SGA 2.11 "The Hive Part 2" Transcript

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2.11 "The Hive Part 2"

Episode Guide

SGA 2.11 "The Hive Part 2" Episode Guide

Précis

The effects of the enzyme’s grip on the Atlantis team begin to wear off, sending them into withdrawal as they look to escape from the Wraith hive ship.

Guide | Transcript

Transcript

TEASER

INT—QUEEN'S ROOM ON WRAITH SHIP

[Following on from 2.10 "The Lost Boys", Sheppard is on his knees, being interrogated by the Wraith Queen. She walks around him before speaking.]

QUEEN
The ship…where did you get it?

[She uses mind control to force him to answer.]

SHEPPARD

(struggling not to speak)

You mean the Dart? We call them Darts 'cause they're so pointy.

QUEEN
Tell me. Where?

SHEPPARD
I really don't want to say.

[She hits him in the shoulder. Then she caresses his face.]

SHEPPARD
I don't even know your name.

QUEEN
In time…you will tell me every—

[The Queen stops talking and hisses. She leaves abruptly.]

SHEPPARD
"Every" what? What's wrong?

[Two Wraith take him by the arms and start to escort him out.]

SHEPPARD
She didn't even tell me her name.

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Ronon, Teyla, Ford and his men are waiting when Sheppard arrives with his Wraith guards. They open the cell and push him in. He falls to the floor.]

TEYLA
Colonel? Are you unharmed?

SHEPPARD

(sitting up)

Yeah.

RONON
Where'd they take you?

SHEPPARD
A little Q & A with the queen of the Hive.

FORD
What'd you tell her?

SHEPPARD
It was a short conversation. She walked out.

FORD
Why?

SHEPPARD
I don't know. Maybe she was late for a meeting.

TEYLA
No. There's something else. I sensed she was agitated, even angry.

SHEPPARD
Why?

EXT—SPACE

[A Hive ship exits hyperspace just beside the first ship.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

TEYLA
Another Hive ship has arrived.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT—SPACE

[The two Hive ships appear to be docked in space.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

SHEPPARD
Are you sure there's another ship?

TEYLA
I sense it. Close by.

SHEPPARD
Maybe they're planning on culling the planet together.

FORD
Or they're going to fight for it.

KANAYO
Either way, the planet's only a few days away, so we don't have much time if we still intend to stop them.

SHEPPARD
All right, first things first. How to get out. Any luck?

RONON
Not yet.

FORD
Don't worry. I'll figure a way out.

SHEPPARD
I was afraid you were going to say that.

INT—DINING ROOM IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay speaks quickly and nervously to Ford's men who stayed behind.]

MCKAY
Okay, they definitely should've been back by now. Seriously, am I the only one who thinks that maybe things haven't gone according to plan?

BOUNCER
Yes.

MCKAY
Okay, look, we can't just sit here. We need we need— we need to do something.

BOUNCER
Like what?

MCKAY
Like go get help. Look, we can dial the Stargate back to Atlantis where we have a ship, a fast ship with—with—with shields. We can fly to the Hive and rescue them if we need to.

BOUNCER
Can't dial the gate, remember? Ford removed the control crystals from the dialing device.

MCKAY
Yes, I know that. But here's the good news. You're the ones guarding them. Look, all you have to do is get me the crystals. I can fix the DHD and look, you just have to walk into Ford's little room back there and get them.

BOUNCER
We're not giving you anything.

MCKAY
Then I can't dial the gate.

BOUNCER
That's what I said.

MCKAY
What is this, an Abbott and Costello routine? Look, just give me the damn crystals.

[McKay tries to enter Ford's office, but the two minders stop him, one aiming a gun at him.]

BOUNCER
You want the crystals, you're going to have to go through us.

MCKAY
Unbelievable.

[McKay pushes on the gun and walks away in disgust.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard studies the wall across from their cell.]

SHEPPARD
Last time we were in one of these ships, McKay was able to open a door by cutting right into the wall.

[Ford holds up a small knife.]

FORD
You mean, like, with a knife?

SHEPPARD
You have a knife?

FORD
One for them to find, one to keep. Everybody knows that.

SHEPPARD
Right. I forgot all about that rule.

FORD
Well, it's a good thing I'm here.

SHEPPARD
Right. Now, just take your time—

[Ford throws the knife into the wall, but nothing happens.]

SHEPPARD
I said take your time.

FORD
I hit the exact spot you were pointing at!

SHEPPARD
All right, all right. Anybody else have a knife?

[Ronon pulls a knife from his wrist guard. Sheppard roles his eyes. Ronon throws the knife at the wall, and some of the lights go out.]

SHEPPARD
Getting warmer.

