Seizure/Transcript

Episode Guide

 * Seizure" Episode Guide

Previously
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE UNIVERSE

[Excerpts of 2.02 "Aftermath", 2.04 "Pathogen", 2.05 "Cloverdale", 2.06 "Trial and Error", 2.07 "The Greater Good", 2.08 "Malice" and 2.13 "Hope" are shown.]

TEASER

EXT&mdash;WASHINGTON D.C., DAY

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND MEETING ROOM

[Woolsey and Telford are seated opposite a delegation from Langara, which includes Ambassador Ovirda and three others.]

WOOLSEY Mister Ambassador, when we first spoke of using your planet's core as the power source to dial the nine-chevron address, it was a scientific mystery. Now it has become a necessity.

OVIRDA It was always your intention to send people.

WOOLSEY Not these people; not so unprepared. If we could open a supply-line of equipment and relief personnel&mdash;

OVIRDA Mister Woolsey&mdash;

WOOLSEY The planets with the required properties to do this are exceedingly rare. What's more, ninety-nine percent of the work is already done. Your facility draws power from the core, the Stargate is in place&mdash;

OVIRDA Twice this has been attempted, and twice the planets were destroyed by a catastrophic chain reaction.

TELFORD The overload at Icarus was a direct result of the enemy bombardment. In the second case&mdash;

OVIRDA We acknowledge there were mitigating factors in both cases. Nevertheless, our scientists believe Doctor Rush's solution is inherently dangerous.

WOOLSEY Which is why we asked you to come here, Sir. We have a new solution.

[Woolsey nods to an airman standing guard, who opens the door and admits McKay.]

WOOLSEY Ambassador Ovirda, Doctor Rodney McKay.

[McKay stands at the end of the table and starts getting his laptop ready.]

MCKAY Ambassador. Gentlemen. This'll just take a second to boot up. There isn't anywhere I can plug in, is there? Ah, it'll be fine.

EXT&mdash;DESTINY IN FTL

INT&mdash;DESTINY, RUSH'S QUARTERS

[Rush is standing at the mirror trimming his beard. Perry is on the bed behind him, an almost complete game of chess next to her.]

PERRY Knight to Queen's Bishop Five.

[Rush comes and looks at the board.]

RUSH Move it yourself.

PERRY (laughing) Very funny! You're not concentrating.

RUSH Ah! Well, I couldn't beat you when you were a flesh and blood person, what chance do I have now?

PERRY I'm a person, Nick.

RUSH Course you are. I mean, what I meant to say, what I should have said, is that you're more than that.

PERRY I'm still me.

RUSH What are you doing right now?

PERRY I'm here with you.

RUSH And?

PERRY And, ah, analyzing the structure you found in the database and accessing the ship's sensors so I can study the nearest&mdash;

RUSH Wow.

PERRY Okay. You have a point.

RUSH So much more than a flesh and blood person.

PERRY (sadly) Then why is that the only thing I dream about?

RUSH I have the same dream. And you're in it.

PERRY (realizing) There is a way.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDIT

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND MEETING ROOM

[McKay has got his laptop ready.]

MCKAY Okay, good to go.

[He turns the computer to face Woolsey, Telford and the Langaran delegation. The screen reads, "It's all in the Algorithm".]

MCKAY Sorry. Now, I'm sure we're all familiar with the old adage "It's all in the Algorithm"? So&mdash;

OVIRDA Doctor! I'm going to stop you there.

MCKAY All I said was, "So."

OVIRDA I'm not a scientist.

MCKAY No, that's not a problem. I, I dumbed it down.

OVIRDA There's no point in wasting our time.

[Ovirda gets up to leave.]

MCKAY No, I can talk very, very fast.

OVIRDA Let me ask you this. If our roles were reversed, would you be so blithe as to put Earth's population at risk?

MCKAY Well, there's no risk. That's the point!

OVIRDA Hopefully, once our own scientists have had a chance to go over your work, they'll reach the same conclusion.

TELFORD There is no time for that.

WOOLSEY Colonel.

TELFORD The Lucian Alliance wants Destiny. They know that your facility can get them there. And you know damned well that they will not take "no" for an answer.

OVIRDA That is an excellent argument to dismantle the facility altogether.

TELFORD Don't think that that will stop them. They will move in faster. They will do anything to get to the Destiny and won't give a damn if they blow up your planet in the process.

OVIRDA Then don't let them.

WOOLSEY If we were allowed to show you that Doctor McKay's dialing solution is safe&mdash;

OVIRDA Oh, oh, that is the price of your protection from the Lucian Alliance?

WOOLSEY As a life-long practitioner of diplomacy, you must understand that sovereign states act in their own interest.

OVIRDA The defense of a supply-line, for example.

WOOLSEY For example.

OVIRDA If and when our scientists reach the same conclusion as Doctor McKay&mdash;

MCKAY No, no, no, no, no, no. It could take months for them to understand the science.

OVIRDA Then that is how long you will have to wait.

TELFORD The Alliance won't be as patient.

OVIRDA I have no choice but to hope that you're wrong. Good day, gentlemen.

[Ambassador Ovirda leaves, followed by his retinue. Woolsey rubs his forehead.]

TELFORD The Lucian Alliance got to them. You just proved that to me&hellip; We have to move.

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND CORRIDOR

[Telford, McKay and Woolsey are walking along the corridor.]

MCKAY He didn't even look at my work.

WOOLSEY Because he wouldn't have understood it in the first place.

MCKAY You saw my presentation. A cat could understand it!

WOOLSEY He knows their government will only listen to the assurances of their own experts. We would do the same.

[They arrive at a closed door and stop in front of it.]

TELFORD They've already made a deal with the Lucian Alliance.

WOOLSEY I seriously doubt that.

TELFORD I can prove it.

