Condemned/Transcript

Episode Guide
Condemned" Episode Guide

Transcript
TEASER

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[A Puddle Jumper flies through the active Stargate. The area around the 'gate looks abandoned, with pieces of rusted metal strewn around. The Jumper leaves the immediate area.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Sheppard flies, with Teyla in the jump seat and McKay and Ronon behind them.]

MCKAY Look familiar?

RONON No.

TEYLA Me either. I do not believe I have been to this planet before.

MCKAY There's no sign of any settlements, at least nothing recent.

RONON Other than the smoke from that campfire.

[The forward view-screen shows smoke in the forest ahead. Teyla smiles at McKay.]

MCKAY Oh. Yes, well, other than that.

SHEPPARD I'll land within a few hundred yards.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[The Jumper comes in low over a pond.]

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE, DAY

[The team walks through the village, which is made of tents and thatched huts, with bits of scrap metal around. There is smoke but no sign of people.]

MCKAY It's primitive, definitely primitive. Probably not even worth making contact. What is that smell?

SHEPPARD (calling out) Hello?

TEYLA It appears they left in a hurry.

SHEPPARD Just not used to friendlies coming out of the gate.

[Ronon sees a cook fire and goes to it. He reaches for a spoonful of food from the metal pot.]

MCKAY What are you&mdash;

[Ronon puts the spoon to his mouth.]

MCKAY Oh, my God, he's tasting it! You don't know what that is. That could be their laundry!

RONON Pretty good!

[He scoops up some more.]

MCKAY Oh, yes, good idea. And when you're finished with their porridge, why don't we try their beds, hmm?

[Ronon holds some dried meat up to McKay.]

RONON Want some?

MCKAY How good is it?

SHEPPARD Leave it be, Goldilocks.

[They hear the rush of arrows being fires.]

RONON Get down!

[Arrows land in the dirt all around them. Ronon is hit in the calf.]

RONON Ah!

MCKAY Take cover!

[They rush to get behind boulders and metal pieces. Some of the attackers are visible through the forest; they shout at each other. Others come up behind them and start firing with slingshots. Smoke appears where the slingshot projectiles hit. The team returns fire.]

SHEPPARD What the hell's in those slingshots?

[Ronon sits up to deal with the arrow through his calf.]

MCKAY Are you all right?

RONON I'm fine.

[He breaks off the arrow's shaft on the fletching side, then pulls it out of his leg from the other side.]

RONON Ohh!

SHEPPARD (shouting) You know This is not the way to make new friends! But we'll leave if you want us to!

[The attackers are silent.]

SHEPPARD Let's take that as a yes. Let's go back to the jumper. Teyla, you're on point. I'll take the six. McKay, help Ronon.

RONON Don't worry about me.

SHEPPARD I'm a worrier. Let the man give you a hand.

[They get up, McKay supporting Ronon.]

TORRELL Fire!

[The slingshot group fires, pinning down the team. The team fires back. After a moment they hear the sound of aircraft flying in at low altitude. The craft comes to a hover above the. The jet-wash from the downward-facing nozzles blows on both the team and the attackers. The aircraft moves and aims its nozzles such that its jet-wash throws a group of the attackers backward to the ground.]

SHEPPARD All right, move! Move!

[They move out, Torrell watching with an angry expression.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[The team rushes up the ramp. Sheppard runs to the pilot station as everyone gets secure.]

SHEPPARD Everyone in one piece?

[The Jumper lifts off.]

RONON Yeah, thanks to that ship.

[Ronon starts to stand.]

TEYLA Be still.

[She starts to examine his leg.]

SHEPPARD Yeah, I like their timing.

MCKAY No kidding. Did you see that thing?

SHEPPARD Yeah, I saw that thing.

[The ship maneuvers in front of the Jumper's front screen.]

PILOT (over radio) Unidentified ship. This is the security vessel Poros. Follow us immediately, and we will lead you to the city.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Understood, Poros. And thanks for the help back there. (to team) That's how you make new friends.

[Sheppard pilots the Jumper to follow the aircraft.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;OLESIAN CITY ON PLANET, DAY

[The city is modern, similar to modern cities on Earth.]

EXT&mdash;COURTYARD ON PLANET, DAY

[The team is guided to meet a female official.]

MARIN Welcome to Olesia. I am Marin.

SHEPPARD I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. Teyla Emmagan, Dr. Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex.

MARIN Please follow me.

[The start walking with her.]

MARIN I sent a security detachment as soon as we detected your presence on the island. The prisoners there can be quite hostile.

SHEPPARD Yeah, we definitely got off on the wrong foot.

TEYLA Prisoners?

MARIN Yes, the island's a penal colony. The prisoners usually don't cause much trouble, (smiling) as long as you don't try to land there.

MCKAY Well, you could put up a sign.

TEYLA The Stargate is on the island. Does this not affect your ability to trade with other worlds?

MARIN Yes, of course. As a result, we have needed to be almost entirely self sufficient.

SHEPPARD Then why put a prison there?

