Battlestar Galactica

Episode #111 - "Colonial Day"

This document is ©2005, John Larocque. All rights reserved.

The Cylons were created by man. They evolved. They look human. Some are programmed to think they are human. There are many copies. And they have a plan.

Synopsis

The broadcast is interupted by an announcement that Tom Zarek is to be the representative from Sagittaron on the Quorum. Says Gray, "He blew up a government building, and now he's gonna sit on the Quorum of Twelve?" Laura has a conference call with Adama, who tells her, "We can't allow a terrorist to sit in government." "My hands are tied, I don't want to turn him into a martyr. Sagittaron law allows a citizen to regain his citizenship once he's served his time." Adama wants to initiate further actions, but Laura advises otherwise. "The last thing I need is for you to start acting like my own personal goon squad. We need to let this play out." Aboard the Astral Queen, Tom Zarek makes his speech. "I will be a voice for those who have gone too long unheard by a government that serves only the privileged and the powerful, that turns a blind eye to the needs of the weak and the poor. But Roslin and her confederates will no longer be able to ignore us. People of the fleet, look up. The winds of change are blowing. A new era is about to dawn." As he speaks, a man is shown cocking a gun and packing it into his suitcase.

In Baltar's lab, Kara informs Baltar that their shuttle is to leave for Cloud Nine the next day. Kara is to be handling Baltar's security and he is unaware as to why. She tells him, "You haven't heard? It's all over talk wireless." "Why would I have time to listen to talk wireless. I have 60 years of work in front of me." "You've been selected as Caprica's delegate to the Quorum of Twelve." "Is this some kind of joke?... Politics is the only thing more boring than blood samples. All those interminable speeches, all that dreary pomp." Number Six adds, "Parties full of young women, drawn to men of power." Later, aboard Cloud Nine, Kara and Lee are discussing security. Kara says, "Security's gonna be a bitch. A thousand different places for a sniper to hide. How many people are we dealing with again?" "Oh, 500-plus. Each Colony is sending a delegation of leading citizens." "So why is Roslin insisting on letting so many people come?" "Well, I guess she thinks it's important for them to be able to observe how their government works." "So basically, she's already running for re-election?"

McManus is making a report outside the Cloud Nine ballroom and reports that the question on people's minds is whether or not Laura Roslin will shake Zarek's hand. The man with the gun in his suitcase (Valance) checks in, and shakes the hand of another man (Grimes). When Zarek arrives, the second man gets in a scuffle with a heckler who called Zarek a murderer. "He's not a murderer, he's a freedom fighter." Lee breaks it up and asks for his security pass. "Lay a hand on anyone else, and you'll be getting to know Galactica's brig." Meanwhile, Zarek meets with the command staff, where Tigh pointedly refuses to shake his hand. Tigh also takes issue with his wife for doing so. She tells him she did it "to get our picture on the front page of every half-baked newsletter and photo service in the fleet." "I don't need my picture taken with a terrorist." "Oh, wake up, Saul, look at these cameras. Roslin's the past and Zarek's the future, a blind man can see that." When Zarek extends his hand to Laura in friendship, she accepts and they kiss. "That was nicely played." "Thank you." "Just remember, I'm not your enemy, Madam President."

In the conference room where the Quorum is holding its meeting, Number Six tells Baltar, "You're missing an intriguing opportunity. Playa's not wearing any underwear... She's been eyeing you all afternoon." "Well, she's only human. You're not jealous?" "Life isn't about sex, Gaius... I've been thinking. As far as I'm concerned, you can have any woman you want. But always remember, I have your heart... I can always rip it out of your chest if I need to." Baltar lets out a cough. Zarek makes an objection to Roslin's agenda. "Ration distribution, education, medical services, all very, very important, but I'm frankly shocked to discover the most critical issue of all is nowhere to be found, the election of a Vice President. If, gods forbid, anything should happen to you, Madam President, we have no designated sucessor. The civilian branch of our government would be paralysed, leaving the door open for a military dictatorship. Sagittaron moves that the first item on the Quorum's agenda should be nominations for Vice-President." The motion is seconded by Baltar, instructed to do so by Number Six. The Virgon representative speaks on behalf of Zarek. "When I asked for help, [Zarek] sent a crew of air filtration system on my ship, and hell, they were finished and they were gone while I was still waiting for the President's office to return my call. I nominate Tom Zarek." Gemenon seconds the nomination.

