Andromeda (2000–2005): Season 5, Episode 8 - So Burn the Untamed Lands - full transcript

SEAMUS: What'd
I tell you guys?
Mmm.

A usable weapon.

Better than most
of what this system
has to offer.

[DYLAN CHUCKLES]

Very accurate and very fast.

Yeah, that's because
it doesn't rely on
expanding gas propulsion,

which is like trying
to control an explosion.

Where'd you get it?
Got it from a guy

who got it from a guy
Who got it from another
on one of the outer planets.

Clever, huh?

I'll stick with what I have.



All right. I know
it's not pretty, Rhade.
It doesn't go with your pants,

But it's not the weapon
I'm after here.
It's the crystal.

Come on, guys,
let's face it.

If we're ever going
to get out of here,
we need two things,

money and power.

I take it this crystal
provides the power?

Yeah, uh, that's
the gold mine,
right there.

Now, you just witnessed
the demonstration of

of how much energy
a tiny fraction of
that crystal can hold.

Now, extrapolate it
to a macroscopic scale.

Think bigger.

Hmm.

Andromeda.

So you can convert the ship
to operate on this power source?



Let's do it.
Great. Now, there's
just one catch.

The crystal comes
from a mine
on Seefra-8.

Place called
Cutter's Grove.

Owner's a guy
named Cutter.

Miners are in hock to him
so deep they never get out,

and he doesn't
like visitors.
However,

I hear he's always looking
for muscle-heads to help
keep his workers in line.

[SIGHING GRIMLY]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION]

Uh, excuse me.
I seem to have
gotten lost,

and I was wondering
if you could--

Okay. You don't ask for
directions in this town.

What the hell is
the matter with you?

No, this isn't
necessary.

Okay, now you're
pissing me off!

[GROANS]

MAN: Stay in line!

I, uh...

I have no idea
what that was about.

That's the Surog.
They don't need
a reason.

Oh. Well, thank you.

Welcome to Cutter's Grove.

I'm Cutter.

Now, get out.

DYLAN: The universe
is a dangerous place,

but in our future,
my crew and I
fight to make it safe.

I am Dylan Hunt, Captain
of the Andromeda Ascendant,

and these are our adventures.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

I can see why you don't
get a lot of visitors.

We're not looking for visitors.

Fine, but I'm just
here on business.

The name's Dylan Hunt.

MAN: Move it, come on.

Dylan Hunt.
You don't say.

I've recently heard about you.

Is that good or bad?

If you have
business here,
it's with me.

MAN 2: Keep in line.

[SHOUTS] Move!

Eyes down!
Eyes down!

Keep in line!

Come on, get in line!
[WHIPS]

Keep in line!

It, uh, doesn't seem
like your workforce
is willing to work.

Dylan Hunt, I hear, is always
concerned for other people's
well-Being. That is a...

A weakness.

They'd be more effective
if you treated them well.

I count on them to dig,
they count on me for food,
a decent place to live.

In return, I look after
the families.

It's a perfect
social contract.

Yeah. Sounds perfect.

The mines are toxic,
but not for the Surog.

They're born out there.
The toxins in the quartz

don't affect them.

Don't affect
them, huh?

How fortunate for you.

But anyway, like I said,
I'm here on business.

For, uh, what you've
got right there.

Moonshine's
connected to the...

Pressure shunt.
Pressure shunt is
connected to the...

sinic lead.

Sinic lead is
connected to the...

quartz frame.

Ha! Ladies and gentlemen...

Okay, maybe that's
an overstatement.

Honored guest, may I present
a work of subtlety,
beauty, and grace.

Thank you.

The still!
Oh.

Never before has
an acuity of genius

been given to someone
so capable of delivering.

Starting from nothing,

transforming it into an
ever-changing,
once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Better top the build-up.

Moonshine!
Like old pappy Harper
used to make.

The old-fashioned kind,
but better.

The machine shrewdly extracts
an adaptable brew

that aligns itself
to any palate via

sub-molecular
taste-bud readers.

It's a chameleon of flavor.

Irresistible to
anyone that tries it.

DOYLE: So the prices
are headed up?

Way up!
With no end in sight.

And obviously no beginning.

Ha, ha, ha. Laugh it up.

