Computer voice: Liner White Star,
arriving from Earth, is now docking in bay 5.
Passengers will disembark through customs area 7.
[Announcement in foreign language]
Well, it was a pleasure
traveling with you, Mr. Smith.
It's not every day you meet a man
with such an interesting calling.
Same here, rabbi. Take care.
Shalom.
Bo je moi.
My, my. Slappers--
with a medlab seal, yet.
And I bet you two beauties
are a couple of brain surgeons, huh?
Damn!
Red 6, this is Garibaldi.
I got a smilin' pair of 10-15s for you
dealing in stolen slappers.
One of these days, Garibaldi,
you're gonna learn to watch your back.
Walker Smith.
Where the hell'd you go after Orion 4?
You name it. Io, Mars, LeGrange station.
Anyplace somebody would pay
to watch me bust some rope-a-dope's head.
Wasn't pretty,
but it bought me passage back to Earth
and a boxing license.
I know. I saw all your fights.
Man, you were something.
Everybody said you were on your way
to the world title until...
You believe what they said about me?
No, but I'd still like to hear it from you.
It's a long story and a wet one.
I need to get a berth
and make some connections.
I'd say we hook up in around 30 rounds.
I know a place off the Zocalo, the dugout.
Just your style. Red 5.
I'll see you there.
I heard some stuff about you, too, Garibaldi.
You believe it?
Hell, yeah.
[Laughs]
Sinclair: It was the dawn of the third age of mankind,
10 years after the Earth-Minbari war.
The Babylon project was a dream given form.
Its goal: To prevent another war
by creating a place
where humans and aliens
could work out their differences peacefully.
It's a port of call,
home away from home
for diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs,
and wanderers.
Humans and aliens
wrapped in 2,500,000 tons of spinning metal,
all alone in the night.
It can be a dangerous place,
but it's our last, best hope for peace.
This is the story
of the last of the Babylon stations.
The year is 2258.
The name of the place is...
Walker.
What's this?
Specialty of the house--
zoon burgers, jovian tubers,
and a miner's draught
of traxian ale.
You drench it in ketchup,
and you'll swear
you're back in that place on cestus.
Where the waitresses all have 3--
yeah, that's the joint.
You always were a classy guy.
It's good.
Am I going space happy,
or are you drinking water?
Nothin' but.
Gave up the rocket fuel a while ago.
Oh, right.
You always were a lousy drunk.
Me? As I recall our first meeting,
you were about 9 sheets to the wind
and taking apart a holeopeep
in fortune cite.
Until you bent a shock stick over my brain pan,
which you never would've done had I seen you coming.
It was the start of a beautiful friendship.
[Light jazz music playing]
[Doorbell rings]
[Sighs]
Stop program.
[Music stops]
Open.
Suzotchka.
It's so good to see you again.
Rabbi koslov.
So formal?
You used to call me uncle yossel.
I can't believe you're here.
Neither can I.
This is my first time among the stars, you know.
Such vastness seen so close
makes one feel very small.
You must be tired.
Please sit down.
Can I get you anything?
No. The seat I'll take.
You're here about papa.
Yes.
Andrei's death was a great sorrow for all of us.
Before he died,
he entrusted me with a legacy--
your legacy.
I was going to give it to you
after his funeral, but you weren't there.
The station was in a crisis at the time.
I couldn't get away.
Of course. You're a military officer
in an important position.
Duty must come first.
I understand,
and so would Andrei.
That's the way he raised you.
So...
You sat shivah here.
I haven't sat shivah.
Well, it can still be done.
I'll sit with you. I'll arrange everything.
I'm afraid I can't.
My duties here are very extensive.
I just don't have the time.
Besides, it's been several months.
There's no point.
I see.
Well, I think I'll get some rest.
I'm staying over in the sanctuary area
in, uh, what do you call it?
Blue 3. I'll take you there.
No, no, no. I'll find my own way back.
You have duties.
But you will have dinner with me tonight?
Of course. I'll come by at 2000.
Huh?
8:00.
Blue 3. 2000.
Such mishigas.
You've done well, Suzotchka.
Andrei was very proud of you,
and so am I.
Thank you, uncle yossel.
So after I beat atagi,
I was the number one contender for the title
and that's when it came down.
