ACT FIVE
INT. MOSCOW, KREMLIN
To establish.
INT. THU'LO HEADQUARTERS
Nadia is asleep at her desk. Arkadiy walks up, shaking her arm. She opens her eyes.
ARKADIY
There's a call you need to take. Line two.
NADIA
Who?
Arkadiy brushes hair back from her eyes.
ARKADIY
Doctor Daniel Jackson. Keefe
called a relay operator for him.
He says they want to discuss
getting General O'Neill back.
Nadia sits up, looking at the phone on her desk. She looks up at him.
NADIA
It's not my decision.
Arkadiy taps the keyboard on her desk and reveals a tabulating program. Nadia leans toward it. She looks back at him.
ARKADIY
I'm sorry if you're angry with me,
but the decision needed to be
swift and word came in while I was
in Serbia. Being here, I knew you
wouldn't get word fast enough, so
I stood in as your proxy. I asked
the rest of them if they wanted to
make contact with humans. The vote
is ninety-two for making contact.
Your race is ready, Nadia, they're
just waiting for their new
president to move on their vote.
Nadia looks back at the phone.
NADIA
I sometimes wonder why I thought I
could be president of our race, Arkadiy.
ARKADIY
You love both races equally and
want nothing but the best for them.
NADIA
Perhaps.
She picks it up, taps the button by the light.
NADIA (CONT'D)
Am I speaking with Doctor Daniel
Jackson of the SGC in Colorado?
DANIEL (ON PHONE)
You are. We would really like to
get General O'Neill back.
Nadia glances at the tabulation. The percentage for helping has gone up two percent.
NADIA
Perhaps it is time our two races
met for negotiations?
DANIEL (ON PHONE)
I agree.
Nadia looks away.
NADIA
I will be there by tomorrow
afternoon. Tell President Hayes we
will retrieve Michelle and General
O'Neill, and then we will sit down
to discuss a treaty between our people.
DANIEL (ON PHONE)
I'll make the arrangements. Thank
you... I'm sorry, I didn't--
NADIA
President Nadia. Good-bye.
Nadia hangs up before he answers. She looks again at the computer screen. The percentage has climbed another three percent during the conversation.
INT. CAVE - DAY
O'Neill pulls a pan off the fire and dumps the steaming water into an empty ration container. He mixes a little bottled water with it and then starts wiping Michelle's sweaty forehead. She squirms, trying to draw a full breath.
O'NEILL
Lay still. Breathe slowly.
She obeys.
O'NEILL (CONT'D)
What does thu'lo mean?
MICHELLE
The last.
O'Neill retrieves a ration package.
O'NEILL
The last of what?
MICHELLE
Probably goa'uld at the rate
things are going with the system
lords and Tok'ra.
O'Neill sits next to her, tearing the package open.
O'NEILL
Spaghetti is the chef's special today.
MICHELLE
(shakes head)
I can't hold it down.
O'NEILL
You haven't eaten in twelve hours.
MICHELLE
Please, Jack.
O'NEILL
At least eat the crackers.
MICHELLE
Okay.
O'Neill rips open the crackers. He breaks off a piece and puts it in her mouth. Her lips close around his finger. He catches his breath and pulls back fast. He clears his throat.
O'NEILL
So what do the thu'lo do?
MICHELLE
Nothing.
O'NEILL
That can't be true. The system
lords make themselves a royal pain
in the ass to everyone. The Tok'ra
fight the system lords. What do the thu'lo do?
MICHELLE
Watch them try to kill each other.
O'NEILL
So then your kind aren't fond of
the system lords, I take it?
MICHELLE
Not even.
O'NEILL
Or the Tok'ra?
MICHELLE
What did you say about them?
Tolerate. We tolerate them.
Michelle catches his hand.
MICHELLE (CONT'D)
I've told you about me, now I get
to ask about you.
O'NEILL
What do you want to know?
MICHELLE
(smiles)
What does your ideal woman look like?
O'NEILL
She has to be as tall as me. So
when we dance she's not too short or tall.
MICHELLE
(smiles)
What else?
O'NEILL
I'm partial to those dark haired,
dark eyed beauties. She can fish.
Must like hockey.
MICHELLE
She rich?
O'NEILL
Doesn't have to be.
MICHELLE
Children?
O'NEILL
No.
MICHELLE
Does she steal the remote?
O'NEILL
Not without a good fight.
MICHELLE
You'd like my best friend.
Kimberly. She's all those things.
O'NEILL
Yeah? You'll have to introduce me sometime.
Michelle whimpers, her face pained. O'Neill takes her hand. She closes her eyes.
MICHELLE
If I make it back I'll... I'll...
Michelle trails off. O'Neill holds her hand in both of his.
INT. BRIEFING ROOM - DAY
SG-1 and Landry stand facing the door. Marines enter with Nadia, Arkadiy, Thomas and the thu'lo, Kimberly.