Too bad for you
I made it so
you can't drink.

Otherwise,
you'd be the first To see
what I'm talking about.

All right.

Watch and be humbled.

Ooh!

[DOYLE LAUGHS]

Harper!

Harper, are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah.
I'm okay.

Ow!

Is it getting infected already?

Ah, nah, it's fine. Uh, here.

This'll kill
anything.

There you go.

You see, most people
in this backwater system
are afraid of progress,

but this little
baby right here,

this is the wave
of the future.

That's the equalizer.

Yeah. I take it they're
selling pretty well?

Sells itself.

See, once your neighbor has one,
you've got to have one.

How many do you need?

MAN: You there,
pick that up!

I'm not here
for the weapons.

I want the quartz.

Okay, well,
that's not for sale.

I don't need competition,
especially from you.

I'm not interested
in competing with you.

I need it to fix my ship.

Well, I told you,
it's not for sale,

but you can earn it.

I'm listening.

I want to build this town
into something more
than a mining camp.

Yeah?

Law and order.
Peacekeeping.

Bringing civilization
to this wild frontier.
That's up your alley, right?

You want me to keep
the Surog in line?

That's the deal.

GUARD: Didn't you hear me?
I said move!

Or no deal.

Come on, next!

Pick that up!

That one!

Stay in line!

GUARD 2: Faster. Faster!

That's a nice necklace.
[GROANS]

Hey. Relax.

I'm not trying to
take your necklace.

I just wanted to
make a little conversation.

GUARD: You watch it!

The rest of them, move!

[ENGINE POWERING UP]

Dylan sent her?

That is correct.

Just because she
hasn't been here before,

I don't understand why
you feel weird about it.

I cannot say I do either,

but I do sense an urgency.
She's docked and
headed to command.

On screen.

TRANCE: Oh, boy.

There's trouble.

Yes.

I see what you mean.

It's not entirely
inappropriate.

There's something moving in me
which defies explanation.

I've never...

Analysis incomplete.

You're losing
your touch.
I heard you.

I'll have to keep that in mind.

How'd negotiations
with Cutter go?

It's kind of
what we expected.

Won't sell any quartz,
but hey, he offered me a job.

Well, I assume you accepted.

Only way to get in.
What'd you find out?

Well, Cutter's guards
are loyal and very nasty.

He pays them well.

They love keeping
the Surogs
in submission,

who don't talk and don't think.

Rhade, there's
something more
to them.

Oh, here comes the crusade.

Hey, we can't just
turn a blind eye.

You can't. I can.

I'm here for one thing,

the crystal we need
to power up Andromeda.

If the Surog miners
can't help us out,

then we do it ourselves
and forget about them.
But I can't do that.

Now that I've
seen the Surog,

they deserve a better life.

We need a new plan.

Listen, Dylan, be careful...

Don't leave town
without permission.

That's an order.

Trance, Dylan thought I should
help you work on deciphering
the Methus diagrams.

[POWER FAILS]

Welcome to the
Andromeda Ascendant.

I am--
A holographic
artificial intelligence.

Not so artificial
that I fail to recognize
the tone of your voice.

What tone? All I said
was "holographic
artificial intelligence."

Tone meaning attitude,
the underlying emotion
of sarcasm.

There's, um, work that does
need to be done here, guys.

ANDROMEDA:
I control all functions
on this starship.

You may access me at points
which I determine and mediate.

On the other hand,
I have a body and
I'm free to walk around.

Then you are also free to
leave and not come back.

Okay. I'm going to the SCC.

You can call me when you're
friends, okay? Okay.

I'm Doyle.

And I...

am the Andromeda Ascendant.

We must
work this out.

DOYLE: At some point, yes.

MAN: Move!

Come on,
come on!

How are you doing?
Remember me?

Keep in line!

My name is Dylan.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Look, I want to help you.

Understand?

You don't have to be
Cutter's slaves. I can get
all of your people out of here.

What's your name?

Deeron.

Deeron. See?
I knew you could talk.

Some of you
didn't bring in
your quota.

Two will go back to work
until the crates are filled.

That one and that one.

[GRUNTING]

[ALL EXCLAIMING]

Shoot them!

Not a good idea.

