10x12 - Line in the Sand
Transcript here.
We open to a smiling SG-1 returning through the Stargate. A successful test of Merlin's device has SG-1 in high spirits, despite Daniel's absence. The team informs General Landry about the test, and manage to tease Sam more than a little in the process.
General Landry has a real-life application in mind for the next appearance of the device. P9C-882 has an Ori problem--not only do the Ori want unswerving obedience, but they also want the people there to build one of the nifty platforms for burning people alive.
Vala isn't exactly thrilled.
The villagers aren't, either, but they're not sure how they can resist the Ori without being destroyed.
Vala and Landry team up on Sam to get her to 'test' the device on that village. Vala's eager.
Sam isn't exactly thrilled.
Credits!
Enter the faux medieval village, where Colonel Reynolds introduces SG-1 to Thilana, the village leader. She's very grateful they're willing to help, and they get right to work, putting Sam and the machine into the library. Thilana tells Sam that, under the Goa'uld, they were forced to record their history in secret, but now have their history in a place of honor.
Sam's flattered, but Thilana's true purpose is to soften Sam up so she can ask what the machine really does. Sam explains that the machine shifts all matter in a range to another dimension, where those who are not shifted cannot interact with the shifted people and things.
"In fact, he'll be able to walk right through you."
Thilana looks alarmed, but Sam reassures her that it 1) doesn't hurt and 2) is not permanent.
Thilana nods.
Outside, Cam tries to make his debut as a flight attendant, but no one gets it. Sam starts up the machine, the village disappears just like it's supposed to, and Colonel Reynolds and his team book it back through the gate.
Of course, right in the middle of the celebration feast that night, they hit a snag. It seems that Sam's awesome technical skills haven't quite worked out all the kinks. A fail safe designed to prevent anyone from losing toes or eyes brought everyone back in phase due to a power fluctuation.
The villagers are, understandably, worried. Matar suggests that maybe they should give in to the Ori, but Thilana nixes that idea. She's had enough of false gods, thank you very much. Besides, SG-1 hasn't given up yet.
In the middle of working on the problem, Sam and Cam are interrupted by the appearance of Ori ships. They fly over the village checking for a new and shiny place to immolate people, and when they don't find it, they drop a ring platform and some troops.
Cam passes out the weapons and gives the recipients a crash course in gun safety.
Meanwhile Teal'c takes out several troops on his own. SG-1 and the villagers fight, trying to hold off the Ori while Sam works.
One of the soldiers has gotten past them and into the library. He shoots at Sam, hitting her and the device. Cam comes in behind him and takes him out, but Sam's got a nasty wound on her abdomen.
Just then, the villagers run out of time.
Through her obvious pain, Sam tells Cam to activate the device--and then how to do it using the one remaining naquadah generator. She blacks out before she manages to tell him exactly how to turn it on, but Cam figures it out.
Vala gets cheeky with an Ori soldier, dissing his gods, and he's about to kill her when his commander shows up. It's Tomin.
He doesn't look pleased to see her. He orders her taken to the ship, and the rest of the villagers who did the fighting killed.
Back in the library, Cam's trying to put Sam back together. She wakes up, obviously unhappy. An Ori soldier walks through the room--literally--and she freaks out, freaking Cam out until the soldier walks back out through the outside wall.
Cam informs her that the device is working, but they don't have any way to contact Vala or Teal'c.
On the Ori ship, Vala tells Tomin that she did fall in love with him, that he is a good man, and that he can't possibly like what he's done in the service of the Ori. Tomin tells her she doesn't know him at all--he would set the fire himself to burn her alive. However, the Orici has decreed that Vala's punishment is going to be learning about Origin instead.
Vala's not exactly thrilled.
In the village, Thilana, Matar, and Teal'c talk about if the village should accept Origin or not. Matar wants to save their skins. Thilana and Teal'c want to save their freedom.
Sam isn't doing very well. She and Cam debate the merits of various plans including using C4 to create a distraction... or Cam taking the device back to Earth without her. She's pretty pessimistic about her chances of survival, so she's leaning toward self-sacrifice. Cam's not prepared to give up just yet, though.
