Teaser
SGC Control RoomTech (in background) : Chevron 1 encoded.
Jack: Barber. When you get there, give this to Daniel, will you?
Jack hands Barber something.
Barber: Sir?
Jack: We had a bet. I lost.
Sam: What’d you bet on?
Tech (in background) : Chevron 2 encoded.
Jack: Sports related. Just give it to him. He’ll know what it means.
Barber: Yes, sir.
Tech (in background) : Chevron 3 encoded.
Sam: What sport?
Jack: Hmm?
Sam: What sport did you bet on?
Jack: Curling.
Sam: Daniel bet on curling?
Jack: Oh, yes. His team won the big Bonspiel.
Sam: Okay. You don’t want to tell me what the bet is, that’s fine.
Jack: Good. Have fun.
Tech (in background) : Chevron 4 encoded.
The shot goes to the gate room. Barber walks to the base of the ramp.
Tech (in background) : Chevron 5 encoded.
The shot cuts to Sam and Jack walk down from the control room along the corridor towards the gate room.
Sam: So, sir, are you sure you’d rather take the weekend off than come with me to see this place?
Jack: Ah, 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.
Sam: 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 (in background) : Chevron 7 locked.
Barber runs up the ramp just as the wormhole forms.
Jack: Barber!
Barber disintegrates when the wormhole engages and kawhooshes out.
Sam: Oh, my God!
End Teaser - Opening Credits
SGC Gate Room
Daniel and SG-5 walk down the ramp from the Stargate. Jack is waiting for Daniel at the end of the ramp.
Daniel: Jack, you’ve got to see this.
Jack: Daniel. There’s been an incident.
Daniel: Yeah, I know, I got your message, but this is really important. There is this light in this amazing...
Jack (interrupting him) : Barber’s dead.
Daniel: What?
Jack: Come on.
SGC Briefing Room
Jack, Daniel, Sam, Teal’c, and General Hammond are sitting around the table.
Hammond: Did Lieutenant Barber show any signs of depression while on the mission?
Daniel: The opposite: he was fine.
Jack: How long had he been back?
Sam: Well, he hadn’t been even been Earth-side for 48 hours.
Jack: 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 fine - he was better than fine. Didn’t anyone talk to him or, like, notice anything?
Teal’c: Nothing.
Sam: We were all taken by surprise.
Daniel: Well, so am I. I don’t even know what to say.
Hammond: We’ll 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.Jack: Yes, sir.
Hammond: Dr. Jackson, perhaps you can tell us more about this Goa’uld palace you were studying? When Daniel doesn’t answer... Dr. Jackson?
Daniel: Yes. Ah, sorry. Um...
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, ah, there was this room where there was this pedestal which projected this light matrix hologram onto the ceiling and it was, uh...absolutely stunning.
Hammond: Any idea as to its purpose?
Daniel: Ideas, yes, but I was hoping this might tell me more.
Daniel reaches into a case on the table and pulls out a small device.
Daniel: It’s kind of like a Goa’uld handheld 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 they’re instructions.
Teal’c: I would be happy to provide further assistance with the translation, Daniel Jackson.
Daniel: Thank you. I was - I was counting on it.
The shot goes to the Cheyenne Mountain Entrance, and then cuts to Daniel’s office
Jack enters the room. Teal’c is sitting at the computer. Daniel is restlessly pacing the office.
Jack: Hey. What’re you watching?
Teal’c: A digital image. I am endeavoring to translate the Goa’uld writings of which Daniel Jackson had spoken.
Jack: 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.
Daniel slams a book down on the desk and looks at the hand device in frustration. Jack and Teal’c look at him in concern.
Jack: He never mentioned anyone else.
Daniel: What is wrong with this thing? This thing isn’t working.
Jack: Did you check the batteries?
Daniel: I need to go back to the planet and figure out what’s going on.
Jack: Hammond suggested we do that tomorrow.
Daniel: Well, this thing isn’t working, and tomorrow isn’t good enough.
Jack: Yes, it is.
Daniel: I’m going to talk to Hammond.
Daniel walks out of the room.
Jack: Hey!
Jack follows Daniel.
Hammond’s Office
Daniel is leaning over the desk at which General Hammond is seated. Jack is leaning with his back against the wall.