Sports corps had invested a bundle in Vizaro,
and they were not about to let him be beat,
so they told me it wasn't my time yet.
They said they would make it worth my while
to retire for a few years.
So you told them to stuff it.
And I wasn't that polite about it.
I worked long and hard for a title shot,
and I didn't think there was anything they could do.
That's when they framed you?
Like a picture.
Doctored my blood test
to make it look like I was popping adrenals.
Spread the word that I was a stooge for the syndi.
The nets ate it up and me along with it.
I haven't been able
to get a legitimate fight in 2 years.
I earned that shot, Mike.
I sweated for it, I bled for it,
I dreamed of it.
They took it away from me like it was nothing,
like I was nothing.
So why did you come to Babylon 5?
To make history.
Be the first human to fight in the Mutai.
The Mutai? Are you out of your skull?
You know Mutai means "trial of blood."
Snappy.
They called my fight with atagi "world war iv."
No, no, no. You don't get it.
The Mutai isn't a prize fight.
It's a meat grinder.
No rounds, no rules, no gloves.
Just take your opponent out.
5 aliens have been killed
and there are 10 times that number
that have been crippled.
I was dead when they took my title shot away,
so I figure I come up here
and bust a few snakeheads,
make a big splash in the nets.
The corp will be beggin' me to fight the champ.
It's the real deal, Mike.
I am rabbi yossel koslov.
What can I do for you, rabbi?
I'm an old friend of the Ivanov family,
and I wish to speak to you about Susan.
Please, have a seat.
You are aware
of the recent death of Susan's father?
No. When did this happen?
A few months ago.
He was very ill. It was not unexpected.
I understand
she was speaking to him from here
the moment he died.
She never said anything about it.
Huh.
I'm not surprised.
Susan has always been very private
about such matters.
And there was bad blood between them.
You know about her mother.
I know she was a telepath
and that she took her own life.
Great tragedy,
and one for which I believe
Susan always blamed her father.
A year later,
when her brother ganya was killed
in the Minbari wars
and Susan chose to join Earthforce
against Andrei's wishes,
the rift between them became greater still.
I see.
Susan has traveled a hard road, Commander,
and now that her family is gone,
that road is harder still.
I'm worried about her.
How can I help?
It is Jewish tradition to mourn the dead
by sitting shivah so that family,
friends, members of the Jewish community
can gather at the home of the bereaved
to offer comfort
and also help fulfill the obligation
of prayer for the departed.
Yes. I'm familiar with it.
Well...
Susan has not done this,
and I believe it would help her
accept her father's death
and his life.
Now, if you could possibly Grant her
a few days' leave.
Certainly.
She can take as much time as she needs.
Thank you, Commander.
I will tell Susan at dinner tonight.
By the way,
this Babylon 5 of yours...
Sheesh.
Nes gedule-- a great miracle.
Thank you.
What did you say this was again?
It's treel.
It's a...Sort of fish.
The Centauri raise them.
Treel? Mm-hmm.
It's Kosher?
That I can't say.
Well, I don't recall treel
being mentioned in the torah, so...
Mmm. It's wonderful.
So how are things back home?
They change, they stay the same.
Russia is Russia.
Your father used to say,
"if regret could be harvested,
Russia would be the world's fruit basket."
I remember.
You know...
He would have liked this place.
I invited him, but he always refused.
He said humanity had no business in space
until we could learn to live in peace on Earth,
and you know how he felt about Earthforce.
I know,
but he didn't mean
to hurt you by it, Suzotchka.
It was just that he was so terribly afraid
of losing you,
as he lost Sofie and ganya.
He'd lost me long before that.
Is that why you won't sit shivah?
No. I told you my duties won't allow it.
We've got 3 trade convoys due by Saturday--
Commander Sinclair
seems to think he can handle it,
and he said you could have
as much time as you need.
You spoke to the Commander about this?
Yes. A fine man.
You should not have done that.
I'm a rabbi.
When I see a Jew
denying one of our most basic traditions,
I meddle.
My father always tried to control my life
when he was alive.
I don't need anyone to take his place
now that he's gone!
Please excuse me.
Suzotchka, please. I didn't...
You know, you're demented.
You can still call this off.
Relax. All I have to do
is find this muta-do character
who runs the show, and I'm in.
This place is only for mutari.