[Telford opens the door; Young is in the room in the body of Airman Philander.]

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND, TELFORD'S OFFICE

YOUNG/PHILANDER David, how'd it go?

TELFORD Pretty much like I expected.

YOUNG/PHILANDER Doctor McKay, your reputation precedes you.

PHILANDER Some of it even good.

MCKAY And you are?

TELFORD Sorry, communication stones. This is actually Colonel Young, commander of the Destiny. (to Young) You know Woolsey.

[Young/Philander and Woolsey shake hands.]

WOOLSEY You said something about proof?

YOUNG/PHILANDER Not exactly, but, uh, close enough.

[Young/Philander hands Woolsey and McKay files.]

TELFORD We parked a dozen or so listening satellites around Langara. The communications are encrypted in a Lucian Alliance cipher we haven't broken, but there's enough back and forth to suggest that some sort of negotiation has been going on for some time.

WOOLSEY Does the IOA know this?

TELFORD General O'Neill briefed the Chairman and the President this morning in an emergency meeting.

YOUNG/PHILANDER We are in an undeclared war with the Alliance. Now, if the Langarans have already sided with them, they can launch another attack on Destiny at almost any point.

MCKAY Without the benefit of my solution.

TELFORD Which would make dialing the ninth chevron a hell of a lot more dangerous for the Langarans.

WOOLSEY So, we're protecting them from themselves. Is that it?

YOUNG/PHILANDER Well, if that's how you want to put it, sure.

TELFORD The General's authorized a mission to Langara.

WOOLSEY What sort of mission?

YOUNG/PHILANDER We're calling it a "proof of concept", but before we get into that, we'll need McKay to run through his presentation.

MCKAY (leaning over to get it) Oh, okay.

YOUNG/PHILANDER Not here.

[Young/Philander walks out and McKay reluctantly follows.]

EXT&mdash;DESTINY IN FTL

INT&mdash;DESTINY, STONE LAB

[McKay looks around the room, touches his face and looks in the mirror on the table, where he sees Brody's face. Young and James are also there.]

MCKAY/BRODY Who's this?

YOUNG That's a good question. Where's Rush?

JAMES He sent Mister Brody in his place. He said you wouldn't care.

YOUNG Well, I don't. Doesn't mean he can do whatever he wants.

MCKAY/BRODY Wh, wh, wh, what's wrong?

YOUNG Rush was supposed to switch with you and go over your data on Earth.

MCKAY/BRODY Wait, I thought I was here to talk to Rush.

YOUNG No, no, no. You're here to talk to Eli. You convince him, you've convinced me. (to James) Lieutenant, would you mind?

JAMES Yes, Sir. I'll take care of it.

[James stands up as Young leaves the room, speaking on the radio as he walks out.]

YOUNG (into radio) Rush, this is Young. Where are you?

[McKay is staring at James' chest.]

JAMES I'm up here.

MCKAY Right, of course. We met at Stargate Command, it's, ah, Vanessa, right?

JAMES Yeah.

MCKAY Mmm.

JAMES After you.

MCKAY No, ladies first.

[James looks at him blankly.]

MCKAY I'll go.

[He walks ahead of her.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CORRIDOR

[Chloe is waiting for Colonel Young. They walk towards to chair room as they talk.]

YOUNG Hey.

CHLOE He ran into me, literally, a while ago in a hurry somewhere.

YOUNG He didn't say anything?

CHLOE He said to tell you he was taking the day off.

YOUNG What does that mean?

CHLOE That's what I said. We just found him.

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CHAIR ROOM

[Chloe and Young enter. TJ is there, and Rush is sitting in the chair, which is active.]

TJ His vitals are stable. There's some kind of program running that I've never seen before. Don't ask because I don't got a clue.

YOUNG Well, haven't you heard? He's taking the day off.

TJ Looks more like he's taking a nap. I'm reading delta waves. Stage four sleep, very deep.

YOUNG So, now's when I say, "Wake the bastard up," and you tell me it's dangerous.

TJ Well, it is.

YOUNG All right. Well, let's find out what the hell he's doing and report back to me.

INT&mdash;DESTINY, RUSH'S QUARTERS

[Rush and Perry are lying naked together on his bed. She is kissing him as she speaks.]

PERRY You are in an immersive simulation program. It was already in the Destiny's database. Some of you have already experienced it.

RUSH Colonel Young's no-win scenario.

PERRY (kissing down his back) Mmm. I was already so capable of hyper-realistic sensory input, and all I had to do was find a way that we could experience it together.

RUSH And that's where the chair comes in.

PERRY In a way, you're outside of your physical body right now. This would have been no fun at all of it was only in your head. This way we can feel each other's touch.

[They kiss.]

RUSH You must have had to put in some kind of, ah, conditions in order for the scenario to play out.

PERRY Mmm. That was the easy part. The parameters are so simple that you should be able to come and go as you wish.

RUSH So, it's just the two of us now? In our own little world.

PERRY We have the whole matrix of the ship to ourselves. I think I could even take a shuttle somewhere if we really wanted to.

[The continue kissing.]

RUSH Oh, really?

PERRY Mmm.

RUSH Well, maybe we could try that some time.

PERRY Mmm. Not now.

[They kiss passionately, Rush on top of Perry.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CORRIDOR

[Young is walking along the corridor and comes across Greer leaning over against the wall.]

YOUNG Greer, are you nuts?

[Greer grunts.]

YOUNG You just donated a damn kidney.

GREER I just need some exercise.

[Park comes along an adjoining corridor.]

PARK There you are! Sorry Colonel, he snuck out.

[Greer can hardly stand upright.]

YOUNG Listen to me, Ronald, you're no good to me dead. I need you to get back to the infirmary.

GREER (panting for breath) Yes, Sir.

YOUNG Okay.

GREER Yes, Sir.