Hammond: Have you slept at all since you returned?
Daniel: I fail to see what that has to do with anything.
Hammond: SG-1 has been hard at it for weeks. I’m not sending you anywhere until you’ve all had at least a night’s sleep.
Daniel: I’m fine.
Hammond: You’re physically and mentally exhausted.
Daniel: Well, 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.
Jack: Thank you for your time, sir.
Daniel: You know, it is beyond my comprehension how anybody like yourself who has so much power can miss the point entirely.
Jack: 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 of his 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?
Jack: Yes, sir, he does.
Hammond: Get him out of here.
Daniel walks out unaided. Jack hesitates, but follows.
The shot goes to the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain, and then to the SGC Control Room
Jack, Teal’c, and Sam are geared up and ready to gate out.
Hammond: What’s the delay?
Sam: Daniel hasn’t reported in this morning, sir.
Hammond: What?
Sam: 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.
Jack: Maybe I should give him a wake-up call, sir.
Hammond: Sounds to me like he could use one.
Four-Story Apartment Building - Daniel’s Apartment
The shot cuts to inside Daniel’s apartment. The front door is ajar, so Jack pushes it the whole way open.
Jack: Daniel?
Jack walks into the apartment and closes the door behind him. We hear the sound of the phone that is off the hook. Daniel’s glasses are resting beside the phone. We hear the sound of a kettle whistling on the stove. Jack approaches the kitchen, but then turns towards the open balcony door. Jack goes to the balcony door and sees Daniel standing on the edge of the platform on the opposite side of the railing from Jack. Daniel is holding onto the rail leaning forward. as if he is about to jump. His eyes are closed, and he is dressed casually.
Jack: Daniel?
Jack steps into the doorway but doesn’t go onto the balcony.
Jack: What are you doing out here?
Daniel: None of it means anything.
Jack: Um, Daniel, why don’t you come inside here?
Daniel: I tried. It just goes away.
Jack: Okay. Well, we’ll get it back.
Daniel: Can’t get it back.
Jack: Whatever’s wrong, we’ll...we’ll fix it.
Daniel bows his head; he is obviously upset.
Daniel: You don’t even know what I’m talking about.
Jack: No. No, I don’t. But - come inside.
There is a sudden change in Daniel. He looks around as if he’s just woken up.
Daniel: Jack?
Jack quickly steps onto the balcony and grabs Daniel’s arm.
Jack: Yeah.
Jack rubs Daniel’s shoulder and arm, holding him there as Daniel looks around, confused and frightened (dare I say scared?).
SGC Infirmary
Daniel is lying in a bed, oxygen monitor on his finger, oxygen tubes in his nose, a whole mess of monitor wires running up from under his medical gown. He is unconscious. Fraiser is standing behind a computer screen showing a PET scan. Jack and General Hammond are standing at the foot of Daniel’s bed.
Fraiser: The PET scan reveals his neurological activity is slowing.
Jack: So?
Fraiser: Neurotransmitters relay messages within the body. Too many or too few of these chemicals transmissions can result in anxiety, depression, or a number of emotional or physical disorders.
Jack: Does this have anything to do with Barber’s thing?
Fraiser: The remaining members of SG-5 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.
Jack: 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 P4X-347 have ruled out all the usual suspects — air, radiation...
Jack: So, if we retrace SG-5’s tracks, we may be able to come up with something?
Hammond: I’m afraid not, Colonel, until we get a grasp on it.
Jack: 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.
Jack: So we go in MOP2 and bring back samples of the usual suspects.
Hammond: You’ve made your case, Colonel. Watch your step.
Jack: Thank you, sir.
The shot goes to the trip through a Stargate’s wormhole. It then cuts to the Goa’uld palace on P4X-347. Jack, Teal’c, and Sam step through the ’gate wearing masks.
Jack: Well, I can see why Daniel was so hot on this place.
Teal’c: Indeed.
Jack (to Sam) : What’cha got?
Sam: The air’s fine, just like the MALP indicated. Whatever affected Daniel and SG-5, they didn’t breathe it in.
The three of them remove their masks.
Jack: Okay, watch your step.
