Stargate SG-1 s01e10 Episode Script
The Torment of Tantalus
Now stop.
Charge.
First lock engaged.
Love.
You know were supposed to be at|that physical assessment thing.
Oh yeahuh, I'll go,|I'll go, it's just, uhjust let me finish this real.
You know you seem a tad|obsessed with this stuff.
This was transferred from film of experiments|done on the gate in 1945, you don't find that|the least bit intriguing? Oh yeah, nothing piques my|interest more then repeated failure.
Look at them, they're turning the gate|manually, for gods sakes, it's incredible.
How many hours of this|stuff have you looked at? There's no conclusion of the|file, no summery, no notes, no reason to|explain why they gave up.
Well whole boxes of|material could be missing.
No, the Pentagon said|this was everything.
Oh please, the Pentagon's|lost entire countries.
Come on! Doctors have two days|of tests planned for us.
Wonderful tests.
That's impossible.
Obviously not.
This doesn't make any sense, why wouldn't someone have told us|this.
I mean, why would they stop their research if they|actually managed to turn it on? Holy cow.
Hello, Martha.
Mrs.
Langford, there is a young|man waiting for you in the kitchen.
You let a strange|young man in the house? Yes.
I'm sorry, he|says he knows you.
My God.
Hello.
Uh, I'm sorry,|I hope you don't mind.
How long have you been back? Oh, my god why are you back? Colonel|O'Neill said you stayed on Abydos.
I see you got the amulet.
Yes of course,|I never take it off.
Why avoid my question?|What's this all about? "Declassified -|Top secret" Colonel O'Neill, Dr.
Jackson was|supposed to briefing SG-4 this morning, he's not here and he's|not answering our pages.
Any idea where he is? I haven't seen|him in awhile, sir.
Catherine I couldn't tell you.
- Why not?|- They wouldn't let me! Everything is, is|classified, you know.
When did you become an|upstanding member of the military? I'm notexactly.
And that's why I'm here.
Make you some tea, then you can|go back to your Stargate Command.
Thousands of Stargates,|planetary shifts.
Didn't anybody think|I might be interested? That's why I came.
- Now, six months later.
You could of told me sooner.
|- Yes, just like you could have told me there|were experiments done on the gate in 1945.
My father worked on the research team|that worked on the gate during the war.
Actually, they didn't|know what it was then.
But President Roosevelt|was like that, curious.
The suspected the|gate was a weapon, could be used as one.
Nothing|ever came of it, how do you know? The Pentagon has recently been|declassifying old materials, they ran across a number of file boxes that dealt|with the old experiments.
They sent them to us.
Really? You weren't involved|with the research? The military had little use for|a 21 year old girl at that time, neither did my father.
I only know what little I overheard|him and Ernest Talking about.
I'm sorry, who's Ernest? We get as far as entering the fifth symbol|and the whole room starts to shake.
Today one of the generators|exploded from the feed back.
Are you going to|talk to my father? Oh he know, he was there.
I might about us.
Oh.
Yes I will.
Maybe it's|supposed to do that? - What?|- The ring.
Maybe it's supposed to shake.
I don't think so.
Are you using alternate or|direct current to charge it? Alternate, I thing, why? Try using direct.
It might prevent the charge from|bouncing back to the generator.
And you should|talk to my father.
I will, I promise.
So you didn't know the government kept|the files from the original experiment? I had my fathers notes.
He told me that was|everything they had.
Do you know how many administrations I had to|petition to get this program started up again? Forty years had passed; the information was|classified and buried.
I never asked for the files,|because I thought I had them.
General West never offered, because he|probably didn't even know they existed.
So, you don't know that they|turned the gate on in 1945.
What? There must be over a 100|million possible combinations.
If it's merely a combination lock used|to turn it on, why 39? Why not six? What are you saying? They are not combinations, there destinations,|and we just found one.
"Doorway to Heaven" could mean|any number of different things.
It could simply mean that anyone|who passes through there will die.
For example.
Catherine, we have|a maid for a reason.
I wanted to do it.
No, I never knew|they turned it on.
My father never told me.
It wasn't in his notes either.
Then there is something|more you should see.
Here, watch this.
Oh, God.
There was an accident today.
An explosion in the lab.
I'm so sorry.
So the man who went through|the gate wasErnest.
Yes.
My father must|have lied to me.
He said Ernest|died in an accident, and explosion.
Why would he do that? He probably thought|he was protecting me.