Tomin reads the Book of Origin to Vala, who looks bored and irritated. She asks him how many people he's killed. He tries to keep reading, but Vala's not having it. Still, we get enough to know that a guy named Markon left the faith (by symbolically stepping over a line in the sand), wanted to return, and came back only to discover the line had widened to a gulf. He cried out to the Prophet, who told him to step across. Markon did, and the "hands of the Ori envel--."
However, at the same time, Vala is goading Tomin about the book and his beliefs. He gets so frustrated that he hits her, and she hits the ground, her mouth bloody. She tells him that he should kill her now. He leaves.
Back in the village, the soldiers demand that Thilana tell them what's going on with the disappearing building. She refuses. Matar acquiesces, revealing Teal'c. The soldiers take all three of them into custody.
Tomin asks for forgiveness for striking Vala. She says that hitting her was nothing compared to the lives he's taken. He says she'll never have to see him again. She tells him the true story about the Ori, how they duped people into worshiping them for power and don't really offer their followers ascension.
Tomin leaves.
Back on the ground, the prior interrogates Teal'c. Matar breaks at the idea of pain and confesses. Cam's watching, unhappy. Sam's pretty sure she's dying, so she tries to tell Cam about a file on her computer with letters for people she loves, including Cassie. He tells her she's going to have to change the password, because she's not going to die--they can't lose Daniel and Sam in one season, after all!
Sam gets philosophical then, saying that she doesn't think science is going to help her, and Cam retaliates with a story from his grandma. Sam asks him if he believes that God is there. Cam says he generally just nodded until Grandma gave him a macaroon. He says that sometimes belief itself makes all the difference in the world.
They're interrupted by the prior shining bright lights into the building. Nothing else happens, though, and after a nice empty threat, the prior leaves.
He returns to the ship, where Tomin apologizes for failing in teaching Vala. Tomin asks to be recused from this duty. The prior says that he is indeed a good commander. Tomin makes to head back down to the surface, but the prior informs him they are going to destroy it. Tomin's confused. Didn't the village capitulate?
Not all of them, the prior says. they have been touched by evil. Off with their heads!
The prior brings up Markon, only this time instead of welcoming Markon back, the Ori wipe out him and the village that took him back. Tomin is now even more confused--he was taught a completely different interpretation--one where Markon was forgiven and reconciled to the Ori.
Cam and Sam are trying to come up with a plan to save the village by extending the field for just a little while. Sam catches sight of the Ori weapon and keeps Cam from giving her more painkillers so she can think clearly.
Tomin has realized that the prior changed the meaning of the story to suit the situation. Vala says that it's not enough to be unhappy about it--he has to do something.
Sam has Cam take out the power supply crystal from the weapon and attach it to the device while Tomin confronts the prior.
The ship fires.
Tomin takes Vala to the rings and lets her go. She tells him to come with her. He says he can't, and he activates the rings, sending her down to the surface.
Vala walks through the crater where the village used to be. Suddenly, the village appears around her. Teal'c calls her name, and she runs to him and jumps into his arms. Teal'c barely moves, and he doesn't even bother to let her down before telling the others she's back.
The village has been saved.
Some time later, in the infirmary, Sam's working on her computer, looking much better. Cam comes in with a bag of macaroons. He baked them himself, using his Grandma's recipe. He wants Sam to try them right now.
Sam tries to put him off, but he insists. She nibbles a small corner, but can't manage to lie--she hates it.
Cam looks crushed.
Sam thanks him, but not for the macaroons. Cam pats her on the shoulder.
Questions:
1. Sam headlining in Vegas: anyone else want to see that?
2. Does Vala know how annoying she can be, and does she do it on purpose?
3. Why do you think Tomin stayed on the ship?
4. Macaroons: best cookie ever or worst excuse for a dessert ever?
5. Ori targeting systems appear to be quite sophisticated, judging by the size of the barren area, but a weapon powerful enough to vaporize a town seems like it might have changed the terrain somewhat. What (other) problems might the villagers have noticed post-SG-1?