Aboard Colonial One, Laura discusses her options with Lee, Billy and Wallace Gray. Billy tells Laura, "Six months until the presidential election. We could have hand-picked a candidate." Gemenon's support for Zarek was no surprise to Laura. "The Gemenon ships use more water per capita than any other ships in the fleet. She wanted more rations. I said no." Lee warns, "Don't underestimate Zarek. He's charismatic and knows which buttons to push." Lee is also concerned about security. Laura convinces Gray to run for Vice President. "You have kept this fleet functioning all this time... I cannot allow Tom Zarek to be one heartbeat away from the presidency. Wally, I need you." "You got me, Madam President."

Playa is interviewing Zarek, who tells her that people need to readjust. "We're facing a situation so unique, so specific, that I believe we need not only need new leadership, but a whole new way of thinking... Look, there's no economy. There's no market, no industry, no capital. Money is worthless. And yet we're all held hostage by the idea of what things used to be... President Roslin and her policies are all about holding on to a fantasy. If we want to survive... we need to think about the community of citizens. The group, not the individual. We need to completely free ourselves of the past, and operate as a collective." Lee listens to the broadcasts at the bar, and mutters that Zarek isn't interested in anything but power. "Turn that crap off." An altercation begins between him and Grimes, who insists on having it turned back on. Grimes is joined by another Zarek suppporter, who fights with Kara. Valance is at the bar when this occurs, and begins closing his suitcase. In the process of the fight, Lee tosses Valance's suitcase at Grimes, and when it hits the floor, its contents are emptied, including Valance's gun. Valance repacks his suitcase and tries to leave but is held at gunpoint by Kara by his own gun.

Kara and Lee are interrogating Valance, and she asks him whe he's circled every public appearance of Roslin. "You sure went through a lot of trouble to get that weapon aboard." "I carry a lot of money, I need protection." "Right... the money's worthless. Your friend Zarek pointed that out!" "I don't even know Zarek." Kara tells him, "Your pal Grimes says different. He gave you up." "You're... you're bluffing." Lee tells him, "But we don't need anything, Valance. 'Cause this isn't a trial. This is just you and us in this room." "Like Zarek pointed out, we're living in a whole new world. There is no due process. This is your courtroom." "And that would make us... your executioners." "So you might wanna cooperate. Or else going out an airlock. 'Cause that's what we do to traitors." "Look, I just came over here for the booze and the food, that's it." Lee reports to Laura on Colonial One. "We put all the heat on Valance that we could, and we still can't tie him to Zarek." "I know Zarek's behind this. Keep working on Valance." She rebuffs Lee's suggestion to send the entire Sagittaron delegation back to their ships. Regarding his candidacy, "Zarek's not going to win because I'm not going to let him." Billy tells Laura that Picon is now in the pro-Zarek camp. Lee returns to the Cloud Nine conference room and threatens Zarek. "Hi, how're you doing? Remember me? I've got Valance, you're next."

Zarek has a meeting with Ellen Tigh at the bar. Ellen asks, "So, you worried about Wallace Gray? I heard he's ahead in the vote count." "Whatever the people want is fine by me." "Everyone has an agenda. I know I do." "And what would that be?" "Same as yours, Tom. Me, myself and I." She tells him she's the wife of the XO. "That's what I'm interested in, Tom. It's my place, and my husband's place in the future." "OK. I'm looking for a friend of mine. His name is Valance." Shortly thereafter Valance is found dead, his wrists slashed with broken glass from the room while he is still strapped in the chair. Aboard Colonial One, the senior staff hold an emergency conference. According to Laura, "It wasn't suicide. Zarek had him killed." She asks how the killers got past the Marine guards. "Through the vent." The only people who knew where Valance was being held were the people in that room (Laura, Billy, Lee, Kara, Tigh) and two Marine guards. According to Tigh, "Someone talked. Now, we have no assassin, no evidence of a plot, no check on Zarek, no nothing." Replies Lee, "If he can get to Valance, he can get to anyone." Regarding the election, "I'm going to win this thing, and Tom Zarek is going back to his prison ship where he belongs. But first, I have two unpleasant duties to perform."

