Babylon JMS Script Book #2

I know, I haven’t been here for a while. <ducks behind Garibaldi for protection> Things have been rather busy, and my computer, well it’s almost three years old now so while I can easily watch B5 like normal on a DVD player, screenshots are another matter and my computer no longer seems to like DVDs very much. I’m working on a solution for this. In the mean time, here are a few thoughts on the second JMS script book.

This book finishes up season one script wise, which include some very powerful episodes: Signs and Portents, A Voice in the Wilderness, Babylon Squared, and Crystalis, among others. Besides these gems from the B5 universe, JMS gives us the story of the carpet that shows us his method of story telling. In the back, we get notes and memos which describes minor characters, some of which were never used or used less than JMS was hoping and episode concepts. It is particularly interesting to see the ones that didn’t get made, and the ones that did get made but in a very different form than originally envisioned. As always JMS has commentary on all of the episodes, including Claudia Christensen being stuck in a star furry during an earthquake . . .

A must have for fans.

War Without End I & II

Babylon 5 recieves a mysterious distress call from the future. Ambassador Sinclair returns to the station. To save the future, our heroes must go into the past.

Ambassador Sinclair receives a letter from a thousand years in the past. All Ratheen, Sinclair’s Minbari friend and member of the Grey Counsel, is that they were told to open the letter on this particular day. After reading the letter, Sinclair prepares to go to Babylon 5. On Babyon 5, Delenn also receives a letter.

On Babylon 5, Ivanova recieves a distress call. The thing is, it is from herself eight days in the future. The signal is coming from sector 14, where Babylon 4 disappeared. Garibaldi goes out to investigate. Activity is noted down on Epsion 3.

Meanwhile, Sinclair arrives on station. Delenn goes to Sheridan and insists on going to the White Star right then where she has something important to reveal, in spite of the situation or rather because of the situation going on. Sheridan eventually agrees. Sheridan, Ivanova, Delenn, Sinclair, and Marcus go to the White Star. When there, Delenn explains how in the last war against the Shadow’s her people’s base of opperations was destroyed. Then a replacement appeared. It was Babylon 4. As to why she said nothing, at first Delenn did not know, and after she found the connection she was afraid of changing the past or future. Sinclair is sceptical. Sinclair believes completely. As Delenn argues, without Babylon 4, the Shadows would have remained much stronger, which would cause problems in the present. Then right before Babylon 4 was to become opperational, right before disappearing, smaller Shadow ships, knowing what Babylon 4 was, came with a bomb do destroy the station. Finally, Drall is using the Great Machine to open the rift in sector 14. But the White Star prevented it. Sheridan checks with Garibaldi. Garibaldi has not only heard but seen the message. In eight days, the Shadows attack and destroy Babylon 5, apparently destroying Sheridan and the White Star first, leaving Ivanova in charge on board while Garibaldi set the reactor to blow. As Delenn’s way is the only thing they can think of to do, they set off to go get Babylon 4. First, they pick up someone: Za’thras. Remembering his encounter with him earlier, Sinclair tells Za’thras to be careful what he says. Za’thras also seems to have lots of other things he isn’t supposed to say^^; Sheridan sends Garibaldi back to Babylon 5 giving no indication Sinclair is with him. When Garibaldi gets back, he is a bit confused as to why Sinclair would be there but say nothing to him. But when he gets to his quarters he finds a message from Sinclair . . .

Zathras prepares the White Star and her crew with time stabilizers to go into the time rift. Then into the rift, the White Star goes. They arrive at the right time: the shadow ships are bringing in the bomb. They manage to take out the ships, being small ones, and the bomb, but they are too close when the bomb goes off and have to run. Sheridan’s time stabilizer is hit and he becomes unstuck in time. Sinclair takes charge and continues the mission. They use the disruption the bomb caused to grapple onto the side of the station and get inside.

Twenty years in the future, Sheridan lands in Londo’s court. And Londo is not very happy with him, much to the present Sheridan’s confusion.

Ambassador Sinclair receives a message from the past.

A voice of warning from the future.

The three who are one.

The return of Za’thras.

Like it or not, Sheridan is taking a solo trip through time.

Emperor Londo twenty years into the future.

Sinclair leads the efforts to bring Babylon 4 back in time while Sheridan is stuck twenty years in the future.

Twenty years into the future, Sheridan is Londo’s prisoner. Why? Apparently Sheridan defeated the Shadows, but not their allies, who devastated Centauri Prime. Londo has Seridan taken away, promising to kill him when next they meet. Sheridan keeps going to different times, which gives Za’thras an idea when he sees it.

