STARGATE SG1
Episode 418
"THE LIGHT"
By
James Phillips
CONTROL ROOM
O'Neill comes down the steps.
TECH
Chevron 1 encoded.
O'NEILL
Barber. When you get there, give this
to Daniel will ya?
BARBER
Sir?
O'NEILL
We had a bet. I lost.
CARTER
What d'you bet on?
TECH
Chevron 2 encoded.
O'NEILL
Sports related. Just give it to him.
He'll know what it means.
BARBER
Yes sir.
TECH
Chevron 3 encoded.
CARTER
What sport?
O'NEILL
Hmm?
CARTER
What sport did you bet on?
O'NEILL
Curling.
CARTER
Daniel bet on curling?
O'NEILL
Oh yes. His team won the Bonspiel (sp.
I have no idea what he says.)
CARTER
Okay. You don't want to tell me what
the bet is, that's fine.
O'NEILL
Good. Have fun.
TECH
Chevron 4 encoded. Chevron 5 encoded.
Sam and Jack walk down from the Control room towards the Gate.
CARTER
So Sir, are you sure you'd rather take
the weekend off than come with me to
see this place?
O'NEILL
Ahh you know I get that way when I work
my ass off. In fact I'd have figured
you'd want some time off yourself by
now.
CARTER
Oh I do but Daniel says that of all
the .. That was the bet? Whether or
not I'd go? Don't you have anything
better to do?
TECH
Chevron 7 locked.
Barber suddenly runs up the ramp and is disintegrated by the
Kawoosh.
O'NEILL
Barber!
CARTER
Oh my God!
Gate room.
Daniel comes down the ramp with SG5.
DANIEL
Jack you've got to see this.
O'NEILL
Daniel. There's been an incident.
DANIEL
Yeah I know, I got your message but
this is really important. There is this
light.
O'NEILL
Barber's dead.
DANIEL
What?
O'NEILL
Come on.
Briefing Room.
SG1 sit around the briefing table.
HAMMOND
Did Lieutenant Barber show any signs
of depression while on the mission?
DANIEL
The opposite. He was fine.
O'NEILL
How long had he been back?
CARTER
Well he hadn't been even been earthside
for 48 hours.
O'NEILL
What was he doing?
TEAL'C
Awaiting the results of a translation
with which I was assisting Daniel Jackson.
DANIEL
If you're asking me if he was suicidal,
he wasn't. He was better than fine.
Didn't anyone talk to him or like notice
anything?
TEAL'C
Nothing.
CARTER
We were all taken by surprise.
DANIEL
Well so am I. I don't even know what
to say.
HAMMOND
We will continue to investigate what
may have compelled him to do what he
did but it's been my experience that
these questions often go unanswered.
O'NEILL
Yes Sir.
HAMMOND
Doctor Jackson, perhaps you can tell
us more about this Goa'uld palace you
were studying? Dr Jackson?
DANIEL
Yes. Ahh sorry.
TEAL'C
Were there any signs of recent Goa'uld
activity?
DANIEL
No. I'm pretty sure no one has been
there for hundreds of years but there
was this room where there was this pedestal
which projected this light matrix hologram
onto the ceiling and it was absolutely
stunning.
HAMMOND
Any idea to its purpose?
DANIEL
Ideas yes but I was hoping this might
tell me more. It's kind of like a Goa'uld
hand held computer. When it's turned
on it displays this Goa'uld dialect
I've never seen before and there are
similar writings all over the pillars
of the palace. I'm thinking or hoping,
crossing my fingers actually that there
are instructions.
TEAL'C
I would be happy to provide further
assistance with the translation Daniel
Jackson.
DANIEL
Thank you, I was counting on that.
Daniel's Lab
O'Neill walks in where Teal'c is typing on a screen.
O'NEILL
Hey. Whatcha watching?
TEAL'C
A digital image. I am endeavoring to
translate the Goa'uld writings of which
Daniel Jackson had spoken.
O'NEILL
How goes the endeavoring?
TEAL'C
Upon a second viewing I have discovered
a figure moving in the background. It
does not appear to be one of our personnel.
O'NEILL
Well he never mentioned anyone else.
