Exogenesis
Exterior of Babylon 5 : CGI shot of a small, functional looking craft entering an aperture at the front of Babylon 5. It glides smoothly along a passage lined with glowing orange docking beacons, through a pair of heavy, interlocking doors, and finally alights with minuscule care on a mechanised landing platform. As the shuttle touches down, the platform retracts through an opening in the bay floor, drawing the vessel into the interior of the station. As the craft trundles through it's final approach to the disembarkation point, Corwin can be heard issuing instructions to the pilots, his voice sounding clipped and scratchy in transmission.
Corwin : Shuttle Dyson - you're our last shuttle for today. Logging off for now. Please inform passengers about customs procedures prior to debarkation.
Pilot : Roger Babylon Control. Have a nice day.
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Earhart's : Bar is lined with a densely packed assortment of Earthforce personnel and civilians, all clutching glasses filled with some unidentifiable liquid. In the foreground, Corwin can be seen standing next to the bar counter, eyes riveted to the floor, and obviously wishing here was somewhere else. As Kat, Earhart's assertive bartender rings a bell, an expectant hush falls across the assembly.
Kat : Ok - we all know what we're here for, right?
(Crowd makes affirmative noises)
Kat : As of 06.30 tomorrow morning, Lt JG David Corwin is hereby promoted to full Lieutenant!
Crowd : (raising their glasses) Lt Corwin!
(As the toast fractures into a collection of cheers, applause and appreciative whistles, Corwin turns to confront them with an agonized smile)
Corwin : (with as much composure as he can muster) Thank you.....thank you.
(As a group of well wishers close in around the reluctant Lieutenant, Kat announces that the next round is on the house, provoking a fresh outbreak of cheering)
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C&C : Sheridan walks slowly into the Observation Dome, carrying a faintly troubled air. He glances in the direction of Corwin, before turning his attention to Ivanova.
Sheridan : (quietly) Susan....(waits until Ivanova joins him on the gallery) Walk with me a minute.
Ivanova : Sure. (turning to Corwin) It's all yours Lieutenant.
Corwin : Aye Commander. (leaves the large wall monitor he was examining, and takes up position at the Command Console. He gazes tentatively at the array of monitors and control panels before him, as though he's half afraid of breaking them)
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C&C : Corwin scrutinizes a data pad as he ascends the steps from the Pit with his usual quiet tread. The camera then moves to Ivanova, who looks less than happy with the prospect of testing the loyalty of a trusted colleague. She glances sadly Corwin's direction as he stops before the Command Console, before arranging her face into a suitably unthreatening expression, and walking towards him.
Ivanova: Quiet, isn't it Lieutenant?
Corwin :(appearing somewhat startled by Ivanova's voice until realizing she's simply trying to engage him in small talk) Yeah - a little. (after a moment's consideration) I like it when it's quiet.
Ivanova(with a friendly smile)It's a nice change of pace that's for sure. (pause) Listen, now that you've been promoted, I've been thinking. We spend a lot of time up here together, but we never really get a chance to talk. So I was thinking that maybe we could get together - talk about what you see yourself doing down the road. Just, you know, get to know each other a little bit better.
Corwin : (obviously a little self conscious, but at this stage just managing to contain his discomfort) Well…....sure. We could.....I dunno…meet in the mess hall for breakfast?
Ivanova :(more to herself than anyone else): Nah - you can't have a private conversation up there, with dishes clattering and people talking. (then in a clear, decisive tone) So - why don't you come by my quarters later in the day. We can have a cup of coffee - (with deliberate emphasis) *real* coffee - just don't ask how I got it, and we can just talk about stuff outside work - you know, person to person.
(during the above speech, Corwin's face undergoes a highly entertaining transformation from polite if slightly stunned agreement, through rising panic, and finally collapsing into a look of unmitigated terror)
Corwin (face slack with horror - after a moment of petrified silence he finally manages to stammer): Err…fine…...no problem….I'll be there.
Ivanova: Good! (departs, leaving a near paralysed Corwin staring fearfully out of the view port)
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The Zocalo : (Corwin wanders through the assembled stalls, still obviously in a condition of panic and uncertainty. He draws to an almost involuntary halt before a flower stall, gazing at the stock with an air of total inexperience. A small, rotund flower vendor fixes him with a look similar to that of a lion regarding a limping gazelle.)
Flower Vendor :Something I can help you with?
Corwin : (with utter bewilderment) I dunno. I was thinking…flowers?
Flower Vendor:(with abundant energy and confidence)Thinking flowers is good. Giving flowers is better. What's the occasion?
Corwin : (helplessly) I dunno - but I think I've got a date.
Flower Vendor : She asked you out?
