Plan B (Liars, Guns and Money 3)

Ratings
1.6 (US)
2.77 (UK)

Wayne Pygram...............Scorpius
Lani Tupu..................Bialar Crais
Paul Goddard...............Stark
Claudia Karvan.............Natira
Jeremy Sims................Rorf
Matt Newton................Jothee
Nicholas Hope..............Akkor
David Franklin.............Lt Braca
Phillip Hinton.............Voice of Teurac
John Adam..................Bekhesh
Linal Haft.................Zelkin
Thomas Holesgrove..........Teurac
David Bowers...............Kurz

Wassup?

Wile E. Coyote could come up with a better plan...

The crew goes ahead with their plans for a rescue -- only now they're after Crichton instead of Jothee, and they get a little extra help from an unexpected source. Meanwhile, John proves to be a fascinating subject not just for Scorpius, but for Natira as well.

Backstory

Scorpius claims that his neural clone is now controlling John, and caused him to surrender.

John himself senses that the chip is trying to control him, telling his crewmates that he's going to Scorpius to have it removed before he "no longer wants it gone".

Bekhesh claims to be "the holy warrior of Taru".

The Depository has 30,000 containers, according to Aeryn.

Stark believes that his 10,000 fellow Banik slaves died by being spaced.

John's neural receptors must be "softened" in order for Scorpius to determine if the chip has acquired the wormhole information. The removal of the chip itself must be done aboard the Command Carrier.

Scorpius' Command Carrier is currently engaged in battle.

Scorpius claims he has no interest in galactic domination; nonetheless, he says the wormhole technology would sway the balance of power, allowing the instant relocation of military forces or even entire hostile planets.

Eight entire tiers of Moya are burnt, and her immune levels are falling.

Talyn came to help Moya, on his own; he has the ability to provide a nutrient transfusion.

Electrocell levels for an injured Leviathan mustn't rise above "six parts".

Jothee didn't know what a Qualta blade was, and thought it too heavy to use in battle.

Jothee is apparently still reeling from recent events. While claiming not to be angry with D'Argo, he nonetheless says his father is responsible for his mutilation and everything else that's happened to him. After 10 cycles on the run, he is now only interested in self-preservation. However, while he may be largely ignorant of Luxan culture and honor, he clearly doesn't want D'Argo to know what actions he took during those 10 years, to keep himself alive.

Scorpius is able to directly enter John's mind and communicate with his neural clone. The experience is perceived by John as taking place in a memoryscape.

Scorpius intends to kill John when he removes the chip.

Whatever equipment Scorpius is using to probe John's mind, it provides him with the ability to mentally paralyze Crichton (John perceives this as a spike driven into the back of his neck). However, it's unclear what the full intent and effect of this action is, as John was already bound in place on the interrogation sphere, and is still able to speak.

When asked for his (and Talyn's) assistance, Crais inquires if other lives will be lost in the battle, a radical change from his character of a year ago.

Moya apparently stocks sufficient venom gas to flood the entire Mainenance Bay.

Despite the severity of her injuries, Moya still has the ability to conduct a low-level atmospheric maneuver.

Aeryn is willing to kill Crichton, if he is too far gone to save.

The Command Carrier arrives 6 arns earlier than planned.

The depletion of a cooling rod seems to have a stronger effect on Scorpius than we'd seen in the past.

John knows that Scorpius plans to kill Natira.

Tracking by scent is a stronger trait for females, among Bloodtrackers.

Taakar serum, a poison, can be used to stimulate fireball production for Sheyang.

Crichton was being held on the level above the main chamber, in the Depository.

Scorpius learns of the Zenetan Pirates' presence during Rorf's attempt to evade interrogation.

Natira uses the appendages on her head to remove (presumably for consumption) a victim's eyes.

The general rescue plan was to destroy the Depository's generator, then assault Natira's forces in the resulting darkness.

Per Akkor, there is at least one back way to the generator.

The shock of Moya's air displacement shatters the windows in Natira's interrogation chamber.

Natira claims that Scorpius can remove the chip without killing John.

John is willing to sacrifice the chip, the information it contains, and an eye to boot, in order to win Natira's assistance in escaping from Scorpius.

Teurac's previous injuries are evidently more serious than revealed: despite receiving seven units of serum from Zhaan, he remains unable to produce flame.

Younger Sheyang have survived doses of nine units of taakar serum.

