Earth (episode)/Transcript

Episode Guide
SGU 1.07 "Earth" Episode Guide

Transcript
TEASER

INT&mdash;YOUNG'S QUARTERS

[TJ listens to Young's back with her stethoscope, then continues her physical examination, checking eye reaction with a penlight.]

YOUNG You are so beautiful.

TJ Don't.

[She reaches to take his pulse, but instead he clasps her hand.]

YOUNG I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you.

[TJ pauses then moves in to kiss Young.]

SCOTT (distorted, offscreen) Colonel.

INT&mdash;YOUNG'S OFFICE

[Young, sitting on a couch, awakens from the dream he was having. Scott stands at the door.]

SCOTT (apologetic) Sorry, sir, they're waiting.

[Young checks his watch.]

INT&mdash;STONE ROOM

[Young limps into the room with Scott behind him. Riley and Wray already sit at a round table; Riley has a clipboard and pen. The communication device is already active and the stones are set around it.]

YOUNG Sorry.

WRAY We're late.

[She hesitantly puts her stone on the device. A moment later, so does Young.]

INT&mdash;STONE COMMUNICATION LAB, PENTAGON

[Young stares down at himself. He's in the body of an African American airman named Hamilton. Wray sits across from him, in the body of a dark haired woman named Baldwin. Telford is leaning against the door frame.]

TELFORD You're late.

YOUNG/HAMILTON It's my fault.

INT&mdash;HOME-WORLD COMMAND CONFERENCE ROOM, PENTAGON

[A guard scans the ID badges for Telford and the other two as they enter a room crowded with civilians and military. O'Neill stands at one end.]

O'NEILL Thanks for joining us, Colonel.

[Young/Hamilton falters in his step, taking in the crowd.]

YOUNG/HAMILTON Sorry, sir. I wasn't expecting a party.

TELFORD We may have figured out a way to get you home.

[Young and Wray exchange looks as the group in the room smiles triumphantly.]

O'NEILL Surprise.

END TEASER

CREDIT

EXT&mdash;PENTAGON, ARLINGTON, VA, DAY

INT&mdash;HOME-WORLD SECURITY CONFERENCE ROOM

[Two scientists, a Caucasian tall man, Williams, and a small Indian woman, McCormack, are conducting the briefing.]

WILLIAMS Now the power flow issues are obviously the biggest variable. But our power simulations are encouraging. It's time to take it to the next level.

O'NEILL Any questions?

WRAY/BALDWIN Sounds dangerous.

STROM The IOA fully supports the implementation of this plan.

TELFORD I've seen it for myself. The situation on board is dire. It's justifies the risk.

YOUNG/HAMILTON (sighing) Look, I'm not going to pretend to understand everything you guys are talking about, but it sounds like there's a chance that this plan could end badly.

TELFORD You want to get those people home. So do we.

YOUNG/HAMILTON I'm just saying maybe these guys could do a little more calculating.

WILLIAMS The fact is we are at the stage where a practical attempt is the only way to get any more hard data.

TELFORD The goal is to save lives.

STROM And we don't want to put the ship at risk.

WILLIAMS All we're asking is that you try.

YOUNG/HAMILTON Well, this is something I would have to take up with everyone on board.

O'NEILL (standing) Colonel&hellip; My office?

[Young/Hamilton follows O'Neill into his office and shuts the door.]

INT&mdash;O'NEILL'S OFFICE

O'NEILL Look, if it makes you feel any better, Colonel Carter saved my ass dozens of times using all kinds of wacky science I didn't understand.

YOUNG/HAMILTON Well, I can't force people to do something they don't want to do.

O'NEILL (incredulous) You're in command of that ship. It's not a democracy.

YOUNG/HAMILTON I'm sorry, sir. It-it's just not that simple.

O'NEILL (insistent) Yes, yes it is. A United States senator is dead. His daughter and dozens of people are trapped a billion light years away from home. The President wants it done.

YOUNG/HAMILTON Sir, with all due respect&hellip;

O'NEILL (angry) You're being given a direct order, Colonel.

YOUNG/HAMILTON And I'm telling that regardless of the consequences to my standing, I'm going to take this situation under advisement. I will let you know my decision tomorrow.

[O'Neill stares at Young/Hamilton.]

EXT&mdash;TIDAL BASIN, WASHINGTON, DC, DAY

[Wray/Baldwin stares up at the Washington Monument while Strom gets a hot dog from a vendor.]

STROM Are you sure you don't want anything?

WRAY/BALDWIN Oh, I'm fine.

[She breathes in the fresh, fall air and looks around.]

STROM (to vendor) Thank you. (To Wray/Baldwin) Must be nice to get out, I imagine.

[They walk together.]

WRAY/BALDWIN (smiling) It is.

STROM Everyone's very impressed with how you're holding up under the circumstances.

WRAY/BALDWIN I'm doing my best.

STROM You're our eyes and ears now. Your life and certainly the lives of everyone aboard is the first priority. But you have to understand, there's a lot at stake here.

WRAY/BALDWIN You passed me up for promotion four times. I never really got a straight answer as to why.

STROM You are a highly trusted, well-respected member of this organization. You would not have been on Icarus in the first place if you weren't.

WRAY/BALDWIN The point is, I know there's no way in hell you'd be talking to me right now if you had a choice. So, please, can we just cut to the chase?

STROM (with feral grin) Make this happen.

WRAY/BALDWIN I'm not a scientist. How can I do that?

STROM You have influence. The people on board need to believe it will get them home.

WRAY/BALDWIN Even if, in reality, it can get us all killed?

