4.09 "Scorched Earth" Transcript

4.09 "Scorched Earth"

Episode Guide

• 4.09 "Scorched Earth" Episode Guide

Précis

After relocating an endangered civilization to a "safe" new planet, the team realizes that another race of aliens is planning to incinerate the planet's surface to make it inhabitable for their own race. Will SG-1 be able to reason with the marauding aliens, or will their plans for interplanetary diplomacy go up in flames?

Guide | Transcript

Transcript

TEASER

FADE IN

EXT—ALIEN PLANET—P5S-381

[We see a village tent settlement as the camera pans across the area. Children play in the foreground as the camera pans onto SG-1. They are sitting at a long table pilled with food and surrounded by the villagers. The village leader starts to talk to the gathered villagers.]

HEDRAZAR
Hundreds of villages like this one have cause to celebrate the transportation of our people to this great new land. We are especially honoured today by the presence of those responsible for finding this planet for us and saving us from certain doom. How can we ever repay them?

[The leader takes O'Neill's hand and we see that she is blind. Carter and the others smile at her statement.]

ELIAM

(joking)

By not boring then with long speeches, Hedrazar.

[The villagers laugh.]

HEDRAZAR

(smiling)

I meant what I said. You are all heroes to my people.

O’NEILL
It was our pleasure.

[Hedrazar takes Eliam’s hand. He is her son and is sitting next to his pregnant wife.]

HEDRAZAR
When my grandchild arrives, it will be the first Enkaran to be born in our new homeland. We will name the child after you, Colonel.

[O'Neill looks up embarrassed from pouring a drink. Carter, Daniel and Teal'c smile.]

NIKKA
Eliam, it seems to be getting cold.

[Eliam takes a coat and wraps it around Nikka.]

ELIAM
It seems to be getting colder each day since you visited.

CARTER
Yes, our atmospheric monitoring equipment is indicating that. We only had a short time to asses the planet’s conditions but it appears that you may be in for a more severe winter than we first predicted.

HEDRAZAR
We are a hearty people and we will survive.

CARTER
The naquada reactor that we brought you should provide enough energy to keep your new city for a year.

DANIEL
Well, you’ve certainly accomplished a lot already.

[Daniel nods towards the building development nearby.]

HEDRAZAR
And it has only been but one cycle of the moon! Come back in a year and you will find this planet transformed.

[Suddenly a man runs up to the gathering.]

CALEB
Help! Help me please.

HEDRAZAR
What is it?

[They all stand to help the running man.]

ELIAM
It is Caleb. He comes from the west.

[Some of the villagers catch Caleb as he falls to the ground and help him up.]

CALEB

(panicked)

It’s so big! It destroyed out whole village! You must all flee!

[They all look shocked. Caleb is breathing heavily obviously panicked and shocked.]

ELIAM
What are you talking about? Caleb, catch your breath!

CALEB
It comes this way!

O’NEILL
What does?

CALEB

(to SG-1)

You must see it.

EXT—P5S-381 STARGATE SITE

[Caleb, Eliam and SG-1 run to near the Stargate then stop, shocked.]

CALEB

(pointing)

There!

O’NEILL

(shocked)

Whoa!

[We see what is so shocking. It is an alien spaceship, massive in size. It is emitting what appears to be a ‘wall of fire’ onto the planet destroying what is there already. Carter observes it via binoculars.]

ELIAM
What is it?

[We see the spaceship close up destroying whatever is in its path.]

END OF TEASER

INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[We see a representation of the spaceship on the main computer display on the wall. Hammond, Carter, Daniel and O'Neill are sitting around the table studying it along with reports and photographs.]

CARTER

(to Hammond)

We estimate the ship to be about two miles in diameter. The curtain of energy it’s using to sweep the landscape stretches for over twenty miles. It seems to be depositing a yet unknown gas like substance that is spreading like a wake behind the ship. Now it extends beyond the range of the UAV but it appears to cover hundreds of miles.

DANIEL
Teal'c said he hadn’t seen the technology before.

CARTER
We’re still waiting for the analysis of the atmospheric samples taken by the UAV but you can see the damage being done.

[Hammond studies some photographs of the damage and the ship.]

DANIEL
There don’t appear to be any recognisable or discernible markings on the ship. If there’s any good news it would appear that whoever’s in control doesn’t have any specific intention of attacking the Enkarrans.

HAMMOND
Why do you say that?

DANIEL
It just seems there would be a more direct approach.

O’NEILL
What difference does it make?

CARTER

(to Hammond)

Sir, the Colonel's right. Based on the ships current speed I estimate it will take approximately 26 hours to reach Hedrazar’s village.

O’NEILL
But it’ll take out the Stargate first.

HAMMOND
Can we evacuate the Enkarrans in time?

O’NEILL
Teal'c’s prepping them right now.

CARTER
The concern is where to send them. Even low level radiation can cause the Enkarrans to go blind. Without the density of ozone on this particular planet they’ll all die.

DANIEL
The only other planet we know with similar conditions is the Enkaran home world and according to Enkaran verbal history there’s no Stargate there.

HAMMOND
Right, the Goa’uld kidnapped their ancestors with ships.

CARTER
Even if we had a method of transportation the Enkarans of today would have no concept of where that planet is in the galaxy.