[Park helps Greer walk away.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CORRIDOR

[McKay/Brody and Eli are discussing things written in chalk on the corridor wall.]

MCKAY/BRODY No, no, no, no. See, this is where you are completely wrong. It is impossible to make that deduction because it falls outside of the boundary conditions.

ELI (writing) This changes the boundary conditions!

MCKAY/BRODY It doesn't work that way!

ELI If you make the change, yes it does! Read the writing on the wall, man.

MCKAY/BRODY Listen, kid, one semester at MIT does not make you&mdash;

[Young and James arrive.]

YOUNG Gentlemen! I take it there are problems with this?

MCKAY/BRODY What?

ELI He thinks we're talking about your nine-chevron dialing solution.

MCKAY/BRODY No, no, no, no, no, no, no, we've moved on. Very, very bright, this kid. I mean, in many ways he reminds me of, ah, me at that age. Of course I was carrying a lot less, um&mdash;

ELI Hair?

YOUNG So. It'll work?

ELI Oh, yeah. Yeah. I wish I'd thought of it.

MCKAY/BRODY Thank you.

YOUNG Great. Just to be clear, without blowing up the planet.

ELI I'd say the odds of that are&mdash;

MCKAY/BRODY Statistically, zero.

[Eli nods.]

YOUNG Good.

MCKAY/BRODY Now, Rush's original calculations were sound, don't get me wrong. It's just that he was using a trinary instead of a quad base, which of course threw off the&mdash;

YOUNG Yeah, I don't care just as long as Eli says we're good to go.

ELI Yeah. Yeah, we're good.

YOUNG Let's go.

MCKAY/BRODY I just got here!

YOUNG Well, you can come back any time. In fact, we pull this off, you can come back in person.

[Young nods to James, then turns and walks away. McKay/Brody and James follow.]

MCKAY/BRODY (to Eli) This is not over, mister!

ELI Ha! Bring it!

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND, TELFORD'S OFFICE

[Telford, Woolsey, McKay and Young/Philander are meeting.]

TELFORD Brody bought McKay's solution.

MCKAY Of course he did. Look, he didn't eat any citrus when he was in my body, did he? Because I am not feeling well.

WOOLSEY I assume this mean's you're going ahead with your mission.

YOUNG/PHILANDER I don't see that there's a choice.

WOOLSEY Of course there is. Clearly, the Alliance is putting something substantial on the table. If we go to them with some sort of a peace offering of our own&mdash;

TELFORD General O'Neill believes the Alliance will move in a matter of days, whether they're invited or not by the Langaran government. He also believes the Langarans would prefer siding with us if given the choice.

WOOLSEY I agree, wholeheartedly.

YOUNG/PHILANDER Well, the goal of our mission is to make that choice easier by proving that Doctor McKay's solution is safe.

MCKAY (annoyed) Oh, it's safe!

TELFORD Our secondary goal would be to determine whether or not they've already made a deal with the other side.

MCKAY And if we find that out?

YOUNG/PHILANDER Well then, we will act accordingly. The Lucian Alliance is not going to be allowed to attack Destiny again.

[Woolsey glances at McKay.]

WOOLSEY I think I can speak for both of us when I say that if your intention is to take their facility by force, we'll have no part of it.

YOUNG/PHILANDER Well, of course not Mister Woolsey. We're going to give them a peace offering.

EXT&mdash;DESTINY IN FTL

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CHAIR ROOM

[Rush is still in the chair. Eli and Young come into the room, where TJ and Chloe are monitoring the situation.]

YOUNG TJ, any change?

TJ I, I don't think he's asleep. He's in something closer to a coma.

ELI What is wrong with this guy?

YOUNG You know what, TJ, this timing sucks but, Scott and I, we got to do this thing. You are in charge. Keep a defense team in the gateroom at all times.

TJ Yes, Sir.

YOUNG I also need you to check in on Greer. I ran into him in the corridor this morning&mdash;

TJ What?!

YOUNG Yeah, he didn't look good.

TJ No, he, he shouldn't be walking around!

YOUNG Right.

[TJ hurries from the room.]

ELI Uh, aside from taking the day off, did-did Rush say anything that might give us a clue as to why he did this?

CHLOE Not to me.

YOUNG Well, maybe he couldn't bring himself to see how McKay improved on his work.

ELI Look, I'm not saying he doesn't have an ego the size of a bus, but Rush would kill to bring people and supplies from Earth.

YOUNG So, what was so important?

ELI Uh, I'm sure he planned to tell me at our next heart-to-heart.

YOUNG Just do me a favor: get him on his feet so I can knock him on his ass when I'm back.

[Young leaves.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, INFIRMARY

[Greer is lying in a bed and TJ is mopping his brow.]

TJ Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.

GREER (weakly) Ouf, why does it have to be so hot in here?

TJ It's not. You have a fever, which means you're fighting another infection.

GREER Good to know. I'll fight harder.

TJ I wish it worked that way.

[Across the room, Volker is sitting on a bed looking at Greer.]

GREER It does.

TJ Here.

[TJ gives Greer a sip of water.]

GREER See, I feel better already. How's Volker?

TJ Great! For a guy who's sporting someone else's kidney. I really didn't expect you to be the one who got sick.

GREER Better me than him.

TJ (concerned) Why is that?

GREER 'Cause I'm strong.

TJ (smiling) Yeah, you are. But no more walking around, okay? You need to sleep. That's an order.

GREER Yes, Ma'am.

[TJ looks at Greer with concern before she walks away.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CHAIR ROOM

[Brody is looking at a control panel screen. Chloe and Eli are still there, and Rush is still in the chair.]

BRODY I got nothing. You?

ELI Uh, there's hardly any brain activity at all. It's like he's not even&hellip; (realizing) Go back in the logs as far as you can. His present physical state has nothing to do with this.

[Brody's screen shows reams of information scrolling past.]

