9.04 "The Ties That Bind" Transcript

9.04 "The Ties That Bind"

Episode Guide

• 9.04 "The Ties That Bind" Episode Guide

Précis

Daniel learns he and the wilful Vala have been permanently bound together by means of an alien energy field in the bracelets she used to trap him in order to protect her profit in the Avalon adventure. The ties that bind them can be broken, but only if Daniel, Mitchell and Teal'c undertake a series of dangerous bartering missions under Vala's wily eye.

Guide | Transcript

Transcript

TEASER

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

[The Stargate is spinning, successive chevrons locking. Daniel is standing at the base of the ramp; he looks at his watch then shoves his hands into his pockets. Vala enters accompanied by two SF's. She is wearing the leather outfit she first arrived in.]

VALA
Came to see me off. That's sweet.

DANIEL
Well we've been through a lot together. I just wanted to come here myself and make sure you were…thoroughly searched.

[Daniel signals an SF to go ahead. Vala hands her purse and cape to the SF's. Daniel smiles falsely at her, and she smiles back. One SF finds a jeweled broach in her purse and holds it up. Vala takes it from him.]

VALA

(rubbing the piece)

This is a little keepsake. Something to remember you by…

DANIEL

(taking it from her)

This is a priceless artifact.

VALA

(trying to take it back from him)

As priceless as the memories we share?

[Daniel takes the artifact back and puts it in his pants pocket.]

VALA

Well.
(taking her purse and cape back from the SF's)
Thank you.
(to Daniel)

I hate long goodbyes.

DANIEL

(very quickly)

Okay. Good bye.

[He turns and starts to walk away.]

VALA
Don't I even get a hug?

[He turns back to look at her, wary. He steps over to her, takes her by the shoulders very carefully, and hugs her stiffly, patting her on the back. He lets go and looks at her, and she smiles at him and starts to walk up the ramp. He grabs her arm and pulls her back.]

VALA

(surprised, then sultry)

Daniel! Don't make this harder than it already is.

[He pries the artifact out of her hand and holds it up in front of her.]

VALA
Oh. Can't blame a girl for trying.

DANIEL
No, I can…

[As he holds up the artifact, she gently touches his face and rubs his beard with one hand. As he watches, she walks up the ramp, turns around, and steps backward into the open wormhole. Daniel makes sure she is really gone, then begins walking out of the gate room.]

INT—SGC CORRIDOR

[Daniel exits the elevator on Level 25, holding and reading a stack of papers. Mitchell meets him as he exits. They begin walking together.]

MITCHELL
Jackson, hey! Where's the, uh, girlfriend?

DANIEL
She left about an hour ago.

MITCHELL
Man, I missed the going away party? I hope you saved me a piece of cake.

DANIEL
Now that she's gone I can finally get some work done around here.

MITCHELL
Yeah, about that. The whole SG-1 thing? You never gave me a firm answer. What do you say we make it official?

[Daniel pauses and grips the wall next to him, then starts to turn and fall. Mitchell grabs him by the arm.]

MITCHELL

(slowing Daniel's fall to the floor)

Jackson? Jackson! Jackson! I need a med team on Level 25!

INT—SGC INFIRMARY

[Daniel comes slowly to consciousness to find Mitchell and Lam gazing down at him.]

MITCHELL

(brightly)

Good morning, sunshine.

DANIEL

(flinching)

Gaaahhh.

MITCHELL
How are you feeling?

DANIEL

(looking at them both, suspicious)

Better. What happened?

MITCHELL
We're not exactly sure. But Dr. Lam here thinks it may have something to do with those alien cuffs.

[Daniel sits up very straight, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He looks past Lam to the empty bed next to his.]

DANIEL

(to Lam, trying to remain calm)

Why does one assume that?

LAM
Well, you were completely unresponsive when we brought you in, but your condition suddenly improved when "she" came back.

[Lam looks past Daniel's shoulder. He turns around to see Vala sit up on the bed behind him, where she had been partially obscured by the curtain.]

VALA

(smiling)

Miss me?

[Daniel appears defeated.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT—SGC CORRIDOR, LEVEL 21

[Harriman is taking an armful of files from a female airman. Landry walks up and puts his arm around Harriman, and they begin walking.]

LANDRY
Walter. Just the man I was looking for.

HARRIMAN
Sir, sir, we have to talk about your schedule, and according to this you're going to be in meetings all day.

LANDRY

(taking schedule from Harriman)

Hell I am.

HARRIMAN
Sir?

LANDRY

After two months on this base, I've come to realize that an alarming portion of these meetings are a complete waste of my time.
(handing the schedule back)

This is all housekeeping. You can handle it.

HARRIMAN
Me? No, I don't think so sir. I'm not in a position to—

LANDRY
Walter! Don't make me promote you.

HARRIMAN
No, sir. Yes—yes, sir. I mean, what?

LANDRY
Just write up the highlights, and leave them on my desk.

[Harriman opens his mouth to respond, then just walks away. Mitchell and Lam exit the elevator.]

MITCHELL
General.

LANDRY
Dr. Lam. What's uh…what's the latest on Doctor Jackson?

[Mitchell surreptitiously buttons the top button of his BDU shirt. Landry watches him.]

LAM
Well, as evidenced by Vala's departure and immediate return, they can't be separated for much more than an hour before they begin to feel the effects. If she hadn't come back when she did, I suspect they'd both be dead.

LANDRY
I thought it was supposed to stop when they took the wristbands off.

LAM
It was. Dr. Lee is theorizing that it might have something to do with the Ancient communication device they found. It's possible that the two technologies brought together somehow combined to create a more permanent bond.

LANDRY

I see.
(giving Mitchell an appraising look and a smile)

Colonel.

