Airdate: June 16, 1997
Episode # : 84
Production # : 418
Guest stars: Wayne Alexander as Drazi, Raye Birk as William and Bruce Gray as Interrogator.
TEASER
Interrogation Room
Captain Sheridan lies on a cold, metal floor. He sees flashbacks of Garibaldi setting him up. Ivanova warning him. Himself ignoring Ivanova's warnings. The fight at the bar.
An interrogator enters. Several Earthforce guards bring in a table and two chairs, one of which has straps and shackles: obviously meant for the captain.
Interrogator: "Do you have any allergies or illnesses I should know about? Are you currently taking any medication? Have you had any problems with your heart? When I ask a question, you will respond at once. You will not hesitate, you will not consider, you will not lie. Cooperation will be rewarded, resistance will be punished. Do you understand?"
Sheridan slowly gets up and charges the interrogator. A band around Sheridan's neck glows and Sheridan is knocked down to the floor.
Interrogator: "Paingivers. We bought them from the Narns during the war. If you come within 3 feet of me you will be injured, if you come within 2 feet of me you will be rendered unconscious. Do you understand? I am not the enemy. I am simply here to do a job. You are a name, a file, a case number."
Sheridan: "Why are you here?"
Interrogator: "To ensure your cooperation. Do you understand?"
Guards enter and force Sheridan into the chair. Hand and foot shackles snap closed around him.
Interrogator: "There's no need to go through all of this just to see if you have a grasp of English. Do you understand?"
Sheridan nods.
Interrogator: "Now, do you have any allergies or illnesses I should be aware of? Are you currently taking any medication? Have you had any problems with your heart?"
Sheridan: "No."
Interrogator: "Good. Now, we can begin."
Interrogation Room
Sheridan sits alone in the chair. Two bright lights shine in his face. The interrogator enters.
Sheridan: "It's not morning."
Interrogator: "And how do you know that?"
The interrogator says that the only light is artificial, and Sheridan couldn't possibly know what time it is outside. The interrogator places his jacket on his chair, pulls items from his briefcase and cleans his glasses.
Interrogator: "Which reminds me. . . "
The interrogator pushes a control and electric current passes through Sheridan. He screams.
Interrogator: ". . . Never contradict me."
The interrogator looks at some paperwork as Sheridan looks on. The interrogator checks his watch.
Interrogator: "Oh, my. Look at the time."
He begins eating a sandwich. The interrogator continues looking through the paperwork, notices that Sheridan has never seemed political. . .until now.
Interrogator: "Unless you have been under the influence of outsiders, is that a fair thing to say?"
Sheridan: "No."
Interrogator: "Really? I find that most remarkable. I mean, aren't we all under the influence of others? Are you that far removed from other people? No matter, I'll put it down as your first fabrication."
The interrogator continues eating his sandwich.
Interrogator: "Would you like some? I know that haven't fed you since you got here, that's been at least two days. Besides, it's lunchtime. Isn't it? Isn't it lunchtime?"
Sheridan: "You just said good morning."
Interrogator: "But how can it be morning if I'm eating lunch? You can't have a corned beef sandwich for breakfast, it'll upset your stomach. If it's morning you can't have it. If it's lunchtime, you can. Is it lunchtime?"
Sheridan: "I'm sure it's lunchtime somewhere"
The interrogator gives Sheridan the sandwich. Sheridan starts to bite into it but pauses.
Interrogator: "I ate half of that myself. Killing you does nobody any good. I told you, I'm here to ensure your cooperation and I can't do that if you're dead."
Sheridan quickly devours the sandwich.
The interrogator explains that the truth is fluid, negotiable, subjective. The Minbari used to be the enemy, now they are allies. Captain Sheridan used to live for Earthforce, now he fights Earthforce. Not only did Sheridna accept the Minbari as allies, but he took one of them as a lover.
Interrogator: "Sometimes, the truth is what you believe it to be and at other times what you decide it to be. My task is to make you decide to believe differently."
Sheridan: "Not a chance."
