PART SEVEN—SERINA’S SICKNESS
In the beginning, the character then named Lyra and later Serina,
was to be a continuing BG character. In fact, in one early script (Crossfire),
she’s a member of the Council of Twelve. However, Jane Seymour, hired for the part,
wanted to be free to pursue film work, so she agreed to do the premiere only. As it was
originally shot, the Battlestar Galactica premiere featured the impending death
of Serina from a form of radiation sickness contracted during the Cylon attack. When
shooting was complete and a cut of the episode was shown to test audiences, reportedly the
members of the test audience, all of whom must have had emotional IQs around the age of
10, found Serina’s implied doom (she was actually to have died offscreen) depressing,
and the entire subplot was quickly edited out, much to Jane Seymour’s surprise when
she was asked to do Lost Planet. I have to wonder, by the way, which was really
more depressing; Serina’s death offscreen, or her death onscreen after being shot in
the back on Kobol? Of course the second version did give us a nice “tribute”
scene in Independence Day, but really!
Unfortunately, the one late version of the premiere script that is
available, dated 5/8/78, is already several generations removed from the shooting script
and was actually “compiled” after primary shooting was finished and rethinks
already well underway. Therefore, there are only a few scenes related to Serina’s
illness remaining. I have the distinct impression there were more in earlier versions, and
probably beginning in the second rather than the third hour. These scenes were certainly
shot and ended up on the editing room floor. It is very possible that they still exist.
NOTE 2003: As indeed they do. All of these scenes are included on the DVD
set.
The very first mention of Serina’s illness in this version of
the script comes near the end of the episode, while Serina and Apollo are enjoying
themselves in the casino on Carillon:
SERINA
It’s a circus...a wonderland.
APOLLO
It’s giving a lot of people the kind of relief break they desperately needed.
SERINA
I’m so glad to see them all happy...that woman there at the table...I watched her
husband die in her arms only a few days ago.
(as they start forward an uncertain look crosses Serina’s face. She falters slightly,
clinging to Apollo)
APOLLO
Are you all right?
(she appears slightly faint, then smiles warmly her, composure returning)
SERINA
So much has happened...I think it’s all catching up with me.
APOLLO
I’ll take you to the guest quarters.
SERINA
No, I’m not going to let my evening be spoiled. I want to sit right here at one of the tables.
APOLLO
Why don’t we win a fortune?
SERINA
Why don’t we, my beautiful captain?
I’m not sure if Glen Larson caught the double entendre of
Serina’s response to Apollo’s invitation to take her to the guest quarters, but
it always makes me smile...the next, and most important scene, occurs in Life Station just
after Boomer informs Starbuck that they’ve won the Star Cluster, and is John (Dr.
Paye) Fink’s big scene that ended up on the cutting room floor....
PAYE
Serina. You look as ravishing as you do on Transmission. I love your programs.
SERINA
You’re very kind.
PAYE
I’m all set for you in the next chamber. Captain, if you want to have a chair.
APOLLO
No, I think I’ll see my father while I’m here. If you need me, I’ll be
at Core Center.
(he leans in and kisses Serina lightly)
SERINA
If it’s contagious, you’ve got it.
APOLLO
I’m willing to share anything you’ve got. She’s in your hands, Doctor.
Now this feels a little odd, because the dialogue in the next
scene suggests Serina already knows what’s wrong with her and Paye, who acts as if
he’s just meeting her, has previously examined her. Presumably the above scene is
rewritten or inserted, and a major clue is this instruction that follows: “To
intercut with existing footage after Apollo exits.”
The scene continues:
PAYE
You haven’t told him, yet.
SERINA
No…I can’t.
PAYE
How do you feel?
SERINA
Worse. Can you tell me how much time I have left…?
PAYE (grimly)
Yes…I think so…
SERINA
I can only speak for myself, Doctor. But it runs deep.
PAYE
Tell me the symptoms. Of the problem, not the romance.
SERINA
It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Kind of a general weakness…a lapsing of sensation in my fingertips. A lightness of head.
There follow three scene numbers marked OMITTED, then we cut briefly to a scene of
Apollo conferring with Adama and Tigh on the bridge about the upcoming medal
ceremony (not on the DVD, incidentally),
then back to Paye and Serina. The examination is clearly over and they are walking along
what is described as a “long, lonely corridor.” Paye has his arm around Serina.
PAYE
We’ve had several other cases…the symptoms are the same.
SERINA
You don’t know what it is?
PAYE
I have an idea.
SERINA
A theory?
PAYE
More than a theory. You’re familiar with the problem we had with the food we brought from home?
SERINA
Yes, of course. Apparently the Cylons were intermixing some sort of Nutron (sic) weapon with their explosives…contaminated the food.