They start looking around and see a shadow moving between the pillars. They approach cautiously. The shadow dashes across the doorway to a room and they see it is a boy.
Sam: It’s just a kid - obviously scared to death of us.
They enter a room in which a blueish-purplish light is being projected from the top of a pedestal to cover the ceiling and the walls.
Teal’c: I believe this is the room of light of which Daniel Jackson has spoken.
Jack: Really? Carter, what are we looking at here?
Sam: Ah, it doesn’t seem to be giving off any detectable radiation other than visible light. I think it’s just decorative.
Jack: Safe?
Teal’c: It is most difficult to believe that something so beautiful could be dangerous, O’Neill.
Jack: No.
The three of them are hypnotized by the light. Jack finally looks away.
Jack: Phew. He clears his throat. We’ll come back to look at it. Let’s go.
Jack walks out of the room, but Sam and Teal’c remain, staring at the light.
Jack: Hey, let’s go.
Sam: Right. Sorry, sir.
Sam and Teal’c follow Jack out of the room.
A Palace Corridor
Jack, Sam, and Teal’c are walking along.
Sam: Sir, I’d like to perform a full spectrum analysis on that light.
Jack: Later.
Sam: I think there might be a relationship between the light and what’s happening to Daniel.
Jack: Thought you said it wasn’t dangerous?
Sam: I’m sure it isn’t, sir, it’s just...
Sam approaches a door that is ajar and aims her weapon inside. Jack pushes the door slowly and steps inside the room. Sam and Teal’c follow him inside. Jack finds the boy hiding behind a pillar.
Jack: Hi. I’m Jack. And you are...? The boy doesn’t answer. Nice digs. Kind of remind me of my first apartment. How are the people upstairs?
Loran: Loran.
Jack: I’m sorry; I don’t know what Loran means.
Loran: It’s me.
Jack: Hi, Loran.
Loran: Jack.
Jack: Yeah. Anyone else live here with you?
Loran: Mother and father.
Jack: Can you take me to them? I’d like to talk to them.
Loran: No. They’re not here.
Jack: Not in this place? So, you’re here alone?
Loran: Yes.
Jack: Well, Loran, some of my people came here a few days ago.
Loran: I was hiding.
Jack: Yeah, 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?
Loran shakes his head no, but it is uncertain.
Jack: Okay. Well, we’re going to have to look around a little more. Maybe you should come along.
Sam (via radio) : Colonel. General Hammond has activated the ’gate and is on the radio.
Jack: All right; go ahead. I’ll be there. Come on.
Palace Gate Room
The MALP camera is activated. Through the camera, we see Sam and Teal’c coming into the room. Jack approaches the camera. Loran follows Jack. The shot goes to the SGC control room. General Hammond is standing in front of the MALP computer screen.
Hammond: This is Hammond. Come in, Colonel.
On the screen, we see Jack and Loran talking.
Loran: Where is he?
Jack: He’s just sending his voice over the radio through this thing here. (into the MALP microphone) We read you, General.
Hammond: I see you’ve made a friend, Colonel.
Jack: Yes, sir. Loran, General Hammond.
Loran (to Jack) : He can see me?
Hammond: Yes, I can, son.
Loran: Hi.
Jack: We haven’t found anything yet, sir, but wevve only been at it a few minutes.
Hammond: It’s been well over an hour, Colonel.
Jack: Well, that can’t be.
Hammond: Jack, I have some bad news. All of SG-5 are dead.
The shot goes to the palace gate room.
Sam: Oh, no.
Teal’c: What of the condition of Daniel Jackson?
The shot goes back to General Hammond in the SGC control room.
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.
SGC Gate Room
The iris opens and the wormhole engages. Jack comes through and walks down the ramp. Waiting for him are Dr. Fraiser and a medic. Jack gives Dr. Fraiser a large vial.
Jack: Here are your samples.
Fraiser: Did you get the boy’s?
Jack: Yeah, it’s in there.
Fraiser (to the medic) : Get this off to the lab.
Dr. Fraiser gives the vial to the medic, who leaves the gate room.
Jack: How’s he doing?
Fraiser: I’m afraid his condition is unchanged, sir.
Jack: Okay.
Palace Light Room
Sam is seen working, but then she is drawn to the light.
