The Lost Boys/Transcript

Episode Guide
The Lost Boys" Episode Guide

Transcript
TEASER

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard's team makes their way through a thick forest.]

MCKAY This is ridiculous.

SHEPPARD Well, keep complaining about it, and we may get there faster.

MCKAY Well, couldn't we have met these people on a tropical beach planet, populated by tall, blonde women? Hmm?

TEYLA Whoever wants to speak with us obviously values their privacy.

MCKAY Yes, well, I value my time, and this is a waste of it.

SHEPPARD What's a waste of time is listening to you, Rodney. This is the mission.

MCKAY Yeah, well, it strikes me that this is a mission better suited to one of the lower echelon teams.

RONON "Lower echelon"?

TEYLA He means to say "less important."

SHEPPARD We got a tip from one of Teyla's contacts. We're following it up.

MCKAY And this is, like, what, the umpteenth tip we've followed up in search of a ZPM?

TEYLA Rodney&mdash;

MCKAY Look, I just want to make it clear that every second I am out of my lab is a second the galaxy goes without another groundbreaking&mdash;

[Men hiding in the forest come forward and shoot all four members of the team with stun weapons. Sheppard and the others fall to the ground, unconscious.]

KANAYO We have to get them to the gate before their people realize they're missing.

[The men take the weapons from Sheppard and the others.]

EXT&mdash;WORMHOLE

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

[Sheppard and the others are seated around a large wooden dining table when hoods are removed from their heads. Men dressed in a variety of homespun clothing surround them.]

SHEPPARD You guys okay?

MCKAY (upset) Oh, yeah. Fine.

SHEPPARD Seems like a whole lot of trouble to go through just to get us to dinner&hellip; Not a talkative bunch, are you?

KANAYO If we release you from your bindings, do you promise not to attack us?

RONON Sure.

SHEPPARD Yeah, we promise.

[Aiden Ford enters, chuckling. Ronon tries to get up and approach him, but other men hold him back.]

FORD Before we untie them, they have to know that they're among friends.

SHEPPARD Ford?

FORD You thought I was dead, didn't you, Sheppard?

[Sheppard exchanges looks with the rest of the team. Ford smiles mildly, the left side of his face still altered by the earlier Wraith injury.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

[There is a plate of food in front of each of Sheppard's team. They are now untied.]

FORD Guys&hellip; Guys, please, eat. Eat.

[Ford takes a bit from Teyla's plate. Ronon sniffs the food. Ronon and McKay start to eat.]

FORD (to his men) Well, men, this used to be my team. (indicating Ronon) Well, not this one&hellip; but I think he's okay, too.

SHEPPARD What is all this?

FORD Just some local vegetables, a sort of alligator thing. It tastes like salted meat. It's good. Try.

SHEPPARD I'm not talking about the food. What the hell is going on?

TEYLA Who are these men? And why bring us here like this?

FORD Whoa. That's a lot of questions.

RONON Pick one.

FORD "Pick one." That's good. Where'd you find him, Sheppard?

MCKAY (speaking with his mouth full) Maybe you should start with how you managed to escape being culled by the Wraith Dart?

[Sheppard gives him a look.]

MCKAY Hmm? What? When I get nervous, I get hungry.

FORD Okay. The Dart&hellip;

BEGIN FLASHBACK

EXT&mdash;P3M-736 FOREST, NIGHT

[From "2.03 Runner", Sheppard has hit gun aimed at Ford.]

SHEPPARD Ford! You're not getting off this planet.

[Ford jumps into the Wraith culling beam from the Dart that passes by.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH SHIP

[Ford wakes up on the Wraith ship.]

FORD (voiceover) I have no idea how long I was in the Dart. Next thing I knew, I was on a cruiser, and I was awake.

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

MCKAY (still eating) It's the enzyme. It makes you almost immune to the Wraith stunner, so when you dematerialize from the Wraith Dart, you're awake, as opposed to&hellip;

FORD As opposed to dead.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;WRAITH SHIP

[Awake, Ford grabs a knife and stabs the Wraith soldier standing over him. He grabs its weapon and fires on the Wraith. Then he kneels beside it with his knife.]

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

FORD I cut open his enzyme pouch, took my fill, and made my way off the ship.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;WRAITH SHIP

[Ford makes his way through the ship.]

FORD (voiceover) You can get around pretty easy on a Wraith ship. They're not used to people making it aboard, so there's next to no security.

[Ford shoots another Wraith soldier and bends to cut into its arm for the enzyme pouch.]

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

FORD I walked off with enough enzyme to last me a little while, tracked down the Stargate, dialed the first friendly address I could remember.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;TAVERN

[Ford enters the tavern and sees Kanayo.]

FORD I need a place to stay, a hot meal.

KANAYO And what do you got to trade?

[Ford takes out a Wraith stunner and puts it on the bar.]

FORD What'll that get me?

[A bouncer grabs him from behind.]

BOUNCER No weapons.

