10.11 "The Quest Part 2" Transcript

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10.11 "The Quest Part 2"

Episode Guide

Précis

In the company of two of their enemies, the team's quest takes on bizarre twists and ends with unexpected results as one of the teammembers is left behind.

Guide | Transcript

Transcript

PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE SG-1

EXCERPTS FROM 10.10 "THE QUEST PART 1"

EXT—VILLAGE SQUARE, DAY

[SG-1 walks into the village, getting curious looks from the natives.]

INT—VILLAGE LIBRARY

DANIEL

(reading and translating parchment)

The Sangreal shall instead belong to he who speaks the guardian's name.

OSRIC
They say that the Sangreal is protected by the most powerful of magical beasts.

EXT—CLEARING IN WOODS, DAY

BA'AL
Amongst the information I obtained regarding the Sangreal is the name of the protector.

VALA

(to Daniel)

Protector.

BA'AL
The dragon.

EXT—WOODS, DAY

OSRIC
The Sangreal is hidden in a cave beneath a lone mountain.

EXT—OUTSIDE CAVE ENTRANCE, DAY

MITCHELL

(to Osric)

It's too bad you won't be coming with us.

[Osric morphs into Adria. SG-1 begin firing at her.]

INT—CAVERN OF THE SANGREAL

BA'AL
There it is. We found it.

[Daniel and Adria are standing near the dais with the Sangreal. Daniel steps forward to take the Sangreal. His hand passes right through it, and it blinks, as if it is a hologram. Daniel is surprised for a moment.]

DANIEL
Well, I guess I'm not as true of spirit as you thought I was.

[The cavern entrance seals shut behind the group. They try to reach it before it closes, but cannot.]

CARTER
Hey!

[Adria and Daniel have rejoined the others. There is a sound of large wings flapping.]

VALA
We agreed there's no such thing as a dragon, right?

MITCHELL
Yeah.

VALA
'Cause that looks pretty real to me.

END EXCERPTS

TEASER

[The team, with Adria and Ba'al, are gathered at the edge of the cavern, the tunnel behind them still sealed off. The dragon hovers over the cavern. It suddenly breathes a huge ball of fire at them. The team crouches to get out of the way, although it would be futile. Adria remains standing, facing the dragon's attack. But, the fireball is repelled and dissipates in the air before it reaches any of them.]

MITCHELL
What just happened?

ADRIA

I extended my protective shield. (looking at Daniel)

You're lucky I still need you.

[The dragon screams and begins to turn.]

MITCHELL
Whoa, heads up!

[The travelers move backward against the wall and drop to the ground. The dragon whips its tail at the cave structure around the travelers. They duck to avoid being hit, but rocks and dust fall down on all of them. The dragon's attack has opened the tunnel again.]

MITCHELL
Move out!

INT—CAVE TUNNEL

[They retreat into the tunnel and run down one branch, stopping at a corner and turning to look backward.]

VALA

(relieved)

Ah. Well, he's too big to fit through the opening, so I think we're safe.

[They look up in concern after hearing the dragon growl and scream. Mitchell sees a huge fireball coming down the tunnel toward them.]

MITCHELL
Move!

[Everyone runs further into the tunnel and around a corner. The fireball continues straight ahead but doesn't make it around the corner to the travelers. Teal'c searches the area with the flashlight on his rifle.]

TEAL'C
There appears to be an exit this way.

[He leads the way.]

EXT—OPEN MEADOW, DAY

[The travelers jog out of the large mouth of the cave and into a meadow.]

MITCHELL
Okay, what the hell just happened back there?

DANIEL
It was a hologram. The Sangreal wasn't real.

CARTER
What are you saying? We came all this way for nothing?

ADRIA
We have to go back inside.

BA'AL
You must be joking.

ADRIA
The dragon is the final test.

BA'AL
It would be madness to challenge that thing!

[They hear a low-pitched, loud noise, like rocks being moved. They look to their right and upward to see the dragon bursting out of the top of the mountain where the Sangreal cavern is. It hovers above the resulting crater, then begins to fly toward them. The travelers all look up at it.]

MITCHELL
I don't think we're gonna have a choice.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT—OPEN MEADOW, DAY

[SG-1 take up positions in a line and begin firing their P-90s at the dragon. The bullets cause no damage to it, and it growls and screams as if preparing to breathe fire again.]

MITCHELL
Tree line!

[Everyone breaks off and runs for the nearby woods. Carter and Mitchell cover the retreat. Mitchell finally follows at a run, carrying his backpack. The fireball barely misses them as they make it to the trees.]

EXT—WOODS NEAR OPEN MEADOW, DAY

[They run a bit further into the woods, then take cover behind boulders and trees. Adria stands near Daniel. Mitchell sits against a tree, his backpack next to him.]

VALA
So, now what?

BA'AL
It can't see us as long as we stay in the trees. We should be able to make it back to the village.

DANIEL

(certain)

We're not going anywhere. Adria's right: the dragon's the final test. We've come too far to give up now.

BA'AL
It's just the kind of noble sentiment that's gonna get us all killed.

DANIEL

(turning toward Ba'al)

Aren't you, uh, the one that claimed to know the dragon's secret name? Time to earn your keep.

BA'AL
Ah yes, I may have exaggerated about that slightly. Anyway, you didn't think that just by calling out its name, you'd suddenly be able to control it?

DANIEL
I don't know. Name magic is common in most mythologies. To know something's secret name is to steal its power.

MITCHELL
So what are we supposed to do, just start guessing?

VALA
Daryl, the dragon.

MITCHELL
How about Smokey?

TEAL'C
Perhaps Puff.

[Daniel bows his head to concentrate.]

DANIEL

(annoyed)

Would you just give me a minute?

[They hear the dragon flying overhead, screaming.]