[Lam and Mitchell exchange bemused looks.]

INT—SGC LAB

[Dr. Lee has attached electrodes to the Goa'uld bracelets, which lie on a table. Vala, now dressed in blue BDU's, removes one of the electrodes from her body and tosses it on the table.]

VALA
This is a waste of time.

[Daniel has electrodes attached to his head. Lee tries to reattach the one to Vala.]

DANIEL
Do me a favor. Shut up.

VALA
It's not like I wanted this to happen. Anyway, I'm being realistic. He has no idea what he's doing.

LEE
I'm standing right here.

VALA
He can do all the tests he wants. It's not going to get us anywhere.

DANIEL

(irritated)

Look, I know we're scraping the bottom of the barrel here, but it's not like we have a lot of choice, unless you happen to know someone else who understands this technology.

[Vala sighs heavily and looks away. Lee and Daniel both look at her.]

DANIEL
You know someone? Someone who can help us?

VALA
No…and yes.

[Daniel stands and rips off the electrodes.]

LEE
Um, wait. We're not done here yet!

[Daniel steps right in front of Vala.]

DANIEL
Who?

VALA
A scientist who was studying the bracelets at one point.

DANIEL

(grabbing her by the arm and pulling her up)

Well let's go see him.

VALA
No! Out of the question.

DANIEL
Why?

VALA
I'd rather not say.

DANIEL
He's the guy you stole the bracelets from, right?

VALA
How dare you assume that I acquired those bracelets through anything but honest means. I may have a less than perfect reputation—

DANIEL
You told me you stole them!

VALA
Did I?

DANIEL
Yes.

VALA
Oh. Anyway, he won't help us.

DANIEL
Correction. He won't help you.

VALA
Fine! But if we're going, we'll need a change of clothes.

DANIEL
Fine.

[Daniel leaves.]

VALA

(following him)

Fine.

[Lee is left holding the bracelets, looking helpless.]

EXT—A CITY IN A GREEN VALLEY, ARLOS' PLANET, DAY

INT—ARLOS' LAB

[The lab has brick walls and an assortment of bottles and tubes on two tables. Mitchell and Daniel are wearing leather pants, holsters, leather shirts that stitch up the middle, and rawhide-colored, long leather over-coats. Daniel is continually adjusting his pants, holster, and shirt as if he's very uncomfortable.]

MITCHELL
Tell you what, these outfits make a bold statement. You don't reckon Landry's gonna make us work them into the rotation, do you?

DANIEL
Well, let's see. Desert camo, forest green, and undercover rawhide. It's got a nice ring to it.

MITCHELL
Well this better be quick. Forty-five minutes away from your girlfriend, you're gonna turn into a pumpkin, and I'm gonna have to haul your ass back there.

[Arlos, a short, balding man, enters from the opposite end of the room.]

ARLOS

(friendly)

Gentlemen! How can I help you?

DANIEL
Well, we require your expertise.

ARLOS
Expertise?

DANIEL
Well you are the foremost expert on alien technology on this planet.

ARLOS
Foremost? Well, I don't know if I'm the "foremost" expert. I might be among the top five.

[Arlos sits at a desk. Daniel and Mitchell sit down across the desk from him.]

MITCHELL

(laying the bracelets on the table)

Are you familiar with these?

ARLOS
Yes, yes. Actually owned a pair myself up until not too long ago.

MITCHELL
So, you know how they work?

ARLOS
Of course! The bracelets create a physiological bond between the wearers. They were used by the Goa'uld.

DANIEL
Uh, have you ever heard of the physiological bond being sustained say, after the bracelets were removed?

ARLOS
No. No. Barring some freak power surge in the bracelets themselves that might somehow transfer their effects outright, it's highly unlikely.

MITCHELL
But in the unlikely event this did happen, would you be able to sever the connection?

ARLOS
I might be able to.

DANIEL
Great! Could you tell us?

[Arlos leans forward in a conspiratorial manner. Daniel and Mitchell do the same, Daniel moving some bottles aside.]

ARLOS
How is she?

MITCHELL
Who?

ARLOS
Vala.

MITCHELL
We don't know any Vala.

ARLOS
Then I'm afraid I can't help you.

[He starts to get up.]

MITCHELL
Okay! Maybe we know a Vala.

ARLOS
I need to see her.

DANIEL
Why?

ARLOS
It's not what you think. I'm not after revenge. The truth is, the bracelets weren't the only thing she took from me. She also stole… my heart.

MITCHELL
Excuse me?

ARLOS

(moving his hands and fingers as if to illustrate the story)

I remember it as if it were yesterday. Some nights, we would steal away from the city, strip off our clothing, and bathe in the springs of Aragaten. We would chase one another across the mossy hills and then lie naked under Adora's moons and Vala would sometimes—

MITCHELL

(placing his hand over Arlos' to stop him)
Okay, that's great, thanks. We got the picture.
(covering his mouth with his hand)

A very vivid, very disturbing picture.

ARLOS
Yes. Those were wonderful, carnal times. But that's in the past. All I ask now is that I be given the chance to see her one last time. Bring me Vala, and I'll consider helping you.

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAY

INT—LANDRY'S OFFICE

HARRIMAN
Sir, Major Gibson's here to see you.

LANDRY
Send her in.

[He ushers her in, then leaves.]

GIBSON
General.

LANDRY

(standing up to shake her hand)

Major. How are things at the Pentagon?

GIBSON
Not so good, I'm afraid. The International Committee has reviewed your budget proposals and, despite your warnings of how it'll affect the day to day operations of Stargate Command, they have decided to throw their full financial backing behind the Atlantis mission. They now see this base as serving little more than a support role.

