Bebop Timeline: Long
I’ve pulled together this information from the sessions only, since I don’t own any fan magazines or manga. If you’d prefer, here’s the short version of the time line. I think things are fairly accurate, but I’m mathematically challenged, so if there’s errors, please let me know.
1994 – Faye born on Earth
Comments: Last name unknown, but her first name is Faye. She was an only child from a wealthy family, lived in a large house in a tropical, coastal city, and graduated from a typical girl’s school (see notes 32, 33, 35, 47, 51)
Edited Jun 19 2005: From Josephine, who corrects my math: “My question is from reading the long version of the time line … and it’s noted in dialogue that Faye, by 2068, has been in cryo sleep for 54 years. In that case, the accident she was in would have had to have occured in 2014. And since she was twenty at the time, then wouldn’t she have had to have been born in 1994? But you have her as being born in 1997, and having been in the accident in 2017, so i just wanted to point that out.” Thanks! I suck at math…
2014 – Faye involved in shuttle accident and put in cryo sleep
Comments: Her parents were presumably killed in the accident, but friends or family had the financial means to have Faye placed in the cryo chamber (see notes 33, 48)
2022 – Lunar Gate accident
Comments: Earth residents move underground and solar system colonized (see notes 10, 13, 30, 37)
2035 – Jet Black born on Ganymede
Comments: Nothing is known of his family or early life. (see note 15)
2044 – Spike Spiegel born on Mars
Comments: Hints that he was poor, probably didn’t have much of a family, and at some point he learned to pick pockets and got involved in petty thievery. (see notes 2, 3, 4, 65; additionally, there are scenes indicating Spike has a working knowledge of pickpockets, thievery, and cheats)
2044 to 2061 – Probably the non-syndicate years of Spike’s life
2058 – Ed is born on Earth
Comments: Birth name might be something like Francoise Siniz Hesap Lutfen, since her father is called Appledelhi Siniz Hesap Lutfen (see notes 49, 50) Ed’s character name is listed as Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV because this is what she calls herself, not because it’s the name she was given when she was born. Edited to add that the name oddness with Ed doesn’t mean she was definitely called Francois SIniz Hesap Luften; it’s just my best guess from what we get in the series.
2061 – Spike acquires Swordfish II from Doohan (see notes 1, 41)
Jet cultivates Pao as an informant
Comments: Jet meets Mei Fa, aged 6. Jet is also a detective by this time (see notes 42, 44)
2061/2062 to 2068 – Probably the syndicate years of Spike’s life
Comments: Spike may have worked on Earth for Doohan before returning to Mars. (see notes 1, 38, 39, 49, 41; additionally, there’s indications Doohan might have been a mentor/father figure)
On Mars, Spike meets Mao, possibly through Annie after she catches him in some petty thievery. Annie was close to Mao, and she and her husband ran a convenience store on Tharsis City, Mars, that was a cover for Red Dragon syndicate arms dealing. (see notes 6, 53; additionally, Annie is very familiar with both Vicious and Julia, although Annie’s exact personal ties to Mao are unknown)
At some point, Mao brought both Spike and Vicious into his sphere and acted as their mentor. Mao saved Vicious’s life. Julia enters the story via Vicious. (see notes 6, 7, 8, 18, 54, 56; additionally, see notes 59 & 60 for indications that Julia may have played a more active role. Also indications from Annie that Mao may have favored Spike over Vicious, and from Mao indications that Spike kept Vicious in check)
Shin and Lin worked for Spike when they young, and Julia had ties to Lin and Shin, since Shin kept her up to date on syndicate matters and Spike’s work as a bounty hunter and his relationship to Faye. (see notes 21, 52, 55, 61; additionally, Vicious’s men gathered data on “Miss Valentine” after taking the Red Tail’s key in BoFA. It’s likely Mao and Vicious discovered Spike’s activities on the Bebop around the same time, which triggered Vicious move against Mao and the Elders. Vicious was also probably monitoring Jet and Faye’s whereabouts when possible. It’s unclear if the violinist who called the Bebop in BoFA was a legit informer, or working for Vicious in setting the trap for Spike at the opera)
2064 – Jet quits the Ganymede ISSP, six months after Alisa leaves him
Mei Fa’s mother leaves Pao, takes Mei Fa to Mars (see note 43)
Ed’s father forgets her in a daycare center on Earth (see note 46)
Comments: Jet worked with Bob and Donelly. Fad was his partner. Presumably, Jet lost his arm shortly before 2064, in the Fad/Udai Taxim/Syndicate plot. Udai was with the Europa syndicate, Fad was on their payroll. Jet apparently was going after the syndicate and was enough of a threat that they ordered him killed. The assassination attempt failed, but Jet quit the force not long afterward. He was “special forces.” (see notes 14, 15, 36)