TEYLA I believe the Magistrate is better suited to answer these questions. He's very eager to meet you.

INT&mdash;MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE

MAGISTRATE Your ship is a most intriguing design. I must admit, I'm surprised to find others in this galaxy whose technology rivals our own. Aside from the Wraith, I mean.

MCKAY It's funny&mdash;I was about to make the exact same comment.

MAGISTRATE Where do you come from?

SHEPPARD Until recently, Atlantis.

MAGISTRATE The ancestral city?

SHEPPARD Yeah. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Wraith a short time ago.

MAGISTRATE How tragic.

SHEPPARD Yeah, we're pretty broken up about it.

TEYLA We are part of a small group of people that were able to escape.

MAGISTRATE How fortunate for you.

MCKAY Yes, yes. Very fortunate. Look, getting back to the technology thing. I'm just curious. How have you been able to make such advancements without the Wraith stepping in?

MAGISTRATE The Wraith have chosen to leave us alone.

SHEPPARD Why?

MAGISTRATE I don't know.

RONON They've never come here?

MAGISTRATE The Wraith have been here many times, but with the ancestral ring on the island, the Wraith have always been, uh&hellip;how shall I put this? Satiated with the prisoners living there. The Wraith have no need to venture any further.

[McKay and Sheppard exchange glances.]

SHEPPARD Well, that would explain why you put the prison there.

MAGISTRATE The island has been a penal colony for hundreds of years. Its location there has benefited my people greatly.

SHEPPARD Not all your people.

MAGISTRATE I assure you, only the most violent criminals are sent there&hellip;as you discovered.

RONON It's a good crime deterrent.

MAGISTRATE Crime is virtually non-existent on Olesia. Unlike the prisoners, we pride ourselves on being a most hospitable and civilized people.

[The team looks skeptical.]

INT&mdash;OLESIAN BUILDING

[The Magistrate takes the team on a tour of a glass-walled building.]

MAGISTRATE This section of the city is devoted to scientific research. Our scientists have recently attained success in the enrichment of a fissionable, yet non-radioactive, material to be used in generating power for the city.

MCKAY Fissionable yet non-radioactive? Well, that-that-that's&hellip;is that even possible? What kind of material is it?

MAGISTRATE It's an ore extracted from a mineral found on our planet. It's quite volatile, yet yields great promise.

MAGISTRATE I'd be very happy to show you the laboratory.

MCKAY I'd be very happy to see it.

SHEPPARD I'd be very happy to go back to our ship. Our people are due to check in with us in a little while over radio. I'll have to get back within range.

MAGISTRATE You can link with one of our radio relay stations. There should be enough power to reach the island, if that's your concern.

SHEPPARD So we'll be speaking privately?

MAGISTRATE Of course.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR (into radio) And you believe they might be willing to share some of this mineral?

SHEPPARD (over radio) Well, they seem open to it. They don't get many trading opportunities coming through the 'gate.

WEIR (into radio) Sounds promising.

INT&mdash;RECEPTION HALL IN OLESIAN BUILDING

[Food is laid out on tables. Ronon and McKay check in out.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) There is, however, the minor moral hiccup of their form of capital punishment.

WEIR (over radio) I'm sorry?

MCKAY (into radio) They have an island. It's their own version of Alcatraz, where they send their worst criminals.

SHEPPARD (into radio) And the gate is on the island, so&hellip;

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR (into radio) So the Wraith feed on the prisoners?

SHEPPARD (over radio) Yep.

WEIR (into radio) Talk about cruel and unusual punishment.

INT&mdash;RECEPTION HALL ON PLANET

MCKAY (into radio) I prefer lethal injection, although I do have a certain fondness for the electric chair. Call me a romantic.

[Sheppard chuckles.]

RONON (into radio, biting into a piece of food) The Wraith get what they want, and the Olesians get left alone. I'm surprised it works.

SHEPPARD (into radio) He did, however, say that only the most violent criminals get sent there, and that it has been this way for hundreds of years.

TEYLA (on comm, to Sheppard) Do you kill all of your violent criminals on Earth?

MCKAY (on comm) Certain countries, yes.

SHEPPARD (on comm) Do we need to get into this right now?

WEIR (over radio) Well, we do if we plan on doing business with these people.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR (into radio) I want to know more before I jump to any conclusions.

EXT&mdash;OLESIAN CITY ON PLANET, DAY

INT&mdash;MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE

SHEPPARD We were able to speak with our people, thank you.

MAGISTRATE Of course.

SHEPPARD If you're open to it, we'd like to discuss possible trade opportunities.

MAGISTRATE We are very open. I'm sure there is much that we can learn from each other.

SHEPPARD Well, Dr. Elizabeth Weir will be the one to begin official negotiations with you. That's really her thing.

MAGISTRATE I'm looking forward to meeting her, and to the start of a promising friendship.

EXT&mdash;PLANET ABOVE WATER, DAY

[The Puddle Jumper skims the water.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY Seriously, am I the only one creeped out by that guy?

SHEPPARD Politicians, Rodney&mdash;they're all creepy.

