SGA 5.11 "The Lost Tribe Part 2" Transcript

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5.11 "The Lost Tribe Part 2"

Episode Guide

SGA 5.11 "The Lost Tribe Part 2" Episode Guide

Précis

McKay and Daniel are caught in the middle of the war between the Wraith and another powerful race in the Pegasus Galaxy. Sheppard teams up with the Travelers to rescue the two after the Daedalus falls into enemy hands.

Guide | Transcript

Transcript

PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE ATLANTIS

[Excerpts from 5.10 "First Contact" are shown.]

END EXCERPTS

TEASER

INT—ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Teyla steps out of a transporter.]

TEYLA
Move quickly! We have to get everyone to the lower levels of the tower to make sure that everyone will be—

[An explosion rocks the corridor.]

EXT—ATLANTIS TOWER

[The Gate Room area of the tower explodes, blowing out the windows. Smoke curls through the broken windows.]

INT—ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[The power goes out. People hurry, speaking in scared mutterings.]

TEYLA

(into radio, worried)

Colonel Sheppard, are you all right? John?!

[Marie approaches Teyla.]

MARIE
Teyla, how many were up there?

TEYLA
Two.

MARIE
I'll go get my people.

[Marie races off.]

INT—ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[The only light is from sunlight in the broken window and flashlights carried by Teyla and the search and rescue team. The area is scorched and blackened; the Stargate is gone.]

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Debris still falls and sparks fly across short circuits. The room is unrecognizable.]

TEYLA
John?! They were right here when I left them.

MARIE
If the explosion was hot enough, there might not be anything left for us to find.

[In the distance can be heard a weak groan.]

TEYLA
Did you hear that?

[Marie nods. The groan is louder and seems to be coming from Woolsey's office.]

INT—WOOLSEY'S OFFICE

[Sheppard has bodily covered Zelenka as they both lie prone on the floor. Shards of glass cover the room, including Sheppard. Teyla and Marie rush in with the team.]

TEYLA
John!

SHEPPARD

(groaning, confused)

We need to take cover.

[Marie and Teyla help him up.]

TEYLA
Are you all right?

SHEPPARD
Huhn?

TEYLA

(louder)

Are you all right?

SHEPPARD
My ears…I think I got some glass in my back.

TEYLA
Marie…

[Marie leads the stiff Sheppard away. Teyla crouches down by Zelenka, who's starting to move.]

ZELENKA
We lost the Stargate. We lost the control room. That's bad.

TEYLA
But we did not lose you. That's good.

[Teyla nods to another member of the rescue team.]

TEYLA

(smiling)

Okay.

[The man helps Teyla lead Zelenka away.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus floats near Todd's hive ship.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Woolsey sits propped against a bulkhead, unconscious. Todd sits in the commander's chair. Kenny enters.]

KENNY
All the troops you've requested have beamed on board.

TODD
Have them round up the rest of the humans and confine them to one of the hangar bays.

[Another Wraith nods and does as Todd bids, leading a troop of soldier Wraith out.]

TODD
Inform our hive to wait for us here. And under no circumstances are they to activate their hyperdrive. Is that understood?

KENNY
Yes. Where are we going?

TODD
Atlantis.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT—ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Power is on in this area. Marie picks several small shards of glass out of Sheppard's back with forceps. Sheppard grunts in pain. Teyla approaches.]

SHEPPARD

(to Teyla)

I need you to get Banks and her team to set up an auxiliary control room below the damaged areas.

TEYLA

(nodding)

They've already begun. How are you?

SHEPPARD
Ach! Well, I'm alive. You know, that's good for now.

TEYLA
I still do not understand what happened.

SHEPPARD
The 'gate blew up.

TEYLA

(drily)

That much I surmised. But why?

SHEPPARD

(shaking his head)

I don't know. Where the hell's McKay when you need him, huh?

EXT—ANCIENT FACILITY, DAY

[The center of the facility is lit up in a blue glow from the active Attero device.]

INT—ANCIENT SEALED ROOM

[Daniel sits, leaning against a wall in their latest makeshift prison cell. McKay paces nervously in front of him.]

MCKAY
All right, so the device creates a very specific subspace "turbulence" that makes it impossible for the Wraith to operate their hyperdrives.

DANIEL

(resigned)

You said that already.

MCKAY
But there's a side-effect.

DANIEL
Yes, the unforeseen one that Janus mentions.

MCKAY
Yeah, well, it's certainly not "seen" here, because there's no Stargate on this planet.

DANIEL

(aggravated)

What's the point, Rodney?

MCKAY
Look, although the subspace turbulence only affects the Wraith's hyperdrive systems, it creates a very dangerous type of radiation that, uh, well…that messes with the basic operation of the Stargates.

DANIEL

(alert)

Stargates? What, as in all of them?

MCKAY
Well, all of the Stargates in the Pegasus network, yes.

DANIEL
And when you say "messes with," you mean what?

MCKAY
Look, when dialed, power will build up inside the 'gate until it overloads.

[Daniel stands.]

DANIEL
So, you're saying that as long as this Janus device is running, every time someone dials a 'gate in the entire galaxy…

MCKAY
It'll explode. I mean, millions of people will die if we don't shut that thing down.

[They exchange very worried looks.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Woolsey awakens to find Todd hovering over him.]

TODD
Good timing, Mister Woolsey.

[A Wraith soldier drags him to his feet.]

WOOLSEY

(with bravado)

Look, I don't know what it is you think we've done, but I assure you—

TODD

(to Kenny)

Take us out of hyperspace.

KENNY
We haven't arrived in Atlantis yet.

WOOLSEY

(shocked)

Atlantis?

TODD

We're within communications range. We don't want to get too close. Take us out.
(to Woolsey)

I was hoping you'd be awake for this.

INT—ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

[Zelenka and Banks's team have set up computers on tables and are bringing in more equipment. Power is restored to this area. Sheppard and Teyla enter.]

SHEPPARD
Well, are we up and running?

BANKS
Yes, sir. We've routed all the city's main controls into this room.

SHEPPARD
At least we're not blind anymore.

ZELENKA
No, but we're severely crippled. And without the 'gate or the ability to reach the Daedalus, we have no way of getting to M6H-987 or rescuing Rodney and Doctor Jackson.

TEYLA
What should we do?

SHEPPARD

(loudly)

Five bucks to anybody who can figure out how to contact the Daedalus.

[Banks sits at her laptop. It blinks an alert.]

BANKS
Uh, Colonel Sheppard?