HAMMOND
I’ve put SG5, 6 and 9 out looking for another suitable planet.

CARTER
It’s doubtful they’ll find one in time sir.

HAMMOND
How long can we keep the Enkarans on Earth here in the mean time?

CARTER
A matter of days. Their condition would degrade the longer they were here.

DANIEL
There are thousands of them outside of Hedrazar's village spread a fair distance from the gate. It took us two weeks to transplant them to P5S-381 in the first place.

[O'Neill looks directly at Hammond]

O’NEILL
The point is, General, we could never save them all.

INT—CARTER'S LAB

[We see a number of samples the UAV picked up next to the microscope. Carter is examining them as O'Neill and Daniel walk in.]

O’NEILL
Hey, what have you got?

CARTER
Then analysis of the atmosphere in the wake of the ship shows a high incidence of Sulphur Dioxide.

[O'Neill looks shocked.]

O’NEILL
Chemical warfare?

[Daniel raises his eyebrows at this statement.]

CARTER
I don’t think so sir. Take a look at this.

[Carter moves away from the microscope and O'Neill peers down the viewer. We see orange spheres on the microscope.]

O’NEILL

(sarcastically)

Oh yeah! Little fuzzy orange things!

[He looks at Carter.]

CARTER
They’re microbes sir.

O’NEILL
Ah!

CARTER
The alien ship is depositing them on the planet’s surface.

[O'Neill moves so Daniel can take a look at the microbes. Daniel looks with his glasses on then takes them off to look again.]

CARTER
Now as near as I can tell they bond with Sulphur leeched out of the soil and when they decay they release Sulphur Dioxide.

DANIEL
So the big mean alien ship is trying to stink up the planet?

CARTER
It’s a little bit more than that Sir. The microbes are only deposited after all of the native organisms have been destroyed. I think they’re meant to replace them. Now if my theory is correct we’re looking at the first building blocks of an alien ecosystem.

[Daniel stands up from looking down the microscope realising what Carter is getting at.]

DANIEL
It’s a terraformer.

CARTER
It’s changing the environment to support an entirely different kind of life. An organic system based on Sulphur instead of carbon.

DANIEL
So is the ship is allowed to continue the process the whole planet will be remade?

CARTER
Look, all I know for sure is that the atmosphere on the other side of that energy curtain will not support life!

[We then see a shot of gate travel.]

EXT—ALIEN PLANET—P5S-381

[Daniel and O’Neill have travelled back to Hedrazar's village. They are met by Teal'c. There does not appear to have been any preparations made to evacuate the area.]

O’NEILL
What’s going on?

TEAL’C
They do not wish to leave, O'Neill.

[O'Neill looks at Teal'c annoyed and they all walk over to the main tent in the village.]

INT—MAIN VILLAGE TENT

[We see O'Neill, Daniel and Teal'c walk in and over to where Hedrazar, Eliam and other village elders are standing.]

O’NEILL
Teal'c say’s that you don’t want to go?

ELIAM
If we go with you to Earth and you cannot find another world on which we could live, we will die there.

O’NEILL
Give us a chance.

HEDRAZAR
Would there be time to take every Enkaran?

O’NEILL
No.

HEDRAZAR
We cannot leave our people behind.

O’NEILL
Look, I understand how you feel…

ELIAM

(interrupting)

Generations ago our ancestors were kidnapped from our home world and taken away in giant ships. Since then we have all prayed for a place that we can call home. Thanks to you we have found it.

HEDRAZAR
We must stay here and fight for it.

O’NEILL
With what?

ELIAM
Have you not weapons to aid us?

[O'Neill looks at Daniel.]

DANIEL
We’re going to try to communicate with whatever’s on that ship first.

ELIAM
Clearly they intend to destroy us

O’NEILL
We don’t know anything for sure.

HEDRAZAR
I know that if the Enkaran people are to die then we shall all die here, together!

EXT—ALIEN PLANET—P5S-381 GATE

[Carter is setting up some scientific transmitting equipment near to the gate. The alien spacecraft is in the background slowly advancing. O'Neill, Daniel and Teal'c approach from the village.]

CARTER
The transmitter’s now operational sir. Let’s hope we get a bite.

O’NEILL

(sarcastically)

Do you think a well placed stinger would do some damage?

[Carter looks back on the ship.]

CARTER
Well we have no way of knowing what material the ship’s made of, sir.

TEAL'C
Or if it possesses shield technology.

O’NEILL
Yeah, just fantasising

DANIEL
Any intelligence capable of engineering something like that has to be capable of reason.

CARTER
Question is; will they listen?

O’NEILL
Well the real question is; will they have ears?

[Suddenly SG-1 are enveloped in orange shafts of light and they are ‘beamed away’.]

INT—SPACESHIP

[SG-1 materialise inside a room on the spaceship. Everything is pure white in appearance. There are tubes along the walls filled with water with bubbles of air travelling up them. SG-1 are immediately wary. Carter and O'Neill hold their weapons and look around cautiously.]

DANIEL
Somebody heard something!

TEAL'C
It appears to be a storage facility of some kind.

O’NEILL
I’m going to assume that we’re onboard that ship.

[O'Neill looks at the ‘bubble tubes’. They go high up to the ceiling.]