BRODY Holy crap!

ELI Yeah, that is one hell of an upload.

[Chloe comes over to look.]

BRODY Over nine hundred terabytes were transferred into Destiny's memory.

CHLOE Eli, what am I looking at?

ELI The complete and unabridged consciousness of one Nicholas Rush.

RUSH (voice) Feels strange with no one else around.

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CORRIDOR

[Rush and Perry are walking along the corridor. Rush is wearing a white dress shirt.]

PERRY (laughs) Thanks a lot!

RUSH Hey? Oh, you know what I mean. Must be different for you, too.

PERRY Yeah, it's hard to explain. I mean, there are hours when I feel oblivious to the fact that there are even other people aboard.

RUSH Yeah?

PERRY Like when I'm looking outside of the ship, taking in the galaxy around us. And then other times I can pore through data in fractions of a second that would take me hours to read if I was&hellip;

RUSH If you were a, what, a mere person?

[They stop walking and embrace.]

PERRY I much prefer being here with you. I mean, physically. Here. Existing as consciousness is&hellip;lonely.

RUSH Well, you needn't be lonely ever again.

PERRY You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that.

[They kiss.]

RUSH In fact, if there was a way for me to interact with Destiny's real systems&hellip;

[He taps on the wall.]

RUSH &hellip;we could spend even more time together.

PERRY But we can't. The system is isolated.

RUSH It wouldn't be much of a simulation if it had real-world repercussions, would it?

PERRY Hmm.

RUSH We'd best let Eli and Ginn know, for their sake.

PERRY For now, is it okay if we keep it our secret?

RUSH Yeah, of course. I really need to go now.

PERRY Do you have to?

RUSH Well, for one, I've been away long enough for Colonel Young to start getting hysterical. And another is, I have to work. So&hellip;is there a door somewhere or do I just click my heels together?

PERRY It's even easier than that.

RUSH Yeah?

[Perry runs off down the corridor.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CHAIR ROOM

[Perry is standing by the chair when Rush enters.]

PERRY All you need to do is sit, close your eyes, and when you open them, you'll be back.

RUSH Ugh, and the shouting and the pointing and the demanding of answers shall begin. Cannot wait.

PERRY But you'll be back soon, won't you?

RUSH Well, you can always come visit me in the real world.

[Perry nods as Rush puts his arms around her.]

RUSH I know it's not the same thing, but, ah&hellip; Hey! At least you know I love you for your mind as well as your body.

[Perry laughs and nods.]

PERRY Yes. Go. Sit. I'll come say goodnight to you later.

[Rush sits in the chair.]

RUSH I'll see you then.

[The overhead light illuminates, and the wrist straps snap into place. The headpiece swings into place and activates but immediately retracts. The chair deactivates; Rush opens his eyes and sees that he is still in the simulation.]

RUSH Amanda&hellip;it didn't work.

[Perry looks confused.]

EXT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, DAY

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

[The vast space is filled with machinery and pipes. There are workers busy throughout, as well as a number of soldiers on the balconies overlooking the Stargate, which stands at one end of the plant. The Stargate activates.]

CAPTAIN Defensive positions!

[The Langaran soldiers surround the Stargate and point their weapons at it. The wormhole engages, and Woolsey steps through, followed by an Earth soldier carrying a metal case.]

WOOLSEY I am unarmed.

CAPTAIN Mister Woolsey. You were not expected.

WOOLSEY I am here at the request of my government, bearing gifts for both the Ambassador and your Chief Administrator.

LANGARAN SOLDIER Should I call them for you, Sir?

CAPTAIN (to soldier) Not yet. (to Woolsey) What sort of gifts?

[The Earth soldier hands Woolsey the case.]

WOOLSEY Symbols of our friendship. Artifacts carved by the Ancients themselves over a million years ago.

[Woolsey opens the case to show the Captain. Inside are two gold-colored boxes. The Captain reaches out to touch the contents of the case.]

WOOLSEY I would prefer you didn't.

CAPTAIN You don't think I would allow you to give something like this to Administrator Halperin without looking it over first?

WOOLSEY (sighing) Sorry.

[The Captain opens one of the boxes and inside, on an illuminated panel, is a communication stone. The Captain picks up the stone, and Lieutenant Scott switches with him.]

WOOLSEY Well, Captain? Is it acceptable?

SCOTT/CAPTAIN Looks fine to me.

WOOLSEY Then may I present it to the Administrator?

SCOTT/CAPTAIN Absolutely.

WOOLSEY Excellent. I know the way.

[Woolsey, the Earth soldier and Scott/Captain walk away. The Langaran soldier watches them suspiciously.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE LAB

[The Langaran Captain is handcuffed to a chair. He looks in the mirror on the table, sees Scott's face and screams. Young is sitting opposite him. There are three other Destiny personnel there as well, including James.]

CAPTAIN/SCOTT What is this?!

YOUNG You are on board the Destiny. I promise you, you won't be harmed and you will be returned to your own body shortly.

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, CORRIDOR

[Woolsey, Scott/Captain and the Earth soldier are walking along a corridor.]

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, HALPERIN'S OFFICE

[The administrator is sitting at his desk when Woolsey, Scott/Captain and the Earth soldier enter.]

HALPERIN Woolsey! What are you doing here?

SCOTT/CAPTAIN He's brought a gift, Sir, for you and the Ambassador.

CAPTAIN I've already inspected it; I'm sure it's harmless.

HALPERIN Captain, what you should have done is instruct Mister Woolsey to return home immediately.

WOOLSEY At least read the inscription on the bottom of the stone. Please.

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE LAB

[Administrator Halperin is in the chair where Young had been sitting.]

HALPERIN/YOUNG How is this possible?

JAMES That, I can't tell you, Sir. Just stay calm. It shouldn't take too long.