[Ford slams the bouncer's head into the bar and lets him fall to the floor. He turns back to Kanayo.]

FORD So? What'll that get me?

[Later, Ford is eating while Kanayo looks on.]

KANAYO I still don't really understand.

FORD Look at me. I got shot; I healed. I can see farther, clearer than I ever saw before. (voiceover) I told them about the enzyme, how it makes you stronger, more aware, more resilient, how it would give us a fighting chance against the Wraith&hellip;

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

FORD I mean, look at me. Look at me! I walked off a Wraith cruiser. It works.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;TAVERN

KANAYO I want to try it.

[Ford shakes hands with Kanayo.]

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

RONON Wait a second. All your people here&hellip;all your men&hellip;they're on the enzyme?

FORD Of course.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Kanayo and other of Ford's men stalk a Wraith patrol of two. They ambush and fire on them. One of the men starts to cut the enzyme from a Wraith.]

KANAYO No. We don't do it like that anymore. Let's gate them back home.

[The men drag the Wraith across the planet.]

FORD (voiceover) As our numbers kept growing, we needed more and more of the enzyme.

INT&mdash;CAVE

[Ford's men spar as Kanayo and others drag the Wraith in to put them beside other Wraith. All the Wraith are shackled and unmoving. Ford enters.]

FORD Nice work.

KANAYO Thank you.

FORD That should give us a steady stream of the enzyme. Time to focus on some bigger issues.

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

TEYLA Aiden do you mean to tell us that there are live Wraith here in this cave?

FORD That's right.

TEYLA The Wraith can communicate with each other over a distance.

FORD But not between stars. They'd have to be in this solar system. (indicting McKay) You taught me that.

MCKAY (still eating) Yes, well, good for me.

FORD (chuckling) What's the matter? They can't communicate if they're unconscious.

SHEPPARD Why'd you jump us?

FORD Yeah&hellip; Yeah, I'm sorry about that. It was the only way to get you here.

SHEPPARD Why didn't you just tell us where you were? You know we would have come.

FORD Yeah, you and a special ops team.

SHEPPARD (unconvincingly) No, no.

FORD I know you think I'm crazy. I brought you all here to show you that you're wrong. I mean, do I look crazy? Do I seem&hellip;out of control?

MCKAY Are we speaking in relative terms, or, um&hellip;

FORD Look&hellip; Jace here has really fine-tuned the enzyme. We know how to administer it now, how to regulate it, refine it&hellip; We've gotten so good, we can even lace food with it.

[Teyla, Ronon, and McKay all stop eating.]

MCKAY Excuse me?

FORD Congratulations. You've just had your first dose.

MCKAY What?

[McKay spits ou the food in his mouth. Ronon pulls some out.]

FORD I thought long and hard about how to show you that the enzyme was safe&hellip; Convince you that it was the first step to defeating the Wraith, so you'd convince Weir, convince the military.

MCKAY (standing, furious) Are you out of your mind?

FORD Hey, settle down, McKay.

MCKAY (screaming) No, I will not settle down! I have been drugged against my will, you little punk!

TEYLA You should not have done this, Aiden.

FORD Hey, be as mad as you want. Couple of days, you'll be thanking me. We'll all have a good laugh about this. Now, eat up.

[Ford walks out. Ronon gets up, but a man holds a stunner to his face.]

MCKAY (panicking) I'm itchy. I'm itchy all over. This is exactly what happened when I toked pot once in college.

[Sheppard stands up.]

SHEPPARD Everyone stay put.

[He walks toward where Ford has gone, in an adjacent room. Men stop him.]

FORD Let him go.

INT&mdash;ROOM IN CAVE

SHEPPARD Ford&hellip; look&hellip; I know what you're trying to do. I get it, I do, but you're going about this all wrong. Weir isn't going to listen to us if we're all hopped up on the enzyme.

FORD Your food was clean.

SHEPPARD Why? Why me?

FORD You're going to be the witness. You're going to be the one to tell Weir that her most trusted team has taken the enzyme and is better because of it.

SHEPPARD Look, buddy&hellip;why don't you come back with us? Have Beckett look you over. That's the best proof.

FORD No. No, I've thought this through. This is the plan.

SHEPPARD Look, I don't know what you're thinking&mdash;

FORD You're free to roam around as much as you want. You're all a part of the team now.

EXT&mdash;DHD ON PLANET

[McKay works on the DHD. Sheppard, Teyla, and Ronon are with him.]

RONON Okay so why aren't these guys watching us?

TEYLA Ronon is right. They went to great trouble to get us here. Why would they allow us to leave?

SHEPPARD I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

MCKAY Oh, that little bastard.

SHEPPARD There it goes.

MCKAY This is what I was afraid of.

SHEPPARD What did he do?

MCKAY He's taken all the necessary control crystals, something I showed him how to do on a mission, I might add.

SHEPPARD Well, that's not good.

MCKAY That is the understatement of the year.

SHEPPARD All right. See what you can do.

