Stargate Atlantis
Series 1: Episode 1 - "RISING PART 1"
Transcript by
Writer: Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper
Director: Martin Wood
Starring:
Joe Flanigan as Major John Sheppard
Torri Higginson as DR. Elizabeth Weir
David Hewlett as DR. Rodney McKay
Rainbow Sun Francks as Lieutenant Aiden Ford
We begin with the opening scene of an Ancient ship, flying above the clouds
then comes to a city.
SEVERAL MILLION YEARS AGO
A man and women, both VERY attractive, dressed in
silver stand before each other, the city can be seen behind them with a bright
flash of light in the sky as the ship comes in. A look passes between them and
then he leaves her looking longingly before turning to the window facing city,
behind her a chair looks like the one O'Neill was in, in
The ship rises in the sky, then a bright flash in the
sky and a tidal wave of water heads at great speed towards camera and we see
ANTARTICA: PRESENT DAY
Sort of elevator going down several feet, loads of people
working on things. Dr Weir gets off elevator, someone hands her
something, passing a guy (Peter) working on some type of probe.
INTERCOM (could be O'Neill): Operations General
O'Neill
PETER: Dr. Weir
WEIR: Peter.
Weir walks over to the chair, where Beckett and McKay
are
BECKET: You see. Nothing *gets up*
MCKAY:
BECKETT: (STRONG Scottish accent) I could sit in that
chair all bloody day long and nothing would happen. It's a waste of time.
Excuse me Dr Weir.
MCKAY: He's not even trying.
WEIR: But He's the one who discovered the gene that
this technology responds to.
MCKAY: Yeah, well he said he wished he never had it.
WEIR: really?
MCKAY: I know, can you believe
that?
WEIR: We could always test you a third time, Rodney.
MCKAY: That's very funny.
WEIR: We've only found a hand full of people who are
genetically compatible with the ancient technology and despite your heroic
efforts to interface ours with theirs; we need every one of them to sit in this
chair, including Dr Beckett
MCKAY: What am I suppose to do? He's afraid of that
thing.
WEIR: This chair controls the most powerful weapons
known to Humankind. (Small laugh) I'm afraid of the thing. But every time
someone sits in it we learn something new about the ancients who built this
outpost. Dr Beckett should be proud he's genetically advanced.
MCKAY: Not more advanced. It. it's a random
characteristic.
WEIR: This really bothers you. This
whole gene thing, huh?
MCKAY: Oh, Really I am overcome with envy.
Weir and McKay look at each other. Daniel comes back.
SCENE: Danny's lab in
WEIR: The point of origin, Earth.
MCKAY: Then you're address must be incorrect.
WEIR: What are you saying, Dr Jackson?
MCKAY: Atlantis
OPENING CREDITS
SCENE: Helicopter flying over
SHEPPARD: Apache, Black hawk, Cobra, Ospry
O'NEILL: That's a lot of training for the Antarctic.
SHEPPARD: It was the one continent I never set foot on
O'NEILL: It's one of my least favorite continents
SHEPPARD: I kinda like it here
O'NEILL: you like it here?
SHEPPARD: Yes sir. Be there in about 10 minutes, Sir.
SCENE: ANCIENT OUTPOST
BECKETT: Look we've been through this I'm not your
man.
MCKAY: Keep moving.
BECKETT: I'm a Doctor. A medical
Doctor.
MCKAY: There is nothing to be afraid of
BECKETT: You don't understand,
I break things like this.
MCKAY: This device has survived for millions of years
in tact. It will survive you. Now sit down. Close your eyes and concentrate.
BECKETT: *sighs, sits* Again nothing.
MCKAY: This time just try and imagine an image of
where we are in the solar system.
BECKETT: *closes eyes* I think I feel something. It
could be Lunch related.
MCKAY: Shut up and concentrate
BECKETT: *closes eyes*
The machine comes on so does the probe thingy Peter is
working on, it flies out hitting things exploding, still moving
UNKNOWN: What's happening?
BECKETT: What did I do?
Probe flies up and out past the elevator Weir is on.
WEIR: Get us back down there!
Drone breaks out into airspace.
SCENE: Chopper
ON RADIO: All inbound craft we have a rogue drone that
could seek a target on its own. Land immediately and shut down your engines.
