The Hive/Transcript

Episode Guide
The Hive Part 2" Episode Guide

Prologue
TEASER

INT&mdash;QUEEN'S ROOM ON WRAITH SHIP

[Following on from 2.10 "The Lost Boys", Sheppard is on his knees, being interrogated by the Wraith Queen. She walks around him before speaking.]

QUEEN The ship&hellip;where did you get it?

[She uses mind control to force him to answer.]

SHEPPARD (struggling not to speak)

You mean the Dart? We call them Darts 'cause they're so pointy.

QUEEN Tell me. Where?

SHEPPARD I really don't want to say.

[She hits him in the shoulder. Then she caresses his face.]

SHEPPARD I don't even know your name.

QUEEN In time&hellip;you will tell me every&mdash;

[The Queen stops talking and hisses. She leaves abruptly.]

SHEPPARD "Every" what? What's wrong?

[Two Wraith take him by the arms and start to escort him out.]

SHEPPARD She didn't even tell me her name.

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Ronon, Teyla, Ford and his men are waiting when Sheppard arrives with his Wraith guards. They open the cell and push him in. He falls to the floor.]

TEYLA Colonel? Are you unharmed?

SHEPPARD (sitting up)

Yeah.

RONON Where'd they take you?

SHEPPARD A little Q & A with the queen of the Hive.

FORD What'd you tell her?

SHEPPARD It was a short conversation. She walked out.

FORD Why?

SHEPPARD I don't know. Maybe she was late for a meeting.

TEYLA No. There's something else. I sensed she was agitated, even angry.

SHEPPARD Why?

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A Hive ship exits hyperspace just beside the first ship.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

TEYLA Another Hive ship has arrived.

END TEASER

Episode
OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The two Hive ships appear to be docked in space.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

SHEPPARD Are you sure there's another ship?

TEYLA I sense it. Close by.

SHEPPARD Maybe they're planning on culling the planet together.

FORD Or they're going to fight for it.

KANAYO Either way, the planet's only a few days away, so we don't have much time if we still intend to stop them.

SHEPPARD All right, first things first. How to get out. Any luck?

RONON Not yet.

FORD Don't worry. I'll figure a way out.

SHEPPARD I was afraid you were going to say that.

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay speaks quickly and nervously to Ford's men who stayed behind.]

MCKAY Okay, they definitely should've been back by now. Seriously, am I the only one who thinks that maybe things haven't gone according to plan?

BOUNCER Yes.

MCKAY Okay, look, we can't just sit here. We need we need&mdash; we need to do something.

BOUNCER Like what?

MCKAY Like go get help. Look, we can dial the Stargate back to Atlantis where we have a ship, a fast ship with&mdash;with&mdash;with shields. We can fly to the Hive and rescue them if we need to.

BOUNCER Can't dial the gate, remember? Ford removed the control crystals from the dialing device.

MCKAY Yes, I know that. But here's the good news. You're the ones guarding them. Look, all you have to do is get me the crystals. I can fix the DHD and look, you just have to walk into Ford's little room back there and get them.

BOUNCER We're not giving you anything.

MCKAY Then I can't dial the gate.

BOUNCER That's what I said.

MCKAY What is this, an Abbott and Costello routine? Look, just give me the damn crystals.

[McKay tries to enter Ford's office, but the two minders stop him, one aiming a gun at him.]

BOUNCER You want the crystals, you're going to have to go through us.

MCKAY Unbelievable.

[McKay pushes on the gun and walks away in disgust.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard studies the wall across from their cell.]

SHEPPARD Last time we were in one of these ships, McKay was able to open a door by cutting right into the wall.

[Ford holds up a small knife.]

FORD You mean, like, with a knife?

SHEPPARD You have a knife?

FORD One for them to find, one to keep. Everybody knows that.

SHEPPARD Right. I forgot all about that rule.

FORD Well, it's a good thing I'm here.

SHEPPARD Right. Now, just take your time&mdash;

[Ford throws the knife into the wall, but nothing happens.]

SHEPPARD I said take your time.

FORD I hit the exact spot you were pointing at!

SHEPPARD All right, all right. Anybody else have a knife?

[Ronon pulls a knife from his wrist guard. Sheppard roles his eyes. Ronon throws the knife at the wall, and some of the lights go out.]

SHEPPARD Getting warmer.

[Ronon pulls out another knife.]

SHEPPARD How many of those things have you got?

RONON How many do you need?

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN FORD'S CAVE

[The two minders play a board game while McKay sits nearby. McKay checks his watch and gets up.]