LANDRY
Can't say I'm surprised.

GIBSON
They've been going over the report brought back by Dr. Weir and her colleagues. With the prevalence of Ancient technology in the Pegasus Galaxy, they feel that's where we should be focusing our efforts.

LANDRY
And you believe that?

GIBSON
Sir?

LANDRY
Atlantis is a civilian operation. They approved Dr. Weir's appointment. The reason they don't want to support Stargate Command is because they have no say in how it's run.

GIBSON
That's what General O'Neill said. He also said he'd be willing to go to bat for you with the President. But he thinks it might help if you take your case to the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee yourself.

LANDRY

Does he?
(chuckling)

Oh, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack.

EXT—ARLOS' PLANET, DAY

INT—ARLOS' LAB

[Arlos enters to find Daniel, Vala, and Mitchell waiting, with two armed men behind them. Daniel and Mitchell are still dressed in leather, and Vala is wearing a black leather jacket and pants.]

VALA

Arlos?
(hugging him gingerly, speaking falsely)

I thought I'd never see you again.

ARLOS
Hello, Vala.

VALA
They overpowered me. Some five, six, mercenaries, one morning on my way to see you. They demanded that I steal the bracelets under penalty of death.

ARLOS
I don't care.

[He moves away and sits behind his desk. She kneels beside the desk and gazes up at him.]

VALA
Arlos? Are you going to have me killed?

ARLOS

(placing his hands on her shoulders)

No. The memories of what we shared, and you so callously threw away, will undoubtedly haunt you until the day you die. That should be punishment enough.

VALA

(hugging him)

Mmm, yes, you're right. That should do it.

ARLOS
I'm over you. What I am not over, however, is the theft of my mother's necklace.

[Daniel and Mitchell react with surprise and annoyance.]

ARLOLS
I want it back. Only then am I going to tell you how to sever the link connecting you.

VALA
Be realistic. That necklace is gone. There's no way I can get that back.

ARLOS
Well, then our business is done.

[He starts to leave.]

MITCHELL
Whoa! Hang on, lover boy. We'll get your momma's necklace.

ARLOS
Then we have a deal.

EXT—WORMHOLE TRAVEL

EXT—A PLANET, DUSK

[The planet is desert-like and has a large, sand-colored pyramid.]

EXT—OUTDOOR MARKET ON VILLAGE STREET, EVENING

[A Jaffa, Inago, is holding up a two-bladed knife as he walks alongside another man.]

INAGO
This once belonged to the first prime of Bastet. It's completely unique. One of a kind. And I am going to give it to you for three ounces of naquadah.

[The man shakes his head and walks away.]

INAGO

Huh? No?
(holding up another, identical knife and calling after him)

Uh, two for five!

[Inago goes back to his booth as Daniel and Mitchell arrive.]

MITCHELL
So, business not so good, huh?

INAGO
Well, with no planets to conquer and no cities to loot, how's a Jaffa expected to put food on the table?

DANIEL
Listen, uh, a mutual friend of ours was supposed to send word that we were coming.

INAGO
What mutual friend?

DANIEL
Vala?

[Inago quickly pulls out a Zat, activates it and aims it at them. They raise their hands.]

INAGO
Where is she?

DANIEL
Uh, we're not sure. She said she had some business to attend to and she'd meet us back at the gate. Uh, she didn't call ahead?

INAGO
I swore the next time I saw Vala, I'd kill her where she stood.

MITCHELL
That's a 'no'.

INAGO
Do you take me for a fool?

[Vala enters the booth from behind him, aiming a large, gun-like weapon at his shoulder.]

VALA
I don't know about them, but I certainly do. Hello, Inago.

[Inago sighs and drops the Zat onto the table.]

VALA
Nicely done on the distraction, boys.

MITCHELL
Oh, that's what we're doing.

DANIEL

(stuttering)

You—you didn't wanna let us in on your little plan?

VALA
You would have just screwed it up.

INAGO
Vala! You cowardly, backstabbing, sorry excuse for a woman. How've you been?

VALA
Inago. You filthy, double-talking slug. Nice to see you, too.

MITCHELL
Obviously, they used to date.

[Daniel nods agreement.]

INAGO
Do you remember that uh… necklace you sold me? The priceless heirloom from the house of Verenna?

VALA
I may have overstated its value slightly.

INAGO
Slightly? It was worthless.

VALA

Huh, you're one to talk. That Goa'uld force shield inhibitor turned out to be nothing more than a power coil from an obsolete cargo ship. Fortunately, I'm not here for revenge. In fact, (handing the weapon to a bemused Daniel)

I'm here to set things straight. By buying back that worthless necklace.

INAGO
Why? What's your angle?

VALA
You don't need to know.

INAGO
Well then I guess you don't need that necklace. No deal. However, I am willing to show you how I want to square things here. I might consider buying back that useless power coil.

VALA
Why would you want to buy back a power coil from an obsolete cargo ship?

[Inago shakes his head, no good reason springing to mind.]

VALA
No necklace, no deal.

DANIEL
I've got an idea. How about a straight swap? Necklace for power coil.

INAGO
No!

MITCHELL
No wait, wait, wait. I have a better idea. We dig a big old pit, we drop these two in it, and we let them fight it out.

DANIEL
I'll ask again.

[Daniel and Mitchell both draw Zats and aim them at Inago, who raises his hands.]

DANIEL
Deal?

INAGO

(disgusted)

Deal.

VALA
Deal. Of course, I don't have the power coil. We're going to have to go and get that back.

[Daniel lowers his Zat in misery.]

MITCHELL
Where would you unload an obsolete power coil?

