| Farscape episode | |
|---|---|
| “Picture If You Will” | |
| |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 06 |
| Guest star(s) | Chris Haywood (Maldis/Kyvan) |
| Writer(s) | Peter Neale |
| Director | Andrew Prowse |
| Production no. | 10206 |
| Original airdate | 21 April 2000 (US); 31 July 2000 (UK) |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Way We Weren't" | "Home On The Remains" |
synopsis
When Chiana receives a painting that portrays the future, all hell breaks loose...
Chiana is browsing a small commerce station along with Rygel and Aeryn. The shopkeeper, Kyvan, offers Chiana a painting, and Rygel a Hynerian tiara. He takes it in exchange for one foodcube, and as they leave, Kyvan gives Chiana the painting, which is of her wearing her favourite necklace, for free, saying that it is a window in time.
On Moya, Crichton and D'Argo are trying to fix the defense screen, and Pilot tells them that they're experiencing anomalies. Chiana, Rygel and Aeryn return, and Chiana sees a DRD with her necklace. She takes it back, and the painting changes to her with a broken leg. When she gets up, she trips on the DRD and a snapping sound is heard...
Chiana thinks that the painting can predict the future, but Crichton doesn't buy it. Zhaan wonders if it's one of the others playing tricks. Since Pilot assigned the DRD to find the necklace a while ago, Crichton thinks it's just a coincidence. Zhaan wants to perform test on the painting, and despite Chiana's initial objections Zhaan gets a piece. Meanwhile Rygel discovers that the tiara is actually authentic.
D'Argo asks Chiana if she really wants to know the future, and wants her to get rid of the painting, because he is concerned. She asks if he really cares what happens to her, and he does, and she says she is glad he does. D'Argo says that he wants her to be sensible and get rid of it, but she gets annoyed and forces him to leave.
Aeryn tells Crichton that she thinks that Kyvan set it all up because Chiana insulted her art. Crichton says he wants to lock Moya up so nothing can get in or out, and a conversation ensues over who Aeryn would like to throw off the ship.
Zhaan is doing some analysis, and hears a voice. Crichton enters and startles her, and she says that everything is not OK. He asks her to tell him, but she can't find anything in the painting. Crichton says that it must have been all in Chiana's mind, but Zhaan says no – Chiana is in danger. She can't tell Crichton what, because she only has suspicions, but she says that soon she may need everyone to do exactly as she says, quickly and without questions, and asks if he'll obey. Crichton says that when the time comes he will back her up, and she wants the portrait, so she can destroy it.
Chiana screams, as the painting has turned into her burning in flames. Crichton runs the portrait to Zhaan, while the others go to the cargo bay. D'Argo puts her in the freezer, so Pilot can regulate the temperature. The freezer suddenly locks, and is set on fire. Nobody can get in, and Chiana vanishes.
Pilot manages to get the door open, but all that is left are the remnants of Chiana's clothes. Rygel goes to Zhaan and asks why she couldn't have saved Chiana. Zhaan blames herself, but Crichton says they should dispose of the painting, so she burns it.
Pilot tells Aeryn that there was nothing wrong with the freezer, and nothing he or Moya did caused it. D'Argo calls Crichton to the central chamber – the painting has repaired itself and shows D'Argo, so they smash it on the floor before it finishes changing. D'Argo wants to flush it out of the airlock, and Aeryn takes Crichton's module to visit Kyvan for answers. They flush it out and move away from the fragments, and Zhaan again hears a voice in the corridor.
Aeryn flues away in the module, and discovers Rygel hiding in the back. Rygel wants to make a profit and settle the score with Kyvan at the same time, and says that he will miss Chiana.
The painting reconstitutes and shows D'Argo impaled. Zhaan freaks out, and D'Argo says it symbolises a Qualta Blade so he gives it to Zhaan to lock away. D'Argo tells Crichton that he's been a good friend, when Aeryn's Prowler, which was undergoing maintenance, suddenly turns round and skewers D'Argo, and he shatters.
