Where Hope Remains... (PG-13)

[CB2001]

Warning: None of these events are real, with the exception of the cancellation of "Farscape".

"Where Hope Remains"
by Code Breaker (aka CB2001)

Jeremy Falliday was a man in his mid 50s. He was a rather good
gentleman, a bit built in the arms but a little bit chubby in his
midriff, not that anyone who looked at him would notice. Jeremy had always wanted to be a lawyer, which he was able to achieve through his determination. He won more cases than he lost. At that time, his assistant, Mariah Donners came in. She was 34 and could have been a film actress, but she chose law because it would last longer.

"I've got lunch, Jeremy," she told him, holding up the bag of Chinese takeout.

"Good, I'm starving."

They had began to pull out their food when there was a knock at the door. They looked up to see a young man in his early 20s. He wore a dress shirt with a tie, as well as a pair of bluejeans and dress pants. He was carrying a bag with him, looking much like Jeremy's brief case. The young man had black hair, brushed down and combed properly.

"I'm sorry," the young man spoke, "Did I come at a bad time?"

"Not at all," Jeremy replied, "Who might you be?"

"I'm Donnie Chamberloan," the young man replied, "I called before hand, made an appointment."

"Yes, we remember you," Mariah said, "How can we help you?"

Donnie came in, taking a seat at the desk.

"I am here on the behalf of fans of a TV show," Donnie egan, "We are hoping to find legal representation."

"Really?" Jeremy asked, "What show and what for?"

"The television series called 'Farscape', sir. A lot of us has pulled
a lot of money in order to sue the Sci-Fi Channel for canceling the
show in mid-season."

Jeremy and Mariah both chuckled at Donnie, who seemed to be a naive college kid.

"Well, we were hoping that this was important, Mr. Chamberloan." Mariah explained.

"This IS important," Donnie replied, keeping cool about the whole
thing, "It's not the first time the fans have been laughed at."

"Why don't you explain this whole thing to us?" Jeremy asked, "Then maybe we can see if you have a case."

Donnie cleared his throat, just as he began to explain.

"The television series "Farscape" is an Austrailan made TV series by the Jim Henson Company. The show is about an American astronaut who has to survive on the other side of the universe when an accident occurs during a test he was performing, which results him being there. In order to survive, he stays on board a living ship with various aliens who are his friends and allies. The show is currently in its fourth season. Producers of the show announced the cancellation of the show, which got everyone in an uproar. And ever since, we have tried to get Sci-Fi to change their minds, but all of our plans have failed."

"So, what exactly are you suing them for?"

"Simple: Violation of verbal contract."

"How so?"

"They promised not only the production company doing the show, they also promised the fans of the show that there'd not only be a fifth season, but a sixth one as well. When the news of the cancellation came out, Sci-Fi remained quiet. Then they released a frequently asked question page on their website which was a load of dren."

"Dren?" Mariah cut in, "What's that?"

"It's another word for the 'S' word. Back to what I was saying, after that, they've mocked us and mistreated not only us, but the show as well. The news of the cancellation came out during the seasonal break, which no new episodes or reruns were being shown. CNN reported on the Save Farscape campaign, but there wasn't enough interest for the fact that the report came during the break. No show, no audience, no way to draw in a new crowd."

"I still don't see how you think you have a case?"

"Simple: We sue for breach of contract for the fact that they
promised us. Have you ever had someone who made a promise to you, Mr. Falliday, and then find out they broke that promise?"

Jeremy didn't reply, neither did Mariah. Donnie sat his bag in his
lap, opened it and began to pull out various items, including a very thick folder, a few issues of "Farscape" magazine, and a video tape.

"Inside the folder is a record of all that we have been doing,
websites for our campaign, the facts behind the FAQs, interviews with members of Sci-Fi and a lot of possible theories. The magazines are for your more leisure, and the tape holds the best of "Farscape" episodes throughout all four seasons, so far. There was only one bad episode, which was "Jeremiah Crichton", but they made up for that one ever since."

Jeremy looked at the thick file, it looking almost as if everything
in it were too big to keep in there. Donnie closed his bag, pulling
out a business card. He laid it on top of the file.

"Let us know what you think."

He began to head out.

"How many lawyers have you been to before coming here?" Jeremy asked, catching Donnie half way to the door.

Donnie turned around and looked at him, his eyes appearing to be on the verge of tears.

"Eleven." Donnie replied, "All of them were afraid of Sci-Fi."

He turned around and headed out. Jeremy noted the look in Donnie's eyes. He knew he had seen such sadness before, but he couldn't place where. Mariah had been chuckling to herself the entire time.

"Science fiction geeks... You've got to love them. Don't know when to let reality set in."

Jeremy looked at the thick file, making note to himself to look at it
later on after eatting.

