1.21 "Politics" Transcript
Episode Guide
Précis
Only Daniel Jackson knows of the Goa'uld plans to invade Earth. Despite the injury he sustained in escaping the other reality, no one takes his warnings seriously, not even Jack and his friends on SG-1. The adversarial Senator Kinsey has chosen to terminate the costly Stargate Program and close the gate forever just as Earth faces its worst threat.
Guide | Transcript
Transcript
TEASER
EXT—ENTRANCE TO CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAYTIME
INT—INFIRMARY
[Daniel is sitting on bed getting the burn on his arm tended by a nurse.]
DANIEL
"Beware The Destroyers". That's what the message said. These are the coordinates the Goa'uld will launch their attack from. It was a warning.
TEAL'C
Or so your vision foretells.
DANIEL
No! It wasn't a vision or a dream or a hallucination. It was
(nurse rips bandage)
real. Now, I know this is hard for you guys to believe. But I swear to you, the entire time you thought I had disappeared on P3R 233, I was experiencing an alternate reality.
O'NEILL
And you were there,
(nods to Teal'c)
and you were there,
(nods to Carter)
and there's no place like home.
DANIEL
As a matter of fact you were there.
CARTER
Daniel. It's not that we don't believe you…
DANIEL
So you do?
O'NEILL
No. It's just that we don't believe you.
DANIEL
Jack, this is very important.
CARTER
All right. Daniel, when you were in this alternate reality, were there differences?
DANIEL
Yes. Uh, Teal'c was leading the attack on Earth. I wasn't even part of the program. You and Jack were engaged to be married…
O'NEILL
Excuse me?
CARTER
What? Okay, uh, even if you did actually experience the alternate reality, doesn't the very fact that there were differences mean that we won't face the same fate?
DANIEL
Yes. But the defining event, the death of Ra, took place in both worlds.
TEAL'C
An attack of retribution.
DANIEL
Yes! And the same thing is going to happen here unless we stop it.
O'NEILL
All right. Wait a minute. Let…Let me get something straight here. Engaged?
CARTER
It is theoretically possible.
O'NEILL
It's against regulations!
CATER
I'm talking physics, sir. Though the whole concept of alternate realities, entire alternate universes, was predicted by Einstein a long time ago…
[Hammond enters the infirmary with Samuels behind him.]
HAMMOND
I thought you might all be here. How's our boy?
CARTER
He's going to be just fine General.
(She greets the officer with Hammond)
Major Samuels.
SAMUELS
That's, er, Lieutenant Colonel Samuels now, Captain.
CARTER
I beg your pardon, sir. Congratulations.
SAMUELS
Thank you.
O'NEILL
You'll always be "Sparky" to me.
CARTER
I thought you'd been transferred to the Pentagon, sir.
SAMUELS
I was. Stargate Mission Analysis. I'm here today of course for the hearing.
O'NEILL
Hearing?
SAMUELS
Senator Kinsey? The Stargate Project? Uh, I thought you were going to testify.
HAMMOND
They will. SG-1 just retuned from a mission last night. I haven't had a chance to inform them.
SAMUELS
Well, perhaps I shouldn't say too much more.
O'NEILL
Oh, cut the crap Samuels. What's going on?
SAMUELS
Senator Kinsey has taken a great deal of interest in the program. And thus far he hasn't liked what he's seen.
O'NEILL
I'm sorry to hear that.
SAMUELS
As you should be Colonel. It could mean the end of the Stargate. The hearing is at 1400 hours. I look forward to seeing you all there.
[Samuels exits.]
OPENING CREDITS
EXT—ENTRANCE TO CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAYTIME
INT—GENERAL HAMMOND'S OFFICE
[Hammond is on the red phone.]
HAMMOND
Yes, sir, I understand. We'll fight the good fight.
[Hammond hangs up phone.]
O'NEILL
General, politics isn't my strong suit, but doesn't President outrank Senator?
HAMMOND
Senator Kinsey is Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He's demanded to know what is behind the line item the Pentagon refers to as Area 52.
O'NEILL
That would be the Stargate.
HAMMOND
An unofficial project. That just happens to cost 7.4 billion dollars a year to operate. The President and the Joint Chiefs thought if they granted the Senator the appropriate clearances, let him in on the existence of the SGC, he'd recognise it's importance to national security and authorise the expenditure.
O'NEILL
I take it he didn't.
HAMMOND
The idea backfired. After reading your mission reports, and being fully briefed by Colonel Samuels, the Senator decided the SGC would receive no further funding from the Treasury.
O'NEILL
That effectively shuts us down, sir.
HAMMOND
Very effectively. It costs nearly a billion dollars just to turn the lights on around here.
