Farscape (1999–2003): Season 4, Episode 10 - Coup by Clam - full transcript

Previously on Farscape.

A relationship is based
on trust.

I didn't want to tell you about
the pregnancy until I was sure.

Sure you were pregnant,
or sure who the father was?

In view of the continuing danger
we face in Peacekeeper space,

I'm reluctantly forced to consider
traveling into Tormented Space.

Can't be as bad as some of the
places we've been lately.

It can.

What's he doin' here?

He wants asylum.

Asylum?



I gave my word that he
would not be harmed.

Why did you come here?

To safeguard John Crichton,

amongst other things.

Can you trust Scorpius?

More today than yesterday. Why?

And now, on Farscape.

Highly abnormal.

Ugh! Even I can't eat that much.

Is that really your
third helping?

Fifth.

Highly abnormal.

Highly effective.

So, the advantages of only
eating ten times a cycle are...



Not eating all the other times.

Captain?

Pilot.

Moya has asked me to
once again convey...

Okay, stop right there.

We're aware that you think this
planet is a pit, an outpost of nothing.

Their food's overcooked
undercooked, and not worth cooking.

Makes Noranti's food
seem edible.

Pilot, how bad is it?

Without additional zyntian
filtration, the electrostatic impulses

from surrounding radiation
sources will drive her mad.

Moya has not had peaceful rest
since we entered the Tormented Space.

This is the only planet we've
found whose mechanics are aware of Leviathans.

They can get the job done.

But when, Captain?

When their doctor certifies that
none of us has Space Madness.

After you.

He has already certified free of,
uh, transmissible celestial dementia?

We're calling it Space Madness.

Scarran ancestry, however,
disqualifies visitation to Khurtanan.

Hit the road.

Space invader.

Stillness.

I'm sure that Pilot told you that
Moya's hull protects us from radiation.

Good.

Space Madness is so feared on this
planet that there are no exceptions.

Now for the neurologic
brain scan.

Hmm...

Hey look, I know you guys
lie and all,

but this is not gonna hurt
too bad, is it?

Not a bit.

No, no, no. No.

This food is dren.

I'll agree to that.

Ah. If you'd have held your
scream out for one more microt,

I would have won the pool.

Oh, too bad. Anything edible?

No.
- No.

Remarkable.

So, Doc Snot commed ahead
giving us the all-clear

and Pilot says that the
mechanic is on approach.

Wow, that's crap.

Know what?

I think I might be allergic
to something here.

Gratification at meeting
you all.

Did you enjoy the repast?

Well, it's the first thing I've had in
a while that doesn't taste like chicken.

Kind of reminds me of a big
bowl of Alpo I once ate.

Ha, perhaps when you visit the planet
you'll discover better nourishment.

Uh, we won't be visiting
the planet, Doctor.

As soon as your mechanic fixes
our ship, we'll be leaving.

I risk to differ, Captain.

Oh, did I forget to mention not
to share the Qatal Mollusks?

They're to be eaten whole.

Should the flesh be divided
among different stomachs,

the food poisoning that
results is fatal.

What did you do?

Initiated the first half of our
business arrangement.

Bring one quarter million
currency pledges each to my office,

and I will cure you.

My name is John Crichton,
an astronaut.

Three years ago I got shot
through a wormhole.

I'm in a distant part
of the universe

aboard this living ship of
escaped prisoners,

my friends.

I've made enemies.

Powerful, dangerous.

Now all I want is to
find a way home

to warn Earth.

Look upward and share
the wonders I've seen.

Know what? Why don't we
just shoot you?

It does sound presumptuous,
I know,

but I am the only one
that can cure you.

The weapons will only cause the
mechanic to resist the modifications

your ship requires.

Suppose we tell him
what you did.

Well, he will not believe you.

He cannot help you.

And I will double my price.

Care to call my bluff?

Hmm?

Do not delay payment.

Your symptoms will greatly mimic
the uncontrolled disorders

associated with space madness,

a disease they shoot
on sight for.

Doctor.

As I communicated, clean
health for all.

No threat of affective illness.

At the moment.

Hey.

Glad to see ya.

As you can see, we're...

we're all excited by it all.

If you'll excuse me.

Chiana.

Excuse me.

Did you eat any of the mollusks?

No.

Good, okay.

I want you to put this mechanic to
work but I want you to stay with him.

He goes nowhere without you.

Okay.

