Sateda (episode)/Transcript

Episode Guide
SGA 3.04 "Sateda" Episode Guide

Transcript
TEASER

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Sheppard's team walks through the forest. Ronon looks disturbed by the surroundings.]

SHEPPARD Something wrong?

RONON I have a bad feeling.

MCKAY Eh, I always feel like that. Like something horrible's about to happen.

TEYLA How do you live?

MCKAY I got used to it. Thing is, when someone else also has that feeling, mine gets worse.

SHEPPARD Do you recognize this place?

RONON I don't remember.

TEYLA You must have visited many planets when you were running from the Wraith.

RONON I didn't count.

[Sheppard looks around the forest.]

SHEPPARD I don't know how you tell them apart.

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE, DAY

[The team enters a small snow-dusted village made up of two rows of animal hide tents with a dirt street in between. The villagers are going about their daily business.]

SHEPPARD See, there you go. Nothing to worry about. Seems like a perfectly nice village to me, just like dozens of others we've visited.

TEYLA It appears to be the type of encampment my people trade with all the time. I see no evidence of threatening behavior or danger.

MCKAY I also see nothing we might be interested in trading for.

[One man carrying firewood spots the team and stops. Sheppard smiles and waves in a friendly manner.]

SHEPPARD Hi. How ya doin?

ATON Wraith bringer!

[Terrified, he drops his firewood and runs. The villagers instantly scatter in a panic, repeating his cries of "Wraith bringer!"]

ATON Wraith bringer!

SHEPPARD (nonplussed) That can't be good.

TEYLA (shouting to villagers) You don't have to be afraid. (to team) Where are they going?

RONON We need to get out of here, now.

[A villager comes out of a tent carrying a crossbow. McKay turns around to face Ronon.]

MCKAY I take it he was talking to you?

[The crossbow wielder fires, hitting McKay in the buttocks.]

MCKAY (in a high pitched scream) Aaah! That did not just happened!

SHEPPARD Warning fire only!

[As the villager reaches for another bolt, Sheppard, Teyla, and Ronon start shooting over the villagers heads.]

SHEPPARD Move!

[Sheppard helps McKay limp away as Ronon and Teyla provide cover fire and back away.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[The team escape through the forest, Ronon and Teyla still providing cover from the rear. McKay leans heavily on Sheppard.]

MCKAY (screaming) Oh my god! It hurts! I can't feel my leg!

SHEPPARD Is it pain or numbness?

MCKAY Both!

[Teyla shoots another a volley of fire, then dodges more arrows.]

MCKAY What the hell did you do to these people?!

RONON Don't listen to him.

MCKAY How can you not recognize the 'gate address?!

SHEPPARD Do you know the symbols of every address of every planet we've been to?

MCKAY Yes, as a matter of fact!

[Another crossbow bolt strikes the tree near Sheppard's head. He turns around. The villagers are getting closer. Teyla and Ronon take cover behind trees and try to hold them off with weapons fire.]

TEYLA Go! Get to the 'gate!

EXT&mdash;STARGATE CLEARING, DAY

[Grunting from the effort, Sheppard and the injured McKay make their way to the DHD.]

SHEPPARD Go on. We'll be right behind you!

[He leaves McKay to dial while he heads back to help the others.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Ronon and Teyla continue the firefight. Teyla gets struck by a dart. Ronon sees her collapse unconscious just as she pulls it out. An instant later, he too is struck. He pulls it out and tries to aim, but is dizzy. He too collapses, unconscious.]

EXT&mdash;STARGATE CLEARING, DAY

[McKay finishes dialing the DHD. The Stargate activates. Another crossbow bolt just misses McKay.]

MCKAY Oh! Damn it!

[He blindly fires his P-90 behind him as cover as he limps to the Stargate. He's able to escape before the village teen can fire again.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Sheppard runs back to where he left Teyla and Ronon. He stops short upon noticing Teyla lying prone on the forest floor. An instant later, he is struck by a dart in his arm.]

SHEPPARD Oh crap.

[He sinks to his knees before keeling over, unconscious.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[McKay arrives and collapses onto his front the floor of the Gate Room, the arrow still protruding. Weir hurries down the steps. Guards stand ready with their weapons.]

WEIR Rodney! Medical team to the Gate Room!

TECHNICIAN Yes, ma'am!

[Weir reaches McKay.]

WEIR Rodney? Hey. Where are the others?

MCKAY They're right behind me.

[The wormhole shuts down. Still on his stomach, McKay only hears it. His face falls as the medics arrive.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE, DAY

[Sheppard awakens to find himself, Ronon, and Teyla imprisoned in a primitive cell made of branches. It is clearly cold in the village.]

SHEPPARD (brightly) Well, I guess it could be worse.

[Teyla smiles wanly but Ronon remains motionless, facing away from the others.]

SHEPPARD Look, I know you must be thinking this is your fault&hellip;

[Ronon still doesn't acknowledge Sheppard.]

TEYLA I have already tried to console him.

[Sheppard stands and comes closer.]

SHEPPARD We were bound to run across a planet you'd been to sooner or later.

RONON It was night last time.

FLASHBACK

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE, NIGHT

[An injured Ronon collapses in the center of the village. A young woman approaches. Her father limps towards her.]

KETURAH Linor! Stay away!

LINOR It's a man, father. He's near death.

END FLASHBACK

[Keturah walks through the town, looking towards the makeshift prison.]

KETURAH You think we would not remember you? We offered you food and shelter.

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;TENT

[Linor nurses Ronon, providing him some broth. As she moves away, Ronon grabs her arm. Keturah starts, concerned for his daughter's safety.]

RONON Thank you.

END FLASHBACK

KETURAH Maybe you did not remember our village. We were forced to rebuild after the Wraith came.