EXT&mdash;PRISONER ISLAND, DAY

[Torrell sees the Jumper through a makeshift telescope.]

TORRELL Prepare to fire!

[His men prepare to fire home-made cannons.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY Margaret Thatcher wasn't creepy. Okay, well, maybe a little. She resembled an aunt of mine&mdash;same hair style, facial structure, only my aunt was much taller and remarkably hirsute. Oddest thing&mdash;she had to shave twice a day.

[Sheppard and Teyla roll their eyes.]

EXT&mdash;PRISONER ISLAND, DAY

TORRELL Fire!

[The prisoners light off the cannons, firing large metal balls at the Jumper.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

TEYLA What was that?

SHEPPARD They're shooting at us.

[Smoke appears in front of the Jumper.]

TEYLA The prisoners?

MCKAY With what?

RONON Cloak the ship.

SHEPPARD I can't. We took some damage. We'll be lucky to make it to the 'gate.

MCKAY Well, how close are we?

SHEPPARD Close enough to dial.

[Teyla starts dialing.]

EXT&mdash;PRISONER ISLAND, DAY

[The prisoners light off more cannon fire. One ball explodes near the Jumper without hitting it.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

RONON That was close.

SHEPPARD Get ready to send an I.D.C.

EXT&mdash;PRISONER ISLAND, DAY

[The Puddle Jumper is hit by fire and immediately starts to descend.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD I've lost control systems. Hang on.

EXT&mdash;PRISONER ISLAND, DAY

[The Jumper descends into the forrest. The prisoners see this and cheer.]

TORRELL Now find them!

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[The Jumper is heavily damaged, having come to rest after gouging a path through the earth.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Teyla regains consciousness first.]

RONON Oh&hellip;

TEYLA Are you all right?

MCKAY I think I chipped a tooth. Did I chip a tooth? Am I bleeding? Because I'm a high risk for endocarditis.

[Sheppard rouses.]

TEYLA John?

SHEPPARD That was, uh&hellip;not one of my better landings. Sorry.

RONON The gate should still be active for a few minutes.

SHEPPARD All right. Let's go.

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[The walk down the smoky ramp. Torrell and the prisoners rush up on them, pointing their crude weapons. Sheppard gestures for Ronon to raise his hands.]

SHEPPARD Hi, folks. I hope I didn't crash-land on anybody.

EXT&mdash;PRISONER VILLAGE, DAY

[The prisoners have pulled everything from the Jumper and are examining it. Torrell fires off a P-90 into a pond. Another prisoner aims a bazooka, but it fires the opposite direction he intends, taking out a tent behind him. After a moment, the men laugh.]

INT&mdash;PRISONER SHACK

[All four team members are tied up with their arms around a pole behind their backs, and their necks tied to vertical supports. Torrell and some men enter.]

SHEPPARD You should know our people are expecting us. If we don't show up soon, they'll come looking for us.

TORRELL Ah. Is that supposed to concern me?

SHEPPARD Don't go getting all full of yourself, chief. A few cannons are no match for the kind of firepower they'll be bringing with them. Although&hellip;I should compliment whoever took that first shot&mdash;it was a good one.

TORRELL Yeah, it was nice, wasn't it?

TEYLA What do you want from us?

TORRELL Well, we've already got your weapons.

TORRELL Now I do believe we'll take your ship. You see, we had been planning a little trip to the mainland but after seeing you fly that thing through the ancestral ring&mdash;

MCKAY You're referring to the ship you just shot down? The one that doesn't stand a hope in hell of ever flying again?

TORRELL The ship that you're going to fix, yes.

MCKAY Who am I, MacGyver? Fix it with what?

TORRELL (to one of his men) Get him up.

[McKay is made to stand. He appears very concerned.]

TORRELL You seem like a smart man. I'm sure you'll think of something. Maybe all you need is a little motivation.

[He fires Ronon's blaster past Rodney to blow a large whole in the side of the shack.]

SHEPPARD Maybe you should think about fixing it, Rodney.

MCKAY Good idea.

TORRELL My friends all tell me I have a remarkable gift for persuasion.

[A prisoner starts to untie McKay.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR What happened?

TECHNICIAN The gate activated. Nothing came through.

WEIR Colonel Sheppard?

TECHNICIAN So we assumed. We received no I.D.C., a few moments later, the gate shuts down.

WEIR They should've returned by now. Dial the planet and try to establish a radio link.

TECHNICIAN Yes, ma'am.

WEIR (into radio) Major Lorne, this is Weir.

LORNE (over radio) Go ahead.

WEIR (into radio) I may have to go off-world to assist Colonel Sheppard. I'd like you to assemble a team and have a puddle jumper ready to go.

LORNE (over radio) Yes, ma'am.

EXT&mdash;PRISONER VILLAGE, DAY

INT&mdash;PRISONER SHACK

[The three are trying to loosen their bindings.]

SHEPPARD Anyone having any luck?

RONON Not yet.

TEYLA These bindings are very secure.

SHEPPARD Well, leave it to convicts to know the best way to tie people up.

