Line #75 Recap/BabylonFiveS03E20AndTheRockCriedOutNoHidingPlace


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/b5andtherockcriedoutnohidingplace_2485.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A Babylon 5 Gospel sing-along]]
3	->''Well, I went to the rock to hide my face, and the rock cried out, "No hiding place!" There's no hiding place down here!''
4	-->-'''Gospel Singer'''
5
6	Ivanova gives a rundown of the current situation: shipping out telepaths as fast as they can, Sheridan practically living in the War Room, Franklin on Walkabout still, and G’Kar sending Narn bodyguards for each telepath. Not everyone is happy to have G’Kar, though. Londo decides it’s time to deal with the Narn. Since Sheridan has granted him sanctuary, Londo intends to lure him away from the station and back to Narn.
7
8	Ivanova joins Brother Theo in the docking bay where they are waiting for some guests. Theo says to pardon the grinding of his teeth as a group of religious leaders, led by the Reverend Will Dexter, come aboard.
9
10	They’ve apparently been expecting them for a while, and Delenn comes to inform Sheridan of their arrival. He’s too engrossed in trying to analyze Shadow tactics, thinking logically about illogical possibilities or illogically about logical possibilities.
11
12	-->'''Delenn''': No wonder you are cranky.
13
14	He's been foregoing food and rest, and Delenn has to force him to come since she already said he would meet them and he doesn’t want to make a liar out of her.
15
16	Vir informs Londo that Lord Refa is back in the station, along with Minister Virini. Londo sends Vir to tell G’Kar that he has information on the whereabouts of Na’Toth, his former aide. That she’s being held on Narn, which will draw G’Kar there, where he can be captured. Vir is reluctant, but Londo threatens him and his house and family if he doesn’t.
17
18	Refa and Virini talk about Londo, and the minister notes that they used to be allies but now they are rivals. The emperor want the schism between two of the oldest noble houses to end. He’s come here to decide which of them is more deserving of his support.
19
20	Vir meanwhile slowly makes his way to G’Kar’s quarters, and brings the information as Londo now meets with the minister who tells him much of what he told Refa. The emperor has no preference, he just wants the matter settled. Vir comes in and says he’s done what Londo asked. Londo then asks whether it would win the emperor’s favor if he could rid the court of an embarrassing problem, and Virini says it might. As they leave, Vir loudly protests.
21
22	Sheridan is at a dinner with Dexter’s group. They have brought information with them, datacrystals containing transmissions from the government and a lot of the [[LaResistance underground]], proving they’re still around, no matter what ISN says.
23
24	G’Kar seems to have taken the bait as he asks Garibaldi to find a way to smuggle him onto Narn. Garibaldi reminds him there’s a standing warrant for his arrest, but G'Kar insists. He just needs a ship to slip in and wait a few hours. And he wants it immediately.
25
26	Reverend Dexter asks Sheridan for permission to hold a small open service, and Sheridan agrees. Meanwhile, Refa’s men grab Vir and telepathically probe his mind to find out what Londo’s planning.
27
28	That night, Dexter finds Sheridan in his office going over station reports. He’s surprised to find Sheridan still working at this hour, and begins to wonder who he has to share it with. Sheridan tries to evade for a while but Dexter reminds him that after God made Adam he created Eve. Sheridan is reluctant to pull Delenn in, as she has problems of her own. Dexter gets up to leave, but not before reminding Sheridan that sometimes problems are lesser with someone else.
29
30	The next day, on the Narn homeworld, G’Kar is looking over the devastated scenery. One of his contacts meets with him, and he tells them where they will be going. Not far away, Refa is looking over a recreation of the Centauri palace. He makes arrangements to intercept G’Kar that night. With the last of the Kha’Ri captured, the glory to Refa’s house will tip the balance.
31
32	Sheridan knuckles under and invites Delenn to help him figure out the Shadow’s tactics, but even with her help little progress is made. There seems to be no pattern to the attacks but as they run the sequence again they suddenly notice one sector which has been consciously avoided. Delenn tells him many refugees have been going there, and he figures the Shadows are preparing for a major strike with a lot of impact that will spread terror and demoralize them, something he’d do in their shoes. Delenn is taken aback, and when he talks about having to think like the enemy, she decides he’s had enough and drags him out of the War Room.
