STARGATE SG1
Episode 409
"SCORCHED EARTH"
By
Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
We begin with a shot of children playing and running. It looks
like an Indian village with teepees and stuff. People and SG-1
are sitting at a table.
LADY
Hundreds of villages like this one have
paused to celebrate the transportation
of our people to this great new land.
We are especially honored (She grabs
Jack's hand) today by the presence of
those (Jack smiles) Responsible for
finding this planet for us. (Sam smiles)
and saving us from certain doom. How
can we ever repay them?
MAN
By not boring them with long speeches,
Hedrizar. (Everyone laughs) (Jack smiles
his yummy smile)
HEDRIZAR
I meant what I said. You are all heroes
to my people.
JACK
It was our pleasure. (Jack and Sam both
smile)
HEDRIZAR
When my grandchild arrives, it will
be the first enkaran to be born in outr
new homeland. We will name the child
after you, Colonel. (Jack stops pouring
his coffee, and looks @ Hedrizar. Sam's
next to him looking at him and smiling,
Danny, and EVEN Teal'C are smiling)
PREGNANT WOMAN
Eliam, It's getting cold.
ELIAM
It seems to be getting colder every
day since your last visit.
Sam goes into technobable about the cold conditions and the naquata
reactor to help with the heating of the village. Hedizar says
some thing about coming back next year and the whole planet will
be transformed.
MAN
Help! Help me, please!
HADRIZAR
Who is it?
ELIAM
It is Caleb. He comes from the west.
CALEB
It's so big! It destroyed our whole
village! You must all flee!
ELIAM
What are you talking about? Caleb! Catch
your breath!
CALEB
It comes this way!
JACK
What does?
CALEB
You must see it. (Nice picture of stargate
with mountains behind it.) There.
JACK
Whoa!
They see a spaceship with what appears to be fire raining down
from it!
ELIAM
What is it?
Shot of fire destroying everything in it's path!
OPENING CREDITS!
Back to the base. Sam says the ship looks 2 miles wide with the
gasses stretching 20 miles. There's no markings on the ship.
Sam says in 26 hours the ship will reach the village. But It
will take out the stargate first. The breathing conditions required
by the encarans are specific and not found on earth and many
other planets.
Sam's in her lab looking thru a microscope. Jack and Danny walk
in.
JACK
Hey. What da ya got?
SAM
The analysis of the atmosphere in the
wake of the ship shows a high incidence
of sulpher dioxide.
JACK
Chemical warfare?
SAM
I don't think so, Sir. Take a look at
this.
Jack looks in the microscope and sees little fuzzy balls moving
around.
JACK
Oh, yeah . . . Little . . . fuzzy orange
things.
SAM
They're microbes, Sir.
JACK
(Raises eyebrows) Ah!
SAM
The Alien ship is depositing them on
the planet's surface. Now, as near I
can tell, they bond with sulpher leached
out of the soil, and when they decay,
they release sulpher dioxide. (Danny
takes off his glasses and looks
thru the microscope)
JACK
So, the big mean alien ship is tryin'
to stink up the planet?
SAM
It's a little bit more than that, Sir.
The microbes are only deposited after
the native organisms have been destroyed.
I think they're meant to replace them.
Now, if my theory is correct, we could
be looking at the first building blocks
of an alien ecosystem.
DANNY
It's a teriform?
SAM
It's changing the environment to support
an entirely different form of life -
an organic system based on sulpher instead
of carbon.
DANNY
But, if the ship is allowed to continue
the process, the whole planet will be
remade?
SAM
All I know for sure is the planet on
the other side of that energy curtain
will not surport life as we know it.
Back on the planet, Teal'C says the enkarens do not wish to leave.
They know that they would not have time to take every enkaren
to earth. Even if they do, the atmosphere on earth would not
be able to surport their life for long periods of time. They
can not leave their people behind. They say that generations
ago, their ansesters were taken away from their home land by
the goa'uld in gient ships to their former world. They have searched
for a new world, and thanks to SG-1 they have found it. They
must stay here and fight for it.
