Andromeda (2000–2005): Season 1, Episode 9 - A Rose in the Ashes - full transcript

I, Seamus Zelazney Harper,

the... Exalted Love Machine...

of the planet Earth

do hereby ordain that

when 50 planets
have agreed to join
the Systems Commonwealth...

What are you reading?

It's, uh, Dylan's
fill-in-the-blanks constitution.

I, state name,
the, state title,

of, enter name
of planet here,

do hereby ordain
that when 50 planets

and blah blah blah blah...
Kinda lacks the poetry
of the founding fathers.



Founding fathers,
you know what,
I've never understood that.

If they found it,
it was already there,

so how could they
be its father?

It's complicated to explain.

Here, we'll do you.

I...

Trance Gemini.

The Sparkly Purple Babe of...

I still don't even know
what planet you're from.

Oh... Really?

So do you think
the Erasians
were big supporters

of the Commonwealth
in Dylan's day?

What are your people
called, Trance?

It's not a secret
or anything. It's just...



I don't think
you'd be able
to pronounce it.

Well, a translation
will be just fine.

Okay. Um...

It translates as
"Exalted Love Machines."

Why do I even try?

So, what do you think?
Will the Erasians sign on?

Your guess is
as good as mine.

Actually, it's
probably better.

HUNT: My mission is simple.

It's to restore
the Systems Commonwealth
to the glory that it was.

It's not for myself.
It's not even for you.
It's for everyone.

For every planet, a voice.
For every voice, an ear.

A government of the people,
by the people,
and for the people.

Pretty words,
Captain Hunt,

but the Systems Commonwealth
is 300 years gone.

To me,
it was only yesterday.

Yesterday that
peace and prosperity

were the birthright
of all sentient beings.

Yesterday that
a million worlds
were able to...

Now you're exaggerating.

Actually, Councilor,

there were
1,022,347 member worlds
in the Systems Commonwealth.

Erasia was inducted
in 6740,

the 17th planet
in the local cluster to...

That's okay, Rommie.

I'm sure the High Council
is aware of Erasia's

long and warm relationship
with the Commonwealth.

Long it may have been.

Warm it was not.

You've missed
a great deal, Captain.

You've missed
seeing this world
plundered by Nietzscheans.

You've missed
the Magog invasions,
the famines,

the years when civil war
and anarchy raged unchecked.

You've slept through it all,
but we did not.

You've picked
the wrong planet.

Dylan Hunt, you have agitated
against the government
of Erasia.

This court finds you
guilty of sedition.

You are hereby sentenced
to life in prison.

Meeting adjourned.

NARRATOR: The long night
has come.

The Systems Commonwealth,
the greatest civilization
in history, has fallen.

But now, one ship,
one crew, have vowed
to drive back the night,

and rekindle the light
of civilization.

On the starship, Andromeda,
hope lives again.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

What do you mean
you lost them?

The minute they stepped
into the Council Chamber,
I lost the signal.

That was yesterday.

Sounds like a hostage situation
to me.

Ship, arm bomb tubes
one through 20

for a warning strike
outside the Erasian capital.

Okay, reality check?

What if they're starting
a third course
of a state dinner?

Blowing up the countryside
would probably not help
our situation.

Or Dylan is already dead,

in which case we haven't
a thing to lose.

In the old days,
we had a way of dealing
with situations like this.

We talked to people.

Contact Councilor Min.

[BELL RINGING]

Councilor Min's office.
How do you wish
to be announced?

This is Beka Valentine
of the starship
Andromeda Ascendant.

I'm looking for
our captain, Dylan Hunt.

He was meeting
with the High Council.

I'm sorry,
I can't help you.

Okay, maybe I should speak
to the Councilor directly.

Do you have an appointment?

We don't make appointments.

Councilor Min
doesn't talk to anyone
without an appointment.

I am standing at the helm
of a High Guard battleship
orbiting your planet.

Two words from me and a barrage
of kinetic warheads

will blast you,
Councilor Min,

and three generations
of Erasians
back to the Stone Age!

I think you still need
an appointment.

Now can we blow them up?

This is Re-education Center
Helios Nine.

I am Sector Three Deputy,

this institution's governing
artificial intelligence.

You will address
my avatars as "Warden".