STROM Not what I have been told.

WRAY/BALDWIN (fiercely) Why are you pushing so hard?

STROM If this works, we think we might be able to use the data to re-engineer the process in one of our ships here, in this galaxy.

WRAY/BALDWIN Dial a 'gate to Destiny without an Icarus-type planet?

STROM Yes. And get the team that was supposed to go in the first place back on board. Now that we know where the ninth chevron leads, this mission has taken on even more importance.

WRAY/BALDWIN Why isn't Rush here?

STROM Ah. We're not convinced Rush wants to come home. And do I have to remind you how much you have to gain, personally, from all of this?

WRAY/BALDWIN (with cold smile) Assuming I live.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny flies faster than light.]

INT&mdash;MESS HALL

[Eli, TJ, Scott, Greer, and Chloe sit around a table in the crowded room.]

ELI The ship doesn't have enough power to dial back to Earth, and as we've seen recently, when the ship runs out of juice, it finds a star and refills its tanks. Now, theoretically, at that time, the full power of the star should be available to us.

GREER Star power. Ultimate wattage, baby.

ELI Yeah, it's&hellip;it's brilliant. If we can somehow use the ship as a conduit and channel the star's energy into the 'gate as we dial&hellip;

SCOTT That would do it.

ELI (sighing) Problem is the whole "ship as a conduit" part.

TJ Well, does anyone know when the ship will run out of power again?

ELI It's tough to tell. Based on current usage, it's probably going to be several months.

[Brody and Riley look over from another table, where they've been listening.]

BRODY Not if we can drain the power faster.

ELI Right, that's the part of the plan that sounded a little vague.

RILEY (shrugging) It's possible.

SCOTT So you guys are saying you're all for this?

BRODY (hesitantly) Let's see what Rush says.

INT&mdash;CONTROL ROOM

[Rush, Wray, and Young are in the room.]

RUSH Given how little we know about this ship&hellip;

WRAY Can't we at least try it and abort if something goes wrong?

RUSH (scoffing) Well, unfortunately, the, uh, "something goes wrong" part would most likely mean the ship exploding.

YOUNG Not according to the people who came up with the idea.

RUSH Well, if only all science was that definitive, Colonel. You're just going to have to choose who you want to believe.

INT&mdash;STONE COMMUNICATION ROOM

[Chloe and Eli stand around the table. Riley makes notes on a paper. A kino floats near Eli.]

CHLOE There's nothing to worry about. It doesn't hurt at all.

ELI (worried) Do I look worried?

CHLOE A little.

ELI Just trying to figure out what I'm going to say to my Mom.

RILEY My family thinks I'm on sabbatical in Africa.

ELI So when it's time to come back, what do I do? Click my heels three times?

RILEY There's no way for you to disconnect the transmission yourself. The base needs to be manually shut down. There's a device on the other side as well and turning either off will sever the connection.

ELI (nervous) Pretty cool.

RILEY Easiest way to swap consciousness with someone across the universe I've ever seen.

[Eli chuckles. Young enters.]

YOUNG What's with the kino?

ELI First time using the stones. Very exciting.

[The stones activate. William, McCormack, and Telford look around, adjusting to being in Eli's, Chloe's, and Young's bodies, respectively. Williams looks down in derision at Eli's scroungy "You are here" red shirt.]

WILLIAMS/ELI Any chance I could get something else to wear?

INT&mdash;COMMUNICATION LAB, PENTAGON

[Chloe, Young, and Eli are similarly adjusting to the switch as their counterparts. Eli spots his physical appearance as Williams in a camera monitor and waves.]

ELI/WILLIAMS Wow, check me out. Okay, this is weird. The people we're in can't hear us, can they?

CHLOE No.

ELI Wonder what they're doing with our bodies?

[Young/Telford looks at Eli with sudden alarm.]

INT&mdash;YOUNG'S OFFICE

[Scott and Rush hesitantly enter the office. Guards are posted outside and Telford, in Young's body, waits for them.]

RUSH Colonel Telford.

TELFORD/YOUNG I'll just get right to it. I've been ordered to enact the rescue plan put forward by the IOA.

RUSH Rescue plan?

SCOTT I don't understand.

TELFORD/YOUNG I've brought Doctors McCormack and Williams with me. I believe you know them.

RUSH Yes.

TELFORD/YOUNG I've already set them to work.

SCOTT What about Colonel Young?

TELFORD/YOUNG Effective immediately, I'm assuming command of the Destiny.

[Rush and Scott stare at him in shock.]

INT&mdash;O'NEILL'S OFFICE

[Young/Telford stands in front of O'Neill, who is seated as his desk, a Mac laptop in front of him.]

YOUNG/TELFORD You replaced me.

O'NEILL For now.

YOUNG/TELFORD Without waiting to hear my answer.

O'NEILL Then you were going to say&hellip;

YOUNG/TELFORD Give us more time.

O'NEILL Then you were going to be disobeying a direct order.

YOUNG/TELFORD Sir&hellip;

O'NEILL Look, I offered you command of the expedition. You were my first choice. But you turned it it down. Your exact words as I recall, were "I don't think it's still in me, sir."

YOUNG/TELFORD Well, I'm there now, sir, whether I like it or not, whether anyone likes it. This is wrong, and you know it. I've spent most of my career looking up to you because you always did the right thing even if it meant disregarding the chain of command.

O'NEILL Colonel, don't think I like this.

[Young/Telford nods.]

INT&mdash;LOUNGE AT PENTAGON

[Eli, Chloe, and Young, in their host bodies, sit around a lounge.]

