STARGATE SG1
Episode 903
"ORIGIN"
By
Robert C. Cooper
[Exterior alien world, daytime. Transport rings emerge from what
appears to be very clear, shallow water, leaving Daniel Jackson,
Vala Mal Doran and the Prior standing in a dreamlike place on
water.]
DANIEL
Where are we?
PRIOR
The plains of Celestis.
VALA
And that?
PRIOR
The city of the gods.
[Daniel looks sceptically from the city to the Prior, who leads
them away toward the city over the water.]
DANIEL
Maybe you could tell me who you are?
PRIOR
I am a Prior of the Ori.
DANIEL
And what is that?
[They approach the city and enter an impressive stone edifice
with glass-paned, iron-worked windows.]
PRIOR
In due time. All in due time.
[Daniel and Vala are led into a middle ages version of a conference
room with a huge wooden table and beautifully carved chairs.
The place is lit by candles and there are pedestaled bowls of
fruit on the table, along with an oversized, leather-bound book.
The color scheme is an antique golden brown with darker wood
and black wrought iron candle stands. The floor is either inlaid
marble or an extraordinarily detailed carpet. Prior leads them
in and, as soon as they pass him and start gaping, turns on his
heel and walks out.]
DANIEL
Uh...I guess we’ll wait here, then?
[Door slams behind Prior, presumably locked.]
DANIEL
Hullooo?
[Exterior scene, very arid and desert-looking nomad camp we’ve
never seen before. Stargate activates, and a different Prior
emerges, staff with crystal in one hand, the other upraised like
a cleric about to give a blessing. He walks down the steps in
front of the Stargate, pushes back his hood and addresses the
gathering crowd.]
PRIOR #2
Hallowed are the Ori.
[Roll ten second credits]
[SGC, daytime, Interior shot of the conference room. General
Hank Landry, Dr. Carolyn Lam, Colonel Cameron Mitchell and Teal’c
are present. Landry is pacing at the front of the room, the rest
are seated around the table.]
DR. LAM
Both Daniel and Vala’s vital signs have
been stable for two hours now.
LANDRY
What about disconnecting them from the
device?
LAM
Dr. Lee has been unable to remove the
stones.
MITCHELL
We haven’t tried C-4 yet, sir.
LAM
Dr. Lee is working on disabling the
power source, but given that the device
is directly linked into their minds,
I recommend that we proceed with caution.
LANDRY
I understand, but if one or both of
them run into trouble again, I’m ordering
you to take whatever action is necessary
to shut that thing down!
[Lam and Landry exchange stubborn/determined looks.]
LANDRY
Teal’c? A word.
[Landry and Teal’c leave the conference room and enter Landry’s
office. Landry stands behind his desk; Teal’c paces the room
as he speaks.]
LANDRY
What can you tell me about this Gerak
fellow?
TEAL’C
He was first prime of Muto a minor
goa’uld who served Ra and fell in with
Ba’al when Ra was killed. After the
fall of the goa’uld, Ba’al’s armada
was led by a Jaffa named Hubrok. Hubrok
was an ally of Bra’tac’s and would have
supported our desire to reform the Jaffa
nation with democracy. However, approximately
four months ago, Hubrok disappeared.
LANDRY
You think Gerak had something to do
with that?
TEAL’C
Though no evidence has been uncovered,
shortly after Hubrok’s disappearance,
Gerak became the spokesman for the more
traditional ways of the Jaffa High Council...
LANDRY
...which he could control?
TEAL’C
Through a series of slow and deliberate
manipulations. The Council played squarely
into Gerak’s hands.
LANDRY
That makes him one of the most powerful
guys out there... that we know of. I
suppose I should meet him face to face.
TEAL’C
I shall extend your invitation.
[Ori world, interior conference chamber. Vala is lying flat on
the big table, staring at the ceiling. Directly behind her head,
the big book is open in front of Daniel, who is rubbing his forehead
as he reads. The pedestaled bowl of fruit stands to Vala’s right
on the table.]
VALA
What does it say?
DANIEL
Well, it seems to follow suit with
many other religions I’ve studied. They
tend to weave their doctrines into simple,
fable-like narratives with characters
that are meant to be easily identifiable
with a common individual.
VALA
Why don’t you read one to me? I love
a good yarn.
DANIEL
They all seem to teach meditation on
one’s worth and significance... the
path of righteousness toward a state
of higher being.
[A crunching noise in the background turns out to be Vala, helping
herself to an apple from the fruit bowl as she sits up. Daniel
give her a look.]
VALA
What? I’m starving.
DANIEL
The central icon of the religion seems
to be fire.
VALA
I don’t need a book to tell me that.
DANIEL
That would make sense. Fire is light,
energy, warmth, and yet... on Earth,
at some point, fire became associated
with demonic imagery or evil. Hell,
not heaven.
VALA
And?
DANIEL
I’m just wondering if the Ancients had
something to do with that.
VALA
Tell you what? Why don’t you FLIP
to the end, and see how it all turns
out, hmm?
[Daniel and Vala are exchanging another look when a thump indicates
the door is opening. Vala looks a little guilty about the apple
and starts to get off the table when the camera cuts toward the
opening door to show a hooded Prior with big staff entering.
Back to Vala rolling off the table to her feet on the other side
of the table from the door as she stuffs what’s left of the apple
back into the bowl and tries to chew and swallow what’s in her
mouth quickly.]
PRIOR
The village of Ver Ager has been corrupted.
VALA
We dinn do it, I promise.
DANIEL
We are connected to these people, Harrid
and Sallis, through a communication
device that was brought to our galaxy
a long time ago by a race of people
called the Alterans.
VALA
Also known as the Ancients?
DANIEL
Look, look. The point is we mean you
no harm. We’re explorers.
PRIOR
Do you know of others in Ver Ager?
DANIEL
Others?
PRIOR
Unbelievers.
VALA
Oh, I’m sorry. Do you want us to tell
on people who don’t believe in the Ori?
PRIOR
Devotion is rewarded. Those who stray,
must be guided back to the path.