SHEPPARD
You got an idea, Banks?

BANKS
Well, no, but I am being hailed by the Daedalus on subspace. Does that count?

SHEPPARD

(surprised)

Technically, that's not your idea, but good enough. Put 'em on screen.

[He and Teyla move to the communications monitor. Sheppard taps Banks on the shoulder as he passes.]

SHEPPARD
Don't worry, I'll pay you later.

[They wait for screen to stop being static.]

SHEPPARD

(into videocom)

Daedalus! It's good to, uh—

[The image clears. They are shocked to find Todd on the screen.]

TODD
Colonel Sheppard.

SHEPPARD
What the hell's going on? Where's Caldwell?

TODD
I'm afraid I had to relieve him and his crew of duty.

SHEPPARD

(low, to Zelenka)

How close are they?

ZELENKA

(low, to Sheppard)

Not close enough to go by jumper, if that's what you're thinking.

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The conversation switches between the Daedalus bridge and Atlantis.]

TODD
Don't worry. I'm more than willing to return this ship and its crew to you.

SHEPPARD

(suspicious)

In exchange for what?

TODD
You've activated the Attero Device. I need you to shut it down and give me its location immediately.

SHEPPARD
I don't know what you're talking about!

TODD
It was very clever of you, luring me and my ship out into the open so you could see for yourself if it worked.

SHEPPARD
If what worked?

TODD
I have to admit, in a way I'm impressed. I was there ten thousand years ago when the Ancients first tried to use it, but they didn't have the stomach to leave it on once they realized how many of their precious Stargates it would destroy…how many humans it would kill.

ZELENKA

(low, to Sheppard)

Sounds like something Janus would've worked on.

TODD
Give me the location of the Attero device, and once I have destroyed it I will return this crew to you!

SHEPPARD
Look, it's not what you think. We have nothing to do with this!

TODD
Every minute that goes by without you telling me where this device is, I will kill a member of your expedition.

[A Wraith soldier pulls Woolsey into view of the video camera. Teyla and Sheppard gasp.]

ZELENKA
Oh…

[Todd puts his arm around Woolsey in a falsely familiar pose. Woolsey looks nauseous and frightened.]

TODD
Your time starts now.

SHEPPARD
Give us a second.

[Sheppard gives a signal to Banks, and the monitor on the Daedalus reads "transmission suspended."]

WOOLSEY
I don't think this should count toward the minute. I-I mean, he didn't say "no"…yet.

[Todd slowly turns to Woolsey and growls.]

INT—ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

SHEPPARD
What are the odds that—that…what's this thing called?

TEYLA
Uh…Attero device?

SHEPPARD
What are the odds that this thing was at the other end of the subspace link that Rodney opened when he went to that lab?

ZELENKA
M6H-987? I'd say it's very likely. It's also very likely that's where he and Dr. Jackson were taken.

TEYLA
It must be a weapon that Janus developed during the Wraith war.

SHEPPARD
A weapon to blow up Stargates?

ZELENKA
I doubt that was its original design. It doesn't seem like an effective strategy.

SHEPPARD
So, a nasty side effect. That's probably why they stopped production.

TEYLA
Whatever the aliens took from the lab allowed them to reactivate it again.

SHEPPARD
Whatever it is, Todd seems pretty keen to stop it—enough to risk taking the Daedalus.

ZELENKA
Yes, but we can't give him the address. If he gets it, he'll destroy everything in his path, including Rodney and Doctor Jackson.

[Sheppard rubs his chin and sighs.]

TEYLA

(heaving a sigh)

John, we don't have a choice. Our shield was able to take the brunt of the explosion, but if this is happening on other worlds, it could kill millions.

SHEPPARD

(waving to Banks)

Put him back on.

[The video link is reestablished and the conversation again switches between the bridge of the ship and Atlantis.]

WOOLSEY

(relieved)

Oh, thank God.

SHEPPARD
We're not the ones behind this.

TODD
Very well.

[Todd turns to Woolsey. A soldier holds him in place as he raises his hand to feed.]

SHEPPARD
W-w-wait! Wait! I said we're not the ones behind this, but we may have what you need.

TEYLA
Atlantis was attacked yesterday by a race we have not encountered before. It stole a piece of Ancient technology. We believe this could be a component to this…Attero device.

[Todd's hand slowly moves to Woolsey's chest, where it clutches his lapel. Woolsey watches the proceedings with alarm.]

SHEPPARD
We managed to track them. Swing by here, pick me up, I will take you there myself.

TODD
And give you the chance to take out my hyperdrive with one of your drones? I think not.

[Todd straightens his hand as if to feed.]

SHEPPARD
Why would I do that? Right now, you're one of the few people in the galaxy with a ship capable of dealing with this problem.

[Todd again embraces Woolsey in this falsely companionable manner.]

TODD
And I intend to keep it that way. John Sheppard, transmit the coordinates, or I will feed on Mister Woolsey before your eyes!

[Sheppard gives Todd a shrewd look. Not taking his eyes off Todd, he turns his head towards Banks.]

SHEPPARD

(tightly)

Do it.

[One of the Daedalus consoles blinks.]

KENNY
We have it.

TODD
We'll be in touch.

[The link is severed. Teyla, Sheppard, and Zelenka exchange concerned looks.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus enters hyperspace.]

INT—DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Ronon tries to force the doors open with his bare hands. Keller watches with her arms crossed as he groans.]

KELLER
You really think that's going to work?

RONON

(groaning)

You got a better idea?

KELLER
We're on a spaceship. Those doors are designed to be airtight. That means something as tiny as air can't even get through. How do you think you will?

RONON
Yeah, well, I'm a lot bigger than air.

KELLER
Yeah…that's kinda my point.

[Ronon strains again, and this time his efforts are rewarded. The door opens. He turns back to Keller.]

RONON

(triumphant)

See?

[Keller's eyes widen in alarm as she spots the two Wraith in the corridor beyond.]

KELLER
Ronon!

[She crouches as Ronon ducks and spins, shooting the two soldiers.]

RONON
You okay?

KELLER

(shaken)

Yeah.

RONON
All right, come on.

KELLER
Wait. Wh-what's our plan? Where are we going?

RONON
We're going to get to an access ladder. We head down two floors to the engineering rooms, then we cripple the ship.

KELLER

(surprised)

You…know how to do all that?

RONON
Yeah, don't you?

KELLER
Not really.

RONON
Watch and learn.

[He leads the way.]

