Title: Sing the City Electric
Team: Team Angst
Prompt: Face the Music
Pairing(s): McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: "You know the Ancients loved to leave warning labels. Especially the ones that say, 'Caution—may cause everyone to spontaneously burst into song.'"


[ACT ONE]

[Open on: Atlantis' gym. John is running a group of Marines through combat drills. He demonstrates a move, then watches as the Marines copy it, leaning against the wall in a not-at-all-gay way. Finished, the Marines clear the space and John steps forward to demonstrate something else.

As he reaches the center of the mat, he pauses, a puzzled but almost revelatory look crossing his face. Then suddenly—he spreads his arms and sings—]

JOHN[1]
Lantean rhythm it's got me, ev'rybody dance!

[An awkward pause as the Marines all stare at him. Then just as suddenly—]

MARINES
Lantean rhythm it's got me, ev'rybody dance!

[John steps out to the front and leads his, er, troops through their dance moves.]

JOHN
Out on the gay white way
Through gentle sea spray
Alien whales do play
Taking our cares away...
Lantean rhythm it's got me, ev'rybody sing and dance!

[John and the Marines proceed to do a elaborate soft-shoe number.]

JOHN
When I hear that happy beat
I feel like dancing down the street
To that Lantean rhythm—

MARINES
Gotta dance!

JOHN
Gotta dance!

[The Marines have paired off, and are whirling each other delicately across the floor.]

MARINES
Gotta dance!
Gotta dance!
Gotta dance!

JOHN
That's the Lantean—
Melodyyyyyy!

[They all strike dynamic final poses. Then suddenly, John blinks.]

JOHN: [speaking] Oh, I'm gonna kill McKay!

[He races out of the room. In the background, a Marine does a lovely pirouette.]

[Cut to: Rodney's lab.

Rodney leaves his computer and goes to talk to Radek, who has some reports for him. Before he can say anything, John bursts into the room.]

JOHN: McKay!

RODNEY: Radio too tricky for you, Colonel?

[John puts his hands on his hips and eyes Rodney suspiciously.]

JOHN: Rodney, have you noticed anything...odd today?

RODNEY: You mean, besides your ha— [Radek is tapping the stack of reports impatiently] Yes, what?

RADEK: Doctor Moses from Botany needs you to sign off on these.

RODNEY: [Snatching them out of Radek's hand] Fine! [He glances at them] Wait, what?

RODNEY[2]
[Gesturing angrily at the report]
Moses supposes his toeses are roses
But Moses supposes erroneously!
Moses, he knowses his toeses aren't roses
As Moses supposes his toeses to be!

[Rodney swiftly clamps a hand over his mouth.]

JOHN: I mean something like that. [Pause] You have a Doctor Moses?

RODNEY: [Speaking carefully out of the side of his mouth] Conference room. Now.

[They start to leave. Radek is now drumming the remaining reports on his knee.]

RADEK
[Almost to himself]
A rose is a rose.
A nose is a nose.
A toes is a toes.

RODNEY: [From the doorway, summoning] Radek!

RADEK
[With a clever little bit of tap dancing]
Hupidubidu!

[He follows, whistling.]

[Cut to: John, Rodney, and Radek racing up the control room stairs. (Radek is actually more dancing up them.)]

JOHN: Elizabeth! We have a—

ELIZABETH[3]
[Wringing her hands]
How do you solve a problem like this console?

CHUCK
[Turning a crystal he's studying back and forth in his hands]
How do you tell which end goes up or down?

[Rodney grabs John's elbow and steers him toward the conference room.]

RODNEY: Let's just wait in here till they're done.

[A little later, in the conference room:

John, Rodney, Radek, Teyla, Ronon, Carson and Lorne have all assembled. Lorne has his arms crossed and looks suspicious.]

LORNE: So you're telling me that the whole city has come down with a case of musical theater? [Pause] Is that a euphemism, sir?

[Elizabeth comes in, looking a little shaky.]

ELIZABETH: Sorry I'm late. I got refrained. Detained!

TEYLA: What has happened? Everyone is behaving...strangely.

CARSON: I've had nine cases of blisters in the past hour!

RONON: I keep having to pick girls up over my head and spin them. [Teyla looks at him] It's bad for my back.

ELIZABETH: Rodney...

RODNEY: What, why does everyone keep looking at me? I didn't do anything.

JOHN: Then what's going on?

[Rodney abruptly leans forward, finger extended.]

RODNEY[4]
I've got a theory
That it's those Ancients
An Ancient device—
No, something isn't right there.

TEYLA
I have a theory
If we're just patient
And trust the Ancestors
The truth will be laid bare.

ELIZABETH
I've got a theory we should work this out.

ALL
[Looking around at each other, bemused, puzzled]
It's getting eerie
What's this cheery
Singing all about?

LORNE
[Standing up excitedly]
It could be Genii
Some evil Genii

[Elizabeth gives him the stink eye. Lorne sinks back down.]

LORNE
Which is ridiculous
The Genii
They're our allies
Ladon good
And love the clothes
And nuclear power
And I'll be over here.

JOHN
I've got a theory
It could be clowns.

[Crickets chirp.]

RADEK
I've got a—

JOHN
[Springing to his feet]
Clowns aren't just fun like everybody supposes!
They've got those giant shoes and red enormous noses!
And what's with all the balloons?
Is a sausage dog army to be unleashed someday?
Clowns, clowns
It must be clowns!

[Everyone gives him a "you are nuts" look.]

JOHN
Or maybe midgets?

ELIZABETH
I've got a theory
We should work this fast

RODNEY & ELIZABETH
Because it clearly
Could get serious
[They give John a look like he seriously needs help]
Before it's passed.

CARSON
I've got a theory—
It doesn't matter
What can't we face if we're together?
What's in this place that we can't weather?

TEYLA & RONON
[Looking fondly at each other]
Wraith attacks—we've all been there
The same old tricks; we'll fight with flair!

ALL
What can't we do if we get in it?
We'll—

RODNEY
[Interrupting]
I'll
work it through

ALL
—within a minute.
We have to try—

CARSON
[Looking nervous]
But no new drugs!

JOHN
Hey, what do you care?
I turned into a bug!

[The mutual glaring subsides long enough for:]

ALL
What can't we face
If we're together?
What's in this place
That we can't weather?

RONON
There's nothing we can't face.

JOHN
[Gloomy]
Except for clowns.

[There is a considerable pause after the music dies out. Then:]

LORNE: Do you know what I used to do for SGC? I used to guard a mine.

[He looks into the middle distance, nostalgic.]

ELIZABETH: In the course of your work, have any of you ever come across any references to something like this?

RODNEY: Oh, yes. You know the Ancients loved to leave warning labels. Especially the ones that say, 'Caution—may cause everyone to spontaneously burst into song.'

TEYLA: Among my people, it is known that every hundred years, the Ancestors would hold a great music festival, but this—

RONON: Doesn't seem like it.

RODNEY: Yeah, musical theater doesn't strike me as the Ancients' style.

RADEK: More like Greek tragedy.

JOHN: They do like their flowing white robes.

ELIZABETH: Can we stay on topic? [She smiles stiffly] Every time I open my mouth I'm afraid I'm going to launch into 'Music of the Night.'

JOHN: [Leaning back in his chair] Gotta love some Andrew Lloyd Webber.

[Everyone stares. Lorne coughs, uncomfortably.]

JOHN: What?

[Rodney cuts through John's discomfort with a sigh.]

RODNEY: So, let me guess. We know nothing, but we're going to pretend like we have a really good plan, which actually mostly involves Elizabeth checking the database and me and Radek making sure that some idiot didn't accidentally turn on the Happy Feet device.

[Elizabeth nods and rises.]

ELIZABETH: Yes, thank you. [As everyone starts to file out:] Break a leg!

[Pause.]

ELIZABETH: Sorry.

[Cut to: Somewhere in the bowels of Atlantis.

Rodney is inspecting a bunch of devices that other scientists have admitted to having activated or tried to activate recently. He's frowning, but also humming softly to himself as he works.

John comes in the door but doesn't immediately speak. He stands and watches Rodney for several seconds.

Finally, almost painfully, he makes himself say—]

JOHN: Hey.

RODNEY: [Looking up, distracted] Oh. Hello.

JOHN: [Coming closer] How's it going?

[Rodney picks up a cylindrical device, about the size of a cucumber. He waves it in front of John's face.]

RODNEY: Does this look like a musical theater device to you?

JOHN: Um. [He actually flushes] It looks like, um.

RODNEY: [Oblivious] No, none of these do! And of course, none of them come with helpful tags: 'Will induce best-forgotten memories of theater camp.' [He tosses the shiny silver cylinder down] This is ridiculous.

JOHN: [Giving Rodney's shoulder an awkward nudge] Why don't you take a break? [He subtly steels himself—his posture is the picture of self-sacrifice] I, uh. I saw Katie on the way here. You could go sing sappy love songs to each other.

