Transcript

Summary | Analysis | Production | Transcript | In the Making | Review

General O'Neill tries to settle into his new job, but faces never-ending crises – including the capture of SG-1 by the Goa'uld.

EPISODE #804
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 07.30.2004
SYNDICATION AIR DATE: 10.10.2005
DVD DISC: Season 8, Disc 1
WRITTEN BY: Robert C. Cooper
DIRECTED BY: Peter Woeste
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Transcript by Callie Sullivan
Edited by Deanna Moll-Landry

Note: Because both Sergeant Walter Davis [later renamed Harriman] and Major Paul Davis appear in this episode, the technician will be denoted as 'Walter' and the major as 'Davis.'

S.G.C. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE CONTROL ROOM. The elevator doors open and Jack exits. Walter is waiting for him and hands him a mug of coffee.

WALTER: Morning, sir.

O'NEILL: Walter.

(On the screen appear the words "FIVE DAYS TO ZERO HOUR".)

WALTER: At oh seven thirty this morning, SG-8 made scheduled contact from P6J-908. They requested permission to bring an alien life form back to the base for further study. (Jack is sniffing his coffee suspiciously, but now looks at Walter, who holds up his hand reassuringly.) Sir, it's just a plant. Your oh eight thirty debriefing is SG-2 regarding their mission to P8F-809. Folder's on your desk, and with the personnel files you have yet to review.

O'NEILL: How many do I have left?

WALTER: All of them.

O'NEILL: Right! (He and Walter head up the stairs to the Briefing Room where a man in a suit [John Prior, the President's advance man] and two technicians are looking at papers on the table.)

WALTER: Colonel Rudnell has asked me to show you some bunting samples, and, um, Captain Corrigan's still awaiting approval on the buffet menu.

O'NEILL: Bunting. (Walter shrugs.) (To the man in the suit.) John. (Prior turns to face him.)

PRIOR: General.

O'NEILL: You are aware of the fact that this is the most secure military facility on the face of the planet.

PRIOR: Well, actually, sir, there are still a number of issues to be resolved.

WALTER (to Jack): Ten hundred hours, sir.

O'NEILL: Thank you. (He smiles at John and walks away towards his office. Walter heads off in another direction. As Jack reaches the door, he sees a man sitting in the seat opposite his desk. The man stands and straightens his jacket. Jack turns back towards the Briefing Room.)

O'NEILL: Walter!

(Walter has already returned and is right behind him.)

WALTER: Sorry, sir. General O'Neill -- Mark Gilmor. He's your new administrative aide.

GILMOR: General.

O'NEILL (to Walter): Did I order a new ...

WALTER: No, sir.

O'NEILL: Do I really need ...

WALTER: Yes, sir.

(Jack turns to Gilmor.)

O'NEILL: Civilian?

GILMOR: I've, uh, been an analyst at the CIA for the last eight years -- mostly background checks but I did have top-level clearance.

WALTER (to Jack): He was assigned by General Hammond.

O'NEILL: Ah, well, in that case (he walks over to Gilmor and shakes his hand) welcome aboard. How about if I give you a tour around?

GILMOR: Ah. Had one, sir.

O'NEILL: Damn.

GILMOR: Very exciting to finally see it all in action.

O'NEILL: Mm.

WALTER: General, your oh eight thirty.

O'NEILL: Yes. (To Gilmor) You're here to assist me, right? How about if you dive into ...

WALTER: Sir, sir, sir, you really need to read the file yourself. (Jack looks at him.) Yeah. Yeah.

O'NEILL: Thank you, Walter. (He looks at Gilmor, then turns to Walter again.) Does Mr. Gilmor have ...

WALTER (gesturing Gilmor out of the room): Follow me. (The two of them leave the room, leaving Jack standing there.)

(Walter escorts Gilmor to a nearby office.)

GILMOR: Well, he's not like other Generals.

WALTER: Actually, he's not like other ... people.

GILMOR: Ah. (He gestures to the large pile of papers waiting for him on his desk.) I take it I've got some catching up to do.

WALTER: Yeah, and those are just the files pertinent to today's agenda, so ... (he nods and smiles.)

GILMOR (walking into the office): Well, I'd better get started.

WALTER: I can't tell you how happy we all are to have you here.

GILMOR (sitting down): Thank you, Sergeant.

WALTER: Really, really happy.

GILMOR: Thank you, Sergeant.

(Walter smiles, then turns and walks away. Gilmor picks up his phone and dials.)

GILMOR: I'm in position. ... No, sir, he does not suspect a thing.


JACK'S OFFICE. Jack is holding a large rosette of bunting up in front of his face. He lowers it.

O'NEILL: Nothing in peridot?

WALTER (also holding some bunting): Well, traditionally, sir, this type of event calls for red, white and blue. (Gilmor knocks at the door.)

GILMOR: Excuse me, sir, General Hammond is on the phone from the Pentagon, and SG-1 is here for the thirteen hundred briefing.

O'NEILL (waving him away): Thank you. (Gilmor walks away. Jack looks at Walter.) Walter, I just don't have the decorating gene -- would you mind? (He hands his rosette to him.)

WALTER: Yes, sir. (He gathers up all the bunting and leaves.) (Jack sits down and picks up the phone.)

O'NEILL: Sir. ... General, how are you? ... I know, sir, but every time I open my mouth to say 'George', 'General' comes out.


BRIEFING ROOM. In the Briefing Room, SG-1 and Gilmor are waiting. Sam and Daniel are standing and looking rather impatient, while Teal'c sits at the table. Gilmor stands near the steps down to the Control Room. Jack finishes his conversation with General Hammond and comes out.

O'NEILL: Okay.

CARTER: General.