FLASHBACK

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE, NIGHT

[Explosions wreck the village, Wraith guards storm through, firing indiscriminately at the population. One soldier feeds on Linor who screams in agony. Keturah tries to get to her.]

KETURAH Linor! No!

END FLASHBACK

KETURAH That were not merely culling us as they have in the past&hellip;they were looking for you!

RONON I'm sorry.

KETURAH Sorry! I doubt that. You will not bring death and destruction on us again.

SHEPPARD Look, I can't say the Wraith won't be back here again, but I can promise you they're not coming back here because of him.

KETURAH No! Not once we've sacrificed the Wraith-bringer to his masters.

SHEPPARD He prefers Ronon. He probably also prefers not to be sacrificed to the Wraith.

TEYLA He is a victim of the Wraith, like all of us. His planet was destroyed. He was captured and made a runner, but he is not one anymore. They cannot track him as they once did.

KETURAH They did not feed on us all last time. They promised that if he ever came back and we captured him, we would be forever free from culling in the future.

TEYLA (incredulous) They "promised"?! They are Wraith! I promise you that killing Ronon will not change what happened. And it will not protect you in the future.

KETURAH I said nothing of killing.

SHEPPARD Isn't that what "sacrifice" means?

KETURAH I know not what his masters will do him once we turn him over.

SHEPPARD (incredulous) You're giving him to the Wraith?!

[Keturah holds up a small circular disk with a green blinking light&mdash;a Wraith beacon.]

KETURAH They left this behind so that we could call them.

TEYLA (horrified) He has already activated it.

SHEPPARD They're going to kill all of us! You included!

[Keturah leaves them. Ronon just stares, trying to keep his guilt and emotions in check.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[A semi-conscious McKay lies prone on a table, the arrow still imbedded. Beckett works on him. Weir and a major stand nearby.]

MCKAY (drunkenly) So many colors! All the pretty horses.

WEIR What's he talking about?

BECKETT I gave him some morphine for the pain.

[An SG major bends down to look McKay in the eye.]

MAJOR (enunciating clearly, and impatiently) I need to know how many villagers. How far is the 'gate from the village?

[McKay looks at the major.]

MCKAY Have you seen a guy around? He looks like you, but he's got messy hair. I think I&hellip;lost him somewhere&hellip;and&hellip;and a-and a pretty girl and a caveman.

BECKETT I may have given him a wee bit too much, but he was making it impossible for me to treat him.

[McKay gets distracted by the oxygen cannulus in his nose and starts playing with it.]

MAJOR (annoyed) Snap out of it McKay! It's important! Come on, what kind of weapons do they have?

BECKETT I'd say something that shoots arrows is a good guess.

[The major graces Beckett with a sarcastic smile.]

MCKAY Excuse me, why am I lying here?

BECKETT You have an arrow, Rodney, in your gluteus maximus.

[McKay lies back down.]

MCKAY Oh. Well, that sounds painful. (he sighs) Gluteus maxi&hellip;mus. Glute&mdash;&hellip;maaa-xim&hellip;Oh my god! That's my ass, isn't it?

BECKETT (resigned) Aye.

WEIR Call me if he makes any sense.

[Weir leaves.]

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE, DAY

[Ronon calls to the villager guarding them.]

RONON Get him back here&hellip;the leader of your village.

ATON Why?

RONON 'Cause I need to talk to him.

ATON It's too late for you. The Wraith will be here soon.

[Aton draws close to Ronon as he speaks. Ronon reaches out and grabs him, knocking his head into one of the branches serving as bars and pulling him close, turning him to face the outside. He pulls a knife and holds it to Aton's throat while holding him by the hair. The other guards raise their weapons, including the dart gun.]

RONON Shoot me with one of those darts, and I promise he'll be dead before I go down.

MALIK Let him go.

SHEPPARD (worriedly) Hey, buddy, you want to fill me in on this plan?

MALIK Let him go, now!

ATON (petrified) Get Keturah!

[Keturah has already realized the commotion and is headed their way.]

KETURAH I'm here. Unhand him now! I will not free you. These men will kill your friends first.

SHEPPARD (nervously) I don't think that'll be necessary. Uh, why don't we all put our weapons down and talk about this nicely?

RONON Let them go. It's me the Wraith want. They had nothing to do with what happened here.

TEYLA Ronon!

SHEPPARD (low, to Ronon) Don't.

RONON They won't shoot me. They must know the Wraith still want me alive.

SHEPPARD I was a bit more worried about them shooting us.

ATON Please, Keturah.

KETURAH Let him go, now!

[Ronon pushes Aton away, then holds the knife to his own jugular. Sheppard and Teyla stare at Ronon in alarm, horrified.]

SHEPPARD What the hell are you doing?

RONON Back off, Sheppard.

SHEPPARD Drop the knife, now!

RONON No!

[Ronon looks over to Keturah. Aton stands beside him, still rubbing his neck.]

RONON I didn't mean to bring the Wraith here, but it was my fault!

TEYLA That isn't true!

RONON You know it is. I should never have come here. I should never have stayed. I'm sorry about what happened to your village, but if you think turning me over to the Wraith will keep you safe, fine, do it! I'll do whatever I have to to make up for what happened, but don't punish them for my mistake. They're good people. You let them go, or I'll be dead before the Wraith get here. I promise. Then see what the Wraith do to you.

[Sheppard and Teyla exchange worried looks. Ronon has sounded more and more desperate as he speaks, obviously not bluffing.]

SHEPPARD We're not leaving. Not without you.

RONON (ignoring Sheppard) You let them go.

ATON (nervously) We have no issue with the other two.