Meanwhile, our heroes are on Babylon 4. Marcus and Ivanova are sent to find a way to get at the station’s wiring so they can cause an evacuation of a main cooridor so they can get the equipment for time travel set up. They get caught, but Marcus isn’t caught off guard and he and Ivanova take care of the situation.

Back in the future, Sheridan is placed in a cell. Delenn is put in there as well and she gives him a very enthusiastic greeting, promising she said nothing to the Centauri and that their son is safe. Sheridan explains how he is really from the past. Delenn says how they won, but not completely, but to not give into the Shadows for that would create a worse future. Also, they have a son: David. Then they are summoned by Londo. Londo is drunk. Purposfully. He has a Keeper on him which has been controling him. It wants Sheridan and Delenn dead, but the drink puts it to sleep for a little. For their freedom, Londo wants them to free his world. They go to a shuttle he has hidden near by. After they leave, G’Kar comes out. Londo wants G’Kar to kill him, since his Keeper is waking and will tell the others, who will kill Sheridan and Delenn before they can get away. G’Kar complies, but then the Keeper wakes and forces Londo to strangle G’Kar. They both die. Vir comes in and picks up the Emperor’s seal. Sheridan goes through time again, but not before Delenn tells him not to go to Za’ha’dum.

Ivanova and Marcus are a bit skeptical of Za’thras attaching a time stabilizer to a space suit, but it works. Lo and behold, Sheridan appears there. Sinclair is ready to go outside in his own suit to set up the time travel system. When they do, the station accidentally goes forward in time to when it reappeared back in Babylon Squared. And Sheridan is unstuck in time. And Sinclair has aged.

Za’thras is going to try to fix the time stabilizer again, and Ivanova helps him find a work area. That is when Za’thras gets captured by Major Krantz, head of Babylon 4. Then things happen exactly as what we see from Bablyon Squared, except this time we see what really happens. Ivanova is the one who causes the full evacuation of Babylon 4. Delenn is the one Za’thras was reaching for and the one he gives the time stabilizer to, as she somehow switched time stabilizers with Sheridan who has now reappered. Yes, it was her in the suit. And now we know exactly why Sinclair tries to tell the Michael Garibaldi of the past to watch his back. Final adjustments are made to run the time system from Babylon 4’s C&C. However, someone has to ride it to the past. Sinclair insists on doing so. Jumping forward in time has already aged him, going to the present probably would kill him. Also, he knows he went into the past as he was the one who wrote the notes to himself and Delenn from a thousand years ago. Before Sheridan and Delenn leave for the White Star, Za’thras explains to them and Sinclair about the three who are one and who are the One: Sincliar is the One who was, Delenn the One who is, and Sheridan is to his surprise the One who will be. Za’thras goes with Sinclair into the past.

As the White Star exists the time rift, Drall closes it, never to be opened again. And another door is closed: the door between humans and Minbari for souls. As Delenn says, the Minbari of a thousand years ago would never have accepted Babylon 4 from a human. Sinclair uses the crystalis during his travel a thousand years into the past to become Minbari. When Za’thras leads warrior caste Minbari to him, he calls himself Valen and there are two Vorlon . . .

Za’thras have idea. Maybe idea not work, but Za’thras try anyway.

Breaking into Babylon 4 is hard to do.

First kiss for Sheridan, millionth for Delenn.

G’Kar and Londo’s predicted future, though not for the reason you would think.

Babylon 4: into the past.

Becoming Valen.

A thousand years ago . . .

Babylon 5 Quote Book

I have spent years compiling quotes from Babylon 5 (still working on it in fact). And now the B5 script team has beat me to the punch and published one theirselves. Sigh. Still, this quoe book is worth having. It is divided by various subjects (faith and hope, politics, war, power, and funny stuff) and various characters (Sheridan, Sinclair, Ivanova, Delenn, G’Kar, Londo, you get the idea). And added to this, we get the Great Maker’s comentary on each subject area at the begining. A must for any hardcore B5 fan.

Babylon 5: Interludes and Examinations

Well, here we are, back again, this time with an actual episode summary. Before we start, next week is going to be crazy, so I can’t promise anything.

The Shadows begin attacking openly. Sheridan pressures Kosh to act at a great cost. Dr. Franklin comes to a realization.

