Farscape (1999–2003): Season 1, Episode 9 - DNA Mad Scientist - full transcript

If you wish to blink,
now would be the time.

Just do it if you're
going to do it.

Are you all right, John?

Yeah, sure. No problem.
Happens all the time.

Needle in the eye. No sweat.

All finished.

Which of you is next?

You go next.

I told you, I'm not
participating.

But, uh...

Park it in the chair and get this
over with so we can get out of here.



You're not comfortable
here, my dear?

Is it my reputation?

It's your reputation, NamTar,
that led us here.

Yes, it certainly is an honor
to meet such a learned scientist as yourself

and to take part in his grand
experiments.

You sure that this is worth
a stick in the eye?

You do want to go home,
don't you, John?

NamTar may have data that
Moya is lacking.

Data that we're desperately
in need of.

You're looking for a
DNA sample, right?

Can't you just take a
skin scraping?

If I were working merely at the
double helix level, yes.

But to provide you with the
information you desire...

Is this going to take long?



Moments, mere moments.

Kornata, your assistance.

I will do each of you in turn.

But beautiful Zhaan, I have
chosen to do yours first.

Go ahead, Zhaan.

Enjoy.

My genetic database holds information
on nearly eleven million species.

It is simple for me to take a
genetic sampling of a particular being

and pinpoint the location
of its origin.

That's my home.

You're going to do this
for me too, right?

Provide you with a genetic map
to your home world?

A map that will allow you
to make the journey

and avoid any Peacekeeper
jurisdictions along the way?

That is what you came here
for isn't it?

I am delighted I have the
very thing you each desire so strongly.

And now, my price.

Ah, yes.

I believe I told you when I first
contacted you that our resources

are somewhat well... limited.

You arrived here aboard a
Leviathan ship did you not?

You want our ship?

My interest isn't in your ship,
but in your ship's Pilot.

What do you want with him?

My research will be
greatly enhanced

by genetic material from such
an extraordinary species.

You mean, a sample like
you took from us?

A sample, yes.

But I'm afraid I'm going to need
a bit more than I asked of you.

How much more?

I will require...

one of your Pilot's arms.

My name is John Crichton,
an astronaut...

...a radiation wave hit and I
got shot through a wormhole...

Now I'm lost in some distant
part of the universe on a ship,

a living ship, full of strange
alien life-forms...

Help me...

Listen, please.

Is there anybody out there
who can hear me?

...being hunted by an insane
military commander...

...doing everything I can...

I'm just looking for
a way home.

Don't you want to analyze
it before...

You're usually so careful
about these things.

Neurotically careful.

What's wrong?

I have to get back to you
on that one.

You know, you're no worse off
than you were a couple of arns ago.

So NamTar didn't have Earth
on his data stores.

Eleven million species.

Eleven million, and he couldn't
at least narrow it down for me?

I mean sure, he can't pinpoint
the exact location

but am I even in the
neighborhood here?

He sure as hell pinpointed
the others, no problem.

What's your problem?

Hey, you know, you didn't even
let him poke you in the eye.

You don't even know if he's got your
home world in his big ball of wonders.

Have you forgotten?

You and the others are trying to get
home avoiding Peacekeeper territories.

My home is Peacekeeper
territories.

It's just that I can't ever
go back there.

Ever.

Have you forgotten?

NamTar's demand.

I mean, unless Pilot volunteers
one of his arms,

we're all going to be blasting out
of here together in about one hour.

One arn.

You saw the looks on
the other's faces.

What makes you think they're going to
wait for Pilot to volunteer anything?

What do you think you're doing?

Pilot, please.

I'm implore you, just listen.

Listen to what? How dare you!

NamTar has offered us something
we cannot obtain anywhere else.

Think about somebody else
for a change.

I will help ease your pain.

Now, D'argo.

No!

We have upheld our end of
the bargain, NamTar.

Yes, you have. Splendidly.

And I will uphold mine.

It will take me a short while
to load the cartographs

to all three of your home worlds
into the crystal.

How much of a while?

I sense you don't
completely trust me.

But you needn't worry.

The crystal will be delivered
to your ship shortly.

We will await your messenger.

Kornata.

Let us hope the Pilot DNA
shows better results.

Thank you, you are finished.

I said you are finished.

Don't concern yourself,
Crichton.

I will be fine.

My species has superior
regenerative capabilities.

So you, um...

you let them cut off
one of your arms.

I didn't exactly let them.

They have the opportunity
to go home.

The drive is very strong.

I will never understand
you people.

How can you not be angry?

Insanely angry?