This is not a drill. I repeat we have…
SHEPPARD: It's too late.
O'NEILL: Hang on!
Drone zips passed them several times Sheppard
maneuvering them out.
O'NEILL: Break right. (Sheppard takes a hard left)
O'NEILL: I said right!
SHEPPARD: I'll get to that sir. (Takes a hard right)
SCENE: Ancient outpost
Weir runs up to chair, Beckett still in it.
BECKETT: I told you I was the wrong person.
MCKAY: It doesn't matter now just do something
BECKETT: Like what?
WEIR:
*Beckett closes eyes.*
SCENE: Chopper
SHEPPARD: I can't see it.
O'NEILL: Pull up! Pull up!
SCENE: Ancient outpost.
*Beckett concentrating, all others are watching. Worried.*
SCENE: Chopper
O'NEILL: What about now?
SHEPPARD: Now's good
*They land*
O'NEILL: Shut it down!
SHEPPARD: Sir that wasn't a--.
O'NEILL: *holds up hand* Wait for it.
*Drone heads straight for them*
SHEPPARD: Get out!
*Both jump out, Sheppard taking a nose dive into the
snow. The drone stops just in from of Jack, who just sat down on the snow next
to the chopper.*
SCENE: Ancient outpost
BECKETT: *Gasps, and opens eyes* I think I did it.
SCENE: Chopper
SHEPPARD: *His uniform is white from the snow, Jack's
is clean.* That was different.
O'NEILL: For me, not so much.
SCENE: Ancient outpost.
*Ford runs up by Daniel and others.*
FORD: Major Sheppard is reporting the drone appears to
have been incapacitated. General O'Neill's helicopter is unharmed and on it's
way again. 7 Minutes out.
WEIR: Thank god.
BECKETT: Holy crap
SCENE: View of outpost. Back inside
O'NEILL: Daniel, Warm welcome
O'NEILL: Keep my ass from being blown out of the sky? The exceptional flying of Major John Sheppard. He likes it
here.
O'NEILL: Let's say we skip to the part where you start
talking real fast.
O'NEILL: *to Sheppard* Hey don't touch anything.
SHEPPARD: Yes, sir. *looks round*
SCENE: Danny's lab
O'NEILL: In their flying city.
O'NEILL: *Stressing flying* Flying. City.
O'NEILL: So why'd they leave?
O'NEILL: Pegasus
MCKAY: After all that time is the any hope of actually
meeting them?
WEIR: I've been choosing members for this exhibition
for months Doctor. I'm not the one who needs convincing *looks at Jack*
O'NEILL: Oh, I'm convinced, have fun.
MCKAY: we need the zed PM to power the Gate
O'NEILL: What?
O'NEILL: I'm sorry.
MCKAY: The 0 point module General. The ancient power
source you recovered from quator kanas and is now
powering the outpost's defenses. I've since determined that it generates it's power from vacuum energy derived from a self contained
region of subspace time.
O'NEILL: That was a waste of a perfectly good
explanation. The answer's no.
SCENE: Out by the chair. Beckett's boasting, Sheppard wandering near by.
BECKETT: The second I shut my eyes, I could see you see, I felt power I've
never had before, I had it dancing across the sky...
it was magical it really was. They're lucky, I don't know where it came from I
just tried to concentrate and the drone shut itself down *chuckles*
SHEPPARD: So you were the one.
BECKETT: Me?
SHEPPARD: You were the one who fired that thing at me.
BECKETT: Look we're doing research. Working with
technology that's light-years beyond us and we make mistakes. I'm incredibly,
incredibly sorry.
SHEPPARD: Well, next time just be
a little more careful, ok?
BECKETT: That's what I said.
SHEPPARD: What the heck was that thing anyway?
BECKETT: You mean the drone? *Sheppard nods* The weapon the ancients built to defend this outpost.
SHEPPARD: The who?
BECKETT: You do have security clearance to be here?
SHEPPARD: Yeah, yeah, General O'Neill just gave it to
me.
BECKETT: Then you don't even know about the Stargate.
SHEPPARD: The what?
SCENE: Danny's lab
O'NEILL: Yes I do. Find another way.
O'NEILL: You think there are more of these Zed things
in Atlantis?
