Submersion/Transcript

Episode Guide
Submersion

Previously
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE ATLANTIS

[Excerpts from 1.18 "The Gift", 1.20 "The Siege Part 2" and 2.01 "The Siege Part 3" are shown.]

Prologue
TEASER

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

[A puddle jumper moves deeply under the Atlantis Ocean.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Weir, Sheppard's team, and a science team are all inside the jumper, looking bored. Teyla moves from the cargo area and approaches McKay, who's sitting behind Sheppard in the front area.]

TEYLA Um, "shotgun," is it?

MCKAY (unhappy) Aw, come on. Don't know why I have to do this.

[Teyla shoots him an unsympathetic smile as she takes his seat. McKay moves to the back and sits across from McKay. Zelenka glances at him.]

MCKAY (annoyed) What?

ZELENKA Nobody said anything.

MCKAY Well, you don't have to, do you? Look, it's not my fault things are hard to find on the bottom of the ocean.

ZELENKA Rodney, you said you knew where it was.

MCKAY I said I knew its last known location. It is a mobile drilling station, remember? Obviously that’s going to take a few hours.

RONON If we don't find it soon, this is going to be your last known location.

MCKAY (sarcastic) Oh, zing.

SHEPPARD Okay, kids, do I have to pull this thing over? It's hard enough being in this damn thing for hours without listening to you guys.

GRAYDON Actually, Dr. McKay has managed to narrow the search field to a remarkably small area.

MCKAY (preening) Mmm. Finally, a voice of reason. Thank you, Doctor, um&hellip;

GRAYDON Graydon.

MCKAY (absently) Yes, yes, of course. Well, welcome to the team.

GRAYDON (nonplussed) Uh, I've been here almost eight months.

MCKAY (surprised) Really?

GRAYDON Yeah.

MCKAY (uncomfortable) Oh. It's been that long, has it? Time certainly flies.

ZELENKA Of course, unless you're in a jumper, looking for a needle in a haystack.

MCKAY You know what? Shut up.

RONON You know what? You shut up, McKay.

MCKAY Hey! I don't hear Grayson complaining.

GRAYDON Uh, it's Graydon, w-with a "D."

MCKAY What? You sure?

GRAYDON I-it's&mdash;it's my name.

MCKAY No, no, no, 'cause I could've sworn that the guy I wanted for your department was called Grayson, because I remember thinking "Dick Grayson," Bruce Wayne's ward.

GRAYDON Well, it's Graydon.

MCKAY Huh. Wonder if that means I hired the wrong guy.

SHEPPARD (to Weir) Well. Still glad you came?

WEIR (drily) Oh. Sorry. I was preoccupied thinking about the geothermal drilling platform.

SHEPPARD It shouldn't take us much longer. We just passed a thermal layer, and I'm getting some readings a couple of hundred feet ahead.

WEIR If we did manage to find an alternate and potentially limitless power supply&hellip; well, that would make even this insufferably long search&hellip;seem worthwhile.

SHEPPARD Okay, kids, we're here.

[He powers up the HUD and the scientists all gather around to stare at the display.]

SHEPPARD Well, hopefully it won't take too much longer to power up this station.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS OCEAN

[The jumper approaches the drilling platform. Lights automatically power on as it draws nearer.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR That wasn't so hard.

SHEPPARD All I've got to do is dock this thing, and&hellip;we can find out what this place is all about.

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP

[A Wraith queen awakens.]

END OF TEASER

Episode
OPENING CREDITS

'EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS OCEAN'

[The jumper has docked inside a port.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[Scientists and engineers are scattered throughout the station. Weir wanders among them.]

MCKAY (to Weir) All systems are online and functioning at full capacity.

WEIR You mean we're generating power already?

MCKAY Well, no, but we probably could if we wanted to.

WEIR No, slow down. The Ancients abandoned this project for a reason. Let's try to find out what that reason might be before we start drilling into the planet's crust.

MCKAY Yes, well, fair enough.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[Sheppard, Ronon, and Teyla patrol the station.]

TEYLA Have we not been down this hallway before?

RONON Every corridor looks the same.

SHEPPARD Don't worry, I have an uncanny sense of direction.

RONON No, I think she's right. We've been down this way before.

SHEPPARD That's impossible. We took a left, and a left, and then a right.

RONON Hey, look, all I'm saying is&mdash;

[Teyla stops abruptly and gasps.]

RONON What?

[He and Sheppard turn back.]

TEYLA I am sensing a Wraith presence nearby.

SHEPPARD Are you sure? We're&hellip;pretty deep underwater.

TEYLA (nervous) I cannot be certain, but I believe it is onboard the drilling platform.

SHEPPARD (into radio) This is Sheppard. Everyone drop what you're doing. Get back to the control room immediately.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[Sheppard's team has joined Weir and McKay.]

MCKAY (patronizing) We did a complete lifesigns scan. It was the first thing we did when we stepped aboard this station. Look, I promise you, there is nobody here but us.

TEYLA No, Rodney. And I am sensing it even closer now.

MCKAY Well, maybe it's the pressure. It’s been known to do things to the mind.

SHEPPARD Just humor me and check again.

[McKay sighs and works the controls. The life signs detector zooms in on only people in the control room area.]

MCKAY There. All of these lifesigns have been accounted for. Humored?

WEIR Wraith don't show up on lifesigns detectors if they're hibernating.

