The Greater Good/Transcript

Episode

• The Greater Good

Transcript

Previously

PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE UNIVERSE

[Excerpts of SGU 1.04 "Darkness", 1.05 "Light", 1.10 "Justice", 1.11 "Space", 1.16 "Sabotage", 1.20 "Incursion Part 2", 2.03 "Awakening" and 2.06 "Trial and Error" are shown.]

Prologue

EXT—DESTINY IN FTL

INT—YOUNG'S QUARTERS

[Young is lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.]

WRAY
 

(over radio)
 

Colonel Young.

[Young picks up the radio from the table beside the bed.]

YOUNG
 

(into radio)
 

Yeah.

WRAY
 

(over radio)
 

The morning briefing. You're late.

[Young picks up his watch and checks the time, then puts it back down and lies there a moment.]

INT—MESS

[Scott, Wray, TJ and Young are sitting at a table. The other three are talking while Young plays distractedly with a bowl of food, seemingly not paying any attention to the conversation.]

WRAY
  She's been the most cooperative of all the Lucian Alliance members. Homeworld Security wants to talk to her now.

TJ
  About the planned attack on Earth?

WRAY
  Some of Ginn's people, a clan from her home planet, are believed to be the ones behind it. She may know the location of their base.

SCOTT
  Or at least, point us to the people who do know.

[Scott and Wray look expectantly at Young, who continues eating. Eventually, he looks up and around at the others.]

YOUNG
 

(nodding)
 

Okay.

INT—CORRIDOR

[Dunning is standing guard outside Ginn's quarters. Wray arrives and knocks on the door. There is no answer.]

WRAY
  Is she in there?

DUNNING
  Yeah, but you should know she's…

[The door opens. Ginn is standing just inside, smiling broadly but looking disheveled and slightly nervous. Wray looks her up and down as she steps into the room.]

INT—GINN'S QUARTERS

WRAY
  Hello, Ginn.

GINN
  Hi.

WRAY
  Um, our people on Earth have asked if you could use the communication stones to come and talk with them.

GINN
 

(nervously)
 

Oh. Um… Sure!

WRAY
  I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?

GINN
  No! I, uh, was just, um, sleeping.

WRAY
  Uh, anyway, they were hoping to talk to you this afternoon. If that's all right with you.

GINN
  Sure.

WRAY
  Good. Um, I'll come by later, fill you in on the protocol involving the stones.

[Wray begins to walk out but something in the room catches her eye.]

WRAY
  Thank…you.

[Eli's red t-shirt is draped over a piece of furniture at the end of the unmade bed. Ginn and Wray smile uncomfortably at each other before Wray walks away.]

EXT—SPACE

[Destiny drops out of FTL.]

INT—CONTROL ROOM

[Brody and Park are at their consoles. Young enters.]

BRODY
  Twelve hours on the countdown clock, but the 'gate's not dialing, no planets in range, we tried calling Rush, no response, as usual.

YOUNG
 

(into radio)
 

Rush, come in.

[Park's console begins to beep.]

PARK
  Wait a minute. There is something out there, straight ahead of us.

INT—OBSERVATION DECK

[Greer, TJ, Scott and several civilians are standing looking out the windows. Volker enters.]

VOLKER
  What it is?

GREER
  Some kind of ship.

SCOTT
  Definitely not a seed ship.

TJ
  Doesn't look like the aliens we encountered before, either.

VOLKER
 

(dryly)
 

New friends. Yay.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDIT

EXT—SPACE

[The alien ship is floating in space off Destiny's bow.]

INT—OBSERVATION DECK

TJ
  It looks like it's been through a battle.

GREER
  And got its ass kicked.

INT—BRIDGE

[Rush is sitting in the command chair, working at one of the consoles.]

EXT—DESTINY IN SPACE

[The rear thrusters ignite and Destiny moves closer to the alien ship.]

INT—CONTROL ROOM

[Park and Volker are at one console, Young, Brody and Eli are at another, watching kino footage from onboard the alien ship.]

BRODY
  It's deserted. Whoever was on board must have evacuated.

[Young turns and goes towards the door as Rush arrives, blocking his entry into the control room.]

YOUNG
  Where the hell were you?

RUSH
  I was working.

YOUNG
  I want to know what the hell you were doing.

RUSH
  I was busy; I'm here now. Can we deal with the matter at hand?

[They eye each other off for a moment before Young steps aside and Rush goes to a console.]

BRODY
  We, ah, sent over a kino.

RUSH
  Have you found anything?

BRODY
  The ship's empty.

ELI
  Looks like they were in a battle. Probably abandoned ship.

RUSH
  We should send over a boarding party.

BRODY
  We got no shuttle.

PARK
  We could use the spacesuits.

VOLKER
  What, and just jump over?

RUSH
  Yes. Destiny stopped here for a reason. Who knows what kind of data or technology could be salvaged.

BRODY
  Well, who's going to go?

RUSH
  I'll go.

ELI
  Kind of risky for you to—

RUSH
  The ship is deserted. I'm the expert on alien technology. I should go.

[Rush and Young exchange a look.]

INT—SPACESUIT STORAGE AREA

[Park and Scott and helping Rush and Young into their spacesuits.]

PARK
  You have just over six hours of suit air, in case you can't get the ship's life support online.

