining humans in the universe, the people on Earth, in order to destroy them.
No.
What have I done? I led them here.
ADAMA: Dr Zee had been born to us in deep space A prodigy A cerebral mutation far in advance of our own intelligence His wisdom had delivered us from our enemies countless times in the past Now, he wished an assembly of our senior warriors and counsel We would gather at once We made it.
Hi.
We made it.
Easy, easy, kids.
You're gonna singe those circuits.
Troy, I got a message for us to report to the Galactica I'm almost finished.
Just putting away some personal effects.
It's true, then, about us landing on Earth? I don't know.
Why did they ever call you Boxey? It's just a name that my mother and father always called me.
I understand I was quite a little terror when I was younger.
You're not considered any pushover now.
I guess your father was about the best warrior our people ever had.
Yes.
TROY: They were good people.
The best.
ADAMA: The planet Earth is the third outermost planet of nine planets orbiting a single sun.
Its proximity to the sun provides the only climate in the galaxy comfortably able to support life as we know it.
Seven-tenths of the Earth's surface is covered with water.
(ALL MURMURING) However, there's plenty of room for all our people.
The land masses are divided into seven principle continents, twenty percent of which are unpopulated deserts.
Two contain polar ice fields.
Now, all of these areas could easily be reclaimed by our technology.
But there is disquieting news.
Dr.
Zee.
Thank you, Commander.
This is one of the seven continents on the planet Earth.
It is known as North America.
This is a population center in the western sector of that continent known as Los Angeles.
What's that odd-looking brown haze hanging over the city? Must be some sort of defense shield.
DR.
ZEE: It is now early in what Earth time is recorded as the late twentieth century.
You are seeing long-range scans of a city of 7 million people going blithely about their business.
These are vehicles called automobiles, their primary means of transportation, utilizing a primitive power mode known as the internal combustion engine, which burns a fuel called gasoline, derived from petrochemicals, the decomposed matter of things that lived millions of Earths' years ago.
Those automobiles sure don't move very fast.
No, but it's a nice, neat formation.
It must require a lot of practice and discipline.
If you will all watch closely, what you are about to see will alarm you.
However, remain calm, for it is intended to inform you.
(PEOPLE SCREAMING) No, what you have just seen has not happened yet.
It was merely a computer simulation of what could happen if we were to go ahead with our proposed landing on Earth.
It is Dr.
Zee's contention that Earth is not yet capable of defending herself against her enemies.
If we land, we will bring destruction upon Earth as surely as if we had inflicted it ourselves.
Commander Adama.
Dr.
Zee.
If we cannot go back because of a new Cylon force behind us, then we cannot go forward.
What do we do? Simply give up? We need time to bring Earth to a level of technology that can help us.
And where do we get this time, if we've brought the Cylons to Earth's door? We veer the fleet away from Earth before the Cylons realize she was our goal.
And how does that bring Earth into our own century of development? I propose that in any case we could only bring her along, slowly, unobtrusively.
After we have decided who we can trust on Earth to help us, rather than annihilate us.
Annihilate us? The visual signals from Earth show quite clearly that she is a warring planet, whose warring factions could be as dangerous as those of the enemy behind us.
Then how do you propose that we enlist Earth's help? We will send down teams who will work without revealing themselves to Earth's general population.
I suggest we approach Earth's scientific community as a beginning.
Key men who are in a position to accept us and our knowledge, independent of politics, who truly desire peace, and will use our technology wisely.
Boxey, the cold, hard truth is that there is no central government on Earth.
There is no single leader with whom we can make contact or negotiate.
Well, that's impossible.
Then how do they get together for their common good? They don't, as far as we can tell.
Oh.
Exactly the way I feel.
But we can take heart in the fact that we could have found a completely totalitarian government on Earth.
As it is, we know that there are pockets, large pockets of freedom.
And they are the ones we must seek out.
Well, how do we keep the wrong people on Earth from knowing we're there? Well, as usual, Dr.
Zee has come up with some interesting new devices, which I guarantee will confound our Earth brothers.
How can you be so sure? They confound me.
We have endeavored to equip you and your languatron translators with as many of Earth's terminology and customs as we could perceive by monitoring their broadcasts.
