Episode Report Card Strega: B+ | 14 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT The Runaway Groom
By Strega | Season 2 | Episode 13 | Aired on 2000.08.04
Flash to Crichton screaming in the Aurora Chair.
Scorpius stares at the acid swirling inches away from his face as Crichton leans down and rasps, "I'm not your enemy. I'm not your friend. You leave me the hell alone, or the next time we part, one of us'll be dead." He sounds firm, but his eyes are terrified. He releases Scorpius and backs away. Scorpius turns his head to watch as Crichton hurries out of the room nervously. As soon as Crichton's gone, Scorpius stands right up, clearly not weakened at all. He smirks, and dips his gloved hand in the acid playfully with no effect. Exit Scorpius, ominously.
Crichton's got his leather duster back, and all's right with the world. He's in the statue room, explaining to the Empress that he's not going to be fossilized again. Tyno watches in the background as the Empress sniffs, "If you're the kind of man who would walk away from his own child, we would not want you to rule." Crichton asks what she's talking about, and the Empress explains that Katralla is pregnant. Crichton insists, "We never --" She says that Katralla was impregnated with the DNA samples they took from Crichton, and asks, "Did you really think a system this stable would leave so important a detail to chance?" Crichton stares at the Katralla-statue for a second and quickly says, "Make me a statue." The Empress teases him about changing his mind, and Crichton declares, "A child deserves two parents. My child deserves a father." The Empress tells Tyno to arrange for Crichton to be statufied. Tyno, pained, says that it can't be done. Crichton and the Empress stare as he explains, "Based on our findings, human physiology would not tolerate the process a second time." He says that if Crichton tries it again, he'll die. Crichton, furious, says he won't live long enough to be there for his family. Tyno snaps, "I know!" and more quietly adds, "I'm sorry." Crichton stares at Katralla for a moment, and finally tells Tyno to take his place. He says, "Nobody knows me, right? The public? They don't know who I am." Tyno agrees. Nobody but the entire wedding party. Whatever. Crichton tells the Empress that Tyno will be the next king. She objects Tyno can't have children with Katralla, and Crichton snaps, "She's already pregnant. And it satisfies everything that you need. And it gives my child a good father." He looks at Katralla again and adds, "And they love each other." He picks up the headphones and asks if she's okay with the plan. We hear her say, "Yes. Thank you." He apologizes that he won't be there when she's revived, and Katralla assures him, "I'll never forget." The Empress gives the plan her blessing, as long as no one ever finds out. Crichton smiles, "Good guys win for once." He hands the headphones to Tyno and heads for the door, quietly adding "...And I have a child that I'll never know." Tyno puts the headphones on and calls, "Princess Katralla wants to know if you'd like to see your offspring." Crichton freezes for a moment, then turns back and nods. He approaches the Stargate, under which stands a little girl. Crichton kneels and says hi. She says, "Hi, are you my dad?" He starts to smile as he says that he is. She says, "I love you, Daddy." He pulls her close for a hug, and then just stares, drinking in the sight of her. And then she flickers, and she's gone. Crichton wearily walks over to Katralla and lightly puts his hand on her shoulder for a moment. Then he hurries for the door, and as he passes Tyno he says, "You take care of my little girl."