The Sentinel/Transcript

Episode Guide

 * The Sentinel

Transcript
TEASER

PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE SG-1

[Scenes from 2.14 "Touchstone".]

INT&mdash;LARGE HANGAR

[SG-1 have four men and the Stargate surrounded. The Stargate, lying horizontally, engages and the men jump through as SG-1 look on.]

EXT&mdash;LOCAL PARK, DAY

WHITLOW (to Hammond) A requisition just crossed my desk requesting a C-5 for a classified pick-up at a NID landing site.

EXT&mdash;THE GATE ON MADRONA

ROHAM (offscreen) We demand you return the Touchstone!

CARTER It's missing?

PRINCESS LA MOOR They were dressed much as you are and carried weapons like yours.

[Scenes from 3.18 "Shades of Grey".]

INT&mdash;O'NEILL'S HOME

[O'Neill opens his door to find Maybourne.]

MAYBOURNE Colonel O'Neill.

O'NEILL (looking quite unimpressed) What the hell is this, a joke, Maybourne?

MAYBOURNE I think you're going to want to hear what I have to offer you.

INT&mdash;AIRPLANE, NIGHT

O'NEILL (speaking to Grieves through a globe device) Your Mission?

GRIEVES Use whatever means necessary to acquire goods and technology that could help Earth in the battle against the Goa'uld, sir. Or other, unforeseen aggressors.

EXT&mdash;ALIEN PLANET, OFF-WORLD BASE

[An Asgard ship descends over the base, sending out beams.]

KERSHAW (offscreen) There's as Asgard ship descending over the base.

INT&mdash;OFF-WORLD BASE

O'NEILL (standing before the event horizon) I'll be holding the door open so you can't go anywhere else.

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

HAMMOND Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to announce that you're all under arrest for high crimes against the United States and its allies.

BEGIN CURRENT EPISODE

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Hammond arrives via the stairs and approaches Davis.]

HAMMOND How overdue is SG-9?

DAVIS Coming up on eleven hours, sir.

HAMMOND It's not like Major Benton. Dial P2A-018. Try to establish radio contact from our end.

[O'Neill enters as the gate can be heard dialing.]

O'NEILL (holding a folder) Sir, my mission report. Better late than never I always say.

[Hammond gives a slight nod, seemingly uninterested.]

DAVIS Chevron one encoded.

O'NEILL (noting that Hammond is not paying attention) Yep, I always say that.

DAVIS Chevron two encoded.

O'NEILL What's going on?

HAMMOND SG-9 was on an extended mission to re-establish diplomatic realtions with P2A-018.

O'NEILL Zero one eight&hellip;?

HAMMOND Latona.

O'NEILL Oh, yes.

HAMMOND One of several planets visited by the NID while running their offworld program.

O'NEILL Right.

HAMMOND Major Benton has spent several months trying to negotiate access to the defensive weapon they call the Sentinel. It's supposed to be capable of defending their entire planet.

ONEILL Oh, uh, yeah I uh, I read the report.

HAMMOND They were scheduled to return early this morning.

[The wormhole engages.]

DAVIS Chevron seven locked. Standing by, sir. MALP relay is active.

HAMMOND (into radio) This is Hammond. SG-9, report. Major Benton, you are overdue. Please respond.

GROGAN (via radio, with static) General, Sir, this is Sergeant Grogan. Major Benton was&hellip;three days&hellip;the Stargate&hellip;Latonans tried to&hellip;but the thing&hellip;didn't work.

HAMMOND Sergeant, can you make it back to the Stargate?

GROGAN Negative. There are two Jaffa&hellip;supported by a staff&hellip;and there's no way I can get back to the Stargate. Under fire! Out!

[Staff blasts can be heard via the MALP radio link, then silence ensues.]

HAMMOND Sergeant, shut it down.

DAVIS Sir.

[The Gate shuts down. O'Neill appears concerned.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Hammond and SG-1 are present, watching a video on the projection screen. The screen comes into focus on an alien man.]

GRIEVES (on projection screen) Okay Marul, go ahead.

MARUL (looking uncertainly into the camera) You friends will see me?

GRIEVES Not right now. I'll send your greeting back with my report.

MARUL Well, what shall I say?

GRIEVES Anything you like.

[Marul shrugs.]

GRIEVES How about hello?

[Marul comes right up to the camera. O'Neill looks on intrigued yet irritated by the goings on.]

MARUL Hello.

GRIEVES That'll be fine.

[Hammond flicks off the screen and the lights go on as the screen retracts.]

O'NEILL The rat bastard.

DANIEL (looking surprised) I thought he came across as very nice.

O'NEILL The voice behind the camera.

