The Defiant One/Transcript

Episode Guide
The Defiant One" Episode Guide

Transcript
TEASER

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[McKay is flying the jumper, with Sheppard in the co-pilot seat. Gall takes a seat behind Sheppard, while wiping his face with a handkerchief. Another scientist, Abrams, sits behind McKay.]

SHEPPARD Ease up on the controls a little.

MCKAY I'm fine.

SHEPPARD You're going to snap the damn things off. Ease up.

MCKAY I'm just seeing what this baby can do.

ABRAMS Did you just say "this baby"?

MCKAY It's perfectly appropriate space pilot parlance.

SHEPPARD Just try to fly the baby in a straight line.

MCKAY I'm flying in a straight line.

[Sheppard brings up a HUD display showing their flight path. It weaves back and forth around a straight line to their destination.]

SHEPPARD Not so much.

MCKAY (defensively, chastened) Well, in space, all motion is relative.

[Gall fans himself with his handkerchief. He looks ill.]

SHEPPARD You okay, Dr. Gall?

GALL I get motion sickness.

SHEPPARD These things have inertial dampeners. You shouldn't feel a thing.

GALL I-I know we're moving. That's enough for me.

SHEPPARD (leaning over to whisper to McKay) Why'd you choose this guy for the mission?

MCKAY (leaning over as well) Brendan's the one who discovered the Lagrangian Point satellite was out here. Elizabeth felt he should see it for himself.

[McKay has let go of the controls while talking.]

SHEPPARD Don't let go of the controls!

MCKAY (taking them back) Snapping doesn't help!

SHEPPARD This is why parents get someone else to teach their kids how to drive.

MCKAY I am both insulted and touched by that.

GALL (looking out view-screen) Oh my God.

[Out of the view-screen, a space structure comes into view.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The huge satellite has many components jutting out from a central structure. The Puddle Jumper approaches the much larger satellite.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[The shadow of the satellite darkens the cabin.]

SHEPPARD (turning in his seat) McKay&hellip;

MCKAY Yes, yes, of course, please.

[They exchange seats, Sheppard taking control.]

SHEPPARD Holding station at one thousand meters.

MCKAY We're almost a half a mile away and it's filling the windshield. This thing is enormous.

GALL It's as large as a Goa'uld mothership. This might be the single largest weapons platform ever constructed.

MCKAY It's probably the Ancients' last line of defense before Atlantis.

SHEPPARD Any chance it's still operational? Because that would be a very good thing.

ABRAMS Are you getting any energy readings?

GALL Negative.

SHEPPARD So it's dead?

GALL Well, it warrants closer scrutiny, but, yeah.

SHEPPARD Knocked out during the Ancients' last stand?

MCKAY Or its power source is depleted. Ten thousand years is a long time. We should still take a closer look&mdash;

ABRAMS Wait, wait. I'm getting something in the ultra-low frequency range.

[He puts it on the speaker, and they all hear a rhythmic static.]

SHEPPARD Where's it coming from?

[The HUD shows a location on a map.]

ABRAMS The planet.

MCKAY It's a distress call&hellip;a Wraith distress call.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Puddle Jumper keeps station near the weapons satellite.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR (over radio) You're sure it's Wraith? In this solar system?

MCKAY I know. Celestially speaking, it's right in our backyard.

SHEPPARD We figure the Ancient satellite shot the Wraith ship down in the final battle for Atlantis.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR (into comm) And it's still putting out a signal after thousands of years?

[The conversation switches between the control room and the Puddle Jumper.]

MCKAY It's a very weak signal. Look, if any part of that ship is intact, the wealth of scientific and military knowledge we could acquire is invaluable.

WEIR So what are you saying?

We have to go down and take a look.

WEIR You have to? It took you almost fifteen hours to get there.

SHEPPARD Well, all the more reason we should have a look. We're already here.

GALL I should mention that the planet's atmosphere is extremely ionized. Radio communication could be difficult.

[Sheppard looks sharply at Gall, and McKay motions for him to shut up.]

WEIR And it would take at least fifteen hours to send out any sort of rescue.

MCKAY We'll be fine.

WEIR Major?

SHEPPARD I agree with McKay.

WEIR Of course you do. How could either of you resist exploring a crashed alien spaceship?

SHEPPARD Exactly.

MCKAY I assure you, our interest is purely professional, Elizabeth.