RODNEY: [Sighing] Yeah, right. What do I know about love songs? I'm not sure I've ever even really been in love.

[As John processes this—]

RODNEY: In lust, yes. In hot, seemingly anatomically impossible monkey sex, yes. But in love...?

JOHN: [Not quite looking at Rodney] I'm sure you're just overthinking it. Katie's a great girl, you're probably in love and you just don't realize it because you're overthinking it.

RODNEY: [Glares] I'm not an idiot, I think I'd know I was in love if I really was!

[John lets out a shaky laugh.]

JOHN: Right. So, if you were in love with—ridiculous example—if you were in love with me, how would you know?

RODNEY: I don't know how I'd know, but I'd know. If I loved you.

RODNEY[5]
When I'd work in my lab, making calculations
I'd gaze absent-minded at the roof
And half the time Radek would rip my work to shreds
Finding error after error in the proofs
If I loved you...

JOHN: But you don't.

RODNEY: No, of course I don't!

RODNEY
Yet somehow I can see
Just exactly how I'd be...

[As he sings, Rodney moves so he's never quite facing John, carefully putting more and more distance, and soon the lab bench, between them.]

RODNEY
If I loved you
Time and again I would try to say
All I'd want you to know.

[John looks away just as Rodney glances up.]

RODNEY
If I loved you
Words wouldn't come in an easy way—

JOHN: Not even to you?

RODNEY: No, not even to me—

RODNEY
Round in circles I'd go!

[He's around at the other side of the table now. He starts putting catalogued items back in their box, focusing fiercely on his task.]

RODNEY
Longing to tell you
But afraid and shy
I'd let my golden chances pass me by!

[Close on Rodney's face. He closes his eyes. We flash back to:]

RODNEY
Soon you'd leave me

[John running out of the chair room in 'The Siege.' Silently he mouths, 'So long, Rodney.']

RODNEY
Off you would go in the mist of day
Never, never to know—

[In flashback Rodney watches John's jumper move closer to its target. Then as it explodes, the screen whites out—]

RODNEY
How I loved you—

[Back in the lab, Rodney opens his eyes.]

RODNEY
[Quietly]
If I loved you.

[When he finishes the silence is too profound. Both men are uncomfortable.]

JOHN: [Hastily] Well, anyway—you mean you don't love me. That's what you said, isn't it?

RODNEY: [Once again indignant and brash] Of course! Don't be an idiot!

[He looks down at the device in his hand and lets out a frustrated sigh.]

RODNEY: None of these will even light up for me! This is useless!

JOHN: Come on, let's go for a walk.

RODNEY: Fine.

[He thrusts the device he's holding at John and shrugs on his coat. Then silently, and without needing to declare their destination, they walk out of the lab, down the hall, and onto one of the balconies.

Dusk has fallen. John moves and leans against the railing, staring out.]

JOHN: There's not much wind tonight...hardly any.

JOHN
You can't hear a sound, not a jumper in gear
Nor the fall of a wave hitting the sand.
The tide creeps up like a thief onto the pier
Afraid to be caught stealing the land.
On a night like this I start to wonder
[He searches out Rodney's eyes, looking far deeper and more intimately than he may even want to]
What life is all about...

RODNEY
[Sarcastically]
Well, don't ask me, the universe's brainiest guy, to figure it out!

[John's eyes go dark. He's suddenly not amused anymore.]

JOHN: I don't need you, I don't need anybody! I've got it all figured out for myself. What are we? [He gestures up at the sky] Just a couple of specks of nothing. Look up there...

JOHN
Why you can't even count the stars in the sky
And the sky's so big the sea looks small
And two little people, you and I
We don't count at all.

JOHN: Stop making me think otherwise.

RODNEY: [Scoffs] Like I care what your stunted brain 'thinks.'

JOHN: Well, stop putting ideas in my head then! Making me wonder what it'd be like...

RODNEY: What?

JOHN: [Turning around so his back's to the ocean and he's facing away from Rodney] Nothing.

[Suddenly he changes his mind, swivels back around.]

JOHN: No, I know what it'd be like. It'd be awful! I can just see myself—

JOHN
Kinda scrawny and pale
Picking at my food
And love-sick like any other guy
I'd talk about my feelings, never more exclude
What I really truly wanted from my life.
If I loved you.

RODNEY: But you don't.

JOHN: No, I don't!

JOHN
Yet somehow I can see
Just exactly how I'd be...

[They both turn to look out at the waves.]

JOHN
If I loved you
Time and again I would try to say
All I'd want you to know

RODNEY: [Looking nervously at his hands] Good thing I already know everything, huh?

JOHN: Yes. But—

JOHN
If I loved you
Words wouldn't come in an easy way
Round in circles I'd go!

[John grips the rail so tight his knuckles turn white. We flash back—]

JOHN
Longing to tell you
But afraid and shy

[—to 'Tao of Rodney': Rodney holding his head and collapsing in John's arms.]

JOHN
I'd let my golden chances pass me by!
Soon you'd leave me

[In flashback, Rodney lies dying in the infirmary. Tears sting at John's eyes, but he still can only say, 'The way a friend feels about another friend.']

JOHN
Off you would go in the mist of day
Never, never to know
How I loved you—

[John lets go of the rail and steps back.]

JOHN
[Oddly resigned.]
If I loved you.

[John shakes his head quickly, dismissing everything he just said.]

JOHN: Of course, I'm not the kind of guy who really commits to anybody. Even if a, if a person were foolish enough to want me to, I wouldn't!

RODNEY: [Shaking his head, too] Don't worry about it...Kirk.

JOHN: [Running a hand through his hair] Right. Who's worried?

[Both of their radios crackle.]

ELIZABETH: [On the radio] Sheppard, McKay, I need you to report to the control room immediately!

JOHN: C'mon.

[Realizing he still has the device Rodney handed him in the lab, John pushes it at Rodney's chest.

For the second they're both touching it, it lights up.]

[Cut to: the control room.

Elizabeth and Radek are frowning at the display screen, which is showing a map of various gate locations, as John and Rodney come in.]

JOHN: Did you find something?

RADEK: No, this is unrelated, I think—

RODNEY: Oh, thank god!

[He is shot assorted quizzical looks.]

RODNEY: No, not that it's unrelated, that Radek isn't singing. I don't think I could have handled musical exposition.

JOHN: Great, well you probably jinxed that.

RADEK: As I was saying—

ELIZABETH: Yes, please go ahead.

[She glares at Rodney and John.]

RADEK: Right. Well, I'm sure you remember, we have made a habit of leaving certain of our allies with emergency broadcast signals, in case of Wraith attacks or other incidents.

[He points at the screen, where one of the planets is lit up.]

RADEK: Twenty minutes ago, the emergency signal on Staas started broadcasting.

JOHN: Okay, well, send a team.

[Radek shakes his head.]

RADEK: Five minutes later, two more went off. Then another three minutes after that. Since then, four more.

JOHN: Okay, that's bad.

RODNEY: Bad timing, is what it is!

[Another 'look.']

RODNEY: I mean, we can't go out like this! Oh, sure, we all seem really threatening when we gear up and Ronon, you know, looks at people, but we not going to fight off any threats as the Atlantis Experimental Dance Troupe!

[John shifts uncomfortably.]

JOHN: He has a point.

RODNEY: Worse, have you noticed that when you get— [His fingers dance] —Saturday Night Fever, you, um. [He deliberately does not look at John] Become somewhat indiscriminate about the information you reveal?

JOHN: He's right, Elizabeth—what if we start singing out our IDCs or other secrets...

ELIZABETH: I understand your concern, but we made an agreement with these people. We can't back out on it.

RADEK: Also, here is a question. The singing—is it just us? Is it just here, in the city?

ELIZABETH: Yes, that's something I think we definitely need to establish.

[Rodney ventures a quick glance at John, then looks back at the screen.]

RODNEY: Darn it. You're right.

JOHN: All right. We'll go.

RODNEY: Uh, don't you think Lorne's team might be—

JOHN: I said we'll go.

RODNEY: [Muttering to himself] And we're off to see the wizard...

[Cut to: the gateroom.

John's team is all present, adjusting straps on their tac vests. Elizabeth watches from the balcony, while behind her, Chuck gets ready to dial.]

TEYLA[6]
Through the stargate
It's time to go

RODNEY
I hate to leave—

JOHN
You have to, though

RONON
Through the stargate
It's time, and so

TEAM
We must begin our journey

TEYLA
Through the stargate
Across vast space

JOHN
Explorers we are

RONON
We have to go far

RODNEY
Through the stargate
To this emergency signal?

REST OF TEAM
Through the stargate
To this emergency signal!

ELIZABETH: You're sure you can locate the source?

RODNEY
[Nodding confidently]
The way is clear
The signal is good
[Falters]
I—well, I have a bit of fear
[Growing indignant]
As well I should!
The equipment is Ancient
It's misunderstood!