MITCHELL
While we're waiting, options?

CARTER
Well, we know the P-90 fire just bounced off its armor.

MITCHELL
Which means it's not a hologram. If it was a hologram, the bullets would have gone straight through.

BA'AL
So it's not that your weapons aren't ineffective, it's that they're ineffective in a different way.

MITCHELL
What I am saying is that if bullets bounce, maybe we should try something that packs a little more punch.

[He pulls out a block of C-4 explosive from his pack, then another. Carter pulls a block from her pack and tosses it to Mitchell. Daniel does the same. Mitchell pulls some black tape from his tac vest and begins taping the C-4 blocks together.]

MITCHELL
All right, here is what we're gonna do. We're going to lure Daryl down to the ground.

[Vala smiles at Mitchell's use of her name for the dragon.]

MITCHELL
We're gonna take this thing, and we're gonna toss it underneath and detonate it near the exposed underbelly. That's where dragons are most vulnerable.

[Daniel sort of nods, but Carter looks skeptical. Mitchell finishes constructing the bomb and tosses the detonator to Carter.]

MITCHELL

(standing)

Carter, you detonate from the tree line, and I will do the running.

[Mitchell holds the bomb in his right hand. As he speaks, Teal'c rushes forward and grabs Mitchell's right forearm. Mitchell looks up at Teal'c, comprehending. He tries to pull his arm away, but Teal'c restrains him.]

MITCHELL
That's all right Teal'c; I got this one.

[Looking out at the meadow, he tries to pull away again and fails. Teal'c appears implacable.]

MITCHELL

(resigned)

All right… Off you go.

[Mitchell gives the device to Teal'c. Teal'c glances at Carter, and she nods.]

EXT—OPEN MEADOW, DAY

[Appearing very determined, Teal'c runs toward the center of the meadow. Carter and Mitchell take up positions behind a boulder so they can cover him. Teal'c fires his weapon into the air, drawing the dragon. The dragon swoops toward him, and he dives onto the ground. The dragon lands on the ground in front of Teal'c and faces him while still flapping its wings. Teal'c stands up and throws the bomb at the dragon, and it catches it in its mouth and swallows it. Carter activates the remote detonator. After a moment the bomb goes off inside the dragon's throat. The flames come out of the neck and mouth of the dragon, then dissipate. The dragon screams in anger but does not appear injured. Teal'c looks at it in disbelief.]

MITCHELL
Oh, son of a bitch!

CARTER
Oh, not good.

MITCHELL
Teal'c! Run!

[Teal'c turns and runs toward the tree-line. The dragon gives chase on its feet.]

EXT—WOODS NEAR OPEN MEADOW, DAY

VALA

(falsely bright)

Hey Daniel! Now would be a really good time.

[Daniel lowers his P-90 and looks down, concentrating, as he speaks.]

DANIEL
Okay, the Parchment of Virtues said the Sangreal would belong to he who speaks the Guardian's name. The Guardian's name.

VALA
The Guardian is a dragon.

DANIEL

(realizing)

No, the Guardian is not a dragon. The Guardian is the person who set this whole thing up. The Guardian is Morgan Le Fay!

VALA
Right!

[Vala stands and begins to run toward the meadow.]

DANIEL
Wait! No!

MITCHELL
What the hell?

DANIEL
Wait!

[Daniel chases her, carrying his P-90. The dragon growls. Mitchell yells then stands and starts to follow, with Carter and Teal'c.]

EXT—OPEN MEADOW, DAY

[Vala runs up to where the dragon is standing and flapping its wings.]

VALA
Hey! Morgan Le Fay!

[The dragon stills for a moment, then screams and flaps its wings as if to attack.]

VALA
Daryl?

[Daniel arrives running.]

DANIEL
Ganos Lal!

[The dragon lifts off, then blinks into nothingness.]

MITCHELL

(from tree-line)

Wow.

DANIEL

(to Vala, breathing hard)

It's uh, Morgan's name in Ancient.

VALA

(smiling)

Yeah,I know.

[The others gather at the edge of the meadow, amazed and relieved. Adria steps up next to Mitchell, Ba'al on his other side.]

MITCHELL

(sarcastically)

Thanks for the assist.

BA'AL
Well to be honest, I wouldn't have been much use to you. My strengths lie in strategy and command whereas yours lie in armed combat and dealing with, uh…

CARTER
Dragons?

BA'AL
Clearly.

[They move off toward Daniel and Vala.]

INT—CAVERN OF THE SANGREAL

[The travelers are gathered around the red stone of the Sangreal. It appears solid.]

MITCHELL
It's real this time, right?

DANIEL
I don't see why not.

[Daniel tries to pick it up but once again, his hand passes through it. It is still a hologram.]

CARTER
Oh, come on!

[The blue diamond on the obelisk next to the dais suddenly lights up. It is a transportation device like that found on the planet of the Sodan. All of the travelers except Adria disappear.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[SG-1 and Ba'al materialize inside a large chamber with antique looking furniture and various structures, including a tall piece of stone. Torches around the room suddenly light on their own. The team shine their flashlights around the room.]

VALA
Okay, what just happened?

CARTER
I think we were transported into another chamber.

DANIEL
Where's Adria?

CARTER
I guess she didn't make it.

DANIEL
It must be some sort of security measure.

MITCHELL

I don't know…
(pointing to Ba'al with his flashlight)

it let him in.

DANIEL
I don't think Morgan was too concerned about the Goa'uld. It was the Ori she was worried about.

MITCHELL
You know, I'm not seeing anything around here that looks like a Sangreal. Which begets the question, what was she protecting?

CARTER
I think I know.

[Carter directs the team to see what she has found — an old man standing up and encased in what appears to be ice. There is Ancient writing on a stone plaque, set into the rock beside the man.]

