They look down, at two pilots in love, embracing for what could be the last time. They look like young Husker and Jaycie. And he's putting them on the altar. Their thing without which is each other, and he's killing them both. Because he's in love.

"You may have a point, counselor." Romo nods, and ups the ante: "Tom Zarek may not be an ideal President, but we could do worse." Adama assures him that Tom Frakking Zarek is the proof that Adama's realism has limits. The point at which he calls Tom Zarek President, or treats him as such, or thinks of him as such, or sees his face, or hears his voice, she dies.

Bill watches the kids suit up, and passes the last test, and calls Lee to his quarters. There comes a point at which Mommy and Daddy go away and leave you to clean up the pieces; Joyce will always die and Giles will always take off for England. It's part of the story too, and it has to happen. Lee is wearing a simultaneously hilarious and violently hot red disco shirt, with hilarious moussed-up grownup Man Hair. I don't know whether to kiss him on the cheek for being adorable, or hold a gun to his head. Or reach out and hold him, for what's about to happen. Luckily, I do not have to make that decision. Lee listens to the following, which is bit like a kiss and a gun to the head at once, and slowly shades from worry, to sadness, to fear, to stark raving terror.

"I can't give up on her. I can't let her go. I've lost my objectivity. And now that I see that, I have no choice. Tell the Quorum that I am relinquishing command, effective immediately."

Bill doesn't look away.

THE GREAT SIMPLICITY

Romo stands alone in his box of a room, talking to himself, as he has for months; Romo stands alone in his box of a room, talking to Lance. As he has for months.

"No man is perfect. No man is less perfect than a candidate for high office. Thus," he says, wiping the names away again, "The ranks of likely suspects is winnowed to none."

Lance meows softly, stretching against the dufflebag.

"What if we're going about this backwards, hey Lance? What if instead of picking names and finding fault, we ask ourselves the qualities that we want -- No, that we need -- in a chief executive, see if it fits that bill. Honesty, of course. The wisdom to recognize the correct if unpopular choice, as well as the courage to see it through. Experience. When the wrong choices cost lives and the right ones save. Tall order."