Go.
Relax, e.T. I'm looking for the muta-do.
I'm Walker Smith from Earth.
I'm here to fight in the Mutai.
Humans do not fight in the Mutai.
Go back to Earth, Walker Smith.
Who the hell are you?
I am the muta-do,
the sayer,
and I say...
Go back to Earth!
The Mutai... Is not for you.
You heard him, Earthling.
You've worn out your welcome, Ace.
Come on.
Damn snakehead
caught me by surprise.
That snakehead is over 90 years old
and fought in over 1,000 Mutai.
You knew who he was all the time?
Look, you want to get your head handed to you,
and I think it's a lousy idea.
So sue me. But I had nothing to do
with what went down with the muta-do.
You did that all by yourself.
These aliens may be just snakeheads to you,
but the Mutai means something to them.
You treat it like a tank fight.
Oh, come on, man. Don't be like that.
Stroke off.
Earther!
Who in the hell are you?
I am caliban.
You wish to fight in the Mutai?
What if I do? I've already been turned down.
There is another way,
but it must be done properly,
with respect,
and it will require great courage.
Keep talking.
You wish to see me, Commander?
Yes.
I wanted to offer my condolences
on the death of your father.
Thank you.
Why didn't you request leave
to attend the funeral?
You were negotiating the euphrates treaty
at the time.
I was needed here.
That's commendable,
but since b-5 is quiet now,
I'm granting you indefinite leave
to sit shivah for your father.
That won't be necessary.
May I return to my post?
No, you may not.
Have a chair.
I prefer to stand.
That's an order.
You're the best officer I've ever served with, Ivanova.
I couldn't run this station without you.
But I also consider you a friend,
and as your friend,
I'm telling you,
it does no good to bottle up your feelings.
Your father's dead.
You need to express your grief
or it will eat you up.
I appreciate your concern, Commander.
And your friendship.
But my feelings are my own,
and how I display them or not
is my choice.
Now...
If I may return to my duty?
Susan.
Before you make that choice,
make sure you know what it is you're really feeling.
Mike.
Yeah?
About last night,
I thought it over. You were right.
It was my screw-up.
I always did have too much mouth.
I'm sorry.
Can I sit?
So what are you gonna do now?
Really don't know.
Maybe I'll catch some bouts
on the off-world circuit,
or maybe I'll hang up the gloves for good.
You're kidding.
It's been a long haul, Mike.
A lot of blood, a lot of pain.
I don't know if it was worth it.
The Sho-Rin fights tonight.
That's what they call the champ in Mutai.
I have a couple of ducks.
What do you say?
At least I get a chance to see what I missed.
These ducks cost me a bundle.
[Beep beep]
Garibaldi.
Woman: Chief, we got a 245 on red 3.
It looks like the perp's zoned.
On the way.
See you tonight?
All right, but if this is
some kind of hose job...
That guy was a bum.
I could have taken him.
[Speaking alien language]
This is good. What is it?
Yokdri. Fried tree worm.
Into the sands of blood
comes luh-kar of the Drazi,
the bravest of his race.
[Cheering]
And now comes...
The Sho-Rin,
master of the Mutai,
bravest of the brave--
Gyor!
[Chanting] Gee-ya, Gyor!
Fight with respect and courage.
The Mutai begins!
[Chanting] Gee-ya, Gyor!
Gyor! Gyor! You did it!
[Chanting] Gyor! Gyor!
The Sho-Rin triumphs and remains!
Who is brave enough
to challenge such a one?
I am!
Are you nuts?
Didn't you see what just happened in there?
It's my only shot, Mike.
By their rules,
if the Sho-Rin accepts a direct challenge,
I get to fight,
no matter what anyone else says.
Your people do not walk in the sands of blood.
They fear the Sho-Rin,
but I am the bravest of my race,
and when I face him in the Mutai,
their fear will be gone.
Look, he doesn't know what he's saying.
This is a mistake.
Do not interfere.
The challenge is worthy.
What says the Sho-Rin?
The challenge is accepted.
In 3 cycles,
the Mutai will take place.
[Chanting] Gyor! Gyor!
Sorry, Mike.
You're gonna be a lot sorrier
when you step in there
with that planet-buster.
Why do you do this, human?
You are not mutari.
