The Return, Part 1/Transcript

Episode Guide
The Return, Part 1

Previously
PREVIOUSLY ON ATLANTIS

[Excerpts from SGA 3.05 "Progeny" are shown.]

END EXCERPTS

Prologue
EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus moves through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[McKay stands in front of video monitor with a notepad computer and conducts a briefing for Deadalus crew.]

MCKAY So, I'm in Atlantis, and I need to get to Earth. What do I do? Since we no longer have access to a ZPM due to&hellip;unforeseeable circumstances, my only option would be to call the Daedalus and spend the next three weeks twiddling my thumbs waiting to get back home&hellip;until now.

I give you the McKay-Carter Intergalactic Gate Bridge. Thirty-four gates from both the Milky Way and Pegasus gate systems have been strategically placed in the massive void between our two galaxies. Simply enter on either side&mdash;for example, Atlantis&mdash;and boom! A macro that, uh, I have written especially for the occasion will command each Gate in the chain to store you in its buffer and forward you along to the next and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, until you arrive&hellip;here.

[As McKay speaks, the video monitor gives a graphic depiction of the McKay/Carter Intergalactic Gate Bridge.]

MCKAY (continuing) Once at the mid-way space station, you simply exit the Pegasus gate system, and enter the Milky Way gate system, where a similar macro, designed by yours truly, will forward you along to the SGC. Total travel time, a little over thirty minutes. Cue applause.

[The crew applauds.]

MCKAY (signaling) Thank you. Enough.

[The crew stops clapping.]

MCKAY The mid-way space station isn't completed yet, so we will be testing the system today using a puddle jumper. Now the&hellip;

[Caldwell enters the bridge and interrupts McKay while striding to his command chair.]

CALDWELL Okay. Show and tell's over. The test is about to begin. Let's get back to our stations, please.

[The crew moves back to their bridge stations.]

MCKAY Right.

EXT&mdash;SPACE, MID-WAY SPACE STATION

[The Daedalus drops out of hyperspace near the partially constructed space station. It is a cylinder shaped truss device; each end of the cylinder brackets around a Stargate, one facing the Pegasus Galaxy, the other, the Milky Way Galaxy.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

MCKAY (reading his notepad computer) All systems seem to be&hellip;huh.

CALDWELL What?

MCKAY (distractedly) Oh, there's an odd echo on the proximity sensors. It won't affect the test, but, uh&hellip;Yeah, we're-we're ready to go.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[A puddle jumper lowers from the bay into the Gate room. The Stargate is already active.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) The gate is dialed. The forwarding macro's been uploaded.

[Weir watches from the balcony.]

WEIR (into wireless) All right, John. You have a go.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Sheppard is alone in the ship.]

SHEPPARD All right then, here goes.

[The puddle jumper disappears into the event horizon.]

WORMHOLE EFFECT

[There are intermittent flashes of orange light during the extended wormhole passage.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE, MID-WAY SPACE STATION

[Sheppard's puddle jumper exits the active Pegasus Stargate and brakes to a stop within the cylinder. The Daedalus hovers overhead.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

MCKAY We have a contact!

CALDWELL (keying radio) Colonel Sheppard, right on time. What's your status?

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD (into radio) It felt a little weird, but everything seems to be in one piece.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

SHEPPARD (over radio) Ready to proceed to next phase.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD Uploading macro and initiating dialing sequence.

[He dials the Stargate, which activates.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

MCKAY No, no, no, no, no, no. This is weird.

CALDWELL Shall I tell him to stand down?

MCKAY No, no, no. It's, uh, nothing to do with the, uh, the test. It's just our, uh, sensors are not working properly.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD (slightly impatient) Daedalus, ready to proceed.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL Do I clear him?

MCKAY (distracted) Mm. Mm. Yeah-yeah-yeah. I'm sure he's fine.

[Caldwell continues to watch McKay at the offhand response. McKay looks up from his computer and notices Caldwell's stare.]

MCKAY (more focused) Uh, he's good to go. Good to go. Yes. Go ahead.

[Caldwell relaxes back into his chair and nods to the helmsman.]

CALDWELL (into comm) Colonel Sheppard, you have a go.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Sheppard takes a deep breath and powers up the jumper's thrusters.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[McKay leans in to study the helmsman's monitors.]

MCKAY Jumper is away.

[McKay goes back to studying his computer.]

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAY

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Harriman is at his station. Landry stands behind him watching the Stargate. O'Neill, dressed in Class A uniform walks up and stands next to Landry.]

O'NEILL He's late.

LANDRY When travelling almost three million light years, I'm not so sure there's such a thing as "late".

O'NEILL Right. Yes.

LANDRY You're just mad you didn't get to fly the maiden voyage yourself.

O'NEILL Well, General, I am quite fond of both maidens and voyages. I mean, put the two together, and&hellip;

LANDRY (interrupting) You're not a test pilot anymore, Jack.

O'NEILL That's what the President said.

[Landry chuckles as the Stargate activates.]

HARRIMAN Incoming wormhole.

[The puddle jumper flies through the active Stargate and brakes to a stop right in front of the control room window. Sheppard is clearly visible in the cockpit, eye to eye with the generals.]

O'NEILL (leaning into microphone) It's about time!

SHEPPARD (over radio) Sorry, sir.

LANDRY (into microphone) Colonel Sheppard, welcome to Earth.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD (into radio) Thank you, sir. Good to be back.

LANDRY (over radio) You know where to park.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

LANDRY (continuing) We'll debrief and go over the flight data as soon as you're ready.

SHEPPARD (over radio) Yes, sir.

[The puddle jumper hovers further upward into the silo, disappearing out of sight. Landry and O'Neill walk away.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

HELMSMAN Colonel, we're receiving a databurst. Jumper Three has arrived at Stargate Command.

CALDWELL Mission accomplished.

MCKAY (still studying his computer) Yes, of course it worked. I'm already onto the next problem.

CALDWELL Which is&hellip;?

MCKAY Well, the, uh sensors are having a hard time determining what it is. Probably due to the Doppler effect.

CALDWELL (pressing) What "what" is?

MCKAY I'm detecting a foreign object travelling at .999 the speed of light, and it's coming this way.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;SPACE, MID-WAY SPACE STATION

[Sheppard's puddle jumper exits the Milky Way Galaxy Stargate and stops inside the space station. Daedalus still hovers nearby.]