DANIEL

(reading the Ancient)

"Here lies Myrddin, Archmage of the Round."

MITCHELL
All right, that's not a hologram. He's the Real McCoy, right?

DANIEL
I think so.

[Daniel steps closer to the encasement that holds the man, examining it.]

MITCHELL
How long has he been in there?

DANIEL
Well over a thousand years.

TEAL'C
We have encountered Ancient stasis technology such as this before. General O'Neill was kept in a similar pod in Antarctica.

[Mitchell walks over to Daniel.]

MITCHELL
So, how do we get him out?

DANIEL
I have no idea.

[Vala is investigating another part of the chamber.]

VALA
Hey guys! Look at this.

[She sees a device attached to the tall stone structure. It is an Ancient repository of knowledge device such as the one O'Neill put his head into twice. Daniel turns to see what she is talking about and is immediately alarmed.]

DANIEL
Vala, be careful!

[She steps toward the device and it activates, pushing the viewer toward her, but she ducks out of the way in time to avoid it.]

VALA
I—

[She sees past Daniel to where the stasis chamber is deactivating, freeing Merlin. Mitchell sees this as well.]

MITCHELL
Hey, Jackson!

[Merlin is now free and starts to collapse in the chamber.]

MITCHELL

(calling for help)

Jackson?

[Daniel and Mitchell each take one of Merlin's arms over their shoulders and maneuver him toward a large table.]

MITCHELL

(reacting to the weight of him)

Whoa. We got him.

DANIEL

(to Teal'c and Carter, asking them to clear the table)

Clear it off.

[They clear the table, and Teal'c places a pillow on it.]

MITCHELL
Oof, he's heavier than he looks.

[Daniel and Mitchell lay Merlin on the table. He is unmoving. Now they can see he has long gray hair and a long white beard. The team gather around him. He opens his eyes and starts to say a word, then sighs and falls unconscious again.]

VALA
No. He did not just—

DANIEL

(touching Merlin)

No, he's still alive. It may take him a while to revive completely.

CARTER

(taking off her pack)

All right. In the meantime, we should see if there's a way out of here.

[Carter and Mitchell walk away.]

BA'AL
Let us know what you find.

[Seeing that Ba'al doesn't intend to help, Teal'c grabs him by the front of his coat. Ba'al grabs Teal'c's arm but can't move him. He starts to move where Teal'c pushes him.]

BA'AL
Or, I could come too.

INT—TUNNELS NEAR MERLIN'S CHAMBER, DAY

[Mitchell, Carter, Teal'c and Ba'al make their way through, lighting their way with their flashlights.]

MITCHELL
Hey! There's daylight over here.

[He leads them to a cave opening.]

EXT—FIRST WORLD, DAY

[They are clearly on a different planet than where they found the Sangreal. It is a hot and windy desert world, and there is a DHD and Stargate just outside the cave. An obelisk like the one that had lit up just before they were transported from the cavern is sitting in the sand as well.]

MITCHELL

(pointing out the obvious)

You know, I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is different.

CARTER
We weren't just transported to another chamber, we were transported to another planet.

BA'AL
The gate must have been activated remotely, then the obelisk beamed us through the wormhole.

MITCHELL
Well, as far as I'm concerned, the more distance between us and Adria, the better.

CARTER
Except that she has the knowledge of the Ori. She knows as much about the gates and the DHDs as the people who built them. If anyone can track us, it's her.

MITCHELL
Yeah, except that.

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel and Vala investigate the chamber while waiting for Merlin to awaken.]

DANIEL
It's amazing how similar this is to the myth.

VALA
Hmm?

DANIEL
Supposedly, Morgan trapped Merlin in a cave and left him frozen there for all eternity. Only in reality, I think she was trying to protect him.

VALA
How do you mean?

DANIEL

(stepping to the opposite side of Merlin from her)

Well, I'm starting to think that maybe Morgan did destroy the Sangreal after all. I mean, she probably figured she had no choice. That if she didn't do it, the other Ancients would have just sent someone else.

VALA
So instead, she did the next best thing.

DANIEL
She preserved the one man capable of building it again.

[Mitchell and the others return from the surface.]

MITCHELL
Well, it's official: we are stuck here. Wherever "here" is. The good news is, we found a gate. Teal'c's watching it. Bad news is…

CARTER
We can't dial out. Somebody tampered with the DHD.

BA'AL
I can fix it. Reprogramming dialing devices is my speciality.

[As they speak, Merlin begins to stir awake. He tries to sit up.]

VALA

(seeing him move)

Whoops!

[Daniel and Vala rush to help Merlin sit up on the table.]

VALA
Guess who's coming around?

[Merlin turns and sits on the edge of the table. Daniel holds onto his arm.]

MERLIN
Where am I?

CARTER
Good question.

[Merlin takes notice of Carter.]

MERLIN

You look familiar.
(walking toward her)
Guinevere!
(hugging her)

Oh my dear, it's been too long.

CARTER

(uncomfortable)

Uh, it's good to see you, too.

MERLIN

(indicating Mitchell)

Percival!

[He turns and walks toward Daniel.]

MERLIN
And Galahad! Oh brave knights. Fortune indeed does smile upon me to see your faces again.

BA'AL
Looks like Merlin's drawbridge no longer goes all the way across the moat, if you catch my meaning.

MERLIN

(turning to Ba'al)

What's that? Mordred. I might have known it.

BA'AL
We're wasting our time with this old fool! We need to get back to the gate so I can start reprogramming—

MERLIN

(gesturing with one hand)

Be silent!

[Ba'al grabs at his throat and tries but fails to make any sounds. Merlin walks over to the circular platform. Ba'al looks annoyed.]

MITCHELL
Well, how do you like that? The old boy still has some tricks up his sleeve.