RONON
[Aside, to John]
I sort of hate to ask it
But is he gonna blow a gasket?

[The wormhole engages.]

TEYLA
Through the stargate
We say farewell

RODNEY
The wormhole's Lorentzian
Or couldn't you tell?

JOHN
Through the stargate
And what the hell
It's all about the journey

RONON
Through the stargate
I'll bring my blade
'Cause people there
Could use my aid

TEYLA
Never can tell
What lies ahead

RODNEY
For all that we know
They're already dead!

JOHN
But through the stargate!

RODNEY
[Nodding his head, conceding]
Through the stargate

TEAM
Through the stargate
To the emergency signal!

[They go through, and the wormhole shuts down. Elizabeth stands on her own, hand clasped below her throat, over where Simon's necklace used to hang.]

ELIZABETH
[To herself, quiet and hopeful]
And home before dark.

[Cut to: a Wraith ship, spinning high above a planet.

A Queen stands in the center of her chamber. She's surrounded by lesser Wraith, both the Marilyn Manson chin-beard type, and the masked drones. She addresses all gathered.]

QUEEN: Against the Lanteans we're going to need every Wraith we've got. [A hiss] Where is Michael?

A WRAITH (WHO WE'LL CALL GEORGE): Michael doesn't...belong any more!

QUEEN: Quiet! He is one of us!

GEORGE: Well, he acts like he doesn't want to belong!

ANOTHER WRAITH (WHO WE'LL CALL AL): Who wouldn't want to be a Wraith?

GEORGE: Michael has not helped decimate a village in over a month!

YET ANOTHER WRAITH (BILL): What about the last time we clobbered the Lanteans?

AL: We couldn't have done that without Michael!

QUEEN: You are correct! He has always come through for us, and in the end...he will come through for us again!

QUEEN[7]
When you're a Wraith
You're a Wraith all the way
From your first suck of life
To your last dying day!

AL
[Nodding and hissing]
When you're a Wraith
You can move with élan
You've got brothers around
You're part of a clan!

BILL & AL
You're never alone
You're never disconnected!
You're home with your own:
When company's expected

[A quartet of humans—maybe ex-allies of Ford?—try to bust in but the drones quickly stun them.]

BILL & AL
You're well protected!

QUEEN
[Circling in on George]
Then you are set
With a big W
Which you never forget
Be they shooting at you!
When you're a Wraith
You stay a Wraith!

QUEEN: [Pacing away, leaving George quaking a little] So I am not worried about Michael. What matters is... [She hisses] ...the Lanteans. And with the messages we've sent, how can they fail to respond?

[The Manson!Wraith fall into a line, singing, while the bone-faced Wraith work as backup dancers around the rest of the room.]

MANSON!WRAITH
Oh, when the Wraith fall in above their towers
They'll all be in awe of our awesome powers
And when the chicks dig us with our neat chin braids
Gonna scream, gonna writhe, gonna fade like shades!

QUEEN: They will beg for mercy! But we will have...none!

BILL: We're Wraith!

GEORGE: The greatest!

AL: We always walk tall!

GEORGE & AL
When you're a Wraith
You're the masters of space
You can eat all their dudes
Yelling, "I'm in your base!"

MANSON!WRAITH
When you're a Wraith
You're the swingin'est thing
Little boy, you eat men
Little man, you eat kings!

[The Wraith Queen cackles. All the other Wraith start to fan out and do an elaborate dance around her, with her at the center like Esther Williams.]

WRAITH
The Wraith are in gear
Our cylinders are clickin'!

QUEEN
[Examining her nails]
Lantea's quakin' with fear
'Cause all those puny humans are finger-lickin'!

WRAITH
Here come the Wraith
Like a vamp out of hell
Someone gets in our way
Someone tastes mighty swell!

QUEEN
Here come the Wraith
Little world, step aside!
Better go underwater
Better run, better hide!

WRAITH
We're drawin' the line
So keep your virus hidden!
We're hanging a sign
Says, "You're totally overridden"
And we ain't kiddin!

Here come the Wraith
Yeah! And we're gonna curse
Ev'ry last buggin' gang
In the whole buggin' 'verse!
In the whole!

[Each of the Manson!Wraith and the Queen grab one of the stunned humans and one by one, suck the life out of them,]

AL
Buggin'!
[Sucks]

BILL
Ever!
[Sucks]

GEORGE
Lovin'!
[Sucks]

QUEEN
'Verse!

[She sucks the last man's life out in a long, extended pull. The body falls to the floor with a thud.]

QUEEN: You! [She points to George] Clean up this mess.

[And on that final musical sting we cut to: Team Atlantis, tumbling out of the gate and onto Staas.]

JOHN: Anyone have the urge to do the Cell-Block Tango?

[Ronon and Teyla give him their usual 'The people of Earth are strange' looks. Rodney is studying his scanner, but waves his hand in a motion that probably suggests he has no desire to indulge his inner Velma Kelly.]

JOHN: Okay, good. I guess it really is only on Atlantis, then.

RODNEY: [Without looking up] Speaking of jinxing...

JOHN: [Annoyed] Just tell us where we need to go, McKay.

RODNEY: Right. [He squints at the scanner some more] We should, um.

RONON[8]
Follow the yellow brick road.

RODNEY: [Still not looking up] Very funny.

TEYLA
Follow the yellow brick road.

RODNEY: [Glancing up] Oh, you can't be serious!

RONON & TEYLA
Follow, follow, follow, follow
Follow the yellow brick road!

[Rodney looks down at the path.]

RODNEY: It's not even yellow!

JOHN: More of a bisque.

[He holds out his elbow for Rodney to take.]

RODNEY: Oh, I can't believe it. We are jinxed!

[John links arms with Teyla, who latches on to Ronon. They all turn and face down the path.]

TEAM
We're....off to find the signal!
The superlative signal of Staas!
We hear it is a sig. of a sign
If ever a sign there was!
If ever, oh ever, a sign there was
The signal of Staas is one because
Because, because, because, because, because

[Rodney takes a particularly gasping breath.]

TEAM
Because of the superlative species it draws!

[And as the team starts to vanish into the distance:]

TEAM
We're off to find the signal
The superlative signal of Staaaaaas!

[Cut to: later, the team emerging from a forest.

They're still on the yellow (bisque-colored) path, their arms are still linked, and they're still skipping—though some with more enthusiasm than others.]

RODNEY: Do we have to keep...bouncing?

RONON: I think it's fun.

JOHN: Cheer up, Rodney. Just a little bit farther and you'll be able to get that cour—

[Teyla stops walking abruptly, jerking them all to a stop.]

TEYLA: John...

[They all turn.]

TEYLA: Look.

[Black smoke hangs low in the sky in front of them. The remains of a village cough more grey dust into the air, though the worst of the fire is done. What's left is only the resulting devastation. The team moves forward slowly, taking in the charred houses, the scattered furniture and clothes and blankets. There are no bodies.]

RODNEY: [Quietly] Were they all culled?

RONON: No need to burn it to the ground then.

[Teyla touches Ronon's arm gently.]

TEYLA: Ronon.

[They both look down to the end of the street, where John is standing, his back to them. There's something wrong about his posture—a terrifying stillness.

Silently, Teyla and Ronon move to join him.

Rodney is poking through the rubble. He has just turned over a little burnt rag doll when his teammates pass by. He lifts his head, and seeing them approaching John, follows.

We see what is in the courtyard, where John is waiting, when Rodney does.]

RODNEY: Oh, God.

[The bodies are all here. They've been heaped and carefully arranged. The limp limbs and flung bodies spell out a message: 'SURRENDER ATLANTIS.']

RODNEY: Did they...? They didn't even feed...

[John's head is bowed.]

JOHN[9]
[Dully, almost speaking]
Can it be a dream?
Surely it does seem
Like a frightful dream
How can this be true?

RODNEY: We can't leave them like this.

TEYLA: No.

[Slowly, they come forward and start moving the bodies. John doesn't follow. He stands, watching as Ronon picks a little girl up in his arms.]

JOHN
Won't her mother come
Come, wake her up to play?
Won't her father say
'Here's the sky for you?'

[The rest of the team moves off with the heavy burdens, but John stays alone for a while, quietly, with the smoke and the dead.

As he stands there, a group of pale figures slowly comes and stands around him. They all look very lost, very sad, especially when they turn to look at the man standing there.]

GHOSTS
There's a man who no one sees
There's a man who's left alone
There's a heart that beats in silence for
The life he's never known
For the life he's never known.

[Slowly, one by one, the ghosts fade away. John turns his back and leaves as well.]

[Cut to: the conference room in Atlantis. No one is singing, or even speaking.

Elizabeth has called Caldwell down from the Daedalus to consult. He stands beside her at the head of the room, his arms crossed. Finally, he speaks:]

CALDWELL: And all the other teams reported the same thing?