INT—ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

BANKS
Hyperspace window opening.

SHEPPARD
Think Todd changed his mind?

ZELENKA
He might have realized just how crippled we are.

BANKS
We're being hailed.

SHEPPARD
Put it up.

[A woman appears on the video screen.]

KATANA
My name is Katana Labrea. I'm a Traveler. Larrin sent me.

SHEPPARD
Well, is everything all right?

KATANA
No. As a matter of fact, it's not. Larrin was hoping you could tell us why the Stargates are blowing up.

INT—ANCIENT SEALED ROOM

[McKay studies the panels on the wall, trying to figure out how to open one. The door to the room opens and one of the armored aliens walks in. He points at Daniel.]

ALIEN
You. Come with me.

[Daniel points at himself, surprised.]

DANIEL
Me? Why?

[The alien unholsters his stunner. Daniel and McKay immediately raise their hands in surrender, McKay stepping in the line of fire.]

DANIEL
Hey!

MCKAY
Whoa! We'll both go! No need for that.

ALIEN
No.

MCKAY

(weakly)

Well…I guess it…just must be your turn to use the fitness room.

DANIEL
Right.

[Daniel walks past McKay, keeping his arms raised.]

MCKAY

(worried)

Good luck.

DANIEL

(with false brightness)

You too.

[He steps out of the room at gunpoint.]

INT—ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

[Katana has joined the Lantians.]

KATANA
It was the first colony we'd built on the surface of a planet in a hundred generations, and it was leveled in an instant. I was in orbit when it happened. We could see the explosion from space. I've never witnessed anything that powerful.

ZELENKA
Mmm. The 'gates are made of naquadah, and when they become unstable, the size of the explosion is unimaginable.

KATANA
We lost three thousand people and two ships, including our Ancient vessel. Larrin would've come herself, but…

SHEPPARD
No, I'm sure she's got her hands full. Look, these aliens or whoever they are, they have two of our people hostage. They need to be stopped. We have coordinates but…we have no ship.

KATANA
Then I guess I got here just in time.

SHEPPARD
That's what I wanted to hear. Zelenka, you're with me.

[He, Katana, and Zelenka start to leave.]

TEYLA

(protesting)

John…!

SHEPPARD
Teyla, I need you to stay here, all right? The second Todd's done, there's nothing stopping him from turning that ship around and making a run at Atlantis. I need someone I trust to stay in charge here.

[Teyla nods.]

TEYLA
Good luck.

[They leave. Teyla looks worried and frustrated.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT—DAEDALUS ENGINEERING

[The door to engineering opens. Before the Wraith in the room can react, Ronon shoots them both. He enters. Keller follows, closing the door behind them and pressing buttons on the panel.]

KELLER
I locked the door.

RONON
This won't take long.

KELLER
So what do we do? Bring up the main control systems and disable them one by one?

RONON
That's one way to go.

KELLER
Well, you'd have to lock them out of the mainframe though. Otherwise they could just turn them back on again. Do you have…some sort of a pass-code to make sure they're locked out once and for all?

[Ronon opens up a panel under one of the consoles.]

RONON
Nope.

KELLER
Well, then what are you thinking?

[Ronon looks at Keller and shoots the panel he's just opened behind him.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus drops out of hyperspace and comes to a dead stop.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KENNY
We just dropped out of hyperspace.

TODD
I see that, yes. Why?

KENNY
I'm not sure. The computer seems to think it's due to battle damage.

TODD
Get our troops down to the engineering room. Someone's sabotaging this ship!

INT—DAEDALUS ENGINEERING

[Ronon continues moving around the room, opening crystal trays and shooting them.]

KELLER
Wh-wh-what are you doing?!

RONON
Disabling the ship.

KELLER
You can't just blast away at vital systems like that!

[Ronon casually shoots another tray.]

KELLER
What if you take out the life support system?!

RONON

Don't worry, the life support system's that tray.
(he points to a tray under the one he just shot to pieces)

At least, I'm pretty sure it is.

KELLER

(stammering)

Okay, we're out of hyperspace. That's enough. C'mon.

[Keller opens the door. Ronon shoots one final tray as Keller winces. They leave.]

EXT—ANCIENT FACILITY, DAY

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

[Daniel is shoved into the room by his guard. The head alien stands before the console.]

HEAD ALIEN
You wish to speak to me.

DANIEL
You're the leader…? You need to shut this device down immediately.

[The head alien turns to face Daniel.]

HEAD ALIEN
No, I do not.

DANIEL
Okay, look, I-I understand wanting to destroy the Wraith. I do. But, uh, this…isn't the way.

HEAD ALIEN
I disagree.

DANIEL
Okay, I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but this device has a serious side effect. It makes Stargates explode when they're activated.

HEAD ALIEN
We do not use the Stargates.

DANIEL

(nonplussed)

Okay…but lots of other people do.

HEAD ALIEN
They are of no concern to us.

DANIEL

(biting his lip)

So you're just going to let them die, millions of people across the galaxy…You're no better than the Wraith.

HEAD ALIEN
Perhaps. But we have little choice.

DANIEL
Why?

HEAD ALIEN
Our planet is dying. It can no longer sustain us. For the first time in countless generations, we must venture out into this galaxy again—a galaxy controlled by the Wraith. If we do not destroy them, they will destroy us. This is the way it must be.

EXT—SPACE

[Katana's Traveler ship flies through hyperspace.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP CORRIDOR

[Katana walks with Sheppard and Zelenka.]

SHEPPARD
The Wraith are ahead of us. As soon as they get to that planet, they're gonna open up with everything they've got. Trust me, they ain't going to be worried about collateral damage.

ZELENKA
The only chance we have to save our friends is to get there first.

[Katana pauses by a bulkhead door.]

KATANA
You want speed? You've come to the right place.

INT—TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

[Katana opens the door. The room is a mess of cables and greasy machinery. They step inside.]

ZELENKA

(dubious)

This is your engineering room?

KATANA
That's right. It may not look like much, but trust me, we can outrun most anything in the Traveler's fleet. Mila?

[An adolescent appears from behind them.]

MILA
Hey!

KATANA
This is Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Zelenka. They're from Atlantis. Mila's our chief engineer.

[Mila passes them and grabs a tool from a cushion before heading to another part of the room.]

ZELENKA

(to Katana)

She can't be more than sixteen years old.

KATANA

Fifteen, actually. She's been working on ships since she was four.
(to Mila)

We need to get where we're going as fast as possible. I want you to do whatever you can to maximize hyperdrive output.