[Daniel walks over to Merlin and ends up facing him across the platform.]

DANIEL

(insistent)

Merlin? Myrddin! We need you to remember. About the Sangreal. About Morgan and about how you got here.

MERLIN
Morgan.

DANIEL
You also knew her as Ganos Lal.

MERLIN
I haven't heard that name spoken in a very long time.

DANIEL
We're not Knights of the Round Table.

MITCHELL
Though we are flattered by the comparison.

DANIEL
A thousand years have passed. We know who you really are. We know about Atlantis, and we've encountered the Ori.

MERLIN

(intensely)

Tell me more.

DANIEL

(at a loss)
I don't know where to begin.
(to the others)

This is gonna take a while.

MITCHELL

(to Daniel)

All right, we'll get started checking out the cave.

[He leaves a canteen on the platform, beside Daniel, and takes Daniel's flashlight.]

MITCHELL

(shining the flashlight in Ba'al's face)

Unless you have any objections. No? Great; move out.

[They leave Daniel, Vala, and Merlin in the cavern.]

EXT—VILLAGE, DAY

[The village is controlled by Ori soldiers. A soldier leads Adria through the square as other soldiers push villagers out of the way.]

ORI COMMANDER
Make way for the Orici!

[Adria approaches the Prior whom she has commanded before, with one eye scarred over.]

ADRIA
What happened?

PRIOR
The gate activated on its own, and only seconds later it closed again.

ADRIA

(irritated)

I don't suppose anyone saw the address.

PRIOR
No, Orici.

ADRIA

(sighing and rolling her eyes)
I'll need to examine the dialing device.
(to Guard)

Ready your men. As soon as I determine where they went, we're leaving.

ORI COMMANDER
Yes, Orici.

PRIOR
And what of the village?

ADRIA
Have they agreed to accept the teachings of Origin?

PRIOR
No.

ADRIA

(as if stating the obvious)

Then burn it.

[She walks away from the Prior.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel and Vala sit side by side on the table where Merlin had been lying. Merlin sits in the chair beside them.]

DANIEL
…And it was Morgan who finally led us to you. Of course, she couldn't come right out and tell us. She had to be annoyingly cryptic about the whole thing.

MERLIN
You have an unusual understanding of the way of Ascended Beings.

DANIEL
Yes, that's partly because I used to be one myself.

MERLIN
The human race could not have progressed that far in only a thousand years.

DANIEL
No, I had a little help. Her name was Oma Desala.

MERLIN
Of course. And what happened?

DANIEL
Well I, I guess I didn't exactly see eye-to-eye with The Others.

MERLIN
Ah, yes. I find myself in a similar position.

DANIEL
Yeah, I wasn't too good at the whole "non-interference thing." I guess there were a few arguments. At least that's the impression I got.

MERLIN
You don't remember?

DANIEL
No. In order to protect me, Oma erased it all from my mind and sent me back.

MERLIN

(standing, exasperated)

Oh, I'm surprised she still hasn't learned her lesson.

VALA
She's not the only one who broke some of the rules.

MERLIN
The Ori gain their power from the lower planes. So much so that one day they shall be strong enough to wipe The Others out. In the face of such a threat, the strict policy of non-interference is absurd.

DANIEL
I'm sure Oma would agree with you.

MERLIN

Oma concerns herself with the individual. She may have the best intentions, but then, so did the Ori when they first began.
(somberly, to Daniel)

Still, she must have seen something in you, to believe you to be worthy.

[As Daniel looks on, Merlin closes his eyes and lowers his head. Mitchell enters the cavern, followed by Carter and Ba'al.]

MITCHELL
This cave is a bust. There's nothing else here.

[Mitchell notes Merlin in something of a meditation pose.]

MITCHELL
Ah, how's it going?

DANIEL
I'm not exactly sure.

MERLIN

(waking, determined)

Before I agree to join with you, I need to know that you are willing to do whatever must be done to see it through.

VALA
Surely you have some idea of what we've been through to get here.

MERLIN
What you experienced so far is as nothing compared to what is to come.

[The team exchange concerned looks.]

MITCHELL
Don't worry about us. We're on board.

MERLIN
In that case, there's much work to be done.

[Merlin walks quickly to the knowledge download device. He places his hands below it, and two lighted handle-like devices extend to his hands. The viewer portion extends as well, to his face. The four-pronged pattern at the center of the circular platform lights up, and holograms of various small patterns appear above it.]

EXT—FIRST WORLD, DAY

[The gate sits near a large outcropping of rock that houses the cave.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Merlin is still in contact with the repository device. Vala looks at him, then looks at her watch and huffs in frustration. She walks over to Daniel, who is standing next to Carter. Mitchell and Ba'al sit nearby.]

VALA
He's been at it for hours, Daniel. Wanna take a guess at what he's doing?

[The hologram above the platform show models of molecules moving and joining.]

DANIEL
Well from the looks of it, I'd say he's virtually piecing something together from base molecules.

CARTER
Another Sangreal?

[Daniel shakes his head as if he doesn't know enough to say. Merlin suddenly steps away from the device, and it deactivates. He is very tired and stumbles backward. Daniel and Carter rush to help him walk.]

MERLIN
Thank you. I'm fine. Just, I just needed a rest.

[As they are helping, the chamber is filled with a strange light that shimmers across the space then disappears quickly.]

MITCHELL

(standing)

What was that?

TEAL'C

(over radio)

Colonels Mitchell and Carter: come quickly. You will want to see this.

[Carter hands Merlin off to Vala.]

MITCHELL

(tapping Ba'al on the shoulder)

Let's go.

[The three leave quickly.]

EXT—PLANET TWO, NIGHT

[Mitchell, Carter, and Ba'al join Teal'c. It is night, cold, windy, with snow flurries.]

