Babylon 5 s05e01 Episode Script

This is Earth Alliance Destroyer Acheron to Babylon 5.
We've got your package.
Confirmed, Acheron.
Corwin is standing by for delivery in Docking Bay 4.
Roger that, Babylon Control.
Maintenance, go to Docking Bay 7.
Maintenance, go to Bay 7.
Captain Lochley, Lieutenant David Corwin at your service.
Lieutenant, I thought I was going to be met by the entire command staff.
Yes, ma'am, but Mr.
Garibaldi just got back from Mars and even though he's not technically on staff anymore Zack Allan is our new chief of security he's helping Zack get ready for Sheridan's inauguration as president of the New Alliance.
Dr.
Franklin had an emergency in Medlab Lieutenant, lieutenant, is it always like this around here? No.
No, it Well, actually, yes.
It's hectic, ma'am.
A hectic station is the first sign of a poorly run station.
- Identification.
- We'll change that.
I've got everyone standing by in C & C waiting to meet you.
Good, good.
I'll want to jump right in.
It always takes a while when you have a change in CO.
The sooner we get on with the transition, the better.
- Lf there's anything you need to know - Just personalities any internal conflicts I need to be made aware of.
Beyond that, I've thoroughly researched Babylon 5's operational procedures personnel records.
I'm pretty much up to speed on all the reports.
With all due respect, there's a lot that doesn't fit into a report.
Then the report is incomplete.
Just trying to save you trouble, captain.
It's been my experience that as long as you run an efficient operation and don't look for trouble, you'll do fine.
That's what I was trying to tell you.
We don't have to look for trouble.
On B5, trouble comes looking for us.
Time to go.
I just want you to know it's nothing personal but I need to send a message to Babylon 5.
That's what you Rangers are for, right? Carrying messages from one place to another.
So you're the right person in the right place at the right time.
For me, anyway.
Almost forgot.
Any final words? We live for The One.
We die for The One.
Well, one out of two ain't bad.
And so it begins.
- There is a hole in your mind.
- What do you want? No one here is exactly what he appears.
Nothing's the same anymore.
Commander Sinclair is being reassigned.
Why don't you eliminate the Narn Homeworld? I see a great hand reaching out of the stars.
President Clark signed a decree declaring martial law.
These orders have forced us to declare independence.
Let's hope people get off their butts and do something - You are The One who was.
- lf you go to Z'Ha'Dum, you will die.
Why are you here? Do you have anything worth living for? I think of my beautiful city in flames.
- Giants in the playground.
- Get out of our galaxy! We are here to place President Clark under arrest.
Hey, I thought you were gonna sleep in a little.
I was about to make breakfast.
I can't.
I have to get back to my quarters and change.
The new Gaim ambassador has asked for a meeting.
He wants to introduce himself before the inauguration.
Less awkward that way.
May I ask you a question? Delenn, you're living here now, at least part of the time.
Ask whatever you want.
Why are there wet socks hanging in the shower? I just washed them.
- Don't you use the thermal unit? - For everything else, yes.
I I guess it's kind of a tradition.
See, when I first joined Earthforce I was assigned to the 54th North American unit.
And the sergeant of our squadron, we used to call him Sergeant Slaughter was the toughest, meanest DI we ever saw and he used to wash his own socks every morning.
He told us, "I'm gonna live forever.
You know why? Because I never leave the barracks unless I know l've got something to do when I get back.
The only kind of man that gets killed is the man who is done doing whatever it is he's doing.
And I know I'm gonna come back alive because I got socks to wash.
Any of you maggots got a problem?" - I assume you said no.
- Oh, loud and clear.
The next morning at reveille, we came up with this big ceremony and we all took a vow that for as long as we were in uniform we would wash our own socks every morning.
You know, I think that's the first time I ever saw old Sergeant Slaughter actually smile.
The newly elected president of the Interstellar Alliance about to be officially sworn in, washing his own socks? You're a very strange man, even for a human.
Why, thank you.
- Sheridan.
Go.
- Captain Lochley's aboard, sir.
We just got her settled in.
Good.
Have her meet me in my office in 20 minutes.
- Lochley? - Ivanova's replacement.
So much for breakfast.
- My place tonight? - Yeah, I guess.
I am gonna be working late here, though, tonight.
I hope this is going to work, alternating between your place and mine.
Oh, I know, I know, but there is no room here for my belongings I don't have room for yours and I should conduct Minbari business in Minbari surroundings.
- Yeah.
- It's good to keep things separate for now until we can move to the new facilities on Minbar.
Assuming you're still comfortable with that prospect.
