Stargate: Atlantis s01e17 Episode Script

(Teyla) Previously on Stargate Atlantis - It's heading here.
- What's it doing? It's scanning us.
The dart sent a transmission into space and self-destructed before we got to it.
- We scanned the area - What are those? - Wraith hive ships.
- Where are they headed? If they maintain direction and speed, they'll be over our planet in two weeks.
We knew they were coming.
Now we know when.
- That's something.
- That's something? It means there's still time, Rodney.
There's no reason to panic yet.
- Where there is time, there is hope.
- So, recommendations? - Other than panic? - Other than panic, yes.
I realise this might not be cool, but we should consider M7G-677.
- As a possible evacuation site? - No.
I'm suggesting we take their ZPM.
Their only protection from the Wraith? A planet populated mostly by children? He raises a valid point.
The ZPM is nearly depleted, but it could be of some use to us.
You asked for suggestions.
It's a matter of survival.
I see.
Well, we're not quite there yet, and as long as I'm in charge we will never be there.
I agree.
If this is to be our end, it is best we face it with both dignity and honour.
- I have an idea in addition to panic.
- Let's hear it.
It's a long shot, but I think it's most likely worth the effort.
- It'll mostly be my effort, so - What is it? We can send a message to Earth through the Stargate.
- Excuse me? - Do we have enough power? Not to send a person.
We couldn't maintain the wormhole.
If we tied together all our power-generating capabilities, we might be able to establish a wormhole long enough to send a message.
- How much time are we talking about? - Approximately 1.
3 seconds, give or take.
- That's not much time.
- Time to say SOS.
It's enough time to send a message in the form of a high-compression data burst.
I helped refine the encoding for the US air force.
Colonel Carter can decipher it on the other side.
- You're suggesting this now? - It probably won't work and could overload our naqahdah generators.
Well, then, we can't take the risk.
No power, we won't have a chance in hell.
There are three Wraith hive ships on the way.
This calls for desperate measures.
Besides, I've been working out ways of minimising the risk.
Assuming it's possible, how much information could we send? Everything.
Mission reports from all the senior staff, stuff on Atlantis - All that.
One second? - 1.
3.
If I finesse the compression ratios, you'll be looking for things to add.
- Do it.
- Doing it.
Elizabeth, you realise that if Stargate Command was able to send help I know.
They would have.
But we must report what we've learned here, about Atlantis, about the Ancients.
- The Wraith.
- Exactly.
We have to warn Earth.
- Even if it's the last thing we do? - Especially if it's the last thing we do.
They don't seem threatening as dots on a screen.
We need to do recon and see what we're up against first-hand.
- How? - I've tracked their progress.
The Wraith ships go in and out of hyperspace periodically, because their technology is limited - Or they're stopping to feed along the way.
- The point is, the pattern is predictable.
I can guess with some certainty that they'll be making stops here, here, and here.
The ships are light years away.
How will you reach them by puddle jumper? We take a route where Zelenka thinks they'll drop out of hyperspace and we watch them pass by.
- That's good.
- You know, I have my moments.
Teyla and I were just deciding which planet to go to.
I know the people of this world.
Their Stargate is in the open and so accessible by ship.
You can remain undetected by the Wraith as they go by your position? Stealth mode.
They won't know we're there.
OK, go, get what intel you can, and get back before Rodney sends his message.
- I need you here.
- Won't even stop at the duty free.
If you get the idea to take the Wraith ships on yourself, Major, I am hereby ordering you not to.
- Believe me, you don't have to.
- Still Don't take on an alien armada single-handedly.
Understood.
Father, Teyla's here! - Teyla.
- Orin.
It has been many days.
Too many.
Look at you.
You're so different.
Much has changed since my last visit.
- This is Major John Sheppard and Orin.
- Pleased to meet you, uh - The harvest is still months away.
- Yes, I know.
We have not come to trade, but to deliver a warning.
We believe the Wraith may be on their way.
We don't know that, but we're about to find out.
Yes.
It seems they're awakening everywhere.
Tell your people to take precautions in case they do come.
I will, but you know as well as I do, Teyla, that the Wraith will track us down wherever we go.
