CRUSADE
Remembrance
Written by Martin A. Stihec
Featuring Transcripted Material Previously Written by Peter David & J. Michael Straczynski TEASER
FADE IN:
BLANK SCREEN
SINCLAIR (V.O.) Previously in the Babylon 5 universe.
FLASHBACK/MONTAGE
During the whole Teaser we show footage from Babylon 5, the tele-movies, Legand of the Rangers and Crusade - dealing with all plot developments from the Minbari war, to the arrival of the shadows, to the birth of the Rangers, to the telepath crisis to the realization that Sinclair is Valen. Everything.
END MONTAGE AND DISSOLVE TO.
BLANK SCREEN
SINCLAIR (V.O.) And now, one of the many continuations in that universe.
[pic] Matthew Gideon. Captain. Attached to the
Earth Alliance Starship Excalibur.
[pic]
To find a cure to the Drakh plague before
it wipes out all life on Earth.
[pic]
Anywhere I have to.
[pic]
No one.
CRUSADE
Starring
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[pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]
CREATED BY J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
REMEMBRANCE
Written by
Martin A. Stihec
Special Guest Stars
BRUCE BOXLEITNER as John Sheridan JEFF CONAWAY as Zack Allan
Special Guest Appearances By
JERRY DOYLE as Michael Garibaldi MIRA FURLAN as Delenn CLAUDIA CHRISTIAN as Susan Ivanova RICHARD BIGGS as Stephen Franklin STEPHEN FURST as Vir Cotto & MICHAEL O'HARE as Jeffrey Sinclair J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI as Shutdown Crewman
Guest Starring
JUANITA JENNINGS as Lieutenant Carr SCOTT MACDONALD as Peter Lochley BOB ELK as David Winters RAY BROCKSMITH as Coroner VALERIA GHIRAN as Lochley's Mother
Co-Starring LIZ SMITH as Sarah Lochley PAULA BROWN as Rose JULIE THOMPSON as Janey
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ACT ONE
FADE IN:
BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I was there at the dawn of the third age of mankind.
MONTAGE
Of material dealing with the Earth/Minbari war. Most of it from "In the Beginning." During this MONTAGE we change the images according to what Lochley is talking about, i.e. "we were losing the shadow war" - we SEE battles in which the shadows are victorious.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Ten years after the Earth/Minbari war.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the shadow war.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I can't speak for all who were present during the shadow war - I wasn't even in it. But from what I've been told, it was one hell of fight - a fight that it looked like we were losing. Losing, that is, until man named John Sheridan, my former husband, came back from the dead and stood up to the shadows. I don't know exactly what he said to them but whatever it was it made them retreat so far that they fell back behind the rim.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with Earth's civil war.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Then came Earth's civil war. Now this one I was in - albeit on the losing side, as usual. When I look back at some of the orders my fellow officers were faced with - ones that I was fortunate enough not to get, I can't help but wander whether I would have done the same things they had done. At the time I thought we were fighting for Earth. That an order is an order and if you didn't follow it then you were committing mutiny. I guess I still do.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the founding of the Alliance.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Shortly after the war, the Alliance was founded by a Minbari called Delenn - of the house of Mir, and lead by John Sheridan - remember him? He's the guy I married who came back from the dead. Anyway, this is where I really came into the fold; I was assigned - personally by President Sheridan, to take command of Babylon 5. When I first got there I would have never guessed it to be the place where I'd serve for the next fifteen years! God, I don't even know how I survived the first year - I think I blocked most of it out.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the Drakh war - most of it will have to be shot from scratch.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Then, more or less directly after the Alliance's brief conflict with the Centauri, the Drakh war began - subtlety at first, but they were always there, hiding in the shadows. It wasn't until years later that a connection between the Drakh and the Centauri war was discovered. The Drakh had taken over the Centauri and used their race as a front for their plans of conquest.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the Drakh infecting Earth with the plague - all from "Call to Arms."
LOCHLEY (V.O.) As the years went by it started to look as though the Drakh had retreated from the battlefield and gone into hiding again... that is, until they tried to destroy Earth with one of the shadows' greatest weapons - a planetkiller. Again Sheridan managed to save the day. well sort of; we stopped the planetkiller, but the Drakh had a contingency plan and infected the Earth with a plague - the Drakh plague.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the riots on Earth and the Excalibur searching for a cure.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Leaving Earth with the grim knowledge that in five years everything will be gone. The Excalibur - an Alliance prototype starship was sent out into the deepest regions of space to find a cure. The plague threat itself was over in less than two years, but the repercussions it had caused would last for the next twenty years.
FADE TO. BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) (to herself) What the hell am I doing? I'm talking about the history of the universe when I should be talking about my history; that was the point of this whole thing anyway.
FADE IN:
EXT. Burnt down hotel - night
INT. APARTMENT - DARK
We SEE broken bottles and an old couch - that's it, except for the odd syringe here and there. CAMERA PANS past all this to the door. A young punk- like Lochley wobbles in through the door - drunk.
LOCHLEY Heyzoe (beat) Hey. Zoe. Where are you? I've got food. (laughs) Just kidding.
Lochley wobbles to the couch and collapses on it. After resting for a beat, she gets back up and starts walking towards what was once a fireplace. She kneels down and picks up a bloodstained syringe.
LOCHLEY Zoe, you got some more stuff? I know you like to use a lot of it but we must've bought like two containers worth yesterday. (beat) Zoe. are you there?
Lochley gets up and walks towards the bathroom.
LOCHLEY Zoe. I know you're not in the shower because we don't have any water. Zoe.
INT. APARTMENT BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
CAMERA is facing the entrance so we can't SEE much of Zoe's body on the floor - except her hair and the occasional cockroach crawling through it. A beat later Lochley ENTERS and SEES Zoe. Lochley's face says it all. She moves closer to the body.
LOCHLEY Zoe! (crying) Oh my god, Zoe!
Lochley runs out of the bathroom - terrified.
INT. LIVINGROOM - CONTINUOUS
We SEE Lochley run out of the bathroom and collapse on the couch - crying into the armrest. A few beats later, Lochley gets up, moves to their old telephone unit and dials in a number.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER (groggy; she was asleep) Hello.
LOCHLEY (still crying) Mom.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER My god, Lizzie, is that you? (beat) Where have you been? We've been worried sick. Lizzie, are you crying? What's wrong?
LOCHLEY Mom, something terrible happened.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER What is it?
LOCHLEY (crying) Zoe's dead.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER (concerned) Lizzie, where are you?
Lochley keeps crying.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER (CONT'D) Lizzie, are you hurt? (beat) You have to tell me where you are.
LOCHLEY San Francisco, near the old launch site... in one of the old apartment buildings.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER Stay right there Lizzie. I'll tell your father. He really missed you Lizzie. He's sorry about what happened before, if he could take it all back he would. (beat; on the verge of tears) Oh, Lizzie.
LOCHLEY (crying) Mom.
On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - OLD LAUNCHING SITE - HOURS LATER
We SEE the abandoned old Launch Site and in the background we SEE several burnt down old apartment buildings. We SEE a civilian hover-car fly past the site and towards the old apartment buildings.
INT. CIVILIAN HOVER-CAR - CONTINUOUS
We SEE seven men dressed in civilian clothes; Peter Lochley - Elizabeth Lochley's father, David Winters - a human male in his forties. The others in the car are only extras and there names are not important - they're only there because in "Day of the Dead" it was established that Lochley's father came after her with a squad of off-duty marines.
DAVID This is it. Everyone knows the drill; descend on targets and search the perimeter. Remember, this is Pete's daughter so don't leave any stone unturned, any square meter unsearched. she's one of the family.
Peter TURNS to David with a look of appreciation. David sees it and NODS back to him.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - OLD APARTMENT BUILDINGS - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the hover-car land and the marines start to EXIT. David stands outside when he gets out as the others run towards different apartment buildings.
DAVID Come on people, I wanna be back home before lunch! Let's go, go, go, go, go!
After the last marine, Peter, EXITS the car he and David start running as well.
INT. BURNT DOWN HOTEL - WALKWAY - MINUTES LATER
We SEE several marines running through - busting open doors and looking in rooms.
MARINE POV
As he kicks down a door and ENTERS the Apartment (same one Lochley was in) and SEES Lochley crying on the couch - exactly where she was before.
MARINE AND LOCHLEY
As the marine places a hand on her shoulder.
MARINE #1 Its okay, ma'am. Your safe now, your father'll take ya home. (out the door) I've found her!
Peter comes running in through the door and towards Lochley - looking very concerned.
PETER Elizabeth.
Lochley shoots up off the couch and into her father's arms.
PETER Where's Zoe, Eilzabeth?
LOCHLEY (still crying) Bathroom.
Peter NODS to Marine #1 to go search the bathroom.
INT. APARTMENT BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
CAMERA is facing the entrance so we can't SEE much of Zoe's body on the floor - except her hair and a family of cockroaches crawling through it. Marine #1 ENTERS the room. Off the look on his face we can tell the body must look pretty bad. On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. HOSPITAL - LATER
Just to establish.
PETER (V.O.) What was the cause of death?
INT. HOSPITAL - AUTOPSY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the Coroner and Peter Lochley standing in front of the covered body. The Coroner is still wearing gloves and a mask from the autopsy.
CORONER Drug overdose; Hysteriun, or Truff as it's known as on the street. I also found a lot of Dust in her system - not enough to cause death, but it may have contributed to the affect the Truff had on her. She choked on her. well, you saw the body. (beat) Were you close?
PETER Yes. I knew her parents before they died. She and my daughter were especially close. Was it an intentional overdose?
CORONER Given her history with drugs, I would say yes. But I'm not confident enough to say so in my official report. (beat) Does she have any living relatives?
Peter begins to shake his head.
CORONER (CONT'D) An uncle or an aunt maybe?
PETER No, not that I know of. (beat) Now, if you'll excuse me Doctor, I think I'd better get my daughter back home.
CORONER Of course.
Peter EXITS the autopsy room.
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - MINUTES LATER
We SEE Lochley sitting in one of the chairs looking down at the floor. Peter approaches her. Lochley looks up at him - eyes still damp.
PETER Come on, Elizabeth, let's go home.
LOCHLEY Did she do it on purpose?
PETER In the car. (off Lochley's "No. Here" look, lying) No, she didn't. It was an accident. Now, let's go; your mother's probably worried sick.
Lochley gets up and they move OS.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I knew he was lying - trying to hide something from me. It was one of the few times that he did something to protect me from pain - instead of inflicting it on me. Because of what happened that day, I swore off drugs and alcohol. for good.