INT&mdash;LAB IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay enters with a determined look. He goes to a glass cabinet full of bottles.]

MCKAY (talking to himself)

Okay. You can take them out, easy. Just a few well-placed karate chops, and&mdash;and&mdash;and&mdash;and&mdash;and then down they go. Piece of cake.

(stepping away in doubt)

That's&hellip;What are you, an idiot?

(going back)

Desperate times, desperate measures.

[He opens the cabinet. He reaches for a small vial of the enzyme, but takes a entire bottle instead.]

MCKAY (holding up the bottle)

That's one hell of a karate chop.

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[There are now four knives stuck in the Wraith wall panel. Ronon pulls one more, from his hair.]

SHEPPARD You must have a hell of a time going through airports.

[Ronon throws the knife at the panel. The panel lights up for a moment, and the cell door opens. Sheppard sees Ford inject himself with enzyme.]

SHEPPARD Ford, what the hell are you doing?

FORD That's the last of it.

RONON What about the rest of us?

FORD You don't need it.

RONON (angry)

You don't know that.

[Sheppard stops Ford from leaving the cell first.]

SHEPPARD We're heading to the Dart bay. Stay together, and stay quiet.

INT&mdash;LAB IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay has injected himself with the entire bottle of enzyme. He grunts and breathes hard.]

MCKAY Lock and load.

INT&mdash;DINING ROOM IN FORD'S CAVE

[McKay attacks the two minders without warning. He throws the bouncer across the room.]

BOUNCER Ah!

[McKay breaks a bottle over the other one's head then punches him, knocking him down.]

MCKAY And that's what happens when you back a brilliant scientist into a corner!

[He turns and gets punched by the bouncer. McKay kicks him in the groin, knocking him to the ground.]

MCKAY Focus. Focus&hellip;

INT&mdash;FORD'S OFFICE IN CAVE

[McKay searches through drawers and finds the crystals.]

MCKAY Control crystals.

[He takes them and leaves, breathing heavily.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The two Hives move through sub-space.]

INT&mdash;HIVE CORRIDOR

[The team rushes along. Teyla stops them.]

TEYLA Wait. They are coming.

[A Wraith soldier appears.]

FORD I got it.

SHEPPARD Ford!

[The soldier shoots Ford, but it doesn't stop him. He struggles with the solidier until Ronon is ready to fire.]

RONON Move!

[Ronon shoots the soldier.]

KANAYO More coming!

SHEPPARD This way.

[Sheppard leads them away from at least four more Wraith.]

EXT&mdash;NEAR DHD ON FORD'S PLANET

[McKay works on the DHD.]

MCKAY (talking to himself in a high-pitched, nervous voice)

Big dose. Big, big dose. But you needed it. You needed it to lay out the guards. Idiots. "You want the crystals? You're going to have to go through us." Well, I went through you, all right, didn't I? Like a hot knife through Jell-O. No, wait. Butter. Hot knife through butter. Oh, man, am I hungry. Okay, shut up, Rodney. Focus. Must finish dialing. Please, please work, please please please.

[The gate engages.]

MCKAY Okay, go home.

INT&mdash;WEB AREA ON HIVE SHIP

[Sheppard and the others find humans wrapped in Wraith webs. One calls for help.]

NEERA Help us&hellip;please&hellip;help us.

SHEPPARD She's alive.

TEYLA So is this one.

SHEPPARD Let's get them out of here.

[They start to free the humans.]

FORD We don't have time to stop. This isn't the mission.

SHEPPARD There is no mission, Ford. There's just your stupid plan.

FORD If you hadn't screwed up&mdash;

SHEPPARD Look, the sooner you stop arguing with me and help me save these people, the quicker we get out of here.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE CONTROL ROOM

[The Stargate is active.]

TECHNICIAN Unscheduled activation! Doctor McKay's IDC.

WEIR Lower the shield.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[McKay comes rushing through the 'gate.]

MCKAY (holding up one arm)

I know what I need to do!

WEIR Rodney? What's happened? Hey, where are the rest of&mdash;

[McKay is sweating and speaks in a rambling fashion.]

MCKAY There's no time, no time. The planet, not Ford's, the one the ship's headed towards we need to get there and don't have much time. I was barely able to escape myself, but I managed to take out the guards. Oh, you should've seen me. I was amazing. I wish we got it on camera, because&mdash;that's not the point&mdash;

WEIR Rodney, slow down. Are you all right?

