The Broca Divide

US Airdate : 15 August 1997
UK Airdate : 29 April 1998

Summary

SG-1 visit P3X-797, a planet that seems to be a paradise...
But paradise is not what it seems and when a plague is brought back to earth, Dr Fraiser and SG-1 must race against time to find a cure before it spreads beyond the SGC.

Synopsis by Arnie

General Hammond is briefing them on P3X-797. Ten of the refugees from Chulak identified the final four symbols the Gou'ald used to dial the gate. The symbols had been compared to the groups of symbols on the Abydos cartouche, and only one group had the same symbols at the end. Therefore, P3X-797 could be where the Gou'ald disappeared to.

Daniel has a question. "Couldn't we call this planet something that's a little easier to remember?"

"It's based on a binary code the computer uses for extrapolation," Sam tells him.

Jack remarks wryly, "Which makes it much easier to remember."

Jack asks to see the playback from the MALP probe, but it isn't available. The gate appears to be in a place that's very dark. The MALP probe has lights, but they didn't seem to be working. Jack insists on SG-1 going through the gate first, SG-3 Marines are accompanying them but Jack orders them to wait for 10 seconds before following. Daniel doesn't think that it's a good idea for SG-1 to go first, until Jack points out that if Skaara or Sha're are on the other side, the Marines will shoot them on sight. Daniel stops protesting.

SG-1 discover the MALP probe. The lights have been smashed. Seconds later SG-1 come under attack by a horde of humanoids wearing animal skins. They are overwhelmed by the sheer number of the attackers. Fortunately SG-3 arrive in time to fight off the raiders.

Soon after, the teams discover a group of their attackers sitting around a fire. The majority of them don't look fully human, but there is a young girl who does. She looks terrified. She's sitting to one side, clinging to a tree and crying.

The savages are attacked by 4 humans, dressed in white, throwing stones. The savages scatter and disappear into the forest. The SG teams surround the humans, who fall to their knees. Their leader announces that they are the Untouched and he is High Councillor Tuplo.

The woman <Leedora? > to his left adds, "We are pleased the Gods have deemed us worthy of a return visit."

Jack is puzzled. "Gods?"

Daniel explains, "Only the Gods come through the Stargate. I think they're talking about us - we probably should start getting used to this kind of treatment."

Jack is impatient. "Oh, for crying out loud. We're not Gods, get up." He insists that they stand.

The woman leans towards Tuplo. "Perhaps they wish us to treat them as mortals," she suggests. "A test?"

As two of his companions fetch the girl and help her to her feet, Tuplo invites the SG teams to go with them to the Land of Light.

As they leave the dark forest their eyes are dazzled by the blaze of sunshine that greets them. They head towards a large city, which is some distance away. Once they reach there, SG-1 enter a large hall. Daniel is fascinated. It looks Minoan. The girl is placed on cushions at one end. She lies there, continuously crying.

Sam asks about her. Tuplo explains that she is his daughter, Melosha.

"I can only hope we rescued her in time from the hands of the Touched. We must now wait to see if she has been cursed by them."

"The creatures that took her?" Sam asks. "What were they exactly?"

"They are the Touched. They were unfortunate enough to be cursed by the Hielksha."

Teal'c explains that the Hielksha are the Gods of the Underworld, evil Gods. (As opposed to that nice guy, Apophis).

The female Chancellor explains that the Hielksha touch people among them and the people become too dangerous, like wild animals. They are banished to live on the Dark side. The 'good' Gods last visited over a generation ago.

As soon as Jack hears that he orders the SG teams back to the Stargate.

During the debriefing, Teal'c notices that one of the SG-3 Marines, Johnson, is staring at him while rocking back and forth. Seconds later, Johnson attempts to attack Teal'c. He's restrained, but starts foaming at the mouth. He's dragged off to the Infirmary. Soon after he's joined by two men who fell from the Control Room's window while fighting.

Jack's in the locker room after having had a shower when Sam walks in. She declares that she wants him and starts kissing him. In fact, she's being rather forceful about it. He manages to fight her off, but drags her to the Infirmary too. Dr. Fraiser is extremely worried. They've set up several living quarters as Isolation Chambers, but more personnel are being affected. Sam has the infection too. Johnson is in an Isolation Chamber; Jack takes a look at him. He's like a wild animal.