JACK
With what?
ELIAM
Have you not weapons to aid us?
DANNY
We're gonna try to communicate with
who ever's on that ship.
ELIAM
Clearly they intend to destroy us.
JACK
We don't know that for sure.
HELTIZAR
I know that if any of our people shall
die, that we shall all die here, together.
Sam's setting up some kind of equipment at the stargate. The
men walk up to her.
SAM
Transmitter is now operational, Sir.
Let's hope we get a bite.
JACK
Think a well-place stinger would do
some damage?
SAM
Well, we have no way of knowing what
material the ship's made of , Sir.
TEAL'C
Or if it possesses shield technology.
JACK
Ah, just fantasizing.
DANNY
Any intelligence capiable of enginnering
something like that should be capiable
of reason.
SAM
Thing is, will they listen?
JACK
Or the real question is, will they have
ears?
A beam of light comes down and transfers SG-1 up to the ship.
DANNY
Somebody heard something.
TEAL'C
It appears to be a storage facility
of some kind.
JACK
I'm going to assume we're on board that
ship.
Jack look up. It looks like elevators on a 20 story hotel.
SAM
You know it's strange, the aliens went
to so much trouble to change the atmosphere
of the planet, yet in here, it's perfectly
breathable.
DANNY
They were expecting us.
Sam's touching the wall.
JACK
Carter . . .
SAM
Sir?
JACK
She we really be opening drawers and
things?
Danny pressed into the wall, and a drawer opens, scaring him.
Sam points her guns @ it! LOL!
JACK
(To Danny) What did I just say?!
DANNY
Sorry. (He passes his hand over some
writing on another drawer, opening it
as well! )
SAM
(Picks up a petri dish) Looks like some
kind of tissue sample.
JACK
Of what?
SAM
I'm not sure.
DANNY
The ship's terraforming the planet,
right? What if these are the lifeforms
it's creating the new environment for?
SAM
Recreating an entire civilization.
DANNY
Millions of samples . . .
JACK
So, everyone of these things is uh .
. . what . . . ?
DANNY
Plant, animal, insects.
JACK
Alien?
DANNY
Who knows.
SAM
It's still just a guess.
ROBOT
A good one! (Sam jumps, and turns, gun
up.) I am Lotan. You need not fear me.
JACK
Yeah . . . listen, um . . . what goin'
on around here?
LOTAN
I have been assembled in order to facilitate
communication between this . . . ship
as you call it, and yourselves.
JACK
Assembled, you say?
LOTAN
I am a biomechanical representation
of the beings now occupying this planet.
When they were first encountered, several
enkarens were scanned by this ship,
and a randomized, but similar appearance
was selected.
SAM
Wait a minute! That was yesterday! The
ship annalized a new life form and created
a replica in one day?!
LOTAN
Yes. (Looking @ his hands) Facinating
design.
DANNY
I suppose that explains why you look
like an enkaren.
JACK
Sort of.
LOTAN
(Taking a step closer. Sam, who is closest
to him raises her gun) You are not.
DANNY
Uh . . . No, we're from a planet called
earth.(Pointing to each) This is Major
Samantha Carter, I'm Daniel Jackson,
Jack O'Neill, and this is Teal'C.
JACK
Actually, we're friends of the people
your ship seems bent on wiping out.
LOTAN
Yes, that is unfortunate. I was created
to deliver a message to them. However,
by the time I was completed, the enkarens
in the immediate vicinity seemed to
have disappeared.
JACK
You see, that's called runnin' away.
What one does to avoid being slaughtered.
DANNY
There are still quite a few enkarens
living on the planet.
LOTAN
Since you are friends of the Enkarens,
would you deliver a message to them?
JACK
THAT would depend.
LOTAN
When the transfirmation process was
begin, there were no life forms present.
JACK
Well, there are now.
LOTAN
Yes, unfortunally for your friends,
once the process has begun, it must
be completed.
