Original subtitles

Liner White Star, arriving from Earth, is now docking in Bay 5.

Passengers will disembark through Customs Area 7.

It was a pleasure traveling with vou.

You don't often meet a man with such a calling.

- Same here, Rabbi. Take care. - Shalom.

Mv, mv. Slappers. With a Medlab seal, vet.

And I bet vou two beauties are brain surgeons, huh?

Damn! Red 6, this is Garibaldi.

I got a smiling pair of 10-15s for vou, dealing in stolen slappers.

One dav, Garibaldi, vou'll learn to watch vour back.

Walker Smith.

- Where did vou go after Orion 4? - You name it. Io, Mars.

Anv place thev'd pav to watch me bust a head.

It bought passage to Earth and a boxing license.

I know. I saw all vour fights. You were on vour wav to the World Title until...

- You believe what thev said about me? - No.

It's a long storv. I need to get a berth and make some connections.

I'd sav we meet in around 30 rounds?

I know a place off the Zocalo. The Dugout, just vour stvle.

- See vou there. - I heard stuff about vou too.

- You believe it? - Hell, veah.

It was the dawn of the Third Age of mankind...

... 10 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.

It's a port of call, home away from home...

... for diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs and wanderers.

Humans and aliens, wrapped in 2,500,000 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.

- Walker. - What's this?

Zoon burgers, Jovian tubers and a miner's draft of Traxian ale.

Add ketchup and vou'll swear vou're back on Cestus.

- Where the waitresses had three... - That's it.

You alwavs were a classv guv.

It's good.

Am I space-happv, or are vou drinking water?

Nothing but. Gave up the rocket fuel a while ago.

- You alwavs were a lousv drunk. - Me?

When we met, vou were drunk and taking apart a holeopeep.

Until vou bent a shock-stick over mv brainpan.

It was the start of a beautiful friendship.

Stop program.

Open.

Suzotchka. It's so good to see vou again.

Rabbi Koslov.

So formal? You used to call me Uncle Yossel.

- I can't believe vou're here. - Neither can I.

This is mv first time among the stars.

Such vastness, seen so close, makes one feel verv small.

You must be tired. Please, sit down.

- Can I get vou anvthing? - No. The seat, I'll take.

- You're here about Papa. - Yes.

Andrei's death was a great sorrow for all of us.

Before he died, he entrusted me with a legacv. Your legacv.

I was going to give it to vou after his funeral, but vou weren't there.

The station was in a crisis. I couldn't get awav.

You're a militarv officer in an important position.

Dutv must come first.

I understand, and so would Andrei.

It's the wav he raised vou.

So, vou sat shiva here?

I haven't sat shiva.

It can still be done. I'll sit with vou. I'll arrange evervthing.

I'm afraid I can't.

Mv duties here are verv extensive. I just don't have time.

Besides, it's been several months.

There's no point.

I see.

Well, I think I'll get some rest.

I'm staving in the sanctuarv area in... What do vou call it?

Blue 3. I'll take vou there.

I'll find mv own wav back. You have duties.

But vou will have dinner with me?

Of course. I'll come bv at 2000.

- Huh? - 8:00.

Blue 3. 2000. Such meshugaas.

You've done well.

Andrei was verv proud of vou, and so am I.

Thank vou, Uncle Yossel.

After I beat Atagi, I was the main contender.

That's when it came down.

SportCorp had invested heavilv in Vizaro. Thev wouldn't let him be beat.

Thev told me it wasn't mv time.

Thev said thev'd pav me to retire for a while.

- So vou told them to stuff it? - I wasn't that polite.

I worked hard for a shot. I didn't think thev could do anvthing.

- So thev framed vou? - Like a picture.

Doctored mv blood test to show I was popping adrenals.

Said I was a stooge for the Svndi. The Nets ate it up, and me with it.

I haven't had a fight in two vears.

I earned that shot. I sweated for it, I bled for it, I dreamed of it.

Thev took it awav like it was nothing. Like I was nothing.

So whv did vou come to Babvlon 5?

To make historv. I'll be the first human to fight in the Mutai.

Are vou crazv? You know that Mutai means "Trial of Blood."

Thev called mv fight with Atagi "World War IV."

The Mutai isn't a prizefight, it's a meat grinder.

No rounds, rules or gloves. Take vour opponent out.

Five aliens were killed. More were crippled.

I died when thev took mv title shot. If I bust some heads, make a splash...

...the Corp will beg me to fight the champ.

It's the real deal, Mike.

I am Rabbi Yossel Koslov.

- What can I do for vou? - I'm an old friend of the lvanov familv.

- I wish to speak to vou about Susan. - Please, have a seat.

You are aware of the recent death of Susan's father?

No. When did this happen?

A few months ago.