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, HALPERIN'S OFFICE

YOUNG/HALPERIN We, ah, we pulling this off?

SCOTT/CAPTAIN So far, so good, Sir.

YOUNG/HALPERIN What the hell am I wearing?

[Young/Halperin inspects his image in a full-length mirror. He is wearing what on Earth would look like a 1940's era suit.]

WOOLSEY SG-1 teams four and five should be arriving in five minutes.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Well, let's, ah, go welcome them to our facility.

[The four men leave the room.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY CHAIR ROOM

[Perry is working at a console as Rush watches her.]

PERRY It should have worked.

RUSH Well, there's no point in panicking just yet.

PERRY Maybe you should try it again.

RUSH I have tried.

PERRY Maybe I can, uh, shut the simulation down another way.

[She goes to another console.]

RUSH You know, Amanda, that's a really good thought, but you can't do that from in here. This system's isolated, you told me so yourself. In fact, nothing you're doing at the moment's having any effect whatsoever.

PERRY I don't know how I could have been so stupid.

RUSH Oh, now that's, that's&hellip;that's one thing you're not.

PERRY It's probably just a glitch.

RUSH Probably. But, I can't leave, and you can't fix it from here, so&hellip;

PERRY You'll be all right?

RUSH I'll be fine. You go.

[Perry disappears.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CORRIDOR

[Eli is in the corridor outside the chair room.]

ELI (calling) Ginn! Ginn!

BRODY Eli! She's in the ship's memory.

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CHAIR ROOM

[Rush is still in the chair. Brody is taking his pulse.]

BRODY It's not like she can hear you any better or worse out there.

ELI Then why isn't she answering me?

[Chloe is working at a computer.]

CHLOE Why are you so sure she can help us?

ELI I think I know what Rush is doing, because Ginn and I had he same idea and (pointing to the ceiling) I think they talk.

CHLOE What?

ELI In their ascension research, the Ancients experimented with the transfer of human consciousness all the time. I mean, it's how the stones work, right?

BRODY We have no clue.

CHLOE Why would he do that?

ELI (hesitates for a moment) Okay, so this is a little&hellip; (nervous laughter) Night before last, Ginn was visiting me in my quarters, we were talking and I said something like, "Wouldn't it be great if we could do more than talk?"

CHLOE You mean actual physical contact?

ELI Yeah.

BRODY Oh, you mean&mdash;

ELI Yes! Yes! That's what I meant. Honestly, I was-I was just thinking out loud, but the suggestion did not go over well.

BRODY Well, Eli, she just died and had her consciousness uploaded into the ship's memory. And you're just thinking about getting your&mdash;

ELI What? No! No! No, no, no, no. That part, she was all for.

CHLOE (smiling) Then why?

ELI Because she said it would be dangerous.

CHLOE Why?

ELI You don't think uploading a human consciousness and back again is a little dangerous? When I tried to talk her into it anyway, she got mad, or depressed, or some combination of the two, and I haven't seen her since.

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

[The Langaran troops are assembled. Scott/Captain, Woolsey and Young/Halperin enter.]

WOOLSEY I'm sure the discoveries we make will be of great benefit to both of our worlds.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Well, the Ambassador and I couldn't agree more.

HALPERIN (Young appearing as Halperin) We are happy to help in any way we can.

WOOLSEY Our people will be dialing in momentarily.

HALPERIN (Young appearing as Halperin) Of course.

[Young/Halperin turns to address the ranks.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN We have agreed to attempt dialing the Stargate's nine-chevron address immediately. This will be done to prove the viability and the safety of such a connection so that we will be able to provide ongoing support to their people on the other side.

[The Langaran soldier appears suspicious.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN Now, I am confident that there is no danger. Captain.

SCOTT/CAPTAIN (to the Langaran troops) A team from Earth will be arriving shortly. We will give them our complete support and cooperation. Stow your weapons. These people are allies. Dismissed!

[Most of the Langaran soldiers walk away.]

LANGARAN SOLDIER Captain, what's going on?

SCOTT/CAPTAIN Well, I overheard them. They've offered to share in everything. Information, technology.

LANGARAN SOLDIER The Administrator said drawing that much power could overload the core, rip open the planet's crust.

SCOTT/CAPTAIN Yeah, he's good.

LANGARAN SOLDIER What?

SCOTT/CAPTAIN He was bargaining.

[Scott/Captain gives the soldier a tap on the shoulder and walks away, but the soldier does not seem appeased.]

EXT&mdash;DESTINY IN FTL

PERRY (voice) I'm sorry I was gone so long.

RUSH (voice) I've been having quite the&hellip;

INT&mdash;DESTINY, OBSERVATION DECK

[Rush and Perry are on the observation deck.]

RUSH &hellip;existential time of it, actually, trying to perceive the difference between this place and the real world. And if there is one, well I haven't found it.

[He taps a metal pipe.]

PERRY So you'll still come back then.

RUSH Well, I have to go away first in order to come back.

PERRY Well, it shouldn't be a problem any more.

RUSH Never a doubt. What was the problem?

PERRY Actually, it was Ginn.

RUSH Ginn? What's she got to do with this, then?

PERRY I don't think she approves of this.

RUSH None of her bloody business.

PERRY I know. But somehow, her disapproval manifested itself in keeping you here.

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

[The Stargate is active. Telford, McKay and a number of Earth soldiers come through and are met by Young/Halperin, Scott/Captain and Woolsey.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN Colonel Telford, gentlemen, welcome.

MCKAY McKay. Doctor Rodney McKay.

[Nervous glances are exchanged between McKay, Young/Halperin and Woolsey.]

MCKAY Right.

TELFORD With your permission, Administrator, we'll get started.

YOUNG/HALPERIN The, ah, facility is at your disposal.

TELFORD McKay, put us to work.

