'Lay Down Your Burdens' (Part 2) Story Code: '220' by Anne Cofell Saunders and Mark Verheiden

On Caprica, Starbuck and her rescue team have located Anders and his freedom fighters, only to become caught in a Cylon Warrior ambush. Outgunned and outflanked, the humans are swiftly pinned down by the enemy, and, as the Cylons close in, all seems lost — until everything suddenly goes silent. Starbuck is astonished to discover that their assailants have vanished; it seems that the Cylons have left Caprica altogether, a startling development that Brother Cavil declares to be a miracle. Meanwhile, at the fleet, President Roslin’s popularity in the opinion polls is crumbling now that Baltar has turned the discovery of ‘New Caprica’ to his advantage. Roslin attempts to reason with the Vice President, but he refuses to listen, insisting that his plans for the fleet to settle on this new world are the best hope for salvation. Starbuck, Anders and their two teams return to the Galactica, where they receive a hero’s welcome from Admiral Adama; however, as Brother Cavil steps on board, Chief Tyrol – who has recently been seeing another Brother Cavil for counselling – immediately realises that the man is in fact a Cylon replica. Roslin orders that both Cavils be thrown into the brig, along with Boomer, whose resentment at the apparent murder of her baby has led her to keep Cavil’s real identity a secret. The newly arrived Cavil brings the President a message: the "Heroes of the Cylon", Number 6 and ‘Boomer’ – now being referred to as ‘Number 8’ – have managed to persuade the Cylon leadership that the occupation of the colonies and the destruction of humanity was a mistake. The Cylons will now follow their own path to enlightenment, and have decreed that they and the human survivors will go their separate ways. Roslin is still sceptical, and orders the Cavils thrown out of an airlock.

Election Day: the polls have closed, and the votes are being counted. Realising that Baltar will win, Roslin’s campaign advisor, Troy Foster, implements her back-up plan, in which Dee and Tigh swap the votes from Zephyr for counterfeits; this tips the balance, and Roslin retains the presidency. However, Lieutenant Gaeta discovers the conspiracy to rig the election, and he immediately informs Adama. When the Admiral informs Roslin of Foster’s duplicity, the president reveals that she was aware of the plot, but choose to allow the deceit because she believed it was in the best interests of the people. Adama and Roslin face a difficult decision: either sacrifice the ethics they have sworn to uphold, or let a recount put Baltar in power – a decision that may set the fate of the fleet on a path of destruction…

Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), Katee Sackhoff (Captain Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace), Jamie Bamber (Major Lee 'Apollo' Adama), James Callis (Doctor Gaius Baltar), Tricia Helfer (Number 6), Grace Park (Lieutenant J.G. Sharon 'Boomer' Valerii), Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh), Aaron Douglas (Chief Petty Officer Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Lieutenant Karl 'Helo' Agathon), Nicki Clyne (Crewman Specialist Cally),Alessandro Juliani (Lieutenant Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Petty officer 2nd Dualla), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Michael Trucco (Samuel Anders), Callon Keith Rennie (Leoben Conroy), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Donnelly Rhodes (Doctor Cottle), Matthew Bennett (Aaron Doral), Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster), Dean Stockwell (Brother Cavil), Erica Cerra (Maya)

Directed by Michael Rymer
Produced by Harvey Frand
Co-Executive Producer Toni Graphia
Executive Producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick
Consulting Producer Glen A. Larson

TX (US - Sci-Fi Channel):
10th March 2006 @ 10.00 pm

Notes:
*Featuring Commander Adama, Colonel Tigh, Major Apollo, Captain Starbuck, Lieutenant Boomer and Laura Roslin