O'NEILL
How 'bout a bake sale? Yard sale? Garage?
HAMMOND
This is what I look like when I'm not laughing, Colonel.
O'NEILL
Car wash? I'm sorry, sir. It's just I—I don't get it. How does one man get that much power?
HAMMOND
The Constitution of these United States. The issue of our worth could be debated openly in the Senate, but not without making the Stargate known to the general public. The President doesn't believe the time for that has come. I agree with him.
EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX
INT—BRIEFING ROOM
O'NEILL
Well, he's late.
TEAL'C
You seem more apprehensive of this hearing than you are of battle.
O'NEILL
I prefer battle, actually.
DANIEL
I'm sure once we tell him that the Earth's future is at stake…
O'NEILL
Daniel. Let's just keep the alternative reality story as our little ace in the hole, shall we?
DANIEL
Why?
[Lt Colonel Samuels, military aides and Senator Kinsey walk down the spiral staircase into the briefing room.]
O'NEILL
Just because.
KINSEY
Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologise. A certain congressman, who will go nameless, just does not know how to take "no" for an answer. Ah, this is the infamous SG-1.
O'NEILL
Infamous? Yes, sir. Colonel Jack O'Neill.
KINSEY
Colonel. I've heard a lot about you.
O'NEILL
Don't believe a word of it Senator. I'm actually a nice guy.
KINSEY
And this must be the drain through which the money flows.
HAMMOND
I know you have a very busy schedule, Senator.
KINSEY
Yes. Of course, General Hammond. Please be seated. Let me see. Colonel O'Neill. Captain Carter. Dr. Jackson. Teal'c. With an apostrophe, I understand. Let me first say that although illness robbed me of the chance to ever serve in this country's military, I have the greatest respect for those who do. Especially those who have made service of country their life's work. As I have in my own way. There is no more honourable vocation.
HAMMOND
Thank you, Senator. I couldn't agree more.
KINSEY
Having said that, I want to make one thing abundantly clear. I am by nature suspicious of all things secretive. Be they in the government or inside the military service. I believe that which grows in shadow, but withers in the light of day…does not belong on the vine. I've read several reports of your excursions. Colonel Samuels has been kind enough to brief me on the Stargate and I have tried to maintain an open mind. I must admit I find the very idea of this facility, of this command, offensive. It is far too dangerous to be this secretive. I have found several examples where you have averted tragedy on a global scale by the skin of your teeth, and virtually none where you have brought back anything of worth. However since I have, on occasion, been wrong before. The President of the United States has asked me to hear you out. So here I am.
O'NEILL
Well. So long as you've got an open mind.
HAMMOND
Colonel!
O'NEILL
For crying out loud! Samuels, what did you tell this man?
SAMUELS
The truth.
KINSEY
Colonel Samuels was entirely nonpartisan.
O'NEILL
Okay, now that's impossible. He's been against this program from day one.
SAMUELS
If anything, I voiced my awe and amazement at what the Stargate is: a technological marvel.
CARTER
It is so much more than that, Senator. The Stargate represents a giant step in our understanding of the universe. We have learned more about astrophysics in these few months than in the last 50 years.
DANIEL
It also gives us insights into human cultures that are thousands of years old.
KINSEY
Dr Jackson, I'm sure as a scholar of ancient mythology you're familiar with the story of Pandora.
DANIEL
From Greek mythology, of course. The first woman ever created by Zeus, who according to legend, gave her a box and warned her never to open it.
KINSEY
But she did. Out of curiosity. Despite the warning of her god, who was also her father, she did. And from it sprung all the plagues, pestilence and evil that exists now in this world.
DANIEL
And keeping in mind we are talking about a myth, she closed it in time to keep hope inside.
KINSEY
Then should we not close your Gate for the same reason, to keep hope inside?
O'NEILL
Senator if…if I may jump in here. I'm not as slick as you guys talking in metaphors here. I'm a military man. I prefer facts. And the fact is the Gate, i.e., the box, is already open. Now what is done is done. We made ourselves an enemy by killing Ra. But the threat the Goa'ulds now represent…
KINSEY
Threat?
O'NEILL
Yes, sir. As in threatening.
KINSEY
The word threat, Colonel O'Neill, has been used far too often by this country's military as a justification for expenditure that we can no longer afford. Do you know how much this program costs?
O'NEILL
Seven-ish.
KINSEY
7 billion, 407 million dollars.
O'NEILL
Give or take.
KINSEY
Per year.
O'NEILL
With all due respect Senator, the Accounting Department is up on level 3, I believe. But if you want to talk about being the first line of defence against, what I believe is the greatest enemy humanity has ever faced…
KINSEY
Hyperbole.