VALA
Don’t you mean, ‘those who stray, get
burnt to death’?
PRIOR
The Ori gave all men and women free
will.
VALA
If the Ori are so powerful, why do
they need us to tell them who believes
in them, and who doesn’t?
PRIOR
The Ori need nothing from us.
DANIEL
It is we who must seek the truth of
the universe in order to achieve enlightenment.
[Cut to Vala looking at him curiously from behind the Prior,
who is still staring into the middle distance, then back to Daniel
at the table.]
DANIEL
Been down this road before.
[Interior SGC Infirmary, looking over Mitchell’s shoulder from
the observation room as Landry joins him. Through the window,
we can see the unconscious forms of Daniel and Vala side by side
on gurneys, being attended to by an orderly. Mitchell begins
to rise to attention.]
LANDRY
At ease, Colonel. How’re they doing?
MITCHELL
No change, sir.
[Throughout this conversation, Mitchell stares almost unwaveringly
at Daniel and Vala, with occasional half-glances at Landry, who
is looking at Mitchell through the majority of this.]
LANDRY
I know you’re concerned for them. So
am I, but I’ve got something else for
you to do.
MITCHELL
Sir?
LANDRY
Just got a report from Dr. Lindsay on
P3X-421.
MITCHELL
Lindsay... anthropologist, right?
LANDRY
Working with the human population on
421, helping them get over the loss
of their former false god.
MITCHELL
Trouble?
LANDRY
Well, it seems a missionary of sorts
came through the gate yesterday and
started spouting a religion we haven’t
encountered before. Not that we have
a problem with people exploring different
faiths.
MITCHELL
I suspect we’ll see a lot of opportunists
trying to fill the void left by the
goa’uld, sir.
LANDRY
This newfound freedom is quickly going
to turn to desperation if people don’t
learn to fend for themselves. A lot
of these, shall we say, SHELTERED civilizations
could potentially be taken advantage
of by a charlatan with a flashy bag
of tricks.
MITCHELL
And in this case?
LANDRY
Well, this missionary is apparently
trying to prove the validity of his
claims by performing miracles.
MITCHELL
Miracles.
[Landry stands, and Mitchell rises to attention with him.]
LANDRY
I’d like you to take SG-12 and check
it out.
MITCHELL
Yes, sir.
[Interior, Ori conference chamber. Focus on the crystal in the
Prior’s staff, then the camera pulls back to show the Prior standing
pretty much where we last saw him, still gazing into the middle
distance as he intones things at Daniel and Vala, who are both
seated at the big table, slumped in nearly identical postures
of wearied boredom, trying to evince polite interest and failing
badly.]
PRIOR
Amica was forgiven his transgressions
and found his way back to the path...
VALA
I can’t take much more of this.
DANIEL
Uh, sorry to interrupt. But if you brought
us here to try to convert us, I think
it’s fair to tell you that we’re not
really in the market for new gods.
PRIOR
The will of the Ori brought you here.
DANIEL
I don’t suppose we could talk to one
of these Ori.
PRIOR
Of course.
[Vala and Daniel, re-energized, rise to their feet.]
DANIEL
Great! That... that would be great!
PRIOR
Speak, and they shall hear you.
DANIEL
Oh.
VALA
You can torture us all you want with
your rhetoric, but we’re not going to
crack. All right, I might. But we’re
not going to TELL you anything because
we don’t KNOW anything, am I right?
DANIEL
Uh, could I talk to your boss? The...
uh... ah... ... the Doci? Um, um,
the one who speaks the word of the Ori?
[Prior looks away from the middle distance to Daniel as if he’s
finally become real.]
DANIEL
Like Egidius of Valdair, I need to
speak things that can only be spoken
in the light of the fire.
[Vala looks nervously at the Prior, as if waiting to see if these
are the magic words.]
PRIOR
Come with me.
[Vala and Daniel pace toward the Prior at the door.]
VALA
Could you not have asked that an HOUR
ago? We’ve been listening to him drone
on and on...
PRIOR
Not you.
VALA
Not who? Not ME? But I...
[Doors close between her and Daniel, who looks concerned, but
not entirely displeased.]
VALA
I’ll... I’ll wait here.
[Interior, gate room. A number of Jaffa in mixed garb (robes
and armor) are coming through the wormhole. Lou Gossett, Jr.
as Gerak comes through last, looking fierce. Teal’c in BDU pants
and a black T stands next to Landry, who is in full Class A’s.]
LANDRY
Quite the entourage.
[Landry walks up the gate ramp to meet Gerak, who stopped about
half-way down. Close up, we can see that Gerak indeed has the
gold tattoo of a First Prime and it looks vaguely hawkish. Landry
extends a hand, which Gerak takes after a short pause.]
LANDRY
Welcome.
[There is a pause long enough to get close-ups of Gerak, Landry
and a stone-faced Teal’c at the bottom of the ramp.]
[Exterior P3X-421, missionary at work on a hillock in front of
a crowd.]
PRIOR #2
As he lay there dying in the sun, the
sands of the desert all around him,
Petris spoke to the rock. Not with his
lips, but with his mind. And the rock
wept tears of fresh water. And his thirst.
Was. Quenched.
[Closes book with a snap and surveys the crowd.]
PRIOR #2
Fear not the Ori! Fear the darkness
that would conceal the knowledge of
the universe. Believe in the truth of
all things, and you too may find the
path to enlightenment.
[Camera pans right to reveal Mitchell, SG-12 and what turns out
to be Dr. Lindsay approaching the Prior. Mitchell is in full
field uniform, both hands on his weapon, but not aiming it.]
MITCHELL
And a man has no greater thing under
the sun than to eat, drink and be merry.
Ecclesiastes, my favorite.
[Pause to show the Prior sizing up Mitchell.]
MITCHELL
My grandma was a bit of a Bible-thumper.
Weekends at grandma’s meant long, LONG
Sundays at St. Hilda’s Church of the
Grand Epiphany. Lieutenant Colonel Cameron
Mitchell. How ya doin?