- There will be no escape.
- What about through the Stargate? The cullings are taking place on many worlds.
None are safe.
Even we have taken in refugees.
If they do come, stay far from the Stargate.
Take your family to the far tree line there and wait for us.
- Teyla.
- One family, Major.
That is all I ask.
- I'm sorry, Orin, I can't make that promise.
- It will be the very least we can do.
- If there's time.
- (Teyla) Then we must hurry.
Children, we must prepare.
We have our city specs, mission reports and tactical assessments all ready to go.
What else? I've included data we've been able to decipher from the Ancient database.
Really? That is incredible.
- My algorithm is extraordinarily efficient.
- Oh, please.
It must be in order to fit all that data into 1.
3 seconds.
.
3 seconds, actually.
- We have a whole extra second to fill? - Mm.
A whole extra one, yes.
Is it enough to include personal messages? Uh sure.
I mean, several hours of video.
Much more if it was strictly audio.
I think it'd do wonders for morale.
Especially now.
I could tell my grandma what I've been up to.
If your grandmother had security clearance.
But for now you can tell her that you're well and that you miss her.
This is all very charming, but I have work to do.
Shouldn't I, um? Lieutenant, maybe you'd like to handle this.
Give everybody a few minutes to send a message to their loved ones.
- I'd love to, ma'am.
- Off you go.
When Zelenka and I tie Jumper Four's engines into the grid, - we'll be able to do a low-power dry run.
- Good.
- Rodney? - Mm? - You don't want to send a message? - You know what? Maybe with all my spare time, I'll record a message myself.
- You? - Yes.
Good, good.
This wasn't supposed to be a rescue mission.
- Orin was a good friend of my father.
- I agreed to warn him.
If someone close to your family, a dear friend, was in danger from the Wraith, - would you have not done the same? - Not if it jeopardised the mission.
So we give up that which makes us different from the Wraith? I agreed to stop and pick him up if there was time, but only if there was time.
I'd like to be saving everyone in the damn galaxy.
- It's just one man and his children.
- I agreed to help if there was time.
You can only fight the battles you can win.
(Sheppard) Whoa.
Let me get this thing turned around.
They're heading for the planet.
(Ford) OK, recording.
Plenty of battery.
So why am I not seeing anything? Oh stupid.
OK.
Hi, Grandma, Grandpa.
It's me, Aiden obviously.
I'm talking to you from a place far, far from home.
I'm good, though.
You don't have to worry.
Life here is pretty routine.
I'm hoping that I'll be able to get home sometime soon, but, you know, if if I'm stuck here a while, I want you to know that I'm good.
I'm doing things I'm seeing things I never thought I'd see.
I wish I could tell you all about it.
Who knows? One day, maybe, I'll be able to, but I want you both to know that you're right here.
Always.
All the time.
Even flying full out, we're just ahead of the armada.
- I can't risk putting down for Orin.
- I see.
I'm gonna take us out of stealth mode for the pass-through.
Dial the gate.
Hang on.
Incoming wormhole.
The Wraith dial in to prevent victims from using the Stargate as a means of escape.
So we're stuck here.
Once the ship is rendered invisible again, we will be safe.
I need to get the intel about the Wraith fleet to Atlantis.
They will keep dialling in through the night at the very least, but if we wait where I told Orin and his family to meet us That's where I'm headed.
I'm not very good at this.
(Ford) The only people to see it will be your family.
- Aye, and you and the US military.
- Well, give it a shot.
- What shall I say? - Uh Uh - "I miss you.
I wish you were here.
" - I wish who was here? - Who do you wish was here? - Nobody.
I wish I wasn't! I've got a lot of people to get to.
(sighs) All right, er I suppose I could say hello to my mother.
Good.
There you go.
All right, you ready? - (clears throat) - OK, go.
Hello, Mum.
I hope this message finds you well.
I trust your petunias are in full bloom by now.
I hope you're keeping up with that ointment.
If you've adhered to the regime, the fungus should have cleared up by now.
- What's wrong? - Dude, fungus? On her toenails.
You said no one would watch this.
- Yeah, but fungus? - What, then, shall I talk about? - It's your mother.