I won't lie.
I'm gonna miss this place when that time comes.
It's going to take me a while to get used to living on your world but we do need a permanent headquarters for the Alliance, and that's the logical choice.
The bottom line is wherever you are is home enough for me.
Captain.
- Mr.
President.
- It's good to see you again.
Thank you, sir.
I assume you've received my orders from Earth Dome.
I have.
The orders have been authenticated.
Effective this date, you have full and complete authority in running Babylon 5.
The station is under your direct command.
Welcome aboard.
Thank you.
Please, be seated.
Do you have any questions about the arrangement? Yes, sir.
It's my understanding that Babylon 5 is to remain an independent state pending decision by the Alliance to formally buy it from Earth.
That's correct.
Then why bring in someone from Earthforce? Why not someone else? Tradition, for one thing.
For another we're still trying to heal the wounds from the civil war back home.
Putting someone from Earthforce in charge of B5 will help cement us with the folks back there, military and civilian.
That's why I wanted you here before we started this silly inauguration business.
In a way, it's saying, "We're independent but we'll always remember where we came from.
" I hear you asked for me in particular.
Why? You have handled a number of potentially dangerous missions without resorting to force.
You're good with diplomacy when possible, but you know how to fight when you have to.
And you speak your mind.
Now, whoever's running B5 for the next year is going to be on the hot seat.
I chose you strictly on your background.
You are the perfect choice.
Anything else? Just one thing.
Obviously, as head of the Alliance, you call the shots around here.
But I can't be just a mouthpiece for your decisions.
I'll run this station my way or not at all.
If I'm to carry the responsibility, I want the authority to go with it.
I won't be interfered with or second-guessed or micro-managed.
Sir.
Like I said, you speak your mind.
Fair enough, captain.
If it's a political decision or a decision on behalf of the Alliance, that's my turf.
The rest is yours.
Thank you.
- Lochley.
Go ahead.
- Captain, you'd better get down to Bay 3.
- There's something here you should see.
- On my way.
- I've got - I know.
I handled a few of those when I was captain here.
We'll talk again later.
Sir I noticed you didn't ask me which side I was on during the big fight back home.
You're right, I didn't.
Good day, captain.
So I don't want anything to go wrong.
Seal off this area through to Blue 5.
It's the only way to make sure the rotunda is secure.
- Yeah, I know.
- Last year we had one guy slip through because the place wasn't sealed up.
You don't want that.
You've got diplomats from half the old League of Non-Aligned Worlds here.
- You can't - Afford to let that happen.
- Michael, will you please let us handle this? - Not a chance, Zack.
I know this place better than anybody, and nothing's gonna go wrong with Sheridan's inauguration.
I owe him that much.
Now, the new Gaim ambassador, make sure he has the right ID.
And whatever you do, don't let him go on and on about those damn We found him floating outside the station.
He's definitely a Ranger.
He was in a stasis bubble when we picked him up but he didn't die from exposure to space.
- Let me see.
- You might not want to.
I said, let me see.
He had this around him when he was found.
Hello.
- I'm sorry, but I'm - Working.
Yes, I can see.
Books, manuals, directives, regulations the geometries that circumscribe your waking life drawn narrower and narrower until nothing fits inside them anymore.
My name is Byron.
It's important that you meet me in Brown 3 in two hours.
Come alone.
Why should I do that? My people are coming.
- Lochley.
Go ahead.
- Captain Lochley, this is Dr.
Franklin.
I've finished the autopsy, and I have the results.
On my way.
Just a moment.
Yes? Cap That is, Mr.
President, you're up late.
You know, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to being called Mr.
President.
I understand completely.
Did I ever tell you that I was not born with the name G'Kar? No, you didn't.
It is tradition on my world to give newborn Narns temporary names for the first 10 years of their lives.
The practice came out of the reality that life on Narn is very hard and in the past many of us died quite young.
When we reach 10 we choose which of our many beliefs we want to follow: G'Quan, G'Lan, Na'Kili, others.
And from that we pick our true name.
Well, perhaps the name we call you now is your true name.
So, Mr.
President, what can I do for you? Well, I was thinking about that book you're writing.
I've already heard several of your people quoting it and Garibaldi says it's very well-written.
Well, I'm sorry, there's just the one copy for now and, well, when I loaned it to Mr.
Garibaldi it came back with coffee stains.
I can't No, no, no, that's all right.
That's all right.
Don't worry, that's not why I'm here.
I was going over the swearing-in ceremony we've got coming up and there are two things we still don't have.
An oath of office and, for lack of a better term a Declaration of Principles for the New Alliance.
