Covenant/Transcript

Episode Guide

 * 8.08 "Covenant" Episode Guide

Transcript
TEASER

INT&mdash;OFFICE

VOGLER Once you walk through that door, there's no turning back.

COLSON Oh, I understand, Brian. I'm not having any doubts.

[Vogler and Colson walk through the office. Colson picks up a jacket and puts it on.]

VOGLER Alec, it is not just your credibility at stake here.

COLSON You're right, there. It's the leaders of the democratic free world should be worried.

[Colson walks into an elevator.]

VOGLER Think about the people who work for this company. The shareholders.

COLSON I am, Brian. They have a right to know the truth, as does everybody else.

[Vogler joins Colson in the elevator.]

COLSON Trust me, we're doing the right thing.

[The doors close.]

INT&mdash;PRESS CONFERENCE

[A large number of reporters and cameramen are gathered in the room. Colson enters, acknowledging people and shaking hands. He and Vogler step up to a podium where a number of microphones are set up.]

COLSON Thank you all for coming. As you all know, about five months ago our planet suffered a horrible tragedy. Over two thousand American servicemen and women were killed when a meteor shower disrupted global communications and hit a United States Naval Carrier Group on manoeuvres in the Pacific Ocean. I'm here today to challenge the facts of that incident as they've been conveyed to the general public.

[The people present murmur, surprised at Colson's speech.]

INT&mdash;SGC DANIEL'S LAB

[Daniel is watching the press conference on television.]

COLSON On the day in question, none of our satellites detected a meteor shower.

[Carter enters.]

CARTER Hey, what's going on?

DANIEL Shh, sh, sh.

[Carter leans on the desk, watching the television.]

COLSON Now, I don't know how many governments around the world are in on this, but I do know we are being lied to and the truth is being covered up.

CARTER Oh, oh.

[Carter looks at Daniel as he grimaces.]

COLSON Ladies and gentlemen. There is life beyond our world. There are aliens out there and they have a technology far beyond ours and they have been intervening in our existence for quite some time.

[Daniel and Carter look at each other.]

COLSON I have proof, and I am giving the governments of all the nations that are aware of this, 24 hours to reveal the truth&hellip;or I'm gonna do it for them. Thank you.

[Colson leaves the podium.]

DANIEL Well. There you go.

[Daniel smiles mirthlessly.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Carter, Teal'c and Daniel are watching a TV report by Julia Donovan about Colson.]

DONOVAN For those of you living on another planet for the past 20 years, Alec Colson, age 42. Net worth, over sixty billion dollars, runs a global empire of companies including communications, biotechnology, aerospace and aviation. He's number eight on the Fortune 500.

[O'Neill enters the briefing room.]

REPORTER He personally holds over 200 proprietary patents in both the military and domestic industries.

O'NEILL Shut it off.

[Carter turns off the television.]

O'NEILL We know who he is. (to Carter, pointedly) Some of us better than others.

CARTER We worked together briefly, sir. Colson Aviation developed the multi engine control systems for the F-302s. Colson didn't know what they were for, of course, but he is a brilliant engineer.

O'NEILL He's also a little nuts, isn't he?

CARTER You've test flown experimental aircraft.

DANIEL We all go through the gate.

O'NEILL This isn't about us.

DANIEL Well, in a way, it is.

CARTER The point is, sir, he's not some looney cult leader. People are taking him seriously.

O'NEILL So, what do we think he knows?

[O'Neill opens a file containing a photograph of Colson, in flying gear.]

CARTER He owns several Earth observer and weather satellites. Maybe it's possible they picked something up. Pictures of Anubis' fleet in orbit, or the battle over Antarctica.

DANIEL What I don't understand is how it could have come this far.

[O'Neill reads from the file.]

O'NEILL He's gotten the National Security speech from the Pentagon, several times. Apparently the President has called him personally.

TEAL'C Why not merely tell him the truth?

CARTER His personality was profiled and he was deemed a security risk.

O'NEILL For obvious reasons.

DANIEL Apparently his father was a newspaper reporter who was jailed during the McCarthy era. He believes pretty strongly in the freedom of speech and the rights of the people to know what the government is doing at all times.

CARTER Leaking classified information could be considered treason.

O'NEILL Alright, see if he can be convinced not to go public.

DANIEL Without actually telling him anything?

O'NEILL Right!

[O'Neill walks into his office.]

EXT&mdash;COLSON INDUSTRIES BUILDING

INT&mdash;COLSON'S OFFICE

VOGLER We've got all the major networks, over a dozen live radio broadcasts and reporters from newspapers, both legit and tabloids, all waiting for the next shooter draft.

COLSON Brian, calm down!

VOGLER Our stock price is trading down twenty five percent. We overextended ourselves competing for that last round of contracts. That stock price is the only thing covering our debt. And you are alienating our biggest client. We're going to have to start selling off assets, just to...