JACK
So, someone went to the trouble of making
you just to tell those people "tough
luck, Get out?"
LOTAN
We wish no harm to come to the enkarens.
However, upon examination of their physiology,
we have determined that they would not
be able to exist in the planet's transformed
environment.
JACK
So, stop transforming.
DANNY
Jack, they're just trying to get their
point across in the best way possible.
JACK
I know what the point is! He's a PR
guy! I think we should be talking to
your boss.
LOTAN
Assumption of Higher Archal Command
Structure! Interesting. Follow me. (Sam
looks back at Jack, who after about
10 seconds, gives her the go ahead.)
The ship is fully automated. The beings
that built it are called Gad-Meer. (You
see some sort od alien)
JACK
Not exactly ET.
LOTAN
They placed all of their knowledge in
the ship's memory. Science, Mathmatical,
Medical science, arts, philosophy. 10,000
years, this civilization. This is their
legacy. They were a very asvanced race
compared to the enkarens. However, they
were also peaseful. And fell victim
to a surperior military power. So they
built this ship in the hopes that their
world would be born again from the reach
of their enemies.
DANNY
This is fascinating. I'd like a chance
to study some of them.
LOTAN
I can provide you with translations.
Your language is simple by comparison.
JACK
Excuse me. About why we're here . .
.
LOTAN
The ship has only enough raw material
to transform one planet. Now that it
has began, it must be finished here.
Or the entire Gad-Meer civilization
will be lost forever. The enkarens must
leave, or they will die.
JACK
Alright, now see, there we got a problem.
TEAL'C
The enkarens can not leave.
SAM
Their lives depend on the very rare
and unique conditions unique to this
planet.
LOTAN
That is unfortunate.
JACK
That's it?!
LOTAN
Please explain the situation to the
Enkarens.
SG-1 is transported down. Jack tells the enkarens that it did
not go well.
Back to base. Sam explains to GH that the aliens need the same
conditions as the enkarens to do the transformation. The team
try to figure out what to do, to no avail Danny thinks that Lotan
can be sympathetic to the enkarens. Jack wants to pose a military
strike. GH says he can't. To find another way out of it.
Back to the planet. Jack tell Hedrizar, she can save her people,
She refuses to leave. Eliam asks if they have any way to stop
the ship. Jack turns to Sam.
JACK
(His hands are shaking. He looks nervous)
How much Naquadah is in that reactor
we gave em?
SAM
Sir?
DANNY
What are you doing?
JACK
THINKING, Daniel. Don't worry about
it too much.
DANNY
Thinking of a way to blow up the ship?!
I don't think that's what General Hammond
had in mind!
JACK
They're gonna stand there, and die.
It's a no win situation. We're not gonna
sit around, and watch these people get
slaughtered!!!
DANNY
And, you're willing to blow up that
ship to . . .
JACK
Give me another choice!
DANNY
Well, I don't have one at the moment.
JACK
Apparently, time is a factor here. (He
looks at Sam) How do you make a naquatah
bomb?
SAM
(Reluctcly) Well, sir, the reactor was
created spacifacally to prevent that
kind of . . .
JACK
Carter . . . .
SAM
Theoretically, if I created a feedback
loop, the energy would build up instead
of being released. It would be a big
explosion, Sir.
JACK
Big enough?
SAM
I think so.
JACK
Carter, I'm making a choice to help
these people. But if you don't make
that bomb, I'm out of options.
SAM
(Quietly) I know.
JACK
So I have to order you to do it.
SAM
(She looks at him for a few seconds,
then away) Yes, Sir.
Next shot to the bomb.
JACK
How controlled is this gonna be?
SAM
The focas of the blast will be aimed
upwards. This ridge should protect the
village, but this is as close as I would
put it. I modified this remote to start
the feedback loop. About a minute after
you press the button, it will overload
and blow.
JACK
Ship's ETA?
SAM
About 5-o minutes Sir. We should detinate
before it's directly overhead.
JACK
OK.