WEIR: The potential wealth of knowledge and
technology. It outweighs anything we've come across since we stepped through
the Stargate.
O'NEILL: Well with the amount of power you'll need to
make this trek. Odds are it will be one way.
WEIR: Yes we know but the benefit to humanity is far
greater than the risk General and it is a risk that every one of my exhibition
members are willing to take
SCENE: The Chair
BECKETT: They think the gene was used as a sort of genetic key if you will. So
that only their kind could operate certain dangerous and powerful technologies
SHEPPARD: so some people have the same Genes as these
ancients *walks round chair*
BECKETT: Specific Gene is very rare, but on the whole they look very much like
we do. In fact they were first through the second evolution of this form. The ancients
having explored this Galaxy for millions of years before.*Sheppard goes to sit*
Major please don't.
SHEPPARD: come on what are the odds of me having the
same genes as these guys
*Sheppard sits and the chair immediately comes on,
both are shocked*
BECKETT: Quite slim actually. Dr Weir!! Don't move. *rushes off*
SCENE: Beckett, weir, McKay,
WEIR: Who is this?
O'NEILL: I said don't touch anything.
SHEPPARD: I.I.I just sat down
MCKAY: Major think about where we are in the solar
system.
*A type of map appears above their heads, much like
when Jack was doing it. All shocked and little excited.*
SHEPPARD: Did I do that?
SCENE: Shot of research centre, inside Jack headed for
elevator.
WEIR: We could be on our way to discovering an entirely new ancient
civilization at best case scenario. We meet actual ancients who are willing to
help us, but if we don't. *Jack looks at something, still walking* General, we
need him.
O'NEILL: Sorry Doc. I need Daniel here.
WEIR: I'm talking about Major Sheppard.
O'NEILL: Oh. Don't you have a dozen or so people
already who can use the ancient technology?
WEIR: Yeah. With concentration and training they could
make it work, but John Sheppard, he does it naturally.
O'NEILL: You know I checked into his record.
WEIR: I know about the whole supposed Black Market in
O'NEILL: Disobeying a direct order in the process
WEIR: I have read your own file General, Please.
O'NEILL: Right...okay, it's your exhibition *gets on
elevator* you want him, you ask him.
WEIR: That's the thing I have
O'NEILL: Really?
SCENE: Chopper
O'NEILL: This isn't a long trip so I'll be a succinct as possible.
Silence
SHEPPARD: well that's pretty succinct
O'NEILL: Thank you.
SHEPPARD: I told Dr Weir…that
I'd…well...I'd think about it.
O'NEILL: and? So? Well? What?
SHEPPARD: *The Chopper is heard starting up* all due
respect, Sir, we were just attacked by an alien missile. Then I found out I
have some mutant gene. Then there's this Stargate thing and these exhibitions
to other galaxies
O'NEILL: You know, this isn't about you Sheppard. It's
a lot bigger than that.
SHEPPARD: Right now, at this very second, whether I
decide to go on this mission or not seems to be about
me. *Puts on his helmet, making it impossible for him to hear Jack without Jack
talking into the mike on Jack's helmet.*
O'NEILL: Let me ask you something. *Sees he can't hear
him, reaches back, gets his helmet, puts it on, Puts mike to his mouth, his
voice is heard thru the mike, sounding like on a radio* Why did you become a
pilot?
SHEPPARD: I think people who don't want to fly are
crazy
O'NEILL: and I think people who don't want to go
through the Stargate are equally as whacked. Now if you can't give me a yes by
the time we reach McMurdo, I don't even want you
*And they take off.*
SCENE: Simon's home, looking at a TV, weir appears on the screen
WEIR: Simon, if you're watching this, it means the president has been kind
enough to grant you security clearance. I'm not going on a diplomatic mission
to another country. I'm going to another planet in another galaxy by means of a
device called the Stargate. Millions of years ago there was a race of beings
*we see Ford being waved off by his parents.*
who we call
the ancients. They created a network of these Stargates through out our galaxy
in order to travel freely among their worlds
*we see Beckett with his mum*.
We don't know why but they left for another galaxy
somewhere between five and ten millions of years ago
*McKay saying bye to his cat, giving to some women*
taking
their entire city along with them. That city was called Atlantis. I have been
assembling
*we see Sheppard flipping a coin out in some park*
an
exhibition team in order to try and find Atlantis and hopefully the ancients
who left Earth all those years ago.