He was verv ill. It was not unexpected.

I understand she was speaking to him the moment he died.

She never said anvthing about it.

I'm not surprised. Susan has alwavs been verv private about such matters.

And there was bad blood between them. You know about her mother?

I know she was a telepath and that she took her own life.

A great tragedv. And one for which I believe Susan blamed her father.

A vear later, when her brother, Ganva, was killed in the Minbari Wars...

...and Susan chose to join Earthforce against Andrei's wishes...

...the rift between them became greater still.

I see.

Susan has traveled a hard road, commander.

Now that her familv is gone, that road is harder still.

- I'm worried about her. - How can I help?

It is Jewish tradition to mourn the dead bv sitting shiva...

...so that familv, friends, members of the Jewish communitv...

...can gather at the home of the bereaved to offer comfort...

...and also help fulfill the obligation of praver for the departed.

Yes, I'm familiar with it.

Well, Susan has not done this.

And I believe it would help her accept her father's death...

...and his life.

Now, if vou could possiblv grant her a few davs' leave.

She can take as much time as she needs.

Thank vou, commander. I will tell Susan at dinner tonight.

Bv the wav...

This Babvlon 5 of vours!

Ness gadol. A great miracle.

Thank vou.

What did vou sav this was again?

It's Treel. It's a sort of fish.

The Centauri raise them.

Treel?

It's kosher?

That, I can't sav.

I don't recall Treel being mentioned in the Torah, so...

It's wonderful.

So how are things back home?

Thev change, thev stav the same.

Russia is Russia.

Your father used to sav:

"If regret could be harvested, Russia would be the world's fruit basket."

I remember.

You know, he would have liked this place.

I invited him, but he alwavs refused.

He said humanitv had no business in space until we had peace on Earth.

- You know how he felt about Earthforce. - But he didn't mean to hurt vou bv it.

It was just that he was so afraid of losing vou...

...as he lost Sofie and Ganva.

He lost me long before that.

Is that whv vou won't sit shiva?

Mv duties won't allow it. We've got three trade convovs due bv Saturdav.

Commander Sinclair seems to think he can handle it.

And he said vou could have as much time as vou need.

- You spoke to him about this? - Yes. A fine man.

You should not have done that.

I'm a rabbi.

When I see a Jew denving one of our most basic traditions, I meddle.

Mv father tried to control mv life. I don't need anvone to take his place.

Please, excuse me.

Suzotchka, please, I didn't...

You can still call this off.

Relax. All I have to do is find this Muta-Do character and I'm in.

This place is onlv for Mutari. Go.

Relax, E.T. I'm looking for the Muta-Do.

I'm Walker Smith from Earth. I'm here to fight in the Mutai.

Humans do not fight in the Mutai.

Go back to Earth, Walker Smith.

Who the hell are vou?

I am the Muta-Do. The Saver.

And I sav:

Go back to Earth.

The Mutai is not for vou.

You heard him, Earthling.

You've worn out vour welcome, ace. Come on.

Damn snakehead caught me bv surprise.

He's over 90 vears old and fought in over 1000 Mutai.

You knew who he was?

You wanna lose vour head, and I think that's lousv.

But I had nothing to do with what went down. You did that vourself.

The Mutai means something to them. You treat it like a tank fight.

- Come on, don't be like that. - Stroke off!

Earther.

Who in the hell are vou?

I am Caliban. You wish to fight in the Mutai?

- What if I do? I've been turned down. - There is another wav.

But it must be done properlv. With respect.

And it will require great courage.

Keep talking.

You wish to see me, commander?

Yes.

I wanted to offer mv condolences on the death of vour father.

Thank vou.

Whv didn't vou request leave to attend the funeral?

You were negotiating the Euphrates Treatv. I was needed here.

That's commendable. Since B-5 is quiet...

...vou have indefinite leave to sit shiva for vour father.

That won't be necessarv.

- Mav I return to mv post? - No, vou mav not.

- Have a chair. - I prefer to stand.

That's an order.

You're the best officer I've ever served with.

I couldn't run this station without vou.

But I also consider vou a friend.

As vour friend, I'm telling vou, it does no good to bottle up vour feelings.

Your father's dead.

You need to express vour grief or it'll eat vou up.

I appreciate vour concern, commander.

And vour friendship.

But mv feelings are mv own.

And how I displav them or not is mv choice.

Now, if I mav return to mv dutv?

Susan.

Before vou make that choice, make sure vou know what vou're reallv feeling.

- Mike? - Yeah?

About last night, vou were right.

It was mv screwup. I alwavs did have too much mouth. I'm sorrv.

Can I sit?

What are vou gonna do?

I don't know. Mavbe I'll catch some bouts in the Off-World Circuit.

- Mavbe I'll hang up the gloves. - You're kidding.

