4x08 Sine Qua Non - Battlestar Galactica Episode Guide

Battlestar Galactica

- Episode 04x08

Episode: 04x08
Title: Sine Qua Non
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 410
First Aired: May. 30, 2008

Season 4 » Episode #08 - Sine Qua Non

Battlestar Galactica - 04x08 Sine Qua Non

Summary: With the President and a number of the fleet's pilots taken when the rebel basestar jumped away, Adama begins desperate but wreckless search efforts. At the same time, when it's obvious that the Admiral will not accept Zarek's assumed presidency in Roslin's absence, Lee seeks help from fallen lawyer Romo Lampkin to select someone else for the position.

Who appeared in this episode?

Lee Adama	played by Jamie Bamber
Caprica	played by Tricia Helfer
Natalie	played by Tricia Helfer
Lt. Anastasia Dualla	played by Kandyse McClure
Lt. Hamish 'Skulls' McCall	played by Colin Lawrence
Hera Agathon	played by Alexandra Thomas
Gemenon Delegate	played by Donna Soares
Jacob Cantrell	played by Andrew McIlroy
Picon Delegate	played by Judith Maxie

Season 4 / Episode 8: - Sine Qua Non

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] 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?

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 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.
Romo Lampkin: You're right. There are limits to my realism. Goodbye, Counselor.

Season 4 / Episode 8: - Sine Qua Non

'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?

'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.

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

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