2.21 "1969" Transcript
Episode Guide
Précis
A solar flare sends the SG-1 team back in time to 1969 where the US military command suspects them of espionage. With the help of Lt. George Hammond, Jack O'Neill and his team escape and are aided by two flower children on their way to Woodstock. Can they ever return to the present again? The answer lies in a solar flare.
Guide | Transcript
Transcript
TEASER
INT—SGC GATE ROOM
[The camera pulls away from a shot of the inactive Stargate over to Daniel, O'Neill, and Teal'c, who have all their gear and are ready to go. O'Neill looks up at the control room, and we cut to see a view of the control room through the window, where Carter is still fiddling with calculations on the computers. Cut back to O'Neill.]
O'NEILL
(quietly, to Daniel)
What is she doing?
DANIEL
Uh, she said something about having to time the calculations exactly right this time of year.
O'NEILL
This time of year? What difference does it make?
DANIEL
Oh, she said something about solar…
(pauses, confused)
uh…well, to be honest with you, I wasn't really paying attention.
O'NEILL
Really?
[He turns and shouts up to the control room]
O'NEILL
Carter?
[She looks up and leans into the microphone.]
CARTER
(over microphone)
Almost there, sir. This time of year, the direct line between P2X-555 and the Earth takes us within 70,000 miles of the sun. I have to update the computer's drift calculation to include gravitational space/time warping.
O'NEILL
(after a beat)
We know that. Let's go!
CARTER
Yes, sir.
INT—SGC CONTROL ROOM
[Carter finishes the calculations and walks over to where two technicians are waiting. As she does so, Hammond comes down the steps and into the control room.]
CARTER
(to technician)
You can start the dialing procedure.
[He nods and moves to take his place at the controls. Carter turns to exit, and is surprised to find Hammond standing in her path.]
CARTER
Sir?
HAMMOND
(looks down)
How's the hand?
[He reaches down and takes her right hand to inspect it. Cut to a shot of Carter's hand. There is a nasty gash on the back of her hand, from the webbing between her thumb and forefinger to her wrist. It's been stitched and taped, but the skin around the cut is purplish and bruised.]
CARTER
It's a little sore, but it'll be all right. Thank you.
TECHNICIAN
Chevron one, encoded.
[Hammond holds up a small yellow piece of paper, folded in half.]
HAMMOND
I'd like you to take this note along with you. Keep it in your vest pocket until you get on the other side.
[He hands the note to her.]
HAMMOND
It's fairly self-explanatory.
TECHNICIAN
Chevron two, encoded.
CARTER
(confused)
Sir, is everything all right?
HAMMOND
Everything's fine.
TECHNICIAN
Chevron three, encoded.
HAMMOND
Time to ship out, Captain.
CARTER
(putting note in vest pocket)
Yes, sir.
[Hammond steps aside to let her pass, and she heads out of the control room, still baffled by his behavior.]
TECHNICIAN
Chevron four, encoded.
INT—SGC GATE ROOM
[Carter enters the bay doors, shouldering her gun as she comes up to the rest of SG-1.]
TECHNICIAN
(over intercom)
Chevron five, encoded.
O'NEILL
(to Carter)
Ah! Done already?
[In the control room, Hammond moves to stand beside the technician, looking down at SG-1 in the Gate room. Carter glances up to see him standing there.]
TECHNICIAN
Chevron six, encoded.
[View of the Stargate as the final chevron is encoded. Cut to a shot of the computer screen, which shows the seventh chevron coming "out" from the representation of the Gate. Cut to the Gate as the last chevron locks, and then cut back to the computer as the last chevron moves into the sequence on the right side of the screen and the words "SEQUENCE IN PROGRESS" are replaced by "SEQUENCE COMPLETE."]
TECHNICIAN
Chevron seven, locked.
[In the control room. As the wormhole activates, Hammond is still standing there, looking expectantly down at the team as though there's something he wants to tell them. Cut to the Gate room, as SG-1 stands at the base of the ramp. Carter is still looking up at the control room curiously. As O'Neill and Daniel start up the ramp, Teal'c and Carter follow them, Carter pulling her cap on as she does. They step into the wormhole.<]
INT—MISSILE LAUNCH ROOM
[As SG-1 emerge from the wormhole, cut to what looks like the same Stargate they just entered, in the Gate room. Carter and Teal'c glance back at the wormhole as O'Neill leads the confused team down the ramp, glancing back as well. The four of them step off the ramp, and O'Neill turns back again to stare at the Gate. As he does so, the wormhole shuts off—taking the Stargate with it.]
O'NEILL
(shouting)
Whoa!
[The others turn as the entire Gate and the back wall behind it ripple away and outward just as the wormhole does, leaving a darkened section where the back wall should be.]
O'NEILL
Did you see that?
[The other three walls ripple away similarly. The familiar surroundings of the Gate room melt away to reveal an underground launch pad. Unaffected by the change, SG-1 is left standing on the launch pad, confused.]
DANIEL
Uh, Jack, do you see this?
[O'Neill looks up. Cut to an overhead shot of the team, which reveals that they're standing below what look to be rocket engines and nozzles.]
O'NEILL
Captain Carter, where are we?
[In a wider-angle shot of the room, showing a huge missile which extends out of the frame in the dimly lit room. The camera pans down to show that SG-1 standing on the launch pad directly beneath the missile.]
CARTER
I don't know, sir. For a minute there, we were back in the Gate room.
[O'Neill walks to one side of the launch pad, trying to get a better look at what they're standing beneath.]
O'NEILL
You know, this looks suspiciously like the butt end of a Titan missile.
PA SYSTEM
Standing by for test burn in T-minus 20 seconds.
[At that, O'Neill straightens, alarmed. The whine of generators starting up can be heard.]
TEAL'C
What is a 'test burn'?
O'NEILL
Just what it sounds like.
[He and Carter hurry off the launch pad.]
O'NEILL
Any ideas here?
[He runs to the nearest bay door, pounding on it frantically.]
O'NEILL
(shouting)
Abort!
[He runs to the control box next to the door, still pounding.]
O'NEILL
(shouting)
Abort!
Daniel jumps off the launch pad, checking the perimeter of the room for a door that will open. Carter checks a series of electrical sockets. Teal'c remains on the launch pad, looking up at the missile. Having no luck with the electric sockets, Carter moves to fiddle with one of the meters nearby.]
PA SYSTEM
15 seconds.
[O'Neill pounds on the control box, messing with the dials in a desperate attempt to affect something.]
O'NEILL
(shouting)
Abort!
[Teal'c removes his zatnicatel from his vest.]
PA SYSTEM
Stand by for ignition.
[Carter runs over to help O'Neill.]
O'NEILL
(shouting)
Abort!
[On the other side of the room, Daniel ineffectually tries to tear a fuse box from the wall. Teal'c activates the zatnicatel.]