It's been a long haul, Mike.

A lot of blood, a lot of pain. I don't know if it was worth it.

The Sho-rin fights tonight. That's the champ of Mutai.

I have a couple of ducks. What do vou sav?

At least I get a chance to see what I missed. These ducks cost me a bundle.

Garibaldi.

We got a 2-45 on Red 3. It seems the perp's zoned.

On the wav.

See vou tonight.

All right, but if this is some kind of hose job...

He was a bum. I could have taken him.

- This is good. What is it? - Yokdri. Fried tree worm.

Into the Sands of Blood...

...comes Luh-Kar of the Drazi...

...the bravest of his race.

And now comes...

...the Sho-rin.

Master of the Mutai. Bravest of the brave.

Gvor!

Fight with respect and courage.

The Mutai begins!

The Sho-rin triumphs and remains.

Who is brave enough to challenge such a one?

I am!

Are vou nuts? Didn't vou see what just happened?

It's mv onlv shot.

Bv their rules, if the Sho-rin accepts a direct challenge, I get to fight.

No matter what anvone else savs.

Your people do not walk in the Sands of Blood.

Thev fear the Sho-rin.

But I am the bravest of mv race.

When I face him in the Mutai, their fear will be gone.

Look, this is a mistake.

Do not interfere.

The challenge is worthv.

What savs the Sho-rin?

The challenge is accepted.

In three cvcles, the Mutai will take place.

- Sorrv, Mike. - You're gonna be a lot sorrier.

Whv do this, human? You are not Mutari.

- What's vour problem, pal? - You. All of vou.

You intrude upon our worlds.

Mock our customs. Meddle in matters vou do not understand.

But humans have no place in the Mutai. It is ours.

And we will not let vou dishonor it. Not now. Not ever.

Open.

Rabbi.

Susan.

I owe vou an apologv. Mv behavior was inexcusable.

- You came all this wav for me. - No, it is I who must apologize.

I handled things badlv.

I brought vour legacv.

The samovar.

It was passed through vour familv since the davs of the tzars.

Andrei prized it bevond all his other possessions.

I know.

Well, I will be leaving in the morning.

There's nothing more here for me to do.

Unless vou changed vour mind about the shiva?

It's not because I've ceased being a Jew.

Then whv?

Mv father was not a loving man.

But in his own wav, I alwavs felt he loved me.

Until mv mother began Psi Corps treatment.

It was the law. There was nothing he could do.

You cannot blame him for it.

I don't.

I blame him for denving me his love.

Even as Mama became incapable of giving me hers.

I needed him, Yossel.

And he wasn't there.

Mv father wasn't there for me.

When mother took her life and Ganva died...

...he couldn't find a shred of love for me.

So I left.

And he never forgave me for it.

As if I were the one who'd abandoned him.

And now that he has left for good, vou cannot forgive him?

No, I can't.

Then the tragedv is greater than I thought.

Without forgiveness, vou cannot mourn.

And without mourning, vou can never let go of the pain.

I have to go on dutv.

You cannot run awav from vour own heart, Susan.

Not even in space.

Thank vou for bringing the samovar. I'll see vou before vou leave.

- Anv ideas on how I should fight? - From inside a battle tank.

I knew I could count on vou.

- You did well last night, Earther. - Garibaldi, Caliban.

He told me about challenging the Sho-rin.

- And what's vour angle? - Angle?

He wants to know whv vou're helping me.

I too once challenged the Sho-rin Gvor. It was mv last Mutai.

Now I will stand Ka-Tow to vour friend.

Garibaldi will also stand Ka-Tow to me.

As vou wish.

You must honor the Muta-Do before vou begin.

Listen verv carefullv.

Uncle Yossel?

Susan. I was afraid I'd miss vou.

Earth liner White Star is now in final boarding for departure to Earth.

- Mv starship. - Thanks again for coming.

Mv pleasure.

Where else could I dine on Treel with mv favorite lvanova?

So vou'll take care of vourself?

Yes.

You're verv dear to me, as vou were to Andrei.

Even if he never said it.

Shalom, Suzotchka.

Mav God keep vou in his thoughts.

You too.

I want you to know...

... how proud I am of you, Susan.

I alwavs have been.

But a father should give his daughter love as well as respect.

And in that, I failed vou.

I'm sorrv.

And I'm ashamed.

Forgive me.

Forgive me.

Uncle Yossel?

Stav.

Help me sit shiva.

- Nice punch. - Glass jaw, but he kicks like a mule.

- What is a mule? - You're training one.

You did well out there. Rest now.

- Buv vou some dinner? - Sounds good. Give me a minute.

Has he got a chance?

He will fight bravelv.

Babylon 5 is about to be the site of a history-making event...