EXT—WORMHOLE TRAVEL

EXT—A GARDEN ON ANOTHER PLANET

[The power coil sits on a pedestal as people dressed in monks' robes and hoods walk serenely by. Vala, Mitchell, and Daniel walk down the stairs, and one of the monks sees them and smiles. It is Caius, a somewhat rotund man with a reddish beard.]

CAIUS
Sister Vasina, welcome back.

VALA
Brother Caius.

CAIUS
How are the orphans?

VALA
The orphans are well. Thank Grannus. And you?

CAIUS
Well enough. Thank Grannus.

MITCHELL
Who's Grannus?

DANIEL
Minor Celtic God. One of Camulus' former lieutenants.

MITCHELL
Thanks.

CAIUS

(indicating the power coil on the pedestal)

Of course all of us continue to be grateful for your generous gift. Pilgrims from all over the system travel to see the legendary ring of Shen Marak.

[Daniel reaches out to touch the coil but is stung by a force field around it.]

CAIUS
However, it has been a bittersweet season for us, since coincidentally, around the same time you made your gracious donation, the shrine's most precious relic, the Livanna crystal, mysteriously disappeared.

DANIEL

(falsely shocked)

No!

VALA
Yes, it is shocking the depths some people will plumb. Unfortunately, I have some more bad news. It appears I was deceived, and this ring of Shen Marak is apparently a fake. Afraid you'll have to get rid of it.

CAIUS

(smiling)

Out of the question.

MITCHELL
Hey! It's bogus! Your followers are worshipping a phony relic.

CAIUS
Yes, but ultimately its true worth can only be judged by the genuine faith it instills in the hearts of the many pilgrims who come to visit the shrine. And, more importantly, in the charitable contributions they make while they are here.

DANIEL
Right.

CAIUS
Of course, if you were willing to make a substantial contribution of your own…?

VALA
What do you want?

CAIUS

(dropping the falsely sweet tone of voice)
I have to get out of here! I can't take it anymore. The fasting. the chanting. Bathing of the poor. If I have to weave one more prayer basket, I'm gonna kill someone!
(to passing monks)

Blessed day. Blessed day. Blessed day.

MITCHELL
Oh my. You're not a real monk.

VALA
He used to be a smuggler. One of the best I ever knew. Then things got a little too hot for him, and he had to find religion.

CAIUS
Well, it was a sweet racket while it lasted. Until the great god Grannus went and got himself executed by his own Jaffa. Since then, the number of pilgrims has been, well, significantly reduced. That's why you can't have the ring.

DANIEL
Power coil.

CAIUS
Whatever. The point is that it's the only thing keeping this place going.

MITCHELL
If you wanna go, why not just go?

CAIUS
Because all I got right now are the clothes on my back. I need my cargo ship. The one you "borrowed"?

VALA
Ah! Yes, that might be a bit of a problem. But, we can get you a replacement.

CAIUS
No deal.

DANIEL
Wha—what's so special about this particular cargo ship?

CAIUS
Let's just say I made a few modifications of my own. You bring it to me, and I give you the ring.

JACKSON AND MITCHELL
Power coil.

CAIUS
Look, don't try anything, all right? The Pilgrims of Grannus may be greatly reduced in numbers, but they are more fanatical than ever. You'd have to be to be worshipping a dead god. I give the word, and they will tear you to pieces before you can get halfway to the gate. Now, if you'll excuse me? I have morning prayers to attend to.

[Caius leaves.]

DANIEL
So how do we get this ship?

VALA
We can't.

MITCHELL
Why not? We've come this far. What's the problem?

[Vala sighs.]

EXT—SPACE

[A Goa'uld cargo ship slowly approaches an Al'kesh.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

[At the controls are the two aliens that Daniel encountered after being kidnapped by Vala on Prometheus. A man appears on a video screen in front of them.]

VOSH
What news?

TENAT
We've put the word out, but she has yet to appear.

VOSH
I needn't remind you that because of your bungling, we already lost a case of weapons-grade refined naquadah. Now someone has to pay. And if it's not Vala, then it might as well be you two.

TENAT
Rest assured, Vala can't hide forever. And when she turns up, we'll deliver her… dead or alive.

VOSH
See that you do, and let it be known that no one defies the Lucian Alliance.

EXT—SPACE

[Many Al'kesh surround the small cargo ship, indicating the strength of the Alliance.]

INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Landry walks around the table where Daniel, Vala, and Mitchell sit.]

LANDRY
So let me get this straight. You need to get this ship, to get the power coil, to get the necklace, to get this guy to tell you how to undo whatever is keeping you two connected?

[Vala looks at Daniel with a smile as he nods.]

MITCHELL
Yeah, that about sums it up.

VALA
Unfortunately, that ship is now in the hands of the Lucian Alliance.

LANDRY
The who?

VALA
It's a coalition of former smugglers and mercenaries who've banded together to take advantage of the power vacuum left by the demise of the Goa'uld.

DANIEL
The fact they've managed to form a coherent group makes them unique, and a particular threat, especially to the newly formed Jaffa government.

LANDRY
Can we contact them?

VALA
They won't deal with someone they don't know.

LANDRY
I assume they know you.

VALA
Well… yes, but our last encounter didn't exactly go as planned.

MITCHELL
Oh, lemme guess. You screwed them, and now they wanna kill you.

VALA
Actually, it was Daniel who messed up the deal.

DANIEL
You tried to sell them a stolen ship.

VALA
You're the one that told them they couldn't have it. The point is, if they see either of us again, they will kill us.

MITCHELL
Can we take this ship by force?

VALA
You'd have to go up against a sizable armada.

DANIEL
If the alternative is staying linked to you, I'm willing to take that risk.