SHEPPARD Seriously, the amount of intel we could gather from their weapons system: codes, shields&hellip;

WEIR All right. Proceed with extreme caution, please, and check in with me in three hours.

MCKAY Well, three hours? That's hardly enough time&mdash;

SHEPPARD Will do. Jumper One out.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[The jumper has landed on the desert-like planet. McKay stands outside, putting chap stick on his lips. Abrams and Gall exit the ship as well, followed by Sheppard.]

MCKAY (mocking) "Radio communication could be difficult."

GALL Hey, she said yes, didn't she?

MCKAY And no thanks to you.

SHEPPARD All right, knock it off, guys. I've spent the last fifteen hours listening to you two.

[Sheppard walks past them, but they don't follow him. He stops.]

SHEPPARD Are we ready? All right, let's remember where we parked.

[Sheppard activates the jumper's shield.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[The four walk down a dry ravine with some foliage. Some small volcano-shaped mounds lie on the ground, emitting some smoke.]

GALL Why didn't we just land next to the ship?

SHEPPARD Just a precaution.

ABRAMS A precaution for what? The Wraith ship crashed thousands of years ago.

SHEPPARD Automated defenses.

GALL I never thought of that.

MCKAY Don't worry, Brendan. We weren't all built for fieldwork. (to Sheppard) Seriously, we're almost there, right?

[A small insect-like light creature comes out of one of the small mounds and buzzes around the team.]

ABRAMS What's that?

GALL Some kind of a bug?

SHEPPARD Space bug.

ABRAMS It's giving off a pretty strong life-signs reading.

MCKAY Uh, okay, did I mention how allergic I was to bee stings?

SHEPPARD Maybe it smells the food.

GALL Maybe he's just smelling the girlish fear.

SHEPPARD Well, let's leave it be, and it'll leave us be.

MCKAY (fearful) Guys&hellip;

[They make their way around the bug.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[They make their way to the crashed Wraith ship, which is partially buried in sand. It is quite large.]

ABRAMS Have you seen one like this before?

SHEPPARD It's too small to be a hive ship.

MCKAY Well, it's been here for a very long time. Maybe they've discontinued that model.

[Sheppard checks the ship with binoculars and finds a large hole in the hull.]

SHEPPARD Maybe, but whatever it is, it took a hell of a hit.

GALL Score one for the Ancient satellite.

[Through his binoculars, Sheppard sees skeletons lying outside the ship.]

SHEPPARD There's still some skeletons down there. I guess everyone didn't die in the crash. Are you getting any life signs?

MCKAY I think we can rule that out.

SHEPPARD It's just a precaution.

MCKAY Fine.

[McKay takes out his life-signs detector, clearly annoyed.]

MCKAY No, it's just us and the glowy bugs. Nothing coming from the ship.

SHEPPARD Good. Let's go take a look.

[They walk toward the ship.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[The team stops at the entrance left by the hull breach, which is covered with a curtain of Wraith "tissue".]

MCKAY I'm picking up faint power readings.

SHEPPARD Something had to be powering the distress beacon.

[Sheppard enters, followed by McKay. Gall enters then notices Abrams has not followed him.]

GALL Come on, Abrams.

ABRAMS Maybe one of us should stay outside.

GALL Look, I know how you feel, but how many opportunities like this are we going to get?

[Abrams joins him.]

[Later, the team is exploring the ship's interior, using their flashlights. They come upon a dead Wraith soldier, covered with cobwebs and dust.]

ABRAMS This guy looks like he just laid down and died.

MCKAY It's remarkably preserved.

SHEPPARD Or it wasn't that long ago. All right. Beckett'll want samples.

[McKay prepares to take samples.]

MCKAY It is&hellip; Yeah. Okay&hellip;

[He pulls aside some webbing to reveal aged tissue on the body.]

MCKAY What the&mdash;?

SHEPPARD Okay. This is different.

MCKAY Wraith cannibalism?

SHEPPARD Looks like it.

MCKAY They feed off each other?

SHEPPARD Probably as a last resort.

ABRAMS I guess some of them tried to survive as long as possible.

MCKAY Okay, that is incredibly disturbing.

SHEPPARD No kidding. You know, I wonder if there's&mdash;

GALL (from another room) Guys!

[McKay, Sheppard, and Abrams go to find Gall.]

INT&mdash;HUMAN STORAGE AREA, CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[They find Gall in a large chamber full of pods.]

GALL They're bodies, human bodies.

