LEARNING CURVE

Written by Heather E. Ash

Transcribed By: Dee

TEASER

FADE IN

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

A group of children are doing archaeological work in the Gateroom.

One of the children climbs a ladder to the platform where DANIEL is working and offers him some water.

DANIEL : Thank you. (To one of the children) That’s perfect JAREN, just like that.

The STARGATE begins to dial up and its chevrons glow.

DANIEL (to the children) : It’s ok. It’s just my friends returning.

O’NEILL and TEAL’C step out of the STARGATE. DANIEL leaves his work to go down and meet them.

O’NEILL : Hello children. DANIEL? No child labour laws here on Orban?

DANIEL : No, these are Urrone. They’re like, uh, apprentices to the adults. They’re…everywhere. It’s just kind of the way they do things. Look at this. (He produces a bracelet) Chalchihuitliue, the Aztec goddess of water. I mean, they don’t even know what they’ve got here, who knows what we’re going to uncover. That is if General HAMMOND said yes. He did say…?

O’NEILL : He said yes.

KALIN enters the Gateroom with MARIN.

KALIN : Colonel O’NEILL, you are most punctual. Both MARIN and I are eager to participate in this exchange between our worlds.

O’NEILL : Major CARTER’S eager as well. She’s really looking forward to it. So’s TEAL’C.

TEAL’C : I will share my knowledge of the Goa’uld freely.

O’NEILL : TEAL’C’S eager on the inside.

KALIN : Then, if you are ready to leave?

O’NEILL : KALIN, I was under the impression we were bringing back one of your naquada reactors.

KALIN gestures to the metal box MARIN is carrying.

KALIN : This is the device.

O’NEILL : That little thing? Ok. DANIEL, have fun…I know you will. TEAL’C, make friends as always.

TEAL’C dials out and the STARGATE opens.

O’NEILL : Folks, to Earth.

INT - SGC, CORRIDOR

CARTER and HAMMOND are heading down a corridor towards the Gateroom.

CARTER : They’re one of the most impressive societies we’ve ever come across, Sir. They’ve managed to accomplish in a few decades what it took humans over a century to achieve.

HAMMOND : Sounds like these people might make good allies.

CARTER : I think so. They’re not quite up to the Goa’uld level of technology yet, but given a few years…

She is cut off as O’NEILL, KALIN and MARIN step out of the STARGATE.

KALIN makes a sign with his hands and bows.

KALIN : Thank you for this exchange General HAMMOND. I’m sure it will be fruitful for both of our worlds. Major CARTER, please allow MARIN to present you with this naquada reactor.

MARIN hands Carter the reactor.

KALIN : You may study it for the duration of our exchange.

CARTER : Thank you.

HAMMOND (to KALIN) : If you will allow, I would like to offer a tour of…

KALIN : The exchange has been made. We will return to Orban now.

O’NEILL : You just got here.

CARTER : You can’t leave. Someone needs to teach me how to use this thing.

Both KALIN and MARIN appear confused.

KALIN : Please explain what you mean by this.

CARTER : Teaching? Uh, explaining how the reactor functions, its components, its construction.

KALIN : I do not have this knowledge.

MARIN (to CARTER) : I will…teach you.

END OF TEASER

INT - SGC, ELEVATOR

HAMMOND, O’NEILL and CARTER are riding in the elevator with MARIN.

HAMMOND (to MARIN) : Major CARTER will show you the lab. But before you get started, MARIN, I’d like you to visit our infirmary.

CARTER : It’s standard procedure, nothing to be afraid of.

MARIN : You must screen newcomers for potential pathogens. Of course.

They step out of the elevator and head down the corridor.

O’NEILL : So MARIN, I understand you’re a reactor expert.

MARIN : Yes.

O’NEILL : How old are you?

MARIN : I am eleven. How old are you?

O’NEILL : So MARIN, I understand you’re a reactor expert.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

TEAL’C is moving boxes while DANIEL works on a half-covered mosaic surrounding the DHD.

KALIN enters with a boy.

KALIN : This is my son, TOMIN. He is also Urrone. TEAL’C, you will please tell him of the Goa’uld.

TOMIN (to TEAL'C) : You are most generous to offer your knowledge TEAL’C.

DANIEL : KALIN, there was an apprentice here earlier, ZARIN. Do you know where she went?

KALIN : ZARIN is not here. It was past her time to experience her Ovarium.

DANIEL : Ovarium? Is that like a graduation?