O'NEILL: Colonel! We've all met.

JACKSON: Yes, actually, we know each other's life stories.

O'NEILL (shooting him a look): That snippiness?

JACKSON: Is that a word?

O'NEILL (to Sam): What you got?

JACKSON (answering for her): A Gate address. A planet formerly in Anubis' domain that apparently Baal hasn't discovered yet.

CARTER: We believe it may be home to an abandoned base.

O'NEILL: And just chock full of abandoned weapons? (He smiles.)

JACKSON: Wouldn't you know?! (Teal'c comes forward holding a small device.)

TEAL'C: This device was procured from Jaffa formerly loyal to Anubis. It should allow us access to the base. (Jack takes the device and looks at it, then turns to Gilmor.)

O'NEILL: When's the next opening?

GILMOR (looking at a notepad): 0800 tomorrow morning.

CARTER: Tomorrow?

O'NEILL: I've got fourteen teams out there.

CARTER: I'm sorry -- operations protocol?

O'NEILL (vaguely): Is it? (He hands the device back to Teal'c.)

CARTER: Sir, the M.A.L.P. showed no indication of any Goa'uld activity.

O'NEILL: I still want SG-3 to cover your flanks.

CARTER: It's just recon.

O'NEILL: All the more reason you can wait another day.

The Gate starts dialing in. Alarms sound.


S.G.C. CONTROL ROOM.

WALTER: Incoming wormhole. (Jack looks at Gilmor.)

GILMOR (consulting his notepad): SG-5 and the representatives from Amra to discuss the pending trade agreement.

O'NEILL (rolling his eyes): Oy! (To SG-1) Love to stay and chat. (He starts to leave.)

JACKSON: Jack, if those rebel Jaffa know about it, it's only a matter of time before Baal knows about it.

O'NEILL (heading down the stairs): One day, Daniel! One day. (Sam heads off, while Daniel and Teal'c walk to the window to watch SG-5 arrive through the Gate with two men wearing long robes.)

JACKSON (to Teal'c): There's one negotiation I'm glad I'm not part of.


DOCTOR LEE'S LAB. Jack is looking through a magnifying glass at a plant on the table. The plant, in a large pot, is about six inches tall.

O'NEILL: It's a plant.

LEE: Exactly. Twenty minutes ago it was a seed.

GILMOR: E-excuse me, sir, if you don't mind my asking -- is it really wise to be bringing alien life forms through the Gate?

O'NEILL: It's a plant.

LEE: Yeah. And besides, off-world teams follow strict safety protocols in determining what to bring back to Earth. Y'know, if humankind is gonna benefit from what we find out there, we have to be able to study it in controlled situations.

O'NEILL: It's a plant.

LEE: I know, I-I know -- and I know our mandate is to seek out new weapons and technology to defend the planet from our enemies, but wouldn't it be cool if we could exploit the wonders of the galaxy for other beneficial purposes, like curing disease or, well -- in this case -- possibly, solving world hunger.

O'NEILL (looking at his watch): Speaking of which ... (He leaves the room just as the phone rings. Doctor Lee answers it.)

LEE: Doctor Lee speaking. ... (He covers the phone and calls out.) General! They want you in the Briefing Room!


SAM'S LAB. Sam is working on a computer. Daniel and Teal'c walk in.

JACKSON: Hey! You, uh, wanna get some lunch?

CARTER: No, I'm fine.

JACKSON: You just gonna sit in here all day and, uh ...

CARTER: I'm not sulking.

JACKSON: Working. Gonna say 'working'.

TEAL'C: O'Neill merely believes that ...

CARTER: Guys, I'm fine.

JACKSON: You can hardly blame him for wanting to send in back-up. I'm sure it has nothing to do with you ...

CARTER: I understand. He's just being cautious. (She looks at the two men for a moment. They smile back at her.) Thanks, guys. (Daniel and Teal'c leave. Sam smiles fondly.)


CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE BRIEFING ROOM. Jack and Gilmor come out of the elevator to find Major Davis waiting for them.

DAVIS: General, if I might have a moment with you. We're completely stalled. The Amrans can't agree with each other, let alone us. They're like (he does a 'yack yack yack' motion with his fingers) bickering children.

O'NEILL: Maybe they need a time-out. (He and Gilmor head towards the Briefing Room.)


BRIEFING ROOM. The two Amran delegates are standing facing each other.

AMRAN 1: The Plains of Goran are sacred ground.

AMRAN 2 (dismissively): To the Plainsmen.

AMRAN 1: I am a Plainsman.

AMRAN 2 (looking him up and down insultingly): I know.

AMRAN 1: I take offense at that.

AMRAN 2: Offense -- now there's an idea!

O'NEILL (walking in): Howdy, folks.

AMRAN 1: General, I think it would be best ...

O'NEILL: What d'you say we take a little break? All this negotiating, it's just exhausting, and you've been at it a whole (he consults his watch) hour already. We've prepared special quarters for you. You can relax, get a massage, room service, whatever you need. (He gestures.) C'mon, I'll show you. (He heads out of the room. The delegates follow.)


THE 'SPECIAL QUARTERS'. An airman opens the door to the room. Jack walks in. The delegates follow. The room is not large, and has little furniture apart from a table in the middle of the room with a fruit basket on it.

O'NEILL (gesturing grandly around the room): Huh?! Fellas! (He bends down to pick up an apple that has fallen to the floor and tosses it into the air and catches it.) What d'you think? (The delegates look at him disbelievingly.) Alright, so it's not the Ritz but we do what we can around here. (He walks towards the door.) Knock twice when you're ready to talk like adults, alright?

AMRAN 1 (as Jack reaches the door): W-w-wait, General!

AMRAN 2: You don't expect us to share one room?!

