Ex Deus Machina/Transcript

Episode Guide

 * Ex Deus Machina" Episode Guide

Previously
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE

EXCERPT FROM 9.03 "ORIGIN"

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

[Gerak and his entourage come through the Stargate as Teal'c and Landry stand at the bottom of the ramp.]

EXCERPT FROM 9.01 "AVALON PART 1"

INT&mdash;LANDRY'S OFFICE

TEAL'C Gerak emerged as spokesperson for the more traditional ways of the Jaffa High Council.

LANDRY (sitting) Which he could control.

EXCERPT FROM 8.10 "ENDGAME"

INT&mdash;OSIRIS'S SHIP

[Jennings loads symbiote poison into a missile. The missile launches into an active Stargate.]

VOICEOVER FROM 8.10 "ENDGAME"

CARTER It's symbiote poison&hellip;

EXCERPT FROM 8.14 "FULL ALERT"

INT&mdash;SGC OPERATIONS ROOM

CARTER The Trust launched at least two poison attacks against Goa'uld occupied worlds after we took back the gate. That means they had to leave the relatively safe confines of the solar system and head out into the galaxy, where they ran the risk of being killed or&hellip;captured.

CHEKOV You think they have been taken as hosts, then sent back to Earth?

CARTER Any Goa'uld who got his hands on them would have discovered pretty quickly that they belonged to a top secret organization with high level connections to some of the most powerful governments and institutions on this planet. By now, the entire Trust could have been taken over.

[Interspersed through Carter's monologue are visual excerpts of&hellip;]

EXCERPT FROM 8.10 "ENDGAME"

EXT&mdash;JAFFA PLANET, DAY

[Teal'c and M'zel pick their way across a field of dead Jaffa sprawled near the Stargate.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Osiris/Trust ship launches into hyperspace.]

EXCERPTS FROM 6.14 "SMOKE AND MIRRORS"

INT&mdash;TRUST CONFERENCE ROOM

[Carter wearing a Devlin mimic device approaches the conference table where high level members of the Trust sit.]

INT&mdash;HOSPITAL ROOM

[Devlin wearing a Davis mimic device screws a silencer onto a handgun while standing by Kinsey's bedside.]

END EXCERPTS

TEASER

EXT&mdash;WOODS, NIGHT

[A Jaffa in full armor runs through the woods. He stumbles and falls, but gets back up and continues to run, clearly being chased by someone or something. He reaches a road and is immediately struck by a pick-up truck, which screeches to a stop. He falls off the hood and onto the ground. Two men get out and stare at the fallen Jaffa in surprise.]

OPENING CREDITS

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Landry, Daniel, Mitchell and Teal'c sit at the table. Daniel passes copies of 8x10 autopsy photographs of the dead Jaffa to the others.]

DANIEL The body was discovered this morning in a remote road off Interstate 77 in Virginia. It was spotted by a passing motorist. Local authorities say he'd been dead about a day or so, probably the victim of a hit-and-run driver.

MITCHELL So what do we figure, this guy got lost and he was, uh, hitching a ride back to Chulak?

TEAL'C His presence on Earth is a mystery to me.

DANIEL He was found literally in the middle of nowhere, about three miles north of a little town of Edison, population three thousand and twelve.

[Daniel passes the rest of the report to Landry, who skims it.]

TEAL'C The symbol on his forehead indicates that he was a servant of Lord Yu, many of whom now follow Gerak.

LANDRY Then Gerak might be able to shed some light on this.

TEAL'C I will speak to him.

LANDRY Very well. Colonel Mitchell, you're with Teal'c. Doctor Jackson, I want you to dig up all the information you can on Edison, Virginia. Colonel Carter will join you as soon as she's settled in.

[Landry gets up and leaves, while Mitchell stands at attention.]

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAY

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR

[Carter pushes a dolly loaded with boxes down the hall. As she dodges a maintenance worker, she loses control of the dolly for a moment. Daniel, carrying a newspaper, sees her and moves to help.]

DANIEL Whoa, Sam, hey, come on, let me, let me give you a hand.

[He takes control of the heavy dolly and moves it down the hall. Carter walks next to him.]

CARTER Thank you. So, uh, General Landry briefed me on the circumstances surrounding our mystery Jaffa.

DANIEL Yeah, I think I've got something on that.

[Daniel hands her the newspaper he has crumpled in his hand. It is a copy of the Richmond Daily Tribune. The center headline is "Farrow-Marshall shuts down Edison Plant." The photograph above the headline shows the plant covered with the word "CLOSED" written in big letters across it.]

CARTER Farrow-Marshall?

DANIEL Yeah, you, uh, familiar with them?

CARTER They're an aeronautics firm headquartered in Bethesda. The Department of Defense is their biggest client.

DANIEL Yeah, turns out that their plant in Virginia employed about eight hundred residents of Edison until it closed down six months ago. Now, it's located just outside of town and about a mile and a half from where our dead Jaffa turned up.

CARTER Really?

INT&mdash;CARTER'S LAB

[Daniel and Carter enter her lab and Daniel sets the dolly upright. Boxes, metal cases, and equipment are scattered throughout the room.]

CARTER Ah&hellip;pardon the mess. I'm still unpacking.

[She moves to her computer and starts typing. Daniel comes up behind her, reading the monitor screen over her shoulder.]

CARTER Uh&hellip;Farrow-Marshall. Let's see what they've been up to recently.

[Carter does a web search on "Intersearcher" and chooses an article. A screen pops up with a head shot photograph captioned "Alex Jameson, Vice President, Farrow-Marshall." The headline of the article reads "Farrow-Marshalll executive, Alex Jameson still missing."]

CARTER Here we go. Their chief financial officer went missing yesterday morning.

DANIEL Interesting timing.

CARTER Yeah. According to his wife, he left for a business meeting in Richmond, Virginia and never came back.

EXT&mdash;DAKARA, DAY

INT&mdash;DAKARA HIGH COUNCIL CHAMBER

[Jaffa council members sit at two curved tables that form a semi-circle. A small circular platform is on the floor between the two tables. Gerak stands on this platform giving a speech to the council.]

GERAK Make no mistake, brothers, the Tok'ra only wish to meet with us because they fear us. We defeated the Goa'uld and took their mother ships and strongholds. Now, we are our own masters.

KA'LEL (standing) I needn't remind the council that the Tok'ra did battle with the Goa'uld for just as many years. Their efforts were instrumental in securing our freedom.