Aboard Cloud Nine, Laura meets with Wallace Grey. She asks him to step aside for "health reasons," because she's backing another candidate. "All of those years, I watched you. Working with Adar, you were always so quiet, so polite, so dignified. I never thought you'd fit in with the bareknuckle, backstabbing politicians. I guess I was wrong." She enters the bathroom looking for Baltar and asks him where he stands on the candidates. "Anyone man who uses their intelligence and resources to blow up a building doesn't get my vote, no. I'm voting for your man, Gray." She tells Baltar he's dropped out of the race. "Let's cut to the chase. You're a very popular man these days. I would be fortunate to have your intellect and your popularity right by my side." "Well, under those circumstsances, I accept." Laura leaves and then Playa exits a bathroom stall. "Wow! What are you gonna do now?" "Now, I'm going to give you an exclusive." They head back to a stall.

In the locker room, Lee tells Kara, "Zare's too smart to take another shot at the President during the summit. If he wins the vote, he can take her out later, when everyone's forgotten about Valance. Just bide his time to find a better opportunity." At the actual vote, Tauron votes for Baltar, and Aquaria and Aerilon for Tom Zarek. The final vote tally was 6/6, and with Laura casting the deciding tie-breaker vote, Gaius Baltar becomes the Vice President. At the party afterwards, Baltar tells Number Six, "I never aspired to power." "Of course you didn't, Gaius, but someone had to step up."

Kara is wearing a dress, which she describes as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Lee comments, "So, that bum knee of yours is looking pretty good. And the other one's not too bad either." He asks her to dance. Laura tells Zarek, "Oh, don't worry, I won't be kissing you today." "That's a shame. I shaved very closely in anticipation of being smacked by you. That was nicely played. Again. But there's still a presidential election in six months. I'll see you then." "I have no doubt." "One more thing you should know. I didn't kill Valance. I wonder who did." Laura is surprised that Adama would attend the party. "It's Colonial Day, where else would I be? I'm a patriot." Adama comments on her choice of Baltar and she responds. "I figure, the devil you know." "Politics. As exciting as war, definitely as dangerous." "Though in war, you only get killed once. In politics, it can happen over and over." The two of them dance. Tigh is dancing with Ellen, and she has a surprise for him. They have a day in the luxury suite aboard the Rising Star. "And while you're there, you might wanna talk to a few people about your future." "What?" "Later, my love, it can all wait until later." As she dances, she looks back at Zarek, seated at the bar, and he nods.

On Caprica it's day 47. Sharon and Helo have reached the airport. He tells her, "Now, all we have to do is wait until dark, infiltrate the most heavily fortified military hub on this planet, hope the Cylons haven't compltely wasted the spaceport, steal a ship, locate Galactica and fly to her without getting shot to hell." Perplexed by the two copies of Number Six, Helo shares his human Cylon theories to Sharon. "I can't fathom why anybody would want to help the toasters. And they just happen to be twins? That's just too weird... Do you think the Cylons could be messing with human DNA? Cloning people or something? That would explain how they took us by surprise. They had these replicated humans, infiltrating the Colonies, laying the groundwork for a surprise attack." "You know, if they were human clones, that means they're capable of complex emotions, maybe even love. Maybe they were misguided in the way they're indoctrinated but..." "Whatever they are, they're not human. No human could do the things they've done. Killed billions of innocent people. They gotta be frakking Cylons, just like the rest of them." At night at the airstrip, Helo and Sharon are on the second floor ledge of building looking below. Two Number Six models come out. And then Helo is surprised to see another copy of Sharon. And then Sharon shoots her. Helo runs, and Sharon runs after him. "Just trust me. Helo, come with me. Helo! Helo!"

Ron Moore's Commentary

12/5/2003 -- In the original series, Commander Adama was in charge of the fleet. In your version President Roslin looks to be in charge. Why the change and will there be a "council of twelve"?

I wanted to create a more complex political and social backdrop for the series. I wanted to play out the tensions between the military and the civilian leadership in a crisis like this. There will probably be a council of twelve in some fashion, but how and when will be a matter of considerable debate as Laura Roslin begins the difficult task of "nation-building" in space.