When one of my species is
bonded to a Leviathan,

we give our lives to the
service of others.

Ship first, then those who
travel aboard her.

No matter what those
aboard do to you?

My species is incapable of
spaceflight on our own.

If we wish to journey beyond our home
planet, this is the tradeoff we make,

for the chance to see
the galaxy.

I consider it a perfectly
equitable arrangement.

Do you have something
to say to us?

The decision was a
hard one, Aeryn.

Our actions even harder.

But it is done.

How could you?

Pilot is defenseless.

Compassion? From a Peacekeeper?

For a comrade.

You attacked one of your own.

Would you do the same
to the rest of us?

Of course.

Well, you have your maps now.

What makes you think you can just
take this ship wherever you want to go?

These maps are precisely what
we've been longing for.

Our way home.

Pilot will not help you after
what you have done to him.

Pilot is a servicer.

He'll get over it.

I'll see to it.

I know what is troubling
you, my dear.

You'll never find your way home.

But please, do not deny us all
our chance to find our own.

They're getting their maps.

Pilot says he's going
to be okay.

It's only one of his arms.
Hell, he's got four.

I guess that makes you and
me the odd men out.

That means they're going home,
and we're not.

Hey. You know, even
with the maps,

it's still going to take them
some time to make the trips.

And then it's just you and me.

Look, you know, I'm not entirely
useless here, you know.

I happen to be learning.

Aeryn?

What's the matter?

They are going home.

And someday, you will, too.

Yeah. Sure.

I mean, if I ever find
a way home, yeah.

I was born a Peacekeeper
soldier.

I've always been one among many.

A member of a division,
a platoon, a unit, a team.

I've never been on my own, John.

Never been alone.

Ever.

When I find a way home, if...

if I find a way home, I'll,
I'll take you with me.

Me on a planet full of
billions of you?

Get out!

Out!

Ah. So sorry.

I came to inform you that the
data crystal is on its way.

What is all this?

Mmm, just items that I've
procured since our escape.

To aid us in our bartering.

Of course, when I return home
and reclaim my birthright,

Offal such as this will no longer
be allowed to offend my sight.

A box of food cubes?

My emergency supply.

In case something came up.

How long have you had these for?

Were they in your possession when we
were without food for nearly two weekens?

You see? Something did come up.

If you like them, they're yours.

You have not reclaimed your
birthright yet, little man.

I did not expect Aeryn to share our excitement,
but Crichton's attitude surprises me.

If NamTar's knowledge had extended
to Crichton's pathetic home world,

you can wager that he would have
offered up his own mevonks,

useless as they are.

Would you, if that had been
the price demanded?

Fortunately, it was not.

Only a female would make
light of such a thought.

I was not making light.

And you.

What would you have given?

I would risk my pneuma for
the chance to go home.

NamTar has no use for
that out here.

I'm surprised that he has stayed out
here in the Uncharted Territories.

His knowledge could bring him
great fame and power.

Even great wealth.

It could change the entire basis
of astronavigation.

It would change the basis for
war.

One single prisoner and you would have
the ability to strike at their very heart.

Their homeland.

You would pervert NamTar's
genius to a weapon?

Why not?

Somebody will.
Why shouldn't it be me?

You still feel pain
from the needle?

It's nothing.

And soon forgotten, once we're
on our voyage home.

On Delvia the filgran will be
just coming into bloom.

My parents will be preparing for
the festival of Pedrark.

There is no need for them to keep my
seat vacant at this cycle's festival.

If you reach there this cycle.

The crystal will be arriving
from NamTar within an arn.

I don't doubt.

But there are decisions to be
made, about our course.

Without my Qualta blade, you would not have
been able to give NamTar what he wanted.

I will make the decisions.

To suit yourself.

But it is not as easy
as you wish.

This is a time for
logic and reason.

Unless of course you wish to find
yourself at odds with everyone on the ship,

not just Aeryn Sun and Crichton.

And what do you suggest?

A fair compromise.

This is still not right!

What?!

NamTar, your anger!

Release me.

Please.

There is someone to see you.

I was here earlier.

Yes. Of course.

You are looking for my help?

I wish to participate
in your research.

Excellent.

What made you change your
mind, my dear?

I know that there are other Sebacean
colonies beyond the known territories.

I want you to find me one
where I... I can...

Fit in?

Then we will look for
it together.

You understand what I'm
about to do?

You will take some fluid
from my eye.

Exactly.

Remain absolutely still.

It's burning.

Only for a moment.

Is that it?

It is done.

When will I know the results?

It won't be long at all.