Jack tells Daniel about Sam. Daniel feels rather concerned and says that he'll go to see Sam. Jack gets extremely jealous and starts beating Daniel up. He has to be restrained by 3 men. He's got it too.

Dr. Fraiser's found an organism like a parasitical virus in the victims" blood. It acts by shutting down every part of the brain except the most primitive parts, which are stimulated. Daniel realises that they've been infected by the Touched. General Hammond is forced to seal off the mountain. Anyone who leaves will be shot on sight and their body burned.

Neither Daniel nor Teal'c have the virus, so General Hammond sends them back through the Gate alone to find out what they can from the Untouched. Janet asks them to fetch a sample of blood from one of the Untouched.

Once through the Gate, Daniel finds Melosha. He realises that the Dark side is like a Leper Colony, all those infected are dumped there and left to die. He refuses to leave Melosha. Teal'c won't help, they need to get to the city, they can't help her now. Daniel picks her up, but while Teal'c is frightening off the Touched by firing his gun in the air, Daniel and Melosha are kidnapped by them. All Teal'c can find is Daniel's glasses.

Back at the SGC, things are even worse. General Hammond has also been affected and Dr. Fraiser has to put him in with Jack in an Isolation Chamber. They're running out of room. She turns to leave.

Jack tries to talk to her. "Doc...Doc...give more." He holds out his arm, begging her for more sedative.

Janet refuses. "You've already had more than the safe dosage. Twice as much as anyone else because you've been more violent."

"Give," he insists.

"No, it's not safe."

"Give...give!"

"Why are you so insistent?" She asks, puzzled. Finally she gives him the injection. He watches her; his eyes fixed on her face. "He must have been in a lot of pain," she says, softly. She gets up and walks to the door.

Jack cries out.

"Colonel O'Neill?" She goes back to him. "So you are still in there somewhere."

"Dream...dream," he says.

"I'm afraid not, Colonel. It's very real." Suddenly she realises that enough sedative must stop the primitive mind. "Colonel, listen to me, I am not going to be able to keep you at this level very long. It's too dangerous. It could cause permanent brain damage."

"What...what is it?" he asks slowly.

Janet explains what she knows of the virus but she's interrupted by Jack.

"Experiment...experiment...on me."

"Experiment on you? No, sir, I can't do that."

Jack touches her face gently. "Use me."

Teal'c reaches the Land of Light, he tries to explain that the curse is a disease and asks for Tuplo's help to save Daniel and Melosha. Tuplo refuses. His daughter is dead to him. The Touched are better off on the Dark side, if they are brought back everyone will be infected. Teal'c demands a sample of their blood. Tuplo and the female Chancellor are horrified. They order Teal'c to leave and stalk off.

Teal'c walks to the door slowly, then attacks the two guards who are standing there. He knocks them both out, then bends over one of them.

"I am sorry," he says to the unconscious man as he takes some blood.

As soon as he reaches the SGC, Teal'c gives the sample to Dr. Fraiser and then goes to see Colonel O'Neill.

"Teal'c." Jack recognises him.

"I am afraid I lost Daniel Jackson on the Dark side of the planet," Teal'c says softly. "I am sorry."

Soon afterwards, Janet comes to see Colonel O'Neill. She's realised that the Untouched have no histamine in their bodies, so the virus can't survive in them. They must eat something, which stops the histamine, and those that don't eat it become the Touched. She and Daniel take anti-histamine daily because they have allergies, that's why they're immune. But she needs someone to try the cure she's got. Jack volunteers. Teal'c sits outside his Isolation Chamber and waits.

He wakes with a start as Jack knocks on the door.

"Teal'c...Doc...open the door," Jack calls. His knocks turn into bangs, as there's no answer.

"Teal'c!" he shouts.

Teal'c pulls back the shutter on the door.

Lucy...I'm home." Jack smiles at Teal'c, who looks at him blankly.

"I am not Lucy."