TEAL'C
The gate activated on its own. The crystal on the obelisk began to glow, and then everything changed.

CARTER
I'll say.

MITCHELL
We've been transported to another planet.

CARTER
Well if Daniel's right and Morgan wanted to keep Merlin hidden, this would be a great way to do it. My guess is, we're traveling through a circuit of planets, cut off from the rest of the gate system by a deliberate alteration of the DHD program.

TEAL'C
Then you believe we will be unable to dial out from this gate as well.

CARTER
Well, we can give it a shot, but yeah, I doubt it'll work. Until we find the automatic dialing program in the DHD processor and shut it down.

MITCHELL
You can do that, right?

CARTER
I hope so.

[She climbs down the steep steps to the DHD. The obelisk is just beyond it.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Merlin sits on a divan, resting. Daniel and Vala sit beside each other on a bench next to him.]

MERLIN
I have lived many lifetimes. First… in Atlantis. Then… on Earth, before the dawn of your civilization. Then I joined the ranks of the Ascended. And finally, I returned to mortal form, to live out my remaining days among the noblemen of Arthur's Court. Or, so I thought. And through all these eons, only one thing has stayed the same: there is never enough time.

DANIEL

(comforting)

Well, we're safe for the moment. You can take all the time you need.

MERLIN
I slept too long. My body betrays me.

VALA
We're not about to let you give up now.

DANIEL
You realize what's at stake. If you don't help us, the Ori will take this galaxy.

MERLIN

(sighing in agreement)

One last task, then. Before I rest.

[Daniel and Vala help Merlin up. He walks over to the device and puts his hands together and touches his mouth, as if in preparation. He turns back to look at Daniel.]

MERLIN
Good luck, Doctor Jackson.

[Daniel glances at Vala, questioning. Merlin activates the device. After a moment, the normal green light is replaced by a bright white light that envelopes most of his head. After a moment, he is thrust backward and falls to the floor before Daniel or Vala can stop him. They kneel beside Merlin. His eyes are fixed open; he takes one last breath, then stops. Daniel puts his fingers on Merlin's neck, beneath his beard.]

VALA
What just happened?

DANIEL
He's dead.

[Some time later, Merlin lies on the table that he first rested on, his arms crossed over his chest. Vala sits in a chair nearby, and Daniel stands next to Merlin's body.]

CARTER

(reviewing what Daniel must have told her)

He said, "Good luck."

VALA

(standing)

Very strange. It's almost as if he knew it was going to happen.

MITCHELL
Which leaves us with no Sangreal and, for the moment, no way off this planet.

BA'AL
I told you I can fix the dialing device.

[The others look at him, surprised to hear him speak.]

BA'AL
Merlin's little trick with my vocal cords expired at the same moment he did.

TEAL'C
Yet another reason to mourn his passing.

BA'AL
Joke all you want, Teal'c, but I am the only one who can get us out of here.

CARTER

(to Mitchell)

He is good with dialing programs. Maybe if we work together…

EXT—PLANET TWO, NIGHT

[Carter works at the DHD using a tablet computer while Mitchell and Teal'c look on and patrol. Blizzard-like conditions continue.]

CARTER
I'm having trouble finding the relocation program. It must be buried in one of the correlative subroutines.

BA'AL
We'll never find it using those search protocols. I'm gonna have to make some adjustments to your program.

MITCHELL
How much longer is this gonna take?

BA'AL
It's impossible to say. All I know for sure is it would have been a lot easier on that nice, warm desert planet.

[He takes the table computer from Carter.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel stands beside Merlin's body, concentrating.]

DANIEL
He said he had one more thing to do before he could rest.

VALA
Huh! I thought he meant, build us another weapon.

DANIEL
No, you were right before. He knew he didn't have enough time.

[He walks over to the knowledge device, which is still extended from the stone.]

DANIEL
Now this is obviously some sort of virtual interface, like a computer-assisted design program. Only in the past, we've seen it used to download information into someone's mind.

VALA
What sort of information?

DANIEL
All the knowledge of the Ancients.

VALA
That's a lot.

DANIEL
Yes. As a matter of fact, it's too much for a human brain to handle. It's fatal. But what if you could control it? Use it to store and load something more specific.

VALA
Like?

DANIEL
I'm not sure.

[He looks behind himself, toward Merlin's body. Vala turns to look as well. Having distracted her, Daniel suddenly turns back, steps up to the device, and grabs the handles. The device activates, its green light shining on Daniel's face.]

VALA
Hey!

[Daniel closes his eyes, shuddering, but a bright light approaches. Vala looks on, worried.]

EXT—PLANET TWO, NIGHT

VALA

(over radio)

Vala here. I'm going to need some help.

MITCHELL
What is it?

VALA
It's Daniel.

MITCHELL

(to Carter)

Keep working!

CARTER

(wanting to join him)

Cam!

MITCHELL

(indicating Ba'al)

I do not trust him to finish on his own, Sam!

[Mitchell rushes back toward the cave.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Mitchell comes running in to find Vala on the floor, holding an unconscious Daniel. Vala is resting her head on his and looks distraught.]

MITCHELL

(admonishing)

Jackson?

[He kneels beside them and grabs Daniel's vest.]

MITCHELL

Jackson!
(to Vala)

What did he do?

EXT—FIRST WORLD, DAY

[Adria has found the first planet. She stares at the DHD and obelisk, surrounded by Ori soldiers. The Prior approaches her.]

PRIOR
The planet is lifeless. There is no one here.

ADRIA
They were here. I'm certain of it.

PRIOR
What would you have us do?

ADRIA
Lead the men in prostration. I will inform you when I have the next address.

PRIOR
Yes, Orici.

[She walks up to the DVD and holds her gloved hand over it. The glyphs light up rapidly in a seemingly random pattern.]