3/6/2004 -- Several of the questions that will come up early are: Does Roslin have the right to give orders and be the President? Who represents the voices of these other 50,000 people? Are their ships' captains going to speak for everybody? What's the representation of the 12 Colonies? ... Those people want to have a voice in their government on some level. Even in an emergency, they have needs and wants. And some ships are going to be in worse straits than others. People are going to want fairness in distribution of supplies and access to them... There's going to be a need for some type of government that Laura will form. And how close will it be to the government that was there originally in the 12 Colonies? Her whole legitimacy as President is predicated on the idea of succession... So it's going to be hard for [Roslin] to uphold the banner of democratic government which is the whole basis of her Presidency without bringing in representatives of the people. This then throws you into, well, sometimes those representatives are real pains in the asses. And they have competing interests. And it opens up the whole can of worms. (source: James Iaccino)

1/30/2005 -- In Episode 11, "Colonial Day" we'll see the reinstatement of the Quorum of Twelve, a political body established in the original series, which seems to be a cross between a U.S. style Senate and the U.N. Security Council, where each Colony has a single vote. Presumably there was also a larger representative legislative body and some kind of separate judiciary. There is also a religious body, (unnamed thus far) that acts in some advisory capacity to the government, along the lines of the British House of Lords. Although we haven't dealt with it yet, Elosha was probably a member of this body.

3/18/2005 -- The West Wing episode was something we had talked about from the very earliest going. I'd always wanted to do something that was more political, that dealt with the practical realities of trying to govern and run the remnants of a society that had just been destroyed. Unlike the original series, I didn't want the political leadership of the rag-tag fleet to be strawmen for Adama to knock down over and over again... I didn't like the notion that what you really need is just a good smart, military man who can control and run everything. I liked playing the natural tension between the civilian and the military authority in this situation. I wanted to explore what it really meant to be a democracy in a republican form of government. And it says something interesting about the Colonial society, that they do value and treasure and place great emphasis on the fact that their government is still with them.

The entire Laura Roslin plotline throughout the series is really a tribute to the fact that how strongly these people believe in their system of government, how fundamental the notions of democracy and representation and the vote and equal rights -- the sort of things that in this country, the United States, are also built into our culture. We have the fundamental belief in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights... I wanted the rag-tag fleet to mirror our society in that way. But then I wanted an ability to test all those assumptions... That challenge to the fundamentals of the system is something I think we're going through right now. I think that the situation in this country -- the war on terrorism, the assertion of executive power in all circumstances, the long march toward extreme authoritarian governance -- has sort of begun, and the idea of how we fight back against that. What are the areas where we choose to fight back? What are the places where we choose not to fight back? ... Are we willing to give up freedoms in [some] areas in order to provide security? Those ideas are in the show because those ideas are in the culture right now. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- The show initially wanted just to be the West Wing, to do a political show... There came a point where that grew unsatisfying... The feeling was we needed a little something else, a little more juice in the show. So there was this underlying plot, that may or may not be attached to Tom Zarek, as he seems to be manipulating and possibly getting ready to assassinate the President. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- This whole bit of business with Zarek and will Laura Roslin shake Zarek's hand in public is inspired by Yassir Arafat [when he] came to the White House for the meeting with Yitzak Rabin to sign the Oslo accords. There was a lot of speculation whether Rabin would actually shake the hand of Arafat, and the symbolism of that and what it entailed, the sort of carefully choreographed maneuver where Clinton got the two men to shake in the famous photograph and video on the White House lawn. I always liked that. It was something interesting, just about the symbolism of a handshake. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- Ellen, who is beginning to be a little bit more of a player and a little bit more cunning, decides to shake [Zarek's] hand and get her picture everywhere. It would make news and start to advance her agenda, which we start to learn is a separate agenda from everybody else. Ellen is her own person, her own player, Ellen is a survivor... Ellen is someone who is going to find a way, somehow, someway, to survive and keep moving up the ladder, and she sees him as a possible way up that ladder. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- [Zarek] is bringing up a valid point. These people are all in some way living a fantasy. They are trying to maintain the veneer of the world that they once lost... I think their initial impulses and initial instincts would drive them towards continuing their old professions, continuing their old lives and trying to hang on to what they had, as best as possible. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- Jamie threw that briefcase right across the room. That's completely his own doing. I just loved that, so we kept it in the show... There's a lot bottled up inside Lee Adama, which I think is fascinating, because on the surface, you don't think Lee is as violent person, or that Lee could really explode. In the moments when we let Jamie cut loose with the character, your head kind of snaps back a little bit, and you go "whoah." (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- Laura Roslin, who is the Secretary of Education, and seemingly very genteel and very quiet woman, who liked to stay behind the scenes and never wanted to run for office, had been around politics for quite a while... and knew how to throw elbows. And that Laura, when push comes to shove, will shove you. And that she shoves Gray out the door, is in keeping with the same character that put that Cylon out the airlock. I think Laura says a lot of good things, and believes a lot of things that she says about freedom and right and wrong. She's a very idealistic person. But she's very, very practical and pragmatic. She's a pragmatist first. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- And this is the scene where her ability to cut people off and stab them in the back if necessary, really comes to the forefront. And it's kind of sad. She jettisons her friend. She jettisons someone that was valuable, and good to her, and helped her and the rest of her people immensely. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- [Baltar's] not just a guy who deals with Number Six. He's also the guy who'd get Playa to come out of that bathroom stall, which I love. I love the fact that he is still on the make, even in this environment. That Six gives him permission, and that he's able to pursue other woman, and that he's able to pull it off. I love this show. [He's] coming back into the stall, it's just so perfect to me. I just think it's true to the character. That's still who Baltar is. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- What's also happening in this show is the subplots of Baltar and his interest in women in general, and in Kara specifically. And this sort of budding "are they or aren't they" interest between Lee and Kara, which you kind of knew we were going to do eventually... But I always wanted to be careful how we went into that territory, if we went into that territory at all. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- At this point Sharon has been on her own agenda and trying to help Helo get off the planet, because she has developed real feelings for him. And that was not part of the plan. It was never part of the plan, for Sharon to develop actual feelings for Helo. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