[Ronon pulls out another knife.]

SHEPPARD
How many of those things have you got?

RONON
How many do you need?

INT—DINING ROOM IN FORD'S CAVE

[The two minders play a board game while McKay sits nearby. McKay checks his watch and gets up.]

INT—LAB IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay enters with a determined look. He goes to a glass cabinet full of bottles.]

MCKAY

(talking to himself)

Okay. You can take them out, easy. Just a few well-placed karate chops, and—and—and—and—and then down they go. Piece of cake.

(stepping away in doubt)

That's…What are you, an idiot?

(going back)

Desperate times, desperate measures.

[He opens the cabinet. He reaches for a small vial of the enzyme, but takes a entire bottle instead.]

MCKAY

(holding up the bottle)

That's one hell of a karate chop.

INT—WRAITH CELL

[There are now four knives stuck in the Wraith wall panel. Ronon pulls one more, from his hair.]

SHEPPARD
You must have a hell of a time going through airports.

[Ronon throws the knife at the panel. The panel lights up for a moment, and the cell door opens. Sheppard sees Ford inject himself with enzyme.]

SHEPPARD
Ford, what the hell are you doing?

FORD
That's the last of it.

RONON
What about the rest of us?

FORD
You don't need it.

RONON

(angry)

You don't know that.

[Sheppard stops Ford from leaving the cell first.]

SHEPPARD
We're heading to the Dart bay. Stay together, and stay quiet.

INT—LAB IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay has injected himself with the entire bottle of enzyme. He grunts and breathes hard.]

MCKAY
Lock and load.

INT—DINING ROOM IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay attacks the two minders without warning. He throws the bouncer across the room.]

BOUNCER
Ah!

[McKay breaks a bottle over the other one's head then punches him, knocking him down.]

MCKAY
And that's what happens when you back a brilliant scientist into a corner!

[He turns and gets punched by the bouncer. McKay kicks him in the groin, knocking him to the ground.]

MCKAY
Focus. Focus…

INT—FORD'S OFFICE IN CAVE

[McKay searches through drawers and finds the crystals.]

MCKAY
Control crystals.

[He takes them and leaves, breathing heavily.]

EXT—SPACE

[The two Hives move through sub-space.]

INT—HIVE CORRIDOR

[The team rushes along. Teyla stops them.]

TEYLA
Wait. They are coming.

[A Wraith soldier appears.]

FORD
I got it.

SHEPPARD
Ford!

[The soldier shoots Ford, but it doesn't stop him. He struggles with the solidier until Ronon is ready to fire.]

RONON
Move!

[Ronon shoots the soldier.]

KANAYO
More coming!

SHEPPARD
This way.

[Sheppard leads them away from at least four more Wraith.]

EXT—NEAR DHD ON FORD'S PLANET

[McKay works on the DHD.]

MCKAY

(talking to himself in a high-pitched, nervous voice)

Big dose. Big, big dose. But you needed it. You needed it to lay out the guards. Idiots. "You want the crystals? You're going to have to go through us." Well, I went through you, all right, didn't I? Like a hot knife through Jell-O. No, wait. Butter. Hot knife through butter. Oh, man, am I hungry. Okay, shut up, Rodney. Focus. Must finish dialing. Please, please work, please please please.

[The gate engages.]

MCKAY
Okay, go home.

INT—WEB AREA ON HIVE SHIP

[Sheppard and the others find humans wrapped in Wraith webs. One calls for help.]

NEERA
Help us…please…help us.

SHEPPARD
She's alive.

TEYLA
So is this one.

SHEPPARD
Let's get them out of here.

[They start to free the humans.]

FORD
We don't have time to stop. This isn't the mission.

SHEPPARD
There is no mission, Ford. There's just your stupid plan.

FORD
If you hadn't screwed up—

SHEPPARD
Look, the sooner you stop arguing with me and help me save these people, the quicker we get out of here.

INT—ATLANTIS GATE CONTROL ROOM

[The Stargate is active.]

TECHNICIAN
Unscheduled activation! Doctor McKay's IDC.

WEIR
Lower the shield.

INT—ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[McKay comes rushing through the 'gate.]

MCKAY

(holding up one arm)

I know what I need to do!

WEIR
Rodney? What's happened? Hey, where are the rest of—

[McKay is sweating and speaks in a rambling fashion.]

MCKAY
There's no time, no time. The planet, not Ford's, the one the ship's headed towards we need to get there and don't have much time. I was barely able to escape myself, but I managed to take out the guards. Oh, you should've seen me. I was amazing. I wish we got it on camera, because—that's not the point—

WEIR
Rodney, slow down. Are you all right?