O'NEILL
See for yourself. General, I suggest we dial up 'ol P4A 771, I believe it was. See how long the good Senator lasts in that world.
KINSEY
I have spent a career listening to doomsayers in uniform. Let us build our billion dollar machine and we will save America from the barbarians at the Gate. Let me remind you that the Cold War is over.
O'NEILL
And let me tell you something. This time there really are barbarians. They're called Goa'ulds, and they really are at the Gate. That one!
KINSEY
Then I suggest we close it.
DANIEL
Senator, we have reason to believe that the Goa'uld are about to launch an attack, in force, in ships.
KINSEY
Then I think they'll regret taking on the United States military.
O'NEILL
Oh for Gods sake!
DANIEL
Oh, you're right. We'll—We'll just upload a computer virus into the mothership.
CARTER
If they come in ships, Senator, we won't be any match for them. At their level of technology they can wipe us out from orbit.
KINSEY
I'm not convinced of that.
TEAL'C
They speak the truth.
KINSEY
I'm not entirely convinced of that either.
O'NEILL
(stands up)
General, what the hell are we doing here? This man has made up his mind already.
KINSEY
(also stands up)
Sit down Colonel. When I've made up my mind, you will know it. I will ask you once more. Sit Down. Please.
HAMMOND
Colonel.
[O'Neill sits, and Kinsey also sits.]
KINSEY
I gave the President my word that I would give you a fair hearing, and I intend to do that. He held you and your team up as a shining example of the fine work the SGC is doing. Now, do you stand by SG 1's record?
O'NEILL
Yes, I do.
KINSEY
Then let's just go through it, shall we?
EXT—A TRUCK ENTERING CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX AT NIGHT
INT—BRIEFING ROOM
[Confidential folders are handed out among Kinsey's team.]
KINSEY
Thank you.
(opens and reads from the first file)
On February 10th of this year, you along with a team lead by Major Charles Kawalsky went through the Stargate on a reconnaissance mission.
O'NEILL
Excuse me, Senator. Samuels, could I get a copy of that?
KINSEY
You wrote this report, Colonel.
O'NEILL
Just want a little reference.
KINSEY
Samuels.
(Samuels looks at aide next to him, who passes her report to O'Neill)
To repeat. On the 10th of February of this year, you along with a team lead by Major Charles Kawalsky, went through the Stargate on a reconnaissance mission to rescue both Dr Jackson's wife and her brother, and to determine the Goa'uld threat.
O'NEILL
Excuse me, Senator. I'm sorry. There should be an apostrophe after the "A", before the "U". It's pronounced…
(refers to Carter)
CARTER
Goa'uld.
KINSEY
I assume, since shortly after arriving you were captured and imprisoned, that you would characterise this world as an enemy stronghold.
O'NEILL
I would.
[Kinsey nods to Samuels.]
SAMUELS
I read from the personal report of Colonel Jack O'Neill dated the 23rd February. "Skaara was chosen. I tried to stop them from taking him away, but was struck down by an alien staff weapon. In that moment, Apophis gave the order."
FLASHBACK—1.01 "CHILDREN OF THE GODS"
INT—DUNGEON OF APOPHIS' CASTLE ON CHULAK
APOPHIS
Kill the rest!
[Crowd screams and surges away from the serpent guards who walk down the stairs towards them. O'Neill, Daniel and Carter get off the ground. Amaunet and Apophis turn away and enter the sedan chair. Guards continue to advance down stairs, towards the panicking crowd. The sedan chair leaves, followed by some guards. The iron gate closes behind them, locking the prisoners in with the serpent guards. Teal'c, in serpent guard uniform, advances through the crowd. Serpent guards prime their weapons.]
O'NEILL
I can save these people!
[Teal'c whirls to face him, primes his staff weapon.]
O'NEILL
Help me! Help me.
TEAL'C
Many have said that.
(whirls and shoots the first serpent guard)
But you are the first I believe could do it.
[Teal'c throws his staff weapon to O'Neill. Carter pulls Daniel out of the line of fire. Teal'c grabs the fallen guards staff weapon. A firefight ensues, as the crowd cower against the back wall. Some prisoners are shot. O'Neill and Teal'c kill all the serpent guards and then race up the stairs to scare the other people outside the gate away. O'Neill turns at the top of the stairs.]
O'NEILL
Get out of the way!
People move away from the back wall. O'Neill blows a hole in the wall, and then runs over to the it, joined by Carter. Daniel gets to feet. O'Neill checks outside the prison wall, to ensure it is safe.
O'NEILL
Come on! Let's move!
CARTER
Come on.
Carter runs out the hole in the wall. People start running out after her.
O'NEILL
Come on!
EXT—CARTER HELPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOLE
CARTER
Come on! Move! Go! Come on! Go! There you go! Come on! Go! Go! Come on!