PA SYSTEM
10…9…8…
[Teal'c lifts the zatnicatel, aiming it at the smoking missile above him.]
PA SYSTEM
7…6…5…
[Daniel gives up and dives for cover, covering his head with his arms. Carter and O'Neill flatten themselves against the wall, their backs to the missile.]
PA SYSTEM
4…3…
[Teal'c fires the zatnicatel. Tendrils of blue-white energy stream over the missile.]
PA SYSTEM
2…1. Ignition.
[Nothing happens. Teal'c stands there, zatnicatel still raised. After a second or two, Carter and O'Neill lift their heads. Teal'c lowers the zatnicatel, shutting it off, as O'Neill and Carter turn and stare at the missile. Realizing they're all right, Daniel gets to his feet and comes over to O'Neill and Carter. All three stare at Teal'c in amazement.]
O'NEILL
How'd you know that would work?
TEAL'C
I did not.
[A buzzer goes off, and the bay doors behind O'Neill slide open. Three armed soldiers rush into the room, aiming guns at SG-1.]
SOLDIER
Hands on your heads! Get on your knees!
[Stunned, Carter, O'Neill and Daniel obey, and Teal'c kneels down on the floor beside them. The camera closes in on a very confused SG-1.]
END TEASER
OPENING CREDITS
INT—MISSILE LAUNCH ROOM
[SG-1 is still kneeling on the floor with their hands on their heads, surrounded by armed soldiers. All are pointing rifles at them, and none of them look friendly. The soldier in charge stands in front of them, training his rifle on SG-1.]
SERGEANT
Who are you and how did you get into this facility?
O'NEILL
(confused)
What facility?
SERGEANT
Answer the question.
CARTER
(to O'Neill)
Sir, don't say anything. This is the Gate room.
SERGEANT
Shut up!
CARTER
(to O'Neill)
Sir, we're still in Cheyenne Mountain.
SERGEANT
The next person who shoots his mouth off gets this.
[He gestures with his gun]
SERGEANT
Is that clear?
[Above them, an intercom switches on.]
MAN
(over intercom)
Take them to the holding room.
SERGEANT
(glancing up)
Yes, sir.
O'NEILL
No, take me to your C.O.
[At that, the soldier swings his rifle around, slamming the butt of the rifle into O'Neill's face. O'Neill goes down from the force of the blow, and Carter lowers her hands for a moment.]
INT—STORAGE ROOM
[Cut to an assorted spread of weaponry and supplies—those belonging to SG-1—laid out on a table. They've obviously been confiscated. A hand enters the frame to pick up one of the zatnicatels. The camera pans up to show us the owner of the hand, a young lieutenant, and the sergeant who struck O'Neill standing beside the table in a storage room. Next to the spread of weapons is a cardboard box containing the vests. The lieutenant studies the zatnicatel curiously.]
SERGEANT
The Major wants all this stowed for transport, sir.
LIEUTENANT
(re: the zatnicatel)
What is it?
SERGEANT
My orders are to forget I ever saw it, sir, so I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.
LIEUTENANT
Thank you, Sergeant.
[The sergeant nods and exits. The lieutenant reaches into the box and pulls out Carter's vest, starting to go through it—and stops, noticing a yellow piece of paper sticking out of one of the pockets. Curious, he pulls out the paper and sets the vest aside, studying the note. The outside of the note is addressed simply to "George." The lieutenant unfolds the note all the way. Inside is the following message:
HELP THEM.
AUGUST 10TH 9:15 AM AUGUST 11TH 6:03 PM
The lieutenant's eyes narrow as he reads the note, seeing something important in the cryptic message.]
INT—HOLDING CELL
[Daniel is leaning against one of the bunk beds, and O'Neill is sitting on the bottom bunk of the other, rubbing his eyes. Carter and Teal'c are sitting at the table.
CARTER
I'm fairly certain that we've traveled back in time, roughly about thirty years.
(as O'Neill looks up)
For a second or two, I think we were in both time-frames simultaneously, which is why the Stargate seemed to be there one minute and was gone the next.
O'NEILL
Little bump in the calculations, Captain?
CARTER
I'm sorry, sir. I don't know what to say.
O'NEILL
Well, I'll tell you what. Get us back home and we'll say it never happened.
DANIEL
Or get us back before we left and it won't happen.
[Carter and Teal'c turn to stare at Daniel.]
DANIEL
Well, think about it. We're the first people in human history to go back in time, well, for all we know. If we could figure out how to do this again, just think of what we could do. We could actually visit Babylon, we could—we could—we could see the Great Wall of China being built.
TEAL'C
Or prevent regrettable events from your history from ever occurring.
CARTER
(alarmed)
No! That's exactly what we can't do.
O'NEILL
Why not?
CARTER
Because of the grandfather paradox.
(at his blank look)
If you went back fifty years and murdered your own grandfather, your own father would never have been born.
DANIEL
So you're saying that if we change our own past…
CARTER
We could change our world in ways that we can't possibly imagine. We might even cease to exist, along with everything and everyone we know.
TEAL'C
I myself have no part in the history of your world.
CARTER
But, when they find out about the Goa'uld threat, they might have second thoughts about opening the Stargate in the first place. In which case, we never meet…and you're back to being First Prime of Apophis.
TEAL'C
(realizing)
I see.
DANIEL
So…we don't tell them about the Goa'uld.
CARTER
How do we explain the larval Goa'uld that Teal'c is carrying? Our advanced weapons, our GDO's?
O'NEILL
Correct me if I'm wrong, Captain, but—haven't we altered history already just by being here?
CARTER
We have to concentrate on damage control. At the very least, destroy our advanced weapons and technology.
O'NEILL
That's going to be a little tough.
CARTER
We also cannot tell anyone anything
(holding up SGC patch)
about who we are or where we're from.
O'NEILL
This is a top secret facility. Anonymity does not go over big here.
CARTER
(serious)
We cannot tell them we're from the future, sir. Even if it means…
[She stops short as the cell door is unlocked, opening to admit two guards holding guns and one other soldier. The soldier approaches Daniel, the closest one to the door.]
SOLDIER
(speaking Russian)
You Soviet spies?
DANIEL
Nyet.
(Translation: No.)
O'NEILL
Daniel?
DANIEL
He just asked if we were Soviet spies. I just…
[He stops, realizing his error. O'Neill gives him a look, unable to believe this one.]
SOLDIER
(to O'Neill)
Come with me.
O'NEILL
Sure.
(gets up)
You bet.
(walking out door, to himself)
"Nyet?"
[The first two soldiers escort O'Neill out as Daniel walks over to the nearest bunk bed and puts his head in his hand on the top bunk. The third soldier closes the cell door behind them.]
INT—BASE INTERROGATION ROOM
[Major Thornbird, the base commander, lights a cigarette. Cut to a shot of the interrogation room, in the center of which is a small wooden table with a harsh lamp shining directly over the table. Thornbird sits at one end of the table, with an ash tray by his right hand. O'Neill sits at the other end. A guard stands watch at the door. The smoke from Thornbird's cigarette permeates the room.]