Your food ration disk...
Where's Rommie?

Excuse me?

The woman who was with me.
Where is she?

The women are processed
separately from the men.

She hasn't done
anything wrong.

I haven't done anything wrong.
We're innocent.

Your food ration disk
will activate

any of our conveniently located
vending machines.

You will receive
high protein kibble

sufficient for 24 hours
and 24 hours only.

Do not attempt
to re-use your disk.

Do not share it with anyone.
And do not lose it.

Because without
your daily ration, you will die.

Any questions?

Yes. How do I
file an appeal?

You're very funny, prisoner.

My only goal is the smooth
and efficient operation
of this facility.

As long as you
don't impede that,

feel free to amuse
the general population.

[CLATTERING]

[CHATTERING]

Cozy.

Newbie! Newbie! Newbie! Newbie!

Newbie! Newbie! Newbie! Newbie!

[WHISTLING]

WOMAN: Cork it!

The newbie'll think
we're savages.

Welcome to hell,
Mister... uh...

You can call me Hunt.

Ooh! Tough guy.

I'm impressed.

How about a traditional
inmate greeting for Mr. Hunt.

Newbie! Newbie!

Don't mind me.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

I love it when they're
new and shiny.

The Warden told me
not to share that thing.

Something about
starving to death.

Well, sorry, but there
isn't enough to go around,

and well, some of us
want seconds.

Tell you what, though.

You can try
to win it back!

[GROWLING]

I take it formal debate's
not an option.

Uppercut! Uppercut!
Come on, he's got
a glass jaw!

Ooh, come on!

Pathetic.

Zax is gonna shred him
in a second.

[GRUNTING]

All in favor
of making an appointment
with the High Council?

That's what I figured.

Hey! Maybe we're
overreacting. Come on!

Okay, look.
If I went missing

with that fine looking
piece of... Machinery...

I wouldn't want
to be found.

Well, it's not like that
with Dylan and Rommie.

Wait.

I'm detecting infrared plumes
near the equator.

Infrared plumes?

Like from a missile launch?

Very much like.

Evasive maneuvers!

Andromeda, activate
the Point Defense Lasers
and get us out of here.

What about Dylan?

We can't help him
if we're dead.

And Dylan can take care
of himself.

Hey! Come on,
you oversized goat!

Take another shot!

[ALL CHEERING]

Nice work.

No one's ever taken
Zax before.

No. Really.

I think you'll make
a nice addition
to the inmate community.

What do you say, boys?

[ALL CHEERING]

Come. Sit with me.

Look, miss, I appreciate...
Kaylee.

Kaylee. I appreciate the,
uh, hospitality,

but I don't plan
on being here long.

Hm, let me guess.
You're innocent.

Would it make
any difference?

Not likely.

There are no return tickets
from Hell Nine.

So sit. Eat.

And count yourself lucky
I favor men with blue eyes.

Lucky me.

Uh, thanks,
but I'll pass.

Don't be so hasty.

If you're not hungry,

at least stick around
for the
after dinner entertainment.

And the clock
on the wall says,

dinner time!

Open the doors.
Let the outsiders in.

Hey, single file!
You know the drill.

How you doin',
tough guy?

Are they getting enough food?
They don't look too healthy.

If they were too healthy,
they'd be a worse pain
than they already are.

What gives you the right
to treat them like this?

I give me the right.

Look, around here,
there's only three roles
you can play.

You can be a wolf,
you can be a sheep,

or you can be
a corpse.

Which are you?

[YELLING]

Hey!

You don't wanna get on
my last nerve, all right?

Rommie. You okay?

What happened?
Where are we?

Some kind of
correctional facility.

Can you get a fix
on our position

from your
astrogation program?

No. We must not be
anywhere near the ship.

I can't access any data.

I can't contact my mainframe.
I can't even recharge
my batteries. I'm useless.

Don't worry.

I'll get us
out of here.

Forget about me.
I'll only slow you down.

I'm not leaving without you.

You may not have any choice.

With no maintenance
and no power,

in a few days,
this body will be
nothing but spare parts.

TRANCE: We can't just
run and hide.

Give me a shuttlecraft,
send me down to that planet

and I'll have
Dylan and Rommie
back here by breakfast.

I don't know.