INT—DUNGEON OF APOPHIS' CASTLE ON CHULAK
Teal'c walks down the stairs of the prison, unbuckling his breast plate, surveying the damage. He drops the breastplate. Dead Jaffa are on the floor.
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
KINSEY
So, even with your team unarmed, at the Enemy's mercy, in the palm of their hand as it were, one of their own was able to set you free.
CARTER
It wasn't that simple, Senator.
KINSEY
(to Samuels)
Read on please.
SAMUELS
"We met heavy resistance on our return to the Stargate, and became pinned down by enemy aircraft."
FLASHBACK—1.01 "CHILDREN OF THE GODS"
EXT—CHULAK
[The prisoners led by O'Neill, Daniel, Carter and Teal'c run through the forest. A death glider sweeps down towards them. The glider primes its guns.]
O'NEILL
Take cover!
[Daniel helps people out of the way. People are running everywhere for cover. Explosions hit the ground as the first shots from death glider hit nearby. Fighter comes in to attack. More explosions. O'Neill and Teal'c fire staff weapons at the death glider. They hit the glider to no effect. The fighter continues to strafe the ground around them, one sweep past after another. O'Neill and Teal'c continue to fire at it. People are hit by the shots.]
CARTER
Colonel! We're sitting ducks here.
[O'Neill and Teal'c continue to fire at the death glider. A member of one of SG-2 fires a ground to air missile at the glider and hits it directly. It hits the ground and explodes.]
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
[Kinsey gets up and starts to walk around the table.]
KINSEY
It seems to me that Major Kawalsky made light work of what you refer to in your report as a death glider.
O'NEILL
They were taken by surprise. I wouldn't expect it to be as easy next time.
KINSEY
Or not.
DANIEL
Well for one, they weren't use to fighting humans with our level of technology. Now they know what we have.
CARTER
I don't think you understand how much more powerful their weapons are.
KINSEY
Yet you managed to get away with minimal casualties. Hardly the greatest threat humanity has ever faced.
[Kinsey walks by the briefing room window. The Gate activates.]
KINSEY
What's happening?
HAMMOND
It's just SG-2 returning on schedule, Senator.
[View over Kinsey shoulder as SG-2 emerge from the event horizon.]
HAMMOND
There is nothing to worry about.
[The Gate shuts down.]
KINSEY
Oh, I disagree General. I think it is something to worry about.
EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX—NIGHTTIME
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
O'NEILL
Mister Kinsey seems to be under the impression that the Goa'uld are not a military threat.
KINSEY
You seem to have defeated them handily at every turn.
O'NEILL
Did you read all the reports, sir? They actually killed us once.
FLASHBACK—1.08 "THE NOX"
EXT—FOREST ON NOX PLANET (PC3-117)
[Apophis and serpent guards walking through forest. Apophis stops, sensing something is wrong.]
APOPHIS
Shakel!
[Serpent guard walks in front and examines a foot print in the dirt. They walk into ravine. Teal'c runs out from cover and fires staff weapon at the serpent guards. Guards take cover and return fire. Carter pops up from undergrowth and fires her MP5 at the serpent guards. They respond to her fire as well as Teal'c's. Daniel also appears behind a boulder and fires his beretta at the guards. Apophis looks around him. O'Neill comes up behind him and takes aim with a rifle. Apophis turns and sees him. Activates a personal defence shield as O'Neill fires. Apophis calls to Jaffa for a staff weapon, which is thrown towards him. Apophis lets the personal defence shield down for a second to catch the staff weapon as O'Neill fires at him again. Apophis then turns and fires it at jack. The blast catches jack on the back and he falls to the ground. Carter and Daniel see O'Neill has been hit.]
CARTER
Colonel!
[Carter leaps out from behind her cover, and is shot in the stomach by apophis. Daniel also leaps from behind cover and is shot by apophis. He tumbles to the ground. Teal'c is still shooting at the serpent guards. He breaks from cover, firing at apophis who still has his personal defence shield in place.]
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
CARTER
Senator, if Goa'uld technology can generate energy shields around individuals, they can do the same thing with whole armies.
DANIEL
And ships.
KINSEY
And have you ever seen one of these ships?
O'NEILL
Yes, sir.
FLASHBACK—1.15 "Singularity"
EXT—MOTHERSHIP DESCENDING OVER PYRAMID
[Lightning flashes.]
INT—TEMPORARY ASTRONOMY LABORATORY ON HANKA
[Shot of computer screen. A Goa'uld ship is seen on the screen. O'Neill and Teal'c are in the temporary astronomy laboratory on Hanka.]
TEAL'C
It is the ship of the Goa'uld Nirti. An enemy of Apophis.