MILA
No problem.

SHEPPARD

You know, uh, Zelenka knows a thing or two about hyperdrives himself. I'm sure he'd be happy to give you a hand.
(to Zelenka)

Who knows? Maybe you'll learn a thing or two.

[He slaps a dubious Zelenka on the back as he and Katana leave. Zelenka moves forward, dodging sparking cables.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus floats in open space.]

INT—DAEDALUS ENGINEERING

[Soldier Wraith drag out the downed Wraith. Kenny and Todd study the damage.]

KENNY
The damage is significant.

TODD

Begin repairs. Every second the Attero device is active, we risk losing more and more of our alliance.
(keys intercom)

It has come to my attention that someone from the original crew has eluded capture…

INT—DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Keller and Ronon walk down the corridor.]

TODD

(continuing over intercom)

…Your freedom has become a nuisance. Turn yourself in immediately, or we will begin killing off your friends, one-by-one.

[Ronon looks amused. Keller looks frightened. She grabs his arm and they stop and face each other.]

TODD

(continuing over intercom)

You have three minutes to comply.

RONON
He's bluffing.

KELLER
No, he's not.

[She walks determinedly towards an elevator.]

RONON
Where are you going?

KELLER
I'm turning myself in.

RONON
No, you're not.

[Keller turns back as the elevator opens.]

KELLER
He's gonna start killing people.

RONON
He's going to kill you.

[Keller doesn't seem to have considered this possibility.]

KELLER
Well, I hope not.

RONON
We need to get armed, free these people, and take this ship back.

KELLER
Exactly. I turn myself in, and he'll think he's got us all. It buys you the time you need to do what you've got to do.

RONON
No. No, I'm not letting you do it.

KELLER
Ronon, listen to me—

RONON
Jennifer, no.

[They face each other down in a silent test of wills. Keller looks away in capitulation.]

KELLER
Okay. You're right.

RONON
Okay. Come on.

[Ronon leads the way. As soon as he turns his back, Keller races into the elevator.]

RONON
We're almost there anyways.

[He turns as he hears the door shut. He glowers and growls angrily as he unholsters his gun.]

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

DANIEL

(furious)

We're talking about the deaths of millions of people. How can you be so callous? And what is it you're so afraid of? Why-why-why are you still in your battle armor? I can't hurt you. I know you're not human, and you're definitely not Wraith. And if you were an Ancient, you wouldn't have needed our help to activate the device, so…what are you?

[The head alien turns away from Daniel. The armor retracts in the back. The alien inside steps out of the suit, which seals shut. The small alien steps into the light. Daniel is shocked to find himself looking at an Asgard.]

DANIEL
You're Asgard.

ASGARD
You've encountered our kind before?

DANIEL
No, not just encountered. I've…I've worked with them. Even called a few of them my friends.

ASGARD
Indeed.

DANIEL
Of course, the Asgard I knew were a…noble race who actually helped the human population in my galaxy.

ASGARD
And where are they now?

DANIEL

(sorrowful)

Dead.

ASGARD
Hmm.

DANIEL
But that had nothing to do with us.

ASGARD
Are you certain?

DANIEL
They were clones. Copies of copies of copies, going back generations, and they suffered irreversible genetic degradation as a result. But…you probably already know that.

ASGARD
Of course, because we are clones as well, subject to the same law of diminishing returns. And yet…we are still very much alive.

DANIEL
So, what? You-you solved the problem?

ASGARD
Not entirely. But once we were able to conduct our research without interference, we made significant progress.

DANIEL

(realizing)

Research on humans…because our physiology is similar to what yours used to be.

ASGARD

(impressed)

Precisely.

DANIEL
I take that back, I have met an Asgard like you before. His name was Loki. And he was experimenting on humans too, until he was caught and brought to justice by the Asgard High Council.

ASGARD
Because they did not believe the ends justified the means.

DANIEL
That's right.

ASGARD
And look where it got them.

[Daniel appears shocked by the coldness of the reasoning.]

EXT—SPACE

[The Traveler ship flies through hyperspace.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

[Sheppard enters.]

SHEPPARD
Well how's it coming?

ZELENKA
Well, uh…

[A fire starts on a panel next to Mila. Zelenka and Sheppard look worried, but Mila stamps it out with her bare hands.]

MILA

(dismissively)

It does that sometimes. Don't let it bother you.

[Zelenka guides Sheppard away from Mila so they can speak privately.]

ZELENKA
Listen, what we are doing here is not safe.

SHEPPARD
What else is new?

ZELENKA
She is pushing the ship well past its boundaries.

SHEPPARD
That's kind of what we asked for, no? If we don't get Rodney and Daniel back before Todd gets there, they're goners!

ZELENKA
This is the crudest hyperdrive system I have ever encountered. It is cobbled together from mismatching components.

SHEPPARD
She's got to be pretty smart to put a hyperdrive together with mismatched parts.

ZELENKA
She's going to burn it up. Once we drop out hyperspace, there's a high possibility we won't be able to engage the drive again.

SHEPPARD

(dismissively)

Let's worry about that when we get there?

[An alarm starts to emit a high pitched rapid beeping.]

ZELENKA
What was that? What?

[Mila reaches over and shuts off the alarm.]

MILA

(unconcerned)

Just a radiation warning. The detector's a little oversensitive. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Zelenka looks to Sheppard expectantly. Sheppard winces.]

SHEPPARD
I've gotta get back to the bridge. I'll leave you to it.

[He leaves Zelenka muttering under his breath.]

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

ASGARD
We came to this galaxy during the war. With both the Wraith and the Ancients occupied, we were free to conduct our experiments. Unfortunately, the hostilities came to an end sooner than we thought, and with an unexpected result.

DANIEL

(shrewdly)

You were betting on the Ancients. They may have tried to shut you down, but at least they wouldn't…exterminate you.

ASGARD
The Wraith do not tolerate the presence of advanced technologies other than their own. Before we knew what was happening, we were under attack. We lost our intergalactic ships in the first battle, and we did not have the resources to build more.

DANIEL
So how did you survive?

ASGARD
We had no choice but to abandon our settlements and retreat to a place where the Wraith could not look for us—a planet with a toxic atmosphere.

DANIEL
Oh. That…sounds nice…

ASGARD
It was tolerable at first. We were able to survive using simple breathing apparatus. But over the eons, the environment has grown so harsh that not even our armored exoskeletons can protect us now.