MCKAY Right. Ah, you and your team, ah, check to make sure that the power relays are still connected to the Stargate while I hook up their woefully antiquated excuse for the mainframe.

[McKay walks away, followed by Woolsey, Telford and the Earth soldiers. Young/Halperin approaches Scott/Captain.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN I want somebody on every entrance of this building.

SCOTT/CAPTAIN It's a big building, Sir.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Well, use their own people if you have to.

[Young/Halperin walks away. The Langaran soldier watches.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY CHAIR ROOM

[Rush and Perry are standing near the chair, holding hands.]

RUSH Shall we have another go, then?

[Perry nods, and they kiss each other on the cheek. Rush goes and sits in the chair, and Perry gives him a small wave.]

PERRY Bye.

RUSH We'll see.

[Rush sits back, and the chair activates. He closes his eyes as the head piece moves into place, then the chair deactivates. He opens his eyes to find Brody standing over him. Eli and Park are also there.]

BRODY (shouting) He's back! He's back!

RUSH There's no need to shout; they can see me.

ELI What the hell were you thinking?

RUSH I'm thinking I'm rather hungry. How long have I been away?

PARK Almost twelve hours.

RUSH That seems about right.

[Rush gets up and starts to walk away.]

PARK You know, if you're going to do something like this, you should tell someone.

RUSH Yeah, yeah, yeah.

BRODY (calling after Rush) Young is pretty pissed!

RUSH Yeah, well he can shout at me later.

[Eli follows Rush out into the corridor.]

ELI How could you be so blasé about this? You could have died in there!

RUSH You can shout at me on the way to the mess if you like.

INT&mdash;DESTINY, MESS

[There are people sitting at several tables. Rush sits with Eli, eating.]

ELI I don't believe it.

RUSH Amanda said it was some kind of subconscious act of disapproval.

ELI Ginn would never hurt anyone.

RUSH Oh, it doesn't matter anyway. I'm back.

ELI Wh-what was it like?

[Rush smiles and looks around the room then leans forward conspiratorially.]

RUSH Entirely&hellip;personal.

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

[Young/Halperin and McKay are standing among rows of shelving.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN We're not going to be able to keep up this charade forever. How long is this going to take?

MCKAY I gave you my best guess in the briefing.

YONG/HALPERIN You also said you'd reassess once we got here.

MCKAY Well, the facility's already drawing power from the naquadria core, which speeds things up considerably. On the other hand, this is more or less nineteen forties technology, which can slow things down. Then again, there's the "they don't build things like they used to" factor.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Well, one or two, McKay? Which is it?

MCKAY If we end this conversation right now, I can still manage the former.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Sheppard's right.

[Young/Halperin walks away.]

MCKAY About what?

[Young/Halperin and Telford exchange a nod, then Young/Halperin goes to stand by the railing, where he is joined by Woolsey.]

WOOLSEY Perhaps now would be a good time to undertake our secondary objective.

YOUNG/HALPERIN By all means, I'll, ah, show you to my office.

[The Langaran soldier had been eavesdropping and ducks out of sight as Young/Halperin and Woolsey walk past.]

EXT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, DAY

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, HALPERIN'S OFFICE

[Woolsey is rifling through files and drawers. He finds a file that he opens, and a look of concern crosses his face.]

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

[Young/Halperin is standing at the railing on the balcony overlooking the facility. He turns to walk towards the Stargate-end of the room, where McKay is still working among the shelving near the Stargate. He is operating a hand-held computer.]

LANGARAN WORKER How can you possibly control the power flow from so small a device?

MCKAY Because, technically speaking, as far as you're concerned, I'm from the future.

[Telford approaches to defuse the situation.]

TELFORD Doctor McKay appreciates your help.

[The Langaran worker walks away.]

TELFORD What is it with genius and social skills?

MCKAY Hmm?

TELFORD Never mind. We're good to go as far as the Stargate is concerned.

MCKAY All right, good, good. Just loading the program so, uh, ten minutes, tops.

[Young/Halperin is approaching on the balcony above.]

TELFORD I'll just come right out and ask. Once we've proven we can do this, would you be interested in joining Destiny's crew?

MCKAY Well, I never actually, uh&mdash;

TELFORD I know that you can pretty much write your own ticket as far as assignments are concerned, but there isn't a more exciting mission out there.

MCKAY Well, there is the niggling issue of not being able to get home.

[Young/Halperin has come down to the Stargate level and walks past.]

TELFORD Not yet. But we get the right people aboard, return Destiny to its former glory&mdash;

MCKAY If that's even possible.

TELFORD That's why I need you.

MCKAY I thought Colonel Young was in command.

[Telford looks over to where Young/Halperin stands in front of the Stargate and gives a faint smile.]

TELFORD Let me rephrase. That's why we need you.

[McKay nods acknowledgement then walks away.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, RUSH'S QUARTERS

[Rush is sitting at the table, flicking through a notebook in which the pages appear to be blank. Perry appears in front of him.]

RUSH Mandy!

PERRY I just wanted to make sure you got back all right.

RUSH Home again.

PERRY I'm glad. I was worried.

RUSH I know you were.

PERRY The last thing I would ever want is f&mdash;

[Perry looks concerned then disappears.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CHAIR ROOM

[Eli is working at a console when Destiny drops suddenly out of FTL.]

ELI What the hell was that?

GINN An emergency shutdown of the FTL drive.

[Ginn is standing in the doorway.]

ELI Ginn!

GINN I don't think there will be any damage, but I needed the distraction.

[Ginn walks into the room toward where Rush is still sitting in the chair.]

GINN Doctor Rush is in danger.

ELI I know. We've been trying to get him out. And I've been looking for you.

[Eli motions to take her in his arms, then pulls back. The both look upset.]

GINN It was a mistake. She didn't do it intentionally, but there's no way out of the simulation.