HAMMOND Colonel Sean Grieves, formerly of the NID. He led an offworld team for Colonel Maybourne and was one of the members of that organisation convicted of high treason for his actions.

DANIEL And what was Grieves team trying to steal?

HAMMOND The Latonans possess a planetary defence they call the Sentinel which has apparently kept them safe from the Goa'uld for generations.

CARTER Well I can see why the NID would want to get their hands on it.

O'NEILL We put 'em all away before they could.

HAMMOND Frankly, I'm afraid Colonel Grieves' team may have done something to the Sentinel device they haven't admitted to.

O'NEILL Fiddlin' around with it, was it?

CARTER Well according to his report, the Latonans never granted Grieves' team access to the Sentinel device before they were recalled and arrested.

DANIEL (sarcastically) You don't think it's possible for an NID operative to lie?

TEAL'C (sincerely) I believe it is Daniel Jackson.

DANIEL Right. Um. So if Grieves' team disabled the Latonans only means of self defence&hellip;

CARTER We're responsible.

O'NEILL Grieves is responsible, thank you.

HAMMOND I doubt the Latonans will appreciate that distinction, Colonel.

TEAL'C Time will be of the essence. The Goa'uld forces SG-9 encountered on Latona were most likely sent through the Stargate as a test.

CARTER To determine if the Sentinel was operational?

DANIEL And by now they'll have reported back.

TEAL'C A Goa'uld mothership is most likely not far off if the Goa'uld believe that Latona may now be conquered.

O'NEILL Might be a good time to try out that new guidance system on the UAV, sir.

HAMMOND I think that can be arranged.

CARTER Sir, before we go anywhere, we need to talk to Grieves.

O'NEILL Why?

CARTER Well, whether we like it or not, sir, Colonel Grieves and Lieutenant Kershaw maybe the only people qualified to fix it.

O'NEILL (to Hammond, reluctantly) I'll go.

INT&mdash;A PRISON

[Grieves is led into room by two guards to a table at which O'Neill is seated. Grieves sits as one of the guards stands nearby.]

O'NEILL (to guard) You're dismissed.

[The guard makes no move.]

GRIEVES (to O'Neill) He's worried I might try to kill you.

O'NEILL In that case, I insist.

[He waves at the guard, who finally complies and exits to watch from the doorway and window with another guard.]

O'NEILL Had many visitors lately? Maybourne stop by? See how the old team's doing?

GRIEVES What do you want, O'Neill?

O'NEILL P2A-018. A device called the Sentinel.

GRIEVES What about it?

O'NEILL I need to know what you did to screw it up and what I need to do to fix it.

GRIEVES I'm more inclined to tell you where to shove it.

O'NEILL As we speak, SG-9 is either pinned down by the Goa'uld or dead, so let's just cut the crap, okay?

GRIEVES How is this my problem?

O'NEILL You're responsible. Zero one eight is defenceless because of you.

GRIEVES Earth is defenceless because of you. You don't seem to have a problem with that.

O'NEILL You stole technology from our allies. If I hadn't shut you down, they would have.

GRIEVES Do you really think the Asgard or the Tok'ra will really rush to our defence when the Goa'uld finally decide to stomp on us? That day is coming, Colonel. Don't kid yourself.

O'NEILL Okay. I guess I should just go have a chat with Kershaw.

[O'Neill stands to leave and moves toward the door as Grieves seems to have second thoughts.]

GRIEVES The Latonans didn't want to show us the Sentinel. We found it ourselves not far from the city. There was a force field guarding the device itself. Kershaw and I took almost two weeks to get in, take it apart and put it back together, good as new.

O'NEILL Not good as new. You did something wrong.

GRIEVES The only thing we did wrong was come back to base to meet our new CO. It's funny, at the time I was looking forward to meeting you.

[O'Neill approaches Grieves.]

O'NEILL I need you to write down exactly how you got in and exactly what I need to do to fix this.

GRIEVES If I do anything, anything, I want my sentence commuted.

O'NEILL I think that's understood going in.

GRIEVES And you'll need to take us with you. Kershaw and me.

O'NEILL SG-1 can handle it.

GRIEVES Who do you think you are? We were good, Colonel. Every bit as good as you. We believed what we were doing was for the good of the country. And if you hadn't put me in here, we might have had our own Sentinel by now.

O'NEILL You done?

GRIEVES I don't care how good Carter thinks she is or how cocky you are. The device is way too complicated for you to try and repair without us. You already know that or you wouldn't be here.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Hammond, Carter, O'Neill, Davis and Grieves watch a UAV launch through the open gate. They monitor its progress via computer terminals.]

DAVIS UAV is away, sir. Climbing into position.

CARTER Receiving telemetry. Confirm two staff cannon emplacements concealed twenty meters or so from the gate. We got lucky sir. The cannons weren't able to down the UAV before it was out of their range.

