Heroes, Part 1/Transcript

Episode Guide

 * 7.17 "Heroes Part 1" Episode Guide

Transcript
INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Through the window to the Gate Room, a video camera records some workers, one on a ladder, performing maintenance on the Stargate.]

BREGMAN So are you getting the full thing?

JAMES Just about, yeah.

BREGMAN Well, instead of zooming out, why don't you pull back a little? Get it in context, right?

JAMES Okay.

BREGMAN Yeah, just keep going back.

[The camera moves back to get a wider footage as Bregman pulls James back slightly from the window. James is holding a steady-cam video camera.]

JAMES Okay, okay. Yeah, that's good.

BREGMAN Yeah, it's amazing.

[Rundell approaches them from Hammond's office.]

RUNDELL Yes, it is.

[The documentary crew is startled and turns to Rundell. Wickenhouse holds a large boom microphone.]

RUNDELL Mister Bregman?

BREGMAN Yeah?

[Rundell offers his hand and Bregman shakes it.]

RUNDELL Colonel Tom Rundell, Cheyenne Mountain Complex Public Affairs Liaison.

BREGMAN (chuckling) That's quite a mouthful. Call me Emmett.

RUNDELL Yes, sir.

BREGMAN (cautiously) Okay. This is my posse here.

JAMES Tech Sergeant Dale James.

BREGMAN On camera.

WICKENHOUSE Airman First Class Shep Wickenhouse, sir.

BREGMAN (talking simultaneously) Shep on sound.

RUNDELL Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, sir. But what are you doing here?

BREGMAN (confused) We're getting some establishing shots. The first of many, I hope, while we're waiting. In fact, we should get a shot-a shot of you, Colonel.

[He nudges James to film Rundell. Rundell puts up his hand in denial.]

RUNDELL I'm sorry. But, you're not authorized to begin until you've been briefed by General Hammond.

BREGMAN I've already been briefed Tom, is it? by the Defense Department. What's the problem? I'm cleared to shoot here. Maybe-maybe you guys haven't been cleared. Have you been cleared?

[He smiles at James and Wickenhouse who weakly smile in return.]

BREGMAN Sorry, what is the problem here?

RUNDELL General Hammond's ready to see you now.

BREGMAN (warily) Okay.

[Rundell leads Bregman to Hammond's office. James and Wickenhouse remain where they are.]

WICKENHOUSE (sarcastically sighing) This should be fun.

JAMES (rolling his eyes) Oh yeah.

INT&mdash;HAMMOND'S OFFICE

[Hammond is seated at his desk when Rundell and Bregman enter.]

RUNDELL General Hammond, sir? This is Mister Bregman.

[Rundell places a folder on Hammond's desk in front of the General.]

BREGMAN (with wide grin) I'm very excited to be here, sir.

[Bregman holds out his hand for Hammond to shake. Hammond ignores it and opens the file folder.]

HAMMOND You may find that we're not all quite as giddy as you are about this project, Mr. Bregman.

BREGMAN "Giddy"? Uh&hellip;I, well, I'm personally and professionally, uh, excited, I think I said "excited" to be here, General. I haven't been giddy since well, you don't want to know about that.

HAMMOND No.

BREGMAN No.

HAMMOND I just want to be as clear as I can up front.

BREGMAN Sure.

HAMMOND Your presence is highly unorthodox, and I will not let it threaten the security of any ongoing missions or the safety of my people.

BREGMAN (jocularly) Well, I've already been frisked three times. We can make it a fourth time. You can do it personally, get to know each other a little better, General, if you want&hellip; (noticing Hammond is not amused) I'm sorry.

HAMMOND I consider it my responsibility to protect my people's interests.

BREGMAN I understand that.

HAMMOND (continuing) And quite frankly, I feel it's appropriate to warn you that no one around here wants to be part of your little reality show.

BREGMAN Oh, I see. You know, General, I think you're probably well aware that there were film cameras on the beaches of Normandy decades before "Survivor" debuted on CBS. And, personally, I think it's an outrageous oversight that the Stargate Program hasn't been chronicled up to this point.

HAMMOND That's because it's top secret. Only a handful of people will see anything you shoot.

BREGMAN So far, General, so far. Eventually, inevitably, this program is going to be disclosed to the American people and to the whole world, and I'd like to think that this little film that we're doing here might in some small way provide insight into what's really been going on here for the last six years.

HAMMOND What's really been going on?

BREGMAN (chuckling without humor) You know what, General? I respect what you're doing here. I can even respect that you want me out of here. But the President of the United States invited me to do this.

HAMMOND You see that red phone? You wouldn't be here if he hadn't.

BREGMAN Well, then, I hope I can expect the full cooperation of you and your personnel.

HAMMOND To the letter of these orders.

BREGMAN To the letter. I see. I see. Thank you.

HAMMOND You have high expectations to meet.

[Bregman pauses, then leaves, his expression grim.]

RUNDELL (standing to attention) General.

[Rundell leaves. Hammond sighs as he reviews the orders again.]

OPENING CREDITS

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR, LEVEL 28

[Personnel transport a cart down the corridor. On it is an alien sphere hooked with some wires. Bregman and Rundell talk in the hallway.]

RUNDELL Maybe it's my opinion, but it seems to me throughout history&hellip;

BREGMAN (noticing the alien device) What's that?

RUNDELL (continuing, completely ignoring the device) &hellip;the best documentaries have taken a, you know, cinema verit&eacute; approach&hellip;

BREGMAN (muttering) Yeah, yeah cinema verité&hellip;

RUNDELL (continuing) &hellip;letting the subject tell its own story.

[Bregman pulls out a notepad folder from his briefcase and opens it.]

BREGMAN Yeah, tell you what, Tom? I think that that's probably a very interesting point of view, and, uh, mostly, if not totally, crap, especially in a situation like this. You know, if this story was going to tell itself, you know what? Then there'd be Stargate updates on the nightly news! You do have a point, you have a point in the sense that we probably should start with a soft approach and make people feel comfortable, gain their trust. You know what? We would be here a year! These soldiers conceal things for a living.

RUNDELL Airmen, sir. We're the United States Air Force.

BREGMAN These "airmen" conceal things for a living. And the only way that I'm going to get anything out of these people is not by the&mdash; (distracted by another device being transported down the hall) Look at that. That's (refocusing) by the&hellip;the&hellip;what'd you say? The "cinema verité" approach. It's going to be by the-by the "wringing it out of them" approach. That's the only way I'm going to&mdash;

RUNDELL Look, Mister Bregman, as far as I'm concerned, you are here strictly to document what is going on&hellip;

BREGMAN I know.

RUNDELL (continuing) &hellip;not to pursue anything that might be prejudicial to Air Force personnel.

BREGMAN (chuckling) Why don't you call me Emmett? Okay?

RUNDELL If someone were to offer something up in an interview&hellip;

[O'Neill walks down the corridor. Bregman spots him.]

BREGMAN Is that who I think it is?