We open to a smiling SG-1 returning through the Stargate. A successful test of Merlin's device has SG-1 in high spirits, despite Daniel's absence. The team informs General Landry about the test, and manage to tease Sam more than a little in the process.
General Landry has a real-life application in mind for the next appearance of the device. P9C-882 has an Ori problem--not only do the Ori want unswerving obedience, but they also want the people there to build one of the nifty platforms for burning people alive.
Vala isn't exactly thrilled.
The villagers aren't, either, but they're not sure how they can resist the Ori without being destroyed.
Vala and Landry team up on Sam to get her to 'test' the device on that village. Vala's eager.
Sam isn't exactly thrilled.
Credits!
Enter the faux medieval village, where Colonel Reynolds introduces SG-1 to Thilana, the village leader. She's very grateful they're willing to help, and they get right to work, putting Sam and the machine into the library. Thilana tells Sam that, under the Goa'uld, they were forced to record their history in secret, but now have their history in a place of honor.
Sam's flattered, but Thilana's true purpose is to soften Sam up so she can ask what the machine really does. Sam explains that the machine shifts all matter in a range to another dimension, where those who are not shifted cannot interact with the shifted people and things.
"In fact, he'll be able to walk right through you."
Thilana looks alarmed, but Sam reassures her that it 1) doesn't hurt and 2) is not permanent.
Thilana nods.
Outside, Cam tries to make his debut as a flight attendant, but no one gets it. Sam starts up the machine, the village disappears just like it's supposed to, and Colonel Reynolds and his team book it back through the gate.
Of course, right in the middle of the celebration feast that night, they hit a snag. It seems that Sam's awesome technical skills haven't quite worked out all the kinks. A fail safe designed to prevent anyone from losing toes or eyes brought everyone back in phase due to a power fluctuation.
The villagers are, understandably, worried. Matar suggests that maybe they should give in to the Ori, but Thilana nixes that idea. She's had enough of false gods, thank you very much. Besides, SG-1 hasn't given up yet.
In the middle of working on the problem, Sam and Cam are interrupted by the appearance of Ori ships. They fly over the village checking for a new and shiny place to immolate people, and when they don't find it, they drop a ring platform and some troops.
Cam passes out the weapons and gives the recipients a crash course in gun safety.
Meanwhile Teal'c takes out several troops on his own. SG-1 and the villagers fight, trying to hold off the Ori while Sam works.
One of the soldiers has gotten past them and into the library. He shoots at Sam, hitting her and the device. Cam comes in behind him and takes him out, but Sam's got a nasty wound on her abdomen.
Just then, the villagers run out of time.
Through her obvious pain, Sam tells Cam to activate the device--and then how to do it using the one remaining naquadah generator. She blacks out before she manages to tell him exactly how to turn it on, but Cam figures it out.
Vala gets cheeky with an Ori soldier, dissing his gods, and he's about to kill her when his commander shows up. It's Tomin.
He doesn't look pleased to see her. He orders her taken to the ship, and the rest of the villagers who did the fighting killed.
Back in the library, Cam's trying to put Sam back together. She wakes up, obviously unhappy. An Ori soldier walks through the room--literally--and she freaks out, freaking Cam out until the soldier walks back out through the outside wall.
Cam informs her that the device is working, but they don't have any way to contact Vala or Teal'c.
On the Ori ship, Vala tells Tomin that she did fall in love with him, that he is a good man, and that he can't possibly like what he's done in the service of the Ori. Tomin tells her she doesn't know him at all--he would set the fire himself to burn her alive. However, the Orici has decreed that Vala's punishment is going to be learning about Origin instead.
Vala's not exactly thrilled.
In the village, Thilana, Matar, and Teal'c talk about if the village should accept Origin or not. Matar wants to save their skins. Thilana and Teal'c want to save their freedom.
Sam isn't doing very well. She and Cam debate the merits of various plans including using C4 to create a distraction... or Cam taking the device back to Earth without her. She's pretty pessimistic about her chances of survival, so she's leaning toward self-sacrifice. Cam's not prepared to give up just yet, though.