LANDRY
I'm sorry Dr. Jackson but I can't allow it. Dr. Lee's continuing his research; hopefully he'll be able to come up with something on his own. In the meantime, you're just going to have to learn to live with each other. And by the way, in three days, you're coming to Washington.

DANIEL
We are?

VALA
I am?

LANDRY
I need you to testify in front of the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Let him see exactly what we're up against. Your experience with the Ori could go a long way towards convincing him of the dangers headed our way.

DANIEL

(dubious)

Right.

VALA
We will do our best, sir.

[Daniel closes his eyes for a moment, while Mitchell puts his hand over his face.]

INT—DANIEL'S OFFICE

[Daniel makes notes about a stone written tablet, which is broken into several pieces. Vala lies on her stomach on the table, leafing through a magazine and kicking her feet back and forth. Daniel sets his glasses down on an open spot on the table.]

VALA
Daniel, do you happen to have one of these… credit cards?

DANIEL
Yes I do, and no you can't.

[Daniel doesn't look up from his work. Vala grunts in disappointment then glances toward the door.]

VALA
By the way, is the security escort still necessary?

DANIEL
Do you really have to ask?

VALA

(standing up and walking around the table)

I notice you've assigned a woman. Were you afraid that I might corrupt one of your impressionable young men?

[As she passes Daniel, she hits him on the rear with the rolled up magazine. He flinches but doesn't otherwise respond to her physical contact.]

DANIEL
No, I just thought I'd save someone the trouble of having to rebuff your advances.

VALA
How do you know you succeeded?

[She winks at a middle-aged female SF, who blinks.]

VALA

(frustrated)

I'm so bored! What do you do around here for fun?

DANIEL
I'm doing it. I'm translating these artifacts from P4S-559.

VALA
Oh. Are they valuable?

DANIEL
Well their historical value is immense, but there's no gold or jewels involved, if that's what you mean.

VALA
Oh.

[She moves one of the pieces of the stone.]

DANIEL
Don't… touch that!

VALA

(moving to stand on the other side of him)

Do you know what? You need to occasionally get up from under the dust of dead civilizations and live a little. Why don't you take me out to dinner?

DANIEL

(moving to his shelves to get a piece of parchment)

Look, the only way you're getting off this base is on our little side-trip to Washington. If we could find a way around that, we would.

VALA
Why don't we go off world? I've got a great little deal cooked up with some traders on Katana.

DANIEL

(returning to the table while looking at the parchment)

No.

VALA

We could be partners. We can split everything down the middle, sixty-forty.
(noting he is ignoring her)

Hardly seems fair that your life gets to continue and my affairs are put on hold.

DANIEL
Excuse me? I-I-I should be on my way to the Pegasus Galaxy right now.

VALA
Oh don't you blame that on me. It's your own curiosity in the ancient treasure that cost you a trip to Atlantis.

DANIEL
You cuffed us together!

VALA
You weren't paying attention at the time.

[Daniel finally breaks, stopping his work and putting his hand to his face.]

VALA
Look, we can point fingers all we want, but the fact is, we're stuck together. So like it or not, we're just going to have to learn to get along.

[She hops up to sit on the table and lands on his glasses, breaking them. She leans to the side and pulls them out from beneath her bottom.]

VALA

(smiling uncomfortably)

Found your glasses.

DANIEL

(taking and staring at the broken glasses, with their twisted frames)

I'm gonna go see what Dr. Lee's doing.

[After he leaves, Vala rebelliously pushes at the stone artifact again.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX, NIGHT

INT—SGC CORRIDOR OUTSIDE OF DANIEL'S VIP QUARTERS

[Daniel walks slowly toward his room, his hands in his pockets. He looks to his left to see a guard standing outside of Vala's VIP room, who looks down as he walks by. He continues to his room and uses his keycard to enter.]

INT—DANIEL'S VIP SUITE

[Daniel enters and turns on the light. He looks up to see Vala in his bed, the covers pulled up to her chin.]

VALA
Hello.

DANIEL
What the hell are you doing here?

VALA
Isn't this my room?

DANIEL

(gesturing behind him)

No, your room is across the hall with the guard in front of it.

[Daniel glances back at the closed door, confused.]

VALA
Ah yes, they do all rather look alike, don't they? Anyhow, since I'm here, shall we make the best of it?

[She throws back the covers to reveal she is dressed in a red sleeping-style tank top and matching underwear. She puts her hands behind her head in a pose of invitation.]

DANIEL

(in shock, emphatic)

No, we shalln't.

VALA

(getting up onto her hands and knees, facing him)

Come on, Daniel. We're both stuck here on this base, and there's nothing else to do.

DANIEL
Yes, there is! There's—there's—there's sleeping, there's working, there's—there's finding a way out of this mess!

VALA
What if we can't? We might have to spend the rest of our lives together.

DANIEL

(horrified)

No! Don't even go there.

VALA
There's literally a bond between us. Some people might even find that romantic.

DANIEL
I'm not one of those people.

[She moves to sit on the edge of the bed, her feet resting on the bed frame, showing off her long legs.]

VALA
Am I really so repulsive?

DANIEL

(quickly, then considering)
No! Uh…no!
(moving to sit on the footboard of the bed, facing mostly away from her)

No you're not… repulsive, you're just… uh… It's just that I know what you're doing with the whole sexual thing. It's a defense mechanism.

VALA
Really?

DANIEL

(matter of factly)

Yeah. You live a solitary existence, you move from place to place, you never form any lasting relationships, you use sex as a weapon to prevent yourself from forming any real emotional bonds.

[He counts the items off on his fingers and shrugs.]

VALA

Textbook case.
(sadly)

Never realized I was so transparent.