MCKAY
Yes. Yes. I mean, I don't know. I mean I had to take out the guards, and they were huge and dumb and stupid—

WEIR
What guards?

MCKAY
Ford's guards. Didn't I mention Ford?

WEIR
No, you didn't. You haven't mentioned Sheppard, Teyla, or Ronon either.

MCKAY
Yes! They were there too, and there were the two guards. They were huge and massive, and I had to take them out, so I had to inject some of the enzyme.

WEIR
You took some of the enzyme?

MCKAY
No, no, no, no, no no, no. I didn't take some of the enzyme. I took a lot of the enzyme, because I had to, because I had to take out the guards, which I did. And you should've seen me. I was amazing!

WEIR
Are you insane?

MCKAY
Yes. Yes. Now that I've taken the enzyme, yes!

WEIR
Rodney, focus. Where is Colonel Sheppard?

MCKAY
No, no, no, I had to take the enzyme, because…because I had to take out the guards! But that's not the point. The point is we don't have enough time. We need to stop the ship from getting to where the ship is going.

WEIR
Come on, come on, let's take a walk down to the infirmary. All right?

MCKAY
Where are we going? What are you doing? No, no, no, no, no. I don't want to go to the infirmary. I want to go to the, uh…the um…

[McKay collapses to the floor.]

WEIR

(into radio)

Dr. Beckett, we have an emergency. We're headed to you.

INT—WEB AREA ON HIVE SHIP

[Sheppard and the others free the humans. Wraith soldiers rush in. Ronon fires on them.]

SHEPPARD
Move! Ahh!

[Sheppard and Teyla each try to life a human victim, but they are both shot by stunners. Ford and Kanayo fight on, but are eventually stunned as well. The soldiers take Neera and drag Ford away.]

EXT—SPACE

[The Hives travel through hyperspace.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Teyla is seated on the floor and wakes slowly. Ronon is already awake.]

RONON
Are you all right?

TEYLA
I think so.

KANAYO
You were shot by Wraith stunners. You both went down pretty quick. The effects of the enzyme must be wearing off.

TEYLA
Where are the others?

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard wakes up in a different cell. Ford is there, as is Neera.]

FORD
Feeling better? Her name's Neera. Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard.

SHEPPARD

(to Neera)

Hi.

(to Ford)

Where are the others?

FORD

They split us up into separate cells. I guess the Wraith figure keeping us in smaller groups will make it tougher to escape.

(angrily)

We shouldn't have stopped.

SHEPPARD
What's done is done, Lieutenant.

FORD
No. First, you set off the alarms, and then you stop to rescue people when you know damn well the Wraith are on our tail? It's like you're purposefully sabotaging this mission. You hate to see me succeed at anything.

SHEPPARD
You got a lot of issues to work out, Ford.

FORD
Teyla and Ronon went down too quick when they were shot. The enzyme's wearing off.

SHEPPARD
Are you feeling anything yet?

FORD
Not yet…but I will. It's happened before when I've run out of the enzyme.

[They both stand.]

FORD
It gets pretty bad. So we've got to figure a way out of here. No more unnecessary stops.

[Sheppard and Neera exchange looks.]

EXT—ATLANTIS, EVENING

INT—ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Weir escorts Caldwell in.]

BECKETT
Colonel Caldwell. I didn't think you were due back here for days.

CALDWELL
Dr. Weir requested that we join the search ASAP, so we pushed the engines a little.

WEIR
How is he?

BECKETT
I've sedated him, administered a beta-blocker to bring his blood pressure down to a more manageable level. It's a wonder he didn't suffer a stroke.

[McKay is lying on a bed, his hands restrained. He has an oxygen mask on. His eyes are closed, but he moves restlessly.]

CALDWELL
Did he mention anything further about the location of Colonel Sheppard and his team?

BECKETT
Nothing coherent, I'm afraid. By the time he arrived here he was hyperventilating, pulse extremely rapid. He could barely get out a word. Although being Rodney, he certainly tried.

WEIR
How much of the enzyme did he take?

BECKETT
A very big dose, I'm afraid. I found a significant amount of it in his system; nearly as much as Lieutenant Ford.

WEIR
All right. Can you wean him off it?

BECKETT
I wish I could. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Ford took the last supply of our enzyme when he left Atlantis, so an incremental withdrawal is out of the question.

CALDWELL
Unless we harvest more enzyme.

BECKETT
Not an option. By the time we go out and collect it, the enzyme will have broken down in his system already. No, I'm afraid, for Rodney, the only choice is…

CALDWELL
Cold turkey.

BECKETT
Aye, to put it bluntly. I can administer some drugs to help ease the process, anti-nausea medication, pain reliever, benzodiazepine for anxiety, as well as a multivitamin injection to bolster the immune system.

