Exogenesis

EXOGENESIS
Series	Babylon 5
Season	Season 3
Episode	07
Production Number	307
First Aired	12th February 1996
Broadcast Order	51st
Production Credits
Written By	J. Michael Straczynski
Directed By	Kevin G. Cremin
Executive Producer	Douglas Netter & J. Michael Straczynski
Producer	John Copeland
Production Designer	John Iacovelli
Director of Photography	John C. Flinn, III A.S.C.
Editor	Suzanne Sternlicht
Music By	Christopher Franke
Chronology
Story Date	March 10th - 13th, 2260
Chronological Order
Preceded by	Dust to Dust
Followed by	Messages from Earth
Broadcast Order
Preceded by	Dust to Dust
Followed by	Messages from Earth

Franklin and Marcus investigate an outbreak of parasitic aliens in Down Below. Ivanova is tasked with determining whether Lt. Corwin is suitable for the "Conspiracy of Light".

Cast

Regular

• Bruce Boxleitner as Captain John Sheridan
• Claudia Christian as Commander Susan Ivanova
• Jerry Doyle as Security Chief Michael Garibaldi
• Mira Furlan as Ambassador Delenn
• Richard Biggs as Dr. Stephen Franklin
• Bill Mumy as Lennier
• Jason Carter as Marcus Cole
• Stephen Furst as Vir Cotto
• Jeff Conaway as Zack Allan
• Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar
• Peter Jurasik as Ambassador Londo Mollari

Guest Starring

• James Warwick as Matthew Duffin
• Wylie Small as Jacque Lee
• Aubrey Morris as Duncan

Co-Starring

• Joshua Cox as Lieutenant Corwin
• Ross Gottstein as Vendor (florist)
• Eric Steinberg as Samuel
• Donald Willis as Trader

Featuring

• Michael McKenzie as Man
• Carrie Dobro as Dr. Harrison
• Kathryn Cressida as Kat the Bartender
• Roger Rook as Lurker
• Leslie Pratt as Woman
• Brian Freifield as The Writhing Man (uncredited)

Cast Notes

• Regular characters appearing in this episode are John Sheridan, Susan Ivanova, Michael Garibaldi, Stephen Franklin and Marcus Cole.

Summary

Introduction

Two lurkers, Matthew Duffin and Jacque Lee, view the arrival of the transport Dyson with joy. Matthew says, "They're finally here, Jacque". Elsewhere, Lt. JG David Corwin celebrates his promotion to full Lieutenant. The senior staff discuss whether or not Marcus Cole should have been invited. Susan Ivanova did not think it was appropriate, and John Sheridan agrees that Cole should be keeping a low profile for now.

In a corridor, Duffin and Lee watch a man with an alien parasite on his back writhe in pain. Telling him that the pain will be over soon, they watch as the parasite merges into the man.

Act I

The man with the alien parasite is dead; Duffin and Lee cannot understand it. They are interrupted by another man who warns them that Security is coming.

Now that Corwin is a full Lieutenant, Sheridan feels that he could be a potential problem in their plans to oppose President Morgan Clark. He orders Ivanova to talk with Corwin one-on-one and see where he stands and whether or not he could be of use to them.

Marcus Cole visits Duncan, one of his contacts. As they talk, Cole notices the man is ill and recommends he see a doctor. Duncan refuses since he does not trust doctors. At a medical briefing, Dr. Stephen Franklin learns about the earlier man's death. There is no clear cause of death, and Franklin orders the body moved to Medlab 1.

Cole meets with some of his other contacts and learns some news. Ranger One wants the Rangers to pull back from Earth space due to escalating tensions, while Shadow Vessels have been sighted defining a border near Centauri space. Marcus is also expecting a package and learns that it just left Mars. Cole is also worried about Samuel not being present and decides to pay him a visit.

Dr. Franklin begins his examination of the dead body. He discovers an anomaly wrapped around the spinal cord and prepares for surgery. Cole finds Samuel with a group of people; Samuel tells him that he cannot work with him anymore but is evasive. Sensing something amiss, Marcus leaves him for now. During surgery, Franklin finds a living biomass and removes it for study. Samuel and his friends watch over a new victim to the parasite: Cole's friend, Duncan.

