Prophecy is a poor guide to the future. You only understand it when the event's already upon you.
“Ceremonies of Light and Dark” · Season 3
In this episode: John Sheridan (4), Susan Ivanova (3), Londo Mollari (2), Michael Garibaldi (2), Lord Antono Refa (2), Delenn (1), Stephen Franklin (1), Marcus Cole (1)
[A funeral service for the pilots killed in the battle for Babylon 5]
In breaking away from Earth, we have begun a difficult and uncertain journey, and none of us can see its end. But our cause remains a just one. That truth honors and sanctifies our fallen comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might carry on the work that is ahead of us. We are gathered here today to honor their memory and their names.
Hamilton. Rodriguez. Spinelli. Singh. Osterman. Massey. Cooper. Kim. Indari. Nagashima. Lietz. Mankowski. [as she reads the names, a line of torpedoes files out of the docking ring, watched over by a squadron of Starfuries]
From the stars we came. To the stars we return, from now until the end of time. We therefore commit these bodies to the deep.
[Londo is disturbed by front-line reports of Centauri conflicts.]
Now, I have been studying these reports from the front lines. You'll note the plural form--lines. Is there anyone along our border with whom we are not currently at war?
We need room to expand.
Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts. Only the heir to the throne of the kingdom of idiots would fight a war on twelve fronts.
. . .
[Londo insists that Refa discontinue his association with Morden's "associates".]
RRefa
You walked away from the greatest power I have ever seen! And now you expect me to do the same? They are the key to my eventual rise to the throne! Why would I abandon them?
Because I have asked you. Because your loyalty to our people should be greater than your ambition. And because I have poisoned your drink.
[Lord Refa looks in astonishment at Londo]:
Yes...and it is very interesting poison. It comes in two parts. Both are harmless on their own. But when combined...quite lethal. The first settles into the bloodstream, and the intestinal walls. It stays there for years. Silent...dormant...waiting. When the other half of the poison enters your system the two meet, have a little party in your cardiovascular system...and suddenly, you are quite dead.
RRefa
Why? Why did you do this?
To guarantee your cooperation! And because sooner or later, you would do it to me! As we are returning to the old ways, Refa, and poison was always the instrument of choice in the old Republic, being something of a sentimentalist, I got here first.
[the command staff changes the access codes for the station's computer system]
This is Captain John J. Sheridan. Serial number XO7Y39-Alpha. Security code: obsidian.
This is Commander Susan Ivanova. Serial number Z48M27-Epsilon. Security code: griffin.
This is Chief Warrant Officer Michael Garibaldi. Serial number V17L98. Security code: peekaboo.
. . .
Peekaboo?
Would you have guessed it?
TThug
We don't talk to security. Why should we talk to you?
Because if you don't, then in five minutes, I will be the only person at this table still standing.
[the thug starts laughing]
Five minutes after that, I'll be the only person in this room still standing.
. . .
[after Marcus clears out the bar]
Bugger! Now I have to wait for someone to wake up!
[he is approached from behind by Lennier, who almost gets hit]
I would advise against it. [looks at the wreckage] I see they trained you well back home.
Well, they said I was carrying around a lot of repressed anger.
And?
I'm not repressed anymore!
[Marcus squeezes information out of a reluctant lurker.]
MMarcus
You see? It's like I've always said: "You can get more with a kind word and a two-by-four than you can with just a kind word."
paraphrased from Al Capone, "You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone."
[Sheridan pounds on the Nightwatch member who knifed Delenn.]
No more! No more of you! No more Nightwatch, no more hostages, no more lies! Not on my station! Not on my watch! No more!
[one last big punch]
No more!
[Londo insists that Refa discontinue his association with Morden's "associates".]
You walked away from the greatest power I have ever seen! And now you expect me to do the same? They are the key to my eventual rise to the throne! Why would I abandon them?
Because I have asked you. Because your loyalty to our people should be greater than your ambition. And because I have poisoned your drink.
[Lord Refa looks in astonishment at Londo]:
Yes…and it is very interesting poison. It comes in two parts. Both are harmless on their own. But when combined…quite lethal. The first settles into the bloodstream, and the intestinal walls. It stays there for years. Silent…dormant…waiting. When the other half of the poison enters your system the two meet, have a little party in your cardiovascular system…and suddenly? You. Are. Quite. Dead. Your drink contained the first half of the poison.
RRefa
Why? Why did you do this?
To guarantee your cooperation! And because sooner or later, you would do it to me! Yes, we are returning to the old ways, Refa, and poison was always the instrument of choice in the old Republic. Being something of a sentimentalist, I got here first.
RRefa
What do you want me to do?
You have encouraged that fool Cartagia to attack worlds that have no value to us. You will now encourage him otherwise. You will bolster our lines of defense around Centauri Prime. And you will have nothing more to do with Mr. Morden. If you do not comply, one of my agents in the royal palace will introduce you to the second half of the poison.
[he raises his glass and grins]
To your health, Lord Refa.
[as part of a rebirth ceremony, the command staff leave their Earthforce uniforms by Delenn's hospital bed and tell her a secret they have never revealed before]
When you were hurt, when you were in my arms, I was ready to kill that guy with my bare hands. I realized I have never told you how much I cared about you, how much you mean to me. I think it's time you knew that. I can no longer imagine my world without you in it. I don't know exactly when or how it happened. But I'm glad it did.
No one knows, but…I'm afraid all the time…what I might do if I let go.
I think I…loved…Talia.
I…think I have a problem.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Babylon 5 pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.