Battlestar Galactica (TV Series)

The Road Less Traveled (2008)

James Callis: Dr. Gaius Baltar

Quotes 

• Phoebe : [standing before Baltar who is seated and surrounded by his devotees]  I need you to tell me this all somehow makes sense.

  [showing him a family group photo] 

  Phoebe : This was my husband, James. My two children, Danya and Reece. They were on Picon when the Cylons attacked.

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : [after looking around the room at all the expectant faces]  What do you feel when you look at this photograph?

  Phoebe : I feel rage.

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : Against the Cylon?

  Phoebe : Mmmm...

  [Shaking her head] 

  Phoebe : Not just the machines, anyone involved. The engineers who designed them... The corporations... The politicians... who provoked this war and then did nothing to protect us... And most of all, the Gods.

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : The Gods? They stood by and let it all happen. Yes, I know. I know.

  [Stands up, hands the photo back and warmly hugs her] 

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : I am so sorry Phoebe.

  [Stands back and returns toward his chair] 

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : Sit with us.

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : [back in his chair, he takes the microphone to the recording device]  Unfortunately, the Gods cannot be blamed for not coming to you aid. It's not because they weren't listening. It's because they don't exist. The Gods we've been praying to for thousands of years do not exist. They can't help you, because they are not real. We have been pandering to our own ignorance for far too long.

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : [cut to Chief Tyrol's quarters where he is jumping rope and his stepson Nickolas is in the playpen. We hear Baltar continue over the radio]  Now, on my own journey. I've been wronged, persecuted. I prayed to the Gods... on my knees, begging them for mercy, tortured. I recieved nothing in...

  [Tyrol shuts off the radio, sighs and starts to jumping rope again. Nicholas suddenly cries loudly and looks expectantly at Tyrol. With resignation, the Chief turns the radio back on] 

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : I could have lived in that abyss of bitterness, but that will destroy you like nothing else.

  [Tyrol listens as if those words truly struck home and starts jumping rope again] 

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : But I chose to forgive. And most importantly, I began with myself.

• [a large meeting of people listening to Baltar speak is being held] 

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : The past is written, impossible to change. Why are so many of us living in the past, living with the shame of what we have done, when we could live in awe of what we might do? What we might do.

  [We see Chief Tyrol coming upon the fringes of the meeting and listening] 

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : What will we do? Spiral endlessly through the heavens until humanity itself comes to a close?

  [We see Tigh appear in the corridor behind Tyrol] 

  Dr. Gaius Baltar : Or do we look inward and find that strength within?

  Colonel Saul Tigh : [Coming up behind Tyrol and speaking quietly to him. Baltar's word become more and more indistinct and fades into background noise]  Can you believe these people are actually buying into Baltar's crap? We need to talk.

  Chief Galen Tyrol : I don't have anything to say to you.

  Colonel Saul Tigh : Well, then you can listen. Come with me.

  [They turn and walk several feet back into the corridor] 

  Colonel Saul Tigh : I've been cutting you some slack because of Cally, but that's over. You gotta pull yourself together *now.*

  Chief Galen Tyrol : Suck it up. Just like you,huh?

  Colonel Saul Tigh : Now what is that supposed to mean?

  Chief Galen Tyrol : Hear you've been spending some time in the lockup with the Six. Remember when this all started? You said nothing would change you from the man you want to be. Well, how about it, Colonel? You still the same old Saul Tigh?

  Colonel Saul Tigh : Anything I've done I can live with.

  Chief Galen Tyrol : Well, that's the difference between you and me. I can't.

  [Both turn and look towards the crowd hanging on Baltar's words] 

  Chief Galen Tyrol : Tory's got it in her head that we can be the salvation of the human race. All I know is if there is a God, he's laughing his ass off.

  [Tyrol turns away and walks back to listen to Baltar speak]