2066 – Ed shows up at Sister Clara’s orphanage on Earth
Comments: Sister Clara calls her a “stray cat” (see note 45)
2068 – Faye is awakened from cyrogenic sleep at the Wellness Institute. Spike leaves the syndicate and teams up with Jet. Vicious betrays Gren, who escapes from prison. Ed leaves the orphanage. Vincent escapes the testing facility on Titan (CB movie)
Comments: The institute is prison-like; Baccus, Manley, and Witney are involved in shady dealings. Baccus is called Witney’s uncle. Baccus gave Faye the last name “Valentine” Faye acquires Witney’s debts, then escapes the institute and still fears being hunted by them in “Speak Like A Child.” What Faye does in the intervening three years is unknown, although she learns how to fight, shoot, fly, gamble, cheat, and trust no one but herself (see notes 31, 34, 35)
Vicious and Spike are a team working as enforcers under Mao; Vicious & Julia are lovers; Spike meets Julia in the pool hall (see note 9; additionally, it’s unclear who was the leader of the trio, but it would seem Vicious was the more ambitious of the two and he seems to have taken the role of leader)
Spike is wounded (loses eye?) and cared for by Julia (see notes 9, 26b, 66)
Vicious fights in Titan War; Gren & Vicious meet; Vicious sets up Gren as the fall guy (see notes 17, 23, 24, 27; additionally, it’s not known why Vicious is fighting in Titan, but maybe has something to do with the Titan opals)
Gren arrested after returning home; Vicious returns from war; Vicious discovers Julia & Spike are now lovers (see note 25, 27, 26; additionally, scenes from end credits indicate Vicious surprises Julia and Spike together and tensions begin. It’s unclear when Spike and Julia betrayed Vicious. If it was while Vicious was at Titan, or afterward, it adds irony to the betrayal of Gren. However, it could’ve happened before Titan, since the “Julia” music box was used to hide the transmitter and that could’ve been indicative of Vicious’s state of mind—what he thought of Julia, and what he thought of betraying a comrade.)
Gren escapes military prison (see note 20)
Spike undergoes a change of heart and plans to leave the syndicate, asks Julia to come with him (see notes 12, 57, 62; additionally, there are indications his views were more in line with Mao’s)
Vicious finds out about Spike’s plans, threatens Julia, orders her to kill Spike (see notes 58, 64)
Spike betrays his syndicate, is wounded in a cathedral battle; waits for Julia, who doesn’t come (see notes 9, 63, 64; additionally, it’s unclear if the cathedral battle was planned by Spike or if Vicious sent these gunmen after him, but the gun hidden in the roses would indicate that it was a plan or, at the very least, Spike was anticipating trouble before meeting up with Julia. In BoFA, Vicious returns Spike to the scene of the original crime, so to speak.)
Jet teams up with Spike on Bebop as a bounty hunter; bounty hunters have been around long enough for Terpsichore to become “legendary” (see notes 11, 19; additionally, what Jet does between leaving the ISSP and hooking up with Spike is unclear, but it would appear he’d been working as a bounty hunter for some time before meeting Spike. How and where Spike meet and decide to hook up isn’t known, but indications are Jet made the initial offer.)
Ed leaves the orphanage, why and where she goes are unknown (see note 45)
Titan also produces Vincent, a special forces soldier (along with his girlfriend, Electra) who’s experimented on with nano technology before he escapes. Three years later he’ll have a run in with Spike and the Bebop crew. There’s still no indication of what the war on Titan was all about, except it seems to have had some rather nasty political secret objectives.
2069 – Julia meets Gren on Callisto
Comments: Julia and Gren bond over mutual Vicious woes. Why Julia goes to Callisto isn’t clear, although it’s possible she’s looking for Spike and hears, after asking questions, that Gren knows Vicious (see notes 32, 26, 28, 29a)
2071 – Current story begins
Brings Jet, Spike, Faye, and Ed onto the Bebop. Mao and Vicious learn of Spike’s activities. Vicious makes his move. Mao dies. Spike and Vicious meet, bringing Jet and Faye into mix. Through it all, Jet, Ed, and Faye work through issues concerning their own pasts. All parties, except Ed and Ein, converge in the final showdown on Mars, leaving only Jet and Faye on the Bebop.
NOTES: (in chronological order by session)
1. SPIKE: It’s an old model. She’s been with me for over ten years. (Asteroid Blues)
2. SPIKE: I was born on Mars.
KATERINA: Mars has lots of people, lots of things. They must live happily there.