Tomin reads the Book of Origin to Vala, who looks bored and irritated. She asks him how many people he's killed. He tries to keep reading, but Vala's not having it. Still, we get enough to know that a guy named Markon left the faith (by symbolically stepping over a line in the sand), wanted to return, and came back only to discover the line had widened to a gulf. He cried out to the Prophet, who told him to step across. Markon did, and the "hands of the Ori envel--."
However, at the same time, Vala is goading Tomin about the book and his beliefs. He gets so frustrated that he hits her, and she hits the ground, her mouth bloody. She tells him that he should kill her now. He leaves.
Back in the village, the soldiers demand that Thilana tell them what's going on with the disappearing building. She refuses. Matar acquiesces, revealing Teal'c. The soldiers take all three of them into custody.
Tomin asks for forgiveness for striking Vala. She says that hitting her was nothing compared to the lives he's taken. He says she'll never have to see him again. She tells him the true story about the Ori, how they duped people into worshiping them for power and don't really offer their followers ascension.
Tomin leaves.
Back on the ground, the prior interrogates Teal'c. Matar breaks at the idea of pain and confesses. Cam's watching, unhappy. Sam's pretty sure she's dying, so she tries to tell Cam about a file on her computer with letters for people she loves, including Cassie. He tells her she's going to have to change the password, because she's not going to die--they can't lose Daniel and Sam in one season, after all!
Sam gets philosophical then, saying that she doesn't think science is going to help her, and Cam retaliates with a story from his grandma. Sam asks him if he believes that God is there. Cam says he generally just nodded until Grandma gave him a macaroon. He says that sometimes belief itself makes all the difference in the world.
They're interrupted by the prior shining bright lights into the building. Nothing else happens, though, and after a nice empty threat, the prior leaves.
He returns to the ship, where Tomin apologizes for failing in teaching Vala. Tomin asks to be recused from this duty. The prior says that he is indeed a good commander. Tomin makes to head back down to the surface, but the prior informs him they are going to destroy it. Tomin's confused. Didn't the village capitulate?
Not all of them, the prior says. they have been touched by evil. Off with their heads!
The prior brings up Markon, only this time instead of welcoming Markon back, the Ori wipe out him and the village that took him back. Tomin is now even more confused--he was taught a completely different interpretation--one where Markon was forgiven and reconciled to the Ori.
Cam and Sam are trying to come up with a plan to save the village by extending the field for just a little while. Sam catches sight of the Ori weapon and keeps Cam from giving her more painkillers so she can think clearly.
Tomin has realized that the prior changed the meaning of the story to suit the situation. Vala says that it's not enough to be unhappy about it--he has to do something.
Sam has Cam take out the power supply crystal from the weapon and attach it to the device while Tomin confronts the prior.
The ship fires.
Tomin takes Vala to the rings and lets her go. She tells him to come with her. He says he can't, and he activates the rings, sending her down to the surface.
Vala walks through the crater where the village used to be. Suddenly, the village appears around her. Teal'c calls her name, and she runs to him and jumps into his arms. Teal'c barely moves, and he doesn't even bother to let her down before telling the others she's back.
The village has been saved.
Some time later, in the infirmary, Sam's working on her computer, looking much better. Cam comes in with a bag of macaroons. He baked them himself, using his Grandma's recipe. He wants Sam to try them right now.
Sam tries to put him off, but he insists. She nibbles a small corner, but can't manage to lie--she hates it.
Cam looks crushed.
Sam thanks him, but not for the macaroons. Cam pats her on the shoulder.
Questions:
1. Sam headlining in Vegas: anyone else want to see that?
2. Does Vala know how annoying she can be, and does she do it on purpose?
3. Why do you think Tomin stayed on the ship?
4. Macaroons: best cookie ever or worst excuse for a dessert ever?
5. Ori targeting systems appear to be quite sophisticated, judging by the size of the barren area, but a weapon powerful enough to vaporize a town seems like it might have changed the terrain somewhat. What (other) problems might the villagers have noticed post-SG-1?