RUNDELL (glancing over) It's Colonel Jack O'Neill.

[Bregman moves towards O'Neill. O'Neill continues to walk by quickly heading to the open elevator.]

BREGMAN Colonel O'Neill. Hi. I'm&mdash;

O'NEILL (not breaking stride) I like vanilla over chocolate. My favorite color is peridot. I think Tibet should be free. And if I could have dinner with anyone in the world, it'd be Mary Steenburgen.

[Bregman chases O'Neill to the elevator, coming up short as he processes O'Neill's last comment.]

BREGMAN No-no, I'm just trying&hellip;Mary Steenburgen?

O'NEILL I think she's nice.

[The elevator doors start to close, and Bregman forces himself into the entryway to keep the doors open.]

BREGMAN No, No! Look, I'm just trying to get a minute&hellip;

[O'Neill represses the elevator door button and leans forward as Bregman stabilizes himself in the door frame.]

O'NEILL Look, I really don't have time at the moment.

BREGMAN Can you&hellip;No, no, I'm&mdash;

O'NEILL I've got a briefing to go to.

BREGMAN I understand, I'm Emmett&mdash;

[Bregman offers his hand. O'Neill coughs into his right hand, then moves to shake Bregman's hand, who pulls his own hand back, laughing good-naturedly. He stumbles slightly as the doors start to close on him again, but he pushes them back.]

BREGMAN Now look, I'm not going to be able to get a perspective on this whole Stargate Program without you, Colonel. So when is a good time for you?

O'NEILL Any time's good. Just, uh, send me a memo.

[O'Neill shoves Bregman back slightly, and the doors close.]

BREGMAN (chuckling falsely) Memo.

RUNDELL (dryly) I really sensed he's starting to trust you.

[Bregman raises his finger, about to respond, but Rundell walks away.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Wickenhouse wires Carter with a microphone. Carter appears uncomfortable and nervous.]

BREGMAN (indicating Wickenhouse to Carter) Don't worry about it. He only looks unprofessional. (Carter smiles weakly) You know, Major, General Hammond warned me that people might be a little less than enthusiastic about all this.

CARTER Yeah, we did have a bad experience with a TV crew last year.

[Airmen adjust lights and the camera equipment. Carter starts as Wickenhouse attaches the microphone pack to her belt.]

BREGMAN The Prometheus incident. I know that the Air Force insisted on their own crew for that reason.

CARTER I think you might also be sensing reluctance from people around here to put themselves up on a pedestal. I mean, we are just doing our jobs.

[She gives a cautious look to Wickenhouse, who is still adjusting the microphone on her.]

BREGMAN Just a job? Well, I consider it my job to put you up on a pedestal, 'cause this job looks to me to be nothing short of extraordinary. And from what I read of your file, the same can be said about you personally.

CARTER (blushing) See, now I'm blushing.

BREGMAN So you are. Then we should start. It'll look good on camera. All right, let's go, guys.

[Bregman moves to his seat off-camera.]

BREGMAN Are you ready?

CARTER (sitting and clearing her throat) No.

[James moves towards Carter with a light meter, checking readings.]

BREGMAN What are you doing? We don't need a light meter, the woman is glowing. Let's get rolling.

[James moves back behind the camera.]

JAMES We're rolling.

[Carter straightens on her stool.]

BREGMAN Sound?

WICKENHOUSE Rolling.

BREGMAN Okay. Major Samantha Carter. U.S. Air Force. Astrophysicist. Considered the foremost expert on the Stargate. You've explored territory that no one on Earth, in the history of Earth has ever seen, and you've fought an enemy that no one on Earth has even imagined.

[Carter squirms uncomfortably at the praise and nods.]

BREGMAN Major Samantha Carter, meet the six and a half billion people of the planet Earth.

[Carter looks at the camera and gulps nervously.]

CARTER (shyly) Hi.

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR, LEVEL 21

[Rundell, Wickenhouse and James are already set up down the corridor. The documentary camera records Bregman and Daniel coming into view, walking down the hallway together.]

BREGMAN I don't think I've asked the following question before in my entire career. But, what was it like to be&hellip;well, dead?

DANIEL (bristling) I wasn't exactly dead.

BREGMAN Oh, you were&mdash;what was the word? You were, transcended?

DANIEL Ascended.

BREGMAN Ascended?

DANIEL Yeah. Well, actually, I did have the unfortunate experience of, um, dying, first. Uh, slowly and- and quite painfully, first, I might add.

[Bregman opens his file, and Daniel reads over his shoulder.]

BREGMAN Well, in your mission file, it says your human&hellip;I'm quoting here, your human body: "transformed into energy. A bright white light rose above the hospital bed." Is that&hellip;

DANIEL (nodding) Yeah.

BREGMAN &hellip;accurate? So could you, Dr. Jackson, could you I don't know&hellip;Elaborate? I mean what-what- what did it feel like?

DANIEL (mumbling) Well, I don't know. I-I really don't remember much after that. (Daniel's pager beeps, and he pulls it out to look at it.) Will you excuse me?

BREGMAN Yeah.

[Daniel takes off down the hall running. Bregman is startled and starts gesturing to the crew as he starts running as well.]

BREGMAN Follow him. Come on, come on!

[The documentary team follows Daniel, who is moving at top speed through the corridors, the camera filming the chase all the while.]

BREGMAN (to camera crew) Move. Move! Move!

[Bregman spots Daniel in his office and gestures for the crew to follow him in.]

INT&mdash;DANIEL'S OFFICE

[Daniel is by his fax machine, pulling out a paper that was just transmitted and reading it while coughing slightly. The documentary crew approaches.]

BREGMAN Doctor Jackson? Doct What is it? What is it?

DANIEL (speaking quickly) It's uh, the mask fragment I collected from P3X&mdash;

BREGMAN I'm sorry, could you slow down?

DANIEL (enunciating) The mask fragment I collected from P3X-298. It was carbon-dated to match the predynastic period of Egypt here on Earth.

BREGMAN And could, what does could you get a close shot of this?

The camera takes a close up shot of the fax. It reads as follows:

INTERNAL FAX Pages 1 of 1 To: Dr. Daniel Jackson Fax# Local #776

LABORATORY RESULTS Dr. Daniel Jackson After extensive carbon testing of the main fragment that was collected from planet P3X-298, we find that it is to be dated to match the predynastic period of Egypt on Earth. Official results to be sent to your laboratory&hellip;[Daniel's hand obscures the rest] Thank you. Dr. Sam A[illegible]]

BREGMAN What is the, uh&hellip;what is the significance of that?

DANIEL (innocently) It's fascinating.

BREGMAN It's fasc&hellip;Okay. (to crew) Back up. Back up. (to Daniel) Uh, that's it? It's fascinating? Then why were we running?

DANIEL Oh, uh, I just wanted to see if you'd chase me.

[He casts a deadpan look to the camera before turning his back, rereading the fax. Bregman waves to the camera in annoyance.]