SPIKE: Sure…if you’re rich. (Asteroid Blues)
3. ASIMOV: Looks like you do better as a thief, bounty boy. (Asteroid Blues)
4. JET: Didn’t your grandma teach you to finish what you start?
SPIKE: She died before I was born. (Stray Dog Strut)
5. JET: Hey, Bob. When we worked in the same department a lot of the confiscated eye drops disappeared. (Ganymede Elegy)
6. ANNIE: No, you died three years ago.
ANNIE: Don’t get yourself involved with Vicious nomore. But I know saying that is useless. You’ve never listened to what others say. On top of it, you’re a stubborn show-off! It can’t hurt you to listen to your elders once in a while. About Mao…he had a lot of people looking for you after you were gone. He said that you still had to be alive. You’re finally back, but Mao is… (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
7. JET: You know? Then what, you’re Mao’s?
SPIKE: I owe him one from before. (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
8. SPIKE: Hardly. Something that doesn’t work on you, remember? After all, you even kill those who’ve saved your life. (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
9. FLASHBACK: Memories of Julia; a rainy ciety alley; gunfire in a cathedral, a gun hidden in roses, firing; Vicious and Spike shooting guns, watching each other’s backs, smiling; a pool hall; a gun pointed at Julia’s head; Vicious in bed with Julia; Spike smiling as blood runs down his face; a red rose in a puddle; Spike stumbling down a street, wounded, then falling at Julia’s feet; Julia hums; Spike wakes up; Julia smiles. (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
10. FLASHBACK: Hyperspace gate on moon explodes. (Sympathy for the Devil)
11. SPIKE: Unless you’re a hermit, everyone knows about him, about the legendary bounty hunter, Terpsichore. (Heavy Metal Queen)
12. SPIKE: Something beautiful, huh? I’m afraid I lost that long, long ago… (Waltz for Venus)
13. After the gate accident 50 years ago, the people of Earth migrated underground (Jamming With Edward)
14. FLASHBACK: Jet remembers a rainy night, a letter, and the watch. Alisa walks away in the rain. (Ganymede Elegy)
15. FAYE: I thought Ganymede was your home satellite. (Ganymede Elegy)
16. DONELLY: I’m surprised that you’re working around here. Has it been…seven years? Eight? (Ganymede Elegy)
17. VICIOUS: He is a Titan veteran. We were in the same unit. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
18. VICIOUS: You believe that I would betray my own mentor?
PING LONG: Mao’s case was merely bad luck. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
19. JET: It’s been three years since I teamed up with you. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
20. JUDY: Grencia Mars Eliijah Guo Eckener. That’s a long name!
PUNCH: Yeah. He escaped from military prison three years ago and the statute of limitations is about to expire. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
21. SPIKE: Are you dating Julia behind my back?
LIN: Sir Spike!
SPIKE: Hey, Lin. You’ve gotten pretty big.
VICIOUS: He used to work under you, but things are different now. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
22. VICIOUS: Julia was here, in this town. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
23. GREN: I was in the same unit as Vicious on Titan.
FLASHBACK: Titan war, unhospitable desert, gun fire, a skeleton with a gun, lots of men fighting, and a conversation between Vicious, who’s by himself, and Gren. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
24. GREN: What song is that?
VICIOUS: Julia… (Jupiter Jazz/2)
25. GREN: After I came home from the war, I was imprisoned. They said I was a spy. I heard that Vicious testified against me. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
26. JET: Julia?
BARTENDER: She suddenly wandered in two years ago, and disappeared before a month passed. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
27. LIN: This is the Titan Opal that you requested. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
28. GREN: Julia was the one who found it. She realized as soon as she heard it was a gift from you. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
29a.GREN: In the corner seat of the bar. She always slipped in while I wasn’t looking, and she always requested the same song…and smiled. Sadly. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
29b GREN: You’re Spike. Julia was always talking about you, how your eyes were different colors. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
30. FAYE: Why is he seeking revenge 50 years after the fact? (Re: Chess Master Hex) (Bohemian Rhapsody)
31. FLASHBACK: Three years ago, Faye is revived from the cryo tank. (My Funny Valentine)
32. BACCUS: And 54 years’ worth of interest. (My Funny Valentine)
33. BACCUS: When you were 20–well, you are still 20–you were involved in a serious accident. That was 54 years ago. You have been in cold-sleep. (My Funny Valentine)
34. FAYE: Then this is a dream…
WITNEY: No, it is definitely 2068 now. (My Funny Valentine)
35. BACCUS: I gave you the name Valentine. (My Funny Valentine)
36. FAD: Caught you red-handed tossing a cigarette butt. That would be a fine of 20 thousand Woolongs, Jet.
JET: Then I’ll need to collect that loan I gave you with 7 years’ worth of interest, to cover it… (Black Dog Serenade)
37. JET: Due to the explosion of the Lunar Gate, all data from before 2022 has been lost. (Speak Like A Child)
38. SPIKE: Yo. Long time no see.
DOOHAN: Yeah. Miles, where’s the checklist!? (Wild Horses)
39. Scene: Doohan’s office. Spike looks at old photographs on the bulletin board. Makes coffee, looking very at home. (Wild Horses)
40. SPIKE: You haven’t changed a bit. At this rate, another assistant is gonna leave you.
The piece punctures Spike’s finger. Doohan smiles.