DANIEL
So you ventured back into the galaxy, and that's…when you came across this place.

ASGARD
We knew it was built by the Ancients, and why. But we were unable to activate it…until you came along.

DANIEL
Look, I-I'm sorry….that you were trapped on a poisonous planet for the last ten thousand years. I really am. I'm sure it was awful. But that doesn't justify what you're doing.

ASGARD
My people are dying. The fact that, as you tell us, our brothers are already gone, only reinforces the need. If we do not do this, our whole civilization, a hundred thousand years of history, will be wiped out forever. I cannot allow that to happen.

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Guards frogmarch Keller onto the bridge.]

TODD
Doctor Keller? You're the saboteur?

KELLER

(stiffly)

That's right.

TODD
Where is your weapon?

KELLER

(stammering)

My weapon?

TODD
Yes. The one you used to destroy the crystal trays.

KELLER
I ditched it. You really think I'd want it ending up in your hands?

TODD
Ah, it's foolish of you to see me as the enemy.

KELLER
Really? Why is that?

TODD
I'm on a mission from your…"Colonel Sheppard."

KELLER
I seriously doubt that.

TODD

(sighing)

It is a long story, but he has requested that we…neutralize a very dangerous target.

KELLER
Then why did you take over the ship? Why'd you attack our crew?

TODD
As I said, it is a long story. The mission, however, is time sensitive, and you have handed us a major setback. Hyperdrive, weapons, shields—they are all down.

KELLER

(unsympathetic)

That's a real shame.

[Todd menaces closer.]

TODD
It is. Considering that hundreds of thousands of humans could die because of it. I would think that will weigh heavily on you in the future.

KELLER
What are you talking about?

[Todd studies her. Kenny, sitting at one of the consoles looks up.]

KENNY
Hyperdrive's coming back up!

TODD
And weapons?

KENNY
Irreparably damaged. They're no good to us anymore.

[Todd tempers his frustration.]

KELLER
I guess you won't be able to finish the mission, then.

TODD

(thoughtfully)
Oh…we'll find a way.
(to Kenny)

Get us back into hyperspace…and get her down with the others.

[The soldier Wraith drag Keller away.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus enters hyperspace.]

INT—ANCIENT SEALED ROOM

[An alien manhandles Daniel into the room, tossing him onto the floor, before resealing the room.]

MCKAY

(stunned)

You okay? I thought you were a goner!

[Daniel gets up, putting his fallen glasses back onto his face.]

DANIEL
I'm all right.

MCKAY
I mean, they need me. You're kinda expendable. I just figured that—

DANIEL

(interrupting)

Yeah, I-I got what you meant by "goner", thank you.

MCKAY
Well, what did they want?

[Daniel sighs and adjusts his rumpled clothing.]

DANIEL
Uh, to talk, actually.

MCKAY
Oh. How'd that go?

DANIEL
They're Asgard.

MCKAY

(stunned)

For real?

DANIEL
Yeah, a faction that broke off from the guys we knew thousands of years ago. They're…the ones inside the suits.

MCKAY
I did not see that one coming.

DANIEL
Apparently no fans of the Wraith, either.

MCKAY
Okay, are they going to shut off the device?

DANIEL
Um…no.

MCKAY
Then I don't care. I mean, as long as that thing is on, then millions of people could die. Besides, I think I've figured a way out of here.

DANIEL

(brightening)

Really?

[Daniel follows McKay over to one of the wall panels.]

MCKAY
This is an Ancient facility, and Rodney McKay knows a thing or two about Ancient facilities.

[Daniel leans against the wall as McKay pries open the panel.]

DANIEL

(drily)

You know, it has been clinically proven that referring to yourself in the third person is a sign of mental instability, right?

MCKAY
Eh, mentally unstable like a fox! Okay, so here's the plan. I blow the fire-monitoring fuse. The system suddenly goes dead. It assumes there could be a fire, detects life signs inside the room, it unlocks the doors for safety.

[McKay short circuits some wires. Sparks fly. Daniel leans away from the sparks.]

MCKAY
And…ach!

[The door opens.]

DANIEL
Good job.

MCKAY

(pleased)

Huh. It's a good thing they brought you back when they did, because, you know, I just assumed you were dead, and I was going to leave.

DANIEL
Lucky me.

MCKAY
Yeah. You're welcome.

DANIEL
So…what do we do now?

MCKAY
We've got to shut down the device.

DANIEL
How do we do that?

MCKAY

(stammering)

We'll just…we'll improvise.

[McKay heads out.]

DANIEL

(enthusiastic)

Right.

[Daniel follows.]

INT—DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Wraith soldiers lead Keller down the hall. Ronon swings down from where he's hanging from a beam on the ceiling, firing his blaster and downing both guards. He drops to the floor. Keller stares in shock, but grabs the rifle he offers to her. She shoots blindly at approaching guards, downing two. Ronon shoots others. The way is clear.]

RONON
Todd didn't kill you.

KELLER

(shaken)

No, but you almost got me killed. I've never fired one of these outside of the range before.

RONON
You did great.

[He leads the way down the corridor. They reach the door to the hangar bay and open it. The Daedalus crew and Woolsey are inside.]

WOOLSEY
Ronon, good work.

RONON
It's not over yet. There's an armory down the hall. We need everyone we can. We're taking this ship back.

INT—ANCIENT LAB CORRIDOR

[McKay and Daniel wander down the hallway.]

MCKAY
Okay, we need to get the device control room.

DANIEL
It'll be crawling with soldiers.

MCKAY
Well, then, we need to create a diversion.

DANIEL
I'm all ears.

MCKAY
Okay, uh, we go to the, uh, power relay station; we create a massive explosion.

DANIEL
I never got how that made a good diversion.

MCKAY
What?

DANIEL
You want to clear the device control room of bad guys, right?

MCKAY
Yes.

DANIEL
So, why would you assume if there was a massive explosion, people would go running towards it.

MCKAY
Well, I would.

DANIEL
I rest my case.

MCKAY
Oh, I'm sorry. You know, I'm a good person. I would want to save people from the fire, maybe figure out what was going on?

DANIEL
Well, I, au contraire, would order more guards to protect the one room I thought whoever was blowing things up probably wants to get to.

[Daniel continues moving while McKay stops to consider this. He quickly follows.]

MCKAY
Explosion diversions are the very cornerstones of diversions.

DANIEL
You don't have any better ideas.

MCKAY
I don't have any better ideas, yes.