Interrogator: "A soldier accepts that the face of truth changes on a daily basis. "
Sheridan thanks the interrogator for the sandwich. The interrogator puts his things away.
Interrogator: "You know, about that sandwich, captain. It's a funny thing about toxins. I've always felt that if you eat a little posion everyday you get used to it, until you can swallow large amounts of it with no difficulty whatsoever. I've always thought that was a metaphor, for what, I don't know. The contents of the sandwich won't kill you, as I said, they want you alive for now. The toxins will begin to have their desired effects in a few minutes. I'll be back when they've had a chance to clean the place up."
Interrogation Room
Sheridan is lying on the floor, sick and aching. The interrogator enters.
Interrogator: "It must have been a rough night. I'm sorry I had to do that. But, they don't listen to me. Actually, they listen to both of us. My superiors randomly monitor all of the interrogation rooms throughout the day. Anyway, you're dehydrated. This'll help."
The interrogator pours water into a small cup, offers it to Sheridan.
Interrogator: "Captain, I've told you the truth since the moment I came in, and now I'm telling you that this is safe. I'd recommend drinking in small sips, to start with. We don't want a repeat of what happened last night, now do we?"
The interrogator allows Sheridan to drink the water, and then asks him to sit in the chair, just so they can talk more easily. Sheridan slowly gets to his feet and makes his way to the chair. He sits down, and manacles close around his feet.
Interrogator: "Just so you don't hurt yourself. By the way, I should mention your father, sends his regards."
Sheridan: "Than he's alive?"
Interrogator: "Alive, and well."
Sheridan: "Why are you telling me this?"
Interrogator: "Why not? I told you, I have no vested interest in helping or harming you, so long as the job gets done. Thank you would be an appropriate response."
Sheridan: "Thank you."
Interrogator: "I imagine we'll only hold him as long as we hold you. But as long as you continue to resist we can't let him go. You've been interrogated before?"
Sheridan: "Yes."
Interrogator: "Anyone I know?"
Sheridan: "You'd be surprised."
Interrogator: "In case you don't know the rules, let me explain them to you. This is your confession. It goes on in some length, so let me summarize for you. You plead guilty to charges of sedition, mutiny, conspiracy to commit mutiny, willful destruction of Earth property. . . "
Sheridan: "NO!!!"
Interrogator: "You will walk through that door after you confess and not one second before!"
Interrogation Room
The interrogator enters, bids Sheridan good morning. The Earthforce guards bring in a Drazi captive. The Drazi is weeping and in pain. The interrogator sets up a recorder.
Interrogator: "Now, tell me what you told one of our other interrogators last night."
The Drazi confesses into the recorder that he, along with others, was responsible for manipulating Sheridan into attempting to overthrow Earthgov. He states that Commander Ivanova, Ambassador Delenn, and Senator Ross Fowler (who is not involved, but recently has become a source of annoyance to the president) helped him manipulate Sheridan.
Sheridan pleads with the Drazi not to give in to the interrogators. It hurts on the outside, but as long as they don't break inside, they can beat the system.
Drazi: "I refuse to cooperate any further. I have nothing more to say."
Interrogator: "Are you sure? Do you understand that this is your last chance? Do you understand that this is your very last chance?"
Drazi: "Yes."
The EF guards roll in a gurney and strap the Drazi to it. The interrogator orders them to take him to Room 17.
The interrogator continues questioning Sheridan about Ivanova and the Resistance.
Interrogator: "If you could provide me with, say, 3 or 4 names, it would be most helpful."
As the interrogator speaks, the lights dim and the Drazi screams. The lights come back on.
Interrogator: "I'm sorry we had to do that. But, as I said, it's not my decision. "
The interrogator packs his things and turns on a recording. The recording states over and over that Sheridan will "cooperate with the state. . . "
Interrogator: "Good night."
Interrogation Room
The recording is still on. The interrogator enters, bids Sheridan good morning. He turns off the recording and removes an IV drip from Sheridan's chair. He warns that without further cooperation, there will be no further intravenous nutrition. He puts the confession in front of Sheridan. If Sheridan signs, he'll be free to go about his business, feel the sun on his face, travel. Sheridan is starving and exhausted, it would be so simple.