SCOTT
  All right, Colonel, maybe I should go with him instead.

YOUNG
  You say that now that I'm already in the suit?

SCOT
  I'm just not sure it's such a good idea for you to be doing this. The crew needs you here.

YOUNG
  And I need to keep an eye on him. Don't worry, Lieutenant, I'm not going to leave him behind.

INT—CHLOE'S QUARTERS

[Eli and Chloe are talking. She's sitting on chair and he is pacing around the room.]

ELI
  Rush and Young are going to go over, check it out, see if there's anything worth salvaging.

[Chloe nods.]

ELI
  What's this?

[Eli picks up a notepad from the table.]

CHLOE
  Oh, um, some equations Rush asked me to look at.

ELI
  You understand all this?

[Chloe shrugs.]

ELI
 

I'm sorry I haven't been by as much lately.
  (dropping the notebook back on the table)
 

I've been really…

CHLOE
  It's okay. I heard you and one of the Lucian Alliance people have been working together a lot. Ginn?

ELI
 

(smiling)
 

Yeah. Who told you?

CHLOE
  Matt.

ELI
  Ahhh.

[Eli chuckles and sits on the bed near Chloe's chair.]

ELI
  See, we were working together on this thing. Uh, dialing from inside a star. And I got to know her, and she's really… I don't know. We became friends and then, out of nowhere—

CHLOE
 

(taking his hand)
 

Hey. I'm happy for you.

[They exchange a smile.]

INT—AIRLOCK

[Young is tying one end of a rope to a ladder-like structure in the airlock. The other end is attached to him. Rush hands him a kino and activates it with a remote.]

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Eli, Volker, Park and Brody are at consoles.]

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Okay, we're good. Open the door.

[Brody operates the door control.]

INT—AIRLOCK

[The door is open and Rush is in the airlock, operating the kino remote.]

EXT—SPACE

[Young is floating up towards a breach in the hull of the alien ship, attached by the rope to Destiny. He holds the kino, letting its propulsion system pull him along the correct path.]

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

It looks like the bridge is destroyed.

INT—CONTROL ROOM

[Eli is watching the kino footage of the hull breach on the console screen.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Young enters the ship through the hull breach.]

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Brody, Eli, Park and Volker are watching their console screens.]

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Okay, I am in, line secured. Come on over.

EXT—SPACE

[Rush is using the rope to guide himself up to the alien ship.]

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Destiny, we are on board the ship.

BRODY
  Copy that.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Young and Rush explore the nearest section of the alien ship. They enter another section, and Rush manages to get the doors closed behind them. Young bumps his helmet on the low ceiling.]

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Bulkhead's sealed.

ELI
  Is there life support?

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Not yet, but we have gravity, so that is a start.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

YOUNG
  The place a pretty banged up.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Hopefully, we can find a way to access control of the…

[The is silence on the radio link. Everyone in the control exchanges concerned looks.]

BRODY
  Colonel? Are you still there?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

YOUNG
 

(to Brody)
  Yeah, we're here.
  (to Rush)
 

Is that…?

RUSH
  It is.

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

What? What? What is it?

RUSH
 

(to Eli)
 

Pods. The aliens we encountered in the seed ship.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

VOLKER
  Maybe you should come back. Not take any chances?

YOUNFG
 

(over radio)
 

Don't worry, the pods are empty.

BRODY
  Well, there could be pods elsewhere in the ship that aren't empty.

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

If there's anything still alive in this ship, the kino would have noticed it.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush and Young move further into the ship. Young sees something in one of the corridors.]

YOUNG
  Is that a control panel?

[Rush goes over and activates the control panel while Young looks around. Rush sets the kino on top of the panel so it can see where they are.]

RUSH
 

(into radio)
 

You getting this?

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Eli is watching his console screen.]

ELI
  Uh, yeah. Yeah, we got it. What is that, a control room?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
  Some kind of engineering station.
  (on console screen)
  It appears to have only limited control, (over radio)
 

but I think I can seal off…

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  …some other bulkheads and…

[He operates a toggle and the lights come on.]

RUSH
  We have life support.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Park's console screen shows footage from the first kino.]

PARK
  Power's coming on in other parts of the ship as well.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Young and Rush remove their helmets.]

RUSH
  Right. I'm going to try switching over to the ship's communications.

[He operates some buttons on the control panel.]

RUSH
  Do you read?

BRODY
 

(over radio)
 

Loud and clear.

RUSH
  Okay. I'm also going to…

[He is interrupted by a loud burst of sparks from behind him, two more close by knocking Young from his feet.]

EXT—SPACE

[The alien ship's thrusters ignite and the ship starts to move away from Destiny. The rope between the ships snaps in two.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Showers of sparks are flying, there is a great deal of noise and Rush and Young are being buffeted about.]

YOUNG
  What the hell just happened?

RUSH
  I don't know! The engines have engaged.

YOUNG
  What did you do?

RUSH
  I didn't do anything!

YOUNG
  Well turn them off!

RUSH
  I can't from here!

EXT—SPACE

[The alien ship's engines shut down, and it moves away at constant velocity.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  The engines have shut off on their own. The power's nearly drained. It doesn't matter. We're ballistic, moving away from Destiny.

YOUNG
  Turn us around, Rush.

RUSH
  I can't. Navigation and propulsion cannot be controlled from here.