Act II

Franklin discovers that the biomass is a parasite, one that appears to retain a level of responsiveness even after its host dies, and begins investigating where it came from. Cole goes to see Duncan only to find out that Duncan has moved on, telling another trader that he was packing it in. Cole is confused at Duncan's choice.

In C&C, Ivanova invites Corwin to a private meeting to talk about Sheridan's concerns. She invites him to her quarters for coffee.

Cole talks with Michael Garibaldi about Samuel and Duncan abruptly changing, believing that something bigger is at work. Garibaldi doesn't see it, since people move on all the time and no actual crime has been committed. Using Garibaldi's words that if Cole's friends are actually strange they should see a doctor, Cole goes to Franklin and enlists his help.

Corwin is unsure about Ivanova's invitation, thinking it might be a date. He purchases artificial roses from a trader.

Cole and Franklin go to Duncan's quarters. He does not respond, and Franklin uses his emergency override to open the door. Inside, they find a hole in the wall that leads into a space where another man is suffering. Franklin tries to call for aid, but they are confronted by Samuel and Matthew holding weapons.

Act III

Franklin surmises that the parasites are taking over people and worries that they could be a threat to the station. They talk with the hosts, but get no satisfactory nswers. Franklin is at least reassured that Garibaldi knows where they are and will come looking, until Cole reveals that is not exactly the case.

Corwin arrives at Ivanova's quarters. When she reacts to the flowers, Corwin claims to have found them outside.

Duncan visits Cole and Franklin, trying to recruit them. He reveals the parasites are the Vindrizi, and they are trying to save lives. The dead man was unsuitable for the merging due to having "strange chemicals" in his bloodstream. Duncan asks for their help.

Ivanova and Corwin talk about ends justifying the means and respecting the chain of command. His answers to her suggest that he is loyal to the Earth Alliance and potentially not a good fit for their coming sedition.

Cole asks Franklin about his thoughts on Ivanova. Cole is worried that he has done something that has offended her, since she was initially friendly to him but has cooled recently. Franklin believes it is because he is growing closer to the command crew and then laughs at the absurdity of discussing this while prisoners. Matthew arrives to force Franklin to help one of the hosts who is sick. Franklin tells them to take the parasite out of him, but they refuse and tell him to cure both of them.

Act IV

Cole employs a ruse to escape from his captors and tries to use Franklin's link to contact Security. However, since he is not authorized, the link refuses to work for him. In C&C, Ivanova receives notification of the attempted use and contacts Garibaldi. Garibaldi dispatches a team to Brown 84.

Cole rescues Franklin; Cole learns from Duncan that each host actually volunteered to bond with the Vindrizi. Duncan tells Cole that the Vindrizi were created to be living records of history and seek out willing hosts to preserve their knowledge of the galaxy's history. They look for those who are lost and purposeless and give them a purpose in life. To convince them that the Vindrizi only accept volunteers, the parasite separates from Duncan so that Cole will believe the truth since it comes only from him.

Franklin promises to help them under certain conditions which the Vindrizi agree to. Duncan, however, cannot be rebonded with a Vindrizi, since rejoining would cause Duncan extensive neural damage. Cole regrets putting his friend in such a difficult position.

Act V

Ivanova reports to Sheridan that Corwin is unsuitable to join their endeavour. In the docking bay Cole catches up to Duncan, who is leaving the station. Seeing the memories of the Vindrizi made Duncan feel as though he were special, and he has decided to go in person to see some of the types of wondrous sights contained in the Vindrizis' memories.

Franklin talks about the Vindrizi with Garibaldi and Ivanova. Franklin also reveals that Cole would like a second chance with Ivanova. Believing that Cole sent her the flowers, Ivanova finds him sitting at a bar and throws the flowers down next to him as she passes by. Cole is surprised and gratified by this act.

Memorable Quotes

“

"Well, thank you, Mr. Garibaldi, one of the leading minds of the fourteenth century. Have we no workhouses? Have we no prisons? Mr. Marley here'd like a word with you. He's the fellow in the chains. Ignore the moans. It's just gas."

– Marcus to Garibaldi

DVD Release

This episode, along with the other 21 from Season 3 have been released on DVD with extensive Special Features.

External Link

Episode guide page for Exogenesis at the Lurker's Guide