On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. EARTHFORCE ACADEMY
We SEE a large building complex with yards of open terrain around it - used as running courses. We SEE a group of cadets moving around outside the complex and inside through the windows. In big bold letters "EarthForce Training Academy" is written across the building.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Later that year I joined the EarthForce Academy.
INT. ACADEMY - ADMITIONS AREA
We SEE Lochley passing by main admissions desk.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) My father wasn't very happy about it though. I couldn't understand why at the time, I thought he would have been ecstatic - not that I gave a damn what the hell he thought about me then.
We SEE Lochley walk into a private booth.
INT. BOOTH - CONTINUOUS
As Lochley enters and closes the door behind her. We SEE a small computer system to the side of Lochley.
COMPUTER Please state name and new authorization code.
LOCHLEY Elizabeth Lochley. Code, two words.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) After all I'd been through, I wasn't going to forget the road I followed before I turned my life around.
A long beat passes.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) Zoe's dead.
On Lochley's current emotional state, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. EARTHFORCE ACADEMY - NIGHT
Just to establish. Over this, we HEAR the sound of heavy breathing and footsteps in the background.
EXT. RUNNING COURSE - CONTINUOUS
We SEE a CLOSE UP of two legs running - CAMERA follows them, and we HEAR the same heavy breathing as we did before. CAMERA PANS UP the runner's body (she's wearing shorts and a sweatshirt) until we SEE Lochley's face - revealing her as the runner.
CLOSE UP ON LOCHLEY'S LEGS
As her right foot lands awkwardly on the ground and she struggles to keep running without falling over.
LOCHLEY RUNNING
As she stumbles over onto the ground. She is still breathing heavily and is exhausted by her run, so she doesn't get up. She rests on the ground for a few beats. We SEE an arm reach down to help Lochley up.
SHERIDAN (OS) Here, take my hand.
Lochley sees the arm and uses it to get herself up.
LOCHLEY & SHERIDAN
As Lochley gets back on her feet. As soon as they see each other there is an instant attraction. Sheridan is dressed almost exactly the same as Lochley.
SHERIDAN Are you alright?
LOCHLEY Yeah - I must tripped over a rock something. (beat) I didn't think anyone else would be running out here at this time of night.
SHERIDAN Neither did I. That's why I went.
The two smile at each other.
SHERIDAN How long have you been at the compound? I don't think I've seen you here before.
LOCHLEY Going on. six months. And you?
SHERIDAN About the same. (beat) You know, I better get back to the compound soon; have an early exam tomorrow.
LOCHLEY Me too. Shall we?
Sheridan NODS and they both start jogging back to the compound - CAMERA follows.
SHERIDAN Oh, I'm sorry; I forgot to ask for your name.
LOCHLEY Elizabeth. Elizabeth Lochley.
SHERIDAN (smiles) I'm John Sheridan. It's a pleasure to meet you Elizabeth Lochley.
LOCHLEY (smiles back) And you, John Sheridan.
CAMERA stops following them and they jog OS. On this, we CUT TO.
EXT. EARTHFORCE ACADEMY - HOURS LATER
We SEE Sheridan and Lochley sitting on the steps one of the building's entrances talking.
LOCHLEY . Okay, so what did your father do for a living?
SHERIDAN He was a diplomatic envoy for the EarthAlliance. What about yours?
LOCHLEY EarthForce marine officer.
SHERIDAN Huh, Looks like EarthForce is in our blood.
LOCHLEY Guess so.
Lochley looks up at the sky - notices the sun has started to rise.
LOCHLEY Oh, god.
SHERIDAN What is it?
LOCHLEY It's nearly morning. We've been sitting out on these steps talking for the last five hours.
SHERIDAN Well, I guess time flies when you're with the girl of your dreams.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I knew it was line. but I let myself fall for it anyway. I think the intensity of how he said it made me think he was telling the truth.
Lochley smiles. They kiss there on the steps. Over this, we HEAR.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Two and half years later, after graduation, we were happily married. It didn't last.
MONTAGE
Of Sheridan and Lochley fighting in their apartment - throwing things at each other and shouting.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) We were always fighting. Getting on each other's nerves. We both wanted to be in charge and neither of us wanted to take responsibility for the things that happened as a result. (beat) We finally divorced, amicably, after three months.
FADE TO. BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) With John everything was perfect in the beginning, but Matthew and I had problems from day one. If there was anything more than a passing attraction there then I sure as hell missed it.
EXT. MARS DOME ONE
Just to establish.
LOCHLEY (OS) I need specifics Lieutenant Carr. You're saying "It's covered" isn't enough.
INT. MARS WALKTHROUGH - CONTINUOUS
We SEE Lochley and Lieutenant Carr walking through the crowded room. NOTE: this scene is Lochley's first encounter with Gideon from "Ruling from the Tomb."
CARR It's enough, captain, if I really do have it covered.
LOCHLEY Drawing conclusions isn't your job Lieutenant, its mine. You present me with the facts, I draw the conclusions.
They stop walking.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) A fact is the number of cops we have and the hours of their shifts.
We SEE Gideon move into FRAME and approach Lochley from behind.
ANGLE - CLOSER ON LOCHLEY
As Gideon approaches.
GIDEON Excuse me.
Gideon stops directly behind Lochley - she ignores him.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) A fact is the proportion of officers to conference attendees. Now, you give me these facts and I draw the conclusions as to our manpower requirements.
GIDEON
I hate to interrupt, but I -
Lochley turns her head back towards Gideon slightly.
LOCHLEY (to Gideon) Then don't!
CARR (OS) You wanna talk facts, great -
ANGLE - CARR
CARR (getting angry) Fact; I spent my entire life here on Mars. Fact; you are only on temporary assignment as overseer of the conference on the Drakh plague. Fact; Mars is not a colony anymore - we're independent. So frankly, EarthForce Earther you can kiss my ass!
LOCHLEY Who the hell do you think you are?!
CARR Just a dumb cop, but I know this place insideout. Now, maybe back on your precious Babylon 5 you fire orders and everybody jumps, but here you're barkin' up the wrong tree. (to Gideon) Welcome to Mars. (to Lochley) Woof, woof.
Carr walks off - Lochley almost follows.
GIDEON Hard to believe it was named after the god of war.
Lochley turns her head back to Gideon.
LOCHLEY (still pissed off at Carr) Can I help you?
GIDEON I'm supposed to report to you upon arrival.
Lochley turns fully to Gideon.
LOCHLEY (sighs) Captain Matthew Gideon, of course.
They shake hands.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) I'm Captain Elizabeth Lochley - in charge of the conference. Normally stationed on B5 -
GIDEON Yes, I know.
LOCHLEY Sorry about coping an attitude before, -
Lochley TURNS and starts waking - Gideon follows.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) I guess I have been barking a little today.
GIDEON Its okay; I've come to do a little woofing of my own. I've got Doctor Sarah Chambers up on the Excalibur preparing her key notes speech and I want to know security measures are going to be airtight. It doesn't help anyone to get caught up in territorial squabbles. all due respect.
Lochley stops and TURNS to face Gideon.
LOCHLEY Are you done?
GIDEON Not quite. (beat) Look, I hope some good comes out of this conference - same as you. But meanwhile, this little exercise mainly puts a collection of easy targets all in one place for any nut with an agenda. Now, I'd rather be out searching for a cure than talking about one, but instead - we're here, as ordered.
LOCHLEY And don't think I don't appreciate it, but, let's get one thing straight, captain. Although, admittedly, you came in at a bad moment, I have no interest in territorial squabbling. I want the same thing you do, and frankly I don't think it's asking too much for you to have a little faith. I assure you; I've got everything covered.
GIDEON Is that a conclusion, or a fact?
LOCHLEY That's a fact.
INT. MARS BRADBURY STREET - CONTINUOUS
We SEE a man walk towards one of the representatives.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I assure you, Doctor Chambers and all the other representatives will be perfectly safe.
We SEE the man is holding a knife and he STABS the representative with it.
INT. MARS WALKWAY - MINUTES LATER
We SEE an EA Health Organization flag with the date "June 15 2267" on it. CAMERA starts to PAN DOWN it.
LOCHLEY (OS) Cops at all the exits, cops along the corridors.
CAMERA PANS PAST flag to find Lochley and Gideon walking on the walkway.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) Security scans for every weapon known to man. and a few that aren't.
Lochley and Gideon both stop and lean against the rail of the walkway.
ANGLE - IN FRONT OF THEM
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) And the acoustics ain't bad either.
GIDEON Very impressive. Look, captain, perhaps we got off on the wrong foot.
Lochley looks at Gideon - eyes wipe open.
LOCHLEY Perhaps?
CLOSE UP ON LOCHLEY
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) Look, captain, I didn't ask for this assignment. This whole Drakh virus conference was Doctor Stephen Franklin's idea; bring in people from uninfected Earth colonies, put everybody's heads together, plan a unified course of research. Now, when EarthForce asked for an officer to oversee it, the good-doctor put me on the top of his shortlist. Now, right now my main goal is to find a cure for this so I can go Earth-side and thank Stephen in person, with a large brick.
CLOSE UP ON GIDEON
GIDEON Well there's incentive for ya. (beat) Anyway, with so much on the line, I'm just being careful that's all.
LOCHLEY Careful?
LOCHLEY - SIDE VIEW
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) I hear you're more of a. gambler than the careful type.
GIDEON - SIDE VIEW
GIDEON When I have a sense of the odds, and right now. I don't. All these precautions are nice, but -
LOCHLEY Nice? (grunts) Captain Gideon, Security happens to be my middle name.
GIDEON Yeah, that's all well and good - but just incase your last name is Breach it won't hurt for me to double-check.
ANGLE - IN FRONT OF THEM
Lochley TURNS sharply to Gideon.
LOCHLEY Double-check?!
Lochley's wrist-link goes off.
LOCHLEY (IN LINK) Lochley. Go ahead.
CARR (ON LINK) This is Carr. We have a situation on Bradbury street just south of Burrows.
LOCHLEY (IN LINK) What kind of situation?
CARR (ON LINK) The no longer breathing kind.
LOCHLEY (IN LINK) (beat) I'm on my way.
Lochley starts to walk off.
GIDEON On our way.
Gideon TURNS to leave.
MONTAGE
Of material that happens after that scene of "Ruling from the Tomb" like their investigation of the murder scene, but NOT their first dinner together.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) It turns out Matthew was right; the conference was the target of a doomsday cult called Sacred-Omega who believed that the Drakh plague was the second coming of Noah's flood. Of course we caught them before they could blow the place up. Not that that didn't stop them from trying to sabotage our search for a cure a dozen more times before the Excalibur found it.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. LOCHLEY'S QUARTERS ON MARS - LATER
We SEE Lochley move into FRAME with a bowl of food in her hands. She reaches the table - a small table with two plates and several serving bowls, and she sits down in front of a plate. Gideon moves towards a bottle of water on the desktop.