THORNBIRD
I'm Major Robert Thornbird. And you are?
[O'Neill coughs at the smoke before replying.]
O'NEILL
(calmly)
Captain James T. Kirk, of the Starship Enterprise.
THORNBIRD
Eh…your dog tags say otherwise.
O'NEILL
They're lying.
THORNBIRD
Your American accent is very impressive, Mr. Kirk.
(takes a puff on his cigarette)
Before we ship you out and hand you over to wherever it is they take spies such as yourself, I wanted a word. Your little incursion into our training facility is going to leave an embarrassing mark on my record.
O'NEILL
Training facility?
THORNBIRD
(scornfully)
You don't think we'd test fire a real missile twenty-eight floors inside a mountain, do you?
O'NEILL
Listen, you don't have the exact date…
THORNBIRD
What was the weapon you used?
[He takes another puff on the cigarette.]
O'NEILL
(blinks)
Weapon?
THORNBIRD
Our cameras saw some sort of weapon.
O'NEILL
Oh. Well, it's hard to say.
THORNBIRD
Some sort of state secret?
O'NEILL
No, just difficult to pronounce.
THORNBIRD
Hmmm.
(takes another drag)
Mister, my government doesn't take kindly to Soviet spies in its highest security facilities. Neither do I.
O'NEILL
Hmm. Bob…Can I call you Bob?
THORNBIRD
Even though you achieve nothing.
O'NEILL
Unless that's exactly what we were trying to achieve.
THORNBIRD
Kirk, you can talk to me, or you can talk to the CIA.
[He takes another drag, certain he's got O'Neill there.]
O'NEILL
(pretending to be impressed)
Ooh. All right. I'll be honest with you, Bob. My name's not Kirk.
(pausing for effect)
It's Skywalker. Luke Skywalker.
[Thornbird simply stares at O'Neill and stubs his cigarette out in the ashtray.]
EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN—EVENING, PRESENT DAY
INT—SGC BRIEFING ROOM
[The room is empty except for Hammond, who is standing by the window, looking down at the inactive Stargate. A technician jogs up the stairs and enters the control room.]
TECHNICIAN
Still no sign of SG-1, sir. They never made it to P2X-555.
HAMMOND
Very well. SG-5 will have to complete their mission.
TECHNICIAN
If I may ask, sir…what are we going to do about SG-1?
HAMMOND
They're out there somewhere. Hopefully, they'll find their way back.
TECHNICIAN
(baffled)
Shouldn't we start a search?
HAMMOND
I'm afraid this is one mission they're on their own.
TECHNICIAN
Yes, sir.
[He turns and walks out, leaving Hammond standing by the window.]
EXT—ROUTE 205 SOUTH, 1969
[A blue van speeds past a brightly painted sign with a cowgirl lassoing the words: "BReathe Deeply Folks Soon Be In Albquerque." Beneath those words, in smaller print, is the message: "Visit Mike's Leather Emporium."]
INT—BACK OF AN UNMARKED BLUE VAN
[O'Neill, Daniel, Carter, and Teal'c are sitting on benches along each side, handcuffed, facing each other.]
O'NEILL
Listen. I don't know where we're headed, but they'll probably try to split us up. So we're not going to have much time to…
CARTER
…escape and hopefully live out the rest of our lives without affecting history.
O'NEILL
Or…
CARTER
I can't think of an 'or' at the moment, sir.
DANIEL
No 'or?'
O'NEILL
There's an 'or.'
DANIEL
There's an 'or?'
CARTER
Sir, you can't just will something to happen because you want it to be a certain way.
O'NEILL
Captain…where there's a will, there's an 'or.'
(as Carter gives him a confused look)
…way.
TEAL'C
If I remain on this planet, I will eventually be taken over by my mature symbiote.
[Hearing that, O'Neill raises his eyebrows. Something hits one of the rear tires of the van, causing the tire to blow. The van pulls off to the side of the road, and the three officers in the cab get out. One of them is the lieutenant who read Carter's note earlier. As the driver kneels down to inspect the tire, the lieutenant pulls his gun out of its holster.]
LIEUTENANT
(to the third officer)
I'll keep an eye, you help the driver.
[He gets into the back of the van with SG-1 and closes the door behind him. The driver and the other soldier attend to the flat tire. Cut to the interior of the van.]
O'NEILL
Flat tire?
LIEUTENANT
I'm the one who arranged it.
[The members of SG-1 stare at him, surprised.]
LIEUTENANT
Before I can even think of doing what's asked of me in the note, I need to know who you are and who gave it to you.
[Carter studies the lieutenant's uniform, and her eyes come to rest on his nameplate. It reads: "HAMMOND." Everything clicks for her at that moment.]
CARTER
(shocked)
Oh, my God.
(to Lt. Hammond)
My name is Samantha Carter, and…you gave me the note, sir.
[At that, Daniel, O'Neill and Lt. Hammond all give her puzzled looks.]
CARTER
(to O'Neill)
Sir, before we left, General Hammond gave me a note and told me to keep it in my vest pocket until I got to the other side.
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
It's addressed to me. In my handwriting.
O'NEILL
What's it say?
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
'Help them.'
(sarcastically)
And seeing as helping you will undoubtedly lead to court-martial, I'd like to know why I would do that.
CARTER
Because it's your idea.
O'NEILL
(realizing)
Albeit one you won't have for thirty years.
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
(confused)
What?
CARTER
I know this is kind of hard to understand, but…that's roughly how far back in time we've traveled.
[The young Hammond looks at them skeptically, then turns to go.]
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
I'm sorry. I can't help you…
DANIEL
Wait, wait!
[Hammond stops and turns]
DANIEL
We can…we can prove it.
O'NEILL
The date.
(to Lt. Hammond)
What's the date?
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
August 4th.
(as Daniel and O'Neill stare at him)
1969.
O'NEILL
'69…
(to Daniel)
What happened in '69?
DANIEL
The—the moon landing.
(to Lt. Hammond)
That was just a couple of weeks ago, right?
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
The entire world knows that.
O'NEILL
But not too many people know you watched it from your father's bedside in his hospital room…just two days after his first heart attack.
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
(stunned)
How did you know?
O'NEILL
Because we know you. We will know you. For some reason, thirty years ago, you decided we were going to need help. Otherwise, you wouldn't be standing there with a note. Now you going to listen to yourself, or not?
[Hammond stands there for several seconds, then puts his gun back in its holster. He fishes keys from his pocket and bends down to unlock O'Neill's handcuffs.]
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
There are two other men, including the driver.
O'NEILL
Thank you, thank you.
[Hammond turns to unlock Carter's handcuffs. As he does so, his palm brushes against her injured hand.]
CARTER
Ow.