You work for me,

and I decide
who lives and who dies.

Not today.

It's your choice, Dylan Hunt.

The Surog or you.

Well? What will it be?

Their lives or yours?

Mine.

Let them go.

I'm a man of my word.

Go!

Get his weapon.

[EXCLAIMS IN PAIN]

[GROANING]

They're a little bit touchy.

CUTTER: Idiots.

Put him in lockup.

Pretty good, huh?

I wouldn't go into acting
if I were you.

What?

GUARD: Come on, next!

You've got to be
kidding me.

GUARD: Pick that up!

That's all there is.

Sorry.

GUARD: That one!

Except for the one
with the window.

[CHUCKLES]

CUTTER: If I could
replicate these...

RHADE: Like the man said,
look, but don't touch.

CUTTER:
It's odd. Here I am trying
to tame a wilderness,

improve lives.

I thought Dylan Hunt
was the same.

Not everyone understands
that to build a strong society,

the weakest have to
be eliminated.

I want Dylan Hunt dead.

One problem,
his friends.

They'll want to know
what happened to him.

I've had enemies before.

Well, from what I've seen,

I wouldn't recommend
going up against his friends
with combustion weapons.

You have a better idea?

If Dylan were to take
one chance too many,

the odds might
catch up with him.

I don't think anyone
would be surprised.

You're suggesting

an accident?

I'm suggesting
be patient.

[GROANS]

[SCREAMING]

Now I know why
they call it
a manhole.

Hunt escaped. He's gone.

Assemble a team.

Make sure he doesn't
beat the odds.

Ow.

[MUMBLES]

BEKA: Harper!

What are you, uh,
hiding there?

Nothing.
What are you doing here?

What do you mean,
what am I doing here?
We had a date.

You were supposed to do
something about the uneven
flux resistance on the Maru.

Preferably before I go careening
into one of these damn suns.

Right.

You still owe me for
a silicon re-line job.

Yes, and you will
get your money

as soon as I get paid
for the Jabox job.

Come on. It's the Maru.
Do it for sentimental reasons.

Do it for 20% interest.
Okay.

Now you're talking
my language.

But my still,
model two,
comes first.

As soon as Dylan returns
with what I need,

I'm back on the case.

I am going to be
beating them away.

Right, but until then,
you owe me a flux job.

[GRIMACES]

Sensitive skin.

So, uh, what's
with the helmet?

Long story.

[COUGHING]

[PANTING]

[COUGHING]

Wait. You need rest.

I'm sorry. I, uh...

Who are you?

I am Tolek.
This is Lon.

We found you
in the caves.

There is a force in you

to be trusted, protected.

Breathe deeply.
It will heal the
damage inside.

This oil counters the
poison from the quartz.

You're lucky
you only breathed it.

It would have
killed you,
but slowly.

Tolek's medicine saved you.

I hope I can return the favor.

Thought you might be
in need of some assistance.

Should have known
you'd make other arrangements.

It's all right, Rhade.
Rhade's a friend.

This is Lon

and Tolek.
They saved my life.

A gift.

What's that?

It's, uh, an equalizer.

[GUNSHOT]

MAN: Over there!
Down.

There, there!

DYLAN: You stay here.

Circle around!

That's it!
Move in!

MAN: Keep firing!

There! There, on the left!

I got him.

Watch out!

Come on, move!

[GASPS]

That's a nice shot.

Instant death.
It contains
a special poison.

Well done, Lon.

Well, so much for
superior technology.

This way.

Okay, so what are the
readings on the, um...

Uh, the up-and-down thing?

The vertical?
Right.

[BEEPING]

Uh, spiking at
plus or minus five.

Okay, so, uh,
magnetic interference...

We need more
magnetic interference.

We have plenty of
interference, Harper.
That's kind of the problem.

Right. Of course.

Um...

Insulation?

We need insulation.

Did you sleep enough?

Yeah. Yeah. Why?

I don't know, you're just
not your usual
quick and quippy self.

I'm just trying
to concentrate,
you know?

Oh! What are the
readings on the vertical?

They're spiking.
At plus or minus five, I said.

Forget this.

I'm going to go get
a roll of insulation.

Yeah. Yeah.
Good idea.

Take your time.