DOOHAN: And you! (Wild Horses)
41. DOOHAN: Spike, I know you can do it. I didn’t give you the Swordfish for nothing. (Wild Horses)
42. JET: Just an acquaintance. It’s been 10 years already. (Boogie Woogie Feng Shui)
43. MEIFA: My father was one that believed in Universal Feng-Shui, but not other people. So my mother left, and took me with her. That was seven years ago. (Boogie Woogie Feng Shui)
44. JET: Pao had leaked information to me about the syndicate, back when I was a detective. (Boogie Woogie Feng Shui)
45. CLARA: She wandered in about five years ago. Before I knew it, she was eating with us as if it had always been that way. And about three years ago, she wandered away. (Hard Luck Woman)
46. CLARA: He came looking for Ed about 2 months ago. He said he’d forgotten he’d put her in a day care center and that he had been looking for seven years, hopping around the world. (Hard Luck Woman)
47. SALLY: Are you…Faye? (Hard Luck Woman)
48. FLASHBACK: While in the shower, Faye remembers the shuttle accident. (Hard Luck Woman)
49. JET: Appledelhi Siniz Hesap Lutfen. (Hard Luck Woman)
50. APPLEDELHI: Francoise! (Hard Luck Woman)
51. Scene: Faye finds her home destroyed, except for the broken lion head in the fountain. (Hard Luck Woman)
52. Scene: On Mars, Julia walks into her apartment and hears a message fromShin. (Real Folk Blues/1)
53. Red Dragon Headquarters is on Mars, Tharsis City. (Real Folk Blues/1)
54. SOU LONG: We have informed you of our decision that you cannot be our successor. (Real Folk Blues/1)
55. SPIKE: Lin?!
SHIN: I’m Shin, his younger brother. (Real Folk Blues/1)
56.SHIN: They’re in the city of Tharsis. I’ll hold them off here. Please go! (Real Folk Blues/1)
57.FLASHBACK: Spike in Julia’s apartment three years ago.
SPIKE: When this is over, I’m leaving the syndicate.
SPIKE: I’ll let them say I’m dead. I’ll be waiting at the graveyard.
JULIA: I can’t come with you.
SPIKE: Come with me. We’ll leave here…escape from this world.
JULIA: And then what are we going to do?
SPIKE: We’ll just live a life of freedom somewhere. Just like watching a dream… (Real Folk Blues/1)
58. FLASHBACK: While driving in her red convertible, Julia remembers her talk with Vicious.
VICIOUS: Were you going to betray me?
JULIA: Are you going to kill him?
VICIOUS: Yeah, with your hands. You stay alive, or you both die. (Real Folk Blues/1)
59. Scene: Julia speeds down the street, driving evasively to escape the thugs. (Real Folk Blues/1)
60. JULIA: You’re a pretty good shot. (Real Folk Blues/1)
61. JULIA: What’s your name?
FAYE: Faye.
Julia gives her a startled look.
JULIA: Faye?
FAYE: Faye Valentine. A common name. What’s yours?
JULIA: Julia.
Faye’s turn to give Julia a startled look.
FAYE: Julia?
JULIA: It’s a common name.
JULIA: If you see Spike again, tell him that I will be waiting there. He’ll know what I mean. Tell him that I’ll keep waiting. (Real Folk Blues/1)
62. SPIKE: There was a woman. For the first time in my life I saw a woman that was truly alive. That’s what I believed. She was a part of me I had lost somewhere along the way. (Real Folk Blues/1)
63. JULIA: It was raining that day as well. (Real Folk Blues/2)
64. JULIA: I was supposed to kill you. If I’d killed you that day, I would’ve been free.
SPIKE: So why didn’t you? Why did you choose to be pursued?
JULIA: Why did you love me? (Real Folk Blues/2)
65. SPIKE: There once was a tiger-striped cat. This cat died a million deaths and was reborn a million times and was owned by various people he didn’t care for. The cat wasn’t afraid to die. Then, one day, the cat was a free cat, a stray cat. He met a white female cat, and the two spent their days happily together. Years passed, and the white cat died of old age. The tiger-striped cat cried a million times, and then died. It never came back to life. (Real Folk Blues/2)
66. SPIKE: Look at these eyes. One of them is a fake, because I lost it in an accident. Since then, I have been seeing the past in one eye, and the present in the other.