Jeremy had begun to look over the file some time after 6 pm, finding in chronoligcal order all newspaper articles and reviews about the show. When it reached September of 2002, there was a timeline printed of the fans reactions and their strategic plans at rallying, picketing, sending in reciepts from KFC, and news reports of other potential channels to host "Farscape" for another season. It went into articles printed from online sources, theories of why Sci-Fi cancelled the series, which channels may be able to fund "Farscape" for its last season. The final section were interviews and Sci-Fi's "Frequently Asked Questions" about the cancellation, finding commentary from the fans who managed to bring up good points against the FAQs itself. He had spent the entire night at the office, watching the tape of "best episodes" selected by the fans. Each episode alone deserved an Emmy in their own right. One would question why he did so. The answer would be told later.

Donnie entered into Starbucks a few hours after he was called at
home, prior to going to college. He found Jeremy sitting in a corner, in one of the booths. Donnie carried his backpack and set it on the floor next to him as he took a seat across from him. Jeremy could see the major enthusaism in Donnie's eyes, as if they were hoping for a miracle.

"Hi, Mr. Falliday," Donnie said, "You said you needed to see me?"

"Yes," Jeremy replied.

There was a moment where Jeremy was preparing himself to explain what was going to happen.

"I've got good news and bad news," he began, "The bad news is, you don't have a case. The fans do not own "Farscape" and they do not have the right to sue Sci-Fi over something that they do not own."

Donnie slowly sank in his seat, almost as if the miracle he was
expecting had not come.

"What's the good news?" Donnie asked sith solemn in his voice.

"The good news is that the Jim Henson Company has a cast for
violation of verbal contract, as well as a possibility to slap Sci-Fi
with a conspiracy to commit fraud charge as well."

Donnie sat straight up.

"What?"

"The Jim Henson Company owns the characters, stories, items and everything about the show. Sci-Fi holds the rights to show the show on their channel. I looked over their contract and clause, only to find that if they stayed above a one point zero rating on the Neilson charts, that they would fund the making of the show until its ending and not able to exercise their clause. By making a verbal promise, Sci-Fi is meant to uphold its promise."

"What about the conspiracy to commit fraud?"

"Sci-Fi promised two more seasons for "Farscape". They planned the cancellation and wanted to make sure that no matter how hard the fans fought back that the show would die. And a month before the show's cancellation was announced by the producers, Sci-Fi reported that they were going to participate in the remaking of "Quantum Leap" and "Battlestar Galactica". They took the money they promised to "Farscape", funded it into the miniseries "Taken" and took what was left to work on "Quantum Leap" and "Battlestar Galactica". The amount that was used to fund these projects were in fact enough to cover the two seasons that were promised. They had this money which the bank knew was going to be used for "Farscape". By not giving it
to "Farscape" and investing in other projects with the money, they commited fraud."

"So, you're saying that Sci-Fi could be brought down because of that?"

"Yes and no. The Henson company is currently pondering to proceed. If they do or do not, they'll contact me and let me know. And I'll let you know. What was that slogan you Scapers use?"

"'We're not Neilson, We are "Farscape"'?"

"That's it."

Jeremy picks up his suitcase, opening it. He begins to set the file,
the magazines and the video tape on top of that.

"This might be the stone to bring down a Goliath," Jeremy told
him, "It's up the Henson to be David, if they choose to do so."

Jeremy closed his case, getting up from the table.

"What made you decide to get involved?" Donnie asked, "What made you not fear Sci-Fi?"

"It was the sadness in your eyes yesterday," Jeremy began, "It
reminded me of when "Star Trek" was cancelled for a second time and we weren't able to bring it back. After the last episode, I cried enough to even flood the Hoover dam. Your eyes reminded me of that. And I'll be damned if I'm going to let another good show get destroyed over some stupid rating system. Even if Henson doesn't agree to it, I'll take it to Rockne S. O'Bannon himself and asked him in person. It's about time the world knows its not about ratings... It's about the audience."

He began to leave, Donnie spellboud by what he has just heard. Jeremy paused for a moment and turned back.

"Bonnie Hammer was wrong," he said to Donnie, "The show hasn't become serialized. It's become smarter than the Sci-Fi Channel will ever know. They're just not smart enough to realize it. Oh well, I guess the monster they helped create will be the same one to bring them down."

Jeremy gave a warm smile and left. Donnie chuckled to himself,
sitting there for a few moments. He couldn't wait to tell the others of the progress... The fate of the show was now in the hands of Henson, as well as Mr. O'Bannon. He knew for a fact that there was a place where hope remains, and hearing this was proof that such hope did remain. Donnie got up and quickly headed out, with the feeling that tomorrow will be a better day.

The End.