RONON (angry) Well, eventually I will get free and when I do, he's going to pay for this.

SHEPPARD Well, listen to me. When you get free, you get us free, and we all get out of here. Let 'em find out we're gone after we're gone.

RONON You expect me to let them get away with this?

SHEPPARD The operative words are "get away."

RONON After I kill him&hellip;

SHEPPARD That type of thinking will get us killed.

RONON Well, if you would've returned fire&mdash;

SHEPPARD The weapons systems were damaged.

RONON If you say so.

SHEPPARD (intensely) I do say so, and right now, I'm saying knock it off.

RONON Is that an order, Sheppard?

SHEPPARD (sternly) I am beat up, tied up, and couldn't order a pizza right now if I wanted to, but if you need it to be, yeah, it's an order.

RONON (calmed) Okay.

[Sheppard looks at Ronon with some amazement.]

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[Several prisoners wait outside the Jumper.]

MCKAY There is no power getting to any of these controls. You understand?

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[McKay and Torrell are inside.]

MCKAY Look. Nothing!

TORRELL Why not?

MCKAY Let me go out on a limb here and say that maybe it had something to do with the crash. Which, of course, begs the question&mdash;how the hell did you get your hands on explosives?

TORRELL Eldon made them. He fashioned a composite out of minerals and materials he found around the island. Crude, yes, but effective. We shot you down, didn't we?

MCKAY Eldon? Who is Eldon?

[A man walks up the ramp.]

ELDON That would be me.

MCKAY You're a prisoner?

ELDON I was accused of killing one man&mdash;

TORRELL He's a scientist.

ELDON It was a case of mistaken identity.

TORRELL Tell you what, Eldon. You can tell him your whole life story. Just help him fix the ship.

MCKAY Look, I don't know what you expect me to do. I don't have any of the proper diagnostic tools, not to mention the fact that&hellip;

TORRELL You'll figure it out.

MCKAY And if I don't?

TORRELL Well, I could kill you. But you strike me as the type of man who, despite being weak and cowardly on the outside, harbors a strength of character he doesn't even know he has.

MCKAY I'm sorry, was there a compliment in there?

TORRELL See, the way to motivate a man like you, Mr. McKay&mdash;not to threaten your life. It's to threaten the lives of your friends.

[McKay gives a look of concern.]

TORRELL That's right. Fix the ship. Otherwise, they start dying, one after another, until you change your mind&hellip;or until they're all dead. I don't care.

[Torrell leaves. McKay starts to work on a console.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Lorne is at the controls. Weir enters.]

WEIR All set?

LORNE Ready to go. Still no word from them?

WEIR Nothing.

LORNE Don't worry. We'll find them.

[Two special forces soldiers sit behind them.]

WEIR I was hoping to negotiate a trade agreement. Now I'm worried I have to negotiate their release.

LORNE We don't know that.

WEIR Dial the gate, but go to stealth mode the moment we're through.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[The Jumper comes through the 'gate and immediately cloaks itself.]

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[The prisoners hear the 'gate activate but don't see anything come through.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

ELDON The technology on this ship is far more advanced than the Olesians'.

MCKAY How ironic, then, to have been shot down by the cast of Braveheart.

ELDON Well, I'm surprised we were able to shoot you down.

MCKAY Well, it's the old low-tech versus high-tech argument, I suppose.

ELDON We've been working on those weapons for years&mdash;

MCKAY Yes, well, well done. Good for them, huh? Now, are you going to continue talking or, uh&hellip; Thank you.

[Eldon holds up a Jumper control crystal.]

MCKAY (grabbing it) Oh&hellip;give me that. Where did that come from?

EXT&mdash;PRISONER VILLAGE, DAY

[Torrell is looking over SGA's equipment. One of the radios beeps. He clicks the push-to-talk and hears static, then picks up another radio. He appears to figure out what they are.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY Those cannons. Your design?

ELDON (stuttering slightly) No, no, no. Well, I chose the material and helped calculate trajectories. The ignition mechanisms&hellip;and the fuses, of course. But most of my efforts went into fashioning the explosive shots.

MCKAY Ah, explosives. Was that how you killed a man?

ELDON I didn't kill him. I'm innocent. I don't belong here.

MCKAY Hmm. Really. I wonder if there's ever been a convicted felon who didn't claim he was innocent?

ELDON I don't care if you don't believe me. I just want off this island.

MCKAY (noticing something) Oh, no&hellip;

ELDON What is it?

MCKAY I assume there's no DHD beside the Stargate?

MCKAY Uh, the ancestral ring, is there some kind of a dialing device that turns it on?

ELDON No. Nothing.

MCKAY Oh, of course. Why give the prisoners such an obvious means of escape?

ELDON What's wrong?

MCKAY The main power distribution conduit has been damaged. That effectively cuts all the power to the primary systems&mdash;drive pods, cockpit controls, DHD.

ELDON Can you fix it?

MCKAY Easily&hellip;if I had a replacement. Without one, you and your friends aren't going anywhere.