PRIOR #2
I am a Prior, of the Ori.
MITCHELL
It’s nice to meet you.
PRIOR #2
Your arrival here was foreseen.
MITCHELL
No kidding. So you see the future,
do you?
PRIOR #2
Lessons of days gone by teach us of
what will come to pass.
MITCHELL
I’m a bit of a history buff myself.
Doesn’t help me pick the lotto numbers,
though. So. Where you from?
PRIOR #2
Where we come from and where we are
going are all the same.
MITCHELL
Oh, I getcha. “Wherever you go, there
you are.” I think that’s Buckaroo Banzai.
Me, I’m from a little planet called
“Earth.”
PRIOR #2
The home of Daniel Jackson.
LINDSAY
He never mentioned that before.
MITCHELL
You know Dr. Jackson, do you?
PRIOR #2
From him did we learn of your need.
MITCHELL
Our need for what?
PRIOR #2
The revelation... of your Destiny.
[Long moment of exchanging not necessarily friendly looks.]
[Ori City of the Gods Exterior shot, then Interior, Doci’s Chamber
of Fire. Prior leads Daniel in. We see a robed man, not bald
like the Priors, facing away from the camera and toward a large,
altar-link structure with a symbol half-way between an ankh and
the symbol for Venus. Entering the chamber, the camera pans right
to show that one entire wall is fire behind a fence and gate
arrangement. The Prior bows.]
PRIOR
Doci.
[The Doci turns. The tan robes have a very strange lapel arrangement
that becomes a collar, then swoops up and behind his head to
provide a face-frame that is not quite a crown or a headdress,
since it doesn’t touch him. He’s human, but the skin on his face
looks as if he left a mudpack on too long and it’s flaked off,
leaving pale dusty bits.]
DOCI
Leave us.
[The Prior does so immediately and without question. Daniel looks
uncomfortable.]
DANIEL
Hello, I’m, uh...
DOCI
Daniel Jackson.
DANIEL
Right.
DOCI
From the planet Earrrrrth.
DANIEL
OK. So you know my name and where I’m
from, so you’ll also know how I’m connected
to this man’s mind. Why I’m here...
ah. See, we’re explorers. Very much
like to get to know you, your society,
how you came to be.
DOCI
A Prior has been dispatched to the place
from whence you come.
DANIEL
Really. You can do that? I, I thought
we were in another galaxy.
DOCI
It is the will of the Ori that we should
spread Origin to all those blessed by
their creation.
DANIEL
OK, well, then you should understand
that there are many, many different
kinds of people in the place from whence
I come, people who believe in many different
things.
DOCI
They shall find the path to enlightenment.
DANIEL
Right. Well, I think you should also
understand that they may not see your
way as the only way...
DOCI
The power and the greatness of the Ori
cannot be denied. Those who reject the
path to enlightenment must be destroyed.
DANIEL
Right. I was afraid of that.
[SGC, interior corridor. Landry, Teal’c, Gerak and his entourage
are walking slowly down a corridor.]
LANDRY
George Washington, one of our country’s
founding fathers and first president,
once said that true friendship is a
plant of slow growth and must undergo
and withstand the shocks of adversity
before it is entitled to the appellation.
GERAK
The First Prime of Horus, Kerrick of
the High Plains, once said that there
is more honor in dying at the hands
of a brother than there is killing a
would-be friend.
[Behind Landry, Teal’c looks a little startled, then stares at
the floor.]
LANDRY
He was a wise man.
GERAK
He was killed shortly after that, losing
one of the greatest battles in history.
LANDRY
Well, I hope it wasn’t his brother that
shot him.
GERAK
It was me. The Jaffa was a fool in every
respect. He did not deserve an honorable
death.
LANDRY
I see.
[Alarm sounds, lights flash.]
WALTER
Unscheduled incoming wormhole!
LANDRY
I’d better see what this is about. Teal’c,
please escort our guest to the briefing
room.
[Teal’c looks startled, Landry bows to Gerak, who nods curtly
in return.]
[Interior Doci’s chamber of fire. Doci is up in front of the
ankh/Venus symbol, but facing Daniel.]
DOCI
The book of Origin says, those who seek
the path of enlightenment must NOT be
led astray.
DANIEL
Right. See, that can be interpreted
a number of different ways. I think
maybe I know what the Ori are, ah...
who they are. Um, and I’m not denying
that they’re powerful beings, but if
I’m right... they’re not gods. They’re
like the Ascended beings I know. They
simply have a greater understanding
and knowledge of the universe.
DOCI
What is a god, but a being that is worshipped
by those beneath? Is great power, knowledge,
understanding not enough for you to
revere the Ori?
DANIEL
Respect, yes. Certainly. But that doesn’t
mean I’d murder innocent people in their
name. I guess what I’m trying to understand
is whether the Ori have spoken to you
directly and told you to worship them,
or whether you’ve misinterpreted some
evidence you found along the way and
developed this religion on your own.
I can’t speak for everyone in my galaxy,
but in my own humble opinion, I don’t
believe that any individual or society
can achieve enlightenment through fear-mongering
and force and servitude no matter what
power is presented as evidence. That’s
something the Ascended beings I know
seem very clearly to understand. Don’t
get me wrong, we should all be trying
to better ourselves, if Ascension is
the ultimate end we’re all trying to
achieve then so be it, but we should
all be allowed to get there or not of
our own free will. Kill me for saying
that, but that is what I believe. Nothing
you say or do will ever change my mind.
[Camera has been cutting back and forth between an increasingly
impassioned Daniel and a completely stone-faced Doci staring
holes through him without moving. There is a long pause when
Daniel stops speaking.]
DOCI
Come.
[Doci becomes a procession of one over to the wall of fire and
pulls open the wrought iron gate. He walks up the verge of a
pit of fire.]
DOCI
The Ori hear you.
[Camera pans down over the verge. It’s one deep pit of fire,
and Daniel and the Doci are right on the un-railed edge. Camera
pulls back until we see Daniel and the Doci from behind. The
Doci raises both arms and white beams of light wreath his silhouette.