[They reach a dead end of the corridor. A door opens up with two alien suits in the doorway. McKay and Daniel freeze. McKay raises his hands.]

MCKAY
Oh my god, please don't kill me. You need me!

DANIEL
Rodney…?

MCKAY
Us, us. You need us. Look, the device needs constant care. I mean, uh, true, I'm the only one that knows how to work it, but uh…what am I talking about killing for? You're not a violent race. I mean, you-you may have stunned us…

[While McKay babbles, Daniel studies the suits, realizing there is no movement and it appears to be a closet.]

DANIEL
Rodney!

MCKAY

(continuing)

…more than we would've liked. But who's to say we didn't deserve it, right?

DANIEL

(sighing)

They're just suits.

MCKAY
Yes, suits—suits that house one of the smartest races that ever evolved! I mean, the Asgard! I've always been a big fan of the Asgards. Some of my best friends are Asgards—

DANIEL

(talking insistently over McKay)

They're empty suits!

[He waves his hand in front of the helmets.]

DANIEL
See?

MCKAY

(abashed)

Yeah. I know. I was, uh…

DANIEL
You were?

MCKAY

(sheepish)

Yeah, it's not important.

DANIEL

(nodding)

You know, from what I could tell, the inside of the suits form around whoever's in them.

MCKAY
One size fits all…

[They share inspired looks and move closer.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

[Sheppard sits in the pilot's chair. Katana adjusts her radio and settles in the commander's chair.]

KATANA
You sure you have all that figured out?

SHEPPARD
You know, I've flown birds a lot harder to manage than this one. I'm surprised Larrin didn't say anything.

[Katana shoots him a shrewd look.]

KATANA
Larrin's never brought you up before today.

SHEPPARD
Really? Never, huh?

KATANA

(smirking)

Nope.

[Sheppard appears nonplussed by this news.]

KATANA

(loudly)

We're about to come out of hyperspace. Everyone, get ready.

EXT—SPACE

[The Travelers' ship drops out of hyperspace and heads toward the planet with the Ancient facility.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

[Sparks fly through the room. Zelenka and Mila peek around a corner.]

ZELENKA
See! I knew this would happen. We burned it out.

MILA

(shrugging)

We got here though, didn't we?

[She moves to make repairs.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD
Any sign of the Daedalus?

KATANA
No. Looks like we beat them.

SHEPPARD
That's the first good news I've had all day.

KATANA
Wait…I've got two ships closing in. Shields up. Fire at will. Evasive maneuvers might be good.

SHEPPARD
I'm on it.

EXT—SPACE

[The two rogue Asgard ships engage the Travelers' vessel in a firefight. It loops around and returns fire.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Ronon throws a flash-bang into the room. After it explodes, Ronon and a team of the crew enter with weapons drawn. There are no Wraith there.]

RONON
Clear.

[Woolsey, Keller, Marks, and other crew lower their own weapons and enter.]

RONON
How come we haven't run into any of them yet?

KELLER
I've got a bad feeling about this.

WOOLSEY

(to Marks)

Do a life signs scan. Find out where they are.

[Marks complies. His schematic shows a large grouping inside the Wraith ship parked in the 302 bay.]

MARKS
I have a mass of life-signs in the second 302 bay.

RONON
They fell back to the their ship. It's still in the bay.

WOOLSEY
Why would they do that?

KELLER
They saw we'd armed up? Didn't want to risk a fight?

RONON
That doesn't sound like Todd. I'm going to check it out.

[He heads out.]

WOOLSEY
Take us out of hyperspace.

[Marks types some commands. A menu announcement flashes on the monitor reading "Access Denied" and beeps.]

WOOLSEY
What is it?

MARKS
They locked us out of flight controls.

WOOLSEY

(concerned)

Can you get us back in?

MARKS
Not quickly.

KELLER

(worried)

What's he got planned?

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

[Daniel and McKay, both wearing full alien armor, enter and shoot the three armored Asgards in the room. The pair take off their helmets.]

DANIEL
Okay, how long to get the device shut down?

MCKAY
Five minutes.

[They move to the console.]

MCKAY
All right, you look watch the…aw, come on!

DANIEL
What? What now?

MCKAY
Well, something must have spooked them.

DANIEL
Why?

MCKAY
Well, aside from encrypting access to this workstation…?

DANIEL

(dismissive)

Yeah, but you can break that.

MCKAY
Yeah, in a heartbeat. But as they very well know, you can't operate this machine without the control key. Look, the thing they stole from Janus's lab to begin with…

DANIEL

(looking around, sighing)

They've taken it.

EXT—ANCIENT LAB FACILITY

[The third Asgard ship lifts off from the facility's docking bay.]

EXT—SPACE

[The Travelers' ship and rogue Asgard ship continue to engage in close quarters battle, rotating around each other and firing belly-to-belly. Finally the Asgard vessel is destroyed.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD
One down, one to go.

KATANA
I'm picking up a third ship headed right for us.

SHEPPARD

(sarcastic)

Wonderful.

EXT—SPACE

[The Traveler ship heads towards the third vessel, firing. The other ship returns fire, then opens up a hyperspace window between the two vessels and flies into it just before the Traveler ship reaches it.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

[Sparks continue to fly on the bridge from damage.]

KATANA

(breathless)

That was close. It flew into hyperspace.

SHEPPARD
What?

KATANA
Hold on…I've got another window opening.

SHEPPARD
They're coming right back at us! What kind of messed up battle technique is that?

KATANA
It's quite a bit out, nowhere near the planet yet. Wait…it's the Daedalus!

SHEPPARD
Contact them! We're gonna need the help.

[Woolsey and the Daedalus bridge crew appear on the video screen.]

WOOLSEY

(on vidcom)

Colonel Sheppard?

SHEPPARD
Surprised to see all you guys.

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The conversation continues between both ships' bridges.]

WOOLSEY
Same here.

SHEPPARD

Look, I'm on a Trav—
(sparks interrupt him)

I'm on a Travelers' ship. We've engaged the enemy. Have you gotten the Daedalus back? Because we're gonna need the help.

WOOLSEY
Todd let us take her back without so much as a fight. But he's locked us out of the controls and retreated to one of the 302 bays.

SHEPPARD
Why the hell would he do that? He needs that place destroyed more than anyone.

[An alarm beeps on Marks's console.]

MARKS
Mister Woolsey, sir?

WOOLSEY
What is it, Marks?