PAYE
Broke down the cellular structure.
SERINA
And what has that to do with…
(Serina stops and turns into Paye)
PAYE
It’s happening to people.
SERINA
My God!
PAYE
Not many…only a few who may have been exposed to that weapon.
SERINA
What’s going to happen to me?
(Paye turns to continue walking, desperately trying to break the eye contact)
PAYE
Within the limits of my knowledge, I can tell you you’ll experience a gradual loss of strength…
SERINA
How far will the loss go?
PAYE
As I say…I’ve never experienced…
SERINA
What’s the condition of the others?
PAYE
Serina, you can’t judge one patient’s condition by another’s. The degree
of exposure might have been quite different.
(Serina stops the doctor cold, her eyes searing his defenses)
SERINA
Doctor…
PAYE
They’ve all died.
(it is now Serina’s defenses which crumble. She turns away)
PAYE
I’ll alert Captain Apollo.
SERINA
No. Don’t tell anyone.
PAYE
But someone will need to know…to be able to…
(she turns back, her spirits suddenly buttressed, her fa�ade fortified)
SERINA
How long?
PAYE
It took you longer than the others to show symptoms. I think you could have…
SERINA
Don’t make me waste what time I have left. How long?
PAYE
A few days…at most.
Those scenes are the only survivors in this script from what was
originally a much more extensive plotline, except for the final scene, which also was
actually shot and edited out, the so-called “Anthem scene.” In this, many of the
survivors of the escape from Carillon gather to give thanks in the Galactica’s
Council Chamber, including, according to the script, the Space Supremes, the two-mouthed,
four-eyed singers from the Carillon casino. The one picture from
this scene to escape Universal’s editing department shows Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer
in their duty uniforms, Athena, Serina, and Cassiopiea in their Carillon dresses, and
Boxey.
ADAMA
We thank our Lord for delivering us from evil and commit mankind unto all things that
are good and righteous…on behalf of all creatures born to the blessing of life.
(the body of people in the hall begin to sing the beguiling strains of the anthem of the
colonies….)
ON APOLLO, BOXEY AND SERINA
(as they stand singing the strains…slowly pushing in we find Serina wavering slightly. Quickly she glances down to Boxey and across to Apollo. They haven’t noticed…she lets go of Boxey’s hand, bending down to whisper in his ear)
SERINA
I want to you to stay very close to Captain Apollo…all right?
BOXEY
All right.
(Serina rises up and exchanges smiles with Apollo who has turned to her)
SERINA
Will you keep an eye on my baby….
(Apollo smiles warmly, assuming little from Serina’s casual tone, as she turns and
slides out of the end of the row and heads towards the door in the back of the auditorium,
a short distance behind the back row.)
A BACK SHOT OF APOLLO AND BOXEY
(Pushing past the exiting Serina to a close shot on the backs of the strong young warrior
holding the hand of the little boy…and just beneath Boxey’s seat…Muffy,
curled up contentedly)
SERINA
(at the door stops to look back once more)
ON APOLLO
(as his expression seems to turn reflective…then sober…. Slowly he turns around
to look back at the doorway)
REVERSE ANGLE
(as Apollo’s face swings around to look at the doorway)
SERINA
(looks at Apollo soberly…pain crosses her face and she begins to turn away)
APOLLO
(looks back…a knowing expression on his face…but the moment before he begins to
move toward her, we:)
FREEZE FRAME AND HOLD
HARD CUT TO
THE GALACTICA AND THE RAG TAG FLEET
(moving through space)
ADAMA’S VOICE
Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny, the last battlestar, Galactica, leads a rag tag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest…a shining planet, known as Earth.
Now I for one would dearly love to see that scene, especially
since Richard Hatch and Jane Seymour are both expressive actors. The interplay between
them must have been both sad and beautiful. If only Glen Larson had had the courage to
stick to his original concept, it would have helped give the premiere the emotional
element critics often complained was lacking. (NOTE 2003: Actually, having
finally seen this segment - it�s on the DVD set - I�m less than impressed.
As shot, it failed to live up to the concept in the script, and the Colonial
Anthem was pretty pedestrian.)
There have been recent charges, incidentally, that Glen Larson
didn’t write the premiere, that in fact Leslie Stevens wrote it. One thing I noticed
strongly reading through the script again preparing this article is that it sounds nothing
like Leslie Stevens’ writing. Stevens’ descriptions, in particular, are very
distinctive, whereas Larson isn’t as descriptive. More proof, as if any were needed,
that Glen Larson was the primary author.
� 1988, 2000, 2003 by Susan J. Paxton
originally published in different form in ANOMALY 15