Now, this job is going to require a very special kind of writing.
Many times you have spoken with tremendous eloquence in the council chambers.
When your world fell to the Centauri the words you spoke made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
So I would like you to write the oath and the Declaration of Principles.
Oh, I'm flattered.
Also terrified.
This is a great responsibility.
I know, but I can't think of anyone more suited to the job.
Then you shall have it.
I shall dedicate myself to nothing else from now until the inauguration.
- Well, thank you.
- I will not sleep, eat, drink.
Nothing.
The words and I will be locked in mortal combat until one of us surrenders.
- Well - Now, go.
Go on.
I have to give myself over to my muse.
Goodbye.
I'll be in touch.
Bye.
So, what killed him? Well, a single shot from a PPG at close range directly to the heart.
Superheated helium tore through his rib cage incinerated his heart and fused the vertebrae.
- How long? - Pending more tests, I'd have to say less than a week, but Mainbot records indicate that the body wasn't in space more than six or seven hours before it was found.
Meaning he was killed elsewhere and then dumped outside.
That's correct.
So somebody wanted him to be found here.
- The question is why.
- Unknown.
What I do know is that everything I've seen points to a disciplined, careful, well-trained killer.
That PPG hit to the chest was in the exact spot to cause instantaneous death.
Whoever did this is good at what he does.
Do you think this has anything to do with Sheridan's inauguration? I don't know.
Maybe.
Go ahead.
You wanted me to remind you about an appointment.
On my way.
If you get any more information let me know.
I will.
And, captain, it's nice to meet you.
Hello.
- Thank you for coming.
- I came because your performance earlier was pretty clear indication that you're a telepath, a strong one therefore potentially dangerous, which is why I didn't come alone.
We are unarmed, and I assure you we mean you no harm.
We refuse to have anything to do with violence or technology.
Ours is a simple way, as you will discover.
- They're clean.
- All right.
- So, what do you want? - A place to call home.
My friends and I are all telepaths.
More will come soon.
- Rogues? - We refused to join the Psi Corps, yes.
We tried working through the resistance, but their ways are not ours so we slipped away, quietly, creating our own lives on other worlds.
Because we can never go home our lives have been spent in transit, wandering from world to world.
We have come here because an independent Babylon 5 may be the closest thing we will ever find to a home.
We want to put out the word to others of our kind have them gather here in safety.
In time, we will create a small colony until one day when we go out to create a world of our own a homeland for those who have no other home.
That's a tall order.
Perhaps.
But where is it written that all our dreams must be small ones? Do you speak for all of them? These and more yet to come.
This is Sarah bright and beautiful.
The somber David, the last of his family the rest hunted down and murdered by Psi Corps.
William shy but really quite interesting once you get to know.
Cynthia and Rosa, closer than sisters.
And Simon, Special Simon we call him.
Say hello, Simon.
Flowers.
I saw flowers.
Then he likes you.
He only gives flowers as a gift to the people he likes.
He can remember everything he's ever seen, heard, smelt or touched from the moment he was born and he can project those memories into someone else's mind share a part of himself in the most intimate way imaginable.
I saw the flowers he gave you.
I'd say he's quite fond of you.
Thank you.
He doesn't talk not even to us.
Not even in here.
- He doesn't look well.
- It's been a long trip.
Well, bring him to Medlab.
He's a minor.
He should be checked out.
Of course.
We can do a lot for you, captain.
We can earn our keep, work for you, help you.
All we need is a place to stay, a place to call home until we one day can find a place to make our home.
The queens thank you for your help in this, Delenn.
It's not a problem, Lesharr.
The Gaim were a great help in our fight against the Shadows and continue to be strong allies under the Alliance.
If we can offer further help to your colonies, let us know.
Thank you.
The queens be with you.
Computer, play waiting messages.
Stand by.
Text message number one.
Voice message number two.
Hello, Sheridan.
I know that you're supposed to be a big history buff.
I know that you're a fan of President Lincoln.
Did you know that he was sure that he would die in office? That as president, he had to pay the price for the lives of all the soldiers who died fighting his war? Roosevelt felt that he would not make it out of office alive with so many dead under his leadership.
President Kyoshi of the Eastern Bloc, 50 years ago dying in office three days after the War of the Shining Star ended.
It is the job of a president to pay the price for his people and his decisions.
Computer, what's the source of these transmissions? Unknown.
System records altered.
Unable to trace.
You started the civil war back home, Sheridan.
The people who died are your responsibility and I'm here to make sure you pay the price for your actions and to make sure you know why.
You won't know where it's coming or when but it's coming.
