David Hewlett credited as playing...
Dr. Rodney McKay
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Best case scenario?
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I win a Nobel Prize.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Worst case scenario?
- Dr. Rodney McKay: We tear a hole in the fabric of the universe... which is much less likely to happen than the Nobel Prize. I mean, look, the risks are nothing compared to the potential benefits. Elizabeth will listen to you. I have never asked this of you before, but I think I've earned it. Trust me.
- Dr. Elizabeth Weir: [via radio] Rodney, I cannot afford to lose either one of you. Now tell me: can you do this?
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Yes.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Are you sure?
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Yes?
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Are you sure you're sure?
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I said yes!
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Because if you're wrong...
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I'm not!
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: [to his radio] I'll call you back after the test - how does that sound?
- Dr. Elizabeth Weir: [via radio] You'd better.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: [to John] I won't let you down.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Alright, that's it. We're outta here.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: It's not safe! The weapon's firing at random targets above the planet. This is the safest place to be right now.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: The place isn't gonna be safe for very much longer!
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I can bring it back under control! Just give me a second!
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: No, you can't!
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Just one second!
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: I've seen this before, Rodney: pilots who wouldn't eject when something went wrong - trying to fix their planes right until it hit the ground.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: OK, we need to leave. I've waited too long - the weapon can't discharge enough power to avoid a catastrophic overload. This whole planet's gonna go up. Not that your speech wasn't working.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: You need to avoid flying predictably to prevent the weapon from locking onto us.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: I know what I'm doing.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I'm just saying: be sure not to fly in a straight line.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Rodney, shut up!
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Can I just say there's no way the Jumper can take even one direct hit?
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: I'll keep that in mind.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: [to John] Don't you understand? This explosion is gonna take out three quarters of the solar system. There's no way we can fly far enough or fast enough. We have to head for the Gate.
- Dr. Elizabeth Weir: ...putting your life and other people's lives at risk. You destroyed three quarters of a solar system!
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Well, five sixths. It's not an exact science.
- Dr. Elizabeth Weir: Rodney, can you give your ego a rest for one second?
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Oh, Colonel! Colonel! I've been looking all over for you.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: I heard.
- [folds with arms as he turns back to face Rodney]
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I suppose I deserve that. Look, I just, um, I wanted to apologise about what happened. I was wrong - I'm sorry. And I wanted to assure you that, uh, I intend not being right again - about everything, effective immediately.
- [John smiles slightly]
- Dr. Rodney McKay: That was a joke.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Good one.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I've already apologised to Elizabeth... and Radek... and I thanked Colonel Caldwell for, uh, caring enough to spy on the experiment from orbit. I sent him a nice little email, actually. But I saved you 'til last 'cause, um, honestly, I would... I would hate to think that recent events might have permanently dimmed your faith in my abilities, or your trust. At the very least, I hope I can earn that back.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: That may take a while.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: I see.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: But, I'm sure you can do it, if you really wanna try.
- [they both smile]
- Dr. Rodney McKay: [explaining an energy weapon to Sheppard] The sticking point is that, ah, there is no tie between the power generator and the primary capacitor.
- Dr. Radek Zelenka: Meaning that they would have to channel the power directly into the weapon.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Which I'm sure that means nothing to you.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: It means they could fire multiple bursts without having to store more power for the next firing sequence.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: [surprised] Yes... very good.
- Dr. Radek Zelenka: Which leads me back to 'cool'!
- Dr. Radek Zelenka: Yes, but it only makes sense if we're right.
- Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: About what?
- Dr. Radek Zelenka: [to McKay] Tell him.
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Not yet.
- Dr. Radek Zelenka: Come on McKay, you read the equations, what else could it be? An Ancient typo?
- Dr. Rodney McKay: Well we know they're not perfect because they're all dead.