GERAK Let us all be clear. The only motivation that the Tok'ra have is their own selfish needs, not to help any of us.

[Mitchell and Teal'c, the latter wearing Jaffa robes, enter the chamber behind Gerak. Ka'lel takes her seat. Teal'c heads down the staircase towards the center of the room as he begins to speak.]

TEAL'C (smirking) Then what do you suggest, Gerak? That we use our newfound strength to take what we want? That we emulate our former oppressors? Brothers and sisters, we finally have the opportunity to govern with authority and respect. Years ago, that seemed unthinkable. But now, we are in a position to help others who are in need of our support and guidance.

GERAK Why should we help them?

[Teal'c opens his mouth to respond, but Mitchell interjects.]

MITCHELL How about because it is the right thing to do?

[Gerak grimaces at Mitchell as he makes his way down the stairs. Teal'c gauges the reactions of the other council members.]

MITCHELL (continuing) Look, whatever your differences with the Tok'ra in the past, it's time to move on. Teal'c's right. You kicked ass; you're sitting pretty. Don't get hung up on&mdash;

[Teal'c interrupts Mitchell's momentum by stretching out his left arm, catching Mitchell across the chest.]

TEAL'C (muttering to Mitchell) Outsiders are not permitted to address the council.

MITCHELL (chastised) Never mind.

GERAK I caution you all, we have fought too long and too hard to entrust our future to the Tok'ra, or the Tau'ri for that matter.

KA'LEL (standing) Brothers and sisters, I suggest we bring this assembly to an end. Let us consider what we've discussed, and reconvene in the morning.

GERAK Very well.

[Gerak raises his arm as a signal to adjourn, and the council members stand and leave the chamber. Ka'lel and Teal'c exchange respectful nods before she leaves. Gerak heads towards the staircase. Teal'c stops him as he passes by.]

TEAL'C Gerak, a word.

[Gerak takes Teal'c by the arm and leads him a little further away from Mitchell.]

GERAK (chuckling with insincere pleasure) Teal'c, welcome back to Dakara. Your presence is sorely missed. What, uh&hellip;draws you away from your Tau'ri home?

TEAL'C A Jaffa was discovered on Earth&hellip;dead.

GERAK Oh, strange. But, uh, what has that got to do with me?

TEAL'C He was a servant of Lord Yu's, and I assumed a follower of yours.

[Mitchell holds up a photograph for Gerak to see. After a few moments, he takes the photo.]

GERAK Well, that may be, but, uh, I don't seem to recognize him. Nor&hellip;do I know what he's doing on Earth.

[An aide comes up and whispers something in Gerak's ear.]

GERAK My obligation to the Council requires my presence elsewhere. I'm sure you understand.

[He gives the picture back to Teal'c with a glare and follows his aide. Mitchell and Teal'c watch him leave.]

TEAL'C He is lying to us.

MITCHELL No kidding.

INT&mdash;COFFEE SHOP, BETHESDA, MARYLAND REGION

[Daniel, in civilian garb, carries two cups of coffee through a crowded restaurant, grabbing a creamer before sitting in a booth with Sheila Jameson.]

SHEILA JAMESON It was about six months ago when he started acting strangely.

[Daniel pours cream into his coffee.]

DANIEL What do you mean, "strangely"?

SHEILA JAMESON Cold. Distant. You've gotta understand, Alex has always been incredibly focused when it comes to his job. And at first I just assumed he had a lot on his plate. But after a couple of weeks, it became clear that it was more than that. I started to suspect he might be having an affair&hellip;so I hired a private investigator, and I had him followed.

DANIEL And&hellip;what did the investigator find out?

SHEILA JAMESON I'm not sure, exactly, but a couple of days after accepting the job, he quit, returned all of my money and strongly suggested that I drop the matter.

DANIEL He didn't offer you any kind of explanation?

SHEILA JAMESON No, but it was obvious he was scared. He did some surveillance in his first two days. These are the photos that he took.

[She hands Daniel an envelope full of black and white 8x10 photographs of various men. Daniel flips through them as Jameson continues talking.]

SHEILA JAMESON He asked for them back after a couple of days, uh, after he dropped the case, but I refused. I offered them to the police, but they didn't think the photos were pertinent to their investigation. My husband wasn't having an affair, but he was clearly involved in something that he wanted to keep secret.

DANIEL Do you mind if we hold on to these?

SHEILA JAMESON No, go ahead.

[Daniel studies a photograph of Alex Jameson standing by a car.]

INT&mdash;DAKARA DUNGEON

[Yat'yir looks contemptuously at someone chained by bloody wrists from the ceiling. Gerak and two Jaffa enter the room.]

GERAK He still refuses to speak?

YAT'YIR The prisoner is strong.

GERAK Then we must be stronger, Yat'yir.

[Gerak reaches back to one of the other Jaffa and grabs a pain stick. He activates it to check the charge. Yat'yir looks at him in surprise.]

YAT'YIR It was through instruments like this, we were oppressed.

GERAK Then, how appropriate would it be then, for it to be used to serve our cause.

[He approaches the prisoner, who is Alex Jameson. The man's face is bruised and bloodied, the dress shirt he wears, disheveled.]

GERAK (holding the pain stick up the Jameson's face) You will surrender your secrets. Of that, I am sure.

[Jameson's eyes glow. He is a Goa'uld.]

EXT&mdash;FARROW-MARSHALL HEADQUARTERS, BETHESDA, MD, DAY

INT&mdash;CONFERENCE ROOM, F-M HEADQUARTERS

[Carter paces a conference room in her class A uniform. Mayfield enters the conference room and greets her.]

MAYFIELD Colonel Carter? Charlotte Mayfield, V.P. here at Farrow-Marshall. How can I help you?

[They shake hands, and Mayfield motions for Carter to sit.]

CARTER I wanted to ask you a few questions about your plant in Virginia.

MAYFIELD It was shut down six months ago.

CARTER Officially, yes. But we went by to check it out, and it looked like it had been cleaned out very recently.

MAYFIELD I'm not sure what you're getting at.

CARTER Some of the residents of Edison claim they saw trucks traveling to and from the plant a couple of nights ago.

MAYFIELD They're mistaken.

CARTER So you're saying no one's been in the area for several months?

MAYFIELD (smiling insincerely) Well, I can't speak for the locals, but certainly no one from Farrow-Marshall would have any reason to go there.

