GALACTICA 6551 :
12. A Hero’s Ballad
_____________________________________________________
by Marcell von dem Berge
(© 12.05.1999 / revision #1 7/2017 / revision #2 7/2019)
_____________________________________________________
Based on the classic television series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA created by Glen A. Larson
and on characters created by Glen A. Larson.
Battlestar Galactica © ® & ™ Universal City Studios.
This script is free. It is a non-profit fan project and for personal use only.
No infringement intended.
No commercial use.
_____________________________________________________
There are those, who believe…
_____________________________________________________
SPECIAL GUEST STARS
Liv Tyler as Ada
Sam Neill as The Judge
_____________________________________________________
12. A Hero’s Ballad
_____________________________________________________
by Marcell von dem Berge
(© 12.05.1999 / revision #1 7/2017 / revision #2 7/2019)
_____________________________________________________
Based on the classic television series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA created by Glen A. Larson
and on characters created by Glen A. Larson.
Battlestar Galactica © ® & ™ Universal City Studios.
This script is free. It is a non-profit fan project and for personal use only.
No infringement intended.
No commercial use.
_____________________________________________________
There are those, who believe…
_____________________________________________________
SPECIAL GUEST STARS
Liv Tyler as Ada
Sam Neill as The Judge
_____________________________________________________
A minstrel playing a guitar at a piazza of a medieval city. He has a bow on his nose, like the other people on the planet.
1
Once a stranger came to this place
from far away but full with grace.
His mind was quick and his heart was good,
but that did not save him from the law so rude.
He saved the Princess, it was almost too late,
although this was what sealed his fate.
2
His friends came by to stand by him,
but the law was strict and fairly grim.
The same day he stood on the dreaded scaffold,
it looked like he would never get old.
But all of a sudden a maiden came
to save him from eternal shame.
3
Although he was saved from certain death,
he was afraid and sad and full of grief.
He had to abandon his home and his friends
which broke his heart and tied his hands.
However he started to like his new life
at the fine house that belonged to his handsome new wife.
4
But their luck together did not last so long,
because soon after there was something wrong.
The Maid had won in the lottery,
which was feared by everyone, you and me.
She was chosen to give her life
and her husband stood there in disbeleif.
5
He bravely climbed up the biggest mountain
to face the monster’s fiery fountain.
When he finally saw what he was up against,
he was frozen in fear and deepest angst.
He knew he had to pay a price,
and what he paid that was his life.
Once a stranger came to this place
from far away but full with grace.
His mind was quick and his heart was good,
but that did not save him from the law so rude.
He saved the Princess, it was almost too late,
although this was what sealed his fate.
2
His friends came by to stand by him,
but the law was strict and fairly grim.
The same day he stood on the dreaded scaffold,
it looked like he would never get old.
But all of a sudden a maiden came
to save him from eternal shame.
3
Although he was saved from certain death,
he was afraid and sad and full of grief.
He had to abandon his home and his friends
which broke his heart and tied his hands.
However he started to like his new life
at the fine house that belonged to his handsome new wife.
4
But their luck together did not last so long,
because soon after there was something wrong.
The Maid had won in the lottery,
which was feared by everyone, you and me.
She was chosen to give her life
and her husband stood there in disbeleif.
5
He bravely climbed up the biggest mountain
to face the monster’s fiery fountain.
When he finally saw what he was up against,
he was frozen in fear and deepest angst.
He knew he had to pay a price,
and what he paid that was his life.
BOY (with a “normal” nose, listening to the song): Mother, did it really occur this way?
ADA (dark haired with a few gray strains, sitting on a bench with some embroidery): Yes, that's exactly how it was... (she’s remembering...)
8 YAHREN AGO
A sunny spring day on a distant planet. The rocky landscape is dominated by green vegetation. An away team is collecting plants from a meadow in a valley.
ATHENA: Collect as many sprouts as you can. We don’t know when we’ll be able to expand our menu again. But beware of trying something you don’t know.
Jolly looks up: He just wanted to put a berry in his mouth and throws it over his shoulder.
ATHENA (to Apollo): Where’s Starbuck?
APOLLO: He’s strolling about again. I'll take a look.
Starbuck is collecting seeds at the riverbank. Suddenly he hears someone crying for help. He looks around and sees a woman in the water who is about to drown.
APOLLO: Starbuck!
Starbuck takes off his shirt and pants.
APOLLO: Starbuck! What are you up to?!
STARBUCK: She’s drowning! I gotta help her!
APOLLO: Stay here! Nobody knows of our presence. It could be dangerous to interfere!
STARBUCK: Do you really want me to let her die? You can’t be serious!
Starbuck jumps into the water and pulls woman to the opposite shore.
STARBUCK: Frak! She’s not breathing! Okay, okay... What did Cassie teach you? Oh yeah!
Starbuck resuscitates the woman. She regains consciousness and coughs. A squad of armed guards is emerging on horses.
SOLDIER: Hey! Stand back! What are you doing?!
STARBUCK: Me? I’ve saved her life. She almost drowned.
SOLDIER: Which family are you from?
STARBUCK: Family? I am... an orphan.
SOLDIER: An untitled one! Seize him!
The soldiers grab Starbuck and put shackles on him.
STARBUCK: What does that mean?!
SOLDIER: No untitled one may touch a member of the Royal family! You will die for your crime!
STARBUCK: What?! You must be kidding!
SOLDIER: That's the supreme law. Take him away!
Starbuck looks at the shore, Apollo is looking back at him.
Adama & Apollo are standing before the judge.