Daniel backs away from the edge and the Doci hastily. Cut between
this rear shot and the Doci’s face as five firebug looking things
fly out of the pit, take a curve around the Doci and enter him
between the shoulder blades. The Doci’s eyes abruptly flare with
a red glow and his voice changes. to a guttural, echoing... um,
we’ve heard something like it before. Daniel does not look pleased
at the sight.]
FIRED UP DOCI
We do not require blind faith. Only
that you believe what you see and know
to be true.
[Cut to the SGC briefing room. Walter is setting out briefing
packets at each seat. We can see the back of Teal’c’s head where
he has already sat down, but Gerak and his entourage are watching
Walter with some interest. Landry is standing behind the chair
at the head of the table. The alarm is still going off in the
background, and we can see lights flashing from the gateroom
through the briefing room window.]
LANDRY
I realize this is just a friendly meeting,
but on behalf of our planet’s leaders,
I’ve been asked to present a few thoughts
for you to consider. Uh, some points
that we can discuss in the future.
[Gerak walks over to the window and surveys the activity in the
gateroom.]
LANDRY
Possibly looking forward to an official
treaty between our world and the Jaffa
nation.
GERAK
Who is that?
[Landry stands and walks over to the window. We can hear the
incoming travelers’ footsteps on the gate ramp.]
LANDRY
Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell, SG-12 and
a gentleman we encountered on another
planet who claims he represents some
gods called the Ori. I think we have
yet to see the real fall out from dismantling
the infrastructure established by the
goa’uld.
GERAK
Indeed. We have already seen the rise
of individuals and organizations who
have threatened to challenge us.
[Teal’c and a member of the entourage are trading looks across
the conference table.]
LANDRY
There are as many humans out there as
there are Jaffa. But if we don’t continue
to work together, the victory that we
both worked so long and hard for could
result in chaos.
[Gerak leaves the window and goes back to the conference table,
clearly intending to get down to business. Landry follows.]
[Back in the Doci’s chamber of fire.]
FIRED UP DOCI
We are Ori.
DANIEL
And you instruct these people to worship
you?
FIRED UP DOCI
We are their creators. All who follow
the path will join us in enlightenment.
DANIEL
Do you know who the Alterans are?
FIRED UP DOCI
Those who abandoned the path are evil.
DANIEL
Evil? Why?
FIRED UP DOCI
They shielded you.
DANIEL
Really? I didn’t think they did much
of anything for us, but I guess I was
wrong.
FIRED UP DOCI
The truth of the universe has been obstructed.
All will know the power of the Ori!
[Doci stiffens, and the firebug looking things fly out of his
chest in close formation, heading back to the firepit. His voice
is restored to normal.]
DOCI
Hallowed are the Ori.
[Daniel looks pretty horrified by this point.]
[Interior, SGC infirmary. Dr. Lam is listening to Daniel’s heart
through a stethoscope while Dr. Lee looks on.]
LAM
Vitals are returning to normal.
LEE
I wonder what that was all about.
LAM
I don’t know, but he was in some sort
of stress.
[Dr. Lee looks up to see Mitchell and the missionary Prior enter
the observation room over the infirmary.]
MITCHELL
We can’t seem to disconnect the stones
or turn off the device.
PRIOR #2
It is the will of the Ori.
MITCHELL
Figured you might say that. Sure there’s
nothing you can do? Odds are we’d be
more receptive to those stories you
want to tell. Call it a miracle if you
want.
PRIOR #2
When Hanonea fell from above and learned
to fly on the way down, that was a miracle.
MITCHELL
Right.
[Interior, SGC briefing room. Shot up the table directly at Landry.
Teal’c is seated alone to our left, Gerak and Yat’yir, one member
of his entourage, are seated to our right. We can see one airman
next to the door behind Landry.]
YAT’YIR
These planets you have mentioned. All
have plentiful naquadah mines on them.
TEAL’C
And substantial human populations.
YAT’YIR
Whose side are you on, Jaffa?
[Teal’c leans forward somewhat aggressively.]
LANDRY
There are no sides here. Just topics
of conversation.
GERAK
I wish to meet this Prior of the Ori.
If he preaches faith in false gods,
then that is a concern for all of us.
I wish to hear his claims, and challenge
him.
[Everyone exchanges looks. This is clearly one thing they can
agree on.]
[Interior corridor of Ori City of the Gods. Daniel is briskly
leading the Prior back to the conference chamber where they left
Vala. He turns to face the Prior as the doors to the room open.
The Prior remains outside, allowing the door to close behind
Daniel. Daniel makes sure it’s closed, then walks around the
big table to join Vala, who is leaning against the window casement.]
VALA
What’s going on?
DANIEL
This is bad.
VALA
Worse than being burned to death?
DANIEL
It appears that our Ascended Ancients
and the Ori have a slight difference
of opinion. See, the Ori think that
because they’re Ascended, human beings
should worship them... ALL humans.
VALA
And if we don’t?
DANIEL
Then we aren’t worthy of living and
should be destroyed.
VALA
I don’t think enlightenment means what
they think it means!
DANIEL
See, apparently our Ascended Ancients
have been shielding our existence from
the Ori.
VALA
They’ve been protecting us?
DANIEL
The Ori seem to think that our Ancients
are evil because they haven’t shared
the secrets of the universe with us.
VALA
Well, I hate secrets. At least the ones
I don’t know.
DANIEL
The problem is, the Ori now know our
galaxy is inhabited by humans because
of US.
VALA
I refuse to accept the blame for that!
Curiosity is part of human nature! Look,
if the Ancients knew that the Ori were
so bad, why didn’t they stop us from
coming here?
DANIEL
Free will.
VALA
Right. If they have been protecting
us, there’s no reason to believe they
won’t continue.
DANIEL
The Ancients may be protecting us from
the Ori, but not their human followers.
See, Ancients won’t interfere in any
lower planes of existence. If anybody
from our galaxy wants to worship the
Ori, apparently that’s our choice. And,
they won’t stop Priors from coming through
the gate because apparently they’ve
already sent one.