[McKay rolls his eyes.]

TEYLA I know what I am sensing.

MCKAY There is no Wraith here, I'm telling you!

RONON Has your sense ever been wrong?

TEYLA Never, and I cannot shake this feeling.

RONON I trust her.

MCKAY As opposed to irrefutable fact?

RONON Your machines don't know everything.

MCKAY I never said that they did.

TEYLA There is a way for me to be sure. If I can reach out with my mind and establish a link&mdash;

SHEPPARD Whoa! That's a little reckless, don't you think?

TEYLA If there is no Wraith, then there will be no mind for me to link with and therefore no risk. But if there is a Wraith nearby&hellip;

WEIR We need to know.

[Teyla nods.]

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CREW QUARTERS

[Teyla sits on a bench in a crew bunk room, meditating. Sheppard, Weir, and Ronon stand nearby. Bunks are built into alcoves in the walls.]

TEYLA I'm ready.

SHEPPARD You sure?

TEYLA The briefest contact will determine whether or not I'm right.

SHEPPARD That's all we need, so don't stick around any longer.

WEIR And we will bring you out of it if at the first sign of trouble.

[Teyla closes her eyes and starts to breathe deeply.]

SHEPPARD (low, to Ronon) Just to be sure&hellip;

RONON It's already set to stun.

[Teyla opens her eyes and glares at Sheppard.]

SHEPPARD Sorry.

[Teyla breathes deeply. Her friends watch worriedly. Teyla shifts her head as if uncomfortable. Her eyes roll back into her head before she comes out of it and awakens.]

WEIR Teyla?

[They watch her warily.]

TEYLA (awkwardly) I was mistaken. There is nothing there.

SHEPPARD Well, that's good.

TEYLA I'm sorry.

SHEPPARD No reason to be sorry.

TEYLA Perhaps it was the effect of the pressure at this depth.

SHEPPARD Well, if you've ever seen The Abyss, pressure can make you nuts&hellip;not that I think you're nuts.

TEYLA It's all right, John. I'm relieved.

WEIR So am I. Well, we have a lot of exploring to do.

SHEPPARD We?

WEIR Until Rodney delivers the preliminary status report, I'm all yours. Put me to work, Colonel.

SHEPPARD All right, let's make up some time. Break into teams. Uh, Ronon, you're with Teyla. Elizabeth, you're with me, or&hellip;I'm with you, however you want to put it.

WEIR Either way&hellip; or "eyether" way&hellip;

[Sheppard takes back h is rifle. Ronon returns Teyla's sidearm to her as they split up.]

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[Sheppard and Weir explore a corridor.]

SHEPPARD That was weird.

WEIR (sighing) Well, we are at the very bottom of the ocean. Maybe you're right, Teyla's just experiencing the effects of the pressure.

SHEPPARD Hopefully not as bad as that guy in The Abyss.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[Ronon and Teyla stroll down a different corridor.]

RONON This place is big, huh?

[Teyla does not respond. Instead, she studies everything.]

RONON What's wrong?

TEYLA Nothing. Why?

RONON You just haven't said a word.

TEYLA Have I not?

RONON No.

[Teyla stops.]

TEYLA Has my silence made you&hellip;uncomfortable?

RONON No.

[Teyla approaches with a small smile.]

TEYLA Your friendship is very important to me&hellip; I would hate to do anything that made you&hellip; uncomfortable.

[She clasps him on the shoulder.]

RONON Okay. Well, I'm good.

[He smiles back at her. Teyla immediately knees him in the groin.]

RONON Oh!

[Before Ronon can recover, "Teyla" follows through on her attack with more punches and kicks. Ronon grunts in pain before collapsing to the ground. "Teyla" continues to kick Ronon. Once he is unconscious, she looks around. Seeing and hearing nothing, she continues on with purpose.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

["Teyla" spots a computer terminal. She starts working the controls.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR

[The power shuts down.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Rodney? What's going on?

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[McKay strolls through the room, unconcerned. Power is still on in his area.]

MCKAY (into radio) What do you mean, what's going on?

SHEPPARD (over radio) We just lost the lights.

MCKAY (into radio) What?

[McKay moves a scientist out of the way and checks his laptop, attached to an Ancient terminal.]

MCKAY (into radio) Huh. You're right.

WEIR (over radio, sarcastic) Yes, we can see that.

MCKAY (into radio) We just lost power to forty percent of the station. Sensors are currently off-line. Zelenka, what're you doing?

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION AUXILIARY CONTROL TERMINAL

[Zelenka studies a terminal with his own computer. He too has power.]

ZELENKA (into radio) Uh, what do you mean, what am I doing?

MCKAY Have you lost power where you are?

ZELENKA (into radio) No, have you?

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY (into radio) No.

SHEPPARD (over radio) We have.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR

SHEPPARD (into radio) I want to know what's going on.

MCKAY (over radio) You know, this station has been lying idle down here for a few millennia. We're bound to blow a few fuses.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY (continuing into radio) Look, I'll have power back online in a minute. Just hang tight.

[He starts working on his computer, zeroing in on the affected areas.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR

SHEPPARD (into radio) Ronon, Teyla, report your position.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR

[In another corridor, Ronon lies unconscious.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) Ronon? Teyla? Come in.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, WEIR AND SHEPPARD'S LOCATION

[Weir and Sheppard exchange concerned looks.]