[Keturah studies Ronon, who is pressing the knife hard into his own throat.]

KETURAH Let them go.

[The door opens and guards drag Sheppard and Teyla out.]

KETURAH Resist, and you will be killed.

[Once Sheppard and Teyla are dragged towards the Stargate, Ronon drops his knife hand. As Sheppard and Teyla are led away, Ronon is shot by a dart. Sheppard looks back, haunted.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Chuck sees the Stargate being activated.]

CHUCK Incoming wormhole!

[The chevrons light and the Stargate kawhooshes. Weir arrives. In the Gate Room, the SFs and the Major's team raise their weapons.]

CHUCK It's Colonel Sheppard's IDC, ma'am.

WEIR Lower the shield!

[She runs down the steps.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Sheppard and Teyla walk through the Stargate.]

SHEPPARD Someone get us some vests and guns.

MAJOR Colonel. Teyla.

SHEPPARD Major.

MAJOR We were just about to come get you guys. Where-where's Ronon?

[Someone gets the guns and vests and hands them to Teyla.]

SHEPPARD He's still back there. Did McKay get through okay?

WEIR Yeah, he's gonna be fine. What happened?

TEYLA Ronon bargained for our freedom.

SHEPPARD By sticking a knife to his own throat. We're going back.

WEIR (to Control Room) Dial the 'gate!

SHEPPARD It took us fifteen minutes to get to the 'gate.

TEYLA (loudly, so all the team can hear) The place could be crawling with Wraith by now.

MAJOR Let's go get him.

[The Stargate dials.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A hive ship orbits a planet.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH SHIP THRONE CHAMBER

[Two guards drag Ronon to the throne room. He is conscious, but can only give a token resistance. They force him to his knees before the Wraith sitting on the throne.]

[The Wraith, an older, bald Wraith steps down from his throne and growls at Ronon. Ronon appears to recognize the Wraith, and is frightened of him.]

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE, DUSK

[The Atlantis teams search the village. The encampment is mere debris and the remnants of fire.]

SHEPPARD (incredulous) We couldn't have been gone for more than a half-hour!

TEYLA (soberly) It doesn't take long.

[They come across Keturah's body. Teyla checks, but he is dead.]

TEYLA As we suspected, the deal did not go as planned.

[The major approaches, carrying some items.]

MAJOR There's a few dozen bodies here, at most.

TEYLA The rest were culled.

MAJOR We found these.

[He hands Sheppard Ronon's gun and holster. Sheppard looks around, clearly worried.]

TEYLA We'll find him.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The hive ship drops out of hyperspace and approaches a planet.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP LAB

[While the head Wraith watches, a Wraith scientist picks up a tracking device with forceps. He heads over to Ronon, who is shirtless, panting in pain and strapped prone onto a table.]

WRAITH I once fed from the humans of your homeworld. That is where I will watch you die.

[Ronon winces in pain as the tracker is inserted. He is once again a runner.]

EXT&mdash;SATEDA, DAY

[A dart flies over the ruins of the Satedan city on a cloudy day. It uses its transport beam.]

EXT&mdash;SATEDA STREET, DAY

[A kneeling Ronon is deposited on the street by the beam. He stands and stares around him.]

FLASHBACK

[Explosions rock the street where Ronon stands as a Wraith dart bombards the area.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon continues to look around, lost in his memories.]

FLASHBACK

[After the dart passes, Ronon leaves his cover and calls to his squad. He is dressed in a Satedan military uniform.]

RONON All right, boys! Let's go! Move, move, move!

[He shoots cover fire while the squad escapes and the dart again comes closer.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon starts running through the street, ignoring the rubble strewn around him. He climbs the fire escape of a building to get a higher view. He looks out on the ruins. As he turns, he winces upon hearing an explosion. A Wraith dart has dropped a bomb.]

[A few moments later, the dart beams a Wraith soldier onto the Sateda street. The Wraith wears goggles and looks around. He growls, then pulls his weapon and moves out.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DUSK

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[Sheppard, Teyla, McKay, Beckett, and Weir are all in the conference room.]

SHEPPARD He's alive.

BECKETT Don't get me wrong, I hope he is, but how can you be certain?

TEYLA They made a sport out of trying to kill him in the past.

SHEPPARD He was the one that got away.

TEYLA I believe they will try again.

SHEPPARD Ronon will not go down easily.

WEIR But they must know how dangerous he can be. It's not like they're going to give him a fair chance.

SHEPPARD Well, obviously, we don't have much time.

WEIR How do we find him?

TEYLA If the Wraith place a tracking device in him the way they did last time&hellip;

[She looks to Sheppard. He turns to McKay.]

SHEPPARD Can you pick up a signal?

MCKAY (rolling his eyes) Of course. If it sounds like it might be impossible, you look at me.

BECKETT We still have the tracking device we took out of him.

MCKAY (thinking) I might be able to tune the long-range sensors to pick up any similarly generated subspace transmissions.

WEIR Good.

MCKAY Yeah, but&hellip;we are still assuming that the Wraith actually put another one in him.

SHEPPARD I'll take whatever odds I can get.

INT&mdash;RUINS OF RONON'S HOME

[Ronon picks through glass and debris, searching for a weapon. He finds a sharp metal shard that can be used as a knife and studies it.]

FLASHBACK

[He remembers making love to Melena in a bed in the home. He remembers waking up next to her in the morning. Later, she looks angry, dressed and standing at the foot of the bed. She grabs his arm.]

MELENA Ronon!

[She stands before him looking heartbroken.]

[Later, he recalls her standing at the end of a lighted hallway and an explosion engulfing her in flames.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon continues to scavenge. He finds a metal pipe. He tears some fabric. While wrapping the rod with the fabric, he hears the door open.]