One forcelance Harper!

Come on, you know
you can trust me
with a forcelance!

Trance, the last time
I gave you a weapon,
you started a chain reaction...

On Gertrude Elian Drift,
dumped the main power grid.

Well, it was
in a good way!

It's too risky.

If Dylan isn't in trouble,
and remember,
we don't know that he is,

an outright attack
could definitely
put him in harm's way.

Well, then
I'll go undercover.

I'll be
practically invisible.
You know I can.

ANDROMEDA: It's too late
for that.

Why do you say that?

I just intercepted
a classified transmission
in the data stream.

Two anti-government activists
were shipped off-world

at the same time
we lost contact.

Dylan and my humanoid body
aren't on Erasia any more.

They've been sent
to a prison colony.

Hey, Jessa.

What's 14 times 32?

Same as yesterday, Zax.

52 times 47.

Come on. 52 times 47.

2444. Now can I have
my supper, please,

or do you need me
to calculate pi
for you, too?

Let the lady
have her meal.

Who asked you?

Just trying to help.

Newbie, right?

You've been here for,
what, five minutes?

I've been here
my entire life.

I can take care
of myself.

Cut her! Cut her!

So what do you think
of the floor show?

Not much.

You know, this whole
suffering, innocent act...

It's getting
kinda boring.

That's why I'm not
the floor show.

No one here is innocent,
only justified.

What about you?

Me?
Yeah. What are you guilty of?

Oh, I was born guilty.

No one leaves Hell, remember?

Once you're transported
here, you're here
for the rest of your life.

Mate and reproduce,
your kids are here
for the rest of their lives.

And so on,
and so on.

There are people here
who haven't even
committed a crime?

Oh, I doubt that.

It's hard to go a day
without breaking
one of the Warden's rules.

That's not what I mean.

I know what you mean.
I'm not stupid.

I also know that
criminal behavior's
hard-wired.

It's diagnosable
and inherited.

When I said
I belonged here,
I meant it.

Maybe you're not
as smart as I thought.

Excuse me?

Your argument is flawed.

Speaking French
ran in families, too.

Does that mean there's
a French-speaking gene?

You've come
to the wrong place

to argue Nature
versus Nurture, Mr. Hunt.

TANNOY: Security alert.
Security alert.

Perimeter integrity
has been compromised.

Activating auto-defense system.

What's going on?
We're under attack.

Move it! Move it!

The food!
Guard the food!

Move it!

Cork it! I'm gonna
get you out of here, okay?

No, no, no.
Not without Rommie.

Are you okay?

Probably better than you.

Implanted sub vocal
mike. Cool.

Look, tell her
to hang back and left.

Whoa, what are you doing?

I'm not gonna
hurt your girlfriend.

She's not my girlfriend.

This way!

All right, Rommie, let's go.

Andromeda, are you there?

Of course.

You know, you don't have
to come to a control room
to talk to me.

I'm everywhere.

I know. It's just
more personal this way.

You're worried,
aren't you?

About Dylan?

Not just about Dylan.
You, too.

Me?

Well, this morning
I ordered bacon and eggs
for breakfast,

and the Auto-Chef
gave me Draconian fish ova.

And Beka asked you to play
some rock music
from her collection,

and you played
a volcanic eruption
on Terra Bella Minor.

I have been a little...

Distracted lately.

It's your humanoid body,
isn't it?

It's just another avatar.

Is it really?

Trance, at any given time,
I'm a hundred robots,

a dozen androids,
a fleet of drones.

They're peripheral bodies.
Useful and disposable.

I've sent fighters
on kamikaze missions.

And I've had drones
melt in planetary cores.

But this is different.

You said to Beka
that Rommie was...

More like an extension
of yourself.

Like my left hand.

Well, I don't know about you,

but if I lost my left hand,
I wouldn't be very happy.

No.

No, you wouldn't.

Hang in there.
It'll be okay.

Here's the deal.
Erasia does not have
a lot of interstellar traffic.

Despite their
famous hospitality.

Only three ships
have gone off-world
since we got here.

I tracked their
navigational signals

and extrapolated
their destinations.
Thank you.

One went to
a mining colony.

Two has already
gone back to Erasia.

So, the shell with a "P"
under it is right here.