CARTER
You know, it’s strange. The aliens went to so much trouble to change the atmosphere on the planet. Yet the air in here is perfectly breathable.

DANIEL
They were expecting us!

[Carter touches the walls exploring them. They appear to be sectioned off into compartments.]

O’NEILL
Carter.

CARTER
Sir?

O’NEILL
Should we really be opening draws and things?

[As O'Neill is saying this Daniel lightly touches one of the compartments and it springs out to reveal a drawer full of circular containers. Daniel jumps back slightly.]

O’NEILL

(sarcastically)

What did I just say?

[Daniel looks embarrassed.]

DANIEL
Sorry!

[O'Neill and Carter walk over to the compartment. Daniel touches another of the segments and another draw comes out of the wall full of containers. Carter takes one of the containers out and studies it.]

CARTER
It looks like some kind of tissue sample.

O’NEILL
Of what?

CARTER
I’m not sure.

[Daniel takes one of the containers and studies it also.]

DANIEL
The ship’s terraforming the planet right? What if these are the new life forms it’s creating the planet for?

CARTER
Recreating an entire civilisation!

DANIEL

(thoughtfully)

Millions of samples.

O’NEILL
So, every one of these things is a…what?

DANIEL
Plant, animal, insect.

O’NEILL
Alien?

DANIEL
Who knows?

CARTER
It’s still just a guess.

[A hissing sound of a door opening is hears and a man's voice is heard.]

LOTAN
A good one.

[They all spin round. Carter and O'Neill have their weapons drawn. We see a man in white robes and the appearance of an Enkaran step through a doorway.]

LOTAN
I am Lotan. You need not fear me.

O’NEILL

(unconvinced)

Yeah…listen, what’s going on around here?

LOTAN
I have been assembled in order to more easily facilitate communication between this ship as you call it and yourselves.

[Daniel and O'Neill exchange worried glances.]

O’NEILL
Assembled you say?

LOTAN
I am a biomechanical representation of the beings now occupying this planet. When they were first encountered several Enkarans were scanned by the ship and a randomised but similar appearance was selected.

CARTER
Wait a second, that was yesterday! This ship analysed a new life form and created a new replica in one day?

LOTAN
Yes.

[Lotan holds out his hands and studies them.]

LOTAN
Fascinating as I am.

DANIEL
I suppose that explains why you look like an Enkaran.

O’NEILL
Sort of!

[Lotan stares at Carter with a puzzled expression. Carter immediately raises her gun again.]

LOTAN
You are not!

DANIEL
Err no…we’re from a planet called Earth. This is Major Samantha Carter, I’m Daniel Jackson. This is Jack O'Neill and this is Teal'c.

[Daniel points to everyone as he introduces them. Lotan looks at Teal'c who bows his head.]

O’NEILL
Actually we’re friends of the people your ship seems bent on wiping out.

LOTAN
Yes, that is unfortunate. I was created to deliver a message to them. However by the time I was completed the Enkarans in the immediate vicinity seemed to have disappeared.

O’NEILL
Yeah, see, that’s called running away. What one does to avoid being slaughtered!

[Lotan looks at O'Neill confused.]

DANIEL
There are still quite a few Enkarans living on the planet.

LOTAN
Since you are friends with the Enkarans would you deliver the message to them?

O’NEILL
That would depend.

LOTAN
When the transformation process was first begun there were no sentient life forms present.

O’NEILL
Yeah, well there are now.

LOTAN
Yes. Unfortunately for your friends once the process has begun it must be completed.

[Daniel looks worriedly at O'Neill.]

O’NEILL
Are you saying someone went to the trouble of making you just to come here to tell those folks, tough luck, get out?

LOTAN
We wish no harm to come to the Enkarans. However upon examination of their physiology it had been determined that they will not be able to exist in the planets transformed environment.

O’NEILL
So stop transforming it!

DANIEL

(to O'Neill)

Jack, they’re just trying to get the point across the best way possible.

O’NEILL

(angrily)
I know what the point is. It’s the PR guy.
(to Lotan)

I think we should be talking to your boss.

LOTAN
Assumption of hierarchical command structure! Interesting, follow me.

[Carter looks back at O'Neill who nods. Daniel replaces the sample that he has been examining, closes the drawer and they follow Lotan. We see SG-1 follow Lotan into another chamber. Lotan stops by a console and activates it. In the centre of the chamber we see that an image of an alien being is projected. SG-1 all stare at it.]

LOTAN
The ship is fully automated. The beings that built it are called the Gadmere.

[SG-1 look at the Gadmere appearance. It is a completely alien form.]

O’NEILL
Not exactly ET!

LOTAN
They have placed all of their knowledge within the ships memory. Science, mathematics, medicine, art, philosophy. Ten thousand years of civilisation. This is their legacy, they were a very advanced race compared to the Enkarans. However they were also peaceful and fell victim to a superior military power. So they built this ship in the hopes that their world would be born again far from the reach of their enemies.

[Daniel walks over to the image.]

DANIEL
This is fascinating. I’d love a chance to study some of it.

LOTAN
I could provide you with translations. Your language is simple by comparison.

O’NEILL
Excuse me, about why we’re here?

