Garibaldi: Captain, I just thought you should know.
They've got your dad, John.
They traced him through his medication,
picked him up at a safe house 2 days ago
just outside of Chicago.
Now, look, we've got a couple of days
before they can move on this,
and we should be able to break him out.
Now, I've got some people who can help,
but they want a meeting.
I mean it, John.
I don't like the way this sounds,
I don't like the way it looks,
I don't like anything about it.
I mean, it stinks of a setup.
Sheridan: Michael and I
have had our problems lately,
but he has never given me reason
to think he meant me harm.
All right...
What do you want me to do?
You've already done it.
Garibaldi: It's a tranq.
Don't fight it.
Just give it up, or they're going to hurt you.
Do you have any allergies or illnesses
I should be aware of?
Are you currently taking any medication?
Have you had any trouble with your heart?
When I ask a question,
you will respond at once.
You will not hesitate,
you will not consider, you will not lie.
Cooperation will be rewarded.
Resistance
will be punished.
Do you understand?
Aah!
Paingivers.
We bought them from the Narn during the war.
They're most effective.
If you come within 3 feet of me,
you will be hurt.
If you come within 2 feet,
you will be rendered unconscious.
There's nothing to be gained
by trying to harm me. I am not the enemy.
To be the enemy,
I must have some personal stake
in what happens to you.
I'm not interested in that at all.
I'm here to do a job, nothing more.
You are a name,
a file,
and a case number,
that is all.
Wait. Ah.
I have no desire to inflict pain,
but I will do so
when and as it is required.
The level of discomfort you experience
will be entirely up to you.
I'm not here to negotiate
or to assist you.
Then why are you here?
To ensure your cooperation.
To that end, I will use
whatever means I feel are appropriate.
Do you understand?
[Grunts]
No. No.
Aah!
[Strains]
It was a simple enough question.
There's no reason to endure all this
just to determine if you have a grasp of english.
So...
Do you understand?
Do you have any allergies or illnesses
I should be aware of?
Are you currently taking any medication?
Have you had any problems with your heart?
No.
Good.
Then...
We can begin.
It was the year of fire.
The year of destruction.
The year we took back what was ours.
It was the year of rebirth.
The year of great sadness.
The year of pain...
And the year of joy.
It was a new age.
It was the end of history.
It was the year everything changed.
The year is 2261.
The place...
Good morning.
It's not morning.
It isn't?
No.
And how do you know that?
When you came in before,
I saw daylight through the door.
When you came in now,
it was dark outside.
Daylight?
You mean...
That?
Well, if that's daylight,
and, uh,
that's night,
then we may as well assume that...
This is morning again.
Good morning.
I'd forget my head
if it wasn't nailed on.
Which reminds me...
Aah!
Uhh!
Never contradict me.
Mm-hmm.
Mmm.
Hmm.
Mmm.
Oh, my.
Look at the time.
Mmm.
Ooh.
This is interesting.
I hadn't seen this before.
During your time at the academy
and all your years during the war,
afterwards, you never showed any particular interest
in politics.
So...
You don't consider yourself
to be political?
No.
That's interesting. Yes.
That's very interesting.
You see, that's what they thought.
That's why you're here. If you never showed
any particular interest in politics,
then it's not likely
that you'd start running around
trying to overthrow your own government
unless you had been under the influence of outsiders.
Is that a fair thing to say?
That, uh, you've been under the influence
of other people?
No.
No. Really?
I find that most remarkable.
I mean, aren't we all
under the influence of others?
It's part of being in the world.
Somebody in the office is in a bad mood,
pretty soon, everybody's in a bad mood.
We're all influenced by other people.
You've really never been influenced
by anyone else?
Are you that far removed from other people?
Well...
No matter.
I'll put it down as, uh, your first fabrication.
Mmm...
This is really excellent corned beef.
Mmm.
You have to get just the right mustard--
the brown with the seeds,
not the yellow kind-- and not too much of it.
If there's too much,
it, um, irritates the corners of my mouth.
Mmm.
Oh, would, uh--
would you like some?
I know they haven't fed you
since you got here.
That's at least 2 days.
Besides...
It's lunchtime.
Isn't it?
Isn't it lunchtime?
You--you just said it was morning.
Well, you can't have a corned beef sandwich
for breakfast.
It would upset your stomach.
Corned beef sandwiches are for lunch.
If it's morning, you can't have it.
If it's lunchtime,
you can.
Is it lunchtime?
I'm sure it's lunchtime somewhere.
Excellent answer.
Here.
I ate half of that myself.
Killing you does nobody any good.
I told you I'm here to ensure your cooperation,
and I can't do that if you're dead,
now, can I?
It does prove, though,
how everything is a matter of perspective.
You see what you think is daylight,
and you assume it's morning.
Take it away, you think it's night.