ELI/WILLIAMS They can't do this to us, can they?

YOUNG/TELFORD For now, they have. Look, I think it comes down to the fact that they don't trust Rush. And the truth is, I-I can't blame them.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK What are we supposed to do?

YOUNG/TELFORD Well, they've given you permission to see your families as long as you guys follow the rules.

ELI/WILLIAMS Look, I hate to go there, but what happens if they screw up and the ship explodes?!

YOUNG/TELFORD Most likely, we will die here, too.

[Chloe/McCormack and Eli/Williams exchange worried looks.]

YOUNG/TELFORD Look, apparently they're just doing some preliminary testing, information gathering, nothing-nothing too crazy.

ELI/WILLIAMS (with false smile) So, what you're saying is&hellip;live it up while we can.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny flies faster than light.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY MESS HALL

[Greer and Scott sit across from each other at a table. Scott spots Telford/Young and two guards approaching from the door behind Greer. He signals Greer with a look.]

GREER (without turning) Colonel Telford, I presume.

TELFORD/YOUNG Sergeant.

[Greer stands up and turns at attention.]

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR OUTSIDE MAKESHIFT BRIG

[Greer is led by Telford/Young and the guards to the room, where he steps inside, looking at the spartan contents. There is not even the normal bed.]

TELFORD/YOUNG He can use the facilities. That's it.

[Greer stands at attention as the door locks in front of him, staring at Telford with an insubordinate sneer.]

INT&mdash;MESS HALL, DESTINY

[Everyone else is gathered in the room, being briefed by the visitors.]

RILEY And what if the power flow can't be controlled?

WILLIAMS/ELI Well, if there are any dangerous fluctuations, we just shut it down and allow the ship to continue powering up.

BRODY Early tests show it should work.

TELFORD/YOUNG We're not going to be putting you into any more danger than you're already in just being here.

MCCORMACK/CHLOE From what I gather, supplies are desperately short.

WILLIAMS/ELI And given the condition of the ship, it could experience a fatal break down at any time.

WRAY No one is trying to alarm you unduly. But, we can't continue to scrape by, barely surviving.

TELFORD/YOUNG Obviously, we can't say for sure that this is going to get you home. But the best minds that we have are working on this, and I'm sure you'll agree&hellip;

[He catches Rush's mutinous expression.]

TELFORD/YOUNG (firmly) &hellip;it's well worth pursuing.

[Rush walks out.]

EXT&mdash;OBSERVATION DECK

[Telford/Young enters. Rush is already sitting at a table there.]

TELFORD/YOUNG Dr. Rush.

RUSH Colonel.

TELFORD/YOUNG It is spectacular, isn't it?

RUSH Yes.

TELFORD/YOUNG If this plan has any chance at succeeding&hellip;

RUSH Which it doesn't. Control over most of the ship's operational systems is limited, at best. Navigation, propulsion, many others have been locked out entirely by a master code which we have had no luck in breaking.

TELFORD/YOUNG I thought you might want to know we've come up with a way of draining the power.

RUSH (caustic) Yes, so I heard. Many of the power conduits have been badly damaged. And firing the ship's weapon system without either repairing them or isolating the damaged areas would be prohibitively dangerous.

TELFORD/YOUNG That's what we're working on right now. Just wanted to keep you informed.

[He leaves.]

EXT&mdash;SUBURBAN STREET OUTSIDE WALLACE HOME, DAY

[Eli/Williams and Green sit in a military car outside the home.]

ELI/WILLIAMS She's not going to understand. She can barely follow an episode of Star Trek.

GREEN You don't have to tell her.

[Eli gets out and knocks on the door. His mother opens it.]

WALLACE Yes?

ELI Hi. I&mdash;

WALLACE Can I help you?

ELI/WILLIAMS My name is&hellip;Phillip. Phillip Fry. I work with your son.

WALLACE You know Eli?

ELI/WILLIAMS We've&hellip;recently become very close.

INT&mdash;CHLOE'S ROOM

[Chloe stares at the reflection of the Indian scientist in the mirror. Her mother knocks on the door and enters.]

CHLOE/MCCORMACK It doesn't feel real. It's like a&hellip;bad dream.

[Her mother sits on the bed beside her.]

MRS. ARMSTRONG You're here. If this is the only way, I can live with that.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I can't stay this way forever, Mom.

MRS. ARMSTRONG I know. Everyone's working very hard to get you home.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I'm trying to get through this. I am.

[Her mother clasps her hand.]

MRS. ARMSTRONG Your father always used to say&hellip;

CHLOE/MCCORMACK One step at a time. I miss him so much.

[They lean into each other.]

MRS.ARMSTRONG Me, too.

INT&mdash;WALLACE KITCHEN

[Wallace sets a can of Coca-Cola and a glass with ice in front of Eli/Williams.]

ELI/WILLIAMS (delighted) Oh, awesome. Thanks.

WALLACE Eli drinks four or five of those a day.

ELI/WILLIAMS Actually, he quit.

WALLACE Really? I find that hard to believe.

ELI/WILLIAMS He's on a bit of a crash diet. You may not recognize him next time you see him.

WALLACE When will that be?

ELI/WILLIAMS I-I'm sorry. I'm not sure. Really getting into shape, though.

WALLACE Can I get you something to eat?

ELI/WILLIAMS Uh, Eli said you make the most amazing chocolate chip cookies.

WALLACE (surprised and pleased) He told you that?

