Mr. Bester, we no longer have any ties to Earth or to the Psi Corps. So we don't have to put up with you or your games. Now, I am sitting on four brand-new unidirectional pulse cannons. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't blow you out of the sky!
Alfred BesterBecause you're curious? Kill me, and you'll never know what brought me all the way out here. I think if you weigh that against the brief satisfaction of "blowing me out of the sky", you'll do the right thing.
[There is a long pause.]
Bester
Captain?
Bester
[not exactly reassured] Ah!...Good!
Bester
I was expecting the Captain.
Bester
Did he? He has a better sense of humor than I thought. Please, sit.
Bester
I suspect you'd rather walk out that door and wall me up inside! Do a little re-creation of "The Cask of Amontillado". "For the love of God, Montresor!"
If you get near a point, make it!
[Bester is admiring the White Star's bridge]
Try not to drool on the controls.
Bester
You said something, Captain?
Mm. Not a word. Just burped.
. . .
Bester
Captain Sheridan.
Get the hell out of my chair.
[Zack is showing some new security guards the ropes at Customs.]
When you come on duty always check this display. This is where you get your details on who to hold, and who to let through. Anything unusual gets flagged.
[Londo walks through the gate.]
And would I fall under the category of unusual, Mr. Allen?
Well! I didn't think we'd be seeing you again any time soon, ambassador.
Yes, I could tell, from the look of unvarnished joy on your face when I came aboard. Perhaps you would like to take a seat before you are overcome with ecstasy?
No thanks, I'm fine. So what happened, they get tired of you back home?
Tired? No, don't be absurd. Why, the Emperor himself said I would only be allowed to leave over his dead body. I thought, "Well, how strange. Mr. Allan said I would only be allowed back onto Babylon 5 over his dead body." With my busy schedule I'm afraid I can only accommodate so many requests. I'm sorry, Mr. Allan, but I'm afraid you'll simply have to wait your turn! [he leaves]
The only reason that guy is still alive is that half the time I don't know what the hell he's talking about. The other half, I wish I didn't. But that's why it's important to check in on customs on a regular basis. [Bester now appears behind him, surrounded by three security guards.] You never know who's gonna walk in that–
Alfred Bester
Just a guess, Mr. Allan, but I'd suggest the word you're looking for is "door". Now, please notify the Captain that I'm here. I need to meet with him and the rest of the Command staff ASAP. I assume my usual quarters in the brig are available? I've grown so attached to the place.
For you, Mr. Bester? Always.
[Bester and his security escort move on.]
[sighs] You ever have one of those days?
Bester
Ms. Alexander has no business being here. She's a blip! By all rights, I should arrest her and take her back with me.
Oh, you could do that. And I could nail your head to the table, set fire to it, and feed your charred remains to the Pak'ma'ra. But...it's an imperfect world, and we never get exactly what we want. So get used to it!
[Bester confronts Lyta about her enhanced telepathic abilities.]
Bester
You've been keeping me out since I got here. A good question is, why? A better question is, how? I was thinking...I may have spoken rashly before. There may be some value in not turning you over. You're stronger than the last time I saw you.
Bester
Yes, but this is different. I can feel it. Whatever's happened to you, you have a moral obligation to share it with the Corps, Lyta. The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father.
In that case, Mr. Bester...I'm an orphan.
[Lyta demonstrates her telekinesis by "slapping" two of Bester's Psi Cops]
Alfred Bester
Not bad. Tell me, is that really telekinesis, or are you just pushing the nerve endings, making them feel as if they've been slapped? Either way, it's taken a lot out of you, Lyta. You're sweating, flushed. How many times can you do that, Lyta? Can you do just one at a time? Maybe two? How about three? How about a half dozen of us?
I don't know. Like you said, I'm new at this. I could even make a mistake. Maybe even pop a blood vessel in someone's head by accident by pushing too hard. Feel like playing the odds, Mr. Bester?
[Zack greets Bester in pretty much the same fashion as his predecessor.]
Don't you ever go away? Haven't you caused enough trouble for one lifetime?
Bester
It's a pleasure to see you too, Mr. Allan. Where can I find Captain Lochley? I should check in with her.
She's busy, you can check in with me. Card. [Bester hands over his identicard.] So what is it this time, Mr. Bester? Hunting out freedom fighters? Pulling wings off flies? Annexing the Sudetenland?
[Zack implies Bester had something to do with a dead body being dead.]
Bester
He was dead before we got here.
[to Bester] Yeah, they told me. But I never let the facts get in the way of a good grudge.
Bester
Oh, come on, doctor, we have a history here. Tell the truth. You don't want me here a second more than I want to be here.
Personally, no. But as a doctor I have to treat all of my patients equally. Even the annoying, self-righteous ones with self-important delusions of godhood.
Bester
Thank you. I feel far more at home now.
Babylon 5 · 626 quotes