EXT—SPACE

[The alien ship is moving rapidly away from Destiny.]

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Rush is on the console screen.]

ELI
  No power at all?

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Emergency reserves. The ship's systems took too much damage.

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

If we can't turn this thing around, we're going to have to find another solution.

BRODY
  Well, there's not much we can do from here.

VOLKER
  Without control of Destiny's core systems, we can't steer back to you.

PARK
  well, maybe Destiny will realize there's a problem and turn around on its own.

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

We can't take a chance on something that may…

INT—ALIEN SHIP

YOUNG
  …or may not happen.

[Young and Rush look at each other.]

RUSH
  What?

Young

I don't know. You tell me.

[Rush hesitates before responding.]

RUSH
  I've been doing some work. Writing a program that should allow me to override Destiny's autopilot.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

And manually fire the ship's maneuvering thrusters.

ELI
  You what?

BRODY
  Why didn't you tell any of us?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  Because I haven't been successful as yet. It's extremely complex. Destiny's command programming is not something that can be easily manipulated.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

ELIU
  Okay. So, fill me in. I can help with it.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  No! I… I…I mean, yes, of course. You and the others can handle some of it, but most it? That's going to require someone with a far greater knowledge of Ancient drive systems.

YOUNG
  Someone such as?

RUSH
  Amanda Perry. She can do it.

YOUNG
  All right. Let's bring her on board.

BRODY
 

(over radio)
 

The suits consume power while wearing them. You may want to get out of them.

INT—DESTINY, GINN'S QUARTERS

[There is a knock on the door. Ginn opens the door to find Simeon standing outside.]

SIMEON
  Nice room. It's bigger than mine.

GINN
  What do you want?

SIMEON
  Can I come in?

[Simeon glances at Dunning, who is standing guard. Ginn steps aside and Simeon enters.]

SIMEON
  I, uh, hear you've been getting friendly with some of the people on the ship.

[Ginn doesn't respond. He leans closer and lowers his voice.]

SIMEON
  The problem is, when you get close to someone, you start letting your guard down and, uh, you say things you shouldn't.

[He leans closer.]

SIMEON
  You haven't done that, have you?

[Ginn doesn't respond. Wray arrives at the doorway.]

WRAY
  Oh, excuse me. Uh, Ginn, we're all set, if you're ready.

[Ginn nods.]

SIMEON
  Ready for what?

[Wray enters the room and stands in front of Simeon.]

WRAY
  Nothing that concerns you.

[Simeon walks out. Wray and Ginn exchange a look, then Ginn nods and follows Wray out.]

INT—STONE LAB

[Eli is waiting as Wray and Ginn enter. There is also a technician at the table.]

ELI
 

(concerned)
 

Are you okay with this?

GINN
  Yes.

WRAY
  She's given her consent. She's fully aware of the communication stones protocol.

[Eli looks at Ginn and she smiles at him.]

GINN
  I'm fine, Eli. Really.

[Ginn takes a seat at the table in front of the stone device.]

WRAY
  We may need you to remain on Earth until Doctor Perry has finished helping us with our problem. Is that all right with you?

[Ginn nods.]

TECHNICIAN
  Just place the stone on the device when you're ready.

[Ginn takes one of the stones from the box. She holds it for a moment and looks up at Eli. He smiles at her.]

ELI
  See you soon.

[Ginn puts the stone on the device then a moment later, her hand flexes. Bringing her hand up to her face, we now see Amanda Perry.]

WRAY
  Doctor Perry?

[Perry looks at Wray and smiles.]

PERRY/GINN
  Camile.

WRAY
  Um, welcome aboard Destiny. Were they able to brief you on our situation?

PERRY/GINN
  Yes. Hello, Eli.

[Eli looks at her blankly.]

ELI
  Hi.

EXT—SPACE

[The alien ship continues to drift away from Destiny.]

RUSH
 

(voice)
 

How're you getting on with those algorithms I gave you?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush is standing at the control panel, his notebook in his hand, making notes as he talks with Destiny.]

BRODY
 

(over radio)
 

Slow.

RUSH
  And Doctor Park?

BRODY
 

(over radio)
 

She went to the Engineering Control Room like you told her.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Volker and Brody are working.]

BRODY
  She'll radio you when she's got something, although she didn't look too optimistic when she left.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  OK. How about Eli?

BRODY
 

(over radio)
 

Communications lab. He's getting Doctor Perry.

[Rush looks over at Young, who is standing guard, then leans down to the control panel, pressing buttons as he speaks.]

RUSH
  Colonel, it seems there's another undamaged area of the ship. I've pressurized it. Might be worth taking a look, see if there's a shuttle, an escape pod, something like that.

[Young comes and looks over Rush's shoulder at the console.]

YOUNG
  Keep me posted on your progress.

RUSH
  Of course.

[Young walks away.]

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Eli leads Perry to enter the control room and go to a console. Rush can be seen on the console screen.]

PERRY/GINN
  Nicholas?

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Mandy.

PERRY/GINN
  Yes, I'm here. I can see you. Tell me what to do.

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Good, good. Is Eli with you?

ELI
  Yeah, I'm here.

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Good. Go and help Doctor Park.

ELI
 

(confused)
 

What? Why?

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Because she's going to need you far more than Doctor Perry will.