BEKA: Nice work, Harper.

Saddle up, gang,
we're doing a jail-break.

JESSA: It's kibble-porridge.

Don't worry,
you'll get used to it.

For lunch, there's,
uh, kibble-patties,

and for dessert,
kibble-cake.

Ooh...

Don't tell me,
uh, kibble-vinegar?

It's supposed to be wine.
Too sour?

Well, it'll get better
with age.

Yeah. Maybe.

Oh...

I don't get it.
Aren't these
terraforming pines?

If you say so.

If this planet
was terraformed,

there must be
something here
you can eat.

Well, maybe they didn't
finish the job.

All I know is
the soil pH is wrong.

There's too much alkali.
If you try
eating this stuff,

it'll burn a hole
in your guts.

And even if you
can stomach it,

it's lacking
vital nutrients.

It's one of the ways
they control the prisoners.

And the inmates control
the food distribution center.

The strong get stronger
and the weak get weaker.

What about her?

She's an android.

She doesn't need any food.

She's running
on fumes, right?

She's conserving power.

I don't know
how much longer
she has.

Well,

all the more reason
for you to help me, then.

Help you do what?

Whip the inmates' butts,
of course.

Oh, why do you think
I helped rescue you?

Ah, because we're innocent?

Because you wanted
to help us?

You sure do have
some warm, fuzzy ideas
about convicted felons.

You want me to help you
fight Kaylee's men.

I'm sorry,
I can't do that.

Wh... Why not?
You've seen them.

You know
what they're like!

Kaylee!

There's three types
of people around here,

wolves, sheep,
and corpses.

Which one are you?

None of the above.

Kaylee's gang
aren't the only inmates
on Helios.

If I help you
run her out,

how long would it be
before another gang
comes along

and starts the whole cycle
all over again?

It's the system
that's wrong.

You shouldn't even be here.
Let me help you
leave this place.

Leave this place?
Yeah, right!

Come on.

Smart missiles.

The whole planet is circled
by an automated defense system.

Nothing goes up.
Nothing comes down.

I am not going anywhere.
And neither are you.

Great.

TANNOY: Lock down.
Security lock down.

All prisoners will await
security personnel

and maintain
passive treatment.

Return to lock down.

Where did this come from?

How should I know?

This technology is illegal.

Manufacturing it
is a capital offense.

Hey, Warden,
I'm your biggest fan.

If I had a clue,
I'd give it to you.

Not good enough.

Who made it?

Hey, I've got arteries
in that neck.

Most organics do.

This prison only runs smoothly
when we are in accord...

When we abide by the rules
for our common good.

And your point is?

I'm surprised
at you, Kaylee.

The outsiders
are no friends of yours.

I'm sure I don't
have to tell you

the consequences
for non-cooperation.

I'm transiting
into normal space...

Now.

I thought you said
the prison colony
would be here.

HARPER: I did!

The coordinates
led right here!

I can usually
spot a planet.

They're large.
I have good eyes.

I don't know.
The navigational data
from the colony transport

must have been
a false signature.

Part of the prison
security system.

Okay. Now I'm mad.

Andromeda, I want you
to access the Maru's databanks.

I want all
the documentation we have
on penal systems in this area.

I need lists
of mining camps,
exile worlds,

prison colonies,
anything like that.

Processing...
Data retrieved.

Oh, you gotta
be kidding me.

How you doing, Rommie?

Conserving power.

Ah. So this is a bad time
for the song and dance number.

Stop.

It drains my batteries
when I laugh.

Sorry, I didn't know
you wanted to be alone.

Not at all.

What's that?

Gee, let's see... Dirt?

The soil's alkaline.

My attempt at making wine,
as you noticed, is acid.

And I have a workbench
full of metal.

A voltaic battery.

That's not bad.

Give me a day,

and I'll have
your robot girlfriend
up and running.

I'll explain the many ways
in which you are wrong
while we work.

BEKA: That's a lot of jails.

A lot of worlds,
a lot of trash.

I never got
the whole prison thing.

Hey, you have the potential
to be a nasty piece of work.

Why don't we, uh,
lock you up with
a serious bunch of hardcases

and get you really good at it.

TYR: They're sociopaths.

It makes sense to remove them
from the gene pool.

Well, you'd know.