ELI/WILLIAMS Oh, yeah. It's crazy how close you get in such a short time. Sometimes it's like&hellip;he's right up there in my brain.

[He chuckles nervously.]

WALLACE Why don't I make some? You could take them back with you.

[She gets up from the table and goes into the kitchen. She ties an apron on and starts to gather her baking supplies.]

ELI/WILLIAMS (perking) He also said you make a mean schnitzel. But I don't want to put you out.

WALLACE No, I'm happy to do it. You know, I thought he'd be calling more often.

ELI/WILLIAMS Here, let me help you.

[He joins her.]

WALLACE Tell me, this uh, work you're doing. I know you can't tell me much about it.

ELI/WILLIAMS I can tell you that it's important. In fact, it could change the world as we know it.

WALLACE Really? My Eli?

[She turns away, setting up her bowl and measuring cups. As she talks, Eli/Williams reaches automatically into the cupboard where she keeps her dry ingredients and pulls out the crocks.]

WALLACE Not that I'm surprised, don't get me wrong. He's my son. Of course I think he's special. He was always so bright, so different. But he just, uh&hellip;he never seemed to apply himself. Some of it was my fault.

ELI/WILLIAMS Oh, no. He doesn't blame you at all for anything. I'm sorry if this is personal, but he told me you're not well.

WALLACE (surprised) Did he?

[She turns and is even more surprised to see the man she sees as Williams has already found where she keeps her dry ingredients for cookies. Eli/Williams looks down at the crock and chocolate chips in his hands as if surprised himself.]

ELI/WILLIAMS Huh&hellip;lucky guess. Eggs are in the fridge, right?

[He awkwardly moves to the refrigerator. Wallace seems to pondering things.]

WALLACE I didn't think he ever talked to anyone about it.

ELI/WILLIAMS He asked me to make sure the Air Force was making good on their promise to help you.

WALLACE To be honest, the whole thing makes me a little anxious. I-I really just want to know Eli is okay.

ELI/WILLIAMS (softly, comforting) He is.

[She stares at him with a strange expression.]

WALLACE You make sure you tell him I'm proud of him.

ELI/WILLIAMS (emotional) I will.

WALLACE (crying) I'm sorry. I-it's just, it all happened so suddenly. And I&hellip;I miss him.

ELI/WILLIAMS (sadly) He misses you, too.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny moves faster than light.]

INT&mdash;CONDUIT AREA

[Brody and Riley, both wearing the space suits Young and Scott had on in "Water", work on soldering cables.]

BRODY That's it for me.

RILEY I'm almost done over here.

INT&mdash;CONTROL ROOM

[Telford/Young, McCormack/Chloe, and Williams/Eli stalk into the room where Rush is.]

TELFORD/YOUNG You're stalling.

RUSH I'm doing things the way they need to be done.

WILLIAMS/ELI Now, we've isolated power to forty percent of the operational weapons system, and it should be good enough to get us a read on our power reduction capability.

TELFORD/YOUNG (threateningly) The next time we drop out of FTL&hellip;

RUSH Now look-look, this ship is old and damaged. The computers aren't registering half the things they're supposed to. I want manual confirmation before activating something this comprehensive.

TELFORD/YOUNG Over eighty percent of this ship is unaccessible without spacesuits right now. With only two suits, doing it your way could take months!

RUSH If that's what it takes.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR

[Brody and Riley seal off the corridor where they had been working while standing outside.]

RILEY (into radio) Dr. Rush, we're ready here.

RUSH (over radio) Okay, sending power through.

[They watch through the window in the door and spot a breach in one of the pipes, from which gas is being sprayed. An alert wails in the control room.]

[The conversation switches between Brody and Riley's location and the control room.]

RUSH Riley&hellip;

BRODY Looks like a coolant leak.

RILEY I thought you got it.

BRODY Yeah, so did I.

RUSH There's a problem. Power's backing up in the relay.

TELFORD/YOUNG Shut it down.

RUSH (pressing buttons) I'm trying, it's not working.

WILLIAMS/ELI The problem is contained. It's restricted to that corridor.

RUSH That's not the point!

TELFORD/YOUNG How big an explosion are we talking about?

RILEY I'm going in. I can seal it.

[Riley opens the door.]

BRODY What are you crazy? You can't go in there! We are on the hull!

[Brody tries to block him, but in the bulky suit, he can't maneuver as Riley shoves him back. The door is sealed before Brody can get back on his feet. He watches helplessly as Riley sets to work.]

TELFORD/YOUNG Rush!

RUSH (insistent) We are in FTL! If it punctures the hull, disrupts the shield, at all, even for a microsecond, then the entire ship could be in jeopardy.

[The overload builds as Riley attempts to seal the breach. Sparks fly and Riley is thrown back into the far wall, knocked unconscious. Blood spatters the inside of his face shield.]

BRODY Riley!

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR OUTSIDE MAKESHIFT INFIRMARY

[Brody, still in the under garment of the suit, crouches, upset outside the room. Rush stands waiting nearby. TJ and another are working on Riley, an IV bag is hanging on a stand. TJ comes out]

TJ It's um&hellip;it's going to be touch and go.

[Brody looks stricken by the news.]

INT&mdash;MESS HALL

[Rush eats his rations. Telford/Young enters and sits across from him.]

TELFORD/YOUNG We're proceeding with the test next time we drop out of FTL.

RUSH Colonel, the man nearly died.

TELFORD/YOUNG You're the one who put him in jeopardy.

RUSH I was trying to make sure you didn't kill us all.

TELFORD/YOUNG I'm not going to.