[Colson pours himself a drink.]

COLSON What does that matter, Brian? Given what we know?

VOGLER I don't know, I guess I'm just trying to hold on to some shred of reality.

COLSON Well, you, along with everyone else, are going to have to start dealing with a whole new reality from now on.

VOGLER What if the world can't handle it? What if Washington's right and we should just keep this thing in the bag?

COLSON Trust me. The truth is always right.

[Vogler sighs.]

VOGLER We've already caused mass hysteria. You have no idea how much chaos this could cause.

[A woman enters the room.]

FEMALE STAFFER Alec. They're here.

COLSON Oh, show them in, would you?

[He hands Brian the drink and slaps him on the arm.]

COLSON It'll be okay.

[Carter and Daniel enter.]

COLSON Lieutenant Colonel.

[He and Carter shake hands.]

CARTER Alec.

COLSON Radiant as ever.

[Daniel reaches forward to shake Colson's hand.]

DANIEL Daniel Jackson

COLSON Oh Doc! I'm a big fan.

DANIEL Really?

COLSON Yes, I've been following you since your early career. Pyramids as landing pads for alien ships? Fascinating.

DANIEL Uh, yeah, that was a long time ago.

COLSON Yeah, what have you been up to since? It's like you just dropped off the map.

DANIEL I've been around.

[Vogler walks up behind Colson.]

COLSON Ah. Oh, I beg your pardon. May I introduce Brian Vogler.

CARTER Thank you for seeing us today.

COLSON Well, shall we?

[Colson walks further into the room towards a sofa and television.]

COLSON Why don't we start with something I'm sure we can all agree on, hmmm?

[Vogler, Carter and Daniel follow Colson, who turns on the television.]

COLSON That meteor shower was a cover story, and a surprisingly weak one at that. Although under the circumstances, I'm not so sure I'd have come up with a better one.

CARTER What makes you say that?

[Colson shows a recording of Anubis' fleet in orbit over Earth, followed by images of a space battle and finally, the Prometheus. Daniel and Carter look uncomfortable.]

COLSON (pointing to the screen) Oh! I'm guessing that's one of ours?

VOGLER We lost contact with twelve communications and weather mapping satellites for over six hours on the day in question. When we got them back online they were able to transmit images stored in the buffers.

CARTER Images like these can be faked.

COLSON Or made to seem fake. I know why you're here, Sam.

[Colson walks up to Carter and Daniel.]

COLSON The Pentagon wants me to know that people like you are going to be trying to make me look like a fraud.

CARTER People like me?

COLSON Very smart people. Oh, we have more than this.

[Colson gestures to the television.]

COLSON Now obviously, I don't know everything but I do have a right to. As does everyone else.

CARTER Anything we can say to stop you?

VOGLER Believe me, I've tried.

EXT&mdash;COLSON INDUSTRIES BUILDING

[Carter and Daniel leave the building. Carter's mobile rings.]

CARTER (into phone) Carter.

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

DONOVAN (into phone) Sam, it's Julia Donovan.

EXT&mdash;COLSON INDUSTRIES BUILDING

CARTER How did you get this number?

DONOVAN I have my sources. Our camera track just caught you and a nice looking young man going into Colson Industries head office in Seattle an hour ago. I just saw the feed.

[Donovan is speaking quietly, obviously not wanting anyone to overhear her.]

CARTER And?

DONOVAN Just wondering if you had an official comment.

CARTER Yeah, I think your coverage is a little one sided.

DONOVAN Come on, Sam. Colson's going to out the whole operation. You don't really think Washington can contain this?

CARTER We'll see. Look, I don't have to remind you about the non disclosure agreement you signed, do I?

CARTER (To Daniel) It's the reporter from the Prometheus incident.

DONOVAN Colson doesn't seem to be worried about going to jail.

CARTER Yeah, well, he hasn't done anything illegal yet.

[Daniel and Carter get into a red sports car. Daniel is checking his mobile.]

DONOVAN We had an agreement. You said that if something big was going to break you would call me first.

CARTER I will, okay? (Carter closes the phone) Bye, bye.

DANIEL I've got thirteen messages from Emmett Bregman.

[Carter sighs.]

INT&mdash;COLSON INDUSTRIES OFFICES

FEMALE STAFFER The switchboard's been jammed ever since the press conference. Every crackpot in the world is calling.

COLSON Yeah, I've arranged security for all of you and your families.

[Colson, the woman, Vogler and a man are walking along the corridors.]

FEMALE STAFFER Do you really think we need to be worried?

COLSON I'd be more worried about the things we still don't know at this point.

VOGLER I'm trying to convince him it's not too late.

COLSON It is too late, Brian. Too late for the world to know there was a large scale alien attack against our planet which was barely thwarted. Too late for the general public to realise they've been lied to, by two different elected administrations, about the very nature of our existence.

FEMALE STAFFER So, we're going public with everything.

