There are moments when we all become someone else, something other than what we are. It takes only a moment. But we spend the rest of our lives looking back at that moment in shame.
S5Objects at Rest
When I had to learn English, one of the most difficult words for me was "goodbye." There is no corresponding word for "goodbye" in Minbari. All our partings contain within them the possibility of meeting again: in other places, in other times, in other lives. So you will excuse me if I do not say "goodbye." Our souls are a part of this place. Our hopes, the foundation of our future. And we will pass this way, again.
S5Sleeping in Light
One time, we were walking through the Alien sector, and we heard this beautiful singing coming from the Pak'Ma'Ra's quarters.
They sing?
There's nothing in the literature about that.
Apparently they only ever do it once a year, during their religious period. And we were listening to this singing and I saw a tear run down Londo's face, and I said, "We should go, this is upsetting you." But he said no, and we stayed. After the singing was over he turned to me and said, "There are 49 Gods in our Pantheon, Vir. To tell you the truth I've never really believed in any of them. But if just one of them exists...then God sings with that voice."
A toast. To...absent friends. In memory still bright.
G'Kar.
Londo.
Lennier.
Mar--
Marcus.
[While Sheridan takes a last walk though the station.]
So you hear 'em too, huh?
Zack. Ha ha! What the hell are you doing here? I thought you went back to Earth.
Yeah, I did. Got bored. Re-upped about six months ago. I figured I'd be here 'til they turn the lights out.[N]
[whispering] Well...look at that...the sun's coming up...
[last lines of the series]
Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another. It changed the future...and it changed us. It taught us that we have to create the future, or others would do it for us. It showed us that we have to care for one another, because if we don't, who will? And that true strength sometimes comes from the most...unlikely places. Mostly though, I think it gave us hope--that there can always be new beginnings...even for people like us.
As for Delenn, every morning for as long as she lived, Delenn got up before dawn and watched the sun come up.
. . .
INISN newscaster
And now, for those of you that have been archiving this ISN Special Documentary, the people responsible.
[single frame stills of department-crews; then a shot of the whole crowd]
Funding for this program was made possible by grants from the Anla'shok Memorial Fund.
Films
Babylon 5 films are listed in chronological order within the fictional universe's storyline.
You know, Londo never liked the Pak'ma'ra. They're stubborn, lazy, obnoxious, greedy—
They kinda look like an octopus that got run over by a truck.
That too! But one day, Londo and I were walking past their quarters, and we heard them…singing.
Singing? They can sing?
There's nothing in the literature about that.
Apparently, it's something they only do certain times of the year as part of their religious ceremonies. You may not believe this, but, it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. I-I-I couldn't make out the words, but I knew it was full of sadness and hope and wonder and a terrible…sense of loss. I-I looked at Londo, and, this is the amazing part…there was a tear running down his face. I said, "Londo, we-we should leave. I mean, this is upsetting you." And he just stood there and listened. And when it was over, he turned to me and he said, "There are 49 gods in our pantheon, Vir. To tell you the truth, I never believed in any of them. But if only one of them exists, then God sings with that voice." It's funny. After everything we had been through…all he did? I miss him.
A toast. To…absent friends. In memory still bright.
G'Kar.
Londo.
Lennier.
Mar—
Marcus.
[Opening credits voiceover.]
It was the dawn of the third age of mankind, ten years after the Earth/Minbari war. The Babylon Project was a dream given form. Its goal: to prevent another war by creating a place where humans and aliens could work out their differences peacefully. It's a port of call, home away from home for diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanderers. Humans and aliens wrapped in two million, five hundred thousand tons of spinning metal, all alone in the night. It can be a dangerous place, but it's our last best hope for peace. This is the story of the last of the Babylon stations. The year is 2258. The name of the place is Babylon 5.
Babylon 5: In the Beginning
It is said that the future is always born in pain. The history of war is the history of pain. If we are wise what is born of that pain matures into the promise of a better world. Because we learn that we can no longer afford the mistakes of the past.
The humans, I think, knew they were doomed. But where another race would surrender to despair, the humans fought back with even greater strength. They made the Minbari fight for every inch of space. In my life, I have never seen anything like it. They would weep, they would pray, they would say goodbye to their loved ones and then throw themselves without fear or hesitation at the very face of death itself. Never surrendering. No one who saw them fighting against the inevitable could help but be moved to tears by their courage...their stubborn nobility. When they ran out of ships, they used guns. When they ran out of guns, they used knives and sticks and bare hands. They were magnificent. I only hope, that when it is my time, I may die with half as much dignity as I saw in their eyes at the end. They did this for two years. They never ran out of courage. But in the end...they ran out of time.
What are you doing here?
KKosh
Creating the future.
<Kosh stares into the area before them and a hologram flickers into view>
HDHologram Dukhat
If you are seeing this message, it is because I am dead. I entrust this message to the Vorlons to give it to the right person at the right time. They have come to us in secret and they say that this time, we will need allies. A particular race so far unknown to us, called humans. It is their hope that we find these humans and bring them into the battle on our side. The servants of the Shadows are gathering at Z'ha'dum. Their masters can not be far behind. Finish what I have started. Finish it.
Hey I have a message for you. I have a message. I know what is in Dukat's sacred place. omph!
MSMinbari Soldier
Silence! <Striking Sheridan>
I know what is in Dukat's sacred place. omph!
Stop! What is... in Dukat's sacred place?
Entilzah. Entilzah!
Let them go.
MSMinbari Soldier
Satah?
I said, let them go. There has been enough blood spilled this day.
<Soldiers cut the prisoner's bonds>
Entilzah. What does that mean?
The future.
I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do.
<The Vorlons are silent. After seeing she isn't going to receive an answer, Delenn turns to leave>
KKosh
The truth, points to itself.
What?
KKosh
The truth,... points to itself.
I...I don't understand.
UUlkesh
You will. Now go.
KKosh
Go now. Before it is too late.
EPEarth President
This is...This is the president. I have just been informed that our midrange military bases at Beta Colony and Proxima 3 have fallen to the Minbari advance. We have lost contact with Io and must conclude that they too have fallen to an advanced force. Our military intelligence believes that Minbari intend to bypass Mars and hit Earth directly, and the attack may come at any time. We have continued to broadcast our surrender and a plea for mercy, and they have not responded. We therefore can only conclude that we stand at the twilight of the Human race. In order to buy more time for our evacuation transports to leave Earth, we ask for support of every ship capable of fighting, to take part in a defense of our homeworld. We will not lie to you. We do not believe survival is a possibility. We believe that anyone who joins this battle, will never come home again. But for every ten minutes we can delay the military advance, several hundred more civilians may have a chance to escape to neutral territory. Though Earth may fall, the Human race must have a chance to continue elsewhere. No greater sacrifice has ever been asked of a people, but I ask you now, to step forward one last time–one last battle to hold the line against the night!... May God...go with you all.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Babylon 5 pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.