However, there will be gaps in your knowledge which may expose you to danger.
To help you, I place in your keeping my latest innovation.
As you all know, each color and sound has its own frequency.
Some of which are too high to be perceived by the human eye or ear.
By generating a nuclear field, in a frequency above the normal perception of Earth's conventional electronic equipment, or even the human eye, we can render equipment and personnel virtually invisible.
Watch closely.
No, the ship is not gone.
(CLATTERING) It is merely encompassed in a color field beyond the frequency of the human eye.
Unfortunately, the energy necessary to create such an aura around a large fighter ship, or even the human form, is too great to sustain for any great period of time.
It should only be used in life or death situations.
Life or death situations from people we've come to help.
Each of your teams has been programmed to take you to scattered areas on Earth.
Your entry patterns will bring you into Earth's atmosphere in unpopulated zones.
And your navigational computrons will guide you over the safest possible routes toward population centers.
Ultimately, you will encounter people on Earth.
You have been briefed on how to conduct yourselves.
May God go with you.
At last, what we've all fought halfway across the universe to accomplish It's hard to believe This place we drew for our landing sounds exciting The United States of America DILLON: You know, I kind of like the sound of that place that Kip got The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics I always liked unions It's not often you get the entire population of a continent's women to choose from I think we're going to have one fine time Maybe not What is it? I don't know, some type of primitive scanning device They've been tracking us since we entered their atmosphere Sir.
Interceptor squadron out of Albuquerque has two unidentified flying objects on radar contact.
Any chance they're non-military? Flying supersonic down on the deck? Give me the President.
Troy, there's something coming up at us and it's very fast I've got them on my scanner Let's try to lose them without using the boosters This fuel we're carrying has to last us a long time Sir.
They have definitely violated our airspace.
Mr.
President, whoever, whatever it is, has entered our airspace.
We have to assume they're hostile.
Yes, sir.
Bring them down.
Closing to fire-range, Skipper First attempt radio contact If they were here to talk, they wouldn't be running on the deck I know Lock on targets TRO Y: It isn't working You're telling me Do we go to turbo thrusters? Attention alien aircraft You are violating United States airspace Do you read? Troy? TRO Y: Go to turbos You don't have to say it twice Skipper, they're pulling away PILO T 2: Impossible The Russians don't have anything that fast PILO T 1: They're going to be out of range PILO T 2: Fire when ready Troy, they're firing on us! This is it, Dillon Roll off and hit your force shield Skipper, they just disappeared off my radar screen Those missiles were locked on target They can't miss PILO T 1: But there is no target How can they lock on target if it isn't there? I don't know Begin a sweep of the area Troy, that's as close as I ever want to come Those guys are good Yeah, a little too good I think we'd better get down on the ground TROY: Hope these things look like the vehicles we saw in the Earth transmissions.
Well, here goes nothing.
I just hope no one comes running across that field and bumps into that thing.
They sure would get a surprise.
Well, next stop Dr.
Mortinson, at a place called the Pacific Institute of Technology.
You know, even though Dr.
Zee has designed these to look as much like Earth machines as possible, I think it's safest if we stay off the main arteries of traffic.
Right.
That sign says we're headed in the right direction.
Hey, Troy, you notice everybody staring at us back there? I think it's the clothes that's giving them a problem.
We'd better get off and change into those things that they designed for us off the entertainments we viewed from Earth.
Hey, Willie, get a load of them bikes.
What is it? That's what I mean, man, I don't know.
Let's find out.
All right, man, let's go.
Checking them out.
What are they? That's what I mean, man, I don't know.
Hey! You turkeys pull off.
We want to talk to you.
You must have us confused with somebody else.
My name is not Turkey, and neither is his.
Pull over, wise guys, or we'll run you over, got it? He seems very insistent.
We can't afford to let them get too good a look at these machines.
We're gonna have to risk showing them a little more than I'd hoped to.
Ready? Ready.
This is where we get off.
Yeah? This ain't no off-ramp, dude.
DILLON: Surprise! (BIKERS EXCLAIMING) BIKER: Come here, where are you going? Do you see that? Hey, see that? I see it! Looks like some kind of vehicle center over there.
