Suspicion/Transcript

Episode Guide
Suspicion" Episode Guide

Previously
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE ATLANTIS

[Scenes from SGA 1.01 "The Rising Part 1" and SGA 1.02 "The Rising Part 2” are shown.]

TEASER

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL AND GATE ROOM 

[The Stargate activated with an incoming wormhole. SFs take defensive positions around the Stargate. Weir exits her office and heads to the control room.]

TECHNICIAN It's Major Sheppard's IDC.

WEIR They've only been gone a few hours.

SHEPPARD (over radio) Atlantis, this is Sheppard. We're coming in hot.

WEIR Lower the shield.

[Weir moves to the balcony to watch. The shield lowers. Stunner weapons blasts strafe the room, making the guards dive for cover. Sheppard's team runs through the Stargate.]

WEIR Raise the shield.

[Just before the shield activates, one of the blasts strikes McKay in the face, knocking him prone.]

SHEPPARD McKay!

WEIR Medical team to the gate room.

[Sheppard and Ford roll McKay over; Teyla holds his head. He's unconscious. Sheppard feels for a pulse.]

SHEPPARD I got a pulse.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[McKay comes to, but looks groggy. He moves his eyes, but not his head. One side of his mouth is drooped, and he's slightly drooling. Sheppard and Beckett are at his bedside.]

SHEPPARD How are you feeling?

MCKAY (voice slurred) I can't feel anything, but&hellip;I can't talk.

SHEPPARD You can't talk, either.

MCKAY (voice slurred) That's what I'm trying to say.

BECKETT Your body experienced a full overload to its sensory and motor nervous system.

MCKAY What?

SHEPPARD You took one of those Wraith stunners right in the face.

BECKETT It's really quite fascinating, actually. The Wraith weapon impedes the firing of neurons that enable the necessary&mdash;

MCKAY I'm paralyzed?

BECKETT (loudly) The paralysis is only temporary. Don't worry, Rodney. You'll be up and about in no time. (to Sheppard, more quietly) Bloody good thing the Wraith weapons are only designed to incapacitate, or he'd be dead.

MCKAY (panicked, but still slurred) What?

[Weir enters and calls from the doorway.]

WEIR Major? Could I see you for a second?

[Sheppard leaves. Beckett has already moved on to another patient.]

MCKAY (slurred) Hello? Hello?

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard walks with Weir.]

SHEPPARD He's going to be fine.

WEIR I've heard. I want to know what happened out there.

SHEPPARD The same old thing.

WEIR Which makes it the fifth time your team's encountered the Wraith&hellip;out of how many missions?

SHEPPARD (thinking) Nine&hellip; So probably not a coincidence.

WEIR I think it's pretty damn obvious now. We've got a spy in Atlantis.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

Sheppard, McKay and Ford are sitting in the conference room. McKay puts his right foot on the table and starts massaging his stockinged foot. Sheppard looks at him askance.]

SHEPPARD Could you please not do that here?

MCKAY My foot is still numb, if you'll excuse me.

SHEPPARD At least your mouth still works fine.

[Weir and Bates enter.]

WEIR (to Bates) Oh, good. (to everyone) All right, let's get started.

[The doors seal closed as she and Bates take their seats.]

FORD (looking around) Shouldn't we wait for Teyla?

WEIR Teyla wasn't invited.

SHEPPARD She's a member of my team.

BATES She's also an Athosian, sir.

SHEPPARD So?

BATES If we've been compromised, and every indication suggests that we have, it's almost certain that one of them is responsible.

SHEPPARD We're talking about Teyla.

WEIR I don't like it either, Major.

SHEPPARD (talking over her) Good, then get her on in here&mdash;

WEIR (continuing) &hellip;But the safety of this base and its personnel are my main concern right now, as it should be yours. The Wraith have shown up on five of the last nine planets your team has visited, and given the fact that two of those worlds were unpopulated, we can pretty much assume that they're being alerted to your missions by someone on this base.

MCKAY If someone on this base was communicating with the Wraiths, then why hasn't Atlantis been attacked?

SHEPPARD Good point.

BATES Maybe we should just stop using the Stargate indefinitely.

SHEPPARD We can't do that.

BATES Why not?

SHEPPARD Because we need ZPMs to power this place.

BATES (blithely) They seem to be running fine right now.

SHEPPARD Okay. When the Wraith do show up, and they will, how do we defend ourselves?

MCKAY Or for that matter, how do we get back to Earth?

WEIR This is the only Stargate in the Pegasus galaxy that can even reach Earth, and if it comes to that, we're going to have to use a self-destruct before the Wraith take the city.

SHEPPARD Bottom line, we need to use the gate.

BATES Then we've got to find out who's responsible A.S.A.P. I suggest we start by confining all non-base personnel to the south side of the complex.

SHEPPARD Are you kidding?

BATES That's the absolute minimum we should do. If Colonel Sumner was still here&mdash;

SHEPPARD He's not! (more calmly, but still stern) I am.