O'NEILL: Not ... amicably at first, but I have great hope for you boys. (The delegates run towards the door but Jack slams it shut and locks it before waving the key in the delegates' faces through the window in the door.)

AMRAN 1: You can't do this!

AMRAN 2: Open this door at once! (Jack tosses the key to the airman standing outside.)

O'NEILL: Nobody gets out. (He walks away.)


JACK'S OFFICE. Jack walks in, sits down, opens up a laptop on his desk and starts to type. A voiceover relays what he is typing.

O'NEILL (typing): Dear General Hammond. Wish you were here and that I was not. (The phone rings. Jack picks it up.)

O'NEILL (wearily): O'Neill. (Fade out.)


S.G.C. CORRIDOR -- OUTSIDE THE CONTROL ROOM. The elevator doors open and Jack exits. Gilmor is waiting for him. (On the screen appear the words "FOUR DAYS TO ZERO HOUR".)

GILMOR: Good morning, sir. (Jack turns as if to go back into the elevator but then reluctantly turns back to face Gilmor again.) The delegates from Amra are furious -- they are demanding to be released and say there's no chance that a trade agreement will ever happen between our governments now.

O'NEILL: Did they try the donuts? You made sure they were Krispy Kremes, right?

GILMOR: Uh, shall I release them and send them home, sir?

O'NEILL: Give 'em another day.

GILMOR: But, sir, I ...

O'NEILL: No coffee?

GILMOR: Uh, sorry, I can get some ...

O'NEILL (wearily): What's next?

GILMOR: Uh, well, uh, Doctor Lee needs to see you right away concerning the plant from P6J-908; uh, SG-1 and -3 are in the Gate Room preparing to embark; and, oh, it turns out that the red, white and blue bunting is ... unavailable.

O'NEILL: No bunting.

GILMOR: They can get some blue and white and mix in some red.

O'NEILL (putting his hand on Gilmor's shoulder, and looking hurt): It just won't be the same. (He walks away.)


GATE ROOM. The Gate whooshes. The side door opens and Jack walks in. SG-1 and SG-3 are already waiting.

CARTER: Sir.

O'NEILL: Good morning, people. Sure wish I was going with you, but I've got a big day planned, tasting menu items for the buffet! (Daniel and SG-3 head up the ramp.)

CARTER: Have fun, sir.

O'NEILL: You know I will. (More seriously.) Watch your back. (Sam heads up the ramp. As Teal'c walks past him, Jack taps him.) Mind the curfew. (He turns and wistfully watches everyone go through the Gate.)

P2X-887. It's yet another planet with lots of trees. SG-1 and SG-3 come through the Gate into a clearing.

CARTER: SG-3, hold here.

REYNOLDS: Colonel?

CARTER: Colonel?

REYNOLDS: Boscoe and Peterson can watch the Gate.

CARTER: We're fine. Simple recon -- we'll stay in radio contact. (She and the rest of SG-1 walk away.)

REYNOLDS (to his team while not looking too pleased): Standard perimeter.


S.G.C. DOCTOR LEE'S LAB. The plant has taken over the lab. It's all up the walls, all over the desks and floor. Siler is hacking at part of it. Lee comes over to Jack.

LEE: Well, the good news is it hasn't eaten anybody yet.

O'NEILL: Well, thank you, Seymour!

LEE (laughs): Yeah, obviously we underestimated its growth properties. It seems to respond really dramatically to any kind of visible light. (Jack looks at him for a moment, then turns and flicks the light switch on the wall. The lights go out. Jack turns again to look at Lee.) Yeah, well, I thought of that. I just thought you might like to see it. (Jack rolls his eyes and turns to go. The plant is already out in the corridor, covering the walls.) Don't worry, we'll get it under control. (Jack walks off.) Sir? (He looks up at the foliage over his head, looking rather pleased with himself.)


P2X-887. SG-1 are carrying out their recon. Teal'c squats down to look at something on the ground.

TEAL'C: There are signs of recent Jaffa activity in the area. (Sam and Daniel walk over to join him.)

CARTER: Try the wrist device again.

TEAL'C: I have tried it several times. (He activates it again.)

CARTER: I'm getting some faint energy readings. (Transporter rings rise up around the three of them and whisk them away.)


P2X-887. STARGATE. Reynolds looks at his watch, then activates his radio.

REYNOLDS: SG-1 leader, this is SG-3 leader, come in? (There is no response.) Peterson, you're with me. Boscoe, if we don't make radio contact in ten minutes, dial Earth and report in. (He glances upward.) Take cover! (Everybody ducks as an Al'kesh flies right over their heads, then flies off. Reynolds turns to watch it go.) Son of a bitch!


S.G.C. JACK'S OFFICE. Jack is doing paperwork and looking very tired. Gilmor knocks on the door.

GILMOR: Sir, Colonel Reynolds has dialed in from P2X-887. He's lost contact with SG-1.


CONTROL ROOM. Reynolds is reporting in via the camera on the M.A.L.P.

REYNOLDS: One Al'kesh. It buzzed the Gate and flew off. No sign of the enemy since then, sir. I've been unable to make radio contact with SG-1 (he consults his watch) going on nineteen minutes. Requesting back-up and permission to begin searching.

O'NEILL (turning to Gilmor): SG-10 and -12. (Gilmor leaves the room. Jack turns back to the microphone.) Back-up on the way.

REYNOLDS: Thank you, sir. (He switches off the camera.)


CORRIDOR. The alien plant is all around the walls. Jack and Lee walk down the corridor.