[From the shot of the computer screen, death gliders are seen launching into orbit around Hanka.]
O'NEILL
Now what he hell is that?
TEAL'C
We must go!
EXT—HANKA
[Two death gliders are firing at O'Neill (in yellow hazmat suit) and Teal'c as they run away from the ships. Shots almost hit them. They dive into undergrowth.]
TEAL'C
We must get to the Stargate.
O'NEILL
No argument from me.
TEAL'C
This Goa'uld Nirti, he once sent an emissary of peace to negotiate a treaty concerning a Stargate Apophis had control of. The negotiation was a ploy. The Stargate was destroyed.
[More explosions. O'Neill and Teal'c run for the stargate along a path through a field of crops as death gliders fly overhead. O'Neill is almost hit by one shot. He falls and then gets back to his feet as Teal'c dials the DHD.]
O'NEILL
Take your time. No hurry.
INT—GATE ROOM AS GATE ENGAGES
EXT—HANKA
[O'Neill and Teal'c run towards the gate and jump through the event horizon.]
WORMHOLE TRAVEL
INT—GATE ROOM
[O'Neill and Teal'c run out of the event horizon. Daniel in control room looks on as O'Neill runs down the ramp, ripping his helmet off.]
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
KINSEY
You escaped, Colonel. On foot, I might add.
DANIEL
Just one of these Goa'uld ships was responsible for the deaths of SG-7, and the entire local population. And that's over 1,000 people.
CARTER
The point is, sir, we have seen how the Goa'uld have destroyed entire civilisations.
FLASHBACK—1.07 "COLD LAZARUS"
INT—CARTER'S LAB
[Teal'c, Hammond, O'Neill, Carter and Daniel in Carter's lab. Carter talks to the blue crystal.]
CARTER
Hello?
[Crystal changes shape, refects Carter's face back. Everyone backs away.]
CRYSTAL
Hello.
CARTER
What are you?
CRYSTAL
Energy. Unity. You would describe me thus.
CARTER
You asked for help.
CRYSTAL
If I remain here my energy will disintegrate. I must return.
DANIEL
Why did you not speak before?
CRYSTAL
Fear.
O'NEILL
Fear of what?
CRYSTAL
The Goa'uld came to our planet long ago. We were not afraid then, and we tried to greet them. One of them touched us as you did
(flash to O'Neill on planet walking through crystal forest)
and was destroyed by our energy.
EXT—CRYSTAL PLANET (P3X-562)
[O'Neill walks through the crystals, towards one. View from crystal's POV of O'Neill walking towards it and going to touch it. O'Neill touches crystal and is thrown back ten feet or so, unconscious.]
INT—CARTER'S LAB
DANIEL
The Goa'uld must have come through the Gate exploring.
CARTER
That's why it was afraid. We look just like them.
DANIEL
One of the Goa'uld was killed?
CRYSTAL
They gathered all the Unity in one place, and ended it.
CARTER
We confirmed Goa'uld energy weapons did it.
DANIEL
Then that pit wasn't a ceremonial place at all. It was some kind of…mass grave.
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
O'NEILL
I'd call that a threat.
KINSEY
Admittedly, these Goa'uld are a dangerous race.
TEAL'C
More dangerous than you could possibly know.
KINSEY
Ah well, if they're so strong, why did you switch sides in the first place?
[Kinsey walks to window overlooking the Stargate.]
TEAL'C
Because what is right can not be measured by strength. Your world values freedom. I wish that very same freedom for my people.
KINSEY
Well, I don't want to appear callous, sir, but I believe that's your problem.
O'NEILL
Of course!
TEAL'C
(gets up and walks towards Kinsey)
It will soon be yours as well Senator Kinsey. For the Goa'uld are as powerful as they are evil. The Goa'uld have enslaved a galaxy of worlds.
KINSEY
I don't care about other worlds. I must place the citizens of this country first.
(points to USA flag pin on his lapel)
TEAL'C
Then you would be wise to heed our warnings, Senator Kinsey. For when the Goa'uld finally do come in force, and they will, your citizens as the strongest, most powerful country of this world, will be among the first to die.
[Standoff between the two, Kinsey breaks away first. Teal'c looks down over gate, remains standing. Kinsey sits back at the briefing table. Looks at Samuels and gestures for him to continue. Samuels opens next folder.]
SAMUELS
On your return from the Chulak mission, Major Kawalsky became infested with a Goa'uld parasite, correct?
O'NEILL
That's correct.