HELMSMAN We have a contact, sir! It's Colonel Sheppard back from Earth.

CALDWELL (into comm) Colonel Sheppard, welcome back to the middle of nowhere.

SHEPPARD (over radio) Thank you, Colonel.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD (continuing into radio) I've got, uh, takeout pizza for everyone back in Atlantis&hellip;

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

SHEPPARD (over radio) With your permission, I'd like to, uh, upload the macro and dial out before it gets cold.

CALDWELL Negative. We're putting that leg of the trip on hold for now. Seems like we're expecting company.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Daedalus floats in space.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIEFING ROOM

[McKay paces around the room. Caldwell sits at the head of the table. Sheppard sits next to him. The rest of the room is filled with sitting and standing crew members.]

MCKAY Believe it or not, moving that fast, while an incredible feat of technology, isn't very useful. Certainly in comparison to travel through hyperspace. Now, moving as fast as it is, this ship&mdash;assuming it is a ship&mdash;would still take at least a million years just to reach the Milky Way.

CALDWELL That close to the speed of light, don't you have to take relativity into account?

MCKAY Exactly. The people on board&mdash;assuming that they are people&mdash;would only experience, maybe&hellip;twelve years? So a few stasis chambers, they're laughing&hellip;well, they're not laughing, they're unconscious, but you know, metaphorically&hellip;

SHEPPARD So, assuming it's a ship and assuming they're people&hellip;

CALDWELL What do we do about them?

MCKAY Ah, well, we try and make contact, obviously.

CALDWELL How do you propose we do that?

SHEPPARD Pull up, honk the horn, try to get them to roll down their window.

CALDWELL I'm talking about attempting to match their speed. This ship is not designed to do that.

MCKAY Well we can't. I mean even if we succeeded, we'd be subject to the same time dilation effects. We'd be out of contact with Earth and Atlantis for, what, years.

SHEPPARD Can't we overtake them with our hyperdrive?

MCKAY Yes, but they would blow right past us as soon as we dropped back into normal space, because our "sublight" engines aren't capable of accelerating to anywhere near the speed of light.

SHEPPARD So uh, we max out the sublight engines. Get as close as we can get.

MCKAY Hmm. Yes. I mean, that-that might work. Um, we should at least be able to stay in range enough to get some sensor readings. Yeah.

CALDWELL Do it. I'll let Atlantis know you're going to be late.

[Caldwell rises and leaves, signalling the dismissal of everyone. McKay stops Sheppard from exiting.]

MCKAY Um, did you really get pizza for everyone? Because it would be a shame for that to go to waste if we're really gonna um&hellip;

[Sheppard stares at McKay.]

MCKAY (abashed) Yeah, okay, so solve this first, and then&hellip;

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus moves at sublight speeds.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Crew man their stations, including Caldwell in the commander's chair. Sheppard and McKay hover near the port station.]

HELMSMAN Sir, we've got just about everything we're gonna get out of sublight engines.

MCKAY They're gonna fly by us in three&hellip;two&hellip;one&hellip;

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A ship, moving so fast it's practically a blur of light zooms by the much slower moving Daedalus.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

MCKAY Interesting.

CALDWELL What?

MCKAY If these readings are correct, and, to be perfectly fair they may not be&hellip;

SHEPPARD Rodney&hellip;

MCKAY It's an Ancient warship. It's possibly Aurora class.

CALDWELL Who's flying it?

MCKAY I would imagine Ancients?

CALDWELL There hasn't been any of them around for over ten thousand years.

MCKAY (disgusted) Relativity! Look, remember, for them only handful of years have passed.

SHEPPARD Don't those ships have hyperdrives?

MCKAY Well, maybe their hyperdrive was damaged in the battle with the Wraith. It happens with us all the time. I mean, it, uh, it conked out on the way, and they were forced to continue at as close to light speed as possible. That would explain how they got a million light years away from Pegasus without having to leave a million years ago.

CALDWELL You know their subspace drive specs better than I do, Doctor, but I'm not sure an Aurora-class ship has the power to do what you're suggesting.

MCKAY Well, maybe they have a ZPM.

SHEPPARD That would be worth finding out.

MCKAY Okay, we need to send them a message before they get out of range, and we have to jump ahead. Something like, uh, you know, we are humans from Earth, currently occupying Atlantis, yadda yadda yadda.

SHEPPARD Why don't we just ask them to slow down.

[A sensor on the starboard station beeps.]

HELMSMAN Colonel Caldwell, the unidentified vessel is slowing down.

SHEPPARD (offhand) Maybe they heard me.

MCKAY (leaning in to read the monitors) No, they saw us. And they're not just slowing down. I mean, they're slamming on the brakes at something like twenty-seven Gs.

CALDWELL So now what?

[A hologram of a woman in Ancient clothing appears on the bridge.]

HELIA (via hologram) Unknown vessel, I am Captain Helia of the Lantian warship Tria. Our ship has suffered damage. We've scanned your vessel and determined that it is capable of hyperspace travel. We've begun deceleration maneuvers. Will you render assistance in the form of hyperspace transport?

MCKAY Well, yes! Yes, of course we will.

[The Helia hologram flickers but does not respond.]

SHEPPARD I don't think she can hear you.

CALDWELL (to helmsman) Open a channel.

[The helmsman nods and presses some controls.]

CALDWELL (into comm) This is Colonel Stephen Caldwell of the Earth ship Daedalus. It would be an honor to render assistance in any way we possibly can.

[Helia smiles and nods in gratitude before the hologram disappears.]

MCKAY (ecstatic) We're gonna meet Ancients! I mean&hellip;flesh and-and blood Ancients who know what everything is and how everything works. I mean, I don't even know what to ask first!

[Sheppard smiles at the thought.]

CALDWELL Well, it's gonna be a couple hours before we can match velocities for transport.

SHEPPARD (also looking excited) That should give you enough time to write out that list.

MCKAY Right. Right.

[McKay races off.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Weir, Teyla, and Ronon walk down a corridor.]

WEIR They were battle scarred and already well on their way to Earth when their hyperdrive finally gave out on them. They decided it was best to continue forward than go back.

RONON How many survivors?