From what? From knowing that the man|I was supposed to marry chose to risk his life|and go through the Stargate without even|talking to me about it.
He choose his idea,|his work, over me.
I'm sure that he believe that|he, that he would come back.
He was so young, so full of passion, like you.
You reminded me of him|when I first saw you.
That's why I new you would|solve the mysteries of the gate.
Catherine, I wasn't|supposed to show you this.
Actually I wasn't supposed to|show you any of this but now Computer enhancements,|from the film footage.
I was able it isolate the chevrons that were|locked in before Ernest went through.
Not Abydos? No, another planet,|with similar coordinates.
And we can go there.
Have you completely|lost your mind?!? Who authorized you to revile|classified information to a civilian? - If you will just let me explain.
|- This is a serious breach in protocol.
These rules exist for a reason, Doctor,|do you think that you are above them? - No, no, I.
.
|- Catherine! Hello Jack.
It's good to see you again.
I trust the General is|making you feel right at home.
So far he actually sounds|worst then General West.
Ah, he's a teddy bear.
Colonel O'Neill, did you authorize Dr.
Daniel Jackson|to revel classified information to this civilian? Absolutely not, sir.
In fact I advised him|NOT to say anything to her.
Despite the fact that she|used to run the entire program, and is responsible for most of our|current knowledge about the gate.
I'm aware of who|she is, Colonel.
Catherine, this is Teal'c.
Teal'c, this is Catherine.
Daniel, has told me all|about you, such a pleasure.
Colonel, are you aware of the request Dr.
Jackson|has most currently tangled? You've go to go that one|step further don't you.
The man who entered the gat in|1945, was Catherine's fiancé.
Now I have the address of|the planet he went to and we can go there.
And I'm coming with you.
General, we know where|Ernest Littlefield went.
He could still be alive.
A man who had|the vision to see the Stargate for what it really was, a|half a century before anyone else.
He sounds like a bonafied|American hero, sir.
Sir, there may be another|reason to got to this planet.
Captain Carter.
Yes sir.
It seems the planet in|question is close to Abydos, so it uses many of the|same points in space locators.
Which explains why|the team in 45 could conceivably dial in with out|compensating for planetary shift.
But sir the planet in question is not|on the cartouche we found on Abydos.
What's the|significance in that? The Goa'uld haven't charted it.
|They may not even have been there.
If the Goa'ulds haven't been to this plant,|and there is obviously a gate there.
Then we would have unquestionable proof|that they didn't build the Stargates.
The Goa'uld are scavengers, since they have not|traveled to this planet, we could find technologies|to use against them.
You speak? When it is appropriate.
Thank you.
Thank all off you for your|very through analysis of the situation.
But I was already convinced by|Dr.
Jackson's initial argument.
Ernest Littlefield could still be|alive, and we should try to find him.
It's a piece of cake.
Ready? And You okay? Huh, that was|some piece of cake! - It's hot in here.
|- Oh yeah.
Anybody see away in|or out of this place? There appears to be|only two doorways.
Oh my.
Aw, for crying' out loud.
Dr.
Littlefield? Hello, I'm Daniel Jackson, we|just came from the Stargate.
Yes, that thing Star-gate.
We're real' It'sabouttime.
Oh boy! Daniel, do something.
UhDr.
Littlefield? You don't recognize me.
Fifty years, that's|all he has to say.
I'll, I'll gose|if I can find him.
Still here.
Do you have|anything to wear? Clothes? Oh, uhgoing home.
Yes, we're taking you home.
So much time.
Did no one try again? That's a long story.
Are there other people here? No one else lives here? How about nearby? Are you saying you have been|completely alone here for 50 years? Eat.
I don't know what I expected.
I mean I can't|believe he's right here.
Light years away but still|so close, all this time ALIVE! I think he is probably having a|little trouble dealing with it to.
I felt like a school girl.
My heart was beating|faster then when I came through the gate! Ha, you think|your old and wise.
I don't think the|heart ever grows old.
I can't even fathom|what he's been through.
Such a long time.
I don't even know that man.
Why don't you go|and talk to him? Last day.
It's a calendar, isn't it? Have you been able to figure out who built|this place, or who used to live here? Heliopolis.
Heliopolis? Repository,|philosophy, astronomy I assume you mean the|ancient Egyptian city.
People would could come from everywhere|to gather, scholars, community leaders.
It was also the central|place of worship forRa.