Tell her you love her.
- I can't.
I get emotional.
- So? - She's very delicate, my mother.
As sweet a soul as you'll ever meet, as pure as the driven snow.
If I get upset, she'll get upset.
I can't have that.
We're not live.
If you don't like what we put on tape, we can do it again.
- We can? - Sure.
Oh.
Well, I suppose I could do that, then.
All right.
Here we go.
Um Mum I miss you terribly.
I can't do this! Come on, Orin, show up.
What? Not long ago, you would have left him behind.
Well, the situation has changed.
Lieutenant Ford suggested we steal from a community of children.
They have a ZPM and we can bring them back.
Only to face death in Atlantis? Ford and I are military.
We've spent a lot of our lives learning how to survive.
I have spent my life surviving the Wraith.
Part of that training is knowing who you can and can't save.
And that decision is yours alone? I said that I'd wait for your friend if there was time.
Now there's time.
- What else do you want from me? - Too much, I fear.
- It's gonna be a long night.
- (whirring) (speaking Czech) Failsafe.
(continues speaking Czech) (Ford) You didn't say anything that would require security clearance, did you? Security clearance? - This is hard to sit and watch.
- There's nothing we can do.
We could do a lot.
It would just be the last thing we ever do.
We are far outnumbered and the gate is still inaccessible.
But if we save Orin and his family, we will have done something.
Something.
I'm gonna miss you, kiddo.
I can't wait to take you to a basketball game and watch Kobe and Shaq take another title home for the Lakers.
That's it.
- That's it? - What else am I gonna say to a kid? - It's your brother.
- I may not see him again.
- Why make it any worse? - That's not what this is about.
That's exactly what this is about.
Don't sweat it.
I'm happy I got the chance to say goodbye.
- Yeah, but you didn't say it.
- Not in so many words.
- Lieutenant Ford.
- Ready to record your message? Already done.
Actually, I took the liberty of doing mine in private.
- Now, it may require some editing.
- Editing? Yeah, I went on a bit.
I used the entire tape.
- You talked for an hour? - I found it therapeutic.
I've come up with several valuable insights, but I've only slept six hours in the last few days, so, um - Who's it for? - Humanity, my sister I don't expect you to cut it down too much.
There is gold in here.
So just make sure mine's last.
If the gate holds the connection, we won't have wasted the time.
- Well, I'll look forward to it.
- Well, enjoy.
Gold.
(clears throat) And in five four three This is Dr Rodney McKay speaking from my base of operations in the lost city of Atlantis, located deep within the Pegasus galaxy.
I record this message on the eve of our darkest hour.
As I speak, an alien armada of biblical proportions is on its way, bent - dare I say hell-bent, in keeping with the metaphor - on our destruction.
We will do our best to stave off their attack, but I am afraid that defeat is all but inevitable.
I and the other members of my team face the most horrific deaths imaginable as our very lives are are sucked from our chests in a in a horrific OK, um OK, starting again, starting again.
Um, Ford, just cut that, all right? What about, uh? - What is that? - I've never seen such a thing.
- I'm gonna check it out.
- You may be discovered.
- I'll make a point not to.
- Major.
I just want to see whatever that is.
Just stay here until Orin and his family show up.
(distant shouting) And in five, four, three (clears throat) My friends, I'm Dr Rodney McKay of the Atlantis expedition, and as the facts of our heroic struggle against the Wraith and our untimely demise are already known to you, in that light, I'd like to pass along some final thoughts.
Now, my extensive education, training and experience in the field of astrophysics has given me a unique perspective that few on Earth, or, well, on any other planet, for that matter, can match.
I'd like to take a few moments now to pass along that perspective to you.
I'll begin with a few observations on a subject that is both near and dear to my heart.
Leadership.
Mr and Mrs Markham, my name is Dr Elizabeth Weir, and your son was a member of my expedition team.
It is with deep regret that I inform you that he was killed in the line of duty just a few days ago.
He died in the defence of others, and his sacrifice may have saved many lives and her keen curiosity are some of the qualities that your daughter displayed during her duties as a scientist on my team.
She and several of her colleagues died suddenly just a few weeks ago.