WEIR Just over a hundred.

TEYLA (excited) Word has already begun to spread amongst my people. They believe this return was foretold; that it marks the turning in the tide in the war against the Wraith.

WEIR Well, I don't know about that.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[They have come to a stop in the Gate room. Chuck is on the balcony above.]

CHUCK Dr. Weir? The Daedalus is ready to beam down our people and the Ancient delegation.

WEIR Thank you.

[Weir nods and zippers her jacket.]

[Sheppard, McKay, and five Ancients, including Helia, beam into the room near the Stargate. Weir and company and Sheppard and company start to walk towards each other.]

SHEPPARD Dr. Weir, Ronon, Teyla, this is Helia, captain of the Ancient ship Tria.

WEIR (bowing slightly) It's an honor to meet you.

HELIA Thank you, and from what I'm told, you've done a remarkable job preserving our city.

WEIR Well, we did what we could with what we had.

HELIA I need to speak to the leader of your people.

WEIR I'm in charge of the Atlantis expedition.

HELIA You misunderstand me, Dr. Weir. I need to talk to the one who can speak for all the people of Earth.

WEIR That can certainly be arranged. But may I ask why?

[A console suddenly rises up out of the floor, forcing Ronon to jump back out of the way. He raises his gun at the new device.]

MCKAY (flabbergasted) What is that? How come I've never seen that?

[Helia puts her hand on the device, and Ancient systems power down all over Atlantis.]

WEIR Excuse me, what's going on?

HELIA Thank you for all that you've done, Dr. Weir, but your guardianship of this city is no longer necessary. The city is now under my control.

[The Atlantis expedition team exchange upset looks.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS BRIEFING ROOM

[Woolsey and O'Neill sit at one side of the table; Helia paces at the other side.]

HELIA We were in a battle with Wraith cruisers. They proved too much for us. So we started back to Atlantis, only to be told the final evacuation was already in progress. I decided to push on to Earth and join the evacuees. Even, when our hyperdrive failed, we decided to continue on.

WOOLSEY I can't begin to imagine what you and your crew must be going through right now.

HELIA We owe you and your people a debt of gratitude, but we've just returned home. Home to a place we thought we'd never set eyes on again, and we need some time&hellip;alone.

[Woolsey looks about to speak, but O'Neill jumps in.]

O'NEILL You do know that we've shed our own fair share of blood defending this city from the Wraith.

HELIA But by your own admission, you are responsible for waking the Wraith.

O'NEILL &hellip;Right?

[Floundering, O'Neill turns to Woolsey.]

WOOLSEY And by your own admission, you are responsible for the emergence of the Wraith as a species. The fact is, if it weren't for our expedition, there would be no Atlantis.

O'NEILL No one's saying the city doesn't belong to you, or that you don't belong here. What we're saying is that&hellip;

[Woolsey rolls his eyes and grabs O'Neill's arm to interrupt him.]

WOOLSEY What we're asking&hellip;

[O'Neill looks down at his arm in surprise. Woolsey, still looking at Helia, suddenly realizes he should not have done that and releases the general's arm.]

O'NEILL (accepting Woolsey's cue) What we're asking is that we be allowed to stay here.

WOOLSEY There is so much that we can learn from you. And in return, we can offer supplies, manpower, the kind of support you'll need to restore Atlantis to its former glory.

HELIA The day will come when your people will once again have a place here. But that is not this day.

[Woolsey and O'Neill look away, disappointed.]

INT&mdash;WEIR'S OFFICE

[McKay, Weir, and Sheppard wait for the meeting to end.]

MCKAY You should be in there.

WEIR I don't know what I could say at this point that could make any difference.

SHEPPARD You're right. They want us out of here.

MCKAY But why? There may be a hundred or so of them? I mean, they could use us, they might even need us.

SHEPPARD What if you were forced from your home by a war, only to return to find someone on your couch, eating your Cheetos, watching your TV?

MCKAY (squirming uncomfortably) I'd be fine with that.

SHEPPARD No, you wouldn't.

[Woolsey and O'Neill approach and enter the office.]

SHEPPARD How go the talks, sir?

O'NEILL No talks. Listening is what we did.

WOOLSEY It was, essentially, a transitional meeting. They needed to know how much time we needed to vacate the city.

[O'Neill adjusts his collar.]

O'NEILL I said forty-eight hours, unless you need more.

WEIR (quietly) No. That should be enough.

MCKAY What? That's it? We're just gonna take this lying down? We rescued them!

WOOLSEY And they're immensely grateful.

MCKAY Yeah, well, they're not showing it!

WOOLSEY From their point of view, Dr. McKay, they're being extremely generous. Keep in mind, that when they left Atlantis, we were basically a hunter-gatherer species.

MCKAY Well, did you remind them if we hadn't hunted and gathered them out of the void between galaxies, they would still be stuck there?!

SHEPPARD (under his breath) We should've left them out there.

WOOLSEY I know you feel as though you're losing the city.

WEIR This isn't just about losing a city, Richard. I mean, this is about losing an opportunity to talk with, and learn from, living, breathing Ancients!

WOOLSEY They are willing, over time, to let us back in the city. Just not right now. That way we get all the benefit of Atlantis with very little of the risks&mdash;or expense.

O'NEILL Yeah, it's not like we don't have our own galaxy to worry about. (to Sheppard) Colonel, I'd like you to supervise the withdrawal.

SHEPPARD (coming to attention) Yes, sir.

O'NEILL Go ahead.

[Woolsey, Sheppard, and McKay depart. O'Neill steps close to Weir.]

O'NEILL Can I talk to you for a moment?

[He turns to make sure no one else can overhear.]

O'NEILL I didn't want to say this in front of McKay, because I know he'd want the job.

WEIR What job?

O'NEILL The Ancients are willing to leave someone behind, as a liaison, a kind of a&hellip;ambassador if you will.

WEIR (excited) You know I would be more than happy to&mdash;

O'NEILL (interrupting) It's not gonna be you.

WEIR (fuming) Tell me someone who's more qualified for that job!

O'NEILL I can't. But the IOA wants Woolsey.

WEIR Woolsey?!

O'NEILL Yeah. To paraphrase the Ancients, they think you won't be able to&hellip;let go.

WEIR So they're going to just shut us out after everything we've done here?!

