Airdate: June 2, 1997
Episode # : 82
Production # : 416
Guest stars: Denise Gentile as Lise. Mark Scheidner as Wade. Efram Zimbalist, Jr. as William Edgars.
TEASER
Babylon 5
Commander Ivanova announces on a VOR broadcast that Sheridan's fleet has liberated the Beta Durani colony and a midrange military outpost. The fleet continues on its long march towards Earth.
Mars
Garibaldi VO's his return to Mars. Wade rides with Garibaldi, and tells him that if Garibaldi wants to play with the big guys, he has to play by the big guys' rules. Wade gives him a blindfold, and orders Garibaldi to put it on. Garibaldi refuses, but eventually accepts the fact that he has to put it on in order to meet Edgars. Wade tells Garibaldi that putting on the blindfold shouldn't be a big deal, especially since Mr. Edgars went through so much trouble to clear Garibaldi to get on Mars.
Wade: "The average guy would be very grateful, wouldn't want to cause Mr. Edgars any more trouble."
Garibaldi: "I'm not your average guy."
Garibaldi continues to think to himself
Garibaldi: "Mars, I can't believe. . . I'm back on Mars."
Medlab
Dr. Franklin experiments on a telepath, who is no longer frozen. He attempts to bypass the Shadow technology and restore the human teep's senses. He doesn't have any luck, and his temper is short. Zack enters and asks Franklin if he's had any luck. Franklin reports that he hasn't been able to bypass the technology, that every time he revives a telepath, they're immediately hostile. Franklin is frustrated because Sheridan wants as many teeps awake as soon as possible, and won't tell Franklin why.
Lyta enters Medlab. Zack wants her to scan someone in a criminal investigation.
Lyta: "I can't scan a suspect in a criminal investigation, Zack. You know that. It's a violation of due process."
Zack: "Relax, it's the victim who wants to be scanned. "
Lyta agrees to the scan. Zack leaves, Lyta looks at the unconscious teep. She hears a Shadow scream. Suddenly, the teep wakes up. Franklin calls out to her and she loses her concentration. The teep collapses to the floor. Franklin smiles very slightly.
Mars
Garibaldi and Lise meet for the first time since his return to Mars. She is not very happy about Garibaldi being on Mars.
Lise: "You shouldn't have come. Not now."
Garibaldi argues that he has a right to meet his employer. Lise says that William is busy, and isn't available. Edgars enters and excuses Lise. Garibaldi and Edgars discuss the reasons for Garibaldi's return to Mars.
Edgars: "I said I'd ask you to come when the time was right. You insisted on seeing me now. Why?"
Garibaldi: "Because I've been tired of not being able to see the face of my employer. And I want to know what I'm getting past B5 customs. And because I want to stop Sheridan's war with Earth."
Neither Garibaldi nor Edgars trust President Clark, and agree he must be removed. However, they both agree that Sheridan's way is not the right way to do it. Garibaldi says he's afraid that Sheridan's war will tear Earth apart. Garibaldi won't turn Sheridan over to Clark because Clark would kill him. However, he would turn him over to Edgars because he would get Sheridan the proper treatment. Edgars wants to know what's in it for him. Garibaldi replies that Edgars would get to be the hero, and a lot of people would owe him, big time. Edgars could even be the next person to occupy the presidency.
Edgars: "It's an intriguing proposition, Michael. Let me think about it. You're halfway to the truth. I have to decide whether or not to bring you the rest of the way. But then, I won't do anything until I know that I can trust you. And, I imagine, you won't do anything until you know you can trust me. It's going to be a very interesting weekend, Mr. Garibaldi."
Mars
Wade shows Garibaldi to his quarters. Small.
Garibaldi: "When do I get to see Mr. Edgars again?"
Wade: "When he sends for you"
Garibaldi: "Which is when?"
Wade: "Which is 5 minutes after he sends for me to send for you. Goodnight Mr. Garibaldi. Try not to touch anything."
Babylon 5
Franklin asks Lyta how she woke up the telepath in Medlab. She replies that she heard the scream of a Shadow vessel and instinctively made it go away, and that is when the human teep woke up. Franklin asks her to help him in his research. Lyta balks at first, but then agrees to Franklin's proposal to help fellow blips who escaped the Psi-Corps.