MCKAY Yes. Yes. I mean, I don't know. I mean I had to take out the guards, and they were huge and dumb and stupid&mdash;

WEIR What guards?

MCKAY Ford's guards. Didn't I mention Ford?

WEIR No, you didn't. You haven't mentioned Sheppard, Teyla, or Ronon either.

MCKAY Yes! They were there too, and there were the two guards. They were huge and massive, and I had to take them out, so I had to inject some of the enzyme.

WEIR You took some of the enzyme?

MCKAY No, no, no, no, no no, no. I didn't take some of the enzyme. I took a lot of the enzyme, because I had to, because I had to take out the guards, which I did. And you should've seen me. I was amazing!

WEIR Are you insane?

MCKAY Yes. Yes. Now that I've taken the enzyme, yes!

WEIR Rodney, focus. Where is Colonel Sheppard?

MCKAY No, no, no, I had to take the enzyme, because&hellip;because I had to take out the guards! But that's not the point. The point is we don't have enough time. We need to stop the ship from getting to where the ship is going.

WEIR Come on, come on, let's take a walk down to the infirmary. All right?

MCKAY Where are we going? What are you doing? No, no, no, no, no. I don't want to go to the infirmary. I want to go to the, uh&hellip;the um&hellip;

[McKay collapses to the floor.]

WEIR (into radio)

Dr. Beckett, we have an emergency. We're headed to you.

INT&mdash;WEB AREA ON HIVE SHIP

[Sheppard and the others free the humans. Wraith soldiers rush in. Ronon fires on them.]

SHEPPARD Move! Ahh!

[Sheppard and Teyla each try to life a human victim, but they are both shot by stunners. Ford and Kanayo fight on, but are eventually stunned as well. The soldiers take Neera and drag Ford away.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Hives travel through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Teyla is seated on the floor and wakes slowly. Ronon is already awake.]

RONON Are you all right?

TEYLA I think so.

KANAYO You were shot by Wraith stunners. You both went down pretty quick. The effects of the enzyme must be wearing off.

TEYLA Where are the others?

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard wakes up in a different cell. Ford is there, as is Neera.]

FORD Feeling better? Her name's Neera. Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard.

SHEPPARD (to Neera)

Hi.

(to Ford)

Where are the others?

FORD They split us up into separate cells. I guess the Wraith figure keeping us in smaller groups will make it tougher to escape.

(angrily)

We shouldn't have stopped.

SHEPPARD What's done is done, Lieutenant.

FORD No. First, you set off the alarms, and then you stop to rescue people when you know damn well the Wraith are on our tail? It's like you're purposefully sabotaging this mission. You hate to see me succeed at anything.

SHEPPARD You got a lot of issues to work out, Ford.

FORD Teyla and Ronon went down too quick when they were shot. The enzyme's wearing off.

SHEPPARD Are you feeling anything yet?

FORD Not yet&hellip;but I will. It's happened before when I've run out of the enzyme.

[They both stand.]

FORD It gets pretty bad. So we've got to figure a way out of here. No more unnecessary stops.

[Sheppard and Neera exchange looks.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, EVENING

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Weir escorts Caldwell in.]

BECKETT Colonel Caldwell. I didn't think you were due back here for days.

CALDWELL Dr. Weir requested that we join the search ASAP, so we pushed the engines a little.

WEIR How is he?

BECKETT I've sedated him, administered a beta-blocker to bring his blood pressure down to a more manageable level. It's a wonder he didn't suffer a stroke.

[McKay is lying on a bed, his hands restrained. He has an oxygen mask on. His eyes are closed, but he moves restlessly.]

CALDWELL Did he mention anything further about the location of Colonel Sheppard and his team?

BECKETT Nothing coherent, I'm afraid. By the time he arrived here he was hyperventilating, pulse extremely rapid. He could barely get out a word. Although being Rodney, he certainly tried.

WEIR How much of the enzyme did he take?

BECKETT A very big dose, I'm afraid. I found a significant amount of it in his system; nearly as much as Lieutenant Ford.

WEIR All right. Can you wean him off it?

BECKETT I wish I could. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Ford took the last supply of our enzyme when he left Atlantis, so an incremental withdrawal is out of the question.

CALDWELL Unless we harvest more enzyme.

BECKETT Not an option. By the time we go out and collect it, the enzyme will have broken down in his system already. No, I'm afraid, for Rodney, the only choice is&hellip;

CALDWELL Cold turkey.

BECKETT Aye, to put it bluntly. I can administer some drugs to help ease the process, anti-nausea medication, pain reliever, benzodiazepine for anxiety, as well as a multivitamin injection to bolster the immune system.