O'NEILL (nodding sympathetically) I know. Look, you've done a helluva job here. I am sorry it's ending this way.

WEIR I suppose&hellip;I can take comfort in the fact that&hellip;out of all the ways this expedition could've ended, this is definitely not the worst.

[O'Neill shakes her hand.]

WEIR Thank you.

[O'Neill leaves Weir to contemplate things in her office.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;SHEPPARD'S QUARTERS

[Sheppard packs up his personal belongings. Ronon knocks on the open doorway, and he and Teyla enter.]

SHEPPARD Hey. You guys all packed up?

RONON (shrugging) I really don't have that much stuff.

SHEPPARD (chuckling) Right.

TEYLA Most of my belongings are already with my people.

SHEPPARD How's that going, by the way? Are the, um, Ancients allowing the Athosians to stay on the mainland?

TEYLA (hesitantly) They have found a suitable planet for us to relocate to&mdash;one with our own Stargate.

SHEPPARD How'd that go down?

TEYLA It was not the homecoming of the Ancestors my people envisioned.

[Sheppard sighs in commiseration, then looks at his belongings.]

SHEPPARD You guys want any of this stuff? Johnny Cash poster? Skateboard? Suduko books?

[Ronon and Teyla exchange looks. Sheppard shifts awkwardly. He steps over the bed to get closer to them, then sits on it.]

SHEPPARD You know you guys are welcome to come back with us, right?

TEYLA My place is with my people.

RONON And I can't leave this galaxy until every last Wraith is dead.

SHEPPARD Well, I just had to say it out loud.

TEYLA You too should know that we would be honored if you decided to stay with us, John.

SHEPPARD Yeah, well I think the Air Force has got other plans for me.

TEYLA We also just had to say it out loud.

SHEPPARD Right&hellip;Well, this sucks.

RONON Yeah.

SHEPPARD I'm not&hellip;I'm not&hellip;I'm not good at&hellip;goodbyes.

TEYLA Our paths will cross again, John Sheppard. Of that, I am sure.

SHEPPARD Well before our paths uncross&hellip;could you give me a hand with these boxes? I-I'll throw in pizza and some beer and&hellip;

TEYLA Popcorn?

SHEPPARD And popcorn. For the&hellip;

[Sheppard is interrupted by Ronon grabbing him in a bear hug and lifting him out of the way.]

SHEPPARD (breathless) Oh my god.

[They all laugh as they begin to move the containers.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS SCIENCE LAB

[Zelenka, McKay, and Beckett are amongst the personnel packing up computers and various equipment.]

ZELENKA Well, I was offered a position at Masurik University right before I came here. I imagine I could work there if I wanted to. What about you, Carson?

BECKETT Well, they offered me a surgery position at Stargate Command. (to McKay) You?

MCKAY I don't know. Area 51, I guess. Tool around with as much of the database as we're able to bring back with us.

ZELENKA You know, in a way, I look forward to focusing on a single problem for a while. Being continually pulled off of research to put out fires can be&hellip;you know, frustrating.

MCKAY Eh, I suppose so. I just don't know how many times I'm gonna be asked to, uh, "save the day at the eleventh hour" at Area 51.

BECKETT Oh, I'm sure it will come up.

MCKAY Yeah, not as often as I'd like.

BECKETT Well, I must admit, it's been a pleasure working with you both. In fact, out of all the people&hellip;

[Beckett becomes overcome with emotion and can't continue.]

MCKAY You are not tearing up on me, are you? Oh he is, he's tearing up.

ZELENKA I know.

BECKETT (annoyed) Now you've ruined it.

MCKAY (insincerely) Oh, I'm sorry.

BECKETT I was just about to say something!

[Beckett angrily packs up the rest of his items.]

MCKAY Well, it's not like we not gonna see each other at the 'gate!

BECKETT No. Of course not. I don't know what I was thinking.

[He slams the case shut and begins to rush out.]

MCKAY (calling after him) What was it?

[Beckett pauses.]

BECKETT What?

MCKAY What you were going to say. Just say it. Now I'm curious.

[Beckett turns around.]

BECKETT I was going to say&hellip;Goodbye, Rodney.

[He leaves as Zelenka quietly waves. McKay watches Beckett go.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

INT&mdash;WEIR'S QUARTERS

[Weir packs up books. The door signal chimes. She goes to answer it. Sheppard is outside with a clipboard in his hands.]

WEIR Colonel!

SHEPPARD Doctor.

WEIR Come in.

[She gestures him inside.]

SHEPPARD Well, we are way ahead of schedule. Ready to head out at 0800. Daedalus is gonna take most of the gear. People and their odds and ends will make their way through the Stargate thanks to the Ancients' new ZPM.

WEIR Good&hellip;I guess. You're taking this rather well.

SHEPPARD Actually, I'm pissed. For one thing, I'm only a quarter of the way through War and Peace.

WEIR I can't imagine what I can possibly do for a living now.

SHEPPARD Every government in the world's going to offer you a job.

WEIR Yeah, but&hellip;not like this.

[She gestures around her.]

SHEPPARD (teasingly) Yeah, you're right. It's all downhill from here. You've peaked.

[Weir gives a small smile.]

SHEPPARD "Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death."

WEIR (puzzled) Oscar Wilde?

SHEPPARD The Princess Bride. Good movie.

WEIR Hmm.

[They stand looking at each other awkwardly.]

SHEPPARD You gonna be ready to head out at 0800?

WEIR Yeah, yeah I should be. You?

SHEPPARD Just one or two&mdash;hundred things to do. I'll see you at the 'gate.

[Sheppard leaves. Weir sees a light from her window. She goes to look at the moon shining over the city.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[The Stargate is active. Personnel depart. McKay stands speaking to Helia at the control room.]

MCKAY Grounding station on the south pier's a bit twitchy. It got shot up. Wasn't our fault. You need to look at that.

HELIA I'm sure we'll find our way, Doctor.

MCKAY No, I'm sure you will, but um, you should also, uh&hellip;

WEIR (calling from below) Rodney.

[McKay looks down to see Weir, Sheppard, Teyla, Beckett, and Ronon waiting for him. Beckett jerks his head for McKay to join them.]

MCKAY Uh, right. Yes, well&hellip;I gotta go.