Are there ancient|Egyptian Hieroglyphs here? Symbols that indicate Ra.
This could be very important.
"Four distinct languages, writing is|unlike anything I have seen on earth.
Catherine say's|there probably alien.
" "Catherine says?" She found me long ago.
"We walked for miles today, but|still found no signs of civilization.
Catherine seems|concerned, but I am not.
As long as she is here with|me, I will never feel alone.
It seems impossible, but|everyday were here together, I love her more.
" My father lied to me.
I'll leave you two.
So, real! Yes, your going to|have to believe.
This isn't easy for me either.
Y-You look, different.
I'm old Ernest.
So are you.
We, we had a|wonderful life together.
I couldn't imagine you Ernest.
In my mind, we didn't have|a wonderful life together.
I thought you were dead.
Forgave me.
You forgave me long ago.
No.
I didn't.
Doesn't seem to be|anybody else around.
I tell you this place|used to be pretty sweet, but it's seen better|days if you know what I mean.
I thing Professor Littlefield|has been alone since he got here.
Wow.
- A storm approaches.
|- A pretty big one at that.
It comes every year.
Every year? Now look kids, where right on the|edge of a cliff here, I don't think this place|can stand another big hit.
- We should take our leave.
|- No we can't, not yet.
We have only begun|to explore this place.
Figure out what it|is, what it used to be.
We launched a survey balloon.
Now lets take the|professor and Catherine home, we'll leave the probe here,|let it monitor the situation, until the storm blows over,|then we'll come back.
Alright? I tried for years|to make it work.
You never tried to entering|different glyphs in this thing? We call this the|Dial-Home Device.
Basically you enter the|correct address and Daniel, Why don't|we just show him.
- My god.
|- What the hell? I thought the probe was supposed|to detect stuff like this? We got visual confirmation|of its presents, but the damage was|obviously cancelled.
- It's not working.
|- It was like that when I got here.
That's why you|never came back.
Does this mean|were not going home? Well since where|going to be hear awhile.
I would like you|to see something.
- What?|- Come on, it's the safest|room in there is.
You know? Especially|in a storm.
Give me a hand.
Thanks Keep at it, well be back.
What is this place? "I believe this room is|some sort of meeting place, where four alien races|denoted by the symbols, and distinctive writing|on the walls would gather, possible to share|knowledge, or discuss relations, like a United Nations of the Stars.
Catherine agrees.
" Your right, I would have.
All roads seem to lead here, which means|this is likely the power source.
I believe you are correct.
It could take years to figure out how|to put these crystals back properly.
I think we can figure out a way to rig the power source directly to|the gate, and then dial out manually.
This looks familiar.
Touch it.
Whoa! It's Beautiful! Is this the mean anything? Well, if this was a Mecca of|sorts, an alien united nations, this has to mean something.
I know this.
Of course, high|school chemistry.
One proton, one electron, - hydrogen.
|- Beryllium, sodium.
Silver, Iron, barium, xenon.
Oh my god, so many|electrons, how can you tell? I have been here a very|long time, remember? Excuse me.
Are you saying that all of|these are atomicthings? These images are graphical|representation of the basic elements: electrons revolving|around a proton.
The number of electrons|indicate the element.
There is only currently 111|elements on the periodic table.
Only 90 when I last looked.
This is incredible.
I mean we have only been able to speculate on|the actual appearance and structure of an atom.
The fact that four completely|alien races chose to represent it in|an almost identical way.
The basic elements are|what make up the universe, they are the|basic building block of course! How do you ensure|universal communication? You reduce the method of|communication to the most basic element; common to everyone and everything|that exists in the universe! Jack, this is a true|universal language.
- Turn the page.
|- What? Turn the page! Are you saying, that this,|that this is like a book? I tried to read it.
I|tried to understand it.
A hundred and forty six|elements, letters, or symbols, if they're letters, if they're pictographic,|I mean this could take a life time.
More.
Oh, sorry.
Daniel, before|you head explodes, may I remind you that we have more|important thing to deal with right now? How can you say that, don't|you know what this could mean? Actually, no.
This could be the key to|understanding our existence.
Everyone,|everything's existence.
The collaboration of|theese four alien spices.
None of witch would mean squat,|if we don't get out of here.
How's it going? I'm trying to connect the power|source from the dial home device directly to the gate.
I'm about to run a|test.
Where's Daniel? Oh Ernest is|showing his a new toy.
- Really? What?|- A fancy light show that maybe the key to our|existence, or something like that.