BATES Yes, sir.

WEIR We're not going to start treating anyone like prisoners.

SHEPPARD Well, that's good.

WEIR That said, steps should be taken to safeguard the more sensitive areas of this facility. It's only reasonable.

[Sheppard swallows uncomfortably.]

BATES I recommend no-go zones start with Stargate operations&mdash;the labs, power generation, and the jumper bay.

WEIR I'd like to meet with every Athosian on this base. I mean, they've been here three months. I only know a handful of them by name.

BATES I could start setting up interviews as soon as we're done here.

WEIR And in the meantime, all gate travel is suspended until further notice.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Teyla enters the room and starts to head up the stairwell to the control room. Two guards stationed half-way up the stairwell stop her.]

GUARD #1 I'm sorry, ma'am. You can't come up.

TEYLA I'm on my way to see Dr. Weir.

GUARD #1 (firmly) That area is off-limits.

TEYLA Since when?

[Sheppard jogs down the steps to meet them.]

TEYLA I believe there's been some sort of misunderstanding.

[She spots McKay and Ford furtively heading across to the control room.]

TEYLA (confused) I&hellip;was unaware a meeting had been called.

SHEPPARD (sighing) Let's take a walk.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS BALCONY, DAY

TEYLA What is happening?

SHEPPARD There may be a security leak on Atlantis.

TEYLA Are you certain?

SHEPPARD Well, not "certain" certain&hellip; But pretty&hellip;certain. It means we're going to have to take temporary precautions.

TEYLA Such as?

SHEPPARD Well, like, uh, suspending gate travel, tightening security&hellip;getting to know your people a little better.

TEYLA You suspect an Athosian?

SHEPPARD Dr. Weir wants to meet them, that's all. It's not personal. Well&hellip;well, I mean, it is in the sense that she wants to meet them all personally&mdash;

TEYLA (interrupting) You're aware of the horrors generations of my people have faced at the hands of the Wraith, and yet you would still question their loyalty?

SHEPPARD Come on, Teyla, that's not fair. You've got people running around Atlantis that she's never even met.

TEYLA I know each and every one of them. I would stake my life on their innocence.

SHEPPARD Okay. Well, perhaps you've noticed, but every time we step through the Stargate, bad guys try to kill us. And I'm getting a little tired of it. How about you?

TEYLA That does not mean&mdash;

SHEPPARD (cutting her off) Look&hellip;all we're asking for is a little cooperation, that's all.

[Teyla looks furious, but Sheppard continues to give her a pleading expression.]

TEYLA (coldly) You shall have it.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[Weir and Halling sit across from each other in a small conference room. Bates observes while another military member transcribes the conversation.]

WEIR Halling. How's Jinto?

HALLING Well enough for a boy confined to his living quarters.

WEIR I'm sorry. It's temporary, but it is a necessary precaution.

HALLING So I've heard.

WEIR Then I assume you know why we've arranged these meetings?

HALLING For the same reason my people can no longer go off-world or enter parts of the city. You no longer trust us.

WEIR The truth, Halling&hellip;we don't know who to trust. Information regarding some off-world excursions has obviously found its way to the Wraith.

HALLING Obviously?

WEIR They can't be lying in wait in every corner of this galaxy. They are tracking our movements, and we need to find out how. Your help with this would be greatly appreciated.

HALLING Then by all means, how can I be of assistance?

WEIR Thank you.

BATES Since you've been here on Atlantis, you've been off-world three times?

HALLING Yes. I've been acting as a guide on behalf of Sergeant Stackhouse's reconnaissance team, helping to establish relations between your people and some of our former trading partners.

WEIR Stackhouse reported he lost track of you on a couple of these outings?

HALLING I did take the time to visit some close friends.

BATES Interesting. Two of your three "visits" predated Wraith attacks by approximately a day.

WEIR (admonishing) Sergeant.

HALLING What are you suggesting?

BATES (with false innocence) I'm not suggesting anything.

HALLING You think I would betray my own people? Jeopardize the life of my son?

WEIR No one is making accusations.

HALLING I disagree. You've already leapt to the conclusion that an Athosian is responsible.

BATES (scoffing) Because it can't possibly be one of our own people.

HALLING No?

[Bates quails under Halling's look and turns to Weir, who is also glaring at him.]

WEIR (diplomatically, to Halling) We just need to clarify a few things.

HALLING Then allow me. I lost my closest friend in the Wraith attack that forced us from our home-world. Selana, the woman you spoke to before me, lost both her parents. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find an Athosian who has not experienced loss at the hands of the Wraith! These are the people you accuse.

WEIR We are not accusing anyone.

HALLING And I came here expecting an interview. (he stands) Not an interrogation.

[He leaves. Bates and Weir exchange frustrated looks.]

INT&mdash;JUMPER BAY

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Zelenka and McKay work in the rear compartment of a jumper.]