RONON Okay, why don't we just take them? All we've got to do is get our hands on one stunner and I can take them all.

SHEPPARD Yeah, maybe, but if we mess it up, whatever trust we might have been given will disappear.

TEYLA You want to make them trust us?

SHEPPARD We play it cool. We let them get comfortable. They're bound to make a mistake.

TEYLA (skeptical) And in the meantime?

SHEPPARD We play along&hellip; How are you guys feeling?

RONON I didn't eat that much. I feel fine.

TEYLA Perhaps if we were able to fast they will be unable to administer the enzyme. I doubt that. I don't think they'd have a problem forcing us.

MCKAY Okay, well, this thing is useless, and I ate my face off, and I can tell you, I can feel it working. There's a good possibility that everything you're feeling right now might be psychosomatic.

MCKAY Oh, is that right, Professor Science? Is that your expert opinion?

[They start to walk away from the DHD.]

SHEPPARD Yes, it is.

MCKAY Well, I can tell you, when they up the dosage, the side effects will be very real and very unpredictable.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, EVENING

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

WEIR You're back early.

LORNE Ah, Jenev's kind of a closed society. Very polite and very courteous, but completely uninterested in having anything to do with us.

WEIR Well, better that than hostile, I suppose. Colonel Sheppard's team is three hours overdue.

LORNE It wouldn't be the first time. Any radio contact?

WEIR None since they left.

LORNE (smiling) Well, you know those guys.

WEIR What do I know about those guys?

LORNE (unconcerned) Just that they tend to get all caught up in whatever it is they're doing, and sometimes they don't check in. They forget how much you worry. That we worry. Collectively, I mean.

WEIR (subtly pressuring) Yes, we do.

LORNE (relenting) Yeah&hellip;we do. (to his team) Okay, guys, looks like we're heading back out.

WEIR Thank you, Major.

LORNE You're welcome.

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

[McKay paces nervously.]

MCKAY Seriously, I'm getting, uh&hellip; I'm getting chills and hot flashes, chills and hot flashes, again and again. None of you are feeling that?

RONON (agitated, to Sheppard) The enzyme side effects are going to be the least of his concerns if he keeps this up.

SHEPPARD I know. Just be patient.

RONON Historically, that hasn't been a strength for me.

SHEPPARD (emphatically) I know.

[Ford enters.]

FORD Sheppard, Teyla. Kanayo's running a mission off-world. I want you to go with him.

SHEPPARD Why?

FORD We're running an op. I thought you might want to see the men in action.

SHEPPARD Sure. Wherever you need us.

TEYLA Just give us some weapons, and&mdash;

FORD Nice try. No, you're going to hang back and watch with Kanayo. Don't worry. You won't be in any danger.

SHEPPARD That's a load off of my mind.

FORD Good.

MCKAY What about us?

FORD Jace will give you the grand tour, show you what we've done with the place. How does that sound?

MCKAY It sounds delightful.

FORD Okay, good. Then if Sheppard tries anything off-world, you'll be nice and close for me to kill you both.

MCKAY Can't think of a better way of spending the afternoon.

[Kanayo points a gun at Teyla and gestures for the to leave.]

KANAYO Move.

FORD Looks like he's itching to go.

[Ronon walks menacingly around Ford, grabs his coat, and knocks over a chair before leaving.]

EXT&mdash;WORMHOLE

EXT&mdash;PLANET, NIGHT

[There is a village in the distance.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, NIGHT

[Ford, Sheppard, and the others watch as a group of men run by on a trail.]

SHEPPARD Are those guards Genii?

KANAYO Yes.

TEYLA What exactly are we doing here?

KANAYO The Genii have spies all over the galaxy. If for whatever reason one of them can't make it back to the Genii home-world, their leaders have established safe houses. If they need a place to reload on gear or a place to hide, they come here.

SHEPPARD That's useful.

KANAYO Yeah. We've found it to be an excellent source of information and supplies.

TEYLA How did you find them in the first place?

KANAYO I was a Genii spy.

SHEPPARD If you're one of them, why don't you just walk in there?

KANAYO Well, I used to but eventually they realized I'd betrayed them.

SHEPPARD I can see how they would.

KANAYO We rely on raids now.

SHEPPARD Why? What more do you guys want?

KANAYO We don't have all the pieces we need for the Lieutenant's plan.

SHEPPARD Right&hellip; and which plan would that be again?

KANAYO All will be revealed when the time is right. Oh, good.

SHEPPARD I'd hate for things to be revealed too early.

INT&mdash;LAB IN CAVE

[McKay gets a tour of Ford's lab from Jace. There are primitive computers and various flasks and tubes of chemicals.]

MCKAY How are you powering these Genii computers?

JACE We stole a Telnorran generator. They're a pain to keep serviced, but they do the job. Actually, we just got our hands on some Pilation solar cells, but I haven't been able to figure out how to interface them yet. Have you used them before?

MCKAY Can't say that I have. What&mdash;what do you do here?

JACE We study the Wraith.