BREGMAN Okay. Turn it off. Turn it off. Get it get that mike away from me. Turn it off!

[The camera clicks off.]

INT&mdash;SGC SCIENCE LAB

[Lee and other scientists are working in the science lab. One is soldering something on a MALP. Lee is speaking directly to the camera, tapping a kevlar helmet, as the documentary crew records the footage.]

LEE Kevlar will not stop the energy blast from a staff weapon. And uh, the armor plating in other bullet-proof protection gets superheated from the plasma, so&hellip;

[Lee has put down the helmet and picks up a shiny thin sheet of metal, knocking on it in demonstration.]

LEE (continuing) &hellip;while it would stop the penetration, the wearer is essentially trapped in what becomes their own personal microwave oven. And, uh, you know. Not a good idea.

[Lee points to a protection vest worn by a scorched mannequin as he puts down the metal plate.]

LEE Anyway, what we've been working on is this.

[Lee picks up a thin, black, plastic square, and places it into the vest of the mannequin.]

LEE A ceramic polymer which will resist the heat, stop the blast, and fits into a standard issue SG vest&hellip;which Sergeant Siler will now demonstrate for us.

[Lee points out Siler, who is wearing a vest and helmet over top his usual dark blue BDU jumpsuit. Teal'c, wearing goggles, picks up a staff weapon nearby.]

BREGMAN (low, to Lee) Wouldn't it be a better idea&hellip; (notices camera still recording Lee and him) No, no, don't shoot me. Shoot&hellip;

[Bregman gestures over his shoulder to Siler. The camera pans over to show Siler placing goggles on his face. Lee and Bregman walk behind James and continue their low conversation.]

BREGMAN Don't you think that it would be more interesting, you know, if I wore the vest?

LEE (alarmed) No, no, no, no, no.

BREGMAN Well, isn't it safe?

LEE Well, absolutely, it's safe. It's not like we've never done this before.

[While speaking, he gently pushes Bregman back, further out of range.]

BREGMAN So?

LEE No.

SILER Away from the face, big guy.

[Siler has barely finished putting on his goggles when Teal'c fires his weapon, knocking Siler against the padded wall and setting the vest afire. Siler collapses to the floor and stays still as an airman pours extinguisher over his body, snuffing out the flames.]

SILER It's all good. I'm fine.

[Bregman and Rundell stare at Siler in shock. Lee bites his finger.]

LEE You see? Um, Yeah. See, he-he does that all that time.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[The documentary crew interviews Carter, who is standing in front of the control stations.]

CARTER The control room is sort of like the air traffic control tower of the base. We monitor all Gate activity from here.

BREGMAN So what are all these blinking lights about? For example, what are those lights over there?

[Bregman gestures to some equipment by the far wall. Carter moves over to it.]

CARTER Well, this monitors the Gate's massive power consumption required to generate outgoing wormholes. Interestingly, in our study of offworld DHDs, we've found that our Gate actually draws 10% more wattage than offworld Gates. Now that far exceeds any potential loss due to our man-made interface. We think it has to do with the way that the super-conductive crystals inside the Gate absorb electrical energy, but we're also trying to demonstrate that the DHDs are somehow producing a-a purer, more efficient form of power.

[Carter smiles in excitement. Bregman looks blank.]

BREGMAN Could we get a shot of the Gate spinning?

CARTER (sarcastically) Sure. It's really cool. Steam comes out of it and everything.

BREGMAN Great.

HARRIMAN Major?

[Harriman approaches and whispers in Carter's ear.]

CARTER Uh, sorry, guys. There's an SG team due to embark on a mission.

BREGMAN (excited) Well, that's great! We'll get a shot of them leaving!

CARTER Actually, you're going to have to leave.

BREGMAN Can I ask you something? You've been (turns back to film crew) Sorry, you can stop shooting. Cut.

[The camera shuts off.]

EXT&mdash;P3X-666, DAY

[SG-13 exits the active wormhole. The planet is full of grass and trees; the Stargate is in a clearing. A MALP is nearby.]

DIXON Okay, Balinsky, which way?

BALINSKY (checking a handheld device) That way.

DIXON I'll take point. Wells, Bosworth, you're rear guard. Five-meter spread. Keep your eyes open.

BALINSKY The MALP showed no indication of any recent Goa'uld activity on this planet.

DIXON I don't see any indication of anything here.

BALINSKY (holding up a small notebook) Take the usual bet on that, sir?

DIXON Sure. Wells?

WELLS Abandoned naquadah mine.

DIXON Boring. But good odds. Bosworth?

BOSWORTH I'm going to put my money on trees, sir.

DIXON Bosworth's disqualified for being a smartass. I'll go with two-headed aliens.

WELLS Hostile or friendly, sir?

DIXON One head good, one head bad.

DIXON Balinsky?

[Balinsky gestures as if it is obvious.]

BALINSKY Oh, the ruins of an ancient city.

DIXON (smirking) Yeah, you wish.

[SG-13 moves out and travel some distance from the Stargate.]

DIXON Yeah, all night screaming. Projectile vomiting. Nuclear diapers. You have no idea. The reason they make them so damn cute is so you don't suffocate them in their sleep.

WELLS Sir, you have four kids.

DIXON Yeah, why do you think I enjoy my job so much? Don't get me wrong. I love the little buggers to death, but, trust me, having four kids makes going through a Stargate and facing off against alien bad guys look like nothing. This is relaxing.

[Dixon grins and spreads his arms wide.]

WELLS Then why'd you have four?

DIXON Well, one's pretty bad, but you figure you gotta have two, so the little guy could have a brother or sister, right? Then you have two boys, and the wife says she wants a girl. So you figure, "Hell, three can't be much worse than two," right? What you don't realize is, your brain is fried because you haven't slept. After three, four is no big deal. You're so deep in it, nothing seems to matter anymore. It's chaos. You just try to make through each day alive. In the end, you spend all the energy you have left trying to get 'em into bed. Only to lie awake, praying they don't get hooked on drugs, hurt, or worse, wind up dead in an alley somewhere.

WELLS Can't wait, sir.

DIXON Yeah, miracle of birth my ass. I'll tell you what a miracle is. Birth control that works.

[SG-13 enters a different clearing, and their jaws drop in shock.]

DIXON Well, I'll be damned.

[SG-13 stares at the ruins of an ancient city.]

BALINSKY (stupefied) I win.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[O'Neill pours himself some coffee, then sniffs it. Carter approaches.]

CARTER Sir. Did you do your interview yet?

O'NEILL (taking a drink) Yeah.

CARTER Mary Steenburgen?

O'NEILL She's so hot.

[Carter giggles. They both start descending the staircase.]

O'NEILL Carter, can you tell me the reason for this documentary again?

CARTER Didn't you read the memo?

[O'Neill shoots her a look, which Carter acknowledges.]

CARTER Officially, it's to chronicle the 1000th trip through the Stargate, but I think there's more to it than that.

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR, LEVEL 28

O'NEILL One thousand you say?