SAM
There's one more thing, Sir. Once you
detinate, there's no turning back.
JACK
All right.
Daniel is going talk to Lotan. He tell Lotan that the enkarens
have no where to go. He tries to get Lotan to consiter the enkaren's
plight. He tries to talk Lotan into meeting the enkarens.
Back to Jack and Sam. They are arriving on the shore. They start
walking back to the village.
SAM
Sir, no disrespect intended, but, I'm
having doubt as to whether we're doing
the right thing.
JACK
What is that, Carter? The right thing?
These people, they depend on us. What
else are we gonna do?
SAM
I don't know!
They stop walking, and turn toward each other.
JACK
You wanna talk me out of this?!
SAM
Yes, Sir!
They look at each other for a few second, then she holds up the
remote. He grabs the remote , touching her hand.( accidently?)
JACK
Stay in contact.
SAM
Yes, Sir.
Daniel and Lotan are walking. Lotan looks at trees , kinda freaking
out.
TEAL'C
DanielJackson has gone to speak with
Lotan.
JACK
Did you try to stop him?
TEAL'C
I do not disagree with his intentions.
JACK
You do know we're gonna blow up that
ship?
TEAL'C
I am aware of that, as is DanielJackson.
JACK
(Into radio) Daniel . . . Daniel, come
in.
DANNY
I read ya Jack.
JACK
(Normal voice) Tell me, (Screaming)
TELL ME YOU'RE NOT ON THAT SHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DANNY
OK, I'm not on the ship.
JACK
What are you doing, Daniel?
DANNY
I'm talking to Lotan.
JACK
He's gonna tell him about the bomb?
TEAL'C
He said he would not reveal our plan.
SAM
(Standing in the stargate) Sir, we only
have 15 minutes.
JACK
Daniel, do you KNOW what time it is?!
DANNY
I am trying to give you another choice.
JACK
WHAT?!
DANNY
Hang on, we're on our way back to the
village. Over & Out!
LOTAN
You have disobeyed your superior.
DANNY
No, not exactly.
LOTAN
You are not fulfilling your function,
Daniel Jackson.
DANNY
See, that's not true. I'm just using
the best way to fulfill my true fuction.
Some times command structures don't
allow you to see all options.
LOTAN
I see.
DANNY
Let's go to the village.
They are transported to the village.
JACK
DANIEL?!?!?!
DANNY
Lotan wanted to meet the enkarens.
SAM
10 minutes, Sir.
ELIAM
Hello, DR. Jackson.
DANNY
Hello, Eliam. This is Lotan.
ELIAM
He looks enkaren, but I have never met
him.
DANNY
Lotan is a representative of the aliens
who built the ship. He was created in
your image to better communicate the
ships mission and the danger you are
in.
ELIAM
And yet he does not stop it!
DANNY
Lotan, this is Eliam. This is his wife
Nika and Hedrazar, the leader of the
village.
Hedrazar, being blind, looks at him with her fingers.
HEDRAZAR
Are you now able to see the lives your
ship would extinguish if it continues
on it's current path?
DANNY
Yes, Lotan is aware of that.
LOTAN
She is without sight. (He puts his fingers
up to her eyes, and she flintches.)
DANNY
It's something that was happening to
them on the planet when we first met.
They were dying. This is the only planet
we could find where they could survive.
LOTAN
I am aware of their physiological needs.
DANNY
Yes, of course.
LOTAN
That one is going to give birth.
DANNY
Yes, to a new enkaren life.
ELIAM
There will be no Enkaren life at all
if your ship does not stop.
JACK
All right! I think we're all aware of
the situation.
LOTAN
I see you brought me here to alisid
sympathy for these people.
DANNY
Well, actually, they're your people
in a way, Lotan. You were created in
their image.
LOTAN
I was not created to prevent their demise,
Daniel Jackson.
DANIEL
But, don't you wish you could?
LOTAN
The ship calls me back.
DANNY
Why?
LOTAN
I must go.
DANNY
Take me with you.
JACK
No, Daniel. NO!