Despite being unable to generate flame at will, Teurac is still inherently explosive; even Scorpius knows better than to shoot him.

The neural clone confirms that Scorpius is planning a painless death for Natira.

Scorpius is able to exert influence over the Zenetan Pirates, to have them deploy the Flax on his command.

Despite his determination to flee Scorpius again, John is paralyzed by the neural clone's voice in his head when he sees Scorpius in the corridor.

D'Argo is asked by Rorf to go back and tell Rorg of her mate's death.

Talyn blows up the Zenetan ship and the flax on his own initiative, to save Moya.

Shooting a Zenetan in the crotch is almost immediately fatal.

Natira claims that there's another exit from the Depository, on a lower level.

Aeryn, D'Argo, Teurac, and John are all able to reach the Vault within the 90 seconds of Talyn's countdown to destroying the Depository. The Vault containers are sufficiently strong to withstand the attack.

Scorpius is last seen walking towards what appears to be the depositing chamber.

The crew raids the remains of the vault on their way out of the Depository.

Moya remains critically ill, and may not recover.

Bekhesh says he will take Rorf and Teurac's shares of the loot to their families.

Crais claims he did nothing, that it was Talyn's decision to act on the crew's behalf.

John is now constantly tormented by the "voice" of the neural clone, which blames him for killing Scorpius.

John asks D'Argo to kill him; he may also have been trying to kill himself (note the pulse pistol on the chess board).

Reactions

Questions

1. What battle was Scorpius referring to, when he mentioned calling his Command Carrier "back from battle"?
2. Does Natira, in fact, eat the eyes she removes from her victims?
3. Scorpius orders "every available soldier" to stand by outside the main chamber, just before Aeryn, D'Argo, and Bekhesh start their final assault. Had his Command Carrier arrived with troops? Did he have extra troops crammed into his Maurauder? Did he assume command of Natira's guards?

Observations

1. Crichton makes several references to the film "Young Frankenstein" (more information: IMDb, Summary, and Transcript).
2. The homage to Star Wars ("into the garbage chute, flyboy") during the corridor battle scene was fun.
3. "WorkerCaste" made an interesting analysis of the final scene, saying, in part:

   "I've read many theories in the past few days about that last scene with John and the chessboard. I agree that the gun was there because it was John's only remaining way out, and the chip wouldn't let him do it. But after some thought, I see some further symbolism on that chess board. ...

   Assume the chess board represents the battle between Crichton and Scorpius that's been going on since last year at this time. This idea was first brought up in CDM, with Crichton and Scorpius sitting across the board from each other.

   Now, the board is decimated. Everything is toppled over; all the plans and counterplans on both sides have fallen down, and only two pieces are left in play. On one side, the black king still stands, undisturbed. Scorpius ... is still in play through his neural clone, and is winning the game.

   Crichton, on the other side, is trying desperately to get his white king back on its feet, back into the fight, but to no avail. Each time he tries, his king topples, defeated. Wynona, sitting on the board, is the only piece left in Crichton's arsenal, and if he could make the white king stand up, maybe he could also find the strength to make that last move. Death, at this point, would be a type of victory; it would silence the voices and rob Scorpius of his prize. Checkmate."

Bloopers

1. Early in the episode, Talyn arrives to assist Moya, and apparently has a gender crisis, as Pilot says, "Crais, we are very thankful that you allowed Talyn to respond to her mother's distress call."

Annotations

John: "All right, Fronkensteen, let's get it on. Get your property out of my head."

Frankenstein, contrary to popular belief, is not the monster in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's famous novel, but the "mad" scientist who creates the monster. Either of which could apply to Scorpius. However, John's pronunciation points to him referring to YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Mel Brooks's 1975 parody of James Whale 1931 film version of FRANKENSTEIN. In YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, in an attempt to disassociate himself from his "cuckoo" ancestor, insists that his name is pronounced "Fronkensteen".

Scorpius: "Try not to move so much. One flinch at the wrong time and this will...paralyze you."
John: "It's kinda hard not to flinch here, Scorpy, with Frau Blücher tickling my prostate."

Continuing with the YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN reference, Frau Blücher (*whinny*!) was the character portrayed by Cloris Leachman in that film. John refers to Natira as Frau Blücher (*whinny*!) again later in this episode, as well as in the third season episode "Suns and Lovers".

John: "You see, Flavius Scorpius here wants to visit foreign lands, meet foreign people, and conquer them."