INT&mdash;AUXILIARY CONTROL TERMINAL ROOM

[Teyla continues to frantically work the controls.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) Ronon? Teyla?

[She ignores the radio.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, WEIR AND SHEPPARD'S LOCATION

SHEPPARD (into radio) Rodney, we've lost contact with Ronon and Teyla. Do you know their position?

INT&mdash;AUXILIARY CONTROL TERMINAL, ZELENKA'S POSITION

[Zelenka looks up, concerned, as he listens to the radio exchange.]

MCKAY (over radio) No, negative. Internal sensors are out, but I have determined the location where the power went down.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY (into radio) It's an auxiliary control area, search grid six.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, WEIR AND SHEPPARD'S LOCATION

MCKAY (over radio) It's the deck that Ronon and Teyla were exploring.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, WEIR AND SHEPPARD'S LOCATION

SHEPPARD (into radio) We'll meet you there.

[He and Weir rush off.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY (into radio) Okay. (to Dickenson) Davidson.

DICKENSON (standing) It's, uh, Dickenson, sir.

MCKAY (impatiently) Yeah, well, I was in the ballpark. Just give me a break here. Look, get back to the jumper, see if you can use its sensors to determine the location of our people within the drilling platform.

DICKENSON Sir.

[Graydon walks by.]

MCKAY Graydon, you go with him.

[Dickenson and Graydon exchange looks, but comply.]

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM, ATLANTIS OCEAN

[The Wraith queen swims towards the platform.]

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[McKay nervously walks down a corridor. He hears a noise and spins around, only to find Sheppard and Weir there. He sighs in relief.]

MCKAY There you are.

[The three of them continue down the corridor with their flashlights.]

INT&mdash;AUXILIARY CONTROL TERMINAL, TEYLA'S LOCATION

["Teyla" stares at the display screen. She pushes a button that opens an a crystal access area. Unholstering her sidearm, she shoots the panel, destroying the crystals.]

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[The gunfire can be heard in the distance.]

WEIR Weapons fire.

SHEPPARD Nine mil. This way.

[He and Weir rush in that direction. McKay hangs back, shaking his head.]

MCKAY Oh, yes, let's race towards the gunfire.

[He follows.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM ACCESS POOL

[In the center of a room sits a round pool. The Wraith queen emerges from its depths, breathing deeply and looking around.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

SHEPPARD (into radio) Ronon, Teyla, come in.

[Sheppard, Weir, and McKay cautiously patrol the darkened corridor. Off in a side corridor, Ronon coughs. The trio instantly rush to his side, helping him sit up.]

WEIR Are you all right?

RONON (groaning) No.

WEIR Did you see who attacked you?

RONON Yeah, it was Teyla.

MCKAY (shocked) What? W-Why?

WEIR Okay, until we what's going on, I'd like everyone in one place.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM, TEYLA'S POSITION

[She pulls up schematics of the station, studying them.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDORS

[Various corridors, including the one with Dickenson and Graydon, have force fields activating in various sections.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR, SHEPPARD'S TEAM'S POSITION

ZELENKA (over radio) This is Zelenka. Someone has just activated emergency force fields throughout the station.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Can you make it back to the control room?

ZELENKA (over radio) Yes, I think so.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Do it.

MCKAY Well, that doesn't make any sense. What's she doing?

SHEPPARD You and Elizabeth go back to the control room. Ronon and I are going to check up on Teyla.

WEIR Be careful.

RONON No kidding.

[They part ways.]

INT&mdash;AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM, TEYLA'S POSITION

[Teyla gasps and half collapses onto the terminal. Catching herself, she looks around the room, confused and panicked. She sees her sidearm lying on the terminal and grabs it, holding it while looking around in wonder and trying to catch her breath. Her back is to the door. She senses something behind her and spins around, her pistol at ready. Sheppard stands there, pointing his own pistol at her.]

SHEPPARD Drop it.

[She gasps in shock and drops the pistol.]

TEYLA (in shock) John&hellip;

[Unable to stand any longer, she collapses onto the terminal.]

SHEPPARD What the hell's going on?

TEYLA (bemused) I do not know.

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[Weir and McKay stand by a computer.]

WEIR Rodney, what's the status?

MCKAY As far from the "quo" as it gets. Look, Teyla didn't just shut down several key systems. She scrambled the existing operating codes.

ZELENKA This is going to take a while.

WEIR Can we contact Atlantis?

MCKAY The station's communication system is just gone. I can't even patch it. She's blown the control crystals, and shut down half the power to the station, and set up a series of emergency force fields.

WEIR To what purpose?

SHEPPARD (over radio) This is Sheppard. We got Teyla.

WEIR (into radio) And&hellip;?

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR

[Sheppard, Ronon, and Teyla walk down a corridor. Teyla hugs herself and looks upset. Ronon and Sheppard watch her&mdash;both concerned and wary.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) And nothing. She has no memory of anything that happened in the last hour. We're on our way to crew quarters.

WEIR (over radio) I'll meet you there.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CONTROL ROOM

WEIR (to McKay) Okay, let's forget about restoring this station to its former glory. Concentrate your efforts on internal sensors and disabling the force fields that are cutting us off from the jumper.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CREW QUARTERS

[Weir joins the trio in the room.]

TEYLA Elizabeth, I'm so sorry.

WEIR Don't worry about that. How are you feeling now?

