2.15 "A Matter Of Time" Transcript

2.15 "A Matter Of Time"

Episode Guide

• 2.15 "A Matter Of Time" Episode Guide

Précis

A black hole swallows up the SG-10 team before the SGC's eyes. The black hole's gravitational pull grows stronger, threatening to destroy Earth through its Stargate. While Carter struggles to find a solution, Jack O'Neill is forced to reunite with an old Special Ops antagonist in a desperate attempt to close off Earth's Stargate.

Guide | Transcript

Transcript

TEASER

EXT—OUTER SPACE—PLANET DESIGNATION P3W-451

[Planetary sunrise as seen from space. Pan to the right and see a yellow star, similar to Earth's sun. As pan to the right continues, we see that this star system is a binary, with the yellow star orbiting a white dwarf companion. Around the white dwarf flows a continual stream of matter leeched from the yellow star. A few minutes later, the white dwarf collapses and becomes a black hole, which begins to pull space debris and other matter into its gravity well. Its orbit takes it extremely close to P3W-451. Fade from space view of P3W-451 to its surface.]

EXT—PLANET P3W-451

[A figure dressed in BDU's is running through sandy ground toward an unrevealed destination. The reason he's running is also unrevealed. As the camera pans up from this single person, we see that he's accompanied by two men and a woman — a Stargate team. The figure in the lead looks back over his shoulder at his companions. We can see the patches of the SGC/Earth symbol on their shoulders. All the voices are distorted because of their closeness to the black hole.]

BOYD
Come on!

[All four of them continue running toward their destination. One man loses his footing in the sand and stumbles, falling face first. His team leader stops to help him up, grabbing him by the collar. The captain reaches the summit of the hill first and starts down it, with his teammates following him.]

CAPTAIN
It's right on top of us!

BOYD
Dial home, Captain! That's an order!

[All four of them are panting and heaving as they struggle to get up a hill to an unseen object. As the others reach the summit and go down a small incline to reach the object, the female stumbles. Major Boyd helps her up and over the hill ahead of him. The Dial Home Device is in view. The captain reaches it first.]

CAPTAIN
We're not going to make it, sir!

BOYD
We'll make it! Dial now!

[He rolls up his sleeve, revealing a GDO. He looks back at something that's obviously scared the four of them, back to his team and then back to whatever they're running from.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ENTRANCE—DAY

[Fade to exterior scene of Cheyenne Mountain, two guards dressed in cammos are walking in front of the entrance to the mountain and a humvee is parked nearby.]

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[O'Neill and Carter standing in front of a map in the control room.]

O'NEILL

(whispering)

Look, I know I should know this by now. I swear it'll be the last time I ask. These wormholes we go through, they're not always there, right?

CARTER

(keeping her voice low, too)

No, sir. It can only form between two open gates.

O'NEILL
What's with the worm part? The worm thing. I-I don't get that.

CARTER
That's just a metaphor.

O'NEILL
Right. I knew that.

[Carter puts the pad she's holding down on the desk and turns back to face O'Neill as she begins to gesture.]

CARTER
Imagine the galaxy is an apple. We burrow our way through the apple like a worm, crossing from one side to the other instead of going around the outside.

O'NEILL

(Thinks then nods)

Okay.

CARTER
Now, of course, the diameter of the apple is just a two-dimensional representation of space-time and well, the hole isn't a hole per se, but an interdimensional conduit…

[Looking at O'Neill, she sees the blank look on the colonel's face.]

CARTER
Colonel?

[His eyes are closed as he digests the information.]

O'NEILL
Okay.

[He closes his eyes and shakes his head.]

O'NEILL
I'll be all right.

CARTER

(Smiling, amusedly)

Okay.

[The klaxons sound as the Stargate's inner bevel begins turning, signaling an incoming traveler. Lieutenant Simmons Simmons gets up from a nearby desk where he's working and heads toward the control room.]

SIMMONS

(To Carter and O'Neill)

We've got an unscheduled incoming traveler.

[Carter and O'Neill follow him.]

FEMALE TECHNICIAN

(over P.A. System)

Closing the iris.

[Simmons sits down in front of the main dialing computer and looks at the monitor. O'Neill and Carter stand behind him.]

SIMMONS
Getting a signal.

O'NEILL
Who've we got out there?

SIMMONS
SG teams 4, 6 and 10 are the only units presently off world, sir.

[Simmons turns and looks at O'Neill over his shoulder, then turns his attention back to the screen in front of him.]

O'NEILL
Daniel's with 6, isn't he?

CARTER
Yeah, he's on a dig on P3X-808.

SIMMONS
Computer can't identify the signal. It's not a GDO transmission.

[Simmons turns and looks at Carter and they both turn their attention back to the screen.]

CARTER
Let me hear it.

[She listens closely to the signal.]

CARTER
Intermittent RF pulses, low frequency.

[The camera centers on the computer screen in front of them and Simmons reaches up to activate the external computer speakers so they can hear the signal. General Hammond enters the control room.]

HAMMOND
What have we got?

O'NEILL
Don't know, sir. Some kind of signal.

CARTER
There's a repeating signal. Lieutenant, play it through the computer. We can run it a lot faster.

SIMMONS
Trying 200 percent.

[The lieutenant types the command into the computer.]

CARTER
Go 6.

[Simmons types her order into the computer and it becomes a signal it recognizes as Simmons and Carter look at the monitor.]

SIMMONS
Computer now recognizes the signal as SG-10's iris code.

O'NEILL
That's Henry Boyd's team.

[Simmons turns to look at Carter. The shot then turns to Hammond.]

HAMMOND
Why would their code be coming through so slowly?