What's your problem, pal?
You! All of you!
You intrude upon our worlds,
make mockery of our customs,
meddle in matters you do not understand.
But humans have no place in the Mutai.
It is ours,
and we will not let you dishonor it--
not now, not ever.
[Doorbell rings]
Open.
Rabbi.
Susan.
I owe you an apology.
My behavior the other night
was inexcusable.
You came all this way for me.
No, no, no, no.
It is I who must apologize.
I handled things badly.
I brought your legacy.
The samovar.
It was passed through your family
since the days of the tsars.
Andrei prized it beyond all his other possessions.
I know.
Well, I will be leaving in the morning.
There is nothing more here for me to do
unless you changed your mind about the shivah.
It's not because I've ceased being a Jew.
Then why?
My father was not a loving man,
but in his own way
I always felt he loved me...
Until my mother
began the psi corps treatments.
It was the law.
There was nothing he could do.
You cannot blame him for it.
I don't.
I blame him for denying me his love,
even as mama became incapable
of giving me hers.
I needed him, yossel,
and he wasn't there.
My father wasn't there for me.
And when mother took her life
and ganya died,
still he couldn't find a shred of love for me.
So I left,
and he never forgave me for it,
as if I were the one who'd abandoned him.
And now that he has left for good,
you cannot forgive him?
No, I can't.
Then the tragedy is greater than I thought.
Without forgiveness, you cannot mourn,
and without mourning,
you can never let go of the pain.
I have to go on duty.
You cannot run away from your own heart, Susan.
Not even in space.
Thank you for bringing the samovar.
I'll see you before you leave.
Got any ideas on how I should fight this guy?
From inside a main battle tank
would be good.
I knew I could count on you.
You did well last night, Earther.
Garibaldi, Caliban.
He's the one that told me
about challenging the Sho-Rin.
And what's your angle, pal?
Angle?
He wants to know why you're helping me.
Hmm.
I, too, once challenged the Sho-Rin Gyor.
It was my last Mutai.
Now I will stand ka-tow to your friend.
Garibaldi will also stand ka-tow to me.
As you wish.
You must honor the muta-do before you begin.
Listen very carefully.
Uncle yossel?
Ah, Susan.
I was afraid I'd miss you.
Computer voice: Earth-registered liner White Star
is now in final boarding for departure to Earth.
My starship.
Thanks again for coming.
My pleasure.
Where else could I dine on treel
with my favorite Ivanova?
So you'll take care of yourself?
Yes.
You're very dear to me, Suzotchka,
as you were to Andrei,
even if he never said it.
Shalom, Suzotchka.
May god keep you in his thoughts.
You, too.
Andrei's voice: I want you to know...
How proud I am of you, Susan.
I always have been,
but a father should give his daughter love
as well as respect,
and in that I failed you.
I'm sorry...
And I'm ashamed.
Forgive me.
Uncle yossel!
Stay.
Help me sit shivah.
Nice punch.
Glass jaw, but he kicks like a mule.
What is a mule?
You're training one.
You did well out there.
Rest now.
Buy you some dinner?
Sounds good. Give me a minute.
Has he got a chance?
He will fight bravely.
In sports, Babylon 5 is about to be the site
of a history-making event,
as ex-sports corps boxing star Walker Smith
prepares to be the first human
to fight in the Mutai.
What did I tell you, Mike? History.
Yeah, well,
let's hope you don't wind up history.
You're my backup, remember? My ka-tow.
Have some faith.
What do you want me to do?
Hire some cheerleaders?
Walker, you're a great fighter,
but Gyor isn't some sports corps media star.
He's going in there to take you apart,
and he can do it.
I know. That son of a spaceman's
the best I've ever seen.
And you're still going through with this?
You have always been thick, Garibaldi.
That's what the game's all about.
To be the best, you have to face the best.
I could take Vizaro on crutches, but Gyor...
He's gonna show me where my heart is,
and maybe I'll show him a little something, too.
I'm gonna turn in.
See you tomorrow, buddy.
Walker?
You're the best I've ever seen.
Commander, may I have a word?
Of course.
I'd like to take your offer of leave.
Granted.
Thank you.
Lieutenant Commander?
Yes, sir?
I believe it's customary
for friends to pay their respects during shivah.
I'll see you there.