[The Wraith heads down the stairs. It checks the tracking device monitor on its wrist. Ronon is nearby. It growls and takes off its goggles, heading further in. It opens another door and snarls. It closes the door behind it, engulfing the room in darkness. The Wraith's eyes glow an iridescent blue as it scans the area with its night vision. Suddenly Ronon attacks it from the front. Taken by surprise, the Wraith can't get a shot off in time. Ronon deflects blasts as they fight hand-to-hand, alternately in the dark and lit by the small generator their blows keep sparking against.]

EXT&mdash;STREET

[The door slams open, and Ronon exits, still filled with adrenalin from the battle. By his posture, it appears he has killed the Wraith.]

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S LAB

[Sheppard enters.]

SHEPPARD McKay?

[He looks around.]

MCKAY I'm here.

[Sheppard heads towards the sound of McKay's voice. He finds McKay lying prone on the floor of his lab, a laptop computer in front of him. The tracking device is set up on equipment next to McKay.]

MCKAY You know, you really don't appreciate the simple things in life, like, uh&hellip;sitting.

[Sheppard sits on the floor next to him.]

SHEPPARD I don't envy you. It must be a real pain in the ass.

MCKAY (groaning) How long did you work on that?

SHEPPARD Longer than I care to admit. How's it coming?

MCKAY I think I'm almost there.

[Sheppard studies the device.]

SHEPPARD Is this thing active?

MCKAY Don't worry. I limited the power, so it won't transmit our location to the Wraith. I just needed enough juice to determine the subspace frequency it broadcasts on. And now&hellip;I need to re-calibrate the city's long-range sensors to pick up on it.

SHEPPARD Yeah, but, these sensors only cover a small corner of the galaxy.

MCKAY (impatient) Unless they're calibrated to pick up a signal being transmitted using subspace. How about I leave the bad jokes to you, and you leave the brilliant science stuff to me?

SHEPPARD So, uh&hellip;what are we looking at?

[A display of various white dots appear over a grid of space on the monitor.]

MCKAY These dots represent transmitters broadcasting from various locations in the Pegasus Galaxy.

SHEPPARD (counting) So there are&hellip;seven runners out there right now?

MCKAY We don't know for sure that they're runners&hellip;.but I'll bet anything, that one's Ronon.

[He points to one dot in the center. The Stargate address displays next to the planet location.]

SHEPPARD Why? How do you know?

MCKAY That's Sateda. It's Ronon's home planet.

SHEPPARD That's a good enough place to start.

EXT&mdash;SATEDA, DAY

[Ronon runs through the city, dodging through buildings. A dart's engine is heard in the distance. Ronon heads to an opening into the sewer or storm system and drops into it. A small, round robot drone follows him, monitoring his progress.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[Weir, Caldwell, Beckett, and the rest of Sheppard's team are there.]

WEIR We have no choice. We've been unable to dial into Sateda's Stargate.

TEYLA The Wraith likely disabled it.

CALDWELL Which means if the Wraith are hunting Ronon, there's a very good chance that there's a hive in orbit. I shouldn't have to remind you the Daedalus has not done well in its last few engagements with Wraith hive ships.

MCKAY We drop out of hyperspace; we beam him on board; we get out of there.

CALDWELL You know damn well we can't come out of hyperspace and get close enough to a planet to beam someone off the surface. We'll be detected!&hellip;Look, you know I want to help, but I will not put my crew and the only ship that we have in this galaxy at risk for one man.

SHEPPARD (furious) One man who isn't a member of the U.S. military.

CALDWELL I didn't say that!

SHEPPARD (stepping forward and pointing his finger at Caldwell) He's a member of my team! And he deserves the same respect as anyone on this expedition.

WEIR We don't leave our people out there, Colonel, not if there's any chance.

CALDWELL (bitingly) Don't&hellip;preach to me about leaving people behind, Doctor Weir.

[The exchange angry looks. Everyone else looks uncomfortable.]

CALDWELL (more calmly) I'm just saying it's a very bad risk/reward situation.

SHEPPARD (more calmly) Fine. Then just get us close. We'll take a cloaked jumper the rest of the way.

BECKETT I'll go with them. Remove the tracking device before we get back on board.

SHEPPARD We'll be out of there before the Wraith even know what happened.

CALDWELL I won't bail you out if you get in trouble.

SHEPPARD (with mock innocence) You say that as if we're always getting in trouble.

[He and the team walk past Caldwell, out of the room.]

INT&mdash;SATEDA SEWER

[Ronon heads down the sewer corridor. Skeletal remains of people in Satedan uniforms are ahead of him.]

FLASHBACK

[Ronon sees the faces of his squadron as he looks at the individual bodies.]

END FLASHBACK

[He picks up a weapon lying by one of the bodies.]

FLASHBACK

[Ronon leads his squad, the men whose bodies are lying in the sewer in the present.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon pauses over one body, then grunts as he takes off the soldier's body armor.]

INT&mdash;ARMORY, SATEDA SEWER

[Ronon enters with a rifle. He starts scavenging for ammunition and equipment.]

FLASHBACK

[Ronon's squad is in a firefight on a Sateda street. One of his men comes to him.]

RONON'S MAN I'm out of ammo!

RONON There's a depot two blocks down! Go!

[He gestures behind him, and the man heads out.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon rummages through ammunition cases, finding a bandolier filled with heavy artillery shells. He puts it on.]