[He heads down to join the others.]

TEYLA You have been good friends, to all the people of this galaxy.

[Sheppard approaches and he and Teyla touch foreheads in the Athosian manner.]

TEYLA Farewell.

SHEPPARD Take care.

[Helia watches as the team gets ready to leave. Teyla and Ronon head back down a corridor.]

MCKAY (to Teyla) Bye. (to others) Hi.

[Beckett, McKay, and Sheppard step through the Stargate. Weir pauses and looks back at the room, taking it all in before she leaves.]

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAY

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

[Sheppard helps Wallace limp down the ramp from the active Stargate, the rest of the SG team behind him. He is dressed in green SG team BDUs, but wears no patches.]

WALLACE Ow!

SHEPPARD Get your damn weight off your foot, you'll be fine.

[Wallace is handed over to medical staff who hustle him out of the room. Landry stands at the base of the ramp. Babbis looks very wet.]

LANDRY Tell me you didn't engage the Ori, Colonel.

SHEPPARD We didn't engage the Ori, sir. Babbis here was inspecting some curious fauna when he discovered the ground underneath him wasn't stable. He fell twenty feet into a babbling brook. Wallace there was trying to help him get back up when he lost his footing, and&hellip;broke his ankle.

LANDRY I see.

SHEPPARD I never thought I'd miss Rodney McKay being a member of my team.

LANDRY Well, chemistry doesn't happen overnight. We'll debrief as soon as Wallace is out of the infirmary.

SHEPPARD Yes, sir.

[The Stargate begins to activate. The team moves off the ramp and begins to head out.]

HARRIMAN (over intercom) Offworld activation.

LANDRY Hold on, Colonel. You may get a kick out of this. This should be General O'Neill on his scheduled check-in from Atlantis.

[Sheppard follows Landry up to the control room.]

SHEPPARD He went back, sir?

LANDRY Uh, Woolsey needed a little back-up. Apparently the Ancients find him a bit trying. Heh. Imagine that.

SHEPPARD (smirking) Hmm.

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

[Woolsey and O'Neill appear on a monitor. Sheppard and Landry stand in front of it.]

O'NEILL General!

LANDRY General!

O'NEILL Is that Sheppard there with you?

SHEPPARD Yes, sir.

WOOLSEY Talks are proceeding at an acceptable pace. But the real news is that the Pegasus Replicators are heading back to Atlantis to make another run at the city.

SHEPPARD They are?

O'NEILL No one here seems to be that worried about it.

LANDRY Why not?

O'NEILL They're Ancients!

WOOLSEY Apparently these Replicators have a law in their base code that makes it impossible for them to harm their creators.

SHEPPARD (biting his lip) And they're expecting to find us.

O'NEILL According to Helia, they're gonna run into some kind of nasty surprise.

WOOLSEY So you can pass it on to Doctor McKay that if you and he hadn't rescued the Ancients and returned Atlantis to their care&hellip;

SHEPPARD Might've lost the city anyway.

O'NEILL Right. Well, we should get back to our talks&hellip;and talks and talks. O'Neill out.

[The wormhole connection shuts down, closing off Woolsey and O'Neill's communication.]

SHEPPARD Sir, I'd be happy to talk to you more about these Replicator guys..?

LANDRY Nah, it sounds like they've got everything under control.

[Landry walks away.]

SHEPPARD (diappointed) Yes, sir. I guess they do.

INT&mdash;SHEPPARD'S OFFICE, SGC

[Sheppard plays darts, missing the dart board at times, while speaking to McKay on a hands free telephone.]

MCKAY (over phone) I hate it here.

SHEPPARD How is that possible?

INT&mdash;AREA 51

[McKay stands near an observation window where a large turbine and/or reactor can be seen. He is speaking to Sheppard on his cellular phone.]

MCKAY It's true!

SHEPPARD (over phone) Look, they gave you everything you wanted.

INT&mdash;SHEPPARD'S OFFICE

[NOTE: The rest of the conversation interchanges between McKay and Sheppard's locations.]

[Sheppard moves over to his desk and sits down, toying with a model F-302.]

SHEPPARD (continuing) Your own lab.

MCKAY Yeah, it's too big.

SHEPPARD Hand-picked assistants.

MCKAY Yeah, sycophants, every one of them.

SHEPPARD Even your own choice of projects.

MCKAY Well, that's not true.

SHEPPARD Well, other than going back to Atlantis, I mean.

MCKAY (sighing) You know, the truth is, I&hellip;

SHEPPARD What?

MCKAY Yeah, I don't-I don't want to use the term "lonely," But, uh, there are certain people who&hellip;I miss.

SHEPPARD Me?

MCKAY (scoffing) You?! You I'm talking with on the phone right now and having dinner with tomorrow, so, not so much. But other people, people who I may never see again&hellip;like even Elizabeth. She doesn't return any of my calls.

SHEPPARD I know what you mean.

MCKAY (sighing again) Hey, at least you still get to go off-world with a team of your own.

SHEPPARD (sarcastically) Oh, yeah, the best and the brightest. All right, I'll see you tomorrow night.

MCKAY Yeah, wouldn't miss it. Hey, you know I&hellip;

[Sheppard hangs up. McKay lowers his phone.]

MCKAY Yeah.

INT&mdash;WEIR'S APARTMENT, COLORADO SPRINGS

[Weir sits in her cluttered living room. Pizza boxes and takeout containers are scattered everywhere. She is dressed in sweats, her hair uncomed and writing furiously. There is a knock at the door. She gets up and looks out the peep hole. She takes a deep breath, bracing herself and opens the door. Beckett is outside.]

WEIR Carson.

BECKETT Hello, Elizabeth.

WEIR Well, this is a surprise.

BECKETT Well, you didn't return my messages, so I thought I'd just stop by.

WEIR Oh. Yeah, sorry about that. Come in.

BECKETT Thank you.

[Beckett enters and takes in the state of the living room. Embarrassed, Weir starts picking up stray items.]

WEIR Oh, excuse the mess. I wasn't really expecting company.

BECKETT Oh, please, I'm from a family of seven. Our home was never this clean. You look good.

WEIR Uh, well, thanks for lying. How is the SGC treating you?

BECKETT It's only been six weeks, so I'm still settling in. But it's good. Interesting work. Kind people.