*back to the TV with weir*
I want to do this Simon with all my heart, you know me
well enough to know I could never turn down an opportunity like this but I
wanted the chance to tell you th-
*Simon stops tape, walks over picks up phone dials
number.*
OPERATOR: The cellular customer you are trying to
reach is currently outside the coverage area.
SIMON: *turns off phone* Ok.
SCENE: SGC
*Loads of people in a new type of uniform. This is the Exhibition members. A
lot of talking slaps on backs, moving equipment. This scene's just to show the
great number of people all from different countries.*
MCKAY: I mean I narrowed it down to about 3 things,
but after a week, I ...
FORD: I don't under ... Does anyone else here speak
the language these guy's are speaking?
BECKETT: I just need a couple of minutes to finish my
work, and you're not helping by standing there.
SUMNER: You got five minutes to get it going or I'm
leaving it.
SUMNER: *walking down ramp* everything in here has
been double checked and triple checked and cleared for take off. Leave it alone
BECKETT: Look Colonel, I don't answer to you.
MARINE: He said the same to me, sir.
SUMNER: That's what your sidearm's
for.
SCENE: Control room
O'NEILL: We there yet?
WEIR: Just waiting on Dr McKay.
SCENE: Base power control room
SILER: Should work now.
MCKAY: Ok Sergeant give it a
try. Zed PM should light up when it senses the conductive connection to the
Gate *puts XPM in, points at siler*
*Siler throws switch ZPM lights up.*
MCKAY: Oh yeah.
SCENE: Some corridor, towards gateroom
SHEPPARD: *walks into Gateroom, nods at Sumner* Colonel.
WEIR: *walks into Gateroom* Could I have everyone's
attention please! *walks up ramp*
SCENE: Control room.
Daniel stands up next to Jack looking into Gateroom
WEIR: Alright here we go.
SCENE: Gateroom
WEIR: .We are about to try and make a connection. We
have been unable to predict exactly how much power this is going to take and we
may only get the one chance at this. So if we are able to achieve a stable wormhole,
we're not gonna risk shutting the gate down. We'll send in the malp robot
probe, check for viability and go. Everything in one shot.
*get a shot of control room and then back*
Every one of you volunteered for this mission and you
represent over a dozen countries. You are the world's best and brightest and in
light of the adventure we are about to embark on. You are also the bravest. I
hope we all return one day having discovered a whole new realm for humanity to
explore but as all of you know. We may never be able to return home. I'd like
to offer you all one last chance to withdraw your participation.
*Camera glances round, Weir smiles looks up at
gateroom.*
WEIR: Begin the dialing sequence. *walks off ramp*
*Gate starts dialing*
SUMNER: *steps next to Sheppard* Let me make myself
clear Major. You are not here by my choice.
CHEVRON GUY: Chevron one encoded
SHEPPARD: Sure you'll warm up to me once you get to
know me sir.
SUMNER: As long as you remember who's giving the
orders.
CHEVRON GUY: Chevron two encoded
SHEPPARD: That would be DR. Weir right? *Big Grin*
CHEVRON GUY: Chevron three encoded
SCENE: Control room, Weir walks up
CHEVERON GUY: Chevron four encoded
O'NEILL: Nice.
WEIR: Thank you.
CHEVERON GUY: Chevron five encoded.
Shot of Gateroom, back to control room, McKay walks
in,
CHEVERON
GUY: Chevron six encoded.
WEIR: This is it *looks at McKay* Guess I got to calm
down. How embarrassing.
CHEVERON GUY: Chevron seven encoded.
McKay: I've never been so excited in my entire life.
CHEVERON GUY: Chevron eight is locked
Gate opens with big puddle everyone in Gateroom claps
and cheers.
WEIR: Send the Malp.
Malp moves up ramp in through Gate,
SCENE: Control room
CHEVERON GUY: We have Malp telemetry
WEIR: What is it we're looking at?
CHEVERON GUY: switching to zero lux.
MCKAY: Radar indicates a large room.
MCKAY: Sensors state there's Oxygen, no measurable
toxins. We have viable Life-support *gets up* Looks like we're not getting out
of this.