I, of course, will return
home first.

You? Hmm...

I bartered for the coordinates
to this asteroid.

I made the first contact
with NamTar.

I struck the deal.

I go home first.

D'argo and I have spoken.

Whoever's home is closest, that
is where we will travel to first.

You two have spoken?

Hmph, without consulting me?

What am I? Chopped mellet?

Of course not.

I can stomach chopped mellet.

Blue-assed bitch.

What did you call me?

A blue-assed bitch!

You guys getting all this?

We don't have to get
all this. Moya is.

Moya isn't.

Pilot, how are you?

The yotz with pleasantries.

What do you mean, Moya isn't
assimilating the data?

Is that her doing or yours?

I have nothing to do with it.

Pilot is right.

The data is being processed
directly by Moya.

But there is too much.

There is a great deal of data
but Moya will have to...

Moya can do nothing about it.

It appears your crystal
is useless.

Lucky for you, you didn't trade
anything of real value to get it.

We can access one of
the maps but...

only if we destroy
the other two.

Well, we'll just go to NamTar and
ask him for three individual crystals.

Ask NamTar for further help?

What will he demand of us then?

If he should ask for it,

what body part are you willing
to offer, your eminence?

Rygel!

What the hezmana do you
think you are doing?

Aeryn!

Where the hell have you been?

Look, there's some major crap
going down here.

Shh! Not so loud.

Yeah. Fine. Look,

we may have a real problem.

The map thing.
NamTar's magic crystal?

Well, Larry, Curly and Moe just found
out they can only use one of the maps.

Two of them ain't going nowhere.

I tell you, it's like a regular
family feud up there.

You sweating?

This isn't a Sebacean heat
thing, is it?

This is not a Sebacean thing.

Well, you've got to give me
a clue here, Aeryn.

Is this something new or is this just
your usual PMS, Peacekeeper Military Sh...

Frell you!

It's no use, Luxan!

The crystal is well hidden.

And will remain so until you and
Zhaan are ready to listen to reason.

"Reason" being that we return
you to Hyneria.

That's the very definition
of "reason."

I'll find the damn crystal
myself.

No, I assure you you won't.

I have places in this cell that even the
Peacekeepers scent hounds couldn't detect.

If you return to Hyneria you will want
to wrest your throne from your cousin.

And I will.

But your cousin is in control
of your armies.

He himself is probably
heavily guarded.

My palace sentries are
inferior to none.

His palace sentries.

However, if you side with me against
Zhaan to return to my home world first,

imagine returning to your palace with a whole
contingent of Luxan warriors at your command.

But you're a fugitive.

Your own people imprisoned you.

My leaders imprisoned me,
not my people.

If you return me to my people
I promise you that you...

You'll be very forgetful of your
debt to me the instant

you were safely amongst
your own.

That's also a Luxan trait.

And that.

When you're ready to engage in that
"reason" discussion we talked of before,

you know where to find me
and the crystal.

Stay in there with your crystal
as long as you wish.

Until you starve.

You think I'm not prepared for
such eventualities?

You forget, your rectal eminence,
you've been doing some housekeeping.

What have you done to me?

You are hurting me, my dear.

I have temporarily turned my nerve
receptors from pain to pleasure.

This is not like what you
did to the others.

Oops.

What have you done to me?

Please... push harder.

You're in the latter part of
phase one, I suspect.

Phase one of what?

Please. I don't want to ruin the
surprise of phase two for you.

Hynerians are extremely
devious beings.

I don't doubt for an instant that
Rygel has that crystal so well hidden

we will never find it
on our own.

If only I could lay my
hands on him.

You would do what?

Whatever it takes to secure
that crystal.

We are forced to face the truth.

Rygel has been a very useful
ally in the past.

But now he is enemy.

Agreed.

You and I must remain strong
no matter what it takes.

And unified.

Unequivocally.

Yes, Officer Sun?

You in pain, Pilot?

Nominal. I will be fine.

There is clearly
something wrong.

May I ask what?

It's the DRDS.

DRDs? Where?

Everywhere. Over this
entire ship.

But it's just not the DRDs.

It's the ship's power generator,
the hydraulic fluids...

You hear all that?

Not so much hear it as sense it.

But how?

It's not so much the noises
as my own thoughts.

It's like they're all happening
at the same time.

Aeryn! Come on. I want to take
you back down to the planet.

Hey, Pilot.

I want to see if maybe we can
find somebody down there

who can figure out what's wrong
with you. Maybe this NamTar guy...

No!

Damn it, Aeryn, I'm
trying to hel...