And as strong as you think you are the one thing you can't stop is the lone gunman determined to kill you even if he gets killed in the process.
I'm that man, Sheridan.
Maybe I'll go to hell for that but if I do, I'm taking you to hell with me.
He's slightly dehydrated.
He's been malnourished for some time now.
We are refugees, doctor.
Eating out is not a luxury we can afford.
As you know.
You treated many of my kind.
Vocal cords are intact but atrophied.
No apparent nerve damage, so he can speak.
He just chooses not to.
Why is that? Simon came to us last year on Mars.
He was a tunnel rat, living in the ducts and pipelines beneath Mars 1.
We know he endured some terrible trauma during those years.
We've never asked.
When he chooses to speak of it, he will.
- And if he doesn't? - Then he alone will bear the pain of it.
But we are here for him if he should ever change his mind.
- I saw - Yes.
And that is all he will let any of us see.
We have no idea who she was only that he feels guilt for her death and hopes to make up for it someday.
All right, I'm going to set up a series of treatments to get him back up to snuff.
Vitamins, hormone therapy.
- We can afford little.
- We'll take care of it.
- Then we can go? - Yes, you can go.
Franklin.
We're having an emergency meeting in 20 minutes.
Can you attend? Yeah, I'll be right there.
Now - We can't go stumbling around in the dark.
- We know there is a danger.
I can't go along with postponing the ceremony.
Just for a few days until we bring in more security.
Whoever this guy is, he's killed one person already.
The message he sent you was untraceable.
That tells me he knows our system.
He's smart, he's deadly, and he's after you.
That's good enough for me.
I refuse to go through life trapped inside of a bubble.
With all due respect, you chose that life the moment you accepted this position.
On my world, we have learned an inauguration is simply a signal to assassins that a new target has been set up on the firing range.
I am not gonna argue the point but I am as much a target today as I am tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that.
Now, I am supposed to lead this Alliance and for my money that means hands-on.
It means that I should be out there where I can be seen and do some good.
It's not the way things are done.
Well, then maybe it's time some of those things were done differently.
If more of our so-called leaders would walk the same streets as the people who voted them in, live in the same buildings, eat the same food instead of hiding behind glass and steel and bodyguards we'd get better leadership and more concern for the future.
John, that's a commendable idea, but it's very dangerous.
Is it? Our new friend just said all the security in the world can't stop a lone gunman dedicated to exchange his life for the target, and he is right.
So you may as well live instead of being a prisoner.
I agree with Sheridan.
How can you say that? Because he's making perfect sense.
He's talking a political agenda.
You're talking about protecting your friend.
- Which is more important? - They're the same thing.
Are they? It's your vote and mine, Mr.
President.
On behalf of Babylon 5 Command & Control I vote the ceremony goes ahead on schedule.
We can handle it.
I concur.
Good.
It's done.
I'll go tell Zack.
- Just a second.
- I'm in rather a hurry.
Tough.
What the hell was that all about? Excuse me, but by all rights you shouldn't even have been in that meeting.
You're not technically head of security, you're a civilian.
A consultant at best, an annoyance at worst.
Look, Sheridan looks for something to challenge him.
Sometimes I think he's a martyr in training.
Great motives, lousy ending, in case you missed the Joan of Arc story.
In a situation like this, we have to protect him against himself.
Really? Then perhaps you should re-enlist to ensure his protection, Mr.
Garibaldi.
Otherwise, your opinion doesn't count.
Look, damn it, I was here a hell of a long time before you ever showed up.
Yes, you were, and then you left.
I really don't think there's much more that needs saying, do you? Do you, John J.
Sheridan? I just finished writing the oath of office this morning.
- I spent all night on it.
I hope you approve.
- I have every confidence in your words.
I thought we agreed on a discreet presence by security.
This is discreet.
At least far more discreet than Mr.
Garibaldi would have preferred.
Having each guest strip-searched on his way in.
I'm glad you talked him out of it.
I have no desire to be struck blind by the sight of Londo naked.
Anything new from Mr.
Garibaldi? He's still analyzing the voice mail from my computer system.
With luck, he's got something by now.
Negative on voice match to human criminal subjects on file.
All right, then try the alien files.
Maybe he just sounded human.
Negative on voice match to alien criminal subjects on file.
Damn it.
I know that you're a fan of President Lincoln.
Roosevelt felt that he would not make it out of office alive.
President Kyoshi of the Eastern Bloc, 50 years ago, died Roosevelt died of natural causes.
Lincoln and Kyoshi were killed by soldiers who fought for the other side in a civil war.
Computer, check voice pattern against current Earthforce personnel on file.