TEYLA I am fine. But to hear of the damage I caused, and yet to have no memory of my actions&hellip;

[She sighs.]

WEIR Just tell us what you do remember.

TEYLA I was attempting to seek out the Wraith presence with my mind, and then&hellip;

[She looks confused.]

WEIR (stunned) There is a Wraith?

TEYLA The most powerful mind I have ever encountered. I tried to shut her out, but&mdash;

SHEPPARD (interrupting) Her?

TEYLA Yes. I believe this Wraith is a queen.

SHEPPARD (making a face) I hate queens.

TEYLA In that brief moment, I sensed&hellip;great power&mdash;the experiences of many centuries&hellip;hunger. And then&hellip;nothing. My next memory is of Colonel Sheppard and Ronon aiming their weapons towards me.

WEIR So there is a Wraith aboard the drilling platform.

SHEPPARD Well, if that were the case, why'd she use Teyla to do all that damage, and why didn't the lifesigns detector pick up a signal?

RONON It doesn't matter. If she's here, I'll find her.

SHEPPARD We'll find her.

TEYLA I would like to help.

[Weir exchanges looks with the others.]

WEIR I'm sorry, Teyla, but until we can determine exactly what's&mdash;

TEYLA (interrupting, frustrated) Yes. Of course. I understand.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR

[Dickenson and Graydon crouch by a panel, opening the crystal bay.]

MCKAY (over radio) Dickenson. Any progress on disabling those force fields? I'm getting indications that some of them are going up and down, and we could really use the jumper's sensors.

DICKENSON (into radio) I-I'm doing my best, sir.

GRAYDON One of these days, I'm just going to call him "Dr. McCoy."

DICKENSON I'd love to be there for that.

GRAYDON Well, the next time he calls me Grayson&mdash;

DICKENSON Actually, I know a Grayson.

GRAYDON There really is a Grayson?

DICKENSON Yeah, he's a damn good scientist, too. I'm surprised McKay didn't hire him.

[In the distance, they hear a force field deactivating.]

GRAYDON Did you do that?

DICKENSON I don't know, but I'm happy to take credit for it. Check it out.

GRAYDON Yeah.

[He leaves Dickenson to continue working on the panel and heads down the hall. Around the corner, he notices puddle of water on the floor. He continues to the jumper. He sees another puddle on the lowered door. He looks around, but the corridor is empty. He turns to enter the jumper, only to come face to face with the hissing queen.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

ZELENKA I don't understand. Wh-what could the Wraith possibly want with an Ancient drilling platform? For that matter, how did they even get here?

MCKAY (annoyed) I don't know, maybe on a ship nearby.

ZELENKA Under water?

MCKAY Look, who knows? Teyla’s Spidey sense works for miles. Look, are the external sensors up and running?

ZELENKA Yes, they're operational, but they're designed to scan the ocean floor.

MCKAY It doesn't matter. Coleman, take a look at the drilling platform's external sensors. See what you turn up.

COLEMAN Well, what am I looking for?

MCKAY Anything.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CREW QUARTERS

[Weir paces the room while Teyla sits on a bunk. Ronon and Sheppard are gone.]

WEIR How are you feeling?

TEYLA I've never been more ashamed.

WEIR Oh, you can't blame yourself.

TEYLA I should have been more careful.

WEIR A Wraith queen's mind is extremely powerful, Teyla. You know that better than I do.

TEYLA Still&hellip;if my actions while under her control result in people getting hurt&hellip;

[She shakes her head.]

WEIR If you hadn't done what you did&hellip;who knows what could've happened? At least now we know what we're dealing with. If anything, I should thank you. I certainly don't blame you.

TEYLA I would like to help them find her.

WEIR Teyla&hellip;

TEYLA There is no risk.

WEIR I don't know that.

TEYLA (studying Weir) Unless you suspect I am still under her control even now?

WEIR Would I be alone with you if I did?

TEYLA Then you think I am&hellip;somehow vulnerable to her?

WEIR I think it is best to keep you away from her for the moment, yes. Look, I don't fully understand this capability you have of linking with a Wraith mind, but if it's even remotely possible that&mdash;

TEYLA She was only able to control me because I opened my mind to her. If I choose to do so again, I will be ready.

[Teyla stands.]

WEIR Teyla, I know you want to help&hellip;

TEYLA I do.

WEIR The best way for you to do that is allow Ronon and Colonel Sheppard to find her.

TEYLA (sighing) As you wish.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[Ronon and Sheppard cautiously head down a corridor, weapons raised. Sheppard signals with his hand that Ronon should check out a side corridor while he continues forward.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR, DICKENSON'S POSITION

[Dickenson continues to work on the crystals. He hears movement behind him.]

DICKENSON (without turning around) It's about time. I was beginning to think you had gotten lost. Listen, did you manage to, uh&mdash;

[He turns around to see the queen standing there, snarling at him. Dickenson, panicked, clambers to his feet and runs down the hall. He slams into the force field and falls onto his back. Sliding panicked against the wall, he tries to back away from the queen, who stalks towards him.]

DICKENSON Oh God! Oh! (into radio) Colonel Sheppard! Oh&mdash; if you can hear me&hellip;…please&mdash;

[The queen chokes Dickenson.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, SHEPPARD'S POSITION

DICKENSON (over radio) Help me! Ah&mdash;!

SHEPPARD (into radio) Who am I talking to? What's your location? McKay? Do you have any men unaccounted for?

