Session Fourteen Lesser of Two Evils The objectives of this session are: • to consider why people sometimes Entering Activity think the “ends justifies the means” • to understand why people may do As participants arrive, invite them to things even though they know they form groups of three and play the game “Two are not morally right Truths & a Lie.” Participants can rotate into • to explore how their faith can help another group if they have already determined them make the right decisions which are the truths and which are the lies and everyone has not yet arrived (or time allows). For this game, each participant shares Materials and supplies you will need: with the group two things which are true about themselves and one thing which is not. The • video of the movie, Stargate: The things shared should not be something readily apparent by looking at them (or something Ark of Truth which is already known by the others). • DVD player and/or TV monitor After everyone has had a chance to • chalice and matches or lighter participate, invite some reflection. Was it easy • several copies of the UU hymnal, to figure out which ones were the truth and Singing the Living Tradition which one wasn’t? Why or why not? • statements from Resource 14-A Then gather the group together to light the chalice and share reading #560 Things to do ahead of time: “Commitment” by Dorothy Day from the hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition. • locate the video and rent it from the library, video store or service Premiere • Using the menu, select scene #3 • watch the movie in its entirety (even Watching Stargate: The Ark of Truth. if you have seen it before) Introduce the video by telling the group you will be watching an excerpt from the movie Stargate Ark of Truth. Ask if Session Outline anyone has already seen it. If anyone has, ask them if they would be willing to share the Entering Activity: Two Truths & A Lie. premise of the film with the group. If not, Premiere: Watching an excerpt of the introduce the video yourself by saying movie, Stargate: The Ark of Truth something like: Rising Action:.Step Forward, Step Back. Plot Point: Faith & Decision Making This movie follows the Stargate team Wrap Up: Popcorn & Closing Words. as they seek to end the war waged against them by the warriors of the Ori. One of the characters, Daniel Jackson, believes the Tomin says. “And I promise you will all be secret lies in an ancient artifact known as the spared..” Ark of Truth. “That’s funny,” Cam yells back. “I was just about to say the same thing.” Daniel is trying desperately to open the Begin the video and watch scene #3 chest. (Vala’s Idea), #4 (A New Partner), #5 “Vala, you have to trust me,” Tomin (Marrick), #6 (Explanations), #7 (Last Act), says. “Your position has been targeted from #8 (Face Off), #9 (The Search Begins) and space. Comply now, or you will be #10 (Heart to Heart) destroyed.” This segment begins with Daniel and Teal’c looks over at Vala. Then Vala Vala ducking for cover as Cam and Sam do says to Cam, “I think we have to trust him.” their best to hold back the Ori troops. Cam turns toward Daniel. “Jackson?” “I do NOT remember sending out he asks. invitations to this party,” Cam says Daniel shakes his head. He cannot pry sarcastically as he reloads his weapon with the chest open. ammunition. “What if we get them to open it?” Vala “We have to fall back,” Sam yells. suggests. Cam nods at her even as he continues Sam looks thoughtful. Vala turns to fire his weapon. Sam runs back for better toward Daniel. “Well, it wouldn’t be the worst cover, then Cam follows as the Ori closes in thing, now, would it?” on their position. He joins Sam behind the “Alright,” Cam agrees reluctantly, iron doors of a ruined temple. lying down his weapon. “Invite them in,” he “What are you doing?” Vala asks in instructs. exasperation. “We have to go out that way.” Vala and the rest of the team lay down “There’s too many of them,” Sam their weapons. “You can come on in,” Vala explains. says with forced bravado. “But there’s no other way out,” Vala Daniel steps back away from the chest. complains. “I look like crap,” Vala complains as “We know,” Cam says impatiently. she attempts to fuss with her hair. Vala turns toward Daniel who hovers Tomin and his army come in through over the unopened chest with his own weapon the temple door and surround the Stargate ready. “How about now?” she asks. team. “Hi,” Vala says to Tomin with a slight “Yeah, works for me,” Daniel