THE LOST PREMIERE 6: LOST ATHENA
It’s evident from reading the
premiere script and other early Battlestar Galactica scripts that Athena was
originally a major role in BG, very nearly equivalent to Apollo and Starbuck.
Unfortunately, as is well known to fans, the actress hired for the part, while she looked
perfect—in my view Maren Jensen looks enough like Richard Hatch to easily be his
sister and she was left-handed like him to boot—she didn’t have the dramatic
skills necessary to bring off the part successfully, with the result that her part was
toned down, supplemented by Laurette Spang’s Cassiopiea (who was brought back into
the series just for that reason), and eventually Athena faded completely after Greetings
From Earth.
Athena had a number of scenes in the
premiere that were filmed but were removed entirely or trimmed down drastically in the
editing process. One of the more interesting is an argument between her, Apollo, and
Adama; the interplay tends to suggest strongly that Apollo and his sister were not
particularly close, which if pursued, would have led to some interesting characterization.
This scene occurs in the script immediately after Cassiopiea has her broken arm melded and
fighter patrols report that there is no sign of Cylon pursuit. Adama has declared his
intention (largely edited out of all aired versions of the premiere, but in its
entirety on the DVD set) to resign leadership
of the fleet:
APOLLO
Father, it’s treasonous to consider stepping down.
ATHENA
Apollo, you have the simple mind of a mechanical daggit programmed only to fight.
ADAMA
Athena, please. It’s difficult enough without turning what’s left of our family into a vortex of invectives.
ATHENA
Well, I won’t listen to your feelings being battered by a man who feels nothing.
ADAMA
Athena, I will not have it. Either mind your tongue or leave. I said I wished to resign…not leap into the void. I’m perfectly capable of defending my actions.
APOLLO
Not by my measure.
ADAMA
And what is your measure? What heartbeat guides you in telling one man he must die while another lives?
APOLLO
Could any man have done better or been fairer? Did you succumb to influence, or politics, or whimsy? Didn’t you do the best you could?
ADAMA
Yes, Apollo, but it isn’t enough to know I did the best I could. I will only sleep when I know I will never have to endure that agony again.
APOLLO
That, Commander, is cowardice. (he turns to leave)
ATHENA
Apollo, if you turn on him now….
ADAMA
Let him go. (Apollo exits) He isn’t wrong.
ATHENA:
Father, you’re no coward.
ADAMA
Maybe I am for not raising my voice soon enough…when the destruction could have been avoided.
ATHENA
You think there’s someone better qualified to lead?
ADAMA
There has to be…or we’re doomed.
There are a number of interesting
things going on here. The cold Apollo is very reminiscent of the Skyler of early drafts
who was indeed a remarkably heartless character—so much so that Richard Hatch
originally refused to play the role. The dissension in Adama’s family may not be a
new thing. As I said above, this scene suggests Apollo and Athena were not close. They
certainly were not particularly close in age, but Apollo’s obvious affection for Zac,
who is even younger than Athena, is interesting and suggests tension within Adama’s
family. And of course Adama’s realization of his faults completely demolishes the
recent horrible “pure Caprican blood only can lead” felgercarb in Richard
Hatch’s surprising novels.
Another Athena scene that was largely
omitted from all versions of the premiere but did turn up, in somewhat modified form, in
Robert Thurston’s novelization, occurs soon after the decision is made to make the
passage through the Straits of Madagon:
ATHENA
Father, I can’t believe you’re letting them do this. Why couldn’t you have voted against it? We should have stopped at Borallus…we shouldn’t have to be taking this awful chance with their lives.
ADAMA
Whose lives?
ATHENA
Starbuck’s and Apollo’s…and the others.
ADAMA
You place Lieutenant Starbuck’s name ahead of your brother’s. I had no idea…does he share your feelings?
ATHENA
I didn’t know myself until I heard he was going…it’s all so hopeless. If they survive this…if any of us survive, what next? How long before we find Earth?
ADAMA
Perhaps never.
ATHENA
That’s what I was thinking, Father. We could grow old waiting. I mean, we may never have the chance to….
ADAMA
To get married and have children and a home.
ATHENA
Yes.
ADAMA
Well, I think it’s premature for you to be worrying about old age. I, on the other hand, ought to give a great deal of thought to this voyage…if it should go on and on….
ATHENA
I’m sorry if I’m not handling myself well…I’ve never faced death before.
ADAMA
You faced senseless killing as you should have…with horror. That’s the difference between humans and beings of the Alliance. We don’t waste life. We only risk it when there is no other choice…as in this case, where the very survival of the human race may ride on three young men.
Another scene with a lot of food for
thought. One thing very apparent here is that the Starbuck/Athena romance is of very
recent vintage at the time of the holocaust, so much so that Adama hasn’t even heard
of it yet. There’s also Adama’s statement about “beings of the
Alliance” which is another tantalizing hint that the Cylons have allies we know
nothing of.
One Athena scene of less consequence
but somewhat more amusing is her talk with Starbuck in the casino just before Cassiopiea
arrives with the key to the Royal Suite. This did make it into the premiere; the dialogue
in the aired version was somewhat changed. This appears to be the original; it
was of course reshot later:
ATHENA
This seat taken?
STARBUCK
Uh, well….
ATHENA
I think I owe you an apology.
STARBUCK
You do?
ATHENA
I haven’t had the nerve to tell you until now…but you know how I’ve always told you that it was wrong for the Commander’s daughter to get involved with a combat warrior.
STARBUCK
I vaguely recall you saying that.
ATHENA
Come on, this paradise is the perfect opportunity for us to all be honest with each other…I hurt you, admit it. (Starbuck nods, showing residual pain) Didn’t you say that I was the only girl you’d ever really cared about?
STARBUCK
Did I say that?
ATHENA
Did you say that?!
STARBUCK
What I mean is…I’ve shut all those feelings out…to avoid the pain.
ATHENA
And to think of what I almost drove you to….
STARBUCK
Hmmm?
ATHENA
That socialator…I practically forced you into her arms.
STARBUCK
She had interesting arms…. (Athena glares at him) I mean, they were unfeminine. Did you notice? Long, pointy fingers! It was all I could do to put up with her to make you jealous.
ATHENA
You went through that…that ordeal…just to make me jealous.
STARBUCK
(modestly) Well…. Say, how is it you know so much about my ordeal?
At which point Cassiopeia appears,
of course. Interestingly, the scene that follows this in the script is the scene in which
Boomer and Starbuck meet in the lounge and listen to the Android Sisters, a scene which in
the aired version appeared much earlier. The order of the Carillon scenes were drastically
rearranged, for no good reason.
Athena could have been a highly
interesting character. Her presence might have served to point out flaws in what fans
fondly believe to be Adama’s perfect family, her obvious problems with Apollo would
have been useful to bring the saintly Apollo down a few notches, helping to humanize him,
and she might have been a surprisingly good foil for Starbuck. That was not to be, because
someone on the production team selected an actress based on her looks, not her acting
experience, and that remains an enduring tragedy of Battlestar Galactica.
�1988, 1999, 2003 Susan J. Paxton
Originally appeared in somewhat different form in ANOMALY 14