SHEPPARD They have chambers like this on hive ships. I've never seen one so large before.

GALL I don't understand.

MCKAY The Wraith cocoon humans. They keep their bodies in suspended animation, so later they can&hellip; Yeah.

SHEPPARD I think we just figured out what this ship is for.

MCKAY It's a supply ship, on its way to feed the Wraith who were laying siege to Atlantis.

GALL Well, that's terrifying.

SHEPPARD Gall, Abrams, check it out, but be careful.

GALL What? No, wait.

ABRAMS Where are you going?

SHEPPARD Well, the ship's got to have a bridge. Maybe we can get some useful intel.

GALL So you're just leaving us here?

MCKAY What's the problem? They're all dead.

GALL That's the problem!

SHEPPARD Just get some D.V. and a rough head count. We'll stay in radio contact.

GALL That could be difficult. This part of the ship seems really shielded.

SHEPPARD Weir only gave us a few hours. We'll check in every few minutes.

[Sheppard leaves.]

MCKAY (smiling) You wanted fieldwork. This&hellip;is fieldwork.

[McKay jogs after Sheppard. Gall nervously pulls out a video camera.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;WEIR'S OFFICE

[Weir talks to Ford.]

WEIR Lieutenant, I'd like you to put a team on standby for a rescue mission.

FORD Is the Major all right?

WEIR I'm sure everything's fine. I'd just like to have a team ready.

FORD So just in case?

WEIR Yeah. Just in case.

FORD Yes, ma'am.

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[McKay and Sheppard walk down a corridor.]

MCKAY I'm not picking up anything in the E.M. spectrum. I may need to rig up a secondary power source so we can interface with their computer systems.

SHEPPARD I'm just thinking out loud here&hellip;

MCKAY What?

SHEPPARD How long do you think the Wraith could feed on all those humans back there?

MCKAY Well, they're capable of hibernating for hundreds of years at a time, but, I mean, think about it. Ten thousand years ago was roughly the dawn of human civilization.

SHEPPARD So there's no chance that uh&mdash;

MCKAY No, no, no, no, no. Are you kidding? Well&hellip;maybe.

SHEPPARD McKay.

MCKAY No. No. No living thing could survive that long under those conditions. It's ridiculous.

SHEPPARD Okay.

MCKAY That would require an incredible power source capable of sustaining the stored humans in suspended animation almost the entire time.

SHEPPARD So it's possible?

MCKAY Oh, my God. It is possible. We've got to get out of here.

INT&mdash;HUMAN STORAGE AREA, CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

SHEPPARD (over radio) Gall, Abrams, this is Sheppard.

GALL (startled) Major, are you trying to scare me to death?

SHEPPARD I'm probably being a little overcautious, but we need to&hellip;

[His voice is overtaken by static.]

ABRAMS We need to what?

GALL Major, say again. Your radio's breaking up.

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

SHEPPARD (into radio) Let's fall back to our point of ingress. We're headed back to the jumper.

[Sheppard and McKay head out.]

INT&mdash;HUMAN STORAGE AREA, CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

GALL I think we're getting out of here.

[A distortion of the air passes over them quickly.]

ABRAMS What?

GALL I just saw something in the corridor behind you. We can't go that way. (into radio) Major, I just saw something.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR, CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

SHEPPARD (into radio) All right, stay put. We're coming back to you.

[They start running.]

ABRAMS (into radio) Understood. There's nothing out here. Brendan, you're just freaking out on me.

GALL I'm telling you, I saw something.

[Gall points his weapon toward Abrams, who puts up his hands.]

ABRAMS Put that thing away. You're going to kill someone.

GALL I know what I saw!

[Something drops behind Gall; Abrams sees it.]

ABRAMS Oh, my God.

[Gall turns to see it's a Wraith. Smiling, the Wraith throws Gall aside then steps up to Abrams and starts feeding on him. Nearby, Sheppard and McKay hear Abrams' screams.

SHEPPARD This way.

[Moments later they come upon Abrams, now an old man sitting on the ground. They look around cautiously.]

EXT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP ON PLANET, DAY

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[The Wraith drags Gall down the corridor. Gall is covered in fine webbing.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[McKay examines Abrams.]

MCKAY He is dead.

SHEPPARD Where's Gall?

MCKAY I don't know.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Gall, this is Sheppard. Come in.

MCKAY It must have taken him.