ELIZABETH: Or very similar, yes.

CALDWELL: That is...unfortunate.

[This seems to be his last word on the subject. John looks aghast.]

JOHN: We have to do something!

CALDWELL: Do we suspect they know of our location? That they are sufficiently regrouped to have the firepower to penetrate our shield?

JOHN: They're killing these people to get to us!

CALDWELL: There are always casualties in war.

ELIZABETH: We did make promises to these people, Colonel. We have a duty—

CALDWELL: So what would you recommend? Doing as they say, surrendering the city?

ELIZABETH: No, of course not, but—

TEYLA: Excuse me, but it is not even merely a matter of promises. As people of Pegasus, we owe it to all the others who work and trade with us, who are our families, our friends

RONON: We can't just do nothing.

CALDWELL: So let's hear some proposals. Doctor McKay, Colonel Sheppard? Well?

RODNEY: [Pinching his nose] I'm thinking, God, I can't stop thinking about it—

CALDWELL: [Noticing that John is not attending] Colonel? Sheppard!

JOHN: [Staring into space, as if the rest of the room isn't there] Last night I dreamed I walked to the top of the tallest tower, and saw Sumner and Ford standing there. Standing right there, safe in Atlantis...I turned away, I couldn't watch. I was afraid.

CALDWELL[10]
Why won't he say what he wants?
Why must he speak in dreams?
What can't he see what he wants?
To disappear, it seems!
He should send this haunted crew far away
Leave command of the city to me!

TEYLA
[Getting the same dreamy, haunted look in her eyes as John]
I watched my father and my mother
They stood tall, no longer old
Turning, smiling one then the other
I couldn't speak, my heart grown cold.

CALDWELL
Why can't they see what they want?
They want the past undone.
Why can't they know what they want?
They're losing battles won.

[He turns and runs his hand up Atlantis' walls, caressing her before making himself pull away.]

CALDWELL
To have ever loved her, ever known
How complete a loss can be!
If she could disappear, they'd start again.
And live like other men, they could be happy then.
If she'd disappear, they could be free
Cut off from pain and loss
A bit like me.

[Ronon looks to the side and sees himself and Kell in flashback:]

KELL: You can't marry this Melena! I know women like her, and they're never truly satisfied unless they're making you beg like a dog!

RONON: I'm not asking for your approval, Kell.

KELL: Hey, I'm saying this not just as your Task Master, but as your friend: Forget about her. Forget about her, or you'll spend the rest of your life running after her and never catching up.

CALDWELL -- KELL
I can arrange what they want -- Don't do this!
They've left it all to me. -- Don't wed her!
Now they can have what they want -- Don't bed her!
Unfettered they will be. -- Don't do this.
Set them/Set her
Free to wander
Through the world
Let them go
Their lonely ways!

JOHN & TEYLA
Then I longed to join them
Know the peace they feel
Their journeys done.
Then I woke once more without them
Knew I must wander on...

JOHN, TEYLA & RONON
And on...
My whole life, I know
I'll never find...

CALDWELL
Just to disappear
Is to be free
Cut off from pain
Cut off from pain—
I'll help them disappear
And start again!

KELL -- JOHN, TEYLA & RONON
Now you must leave her! -- How can we leave her?
Yes, you must leave her! -- We'll never leave her!
Ronon, promise! -- We promised!
Yes, you must leave her -- Never leave her
You must believe
You must believe!

CALDWELL
Disappear!

JOHN, TEYLA & RONON -- KELL/CALDWELL
We will stay, it is our duty -- Ronon/Sheppard, think about your duty
She will guard us, it's her duty -- Listen, think about your duty

[Kell's ghost fades away. Caldwell stands off to the side, isolated in his defeat.]

CALDWELL: Whatever you decide to do, I have my orders. The continued safety of the mission comes before whatever I might personally want.

[Under the continued weight of John, Teyla, and Ronon's stare, it's Caldwell who looks away first. He stands, silent and resigned and alone. Elizabeth and Lorne move to stand behind him.]

ELIZABETH & LORNE
There's a man who no one sees
There's a man who works alone
There's a heart that beats in silence for
The life he's never known.

[Then Elizabeth steps to the center of the room. She looks sad but wizened; she draws all eyes.]

ELIZABETH: But listen—

ELIZABETH[11]
Earth, it cannot guide you
Now you're on your own.
Only us beside you
Still, you're not alone.
No one is alone. Truly.
No one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you
[Her hand moves absently to rest on her breastbone, below her throat]
Quicker than they should.
Others may deceive you.
You decide what's good.
You decide alone.
But no one is alone.

RODNEY
I wish—

ELIZABETH
I know.

[Slowly, Radek gets up from him seat and he and Lorne move to stand by Elizabeth, flanking her.]

ELIZABETH
But Earth isn't here now.

LORNE
Wrong things, right things.

ELIZABETH
Who knows what they'd say?

RADEK
Who can say what's true?

ELIZABETH
Nothing's quite so clear now.

LORNE
Do things, fight things.

ELIZABETH
Feel you've lost your way?

RADEK
You decide, but

ELIZABETH, RADEK & LORNE
You are not alone.

ELIZABETH
Believe me
No one is alone.

RADEK & LORNE
No one is alone.

RADEK
Believe me.

ELIZABETH
Truly.

RADEK
[Catching Rodney's eye and smiling wryly at him]
You move just a finger

RADEK & LORNE
[Both grinning now]
Say the slightest word

ELIZABETH, RADEK & LORNE
Something's bound to linger
Be heard.

LORNE
No one acts alone.

RADEK
Careful.

LORNE
No one is alone.

ELIZABETH
People make mistakes—

LORNE
—Scientists—

RADEK
—Soldiers—

ELIZABETH, RADEK & LORNE
—People make mistakes
Holding to their own.
Thinking they're alone.

ELIZABETH
Honor their mistakes!

LORNE
Fight for their mistakes!

ALL
Remember all our terrible mistakes.

RODNEY
[Looking over at John, thinking of Arcturus]
Caution can be right

RODNEY & CARSON
Science isn't always good

RADEK & LORNE
You decide what's right

ELIZABETH
You decide what's good.
Just remember—

RADEK
Just remember:

ELIZABETH, RADEK & LORNE
Someone is on your side—

JOHN & CALDWELL
[Looking momentarily surprised to be singing together, but going on]
Our
side!

ELIZABETH
Our side—

LORNE
Someone else is not.

ELIZABETH & RADEK
While we're seeing our side—

JOHN & CALDWELL
[More sure now]
Our side—

RADEK
Our side—

ALL
Maybe we forgot:
They are not alone.
No one is alone.

ELIZABETH
Hard to see the light now.

RADEK
[Raising a hand like he wants to touch Elizabeth's shoulder, then letting it drop]
Just don't let it go.

ELIZABETH
Things will come out right now.

ELIZABETH & LORNE
We can make it so.

ELIZABETH, RADEK & LORNE
Someone is on your side

ELIZABETH
No one is alone.

TEYLA: Those people are alone, if we do not help them.

RODNEY: I, uh. [Everyone turns to look at him] I have a plan.

[CURTAIN]

[END OF ACT ONE]


[ACT TWO]

[Open on: Rodney, bent over a lab bench, concentrating incredibly hard on an intricate piece of machinery. John comes hesitantly into the room.]

JOHN: How—

RODNEY: Working on it!

[The snapping somehow makes John more confident.]

JOHN: Actually, I was trying to ask how you are. You hungry?

RODNEY: [Reflexively] No! I mean, well, yes. [He turns part way around] Why, do you have something?

[With a flourish, John displays two powerbars.]

JOHN: Chocolate and peanut butter! Two great tastes...

RODNEY: Please tell me you're going to say, 'That taste great together.'

[John raises his eyebrow.]

RODNEY: I mean, they're both for me, right?

[John hands them both over, then pulls a third out of his back pocket, tears it open, and starts munching. He waits for a moment, then starts talking, very casual.]

JOHN: So I've been thinking...

RODNEY: [Earnest, as he chews] You finally decided to give that a shot?

JOHN: [Ignoring him] I think you should stay here with your wooden duck while I take care of stage two.

RODNEY: Once it's set up there's no need to stay with it, that's the whole point.

JOHN: I still think you should stay.

RODNEY: [Catching on] Why? Because you're the only one who's allowed to be ridiculously heroic and self-sacrificing?

JOHN: Rodney—

RODNEY: No, I'm serious, I'm sick of this! We're supposed to be a team, we're supposed to handle these things together! Weren't you listening to what Elizabeth said before?

JOHN: Oh, so now we're actually paying attention to what we say in sing-a-long?

RODNEY: When it makes sense, yes! [He abruptly stops shouting, like he's just realized he has been] Sheppard, when are you going to stop feeling like you have to prove yourself to us?

[John's face grows cold.]

JOHN: Don't tell me how I feel.