COLSON I was really hoping the Feds would come clean.

VOGLER I can't believe Washington hasn't done more to try and stop us. Some sort of legal injunction.

COLSON That would legitimise our claims. No, no, they're obviously going to try to play this as if we can't be taken seriously.

FEMALE STAFFER We're one of the largest corporations in the world.

COLSON And we're telling the truth.

VOGLER (frustrated) Alec! It doesn't matter who we are, or how right we are. They can stop us if they really want to.

COLSON Oh, come on, Brian, what are they gonna do, hmm?

[Colson slaps Vogler on both arms.]

COLSON Have me killed?

[Colson walks into his office. Vogler is obviously concerned.]

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Daniel, Carter, O'Neill and Teal'c are watching Donovan's report on Colson.]

CARTER Well, he's gotta have something more significant than pictures.

DANIEL I'm going over government contracts assigned to Colson's companies over the last few years. I haven't got through them all yet, but there's quite a few loosely related to R and D of alien technologies that we procured offworld.

[O'Neill turns the up the television.]

DONOVAN We'll now head to Colson Industries.

[The television shows Colson holding another press conference.]

COLSON Welcome, and thank you for coming.

[Carter looks at her watch.]

CARTER 24 hours to the minute.

INT&mdash;PRESS CONFERENCE

COLSON Yesterday, I told you of our belief in the existence of intelligent life beyond our planet. I also told you that we believe several governments, including our own, have known about this and have been concealing the information for quite some time now. Yesterday, I challenged those governments to come clean. Reveal the truth. We got only silence. Which gives me no choice but to present to you what evidence I have. How do I know for sure that alien life really does exist? Ladies and gentlemen, seeing is believing.

[Colson gestures to the back of the room. The reporters turn as an Asgard is brought into the room. Cameras flash as the Asgard stands, seemingly nervous and upset.]

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[O'Neill turns from the television to face SG-1.]

O'NEILL Well, I'd call that something.

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

[Donovan is making a news report, a recording of the Asgard on a screen behind her.]

DONOVAN The world is in a frenzy after yesterday's startling revelation of what appeared to be a live alien, by billionaire industrialist, Alec Colson. Thus far there's been no official statement from the White House and sources inside Colson Industries promise that there is definitely more to come.

INT&mdash;SGC DANIEL'S LAB

[Carter is on the phone. Daniel is reading a report.]

CARTER (into phone) Okay. Thank you, Sergeant.

[She puts down the phone.]

CARTER Well, we just got a message back from Thor. As far as he knows there are no Asgard currently on Earth.

DANIEL Loki was here for years conducting experiments without the High Council knowing about it.

CARTER Okay, here's a possibility. What if&hellip;it wasn't really an Asgard?

[Daniel looks at Carter.]

DANIEL Looked like one.

CARTER Didn't sound like one.

DANIEL Didn't say anything.

CARTER That's my point. Colson wrapped things up pretty quickly without taking any questions.

DANIEL It was a perfect likeness.

CARTER Imagery of little grey aliens has been commonplace on Earth for years. For that matter, Colson could have a picture.

DANIEL So not a real Asgard?

CARTER No Asgard we know would allow himself to be used that way.

DANIEL It did look a little vacant.

CARTER Still, as much as he wants the whole truth I don't think Colson would perpetrate a hoax to get it.

DANIEL Then what was it?

CARTER I don't know.

INT&mdash;COLSON INDUSTRIES OFFICES

VOGLER The networks all want interviews.

[Colson, the woman and Vogler are walking through the offices.]

COLSON Too bad our friend can't talk.

FEMALE STAFFER Well, we know he's capable. The MRI show larynx not too different from ours. But he doesn't seem to have anything to say.

VOGLER They also want full access for independent medical and scientific personnel to verify that it's really what we say it is.

FEMALE STAFFER How are we supposed to convince the world of alien intelligence when this guy doesn't seem to have any?

VOGLER We can't just trot this thing out on television with wild claims we aren't going to be able to back up. Granted, it's an amazing genetic experiment, but we don't even know that the thing is really alien.

INT&mdash;COLSON'S OFFICE

[They enter the office.]

COLSON What else could it be?

FEMALE STAFFER All we know is that the DNA came from the Department of Defence.

COLSON Look, we're trying to build a circumstantial case here. The more questions we can raise, the more the burden of proof is gonna shift to Washington. Sooner or later, they're gonna have to respond to the public pressure. Meanwhile, we stay quiet. The media's going nuts over this whole thing. So, let's just sit tight and see what happens.

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[O'Neill is sitting at the table as Daniel, Carter and Teal'c enter.]

DANIEL Well, Sam was right. There's something different about Colson's Asgard.

[Daniel, Carter and Teal'c sit at the table.]

DANIEL Seems that a Colson biotech research company was given a copy of Asgard DNA for sequencing.

CARTER We were trying to help with their cloning problem.