Ah, you want to pick up the|pace on this a little bit? You did it! Get back! This is how you new|what this place was.
Then you recognize it too.
Othala, the Norse rune thought to|represent the collection of numerous power and knowledge|from past generations.
And the gathering of clans to|share a common interest.
You know there's more then|just a coincidence here.
That means that|human were here, centuries, maybe eons ago.
No, not humans, aliens.
- This is Thor's race.
|- Thor was a Alien? Oh yeah, that's that's another long story.
But uhgood one.
All right, basic survival|training.
We know what we have.
What do we need? We have the Stargate, we need the|dial home device.
Thank you Teal'c.
The element the gate is made|of, absorbs energy directly, internal functions will|convert and store that energy in capacitor|like reservoirs.
But the inside wheel will|only unlock and spin freely once there is|enough reserve power.
So what we need is Energy.
Mm-hmm.
I don't see any|electrical outlets, do you? This is useless, it's not allowing|for any relative perspective.
I don't understand, how did you incorporate the|three dimensional nature of the information? Look down.
Of course, you measured the elements|from a central point, degrees from zero around in a|circle, and height above the floor.
What's up guys? Step away from|the pedestal Daniel.
What? Why? The dial home device just fell|through the floor into the ocean.
So what are we going to do? That thing may have a power source in it|that we can use to get the gate working.
AhNo! You don't understand, this book|could contain knowledge of the universe.
I mean this is|meaning of life stuff I have to get more of it down on paper before we|leave, there must be something more you can use.
- What about using energy from Teal'c staff?|- It's not powerful enough.
Please there's not much time,|we have to get inside that thing.
This whole place could join the DHD at|the bottom of the ocean any minute, so please.
Great, shoot it! Now what? I'm obviously no|scientist but uh, couldn't we use|that Ben Franklin thing? The element of the gate is|made up of a superconductor.
It'll observe energy in may different|things: Heat, Nuclear, solar, static, if we could channel a lighting strike into|the gate, it might provide us with enough power to dial in|and make it through.
How do we attract|lightning to the gate? Not directly, we will have to|rig something up on the roof.
And hope that the sudden and enormous charge|doesn't destroy the gate's mechanisms.
We got it Teal'c! Daniel won't come up, he's obsessed with that thing.
|So much like you used to be.
Mmm, the Torment of Tantalus.
What? Tantalus was a king|in Greek Mythology, banish to Hades, forced to stand in water that|receded when he tried to drink.
Everlasting,|unending temptation.
He was reaching for|something that was, um, out of reach.
That sound familiar.
Some might say that, that's|what makes a man great.
If we all accepted what|was with in our grasp.
Sometimes what we|have is of more value.
It takes a great man to|recognize that.
I didn't.
I was a fool.
Ernest, you have|suffered enough.
No since wasting time|in the past, right? Ah, look, for the peak of the|roof, it will attract the lightning.
You get Daniel.
Take this to the roof.
You have to come, now.
Not Yet.
Come and get me when|they've got the gate running.
- There's not enough time.
|- I have to finish this.
- It's not worth it.
|- This is.
Nothing is! Well our history as a people would be very|different if everyone felt that way.
No prize is worth attaining if you can|never share it, there would be no point.
Believe me, I know.
Teal'c let's go!|Start dialing in.
We only have seconds|once the gate is open.
What you did was courageous! What I did was stupid.
- Come on boys we got to go, now!|- I'm staying.
What? Look, I will be|fine down here.
Go on, go on.
Daniel, we can come back.
No, what if the castle crumbles around the|gate, I mean this, this, could all be lost, if I stay I could|unbury the gate again.
- What if it falls into the ocean.
|- I am willing to take that risk.
I'm not! Let's go! Please.
Let's go! - It's a piece of cake.
|- Not from what I remember.
Go Go Go! Stargate receiving squad, stand ready! Wormhole is destabilizing,|still no travelers.
Come on guys.
Stand by people.
- Close one.
|- You think? You don't know how close.
"Sequence in progress"|Chevron 6 encoded.
Chevron seven will not engage.
Well, I think it is safe to|say that, that place is gone.
You still have my book.
Captain Carter is working|a computer model right now.
|- 'Go to reactor seven.
' And here's the bright side; - you alive.
|- Yes.
Thanks to you.
Look at it this way, if you ever run into those|aliens, that made up the language, you can ask|them what it means.
- You better let us know this time.
|- I will, I promise.
