Poisoning the Well

"Poisoning the Well" is the seventh episodes of the first season of Stargate: Atlantis.

Synopsis
The Atlantis expedition makes first contact with the Hoffans, who have developed a drug to prevent the Wraith from feeding on their "food supply". Dr. Carson Beckett helps them perfect it, but discovers a few unforeseeable side effects.

Plot
Major John Sheppard's team travel to the planet Hoff and discover the Hoffans, a race of humans that have advanced to a technological level similar to that of Earth during World War I. Their knowledge is stored in several hidden libraries to prevent total destruction with each Wraith culling. They have been working on a drug which will prevent the Wraith from feeding on them.

Sheppard volunteers Dr. Carson Beckett's help, and Beckett helps a Hoffan scientist, Perna, to complete the drug ahead of schedule. To the reluctance of Dr. Elizabeth Weir, they are eager to test the drug, using Merell, a terminally ill Hoffan volunteer as a test subject. They inoculate him with the drug and test him against Steve, the Wraith Sheppard captured a short time earlier. The drug works better than they thought: Steve was killed by it.

Beckett wants to run more tests but the Hoffans start mass-production and mass-inoculation immediately. It's then discovered that the drug has a severe side effect: a 50% mortality rate. After a planet-wide vote proves that a 96% of Hoffans are willing to risk it so the Wraith can't feed from them, the Hoffan leader, Chancellor Druhin, asks for the Atlantis team help distribute the medication to other worlds. The team, appalled by the society's ruthlessness, refuses to cooperate and leaves.

Notable Quotes
(Inside the Hoffan secret laboratory)

McKay: Reminds you of Area 51, doesn't it?

Sheppard: Circa 1918.

Ford: I don't think Area 51 was around 1918 sir.

Sheppard: Well the Area was.

McKay: True.

(After opening the holding cell)

Sheppard: Hi Steve.

Ford: Bye Steve.

(Ford knocks the Wraith unconscious)

("Steve" the Wraith is on the jumper on his way to Hoff. He is smiling.)

Ford: (to Steve) Hey man, this isn't supposed to be fun.

Beckett: Converting the human body into energy and sending it millions of lightyears through a wormhole. Bloody insanity!

McKay: C'mon, how often do you get to travel to an alien planet?

Beckett: I was already on an alien planet!

Beckett: It's not that I mind lending people a hand...

Sheppard: No, of course not.

McKay: You're a generous man, Carson.

Beckett: But it's the principle of the thing, isn't it? You can't go volunteering someone for something without consulting them first. That's not even volunteering, is it? It's being pressed into service. Not to mention the fact I'm not...

Sheppard: ...military and I can't give you orders. I know.

McKay: No, no, no, no, he just doesn't like going through the Stargate.

Sheppard: He's worse than Dr. McCoy.

Teyla: Who?

Sheppard: The TV character that Dr. Beckett plays in real life.

Sheppard: Sorry if I woke you. Just came by to see if there's anything you needed. Magazine, fresh towels.

"Steve" the Wraith: You hide your fear poorly, major.

Sheppard: You know, we've been having these conversations for a couple of weeks now, and I don't even know your name. You guys do have names right? Let me guess... Steve?

"Steve" the Wraith: I am your death. That is all you need to know.

Sheppard: I prefer Steve.

"Steve" the Wraith: What do you hope to gain from this?

Sheppard: Just trying to bridge the gap between our two cultures, get to know you better. That and try to figure out how to keep your kind from sucking the life out of millions of innocent people!

Weir: Major, have you made any progress with your prisoner?

Sheppard: Not yet, but he just blinked.

McKay: He blinked? What does that mean?

Sheppard: It means he's still holding on, but he's indicated to me that he may break soon.

McKay: And he indicated this to you by blinking?

Sheppard: Yes.

Beckett: "Victory at all costs." That sound familiar, Major?

Sheppard: Churchill.

Beckett: Aye. Never thought I'd disagree.

(Talking about testing the drug on Steve)

Weir: You do understand the Geneva Convention prohibits using prisoners for scientific experiments.

Sheppard: No offense, doc, but had the Wraith attended the Geneva Convention, they would have tried to feed on everyone there.

Goof

 * The Wraith Steve can be seen swallowing when lying dead on a table when Dr. Carson Beckett and Major John Sheppard discuss the poisoning effects of the Hoffan drug on Wraith.

Planet

 * Hoff

Death

 * Steve