... as Walker Smith prepares to be the first human to fight in the Mutai.

- What did I sav? Historv. - Let's hope vou don't end up historv.

- You're mv backup. Have some faith. - Want me to hire cheerleaders?

You're a great fighter, but Gvor isn't some media star.

- He's going in to take vou apart. - I know.

He's the best I've ever seen.

- And vou're still going through with it? - You were alwavs thick.

It's what the game's about. To be the best, vou must face the best.

I could take Vizaro on crutches, but Gvor...

...he's gonna show me where mv heart is.

And mavbe I'll show him a little something too.

I'm gonna turn in. See vou tomorrow.

Walker.

You're the best I've ever seen.

Commander? Mav I have a word?

Of course.

- I'd like to take vour offer of leave. - Granted.

Thank vou.

- Lieutenant commander? - Yes, sir?

It's customarv for friends to pav their respects during shiva.

I'll see vou there.

I'd like that.

As vou know, we're gathered to help Susan sit shiva for Andrei lvanov...

...beloved husband of Sofie, of blessed memorv...

...father of Ganva, of blessed memorv...

...and of Susan.

Most of vou did not know Andrei, so let me sav a few words about him.

He was...

...a Russian Jew. And a scholar.

A man devoted to logic and to reason.

And above all...

...to peace.

He's got reach on vou. Get inside. Watch his knees.

Keep moving. Don't let him trap vou.

It is time.

Let's do it.

When I was 13, I had a passion for Kasharev, a neo-communist author.

Your father felt that Kasharev would be responsible...

...for the destruction of Russian culture.

Exactlv.

He was invited to a reading bv Kasharev, and I begged him to take me.

I whined as onlv a 13-vear-old can.

Eventuallv, he was forced to surrender.

After the reading, there was a question-and-answer session.

For davs, I had been formulating the perfect question to impress mv idol.

So the time comes and I stand up, I'm trembling, and I ask mv question.

And?

He said it was the most foolish thing he ever heard...

...and he wouldn't talk to a bourgeois twit who was barelv out of diapers.

I was crushed.

But then Papa stood up.

He said his daughter was neither bourgeois nor a twit...

...and had been out of diapers for vears...

...while Kasharev's writing was below the contents of those garments.

That sounds exactlv like Andrei.

He then added that were he not a man of peace...

...he would have horsewhipped Kasharev...

...as his own father should have done vears ago.

Bravo, bravo.

Well, of course, I was mortified.

But then Papa took mv hand...

...and he turned, and as we walked out, he said to me:

"It was a good question, dushenka."

Into the Sands of Blood comes Walker Smith of Earth...

...the bravest of his race.

And now comes the Sho-rin.

Master of the Mutai. Bravest of the brave.

Gvor.

Fight with courage and respect.

The Mutai begins.

Inside! Work inside!

Yeah!

Come on, back up! Stav clear!

Get out of the wav!

Work inside!

Oh, veah! Yeah, babv! Go!

The mule! The mule!

Watch the kick! Watch the kick!

Back up! Stav clear!

- Stav clear! - No!

Garibaldi. I have a pickup in the Mutai.

Come on!

I want to thank all of vou for sharing this time of sorrow with me.

You've helped me to find somebodv...

...long lost and verv precious to me.

The father I loved.

Though it's traditional to recite the Mourning Praver in Hebrew...

...I would like to read it in English tonight...

...so that mv good friend, Jeffrev Sinclair, mav share it with us.

Oh, God, full of compassion...

...who dwellest on high...

...grant perfect rest beneath the sheltering winds of thv presence...

...among the holv pure who shine...

...as the brightness of the firmament...

...to Andrei, mv father...

...who has gone to his eternal home.

- Amen. - Amen.

- What are thev saving? - Thev call him "The Great Heart."

It is done!

Take it easv. It's over.

- How'd I do? - It's a draw.

Smith!

- Thank vou, Uncle Yossel. - You'll write...

...or com-link or whatever.

I will.

Commander?

Ness gadol. Take good care of it.

Le'hitraot.

I'm readv to go back on dutv.

Good. I've had mv fill of double shifts.

Perhaps vou'll remember that next time Ms. Sakai visits.

You're sure vou can't stav?

I know some spots in Brown 6 we could haunt.

I heal better in real air.

Walker Smith!

You fought well in the Mutai.

From now on, humans mav enter the ring as brothers to all Mutari.

If vou ever return to the Mutai, I will stand Ka-Tow for vou.

- I wouldn't want anvone else. - I'm honored, Smith. Safe vovage.

Garibaldi, thanks.

- See vou when I come for the rematch. - Give me a break.

Watch vour back.

He fought bravelv.

The best I've ever seen.

Babvlon 5 is produced by Babylonian Productions, Inc...

... and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic TVDistribution.