Babylon 5 s05e07 Episode Script

Doctor's personal log.
Every day brings us something new at Babylon 5.
Unfortunately, sometimes it also brings a new strain of bacteria or a new virus.
My job now is to catalog all those possible infections for the new Alliance and compile a complete medical profile on all the member races.
It's going to be a big job, but I'm looking forward to it.
All right, now breathe in slowly.
That's it.
Nurse.
Interesting.
One of the reasons why I wanted to see you is that even though you are carrion eaters so that you're constantly being exposed to alien bacteria you seem almost impervious to outside infection.
Pak'ma'ra are chosen of God very special.
We can eat of all the creatures who walk and fly and crawl but not of the fish in the sea.
So you can handle mammals of all kinds, even reptiles, but no fish.
Interesting.
Your system may be set up to destroy harmful bacteria on a selective basis.
I'd like to do an analysis of your upper intestinal system.
This is a barium compound.
It's perfectly harmless.
It'll help me track how your system handles outside material.
Not on approved list.
Well, everything you eat doesn't have to be dead for five days.
This is a non-organic compound.
It does not fall in the same category.
So don't worry, you'll be fine.
We do this all the time.
Here.
Can you help him here, please? So far everyone has been extremely cooperative, even the Pak'ma'ra.
It goes a long way toward restoring my faith in Babylon 5's mission.
All right, you ready? That's why we're all here, to better understand one another and treat each other with sympathy and compassion.
Commodities which are all too often in short supply.
Okay, what's the problem? Travel violation.
They don't have any money, any transit papers.
- Half of them don't even have current ID.
- We are with Byron.
We were told we could come here.
More telepaths.
Great.
This is not the right place? This is where we are gathering.
It's the right place, but this is getting out of hand.
How many more of you people are coming here? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? That question baffled religious thinkers for centuries until someone finally hit upon the answer.
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? As many as want to.
How many of my brother and sister telepaths are coming? As many as want to.
Yeah, well, captain Is under orders from President Sheridan to allow us in.
As with all the rest who have arrived we will provide you with all the paperwork you require for our friends here.
You have my word.
All right, go on.
Come on.
Move! Go! Go! Lyta, can I talk to you for a minute, please? Those guys are gonna be trouble yet.
Watch and see.
There's more going on here than they're telling us.
- It's good to see you again, Peter.
- And you, Byron.
I've been practicing a great deal since I saw you last.
I'm much better now.
Stronger.
Would you like to see? Of course, Peter.
Show me.
That was very good, Peter.
Very, very good.
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 entire 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.
Unless your people get off their encounter-suited butts and do something.
You are The One who was.
Why are you here? I think of my beautiful city in flames.
Now get the hell out of our galaxy! We are here to place President Clark under arrest.
I know you're busy, but this won't take long.
It's fine, Zack.
What can I do for you? What the hell are you doing with those people? - What? What people? - Byron, the others.
Those people.
Those people are telepaths, same as me.
Oh, no, not the same.
The way they hang together like that, I just I don't like it.
And that Byron guy's the worst of the bunch.
Byron is a sweet, charming, sympathetic man who's trying to create a better world.
He's trouble, and I don't think you should be seeing him anymore.
- Who said I was seeing him? - Lyta, I'm head of security.
- I don't miss much.
- So you've been spying on me? I didn't say that.
- You're jealous.
- No, I am not jealous.
No? Care to give me permission to peek inside and find out? - You don't understand.
- No, I understand, Zack.
I understand plenty.
You needed my help during the Shadow War, and I did that.
I put my life on the line, and what did I get? You were gonna boot me into smaller quarters because I couldn't afford anything better.
I got out of that by rejoining the Psi Corps and you don't wanna know the deal I had to make.
- Lyta - I'm not finished! After all that, you had the nerve to ask me to risk my life a second time during the civil war back home and, stupid me, I did it.
And what did I get out of that? Nothing, nada, zip, zilch.
I got no life, no hope, no prospects.
Now along comes Byron.
For the first time in a long while I feel like someone cares about what happens to me.
I care what happens to you, Lyta.
Yeah, well, maybe that's true but talk is cheap, Zack.
Byron is putting his life on the line to create something for his people.
And I'm one of them.
He's given us back a sense of dignity and community.
I'm proud of that, and I'm proud of him.
If you can't handle that, there's nothing I can do.
Look.
- Lf you could just give me five minutes - Zack if Byron asked me to follow him into hell l'd do it gladly with a smile on my face because I believe in him.
What could you possibly say in five minutes that would change that? Here they come again.
Look like crows, don't they? All in black.
What happened? Somebody die? Hey, I'm talking to you.
Obviously, but I was not talking to you.