I don't understand.

Law enforcement
is less effective now

than it was in the days
of the Commonwealth,
and yet,

there are more
re-education centers,
not less.

Re-education centers...

Maybe Commonwealth prisons
were really
"re-education colonies"

but, uh, these places today?

It's all private companies now.

And the, uh, bean-counters
have two words
for their guests,

"File" and "Forget".

Hey, did you find them?
Can we go get Dylan and Rommie?

It's not that easy, Trance.
Three spiral galaxies,

dozens of galactic clusters...

There's gotta be hundreds
of prison planets.

348, to be exact.

Really.

What about... That one.

Why? Why that one?

Well, it's... Pretty?

It's pretty.

Now there's
a solid reason
to risk our lives.

You have
a better idea?

No.

Well, we have
to start somewhere.

And it's as good
a planet as any.

Can you hand me
that scorcher?

The what?

The scorcher,
that metal
faceplate thingie.

They put it on
convicts who act up.

It gets real hot
real fast.

They torture you?

We're in hell,
remember?

Why do you put up
with it, Jessa?

You're smart,
you're resourceful...

And I'm a beautiful princess
and you're going to take me
away from all this, right?

What do you know
about me?

What do you know
about my life?

I know you
didn't do anything
to deserve it.

Well, let me tell you
about this place.

They disinfect your arm
before they give you
a lethal injection,

but my mom
died in childbirth

because there wasn't
enough soap to go around.

We're not people,
we're inventory.

They treat us
like animals.

They set me and my sister
at each other's throats.

They strip away our humanity
every chance they get.

So I wish you
wouldn't go painting
pretty pictures in my head.

You stay sane around here
by keeping your head down

and not keeping
your hopes up.

[YELLING]

GUARD:
Illegal technology detected.

Surrender or be destroyed.

Do not interfere.

Wait here.

GUARD: Resistance
is not tolerated.

Resister has been subdued.

No! No!

No!

Put me down!
Dylan! Help me!

Put me down!

Dylan!

How are you doing
on power, Rommie?

Not so good.

How're you doing
on my battery?

Not so good.

You know I have
to go get her, right?

I was afraid of that.

It's a high
security prison.

Automated defense systems,
robot guards, lethal force.

You need her.

Without her help, I'll lose you.
Your humanoid body will die.

My humanoid body
is expendable.

You aren't.

Dylan, you're the only hope
for restoring
the Systems Commonwealth.

This is a suicide mission.

In a risk-benefit ratio,
there's not one
good argument in its favor.

I'll give you one. Jessa.

She's just one person.

You can help millions.

The greatest good
for the greatest number.
Is that it?

It's never that simple.

WARDEN: It's simple.

All I want
is the greatest good
for the greatest number.

The majority of prisoners

benefit from the smooth
and efficient operation
of the system.

You are disrupting it.

Why can't I make you
understand that?

Poor communication skills?

Who helped you
make the weapons?

What do you mean,
who helped me?

You are here because
you're genetically flawed.

You are descended
from pirates, thieves,
and terrorists.

You are incapable
of higher thought.

An outside agitator
must have assisted you.

I ask you again. Who?

You may torture me
if you would like,

but please,

don't insult me!

If you prefer.

[JESSA YELLING]

HARPER: No way.
I think she picked it.

Hey, guys, check this out.
I got a signal. It's faint...

But it's definitely
in the EM spectrum
of Rommie's locator beacon.

Can you intercept
their radio traffic?

Is Dylan down there
with her?

I can't. There is a lot
of interference
in the atmosphere.

It's a prison.
They don't want to hear
from the outside.

Well, they're gonna
hear from us.
Get us in closer.

We're gonna broadcast
a message they can't ignore.

Which is?
Let my people go.

Hey, catchy. I like it.
I think it's ridiculous.

You trumpet your arrival
to your enemies? For what?

So they can aim
their biggest guns at you?

Fine. We'll sneak in.

You're a good tactician, Tyr,
but one hell of a wet blanket.

ANDROMEDA: Dylan,
if you can hear me,

we have a fix
on my humanoid body.

Beka and Tyr
are coming down
in the Eureka Maru.

They should enter atmosphere
in approximately 15 minutes.

No. No!

Abort mission.