LEE: We'll have to close down the entire level; seal it off. Not only does it have amazing growth properties but it's proving extremely difficult to eradicate. (They round a corner and see Siler using a flamethrower on the plant with no result. Lee sneezes.) We think it's, uh, using the ventilation shafts to spread airborne spores. (Alarms sound. Jack heads for the Gate Room.)


CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE GATE ROOM. SG-3, -10 and -12 are coming out of the Gate Room. Jack meets Colonel Reynolds at the doorway to the Gate Room.

REYNOLDS: We looked everywhere. No sign of them. I'm sorry, sir.

O'NEILL: You were there to watch their backs.

REYNOLDS: Yes, sir. Colonel Carter insisted we secure the Gate. (Alarms sound as the Gate starts dialing in.)

WALTER: Unauthorized incoming wormhole. (Jack and Reynolds go back into the Gate Room. Jack looks up to the Control Room and opens his hands in a 'what?' gesture.)

WALTER: No I.D.C. yet, sir.

(There's a shimmering, and a hologram of Baal appears at the bottom of the ramp. All the SFs raise their weapons.)

O'NEILL (calmly): Stand down, boys. (To Baal) And what do you want?

BAAL: I have your friends.

O'NEILL (making a 'get on with it' gesture): And?

BAAL: I propose an exchange.

O'NEILL: For what?

BAAL: Not what -- whom.

O'NEILL: Whatever.

BAAL: Camulus.

O'NEILL: Who?

BAAL: I'll transmit a Gate address. You will send him to me if you want to see your friends alive again.

O'NEILL: Let me think about it.

BAAL: You have one day.

O'NEILL: Is that, like, one Earth day, or ... (he shrugs). (Baal's image disappears.)


S.G.C. CORRIDOR -- OUTSIDE THE CONTROL ROOM. The elevator doors open and Jack exits. Gilmor is waiting for him and hands him a mug of coffee. (On the screen appear the words "THREE DAYS TO ZERO HOUR".)

GILMOR: Nothing reported from the teams in the field, rebel Jaffa, the Tok'ra (Jack hands the mug to Siler as he walks past), nobody seems to have any intel on SG-1; and as ordered Camulus is being transferred here from the facility where he was being held. He should be here shortly.


JACK'S OFFICE. Colonel Reynolds hands Jack a file.

REYNOLDS: Even if we did comply and send Camulus to the address Baal transmitted, we can't risk opening the iris here to let SG-1 through. This could all be a trick to get us to do just that.

O'NEILL (opening the file and looking at it): I know.

REYNOLDS: Any type of exchange would have to involve a Stargate on another planet. (He nods at the file.) I made some suggestions. (Gilmor comes to the door and stands there.) Are you really considering turning Camulus over to Baal? (Gilmor looks concerned.)

O'NEILL: It's on the table. (Gilmor knocks on the door. Jack gestures him in.)

GILMOR: He's here. (He hands Jack another file.)

O'NEILL (tossing the file into a tray): Colonel, have your team ready. (He gets up and leaves the room.)

REYNOLDS: Yes, sir.

GILMOR (to Reynolds): Isn't it already too late?

REYNOLDS: General O'Neill was once captured by Baal. He was tortured, killed, and brought back to life using a sarcophagus more times than you would care to imagine. SG-1 never gave up then, and General O'Neill won't now. There isn't a man or woman on this base that would. (He walks away.)


CELL. Camulus, dressed in grey overalls, is seated at a table with two guards standing behind him. Jack comes in.

O'NEILL: Baal has three of my people, and he's offered up an exchange.

CAMULUS: For me.

O'NEILL: Any idea why?

CAMULUS: There are many possible reasons.

O'NEILL: Pick one. (Camulus doesn't reply.) Nothin'? You offered to help us if we granted you asylum.

CAMULUS: I did not expect to be treated like a prisoner.

O'NEILL: You're a Goa'uld!

CAMULUS: What are you going to do?

O'NEILL: Give me one good reason why I shouldn't turn you over.

CAMULUS: Baal cannot be trusted.

O'NEILL: Yeah.

CAMULUS: No matter what you do, he will never return your friends to you. (Jack nods.)


CORRIDOR. Camulus, with his hands handcuffed behind his back, is being marched towards the Gate Room. Alarms are sounding, suggesting that the Gate is dialing out. Jack follows along behind, and Gilmor falls in beside him.

GILMOR: I thought you were just going to question him.

O'NEILL: He didn't have the right answers.

GILMOR: General, this goes against official policy regarding prisoner exchanges.

O'NEILL: He's not a prisoner. He requested asylum -- I'm un-granting it.

GILMOR: You could be court-martialed.

O'NEILL: You know, if it gets my team back, I don't care.

GILMOR: But you know it won't -- you're sacrificing him for nothing.

(Jack turns into the Gate Room where Camulus' guards are waiting just inside.)

O'NEILL (tiredly): Go, go, go.

(The guards move Camulus deeper into the Gate Room. The Gate is indeed dialing out. Gilmor goes up into the Control Room to stand next to Walter. The Gate whooshes.)

O'NEILL (to Camulus): Let's take a walk, you and me. C'mon. (He takes Camulus by the arm and walks him up the ramp. When they reach the event horizon, Jack lets him go and turns to face him.) I've done everything I can. It's up to you. Last chance.

CAMULUS: In spite of what you think, I am not a coward.

O'NEILL: I think you are. (Camulus turns away from him and faces the event horizon, ready to go through. Jack rolls his eyes.) Well, it was worth a try. (He turns Camulus around and walks him back down the ramp.) (To the guards.) Take him back to his cell. (In the Control Room, Gilmor looks at Walter in confusion.)

WALTER: It was a bluff. (On the ramp, Jack holds his arms out in an 'Oh well' gesture.)