LOTAN
The ship has only enough raw material to transform one planet. Now that the transformation has been started it must be finished here or the entire Gadmere civilisation will be lost forever. The Enkarans must leave of they will die.

O’NEILL
Alright, now see, right there we’ve got a problem!

TEAL'C
The Enkarans cannot leave.

CARTER
Their lives depend on the very rare environmental conditions that are unique to this planet.

LOTAN
That is unfortunate.

[O'Neill looks at Lotan amazed.]

O’NEILL
That’s it!

LOTAN
Please explain the situation to the Enkarans.

CARTER
But…

[SG-1 are enveloped in the orange light again and are beamed off the ship.]

EXT—HEDRAZAR'S VILLAGE

[We see Eliam talking to Hedrazar and other villagers. He looks round and sees SG-1 approaching.]

ELIAM
They’re back!

[He runs over to SG-1.]

ELIAM
Well…did you speak with the Aliens?

O’NEILL
In a way.

[Hedrazar sees the looks on SG-1’s faces.]

HEDRAZAR
It did not go well?

O’NEILL
No. It didn’t.

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ENTRANCE—DAY

INT—CONTROL ROOM STAIRS

[Carter and Hammond are walking up the stairs in the control room to the briefing room. Carter is explaining the situation.]

CARTER
The tests on the alien microbes show that they are also vulnerable to UV radiation. That’s probably why they chose this planet.

HAMMOND
The dense ozone layer.

CARTER
Among other things I’m sure. The same conditions that make P5S-381 ideal for the Enkarans make it ideal for the transformation.

[They step up into the briefing room where Daniel and O'Neill are sitting at the table. Carter and Hammond sit at the table.]

HAMMOND
Can this information be used to stop the alien ship?

CARTER
I’m not sure how sir.

DANIEL
That’s assuming we have a right to stop them at all.

[O'Neill looks surprised at Daniel.]

O’NEILL
Excuse me?

DANIEL
I don’t mean to sound insensitive to the Enkarans but we’d be interfering with the rebirth of an entire alien civilisation. Now if you believe Lotan, an incredibly advanced and peaceful one.

O’NEILL
So the best society wins here?

DANIEL
No I wasn’t saying that.

O’NEILL
You’re talking about a bunch of freeze dried aliens whose civilisation was lost a long time ago. The Enkarans are there now!

DANIEL
I don’t want to see anything happen to them either.

HAMMOND
What about this robot? Could he be convinced to delay the transformation long enough for us to relocate the Enkarans.

O’NEILL
The robot’s a robot sir.

CARTER
He’s basically just a messenger sir.

DANIEL
But he was created in the image of the Enkarans so that they could relate to him, understand his explanation of what was happening to them and why. Now that could work to our advantage!

O’NEILL

(unconvinced)

How?

DANIEL
Well, it might make him more sympathetic to their plight.

O’NEILL
It’s a robot!

[Daniel and O'Neill stare at each other with growing tension.]

DANIEL
He is an incredibly advanced alien creation. We shouldn’t just assume that he’s incapable of reason or feelings.

CARTER
Well he didn’t seem very concerned with helping.

DANIEL
Well if he’s capable of learning we might be able to get him to think outside his program.

O’NEILL
What if he isn’t and we can’t?

HAMMOND
What do you propose Colonel?

O’NEILL
I say we throw everything we’ve got at that ship!

HAMMOND
I’m sorry. I can’t authorise a military strike in this situation, Colonel.

O’NEILL
Look General. I apologise if all this seems to have taken on a personal edge for me. But we spent months getting to know these people. They trusted us and we screwed up.

HAMMOND
I understand your feeling. We’ve all invested a lot into this operation. No one wants to see it end badly for the Enkarans.

[O'Neill looks down realising the situation.]

O’NEILL
But you’re not going to give me any effective weapons or personnel?

HAMMOND
Find another way out of this.

[Hammond looks at the others.]

HAMMOND
Dismissed

[He gets up and walks away. O'Neill and Daniel look at each other, annoyed.]

EXT—HEDRAZAR'S PLANET

[Carter, Daniel and O'Neill walk back into the village. They walk up to where Teal'c, Eliam and Hedrazar are waiting. Eliam points at the alien ship in the distance.]

ELIAM
The alien ship draws closer.

[We see the ship is not far from the village.]

O’NEILL
Hedrazar, you can still save the people of your village.

HEDRAZAR
Our resolve has not changed. We will not abandon the rest of our people.

TEAL'C
Did General Hammond not authorise you to bring additional troops and weapons.

[O'Neill looks at Teal'c.]

O’NEILL
No he didn’t.

ELIAM
You brought us to this planet! We trusted you when you told us it was safe!

O’NEILL
I know.

ELIAM
You gave us technology to build our cities, to provide heat. Have you not any way to stop the ship?

[O'Neill pauses and turns back to Carter and Daniel. They look at O'Neill.]

O’NEILL
How much naquada is in that reactor we gave them?

[Daniel and Carter look shocked.]

CARTER
Sir?

DANIEL
What are you doing?

O’NEILL
Thinking Daniel. Don’t worry about it too much.

DANIEL
Thinking of a way to blow up this ship. I’m not really sure that’s what General Hammond had in mind!

[O'Neill looks at Daniel.]