Maybe we can find some transportation that will get us further into the city.
And leave these alone out here? Let's just not forget where this place is.
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO) Got a call from an old friend We used to be real close Said he couldn't go on the American way Closed the shop sold the house Bought a ticket to the Fill it up, please.
Yup, phone.
It's what they use to communicate with each other.
How do you do? I'd like to communicate with the Pacific Institute of Technology, please.
What's happening? What do you mean, what's happening? Nothing is happening.
You can see that.
Speak up.
Maybe it's a pretty primitive piece of equipment.
(SHOUTING) How do you do? I'd like to communicate with the Pacific Institute of Technology.
Hello.
Hello, uh, are you two using the phone? Yes.
No.
(STAMMERING) Well, what I mean is we're finished.
You can use it if you like.
If you're sure you're through.
Yes, well, we have quite a lot of communicating to do.
We can wait.
Well, I really am in kind of a hurry.
Thank you.
Yes, I'd like to call the United Broadcasting Company.
Thirty-five cents? Yes, just a minute.
Oh, wait.
Do either of you have change for a dollar? No, I'm sorry.
We just used our last denomination of currency ourselves.
I'll have to call you back, Operator, thank you.
I'm gonna get change.
You need some? We'll be fine.
Credit card, huh? I wish I had one.
The most important interview of my life, and I'm going to be late.
This is hopeless.
We can't get any currency until we find Dr.
Mortinson.
And we can't find Dr.
Mortinson till we get some currency.
Well, she said something about a card.
Now, it's just possible that a sensor could read whatever code these things work on.
It's worth a try.
Do you mind explaining what you're doing? (STAMMERING) Picking up our currency.
Did you just rifle that coin box? No, it just started throwing these things out.
I think it's malfunctioning.
I'll bet it's malfunctioning.
You put the money back in the box.
No, hand it to me.
Now, take a hike or I'll turn you in to the service attendant.
There's no need to get hostile.
He's right.
I mean, we're strangers here.
We don't mean anybody any harm.
Just take a hike.
I've got a call to make.
What do we do? We had the money right in the palm of our hands.
Yes.
This is Jamie Hamilton.
From KENO, Reno.
I'm the newsgirl Lady Person.
I'm sorry, Miss Hamilton.
Mr.
Brooks is upstairs in a meeting.
No, I'm sure that'll be all right.
His schedule is pretty open.
Get here as soon as you can.
Okay.
I thought I told you two to get lost.
Look.
We had nothing to do with what happened to that phone.
As a matter of fact, we're late for an appointment ourselves.
Is there any chance that you're going near the Pacific Institute of Technology? That's where you two are going? Yeah.
We're going to see Dr.
Mortinson.
The Dr.
Mortinson? Yes.
We had difficulty with our transportation.
Well, maybe I did jump to conclusions.
But you have to admit, it did look a little odd.
Yes, very strange.
Look, maybe I can give you a lift.
Oh, does your machine fly, too? Come on.
(PEOPLE PROTESTING) You're sure you want to get out? Looks nasty.
What's going on? Anti-nukes.
Your Dr.
Mortinson has innovated a whole new type of nuclear power plant.
These people are upset because there have been so many reports of inadequate planning and safeguards with nuclear power.
Clean nuclear power? Is that all this agitation is about? Is that all? You must really have your head up there in the clouds.
I guess so.
We want to thank you.
You've been very kind.
Strangers in a new place have to stick together.
If you ever want to get in touch, I'll be working at United Broadcasting.
I hope.
I don't like the looks of this.
Oh, I do.
It tells us exactly what Dr.
Mortinson needs from us.
You know, we can turn him into a hero before the day is out.
How do you make them understand? You don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.
You don't give up on nuclear power because we haven't got all the knowledge.
This takes time.
Oh, come on, now.
Don't let them get to you this way.
How do I ignore them? Because those are real people down there.
They have real families.
They care about what happens to them.
I care about what happens to them.
Yes, but it isn't your responsibility if they misuse the tools you give them.
No.
Maybe we're trying to use the tools before we're ready.
Before the tools are ready? Or the people? I don't know.