Loran’s Room at the Palace
Teal’c is holding a picture of Loran and his parents.
Teal’c: So, approximately how long ago was this image recorded?
Loran: That’s my home. Before we came here.
Teal’c: So, your parents brought you here from another world?
Loran: Yeah. They were explorers. Kind of like you, I guess. So, they came here, then...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.
Loran: Well, none of your friends are in here. Hey, uh, I have to show you something. This was a present from my father on my birthday.
Loran gets out a toy gun-like weapon. Teal’c gets out his zat because he thinks the toy is a real weapon.
Loran: No, it’s not real.
Loran gives the toy to Teal’c.
Teal’c: Children of the Tau’ri also seem to enjoy colorful weapons that have no function.
Loran: It’s fun.
Teal’c activates the toy, making the one end light up in different colors, and there is the sound of a phaser. Loran laughs.
Teal’c: I see. On my home world of Chulak, we do not celebrate the anniversary of one’s birth.
Loran (surprised) : No presents?
Teal’c: It is a day like any other.
Loran: Well, how do you know how old you are?
Teal’c: I am one hundred and one years of age.
Loran (surprised) : You don’t look that old.
Teal’c: So I have been told.
Loran: So, when do you turn 102?
Teal’c: In 47 days.
Teal’c offers the toy back to Loran.
Loran: Keep it. It’s a birthday present.
Teal’c: I cannot.
Loran: In 47 days, you’ll be gone. Right? You keep it.
Teal’c activates the toy again and smiles.
SGC Infirmary
Daniel is still unconscious on the bed. We hear the sound of various monitors in the background. Jack is sitting on the bed next to Daniel’s. Dr. Fraiser is checking another patient on a bed behind them. Jack Stands up and walks to the foot of Daniel’s bed. He picks up a metal clipboard and slams it down on a cart and leans his elbows on the cart, putting his head into his hands.
Fraiser: Colonel? Are you all right?
Jack: What kind of dumb-ass question is that? My friend is lying here on his deathbed. I’m fine.
Fraiser: We’re working on the problem, sir.
Jack: 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?
Jack (as if trying to convince himself) : I’m fine.
Fraiser: Sir, I’d like to recheck your dopamine levels.
Jack: It’s happening to me, isn’t it?
Fraiser: Let me find out, please.
The shot cuts to Jack lying on a bed in the infirmary. A medic has checked his blood pressure and walks away. General Hammond approaches as she leaves.
Fraiser: Whatever’s causing this actually accelerates neural activity in the brain and causes a dopamine-like effect in the body.
Jack: Kind of 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 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.
Jack: 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 that your exposure wasn’t long enough for your symptoms to get as bad as they did with Daniel and the others.
Jack: 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 monitor starts beeping.
Jack: What’s that?
Fraiser: His EEG is sporadic. This is exactly what happened to the members of SG-5 before they died. Sir, you’re going to have to take him back to the planet.
The shot goes to an SGC corridor, where a few medics, Jack, and Dr. Fraiser are rushing Daniel (on a gurney) through the corridor.
Fraiser: Once you’re there, I’ll need you to send me his vital signs every...
Daniel flatlines.
Fraiser: He’s coding. No time to resuscitate. Let’s go!
They enter the gate room. The ’gate is already active. They stop at the base of the ramp. Jack lifts the unconscious Daniel from the gurney and tosses him over his shoulders, carrying him up the ramp and through the Stargate.
The shot cuts to the gate room of the palace.
Jack dumps Daniel on the floor, cradling his head. He drops down beside Daniel.
Jack: Daniel. Daniel. Come on, come on. Damn it. Daniel. Let’s go, come on.
Jack attempts to awaken Daniel by shaking his shoulders and smacking his cheeks.
Jack: Carter! Teal’c!
Loran steps out from behind a pillar.
Jack: Where are my friends?
Loran: With the light.
Jack: Get them for me, will you?
Loran: They won’t come.
Jack: Well, try!
Loran hesitates, but then leaves. Daniel wakes up.
Palace Light Room
Jack walks in while Loran stays outside.
Loran (to Jack) : I’m not allowed to go in there.
Jack shakes Sam, who is staring at the light along with Teal’c.
Jack: For God’s sake. Carter! Carter, wake up.