Daniel slams the hand held computer down.
DANIEL
What is wrong with this thing. This
thing isn't working.
O'NEILL
Have you checked the batteries?
DANIEL
I need to go back to the planet and
figure out what's going on.
O'NEILL
Hammond suggested we do that tomorrow.
DANIEL
Well this thing isn't working and tomorrow
isn't good enough.
O'NEILL
Yes it is.
DANIEL
I'm gonna talk to Hammond.
Daniel walks out.
O'NEILL
Hey.
Hammond's Office.
HAMMOND
Have you slept at all since you returned?
DANIEL
I fail to see what that has to do with
anything.
HAMMOND
SG1 has been hard at it for weeks. I'm
not sending you anywhere until you've
all had at least a nights sleep.
DANIEL
I'm fine.
HAMMOND
You're physically and mentally exhausted.
DANIEL
I admit I may have been pushing myself
a bit but this device could hold the
key to everything about that entire
place and I can't make any more progress
on it here.
HAMMOND
You're scheduled to leave tomorrow morning,
one more day isn't going to make a difference.
DANIEL
I'm telling you it is.
O'NEILL
Thank you for your time Sir.
DANIEL
You know it is beyond my comprehension
how anybody like yourself who has so
power can miss the point entirely.
O'NEILL
Hey knock it off!
HAMMOND
It's all right Colonel. This letter
is to Lieutenant Barber's family explaining
that he died in the service to country.
I've spent the last two hours on it.
I can't tell them anything about how
he died or anything about the work he
did here, only that he's gone. Do you
get the point now?
O'NEILL
Yes Sir he got it.
HAMMOND
Get him out of here.
Daniel walks out.
Control Room
HAMMOND
What's the delay?
CARTER
Daniel hasn't reported in this morning
Sir.
HAMMOND
What?
CARTER
I just called him, I think he picked
up but now I just get a busy signal.
HAMMOND
Yesterday he was demanding to leave
immediately.
O'NEILL
Maybe I should give him a wake up call
Sir.
HAMMOND
Sounds to me like he could use one.
Daniel's Apartment
Jack comes up to the door, which is open.
O'NEILL
Daniel?
He looks around. He finds Daniel standing on his balcony about
to jump.
O'NEILL
Daniel? What are you doing out here?
DANIEL
None of it means anything.
O'NEILL
Daniel, why don't you come inside here.
DANIEL
I tried. It just goes away.
O'NEILL
Okay. Then we'll get it back.
DANIEL
You can't get it back.
O'NEILL
Whatever's wrong, we'll fix it.
DANIEL
You don't even know what I'm talking
about.
O'NEILL
No. No I don't. But come inside.
DANIEL
Jack?
O'NEILL
Yeah.
Infirmary
FRAISER
The PET scan reveals his neurological
activity is slowing.
O'NEILL
So?
FRAISER
Neurotransmitters relay messages in
the body. Too many or too few of these
chemicals transmissions can result in
anxiety, depression or a number of emotional
or physical disorders.
O'NEILL
Does this have anything to do with Barbers
thing?
FRAISER
The remaining members of SG5 are reporting
almost identical symptoms. Yes it seems
almost certain. Now the only good news
is that it doesn't seem to be the result
of a contagion.
O'NEILL
Well if it's not a disease. What?
FRAISER
I don't know. Such a drastic shift in
levels is generally drug induced but
all of their systems are void of any
foreign substances. Not to mention that
preliminary MALP readings of P4X347
have ruled out all the usual suspects,
air, radiation.
O'NEILL
So if we retrace SG5's tracks we may
be able to come up with something?
HAMMOND
I'm afraid Colonel, until we get a grasp
on.
O'NEILL
General, we saw the shadow on the video.
Now something or someone is affecting
these guys.
FRAISER
More than affecting them Sir. If their
brain function continues to fail they
could be facing a worst case scenario.
O'NEILL
So we go in M.O.P 2, and bring back
samples of the usual suspects.
HAMMOND
You've made your case Colonel. Watch
your step.
O'NEILL
Thank you Sir.
Palace
O'NEILL
Well I can see why Daniel was so hot
on this place.