Where do you need to go?

The zyntian filter must be installed
in a primary sensory nerve conduit.

Any Neural Cluster will do,
once we have diverted the synaptic flow.

And, um...

I can tell Pilot how
to do that...

Right.

Come on.

Right, y'all have fun now.

Watch out for those hooligan
trill bats.

They're killers.

What the frell is going on here?

Every time Rygel vents,
I... vent.

And every time Sputnik pulls a
face, I get major league cramps.

I'm digesting a large meal that
should not be affecting you.

Well, it does.

Is this a side effect of
the Day-Glo clams?

It must be.

D'Argo and I both ate the purple mollusks,
and every time he sneezes I feel it.

Rygel and I had the green one.

Somehow it's linked us.

We have to find a cure
very quickly.

Okay. Let's go down to the planet
and have a chat with our doctor.

Analyze the food. If you find a
cure, comm us immediately.

So we can chop his head off.

I'll need various bodily
samples from each of you.

Thank you. Next.

Are you sure?

Absolutely.

How long will this take?

Couple of arns at the most.

Why are you staring at me?

Well, maybe I think
you're cute.

Think whatever you want,
but I'm just here to do a job.

I just wanna see that you
don't hurt Moya.

Time to bypass the synapses.

Pilot, we need to cut off
power to this Cluster.

Diverting now.

No, it'd be more efficient
if you simply...

I do not need your help.

Dr. Tumii will be back shortly.

Well, we'd like to see him now.

Nothing I can do.

Damn, this place could
use some air-con.

Where the hell is Sikozu?
In a sauna?

Don't complain.

You're not feeling three
overfull stomachs.

Hmm...

Ah.

Okay. This is new.

It's not me,
it's definitely her.

That's all for today.

Ah.

Killing me kills you.

May I speak?

No. Cure first, speak later.

Oh, put those away.

I promise you, I can't be
forced to cure you.

And the cure is of my
own devising.

You won't find it elsewhere.

Let me explain the
Qatal Mollusk.

Please don't. We give up.
We'll pay.

Each mollusk harbors one colony
of neurally linked bacteria

and each colony acts
as one organism.

So much so, that if the
mollusk is halved,

its bacteria alternately transmit each
half's sensations to the other half.

Why?

Who cares?

Take the money. Cure us.

Now that the bacteria have
colonized your bodies,

they're communicating your
emotional states to, uh,

force you to merge.

The problem is you
are not mollusks.

That's never been a problem
for us before.

It is now.

Your bodies, unlike the mollusk
halves, can never merge.

And so your symptoms worsen and
eventually the strain kills you.

All right, we understand.
Fix it.

We'll pay double if
you shut up.

And I'll break your neck
if you don't.

Cure us all. Now.

I will.

But I am down to my
last mollusk,

and each cure requires the
same type as was ingested.

So get more.

More being delivered
in a few arns.

Until then, I can only cure
whoever ate the purple mollusk.

That'd be me.

I hate you.

Oh... oh...

Oh, oh, oh...

When this is finished,

you'll mix it with the other
linked patient's urine

and then you orally ingest.

No way. I am not drinking
the old woman's urine.

D, what's up?

Nothing, it's, uh...
it's Noranti, she...

Is she in pain?

It's... it's the opposite.

Ah, oh...

She's experiencing
intense pleasure?

Oh!

Very intense.

Um, John... do you think
you could...

Whoa, no, no, don't come near me
when you're feeling like that.

Come on, D'Argo. Just fight it.

D, think about baseball.

Math. Isosceles triangle.

Rusty razor blades. Gravel.

Ah!

Ah!

Ah!

Oh!

She lost it.

This will give more
lasting relief.

Divide, urinate,
exchange, ingest.

You and the linked one must then
press bare flesh to bare flesh,

so the bacteria can migrate.

How much bare flesh?

Hands will suffice.

You see, the cure unbinds the bacteria from
your cells and tricks the colony into...

One more word of technobabble
and I'm gonna cut your tongue out.

D'Argo you wanna go
check it out?

I'm afraid the boy may be
ruined for life.

I'm almost jealous.

And if this doesn't work,

you're dead.

With all respect, so are you.

Bioscan's negative so far,

but how can you travel in
something so alive?

All the filthy bacteria.

Moya is quite hygienic.
She is self disinfecting.

She is female?

Oh, yes.

But only controlled by Pilot,
a male, of course.