Negative on voice match.
Only partial list of records available.
Cross-check with files in Earth Dome central office.
Initiating tachyon download.
Stand by.
- Security.
Go.
- Zack, I got it.
Go private.
His name's John Clemens, formerly Major Clemens.
He ran the Beta 7 prison system under President Clark.
When Clark was kicked out of office, he went underground.
Now, this guy's wanted for the murder and torture of dissidents.
If he shows his face in the Alliance, he's a dead man.
Which means he's got nothing to lose and blames Sheridan.
Exactly.
Zack, this guy's a trained infiltrator.
He could be anywhere or anybody.
- Just get me a description, will you? - I'm working on it.
- Hold it.
You can't come in here.
- No, no, no, let him go.
Let him go.
No! - There! - Down! Back off.
Back off, or I'll kill her.
- Are you all right? - I'm fine.
- Zack, put out an all-points bulletin.
- Already done.
He won't get very far.
We sealed off all the docking bays.
His picture's gonna be all over.
I assume this will postpone the rest of the ceremony.
No, he had his chance, and he blew it.
He won't get this close again.
We need to make sure they all understand we will not be intimidated.
We continue.
Initiating station-wide security check.
All security personnel report to your unit commanders.
A level-one APB is in progress.
Come on.
We'll get him.
Don't worry.
I mean, where the hell's he gonna go? Oh, hell.
Whoever speaks for the Alliance speaks with one voice for many.
Consequently, this contains the first page of every holy book of every race that has joined the New Alliance.
Whoever speaks for the Alliance does so with the understanding that it is the inalienable right of every sentient being to live free, to pursue their dreams to address wrongs within their own society without fear of retribution to believe as their conscience requires in matters of faith but also to respect the rights of others to believe differently or not at all.
Do you, John J.
Sheridan? Everybody else can go.
You have 10 seconds.
Fire at that range, you're just as dead as I am.
That's okay by me.
You ruined my life, my career my family and my world, Sheridan.
Time to pay the piper.
And what will this accomplish? Even if you kill me, the Alliance will go on.
Maybe it will, maybe it won't.
It doesn't matter much to me either way just as long as you're dead.
Goodbye, Sheridan.
C & C, I can't hold him.
If this cockpit breaches, I'm screwed.
Assailant's ship is targeted.
- Are we clear? - All clear.
Here he comes.
Fire at will.
You want to be president? - Yes.
- Put your hand on the book and say, "I do.
" - I do.
- Fine.
Done.
Let's eat.
- You're Mr.
Byron? - Just Byron.
I saw what your friend did on my behalf.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Well, Captain Lochley informed me that you requested to start a small colony here.
- I assume she's told you her decision.
- She told us no.
It's a word we've become accustomed to.
We'd hoped for something better here.
- We were wrong.
- Not entirely.
See, our arrangement is that I handle political decisions that affect the Alliance and Babylon 5.
I'm putting this decision in that category.
You have my authority to start a colony here.
And we'll set aside part of Brown Sector.
It's not much, and it's not pretty but it's a start.
Thank you.
I will tell the others.
I hope you made the right decision.
We both know a telepath war is coming one of these days.
It won't hurt to have some of our own when things get ugly.
Besides, one of his people saved my life.
I owe them.
I suppose so.
- So how'd the meeting with Garibaldi go? - Fine.
He said he'd notify the captain ASAP.
It's a little crooked.
- Yes? - I just wanted to stop by see how you're settling in.
- Just fine, thank you.
So, what do you want? Nothing.
It's nothing really.
I just wanna let you know I thought about what you said earlier about re-enlisting.
The bottom line is, I've never been big on uniforms from the get-go and I've got someone on Mars that needs me, so I can't re-sign with Babylon 5.
- I understand - However, I talked to the president earlier You know, I like the sound of that.
"I talked to the president.
" He agreed we should set up a covert intelligence division.
Mostly to keep track of what everybody else is doing and, hell, we might need a little of our own from time to time.
But, you know, granted, "military intelligence" is kind of an oxymoron.
But, anyway, the new head of covert intelligence for the Alliance is pleased to meet you.
We haven't decided on a title yet.
There's time for that.
So anyway, captain, I guess I'll be seeing you at the next meeting.
I guess so.
By the way, I finished running the stats on our late, lamented assassin.
- I noticed you served with him years back.
- Yes, I did.
He was a good soldier, a fine officer but I guess time can change people.
Yeah, I guess it can at that.
By the way just curious which side were you on during the big fight back home? I was on the side of Earth, Mr.
Garibaldi.
Weren't we all?