KINSEY
He very nearly destroyed this facility
FLASHBACK—1.03 "THE ENEMY WITHIN"
INT—CONTROL ROOM
[Kawalsky is in the control room, possessed by Goa'uld, dialling up the gate. Sgt Davis is near him, cradling his arm in pain. Kawalsky leaves the control room and goes into the Gate room as the blast shutter goes down on the window between the two rooms. Kawalsky walks into Gate room and is confronted by Teal'c on the ramp, blocking his way.]
Kawalsky
(in Goa'uld voice)
Jaffa kal sha.
TEAL'C
You cannot pass.
INT—CONTROL ROOM
[O'Neill and Hammond run down the steps into the control room.]
O'NEILL
What?
SGT DAVIS
He set the coordinates for Chulak.
INT—GATE ROOM
[Kawalsky roars and rushes up the ramp at Teal'c. They struggle.]
INT—CONTROL ROOM
[Computer screen of autodestruct sequence. 56 seconds to detonation.]
HAMMOND
He set the autodestruct sequence on the fail-safe device.
O'NEILL
How did he have the code?
HAMMOND
I don't know. But I need two ranking officers to override and you're it.
[Hammond and O'Neill enter appropriate codes.]
INT—GATE ROOM
[Teal'c and kawalsky struggle on the ramp. Kawalsky tries to break through the event horizon. Teal'c pulls him back.]
INT—CONTROL ROOM
[Computer screen: autodestruct sequence stops.]
O'NEILL
Right. That did it. Open the blast doors.
[Cut to Teal'c and kawalsky struggling at the event horizon. Cut to view into the control room from Gate room as blast doors open. O'Neill and Hammond look up to see the struggle on the gate ramp. Teal'c and kawalsky still struggling. O'Neill grabs microphone.]
O'NEILL
Teal'c! Hold him there!
[Teal'c forces kawalsky's head into the event horizon.]
O'NEILL
Shut it down…
(indicated to Sgt Davis)
Now!
[Event horizon shuts off and kawalsky's face goes blank.]
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
O'NEILL
We stopped him.
KINSEY
Yes you did. On that occasion. With the loss of a fine officer you did. But consider the myriad plagues you can bring back through the Stargate. Reason enough to shut it down forever.
(gestures to Samuels)
Colonel Samuels.
SAMUELS
I quote now from the official report of General Hammond. Dated March of this year. Concerning a dangerous disease brought back by SG-1 from another world.
FLASHBACK—1.05 "THE BROCA DIVIDE"
INT—GENERAL HAMMOND'S OFFICE
[Hammond is on the phone.]
HAMMOND
Sir, I'm afraid I have a serious situation here. It appears we've brought a very contagious disease through the Stargate.
(listens)
Yes, sir, that's right.
(listens)
Well sir, I've ordered the mountain sealed off. I think you should order in an armed division to set up a second line of defence.
(listens)
Well, sir, my recommendation is that anyone attempting to leave the mountain should be shot on sight. And their body burned.
INT—CELL AT SGC
[O'Neill is infected by the Touched virus. Sf guard looks through the door window and then opens the door. General Hammond is led into the cell. He's in a straightjacket and is affected by the virus.]
FRAISER
Sorry, Colonel O'Neill, but your private room just became semiprivate. I'm running out of places to put all the victims. We've used the brigs, we've used the temp quarters…some of the storage rooms.
O'NEILL
(mumbles)
Doctor.
FRAISER
Did you say something?
O'NEILL
Give more.
FRAISER
What? Give more what?
O'NEILL
More.
FRAISER
An injection? You…You mean you want more sedative? You've already had more than the maximum safe dosage, twice as much as anyone else because you've been more violent.
O'NEILL
Give.
FRAISER
No,it's not safe.
O'NEILL
Give! Give.
FRAISER
Why are you so insistent?
[She gestures for syringe and gives O'Neill another shot of sedative. O'Neill loses consciousness.]
FRAISER
Must have been in a lot of pain.
(goes to walk away)
O'NEILL
Doc!
FRAISER
Colonel O'Neill?
O'NEILL
Its…me…
FRAISER
So you are still in there somewhere?
O'NEILL
Dream? Dream?
FRAISER
I'm afraid not Colonel, its very real. This is interesting; enough sedative must knock back the primitive mind. Colonel. Listen to me. I am not going to be able to keep you at this level for very long. It is too dangerous it could cause permanent brain damage.
O'NEILL
Wha…what is it…
FRAISER
It s a parasitical virus, all we can tell is that it seems to mess with the body chemicals, all them. Testosterone levels skyrocket, thus the aggressive behaviour. It's a histaminolitic which means it breaks down the histamine.
O'NEILL
Exp…peri…ment.
FRAISER
What?
O'NEILL
Exp…eriment on me.
FRAISER
Experiment on you? No, sir, I can't do that.
O'NEILL
Use me.
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
O'NEILL
We saved an entire race of people. I'd call that success, sir.