[He starts to leave, then changes his mind.]

JOHN: You know, Teyla and Ronon are my teammates, too, and they don't get on my case like this. What does that tell you?

RODNEY: That they don't—

[He cuts himself off.]

JOHN: What?

RODNEY: Nothing. It's nothing.

JOHN: [Prodding at him now that Rodney's feeling vulnerable] What, Rodney?

[Rodney looks up.]

RODNEY[12]
I tried
So many years ago
To make myself not feel
To make sure it doesn't show

RODNEY: [shrugging] It didn't work.

JOHN: No kidding.

[Rodney holds up a finger: wait.]

RODNEY
But why you come to be with me
I think I finally know

[John gives him an 'Oh, really?' look.]

RODNEY
[Nodding—but not remotely self-satisfied]
Mmm-hmm.
[Gaining confidence]
You're scared
Ashamed of what you feel
And you can't tell the ones you love
'Cause that would make it real
Even a true goodbye would be a lie
And break your little deal

[He pushes away from the lab bench and makes an arresting gesture when John tries to move forward.]

RODNEY
That's great
But I don't want to play
'Cause being with you touches me
More than I can say
And since I'm only—what?—to you
I'm saying stay away
And let me work in peace

[He plunks back down in front of his device, waving John away whenever he tries to get close.]

RODNEY
Let me work in peace
Let me get some sleep
Let me do my job and nothing else
If this thing is not for keeps
I can bridge the tiny wires
But I can't find the missing piece
So let me work in peace

[Changing his mind, he whirls around again, then pushes John up against a whiteboard of equations.]

RODNEY
You know
You got an eager pupil
And you just love to play the thought
That you'd lose that last scruple

[He lets go abruptly and goes back to his bench, where he holds his head.]

RODNEY
But till you do
I'm telling you
My headaches just quadruple!
So let me work in peace

[Even as he slams down a piece of equipment, he's sliding out of his chair again and advancing on John.]

RODNEY
I know I should go
But I follow you like a man possessed
There's a traitor here beneath my breast
And it hurts me more than you've ever guessed
[He clings suddenly to John's jacket—]
If you gave me a chance, I'd pass every test!
[—then lets go, disgusted, the hand that had just been clinging waving dismissively]
But I can see you're unimpressed
So leave me be and

[He slams back down at his work bench.]

RODNEY
Let me work in peace
Let me get some sleep
Let me do my job and nothing else
Since this thing is not for keeps

[Frustrated, he pulls John close so John can see how the inner workings of his device are failing to come together, pushing him roughly against the desk.]

RODNEY
I can bridge the tiny wires
But I can't find the missing piece
Let me work in peace
Why won't you
Let me work in peace?

[Rodney is panting from exertion and emotion when he finishes, and John is breathless, too—Rodney's arms pinning him, their faces inches apart. Each breath seems to be pulling them closer and closer together—

But John abruptly shoves Rodney out of his way and runs from the lab.]

RODNEY: [Sinking back into his chair as he watches John depart] So...you're not staying, then?

[Cut to: the control room. Elizabeth, Radek, Chuck, and Lorne are going over some last-minute details, but mostly this is just an awkward waiting period. Ronon, who's standing on Elizabeth's little widow's walk of a balcony with Teyla, expresses the feelings of almost everyone:]

RONON: I really hate these standing around parts.

TEYLA: I wish there were something we could do.

[Cadman passes by, following a consult with Lorne.]

CADMAN: It's pretty much out of our hands now. [She gives Ronon a friendly slug on the arm—which, props to her, takes some balls] Might as well enjoy it while you can.

RONON: What?

CADMAN: Well, I've always said...

CADMAN[13]
There may be trouble ahead

[She takes Ronon's arms and leads him into a waltz.]

CADMAN
But while there's moonlight and music
And love and romance
Let's face the music and dance

[Teyla taps Cadman on the shoulder—she's cutting in. Cadman may have balls, but she's not stupid. She relinquishes Ronon and grabs onto Lorne. Together, the two couples whirl across the control room and start down the stairs to the gateroom.]

DANCERS
Before the redshirts are dead
Before our weapons are set to kill
And while we still
Have the chance
Let's face the music and dance

[Radek moves forward, taking Elizabeth's hand.]

RADEK
Soon
We may be facing our doom

RADEK & ELIZABETH
Wraith come, the city goes boom
And then...

[Katie & Miko and Chuck & Dave the Daedalus Guy pair up and join the dancers spinning across the gateroom's intricately patterned floor. The lights have dropped low; the whole scene resembles the last waltz in the grand stateroom of a sinking ship.]

DANCERS
There may be teardrops to shed
So while there's moonlight and music
And love and romance
Let's face the music and dance
Dance!
Let's face the music and dance

[As the music dies out, all the dancers stand holding their partners a moment longer—time suspended. Then—]

RODNEY: [Rushing in with the device in his arms] It's done.

[Cut to: the inside of a jumper. John is doing a pre-flight check; Lorne's in the co-pilot's seat next to him, with Ronon and Teyla in the other two front seats. Cadman is in back, checking over a case of equipment.]

JOHN: [Into radio] Control room, this is Jumper One, we're—

[Rodney comes rushing up the jumper's ramp and into the cockpit. His face is flushed; he's still buckling his vest.]

JOHN: [Faux-casual] Oh, did you finish with the honeypot already?

RODNEY: [Scowling] Yes.

[He glares at Lorne until the Major finally gets the message and rises from the co-pilot's seat, his hands raised in mock surrender.

John thumbs the radio again.]

JOHN: Jumper One is ready for take-off.

ELIZABETH: [Over radio] Good luck.

RODNEY: Did Radek send the message?

ELIZABETH: It went out almost an hour ago.

RODNEY: [Taking a deep breath] Good. [Another] Good.

JOHN: Okay, kids, buckle up.

[The jumper begins to rise up through the roof.]

JOHN[14]
I've touched the fire and it grows in me

[As the jumper clears the city he stares out into the vastness of space.]

JOHN
I look inside me and it's black
These things I feel
I swear they can't be real
Too much heat, the façade will crack

[John closes his eyes and sees the burnt village on Staas, the gathering of ghosts.]

JOHN
Now though the smoke they call to me
To make my way across the flame
To save the day
Or maybe melt away

[Behind the climbing jumper the city shimmers and vanishes under its cloak.]

JOHN
My choice remains the same

Yes, I will walk through the fire
To whom else can they turn?
I will fly through the fire
And let it

RODNEY
The torch I bear is scorching me
Sheppard's trust I'm still without
[Sitting forward, his annoyance at its peak]
I could be home
Could leave him all alone!
[His expression changes in an instant, and he looks wide-eyed at John's set jaw]
I better help him out

[The Wraith ship comes out of hyperspace above Lantea. The Queen lounges in her throne room.]

QUEEN
'Cause here we come with our fire!
Those people

RODNEY
He will

RODNEY & QUEEN
Never learn
And he will walk through the fire

QUEEN
And they will

[Ronon and Teyla have swiveled their chairs so they're facing each other, communicating in low voices.]

TEYLA
Will this do a thing to change it?
A single battle, rearrange it?
Is this galaxy too far gone to care?

RONON
Even if we can't defeat it
It doesn't alter that we're needed
Or else what use these knives I've in my hair?

[They share a private smile, then rally—]

TEYLA, RONON, LORNE & CADMAN
We'll see it through
It's what we're always here to do
So we will walk through the fire

JOHN
[Head bowed over the controls]
So one by one I'll let them down
Much better not to feel at all

[Elizabeth stands in the control room, determined but worried, with Chuck at the console behind her occasionally shooting her anxious looks.]

ELIZABETH
What can't we face

JOHN
Whatever I try
I'll have to watch them die

ELIZABETH
If we're together?

JOHN
What my hands touch will fall

LORNE
It's hard to lose so many brave men

JOHN
First she'll kill them, then I'll save them

ELIZABETH
Everything is turning out so dark

JOHN
[Forcing himself to be confident]
No, I'll save them, then I'll kill her!

CHUCK
I think this line's mostly filler

CADMAN
[Grinning over her case of explosives]
We have what it takes to strike a spark

JOHN & RODNEY
[Exchanging a sudden long and weighty look]
These endless days are finally ending in a blaze

LANTEANS
And we are caught in the fire
The point of no return
So we will walk through the fire
And let it
Burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn!

QUEEN: [Hiss] Show time.

[The Wraith ship comes to hover above the delicate spires of the city, unshielded and unprotected. It opens fire—towers fall. The city burns.]

[Cut to: the inside of the jumper. They watch the destruction.]

RODNEY: That ought to keep them distracted for a while.

LORNE: How long's that hologram programed to last?

RODNEY: It should be able to maintain a consistent and realistic amount of slow collapse for about twenty minutes.

RONON: Let's do this quick, then.

JOHN: [Steering the cloaked jumper up toward the hive] And hope they don't decide they like the destruction so much they want a closer peek.