WEIR Good.

BECKETT But there's no dodging the fact it's going to be difficult, possibly even deadly.

[They look at McKay, struggling in his sleep.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Ronon and Teyla appear sweaty and ill.]

TEYLA You all right?

RONON I'm just tired.

[Ronon lies down on a platform.]

KANAYO No. The enzyme's leaving your bodies. Mine too.

TEYLA How bad will it get?

KANAYO Bad. Maybe not for you. You guys haven't been on the enzyme for long&hellip; But me, on the other hand&hellip;

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[In the other cell, Ford lies on the ground, shaking. Neera wipes his face with a cloth.]

FORD Thank you.

SHEPPARD How are you holding up, Lieutenant?

FORD I'm okay. I just need to get my hands on some more enzyme. Then I'll be able to get us out of here.

SHEPPARD We'll do it together, with or without the enzyme. We're a team, remember?

FORD I remember.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Awake, McKay struggles in the bed. The oxygen mask has been replaced by a cannula.]

MCKAY Don't just stand there. Get me more enzyme.

BECKETT We don't have any.

MCKAY It's the cave. Ford's cave. He's got a whole cabinet of it. There's dozens of vials.

BECKETT (leaning close)

Do you know the address?

MCKAY (weakly)

No.

BECKETT I'm sorry, Rodney.

MCKAY You don't have to scream at me!

BECKETT I'm not screaming.

MCKAY Oh, this is fun for you, isn't it? Watching me like this.

BECKETT I assure you it's not.

MCKAY (frantic)

What is this? Payback? You're jealous, huh? You're jealous of how vital I am to this mission. Vital, vital. Jealous of how I get to go off-world, and you get stuck in this stupid pathetic excuse for a hospital.

BECKETT You know that's not true.

MCKAY Jealous I get all the women and you don't!

[The two nurses across the room look over.]

BECKETT Excuse me?

MCKAY Please, just give me a little enzyme, just enough to take the edge off. I'm dying here.

BECKETT I told you we don't have any.

MCKAY You think I don't know you're lying?

BECKETT I'm not lying&mdash;

MCKAY You are! You think I don't think you are, but you are. And don't think I won't forget it!

BECKETT (confused)

What?

MCKAY (crying)

I don't know. Just kill me.

BECKETT I wish&hellip; It'll pass&mdash;

MCKAY (shouting)

No. Don't shout. I am right here.

BECKETT (to the nurses)

Perhaps we should move him to a more secluded area.

MCKAY Why, so you can kill me in private? Stab another knife in my back, huh?

BECKETT (gently)

Rodney&hellip;no one's trying to kill you.

MCKAY You have no idea of the agony I'm going through.

BECKETT Oh, I have an inkling.

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Kanayo writhes on the floor.]

TEYLA Kanayo, you must be strong. Fight it. (to Ronon)

I do not know what else to do for him.

RONON There's nothing we can do.

[Kanayo convulses and exhales, then stops moving. Teyla bends to check on him.]

TEYLA Kanayo?

[She checks his pulse.]

TEYLA He's dead.

RONON Is that what's going to happen to us?

[A Wraith approaches with two soldiers. The Wraith hisses at what he sees in the cell. Ronon stares him down.]

RONON One less for you to feed on.

[The Wraith soldier stuns Ronon, who falls but isn't completely unconscious. The Wraith opens the cell and steps in, staring down Teyla very closely.]

WRAITH Take him.

[The soldier drags out Kanayo's body. The the Wraith and soliders leave.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Weir enters and finds Beckett sitting beside McKay's bed.]

WEIR How is he?

BECKETT Asleep, finally. Mercifully.

WEIR Has he mentioned anything about Sheppard and the others?

BECKETT No, not yet. Our conversation was of a different sort. I feel not unlike the priest in The Exorcist. But he's through the worst of it. The nausea has passed, his pulse has returned to normal, blood pressure in a more reasonable range considering he was borderline hypertensive before taking the enzyme.

WEIR Good.

BECKETT I hate to say it, but his stubbornness is probably what sustained him throughout the ordeal.

WEIR We won't tell him that, though.

BECKETT Aye. Mustn't feed the beast.

WEIR No. You should get some rest. You look exhausted.

BECKETT I'll stay with him just a wee bit longer, just to make sure he's out of the woods.

WEIR Carson&hellip;nice work.

BECKETT Thanks, Elizabeth.

[Weir smiles and leave.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Ford is struggling on the floor.]

