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<html><head><title>Lost Scenes from Babylon 5</title><map name="toplevel"><area shape="RECT" coords="0,0,99,23" href="/lurk/universe/intro.html" alt="Universe"><area shape="RECT" coords="100,0,199,23" href="/lurk/episodes.php" alt="Episodes"><area shape="RECT" coords="200,0,299,23" href="/lurk/making/creators.html" alt="People"><area shape="RECT" coords="300,0,399,23" href="/lurk/resources/online.html" alt="Resources"><area shape="RECT" coords="400,0,499,23" href="/lurk/reference/episodes.html" alt="Encyclopedia"><area shape="RECT" coords="0,24,499,31" nohref></map>
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<h1>Lost Scenes from Babylon 5</h1><h3>As written by J. Michael Straczynski</h3><p> Here's another scene, which was filmed for the pilot movie, but cut when the pilot ran long.  It takes place at the top of the movie, in the teaser.<pre> INT. OBSERVATION DOME
 One of the consoles BREEPS and Laurel goes to it.  With a push of a button, the slender glass panel in front of her fills with the image of SECURITY CHIEF MICHAEL GARIBALDI, early forties, dark haired, hard-edged.
                              LAUREL                Garibaldi, what's up?
                              GARIBALDI                Looking for the Commander.  We've got                someone down in Bay 12 needs his                personal clearance to come aboard.
                              LAUREL                He just linked in a few minutes ago,                said he was on his way.  Had to take                care of a "tourist problem" first.                And no, I don't know what he meant,                so don't ask.  I just hope it works                out better than the last one.
 And with that, we go to
 INT. CASINO
 where we PAN the surroundings, revealing a mix of alien and human life forms.  There's smoke, music, dancers, and a colorful blend of costumes and strange drinks on the bar.  We FIND COMMANDER JEFFREY SINCLAIR moving slowly through the crowd, keeping a close eye on
 A COUPLE
 male and female from the look of it.  He's human, she's alien, and there's something vaguely chitinous about her skin, something both exotic and forbidding.  He's clearly coming on to her.  He surreptitiously hand her a credit chit.  She smiles and moves away from the bar, taking his hand as suddenly Sinclair is behind her. He takes the chit from her and hands it back to the human.
                              SINCLAIR                I wouldn't.                      (to the alien woman)                You know the rules about crossing                species.  Stick with the list.
                              HUMAN "JOHN"                What're you, a bigot or something?
                              SINCLAIR                No.  But obviously you've never me                an Arnassian before.  After they                finish, they eat their mate.
 With that, Sinclair heads away.  The human looks back at the woman with a very new perspective.  And this time it's her turn to smile...and now she holds up a hand, offering *him* money.  On his wary look, we CUT.</pre><p><hr><a name="kosh"><p id="kosh"></a> The following scene is excerpted from the script for "The Gathering."  It was filmed, but was eliminated from the final cut due to time restraints.
 Earlier in the story, Dr. Benjamin Kyle has had...an encounter with what is inside the Vorlon's encounter suit.<pre> INT. MEDLAB
 where Laurel and Kyle look through the glass at Kosh.
                              LAUREL                So, Doctor...just what *did* you see                when you looked inside that suit?
                              KYLE                      (a long beat, then:)                There are moments in your life when                everything crystallizes.  When the                whole world reshapes itself, right                down to its component molecules, and                everything changes.                      (beat)                I've looked upon the face of a                Vorlon, Laurel...and nothing's the                same anymore.
 And, his thoughts distant, Kyle moves off, leaving Laurel to peer through the mist at the shrouded figure within the isolab, and wonder....</pre><p><hr><p><a name="alternate-intro"> Here's a little something I came across in my computer</a> this evening.  I had always sensed that the Londo introduction/narration at the top of the pilot was the way to go.  But it never hurts to try other avenues...you discover the darndest ideas that way.  Anyway, I came up with an alternate introduction, just to see if it worked or not.  I rather liked it...and still do, to some degree...but finally opted to go with the Londo intro instead, which is what we'll stick with.<p>But since it's not going to be used, I figured...why not let y'all take a look at what would've been an alternate opening for the pilot?<pre>                             BABYLON 5                          Insert/Prologue
 FADE IN:
 ON STATIC.  Then: a BLACK SCREEN, OVER which we HEAR the FEMALE voice of a news broadcast in progress:
                              FEMALE VOICE (vo)                _ continue to bring you updates on                the Interplanetary News Network.
 And now, gradually, a PICTURE begins to emerge from the darkness _ grainy, slightly washed out, a VIDEO IMAGE of Babylon 5.
                              FEMALE VOICE (vo)                In other news, the Earth Alliance                space station Babylon 5 celebrates                its first year in operation with the                imminent arrival of an ambassador                from the Vorlon Empire.
 And now: a MONTAGE of shots from within B5, and some EFX shots from outside...the casino, the customs area, the bazaar and other areas.  During this, the IMAGE BEGINS TO SHRINK, to recede into the distance, and gradually the stars begin to come out on all sides of the picture, framing it.  This UNDER:
                              FEMALE VOICE (vo)                Located in neutral territory, Babylon                5 has exceeded all expectations in                dealing with the many life forms that                pass through the five mile long                station.  As a result, Earth Central                has approved an appropriations bill                to keep the orbiting freeport open to                travelers, businessmen and diplomats                for another five years.
 And now the image shifts, and the picture continues to recede into the distance, now only a few inches across...a grainy black and white image:
                              FEMALE VOICE (vo)                Meanwhile, a new binary star                discovered by Mars colony scientists                has been named Kennedy Proxima, after                20th century president John F.                Kennedy, born 340 years ago this                week.
 And now, in the small picture framed by stars, receding more rapidly from view, we SEE footage of JFK speaking before the Democratic convention the eve of his presidential nomination:
                              KENNEDY                I believe that the times require                imagination, and courage, and                perseverance.  I'm asking each one of                you to be pioneers toward that New                Frontier.  My call is to the young at                heart, regardless of age; to the                stout of spirit, regardless of party;                to all those who respond to the                scriptural call, "Be strong and of                good courage.  Be not afraid, neither                be dismayed."  For courage, not                complacency, is our need today.
 UNDER this, Kennedy's image recedes further into the distance, growing smaller and smaller until he is now one of the many surrounding stars splashed across the blackness of space.  A moment, and the MUSIC RISES, brave and martial, as we
 TILT and PAN ACROSS to reveal Babylon 5 itself, up close and personal in all its huge splendor.  PUSH IN on the station as a ship approaches, and we HEAR:
                              LAUREL (vo)                Confirmed, Delta Gamma Niner, you                are clear for docking.</pre>

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<h5>Last update:June 26, 1996
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