O'NEILL: Dr Weir. You have a go.
WEIR: *nods* Thank you. Sir.
SCENE: Gateroom
SUMNER: Let's go people we don't know how much time we've got. Security teams
one and two *starts moving up ramp.* you're up first. All other personnel will
follow on our signal, once on the other side keep moving. Clear the
Disembarkation area. On my lead.
WEIR: Hold on Colonel *walking in grabs back pack,
walks up ramp* we go through together.
SUMNER: Fair enough *raise weapons step though with
team.*
Weir stops looks back. In control room Jack nods, Weir
steps through.
SCENE: Control room
O'NEILL: No
O'NEILL: No.
SCENE: Gateroom
Ford and Sheppard walk up ramp. Ford faces his back to
the wormhole. Both wait.
SCENE: Control room.
SUMNER: (On radio) all clear. Looks
good.
O'NEILL: Exhibition team. Move out.
SCENE: Gateroom
SHEPPARD: What's it feel like?
FORD: Hurts like hell sir. *after a minute grins and
dives through backward* Woohoo!!
Sheppard looks at puddle, closes eyes and steps
through.
WORMHOLE: New style, it’s green
SCENE: Atlantis
SUMNER: Teams one and two secure the immediate area.
We get a shot of the gate which is really kewl. The
chevrons glow green.
Back at Earth Gateroom, everyone walks through with
equipment.
SCENE: Atlantis
*Teams searching the building, as they move the lights in the rooms activate. *
SUMNER: Everyone else find an
open space and park it until instructed otherwise.
*Lights on the steps come on as Sheppard and McKay
walk up.*
WEIR: Who's doing that?
SUMNER: Security teams any alien contact?
MARINE1: Negative sir.
MARINE2: Team four. Negative Colonel.
*Sheppard enters room lights come on.*
SHEPPARD: The lights are coming on by themselves.
Still shows people coming through. Sheppard and McKay
go upstairs (later known as control room) looking down.
SUMNER: That's everyone.
WEIR: (on radio) General O'Neill. Atlantis base,
offers greetings from the Pegasus Galaxy. You may cut power to the gate.
A small item rolls out of the Gate, it's a champagne
bottle. Gate shuts down. Weir picks up bottle.
NOTE: Bon Voyage. General Jack O'Neill.
Weir smiles up at Sheppard and McKay.
SCENE: A room in Atlantis (could become a sort of briefing room?)
Doors open, security team enters.
SCENE: Another room.
Security team.
SCENE: Room with Ships.
Exhibition member1: They look like ships. Space ships.
Exhibition member2: I Love it.
Exhibition member1: (radio) Dr Weir you have to see
this.
SCENE: Weirs office (I think:P)
WEIR: I have a lot of things to see. Just be careful. *walks to control room*
Sheppard walks over to something which comes on.
SHEPPARD: I didn't touch anything.
WEIR: Relax Major, it's like the entire complex is
sensing our presence and coming to life.
MCKAY: This has got to be the control room. This is
obviously their version of a DHD.
SHEPPARD: Oh Obviously.
MCKAY: This area could be power control systems,
possibly a computer interface ...
WEIR: Hey, hey why don't you find out?
MCKAY: Right
SUMNER: (radio) Dr Weir. Colonel Sumner can you come
down and meet me please. We're three levels down from you
WEIR: Right away.
SUMNER: Only been able to secure a fraction of this
place. It's huge
WEIR: So it might really be the city of
SUMNER: I'd say that's a good bet.
WEIR: Oh my god.
Weir, Sheppard and Sumner walk up to a window all you
can see is water.
WEIR: We're under water
SUMNER: I'd say we're under several hundred feet of
ocean. Can't dial out. This could be a problem
MCKAY: *rushes over* Colonel. Dr Weir.
SHEPPARD: We're under water.
MCKAY: Yes I was just coming to tell you. Fortunately
there is some kind of a force field holding back the wa--.water.
Boy, that is impressive isn't it?
All looking out then.
MCKAY: Dr. Beckett found something you should see.
SCENE:
They enter a room with a Hologram in the centre,
Beckett’s standing on something.
ANCIENT HOLOGRAM: .-In the hope of spreading new life
in a galaxy where their appeared to be none. Soon the new life grew, prospered.