Offer you a sandwich-- if it's convenient,
you'll think it's midday.
The truth is fluid.
The truth is subjective.
Out there, it doesn't matter what time it is.
In here, it's lunchtime
if you and I decide that it is.
The truth is sometimes what you believe it to be
and other times what you decide it to be.
My task...
Is to make you...
Decide to believe...
Differently.
And when that happens,
the world will remake itself
before your very eyes.
Not a chance.
No?
You've done it before.
When?
When haven't you?
When you were a soldier you fought the Minbari.
The Minbari were the enemy.
That was the truth, and then one day,
someone said the Minbari are no longer the enemy,
and that was the truth.
And you not only accepted them as allies,
you embraced them.
You took one of them as a lover.
That's not the way it--
you swore an oath to Earthforce
because you believed in it.
That was the truth.
Now Earthforce is supposed to be the enemy.
Now that is the truth.
It all depends on what you believe
and what other people tell you to believe.
The truth is fluid. The truth is subjective.
No!
Governments make policy.
Soldiers have to accept those policies,
even when they're completely contradictory.
It's the very definition of your job.
A soldier accepts that the face of truth
changes on a daily basis
unless you're rejecting
everything that you said you stood for.
Is that what you're doing?
Mmm.
Thanks for the sandwich.
You're right. The corned beef is perfect.
The mustard's a little weak for my tastes.
Now you're being evasive.
It's better than being dishonest.
Really? You said it was lunchtime,
even though you knew almost certainly
that it was not.
You said that you've never been influenced
by other people, and you and I both
know that's impossible. I, however,
have spoken the utter and unvarnished truth
from the moment I came through that door.
Now, which one of us is being dishonest?
Just remembered.
It's time for supper.
You know, about that sandwich, Captain.
It's a funny thing about toxins.
I've always felt
that if you eat a little poison every day,
you'll get used to it.
It desensitizes you
until you can swallow large amounts of it
with no difficulty whatsoever.
I've always thought that that was a metaphor.
I could just never decide what for.
The contents of the sandwich
will not kill you.
As I said, they want you alive for now,
but the toxins
will begin having their desired effects
in just a few minutes.
I'll be back when they've had a chance
to clean up the place.
[Coughing]
Good morning.
How are we feeling?
Hmm?
Poisons all flushed out?
Well, let's see.
[Coughing]
Yes. It must have been a rough night.
The jaundice will pass in a couple of hours.
I'm sorry I had to do that.
Part of the process.
We have to break you physically
before we can get to your mind.
Personally, I find it...
Distasteful and crude,
but they don't listen to me.
Well, actually, they do listen to me.
They listen to both of us.
My superiors
monitor all of the interrogation rooms
randomly throughout the day.
If they don't see some indication
that you're willing to cooperate...
Well, I can't be held responsible...
For the consequences.
The best thing for you to do is cooperate.
They'll let you go then.
You're dehydrated...
Which is not surprising, considering
that you just upchucked everything
you've been eating for the last 4 days.
This'll help.
You need to build your salts back up
to restore your body's fluids.
Here.
Captain, I've told you the truth
from the beginning.
Now I'm telling you that this is safe.
Understand...
I'm the one and only ally you have in this place.
I won't lie to you.
What I tell you
will be the absolute truth.
This is safe.
Drink it.
I recommend taking it in small sips
to start with until your body adjusts.
We don't want a repeat
of what happened last night, now do we?
I've been going over your files
since last night.
I found some omissions that, uh,
we need to correct.
There are just a few bookkeeping points,
nothing of a compromising nature.
Uh, you're second in command.
Her name was Susan Ivanova?
Is that correct?
[Coughs]
Earth has all the records.
Well, yes, but only up until the time
you broke away. After that,
everything... Gets a little fuzzy.
We just need to confirm her name
for the records.
There's no harm in that.
No reason you shouldn't tell me.
Whoa.
Sure, there is.
And why is that?
Because you want it.
I told you, I don't want anything.
I really don't care.
But my superiors
don't like blank spaces in their records.
They want everything neat,
tidy,
and complete.
[Chuckles]
Feeling better?
A little.
Good.
Then perhaps you'd care to join me?
Oh.
[Groans]
[Coughs]
What--
it's for your own good.
Don't want you to hurt yourself.
Oh, uh, and by the way,
I should mention... Your father...
He sends his regards.
He's being held at another facility
a few miles from here, and one of my associates
is, uh... Handling his case.
When I stopped by to pick up your report,
I, um, passed him in the hall.
Then he's still alive.
Alive and well.
Why are you telling me this?
Why not?
I told you, I have no vested interest
in helping you or harming you
as long as the job gets done.
He made a request.
It didn't go against my orders,
so I passed it along.
"Thank you" would be the appropriate response.
Thank you.
Yes. I imagine that we'll only hold him
as long as we hold you.
