Synopsis

Londo Mollari is being forced to negotiate with the Narn. He would rather be pursuing a new love interest though. The love interest, Adira Tyree, is actually the slave of an alien named Trakis. He is using her to get Londo's Purple Files, a stash of dirt and information on Centauri's elite that Trakis hopes to sell to the highest bidder, possibly including the Narn. Londo promotes Vir Cotto to diplomatic status and orders him to negotiate with the Narn while he pursues Adira.

Meanwhile Michael Garibaldi has discovered unauthorized use of the Gold Channel communications network, which he attempts to track down. Eventually he traces it to Ivanova, who is using it to talk to her dying father back in Russia.

Adira, having drugged Londo and stolen his Purple Files, is about to meet her master. She starts to have second thoughts about the deception and makes a run for it.

Sinclair is able to trick Trakis into divulging Adira's whereabouts. Trakis is then triumphantly floored by a punch from Londo and Sinclair is able to locate Adira and return the crystal to Londo.

Adira, despite Londo's pleading, decides to leave the station.

A memorable part of the episode is Londo's speech about the nature of Centauri society: "We Centauri live our lives for appearances, possessions, 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 I say: to hell with appearances."

Arc significance

• Adira Tyree's return to Babylon 5 plays a major part in the third-season episode "Interludes and Examinations," and also returns briefly in the episode Day of the Dead in the fifth season.
• This episode marks the first real development of Londo's character, as he shows a great deal of tenderness and genuine emotion to counterbalance his usual Machiavellian cynicism.

Production details

"Born to the Purple" was originally titled "Amaranth."

See also

External links