INT&mdash;SEWER

[A different Wraith, armed this time with a stunner rifle, stalks the sewer. It pauses and checks its tracker monitor. It shows Ronon right next to it. It looks around, but sees nothing. Slowly its gaze moves upward. Ronon has wedged himself into the ceiling above, waiting in ambush. As the Wraith spots Ronon, Ronon fires his pistol. Jumping down, Ronon ensures the Wraith is dead. He looks around, spinning as he hears movement behind him. He sees the small camera surveillance robot that was following him earlier. He approaches it.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP THRONE ROOM

[The Wraith leader watches the camera video while seated on his throne. He watches as Ronon gets closer to the camera.]

RONON (over video) You're gonna have to do better than that.

[The Wraith snarls as Ronon walks away.]

INT&mdash;SATEDA SEWER

[Ronon flicks off the pin from a grenade and throws it behind his shoulder. It clatters to the floor, then explodes.]

FLASHBACK

CHIEFTAIN (voiceover) Sateda will not bow to invaders. The time has come for us to put our bravery on the line&hellip;

[Ronon enters his home. He is dressed in a simple shirt, pants and vest, civilian garb. Melena stands by the radio listening. Ronon looks around the room.]

CHIEFTAIN (over radio) &hellip;and defend our nation. Our planet.

RONON What are you doing?

CHIEFTAIN (over radio) All that we have built these past two centuries since the last culling.

MELENA I'm listening to the Chieftain's speech.

CHIEFTAIN (over radio) We must stand up&hellip;doubt and fears.

RONON Why aren't you packing? I traded every last thing we had to get you on Kell's personal staff.

[He grabs a case and starts throwing items into it.]

MELENA He's a criminal! He's using people's fear for his own gain.

RONON He's a commander, and his staff gets to go through the 'gate.

MELENA (voice breaking) The hospital's going to need me.

[Ronon stops tearing through drawers and swoops his arm across the top of the nightstand in a desperate rage.]

RONON There's not going to be any need for hospitals, Melena! That's just a bunch of words meant to make the people who don't get to leave&hellip;think there's a chance for them. We shot down two ships that came through the 'gate. Two&hellip;small ships. Do you really think that's all they're going to send?

MELENA (weeping and shaking her head) Of course not.

RONON Ships as big as our city have attacked other planets. No one that stays here is going to survive.

MELENA (crying) Then why are you staying?

RONON I have no choice.

MELENA Yes, you do! You believe in this fight! You know that they'll eventually find us, no matter where we go. Our only hope is to show them that we're not worth the effort! To go feed on some other planet that won't fight back as hard as we will.

[He moves past her. She grabs his arm.]

MELENA Ronon! You can't run forever.

[She looks at him, heartbroken.]

END FLASHBACK

EXT&mdash;SATEDA STREET

[A dart beams down another Wraith accompanied by four guards. They are all heavily armed as they head out.]

INT&mdash;SATEDA WAREHOUSE

[Several different pistols and rifles are strategically placed at different spots in the warehouse. One of the guards enters. Ronon hides waiting behind a large packing case. The guard pauses. Ronon takes the opportunity to shoot it with a shotgun-style weapon. The Wraith slams into another case with a cry. Ronon again takes cover, reloading his rifle. Other Wraith guards are already there, firing their energy weapons at Ronon's position. The Wraith in charge of them fires down from above.]

FLASHBACK

[Ronon's squad is pinned down by enemy fire. One by one, each of his companions is killed by a Wraith blast.]

END FLASHBACK

[With a primal scream, Ronon rolls over the packing crate barely missing getting struck by fire. He shoots off his "shotgun" again, then ducks and grabs two pistols he has waiting. He fires, hitting one of the Wraith guards. He ducks from more return fire, then reaches for another gun, firing and hitting another guard. He slides across the floor to reach a machine gun type weapon, exchanging fire with the Wraith leading the group, killing him. Ronon drops his weapon as he barely misses getting struck by a blast from directly above. Ronon kicks the final rifle up into his hand and fires at the last guard shooting from the catwalk. Ronon's aim is much better than the guard's, and it falls to floor below. Ronon smiles in triumph, then notices a device blinking faster and faster on the guard's chest. He runs towards the end of the building.]

EXT&mdash;SATEDA WAREHOUSE, DAY

[The building explodes.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS MESS HALL

[Sheppard checks a handheld computer as he finishes his meal. Teyla enters and heads over to his table.]

SHEPPARD Hey.

TEYLA Am I disturbing you?

SHEPPARD No. What's up?

[He puts away his computer. Teyla sits across from him.]

TEYLA I just wanted to thank you.

SHEPPARD For what?

TEYLA For going after Ronon this way.

SHEPPARD (casually) Did you think we wouldn't?

[Teyla shrugs, uncertain.]

TEYLA He&hellip;is an outsider.

SHEPPARD Not to me.

TEYLA I have often felt like an outsider among your people.

SHEPPARD Well&hellip;maybe at first, but&hellip;you know I've always trusted you.

TEYLA Yes. You&hellip;and&hellip;Doctor Weir have been very accepting&hellip;but this has shown me how far you would go, even for someone who is not from your world.

[Teyla smiles. Sheppard shifts uncomfortably.]

SHEPPARD Look&hellip;Teyla,&hellip;I'm not really good at, uh&hellip;actually, I'm-I'm terrible at expressing&hellip;I don't know what you call it&hellip;?

TEYLA &hellip;Feelings?

[Sheppard shrugs and nods.]

SHEPPARD Yeah, sure. Okay. Point is, I don't really have good, uh&hellip;

TEYLA &hellip;social skills.

SHEPPARD Well, that is why I enjoyed flying choppers in the most remote part of my world before all this craziness happened, but, uh&hellip;you should know. I don't have, uh&hellip;

TEYLA &hellip;Friends?

SHEPPARD (defensively) No! I have friends.

[Teyla smiles self-consciously as Sheppard looks away again.]