[The jumper docks. Cadman passes out her carefully rigged explosives, looking like she's saying goodbye to a child every time she lets one go. They split into teams of two: Cadman and Lorne, Ronon and Teyla, Rodney and John.]

JOHN: Remember, twenty minutes!

[Cadman and Lorne sneak silently through the ship's corridors, communicating well without words. They reach a strategically key place and start setting the explosives.]

LORNE: These are the ones with extra oomph?

CADMAN: Oh yeah, these burn long time.

[He gives her a look.]

CADMAN: What?

[Teyla and Ronon round a corner to where they need to set their explosives—to discover two bone-faced Wraith standing guard. Working together, communicating silently, they disable them with barely a fuss, barely a sound.

When they're done, Teyla rises from her crouch, flicking a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. Ronon looks at her admiringly. She returns the look with a smile that gives nothing away, then goes to set the charges, all business. Ronon helps her. After a moment—]

RONON: You ever think, maybe we might actually live to see the Wraith defeated?

TEYLA: It is a hope I still hold to, yes.

RONON: [Hesitant] What do you think you'd do, if the Wraith were all gone?

[Teyla pauses for a moment. She looks at him.]

TEYLA: I do not know. [She turns back to her work] But I would like to find out.

[In another part of the ship, John and Rodney are setting their portion of the explosives. They are also not talking, but the silence between them isn't the easy kind the others worked with. The air between them is heavy with the weight of things unsaid.

John keeps casting looks Rodney's way, but Rodney is extremely intent on his work. Finally:]

JOHN: You really didn't have to come, you know. We could have handled this part just fine without you.

RODNEY: Well, as nice as it is to know that I'm extraneous to your plans, I thought you might be able to use my help. [All of a sudden, he loses some of his haughty, sarcastic tone] I know you think I'm a coward. I can understand why you'd want somebody else to watch your back.

JOHN: Rodney...I just worry that if you're here I'll get distracted when I should be watching everyone else's backs.

RODNEY: [Angry again] Oh, I know—all the whining and complaining and the legitimate concerns for our safety—that has to be real annoying, doesn't it?

JOHN: That's not what I'm—

RODNEY: Then say it! For once, just say it!

[John takes a deep breath.]

JOHN[15]
You've changed. You're caring.
You're different at the crux.
More sure. More daring.
You're getting us through the crux.
If you could see—
You're not the man who started
You're much more lion-hearted
Then I knew you to be.

RODNEY
[Almost a question]
It takes two.
You thought one was enough
It's not true
It takes two of us.

JOHN
[Nodding]
You came through
When the journey was rough
It took you.
It took two of us.
[Forcing himself: these are not things he's eager to admit]
It takes care
It takes patience and fear and despair
To change.
Though you swear to change
Who can tell if you do?
It takes two.

RODNEY
You've changed.
You're thriving.
There's something about the crux.
Not just
Surviving
You're blossoming in the crux.
At home, I'd fear
We'd stay the same forever.
And then out here
You're passionate—

JOHN
Charming!

RODNEY
Considerate—

JOHN
Clever!

[Rodney beams.]

RODNEY
It takes one
To begin, but then once
You've begun
It takes two of you.

[In their respective parts of the ship, Ronon & Teyla and Cadman & Lorne also turn and sing to each other.]

ALL
It's no fun
But what needs to be done
You can do
When there's two of you.

JOHN
If I dare
It's because I'm becoming aware of us
As a pair of us
Each accepting a share
Of what's there.

JOHN & RODNEY
We've changed.
We're strangers.
I'm meeting you at the crux.
Who minds
What dangers?
I know we'll get past the crux.

RODNEY
And once we're past
Let's hope the changes last

TEYLA & RONON
Beyond guns

LORNE & CADMAN
Beyond sniping and snarking

RODNEY
[Sheepish and hopeful]
Exploding suns

JOHN & RODNEY
Just the two of us.

JOHN
Beyond lies

JOHN & RODNEY
Safe at home—

RODNEY
—Intact, with our lives!

ALL
Just the few of us!

JOHN
It takes trust.

JOHN & RODNEY
It takes just a bit more and we're done.

ALL
Plant our bombs, then we run.

[They do, all three racing back toward the jumper.]

CADMAN
[Holding the trigger]
One, two, three
And we've won.

[John and Rodney join hands as they flee.]

JOHN & RODNEY
It takes two!

[The last phrase has barely died when the Wraith Queen steps out in front of them.]

QUEEN: What have we here?

[John immediately levels his gun on her, but before he can pull the trigger she's grabbed hold of it. She uses the gun to fling him against the wall, then wrenches it from his hands. She starts to advance on him then stops, turning and hissing at Rodney as he empties a clip into her chest. The bullets don't seem to do more than annoy her. She raises a hand and forces Rodney to his knees. He goes down, wincing from the pain in his head.

Behind her, on the floor, John is fighting to stay conscious. He gropes at his boot, drawing a knife.

The Wraith Queen tears open Rodney's vest, rending his shirt. She raises her hand—]

JOHN
[Pulling himself to his feet]
I've got a theory
That you'll regret that—

[He stabs her through the chest. She screams and stops advancing on Rodney, but the knife's not long enough to do the necessary damage. And John's slumped back down, having sapped his strength.

The Queen pulls the knife from her back and drops it, oozing ichor, on the ground. She grabs John by the shirt, limp like a ragdoll. She hisses:]

QUEEN
Here come the Wraith
It is no use to cry
Oh, I'm gonna enjoy this:
Little man—now you die!

[And her hand comes down on John's chest. He screams.]

[Cut to: Ronon, Teyla, Cadman, and Lorne, waiting by the jumper.]

RONON: What's taking them so long?

LORNE: [Grim] If we don't blow the charges soon, all of Atlantis is going to be in danger.

CADMAN: Wait—look!

[Two figures are coming down the hall, one half-dragging, half-supporting the other. The rest of the team start forward, trying to identify what they're seeing.]

CADMAN: McKay?

RODNEY: Help me.

[They rush to help. When Cadman sees John, she gasps. He's been badly drained; he is barely breathing.

They all immediately help lift him and carry him into the jumper.]

LORNE: What happened?

[Rodney is in shock.]

LORNE: [Insistent but not harsh] McKay!

RODNEY: The Queen...

[Silent flashback: the Queen drains John's life as he soundlessly hollers.]

[Back in the jumper, Ronon, Teyla, and Cadman carefully lay out John's body in the back of the jumper, Teyla taking off her jacket and tucking it under his head. Lorne moves to the pilot's chair and steers them away from the ship.

Rodney stands still, looking down on John.]

CADMAN: How'd you get away?

[Flashback: on the ground, Rodney's hand finds the knife. He gets swaying to his feet behind the Queen, holding the blade like he's not sure what to do with it.

Then he draws it, swiftly and efficiently, across the front of her throat.]

[Standing in the jumper, Rodney looks down at his hands. They're covered in blood, but it's not John's.]

RODNEY: I killed him.

[Cadman stares at him. Teyla and Ronon turn to look at him, too, but there is already understanding in their eyes.]

RODNEY: [Blinking] Her. I mean her.

[Behind the departing jumper, the hive lights up the sky as it explodes in flame.

On the jumper floor, John stirs.]

JOHN: [Weak, rasping] Rodney?

[Rodney drops to his knees.]

RODNEY: John!

JOHN: [A faint smile] What did you just call me?

RODNEY: [Sniffs] An idiot. A self-sacrificing idiot. Just like I told you.

[John's laugh sounds horrible and painful and wrong—even more so than usual.]

JOHN: Yup, that's me.

[Around them, everyone's heads are bowed. Silently, Teyla reaches out and takes Ronon's hand.]

JOHN: Rodney...

RODNEY: [Adjusting John's blanket, feeling useless] Don't try to talk.

JOHN: [A wheeze] You always say that.

RODNEY: I'm serious. You need to keep your strength up, so Carson can... So Carson...

[John summons the strength to grab Rodney's hand and squeeze it.]

JOHN: Rodney! Don't let him keep me alive like this. Promise me!

RODNEY: Oh, God.

JOHN: Promise!

RODNEY: [A whisper] I promise.

JOHN: [Relaxes] Good. [A pause. John looks around, his eyes suddenly cloudy and confused] Hey, are we flying, Rodney? Are we going somewhere good?

[Rodney tries to squeeze them away, but a tear slips out.]

RODNEY: Yes.

JOHN: [Dreamy] Tell me. Tell me about where we're going.

[Rodney bows his head and somehow finds the strength.]

RODNEY[16]
There's a place for us
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.

JOHN
[Forcing down a cough]
There's a time for us?

RODNEY: Yes—

RODNEY
Some day a time for us.
Time together with time to spare.
Time to learn, time to share.
Someday!

JOHN
Somewhere!
We'll find a new way of living.