CARTER
I have no idea, sir, but if we don't open the iris—

O'NEILL
The next thud we hear will be Henry Boyd's team.

[Simmons's looking at Hammond as the general and O'Neill talk.]

HAMMOND
Do it.

[The lieutenant turns back to the computer and types in the command. The iris slowly opens.]

O'NEILL
Come on, Hank. The door's open.

[O'Neill anxiously waits, then the wormhole abruptly collapses.]

HAMMOND
What happened?

CARTER
I don't know, sir.

O'NEILL
General, SG-1 would like the rescue mission.

HAMMOND
Not yet, Colonel.

O'NEILL
Hank would do the same for us.

HAMMOND
I know he would, if and when I gave the order.

[Hammond looks at Simmons.]

HAMMOND
In the meantime, I want a probe on the ramp and ready to go ASAP.

[Simmons gets up from the chair and leaves the control room to see to the preparations of the probe.]

HAMMOND
Colonel, have units SG-1 and 3 geared up and standing by.

[O'Neill and Carter leave the control room to see to prepping the two rescue teams. Hammond turns to look at the Stargate, then turns to leave the control room.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

[A MALP is being prepped by SGC technicians as Hammond, Carter, O'Neill and Teal'c are seen through the opened doorway headed toward the Gate room.]

HAMMOND
SG-10 was on a routine exploratory mission of P3W-451.

CARTER
It's a binary system. We just recently discovered it.

TEAL'C
Were there any indications of an enemy attack?

[Hammond walks through the Gate room and through the opposite door.]

HAMMOND
None. One thing Major Boyd's team reported was that whatever indigenous life there may have been on 451 recently became extinct. They were trying to determine the cause. In the event, I authorize this mission, SG-3 will back you up.

[Hammond turns the corner and heads up the steps to the Control Center followed by the team.]

O'NEILL
In the event, sir?

SIMMONS

(At the Command Console)

Chevron 3 encoded.

HAMMOND
Let's see what the pictures the probe sends back. Make the proper threat determination.

O'NEILL
General—

HAMMOND
You could Gate into an ambush for all we know.

O'NEILL
I recommended Major Boyd for this command. Now, if he's in trouble, I want to go in.

HAMMOND
I'm aware of that, Colonel.

SIMMONS
Chevron 4 encoded.

O'NEILL
Yes, sir.

SIMMONS
Chevron 5 encoded.

TEAL'C
Major Boyd is a capable warrior, O'Neill. You trained him well.

O'NEILL

(worriedly)

Yeah.

SIMMONS
Chevron 6 encoded.

[He continues to watch the dialing computer's monitor, and from the Gate room, Carter is seen looking over the MALP momentarily before heading up to the Control Room.]

SIMMONS
Chevron 7 locked.

[The Stargate opens.]

FEMALE TECHNICIAN

(from inside the Gate room)

Okay for MALP transport, sir.

[The MALP heads up the ramp and goes through the wormhole and an SG team stands at the base of the ramp awaiting orders while the three members of SG-1 look on. On the other side, it begins transmitting imagesofwhatitseesbacktotheSGC.Blurryimagesinred appear on the monitor.]

HAMMOND
I don't understand. It's just—

O'NEILL
Red, sir.

HAMMOND
Are we receiving telemetry?

SIMMONS
Yes, sir, but at an even slower rate than before.

CARTER
There's an image here. Input the video feed into the computer, but compensate for a longer light wavelength. Step it up in 20 millimicron increments.

HAMMOND
Captain?

CARTER
Sir, it's possible that the image we're receiving from the probe has red-shifted, distorted toward the infrared end of the spectrum.

HAMMOND
Why?

TEAL'C
The same reason their codes came through so slowly.

CARTER
Yeah, whatever that is.

SIMMONS
It's working.

[They are looking upon what appears to be a frozen image of Major Boyd on screen.]

O'NEILL

(To no one in particular)

What the hell's going on, Hank?

TEAL'C
Is something pursuing them?

HAMMOND
See if you can play back the video transmission in real time. We need to find out—

SIMMONS
This is all we've received so far, sir. 11 frames of digital picture in the last 6 minutes.

CARTER
That represents a fraction of a second.

TEAL'C
Perhaps a malfunction?

O'NEILL
No. The picture tells us everything we need to know. That team is in trouble, probably under attack. Permission to go in, sir?

CARTER
Negative, sir.

O'NEILL
What do you mean, 'negative?'

CARTER
I'm sorry, Colonel. With all due respect, but if I'm right, we can't help them. Now the camera may still respond to commands.

CARTER

(to Simmons)

See if you can tilt it up and give us a wider image.

[Simmons types the command into the computer.]

CARTER
I think I know what Major Boyd seems so afraid of.

[The MALP camera tilts up and we see a blurry patch of sky that Carter points at.]

CARTER
There. Isolate that area and digitally enhance.

[The image focuses into that of a black hole as seen from the perspective of the MALP and SG-10. Everyone turns to look at Carter.]

HAMMOND

(Anxious)

What am I looking at?

O'NEILL

(Awed)

That's a black hole, sir.

CARTER
A newly formed one by the looks of it. P3W-451 was orbiting its companion star. The orbit's probably pulling them closer and closer.

HAMMOND

(confused)

Why don't they just Gate out of there?

CARTER
They're trying to, sir, but the closer you get to a black hole—

O'NEILL
Time slows down.

TEAL'C
It almost appears to stand still.

CARTER
From our perspective, yes, but you have to remember that time is relative. As far as SG-10 is concerned, only a few seconds have passed. They're still trying to save themselves.

HAMMOND
What will happen to them?

CARTER
Well, sir, the time dilation is a result to the intense gravity, which is directly proportional to their proximity—

HAMMOND

(annoyed)

Captain!