ELI Who are we talking about?

GINN Doctor Perry. I tried to reach out to you sooner, but she keeps stopping me. Or suppressing me. It's hard to explain. It's taking all of my concentration just to be here.

ELI Why would she do that?

GINN She's trying to buy time to solve the problem in her initial programming of the simulation, but she can't. The only way to end this is from the outside. You have to do it, Eli.

ELI (concerned) How?

GINN You have to&mdash;

[Ginn disappears.]

ELI Ginn! Ginn!

INT&mdash;DESTINY, RUSH'S QUARTERS

[Rush is still sitting at the table when Perry reappears in front of him.]

RUSH Hey, what happened?

PERRY I sensed a potential overload in one of the FTL drive modules. I was able to stop it with an emergency shutdown.

RUSH Very good.

PERRY So, should I leave you to your work, or can we sit and talk a while?

RUSH Well, I should work really.

PERRY I'll see you soon.

RUSH Sure.

[Perry leans over and kisses Rush on the cheek, then disappears. He puts his hand to his face and rubs where she had kissed him.]

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

[Telford is watching as McKay attaches power cables to a unit. Woolsey approaches and clears his throat as he gestures to Young/Halperin to join them.]

WOOLSEY We have a problem.

TELFORD You couldn't find proof?

WOOLSEY Oh, I found proof all right. That for the past several months, the Langarans have steadfastly refused to have anything to do with the Lucian Alliance.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Well, it doesn't take that long to say no.

WOOLSEY In each exchange, they've been offered more. Much more. And each time, they refused. Apparently out of concern for jeopardizing their alliance with us. I told you&mdash;

TELFORD Woolsey, we had damn good reason to suspect&mdash;

WOOLSEY Yes, because of our spy satellites.

TELFORD This changes nothing.

[The telephone on the wall nearby rings.]

WOOLSEY (to Young/Halperin) I believe it's for you, Administrator.

[Young/Halperin picks up the receiver.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN (into telephone) This is Administrator Halperin. Sir, I, I don't, I don't know who you've spoken to but there is, ah, nothing to be concerned about. Everything&hellip; Ambassador!

[Young/Halperin hangs up the telephone.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN They're on their way.

INT&mdash;DESTINY CORRIDOR

[Rush walks along the corridors through the ship.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, CONTROL INTERFACE ROOM

[Rush walks into the control interface room where Eli is working. He goes to a console and operates it.]

RUSH Shouldn't you be trying to get me out of the neural interface chair?

ELI I might if you were still in the neural interface chair, but seeing as how&hellip;

[Eli's console beeps and he looks at it, concerned.]

ELI What are you doing?

RUSH Nothing to be concerned about.

ELI You're dialing shield strength back all over the ship.

RUSH Yep. Not to worry.

ELI (shouting) No! You&hellip;it's&hellip;stop! Stop! Listen, if shield strength drops below four percent, the ship will rip itself apart!

RUSH You'll be fine.

[Rush walks out of the room.]

ELI No! No, I won't&hellip;you&hellip;

[Eli frantically works at the console.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, OBSERVATION DECK

[Perry is standing on the observation deck. Rush enters.]

PERRY Why are you doing this?

RUSH Because I haven't left the simulation yet, have I? It's time for me to find a way out myself.

PERRY This isn't the way to&mdash;

RUSH Look, all simulations require parameters. Conditions beyond which the programmed scenario can no longer continue. If this doesn't stop it, I don't know what will.

PERRY No, no Nick, this is really happening. You're going to kill everyone on this ship.

RUSH I don't think so.

[They look through the windows as the ship is torn apart, exploding.]

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, CORRIDOR

[Scott/Captain and a team of Earth soldiers are running along the corridors of the facility.]

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

[Woolsey is looking on as McKay works on a computer. Telford is by the Stargate, and Young/Halperin approaches him.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN David, we need to reconsider what we're doing.

TELFORD Better to beg forgiveness than ask for permission, that's what my Dad used to always say.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Well, that only made sense when we could achieve the dial-out before we got caught.

TELFORD We still can.

[Telford walks in the direction of McKay.]

TELFORD McKay, what are you waiting for?

[McKay punches some more keys on the computer as he speaks.]

MCKAY The program is&hellip;running.

[The Stargate begins to activate. Scott/Captain arrives.]

TELFORD Listen to me, Everett. I need to get back there, and you need supplies.

SCOTT/CAPTAIN Sir, there's a sizable force gathering outside the building.

MCKAY Chevron One is encoded.

[Young/Halperin goes to address the Langaran workers in the power plant.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN (calling out) If I could have your attention, please! For safety reasons, I need all Langaran personnel to leave this room immediately. Thank you.

[The Langaran workers leave.]

WOOLSEY There's no time. We should stop now and dial Earth.

TELFORD No! We can't quit now, not when we're this close!

WOOLSEY This will be a diplomatic disaster!

TELFORD I give a damn about those people on that ship, I make no apologies for that. If we stop now, we give up any chance of helping them.

YOUNG/HALPERIN And if we don't stop, people will get hurt, David.

TELFORD We've got two trained SG units, plus you and me. All we need to do is hold them off until we can make a connection.

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, CORRIDOR

[Langaran soldiers are running along the corridor.]

INT&mdash;LANGARAN FACILITY, POWER PLANT

MCKAY Chevron Two encoded.

WOOLSEY And then what?

TELFORD We stand down. We explain what happened, the whole thing. But at least we will have proven to them that it works.

MCKAY Chevron Three encoded.

SCOTT/CAPTAIN Sir!

[The Earth soldiers take up positions around the Stargate as the balconies above fill with Langaran soldiers.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN (shouting) Do not fire! I repeat, do not fire unless fired upon!

TELFORD Everett, I do not want to hurt anyone any more than you do, but we've only got one shot at this.