CARTER I know. Hard to believe we've been at it this long.

O'NEILL There should be a cake.

INT&mdash;DANIEL'S OFFICE

[The documentary crew is set up in Daniel's office, trying to interview him. Bregman is sorting through his notes as Daniel waits for a question, looking bored and distracted.]

BREGMAN Great, um, Dr. Jackson&hellip;I'm just gonna&hellip;Your memory was erased when you returned to let's&mdash;I'm quoting here: "human form." That sounds completely idiotic. (to Rundell) Could you remind me? Make a note. I have to re-ask that question. (to Daniel) Just, sorry, could you, you know? What can you tell us about all that?

[Daniel raises his eyebrows at the question.]

DANIEL Not much.

[Bregman sighs and looks annoyed.]

BREGMAN Okay, well, can you tell us a little bit about what things were like before that?

DANIEL Oh, well, thankfully, I have most of those memories back. There are still a few&hellip;holes.

[Daniel looks away, lost in thought.]

BREGMAN Okay. (reading his notes) "The Pharoahs of the Fourth Dynasty did not build the pyramids."

DANIEL No. No, they didn't. They're actually landing pads for Goa'uld motherships.

BREGMAN No, I'm quoting you from a speech that you made before you were introduced to the Stargate. Now, I presume that at that time, you knew nothing about landing platforms or motherships, right?

DANIEL Right. No.

[Daniel looks puzzled.]

BREGMAN Until you were introduced to Catherine Langford&hellip;

DANIEL Right.

BREGMAN And she's the one who introduced you to the Stargate program&hellip;

DANIEL Right.

BREGMAN So. Why?

DANIEL Why what?

BREGMAN (sighing in frustration) Um, why did she do that?

DANIEL I don't know. You'd have to ask her.

BREGMAN (after a pause) Okay, fine. Maybe I'll ask her. Is she transcended, or ascended, or something like that?

DANIEL No, uh, retired, actually, but uh, you never know.

[Daniel grins at the thought before noting the camera still recording and looks down again.]

INT&mdash;TEAL'C'S QUARTERS

[The camera records Teal'c sitting silently. Bregman is nervously trying to interview him.]

BREGMAN So, I'm just reading your file here. It's fascinating. I suppose I should ask you immediately here. You-you're an alien!

[Teal'c does not respond.]

BREGMAN (clearing throat) I mean, well, not to you. But to us you would be&hellip;Anyway, uh, you were the highest ranking officer, uh, in the service of one of our alien enemies, and you turned against them.

[Teal'c does not move or respond.]

BREGMAN Why did you turn against them&hellip;wh-when you did?

[Teal'c does not move or respond. There is a long silence. Bregman sighs and looks back at Rundell and his crew.]

BREGMAN I mean, could&mdash;sorry, why are you sitting there if you don't intend to answer any of my questions?

TEAL'C Because I was requested to by General Hammond.

BREGMAN I see. And he didn't happen to mention to you that part of the interview process involved actually saying something?

TEAL'C No.

BREGMAN (shifting in frustration) Okay, um&hellip;all right. Let's try this. Colonel Jack O'Neill. You must have a tremendous amount of respect for him.

[Teal'c does not respond.]

BREGMAN Or maybe you don't. Let me rephrase. Uh, Colonel Jack O'Neill is, uh, your immediate superior&hellip;okay, maybe not in terms of species&hellip;He's your commanding officer.

TEAL'C Indeed.

BREGMAN Good! Okay! Good, good. Uh, terrific. Let's move forward. And is there anything that you can tell us about him?

TEAL'C If you wish to learn of Colonel O'Neill, perhaps you should interview Colonel O'Neill.

BREGMAN (flatly) Okay. Thanks. That's a good idea. Thank you very much. I want to ask you just let me ask you&hellip;

[Teal'c stands and walks away.]

BREGMAN Where you going?

EXT&mdash;P3X-666, DAY

[Wells and Bosworth are seated against a pillar. Dixon approaches Balinsky who is excitedly recording the Ancient text on the ruins with his camcorder.]

DIXON How long?

BALINSKY I don't know. Why? We just got here.

DIXON An hour ago.

BALINSKY Well, I need more time. I mean look at this place. It's incredible.

DIXON Yeah, you've seen one crumbled city&hellip;

BALINSKY (interrupting, excited) Sir, this place was built by the Ancients.

DIXON Are you sure?

BALINSKY Yes. These markings. And this stone architecture. Oh, Doctor Jackson's gonna die when he sees this.

DIXON What, again?

BALINSKY Funny.

[Balinsky spots something in the distance. He gathers up all his equipment and hurries over.]

DIXON Don't go far!

[Dixon moves over to where Wells and Bosworth are sitting. Bosworth is holding up a photograph to the light.]

BOSWORTH (shaking his head) It looks like an alien.

WELLS (chuckling) Shut up.

BOSWORTH Yeah. Hey, remember that thing we ran into on P2X-787?

WELLS Get lost.

[Wells takes back the picture.]

BOSWORTH Yeah, see, that thing was easy on the eyes by comparison.

[Dixon reaches the pair and snatches the photograph from Wells as he sits next to him.]

DIXON Let me see. Uh, it's pretty scary, Wells.

WELLS It's my unborn son, sir.

[Dixon studies the ultrasound picture with a skeptical eye.]

DIXON How can you tell?

[Wells points out a part of the picture.]

DIXON I don't know, Wells. I wouldn't paint the room blue just yet.

[Balinsky runs towards them frantically.]

BALINSKY Take cover!

[SG-13 takes cover behind some of the stone ruins. A strange dome shaped metallic device with several tendrils trailing from the bottom comes into view. The device starts firing energy weapons at SG-13. They return fire, but the device is shielded.]

[Balinsky observes the device moving close to a stone wall.]

BALINSKY Colonel, now!

[Dixon fires his weapon at the wall. It collapses onto the device, knocking it to the ground where it breaks apart.]

DIXON Hold!

[SG-13 moves away from their cover and cautiously approaches. Sparks fly from the still powered machine. SG-13 fire their guns at the device some more until it stops sparking.]

DIXON What the hell is it?

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[The camera is recording Senator Kinsey sitting in front of the window to the Gate room.]

KINSEY Like the people who are now serving here at the SGC, the youth of tomorrow will one day have to defend the free spirit of mankind. And not just on our fair planet, but out there, through the Stargate, in the vastness of the galaxy, where untold evil with powers that we've never seen before are still waiting to prey upon us.

[Kinsey nods knowingly. Bregman looks up from his bored position when he realizes Kinsey is finally done.]

BREGMAN Okay. Cut.

[James and Wickenhouse secure their equipment. Bregman rubs his face to awaken and claps his hands together.]

BREGMAN Senator, great. Ha. Great. Thank you so much for doing this. It was really terrific of you to come and do this.

KINSEY These people deserve it.

[Kinsey points with his thumb over to Hammond and Rundell, who have been watching. Rundell whispers something in Hammond's ear and then leaves. Bregman comes over and shakes Kinsey's hand.]