O'NEILL Colson grew a clone?

DANIEL They weren't told it was alien DNA, it was meant to be a blind study. But they obviously took their research a little further than the contract specified.

CARTER Asgard DNA is programmed to grow a clone to maturity in just three months. But they're essentially an empty shell until an existing consciousness can be transferred into them.

TEAL'C It did not speak because it was not capable.

CARTER Exactly. They probably spent what time they had with it teaching it how to walk.

O'NEILL Well, the Pentagon has lost all patience.

DANIEL What are they gonna do?

O'NEILL They want us to put a stop to it.

CARTER How?

O'NEILL We're calling in a marker.

[O'Neill smiles as the others look confused. O'Neill looks at his watch, obviously waiting for something to happen.]

O'NEILL Yep, calling in a marker.

[O'Neill looks around, just as Thor beams in to the room.]

THOR Greetings.

O'NEILL Ah!

INT&mdash;COLSON'S OFFICE

[The female staffer strides through the corridor.]

FEMALE STAFFER Excuse me!

[She enters Colson's office.]

FEMALE STAFFER It's gone.

COLSON What do you mean?

FEMALE STAFFER Just disappeared right out of the lab. The alien! Computers, everything.

COLSON How? What about security?

[Colson stands, agitated.]

FEMALE STAFFER Nobody took it. It disappeared. We were standing right there, there was a bright flash of light, and it was all just gone.

[Colson reaches for his jacket.]

COLSON Alright, have Ron send out the decoy car and get the plane ready for a trip to Washington. Have it ready by the time I get to the hangar.

[Colson leaves as the woman turns to pick up the phone.]

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

DONOVAN You ready?

[Donovan is sitting behind a desk. Carter, in dress blues, is sitting beside her being fitted with a microphone.]

CARTER Not really.

DONOVAN Just try not to think about the camera. Focus on me.

CARTER It's not that. I respect Alec Colson. I don't like being asked to discredit a man who has every right to want the truth.

DONOVAN But you've been ordered to do this.

CARTER Yeah.

DONOVAN Well, if you want to go against those orders, feel free. I'll go with it.

[Theme music begins as the countdown to going on air begins.]

DIRECTOR (over intercom) In five, four, three, two...

[Donovan is presenting the show.]

DONOVAN We're here with Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter of the United States Air Force. (to Carter) Welcome.

CARTER Thank you.

DONOVAN Your background is astrophysics and you're one of the military's leading scientific researchers. We're all very eager to finally hear some reaction from Washington regarding the revelation made by Alec Colson.

CARTER Well, first of all, I can assure people that if aliens really existed, and were visiting the planet, we would know about it.

DONOVAN So, are you saying his claims have no merit? We all saw an alien on live television.

CARTER Yes, well, Hollywood's been helping us see things on TV, for a long time now.

DONOVAN Are you saying that the alien wasn't real?

CARTER It depends on what you mean by real.

INT&mdash;COLSON'S VEHICLE

[Colson and Vogler are watching the interview on a small screen in the rear of the car.]

COLSON Notice she hasn't actually lied once.

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

CARTER I can show you some advanced methods for creating realistic 3D images that we've been working on.

DONOVAN By all means.

CARTER We've been experimenting with technology that makes it possible for us to create anything you can imagine. Virtually.

[Carter turns to the side as a hologram of an Asgard appears next to her.]

INT&mdash;COLSON'S VEHICLE

[Colson and Vogler look surprised as they see the image of the Asgard on the screen.]

DONOVAN Wow, that looks just like the alien Alec Colson introduced to us.

ASGARD Greetings, people of Earth.

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

DONOVAN That's amazing. He looks so real.

ASGARD Though I look real, I have been created through the use of advanced holographic technology.

DONOVAN That's just incredible.

[Carter waves her hand through the hologram, making the image flicker.]

CARTER It's just a projection. You'll probably be seeing technology like this in theme park rides in a few years.

INT&mdash;COLSON'S VEHICLE

COLSON Oh, she's good.

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

[The interview has ended. Donovan is reviewing the tape of the Asgard.]

DONOVAN Not quite the exclusive I had in mind, but it'll still do huge numbers.

CARTER You're hilarious. After everything you've been through you still care about ratings.

DONOVAN How did you do it? I've seen visual effects before, Sam, and this was some sort of...

[Donovan is handed a message.]

DONOVAN ...some sort of alien technology, wasn't it?

[Donovan reads the message, frowning.]

CARTER What is it?

DONOVAN Ten minutes ago, Alec Colson's private plane was forced into an emergency landing after almost crashing on take off from Sea-Tac. The plane suffered sudden depressurisation and loss of engine power but was able to land without serious incident. Excuse me, Sam, I've gotta get on the air with this. (to staffers) I need something on Colson's wife and his daughter. They died in a plane crash when he was twenty four. (to Carter) That's why he started Colson Aviation. (to staff) Let's go!