[She gets up and starts to leave, hurt.]

DANIEL
Vala…

VALA

(putting on a white bathrobe, angry and emotional)

No really it's—it's fine Daniel, you're right. I can see why you wouldn't want to become involved with someone so pathetic. I wasn't always like this, you should know. There was someone once. In fact, I was engaged. Then I was taken as a host and, even though the Tok'ra eventually freed me, the damage was already done. And once you have been spat on, and stoned by the people of your own village… Well, you try forming lasting relationships.

[She puts on her shoes clumsily and starts to go.]

DANIEL
Vala, wait. Just wait. Please. Stop.

[She stops but keeps her back to him.]

DANIEL

All right, I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry. I just… Sometimes I just… I forget what you've been through.
(suddenly realizing)

If you've actually been through any of that. Are you messing with me?

VALA

(through the side of her mouth)

Is it working?

DANIEL

(pointing at the door)

Get out. Go. Get out. Go.

[She leaves and shuts the door behind her. Daniel looks around his room, overwhelmed.]

EXT—WASHINGTON, D.C., DAY

INT—APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CONFERENCE ROOM

[Dressed in formal attire, Teal'c, Daniel, Landry, and Vala are seated at a table across from a long committee desk. Only Senator Fisher and a woman are seated at the desk.]

TEAL'C
Despite the fact that the Jaffa are free and Anubis has been defeated, it would be a mistake to assume that the Goa'uld are no longer a threat.

FISHER
But without the Jaffa to do their bidding, they're effectively crippled.

TEAL'C
Many still have the loyalty of their human slaves.

FISHER
Slaves are a long way from an effective army, and, besides, if the Jaffa saw the light, it will only a matter of time before these slaves follow suit.

DANIEL
The Goa'uld aren't the only threat out there, sir.

FISHER
So I assume that you're referring to these people you supposedly met in a distant galaxy.

DANIEL
Supposedly?

FISHER
Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but according to the report I read, you never actually left Stargate Command. You went into a coma, had some kind of vision. For all we know the whole thing could have been an elaborate hallucination.

DANIEL
One of the Priors came through the gate.

FISHER
A single man who did nothing but spout a lot of religious nonsense and then killed himself.

LANDRY
Senator, I was there. The man burned himself to death, without the aid of any obvious devices or technology. It was no parlor trick.

DANIEL
We're also beginning to get reports that there are other Priors showing up on other planets.

FISHER
Well it's hardly surprising that new religious groups would arise in the wake of the Goa'uld's collapse.

DANIEL
The Ori are very real, Senator. As ascended beings, they have all the appearance of genuine gods.

FISHER
But again, this is according to your testimony: they cannot act in this galaxy without incurring the interference of these other ascended beings. Isn't that correct?

DANIEL
Technically, yes.

FISHER
Well, look at it from our point of view, Dr. Jackson. Finally after eight years and billions of dollars spent, the Goa'uld have been neutralized, along with the Replicators. And now suddenly, out of nowhere, along come these magical Ori requiring a redoubling of efforts and expenditures.

LANDRY
Exactly what are you suggesting, Senator?

FISHER
The Stargate Program has succeeded in acquiring alien technology. So now it's time to devote our resources to exploiting those technologies for planetary defense, namely by building more Daedalus-class ships. Now we have no intention of shutting you down completely. You will continue to operate at thirty percent of your current budget. I think you will find that that is more then enough money once you de-emphasize new exploration.

DANIEL
Uh, if you recall, Senator, it was new exploration that got us those technologies in the first place. Now there are still thousands of Stargate addresses left unexplored in this galaxy.

FISHER
This program doesn't exist to satisfy your curiosity, Doctor. The important thing is that we have learned enough to defend this planet against any potential threats.

[Vala laughs out loud while taking a sip of water from a large glass. The others look at her as she swallows loudly.]

FISHER
Do you, uh, have something to say?

[In spite of Daniel's gesture for her to stop, Vala stands up and approaches Fisher, running her fingers along the desk in front of him. She is wearing a short leather skirt, patterned fishnet stockings, and knee-high leather boots.]

VALA
Well it's just all so amusing, isn't it. I mean only an idiot would assume that this backwater of a planet was safe because you have a few ships with decent shield technology.

[She sits on the desk near him, crosses her legs, and turns her face dramatically to Fisher. He is looking at her with confusion and interest.]

VALA
You don't look like an idiot to me. So, I have to assume that the reason why you would want to build more ships is, like other men, you like big machines with big engines that fire big missiles because you have a deep-seated need to overcompensate for your own shortcomings.

FISHER
Excuse me?

[The woman next to Fisher smirks to herself.]

VALA
See, she knows what I mean.

[Vala waggles her little finger at the woman. Fisher looks over at the woman horrified.]

DANIEL
Uh, I think a short recess would be a good idea.

VALA
I'm done here anyway.

[She steps off the desk and back toward Daniel. Fisher stands.]

FISHER
This meeting is over.

[Landry looks very angry.]

INT—SGC CORRIDOR

[Mitchell greets Landry in the corridor. Landry walks past him as he speaks, then Mitchell catches up and walks beside him.]

MITCHELL
How did it go, sir?

LANDRY
Let's just put it this way, you're going after that ship.

MITCHELL
The cargo ship. What about the Lucian Alliance, sir?

LANDRY
You'll have to figure out a way to deal with them.

MITCHELL
Why, what happened?

LANDRY
She accused the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee of having a, let's just call it an insufficient manhood. She's gotta go.

[Landry continues on, followed by Vala, Daniel, and Teal'c.]

EXT—WOODS ON A PLANET, DAY

[Vala, Mitchell, Daniel and Teal'c are walking along a path under moss-covered trees. They are dressed again in their leather outfits, including Teal'c this time.]