Franklin nearly makes a fatal mistake in medlab. Garibaldi sees this and other erratic behavior and tries to get Franklin to talk about it. Franklin refuses. Garibaldi goes to Dr. Hobbs, but she refuses to do anything without proper authorization. Garibaldi goes into Franklin’s office to get the proof he needs, but stops at the last moment. Franklin has seen all of this. If Franklin won’t admit to the truth at some level, anything Garibaldi does won’t matter. Franklin tested himself and he can’t lie to himself anymore – he is addicted to stims. As for what’s next, Garibaldi tells Franklin it’s his move. Franklin resigns and goes off to try and work everything out before he does hurt or kill someone by accident.

Adira is finally returning to Babylon 5 and Londo is estatic. He has Vir run around preparing everything. Morden sees this, but when he confronts Vir the Centauri is very closed mouth. So Morden corners the merchant Vir was talking with. When Adira’s ship arrives, she doesn’t come off with everyone else. She is dead. Londo is devastated. He does self possession long enough to ask Dr. Hobbs to test for poison. The tests come back positive. Londo meets with Mr. Morden and reopens their alliance. Morden makes it sound like Lord Refa had Adira poisoned. Londo doesn’t care much what happens any more.

The Shadows are now attacking openly. The Brakiri are under attack, but Sheridan can’t get anyone to do anything to help. After talking with Delenn, Sheridan decides to get Kosh to help. As Sheridan explains to Kosh, the Vorlon are one of the oldest races and if they stepped in it could very well bring everyone together. Kosh refuses. Sheridan won’t back down and makes Kosh angry, but as he says Kosh put it him in this possition and he has nothing to lose. Kosh finally agrees, but says he won’t be there when Sheridan goes to Za’ha’dum. The Vorlon do indeed engage the Shadow fleet and score a victory. The other races are now much more willing to join together to fight the Shadows. That night, Sheridan has a dream of his father apoligizing to him, saying he was right and he will always be with him. Sheridan wakes up and knows Kosh is dead. Morden found out about what happened to the Shadow fleet and in retaliation his associates killed Kosh. What is left of Kosh’s encounter suit is put on his ship and sent into the sun.

Franklin tells Garibaldi he realizes the truth – he is addicted to stims.

Sheridan confronts Kosh.

Not even Vir can comfort Londo at Adira’s death.

Morden watches Kosh’s demise.

Sheridan knows what happened to Kosh.

The Chronologies of Babylon 5

Okay, so this isn’t exactly a script, but it is still very cool and I just finished it. It contains two timelines made by two different people. The first is quite detailed, the second not so much. Both pull together events not only from the series and the movies (including the Lost Tales), but the novels, short stories, comics, and posts by JMS. Each entry includes references. A must have for any die hard fan.

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor

Hi all. Sorry its been a while. I actually have some B5 reviews to do. I just haven’t gotten to them. . . Hopefully soon I can get back on track . . .

In the mean time, I just finished reading the latest Star Wars book: Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor. It was very enjoyable! Plenty of adventure and danger and all our favorite heroes are there and they act just as you would expect them to. I love the way Han has enormously long names for several of the characters: Luke is Luke I’m going after Vader and Palpatine alone (or something close to this)! Luke is a bit disillusioned, but after the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, I guess you can’t blame him for having a lot to work through. Everyone gets a moment in the spotlight, even the droids.

This book takes place several months after the original trillogy and after The Truce at Brakura. An evil enemy, one of the Emperor’s hands named Shadowspawn, has been attacking the fledgling New Republic. Luke leads a force to deal with it. Of course Shadowspawn has laid a trap for the Jedi. Of course Han and Leia have to go after Luke.

But don’t think that this is just fluf. Their is a lot of talk about light and dark and what they mean, and we get a look at our hero’s images in the galaxy’s popular culture and what it means to them. It’s no surprise that Han takes that easier than Luke does^^;

This is a standalone book that doesn’t really affect the overall Star Wars univverse, but it sure is a fun romp. Highly recommended for fans and for non-fans who want something that will make them laugh.

Babylon 5: Ship of Tears

Bester comes to Babyon 5 with an offer. G’Kar is formally introduced into the army of light.

ISN comes back on. At first the command staff is optimistic, but when ISN is clearly telling Clark’s lies, their hopes are dashed. Meanwhile, Sheridan is busy getting checked out on a new moddle starfurry (one of Hoshi’s remaning crew?) that is atmosphere capable when he gets a distress call. It is Mr. Bester. He wants to talk. Sheridan eventually agrees, and sends Ivanova in. She can’t stop a telepathic scan, but she can sense one. He will assume Bester is worth listening to if he doesn’t scan her. After mentioning her mother and thus angering her, Bester then tells Ivanova there is a new power controling Clark and it is alien in nature. This conflicts with Bester’s plans. This new enemy is the Shadows. And he knows where a ship will be that has supplies for them.  And Bester has to go along since they will never find the ship without him. Hyperspace enhances telepathic ability. Sheridan eventually agrees to this. He takes the White Star out (with Bester drooling the whole time). They find the ship and take out the Shaddow fighters arround it. They capture the ship when a Shaddow vessel shows up. It then leaves.