TEAL'C
Indeed.
O'NEILL
What'cha got?
CARTER
The air's fine just like the MALP indicated.
Whatever affected Daniel and SG5 they
didn't breathe it in.
O'NEILL
Okay, watch your step.
They look around and see a shadow. It turns out to be a kid running
away.
CARTER
It's just a kid. Obviously scared to
death of us.
TEAL'C
I believe this is the room of Light
of which Daniel Jackson has spoken.
O'NEILL
Really? Carter what are we looking at
here?
CARTER
Ahh It doesn't seem to be giving off
any radiation other than detectable
light. I think it's just decorative.
O'NEILL
Safe?
TEAL'C
It is most difficult to believe that
something so beautiful could be dangerous
O'Neill.
O'NEILL
No. We'll come back to look at it. Let's
go. Hey let's go.
CARTER
Right. Sorry Sir.
They walk done a corridor.
CARTER
Sir I'd like to run a full spectrum
analysis on that light.
O'NEILL
Later.
CARTER
I think there might be a relationship
between the light and what's happening
to Daniel.
O'NEILL
Thought you said it wasn't dangerous?
CARTER
I'm sure it isn't Sir, it's just.
Jack goes in a different direction and comes across the boys
room.
O'NEILL
Hi. I'm Jack. And you are? Nice digs.
Kinda remind me of my first apartment.
How are the people upstairs?
LOREN
Loren.
O'NEILL
I'm sorry I don't know what Loren means.
LOREN
Me.
O'NEILL
Hi Loren.
LOREN
Jack.
O'NEILL
Yeah. Anyone else live here with you?
LOREN
My mother and father.
O'NEILL
Can you take me to them? I'd like to
talk to them.
LOREN
No. They're not here.
O`NEILL
Not in this place? So you're here alone?
LOREN
Yes.
O'NEILL
Well Loren some of my people came here
a few days ago.
LOREN
I was hiding.
O'NEILL
Well you hide very well, because they
didn't even know you were here. The
thing is when they came home they all
got very sick. We'd like to figure out
why. Do you know? Okay, well we're going
to look around a little more. Maybe
you should come along?
CARTER
(Over the radio) Colonel. General Hammond
has activated the Gate and is on the
radio.
O'NEILL
All right go ahead. I'll be there. Come
on.
Palace.
HAMMOND
This is Hammond. Come in Colonel.
LOREN
Where is here?
O'NEILL
He's just sending his voice over the
radio through this thing here. We read
you General.
HAMMOND
I see you've made a friend Colonel.
O'NEILL
Yes Sir, Loren, General Hammond.
LOREN
He can see me?
HAMMOND
Yes I can son.
LOREN
Hi.
O'NEILL
We haven't found anything yet Sir but
we've only been at it a few minutes.
HAMMOND
It's been well over an hour Colonel.
O'NEILL
Well that can't be.
HAMMOND
Jack, I have some bad news. All of SG5
are dead.
CARTER
Oh no.
TEAL'C
What of the condition of Daniel Jackson?
HAMMOND
Dr Fraiser's doing everything she can
but I'm afraid he's fallen into a deep
coma. We don't know how much time he
has left.
Gate Room
O'NEILL
Here are your samples.
FRAISER
Did you get the boy's?
O'NEILL
Yeah, it's in there.
FRAISER
Get this off to the lab. (To a guy behind)
O'NEILL
How's he doing?
FRAISER
I'm afraid his condition is unchanged
Sir.
O'NEILL
Okay.
Planet in Loren's room.
TEAL'C
So approximately how long ago was this
image recorded?
LOREN
That's my home. Before we came here.
TEAL'C
So your parents brought you here from
a different world?
LOREN
Yeah. They were explorers. Kinda like
you I guess. So they came here. and
what was it that we were looking for?
TEAL'C
If you cannot give us an explanation
to our friend's illness we must continue
to search for clues as to what may have
caused it.
LOREN
Well none of your friends are in here.
Hey I have to show you something. This
was a present from my father on my birthday.
No it's not real.
TEAL'C
Children of the Tau'ri also seem to
enjoy colourful weapons that have no
function.
LOREN
It's fun.
