Original subtitles

(man on PA) 'Babylon control, this is Transport Von Braun'

'requesting docking clearance.'

Transport Von Braun, you're cleared for docking in Bay 7.

(man on PA) 'Acknowledged, Babylon Control.'

'We are proceeding to Bay 7.'

(man on PA) 'Transport Von Braun, lock on to beacon Alpha 5.'

(man on PA) 'Affirmative, dockside. Locking on.'

(man on PA) 'Von Braun, do you need any special handling?'

(man on PA) 'Negative, we've just got passengers on the usual..'

They say food digests better if you chew it first.

Don't talk, I've seen you eat.

Does the term Doppler effect ring a bell?

Commander Sinclair, I'm surprised to see you here.

Aren't you going to greet our distinguished guest?

'His ship is docking even now.'

We wanted to be among the first to offer our reverences.

I wasn't informed.

You will just have time to change, if you hurry.

To think that you have such a man among your people.

We must not keep him waiting.

I'll take care of this for ya.

It wouldn't hurt to have an honor guard there

if Delenn thinks this is someone special.

Got it.

[intense music]

Jinxo! You've been avoiding me.

Haven't I been good to you? Done you a lot of favors?

Huh? Loaned you money when you needed it?

Sure. You've been great. Terrific.

I can't thank you enough.

And now it's time for the payback.

Station security's been closing doors on me.

I need to open up some new supply quarters.

You helped build this place.

You know the ins and outs of B5 better than anybody.

I don't know that much, Deuce.

Honest. I was just a construction worker.

You know, big structural stuff.

What you bring in, it's..

Well, I can't be a part of that.

Well, that's too bad.

That means I'm gonna have to buy that data somewhere else.

So you're gonna have to pay up on those old debts

with interest.

100,000 credits.

What?

I can't! Nobody could.

Of course you can! I'll show you why you can.

Her name is Mirriam Runningdear.

She talked to the Ombuds about me.

Even agreed to testify today.

I told her that was a mistake.

But some people never get the message.

[screaming]

Do you get the message, Jinxo?

Good!

Now, I'm giving you 300 cycles

to either get me the credit you owe

or the information I need.

Three hundred cycles, Jinxo! That's all I can afford.

Because by then he'll be hungry again.

[slurping]

'Won't you, Ambassador Kosh?'

(male narrator) It was the dawn of the Third Age of mankind

ten years after the Earth Minbari War.

The Babylon Project was a dream given form.

Its goal, to prevent another war

by creating a place where humans and aliens

could work out their differences peacefully.

It's a port of call, home away from home

for diplomats, hustlers

entrepreneurs and wanderers.

Humans and aliens, wrapped in

two million five hundred thousand tons

of spinning metal, all alone in the night.

It can be a dangerous place.

But it's our last best hope for peace.

This is the story of the last

of the Babylon stations.

The year is 2258.

The name of the place is Babylon 5.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Well, Your Honor, a few days later my great-grandfather Amis

came back into town and told everyone

he'd been taken away on this ship by aliens.

They held him for two days, doing experiments

they were sticking him with needles

and they were flashing lights--

To the point please, Mr. Flinn.

I was just getting there, Your Honor.

Everybody figured he was a little nuts

you know what I mean?

'He couldn't get a job, his children were shut out'

from everybody in town.

Nobody believed him. And that's why I'm here today, Your Honor.

We went through their archives, we found proof

that his great-grandfather abducted my great-grandfather

and just took him away in his spaceship.

Frankly, Your Honor, we want damages.

How do you plead?

[instrumental music]

Could I please have a translation team in here?

Why is it Ombuds Zimmerman never gets these cases?

Only me.

(man on PA) 'Repeat, Transport Von Braun has docked at Bay 7.'

'Please meet arrivals in passenger lounge.'

[speaking in foreign language]

That is him.

- You've met him before? - No, but he has the look.

Do we have the privilege of greeting Aldous Gajic?

Ambassador Delenn, I did not expect

to meet a person of such importance.

'You do me a great honor.'

I take it that you are Lennier?

Yes. I'm very pleased.

This is Commander Sinclair.

This is my security chief, Mr. Garibaldi.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Gajic, but I-- - Just Aldous, please.