We were just passing through and wish to continue.
Well, I don't wish you to continue.
Who the hell do you think you're talking to? You think you're a big shot? All of you damn teeps, you come down here parade around like you're in charge, get free room and board and think you're better than us.
- The president has allowed us to stay.
Yeah? Big fragging deal.
I been here two years, and it ain't no honor.
It's a joke, and so are you.
Fine.
You've had your say.
I'd like to pass now.
I'd like to kick your ass.
What do you think of that? - It's okay, let him come.
- No.
Hit me.
- What? - I said, hit me.
Again.
Again.
Was one the same as three? - Was three the same as one and two? - What? Was there any difference between one, two and three? - I don't - What would you expect to get out of four, five and six that you did not get out of one, two and three? Your anger has nothing to do with me.
What will satisfy your anger will never come from me or anyone else here.
I'm afraid you must look for it elsewhere.
Nothing.
It was nothing.
Must have been some kind of teep trick.
Come on! I appreciate you seeing me, ambassador.
I did nothing but relay your request to the Grand Council of Elders.
The Ssh-Ba himself approved your request.
Ssh-Ba? Doesn't that translate to "oldest of the old"? Yes.
We are a geritocracy, ruled by the oldest of our people who are wise enough to guide us properly.
We There you are.
Doctor, this is my attaché Kirrin.
- My apologies for being late.
- Forgiven.
Please sit.
The doctor was just explaining what he needs from us.
Well, it's nothing major.
At least at this stage.
We would like access to your genetic records and medical files so that we can better understand your people and any dangers that might come to us or to you from other species.
Until now, we have kept our medical information to ourselves to prevent others from using it against us.
We have never given it to an outsider.
I appreciate that.
You have my personal guarantee that nothing compromising will ever be released.
As a doctor, I'm bound by an oath of confidentiality.
So whatever you give me will be considered privileged information.
And if you are captured by another and given the choice of betraying us or dying which would you choose? - Kirrin! My apologies.
But it is a fair question.
He is asking us to risk our lives on his promise.
Is it wrong to ask the same of him? All the information will be kept in one file triple encoded, and there are no copies.
No one else has the pass code.
If anyone enters the wrong code, just once, the program will delete itself.
But if someone placed a gun to your head and told you to give me the pass code would you die for us? You aren't asking anything that I haven't already considered and the answer is yes.
I would die before I allow my work to be used in biogenetic warfare.
Anything else, Kirrin? No.
Thank you, doctor.
I will arrange to have as many of our medical files as possible transferred to your system.
The material should be there by the time you get back to Medlab.
Thank you, ambassador.
Kirrin.
- This is a mistake.
- The Elders have spoken.
It is not your place to question them or me.
This information is required if we are to remain part of the Alliance.
And our people need that edge if we are to compete.
But what if he finds out? If it is the will of Oshi-Ta then we must accept it.
And if he betrays us then he will die.
Oh, God.
- Are you all right? - Fine.
Yeah, you look fine.
Why isn't somebody taking care of you? Because they understand at times like this, I prefer not to be disturbed.
Just a minute.
Now, I heard about what happened.
There were as many of you as there were of them.
Why did you let them do that to you? There would have been seven of our people hurt instead of one.
Violence is not our way.
Yeah, well, at times like this, it is mine.
No.
Violence is their way, the way of the mundanes who would use us, control us, and kill us because they're afraid of us.
The Psi Corps has adopted their ways, treating us as the mundanes treat them because they're afraid of themselves and because they don't know any other way.
- They don't understand.
- Understand what? No tyranny has ever really lasted.
No government based on violence has endured.
Sooner or later, they all fall.
We're here to build a new life for ourselves a home among the stars.
Would you build a home on a foundation you knew would not last? - No.
- Then why should we use the same tools of violence and fear they use? But when they do this, doesn't it make you mad? I mean, don't you want to strike back? Just What? What's so funny? Do you know what you are? What? A.
B.
C.
F.
M.
O.
A brightly colored, fast-moving object.
You don't just walk into a room.
You blaze in and blaze out again, like a comet.
There's so much more to you than meets the eye.
If you only knew.
- Stop smiling.
- Then go away.
If you're here, I'm afraid I can't help myself.
What am I going to do with you? I sometimes wonder the same thing about you.
Well, when you figure it out, let me know.
You first.
I'll I'll go see Dr.
Franklin and get something for your bruises.
Should make them go away by tomorrow.
They're already gone.
I can still see them.
Only on the outside.
Well, I should go.
You leave us every night.
Why? I don't feel like I belong here.
Not yet anyway.
Yes, you do.
Stay with us tonight.
No, I can't, Byron.