Mars
Several masked men break into Garibaldi's quarters. They force him into a room. A telepath sits at a table and observes Garibaldi. Edgars' voice comes over a speaker system. He asks Garibaldi several questions, regarding how Garibaldi feels about telepaths, if he sincerely wants to help Edgars abduct Sheridan, if he remembers what happened after he left Babylon 5 at the beginning of the year, and if he is still in love with Lise. Garibaldi answers the questions coldly. Edgars dismisses Garibaldi.
Edgars (to telepath) "Thank you, Ms. Constance. Mr. Wade will see to your payment."
Edgars' residence
Edgars enters his home, meets Lise. Lise asks how things went, and if Garibaldi mentioned her. Edgars says that things went well, and Garibaldi didn't mention her. He thinks that Garibaldi has put everything behind him.
Room
Ms. Constance picks up her things and prepared to leave. Wade enters, pulls a PPG, and fires.
Medlab
Franklin and Lyta discuss the procedure they will use to attempt to revive the human teeps. Franklin says that he will monitor the telepath's brain waves and that he will try to synthesize those brainwaves to revive the teeps without Lyta's assistance. He hopes that he can revive them without their becoming hostile and violent. Lyta starts her telepathic probe into the teep's mind. Franklin reads off physiological effects, and reminds Lyta to push more slowly. The telepath on the bed slowly wakes up and sees a vision of aliens performing surgery on him. He jumps out of the bed and grabs Franklin by the neck.
Franklin: "It's alright. We're nto going to hurt you."
Telepath: "The machines are gone?"
Franklin: "Yes, the machines are gone. The Shadow vessels are gone. They're not going to hurt you anymore."
The teep throws Franklin to the floor and grabs a surgical instrument. He tries to kill himself. Lyta blocks his thoughts and prevents him from killing himself. She then puts him back in his coma.
Mars
Garibaldi meets Edgars in the morning. After the usual pleasantries, Edgars describes a future in which telepaths control Earth, and normals are second rate citizens. The Psi-Corps would wage a war of information against normals. Privacy would disappear, and fear would spread everywhere. The telepaths would have the power to control Earth. Garibaldi thinks that the telepaths wouldn't stand a chance against normals because there aren't enough telepaths to wage war against normals. Edgars insists that it isn't a war of arms that would occur. He says that telepaths would be able to get inside people's minds, and once they have taken off their Psi-Corps badges, they would be indistinguishable from normals. The teeps have to do with Sheridan because Clark, if pushed any further by Sheridan, will sign over unprecedented power to the Psi-Corps. The telepaths, once given nearly infinite power, would be unwilling to relinquish the power once Clark is gone. They would then be in control of Earth. Edgars goes on to say that Clark, with the help of aliens, eliminated President Santiago because Santiago was in the way of Clark's power quest. Edgars says that he and the other mega corporations will be able to push Clark out of power without having to allow the telepaths to take ultimate power.
Edgars: "Clark still thinks he's in charge. The mega corporations have been running things for years. We let people think they still have a voice. We let Clark have his way because we didn't see this telepath thing coming until it was too late. Now, it's a threat to our business interests and we'll fix it in our own way. We just need a little more time to make this work. We're going to change the world, Mr. Garibaldi. I hope you'll work with me. "
Edgars leaves for breakfast, leaving a disturbed Garibaldi in his wake.
Space
Sheridan's rather large fleet moves through normal space. Many White Star class ships and several former Earth Force ships constitute the fleet. Ivanova contacts Sheridan on his White Star.
Ivanova: "Clark sent over a couple destroyers this morning to try to weaken our defenses. They defected once they got over here."
Sheridan: "Any more defections and this war is going to be really one sided."
Ivanova also reports that Delenn has finished her work on Minbar and is returning to the station. She should arrive in a few days.
Sheridan: "Good. Anything else?"
Ivanova: "Nope. All quiet on the Epsilon front."
Sheridan asks Ivanova to transfer him over to Medlab so he can talk to Dr. Franklin. Sheridan asks Stephen how much progress has been made. Franklin reports he has an idea on how to revive the telepaths, but it's complex and confusing. He is still frustrated, and demands why he has to have them up soon. Sheridan decides to tell him.