RUSH Look, I accept responsibility for what happened, but you forced the situation. And activating the weapon system the way you're proposing&hellip;is completely reckless.

TELFORD/YOUNG Come on, Rush. These people are in danger just being here, evidenced by what just happened. This ship is falling apart. They're the wrong people for this. We need to get them home.

RUSH Yeah, well, there's a right way of doing that.

TELFORD/YOUNG We are doing it the right way.

RUSH That's a matter of opinion.

TELFORD/YOUNG Look, I know that we've had our differences in the past&hellip;

RUSH Yeah, you wanted me off the expedition team. I remember.

TELFORD/YOUNG It was my duty to express concern for how everyone else felt about you.

RUSH So you're suggesting that my judgment is now somehow "clouded"? Or is it that I'm just plain lying?

TELFORD/YOUNG Admit it, Rush. After everything that's happened, you're afraid they're not going to let you come back.

[Rush gets up and leaves.]

INT&mdash;ELI'S HOTEL ROOM

[Wearing a white tee-shirt, Eli runs his hand down his torso, noticing Williams more firm physique in the mirror. The cell phone rings and he goes to answer it.]

ELI/WILLIAMS (into phone) Hello?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (over phone) Hey, it's me.

[The conversation switches between Chloe's bedroom and Eli's hotel room.]

ELI/WILLIAMS How's it going?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Eh&hellip;okay. How'd your mom take it?

ELI/WILLIAMS Couldn't do it. I told her I was a co-worker.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I told my friends I'm cousin Liz from out west.

[They share a laugh.]

ELI/WILLIAMS I may have oversold the job. I said I was going to change everything for "mankind as we know it." What the hell, right? Might as well make her feel like I left for a good reason.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK You did.

ELI/WILLIAMS (doubtful) Right. I guess so.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK So, uh, some of my old friends are taking "Cousin Liz" out on the town to see Janelle Monae. You want to come hang out with us?

ELI/WILLIAMS (without hesitation) Hell, yes.

EXT&mdash;SUBURBAN STREET OUTSIDE EMILY YOUNG'S HOUSE, DAY

[Emily walks home, carrying grocery bags. Young/Telford waits in a car watching her arrive.]

INT&mdash;EMILY'S KITCHEN

[Emily unpacks the groceries as there is a knock at the door. She goes to answer it and sees Telford on the other side. She stares.]

YOUNG/TELFORD Emily, it's me. Emily&hellip;

[She shuts the door and leans against it. Young/Telford pounds on it outside.]

YOUNG/TELFORD Hey, no. Emily, please. Just open the door.

EMILY Go away!

YOUNG/TELFORD I'm not leaving, Emily. I-I'm not going to leave you.

EMILY I will call the police, Everett!

YOUNG/TELFORD (becoming more frantic) Emily please. It doesn't end like this, Emily. Open the door. I just want to talk to you! All right?

[He turns to go when she doesn't answer. But instead of leaving, he turns back.]

YOUNG/TELFORD Hey, just&hellip;I need you to just listen to me, okay? Because I know this is crazy. I'm barely keeping it together, and the only thing that's keeping me from going out of my mind is you. That's making me crazy, too, 'cause I know how much I hurt you, and I know that you hate me for leaving. Emily, I really tried&mdash;I didn't want to come here. I tried not to come here. But I can't-I can't stand it! Baby, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And I love you so much. Please. Just&hellip;I had to try just in case there was a chance, a chance that you could forgive me. (sighs) Maybe you're just afraid thinking I would die out there, so it's easier for you to just push me away now than&hellip;have to face me like this. I just want to come home&hellip;to you. And that's all I want.

[Emily has listened to him through the front door, clearly upset. Dejected, Young/Telford finally turns away from the door and starts to head back to the car. He reaches the gate when Emily relents and opens the door. Young/Telford pauses. She wraps her arms around him, crying.]

INT&mdash;NIGHTCLUB

[Janelle Monae performs dance music in the nightclub. Eli/Williams, still dressed in Williams's suit with no tie, stands at the bar. An attractive young woman comes up to him.]

MINDY Hi.

ELI/WILLIAMS (looking around, startled) Me?

MINDY What's your name?

ELI/WILLIAMS (thinks a moment) Phil. Can I buy you a drink?

MINDY (fingering drink in her hand) I have one.

ELI/WILLIAMS Yes, you do. (uncertain) Want to dance?

MINDY Sure.

[She finishes her drink and leads the way.]

ELI/WILLIAMS (to himself) Oh my god. This is awesome!

[Janelle Monae continues to perform. Chloe/McCormack watches two of her friends awfully cozy with each other as she takes a drink. Eli/Williams is still shocked at his situation. He catches Chloe's eye and gives her two thumbs up and a shocked expression. Chloe/McCormack laughs at his antics and shakes her head.]

JOSH (grabbing Celina) Hey, we're going to go dance. You want to come?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (solemnly) No.

[Chloe stares at Celina and Josh as they head out to the dance floor.]

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (to Andy) So how long have Celina and Josh been together?

ANDY Uh, I dunno. Too bad about Chloe's dad, huh?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Yeah.

ANDY What's she gonna do?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK What do you mean?

ANDY Well, her job. She was working for him, right?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I don't really think that's on her mind right now.

ANDY Sure. Well, tell her we're sorry.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I will.

ANDY You know, it sucks for me. Because Senator Armstrong was hooking me up with his Wall Street connections, and now that's not gonna happen.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (looking ill) I think I have to go throw up.

[She leaves. Andy looks puzzled.]