I want to, but Lyta does not yet feel she truly belongs among us.
What do you say? These are the last of the files you wanted, doctor.
Thank you.
Just set them down right there.
Kirrin, there's something I don't understand about these records.
Now, your civilization has been around for 7,000 years but these files on your evolution and medical history only go back about 800 years.
Yes? Well, it would be helpful if I had something a little more comprehensive.
All the conclusions and results of the previous years are there are they not? Yes, but it's important to know the historical process that led to those conclusions.
If I could - I'm sorry, doctor.
Those are all the files I was given.
You will have to make do with what you have.
Computer, check Hyach historical archives.
How far back do we have records of their society, culture, government? Checking.
Records date back between 750 years and 820 years.
That's it? There is no recorded history of the Hyach before about 800 years? Confirmed.
They're hiding something.
But what? More important, why? You go on ahead.
I'll catch up.
What the hell are you doing down here, freak? I was ju I was ju "I was ju" He was ju He was ju Hey, you brought lunch.
Let me see.
Let me see! What are you looking at, freak? I said, what are you? Look out! You think that's funny, huh, freak? I'll show you what's funny.
- Take it easy.
Easy.
- Get off! All right, let's move.
IV, stat.
Let's get the scanners on him quick! Let's move, people.
Let's go! Bring it on in! - Breathing is erratic.
- Analyzing.
- How is he? - Not good, but I think he'll live.
- Why aren't you working on him? - I've got my best team handling his case.
If they can't handle it, nobody can.
- Now, do you know what happened? - Yes, he was attacked by one of you for the crime of being who he is and what he is.
- Did you get a description of who did this? - No.
But I believe we know who was responsible.
- We'll need more than that to go after him.
- My people won't.
That troubles me.
Are they going to do anything stupid? Not if Byron can stop them.
Well, if they're so upset, where are they? They're here.
Has his breathing improved? Slightly, but it's still erratic.
Wait a minute.
There's a flutter on the brain scan.
Doctor.
Take good care of him.
He's a very special case.
- He's now responsive.
- Good.
Watch him.
He may go into shock.
- What the hell? - Watch it! As I said, a very special case.
Come on.
We have to hurry.
No! No! No more! I didn't do anything! Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop! I didn't do anything! Make it stop! Make it stop! It's me.
It's me! Be still.
Let it go.
Do it for me.
Byron Freeze! - Hold it right there.
- Zack, stop.
Let him go.
Listen to me.
He didn't do anything.
Yeah? - Doesn't look that way to me.
- It's all right, Lyta.
It's all right.
All right.
Get him out of here.
Get a med team down here, stat.
Computer anything new on the search for Hyach records? Negative results on search.
All right, all right.
Let's try this another way.
Search all available files for any records from any of the other races.
Some have been in contact with the Hyach for a long time.
- Maybe they've got something we don't.
- Stand by.
Yeah? I need to see my people.
Mr.
Alan promised First thing in the morning.
This can't wait.
I need to talk to them, calm them down.
If I don't speak to them, something terribly wrong is going to happen.
Yeah, whatever.
Records found.
Alrighty.
Let's see what we got here.
Initiate translation program.
Picked up another shipment of kili grain for dark moon ceremony.
We had a sighting of Hyach-Doh.
Very rare.
Came into our encampment and asked to come with us.
Per our contract, we refused and notified those in charge of collection.
Expect to arrive in Homeland in 24 Stop! We had a sighting of Hyach-Doh.
Very rare.
Came into our encampment and asked to come with us.
Per our contract, we refused and notified those in charge of collection.
Computer, is there any reference to Hyach-Doh in any of the current Hyach literature? Negative.
All right, check alien records.
Cross-reference with Hyach-Doh.
Include all spellings.
Give me a hard-copy readout.
Stand by.
Do as I tell you or die! Stop! Far enough.
Let me see.
I can save you time, Kirrin.
I know your secret.
The Hyach-Doh, they're all dead, aren't they? It was a case of parallel evolution.
Two sentient races developed on your world.
The other race splitting from the main line a million years ago like the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon on Earth.
Except in your case they didn't die out.
- Yes.
At first, we competed for living space, resources.
Then we learned to live together for a time.
And all the while, there was intermarrying between the two sides, wasn't there? It was a great scandal, but it continued throughout our history.
Until 1200 of your years ago.
Religious laws were passed that made it immoral for one line to marry into the other.
Then, immoral became illegal.
Then, illegal, punishable by death.
And then And then it just became more efficient for you to wipe out the entire race.
It took us centuries.
They were hunted down in every corner of our world.
There were bounties placed on their heads.
They were forbidden to leave our homeland.
They tried to slip away, but any captain found transporting them was subject to arrest and execution.