John is apparently playing on the fact that "Scorpius" sounds like the name of a Roman emperor, such as Flavius Valerius Severus (306-307 AD) or Flavius Claudius Julianus 360-363 AD).

John: "Oh, dear dear dear, what has Moya done here? You are so screwed, Medusa! I tell you what...you get me out of here, I'll help you stay aliiive."

Another reference (see "Crackers Don't Matter") to the character of Greek Myth, the gorgon Medusa. Presumably, he's comparing Natira's "spider-limbs" to the snakes that Medusa had instead of hair.

John: "Daisy, daisy..."
D'Argo: "John..."
John: "...give me your answer do..."
D'Argo: "I've brought my son, Jothee, to thank you."
John: "...I'm...crazy...all for the love of you..."
D'Argo: "John..."

John is singing an old standard, "Daisy Bell", more commonly known as "A Bicycle Built for Two", written by Harry Dare in 1892. This may be a reference to 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, as that's the song sung by HAL 9000 while being lobotomized by Bowman, and John may be drawing a parallel to his own mental breakdown.

Translator Microbe Report

Quotables

"All right, Frankenstein, let's get it on. Get your property out of my head."
- John Crichton

"Nothing forced me here; annual checkups are essential to good health."
- John Crichton

"'I want', 'I want', my side, your side, all of you, 'I want'!"
"What's the matter with you, frek face?"
"Matter, matter, I'll tell you matter, anti-matter, matter, matter, matter, matter! Scorpius killed ten thousand of my people! Ten thousand cast into space! Ten thousand souls scream in my brain, 'the chair, the chair, remember the chair'!"
"What, what chair? This frek is crazy!"
"You coming? Do you agree? Agree?"
"Will you fight like this down there?"
"Of course, of course, no hands, no hands!"
"Then I change my mind, Zelkin. This one has the spirit of the hunter, and not the prey."
- Stark, Rorf

"Try not to move so much. One flinch at the wrong time and this will paralyze you."
"It's kinda hard not to flinch here, Scorpy, with Frau Blucher tickling my prostate."
- Scorpius, John Crichton

"See, Flavius Scorpius here wants to visit foreign lands, meet foreign people and conquer them."
"You overestimate me, John...I have no desire to dominate the universe, but know this. The wormhole technology in your brain [will] sway the balance of power as we know it. Imagine, the ability to move an army in an instant, the power to make hostile planets disappear..."
- John Crichton, Scorpius

"I thought that you didn't want to use Talyn for violence? You all said that from the beginning."
"Yes, but this is different."
"How? Is this violence more acceptable because it's for you?"
"No, it's because Scorpius has captured Crichton, and he's going to kill him if we don't get down there."
"There's always a reason for violence, Aeryn. Thousands of people die for the most virtuous causes."
"You don't need to lecture me, Crais."
"I believe I do. You've lectured me, countless times. How long has Scorpius held Crichton?"
"Four arns."
"Then I recommend you bring down a basket, without any holes, so that Crichton's liquid remains are not lost. He's already dead, Aeryn."
- Bialar Crais, Aeryn Sun

"What are you doing with that head?"
"He's an old enemy. I like that he doesn't talk back."
- Rorf, Rygel

"Who did this to you? Who mutilated you?"
"You did. In a way, you've done everything that ever happened to me."
- D'Argo, Jothee

"Oh, don't stop now, Scorpy. Roll me over and baste the other side."
- John Crichton

"When we reach my ship, and I remove my neural clone, your death with be painless."
- Scorpius

"You can have anything you want, anything."
"Aeryn Sun...are you...offering yourself? Crichton, if he's alive, must mean a great deal to you."
"You can take what you want, and I won't stop you."
- Aeryn Sun, Bialar Crais

"What if Crichton's worse, and won't be rescued?"
"Well, that's easy. I put a bullet in Crichton's head, and end it."
- Zelkin, Aeryn Sun

"Good news...I'm always suspicious of good news..."
- Scorpius

"Oh, what's the matter? Got a little warm head? How bout I change that rod for you? I got some spares."
- John Crichton

"Don't be jealous, Frau Blucher. He only loves me for my mind."
- John Crichton

"Well, I was planning to make a deposit."
"A deposit of what, fur lice?"
- Rorf, Akkor

"Animal, I love your eyes so much...your lying eyes..."
- Natira

"Oh, dear, dear, dear, what has Moya done here? You are so screwed, Medusa!"
- John Crichton