CARTER

(Pausing)

Sorry, sir. Their bodies will be pulled apart by increasing tidal forces.

TEAL'C
They did manage to activate the Stargate once.

CARTER
Yeah, but from their perspective, it couldn't have been open for more than a second.

HAMMOND
Is there nothing we can do to save them?

O'NEILL
They've had it, sir.

HAMMOND
You know that for a fact, Colonel?

O'NEILL
No, sir. I don't, but have a look at Major Boyd's face. What does that say to you?

[Boyd's face appears to be one indicating desperation. Hammond looks at it solemnly.]

HAMMOND
Very well.

[He turns to look at Simmons.]

HAMMOND
Disengage the Stargate.

CARTER
Sir. By some fluke of Stargate technology, we are witnessing something that the laws of physics say we can't possibly witness.

O'NEILL

(pissed)

We are witnessing good men die in slow motion, Captain.

CARTER

(realization, then quietly)

You're right, sir.

HAMMOND
Shut it down.

[Simmons inputs the order, but the computer flashes the following message: "Shutdown Sequence Incomplete. Cannot Disengage." Simmons looks at the screen and tries again, twice. He turns to Hammond.]

SIMMONS
Sir, it won't disengage.

HAMMOND
Try again.

SIMMONS
I already have, sir. Twice. It won't shut down.

[O'Neill stares at the Stargate, uncertain as to what's going on. Then back to the monitor image of the black hole.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ENTRANCE—DAY

[A team of United States Air Force Special Forces operatives pile out of the back of a Humvee parked just outside the mountain.]

SOLDIER
Go! Go! Move! Move!

[They take positions outside the entrance and appear to be securing the mountain from anyone exiting. Another Humvee rolls in and stops and three officers step out of the vehicle. The apparent commander heads toward one of the soldiers.]

CROMWELL
Sergeant, how long have you been out of contact with this facility?

SERGEANT
Coming on four hours ago, sir. But it was 'funky' for a while before that.

CROMWELL

(Gruff, typical drill sergeant-like)

Is that proper military terminology? What exactly does 'funky' mean, Sergeant?

SERGEANT
Everyone was talking real slow, like when the batteries die on your Walkman.

CROMWELL

(Looks upon the sergeant disbelievingly.)

Uh huh.

[He points to a nearby hole covered with a metal lid.]

CROMWELL
Will that shaft take me directly to Sub-level 28?

SERGEANT
Yes, sir, but I don't know how you're going to get down there.

CROMWELL
Not to worry, we brought our own transportation.

[He gestures to the shaft cover as his men come over. One of them produces a length of rope.]

CROMWELL
Gentlemen, hook 'em up. Bring it!

[One of the men opens the shaft cover and Cromwell shines a light down it, aiming his weapon at the same time.]

CROMWELL
Clear.

[The men prepare to rappell down the shaft.]

INT—SGC—HAMMOND'S OFFICE

[Hammond picks up the red phone that will connect him with the President.]

HAMMOND
This is Major General George Hammond. I have an urgent matter to discuss with the President.

[He looks at the phone curiously, puts down the receiver and then leaves his office.]

INT—SGC COMMAND CENTER

[Carter is on a telephone headset giving instructions to Siler who is in the Gate room. The Stargate wormhole is still active.]

CARTER
Sergeant, try disconnecting the superconductive interface.

SILER
Already tried that, Captain. It's stuck.

CARTER

(To Teal'c)

Teal'c, Siler could use a hand.

TEAL'C
I will assist.

[Teal'c leaves the control room, and Carter heads up the stairs but meets General Hammond on the first landing.]

HAMMOND
Captain Carter.

CARTER
General. I was just on my way to report, sir. The capacitors should have fully discharged by now, but somehow, the Gate is drawing power directly.

HAMMOND
Isn't there supposed to be a theoretical time limit to how long a wormhole can be maintained?

CARTER
Yes, sir. We just passed it.

HAMMOND
Well, then how is this possible?

[They head back down the stairs.]

CARTER
Well, since time is passing more slowly on P3W-451, relative to Earth, we're experiencing a paradox the Stargate was never designed for.

[Hammond and Carter approach the window looking out over the Stargate. Teal'c is approaching the event horizon. The surface seems to be swirling and rippling oddly.]

HAMMOND
Why in God's name is it doing that?

CARTER
I have no idea, sir.

O'NEILL
It started just after you got online with the President.

HAMMOND
I never got through to the President.

[Simmons turns and sheepishly looks over his shoulder at Hammond.]

SIMMONS
Beg your pardon, sir. It seems we've lost communication below Sub-level 24.

HAMMOND
Where is the nearest secure phone above that?

SIMMONS
NORAD, main level.

HAMMOND
I won't be gone long. In the meantime, Colonel—

O'NEILL
Understood, sir.

[O'Neill gets up and looks at the Stargate, an idea in mind. He then looks at Carter, a curious look on his face.]

O'NEILL
Carter, what would happen if we simply pull the plug?

[She looks at him, then the two of them look at the shimmering Stargate.]

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

[Siler and O'Neill approach the fenced off area in one of the corridors. O'Neill unlocks the door and they go in.]

O'NEILL
All right, Carter. We've reached the main power vault.

CARTER

(over radio)

We'll isolate the capacitors first.

INT—SGC CONTROL CENTER

[Simmons and Carter are near a power source in the Control Room.]

SIMMONS
Panel 6.

CARTER
Colonel, pull breakers 90 through 94 on panel 6.

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

[O'Neill and Siler stare at a panel of circuit breakers.]

O'NEILL
Roger that. Stand by.

[Both heavily gloved, they start shutting off switches.]