BREGMAN Yes, well they're trying their best. Senator, I hope you don't take this the wrong way&hellip;but, and don't mind me saying this, but&hellip; (leaning close and whispering) It sounded a little bit prepared. Just a little bit like a speech. I don't think you're gonna like the results. What about if we do it off the cuff, and I just kinda throw things at you, see how you respond?

KINSEY No.

BREGMAN No?

KINSEY No. Now, if you want anything else from me&hellip;

[Kinsey stands and begins walking out of the room.]

BREGMAN Yes, actually, uh, Senator?

[Hammond watches, bemused, as Bregman chases Kinsey out of the room.]

INT&mdash;SGC COMMISSARY

[Kinsey, followed by his secret service detail and the documentary crew, approaches O'Neill in the crowded commissary. O'Neill is sitting at a table, reading a report and eating some fruit.]

KINSEY Ah, Colonel! As I'm sure you know, I'm here to be a part of the piece these good men are putting together to document the fine work you're doing here at the SGC.

[Bregman whispers to James and Wickenhouse.]

O'NEILL (not looking up) No, I didn't know that.

KINSEY (with a false laugh) Oh, well, I'm-I'm sure there was a memo.

[O'Neill looks up from his paperwork and over his shoulder. He sees Bregman still whispering to James as James raises his camera.]

O'NEILL Well, did you tell them about the time you tried to get this place shut down? Or the time you had Hammond by the short ?

KINSEY (interrupting in a low, threatening voice) I suggest you watch what you say, Colonel. Slander is a serious offense.

O'NEILL (dryly) Yes, so I hear.

[Kinsey glances back and smiles again when he observes the camera crew.]

KINSEY (louder) I have always been a strong supporter of this program. I admit I was critical in the past, but that was only because of the unrealized potential I see this operation as having.

[O'Neill closes his report.]

KINSEY How did your interview go, Colonel?

O'NEILL (standing) It was short, yet, oh so sweet.

[O'Neill glances back at Bregman, who chuckles at O'Neill's response.]

KINSEY The President wants you to play ball on this. I hope you're not intending to disappoint our Commander-in-Chief. I would think you would want to show your appreciation for his backing over the years.

O'NEILL Kinsey, what are you doing here? I mean, the last time anyone checked, you were trying to discredit the guy.

[Bregman leans closer. James and Wickenhouse record the whole conversation. Everyone in the commissary watches with interest.]

KINSEY His term is up. My running mate and I are merely pointing out to the American people certain areas that we think we can do a better job in. And when that time comes&hellip;I know we can count on your vote, Colonel.

O'NEILL (sarcastically) Yeah, that'll happen.

[O'Neill begins to leave the commissary. Kinsey follows, stopping him at the door.]

KINSEY And I want you to know this. If elected, this program can count on our full support.

O'NEILL (to the documentary crew) You want to get this?

BREGMAN (shrugging) Sure.

[There is a long pause.]

O'NEILL You smarmy self-righteous, opportunistic, ass&mdash;.

[Klaxons blare drowning out much of O'Neill's rant.]

VOICE OVER LOUDSPEAKER Unscheduled offworld activation. Colonel O'Neill to the control room. Repeat. Unscheduled offworld activation.

O'NEILL (while the alert is going on, the following is mostly indecipherable) &hellip;you are not going to&hellip;.son of a bitch.

KINSEY (fuming) Duty calls.

O'NEILL (turning to crew) I was done.

BREGMAN Colonel, what is this "offworld activation" something?

O'NEILL I won't know until I get there.

BREGMAN (signaling his crew) Well, that's great. Where's&hellip;there?

O'NEILL There is here for you.

[O'Neill leaves the commissary. Rundell stands in front of the door. Kinsey still stands there fuming.]

RUNDELL Ongoing activity.

[Rundell points to James, and the camera shuts off.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Dixon and Balinsky appear on a monitor from the MALP camera on P3X-666.]

DIXON (via video link) Balinsky wants to stay, sir.

[Hammond, Carter, O'Neill, Harriman, and Daniel are all watching the video feed.]

O'NEILL Do you see anything else worth staying for, Dave?

DIXON (looking around before facing the camera) Hard to say.

BALINSKY (on video) We need to finish searching these ruins.

HAMMOND How long?

BALINSKY (on video) A day or two. Maybe more.

DANIEL It would be nice to send an UAV. At least get an aerial overview.

HAMMOND Permission to remain granted. I'll send SG-3 as back up. Any sign of further threat, you get out of there immediately, Colonel.

[Balinsky moves out of the MALP camera view.]

DIXON Understood, sir.

CARTER In the meantime, I can run some tests on what's left of the device, see what it's been doing there.

HAMMOND Send the device back and report in on the hour.

DIXON Yes, sir. SG-13 out.

[Dixon shuts off the camera, and the wormhole disengages. Hammond starts to leave, but O'Neill stops him.]

O'NEILL Sir&hellip;um, it's not that I don't appreciate&hellip;

HAMMOND (interrupting) I knew Kinsey and Bregman were headed your way, and I thought you might be looking for an excuse to get away, Colonel.

O'NEILL I thought as much, sir. And I just wanted to express my deep and unyielding&hellip;love for you, sir.

[Rundell approaches from the far end of the room.]

RUNDELL General, if you have a moment, Mr. Bregman would like a word.

INT&mdash;HAMMOND'S OFFICE

[Bregman stands in Hammond's office, arguing with the general, who is seated at his desk, reading aloud from a file.]

HAMMOND "Exempt from said clearance are all current activities which have not yet been reviewed by this office." That being the Pentagon.

BREGMAN "Current activities"? Breathing is a current activity.

HAMMOND My interpretation is that you have not been authorized to know anything about the most recent unscheduled activation.

BREGMAN (sitting in chair across from Hammond) General, I need a little leeway.

HAMMOND I said that I was going to hold you to the letter of these orders, Mr. Bregman. Give it up.

[Bregman stands, clearly frustrated. He opens the door to leave, then turns back.]

BREGMAN You know, Colonel O'Neill&hellip;

HAMMOND (interrupting) &hellip;is currently unavailable.

BREGMAN General, the President-the President of the United States is giving me his full support. Why are you resisting?

HAMMOND I'm not resisting. I'm following orders. My opinion is that I don't think my people need to be put under a microscope. Cameras don't just record things. They change what they record simply by being there. The work these people do is hard enough without them feeling that every breath they take is being preserved for judgment.

BREGMAN Maybe it should be.

HAMMOND Excuse me?

BREGMAN (closing the door) I said, maybe it should be. The Pentagon has allowed journalists to be embedded with the Armed Forces before this. You know that. Under fire. Under pressure. So what's seen, and what's heard, and what's read is the truth.

HAMMOND I think we're through.

BREGMAN (changing tactics) I don't-I don't disagree with you, General&hellip;

[He starts to sit again. The red phone rings.]

HAMMOND Excuse me.