I am not at liberty to reveal the cause of her death, but I can tell you that during her time here, Dr Dumais was a part of something very profound.
She saw and did things she never would have dreamed of He died bravely, while defending others.
I confess I didn't know him as well as I could have, but I know he was well liked and respected among his peers.
And I was told of how often he spoke of his family.
I do wish I could tell you more.
I'm sure you understand, as a military family.
Are you done, ma'am? Just give me a moment, please, Lieutenant.
I am keeping busy with my job.
I work hard, like everyone else, to ensure the success of this expedition, and to please the leader of our science team No, no, no, no, no.
This sequence first, and then the secondary code.
Unless you're trying to blow us up.
If so, good work.
He does not always remember my name, but I have enjoyed working for him.
What is this? Kiwi? Who made this? Did you make this? He's a very honourable and brave man.
Ow! Ow! OK, cramp, cramp, cramp, cramp, cramp Ow! Until then I will continue to serve at his pleasure.
I once caught mono kissing a girl in algebra club.
I missed an entire month of school.
Still, the kiss was something, so it was probably worth it.
April Bingham.
Cute blonde.
God, see, I love blondes.
Especially with the, uh the short hair.
Mm Samantha Carter, if you're watching, the torch is still burning.
Sadly, soon to be extinguished, but, you know, you should know I think you are just so (sighs) Well, you're great, you're really, really great, and you're the hottest scientist I've ever worked with.
There's probably not a night that goes by that I don't find myself OK, Ford, let's lose that, and let's get back to, uh leadership.
(distant shouting) (man) Run, children! Run! (woman screaming) (man) Hurry! - Who will be watching this? - Anyone you're sending it to.
Family, friends, loved ones.
- Will anyone from Atlantis be viewing it? - No, messages are private.
- You can get as mushy as you want.
- All right.
Uh, this is a message for General Jack O'Neill of Stargate Command.
It is my duty to inform you of what I consider to be serious errors in judgement among the leaders of this expedition, most notably Dr Elizabeth Weir.
Her actions have repeatedly and recklessly exposed the people of this expedition to extreme danger, leading us directly to the grave situation we currently find ourselves in.
You know what? How about you record your whining in private? Fine.
I've recorded her questionable activities, which I would like to detail for you now.
(man in distance) Quickly! Quickly! (man) Run for the trees! Never cared for dogs.
Too much work, too needy, too unpredictable.
You leave one door open and they're gone.
You look for them, it's no use, and since your father refused to buy a licence, the animal shelter can't track them.
God knows what happened to that little guy.
Now, cats now, that's a whole different story.
Cats are self-sufficient, dependable.
You shake the box, they come running.
A cynic would say it's because of the food, but my cat, he enjoys my company.
It's very comforting to come home from work and have a familiar face waiting for you.
Still, I digress.
Where was I? Uh right.
Leadership.
(distant shouting) (man in distance) Keep going! Keep going! (Teyla) Over here! It is all right.
I am a friend.
Please, hurry.
This way.
Hurry.
This way.
- How many of you are left? - I don't know.
The Wraith are everywhere.
Here, drink this.
It is water.
Orin Have you seen him? Not since before the Wraith arrived.
Thank you.
- We must go.
The Wraith will find us.
- No, they will not.
Our ship has a shield which makes it invisible to them.
You are safe here.
Just rest.
We will leave soon.
I'd like to say something to the families of every member of this expedition.
I wish I could tell you more about what your loved ones are doing, and someday I hope you find out, because you will be amazed, but I will tell you that I could not be more proud of each and every one of them.
Their heroism has amazed me.
Their resourcefulness has staggered me.
- Rodney, go! - Going! Now! We face a terrible enemy and an uncertain future, but if we are never heard from again, know that your loved ones did not face that uncertainty alone.
We are facing our future together.
(distant shouting) Major.
It's pretty ugly out there.
- Is this Orin's family? - No.
They have not seen Orin since the culling began.
The village is wiped out.
- (whirring) - The gate just shut off.
We should be able to get out of here before the Wraith can do anything.
Please, Major.
Give Orin more time.
If he was able to get here, he would be here by now.
We've got to get back.