TEAL'C
I see. On my home world of Chulak we
do not celebrate the anniversary of
one's birth.
LOREN
No presents?
TEAL'C
It is a day like any other.
LOREN
Well how do you know how old you are?
TEAL'C
I am 101 years of age.
LOREN
You don't look that old.
TEAL'C
So I have been told.
LOREN
So when do you turn 102?
TEAL'C
In 47 days.
LOREN
Keep it. It's a birthday present.
TEAL'C
I cannot.
LOREN
In 47 days you'll be gone right? You
keep it.
The Light room
Sam stops what she is doing and stares at the light.
Infirmary
FRAISER
Colonel? Are you all right?
O'NEILL
What kind of dumb-ass question is that?
My friend is laying there on his deathbed.
I'm fine.
FRAISER
We're working on the problem Sir.
O'NEILL
I don't want excuses.
FRAISER
Colonel O'Neill, if you don't calm down
right now I will have you removed from
my infirmary, is that clear?
O'NEILL
I'm fine.
FRAISER
Colonel I'd like to recheck your dopamine
levels.
O'NEILL
It's happening to me isn't it?
FRAISER
Let me find out, please.
O'Neill is lying on the bed having had his blood pressure taken.
FRAISER
Whatever's causing this actually accelerates
neural activity in the brain and causes
a dopamine like effect in the body.
O'NEILL
Kinda like drugs.
FRAISER
Only as long as you're on the planet.
Shortly after you returned neural activity
begins to decrease and depression results.
Bloodwork confirms it.
HAMMOND
Does the boy carry any immunity that
we could use to our advantage?
FRAISER
No. His bloodwork came back the same.
I don't think he'll be able to leave
the planet without experiencing the
same narcotic withdrawal symptoms.
HAMMOND
But Colonel O'Neill was only on that
planet for a little over an hour?
FRAISER
Yes Sir, this addiction appears to be
almost instantaneous.
O'NEILL
You're telling me I'm addicted to that
place.
FRAISER
The intensity of your mood swing into
depression seems to be proportional
to the time you spent on the planet.
All we can do is hope is your exposure
wasn't long enough for you symptoms
to get as bad as they did with Daniel
and the others.
O'NEILL
Great. All those years of just saying
no.
HAMMOND
Jack I tried to recall Major Carter
or Teal'c, they haven't responded and
I can't risk sending another team.
Daniel's machine bleeps.
O'NEILL
What's that?
FRAISER
His EEG is sporadic. This is exactly
what happened to the members of SG5
before they died. Sir you're gonna have
to take him back to the planet.
Corridor with Daniel on a gurney.
FRAISER
Once your there I'll need you to send
me his vital signs every.. He's coding.
No time to resuscitate, let's go.
Jack picks up Daniel and runs through the Gate.
Palace
O'NEILL
Daniel. Daniel. Come on, come on. Dammit.
Daniel. Let's go, come on. Carter. Teal'c.
Where are my friends?
LOREN
With the light.
O'NEILL
Get them for me will ya.
LOREN
They won't come.
O'NEILL
Well try.
LOREN
I'm not allowed to go in there.
Jack goes into the Light room and grabs Sam.
O'NEILL
For God's sake. Carter. Carter, wake
up.
CARTER
You're back Sir, when?
O'NEILL
Teal'c? Teal'c come on. Yeah, come on
out of here right now.
Teal'c sees Daniel.
TEAL'C
Daniel Jackson.
O`NEILL
Yep. Had to bring him back. It was the
only thing that was gonna keep him alive.
CARTER
Sir, how long were you gone?
O'NEILL
Few hours. Hammond tried to contact
you.
TEAL'C
He did not.
LOREN
He did. I heard his voice.
CARTER
Where were we?
LOREN
In there.
CARTER
I can't explain it Sir.
O'NEILL
Fraiser thinks we're all addicted to
something here that alters our brain
chemistry. And dollars to doughnuts,
it's that damn light.
CARTER
Oh I don't see how that's possible.
O'NEILL
Hey. You knew didn't you?
LOREN
No.
O'NEILL
That's why you're not allowed in there.
LOREN
My father said I was too young.