EXT—SECOND WORLD, NIGHT

[Ba'al stands up from where he has been working at the base of the DHD.]

BA'AL
Try it now!

[Carter activates something on her tablet.]

CARTER

(shaking her head)

I'm still not reading any anomalies.

BA'AL

(rubbing his hands to warm them)

This is ridiculous! I can't— I can't be expected to work like this! I can barely see, my fingers are numb! I say, we go back inside, we warm up, we take our chances on the next planet.

TEAL'C
How do you know it will not be worse?

[The glyphs on the DHD start lighting, and the gate chevrons begin activating.]

CARTER
We're about to find out!

[The three gather and watch the DHD.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel is seated, his head in his hands. Seated beside him is Vala. Mitchell walks by and pats her on the shoulder. She smiles at him. The flash of light indicating they have moved flashes again. Vala flinches in surprise.]

VALA
Ooh! Merlin's gone.

[The table where Merlin's body had lain is empty.]

MITCHELL

Well that's just… weird.
(into radio)

Sam, what just happened?

EXT—THIRD PLANET, DAY

[The planet is slightly foggy, with dead leaves all over the ground. The DHD, obelisk, and Stargate are just where they have been in relation to each other and the cave.]

CARTER
The obelisk transported us to another planet. I think it's scheduled to go off every couple of hours.

MITCHELL

(over radio)

How are things out there?

CARTER

(into radio)

Well, it's a little spooky, but at least it's warm. How's Daniel?

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel is hunched over, his hands covering his ears.]

MITCHELL

(into radio)

He's… sitting up. I'll get back to you on the rest.

[Daniel slowly raises his head. He's not wearing his glasses.]

VALA

(reaching for a canteen)

Hey!

[Mitchell crouches in front of Daniel.]

MITCHELL
How you doing, Sunshine?

[Daniel looks at Mitchell with some confusion, blinking slowly.]

DANIEL

He was right.
(smiling)

You do look like Percival.

MITCHELL
Excuse me?

DANIEL
We spent a lot of time in this room.

VALA
Who did?

DANIEL

We did.
(correcting himself)

He did. Merlin. Sorry, it's a little confusing having two sets of memories in your head. He wasn't kidding about living many lifetimes.

[Daniel suddenly stands, using Mitchell's shoulder as leverage. He takes a few steps away from them.]

VALA
You have Merlin's memories?

DANIEL
Some of them. Earth, Atlantis, and the different medieval societies he set up throughout the galaxy. And the work he did in this lab.

MITCHELL
Hey, whoa, hey, hey, hang on a second. Are you telling me you can build the Sangreal?

DANIEL
He knew he didn't have the strength to finish it. His body had deteriorated too much during the stasis. So he gave me the knowledge.

[Daniel steps up to the knowledge device and activates it. The green light shines, and holographic images of small pieces of the Sangreal come to life.]

MITCHELL
Wait!

[The holographic pieces start assembling themselves.]

DANIEL
I can see it now. I can do this.

[Mitchell looks torn. Vala steps up to him.]

MITCHELL
Twice a device like that almost killed General O'Neill. Both times, it took the Asgard to save him.

VALA
Daniel thought that this device might be different. That somehow the information could be limited.

MITCHELL
I hope he's right.

[The holographic pieces continue to assemble.]

EXT—PLANET TWO, NIGHT

[Adria is there with her guards and the Prior. A guard comes out from the cave.]

ORI COMMANDER
We found the body of an old man. Dead. Apart from that, there's nothing here.

ADRIA
This is beginning to try my patience.

PRIOR
Is there no other way we can track them?

ADRIA
No. But each time, I'm able to determine their destination more quickly than the last. Sooner or later, we will catch up to them.

[Adria places her hand over the DHD as she did before.]

EXT—THIRD PLANET, DAY

[Carter and Ba'al continue to work on the DHD, with Teal'c keeping watch.]

CARTER
Maybe we're barking up the wrong tree, here. Maybe the relocation program isn't in the DHD processor at all.

BA'AL

What, the obelisk?
(laughing)

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about.

CARTER
Says the brainiac who spent three days trapped in that force field.

BA'AL
That technology is strictly used for localized transport.

CARTER
Yeah, I know. I mean it's obviously what's beaming us through the gate every time there's an open wormhole. But what if it also contains a remote dialer?

BA'AL
It's one thing to send someone here and there on the surface of the planet. It's quite another to send them half way across the galaxy. It's like, uh, comparing a laptop to a super computer.

CARTER
Well, it wouldn't have to contain the entire navigational system, now would it? Just a command code sufficient to override normal dialing protocols.

BA'AL
Yes. But to borrow a rather quaint human phrase: "why hide a needle in a small haystack, when you can use an enormous one?" It wouldn't be much of a security measure if it could be discovered by the first Tau'ri female that comes along, would it, now?

[Teal'c turns to look at him. Carter turns around slowly as well.]

CARTER
I'm sorry, are you dismissing my idea out of hand because I'm human or because I'm a woman?

BA'AL
Huh. A little of both, I suppose.

CARTER

(smiling falsely)

You know what, I'll check it myself.

[She walks up to the obelisk with a small scanner.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel is still working with the knowledge device. Several large pieces join to form a disk-shaped object. It settles to the top of the platform and materializes. The machine shuts off. Daniel steps away, rubbing his eyes and stumbling a bit.]

MITCHELL
What is that?

DANIEL
Stage one. The first step towards creating Merlin's weapon.

VALA
It's real?

[She touches it.]

DANIEL

(breathing heavily)

Yeah. That's exactly what this device does. It allows you to design and configure something virtually and then materializes it.

MITCHELL
Just like O'Neill did when he created the anti-Replicator weapon.

[Daniel nods agreement.]

VALA
I thought the Sangreal was a tiny red jewel.