MCKAY Oh, yeah? How's that going?

JACE Some of our discoveries have been quite exciting, actually.

MCKAY Like what?

JACE Well, for one, they seem to be territorial, very much so, it turns out. They're not a united foe like we once believed.

[He looks at an old computer terminal with Wraith writing.]

JACE Hmm. Really. Yes. In fact, I believe they're fracturing even further. Now, my understanding of their language is fairly limited, but they seem to be trying to establish a system that would restrict inter-ship communications.

MCKAY What? Why would they stop sharing information with each other?

JACE Ford thinks it might have to do with your friend's ability to read their minds. If she taps into them, only one ship would be compromised, not the whole fleet.

MCKAY All this because of Teyla?

JACE Well, for one, she may not be the only one that possesses that ability&hellip;

MCKAY Huh. Fair enough.

JACE And two, I think that the lack of food in the galaxy has created some deep divisions within the Wraith cells.

MCKAY Huh. And you got all that from, uh&hellip;this?

JACE Yes. To be honest, I could use some help. How's your Wraith, Doctor?

MCKAY (intrigued) It's okay. Let's see what you got.

INT&mdash;SPARRING ROOM IN CAVE

[Ford spars with two of his men, beating both easily.]

FORD That's better. You guys still need to work together. You're stronger as a team.

[He sees Ronon has entered.]

FORD You want to spar a little?

[Ronon just stares at him.]

FORD We're cool, right? You're not holding a grudge or anything? I did save your life.

RONON I remember.

FORD You know, it's funny. If you asked a dozen people who they thought would win in a fight between you and me, people would choose you hands down. Hell, I'd choose you&hellip; But we went toe to toe.

RONON Yeah, we did.

FORD Until Sheppard showed up.

RONON So I guess it's still undecided.

FORD Look, all I'm saying is, why do you think I was able to fight you like that? It's the enzyme. Look what it did for me. Imagine what it could do for you. I'm not the bad guy here, Ronon. I'm just trying to help&hellip; You'll come around. I know you will.

[Ford walks away.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[The Stargate is active. Lorne briefs Weir from the planet.]

LORNE We just finished our scans, ma'am. They're not here.

WEIR Do you think they've headed to another planet?

LORNE It's possible, but as you know it's standard procedure to check in and tell us first. They didn't do that, so&hellip;

WEIR They might have been taken off-world against their will.

LORNE Yeah.

WEIR All right. Can you give me the last few addresses dialed from that DHD?

LORNE Maybe somebody can, but that's a little out of my skill set.

WEIR I'll send Zelenka.

LORNE Good call. Lorne out.

EXT&mdash;FOREST ON PLANET, NIGHT

[Sheppard, Teyla, and Kanayo watch the Genii soldiers.]

SHEPPARD So, uh, what's the plan?

KANAYO We take them by force.

SHEPPARD That's some groundbreaking strategy there.

TEYLA I think the Colonel is interested in the type of attack.

KANAYO We plan to overpower them.

SHEPPARD I think it's best if we just watch.

KANAYO (into comm device) Now.

[Kanayo's men attack, shooting all the Genii with stun weapons.]

SHEPPARD What kind of plan is that?

KANAYO One that works.

SHEPPARD One of your men got hit.

KANAYO Well, it should be safe for us now.

[The move in. Sheppard checks one of Ford's men.]

SHEPPARD This guy's dead.

TEYLA So, you see, you are not invincible.

KANAYO We're close enough.

TEYLA There are skills to the art of war, Kanayo.

KANAYO (insistent) Don't you tell me how to run my missions. You're just here to watch.

[One of his men arrives with a metal case. He opens it to reveal it's full of C-4.]

KANAYO Look familiar?

SHEPPARD That's our C4.

KANAYO We're stealing it back.

TEYLA For what purpose?

KANAYO For the hive.

SHEPPARD As in hive ship?

KANAYO Yeah. That's the Lieutenant's plan. You're going to help us destroy a Wraith hive ship.

INT&mdash;LAB IN CAVE

FORD One of the added bonuses of killing the Wraith is every now and again, you get your hands on a couple of these.

[He holds up a Wraith comm device.]

FORD Now, thanks to Jace and some of the computers that we borrowed from the Genii, we've been able to figure out the exact flight path of one their hive ships.

JACE It's decimating all inhabited worlds in its path.

FORD It has to be stopped.

JACE I've been able to calculate that in the next several days, it'll be forced to make a hyperspace pause very near an uninhabited planet that happens to have a Stargate.

KANAYO We gate to that planet, get on the hive ship, plant the C4 in the Dart bay, and get out.

JACE We could save thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives.

FORD So?

SHEPPARD Wow.

FORD "Wow"?

SHEPPARD You heard me.

MCKAY Let me see if I can couch what Colonel Sheppard means by "wow" in more explicit terms. That is a terrible plan.

TEYLA Rodney&mdash;

MCKAY Made all the more frightening by the fact that you think it's a good plan.

FORD What's wrong with it?