[Looking down, Hammond sees the gash on her right hand. The skin isn't broken, but the cut doesn't look any better than it did before they went through the Gate.]
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
I'm sorry, miss. Did I hurt you?
CARTER
It's 'Captain.'
(smiles)
And it's all right…
(noticing his rank)
Lieutenant. Um, may I see the note?
[Hammond takes the note out of his pocket and sits down beside Carter, handing it to her. O'Neill has freed Daniel and Teal'c.]
O'NEILL
Look, we don't want to hurt anybody, but we are going to have to knock those guys out somehow.
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
(holding up a zatnicatel)
Will this do?
[O'Neill takes the zatnicatel, glancing over it to make sure it's all right.]
O'NEILL
(to Lt. Hammond)
All right, call for help.
[Hammond hesitates, not understanding what they're up to.]
TEAL'C
The dangerous foreign agents you now guard have…inexplicably freed themselves.
[Suddenly comprehending, Hammond nods, getting to his feet. He opens the back doors of the van and jumps out, drawing his gun and pretending to aim it at something inside that the other two officers can't see.]
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
(shouting)
Help!
[Hearing the shout, one of the officers gets up and runs around to the back of the van—and O'Neill fires the zatnicatel at him. Blue electricity surrounds him, and he collapses to the asphalt. The third one is not far behind, but O'Neill leans around the side of the van and shoots him as well before he can even get around to the back. O'Neill closes the zatnicatel and jumps down to the asphalt. Hammond stares at the fallen men in amazement.]
O'NEILL
Where's the rest of our gear?
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
(distracted, holstering gun)
Uh, the Major ordered it shipped in a separate truck for security reasons. They should be right behind.
O'NEILL
All right, good. Get down on the ground. Go.
[Hammond obeys, lying down beside the other two men. SG-1 retreats to the cover of the trees as a military truck comes around the bend. Seeing the van doors wide open and the three officers lying on the road, the driver pulls the truck over as well. The truck stops, and an officer gets out, running over to check the unconscious officers. Behind him, O'Neill carefully sneaks up to the passenger side of the truck. Unaware of his presence, the driver gets out of the cab as well, starting towards the men. O'Neill shoots the driver with the zatnicatel. The other soldier jumps up, reaching for his gun, but he isn't quick enough, and O'Neill shoots him as well. As O'Neill starts for the back of the truck, Hammond gets up and follows him. They open up the back, and O'Neill pushes back the tarp as he climbs in. He throws the tarp up on the top of the truck, and we see that the only contents are two locked metal boxes. O'Neill pulls one forward to examine it. As Hammond watches, O'Neill fires the zatnicatel at the box, breaking the lock. He kicks it a few times, then throws the lid open to reveal their confiscated gear. O'Neill pulls out the GDO, tossing it to Carter, and picks up another zatnicatel before closing the lid again.]
O'NEILL
(to Lt. Hammond)
All right, everything you confiscated from us is in these two boxes?
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
Except for your ray gun, yes.
O'NEILL
Right.
[He gets up and grabs one end of the box, dragging it to the back of the truck to prop one end up on top of the other box there. Sitting down beside the boxes, he aims the zatnicatel.]
O'NEILL
(to the others)
Watch yourself.
[As they watch, he fires at the boxes once, twice, three times in succession. Blue energy crackles over the boxes before they disintegrate completely. O'Neill turns back to an astonished Hammond.]
O'NEILL
All right, your Major What's-His-Name had videotape of this thing in action.
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
Uh, yes. It was in those boxes along with everything else.
O'NEILL
Good.
(jumps out of the truck)
Got any cash?
[He closes the zatnicatel.]
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
(fumbling with bills)
Uh, yeah, I might have some.
O'NEILL
That's good.
[He snatches the cash from Hammond and pockets it.]
O'NEILL
I'll pay you back, with interest.
[He turns and starts up towards the cab of the truck, with Carter and Hammond following behind him. Teal'c and Daniel bring up the rear.]
CARTER
(to Lt. Hammond)
One more thing. You have to keep everything you've seen and everything we've told you a secret, and I mean for the rest of your life.
[They come to a stop by the cab of the truck.]
LIEUTENANT HAMMOND
(understanding)
'General Hammond.' I like the sound of that.
(to O'Neill)
What are you going to do now?
[Holding it in front of his chest so that Hammond can't see it, O'Neill opens the zatnicatel again before turning around.]
O'NEILL
Well, you're better off not knowing. But I do want you to know that what I'm about to do keeps you from getting court-martialed.
[With that, he shoots Hammond, who collapses, unconscious. O'Neill looks down with a bit of regret before looking back up at the rest of SG-1.]
O'NEILL
We should get off this road. Find the interstate.
[Closing the zatnicatel, he turns and starts off into the trees. Carter, Teal'c, and Daniel follow him out of the frame, with Carter glancing down at Hammond uncomfortably.]
EXT—WOODED AREA
[The camera pans down to show O'Neill leading Daniel, Carter, and Teal'c through the trees.]
DANIEL
So, what's the plan?
O'NEILL
Find the Stargate.
DANIEL
Find the Stargate? That's…that's the plan?
O'NEILL
Elegant in its simplicity, don't you think?
DANIEL
And if we don't find the Stargate?
O'NEILL
There's one in Antarctica.
DANIEL
There's one in Antarctica. That's…that's a fabulous plan.
TEAL'C
Assuming we locate the Stargate, how then do we get back to the future?
O'NEILL
Well, now, that's all in the note.
[He stops, turning to face the team as they come to a halt.]
O'NEILL
(to Carter)
Right?
CARTER
Uh, no, sir.
O'NEILL
'No, sir.'
CARTER
(pulling note out)
Well, it…it doesn't explain how to get back, at least not…explicitly.
[She hands O'Neill the note.]
O'NEILL
(reading)
'Help them. August 10th, 9:15 A.M., August 11th, 6:03 P.M.' That's helpful.
[He hands the note to Daniel, who reads over it.]
CARTER
Well, I suppose he had to be intentionally cryptic so as not to risk changing his own history.
O'NEILL
August 10th…that's cryptic.
DANIEL
Well, wait a second, it just means that on August 10th at 9:15 A.M., something is going to happen.
CARTER
And happen again the next day at 6:03. We just have to figure out what that something is.
[She looks over to Teal'c, who merely raises an eyebrow. O'Neill gives them a skeptical look.]
O'NEILL
Right.
[He turns and resumes course, with SG-1 following.]
EXT—ALONG AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY
[The team comes up the hill and reaches the road. As O'Neill gets up to the road and starts to cross, a small red Corvette speeds by.]
O'NEILL
You know, the 'Vette blew it when they went with that body style. They used to be so cool.
DANIEL
Actually, I was about four and a half years old in '69.
[They cross to the other side of the road, where there's a ditch that they can hide in, about six feet deep.]
O'NEILL
Carter, stick your thumb out.