INT—SGC CONTROL CENTER

[Carter goes over to the microphone and switches it on.]

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

CARTER

(over the P.A.)

Stand clear, people. I have no idea what this is going to do.

TEAL'C

(To the technicians)

We must vacate this area.

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

[They finish throwing all the switches, and sparks begin to shoot out from a couple of panels.]

O'NEILL
All right. We're kind of shorting out up here.

INT—SGC CONTROL CENTER

CARTER

(To Simmons)

Main breaker?

SIMMONS
It'll overload.

CARTER
We got to do it. Colonel, pull the main breaker.

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

[Siler and O'Neill head over to the main breaker. They both start throwing switches.]

O'NEILL
On one. 3. 2. 1.

[O'Neill and Siler pull the main breakers simultaneously. The lights go off, then a feedback of power sends a current into Sgt. Siler.]

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

[Power surges around the Gate as Teal'c looks on, then currents of electricity begin to spark around the Gate power mechanisms. Teal'c is on the ramp and dives out of the way of the power surges.]

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

[Sparks shower around O'Neill.]

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Carter runs to sit down at the monitor.]

CARTER
Colonel, are you all right?

SIMMONS

(Into the P.A. microphone)

Medical emergency to the Gate room.

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

[O'Neill makes his way over to Siler who's regaining consciousness.]

CARTER

(over radio)

Colonel, are you all right?

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Carter waits and watches as the wormhole fades momentarily.]

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

O'NEILL
Siler's hurt. Did it work?

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

CARTER
Negative, sir. Even with the power cut, it still won't shut down.

INT—SGC MAIN POWER VAULT

O'NEILL
How's that possible?

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

CARTER
It must be deriving its energy from the black hole itself.

[She turns to look at Simmons, then runs down the steps.]

CARTER
Get a med team to the main power vault. We got to get these fires out!

SIMMONS

(runs to the phone)

Med team to the main power vault.

INT—SGC CORRIDOR

[Armed soldiers pile into the corridor.]

FEMALE VOICE

(over P.A.)

The Mountain is now on emergency internal power.

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

[Teal'c is struggling to rise from the floor. Carter races in to assist him to his feet.]

CARTER
Help is on the way.

[Two med techs join them.]

TEAL'C
Do not concern yourself with my injury.

CARTER
You're badly burned, Teal'c, even for you.

[Teal'c slowly turns as the med techs try to give him aid. His eyes fall on the event horizon.]

TEAL'C
The Stargate.

[Smoke from the fires seems to be wafting through the wormhole. Carter walks up the ramp to the Stargate as Teal'c looks on and gets medical attention. Carter takes off her dog tags and holds them up to the wormhole. She watches as they're pulled into it. Startled, she whirls around to look towards the control room.]

CARTER
Lieutenant, close the iris!

SIMMONS

(through the P.A. mike.)

It's an outgoing wormhole. Nothing can come through this way.

CARTER
Except for the black hole's gravity. Now close it! That's an order!

SIMMONS

(To another tech.)

Close the iris.

[Carter turns to watch as the iris closes. Simmons looks on as well.]

INT—SGC—ELEVATOR

[Hammond is on his way to the NORAD main level. As he reaches the main level and steps out of the elevator, a bright light is shined in his eyes as a young major recognizes him. The major steps in front of the men to keep them from shooting the commander of the SGC.]

DAVIS
Hold your fire! It's the general!

HAMMOND
What the hell's going on? Who are you?

DAVIS
Major Davis, sir. I'm with the Office of the Joint Chiefs. If you'll come with me, please.

HAMMOND
What are these men doing in my facility?

DAVIS
We were under the impression that there had been an alien incursion, sir. A Special Forces team had already been sent down before we understood what was going on. If it's all right with you, sir, I'd like to brief you on the way to your aircraft. Time is of the essence.

HAMMOND
We've got an emergency situation Major! I'm not going anywhere until I talk to the President!

DAVIS
He wants to talk to you personally, sir. Your aircraft is standing by on the tarmac. It is urgent that we leave immediately.

[Hammond relents as the meaning of Davis' words finally sink in. He gestures for the major to precede him up the hallway and out the door.]

HAMMOND
Lead the way.

INT—SGC CORRIDOR

[Fraiser is running through a darkened corridor on her way to main power vault. She stops when she sees the sparks from the cutting torches as whoever is using them finally breaks through the metal. The special forces team bursts through the door and she is spotted.]

CROMWELL
Freeze! Up against the wall!

[She turns and puts her hands on the wall opposite her.]

CROMWELL
Move! Move! Tags!

[She nervously holds out her tags and he looks at them.]

CROMWELL
Doctor Fraiser.

[Angrily turning around to face him who is pointing a gun at her.]

FRAISER
Yeah. Who the hell are you? Put that down!

CROMWELL

(still pointing his weapon at her)

Colonel Frank Cromwell, Air Force Special Operations. Five hours ago, all contact was lost with this facility. I am here to find out why.

FRAISER
Colonel, I have been called to a medical emergency.

CROMWELL
My superiors have reason to believe the SGC had been overrun by alien hostiles.

FRAISER
Well, all I can say is that they've been misinformed.

CROMWELL

Well, from what I've read about what goes on in this place, Doctor Fraiser—hell, you could be one of them for all I know. Move out!
(She does as ordered)

Take the six!

[They head down the darkened hallway after her.]

EXT—MOUNTAIN ROAD—NIGHT

[Light rain is falling on a jeep and a Humvee driving down the road leading from the mountain. Focus on the interior of the jeep.]

DAVIS
We were hoping that someone such as yourself would come back up and confirm our hypothesis.

[Hammond glares at Davis.]