ZELENKA I mean, I don't think it's too much to ask.

MCKAY What is it?

ZELENKA Nothing, nothing. I just cannot bear the same meal day after day after day.

MCKAY Well, buck up a little. I'm trying to run a diagnostic.

ZELENKA Sorry.

MCKAY I mean, we are stranded with limited resources in another galaxy. I mean, come on, the nearest Bob's Big Boy is 300 million light years away. We have to make do. If that means you have to eat my favorite food two days in a row, so be it.

ZELENKA You enjoy military rations?

MCKAY (absently) I know. It's weird. Hospital food, too. The only reason I don't like airplane food is you can't get seconds, and I'm an absolute&mdash;

[His computer beeps.]

MCKAY Hello.

ZELENKA What is it?

MCKAY It's a command subroutine I've never seen before.

ZELENKA What is its function?

MCKAY (petulant) I don't know, because I've never seen it before. Okay, I'm going to cross-reference this with the, uh, Ancient database up in the control room. I'm just going to grab the, uh&hellip;

[McKay starts to leave. Zelenka reaches for the monitor display hanging from the cables. Just after he touches it, a mechanical humming sound starts over their heads. McKay hurries back.]

MCKAY What did you touch?

ZELENKA (backing away, innocent) Nothing, nothing.

MCKAY You were just&hellip;

ZELENKA No, no, no&mdash;

[There is a louder hum and McKay and Zelenka race out of the jumper to track its source.]

INT&mdash;JUMPER BAY

[They look up to see the roof has retracted and the sun is shining directly down on them from the opening to the sky.]

MCKAY I had no idea the roof could do that.

ZELENKA Neither did I.

INT&mdash;ATHOSIAN QUARTERS

[A group of Athosians, including Halling, sit in the room.]

ATHOSIAN #1 The gate room and surrounding sections have been closed to us.

ATHOSIAN #2 And we may no longer have access to the medical facility without escort. We're under constant surveillance, our movements restricted.

ATHOSIAN #1 How long must we put up with this?

HALLING It's already been too long.

[The door opens and Teyla enters.]

TEYLA I would have expected to be included in this discussion.

HALLING As we would have expected you to take a stand in our defense.

TEYLA They have taken action to protect everyone on this base. That includes each and every one of you. The presence of a Wraith collaborator threatens us all.

HALLING Then you support Dr. Weir's decision to confine us?

TEYLA Halling, we are their guests.

HALLING We've become more like their prisoners&hellip; But unlike prisoners, we can choose to leave.

TEYLA Where would you go?

HALLING Do you not mean to say, "Where would we go?"

[Teyla is taken aback.]

HALLING We have friends on other worlds who would gladly take us in.

TEYLA For how long? Good trading partners do not necessarily make good hosts.

HALLING There are many worlds among the stars.

TEYLA The Wraith have awakened. No world is safe.

HALLING Nor is it safe to remain. They will continue to do this until they find someone to blame.

TEYLA You know in your heart that none of our people could be responsible for this!

HALLING Of course.

TEYLA (insistently) Then we have nothing to fear.

HALLING You trust Dr. Weir that much?

TEYLA I do.

HALLING More than you would trust your own people?

TEYLA No! I understand her responsibility. Halling, we have met with the Wraith off-world so often and so quickly. There must be a reason beyond coincidence. Give them a chance to find it.

[Halling sits. They all look abashed, but still troubled.]

TEYLA I do not approve of some of their measures, but I do know that in the end, they will help to prove our innocence. Atlantis is far more than shelter. It is hope! Not only for our people, but for everyone who would stand against the Wraith. We must not abandon that hope.

HALLING They may reside here, Teyla, but they're not the Ancestors, no matter how much you wish them to be.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Ford runs to catch up to Sheppard. Ford carries a large paper bag in one hand.]

FORD Sir!

SHEPPARD Ford.

FORD I heard they got the sun-roof open on the jumper bay.

SHEPPARD Yep.

FORD I also heard you're planning to take a jumper out.

SHEPPARD I figure that's what the door in the roof is for.

FORD Anyone else call shotgun?

SHEPPARD (casually) I was just going to drive around the planet, check it out.

FORD (with mock casualness) Oh, you're just checking out the planet? Uh, never mind, then. That's cool. I mean, I've got better things to do than cruise around a planet in a space ship.

SHEPPARD You're like a kid, you know that?

FORD (grinning) Yes, sir. I brought along something to eat on the ride.

SHEPPARD What's that?

[Ford holds up the bag.]

FORD How about a nice&hellip;turkey sandwich?

[Sheppard shakes his head, relenting.]

SHEPPARD Let's go.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

WEIR Send in whoever's next, please.

[The guard opens one panel of the room to find Teyla standing outside. Weir stands and smiles.]

WEIR Teyla&hellip;I wasn't expecting you.

TEYLA I was surprised to be left off your list.

WEIR I didn't feel it was necessary in your case.

