Battlestar Galactica (TV Series)

The Road Less Traveled (2008)

Lori Triolo: Phoebe

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.