It's NamTar.

He took some of Pilot's
DNA and he...

and how did, um...?

I went back there.

I wanted him to find me a place
where I could belong.

I didn't want to get
left behind.

I'm so scared.

Ah, Rygel, what a surprise.

I see you're having
something to eat.

Is that your third helping
or your fourth?

Well, I'm always ravenous when
I'm about to take a long journey.

In this case, to my home world.

You know, Rygel,

there's no reason why you and I
should be at odds with each other.

You know, D'argo will leave
you here to starve.

Only D'argo?

You know Delvian Pa'us such as
myself are open to...

all manner of experience.

Are you saying what I
think you're saying?

I'm not saying anything.

I believe talk is very overrated

as a means of connection between
two consenting beings.

Uh... you know,

I'm not really a body breeder.

I mean, well, I'm not
made that way.

But you do understand pleasure.

I know the Hynerian earbrow
is very sensitive.

I can be very gentle.

This can be a very remarkable
journey for you.

Journey?

Hmm... to Delvia.

Delvia... of course.

Rygel...

the crystal.

Oh... ha-ha...

Is safely hidden, where
it will remain.

You honestly believe that I
could find you appealing?

I mean, you're so...

so... blue.

If D'argo and I don't get that
crystal you will starve.

Starve?

Not for a while yet,
I'm pleased to say.

Come on.

We're going to get some answers.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Remember what Pilot said about
the noise, about your thoughts.

String them.

Separate them in your mind.

Easy for him to say.
He's been doing it all his life.

I'm losing it, John.

I'm completely losing it.

Answers coming up. Come on.

You got a minute?
Kornata, isn't it?

You must let me past...

What? What's wrong with you?
With all of you?

So glad to see you again.

Whatever you've done to her,
NamTar, it wasn't part of our deal.

Deal? You felt we had a deal?

A deal connotes reaching
some point of equality.

I'm afraid there's never been
anything equal about us.

How are you progressing?

You should be nearing the end
of phase two by now.

Hmm...

You're coming along wonderfully.

All of these physical
affectations are superfluous.

I assume, though, that you
are also developing

the heightened perception and
multi-tasking capability?

Please stop this.

Stop it? You don't know
what you're asking.

You, my dear, are making a
phenomenal contribution

to the approach of sentient life
toward perfection,

and you want me to stop it?

Aeryn, no!

He may be the only one
who can help you.

That's quite an impressive
weapon you've got there.

Rygel...

D'argo and I have spoken.

We realize all this infighting
is serving us nothing,

except to keep us frozen in
orbit around this asteroid.

We, uh, we acknowledge that
you're in control of the crystal

and without it, we can do
nothing, so, uh...

So we agree to take you
home to Hyneria.

We'll find our own way
home from there.

You have our oath on it, Rygel.

Rygel?

He did not hear our offer...

and I hereby rescind it.

Mmm...

I didn't hear all you were
offering, I'm afraid.

But then, I guess it's a
moot point anyway isn't it?

How did you get out?

You really think that I could spend all
those cycles locked in one of these cells

and not have a secret means of
sneaking in and out as I please?

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I have a little trip
planning to do.

Rygel, wait!

You're wound is shallow.
You'll be fine.

Leave this place now,
while you still can.

Wait! I'm going to help her.

You've got to help me help her.

NamTar needs your friend
too badly.

He wants to isolate your Pilot's
multi-tasking capability through Aeryn.

He'll do anything to get it.

Why? Why does he need it
so damn bad?

Because it's an ability he
doesn't possess yet.

Wait a minute.

You're saying he grafts the genetic
traits of other species onto himself?

That's what he set up
this lab to do?

He didn't set up this lab. I...

You did?

I was the project leader.

These were my research team,

facility employees.

We were working on theories of
quantum genetics, isolating,

identifying the origins of intellect,
the essentials of thought itself.

NamTar started to use your
discoveries on himself?

I increased his intellect.

At least at first.

Then when he became smart enough
he began doing it on his own.

He was a test subject.

He was one of my laboratory
creatures.

He drew genetic material from
all the species I had catalogued.

He increased his physical size.

He gave himself the best traits of
life-forms from a thousand different worlds.

Now he's using Aeryn as
his own lab rat.

He used us all.

Is there anything we can
do to help her?

He controls my lab,
all my equipment.

If I'm away for more than an arn
he comes looking for me.

He knows that I am the only...

Is there?

Is it necessary to reduce me
fully to the final stage?

You are in no way being
diminished.

You are being given a gift.

You are experiencing a level of intellectual
processing few beings ever approach.