TEYLA (sitting) On the contrary. You should have spoken to me first.

WEIR You're right. I should have.

TEYLA I can tell you anything you need to know about my people.

BATES Is it possible you don't know them all as well as you think?

[Teyla barely spares Bates a glance before turning back to Weir.]

TEYLA I empathize with you, Dr. Weir. As leaders, we are often forced to make difficult decisions in the interests of those we serve, but many of my fellow Athosians are not so&hellip; understanding.

WEIR I know, but there's nothing I can do about that now. People can suspect my motives for these meetings all they want, but you and I need to agree that we have a problem. I have to do whatever I can to get to the bottom of it.. And right now, that means sitting down and talking with every single person here.

TEYLA You should know there is talk of leaving Atlantis.

WEIR (surprised) I hope it doesn't come to that.

[Teyla stands.]

TEYLA Not all change is for the worse.

INT&mdash;JUMPER BAY

[The roof retracts.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Ford and Sheppard are in the jumper.]

SHEPPARD Flight, this is Jumper Three. We're go for bay launch.

TECHNICIAN (over radio) Jumper Three, you're good to go.

SHEPPARD Yes, we are.

INT&mdash;JUMPER BAY

[The jumper rises vertically through the roof and flies off.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

FORD It's strange not pulling any Gs.

SHEPPARD Yeah. I kind of miss it. Although at this rate of acceleration we'd be dead by now.

FORD Yeah?

SHEPPARD Oh, yeah. Without inertial dampening, we'd be hit by so many Gs, our eyes would pop, the skin would pull away from our faces, our brains would squish up to the back of our skulls, and our internal organs would be crushed into these chairs. What about that sandwich?

[Ford gives Sheppard a nauseated look before tossing him the bag.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Flight, we're going to take a low orbit around the planet. We'll advise when we're back in radio range.

TECHNICIAN (over radio) Copy that, Jumper Three. Good luck.

FORD You know, we still haven't named the planet yet.

SHEPPARD I'm sure the Ancients have a name for it.

FORD How about "Atlantica" or something like that?

SHEPPARD I thought we agreed you weren't going to name anything anymore.

[Ford shoots Sheppard a look, but then is distracted by the view through the window.]

FORD Sir. Is that&hellip;land?

[Sheppard also looks at where the Jumper is in low orbit above the planet.]

SHEPPARD (amazed) Yes. It is.

FORD I wonder how big it is.

[The heads up display (HUD) automatically appears before them showing the dimensions of the continent.]

SHEPPARD Big.

FORD Really big.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[Ford and Sheppard are reporting to Weir and Bates. McKay walks behind them.]

FORD It's huge.

MCKAY Define "huge."

SHEPPARD Fifteen million square miles. Well, give or take.

MCKAY That would make it approximately the size of, uh&hellip; I have no idea, but it sounds huge.

WEIR How long would it take us to get there?

SHEPPARD Twenty-five minutes by jumper, ground to ground. I saw some sweet breakers on the south tip. There may be surfing in our future.

BATES We should send a team to go get soil and water samples.

MCKAY He's right. If the land's arable, it could solve a lot of our food production problems.

BATES Actually, I was thinking of something else.

SHEPPARD Not surfing?

BATES No, sir. We can't resume off-world missions as long as the Athosians remain in the city.

SHEPPARD So you want to dump 'em on the mainland?

BATES It's not like we're sending them out there to die, Major.

SHEPPARD Well, how the hell would you know?

FORD It looked pretty wild down there.

BATES A second ago, we were going surfing.

SHEPPARD Well, that was after we check for monsters and&hellip;bugs and other space-related things.

BATES I can't imagine it would be any worse than their original home-world.

MCKAY (dryly) That could just be failure of imagination on your part.

BATES (undaunted) In any case, a survey would tell us what we need to know.

SHEPPARD (to Weir) You're not seriously thinking about this. We're the reason they had to leave their planet in the first place.

WEIR This is a complicated situation, Major.

SHEPPARD Well, what does that mean?

WEIR It means I'm not about to rule anything out at this point.

[Sheppard stares in disbelief.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Weir walks down a corridor. Halling and some other Athosians approach.]

HALLING Dr. Weir? Is it true you've discovered land on this world?

WEIR Yes, it is.

HALLING Then my people wish to take our leave to explore it.

WEIR (surprised) You would?

HALLING We're no longer welcome here.

WEIR That's not the case.

HALLING And it will make us useful as long as we have no access to the gate.

WEIR We don't even know if it's safe.

HALLING We can determine that&hellip;for both our people.

WEIR I don't get it. Up until now, you've been insisting on access to the Stargate, and now you're proposing to deliberately cut yourself off from it?

HALLING We cannot leave&hellip;and we cannot stay. The mainland presents us with a third option.

WEIR I see.

HALLING You said yourself this was a temporary measure.

WEIR Yes, of course.

HALLING You have the means to assure us passage between Atlantis and the mainland when you decide to resume use of the gate.