MARKS
Sir, the second we came out of hyperspace, a preprogrammed subroutine kicked in.

WOOLSEY
Meaning?

MARKS
Our main scanners located a facility on the planet and immediately locked the guidance system into it.

WOOLSEY
It's taking us to the Attero device.

MARKS
In a way…Sir, it's programmed a collision course.

[Woolsey and Keller exchange worried looks.]

KELLER
That's how he's going to destroy the facility…by ramming us into it.

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

DANIEL
Can't we just power down the entire facility?

MCKAY
We can't do much more than turn the lights off and on without the component thing.

DANIEL
Well, we have to do something.

MCKAY

(inspired)

Wait a second…these suits were designed to protect the wearer from harsh environments, right?

DANIEL
Technically…yes.

MCKAY
Then I have a really terrible idea.

[McKay looks to the shielded chamber. Daniel follows him.]

DANIEL
Oh, no. No. You're not thinking what I think you're thinking. The radiation in there would be pretty extreme.

MCKAY
Not to mention those electrical discharges look pretty unfriendly, but…Yeah, the antenna has a control crystal. If we can pull it manually…

DANIEL
I'd say fifty-fifty we even get that far.

MCKAY
I'd go thirty-seventy. But I don't have a better idea, and the suits…they should protect us.

[Daniel sighs.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KELLER
We disabled the ship weapons.

WOOLSEY
You did?

KELLER
Well, Ronon did, yeah. They didn't have any other choice. Ramming the facility with the ship is the only sure-fire way to take it out.

WOOLSEY
Killing all of us in the process.

KELLER
I don't think that he's that worried about us.

MARKS
They just depressurized the 302 bay.

EXT—SPACE

[Todd's ship launches out of the fighter bay and flies away. Daedalus continues its course to the planet.]

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY
You ready?

DANIEL
Let's just get this over with.

[They don their helmets.]

MCKAY
You know, we both don't have to go in there.

DANIEL
Well, when you get killed by one of those discharges, someone's going to have to finish the job, so…

[He shrugs.]

MCKAY

(drily)

Oh. Great pep talk. Thanks.

INT—ATTERO DEVICE SHIELDED CHAMBER

[The door to the chamber opens and McKay and Daniel step inside. McKay points to the lightening arcs flying randomly through the room.]

MCKAY
I'm pretty sure we want to avoid those touching us.

DANIEL

(nodding)

Thanks, coach.

[From the inside of the helmet, Daniel can see the room through the visor as well as get read-outs on several items via a overlay display, including McKay's presence. They reach the device itself. McKay crouches and pulls open the panel underneath the device. He pauses, studying the crystals.]

DANIEL
What are you waiting for?

[McKay studies his readouts of the crystals in his own helmet.]

MCKAY
I have to pull the right one, or the antenna explodes.

DANIEL

(with nervous impatience)

Well, hurry up.

[Daniel moves closer to the device, using its pillar as a lightening rod to deflect the arcs from being attracted to him.]

DANIEL
But get it right.

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD
How long before the Daedalus hits the surface?

KATANA
A minute, tops. How many people on board?

SHEPPARD
A couple hundred. Look, I've got an idea, but you're gonna have to trust me.

KATANA
All right.

SHEPPARD

(into radio)

Zelenka, Mila, I need you to open up the hyperdrive in thirty seconds. We're going to have to make a short jump.

INT—TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

ZELENKA
Impossible.

MILA
Not a problem.

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KELLER
You can do this, Marks.

WOOLSEY
We're all counting on you.

MARKS

(nervously)

I've almost got it.

[The ship starts to shake and rumble. Keller looks out the view-screen.]

KELLER
We're entering the atmosphere.

EXT—SPACE

[The ship's hull heats up immensely and pieces break off the ship as the unshielded vessel heads through the atmosphere bow first.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KELLER

(worried)

Marks…?

EXT—PLANET ATMOSPHERE

[The ship continues to break apart as it passes through he atmosphere. It flies through the sky, heading towards the bright light of the Attero device-lit facility. The Traveler ship flies in front of Daedalus and opens a hyperspace window. Both ships enter it.]

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CHAMBER

MCKAY

(licking his lips)

Okay…here goes nothing.

[McKay reaches for the right crystal. A lightning arc feeds back from the pillar and strikes Daniel, attracting more discharges to him. He's thrown off his feet and onto the floor.]

MCKAY
Daniel!

[McKay pulls the crystal, powering down the machine. He turns towards the writhing Daniel.]

EXT—SPACE

[The two ships exit hyperspace on the other side of the planet, a few loose pieces of Daedalus following them.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

WOOLSEY
What just happened?

SHEPPARD

(over vidcom)

You're welcome?

WOOLSEY
What did you do?

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD
I just opened up a hyperspace window big enough for the both of us. We just traveled through the planet.

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Keller and Woolsey sigh in relief. Marks's console makes a hum.]

MARKS

(breathless)

I got it! I'm back in. We've got control of the ship.

WOOLSEY
And not a moment…too late.

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

KATANA
They found us again.

SHEPPARD
Give them everything you got.

EXT—SPACE

[The Traveler ship engages in battle with the rogue Asgard vessel, destroying it.]

INT—ATTERO DEVICE CHAMBER

[McKay removes his helmet.]

MCKAY
Okay. You're okay. You're okay.

[He helps Daniel remove his own helmet. Daniel groans in pain.]

DANIEL

(groaning)

Ow! Wrong again. Did you turn it off?

MCKAY
I did…uh, we did…you did. Look, where does it hurt?

DANIEL

(panting in pain)

Everywhere. Uh…I don't suppose there's a hospital nearby.

MCKAY

(forlorn)

I'm-I'm pretty sure we're on our own.

DANIEL
Good.

MCKAY
Look, I mean, on the bright side, I mean, we're both gonna be dead of dehydration in like, five days, so you won't have to put up with me for much longer.

[Daniel gives a pained smile, his eyes glistening. It is more difficult for him to speak through the agony.]

DANIEL
I'm, uh…I'm, uh, pretty busted up, Rodney. I don't…I don't think I'm going to make it that long.

MCKAY

(emotional)

Okay, um, I know it may not seem like it, but…I want you to know, I-I-I really res—

[The pair are beamed away.]

INT—DAEDALUS INFIRMARY

[Keller and staff are in the infirmary. McKay and Daniel are beamed there. McKay looks around.]

MCKAY
Oh, thank god!

[Keller shoots him a worried but relieved look.]