GIDEON When you spend most of your time probing ancient ruins of cities you don't stumble across many places with takeout leman...
Gideon opens the bottle.
LOCHLEY (gestures to the two bowls in front of her) Shrimp or Chicken?
Gideon looks at Lochley while pouring the water into two glasses.
GIDEON It's official - you're my new hero.
LOCHLEY Hmm, I'm not so sure I should be flattered. Who was your old hero?
Lochley puts some rice on her plate.
GIDEON Truthfully? John Sheridan.
Gideon places the two glasses of water on the table and sits down in front of the second plate.
LOCHLEY John Sheridan, huh?
Lochley takes a sip out of her glass.
GIDEON Were you ever, uh, under him?
Lochley almost chokes as she swallows her drink.
GIDEON You okay?
LOCHLEY Fine, fine, thank you. Um, under him?
GIDEON On Babylon 5. You served under him, right?
Lochley picks up one of the bowls in front of her and starts putting some of its contents on her plate.
LOCHLEY Oh, yes, I was. under him for a while. Actually he, uh, preferred it that way.
Lochley puts the bowl back down. Gideon starts putting rice on his plate.
GIDEON What a life he's lead, huh. Soldier, statesman. president, forging the Interstellar Alliance. Some people treat him like a religious figure. Still, I suppose he, uh, puts his pants on one leg at a time, right?
Gideon puts the rice back and starts placing some of the food Lochley had just used on his plate.
LOCHLEY Oh, yeah - backwards in the dark sometimes.
GIDEON (confused) What??
LOCHLEY Matthew - Matt?
GIDEON Matt's fine. Liz?
LOCHLEY . Elizabeth. Uh, Matt, may I be blunt?
GIDEON That's a trick question, right?
LOCHLEY (sighs) Your technique with women is. well, piss-poor based on what I've seen. Should I take that as a sign that you haven't. been involved with many?
GIDEON It's been. spermatic, at best. The life, the career. I mean, I don't have to tell you, right? You're probably in the same boat too.
LOCHLEY Oh, yeah, exactly. Well, you know, except for the time I spent. married.
GIDEON Married. You're telling me that some guy actually managed to land you, get to lower your defences enough to commit - and then he let you get away? (sighs) God, he must be the biggest loser in the galaxy.
LOCHLEY (sighs) Major loser, they don't come any bigger.
GIDEON Loser have a name?
Gideon takes a drink from his glass.
LOCHLEY John Sheridan.
Gideon spits his drink out. Lochley starts laughing.
GIDEON Had to wait til I took a drink didn't ya?
LOCHLEY It seemed only fair.
Gideon starts laughing.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Months later, the Excalibur made a stop at Babylon 5. After a brief struggle with two Lorkan ambassadors, Matt and I returned to my quarters.
EXT. BABYLON 5
Just to establish.
INT. LOCHLEY'S QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS
We SEE Lochley and Gideon ENTER and walk towards CAMERA. Both are dressed in dirty civilian clothes.
LOCHLEY Ough, I hate this. I've gotta take a shower.
Lochley takes off her jacket.
GIDEON Me too. It'll take hours to vod this stuff off.
Lochley sits down in a chair and starts taking off her boots.
LOCHLEY Ooh, no. I have got a real water shower.
GIDEON You do? Real, honest to God, hot running water?
LOCHLEY Yeah. But you'll have to wait while it recycles.
GIDEON Its okay, I can wait. I have to get my adrenaline down anyway.
LOCHLEY Yeah, me too. I'm still buzzing from.
GIDEON Makes you feel alive doesn't it?
Lochley notices Gideon - sexually.
LOCHLEY Yeah, it does.
CLOSE UP ON GIDEON
As he swoops in and kisses Lochley.
LOCHLEY AND GIDEON
GIDEON We don't have to wait to recycle the water; we could, uh, we could share.
LOCHLEY Environmentally safe.
GIDEON Waste not, want not.
LOCHLEY Absolutely.
They both run into the bathroom. We SEE the reflection of Gideon and Lochley taking off their clothes and kissing.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Not even a month later, after an assassination attempt on his life, Matt came back to the station on a private mission.
INT. LOCHLEY'S QUARTERS - LATER
We SEE Gideon sitting on Lochley's one of Lochley's chairs, and we HEAR the shower running (water).
GIDEON So you're saying that. What exactly is it that you're saying?
LOCHLEY (OS) Can this wait?
GIDEON Sure - if you want me to make a fool of myself in front of the president.
LOCHLEY (annoyed) Alright.
We HEAR the water from the shower get turned off. A beat later, Lochley emerges from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and a towel wrapped around her head. She sits on a chair opposite Gideon.
LOCHLEY If you want to impress the president just. be yourself.
GIDEON That's it, that's the part that confused me. What do you mean 'be myself'? Should I be tactful or should I be brutally honest? Should I kiss his ass, or should I -
LOCHLEY I get the point. (sighs) He likes people who speak what's on their minds, people who are blunt and straight to it - but not to the point of downright rudeness. He likes long walks down the beach, chocolate, and collecting pictures of naked -
GIDEON (not wanting to hear the rest) Thank you. Captain. That's a little clearer.
LOCHLEY Don't worry; if he's coming all the way from Minbar to hear what you have to say, then I'm sure he wants to hear it - he's not going to be upset if you act in a way that he wouldn't have. It's not like you're trying to sell him a used shuttle or something. (beat) What are you going to talk to him about anyway?
GIDEON I'm sorry, under orders from the president, my lips
Gideon moves a finger along his lips and makes a ZIP SOUND.
GIDEON (CONT'D) Are sealed. For now anyway.
Lochley LOOKS at Gideon for a beat before.
LOCHLEY Whatever it is, it must be pretty important to divert the Excalibur from her mission.
GIDEON That's just the thing. EarthForce didn't approve this. little detour, - all they know is that the Excalibur is on an urgent mission and that we can't break radio silence to update them of our situation. If I told them what we were really doing then the wrong people would find out about -
We can SEE Gideon was about to, and wants to tell Lochley about the black- ops shadow group.
GIDEON (CONT'D) . Something they shouldn't.
LOCHLEY (a little confused) I see. (beat) Anyway, I should be the one who's getting stressed out about the next few days, not you.
GIDEON Why?
LOCHLEY New year, remember. This station's importance to the galaxy may have dropped significantly over the last few years, but if there's one thing the people of Babylon 5 are good at, it's celebrating. Last year Ambassador Ta'Lon got into a brawl with the Drazi ambassador and Vir valiantly marched to Ta'Lon's rescue - drunk as a skunk. (laughs) Now that was a sight. Of course when all is said and done it was up to security and myself to break it up and clean the mess they, and everyone else on the station had made.
GIDEON Vir? You don't mean Ambassador Cotto do you?
LOCHLEY (surprised) Yes. You know him?
GIEDON Not really. I met him once on the other side of the negotiations table.
LOCHLEY (changing the subject) Any new leads to a cure for the plague?
GIDEON There are a couple of planets on the board that we haven't checked out yet, but nothing worth more than a quick scan or two of the planet's surface, if they were then Lieutenant Matheson would have told me. It can wait.
LOCHLEY Are you sure about that? They may not be red-hot leads, but starting next year - a few days from now, we'll only have another three years and eleven months to find a cure. Time's running out.
Gideon already knew this, but hearing Lochley say it makes him think about it more seriously - this should be shown by the expression on his face.
LOCHLEY (uncomfortably) Ah, Matthew, I don't know what you had in mind for tonight, but I -
GIDEON (thinking she's slowing their relationship down) I think I know where this is going, you think we -
LOCHLEY - Should use your quarters.
We SEE a very surprised LOOK on Gideon's face as he.
GIDEON (shocked) What?
LOCHLEY It's just that with all the work related things lying around here, paper work, duty rosters, paper work, security reports, paper work. I don't think I would be able to get myself into a more. personal mood.
GIDEON That's fine. My quarters it is. Hows twenty-one-hundred sound?
LOCHLEY Great.
GIDEON Twenty-one-hundred it is.
Gideon gets up and walks towards Lochley's door. Just as the door opens, he TURNS AROUND to face Lochley.
GIDEON (CONT'D) And by the way. Your towel's. open.
Lochley LOOKS DOWN and sees the gap between her legs not covered by her towel. She quickly closes her legs (embarrassed).
GIDEON . See-ya.
Gideon walks out.
CLOSE UP ON LOCHLEY
As she stays still for a beat, then gets up and moves OS.
EXT. BABYLON 5 - NEAR MIDNIGHT
Just to establish.
INT. BABYLON 5 ZOCALO - CONTINUOUS
The place is so crowded that CAMERA only catches glimpses of Gideon and Lochley sitting at a small café table as people rush past CAMERA.
CLOSE UP ON GIDEON AND LOCHLEY'S TABLE
We can tell they have Invoked privacy because of the total lack of background noise around them. Both Gideon and Lochley have hot cups of coffee in front of them.
LOCHLEY I'm sorry things didn't work out the way you'd planned. But, really, what were you expecting? That Sheridan would start another war with Earth to stop them using shadow-tech? When the shadows left known space they left most of their technology along with it. There are bound to be people who think they can use it to gain an advantage over the other races. I'm betting half the member worlds of the Alliance have been experimenting with shadow-tech. Granted, at the level you claim Earth is it could be considered as -
GIDEON (coldly) In-human.
LOCHLEY I was going to say, Immoral. (beat) So. what now?
GIDEON (distantly) Nothing. In two hours the Excalibur continues her mission and starts reporting back to EarthGov again. They won.
LOCHLEY I didn't think you'd give up so easily.
GIDEON
Oh, I'm not giving up. They may have won the battle, but they haven't won the war. (changing the subject) T-minus one minute. They should be starting the countdown soon.
LOCHLEY Matt. are you, by any chance, going to be dropping by this side of the galaxy again any time soon?
GIDEON Is that an invitation?
LOCHLEY Hell no. Just wanted to know whether I should make it a point to buy some longer towels the next time I go shopping.
GIDEON
Hey, I didn't peak. I swear. Besides, it isn't as if I saw something that I didn't see later that night.
LOCHLEY So you did peak. Can't say I'm all that surprised.
GIDEON What? Why?
LOCHLEY By your courting methods I can tell you hadn't been with a woman for a long time.
GIDEON
Hey, I've had my fair share of romance. You're not the only woman to eventually say, "What the heck."