[Hammond reaches over to the phone and lifts the receiver. Bregman remains seated. Hammond holds the phone away from his ear with the mouthpiece covered and glares at Bregman. Hesitantly, Bregman leaves the office.]

INT&mdash;CARTER'S LAB

[Carter and Teal'c study the device that attacked SG-13 on P3X-666. Carter adjusts various wires connected to the device.]

CARTER You ever seen anything like this?

TEAL'C I have not.

CARTER Well, it's definitely a remote probe of some kind. The storage capacity of the memory crystals is immense, but so far, all I've found are detailed images of the ruins. You know, it makes sense. We use a-a MALP. Why wouldn't the Goa'uld?

TEAL'C The Goa'uld are scavengers. It is quite possible they got the idea from us.

CARTER So, you do your interview with the documentary crew yet?

TEAL'C (grimacing) Indeed.

CARTER (excited) You know, I have to admit, I can't wait to hear what everyone else said.

TEAL'C I did not say much.

[Carter fails to suppress her amusement.]

CARTER (sarcastically) Really? That is surprising. It's usually so hard to shut you up.

[Teal'c raises his eyebrow. She grins back at him.]

TEAL'C I found the entire experience unpleasant.

CARTER They want to talk to me again.

TEAL'C Did your interview not go well, either?

CARTER (defensively) Well, I thought it was fine. But apparently, I looked&hellip;nervous.

[She continues to look put-out while Teal'c studies her.]

TEAL'C Hmm.

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR, LEVEL 28

[James changes videotapes in the camcorder while Wickenhouse checks the boom microphone and wraps extra cord. Bregman heads towards Rundell.]

BREGMAN What is the meaning of "offworld activation"? What is that about?

RUNDELL I'm not privy to that information.

BREGMAN (scoffing) And you wouldn't tell me even if you knew, would you?

RUNDELL We have orders.

BREGMAN You remind me of those minders we used to have in the Gulf. They used to censor our reports.

RUNDELL Look, it's not as if we're conspiring to cover up the truth.

BREGMAN Oh, sure.

RUNDELL And censoring reports in combat just makes sense.

BREGMAN Makes sense?

RUNDELL You do not jeopardize the lives of troops of ongoing missions.

BREGMAN Makes sense? It makes no sense. It's a documentary. It's not the news. What are you telling me, you're broadcasting this to the enemy on some other planet? Look, I-I have been denied access to several prior mission files. You know why? Because no one wants me to know how close we've come to well, why don't you tell me, Tom? You're not conspiring to cover the truth, are you? Why don't you tell me? We've come close to what?

RUNDELL (reluctantly) Being compromised.

BREGMAN Being compromised. There's a euphemism for you. Being compromised. Close to the brink of planetary annihilation is probably more accurate! That's why we're not allowed to film these ongoing activities. Because every time they open that Gate, there's a chance that something could go cataclysmically wrong.

WICKENHOUSE In which case, it wouldn't really matter what we had on tape, would it?

[James laughs. Bregman turns to them angrily.]

BREGMAN What did you say? What did you say? That it doesn't matter? If that's your opinion, and if you had any integrity at all, then you would resign before I had to replace you.

[James and Wickenhouse sober at Bregman's tirade.]

WICKENHOUSE I'd rather be replaced than be court-martialed. I'm not going to do anything I'm not authorized to do.

BREGMAN Now, see, with that attitude&hellip;

RUNDELL (talking over him) The bottom line is the SGC is not going to let any of this out until it's declassified.

BREGMAN Well, what's the difference, then? Why not shoot it now and decide later?

RUNDELL It's not up to me.

BREGMAN (disgusted) "Not up to me." "Not up to me."

[The elevator door opens and O'Neill steps out. When he spots the documentary crew, he tries to return to the elevator car, but Bregman notices him immediately.]

BREGMAN Colonel! Colonel. We're all set up for you right here. We're all set up.

[O'Neill braces himself as if running a gauntlet and walks swiftly by the crew.]

O'NEILL Briefing.

BREGMAN Yeah. No. Colonel. Colonel. Colonel!

[O'Neill pauses at the base of the stairs to the control room. The camera has turned towards him.]

BREGMAN You know, I'm going to get you on camera sooner or later, even if all I get is a series of shots of you avoiding being got.

O'NEILL Fire away. I hope shots of my ass serve you well.

[O'Neill climbs up the stairs into the control room. Bregman scoffs in frustration.]

BREGMAN (to crew) All right, pack up. What are we doing here?

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Bregman interviews Carter.]

BREGMAN How do you feel about Colonel O'Neill?

CARTER (smiling) Uh&hellip;he's an amazing man. After everything he's done, he's still modest. Quite self-effacing, actually. He even likes people to think he's not as smart as he really is. Bottom line, he's an incredibly strong leader who has given more of himself for this program than any man has given for&hellip;well&hellip;anything I can imagine.

BREGMAN Do you spend a lot of time together outside of work?

CARTER Uh, we don't get much time outside of work. When we do, um, our personal interests are a little different.

BREGMAN Huh. Did you ever hear the expression "opposites attract"?

CARTER We have very professional relationship.

BREGMAN Professional. Really? After everything you've been through? You must have dare I say well, it's not too much to say, faced death together?

[Carter appears slightly irritated.]

CARTER Yeah. Not unlike countless military personnel throughout the years. Look, I-I won't deny that there's a bond between us. Daniel and Teal'c are also like family to me. Colonel O'Neill is first and foremost my superior officer. Even if there was potential for something more and I'm-I'm not saying that there is our military positions and-and the very nature of our job wouldn't allow for it.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[The documentary crew is interviewing Harriman.]

HARRIMAN Well, basically when the Gate is dialing, I say "chevron one encoded, chevron two encoded," and so on, incrementally, up to the seventh chevron, which is a little different because that's when the wormhole connects. When that happens, I-I like to change things up a little bit and just say, "chevron seven locked."

[The other technicians give Harriman sidelong, skeptical looks.]

BREGMAN "Locked." That's great. That's good. Anything else?

HARRIMAN Oh yeah. Um, I'm responsible for this.

[He places his palm on the iris control.]

HARRIMAN Close the iris.

[Bregman looks into the Gate Room, where the iris closes.]

BREGMAN Open the iris.

[The iris opens. Harriman leans back and crosses his arms proudly.]

BREGMAN Huh.

HARRIMAN That's pretty much my job right there.

BREGMAN That's it?

HARRIMAN (smile faltering) Yeah, pretty much.

BREGMAN I think you're being a little modest.

HARRIMAN Oh, I mean, d-don't get me wrong. I mean it's-it's really rewarding. It-it really is. And we have tried various automated scenarios, but uh, the SG teams just agree that-that, you know, when they send their iris code through the wormhole, they like to know that there's a-there's a real person on the other end. Someone that they can trust to get it right. And, uh, that gives me and the-the other gate technicians a great sense of pride.

[The other technicians give Harriman more sidelong glances.]