O’NEILL
They’re going to stand there and die. It’s a no won situation but we’re not going to stand around here and watch these people getting slaughtered.

DANIEL
And you're willing to blow up that ship to…

[O'Neill interrupts him.]

O’NEILL

(angrily)

Give me another choice!

DANIEL
Well I don’t have one at the moment!

O’NEILL
Apparently time is a factor here!

[Daniel says nothing in response. O'Neill looks at Carter.]

O’NEILL
How do you make a naquada bomb?

CARTER
Well sir, the reactor was designed specifically to prevent exactly that kind of…

O’NEILL
Carter!

[Carter thinks for a moment, obviously not happy with the situation.]

CARTER
Theoretically if I created a feedback loop, the energy would build up instead of being released. There would be a big explosion sir.

O’NEILL
Big enough?

CARTER
I think so.

O’NEILL
Carter, I’m making a choice to help these people. But if you don’t make that bomb I’m out of options.

CARTER
(quietly)

I know.

O’NEILL
So I have to order you to do it.

CARTER
Yes, sir.

[She walks away to make the bomb. O'Neill looks at Daniel who obviously doesn’t agree with the situation.]

EXT—PLANET

[Carter is preparing the reactor. O'Neill is looking at the ship as it is slowly approaching. They are positioned near to a lake away from the village.]

O’NEILL
How controlled is this going to be?

CARTER
The focus of the blast will be aimed upwards. This ridge should protect the village but this is as close as I would put it. I’ve modified this remote to start the feedback loop. About a minute after you press this button the reactor should reach critical overload and blow.

O’NEILL
Ship's ETA?

CARTER
About five zero minutes sir. But we should detonate before the ship’s directly overhead. There’s no telling what that beam will do to the reactor.

O’NEILL
Okay.

CARTER
There’s one more thing sir.

[Carter stands to look at O'Neill.]

CARTER
Once you detonate the reactor there’s no turning back. The overload can’t be stopped.

O’NEILL

(quietly)

Alright.

[They walk to the edge of the water and get into the small speedboat there. They start it and head across the water to the village.]

EXT—HEDRAZAR'S VILLAGE

[Daniel and Teal'c are watching the approaching ship from the village. Teal'c is using binoculars to see the ship. Daniel suddenly turns and walks away.]

TEAL’C

(turning to Daniel)

Daniel Jackson…do you not plan on staying?

[Daniel turns to face Teal'c. He looks annoyed and has his hands in his pockets.]

DANIEL
Err…no actually I was going to try and talk to Lotan.

[Daniel turns again to walk away but Teal'c speaks again making him stop.]

TEAL’C
If you warn Lotan of our plan it will prove ineffective.

DANIEL
I’m not going to give anything away. I just wanna try to prevent it from being necessary.

TEAL’C
Should you not remain until the return of Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter?

DANIEL
Well actually Jack asked me to give him another choice so…technically I’m following an order.

[Daniel this time walks away leaving Teal'c looking after him.]

EXT—ALIEN SHIP FROM ABOVE

[We see an aerial view of the ship from high above. Then camera then suddenly zooms down to the ship and we see…]

INT—SHIP

[Daniel is beamed into a corridor of the ship. He walks down it and sees Lotan standing in a beam of energy with his arms raised above him. As Daniel gets closer the beam stops and Lotan looks at Daniel.]

LOTAN
Hello, Daniel Jackson.

DANIEL
Hi.

[Daniel takes his glasses off and removes the sunglasses attachment. He then replaces his glasses and stares at Lotan uncertainly.]

LOTAN
Are the Enkarans going to leave the planet?

DANIEL
Actually the Enkarans have no where else to go.

LOTAN
That is tough luck. While you were gone I took the opportunity to breathe some of the sulphur-based environment being created by the ship.

DANIEL
How is it?

LOTAN
Not good.

[Daniel looks around puzzled. Lotan activates a console and a form of music is heard. It is horrible to listen to and sounds like a jumble of different music forms.]

LOTAN
This music has not been heard in over a thousand years.

[Daniel has his hand over his left ear. He looks as though the music is painful to listen to.]

DANIEL

(unconvincingly)

It’s nice.

LOTAN
It sounds very unpleasant to me.

DANIEL
Really!?

LOTAN
Yes…this is not how it should sound.

[He turns the music off. Daniel looks relieved but doesn’t say anything.]

DANIEL
How so?

LOTAN
It seems as though the design of your ears…my ears…is not meant for it.

DANIEL
Err…to be honest with you I’m here to see if you will consider alternate solutions to the problem faced by the Enkarans.

[Lotan looks at Daniel puzzled.]

LOTAN
I am not programmed to solve the problem faced by the Enkarans.

DANIEL
Right…let me ask you something. What will happen to you when this is all over?

LOTAN
I will be reintegrated into the ships systems.

DANIEL
You mean you’ll die?

LOTAN
Yes I suppose that is one interpretation.

DANIEL
Do you want to die?

LOTAN
What I want is irrelevant.

DANIEL
Wouldn’t you like to…experience a little more of what it’s like to be an Enkaran before you’re reintegrated? I mean, see some of the planet before it’s completely transformed and maybe even meet the people?

LOTAN

(puzzled)

For what purpose?

DANIEL
Because it might help you consider alternate solutions.