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY (surprised, into radio) The two guys I just sent back to the jumper.

SHEPPARD (over radio) Well, I think they're in trouble. Can you get those force fields down?

[Zelenka sighs, frustrated as the computer beeps. McKay snaps at Zelenka, frustrated.]

MCKAY (into radio) We're working on it.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CREW QUARTERS

[Teyla paces, holding her head and breathing heavily.]

TEYLA The Wraith presence is even stronger than before. She is aboard this station. You must warn them.

WEIR (into radio) Colonel Sheppard, Teyla is certain the Wraith is aboard the station.

SHEPPARD (over radio) Understood.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, SHEPPARD'S POSITION

[Sheppard runs down a corridor.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Ronon, I'm heading back to the jumper. Meet me there.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, RONON'S POSITION

RONON (into radio) I'm on my way.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, SHEPPARD'S POSITION

[Sheppard skids to a stop, noticing the force field to the next section is still activated.]

SHEPPARD Dammit.

DICKENSON (over radio) Sheppard, help me! Please!

SHEPPARD (into radio) McKay!

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, RONON'S POSITION

[Ronon runs full tilt into a force field.]

RONON Ah! (into radio) McKay!

MCKAY (over radio) Yeah, yeah, yeah, al-almost there.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CONTROL ROOM

ZELENKA I can only do one at a time.

[A computer monitor reads "system restored."]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CORRIDOR, SHEPPARD'S POSITION

[The force field lowers. Sheppard starts running again.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY (into radio) The jumper's sensors should be able to locate them.

[Zelenka continues to work.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER BAY

[Sheppard cautiously approaches, P-90 at ready. He spots the water near the door to the jumper.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Sheppard heads in, seeing Graydon sitting in the pilot's chair.]

SHEPPARD Graydon?

[He turns the chair around. Graydon's corpse is a dehydrated husk.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Graydon's dead. Fed upon.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CREW QUARTERS

WEIR (into radio) What about Dickenson?

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD (into radio) There's no sign of him yet. I'll see if we can find him using the, uh&hellip;

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CREW QUARTERS

[Weir and Teyla exchange worried looks.]

WEIR (into radio) Sheppard? Sheppard, come in!

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Sheppard senses someone behind him. He spins, raising his weapon to find the queen standing in the back of the jumper. She hisses. He tries to fire, but her mind control paralyzes him. He groans in resistance, but cannot stop his hands from dropping his weapon, letting it fall against his chest, still held by the strap.]

WRAITH QUEEN You are Sheppard. The one who can fly this ship. You will return me to the surface. Kneel.

[Resisting, Sheppard is forced to kneel.]

MCKAY (over radio) Sheppard, this is McKay. What have you got? Sheppard, can you hear me?

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[Zelenka and McKay exchange worried looks.]

MCKAY (into radio, worried) Is something wrong?

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CREW QUARTERS

[Weir and Teyla look worried as well.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

WRAITH QUEEN You will fly me to the Stargate and return me to my people.

[Sheppard shakes, trying to resist. Ronon appears in the doorway, pistol aimed. Sheppard notices him. The queen sees Sheppard's diverted attention and spins as Ronon fires. His blast shatters the window to the jumper, which is immersed in the ocean. Water pours into the jumper, washing out Sheppard and the queen.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[Sheppard awakens in a corridor. He is soaked, and the floor is wet.]

MCKAY (over radio, panicking) Sheppard, this is McKay. Please respond! Sheppard, come in.

SHEPPARD (weakly, into radio) I'm here.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[Zelenka sighs in relief.]

ZELENKA (into radio) We had to throw the emergency force fields up. The section you were in was flooding.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[The conversation switches between that location and the control room.]

SHEPPARD I noticed.

MCKAY You were thrown by the force of the water clear of the force field bulkhead.

[Sheppard spots Ronon lying nearby.]

SHEPPARD Ronon?

[Ronon groans and stands. He walks over to the forcefield and touches it. The other side of the corridor is completely filled with water.]

RONON I missed.

SHEPPARD I noticed that, too.

MCKAY Everyone else is accounted for. Any sign of Dickenson?

[Sheppard stares down the corridor in concern.]

SHEPPARD Stand by, McKay.

[The queen lies unconscious further down the corridor.]

MCKAY Look, I don't know what just happened, but we are now cut off from the jumper.

[Ronon aims his gun at point blank range from the Wraith queen.]

RONON I won't miss now.

SHEPPARD Wait.

RONON What for?

SHEPPARD Well, we lost the jumper and we lost communications with Atlantis. Maybe she can help us get out of this place.

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CHAMBER

[The queen awakens to find herself strapped down to a gurney with an i.v. in her arm. Weir, Sheppard, and Ronon stand nearby.]

WEIR Welcome back. I trust you're comfortable?

SHEPPARD That groggy sensation you're feeling are the sedatives we're pumping you full of. Just a precaution. As for the other precautions&hellip;

[Ronon sneers as he flourishes his weapon, changing the setting.]

WEIR Now, you're going to tell us everything we want to know.

WRAITH QUEEN In exchange for?

WEIR (firm) This is not a negotiation.

WRAITH QUEEN I disagree.

RONON Let me get this over with.

[Ronon aims his gun. The queen sits up, hissing and pulling against the restraints. Ronon shoves her back down as Weir backs up. They all take a moment.]

WEIR How did you get aboard this station? Are there any more of you?