3/18/2005 -- This relationship between Ellen and Tigh and what she wants out of him, and what she hopes to be and what he can be and what he wants to be, are things that we are exploring in the very first couple of episodes of the second season. (source: Colonial Day podcast)

4/11/2005 -- Colonial Day occurs every year and it is the anniversary of the founding of the "federal" system of government which was a relatively recent event. Before that time, the Colonies functioned more or less on their own, possibly with various attempts at alliances or even complete Colonial government over the centuries since the exodus from Kobol, none of which were successful. When the first Cylons were created, individual Colonies still warred against one another and it wasn't until the Cylon rebellion that the 12 Colonies finally came together in a permanent way. Presumably, the Articles of Colonization were not made up out of whole cloth, however, and there may well be principles and ideas of justice that date back to the original colonists.

Commentary

This is the second appearance that Richard Hatch made this season in the role of Tom Zarek.

Who is Wallace Gray? According to the reporters of Colonial Gang, Wallace Gray is described as the power behind the throne. According to Laura, he kept the fleet functioning all this time. When Zarek became candidate for Vice President, she turned to Gray to run as her candidate.

When Gray complained that journalists might call him a fascist, Laura reserved that role for herself. When push came to shove, she played hardball, fully intending that Zarek did not succeed in his plans, and that her candidate for Vice President would triumph. When it appeared that her friend and supporter for many years, Wallace Gray, would not win, she cut him loose and backed the charismatic Baltar ("I figured the devil you know".) Said Gray, "I never thought you'd fit in with the bareknuckle backstabbing politicians. I guess I was wrong."

These are the representatives of the Colonies are they are listed in the conference room. Tom Zarek of Sagittaron, Marshall Bagot of Virgon, Sarah Porter of Gemenon, Robin Wemutu of Canceron, Safiya Sanne of Leonis, and Gaius Baltar of Caprica.

These Colonies are known to have voted for Zarek: Aerilon, Aquaria, Gemenon, Saggitaron, Virgon. These Colonies are known to have voted for Baltar: Caprica, Tauron. Canceron, Leonis, Picon and the Colonies named after Libra and Scorpio are the remaining five. We know that one more Colony voted for Zarek for the 6/6 tie, with the remainder for Baltar. Laura Roslin was the tiebreaker vote, ensuring that Baltar won.

Number Six tells Baltar he can have any woman he wants, so long as his heart belongs to Number Six.

Why did Number Six instruct Baltar to second Zarek's motion for Vice President? Was there a Cylon plan to install Baltar himself in the role? At the party, she told Baltar that "we're going to do great things together," but was cross with him when he said Laura (and not Number Six) was the reason he ran.

Ellen Tigh's main interest is the future, both for herself and her husband. This is the rationale for her trade-off with Tom Zarek, whom she views as representing the future. It's also strongly intimated that Zarek secured for her a day in the luxury suite of the Rising Star. Her fortune-teller remarks to Tigh at the party are an indicator that the luxury suite is only part of what she was arranging.

Zarek wanted to know the location of Valance, whom he describes as a friend. Zarek was tipped off by Lee, who threatened on Cloud Nine, "I've got Valance. You're next." Not long after the discussion in the bar, Valance is found dead. He told Laura he didn't know who killed him, and wondered who did? Did Zarek arrange to have him killed?