I'm afraid I wasn't notified that you were coming, or why?

That's entirely my fault, commander

since my business isn't Earth related

I didn't think to inform you.

I sent information packets ahead to the ambassadors

to facilitate my mission when I arrive.

Which is?

(Aldous) I am seeking the Sacred Vessel of Regeneration

known also as the Cup of the Goddess.

Or by its more common name..

...the Holy Grail.

The Holy Grail?

As in King Arthur?

'The Last Supper?'

It has many names but only one promise.

The regeneration and salvation of humankind.

My order has been searching for the grail for millennia

since there's nowhere else left on Earth to search

I've taken the search outward to other worlds.

That's why I'm asking for the help of the ambassadors.

What kind of help?

(Aldous) 'I assure you, I seek only knowledge.'

All the funds of my order are at my disposal

although I regret to say at this time, I am the entire order.

But if you have any doubts, please feel free to investigate.

We look forward to meeting with you

at the appointed hour, Honored Seeker.

(Aldous) 'Oh, uh, commander, I don't mean to bother you'

but I need to exchange some credits

if, uh, you could point the way.

Mr. Garibaldi can show you to the nearest exchange machine.

Mr. Garibaldi?

Mr. Garibaldi would be delighted.

This way.

Commander, I'm puzzled by your reaction to Mr. Gajic.

Do you object to his mission?

On Earth, the Grail is nothing but a myth.

It's a nice story to tell your kids.

For someone who's spend his entire life looking for it is..

Well, it's not often taken very seriously.

How sad. He is a holy man. A true seeker.

Among my people, a true seeker is

treated with the utmost reverence and respect.

It doesn't matter that his Grail may or may not exist.

What matters is that he strives for the perfection of his soul

and the salvation of his race.

And that he has never wavered or lost faith.

I wish him luck. He's probably the only true seeker we have.

Then perhaps you do not know yourself

as well as you think.

[beeping] Sinclair.

(male #1) 'Can you come to Medlab right away?'

'We have another brainwipe victim.'

[indistinct chatter]

Jinxo! Hold it right there.

Man, you never get any better at this.

Oh, look, I needed the money. Lost my head.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Same old story.

Mr. Gajic?

You need to find a more secure place for your money.

And I'll have to ask you to come along while we settle

'this with the Ombuds.'

I'd rather not.

In this instance, I'll have to insist.

You're a material witness.

It won't take long.

(Stephen) 'She was found in Downbelow just like the other two.'

'Same highly selective pattern.'

'Total absence of any normal brainwave activity'

associated with memory or personality.

Fused synapses

barely enough to keep the autonomic functions going

I don't know if any machine that could do that.

Can you save her?

Well, she was found right after the wipe

so there's a good chance.

But she lost her entire life experience

so we'll have to retrain her from infancy back to adulthood

and that won't be easy.

Just got the word.

Another lurker had his brain mulched.

Make me a happy man. Let me clean out Downbelow.

If I put all my teams out and I could wipe out

'9/10 of the crime rate in one sweep.'

Most of them are just people with nowhere else to go.

They come here looking for a new life, a new job

and when they don't find it, they can't afford

to transport back.

What are you gonna do, Mr. Garibaldi

'shove them out an air lock?'

Don't tempt me. So, who's the victim?

Well, she's..

Was Mirriam Runningdear.

What?

Damn.

(Garibaldi) 'She ran that shop in Red 26.'

She was the only person with enough guts

to testify against that lurker rad Deuce

and his protection racket.

The trial's today, and he's gonna walk free

because she's lying in there and reduced to a rutabaga.

Go ahead and tell me that's a coincidence.

Now can I take the place apart?

Now you can give the Ombuds the bad news.

'I'll consider the Downbelow problem later.'

Doctor, I need more information on what is

causing these brainwipes.

We have to know whether or not it's tied to Deuce.

And if it is?

Then we hurt him.

Thomas Jordan.

This is your third arrest for petty

'not to mention incompetent thievery.'

'Now, you have an excellent history as a grade ten'

'zero gravity constructor'

on all five of the Babylon stations.

You could get a good job in your field

in a dozen places within a jump of here.

In view of this, I will be lenient.