smile. “How are you?” He just stands there responds. He looks around, finds a hammer staring at her. “What’s new?” she asks. Then and chisel and attempts to pry open the chest. she bites her lip. Outside the temple doors, Commander Tomin walks toward her stiffly, then Tomin approaches the front line of soldiers. can’t help himself from smiling at her. “What “Commander,” one of the soldiers says. “We are you doing here?” he asks in an affectionate have them trapped.” voice. Tomin removes his helmet. “Vala, it’s “Wow,” Cam says. “We really are on Tomin,” he calls out. the same page. You took the words right out Sam looks at Vala in surprise. Vala is of my mouth.” Tomin just glares at him. surprised to hear his voice, too. “How did you know we were here?” “Drop your weapons and surrender,” Vala asks. A Prior enters the temple, with his pale “Kill them!” the Prior commands. He skin and gray glassy eyes, holding an turns away to leave, but Tomin pursues him. impressive staff with religious ornamentation. “Prior,” Tomin says. “I gave them my Tomin and his soldiers bow down before the word. They surrendered peacefully.” Prior, but the Stargate team does not. “Your word?” the Prior asks “The power of the Ori need not be incredulously. “The word of the Ori ...” questioned,” the Prior says. “The Book of Origin,” Tomin insists, “Here we go,” Cam mumbles. “Says that truth is the beginning of the path.” The Prior moves closer to Daniel and “Tomin, I grow tired of your the chest while the soldiers move in closer questioning!” the Prior growls. “Kill them around the Stargate team with their weapons now, or you shall burn forever in the flames of pointed at them menacingly. eternal torment.” “Tell me,” the Prior commands. “What Tomin spins around toward the is this artifact that you have found?” Stargate team with his weapon raised. “Hang on a second,” Cam says. “Don’t do it,” Vala pleads. “He can’t “Shouldn’t you know that already?” hurt you, Tomin.” Tomin cautions Cam with a He looks doubtful. reproachful look. “We trusted you,” Vala says. “Trust “Hang on, there,” Daniel says in a me, now.” conciliatory way. “I’ll tell you what it is. “Fire your weapon!” the Prior Inside this ark is the secret to destroying the demands. armies of the Ori. So I think the last thing “You think he’s testing you,” Cam you’re going to want to do is open it.” says. “Really, he’s forcing you to do it because “You think I fear the contents?” the for some reason beyond his comprehension, Prior responds hautily. he’s completely powerless.” “Well, you should,” Daniel says. “KILL THEM!” the Prior yells. “I “Open it,” the Prior commands. command you!” He throws aside his staff, “Didn’t you hear what I just said?” pushes Tomin aside, and takes his weapon. Daniel asks, even as the Ori soldiers move This provides just enough of a distraction for forward to grab the chest. Cam to throw an elbow into the face of the The Prior looks at Tomin and Tomin nearest Ori soldier and grab for his weapon. nods, then he raises his weapon and fires it at The weapon fires as they struggle over it and the lid of the chest. the bullet strikes the Prior in the chest. The Daniel backs away as the lid flies open Prior falls backward over the chest, lifeless. and up into the air. Tomin approaches the Tomin raises his arm to get the chest and peers inside it. Vala also turns to attention of the soldiers under his command. look even as she keeps a safe distance. “Stop!” he orders as they would have shot at Tomin reaches inside and pulls out an the Stargate team. “Do not fire.” ancient scroll which crumbles in his hand. Tomin stares down in puzzlement at “Okay,” Daniel says. “Not what I was the dead body of the Prior, then looks up in expecting.” confusion at Cam. “How?” he asks in “Foolhardy are those who do not bewilderment. follow the path,” the Prior proclaims. “Here,” Sam says as she pulls a “Anybody guess what he’s going to circular metal object from her backpack. “We say next?” Cam jokes. use this device. It temporarily neutralizes their abilities.” been given comfortable quarters.” Tomin looks down at the dead body Cam grins. “He’s had a change of once again. heart,” he says. Back on Earth, in the Cheyenne “C’mon, Colonel,” Marrick says with Mountain Air Force Complex, Cam tells a smile of his own. “Don’t all the bad guys say General Landry that the Ori plan to send ships that after we capture them?” to our galaxy and conquer Earth through the “For the record,” Cam says in all Super Gate sometime soon.