[At the bar she gets another gin and tonic, watching McCormack's reflection in the mirror. Celina comes up beside her.]

CELINA Hey.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Hey.

CELINA (concerned) So, is Chloe really okay?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK She'll be fine.

CELINA I wish she'd call me back.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I'm sure she misses you. I think she's just having a hard time dealing right now.

CELINA (upset) It's just&hellip;I really need to talk to her, you know?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (aggressive) You mean about the fact that you're sleeping with her boyfriend?

CELINA (taken aback) What?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK It's pretty obvious you guys are together.

CELINA Look. Josh and Chloe broke up.

[Chloe moves away from the bar stools, slightly off-balance.]

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Yeah, I don't think she ever would've suspected that you're the real reason why!

CELINA I don't know who you&mdash;

CHLOE/MCCORMACK How could you do this to me?!

CELINA To you?!

[Chloe/McCormack grabs Celina by her jacket.]

CHLOE/MCCORMACK You're supposed to be her best friend! How could you&hellip;

CELINA (struggling) Get your hands off of me!

[Celina breaks out of Chloe's grip and backs away. Chloe is very upset.]

INT&mdash;YOUNG HOUSE BEDROOM

[Emily and Young, who is in Telford's body, make love in the bed, Young lying back with Emily above him.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Scott approaches Telford, in Young's body. Rush, McCormack and Williams, in Chloe's and Eli's bodies, are at one of the consoles.]

SCOTT Excuse me? Colonel? Can I have a word?

TELFORD/YOUNG (to scientists) One moment.

SCOTT It's about Sergeant Greer&hellip;

[Destiny shifts out of FTL. Telford stumbles, by the time his hand hits the console to catch himself, his consciousness has switched and Young is in his own body.]

SCOTT Colonel Telford?

INT&mdash;YOUNG BEDROOM

[Telford is shocked to suddenly find himself in his own body, looking up right as Emily is in the throes of an orgasm.]

INT&mdash;CONTROL ROOM

[Chloe and Eli are back in their bodies as well.]

YOUNG Scott, it's Young. What just happened?

SCOTT We just dropped out of FTL, sir.

CHLOE Uh, what's going on?

ELI It must have disrupted communication between the stones.

YOUNG Scott, listen to me, we don't have a lot of time. You've got to&mdash;

[The consciousness switches again. Telford, back in Young's body, stares at Scott, still trying to get his emotions back in check. McCormack and Williams are back in the others' bodies as well, looking equally nonplussed.]

SCOTT Colonel Young? Colonel Young?!

INT&mdash;YOUNG BEDROOM

EMILY Oh, baby.

[Emily collapses onto Young, back in Telford's body. He embraces her, but looks distraught.]

TELFORD/YOUNG What just happened?

SCOTT We just dropped out of FTL.

WILLIAMS/ELI Looks like it might have temporarily disrupted the communication device.

TELFORD/YOUNG (disturbed) We have to fix that.

[He starts to leave.]

SCOTT Sir, I think Colonel Young wanted me to shut down the stones.

TELFORD/YOUNG (angrily) This is no longer his command. Is that clear? The device stays on.

INT&mdash;YOUNG HOME

[Young/Telford paces frantically while on the phone with O'Neill.]

YOUNG/TELFORD A glitch?! That's one helluva glitch, General.

INT&mdash;O'NEILL'S OFFICE

O'NEILL That's what I'm being told, Colonel. They're working on it.

YOUNG/TELFORD Yes, sir. Just let me know.

INT&mdash;NIGHTCLUB

[Eli/Williams comes and sits at the booth next to Chloe/McCormack. He's putting away his cell phone.]

ELI/WILLIAMS They said it was some sort of glitch&hellip;apparently. It won't happen again.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (voice slurred) How do they know?

ELI/WILLIAMS (chuckling) I don't know. And right now, I don't care. Did you see that girl I was dancing with? She wrote her email address on my hand.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I hate this. I hate everybody.

[She guzzles down another drink.]

ELI/WILLIAMS Hey, Captain Buzzkill. (grabbing drink out of her hand) Whoa, okay. No more drinks for Cousin Liz.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (pointing out Celina and Josh to Eli) You see those two over there? That's my best friend Celina and my ex-boyfriend.

ELI/WILLIAMS You can do better. Do you want to dance?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (drunkenly) I think I want to go over there and punch him in the face.

[She looks as if she's about to fall over. He grabs her to keep her upright.]

ELI/WILLIAMS (with false brightness) Hey, hey. I have an idea. How about we get out of here?

EXT&mdash;OUTSIDE NIGHTCLUB, NIGHT

[Eli/Williams half carries the stumbling Chloe/McCormack as he guides her out and down the sidewalk.]

ELI/WILLIAMS Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (drunkenly) This is awful. I'm not even drunk at all.

ELI/WILLIAMS (chuckling) Really?! Because you seem drunk.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK My head's just all&hellip;foggy.

ELI/WILLIAMS Almost there. C'mon, c'mon.

[He leads her to an SUV, helping her into the passenger seat.]

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Usually it makes me feel better.

ELI/WILLIAMS Huh.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK At least for a little while.

ELI/WILLIAMS It usually makes me dizzy&hellip;

[Chloe half collapses into the seat, barely conscious in her drunken stupor.]

ELI/WILLIAMS (ruefully) &hellip;and then I fall asleep.

INT&mdash;CAR

[By the time Eli's gotten into the car, Chloe is sobbing.]