YOUNG/HALPERIN You want to get back that bad?

TELFORD Not just for my sake. This place could be Destiny's lifeline.

MCKAY Chevron Four encoded.

[Ambassador Ovirda arrives on the balcony above the Stargate with the Langaran soldier.]

OVIRDA We know what you're attempting to do, and it will not be tolerated.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Ambassador, the Earth's delegation has convinced me that-that there is no danger.

OVIRDA I don't know who you are, but Administrator Halperin would never agree to this.

MCKAY Chevron Five encoded.

OVIRDA Our forces have been instructed to open fire if the dialing process reaches the eighth chevron.

TELFORD We just want to prove to you that it can be done, that's all.

OVIRDA The choice is yours.

[Young/Halperin and Woolsey walk towards McKay.]

YOUNG/HALPERIN Power levels.

MCKAY Well within my predictions.

YOUNG/HALPERIN So, it would have worked.

MCKAY Absolutely. (calling out) Chevron Six is locked, by the way, and I would not be standing there.

TELFORD They won't shoot.

MCKAY (to Young/Halperin) Colonel, look, I may just be the brilliant scientist relegated to shouting out the obvious in terms of chevrons here, but while I'm stating the obvious, this mission is already a failure. It's only going to get worse.

[Another chevron locks as Young/Halperin walks over to the Stargate.]

WOOLSEY (to McKay) Thank you.

YOUNG/HALPERIN Shut it down.

[McKay shuts the program down; the Earth soldiers lower their weapons and raise their hands in surrender.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY CHAIR ROOM

[Rush is still in the chair. Eli, Brody, Chloe and TJ are there.]

ELI There's no way to shut down the simulation.

TJ Why not?

ELI Because Perry's the one that programmed the parameters. Unconsciously or not, she's keeping him there.

BRODY So, what are we doing?

ELI Ginn told me the only way to do it's from the outside. Doctor Perry pulled her away from me before she got the words out, but I'm pretty sure I know what she was going to say.

[Eli operates the console.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY, RUSH'S QUARTERS

[Rush wakes up suddenly on his bed. He looks up and sees Perry standing in front of him.]

PERRY Why did you do that, Nick?

RUSH To prove that it wasn't real. Why did you lie to me?

PERRY I-I-I thought it was some kind of glitch. I thought it was something that I could repair. If I could just keep your body alive while I found a way, you wouldn't have to worry.

RUSH So what do we do?

PERRY It's out of my hands now. Ginn finally got through to Eli.

RUSH It was never her fault, was it?

PERRY (sadly) No. It was an innocent mistake in programming the parameters of the simulation. It's so simple that nothing could go wrong.

RUSH Wh-wh-what were the parameters?

PERRY I don't blame you.

RUSH For what? Amanda, what were they?

PERRY That we love each other. That's all. That was the only thing that needed to happen, and you could have come and gone as you wished. I love you, Nick. But you don't&mdash;

RUSH No! No, no! Of course I do. That can't be the problem.

PERRY It's not something you can will to be true.

RUSH But it is true. I love you.

PERRY This wasn't fair to you to begin with. I, I've felt this way about you for most of my life&mdash;

RUSH No, no, no, Amanda, please listen to me, here, now. I mean, not, not defer to, to some bloody program.

PERRY (weakly) You don't have much time. Eli has already started deleting the memory where our consciousness is stored.

RUSH You and Ginn?

PERRY It's the strangest feeling.

RUSH Stop him!

PERRY I can't.

RUSH No, try! Protect yourself!

PERRY I know you blame yourself for my death, but don't. Okay?

[Perry reaches out and touches Rush's face.]

PERRY Because if that hadn't happened, then I never would have felt this.

RUSH (crying) I do love you. I swear it.

PERRY Goodbye.

[She disappears, and Rush stands there crying.]

EXT&mdash;DESTINY IN SPACE

INT&mdash;DESTINY BRIDGE

[Scott returns to his own body, standing on the bridge with his hands bound. James and another soldier are standing there.]

JAMES Is that you?

[Young returns to his own body, also on the bridge with his hands bound.]

SCOTT Yeah, it's us.

YOUNG Yeah.

JAMES How'd the mission go?

YOUNG They've agreed to release our people in exchange for the defense of their planet from the Lucian Alliance. Also, the removal of the Stargate from their power facility. So mission not accomplished. Speaking of letting prisoners free&hellip;

[Young holds out his hands.]

JAMES Oh.

[She takes out her pliers and cuts the cable tie around Yong's wrists.]

JAMES They seemed decent enough. I didn't think there'd be harm in showing them the ship and crew that they were trying to help. I hope that was all right.

YOUNG Lieutenant, in the grand scheme of things, I think that was the best decision any of us has made all day.

INT&mdash;DESTINY INFIRMARY

[Rush wakes up in a bed in the infirmary. Eli is sitting at the foot of the bed, and TJ comes over.]

RUSH What happened? How did I get here?

TJ You've actually been back for a couple of days; it just took you that long to come out of the coma.

[Rush looks over at Eli, who has an expression of bitterness on his face.]

RUSH Eli, what the hell did you do?

ELI What the hell did I do? I transferred the memory where they were stored into quarantine. They're cut off from the rest of the ship now. And us.

RUSH They?

ELI There was no other way. That's what Ginn said. So that's what I did. To save you.

[Eli turns and walks away.]

RUSH No, Eli&mdash;

[He tries to get up but TJ stops him and pushes him back down.]

TJ Forget it. You need to rest. In fact, you're lucky to be alive.

[TJ walks away, and Greer speaks from another bed. Rush lifts his head to see him. Greer appears stronger now.]

GREER Listen to her, Doc. She knows what she's talking about.

[Rush lays his head back down, pain on his face.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Related Articles

 * Previous: Hope" Transcript
 * Next: The Hunt" Transcript