SHEPPARD You, Elizabeth, Ronon, Carson, even Rodney are the closest thing I have to, a&hellip;

TEYLA (smiling) A family?

SHEPPARD (clearly emotional) I'd do anything&hellip;for any one of you. If I had to give up my life the way Ronon was going to, I would.

[Teyla smiles compassionately. Sheppard awkwardly reaches out and pats Teyla's hand. He sighs and gets up, taking his tray.]

TEYLA Thank you&hellip;for everything you meant to say.

[Sheppard pauses and nods, then heads out.]

EXT&mdash;SATEDA WAREHOUSE

INT&mdash;SATEDA WAREHOUSE

[Small fires still burn in the shell of the warehouse. Ronon painfully climbs out of the debris. Limping, he heads out of the building, still carrying one large gun.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS INFIRMARY

[McKay's wound is treated by Beckett.]

MCKAY Oh! Son of a&mdash; You're killing me!

BECKETT I'm not even touching you. Seriously, Rodney, I've never seen such a bigger baby in my life.

MCKAY Just&hellip;are-are we done?

BECKETT Yes. It looks fine, considering.

[Beckett snaps off his medical gloves and walks away. McKay climbs off the table, exposing his boxer shorts of yellow kiwi fruit before re-fastening his pants.]

BECKETT Why'd you come?

MCKAY What do you mean?

BECKETT On this mission. You're injured. You can't even sit down. People wouldn't think any less of you.

MCKAY Well, you think that's all I care about? What people think of me?

BECKETT Well, actually&hellip;

MCKAY Hey! I am a very caring person.

[Beckett turns and gives McKay a skeptical look.]

MCKAY Okay, maybe it's not always obvious to everyone, but, um&hellip;

BECKETT You care about what happens to Ronon?

MCKAY Yes, of course I do! What makes you think I wouldn't?

BECKETT Oh, I don't know. The fact that you refer to him as "the caveman" behind his back.

MCKEY That is a nickname. Buddies have nicknames for each other.

BECKETT Buddies? Oh, you're buddies now, are you?

MCKAY Yeah, more than that, he saved my life. He's like a brother to me.

BECKETT (sarcastic) Aye. A brother who got every gene you didn't, and vice versa.

MCKAY You are just jealous of our relationship.

BECKETT Am I? In the year or so he's been with us, have you ever had a conversation with the man?

MCKAY (scoffing) We have an unspoken bond. I mean, there are things that go deeper than words, my friend. Deeper than words. But you wouldn't know anything about that, because you never look past the surface of anyone, do you?

[McKay walks away. Beckett smiles after him.]

EXT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL, DAY

[The injured Ronon limps to the ruined hospital's entrance.]

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL CORRIDOR

[Ronon limps down the empty corridor.]

FLASHBACK

[Ronon hurries down the corridor, crowded with injured patients and harried staff. Ronon searches every face for Melena.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon continues to limp down the corridor, determined.]

FLASHBACK

[Ronon continues to hurriedly check every room and individual, becoming more frantic.]

RONON Melena! Melena!

[Doctors treat patients' head wounds. Some patients are frightened.]

RONON Melena!

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon reaches the end of the empty corridor.]

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL WARD

[The room is scattered with medical equipment and other debris. Exhausted, Ronon drops his gun. He finds some antibiotics, a pair of forceps, and a shattered piece of a mirror. He sits down against the wall and sets up his mirror. Bracing himself, he pours the antibiotic over his leg wound. He cries out in pain.]

FLASHBACK

RONON Melena!

PATIENT Nurse! Nurse!

[Ronon enters the ward and spots Melena at the far end. She smiles in relief to see him.]

RONON Melena!

[She cries out as they embrace.]

END FLASHBACK

[Blood pools near the mirror as Ronon reaches for the debris using the forceps. He screams as he pulls on it.]

FLASHBACK

MELENA Where's your squad?

RONON They're all dead. Kell used us to ensure his own escape. Now come on, there's still a chance I can get us out of here. I can get us to the 'gate. Even if I can't, I know where to hide.

[He pulls her arm. She resists leaving.]

MELENA Ronon!

END FLASHBACK

[Whimpering, Ronon pulls at the debris. As it comes out, he screams again.]

FLASHBACK

[Melena nods to a girl lying on the patient bed beside them.]

MELENA What about her? Her parents are both dead.

RONON Come here.

[Ronon picks up the girl and carries her.]

RONON Come on.

[He starts heading out of the corridor. Melena still stands by the bed, near the windows.]

MELENA Ronon, wait!

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon continues to scream as more blood falls. He finally takes out the metal shard embedded in his thigh.]

FLASHBACK

MELENA What about all these people?

RONON (heart breaking) They're all dead.

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon slams his fist against the wall as a release from the agony.]

FLASHBACK

MELENA (tearfully) I can't. I can't, Ronon, I can't go.

[Ronon begins to cry as he looks at her, pleading.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon weeps.]

FLASHBACK

[There is the sound of an explosion. The windows behind Melena implode from the force, and Melena is enveloped in flames.]

END FLASHBACK

[Ronon looks to the broken windows beside him, the place of Melena's death. He hears a dart outside and drags himself to look out the window. He can see several Wraith guards patrolling the street below, heading inside the hospital. He turns to see the floating surveillance camera watching him again.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP THRONE ROOM

RONON (over video) You're a coward!

[The Wraith leader snarls at the image.]

INT&mdash;HOSPITAL WARD

[Bullets strike the camera from the side, destroying it. Ronon raises his weapon to the gunfire. He is shocked to find Sheppard and Teyla there.]

SHEPPARD Don't look so surprised.

[Ronon slumps back onto the floor, breathing heavily.]

TEYLA Are you okay?