Consider this.
Seventy-seven years ago, man couldn't even fly.
It only took us 66 years between the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903, to putting a man on the moon in 1969.
Sixty-six years.
How long have we been in the nuclear age? Thirty-five years? Since 1945.
Well, of course we don't have all the answers yet.
Right now we don't know how to break down nuclear waste.
We don't know how to make it harmless, to neutralize it.
We'll figure it out.
This takes time.
Donald! Are you all right? It's nothing, it's nothing.
Oh! That does it.
I'm gonna call for the police.
Don't overreact.
Where are you going? Find something to clean this up.
(SIGHS) Hello, Security? This is Dr.
Mortinson's lab.
Would you get the police up here? That mob downstairs just started throwing rocks.
(PEOPLE PROTESTING) Dr.
Mortinson is expecting us.
What floor is he on? What are your names? I have to check.
Dillon and Troy.
Mortinson.
323.
Hey! Where'd they go? This is Security.
AR Building.
We've got trouble.
Oh.
Did you come to clean up the mess? No, we came to see Dr.
Mortinson.
Oh, I'm sorry.
He can't be disturbed right now.
But it's important.
Possibly life or death.
Do you know the Doctor? We know the Doctor from a recent paper that he delivered on what I believe you call your educational transmission band.
Transmission band? Television channel.
Right.
I see.
Well, this really isn't a very good day to come unannounced.
I mean, as you could see outside, we're under a lot of stress here.
Yes, I can see where that would make it difficult to theorize.
Especially abstract theories of nuclear degeneration.
I had trouble with that theory myself.
TROY: But he's on the right track.
Now, look, I don't know who you are, but this is a very bad joke.
I mean, there aren't even three people in the world who could make heads or tails of this formula, and that includes the Doctor's staff.
(PHONE RINGING) Excuse me.
Yes.
GUARD: Miss Carlyle, this is Security Two people have broken into the building.
If they're with you now, just say, "Good morning, Jack.
" Good morning, Jack.
All right, that's all we need to know Now, don't be alarmed.
We're on our way.
Have they revealed any weapons? No.
Not yet.
We think it's the Doctor they want, and we know he's not in his office.
Just let them think he's on his way, and move to the east corner of the room, away from the door.
Yes.
Thank you very much for calling.
Bad news? Oh, no, no.
No, good news, as a matter of fact.
The Doctor is on his way up.
So, if you want to have a seat, I'll just get back to work.
We can't stay.
We would like to leave the Doctor a message.
The symbols are different, but using the projections on the screen as a common cipher, we can give the Doctor the rudiments of something that might interest him.
Oh, no, no, don't touch that.
Stay away from that! No! Oh, no, don't touch that! He's been working on this for three years.
Let me go! This should be enough.
Tell him he can reach us through a young lady who works at the United Broadcasting Company by the name of Jamie Hamilton.
Oh, please! Thank you.
Don't you want to stay? The Doctor will be back any minute! We can't just leave.
The whole point of our mission was to get the Doctor on our side.
They'll never let us near him.
This place is under siege.
What if he doesn't understand the message? Nobody on Earth could have done what we did with that formula.
He'll understand.
Halt or I'll shoot! Don't do it.
Gibberish.
At least it wasn't graffiti.
What's all the commotion? I just saw the police with two men in custody out there.
Oh, I'm glad you weren't here.
I'm afraid that some of the demonstrators got into the lab.
ALL: Stop nuclear power! Stop nuclear power! Dorothy, where's my formula? Oh, one of the men that came in here ruined it.
I had to take it off the screen.
You didn't erase it? Oh, no, no.
It's still in the memory bank.
But I'm afraid it's not going to be much use to you now.
I mean, he literally ruined it.
I would have tried to stop him, but the security guard told me to just stay away from them until they arrived.
My God.
I know, I I told you they ruined it.
You think very carefully.
Did they say who they were? Well, no, but I could tell they were just part of that street gang They must have said something.
Well, they mentioned your paper on PBS.
My one on the theories of brother worlds and atomic travel? Yeah, I guess so.
But I don't understand why you're so interested in hoodlums.
