Battlestar Galactica (TV Series)

Sine Qua Non (2008)

Mark Sheppard: Romo Lampkin

Photos 

Quotes 

• Admiral William Adama : Mr. Lampkin, what are you doing here?

  Romo Lampkin : Writs of forfeiture for the ships you're borrowing. The captains want to be absolved of any blame should anything untoward happen.

  [Adama takes the legal papers and examines them] 

  Romo Lampkin : One of the less ennobling consequences of a legal culture. No one wants responsibility. Lee said you once gave him something before a mission. A lighter, was it?

  [Adama begins signing them] 

  Admiral William Adama : Belonged to my father. Foolish to think a hunk of metal could keep him safe.

  Romo Lampkin : And yet, that's what we do, isn't it? Hang on to hope, in every hopelessly irrational way that we can.

  [Romo looks at the fighter crews below them] 

  Romo Lampkin : But not like those poor bastards, giving away their luck, just when they need it most. It's like they've given up.

  Admiral William Adama : If you never been in combat, you have no idea what they're thinking.

  Romo Lampkin : I always imagined you a realist, Admiral, not one to indulge a vain hope at the cost of lives. But then, everyone has his limits. "Sine qua non", as they say.

  Admiral William Adama : "Without which not."

  Romo Lampkin : Yes. Those things we deem essential, without which we cannot bear living, without which life in general loses its specific value... becomes abstract.

  Admiral William Adama : You may have a point, Counselor.

  Romo Lampkin : And while I'm on a roll, Tom Zarek may not be an ideal president, but we could do worse.

  Admiral William Adama : You're right. There are limits to my realism. Goodbye, Counselor.

• [He is in his quarters, speaking out loud] 

  Romo Lampkin : No man is perfect. No man is less perfect than a candidate for higher office. Thus, the ranks of likely suspects is winnowed to none.

  [We hear a meow from Lance, Romo's cat] 

  Romo Lampkin : What if we're going about this backwards, hey, Lance? What if, instead of picking names and finding fault, we ask ourselves the qualities that we want? No. No, what we need in a new chief executive and see who fits the that bill.

  [Starts writing on a white board] 

  Romo Lampkin : Honesty, of course. Wisdom to recognize. Correct. If unpopular choice, as well as the courage to see it through. Experience. When the wrong choices cost lives and the right ones save, it's all harder. We might as well spell out one name.

  [Hisses like a cat] 

  Romo Lampkin : Just one. One we knew from the start.

  [Erases all he has written and writes something in large letters we cannot see] 

  Romo Lampkin : Sometimes you take on a losing case and you make yourself a believer. Other times, no matter what you tell yourself... in your heart you know the outcome is fixed, and the verdict inevitable. Lance, defense rests. Come on.

  [Romo leaves the room, his cat-carry bag in hand, and we see the name he wrote: LEE ADAMA] 

• [Romo told Apollo that he's the only choice for the Presidency and then pulled a pistol on him. He made Apollo open his bag to see his wife's murdered cat. He has just explained his anguish about picking up the cat and heading back to the shuttle when the war broke out instead of going home and trying to save his family] 

  'Lee' Leland Joseph Adama : Romo. We've all had to make difficult choices. You don't think I know? Your wife's name was Faye. You had two daughters, Jennifer and Katie! There were over 200 passengers on that shuttle, only a handful chose to stay behind. Yeah, that's right, it was in your file when you were handed the job as Baltar's counsel. But no one blamed you, Romo, because at a certain point, we all made decisions that saved our lives at the cost of others. You think you're unique, Romo? Think your sins are so special?

  Romo Lampkin : Is that it, Counselor? You're gonna rest your entire case on that *pathetic* little bit of insight?

  'Lee' Leland Joseph Adama : No. Unless... The clean slate. The fresh start. Maybe they are illusions like you said. But at a certain point, faith in ourselves, in our right to survive as a species, as a people, that's not a given, that's a choice. Well, I've made mine. And if you can't stomach that, then you had damn well better squeeze that trigger right now. Go on. What are you waiting for?

  [Apollo looks at him and cocks an eyebrow] 

  'Lee' Leland Joseph Adama : Or you can make a choice, put your past behind you, put that gun down and help me, because I'm telling you, I'm gonna make a difference in this Fleet.

  Romo Lampkin : [Very menacingly]  Is that your final word?

  'Lee' Leland Joseph Adama : That's up to you.

  Romo Lampkin : Then swear it.

  [We hear Apollo's taking the oath before we cut to the scene where he is being sworn into office] 

  'Lee' Leland Joseph Adama : I, Leland Joseph Adama, do now avow and affirm...