WEIR
Good.

BECKETT
But there's no dodging the fact it's going to be difficult, possibly even deadly.

[They look at McKay, struggling in his sleep.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Ronon and Teyla appear sweaty and ill.]

TEYLA
You all right?

RONON
I'm just tired.

[Ronon lies down on a platform.]

KANAYO
No. The enzyme's leaving your bodies. Mine too.

TEYLA
How bad will it get?

KANAYO
Bad. Maybe not for you. You guys haven't been on the enzyme for long… But me, on the other hand…

INT—WRAITH CELL

[In the other cell, Ford lies on the ground, shaking. Neera wipes his face with a cloth.]

FORD
Thank you.

SHEPPARD
How are you holding up, Lieutenant?

FORD
I'm okay. I just need to get my hands on some more enzyme. Then I'll be able to get us out of here.

SHEPPARD
We'll do it together, with or without the enzyme. We're a team, remember?

FORD
I remember.

INT—ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Awake, McKay struggles in the bed. The oxygen mask has been replaced by a cannula.]

MCKAY
Don't just stand there. Get me more enzyme.

BECKETT
We don't have any.

MCKAY
It's the cave. Ford's cave. He's got a whole cabinet of it. There's dozens of vials.

BECKETT

(leaning close)

Do you know the address?

MCKAY

(weakly)

No.

BECKETT
I'm sorry, Rodney.

MCKAY
You don't have to scream at me!

BECKETT
I'm not screaming.

MCKAY
Oh, this is fun for you, isn't it? Watching me like this.

BECKETT
I assure you it's not.

MCKAY

(frantic)

What is this? Payback? You're jealous, huh? You're jealous of how vital I am to this mission. Vital, vital. Jealous of how I get to go off-world, and you get stuck in this stupid pathetic excuse for a hospital.

BECKETT
You know that's not true.

MCKAY
Jealous I get all the women and you don't!

[The two nurses across the room look over.]

BECKETT
Excuse me?

MCKAY
Please, just give me a little enzyme, just enough to take the edge off. I'm dying here.

BECKETT
I told you we don't have any.

MCKAY
You think I don't know you're lying?

BECKETT
I'm not lying—

MCKAY
You are! You think I don't think you are, but you are. And don't think I won't forget it!

BECKETT

(confused)

What?

MCKAY

(crying)

I don't know. Just kill me.

BECKETT
I wish… It'll pass—

MCKAY

(shouting)

No. Don't shout. I am right here.

BECKETT

(to the nurses)

Perhaps we should move him to a more secluded area.

MCKAY
Why, so you can kill me in private? Stab another knife in my back, huh?

BECKETT

(gently)

Rodney…no one's trying to kill you.

MCKAY
You have no idea of the agony I'm going through.

BECKETT
Oh, I have an inkling.

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Kanayo writhes on the floor.]

TEYLA

Kanayo, you must be strong. Fight it. (to Ronon)

I do not know what else to do for him.

RONON
There's nothing we can do.

[Kanayo convulses and exhales, then stops moving. Teyla bends to check on him.]

TEYLA
Kanayo?

[She checks his pulse.]

TEYLA
He's dead.

RONON
Is that what's going to happen to us?

[A Wraith approaches with two soldiers. The Wraith hisses at what he sees in the cell. Ronon stares him down.]

RONON
One less for you to feed on.

[The Wraith soldier stuns Ronon, who falls but isn't completely unconscious. The Wraith opens the cell and steps in, staring down Teyla very closely.]

WRAITH
Take him.

[The soldier drags out Kanayo's body. The the Wraith and soliders leave.]

INT—ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Weir enters and finds Beckett sitting beside McKay's bed.]

WEIR
How is he?

BECKETT
Asleep, finally. Mercifully.

WEIR
Has he mentioned anything about Sheppard and the others?

BECKETT
No, not yet. Our conversation was of a different sort. I feel not unlike the priest in The Exorcist. But he's through the worst of it. The nausea has passed, his pulse has returned to normal, blood pressure in a more reasonable range considering he was borderline hypertensive before taking the enzyme.

WEIR
Good.

BECKETT
I hate to say it, but his stubbornness is probably what sustained him throughout the ordeal.

WEIR
We won't tell him that, though.

BECKETT
Aye. Mustn't feed the beast.

WEIR
No. You should get some rest. You look exhausted.

BECKETT
I'll stay with him just a wee bit longer, just to make sure he's out of the woods.

WEIR
Carson…nice work.

BECKETT
Thanks, Elizabeth.

[Weir smiles and leave.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Ford is struggling on the floor.]

SHEPPARD
Come on buddy. Hang in there. Don't leave us.