Catherine, hug me.
Charge.
First lock engaged.
Love.
You know were supposed to be at|that physical assessment thing.
Oh yeahuh, I'll go,|I'll go, it's just, uhjust let me finish this real.
You know you seem a tad|obsessed with this stuff.
This was transferred from film of experiments|done on the gate in 1945, you don't find that|the least bit intriguing? Oh yeah, nothing piques my|interest more then repeated failure.
Look at them, they're turning the gate|manually, for gods sakes, it's incredible.
How many hours of this|stuff have you looked at? There's no conclusion of the|file, no summery, no notes, no reason to|explain why they gave up.
Well whole boxes of|material could be missing.
No, the Pentagon said|this was everything.
Oh please, the Pentagon's|lost entire countries.
Come on! Doctors have two days|of tests planned for us.
Wonderful tests.
That's impossible.
Obviously not.
This doesn't make any sense, why wouldn't someone have told us|this.
I mean, why would they stop their research if they|actually managed to turn it on? Holy cow.
Hello, Martha.
Mrs.
Langford, there is a young|man waiting for you in the kitchen.
You let a strange|young man in the house? Yes.
I'm sorry, he|says he knows you.
My God.
Hello.
Uh, I'm sorry,|I hope you don't mind.
How long have you been back? Oh, my god why are you back? Colonel|O'Neill said you stayed on Abydos.
I see you got the amulet.
Yes of course,|I never take it off.
Why avoid my question?|What's this all about? "Declassified -|Top secret" Colonel O'Neill, Dr.
Jackson was|supposed to briefing SG-4 this morning, he's not here and he's|not answering our pages.
Any idea where he is? I haven't seen|him in awhile, sir.
Catherine I couldn't tell you.
- Why not?|- They wouldn't let me! Everything is, is|classified, you know.
When did you become an|upstanding member of the military? I'm notexactly.
And that's why I'm here.
Make you some tea, then you can|go back to your Stargate Command.
Thousands of Stargates,|planetary shifts.
Didn't anybody think|I might be interested? That's why I came.
- Now, six months later.
You could of told me sooner.
|- Yes, just like you could have told me there|were experiments done on the gate in 1945.
My father worked on the research team|that worked on the gate during the war.
Actually, they didn't|know what it was then.
But President Roosevelt|was like that, curious.
The suspected the|gate was a weapon, could be used as one.
Nothing|ever came of it, how do you know? The Pentagon has recently been|declassifying old materials, they ran across a number of file boxes that dealt|with the old experiments.
They sent them to us.
Really? You weren't involved|with the research? The military had little use for|a 21 year old girl at that time, neither did my father.
I only know what little I overheard|him and Ernest Talking about.
I'm sorry, who's Ernest? We get as far as entering the fifth symbol|and the whole room starts to shake.
Today one of the generators|exploded from the feed back.
Are you going to|talk to my father? Oh he know, he was there.
I might about us.
Oh.
Yes I will.
Maybe it's|supposed to do that? - What?|- The ring.
Maybe it's supposed to shake.
I don't think so.
Are you using alternate or|direct current to charge it? Alternate, I thing, why? Try using direct.
It might prevent the charge from|bouncing back to the generator.
And you should|talk to my father.
I will, I promise.
So you didn't know the government kept|the files from the original experiment? I had my fathers notes.
He told me that was|everything they had.
Do you know how many administrations I had to|petition to get this program started up again? Forty years had passed; the information was|classified and buried.
I never asked for the files,|because I thought I had them.
General West never offered, because he|probably didn't even know they existed.
So, you don't know that they|turned the gate on in 1945.
What? There must be over a 100|million possible combinations.
If it's merely a combination lock used|to turn it on, why 39? Why not six? What are you saying? They are not combinations, there destinations,|and we just found one.
"Doorway to Heaven" could mean|any number of different things.
It could simply mean that anyone|who passes through there will die.
For example.
Catherine, we have|a maid for a reason.
I wanted to do it.
No, I never knew|they turned it on.
My father never told me.
It wasn't in his notes either.
Then there is something|more you should see.
Here, watch this.
Oh, God.
There was an accident today.
An explosion in the lab.
I'm so sorry.
So the man who went through|the gate wasErnest.
Yes.
My father must|have lied to me.
He said Ernest|died in an accident, and explosion.
Why would he do that? He probably thought|he was protecting me.