ELDON Neither are you. If you don't fix this ship, Torrell's going to make sure you're the first the Wraith find at the next culling.

EXT&mdash;PRISONER VILLAGE, DAY

INT&mdash;PRISONER SHACK

[Ronon, Sheppard, and Teyla are still tied up. Torrell forces McKay in. He's tied up again. Eldon enters as well.]

TORRELL Choose.

MCKAY Choose what?

TORRELL Which one of them dies first&hellip; Do it.

MCKAY (looking at teammates) I can't do that.

TORRELL Well, then, I'll choose for you. Either way, one of them dies, unless you change your mind about fixing that ship.

MCKAY Well, I'm sorry, but there are some things beyond my capability.

TORRELL I don't believe you.

MCKAY Well, I know it is hard to believe, but&mdash;

TORRELL No. I think you're lying.

MCKAY I'm not. It's broken. You don't understand "broken?"

TORRELL I know your type. You whine, and you complain, and you see to it that your every task is viewed as some impossible achievement so that when you do succeed, your gargantuan efforts are viewed as all the more heroic.

MCKAY That may be true in some cases, but this is not one of them.

[Sheppard gives him a look at the admission.]

MCKAY You are asking me to do the impossible.

TORRELL Your friends' lives are in your hands. I'll give you some time to choose.

[Torrell leaves. Another prisoner forces McKay to the floor and ties him down. He grunts in discomfort.]

ELDON Listen to him, McKay. He's killed 11 people: eight before he was sent here and three since he's been on the island.

MCKAY That's 11, huh? You've got some catching up to do, don't you? (to Sheppard) He's only killed one.

SHEPPARD Who? Him?

ELDON I told you, I'm here because of a mistake.

RONON I'm sure everyone here on this island says that.

ELDON Well, as a matter of fact, some of us are innocent. Only a few, like Torrell, are actual murderers.

TEYLA You mean they put all their criminals here, regardless of the crimes they commit?

ELDON Once, only the worst of the worst were sent here. But the punishment proved to be such a successful deterrent that crime rates in Olesia plummeted, which meant fewer and fewer prisoners.

TEYLA Less food for the Wraith.

ELDON Exactly.

SHEPPARD So they lowered the bar.

INT&mdash;OLESIAN BUILDING

[The Magistrate leads Weir, Lorne, and his mean through the modern building.]

MAGISTRATE They have not returned to the planet?

WEIR No, and we haven't been able to establish radio contact with them, either.

MAGISTRATE They didn't return to the city. Perhaps they traveled through the ring to another planet.

WEIR No, they would've radioed first.

MARIN Something must've happened on the island. I'll alert our security teams, have them begin a search.

LORNE We'll join them.

MAGISTRATE I would advise against that.

WEIR Would you?

MAGISTRATE The island is extremely dangerous. Our ships are heavily armored. We know the terrain, as well as the prisoners' tactics. Don't worry. We'll find them.

WEIR I hope you do, Magistrate, for all our sakes.

MAGISTRATE Of course.

[The Magistrate and Marin leave. Lorne and Weir exchange looks.]

INT&mdash;PRISONER SHACK

[Ronon pulls on his bindings. His wrists are bleeding.]

RONON I think they're loosening.

SHEPPARD Take it easy, Chewie. You're going to cut your damn hands off.

TEYLA The more we struggle, the tighter the bindings get.

[The rear of the shack is pulled open, and Eldon enters.]

ELDON (holding up a knife) You need something like this.

MCKAY What about the guards?

ELDON They stepped away. No one's watching.

TEYLA Will you help us?

ELDON If you'll help me.

SHEPPARD How?

ELDON Fix the ship. Let me leave with you.

MCKAY Oh, for God's sake, how many times do I have to tell you&mdash;

ELDON I know you could do it. I could see it in your eyes when you were working. You were holding something back from us.

SHEPPARD Rodney?

MCKAY Nobody could fix it. I don't care who you think I am, or what you think you saw in my eyes, but it is totally, completely impossible.

ELDON Torrell and his men are going to return soon.

SHEPPARD He'll fix it.

MCKAY I just said I couldn't.

SHEPPARD You really suck at lying, Rodney. (to Eldon) We have a deal.

MCKAY There is one slight possibility.

SHEPPARD Huh? See?

MCKAY I won't actually be able to fix the ship to fly out of here, but I might be able to cobble together enough power from secondary systems to activate the DHD. That way, we can dial the gate and leave on foot. When I say "might," I mean probably not. It's a long shot at best. I'd have to bypass the main power distribution conduit&mdash;

SHEPPARD Get us out of here.

[Eldon cuts Ronon free first. Ronon grabs the knife and holds it to Eldon's throat.]

MCKAY Ronon, what are you doing?

RONON Give me one reason why I shouldn't cut your throat.

SHEPPARD For one, it would make a mess. Look, we made a deal. Just let him go.

[Ronon lets go. He cuts the collar around his neck, then cuts Sheppard's bindings, then Teyla's. He goes to cut McKay's, but it is near his stomach.]