Back on the station, Franklin takes the pilot, who committed suicide, to perform an autopsy. Garibaldi’s people burn through to the cargo hold and find tons of people in cryogenic suspension. They also all have the Psi Corps symbol on the outside of their containers. Weapons supplies indeed. Sheridan is not happy. Franklin is examining one, when she wakes up. He sedates her and brings a bracelet. It is one worn by those telepaths who are being rehabilitated. But when Bester sees the bracelet, he recognizes the number and insists on going to Medlab. Which is just as well, since by then, the patient has woken up again and connected to all the machinery in Medlab 1. Bester recognizes her as Carolyn and she begs him to help her, but keeps firing at them. Garibaldi eventually realizes the Psi Corps symbol is the trigger. Franklin manages to get close enough to sedate her, but not before she shows Bester what happened to her.

Sheridan, understandably, wants answers. Bester says Carolyn is a rogue telepath who was captured who he fell in love with. She is even carrying her child. He did all he could to help her. But he couldn’t get her released. As for what happened since, she with the other telepaths were captured to be used as the CPU of the Shadow ships. Franklin doesn’t know if they can help these telepaths. Bester says if they can, he will do anything.

Meanwhile, G’Kar has had enough. He wants into the army of light, and he wants it now. Sheridn really can’t deny him after all he did, and Delenn agrees so she tells G’Kar everything, including the fact that her people knew about the Shadows and said nothing. G’Kar agrees it was the only choice they could make, but still isn’t quite ready to forgive. He is, however, ready to be formally introduced into the army of light and the new war room.

Garibaldi has been busy reading the Book of G’Quan. He fnds passages that lead him to believe the last Narn telepaths drove the Shadows from Narn a thousand years ago, and everything that happened with Bester this time seems to confirm it. After all, if telepaths can block Shadow ships, the best response is to put telepaths in the ships. Sheridan is happy to hear he has a weapon. And it is none too soon, since the Shadows are now openly attacking Brakiri space.

Bester just wants to talk, promise.

Ship of tears indeed.

Delenn tells G’Kar the truth.

Carolyn in the machine.

Your enemy is now my enemy.

Babylon 5: A Late Delivery from Avalon

A traveler arrives on the station claiming he is King Arthur and Dr. Franklin is determined to prove him wrong.

The main story focuses on the arrival of a man calling himself King Arthur. Security isn’t happy that he carries a sword, but Marcus takes him in hand. Dr. Franklin is intrigued by the idea of Arthur returning, but is rather skeptical at the same time. Arthur has no identification, but Earth Force personnel have their DNA recorded, so Franklin decides to check that. In the mean time, Arthur has escaped from Medlab. He runs into an elderly widow. Her only possession she still had from her husband was a picture of him, which was stolen by some thugs in downbelow. Arthur goes after the villain. When Arthur is outnumbered, G’Kar joins in the fight and enjoys himself imensely. Because of his intervention, Arthur knights G’Kar as the first member of his new round table. Marcus eventually finds them, and convinces Arthur to come back with him to Medlab.

It turns out it is probably a good thing he did. Arthur has been having disturbing dreams. Not surprising actually. Franklin finds out that Arthur is really David McIntyre, who fired the first shot on the Prometheus that started the Earth-Minbari War. Subconciously, he has been trying to atone ever since, finally thinking he is Arthur and trying to find someone to give back Excalabur back to. When Franklin tells Marcus this, Marcus thinks they should never tell David the truth. Franklin disagrees. Unfortunately, when Franklin confronts David, David ends up going into a mental shock. Franklin and Marcus eventually come up with the idea of getting Delenn to take back Excalabur. Once this is done, David is healed mentally and emotionally, and decides to go to Narn to help the Narn resistance. Franklin sees him off, though Marcus doesn’t since he hates goodbyes. Marcus playfully starts comparing everyone on Babylon 5 to someone in Arthurean legend. Kosh is Merlin. Sheridan is Arthur. Delenn is the Lady of the Lake. Ivanova is Persavil. Franklin is Bedevere. And Morden is Mordred. But as Marcus asks, who is Morgana La Fey? That is telling.

Meanwhile, Sheridan and Ivanova are busy trying to get Babylon 5 up and running again. They present a plan to the League of Non-Alligned Worlds. Enough accept the plan to make it viable.