From what? From knowing that the man|I was supposed to marry chose to risk his life|and go through the Stargate without even|talking to me about it.
He choose his idea,|his work, over me.
I'm sure that he believe that|he, that he would come back.
He was so young, so full of passion, like you.
You reminded me of him|when I first saw you.
That's why I new you would|solve the mysteries of the gate.
Catherine, I wasn't|supposed to show you this.
Actually I wasn't supposed to|show you any of this but now Computer enhancements,|from the film footage.
I was able it isolate the chevrons that were|locked in before Ernest went through.
Not Abydos? No, another planet,|with similar coordinates.
And we can go there.
Have you completely|lost your mind?!? Who authorized you to revile|classified information to a civilian? - If you will just let me explain.
|- This is a serious breach in protocol.
These rules exist for a reason, Doctor,|do you think that you are above them? - No, no, I.
.
|- Catherine! Hello Jack.
It's good to see you again.
I trust the General is|making you feel right at home.
So far he actually sounds|worst then General West.
Ah, he's a teddy bear.
Colonel O'Neill, did you authorize Dr.
Daniel Jackson|to revel classified information to this civilian? Absolutely not, sir.
In fact I advised him|NOT to say anything to her.
Despite the fact that she|used to run the entire program, and is responsible for most of our|current knowledge about the gate.
I'm aware of who|she is, Colonel.
Catherine, this is Teal'c.
Teal'c, this is Catherine.
Daniel, has told me all|about you, such a pleasure.
Colonel, are you aware of the request Dr.
Jackson|has most currently tangled? You've go to go that one|step further don't you.
The man who entered the gat in|1945, was Catherine's fiancé.
Now I have the address of|the planet he went to and we can go there.
And I'm coming with you.
General, we know where|Ernest Littlefield went.
He could still be alive.
A man who had|the vision to see the Stargate for what it really was, a|half a century before anyone else.
He sounds like a bonafied|American hero, sir.
Sir, there may be another|reason to got to this planet.
Captain Carter.
Yes sir.
It seems the planet in|question is close to Abydos, so it uses many of the|same points in space locators.
Which explains why|the team in 45 could conceivably dial in with out|compensating for planetary shift.
But sir the planet in question is not|on the cartouche we found on Abydos.
What's the|significance in that? The Goa'uld haven't charted it.
|They may not even have been there.
If the Goa'ulds haven't been to this plant,|and there is obviously a gate there.
Then we would have unquestionable proof|that they didn't build the Stargates.
The Goa'uld are scavengers, since they have not|traveled to this planet, we could find technologies|to use against them.
You speak? When it is appropriate.
Thank you.
Thank all off you for your|very through analysis of the situation.
But I was already convinced by|Dr.
Jackson's initial argument.
Ernest Littlefield could still be|alive, and we should try to find him.
It's a piece of cake.
Ready? And You okay? Huh, that was|some piece of cake! - It's hot in here.
|- Oh yeah.
Anybody see away in|or out of this place? There appears to be|only two doorways.
Oh my.
Aw, for crying' out loud.
Dr.
Littlefield? Hello, I'm Daniel Jackson, we|just came from the Stargate.
Yes, that thing Star-gate.
We're real' It'sabouttime.
Oh boy! Daniel, do something.
UhDr.
Littlefield? You don't recognize me.
Fifty years, that's|all he has to say.
I'll, I'll gose|if I can find him.
Still here.
Do you have|anything to wear? Clothes? Oh, uhgoing home.
Yes, we're taking you home.
So much time.
Did no one try again? That's a long story.
Are there other people here? No one else lives here? How about nearby? Are you saying you have been|completely alone here for 50 years? Eat.
I don't know what I expected.
I mean I can't|believe he's right here.
Light years away but still|so close, all this time ALIVE! I think he is probably having a|little trouble dealing with it to.
I felt like a school girl.
My heart was beating|faster then when I came through the gate! Ha, you think|your old and wise.
I don't think the|heart ever grows old.
I can't even fathom|what he's been through.
Such a long time.
I don't even know that man.
Why don't you go|and talk to him? Last day.
It's a calendar, isn't it? Have you been able to figure out who built|this place, or who used to live here? Heliopolis.
Heliopolis? Repository,|philosophy, astronomy I assume you mean the|ancient Egyptian city.
People would could come from everywhere|to gather, scholars, community leaders.
It was also the central|place of worship forRa.
Are there ancient|Egyptian Hieroglyphs here? Symbols that indicate Ra.