VALA
Just a word of warning. Tenat and Jup are notoriously unscrupulous traders. They're crafty, devious, and although stupid, under no circumstances are they to be trusted.

MITCHELL
In other words they're going to try to screw us before we screw them.

VALA
It should be all right as long as you keep your guard up, and we keep focus on what needs to be done. Close the deal, take the ship, and make sure they don't kill me. Certainly not in that order.

MITCHELL
I still think we need some more boots on the ground, just to be safe.

VALA
Tenat will most certainly run a surface scan of the planet. Additional life signs or any ships in orbit will only raise suspicions and jeopardize everything.

EXT—SPACE ABOVE THE PLANET

[A cargo ship approaches the planet.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

[Tenat and Jup sit at the controls.]

TENAT
We're approaching the planet. Run a surface scan.

JUP

(doing so)

Four life signs.

TENAT
Let's go greet them.

[Jup gets up from his chair and moves to the rear of the ship.]

EXT—WOODS ON PLANET, DAY

[Daniel and Vala are walking together, followed by Mitchell and Teal'c.]

VALA
This is a good plan. Very inspired.

DANIEL
Yes, we have you to thank for that. Nothing motivates like complete and utter desperation.

VALA
You say that now, but you will miss me when I am gone.

DANIEL
No, I'm pretty sure I won't.

MITCHELL
Just like old times, huh?

TEAL'C
I am offering my assistance on this mission only to aid Daniel Jackson. My participation should not be construed as a desire to rejoin SG-1.

MITCHELL
Right.

TEAL'C
Colonel Mitchell, at times you remind me of O'Neill.

MITCHELL
Ah, well, I'll take that as a compliment.

TEAL'C
As you wish.

EXT—WOODS ON PLANET

[Nearby, Tenat runs along the path, while Jup walks from the opposite direction. In a clearing, Mitchell and Teal'c stand guard while Daniel and Vala sit on a log, their hands tied behind their backs. Mitchell sees Tenat.]

MITCHELL
Teal'c.

[Mitchell faces Tenat, his arms crossed, hands hidden in his coat. Behind him, Teal'c, facing the opposite direction, aims his weapon towards Jup, who leaves his cover and walks into the clearing. Tenat and Jup have their weapons drawn.]

MITCHELL
Hey, fellas. What's with all the hostility?

TENAT
Vala, how does it feel knowing your sorry life is about to end?

VALA
I don't know. How did it feel telling the Alliance that you half-wits lost their naquadah?

[Tenat aims his weapon at Vala.]

MITCHELL

(drawing his own zat from under his coat)

Whoa! No—no—no violence. No damaging the goods until we've finished our deal. Besides I think the Alliance wants to hold her up as an example.

TENAT
Yes, they do. Your name?

MITCHELL
Cam Mitchell. Bounty hunter.

TENAT
Never heard of you.

MITCHELL
That's because I keep a low profile. I like to let my work speak for itself.

TENAT
You've partnered with a Jaffa, I see.

MITCHELL
Look, we'd love to sit around and talk shop, but we're on the clock. Where's our reward?

TENAT
We have a caseload of weapons-grade refined naquadah sitting in our cargo ship.

MITCHELL
Good. Let's go get it.

TENAT
No. I will stay here with you while Jup takes Vala and her partner to the ship. Once they've been secured, he'll return and ring the naquadah down to you.

[Tenat gestures for Jup to go.]

MITCHELL
And what's to stop old Jup here from ringing you away and just skedaddling.

TENAT
Our honor. It would not be in our best interests to cheat you. After all, we have reputations as traders to uphold.

[Jup leads Daniel and Vala away.]

MITCHELL
Right… reputations.

EXT—LARGE CLEARING ON PLANET

[The cargo ship sits in the clearing.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

[Jup walks Daniel and Vala into the cargo area.]

DANIEL
I can't help noticing the absence of the caseload of refined naquadah you guys were promising.

JUP
Do you seriously think the Alliance would have entrusted us with another case after we lost the last one?

DANIEL
So this is a double cross. What happened to 'upholding your reputation'?

JUP
Let's just say those bounty hunters won't be in a position to do any complaining.

[Jup seals the door to the cargo area from the outside. Vala immediately starts to pull on her handcuffs.]

VALA
Uh… ow.

[Her cuffs release and she goes to open Daniel's.]

DANIEL
Ow!

VALA

Hold still.
(releasing his cuffs)

Told you.

[Daniel goes to the panel by the door and begins working on it, as if by memory.]

EXT—CLEARING IN WOODS

MITCHELL

(to Tenat)

So who do you like in the NFL this year? You kind of strike me as a Raiders fan.

[Tenat tilts his head, puzzled.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

[Vala walks over to Daniel.]

VALA
Daniel, why don't you let me do it?

DANIEL
I can do it. Just uh, do me a favor. I need some help.

VALA
Okay, what?

DANIEL
Go to the panel by the rear exit.

[She walks over there.]

VALA
Okay, now what?

DANIEL
Stay there, shut up, and let me finish.

EXT—CLEARING IN WOODS

MITCHELL
Yeah, they got a great secondary and the league's best pass rush. Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. Am I right?

[They hear something above and look up. The cargo ship comes in to hover just above the trees.]

TENAT
Our cargo ship has returned. I suggest you lower your weapons.

[Mitchell lowers his Zat and pushes Teal'c's arm down as well, to Teal'c's confusion.]

MITCHELL
I take it we're not getting our naquadah.

TENAT
No, you're not, and so concludes our deal.