Here - (Hologram continues speaking.)
BECKETT: It's a Hologram. The recording loops. This is
my second time through
SUMNER: What have we missed?
BECKETT: Not much.
ANCIENT HOLOGRAM: Exchange knowledge and friendship.
*above her head a sort of map appears* In time a
thousand worlds bore the fruit of life in this form. Then one day our people
stepped foot on a dark world where a terrible enemy slept. Never before had we
encountered beings with powers that rivaled our own. In our over confidence, we
weren't prepared and outnumbered. The enemy fed upon defenseless human worlds
like a great Schrage until finally only Atlantis remained. This city's great
shield was powerful enough to withstand their terrible weapons but here we were
besieged for many years in an offer to save the last of our kind we submerged
our great city into the ocean. The Atlantis Stargate was the one and only link
back to Earth from this Galaxy, and those who remained used it to return to that
world that was once home. There the last survivors of Atlantis lived out the
remainder of their lives. This city was left to slumber, in the hope that our
kind would one day return.
Beckett steps down. Hologram goes off.
MCKAY: So the story of Atlantis is true, a great city
that sank in the ocean.
BECKETT: It just didn't happen on Earth
MCKAY: Well the ancient Greeks must've heard it from
one of the surviving ancients
Peter runs in over to McKay, whispers in his ear.
SUMNER: I don't like to think they got their asses
kicked.
Beckett gets back up.
BECKETT: Lets’ hear it again from the beginning
MCKAY: Stop! Turn it off.
Beckett steps down
MCKAY: Power levels through out the city are dropping
like stones.
SUMNER: What does that mean?
MCKAY: That if we don't stop everything we're doing
right now, we're dead. *walks out*
SCENE: Control room.
BECKETT: Please tell me this is not my fault
MCKAY: No
BECKETT: Thank you.
MCKAY: From what we've been able to ascertain the city
is powered by three 0 point modules, two are entirely depleted and the third is
reaching maximum entropy when it does, it will die too and nothing can reverse
that.
SUMNER: Just tell me the bottom line
MCKAY: The force field that's holding back the ocean
has collapsed to its minimum sustainable levels. Look you see *tap in on a
computer, points* here, and here where the shield's already failed and the
city's flooded. It could have happened years ago. This section's likely more
protected because of the Stargate.
SHEPPARD: What if it fails completely?
MCKAY: It's a matter of when not if.
WEIR: Colonel Sumner you need to order your security
teams to stop searching the city immediately.
SUMNER: (on radio) All
security teams fall back to the Gateroom
MCKAY: It's not going to be good enough
WEIR: Alright, so how much time do we have?
MCKAY: It's hard to say. Hours, maybe days if we
minimize power expenditure.
BECKETT: What about our own power Generators?
MCKAY: We're working on that, but even with our most
advanced Naquada Power Generators, the equations are coming up far short.
WEIR: So we need to find more ZPM's
SUMNER: Now how do we do that if we can't search the
city?
MCKAY: If there were more here, we'd be able to detect
them.
SUMNER: Can we use the Stargate.
MCKAY: There's nowhere near enough power to open a
wormhole back to earth.
SHEPPARD: Maybe somewhere in this Galaxy.
MCKAY: That's relatively easy. Fortunately some
ancient technology still uses good old fashioned push-buttons, so we've been
able to access the Stargate control system and a library of known Gate
addresses in the database
GUY WHO TOLD MCKAY ABOUT POWER :
That's not all, look at this
*pushes button, a sort of shield appears across the
Stargate like an iris.*
SUMNER: Just like the iris on the Earth gate.
MCKAY: Using power, using power, using
power!
Peter turns it off.
WEIR: At least we don't have to deal with any
uninvited guests. Colonel. Assemble a team we need
safe harbor, or better still another power source.
SUMNER: (radio) Ltd Ford gather security teams 1 and 2
everyone gear up.
WEIR: Major I want you to go along.
SHEPPARD: Yes ma'am *heads off*
WEIR: Alright pick an address. Start Dialing
MCKAY: *Pushes button* Chevron one encoded
WEIR: *Looks at McKay* Rodney.
MCKAY: Oh. *just pushes 5 buttons*
PETER: Ready Malp four for Off-world recon
McKay pushes last button.