Abort mission.
Weapons fire
at low altitude.

Do not approach!

Do not approach!

No! Don't come down!

Who are you talking to?

You, Zax!

I was saying
don't come down to me,

that I would come
to you, huh?

KAYLEE: Cork it!

I see you decided
to come back.

I, I need to talk to you.
What's happening here is wrong.

We need to work together.
You have to help me.

Help you what?

Rescue Jessa.

Why would I risk my life
for an outsider?

Because the outsiders...

Aren't your enemy.

It's the system
that needs
to be defeated.

But most of all,

because Jessa is your sister.

Isn't she?

What's our ETA?

Any minute now.

They're all going to die.

Dylan's gonna die.

Please go back.

They can't hear me.

Kaylee, wait!

I'm not having
this conversation.

You can't just
let her die!

So what if
she's my sister?

You know, that stuff
means jack around here.

I don't believe you.

You're not
that cold, Kaylee.

This is a hard place,
and you've made yourself
hard to survive it.

But you are
not cruel by nature,

no matter what
the Warden tells you.

You're here
because the system says
you're a criminal

even if you never
committed a crime...

That your genes are bad,
you're broken.

I mean, come on,
you believe that?

It's the system
that's broken.

That's where you're wrong.

The system's not broken.

It's working exactly
the way they want it to.

Mm-hm.

Well, in that case,

let's break it.

Now you're talking
my language.

[CRASH]

What was that?

Could be debris.
Could be hail.

Could be somebody
shooting at us.

Warning.
Seditious conversation.

Disperse immediately
or fatal force
will be exercised.

Show time.

You stay here.
I'll draw their fire.

Zax!

TANNOY: Initial
incursion terminated.

It's now or never.

Jessa!

You came!

This area is off-limits.

I'll take care of him.

This avatar is fully equipped
to deal with prison riots
and other rebellions.

That's not debris,
that's weapons fire.
Turn around!

No, I can handle this.

Besides, the backward thrust
engines are offline.

Like it or not,
we're going in.

You surprise me.

You know the consequences
for unauthorized entry.

I'll show you
unauthorized entry.

No!

No!

No...

Kaylee!

Who do you think you are

to come here and upset
the efficient operation
of my facility.

The rules
are very specific.

The penalty for infraction
is death.

[FOOTSTEPS]

Rommie, the control panel.

Sorry, I'm late.
You're forgiven.

Go ahead. Shoot me.

You're the Warden.

You can't stop me.

No, but she can.

Time for an upgrade.

TANNOY: Critical
systems failure.

Kaylee!

Kaylee!

She's my sister.

I know.

I'm so sorry.

This is all my fault.
I am so sorry.

Cork it, kiddo.

It's okay.

[SOBBING]

I'm free now.

Oh...

Kaylee!

Dylan.

The air defense system.

The Eureka Maru...

COMPUTER: Authorization denied.

COMPUTER: Alert.
Incoming weapons fire.

All right, what?
Should we eject?

No. Not in this.

Come on, baby,
you can do it.

Come on.
Authorization denied.

It stopped.

Looks like
someone deactivated
the defense system.

DYLAN: Eureka Maru,
you are clear to land.

Dylan.

You know, I'm starting
to like that guy.

DYLAN: I meant what I said.

You don't have to stay here.
We can take you with us.

No. I think I'll stay.

I mean, for
the re-education center.

They don't do
a lot of educating
around here, you know.

Most of the inmates
can't even do
basic algebra, so...

I have a feeling
you can teach them
a lot more than that.

Well,

check back
in a few years.

You won't be able
to recognize this place.

Or me.

Goodbye.

You wanted to see me?

Yes, I did.

What's that?
Oh, this is an old Earth game.

This side's heads,
this side's tails.

I flip it in the air,
you call it,
heads or tails.

Tails.

Heads. You lose.

What do I lose?

Well, it's just
a figure of speech.

I, uh, I understand
that you were the one
who found us.

You know, that's a...

That's a million
to one shot.

Um, no. It was
only 1 in 348.

Is that all it was?

A lucky guess.

Exactly. Lucky guess.

Yeah. Um...

I just wanted to say thanks.

You're welcome.

Heads.

Tails.

Heads. Tails.

Tails. Heads. Heads.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]