CARTER How about Richmond?

[Mayfield shakes her head slightly with a blank look on her face.]

CARTER (copying Mayfield's fake smile) Anyone from Farrow-Marshall have reason to go there? (Mayfield blinks) According to his wife, Alex Jameson was on his way to Richmond, Virginia when he went missing.

MAYFIELD We've cooperated with the local authorities on Mr. Jameson's disappearance. You may want to consult with them.

CARTER Who was Mr. Jameson meeting with that day?

MAYFIELD I'm sorry. Company policy prevents me from discussing that with you.

CARTER Your CFO is missing. Now I would think that you would want to do everything within your power to help find him.

MAYFIELD Oh, I do. As I said, we're cooperating with the authorities. Now if you'll excuse me, I-I think we're done here.

[She walks to the door, and two large security men appear.]

MAYFIELD These gentlemen will show you out. If you have any further questions, feel free to fax them to the head office.

[The security forces enter the room as Carter stands.]

INT&mdash;SECURITY ROOM, F-M HEADQUARTERS

[Mayfield enters the security room and watches a monitor which shows Carter and her security escort leaving the building.]

MAYFIELD You can be sure that's not the end of it.

[Ba'al, wearing a suit and tie, sits on a sofa behind Mayfield.]

BA'AL Of course not. We've only just&hellip;begun.

[Ba'al's eyes glow.]

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR

[Daniel and Landry walk through a corridor on Level Three. Daniel passes some photographs from a file to Landry.]

DANIEL Now, I coordinated with Kerry Johnson in the CIA's investigation into the NID/Trust connection. We've done a little digging, and managed to put names to some of the faces from the photographs Sheila Jameson provided. That's David Ballard, chairman of the Stark Consortium. This is Masato Hiro, CEO, Far East Mercantile. James Lowery and Tony Tran, president and Chief Financial Officer, Alaraph Pharmaceuticals&hellip;

[They enter the elevator.]

DANIEL (continuing) This one is Michael Northrup, CEO, founder of Hammel Technologies. Now all the individuals we've managed to identify so far are major players in the areas of business and high finance. Very powerful, very influential, and in the case of these two&hellip;very missing.

LANDRY Missing?

DANIEL Terrance Evans and William Blaylock, founding partners of Procyon Media Enterprises. They went missing about six months ago, coincidentally around the same time we managed to destroy the Osiris ship.

[They get out of the elevator on Level Twenty-Eight.]

LANDRY You see a possible Goa'uld connection here?

DANIEL Well, we already know that sometime last year, the Goa'uld successfully infiltrated the Trust. Now I know that the Trust has connections to government agencies and corporations worldwide. There's a good chance we didn't get them all. If that's case, the Goa'uld are still on Earth, and they're gaining strength.

EXT&mdash;DAKARA, DAY

INT&mdash;DAKARA COUNCIL CORRIDORS

[Mitchell waits while Teal'c speaks to two Jaffa. After a few moments, they bow to each other and part ways. Teal'c heads back to Mitchell, looking frustrated.]

MITCHELL Let me guess, they didn't know anything either.

TEAL'C As Gerak grows stronger, fewer Jaffa risk defying him for fear of retribution. We must leave Dakara and seek our answers elsewhere.

KA'LEL The answers you seek are on Earth.

[Mitchell and Teal'c see Ka'lel standing hidden in an alcove. They approach her.]

TEAL'C What do you know of the Jaffa we discovered?

KA'LEL He lost his life trying to secure Gerak's prize.

TEAL'C Of what prize do you speak?

KA'LEL Ba'al.

MITCHELL Ba'al is on Earth?

KA'LEL That is where he sought refuge immediately following his defeat in the Battle for Dakara. He has been there ever since.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Landry, Daniel, Carter, Mitchell, and Teal'c enter the control room from the spiral staircase.]

LANDRY You're telling me a member of the Jaffa High Council claims that Ba'al has been here on Earth for the better part of the last nine months?

MITCHELL Yes, sir.

LANDRY Is there any chance she may be right?

TEAL'C My information suggests that Ba'al has been hiding in the Archeva system. He has been sighted there as recently as a week ago.

LANDRY So the council member is either lying or she's a victim of bad intelligence.

CARTER Not all bad, sir. They knew enough to look for Ba'al at a Trust-operated facility. If he were on Earth, that would be the best place to start.

TEAL'C If the Jaffa genuinely believe Ba'al to be on Earth, they will continue to search for him.

LANDRY Well, that's obviously unacceptable. Tell the council we've begun our own investigation. If he's here, we'll find him.

TEAL'C It would not be in Gerak's best interest to allow that to happen.

LANDRY Why?

DANIEL Ba'al's capture would be a big moral victory as well as a huge political gain for whoever brings him in.

TEAL'C Should Gerak be successful, he would win the hearts of many undecided Jaffa, thereby assuring undisputed influence over the council.

MITCHELL So all we have to do is find Ba'al before they do.

CARTER Yeah, but Gerak has a head start. The fact that the company's CFO went missing around the same time that the Jaffa was killed&hellip;

LANDRY You think Jameson was at the plant when they came looking for Ba'al?

CARTER In which case, he may well have been captured.

INT&mdash;DAKARA DUNGEON

[Gerak enters the dungeon. Yat'yir crouches on the floor next to the prisoner. The chains shackling Jameson to the ceiling have been slackened so that he mostly lies on the floor. Jameson's arms remain stretched over his head, and his shirt has been cut away and discarded, leaving him in a bloody undershirt. He is practically unconscious.]

YAT'YIR He has revealed Ba'al's location, and the locations of his various shelters on Earth.

[Yat'yir, disgusted, drops the pain stick, and it clatters to the floor.]

GERAK You should never have invented such an effective means of torture.

[Yat'yir looks at Gerak. Jameson's head lolls back.]

EXT&mdash;CITYSCAPE, BETHESDA, MD, NIGHT

[A Jaffa cargo ship uncloaks and lands on the roof of F-M headquarters. Several Jaffa exit the ship and move in attack formations across the roof. They reach a door and break through it, heading down the staircase.]

INT&mdash;CUBICLE AREA, F-M HEADQUARTERS

[Only one employee is still in the area. He sits at his desk, playing online poker.]

EMPLOYEE Come on, come on!

[He wins the game, and music plays over the speakers.]

EMPLOYEE (lifting his fists in triumph) Yes!