Next shot is of the security team standing in front of
Gate
PETER: Malp reads full viability and no immediate
signs of activity around the Stargate. But its pitch black.
For now, we're going to use the tried and true system for identification for
inbound gate travelers.
SUMNER: *looks at Sheppard, up at weir, she nods*
let's Move out!
All go through gate with Night vision goggles. Sheppard waves.
SCENE: Offworld. We see it from the perspective of a team member then Camera
shot. Marines scan area. Sheppard see movement, calls a halt, signals. Kid
jumps out in front of Ford. Raises weapon. Kid in mask growls, and attacks
other one both fall.
KID1: Please don't hurt us.
A man, HALLING:, appears
through the trees.
HALLING:: Please they're just
playing, *raises hand*
SUMNER: Everything ok here Sheppard?
SHEPPARD: Yes sir. Just a couple of kids
HOLLING: (Stands up, looks at Sumner. He's much bigger
and taller than Sumner. Sumner looks up at him, and raises his gun) Holling.
SHEPPARD: I don't know what that means
SUMNER: It's his name.
SHEPPARD: Oh. Holling, it's nice to meet you
HALLING:: Are you here to
trade?
SHEPPARD: Trade. Yes we're t-traders
HALLING: *turns to his son* How many times have I told
you not to play in the forest after dark? I'm just glad you're safe. *put
foreheads together*
HALLING: *gets up.*
HALLING: Teyla will wish to meet with you. Come.
SUMNER: Parker, Smitty ... you're on gate duty. Dial
Atlantis base and let the good doctor know we've made contact with the
indigenous people.
SCENE: Walking through woods
FORD: Sir if you don't mind my asking. I noticed you got a problem with Major
Sheppard.
SUMNER: My problem Lt is with his record. I don't like
anybody who doesn't follow the proper chain of command. *both look back at
Sheppard*
FORD: yes, sir.
KID1: What's that mask you got on?
SHEPPARD: Helps you see in the dark. *hands it to him*
Check it out
KID1: Whoa.
KID2: Let me see…Whoa can I have it?
SHEPPARD: No.*takes it* what's the mask you got on.
KID2: This? Wraith.
SHEPPARD: Wraith? What's that?
KID1: You don't know?
KID2: What world did you come from?
KID1: Can we go there?
SHEPPARD: Afraid not. I’m from a galaxy far, far
away.
SCENE: In tent of inhabitants
HALLING: It's Halling ... I
bring men from away.
TEYLA: Enter
Ford, Sheppard and Sumner come in
HALLING: These men wish to trade.
SHEPPARD: Ah. (Takes off his goggles,
and smiles) it's nice to meet ya.
TEYLA: I am Teyla Emmagan Daughter of Tughan
SUMNER: Colonel Marshall Sumner, Major Sheppard, Ltd
Ford. I have very few specific needs.
TEYLA: We do not trade with strangers.
SUMNER: Is that a fact.
SHEPPARD: well then we'll just… we'll have to
get to know each other. Me, I like Ferris wheels, college football, anything
that goes more than
FORD: (whisper) Sir, that’s not going to mean
anything to them.
SHEPPARD: (whisper) feel free to speak up. I’m
just trying to break the ice
SUMNER: (whisper) if these people can't help us I'd
rather not waste my time
TEYLA: Each morning before dawn our people drink a
stout tea to brace us for the coming day. Will you join us?
SHEPPARD: *steps forward* I love a good cup of tea.
Now there's another thing you know about me. We're practically friends already.
(She smiles at him)
SCENE: Outside tents, its light
Sumner walks over to one of his marines who's looking through binoculars at something. Sumner takes
them and looks we see an old ruin.
MARINE1: We didn't even know it was there until the
sun came up.
SUMNER: It's more promising than anything else these
folks have got to offer, some shelter, a nice little valley, Location,
location, location. *Walks off*
MAN: The City of the ancestors is not safe
SUMNER: We can handle ourselves.
MAN: The wraith will come.
SUMNER: Who are these Wraith?
TEYLA: We have never met anyone who did not know.
SUMNER: You have now
TEYLA: If the wraith have
never touched your world you should go back there.
SHEPPARD: Oh we'd like to but we can't, see here's the
thing ma'am, we've got ourselves into a bit of a bind and we may need a safe
place to stay for a while.