33
34	On Narn, G’Kar begins to move, while Londo gets Vir away from Refa’s people. Refa’s men find G’Kar and Refa takes the opportunity to gloat, while back on the station, Reverend Dexter’s service gets started, warning them against listening to those who would turn them against each other.
35
36	Refa orders his men to take G’Kar, but they don’t move. When he asks what they're waiting for G’Kar says, "This," and produces a small holoprojector which plays a recording from Londo.
37
38	-->'''Londo''': Hello Refa. If you are seeing this message it is because in a very few minutes you will be dead.
39
40	Londo had made an elaborate plan to trap Refa here without any allies, and begins listing Refa’s offenses, taking that which he loved from him, having Prime minister Malachi murdered, threatening his position, and weakening Centauri Prime’s defenses with his constant wars.
41
42	In addition, he gave G’Kar documents proving that Refa authorized the Mass Driver attack on Narn, and was personally involved in the creation of death camps, and the murder of several million Narns. And just in case G'Kar didn't believe him, Londo has arranged for the release of two thousand Narns for this service as an added incentive. Furthermore, he has arranged all this to disgrace Refa’s house by making it seem like they were involved with the Narns. Londo bids Refa farewell then the image vanishes and the guards walk away.
43
44	G’Kar plants a datacrystal on Refa and warns the other Narns to leave his head and face intact for identification. The rest is theirs.
45
46	As a lively Gospel tune is sung back on station, a panicked Refa tries to run with angry Narns closing in from all sides, eventually cornering him and [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating him to death]]. “No Hiding place down here.”
47
48	Back on Babylon 5, Londo presents the datacrystal to Minister Virini, accusing Refa of collaborating with the Narns in a bid to increase his own power. Virini thanks Londo for the information and dismisses him. As he walks off, Vir lets him know that he is not happy with what he did.
49
50	-->'''Vir''': I used to think I knew you, Londo. [[WhatTheHellHero But I never knew you at all, did I]]?
51
52	In hyperspace, Delenn has the White Star bring Sheridan to see what they can do now that they know where the Shadows will strike. Before Sheridan’s astonished eyes, an entire fleet of White Star class ships is arrayed. He's speechless, but Delenn tells him not to say anything. They look at each other for a moment then draw together [[TheBigDamnKiss and kiss]].
53
54	!This episode contains examples of:
55
56	* AssholeVictim: When you see the reasons Londo has for framing Refa, and even after seeing him fleeing in terror, cornered and beaten to death, you aren't too sorry to see him go.
57	* BatmanGambit: In order to work, Londo's scheme required Refa (and several other individuals, including Vir) to do exactly what he expected them to do.
58	* TheBigDamnKiss: Sheridan and Delenn kiss for the first time ([[TimeyWimeyBall in proper time at least]]) on the bridge of the ''White Star'', right after she has shown him the new fleet ready for deployment.
59	* BluffTheEavesdropper: Londo pulls this off ''without even being in the room''. He gives some information to Vir Cotto. Vir is later captured by Lord Refa's thugs and interrogated by a Centauri telepath to get the information from Vir's mind. The information is false, but Refa thinks it's true because ''Vir'' thinks it's true.
60	* BodyguardBetrayal: The Centauri guards that Refa brought with him to capture G'Kar are actually working for Londo and silently leave him alone with a gang of very, ''very'' angry Narns.
61	* BookSafe: Dexter had the smuggled recordings hidden in his Bible.
62	* CallBack:
63	** Londo's reasons for having Refa killed:
64	*** Taking something precious from him. This refers to [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E15InterludesAndExaminations Adira's death]], which was actually Morden, but Londo was made to think Refa was behind it.
65	*** Not to mention Londo's old friend [[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E17Knives Urza Jaddo]], who would still be alive if it hadn't been for Refa.
66	*** Running [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E11CeremoniesOfLightAndDark constant wars]], which leave Centauri Prime vulnerable.
67	*** [[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E09TheComingOfShadows The murder of Emperor Turhan's Prime Minister]].
68	*** To get the Narns' assistance, he shows them that Refa was personally responsible for the [[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E20TheLongTwilightStruggle mass driver bombardment of Narn]].
69	** Garibaldi has had the Rangers [[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E21ComesTheInquisitor smuggle messages off Narn before]].