I feel what you describe, but...

I am slipping away.

I feel that, too.

You must be willing to push off
from the riskless shore

in order to reach heady
new lands.

But as soon my body reaches
the saturation point

you will take the DNA features
you desire and discard the rest.

I look forward to experiencing the
insights you obviously already possess.

D'argo, look, just stop.

Don't force it. Just let me try.

You've been trying.

A decoy.

How did such a great warrior
fall for such an obvious trick?

You blame me?

If I hadn't listen to your
frodank of an idea about a deal...

You had no better idea.

I wanted to kill him, and I swear that when I
get out of here I will enjoy watching him die.

When you get out of here?

Well, to this point your assistance
has been worse than useless.

You gave your word we
work together.

And you gave yours.

I saw you leaving this
corridor earlier.

I was merely asking Rygel
to see reason.

A deal that you didn't bother
to mention to me.

Had I succeeded, of course I
would have discussed it with you.

Had you succeeded, you would
be on your way to Delvia.

Crichton!

Aeryn!

You're wasting your time.

I do not wish to grow old here
watching you scratch at that lock

like some scabrous scent hound.

Pilot, this is Kornata.

She's here to help Aeryn.

You're magnificent.

Pilot, we don't have
a lot of time.

In fact, we have no time.

We need your assistance.

Without hesitation.

I need a titus scan of each of
the last three inert mixtures.

Also, the expanded graph matches
the latest spectral analysis

and all final recounts of
the cyyto-batch data.

Working on them all.

Look, if there's anything
I can do...

Shh...

Crichton, I think you
should know.

Rygel has nearly finished reconfiguring
the data on the cartographic crystal.

The crystal that NamTar
gave you?

Yeah. Why?

NamTar wanted to make certain you
couldn't leave even if you wanted to.

If you try to import the maps
into the ship's data store

it'll erase everything
that's in there.

Erase Moya's memory?

Rygel?

Rygel!

Damn!

No!

Crichton, this is...

What have you done?

It would've destroyed all
of Moya's data.

It was never meant to work.

Crichton?

Pilot here.

Yes, Pilot?

It's ready.

Where have you been?

The final stage serum is nearly
complete and I need your help.

If you've come to attack me
yet again,

I warn you, I don't have
time for you now.

I will need to simply kill you.

I'm not here to attack you.

I know there's nothing that
I can do to you.

I'm here to see Aeryn.

I'm afraid your friend Aeryn
is no longer here,

but there is someone else you
may be interested in meeting.

Rise.

Step forward.

Don't be modest.

John.

How can you do this to her?

Is that how you speak to someone
who is fast approaching perfection?

You're a long way from
perfection, NamTar.

But nearer, possibly, than any
other corporeal being has ever come.

Give credit where credit is due.

You expect credit for using innocent
life-forms as specimens in your research?

You, of all people, should
understand the horror in that.

You know of my origins?

Yeah.

What I didn't understand then is
all species are seeking perfection.

That's what evolution is,
the road towards perfection.

How many generations of your species
have lived and died to lead to you?

How many will die after you?

All in the name of achieving
a state of perfection.

You don't think I understand
you, do you?

Oh, I understand.

No, believe it or not we've had
men like you on my planet.

Educated men.

Men of science and medicine.

Men who were searching for some
self-described ideal

and willing to maim and murder
untold thousands to find it.

There was one.

His name was Mengele.

To him, anyone was fair game as
a subject of his experiments.

The weak, the handicapped,
men, women, children.

The quest for perfection demands
our unwavering devotion.

This Mengele sounds
like a visionary.

He was a monster.

For this betrayal, you will die.

John...

Help me!

Kornata.

No!

For her,

it must be the eye.

Oh, no, what have I done?

What have I done?

What have you done?

You've saved her life.

It's a happy face.

They're food cubes.

No, see the pattern,
it forms a...

Never mind.

Food still tastes funny?

What was the worst part?

Aeryn...

I've always thought of myself
in terms of survival.

Life and death.

Keeping the body alive.

But what NamTar did to me,

it wa...

it was me.

Inside.

The real me.

You would've fit in on Earth...

just fine.

Your arm.

Is it healing?

Of course.

You understand why I did
what I did?

Your motivations were
perfectly clear.

And you understand that if I was
faced with the same choice again

I would do exactly the same.

I have no doubt whatsoever.

I also know that Luxans are
not given to apologies.

It's the device you've been
working on so diligently.

What do you call it?

It is a Shilquen, and it
is finally finished.

And...

what manner of weapon is it?

It is not a weapon.