[Behind him, Yat'yir aims and primes his staff weapon. The employee turns at the sound and stares at Yat'yir and two other Jaffa, petrified.]

YAT'YIR Where is the false god, Ba'al?

[The employee only stares at the Jaffa in terror.]

INT&mdash;SECURITY ROOM, F-M HEADQUARTERS

[Security monitors show Jaffa soldiers swarming through the building.]

MAYFIELD (into handheld radio) We've been compromised.

[The monitors show security forces scrambling through the building.]

INT&mdash;CUBICLE AREA AND CORRIDORS, F-M HEADQUARTERS

[Several armed security forces run through the floor of the building. When one passes a hallway, he gets shot by a Jaffa staff blast. Security instantly returns fire.]

[Yat'yir and his escort hear the weapons' fire. Yat'yir stops aiming his weapon at the employee, and he and the other two leave to join the fight. The employee stays in his seat, staring in shock.]

[Heavy fire from both Jaffa and Ba'al's security are exchanged among the cubicles, various Jaffa and humans are wounded and/or killed, and a lot of equipment is destroyed.]

INT&mdash;SECURITY ROOM, F-M HEADQUARTERS

[Ba'al puts on his suit jacket, adjusting the collar as he meets Mayfield.]

MAYFIELD They're five floors above us.

BA'AL I know. We're leaving.

[They calmly leave the room.]

INT&mdash;CUBICLE AREA, F-M HEADQUARTERS

[The employee shakes in fear under his desk. As bullets and staff blasts shoot overhead, he has the handset of his desk telephone and is trying to overcome his panic and speak into the phone.]

EMPLOYEE (stammering and yelling over the weapons' fire) Hello? Hello? Ah&hellip;I'd like to report&hellip;Ah&hellip;ah&hellip;ah&hellip;A whole lot of shooting here, okay?

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, DAY

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR

[On Level 27, Mitchell leans against a wall and checks his watch. The elevator doors open and Daniel step out. They walk down the hall together.]

MITCHELL So?

DANIEL Those offices were a war zone. Staff weapons versus semi-automatics.

MITCHELL Who won?

DANIEL Hard to say. There was no bodies and all the security footage was missing.

MITCHELL Witnesses?

DANIEL One. Some guy who was working overtime, spent most of the firefight under his desk, but was able to provide the descriptions of three individuals: big, tattooed, chain mail pants.

MITCHELL So it's either our Jaffa, or KISS is back on tour.

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Landry is already waiting when Daniel and Mitchell enter the room. Harriman finishes setting up a television set in the room and hands Landry the remote.]

LANDRY I have something to show you. We've just received this.

[Landry starts to play a videotape. Ba'al appears on the screen.]

BA'AL (onscreen) Although it's a far cry from some of the better worlds I've conquered in my days, this planet is not without it's charms.

MITCHELL (to Daniel) That's&hellip;?

DANIEL (quietly) Ba'al.

[The three watch the video with mounting suspicion and skepticism.]

BA'AL (continuing) In retrospect, I'm actually glad we never succeeded in destroying it. That said, Earth is not without its drawbacks. The foremost being an alarming lack of privacy. My ships have been seized, my armies vanquished. I no longer present a threat to this galaxy. All I ask is to be left alone without having to worry about you, the Jaffa, or any of my former enemies coming after me, so&hellip;I'd like to offer the following deal&mdash;allow me to live out the rest of my days here on Earth in peace, without interference. In exchange for my, uh&hellip;freedom, I will follow your laws. You will never have cause to fear me again. I hope we can put the past behind us. I&hellip;certainly have no desire to harm you or anyone else on this world. That said, you should know that I've placed a naquadah bomb somewhere in the United States. Consider it a&hellip;uh&hellip;precautionary measure. If another attempt is made to capture me, I promise you, the consequences will be most dire.

[Landry stops the tape and looks at Mitchell and Daniel, their skepticism replaced with concern.]

[Some time later&hellip;]

[Carter hangs up a telephone and moves to the briefing table where Daniel, Teal'c, Landry and Mitchell are already seated. Carter takes a seat.]

MITCHELL Of all the retirement destinations he could choose, he has to pick OUR planet?

CARTER We have teams outfitted with naquadah detectors in several major urban centers, but there's no way we can cover the whole country.

TEAL'C The Prometheus has instruments which can detect naquadah from orbit, does it not?

CARTER Yes, but so far, the scans have come up empty.

LANDRY So it could be a bluff?

CARTER Or Ba'al may have found a way to shield the bomb from our sensors.

DANIEL Bluffing or not, he's still a threat. As de facto head of the Trust operations, he has the resources and capabilities to do a lot of damage, naquadah bomb or not.

MITCHELL So, problem number one: how do we find him? Problem number two: how do we take him out without inflicting collateral damage?

DANIEL Ah, good point. Ba'al's probably surrounded by security, no doubt most of them human, with no knowledge of his true identity. If we go after him, we risk injuring innocent people.

CARTER Not if we use the symbiote poison the Tok'ra developed. We already know it won't harm human physiology.

MITCHELL And with the right delivery system, nothing but net. Nice.

CARTER I'll contact R&D, see what they can put together.

LANDRY Which leaves us with problem number one.

DANIEL The NID's running surveillance on the individuals identified in the photographs with Jameson. Hopefully, eventually one of them will lead us to Ba'al.

TEAL'C Of equal concern are Gerak's Jaffa. We have no control over them. If they decide to move on Ba'al, Earth will face Ba'al's full reprisal.

MITCHELL And I'm guessing, those Jaffa aren't exactly kickin' it back at the local Denny's. Plus, isn't it a long, stinky ride from Dakara in a cargo ship?

TEAL'C Indeed. It is more likely that Gerak has a mother ship somewhere in the vicinity of Earth.

CARTER Well, if the Prometheus was going to detect the naquadah from orbit, it would have done it by now.

LANDRY All right, I'll send them out to look for the mother ship. Colonel Mitchell, I want you and Teal'c on board. Colonel Carter, Doctor Jackson, you coordinate with the NID. In the event they locate Ba'al, I want you there.

[Landry leaves the room, and everyone stands. Daniel, Carter and Teal'c start to leave the room. Mitchell reaches into a pocket and takes out something.]

MITCHELL Hey, wait up!