HAMMOND Begin painting the targets as soon as the UAV reaches altitude. Close the blast doors and prepare to launch.

DAVIS Prepare to launch.

[People exit the gate room as the blast doors lower; Carter looks before typing into a computer.]

EXT&mdash;LATONA, DAY

[Jaffa are standing guarding the gate; three stand guard by a staff cannon.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

CARTER Target Sierra One has been acquired.

HAMMOND Sergeant, launch when ready.

[In the gate room, two missiles lower from the ceiling, targeted into the event horizon.]

DAVIS Missile away.

[One missile fires into the wormhole.]

EXT&mdash;LATONA, DAY

[A missile comes through the gate and rises as the Jaffa look on. One Jaffa looks at the staff cannon and sees a green dot. The missile comes down and explodes at the target.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Carter looks at the computer indicating the targets.]

CARTER Sierra One has been destroyed. Attempting to acquire Sierra Two.

GRIEVES How do you know those are the only emplacements guarding the Gate?

O'NEILL We don't.

CARTER Sierra Two has been acquired by UAV.

HAMMOND Launch when ready.

[The second missile goes through the gate.]

EXT&mdash;LATONA, DAY

[The missile comes through the gate and the Jaffa try to run.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

CARTER Sierra two has been destroyed. But I can't confirm casualties. UAV switching to recon mode for stage two.

O'NEILL That's us.

HAMMOND Colonel, SG-3 will take point.

[Carter, O'Neill and Grieves leave the control room.]

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

[Teal'c, Daniel and Kershaw come into the gate room from the opposite side from O'Neill, Carter and Grieves. They are preparing to go through the gate with SG-3.]

GRIEVES Kershaw.

[She nods to him.]

O'NEILL Major Lawrence, make it a clean sweep.

LAWRENCE Yes, sir.

O'NEILL (to Teal'c) Why don't you go with them? Keep 'em out of trouble. We'll be on your six in sixty seconds.

LAWRENCE SG-3, let's go, let's go, let's go.

[SG-3 head up the ramp and Teal'c joins them.]

GRIEVES I'll say this again. I don't like the thought of going into this unarmed.

O'NEILL And&hellip;I don't care.

KERSHAW (sarcastically) I feel better just knowing there's an archaeologist watching our backs.

DANIEL (looking at his knife) Yeah, which end do the bullets go in again?

GRIEVES I'd be happy to show you.

[Carter and O'Neill look at him.]

O'NEILL Our mission objective is to fix whatever you screwed up. If you get any ideas other than that, I'll shoot you. Understood?

GRIEVES Yeah.

O'NEILL Move out.

[They head up the ramp; O'Neill gives the General and Davis a final look and follows.]

EXT&mdash;LATONA, DAY

[The team come through the wormhole, nearing the staff cannons. Carter scans the perimeter as O'Neill exits the gate behind them.]

CARTER No sign of SG-3.

O'NEILL (over radio) SG-3, this is SG-1 niner. Report.

[The Gate disengages. Teal'c runs up to them from a group of trees.]

TEAL'C Three Jaffa warriors survived the missile attack. SG-3 is in pursuit to prevent them from reporting our arrival. Major Lawrence suggests we continue on.

O'NEILL Colonel?

GRIEVES You want me to take point without a weapon?

O'NEILL I want you to point Teal'c in the right direction.

[Grieves points past O'Neill and Teal'c. They move out but Daniel hangs back with O'Neill.]

DANIEL Just out of curiosity, how many years did you take off their sentence if they managed to fix this?

O'NEILL Actually, they'll get a few more years out of this.

DANIEL More?

O'NEILL They were on death row.

EXT&mdash;LATONA FOREST, DAY

[The team moves along with Teal'c ahead, taking point and moving cautiously.]

CARTER So how did you manage to find the Sentinel if the Latonans didn't want to show it to you?

KERSHAW Maybe we're good?

O'NEILL Bribed the locals, eh?

GRIEVES I see you've done your homework.

DANIEL Major Benton's preliminary report said the Latonans were egalitarian. They don't use currency of any kind.

KERSHAW They don't care about material things.

O'NEILL Everybody's got their price.

[Teal'c suddenly stops and motions everyone down. They move forward and come across Grogan sleeping or unconscious. O'Neill takes his MP-5, and he wakes up.]

GROGAN Colonel?

O'NEILL Grogan.

[O'Neill gives him his weapon back.]

O'NEILL You alright?

GROGAN There was a Jaffa patrol on my six most of the day. I decided to stop running and fight it out.

TEAL'C How long ago?

GROGAN Last night. I guess I passed out and they went right by me. They'll be long gone.