WEIR And if we resume our missions through the Stargate and stop encountering the Wraith at every turn, it will only prove that there is a spy among the Athosians.

HALLING And when you continue to encounter the Wraith at every turn, it will only prove our innocence.

WEIR Have you discussed this with Teyla?

HALLING (after a pause) Teyla has made her decision.

[The Athosians walk away.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAWN

INT&mdash;ATHOSIAN QUARTERS

[Several Athosians finish packing. The door opens. Teyla stands at the entrance, wearing an Atlantis uniform.]

HALLING I understand you're not coming with us.

[The other Athosians notice their expressions and leave them alone.]

TEYLA Dr. Weir has arranged for communications between Atlantis and the mainland should you ever need assistance.

HALLING Thank her for us.

TEYLA I hope&hellip;I don't want anyone to believe that I'm&mdash;

HALLING (admonishing) Teyla. The time has come.

[She steps forward and they touch foreheads in the Athosian manner.]

HALLING Go safely.

TEYLA And you.

[They look at each other sadly, and Teyla leaves, hesitantly looking back.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[From the catwalk, Teyla watches her people heading to the shuttle bay.]

TEYLA I've never been separated from my people before.

WEIR It must be hard, but you know you'll see them again.

TEYLA Do you doubt that you will one day return to Earth?

WEIR I can't afford to have doubts.

TEYLA (sighing) You mean you cannot afford to let them show.

WEIR You're still a leader, Teyla. You're doing this for your people and for their future. They know that.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Sheppard's team, including Teyla, is geared up for a mission. So is another team led by Stackhouse. Weir and other scientists stand ready.]

WEIR Anxious to step through the gate again, Major?

SHEPPARD Yes, I am.

TEYLA We all are.

SHEPPARD Would you like us to bring you back anything special?

WEIR No, thanks.

SHEPPARD Groceries? A new outfit? Flatware?

WEIR Hmm. No. Just yourselves in one piece, please. (to technician) Dial it up. (to Sheppard) Be safe.

[The Stargate activates and the two teams step through.]

WORMHOLE EFFECT

EXT&mdash;CLEARING, DAY

[The two Atlantis teams monitor the area, which is deserted except for fallen stone ruins.]

SHEPPARD Well? Good stuff?

DR. CORRIGAN I can't even begin to tell you how fascinating this is.

SHEPPARD Anthropologist fascinating or actual fascinating?

DR. CORRIGAN Yeah, well, maybe "fascinating" isn't the right word.

SHEPPARD Maybe not. How much longer?

DR. CORRIGAN Realistically, we're probably going to need to come back. There's just, uh, so much here.

SHEPPARD Oh, I can see that. Is there any way to speed things up?

DR. CORRIGAN Well, sure. Find me someone who can translate some of the runes.

SHEPPARD Did you say there were natives here?

TEYLA They're a very shy people. They probably went into hiding the moment we came through the gate.

SHEPPARD Is there any way you can coax them out, have them give us a hand?

TEYLA It is unlikely, but I could try.

SHEPPARD Lieutenant, go with her.

TEYLA It would be better if I went alone.

SHEPPARD You will be alone&hellip;with Lieutenant Ford.

[Teyla shoots him a wry smile but goes with Ford. Sheppard watches them leave with a sigh.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Teyla and Ford wander through the woods.]

TEYLA Illa! Illa a-na-ve! Illa! Illa a-na-ve!

[She continues the calls as they walk further.]

FORD Maybe they're not around.

TEYLA They are near, but you are a stranger to them. They will not come out of hiding so long as you are with me. They are not a dangerous people, Lieutenant. I will be fine.

[Ford studies her for a while, then nods.]

FORD All right. I'll wait here.

[Teyla starts walking away.]

TEYLA Illa. Illa.

FORD Call me on the radio if you need me.

EXT&mdash;CLEARING, DAY

[A Wraith passes in the foliage. Sheppard turns thinking he spots something, just in time to see several warriors running towards them firing stunners.]

SHEPPARD Wraith!

[He starts providing cover fire as the science team scrambles.]

SHEPPARD Get back to the gate, now!

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Ford hears the gunfire in the distance.]

EXT&mdash;CLEARING, DAY

[The science team takes cover behind the stone columns as they return fire against the Wraith.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

FORD (calling out) Teyla! (into radio) Major, what's the situation?

SHEPPARD (over radio) Lieutenant, we're taking&hellip;

EXT&mdash;CLEARING

[The conversation continues to switch between the clearing and forest.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) &hellip; fire. You're going to have to circle around to get back to the gate.

FORD Teyla's not with me. She went to&mdash;

SHEPPARD (cutting him off) Well, find her and get yourselves back.

[Ford runs off.]

[Sheppard downs one of the Wraith.]

SHEPPARD Move out!

[He knocks another Wraith to the ground with more fire and then starts to run. The Wraith stands back up and fires his stunner, hitting Sheppard in the shoulder. Sheppard collapses with a cry. Stackhouse and another team member provide cover fire as they return for Sheppard.]