MCKAY Careful, careful.

RONON Suck it up!

[He frees McKay. They sneak out the back of the shack. They don't see the radio sitting active under some rope.]

EXT&mdash;WOODS ON PLANET, DAY

[They walk in single file. Sheppard signals for them to crouch.]

RONON Why are we stopping?

SHEPPARD This is way too easy. All right, stay close and (looking at McKay) stay quiet.

MCKAY What? Why does he say that to me?

TEYLA Shh!

[They jog through the woods and stop in sight of the Jumper. No one is guarding it. Then they see archers hidden in the woods nearby.]

ELDON I didn't know anything about this, I swear.

TEYLA We will never be able to make it to the Jumper. They have our weapons.

RONON We don't need weapons.

MCKAY How about the fact that they seriously outnumber us?

SHEPPARD At least we've got the element of surprise.

RONON I was beginning to think you were afraid to fight.

SHEPPARD No, I'm just naturally lazy, but I will if I have to. And it's starting to look like we have to. (to McKay) How much time do you need to rework the DHD?

MCKAY Well, in a perfect world, two days.

SHEPPARD Rodney.

MCKAY Right now, uh, ten minutes, give or take.

SHEPPARD All right, we need to create a diversion. We're going to split up, flank them, get them looking everywhere except the Jumper. Hopefully we can buy enough time to steal back our weapons.

[The 'gate activates nearby.]

SHEPPARD Or we could just dial the gate.

TEYLA They fixed the DHD?

MCKAY That's impossible.

SHEPPARD I don't think they're the ones who dialed it.

[A Wraith dart comes through the 'gate and flies toward them.]

SHEPPARD Get down!

ELDON It didn't see us.

RONON It saw us. It didn't care.

MCKAY Why not?

SHEPPARD Who cares? They left the Jumper.

[They rush toward the Jumper.]

INT&mdash;OLESIAN BUILDING

MAGISTRATE I'm afraid the news is not good. Our rescue teams had just begun their search on the island when the ancestral ring activated.

WEIR The Wraith?

MAGISTRATE It appears a culling is under way. We're not sure how many ships are involved, but our teams were forced to pull back. I'm not giving up hope. I'll send teams back in the moment the Wraith are gone. Hopefully your friends will have evaded the culling. I must attend to this.

[He rushes off. Weir and Lorne exchange concerned looks.]

INT&mdash;MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE

MAGISTRATE I apologize for my tardiness. I had an urgent matter to attend to&hellip;a matter which could ultimately benefit us both.

[It is revealed he's speaking to a Wraith.]

WRAITH In that case&hellip;apology accepted.

[The sips from a glass of wine or something equivalent.]

WRAITH Exceptional, as always. I think this is my favorite vintage yet.

[The banquet table is covered with dishes of food.]

MAGISTRATE I hope you find the food acceptable as well. My new chef is quite accomplished.

WRAITH I certainly hope so. Your previous chef, unfortunately, proved to be far more appetizing than the meals he prepared.

[He eats a bit of food, tossing it back into his throat with apparent relish.]

MAGISTRATE I must admit&hellip;I still find it intriguing to watch you eat actual food.

WRAITH Our lineage may have diverged, but there are those of us who still retain an appreciation for finer things. And although it may provide a moment's pleasure&hellip;it does not sustain me.

[He stands and walks around the room.]

WRAITH This arrangement I have made with you and your predecessors has served both of us well. While others of my kind have been forced to sleep between cullings, I have enjoyed a steady stream of humans for my consumption, and the taste of their defiance is sweet. You, in return, have been allowed to live in peace.

MAGISTRATE We thank you for that.

WRAITH But&hellip;throughout the galaxy, hives continue to wake in far greater numbers than are sustainable, and with a hunger that is most pressing.

MAGISTRATE (becoming nervous) I assure you that I have put measures in place to augment the population on the island.

WRAITH Then why is it there are even fewer inhabitants on the island? Others of my kind would have destroyed your entire planet&hellip;but I am more civilized than that.

MAGISTRATE (desperately) And I thank you for your generosity.

WRAITH Still, there are interests which must be served. There are many Wraith who hunger&hellip; And I have promised to provide for them. The decision you are now faced with is..on whom shall we feed?

MAGISTRATE Your needs shall be met. You have my promise.

WRAITH Good. I would hate to see anything happen to you.

WRAITH I do so enjoy our dinners together.

[He smiles falsely.]

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[Ronon sees and hears the Dart rush by. He limps up the ramp into the Jumper.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

RONON The dart went back through the gate.

TEYLA I do not know why it did not cull anyone.

RONON Maybe it did. It headed for the mainland when it first came through.

SHEPPARD All right, keep watch.

[Ronon rushes back out.]

SHEPPARD How's it coming, Rodney?

[McKay is working under the forward control panels. Eldon is beside him.]

MCKAY Slower than I expected, but faster than humanly possible.

SHEPPARD Any chance of getting the cloaking generator powered up, too? Could really come in handy right about now.

MCKAY Okay, and how about a snack? Maybe you'd like me to make you a nice sandwich?