O'NEILL Where's the rest of your team?

GROGAN Major Benton took a staff hit in the chest on our way back to the Gate. Tarkman and Winters got away with me at first, but I'm the only one left, sir.

CARTER Here.

[Carter hands him a canteen which he gratefully accepts and proceeds to open.]

GROGAN This isn't supposed to be happening, sir. The Latonans have this device&mdash;

O'NEILL We know, Lieutenant.

CARTER We're here to fix it. Sir, should I radio S-G3 and let them know Grogan's coming back to the Gate?

O'NEILL Negative Major. Teal'c, how soon should we expect the mothership here?

TEAL'C Of that I am unsure, O'Neill. It could be hours or perhaps even days.

O'NEILL Grogan, can you get me into the city?

GROGAN There are Jaffa patrols all over the damn place making sure the Latonans keep their curfew. But yeah, I can take you straight to Marul if you want.

KERSHAW That's a waste of time.

CARTER Why do you say that?

KERSHAW The Sentinel was built hundreds of years ago by Marul's ancestors. He has no clue how to use it.

GRIEVES None of 'em do.

O'NEILL All right, look, we're here to help these people.

GRIEVES What the hell do you think you can do?

O'NEILL Maybe give them another option other than being wiped out? Grogan, you good to go?

GROGAN Mmm hmm.

O'NEILL Good. Carter, you're in charge.

CARTER Yes, sir.

O'NEILL Fix it.

CARTER Yes sir. Good luck, sir.

[O'Neill and Grogan head off toward the city.]

CARTER (to the others) Let's go.

[They head in search of the Sentinel.]

EXT&mdash;HILL OVERLOOKING THE CITY, LATONA

[O'Neill and Grogan climb to the top of the hill. O'Neill gets out his monocular and scans the city.]

GROGAN That's the main road leading in and out of the city.

O'NEILL You wouldn't happen to know a back way in there, would you?

GROGAN Yes sir, I think I do.

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE A CAVE, LATONA

[Carter and the team move up to what seems to be a dumping ground of fallen trees.]

KERSHAW This is it.

DANIEL What is?

GRIEVES You've got to know it's there. We went right by it the first time.

CARTER All right, you're on.

[Daniel, Kershaw, and Grieves begin to take off their packs. Teal'c approaches Carter, appearing wary.]

TEAL'C Major Carter, it would be wise if we were to remain in concealed positions guarding the entrance.

CARTER Absolutely. At least until the force field's down.

[Teal'c moves forward and crouches behind a mass of trees trunks.]

DANIEL And how long will that take?

KERSHAW Last time, it took just over 48 hours.

CARTER Well maybe Daniel can help you shave a couple of days off that estimate.

[Daniel goes inside the cave with them as Carter takes up a position outside.]

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

[Marul is standing in front of a Jaffa in the service of Svarog.]

JAFFA You are not preparing for his arrival as I instructed. Your people ignore the curfew.

MARUL Because they do not understand it.

JAFFA It is a simple matter. Lord Svarog has claimed Latona as part of his domain. Your conquest will happen as sure as the sun will rise. Accept that and you may live to serve him.

MARUL My people have no desire to serve anyone.

JAFFA When Svarog rains fire from the sky, they will beg for his mercy. And offer him their devotion.

MARUL No they will not.

JAFFA They will, when those around them begin to die. This is my last warning.

MARUL Your Lord Svarog should not come. The Sentinel will send him away. You will all be sent away.

JAFFA So you have said, for three days. Yet here I stand. The Sentinel is nothing more than a legend.

MARUL It is very real.

JAFFA Then my patrols will find it and destroy it.

[The Jaffa leaves with other Jaffa. O'Neill and Grogan appear inside his chambers from another entrance. Mmarul turns in surprise to them.]

GROGAN It's all right, Marul, he's a friend.

MARUL From your world?

GROGAN That's right. He's come all the way from Earth just to see you.

O'NEILL I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill. We need to talk.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Grieves and Kershaw are working on the force field, which is controlled from large columns with multi-coloured pieces of glass sticking out of them. The system is making harmonic sounds. Daniel approches and touches the force field that protects the Sentinel device, earning a scowl from Kershaw.]

KERSHAW Please don't do that.

DANIEL Doesn't really look much like a weapon, does it?

GRIEVES Why don't you go make yourself useful, Dr. Jackson, and go watch the front door with your friends?

DANIEL Well I'd rather be trying to help you, but you're approach looks completely random.

KERSHAW The patterns change randomly. We're trying to keep ahead.

DANIEL Sounds?

KERSHAW The code to shut off the field is always changing relative to the harmonics between the tones in each pattern.

DANIEL And how many different patterns are there?