[He turns and gets down in the ditch with Daniel and Teal'c. The three of them crouch down there while Carter stands by the road, sticking her thumb out.]
DANIEL
(as a car passes Carter by)
We should go to New York.
O'NEILL
Why?
DANIEL
Well, that's where Catherine used to live, or lives. She's probably the only person outside of the military who has the slightest idea where the Stargate might be. And I really don't think she's going to tell us over the phone.
CARTER
Daniel, you can't.
(as he looks up)
In order to preserve our past, Catherine has to meet you for the first time years from now.
DANIEL
So, we go in disguise. Pretend to be…foreigners.
O'NEILL
How are you going to do that?
DANIEL
Well, I speak 23 different languages. Pick one.
[Teal'c watches as another car can be heard speeding right by Carter.]
DANIEL
Catherine said herself she began her research in the late sixties. I mean, who knows…maybe we're the ones who gave her the idea in the first place.
[A white van passes Carter, not even slowing as it passes her by. Frustrated, Carter throws up her hands before sticking her thumb out again.]
TEAL'C
This method appears to be ineffective.
[He gets up and climbs up to the road. Sensing imminent disaster, O'Neill gets up and climbs out of the ditch.]
O'NEILL
Teal'c? Teal'c!
[A multicolored, brightly painted bus is coming down the road towards them as Teal'c steps directly into its path, holding his arms up, palms out towards the vehicle. It pulls to a stop barely a foot away from him, and we can see the peace-sign hood ornament as it stops. As Teal'c drops his arms, satisfied, O'Neill runs up and hits him in the shoulder.
O'NEILL
(frustrated)
What are you thinking?
TEAL'C
(indicating the stopped bus)
That is effective, O'Neill.
[O'Neill gives him a look before going over to the side of the bus. Its doors swing open to reveal a long-haired, bearded young man at the wheel, with a smiling dark-haired girl in a poncho beside him. Both are clearly hippies to the extreme.]
MICHAEL
Hey. We would've stopped, man.
O'NEILL
Hi. Listen, we've got gas money. Where are you headed?
MICHAEL
Upstate New York, some big concert. Where're you headed?
O'NEILL
New York…back East.
MICHAEL
Hop in!
[Smiling, the girl scoots back so that the aisle is clear. O'Neill steps onto the bus, inclining his head towards the others to indicate that they should follow. Carter gets on next, followed by Daniel, and finally Teal'c. The Jaffa hesitates at the foot of the steps.]
MICHAEL
(beckoning)
Come on, ride up front with me, brother.
(making a fist and holding it up)
It's cool.
[Teal'c looks a bit confused at this expression, but climbs on anyway. He takes the seat up front.]
MICHAEL
(raising hand)
I'm Michael.
TEAL'C
I am not at liberty to reveal my identity.
MICHAEL
(nodding)
Far out.
[He reaches over and pulls a lever, and the bus doors swing shut.]
INT—REAR OF HIPPIE BUS
[Carter, O'Neill, the girl, and Daniel are sitting on benches along the sides of the bus, and the vehicle wobbles as it starts up. Cut to a shot of the back of the bus as it starts down the interstate.]
[Inside the bus. Carter, O'Neill and Daniel sit there with the girl. No one says anything. The girl is smiling excitedly, almost dreamily at them, and O'Neill and Carter manage small smiles in response. Daniel is sitting next to her, and tentatively responds to the smile she's giving him.]
DANIEL
Hello.
JENNY
Hi.
(after a moment)
So what'd you do?
DANIEL
(glances at Jack)
We didn't, uh, we didn't do anything.
[She looks confused, her smile fading as she looks at the three of them again. O'Neill realizes that their uniforms provoked the question.]
O'NEILL
We've got a little problem with…the establishment.
JENNY
I so relate to that.
CARTER
So if you could take us as far as New York, we'd…
JENNY
I really love your hair.
CARTER
(taken aback)
Thanks.
O'NEILL
(to Michael)
Listen, we could really use some cheap clothes. So if you see a cheap clothes place around, we'd appreciate it.
INT—CAB OF HIPPIE BUS
MICHAEL
(nods)
No sweat.
(to Teal'c)
So, uh.. your thing…
(makes a circular motion with hand, indicating Teal'c's tattoo)
that thing, uh…what's it symbolize? Peace?
TEAL'C
Slavery. To false gods.
MICHAEL
Right on! So, um, it's made out of…
TEAL'C
Do not discuss it further.
MICHAEL
I dig. It's cool. So you just go AWOL?
(as Teal'c finally turns to look at him)
Hey, we're cool. After the concert, me and Jenny, we're even thinking of crossin' the border up to Canada.
TEAL'C
For what reason?
MICHAEL
You know, man…the war.
TEAL'C
The war with Canada.
[At that, Michael turns and gives Teal'c a confused look, staring at him like he's from another planet.]
MICHAEL
No.
[He turns back to watching the road, glancing nervously at Teal'c.]
[A musical montage of scenes follows. Close-up on the front grill of the bus, then cut to a side shot of the bus passing a sign that indicates they're on Route 66 East. It's sunset, as the bus continues down the highway. Slow dissolve to a map of New Mexico and Texas, as the camera moves in closer. A red line moves across one of the routes on the map, tracking their progress, until it stops at Amarillo.]
[On a sidewalk, day. Racks of clothing are out on the sidewalk outside a clothing store as Carter hands a woman some money. She's wearing a white shirt and an embroidered jacket over top of it, an ankle-length blue-and-yellow skirt and rose-colored sunglasses. She takes a bundle from the woman and turns to go as Jenny hands her a flower. Carter takes it with a smile and puts an arm around Jenny's shoulder as they turn to leave.]
[The bus speeding down Route 66, passing some dairy farms. Dissolve briefly to the map; this time their progress takes them to St. Louis.]
[The bus has pulled over to the side of the road. The hood has been popped open, and O'Neill, wearing jeans and a leather jacket, is tinkering with the engine as Teal'c—wearing a pink shirt, vest, and an Afro with a bandanna—walks around the bus to get a better look at what he's doing.]
[The bus flies past another Route 66 East sign. We see that Teal'c is driving the bus, and Daniel is sitting up front beside him, helping him with the gear shift and looking a bit nervous. Past Daniel, we can see into the back of the bus, where O'Neill is sprawled out on one of the couches, fast asleep.]
[The map, superimposed over a city skyline as the red line reaches Chicago. Cut to a store on a street corner as O'Neill, Teal'c, and Jenny emerge, with O'Neill carrying two paper bags of food and supplies, and climb onto the bus parked at the curb. Cut to the cab—this time Carter is driving and Teal'c is up front. Cut to one more shot of the bus crossing a city bridge as the map fades in, superimposed over the shot; the red line reaches Philadelphia. The background music ends.]