RODNEY
[Though he can't forgive himself]
We'll find a way of forgiving.
Somewhere.

[The jumper lands in Atlantis. A medical team comes to whisk John away, Rodney fighting to keep by his side.]

JOHN & RODNEY
There's a place for us.
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we're halfway there—
Hold my hand and I'll take you there.

[They get John onto the gurney and Rodney has to let go. He watches John recede from view as they wheel him away.]

JOHN & RODNEY
[Being pulled farther and farther apart]
Somehow
Someday
Somewhere.

[Cut to: the infirmary. John lies in one of the beds, his heart monitor beating more and more slowly. Carson stands off to the side, looking pale and drawn.

There's a sudden burst of noise. Rodney's pushing his way inside, over a nurse's protests.]

RODNEY: Just let me see him!

CARSON: [Apologetic] Rodney, he needs rest, he needs quiet...

RODNEY: [Hollow-eyed] He's dying, Carson. Don't lie to me. Let me see him.

[Carson stands aside.

Rodney pulls up a chair and sits down beside John's bed, his head bowed.]

JOHN: [Even more weakly] Hey.

RODNEY: [Shaky] Hey.

[John labors for breath for a moment. Rodney leans closer and fumbles for his hand.]

JOHN: I'm so sorry.

RODNEY: Oh, God—what are you apologizing for? I'm the one—

JOHN: [Swallowing roughly] I'm so sorry I'm never going to find out why we've all had a song in our hearts these last few days.

[Rodney's burst of laughter is almost a sob.]

JOHN: And I never—

RODNEY: [Shaking his head: 'It's okay, I know, you don't have to—'] No.

JOHN: Rodney, I never—

[The last of his strength—]

JOHN
Longing to tell you
But afraid and shy
I let my golden chances
Pass me by

[Outside in the waiting area, Teyla and Ronon sit side by side. He looks at her.

In her office, Elizabeth sits alone, her head in her hands. Radek pauses in the doorway. He looks to her.

Back in the infirmary, Rodney holds John's hand tight.]

JOHN
Now I've lost you
Soon I will go in the mist of day
And you never, never will know
How I loved—

[He draws a last, shuddering breath.]

JOHN
How I loved you.

[His eyes close. The heart monitor sounds its prolonged, final beep, then goes silent. Carson comes over and thin-lipped, verifies the inevitable. Nurses move back and forth. A sheet is drawn up over John's head. Rodney never moves.

Eventually, Carson squares his shoulders and comes to stand beside him. He places a hand on Rodney's shoulder.]

CARSON[17]
When you walk through a storm
Keep your chin up high
And don't be afrai—

RODNEY: Stop.

[His single word cuts off all sound.]

RODNEY: No more music. No more songs. I've had enough. I'm done.

[His half of the infirmary goes dark.

Across the room, watching this, a figure grows more solid, but still wisp-like, ghostly. John's jaw is set. He looks down at his own translucent hands—he knows he's dead. But he can't turn away.

Then he hears something. His head lifts. It's the sweetest—the most heart-breakingly beautiful voice he's ever heard. From the expression on his face it's clear he's been waiting to hear it all his life.

He turns and follows as the voice implores him—]

ATLANTIS[18]
Come to my towers
Reaching for the stars
There I'll keep you safe beside me

Come to my towers
Rest there in my rooms
There I'll see you
Safely grown and on your way.

Stay there in my towers
Where love grows free and wild
Come to my towers
Come, sweet child.

JOHN
[Starting to climb]
Lift me up and take me to the towers
Where life begins anew
Where I'll find you
And I'll find you love me too.

JOHN -- ATLANTIS
Lift me up and take me to the towers -- Come to my towers
Where life begins anew -- Rest there in my rooms
Where I'll tell you -- There I'll
Where I'll show you -- See you safely grown
A new life, I will live for you -- And on your way

[John sees a light high at the top. He starts walking toward it.]

JOHN -- ATLANTIS
I shall see you in your towers -- I shall see you in my towers
Where spring will come and stay -- Where love grows free and wild
Lift me up and take me to your towers -- Come to my towers

[The light is so bright, it's blinding. But he surrenders to it, like to a mother's welcoming arms.]

ATLANTIS
Come, sweet child.

[John vanishes and the world whites out.]

[Back in the dark infirmary: Rodney still sits with John's body. He rests, slumped, with his head on the edge of the bed.

Suddenly, everything begins to shake. Rodney lifts his head but doesn't move. Medical supplies careen onto the floor—it's like an incredibly violent earthquake. Carson rushes into the room.]

CARSON: Rodney, we have to go—it's not safe in here!

[Rodney looks over at the body—he doesn't want to leave John.]

CARSON: Rodney!

[It finally penetrates that getting killed guarding a corpse is probably not the best plan. Rodney gets to his feet and follows Carson out of the infirmary, shelving units collapsing to the floor right behind them.

In the hall they find Ronon and Teyla.]

RONON: [Shouting to be heard over the din] What's happening?

[Everyone waits for Rodney to answer—even to snap that he doesn't know—but he says nothing.]

CARSON: It feels like an earthquake! We should, should get in a doorway, or under a table, or anywhere else we know to be structurally sound!

[Seeing as there are no large, sturdy tables present, they start toward the nearest doorway. Teyla grabs Rodney's arm, guiding him.

As they reach the doorway—]

LORNE: Over here!

[He's standing by a window. Carson shakes his head.]

CARSON: No, no—you should stay away from glass!

LORNE: [Ignoring him] McKay, you need to come look!

[Rodney's response is a little sluggish, but he does come. The others follow.]

LORNE: Would you look at that!

[The city is expanding. The piers are elongating, new corridors and small towers pushing free and growing up like crystal.]

LORNE: [Half-thinking himself crazy] It's like it's...alive!

TEYLA: [Realizing] She is alive.

CARSON: But how?

RODNEY: [Hollowly—like having found the answer doesn't mean much to him anymore] The singing.

[They all turn to look at him, but this is far from the strangest thing they've heard today.]

RODNEY: The singing stimulates the growth. That's why the Ancients used to hold a festival every hundred years. So Atlantis could blossom.

RONON: [Admiringly] I guess without them around, she decided to take things into her own...girders.

[The shaking has slowed somewhat, calming, the city sending last tendrils out into the sea.]

LORNE: [Shaking his head, full of wonder] And to think I used to guard a mine.

[The shaking stops. The city seems to...breathe...]

CARSON: Wow. That is beautiful.

[None of them can stop staring out the window. Only Rodney doesn't seem enchanted by what's just happened. He stares past the beauty outside like he doesn't even see it.]

JOHN: What are you guys looking at?

[Rodney's shoulders stiffen. He can hear his friends' gasps and Teyla's breathless 'John!' but he's afraid to look.

He feels a warm breath on his neck.]

JOHN: [Peering over his shoulder] Wow, look at all that extra room. We can put in a real driving range.

[This blasé attitude is what finally sparks him into action. Rodney spins and sees John, whole and healthy and alive. He opens his mouth but cannot speak. He touches a hesitant hand to John's cheek. John smiles back tentatively. They're both nearly shaking with emotion, and suddenly it's too much, too much. Rodney grabs John by the back of the neck and kisses him soundly and passionately. John's hand clings to Rodney's bicep and they hold each other until they're convinced they're both real.

At the same time, they seem to remember that there are other people present.]

JOHN: [Blushing and looking shiftily at Lorne] Ah, Major—

LORNE: [Forcing his face to stay blank] That's okay, sir. A little musical theater can happen to anyone.

[Rodney, having a little less shame, still hasn't let go of John's arm; he can't stop touching the smooth, unblemished skin.]

RODNEY: I don't mean to jinx it, but...how?

JOHN: [Grinning] It wouldn't be theater without a deus ex machina.

[Rodney rolls his eyes. John shrugs.]

JOHN: I...I don't know. I mean, I was dead. [Rodney flinches a little—the memory's too fresh] Then all of a sudden I felt—warm, I don't know, a heat, but not painful—like energy. I heard Atlantis singing to me...

[Not everyone looks convinced of the validity of this explanation. But Rodney seizes on it—]

RODNEY: Of course! Atlantis was full of energy, charged with it, everything we'd been pumping into her so she could grow! And she had a little left over... [He pauses, looks in John's eyes] Or she just let you have it. She put the energy back into you.

[Another pause as everyone considers this. It's like they're waiting for the first person to say: 'What'? Or 'Huh?' Then:]

JOHN: Do you honestly care?

RODNEY: No!

[They fall into another kiss. After a moment, Lorne coughs.]

LORNE: I really don't need the encore, sir.

JOHN: Sorry. [He touches Rodney's elbow and whispers] I'll come to your dressing room later.

[Rodney looks appropriately excited.]

RONON: Hey. How come McKay gets all the attention? What are we, chopped liver?

[John blinks.]

JOHN: No, but apparently you've been spending too much time with Sergeant Goldstein. Hey, buddy.