You will depart, fare paid by the Ombudsman Office

on the next outward flight.

'You are barred from reentry to this station for a period'

'of five years.'

You can't do that! I've got to stay here!

Please, I don't care what you do to me.

'Put me in jail! Make me clean the methane toilets!'

'I don't care, I've got to stay on the station'

'or it's the end of this station!'

'And every man and woman and child'

'and alien on this station'

just like all the others.

Ombuds Wellington, if I could have a word?

Approach.

Yes?

[indistinct whispering]

Although I fear I may have temporarily taken leave

of my sanity, I hereby withdraw my former judgment

'and remand Thomas into the remedial custody'

'of Aldous Gajic.'

[indistinct chatter]

[gavel banging]

Jinxo, 240 cycles left!

[gavel banging]

(Wellington) 'Desmond Muzychenko.'

You stand accused of extortion. How do you plead?

Not guilty.

Will Mirriam Runningdear come forward, please?

Mirriam's in Medlab, just barely alive.

'She's been brainwiped.'

I see. Is there other evidence to be presented?

The secondary evidence previously submitted--

Is insufficient.

I deeply regret this, Mr. Garibaldi, but I am unable

to proceed without a witness.

Case dismissed!

Why'd you help me? I've never even seen you before.

My brother's burdens are my own.

What I want to know is why you believe

you can't leave this station?

'Cause if I do, it'll blow up or disappear

or something else awful like that will happen.

Come on, laugh. Everyone else does.

But it's real. The Babylon Curse.

I'm not laughing, Thomas. I understand obsession very well.

I've spent the better part of my life searching

for something that no one else believes in.

And I will continue searching until I die.

Listen, you've been decent to me, so I gotta warn you.

About 200 cycles from now

that guy Deuce is gonna send his hoogs for me.

When that happens, promise me, you'll get off this station

right then and there.

Take any ship, do whatever you gotta do

just get off the station.

We'll deal with that when the time comes.

Tell me..

...how did you get this Babylon Curse?

Don't you get it?

Did you ever wonder what really happened

to the first four Babylon stations?

I did.

I don't have the curse. I am the curse.

I was too young to fight in the Minbari war

so when I got the chance to work space construction

I jumped for it.

The day I went to work on the Babylon station

we didn't number them at first, you know.

I thought that was the best day of my life.

I worked a few months, had some leaves so I took it

and the station's infrastructure collapsed.

Sabotaged. They never found out who.

I remember.

So I went to work on the second one.

The firm still owned my contract

till the station was finished.

I took leave a second time and that station was sabotaged.

And then when B3 blew up, well

that's when I got the name Jinxo.

When I went to work on B4, I didn't take any leave

I was there every minute till we finished it.

I thought the curse was gone.

As I was leaving on the shuttle, I looked back..

...and the station just sort of wrinkled.

Twisted like putty, then just disappeared.

The minute I left.

So when they decided to build B5, I had to work on it.

And I have to stay. I have to.

I'd say that you have the wrong nickname.

They should have called you "Lucky."

How do you figure?

To have escaped the worst each

time that's a blessing.

You're a very lucky man.

Perhaps each time you were exactly

where you were meant to be.

I never thought of it like that.

We never do.

I understand how you feel, but you can't post

security men everywhere just to catch Deuce in the act.

You need to find another witness.

When the word gets out about Mirriam

I've got as much chance of doing that

as seeing a Vorlon do a striptease.

Commander, we found something that may explain

the brainwipe victims.

Once I ruled out the possibility of a machine

that left only something organic

so I ran a search on the xenobiogenic file.

It turned up a quasi-sentient beast

called the Na'ka'leen Feeder

'kept under heavy quarantine in the Centauri sector.'

(Stephen) 'Not much there, not even a visual record'

'but the description of the brainwipe effects is too close'

'to discount.'

I believe one of the feeders had been smuggled on board.

It's Deuce. Gotta be.

His bunch were all set up to smuggle in something like this.

I wonder how much Londo knows about that sector.

It's in his jurisdiction.

I don't suppose you know where he is?

Where else?

Stinking 17! Gah!

(male #2) 'Sorry, ambassador.'

Take your.. You're thieves.

Ambassador.

Sinclair, my good friend, what can I do for you?