CORRIDOR -- OUTSIDE THE CONTROL ROOM. Jack swipes his card through the reader to call the elevator. Gilmor comes to join him.

GILMOR: You could have told me, sir. How can I do my job if you don't trust me? (Jack walks into the elevator.)

O'NEILL: Not my problem. (He pushes a button.)

GILMOR: Wait, wait, wait, Camulus would like to talk to you. (The doors close.)


CELL. Jack walks into Camulus' cell. Camulus is standing, agitated.

CAMULUS: I cannot stay here. If Baal is truly so determined to have revenge, he will not stop at this. It is not safe for you to harbor me any more.

O'NEILL: So what?

CAMULUS: I am saying I am willing to leave.

O'NEILL: Out of the goodness of your heart?(!)

CAMULUS: Of course not. (He looks round at his guards.) When I asked for asylum I did not expect to rot in a cell for the rest of my life.

O'NEILL: Well, work with me. Give me something. I'll see what I can do.

CAMULUS: I can tell you a planet where there is a device created by the Ancients.

O'NEILL: What's it do?

CAMULUS: I do not know. I never could discover its secrets. Perhaps you can.

O'NEILL: You think this is what Baal's really after?

CAMULUS: While I never disclosed its location, I once made the mistake of bragging that I had found the device at a meeting of the System Lords.

O'NEILL: Hard to believe, you bragging(!) (Camulus looks at him. Jack smiles in a conciliatory way.)


JACK'S OFFICE. Jack is continuing to type his letter to General Hammond. Again, a voiceover relays what he is typing.

O'NEILL (typing): I knew it wasn't easy for you, but had I known what it was really like, I would have tried to be less ... of a pain in the ... ass. At least, I would have tried harder. (Alarms go off.)

WALTER: Unscheduled off-world activation.

CONTROL ROOM. Jack runs down the stairs and goes over to the control desk.

O'NEILL: Walter?

WALTER: Receiving SG-3's I.D.C., sir.

O'NEILL: Open it. (He heads out of the room.)

WALTER: Yes, sir. (He puts his hand on the palm scanner and the iris opens.)

GATE ROOM. Jack comes in as SG-3 come through the Gate.

REYNOLDS: Just like you said, sir, some sort of Ancient device, the size of a large room.

O'NEILL: Any idea what it does?

REYNOLDS: I'll leave that up to the tech guys. But I can tell you this: (he smiles smugly) I know why he couldn't turn it on.


BRIEFING ROOM. Reynolds opens a case he brought back. Inside is a power device identical to the one that Jack brought back from Proklarush Taonas to work the Ancient chair in Antarctica.

REYNOLDS: It wasn't plugged in.

GILMOR: What is it?

O'NEILL: It's a Z.P.M.

GILMOR: What's that?

LEE (coming into the room): A Zero Point Module. Um, it's an Ancient power source that draws its energy from subspace.

REYNOLDS: It's the only thing powerful enough to activate the Ancient defense weapons SG-1 found down in Antarctica. The one we have is pretty much dead ... (Lee has been running a gadget over the Z.P.M. The gadget starts beeping.)

LEE: We-he-hell, this one sure isn't!

GILMOR: How good is it?

LEE: Well, I'm gonna have to do some more detailed analysis but these preliminary readings indicate at least fifty percent capacity.

GILMOR (clearly clueless): Well, that's, that's good, isn't it? (Jack shrugs. At that moment, all the lights go out, and the emergency lighting comes on.)

LEE: Excuse me. (He leaves the room.)

O'NEILL: It's that damn plant.


CONTROL ROOM. The computers go down. Walter picks up a phone.

WALTER: We've lost power to all control systems. ... Yes, sir. (He hangs up.)

CORRIDOR. Jack comes out of an elevator. The plant is all around the walls outside the elevator.

O'NEILL: We paid the electric bill. I checked.

LEE: The plant is in the wall. It's interfering with power and communication lines.

O'NEILL: There's no light in the walls.

LEE: I know, but as long as any part of it is exposed to light, it seems like it can feed the unexposed areas. Now, I'm recommending we keep the whole base on minimal emergency lighting, just until we get the problem under control.

O'NEILL: How long?

LEE: Well, that's a little difficult to say, because first we have to figure out how to get the problem under control. (Jack nods mock-understandingly. Lee sneezes.)


CONTROL ROOM. Jack walks in.

O'NEILL: Where are we?

WALTER: The dialing computer's offline.

SILER: There must be a circuit board that got fried when we tried to restore power to the system.

WALTER: Incoming wormholes will connect and we can still receive radio communication and I.D.C.s but ...

O'NEILL: The iris?

WALTER (shaking his head): Manual control.

O'NEILL: What about dialing the Gate manually?

SILER: Uh, that's a problem. The inner ring seems to be locked in place. We tried disconnecting the control interface but ... (he shrugs)

WALTER: There was a Gate diagnostic running when the power went down. Could be something to do with the commands being exchanged at the time.

O'NEILL (sighing): Bottom line.

WALTER: We can't dial out.

O'NEILL: Okay.

TWO DAYS TO ZERO HOUR.


S.G.C. The base is still on emergency lighting only. Gilmor opens the door to a room where Jack is sleeping. He walks over and taps his back gently. Jack doesn't stir. Gilmor shakes him. Jack wakes.

O'NEILL: What? Oh, God.

GILMOR: Sorry to wake you, sir.

O'NEILL: Feels like it's been ten minutes.

GILMOR: Yeah, it has. There's an incoming wormhole -- Baal wants to talk.

GATE ROOM. Jack and Gilmor walk in. Baal's hologram is standing on the ramp.

O'NEILL: Baal -- sorry to keep you waiting. Just taking a little nap.

BAAL: The deadline has passed.