FORD
Sorry, sir.

SHEPPARD
No. None of that. Mission's not over, remember? We've still got to figure a way to get out of here. You hear me?

FORD
Yes, sir.

SHEPPARD
Aiden…you can make it through this.

[The Wraith arrives with two soldiers. They open the cell door and enter.]

WRAITH
Move away from him.

SHEPPARD
What are you going to do with him?

WRAITH
Move away.

SHEPPARD
He's sick.

WRAITH
That is why we're taking him.

[The soldiers pick up Ford and drag him out. The Wraith hisses at Sheppard and follows the soldiers out, closing the cell door.]

SHEPPARD

(calling after them)

Where? Where are you taking him?

NEERA
To a cocoon. It will preserve him, keep him from dying.

SHEPPARD
Until they're ready to feed.

EXT—SPACE

[The two Hive ships move through hyperspace.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard looks for weaknesses in the cell door.]

NEERA
I'm sorry. It's my fault you got caught. I should never have asked you to stop.

SHEPPARD
It's okay. I mean, trapped in one of those cocoons? No one can blame you for wanting out.

NEERA
Now your friend has taken my place.

SHEPPARD
Not for long. Not if I can help it.

NEERA

(doubtful)

How will you get us out of here?

SHEPPARD

(covering his doubt)

Okay, I haven't figured that part out yet, but when I do, it's going to be real impressive.

NEERA
The Wraith will not allow us to escape.

SHEPPARD
Yeah, well I try not to let them tell me what I can and can't do.

NEERA
You do not fear them?

SHEPPARD
The Wraith? Nah. Now, clowns, that's another story. Scare the crap out of me.

[Neera appears unconvinced.]

INT—WEIR'S OFFICE

[Weir is working when McKay enters, looking himself again.]

WEIR
Well, look at you.

MCKAY
Ah. Yes. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as the idiom goes.

WEIR
You gave us quite a scare.

MCKAY
Yeah, it was very strange. The whole time I was under the influence of the enzyme, it felt like I was perfectly lucid. Was eloquent, even. I mean, it was you who wasn't making any sense or listening to reason. It was very peculiar. I think I kind of understand how Ford must've been feeling this whole time.

WEIR
Rodney…what happened out there? And where are the others?

MCKAY
I don't know, exactly, but I think I can figure it out. I told you Ford's alive.

[The walk out toward the 'gate room.]

WEIR
You told me, but I didn't believe you.

MCKAY
The man is nothing if not resilient. He's been busy, too. He's gathered himself together a little gang, doped them all up on the enzyme. They're the ones that caught us, drugged us, and coerced Sheppard Teyla, and Ronon into joining them on a mission to destroy a Hive ship.

[McKay has sat down at a terminal in the control room.]

WEIR

(shocked)

A Hive ship?

MCKAY
Yeah. They managed to steal themselves a Dart. Like I said, he's been busy. Look, when they didn't return from the mission, I realized something had obviously gone wrong. Now, I have the coordinates to the planet that the Hive ship was headed towards to cull.

WEIR
So if the team is still alive, maybe captured on the ship, there's a chance we can rescue them.

MCKAY
Yeah, at the very least we can warn the planet of the impending culling.

WEIR
I'll alert Colonel Caldwell.

MCKAY
Very good.

[Weir leaves. McKay starts typing.]

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Teyla is sleeping and wakes up suddenly. Ronon is awake.]

RONON
How are you feeling?

TEYLA
Better. You?

RONON
Ready to get out of here.

TEYLA
Have you had any luck finding a way to escape?

RONON
I think our only chance is to try to create a diversion, try to overpower them next time they come in here.

TEYLA
Have you thought of Lieutenant Ford? If his withdrawal was as severe as Kanayo's…

RONON

(approaching her)

If it distracts you…you clear your mind of it. If it fuels your anger, use it.

INT—WRAITH CELL

SHEPPARD
Do you have anything sharp? Knife? Hairpin? Anything to puncture the skin on these walls?

NEERA
No.

SHEPPARD
It's just that everyone in my last cell had one, so…

NEERA
Your people were taken by the Wraith, too?

SHEPPARD
A few.

NEERA
My whole world was destroyed, my people taken and brought here. I watched as my own mother and younger brother were fed upon.

SHEPPARD
I'm sorry to hear that.

NEERA
We had no means to fight the Wraith. We are a simple, peaceful people.

SHEPPARD
We're peaceful, too, but the good news is, we have the means to put up a hell of a fight.

NEERA
You have fought the Wraith before?

SHEPPARD
Lots of times. Won some battles, lost some. War's not over by a long shot, but we're managing to hold our own.

NEERA
And the clowns?