[The three stop and look at him. Daniel and Carter stand next to each other in front of Mitchell. Teal'c stands to one side. Without asking, Mitchell rips Daniel's SGC patch off its velcroed spot on his right shoulder and replaces it with an SG-1 patch. Daniel pulls his sleeve forward to look at the new patch. Mitchell next moves to Carter and holds the patch in front of her face. With a small smile, she nods, and he replaces her patch as well. Finally he turns to Teal'c, offering him the final SG-1 patch. After pausing for a long moment, Teal'c bows and takes the patch from Mitchell's hand.]

MITCHELL (with satisfied smile and nod) All right, that's better.

[Mitchell leaves the room. Daniel and Carter share amused, but pleased smiles. From his office desk, Landry watches these events through his window and nods.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Prometheus is in orbit around Earth.]

INT&mdash;PROMETHEUS CORRIDOR

[Pendergast, Mitchell and Teal'c meet at the junction between two corridors, then start walking together.]

PENDERGAST Gentlemen, welcome aboard.

MITCHELL Thank you, sir. Any word from NORAD?

PENDERGAST SSN came up empty. Could the ship we're looking for be cloaked?

TEAL'C Mother ships do not possess cloaking capabilities.

PENDERGAST Well, then could we be looking for another type of craft?

TEAL'C It is possible.

PENDERGAST Whatever the target ship, if it's out there, we'll find it.

EXT&mdash;MARYLAND/VIRGINIA/DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REGION, DAY

[On the grounds of an airport, Carter and Daniel, wearing civilian clothing and carrying duffel bags, exit an SUV and open the back door to an unmarked surveillance van, stepping inside.]

INT&mdash;SURVEILLANCE VAN

[Barrett stands in the van, surrounded by surveillance equipment.]

DANIEL Agent Barrett, thanks for the lift.

[Daniel and Barrett shake hands.]

BARRETT (smiling) Well, I couldn't exactly have you guys catching a cab to the stakeout, now, could I?

CARTER So, what's the latest?

BARRETT Well, one of our agents following the Jameson leads spotted an individual matching Ba'al's description at the Gilbride Hotel on Fifth Street about an hour ago. Looks like we got him.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Prometheus sits in orbit above Earth.]

INT&mdash;PROMETHEUS BRIDGE

[Pendergast, Mitchell, and Teal'c enter the bridge. Marks is at his station.]

PENDERGAST (to Marks) You picking up anything at all? Unusual variances, anomalous energy readings?

MARKS No, sir.

MITCHELL (to Teal'c) You know, it's possible what we're looking for isn't even out there.

TEAL'C It is possible, but unlikely. If Gerak believed Ba'al to be on Earth, he would undoubtably establish a base of operations in planetary orbit.

MITCHELL Great, so where is it?

[Teal'c stares out the window looking at Earth's moon for several seconds.]

TEAL'C (thinking out loud) Hiding in plain sight.

[Mitchell hears him and realizes his meaning.]

PENDERGAST What was that?

MITCHELL (nodding) Right.

TEAL'C Mmm. Colonel Pendergast, plot a course for the far side of the moon.

PENDERGAST Do it.

EXT&mdash;PARKING LOT ACROSS FROM GILBRIDE HOTEL, MD/VA/DC REGION, DAY

[The surveillance van pulls into an outdoor parking lot, and Williams jogs towards it, entering.]

BARRETT What's the situation?

WILLIAMS They're still inside, Room 1602. All the exits are covered. We're just waiting for the green light.

BARRETT Dr. Jackson, you go with Williams.

[Daniel gets up and stores a weapon in his waistband under his jacket. Williams checks his gun and re-holsters it. They both exit the van. Carter moves over to where Daniel was and turns on some equipment. There is a long silence.]

BARRETT (clearing throat) How've you been?

CARTER Pretty good. You?

BARRETT Yeah, pretty good&hellip;can't complain.

[They smile awkwardly at each other and there is a silence as Carter checks other equipment.]

BARRETT What's new?

CARTER Uh, let's see&hellip;I was leading R&D for a while there.

BARRETT Well, I never figured you the type to settle for a desk job.

CARTER I needed something with more flexible hours. Janet's adopted daughter, Cassie, was going through a hard time.

BARRETT Oh, I see.

CARTER Spent some time on the Prometheus, away on deep space reconnaissance.

BARRETT Uh-huh.

CARTER (brightening) Ooo. Helped stop a dangerous new enemy from gaining a foothold in the galaxy.

BARRETT Yes, I heard about that&hellip;How's Pete?

CARTER (pausing) We broke up.

BARRETT (smiling) Really?

[When Carter looks over, he tries to school his face into a more sympathetic expression.]

BARRETT Uh&hellip;I mean, I'm sorry to hear that.

CARTER (shrugging) Oh, it was the best thing for both of us.

BARRETT (after a pause) So, you're single again?

CARTER Not exactly.

[There is another awkward silence as they exchange looks.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Prometheus approaches Earth's moon and starts to orbit it to the far side.]

INT&mdash;PROMETHEUS BRIDGE

MARKS Sir, I'm picking up a large energy signature.

[Through the window, a hat'ak vessel appears stationed on the other side of the moon.]

PENDERGAST Lock on target.

MARKS Target locked. Sir, we're receiving a communication from the mother ship.

PENDERGAST Let's see it.

[Pendergast turns to a side screen and Mitchell and Teal'c approach the screen. Yat'yir appears on the video communication link.]

YAT'YIR (over videolink) Withdraw, or we will be forced to defend ourselves.

MITCHELL Sorry. We're not going anywhere.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Prometheus and the ha'tak vessel face each other in orbit around Earth's moon.]

EXT&mdash;PARKING LOT ACROSS FROM GILBRIDE HOTEL, MD/VA/DC REGION, DAY

[Williams and Daniel watch the hotel from a car, looking through binoculars to monitor the room and front entrance.]

DANIEL Come on, where are they?

BARRETT (over radio) Abort. All agents, abort.

DANIEL (into radio) What's going on?

BARRETT (over radio) He's not inside. If we move now, we risk compromising the operation.

[Daniel spots something and again looks through his binoculars. Through them, he sees a limousine pull up and a man that looks like Ba'al enters the limo with his security.]

DANIEL (into radio) Barrett, you'd better be damn sure about this.

BARRETT (over radio) We're sure. Let them go, and come to the van.

[Daniel shakes his head. Williams puts his binoculars down and sighs.]