Ah, okay.

That's not so bad.

And there never has been a case
of Space Madness aboard this ship.

Oh, you're lucky. We've had to terminate
three cases in the last half cycle.

An outbreak?

I guess so.
I thought it had gone.

Three cases out of the blue.

They were good men, too.

Real shame.

Oh, indeed.

All male?

That's what makes it
a real shame.

Ah, I believe the mollusks
have arrived.

Arrived in less than 30 minutes.
- Finally.

Don't forget to tip the driver.

Son of a bitch.

Vanished.

Lie still, don't move.

Who is the doctor?

Oh, plainly not you.

Did you see who shot me?

Not her face. She disappeared.

But you're certain she
was female? - Mm-hmm.

We are all in serious
difficulty.

"We"?

Yes. I'm afraid I
can't cure you.

Go on. Take it. Drink it.

Why do you hesitate?

Why do you think?

Would you rather die
than drink it?

Okay.

So we should be touching
while we drink this.

Oh, so you said.
Um, bare skin to bare skin.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.

Not that much bare skin.

But I... I would have thought
that the more contact...

No, the doctor would have said,
you know.

Oh, yes.

Less skin.

Here's to ya.

Did it work?

Dunno.

Test it.

Okay.

Oh!

Was that absolutely necessary?

Oh, one little pop.

Oh!

Oh, I just got a fright. I...

I didn't feel anything.

It's working.

John, the cure seems
to be working.

That's great news, D.
I hate you even more.

Certainly it's working.

Just maintain contact.

For how long?

Until you feel an oily
sensation,

which signifies the bacteria
have all precipitated out.

No more than a few arns.

Arns?

What happens if they break
contact before... that?

The bacteria will recolonize in
their bodies and the symptoms recur

and eventually, they'll die.

It's not gonna happen.

Rygel, you and Sikozu get
down here quickly.

Right. Oh!

Do you know I've been looking
for this opportunity for so long.

I've wanted to get you alone.

There are so many things
I don't know about you.

You know, Doc, you might wanna
give her a reason not to kill you.

Oh...

To cure you, I need Qatal Mollusks,
and I can no longer get them.

Why not? Credit problems?

Let me explain the sociopolitical
situation on Khurtanan.

As you may know, females
are oppressed here.

but there is a resistance movement
planning a violent coup to seize power.

Girl power. So what?

They possess the only
Qatal Mollusks on this planet.

They employ them to eliminate
certain males in power.

So why use the mollusks?

Secrecy.

The Qatal symptoms are not
known on this planet.

They are mistaken for
Space Madness.

Yeah, and anyone with Space Madness
is put down like a rabid dog.

We got that part.

Correct. But during an autopsy
on one of the victims,

I saw the real cause.

I found out who was responsible
and I made a deal.

My silence for some of
the mollusks.

So you use them for extortion and
they use them for coup by clam.

We still don't care.

Apart from the obvious, why did
they just try to kill you?

I assume that their big takeover
attempt must be imminent.

Possibly they're afraid
I might expose them.

All I can do is refund
two-thirds of your currency.

Oh, no.

You're going to tell me where
the females are.

Um... I thought you might need
some help with your equipment.

I'm fine.

Sure you are...

sister?

You can't tell Mekken.

He'll kill me.

Oh? Well, maybe I'll kill you.

What have I done to you?

I told you, I'm just here
to do a job.

Yeah?

Well, then why the
sex change, hmm?

I don't think you're
here to help us.

I think you're here
to spy on us.

To make sure we eat those
frelling mollusks!

I don't know what you're
talking about.

I'm here to help you.

Fixing your Leviathan.

Then what's with this?

What's with the change?

Because women on my world aren't
allowed to do this sort of work.

Sure.

You don't believe me, I'll go.

Get someone else. Some male to
stop your ship from going mad.

All right, all right,
all right, all right.

Okay, maybe...
maybe you're not lying.

No maybe.

These female revolutionaries
run a club to entertain men?

Very popular with rich and powerful
males, including governing officials.

Then one night, they chop some
mollusk up into the hors d'oeuvres and instant coup.

I should probably go alone.

No, no, no, I got it.

Currency.

Do we have the antidote?

Just going for that.

Oh well, hurry up.

This place reeks of antiseptic.

Sikozu, we have a mission.

I'm happy to go.

Jirl power.
- Hmm?

Girl... girl power! Would you
quit speaking English?!