SHEPPARD Come on. You can thank us later. McKay and Beckett are waiting for us in a jumper on the roof.

[Ronon raises his pistol at Sheppard.]

RONON (threatening) Get out of here.

[Sheppard raises his hands non-threateningly. Teyla continues to watch the door.]

SHEPPARD Oh, hey! I know you've been through a lot, but, uh&hellip;

RONON I'm not going anywhere.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Beckett and McKay study the HUD display, showing life signs in the hospital.]

MCKAY (into radio) What is going on down there?! You have at least twenty-five Wraith closing in on your position from ground level.

INT&mdash;HOSPITAL WARD

SHEPPARD (into radio) It seems Ronon doesn't want to leave.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY (into radio) Well, too bad! You tell that ungrateful example of unevolved humanity that we came all this way to rescue him, so he better get off his ass&mdash;

INT&mdash;HOSPITAL WARD

SHEPPARD McKay says&hellip;he's very hurt you won't come with us.

RONON I can't. Keturah and his people, they had a deal. They traded me for their freedom.

SHEPPARD What, you're doing this for them?! Those people?! The ones on the planet who turned you over to the Wraith?!

RONON It was my fault they were culled.

TEYLA Ronon&hellip;the Wraith didn't honor the deal. Keturah and his village, they're all dead.

[Ronon looks at Teyla in shock.]

SHEPPARD Now, can we go?

RONON No.

SHEPPARD Why not?

RONON (with fury) Because I'm going to kill the Wraith responsible for all this.

SHEPPARD I don't suppose he happens to be one of the ones out there that's about to come in here?

RONON (weakly) No. He's probably still up on the hive.

TEYLA We can't take on a hive ship now.

[Ronon stares at her with determination.]

RONON We won't have to.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[McKay and Beckett watch as Wraith converge on their teammates' life signs.]

MCKAY (into radio) Why aren't you moving?

SHEPPARD (over radio) Ronon wants to take care of a few things first.

[Beckett shakes his head.]

MCKAY (sarcastic, into radio) Oh really? Like what?

INT&mdash;HOSPITAL WARD

[Sheppard stands over Ronon.]

SHEPPARD Come on. Let's go kill some Wraith.

[He reaches out his hand for Ronon to take. Ronon clasps it and Sheppard helps him to his feet. They stare at each other a moment.]

RONON Just stay out of my way.

[Ronon starts limping towards the door.]

SHEPPARD Hey.

[Ronon pauses. Sheppard unzips his vest and pulls out Ronon's gun.]

SHEPPARD I thought you might want this.

[Ronon takes it and heads out the door.]

SHEPPARD You're welcome.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY (into radio) What the hell is going on down there?!

SHEPPARD (over radio, quickly, as if talking while running) Ronon thinks he can get the head Wraith responsible for all this to come down and fight him if we kill all these Wraith first.

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL STAIRWELL

[Ronon blasts two Wraith down the stairwell, then quickly clambers over their bodies as he continues down. Sheppard and Teyla hurry to keep up.]

MCKAY (over radio) That is the stupidest plan I have ever heard.

SHEPPARD (into radio) I don't know. Killing a bunch of Wraith always seems like a good idea to me.

MCKAY (over radio) They outnumber you twenty-five to three.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

BECKETT It's actually twenty-two to three&hellip;twenty-one.

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL STAIRWELL

[Sheppard and Teyla continue to chase after Ronon, who is not in sight.]

TEYLA (into radio) And Ronon appears to be quite angry.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY (sarcastic, into radio) Oh, well, that evens it out. You do realize that there is a hive ship in orbit capable of blowing us all off the face of this planet.

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL

[Sheppard and Teyla reach the bottom of the stairwell. Wraith come at them from both directions, and each shoots their rifle, killing them.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Beckett gets out of the co-pilot seat and heads to the rear compartment.]

MCKAY Where do you think you're going?

BECKETT I'm going to help them.

MCKAY What, are you crazy?! You're a doctor!

[He gets up after Beckett.]

BECKETT What does that have to do with it?

[Beckett pulls out a large rifle from one of the storage compartments. As he turns around with it, McKay tries to tussle it out of his grasp.]

BECKETT What are you doing?

MCKAY I'm going.

BECKETT You can barely walk.

MCKAY I can walk fine, I just can't sit!

BECKETT And you're a terrible shot.

MCKAY Oh, what, and you're Rambo now?

[They continue to play tug-of-war with the weapon.]

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL CORRIDOR

[Ronon stops at a corner and carefully looks around it. Two Wraith guards head towards him.]

RONON (to himself) Oh, man.

[He notices a door ajar at the end of the hallway facing him. It is opening wider. His hand forced, Ronon leaps into the corridor, firing at the two guards. Behind him, another guard comes out the doorway. Ronon is able to down the two, and while sliding to a stop, turn and fire at the third before it can get off a shot.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP THRONE ROOM

[The Wraith leader snarls his frustration. He watches from video feeds by his Wraith guards and witnesses his soldiers being downed one by one, some by Sheppard and Teyla. He roars in fury.]

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL CORRIDOR

[Teyla and Sheppard run to the end of a corridor, firing their P-90s at more guards.]

[In another corridor, Ronon turns and ambushes three Wraith guards, firing with energy and barreled pistols before tossing them aside. As a fourth turns the corner, he fires again.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

BECKETT There's more than one bloody gun; we can both go!

MCKAY Yeah, well someone has to stay with the jumper!

SHEPPARD (over radio) That's it. We got 'em all&hellip;McKay?

[A surprised Beckett and McKay stop fighting over the rifle. McKay releases his hold and looks over at the HUD.]

MCKAY (into radio) Yeah. It's just you guys left. Well&hellip;that was quick.