SHEPPARD

(sincerely)

Clowns? Oh, yeah, the clowns. Yeah, we fight them, too. Entire armies spilling out of Volkswagens. We do our best to fight them off, but…they keep sending them in.

[Neera appears thoughtful.]

INT—CORRIDOR ON DAEDALUS

[McKay walks with Caldwell, Lorne, and Zelenka.]

MCKAY
According to Ford's intel, Edowin has a space gate. We can get there quickly in a puddle jumper, but we wouldn't be able to do much more than just warn people of the impending culling.

CALDWELL
Do we have enough time?

MCKAY
Yes.

ZELENKA
We think.

MCKAY
We should.

ZELENKA
We hope.

MCKAY
It'll be close, yes, but using the Daedalus, we might be able to get a radio lock on Sheppard and the team inside the Hive ship. If they're still alive, we can beam them out.

CALDWELL
All right. Let's get this bird off the ground.

LORNE

(to Zelenka)

Coming with us?

ZELENKA

No. No.

(to himself)

Right.

INT—WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard is sleeping beside the cell door. Neera steps over quietly and sits beside him. He wakes up.]

NEERA
For warmth.

[She rests her head on his shoulder.]

SHEPPARD
Okay.

[He gingerly put his arm around her shoulders.]

SHEPPARD
How's that? Better?

NEERA
Yes. Thanks… How long will they keep us in here?

SHEPPARD
That's a very good question.

NEERA
If we're able to escape, where will I go?

SHEPPARD
Wherever you want.

NEERA
Can I come with you to your world?

SHEPPARD
Sure. Why not? I'm sure we can find a spare room.

NEERA
I'd like that. What is it like, your world?

SHEPPARD
It's nice. Comfortable. Good climate.

NEERA

(smiling)

Tell me what it looks like.

SHEPPARD
Like every other world, I suppose. Trees, water, mountains… Starbucks on every corner.

NEERA
What is it called?

SHEPPARD

(hesitating)

Do you mind if we pick this up after I get some sleep?

NEERA
Yes. Of course.

[She settles down, putting her hand over the middle of his chest. He does not close his eyes.]

[Later, they are both sleeping. The ship makes a metallic clanking sound and shudders, waking them up.]

NEERA
What is it?

SHEPPARD
I don't know. Must have just dropped out of hyperspace. Maybe they're getting ready for the culling.

[They stand up. The Wraith arrives and grabs Sheppard, shoving him at the Wraith soldiers.]

WRAITH
Take him.

INT—QUEEN'S ROOM ON WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard stands in the middle of the chamber. The Queen enters.]

QUEEN
Shall we talk now?

SHEPPARD
About what?

QUEEN
You are stubborn.

SHEPPARD
Yes, I am…and, uh…she's very pretty, by the way.

[The Queen looks at him questioningly.]

SHEPPARD
Neera. The girl you planted in the cocoon for us to rescue, after you let us escape. The one that was supposed to get information from me. That's never going to happen.

[The Queen hisses at him.]

EXT—SPACE

[Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Caldwell briefs his crew, including McKay and Lorne. He uses a lighted board to illustrate the plan.]

CALDWELL
We'll drop out of hyperspace directly behind the planet. Use it to shield us from the Hive ship, where you're going to attempt radio contact with Colonel Sheppard.

MCKAY
We won't be able to make radio contact from behind the planet.

CALDWELL
Which is why you and Major Lorne will take a cloaked puddle jumper and get close enough to determine if Colonel Sheppard and his team are still aboard the ship. If they are, we'll move into position around the planet and beam them out.

LORNE
And if they're not there?

CALDWELL
We'll beam a nuke aboard the ship and destroy it.

MCKAY
What if they jam us like they did before?

CALDWELL
Doctor you worry about getting Colonel Sheppard and his team out of that ship. Let me worry about destroying it, okay?

[McKay and Lorne exchange looks.]

INT—QUEEN'S ROOM ON WRAITH SHIP

[Neera enters the chamber.]

SHEPPARD

Oh, there you are. I guess that empty room is off the table, but nice try back there in the cell.

(to Queen)

I knew there must have been a good reason for you to let us break out, but that was quite the performance. Where'd you find her?

QUEEN

(walking around Sheppard)

She is one of many thousands that have come to serve us…even worship us. They do my bidding…and I let them live.

[The Wraith caresses Neera's face.]

SHEPPARD
A Wraith worshiper, huh? Wow.

NEERA
The prophecy of the great awakening has come to pass. The end days have come to the mortal—

SHEPPARD
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know about that, because I'm one, too. Although in my case, it's not so much worship as it is a meaningful business relationship.

QUEEN
You lie.