Forty million of them.
The funeral pyres burned night and day.
It was a long time ago.
We are not responsible.
But we pay the price, Kirrin.
What price? Well, you must've known I'd stumble onto this.
What price? Give him back his papers.
Do as I say.
Take a look at the numbers for our population growth.
Well, they're not growing.
They're shrinking.
The birth rate is down nearly 20 percent.
Looks like it's been decreasing steadily for centuries, but Something in your biological makeup is breaking down.
Yes.
You needed the Hyach-Doh, didn't you? You needed something in their DNA to keep your species growing through interbreeding.
- Without it - We are dying.
We killed the Hyach-Doh, and in so doing, we killed ourselves.
It took us a long time to discover the cause, but now there is nowhere to go.
We are a dying people unless you help us.
No.
You hold us responsible for those who were killed.
- Yes.
- Even though we were not yet born? You helped hide the truth about what happened by revising your history cutting parts you didn't like.
As far as I'm concerned, that makes you an accomplice after the fact.
It's our shame.
We won't have it exposed.
Well, that's your choice.
But what it means is, morally, I can't help you.
Besides, something as massive as this, it's beyond my capabilities.
It would take the resources of several league worlds to conduct studies on your biology, find out what was lost develop a means of restoring it on a planetary basis.
It's too big of a job to be finished in my lifetime, but we could get started.
It may not work.
But if you keep this a secret, nothing will be done.
And your people, your race, will eventually die out.
Let him go.
But, Tal It is the decision of the Elders.
They could not reveal our shame to others.
But now that another has discovered our truth we may as well acknowledge it.
It is too high a price to pay to do otherwise.
Perhaps someday you may forgive us for what our ancestors did.
I can't forgive you.
It's not my place to speak for the dead.
Only forgiveness can come from the Hyach-Doh.
Too bad they're all dead.
The guy that got attacked woke up about an hour ago.
Didn't remember who did it.
Only thing he does seem to remember is you tried to help him.
His story confirms what you told us.
- Then I can go now? - You can go.
Thing is, the guy worked for Carl Townsend real pain in the ass in Downbelow, first-class thug.
My guys found Carl's body about an hour ago.
Not a pretty sight.
No.
I would imagine not.
Word is, he and the other guy who got attacked hassled your bunch the other day, maybe even attacked one of your guys.
Now one's in serious condition, the other's dead.
Don't suppose you know anything about that.
How would I? I've been in here the whole time.
One thing.
I suspect if you'd not kept me locked up here all day there might be one less dead body in your morgue.
Please, try and remember that next time.
Are you sure you're gonna be all right? No.
I worked so hard to teach them, Lyta.
I wanted so much for them to understand.
And yet they continue.
They killed that man, Lyta.
Not all of them.
I don't know which ones, but l I could feel it when it happened.
Through 14 decks layers of steel and wire and doors, I could feel it.
And I was ashamed.
It's not their fault.
I should have taught them better somehow.
He was a violent, dangerous man.
Now, I can't condone what they did, but I understand it.
You did everything you could.
- Then I must learn to do more.
- That's where you're wrong.
You have done more for these people than you will ever understand.
And for me.
I wish I could believe that.
So do I.
Because it's true.
Five lifetimes ago, you said I was your willow offering you shade and rest.
Yes.
Then rest in me even if it's only for a little while.
There's something you should know before we I haven't been with anyone since Byron, the Vorlons changed me more than you could possibly know.
I don't know what it'll do once you get past my barriers and I get past yours.
It could burn you.
Then let it burn.
I can feel them.
- It was the Vorlons? - Yes.
They created telepaths on a hundred worlds.
Interfered with their genetic development, took people from their Homeworlds and adjusted them over the centuries.
- Yes.
Because they needed telepaths in their war against the Shadows.
- Needed us as cannon fodder.
- Yes.
We would be normal.
We would have lives.
We would be able to walk and live and work among normals without fear of persecution if the Vorlons had not interfered with our normal development.
We were made for their benefit, to save them.
We were told that our abilities were our gift and our curse and that we were somehow responsible for it.
But we're not.
We're not.
The Vorlons are gone, Byron.
There's no one left to settle the score.
No, but the other races are still here.
We were made telepathic to serve their cause save their worlds.
Now they have to recognize that.
They have to understand that they are responsible for us, for our condition.
They have to make it right, Lyta.
We'll force them to make it right.
How? By giving us a homeland of our own.
We don't fit here because we're different because we were made different.
They owe us a place where we can be among our own kind.
We'll ask to speak to the Alliance, put our case before them see if they can be persuaded to do the right thing.
And if they can't? Then we'll make sure they have no other choice.