SHEPPARD Come on buddy. Hang in there. Don't leave us.

FORD Sorry, sir.

SHEPPARD No. None of that. Mission's not over, remember? We've still got to figure a way to get out of here. You hear me?

FORD Yes, sir.

SHEPPARD Aiden&hellip;you can make it through this.

[The Wraith arrives with two soldiers. They open the cell door and enter.]

WRAITH Move away from him.

SHEPPARD What are you going to do with him?

WRAITH Move away.

SHEPPARD He's sick.

WRAITH That is why we're taking him.

[The soldiers pick up Ford and drag him out. The Wraith hisses at Sheppard and follows the soldiers out, closing the cell door.]

SHEPPARD (calling after them)

Where? Where are you taking him?

NEERA To a cocoon. It will preserve him, keep him from dying.

SHEPPARD Until they're ready to feed.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The two Hive ships move through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard looks for weaknesses in the cell door.]

NEERA I'm sorry. It's my fault you got caught. I should never have asked you to stop.

SHEPPARD It's okay. I mean, trapped in one of those cocoons? No one can blame you for wanting out.

NEERA Now your friend has taken my place.

SHEPPARD Not for long. Not if I can help it.

NEERA (doubtful)

How will you get us out of here?

SHEPPARD (covering his doubt)

Okay, I haven't figured that part out yet, but when I do, it's going to be real impressive.

NEERA The Wraith will not allow us to escape.

SHEPPARD Yeah, well I try not to let them tell me what I can and can't do.

NEERA You do not fear them?

SHEPPARD The Wraith? Nah. Now, clowns, that's another story. Scare the crap out of me.

[Neera appears unconvinced.]

INT&mdash;WEIR'S OFFICE

[Weir is working when McKay enters, looking himself again.]

WEIR Well, look at you.

MCKAY Ah. Yes. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as the idiom goes.

WEIR You gave us quite a scare.

MCKAY Yeah, it was very strange. The whole time I was under the influence of the enzyme, it felt like I was perfectly lucid. Was eloquent, even. I mean, it was you who wasn't making any sense or listening to reason. It was very peculiar. I think I kind of understand how Ford must've been feeling this whole time.

WEIR Rodney&hellip;what happened out there? And where are the others?

MCKAY I don't know, exactly, but I think I can figure it out. I told you Ford's alive.

[The walk out toward the 'gate room.]

WEIR You told me, but I didn't believe you.

MCKAY The man is nothing if not resilient. He's been busy, too. He's gathered himself together a little gang, doped them all up on the enzyme. They're the ones that caught us, drugged us, and coerced Sheppard Teyla, and Ronon into joining them on a mission to destroy a Hive ship.

[McKay has sat down at a terminal in the control room.]

WEIR (shocked)

A Hive ship?

MCKAY Yeah. They managed to steal themselves a Dart. Like I said, he's been busy. Look, when they didn't return from the mission, I realized something had obviously gone wrong. Now, I have the coordinates to the planet that the Hive ship was headed towards to cull.

WEIR So if the team is still alive, maybe captured on the ship, there's a chance we can rescue them.

MCKAY Yeah, at the very least we can warn the planet of the impending culling.

WEIR I'll alert Colonel Caldwell.

MCKAY Very good.

[Weir leaves. McKay starts typing.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Teyla is sleeping and wakes up suddenly. Ronon is awake.]

RONON How are you feeling?

TEYLA Better. You?

RONON Ready to get out of here.

TEYLA Have you had any luck finding a way to escape?

RONON I think our only chance is to try to create a diversion, try to overpower them next time they come in here.

TEYLA Have you thought of Lieutenant Ford? If his withdrawal was as severe as Kanayo's&hellip;

RONON (approaching her)

If it distracts you&hellip;you clear your mind of it. If it fuels your anger, use it.

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

SHEPPARD Do you have anything sharp? Knife? Hairpin? Anything to puncture the skin on these walls?

NEERA No.

SHEPPARD It's just that everyone in my last cell had one, so&hellip;

NEERA Your people were taken by the Wraith, too?

SHEPPARD A few.

NEERA My whole world was destroyed, my people taken and brought here. I watched as my own mother and younger brother were fed upon.

SHEPPARD I'm sorry to hear that.

NEERA We had no means to fight the Wraith. We are a simple, peaceful people.

SHEPPARD We're peaceful, too, but the good news is, we have the means to put up a hell of a fight.

NEERA You have fought the Wraith before?

