Episode no. Season 5
Episode 2 Written by J. Michael Straczynski Original air date 28 January 1998 | Directed by David J. Eagle Production code 503 | |
"The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari" is an episode from the fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
Contents
Synopsis
Delenn is woken by a transmission informing her that Lennier has requested a transfer back to the Minbari homeworld, without telling her. When she confronts him later that day, Lennier explains that he feels of little use to her now she has John Sheridan. He instead plans to lead the Rangers, in Marcus's place, and will be leaving with them for Minbar in a day's time.
Meanwhile, Londo has collapsed after drinking from a shipment of "Brivari", an expensive and temperature-sensitive drink from the Centauri homeworld. He is rushed to the medlab, where the cause is discovered to be not poisoning, but a heart-attack, probably brought on by years of stress on Babylon 5. Complex Centauri physiology means Doctor Franklin is unwilling to operate on Londo's left heart. He puts Londo onto life support and notifies Centauri Prime, but fears the patient will die before help is able to arrive.
While asleep in the medlab, Londo dreams of a tarot card reading, conducted by a veiled Delenn. "My Future?" he asks her, noticing the cards feature pictures of himself and Vir. "Your past" she replies. They discuss life and death, and Londo's long-standing premonition of his end at the hands of G'Kar. He admits he wants to survive, but the Delenn figure refuses to help him any further.
Back in the real world, Vir and Lennier hold a short comedic exchange about a Shirley Temple cocktail ("I don't think I've ever heard of that particular temple […] I shall make a point to visit it on my next trip to Earth"), before finally saying their goodbyes.
The dreaming Londo wanders through a deserted Babylon 5, and encounters Sheridan at the Zocalo bar ("All the bottles here are empty?" he jokes at one point, before adding sarcastically, "The metaphor's getting a bit thick, don't you think?"). They again discuss life and death as G'Kar looms ominously in the background. Sheridan leaves and Vir replaces him, but still G'Kar looms in the darkness. Londo experiences flashbacks to his political role in the Narn occupation, and G'Kar's torture at the hands of Emperor Cartagia. Londo goes into cardiac arrest as he watches himself tortured in G'Kar's place. G'Kar taunts Londo into apologising for his past, which seems to stabilise his condition.
The first face Londo sees as he awakes is G'Kar, diligently waiting at his bedside. Londo professes his sorrow, which moves G'Kar to tears and astonishes Vir.
As Londo regains his health in medlab, a group of Rangers boards Babylon 5 to take Lennier away. He and Delenn share an emotional farewell, as he promises he'll see her again some day. Delenn is left alone and quietly shocked as Lennier's transport leaves dock.