[Sheppard looks at his life-signs detector; sees two dots moving.]

SHEPPARD You're right. They're on the move.

[Sheppard starts to disarm Abrams' body.]

MCKAY What're you doing?

SHEPPARD Taking his weapons and his ammo. Here.

MCKAY I already have a gun.

SHEPPARD Now you have two.

MCKAY You're not planning on going after the Wraith?

SHEPPARD I plan on going after Gall, then I plan on getting the hell out of here.

MCKAY I swear there was nothing alive when I scanned for life signs.

SHEPPARD They don't show up as life signs when they're hibernating. Okay. Let's go.

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[The Wraith checks over Gall's instruments. Beside him, Gall starts to wake up. He starts breathing heavily.]

GALL Please!

[The Wraith snarls at him.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, EVENING

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Ford, Teyla, and another soldier are suited up for a mission.]

FORD They're not even overdue yet.

WEIR It doesn't matter. Call it intuition, paranoia, or we can just call it a drill. Either way, I want you to go now.

TEYLA We can always be called back, but if they are in trouble&hellip;

WEIR Then every moment counts. Exactly. Ford, who's your pilot?

FORD Markham.

WEIR Good. He could use some piloting practice.

FORD And I've packed enough ordnance to fight a small war.

WEIR Let's hope you don't have to.

FORD Yes, ma'am. Let's move out.

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard and McKay come upon a dead Wraith. Sheppard takes oblong metal weapons from the body; they are grenade-like.]

MCKAY What's that?

SHEPPARD I don't know, but I don't have the ordnance I should have, and it takes a lot to kill these guys. I'll take any edge I can get.

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[The Wraith speaks to Gall.]

WRAITH What world are you from?

GALL Y-You're going to kill me anyway.

WRAITH You have come here by ship. Where is it?

GALL You're going to kill me anyway.

WRAITH But not all at once.

[The Wraith starts to feed on Gall, who screams.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard and McKay hear the screaming.]

SHEPPARD Okay&hellip; Stay behind me. Shoot only when I tell you to shoot.

[They move off together.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[The Wraith hears footsteps, smiles at Gall, and jumps up into the ceiling to get away. Sheppard and McKay arrive and are shocked at Gall's condition, wrapped in webbing, aged, and with an open wound on his chest. Sheppard approaches him.]

GALL I'm sorry.

SHEPPARD Shh.

[Sheppard checks the life-signs detector.]

SHEPPARD He's left the ship.

[Sheppard starts to free Gall's face from the webbing.]

GALL It killed Abrams.

SHEPPARD We know.

GALL It was so fast&hellip; It fed off me.

MCKAY You're going to be all right.

GALL It was taking my life. I could feel it. I could feel it&mdash;

SHEPPARD All right, all right, all right. Listen to me. Listen to me. You're still here. Can you move?

GALL (crying) Nothing below my shoulders.

MCKAY I'm sure the paralysis is just temporary. You'll be all right in a few hours.

GALL I told him where we left the jumper. He took my remote.

MCKAY He won't be able to fly it.

SHEPPARD Do we know that for a fact?

MCKAY I'm sure the Wraith were the main reason the Ancient technology only works if the operator has a specific gene.

SHEPPARD Either way, he's still going to have all of our weapons, food and water.

MCKAY Who cares?

SHEPPARD What if he can use our subspace radio to signal his friends?

MCKAY He might be able to do that.

SHEPPARD Not if I can get there first.

[Sheppard gets up and faces McKay.]

MCKAY He's got a head start.

SHEPPARD I can be pretty fast.

MCKAY Elizabeth will send another jumper. We just need to wait&mdash;

SHEPPARD Stay with him.

GALL No. Please don't leave us.

MCKAY He's right. We should stick together.

SHEPPARD He killed Abrams.

MCKAY (agitated) And I'm as sorry about that as you are, but just because we both made an error in judgment&mdash;

SHEPPARD (shouting) I don't have time to argue about this! Now, set your radio to channel two, but don't use it till you hear from me.

[Sheppard starts jogging away.]

MCKAY (yelling) Major. Major! (quietly, to Gall) It's fine, just&hellip; Okay.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard runs out of the ship and along a ridge back toward the jumper. He gets back to the ravine with the insect mounds and jogs past them.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[McKay tends to Gall, removing the rest of the webbing. He looks at his own hand, then at Gall's poor condition. He checks the life-signs detector.]