LOTAN
I’m not programmed to consider alternate solutions.

DANIEL
You said the ship will continue to process without you, correct?

LOTAN
Yes, as I have said. Its functions are fully automated.

DANIEL
Well then no harm done. We’ll just…we’ll have a look around.

EXT—LAKE

[Carter and O'Neill pull up by the water edge in the boat. They are near the village. They start walking to the village.]

CARTER
Sir, no disrespect intended but I’m having doubts as to whether or not we’re doing the right thing.

O’NEILL
What is that Carter? The right thing? We brought these people here. They depend on us. What else are they going to do?

CARTER

(frustrated)

I don’t know.

[She stops walking and O'Neill turns to her.]

O’NEILL
You wanna talk me out of this?

CARTER
Yes sir!

[She holds the trigger up towards him and he takes it slowly thinking about the situation.]

O’NEILL
Stay in contact.

[He walks off to the village leaving Carter by the lake and the boat.]

EXT—PLANET

[Daniel and Lotan are walking along in the area surrounding the village. Daniel is showing Lotan the planet.]

LOTAN
The air is not as pure as that created for me on the ship.

DANIEL
It’s definitely…different.

LOTAN
This is better.

DANIEL
I agree.

[Lotan stops and looks at some trees.]

LOTAN
These are trees.

DANIEL

(smiling)

Yes err…anywhere there’s oxygen you’re sure to find trees. They’re kinda like natures air filters.

LOTAN
Their design is most interesting.

[He touches the leaves on a tree.]

DANIEL
So is their function.

[Lotan smiles at Daniel.]

EXT—HEDRAZAR'S VILLAGE

[We see O'Neill walk quickly up to Teal'c.]

TEAL'C
Daniel Jackson has gone to speak to Lotan.

O’NEILL

(annoyed)

Did you try to stop him?

TEAL'C
I do not disagree with his intentions.

O’NEILL
You do know we’re going to try and blow up that ship?

TEAL'C
I am aware of that as is Daniel Jackson.

[O'Neill activates his radio to speak with Daniel.]

O’NEILL
Daniel…Daniel come in.

DANIEL

(via radio)

I read you, Jack.

O’NEILL

(yelling)

Tell me…tell me you’re not on that ship!

[We see Daniel walking along on the planet with Lotan. He activates his radio to reply to O'Neill.]

DANIEL
Ok, I’m not on the ship.

O’NEILL

(annoyed)

What are you doing Daniel?

DANIEL
I’m talking to Lotan.

[O'Neill turns to look at Teal'c.]

O’NEILL

(to Teal'c)

Is he going to tell him about the bomb?

TEAL'C
He said he would not reveal our plan.

[We see Carter standing at the Stargate looking at her watch.]

CARTER

(to O'Neill via radio)

Sir we only have about 15 minutes!

O’NEILL

(to Daniel via radio)

Daniel do you know what time it is?

[Again we see Daniel and Lotan walking through a field near the village. Daniel talks quietly to O'Neill via the radio.]

DANIEL
I am trying to give you another choice.

O’NEILL

(annoyed)

What?

DANIEL
Err…hang on, we’re on our way back to the village. Over and out.

[O'Neill turns back to Teal'c with an angry exhale of breath.]

EXT—VILLAGE SURROUNDING AREA

[We see Daniel and Lotan still walking.]

LOTAN
You have disobeyed your superior.

DANIEL
Umm…no, not exactly.

LOTAN
You are not fulfilling your function Daniel Jackson.

[We see Daniel rub his head.]

DANIEL
Well…you see that’s not true. I’m choosing the best way to fulfil my true function. You see, sometimes hierarchical command structures don’t allow you to consider all possible options.

[Lotan stops and stares at Daniel.]

LOTAN
I see.

DANIEL
Let’s err…let’s go to the village.

EXT—HEDRAZAR'S VILLAGE

[O'Neill and Teal'c are standing looking at the approaching ship with binoculars. Suddenly Daniel and Lotan materialise nearby. O'Neill runs over to Daniel with his arms spread in question.]

O’NEILL
Daniel?

DANIEL
Lotan wanted to meet the Enkarans.

[Two Enkarans have approached Lotan and he is staring back at them. Suddenly Carter's voice is heard via the radio.]

CARTER

(via radio)

Ten minutes Sir!

INT—MAIN VILLAGE TENT

[We see Hedrazar, Eliam and the village elders sitting in the tent as Lotan and Daniel enter. Eliam walks over to them.]

DANIEL
Hello Eliam…This is Lotan.

[Daniel points at Lotan who steps forward. Eliam looks at Lotan puzzled.]

ELIAM
He looks Enkaran. But I have not met him before.

[O'Neill and Teal'c enter the tent. Daniel looks at them then turns back to Eliam.]

DANIEL
Lotan is a representative of the aliens who build the ship. He was created in your image in order to better communicate the ships mission and the danger you are in.

[Nikka is explain what is happening to Hedrazar in the background.]

ELIAM
And yet he does not stop it.

DANIEL
No…Lotan this is Eliam.

[Hedrazar gets up from her chair and walks over to Lotan, Daniel and Eliam with Nikka.]

DANIEL
This is his wife, Nikka, and this is Hedrazar, the leader of the village.