A drink, perhaps?

I'm looking for some information on a life form

in Centauri jurisdiction.

A Na'ka'leen Feeder.

[growls] Hideous creatures. Hideous!

We came across them in our colonizing days.

We lost an entire colony before we threw up a quarantine.

The only good Na'ka'leen is a dead Na'ka'leen.

This is, of course, a purely theoretical question.

A whim of yours, that, that you might ask yes?

Well, not really.

[indistinct]

There couldn't be. Here?

I'll have Vir transfer the files to you immediately.

If you want me, I'll be in my quarters under top security.

I strongly suggest you do the same.

It is my sorrow to tell you that the Grail

is not in the possession of the Minbari

nor have we heard of it previous to your visit.

We searched our records very thoroughly, honored..

and we regret if the news disappoints.

You have been kind beyond my expectations

and I am grateful beyond my ability to express it.

I have sent word to my Homeworld

which will then be relayed to all of our outposts in colonies.

If there is any news about this Grail..

...our people will find you and bring it to you.

(Thomas) 'That's really nice.'

I mean, with the war and all, I figured you folks would..

Well, you know..

There are two castes of Minbari

the warrior caste and the religious caste.

The warrior caste would not understand. It is not their way.

So we will not tell them, and spare them the confusion.

These two sides of your culture, do they ever agree on anything?

Yes, and when they do, it is a terrible thing.

A terrible power, as recent events have shown us.

Let us hope it never again happens in our lifetime.

[intense music]

I heard there was a problem.

More food. Richer food.

'Older minds.'

Want more. Want--

We're already setting it up.

'Find Jinxo and the Ombuds. Bring them here.'

You'll dine well, soon enough.

This is top security stuff.

I'm surprised Londo gave it to you so easily.

He couldn't do it fast enough.

He's locked himself in his room for the duration.

You think we should issue a general advisory?

Not yet. It won't help to panic the entire station.

So far, it seems to be staying at Downbelow.

We could issue a section alert.

That'd tip Deuce off for sure.

I'd like to avoid that as long as possible.

Commander. We just finished the new test.

It's definitely a Feeder.

After factoring in the Centauri brainwave differences

patterns are almost identical.

Alright, that's all we need to know.

Run a check on the registry and inventory

of every ship that passed through the Centauri sector

and docked here in the last 90 days.

I'm gonna track down a little thief named Jinxo.

I saw Deuce talking to him in the court room.

Maybe he knows how that Feeder got on board.

Did you know that Aldous character agreed

to rehabilitate Jinxo, you think he's genuine?

Aldous? Yes. Question is, a genuine what?

One person's lunatic is another's true seeker.

You've been hanging out with Delenn too much.

(Londo) 'I don't care who authorized it!'

'I don't care how old the quarantine is!'

I don't care about the budget

and I certainly don't care about how much trouble it is for you!

'We're talking about the most dangerous beast'

'in the entire sector!'

Find someone who can say yes

and put the quarantine back in place!

Now, what are they doing in here?

He has an appointment. This is Aldous Gajic.

The Earther who's looking for the cup object

called the Holy Grail.

I was hoping with our long trade history

between Earth and Centauri that you'd make a good prospect.

Yes, yes, yes. Now I remember.

We'll have to do a search of our trade history files.

Very complicated and time consuming.

However if you can afford the fees..

Ambassador, I've already done it.

I thought it would help move things along.

You know, it was an interesting challenge, really

given that you provided us with only minimal description.

There's nothing that seems to fit exactly--

Vir..

But you're more than welcome to examine this data crystal.

Vir! What are you doing?

Being efficient, sir.

A few more like you, Vir, and the entire Centauri republic

will "efficient" itself to extinction!

I think we should leave now.

What a wonderful idea. Please.

Thank you for your time, ambassador.

No one else is to come in, is that clear?

Yes, sir.

[sighs] Fools to the left of me, Feeders to the right!

I need to find a real job.

So what are gonna do with the Grail once you find it?

Heal people.

Perhaps it's powerful enough to heal all humankind.

If I hadn't gotten to know you, I'd swear

you were a few Gs short of floating off.

I mean, how did you get into this in the first place?

I kept the accounts for one of the major Earth corporation.