Interrogator: "As I said, I won't lie to you. They will come for you, in the future, at night. It will be quick. But in the meantime, you'll have your freedom. If anything, they'll encourage you to travel so that more people can see you as the symbol of the preeminent truth of the time: that you can't beat the system. Just sign this piece of paper and say a few words and you can leave."
Sheridan looks up, sees an image of Delenn behind the interrogator. She is obviously worried about him.
Interrogator: "It's really that simple."
Sheridan looks back at the interrogator, Delenn is gone. The interrogator pushes a control, Sheridan's arm bands are released.
Interrogator: "I know you can do it."
Sheridan sits up, and spits on the confession.
Interrogator: "I really wish you hadn't done that, captain. I sincerely wish you hadn't done that. I. . . I have no control over what will happen next. It's out of my hands."
The interrogator leaves, Sheridan shuts his eyes.
Interrogation Room
The interrogator storms into the interrogation room.
Interrogator: "Right. Now listen to me! Wake up! There's something you've got to understand. Do you know why they're doing this to you? Because you're a war hero. Because you're one of the few who came out of the Minbari War.They've invested a considerable amount of time and effort making you a hero in the public's eye. The problem is that when a war hero starts believing certain things and saying certain things, the public listens. They figure maybe there's something to it. Your credibility has become a threat to their credibility. So one of them has to go. The best way out for everyone is for you to confess and lay the blame for what's happened at the feet of the alien governments. Whether it's true or not, it doesn't matter. Truth is immaterial: they can sell it and they will let you live. No, I said it was the best way, I didn't say it was the only way. The other way, captain, is a posthumous confession. Your signature is not a problem, they have your image on file. They can create you reading the confession. Now that's not as good as having you out there where people can see you so they know it's true that even you can be broken, you cannot resist. With a video record there will always be doubt. It's not the same as breaking you, but as of this morning, I'm told that it is an acceptable option. I can save your life if you'll let me. "
Sheridan: "You know, it's funny. I was just thinkiing about what you said. The preeminent truth of our age is that you cannot fight the system. But if, as you say, the truth is fluid, the truth is subjective, then maybe you can fight the system. As long as just one person refuses to be broken, refuses to bow down."
Interrogator: "But can you win?"
Sheridan: "Every time I say no."
Interrogator: "Captain John Sheridan, will you or will you not sign a confession and endorse it before a public hearing?"
Sheridan: "No."
The interrogator activates the door and several guards roll in a gurney. Sheridan is strapped to it.
Interrogator: "Do you understand that this is your last chance? Do you understand that this is your very last chance?"
Sheridan ignores him.
Interrogator: "Room 17."
The guards wheel him down a hallway. A voice is heard over the PA system reading last rites as Sheridan is being wheeled down the hall. He sees doors at the end of the hallway with a strong light eminating from them. The light grows stronger, and he sees another image of Delenn in the light, looking at him.
Sheridan is brought into a room that looks exactly like that one he just left. The guards leave. A hooded figure dresses in executioner's robes stands a few deet away. He leaves. Guards reenter, pull Sheridan off of the gurney and place him in a chair. They reassemble the gurney into a table and bring in another chair. A new interrogator enters, followed by the hooded figure.
Interrogator: "Good morning. Before we begin your interrogation, I'll need some information. Do you have any allergies or illnesses I should be aware of? Are you currently taking any medication? Have you have any trouble with your heart?"
The hooded figure slowly removes his hood, revealing himself to be the Drazi "captive." The Drazi smiles and bows to Sheridan.
Interrogator: "You will answer my questions when asked. Resistance will be punished, cooperation will be rewarded. Do you have any allergies or illnesses I should be aware of? Are you currently taking any medication? Have you had any trouble with your heart? You will answer my questions when they are asked. Resistance will be punished, cooperation will be rewarded. Do you have any allergies or illnesses I should be aware of? Are you currently taking any medication? Have you had any trouble with your heat? You will answer my questions when they are asked. Cooperation will be rewarded, resistance will be punished. . . "