[Hedrazar walks right up to Lotan and feels his face.]

HEDRAZAR
Are you now able to see the lives that will be extinguished if the ship continues its current path?

DANIEL
Yes, Lotan is aware of that.

[Lotan stares at Hedrazar.]

LOTAN
She is without sight.

[Hedrazar rejoins Eliam and Nikka.]

DANIEL
It’s something that was happening to them on the planet where we first met. They were dying. This was the only planet we could find where we knew they could survive.

LOTAN
I am aware of their physiological needs.

DANIEL
Yes, of course.

[Lotan looks over at Nikka who is heavily pregnant. Eliam puts a protective hand on her stomach.]

LOTAN
That one is going to give birth.

DANIEL
Yes to err…a new Enkaran life.

ELIAM
There will be no Enkaran life at all if your ship does not stop.

[O'Neill interrupts.]

O’NEILL
I think we’re all aware of the situation.

LOTAN
Yes, you have brought me here to elicit sympathy for these people.

DANIEL
Well actually…they’re your people in a way Lotan. You were created in their image.

LOTAN
I was not created to prevent their demise Daniel Jackson.

DANIEL
But…don’t you wish you could?

LOTAN
The ship calls me back.

DANIEL
Why?

LOTAN
I must go.

DANIEL
Take me with you.

[O'Neill steps forward anxiously.]

O’NEILL
No…Daniel, no!

[We see the orange light reflect on O'Neill as Daniel and Lotan are beamed back to the ship.]

EXT—STARGATE

[We see Carter standing near the Stargate looking at her watch.]

CARTER

(to O'Neill via radio)

Five minutes sir.

O’NEILL

(via radio)

Lotan just took Daniel back up to the ship.

[Carter looks up surprised.]

CARTER
What…sir?

O’NEILL

(annoyed)

He asked to go!

CARTER
Well, what are we going to do sir, the ship is almost in position.

[She looks at the ship through her binoculars]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[We see Lotan and Daniel walk into the chamber where the holographic projector is. It shows the planet landscape and a blip where the bomb is.]

LOTAN
The ship has detected an unusual device. It appears to be capable of emitting great amounts of energy.

[Lotan looks back at Daniel.]

LOTAN
Is this device intended to try and stop the ship as the Enkaran named Eliam suggested?

DANIEL
Look Lotan, I don’t agree with what they’re doing but I also don’t want to see you wipe out those people!

LOTAN
If they will not leave there is no other option.

EXT—STARGATE

[Carter is looking at the ship through her binoculars.]

CARTER

(to O'Neill via radio)

The ship is in position sir.

[We see O'Neill and Teal'c in the village staring at the approaching ship. O'Neill is thinking about the situation. He clearly doesn’t know what to do about Daniel being on the ship.]

CARTER

(at Stargate)

If you’re going to do it, do it now!

[We see O'Neill look at Teal'c.]

TEAL’C
Daniel Jackson has made his choice O'Neill.

[O'Neill still looks hesitant. He looks over at the villagers huddled together near the tents then holds up the overload trigger.]

O’NEILL

(quietly)

Yeah.

[He presses the trigger and then stares at the ship.]

EXT—NAQUADAH REACTOR

[We see the reactor trigger go off and it starting to overload.]

INT—SHIP

[We see Lotan and Daniel staring at the readout.]

LOTAN
The device has entered an active state.

DANIEL
Lotan if you wanted to, can you stop the ship?

LOTAN
As I have said…

DANEL

(hurriedly)

Yes I know what you said, it isn’t about what you want. Just please answer the question. Can you stop the ship?

LOTAN
It would be possible, yes.

DANIEL
Ok, then think about this. Think about the people down there and all the life forms you would be destroying.

LOTAN
I am programmed to serve the life on this ship.

[Daniel turns away quickly thinking. He suddenly looks up.]

DANIEL
You say that were an advanced civilisation, ten thousand years of history?

LOTAN
Yes.

DANIEL
They had laws, justice?

LOTAN
Yes.

DANIEL
A respect for life?

LOTAN
Yes.

DANIEL
Then how can that world be recreated through an act of mass murder?

[Lotan turns his head thoughtfully at Daniel.]

DANIEL
Wouldn’t that be a betrayal of everything they stood for? You said you were made to communicate. You’re not here simply to serve life on this ship, you’re here to protect the integrity of life on this ship! There’s a big difference. Are you really fulfilling your true function by allowing this to happen?

[Lotan stares at Daniel.]

EXT—STARGATE

[We see Carter looking at the ship.]

CARTER

(to O'Neill via radio)

Sixty seconds to detonation.

[Suddenly the ship stops and Carter looks at it.]

EXT—VILLAGE

[In the village we see Teal'c and O'Neill stare at the stopped ship]

TEAL'C
The ship has stopped O'Neill.

[O'Neill looks surprised and the villagers look relieved for the moment.]

CARTER

(via radio)

Daniel must have got through to them.

[O'Neill gives a half smile. He activates his radio.]

O’NEILL
Daniel, if you can hear me you’ve got thirty seconds…three zero, over.

INT—SHIP

[We see Lotan and Daniel looking at the readout of the device.]

DANIEL
Err…about the device.

LOTAN
It is still active.