But of course that means that as long as you
continue to resist... We can't let him go.
You've been interrogated before?
Yes.
Anyone I know?
You'd be surprised.
Well, it's certainly strange.
You don't seem to know the rules.
Perhaps I should explain them,
in case you've forgotten.
This is your confession.
It goes on at some length.
So, uh, allow me to summarize.
You plead guilty to charges of treason,
mutiny, conspiracy to commit mutiny,
sedition,
terrorism-- that's a lie.
Conspiracy to overthrow the government,
illegal seizure of Earth property,
assault on fellow officers, sabotage--
now, just a minute!
Willful destruction of public property,
disobeying direct orders of superior officers,
and the murder of 547 officers and crew
on board the e.A.S. Roanov.
I won't sign it!
You will sign it!
You will sign it,
and you will read it aloud
in full view of the public
so they'll know that we haven't
forged your image or your signature.
You will name your accomplices,
you will apologize
to the families and friends
of those who died fighting you,
and in the end you will beg
for mercy on the grounds
that you're under the influence
of aliens who are trying
to subvert the government
and undermine the authority
of the President.
I demand to see an attorney!
I demand the presence of a full military tribunal!
You have no right--
no! you have no rights!
There's no courtroom here, Captain.
No tribunals,
no attorneys,
no justice,
no mercy,
no fairness,
no hope,
no last-minute escape.
You will walk through that door
when you confess,
and not one second before!
Good morning.
[Sobbing]
There now.
That should do it.
Now, would you please repeat what you told one
of our other interrogators last night?
I was one of those... Who was responsible
for manipulating Captain Sheridan
into turning against his own government.
Don't do this.
I confess...
To taking part in the conspiracy...
To overturn your government.
You're giving them exactly what they want.
Precisely. And when he's done,
he'll be able to leave.
Continue.
We can edit out the interruptions later.
Those who worked with me in this conspiracy...
Were Commander Susan Ivanova...
Minbari Ambassador Delenn...
Senator...Ross Fowler.
He's not actually involved in any of this,
but he's recently become a source of annoyance
to the President.
Waste not, want not.
I can personally verify
all of the charges against him.
However, Captain Sheridan
was not responsible for his actions.
He was not...
Uh, mentally competent--
stop it!
Listen to me! Listen to me.
Now, I don't know what they did to you in here.
I know it must have been terrible...
But it's all out here. It's all flesh.
Now, I know you feel that they've won...
But as long as you don't break inside,
they can't win. Don't do this.
He's trying to save you trouble, Captain.
He's your alibi.
He's the one chance you have
of avoiding the death penalty for your actions.
I know the Drazi.
I've worked with your people.
I fought alongside them in the war.
You're a strong race, a proud race.
[Groaning]
You'll bend, but you don't break.
The ones that have done this to you,
they are the ones that have been broken.
There is nothing I can do.
Yes, there is!
You can fight.
You can refuse to surrender.
You can refuse to be broken.
You just have to say, "no, I won't" one more time
than they can say, "yes, you will."
Captain, I...
The moment you surrender...
You become expendable.
I'm afraid.
I've...never been afraid before.
We're all afraid.
Don't give them what they want.
Don't.
I have nothing more to say.
I will not cooperate any further.
Are you sure?
Do you understand that this is your last chance?
What are you talking--
do you understand that this is your very...
Last...chance?
Yes.
[Beep-beep]
Oh, no, no, no...
No, no, no, no. No, let him go.
He's done nothing to you.
I-I've never even seen him before in my life!
He's got nothing to do with this!
For god sakes, let him go!
[Moaning]
Sheridan: No.
Room 17.
[Moaning]
Now...
I was asking you about Commander Ivanova...
What are you going to do with him?
It's nothing you need to concern yourself with.
Now, about your contacts with the resistance.
If you could provide me with, say, 3 or 4 names,
it would go a long way
toward convincing my superiors to go easy--
I said, what are you going to do with him?!
[Sighs]
You must understand...
He was expendable
from the moment he arrived.
We are all expendable.
Just parts in a machine.
You're lucky.
You were deemed nonexpendable
when you got here.
Even I don't fall into that category.
But the Patience of my superiors
is not without limit.
You are alive because it's convenient
and because they want you honestly
and sincerely broken...
In case someone scans you.
It has to be a Sincere apology.
This will encourage the others
who worked with you
to reconsider their position.
It would save us
a tremendous amount of time and trouble...
Unless you become an even greater source
of time and trouble.
[Electronic buzzing] Aah!
I'm sorry they had to do that.
But as I told you, it's not my choice.
P.A.: You will cooperate with the state
for the good of the state and your own survival.
You will confess to the crimes of which you have been accused.
You will be released and returned to society
a productive citizen if you cooperate.
Resistance will be punished.
Cooperation will be rewarded.