ELI/WILLIAMS (to himself) Just once I'd like to go out with a girl and not have it end with her crying.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK My life was so shallow and pointless, and then I started working with my dad. I really thought that I could do something. Make a difference.

ELI/WILLIAMS You can.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (weeping) These aren't even my tears.

ELI/WILLIAMS I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, I had a really great time tonight.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I'm glad.

ELI/WILLIAMS Do you know the last time a girl that hot told me I was cute? Never.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Doesn't it bother you that she wasn't really talking about you?

ELI/WILLIAMS Well, when you put it like that&hellip;

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Uh&hellip;I didn't mean that. Come on. You're cute. The real you.

[Chloe moves forward and starts kissing him&hellip;but a moment later Eli snaps out of the daydream he had been having to see Chloe/McCormack staring at him.]

CHLOE/MCCORMACK What?

ELI/WILLIAMS Nothing. Go on. You were saying.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK And&hellip;you're funny, too. And you're a genius.

ELI/WILLIAMS Oh.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK And&hellip;

ELI/WILLIAMS Don't say it.

[Chloe/McCormack takes his hand.]

CHLOE/MCCORMACK You're a good friend.

ELI/WILLIAMS (ruefully) Yes. That's me. I am a good friend.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK I don't want to be trapped on that ship. And I don't want to be stuck here like this. I can't feel anything, can you?

ELI/WILLIAMS Well&hellip;

CHLOE/MCCORMACK You know what's the worst part about having a father like mine?

ELI/WILLIAMS Whoa, how did we get on to that?

CHLOE/MCCORMACK (sniffling) You can't live up to it. He was so great. I'll never be like he was. My dad definitely would've punched Josh in the face!

ELI/WILLIAMS (trying to contain his laughter) Wow. I think I'm going to take you home.

CHLOE/MCCORMACK Could you take me home?

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny floats in space.]

EXT&mdash;OBSERVATION DECK

[Wray joins Rush at the railing.]

WRAY A lot of people are behind this.

RUSH Well, a lot of people play the lottery. What's surprising is they'd do it with their lives.

WRAY I know you're opposed. I have serious concerns myself. I'm just wondering how much safer it might be if you were involved.

[As they watch, several weapons are fired from the gun batteries on the ship's deck.]

INT&mdash;GREER'S CELL

[Greer and Scott watch the weapon's fire from the window.]

GREER They can't keep me locked up in here forever.

SCOTT You know he will. As long as he can. What you did&hellip;

GREER He had it coming to him.

[They both chuckle.]

GREER Look, just shut down the damn stones, man.

SCOTT I'm not you, Ron. He's our commanding officer.

GREER Colonel Young is our commanding officer.

SCOTT Telford's got guards posted 24-7. What am I supposed to do?

GREER This better work.

[Scott nods.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The guns are fired several more times.]

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

[Telford/Young enters to find Rush alone working at a console.]

TELFORD/YOUNG What are you doing?

RUSH I'm making sure we still have enough power to control these consoles when approaching the star.

TELFORD/YOUNG Dr. Williams says you've come up with a way of improving the odds of success.

RUSH Well, I don't want to die, Colonel.

TELFORD/YOUNG Good. Hopefully, we've proven that's not our goal.

[Smiling, he leaves Rush be. The room's power shuts down, catching Rush's attention.]

INT&mdash;YOUNG KITCHEN

[Emily and her husband, in Telford's body, sit at the kitchen bar stools sharing shots of alcohol.]

EMILY I'm sorry. I couldn't deal with it. The thought of you being trapped on that ship&hellip;with her.

YOUNG/TELFORD All right, what do I have to do?

EMILY And I shouldn't have brought it up again. I know it's over. But you've got to understand&hellip;

[The glass he's been holding drops to the floor, shattering. Telford, back in his own body again, tries to orient himself. He stares at Emily, looking nonplussed.]

EMILY (concerned) Everett?

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

[Young looks around the darkened room.]

YOUNG No&hellip; (spots Rush) Rush, what's happening?

RUSH We just jumped to FTL.

INT&mdash;YOUNG KITCHEN

[Young looks around, realizing he's back in Telford's body.]

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

TELFORD/YOUNG Rush?

RUSH Colonel Telford?

[Telford fondles Young's ring sitting on his/their finger.]

TELFORD/YOUNG Yes&hellip;

RUSH Everything okay?

[Telford/Young straightens and walks purposefully forward.]

TELFORD/YOUNG It will be soon enough.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny comes out of FTL close to a star.]

INT&mdash;CONTROL ROOM

[Eli and Chloe look at their surroundings.]

ELI (annoyed) All right, this is ridiculous. Jumping back and forth without any warning is completely&hellip;

INT&mdash;ELI'S HOTEL ROOM

[Eli is ranting to no one in his hotel room, back in Williams's body.]

ELI/WILLIAMS &hellip;unacceptable! (sees where he is) Seriously?

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

[TJ, Wray and others gather their supplies and file into the Gate Room.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny lowers its solar scoops and flies into the star.]

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

[Volker (no longer with his arm in a sling) and Rush are at one console. Telford/Young, Williams/Eli, and McCormack/Chloe are around another. Brody is also with them.]

WILLIAMS/ELI Routing power flow to the Stargate. Ready to attempt dialing.

TELFORD/YOUNG Do it.

[He stands in front of the ramp, watching the Stargate dial. One chevron encodes. The second one locks.]

WRAY (mouthing) Come on.

[The Stargate continues to dial. Then the ship shakes. Electricity arcs around the Stargate. It stops dialing.]

SCOTT All right, stand back! Everyone, back up!