I'd like that.
[Reciting kaddish in Hebrew]
Amen. Amen.
As you know, we're all gathered here
to help Susan sit shivah for Andrei Ivanov,
beloved husband of Sofie, oh, blessed memory,
father of ganya, oh, blessed memory,
and of Susan.
Most of you did not know Andrei Ivanov,
so let me say a few words about him.
He was...
A Russian Jew
and a scholar,
a man devoted to logic and to reason,
and above all...
To peace.
Yeah! All right. He's got reach on you,
so get inside, but watch his knees when you do,
and keep moving. Don't let him trap you.
It is time.
Let's do it.
When I was 13, I developed a passion for kasharev,
one of the radical Neo-communist authors.
Oy. Your father felt that kasharev
would be personally responsible
for the destruction of Russian culture.
Exactly,
but he was invited to a reading by kasharev,
and I begged him to take me.
Of course, he had no intention of going,
but I whined and pouted as only a 13-year-old can,
and eventually, he was forced to surrender.
So after the reading,
there was a question and answer session, and for days,
I'd been formulating the perfect question
with which to impress my idol.
You know, the time comes,
and I stand up-- I'm trembling--
and I ask my question.
And?
He promptly said
that it was the most foolish thing that he ever heard,
and he had no intention of bandying words
with a bourgeois little twit who was barely out of diapers.
I was crushed,
but then papa stood up
and he said that his daughter was neither bourgeois
nor a little twit,
and had been out of diapers for many, many years,
while kasharev's writing had yet to rise above
the contents of those garments.
That sounds exactly like Andrei.
He then added
that were he not a man of peace,
he would have horsewhipped kasharev
through the streets of St. Petersburg
as his own father should have done many years ago.
Bravo. Bravo.
Well, of course, I was mortified.
But then papa took my hand
and he turned
and as we walked out, he said to me,
"it was a good question, dushenka."
Into the sands of blood
comes Walker Smith of Earth,
the bravest of his race!
And now comes the Sho-Rin,
master of the Mutai,
bravest of the brave...
Gyor!
Gyor! Gyor!
Gyor! Gyor! Gyor!
Fight with courage and respect.
The Mutai begins!
[Crowd chants Gyor's name]
Inside! Work inside!
Yeah!
Come on. Back up.
Stay clear! Stay clear!
Get out of the way! Get out of the way!
Work inside! Work inside!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Go! Whoo!
The mule! The mule!
Watch the kick! Watch the kick!
Back up! Stay clear.
No!
This is Garibaldi.
I have a pickup for you in the Mutai.
Come on!
I want to thank all of you
for sharing this time of sorrow with me.
You've helped me to find somebody...Long lost
and very precious to me...
The father I loved.
Though it's traditional
to recite the mourning prayer in Hebrew,
I would like to read it in english tonight
so that my good friend Jeffrey Sinclair
may share it with us.
"Oh, god, full of compassion,
"who dwellest on high,
"Grant perfect rest
"beneath the sheltering winds of thy divine presence
"among the holy pure who shine
"as the brightness of the firmament,
"to Andrei, my father,
who has gone to his eternal home."
Amen.
Oh!
[Crowd chants]
What are they saying?
They call him the great heart.
It is done!
Take it easy. It's over.
How'd I do?
It's a draw.
Gyor! Gyor!
[Crowd stops chanting]
Smith!
Smith! Smith! Smith!
Smith! Smith!
Thank you, uncle yossel.
You'll write? Or, uh, com-link or whatever?
I will.
Commander.
Nes gedule.
Take good care of it.
Lehitta'ot.
Ooh.
I'm ready to go back on duty, sir.
Good. I've had my fill of double shifts.
Perhaps you'll remember that
next time Ms. Sakai visits the station.
You sure you can't stick around for a while?
Now that you're not in training,
I know some spots in brown 6 we could haunt.
I heal better in real air.
Walker Smith!
You fought well in the Mutai.
From now on,
humans may enter the ring
as brothers to all mutari.
If you ever return to the Mutai,
I will stand ka-tow for you.
I wouldn't want anyone else.
I am honored, Smith. Safe voyage.
Garibaldi, thanks.
See you when I come back for the rematch.
Oh, give me a break.
Watch your back.
He fought bravely.
The best I've ever seen.