Just as the words get out of Gideon's mouth, the COUNTDOWN begins. During this last part of the scene we will be changing angles from the silent Gideon and Lochley to the crowded and noisy Zocalo.
ANGLE - ZOCALO
CROWD TEN. NINE. EIGHT.
ANGLE - GIDEON AND LOCHLEY
They are LEANING TOWARDS each other
LOCHLEY (softly) Were you going to kiss me or not?
GIDEON (softly) This answer your question?
Gideon MOVES FORWARD more and makes contact with Lochley's lips - kissing her in a surprisingly gentle and romantic way.
ANGLE - ZOCALO
CROWD THREE. TWO. ONE.
ANGLE - CLOSE UP ON GIDEON AND LOCHLEY KISSING
As CAMERA PANS AROUND them in their sweet embrace.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Four years later - after very complicated courting and relationship periods, Matthew and I were married.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM
We SEE Gideon - with a scar across his arm and shoulder, and Lochley lying in bed. Lochley is wearing only an old shirt and underwear. Lochley is cuddled up alongside Gideon. The bed itself is quite big, so it looks weird having two people together on one side and empty space on the other.
GIDEON
How on Earth did you find this place anyway? An apartment this size on Mars mus've cost a fortune.
LOCHLEY I'm sure it did. But, fortunately, I have a very wealthy friend on Mars who was kind enough to buy it as a wedding gift.
GIDEON Buy? You mean rent don't you?
LOCHLEY No. (off Gideon's look) As I said, he's a very wealthy friend.
GIDEON (surprised) So all this is ours?
LOCHLEY Yep. Not a bad place to retire to. Not that I'm planning on retiring anytime soon.
GIDEON So you'll be out working all day while I stay home and play housewife?
LOCHLEY Sounds fine to me.
GIDEON (sighs; remembering) I really hate this.
LOCHLEY (off Gideon's comment) And I love you too.
GIDEON No, it's not that. They've scheduled another drill. I'm supposed to meet them at the Recalish asteroid-belt in a few hours.
LOCHLEY Oh God, didn't you just come back from one of those yesterday?
GIDEON Yeah. And there'll probably be another one tomorrow, and another one the day after that.
LOCHLEY Typical; we haven't even been married twenty four hours and you're already leaving.
GIDEON It's not as if I won't be back. Besides, as soon as my training's finished I'll be at your disposal twenty-four/seven. Just a few more weeks - that's all.
LOCHLEY It better be - for your sake.
Gideon starts to get out of bed.
GIDEON I really have to get going.
Gideon puts his pants and shirt back on - both pieces of clothing must be black.
LOCHLEY And just what am I supposed to do?
GIDEON
I hear my ship calling me; I have to go. I promise I'll be back before you have to leave.
LOCHLEY You'd damn well better.
Gideon slips on his shoes - also black and gets up.
GIDEON Goodbye. Love you.
LOCHLEY Love you too.
Gideon EXITS the apartment. Lochley waits a beat, then gets out of bed and walks towards a large mirror. As she looks at herself in the mirror, she lifts her shirt up so we can SEE her stomach. Lochley starts examining it in the mirror - using her hand to feel for something (she's pregnant??)
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Life has thrown me many twists and turns in life, but this one was by far was the one I least expected. Every since I was little I knew I had no interest in having children of my own - not after what my father put me through. So when I found out I was pregnant with Sarah. well, let's just say I wasn't all that thrilled about it. And, to be quite frank, I thought I was way too old to start a family. But, eight long months latter, and after a few pre-birth complications, my daughter was born.
On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. BABYLON 5
Just to establish.
INT. CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
We SEE several girls - Sarah Lochley, Janey and Rose, all about five, together talking. In background a teacher is talking as well.
SARAH . And that's where she foundered them.
ALL THE GIRLS Ewe!
ROSE (bragging) Well my daddy's an importatant busyness man.
Sarah looks sad after hearing this.
JANEY (to Rose) Rose, that wasn't very nice.
ROSE Do you all wanted to meet at the Zokolal after school?
JANEY & SARAH Oh, yeah!
SARAH (remembers) Oh, I can't.
JANEY Why, Sarah?
ROSE (teasing Sarah) Cause her mommy's too scared to let her little princess go anywhere without being followed by the man with the croaky voice.
Sarah is really hurt by this and Janey sees it, so does Rose - that's why she keeps going.
ROSE (CONT'D) And then she must to give her little kissy-wissy on the cheek.
JANEY Rose!
Sarah starts crying.
JANEY (to Rose) Now look what you'll done. (to Sarah) It's alright, Sarah. Rose was just kidding.
ROSE Stop crying, ya cry-baby. Cry-baby, cry-baby.
JANEY Stop it, Rose! (to Sarah) It's okay. She didn't mean it.
CAMERA PANS AROUND to find Lochley standing behind them - unnoticed by the girls, looking very worried.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) That was when I realized I had to stop overcompensating for my father's poor parenting - no matter how much it hurt inside.
Off Lochley's worried look, we FADE TO.
BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Later that year Babylon 5 was turned back to Earth control. Most of the command staff was re-assigned - including myself. Security chief Zack Allan was asked to stay on, but decided to go back Earthside. Apparently after we left, people stopped coming to Babylon 5 - not that its popularity was that much better before we left. Most blamed the recent budget cuts, but the truth was that B5 had served its purposed.
INT. BABYLON 5 - NEAR TRANSPORT TUBE
We SEE Ivanova standing beside Emperor Vir.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) There was no point in stationing more personnel to a deserted space station.
IVANOVA They're ready.
Ivanova walks into the transport tube. Vir gives his signature four- fingered wave from "Into the Fire" to the station and also ENTERS the transport tube.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Although I was not present when it was commissioned - or decommissioned, Babylon 5 has always been close to me.
CAMERA PANS to the right to find Zack Allan and Delenn.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Hell, besides Zack I'd served on the place longer than anyone else.
Zack TURNS to Delenn, puts his arm around her shoulder supportively and smiles as they ENTER the tube. CAMERA PANS to the right again to find Michael Garibaldi and Stephen Franklin. They both TURN to look at each other.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Babylon 5 had been my home for fifteen years. I think that was why I chose not to make an appearance at the decommissioning ceremony; being there - seeing my home of over a decade destroyed would have just been too emotional for me.
Franklin pats Garibaldi on the shoulder as he walks towards the tube. Garibaldi takes a quick look around the station. Garibaldi TURNS and starts to walk towards the tube when he sees an old shot-glass on a shelf near the tube and picks it up. He TURNS back to the station briefly for one last look - rolling the shot-glass between his hands. Garibaldi finally ENTERS the tube - shot-glass in hand.
ANGLE - TRANSPORT TUBE
As Garibaldi ENTERS it. The door closes.
SHUTDOWN CREWMAN (JMS)
As he walks to a control box and turns off the power.
EXT. SECTION OF BABYLON 5 - MINUTES LATER
We SEE the lights go out.
EXT. BABYLON 5'S AFT - CONTINUOUS
As the last light goes out. We SEE a single shuttle exits the station passing through an honor guard of ships from many different races.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) The Year was 2281. The year of important and often sad events. The year John Sheridan died. The year Babylon 5 was decommissioned.
EXT. IN FRONT OF BABYLON 5 - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the ships back away from the station.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) The year I officially retired. The year I lost the only thing left in my life that meant a damn thing to me.
EXT. BABYLON 5'S AFT - CONTINUOUS
We SEE beginning of a spectacular explosion, starting with the station's fusion reactor.
WIDER ANGLE
As the explosion cascade forward, blowing apart the solar panels and out the bay doors.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Most people have to lose what they have before they can truly appreciate it. I didn't. It took me a few years, but I realized exactly what I had.
EXT. BABYLON 5 - ALL OF IT - CONTINUOUS
As the entire station burst into flames.
EXT. IN FRONT OF BABYLON 5 - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the last piece of the station destroyed.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT FOUR
TAG
INT. HOUSE
We SEE a wall of framed pictures; Lochley with Sheridan, Lochley with Gideon, Lochley with at least one other man in a romantic scenario, and an older version of Lochley in front of a "Happy 70th" birthday cake.
LOCHLEY (OS) Well. that's it, I guess. That's my life. Not all of it. but the important things.
CAMERA PANS past these pictures to find.
LOCHLEY IN BED
The Lochley we SEE should be just a little older than the one seen in the birthday photo - letting us know that she's older than seventy. She is talking into a link-like device in her hand.
LOCHLEY I have no idea who'd want to listen to my life story; God knows, it isn't exactly the most interesting story there is to be told. but, for those of you who do listen to this recording. don't remember me as I came across - the troubled teenager, the struggling parent, or even the person who I have tried to be most of my life - the model EarthForce officer. Remember me as.
ZACK (OS) . The best of the best.
Lochley looks to her left.
ANGLE - ZACK ALLAN
As he walks towards Lochley's bed - limping - as seen in "Sleeping in Light", and not looking in such good condition.
ZACK (CONT'D) Good morning, captain. (correcting himself) Elizabeth.
LOCHLEY AND ZACK
Zack sits down in a chair next to Lochley's bed.
LOCHLEY Good morning, Zack.
ZACK (gesturing at the link-like device) I see you took my advice. Did you want me to keep it safe for you?
LOCHLEY Yeah. I'm almost finished. I don't think re-living my life was a very entertaining way to spend my last hours though.
ZACK (uneasily)
So you took the pill?
Lochley NODS - fighting back tears.
LOCHLEY It should kick-in anytime now.
ZACK I'll stay with you if you like.
LOCHLEY No. I think I'd rather be alone. (gestures to link-like device) Besides, I have to get this finished before.
ZACK I'll be just outside if you change your mind, okay? (beat; the final goodbye) I. I know we agreed no long goodbyes. but, I just want you to know that it's been an honor serving with you, and being your friend. Drop me line when you get to other side.
Lochley can't think of any words to relay how much he'd meant to her these last few years, so she just NODS appreciably at him. Zack gets up out of his chair and slowly starts to walk out. When Zack finally leaves, Lochley starts speaking back into the link-like recorder.
LOCHLEY Sorry for the interruption; I was saying goodbye to an old friend - my old security chief on Babylon 5, Zack Allan - I think mentioned him. Well anyway, Zack, I believe, is now an executive consultant to Emperor Vir Cotto of Centauri Prime - who was also once assigned to Babylon 5. I'm running out of time and getting sidetracked, so I'd better finish up soon. Don't remember me as the model EarthForce officer, remember me as. It doesn't matter. Just. remember me.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
END OF TAG
Remembrance
Written by Martin A. Stihec
Featuring Transcripted Material Previously Written by Peter David & J. Michael Straczynski TEASER
FADE IN:
BLANK SCREEN
SINCLAIR (V.O.) Previously in the Babylon 5 universe.