SHEPPARD
Okay, tell me this. How else could I get my hands on a Dart? And who else could provide me with specific instructions on how to infiltrate your Hive and destroy it?

QUEEN
Of which queen do you speak?

SHEPPARD
You got to have a window on this boat, don't you? Take a look. The other Hive that joined you for the culling. A lot more people to feed on when you don't have to share.

QUEEN
I will speak to her of this.

SHEPPARD
Well, you don't really think she'd admit to trying to have you killed, do you?

QUEEN
Enough!

[The Queen forces Sheppard to his knees, mentally.]

QUEEN
I shall savor your defiance.

[The Queen is shot with a stun weapon from behind, and cries out. Sheppard turns to see it's Ford. Ford shoots two soldiers and tosses Sheppard Ronon's gun. The Queen fires at Ford, but he doesn't fall. Sheppard fires at the Queen, knocking her out. Neera and other Wraith worshippers run out.]

SHEPPARD
How the hell did you get our weapons back?

[They run out and make their way down a corridor.]

FORD
That was the easy part. Getting some more enzyme, that was hard.

[Sheppard takes out a soldier.]

SHEPPARD
You are one tough son of a bitch.

[Ford stops.]

SHEPPARD
What are you doing?

FORD
Down that hall. Fifty meters. Turn left. It'll take you to Teyla and Ronon's cell. I'll hold the Wraith back for you.

SHEPPARD

(walking back to Ford)

You're coming with me.

FORD
I'll hold the Wraith back, boss. Now, go. I'll be okay.

SHEPPARD
I'm not going without you, Lieutenant.

FORD
John, I'll catch up. Now, go!

[Ford shoves Sheppard and runs off.]

SHEPPARD
Ford!

[A Wraith alarm starts screeching.]

SHEPPARD
Oh, crap.

INT—WRAITH CELL

RONON
Get ready.

[Sheppard arrives.]

SHEPPARD
Hey.

RONON
Hey.

SHEPPARD
How about I bust you guys out of here?

RONON
If you don't mind.

[Sheppard fires at the door panel, destroying it.]

SHEPPARD
I've got to get myself one of these. Where's Kanayo?

[He hands Ronon back his gun. Ronon picks up his coat from inside the cell.]

TEYLA
He is dead. Ford?

SHEPPARD
I don't know. Last I saw, he was alive. I'm sticking with that.

[They rush down the corridor.]

EXT—SPACE

[DAEDALUS drops out of hyperspace above a planet.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL

(into radio)

Jumper One, you have a go.

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

[Lorne is at the controls, McKay in the other front seat.]

LORNE
On our way. Engaging cloak.

EXT—SPACE

[The Puddle Jumper leaves the Daedalus hangar bay. After a moment, it disappears, cloaked.]

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

[The heads-up display lights up with two red circles.]

LORNE
Oh, no.

MCKAY
There's two of them!

LORNE
You said there was only one.

MCKAY
Well, there was only one.

LORNE
Now there's two!

MCKAY
I can see that!

LORNE
Let's try and hail Colonel Sheppard.

INT—WRAITH SHIP CORRIDOR

[The three race down the corridor. The alarm is still sounding. They arrive at the entrance to the hangar bay. Many Darts are leaving the hangar.]

TEYLA
The culling is beginning.

SHEPPARD
We gotta stop them.

RONON
How?

SHEPPARD
Stay here. When I give you my signal, get out in the open.

[Sheppard goes into the hangar.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL

(into radio)

Jumper One, what's your status?

LORNE

(over radio)

We are unable to establish a radio link with Colonel Sheppard or the others on either of the Hive ships.

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY

(into radio)

Which doesn't necessarily mean they're not on either of the ships. They could've had their radios taken from them.

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL

(into radio)

We can't make that assumption. Return to the Daedalus immediately.

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY

(into radio, disappointed)

We're almost there now.

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL

(into radio)

Good. We need to take those ships out before they start culling.

INT—WRAITH SHIP CORRIDOR

[Ronon and Teyla watch the hangar activity. A Dart turns and heads toward them.]

TEYLA
Is that his signal?

RONON
It'd better be.

[They go into the hangar and are swept up by a culling beam.]

INT—DART

SHEPPARD
Oh, I sure hope that worked.

EXT—SPACE

[Dozens of Darts leave the hangar bay of both Hive ships.]

[On the other side of the planet, Daedalus gets underway.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[McKay and Lorne arrive back on the bridge.]

CALDWELL
Max power to the shields. Are we within transport range?

AIRMAN
Yes, sir. We have a weapons lock on coordinates inside the first enemy vessel.

CALDWELL
Deploy warhead.

[The display shows the transport failed.]