STACKHOUSE Yamato, McKay, grab the Major.

MCKAY What about Teyla and Ford?

STACKHOUSE Now!

[McKay and Yamato drag Sheppard back while Stackhouse and another team member continue to provide cover fire.]

WORMHOLE EFFECT

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[A medical team, Weir, and guards greet Stackhouse and Sheppard's teams. Sheppard lies on the floor. Teyla and Ford do not return.]

STACKHOUSE Shut it down. They're right behind us.

[The Stargate shuts down. Medics rush to Sheppard, getting him on the gurney.]

MEDIC Okay, on three. One, two, three.

[They raise the gurney. The medical team rolls Sheppard away.]

MCKAY (to Weir) We have to go back.

WEIR Teyla? Lieutenant Ford?

MCKAY They're still on the planet. We have to go back now.

STACKHOUSE I'd advise against it. You have Wraith all over the pl&mdash;

MCKAY (interrupting) We can't just leave them there.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Weir speaks to Stackhouse and McKay, who is still pacing impatiently. The room is crowded with personnel, including Sergeant Bates.]

WEIR How many?

STACKHOUSE It's hard to say. Most of them were behind the tree line.

MCKAY We're wasting time here. We need to mount a rescue operation.

WEIR I am not going to send anyone through that gate until I have all the facts, Doctor. How did Teyla and Lieutenant Ford get separated from you?

STACKHOUSE They went to check out the area, try to make contact with some of the natives.

BATES And whose idea was that?

[Sheppard enters, dressed in civilian shirt and uniform pants.]

SHEPPARD Mine. She was following my orders.

WEIR Shouldn't you be back in the infirmary?

SHEPPARD (groaning as he sits) No, I'm fine. I didn't take a full blast.

WEIR Why didn't you go with them, Major?

SHEPPARD Well, the natives of that planet are easily spooked. Teyla thought we'd scare them off with a big group.

BATES (sneering) Teyla did.

SHEPPARD What's that, Sergeant?

BATES She was conveniently absent during the ambush.

MCKAY So was Ford! Maybe it was him.

BATES I'm just stating a fact, sir.

SHEPPARD (standing) Sergeant, I am only going to say this once&mdash;

BATES With all due respect, Major, you can reprimand me if you wish, but it's been six times your team's been compromised. Only one Athosian knew about this last mission.

[They stand toe to toe for a few seconds, interrupted by the Stargate activating with an incoming wormhole.]

TECHNICIAN We have an unscheduled off-world activation. It's Teyla's IDC. Receiving a radio transmission.

TEYLA (over radio, frantic) This is Teyla. Lieutenant Ford has been wounded. The Wraith are closing in on our position.

BATES (to Weir) You put down that shield, and we could be opening this base up to a Wraith attack.

TEYLA (over radio) Atlantis, please, let us through.

[Guards set up down in the Gate room.]

WEIR (into radio) Lieutenant Ford, can you confirm the situation?

TEYLA (over radio) He is unconscious. Our situation grows desperate. Soon we will have no choice but to go through the stargate.

BATES We drop that shield and who knows what she'll bring through that gate with her.

SHEPPARD (furious) Open up the damn gate!

[Weir stares at them both, looking very troubled.]

WEIR Lower the shield.

[Teyla drags Ford through the Stargate. It shuts down behind her. She turns to find herself surrounded by the guards, aiming their weapons at her.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[Sheppard, Weir, and Bates are in the room.]

SHEPPARD If she were helping the Wraith, why bother bringing Ford back? In fact, why bother coming back at all?

BATES She's of more use to them here in Atlantis. As for apparently rescuing Lieutenant Ford&mdash;

SHEPPARD She carried him through the damn gate. What's "apparent" about that?

BATES He's unconscious, sir. We still don't know what happened.

SHEPPARD Oh, that's enough.

BATES It's my job to express security concerns, sir.

SHEPPARD I've heard enough of your concerns.

BATES Again, with all due respect, Major, I believe you're putting your personal feelings&mdash;

SHEPPARD (fuming) You're dismissed.

BATES Yes, sir.

[He slams his folders closed and storms out of the room. Sheppard paces, then notices Weir watching him.]

SHEPPARD (surly) What?

WEIR I'm the one who put him in charge of security.

SHEPPARD Yes, you did, and if you want to dismiss me, go ahead.

WEIR Why don't you go and see how Lieutenant Ford is doing?

[Sheppard leaves.]

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S LAB

[Bates empties Teyla's pack onto McKay's counter. McKay watches him, arms crossed.]

MCKAY (angrily) You want me to go through her stuff?

BATES We're looking for weapons, transmitters, recording devices&hellip; anything that looks like it's beyond the Athosians' level of technology.

MCKAY (snide) And if I don't find anything, we move on to a strip search?

BATES Just do it.