ELI
  All right, all right. I'm going.

[Eli leaves the control room. On the console screen, Rush holds up his notebook to the kino. It has an equation written on it.]

RUSH
  Can you read this?

PERRY/GINN
  Yes.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  Good. This is the first of several heuristic algorithms I need you to run.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

They're crucial to discovering a way to manually program an override to Destiny's propulsion systems.

PERRY/GINN
  First of several?

[Brody walks over and hands her several pieces of paper.]

BRODY
  And you thought this wasn't going to be any fun, huh?

[He smiles at her as she takes the papers.]

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

You're very funny, Mister Brody. Time is of the essence.

[Perry struggles for a moment with the pen, then begins to write.]

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Did you get it?

PERRY/GINN
  Yeah. Got it.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  Okay.

[Rush turns the page in the notebook and holds it up to the kino.]

RUSH
  Here's the next one.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Perry writes.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP, CORRIDOR

[Young is exploring elsewhere in the ship.]

YOUNG
 

(into radio)
 

Rush, come in.

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Yes, Colonel.

YOUNG
  There's no sign of a shuttle or escape pod. If there was, they probably used it to get the hell out of here.

INT—ALIEN SHIP, CONTROL PANEL AREA

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

I'm going to check out a few more compartments…

INT—ALIEN SHIP, CORRIDOR

YOUNG
 

(into radio)
 

…then I will head back. Young out.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Perry has accumulated several pages of equations. She does some calculations by hand, realizing something. She activates the Destiny schematic on her console. After looking at it, she glances up at Brody and Volker, who are working at their consoles, then shuts off the schematic.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush is sitting, waiting anxiously by the control panel. He rushes to it when he hears Perry's voice.]

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Nicholas.

RUSH
  Yes, Mandy?

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

PERRY/GINN
  These heuristics you gave me.

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Do you understand them?

PERRY/GINN
  I think so.

[She glances nervously at Brody and Volker for a moment.]

PERRY/GINN
  Are you asking me to go to—

RUSH
 

(on console screen)
 

Yes! Now. Please.

[Perry picks up the papers and gets up to leave.]

PERRY/GINN
  I'll be right back.

BRODY
  Need some help with something?

PERRY/GINN
  Uh, no, thanks. I'll be fine. I'll let you know.

[Perry leaves the control room.]

INT—CORRIDOR

[Just outside the control room, Perry comes across Simeon and his guard walking along. Simeon stops Perry, thinking she is Ginn.]

SIMEON
  We need to talk.

GINN/PERRY
  I… I'm sorry?

PERRY/GINN
  Oh, I'm not…I'm Doctor Amanda Perry. I…we used the communication stones. I was brought aboard to help with the current situation and…

SIMEON
  Where's Ginn?

PERRY/GINN
  She's on Earth. I'm sorry, but I need to get on with—

[She tries to walk past him but Simeon grabs her and stops her.]

SIMEON
  No, no, no, we're not done here.

GREER
  Hey!

[Greer has entered the corridor. Simeon releases his hold on Perry and turns to face Greer.]

GREER
  Is there a problem?

PERRY/GINN
  Sergeant, I'm Doctor Amanda Perry. I used the stones to switch with Ginn.

GREER
  I heard. Welcome aboard.

PERRY/GINN
  Thank you. I've got quite a bit of work to do and, uh…

GREER
  Then by all means, do not let this man stop you.

PERRY/GINN
  Thank you.

[Greer steps back a pace so Perry can pass. As she walks away, Greer steps back to face Simeon.]

GREER
  Off you go, now.

[Greer points his thumb in the opposite direction to the one Perry went.]

GREER
  That way.

[Simeon turns and walks away, and his guard follows.]

INT—CORRIDOR OUTSIDE BRIDGE

[Perry approaches the large door. Referring to her notes, she keys a sequence of buttons on the door control panel. The large door slides down, then she opens the interior door.]

INT—BRIDGE

[Perry walks in and looks around. She closes the door behind her and goes to the command chair. Referring to her notes again, she activates the bridge.]

EXT—DESTINY

[The bridge section rises up from the top of the ship.]

INT—BRIDGE

[Perry looks around in amazement.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Nicholas.

RUSH
  Mandy, are you there? Did you find it?

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Yes.

[Rush picks up the kino remote and presses some buttons.]

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[The kino footage disappears from the console screens. Volker knows it.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

BRODY
 

(over radio)
 

Rush, come in?

RUSH
  Yes, I'm here.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

BRODY
  We just lost the Kino feeds.

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Yeah, probably out of range. It was going to happen sooner or later. Don't worry about it. Just keep working.

INT—BRIDGE

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Mandy, are you still there?

PERRY/GINN
  Yes, Nick.

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Good. This is a discrete channel. No one else on the ship can hear us.

PERRY/GINN
  So. This is the bridge.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  Indeed it is. Now we can finally get to work.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

PERRY/GINN
  What's going on here, Nick?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Oh, Mandy, I'm sorry for all the puzzles.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  I had to find a way of getting you on the bridge without anyone else knowing.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

PERRY/GINN
  Why the secrecy?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Because I've done it.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  I've broken Destiny's master code. I now have complete control over all its systems.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

PERRY/GINN
 

(amazed)
 

Wait a minute. You have control over navigation and propulsion?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Yes, all of it.