Aeryn, be careful!

Considering we're linked.

I'd better go before the
females try again.

I'm going to miss this planet.

Anybody here?

Dr. Tumii?

He's tied up right now.

So what?

So, uh, why don't you have
a seat and wait your turn?

Tell the doctor that
Ho'Ock is here. Now.

What's all the commotion?

Who are you?

Dr. Rygel.

Tumii's at the colon convention.

Uh, what seems to be
the problem? Hmm?

My zergenbobs are
playing up again.

That's what you get for
neglecting them.

Take off your clothes.

Here?

Yes. For some preventive
bloodletting.

Most anyone can benefit from the removal
of one excess bodily fluid or another.

Inflamed zergenbobs, you say?

Well, I think we should
take a look, hmm?

Take care of yourself.

Hmm.

What the hell's the
matter with you?

I'm operating.

You looking for work?

No.

We don't open for another arn.

We'd like to talk to Selva.

Who?

Your boss.

You claim to know her?

No.

But we have heard that she's
trying to improve conditions

on this planet for females.

It's a worthy cause.

Causes need currency.

So we'd like to discuss
a business deal.

Not interested.

We'd prefer to hear
that from Selva.

No, you wouldn't.

Sikozu, are you up for this?

Crichton, I think the
girls are in trouble!

That's brilliant, Holmes.

I am Selva.

You wanted to speak to me.

Not if this is how you treat
your friends.

Why don't you untie us?

You're not my friends.

Yes, you're right.
That's a good point.

We're not your friends.

We've come to buy something
from you at whatever the price.

Two Qatal Mollusks.

Even if they're telling the
truth, we can't take that chance.

Of course not.

But killing them will only cure
whoever it is they're linked with.

Leaving them free to
take revenge.

However, if we keep our
captives alive...

Then their partners will
be drawn here.

Where they can all die at once.

Ain't no way in hell I'm
wearing that.

Have I spent an arn shopping
for nothing?

We have to get into that club.

Why don't we just go as we are?

The elite male clientele are all
known, and know one another.

Therefore, we can't go as males.

Well, I ain't going as Maid
Marian and... look at that.

That is not a slimming color.
Black is a slimming color.

Maybe, maybe if it was
black, but uh-uh.

I wear that color all the time.

Look, stay here and die
from the mollusks.

I'll go alone.

Told you we'd get in.

You say that like it's
a good thing.

One down, three to go.

Get in, get the girls,
get the clams, get out.

Over here. Keep your head down.

We need to blend in.

Blend in? Hell, when we got
here the clocks stopped.

We couldn't blend in on
Butt-Ugly Night.

Whadda we got here?

Oh, I love a powerful woman.

You put your hand on
my ass again,

and I will kill you.

You're the first one who's
ever guessed that I wasn't really a man.

It wasn't a guess.

I know a male when I see one.

Pretending to be male
isn't so bad.

How do you stand covering up
who you are?

Men get treated better.

Well there must be lots of places you
could go where you don't have to pretend.

My home planet's a lot worse
than this one.

I ran away a long time ago.

Never regretted it
for a microt.

Khurtanan's my home.

And I won't have to masquerade forever.
Sooner or later, women will take power.

You.

Put down your tools and strip.

No.

Hey,

leave her alone.

Stand clear, or you'll both die.

Come on.

You killed Mekken.

Resume your work.

Let's dance.

What's the problem?
You don't talk?

Darling, I don't dance.

I do.

Crichton isn't responding.

His Comms may be turned off.

Or he could be incapacitated,

by the Qatar Mollusks.

Perhaps we should contact
the planet's authorities?

And if they inquire
after Mekken?

Well, what can we do?

You... can do nothing.

Have their better halves
arrived?

Can't tell. Too many new faces.

Give me 50 microts, then cut
off one of their fingers.

That should tell us.

Isn’t this nice?

With the right partner,
I could do it all night.

I really don't think I'm the
right partner for you.

I do.

You know, much as I love
a man in a uniform...

Shouldn't you be on duty,
or something?

I am on duty.

Ah, this looks promising.

Yes. Excellent.

You.

Not her.

Is something wrong?

Headache.

No, not her!

Are you volunteering?

Yes.
- No.

Leave her alone.
- Shut up, Aeryn!

I brought her here. She has nothing to do with this.
- Shut up, Aeryn!

Shut up!
- Fine.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I am.