[Bates glares and leaves. McKay sighs and starts work.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Ford and Sheppard sit side by side on an infirmary bed.]

FORD We were on our way back when we came under fire. Didn't even see them. We returned fire, then broke for the gate. I was hit from behind. She saved my ass back there, Major.

SHEPPARD Of course she did.

[McKay nervously and quickly heads to Sheppard.]

MCKAY Major, I, uh&hellip;oh, Ford, how are you feeling? Pins and needles all over?

[Sheppard nudges Ford's knee.]

SHEPPARD Oh, yeah, welcome to the club.

FORD (embarrassed) No, sir, I managed to dive out of the way of the stunner blast. I must've hit my head on the way down.

MCKAY Oh.

SHEPPARD Hit your head?

MCKAY Major, I need you to see something.

[Sheppard follows McKay out.]

FORD (calling after them) I-I'll be fine.

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S OFFICE

[Sheppard and McKay enter. Sheppard spots Teyla's belongings scattered around the countertop.]

SHEPPARD What the hell is this?

MCKAY I know how it looks. Special request from Sergeant Bates.

SHEPPARD (angry) I'm going to bust that son of a bitch.

MCKAY Major&mdash;

SHEPPARD Teyla has nothing to do with this.

MCKAY The thing is&hellip;he was right.

SHEPPARD (nonplussed) Bates was right?

MCKAY I know. I was as surprised as you are. Look at this. It's her locket. It's a transmitter. It's been broadcasting a continuous signal. I wouldn't even have noticed if I hadn't been looking for it specifically.

[Sheppard stares at the necklace McKay is holding up. He huffs and shakes his head.]

SHEPPARD I found it.

MCKAY (nonplussed) What?

SHEPPARD Back on her planet, the first time we met Teyla took me to the old ruins. That was half-buried in dirt. I gave it to her.

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;CAVE, ATHOS

[Sheppard picks up the locket which is sparkling in the torchlight. He shows it to Teyla, who is startled. She gasps.]

TEYLA I lost this years ago.

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[Sheppard, McKay and Bates are with Weir. Weir holds the necklace. A laptop displays a schematic of it.]

MCKAY The locket isn't powerful enough to send a signal very far, certainly not through subspace. Now, my guess is that there are probably relay devices on certain planets that pick up the transmission and then alert the nearest hive ship. Those were the planets where we were attacked.

SHEPPARD Boy, do we owe a few people an apology.

[He glares at Bates.]

WEIR Teyla had no idea she was giving away your position?

SHEPPARD She said it was a present from her father. She lost it when she was a kid.

MCKAY It was probably dormant until Major Sheppard picked it up, activating it.

BATES If she wore it as a kid, how come they weren't attacked back then?

MCKAY Didn't I just say it was dormant?

BATES But if it was activated by touch&hellip;

MCKAY You're not listening. I said Major Sheppard activated it.

WEIR As far as the Wraith are concerned, Teyla's just another human being.

MCKAY They would have no special interest in tracking her. Now, Major Sheppard, on the other hand&hellip;

WEIR Has the Ancient gene.

MCKAY Exactly. Now, at one point, the Wraiths and the Ancients were at war. The Wraiths created a transmission device to detect Ancients.

SHEPPARD So some Athosian thought this would make a nice little necklace?

MCKAY How could I possibly know that? What am I, Answer Man? The point is&mdash;

WEIR (interrupting) It wasn't Teyla&hellip; Or any other Athosian, for that matter.

SHEPPARD If that's the case&hellip;we can use it against them.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[McKay nervously places an ammunition box on the counter. Sheppard and Ford watch.]

SHEPPARD You seem nervous.

MCKAY No, I'm a part of this team. I'm doing this.

SHEPPARD Yes, you are. I just said you seemed nervous.

MCKAY Oh, really? I thought you said, "Rodney, you don't have to do this."

SHEPPARD Yes, you do.

MCKAY Damn right I'm doing this, despite the fact that feeling hasn't completely returned to my extremities.

[Teyla enters.]

SHEPPARD You're late.

TEYLA Sorry.

FORD Now, given the Wraith's regenerative abilities, killing one requires some amount of effort. Capturing one live is going to be a whole other deal. For any of these options to work, your Wraith has to be on the ground.

MCKAY The last planet we visited was inaccessible by ship, and the, uh, ruins around the Stargate should force the Wraith to come through on foot.

[Ford opens one of the ammunition boxes.]

FORD In which case, you'll be able to use these. This is a stun grenade. It's filled with a mixture of aluminum and potassium perchlorate that, when ignited, produces a high-pressure wave that will overwhelm the intended target with intense light and sound. If that doesn't get his head ringing, in addition&hellip;you've got your taser. With a range of between 15 to 20 feet, it delivers a high-voltage, low-amperage charge that mimics the body's electrical signals, temporarily paralyzing the victim.

EXT&mdash;CLEARING, DAY

[Sheppard's team set the trap, then lie in wait, weapons ready.]