This could be very important.
"Four distinct languages, writing is|unlike anything I have seen on earth.
Catherine say's|there probably alien.
" "Catherine says?" She found me long ago.
"We walked for miles today, but|still found no signs of civilization.
Catherine seems|concerned, but I am not.
As long as she is here with|me, I will never feel alone.
It seems impossible, but|everyday were here together, I love her more.
" My father lied to me.
I'll leave you two.
So, real! Yes, your going to|have to believe.
This isn't easy for me either.
Y-You look, different.
I'm old Ernest.
So are you.
We, we had a|wonderful life together.
I couldn't imagine you Ernest.
In my mind, we didn't have|a wonderful life together.
I thought you were dead.
Forgave me.
You forgave me long ago.
No.
I didn't.
Doesn't seem to be|anybody else around.
I tell you this place|used to be pretty sweet, but it's seen better|days if you know what I mean.
I thing Professor Littlefield|has been alone since he got here.
Wow.
- A storm approaches.
|- A pretty big one at that.
It comes every year.
Every year? Now look kids, where right on the|edge of a cliff here, I don't think this place|can stand another big hit.
- We should take our leave.
|- No we can't, not yet.
We have only begun|to explore this place.
Figure out what it|is, what it used to be.
We launched a survey balloon.
Now lets take the|professor and Catherine home, we'll leave the probe here,|let it monitor the situation, until the storm blows over,|then we'll come back.
Alright? I tried for years|to make it work.
You never tried to entering|different glyphs in this thing? We call this the|Dial-Home Device.
Basically you enter the|correct address and Daniel, Why don't|we just show him.
- My god.
|- What the hell? I thought the probe was supposed|to detect stuff like this? We got visual confirmation|of its presents, but the damage was|obviously cancelled.
- It's not working.
|- It was like that when I got here.
That's why you|never came back.
Does this mean|were not going home? Well since where|going to be hear awhile.
I would like you|to see something.
- What?|- Come on, it's the safest|room in there is.
You know? Especially|in a storm.
Give me a hand.
Thanks Keep at it, well be back.
What is this place? "I believe this room is|some sort of meeting place, where four alien races|denoted by the symbols, and distinctive writing|on the walls would gather, possible to share|knowledge, or discuss relations, like a United Nations of the Stars.
Catherine agrees.
" Your right, I would have.
All roads seem to lead here, which means|this is likely the power source.
I believe you are correct.
It could take years to figure out how|to put these crystals back properly.
I think we can figure out a way to rig the power source directly to|the gate, and then dial out manually.
This looks familiar.
Touch it.
Whoa! It's Beautiful! Is this the mean anything? Well, if this was a Mecca of|sorts, an alien united nations, this has to mean something.
I know this.
Of course, high|school chemistry.
One proton, one electron, - hydrogen.
|- Beryllium, sodium.
Silver, Iron, barium, xenon.
Oh my god, so many|electrons, how can you tell? I have been here a very|long time, remember? Excuse me.
Are you saying that all of|these are atomicthings? These images are graphical|representation of the basic elements: electrons revolving|around a proton.
The number of electrons|indicate the element.
There is only currently 111|elements on the periodic table.
Only 90 when I last looked.
This is incredible.
I mean we have only been able to speculate on|the actual appearance and structure of an atom.
The fact that four completely|alien races chose to represent it in|an almost identical way.
The basic elements are|what make up the universe, they are the|basic building block of course! How do you ensure|universal communication? You reduce the method of|communication to the most basic element; common to everyone and everything|that exists in the universe! Jack, this is a true|universal language.
- Turn the page.
|- What? Turn the page! Are you saying, that this,|that this is like a book? I tried to read it.
I|tried to understand it.
A hundred and forty six|elements, letters, or symbols, if they're letters, if they're pictographic,|I mean this could take a life time.
More.
Oh, sorry.
Daniel, before|you head explodes, may I remind you that we have more|important thing to deal with right now? How can you say that, don't|you know what this could mean? Actually, no.
This could be the key to|understanding our existence.
Everyone,|everything's existence.
The collaboration of|theese four alien spices.
None of witch would mean squat,|if we don't get out of here.
How's it going? I'm trying to connect the power|source from the dial home device directly to the gate.
I'm about to run a|test.
Where's Daniel? Oh Ernest is|showing his a new toy.
- Really? What?|- A fancy light show that maybe the key to our|existence, or something like that.
