Scenes with Susan Ivanova 85
[during the memorial service for Ivanova's father]
Susan IvanovaWhen I was thirteen, I developed a passion for Kasharev, one of the radical neocommunist authors.
RKRabbi 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.
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!
RKRabbi 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!
RKRabbi 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."
There he goes–Jinx-...Thomas.
Susan Ivanova
You never did tell me what you think about that 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?
So, how long until he hits jump?
Ivanova
[working her console] Oh, right about...now!
[the ship goes through the jump gate without incident]
Ivanova
No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.
[Sinclair and Garibaldi exchange an exasperated look and wander off.]
Ivanova
What?! Look, somebody's got to have some damn perspective around here. Boom. Sooner or later. BOOM! [N]
[Garibaldi enters the casino to find an angry, inebriated Ivanova mopping the floor with the patrons.]
Ivanova
Are you gonna arrest me, Garibaldi?
No way! I wanna live to see the future.
[A vengeful Earthforce colonel has a PPG pistol pointed at Sinclair, Ivanova, and Garibaldi]
Ivanova
He can't get all of us.
CACol. Ari Ben Zayn
Famous last words from a trio of mutineers!
HGHarriman Gray
Colonel...pain...
[Gray telepathically tweaks the colonel, causing him to double up in pain; Sinclair grabs the colonel's gun and drops him with a single punch]
Ivanova
I assume the investigation is concluded?
[A survey shuttle limps back to Babylon 5 after its second, near-fatal disaster.]
TDr. Tasaki
Survey 1 to Babylon Control, we're clear. Returning to base.
Susan Ivanova
Confirmed, Survey 1. Upon arrival, you will report for debriefing. [pauses] And just one more thing. On your trip back, I'd like you to take the time to learn the Babylon 5 mantra: "Ivanova...is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova...is God. And, if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!" Babylon Control out. [sighs to herself] Civilians. [looks up] Just kidding about that God part. No offense.
[upon seeing the Great Machine on Epsilon 3 for the first time]
Ivanova
Commander?
Ivanova
I think I've got to go to the bathroom.
[Sinclair and Ivanova try to retrieve the machine-ensconced alien while the planet quakes around them.]
Ivanova
Commander, we don't have a lot of time. We're cut off from the way we came in, we don't know if we can find another way back to the ship before we run out of air...
We can't leave him like this!
Ivanova
I know, I know. It's a Russian thing. When we're about to do something stupid, we like to catalog the full extent of our stupidity for future reference.
Susan Ivanova
Ambassador, do you really want to know what's going on down there right now?
Ivanova
Boom. Boom, boom, boom. Boom, boom. BOOM! Have a nice day.
[She walks away with a smile, leaving Londo to stew.]
Faugh! You can never get a straight answer from anyone around here!
Susan Ivanova
God, I hate mornings.
We noticed. Personally, I find it the best part of the day.
Ivanova
[sighs] We all have our cross to bear.
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.]
Ivanova
[snapping awake] What?
Oh, that was great! Boy, just hit the spot! [to Sinclair] I see you cleaned your plate too! Guess I'd better get going.
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...
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.]
I'll notify your next of kin. [picks up his tray and leaves]
Four...three...two...one...
Ivanova
[out in the corridor, shouting] AUGH! GARIBALDI, YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!
[Ivanova barges into Dr. Franklin's illicit free clinic. He is bent over a notepad, distracted.]
[not paying attention] You can start by removing your clothes.
Susan Ivanova
Not without dinner and flowers.
Susan Ivanova
[voiceover] Status report, Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova recording. It is now eight days since the death of Earth Alliance President Luis Santiago, and five days since Commander Sinclair was recalled to Earth without explanation. And the whole place has gone straight to hell.
[A transport tube opens to reveal Ivanova addressing a quartet of cowering humans and aliens.]
Ivanova
And as far as I'm concerned, the transports can wait until the SUN EXPLODES! And if you're not happy with the seating arrangements, I will personally order your seats to be moved outside, down the hall, across the station, and into the fusion reactor! Am I absolutely, perfectly clear on this?
[As she leaves them to their bickering, she continues her narration about the chaos on the station after Sinclair's abrupt recall.]
Ivanova
[voiceover] I can only conclude that I'm paying off karma at a vastly accelerated rate.
[Dr. Franklin tells Ivanova about Garibaldi's coma.]
Ivanova
Well then, I'll say a prayer for him tonight.
Ivanova
Then I'll say half a prayer.
[Ivanova greets Babylon 5's new commanding officer and brings him up to speed.]
Ivanova
The Chief of Security is in critical condition in MedLab. He thinks there's a conspiracy concerning the President's death. Ambassador G'Kar has mysteriously vanished, after two years we still don't know what Ambassador Kosh looks like inside his encounter suit, and Ambassador Delenn is in a cocoon.
A cocoon? As in, a moth or a butterfly.
Ivanova
Yes sir. [holds one hand at chin height] 'Bout yea high.
Interesting place you have here.
[Dr. Franklin is treating Ivanova's broken foot.]
I can give you something for the pain...
Susan Ivanova
Oh, great. Now you can give me something for the pain.
Ivanova
Where were you when I was going through puberty?
[He chuckles.]
Ivanova
No, it's okay; I'll get used to it. If it gets too bad, I'll just...gnaw it off at the ankle.
[Ivanova has been kidnapped by the Green Drazi.]
Ivanova
What does it take to get through to you? You're making a mistake of galactic proportions! Assaulting an Earth Alliance officer, attempting mass murder...!
GDGreen Drazi
Green must fight Purple. Purple must fight Green. Is no other way!
Ivanova
Just my luck. I get stuck with a race that speaks only in macros.
Babylon 5 · 626 quotes