FLASHBACK/MONTAGE
During the whole Teaser we show footage from Babylon 5, the tele-movies, Legand of the Rangers and Crusade - dealing with all plot developments from the Minbari war, to the arrival of the shadows, to the birth of the Rangers, to the telepath crisis to the realization that Sinclair is Valen. Everything.
END MONTAGE AND DISSOLVE TO.
BLANK SCREEN
SINCLAIR (V.O.) And now, one of the many continuations in that universe.
[pic] Matthew Gideon. Captain. Attached to the
Earth Alliance Starship Excalibur.
[pic]
To find a cure to the Drakh plague before
it wipes out all life on Earth.
[pic]
Anywhere I have to.
[pic]
No one.
CRUSADE
Starring
[pic]
[pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]
CREATED BY J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
REMEMBRANCE
Written by
Martin A. Stihec
Special Guest Stars
BRUCE BOXLEITNER as John Sheridan JEFF CONAWAY as Zack Allan
Special Guest Appearances By
JERRY DOYLE as Michael Garibaldi MIRA FURLAN as Delenn CLAUDIA CHRISTIAN as Susan Ivanova RICHARD BIGGS as Stephen Franklin STEPHEN FURST as Vir Cotto & MICHAEL O'HARE as Jeffrey Sinclair J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI as Shutdown Crewman
Guest Starring
JUANITA JENNINGS as Lieutenant Carr SCOTT MACDONALD as Peter Lochley BOB ELK as David Winters RAY BROCKSMITH as Coroner VALERIA GHIRAN as Lochley's Mother
Co-Starring LIZ SMITH as Sarah Lochley PAULA BROWN as Rose JULIE THOMPSON as Janey
[pic]
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I was there at the dawn of the third age of mankind.
MONTAGE
Of material dealing with the Earth/Minbari war. Most of it from "In the Beginning." During this MONTAGE we change the images according to what Lochley is talking about, i.e. "we were losing the shadow war" - we SEE battles in which the shadows are victorious.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Ten years after the Earth/Minbari war.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the shadow war.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I can't speak for all who were present during the shadow war - I wasn't even in it. But from what I've been told, it was one hell of fight - a fight that it looked like we were losing. Losing, that is, until man named John Sheridan, my former husband, came back from the dead and stood up to the shadows. I don't know exactly what he said to them but whatever it was it made them retreat so far that they fell back behind the rim.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with Earth's civil war.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Then came Earth's civil war. Now this one I was in - albeit on the losing side, as usual. When I look back at some of the orders my fellow officers were faced with - ones that I was fortunate enough not to get, I can't help but wander whether I would have done the same things they had done. At the time I thought we were fighting for Earth. That an order is an order and if you didn't follow it then you were committing mutiny. I guess I still do.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the founding of the Alliance.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Shortly after the war, the Alliance was founded by a Minbari called Delenn - of the house of Mir, and lead by John Sheridan - remember him? He's the guy I married who came back from the dead. Anyway, this is where I really came into the fold; I was assigned - personally by President Sheridan, to take command of Babylon 5. When I first got there I would have never guessed it to be the place where I'd serve for the next fifteen years! God, I don't even know how I survived the first year - I think I blocked most of it out.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the Drakh war - most of it will have to be shot from scratch.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Then, more or less directly after the Alliance's brief conflict with the Centauri, the Drakh war began - subtlety at first, but they were always there, hiding in the shadows. It wasn't until years later that a connection between the Drakh and the Centauri war was discovered. The Drakh had taken over the Centauri and used their race as a front for their plans of conquest.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the Drakh infecting Earth with the plague - all from "Call to Arms."
LOCHLEY (V.O.) As the years went by it started to look as though the Drakh had retreated from the battlefield and gone into hiding again... that is, until they tried to destroy Earth with one of the shadows' greatest weapons - a planetkiller. Again Sheridan managed to save the day. well sort of; we stopped the planetkiller, but the Drakh had a contingency plan and infected the Earth with a plague - the Drakh plague.
MONTAGE changes to include material involved with the riots on Earth and the Excalibur searching for a cure.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Leaving Earth with the grim knowledge that in five years everything will be gone. The Excalibur - an Alliance prototype starship was sent out into the deepest regions of space to find a cure. The plague threat itself was over in less than two years, but the repercussions it had caused would last for the next twenty years.
FADE TO. BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) (to herself) What the hell am I doing? I'm talking about the history of the universe when I should be talking about my history; that was the point of this whole thing anyway.
FADE IN:
EXT. Burnt down hotel - night
INT. APARTMENT - DARK
We SEE broken bottles and an old couch - that's it, except for the odd syringe here and there. CAMERA PANS past all this to the door. A young punk- like Lochley wobbles in through the door - drunk.
LOCHLEY Heyzoe (beat) Hey. Zoe. Where are you? I've got food. (laughs) Just kidding.
Lochley wobbles to the couch and collapses on it. After resting for a beat, she gets back up and starts walking towards what was once a fireplace. She kneels down and picks up a bloodstained syringe.
LOCHLEY Zoe, you got some more stuff? I know you like to use a lot of it but we must've bought like two containers worth yesterday. (beat) Zoe. are you there?
Lochley gets up and walks towards the bathroom.
LOCHLEY Zoe. I know you're not in the shower because we don't have any water. Zoe.
INT. APARTMENT BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
CAMERA is facing the entrance so we can't SEE much of Zoe's body on the floor - except her hair and the occasional cockroach crawling through it. A beat later Lochley ENTERS and SEES Zoe. Lochley's face says it all. She moves closer to the body.
LOCHLEY Zoe! (crying) Oh my god, Zoe!
Lochley runs out of the bathroom - terrified.
INT. LIVINGROOM - CONTINUOUS
We SEE Lochley run out of the bathroom and collapse on the couch - crying into the armrest. A few beats later, Lochley gets up, moves to their old telephone unit and dials in a number.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER (groggy; she was asleep) Hello.
LOCHLEY (still crying) Mom.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER My god, Lizzie, is that you? (beat) Where have you been? We've been worried sick. Lizzie, are you crying? What's wrong?
LOCHLEY Mom, something terrible happened.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER What is it?
LOCHLEY (crying) Zoe's dead.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER (concerned) Lizzie, where are you?
Lochley keeps crying.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER (CONT'D) Lizzie, are you hurt? (beat) You have to tell me where you are.
LOCHLEY San Francisco, near the old launch site... in one of the old apartment buildings.
LOCHLEY'S MOTHER Stay right there Lizzie. I'll tell your father. He really missed you Lizzie. He's sorry about what happened before, if he could take it all back he would. (beat; on the verge of tears) Oh, Lizzie.
LOCHLEY (crying) Mom.
On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - OLD LAUNCHING SITE - HOURS LATER
We SEE the abandoned old Launch Site and in the background we SEE several burnt down old apartment buildings. We SEE a civilian hover-car fly past the site and towards the old apartment buildings.
INT. CIVILIAN HOVER-CAR - CONTINUOUS
We SEE seven men dressed in civilian clothes; Peter Lochley - Elizabeth Lochley's father, David Winters - a human male in his forties. The others in the car are only extras and there names are not important - they're only there because in "Day of the Dead" it was established that Lochley's father came after her with a squad of off-duty marines.
DAVID This is it. Everyone knows the drill; descend on targets and search the perimeter. Remember, this is Pete's daughter so don't leave any stone unturned, any square meter unsearched. she's one of the family.
Peter TURNS to David with a look of appreciation. David sees it and NODS back to him.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - OLD APARTMENT BUILDINGS - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the hover-car land and the marines start to EXIT. David stands outside when he gets out as the others run towards different apartment buildings.
DAVID Come on people, I wanna be back home before lunch! Let's go, go, go, go, go!
After the last marine, Peter, EXITS the car he and David start running as well.
INT. BURNT DOWN HOTEL - WALKWAY - MINUTES LATER
We SEE several marines running through - busting open doors and looking in rooms.
MARINE POV
As he kicks down a door and ENTERS the Apartment (same one Lochley was in) and SEES Lochley crying on the couch - exactly where she was before.
MARINE AND LOCHLEY
As the marine places a hand on her shoulder.
MARINE #1 Its okay, ma'am. Your safe now, your father'll take ya home. (out the door) I've found her!
Peter comes running in through the door and towards Lochley - looking very concerned.
PETER Elizabeth.
Lochley shoots up off the couch and into her father's arms.
PETER Where's Zoe, Eilzabeth?
LOCHLEY (still crying) Bathroom.
Peter NODS to Marine #1 to go search the bathroom.
INT. APARTMENT BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
CAMERA is facing the entrance so we can't SEE much of Zoe's body on the floor - except her hair and a family of cockroaches crawling through it. Marine #1 ENTERS the room. Off the look on his face we can tell the body must look pretty bad. On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. HOSPITAL - LATER
Just to establish.
PETER (V.O.) What was the cause of death?
INT. HOSPITAL - AUTOPSY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the Coroner and Peter Lochley standing in front of the covered body. The Coroner is still wearing gloves and a mask from the autopsy.
CORONER Drug overdose; Hysteriun, or Truff as it's known as on the street. I also found a lot of Dust in her system - not enough to cause death, but it may have contributed to the affect the Truff had on her. She choked on her. well, you saw the body. (beat) Were you close?
PETER Yes. I knew her parents before they died. She and my daughter were especially close. Was it an intentional overdose?
CORONER Given her history with drugs, I would say yes. But I'm not confident enough to say so in my official report. (beat) Does she have any living relatives?
Peter begins to shake his head.
CORONER (CONT'D) An uncle or an aunt maybe?
PETER No, not that I know of. (beat) Now, if you'll excuse me Doctor, I think I'd better get my daughter back home.
CORONER Of course.
Peter EXITS the autopsy room.
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - MINUTES LATER
We SEE Lochley sitting in one of the chairs looking down at the floor. Peter approaches her. Lochley looks up at him - eyes still damp.
PETER Come on, Elizabeth, let's go home.
LOCHLEY Did she do it on purpose?
PETER In the car. (off Lochley's "No. Here" look, lying) No, she didn't. It was an accident. Now, let's go; your mother's probably worried sick.
Lochley gets up and they move OS.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I knew he was lying - trying to hide something from me. It was one of the few times that he did something to protect me from pain - instead of inflicting it on me. Because of what happened that day, I swore off drugs and alcohol. for good.