KERSHAW We've recorded over a hundred.

DANIEL Oh. So I should probably&hellip;

GRIEVES Shut up.

DANIEL Yeah.

[Daniel then starts whistling and stops after another scowl from Kershaw.]

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

[O'Neill and Grogan talk to Marul. O'Neill half sits on a long table, where a metal torch is burning brightly. Grogan stands behind the table.]

MARUL Your offer is kind, but not necessary.

O'NEILL I think it is.

MARUL The Sentinel has not failed us in centuries. It will not fail us now.

O'NEILL What's taking it so long?

MARUL I've sent a messenger to the Sentinel to seek the answer to that question. Perhaps it is waiting. You will see. Our enemy will be sent away.

O'NEILL How, exactly?

MARUL One moment they are there. The next they are gone in white light.

O'NEILL Gone where?

MARUL To the place our ancestors divined. We are only grateful our enemies are gone.

O'NEILL And that's it?

GROGAN Their civilisation's technologically regressed, sir. Nobody knows how anything works just so long as it keeps working.

O'NEILL And you've seen this thing working?

MARUL Oh yes. As a child, an enemy of our people came in a great ship. But it was sent away.

GROGAN That's the story we get from just about everybody, sir.

O'NEILL Marul, do you remember a team of guys who came here from Earth about two years ago?

MARUL Oh, Colonel Grieves, of course. He asked that he might see the Sentinel to learn its mysteries so that one day your people might be protected as we are. But to do that, that would be against our highest law. No one may see the Sentinel except its caretaker.

O'NEILL Yeah, well, they did anyway. They worked at night so no one would know. Somehow they got in, they took it apart, put it back together again, but something's wrong. They're there right now, trying to fix it, but we might be running out of time.

MARUL What you say cannot be so. This flame (points to the torch on the table by O'Neill) burns to tell us the Sentinel is watching over us and in turn, is being watched over. As long as this flame burns, we may rest assured that we are safe from harm.

O'NEILL There's a battalion of Jaffa in your city right now just waiting to harm you.

MARUL There is an inpenetrable barrier to the chamber.

O'NEILL They got past it.

MARUL Colonel Grieves gave me his word.

O'NEILL He lied.

MARUL Yet you speak the truth?

GROGAN He does, Marul.

[Marul just looks sadly out of the window.]

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE SENTINEL CAVE

[Carter picks up her binoculars to see Jaffa marching on their position.]

CARTER (on radio) Teal'c, come in.

TEAL'C A Jaffa patrol.

CARTER I count ten, maybe more. With luck, they'll pass right by us.

TEAL'C It is more likely they followed our tracks to this location.

[Carter and Teal'c raise their weapons in readiness for attack.]

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Grieves and Kershaw are at panels trying to listen to the notes.]

GRIEVES This is impossible.

KERSHAW Look, we haven't been at it that long.

DANIEL Let me try.

GRIEVES Do you have any idea how complicated this code is?

DANIEL Yes I think so. Just let me try.

[They hear gunfire outside.]

GRIEVES It's hit the fan already.

[He turns to Daniel.]

GRIEVES Give me your Beretta.

[Daniel looks unsure.]

GRIEVES You think you can help in here, well I can help out there.

[Daniel takes another moment to think about it before handing him his pistol. Grieves nods and heads towards the cave entrance. Daniel watches him exit before turning to help Kershaw.]

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE SENTINEL CAVE

[Grieves exits the cave, crouches beside Carter and begins firing. Teal'c takes out two of the Jaffa from his position. Carter fires on more as staff blasts whizz by them.]

GRIEVES (to Carter) We have to take all of them out so they can't report back.

[More firing ensues and one Jaffa manages to escape the firefight and run off.]

CARTER (on radio to Daniel) The Jaffa patrol must have tracked us here.

[More shooting ensues. Teal'c takes out more of the Jaffa with his staff.]

CARTER (on radio to Daniel) We can hold them off for now but get that force field down!

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Daniel is holding his radio up slightly listening to Carter. Kershaw looks to him.]

KERSHAW Do you know what you're listening for?

DANIEL The mathematical progression of the harmonic in each given pattern relative to its spectral equivalent.

[Kershaw looks amazed. Daniel starts to touch the coloured glass pieces based on what he is hearing.]

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

[O'Neill gets up and approaches Marul.]

MARUL My people have depended on the Sentinel for three hundred years. It was created to be there always, so that we might feel free to pursue matters of the mind and spirit without fear of what is happening now. If what you say is true&hellip;

O'NEILL I didn't come all this way to lie to you.

MARUL (sounding upset) How many will die?

O'NEILL I don't know. And I can't undo what's already been done. But we can still save hundreds of your people&mdash;maybe all of them.

MARUL How?