VALA
The Ori have given Priors special powers,
and that’s not fair.
DANIEL
They’re still human, and highly evolved
humans can have some pretty amazing
abilities. They’re using the secrets
of the universe that the Ori have given
them to spread the word of the Ori’s
godliness and when people don’t see
the light, it’s gonna be ...
VALA
What are we gonna do?
DANIEL
I don’t know. I’m starting to think
that sending Priors is just the beginning.
We could be talking crusade, here. We
need to warn Earth.
VALA
We need to get out of these people.
[Interior, Doci’s chamber of fire. Camera is facing Doci, who
is clearly facing the pit of fire. We can see the Prior enter
the chamber over the Doci’s shoulder. Doci turns to face the
Prior, so he’s now backlit with the fire.]
DOCI
Take the unbelievers back to Ver Ager.
Let its cleansing forever mark the beginning
of a new age. Evil has raised a great
many unbelievers in a far off place.
They must be shown... the path.
PRIOR
Hallowed are the Ori.
DOCI
Hallowed are the Ori.
[Prior bows, turns and leaves the Doci standing between the edge
of the fire pit and the open gate.]
[Exterior, village of Ver Ager, town square. Quick pan across
the villagers going about their business, then cut to Daniel
and Vala inside their borrowed home, peering out the window.]
VALA
What are they doing? Why did he bring
us back here?
[They turn and go back into the main room to lean on the table.]
DANIEL
He’s using us to weed out any other
heretics that might be here.
VALA
I still don’t get why the Ori just don’t
do it themselves. They’re supposed to
be gods. Aren’t gods all-seeing, all-knowing,
all-powerful?
DANIEL
The universe is infinite, remember?
Apparently, that’s a lot to keep track
of.
VALA
I suppose.
DANIEL
They didn’t even know about our galaxy,
well... until recently.
VALA
It’s not our fault. You’d think at
least they’d keep on top of their own
people.
[We see the man Daniel inhabits walk past in the mirror. As long
as we’re seeing these people, we hear their voices, then switch
back to Daniel and Vala when we see them.]
DANIEL
I get the feeling the Ori let their
devout followers do their enforcing
for them; it confirms their loyalty.
VALA
OK, why did we LET the Prior bring us
back here?
DANIEL
Well, because I don’t think he was going
to give us much choice. And besides,
I think that might be our best chance
to contact Earth and warn them about
what we know.
VALA
How?
DANIEL
Well, Fannis said that his sect had
found other artefacts...
VALA
You think they also have a terminal
device to go along with the stones?
DANIEL
If they do, and we can find it, and
we can hook up the stones, maybe we
can get this communication thing going
both ways.
VALA
Right. If the Prior is using us to weed
out other unbelievers, how do we make
contact with Fannis without giving him
away?
DANIEL
We... can’t.
[Interior, SGC conference room. Missionary Prior is standing
at the foot of the table with his big staff.]
PRIOR #2
You do not believe in a higher power?
LANDRY
Well, it’s complicated. There are a
lot of different points of view about
that subject around here.
TEAL’C
Jaffa have recently shed the dominance
of false gods that have enslaved us
for MANY generations.
GERAK
But many have long believed in the path
to enlightenment.
[Teal’c gives Gerak an eloquent look.]
PRIOR #2
Origin will guide you on this path,
and those who revere its wisdom shall
be uplifted. I have come to spread the
word to the unbelievers who have been...
sheltered, and raised by evil.
MITCHELL
You have no idea how much he sounds
like my grandma.
[Exterior, Village of Ver Ager, night time. Pan across the moonlit
landscape, then cut to interior. Vala is tying on a cloak with
some difficulty.]
VALA
It’s a pretty big village. I suspect
that Fannis and his gang did a reasonable
job hiding their sacrilegious artefacts...
DANIEL
Well, we have to do something.
[There is a knock at the door, surprising them both. Vala looks
out the window, but can’t get a good enough angle to tell who
it is and shrugs at Daniel, who opens the door slowly so that
whoever is outside can’t see him. Fannis enters holding a lamp,
and smiles in relief when he sees that Vala is there and OK.
Daniel, who doesn’t know who it is yet, pops out from behind
the door and prepares to whack him over the head with a found
object.]
VALA
NoNoNo!!
DANIEL
Fannis! You shouldn’t have come! They’re
using us to get to you!
FANNIS
So I suspected. Either that, or you’ve
truly come to see the “power of the
Ori.”
VALA
Not bloody likely.
DANIEL
You have to leave!
FANNIS
If I can help you speak the reality
of our existence to your people, maybe
one day in turn, you’ll spread that
word back here.
[Daniel and Vala exchange a look. Daniel nods, and Vala turns
to go get something.]
DANIEL
You said you had other artefacts like
the stones?
FANNIS
I’ll show you.
DANIEL
No! Just tell me!
[Cut briefly to Vala pulling the hollowed book that hides the
stones out of the bedclothes in the other room and turning to
come back.]
DANIEL
Now, we’re looking for a large, dome-shaped
object with a blue crystal on top. The
stones fit inside of it.
[Fannis turns back to Daniel from the window, where he was checking
for tails.]
FANNIS
Come!
DANIEL
Fannis!
[Fannis, at the door, turns back to look at Daniel inquiringly.]
DANIEL
You’re risking your life!
FANNIS
Harrid, Sallis and I... all those who
believe as we do have known for some
time that we may give our lives for
our cause. We only hope that one day,
the truth comes to bear as a result.
DANIEL
And...
[Vala and Daniel place their stones in the dome, igniting the
blue crystal.]
[Interior, SGC infirmary. Dr. Lee is studying the monitors, Dr.
Lam is taking vital signs.]
LEE
Whoa. Something just happened...
[Lam is doing the penlight-in-the-eyes trick on an unconscious
Daniel when he grabs her hands and his eyes pop open.]