On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. EARTHFORCE ACADEMY
We SEE a large building complex with yards of open terrain around it - used as running courses. We SEE a group of cadets moving around outside the complex and inside through the windows. In big bold letters "EarthForce Training Academy" is written across the building.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Later that year I joined the EarthForce Academy.
INT. ACADEMY - ADMITIONS AREA
We SEE Lochley passing by main admissions desk.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) My father wasn't very happy about it though. I couldn't understand why at the time, I thought he would have been ecstatic - not that I gave a damn what the hell he thought about me then.
We SEE Lochley walk into a private booth.
INT. BOOTH - CONTINUOUS
As Lochley enters and closes the door behind her. We SEE a small computer system to the side of Lochley.
COMPUTER Please state name and new authorization code.
LOCHLEY Elizabeth Lochley. Code, two words.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) After all I'd been through, I wasn't going to forget the road I followed before I turned my life around.
A long beat passes.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) Zoe's dead.
On Lochley's current emotional state, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. EARTHFORCE ACADEMY - NIGHT
Just to establish. Over this, we HEAR the sound of heavy breathing and footsteps in the background.
EXT. RUNNING COURSE - CONTINUOUS
We SEE a CLOSE UP of two legs running - CAMERA follows them, and we HEAR the same heavy breathing as we did before. CAMERA PANS UP the runner's body (she's wearing shorts and a sweatshirt) until we SEE Lochley's face - revealing her as the runner.
CLOSE UP ON LOCHLEY'S LEGS
As her right foot lands awkwardly on the ground and she struggles to keep running without falling over.
LOCHLEY RUNNING
As she stumbles over onto the ground. She is still breathing heavily and is exhausted by her run, so she doesn't get up. She rests on the ground for a few beats. We SEE an arm reach down to help Lochley up.
SHERIDAN (OS) Here, take my hand.
Lochley sees the arm and uses it to get herself up.
LOCHLEY & SHERIDAN
As Lochley gets back on her feet. As soon as they see each other there is an instant attraction. Sheridan is dressed almost exactly the same as Lochley.
SHERIDAN Are you alright?
LOCHLEY Yeah - I must tripped over a rock something. (beat) I didn't think anyone else would be running out here at this time of night.
SHERIDAN Neither did I. That's why I went.
The two smile at each other.
SHERIDAN How long have you been at the compound? I don't think I've seen you here before.
LOCHLEY Going on. six months. And you?
SHERIDAN About the same. (beat) You know, I better get back to the compound soon; have an early exam tomorrow.
LOCHLEY Me too. Shall we?
Sheridan NODS and they both start jogging back to the compound - CAMERA follows.
SHERIDAN Oh, I'm sorry; I forgot to ask for your name.
LOCHLEY Elizabeth. Elizabeth Lochley.
SHERIDAN (smiles) I'm John Sheridan. It's a pleasure to meet you Elizabeth Lochley.
LOCHLEY (smiles back) And you, John Sheridan.
CAMERA stops following them and they jog OS. On this, we CUT TO.
EXT. EARTHFORCE ACADEMY - HOURS LATER
We SEE Sheridan and Lochley sitting on the steps one of the building's entrances talking.
LOCHLEY . Okay, so what did your father do for a living?
SHERIDAN He was a diplomatic envoy for the EarthAlliance. What about yours?
LOCHLEY EarthForce marine officer.
SHERIDAN Huh, Looks like EarthForce is in our blood.
LOCHLEY Guess so.
Lochley looks up at the sky - notices the sun has started to rise.
LOCHLEY Oh, god.
SHERIDAN What is it?
LOCHLEY It's nearly morning. We've been sitting out on these steps talking for the last five hours.
SHERIDAN Well, I guess time flies when you're with the girl of your dreams.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I knew it was line. but I let myself fall for it anyway. I think the intensity of how he said it made me think he was telling the truth.
Lochley smiles. They kiss there on the steps. Over this, we HEAR.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Two and half years later, after graduation, we were happily married. It didn't last.
MONTAGE
Of Sheridan and Lochley fighting in their apartment - throwing things at each other and shouting.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) We were always fighting. Getting on each other's nerves. We both wanted to be in charge and neither of us wanted to take responsibility for the things that happened as a result. (beat) We finally divorced, amicably, after three months.
FADE TO. BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) With John everything was perfect in the beginning, but Matthew and I had problems from day one. If there was anything more than a passing attraction there then I sure as hell missed it.
EXT. MARS DOME ONE
Just to establish.
LOCHLEY (OS) I need specifics Lieutenant Carr. You're saying "It's covered" isn't enough.
INT. MARS WALKTHROUGH - CONTINUOUS
We SEE Lochley and Lieutenant Carr walking through the crowded room. NOTE: this scene is Lochley's first encounter with Gideon from "Ruling from the Tomb."
CARR It's enough, captain, if I really do have it covered.
LOCHLEY Drawing conclusions isn't your job Lieutenant, its mine. You present me with the facts, I draw the conclusions.
They stop walking.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) A fact is the number of cops we have and the hours of their shifts.
We SEE Gideon move into FRAME and approach Lochley from behind.
ANGLE - CLOSER ON LOCHLEY
As Gideon approaches.
GIDEON Excuse me.
Gideon stops directly behind Lochley - she ignores him.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) A fact is the proportion of officers to conference attendees. Now, you give me these facts and I draw the conclusions as to our manpower requirements.
GIDEON
I hate to interrupt, but I -
Lochley turns her head back towards Gideon slightly.
LOCHLEY (to Gideon) Then don't!
CARR (OS) You wanna talk facts, great -
ANGLE - CARR
CARR (getting angry) Fact; I spent my entire life here on Mars. Fact; you are only on temporary assignment as overseer of the conference on the Drakh plague. Fact; Mars is not a colony anymore - we're independent. So frankly, EarthForce Earther you can kiss my ass!
LOCHLEY Who the hell do you think you are?!
CARR Just a dumb cop, but I know this place insideout. Now, maybe back on your precious Babylon 5 you fire orders and everybody jumps, but here you're barkin' up the wrong tree. (to Gideon) Welcome to Mars. (to Lochley) Woof, woof.
Carr walks off - Lochley almost follows.
GIDEON Hard to believe it was named after the god of war.
Lochley turns her head back to Gideon.
LOCHLEY (still pissed off at Carr) Can I help you?
GIDEON I'm supposed to report to you upon arrival.
Lochley turns fully to Gideon.
LOCHLEY (sighs) Captain Matthew Gideon, of course.
They shake hands.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) I'm Captain Elizabeth Lochley - in charge of the conference. Normally stationed on B5 -
GIDEON Yes, I know.
LOCHLEY Sorry about coping an attitude before, -
Lochley TURNS and starts waking - Gideon follows.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) I guess I have been barking a little today.
GIDEON Its okay; I've come to do a little woofing of my own. I've got Doctor Sarah Chambers up on the Excalibur preparing her key notes speech and I want to know security measures are going to be airtight. It doesn't help anyone to get caught up in territorial squabbles. all due respect.
Lochley stops and TURNS to face Gideon.
LOCHLEY Are you done?
GIDEON Not quite. (beat) Look, I hope some good comes out of this conference - same as you. But meanwhile, this little exercise mainly puts a collection of easy targets all in one place for any nut with an agenda. Now, I'd rather be out searching for a cure than talking about one, but instead - we're here, as ordered.
LOCHLEY And don't think I don't appreciate it, but, let's get one thing straight, captain. Although, admittedly, you came in at a bad moment, I have no interest in territorial squabbling. I want the same thing you do, and frankly I don't think it's asking too much for you to have a little faith. I assure you; I've got everything covered.
GIDEON Is that a conclusion, or a fact?
LOCHLEY That's a fact.
INT. MARS BRADBURY STREET - CONTINUOUS
We SEE a man walk towards one of the representatives.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) I assure you, Doctor Chambers and all the other representatives will be perfectly safe.
We SEE the man is holding a knife and he STABS the representative with it.
INT. MARS WALKWAY - MINUTES LATER
We SEE an EA Health Organization flag with the date "June 15 2267" on it. CAMERA starts to PAN DOWN it.
LOCHLEY (OS) Cops at all the exits, cops along the corridors.
CAMERA PANS PAST flag to find Lochley and Gideon walking on the walkway.
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) Security scans for every weapon known to man. and a few that aren't.
Lochley and Gideon both stop and lean against the rail of the walkway.
ANGLE - IN FRONT OF THEM
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) And the acoustics ain't bad either.
GIDEON Very impressive. Look, captain, perhaps we got off on the wrong foot.
Lochley looks at Gideon - eyes wipe open.
LOCHLEY Perhaps?
CLOSE UP ON LOCHLEY
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) Look, captain, I didn't ask for this assignment. This whole Drakh virus conference was Doctor Stephen Franklin's idea; bring in people from uninfected Earth colonies, put everybody's heads together, plan a unified course of research. Now, when EarthForce asked for an officer to oversee it, the good-doctor put me on the top of his shortlist. Now, right now my main goal is to find a cure for this so I can go Earth-side and thank Stephen in person, with a large brick.
CLOSE UP ON GIDEON
GIDEON Well there's incentive for ya. (beat) Anyway, with so much on the line, I'm just being careful that's all.
LOCHLEY Careful?
LOCHLEY - SIDE VIEW
LOCHLEY (CONT'D) I hear you're more of a. gambler than the careful type.
GIDEON - SIDE VIEW
GIDEON When I have a sense of the odds, and right now. I don't. All these precautions are nice, but -
LOCHLEY Nice? (grunts) Captain Gideon, Security happens to be my middle name.
GIDEON Yeah, that's all well and good - but just incase your last name is Breach it won't hurt for me to double-check.
ANGLE - IN FRONT OF THEM
Lochley TURNS sharply to Gideon.
LOCHLEY Double-check?!
Lochley's wrist-link goes off.
LOCHLEY (IN LINK) Lochley. Go ahead.
CARR (ON LINK) This is Carr. We have a situation on Bradbury street just south of Burrows.
LOCHLEY (IN LINK) What kind of situation?
CARR (ON LINK) The no longer breathing kind.
LOCHLEY (IN LINK) (beat) I'm on my way.
Lochley starts to walk off.
GIDEON On our way.
Gideon TURNS to leave.
MONTAGE
Of material that happens after that scene of "Ruling from the Tomb" like their investigation of the murder scene, but NOT their first dinner together.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) It turns out Matthew was right; the conference was the target of a doomsday cult called Sacred-Omega who believed that the Drakh plague was the second coming of Noah's flood. Of course we caught them before they could blow the place up. Not that that didn't stop them from trying to sabotage our search for a cure a dozen more times before the Excalibur found it.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. LOCHLEY'S QUARTERS ON MARS - LATER
We SEE Lochley move into FRAME with a bowl of food in her hands. She reaches the table - a small table with two plates and several serving bowls, and she sits down in front of a plate. Gideon moves towards a bottle of water on the desktop.