I lived in a world of numbers. Clean, smooth.

Logical, precise.

We took a vacation to visit the Mars colony

the first time we'd ever been.

We were in a crawler, halfway across the Amazonis Planitia

when suddenly the ground gave way beneath us.

I woke up in a hospital with a few bumps and bruises

but Sarah..

...and the children, gone.

I'm sorry.

Oh.

I grieved for a long time.

A very long time.

But eventually I went back to work

but...the numbers didn't add up anymore

nothing makes sense anymore

so finally, one day I just left..

...believing that there had to be something..

...some reason why I had been spared.

And then I met a man.

He said he was the last of his kind.

And he told me that I was a man..

...of infinite promise and goodness.

And when he was dying..

...he gave me this staff.

And now I'm the last.

'But the numbers add up again, Thomas.'

The numbers do add up.

Until such time as both the defendant and plaintiff

can come to some reasonable solution

to the problem of jurisdiction

this court will recess for 30 minutes.

All rise!

[beeping]

[grunting]

So what does this Grail look like? Is it made of gold?

Jewels, that sort of thing?

I don't know, I've never seen it.

How can you find something if you don't even

know what it looks like?

Sometimes it's the search that counts, not the finding.

- Hey, Jinxo, it's time. - 'We've come to collect.'

- Wait, you gotta listen.. - Too late.

This is my friend. He's under my protection. Please leave.

Get lost.

[grunting]

Shall we go?

Man, oh, man, you shouldn't have done that.

I mean, it was great, but you don't know what..

Oh, they're gonna be so.. Hey, can I learn to do that?

You can learn whatever you want to learn

because you are a man of infinite promise and goodness.

Oh, come off it!

The very fact that you're still here on B5 is proof of that.

You care so much for the people on this station

that you stay here at the risk of your own life.

You are a fine, good man, Thomas.

See yourself for what you are

not what others try to make you.

[machine whirring]

Well, Thomas..

...this is our last stop.

If he doesn't know where it is, I'll have to move on.

[intense music]

So who are we seeing now?

Ah, ambassador.

No! Get away from him!

Get away, we've gotta get out of here. He'll eat your mind!

- Thomas! - I saw him! I saw him do it.

- He sucked her brain dry! - Thomas!

Excuse me, ambassador. Perhaps later?

[intense music]

Thomas, answer me!

I know you're there.

What the hell did you come down here for?

That thing. Gosh, you didn't see what it did. It was terrible.

Thomas, whatever you saw, it's obviously important.

But if it involves a Vorlon, you must inform Commander Sinclair.

No!

You can't run away all your life!

Just get on a ship and leave right now. Promise me!

Come with me and see the commander.

Tell him what you know.

- I'll be right with you. - 'There they are!'

[dramatic music]

[grunting]

[screaming]

Jinxo, come on out!

We've got the geezer.

'You hear me?'

'You got ten minutes to reach Deuce.'

If you don't show

we feed your friend to the Vorlon.

Any luck finding out how that Feeder got out of the station?

89 ships came through the Centauri sector on the way here

in the 90 days prior to the first brainwipe victim.

Half of them were in proximity of the quarantine planet.

Eliminating those with spotless records

or no exchange of cargos still leaves me with 24 possibilities.

- With any luck we can-- - I've Garibaldi's on the link.

Sinclair.

Ombuds Wellington didn't make it back to court after his recess.

One of my people checked it out and called me in.

'I checked his quarters and the place is a mess.'

'Looks like he put up a hell of a fight.'

Witness says he saw someone hanging around earlier.

From the description, sounds like one of Deuce's men.

I'm on my way.

If there's any pain, don't worry.

It won't last long.

[intense music]

Get out while you still can.

Commander!

No, wait. Wait, you gotta help me! They got Aldous!

They took him and Deuce is gonna feed him to the Vorlon!

- Vorlon? - Like the woman.

And he ate her mind. And he's gonna eat Aldous.

- You gotta help me. Now. - I'll get security team.

Garibaldi, track my signal, Jinxo's taking me

to Deuce and the Feeder, they got Aldous too.

Get a security team there on the double.

- 'Will do.' - Let's go!

[hissing]

This man is under my protection.