MCKAY (agitated) What's right with it? Look, let's, just for a second, give in to reckless abandon and assume that it would be possible to plant a single charge large enough to destroy an entire hive ship.

JACE We're planning on secondary explosions in the Dart bay.

MCKAY Regardless, the hive ship will be on a hyperspace pause, yes, but it will not enter the planet's atmosphere, nor will it take up any sort of stable orbit. It will be flying through space, which means that unless your enzyme allows you to jump a lot higher than you've let on&mdash;

FORD We have a spaceship.

MCKAY Oh, yeah? Really. What's that made out of, huh? Bark?

FORD No, it's real, McKay. And in fact, it's the only ship I'd feel comfortable using on a mission like this.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard's team and Ford and his men arrive at a meadow. The men uncover a Wraith Dart that's been covered with camouflage.]

SHEPPARD Okay, where'd you get it?

FORD Does it matter?

KANAYO None of us have had much success flying it. We've banged it up pretty bad on the last couple of landings. It's in need of some repairs.

FORD And a real pilot.

SHEPPARD This is why you brought us here.

FORD It's the reason I waited till now, yes.

KANAYO (indicating McKay) Assuming this guy can get it working again.

FORD He can. These people are the best at what they do.

KANAYO (to Sheppard) Look, you fly it, you scoop us up, you take us up to the hive, you drop us off. All we need is time to lay the charge. We'll be in and out of there before the Wraith have any idea what's going on.

FORD It's perfect.

MCKAY It is far from perfect.

SHEPPARD But it is possible.

TEYLA (doubtfully) Colonel&hellip;

MCKAY Are you honestly considering this?

SHEPPARD It's on its way to a culling, Rodney. Yeah, and I am sorry about that, but this is insane.

SHEPPARD Maybe not.

FORD Jace has been trying to get it working but he's not you, McKay. Can you fix it?

MCKAY Probably not.

SHEPPARD That usually means "yes."

MCKAY Aren't you the one not taking the enzyme? You're supposed to be the clear voice of reason here.

FORD Look, can you fix it?

MCKAY Even if I could, I wouldn't. I'm sorry. Drug me all you want. I'm not doing this.

SHEPPARD Let me talk to him. He'll come around.

FORD Okay.

[Sheppard follows McKay and catches up with him. They walk quickly together.]

SHEPPARD Rodney&hellip;

MCKAY Look, maybe you are on the enzyme. Maybe Ford lied, because no rational person would think that was a good plan.

SHEPPARD Look, a million things can go wrong. I know that, but just&mdash; Lookit, stop! Shut up and listen.

[They stop and face each other, McKay looking defiant.]

SHEPPARD If you fix that Dart, we all get out of here. I know it's risky but Ford's not thinking straight, so&mdash;

MCKAY What are you talking about?

SHEPPARD I'll insist you're all on the away team. I'll scoop you up, and instead of flying out to the hive ship, we fly out to Atlantis.

MCKAY How?

SHEPPARD That Dart's got to have its own DHD, right?

MCKAY Of course.

SHEPPARD You get the thing flight-worthy, we all go home.

MCKAY Right. Of course. (becoming abashed) You know, you see&hellip; I would have thought of that myself before I became a drug addict.

SHEPPARD I'm sure you would have.

MCKAY I'm sorry. All right. Okay.

[Sheppard pats McKay on the back and they turn around and start walking back towards Ford.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, NIGHT

[Zelenka works on a DHD while Lorne and his men look on.]

ZELENKA Speaks Czech.

LORNE That good, huh?

ZELENKA These things are not designed to store 'gate addresses.

LORNE What can you give us?

ZELENKA Well, every time the gate is dialed, a slight residual imprint is left on the control crystals.

LORNE Which means&hellip;

ZELENKA Well, I've managed to mine about fifty addresses but I have no idea if they're correct or what order they were dialed in.

LORNE Fifty? That's a lot of planets to check.

ZELENKA Yes, and that's assuming that they're correct.

LORNE Okay, so long story short?

ZELENKA It's going to be next to impossible to find Colonel Sheppard and his team based on what I can get from this DHD.

LORNE Great. Okay, pack it up. Let's take what you got. We'll go over it on Atlantis. Weir's not going to be happy about this.

[He starts to dial out.]

INT&mdash;CAVE ON PLANET

[Ford studies a document at his desk. Sheppard enters.]

FORD How'd that go?

SHEPPARD Well, he'll do it&hellip;But, we have need conditions.

FORD What?

SHEPPARD Dial back McKay's enzyme doses.

FORD No!

SHEPPARD Look we're under some time constraints here. I'm not saying the enzyme wouldn't help. I'm just saying we need him standing still and thinking not running laps because it feels good.

FORD Ronon and Teyla?

SHEPPARD We stick to the plan there.

FORD Fine. What else?

SHEPPARD I'll fly it, that's obvious, but I want McKay, Teyla, and Ronon on the strike team.

FORD It's not a good mission for McKay. Could get rough in there.