Corwin :(in a tone which clearly betrays his anxiety at the prospect) She asked me in. Her place.
Flower Vendor: Moves fast! Is she aggressive?
Corwin: You could say that
Flower Vendor (with a knowing chuckle) Lucky guy (turns to examine his stock before making a selection)
Corwin: Oh it's not like that. At least........ it's not like that yet...….I think.
Flower Vendor: (fixing his erstwhile prey with a penetrating look)You don't get out much do you son?
Corwin: Well I…........(a sudden look of defeat creeps over his face) No. Not really.
Flower Vendor: (decisively) Artificial roses. Same smell (thrusting the bunch towards Corwin's face). Same feel. Works every time.
Corwin (looking almost convinced until subsumed by a fresh wave of ambivalence) But what if it's not a date. I don't want to offend her.
Flower Vendor Roses *never* offend a woman except by their absence.(with a broad smile and, presenting the wrapped bouquet to Corwin as a fait accompli) That'll be 40 credits.
(Corwin visibly sags in the realization that he's about to be fleeced)
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Blue Sector : Corwin approaches his CO's quarter's with the air of man walking towards certain death. He hesitates for a moment before steeling himself, and pressing the door chime. The view then shifts to the interior of Ivanova's quarters. Although still in uniform, the Commander has removed her jacket, presumably in an effort to stress the informality of the meeting)
Ivanova : (in her usual clipped and imperative tone) Come!
(The door swings open to reveal Corwin standing awkwardly outside. As he steps through the entrance, Ivanova's eye fixes upon the roses cradled in his left arm)
Ivanova : Where the hell did those come from?
Corwin : (looking at the flowers in panic, then exchanging his nervous smile for the best facsimile of nonchalance he can manage) I....ahhh.....found them.
Ivanova : Where?
Corwin : (hastily indicating the corridor outside) There - they were...y'know....just lying there. (finally remembers himself, and hands over the bunch)
Ivanova : Synthetic roses! (lifts the flowers to smell them) Good ones. Whoever bought these must have paid a lot for them.
Corwin : (with reflexive honesty) Yes.......(immediately trying to disguise the slip) I imagine.
Ivanova : (chuckling appreciatively) Spending that amount of money on high price synthetics - must be a real dope!
Corwin : (striving to conceal his utter mortification) Yes......I think so.....showy...excessive.....not at all cost effective.
Ivanova : And terribly romantic. (extracting the flowers from their wrapping, and arranging them in a vase) Don't tell anyone, but I've always had a weakness for roses. This is a very sweet gesture. I definitely have to find out who's responsible.
(A relieved smile begins to steal across Corwin's face, before being punctured by dawning realization)
Ivanova : (brightly) Well thank you David. If you hadn't come along, someone might have just walked off with them.
Corwin : Right...sure....you're welcome.
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Ivanova's Quarters : A marginally less anxious looking Corwin perches on Ivanova's settee. He's clutching a cup of coffee. Ivanova stands at a counter, replenishing her own cup.
Corwin : This is great - I haven't had real coffee since.....I can't remember. It just costs us too much to bring the stuff in.
Ivanova : I had the hydroponic guys set aside a little space for me. (noting Corwin's surprised expression) I know, I know. Hydroponics garden is to be used only for fruit, vegetables, and oxygen reclamation - but sometimes you've got to bend the rules a little, in order to get what you want. Does that idea bother you?
Corwin : No, not really. I don't always think the ends justify the means, but if no-one's hurt, and it's good for Earth, I've got no complaints.
Ivanova : (her expression darkening a little) That means a lot to you, doesn't it? Serving Earth?
Corwin : (a note of earnestness enters his voice) Well, sure - that's why we're all here. To follow orders, and do what's right for Earth.
Ivanova : (sensing an opportunity to advance the real purpose of the meeting) But what do you do if there's a contradiction - if following your orders, and doing what's right for Earth aren't the same thing?
Corwin : (carefully monitoring Ivanova's face) I don't think that's a decision I can make on my own - you can't just decide which orders to obey, and which to ignore. We have to respect the chain of command - or everything falls apart.
Ivanova : (with growing disappointment) So, if you saw someone trying to get other officers to speak out, or even act against EarthDome, you'd report them?
Corwin : (fervently) Absolutely - why is there anyone you want me to keep my eye on?
Ivanova : (looking slightly uncomfortable) No - it's just a hypothetical question. With everything that's going on it's good to know where we all stand with eachother. (after a brief pause) Well - it's getting late. Thank you for stopping by Lieutenant. I'm glad we had this time to talk.
Corwin : (taking a final sip of his coffee before reluctantly handing over his cup) Sure...anytime.
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