What are you doing? Save yourself!

[intense music]

There is nothing in the dark. No fear.

No pain.

Only the light.

Show yourself.

Show yourself.

[hissing]

[explosion]

- Security! - Let's go! Go! Go!

Peters, Fernando, Carver, McLane, go after those bozos!

[dramatic music]

[indistinct]

[screeching]

What's the situation?

The Feeder's in here somewhere. So is Aldous.

[instrumental music]

[screaming]

You'll be okay. Just a second more.

Thomas!

Look out!

Aldous!

[groans]

Take him!

Dr. Franklin, medical emergency in Brown 9.

I'll have a man standing by to guide you in.

- It's too late. - Don't say that!

You're gonna be fine.

No. My search is over.

I've failed.

No one left. No one.

Yes, there is. I'll do it.

I'll find the Grail.

- Thomas.. - I want to do it.

I'll find it, Aldous. I swear I'll find it.

Commander Sinclair.

'Please witness.'

I name Thomas..

...heir and successor.

Everything I have.

I witness this last testament.

I see it, Thomas.

The Grail!

Aldous?

We've confiscated the fake encounter suit.

It's a pretty close match to your own

at least from the outside.

Why?

Deuce wanted people to think that he had the Vorlons

working for him.

Figured it would add to his image and intimidate people.

Why?

Well, after all, no one knows exactly what you look like.

That makes some people a little nervous.

Good.

(man on PA) 'Starliner Vancori now arriving'

'in docking area Theta 5.'

[speaking in foreign language]

- I'm surprised to see you here. - You shouldn't be.

After all, I'm not surprised to see you here.

Just felt like someone should be.

It's a hard thing to live your life searching

for something and never find it.

Are you speaking of Aldous or someone else?

Aldous.

But there you're wrong.

He found what he was looking for.

What we're all looking for.

A reason.

For what?

Everything, commander.

Everything.

Commander.

Ambassador.

Treat it gently, boys. Treat it gently.

[instrumental music]

I thought Jinxo was supposed to be here to see him

you know, home.

I haven't seen him.

Yeah, well, it figures.

Jinxo's not the type to keep promises.

(man on PA) 'Transport Marie Celeste will be departing in ten minutes.'

'Will all passengers please board now?'

[speaking in foreign language]

Put this on the ground where he rests and crush it.

Here.

It will glow each night for a hundred years.

It is our way with all true seekers.

Thank you. I will.

Good luck.

For what it's worth, I hope you find it.

Hey.

Take care, Jinxo.

Thomas.

My name..

...is Thomas.

(Londo) 'Are you sure it's dead?'

I'm positive. It's dead as a rock.

I saw it with my own eyes.

How do you know it's not just resting?

Feeders are sneaky, you know.

Londo, trust me.

[chuckles] Well..

There you are, Vir.

I told you there was nothing to worry about.

He's young. Sometimes he panics. You know how it is.

- Where is it? - The doc's dissecting it.

Wants to try and figure out how it can move so fast.

He's learning all kinds of things about it.

- Such as? - 'Well..'

When they're about to attack, they get quiet.

So the key is, as long as you can hear them

as long as there's noise around, you're safe.

But if you ever hear nothing..

...worry.

(Vir) 'That's interesting.'

That's very interesting.

[sighs]

It's awfully quiet out here, isn't it, ambassador?

Ambassador?

Londo! Open the door, Londo!

Ambassador, it's not funny. Open the door, Londo!

There he goes. Jinx..

- Thomas. - Mm-hmm.

You never did tell me what you thought about that curse?

What curse?

You know, that bit about if he leaves Babylon 5

the same thing that happened

to Babylons 1, 2, 3 and 4 would happen to us.

Oh, that curse, you're not taking it seriously, are you?

Me? No, of course not. You?

Nah.

So how long until he hits jump?

Oh, right about..

...now!

[instrumental music]

No boom?

No boom.

No boom today, boom tomorrow.

There's always a boom tomorrow.

What? Look, somebody's gotta have

some damn perspective around here.

Boom. Sooner or later, boom!

[theme music]

(male narrator) Babylon 5 is produced by Babylonian Productions, Inc

and distributed by Warner Bros.

Domestic Television Distribution.