By Michele
1994 – Faye born on Earth
Comments: Last name unknown, but her first name is Faye. She was an only child from a wealthy family, lived in a large house in a tropical, coastal city, and graduated from a typical girl’s school (see notes 32, 33, 35, 47, 51)
Edited Jun 19 2005: From Josephine, who corrects my math: “My question is from reading the long version of the time line … and it’s noted in dialogue that Faye, by 2068, has been in cryo sleep for 54 years. In that case, the accident she was in would have had to have occured in 2014. And since she was twenty at the time, then wouldn’t she have had to have been born in 1994? But you have her as being born in 1997, and having been in the accident in 2017, so i just wanted to point that out.” Thanks! I suck at math…
2014 – Faye involved in shuttle accident and put in cryo sleep
Comments: Her parents were presumably killed in the accident, but friends or family had the financial means to have Faye placed in the cryo chamber (see notes 33, 48)
2022 – Lunar Gate accident
Comments: Earth residents move underground and solar system colonized (see notes 10, 13, 30, 37)
2035 – Jet Black born on Ganymede
Comments: Nothing is known of his family or early life. (see note 15)
2044 – Spike Spiegel born on Mars
Comments: Hints that he was poor, probably didn’t have much of a family, and at some point he learned to pick pockets and got involved in petty thievery. (see notes 2, 3, 4, 65; additionally, there are scenes indicating Spike has a working knowledge of pickpockets, thievery, and cheats)
2044 to 2061 – Probably the non-syndicate years of Spike’s life
2058 – Ed is born on Earth
Comments: Birth name might be something like Francoise Siniz Hesap Lutfen, since her father is called Appledelhi Siniz Hesap Lutfen (see notes 49, 50) Ed’s character name is listed as Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV because this is what she calls herself, not because it’s the name she was given when she was born. Edited to add that the name oddness with Ed doesn’t mean she was definitely called Francois SIniz Hesap Luften; it’s just my best guess from what we get in the series.
2061 – Spike acquires Swordfish II from Doohan (see notes 1, 41)
Jet cultivates Pao as an informant
Comments: Jet meets Mei Fa, aged 6. Jet is also a detective by this time (see notes 42, 44)
2061/2062 to 2068 – Probably the syndicate years of Spike’s life
Comments: Spike may have worked on Earth for Doohan before returning to Mars. (see notes 1, 38, 39, 49, 41; additionally, there’s indications Doohan might have been a mentor/father figure)
On Mars, Spike meets Mao, possibly through Annie after she catches him in some petty thievery. Annie was close to Mao, and she and her husband ran a convenience store on Tharsis City, Mars, that was a cover for Red Dragon syndicate arms dealing. (see notes 6, 53; additionally, Annie is very familiar with both Vicious and Julia, although Annie’s exact personal ties to Mao are unknown)
At some point, Mao brought both Spike and Vicious into his sphere and acted as their mentor. Mao saved Vicious’s life. Julia enters the story via Vicious. (see notes 6, 7, 8, 18, 54, 56; additionally, see notes 59 & 60 for indications that Julia may have played a more active role. Also indications from Annie that Mao may have favored Spike over Vicious, and from Mao indications that Spike kept Vicious in check)
Shin and Lin worked for Spike when they young, and Julia had ties to Lin and Shin, since Shin kept her up to date on syndicate matters and Spike’s work as a bounty hunter and his relationship to Faye. (see notes 21, 52, 55, 61; additionally, Vicious’s men gathered data on “Miss Valentine” after taking the Red Tail’s key in BoFA. It’s likely Mao and Vicious discovered Spike’s activities on the Bebop around the same time, which triggered Vicious move against Mao and the Elders. Vicious was also probably monitoring Jet and Faye’s whereabouts when possible. It’s unclear if the violinist who called the Bebop in BoFA was a legit informer, or working for Vicious in setting the trap for Spike at the opera)
2064 – Jet quits the Ganymede ISSP, six months after Alisa leaves him
Mei Fa’s mother leaves Pao, takes Mei Fa to Mars (see note 43)
Ed’s father forgets her in a daycare center on Earth (see note 46)
Comments: Jet worked with Bob and Donelly. Fad was his partner. Presumably, Jet lost his arm shortly before 2064, in the Fad/Udai Taxim/Syndicate plot. Udai was with the Europa syndicate, Fad was on their payroll. Jet apparently was going after the syndicate and was enough of a threat that they ordered him killed. The assassination attempt failed, but Jet quit the force not long afterward. He was “special forces.” (see notes 14, 15, 36)