HAMMOND
Which is?

DAVIS
We now know that the SGC is experiencing what is called time dilation. Time is quite literally passing slower within the facility than it is topside.

HAMMOND
That would explain the communications problem.

DAVIS
Yes, sir. We also know that there are only two things according to relativity that would cause this effect: velocities near the speed of light or extreme gravity.

HAMMOND
Approximately ten minutes ago, we established a wormhole to a planet at or very near the event horizon of a black hole.

DAVIS

Since time is more or less at a standstill on the other side, you've been unable to disengage the Stargate.
(Hammond looks at him quizzically)

That was our hypothesis, sir. Keep in mind we've had a few more hours than you have to think about this.

[Hammond notes this.]

DAVIS
They'll be conferencing you with the President aboard the aircraft, sir.

[They have arrived at the tarmac.]

HAMMOND
Thank you, Major.

[Hammond exits the vehicle.]

DAVIS
Good luck, sir.

[Aircraft takes off with the general aboard, headed for Washington D.C.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ENTRANCE—NIGHT

INT—SGC INFIRMARY

[The infirmary doors open and med techs are wheeling the gurney with Sgt. Siler on it. O'Neill follows. Carter looks on as the sergeant is wheeled in as Teal'c's is seen being attended to by one of the medical staff.]

O'NEILL
Siler took a pretty good hit. How're you doing, Teal'c?

TEAL'C
I suffered simple electrical burns, O'Neill. Nothing more.

CARTER
He'll be out of commission for a few days.

[A rumbling sound is heard throughout the complex. O'Neill looks at Carter.]

O'NEILL
Carter?

CARTER
Gravity waves. Colonel, I assumed that the wormhole itself would insulate us from the black hole's gravitational field, but it seems that our space-time has begun to warp just like on P3W-451.

O'NEILL
Will you stop that?

CARTER
We're in trouble, sir.

O'NEILL
Thank you. Think of something.

[O'Neill leaves the infirmary.]

CARTER
Yes, sir.

INT—SGC CORRIDOR

[O'Neill heads down a darkened corridor and guns cock as he runs into Fraiser and the Air Force Special Operations team. Fraiser calls out to O'Neill and Cromwell steps forward.]

FRAISER
Colonel!

CROMWELL
Clear!

[O'Neill recognizes Fraiser, then sees Cromwell behind her.]

O'NEILL
Cromwell?

FRAISER
You know this guy, sir?

O'NEILL

Oh, yeah.
(To Fraiser as he gestured up the corridor.)

Go. Go on.

[Fraiser leaves as he faces Cromwell.]

O'NEILL
It's been a while.

CROMWELL
Yeah. Five hours. Got everybody pretty worried upstairs. Where's the general?

O'NEILL
What's the five hours?

CROMWELL
That's how long this facility's been out of contact with the outside world. Pentagon suspected alien hostiles.

O'NEILL

(sarcastically)

And they sent you?

[Irritably, he walks past Cromwell. They then head for the control room overlooking the Embarkation Room. Cromwell gets his first view of the Stargate.]

CROMWELL

(whistles)

So…this is the Stargate. What's the problem?

[O'Neill taps the monitor with Boyd's frozen image.]

O'NEILL
Well, we gated to a planet that's being sucked up by a black hole. Very bad. Very dangerous.

CROMWELL
And why is that?

O'NEILL

(sarcastically)

Things tend to get sucked in.

[Carter enters the Control Room.]

CARTER
Took the liberty of closing the iris, sir.

O'NEILL

Captain Carter, Colonel Cromwell.
(She salutes, and he returns it)

He's come to rescue us. I wouldn't count on it.

CROMWELL
Pentagon was concerned you were under alien attack when we lost contact.

CARTER
How long ago was that?

CROMWELL
A little over five hours ago. Why?

CARTER
My watch reads 1330 hours. What does yours say?

CROMWELL
Running slow, Captain. It's almost 1900.

CARTER
Damn it. Colonel, I have to get off this level.

SIMMONS

(over the P.A., his voice distorted and slow)

Captain Carter

[Carter turns at the sound of Simmons calling her name and walks over to the control room's window and the P.A. mike.]

CARTER
What have you got, Lieutenant?

SIMMONS

(voice still distorted)

The field is expanding. I'm reading over 7 Gs at the iris.

CARTER

Keep your distance, Lieutenant.
(To O'Neill)

Sir, for some reason, the warping of our space-time seems to be in advance of the gravitational field rather than as a result of it. It's probably a lensing effect generated by the Stargate itself, but I can't be sure.

[O'Neill nods slowly. Cromwell turns to look at O'Neill.]

CROMWELL
Don't even pretend you understood that.

[O'Neill rolls his eyes and looks away briefly.]

CARTER
The point is, sirs, time is passing more slowly down here than it is outside the mountain.

CROMWELL
Time is time.

CARTER
No, sir. Not according to relativity. Now with the intense gravity field of something like a black hole, time actually slows down.

CROMWELL
We're not in a black hole.

O'NEILL
Not yet.

CARTER
But we are connected to its gravitational field through the Stargate and it's expanding in this direction like a bubble slowly extending outward. That's why I have to leave, sir. I have to contact the Pentagon and try to find a solution before the gravity field extends beyond the Gate room.

[Hammond enters the control room speaking.]

HAMMOND
I just came from there myself, Captain. Colonel Cromwell, I believe.

CROMWELL

(salutes)

General Hammond.

O'NEILL

(incredulous)

You just came from Washington, sir?

HAMMOND
There and back again. After someone upstairs managed to explain what was going on to me, we called an all-night session with the President and the Joint Chiefs. I've been gone nearly eighteen hours.