DANIEL
Yes, can you do anything about that?

[Lotan presses some buttons on the console and the ‘bomb’ is beamed into the chamber. Daniel looks at it aghast!]

LOTAN
Do you know how to deactivate it?

DANIEL
No!

[Lotan stares at the reactor.]

LOTAN
Intriguing design.

DANIEL
Err…yeah Lotan we really don’t have time for this.

LOTAN
How much time do we have?

EXT—STARGATE

[We see Carter staring at her watch.]

CARTER
Five, four, three, two, one!

[We see O'Neill and Teal'c. O'Neill is not looking at the ship. Just then the bomb is shot out from the ship and explodes harmlessly away in the sky. We see Eliam and Nikka looking up at the exploding bomb. Hedrazar is panicking about the situation as she cannot see what is going on.]

HEDRAZAR
What is going on?

ELIAM
The ship remains!

INT—SHIP

[We see Daniel and Lotan looking at a display of the explosion.]

LOTAN
A powerful explosion.

DANIEL
We were desperate.

LOTAN
The conflict remains unresolved. I must eventually resume the transformation process on this planet or the Gadmere civilisation will be lost.

DANIEL
I know.

[He walks over to Lotan who is working at a console.]

LOTAN
Many millions of planets were scanned, to match the right conditions for the transformation.

[Daniel looks at him puzzled. We see the holographic projector showing images of the millions of planets.]

LOTAN
Only one met the specifications.

DANIEL
Just out of curiosity, were any others even close?

LOTAN
Two thousand, six hundred and thirty four parameters had to be exactly right for the…

DANIEL

(interrupting)

For the transformation process, yes but what about for the Enkarans?

[Lotan looks puzzled.]

LOTAN
I do not understand.

DANIEL
Well maybe the Enkarans don’t need exactly the same environment as the transformation process, just a very similar one. Now you know their physiology better than anyone. Do any of the planets scanned by the ship match the needs of the Enkarans?

[Lotan presses some buttons on the console and the image of one planet is displayed. He and Daniel look at it.]

LOTAN
Here. This planet would be appropriate for the Enkarans.

[Daniel looks surprised at Lotan.]

LOTAN
I regret that I didn’t consider this possibility Daniel Jackson.

DANIEL
Well, you would have gotten there eventually.

LOTAN
This planet was rejected by the ship because three of the parameters were not correct. The core temperature was too warm, the size was too large and there were intelligent life forms already present.

DANIEL
Intelligent life forms?

[Lotan turns to Daniel.]

LOTAN
Based on their description I believe they were Enkaran.

INT—MAIN VILLAGE TENT

[We see O'Neill, Carter and Teal'c walk into the tent to talk to Hedrazar.]

HEDRAZAR
So, what shall we do now?

[Suddenly the tent is engulfed in the orange light and Lotan and Daniel materialise in the tent.]

HEDRAZAR

(concerned)

What is it?

DANIEL
It’s ok, don’t err…don’t be afraid.

[O'Neill walks over to Daniel and Lotan.]

O’NEILL
What’s going on?

DANIEL

(to the villagers)

Lotan would like to offer you a compromise.

LOTAN
The ship has expended too many of the resources needed for the transformation process to begin on another planet.

[Hedrazar and Eliam look confused.]

LOTAN
I require that you give up this world.

[O'Neill rolls his eyes at these words.]

ELIAM
How is that a compromise?

DANIEL

(smiling)

We’ve found the original Enkaran home world.

[The villagers all gasp. Hedrazar stands up and walks forward excitedly.]

HEDRAZAR
What?

CARTER
How?

DANIEL
It was one of several million scanned by the ship before it settled on this one and it was rejected partly on the presence of intelligent life forms.

O’NEILL

(unconvinced)

He’s telling us this now?

DANIEL
Well he didn’t know and technically he’s just a day and a half old so…give him a break.

HEDRAZAR
We will gladly accept this offer to return to the home of our ancestors.

[Eliam and Nikka smile and nod at this.]

CARTER
How do we get them there?

TEAL'C
The Enkaran home world has no Stargate.

[They all look at Daniel and Lotan.]

DANIEL
Well actually I have this friend with a big spaceship who’s willing to take them.

HEDRAZAR

(amazed)

Is this possible?

LOTAN
Yes, once you are safely to your home planet I will be reintegrated into the ships systems and the ship will be returned here to complete the transformation process.

DANIEL
Does that have to happen, the part about you having to be reintegrated?

LOTAN
What other option is there?

HEDRAZAR
But you are Enkaran. You must stay with us.

LOTAN
That is not contrary to my programming.

[The Enkarans stare at Lotan puzzled.]

DANIEL

(smiling)

Lotan says thank you, he’d like that very much!

[Hedrazar steps forward.]

HEDRAZAR
Spread the word among the villages. We are going home!

[Lotan smiles at Daniel who in turn looks and smiles at O'Neill. O'Neill gives a half hearted smile back.]

EXT—PLANET SHOT

[We see SG-1 waving goodbye to Hedrazar, Eliam, Nikka and the last few villagers as they are beamed up into the ship. It then leaves the planet.]

FADE OUT

THE END

Transcribed by Andrea-T for Stargatefan

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--Helen 06:24, 9 Jan 2005 (PST)