TEYLA: Our people have long believed that wraith will
come if we venture into the old city, but it is a belief we have not tested in
some time.
SUMNER: Gentlemen ... *leaves, with boys*
SCENE: Outside
SUMNER: Look I don't care what they say that city's
worth a look, not to mention the possibility there could be ZPMs there that
they don't know or care about
SHEPPARD: What if the Wraith are
the enemy the Ancient Hologram lady was talking about?
SUMNER: All the more reason for us to have a
defensible position, should we have to abandon Atlantis. Stay here and find out
what you can. Ford you head back to the Gate, report into Weir, tell her we'll
have answers for her in a few hours.
FORD: Yes sir.
Sumner heads off, Sheppard goes back to Teyla
SCENE: Inside tent
SHEPPARD: Well, guess it's just you and me… and
him.
TEYLA: Your leader looks through me as if I were not
there.
SHEPPARD: Do I?
TEYLA: No. You truly cannot return to your world.
SHEPPARD: No
TEYLA: Then there is something you must see. *Walks
out.*
SCENE: In forest
Teyla climbs down something, Sheppard behind,
SHEPPARD: How much further is this place?
TEYLA: Not far.
Sheppard falls down, gets up acts real cool.
SCENE: Atlantis, Weirs office.
WEIR: Tell me some good news Rodney.
MCKAY: I can't do that
WEIR: The shield has held back the ocean for
centuries.
MCKAY: And probably would have kept going for years
more, but our arrival changed that. Now it's nothing more than a thin shell
between the buildings and the water.
WEIR: We stopped exploring.
MCKAY: The damage was already down, another section of
the city on the far side was flooded an hour or so ago.
PETER: Even occupying this room is draining power.
MCKAY: We need to evacuate, the moment Colonel Sumner
reports back it's safe.
WEIR: You're saying we have to abandon the city
Rumbling is heard
MCKAY: the sooner we leave the longer that shield
holds
SCENE: Some sort of cave
TEYLA: I use to play here as a child, I believe this
is where the survivors hid from the wraith during the last great attack. *grabs
stick*
SHEPPARD: *pulls out lighter* Let me.
TEYLA: *Light it with her own* we mastered fire long
ago
SHEPPARD: Guess so.
They walk; there are images on the wall. Sheppard
notices something on the ground, picks it up it's a necklace.
SHEPPARD: What's this?
TEYLA: I lost this years ago,
how did you…?
SHEPPARD: It was just lying over there *Opens clasp*
It was reflecting of the light. *puts it round her neck, there's a moment.*
someone's been busy *looking at pictures.*
TEYLA: The drawings in the Caves are extensive; many
must date back thousands of years or more.
SHEPPARD: Does this represent the destruction of your
city?
TEYLA: This drawing far predates that.
SHEPPARD: So, what, someone knew it was going to
happen?
TEYLA: I believe it happens again and again. The wraith allow our kind to grow in numbers and when that
number reaches a certain point they return to cull their human heard. Sometimes
a few hundred years will pass before they awaken again. We've visited many,
many worlds. I know of none untouched by the wraith. The last great Holocaust
was five Generations ago, still they return in smaller numbers to remind us of
their power.
SHEPPARD: It's a hell of a way to live
TEYLA: We move our hunting camps around, we try to
teach our children not to live in fear but it is hard, some of us can sense the
wraith coming that gives us warning. We should go it will be dark soon.
SCENE: Near Gate
FORD: Man days are short here
SUMNER: (On radio) Major Sheppard this is Colonel
Sumner, come in
FORD: Colonel this is Ltd Ford, Major Sheppard's out
of radio range at the moment.
Shot of Sumner walking by tents
SUMNER: Where the hell is he?
FORD: (on radio) I think Teyla wanted him to see
something.
Shot of gate. Incoming wormhole
FORD: Defensive positions. (On radio) colonel we have
Gate activity here
A ship, making a loud ringing sound shoots through
gate. Another one follows and another
FORD: Colonel. Three bandits headed your way.
SCENE: Camps.
SUMNER: Take cover!
People are shot down. Ships fly by, people are screaming
SCENE:
SHEPPARD: What is it?
TEYLA: The Wraith *they run*