BREGMAN Sure. That's good.

INT&mdash;DANIEL'S OFFICE

[Daniel is sorting through various items, packing some in his day pack. His camera and other supplies are scattered across the work table. Bregman approaches the doorway.]

BREGMAN Uh, Doctor Jackson? Hi.

DANIEL (after a pause) Hey, how's it going?

BREGMAN So, you're packing? You're going on a mission off I'm sorry, I forgot the expression.

DANIEL (Still packing) Offworld?

BREGMAN Offworld? Is that it? So you're going?

DANIEL Nope. No. Just going through my pack.

BREGMAN (pointing to camcorder) That's the camera you use, though, right?

DANIEL Yeah.

[Bregman picks up the camcorder.]

BREGMAN I've seen hours and hours of your footage. Hours of it. Inscriptions and ruins and&hellip;artifacts.

DANIEL (grinning) Cool, huh?

[Bregman hands the camera back to Daniel.]

BREGMAN Uh, I wonder. Uh, if you get the opportunity, um, maybe you could point your camera at some action, you know, just for a change. Okay?

DANIEL See, that's the thing, when there's action, I-I'm too busy to be pointing a camera. I'm, you know, running, shooting, translating what the bad guys are saying, that kind of thing. Yep.

BREGMAN (backing up) It's just that, you know&hellip;for me, I mean, I've heard a lot about these amazing events. Unfortunately, my medium is visual. I can't tell the real story unless I have pictures. I'm not suggesting you put anybody in danger, not yourself&hellip;But, you know, if the opportunity arises, just, you know, take a second and just point your lens at something, you know, that moves.

[Daniel looks at his watch dramatically.]

DANIEL Right. I'm not really scheduled to go on a mission offworld for another couple of days&hellip;

[Daniel shrugs and his voice trails off as he looks at Bregman with false apology.]

BREGMAN No, no, no, no. If it's there. Shoot it.

DANIEL (smiling falsely) Right.

BREGMAN Just not the inscriptions all the time. Just some action would be good. Action.

[Bregman backs out of the office, making a running gesture with his body before backing out of sight. Daniel shoves things back into his pack more forcefully, glaring at where Bregman exited and shaking his head in annoyance.]

INT&mdash;CARTER'S LAB

[Carter is interfacing the alien device with her computers. Daniel enters.]

DANIEL Hey.

CARTER Hey. One second.

DANIEL You, uh, you wanted me to translate something?

CARTER Yeah, I'm just trying to get the interface connection more stable. SG-13 really kicked the crap out of this thing. Its system log seems to be isolated on a separate crystal from memory control.

DANIEL You know, Bregman actually had the nerve to suggest that all that archive video footage I gave him was boring?

[Carter looks up at Daniel, trying unsuccessfully to make her face sympathetic.]

DANIEL Ah. Okay, here's what really bugs me. The only reason he's here is because this President is on his way out and he knows it, right? He just doesn't want to look bad if and when the Stargate program ever goes public. None of this is about truth, it's all about political posturing.

CARTER Man, he really grilled me on that.

DANIEL On what? Whether the Stargate program should go public?

CARTER Yeah.

DANIEL What did you say?

CARTER I babbled incoherently.

DANIEL I mean, could you imagine if it ever did?

CARTER I try not to think about it.

[Data written in the Goa'uld language pours down the screen. Carter adjusts the screen so that the pattern stabilizes.]

CARTER There.

[Daniel scans it quickly.]

DANIEL (reading) It's mostly just technical stuff.

CARTER Anything jump out at you?

DANIEL (pointing to screen) Well, here's where it encountered SG-13&hellip;uh-oh.

CARTER What-what, uh oh?

DANIEL (worried) Well, after it engaged shields and weapons, it activated a long-range communicator.

[Now, Carter also looks worried.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Hammond stands by the microphone, the Stargate's active wormhole reflecting on his face.]

HAMMOND (into comm) Colonel Dixon, this is General Hammond, we have reason to believe the Goa'uld probe sent out a subspace transmission prior to your disabling of it. I'm ordering you to return to Stargate Command immediately.

EXT&mdash;RUINS, P3X-666, DAY

[Balinsky studies ruins in the background as Dixon keys his radio.]

DIXON (into radio) Roger that, sir. Estimate arrival time fifteen minutes. Dixon out.

[Dixon stands and approaches Balinsky.]

DIXON Pack it up, Doctor. We're going home.

[Balinsky looks dejected but starts to comply.]

DIXON (keying radio) Wells, Bosworth.

EXT&mdash;FOREST, P3X-666, DAY

[Wells and Bosworth stroll down a forest path.]

WELLS (into radio) Wells here.

DIXON (via radio) Bring it home, boys. We're booking out.

WELLS Roger that. Wells out.

BOSWORTH It's about time.

[A staff blast suddenly strikes Wells in the back. He collapses to the ground face-first with a grunt. Bosworth immediately aims his weapon in the direction of the enemy fire, straddling Wells's body to protect it. He exchanges fire with unseen Jaffa.]

BOSWORTH (keying radio) We're taking fire!

EXT&mdash;RUINS, P3X-666, DAY

[Dixon and Balinsky exchange concerned looks as they receive Bosworth's transmission.]

BOSWORTH (over radio) Wells has been hit!

DIXON (pointing to Balinsky) Get to the Gate!

[Balinsky starts to run. Dixon following.]

DIXON (keying radio) SG-niner. Requesting assistance.

INT&mdash;SGC INFIRMARY

[The documentary crew is interviewing Fraiser. She is glancing through a large pile of folders, wearing her white frock over top her uniform. Behind her, nurses treat Siler for injuries on his torso.]

FRAISER (reading report) Okay, three gunshot wounds. Four staff weapon burns. Severe hypothermia. And I'm quite surprised he's actually authorized me to discuss all this. It's just&hellip; Nanite technology artificially aged him&hellip;He had his shoulder punctured by an alien time capsule device. Um, three knee operations.

[She puts one folder aside, and picks up another one.]

FRAISER (setting the folder quickly aside) Oh, that's the whole Hathor incident which he's asked me never to discuss. And, oh yeah, this was a good one. Last year, he was exposed to an Ancient incurable disease.

BREGMAN Obviously not incurable, right? Or&hellip;

FRAISER Well, fortunately, there was a Tok'ra symbiote in need of a temporary host at the time. It managed to do the trick.

BREGMAN (shaking his head slowly) I don't understand a word you just said, but it sounds amazing that Colonel O'Neill is alive.

FRAISER (grinning) Yeah, you know, I never know what's next. You just try and keep your head on straight. Then again, we also set a lot of broken bones and prescribe a ton of antibiotics, so&hellip;

BREGMAN Still, it sometimes must be overwhelming, right?

FRAISER Yeah. It's funny. You know, you think all the training, everything we know about medicine, really, it amounts to very little. I mean, often I'm faced with situations that there's really nothing I can do.

BREGMAN Is there an upside?