Oh, finally.

RHADE: You're Surog,
all of you here?

LON: Yes.

But you have no, uh,
skin lesions that I can see,

and you can speak.

So what happened to the others
is from mining the quartz?

Those who work in the mines
go through drastic changes.

First, the skin,
finally, the mind.

The madness
takes each in turn.

Sounds like
radiation poisoning.

Sounds like it's time to
rethink working the mines.

Food is scarce, Dylan.

Those who go to the mines
are our strongest, our bravest.

Have any come back?

The miners die.
Their children live.

Not anymore.

As of today,
everyone lives.

TRANCE: It seems to be,
I guess I would say,
unavoidable.

I'm sure Andromeda and
I will work it out.

And what about me?

How do you mean?

Well, Dylan didn't
really send you

to help me figure out
the Methus diagram.

I don't have a clue
what it means,
and he knows that.

I... I used to know.

I used to know just about
everything, apparently, but

I didn't say
much about it,
and I don't know why.

So why did he
send me?

I think it was to see
how Andromeda
would react,

which goes back to what
we were saying before.

Right.

So the only unavoidable
conclusion to draw

Is since I'm built from Rommie,
that I am Rommie, but, not.

And what about you?

Well, I don't know. I...

Dylan says he thinks
that I'm the problem,

but how am I
the problem?

I don't know

and that
is a problem.

Yes, we're going to have
to think about that one.

Or maybe it'll all
just come clear,

like it does
sometimes.

Now, that sounds like me.

But you're Rommie.

Right, but, not.

Tolek, I know
that this sacrifice is
part of your culture,

but change is also
part of life.

Sorry to interrupt.

Excuse us.

Been trying to contact Beka,
but the atmosphere here
is too charged.

Communication is limited
to the surface and low orbit.

We need the Maru,
so do what you can.

I'm going to try to convince
the Surog that it's time
to leave this planet.

Actually, I do have an idea.

Make sure all the crystal
is loaded onto the stream fan.

I'll take it out to the
factory myself first light.

It's going to be hard
to convince the
entire village to leave.

This life
is all they know.

But you need to
get somewhere safe.

I feel safe
here with you.

I can't stay here forever.

Why not?

Look, um...

Even if I could stay,

it doesn't change the fact that
you have to leave this place.

You have to get away
from these mines.
I was afraid to

think of leaving,
but you convinced me.

I can imagine a future,

not just for my people,
but for myself.

Rhade, check in
if you're in range.

[EXCALIMS]

Damn.

[GRIMACING]

TOLEK: No!

What are you doing?

He wanted to take you away.

He wanted to
take us all away,
to save us!

He did a shameful act.

He tried to kill you.

I'm sorry,

but you are a lucky man.

You had the force
of light in you.

I think it was the oil
that you put on me
that saved my life again.

As for Lon,
ah, he's young.

He just wanted
to protect you.

The stream fan, gone?

Just before dawn.

Rhade never returned
from his mission.

He's been tricking me
from the start, he and
Dylan Hunt, working together.

That means they're still
out there somewhere,

on my land.

Somebody's keeping them alive.

Get the men.

Put all the Surog
into the mines.
Move. Move!

Anyone who resists, dies.

We're not coming back
until Dylan Hunt is dead.

BEKA: I have to
make a living, Rhade,

and carting refugees around
isn't exactly profitable.

Come on, a
one-day job, max.

Ferry the people
from the surface
of the planet

to the Andromeda, then

they're not your
problem anymore.

They're already
not my problem.

You can't just turn
a blind eye on this.

You're starting to
sound just like Dylan.

Oh, my God.
You really are.

It's not intentional,
believe me.

I know, it's just
what always happens.

He turns everyone into
an idealistic idiot,

including me.

All right. One day.

I understand
that your traditions
honor those who

give their lives
in the mines
so that

their families can live,

and I applaud their devotion

but I won't applaud their
sacrifice, not when
there are other options.

You've all become
slaves to the mines,

even those of you
who stay here.

It's time to
break those chains.

My ship can take all of you
to where there are no mines
to destroy your families.

A free land where you can earn
a living without sacrificing
your health or sanity.

Listen to me.

This is the chance
to truly honor
your fallen ancestors.