SHEPPARD Only if it's humanly possible.

MCKAY It would be a miracle if I get the DHD back on, let alone the cloaking generator. And even if I could manage that, the power will be intermittent at best.

SHEPPARD Okay. Well, FYI, the Wraith have all gone, so it's just a matter of time before Torrell and his boys return&hellip;with all of our weapons.

MCKAY (annoyed) I get it!

SHEPPARD (annoyed) Good.

INT&mdash;RECEPTION HALL IN OLESIAN BUILDING

[Weir, Lorne, and his men wait. Marin enters, looking concerned.]

WEIR Marin? What's happened?

MARIN No one must know I'm speaking to you.

WEIR Of course.

MARIN You should leave&mdash;as soon as possible.

LORNE Why?

MARIN The Magistrate has just rescinded my orders to send rescue teams back to the island.

WEIR What? Why would he do that?

MARIN Several arrests have been made. Many people in the city have been apprehended for unspecified violations to be sent to the island to increase the population there.

LORNE To keep the Wraith fed.

MARIN This has been going on for some time, but never so bad as this. The number of arrests is&mdash;I cannot keep quiet any longer. I have to speak out.

[The door opens. The Magistrate enters, with an entourage.]

MAGISTRATE (quietly civil) Lies. Seeding fear not only among your own people, but now our guests. I cannot allow it.

MARIN I was only trying to understand why so many people are being arrested.

MAGISTRATE Your job is not to question the actions of this government.

[He signals for his men to take her, which they do.]

MARIN No. Wait! Help me! Please!

[She is taken out of the room.]

WEIR Where are they taking her?

MAGISTRATE I'm sorry you had to witness that.

WEIR What crime has she committed?

MAGISTRATE I have recently learned that Marin has been involved in a group seeking to undermine the Olesian government. She's become very adept at spinning lies to suit her organization's treasonable agenda.

WEIR Did you or did you not rescind the order to send rescue teams back to the island?

MAGISTRATE Why would I do that?

WEIR That doesn't concern me. My first concern is with the safety of my people, and I promise you&mdash;

MAGISTRATE Everything is being done to ensure their rescue and safe return. If there has been any hindrance at all, it was because of Marin.

WEIR What's going to happen to her now?

MAGISTRATE She'll receive a fair trial in our courts.

LORNE And then what, sent to the island?

MAGISTRATE I'm sure where you come from, treason is also considered a very serious offense.

LORNE So that's a "yes."

WEIR Tell me, what else is considered a serious offense around here?

MAGISTRATE Anything that threatens the welfare of the Olesian people.

WEIR Are you sure it's the welfare of the people that concerns you? Or just your own?

MAGISTRATE Choose your words very carefully, Dr. Weir.

WEIR Oh, I do. Why? Is that a threat?

MAGISTRATE It's advice&hellip;from one ally to another.

WEIR Well, this alliance&hellip;it's just been rescinded. (to her people) We're leaving.

[The Magistrate gestures to his men.]

WEIR What, do you plan to arrest us, too? Because you do not want to do that.

[Lorne and his men bring their weapons to bear on the Magistrate. The Magistrate nods at Weir and indicates for his men to stand down. They step out of the way and let Weir and her team leave.]

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[Ronon sees some prisoners returning. He calls inside the Jumper.]

RONON Party's over.

SHEPPARD And we were having such a good time.

[Sheppard and Teyla join Ronon.]

SHEPPARD All right, let's see if we can hold them off.

[He goes back inside.]

SHEPPARD (to McKay) As soon as you get the DHD back online, dial the gate and make a run for it. When you get back to Atlantis, start working on those sandwiches. We'll be right behind you.

MCKAY Two minutes! Hold them that long, we're good to go.

[Unarmed, Sheppard, Teyla, and Ronon make run to the woods, splitting up and taking cover where they can. Teyla finds a stick and breaks it in half over her knee. Sheppard tries to do the same, but it's too hard and he grabs his knee and has to fight not to yell. He takes a thicker stick to use as a weapon. They maneuver behind some prisoners. Sheppard takes out two with the stick, while Teyla and Ronon take out four more. Prisoners armed with the SGA weapons come up on them.]

PRISONER Don't move!

[They stop and raise their hands.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY That's it! I did it! We're ready to dial!

[The look up to see Torrell and his men are back.]

TORRELL See that? I knew you could do it.

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[Other prisoners have brought back the rest of the team. The force Ronon apart and onto his knees.]

PRISONER Kill him.

MCKAY Oh, no, no. You don't have to do that. If you want me to dial the gate for you, that's fine. There are hundreds of suitable planets out there you can go to.

TORRELL Yes, and there are hundreds of unsuitable planets you can send me to, aren't there?

MCKAY Yeah, but I won't send you to one of those.

TORRELL I think our best option is to just come with you, to your planet&hellip;provided you got more of these lying around there, do you?

SHEPPARD Forget it.

TORRELL I'm sorry?

SHEPPARD We'll dial you another address. You can go through. But we're not taking you home.