GALL Anything?

MCKAY No. Hopefully there's just the one.

GALL You're not going to let me die out here, are you?

MCKAY No, don't be ridiculous.

GALL You know, because people would talk.

MCKAY And why would they do that?

GALL It's obvious. You're afraid I'll outshine you. My mind. My youth&hellip;

[They realize the irony of the statement. McKay places a bandage on Gall's chest.]

GALL How much of my life did he take?

MCKAY You look fine.

GALL Because that's what they do, isn't it? They take years off of your life. I look old, don't I?

MCKAY You look older, yes.

GALL Show me.

MCKAY There's no point in doing this. You just&mdash;

GALL Rodney. Show me.

[McKay holds up a mirror so Gall can see himself.]

GALL (distraught) Oh, my God!

MCKAY I don't know how it works, Brendan. I don't think anybody does. Maybe you haven't really aged. Maybe it doesn't work that way. Look, it's possible that, in time you could get better. The important thing is that you're still alive&hellip; Can you move yet?

GALL I think I'm starting to get some feeling back in my extremities.

MCKAY Well, there's something. What? I'm just trying to help here. Look, you're the one who had to find the stupid satellite.

GALL Ah, don't make me laugh.

MCKAY Yeah. You shouldn't laugh. It's&hellip;it's not so good.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[The Wraith has followed the team's trail back to the jumper, which is still invisible due to its cloak. He holds up Gall's controller and uncloaks it.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET

[The Wraith goes to the cockpit and tries activating various controls, but nothing happens. In frustration, he screams. Using the life-signs detector, Sheppard approaches the jumper and takes cover. He can hear the Wraith screaming. He raises his machine gun.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A puddle jumper travels through space.]

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR (over comm) It's been six hours. They still haven't checked in.

FORD (into comm) Good thing we left when we did.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR (into comm) Be careful, Lieutenant.

FORD (over comm) Yes, ma'am.

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

WEIR (over comm) Gall said something about radio being a problem on the surface, so, hopefully, the jumper's subspace communications are just down.

FORD (into comm) We're prepared to do whatever we need to do.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR (into comm) You're on the other side of the solar system, Lieutenant. It's going to be your call.

FORD Yes, ma'am, it is.

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

SHEPPARD (over radio) McKay.

MCKAY (into radio) We're still here.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard is in the same position, watching the jumper.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) The son of a bitch beat me to it. He's fast.

[The conversation switches between McKay's and Sheppard's positions.]

MCKAY Then you should get back here.

SHEPPARD Negative.

MCKAY There's no point in you being out there&mdash;

SHEPPARD He's aboard my ship.

MCKAY What are you, Captain Kirk? What good's it going to do him?

SHEPPARD I don't know. Maybe he can hot-wire the damn thing. I don't want to take a chance.

[Sheppard sees small bits of snow in the shade of the rocks beside him.]

SHEPPARD Do you have any idea how long the days are on this planet?

MCKAY No. Why?

SHEPPARD Because I've got a feeling the nights are pretty damn cold, sub-zero cold.

MCKAY We're six hours overdue. Assuming they waited an hour before sending a rescue mission&mdash;

SHEPPARD There's a very good chance it's going to be dark before another jumper can get here. If we play the waiting game, the guy who's been around for ten thousand years is going to win.

MCKAY Major, anyone or anything capable of surviving that long is going to be a serious adversary.

SHEPPARD Well, not if I get him out in the open. He won't know about our weapons. If all goes well, I'll fly the jumper back and pick you up.

MCKAY And if all doesn't go well?

SHEPPARD It will.

MCKAY Things haven't gone all that well thus far.

SHEPPARD You know, Rodney, these guys do die if you have enough firepower.

MCKAY Well, eventually, yes, but&mdash;

SHEPPARD Try and stay positive. How's Gall feeling?

MCKAY His can move his toes.

SHEPPARD Well, see? Things are looking up.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET

[The frustrated Wraith searches the storage bins, throwing supplies around. He finds a pistol but sets it down as if uninterested.]

SHEPPARD (over comm) This is Major John Sheppard. That's my ship you're messing with. I'd like it back.

WRAITH (into comm) This ship is Lantian.

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

SHEPPARD (into comm) Yes, it is.

[The conversation switches between the Wraith's and Sheppard's positions.]

WRAITH The Lantians were on the verge of defeat.