INT&mdash;SURVEILLANCE VAN

[Daniel enters the van. Barrett is on a cell phone.]

DANIEL Sam?

CARTER It wasn't him.

DANIEL How do you know?

CARTER Because he can't be in two places at once. Ba'al is across town right now doing a live television interview.

DANIEL What?

[Carter turns on a television. Ba'al appears on-screen behind a podium, holding a press conference.]

BA'AL (on television) Thank you, that's a very good question. My acquisition of Hammel Technologies and its subsidiaries is just a first step in a long-range venture that will ultimately see a-a consolidation and a-a streamlining of what is presently a dissolute market. No doubt, most of you have never heard of me before today. Well, I can assure you that over the next few months, you will all get to know me very well, and I look forward to it.

[Carter turns off the set, clenching her jaw. Daniel rolls his eyes in frustration.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Prometheus and the ha'tak vessel face each other.]

INT&mdash;PROMETHEUS BRIDGE

PENDERGAST (to Yat'yir) This is Colonel Pendergast of the Earth ship, Prometheus, asking you to stand down.

YAT'YIR (over videolink) We have no desire to engage in battle, but we will not withdraw our forces.

MITCHELL Look, we know why you're here.

YAT'YIR Then you also know that I have no choice but to maintain my present position.

MITCHELL Okay, FYI, we're not going to let you put any more men on the planet's surface.

YAT'YIR If you fire on our ship, we will defend ourselves.

TEAL'C Yat'yir, hear me. You and your Jaffa are at a disadvantage, knowing neither territory, nor its inhabitants. Allow us to assist you in apprehending Ba'al. We can both lay claim to his capture. Then all Jaffa can declare freedom and celebrate as one.

YAT'YIR I am afraid we are past the point where our differences can be settled so readily. I am sorry, Teal'c.

[The communication cuts off.]

MITCHELL (grimacing) Guh. Meanwhile, they still got boots on the ground.

PENDERGAST Nothing we can do about that.

TEAL'C Perhaps we can.

MITCHELL Can how?

TEAL'C (with a grim smile) By forcing Gerak's hand.

[Teal'c leaves the bridge. After a moment, Mitchell follows.]

EXT&mdash;CITY STREET, UNKNOWN TOWN, MD/VA/DC REGION, DAY

[The surveillance van is parked at the curb of a busy city street.]

INT&mdash;SURVEILLANCE VAN

CARTER (on cell phone) Yes, sir. (She closes the phone) Our orders are to stay put for the time being.

BARRETT You've got to be kidding me. Come on, we know where he is. We've got him.

CARTER Yes, Ba'al has made it easier for us to pinpoint his location. But unfortunately, by going public, he's made it more difficult for us to take him down quickly and covertly. We make a move against him now, and we risk a media circus. Unless, of course, you feel like giving the American people a Stargate primer.

DANIEL There's also the little matter of a naquadah bomb sitting somewhere in the continental United States.

BARRETT Yeah, okay, okay. We'll stay.

CARTER The General's consulting with the Pentagon to determine what our next move should be.

INT&mdash;DAKARA COUNCIL CORRIDOR

[Teal'c, wearing Jaffa robes, is walking down a narrow corridor with Mitchell by his side.]

TEAL'C If there is one thing a Jaffa values above all else, it is his pride. When the other council members discover that Gerak has not been completely forthcoming, they will turn against him and force his hand. Gerak must be shamed into removing his forces from Earth. It is the only way.

MITCHELL Your turf, your rules, brother.

INT&mdash;DAKARA HIGH COUNCIL CHAMBER

[Teal'c enters through a side door to the chamber and stands by an empty chair. Across the room, Gerak sits at the other table, speaking to the council. Mitchell stands by the door.]

GERAK No matter how far we must travel, no matter how long it will take, our former enemies must pay for their crimes. This I promise you&mdash;that we will destroy them. Not only just in memory of those who have fallen, but in honor of those who survived to enjoy their freedom.

TEAL'C You speak of honor, Gerak, yet you disrespect this council by dishonoring it with your lies.

GERAK I have not lied to this council. It is you that I have purposely misled, for fear that your commitment to the cause is suspect.

TEAL'C Even as we speak, Gerak's followers are hunting Ba'al on Earth.

KA'LEL Of this we are well aware.

[Teal'c and Mitchell glance at Ka'lel in surprise. Ka'lel looks down.]

GERAK I had wished to inform the council sooner, but I dared not, for fear that the elements who are sympathetic to the Tau'ri would learn about Ba'al's whereabouts.

TEAL'C (angry) You dare question my loyalty?

KA'LEL Your loyalty is not under question, Teal'c. You have done more than anyone to help secure our freedom, and for that we are ever grateful. However, your allegiance to the Tau'ri presents you with a difficult dilemma.

GERAK Even as we speak, your Tau'ri ships prevent us from pursuing the enemy.

TEAL'C (pauses, and thinks for a moment) As you have said, Ka'lel, I accomplished much in our long struggle against our former oppressors, but only because of the support of the Tau'ri. Their commitment was as unwavering as my own. And now you would repay them by surreptitiously stealing upon their world, putting their people to say NOTHING of the Stargate Program at risk! They are our allies. Rather than dishonor them by trespassing onto their world, respect them enough to tell them the truth! Ask for their assistance in capturing Ba'al. They will help us!

GERAK But, uh&hellip;will they?

TEAL'C They are as determined to have Ba'al answer for his crimes as are we.

GERAK But if THEY succeed?

TEAL'C Then he will be brought before this council, where he will face his proper punishment! You have my word.

[Gerak gives Teal'c a shrewd look. Mitchell looks concerned and follows Teal'c out of the chamber.]

INT&mdash;DAKARA COUNCIL CORRIDOR

MITCHELL What the hell are you thinking? There ain't no guarantee the U.S. government is gonna give them Ba'al.

TEAL'C It was only to give Gerak pause before his next attack against Ba'al on Earth. Even so, we may have only gained a brief respite.

EXT&mdash;WORMHOLE PASSAGE

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR

[Siler and another man carry ammunition boxes down the hall. As they pass the open doorway to the gate room, Landry greets Mitchell and Teal'c at the base of the ramp. They enter the corridor and walk towards the control room stairwell.]