KINSEY
But if you hadn't been able to find a cure so readily, if it had reached the general population, if the effects weren't reversible. Colonel O'Neill, you very nearly died on yet another occasion when infected by…
SAMUELS
Nanocytes, sir.
FLASHBACK—1.09 "BRIEF CANDLE"
INT—ARGOS GATE ROOM
[The Gate is dialing up. Daniel gathers books and runs down the stairs.]
DANIEL
Jack! Carter's coming back.
(he runs off to hallway at left of screen)
Jack!
[O'Neill walks into screen. He has aged significantly since last seen. He walks into the Gate room with Daniel following. Carter emerges from wormhole carrying a large case. She comes down the stairs and slows at bottom of them, staring at the colonel.]
O'NEILL
Welcome back, Captain. So what did you find out? Oh, come on now, don't don't keep the elderly waiting. It's rude.
CARTER
It isn't a virus.
O'NEILL
All right, what is it?
CARTER
Well, Dr. Fraiser and I came up empty. She's still working on it. But it's going to take time.
DANIEL
Time is something these people don't have, Captain.
O'NEILL
Nor do I.
CARTER
Colonel, there's something else. Your blood samples show way more organisms compared to the Argosians.
O'NEILL
How many more?
CARTER
Maybe on the level of a hundred times more. And they are multiplying.
O'NEILL
Cut to it, Captain.
CARTER
At the rate you are changing, by the end of 2 weeks you'll be the equivalent of 100 years old.
INT—SGC, MED LAB
CARTER
We've given the nanocytes some live tissue to interact with but they aren't touching it. The only thing they appear to do is make more of themselves. So how are they causing the aging on Argos?
FRAISER
Maybe there is something on Argos that they need to make them do another task. Something in the air or the food.
[Nanocytes start eating away at the gloves Carter is wearing.]
CARTER
Ugh!
[She whips hands out of gloves and closes the contamination chamber with nanocytes in it.]
TEAL'C
(from observation room)
Is there a problem, Captain Carter?
CARTER
I—I don't know.
FRAISER
Well, it's eating through the rubber.
CARTER
Oh, God.
(washing hands)
INT—OBSERVATION CHAMBER
[Daniel and Teal'c are observing.]
INT—MED LAB
FRAISER
What? What is it?
CARTER
They are trying to spread.
INT—OBSERVATION CHAMBER
[Daniel and Teal'c are observing.]
INT—ARGOS GATE ROOM
CARTER
We're working with computer simulations and practical simulations. Realistically, sir, I'm afraid it might take years.
[O'Neill sitting on steps looking at mini video player with message from Carter, Daniel and Teal'c. He has aged significantly, with long white hair.]
DANIEL
The general says that Gate travel to Argos is strictly off limits for the next few uh millennia. But we can send objects through, so if you need anything, just call…Say something.
TEAL'C
Colonel, I've learned very much from you. Thank you.
CARTER
You know, goodbyes really suck.
[O'Neill rewinds the tape.]
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM, PRESENT DAY
KINSEY
As I understand it, you almost lost containment, Captain Carter.
CARTER
Yes, they tried to mutate in the lab. But after the incident, the general ordered all samples of the nanocyte destroyed.
KINSEY
And what about next time?
CARTER
There won't be a next time. The nanocytes, the transmitter devices, everything that tampered with the population of that world has been destroyed.
DANIEL
In fact, SG-2 just made contact with Kynthia's planet just a few weeks ago. They are living long, productive lives because of us. Now I am very proud of what we did there.
O'NEILL
I might even retire there.
KINSEY
(laughs)
You have no fear of it do you, Colonel? It's like a game to you.
O'NEILL
No, sir. Anything as powerful as the Stargate deserves respect. We know how dangerous it is to do what we do. We also know how important it is.
KINSEY
Colonel O'Neill! You're like reckless children and you're playing with fire.
O'NEILL
If you shut down this program now, when it's needed most…
KINSEY
For what?
CARTER
To gather technology, weapons.
KINSEY
Not at this price, or this level of competence.
HAMMOND
My people are the best out there, Senator.
KINSEY
I'm sorry, General, but your best is not good enough. I do not approve of, nor support this endeavour and I have heard nothing here today that would change my mind. I intend to shut the Stargate down.
[Kinsey nods to Samuels, gather papers and leaves. Samuels looks smug. Daniel gets up from the table and blocks senator Kinsey's path out of the room.]
DANIEL
Senator, please. Listen to me.
SAMUELS
I think he's made up his mind, Dr. Jackson.
DANIEL
You want your one reason, I'll give it to you. What if I told you I knew that they were coming, in ships? What if I said that a ship larger than the great pyramids was gong to land right on top of this mountain in a matter of weeks, maybe days?