SHEPPARD Well, you weren't around for the end of the war. Your side lost.

WRAITH Impossible.

SHEPPARD It's true. You're the last of your kind.

WRAITH Their city was under siege. Atlantis was all that remained. Victory was inevitable.

SHEPPARD Well, you can see for yourself my ship is Lantian. I'm living proof we're still around, but the Wraith were all gone. No one's left but you.

[Sheppard lifts his weapon.]

WRAITH What you say cannot be true.

SHEPPARD Why don't you come down to your own ship and see for yourself? I'll be waiting for you.

[The Wraith takes the bait and steps to the top of the ramp of the jumper. Sheppard fires on the Wraith with his P-90, and it falls to the ramp. Sheppard cautiously approaches. The Wraith wakes up but doesn't move. Sheppard fires into its body a few more times, and it lies immobile.]

[Sheppard approaches more closely. Unseen, the Wraith grabs the pistol it had found earlier. It sits up and starts shooting at Sheppard, who is firing back. The Wraith shoots Sheppard in the left upper arm. Sheppard falls and rolls behind a rock for cover. Sheppard can't get his P-90 to fire, and the Wraith fires until its gun is empty.]

[The Wraith gets up slowly. Sheppard retreats to the cover of nearby sand dunes. The Wraith finds a second pistol and raises it, but Sheppard is no longer in sight.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard rolls down a sand dune. He gets up slowly and starts to jog further away, favoring his injured arm. He falls to his knees near some tall grasses. He checks his P-90 again. It doesn't work, so he tosses it to the ground. He pulls a field dressing from his vest and starts to wrap it around his arm.]

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

WRAITH You cannot hope to defeat me!

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard hears the Wraith.]

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

[Seemingly weakened from all of the bullet wounds, the Wraith moves back inside the Jumper.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[McKay massages Gall's hands, and he's finally able to move them.]

MCKAY There. What'd I tell you, huh?

GALL Rodney, I don't feel so good.

MCKAY Water. I'll lend you some water.

[He helps Gall drink from his canteen.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) McKay&hellip;

MCKAY (into radio) Major, what's happening?

[The conversation switches between McKay's and Sheppard's positions as they speak by radio.]

SHEPPARD I thought you should know&mdash;round one was a draw.

MCKAY I don't like the sound of that.

SHEPPARD Me neither. I took some fire.

MCKAY Are you injured?

SHEPPARD Yeah, that's what I mean by "I took some fire." But I don't think it's too bad, but my P-90's out of commission. He found a 9-mil in the jumper, figured out how to use it pretty fast.

[Sheppard checks the magazine on his pistol.]

MCKAY Well, the Wraith will heal itself.

SHEPPARD Yeah. No kidding. I put at least twenty shots into him, and a couple more for good measure. I've seen Wraith go down and stay down with far less. This guy's different somehow.

[He checks the grenade-like weapons he had collected.]

MCKAY Dr. Beckett has theorized that a Wraith's ability to heal itself is directly proportional to how recently the Wraith has fed, and he's&hellip;fed pretty recently.

SHEPPARD I think there's got to be more to it than that. Can Gall move his fingers yet?

MCKAY Barely.

SHEPPARD All right, then stick a gun in his hand.

MCKAY Major?

SHEPPARD Just in case I don't make it back. Sheppard out.

MCKAY That's comforting, huh? All right. Water.

[He goes back to helping Gall.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard opens and then closes one of the Wraith weapons. It activates, making a high-pitched whine. A red light starts flashing.]

SHEPPARD Oh, crap!

[He throws it away and ducks. It blows up, raining dirt on him.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET

[The Wraith hears the explosion.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard rests on his stomach for a moment.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[McKay has heard the explosion, perhaps over the radio.]

MCKAY (into radio) Major, what the hell was that?

SHEPPARD (over radio) I almost blew myself up.

MCKAY (into radio) What?

SHEPPARD (over radio) Stay off the radio. I'm busy.

MCKAY (to Gall) Right. He's busy.

GALL You want to get out there and help him, don't you?

MCKAY What? Me go up against a Wraith? Are you kidding?

GALL You do. I can tell. You've changed. You really want to get out there.

MCKAY Shut up.

GALL Don't get me wrong. I'm impressed. You want in the fight. The Rodney McKay I knew would never&mdash;

MCKAY (serious) You heard the man. We're staying right here&hellip; All right. Take this, but don't shoot at anything until I tell you to, okay?