My dear, these hoodlums, as you call them, may be as important to mankind as the coming of the Messiah.
Mr.
Brooks is still in his meeting.
You can wait in my office.
To be quite blunt, there are several people competing for the on-camera reporter job.
I know, but I intend to get it.
We'll see.
(PHONE RINGING) Mr.
Brooks' office.
Why, yes, she is.
Miss Hamilton? It's for you.
The police department.
The police? I don't know how they could know I'm here.
Miss Hamilton, the phone.
Hello? This is Dillon.
It works.
You were kind enough to assist my friend and me this morning.
Yes? We've run into some trouble.
Yes? Being strangers, we're in high hopes that you'd get in touch with Dr Mortinson and tell him where we are Well, I might be able to do that.
MAN ON TV: The local news tonight Two demonstrators were apprehended trying to break into Peace Prize winner Donald Mortinson's laboratory after beating up a security guard The man was not seriously injured, however he Oh, Lord, and I dropped them off.
Jamie, are you there? Listen, you! You terrorists.
Terrorists? You don't understand the situation.
Oh, yes, I do.
This is my first day on the job and you used me.
You chauvinist! (HANGS UP PHONE) What'd she say? I don't know.
What's a terrorist chauvinist? Mr.
Brooks, I really think you ought to come down here in person.
I think we have a problem.
I really can explain.
I'm sure you can.
(PHONE RINGING) Hello? Dr.
Mortinson.
I'm afraid Mr.
Brooks isn't in his office, however Who? Jamie Hamilton? Yes, she is, but Yes.
Certainly.
Yes? Miss Hamilton? Yes? It's most urgent that I learn more about those two friends of yours, the ones that were in my lab today.
Doctor, I assure you, I had no idea they were going to cause trouble.
No, no, you misunderstand, I'm grateful for their visit.
In fact, I was hoping that you might be one of them.
One of them? Well, they left your name as a point of contact.
I'd hoped to learn more from you before confronting them at the police station.
I'm sympathetic to you if you need reassurance.
Well, I'd like to tell you something about them, Doctor, but I don't think what I know would make it worth your while.
The Dr.
Mortinson? Why would he be calling us? He despises the media.
He's not calling us.
He's calling her.
Who is she? The new reporter, she hopes.
No, look, it's all been kind of a big mistake.
Tell him you'll meet him.
But it's not what he thinks.
You want a crack at that job? Tell him you'll meet him.
Listen, Doctor, I'd be glad to meet you.
Anne, quick.
Get me a camera team, the best.
Camera team? We've been trying to get Mortinson on film for weeks.
Yes, fine.
Where are you gonna meet him? Well, who are you? I'm Mr.
Brooks, your boss.
Oh, well, outside police headquarters.
But I'm doing this under false pretenses.
I haven't the faintest idea who those guys were.
What guys? Never mind, that really doesn't matter.
If you can pull this thing off, you've got yourself a job for life.
Come on, we got work to do.
Annie, we'll ride out in the camera truck.
Do it now! (PHONE RINGING) Yeah? Yeah, right here.
Right.
Right.
Yes, sir.
Well, seems some big shots wanna talk to you two guys.
Put them back in the holding tank till they come for them, Dobin.
This way.
In here.
What's a big shot? I don't know, but this is the worst thing that could have happened to us.
The last thing we need is a lot of attention.
Our ships are what are gonna get all the attention, if we don't get back and charge those energizers.
Yeah, well, first we've got to get out of here.
Hey.
Our own force field.
Hey, hey.
One of you two guys got a cigarette? Okay.
Got a light? (CHUCKLES) Very nice, Troy.
Now may I point out we're still in jail? Patience, Dillon.
Help! Help! Get me out of here! Please! Please, you got to get me out of here! You'll never see me again! Please! Pipe down in there, Moran.
I Hey! Dobin! I thought I told you to put those guys in the tank.
I did.
Now, Troy? Now, Dillon.
Dobin, you idiot.
What'd you do that for? Why'd I do what? (DOG BARKING) Go get it, boy.
Come on, Skip.
Come on, Skip, go.
Come on, Skip.
Golly! Come on, Skip.
Let's go tell Dad.