[Weir starts piling the takeout containers.]

WEIR Good. That's good.

BECKETT How about you?

WEIR Oh, you know. Keeping busy.

BECKETT Oh, yeah? Doing what?

WEIR I've been doing a bit of writing, uh, working on my memoirs.

BECKETT Your memoirs? About your time in Atlantis?

WEIR Yeah, somewhat.

BECKETT And on what planet did you expect to publish it?

WEIR I supposed it's for posterity as much as anything else&hellip;and for me. I'm just trying to get it straight in my own head. It all went by so fast, you know?

BECKETT Aye, that it did.

[He steps closer.]

BECKETT Elizabeth, we're all a bit worried about you.

WEIR (nervously scoffing) You're worried about me? Why?

BECKETT Well, you don't return phone calls, and the few times that you've ran into people, they say you seemed distant.

WEIR I'm just&hellip;I'm just trying to move on.

BECKETT By writing your memoirs?

[Weir looks down. Beckett sits in front of her.]

BECKETT Elizabeth&hellip;why haven't you taken another position?

WEIR The SGC has asked me to consult with the IOA and Homeworld Securities with the ongoing conversations with the Ancients.

BECKETT You don't need to be here for that. You could easily take another position and consult them from a secure phone line.

WEIR I guess I'm just not ready yet.

BECKETT Look, Rodney's flying in tomorrow. John and I are taking him for dinner. You should come.

WEIR Tomorrow? Oh gosh, tomorrow I&hellip;

BECKETT I'll pick you up at seven.

[He taps her on the leg and leaves. Weir watches him go with a small smile.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Woolsey, O'Neill, Helia and others watch an Ancient holographic monitor indicating a large ship. A smaller vessel approaches it.]

WOOLSEY That seems like a pretty big ship. You're sure only sending one jumper up to fend it off is the right thing to do?

HELIA (smiling) It is impossible for them to harm us.

O'NEILL I could use some enemies like that.

JUMPER PILOT (over comm) We have established communications, Commander.

HELIA (into comm) This is Commander Helia. The city you are approaching is once again under Lantian control. Stand down and return to your planet immediately, or you will be&hellip;

[The monitor shows the jumper destroyed.]

WOOLSEY I thought you said they couldn't harm you!

HELIA Raise the shield!

[The city is rocked by a weapon's blast.]

INT&mdash;RESTAURANT, COLORADO SPRINGS

[Sheppard, Weir, Beckett, and McKay enjoy their dinners.]

SHEPPARD You should call her.

MCKAY (agreeing) Hmm.

BECKETT Who? Cadman?

[Sheppard nods.]

WEIR (smiling) You guys did make a cute couple.

BECKETT It didn't work out. It may have something to do with our first kiss being through Rodney.

[McKay drops his spoon.]

MCKAY Oh, I thought we made a solemn vow never to speak of that again.

BECKETT (grinning) I remember no such thing.

WEIR You know what? It's getting late.

SHEPPARD Since when do you sleep?

WEIR Mmm. Since I got back. I've had a lot of catching up to do. But it's-it's been lovely seeing all of you again. Thank you for getting me out.

[She pats Beckett on the arm.]

SHEPPARD Well, we should thank you. You're taking us to dinner, right?

WEIR (with sly grin) Cheeky.

[She reaches for her purse. Suddenly cell phones begin to ring around the table.]

SHEPPARD (into phone) Sheppard.

MCKAY (into phone) McKay.

[Weir digs her phone out of her purse. The caller I.D. reads NORAD.]

WEIR Hello?

[Beckett feels his pockets.]

BECKETT I didn't bring my bloody cell phone with me. What's happened?

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[The foursome now sit around the briefing room table. Landry walks around them holding a remote.]

LANDRY We got this databurst about twenty minutes ago.

[He keys the remote. A very fuzzy image of O'Neill and Woolsey in the Atlantis control room appears.]

O'NEILL (on recording) Atlantis is under attack from replicators! Somehow, they've figured out how to override their programming. The Ancients were taken off-guard and have lost most of the city already. Request immediate evacuation!

[Behind him, Woolsey fires a pistol.]

WOOLSEY They're coming!

O'NEILL Gah!

[The transmission abruptly terminates. Everyone stares in shock.]

LANDRY They never made it to the 'gate. I was informed they had a law written into their base code that made it impossible for them to harm the Ancients. How the hell did this happen?

[Everyone looks at McKay.]

MCKAY It is&hellip;remotely possible that in trying to rewrite Niam's base code, I&mdash;we may have opened the door for them to make other changes?

LANDRY You did this?!

WEIR At the time, we thought it was the only possible way to save the city.

SHEPPARD How it happened doesn't matter. They may have changed it on their own. The question is, how do we fix it?

LANDRY That's why I called you in. I have my orders. The Daedalus is already on its way. Now what I need from you is&hellip;what's the best way to get a nuke past the shield?

[He pulls up a schematic of Atlantis on the monitor screen. Everyone looks at each other.]

BECKETT Well, I have no idea.

LANDRY I didn't call you in, Doctor.

WEIR You're going to use nuclear weapons on Atlantis?!

LANDRY It's the gateway to Earth!

MCKAY And we have an iris.

LANDRY Yes, we do. But thanks to your intergalactic gate bridge, all they have to do is rewrite your macro, and they can come out anywhere in the Milky Way!

MCKAY Yeah, but those macros are very complicated.

LANDRY They are very complicated, Doctor McKay. They just rewrote their own damn base code! I think they can handle it.

SHEPPARD Sir, General O'Neill and Woolsey may still be alive. Now, I know the city like the back of my hand. Just give me sixty marines and-and some of Colonel Carter's new, um&hellip;

MCKAY Anti-replicator weapons.

SHEPPARD Yeah, those things.

LANDRY (resolute) I'm sorry, Colonel. I have standing orders. They happen to be General O'Neill's standing orders. The Daedalus will be there in a little under four days. Now how do I get a nuke past their shield.

INT&mdash;SHEPPARD'S OFFICE

[Weir, Beckett, McKay and Sheppard are all in the office.]

BECKETT Now, those replicator thingamajigies you're talking about&hellip;

SHEPPARD Let's just call them ARGs.