SHEPPARD Lots of times. Won some battles, lost some. War's not over by a long shot, but we're managing to hold our own.

NEERA And the clowns?

SHEPPARD (sincerely)

Clowns? Oh, yeah, the clowns. Yeah, we fight them, too. Entire armies spilling out of Volkswagens. We do our best to fight them off, but&hellip;they keep sending them in.

[Neera appears thoughtful.]

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR ON DAEDALUS

[McKay walks with Caldwell, Lorne, and Zelenka.]

MCKAY According to Ford's intel, Edowin has a space gate. We can get there quickly in a puddle jumper, but we wouldn't be able to do much more than just warn people of the impending culling.

CALDWELL Do we have enough time?

MCKAY Yes.

ZELENKA We think.

MCKAY We should.

ZELENKA We hope.

MCKAY It'll be close, yes, but using the Daedalus, we might be able to get a radio lock on Sheppard and the team inside the Hive ship. If they're still alive, we can beam them out.

CALDWELL All right. Let's get this bird off the ground.

LORNE (to Zelenka)

Coming with us?

ZELENKA No. No.

(to himself)

Right.

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

[Sheppard is sleeping beside the cell door. Neera steps over quietly and sits beside him. He wakes up.]

NEERA For warmth.

[She rests her head on his shoulder.]

SHEPPARD Okay.

[He gingerly put his arm around her shoulders.]

SHEPPARD How's that? Better?

NEERA Yes. Thanks&hellip; How long will they keep us in here?

SHEPPARD That's a very good question.

NEERA If we're able to escape, where will I go?

SHEPPARD Wherever you want.

NEERA Can I come with you to your world?

SHEPPARD Sure. Why not? I'm sure we can find a spare room.

NEERA I'd like that. What is it like, your world?

SHEPPARD It's nice. Comfortable. Good climate.

NEERA (smiling)

Tell me what it looks like.

SHEPPARD Like every other world, I suppose. Trees, water, mountains&hellip; Starbucks on every corner.

NEERA What is it called?

SHEPPARD (hesitating)

Do you mind if we pick this up after I get some sleep?

NEERA Yes. Of course.

[She settles down, putting her hand over the middle of his chest. He does not close his eyes.]

[Later, they are both sleeping. The ship makes a metallic clanking sound and shudders, waking them up.]

NEERA What is it?

SHEPPARD I don't know. Must have just dropped out of hyperspace. Maybe they're getting ready for the culling.

[They stand up. The Wraith arrives and grabs Sheppard, shoving him at the Wraith soldiers.]

WRAITH Take him.

INT&mdash;QUEEN'S ROOM ON WRAITH SHIP

[Sheppard stands in the middle of the chamber. The Queen enters.]

QUEEN Shall we talk now?

SHEPPARD About what?

QUEEN You are stubborn.

SHEPPARD Yes, I am&hellip;and, uh&hellip;she's very pretty, by the way.

[The Queen looks at him questioningly.]

SHEPPARD Neera. The girl you planted in the cocoon for us to rescue, after you let us escape. The one that was supposed to get information from me. That's never going to happen.

[The Queen hisses at him.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Caldwell briefs his crew, including McKay and Lorne. He uses a lighted board to illustrate the plan.]

CALDWELL We'll drop out of hyperspace directly behind the planet. Use it to shield us from the Hive ship, where you're going to attempt radio contact with Colonel Sheppard.

MCKAY We won't be able to make radio contact from behind the planet.

CALDWELL Which is why you and Major Lorne will take a cloaked puddle jumper and get close enough to determine if Colonel Sheppard and his team are still aboard the ship. If they are, we'll move into position around the planet and beam them out.

LORNE And if they're not there?

CALDWELL We'll beam a nuke aboard the ship and destroy it.

MCKAY What if they jam us like they did before?

CALDWELL Doctor you worry about getting Colonel Sheppard and his team out of that ship. Let me worry about destroying it, okay?

[McKay and Lorne exchange looks.]

INT&mdash;QUEEN'S ROOM ON WRAITH SHIP

[Neera enters the chamber.]

SHEPPARD Oh, there you are. I guess that empty room is off the table, but nice try back there in the cell.

(to Queen)

I knew there must have been a good reason for you to let us break out, but that was quite the performance. Where'd you find her?

QUEEN (walking around Sheppard)

She is one of many thousands that have come to serve us&hellip;even worship us. They do my bidding&hellip;and I let them live.

[The Wraith caresses Neera's face.]

SHEPPARD A Wraith worshiper, huh? Wow.