PERRY/GINN
  Then why do you need me?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

You could have had any of these people—

RUSH
  I needed you because you're the only one I can trust.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

I can't tell the others. Not yet.

PERRY/GINN
  Why not?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Look, I'll explain in time. Right now…

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  …I need you to turn Destiny round and come and get us.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

PERRY/GINN
  All right. Tell me what to do.

INT—CONTROL ROOM

[Eli enters.]

ELI
  We lost the kino feed.

VOLKER
  Yeah. Out of range.

ELI
  Where's Doctor Perry?

BRODY
  I thought she was going to your lab.

[Eli looks confused.]

INT—BRIDGE

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

Doctor Perry, do you read?

[Perry is now at one of the control stations. She looks around to where Eli's voice is coming from the command chair console.]

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

Doctor Perry, please come in. Where are you?

PERRY/GINN
  Nick, your friends are calling me.

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Don't answer them. Not yet.

[After considering for a moment, Perry continues to work at the console.]

EXT—DESTINY IN SPACE

[The ship moves forward, banking left sharply.]

INT—CONTROL ROOM

BRODY
  Uh, guys, we're changing course. The Destiny just turned in the direction of the alien ship.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Okay. We're on our way.

(Nicholas sags and braces himself on the wall in relief.)

RUSH
  Well done. Well done.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

PERRY/GINN
  So, what am I supposed to tell the others?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Tell them I sent you to the…

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  …engine control room. You were able to enter the correct programming that allowed you to fire the ship's maneuvering thrusters. You're brilliant, they'll believe you.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

PERRY/GINN
  What is going on here, Nick? Why don't you want me to tell anyone the truth?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  Look, things have changed since you last came aboard this ship. You know me better than anyone, Mandy. Please believe me when I say I've got good reasons for this secrecy.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

Doctor Perry, please respond. We really need to talk to you.

[Perry looks towards the console.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush looks concerned.]

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

We just need to know that you're okay.

[Perry gets up and goes to the command chair console, where she operates the radio.]

PERRY/GINN
  Yes, Eli, I'm fine.

INT—CONTROL ROOM

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

I am in the engine control room. I was able to execute Doctor Rush's programming override.

[Volker, Brody and Eli all look surprised.]

ELI
  Really? So you turned the ship around?

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Yes. I was able to manually fire the maneuvering thrusters.

ELI
 

(suspiciously)
 

Wow. Okay. Do you need any help?

INT—BRIDGE

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

I can come down and—

PERRY/GINN
 

(nervously)
 

No, no, it's okay. I'm, uh, almost finished here. I should be coming back to the control room shortly.

INT—CONTROL ROOM

ELI
  All right.

[Eli deactivates the radio. He, Volker and Brody look concerned.]

ELI
 

(suspiciously)
 

What was she doing before she left?

BRODY
  Working on the heuristics Rush gave her.

[Eli walks towards the console where Perry had been working earlier.]

BRODY
  She took her work with her.

[Eli turns, contemplating for a moment, before rushing to the console. He starts pressing buttons.]

VOLKER
  What?

ELI
  The kino feed, before we lost it. I always record everything.

[Eli pulls up the recorded footage. It shows Rush holding up his notepad to the kino, showing the equations.]

RUSH
 

(on recording)
 

Can you read this?

PERRY/GINN
 

(on recording)
 

Yes.

RUSH
 

(on recording)
 

This is the first of several heuristic algorithms I need you to run.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Young returns to the control panel area from his exploration of the ship. He stops around the corner and listens to Rush and Perry's conversation.]

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Well, so far so good. My calculations put us at your doorstep within the hour.

RUSH
  Ah, I knew it was a good idea getting you on board the ship.

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Well, you did say you'd find a way to bring me back aboard.

RUSH
 

(laughing)
 

I did at that.

INT—DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Eli is doing the same calculations Perry had done earlier. As he finishes, a look of anger comes over his face.]

INT—BRIDGE

[The door opens, and Eli enters, along with Volker and Brody.]

ELI
 

(angrily)
 

What the hell?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush leans over the control panel.]

RUSH
  Mandy, who's that?

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

VOLKER
  Rush?

[The three men walk down to the command chair.]

ELI
 

(angrily)
 

I don't believe this. You cracked Destiny's master code?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Eli, listen to me…

ELI
 

(yelling angrily)
 

You had control of this ship the whole time!?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

Why-why wouldn't you tell any—

[Rush hurriedly cuts the radio link, looking around towards the corridor as he does so. Young emerges from his position around the corner, holding his machine gun.]

RUSH
  Look, Colonel, I had every intention—

YOUNG
  You broke the code.

RUSH
  Yes.

YOUNG
  When?

RUSH
  Does it matter?

YOUNG
 

(firmly)
 

When?

RUSH
  Shortly after the Lucian Alliance attack.

[Young walks across the room and leans his gun against the wall as Rush speaks.]

RUSH
  I wanted to tell you but I had to make sure I knew everything about this before I let—

[Young punches Rush in the face, and Rush falls to the floor.]

YOUNG
  I should have killed you when I had the chance.

[Young punches Rush twice more, then picks him up and throws him across the floor. Young goes over to him, pulls him up by the hair and shoves him against the window. He holds him there, one hand around Rush's throat.]