KELLER
I sure am glad to see you two.

MCKAY
He's badly hurt.

[McKay moves out of the way of the staff, who with Keller begin to work on Daniel, helping get him on a bed. Woolsey approaches McKay.]

WOOLSEY
That's a new look for you.

MCKAY
Well, you know me. It's function over fashion.

WOOLSEY
Is the device still active?

[McKay proudly holds up the crystal still in his hand.]

MCKAY
Not without this. It's the facility's main control crystal.

WOOLSEY
That's not good enough for me.

[McKay's smile falters as Woolsey keys his radio.]

WOOLSEY
Colonel Sheppard, we have Doctors McKay and Jackson. Our weapons are not operational. Can you please see to it that we never have to deal with the Attero device again?

[McKay looks confused.]

KATANA

(over radio)

I'm locked onto its coordinates.

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD
Opening fire.

EXT—ANCIENT FACILITY

[Weapons blasts shoot through the sky and strike the facility, destroying it completely.]

INT—TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD

(into radio)

Leveled.

INT—DAEDALUS INFIRMARY

WOOLSEY

(smiling, into radio)
Good.
(to McKay)

Let's go home.

MCKAY
Well, you wanna…unzip me?

[He gestures to his suit.]

WOOLSEY

(drily)

I'll look for a can opener.

[He walks away leaving a flustered McKay standing there.]

MCKAY
Well…

EXT—ATLANTIS, NIGHT

INT—ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Katana and Sheppard walk through a corridor.]

KATANA
Zelenka has been a big help with ship repairs. We should have her ready to fly in no time.

SHEPPARD
And then what?

KATANA
Start a new settlement, I guess?

SHEPPARD
Well, that's good to hear. You tell Larrin I'll help you with whatever you need.

KATANA

(smiling)

Thank you. We'll be in touch.

SHEPPARD
Yeah, I'm sure you will be. Tell Larrin she doesn't need to wait for the next galactic emergency to drop by? I'm a lot more charming when my friends aren't about to die.

KATANA

(grinning)

That's not what Larrin said.

SHEPPARD
See! She does talk about me!

KATANA

(conceding)

Every now and again.

SHEPPARD
What does she say?

[Katana purses her lips and stays mum.]

SHEPPARD
What, not even a hint?

INT—ATLANTIS CORRIDOR, NEAR INFIRMARY

[Ronon intercepts Keller heading away from the infirmary.]

RONON
Hey.

KELLER
Hey.

RONON
You all done for the day?

KELLER
Uh, Doctor Cole's taking my shift. Yeah.

RONON
Wanna get somethin' to eat?

KELLER

(sighing and stammering)

Um, listen, um, uh, I-I'm really glad you came on the mission. I mean, without you there, we'd probably all be dead.

[She chuckles half-heartedly. Ronon smiles.]

KELLER

But…uh…I just want to be clear, because, um…
(she sighs and shakes her head)

I just want you to know, that, uh, I'm kind of…interested in somebody else.

RONON
So?

KELLER

(bemused)

I just…didn't want you to get the wrong imp—

[Ronon shifts, frowning.]

RONON

(interrupting)

You didn't. I just, um, I wanted to get something to eat.

KELLER
Okay…because I thought…?

RONON
Yeah, well, you're wrong.

[Keller stares at him confused. Ronon keeps her gaze with a mild expression.]

KELLER
Okay.

RONON
Okay.

KELLER

(smiling, embarrassed)

Do you still want to go—

RONON
Uh, no. I should-should probably…

[Keller's smile falters. There is an awkward silence.]

RONON

(low voice)

I should go.

[Ronon walks away.]

INT—ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Daniel lies in a bed, wearing hospital scrubs. He has a tray of food on his lap and his grimacing at the fruit cup he's attempting to eat. McKay arrives.]

MCKAY
Hey.

DANIEL
Hmm.

MCKAY
How are ya?

DANIEL

(wincing)

Well, it hurts to eat this fruit cup.

MCKAY
So don't eat the fruit cup, then.

DANIEL
Thank you, Groucho.

[He sets the fruit cup aside.]

DANIEL
Listen, not that I don't appreciate the visits, but shouldn't you be trying to figure out a way to keep the Asgards out of the shield again?

MCKAY
One step ahead of you. It's not going to happen again.

DANIEL

(pleased)

Oh! Good.

MCKAY
You don't think they'd-they'd make a run at us again?

DANIEL

(sighing, considering)

Well, I'm not sure, but we did ruin the one plan they had to feel free in this galaxy. They might hold a grudge.

MCKAY
Well, let's…hope not.

DANIEL

(disappointed)

I don't think I'll be around to find out, though.

MCKAY
Yeah, I heard. They're, um, sending you back to Earth.

DANIEL
Yeah, I guess I need some major patching up and recovery, and Landry prefers that I do that there instead of here, so…

MCKAY
Well, the Daedalus has already picked up a 'gate, uh, leftover from the old Gate Bridge, and, uh, my team is installing it as we speak, so we should have you home in, uh, no time at all.

DANIEL
That's good. That is…good.

MCKAY
Yes. So…

[There is an awkward silence, only broken by McKay making distracted popping sounds with his mouth.]

MCKAY
Well, it's been, um…unique.

DANIEL
Yes. Yes, it has. It sure has. But, I do want to say thank you for, uh…saying that you respected me when you thought I was about to die back there.

MCKAY

(affronted)

Excuse me? I said no such thing.

DANIEL
Yeah, you did you were like, um: "um, I know it may not seem like it, but…I really respect you," and that means a great…deal to me.

[Daniel smiles.]

MCKAY
I don't believe I ever finished that sentence.

[Daniel's smile falters.]

DANIEL
How else would you have finished that sentence?

MCKAY

(stammering)

I would've said "regret." I would've said "I really regret you being here because none of this would've happened…otherwise."

[McKay shuffles uncomfortably.]

DANIEL

(incredulous)

So you can only give compliments to the dying?

MCKAY

(flinching)

It's something I'm working on.

[There is another brief, awkward silence. Daniel holds up his tray of food.]

DANIEL
Do you want to try any of this?

MCKAY
Ooh. Fries?

DANIEL
Yeah, yeah. Go—dive right in. Take the-take the deal there.

[McKay munches on some fries. Daniel reaches to the nearby table and gestures for Rodney to eat as many fries as he likes.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Solutions by Aurora Novarum, October 2008.

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--Michelle 21:55, 20 October 2008 (PDT)