Ah, you want to pick up the|pace on this a little bit? You did it! Get back! This is how you new|what this place was.
Then you recognize it too.
Othala, the Norse rune thought to|represent the collection of numerous power and knowledge|from past generations.
And the gathering of clans to|share a common interest.
You know there's more then|just a coincidence here.
That means that|human were here, centuries, maybe eons ago.
No, not humans, aliens.
- This is Thor's race.
|- Thor was a Alien? Oh yeah, that's that's another long story.
But uhgood one.
All right, basic survival|training.
We know what we have.
What do we need? We have the Stargate, we need the|dial home device.
Thank you Teal'c.
The element the gate is made|of, absorbs energy directly, internal functions will|convert and store that energy in capacitor|like reservoirs.
But the inside wheel will|only unlock and spin freely once there is|enough reserve power.
So what we need is Energy.
Mm-hmm.
I don't see any|electrical outlets, do you? This is useless, it's not allowing|for any relative perspective.
I don't understand, how did you incorporate the|three dimensional nature of the information? Look down.
Of course, you measured the elements|from a central point, degrees from zero around in a|circle, and height above the floor.
What's up guys? Step away from|the pedestal Daniel.
What? Why? The dial home device just fell|through the floor into the ocean.
So what are we going to do? That thing may have a power source in it|that we can use to get the gate working.
AhNo! You don't understand, this book|could contain knowledge of the universe.
I mean this is|meaning of life stuff I have to get more of it down on paper before we|leave, there must be something more you can use.
- What about using energy from Teal'c staff?|- It's not powerful enough.
Please there's not much time,|we have to get inside that thing.
This whole place could join the DHD at|the bottom of the ocean any minute, so please.
Great, shoot it! Now what? I'm obviously no|scientist but uh, couldn't we use|that Ben Franklin thing? The element of the gate is|made up of a superconductor.
It'll observe energy in may different|things: Heat, Nuclear, solar, static, if we could channel a lighting strike into|the gate, it might provide us with enough power to dial in|and make it through.
How do we attract|lightning to the gate? Not directly, we will have to|rig something up on the roof.
And hope that the sudden and enormous charge|doesn't destroy the gate's mechanisms.
We got it Teal'c! Daniel won't come up, he's obsessed with that thing.
|So much like you used to be.
Mmm, the Torment of Tantalus.
What? Tantalus was a king|in Greek Mythology, banish to Hades, forced to stand in water that|receded when he tried to drink.
Everlasting,|unending temptation.
He was reaching for|something that was, um, out of reach.
That sound familiar.
Some might say that, that's|what makes a man great.
If we all accepted what|was with in our grasp.
Sometimes what we|have is of more value.
It takes a great man to|recognize that.
I didn't.
I was a fool.
Ernest, you have|suffered enough.
No since wasting time|in the past, right? Ah, look, for the peak of the|roof, it will attract the lightning.
You get Daniel.
Take this to the roof.
You have to come, now.
Not Yet.
Come and get me when|they've got the gate running.
- There's not enough time.
|- I have to finish this.
- It's not worth it.
|- This is.
Nothing is! Well our history as a people would be very|different if everyone felt that way.
No prize is worth attaining if you can|never share it, there would be no point.
Believe me, I know.
Teal'c let's go!|Start dialing in.
We only have seconds|once the gate is open.
What you did was courageous! What I did was stupid.
- Come on boys we got to go, now!|- I'm staying.
What? Look, I will be|fine down here.
Go on, go on.
Daniel, we can come back.
No, what if the castle crumbles around the|gate, I mean this, this, could all be lost, if I stay I could|unbury the gate again.
- What if it falls into the ocean.
|- I am willing to take that risk.
I'm not! Let's go! Please.
Let's go! - It's a piece of cake.
|- Not from what I remember.
Go Go Go! Stargate receiving squad, stand ready! Wormhole is destabilizing,|still no travelers.
Come on guys.
Stand by people.
- Close one.
|- You think? You don't know how close.
"Sequence in progress"|Chevron 6 encoded.
Chevron seven will not engage.
Well, I think it is safe to|say that, that place is gone.
You still have my book.
Captain Carter is working|a computer model right now.
|- 'Go to reactor seven.
' And here's the bright side; - you alive.
|- Yes.
Thanks to you.
Look at it this way, if you ever run into those|aliens, that made up the language, you can ask|them what it means.
- You better let us know this time.
|- I will, I promise.
Catherine, hug me.