2066 – Ed shows up at Sister Clara’s orphanage on Earth
Comments: Sister Clara calls her a “stray cat” (see note 45)
2068 – Faye is awakened from cyrogenic sleep at the Wellness Institute. Spike leaves the syndicate and teams up with Jet. Vicious betrays Gren, who escapes from prison. Ed leaves the orphanage. Vincent escapes the testing facility on Titan (CB movie)
Comments: The institute is prison-like; Baccus, Manley, and Witney are involved in shady dealings. Baccus is called Witney’s uncle. Baccus gave Faye the last name “Valentine” Faye acquires Witney’s debts, then escapes the institute and still fears being hunted by them in “Speak Like A Child.” What Faye does in the intervening three years is unknown, although she learns how to fight, shoot, fly, gamble, cheat, and trust no one but herself (see notes 31, 34, 35)
Vicious and Spike are a team working as enforcers under Mao; Vicious & Julia are lovers; Spike meets Julia in the pool hall (see note 9; additionally, it’s unclear who was the leader of the trio, but it would seem Vicious was the more ambitious of the two and he seems to have taken the role of leader)
Spike is wounded (loses eye?) and cared for by Julia (see notes 9, 26b, 66)
Vicious fights in Titan War; Gren & Vicious meet; Vicious sets up Gren as the fall guy (see notes 17, 23, 24, 27; additionally, it’s not known why Vicious is fighting in Titan, but maybe has something to do with the Titan opals)
Gren arrested after returning home; Vicious returns from war; Vicious discovers Julia & Spike are now lovers (see note 25, 27, 26; additionally, scenes from end credits indicate Vicious surprises Julia and Spike together and tensions begin. It’s unclear when Spike and Julia betrayed Vicious. If it was while Vicious was at Titan, or afterward, it adds irony to the betrayal of Gren. However, it could’ve happened before Titan, since the “Julia” music box was used to hide the transmitter and that could’ve been indicative of Vicious’s state of mind—what he thought of Julia, and what he thought of betraying a comrade.)
Gren escapes military prison (see note 20)
Spike undergoes a change of heart and plans to leave the syndicate, asks Julia to come with him (see notes 12, 57, 62; additionally, there are indications his views were more in line with Mao’s)
Vicious finds out about Spike’s plans, threatens Julia, orders her to kill Spike (see notes 58, 64)
Spike betrays his syndicate, is wounded in a cathedral battle; waits for Julia, who doesn’t come (see notes 9, 63, 64; additionally, it’s unclear if the cathedral battle was planned by Spike or if Vicious sent these gunmen after him, but the gun hidden in the roses would indicate that it was a plan or, at the very least, Spike was anticipating trouble before meeting up with Julia. In BoFA, Vicious returns Spike to the scene of the original crime, so to speak.)
Jet teams up with Spike on Bebop as a bounty hunter; bounty hunters have been around long enough for Terpsichore to become “legendary” (see notes 11, 19; additionally, what Jet does between leaving the ISSP and hooking up with Spike is unclear, but it would appear he’d been working as a bounty hunter for some time before meeting Spike. How and where Spike meet and decide to hook up isn’t known, but indications are Jet made the initial offer.)
Ed leaves the orphanage, why and where she goes are unknown (see note 45)
Titan also produces Vincent, a special forces soldier (along with his girlfriend, Electra) who’s experimented on with nano technology before he escapes. Three years later he’ll have a run in with Spike and the Bebop crew. There’s still no indication of what the war on Titan was all about, except it seems to have had some rather nasty political secret objectives.
2069 – Julia meets Gren on Callisto
Comments: Julia and Gren bond over mutual Vicious woes. Why Julia goes to Callisto isn’t clear, although it’s possible she’s looking for Spike and hears, after asking questions, that Gren knows Vicious (see notes 32, 26, 28, 29a)
2071 – Current story begins
Brings Jet, Spike, Faye, and Ed onto the Bebop. Mao and Vicious learn of Spike’s activities. Vicious makes his move. Mao dies. Spike and Vicious meet, bringing Jet and Faye into mix. Through it all, Jet, Ed, and Faye work through issues concerning their own pasts. All parties, except Ed and Ein, converge in the final showdown on Mars, leaving only Jet and Faye on the Bebop.
NOTES: (in chronological order by session)
1. SPIKE: It’s an old model. She’s been with me for over ten years. (Asteroid Blues)
2. SPIKE: I was born on Mars.
KATERINA: Mars has lots of people, lots of things. They must live happily there.