O'NEILL We're prepared to evacuate as many people as possible, and military support to get them to the Gate.

MARUL Leave our world?

O'NEILL I'm afraid so. As we speak, a Goa'uld mothership could be on it's way here.

MARUL What will I tell them? That the very people who doomed our world now ask us to trust our lives to them?

[Suddenly explosions start outside. Marul jumps in shock. O'Neill makes him kneel out of the way of the fire. The mothership has arrived and is bombarding the surface. A voice is broadcast.]

SVAROG I am Svarog. From this day forth you will serve me!

[Marul and O'Neill crouch, covering their ears from the loud voice. They look on as the city is bombarded by weapons fire from above.]

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE SENTINEL CAVE

[Teal'c is still firing on the Jaffa. A Jaffa comes up towards Teal'c and Grieves shoots him.]

GRIEVES That's all of them I can see.

CARTER What the hell are you doing out here?

GRIEVES Helping you out.

CARTER A mothership just opened up on the city.

GRIEVES I saw.

CARTER You need to get that force field down; that's the reason you're here.

GRIEVES Jackson wanted to try, I gave him a try. You were getting shot at so I backed you up. Or is it you don't like the idea of me with a gun? It's empty.

[He lifts the gun.]

CARTER Get back in there.

[Grieves enters the cave once more.]

CARTER (on radio) Teal'c, I wanna see what's taking so long. Keep an eye out.

[Carter follows Grieves into the cave.]

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

MARUL That voice.

O'NEILL All part of the show.

MARUL The sky rained fire.

O'NEILL It's from a ship in orbit. One with really big speakers.

[Grogan turns to the door. A woman rushes in.]

TEE H'ETA Marul! Marul!

MARUL Has the messenger returned with any news?

[She shakes her head.]

GROGAN There are Jaffa patrols all over the place. If Marul's sent someone, I doubt they made it very far.

MARUL Go home, Tee H'eta.

[The woman quickly exits.]

O'NEILL Do you have any other way of defending yourself?

[Marul stands by the burning torch and shakes his head.]

O'NEILL (on radio) Carter, come in.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

CARTER Yes sir.

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

O'NEILL The mothership's here. Some guy named Svarog.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

CARTER He's one of the System Lords, sir. You should get out of there.

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

O'NEILL Yeah, what's your progress?

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

CARTER Still working on the force field, sir.

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

O'NEILL Major, people are starting to die here.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

CARTER Yes, sir. We're doing our best.

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

O'NEILL You tell Grieves, if he doesn't fix that thing, I'll shoot him anyway.

[O'Neill turns to Marul.]

O'NEILL Marul, you have to make an announcement. Tell your people to evacuate the city and head to the Stargate.

GROGAN Many of your people could survive.

[The bombardment continues and is getting louder and closer.]

O'NEILL You've got two options. Sit here and watch your city burn to the ground or surrender. If you surrender, they'll enslave your people. And they'll take some of them as hosts.

GROGAN Goa'uld are parasites. They take over the bodies of people.

MARUL My people are innocent. They have done nothing to deserve this.

O'NEILL I can't stay here much longer. You've got to make a decision.

MARUL But your friends may yet be able to repair the damage they have done.

[More bombardments hit the city.]

O'NEILL This Goa'uld is not gonna wait for that. It's time to go. With or without you.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

KERSHAW Dammit.

DANIEL No, you almost had it, you just had the last two colours in the wrong order.

[Daniel touches the glass pieces, and the force field comes down.]

KERSHAW We're in!

CARTER Go. (into radio) Colonel, this is Carter, we've made it past the force field and we're starting to work on the Sentinel.

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE SENTINEL CAVE

[A horn sounds and more Jaffa appear.]

TEAL'C (over radio) Warriors of Svarog approach in greater numbers.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

CARTER (over radio) Understood, Teal'c. We'll make our stand inside the cave. Keep them at bay as long as you can and then get in here. Daniel, can you get that force field working again?

DANIEL I'm on it.

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE SENTINEL CAVE

[Teal'c gets ready to start firing and a death glider flies over.]

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, NIGHT

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Hammond walks down the stairs and approaches Davis.]

DAVIS Incoming transmission. It's SG-3, Sir.

HAMMOND Put it on speaker.

LAWRENCE (through speakers) This is SG-3 niner, come in.

HAMMOND What's your situation, Major?

LAWRENCE A Goa'uld mothership is firing on the Latonan city from orbit. Goa'uld forces are heading towards our position. Battalion strength supported by gliders.

HAMMOND Can you hold the Stargate?

LAWRENCE Not without reinforcements, sir.

HAMMOND Understood. What's the status of SG-1?

LAWRENCE They're out of radio range, sir. We've been out of contact for several hours.