[Carter's mobile rings.]

CARTER (into phone) Carter.

COLSON (over phone) Sam?

INT&mdash;COLSON'S VEHICLE

COLSON It's Alec Colson.

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

[Carter looks around and walks away from Donovan and other staff. She speaks quietly into the phone.]

CARTER Are you okay?

COLSON News travels fast. It was close. Brian's still as white as a sheet.

INT&mdash;COLSON'S VEHICLE

[Vogler joins Colson in the back of the car and makes himself a drink.]

INT&mdash;TV STUDIOES

CARTER How did you get this number?

COLSON Oh, I have my sources. You know, the ground crew here found evidence the plane had been tampered with.

[Vogler prepares himself a drink.]

CARTER Someone tried to kill you?

COLSON Seems that way. Any ideas?

CARTER You think I know? Why would I go on TV to publicly discredit you if I knew you were about to be assassinated?

COLSON To make sure it didn't look like Washington had anything to do with it. A fine job you did too, by the way.

CARTER I'm sorry, I was following orders.

COLSON Yeah, I know. Don't worry, Sam. I don't believe for a second you were in on it. If it was our government I'm sure you were just a pawn.

CARTER That doesn't make me feel any better. Look, Alec, I can assure you that...

COLSON It's okay, it's okay, it wasn't my first rough landing, I'm sure it won't be my last. I won't be stopped, Sam. I promise you, one way or another, the world is gonna learn the truth.

[Colson ends the call.]

INT&mdash;SGC O'NEILL'S OFFICE

[O'Neill is sitting behind his desk.]

O'NEILL Um, how about a hyperdrive for the Prometheus?

[Thor and Daniel are sitting in front of the desk. Daniel is making notes.]

THOR That is something I must discuss with the High Council.

O'NEILL Thor, come on! You said you wanted to get something nice for the President.

[Carter enters.]

O'NEILL Carter?

CARTER Sir, anything on who might have tried to kill Colson?

O'NEILL It wasn't us.

DANIEL We think that Colson may have fragments of downed Goa'uld ships recovered from the Antarctic. A subsidiary of his was involved in the salvage and the clean up.

CARTER Are we just going to keep trying to discredit the man? I mean, aren't we the ones a little delusional to think that we could cover up an attack of this scale?

O'NEILL What's the alternative?

CARTER How about tell the truth?

[Daniel and Thor look at Carter, surprised. Daniel and O'Neill look at each other, puzzled.]

CARTER I mean to Colson. Look, I know he's been profiled and deemed a security risk and obviously that's an accurate assessment but what have we got to lose at this point? He's already trying to go public, let's show him why it's so important to keep the secret. Besides, think of the benefits of having a man with his resources on our side.

O'NEILL Well, Thor and I are meeting with the President in five minutes. I'll bring it up.

CARTER Five minutes?

O'NEILL Oh yeah.

[O'Neill grins at Thor, as they are both beamed away.]

CARTER Right.

[She looks at Daniel, who just shrugs.]

INT&mdash;COLSON'S OFFICE

COLSON Two o'clock, we go live. With the pictures, pieces of the alien ship, everything we've got.

VOGLER Alec! They tried to kill us!

COLSON You think that didn't work in our favour?

VOGLER (loudly) Dying doesn't work in our favour!

[Suddenly, Colson is beamed out of the office. Vogler and the female staffer stand in shock.]

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Colson materialises in the room, with Thor. As Colson sees Thor, he steps back in shock.]

COLSON Okay. What just happened?

[Carter and Daniel walk towards them.]

DANIEL Well, in layman's terms, we beamed you up and then down again.

COLSON Where am I?

CARTER Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado. You know Daniel, of course.

[Colson and Daniel shake hands.]

COLSON Yeah, hi.

[Carter gestures to Thor.]

CARTER And this is Thor.

THOR Greetings.

COLSON Ah, so this is a real one.

CARTER Yep.

COLSON What happened to the clone?

THOR It will become a host to an Asgard consciousness whose physical body is failing.

COLSON Okay.

THOR Now, I must take my leave. General O'Neill said he will see you all tomorrow.

[Thor is beamed away.]

COLSON Huh&hellip;wha?

CARTER I want to show you something.

[Carter opens the blast doors at the window, to show the Stargate. Colson comes to stand next to her.]

CARTER We call it a Stargate.

INT&mdash;SGC VIP ROOM

[Colson is on the phone.]

COLSON I'm okay, Brian. I promise you, I'm fine. I'll be back in a couple of days.

[There is a knock at the door.]

COLSON I've got to go. Alright, bye.

[Colson puts down the phone as Carter enters the room.]

CARTER Ready?

COLSON Wow! Look at you.

CARTER Yeah, soldier Sam.

COLSON I get a uniform too?

CARTER Yep.

[Carter throws a bundled up uniform to Colson.]

COLSON Alright!