SPIKE: Sure…if you’re rich. (Asteroid Blues)
3. ASIMOV: Looks like you do better as a thief, bounty boy. (Asteroid Blues)
4. JET: Didn’t your grandma teach you to finish what you start?
SPIKE: She died before I was born. (Stray Dog Strut)
5. JET: Hey, Bob. When we worked in the same department a lot of the confiscated eye drops disappeared. (Ganymede Elegy)
6. ANNIE: No, you died three years ago.
ANNIE: Don’t get yourself involved with Vicious nomore. But I know saying that is useless. You’ve never listened to what others say. On top of it, you’re a stubborn show-off! It can’t hurt you to listen to your elders once in a while. About Mao…he had a lot of people looking for you after you were gone. He said that you still had to be alive. You’re finally back, but Mao is… (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
7. JET: You know? Then what, you’re Mao’s?
SPIKE: I owe him one from before. (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
8. SPIKE: Hardly. Something that doesn’t work on you, remember? After all, you even kill those who’ve saved your life. (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
9. FLASHBACK: Memories of Julia; a rainy ciety alley; gunfire in a cathedral, a gun hidden in roses, firing; Vicious and Spike shooting guns, watching each other’s backs, smiling; a pool hall; a gun pointed at Julia’s head; Vicious in bed with Julia; Spike smiling as blood runs down his face; a red rose in a puddle; Spike stumbling down a street, wounded, then falling at Julia’s feet; Julia hums; Spike wakes up; Julia smiles. (Ballad of Fallen Angels)
10. FLASHBACK: Hyperspace gate on moon explodes. (Sympathy for the Devil)
11. SPIKE: Unless you’re a hermit, everyone knows about him, about the legendary bounty hunter, Terpsichore. (Heavy Metal Queen)
12. SPIKE: Something beautiful, huh? I’m afraid I lost that long, long ago… (Waltz for Venus)
13. After the gate accident 50 years ago, the people of Earth migrated underground (Jamming With Edward)
14. FLASHBACK: Jet remembers a rainy night, a letter, and the watch. Alisa walks away in the rain. (Ganymede Elegy)
15. FAYE: I thought Ganymede was your home satellite. (Ganymede Elegy)
16. DONELLY: I’m surprised that you’re working around here. Has it been…seven years? Eight? (Ganymede Elegy)
17. VICIOUS: He is a Titan veteran. We were in the same unit. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
18. VICIOUS: You believe that I would betray my own mentor?
PING LONG: Mao’s case was merely bad luck. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
19. JET: It’s been three years since I teamed up with you. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
20. JUDY: Grencia Mars Eliijah Guo Eckener. That’s a long name!
PUNCH: Yeah. He escaped from military prison three years ago and the statute of limitations is about to expire. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
21. SPIKE: Are you dating Julia behind my back?
LIN: Sir Spike!
SPIKE: Hey, Lin. You’ve gotten pretty big.
VICIOUS: He used to work under you, but things are different now. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
22. VICIOUS: Julia was here, in this town. (Jupiter Jazz/1)
23. GREN: I was in the same unit as Vicious on Titan.
FLASHBACK: Titan war, unhospitable desert, gun fire, a skeleton with a gun, lots of men fighting, and a conversation between Vicious, who’s by himself, and Gren. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
24. GREN: What song is that?
VICIOUS: Julia… (Jupiter Jazz/2)
25. GREN: After I came home from the war, I was imprisoned. They said I was a spy. I heard that Vicious testified against me. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
26. JET: Julia?
BARTENDER: She suddenly wandered in two years ago, and disappeared before a month passed. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
27. LIN: This is the Titan Opal that you requested. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
28. GREN: Julia was the one who found it. She realized as soon as she heard it was a gift from you. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
29a.GREN: In the corner seat of the bar. She always slipped in while I wasn’t looking, and she always requested the same song…and smiled. Sadly. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
29b GREN: You’re Spike. Julia was always talking about you, how your eyes were different colors. (Jupiter Jazz/2)
30. FAYE: Why is he seeking revenge 50 years after the fact? (Re: Chess Master Hex) (Bohemian Rhapsody)
31. FLASHBACK: Three years ago, Faye is revived from the cryo tank. (My Funny Valentine)
32. BACCUS: And 54 years’ worth of interest. (My Funny Valentine)
33. BACCUS: When you were 20–well, you are still 20–you were involved in a serious accident. That was 54 years ago. You have been in cold-sleep. (My Funny Valentine)
34. FAYE: Then this is a dream…
WITNEY: No, it is definitely 2068 now. (My Funny Valentine)
35. BACCUS: I gave you the name Valentine. (My Funny Valentine)
36. FAD: Caught you red-handed tossing a cigarette butt. That would be a fine of 20 thousand Woolongs, Jet.
JET: Then I’ll need to collect that loan I gave you with 7 years’ worth of interest, to cover it… (Black Dog Serenade)
37. JET: Due to the explosion of the Lunar Gate, all data from before 2022 has been lost. (Speak Like A Child)
38. SPIKE: Yo. Long time no see.
DOOHAN: Yeah. Miles, where’s the checklist!? (Wild Horses)
39. Scene: Doohan’s office. Spike looks at old photographs on the bulletin board. Makes coffee, looking very at home. (Wild Horses)
40. SPIKE: You haven’t changed a bit. At this rate, another assistant is gonna leave you.
The piece punctures Spike’s finger. Doohan smiles.