YOUNG
 

(furiously)
 

Either way, it's your fault we lost the shuttle, that Riley's dead. Your—

[Rush puts his hand to Young's face and pushes back, the two men struggling against each other for a moment before breaking apart. Rush picks up the kino and attempts to hit Young with it, but Young tackles him to the floor, and the kino rolls away. They struggle on the floor. Rush head butts Young and tries to crawl after the kino, but Young pulls him back by his legs.]

YOUNG
  You murdered that boy!

[Young gets around behind Rush and wraps him in a choke-hold. Young chokes Rush until he stops struggling, then releases his grip. Rush lies unconscious on the floor while Young gets up and retrieves his weapon. Slowly, Rush comes to his senses while Young paces around him.]

YOUNG
  So that's it, huh? That was your plan? Just keep this whole thing a secret, see how long you can get away with it?

RUSH
  I had no choice.

YOUNG
  Yeah, you did! You could have told me, Rush.

[Rush gets to his knees and crawls slowly to lean on a wall.]

RUSH
  I couldn't trust you. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. Several of the crew have voiced their—

YOUNG
  It's all about control with you, right? Power.

[Young stands over Rush, who is sitting on the floor, clutching his shoulder.]

RUSH
  Well, someone's got to lead these people.

YOUNG
  Do you think anyone's going to follow you after this?

RUSH
  No, no, no. Not me. But not you, either.

[Young turns and walks to the opposite wall and sits down.]

RUSH
  Come on, Colonel, look at yourself. You can hardly get out of bed in the morning, never mind make command decisions.

YOUNG
  Well, look at that. You got me all figured out, don't you?

RUSH
  Well, anyone can see it. You know it's true.

[They sit in silence for a moment.]

RUSH
  Look, when I unlocked the code, the amount of information it revealed was overwhelming. I had to make sure I had a proper handle on this stuff before letting anyone have access to it. If any one of those systems had been improperly handled…

YOUNG
  Resulting in the shuttle crashing? One of our best young men dying? You mean something like that?

RUSH
 

(softly)
 

Yeah. I know I've made mistakes.

[They are silent for a moment more, then Young gets up and comes closer to Rush.]

YOUNG
  The simulation the ship just put me through. Was that your doing as well?

RUSH
  No, no, that was—that was the ship. Except the part at the end. I had to override the program to make Destiny jump back into FTL.

[Young paces.]

RUSH
  Look, with all that's happened recently, the Lucian Alliance trying to take the ship, lives lost as a result of that, Lieutenant Johansen's baby…

[Young leans again the wall.]

RUSH
  It's a heavy burden to carry, I know, but you have to ask yourself this question: "Am I fit to lead these people?" Well, maybe at one time, yeah, but not now. I couldn't tell you about the code, Colonel. How can I trust you when you don't even trust yourself?

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

[Perry is still sitting in the command chair. Brody has taken a seat at one of the control stations, Volker is walking around looking at the bridge, and Eli is leaning over and operating the radio on one of the command chair consoles.]

ELI
  Rush, are you there? Rush, come in.

BRODY
  Out of range?

ELI
  Probably shut off the radio.

VOLKER
 

(to Perry)
 

Why didn't you tell us?

PERRY/GINN
  I'm sorry. I should have, I know. He was just so emphatic about me keeping quiet. He said there was a good reason.

BRODY
  Well, at least we're heading towards them now, right?

ELI
  If Rush is still alive when we get there.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Young is sitting on the floor across the room from Rush.]

RUSH
  So, what happens now?

YOUNG
  Well, Destiny picks us up and then you tell us everything that you've learned since breaking the code. Come on. You had to know that this game wasn't going to last forever.

RUSH
  It's not a game, Colonel. Destiny's mission requires a level of commitment I doubt anyone in that ship's prepared to make.

YOUNG
  What mission? There is no mission other than getting these people home.

RUSH
  You're wrong. It was never about going home. It's about getting us to where we're going.

YOUNG
  What the hell's that supposed to mean?

RUSH
  In these past few weeks, I've learned so much more about the ship, about its mission. It's far more important than we ever thought.

YOUNG
  Okay, let's—let's hear it.

RUSH
  Are you familiar with the cosmic microwave background radiation?

YOUNG
  Noise left over from the Big Bang.

RUSH
  A long time ago, the Ancients made a discovery. They found evidence of a structure buried deep within the background radiation. They believed that, at one time, this structure had genuine complexity, coherence, therefore could not have occurred naturally.

YOUNG
  How is that even possible?

RUSH
  It's not. At least, not according to our current understanding of physics, nor could we even see this structure with our technology.

YOUNG
  Okay, so what are we talking about? Some kind of code, a message?

RUSH
  A message, perhaps, or a sign of intelligence from the beginning of time.

YOUNG
  Sent by?

RUSH
  Hmph. Well, that's the very question they sought to answer when they launched Destiny. That is the mission. We're talking about a mystery rooted in the foundation of reality. A puzzle with pieces scattered across the length and breadth of the universe itself.

YOUNG
  I swear to God, Rush, if this is another one of your hoaxes—

RUSH
  Once I'd broken the code, I had access to the ship's complete archive. There are thousands of pages devoted to this. Scientific research, philosophical debate—

YOUNG
  If we don't have the technology to see this thing, how the hell am I supposed to believe—

RUSH
  Because Destiny is not our technology, Colonel. The Ancients left us their data as well as the ship.