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL CORRIDOR

[Sheppard gives a self-deprecating smile.]

SHEPPARD Well, I got six. Teyla got&hellip;

TEYLA Eight.

[Sheppard looks nonplussed for a moment, then straightens.]

SHEPPARD I got nine, Teyla got eight, Ronon got the rest.

[Teyla shoots Sheppard a look.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP THRONE ROOM

[Ronon bends close to the camera of a downed soldier.]

RONON (over video) You wanna watch me die up close? You're just gonna have to come down here and do it yourself.

[The Wraith leader snarls.]

RONON You want me? Come get me!

[The Wraith leader roars and storms away, passing through the sheer trickle that makes up the video screen.]

RONON I'll be waiting.

INT&mdash;SATEDA HOSPITAL CORRIDOR

[Ronon has rejoined Sheppard and Teyla.]

RONON (determined) You kill him before I do&hellip;I kill you.

SHEPPARD What if he kills you first?

RONON Then you kill him.

SHEPPARD (nodding) Got it.

[He and Teyla exchange looks, then shrug, resigned and follow Ronon.]

EXT&mdash;SATEDA STREET

[Ronon stands in the street waiting. A Wraith dart flies, swooping low before beaming down the Wraith leader. They both make shows of bravado, Ronon screaming in rage as he unsheathes his knife and attacks. The Wraith leader blocks his tackle easily, knocking Ronon across the street into a door.]

[From a rooftop above, Sheppard and Teyla watch as the Wraith punches Ronon in the head before he can rise. The Wraith then pulls up Ronon by the hair.]

SHEPPARD I could shoot him right now.

[The Wraith pulls Ronon to his feet.]

TEYLA I wouldn't.

[Ronon attacks again. The Wraith either takes or deflects the punches.]

SHEPPARD You really think Ronon would kill me?

TEYLA I think he wouldn't forgive you.

[Below, Ronon tries to tackle the Wraith. Again the Wraith tosses him aside, throwing him across the street where he cracks a post holding up a porch. Ronon spits out blood as he tries to get to his feet.]

SHEPPARD I think he'd get over it.

[Teyla looks up.]

TEYLA The hive has got to be watching. We shoot that Wraith, they'd blast us all from space.

[The Wraith walks over and kicks Ronon. He punches him several times, dragging him partly up by Ronon's armorplate to get a good angle. Ronon grabs the Wraith's fist as it approaches, using all his strength to hold back the blow. Ronon uses the Wraith's force to get himself back onto his feet. They break apart and again trade blows; again Ronon is knocked down. He tries to crawl away. The Wraith walks over and easily pulls Ronon back by the hair, knocking him onto his back. The Wraith bends low over him, snarling as he raises his hand to feed.]

[He is distracted by the jumper uncloaking in front of them.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

BECKETT If he doesn't like it, he can sue me.

[Beckett closes his eyes in concentration.]

EXT&mdash;SATEDA STREET

[Ronon smiles at the Wraith.]

RONON I win.

[A drone fires from the jumper, slamming into the Wraith and knocking him back. They explode as they impact a building. Ronon rolls over to protect himself from the blast. He smiles as the jumper turns and backs up so the rear ramp is closer to him. Sheppard and Teyla run out of a building and drag Ronon to the jumper as blasts fire at them from above.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Ronon is dropped onto the floor of the rear compartment as Sheppard and Teyla grab handholds.]

SHEPPARD (yelling to closed door to the front) Go!

EXT&mdash;SATEDA STREET

[The jumper flies out of the narrow street as more bombs strike from above.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Safely in space, Beckett and McKay head to the rear compartment. Ronon is now seated on a bench, Teyla and Sheppard standing beside him.]

BECKETT Everyone okay?

TEYLA We are okay.

RONON Which one of you killed the Wraith?

[Beckett and McKay exchange grins.]

BECKETT That would be me.

MCKAY My idea.

[Ronon grits his teeth as he forces himself to his feet and approaches in a threatening way.]

TEYLA (warningly) Ronon!

[McKay and Beckett quail.]

BECKETT What? Don't tell me you're not happy that he's dead.

SHEPPARD I had him in my sights, but Ronon said he'd kill me if I shot him.

MCKAY (nervously) It was all Beckett's idea.

[Ronon looks from McKay to Beckett, then pulls Beckett into a bear hug.]

RONON Thanks, Doc.

BECKETT Oh.

[Everyone looks on in wonder.]

MCKAY What, him you thank?

SHEPPARD I could've killed him at any time, but Teyla wouldn't let me.

[Teyla's grin falls as she glares at Sheppard.]

RONON Thank you. All of you.

[He slaps McKay gently on the chest.]

MCKAY (mollified) Oh, don't mention it.

SHEPPARD It's nothing really. Only killed eleven&hellip;twelve Wraith.

[Teyla rolls her eyes at Sheppard.]

BECKETT How 'bout you sit down, and I get that tracking device out of you&hellip;

[Ronon slumps back onto the bench.]

BECKETT (continuing) &hellip;and deactivated before the hive ship gets a bead on us. I take it this time, you&hellip;won't mind if I give you a sedative.

[Ronon keels over onto the floor, unconscious.]

BECKETT Or not.

[He clears his throat and checks on Ronon. Teyla assists. Sheppard looks from Ronon to McKay.]

SHEPPARD Who's flying the ship.

[McKay points to himself.]

MCKAY Me.

[Sheppard looks at him expectantly.]

MCKAY Oh.

[McKay heads back to the front compartment to fly the ship.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The puddle jumper flies out of Sateda orbit, cloaking along the way.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Solutions by Aurora Novarum, July 2008.

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--Michelle 22:18, 8 August 2008 (PDT)