Go.
I will stay and search in the daylight.
You can return for me later.
- You can't do that.
- I consider Orin as family.
- I am sorry if you do not understand - That's not the point With you or without you, I am staying.
You won't make it.
Then I ask that you stay as well, just a little longer.
Allow something good to come of this.
All right.
We'll give it a little more time.
I know you worry about me, Mum, but somehow we've found a way to rise to each challenge, so I wouldn't fret about my safety.
It's the people here, from dozens of countries, all connected by a single bond.
We represent the people of Earth, and if there's one thing I know about we Earthlings, we're a scrappy bunch (Ford) You can't say Earthlings.
Your mother doesn't have clearance.
She knows I'm from Earth.
It's not a bloody secret.
- Oh, right.
- Sorry, Mum.
Anyhow Authorised using a prisoner to test an experimental drug, in clear violation of the Geneva Convention.
Lowered the Stargate shield when the authenticity of incoming travellers was in question.
That's another sight I'll die without having seen.
When you've travelled as much as I have, you'd think that missing Niagara Falls would be no big deal.
There's a lot of movies I wish I'd seen.
Never saw Grease, even though I fancied Olivia Newton-John.
Always wanted to see Gandhi.
Only saw the first half of The Sixth Sense.
My sister Ford, if you cut everything else, just, um keep this part, OK? Jeannie, it's your brother, Rodney.
Obviously.
I want to say, um I want to say something.
Uh Family is important.
I've come to realise that, because the people here have become a kind of a surrogate family to me.
I know I've never really been the poster child for that kind of sentiment, but when one's contemplating one's own demise, one sees things more clearly.
I really do wish you the best, you know, and I'm sorry we weren't closer.
Perhaps, um if by chance I make it out of this, perhaps one day we can be, and I would like that.
Now, if there's time, I'd like to go back to the subject of leadership.
Someone's coming.
Orin! - Orin! - How big is his family? - He must have met others.
- That'll be a problem.
- I didn't think you'd be here.
- We would not have left you.
We found others on the way, and more further behind.
- How many more? - 12, perhaps more.
In here! This way! Quickly! Wait, wait, wait, wait! - We'll fit as many people in as we can.
- Hurry! Come on! Straight ahead.
Straight ahead.
- Hurry.
- Come on! - Run! - It's all right.
It is all right.
- Get down! - (screaming) (man yells) - Are you all right? - Yes.
I'm fine.
- Are our guests comfortably settled in? - Yes.
Good.
- So tell me.
How bad is it? - Bad.
Each hive ship acts like a carrier group, with cruisers and hundreds of darts escorting it.
Grodin's downloading the sensor readings right now.
I have never witnessed a culling that took so many.
We saved a few.
That's worth something.
Rodney, are we ready to send our message? - When you are.
- OK.
Lieutenant Ford is recording personal messages from all the team members.
- If you'd like - I'm good.
OK.
Along with a short note of my own, I recorded messages to the families of the people we've lost.
- That's a good idea.
- There's one I thought you'd like to do.
(Ford) OK, whenever you're ready, sir, go ahead.
I'm not sure if Colonel Sumner's parents are still alive.
I'm not sure he even has a family back there.
Not all of us do.
But if he does have a family, they should know that he died with honour and courage in the performance of his duty.
He carried the burden of a leader and he carried it well.
I didn't get the chance to know him well, but I know this.
Considering the type of man he was and what we're up against, yeah, I wish he was still here.
Not a day goes by that I don't think of you, Simon.
There's so much I want to tell you and share with you, but I can't.
I know this is unfair.
So much you don't know, and putting your life on hold for me so don't.
All I ask is you take care of yourself, and know that, wherever you are, my heart is looking after you.
So take care of yourself, lots of sleep, remember your daily walks and keep up with your prescription.
Well, that's about it.
I'll say goodbye now and, Mum, I do love you.
Bye, Grandma, Grandpa.
I miss you.
Goodbye, bro.
(speaks Czech) Goodbye.
Goodbye, Simon.
Goodbye.
We have unscheduled off-world activation.
(woman) Linking now.
Receiving transmission.
Who's it from? Atlantis.