DOOHAN: And you! (Wild Horses)
41. DOOHAN: Spike, I know you can do it. I didn’t give you the Swordfish for nothing. (Wild Horses)
42. JET: Just an acquaintance. It’s been 10 years already. (Boogie Woogie Feng Shui)
43. MEIFA: My father was one that believed in Universal Feng-Shui, but not other people. So my mother left, and took me with her. That was seven years ago. (Boogie Woogie Feng Shui)
44. JET: Pao had leaked information to me about the syndicate, back when I was a detective. (Boogie Woogie Feng Shui)
45. CLARA: She wandered in about five years ago. Before I knew it, she was eating with us as if it had always been that way. And about three years ago, she wandered away. (Hard Luck Woman)
46. CLARA: He came looking for Ed about 2 months ago. He said he’d forgotten he’d put her in a day care center and that he had been looking for seven years, hopping around the world. (Hard Luck Woman)
47. SALLY: Are you…Faye? (Hard Luck Woman)
48. FLASHBACK: While in the shower, Faye remembers the shuttle accident. (Hard Luck Woman)
49. JET: Appledelhi Siniz Hesap Lutfen. (Hard Luck Woman)
50. APPLEDELHI: Francoise! (Hard Luck Woman)
51. Scene: Faye finds her home destroyed, except for the broken lion head in the fountain. (Hard Luck Woman)
52. Scene: On Mars, Julia walks into her apartment and hears a message fromShin. (Real Folk Blues/1)
53. Red Dragon Headquarters is on Mars, Tharsis City. (Real Folk Blues/1)
54. SOU LONG: We have informed you of our decision that you cannot be our successor. (Real Folk Blues/1)
55. SPIKE: Lin?!
SHIN: I’m Shin, his younger brother. (Real Folk Blues/1)
56.SHIN: They’re in the city of Tharsis. I’ll hold them off here. Please go! (Real Folk Blues/1)
57.FLASHBACK: Spike in Julia’s apartment three years ago.
SPIKE: When this is over, I’m leaving the syndicate.
SPIKE: I’ll let them say I’m dead. I’ll be waiting at the graveyard.
JULIA: I can’t come with you.
SPIKE: Come with me. We’ll leave here…escape from this world.
JULIA: And then what are we going to do?
SPIKE: We’ll just live a life of freedom somewhere. Just like watching a dream… (Real Folk Blues/1)
58. FLASHBACK: While driving in her red convertible, Julia remembers her talk with Vicious.
VICIOUS: Were you going to betray me?
JULIA: Are you going to kill him?
VICIOUS: Yeah, with your hands. You stay alive, or you both die. (Real Folk Blues/1)
59. Scene: Julia speeds down the street, driving evasively to escape the thugs. (Real Folk Blues/1)
60. JULIA: You’re a pretty good shot. (Real Folk Blues/1)
61. JULIA: What’s your name?
FAYE: Faye.
Julia gives her a startled look.
JULIA: Faye?
FAYE: Faye Valentine. A common name. What’s yours?
JULIA: Julia.
Faye’s turn to give Julia a startled look.
FAYE: Julia?
JULIA: It’s a common name.
JULIA: If you see Spike again, tell him that I will be waiting there. He’ll know what I mean. Tell him that I’ll keep waiting. (Real Folk Blues/1)
62. SPIKE: There was a woman. For the first time in my life I saw a woman that was truly alive. That’s what I believed. She was a part of me I had lost somewhere along the way. (Real Folk Blues/1)
63. JULIA: It was raining that day as well. (Real Folk Blues/2)
64. JULIA: I was supposed to kill you. If I’d killed you that day, I would’ve been free.
SPIKE: So why didn’t you? Why did you choose to be pursued?
JULIA: Why did you love me? (Real Folk Blues/2)
65. SPIKE: There once was a tiger-striped cat. This cat died a million deaths and was reborn a million times and was owned by various people he didn’t care for. The cat wasn’t afraid to die. Then, one day, the cat was a free cat, a stray cat. He met a white female cat, and the two spent their days happily together. Years passed, and the white cat died of old age. The tiger-striped cat cried a million times, and then died. It never came back to life. (Real Folk Blues/2)
66. SPIKE: Look at these eyes. One of them is a fake, because I lost it in an accident. Since then, I have been seeing the past in one eye, and the present in the other.
By Michele
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