SHEPPARD Look, if suddenly we need a door open or a computer hacked, McKay should be there to do it. That's why he's on my team in the first place.

FORD Is that it?

[Sheppard gives him a quick nod. They stand up and shake hands.]

EXT&mdash;MEADOW NEAR DART ON PLANET, DAY

[McKay helps one of Ford's men remove the coverings from the Dart. Jace holds up a box.]

MCKAY No.

BEGIN MONTAGE

[In the cave, Ronon and Teyla spar vigorously. Ronon spars with one of the men, getting beaten to the mat.]

[In Ford's office, Ford goes over the Wraith ship schematics with Sheppard.]

FORD So that's&hellip;

[At the Dart, McKay climbs out from underneath it.]

MCKAY No, no, no, no. You fire it up now, it'll all go up in smoke.

[In the cave, Ronon and Teyla are forced to take enzyme injections.]

[At the Dart, Sheppard arrives and climbs in.]

[In the cave, Teyla beats her opponent in sparring. Ronon does also.]

[At the Dart, McKay activates a remote control.]

MCKAY Okay&hellip;

[The Dart powers up and lifts off the ground.]

MCKAY We're close.

END MONTAGE

INT&mdash;CAVE ON PLANET

[Ford rolls up the schematic. Sheppard sits.]

SHEPPARD It's a good plan.

FORD Couldn't have done it without you, sir.

SHEPPARD Well, I'm glad you trusted me enough to bring me here.

[Ford looks troubled.]

SHEPPARD What's wrong?

FORD I want to go home.

[Sheppard stands and approaches Ford.]

SHEPPARD Well&hellip;then let's go. Give McKay the DHD crystals, and let's get out of here. I can have you back on Earth within an hour.

FORD No. We have to do this first. I have to prove to them that we can do this.

SHEPPARD You don't have to prove anything to anyone, Lieutenant. I saw your cousin and your grandparents while I was back there. They miss you&hellip;a lot. This whole M.I.A. thing is killing them.

FORD They're strong. They can wait. If anyone's ever going to take me seriously ever again, we have to do this.

SHEPPARD Listen, Aiden&mdash;

FORD No. I'm sorry. I don't want to talk about this.

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN CAVE

[Sheppard talks to Teyla and Ronon, who are eating.]

SHEPPARD Well&hellip; part of me thinks he brought us here 'cause he knew we'd bring him back. I think subconsciously he knows what our plan is, and he's fine with it.

[Ronon and Teyla aren't listening. They are making aggressive expressions to each other across the table. Ronon stands and steals part of Teyla's food with a challenging smile.]

TEYLA Give it back.

[Ronon puts the food in his mouth and chews.]

RONON Or what?

[Teyla slugs him in the face, smiling.]

SHEPPARD Hey!

[Ronon grabs Teyla and pulls her across the table onto the floor. Sheppard is shocked. The two start slugging each other and sparring. Sheppard approaches.]

SHEPPARD Knock it off, guys. Stop&mdash;

[Ronon accidentally elbows Sheppard in the face, knocking him down. They stop fighting.]

SHEPPARD What the hell's gotten into you two? Oh, right. Never mind.

[Sheppard gets off the floor and sits down painfully.]

RONON Are we going to talk about this?

SHEPPARD About what?

RONON The enzyme works. No one's saying it, but we're all thinking it. It works.

TEYLA I must admit, I have noticed an increased amount of strength.

[She smiles and moves as if full of energy.]

RONON Maybe Ford is right. Maybe it's worth looking into, seeing what this stuff can do.

[Sheppard is clearly dubious.]

TEYLA They were an hour late delivering our doses yesterday, and I felt awful. It frightens me how reliant my body has become on the enzyme always being in my system. What would happen if we suddenly could not receive it?

RONON If the only negative is that you've got to keep taking it, I'd want to stay on it.

SHEPPARD What about you?

TEYLA The fact that I'm even considering it makes me feel&mdash;

[McKay enters.]

MCKAY Hey.

SHEPPARD So?

MCKAY It's ready.

EXT&mdash;MEADOW NEAR DART

[Sheppard sits in the Dart's cockpit. Jace is beside him. McKay climbs up.]

MCKAY Okay, now&hellip; (to Jace) Could you move? Look, this is probably going to make you a little uneasy, but when the canopy forms, it's perfectly opaque.

SHEPPARD Then how am I going to fly this thing?

MCKAY The whole thing is one giant heads-up display. It'll show you all the pertinent information that you need.

SHEPPARD Yeah, you mean in Wraith.

MCKAY Yeah, which is why I've installed an interface to translate a lot of the readouts.

SHEPPARD By "a lot" do you mean "all"? Because my Wraith's not all that good.

MCKAY Enough to get you by.

FORD (to McKay) I knew you could do it. Right on time. Kanayo will get you suited up. You should get ready.

MCKAY Right. Great.

[McKay gives Sheppard a nervous look, then climbs down and walks over to one of Ford's men, who drops his vest on purpose.]