BRODY You're going to overload the capacitors.

[Williams/Eli hurriedly hits controls.]

WILLIAMS/ELI Bringing power flow down.

[The crowd shouts in panic as the electrical arcs continue.]

VOLKER The limitations are not holding.

RUSH Because the system wasn't meant to handle this much power.

EXT&mdash;SUN SURFACE

[The shield flickers as the ship floats on the sun.]

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

TELFORD/YOUNG Stay calm!

RUSH The shield is failing.

WILLIAMS/ELI Colonel, we need to abort.

[Telford/Young glares mutinously at Williams/Eli. Brody watches with no expression.]

TELFORD/YOUNG (frustrated) Shut it down.

WILLIAMS/ELI (working the controls) It's not working.

[Telford/Young faces off against Williams/Eli.]

TELFORD/YOUNG I thought you said we could stop it!

WILLIAMS/ELI I know! It won't shut down.

[Telford stares at the situation, then drops his head, clenching his jaw. He nods to Williams/Eli and McCormack/Chloe. They follow him out of the room.]

SCOTT (calling after them) Where the hell are you going?!

[Volker stares after them in surprise. Rush nods to Brody, who quietly follows the trio.]

SCOTT (desperate, to Rush) Do something.

[Rush calmly picks up his radio and waits.]

INT&mdash;STONE ROOM

[The door is unlocked and Telford/Young enters, shutting down the stones connection. Young, Eli, and Chloe stare at their surroundings in confusion. Brody watches them for a minute in the hall, confirming they're truly in their own bodies and the device is shut down, then keys his radio.]

BRODY (into radio) They're gone.

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

RUSH (into radio) Thank you.

[Rush presses some buttons on the console. The ship stops shaking and the alarms cease.]

RUSH If I can have everyone's attention, please. I'm sorry to have to tell you that uh, we will not be going home. Not yet, anyway. But you can all relax and return to your quarters. The ship will not be exploding. At least not today.

SCOTT Normal power levels will be restored soon. Right?

[He glares at Rush.]

RUSH Yes. Thank you.

[The crowd disburses. Wray, TJ, and Greer approach Rush.]

WRAY (furious) You staged the whole thing.

TJ So all of this was just to get rid of Telford?

RUSH (shrugging) Had to be done.

GREER So you're saying that the ship was never going to explode?

RUSH Oh no, we would most definitely all be dead had I not put certain limits in place. I also arranged for the alarms and warnings to go off regardless. A bit of theater. Always nice. (noting peoples' discomfort and skeptical looks) Their plan was never going to work.

SCOTT You could've warned us. You scared the crap out of everybody.

RUSH Well, I didn't know who was on my side, did I?

[He leaves them.]

EXT&mdash;PENTAGON, DUSK

INT&mdash;HOME-WORLD SECURITY CONFERENCE ROOM

[Telford and Young, now again in Hamilton's body, pace the outside of opposite sides of the table. Williams, McCormack, and other IOA, scientist and military people sit in the table or stand outside. O'Neill sits at the head of the table, Strom on his right hand side.]

YOUNG/HAMILTON Colonel Telford removed not only any sense of command, but the two scientists that designed and implemented the program that was causing the crisis.

WILLIAMS (defensively) The situation appeared to be irreversible.

YOUNG/HAMILTON (ignoring Williams) Fortunately, Dr. Rush was able to avoid catastrophic disaster.

WILLIAMS Yes, and we'd like to see how he did that along with the rest of the data collected during the experiment.

YOUNG/HAMILTON Those were people's lives you were experimenting with.

TELFORD We were trying to get them home.

YOUNG/HAMILTON You cut and ran.

[Telford glares at Young.]

STROM There was no point in three more lives being lost if it could be avoided.

O'NEILL Colonel Telford was following orders.

YOUNG/HAMILTON Sir&hellip;after, uh, much consideration, we have decided to stay in communication with Earth. I hope personal visits for everyone on board will still be permitted.

STROM That depends, Colonel.

O'NEILL Consider it done.

YOUNG/HAMILTON Thank you, sir. I'm afraid, the time I allotted for this briefing is now&hellip;up. General.

[O'Neill shakes his head and makes a face at Young's departing figure, carefully schooling it when he realizes Strom and others are turning to look at him.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny flies faster than light.]

INT&mdash;GATE ROOM

[A kino records Young speaking from the stairwell to everyone assembled there.]

YOUNG We are going to have to be tough, disciplined. The road may be longer than many of us hoped. We will have to sacrifice, compromise, work together, without exceptions.

INT&mdash;KINO ROOM

[Eli watches a playback of the speech, zooming in the kino camera to where Chloe and Scott are holding hands while listening to Young. Young enters the room behind Eli. Eli's got still photos from the kino taped on the wall.]

ELI (without turning) I thought you did a good job. People need to know the truth, but they also need hope.

YOUNG I need you to do something for me.

ELI Sure thing.

YOUNG Go over the data collected as they tried to dial the 'gate.

ELI I have already. There's a lot I don't understand.

YOUNG Well, then you need to learn. As fast as you can. And you talk to whoever you have to.

ELI You think Rush is hiding something?

YOUNG That's what I want you to tell me.

[Eli nods somberly. Young leaves. Eli starts the kino recording again.]

YOUNG (on recording) We are going to survive. We are going to make it home. My first priority is to make sure that we all return to those we love.

INT&mdash;YOUNG KITCHEN

[Emily drinks from a mug. There is a knock at the door. She opens it to find Telford on the other side.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed by Aurora Novarum, November 2009

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