O'NEILL
Uh-huh.
CARTER
Sir if it's the light itself then how
did Daniel recover just by arriving
on the planet?
O'NEILL
I don't know Major but I want you to
find out. Otherwise we're stuck here
indefinitely and that's just not acceptable.
Ahh screw it, we're shutting that thing
off.
LOREN
No.
O'NEILL
You stay here.
CARTER
What are we looking for Sir?
O'NEILL
The off switch. All right. if we can't
shut the thing off..we'll..
TEAL'C
O'Neill.
O'NEILL
Aww man. Damn that thing's dangerous.
CARTER
My guess is the control mechanism is
somewhere inside this pedestal. If we
focus our attention on that we should
be all right.
Control Room
Hammond is talking to Daniel over the MALP.
HAMMOND
Glad to see your alive and well Dr.
Jackson. We thought we'd lost you.
DANIEL
To be honest I don't really remember
much after yelling at you, sorry about
that by the way.
HAMMOND
That's all right. Is there anything
you need?
DANIEL
Glasses. Supplies, it looks like we're
not going anywhere for a while. And
that little remote computer thing I
couldn't make work before.
HAMMOND
I'll send it through immediately. Where's
Colonel O'Neill?
Palace
Daniel walks into the Light room.
DANIEL
Guys I've figured out how to...
He switches the light off.
CARTER
How did you do that?
DANIEL
Remote control.
O'NEILL
I thought that thing was broken.
DANIEL
Yeah you were right, it was the batteries.
O'NEILL
I was?
DANIEL
At least I think it draws power from
something in the room itself, that's
why I couldn't get it to work back on
Earth.
O'NEILL
How long were we standing here?
DANIEL
I'm not sure. General Hammond sent some
supplies and Loren and I figured out
how to translate the writing on this
thing, so..
O'NEILL
That long?
DANIEL
Well perception of time is one of the
first things to go when you're. high.
From what I've been able to translate
so far with Loren's help, the Goa'uld
used to use this place as some sort
of opium den. The only difference is
the symbiote must have kept the host's
mind chemically balanced once they left.
TEAL'C
Then it is most likely I will be able
to leave.
O'NEILL
Oh how nice for you.
CARTER
Wait a minute, if you turned it off
how come I'm not getting depressed?
TEAL'C
Perhaps it will take some time to feel
its effects.
O'NEILL
Let's take advantage of that time.
O'NEILL
Loren.
LOREN
Jack.
O'NEILL
All right. Where did your parents actually
go?
LOREN
Far, far away from here.
O'NEILL
How far? Which direction? Kid's hiding
something. Teal'c, Carter, with me.
Outside on the beach
O'NEILL
What?
CARTER
I guess the reality that we may never
go home is setting in.
O'NEILL
Oh Hammond'll keep us supplied with
everything we'll need until we can figure
this out.
CARTER
Be a good excuse for you.
O'NEILL
Huh?
CARTER
To do nothing for a while.
O'NEILL
What?
CARTER
Forget it.
O'NEILL
That would be forget it SIR.
CARTER
Oh please, you think I'm keeping that
up if we're stuck here forever?
O'NEILL
Listen Major.
CARTER
No way.
O'NEILL
That's no way COLONEL.
CARTER
I'm supposed to accept that. That's
the way it's gonna be?
O'NEILL
That's the way it is.
CARTER
What difference does it make. It's not
up to you.
O'NEILL
Carter! You're in withdrawal.
CARTER
Oh I'm in withdrawal?
O'NEILL
Yes. So am I.
TEAL'C
O'Neill. Major Carter. I believe I have
located the parents of Loren.
He shows them two skeletons half buried.
Palace.
LOREN
That's my mother and father there. That's
me.
DANIEL
You were a lot younger there.
LOREN
Yeah, it's old.
DANIEL
Yeah, about that.
LOREN
Hey can I take an image of you?
DANIEL
Sure.
LOREN
That's great. I'm sorry that you can't
leave.
DANIEL
Are you? I mean it makes sense that
you'd want some company. I'm just thinking
that's the reason you didn't tell us
how dangerous the Light was.
LOREN
No.