"I know that. It's a reference to an old TV...Never mind. Open the door," he orders.

"I will summon the doctor," Teal'c replies.

"No, no, come on, I'm fine. I'm back to being myself. Just open up."

"I cannot be sure you're back to being yourself. You referred to me as Lucy."

"Oh for crying out loud," Jack's getting impatient now. "Will you just open the door?"

Teal'c thinks about it, then does.

"The stuff works. Let's find Doc."

While the Gate is dialling up Janet explains that the guns are loaded with tranquilliser darts containing enough sedative to knock out any of the Touched they shoot. The anti-histamine included should starve the virus.

Sam looks at Jack. "We're going to try to try to tranq all the Touched?"

"Just the ones that get in the way of us finding Daniel. Leave the rest to the Untouched."

"You think he's still alive?"

The wormhole appears. "Let's find out," Jack says.

They find the Touched's camp. "Guess the anti-histamine wore off," Sam comments, gazing at Daniel. Since Daniel was sitting next to Melosha, the pair of them gnawing on raw meat, I'd say she was right.

One of the Touched spots the SG teams, who open fire. Several of the Touched are hit by the tranquilliser darts. SG-1 head towards Daniel. He seems quite excited to see them from the way he's bouncing up and down. Melosha gets quite excited too.

SG-1 stop. "Daniel, you dog," says Jack. "Keep this up you'll have a girl on every planet."

Daniel gets even more excited. Possibly he's appreciating Jack's sense of humour for the first time.

"Just let me give him an injection," Sam says, slowly moving forward.

Daniel watches her advance, growling softly. Then he leaps at her. Jack and Teal'c fire and Melosha and Daniel collapse.

Teal'c carries Daniel as they enter the Great Hall in the city. Tuplo is furious at their return.

"What are you doing?" he demands.

"You must not bring the Touched among us. Leave now," adds the female Chancellor.

"Just hear us out, please," Jack asks.

Sam joins in; "We've found a cure. And we can bring back Melosha."

Teal'c looks at the female Chancellor. "And your father," he says.

"Put him in the Isolation Circle," Tuplo orders. "We will hear you."

"If you are not Gods, then how did you destroy the Curse?" Tuplo demands.

Jack sighs, "As we've been saying, Tuplo, it's not a curse. It's a disease."

"A sickness," Sam adds.

"Jack?" Daniel looks round.

"There's our boy," Jack smiles.

Daniel is confused. "Where are we?" he asks, sitting up.

"The light side of P3X-797," Teal'c replies, handing him his glasses.

"I thought we were going to give it a better name?"

"He's back, he's normal," Jack grins.

The female Chancellor is amazed, "Explain."

Sam gives in; "We know how to lift the curse."

"Well," says Tuplo, "if you are not Gods..."

"Come out there with us," says Jack. "We'll show you."

As they approach the Dark side they can see cured Touched people emerging from the trees. The female Chancellor moves forward. "Father," she calls and runs forward to be hugged and kissed by an elderly man. She clings to him, crying.

Tuplo hurries forward to hug Melosha. Then he and she turn to kneel to Jack.

"You have done it, my Lord," Tuplo says gratefully. "Thank you."

Jack helps him up. "We'll teach you how to take care of the rest." He turns away, smiling.

Sam approaches him. "Uh, sir?"

"Yeah?"

"About my earlier behaviour...I wasn't myself..er..."

"Oh, Carter, I don't even remember your earlier behaviour," Jack claims.

"You don't?"

"No, I was infected too, remember?"

"Right," Sam smiles, relieved. "Good, I'm glad."

"By the way, how's the wound?" Jack asks.

Sam looks puzzled. "Wound?"

"I understand you got stabbed in the stomach or something."

"Oh yeah. It's nothing. With any luck there won't even be a scar."

"Oh good. I was concerned."

"You were?" she asks.

"Sure. If it doesn't heal properly you'll never wear that sweet little tank top number again." He walks ahead while Sam realises that he does remember.

Notes

This is the first episode where we see Janet Fraiser and Teryl Rothery has often said in interviews and at conventions that this was her favourite episode.