[The rings activate, taking Mitchell and Teal'c and leaving an unconscious Jup. The ship speeds away. Tenat slumps his shoulders in defeat. He activates a device on his belt.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

[Mitchell walks onto the bridge from the cargo/ring area, followed by Teal'c. Vala is at the piloting station.]

MITCHELL

(taking off his overcoat)

Well! That went better than I expected.

VALA
I'm picking up ships. Lots of them.

MITCHELL
Correction. That went much worse than I suspected.

EXT—SPACE

[The cargo ship is heading right for a large number of Al'kesh. It is the Lucian Alliance fleet.]

[Some time later, the cargo ship sits face-to-face with the Alliance ships.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

VOSH

(over radio)

Stand down, and prepare to be boarded.

[Vala and Teal'c are in the command chairs, with Daniel and Mitchell behind them.]

MITCHELL
Shouldn't we be jumping to hyperspace or something?

TEAL'C
They will pursue us.

[Vala hits some controls on the center console.]

DANIEL
What are you doing?

VALA
Caius said he customized this ship. Let's see if there's anything we can use.

EXT—SPACE

[Al'kesh begin to materialize all around the cargo ship, facing off against the Alliance ships.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

DANIEL
What's happening?

VALA
Multiple energy signatures of phantom vessels. They're confusing the Alliance ships.

MITCHELL
Fine! Let's go, let's go, let's go.

EXT—SPACE

[The cargo ships heads out over the Alliance Ships, leaving the false Al'kesh behind. Two Alliance Al'kesh peel off to follow the cargo ship.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

TEAL'C
There are two vessels pursuing us.

MITCHELL
You got anything else in that bag of tricks?

VALA
I'll show you.

EXT—SPACE

[The ship turns on its axis to face the pursuers. The team members are visible in the cockpit through the ship's windows.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

[The lights and power begin to shut down.]

MITCHELL
What are you doing?

DANIEL
Vala?

VALA
Wait for it… Now!

[She activates something.]

EXT—SPACE

[A blue wave leaves the cargo ship and moves past the two Al'kesh, shutting down their power.]

INT—CARGO SHIP

MITCHELL
Wicked.

VALA

(bringing the power back on)

Pulse wave. Their power levels spiked and overloaded. It should take a couple of minutes to restore primary systems. Which should give us enough time to…

EXT—SPACE

[The cargo ship speeds past the disabled Al'kesh and enters hyperspace.]

INT—A BAR

[Caius, no longer in monk's robes, and Vala are seated, Mitchell and Teal'c standing. Daniel is standing, packing the power coil into a carrying case. They prepare to leave.]

CAIUS
Thanks for getting my ship back. And for not helping yourself to the swag in the ship's hidden compartments.

[As they are leaving, Vala turns back, but Mitchell and Daniel drag her away as she calls back.]

VALA
Wait! Did you, did you just say hidden compartments?

CAIUS

(laughing)

Bye bye.

VALA
No! Wait!

EXT—INAGO'S BOOTH IN THE MARKET

[Daniel drops the power coil onto Inago's table.]

VALA
So, really. Why would you want to trade a power coil from an obsolete cargo ship?

INAGO

(holding up the necklace)

So, really. Why would you want to trade for this worthless necklace?

VALA AND INAGO

(exchanging the items)

Never mind.

[They leave as Inago packs the coil back up.]

INT—ARLOS' LAB

[Vala hands the necklace to Arlos.]

ARLOS
Excellent. Finally, I can get Mother off my back.

[He stands and starts to walk away.]

MITCHELL
So?

ARLOS
So?

DANIEL
So, we had a deal, remember? Give you the necklace, and you sever the link.

ARLOS
Yes, yes of course. I've been doing extensive research, um…

DANIEL
And?

ARLOS
Well, there's nothing I can do. The effect can't be countered. But you know? My guess is, it'll wear off eventually on its own. So long, everybody.

[Daniel appears shell-shocked.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX, DAY

INT—LANDRY'S OFFICE

[Daniel, dressed again in BDU's, is speaking to Landry.]

LANDRY
That's it? You went through all that for nothing?

DANIEL
Pretty much.

LANDRY
I can't wait till Senator Fisher hears about this one.

DANIEL
Yeah, have you heard any news?

LANDRY
I spoke to the President. He gave me two choices. Accept the budget cuts, or convince the International Committee to change their minds and contribute to our funding.

DANIEL
Right. How do we do that?

LANDRY
Give them what they want. A new civilian position, appointed by the Committee, with full access to this base and a say in all major decisions concerning its operation.

DANIEL
Watch dog.

LANDRY
Exactly.

INT—SGC GATE ROOM

[The gate activates. At the base of the ramp are Teal'c, dressed in Jaffa robes, Daniel, Vala, and Mitchell. Daniel grasps Teal'c's arm, and they embrace.]

DANIEL
Thanks for helping out.

TEAL'C
Indeed.

MITCHELL
Good luck on Dakara.

[Teal'c nods at Mitchell, then looks at Vala, who waves at him as Daniel looks at her. Teal'c continues up the ramp.]

MITCHELL
Don't be a stranger.

[Teal'c steps through the gate, which shuts down. Daniel appears wistful.]

MITCHELL

(smiling)

He'll be back.

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Stargate Solutions by Michelle, September, 2005

Related Articles

• Previous: 9.03 "Origin Part 3" Transcript
• Next: 9.05 "The Powers That Be" Transcript
• Transcripts
• Season Nine Transcripts
• Episode Guides

Related Links

• SciFi.com 9.04 "The Ties That Bind" Episode Guide
• Stargatefan Season Nine Episode Guide
• Stargatefan Episode Transcripts

---

--Michelle 21:48, 12 Sep 2005 (PDT)