NEERA The prophecy of the great awakening has come to pass. The end days have come to the mortal&mdash;

SHEPPARD Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know about that, because I'm one, too. Although in my case, it's not so much worship as it is a meaningful business relationship.

QUEEN You lie.

SHEPPARD Okay, tell me this. How else could I get my hands on a Dart? And who else could provide me with specific instructions on how to infiltrate your Hive and destroy it?

QUEEN Of which queen do you speak?

SHEPPARD You got to have a window on this boat, don't you? Take a look. The other Hive that joined you for the culling. A lot more people to feed on when you don't have to share.

QUEEN I will speak to her of this.

SHEPPARD Well, you don't really think she'd admit to trying to have you killed, do you?

QUEEN Enough!

[The Queen forces Sheppard to his knees, mentally.]

QUEEN I shall savor your defiance.

[The Queen is shot with a stun weapon from behind, and cries out. Sheppard turns to see it's Ford. Ford shoots two soldiers and tosses Sheppard Ronon's gun. The Queen fires at Ford, but he doesn't fall. Sheppard fires at the Queen, knocking her out. Neera and other Wraith worshippers run out.]

SHEPPARD How the hell did you get our weapons back?

[They run out and make their way down a corridor.]

FORD That was the easy part. Getting some more enzyme, that was hard.

[Sheppard takes out a soldier.]

SHEPPARD You are one tough son of a bitch.

[Ford stops.]

SHEPPARD What are you doing?

FORD Down that hall. Fifty meters. Turn left. It'll take you to Teyla and Ronon's cell. I'll hold the Wraith back for you.

SHEPPARD (walking back to Ford)

You're coming with me.

FORD I'll hold the Wraith back, boss. Now, go. I'll be okay.

SHEPPARD I'm not going without you, Lieutenant.

FORD John, I'll catch up. Now, go!

[Ford shoves Sheppard and runs off.]

SHEPPARD Ford!

[A Wraith alarm starts screeching.]

SHEPPARD Oh, crap.

INT&mdash;WRAITH CELL

RONON Get ready.

[Sheppard arrives.]

SHEPPARD Hey.

RONON Hey.

SHEPPARD How about I bust you guys out of here?

RONON If you don't mind.

[Sheppard fires at the door panel, destroying it.]

SHEPPARD I've got to get myself one of these. Where's Kanayo?

[He hands Ronon back his gun. Ronon picks up his coat from inside the cell.]

TEYLA He is dead. Ford?

SHEPPARD I don't know. Last I saw, he was alive. I'm sticking with that.

[They rush down the corridor.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[DAEDALUS drops out of hyperspace above a planet.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL (into radio)

Jumper One, you have a go.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Lorne is at the controls, McKay in the other front seat.]

LORNE On our way. Engaging cloak.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Puddle Jumper leaves the Daedalus hangar bay. After a moment, it disappears, cloaked.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[The heads-up display lights up with two red circles.]

LORNE Oh, no.

MCKAY There's two of them!

LORNE You said there was only one.

MCKAY Well, there was only one.

LORNE Now there's two!

MCKAY I can see that!

LORNE Let's try and hail Colonel Sheppard.

INT&mdash;WRAITH SHIP CORRIDOR

[The three race down the corridor. The alarm is still sounding. They arrive at the entrance to the hangar bay. Many Darts are leaving the hangar.]

TEYLA The culling is beginning.

SHEPPARD We gotta stop them.

RONON How?

SHEPPARD Stay here. When I give you my signal, get out in the open.

[Sheppard goes into the hangar.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL (into radio)

Jumper One, what's your status?

LORNE (over radio)

We are unable to establish a radio link with Colonel Sheppard or the others on either of the Hive ships.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY (into radio)

Which doesn't necessarily mean they're not on either of the ships. They could've had their radios taken from them.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL (into radio)

We can't make that assumption. Return to the Daedalus immediately.

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY (into radio, disappointed)

We're almost there now.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL (into radio)

Good. We need to take those ships out before they start culling.

INT&mdash;WRAITH SHIP CORRIDOR

[Ronon and Teyla watch the hangar activity. A Dart turns and heads toward them.]

TEYLA Is that his signal?

RONON It'd better be.

[They go into the hangar and are swept up by a culling beam.]

INT&mdash;DART

SHEPPARD Oh, I sure hope that worked.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Dozens of Darts leave the hangar bay of both Hive ships.]

[On the other side of the planet, Daedalus gets underway.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[McKay and Lorne arrive back on the bridge.]