[The queen hisses. Ronon shifts his position with his gun.]

WRAITH QUEEN You are all about to die.

WEIR (drily) Really?

SHEPPARD You care to elaborate on that at all?

[The queen sighs and turns away.]

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[Zelenka walks over to McKay.]

ZELENKA We should be able to keep the force fields up until Atlantis sends a rescue jumper, but station communications are still down, so&hellip;

MCKAY I should have listened to Teyla. This wouldn't have happened.

ZELENKA Don't worry about it, Rodney, it's not your fault.

MCKAY I'm the one who sent those men back to the jumper.

ZELENKA Well, the sensors indicated that there was nobody here, so&hellip;

COLEMAN I don't think there was, sir. I think the Wraith arrived here after we did the initial scans.

MCKAY What?

COLEMAN Well, you asked me to do a search with the remote sensors. I found something. We didn't notice it on the way down because it's radiating very little E.M.

[She brings up a display on the monitor.]

MCKAY (into radio) Guys, head back here. I think I have a few answers.

[Later, Sheppard and Weir have joined the others.]

SHEPPARD A Wraith cruiser?

MCKAY It seems completely buried in silt.

ZELENKA Which means it's been here a very, very, very long time.

MCKAY Yes, give or take a "very."

SHEPPARD That doesn't explain how she got here.

WEIR Maybe she swam over.

SHEPPARD No, no. The pressure at that depth is&mdash;

MCKAY (interrupting) Is deadly to humans, but she's not human, remember?

ZELENKA Yes, it's difficult to imagine, but with a Wraith's ability to heal itself&hellip;

[They exchange worried looks.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[Sheppard and Weir brief Teyla.]

TEYLA And there are no other Wraith on board?

SHEPPARD No way to know for sure. Our prisoner isn't talking. Other than: "You're all about to die."

WEIR Which may or may not be an empty threat.

TEYLA And you have no way of knowing?

SHEPPARD Well, she said it with a lot of confidence.

TEYLA There is a way to find out.

SHEPPARD We've already been down that road.

WEIR And what is to stop her asserting control over you again?

TEYLA She is heavily sedated, and this time, I know exactly what I am dealing with.

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CHAMBER

[Weir, Sheppard, and Teyla enter the room where Ronon's been guarding the queen.]

WRAITH QUEEN (spotting Teyla) You&hellip;?

TEYLA I was caught off-guard the first time. That will not happen again.

WRAITH QUEEN It does not matter.

SHEPPARD Well, we think it does.

WRAITH QUEEN Your fate is sealed.

TEYLA (to Ronon) If you have any reason to suspect that I am not myself, do not hesitate to use that.

RONON I won't.

[Sheppard and Weir exchange concerned looks as Teyla goes into a meditative state.]

TEYLA I see her&hellip;

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP

[The queen stares from her window as several hives float above the planet of Atlantis.]

TEYLA (voiceover) &hellip;leading the first wave of ships that attacked Atlantis during the war.

END FLASHBACK

TEYLA (continuing) Queen of a great alliance. Her ship was damaged during the battle. It crashed into the ocean.

[The queen hisses and struggles to resist.]

TEYLA She fed upon her own crew to survive. Too deep to ever swim to the surface. Waking&hellip;between centuries&hellip;waiting for rescue that never came&hellip;until finally she was alone.

FLASHBACK

[The queen awakens from hibernation.]

TEYLA (continuing, voiceover) She sensed our presence during our descent. She sensed&hellip;me. And saw us as her one chance at freedom from her prison.

[The queen walks down the corridors of her ship, then swims to the drilling platform.]

END FLASHBACK

TEYLA The water was&hellip;crushing, but she was determined. Finally, after all these millennia&hellip;a ship!

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[The queen tries to start the puddle jumper.]

TEYLA (voiceover) But she did not possess the gene to fly it.

[The queen hisses her frustration.]

'END FLASHBACK

SHEPPARD She used Dickenson to call for me.

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP

[The queen works the controls of her ship.]

END FLASHBACK

[Teyla breathes heavily, half collapsing.]

WEIR Teyla?

TEYLA/WRAITH QUEEN You are all about to die.

SHEPPARD That does not sound like Teyla.

TEYLA You are all about to die! You are all about to die!

[Sheppard and Ronon aim their guns.]

SHEPPARD Teyla, snap out of it!

TEYLA Wait!

'FLASHBACK

[An alarm pulses on the hive ship.]

END FLASHBACK

TEYLA She has activated the self-destruct device of the Wraith cruiser. It is set to detonate within two hours.

[The queen sighs, looking triumphant.]

SHEPPARD So&hellip;not an empty threat.

[The team exchange worried looks.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CONTROL ROOM

[Sheppard and Weir enter.]

MCKAY How's Teyla?

WEIR She's resting. I think it took a lot more out of her than she's willing to admit.

SHEPPARD What's the news?

MCKAY Okay, well, it looks like the Ancients chose this section of the ocean floor because the planet's crust is remarkably thin right below us, allowing them to drill directly into the magma and maximize the geothermal power output.

SHEPPARD Okay.

ZELENKA Which means there's a great deal of potential energy directly beneath this station.

SHEPPARD That's the news? That this place works as advertised?

MCKAY No, no, the news is that if they were to detonate, say, the self-destruct of a Wraith cruiser on just such a wafer-thin crust&mdash;

WEIR (realizing) Oh my God.

