5.08 "The Tomb" Transcript
Episode Guide
Précis
On a rescue mission to recover Russian solders believed missing in action on a previously undisclosed trip, SG-1 gets trapped in a Goa'uld tomb with a number of decomposed bodies…and a deadly alien monster with an appetite for human flesh!
Guide | Transcript
TEASER
EXT—OFF-WORLD
[Panorama of ancient ruins; camera closes in on crumbling ziggurat.]
INT—ZIGGURAT ENTRANCE
[Daniel is studying the ancient writings on a large 'door' of some kind.]
O'NEILL
Hey, I thought you said this was the main entrance.
DANIEL
It is. We just need to find a way to open this.
TEAL'C
I do not recognize the symbols.
DANIEL
It's Babylonian. Cuneiform. It's incredible.
O'NEILL
What is?
DANIEL
Well, unlike Phoenician Ugarite cuneiform, these characters are pictograms rather than representations of unique sound symbols.
O'NEILL
Does it say how to open the pyramid?
DANIEL
Ziggurat.
O'NEILL
Huh?
DANIEL
You said pyramid. It's a ziggurat.
O'NEILL
Yeah. Open the door.
DANIEL
Well, it might not be so easy. I'm going to have to go back to Earth for a reference.
O'NEILL
How hard could it be?
DANIEL
Very. It's a dead language. I mean, I doubt if anyone's even stood here for 3,000 years.
CARTER
Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that.
O'NEILL
What you got there?
CARTER
An empty pack of cigarettes. They're Russian.
END TEASER
OPENING CREDITS
EXT—BASE
HAMMOND
(voice only)
Major.
CARTER
(voice only)
The Russian Stargate Program was only up for 37 days.
INT—BRIEFING ROOM
CARTER
We've seen their logs and the list of planets they visited, and P2X 338 was not one of them.
TEAL'C
Perhaps they deceived us.
HAMMOND
At the moment all they're admitting to is that there may have been some unauthorized use of their Gate.
O'NEILL
What's that supposed to mean?
HAMMOND
This is Major Valentine Kirensky. He was serving under Colonel Sakolov at the base in Siberia. It now appears that he was also taking secret orders from certain hard-line elements in Russian Army Intelligence. He disappeared six days before we were called in to deactivate the Russian Gate.
CARTER
And they think he went off-world?
HAMMOND
Along with two other officers and an archaeologist named Alexander Britski.
DANIEL
I know his work. He's an expert on ancient Mesopotamia.
O'NEILL
Why would they go behind Sakolov's back?
TEAL'C
Perhaps for the same reason the NID conducted off-world operations without the knowledge of Stargate Command.
DANIEL
To steal alien technology at any cost.
CARTER
But why 338 as opposed to any other planet?
HAMMOND
That has yet to be determined.
DANIEL
If they went through the Gate before everyone at the Russian base was killed, they could still be out there.
CARTER
It's doubtful they would've survived this long. The planet's surface temperature averages 135 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade.
O'NEILL
Shade? I don't remember shade.
DANIEL
They could've taken shelter in the temple.
O'NEILL
Oh, so they figured out how to open the door?
DANIEL
I'll figure out the door.
TEAL'C
Should they not have attempted to return by now?
CARTER
Not without exposing their operation. I mean, they could still be waiting for some kind of signal.
O'NEILL
She's got a point, sir. Russian commandos can be pretty hard-core. They'd wait forever before they'd violate mission protocol.
HAMMOND
I'm aware of that, Colonel. That's why we're going to allow a second Russian team to accompany you back to the planet.
O'NEILL
Excuse me?
HAMMOND
It's going to be a joint mission--full disclosure, full cooperation.
O'NEILL
May I ask why, sir?
HAMMOND
In fact, the Russians have been pushing for more direct involvement in the Stargate Program for quite some time. We've been resisting, but in this particular case, it might be useful to have them onboard.
O'NEILL
Yes, well, General, you know, I'm a big fan of the Russians, and international relations are a bit of a hobby of mine. However, I do believe that SG-1 should handle this one… alone.
HAMMOND
The decision's been made, Colonel. They're on their way.
O'NEILL
Yes, sir.
INT—
DANIEL
'S OFFICE
[Carter and O'Neill are just entering from the hallway. Daniel is at his computer.]
CARTER
Because we have an agreement, sir.
O'NEILL
Yeah. Did you see them holding up their end of it?
CARTER
Well, have we?
O'NEILL
No.
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