[Interior, Fannis’ hideaway. He’s looking alarmed at something
off-camera, then relieved as Harrid and Sallis stand up from
the device, clearly themselves again. Fannis then looks horrified
to see a Prior coming down the stairs to his hideaway, stones
in his staff glowing blue. The blue crystal on the dome goes
out, and Vala and Daniel are back in the galaxy of the Ori.]
DANIEL
Fannis?
[Fannis falls to his knees, apparently unable to breathe. Daniel
turns to make a move on the Prior who, with one wave of his hand,
pushes Daniel through the air and against the far wall of the
basement. Fannis is now flat on his back, choking.]
PRIOR
And the people shall deliver the wicked...
unto your divine judgement.
[Cut to Vala, looking scared.]
PRIOR
For their sins... shall be weighed in
balance with all that is just... and
true.
[Fannis dies. Daniel is still pinned up against the wall as the
scene fades to black.]
[Exterior, village of Ver Ager night. Vala struggles as she is
carried, bound, through the streets toward the platform where
she was burned alive the last time she was discovered.]
VALA
The Ori are great! I LOVE the Ori! I’M
A BELIEVER!
[They round a corner, and we can see Daniel being half-dragged
by his own bunch of guards behind her.]
VALA
What’s the matter with you people? I’m
telling you... I’ve seen the LIGHT!
I don’t think they’re buying it.
DANIEL
Welll... I’ve heard you do better.
[Daniel half bends, then comes up elbowing guards hard as he
goes, trying to twist away from his captors. They smack and sock
him back into submission. Vala and Daniel are forced, struggling
and panting, onto the grooved stone platform we last saw when
Vala was burned alive on it and tied up there. Vala is about
a millimeter away from full screaming panic, and Daniel isn’t
looking all that calm himself.]
ADMINISTRATOR
Glorious are the Ori, who lead us to
salvation! Who did fight the evil that
would doom us to mortal sin.
[The Administrator has been pacing slowing around the stone platform
as he speaks. A close-up reveals that he is reading all this
from a small book.]
ADMINISTRATOR
Did they defeat the old spirits and
cast them out. And now, with the strength
of our will, they do call upon us to
prevail against the corruption of all
unbelievers.
[Vala and Daniel are slowly giving up struggling against their
bonds and looking despondent.]
VALA
Well. Second time’s the charm.
[Daniel gives her a look, then glances around the square at the
crowd, clearly still working on a way out of this, but not optimistic.]
[VERY quick cut to the SGC Briefing Room, where we see Landry
trying to look neutral and hear the missionary Prior intoning
away in the background. A quick cut to Gerak shows less neutrality,
but he’s still listening.]
PRIOR #2
The Ori do not shield this knowledge
as others might, selfish in their powerful
advantage. They lead you to their realm
with the path that is laid out in the
Book of Origin.
[Walter comes briskly into the room and bends to whisper something
to Landry.]
PRIOR #2
All you need do is follow their teachings.
LANDRY
I’m very sorry. You’ll have excuse
us for a moment. Please, continue. Colonel?
[Landry and Mitchell leave briskly for the corridor outside the
briefing room, where Dr. Lam is waiting.]
LAM
They woke up for a moment, then lost
consciousness again.
LANDRY
They say anything?
LAM
Yes, they DID.
[Quick cut back to the torchlit village square, where we see
Vala and Daniel still tied up on the grooved stone platform.
The Prior is pacing slowly behind the Administrator, who stands
reading from his book.]
ADMINISTRATOR
Guide us on the path, that we may triumph
over the enemy of our salvation and
be with you in the end of ends on the
planes of enlightenment.
[Quick cut back to the SGC briefing room. Mitch precedes Landry
into the room, both look either grim or appalled, can’t really
decide which. Mitchell draws his sidearm and aims it unwaveringly
at the missionary Prior, who doesn’t look all that surprised.
Gerak and Yat’yir leap to their feet and out of the line of fire
as every airman in the room and those who come in after the General
follow Mitchell’s example, all aiming at the Prior.]
GERAK
What’s the meaning of this?
LANDRY
I’m very sorry. We’ve just received
some information about our visitor here
that demands we take every precaution.
[Cut to missionary Prior, who’s tilting his head, looking as
closed to amused as we’ve seen any of these guys get, which isn’t
very.]
MITCHELL
We’ll have to take the staff, sir.
[Mitchell nods to an airman behind the Prior. The airman steps
up and takes one hand off his sidearm long enough to take the
staff from the Prior’s unresisting hand, then steps back. His
aim never wavers.]
MITCHELL
And you’ll have to come with us.
GERAK
I demand to know what you’ve learned!
PRIOR #2
All I wish to do is spread the word
of the Ori to your world.
LANDRY
Actually, that was never going to happen.
PRIOR #2
Then I must leave at once.
[Mitchell tenses, preparing to fire at the first wrong move.]
MITCHELL
That’s not gonna happen, either.
[Quick cut to the village square at night in Ver Ager.]
PRIOR
Hallowed are the Ori!
ALL VILLAGERS
Hallowed are the Ori!
[Cut to Vala and Daniel looking extremely unhappy and scared.
The Prior thumps his staff on the ground and the big pot at the
edge of the grooved stone platform flares and two villagers begin
to tilt it over.]
[Quick cut back to the SGC briefing room.]
PRIOR #2
HALLOWED are the Ori!
[He reaches out with one hand and his staff flies back into it,
startling the airman who took it from him. The blue crystal at
the top starts to glow. Camera pans back, and we see Teal’c rise
to his feet from the table and the circle of gun-aiming military
tense.]
[Quick cut back to the village square, where the two villagers
have tipped liquid fire into the grooves on the stone platform.
As it flows toward a terrified Vala and Daniel, there’s another
quick cut back to the SGC briefing room, where the fire from
the square appears to ignite the missionary Prior across the
galaxies. The men in the briefing room recoil as the missionary
burns alive in front of them. When the fire goes out, they move
forward to examine the spot, but there is no burn mark. An alarm
sounds.]
INTERCOM
Code blue medical emergency in medical
lab one! Repeat, code blue!
[Mitchell puts the safety on his sidearm and runs out of the
briefing room, Landry in his wake.]