ZELENKA All that thermal energy directly beneath us will be released all at once.

SHEPPARD So&hellip;bad news.

MCKAY Yeah, the initial explosion will be magnified a thousand times. We're talking catastrophic.

SHEPPARD So it won't just be us that's affected.

ZELENKA No, Atlantis will be affected as well. It's well within the blast radius.

WEIR And we have no way to warn them?

MCKAY They'd never even see it coming.

SHEPPARD So we, uh, disarm the self-destruct.

MCKAY That's brilliant, but we still need to get there.

WEIR And how do we do that without the jumper?

SHEPPARD We're way behind schedule. Uh, they're going to send a rescue jumper any minute now.

MCKAY Even if they've left already, I mean, the moment we were overdue&hellip;

ZELENKA Yeah, they won't make it in time.

SHEPPARD How far is the cruiser?

ZELENKA Um&hellip; Less than a kilometer.

[They look at the display.]

SHEPPARD She swam that far? What is she?

ZELENKA A formidable enemy.

MCKAY (inspired) I have an idea.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM POOL ROOM

[Sheppard, Weir, and McKay enter. McKay walks over to where some pressure suits are hanging by the wall.]

MCKAY I found these in the database when we first got here. They were used primarily to make repairs to the exterior of the station.

SHEPPARD Very cool.

MCKAY Yeah, you should be able to traverse the distance between here and the, uh, cruiser.

SHEPPARD You mean "we."

MCKAY Uh, yes, of course. We.

[Weir walks over to the pool.]

WEIR This must be how she got in.

SHEPPARD Probably. All right, let's get suited up.

MCKAY Right.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS OCEAN

[Sheppard and McKay walk from the drilling station to the hive ship in pressure suits. McKay is hyperventilating inside his suit.]

SHEPPARD You're breathing too hard.

MCKAY Forgive me for being aware of exactly how much pressure is being exerted on this suit right now.

SHEPPARD Just think of it as a walk on the beach&hellip;a beach that's about to explode.

MCKAY That's supposed to make me feel better?

SHEPPARD No, it's supposed to make you walk faster. We're on the clock here.

WEIR (over radio) This is Weir. How close are you?

SHEPPARD (into radio) Almost there, but we're running out of time. We may need Teyla to do her Kreskin act again.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CORRIDOR

[Weir glances over at Teyla.]

WEIR I'd rather not have to. I think it could be much too dangerous for her.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS OCEAN

SHEPPARD So's exploding magma.

MCKAY I am walking as fast as I can.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CHAMBER

[Weir enters. Teyla is already there, staring at the queen.]

WEIR (desperate, but firm) How do we disarm the self-destruct? You won't survive the blast any more than we will.

[The queen sighs.]

TEYLA I can get the information we need.

WRATH QUEEN If you were strong enough, you would have done so already. I can feel how weak you are.

TEYLA We shall see who is stronger.

[Teyla goes into a meditative trance. The queen sighs, trying to resist.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP

[Sheppard and McKay take off their suits.]

SHEPPARD That took too long.

MCKAY Yeah, well, I probably won't be able to disarm the self-destruct in time anyway, so we're really not in a rush.

SHEPPARD Why don't we find it first, and then you can be negative?

MCKAY You know, this ship is remarkably preserved.

SHEPPARD You'd think after 10,000 years, she'd want to redecorate.

MCKAY I'm serious. Hull damage is minimal. They probably just lost their main drive.

SHEPPARD You're saying this thing is salvageable?

MCKAY Well, I'd have to assess damage to the primary systems, but it's not completely out of the question. Of course, you'd probably just go and blow it up or slam it into a hive ship or something, and all that work would be for nothing.

SHEPPARD Tick, tick, tick&hellip;

[McKay checks his sensor.]

MCKAY This way.

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CHAMBER

[Teyla continues to breathe deeply. Suddenly, she gasps.]

WEIR Teyla?

[Teyla throws her head back with a cry and clutches her head.]

WRAITH QUEEN You are weakening.

WEIR Teyla, I think you should stop.

TEYLA My concentration slipped for just a moment.

WRAITH QUEEN And in that moment, I could have crushed you with a single thought. Perhaps next time, I will.

WEIR There isn't going to be a next time.

TEYLA Elizabeth, I am fine.

WEIR No, you're not. I can see what this is doing to you. Let's just give McKay a chance.

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP BRIDGE

[The alarm pulses.]

SHEPPARD There it is.

MCKAY Hmm.

SHEPPARD What?

MCKAY Well, I'm pretty sure this is the device, and I'm pretty sure it says we have less than half an hour.

SHEPPARD So, turn it off.

[McKay tries to work some controls.]

MCKAY (puzzled) Hmm.

SHEPPARD What does that mean?

MCKAY It's not accepting commands of any kind. There must be some kind of a-a command code that needs to be entered first.

SHEPPARD Can you figure it out?

MCKAY (sarcastic) Yes, well, command codes are usually quite simple, like the number "one" or the letter "A," like, in Wraith, which would be, um&mdash;

SHEPPARD (interrupting) Can you figure out the code or not?

MCKAY No! Not if I stood here and tried for a million years, and we have, uh, (checking his watch) &hellip;just under a million years less than that.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Elizabeth, you there?

WEIR (into radio) Any luck?

SHEPPARD (into radio) Negative. We don't get her command code in less than 30 minutes, we're dead.