FORD (over radio) Major, this is Ford.

SHEPPARD (into radio) What have you got, Lieutenant?

[From across the clearing, Ford watches the Stargate from his own position through binoculars.]

FORD We've got company&hellip;Four of them.

[Sheppard peeks around the corner of the ruined wall where he is hiding and sees the four Wraith warriors spreading out from the Stargate.]

SHEPPARD All right, then we go as planned.

FORD Yes, sir.

[Sheppard turns to McKay next to him. McKay is agitatedly cradling his P-90.]

SHEPPARD (to McKay) You still seem nervous.

MCKAY (nervously) No, it's good, it's good. I'm all good. All good.

[In the clearing, the lead Wraith bends down and picks up the pendant lying on the ground. He airily looks around.]

SHEPPARD (quietly into radio) Teyla&hellip;

[He peeks around the other side of the wall to see Teyla's position. He gives her hand signals, and she nods in acknowledgement, hitting the detonator on the explosives. Caught by surprise, the Wraith are trying to get away from this attack when Sheppard and McKay start shooting from their position. Teyla and Ford also shoot their warrior. Teyla breaks cover to continue firing until her weapon jams.]

[Sheppard and McKay down one of the warriors, but he starts to get back up. Stackhouse's team break cover to help corral the other Wraith.]

STACKHOUSE This one's ours, boys. Tasers.

[Teyla runs to meet the others, discarding her useless rifle. She notices the lead Wraith sneaking away and gives chase.]

[Sheppard, McKay, Stackhouse and one of his team surround the Wraith and all fire tasers at him. The Wraith drops to the ground.]

[Teyla starts shooting the lead Wraith with her Beretta. The Wraith keeps coming, finally knocking her back bodily. She instantly gets to her feet and grabs a nearby stick, twirling it expertly.]

[Sheppard's team warily approach the downed Wraith. They notice a device blinking on the warrior's chest.]

SHEPPARD It's a self-destruct! Take cover!

[Everyone dives towards the ruins as the warrior explodes into nothing.]

[Elsewhere, Teyla uses her weapon to fight the Wraith.]

[From Ford's position, he sees the aftermath of the warrior's self-destruct, but can see none of his team through the smoke.]

FORD Major! Dr. McKay!

[Pieces of Wraith fall around McKay and Sheppard.]

SHEPPARD (to McKay) You okay?

MCKAY (with irony) I'm fine. This is&hellip;this is fun for me.

[He groans and rolls over as Sheppard gets up, holding the warrior's stunner.]

[Teyla uses two sticks, but her moves become more desperate. The Wraith finally knocks her down, instantly seizing on his advantage. He raises his hand to feed, but is downed by a Wraith stunner blast fired by Sheppard. He reaches towards a device on his wrist, but Sheppard knocks his hands apart with the tip of the stunner weapon and holds one arm down with his foot.]

SHEPPARD Easy. Don't go blowing yourself up.

[Teyla and Sheppard exchange looks.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Weir exits a room to see Teyla passing by, wearing full Athosian gear.]

WEIR Teyla. Excuse me. I was hoping to catch you before you headed back to the mainland. I hear they're doing well.

TEYLA Very well. According to Halling, they're busily planting crops for the next harvest.

WEIR I'm glad to hear it.

TEYLA I will tell them what has happened. Hopefully, in time, we will all be able to put the events of the past week behind us.

WEIR Yes. I am aware that the last few days have been particularly difficult for you.

TEYLA I believe, Dr. Weir, that in your place, I would have done the same.

WEIR Thank you.

[Teyla smiles and nods, then leaves.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DUSK

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS PRISON CELL

[Sheppard paces around the outside of the cell. It is a cube with horizontal thick shelves as bars and an invisible energy shield. The Wraith stands in the center of the cell.]

MALE WRAITH Again? Your kind is persistent. I would have thought you'd have given up by now.

SHEPPARD Well, hell, I've got all the time in the world. Now, you, on the other hand&hellip;

[The Wraith stalks towards Sheppard and tries to grab him, but is repelled by the energy shield.]

SHEPPARD The Ancients were pretty good at shields and stuff like that, weren't they?

[The Wraith grunts.]

SHEPPARD I give you a week&hellip; Maybe two, tops.

MALE WRAITH You waste your time. I will provide you with no information.

SHEPPARD I wonder what hurts more, the gunshot wound or the hunger&hellip; because I'd love to help out, but how did McKay put it? "We can't meet your dietary requirements."

MALE WRAITH When I'm free, you'll be the first that I feed upon.

SHEPPARD (unconcerned) Okey-dokey. I'm going to go make myself a sandwich.

MALE WRAITH Human. You think you've won a victory by my capture, but by bringing me here, you've only hastened your own doom. It's only a matter of time before the others of my kind come to rescue me, and when they do, there will be nowhere in this world you can hide.

SHEPPARD (with mock sympathy) Stay positive, now.

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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