EXT—THE WOODS, NIGHT
[The bus is parked among the trees, presumably at a camp ground. Teal'c walks through the trees over to a small campfire, where Daniel, Carter, and O'Neill are already gathered. O'Neill helps himself to three metal cups of soup, handing one to Daniel as he sits down next to Carter. She takes the cup of soup O'Neill hands her, her attention solely fixed on the campfire as she stares into the flames. The campfire blazes normally, but the wind changes and something blows into the flame, causing the campfire to flare up briefly with a cascade of sparks before settling down again.]
CARTER
A flare.
[Daniel looks up from his soup.]
O'NEILL
What?
CARTER
That's the only explanation. We had to have been sent back because of a solar flare.
TEAL'C
Was there not an error in your calculations?
CARTER
I don't think so, Teal'c. But after the Abydos mission, when we couldn't figure out a way to make the Gate work again, I was asked to research alternative applications for the Gate. Including time travel.
O'NEILL
What'd you come up with?
CARTER
Well, just this..
[She puts the soup aside and picks up a stick, drawing in the dirt as she explains.]
CARTER
What if a massive solar flare just happened to occur at the exact moment that we were traveling between Earth and another Stargate?
[Michael and Jenny are standing over by the bus, talking. Overhearing part of what Carter's saying, the two hippies turn and look over at the campfire.]
CARTER
If the wormhole itself was redirected closer to the sun because of the Earth's magnetic field,
(drawing a circle in the dirt)
the increased gravity could slingshot us back to Earth.
DANIEL
Why haven't we tried this before?
CARTER
Because flares are impossible to predict. Light takes several minutes to travel between the Earth and the sun, so by the time a flare of sufficient magnitude has been confirmed, it's already too late.
DANIEL
Okay, if they're impossible to predict, how do we get ourselves home?
CARTER
August 10th, 9:15 A.M. It's in the note.
O'NEILL
The time and date of the next flare?
CARTER
Yeah. General Hammond must have used my own research to figure out what we needed.
DANIEL
Or maybe that's the reason he asked you to do the research in the first place.
[Over his shoulder, we can just make out Michael's head passing between the trees.]
CARTER
And then he looked up two flares in August of 1969 that could send us home.
[Having heard enough, Michael starts through the trees towards the fire, and Jenny follows.]
O'NEILL
(lifting his mug of soup)
General Hammond, you old son of a…
[He stops short as Jenny and Michael approach the campfire, staring at their strange companions.]
O'NEILL
Hello.
(lifts his mug)
Soup?
MICHAEL
Who are you guys?
O'NEILL
Come on. Have something to eat.
MICHAEL
I mean, traveling between the Earth and where? What's that about?
CARTER
When I said that, I was just imagining…
MICHAEL
Oh, I don't think so, man.
JENNY
You said…that you were in trouble with the establishment.
O'NEILL
And…we are.
DANIEL
We are.
O'NEILL
Just not the establishment of this planet.
[Carter turns and stares at O'Neill. Michael and Jenny look confused.]
O'NEILL
No, it's true, Michael. We came to Earth to hide among your people, a long, long time ago.
DANIEL
(catching on)
From a galaxy far, far away.
[There is a pause as Michael and Jenny look at them, not convinced.]
O'NEILL
But now it's time to go home, and we need your help.
JENNY
How?
DANIEL
We need to be in a place called New York by tomorrow.
MICHAEL
I don't know, man.
[O'Neill and Carter exchange looks, and Carter turns back to the fire; they've already taken the fib this far. O'Neill reaches down and picks up the zatnicatel beside him.]
O'NEILL
(to Michael and Jenny)
It's all right.
[He opens the zatnicatel and fires once into the campfire. As the energy from the blast hits the fire, the flames shoot up in a white-hot blaze before settling down again.]
MICHAEL
(amazed)
Whoa! That was unreal!
TEAL'C
It is in fact extremely real. As is our need for assistance.
JENNY
We have to help them get home, Michael.
MICHAEL
Okay. We'll do it.
[Daniel looks relieved. Teal'c is typically impassive. O'Neill closes the zatnicatel and smiles.]
[The van is heading up the highway, then cut to a shot of the New Jersey Star, with a headline that reads: "Nixon to Vacation at the Summer White House" as a hand reaches in and pulls a copy of the paper out. Cut to the map, as the red line moves from Philadelphia up towards New York.]
EXT—AN OBSERVATORY, DAY
[The bus pulls up to the curb, and O'Neill and Teal'c hop out. Carter sticks her head out of the doors, calling to them.]
CARTER
Sir. Remember to use the hydrogen-alpha solar filter.
O'NEILL
Or I'll burn my eyes out…I know.
CARTER
Good luck.
INT—OBSERVATORY
[A massive telescope is set up on the platform. Teal'c and O'Neill enter to find that no one is there.]
O'NEILL
Yes!
[He hops over the railing to get to the telescope, and Teal'c climbs over as well. O'Neill tucks his sunglasses into his jacket pocket, looking up at the telescope.]
O'NEILL
All right, we got one shot to prove Carter's theory.
(to himself)
Don't screw it up, Jack.
TEAL'C
Is not astronomy one of your hobbies, O'Neill?
O'NEILL
Not quite on this scale.
(going over to the controls)
Let's get that dome open.
[He pushes a button, and the dome above them turns, opening to let the sun in. O'Neill puts his sunglasses on again as the dome locks, the telescope pointing right at the bright morning sun.]
[Another shot of the bus driving down the highway. Cut to a shot of the Statue of Liberty, then dissolve to the map as the red line finally reaches New York City and then Jersey City.]
EXT—SUBURBAN STREET, DAY
[The bus pulls up to the curb in front of Catherine's home, a nice two-story house with a shaded porch and a long flight of steps leading up to the front door.<]
INT—CATHERINE'S HOUSE
[A much younger Catherine—in her mid-forties—shows Daniel and Carter into the living room. They're wearing the same outfits they picked up earlier, but Daniel has slicked back his hair.]
CATHERINE
Father never told me Andrek Gruber had a son.
DANIEL
(German accent)
Vell, I vas but a small boy ven they vere shtill vorking together…
[He and Carter sit down on the couch, and Catherine sits down in a chair across from them.]
DANIEL
…but mein father often spoke of dein father as one of the few people in zis vorld he could trust.
CATHERINE
Before we continue, I must ask. What was so important it couldn't be discussed over the telephone?
[Carter and Daniel exchange looks.]
DANIEL
Mein father believed zere must have been a zecond artifact near zat vich dein father discovered in 1928.
[A maid enters carrying a tray with several cups of tea. As she sets it down on the coffee table, Catherine looks nervous.]
CATHERINE
Was weisst du davon?
(Translation: What do you know of it?)
DANIEL
He referred to it in his notes as ze "Doorvay to Heaven."
[Recognizing that answer as correct Catherine sits back, nervously glancing at the maid, who is still pouring tea. Out of frame, Catherine's cat meows insistently. Daniel gets the hint and switches to German.]