[Back in the village square, the liquid fire is still filling
all the platform grooves, making its way toward Vala and Daniel,
who we now see are tied back to back on the grooved platform,
and looking terrified. Quick cuts to their expressions, the Prior,
the villagers and lots of gathering flame. As the fire sucks
the oxygen out of the air around them, Daniel and Vala are having
trouble breathing. Or they could just be that frightened.]
[Interior SGC infirmary, closeup of an unconscious Daniel. Mitchell,
Landry, Teal’c and several airmen enter the infirmary. Dr. Lee
is looking despondent and Dr. Lam is working on her patients.]
LAM
Same as before, only this time it’s
both of them.
[Dr. Lee looks alarmed as Mitchell and Teal’c beeline for the
stone device and stand purposefully on either side of it. He
moves toward them and raises his hands just like he’s going to
stop two trained soldiers from doing anything.]
LEE
Now, now... hold on! This device draws
its power directly from subspace. It
will react very badly to an explosion.
You can’t blow it up.
TEAL’C
Perhaps we should send it through the
Stargate.
MITCHELL
Genius.
[Mitchell starts pulling away the cords connecting it to the
various sensors and computers Lee’s been using to figure it out.
Lee moves forward again as if to stop him.]
LEE
No! Well, it also uses subspace to communicate
to another galaxy across the universe.
There’s no reason to believe that Daniel
and Vala won’t stay connected to it,
even from a different planet!
MITCHELL
I have a different idea! Tell them
to start dialing the gate!
LEE
Where to?
MITCHELL
Wherever!
LEE
Wherever? All right, wherever.
[Back in the village square of Ver Ager, the liquid fire has
nearly filled all the grooves in the stone platform. Quick cuts
around the scene show that Vala and Daniel are as yet unsinged,
but still terrified, the Prior is starting to look smug, and
the villagers are all still watching quietly.]
[Interior, gateroom. Stargate spinning, chevrons engaging.]
WALTER
Chevron two, encoded!
[Landry rushes down the stairs into the control room.]
WALTER
Chevron three, encoded!
LANDRY
Walter...
WALTER
Orders from Colonel Mitchell, sir.
LANDRY
Proceed.
WALTER
Chevron four, encoded.
[Quick cut to blast doors opening to allow Teal’c and Mitchell
through the corridors at a run with the device.]
MITCHELL
OUT OF THE WAY! OUT OF THE WAY!
[Airmen scatter like leaves.]
[Quick cut back to the village square at Ver Ager. Vala and Daniel
are nearly engulfed in flame, squeezing back toward each other
as tightly as they can. Their small sounds of terror can now
be heard.]
[Quick cut back to the gateroom. Stargate still spinning, chevrons
still engaging.]
WALTER
Chevron six, encoded.
[Quick cut to Mitchell and Teal’c running up the corridor.]
MITCHELL
NOT YET, WALTER! NOT YET!
WALTER
Halting dialing sequence!
[Quick cut back to Ver Ager, to show Vala and Daniel nearly engulfed
in flame.]
[Back to SGC infirmary.]
MALE VOICE
Blood pressure is dropping, heart rate
is rising... they’re going into shock!
[Close up of Vala’s face shows very rapid eye movement under
her closed eyelids. Dr. Lam is still checking her over with the
stethoscope.]
[SGC corridor outside the gateroom. Mitchell and Teal’c come
down at a flat run toward the blast door to the gateroom.]
MITCHELL
NOW!!
WALTER
Resuming dialing sequence. Chevron seven...
locked.
[From the base of the ramp, Teal’c and Mitchell throw the device
directly into the kawhoosh of the erupting wormhole.]
[Quick cut back to Ver Ager, burning platform. We see Vala, cut
to Daniel, cut back to... the blonde woman, then back to her
husband. Harrid and Sallis are back in their own bodies, but
about to burn alive. They look frightened, and then resigned.]
[Quick cut back to the SGC infirmary. We see Dr. Lam rubbing
defibrillator paddles together.]
LAM
Charging to 200.
[Dr. Lam turns to an unconscious Daniel, whose shirt has been
opened to allow heroic measures.]
LAM
Clear!
[The paddles are about a millimeter from Daniel’s chest when
his eyes pop open and he gasps. Quick cut to Vala’s gurney, where
she has sat bolt upright with a gasp of her own. Daniel and Vala
look for each other immediately. We see Dr. Lam looking back
and forth between them in disbelief, and Dr. Lee starting to
smile in delight. Daniel looks at Vala, who relaxes a bit, her
breathing evening out, her hand at her throat.]
[Quick cut back to the gateroom. Teal’c and Mitchell apparently
fell down from the force of their throw, as they are now getting
back to their feet, lit by the eerie glow of the wormhole. Up
in the control room, Landry quirks a grin, then turns to answer
the phone by the door to the briefing room.]
LANDRY
General Landry.
[Cut to Teal’c and Mitchell, turning from the wormhole and looking
up at the control room. Teal’c looks mildly interested, Mitchell
is panting like a puppy who’s fetched the stick and wants you
to throw it again. Cut to Landry hanging up the phone and coming
back to the control room window.]
LANDRY
Dr. Lam says that Daniel and Vala have
regained consciousness.
[Teal’c grins and gives a half-bow.]
LANDRY
Well done!
MITCHELL
See? THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!
[He bounces on his toes and turns to Teal’c. They exchange a
triumphant arm-clasp at the base of the ramp, still lit by the
wormhole.]
[Exterior, Ori city of the gods, then interior, Doci’s chamber
of fire. Doci is facing the firepit beyond the open gate. Over
his shoulder, we see the Prior slowly lead the village Administrator
into the chamber. The Administrator approaches the Doci, who
turns to greet him, now backlit with the flames.]
DOCI
You have served the Ori well.
ADMINISTRATOR
I bow in humble account.
DOCI
Come! And gaze upon the flames of enlightenment.
[Looking very nervous, if not downright scared, the Administrator
approaches the edge of the fire pit.]