HAMMOND Very well, Major. Hold the Stargate for as long as you can, then get out of there. SG-1 will just have to get the job done.

LAWRENCE Yes sir. SG-3 niner out.

[The Gate disengages.]

DAVIS I'm sure they'll find a way, Sir.

HAMMOND It's not SG-1 I'm worried about.

DAVIS Colonel Grieves?

HAMMOND While stealing a powerful beam weapon from the people of P3Y-294, Colonel Grieves turned the device against his pursuers, killing all three. We returned the stolen weapon but the Government of P3Y-294 would have nothing further to do with us. I'll be in my office, Sergeant.

DAVIS Yes, sir.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Grieves is working on the Sentinel device with Kershaw. Kershaw sighs and walks around it approaching Grieves.]

KERSHAW (in a low voice) Colonel, you know as well as I do that we left this exactly the way we found it.

GRIEVES We can't have, we missed something.

KERSHAW No we didn't. It must be something else.

GRIEVES Either shut up or go help Jackson get the force field back on.

[Kershaw leaves him.]

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE SENTINEL CAVE

[Teal'c is firing and being fired upon. He retreats to the cave amidst staff fire.]

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Teal'c enters and appraoches Carter.]

CARTER How many?

TEAL'C Several gliders. A battalion of warriors.

DANIEL (referring to the side of the cave behind the force field) Ah, you're gonna want to be on this side when we get this thing up again.

CARTER Just tell us when.

[Teal'c and Carter take up positions at the entrance of the cave.]

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

MARUL Go. Save yourselves. I will remain here as long as this flame burns.

O'NEILL Marul?

MARUL As long as it burns, the caretaker lives.

O'NEILL What caretaker?

MARUL He is not to be spoken of. It is against our law.

O'NEILL Look, do you want your people to survive or not?

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Carter is firing at the entrance.]

CARTER I'm almost out of ammo!

DANIEL Okay, get on this side.

[Carter and Teal'c run to the other side of the cave, behind where the force field will engage. A Jaffa comes in and Carter fires on him.]

CARTER Daniel!

DANIEL If everyone would stop shooting for a second, maybe we could hear what we're doing.

KERSHAW I got it. I got it. Go, go, go.

[A Jaffa comes round the corner and shoots Kershaw in the back just as the forcefield goes up and she falls into the protected side.]

GRIEVES Kershaw!

[Grieves runs over to her.]

KERSHAW Oh, it hurts.

[The Jaffa start to fire on the field, which absorbs all of the fire.]

CARTER It's gonna be all right. They can't get past the force field. Colonel.

[Grieves goes back to the Sentinel as Carter attends to Kershaw's wound. Daniel looks to Grieves and to Kershaw before following Grieves towards the Sentinel device.]

INT&mdash;MARUL'S CHAMBERS

[O'Neill radios through to Carter.]

O'NEILL Carter. Carter, if you can hear me, we've got to find someone called the caretaker. It's like a hermit who lives near the Sentinel and apparently takes care of it.

GROGAN Colonel!

[Grogan is zatted. O'Neill turns and is zatted too. The Jaffa who spoke to Marul before watches as other Jaffa enter and grab Marul, forcing him to his knees.]

JAFFA One of my patrols has discovered your Sentinel. Even now, warriors of the Tau'ri endeavor to repair it.

[He is handed a staff weapon by another Jaffa.]

JAFFA

I cannot allow them to succeed. (he readies his staff weapon, aiming it at Marul) Tell me how to disable to force field.

MARUL (shakes his head) That would be against our highest law.

JAFFA You would sacrifice your own life to defy me?

MARUL (looks on defiantly) I would.

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Carter gives Kershaw an injection into her leg, for the pain. Kershaw grunts in pain.]

CARTER (over radio) Colonel O'Neill, come in. (noting no response) Force field must be blocking the radio signal.

KERSHAW We put it back the way it was. I know we did.

GRIEVES Obviously, we didn't.

CARTER If Colonel Grieves can get it back in working order, we'll be the first to know.

[Daniel is intently studying the Sentinel.]

DANIEL Wait a second, I think I recognise some of these symbols. Their written language is similar to the people of P2A-463.

GRIEVES So?

DANIEL So it's possible they're related.

GRIEVES Don't tell me you can read that.

DANIEL No, I'm saying I recognise some of these symbols. On P2A-463, these symbols mean life force&hellip;life energy.

GRIEVES Life energy?

DANIEL These ones mean two as one.

GRIEVES And that means?

DANIEL I have no idea but it must mean something, otherwise they wouldn't have written it here.

KERSHAW The caretaker, Colonel.

GRIEVES Shut up!

KERSHAW What if the device is only part of the equation?