O'NEILL: Yeah, look, we're having a little technical difficulty here.

BAAL: Are your friends' lives meaningless to you?

O'NEILL: Hey! This is not a stall tactic. I would have called you sooner but we can't dial out at the moment.

BAAL: Why not?

O'NEILL: Well, I'm not really sure. Here's some irony for you: Carter -- have this thing fixed like that. (He clicks his fingers, then turns to the Control Room.) No offense there, Siler.

SILER (into the microphone): Uh, none taken, sir.

O'NEILL: Good. (He turns back to Baal.) So, why don't you just send her on through. Before you know it you'll have old Camel-ass back in your grubby little mitts.

BAAL: You dare mock me.

O'NEILL: Baal, c'mon, you should know ... Of course I dare mock you.

BAAL: You have one more day. (His image disappears.)

GILMOR: Is it really wise to provoke him?

O'NEILL: It's what I do.


JACK'S OFFICE. Jack is talking with Major Davis and Colonel Reynolds.

DAVIS: Over two years ago, the Tok'ra provided us with the formula for a Goa'uld poison they'd developed. We've been modifying it -- manufacturing as much as we can use as a defensive option in the event of another attack on Earth. Area 51 is confirming that there is currently enough to negate a sizeable enemy force.

REYNOLDS: We think we can effectively neutralize and invade three Goa'uld-occupied planets.

DAVIS: Now, the poison is non-persistent, so a limited time before potential reinforcements become a factor.

REYNOLDS: And determining which of Baal's planets to target is still an educated guess.

DAVIS: We're still gathering intel on exactly where SG-1's being held.

O'NEILL: This poison -- does it kill Jaffa as well as Goa'uld?

DAVIS (nodding reluctantly): That's right.

O'NEILL: How many casualties are we talking about? (Davis opens his mouth but Reynolds answers.)

REYNOLDS: Thousands. Tens of thousands.

O'NEILL: So it's not really a rescue plan -- it's a full-scale attack.

REYNOLDS: That would most certainly provoke a reaction -- possibly another attack on Earth.

DAVIS: But considering the fact that we now have a Z.P.M. to power the Ancient defenses, I don't think ... (Gilmor knocks on the door.)

GILMOR: Sorry to interrupt, sir, but Camulus is insisting that he speak with you again.


CAMULUS' CELL.

CAMULUS (angrily): Did you not find something of value on the planet of which I spoke?

O'NEILL: Oh, yeah, we did.

CAMULUS: Then why have you not released me? Or do you still believe you can trade me for your friends?


CORRIDOR. Doctor Lee and Gilmor are walking along through the heavy foliage. Lee is wearing a radiation suit.

LEE: Gamma radiation seems to work. We're preparing a method of delivering a strong enough level to the entire base all at once. Now, non-essential personnel are going to have to be evacuated; everyone else is going to have to wear protective suits. You have to get General O'Neill to sign off on this right away.

GILMOR: Y-you know, he hasn't slept in over two days.

LEE: Yeah. That's why I'm asking you to do it!

GILMOR (unhappily): Right.

CORRIDOR. Jack and John Prior (the President's advance man) are walking along another plant-infested corridor. Both are wearing radiation suits.

PRIOR: I'm canceling the President's visit.

O'NEILL: Really? Why would you do that?!

PRIOR: I'm surprised you can joke at a time like this.

O'NEILL: Ah, it's pretty much all I can do at the moment.

PRIOR: The flagship team is in the hands of the enemy. You can't dial the Stargate. The base is overrun by an alien plant! (They reach an elevator.)

O'NEILL: We did find a Z.P.M.

PRIOR: Sure.

O'NEILL: Give it another day.

PRIOR: You think you can get everything resolved by then?

O'NEILL: Wait a minute -- think there's a joke in there somewhere. (They get into the elevator. As the doors close ...) Got nothing.


JACK'S OFFICE. Jack is continuing to type his letter to General Hammond. Again, a voiceover relays what he is typing.

O'NEILL (typing): And so I regretfully submit my resignation. And to be clear -- the regret is not so much about the resigning part but the fact that I was deluded enough to think I had possessed even one iota of the ability needed to fill your sizeable and shiny shoes. (The lights come on. Gilmor knocks on the door.)

GILMOR: Doctor Lee just called down, sir. He feels confident the plant has been fully eradicated.

O'NEILL: I wish I did.

GILMOR: Oh, and the dialing computer is back online.


CORRIDOR. Camulus is again being escorted to the Gate Room.

CONTROL ROOM. Jack, Walter and Gilmor watch as Camulus is brought into the Gate Room. The Gate is dialing out.

WALTER: Chevron four encoded. (Gilmor turns to Jack.)

GILMOR: You're releasing him?

O'NEILL: We made a deal. We got a Z.P.M.

GILMOR: Look, I know we can finally dial Pegasus again and still defend Earth if we have to but ...

WALTER: Chevron five encoded. (The phone rings. Gilmor answers it.)

GILMOR: Control Room. ... (He holds the phone out to Jack.) It's Doctor Lee -- he says it's important. (Jack takes the phone.)

O'NEILL (into phone): Yeah. ... (He turns to Walter.) Abort the dialing procedure. (The Gate shuts down. Camulus turns and looks up into the Control Room.)


DOCTOR LEE'S LAB. The Z.P.M. is on a table and is glowing.

LEE: Basically, it shouldn't be glowing like this.

O'NEILL: Why is it?

LEE: Well, it's funny really ...

O'NEILL: I like funny.

LEE: No, this isn't the good kind of funny. I-I-I think it was the gamma radiation we used to kill the plant that revealed this.

O'NEILL: Revealed what?

LEE: It illuminated a substance foreign to what we know to be the normal molecular make-up of a Z.P.M.