CALDWELL Max power to the shields. Are we within transport range?

AIRMAN Yes, sir. We have a weapons lock on coordinates inside the first enemy vessel.

CALDWELL Deploy warhead.

[The display shows the transport failed.]

AIRMAN The enemy has engaged countermeasures to block our transport.

MCKAY They're jamming us again.

AIRMAN We're under fire.

[The ship is taking fire.]

CALDWELL Forward rail positions. Return fire.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Both Hives fire on Daedalus, which fires back at both with the forward rail guns.]

INT&mdash;DART

[The Dart display shows many ships in the area.]

SHEPPARD This is not good. Not good. Not good.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Sheppard's Dart turns toward the side of one of the Hives.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

LORNE How much of this can the shields take?

MCKAY Not much. We're already down twenty percent.

[Sparks begin flying around the bridge.]

CALDWELL Our people have been in Wraith hands too long. We have to assume they've been compromised and the Wraith know Atlantis wasn't destroyed. We need to win this.

INT&mdash;DART

[Sheppard brings up the weapons display.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Sheppard's Dart does a strafing run on the Hive ship, hitting it in the hangar bay and other sections.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[McKay and the others watch the battle out the forward view-screen. They see the explosions on the Hive.]

MCKAY Look. You see that?

LORNE What?

MCKAY It's a Dart firing on one of the Hive ships.

CALDWELL Why?

MCKAY (realizing)

Sheppard!

INT&mdash;DART

[Sheppard keeps firing.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Darts from the two Hives are firing on each other and each other's Hives.]

INT&mdash;DART

[Sheppard keeps flying.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The display shows massive fire between the Hives.]

CALDWELL I don't believe what I'm seeing.

LORNE Sheppard's actually getting them to fire at each other.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The two Hives fire on each other at very close range. One of the Hives explodes, and the blast takes out the second Hive, resulting in a huge fireball.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[They have to look away from the brightness of the explosion. McKay looks devastated. He rushes to his tactical display.]

MCKAY (shocked)

The blast has destroyed everything in the fifteen-thousand-meter radius.

CALDWELL Did any Darts survive?

AIRMAN Negative, sir.

[McKay steps back to the fore of the bridge, shocked and devastated.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

TECHNICIAN (into radio)

Copy that. Atlantis out.

[He gets up and goes to find Weir in her office.]

TECHNICIAN Dr. Weir. We received word from Daedalus. They said they should be back to Atlantis by 1900 hours.

WEIR They called the search off?

TECHNICIAN They said there was nothing to search for.

WEIR (subdued)

Thank you.

[Weir turns away in shock. The Stargate begins to activate.]

TECHNICIAN Off-world activation!

WEIR Who is it?

TECHNICIAN We have an I.D.C. It's Colonel Sheppard's code.

WEIR Let 'em in!

[Weir rushes down the stairs to the 'gate room.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Sheppard, Ronon, and Teyla walk through the active wormhole. Weir jogs over to meet them.]

SHEPPARD Sorry we're late.

[Everyone smiles.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS PIER, NIGHT

[The Daedalus lands on the pier.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Beckett examines Ronon, while Teyla sits on the next bed. Sheppard stands between them, and Weir is nearby.]

BECKETT All right, up you go.

[He helps Ronon sit up as McKay and Caldwell enter.]

MCKAY Why aren't you dead?

SHEPPARD It's good to see you, too, Rodney.

MCKAY No, no, I mean, well you know what I mean. Why aren't you&hellip;dead?

SHEPPARD Well, I knew when the Hives started to shoot at each other, it was just a matter of time before they blew each other up, so I went to the space gate and dialed an address where I could land safely. I didn't think the Dart could fit in our gate room.

TEYLA The Colonel was kind enough to make us whole again, and we returned home.

CALDWELL I'm curious, Sheppard. How did you know the Wraith would fight each other?

SHEPPARD Uh, a little intel from Ford and the gang, plus I kind of goosed things along with the queen.

[McKay appears confused and a bit amazed.]

TEYLA It would appear the Wraith are becoming more territorial than we had thought. There is definite tension building among them.

RONON Which is good for us.

WEIR It certainly is. It also opens a brand-new strategy in fighting them.

MCKAY Huh. And where is Ford?

TEYLA He was aboard the Hive ship when it was destroyed.

SHEPPARD He was last seen aboard the Hive ship.

MCKAY What does that mean?

SHEPPARD Well, you know Ford. I wouldn't be surprised if we run into him again.

[Sheppard appears hopeful but unconvinced.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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