GRIEVES You're guessing.

KERSHAW We both know there's nothing wrong with the Sentinel. We put it back the way it was. What if the caretaker did more than just look after it?

TEAL'C Tell us of this caretaker.

KERSHAW The night we found this place a Latonan man took us by surprise.

CARTER What happened?

GRIEVES He attacked us, I defended myself.

[Flashback to their earlier visit.]

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[Grieves and Kershaw are looking at the Sentinel. A man approaches them quietly, carrying a spear and raising it toward them.]

KERSHAW Colonel, look out!

[Grieves turns and shoots him once. The caretaker collapses. Kershaw raises her gun as he falls, before lowering it and approaching.]

[End flashback.]

GRIEVES My orders were to retrieve technology that could save Earth from the Goa'uld at all costs, Major. You know what that means.

CARTER You killed him?

GRIEVES I defended myself.

KERSHAW We should have taken him into the city. They could have saved him. We knew they could have. The caretaker&mdash;he begged us to.

[Flashback.]

[Kershaw is putting pressure on the wound of the caretaker.]

CARETAKER Please. Please, I do not wish to die.

KERSHAW Colonel, maybe we can take him back to the city.

CARETAKER Yes, the city.

GRIEVES (shakes his head) That's not an option.

KERSHAW But sir, he'll die if we just leave him here.

GRIEVES We have our orders, Kershaw.

CARETAKER Then allow me to touch the Sentinel.

KERSHAW Why?

GRIEVES Shut him up.

CARETAKER Please, allow me to touch the Sentinel just once with my hand.

GRIEVES (cocks his gun and points it at the caretaker) You're not going anywhere; you're not touching anything.

KERSHAW This is wrong.

GRIEVES It's his own damn fault for sneaking up on me like that. You got to think of the big picture here. The Sentinel could save Earth one day. We're talking about one life. One life, compared to billions of people.

KERSHAW We don't even know how it works.

GRIEVES We'll find out.

KERSHAW Will you allow me to give him something for the pain then, sir?

GRIEVES (lowers his gun) Fine, but that's all we can do.

CARETAKER When I die, Marul will know.

GRIEVES What do you mean, he'll know?

[End flashback.]

KERSHAW He told us if he were to die, the Latonans would know anyway.

TEAL'C How so?

KERSHAW A flame in Marul's chamber would die with him. He wore a band around his wrist, it was a dead-man switch. I rigged it so nobody would know he was gone.

DANIEL Two forces as one. Man and machine.

GRIEVES No, no. We missed something. We just need to find out what it is.

[The Jaffa outside the force field leave. The team look on confused. The Jaffa come back with O'Neill and Grogan chained up and force them to their knees in front of the forcefield. O'Neill's arms are chained to a pole across his back.]

CARTER Colonel.

O'NEILL You know, now would be a good time to turn that thing on.

JAFFA Lower the force field or your friends will be killed.

CARTER Sir&mdash;

O'NEILL Don't do it Carter. That's an order.

JAFFA Jaffa.

[A Jaffa behind O'Neill jabs him with a pain stick. O'Neill yells in pain.]

O'NEILL Arrgghhh! Blow it up, don't let them have it.

JAFFA Jaffa.

[The Jaffa once more uses the pain stick causing O'Neill to yell again.]

O'NEILL Arrgghh! Do it!

CARTER Yes, sir.

GRIEVES Wait. I can deactivate the force field.

[He moves to the Sentinel.]

GRIEVES (eyes Carter cautiously) I can do it from here.

CARTER (looks at Teal'c who inclines his head slightly before she looks to O'Neill) I'm gonna let Colonel Grieves take down the force field, sir.

O'NEILL Carter, I gave you a direct order.

CARTER (with a more forceful tone, trying to signal to O'Neill) Yes, sir, I understand that. I think it's the right thing to do.

[Everyone looks on as Grieves places his hands on the Sentinel. A blinding white light appears, causing everyone to cover their eyes. It spreads from the Sentinel device and the Jaffa disappear. The light spreads throughout the city.]

INT&mdash;SENTINEL CAVE

[SG-1 and Grogan look up at the Sentinel. Grieves has disappeared.]

CARTER He's gone.

TEAL'C As are the Jaffa.

[Carter looks at Kershaw, who lies dead beside her. She closes Kershaw's eyes. Daniel approaches O'Neill and Grogan.]

GROGAN What just happened?

CARTER The Sentinel was never damaged, sir. It just required a human component.

[Daniel starts to unchain O'Neill.]

DANIEL Man and machine working together to become a weapon.

TEAL'C The Sentinel is indeed a device of great power. It would be wise to ask the Latonans if we may study it further.

O'NEILL Oh, I think I know what they'd say.

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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