Please, let me help you.

I am going with Dylan.

Who else will go?

LON: I will go.

Dylan Hunt
faced death

to offer us this chance.

I was death's instrument,
and death did not take him.

Now I ask his forgiveness.

I offer him
my support.

We honor the miners
who give everything
so that we can survive.

Now it's our turn
to risk everything,
in a new place, for them!

[ALL CHEERING]

So Beka told you we're
going to Seefra-8?
Yeah.

Yeah, she also told me
we're picking up
a load of refugees.

Not exactly the cargo
I had in mind.

What can I tell you?
We had to improvise.

What the hell
happened to you?

Nothing. Just a little mishap
I had with a project.

Maybe you should take a rest.
Maybe you should
mind your own business.

Trying to work here...
Over my shoulder.

Let's see.

Dylan, we have
a medical alert
here on the Maru.

Doohickeys all look the same.
Oh, not all of them.

DYLAN: Only what
you can carry.

We won't have a lot of time
once Cutter spots
my friends landing here.

We won't need that
anymore.

Yeah, but I have
a friend who does,

then we're all done.

Will we be able
to take everyone?

We won't leave
anyone behind
who wants to come.

My concern is
the miners.

We have to convince them in a
hurry that it's time to leave,

and I've seen what happens
when they get angry.

Every one of them has
someone they love here.

We'll make them understand.

Well, I hope so.
[BEEPS]

Dylan, we're in orbit above you.

Good, right on time.

Maybe not.
There's a mass of armed men
heading right for your position.

We have to move.

Cutter's on the attack.

Nothing.

We searched
everywhere.

No one?

No. Not a soul.

LON: It's like they
knew we were coming.

Leave it. Just leave it.
We'll be there soon.

TOLEK: There's
nothing we could do.

We're outnumbered.

We still have the advantage.
They have to find us,

but we know exactly
where they are.

If I had missile power,
I'd fire a couple
right into that column of men.

If we had
missile power,
I'd rig us, uh...

What do you call it?

A resonance
thingamajig.

Drop it on, Uh, what's
his name's head, kaboom!

If I had a hold
full of charged quartz

on that jetstar,
could we have missile power?

You've got a hold? Full?

About 15 crates.
Can you use it?

Try and stop me!

Now Cutter will know
what it's like to be bullied.

Come on. Focus.
I can do this.

All right.

PE power conversion
on the fly.

Any old second-hand
tech can do this.

Why can't I?

Why can't I think straight?

It's the crystal, Harper.
Move away. Let me finish.

Don't touch me!
Back off, Nietzschean.

Harper,
you're not well.

Move away!

Get your hands
off of that.
That's mine!

Harper...

Settle down.

Hmm.

We've got lots of room
for everyone.

Move to the back of the ship,
the very back of the ship.

MAN: Stay with
your sister.

Hurry up.

They all left.
The Surog,
the miners.

They've all gone!

The whole town
is empty.

Where did they go?

CUTTER: Hunt!

Why are you doing this?
I was making
a civilized place here.

Civilized for whom?

Look, this place is poisonous.
I don't recommend
hanging around.

I made my home here,
I staked my claim,

and I'm not going
to let anybody
take that from me.

No one's trying to take it
from you. Believe me.

It's all yours.

It's your choice.
You can stay, or
you can come along.

That's a good choice.

[QUICK BREATHING]

I'm going to crush your...

Your skull!

Like a... Like a...
What do you call it?

I'm going to...

He'll be all right now.
We just made it.

How are we on weapons?
RHADE: We're there.

I'm arming.
Target the mines.

What?
It's the only way.

Locking on.

Fire.

Why do you think
the Vedrans created
those crystals?

Well, maybe it
was their version
of banking power.

Maybe they thought
they'd need it one day.

Or--
Or...

maybe they were using it
as some form of
toxic waste management.

Ugh!

The stuff would
have made me rich.

The stuff would have
made you a madman,

who, thankfully,
wouldn't have
been able to talk.

All of you,
shut up.

You're awfully quiet, boss.

Back to square one.

No crystals,
no power source.

No power source,
no Andromeda.

No Andromeda,
no way out of this system.

Well, we didn't have a choice.

We'll bring her
back to life somehow.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]