Sheridan: "Stephen, I've asked some hard things from you in the past, but this may be the hardest. I don't think you're going to like it, but I don't think we have much choice. "
Later, Franklin exits Medlab and Lyta approaches him. Franklin is obviously whacked by what Sheridan just told him. Franklin tells Lyta that he never expected Sheridan to say what he just said, but knows it's the right thing to do. Clearly, Franklin's faith in Sheridan has been rattled. Franklin asks Lyta if she is available for a long term job, then tells her to pack.
Lyta: "Where are we going?"
Franklin: "Mars."
Mars
Lise brings Garibaldi something to eat in his quarters. Garibaldi confronts her and asks why she is with Edgars. They have a long, heated discussion. Lise says that after her previous husband left her, she had nothing to live on. Edgars was kind to her, and most importantly, he was always there, unlike Garibaldi.
Lise: "Would you have left Babylon 5 and come to Mars for me?"
Garibaldi: "I don't know."
Lise: "That's what it is. I'm getting too old for 'I don't know' Michael."
Hospital
Wade looks over several telepaths lying on beds. They are covered by oxygen tents. Edgars enters. He tells Wade that they are at a critical stage. Edgars stits beside a telepath and puts his hand on the teep's forehead.
Wade: "I wish you wouldn't."
Edgars: "It's all right. It's a horrible thing to die alone, Wade. We can afford a little compassion. He can't infect me. How long has he been off the drug?"
Wade: "Five days."
Edgars: "Symptoms are occurring faster than before."
Edgars (to teep): "I know it hurts. It's part of the process. I can only tell you that it'll be over soon."
Edgars steps away from the teep, and tells Wade to put them all down, out of their misery.
Edgars: "There's enough pain in the universe already. Let's not add to it until we have to."
Mars
Garibaldi walks in on Edgars relaxing.
Garibaldi: "I've been thinking about a lot of things."
Edgars: "Where have your thought brought you?"
Garibaldi: "You told me to tell you when I've decided I'm in all the way. I've decided. I'm in."
Edgars: "I'm pleased to hear that."
Garibaldi: "Now, the rest."
Edgars: "Saying you've decided and demostrating your sincerity are two different things."
Garibaldi: "Alright. So how do I prove I'm in all the way?"
Edgars: "Give me Sheridan."
Edgars assures Garibaldi that he won't kill Sheridan. Turning Sheridan over to Clark will make Clark feel safer and he will back off on giving the power to Psi-Corps. After that, Clark will go through the motions of a hearing. Before they execute Sheridan, Edgars' people will move in and rescue Sheridan.
Garibaldi: "You're asking a lot."
Edgars: "That's why we approached you in the first place. You know him better than most people. And you recognize the threat he represents. We have to take him out of the picture. You know it, and I know it. And now, it's time. If you're sincere, then prove it. If not, we have nothing more to talk about."
Garibaldi: "You get to Sheridan through his father."
Edgars: "Nobody knows where he is. Clark's people have been turning Earth upside down and haven't been able to find him."
Garibaldi: "They can't, but I can. His father has a rare blood disease. It requires that he take regular injections of Tenasticen. "
Edgars: "That's a Centauri drug. We provide it to a number of hospitals back home. Very rare. Very expensive."
Garibaldi: "That's right, it'll be easy to track. Wherever he goes he has to keep taking the medicine. My guess is that he didn't have enough time to buy up a lot of it before he went into hiding. And he probably has a friend handling the prescription. It won't be hard to find a bogus entry and the med records. If you get him, you get Sheridan."
Edgars: "We still need someone to set him up and bring him in. "
Garibaldi: "I'll do that."
Edgars: "Are you sure?"
Garibaldi: "I'm sure. I'll head back to the Dome tomorrow and start setting things up.
Edgars: "You're doing the right thing, Michael. I hope you can understand that."
Garibaldi leaves.
Garibaldi rides through a transport tube back to the Dome. He doesn't feel anything anymore. He only knows that he cares for Lise. He hopes Sheridan can understand that it has to be done.