FORD He seems a little nervous.

SHEPPARD You know McKay. He'll be fine.

FORD You know how to dial the DHD on this thing?

SHEPPARD Got the addresses memorized.

FORD Good. Good. Listen, I should probably tell you&hellip;there's been a slight change of plans.

SHEPPARD (unconcerned) Oh, yeah?

FORD Kanayo!

[Kanayo and the others point their weapons at McKay. Ronon pulls out his weapon, but Ford's men aim at him as well.]

KANAYO Don't even think about it!

SHEPPARD What the hell are you doing?

FORD McKay's going to stay here while we do the op. Take him!

[Some of Ford's men force McKay to leave.]

MCKAY What? No! No, no, no, no, no!

SHEPPARD That wasn't part of the plan.

FORD Neither was you heading back to Atlantis. You didn't really buy the whole "I want to go home" speech, did you? Huh?

[Sheppard appears disappointed he fell for it. Kanayo takes Ronon's blade weapon from him.]

FORD You're always underestimating me, Sheppard. You need to stop doing that. Complete the mission, and McKay lives.

SHEPPARD We can't complete the mission, Ford. It's a bad plan!

FORD You said it was a great plan.

SHEPPARD You didn't buy the whole "it's a great plan" speech, did you?

FORD Get this Dart in the air and come scoop us up. Oh&hellip; and the Dart DHD only dials to the planet we're going to and back here, just in case McKay's life isn't enough to get you to do the right thing.

[Ford steps away from the Dart.]

TEYLA Aiden&hellip;what are you doing?

FORD Just making sure you guys hold up your end of the bargain. (to his men) It's okay. Give them back their weapons.

KANAYO Are you sure?

FORD Yeah. If we're going to do this, we've all got to work together.

[He steps over and hands Sheppard his pistol.]

FORD Good luck to us all.

[Jace holds his weapon on Sheppard while he powers up the Dart.]

SHEPPARD Stand by for pickup.

[The canopy becomes opaque, and the Dart lifts off. It circles back to beam up the remaining group, including Ronon and Teyla.]

INT&mdash;WEIR'S OFFICE

[Weir paces; Lorne is seated.]

WEIR If they were okay they would have radioed in by now.

LORNE I understand that, ma'am.

WEIR I want everyone who's cleared for off-world activity to help with the search. The Daedalus is on its way from Earth and they'll be able to help, but until they get here, it's up to us.

LORNE And I know that, but I need you to understand that it is going to take a very long time to search all the planets on our list. It&hellip;it could take months.

WEIR We can't afford months, Major.

LORNE And I know that too.

WEIR Good.

[He leaves.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE ABOVE PLANET

[The Dart leaves a planet and approaches the Wraith ship.]

INT&mdash;DART

[Sheppard sees readouts on his heads-up display, but can't see anything outside.]

SHEPPARD This is going to take some getting used to.

[Data streams by over his head, then stops.]

SHEPPARD Come on. We were getting along so well.

[The display shows the autopilot engaging.]

SHEPPARD Oh, autopilot? No, no, no, no. No! R2, I need you to turn the autopilot off. Now&hellip; Worth a try.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Dart flies into a hangar entrance on the side of the Wraith ship.]

INT&mdash;DART

[The display shows the Dart flying toward a red target point.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH SHIP

[The Dart is enters the large hangar bay and flies upward.]

INT&mdash;DART

[The display reads: "Rematerialize cargo? And buttons for Yes and No. Sheppard chooses Yes.]

INT&mdash;HANGAR ON WRAITH SHIP

[The Dart flies over a narrow bridgeway. The passengers re-materialize, but some are too close to the edge and fall over, screaming as they fall. Jace is one of them. Kanayo nearly falls, but Ronon grabs him.]

FORD Jace!

KANAYO We have to go after them!

TEYLA No one would have survived that fall.

RONON We have to get out of the open.

[They start to move off.]

INT&mdash;DART

SHEPPARD (into radio) You guys okay?

FORD (over radio) No, we're not okay. You beamed half of us off the edge of the platform.

SHEPPARD (extremely concerned) Teyla and Ronon?

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[The conversation switches between the Dart and the corridor.]

FORD Is that all you care about? You murdered my men.

SHEPPARD I've lost all control of the Dart. I had to release you blind.

FORD Maintain radio silence until we lay the charge.

SHEPPARD Negative. We need to stay in contact. They’re&mdash;

[Ford turns off his radio.]

TEYLA You should leave that radio on, Aiden.

FORD Don't tell me what to do.

INT&mdash;DART

SHEPPARD (into radio) Ford? Ford? Ford! Damn it.

[The display says 'Exit Craft for Inspection'.]

SHEPPARD I'd prefer not to.

[The display says, 'Opening Canopy'.]

INT&mdash;HANGAR IN WRAITH SHIP

[The canopy disappears. Two Wraith soldiers approach Sheppard. He pulls out a machine gun and kills both of them.]