MCKAY They're energy weapons. They disrupt the link between the nanite cells. The Replicators literally fall apart when you fire on them.

SHEPPARD You know, uh, hypothetically, Teyla and Ronon would be more than willing to help&hellip;if we asked.

WEIR We would need to gate into Atlantis. All they need to do to keep us out is activate the 'gate shield.

MCKAY Well, I did write a backdoor to the shield program. Couple years ago when Kolya stormed the city? So, I mean, it could "hypothetically" let us get into the Gate Room.

WEIR General Landry was worried about the Replicators rewriting the bridge macro to 'gate them somewhere else in the Milky Way. Does that mean you could change the macro? Take us somewhere else in Pegasus?

SHEPPARD Somewhere like, uh&hellip;just talking here, uh,&hellip;the Athosian settlement where Teyla and Ronon are?

MCKAY (inspired) We'd need a jumper!

SHEPPARD (snapping his fingers) And, uh, some of those ARGs.

WEIR And&hellip;someone to make sure Landry doesn't close the iris on us.

MCKAY Hmm.

WEIR Hypothetically.

BECKETT Of course.

[Sheppard nods.]

INT&mdash;SGC LEVEL 19 CORRIDOR

[McKay and Weir walk down the corridor.]

MCKAY The jumper is in its storage area under guard. We need for one of us to be added to the authorized personnel list, and there's only one guy who can do that.

WEIR You?

MCKAY (confused) No. Why'd you think I was going to say me?

WEIR I don't know. It seemed like you were leading up to it.

MCKAY No, sadly, Dr. Lee's been the one heading up the jumper research project because they refuse to send it to Area 51 for me. But, um, I think I should be able to able to add one of our key cards to the authorized personnel list, but, um, I have to do that from his office.

WEIR So?

MCKAY Well, he's in his office. So you need to distract him.

WEIR Me? How?

MCKAY Well, here's what I'm thinking&hellip;

INT&mdash;LEE'S LAB

[Weir stands by Lee. McKay stands further back by Lee's computer.]

LEE (excited) I got to say, I have never met a woman this into World of Warcraft. I&hellip;

[They look back at McKay, who smiles. Weir grins with false brightness.]

WEIR It's a silent passion of mine.

LEE (nodding sagely) As it is with all of us. I'm uh, Level 75, mage, specializing in engineering and jewelling. You?

[While Lee and Weir speak, McKay turns to the computer and starts to type, shifting the screen so Lee can't see it.]

WEIR Oh, wow, Level 75. Me, I'm only&hellip;fifty.

[Weir moves so Lee is completely back to McKay. Weir watches McKay. He whirls his hand to give him more time.]

LEE Ah, well, I had the beta of the expansion pack, so I sorta had a leg up on most people. What's your race?

[Weir glances at McKay. He gives a signal for her to stretch out the conversation.]

WEIR Mage.

LEE You know I-I'm trying to increase my enchanter skills, but, uh&hellip;I don't know. It's just not going very well.

WEIR Oh, I disagree, Bill.

LEE What?

[Weir shrugs flirtatiously.]

LEE Oh! Uh, Rodney&hellip;

[He begins to turn around. McKay looks up, panicked. Weir reaches out to keep Lee facing her, brushing down his lab coat.]

WEIR I-I don't mean&hellip;I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so&hellip;forward.

LEE No, no, no. Be forward. I'm&hellip;

[They both chuckle nervously. McKay gets back to typing, replacing Nirman, Wallace with his own name.]

WEIR Well, oh, I, look, I&hellip;I'm&hellip;not quite sure how exactly I should put this.

LEE A true mage speaks his mind, or, her mind, in your case.

[McKay sets the computer screen back where it was.]

MCKAY (loudly) Wow! Will you look at the time. Where does it go, huh?

[Lee turns around blankly. Weir slouches in relief.]

LEE What?

MCKAY Uh, we're late, we should&hellip;um, book. We'll see you, Bill!

[He hurries out. Weir follows.]

WEIR Bye, Bill!

[A confused Lee watches them leave.]

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR

[The Atlantis group is all geared up and heading down the corridor. They suddenly meet up with Wallace, who's moving slowly on crutches.]

SHEPPARD Wallace. What are you doing here?

WALLACE General Landry wanted to talk to me about reassignment.

SHEPPARD (wincing) Oh, right. Sorry about that.

WALLACE Are you already going on missions without me, or&hellip;?

[Beckett lays a comforting hand on Wallace's shoulder. Sheppard moves past to check the corridor behind them is empty.]

BECKETT You should really stay off of that ankle, son.

WALLACE Yeah, well when General Landry says now, it's now.

SHEPPARD Sorry about this, too.

[He primes a zat and fires it at Wallace. He helps lower the stunned Wallace gently to the floor. Beckett takes the crutches away. They drag him into the armory.]

SHEPPARD Can't afford to have him tell Landry he ran into us.

INT&mdash;JUMPER STORAGE AREA

[The team approach and hide on the side. Sheppard looks in the front window, seeing only Siler working on the cargo bay. He heads towards the back of the jumper, readying his zat. He shoots Siler, knocking him unconscious.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD Let's move!

[He heads to the cockpit. The others join him, Beckett and Weir dragging Siler outside. McKay uses a computer outside to interface with the SGC dialing computer, dialing the intergalactic bridge.]

MCKAY You set?

SHEPPARD Go for it!

[McKay joins the others inside the jumper.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[The Stargate begins to spin and dial an outgoing wormhole. Harriman looks at his instruments in puzzlement.]

HARRIMAN What the hell? (into intercom) General Landry to the control room immediately!

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY Okay, they're going to be able to get through my hack pretty quickly.

SHEPPARD That's all right. I don't need much time.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Landry arrives.]

LANDRY What's going on?

HARRIMAN I don't know, sir. The 'gate just started dialing on its own.

LANDRY It doesn't do that.

HARRIMAN (annoyed) I know that, sir.

[The jumper lowers into the Gate Room.]

LANDRY Close the iris!

HARRIMAN I can't, sir.

LANDRY Find a way, Walter. (into microphone) Colonel Sheppard, stand down! That is a direct order.

[The jumper flies through the active wormhole, and the Stargate shuts down.]

HARRIMAN Do you want me to&hellip;try to find out where they're going, sir?