O'NEILL

(dryly)

I thought you were on the phone.

CARTER
It means the time dilation is getting worse as the field expands.

HAMMOND
That's the consensus. We've set up a command post directly above, right on top of the mountain to monitor the expansion.

CARTER
I have to get up there.

HAMMOND
The experts we consulted believe we're going to have to commence an auto destruct sequence to destroy the Stargate itself.

O'NEILL

(irritated)

Sweet.

HAMMOND
They assure me that the gravity field now present around the Gate will help to contain the blast within the mountain and pose no threat to the civilian population.

CARTER
With all due respect, sir. I don't think so.

HAMMOND
If we don't try, we lose the planet right through that.

CARTER
We may well succeed in destroying the base, sir, but leave the Gate and the wormhole intact. What happens to the planet then?

HAMMOND
Orders have been given at the highest level, Captain. It is our duty to carry out those orders.

CARTER
But, sir—

HAMMOND
The decision's been made, Captain. Don't forget those people up there've been working on this a lot longer than you have. It's what they came up with.

CARTER
Yes, sir.

HAMMOND
I'm ordering the complete evacuation of the SGC, effective as of right now. I'll need two volunteers to stay behind in order to give our personnel a head start.

O'NEILL
I'll stay, sir.

CROMWELL
Me too, sir.

[O'Neill looks at Cromwell, then looks around the room hopefully.]

O'NEILL
Anyone else?

CROMWELL
Looks like you're stuck with me, Jack.

HAMMOND
Done! It takes two officers to initiate the countdown.

[He walks over to the mike and looks out over the Gate room.]

HAMMOND
Attention! This is General Hammond. All personnel are ordered to evacuate this facility immediately! Repeat, all personnel report to the main level immediately! That is all!

[Various shots around the SGC of everyone complying with Hammond's order.]

INT—SGC INFIMARY

[Siler lies in his bed and Teal'c comes over to assist in getting him out of there. A gurney is pulled next to the bed.]

FRAISER
Okay. Let's move him. On my count. 3. 2. 1.

[Pulling the sheet, Teal'c assists the doctor and nurse in transferring Siler to the gurney.]

FRAISER
Easy. Watch his chest. Move him out! Let's go!

[They roll him out of the room.]

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Hammond, Carter, O'Neill and Cromwell are standing. The monitors in the control room read "EVAC".]

HAMMOND
Wait five minutes, then start the countdown. Good luck.

CROMWELL
Thank you, sir.

CARTER
Make sure you give yourself enough time to get out, sir.

O'NEILL
Time…right.

[Carter and Hammond leave. Cromwell and O'Neill look at each other.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN—DAY

[Trucks exit the mountain and personnel including the general and Carter exit from the door near the ground entrance. A sergeant approaches him, and he returns his salute.]

SERGEANT
General. We were getting worried.

HAMMOND
How long have I been gone?

SERGEANT
22 hours, sir. General Cohen's waiting for you in the command post.

HAMMOND
Thank you, Sergeant.

[He turns to look at Carter, who is standing beside him.]

HAMMOND
By my reckoning, I was gone 20 minutes.

CARTER
Well, sir, accounting for time spent coming and going, I would guess that time within the SGC facility has slowed to an average of about 600 percent below normal. When you ordered Colonel O'Neill to wait 5 minutes, you were really telling him to wait 6 hours, maybe more.

HAMMOND
Captain, relativity gives me a headache.

[Hammond walks away from her and into the command tent, and Carter follows after a few seconds.]

INT—SGC COMMAND CENTER

[Cromwell looks up at the MALP telemetry and sees Henry Boyd. He turns back to look at O'Neill.]

CROMWELL
Who's this?

O'NEILL
Henry Boyd. Good officer. Smart. Kinda reminds me of Carter a little. This was their first mission as a team.

CROMWELL
He looks scared to death.

O'NEILL
He's on a planet that's about to be swallowed up by a black hole and he knows it.

[Fade from Major Boyd's face on the monitors.]

INT—COMMAND TENT TOPSIDE

[Fade from previous scene to Carter working on some calculations on a dry erase board. An airman offers her a cup of coffee, which she takes.]

CARTER
Thank you.

[He offers her a doughnut, which she starts to take, then puts back into the box.]

CARTER
Uh—no, thank you.

[She licks the glaze off her fingers. She sighs and takes a sip of coffee. Teal'c approaches her and looks upon her calculations. He puts a gentle hand on her shoulder.]

TEAL'C
Perhaps with rest, the answers will come.

CARTER
Hey, Teal'c. You know anything about quantum gravity?

TEAL'C
Nothing.

CARTER
Apparently, neither do I.

TEAL'C
What do these equations represent?

CARTER
Probably a life's work. I don't have that much time, unfortunately.

[She sits down. He sits down next to her.]

TEAL'C
How may I be of assistance?

CARTER
We're experiencing a time dilation in a radius wider than the Gate room itself. Most of the SGC in fact and it's expanding. But it's all happening in advance of the gravity field that's causing it. Now according to everything I thought I knew about relativity, that is just not possible.

TEAL'C
Yet it is so.

CARTER
Right. I mean, i-if it wasn't, we'd all be pulled apart by now. You know, they're proceeding with a plan that makes assumptions about gravity and space-time with absolutely no regard for the fact that it completely contradicts our observations.

TEAL'C
I see.

CARTER
In other words, Teal'c, they don't really know what the hell is going on, so they're just going to blow it up. There doesn't seem to be a damn thing I can do about it.

[She sighs, and she and Teal'c sit there staring at the calculations on the board. Scene fades to next.]

INT—SGC COMMAND CENTER

[Fades from previous scene to O'Neill and Cromwell as they get ready to set up to initiate the auto destruct.]