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

[The gate is dialling out. Colson enters, joining Carter at the base of the ramp. As the Stargate activates, Colson steps back as the event horizon whooshes out. Carter smiles and starts up the ramp.]

COLSON Whoa! So, where are we going?

[Colson follows Carter onto the ramp.]

CARTER P4X-650. We have an offworld base there.

COLSON And how far away is that?

CARTER 640 light years.

[They stop at the event horizon.]

COLSON Really?

CARTER Let's go.

[They walk through the gate, and travel through the wormhole.]

INT&mdash;ALPHA SITE GATE ROOM

[They step out of the gate into a large building. Colson looks at the gate as it shuts down. He looks at Carter in amazement.]

COLSON Didn't feel a thing.

CARTER You were de-molecularised.

[An officer walks up to them.]

CAPTAIN Welcome to the Alpha site.

[Colson and Carter step down from the Stargate platform.]

CARTER Alec Colson. Captain Sheffield.

[Colson and Sheffield shake hands.]

COLSON Well it's&hellip;it's nice.

CARTER Our last Alpha site was destroyed in an attack. We decided to build this one inside a mountain, like the SGC.

SHEFFIELD This is all a bit spartan but it's our home away from home.

COLSON I guess I was just expecting something a little more, I don't know, otherworldly?

[Carter opens blast doors, to show an F-302 in a hangar. Colson steps into the hangar, but stops in amazement.]

COLSON Now that&hellip;that's more like it.

CARTER It's called the F-302. Alien-human hybrid.

[They walk towards the aircraft.]

COLSON So this is what the MECs were for?

CARTER Yeah, thanks to you it's capable of leaving the atmosphere and returning. We used a number of these to defend Earth five months ago.

[Colson reaches up to touch the aircraft.]

CARTER This is just one of the many advancements we've made as a result of technology procured through the Stargate. You wanna take a ride?

[Colson smiles and nods.]

INT&mdash;COLSON'S OFFICE

[Vogler is in the office, standing at a terminal with a disc in his hand. The woman, noticing that he is there, enters.]

FEMALE STAFFER Brian, what are you doing?

VOGLER Alec wants all the evidence that we have about the alien cover-up duplicated, and secured off premises. You can get started on whatever we have left on the clone research.

FEMALE STAFFER Okay.

[The woman leaves just as Vogler's mobile rings. Vogler check that no-one is in the office, then answers it.]

VOGLER (into phone) Vogler. I told you, I don't know where he is. I have a meeting with the SEC this afternoon. I understand. Don't worry, it'll work.

[Vogler, looking worried, ends the call.]

INT&mdash;ALPHA SITE HANGAR

[The F-302 leaves the hangar.]

INT&mdash;F-302

[Carter is flying the plane, with Colson in the rear seat.]

COLSON Beautiful.

CARTER Yeah.

COLSON Must be hard, keeping all this secret. I don't know how you do it.

CARTER I think of all the fear it would cause, the potential chaos.

COLSON Ah, but what about all the greater meaning you could bring to people's lives? Just knowing that all this is out here.

CARTER What's out here is an enemy so advanced, so evil, it's a miracle we haven't been wiped out or enslaved yet. We've been very lucky so far. I think most people would have a hard time living with the threat of constant impending doom.

COLSON Oh, right, the old if you had cancer argument. Would you want to know you were gonna die, or would you rather live out your final days in blissful ignorance?

CARTER Yeah, I guess I don't really buy it either.

COLSON Well, I'd rather know, and try to cure it. If I couldn't do that, then I'd try to make my final days as meaningful as possible.

CARTER You want a turn?

COLSON I thought I was going to have to ask.

CARTER Switching to co-pilot control. Go ahead, she's all yours.

[Colson takes control of the aircraft and flies into a roll.]

CARTER So, what do you think?

COLSON Amazing! She manoeuvres like an F/A-22, and feels like a 747.

[Carter nods in agreement.]

CARTER That's the inertial dampeners.

COLSON Alright, let's try this.

[He dives the plane sharply to the ground. A number of alarms start ringing and a main engine rocket fuel warning flashes.]

CARTER Alec! Alec, pull up!

[Carter takes control of the plane and, as the aircraft skims treetops, she pulls it up.]

ALPHA CONTROL (over radio) Flight, this is Alpha Command. Is everything okay up there?

CARTER It is now, we're fine. Bringing her back in.

[Carter shakes her head and sighs.]

INT&mdash;ALPHA SITE HANGAR

[The plane is brought into the hangar. Carter and Colson take off their helmets as the cockpit cover slides open.]

CARTER Well, that was reckless.

COLSON Ah, the 302 can handle it. I know. I may not have known its name but I helped you build it, remember?

CARTER It was a joy ride. I took you up for a little fun.

[Carter steps out of her seat.]

COLSON This isn't a game, Sam! What you guys are doing up here? This is life and death, for all of us.