[He gives Ronon a big hug.]

RONON: Glad you're not dead.

JOHN: Thanks. Me, too.

[He lets go and turns to Teyla.]

JOHN: Teyla.

TEYLA: [With incredible warmth and relief] John.

[She draws their foreheads together and they both breathe deeply of each other.

John moves next to Carson, giving him a quick hug, patting him on the back. Then he turns and shakes hands with Lorne.]

JOHN: Sorry I cost you a promotion.

LORNE: [Dryly] That's really okay, sir.

[Elizabeth, followed somewhat inexplicably by Radek, Chuck, Miko, Cadman, Katie, Caldwell & Dave, comes racing into the room.]

ELIZABETH: You're not answering your radios! Is everyone okay?

JOHN: Just fine, Elizabeth.

[She gasps.]

ELIZABETH: John!

[This time he initiates the hug, squeezing her tight. They part, and Caldwell steps forward.]

CALDWELL: Sheppard. I'm glad you made it to the final curtain, but I don't understand. How did this happen?

JOHN: Well, it's quite simple, really.

JOHN
Come to Atlantis
Haven on the sea
Here we'll keep you safe beside us.

[He moves and stands by Rodney as everyone gathers 'round the window and, warmed by the gentle sea air, joins in.]

LANTEANS
Come to Atlantis
Rest here in our rooms
Here we'll see you
Safely grown and on your way.

Stay here in Atlantis
Where love shines bright and gay

[The various couples turn and smile at each other, or link hands. John and Rodney elaborate on the 'gay' aspect slightly more than Lorne and Caldwell need them to. Meanwhile, outside, the sun breaks over the horizon, washing over the city—]

LANTEANS
Come to Atlantis!
Come, sweet day!

[CURTAIN]

[END OF ACT TWO]


[ENCORE]

[Open on: Elizabeth sitting at her desk. She looks relaxed and happy. She stands up as General O'Neill and the rest of SG-1 (together six strong) file in. Leaning across the desk, she shakes Jack's hand.]

ELIZABETH: Glad you could make it, General, everyone.

[Jack nods and takes his seat. The others follow suit, except for Vala, who is semi-discreetly checking out the office, poking at various artifacts and statues.]

SAM: Thanks for having us.

DANIEL: We just had to see this for ourselves. [He leans forward] I can't believe the city actually grew, that you yourselves saw—

JACK: [Glancing slyly at Daniel] Yeah, we're sorry we missed it.

ELIZABETH: [Laughs] Well, you also missed everyone launching into spontaneous song and dance numbers for almost a week...

CAMERON: Yeah, not so sorry we missed that.

SAM: No.

VALA: Aw, I bet it would have been fun. [She pauses in inspecting one of Elizabeth's vases] I'm an excellent dancer, you know.

TEAL'C: [To Elizabeth] Has the singing completely subsided?

ELIZABETH: Well, we're still experiencing the occasional reprise or discreet bit of interpretive movement, but McKay thinks that even that should wind up soon.

SAM: Speaking of McKay, is he around? I'd like to go over some of this new information about how the city works with him.

ELIZABETH: Actually, Doctor McKay and Colonel Sheppard are both taking some well-deserved vacation time. [She coughs] They actually left for the mainland just a few minutes before you arrived.

JACK: [Glancing out the door] Oh, really.

[Rodney bursts in, dragging John behind him by the wrist. They're both dressed in casual, beach-y clothes, and they both look very...sated.]

RODNEY: Whoops, forgot the sunscreen, and you know, wouldn't want to do that, it's multi-purpose, so now we're going. [He waves at Elizabeth] Okay, goodbye!

[John squeezes his hand.]

JOHN: Rodney.

[Rodney looks up and finally notices the six other people in the office.]

RODNEY: Oh, there are people here. [He turns back to John, his thumb running over his wrist a little suggestively] Come on, are we going or what?

[John attempts an apologetic shrug, murmuring 'General' at Jack, but he's really too happy to care. They exit together, hand in hand. There is a distinct pause.]

VALA: [Setting down the vase] Is it just me, or are those two...?

[Elizabeth starts to mumble an explanation, but Sam cuts her off, smiling.]

SAM: Oh, we know how it is.

[She springs to her feet, pressing a hand dramatically to her breast.]

SAM[19]
Tale as old as time—

TEAL'C
[Rising to join her]
True as it can be!

[They turn to look at Jack and Daniel.]

SAM & TEAL'C
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly!

[Jack gives them a 'Who, me?' look. Daniel belatedly realizes what's going on and starts paying attention.]

SAM
[Continuing, persistent]
Just a little change
Merely a small tweak

TEAL'C
[Nodding]
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared

SAM & TEAL'C
[Linking arms]
Flyboy and his geek!

[Jack tries to roll his eyes, but he's smiling a little. Daniel looks both fascinated and embarrassed.]

SAM
Ever just the same!

CAMERON
[Deciding 'what the hell' and joining in]
Ever a surprise!

SAM, CAMERON & TEAL'C
Ever as before
Ever just as sure

VALA
[Striking a dramatic pose]
As the sun will rise!

DANIEL
[Looking at Jack with a nod, conceding that they might have a point]
Tale as old as time

JACK
[Shrugging, but, well, why the fuck not—]
Tune as old as song

JACK & DANIEL
[Getting to their feet together]
Bittersweet and strange—

JACK
Finding you can change

DANIEL
Learning you were wrong

SG-1
[Linking arms as a team with Jack & Daniel in the middle, then swaying together]
Certain as the Asgard's
Genitalia are unique:
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Flyboy and his geek!

[And as Jack and Daniel make out somewhat gratuitously, the rest of the team joins together in a general 'awww' moment. In the background, Elizabeth snaps a picture on her cellphone.]

SAM, TEAL'C, CAMERON & VALA
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Flyboy and his geek!

[The second the music dies Vala is clapping her hands.]

VALA: Oh, that was wonderful! [She beams] Especially my part, I thought. [She turns to Elizabeth] The thing that does that—have you thought of marketing it?

ELIZABETH: [Hiding her cellphone] Uh, it seems to be just a natural part of the city, actually. It only happens every hundred years, and then it stops on its own.

VALA: [Pouting] Oh, but that can't be the end!

ELIZABETH: Why not?

DANIEL: No, she's right.

VALA: [Pleased] I am?

[Sam nods. And as the rest of SG-1 looks slowly toward the door—]

SG-1[20]
The curtains close
On a kiss, god knows
It couldn't be a bit more clear

[We fly slowly up out of the city, spiraling around her towers and across the great ocean to the distant land and a tiny, perfect strip of sand. The sunscreen lies discarded, John having become somewhat distracted while he was rubbing it on Rodney.]

ALL
That's where we go from here!
That's where we go from here!
That's where we go...from here!

[FINAL CURTAIN]

[FIN]


[1] "Broadway Rhythm," from Singin' in the Rain, music & lyrics by Nacio Herb Brown and Lennie Hayton [back]

[2] "Moses," from Singin' in the Rain, music by Roger Edens & lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green [back]

[3] "Maria," from The Sound of Music, music by Richard Rodgers & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein [back]

[4] "I've Got a Theory/Bunnies/If We're Together," from Once More, With Feeling, music & lyrics by Joss Whedon [back]

[5] "If I Loved You," from Carousel, music by Richard Rodgers & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein [back]

[6] "Prologue/Into the Woods," from Into the Woods, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim [back]

[7] "Jet Song," from West Side Story, music by Leonard Bernstein & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim [back]

[8] "Follow the Yellow Brick Road/We're Off to See the Wizard," from The Wizard of Oz, music & lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg [back]

[9] "There's a Girl," from The Secret Garden, music by Lucy Simon & lyrics by Marsha Norman [back]

[10] "Quartet/There's a Man," from The Secret Garden, music by Lucy Simon & lyrics by Marsha Norman [back]

[11] "No One Is Alone," from Into the Woods, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim [back]

[12] "Rest in Peace," from Once More, With Feeling, music & lyrics by Joss Whedon [back]

[13] "Let's Face the Music and Dance," from Follow the Fleet, music & lyrics by Irving Berlin [back]

[14] "Walk Through the Fire," from Once More, With Feeling, music & lyrics by Joss Whedon [back]

[15] "It Takes Two," from Into the Woods, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim [back]

[16] "Somewhere," from West Side Story, music by Leonard Bernstein & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim [back]

[17] "You'll Never Walk Alone," from Carousel, music by Richard Rodgers & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein [back]

[18] "Come to My Garden/Lift Me Up," from The Secret Garden, music by Lucy Simon & lyrics by Marsha Norman [back]

[19] "Beauty and the Beast," from Beauty and the Beast, music by Alan Menken & lyrics by Howard Ashman [back]

[20] "Where Do We Go From Here?" from Once More, With Feeling, music & lyrics by Joss Whedon [back]




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