DANIEL
No, that's the— that's the final stage. The key to making the whole thing work.

MITCHELL
So, how long before you can put the whole thing together?

[Daniel suddenly leans forward against the platform and raises a hand to his face.]

VALA
Daniel?

DANIEL

(unzipping and removing his vest)

No. I'm all right, I'm all right. It's just, this machine takes a lot out of you. The uh, level of concentration required is pretty intense.

[He holds his hand to his eye.]

VALA
Can I get you anything?

DANIEL
Water.

VALA
Sure.

[She turns and steps over to the table where the canteen is. As she reaches for it, it flies through the air to Daniel, whose hand is outstretched. He pulls it from the air. Mitchell stands up straight in shock.]

DANIEL

(ironically)

Okay, that happened.

[He unscrews the cap from the canteen.]

DANIEL
It's interesting. Jack got healing powers; I guess I got telekinesis.

[He takes a drink. He is still leaning against the platform with his other hand.]

VALA
Jack also almost died! Now you said that this device might be different.

DANIEL
I'll be fine.

MITCHELL
That's crap! She's right, you don't get fancy mind powers unless there has been major redecorating going on inside your skull!

DANIEL
Look, obviously, creating the weapon requires a higher level of brain function. Now, Merlin would have foreseen that. Trust me, I can handle this.

[He drinks more water.]

EXT—THIRD PLANET, DAY

[Carter has a panel on the obelisk open and is examining the control pathways.]

CARTER
Damn it!

[Ba'al continues to use the tablet computer attached to the DHD. Carter reluctantly approaches him and clears her throat. He looks up.]

BA'AL
What do you want?

CARTER
I need your help. Look, I still think I'm right about the obelisk, but I can't make heads or tails of its programming.

BA'AL

(chuckling)

Well, that's hardly surprising. I mean, I know where you come from, you're considered relatively intelligent, but by galactic standards that's not really saying much. Wouldn't you agree?

[Carter starts to turn away, then turns back and punches Ba'al in the face. He falls to the ground, clutching at his nose.]

CARTER
You know, if you're not gonna help, then you're really not much use to us. And if you're not much use to us, then there's really no point in keeping you alive any longer. Wouldn't you agree?

[He sits up, chuckling nervously. His nose is bleeding. He looks to Teal'c, who smiles at him.]

BA'AL
I'd, uh, be delighted to help.

[He reaches his hand out to her for her to help him up. She smiles at him falsely.]

CARTER
Great to hear it.

[She reaches for his hand, but instead of pulling him up, she slaps the small sensor into his hand. She walks away, and he starts laughing to himself.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel is working the machine again. A second disk-shaped piece lowers from the holographic field and materializes on top of the first stage. The machine deactivates.]

MITCHELL

(looking at the platform)

Stage two.

DANIEL
Indeed.

[He steps back haltingly from the device.]

DANIEL
I must rest. I'm not as young as I used to be.

[He walks to the divan as if he is an old man, with Merlin's halting walk. He sits sideways on the couch. Vala walks over and crouches in front of him, putting a hand on his knee.]

VALA
Daniel? Are you all right?

DANIEL
I know you.

VALA
Well of course you do, silly. It's me! Vala!

[She smiles. He smiles back and puts his hand along the side of her face.]

DANIEL
I had the strangest dream. Everything was covered in ice.

[Vala looks up at Mitchell with concern. Daniel is breathing hard, his eyes glazed and his mouth partly open.]

MITCHELL

Jackson!
(touching his shoulder)

Daniel.

[Daniel flinches, takes a deep breath, and comes back to himself.]

DANIEL
What's going on?

[He looks behind him, but Vala pulls his face back toward her.]

VALA

(concerned)

We're losing you, that's what's going on. Every time you come back from that machine, it gets a little worse. And don't tell me you're fine.

[She is teary-eyed.]

DANIEL

(breathing heavily)

No. No, I just have too many thoughts in my head. I—I can't concentrate. I get confused.

VALA
You have to fight it.

DANIEL

(putting his fingers to his temples)

No, no, no! That's the thing; I have to let it happen. That's the only way I can build Merlin's weapon.

[Vala looks at Mitchell as if pleading. He looks worried but doesn't react. Daniel pushes himself up from the couch and stumbles toward the machine. Mitchell touches his arm and pats him on the back as he passes.]

VALA

(to Mitchell)

Hey, you have to tell him that he doesn't have to do this. He'll listen to you.

MITCHELL
Oh, what team have you been on? Besides, we need this one.

VALA
What makes you think we'll even be allowed to use it? The Ancients didn't let Merlin get away with it last time—

MITCHELL

(raising a finger to her)

Vala, Vala… sh— shut up. For once. We have to take the risk.

[He walks away from her. Behind them, Daniel has reactivated the device.]

VALA

(calling after him)

What? This is all about noble sacrifice for you, isn't it?

[She catches up to him. They are out of earshot of Daniel.]

MITCHELL
Oh uh, I'm sorry, what about you?

VALA
What?

MITCHELL
When you flew that cargo ship into the gap of the Supergate, you knew damned well that you might not come out the other side alive.

VALA
No, that was different.

[She turns away from him. He takes her arm.]

MITCHELL
Yeah, different because you were the one taking the risk.

[They struggle for a moment as she tries to step away and he grabs her vest with both hands. She stills.]

MITCHELL

(somberly and intensely)

Well now you know that the hard part about being part of this team is not risking your own life. It's watching your friends take chances with theirs. Congratulations. Now you really are one of us.

[He walks away as she remains, tears in her eyes.]

EXT—THIRD PLANET, DAY

[Teal'c walks around the obelisk where Carter and Ba'al are working on a panel. He stands behind them.]

CARTER
It's a command override. I can't believe we actually found it.