Nadia looks like a super-model. Arkadiy wears his military fatigues. Kimberly is O'Neill's ideal woman.
Thomas, in his mid-twenties, brings up the rear. He has black spiky hair, black eyeliner, dressed in grunge. He smiles stupidly at Carter who only flashes a smile.
LANDRY
You are their president?
NADIA
Yes. President Nadia Ivanova.
LANDRY
Welcome to the SGC. I'm--
NADIA
(taunting)
You wish to waste pleasantries on
a goa'uld, General Landry?
Landry is taken back. Nadia smiles.
NADIA (CONT'D)
I apologize for my bad humor. It
was a very long flight.
LANDRY
Why don't you dial the gate so we
can bring General O'Neill and
Michelle back?
Nadia pulls her hands behind her.
NADIA
A few things first, General
Landry. Kimberly and I will be
joining your team to retrieve the
two. Secondly, we all go armed
because there are creatures on
that planet that would make snacks
out of us. Lastly, we to be are
treated as equals on this
expedition, because we are such.
LANDRY
No. You will unlock the gate and--
NADIA
Either agree or the gate doesn't
get unlocked.
LANDRY
You are in no position to make
demands like this.
Thomas walks ahead of the group, producing a mini-tape player. He presses play and the conversation Carter and Landry had earlier about the network plays back. He grins.
THOMAS
A few keystrokes and we'd have
complete control of this base,
sir. I made sure--
NADIA
We don't want to take control of
this facility or make threats,
General. We simply want to go
through the gate to retrieve
Michelle and make sure she returns
safely. Just like you want to do
for General O'Neill.
Landry considers the options.
LANDRY
Very well. Now go unlock the gate.
Nadia nods to Thomas. He walks up to Carter.
THOMAS
(giddy)
Care to join me? I could use the
view, I mean, help.
Carter hesitates. Landry nods to her.
CARTER
This way.
She leads him to the stairs.
THOMAS
You have great hair.
She glances at him, smiles uncomfortably.
CARTER
Thanks.
THOMAS
When you're done with that shirt,
can I have it?
CARTER
No.
They start down the stairs.
THOMAS
What about your pants? Can I have
your pants when you're done with them?
CARTER
No.
THOMAS
What about your socks? I'm sure--
CARTER
No!
Landry and SG-1 look back at Nadia. She smiles, slightly embarrassed about his behavior.
NADIA
It will only take him a few
minutes. We should prepare to depart.
Landry leads the group out of the room.
EXT. SAFE PLANET - DAY
The feline creatures are pacing outside the cave. Occasionally fights breaks out when one gets too close to the other.
INT. CAVE - DAY
O'Neill stands at the entrance watching them. The combat knife is strapped to his leg and one hand rests on the hilt.
MICHELLE (O.S.)
Jack.
O'Neill walks back to her and kneels. Her breathing has become ragged with a gurgle.
O'NEILL
Yeah?
She opens her eyes. There's hardly any light left in them.
MICHELLE
Where do you live?
O'Neill sits down beside her.
O'NEILL
On my days off -- which is more
often than not -- Montana.
Michelle smiles.
MICHELLE
Mountains?
O'NEILL
Wouldn't want it anywhere else.
MICHELLE
And quiet. I loved it when the
planet was like that. There were
places you could travel for weeks
without seeing a soul.
O'NEILL
You miss those days?
Michelle gasps, reaching for him. He takes her hand.
MICHELLE
I don't want to die.
O'Neill looks away. Michelle begins to fade.
MICHELLE (CONT'D)
Isn't this is where you give me
false hope, Jack?
O'NEILL
I can't do that.
MICHELLE
I had a husband like you once. He
died in the French revolution. I
loved them all.
O'Neill's face reflects his uncertainty of her remark.
MICHELLE (CONT'D)
Jack?
O'NEILL
Yeah?
Michelle whispers something, exhaling a final breath.
O'NEILL (CONT'D)
Michelle?
She doesn't respond. He searches for a pulse and begins CPR. The animal noises stop. He moves to her chest to pump her heart.
O'NEILL (CONT'D)
(under his breath)
One... Two... Three...
O'Neill becomes so focused on reviving her that he doesn't notice SG-1 or the thu'lo enter. Nadia begins crying and lets Carter comfort her.
KIMBERLY starts to cry. When Nadia reaches out to her, she rushes forward, pulling O'Neill's hands away. Their eyes meet.
KIMBERLY
Stop! That's not her heart! You...
Kimberly draws a shaky breath.
KIMBERLY (CONT'D)
She can't be saved anymore!
Just... Just let her go.
O'NEILL
How?
Kimberly shakes her head, and shrugs.
KIMBERLY
(softly)
I don't know, Jack.
O'Neill sits down, hit by the loss. Kimberly cries quietly. Off them, we:
END OF ACT FIVE
WGA # 1118101
Written by A. Rhea King