Garibaldi faces his greatest foe yet: the Earth Alliance post office. The mail guy won’t give Garibaldi is package unless Garibaldi pays a fee that is three times what it was before the station broke away from Earth. Not even trying to break in works. So Garibaldi ends up paying the new price for his package . . . and charges the mail guy an amount equal to the extra amount for rent.

Meet Arthur, king of the Britons.

Dr. Franklin is intreagued but sceptical of Arthur’s claims.

The knighting of Sir G’Kar, first of the knights of the new round table.

Franklin finds the truth about Arthur.

Markus doesn’t want Arthur to know the truth.

Babylon 5: In the Beginning – the Novelization

This is my favorite of the movie novelizations. There are several reasons for this. We get some scenes that were not included in the movie, and beter yet, we get more of Londo’s naration and internal monologue, much of which is quite funny. It is also interesting that Londo still has a sense of humor, no matter how dry, in spite of where he is in hils life.

Babylon 5: Sic Transit Vir

Vir returns to Babylon 5 and is surprised to find he is engaged.  And Londo is surprised to find out what Vir has been doing on Minbar.

Ivanova has been having nightmares of ariving to work naked (don’t worry, we don’t actually see anything). Sheridan suggests that her subconcious is still dealing with all the changes that have recently taken place. Vir, meanwhile, is on Centauri Prime with his report. The official he talks to assures Vir that the new school is interested in hearing the truth, contrary to Londo’s opinion. The official then tells Vir a joke about being stuck in a room with a group of angry Narns. And guess who should be waiting for Vir in his quarters? A bunch of Narns.

Londo, meanwhile, seems to have an insect infestation in his quarters. His battle of the bugs, however, is interrupted by a visitor.

Vir arrives on Babylon 5, and is surprised when Londo isn’t there waiting for him. He goes to Londo’s quarters. After some small talk, Vir gets introduced to his fiance, Lyndesty. It seems their families hava arranged for them a marriage. Vir isn’t so sure about it, he wants to marry for love, but Lyndesty is persistant. She is georgeous, so Vir is soon attracted.

Meanwhile, Zach tells Ivanova about someone who has been transfering a lot of Narn under the name Abrahamo Lincolni. Ivanova calls Vir in. Vir tells her that he is transfering Narns off their homeworld to work camps where at least conditions are better. Since he doesn’t have the authority to do this, he made up the name. He then asks Ivanova for relationship advice, since to put it mildly he is unexperienced, which is quite a funny scene.

Sheridan, meanwhile, has decided to invite Delenn over for dinner since it is quiet, but who knows how long that will last. Unfortunately, Sheridan is no Garibaldi. In fact, Delenn lies about what she thinks of the meal^^; The meal, however, is interrupted when Vir and Lyndesty are attacked by a Narn. Sheridan is the nearest officer, and he draws the Narn’s attention until security gets there, though unfortunately the Narn forces them to kill him. Vir is as confused as everyone else as to why Narns would want to kill him. After all, he has been trying to help them.

Ivanova and Sheridan confront both Londo and Vir when they find out that all the Narn Vir has transfered have died. Only they aren’t dead. Vir used his authority to have all the Narn he transfered declared officially dead, since the Centauri don’t care about dead Narn. Londo is quite beside himself that Vir did this. This still doesn’t explain, though, why the Narn wanted to kill him. Lindesty finds Vir rather depressed. She has a surprise for Vir: the brother of the Narn who attacked them. It turns out these Narn were after her. Her father was incharge of passification on Narn. They would kill of agressive Narn, sometimes even whole villages. These two Narn brothers were from a village where this happened.

Londo has decided that what Vir did will never officially be known. Vir has been recalled to Babylon 5 for more training and also so Londo can keep an eye on him. As for Lyndesty, her family hasn’t called off the wedding, but they are reconsidering it. Lyndesty is recalled to Centauri Prime, but she promises to wait for Vir. As for Ivanova, she has decided to deal with the change by keeping up and adding to the Abrahamo Lincolni persona Vir created to help continue rescuing Narn.

Londo is victorious in fighting off a bug!

Meet Lyndesty, Vir’s fiance.

I hate to say it Sheridan, but I don’t think your cooking is the best and I fear Delenn agrees.

Vir is stronger than he looks. He felt he had do do something to help the Narn, and at the first oportunity that is exactly what he did.

Lyndesty, I don’t think that killing a Narn is exactly what Vir has in mind as a token of his affection.

The Minbari still vigilantelly protect the station.