D'Argo is transported to a strange place, where he hears Chiana. She thinks that they're in the portrait. Meanwhile Aeryn and Rygel arrive on the station to confront Kyvan, and threaten to shoot her. She says that she was forced to paint the portrait by Maldis...
Aeryn tells Crichton and Zhaan over the comms, and she says that they only dispersed him and she knew he'd coalesce again one day. Zhaan starts praying, and Crichton tells Aeryn to get some information. Zhaan grabs Crichton and tells him via their bond of Unity (1.12 "Rhapsody in Blue") that she has a plan. She says that he must focus Maldis' attention on him for as long as possible, and says to ignore what she says next. She breaks the bond, and Zhaan says they can't beat Maldis; she is giving up, and pushes him into an exposed circuit.
Crichton is transported inside the picture, and hears D'Argo. The archways apparently take you somewhere else, so D'Argo tells Crichton not to go through. Crichton calls Maldis, who appears behind him. Maldis says that he is saving his revenge for Zhaan, and wanted her to see her shipmates die first. He then starts calling Zhaan again.
Zhaan goes to Pilot, and he says that he'll do exactly as she asked. Maldis tells Crichton that Zhaan is afraid because she is alone. Zhaan is called into the painting, where Crichton tells her not to give up. He tells everyone to stay calm so that Maldis can't feed on their fear. Maldis threatens Earth, and D'Argo's son Jothee, in an attempt to push their buttons. He turns to Zhaan, and starts walking over her, saying that in 100 microts he will finish them.
Pilot sends a priority message to Aeryn to kill Kyvan and leave fast. Aeryn shoots Kyvan, and she and Rygel just manage to escape. Maldis is weakened, and Zhaan jumps up and suddenly gives him a good hiding, throwing him into an archway. They all leave quickly through the portal in the wall, and a giant hand appears. The DRDs shoot the hand and the wall, and it all smashes.
Chiana is eating with Rygel, and asks why her leg is still hurt. She explains to Rygel the whole Maldis/Kyvan thing, but he doesn't get it.
Crichton asks Zhaan if Maldis is gone for good, but she says she doesn't know. She adds that her fear wasn't an act – she's never been more scared in her life.
Trivia
- Zhaan's bond with Crichton is a reference to "Rhapsody in Blue".
- Virginia Hey has some martial arts training. At 17 she studied Judo and Karate, earning a blue belt in Judo and an orange in karate.
- Virginia really enjoyed the scene where she "[kicked] Maldis' a**".
- Crichton references the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour album as well as "The Sound of Music" in this episode.
Quotes
- John: I say we lock all of Moya's doors, we don't let anybody in, we don't let anybody out. That way we get no alien critters, no shape-shifting bugs, no mind-altering viruses, no freaky-deaky artifacts.
- Maldis: Have you forgotten? Fear makes me stronger. Fear and the terror of helplessness. These are a few of my favorite things.
- John: Oh, could you do that farewell, good-bye song the kids sing? It's one of my favorites.
- Maldis: I don't do requests!
- John: So, what do you think, Zhaan? Is that son of a bitch gone for good this time?
- Zhaan: With a being like Maldis, we can never be entirely certain.
- John: Zhaan, this would have been a really good opportunity to lie to me, you know. Yeah, 'Sure John! He's toast, strike him off your Christmas list, stick a fork in him, he's done, he's over, the fat lady is singing'. It does not have to be true, Zhaan, but I certainly would have slept better.
- Zhaan: I'm sorry John, I'm not a very good liar.
- John: Yeah, right. Now, I know you couldn't tell me the truth about your plan. Maldis would have picked it out of my brain. But you had us all fooled with that `scared nelly' routine.
- Zhaan: My fear wasn't an act, John.
- John: You were really that scared?
- Zhaan: I've never been more scared in my life.
Sources
- Farscape World - Dani Moure