YOUNG
  And you've seen this data?

RUSH
  I'll show it to you. I don't promise you're going to understand it, but it's there. Someone's got to see this mission through. We're here, why not us? Stop saying we don't belong on that ship. Embrace it, move forward. Stop looking behind us.

YOUNG
  I just want to get these people home.

RUSH
  Well, I'm starting to think that seeing this mission through may be our only chance of ever doing that.

YOUNG
  Well, what does that even mean?

RUSH
  We're talking about a level of order present at the very beginning of space-time that goes beyond anything we ever conceived. I believe that the more we learn, the more pieces Destiny uncovers, then the greater our power to control everything around us will be.

YOUNG
  So, it is about power.

RUSH
  Yes, Colonel. Power to change things, control our fate, right the wrongs.

YOUNG
  To play God?

RUSH
  No. To gain greater understanding.

YOUNG
  What the hell do you want from me?

RUSH
  I want you to work with me, together, side by side, for the benefit of everyone.

YOUNG
  Well, it'll be a hell of a lot easier if you stop keeping secrets.

RUSH
  I think it's fair to say we've had our differences, but that ends today. You have my word.

YOUNG
 

(laughing)
 

Oh, man, you are a lot of work!

[They hear Destiny outside. Looking through the window, they can see it approaching.]

YOUNG
  Radio. Radio! Let's go!

[They get up and go to the control panel.]

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Mandy?

PERRY/GINN
  Yes, Nick, we're here. What happened?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

No, we're fine, but your angle and speed are off. I need you to circle back…

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  …line up Destiny's airlock as close to the ship as possible.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

ELI
  Where's Colonel Young?

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Eli, I'm here. We're going to sort all of this out later. Let's just get us back on board first.

INT—ALIEN SHIP

YOUNG
  We should get back in the suits.

EXT—SPACE

[Destiny maneuvers for another attempt.]

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

[Perry is in the command chair. The three men are standing around her.]

ELI
  Try not to come in so sharply.

BRODY
  Yeah, you just want to pull alongside.

VOLKER
  To be fair, you shouldn't be driving, no offense.

PERRY/GINN
 

(sharply)
 

J-just shut up!

VOLKER
  Okay.

EXT—SPACE

[Destiny flies back towards the alien ship.]

INT—BRIDGE

[Perry is delicately controlling the ship's maneuvering.]

VOLKER
  Easy, easy.

BRODY
  Keep an eye on your starboard.

ELI
  Watch your angle.

SCOTT
 

(shouting)
 

What the hell is going on here?

[The three men look around to see Scott and Wray enter the Bridge.]

ELI
 

(to Scott)
 

No time. There's no time.

BRODY
  You've got to ease up. That's very sensitive.

ELI
  Back off as you come in.

SCOTT
  Is she flying the ship?

WRAY
  Do you know what you're doing?

BRODY
  Guys!

ELI
 

(to Scott and Wray)
 

Not now!

[Eli and Scott look out the windows to see their approach.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush and Young are back in their spacesuits. Rush is inspecting the kino.]

RUSH
  The kino's damaged. I won't be able to use it to take us back to the ship.

[They are packing up their equipment.]

YOUNG
  Well, there's another one in search mode somewhere still on the ship.

RUSH
  If we can find it.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

[Eli, Volker and Brody are at the window. Brody turns and yells to Perry.]

BRODY
  Reverse! You're too close!

PERRY/GINN
  I'm trying!

EXT—SPACE

[Destiny approaches the alien ship. A flash of light appears where Destiny's shields and structure make contact with the other vessel.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP CORRIDOR

[Showers of sparks comes from the ceiling as Young and Rush are almost knocked off their feet by the impact.]

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

[Everyone is looking around anxiously.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush and Young are being buffeted about.]

YOUNG
  What the hell just happened?

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

PERRY/GINN
  I'm sorry, Colonel.

SCOTT
  We came in too close. Maybe I should give it a try.

[Scott goes to take the command chair from Perry.]

BRODY
  No, no, no. No, we're okay. We matched their speed.

ELI
  Yeah, but how the hell are we going to get them off that ship?

[Looking through the windows, the Destiny crew sees the alien ship just off the bow, but it is now rotating slowly around its own longitudinal axis.]

INT—ALIEN SHIP

[Rush and Young are making their way through the ship.]

PERRY/GINN
 

(over radio)
 

Nick, are you all right?

RUSH
  I'm okay. The rotation's slow enough.

YOUNG
  We've got a bigger problem. The kino is damaged. We're not going to be…

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

…able to use it to get back on the ship.

BRODY
  What about the other one?

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

It's lost…

INT—ALIEN SHIP

RUSH
  …somewhere on the ship.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

VOLKER
  They don't have time to go looking for it.

ELI
  Are you back in the spacesuits?

INT—ALIEN SHIP

YOUNG
  Yeah.

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

Okay, good. So this is easy.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

ELI
  You're just going to use the ship's centripetal force to propel you the distance.

BRODY
 

(alarmed)
 

"Easy"? That ship's just not spinning, it's wobbling! You'll have to calculate each jump separately. The speed of rotation, the mass of each person, the angle of trajectory…

ELI
  Already on it.