GALL Okay.

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard has approached the jumper again, maintaining cover behind a rock. He uses his binoculars to check on the Wraith, who is again rifling through the storage bins. Sheppard opens a power bar and starts to eat it. One of the light insects approaches. Sheppard tries to brush it away.]

SHEPPARD You want some of this?

[He places a small piece of the bar on his leg. The creature takes it and flies away. Sheppard takes another bite. The creature comes back in a swarm of others. Sheppard tires to wave them away.]

SHEPPARD Okay, okay. That's enough.

[He throws a large chunk of the bar away, and the swarm dashes off for it. He rises up to take a look at the Wraith and sees it working on the ship systems.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET

[The Wraith exchanges crystals in the overhead panel, breathing laboriously.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard climbs up a sand dune and places a flair in the sand near the top.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET

[The Wraith tries to re-wire the jumper controls.]

EXT&mdash;PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard lights the flare then runs down the dune and away from the area.]

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard resumes his position near the jumper. As the flare starts to spew orange smoke, Sheppard fires two shots to get the Wraith's attention.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET

[Hearing the shots, the Wraith goes to the front of the jumper. It sees the orange smoke and smiles. It goes to the ramp and exits the jumper. It activates something on its wrist before walking toward the smoke. Sheppard runs for the jumper, but when he gets to within a few feet of it, he's repelled and thrown to the ground by a shield. He gets up and runs away again. The Wraith has reached the flare and realizes it was a diversion.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

MCKAY You're right. I should go out there.

GALL I didn't say you should. I said you wanted to.

MCKAY Because I should.

GALL No, you shouldn't. But don't let me stop you. If you really think that you can help the Major by going out&mdash;

MCKAY I can't leave you here.

GALL Yes, you can. What difference does it make? You and I both know I'm not going to make it.

MCKAY Stop being so dramatic. You're getting stronger by the minute.

GALL I've never felt so weak.

MCKAY Then stop talking.

GALL I'm dying, Rodney. I can feel it.

MCKAY (angry) Stop it!

GALL I'm not getting better. I'm getting worse. He left me with just enough life so that you'd have to watch me die.

MCKAY Listen to me. All you need is a good meal, a pot of tea, and to stop talking, and&mdash;

[Gall closes his eyes. McKay rushes to him.]

MCKAY Brendan! I'm sorry.

GALL You said to stop talking.

MCKAY I'm sorry, I thought you'd&hellip; Apologies. As you were.

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

[While Sheppard waits behind cover, the Wraith returns and tests the shield. Sheppard uses his pocket knife as a mirror to watch from behind the rock. The swarm of light creatures returns. Sheppard pulls out his power bar and throws the rest of it over to the side. The swarm follows. He resumes watching the Wraith using his pocket knife. The Wraith runs into the swarm and starts grabbing at the creatures.]

SHEPPARD Not now, guys.

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

MARKHAM We may be able to make radio contact now, sir.

FORD (into comm) Major, this is Lieutenant Ford. Come in. Major, we should be there inside an hour. Please respond.

TEYLA Perhaps we are still too far away.

MARKHAM Or maybe they can't get a signal on the planet.

FORD See if you can make this thing go a little faster.

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

[The Wraith walks around, looking for Sheppard.]

WRAITH Do you think I'm a fool, Major Sheppard? There is nowhere for you to go on this world. When I feed upon you, I will savor the taste of your defiance.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Hey, you. Over here. On the ground, the radio.

[The Wraith sees the radio on the ground.]

WRAITH The days on this planet are long, but the nights are cold. Sooner or later, I will have you.

SHEPPARD (into radio) I can't hear you threatening to suck the life out of me till you hit the button on the radio.

[The Wraith hesitates, then picks up the radio. It is sitting on one of the grenade devices. It explodes, sending the Wraith backward, burned and apparently lifeless. Sheppard checks the Wraith through his binoculars but doesn't approach it.]

INT&mdash;CRASHED WRAITH SHIP

[McKay gets up, weapon raised.]

MCKAY You hear that?

GALL No.

MCKAY I thought I heard something. Maybe there's another one hibernating.

GALL No.

MCKAY It's been too long. I think the Major could be in trouble, and if he's in trouble, we're in trouble.

GALL Then go.

MCKAY Do you think you could move?

GALL Not a chance. I'm not going anywhere.

MCKAY Okay. That's okay.