O'NEILL: And?

LEE: Well, we managed to scrape some microscopic fragments from the casing and run some tests and, uh, well, (he picks up two pairs of safety goggles with flip-over dark lenses and hands them to Jack) you're gonna want these. (Jack hands one pair to Gilmor and they both put them on. Lee goes over to a computer bank at the edge of the room. Jack looks around the room with his goggles, then flips the dark lenses down to cover his eyes.)

LEE: This is what happens when you introduce a constant electric charge. (On the table is a metal tray containing the microscopic fragments. Lee presses a button and there's a large explosion on the tray.)

O'NEILL (flipping up the dark lenses): The Z.P.M. is booby-trapped?

LEE: We were gonna send it to Antarctica! Look, can you imagine if someone had taken it and plugged it into the chair in the Ancient outpost? I-I can't even imagine the magnitude of the explosion. A charged Z.P.M. detonating that -- I don't know, I mean, it could have destroyed the whole planet.

GILMOR: That's why Camulus was so eager to leave.

O'NEILL: Can you undo it?

LEE: Uh, well, you know we haven't actually ...

O'NEILL: Yes or no? (Lee shakes his head negatively.)


CAMULUS' CELL.

CAMULUS: I have no idea what you're talking about.

O'NEILL: When you couldn't figure out what the Ancient device was for, you tampered with the power source so nobody else could.

CAMULUS: I did nothing of the kind.

O'NEILL (encouragingly): Cami.

CAMULUS (shrugging): Worth a try.

O'NEILL: Here's the deal: How'd you like a chance to kill Baal?

CAMULUS: An exchange. You want me to use the Ancient device to trade for the lives of your friends.

O'NEILL: Exactly.

CAMULUS: Amusing.


GATE ROOM. The Gate whooshes. Camulus, now back in his Goa'uld clothes, is waiting at the bottom of the ramp with SG-3. Jack walks in with a small case, lays it flat in Colonel Reynolds' hands and opens the case to show Camulus the Z.P.M. inside.

O'NEILL: Alright?

CAMULUS (to Reynolds as Jack closes the case): Coming with me?

REYNOLDS: We're taking you to another planet first. We'll wait for SG-1 there. (He pushes Camulus up the ramp. The rest of SG-3 follow and all of them go through the Gate.)


LATER. GATE ROOM. The Gate has dialed in. Jack walks in.

WALTER (from the Control Room): Receiving SG-3's I.D.C., sir.

O'NEILL: Open it. (The iris opens and SG-3 come through -- alone.)

O'NEILL (to Reynolds): You're late.

REYNOLDS: We thought we'd give it an extra hour, sir. We knew it was a long shot.

O'NEILL: Thank you, Colonel. Dismissed.

(SG-3 leave the Gate Room. Jack stands alone, staring at the Gate for a while, before turning and leaving.)

ONE DAY TO ZERO HOUR.


JACK'S OFFICE. Jack is again typing. Gilmor comes to the door and knocks.

GILMOR: Sir. Uh, Colonel Reynolds would like a moment.

O'NEILL: Fine.

GILMOR: He's in the Gate Room, sir.

GATE ROOM. Jack walks in to find all the S.G. teams waiting there for him. Jack walks over to Reynolds.

O'NEILL: What's goin' on?

REYNOLDS: General, we just wanted you to know, whatever you decide, we're behind you one hundred percent. You just need to give the order and we're ready to go.

O'NEILL (looking touched): I know you are, Colonel. Thank you. (He looks round at all the others and sees their looks of determination and resolution.) All of you. (He looks at Reynolds again.) Dismissed. (He leaves the Gate Room.)


LOCKER ROOM. Jack is dressing in casual clothes to go home. He goes to his locker to get his jacket. As he closes the locker door he sees the names printed on the two lockers next to his -- TEAL'C and D. JACKSON. He looks at the names for a while, then leaves the room.


CORRIDOR. Jack walks along towards the elevator. As he swipes his card through the reader, Siler walks past behind him.

SILER: Good night, sir.

O'NEILL: Good night, Siler.

(The elevator arrives and Jack gets in and presses a button. As the doors begin to close, alarms begin to sound. Jack slams his arm into the gap between the doors to prevent them from closing fully, then forces the doors open again.)

TANNOY: Unscheduled off-world activation.

CORRIDOR. As Jack and various SFs run towards the Gate Room, Gilmor runs to meet Jack.

GILMOR: It's SG-1's identification code. Sergeant O'Brien transmitted a 'hold' signal back through the Gate and is awaiting your instruction.


CONTROL ROOM. Jack and Gilmor run into the Control Room where Sergeant O'Brien is sitting at the control desk. [Note: for those who saw From Stargate to Atlantis, this is the cameo role by Pierre Bernard from Late Night with Conan O'Brien.])

O'NEILL: O'Brien?

O'BRIEN: We have audio contact, sir -- it's Colonel Carter.

O'NEILL (into the microphone): Carter?

CARTER (over the speaker): We're under heavy fire, sir, open the iris.

O'NEILL: Negative.

Off-world, SG-1 are under attack from a large number of Jaffa.

O'NEILL: Can you reroute?

CARTER: Negative -- the D.H.D. is no longer accessible. (SG-1 continue to fire at the Jaffa as they talk with S.G.C.)

JACKSON (into his radio): Jack, what's goin' on?!

O'NEILL: You've been in enemy hands. You know the protocol. We've no way of knowing if your iris code is secure.

JACKSON: What the hell are you talking about?!

O'NEILL: You were captured by Baal.

JACKSON: Baal?! We're on P2X-887! We were trapped in Anubis' secret base and when we came out a Jaffa force was waiting for us at the Gate. (Teal'c fires at some more Jaffa, then turns to Sam.)