LANDRY Satellite tracking has placed Ba'al in a remote, heavily guarded compound west of the city. From the site of the press conference, directly to his present location, he took no evasive maneuvers, made absolutely no attempt to disguise his movements.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOOM

[Landry, Mitchell and Teal'c walk up the staircase. Daniel and Carter are visible on a communication link on the monitors overhead.]

TEAL'C Clearly, he is emboldened by the belief that you would not dare attack him now that he has made himself a public figure.

LANDRY I've had Walter patch in Col. Carter and Dr. Jackson. (to overhead monitor) Everybody up to date?

CARTER (over videolink) We have a cruise missile prepped with symbiote poison and ready to launch on your command.

MITCHELL General, I recommend we launch now. It may be the last chance we get.

DANIEL (over videolink) What if he isn't bluffing about the naquadah bomb?

MITCHELL Then we'll have stopped him before he has the chance to plant any more.

CARTER We'll have to come up with a cover story.

MITCHELL Wouldn't be the first time.

TEAL'C We must strike now before Ba'al realizes his strategy has backfired.

LANDRY And the council?

TEAL'C (smiling) I merely promised he would be delivered if captured. If he is killed, then there is no difficulty.

EXT&mdash;BA'AL'S COMPOUND, MD/VA/DC REGION, DAY

INT&mdash;CONTROL ROOM, BA'AL'S COMPOUND

[Personnel are stationed at various monitors. Mayfield stands talking on a phone. Ba'al enters the room.]

MAYFIELD (on phone) Right, good work.

[She hangs up the phone.]

BA'AL What's the news?

MAYFIELD Stargate command intends to attack.

BA'AL How can you be certain?

MAYFIELD The humans that set up the Trust were in a position to infiltrate much of the secured communications network employed by this government.

BA'AL (smiling) How clever of them.

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Landry, Mitchell, and Teal'c are seated in Landry's office. Walter sets up the television screen in the briefing room. Landry and Mitchell spot him through the window, and all three enter the room.]

LANDRY You got something else for me, Walter?

HARRIMAN Yes, sir. We just got this sent to us.

[Harriman presses the remote, and a video of Ba'al begins to play.]

BA'AL You have chosen not to heed my warning and so have forced my hand. There is a bomb in the Halcyon Tower in downtown Seattle. It will detonate at exactly 1:30 p.m. local time. Call off your strike on my location, and I will diffuse the device. Defy me, and this will be just the first of many such demonstrations.

LANDRY (looking at watch) Forty-five minutes.

HARRIMAN The building's being evacuated. Mobile units have been dispatched.

EXT&mdash;ROAD, MD/VA/DC REGION, DAY

[The surveillance van heads up a rural road.]

INT&mdash;SURVEILLANCE VAN

[Daniel and Barrett grip secured shelves as the van bounces along the road. Carter is on her cell phone.]

CARTER Yes, sir. Understood, sir. (she hangs up the phone and grabs onto some equipment for balance) Agent Barrett, have your men tighten their perimeter around the compound. No one in or out. Daniel, once the missile hits, you'll have to go in and make sure we have a confirmed kill.

DANIEL Why, where are you going to be?

CARTER Seattle.

BARRETT How the hell are you going to get there?

[Carter smiles and is beamed out of the van via an Asgard transport beam.]

BARRETT Prometheus.

DANIEL Beats flying coach.

EXT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, DAY

[Sirens wail by the skyscraper.]

INT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER LOBBY AND PROMENADE

[Soldiers dressed in all black gear direct people out of the building. On the second story promenade overlooking the lobby, soldiers run scanning equipment along the walls. A transport beam activates and Carter, her arm still raised as if holding onto the van equipment, appears. One soldier notices her and approaches, holding out his reading results.]

SOLDIER Colonel Carter.

CARTER (looking at readings) Have you located the bomb?

SOLDIER We're unable to get a fix on its location.

[He continues to scan a wall, Carter watching the results.]

CARTER Multiple signals. Is it possible there's more than one device?

SOLDIER Well, we're not sure.

EXT&mdash;BA'AL'S COMPOUND, DAY

[A Jaffa cargo ship lands on the roof of the building.]

INT&mdash;CONTROL ROOM, BA'AL'S COMPOUND

BA'AL Wipe the hard drives and destroy the equipment. I want nothing left.

[Staff weapons fire is heard in the distance.]

MAYFIELD The Jaffa! They've found us.

BA'AL Time to go.

[Mayfield and Ba'al leave, followed by security guards wearing kevlar vests.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Harriman enters the room and resumes his station.]

HARRIMAN Colonel Carter and her team are still searching. No sign of the bomb yet.

[Landry, Mitchell and Teal'c approach. All the monitor screens in the room show a countdown until the detonation of Ba'al's naquadah bomb.]

HARRIMAN (listening on earpiece) Sir, Dr. Jackson reports Jaffa at the target site. They've engaged the compound guards.

[Landry turns to Teal'c with a serious look on his face.]

TEAL'C (in a soft voice) We must not hesitate, General Landry.

[Landry turns to Mitchell, who gives a curt nod.]

LANDRY Launch the missile.

HARRIMAN Yes, sir. Launching Alpha Two.

INT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER

[Carter and other soldiers scan an office.]

SOLDIER It doesn't make any sense. It's like there's naquadah everywhere.

[Carter looks up with a strange expression on her face.]

CARTER How old is this building?

AGENT It's brand-new. It just went up last month.

CARTER Get me a secure line to Stargate Command. Now.

[The soldier moves away and Carter looks around the room with a worried expression.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

HARRIMAN Sir, I've got Colonel Carter.

LANDRY Colonel, did you find the bomb?

CARTER (over speaker phone) Sort of.

LANDRY What's that supposed to mean?

INT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER

CARTER (into phone) Readings indicate the entire superstructure of the building is laced with naquadah. It was built that way. Ba'al's been planning this for a long time.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

LANDRY I'm not sure I understand, Colonel.

INT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER

CARTER The bomb isn't IN the building, sir. The bomb IS the building.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Landry's face falls, and he looks at Teal'c and Mitchell. Behind them, the monitors countdown to four minutes, thirty seconds before detonation.]

[A few minutes later&hellip;]

[Harriman's screen gives radar analysis of an object moving to the center of the screen. When it reaches the center, a caption blinks in red letters, "TARGET HIT".]

HARRIMAN Missile is locked on. (listening to earpiece) Sir, we have a confirmed hit on the location. Agent Barrett and his team are moving in to secure the area.