William: Good night. See you in the morning.
P.A.: You will cooperate with the state
for the good of the state and your own survival.
You will confess to the crimes of which you have been accused.
You will be released and returned to society
a productive citizen if you cooperate.
P.A.: You will cooperate with the state
for the good of the state and your own survival.
You will confess to the crimes of which you have been accused.
You will be released and returned to society
a productive citizen if you cooperate.
Resistance will be punished.
Cooperation will be rewarded.
Good morning.
I should tell you
that unless you begin to cooperate,
you won't be receiving
any more intravenous nutrition.
It's bad enough
they had me take you off solid food.
Don't compound the error further.
That piece of paper...
And a few words from you are all that's standing
between you and that door.
Don't you see how foolish this is?
I'm not keeping you here.
They're not keeping you here.
You're keeping you here.
Are you suicidal or simply...
Self-destructive,
preferring to let us do the work for you?
Don't you want to leave?
Don't you want to be free...
Walk through that door?
Feel the sun on your face again?
Oh...
Yes.
Then sign it and speak.
That's all.
Then you can go.
They don't want you dead.
They want you as a symbol,
not a martyr...
As a warning to others.
Then you'll kill me.
No.
Absolutely not.
I told you I won't lie to you.
Oh, they'll come for you...Eventually.
But they'll wait...
Until you've been forgotten...
Until your fate no longer means anything to anyone.
They'll come in the night.
It will be very quick.
But until that time...
You will have your freedom.
If anything, they'll encourage you to travel
so that more people can see you as...
As a symbol
of the preeminent truth of our time...
That you cannot beat the system.
I'm telling you the truth.
Sign and speak...
And you can leave here.
It's really that simple.
I know you can do it.
I know you want to do it.
Well?
[Spits]
No.
I...
I really wish
you hadn't done that, Captain.
I really...
Sincerely wish...
You hadn't done that.
I...
I have no control
over what will happen next.
It's out of my hands.
[Door opens]
Right! Now, listen to me.
Wake up!
There's something you have to understand!
Focus!
Focus on me!
Do you know why
they're doing this to you?
Because you're a war hero,
one of the few to come out
of the Minbari war.
They've invested a considerable amount
of time and effort
making you a hero in the public's eye.
The problem is,
when a war hero starts believing certain things
and saying certain things,
the public listens.
They figure maybe there's something to it.
Your credibility has become a threat
to their credibility.
So one of them has to go.
The best way out for everyone
is for you to confess
and lay the blame for what's happened
at the feet of the alien government.
Whether it's true or not, it doesn't matter.
Truth is immaterial. They can sell it.
And they will let you live.
Note I said it is the best way.
I did not say it was the only way.
The other way, Captain...
Is a posthumous confession.
Your signature is not a problem.
They have your image on file.
They can create you reading the confession.
Now, that's not as good as having you out there
where people can see you so they know it's true
that even you can be broken,
you cannot resist.
With a video record,
there will always be doubt.
It's not the same as breaking you.
But I'm told that as of this morning...
It is an acceptable option.
I can save your life.
Right now.
If you'll let me.
You know...
It's funny. I was thinking about what you said...
The preeminent truth of our age
is that you cannot fight the system.
[Chuckles]
But if, as you say,
the truth is fluid,
that the truth is subjective...
Then maybe you can fight the system...
As long as just one person refuses to be broken,
refuses...
To bow down.
But can you win?
Every time I say no.
Captain John Sheridan,
will you or will you not sign a confession
and endorse it before a public hearing?
No.
Unh!
Uhhh!
You--uhh!
Uhhh!
Uhhh! Uhh!
Do you understand that this is your last chance?
Do you understand
that this is your very last chance?
Room 17.
Almighty god, look upon your servant
lying in great weakness and comfort him.
Deliver him from all evil
and set him free from every bond.
No man lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.
If we live, we live unto god.
If we die, we die unto god.
Therefore into your hands, we commend your servant,
a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock.
Receive him into the arms of your mercy.
May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
[Door closes]
Wha--
what? Ahh!
Uhh!
Uhh.
Uhh! [Snap]
Uhh!
Good morning.
Now...
Before we begin your interrogation,
I'll need some information.
Do you have any allergies or illnesses
that I should know about?
Are you currently take any medication?
Any trouble with your heart?
You will answer my questions when they are asked.
Resistance will be punished.
Cooperation will be rewarded.
Do you have any illnesses or allergies
that I should know about?
Are you currently taking any medication?
Have you had any trouble with your heart?
You will answer my questions when they are asked.
Resistance will be punished.
Cooperation will be rewarded.
Do you have any allergies or illnesses
that I should know about?
Are you currently taking any medication?
Have you had any trouble with your heart?
You will answer my questions when they are asked.
Resistance will be punished.
Cooperation will be rewarded.