The knowing glance between Ellen and Zarek at the party indicates that she did deliver to him information related to the location of Valance. Was Valance already dead when Zarek found out? And where did she get her information? She could have gotten it directly from her husband, but Kara's remarks on Colonial One indicate that the leak occurred elsewhere, perhaps one of the two Marine guards.

Who ultimately pulled the trigger on Valance? Was it Zarek himself, one of his supporters, one of Roslin's aides or even the Cylons?

Zarek is a radical democrat. He said that he doesn't care which candidate the people vote for, so long as they are voting. He also tells Laura she's not his enemy, which is interesting since he's implicated in whatever plot Valance was engaged in, and since Valance and Grimes were both fingered as Zarek supporters.

We know that Valance and Grimes are confederates. Their handshake indicates he was in on whatever Valance was planning. Valance had also circled all the President's appearances? If Valance was working for Zarek, is it possible that he smuggled the gun on board for a mission other than assassinating the President? Zarek also indicated that Valance was his friend, even though Valance claimed he didn't even know him. Was Zarek -- through Valance -- trying to stage an event to trigger popular outrage against Roslin, similar to what he originally planned for himself and his fellow inmates at the hands of Adama's forces in "Bastille Day?"

Laura and Lee Adama were both convinced that Zarek was behind the entire incident. Laura approved of Lee and Kara's tactics in their interrogation of Valance, including threats to shove him out of an airlock.

Sharon shot the other Cylon Sharon on Caprica. It's clear at this point that her emotions have taken over. Her aim is to get Helo off Caprica, notwithstanding whatever plans the Cylons were making. Helo is horrified at the prospect of human Cylons, and shocked to learn that Sharon is one of them. Naturally, he runs.

James McManus is formerly of the Caprica Times. Playa Palacios is formerly of the Picon Star-Tribune. Sekou Hamilton is formerly of the Aerilon Gazette. Two of the three are semi-regulars on the series. Christina Schild was listed as Playa Kohn in credits from previous episodes but is now listed as Playa Palacios. Biski Gugushe played a pilot in the miniseries, is listed as "Journalist - Eick" in "Six Degrees of Separation," and credited elsewhere as Hamilton. This is the first episode he uses the first name of Sekou.

Zarek's line to Laura at the reception is taken from the 1970 film "Patton."
Field Marshall Montgomery: Don't smirk, Patton. I shan't kiss you.
Patton: Pity, 'cause I shaved very close this morning in preparation for getting smacked by you.

The original musical temp track for the party featured Frank Sinatra's version of "Fly Me to the Moon," recorded in 1964.

The Space Channel episode guide, which is based on the original script, features an alternate version of Valance's demise. "[Laura] asks Lee and Kara to release Valance and keep him under close surveillance, but when Lee and Kara go back to Valance's hotel room, they find that he's dead. Shot once through the forehead."

"I haven't talked to [Moore] yet, but the way the second show ends, you'll see it's set up very clearly to bring me back. The adversarial relationship between the President, Adama, and Tom Zarek -- you see that this character is now going to present a major challenge to her. There's still the elections ahead of us, which is basically what I say at the end of the episode: 'I'll see you in six months.'" -- Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek) on 1/24/2005 (source: Now Playing)

"If you look at the contact I had with Zarek's right hand man, played by Patrick Gallagher, I think it is pretty clear that I was working for Zarek. I was there for one purpose and the President was standing in Zarek's way." -- Alex Zahara (Valance) on 7/7/2005 (source: BSG-Online)

"Katee Sackhoff said to me one day, 'I would love it if Starbuck could wear a dress in the party at the end of the episode.' I ran back into the office and told Toni [Graphia] and we immediately wrote it into the script. James Callis came to us at lunch and improvised some additional dialog for Baltar's scene in the bathroom when Laura Roslin asks him to run as Vice President and we immediately wrote that into the show." -- David Weddle (story editor) on 4/1/2005 (source: Chicago Tribune)

"It came to a point last year where I was pleading, 'Please, can Kara wear a dress?' and she did in an episode. I felt like I needed to remind myself and the audience that she is a woman and she is feminine. She may beat up a guy, but she likes to wear dresses and heels sometimes, too." -- Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck) on 1/8/2006 (source: New York Metro)

Deleted Scenes