GIDEON When you spend most of your time probing ancient ruins of cities you don't stumble across many places with takeout leman...
Gideon opens the bottle.
LOCHLEY (gestures to the two bowls in front of her) Shrimp or Chicken?
Gideon looks at Lochley while pouring the water into two glasses.
GIDEON It's official - you're my new hero.
LOCHLEY Hmm, I'm not so sure I should be flattered. Who was your old hero?
Lochley puts some rice on her plate.
GIDEON Truthfully? John Sheridan.
Gideon places the two glasses of water on the table and sits down in front of the second plate.
LOCHLEY John Sheridan, huh?
Lochley takes a sip out of her glass.
GIDEON Were you ever, uh, under him?
Lochley almost chokes as she swallows her drink.
GIDEON You okay?
LOCHLEY Fine, fine, thank you. Um, under him?
GIDEON On Babylon 5. You served under him, right?
Lochley picks up one of the bowls in front of her and starts putting some of its contents on her plate.
LOCHLEY Oh, yes, I was. under him for a while. Actually he, uh, preferred it that way.
Lochley puts the bowl back down. Gideon starts putting rice on his plate.
GIDEON What a life he's lead, huh. Soldier, statesman. president, forging the Interstellar Alliance. Some people treat him like a religious figure. Still, I suppose he, uh, puts his pants on one leg at a time, right?
Gideon puts the rice back and starts placing some of the food Lochley had just used on his plate.
LOCHLEY Oh, yeah - backwards in the dark sometimes.
GIDEON (confused) What??
LOCHLEY Matthew - Matt?
GIDEON Matt's fine. Liz?
LOCHLEY . Elizabeth. Uh, Matt, may I be blunt?
GIDEON That's a trick question, right?
LOCHLEY (sighs) Your technique with women is. well, piss-poor based on what I've seen. Should I take that as a sign that you haven't. been involved with many?
GIDEON It's been. spermatic, at best. The life, the career. I mean, I don't have to tell you, right? You're probably in the same boat too.
LOCHLEY Oh, yeah, exactly. Well, you know, except for the time I spent. married.
GIDEON Married. You're telling me that some guy actually managed to land you, get to lower your defences enough to commit - and then he let you get away? (sighs) God, he must be the biggest loser in the galaxy.
LOCHLEY (sighs) Major loser, they don't come any bigger.
GIDEON Loser have a name?
Gideon takes a drink from his glass.
LOCHLEY John Sheridan.
Gideon spits his drink out. Lochley starts laughing.
GIDEON Had to wait til I took a drink didn't ya?
LOCHLEY It seemed only fair.
Gideon starts laughing.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Months later, the Excalibur made a stop at Babylon 5. After a brief struggle with two Lorkan ambassadors, Matt and I returned to my quarters.
EXT. BABYLON 5
Just to establish.
INT. LOCHLEY'S QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS
We SEE Lochley and Gideon ENTER and walk towards CAMERA. Both are dressed in dirty civilian clothes.
LOCHLEY Ough, I hate this. I've gotta take a shower.
Lochley takes off her jacket.
GIDEON Me too. It'll take hours to vod this stuff off.
Lochley sits down in a chair and starts taking off her boots.
LOCHLEY Ooh, no. I have got a real water shower.
GIDEON You do? Real, honest to God, hot running water?
LOCHLEY Yeah. But you'll have to wait while it recycles.
GIDEON Its okay, I can wait. I have to get my adrenaline down anyway.
LOCHLEY Yeah, me too. I'm still buzzing from.
GIDEON Makes you feel alive doesn't it?
Lochley notices Gideon - sexually.
LOCHLEY Yeah, it does.
CLOSE UP ON GIDEON
As he swoops in and kisses Lochley.
LOCHLEY AND GIDEON
GIDEON We don't have to wait to recycle the water; we could, uh, we could share.
LOCHLEY Environmentally safe.
GIDEON Waste not, want not.
LOCHLEY Absolutely.
They both run into the bathroom. We SEE the reflection of Gideon and Lochley taking off their clothes and kissing.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Not even a month later, after an assassination attempt on his life, Matt came back to the station on a private mission.
INT. LOCHLEY'S QUARTERS - LATER
We SEE Gideon sitting on Lochley's one of Lochley's chairs, and we HEAR the shower running (water).
GIDEON So you're saying that. What exactly is it that you're saying?
LOCHLEY (OS) Can this wait?
GIDEON Sure - if you want me to make a fool of myself in front of the president.
LOCHLEY (annoyed) Alright.
We HEAR the water from the shower get turned off. A beat later, Lochley emerges from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and a towel wrapped around her head. She sits on a chair opposite Gideon.
LOCHLEY If you want to impress the president just. be yourself.
GIDEON That's it, that's the part that confused me. What do you mean 'be myself'? Should I be tactful or should I be brutally honest? Should I kiss his ass, or should I -
LOCHLEY I get the point. (sighs) He likes people who speak what's on their minds, people who are blunt and straight to it - but not to the point of downright rudeness. He likes long walks down the beach, chocolate, and collecting pictures of naked -
GIDEON (not wanting to hear the rest) Thank you. Captain. That's a little clearer.
LOCHLEY Don't worry; if he's coming all the way from Minbar to hear what you have to say, then I'm sure he wants to hear it - he's not going to be upset if you act in a way that he wouldn't have. It's not like you're trying to sell him a used shuttle or something. (beat) What are you going to talk to him about anyway?
GIDEON I'm sorry, under orders from the president, my lips
Gideon moves a finger along his lips and makes a ZIP SOUND.
GIDEON (CONT'D) Are sealed. For now anyway.
Lochley LOOKS at Gideon for a beat before.
LOCHLEY Whatever it is, it must be pretty important to divert the Excalibur from her mission.
GIDEON That's just the thing. EarthForce didn't approve this. little detour, - all they know is that the Excalibur is on an urgent mission and that we can't break radio silence to update them of our situation. If I told them what we were really doing then the wrong people would find out about -
We can SEE Gideon was about to, and wants to tell Lochley about the black- ops shadow group.
GIDEON (CONT'D) . Something they shouldn't.
LOCHLEY (a little confused) I see. (beat) Anyway, I should be the one who's getting stressed out about the next few days, not you.
GIDEON Why?
LOCHLEY New year, remember. This station's importance to the galaxy may have dropped significantly over the last few years, but if there's one thing the people of Babylon 5 are good at, it's celebrating. Last year Ambassador Ta'Lon got into a brawl with the Drazi ambassador and Vir valiantly marched to Ta'Lon's rescue - drunk as a skunk. (laughs) Now that was a sight. Of course when all is said and done it was up to security and myself to break it up and clean the mess they, and everyone else on the station had made.
GIDEON Vir? You don't mean Ambassador Cotto do you?
LOCHLEY (surprised) Yes. You know him?
GIEDON Not really. I met him once on the other side of the negotiations table.
LOCHLEY (changing the subject) Any new leads to a cure for the plague?
GIDEON There are a couple of planets on the board that we haven't checked out yet, but nothing worth more than a quick scan or two of the planet's surface, if they were then Lieutenant Matheson would have told me. It can wait.
LOCHLEY Are you sure about that? They may not be red-hot leads, but starting next year - a few days from now, we'll only have another three years and eleven months to find a cure. Time's running out.
Gideon already knew this, but hearing Lochley say it makes him think about it more seriously - this should be shown by the expression on his face.
LOCHLEY (uncomfortably) Ah, Matthew, I don't know what you had in mind for tonight, but I -
GIDEON (thinking she's slowing their relationship down) I think I know where this is going, you think we -
LOCHLEY - Should use your quarters.
We SEE a very surprised LOOK on Gideon's face as he.
GIDEON (shocked) What?
LOCHLEY It's just that with all the work related things lying around here, paper work, duty rosters, paper work, security reports, paper work. I don't think I would be able to get myself into a more. personal mood.
GIDEON That's fine. My quarters it is. Hows twenty-one-hundred sound?
LOCHLEY Great.
GIDEON Twenty-one-hundred it is.
Gideon gets up and walks towards Lochley's door. Just as the door opens, he TURNS AROUND to face Lochley.
GIDEON (CONT'D) And by the way. Your towel's. open.
Lochley LOOKS DOWN and sees the gap between her legs not covered by her towel. She quickly closes her legs (embarrassed).
GIDEON . See-ya.
Gideon walks out.
CLOSE UP ON LOCHLEY
As she stays still for a beat, then gets up and moves OS.
EXT. BABYLON 5 - NEAR MIDNIGHT
Just to establish.
INT. BABYLON 5 ZOCALO - CONTINUOUS
The place is so crowded that CAMERA only catches glimpses of Gideon and Lochley sitting at a small café table as people rush past CAMERA.
CLOSE UP ON GIDEON AND LOCHLEY'S TABLE
We can tell they have Invoked privacy because of the total lack of background noise around them. Both Gideon and Lochley have hot cups of coffee in front of them.
LOCHLEY I'm sorry things didn't work out the way you'd planned. But, really, what were you expecting? That Sheridan would start another war with Earth to stop them using shadow-tech? When the shadows left known space they left most of their technology along with it. There are bound to be people who think they can use it to gain an advantage over the other races. I'm betting half the member worlds of the Alliance have been experimenting with shadow-tech. Granted, at the level you claim Earth is it could be considered as -
GIDEON (coldly) In-human.
LOCHLEY I was going to say, Immoral. (beat) So. what now?
GIDEON (distantly) Nothing. In two hours the Excalibur continues her mission and starts reporting back to EarthGov again. They won.
LOCHLEY I didn't think you'd give up so easily.
GIDEON
Oh, I'm not giving up. They may have won the battle, but they haven't won the war. (changing the subject) T-minus one minute. They should be starting the countdown soon.
LOCHLEY Matt. are you, by any chance, going to be dropping by this side of the galaxy again any time soon?
GIDEON Is that an invitation?
LOCHLEY Hell no. Just wanted to know whether I should make it a point to buy some longer towels the next time I go shopping.
GIDEON
Hey, I didn't peak. I swear. Besides, it isn't as if I saw something that I didn't see later that night.
LOCHLEY So you did peak. Can't say I'm all that surprised.
GIDEON What? Why?
LOCHLEY By your courting methods I can tell you hadn't been with a woman for a long time.
GIDEON
Hey, I've had my fair share of romance. You're not the only woman to eventually say, "What the heck."