"Good shot."
"I was aiming for between his eyes."
- Aeryn Sun, Ka D'Argo

"For someone who couldn't see, you did okay."
- Bekhesh

"Oh. What a waste."
- Zelkin

"Have you come back to help us?"
"Let's just say that I'm here."
- Aeryn Sun, Bialar Crais

"Aeryn, I'm uh, I'm gonna go to Scorpius."
"Frell you are."
- John Crichton, Aeryn Sun

"Mine, mine, mine, ahhhh...Can I have this? Can this be mine?"
- Rygel

"Farewell, my friends. And thank you for teaching me to kill again."
- Bekhesh

"I had little control. Talyn came to free Moya himself."
"You didn't command him?"
"No, he acted alone. As much as any of us may want, he has the instincts of a warrior, and does exactly as he pleases."
- Bialar Crais, Aeryn Sun

"D'Argo, kill me. D'Argo, please...kill me."
- John Crichton

Comments from Cast & Crew

Justin Monjo & Rowan Woods, May 11, 2000

• JustinMonjo: I've been busy working on the end of a three parter which will be episode 20 this year and I've been busy cutting it down to fit inside the tv.
  

Pilot, with Sean Masterson (Puppeteer) & Lani Tupu (Voice of Pilot), July 13, 2000

• Moderator: I have to bring back a question from our last chat with Lani.
  Moderator: <optimusp> to <Moderator> Lani. In one sentence, how would
  Moderator: you sum up the last four episodes of the season, w/o giving anything
  Moderator: away?
  Moderator: to which you replied: "He'll hate it."
  Moderator: How about this time around?

  LaniTupu: Let me just say this 19, 20, 21 and 22! LOL
  LaniTupu: You will be blown away

David Kemper, with Richard Manning & Ben Browder ("Bruno"), August 17, 2000

• Moderator: <stargatetravler> to <Moderator>: Now that filming for season 2 is completed which ep would you say was your favorite and which was the most difficult to film? BTW great con in Burbank, you guys ROCKED! Thanks!

  Kemper: Most difficult.
  Kemper: The last 4 -- an arc -- of the season.
  Kemper: More in them than most features.
  Kemper: You watch.
  Kemper: You see.
  Kemper: You smile.
  Kemper: THEN
  Kemper: you bow to Sci-Fi.

• Moderator: <LittleLeviathan> to <Moderator>: To the wonderful David Kemper: Which was the most difficult show to produce?Costly?Time consuming?

  Kemper: Difficult?
  Kemper: "Family Ties" last year.
  Kemper: The last 4 eps this year.
  Kemper: Costly?
  Kemper: All of them.
  Kemper: And that's NOT a flip answer.

Wayne Pygram, September 21, 2000

• Moderator2: <LittleLeviathan> to <Moderator2>: Hi Wayne. What has been the most difficult ep thus far to shoot (acknowledging of course that it might not have happened yet and you might not be able to say why)?
  

  WaynePygram: The final stages of series two became a real continuity challenge for us all as we were working at completing four episodes at once, so on any given day you could be asked to complete scenes from four different story lines. This was doubley difficult for me as I have a habit of throwing my scripts away as soon as I've learned my lines. I think I had better make some adjustments to this technique.
  WaynePygram: I did not know if I was Arthur or Marther... do you comprehend?

David Kemper & Ben Browder, November 12, 2000

• Moderator: Blue_Dragon: what's been the hardest episode to make?

  David Kemper: Whooo. They're all tough. Ben?

  Ben Browder: The next one
  Ben Browder: always the next one

  David Kemper: If pressed, from a script point-of-view, I'd say "Out of Their Minds." From a production point-of-view, I'd say the

  Ben Browder: That was easy...

  David Kemper: huge four-part arc (upcoming) that ends the second season. ga

Justin Monjo, February 08, 2001

• Moderator: <Zhaansacolyte> to <Moderator>: Hey Justin! Which of the mercenaries did you enjoy writing dialogue for most in "A Simple Plan" and why?

  JustinMonjo: There were way too many mercenaries in A Simple Plan, 27 in all, far to many to accommodate them all. I liked Bekesh, the most to write

• Moderator: <stargatetravler> to <Moderator>: Which type of ep do you like to wirte best - a "shippy" ep (The Locket), an action ep (LGM3, "plan B") or a crazy one (Crackers Don't Matter)?