Sam: You’re back, sir! When?
Jack: Teal’c? Teal’c, come on. Yeah, come on out of here right now.
Palace Gate Room
Daniel is sitting on the platform beside the Stargate, his arms folded across his knees, his head on his arms. Jack, Sam, and Teal’c enter the room.
Teal’c: Daniel Jackson.
Jack: Yep. Had to bring him back. It was the only thing that was going to keep him alive.
Jack sits down beside Daniel on the platform.
Sam: Sir, how long were you gone?
Jack: Few hours. Hammond tried to contact you.
Teal’c: He did not.
Loran: He did. Uh, I heard his voice.
Sam: Where were we?
Loran: In there.
Sam: I can’t explain it, sir.
Jack: Fraiser thinks we’re all addicted to something here that alters our brain chemistry. And dollars to doughnuts, it’s that damn light.
Sam: Oh, I don’t see how that’s possible.
Jack (to Loran) : Hey. You knew, didn’t you?
Loran (obviously lying) : No.
Jack: That’s why you’re not allowed in there.
Loran: My father said I was too young.
Jack: Uh, huh.
Sam: Sir, if it’s the light itself, then how did Daniel recover just by arriving on the planet?
Jack: I don’t know, Major, but I want you to find out. Otherwise, we’re stuck here indefinitely, and that’s not acceptable. Ah, screw it, we’re shutting that thing off.
Jack leaves to go to the light room.
Loran: No.
Jack: You stay here.
Palace Light Room
Sam and Jack are looking around.
Sam: What are we looking for, sir?
Jack: The off switch. After some searching... All right, if we can’t shut the thing off...we’ll...
Jack is distracted by the light.
Teal’c: O’Neill!
Jack: Oh, man. Damn, that thing’s dangerous.
Sam: My guess is the control mechanism is somewhere inside this pedestal. If we focus our attention on that, we should be all right.
SGC Control Room
General Hammond is standing in front of the computer screen showing the MALP transmission. We see Daniel on the screen.
Hammond: Glad to see you’re 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. Um, 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?
The shot cuts to Daniel walking into the light room at the palace.
Daniel: Guys, I’ve figured out how to...
Jack, Sam, and Teal’c are all staring at the light. Daniel activates the hand-held device, switching off the light.
Sam: How did you do that?
Daniel: Remote control.
Jack: I thought that thing was broken.
Daniel: Yeah, you were right — it was the, uh, the batteries.
Jack: 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.
Jack: How long were we standing here?
Daniel: I’m not sure. General Hammond sent some supplies and Loran and I figured out how to translate the writing on this thing, so...
Jack: 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 Loran’s help, the Goa’uld used to use this place as some sort of...opium den. The only difference is their symbiotes 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 this planet.
Jack: Oh, how nice for you.
Sam: 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.
Jack: Let’s take advantage of that time.
The shot goes to SG-1 walking into the gate room at the palace.
Jack: Loran.
Loran: Jack.
Jack: All right. Where did your parents actually go?
Loran: Far, far away from here.
Jack: How far? Which direction? When Loran doesn’t answer, Jack turns to the rest of SG-1. Kid’s hiding something. Teal’c, Carter, with me.
The shot changes to a beach, presumedly somewhere near the palace. The beach is lined with statues.
Jack: What?
Sam: I guess the reality that we may never go home is starting to set in.
Jack: Oh, Hammond’ll keep us supplied with everything we need until we can figure this out. It’s a nice beach.
Sam: It’d be a good excuse for you, wouldn’t it?
Jack: Huh?
Sam: To do nothing for a while.
Jack: What?
Sam: Forget it.
Jack: That would be “Forget it, sir.”
Sam: Oh, please; you think I’m keeping that up if we’re stuck here forever?
Jack: Listen, Major...
Sam: No way.
Jack: That’s “No way, Colonel.”
Sam: I’m supposed to accept that? That’s the way it’s going to be?
Jack: That’s the way it is.
Sam: What difference does it make? It’s not up to you.
Jack: Carter! You’re in withdrawal.
Sam: Oh, I’m in withdrawal?!
Jack: Yes! So am I.
Teal’c: O’Neill. Major Carter. I believe I have located the parents of Loran.