FRAISER Are you kidding me? I think the reason we all manage to persevere is because we feel that we're on the brink of understanding so much more. And not just about medicine, but about who we are. You know, where we came from, what the future has in store, how we fit into the grand scheme of things.

HARRIMAN (over intercom) Unscheduled offworld activation. Repeat. Unscheduled offworld activation.

[Klaxons blare. Fraiser and the documentary crew look up and listen to the announcement.]

BREGMAN (gesturing upwards with his finger) That&hellip;unscheduled off&hellip;we've heard that before. Is that an unusual thing?

FRAISER No. It happens from time to time.

BREGMAN And what-what does it mean?

FRAISER (shaking her head blankly) Your guess is as good as mine.

[Bregman chuckles and scratches his head.]

BREGMAN (to Wickenhouse) You got that announcement in the clear?

WICKENHOUSE Yeah, we're good.

BREGMAN Okay, good. Thank you, Doctor Fraiser. (to crew) You know what, guys, why don't you go roll some cutaways and get some sound bites over there?

[He gestures over to where the staff is treating Siler and other patients at the other side of the room. Fraiser shifts in her seat confused.]

FRAISER So this&hellip;?

[Fraiser makes a cutting motion across her neck.]

BREGMAN (to Fraiser) Yeah, we're good. Thank you. Appreciate it.

[James and Wickenhouse move their equipment. Fraiser stands and picks up her pile of folders.]

BREGMAN (to crew) Anything you can, okay? Okay?

[Wickenhouse accidentally hits Bregman in the head with the boom microphone as he moves.]

WICKENHOUSE Sorry.

BREGMAN Ow. Ow. What-what? Yes, I know you're&hellip;I'm glad the Pentagon sent you. Just go away.

[He maneuvers Wickenhouse past him forcefully. Fraiser makes a face, concealing her amusement.]

BREGMAN (to Fraiser) Um, listen. I was just wondering. So it seems like the-uh-the unpredictable happens around here a lot.

FRAISER (laughing) Yes, pretty much.

BREGMAN Yeah, yeah. Um, and you're not going to be needed for this thing?

FRAISER Well, if I am, they know where to find me.

[James records the nurses treating Siler for a few moments. Then the camera drifts over to record Bregman and Fraiser's continued conversation. Rundell is waiting in the background, checking his watch.]

BREGMAN I was just asking because I was thinking of getting something to eat in the cafeteria which I'm not even sure where&hellip;

FRAISER (pointing) It's that way.

[James zooms in on the pair as Rundell walks out of camera range.]

BREGMAN And I was just wondering&hellip;

FRAISER (finishing his thought) &hellip;If I would like to join you?

BREGMAN (smiling) Yeah.

FRAISER (nodding) Okay. Yeah.

[Out of the corner of his eye, Bregman notices James recording them.]

BREGMAN What are you doing? What are you doing?

[Fraiser turns around, startled.]

JAMES I'm just white balancing.

BREGMAN (waving him away, very annoyed) Well, go balance the white somewhere else, okay? Somewhere else!

FRAISER (indicating her folders) I'm going to dump these first, okay?

[James moves the camera back to record the nurses treating Siler.]

BREGMAN (off camera) Okay. Yeah.

FRAISER (off camera) Great.

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[Balinsky is dirty and in shock. Out of breath, he tries to give a report to Hammond, speaking quickly.]

BALINSKY Wells is alive, but he's hurt badly, and he can't be moved.

[O'Neill swings into the room at top speed.]

O'NEILL How many Jaffa?

BALINSKY I don't know.

O'NEILL Five, ten, a hundred, what?

BALINSKY Uh, Colonel Dixon counted six. They were able to fend them off. They're holding their position, protecting Wells.

HAMMOND Did the Jaffa come through the Gate?

BALINSKY No, no. They had to come by ship. SG-3 was covering the Gate.

O'NEILL (surprised) The Gate's clear?

BALINSKY Half of SG-3 were still there when I left.

O'NEILL Gen&mdash;

HAMMOND Take SG-5 and 7 and Doctor Fraiser.

O'NEILL (already moving back to the door) Thank you, sir.

HAMMOND Colonel&hellip;

O'NEILL (turning back) Yes, sir? I know. It sounds like an ambush to me too, but there's nothing else we can do, right?

HAMMOND Right. Go.

[Balinsky fights back tears, looking very worried.]

INT&mdash;SGC COMMISSARY

[Fraiser eats a fruit cocktail. Bregman watches her, besotted, a half-eaten sandwich on his plate. Fraiser looks up and catches him staring.]

BREGMAN Oh, sorry. I was just-I was just thinking that you have a very natural quality. (Fraiser stifles a smile by covering her mouth with her napkin) I mean, on camera. You let me film you allow people to see grace under pressure.

[Fraiser has a bemused expression on her face as she picks up her mug.] FRAISER Hmm. Are you, um, are you flirting with me?

BREGMAN (chuckling uncomfortably) Well, see, I, on the other hand, am very clumsy under pressure.

FRAISER (laughing) Well, I've seen worse.

[She watches as his left hand strokes his coffee mug, a ring that looks like a wedding band visible on his left hand.]

FRAISER (sobering) So, uh, what's with the ring?

BREGMAN (startled and staring at his hand) Oh, uh, it's just sentimental. My wife died a few years ago. So how do any of you have a personal life?

FRAISER We don't really. I spend most of my time outside work with my daughter.

BREGMAN (trying to hide his disappointment) Oh, so you're-you're married.

FRAISER No. No. She's adopted.

BREGMAN (hopeful) Oh.

FRAISER Mm-hmm. She's from another planet.

[Fraiser quickly takes a bite of fruit cocktail and watches Bregman's reaction carefully. He pauses, eyes wide, before swallowing his coffee. Fraiser watches him, a smile tugging at her lips as she chews her food.]

BREGMAN Okay. Um, would you be willing to talk about that on camera?

FRAISER (swallowing) You know, I'd rather&hellip;

[Airman Bradley enters the commissary and stands by their table.]

BRADLEY Excuse me, ma'am? You're required in the ready room immediately.

FRAISER Thank you. (to Bregman as she stands) Sorry.

BREGMAN That's okay.

[He rises as she leaves the table, then sits, lost in thought.]

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR, LEVEL 28

[Rundell and SFs herd James and Wickenhouse over to a side corridor, out of the main hallway.]

RUNDELL Let's go, gentlemen.

[The film crew spots SG-1 coming down the hall in full combat gear, another SG team behind them. James pauses, but Rundell continues to push him out of the way.]

DANIEL (annoyed with himself) It's all because I wanted an aerial survey.

CARTER (annoyed with herself) It took me too long to figure out the probe sent a transmission.

O'NEILL (calmly) None of that matters now.

[SG-1 and the other team continue towards the Gate Room. James, Wickenhouse, and Rundell stare after them in shock.]

TO BE CONTINUED

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Stargate Solutions by Aurora Novarum, March 2006

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--Michelle 20:24, 1 March 2006 (PST)