Babylon 5, Season 1: Signs and Portents

Babylon 5 (1993-1998), created by J. Michael Straczynski, is a science fiction television epic about Babylon 5, an Earth-governed space station built to promote harmony between interstellar civilizations. It is unusual in its focus on a story arc which dominates the events through its five-year run.

[during the memorial service for Ivanova's father]

Susan Ivanova:
When I was thirteen, I developed a passion for Kasharev, one of the radical neocommunist authors.

Rabbi Koslov:
Oy! Your father felt that Kasharev would be personally responsible for the destruction of Russian culture!

Ivanova:
Exactly! But he was invited to a reading by Kasharev, and I begged him to take me. Of course, he had no intention of going, but I whined and pouted as only a thirteen-year-old can, and eventually, he was forced to surrender. So, after the reading there was a question and answer session, and for days I had been formulating the perfect question with which to impress my idol. So the time comes, and I stand up, I'm trembling, and I ask my question.

Rabbi Koslov:
And?

Ivanova:
He promptly said that it was the most foolish thing that he had ever heard, and that he had no intention of bandying words with a bourgeois little twit who was barely out of diapers. [Laughs] I was crushed. But then Papa stood up. And he said that his daughter was neither bourgeois, nor a little twit, and had been out of diapers for many, many years, while Kasharev's writings had yet to rise above the contents of those garments!

Rabbi Koslov:
That sounds exactly like Andrei!

Ivanova:
He then added that were he not a man of peace, he would have horsewhipped Kasharev through the streets of St. Petersburg, as his own father should have done many years ago!

Rabbi Koslov:
Bravo, bravo!

Ivanova:
Well, of course I was mortified. But then Papa took my hand and he turned, and as we walked out, he said to me: "It was a good question, dushenka."

Susan Ivanova:
God, I hate mornings.

Jeffrey Sinclair:
We noticed. Personally, I find it the best part of the day.

Michael Garibaldi:
Ah, me too.

Ivanova:
[sighs] We all have our cross to bear.

Sinclair:
The time I really learned to appreciate mornings was during the three years I spent being taught by Jesuits. [His voice drops to a near-whisper, and Ivanova starts to nod off.] We used to get up at five o'clock every morning for sunrise mass. Then an hour of meditation before class. We would sit, quiet, at peace. [Her eyelids are getting heavier.] Breathing in, breathing out. Breathing in, breathing out. [She's out cold.] Breathing in, breathing out. [Sinclair winks at Garibaldi, and the chief swaps their just-started breakfasts with dirty, empty dishes, but leaves Ivanova's untouched.]

Garibaldi:
Well!

Ivanova:
[snapping awake] What?

Garibaldi:
Oh, that was great! Boy, just hit the spot! [to Sinclair] I see you cleaned your plate too! Guess I'd better get going.

Sinclair:
Me too, it's nearly seven-thirty.

Ivanova:
Sev-seven-thirty? I…I didn't even…I slept through breakfast? This isn't fair! It's n…

Sinclair:
Something, Lieutenant Commander?

Ivanova:
No! Nothing, I'm fine! I'm fine, you'll have to excuse me. [into her link] C&C, this is Ivanova! I realize I'm late, but I'm on my way! [She runs out, and Garibaldi swaps the dishes back.]

Sinclair:
I'll notify your next of kin. [picks up his tray and leaves]

Garibaldi:
Four…three…two…one…

Ivanova:
[out in the corridor, shouting] AUGH! GARIBALDI, YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!


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