O'NEILL

(Quietly)

Let's get set up. Computer needs your authorization code before it'll accept the command. Go ahead and enter it.

[They both start typing in to their respective computers. While the computers process, Cromwell turns to address O'Neill.]

CROMWELL
Maybe now you know how it feels.

O'NEILL

(Not looking at him)

You done?

CROMWELL
Roger that.

O'NEILL
When the time comes, hit the 'enter' key on my mark…and then run like hell.

CROMWELL
Got it.

[O'Neill shakes his head irritably then looks at his watch.]

O'NEILL
Two minutes.

[Cromwell turns to look at O'Neill, who still has his back to him.]

INT—COMMAND POST TOPSIDE

[A computer image of the Gate room displays the expansion of the time dilation field. Carter is at the monitor, and General Hammond sits down next to her. She points to the screen.]

CARTER
The gravity field extends to the blast doors of the control room now, sir. It's not good.

HAMMOND
I take it you still believe our plan isn't going to work?

CARTER
To be honest, sir, I'm afraid that the gravity field will dampen the effects of the explosion. We'll lose the SGC, but the wormhole will be intact. What's left of the mountain will collapse into the wormhole. Six months after that, the state of Colorado. Six months after that—

[She turns away from the general and sighs.]

CARTER
At least Daniel will live out there.

HAMMOND
If you're wrong, and for once I hope you are, we can restart the SGC with the second Stargate at Nellis and in time we—

CARTER
Wait a minute. Sir, that's it. We do use a bomb, but we focus the energy of the blast.

[He looks at her quizzically.]

CARTER
When Colonel O'Neill and I were sent to the Antarctic Gate, it was because we were under enemy fire.

HAMMOND
It caused an energy surge.

CARTER

Yes, and that surge caused the wormhole to jump from one destination to another.
(To elucidate, she holds up a doughnut and motions to the hole.)

If we can channel enough energy in the direction of our Stargate, it should cut the connection with the black hole and cause the matter stream to jump to any Gate along the way.

HAMMOND
Leaving our Stargate connected to some other world.

CARTER
Yes, sir, but then all we have to do is shut it down. Sir, we have to stop Colonel O'Neill.

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[O'Neill has entered something into the computer by keyboard and is straightening up. He glances at the monitor on which Major Boyd's face is still displayed. He then walks over to a console and glances at his watch.]

O'NEILL
One minute.

[Cromwell looks at him.]

CROMWELL
Maybe the last one.

[He takes a couple of tentative steps in O'Neill's direction.]

CROMWELL
We used to be friends, Jack.

O'NEILL

(Not looking at him)

Yep.

CROMWELL
I was sick to my stomach when I found out you were still alive. I wanted to go back for you.

O'NEILL
Why don't we just do this and get the hell out of here, all right?

CROMWELL
Somebody dropped a dime on the incursion. You got hit, you went down. I made a judgement call to save the rest of the team.

O'NEILL

(Angrily turns to face him.)

And I saw you take off. And then I saw four months of my life disappear in some stinking Iraqi prison.

CROMWELL
I thought you were dead!

O'NEILL
You thought wrong! What do you want? You want me to forgive you, is that it?

CROMWELL
Yeah, I guess I do.

O'NEILL
Well, that's tough. What happened to "nobody gets left behind"?

CROMWELL

(Points to the monitor and Boyd's image)

Well, what about him?

O'NEILL
That is a totally different scenario.

CROMWELL

(Forcefully)

That is the same damn thing, Jack.

[The glass from the control room windows begins to buckle and shatter and is drawn toward the Stargate. O'Neill and Cromwell drop to the floor as the broken glass impacts against the iris. Carter and Siler walk into the control room.]

CARTER
Don't activate the auto destruct, sir. It won't work. I have another idea.

[She looks out upon the Gate.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ENTRANCE—NIGHT

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Siler, a bandage on his head is dispensing out a rope that is being pulled by the gravitational pull of the wormhole while Carter watches. She walks over to Cromwell and O'Neill who have donned special G-suits.]

CARTER
The g-suits should help you withstand the higher gravity on the way down.

CROMWELL
What's this bomb we're delivering?

CARTER

It's a shaped charge. We want to focus the explosive force toward the wormhole, hopefully with enough energy to cause it to jump…
(to O'Neill)

…like what happened to us in Antarctica.

O'NEILL

(Quietly)

Right.

CROMWELL
Where is it?

CARTER
They're modifying the warhead yield to my calculations, and it's being flown in from Travis.

CROMWELL
How long's all that going to take?

CARTER
Well, sir, with any luck, about 5 more minutes, relatively—

O'NEILL
Relatively speaking?

[The ropes's ends extend out over the iris.]

SILER
Anytime you're ready, sirs. I don't know how much longer that iris is going to hold.

CARTER

(To Siler)

We have to wait for the bomb.

INT—SGC CORRIDOR OUTSIDE AN ELEVATOR

[The elevator doors open revealing Teal'c who is carrying the bomb. He heads down the hallway.]

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Teal'c walks up the steps and hands the bomb over to Carter and Siler.]

O'NEILL

(To Teal'c)

You got better quick.

TEAL'C
It has in fact been several days.

O'NEILL

(Looks at him briefly)

Yeah. I knew that.

CARTER
Everyone who doesn't have to be here should go topside.

[They are connecting the bomb.]

O'NEILL
Cromwell.

[He motions the other man to end of the rope and they begin to attach themselves to it.]

TEAL'C
Cannot the bomb be detonated by remote?

CARTER
It has to be set a certain distance from the Gate and at an exact angle. The timer can't be set until they're into position because of the variance in time dilation.

