Emancipation

Emancipation is the fourth episode of the first season of Stargate SG-1.

Plot
On a routine trip through the Stargate, SG-1 finds a beautiful planet, named Simarka, with no apparent signs of technology. They suddenly see a man running from a bunch of rabid dogs, and save his life. He is initially very grateful and introduces himself as Abu of the Shavadai, which Abu translates as "the people of the steppe". Suddenly he realizes that one of them is not a man and points to Samantha Carter, and exclaims, "She is a woman!"

Abu's father, Moughal, and some of his clan show up, and when they see Carter they point arrows at her. In this culture, women are not allowed to show their faces or wear the clothes of a man. Sam is offended and does not react well. Abu tells his father the woman saved his life, and the father declares Carter is thus saved from her fate at the hands of the law and invites them all back to his village.

Once there Daniel discovers the local culture resembles that of Mongolian nomads, probably from the Chagatai, perfectly preserved since likely being transported here by the Goa'uld close to a thousand years before.

Moughal, though a law-abiding man, is very tolerant and open to the concept of change. The laws of the various clans of this culture state that women must be obedient, hide their faces, and remain silent unless spoken to. To prevent Carter from punishment, he places her in the care of the tribe's women to instruct her in these rules and provide her a woman's gown complete with headpiece and veil. The remaining male members of SG-1 poorly contain their avid appreciation for her new attire. She is less amused.

While Daniel immerses himself in the Anthropology along with Jack and Teal'c, Abu kidnaps Carter and takes her to a neighboring clan led by a fierce warlord, Turghan. Abu tells Carter he intends to trade her for something he wants more than life itself. When Daniel discovers Abu's deed he confronts Moughal, who, having guessed his son's intentions, joins SG-1 and pursues Abu.

Turghan lusts for Carter and debases her, studying her appearance as if she were an animal; her resulting sarcasm and attitude make Turghan extremely violent. Abu wishes to trade her for the hand of Turghan's daughter Nya. Turghan refuses, instead offering Abu 300 weights of gold or death in exchange, Abu takes the gold and reluctantly leaves. Nya is in love with Abu and becomes distressed as her father tells her she will marry the warlord of another clan by the "next moon". Later, Abu sneaks into Turghan's camp and tells Nya he will wait in the forest for her to escape so that they may elope.

Knowing that if they wait until the next day to rescue Carter, Turghan will 'partake' of his newest purchase, SG-1 attempted to repurchase her for 500 weights of gold, they tell Turghan that she is their shaman and they must have her back. Turghan refuses all offers until Jack offers his Beretta side arm, demonstrating its effectiveness by firing it at a gourd pot. The trade is made and all four members of SG-1 quickly leave with Moughal before Turghan can learn that the pistol has a limited amount of ammunition he can't replace.

During this time, Nya attempts to escape but is captured in the process. Turghan intends to stone her to death for her disobedience. Abu begs Carter and the others to use their weapons to save Nya, but Moughal tells them this would bring war to the Shavadai. After considering the problem, Moughal explains that there is a law that allows a clan leader to challenge another to a dual in order to halt a stoning. If Turghan can be defeated in combat, in the setting of this legal challenge, the stoning would be stopped and there would be no war between the groups.

Carter challenges Turghan as the chieftain of her clan. Turghan pulls out a short sword-like dagger while she pulls out her much smaller (by comparison). She wins the ensuing hand to hand combat but refuses to kill Turghan; instead making him swear to release Nya, not make war with the Shavadai, and to yield to her.

In celebration of Carter's bravery Moughal, as an example to other clans and tribes, abolishes the old laws regarding women allowing them to walk freely about the camp with their faces revealed. SG-1 returns to Earth with a new anesthetic derived from one of the local plants.

Notable Quotes
[Regarding Carter's dressing like the locals]

Dr. Jackson: Anthropologists do it all the time. They dress and live as the people they're studying.

Capt Carter: I'm not an anthropologist.

Col. O'Neill: [gleefully] You are today.

Abu: No! I cannot look at you!

Capt. Carter: Ok, now I'm hurt.

[At Jackson's suggestion to blend in with the local populace, Carter has allowed herself to be dressed in an elaborate and heavily embroidered silk headdress and gown]

Capt. Carter: Daniel, find me an anthropologist that dresses like this and I will eat this headdress.

Dr. Jackson: How is it that you always manage to come up with the worst case scenario?

Col. O'Neill: I practice.

Capt. Carter: What a relief, I've never been so happy to see you guys!

Col. O'Neill: Well, sure you have. Remember that time on P3X-595 you drank that stuff that made you take off--

Capt. Carter: [interrupting] We won't get into that right now!

Col. O'Neill: So how do the Spirits decide who wins?

Sheva'da: It is a battle... to the death.

(Turgan unsheathes a long curved knife.)

Col. O'Neill: Hey! No one said anything about...[Multiple knives are pointed at his, Daniel's and Teal'c's throats]... knives!

Capt. Carter: Sir do you think this new anesthesia will be a miracle drug on Earth?

Dr. Jackson: Well if it is, I bet somebody else will get the credit. We can never say where it came from.

Col. O'Neill: Damn, guess I'm going to have to cancel that Oprah interview!

Teal'c: What is an Oprah?

Goofs

 * Factual errors: Carter mentions she is in a yurt. This may be true, but Mongols live in 'Gers', similar to Yurts, but with a couple of slight differences. Several members of the team also stand on the entrance way to the Ger/Yurt, which is a faux pas in Mongolian Culture

In other languages

 * Hungarian: Emancipáció
 * Czech: Emancipace
 * Italian: Emancipazione
 * German: Verraten und verkauft
 * French: Émancipation
 * Spanish: Emancipación
 * Portuguese: Emancipação
 * Russian: Эмансипация (Emanszipacija)
 * Finnish: Naisen paikka