“Day of the Dead” is episode eight of season five of Babylon 5.
A large man is coming through customs on the station. When asked if he has anything to declare, he states only his genius. Inside his bag is another man, who states – through a machine – that he is declaring Rebo’s genius as well.
Sheridan is talking to Lochley and Garibaldi. They can hear the commotion from customs; the two people are expected. Lochley wants to know how familiar with Brakiri religious customs they are. Not very in Sheridan’s case; Garibaldi knows they hate comments. It seems that the Brakiri want a piece of Babylon 5 for religious reasons. Elsewhere, Londo is commenting to a Brakiri merchant that the skull he is being shown reminds him of his senior ex-wife. He asks what it is. Candy, for carbon-based lifeforms who can metabolise sugar. Otherwise, a decoration. On asking who of those that have gone before Londo would like to speak to, Londo states the first emperor. He has some bones to pick with him. The merchant gives Londo the skull as a gift, and hopes that the comet brings him wisdom. Tonight is the Day of the Dead. Tonight, the dead return.
Delenn is in her quarters when Lennier arrives, the first time Lennier has been seen since he left to join the Rangers in “The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari”. Lennier is between training cycles, and could not miss the Day of the Dead. Delenn has not heard of it, but Lennier read accounts when he was a young priest. They have haunted him since. The festival occurs for one night approximately every 200 years. The Brakiri contemplate and honour those who have gone before. Lennier has heard strange stories about it, and Babylon 5 is easier to visit than Brakir. Lennier mentions Sheridan and Delenn says that they are having a cocktail party for the comedic duo Rebo and Zooty – the two men at customs, played by Penn and Teller. In “Rumors, Bargains and Lies”, they had been mentioned by Londo, who didn’t think much of them. Lennier, it seems, has a higher opinion of the duo.
Sheridan is granting Rebo and Zooty the freedom of the station in front of a small crowd. Most people are enjoying the routine. Except for Captain Lochley. She makes an excuse about leaving to see the Brakiri ambassador. The ambassador has a gift, and explains that they want to purchase Babylon 5 – well, a piece of it – by sunset. Normally, they only rent, but the Brakiri need to buy it. They will return it at sunrise. Lochley says an exception might be made. During the conversation, G’Kar runs in and tells Lochley that what she is doing is dangerous, foolish and unwise. This has nothing to do with religious toleration. Yes, G’Kar is familiar with the principles of the Alliance. He wrote them. Lochley goes ahead with the sale.
Garibaldi is being told there is only one comet in the Brakiri system. Which he says is fascinating, in a tone that says anything but. For the Day of the Dead – which takes place at night; Brakiri are nocturnal – Garibaldi’s quarters are on the Brakiri homeworld. The other side of the corridor.
Sheridan welcomes Rebo and Zooty to his quarters and Zooty, using the Machine, says something in Minbari that is evidently hilarious, because Delenn cracks up. Rebo tells Sheridan they have studied most forms of humour. Sheridan wants to speak to Zooty without the Machine, but according to Rebo, Zooty never breaks character. Even around him. In the ten years Rebo has known Zooty, Zooty has only ever said one word. ‘Why.’
That night, some sort of energy field walls off the area the Brakiri purchased. Lennier is sitting meditating, with his fighting pike in front of him. Londo is glancing at a newspaper headline about Rebo and Zooty. Corwin is in C&C, playing with a hat, when G’Kar enters. G’Kar’s quarters are in Brakiri territory, and would like to sleep there. Corwin agrees, saying it looks like a quiet night. G’Kar, aptly enough, tells him that looks can be deceptive.
Lochley is in her quarters when the lighting turns red. She tries her link, but is unable to contact anyone. Londo has poured himself a drink and is talking to a portrait of the first emperor. About how, back then, it meant something. Now, anyone can be emperor. Londo can. Vir can. And if Vir can, a small Earth cat can. The emperor doesn’t reply and Londo comments that the dead stay dead. Then the lights in his quarters go red as well.
Londo goes to his door and, behind him, someone pours themselves a drink. He turns around and sees the dancer, Adira, who he fell in love with in “Born to the Purple”, who was killed on Morden’s orders in “Interludes and Examinations”. Londo would give everything to have her back.
In Garibaldi’s quarters, the lights go red as well. He hears someone in the shower and grabs a PPG from under his pillow. There’s a woman in the shower – Pfc. Elizabeth ‘Dodger’ Durman who died in “GROPOS”. Garibaldi thought she was dead. She confirms that yes, the rumours of her death… were not even slightly exaggerated. Garibaldi thinks that she must a robot or a clone, or Bester messing with his mind. In her own quarters, Lochley is being told everyone is out of range, when she hears a cough and turns to see a rather pale-looking young woman, who Lochley recognises as Zoe.
The rest of the station find that there is an entire piece – the part the Brakiri purchased – that they can neither communicate with nor enter. Most of those in the affected area have fairly pleasant experiences with lost ones they cared about. The exception would appear to be Lennier. He is visited by Mr Morden. Who is not even remotely comforting. And Sheridan is sent a message. From, it seems, beyond the grave. A most peculiar episode.