CARTER We know that.

COLSON It wasn't much fun feeling out of control like that, was it?

CARTER You don't have to make your point with my life.

COLSON Oh, come on! We were never gonna crash. Unlike my plane back on Earth.

CARTER I told you. We had nothing to do with it.

COLSON Yeah, well, someone did. And if you think that, or any of this, is gonna prevent me from telling the world what they have a right to know. You're dead wrong.

INT&mdash;ALPHA SITE GATE ROOM

[Colson is studying the Stargate. Carter steps up on to the platform.]

CARTER Alec. There's something else I need to talk to you about. There's a clandestine group of private businessmen like yourself who were informed of the Stargate program over six years ago by rogue elements of the NID. We've tried to identify them and bring them down but they are very highly connected. Former Vice President Kinsey's been linked to them. Now, instead of going public like you, they've been funding various secret endeavours, all aimed at controlling alien technology for their own purposes.

COLSON Which are?

CARTER You'd have to ask them. Personal profit. Maybe they think they can do a better job of defending the planet than we can.

COLSON Why are you telling me all this?

CARTER Because I'm guessing that's who tried to kill you. They'll never get control of the gate if the world finds out.

[Carter and Colson sit at the top of the platform steps.]

COLSON When I was young, all I ever dreamed about was flying. I had every make of aeroplane ever built hanging from my ceiling. And then&hellip;well, I take it you know about my wife and daughter.

[Carter nods.]

COLSON One of the down sides of celebrity. We really do have no secrets. Anyway, after the crash I vowed to make flying as safe as it possibly could be. I really thought that I could do it better than anyone else.

CARTER But you have made a difference.

COLSON But nothing's perfect, is it?

CARTER No.

COLSON Intergalactic travel. Advanced alien civilisations, humans living on other worlds? I do realise that there may be bad guys out there too.

CARTER You have no idea how bad.

COLSON But in the end, we have to believe in humanity. I mean, who knows, this might bring us all together as a planet.

CARTER If we knew it would play out that way, then....

COLSON You're afraid that knowing about the Stargate would fracture the world more than it already is.

CARTER Yeah. Not just stop us fighting the Goa'uld but end things for good. We've seen it happen on other planets like Earth. In one case, public revelation of the Stargate caused an apocalyptic world war.

COLSON That would be the ultimate irony, wouldn't it. You secretly save the world from destruction at the hands of alien invaders only for us to destroy ourselves out of fear, after the fact.

CARTER Change your mind?

COLSON Not really. I don't think it would happen.

[Colson stands and walks to the Stargate, gesturing at it.]

COLSON And if a truth of this magnitude, about the very nature of human existence, could lead us to destroy ourselves? Then I'd say we would deserve it. Wouldn't you?

INT&mdash;STARGATE WORMHOLE

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Daniel is watching television, where Donovan is reporting.]

DONOVAN Investigators now believe that Alec Colson created the alien hoax in order to divert attention from his real corporate financial problems.

[Carter and Colson enter.]

DONOVAN Colson, who has still made no public statement...

[Daniel turns off the television.]

COLSON Corporate financial problems? What's she talking about?

DANIEL The story broke about an hour ago. The President's halted trading on the markets. Your company's stock had fallen eighty percent, the Dow was down over 500 points on the whole.

CARTER What's going on?

DANIEL The SEC is investigating you for securities fraud.

COLSON That's ridiculous!

DANIEL They're saying there were irregularities in your company's last two financial statements.

COLSON Well, it's not true! Come on! The timing of this&hellip;I'm being set up.

INT&mdash;COLSON'S OFFICE

[Vogler is sitting on a sofa, drinking. Colson and Carter enter.]

VOGLER What's she doing here?

COLSON She wants to help, Brian.

VOGLER Oh, good. Why? Does she have a time machine so that we can go back and undo everything?

[Colson sits in an armchair next to Vogler.]

COLSON Brian. Brian, what's going on?

VOGLER You wouldn't listen. You wouldn't stop.

[Vogler stands, angry and upset.]

COLSON So you admit you did this?

VOGLER You go off on your adventures, you fly your planes, you drop by every now and then with a bright idea. Ever since we were kids you were always biting off more than you can chew, and I'm always having to bail you out.

COLSON So you doctored the books?

[Colson stands, angry.]

VOGLER I had to. I had to do something. I told you, we were over extended. The stock price was the only thing keeping us afloat, and you wouldn't listen.

COLSON No, I don't believe this.

VOGLER Alec, who&hellip;who do you think told the SEC?

COLSON Why? Why now? What difference could it make, Brian, once the truth came out...

VOGLER Alec, I almost died in that plane too! I still have a family. They tried to kill us.

COLSON Who?

VOGLER Did you really think that they were gonna let you tell a secret like this?

COLSON Brian, what are you talking about?

VOGLER They call themselves the Trust.