DANIEL
It's okay, I'm not mad.
LOREN
That's not why.
Jack, Sam and Teal'c come in.
DANIEL
What's wrong?
O'NEILL
Oh we're going through that withdrawal
thing again.
DANIEL
I felt fine the whole time you were
gone.
CARTER
Actually Sir I'm starting to feel myself
again.
O'NEILL
Me too. What's going on?
CARTER
Well something other than that light
must be affecting us.
TEAL'C
And we must stay in close proximity.
DANIEL
So not only are we stuck here. we're
stuck here.
The Light Room
O'NEILL
Well it's sure not as much fun to look
at with the light off.
TEAL'C
I feel no compulsion to remain here.
CARTER
Sir I think you maybe onto something.
O'NEILL
How's that?
CARTER
The light isn't what's affecting our
minds, it's just something to take advantage
of our altered brain chemistry.
DANIEL
So.. entertainment?
CARTER
Probably more than that. The colour
and light interaction with our optic
nerve probably triggers the chemical
responses but it's not the direct cause
of the imbalance.
O'NEILL
What is the cause?
CARTER
There must be a hidden device emitting
some form of energy or radiation that
we can't detect with our instruments.
O'NEILL
All right Loren. Why doesn't this room
seem to effect you?
LOREN
Too young.
O'NEILL
How do you know that?
LOREN
My father told me.
CARTER
It is possible that this place can only
affect an adult physiology.
O'NEILL
Fraiser says he's just as addicted as
we are.
LOREN
She's right the light didn't have any
affect on me.
O'NEILL
Then what'd it do to your parents? We
need to know what this thing does.
LOREN
When they get back, they'll explain.
O'NEILL
They're not coming back! You know that.
LOREN
They are.
O'NEILL
Someone buried those bodies. Now how
do you shut that thing off?
O'NEILL
Figure that thing out.
CARTER
Yes Sir.
Loren's Room
O'NEILL
Hey. I'm sorry. Nice picture. Your parents?
LOREN
I killed them.
O'NEILL
You did? I find that.. What happened?
LOREN
We found this place. All that they would
do is stare at that light all day. The
light didn't affect me, my father said
it was because I was too young. But
they didn't let me in the Light room
anyway. I told them to stop everyday.
But they just told me to bring them
things.
O'NEILL
Okay. So you did that. And?
LOREN
One day I stopped. It was days before
their hunger was stronger than the light.
Then they came out, looking for me,
looking for food and I snuck into the
light room and I turned it off. Not
just the light, everything. I didn't
know it would hurt them I just wanted
to go home.
O'NEILL
It's not your fault.
LOREN
They died because of me. They were screaming.
They ran outside, they didn't make any
sense. So I did, I turned it back on.
But they were already in the water,
so far and they just kept on going,
they just kept going and screaming to
just turn it back on but they just kept
on going. They were gone. The next day
I found them on the shore.
O'NEILL
Loren. You were trying to help them.
You were trying to free them from something.
It wasn't your fault.
LOREN
I miss them.
O'NEILL
Yeah.
The Light room
O'NEILL
What have you got?
DANIEL
We think we can turn it off.
LOREN
Don't let them. You'll die like my parents.
CARTER
If we shut if off cold turkey, Loren
is right, we'll go into withdrawal again.
But Teal'c and Daniel have translated
some of the writing inside this thing,
Sir, and we think it was designed to
be turned down incrementally.
DANIEL
The Goa'uld who used this place needed
human slaves in order to tend to their
needs while they were here.
CARTER
We've already taken it down a notch
without any harm.
TEAL'C
Within 2 or 3 weeks your brain chemistry
will return to normal. You may then
return home.
O'NEILL
So three weeks in a palace by the beach?
Teal'c, you don't have to hang around.
Why don't you head back and let Hammond
know what's going on?
TEAL'C
Very well.
LOREN
And then you'll leave?
O'NEILL
I think we all will. Right?
CARTER
Yeah. He should return to normal with
the rest of us.
LOREN
I can go with you.
O'NEILL
Sure. Come on. Let's go see Teal'c off.
You like ice cream?
LOREN
What's ice cream?
THE END
|