Teal’c shows Jack and Sam two half-buried skeletons.
Palace Gate Room
Daniel is sitting on the platform reading an instruction manual. Loran shows him a picture of his parents on the back of an alien camera.
Loran: That’s my mother and father there. That’s me.
Daniel: You were a lot younger there.
Loran: Yeah, it’s old.
Daniel: Yeah, about that...
Loran: Hey, can I take an image of you?
Daniel: Sure.
Loran takes a picture of Daniel.
Loran: That’s great. I’m sorry that you can’t leave.
Daniel: Are you? Loran gives him an odd look. I mean, it makes sense that you’d want some company. I’m just thinking maybe that’s the reason you didn’t tell us how dangerous the light was.
Loran: No.
Daniel: It’s okay; I’m not mad.
Loran: That’s not why.
Jack, Sam, and Teal’c enter the room.
Daniel: What’s wrong?
Jack: Oh, we’re going through that withdrawal thing again.
Daniel: I felt fine the whole time you were gone.
Sam: Actually, sir, I’m starting to feel myself again.
Jack: Me, too. What’s going on?
Sam: Well, something other than that light must be affecting us.
Teal’c: And we must remain in close proximity.
Daniel: So, not only are we stuck here — we’re - we’re stuck here.
Palace Light Room
SG-1 and Loran are standing next to the pedestal.
Jack: Well, it’s sure not as much fun to look at with the light off.
Teal’c: I feel no compulsion to remain here.
Sam: Sir, I think you may be onto something.
Jack: How’s that?
Sam: The light isn’t what’s affecting our minds — it’s just something to take advantage of our altered state of our brain chemistry.
Daniel: So...entertainment?
Sam: Well, probably more than that. The color and light interaction with our optic nerve probably triggers the chemical responses, but it’s not the direct cause of the imbalance.
Jack: What is the cause, then?
Sam: There must be a hidden device emitting some form of energy or radiation that we can’t detect with our instruments.
Jack: All right, Loran. Why doesn’t this room seem to affect you?
Loran: I’m too young.
Jack: How do you know that?
Loran: My father told me.
Sam: It is possible that this place can only affect an adult physiology.
Jack: Fraiser says he’s just as addicted as we are.
Loran: She’s right. The light didn’t have any affect on me.
Jack: Then, what’d it do to your parents? Loran doesn’t answer. We need to know what this thing does.
Loran: When they get back, they’ll explain.
Jack: They’re not coming back! You know that.
Loran: They are.
Jack: Someone buried those bodies! Now, how do you shut that thing off?!
Loran activates something on the pedestal and the base lowers to expose a power center, then runs out of the room.
Jack: Figure that thing out.
Sam: Yes, sir.
Loran’s Room
Loran is sitting looking at his picture of his parents. Jack enters and sits down next to Loran.
Jack: Hey. I’m sorry. Nice picture. Your parents?
Loran: I killed them.
Jack: You did? I find that... Jack stops when he sees Loran’s face. What happened?
Loran: 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 every day. But they’d just tell me to bring them things.
Jack: Okay. So you did that. And?
Loran: 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 that it would hurt them. I just wanted to go home.
Jack: Hey, it’s not your fault.
Loran (now crying) : 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, and I’d turned it back on, but they just kept on going. And then they were gone. Next day I found them on the shore.
Jack: Loran. You were trying to help them. You were trying to free them from something. It wasn’t your fault.
Loran: I miss them.
Jack: Yeah.
Palace Light Room
Daniel, Sam, and Teal’c are working on the pedestal base.
Jack: What have you got?
Daniel: We think we can turn it off.
Loran: Don’t let them. You’ll die like my parents.
Sam: If we shut if off cold turkey, Loran 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.
Sam: We’ve already taken it down a notch without any harm.
Teal’c: Within two or three weeks your brain chemistry will return to normal. You may then return home.
Jack: 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.
Loran: And then you’ll leave?
Jack: I think we all will. Right?
Jack looks at Sam expectantly.
Sam: Yeah. He should return to normal along with the rest of us.
Loran: I - I can go with you?
Jack: Sure. Come on. Let’s go see Teal’c off. You like ice cream?
Loran: What’s ice cream?
Closing Credits
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