KALIN : That is an approximate definition. Dr Jackson, you expressed an interest in viewing the city. It is advantageous to see the Pyramid of Suns in daylight.

DANIEL : Yes, absolutely.

KALIN : TEAL’C, you will please remain here with TOMIN.

KALIN and DANIEL leave.

TOMIN is studying TEAL’C.

TEAL’C (to TOMIN) : What is your purpose?

TOMIN : I am making an observation of your physical characteristics. Dr Jackson tells us you were once a warrior in the service of the Goa’uld.

TEAL’C : That is correct.

TOMIN : I think I understand now why the Goa’uld are so feared.

INT - SGC, INFIRMARY

Dr FRASIER is taking a blood sample from MARIN.

FRASIER (to MARIN) : Hurts a little bit, huh?

MARIN nods.

FRASIER : You are being very brave.

O’NEILL enters the infirmary.

O’NEILL : How’s our little rocket scientist doing?

FRASIER : We are almost done, Colonel.

MARIN : I am not a rocket scientist.

CARTER : Uh, I think what Colonel O’NEILL means is that you’re very smart.

MARIN : You find my intelligence level unusual?

O’NEILL : No, there are lots of intelligent people around here. Just not as young as you.

MARIN : You mean you were not always as smart as you are now?

FRASIER : No. We spent a long time in school to get to this point.

MARIN : Please explain what ‘school’ is.

CARTER : Uh, school is a place where you go to learn. A teacher gives you information and you take different classes to learn different subjects.

MARIN : So this is how you and Dr FRASIER became scientists? (To O’NEILL) You aren’t a scientist?

O’NEILL : Oh no.

MARIN : Then you are not as smart as Major CARTER and Dr FRASIER.

CARTER tries to hide her smile.

O’NEILL : Well, it depends on what you mean by…Ok no, I’m not. But while they were stuck in school, I was out doing other things. Like…having fun.

MARIN appears confused by this.

O’NEILL : You do know what fun is, don’t you?

MARIN shakes her head.

O’NEILL : Ok, fun is…what you do to make yourself happy. Like music, games. It’s whatever you do when you’re not learning to be a rocket scientist.

MARIN : I am here to…’teach’ Major CARTER about the reactor.

CARTER : Sounds like fun to me.

O’NEILL : Whatever. Yeah, go ahead, knock yourself out.

CARTER : Come on, MARIN, I’ll show you the lab.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

TEAL’C and TOMIN are sitting on the steps to the STARGATE.

TOMIN : But you have found hosts for other Goa’uld in the past as First Prime to the Goa’uld leader.

TEAL’C : I have vowed to battle the Goa’uld and to free my people. If I allow this symbiote that I carry to be implanted, I would be perpetuating all that I oppose.

TOMIN : What happens if you do not find a host for this Goa’uld?

TEAL’C : It will die.

TOMIN : If the Goa’uld dies, then you will die as well?

TEAL’C inclines his head in assent.

TOMIN : That would be unfortunate.

EXT - ORBAN (DAY)

In the distance is a large pyramid. DANIEL and KALIN head back into the Gateroom.

DANIEL (excitedly) : I should have known by the murals, but the construction of your pyramid confirms it.

KALIN : But Dr Jackson I-I do not understand.

DANIEL : Teotihucan. It was a city in pre-Colombian South America, even bigger than Ancient Rome. Which…wouldn’t mean anything to you, but it is significant.

KALIN : But you said we are Aztec.

DANIEL : No, these people pre-dated the Aztecs.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

DANIEL hurries over to the half-covered mosaic surrounding the DHD.

DANIEL (to KALIN) : These pictures form a narrative. Now what ever is under this platform may tell us exactly how your people came to be on Orban.

KALIN : You will explain this to TOMIN.

TOMIN and TEAL’C walk over.

DANIEL (to TOMIN) : Ok. Teotihucan flourished for centuries as a religious and economic mecca before suffering a great upheaval in 750AD. Now, I think your people could be the descendants of that civilisation.

TOMIN : Do you believe the arrival of the Goa’uld caused Teotihucan’s downfall.

DANIEL : Yes.

INT - SGC, LABORATORY

The naquada reactor is hooked up to a computer.

CARTER : Ok, the carocev, that’s the converter, right?

MARIN : The heating element.

CARTER : What? When did we talk about the heating element?

MARIN : In the very beginning when I described the fodiner.

CARTER : Oh man. It can’t be this hard.

MARIN : I will begin again.

CARTER : No, no, wait. Let’s try this a different way. How about we break everything down into its most basic components? Let’s start with the reactor casing. What’s it made of?

MARIN : The fodiner attaches to…

CARTER : No, I’m sorry MARIN, we’ll get to that in a minute. Right now, I just need to know what materials make up the reactor casing.

MARIN doesn’t appear to know.

CARTER : It’ll have to block radiation, so we’ll make it lead-lined. See? This is easy. And the casing material would have to measure…

She takes out a rule and starts to measure the reactor.

Dr FRASIER enters the lab.

FRASIER (to CARTER) : Major? If you don’t mind, I’d like to see MARIN in the infirmary again. Just a couple of follow up tests.

She smiles, but CARTER senses something is wrong.

CARTER : Ok.

CARTER and MARIN head out of the laboratory with Dr FRASIER.

EXT - SGC (NIGHT)

A lone Airman is patrolling the area.

INT - SGC, INFIRMARY

Dr FRASIER turns the computer’s monitor so that HAMMOND, O’NEILL and CARTER can see the screen. It holds a picture of MARIN’S blood cells.

FRASIER : MARIN’S blood-work shows trace levels of silicon, trinium and some other element I have never seen before. Now, I think it’s a mineral but it is definitely not found on Earth.

O’NEILL : Ok, even I know that’s bad.

FRASIER : Well I found out what’s responsible.

She hits a button and the image changes. An dark object can be seen floating amongst the blood cells.

O’NEILL What?

CARTER : A nanite.

HAMMOND : She’s got nanites in her blood?

FRASIER : Yes. However, it still didn’t explain MARIN’S abnormally high neural-peptide levels. So I did a computer enhanced MRI. You ready for this one?

She hits another key and the image changes to MARIN’S MRI scan, which contains a huge amount of nanites.

FRASIER : There’s millions of them. They’ve infested that little girl’s brains.

INT - SGC, INFIRMARY

HAMMOND (to FRASIER) : I’ve put the base on a threat Com Bravo. Doctor, get blood samples from everyone. I want to know how far those nanites have spread.

MARIN, sitting on an infirmary bed, overhears them.

MARIN : My nano-processors are harmless to you.

O’NEILL : MARIN, we’ve run into these little beggars before. And they’re anything but harmless.

CARTER : We encountered a civilisation in which the Goa’uld used a similar method, nanocites, to accelerate the age of a population. Colonel O’NEILL was…adversely affected.

MARIN : These nanites were created by Orbanians, in an Orbanian laboratory 49 years ago. All of my people have them. It is a way we acquire knowledge.

FRASIER : Wait a minute. So you’re saying, MARIN, that all Orbanians’ brains look like this?

MARIN : Each citizen receives a nanite after every Ovarium. Urrone children are given millions more nanites at birth because we are required to learn vast amounts of information very quickly. This must be done at infancy, before the neural-pathways are established.

CARTER : So, these nanites act as additional synapses?

MARIN : Yes. But that is all they do. They do not age us and cannot leave the brain.

FRASIER : But MARIN, we found one of these nanites in your blood.

MARIN : Well, if a nanite malfunctions it is programmed to disconnect from the brain and be absorbed into the blood stream. Those are inactive and incapable of harming others. I’m sorry if I have alarmed you and I understand if you wish me to return to Orban.

CARTER : Oh, I don’t think that that would be necessary…do you, General?

HAMMOND : If you think it’s safe, Major CARTER, then you can continue to work. But I still want those blood samples Doctor.

FRASIER : Yes Sir.

CARTER and MARIN head back to the laboratory.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

KALIN is examining the mosaics around the DHD. TOMIN approaches.

TOMIN : Father, I wish to undergo the Ovarium immediately.

KALIN : TOMIN, it is six months until you turn twelve.

TOMIN : I am concerned by what TEAL’C has told me of these Goa’uld. If they learn of our existence, they will destroy us. The studies I have made about new defence technologies must now be put to use, so that Orban can begin preparations.

KALIN : I will notify the elders. You have learned well my son. I am proud.

INT - SGC, LABORATORY

MARIN takes one of CARTER’S plants from a shelf.

MARIN : You study botany as well, Major?

CARTER : Oh no, those are just decoration.

MARIN replaces the plant. She examines the reactor CARTER has designed.

MARIN : That does not look like a naquada reactor core.

CARTER : Yeah. Well I had to improvise since we’re only using a microscopic amount of naquada. How about you sketch it for me?

MARIN : What?

CARTER : Draw me your reactor core. Give me an idea of what it looks like.

MARIN : I don’t ‘draw’.

CARTER : You don’t draw? Everyone draws.

MARIN : No. It is not something I am required to do. I’ve never had to ‘draw’ before.

CARTER : Well, it’s pretty easy.

She takes a pad and pencil and sketches a match-stick figure

CARTER : See?

MARIN : What is that?

CARTER : It’s a picture of me.

MARIN looks at the picture, then at CARTER.

CARTER : Well, I know it doesn’t exactly look like me, but it’s just a basic representation. That’s all I need from you is just a basic representation of the reactor’s core.

MARIN : Alright. (She accepts CARTER’S pen) But this paper is not large enough.

CARTER rummages around in one of the cupboards and brings out a larger pad.

CARTER : How’s this?

MARIN : It will do.

MARIN starts to sketch the reactor.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

DANIEL is chiselling away the last of the concrete covering the mosaic around the DHD.

TEAL’C enters the Gateroom.

TEAL’C : Kel’nel, DANIEL Jackson.

DANIEL turns over a piece of concrete to reveal a drawing of a Serpent Guard.

DANIEL : Look at this. This proves the Goa’uld were here sometime in the last few hundred years. Now we just need to figure out why they left.

KALIN enters the Gateroom with a boy in tow and places a bag of tools down by DANIEL.

KALIN : Dr Jackson, I’ve got the tools you asked. TEAL’C, you will please tell SOLEN methods to fight the Goa’uld. Which weapons and strategies have been effective in their defeat. Also, anything in your experience as First Prime to APOPHIS that would be of assistance.

SOLEN : It is an honour to accept your knowledge TEAL’C.

TEAL’C (to KALIN) : Perhaps it would be better for TOMIN to return.

KALIN : He is unavailable. SOLEN will learn now.

TEAL’C : TOMIN is already familiar with the subject.

KALIN : He has given us his knowledge. Please, you will talk to SOLEN.

DANIEL : Well, TEAL’C has a point. I mean, if they’ve already established a rapport…

KALIN : I have told you it is impossible for TOMIN to be here. He has gone through the Ovarium.

TEAL’C and DANIEL exchange a look.

KALIN : Please TEAL’C, begin.

TEAL’C : I would like to see TOMIN immediately.

INT - SGC, LABORATORY

MARIN is standing on a chair, attempting to reach into a wall cabinet as O’NEILL enters.

O’NEILL : MARIN. What are you doing? Get down.

He lifts her down from the chair.

MARIN : Colonel O’NEILL, I need fifteen sheets of paper, at least 48cm by 23cm.

O’NEILL : Well, that’s fine, why don’t you just ask…?

He stops when he sees CARTER asleep, her head on her arms.

O’NEILL (to MARIN) : Excuse me. (To CARTER) Major CARTER!

CARTER wakes up with a start.

CARTER : Oh, MARIN I am so sorry.

She gets up and looks at the drawings MARIN has done.

CARTER : Wow. These are amazing.

MARIN : I cannot represent the reactor core in a three-dimensional plane, so I depicted several layers of the reactor’s interior. With additional supplies, I can finish the remaining layers.

CARTER : Cross-sections. Of course! If I scan these into the computer, I can come up with a three-dimensional representation of the reactor’s interior.

O’NEILL : Alright! Will you two give it a rest? Both of you. You’ve been at this for twenty-four hours. You need rest.

MARIN : I do not need to. Urrone children require little sleep.

CARTER : Ok, now I am jealous.

O’NEILL : Alright CARTER, you sleep. (To MARIN) Young lady, if not sleep…fun.

MARIN : No, I need fifteen sheets of paper, at least 43cm by 28cm.

O’NEILL : Fifteen?

MARIN : Colonel O’NEILL? I require some of these ‘pencils’ as well.

O’NEILL leaves to get the supplies for her.

INT - ORBAN, CHILDRENS HOME

TOMIN is sitting on top of a bunk, fidgeting, while TEAL’C and DANIEL stand before him.

TEAL’C (to TOMIN) : Do you not recognise me? It is TEAL’C.

TOMIN doesn’t respond.

TEAL’C : KALIN! Explain this Ovarium.

KALIN : It is the ceremony in which an Urrone’s nanites are removed and then distributed. Each adult and each non-Urrone child then receives an injection containing one nanite, which becomes part of his or her synaptic network, adding to those nanites received from previous Ovariums.

DANIEL : So when you say he gave you his knowledge, you meant it literally.

KALIN : It was a beautiful ceremony. Now you have seen. We must resume our work, Dr Jackson.

TEAL’C : What will become of TOMIN?

KALIN : He stays here with the other past Urrone.

DANIEL : That’s it? You’re…don’t you play with him?

KALIN : Well what is play?

DANIEL : Interacting with him, teaching him new things.

KALIN : These children cannot be taught.

DANIEL : Have you ever tried?

KALIN : Oh yes, but past Urrone children cannot receive new nanites. The brain rejects them.

DANIEL : Well have you ever tried teaching him without nanites?

KALIN appears confused.

KALIN : What do you mean?

DANIEL and TEAL’C share a concerned glance.

KALIN : There is no need for concern. These children are well cared for.

DANIEL : KALIN…this is your son.

KALIN : My son…is here now.

He points to his own head.

INT - SGC, DEBRIEFING ROOM

TEAL’C is reporting to HAMMOND. CARTER, O’NEILL and Dr FRASIER are present.

TEAL’C : KALIN says that TOMIN is not brain-damaged. Clearly he was not himself.

FRASIER : Well, if the nanites have taken over the learning process and prevented the brain from developing a normal amount of synapses, then there’s a good chance that they’re removal would make these children…infant like.

O’NEILL : What’s the difference if they keep them locked up in a room?

HAMMOND : So once MARIN returns to Orban, she will undergo this Ovarium and her nanites will be removed?

FRASIER : Yes.

O’NEILL : Then maybe she won’t return to Orban.

HAMMOND : Colonel…

O’NEILL : General! She’s going back to get her brains sucked out. And I dare anybody to phrase it more delicately.

CARTER (to O’NEILL) : Sir, I agree with you. But we can’t just keep MARIN here, can we?

O’NEILL : Why not? We’d be saving her life.

FRASIER : Ok, why don’t we just simply try asking KALIN not to harvest MARIN’S nanites?

TEAL’C : I do not believe the Orbanians would understand the reason for your request. They do not see this as wrong.

O’NEILL : Well then we need to make them understand.

HAMMOND : TEAL’C, return to Orban. (To O’NEILL) Colonel, before we risk an interplanetary incident, I’d like to try the diplomatic route first.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

KALIN angrily walks into the Gateroom, TEAL’C and DANIEL following.

KALIN : How can you make this demand?

DANIEL : KALIN, no one is demanding anything.

TEAL’C : We do not believe the Ovarium would be in MARIN’S best interest.

KALIN : It is most certainly in her best interest, for her and her people.

DANIEL : Ok, you see, in our cultures, we don’t believe in doing anything that results in harming a child.

KALIN : We do not harm our children, Dr Jackson! You have seen TOMIN! You have seen how well he is cared for.

DANIEL : Ok, I think we can work this out. We just need to sit down and discuss some alternatives.

KALIN : There are no alternatives! MARIN must undergo the Ovarium. You will return her immediately.

He storms out of the Gateroom.

INT - SGC, LABORATORY

CARTER and O’NEILL are attempting to persuade MARIN to ask for asylum.

MARIN : The Ovarium is a great honour.

O’NEILL : MARIN, I know that’s what the adults have told you. But when they pick out these…nanite things, they also take out everything that makes you…you.

MARIN : My people will have my knowledge.

O’NEILL : But you won’t.

MARIN : I do not understand why you are so concerned.

CARTER : MARIN, we just don’t think you realise what you’d be giving up by going through the Ovarium.

MARIN : It is a great honour to be chosen.

O’NEILL : Will you please…stop saying that?

HAMMOND and TEAL’C appear into the doorway.

HAMMOND : Colonel, a word please.

O’NEILL heads over to them.

O’NEILL : TEAL’C?

TEAL’C : KALIN refused our request. DANIEL Jackson remained behind to attempt to alter his position.

O’NEILL : Good. It’ll give us a chance to make MARIN understand.

HAMMOND : She’s already refused amnesty, Colonel.

O’NEILL : General, it’s obvious that little girl’s been brainwashed. We can’t send her back without at least trying.

HAMMOND : TEAL’C, do you foresee any danger to Dr Jackson if he stays on Orban?

TEAL’C : I do not believe DANIEL Jackson will be harmed.

HAMMOND : I’ll give it forty-eight hours.

O’NEILL returns to the laboratory.

O’NEILL : MARIN. I looks like you’re gonna be spending a little more time with us.

MARIN : Please return me to Orban.

O’NEILL : You do understand we’re trying to help, right?

MARIN : I don’t need your help.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

KALIN is punching the co-ordinates for Earth into the DHD when DANIEL stops him.

DANIEL : KALIN, you can’t do this.

KALIN : If you will not return MARIN to us, I will retrieve her myself.

DANIEL : If you don’t transmit a special code, they will close the iris and you won’t get through. You will die.

KALIN gestures SOLEN forward to receive the information.

SOLEN (to DANIEL) : Please explain this iris.

DANIEL (to KALIN) : I will explain it, but only to you.

KALIN : If you will not explain it, then transmit the code.

DANIEL : I’m sorry.

KALIN : You claim to love knowledge, yet when you find something you don’t like, you demand that we change to please you.

DANIEL : No it is not to please me. You are an incredibly advanced society. Why can’t you find a better way to educate your people?

KALIN : There is no better way than the Ovarium.

DANIEL : Even if that means giving up your son?

KALIN : It was the happiest day of my life when TOMIN was selected to be Urrone. I knew, even before he was born, that he would make an incredible contribution to our society.

DANIEL : And you never once thought otherwise.

KALIN : Not once! And neither did TOMIN.

DANIEL : And what if MARIN does?

KALIN : MARIN…is one of only a few Urrone children. And the only one to have spent ten years learning the naquada technology. Without her Ovarium, the people who are awaiting her knowledge to continue their research, they will have to wait twelve years for another Urrone to learn.

DANIEL : Well I didn’t know that.

KALIN : MARIN does. She does not question her duty. It is you, Dr Jackson, who are misguided to think you can convince her otherwise.

INT - SGC, LABORATORY

CARTER is still attempting to get her reactor to work.

CARTER : Come on! Why, why, why aren’t you working?

An Airman enters the laboratory with MARIN.

AIRMAN : She insisted on seeing you Major.

CARTER : It’s alright, thanks.

As the Airman leaves, MARIN walks over to CARTER.

CARTER : Hey.

MARIN : Major CARTER, I need your assistance. You must tell General HAMMOND to let me return to Orban. As a scientist you would understand.

CARTER : MARIN, you’re only eleven. Half the interesting things in my life didn’t happen until I turned fifteen.

MARIN : What kind of interesting things?

CARTER (awkwardly) : Oh, just, er…stuff.

MARIN : If it were possible, I would give you one of my nanites. And then you would know that it’s alright.

CARTER : Thank you, but I don’t think that would make a difference.

MARIN (about the reactor) : You are finished.

CARTER : Almost. Once I ran a computer simulation based on your sketches, I thought I could adapt the design to my materials. But the current is being diverted before it reaches the core. I think the shielding might be diverting power.

MARIN looks at the reactor and attempts to give CARTER the solution.

MARIN : M-Major CARTER, I…

CARTER : Unless, hey hey hey, the trinium is absorbing the current.

MARIN : Correct, but…

CARTER cuts her off.

CARTER : Wait, wait, sorry, let me. Ok, by reversing the polarity…

She fiddles with the reactor and it starts up.

CARTER : That’s it! We’re in business.

MARIN : Why wouldn’t you let me give you the solution?

CARTER : What would have been the fun in that?

MARIN : Fun?

CARTER : Well yeah. Figuring something out on my own, especially if it’s been eluding me a while. It’s far more satisfying than having the answer given to me.

MARIN : But not as efficient.

INT - SGC, HAMMOND’S OFFICE

O’NEILL knocks on HAMMOND’S door.

HAMMOND : Come in.

O’NEILL : You…

He pauses when he sees KALIN and DANIEL sitting before HAMMOND.

O’NEILL (cont’d) : You wanted to see me Sir?

HAMMOND : KALIN has come to escort MARIN back to Orban. Before you say anything, know that I’ve already granted his request.

DANIEL : I don’t like it either, Jack, but…you don’t know the effect this is having on the Orbanians.

O’NEILL : What about the effect it’s having on MARIN?

KALIN : Your Dr Jackson has come to realise MARIN’S importance to her people.

O’NEILL : Her importance as a vegetable?

HAMMOND : Colonel!

KALIN stands to face O’NEILL.

KALIN : If you would try to understand…

O’NEILL : No! I won’t. The way you treat your children is absurd. You don’t deserve them.

HAMMOND : Colonel O’NEILL!

O’NEILL (to HAMMOND) : Request permission to be excused, Sir.

He leaves HAMMOND’S office without waiting for a reply.

INT - SGC, LABORATORY

CARTER is preparing to start up her reactor.

CARTER : Ok, clear?

CARTER and MARIN put on goggles to shield their eyes.

The reactor lets out a burst of energy, setting off the Base alarms.

CARTER : We did it! I’m gonna record these readings.

O’NEILL enters the laboratory.

O’NEILL : What the heck was that?

MARIN : The reactor worked.

The telephone rings and CARTER answers it.

O’NEILL gestures for MARIN to leave the room with him.

CARTER (into the phone) : CARTER. Yes, sir, we’re fine. Yeah, it was just the reactor. No, sir, just an energy pulse. There’s no threat to the base.

INT - SGC, ELEVATOR

O’NEILL and MARIN enter the elevator.

MARIN : You are taking me to the surface?

O’NEILL : Yes. Look, you came here to learn right? There’s something I have to show you, but I have to take you off the base for it.

MARIN : You do not have permission, do you?

O’NEILL : No, I don’t.

INT - SGC, HAMMOND’S OFFICE

HAMMOND is on the phone to CARTER.

HAMMOND (into the phone) : In the future Major, before you activate any device that includes the word reactor, I would appreciate it if you would notify me.

CARTER (over the phone) : Of course, Sir, it won’t happen again.

HAMMOND : Good. Now, I’d like you to bring MARIN to my office.

CARTER (in her laboratory) : Oh, uh, Colonel O’NEILL just left with her.

HAMMOND : Thank you Major.

He dials another number.

HAMMOND : This is HAMMOND. If Colonel O’NEILL attempts to leave, you’re ordered to…(He pauses as the other person speaks) How long ago? I see.

He replaces the receiver and looks across at DANIEL and KALIN.

EXT - EARTH, SCHOOL PLAYGROUND (DAY)

O’NEILL and MARIN walk over to the school playground.

MARIN : This is a school?

O’NEILL : Part of it. We call this the playground.

MARIN : What is it for?

The school bell suddenly rings.

O’NEILL : Oh, just watch.

School children start pouring out of the building.

O’NEILL (to the children) : Bambinos! Pizzeria! Mama Mia!

A group of children run over to them.

KID : Colonel Jack, what are you doing here?

O’NEILL : Playing hooky. Kids, I want you to meet my friend. Her name’s MARIN. Think you can show her around while I talk to Mrs STUART?

The kids take MARIN away to play. One throws a ball to her, but she doesn’t catch it.

MRS STUART : Colonel O’NEILL! The kids have been asking when you’re coming back to see us. How’s CASSANDRA enjoying Junior High?

O’NEILL : Oh, she’s doing fine. She loves it. Listen, do you have room for another student this afternoon?

MARIN is still playing with the other children, this time attempting to catch the ball.

O’NEILL (about MARIN) : She’s visiting, from out of town.

MRS STUART : Well, we have Art scheduled after recess.

O’NEILL : That’s perfect.

INT - SCHOOL, ART ROOM

MARIN is examining the blue paint on her paintbrush.

MRS STUART : Your assignment is to paint something you love. Now, it could be a person, or an object. Just use your imaginations.

O’NEILL is wandering around the room, looking at what the other children have drawn. He sees a picture one girl has painted of him.

O’NEILL (whispering to the girl) : I look fat.

She giggles.

He walks over to see that MARIN has painted a picture of the naquada reactor.

MARIN : Colonel O’NEILL. This brush is too wide to accurately render the wires.

He tears off the picture and crumples it into a ball.

O’NEILL : Ok, let’s try this again. Something you love. Something that’s not a machine, ok? Remember those flowers in Major CARTER’S lab? The ones on the desk? Paint one of those. Go ahead.

MARIN starts to paint a picture in the corner of her paper.

O’NEILL : Bigger.

The other children have drawn their pictures when O’NEILL returns to check on MARIN’S progress. She had drawn the outer leaves of the plant.

MARIN : There’s no purple.

O’NEILL : Use red.

MARIN : If I could have another cup, I could mix the blue with the red…

O’NEILL : Make the flower red.

MARIN : Those flowers were purple. You ask me to draw a flower, but you do not give me the means to do this accurately.

O’NEILL : MARIN, listen to me. It doesn’t have to be exact. Paint me a flower! I don’t care what it looks like. Here use this.

He takes away her brush and hands her a bigger one.

O’NEILL : And don’t stop with one. Paint the whole garden.

MARIN : But…

O’NEILL (cutting her off) : Ah!

MARIN starts to paint once more.

After the class has finished and the other children gone, MARIN takes her picture to show O’NEILL.

She had drawn a picture full of plants and trees and a matchstick figure in one corner.

O’NEILL : Nice. (He sees the stick figure) Who’s that?

MARIN : It’s a representation of Major CARTER.

O’NEILL : Of course it is.

MARIN : Is it right?

O’NEILL : Oh yeah. It’s way more than right.

MARIN : Thank you Colonel O’NEILL, for teaching this to me.

O’NEILL : MARIN, all you have to do is ask. I’ll find a way to make it happen.

MARIN : I have a duty to my people. My knowledge is important to them. You did promise.

INT - SGC, CORRIDOR

HAMMOND, CARTER and MARIN are heading for the Control Room.

CARTER : Unfortunately, the test used up the last of naquada, but we’ll find more.

HAMMOND : At least we’ve got a working prototype. Colonel?

O’NEILL is waiting for them in the Control Room.

O’NEILL (to HAMMOND) : I’m not here to cause trouble, Sir.

MARIN : Colonel O’NEILL?

O’NEILL (to MARIN) : I have something for you. He gives her a box of crayons.

MARIN : They’re beautiful. Thank you. You are mad at me for not staying.

O’NEILL : No. No I’m not.

MARIN : Then you understand?

He doesn’t reply.

HAMMOND : Major CARTER, please take MARIN down to the Gateroom. I’ll be there momentarily.

CARTER : Yes, Sir.

CARTER leads MARIN away.

HAMMOND (to O’NEILL) : You’ve already given me more than enough reasons for a court martial.

O’NEILL : General, for a few hours today I got to show that little girl how to be a kid. You want to punish me? Go ahead.

HAMMOND walks away.

INT - SGC, GATEROOM

KALIN leads MARIN up the ramp towards the open STARGATE. They stop and turn back to the Gateroom. MARIN makes a sign with her hands and bows.

MARIN : On behalf of the citizens of Orban, I’d like to thank you for the experience you have given me and my people. I have learned much in my time here.

CARTER : So have we.

Before entering the wormhole, MARIN turns back and smiles at O’NEILL.

INT - SGC, CONTROL ROOM

HAMMOND meets SG1 as they enter the Control Room.

HAMMOND : We just received a transmission from Orban. KALIN asked for all of you to go there right away.

DANIEL : Something wrong?

HAMMOND : You’ll find out when you get there.

INT - ORBAN, GATEROOM

SG1 step out into the Gateroom. KALIN is waiting for them.

KALIN : Thank you for coming.

DANIEL : What’s wrong?

KALIN : Oh, nothing is wrong. I will show you.

EXT - ORBAN, CHILDRENS HOME (DAY)

Former Urrone children are laughing and playing everywhere.

KALIN : Come. Look. Isn’t it wonderful?

TOMIN is skipping with two other children. KALIN interrupts them in order to introduce TOMIN to O’NEILL.

KALIN : Colonel O’NEILL, this is my son TOMIN. I am teaching him. All of the past Urrone children will now learn, in the old fashioned way, as you might say. He will know all that you have done for Orban.

He takes out a piece of paper.

KALIN : Oh and I drew this for you, to express my gratitude. He hands the paper to O’NEILL. It is a picture of a matchstick figure with blond hair.

CARTER : Isn’t that…?

KALIN : Me!

DANIEL : KALIN, when did all this start?

KALIN : Last night, after MARIN’S Ovarium.

CARTER : She must have known this would happen once her nanites were transferred.

O’NEILL : This…is what she learned.

CARTER sees MARIN drawing on a nearby wall.

CARTER (gesturing to MARIN) : Colonel.

As O’NEILL heads over to MARIN, TEAL’C bends down before TOMIN, who touches his face in curiosity.

O’NEILL comes to stand by MARIN. She continues to draw with the crayons he gave her.

O’NEILL : Hi MARIN.

MARIN looks up, but shows no sign of recognising him. O’NEILL sits down beside her.

O’NEILL : Ok. I guess we’ll just have to get to know one another all over again.

He takes a crayon and starts to draw. MARIN smiles and scribbles it out.

O’NEILL : You’re right. What was I thinking? You ever seen a dog? Dog’s are my favourite people. Some have tails, some don’t. I like that about dogs.

FADE OUT

THE END