DANIEL
Wir haben ein Fragment der Steinplatte gefunden, mit einigen derselben Zeichnungen wie dieser, die vor allen diesen Jahren entdeckt wurde.
(Translation: We have found a fragment of a coverstone with some of the markings as the one uncovered all those years ago, but there was nothing underneath it.)
[The maid finishes up and leaves.]
CATHERINE
You found only a fragment? Nothing beneath?
DANIEL
(as Carter picks up a cup of tea)
Ze artifact had already been removed.
CATHERINE
(frustrated)
Oh…We always knew there had to be a second device with which to control the ring.
[Carter sips her tea, and Catherine picks up a cup and saucer herself. There is an awkward moment of silence.]
DANIEL
I realize zese matters require ze utmost propriety, but..
CATHERINE
Did your father ever explain to you the nature of the work he was doing in 1945?
DANIEL
Only zat ze American militare vas under ze mistaken impression zat ze device dein father discovered might hold zome dark militare purpose. Uh, even zat much, I vas…svorn to secrecy.
CATHERINE
There was an accident.
DANIEL
Ernest Littlefeld.
CATHERINE
When the war ended, my father and I were told never to speak of it again. It is simply…locked away.
DANIEL
Undt…you cannot tell me vhere?
CATHERINE
Some old armory in Washington, D.C., gathering dust. But it's pointless. The military won't even acknowledge its existence.
[Another pause. The cat meows again. Daniel picks up a spoon, stirring his tea before speaking.]
DANIEL
Vould you know…vhich armory?
INT—OBSERVATORY
[The telescope is all set up, and Teal'c and O'Neill are standing at the base of the telescope, waiting. O'Neill checks his watch before looking up again.]
O'NEILL
All right. In a few seconds, we'll know whether or not we can go back.
TEAL'C
And if we cannot, O'Neill?
O'NEILL
Guess we stay.
[Unsure what to do about the implications of that, Teal'c looks down.]
O'NEILL
(checks watch)
All right, it's showtime.
[He puts his eye to the lens, squinting to make out the image. Cut to his POV through the telescope. Through the filter, we can clearly see the surface of the sun erupting in a solar flare. Cut back to O'Neill.]
O'NEILL
(still looking into the telescope)
Brother Teal'c, at precisely 6:03 P.M. tomorrow, we're goin' home.
[Teal'c nods, smiling just a bit.]
EXT—OBSERVATORY, DAY
[O'Neill and Teal'c emerge just as the bus pulls up to the curb, its doors swinging open. The two men hop onto the bus and climb into the back, where Daniel and Carter are sitting.]
INT—HIPPIE BUS
CARTER
Well?
TEAL'C
Your theory is confirmed.
O'NEILL
Where do we have to be for tomorrow's flare?
DANIEL
Washington, D.C.
[The bus is on the highway again. Dissolve to the road map, as their route turns from New York, heading south towards Washington. Carter is driving, and Teal'c is up front beside her.]
CARTER
(to O'Neill)
We're almost there, sir. It's going to be close if we don't find a power source right away.
[O'Neill puts on his cap.]
O'NEILL
We will.
[He turns to Michael and Jenny, who are sitting in the rear of the bus with them.]
O'NEILL
Listen, I really have to say this. The two of you have been unbelievably…
DANIEL
Groovy.
O'NEILL
Groovy, I think, is the word.
DANIEL
Uh, the people of our world will be extremely grateful.
O'NEILL
Not the establishment, mind you.
DANIEL
(catching himself)
No. Not…not them.
O'NEILL
I think what we're trying to say is that we have to go the rest of the way alone.
JENNY
Why?
O'NEILL
Because it's dangerous.
MICHAEL
(impulsively)
We want you to take us with you.
O'NEILL
We can't do that.
MICHAEL
But you owe us.
O'NEILL
Yes, we do. We owe you a lot. But you belong here.
(smiling)
And you have to trust me on this. This is a great time.
JENNY
(interrupting)
Michael got drafted.
[Hearing that, O'Neill stops and stares at them. Daniel's smile abruptly fades.]
MICHAEL
We're just goin' to the concert first. You know, one last blast. But if we went with you…
[He trails off. O'Neill sighs and looks away.]
MICHAEL
I don't wanna…kill anybody.
O'NEILL
(emphatically)
Michael…
CARTER
Sir, you can't say anything.
(as the others stare at her)
He has to make up his own mind.
[O'Neill looks down at the floor. Jenny looks disappointed.]
CARTER
We can walk the rest of the way from here.
O'NEILL
(quietly)
We got to go.
(puts on his sunglasses)
I'm sorry.
EXT—ARMORY
[As the bus pulls up to the armory, O'Neill, Teal'c, Daniel, and Carter climb out. Jenny follows, stopping Carter to talk to her.]
JENNY
Your secret's safe with us.
CARTER
(hugs her)
We know that. Thank you.
(releases her)
Take care.
[Carter follows the rest of the team as Michael steps out of the bus and puts an arm around Jenny. She turns and hugs him tightly, and he wraps his arms around her as well.]
INT—ARMORY
[In the center of the warehouse is a tall, almost flat rectangular crate standing up on its end—obviously containing the Stargate. A guard crosses the floor of the armory, walking out of frame past a Jeep. A second later, there is a crackle and a blast of blue-white tendrils of light appears from out of frame in the direction the guard came. A second later, O'Neill walks out into the floor, closing the zatnicatel in his hand. He runs towards the Gate, signaling to someone out of frame, and the other three members of SG-1 follow him.]
[O'Neill climbs up on one side of the crate holding the Stargate, with Daniel behind him, and Carter and Teal'c go to the other side. Carter and O'Neill open the locks at the base of the crate, while Teal'c and Daniel climb up the sides, opening the locks higher up. Carter takes her position down by some crates as Daniel reaches the topmost lock on his side. Teal'c hesitates until O'Neill signals to him, then reaches over and unlocks the final lock.]
[The front and back of the crate fall down to reveal the Stargate, leaving the top and sides of the crate standing like a picture framearound the Gate. Carter stands up as Teal'c and Daniel climb back down, following O'Neill around to the front of the Gate.]
O'NEILL
(to Carter)
Where to?
CARTER
Back the way we came, via P2X-555.
DANIEL
Wait a minute, how do you know we'll go forward in time instead of back?
CARTER
Well, General Hammond must have chosen flares on the opposite side of the sun this time, so the Sun's rotational differential will send us forward instead of back.
(seeing their doubtful expressions)
Look, we just have to trust General Hammond. I mean, the point is, we are fifteen minutes away from the only chance we are going to get at this, and we still haven't found a power source to fre…
O'NEILL
(irritated)
How much power?
[A couple of cables are hooked up to the chevron on the lower left side of the Stargate, which is glowing red. Power is humming through the cables, and the camera follows the cables over some crates to the source—the engine of one of the military vehicles in the armory. O'Neill is sitting behind the wheel, revving the engine.]