VOLKER
  Eli, if they miss this ship…

ELI
 

(confidently)
 

They won't.

EXT—SPACE

[The alien ship is rotating above Destiny's bow.]

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

We're making our way to the opening in the hull.

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Eli, how're you coming with the calculations?

ELI
  I've got your jump worked out, so you'll go first. I'm almost done with Colonel Young's. Now, you have to release when I say, the exact moment. Don't hesitate.

EXT—HULL BREACH ON ALIEN SHIP

[Rush steps into the breach.]

RUSH
  Okay, I'm in position. Tell me when.

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

ELI
 

Ready?
  (pause)
 

Now!

EXT—ALIEN SHIP IN SPACE

[Rush launches himself from the hull breach and floats down towards Destiny.]

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

[Scott looks out one window then another, watching Rush's approach.]

EXT—DESTINY IN SPACE

[Rush gets closer to Destiny's hull.]

ELI
 

(over radio)
 

Engage your mag boots.

[Rush lands safely on the hull. He's able to stand in one place.]

INT—BRIDGE

RUSH
 

(over radio)
 

Destiny, I'm on board.

ELI
  Okay.

[Perry is relieved.]

ELI
  Okay, I got this. Colonel, you ready?

YOUNG
 

(over radio)
 

Yeah.

ELI
 

Okay. Get ready to release…
  (pause)
 

Now!

EXT—ALIEN SHIP IN SPACE

[Young launches himself from the hull breach and floats away from the alien ship while Rush watches anxiously.]

RUSH
  His angle is off!

[Rush turns and runs as best he can along the hull, following Young's trajectory.]

INT—DESTINY BRIDGE

ELI
  He jumped too early.

EXT—DESTINY IN SPACE

[Young floats towards the hull at an acute angle. He lands on his back and bounces back up off the surface. As he beings to float away again, Rush reaches him and grabs his fingers with his own. He pulls him down, setting Young on his feet. The two men's eyes meet, and they exchange a nod.]

INT—BRIDGE

[Everyone is clearly relieved. Scott gives Eli a pat on the shoulder, but Eli is unhappy.]

EXT—DESTINY IN FTL

INT—BRIDGE

[Eli is now sitting in the command chair. Young walks around the bridge as the others are at the control stations.]

ELI
  It's ridiculous, the amount of information here.

YOUNG
  Well, just keep looking for that message.

[Brody's console beeps.]

BRODY
  Colonel, we've got an opportunity ahead. Several planets in range. Looks pretty good.

YOUNG
  All right, let's see if this works.

[Eli crosses his fingers on one hand as he operates a console with the other.]

EXT—SPACE

[Destiny drops out of FTL.]

INT—SIMEON'S QUARTERS

[Simeon looks out of the window.]

INT—GINN'S QUARTERS

[The door opens; Rush is standing outside. He is holding two cups and a drink flask.]

RUSH
  Hey.

PERRY/GINN
 

(smiling)
 

Hi.

[Rush lifts the cups and flask to show her.]

RUSH
  Compliments of Mr. Brody's still.

[Perry laughs as Rush enters. She closes the door while Rush goes and sits by the low table.]

PERRY/GINN
  Oh, how I've missed its lone redeeming quality.

[Perry sits opposite Rush as he pours drink from the flask.]

PERRY/GINN
  How's the crew?

RUSH
  Ah…angry. But, the truth is out now, so that can only be a good thing.

PERRY/GINN
  And, ah, Colonel Young? I know you didn't trust him before. Can you trust him now?

RUSH
  I've got no choice.

[Perry nods. They tap their cups together.]

RUSH
  Here. Cheers.

[They both drink.]

RUSH
  I'm sorry, Mandy. I know I put you in a very difficult position.

PERRY/GINN
  Oh, it's okay. In fact, I'm flattered. Of all people, you chose to confide in me.

RUSH
  Well, of course. You're the finest person I know.

[Perry smiles and looks away shyly.]

RUSH
  I've thought a lot about you. About seeing you again.

PERRY/GINN
  Me too.

RUSH
  But this time…this time it's different.

[Rush puts his hands on her face and pulls her towards him. They start to kiss, but are interrupted by the door opening. Eli enters the room.]

RUSH
 

(irritated)
 

Yes?

ELI
  Colonel Young wants to see you on the Bridge.

RUSH
  Can it wait?

ELI
 

(annoyed)
 

No. He said to come now. It's urgent.

RUSH
 

(to Perry)
 

I'll be back soon.

[Rush gets up and leaves. Perry goes to where Eli is standing. After watching Rush leave, Eli turns towards Perry. He only raises his eyes to look at her when he nears the end of his sentence.]

ELI
 

(annoyed)
 

You know, sometimes, with the stones, it's easy to forget you're in another person's body.

[Perry looks from him to the doorway guiltily. Eli leaves, closing the door on his way out. Perry looks at her reflection in the mirror to see Ginn's face.]

INT—CORRIDOR

[Simeon is standing in the shadows, watching as Eli walks away from Ginn's quarters. He goes to her door and opens it. Perry is still standing there and looks confused as Simeon enters and closes the door behind him.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Related

Articles

• Previous: Trial and Error/Transcript
• Next: Malice/Transcript

Attribution

• The Greater Good transcript source