70	** Sheridan hasn't been sleeping well since [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E15InterludesAndExaminations Kosh died]].
71	** We find out that G'Kar knows that [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E12SicTransitVir Vir ran an]] UndergroundRailroad for Narns while on Minbar.
72	* ContinuityNod:
73	** [[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E06SpiderInTheWeb San Diego]] was the target of a major attack in the past.
74	** [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E12SicTransitVir Londo isn't the first Centauri to free 2000 Narns.]]
75	* {{Courier}}: An interfaith delegation of visiting clergymen use their status as holy men to avoid government harassment while covertly smuggling intel from [[LaResistance the Resistance on Earth and her colonies]] to Babylon 5.
76	* TheDogBitesBack: G'Kar and some Narn Resistance members get some catharsis with Refa.
77	* DoWithHimAsYouWill: Used twice in the same scene. When Refa and his soldiers capture G'Kar and his people in the tunnels, Refa tells his soldiers that G'Kar must be taken alive, but the rest are theirs, to do with as they will. A few minutes later, G'kar uses almost the same words to his followers: make sure the planted evidence is found and that Refa's head remains intact for identification, but the rest is theirs, to do with as they will. Suffice to say that Refa does not die quickly or easily.
78	* DramaticIrony: While their rivalry and mutual antagonism are all cited as factors in Londo's scheme, Refa ironically is actually innocent of the unforgivable crime that sealed his fate: The murder of Adira. Only the audience is aware that Adira's murderer was actually Morden.
79	* EnemyMine: Londo and G'Kar work together to bring down Lord Refa.
80	* EurekaMoment: Sheridan finally gets what the Shadows' medium-term plan is this episode, realizing they're setting up a trap for the refugee ships by making an area ''look'' safe, before they hit it hard later. This knowledge is put to use in the [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E21ShadowDancing next episode]].
81	* FacialDialogue: Delenn doesn't know what the word "cranky" means... until Sheridan gives her an exasperated look.
82	-->'''Delenn''': Never mind. Your face just broke the language barrier.
83	* FamousFamousFictional: When describing what he thinks the Shadows are doing, Sheridan lists several instances of previously untouched enemy territory being hit with something big, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Dresden and San Diego.
84	* {{Foreshadowing}}: In this episode begins a countdown to a significant event. The first of these is "Z Minus 14 Days". The countdown continues into the next episode.
85	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Sheridan rocking out during the titular spiritual.
86	* GospelRevivalNumber: The song at the service, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etYHWZyRSMU as heard here]].
87	* HologramProjectionImperfection: The holographic pre-recorded message from Londo that G'Kar plays to Lord Refa. Londo paces around quite a bit while he speaks, at one point walking right through where G'Kar is standing (to which G'Kar shudders in disgust). Holo-Londo also sometimes points off-center or faces in slightly the wrong direction during his speech to Refa.
88	* {{Irony}}: The fate Refa had intended for Urza Jaddo's house now descends on his own house, courtesy of Londo.
89	* KarmicDeath: There ''is'' no hiding place for a sinner like Refa.
90	* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Delenn seems like nothing less than Sheridan's long-suffering wife in this episode. She seems to manage him simply by wrapping him around her little finger and keeping him there.
91	-->'''Delenn''': Yes, John, of course, John, whatever you say, John.
92	* LogicalWeakness: Refa's telepath can tell Vir believes what he told G'Kar, but has no way of knowing that Londo was feeding him falsehoods.
93	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Refa meets his end at the hands of a mob of angry Narns.
94	* NoodleIncident: When Londo asks Vir if he remembers Na'Toth, he nervously replies that Na'Toth once assaulted him, leaving claw-marks (he accompanies this while miming hand claws grabbing his neck); there was no such incident shown on any previous episode, neither are we given any further details.
95	* NotWorthKilling: No, not Refa, but Vir is seen this way by Refa's men. Londo knew it, too, and thus also knew Vir would remain alive more than long enough for Londo to come rescue him. Vir, for his part, is ''pointedly'' unimpressed with Londo planning on this.
96	* OutGambitted: Refa had a good plan to capture G'Kar and gain the emperor's favor. Too bad Londo already had a plan that Refa was unwittingly stepping right into.
97	* PassiveAggressiveKombat: Brother Theo is rather good at this.