DOCI
Let its power... wash over you.
[We see the Administrator from behind, facing the flames and
raising his hands in welcome. White beams of light shoot toward
him from the fire and he arches back in reaction. The Doci and
Prior look on calmly. When next we see the Administrator’s face,
his eyes are the same opaque pale blue as the Prior’s, and his
skin color has changed, too. He no longer appears frightened.
He turns calmly to face the Doci, who moved up behind him after
the Administrator dropped his arms.]
DOCI
Great holy armies shall be gathered
and trained to fight all who embrace
evil. In the name of the gods, ships
shall be built to carry our warriors
out amongst the stars and we will spread
Origin to ALL the unbelievers! The power
of the Ori will be felt far and wide,
and the wicked shall be vanquished.
[New Prior bows his head.]
NEW PRIOR
Hallowed are the Ori.
DOCI
Hallowed are the Ori!
[Exterior SGC, then interior laboratory, where, as Teal’c looks
on, Vala is touching some sort of small eye-dropper-shaped crystal
device to the bracelet on Daniel’s arm. The bracelet pops open.
She touches it to hers, which follows suit.]
DANIEL
Thank you.
[Vala smiles at him as Mitchell enters the lab.]
MITCHELL
General Landry is ready for us.
[Teal’c half bows to Mitchell and they all exit the lab.]
[Interior SGC briefing room. We see Landry through the glass
star map. The rest are seated at the conference table, Vala and
Mitchell at the foot, then Daniel next to Vala and Teal’c next
to Mitchell.]
LANDRY
So you think we should expect to see
more of these Priors show up?
DANIEL
I would be very surprised if they didn’t.
MITCHELL
How? We know one came through the Stargate,
but if the galaxy’s so far away...
VALA
I suspect the Ori have the power to
make a lot of things happen.
DANIEL
Still, for the Priors, I think we can
assume it’s a one-way trip.
MITCHELL
Don’t think they have a problem with
self sacrifice.
LANDRY
You think the Ancients here in our galaxy
will continue to use their power to
stop the Ori from attacking us directly?
DANIEL
I hope so.
MITCHELL
So, how do we fight these guys? And
I mean the message, as much as the men.
[Quick cut to Daniel, who’s got nothin’.]
MITCHELL
A lot of folks out there are gonna buy
what these guys are sellin’.
TEAL’C
Hopefully now many have been educated
to the ways of false gods.
VALA
Yes, but we’re not talking about humans
with snakes in their heads and slightly
better understanding of technology.
DANIEL
See, the power isn’t false. The Priors
are going to offer to people what seems
like proof of God.
LANDRY
Proof of powerful beings is not proof
of God.
DANIEL
I’m not saying it is.
MITCHELL
Look, just because we know there’s some
beings on a higher plane of existence
than ourselves does not mean there’s
not an order of Being higher than them.
Least I reckon that’s what my grandma’d
say.
VALA
The universe is supposedly infinite.
LANDRY
Which, in my book, makes it impossible
to know everything. I mean, somewhere
in there, you gotta fill in the blanks
with a little faith. I had a grandma,
too.
[Landry rises to his feet, Mitchell follows suit.]
MITCHELL
So. Business as usual, sir?
LANDRY
Let ’em bring it. We’ll use our strengths
against their weaknesses. That’s a pretty
good strategy for any kind of business
you’re in. I’m glad you two are OK.
MITCHELL
Amen.
[Interior, Daniel’s office. Daniel is typing away at his computer
when we see a blue-sleeved arm appear in the foreground and a
verrry familiar hand pat a stack of books. Daniel looks up, surprised.]
DANIEL
Hey. Wow. What the... hell are you doin’
here?
[Cut to Jack O’Neill in Class A’s, looking across the desk.]
O’NEILL
Nice to see you, too!
DANIEL
No, no, sorry! I just wasn’t expecting
to see you.
O’NEILL
Yeah, well... I was in the neighborhood
... and I’ve got a little surprise for
Mitchell.
DANIEL
Oh. Yeah. He really loved the last one,
the fact you didn’t tell him we were
all moving on to different positions...
O’NEILL
Yeah. Sorry you missed Daedalus.
DANIEL
No, you’re not.
O’NEILL
You’re right. I’m not. ... Listen, I
just had a briefing with Landry about...
your stuff, and ...
DANIEL
Yeaaaah...
O’NEILL
Sounds like it could be a problem?
DANIEL
Well, we’ve been up against some pretty
bad guys before.
O’NEILL
Yeah, not so pretty... Overdressed,
yes.
DANIEL
In some tough situations...
O’NEILL
That we always won...
DANIEL
Yeah, but didn’t you feel that was because
we had someone... lookin’ out for us?
I don’t think I would say this to anyone
else, but for the first time, I’m scared.
O’NEILL
I’m hungry.
DANIEL
Me too.
O’NEILL
Well...
[Exterior, F-302 in full flight. Mitchell piloting, Jack in the
backseat.]
MITCHELL
Yeaaaaaaaaaah, man. This is GOOD. Still
a rush!
O’NEILL
Yeah.
MITCHELL
I don’t know why I didn’t get back on
the horse sooner, except I didn’t really
know you could take one of these things
for a joyride.
O’NEILL
Now, see? That’s one of the great things
about being a general. You pretty much
get to do whatever you want.
MITCHELL
I suppose after you’ve saved the world
seven or eight times...
O’NEILL
Who’s counting, huh?
MITCHELL
Teal’c. Actually, he mentions it quite
often.
O’NEILL
So, Mitchell... I hear you haven’t picked
out your team yet.
MITCHELL
I’m hoping I won’t have to, sir. Why,
did General Landry say something about
it, sir?
O’NEILL
He did.
MITCHELL
Are you going to tell me, sir?
O’NEILL
He said you’re going to be FINE, Mitchell.
MITCHELL
Thank you, sir. You mind if I kick in
the afterburners, sir?
O’NEILL
Oh please.
MITCHELL
Thank you, sir.
[Final shot of F-302 streaking full speed across the sky.]
THE END
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