Just as the words get out of Gideon's mouth, the COUNTDOWN begins. During this last part of the scene we will be changing angles from the silent Gideon and Lochley to the crowded and noisy Zocalo.
ANGLE - ZOCALO
CROWD TEN. NINE. EIGHT.
ANGLE - GIDEON AND LOCHLEY
They are LEANING TOWARDS each other
LOCHLEY (softly) Were you going to kiss me or not?
GIDEON (softly) This answer your question?
Gideon MOVES FORWARD more and makes contact with Lochley's lips - kissing her in a surprisingly gentle and romantic way.
ANGLE - ZOCALO
CROWD THREE. TWO. ONE.
ANGLE - CLOSE UP ON GIDEON AND LOCHLEY KISSING
As CAMERA PANS AROUND them in their sweet embrace.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Four years later - after very complicated courting and relationship periods, Matthew and I were married.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM
We SEE Gideon - with a scar across his arm and shoulder, and Lochley lying in bed. Lochley is wearing only an old shirt and underwear. Lochley is cuddled up alongside Gideon. The bed itself is quite big, so it looks weird having two people together on one side and empty space on the other.
GIDEON
How on Earth did you find this place anyway? An apartment this size on Mars mus've cost a fortune.
LOCHLEY I'm sure it did. But, fortunately, I have a very wealthy friend on Mars who was kind enough to buy it as a wedding gift.
GIDEON Buy? You mean rent don't you?
LOCHLEY No. (off Gideon's look) As I said, he's a very wealthy friend.
GIDEON (surprised) So all this is ours?
LOCHLEY Yep. Not a bad place to retire to. Not that I'm planning on retiring anytime soon.
GIDEON So you'll be out working all day while I stay home and play housewife?
LOCHLEY Sounds fine to me.
GIDEON (sighs; remembering) I really hate this.
LOCHLEY (off Gideon's comment) And I love you too.
GIDEON No, it's not that. They've scheduled another drill. I'm supposed to meet them at the Recalish asteroid-belt in a few hours.
LOCHLEY Oh God, didn't you just come back from one of those yesterday?
GIDEON Yeah. And there'll probably be another one tomorrow, and another one the day after that.
LOCHLEY Typical; we haven't even been married twenty four hours and you're already leaving.
GIDEON It's not as if I won't be back. Besides, as soon as my training's finished I'll be at your disposal twenty-four/seven. Just a few more weeks - that's all.
LOCHLEY It better be - for your sake.
Gideon starts to get out of bed.
GIDEON I really have to get going.
Gideon puts his pants and shirt back on - both pieces of clothing must be black.
LOCHLEY And just what am I supposed to do?
GIDEON
I hear my ship calling me; I have to go. I promise I'll be back before you have to leave.
LOCHLEY You'd damn well better.
Gideon slips on his shoes - also black and gets up.
GIDEON Goodbye. Love you.
LOCHLEY Love you too.
Gideon EXITS the apartment. Lochley waits a beat, then gets out of bed and walks towards a large mirror. As she looks at herself in the mirror, she lifts her shirt up so we can SEE her stomach. Lochley starts examining it in the mirror - using her hand to feel for something (she's pregnant??)
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Life has thrown me many twists and turns in life, but this one was by far was the one I least expected. Every since I was little I knew I had no interest in having children of my own - not after what my father put me through. So when I found out I was pregnant with Sarah. well, let's just say I wasn't all that thrilled about it. And, to be quite frank, I thought I was way too old to start a family. But, eight long months latter, and after a few pre-birth complications, my daughter was born.
On this, we DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. BABYLON 5
Just to establish.
INT. CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
We SEE several girls - Sarah Lochley, Janey and Rose, all about five, together talking. In background a teacher is talking as well.
SARAH . And that's where she foundered them.
ALL THE GIRLS Ewe!
ROSE (bragging) Well my daddy's an importatant busyness man.
Sarah looks sad after hearing this.
JANEY (to Rose) Rose, that wasn't very nice.
ROSE Do you all wanted to meet at the Zokolal after school?
JANEY & SARAH Oh, yeah!
SARAH (remembers) Oh, I can't.
JANEY Why, Sarah?
ROSE (teasing Sarah) Cause her mommy's too scared to let her little princess go anywhere without being followed by the man with the croaky voice.
Sarah is really hurt by this and Janey sees it, so does Rose - that's why she keeps going.
ROSE (CONT'D) And then she must to give her little kissy-wissy on the cheek.
JANEY Rose!
Sarah starts crying.
JANEY (to Rose) Now look what you'll done. (to Sarah) It's alright, Sarah. Rose was just kidding.
ROSE Stop crying, ya cry-baby. Cry-baby, cry-baby.
JANEY Stop it, Rose! (to Sarah) It's okay. She didn't mean it.
CAMERA PANS AROUND to find Lochley standing behind them - unnoticed by the girls, looking very worried.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) That was when I realized I had to stop overcompensating for my father's poor parenting - no matter how much it hurt inside.
Off Lochley's worried look, we FADE TO.
BLANK SCREEN
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Later that year Babylon 5 was turned back to Earth control. Most of the command staff was re-assigned - including myself. Security chief Zack Allan was asked to stay on, but decided to go back Earthside. Apparently after we left, people stopped coming to Babylon 5 - not that its popularity was that much better before we left. Most blamed the recent budget cuts, but the truth was that B5 had served its purposed.
INT. BABYLON 5 - NEAR TRANSPORT TUBE
We SEE Ivanova standing beside Emperor Vir.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) There was no point in stationing more personnel to a deserted space station.
IVANOVA They're ready.
Ivanova walks into the transport tube. Vir gives his signature four- fingered wave from "Into the Fire" to the station and also ENTERS the transport tube.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Although I was not present when it was commissioned - or decommissioned, Babylon 5 has always been close to me.
CAMERA PANS to the right to find Zack Allan and Delenn.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Hell, besides Zack I'd served on the place longer than anyone else.
Zack TURNS to Delenn, puts his arm around her shoulder supportively and smiles as they ENTER the tube. CAMERA PANS to the right again to find Michael Garibaldi and Stephen Franklin. They both TURN to look at each other.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Babylon 5 had been my home for fifteen years. I think that was why I chose not to make an appearance at the decommissioning ceremony; being there - seeing my home of over a decade destroyed would have just been too emotional for me.
Franklin pats Garibaldi on the shoulder as he walks towards the tube. Garibaldi takes a quick look around the station. Garibaldi TURNS and starts to walk towards the tube when he sees an old shot-glass on a shelf near the tube and picks it up. He TURNS back to the station briefly for one last look - rolling the shot-glass between his hands. Garibaldi finally ENTERS the tube - shot-glass in hand.
ANGLE - TRANSPORT TUBE
As Garibaldi ENTERS it. The door closes.
SHUTDOWN CREWMAN (JMS)
As he walks to a control box and turns off the power.
EXT. SECTION OF BABYLON 5 - MINUTES LATER
We SEE the lights go out.
EXT. BABYLON 5'S AFT - CONTINUOUS
As the last light goes out. We SEE a single shuttle exits the station passing through an honor guard of ships from many different races.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) The Year was 2281. The year of important and often sad events. The year John Sheridan died. The year Babylon 5 was decommissioned.
EXT. IN FRONT OF BABYLON 5 - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the ships back away from the station.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) The year I officially retired. The year I lost the only thing left in my life that meant a damn thing to me.
EXT. BABYLON 5'S AFT - CONTINUOUS
We SEE beginning of a spectacular explosion, starting with the station's fusion reactor.
WIDER ANGLE
As the explosion cascade forward, blowing apart the solar panels and out the bay doors.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Most people have to lose what they have before they can truly appreciate it. I didn't. It took me a few years, but I realized exactly what I had.
EXT. BABYLON 5 - ALL OF IT - CONTINUOUS
As the entire station burst into flames.
EXT. IN FRONT OF BABYLON 5 - CONTINUOUS
We SEE the last piece of the station destroyed.
LOCHLEY (V.O.) Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT FOUR
TAG
INT. HOUSE
We SEE a wall of framed pictures; Lochley with Sheridan, Lochley with Gideon, Lochley with at least one other man in a romantic scenario, and an older version of Lochley in front of a "Happy 70th" birthday cake.
LOCHLEY (OS) Well. that's it, I guess. That's my life. Not all of it. but the important things.
CAMERA PANS past these pictures to find.
LOCHLEY IN BED
The Lochley we SEE should be just a little older than the one seen in the birthday photo - letting us know that she's older than seventy. She is talking into a link-like device in her hand.
LOCHLEY I have no idea who'd want to listen to my life story; God knows, it isn't exactly the most interesting story there is to be told. but, for those of you who do listen to this recording. don't remember me as I came across - the troubled teenager, the struggling parent, or even the person who I have tried to be most of my life - the model EarthForce officer. Remember me as.
ZACK (OS) . The best of the best.
Lochley looks to her left.
ANGLE - ZACK ALLAN
As he walks towards Lochley's bed - limping - as seen in "Sleeping in Light", and not looking in such good condition.
ZACK (CONT'D) Good morning, captain. (correcting himself) Elizabeth.
LOCHLEY AND ZACK
Zack sits down in a chair next to Lochley's bed.
LOCHLEY Good morning, Zack.
ZACK (gesturing at the link-like device) I see you took my advice. Did you want me to keep it safe for you?
LOCHLEY Yeah. I'm almost finished. I don't think re-living my life was a very entertaining way to spend my last hours though.
ZACK (uneasily)
So you took the pill?
Lochley NODS - fighting back tears.
LOCHLEY It should kick-in anytime now.
ZACK I'll stay with you if you like.
LOCHLEY No. I think I'd rather be alone. (gestures to link-like device) Besides, I have to get this finished before.
ZACK I'll be just outside if you change your mind, okay? (beat; the final goodbye) I. I know we agreed no long goodbyes. but, I just want you to know that it's been an honor serving with you, and being your friend. Drop me line when you get to other side.
Lochley can't think of any words to relay how much he'd meant to her these last few years, so she just NODS appreciably at him. Zack gets up out of his chair and slowly starts to walk out. When Zack finally leaves, Lochley starts speaking back into the link-like recorder.
LOCHLEY Sorry for the interruption; I was saying goodbye to an old friend - my old security chief on Babylon 5, Zack Allan - I think mentioned him. Well anyway, Zack, I believe, is now an executive consultant to Emperor Vir Cotto of Centauri Prime - who was also once assigned to Babylon 5. I'm running out of time and getting sidetracked, so I'd better finish up soon. Don't remember me as the model EarthForce officer, remember me as. It doesn't matter. Just. remember me.
On this, we
FADE OUT:
END OF TAG