TEAL'C: It appears these Jaffa are loyal to Baal.

CARTER (into radio): Sir, the Gate's gonna shut down and we won't be able to dial out again. (Jack thinks for a moment, then turns to O'Brien.)

O'NEILL: Open it. (The iris opens. Jack speaks into the microphone.) You're clear.

Staff blasts come through the Gate. A few moments later, Sam, Teal'c and Daniel run through. The iris closes behind them.

O'NEILL: Nice! (He runs down to the Gate Room to meet his team.)


CONTROL ROOM. Hey, guys.

CARTER: Thank you, sir.

O'NEILL: So -- trapped in a secret base all this time. Go figure.

TEAL'C: The wrist device allowed us access.

JACKSON: We couldn't get back out.

CARTER: You thought Baal had captured us?

O'NEILL: That's what he said.

CARTER: How did he even know we were missing?

O'NEILL: Reynolds saw an Al'kesh.

JACKSON: Baal must have had his Jaffa looking for the base.

CARTER: Probably intercepted any radio chatter.

TEAL'C: That would explain the ambush.

CARTER: Baal's Jaffa couldn't find the base but they figured if we turned up ...

O'NEILL: It's a great story. More importantly, did Anubis leave anything cool behind? (Sam looks embarrassed.)

JACKSON: Not really, no.

O'NEILL: Nuts.


CORRIDOR. The walls are decorated with bunting (red, white and blue!). Sam is walking along in her dress uniform. Jack, dressed less formally, meets her.

O'NEILL: Colonel Carter! How are ya?

CARTER: I'm good. Thanks for asking.

O'NEILL: Yeah.

CARTER (gesturing to his clothes): You not gonna dress for the occasion, sir? (Jack looks down at his clothes.)

O'NEILL: Well, you know me, I love dressing up. I was just on my way. (He starts to leave but Sam interrupts.)

CARTER: Sir, I wanted to talk to you ...

O'NEILL: Carter, your evaluation is done. And I think you'd be very pleased.

CARTER (smiling): Really?

O'NEILL: You had doubts?

CARTER: Honestly? I was wondering whether you were completely confident in my leadership skills.

O'NEILL: Aren't you?

CARTER: I've been second-guessing myself for ordering SG-3 to remain at the Gate.

O'NEILL (making a dismissive gesture): Oh, pshaw! (He and Sam start to walk down the corridor.) It was standard recon. Your tactics in dealing with the ambush -- perfect. You should read what Teal'c and Daniel wrote about your conduct under fire.

CARTER: Can I?

O'NEILL: No.

CARTER: Damn!

O'NEILL: Teal'c said you were an animal.

CARTER: Huh! Such an exaggerator.

O'NEILL: Yeah, isn't he? (They reach the locker room.) Well, this is where I go to take off the clothes I prefer and don the clothes I abhor. (He opens the door and starts to go in but Sam steps forward.)

CARTER: Uh, sir, quickly, I wanted to talk to you about something else. I was reading Doctor Lee's report about the tainted Z.P.M. I think he may have underestimated the explosive potential. It could have actually destroyed the entire solar system.

O'NEILL: What's the difference?

CARTER: Well, my point is, if we figured it out, so could Baal. He could use it as a weapon against us.

O'NEILL: All true, Carter -- which is exactly why I didn't give Camulus the tainted one.

CARTER: Sir?

O'NEILL: I gave him the dead one. It's worthless, right?

CARTER: Baal's gonna be pretty pissed at Camulus.

O'NEILL (smiling smugly): Yeah. (Sam grins.)

ZERO HOUR.


JACK'S OFFICE. Jack is seated at his desk. He now has his dress uniform on, though his jacket is on the back of the other chair. He has a letter printed out in front of him and is looking at it while tapping his pen on the desk. Gilmor comes to the door and knocks.

GILMOR: General, the President's motorcade is through the gates -- he should be getting on the elevator momentarily. (He sighs.) Sir, I-I think you should know I'll be leaving tomorrow.

O'NEILL: Really?

GILMOR: Yes, sir. The truth is, I've been here on a temporary special assignment from the President.

O'NEILL: Oh?

GILMOR: Sort of a civilian audit, if you will.

O'NEILL: Of the S.G.C.?

GILMOR: Of you. (Jack stands up and walks slowly towards Gilmore. As Jack is significantly taller than Gilmor, Gilmor looks very nervous.)

O'NEILL (stopping and looking down at Gilmor): I know.

GILMOR: You do?!

O'NEILL: General Hammond told me.

GILMOR: Well, he wasn't supposed to.

O'NEILL: Well, don't tell anyone!

GILMOR: Ah. Well, then, you know the President wanted to make sure you were settling in before he came and shook your hand and fully endorsed you as the leader of this base.

O'NEILL: Uh-huh.

GILMOR: Obviously, he's here, so, uh -- what I mean is I just want you to know how much respect I have for what you do here -- and for you.

O'NEILL: Thanks. Shall we? (He takes his jacket off the chair and starts to put it on.) Oh, by the way, did you, uh, let those Amran delegates go?

GILMOR: I did, sir, yes. Uh, Major Davis said they seem much more willing to negotiate now.

O'NEILL: D'you think they liked the fruit basket? (The two of them start to leave the room.)

GILMOR: I think so, sir.

O'NEILL: I put a lot of thought into that.

As they leave, the camera homes in on the letter on Jack's desk. It is the letter which he wrote to General Hammond, and Jack has signed it. The penultimate line is one that we heard Jack narrate earlier, ending with "... the ability to fill your sizeable and shiny shoes."

The final paragraph reads: Never mind.