[Landry, Mitchell, and Teal'c look at each other and wait. The countdown continues to one minute forty seconds.]

MITCHELL Sam, that naquadah ain't going to go up on its own. There's got to be a detonator there.

INT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER LOBBY

CARTER I agree, but it could be anywhere&mdash;inside a wall, under a floor. We'd never find it in time.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

LANDRY How much progress have you made on the evacuation?

INT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER LOBBY

CARTER We've cleared a five block radius, but when this thing goes off, a five MILE radius isn't going to be enough.

LANDRY (over phone) There's not much you can do about that now&hellip;

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

LANDRY (continuing) I'll contact Prometheus, have them beam you and your team out of there.

MITCHELL Wait, that's it. Prometheus&hellip; (moves to Harriman) Sergeant!

HARRIMAN Sir.

MITCHELL Patch me through to Colonel Pendergast.

[The countdown clock moves past one minute twenty-six seconds.]

INT&mdash;PROMETHEUS BRIDGE

PENDERGAST Cam! What can I do for you?

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

MITCHELL I need a little help moving.

INT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER

[The building is empty of people.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[They watch as the countdown clock goes from fourteen seconds past seven seconds.]

EXT&mdash;HALCYON TOWER, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, DAY

[An Asgard beam activates, and the Halcyon tower disappears from between the neighboring skyscrapers.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[The clock counts down from three seconds.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Halcyon Tower appears in space near Prometheus via the transport beam.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[The clock counts down to zero and a high-pitched beeping sounds.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Halcyon Tower explodes. Prometheus is caught in the blast wave, but its shields counter any effect.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

PENDERGAST (over radio) It worked. The building detonated at a safe distance.

HARRIMAN Sir, I've got Doctor Jackson.

DANIEL (over speakerphone) General?

LANDRY What's happening out there, Doctor?

DANIEL (over speakerphone) I'm sorry to report, sir, it looks like&hellip;Ba'al escaped.

[Landry sighs and shares frustrated looks with Mitchell and Teal'c.]

EXT&mdash;DAKARA, DAY

INT&mdash;DAKARA HIGH COUNCIL CHAMBER

[Teal'c stands in the center of the room, surrounded by other Jaffa, all wearing robes.]

TEAL'C The old ways will no longer serve us. Gerak's ways are not the ways of the future.

[The Jaffa surrounding him nod vigorously, talking amongst themselves. Gerak enters the room and comes down the staircase.]

TEAL'C (accusing) How dare you. How dare you step foot in this council chamber!

GERAK Why should I pause to return? Tell me, Teal'c.

TEAL'C (furious) Because you disregarded my warnings. Because your rash actions not only allowed Ba'al to escape, but cost the lives of many of our brothers!

GERAK They did not die in vain.

[Yat'yir and another Jaffa lead Ba'al, shackled by hand and foot, disheveled, and bloody, down the steps into the chamber. Teal'c watches in surprise. They force Ba'al to kneel, and he looks at Teal'c with defiance.]

GERAK My rash actions were necessary, I'm sure you'll agree. Yes, you may muse about what "might have been," but the fact remains, it was my men who captured Ba'al.

[The Jaffa start muttering amongst themselves. Ba'al sneers at the Jaffa, coughing up blood.]

BA'AL (in Goa'uld echo) Enjoy your short-lived taste of freedom. You were born slaves, and slaves you will die.

[Gerak takes a staff weapon from Yat'yir and fires it into Ba'al's back. Ba'al collapses to the floor. Teal'c stares, stunned.]

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

[Teal'c comes through the active Stargate and walks down the ramp. The rest of SG-1 are there to greet him.]

TEAL'C Ba'al did not escape. He was captured by Gerak's forces.

[Daniel, Mitchell and Carter look at each other and shift uncomfortably.]

MITCHELL Well, yes and no.

TEAL'C (angrily) He was dragged into the council chamber and executed before my very eyes. There IS no doubt.

CARTER Teal'c, we secured Ba'al's compound and searched the premises. In the basement, we discovered a lab containing equipment and data related to genetic replication.

DANIEL It's very possible the Ba'al you saw die in Dakara was just a clone. The real Ba'al could still be out there.

[Teal'c considers this and moves slowly off the ramp and towards the door.]

MITCHELL Hey, where're you going?

TEAL'C (smiling sadly) To take a much needed rest.

[The three look at him with puzzled expressions.]

MITCHELL Don't you think you should go back to Dakara? Let those Jaffa know the truth?

TEAL'C (bitter) No. To reveal this at this time would seem little more than an attempt to tarnish Gerak's hard fought victory.

MITCHELL Teal'c&hellip;it's the truth.

TEAL'C Regardless, they will not listen. For the time being, their hearts belong to Gerak.

[The three look at Teal'c with concern as he nods and slowly leaves the room.]

INT&mdash;LIVING ROOM IN WELL DECORATED HOME

[On a television screen, Donovan walks down a street giving a news report.]

DONOVAN At present, there are more questions than answers in the events surrounding the gas explosion that claimed the Halcyon Tower in downtown Seattle. What we do know so far is that at approximately 12:45 this afternoon, local fire and emergency crews were dispatched to the scene. An evacuation order was given, and the building and surrounding areas were evacuated. Two hours later, when reporters were permitted to return to the area, all that remained was a heap of rubble. Surrounded as it was by taller high rises, there were no eyewitnesses to the building's destruction&mdash;no one saw or heard the explosion. And as a result, conspiracy theories abound. Some have pointed out that the amount of rubble at the site is significantly less than&hellip;

[As the television drones, Ba'al watches the report, lounging in a chair wearing a polo shirt and khaki pants. Nearby, another Ba'al, wearing a short sleeve, button-down grey shirt and slacks sits in a chair, using chopsticks to eat Chinese food out of a takeout container. Another Ba'al in a tank top stands behind a bar, pouring drinks. Seated at a bar stool is Mayfield. Eventually Polo Shirt Ba'al clicks the remote and turns off the television while Donovan is still speaking.]

POLO SHIRT BA'AL (shakes his head, irritated) Over six hundred channels and nothing to watch. Think I'll turn in. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.

[Polo Shirt Ba'al leaves the room. Mayfield takes two drinks, giving one to yet another Ba'al wearing a long sleeve shirt who sits on the sofa reading a paper. She keeps the other drink for herself and sits next to him. Tank Top Ba'al walks into the center of the room, sipping his own drink.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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