- "What do you want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?"
- ―Londo Mollari
| "Born to the Purple" | |
|---|---|
| Series Babylon 5 Season 1, Episode 3 | |
| |
| Air date | February 9th, 1994 |
| Writers | Lawrence G. DiTillio |
| Director | Bruce Seth Green |
| Producers | Richard Compton; John Copeland; Douglas Netter; J. Michael Straczynski; George Johnson |
| Starring | Michael O'Hare; Claudia Christian; Jerry Doyle; Mira Furlan; Richard Biggs; Andrea Thompson; Stephen Furst; Bill Mumy; Caitlin Brown; Andreas Katsulas; Peter Jurasik |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous "Soul Hunter" |
Next "Infection" |
"Born to the Purple" is the third episode of season one of the American science fiction television series Babylon 5. It was directed by Bruce Seth Green and written by Lawrence G. DiTillio. It first aired on the PTEN network on February 9th, 1994.
In this episode, Londo Mollari becomes smitten with a Centauri dancer named Adira Tyree. His desire for her overwhelms his sense of duty and he blows off an important diplomatic accord regarding the Euphrates Sector to be with her. Adira is actually a slave spy owned by an alien named Trakis who uses her to steal the highly confidential "Purple Files" from Londo's computer.
Cast[]
Principal Cast[]
Guest Stars[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Fabiana Udenio | Adira Tyree |
| Clive Revill | Trakis |
Also starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Mary Woronov | Ko D'Ath |
| Jimm Giannini | Ock |
| Robert Phalen | Andrei Ivanova |
| Robert DiTillio | Norg |
| Tom Lowe | Gunman #1 |
| Katharine Mills | Dancer |
| Mike Norris | Butz |
| Laura Peterson | Gera Akshi |
| Marianne Robertson | Tech #1 |
| Momo Yashima | Doctor Goyokin |
| Haley McLane | Computer (voice) |
| Christopher Rich | Crew member |
Notes & Trivia[]
"Hey, nerf-herders! Headhunter's Holosuite Wiki has a collection of images related to Babylon 5: Born to the Purple.
- This episode is included on the Babylon 5: The Complete Universe and disc 1 of the Babylon 5: The Complete First Season DVD collections by Warner Home Video.
- Production code number: 104
- Adira Tyree appears next in the season five episode "Day of the Dead".
- The exact contents of the Purple Files in Londo Mollari's computer system are not revealed at this time.
- Vir Cotto becomes an ambassador in this episode, though Londo does warn him to not give away the Centauri Empire.
- This is the only appearance of Ko D'Ath played by Mary Woronov. She was originally intended to be a regular character on the series, but Woronov had difficulty working with the heavy makeup appliances, so this ended up being the character's only appearance. Her role in the series is replaced by Caitlin Brown as Na'Toth. The Ko D'Ath character is later revealed to have died in an airlock accident.
Quotes[]
- Londo Mollari: We Centauri live our lives for appearances, position, status, title. These are the things by which we define ourselves. But when I look beneath the mask I am forced to wear, I see only emptiness. And then I think of you, and then I say to Hell with appearances.
....
- Londo Mollari: Gentlemen, of all things in life, are females not the finest?
- G'Kar: On that, Mollari, we can at least agree.
....
- Londo Mollari: And Vir!
- Vir Cotto: Yes, sir?
- Londo Mollari: Don't give away the homeworld.
....
- Jeffrey Sinclair: Keep them talking, I going to find Londo and bring him here.
- Talia Winters: What if he refuses?
- Jeffrey Sinclair: Then I hurt him.