[Carter sits in the cab of another vehicle hooked up to the Gate, and Daniel and Teal'c are beside the Stargate, having turned it by hand and keeping an eye on the connection. Two of the chevrons are lit up, and a third one locks.]
CARTER
(shouting over the engines)
Keep it going!
[Outside the building, a guard is passing by, but stops when he hears the sound of the chevrons locking. Curious, he approaches a side door.]
[Inside, six out of seven chevrons are locked, and only the final chevron at the top of the Gate hasn't locked yet. As the hum of the engines and the Gate increases in pitch, Teal'c and Daniel jump down, getting clear before the wormhole activates. At that moment, the guard comes in a side door. Seeing the Gate running, he dashes forward, pulling his gun out of its holster.]
[The final chevron locks, and the wormhole activates in a blue-white plume of energy. Shocked, the guard hesitates, taken aback by the sight. The four members of SG-1 move to the base of the 'ramp' formed by one of the sides of the crate. The guard remembers himself and pulls out his gun.]
GUARD
(shouting)
You! Stop!
[The team turns to see him pointing the gun at them. Another guard comes in through a door that leads out into a railing along the upper wall.]
O'NEILL
We have got to go.
[Above them, the other guard draws his gun as well. O'Neill rushes forward towards the crates, opening the zatnicatel and firing at the guard above them as the team dives behind a bunch of crates for cover. Seeing the other guard fall—and just what kind of weapon O'Neill's packing—the first guard takes cover behind a Jeep as well, firing at the team. O'Neill fires back, zapping the Jeep with energy. Dazed, the first guard falls backwards.]
CARTER
Sir, the timing has to be exact. Just a few more seconds.
O'NEILL
It's going to have to be close enough. Go!
[The guard up top recovers and gets up, and the first guard gets back behind the Jeep. Carter gets up and makes a break for the Gate, followed by Daniel and Teal'c. The guard up top takes a few shots at them, and O'Neill shoots at him a few times, electrifying the railing and causing the guard to falter as O'Neill gets up and runs for the Gate, diving through the wormhole as the guards continue to shoot.]
[Traveler's-eye view of transit through the wormhole, then to the Stargate on the other side. With a yell, O'Neill dives through the wormhole and hits the deck, covering his head as a few bullets come through, harmlessly ricocheting off metal.]
[The wormhole shuts off, and the members of SG-1 get up, looking around. It's the Gate room of Stargate Command, but aside from the four of them, it's completely empty and abandoned, and the lights are dimmed. The pieces of equipment aside from the Stargate are all wrapped up. It looks as though no one has used the place in years.]
INT—GATE ROOM
O'NEILL
(getting up)
Auntie Em? Auntie Em?
CARTER
Where is everyone?
[The bay doors slide open then, and an elderly woman in a white dress steps into the Gate room.]
CASSANDRA
(smiles)
Hello, Jack.
[Startled, Jack turns to stare at her. The woman walks up to the base of the ramp, looking at them with amazement and delight.]
CASSANDRA
Teal'c? Daniel?
(laughs)
I hardly recognized you with hair.
[Carter looks at Daniel and Teal'c, both of whom look completely puzzled. O'Neill steps forward cautiously.]
O'NEILL
(clearing throat)
Do…do we know you?
CASSANDRA
Sam will recognize me.
(to Carter)
Come closer.
[They slowly walk down to the base of the ramp, with Carter in the lead. As she reaches the woman, Carter suddenly smiles brightly, her eyes lighting up with recognition.]
CARTER
Oh my God.
(hugs her)
Cassandra!
CASSANDRA
(laughing)
Dear Sam.
O'NEILL
Excuse me.
(taps Carter on the shoulder)
Who is this?
CARTER
(stepping back from her)
Cassandra.
O'NEILL
Cassie's thirteen years old.
CASSANDRA
Not anymore, Jack.
(as O'Neill suddenly understands)
I've been expecting you…my whole life, in fact. You entered the Stargate a few seconds too soon, so the flare threw you far into the future. I've come to send you back where you belong.
DANIEL
How did you know we'd come here?
CASSANDRA
When I was old enough to understand, Sam explained what happened, and that I'd be the one to send you home.
CARTER
Like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
CASSANDRA
(nods)
Mm-hmm. As much as I would love to spend more time with you, the timing must be precise. You have to go.
CARTER
Already? But there's so much that you…
CASSANDRA
You of all people know I can't.
[Carter nods, understanding. Cassandra lifts her hand, and we can see some kind of device on the back of her hand, with what looks like a single green stone in the center. She traces a finger around the stone, and it lights up with a green glow. The wormhole activates again—this time there's no plume, and the chevrons don't spin. The wormhole simply fills in the center of the ring. Carter takes the GDO out of her bag, keying in the activation code.]
CASSANDRA
I will tell you this…your journey's just beginning.
[They stop and look at her for a moment, and Carter puts the GDO back before SG-1 turns and walks up the ramp through the wormhole.]
INT—GATE ROOM, PRESENT DAY
[The Gate has already activated, and the camera cuts to the control room.]
TECHNICIAN
Incoming traveler, sir.
[Hammond and another technician hurry into the control room, and Hammond goes to the window.]
TECHNICIAN
(surprised)
It's SG-1.
HAMMOND
Open the iris.
[He turns and runs out of the control room. Cut to the Stargate as the iris slides open. The bay door slides open and Hammond walks in, just as SG-1 steps through the wormhole. Seeing that they're finally home, O'Neill throws up his hands in relief, pointing both fingers at Hammond.]
O'NEILL
Yes!
[He heads down to meet Hammond at the base of the ramp, with the rest of the team behind him.]
O'NEILL
(snapping off a half-salute to Hammond)
We're home…
[Behind them, the wormhole shuts off.]
O'NEILL
…thanks to one sparky young Lieutenant Hammond.
CARTER
How did you know, sir?
HAMMOND
When I was a young lieutenant, I was ordered to escort four people out of Cheyenne Mountain. In the vest pocket of one I found a note with my name on it. Needless to say, I followed its instructions.
CARTER
But you couldn't have known when to give it to me.
HAMMOND
No, not until I saw the cut on your hand. Remember when I took your cuffs off.
CARTER
Then you've been waiting for this to happen.
HAMMOND
Ever since we met. I almost didn't let you go.
CARTER
But if you didn't, you would have changed your own history.
[O'Neill simply smiles and shakes his head.]
HAMMOND
It's going to be a long debriefing, people. We'll start in one hour.
O'NEILL
Yes, sir.
HAMMOND
Oh, by the way, Colonel…with interest, you owe me five hundred thirty-nine dollars and fifty cents.
[Carter and Daniel can't help but grin at that one.]
O'NEILL
(smiles)
Yes, sir.
FADE OUT
END CREDITS
Transcript by Michelle for Solutions, Sep 2003
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--Kylie Lee 08:37, 30 Aug 2004 (PDT)