Cramps.

Bloating.

I'm a little hot.

I could... I could use a drink.

To the bar, shall we?

Didn't work. No one reacted.

Wait there.

Pervert.

Ryg?

How you making out?

I've got the Mollusks.

What about the girls?
- Don't know.

If they're here,
I can't find them.

Well, we gotta find 'em fast.

That's your job.

I did my part. I'm leaving.

You're not running out on me?

I can't help it.

I'm overwhelmed with dread.

But that's the clams talking.

And worse still, my limbs are
starting to go numb.

- Damn it, Rygel,

The Doc told us what that meant.

Should I try the other one?

It's too late. She's already
entered the final phase.

The link will get more unstable
until she and her partner die.

Oh!

If we're not cured soon,
we're dead.

You get the girls.

I'll get these clams
to the doctor.

It's antidote time.

Rygel?

Rygel?

Scorpius, consuming the
remnants of the discarded mollusks seems a risky plan.

Are you certain that once
you've linked with the others,

you can endure the symptoms
and delay their deterioration?

Certain, no.

Confident, yes.

I tried once more to
contact them,

but there's still
no response from...

Proknoth!

Noranti...

I'm really thirsty.

Oh, it's gorgeous.

But I don't want any more.

Let's get this filter in place.

That ought to do it.

Pilot?

Restore the primary path and
see if it's all working.

Restoring now.

Uncanny.

It's so quiet.

The filter works perfectly.

Moya and I sincerely thank you.

You gonna be all right?

On Khurtanan?

Yeah.
- Sure.

Name change, new identity.

I've done it before.
I've got friends who'll help.

I'll probably wind up with
an even better job.

You're a frelling optimist.

Hard to be a revolutionary
if you're not.

No, really. I should go
powder my face.

Mm-hmm.
- Oh.

I think you look beautiful
just as you are.

No, you don't.
- Mmm, yes, I do.

The moment I saw you,
in the doctor's office.

You couldn't fool me
for a microt.

Not with face like that.

All right.

Here's the deal.

I lost a bet.

There's no need to lie to me.

If you treat me nicely, I might
not even have to arrest you.

Arrest?

Dressing up is not a crime.

Yes, it is.

But impersonating a doctor
is an even worse one.

Central Registry shows no record
of your off-world friend.

Who is he, and where is he?

This won't help you without
your linked partner, you know?

So, why don't you, uh,

set me... free?

Shut up! Work!

There's only one thing I like
more than dancing.

Hmm?

Interrogations.

Long, hard interrogations.

Oh, God.

You'll tell me now or
you'll tell me later.

I'm told it's a terrible death.

Wish I could make it quicker.

Ooh.

Get your hands...

My... my nose!

You bit off my nose!

There's plenty left.
Now, get back to work.

Don't be shy.

I thought we were done.
What happened?

I do not know.

Why did you volunteer
your finger?

Do your appendages reattach?

Tell me of anything
suspicious at all.

Hi.

Don't ask. It was Rygel's idea.

He's got the clams. We gotta
figure out a way to get out of here.

All the exits are guarded.

Maybe something I can do.

Hurry.

Excuse me, ladies.

Can I have your attention?

Do any of you have...
- Give me that.

...one of these under
your skirt?

Now.

Aeryn!

Yeah! Girl power!

That's it. Just one more bite.

Mmm, mmm.

Oh, good.

Oh, thank you for preparing
the cures.

I'll leave this mollusk in
the garbage... outside.

But it will be consumed by
drozil flies or a wild flibisk.

You can't do that to me.

I risk to differ.

Mmm.

Nice mollusk.

What's that? One more mouthful?

Hmm. Oh.

Oh! Look at that.

Isn’t that amazing?

Now that, we study.

No, that we will throw away.

Everyone, the cure works.
Ours is finished.

D, how long did yours take?

No time at all.

Frelling forever.

Three arns.

Three arns?
- Oh, that's not that long.

For some.

Well, put your hands together
and feel the power.

Yeah! Out with the evil spirits!

Give me your hand, Ryg.

Go away.

I'm hungry.

You're not eating anything until
we are completely separated.

The antidote has already
dissolved our emotional linkages.

I don't want to take
any chances.

I, uh, hate to bring this up,

but Scorpius ate the
mollusks, as well.

Yes. To link with the four of us and
temporarily override our symptoms.

We would be dead by now
if he had not.