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CHAMBER

[Still strapped to the gurney, the queen overhears Weir and Teyla speaking in the hall.]

TEYLA This is the only way.

WEIR I told you, Rodney has another idea.

TEYLA That may or may not succeed. There is only one way to be certain.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

WEIR She said she would kill you next time.

TEYLA I will not let that happen.

WEIR No. We're going to give them more time.

[Weir leaves. Teyla watches her go with a cunning expression, then turns back to reenter the room where they're holding the queen.]

INT&mdash;DRILLING STATION CHAMBER

TEYLA Ronon. There's been an emergency in the control room. Dr. Weir needs your help.

RONON (indicating the queen) What about her?

[Teyla unholsters her sidearm.]

TEYLA I will watch the prisoner. Hurry.

RONON Watch yourself.

[He leaves. Teyla lowers her gun.]

WRAITH QUEEN Are you fool enough to try again?

TEYLA I have very little to lose.

[The queen sneers as Teyla goes into a meditative trance. The queen gasps, trying to resist. Suddenly Teyla gasps and her eyes open. The queen opens her eyes and watches Teyla. Teyla blankly and turns to the bindings and undoes the straps holding the queen down. Once free, the queen raises her feeding arm to strike, then pauses, her eyes widening.]

WRAITH QUEEN You are trying to hide something from me.

[Teyla stares in fear and shock at the queen, breathing hard.]

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Weir and Sheppard approach Teyla.]

WEIR There's been a development.

TEYLA You've been able to disarm the self-destruct device?

SHEPPARD No, but, uh, Rodney thinks if he can tie in a naquadah generator, he can still get the Wraith cruiser to fly.

TEYLA After all these years?

SHEPPARD Yeah, the damage was superficial. The problem was the engines. McKay's already restored power, and I think&hellip;I can fly the ship to a safe distance.

TEYLA That's a suicide mission.

SHEPPARD Well, if I can ditch the ship on the mainland, maybe I can get far enough away from the explosion. I've got to go now.

TEYLA Wait! Let me try again. If I can get her to give up her command code, you won't have to risk it.

SHEPPARD You're in no condition to do that. Sorry.

[He leaves.]

END FLASHBACK

[The queen smiles, releasing her mental hold on Teyla, who faints. The queen strides down the hall]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS OCEAN

[The queen swims from the drilling platform back to her ship.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP

[Sheppard stands by the self-destruct console. Hearing something behind him, he turns. The queen stalks towards him.]

SHEPPARD Well. You're a hell of a swimmer, I'll give you that.

[He backs away from the self-destruct nervously as the queen approaches.]

WRAITH QUEEN You have restored power?

SHEPPARD (casually) It'll fly.

[The queen reaches the controls and types in the code for the self-destruct abort. It shuts down.]

WRAITH QUEEN You shall be rewarded&hellip;with a quick death!

[She is shot from behind by McKay, who fires his P-90 at the automatic setting. The queen stays standing and turns, stalking angrily towards McKay.]

MCKAY (panicking) She's not dying according to plan here!

[He starts to get away. Sheppard pulls his hidden pistol out and shoots the queen in the back several times. She finally falls.]

SHEPPARD I thought you'd forgotten about me.

MCKAY Of course not. I just had to wait for her to disable the device. Hey, just be thankful she didn't feed on you before she entered the command code.

SHEPPARD Oh, that's why you didn't want to be bait.

MCKAY No, no, no, no, you had to be bait, because she was expecting you to be the one trying to fly the ship.

[Sheppard seems to consider this logic while McKay nervously studies the queen.]

MCKAY She is dead, right?

SHEPPARD Let's get out of here.

EXT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM

INT&mdash;DRILLING PLATFORM CREW QUARTERS

[Teyla and Weir sit on a bunk. Sheppard heads to a different one and sits down.]

SHEPPARD How are you feeling?

TEYLA Oh, much better, now that I no longer feel the constant presence of a Wraith.

SHEPPARD That was no ordinary Wraith. It took a lot of bullets to take her down.

RONON I wish I was there.

[Ronon unbuckles his gun holster and gets into another bunk.]

WEIR He's right, you know. I mean, deceiving a Wraith queen? That's no small feat.

TEYLA (humble) Well, when there are so many lives at stake, it's easy to summon the strength.

[McKay enters.]

MCKAY (pleased) Well, Zelenka's finally got communications back up. Turns out Atlantis had sent another jumper. It should be here within the hour.

WEIR That's good news.

MCKAY Hmm.

RONON Yeah, no kidding. I can't wait to see the sun.

[He settles face down on his bunk.]

MCKAY What? No, no, no. We haven't finished what we came here for. Look, Wraith's gone. We've got a ton of research to do.

[Weir grabs her jacket and stands.]

WEIR Yes, we do.

MCKAY In fact, I'm pretty sure we should be able to come up with a way to get auxiliary power online in a couple of days.

[He and Weir leave, Weir throwing a sidelong glance back at Teyla, who smiles.]

RONON Is he serious?

SHEPPARD Yeah, he is.

TEYLA Well, I for one intend to spend the next little while&hellip;resting.

[She fluffs a pillow.]

RONON Same here.

SHEPPARD Yeah. Same here. Oh&hellip;

[Sheppard lies down.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Related Articles

 * Previous: Sunday" Transcript
 * Next: Vengeance" Transcript