GALL Go. Rodney, just go. Save the day.

[McKay faces the way out while talking to Gall.]

MCKAY What I really want to do is call him on the radio, but I'm afraid if he's hiding from the Wraith, I might inadvertently give away his position, and let's face it, what chance would we have against the Wraith if Sheppard can't take him out? I was hoping you'd be strong enough, then I&mdash;

[Behind him, Gall shoots himself. McKay turns around and sees him.]

MCKAY (devastated) Oh, no.

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard watches from behind the boulder as the Wraith wakes and gets up.]

SHEPPARD You've got to be kidding me.

WRAITH I have fed upon countless thousands of humans and Lantians, even upon my own crew, and I will feed upon you before this day is done.

[The Wraith fires its pistol at Sheppard, who fires back.]

FORD (over comm) Major, this is Lieutenant Ford. Please respond.

SHEPPARD (into comm) Lieutenant, I like your timing. Get your ass down here.

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

FORD (into comm) Sir, we're still two-zero minutes away at top speed.

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

SHEPPARD (into comm) Well, in that case, your timing sucks. Get here as soon as you can.

[The Wraith continues to approach Sheppard's position, firing.]

SHEPPARD (shouting to be heard) You need me to get off this planet. I'm the only one who can fly that ship.

[The Wraith stops for a moment.]

WRAITH I will use your dead hands to operate its controls.

[The Wraith resumes firing. Sheppard's gun is empty. The Wraith's is as well. Sheppard pulls out his knife and approaches the Wraith, who growls, smiling. It raises its hand at Sheppard, and he spears it on the knife. It slaps Sheppard across the face with the other hand, throwing him to the ground. Sheppard rolls over and partially sits up, but doesn't get up. The Wraith moves in on him. McKay shoots it in the back twice.]

MCKAY Major?

SHEPPARD McKay!

MCKAY What do I do now?

SHEPPARD Keep firing everything you've got!

[The Wraith turns toward McKay, who empties his gun into its chest.]

MCKAY Okay, now what?

SHEPPARD Reload.

[McKay starts to reload, but not quickly. The Wraith smiles, deciding whom to attack first.]

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

[The HUD appears, showing them the situation.]

TEYLA We're picking up their life signs on the planet.

FORD Head straight for them. (into comm) Sir, we're picking you up on the HUD.

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

[Sheppard pulls another power bar from his vest. The Wraith advances on McKay. McKay empties another magazine into it, but it keeps coming.]

MCKAY No more bullets!

[Sheppard comes up from behind and hits the Wraith with a pistol. The Wraith turns and pushes him in the chest, throwing him into the air and several feet away. McKay watches as Sheppard doesn't get up. Sheppard has placed the power bar in the Wraith's belt. Now the light creatures swarm around the Wraith.]

SHEPPARD (into comm) Ford, lock onto the biggest life-sign signals you can see and fire.

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

FORD (into comm) Negative, sir. You're too close!

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

SHEPPARD That's an order, Lieutenant. Do it!

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

FORD (indicating the Wraith's signature) Fire on that target.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The jumper fires a drone at the Wraith's position.]

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

SHEPPARD McKay, run!

[They run in opposite directions. The drone hits the Wraith, exploding and leaving nothing but a crater. Sheppard takes a look around to be sure.]

SHEPPARD McKay?

MCKAY (waving) Still here!

FORD (over comm) Sir, this is Ford. The target is gone.

SHEPPARD (into comm) Well, it's about damn time.

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

TEYLA (into comm) We got here as soon as we could, Major.

EXT&mdash;NEAR PUDDLE JUMPER ON PLANET, DAY

SHEPPARD (into comm) That's not what I meant. Thanks.

INT&mdash;FORD'S PUDDLE JUMPER

FORD (into comm) You're welcome, sir. We'll be there in just a few minutes.

SHEPPARD (into comm) We can wait.

[Sheppard and McKay meet at the crater.]

SHEPPARD Thanks.

MCKAY Yeah. You too. You okay?

SHEPPARD Other than this and a few cracked ribs&hellip; (noting McKay's silence) What about Gall?

MCKAY (sadly) No.

[Sheppard starts toward the jumper. McKay follows.]

SHEPPARD You'll have to put the ship back together, provided you can disarm the shield.

MCKAY Fine. As long as we get to go home.

SHEPPARD You can drive.

MCKAY Oh, thank you.

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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