TORRELL You are aware of the fact that we have all of your weapons pointed at you, right?

SHEPPARD Yeah, well, you're going to murder us the minute we step through the gate anyways. What difference does it make?

TORRELL That's very distrustful.

[They hear something coming.]

PRISONER Wait, look!

MCKAY Oh no&hellip;

[A Wraith cruiser is making its way slowly toward them, as if coming in for a landing.]

INT&mdash;LORNE'S PUDDLE JUMPER

[The Jumper cruises over the water toward the island. Lorne brings up the HUD.]

LORNE We've got a Wraith cruiser headed for the island, and I'm picking up several more on approach outside the atmosphere.

[The Jumper cloaks.]

WEIR Go to stealth mode. Let's find our guys before they do.

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

TORRELL What is that? What is that?

SHEPPARD It's a Wraith cruiser, and trust me, you don't want to be around when it gets here.

[Ronon takes his stunner from Torrell before he can react, then points it at the armed prisoners.]

TORRELL Come on.

SHEPPARD Wait, wait. (to McKay) Dial the gate.

MCKAY (from inside) Stop!

SHEPPARD If all the prisoners get off this island, where do you think that ship will go?

[The cruiser is getting closer.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY What? Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No! We've got a big problem in here!

[Sheppard and others rush in.]

SHEPPARD What's wrong?

MCKAY I lost power to the DHD.

SHEPPARD Why?

MCKAY I told you the power feed would be intermittent at best. We should've dialed when I patched it instead of standing around talking&mdash;

SHEPPARD Can you fix it?

MCKAY I don't know.

RONON They're right on top of us.

TORRELL We could shoot them down.

TEYLA Neither your weapons nor ours will damage it.

SHEPPARD What about the drones? Can you patch enough power to arm them?

MCKAY They're not as intricate as the DHD. Maybe one, given the time constraints.

SHEPPARD Then do it.

TEYLA Can one drone shoot down an entire Wraith cruiser?

SHEPPARD Maybe we'll get a lucky shot. McKay?

MCKAY (working on console) Almost&hellip;just give me one more&hellip;and&hellip;okay! We're armed! Go, before the power cuts out again!

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[Sheppard fires a drone, which hits the belly of the cruiser, doing significant damage.]

INT&mdash;LORNE'S PUDDLE JUMPER

LORNE Did you see that?

WEIR A drone.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD We scored a hit. That's either going to buy us time or piss 'em off.

MCKAY If they didn't know we were here, they sure as hell do now.

WEIR (over radio) Colonel Sheppard, you damaged the Wraith cruiser&hellip;

[Her voices comes over the radio Torrell is holding.]

MCKAY Dr. Weir&hellip;

WEIR (over radio) &hellip;And it's leaving the area. But there are two more cruisers incoming.

TORRELL (handing over the radio) Here.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Elizabeth, where are you?

INT&mdash;LORNE'S PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR (into radio) We're in Jumper 2. We're cloaked, directly above you.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR (over radio) Are you all right?

SHEPPARD (into radio) Our jumper's disabled. Right now, I need you to dial the gate to one of the back-up planets to the Alpha site. Doesn't matter which one.

INT&mdash;LORNE'S PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR (into radio) Understood. (to Lorne) Do it.

EXT&mdash;STARGATE ON OLESIAN PLANET, DAY

[The Stargate engages.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Yelling so those outside can hear him.]

SHEPPARD Okay, everyone who wanted off of this planet&hellip;now's your chance!

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[The prisoners run for the Stargate.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD Time to go.

TORRELL Why should we trust you? Huh?

SHEPPARD If you want to stay, stay. I really don't give a damn, but you are not coming home with us!

ELDON (standing in objection) But I&mdash;

SHEPPARD Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can come.

[Eldon sits back down. Torrell gives a half-hearted salute and leaves. Ronon gives him a predatory smile.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Elizabeth I need you to keep the gate open until the last of them go through, then shut it down. Dial Atlantis.

WEIR (over radio) We can land and pick you up.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Negative, just keep the gate open. We'll take it from there. Stay in stealth mode till the Wraith have gone away.

INT&mdash;LORNE'S PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR (into radio, hesitant) Acknowledged.

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[Dozens of prisoners, now including women, rush for the nearby 'gate.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[They hear the 'gate shut down.]

SHEPPARD Here comes another cruiser.

INT&mdash;LORNE'S PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR Dial Atlantis.

[Lorne starts to dial.]

WEIR (into radio) We're dialing. Head for the gate.

[Sheppard leaves the radio behind and they all run out.]

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[The damaged cruiser moves away while another one arrives. The team runs to the 'gate. The cruiser fires on them as they run, causing explosions around them. The jump through the active wormhole just as the 'gate is hit by a blast.]

INT&mdash;LORNE'S PUDDLE JUMPER

LORNE They're through.

[Weir sags back in relief.]

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER CRASH SITE, DAY

[The second cruiser moves away.]

INT&mdash;MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE

[The Magistrate watches in silent horror as a cruiser descends into the city.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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