SHEPPARD Ooh, boy. You mind checking the oil?

[From further away, a high-pitched siren starts up.]

SHEPPARD This is not good.

[He gets out of the Dart and rushes away.]

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[Ford and the others hear the sound.]

FORD What is that?

RONON It's an alarm.

FORD That shouldn't happen.

RONON No, it shouldn't.

[Ford turns on his radio.]

FORD (into radio) Sheppard, you there? Sheppard, you there?

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard is in a different part of the ship.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) I think I might have set the alarm off. You guys be careful, because there's probably some guards on the way.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

RONON Too late. If you want to live, stay behind me.

[Ronon pulls out his blade with determination and moves forward.]

INT&mdash;CAVE ON PLANET

[McKay sees the bouncer inject himself in the arm with enzyme.]

MCKAY Oh, do&mdash;

BOUNCER Want some?

MCKAY No, I'm good, thanks.

GUARD #2 You sure?

MCKAY (nervous and frantic) Yeah, pretty sure. Look, don't you think that they should be back by now? I mean, how long does it take to fly there and fly back, you know? I mean, I say it's a minute from here to the gate, 10 tops from their gate to the hive ship, 20 to get in and lay a charge, and, what, like 10 more to get back out and home, right? So&hellip;

BOUNCER Worrying really isn't going to do anything.

MCKAY Yeah, well, I subscribe to a different school of thought.

BOUNCER They're fine.

MCKAY You can't possibly know that.

BOUNCER I got a gut feeling.

MCKAY Yeah, well, I have a different gut&hellip;

[The guards approach him menacingly.]

MCKAY &hellip;feeling.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard reloads his machine gun.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Ford what's your position? Ford!

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[Ford and the others are engaged in direct combat with the Wraith. Some are firing while Ronon fights hand-to-hand.]

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard hears growling nearby.]

SHEPPARD Ah, damn it.

[He pulls out a hand grenade and lobs it at a Wraith soldier. It blows up, blinding him. Sheppard moves in and fires on it.]

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[Ford's team continue to fire. Kanayo and Teyla are hit with stun weapons and fall.]

FORD Keep fighting!

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard is stunned from behind. He falls unconscious. A Wraith drags him away.]

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON WRAITH SHIP

[A Wraith drags Teyla away. Ronon continues fighting, back-to-back with Ford.]

FORD We can't hold them!

[Ford is hit; Ronon keeps firing with both hands.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;WEIR'S OFFICE

[Weir speaks into a voice recorder.]

WEIR And thanks to several modifications the specifics of which are encrypted in this data burst, we believe we can streamline our power consumption a further thirty percent&hellip; Also, at the time of this transmission, Colonel Sheppard's team is still missing, and is&hellip; is presumed&hellip; Colonel Sheppard's team is still missing. End transmission.

[She drops the recorder on the desk, clearly upset.]

INT&mdash;CELL ON WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard is lying on a platform off the floor, his head on Teyla's leg. He wakes up. The rest of Ford's team is there too, awake and pacing.]

TEYLA Are you all right?

SHEPPARD We're in a holding cell?

TEYLA Yes.

SHEPPARD On a hive ship.

TEYLA Uh-huh.

SHEPPARD (sitting up) Well, then, no, I'm not doing so good.

FORD I can't believe you screwed up.

SHEPPARD (standing) I did what?

FORD You set off the alarm. You ruined the mission.

SHEPPARD The Dart went on autopilot the second I got close to the hive. You're lucky I was able to get you out!

FORD Well, why would it do that? Why would it go on autopilot?

SHEPPARD That's what Jumpers do when they gate to Atlantis.

FORD Well, why didn't you say something?

SHEPPARD (incredulous) Why didn't I say something?

FORD You want me to fail. You want me to look bad.

SHEPPARD (angry) That's right, you snot-nosed brat. I'd put my team's life on the line just to prove you wrong.

[Ronon hears something.]

RONON We got company.

[A Wraith arrives with soldiers. Ronon stands at the netting holding them in, blocking the Wraith's view of the others.]

WRAITH Move away.

RONON What do you want?

WRAITH (smiling) The one who flew the ship.

RONON Why don't you start with me?

[The netting slides open. A guard stuns Ronon, causing him to fall in pain.]

SHEPPARD (stepping forward) Wait, wait, wait. You want me.

[The Wraith sniffs at Sheppard. He and the guards lead Sheppard away. Teyla helps Ronon up.]

FORD It's all right. There's always a way out.

RONON If he dies&hellip;you die.

INT&mdash;QUEEN'S ROOM ON WRAITH SHIP

[The guards lead Sheppard to the a platform. He turns in a circle, looking around. A Wraith Queen appears right in front of him and hisses at him. She raises her hand toward his face and begins to exert mental control over him.]

WRAITH HIVE QUEEN Kneel.

[Despite trying to resist, Sheppard falls to his knees.]

FADE OUT

TO BE CONTINUED

END CREDITS

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