  JustinMonjo: Oh, I have to say its either a crazy one or a shippy rather than an action, to be honest. I love the crazy ones
  JustinMonjo: I do love to do stuff like the Locket.
  JustinMonjo: Action ones are more of a technical exercise.

• Moderator: <RyeGuy> to <Moderator>: Could you tell the name of Natira's race and if we will see any more of her kinf? Thanks!

  JustinMonjo: No, we don't have a name, we are taking suggestions right now.
  JustinMonjo: We might see Natira herself again one day........you never know.

Guy Gross, May 15, 2001

• Moderator: here's another "stump the composer" question:
  Moderator: <MindCrazed> to <Moderator>: You used the same background music in the Jakench cockpit and LGM-part 3 (John trying to shoot Scorpy), was there another reason other than they were similar scenes? I loved that you did that.

  Guy: remind me, what was the Jakench cockpit?

  Moderator: Yeah, remind me too.
  Moderator: What's a Jakench?
  Moderator: LGM 3 was the last of the 3-parter at the end of the season.
  Moderator: <MindCrazed> to <Moderator>: Latp-part2 where john jumped off the ship
  Moderator: <Gmmas> to <Moderator>: Look at the Princess, ship Crichton goes crazy on , then takes walk in space

  Guy: Not sure what scenes you mean but I havn't meant to re-use things

  Moderator: Well, it sounds like it was within a multi-part episode, so that can't really be considered "reuse," can it?

  Guy: I guess it's the same composer it's going to sound the same sometimes

Dave Elsey, July 19, 2001

• Moderator: <GutPageant> to <Moderator>: Did any particular creature or makeup job exceed your expectations?

  DaveE: Yes. Scorpy, I think, just hits the mark. I think what I tried to do with him was create the most evil character that I'd ever seen on TV. He's the grim reaper, he's the Emperer from Star Wars, he's the SS. And Wayne took what I did and took it a stage further.
  DaveE: Also, one of my persona; favourites is Natira. She's cool.
  DaveE: When the writer said that they were going to show Scorpy's girl friend, I just went mad!!
  DaveE: Then when I met Claudia Karvan, and she told me that her one condition for being on the show was that she got to play a creature, everything just clicked into place.

• Moderator: <JennHi> to <Moderator>: What is your absolute favorite creation? And if it's different, what's your favorite in Farscape?

  DaveE: Cool question.
  DaveE: I have many many favourite creatures.
  [...]
  DaveE: As I said before, of my own creations, I'm very fond of Scorpy and Natira.
  DaveE: But there are some characters that I've created this season that you haven't see yet that are going to knock you socks off!!!! I hope.

Farscape Wrap Day Extravaganza, July 26, 2001

• Moderator: <Jup> to <Moderator>: Tim, what's the largest set you've designed/constructed for Farscape?

  TimFerrier: Probably the Shadow Depository at the end of last season. There were a lot of big sets in that Ep.

• Moderator: <Gmmas> to <Moderator>: Tim: did you design that ball like think Crichton was strapped to in Liars, Guns and Money, and was it as uncomfortable as it looked?

  TimFerrier: My regard for Ben Browder grew imeasureably after that experience.
  TimFerrier: Yes, I did design it and yes it was uncomfortable but I personally didn't try it out!!

• Moderator2: <Scaper1984> to <Moderator2>: HI! Tim, what set are you most proud of?

  TimFerrier: The shadow Depository at the end of Season Two. From this season, the Kanvia Office form Ep. 307

• Moderator: <primatebrain> to <Moderator>: Do you know what species Natira is, yet?

  FrooniumRicky: Don't think we ever named her species
  FrooniumRicky: Maybe we should have a contest ;)

• Moderator: <WITGOB> to <Moderator>: Froon - Will natira come back at any stage?
  Moderator: <Dallascaper> to <Moderator>: Was Natira wearing some kind of body armor or was she naked?

  FrooniumRicky: Well, I'd sure like to see her again
  FrooniumRicky: Claudia Karvan, btw, is doing a series here in Oz
  FrooniumRicky: called "The Secret Life of Us"
  FrooniumRicky: sort of an Oz version of Sex in the City, kind of
  FrooniumRicky: as for body armor... well, I think that was all "Natira", myself
  FrooniumRicky: rather like a turtle shell
  FrooniumRicky: I'll get a can opener and let you know