They're gone.
SAM
5 minutes, Sir.
JACK
Lotan just took Daniel up into the ship.
SAM
WHAT?! Sir -
JACK
He ASKED to go.
SAM
What are we gonna do, Sir? The ship's
almost in position.
Back in the ship.
LOTAN
The ship has detected an unusual device.
It appears to be capeable of emiting
great amounts of energy. Is this device
intended to try and stop the ship, as
the enkaren names Eliam suggested?
DANNY
Look, Lotan, I don't agree with what
they're doing, but I also don't want
to see you wipe out those people.
LOTAN
They will not leave. There is no other
option.
SAM
The ship is in position, Sir. If you're
gonna do it, you have to do it now.
TEAL'C
DanielJackson has made his choice, O'Neill.
JACK
(Thinking about It for a good 20 seconds)
*Somberly * Yeah. (He presses the button
, confliction emotions on his face)
The bomb activates.
LOTAN
The device has entered an active state.
DANNY
Lotan, if you wanted to, can you stop
this ship?
LOTAN
As I have said . . .
DANNY
Yes, I , I, I, know what you said -
it's not about what you want. Just please,
answer the question, Can you STOP this
ship?
LOTAN
It would be possible, yes.
DANNY
OK, then think about this. Think about
the people down there. All the life
that you will be destroying.
LOTAN
I am programmed to serve the life on
this ship.
DANNY
You say that they were an advanced civilization,
10,000 years of history.
LOTAN
Yes.
DANNY
They had laws, justice?
LOTAN
Yes.
DANNY
A respect for life?
LOTAN
Yes.
DANNY
Then how can their world be recreated
with an act of mass murder? Wouldn't
that be a betrayel of everything they
stood for? You said you were made to
communicate. You're not here simply
to serve life on this ship, you're here
for the integraty of life on this ship.
There's a big difference. Are you really
fulfilling your true function?
SAM
60 seconds to detination. To the side
of her, you can see the ship stopping
the fire.
TEAL'C
The ship has stopped O'Neill.
SAM
Daniel must have gotten thru to him.
JACK
Daniel, if you can hear me, you've got
30 seconds. 3-0 over?
DANNY
Um . . . about that device.
LOTAN
It is still active?
DANNY
Yes. Can you do anything about that?
(Lotan brings the bomb up to the ship)
LOTAN
Do you know how to deactivate it?
DANNY
No.
LOTAN
Intreaging design.
DANNY
Yeah. Lotan, we really don't have time
for this!
LOTAN
How much time do we have?
SAM
5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 .
. .(The bomb is shot out of the ship
and explodes in the air.)
HEDRIZAR
What? What is going on? (Remember, she's
blind?)
ELIAM
The ship remains.
LOTAN
A powerful explosive.
DANNY
We were despirate.
LOTAN
The conflict remains unresolved. I must
eventually resume the transfirmation.
DANNY
I know.
LOTAN
Many millions of planets were scanned
to match the right conditions for the
transfirmation. Only one met the specifications.
DANNY
Just out of curiosity, were any others
even close?
LOTAN
2,634 paremitors had to be met.
DANNY
But what about for the enkarens?
LOTAN
I do not understand.
DANNY
Maybe they don't need exactly the same
environment. Do any match the needs
of the enkarens?
LOTAN
Here. This planet would be appropriate
for the enkarens. I regret that I didn't
conciter this possibility.
DANNY
Well, you would have gotten there eventually.
LOTAN
This planet was rejected by the ship
because 3 of the paremiters were not
met. The core temperature was too warm,
it was too large, and there were intelligent
life forms already present.
DANNY
Intelligent life forms?
LOTAN
Based on the description, I'd believe
they were enkaren.
Daniel and Lotan tell the enkarens that they found the enkaren
home world.
JACK
He's telling us this NOW?!
DANNY
He didn't know. He's only a day and
a half old, give him a break.
They decide to take the space ship to the home world. Lotan will
stay with the enkarens.
THE END
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