TEAL'C
Clearly you work well together.

[They both look at Teal'c in surprise and discomfort.]

CARTER
Well, now that we've identified the program, it should be a simple matter to shut it down.

EXT—SECOND PLANET, NIGHT

[The Ori soldiers stand in formation in front of the gate. Adria continues to work on the DHD mentally, the glyphs lighting very quickly. The gate begins to dial.]

ADRIA

(smiling)

Ready your men. It's time.

ORI COMMANDER
Yes, Orici.

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel shuts down the machine.]

MITCHELL
What is it?

DANIEL
Get to the gate, now.

MITCHELL
Why?

[Daniel turns toward them, a look of fear on his face.]

DANIEL
They're coming.

EXT—THIRD PLANET, DAY

[The gate begins to dial.]

CARTER
Incoming wormhole!

[Teal'c approaches. Ba'al takes cover behind the DHD. Carter moves behind the obelisk and draws her P-90. The wormhole activates. Teal'c goes to his knee and raises his weapon. Ori soldiers begin to come through, and Teal'c and Carter shoot them. But they are not able to get all the soldiers, and some begin to take positions in the woods and fire back with their Ori staff weapons.]

BA'AL
Hold them here! I'll get help!

[Ba'al stands but is immediately shot by a soldier using a wrist-mounted stun weapon. He falls. Mitchell and Vala exit the caves already firing. They take out several guards, but more are still coming. The obelisk activates.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Adria materializes inside the chamber. Daniel is partially sitting on the table, clearly weakened.]

ADRIA
Doctor Jackson.

[He rubs his eyes, stands, and moves toward her.]

DANIEL
You're too late.

ADRIA
You haven't completed the weapon. I'd say I'm just in time.

DANIEL
And I'd say things are different now.

EXT—THIRD PLANET, DAY

[The sky above is now filled with dark grey, roiling clouds. Lightening forms and travels down to the ground, hitting each of the Ori soldiers, striking them dead. The team looks on in shock. The gate has now deactivated.]

INT—MERLIN'S CHAMBER

[Daniel falls to his knees.]

ADRIA
Draining isn't it? Instead of helping your friends, you should have saved your energy to deal with me.

[She crouches beside him.]

DANIEL
Would it have made a difference?

[She takes his face in her gloved hand and turns it toward her.]

ADRIA

(smiling)

Probably not.

EXT—THIRD PLANET, DAY

[The battle is over.]

MITCHELL
What was that?

CARTER

(jogging back to the DHD and dialing)

I don't know, but I say we don't stick around to find out. Let's dial out of here before anyone else can dial in.

VALA
I'm gonna go check on Daniel.

[She turns to the cave. Daniel literally comes flying out of the cave and lands on the ground beside the DHD. Mitchell and Vala go to him. Carter looks on in shock.]

VALA
Daniel?

[Adria comes to the mouth of the cave. Mitchell, Carter, and Teal'c fire at her, but her personal shield protects her. After a moment, they stop.]

MITCHELL
Why do I bother?

VALA

(standing)

Adria, I want you to stop this right now!

ADRIA
I'm sorry it has to be this way, Mother.

[She raises her hand slightly. Red energy tendrils form in it. She launches the energy toward Vala and the others. Daniel jumps up and puts himself in the way. He holds up his left hand and fires white energy back at her. The two energy forms fight each other.]

DANIEL

(with great effort)

Get through the gate, now!

CARTER
We're not leaving you here!

DANIEL
I'll be right behind you!

[Mitchell grabs Vala and takes her to the gate and into the wormhole. Carter and Teal'c reluctantly follow. They leave Ba'al behind. Daniel and Adria continue to battle. Finally she stops, and so does he. He falls to the ground. The gate deactivates. Adria walks over to him and smiles slightly. He is conscious but too weak to move.]

EXT—CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAY

INT—DANIEL'S OFFICE

[Vala holds a notebook in one hand and types on Daniel's computer with the other. Carter and Teal'c are inside the office. Mitchell stands in the doorway.]

VALA

(frustrated)

There has to be a way we can get back to that planet.

CARTER
A DHD buffer typically holds that last fifty addresses that were dialed, and we went through three gates before getting there. We've got a lot of planets to check.

VALA
Adria found a way around the problem.

TEAL'C
Even if we could return to the planet, at this point, I fear it will do us little good.

[Vala pounds on the keys and grunts in frustration. Carter walks up to her and stops her. Vala steps away and walks past Teal'c toward Mitchell.]

VALA
At least we'd be doing something.

[She walks past Mitchell. He grabs her arm to stop her.]

MITCHELL
Merlin gave Daniel some pretty valuable intel. Adria knows that.

[Vala looks away.]

MITCHELL
Hey! She'll keep him alive.

[Vala calms down and taps Mitchell on the hand. He lets her go, and she leaves.]

EXT—HYPERSPACE

[An Ori warship moves through hyperspace.]

INT—ORI WARSHIP

[Daniel sits on the floor at the edge of a large, empty room. His knees are drawn up, and he rests his head on his hands. Adria appears outside the translucent door then enters.]

ADRIA
How are you feeling?

DANIEL

(chuckling slightly)
I don't suppose you know what a hangover is.
(sighing at her confused look)

Never mind.

[In the light, blood and bruises are visible on his face, from their earlier fight.]

ADRIA
I know the burden must be awful. Your brain simply wasn't built to handle that much information.

[He throws his head back.]

DANIEL
Well, whatever I had, it's gone. Along with what feels like half my brain cells.

ADRIA
You'll forgive me if I don't take your word for it.

[He looks at her with surprise.]

ADRIA
Now rest. We have a lot of work to do.

[Daniel looks very concerned.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Stargate Solutions by Michelle, January 2007.

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--Michelle 15:12, 20 January 2007 (PST)