LANDRY Don't bother. I already know.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The jumper sits inside the partially constructed station between the two galaxies.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[They wait while Rodney works on the macro on his computer.]

BECKETT My turtles!

WEIR What?

BECKETT I just bought some wee baby turtles, and no one knows to feed them.

WEIR Well, turtles are pretty hardy. I'm sure they'll be fine.

SHEPPARD And they make good soup.

[Beckett looks nonplussed at Sheppard's statement.]

BECKETT Well, I figure I'm back for good, so I might as well get a pet. And, I'm allergic to cats, and uh&hellip;well, I'm at work too long to be fair to a dog, so I went with turtles. I probably killed them.

SHEPPARD Anytime now, McKay.

MCKAY Oh trust me, I am going as fast as I can.

BECKETT Poor little buggers.

[The HUD comes to life. Sheppard studies it.]

SHEPPARD The Milky Way 'gate just activated. Did you do that?

[Landry appears on the HUD.]

MCKAY Nope.

LANDRY (over transmission) Colonel Sheppard. I'm going to assume that you're still at the midway station waiting for Doctor McKay to rewrite his macro. I understand what you're doing, Colonel. Hell, I'll even call it brave, but if you don't turn that ship around immediately and come back to the SGC, I'll see to it personally that your career in the military is&mdash;

[Sheppard, who's looked uncomfortable all the while. Reaches out and shuts down the transmission. Everyone looks at him. He shrugs.]

SHEPPARD That way I won't know what he was gonna say.

MCKAY Okay! Okay, I've got it.

SHEPPARD All right, last chance to change our minds.

[Everyone looks back at Sheppard with determined expressions.]

SHEPPARD All right, let's do it.

WORMHOLE EFFECT

[There are intermittent flashes of orange light during the extended wormhole passage.]

INT&mdash;ATHOSIAN TENT

[Ladon sits across a table from Teyla and Ronon.]

LADON I knew you would never come to me, so I thought I would come to you. Our relationship has been&hellip;strained. But we need to put all that behind us, now.

RONON We do?

LADON Well, your friends have all returned home, and you've been asked to leave Atlantis. So the question is, what will you do next?

TEYLA We are helping my people rebuild this settlement.

LADON Yes, but the settlement seems finished. Besides, is carpentry and clearing brush really the best use of your skills.

TEYLA Get to the point.

LADON Come work with me.

[Ronon scoffs.]

LADON I understand your reluctance. In the past, the Genii have hardly been the shining beacon of hope in the galaxy.

RONON In the past?

LADON We are growing stronger every day. And we have a number of operations planned that could seriously cripple the Wraith.

TEYLA What do you have in mind?

LADON Well, I am of course reluctant to go into specific details here. But suffice it to say, the plans are dangerous, and in need of your unique abilities.

RONON We're not interested.

LADON Well, that's too bad, although not entirely surprising. Give it some time, Ronon. I wonder how much joy you'll find as a tava-bean farmer.

EXT&mdash;ATHOSIAN CAMP, NIGHT

[Teyla and Ronon leave the tent and stand over a campfire. A pot of stew hangs cooking over it.]

RONON I'm not gonna start working for the Genii!

TEYLA We would not be working for them, merely&hellip;with them.

[She doesn't look convinced herself.]

RONON Forget it.

TEYLA Since Atlantis was returned to the Ancestors, the Genii are the most powerful and organized group of humans fighting the Wraith.

[Ronon studies her.]

RONON The Ancestors will do something.

TEYLA True. But they neither need, nor have they requested our help. The Genii have.

[Ronon grimaces.]

TEYLA I know that you are anxious to return to the fight, but&hellip;my people are farmers!

RONON Maybe this isn't the place for me then.

SHEPPARD That smells great!

[Teyla and Ronon spin around. They see Sheppard, McKay, Weir and Beckett entering the camp, smiling at them.]

SHEPPARD Hope you saved some for us.

TEYLA (elated) John?! It is wonderful to see you&mdash;all of you!

WEIR And you.

[Sheppard points to the pot.]

SHEPPARD We missed that&hellip;whatever that is.

[Ronon has gotten over his surprise and studies the team.]

RONON Something's wrong.

[Teyla turns back, studying the others, concerned.]

INT&mdash;TENT

[Everyone is standing around inside the tent. McKay distributes ARGs.]

MCKAY They emit a directional energy beam that disrupts the connection between nanites.

RONON Not what I asked.

MCKAY Er, yes. They work good.

[Ronon practices aiming his gun.]

RONON Good. So you need us because, uh, we know our way around the city?

SHEPPARD I need you because you're part of our team.

TEYLA There may be hundreds of Replicators on Atlantis by now.

SHEPPARD We've got a plan. A good one. I wouldn't ask you to come with us if I didn't think we could do it.

WEIR Also, General O'Neill and Richard Woolsey were both on Atlantis when the Replicators attacked. There is a chance they're still alive.

SHEPPARD I'll be damned if I'm going to let a bunch of Replicators take our home away from us. So&hellip;you with us?

[Ronon and Teyla exchange looks then smile at Sheppard. Sheppard nods and smiles.]

EXT&mdash;NEW ATHOS STARGATE, NIGHT

[The puddle jumper hovers by the Stargate.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[McKay, Beckett, Teyla, Ronon, Weir and Sheppard are all inside.]

MCKAY Okay, I think I've loaded up the GDO. It'll lower the shield when we dial.

SHEPPARD Go for it.

MCKAY All right. Dialing Atlantis.

[Her nervously presses the dialing buttons.]

MCKAY And&hellip;

[The Stargate activates.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE AND CONTROL ROOM

[The Stargate kawhooshes. The Asuran Replicators are startled. Several go down to man the Gate Room.]

TALUS What's happening? Activate the shield.

[Cetus works some controls.]

CETUS I can't.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY That's confirmation. Gate shield has been lowered.

SHEPPARD I hope this little plan of ours works.

MCKAY Yeah, you and me both.

EXT&mdash;NEW ATHOS STARGATE, NIGHT

[The puddle jumper flies through the active wormhole.]

WORMHOLE EFFECT

FADE OUT

TO BE CONTINUED

END CREDITS

Related Articles

 * Previous: Phantoms/Transcript
 * Next: The Return Part 2/Transcript