CROMWELL
Man, she is—

O'NEILL
Way smarter than we are. I know.

[Cromwell and O'Neill begin climbing across the console along the line toward the Stargate as the others watch from the control room.]

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

[O'Neill and Cromwell are seen sliding horizontally along the rope. The bomb is also being guided through the window of the control room and towards the Gate. Carter and Teal'c look on intently from the control room as Siler slowly feeds the rope through the window.]

CROMWELL
Just like old times, huh, Jack?

O'NEILL
Oh yeah. Black holes, wormholes. Just like old times.

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN TOPSIDE—NIGHT

[General Hammond stands in front of the command tent. Lieutenant Simmons walks up to him and offers him a cup of coffee, which he takes.]

SIMMONS
Sir?

HAMMOND
Thank you, Lieutenant.

SIMMONS
Do you think they'll be able to shut it down, sir?

HAMMOND
We'll know sometime tomorrow.

[Simmons leaves and the general drinks his coffee.]

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Cromwell and O'Neill are still making their way "down" the ropes. Carter, Teal'c and Siler watch from the control room.]

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

[An overhead shot of the wormhole shows a vortex has been created behind the Stargate.]

O'NEILL

(Straining)

Oh, yeah. Yeah. We're pulling some major gees now.

CROMWELL
I feel like I put on a couple hundred pounds.

O'NEILL
I wasn't going to say anything.

INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM

TEAL'C
They appear to be moving very slowly.

CARTER
Only from our perspective.

SILER
Ah, Captain.

[A chair begins to roll tow ardtheconsole.Anotherglasspanelbreaksand shatters and heads toward the two dangling men.]

CARTER
Colonel! Colonel, look out! Colonel!

[Her voice echoes through the room. The glass is very slowly moving out of its frames.]

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

CROMWELL
Did you hear that?

[O'Neill looks back at the control room and sees the glass headed their way.]

O'NEILL
Look out!

[Glass comes flying toward them and they tuck to avoid it as it passes them and shatters against the iris. A piece lodges in Cromwell's line. They recover, but Cromwell has cuts on his arm and face.]

CROMWELL
Are you all right?

O'NEILL
This is close enough! Set the timer! 20 seconds!

CROMWELL
We won't make it out.

O'NEILL
20 seconds!

[Cromwell moves up to the bomb and hits a few buttons while O'Neill looks at the iris which is straining under the pull.]

CROMWELL
Set!

O'NEILL
Do it!

[The iris starts to break apart and crumbles into the wormhole. O'Neill is nearly drawn into it, but Cromwell flips over and grasps onto O'Neill. From Carter and Teal'c's perspective, the two men are in slow motion.]

CROMWELL
I got you!

O'NEILL
Get up there and arm that damn bomb!

CROMWELL
I've got you! Just climb!

O'NEILL
Arm the damn bomb!

CROMWELL
Climb!

[The glass shard lodged in Cromwell's rope eventually cuts it through and Cromwell is pulled toward it, but O'Neill catches hold him before he goes in. O'Neill struggles to hold Cromwell as Teal'c and Carter look on. , Cromwell looks at O'Neill. O'Neill strains and pulls, but the look on Cromwell's face is calm and peaceful. He knows that if O'Neill holds onto him, he'll end up taking both of them into the black hole. Cromwell doesn't try to latch on to him. He lets go and falls into the black hole even as O'Neill tries to grab onto him. O'Neill hangs there precariously watching the maelstrom, then he struggles set himself straight again on the rope and he peers back down regretfully at the wormhole. He then starts to climb up the rope to set the bomb. He gets there, pulls a pin and tries to climb out of there. The time ticks down from 18 seconds. Teal'c watches O'Neill climb then hurries to the rope to assist even as Carter calls for him to help.]

CARTER
Teal'c, pull him up!

[Teal'c strains to pull O'Neill up with Carter and Siler assisting him. Intermittent cuts from O'Neill climbing to Teal'c and Carter pulling him to the counter on the bomb counting down. Teal'c pulls and as the counter hits zero, O'Neill slowly looks up and the bomb explodes and fades the Gate room to white.]

INT—SGC INFIRMARY

[White fades to an overhead light over an infirmary bed. Monitors beep as Fraiser moves the light out of the way and Daniel joins Fraiser by O'Neill's bedside as he is finally awake. A bandage is in place on O'Neill's neck where the glass cut him. Daniel is self-hugging. Carter and Hammond move in behind Daniel.]

DANIEL

(Concerned and solemn)

Hey, Jack. Did I miss anything?

[Teal'c joins them, too.]

O'NEILL

(weakly)

I made it.

HAMMOND
We all made it, thanks to you and Captain Carter.

O'NEILL
How?

CARTER
Teal'c managed to pull you far enough away from the bomb before it went off.

O'NEILL

(To Teal'c)

Thanks.

TEAL'C
You are welcome.

CARTER
The majority of the blast energy went right where it was supposed to. The wormhole jumped to P2A-270 and once it did that, we shut it off.

O'NEILL
Good thinking, Captain.

CARTER
Thank you, sir.

HAMMOND
A new trinium-strengthened iris is being installed right now. We should be back in business in no time.

O'NEILL
What day is it?

[Daniel looks at Carter then back at O'Neill.]

DANIEL
Well, this might be a little difficult to accept, but since you reported for duty yesterday, two weeks have actually gone by.

O'NEILL
Two weeks? Think I'll sleep in.

HAMMOND

(Smiles warmly)

You do that.

FADE OUT

ROLL CREDITS

Transcript by Marcia for Solutions, Sep 2003

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--Kylie Lee 08:25, 30 Aug 2004 (PDT)