KINSEY
Then I would be curious to know why you've waited until this moment until before saying so.
DANIEL
Because I didn't think anyone would believe me. And if I didn't live through it myself, I'm not sure I would. But it is a fact. And if you shut this program down, you have robbed us of our one chance to stop them before they get here.
KINSEY
Uh, where did you learn this information.
DANIEL
On our last mission. We came across a civilisation with a level of technology similar to our own. They had been wiped out. They left behind a warning. "Beware the Destroyers". Now along with that warning, came a set of numbers, coordinates that indicate where the final Goa'uld attack will be launched from.
KINSEY
And did all of you witness this warning?
DANIEL
No, sir, they didn't. Just me.
CARTER
Sir. We think Daniel may have experienced an interdimensional transfer to an alternate reality.
KINSEY
I beg your pardon?
Daniel
The moment I touched an alien artefact on 233, I was separated from the rest of the team. I was actually transported to an alternate reality where Earth was already under Goa'uld attack. I got this when I was there.
KINSEY
(disbelieving laughter)
My heaven. I've heard enough of this.
DANIEL
Senator! The Goa'uld were bombarding our cities from space. We were defenceless against their weapons.
KINSEY
Dr. Jackson, I do not suffer fools gladly.
DANIEL
Nor do I, Senator, and I'm telling you, when we killed Ra two years ago, we set into motion a chain of events that will eventually lead to an all out attack on Earth by the Goa'uld.
KINSEY
If this is so, why have they waited?
TEAL'C
It would take time for Apophis to assemble the necessary forces.
DANIEL
Right. Their society is feudal. It would take time to build an Army. Look, all I know is the location that their going to launch the final attack from. If you don't believe me, just let us dial in the coordinates and let us go there and find out.
KINSEY
How many ships, Dr. Jackson? Has anyone detected their approach?
DANIEL
Uh, I cannot be sure of the exact details. I mean there were, there were differences between that reality and…and this one.
KINSEY
Oh, of course there were.
DANIEL
I am not crazy.
KINSEY
Nor am I, Dr. Jackson. Neither am I unused to eleventh hour pleas. Though never have I heard one so desperate as this.
DANIEL
Senator. They are coming.
KINSEY
Then I say, let them come.
O'NEILL
Where do you get this bureaucratic bull? You're talking suicide.
KINSEY
Colonel O'Neill. You underestimate this great nation.
TEAL'C
It is you who underestimate the Enemy. We have challenged Apophis. He will not rest until the people of this world worship him as their God.
KINSEY
There is only one God, sir. And I do not believe for one moment He will allow what you are trying to tell me to come to pass. We are after all, One Nation Under God.
O'NEILL
(stands)
And you think God is going to save us?
TEAL'C
The Goa'uld believe they are Gods. And your beliefs will not dissuade them.
KINSEY
If the Goa'uld do come, then we will be able to tell them that we have buried our Gate in the ground forever and will never step through it again. If they challenge us, we shall prevail.
DANIEL
You're a fool.
KINSEY
And if they do not come, which I think is infinitely more likely, then at least Pandora's box will have finally been closed once and for all. Now if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to.
[Kinsey leaves, followed by aides.]
SAMUELS
For what it's worth, I'm sorry it had to end like this.
HAMMOND
Get out of here.
[Samuels leaves.]
TEAL'C
General Hammond, I would like to request permission to return through the Stargate before it's permanently sealed. If this world does not intend to continue its struggle against the Goa'uld, then here I do not belong.
O'NEILL
I think I'm going with him.
HAMMOND
I can't allow that Colonel. I'm sorry, but you know that. The President has made it perfectly clear if we were unable to convince the Senator we would cease operations effective immediately.
CARTER
Sir, there are still two SG teams offworld.
HAMMOND
We'll keep the light on until they return. But that's all I'm authorised to do.
O'NEILL
So…what? That's it?
HAMMOND
That's it, Colonel.
CARTER
It can't be.
O'NEILL
With all due respect, sir, its…
DANIEL
Sir, with all due respect, the good senator is an ass.
HAMMOND
He is an elected official of the government we are sworn to serve. Whether we agree or disagree, he's made his decision. Our commander in chief has given us our orders accordingly. I expect you all to carry them out. Dismissed.
[Hammond leaves room.]
INT—GATE ROOM, LOOKING UP TO BRIEFING ROOM WINDOW
[The SG-1 team members stand together, looking down at the Stargate.]
INT—STARGATE
TO BE CONTINUED
ROLL CREDITS
Transcript by Jillie for Stargate SG-1 Solutions, 31 Dec 02
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--Kylie Lee 04:33, 6 Oct 2004 (PDT)