AIRMAN
The enemy has engaged countermeasures to block our transport.

MCKAY
They're jamming us again.

AIRMAN
We're under fire.

[The ship is taking fire.]

CALDWELL
Forward rail positions. Return fire.

EXT—SPACE

[Both Hives fire on Daedalus, which fires back at both with the forward rail guns.]

INT—DART

[The Dart display shows many ships in the area.]

SHEPPARD
This is not good. Not good. Not good.

EXT—SPACE

[Sheppard's Dart turns toward the side of one of the Hives.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

LORNE
How much of this can the shields take?

MCKAY
Not much. We're already down twenty percent.

[Sparks begin flying around the bridge.]

CALDWELL
Our people have been in Wraith hands too long. We have to assume they've been compromised and the Wraith know Atlantis wasn't destroyed. We need to win this.

INT—DART

[Sheppard brings up the weapons display.]

EXT—SPACE

[Sheppard's Dart does a strafing run on the Hive ship, hitting it in the hangar bay and other sections.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[McKay and the others watch the battle out the forward view-screen. They see the explosions on the Hive.]

MCKAY
Look. You see that?

LORNE
What?

MCKAY
It's a Dart firing on one of the Hive ships.

CALDWELL
Why?

MCKAY

(realizing)

Sheppard!

INT—DART

[Sheppard keeps firing.]

EXT—SPACE

[The Darts from the two Hives are firing on each other and each other's Hives.]

INT—DART

[Sheppard keeps flying.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The display shows massive fire between the Hives.]

CALDWELL
I don't believe what I'm seeing.

LORNE
Sheppard's actually getting them to fire at each other.

EXT—SPACE

[The two Hives fire on each other at very close range. One of the Hives explodes, and the blast takes out the second Hive, resulting in a huge fireball.]

INT—DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[They have to look away from the brightness of the explosion. McKay looks devastated. He rushes to his tactical display.]

MCKAY

(shocked)

The blast has destroyed everything in the fifteen-thousand-meter radius.

CALDWELL
Did any Darts survive?

AIRMAN
Negative, sir.

[McKay steps back to the fore of the bridge, shocked and devastated.]

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

TECHNICIAN

(into radio)

Copy that. Atlantis out.

[He gets up and goes to find Weir in her office.]

TECHNICIAN
Dr. Weir. We received word from Daedalus. They said they should be back to Atlantis by 1900 hours.

WEIR
They called the search off?

TECHNICIAN
They said there was nothing to search for.

WEIR

(subdued)

Thank you.

[Weir turns away in shock. The Stargate begins to activate.]

TECHNICIAN
Off-world activation!

WEIR
Who is it?

TECHNICIAN
We have an I.D.C. It's Colonel Sheppard's code.

WEIR
Let 'em in!

[Weir rushes down the stairs to the 'gate room.]

INT—ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Sheppard, Ronon, and Teyla walk through the active wormhole. Weir jogs over to meet them.]

SHEPPARD
Sorry we're late.

[Everyone smiles.]

EXT—ATLANTIS PIER, NIGHT

[The Daedalus lands on the pier.]

INT—ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Beckett examines Ronon, while Teyla sits on the next bed. Sheppard stands between them, and Weir is nearby.]

BECKETT
All right, up you go.

[He helps Ronon sit up as McKay and Caldwell enter.]

MCKAY
Why aren't you dead?

SHEPPARD
It's good to see you, too, Rodney.

MCKAY
No, no, I mean, well you know what I mean. Why aren't you…dead?

SHEPPARD
Well, I knew when the Hives started to shoot at each other, it was just a matter of time before they blew each other up, so I went to the space gate and dialed an address where I could land safely. I didn't think the Dart could fit in our gate room.

TEYLA
The Colonel was kind enough to make us whole again, and we returned home.

CALDWELL
I'm curious, Sheppard. How did you know the Wraith would fight each other?

SHEPPARD
Uh, a little intel from Ford and the gang, plus I kind of goosed things along with the queen.

[McKay appears confused and a bit amazed.]

TEYLA
It would appear the Wraith are becoming more territorial than we had thought. There is definite tension building among them.

RONON
Which is good for us.

WEIR
It certainly is. It also opens a brand-new strategy in fighting them.

MCKAY
Huh. And where is Ford?

TEYLA
He was aboard the Hive ship when it was destroyed.

SHEPPARD
He was last seen aboard the Hive ship.

MCKAY
What does that mean?

SHEPPARD
Well, you know Ford. I wouldn't be surprised if we run into him again.

[Sheppard appears hopeful but unconvinced.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Stargate Solutions by Michelle, July 2012.

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--Michelle 23:15, 30 July 2012 (PDT)