98	* PlayingBothSides: Londo sets up Refa so it looks like he was playing the Centauri and Narn against each other by having evidence planted on his dead body showing he was helping the Narn Resistance, and had plans to become the Prime Minister and even Emperor in time ([[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E11CeremoniesOfLightAndDark which, of course, he did]]). As the Centauri would wish to sweep such dealings under the rug, the retaliatory laws mentioned in previous episodes would be ignored for this incident.
99	* RedOniBlueOni: With the two spiritual leaders, Reverend Dexter being the red, a firm believer in making a "joyous noise", and Brother Theo being the blue, preferring quiet servitude.
100	* RelationshipUpgrade: Although Delenn and John's has gradually been taking place over the past season and a half, it is SealedWithAKiss in this episode.
101	* TheReveal: G'Kar and Londo have plotted a trap for Refa which turns benefitial to both: the Narn Resistance gets to exact revenge the orchestrator of the bombing of Narn, death camps and genetic cleansing programs - as well as the freedom of 2000 Narn - without the Centauri occupiers retaliating and Londo gets rid of a rival in the Royal Court without getting his hands dirty.
102	* RuleOfSymbolism:
103	** As the song reaches the word "Jesus," the camera cuts straight to G'Kar. This is not the last time G'Kar will be likened to a [[MessianicArchetype messiah]].
104	** The Londo hologram at one point overlaps G'Kar completely, to state that their grievances towards Refa also overlap.
105	** The hymnal itself, with Refa's fate as a sinner running for any hiding place from the Narn mob compared to a sinner seeking shelter on Judgement Day.
106	** As Refa is pulled to the ground and the Narns close in to beat him to death G'Kar doesn't get directly involved and turns and walks away now that it's clear Refa will not escape, showing his more general rejection of all but necessary violence which the other Narns have yet to reach.
107	* SeinfeldianConversation: While Sheridan exposits about his troubles predicting the Shadows' plans, Delenn complains about the ambiguities of the English language, trying to decide whether "cranky," "grouchy," or "crotchety" could be real words and whether they could describe Sheridan.
108	* ScifiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: Londo states that Refa, who orchestrated the bombing of the Narn homeworld in ''The Long Twilight Struggle'' (among several other atrocities), is personally responsible for the deaths of "5 or 6 million Narns". Given that said bombardments involved dropping asteroids on the Narn's cities ''continuously for several days'', those numbers should probably be at least about 100 times bigger. This could be reconciled by having the mass driver deaths not be counted in those that Londo considers Refa "personally responsible" for, though that stretches the definition quite a bit.
109	* ShoutOut: Refa getting beaten to death while a jaunty tune plays is a ShoutOut to a similar scene in ''Theatre/{{Cabaret}}''.
110	* SnarkToSnarkCombat: Brother Theo and the Reverend Will Dexter provide one of the finest examples in the series. Their jibes at each other's expense are as sharp as blades, but there's never any doubt [[VitriolicBestBuds they're very good friends underneath it all]].
111	* SoundtrackDissonance: Zig-zagged. The scene of Refa's demise at the hands of the Narn is set to a peppy, upbeat Gospel song being sung back on the station. However, the lyrics themselves overlap quite well with Refa's current situation. "''There's no hiding place down here''" (in the tunnels, from the Narns.)
112	* TheSpyMaster: Brother Theo has been working with religious leaders on Earth and her colonies to gather and smuggle intel about Clark's regime to B5 so it can be passed on to the rest of the galaxy.
113	* TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat: Refa replies to Londo's allegations with a simple "You cannot believe him. He's lying." The recording of Londo promptly continues: on the off chance that G'Kar ''didn't'' believe the allegations and the evidence, two thousand Narn prisoners would be freed on Londo's order--one thousand in advance, and the other thousand once G'Kar complied with his end of the bargain.
114	* TitleDrop: As lyrics of the song.
115	* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: The plan Londo actually talks about is just a decoy. The ''real'' plan is not even hinted at until it's too late for Refa to escape. This is enforced in-universe, as Londo knew that Refa had telepaths around.
116	* VitriolicBestBuds: Brother Theo and the Reverened Will Dexter clearly share many common goals and interests, [[RedOniBlueOni but are of very opposite temperaments]]. Much SnarkToSnarkCombat ensues.

Context Recap / BabylonFiveS03E20AndTheRockCriedOutNoHidingPlace