[Colson looks over at Carter, who looks uncomfortable. Vogler, who is almost in tears, sits.]

VOGLER Look, all I know is they're very powerful. And, they think that Washington abdicated its duty to protect the planet, maybe even caused the problem in the first place. They see it as their responsibility to step in.

[Colson sits in front of Vogler.]

COLSON We can fix this.

VOGLER (quietly) It's too late, it's done. It can't be undone.

COLSON Brian, we'll both go to jail.

VOGLER Yeah, but my family will be safe.

COLSON What about the rest of the people that work for this company? What about their families?

VOGLER Why weren't you thinking about them three days ago?

CARTER How did they know? How did the people who threatened you know that you'd cooked the books? How did they know that there would be enough to indict both you and Alec?

[Vogler doesn't respond. Colson looks at Carter and Vogler, pondering.]

COLSON They got to you six months ago.

[Vogler is in tears.]

VOGLER Alec, they knew what you had. Don't ask me how. They had to make sure they could stop you. You were wrong, Alec. (quietly) You were not&hellip;this shouldn't come out. The world's not ready.

[Colson walks over to Carter.]

COLSON There must be something we can do.

CARTER You signed false financial statements.

COLSON I mean about the people who tried to kill us!

CARTER All I know is that they operate above the law and that they've threatened people's lives before.

COLSON Then we have to bring them down.

CARTER We've tried, believe me.

COLSON Well, we have to try again.

[Colson looks over at Vogler, who sighs, hopeless.]

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR

[O'Neill and SG-1 exit an elevator.]

CARTER So, Colson's convinced Vogler to arrange a meeting with his contact and wear a wire. Hopefully, we'll get enough to connect him to the rogue NID and then flip him for someone bigger. We're co-ordinating with Agent Barrett.

DANIEL At the very least it may restore Colson's public image.

INT&mdash;SGC O'NEILL'S OFFICE

[They enter the office.]

CARTER Well yeah, especially if it turns out that someone in direct corporate competition with Colson Industries was pulling the strings.

[O'Neill sits behind his desk, Daniel and Carter sit in chairs in front of him and Teal'c leans against a desk.]

CARTER Unfortunately, without further evidence, Brian Vogler's word alone isn't going to be enough to undo all the damage already done to the company.

TEAL'C What of Brian Vogler's safety?

CARTER He's under close surveillance. His family's been taken into protective custody.

O'NEILL Well, I guess the secret is safe&hellip;again.

DANIEL For now.

[The phone rings.]

O'NEILL (into phone) O'Neill.

CARTER (to Daniel) You know, I wouldn't count Colson out just yet. He still feels really strongly that the world should know the truth.

[Daniel nods.]

O'NEILL (into phone) Alright, thank you.

[O'Neill puts down the phone.]

O'NEILL Surveillance just found Brian Vogler, dead, in his bathroom.

CARTER What? How?

O'NEILL He hanged himself.

[Carter, Teal'c and Daniel look shocked and upset.]

INT&mdash;COLSON'S OFFICE

[Carter enters and walks up to Colson who is sitting on a sofa, holding a handgun. Carter sighs.]

CARTER Alec?

[Carter pauses as she sees the gun, then goes to sit next to Colson.]

CARTER I'm so sorry about Brian.

COLSON I killed him. I might as well have put the gun against his head and pulled the trigger myself.

CARTER You couldn't have known.

COLSON You saw how scared he was. I know what his family meant to him. He was never going to do anything to put them in any danger.

[Carter glances at the weapon.]

CARTER Alec.

COLSON He was my best friend.

CARTER He betrayed you.

COLSON No. I betrayed him.

[Colson raises the gun in emphasis.]

CARTER Why don't you put the gun down.

[Colson looks at the weapon and sighs.]

COLSON My life's over, Sam. Everything I worked for, everything I believed in, held to be true...

CARTER Still exists. Apparently, Congress is looking into providing relief. The companies, the employees will survive.

COLSON While I go to jail for something I didn't do?

CARTER Back on the Alpha site you said, no matter what, you would rather make whatever time you had left meaningful. I'm here to give you that chance.

COLSON How? By making all the indictments against me just disappear?

CARTER I was thinking more along the lines of making you disappear.

COLSON The problem with a guy like me, no place on Earth I can hide.

CARTER Who's talking about Earth?

COLSON Oh, no. No, I couldn't let you do that.

CARTER Believe me, I wouldn't be here without the approval of my superiors. The President wasn't responsible for what happened to you but he's also not sorry that you were publicly discredited. Please, Alec, come with me. You can still make a difference. He who fights and runs away...

[Colson puts down the gun.]

COLSON Lives to fight another day. And no-one will ever know.

CARTER Welcome to my world.

FADE OUT

CLOSING CREDITS

Transcribed by Helen for Stargate Solutions 27 October 2004

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--Helen 16:17, 26 Oct 2004 (PDT)