JUDGE: Unfortunately there’s nothing I can do. He’s already been judged. I'm sorry but the Ralon legal system is flawless. Ignorance is no excuse in law, unless the delinquent is of unsound mind. But his mind seemed very sound to me.
ADAMA: Yes. May we at least talk to him one last time?
JUDGE: You’d better hurry... Any clear infraction of the law is dealt with immediately. He’s being executed.
Market place. A crowd has gathered. A headsman is standing on a rostrum, the axe in his hand at the ready. Starbuck is standing beside him in chains, a drummer is hitting the drums.
JUDGE: In the name of the King's people we have gathered here to carry out a sentence.
JOLLY (& Boomer, wearing frocks): Do you really think we should get him out of here by force? Apollo said it could make things worse.
BOOMER: If we do nothing we can only bring him home in two parts. I don’t know how you see it, but I prefer seeing his head on his neck.
JOLLY: Okay. But they have scythes and axes!
BOOMER (lifts his frock and presents a laser in his hand): And we have this. Trust me, in a few centons Starbuck will be a free man again.
The judge continues. Starbuck notices Boomer in the crowd, relieved.
JUDGE: In accordance with our law I’m asking the following question to the people at this place before we proceed: Who wants him?
STARBUCK (looks back at the judge, puzzled): Huh?!
JUDGE: Surely, his nose is not that hefty, but he's young, healthy and strong.
BOOMER (speaks into Comlink): Stand by! There’s something wrong..!
STARBUCK: What do you mean?!
JOLLY: What's that mean?
BOOMER: No idea. It looks like they intend to auction him off..!
Three women standing together.
WOMAN #1: I don’t like his nose.
WOMAN #2: He would do well in the kitchen.
WOMAN #3: Or in the barn.
WOMAN #1: What do you need a barn for? You don’t have any cattle.
WOMAN #3: That's none of your business!
JUDGE: Nobody wants him? Then we will…
ADA (in the crowd): I want him!
HEADSMAN: Awh, drat! (puts his axe down)
JUDGE: So it shalt be, woman. Come up!
STARBUCK: What's that supposed to be?!
JUDGE: If someone wants you you'll be spared. (hands Starbuck a pen) Do you accept?
STARBUCK: Oh yes! I greatly accept! (the judge points at a scroll, Starbuck signs it) But why didn’t you tell me earlier?
JUDGE: Oh, didn’t you know that? Either decapitation - or marriage. (hands Ada the scroll) Please sign here.
STARBUCK: Marriage?!
JUDGE: Take his chains off!
STARBUCK: No! I don’t want her! Come on, do it, hang me!
BOOMER: What's wrong with him?
JUDGE (rolls up the scroll and puts it in his side pocket): You have accepted. You are now married till death do you part. And now go and be happy!
STARBUCK: You can’t do that! I don’t even know her!
JUDGE: If you don’t leave the podium immediately I'll have you jailed for obstructing justice!
STARBUCK: You’ve jailed me already..!
Adama & Apollo arrive. Apollo sees the crowds leaving and a stunned expression on Boomer’s face.
APOLLO: Boomer... Oh my Gods, we're too late...
BOOMER: He resisted to the last...
ADAMA: He’s really got..!
STARBUCK:... Married! Just because! Without asking me! By the way, this is Ada. She robbed me of my innocence..!
_____________________________________________________
Ada's house.
STARBUCK (at the table): I’ll appeal.
APOLLO: You can’t. I’ve checked their law thoroughly. There is no paragraph that releases a person sentenced to marriage.
STARBUCK: What about divorce?
APOLLO: Not applicable. Punishment is punishment. The conversion gives you, the condemned, a second chance. But it is always risky because you are not allowed to choose your partner. You are bound to her for the rest of your life.
STARBUCK: Then I'll bunk off. At least they can’t sentence me to death twice.
APOLLO: No, but then she has to pay for what you did.
STARBUCK: What?!
APOLLO: With her signature she's agreed to be responsible for all your crimes if you abscond.
STARBUCK: This is a pathetic body of laws!
APOLLO: Only the King could reprieve you. But given the gravity of your crime I doubt he'll even consider it.
STARBUCK:... I just wanted to help... He should have given me a reward..! Half a Kingdom or something like that... But this means you’ll have to leave me behind..!
STARBUCK (to Ada): Why did you do that?
ADA: I wanted to help you. I didn’t want you to die.
STARBUCK: Nice help. I’m losing my people because of you. What were you thinking? I could have been a felon, maybe a murderer..!
ADA: No. I have seen your eyes. You are good. You don’t deserve to die, even if the court thinks you do. I'm sorry if you didn’t want my help.
STARBUCK:... Excuse me...
ADA: You don’t have to lose your home. I could come with you. I am your wife...
STARBUCK:... No, that won’t work. You wouldn’t like it where I live.
ADA: I don’t understand. I assumed you came from a place beyond the mountains. Is that not true?
STARBUCK: Well, "beyond" is correct, but not as you understand it.
APOLLO: Starbuck, Galactica cannot stay in orbit forever. We must go. You have to make a decision.
STARBUCK:... If I leave she’ll be as good as dead. If I take her with me she’ll perish. I would take her away from paradise and lock her up in a tin can. I couldn’t live with that. She saved my life. She’s completely innocent. Here. (gives Apollo a bag of Cubits) Buy a round for everyone in my name. As a redemption for not inviting them to the wedding. The schedule was pretty tight. And tell them... tell them that I love them. Especially Cassie. And that I will never forget them.
APOLLO: Alright, my friend..!
Last edited: