FADE IN

EXT- ALIEN PLANET

We see a shot of the planets sun, which is extremely bright, and hear the roll of thunder in the distance. The shot cuts to O’NEILL, CARTER and TEAL’C who are near the Stargate. TEAL’C and CARTER are setting up some equipment whilst O’NEILL keeps guard. O’NEILL checks his watch and walks over to CARTER. He looks at the sun through a filter and sees that flares are all around the sun.

O’NEILL : Is this supposed to be doing that?

CARTER : It’s a corona mass emission like a giant solar flare.

O’NEILL looks through the filter again and back at CARTER.

O’NEILL : But it’s safe right?

CARTER : Judging from the planet's magnetic field it might cause a significant increase in the surface radiation.

O’NEILL : But it’s safe right?

CARTER : As long as we don’t stay here too long yes sir.

O’NEILL : Anybody explain that to DANIEL?

He turns round to look at DANIEL who is with another man. He is taking rubbings of the writing on the ruins by a large pedestal excitedly.

DANIEL (to the man) : I’ve encountered this script before. It’s err similar in pronunciation to a language on our planet called Latin. Now as near as I can tell the many body of the text represents a kind of planetary history.

MALAKI : I agree. But isn’t it time for you to return through the Stargate.

DANIEL : But I don’t understand of what the significance of this is (he indicates to the pedestal). It could be some sort of control mechanism. It’s obviously still in working order compared to the rest of the ruin. I wonder if that’s significant?

Whilst DANIEL is talking about the pedestal the man looks nervous and takes a device out of his bag. He looks at DANIEL who is still fascinated by the pedestal.

MALAKI : The storm is approaching Dr JACKSON. The radiation may be dangerous for you and your team.

DANIEL : Oh yes, Major CARTER will let us know when we have to leave. Now this line recurs several times ‘Dommo waitus, westol motibilium’.

MALAKI : Conqueror of time.

DANIEL : No, in this context I’d say more like ‘master of the uncertain past’.

MALAKI : You’re a skilled linguist Dr JACKSON.

DANIEL : Oh…thank you. Actually I had the opportunity to hear the language spoken aloud a year or two ago.

The device in MALAKI’S hands bleeps and MALAKI looks towards the sky. DANIEL looks puzzled.

DANIEL : What’s that?

MALAKI : The geomagnetic disturbance is reaching its peak. I have to act now.

DANIEL looks to SG1 whilst MALAKI retrieves a weapon from his bag and aims at DANIEL.

DANIEL (shocked) : I don’t understand!

MALAKI shoots DANIEL with the energy weapon and he falls to the floor unconscious. MALAKI runs to him and pulls DANIEL off to one side out of site.

He then goes to the pedestal and starts pushing at the stones on it. The mechanism on the pedestal activates.

EXT- STARGATE IN THE TEMPLE

CARTER and TEAL’C are finishing setting up the research equipment.

CARTER : All set up sir.

O’NEILL : Good lets hit it. (he stands and activates his radio) DANIEL lets go home.

There is no response.

O’NEILL : DANIEL?

They look to where MALAKI is and hear an energy build up.

TEAL'C : O’NEILL

O’NEILL : Yeah, I hear it.

Suddenly the pillars in the temple start to arc energy between themselves powerfully and the chevrons on the Stargate flicker on and off. SG1 look around alarmed as the gate activates and throw themselves on the floor to avoid the vortex.

INT- SGC CONTROL ROOM.

The sound of the gate activating is heard and the alarms are going off.

TECHNICIAN : Incoming wormhole.

HAMMOND walks over to him and stares at the gate. Suddenly the same arcing energy from the alien planet appears over the iris. HAMMOND looks alarmed.

HAMMOND : What is that?

TECHNICIAN : I have no idea sir.

They both stare at the gate.

EXT- ALIEN PLANET.

We see O’NEILL, CARTER and TEAL'C with their weapons ready. The energy is still around the gate.

O’NEILL (shouting to MALAKI) : Are you doing this?

MALAKI turns round as they approach him.

MALAKI : Stay away!

O’NEILL and CARTER notice DANIEL unconscious on the floor. CARTER runs to him.

CARTER : DANIEL!

O’NEILL : What the hell are you doing?

HE runs and grabs MALAKI with TEAL’C.

MALAKI : Stay back!

They try to move him away from the pedestal but suddenly are engulfed in a bright light. CARTER looks up from tending to DANIEL in surprise.

CARTER : COLONEL!

The light intensifies and next we see a shot of…

INT- SGC COMMISSARY

We see a spoon with fruit loops on it and the shot expands to DANIEL sitting opposite O’NEILL who is eating the fruit loops. CARTER is next to DANIEL. They are all eating breakfast. DANIEL is talking excitedly to O’NEILL.

DANIEL : Anyway I’m sorry but that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?

O’NEILL looks up surprised just before he eats his spoonful of fruit loops. He stares at DANIEL and CARTER confused.

O’NEILL : What?

DANIEL looks at CARTER frustrated.

DANIEL : What do you think?

O’NEILL looks around.

CARTER : Colonel is something wrong?

O’NEILL : Maybe!

He looks at his fruit loops and back at DANIEL and CARTER.

INT-COMMISSARY

O’NEILL, CARTER and DANIEL are sat around the table eating breakfast as before. O’NEILL looks confused.

O’NEILL : Weren’t we just somewhere else?

CARTER looks at him then at DANIEL confused

DANIEL : Where?

O’NEILL : Some planet.

DANIEL : When?

O’NEILL : Just now.

DANIEL : No.

O’NEILL : You sure?

DANIEL : Yeah.

O’NEILL looks around very confused and puts his fruit loops down.

O’NEILL : Everything just changed.

CARTER : Sir we’ve been sitting in the commissary for the past half-hour.

O’NEILL : Really?

DANIEL (sarcastically) : Well it is understandable how you could have gotten the two places confused.

CARTER looks amused then looks at her watch and stands up.

CARTER : We’re gonna be late for the briefing.

O’NEILL : Briefing?

DANIEL and CARTER look at each other.

DANIEL : Are you ok? Or are you just trying to avoid answering my question?

O’NEILL : I’m fine…What question?

He gets up and leaves followed by CARTER and DANIEL.

INT- BRIEFING ROOM

HAMMOND and SG1 are in there. CARTER is stood up in front of a large screen with a sun’s schematic on.

CARTER : Two weeks ago SG15 took these images of solar activity on P4X-639. Analysis of the data indicates a steady increase in the intensity. Now if I’m right the explosions that we’re witnessing here are just the precursor for an exponentially greater violent ejection.

TEAL’C : Major CARTER, have we not previously been briefed concerning this matter?

O’NEILL : I was just going to say that.

CARTER (puzzled) : Sir?

O’NEILL : You wanna go to the planet and set up some kind of remote observatory.

DANIEL and HAMMOND look at O’NEILL.

CARTER : Yes.

O’NEILL : We just did that.

DANIEL : No we didn’t.

TEAL'C : I believe we did DANIEL JACKSON.

HAMMOND : No TEAL'C that’s what this briefing is about.

O’NEILL : I distinctly remember sitting here listening to CARTER prattle on about solar activity and err corona something.

CARTER : Corona mass emission. I was just about to bring it up.

O’NEILL (gesturing to CARTER) : There you go. How would I know that?

CARTER : Maybe you read my report?

DANIEL taps his file on the table and speaks sarcastically to CARTER...

DANIEL : Maybe he read your report?

O’NEILL gives DANIEL an annoyed look.

O’NEILL : I’m telling you guy’s, we’ve done this before.

DANIEL looks skeptical.

TEAL’C : I am in agreement with O’NEILL. I am experiencing a great deal of familiarity with these events.

Suddenly the sound of the gate opening is hears and the sirens go off.

TECHNICIAN (via intercom) : Unscheduled off world activation.

They all leave the briefing room to go down to the control room.

INT- CONTROL ROOM.

The technician is at the control computer as HAMMOND and SG1 enter.

TECHNICIAN : We have an unscheduled incoming traveler sir.

O’NEILL : It’s SG12.

HAMMOND : They’re not due back for days.

TECHNICIAN : Receiving GDO transmission…

The computer readout verifies that it is SG12 coming through the gate.

TECHNICIAN (cont’d) : It’s SG12.

DANIEL and CARTER look at O’NEILL who just smirks.

HAMMOND : Open the iris.

The sound of the iris opening is heard.

TEAL’C : One of them will be injured.

O’NEILL nods at this comment.

SG12 walk through the gate. One member is hobbling and is being supported by another. HAMMOND looks at O’NEILL stunned. O’NEILL just raises his eyebrows.

INT- SGC CORRIDOR NEAR INFIRMARY.

CARTER and HAMMOND are walking along it discussing the situation.

HAMMOND : What do you make of all this?

CARTER : Well sir I’m not sure.

HAMMOND : SG12’s early return was the result of an accident. One of the team fell and broke his ankle. How could TEAL’C and Colonel O’NEILL know that was going to happen?

CARTER : Both of them claim to have memories of SG1’s mission to P4X-639.

HAMMOND : A mission that isn’t scheduled to start for another six hours.

INT- IMFIRMARY

We see FRASIER shining a light in O’NEILL’S eyes. He squints at her. DANIEL is stood to the side and TEAL’C is in the background being examined by a nurse.

DANIEL : Ok so SAM was setting up instruments and…where was I?

O’NEILL : You were by the altar deal with the guy.

DANIEL : Right, you’re gonna need to be a bit more specific.

TEAL’C : MALAKI.

The nurse puts a thermometer in TEAL’C’S mouth.

DANIEL : That’s the alien archaeologist that SG15 met on the first survey. I was looking forward to meeting him.

O’NEILL : You did! You got along swell. Anyway at some point a beam shot out from the ruins around the altar and in the Stargate.

TEAL’C removes the thermometer from his mouth.

TEAL'C : There was a blinding flash of light.

O’NEILL : Then I was back in the commissary eating my fruit loops.

FRAISER looks at him startled that he would eat fruit loops.

CARTER and HAMMOND enter the infirmary.

FRASIER (to HAMMOND) : Well sir I can’t find anything wrong with either of them. Now we’ll have to wait for the lab results to be sure but they both appear to be in perfect health.

CARTER : Except for the fact that they’re remembering events that haven’t even happened yet.

DANIEL : Yes but why JACK and TEAL’C and not us?

HAMMOND : I’m not taking any chances. Until we figure out what’s going on I’m postponing your mission to P4X 639.

INT- SGC CORRIDOR.

O’NEILL is walking down a corridor. He looks at his watch just as DANIEL jogs round the corner after him carrying a bundle of papers. O’NEILL taps his watch as if he were expecting DANIEL.

DANIEL : JACK wait up.

O’NEILL turns to face DANIEL who stops to let an airman past.

DANIEL : I was thinking about what you said about…err…a beam coming out of the altar. Now SG15 took digital images of the carvings on the ruins.

He hands O’NEILL some images to look at.

DANIEL (cont’d) : I was thinking that there might be some sort of a clue in here about what’s going on. Unfortunately it’s the equivalent of about 400 pages of alien text. But if you could give me more details about the layout of the alien ruins it might be useful…

Suddenly Sgt SILER comes jogging around the corner and runs straight into DANIEL knocking him to the floor. All of the images scatter everywhere.

SILER : Gee sorry Dr JACKSON.

SILER and another airman help DANIEL to his feet.

O’NEILL : You should have seen that coming.

INT-COMMISSARY

O’NEILL is sat drinking a cup of coffee looking bored as CARTER walks in. She looks at him expectantly and rests her hands on the table.

CARTER : So?

O’NEILL looks up at her.

O’NEILL : So?

CARTER sits down at the table.

CARTER : Don’t you know what I’m gonna say?

O’NEILL looks at his watch.

O’NEILL : Actually, by this time we were on the planet. It’s all different now.

CARTER : Oh, well I was thinking about what you said, about a beam hitting the Stargate.

O’NEILL looks at her apparently without interest.

O’NEILL : What about it?

He distractedly removes a particle from his cup and flicks it away.

CARTER : After the flash you found yourself back here. And then you were basically reliving the moments up to the mission. Maybe you’re not remembering future events. Maybe you were sent back in time.

O’NEILL : For what, 6 hours?

CARTER : Well it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen something like this. I mean the Stargate did send us back to 1969.

O’NEILL (smiling) : Good year.

CARTER : So I was wondering. Could this beam you mentioned be a means to access the gates subspace field in order to create some kind of time inversion outside of subspace?

O’NEILL looks at her for a moment.

O’NEILL : I knew you were going to say that.

CARTER laughs softly at him.

CARTER : I guess I was just thinking out loud…I’m gonna go run a few simulations.

She gets up and leaves O’NEILL to finish his coffee.

O’NEILL : You run…simulate…let me know how it turns out…keep me posted.

He puts his cup down.

O’NEILL (cont’d) : Keep me apprised.

He closes his eyes.

INT- HAMMONDS OFFICE

HAMMOND is stood reading a report on O’NEILL and TEAL’C. They are both stood awaiting the results. HAMMOND looks up and speaks to them.

HAMMOND : The lab results confirm Dr FRASIER’S original assessments. You’re both in perfect health. Any more of these premonitions?

TEAL’C : Not for some time.

O’NEILL : Can we go back to work now General please?

HAMMOND : I have no objection as long as…

Suddenly the sound of the gate activating is heard and the alarms go off.

TECHNICIAN (on intercom) : Unscheduled off world activation.

HAMMOND exits his office followed by O’NEILL and TEAL’C.

O’NEILL : D’oh!

INT-CONTROL ROOM

The computer display shows an unknown error to the gate as HAMMOND, TEAL’C and O’NEILL enter. They all stare at the gate.

HAMMOND : What is that?

TECHNICIAN : I’m not sure sir. I’ve never seen anything like it.

O’NEILL : We have.

He looks to TEAL’C as they are enveloped in a blinding light again and next we see…

INT- COMMISSARY

We see the spoonful of fruit loops again as O’NEILL, CARTER and DANIEL are all at breakfast as before.

DANIEL : Anyway I’m sorry but that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?

O’NEILL puts his spoon down shocked, sits back in his chair and looks at his watch. CARTER and DANIEL stare at him puzzled.

CARTER : Colonel, Something wrong?

O’NEILL looks at her.

O’NEILL : Oh yeah, something.

He looks to the side annoyed.

INT- BRIEFING ROOM

HAMMOND and SG1 are in there. CARTER is stood up in front of a large screen with a sun’s schematic on as before.

CARTER : Two weeks ago SG15…

O’NEILL (interrupting) : We’ve done this!

He closes his folder and drops it on the table.

CARTER, HAMMOND and DANIEL stare at him.

DANIEL (sarcastically) : We do this every day.

DANIEL resumes reading through the mission notes. O’NEILL looks at him irritated.

O’NEILL : I’m not talking about briefings in general DANIEL. I’m talking about this briefing. I’m talking about this day!

He looks around at the others who seem confused. All this time TEAL’C is quietly considering the situation.

TEAL’C : Colonel O’NEILL is correct. Events do appear to be repeating themselves.

DANIEL : Since when?

O’NEILL : Since we went to P4X 639.

CARTER : We haven’t been to P4X 639.

O’NEILL : Yes we have…(he points at DANIEL) No we haven’t. That’s what you were going to say.

DANIEL : Of course that’s what I was going to say.

O’NEILL (shaking his head) : Ok, bad example.

HAMMOND : Colonel I’m not sure what to make of all of this.

CARTER : If we’ve had this meeting before sir…

O’NEILL : Why are TEAL’C and I the only ones who remember it? I know, that’s what you said last time.

He looks around.

O’NEILL (cont’d) : Well I’ll venture a guess that it has something to do with that planet.

The others look unconvinced.

O’NEILL (cont’d) : And you’ll all believe me (he looks at his watch) when SG12 come through that gate in four…three…two…one…

He raises his finger expectantly but nothing happens. The others look at him and O’NEILL taps at his watch.

HAMMOND : SG12 isn’t due back for 3 days.

The gate activates, sirens go off.

TECHNICIAN (on intercom) : Unscheduled off world activation.

O’NEILL looks triumphant and balls his hands into fists.

O’NEILL : So close!

They all head for the Control room.

INT- INFIRMARY

FRASIER is once again examining O’NEILL and TEAL’C. We see her shining a penlight into O’NEILLS eyes.

O’NEILL : You’re not gonna find anything.

FRASIER : Why don’t we wait for the lab results before we jump to any conclusions.

TEAL'C : The results will be negative.

FRASIER : Humor me.

HAMMOND and CARTER enter.

FRASIER (to HAMMOND) : Well sir…

O’NEILL raises his hand and interrupts.

O’NEILL : General I know you’re thinking of postponing the mission but there’s no point. We tried it last time and it didn’t work.

HAMMOND looks to DANIEL who doesn’t know what to say.

A nurse puts a thermometer in TEAL'C’S mouth and he sighs.

INT- SGC CORRIDOR

As before O’NEILL is walking down a corridor. Instead of looking at his watch he is just counting the seconds until DANIEL jogs round the corner after him carrying a bundle of papers.

DANIEL : JACK wait up.

O’NEILL raises his arms and turns to face DANIEL.

DANIEL : Err… I was thinking about what you said about a beam coming from the altar…

O’NEILL points at the papers that DANIEL is carrying.

O’NEILL : Four hundred pages of alien text.

DANIEL is shocked.

DANIEL : Right, SG15 took digital images of the carvings on the ruins.

He hands the papers to O’NEILL who looks at them.

O’NEILL : Looks familiar.

DANIEL : It should, it’s something that you spoke for a few days. It’s a variation of the writings used by the ancients.

O’NEILL : Well if you’re looking for help translating it you’re barking up the wrong genius.

He hands the papers back to DANIEL.

DANIEL : No I realized that the Asgards returned you to normal, which is…fortunate I suppose. But err if you could give me more details about the layout of the ruins it might be useful…

Sgt SILER again comes jogging around the corner and runs straight into DANIEL knocking him to the floor. All of the images scatter everywhere.

SILER : Gee sorry Dr JACKSON.

SILER and another airman help DANIEL to his feet.

O’NEILL : Ooops.

INT- HAMMONDS OFFICE.

O’NEILL knocks at the door to come in with TEAL'C.

HAMMOND : Come in.

They enter the office. HAMMOND is sat at his desk.

O’NEILL : Any word from FRASIER.

HAMMOND : She’s still waiting for the lab result.

TEAL’C : If we delay any longer it will be too late.

HAMMOND : Too late for what?

O’NEILL : To stop this day from happening again!

HAMMOND : You realize that this is a little difficult for me to accept.

O’NEILL : Hey, if it were just me I’d agree. But what about TEAL’C? Come on, is this the face of a crazy man?

He points to TEAL’C who stares at HAMMOND. HAMMOND looks at O’NEILL.

O’NEILL : Bad example.

HAMMOND : What do you want?

O’NEILL : We wanna go back to 639.

HAMMOND considers the request.

EXT- RUINS ON P4X 639

SG1 step through the gate with their weapons ready. CARTER looks at a small instrument in her hand.

CARTER : A geomagnetic storm is building up, we shouldn’t stay long.

O’NEILL points towards the platform.

O’NEILL : That’s the machine right there.

They walk towards the pedestal.

CARTER : I wonder how it works?

O’NEILL : Subspace fields and time inversions.

CARTER looks at O’NEILL surprised.

O’NEILL : It’s what you said.

They see MALAKI and O’NEILL aims his weapon at him followed by CARTER.

MALAKI : Hello.

He raises his arms in the air.

DANIEL : Woah, easy guys!

O’NEILL : That’s the guy, that’s the one who started all this.

MALAKI : I don’t understand.

O’NEILL : Whatever you did I want you to undo it.

MALAKI : I did nothing!

CARTER : Colonel I don’t think he knows what you’re talking about.

TEAL’C : Perhaps he has no memory O’NEILL.

O’NEILL : Oh he remembers. He’s the one who was pushing all of those buttons.

MALAKI walks towards the pedestal.

MALAKI : Please I’m an archaeologist. I’ve been trying to translate these alien symbols. I…I told the others that came before you.

DANIEL : SG15?

MALAKI : Yes, but they didn’t point weapons at me. I can show you my notes.

He reaches for his bag but O’NEILL yells and moves towards him.

MALAKI : I’ve been making periodic visits to this planet for some time now. My research is almost complete.

O’NEILL searches through MALAKI’S bag. He finds the weapon.

O’NEILL : What kind of archaeologist carries a weapon?

DANIEL (stepping forward) : Err…I do.

O’NEILL : Bad example.

O’NEILL takes another object out of the bag and activates it. It is a photograph of a smiling woman.

O’NEILL : What’s this?

MALAKI : If you must know, it’s my wife.

Suddenly the pedestal activates again and the stones on it move. The energy build up starts again and SG1 step back alarmed.

O’NEILL : What did you do?

CARTER : I didn’t do anything it engaged on it’s own.

O’NEILL : Turn it off.

CARTER : How?

MALAKI : It’s drawing energy from the ionization in the atmosphere. There’s nothing Major CARTER can do.

O’NEILL : Excuse me? How’d you know her name?

MALAKI : You told me.

O’NEILL : No I didn’t. Not this time around.

MALAKI knows he has been discovered and drops his hands.

MALAKI : It doesn’t matter. You’re too late.

O’NEILL : How do you shut this thing off?

The energy build up increases.

MALAKI : Even if I knew I wouldn’t tell you.

CARTER : Sir, it’s building up some kind of charge.

O’NEILL : DANIEL you know how to read this stuff. Get up here and shut it off.

DANIEL : What?

He walks up to the pedestal and stares at it.

DANIEL (cont’d) : Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t even know where to begin, I mean it would take years to translate. I don’t even have enough…

The energy build up, the Stargate activates and they are enveloped in a blinding light. We next see…

INT- COMMISSARY

We see the spoonful of fruit loops again as O’NEILL, CARTER and DANIEL are all at breakfast as before.

DANIEL : Anyway I’m sorry but that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?

O’NEILL drops his spoon into the bowl and grabs his forehead in frustration. CARTER looks at hi shocked.

DANIEL : It was just a question.

O’NEILL takes his hand away from his head and stares at them.

INT- BRIEFING ROOM

HAMMOND and SG1 are in there. CARTER is stood up in front of a large screen with a sun’s schematic on as before. She is about to start speaking when O’NEILL interrupts. He and TEAL’C are stood behind their chairs.

O’NEILL : All right, here’s the deal. We’re all stuck in a time loop of some kind. However TEAL’C and I seem to be the only one’s who realize it. Now there’s this alien device on six thirty nine. It shoots a beam at the Stargate which…err subspace something…(he looks at TEAL’C) What?

HAMMOND, DANIEL and CARTER stare at him.

TEAL’C : Accesses the subspace field the Stargate is capable of generating. It is powered by ionization.

CARTER walks towards them intrigued.

O’NEILL : In the atmosphere, right. Which is caused by…(he points at TEAL’C) I know this one…(he thinks about it) Magnets!

TEAL’C : The geomagnetic storm.

O’NEILL : Of course. Anyway I don’t know why none of you don’t remember this. But I do know for a fact there’s no point in having old doc FRASIER examining us again!

He looks around at the others who all seem very puzzled.

INT- INFIRMARY

FRASIER is once again shining the pen light into O’NEILL’S eyes. He seems fed up and annoyed.

O’NEILL : I ask you. What could possibly be in my eye that could explain this?

The nurse puts the thermometer in TEAL’C’S mouth again and he sighs looking at the nurse.

INT- SGC CORRIDOR NEAR INFIRMARY.

CARTER and HAMMOND are once again walking along it discussing the situation.

HAMMOND : What do you make of all this?

CARTER : Well sir, when was the last time you heard Colonel O’NEILL use terms like subspace field and geomagnetic storm?

HAMMOND : Good point.

CARTER : And he actually used them correctly…for the most part.

HAMMOND : You believe him?

CARTER : Well I’m considering the possibility sir. I mean the more I think about it, if he’s right the ramifications are huge.

HAMMOND : And the next time loops we’ll forget this conversation even happened.

CARTER : Yes sir.

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

We see DANIEL gathering the photographs of the writings from P4X 639 to take to show O’NEILL in the corridor. Just as he is about to leave the room O’NEILL enters followed by TEAL’C.

O’NEILL : You’re better off in here.

DANIEL : I was just coming to look for you.

O’NEILL : I know.

DANIEL puts the papers onto a table

DANIEL : Err…I’ve managed to translate a section of the west wall.

He taps a touch sensitive computer screen to show the section of the wall.

DANIEL (cont’d) : It appears to be some sort of planetary history.

O’NEILL : DANIEL that’s very nice, but focus on the altar.

DANIEL : Why?

TEAL’C : MALAKI initiated the time loop by manipulating the symbols on the surface.

O’NEILL : Figure out the symbols, figure out how to stop this!

DANIEL : Just because someone can recognize symbols on a keyboard doesn’t mean they can run a computer. If I can translate the rest of the text I can put the device in a proper context and figure out what it’s supposed to do.

O’NEILL (loudly) : We know what it does! It’s a time loop machine.

DANIEL : Err…Think about it. Who would build a device that loops time every ten hours?

O’NEILL : Who knows? But that’s what it does.

DANIEL : Yes but maybe that’s not what it’s supposed to do. I mean for all we know that’s just an accidental by-product of its true function.

The phone rings and DANIEL picks it up.

DANIEL : Hello…Ok we’re on our way. (he puts the phone down) Sam has something.

They leave DANIEL'S office.

INT- BRIEFING ROOM

We see a schematic of a galaxy on the computer screen and CARTER steps forward to begin talking to HAMMOND and the rest of SG1.

CARTER : According to Colonel O’NEILL in the first loop he and TEAL’C witnessed a beam striking the Stargate on P4X 639. Then the gate became energized somehow. But now in the second loop at the exact same moment they witnessed a similar effect in our own gate room here on Earth.

O’NEILL : Sounds about right.

CARTER : Ok so if we really under the influence of an alien technology then the effect is clearly being translated to Earth via the Stargate. In which case the solution is simple.

She looks at the others to see if they realize.

DANIEL : We dial out.

CARTER : Exactly, a few minutes before this is set to begin again we establish an outgoing wormhole to I don’t know…say the Tollan home world and anyone or anything trying to dial in from P4X 639 will get a busy signal.

O’NEILL looks to HAMMOND who nods.

HAMMOND : Let’s do it.

INT- CONTROL ROOM

We see SG1, HAMMOND and a technician gathered around the console.

TECHNICIAN : Chevron five locked.

A computer screen shows the dial out sequence progression.

TECHNICIAN : Chevron six locked.

The gate continues to spin the seventh chevron slide into place but doesn’t light up. They all stare at the gate.

TECHNICIAN : Chevron seven will not engage.

CARTER (surprised) : What?

TECHNICIAN : It won’t lock. I can’t establish a connection.

CARTER : I’m running a diagnostic.

Suddenly the gate begins to spin.

TECHNICIAN : Incoming wormhole.

HAMMOND : Close the iris.

The iris closes.

We see armed guards take up position in front of the gate.

O’NEILL sighs and looks at TEAL’C.

O’NEILL : Oh crap!

CARTER : This doesn’t make any sense, there’s nothing wrong on our end. We should have been able to dial out.

The gate opens and we see the arcing energy again.

CARTER looks to O’NEILL who just waves his hand as the light engulfs them all and the loop starts again…

INT- COMMISSARY

We see the spoonful of fruit loops again as O’NEILL, CARTER and DANIEL are all at breakfast as before.

DANIEL : Anyway I’m sorry but that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?

O’NEILL just puts his spoon down and sits back in his chair.

O’NEILL : Ask me tomorrow.

DANIEL looks confused, as does CARTER. O’NEILL closes his eyes for a moment and then looks off to the side very fed up.

INT- DANIELS OFFICE.

DANIEL is looking at a computer screen with the images that SG15 took with O’NEILL and TEAL’C.

DANIEL : …Just because someone can recognize the symbols on a keyboard doesn’t mean they can run a computer…

O’NEILL waves his hands for DANIEL to stop.

O’NEILL : We’ve been over this!

DANIEL stops and looks at O’NEILL.

O’NEILL : I’m telling you, the only way to stop this loop (he touches the screen to bring up images of the pedestal)…is to figure out how to run that stuff.

DANIEL looks at the screen.

DANIEL : If we really have had this conversation before then I probably pointed it out to you that there’s no way I can translate this entire text in less than a day.

O’NEILL : Oh I am so ahead of you (he retrieves a tape recorder from the table). I put the whole thing on tape last time so you don’t have to start from scratch.

He presses play but nothing is heard. DANIEL looks at him. O’NEILL hits the recorder onto the table to get it working in frustration.

DANIEL : If what you say is true then when the loop started again then your recording wouldn’t have happened…yet

O’NEILL : Right.

O’NEILL puts the tape recorder down.

TEAL’C : Did I not say that your plan would be unsuccessful?

O’NEILL raises a finger at TEAL’C to shut him up.

O’NEILL : Careful…be careful. (To DANIEL) What about notes? Indelible ink?

DANIEL just looks at him.

DANIEL : Look if you guys are the only ones with memories of previous loops then you’re gonna have to help me by learning and remembering.

O’NEILL : Fine (he picks up one of the images) How hard can it be?

DANIEL takes it from him, turns is the right way around and gives it back to O’NEILL.

INT- BRIEFING ROOM

CARTER and HAMMOND are stood in front of a schematic on the display discussing the situation.

CARTER : According to Colonel O’NEILL in a previous loop we attempted to block the connection with P4X 639 but we were unable to dial out. I think what’s happened is that the Earth has become in a sense out of sync with the rest of the gates system. Making it impossible for us to establish contact with these worlds.

HAMMOND : What about SG12, they managed to gate in?

CARTER : I realize that, so we ran a sequence of random dialings and this is what we found.

She begins the display and is shows some gate locations lighting up.

CARTER : These were the worlds we were able to contact, including Alaris, the planet where SG12 were doing its survey. At the center of this group is P4X 639. I believe that the alien device is establishing a simultaneous connection with all of these gates creating a kind of subspace bubble and that everything within the bubble is cut off from the normal flow of time.

HAMMOND : What are the implications of this?

CARTER : Well sir, we could be reliving the same day over and over maybe thousands of times and we’d never know it.

HAMMOND : What can we do?

CARTER : Unfortunately not much. By the next time this loop starts we won’t even remember we had this conversation. It’s up to TEAL’C and Colonel O’NEILL.

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

We see O’NEILL looking bored and reading a book entitled ‘Latin for the novice’ by Joseph Mallozzi PhD. TEAL’C is next to him also studying.

O’NEILL : Potteramous, pottera, protarat, cram, eras, crat, cramus…

We see DANIEL writing on a chalkboard translating some of the text.

O’NEILL puts the book down and puts his hands up to his head.

O’NEILL : This is a bad idea.

TEAL’C : It would appear we have no choice.

The alarms go off and the technician is heard over the intercom.

TECHNICIAN : Unscheduled off world activation.

O’NEILL sighs and looks at TEAL’C.

O’NEILL : You know the worst part about this? Every time we loop DANIEL asks me a question and…I wasn’t listening the first time.

TEAL'C : You are not the only one who must endure some discomfort O’NEILL.

The light envelops them and the loop begins again.

INT- SGC CORRIDOR

We see the beginning of the loop from TEAL’C’S point of view. He is walking along the corridor when an airman opens a door in front of him and hits him in the face.

AIRMAN : Sorry sir, I didn’t realize you were there!

TEAL’C (annoyed) : You have said that on many occasions.

AIRMAN : I…

TEAL'C : Perhaps next time I will not be so forgiving.

TEAL’C walks off leaving the airman staring after him.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

O’NEILL and TEAL’C are sat at the desk facing DANIEL who is translating. They both look very bored and O’NEILL is playing with two scrunched up balls of paper.

DANIEL : Section twenty three ends with a reference to perennial inventus.

O’NEILL : We’ve been over this.

DANIEL turns around surprised.

TEAL’C : I believe it means the approaching disaster.

DANIEL : Good.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

O’NEILL and TEAL’C are again helping as he translates onto the chalkboard. TEAL’C is staring at his hands evidently very bored.

DANIEL : …On the machine itself. With recurring use the machine surrenders to the rigors of time…

TEAL'C : That is incorrect DANIEL JACKSON.

DANIEL turns around and looks at them.

O’NEILL (casually) : The word abiceerum means to give up, not surrender.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

This time O’NEILL is spinning around on his chair in boredom and TEAL’C is reading whilst DANIEL is explaining the same thing to them.

DANIEL : Ok, this section of the text seems to deal primarily with their arrival on P4X 639…

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

DANIEL walks towards the chalkboard.

DANIEL : Ok, now this section of the text seems to deal primarily with their arrival on P4X 639 (he points at a symbol) Now this word here, deductavum is a derivation of devuctum.

We see O’NEILL begin to juggle with some scrunched up balls of paper in his chair. TEAL’C looks at him.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

We now see O’NEILL stood up expertly juggling three balls of paper.

DANIEL : Ok, this section of the text seems to deal primarily with their arrival on P4X 639.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

This time O’NEILL is sat down looking at TEAL'C who is juggling balls of paper too.

DANIEL : …Appears to be a reference to the gradual degeneration of the machine itself…

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

DANIEL is looking at the chalkboard.

DANIEL : …Foundation of a colony.

He turns around and sees both O’NEILL and TEAL'C expertly juggling and stares at them in disbelief.

DANIEL : Guys are you getting this ‘cause this is important?

The sirens start and the technician is heard on the intercom.

TECHNICIAN : Unscheduled off world activation.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- COMMISSARY

O’NEILL is sat with his legs up on the table looking bored. There is an empty plate in front of him and he is holding a container of ketchup and mustard. He looks up as TEAL’C enters.

TEAL'C : O’NEILL, should we not be assisting DANIEL JACKSON with the translation?

O’NEILL starts to draw on the plate with the ketchup and mustard.

O’NEILL : I’m taking this loop off.

TEAL’C considers this and sits down.

O’NEILL : I’m telling you TEAL'C. If we don’t find a way out of this soon I’m gonna lose it.

TEAL’C stares at him.

O’NEILL : Lose it…it meant go crazy, nuts, insane, bonzo, no longer in possession of one’s faculties, (he continues drawing on the plate with the condiments) three fires short of a happy meal…WACKO!

He lifts up the plate to TEAL'C and we see that he has drawn a smiling face.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- DANIELS OFFICE

This time we see O’NEILL writing the translation on the chalkboard as DANIEL and TEAL’C watch. O’NEILL finishes a line and walks towards TEAL’C.

O’NEILL : TEAL'C?

TEAL'C : Thank you O’NEILL.

O’NEILL : No, no, thank you TEAL’C.

He hands TEAL'C the chalk and sits down as TEAL’C takes over. O’NEILL leans back in the chair and puts his hands to his face in frustration.

DANIEL : Exactly how many of these loops have you…have we been through?

O’NEILL : I’ve lost track.

DANIEL : That must be frustrating.

O’NEILL (sarcastically) : Err…yeah!

DANIEL : On the other hand it’s kind of an opportunity.

O’NEILL : How’s that?

DANIEL : Well think about it, I mean if you know in advance that everything is always going to go back to the way it was then…you could do anything for as long as you want without having to worry about the consequences.

O’NEILL looks at him then at TEAL'C. They consider what he has said. O’NEILL stands up.

O’NEILL : Excuse me.

He leaves quickly followed by TEAL'C.

DANIEL just stares after them surprised.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- ROOM AT SGC

We see O’NEILL working at a potter’s wheel, practicing his modeling. The clay pot falls apart and he looks at it.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- SGC CORRIDOR

A gateroom technician is stood in the corridor and hears a bicycle bell. He turns round in surprise and sees O'NEILL cycling down the corridor.

O’NEILL : How’s the wife?

TECHNICIAN : Fine…sir!

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- GATE ROOM

The gate is open and we see O’NEILL and TEAL'C playing golf through the gate. They are both dressed in golf outfits and have set up some astro turf at the foot of the ramp. TEAL’C takes a shot through the gate.

O’NEILL : Oh yeah! That’s how to play.

He walks up to take a shot.

O’NEILL : How far is Alaris anyway?

TEAL'C : Several billion miles O’NEILL.

O’NEILL : That’s gotta be a record!

He takes his shot too.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- ROOM AT SGC

We again see O’NEILL working at a potter’s wheel, practicing his modeling. This time the clay pot is perfect.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- GATE ROOM

O’NEILL and TEAL’C are again playing golf through an open wormhole. O’NEILL is just about to take a shot when…

HAMMOND : Colonel O’NEILL, what the hell are you doing?

O’NEILL looks up and turns around to face the control room angrily.

O’NEILL (angrily and animatedly) : In the middle of my back swing!

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- SGC CORRIDOR

Once again we see the Airman open the door into TEAL’C as he walks down the corridor.

AIRMAN : Sorry sir, I didn’t see you there.

TEAL’C calmly slams the door shut on the airman, smiles and walks down the corridor.

INT-CONTROL ROOM

O’NEILL walks in wearing civilian clothing and carrying a piece of paper. He walks up to HAMMOND.

O’NEILL : Excuse me, George.

He hands HAMMOND the paper.

HAMMOND : Colonel what are you doing out of uniform?

O’NEILL looks at his watch.

O’NEILL : Handing you my resignation.

HAMMOND looks at him shocked. CARTER stands up.

CARTER : Resigning, what for?

O’NEILL : So I can do…(he checks his watch again) this.

He grabs CARTER and gives her a big kiss in front of a shocked HAMMOND.

There is another flash of light and we see another loop…

INT- BRIEFING ROOM.

We see CARTER looking at O’NEILL who is resting his head in a hand casually and smiling.

CARTER : What are you smiling at?

O’NEILL (still smiling) : Nothing’

We see DANIEL stood at the front of the table in front of the computer display of the images from P4X 639. He is reading some notes.

HAMMOND sits at the table reading the briefing.

HAMMOND : What have you got for us Dr JACKSON?

DANIEL : Err…with the help of TEAL’C and (he points at O’NEILL and raises his eyebrows)…JACK I’ve managed to complete the translation.

O’NEILL and TEAL’C look up.

DANIEL (cont’d) : As I originally suspected P4X 639 was once a colony of the Ancients. They thrived there for thousands of years until they were struck by some sort of unspecified cataclysm, perhaps a disease, but we’ll never really know for sure. In any case facing certain destruction they built a time machine.

O’NEILL : They were going to go back and change their history, to avoid their fate.

DANIEL : Right, but it didn’t work. Instead of sending a team of scientists back to the key moment in their history the device caused a short term continuous loop. Just like the one we’ve been experiencing. They experienced the same day dozens perhaps hundreds of times trying to get the machine to work but in the end they gave up, they shut it down and…let the end come.

HAMMOND : So the loop can be broken?

O’NEILL nods silently at HAMMOND.

DANIEL walks over to the computer screen.

DANIEL : Err…there’s a section of text on the altar that deals specifically with the geomagnetic storms that power the device. Apparently they recur every fifty or so years which is why incidentally…

O’NEILL interrupts frustrated.

O’NEILL : Yes sir! The loop can be broken.

He looks at DANIEL who has stopped talking.

DANIEL : I was getting to that. When we activate the symbols on the altar in the right sequence I think we can shut it down.

HAMMOND : Colonel have your team geared up and ready to embark in thirty minutes.

O’NEILL : Yes sir!

He gets up to leave.

EXT- P4X 639

SG1 exit the Stargate. CARTER reads her instruments.

O’NEILL : The geomagnetic storms are building up. We shouldn’t stay long.

CARTER looks at him shocked.

O’NEILL (cont’d) : Lucky guess. (He shrugs his shoulders).

They make their way cautiously over to the altar and MALAKI.

O’NEILL : MALAKI!

CARTER : I don’t see anyone sir.

O’NEILL : He’s around here somewhere and he knows we’re on to him.

He gives a hand signal for them to pan out in their approach.

TEAL’C approaches the altar area first and is suddenly thrown back by a force field unconscious.

O’NEILL : TEAL’C!

They all rush over to him. CARTER kneels beside him to help and O’NEILL moves towards the force field.

We see MALAKI approach the altar and take his sunglasses off calmly.

MALAKI : I’m sorry but you’ve come to break the time loop and I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.

O’NEILL watches as MALAKI works at the altar.

O’NEILL : Get away from that thing!

MALAKI Looks up but doesn’t do anything.

O’NEILL picks a stone up to throw at the barrier. He throws it but it just rebounds off quickly narrowly missing O’NEILL and DANIEL.

CARTER : It’s no good sir. It looks like a variation of a Goa’uld force shield.

MALAKI : In fact it is Major. I had to trade several rare artifacts for the field generator but it was well worth it.

He continues working at the altar.

DANIEL approaches the force field.

DANIEL : MALAKI, we have to reset those controls or the loop is going to restart itself again.

MALAKI : I’m counting on it. I need more time. Once I’ve correctly deciphered the symbols on the altar I will be able to master the time device.

O’NEILL : Why, so you can be king of Groundhog Day?

MALAKI looks up.

MALAKI : Do you think I would do this for personal power? She…(he stops what he is saying)…You wouldn’t understand.

O’NEILL : What happened?

MALAKI considers the situation.

MALAKI : She died…twelve years ago. When I found this place and discovered its true purpose I dedicated myself to unlock its mysteries.

CARTER : So you could go back and save her.

TEAL’C awakens and is helped to his feet.

MALAKI : No that would be quite impossible. She died from a congenital heart weakness. Not even the ability to travel time could change that.

O’NEILL : Then why are you doing this?

He takes his sunglasses off.

MALAKI : To be with her once more.

He returns to his work at the altar.

DANIEL also takes his sunglasses off.

DANIEL : MALAKI, the device doesn’t work.

MALAKI looks up suddenly.

DANIEL (cont’d) : It never did.

MALAKI : It never did? You’re living proof.

DANIEL : We finished translating the text on these ruins. The Ancients who built this place never got it to work. They tried over and over again just like you. But in the end they just gave up. Why do you think this place has been deserted for so long? They couldn’t save themselves.

MALAKI : You’re wrong. There must be some other explanation. I can make this work!

DANIEL : You can’t! They proved it can’t be done. You’re just going to go on like this forever. You’ll be trapped!

TEAL’C : Along with billions of innocent others.

CARTER : This device activates fourteen Stargates simultaneously. That’s fourteen worlds reliving the same day over and over.

MALAKI considers the situation.

MALAKI : I err…I didn’t realize.

He looks down at his equipment as is signals the coming of the storm.

MALAKI (cont’d) : But it doesn’t matter. Once I am able to input the correct time coordinates the loop will be broken.

O’NEILL : The people who made that machine are the same ones who made the Stargates and they couldn’t get the damn thing to work. And even if you could just for the sake of arguing…you can’t change what happened to her.

MALAKI : I can touch her face again and talk with her, hear her laugh.

O’NEILL : Like you remember?

MALAKI (emotionally) : Yes.

O’NEILL : And then what’ll happen?

MALAKI : She’ll die.

O’NEILL : And then what? You’ll start over?

MALAKI looks down. The altar suddenly activates for the next loop and the energy builds up again.

O’NEILL : Listen to me, I know what it’s like.

MALAKI : You can’t!

O’NEILL (angrily) : I lost my son, I know…and as much as I…I could never live that over again.

MALAKI looks at O’NEILL sadly.

O’NEILL (cont’d) : Could you?

MALAKI (sadly) : No.

O’NEILL : Let her go.

MALAKI reaches forward slowly and deactivates the altar. The energy build up stops and the force field is lowered.

O’NEILL walks towards MALAKI and takes the photograph of MALAKI’S wife from his bag. He hands it to MALAKI who looks at it sadly then at O’NEILL.

INT- GATE ROOM

We see an open wormhole with no iris cover. SG1 step through.

HAMMOND enters the Gate room.

HAMMOND : Well we’re still here Colonel. I assume you were successful?

O’NEILL : Well General you know what they say. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, try, try again.

He follows the rest of SG1 out of the gate room.

INT- COMMISSARY
We see O’NEILL eating a giant spoonful of Oatmeal from a large bowl full. DANIEL and CARTER are staring at him.

DANIEL : I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone enjoy oatmeal so much.

O’NEILL : When you’ve been eating fruit loops for who know how long, a little variety helps.

CARTER : We got a message from the Tok’ra. Apparently they’ve been trying to contact us for over three months.

O’NEILL looks up not surprised.

O’NEILL : Really?

CARTER : Who knows when they first realized that we were cut off. I mean there’s really no telling how much time passed.

DANIEL : Let me ask you something. In all the time that you were…err…looping, were you ever tempted to do something crazy?

O’NEILL looks up and CARTER seems interested in the answer.

DANIEL (cont’d) : I mean…you could do anything without worrying about the consequences.

O’NEILL : You know it’s funny. You asked me that before.

DANIEL : And?

O’NEILL just looks at CARTER with a small smile on his face. CARTER looks at DANIEL puzzled.

O’NEILL takes another big spoonful of Oatmeal and eats it.

FADE OUT