Born to the Purple
Encyclopedia
"Born to the Purple" is an episode from the first season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5
. This episode is named after the Greek word Porphyrogenitos
, referring to special birthright or privileged heritage, royal birth.
. He would rather be pursuing a new love interest, Adira Tyree (Fabiana Udenio
), who is actually the slave of an alien named Trakis. He is using her to get a copy of 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 the Russian Consortium.
Adira, having drugged Londo and stolen a copy of his Purple Files, is about to meet her master. She starts to have second thoughts about the theft and makes a run for it. Londo and Sinclair track her down, but are waylaid on the way to get her by Trakis' men. Trakis kidnaps her and obtains the copy of the Files.
With the help of telepath Talia Winters
, 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 copy of the Files to Londo.
Adira, despite Londo's interest in having her stay, decides to leave the station.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
. This episode is named after the Greek word Porphyrogenitos
Porphyrogenitos
Porphyrogénnētos, Latinized as Porphyrogenitus was an honorific title given to a son, or daughter , of a reigning emperor in the Byzantine Empire. However, not every imperial prince or princess was accorded this distinction...
, referring to special birthright or privileged heritage, royal birth.
Synopsis
Londo Mollari is being forced to negotiate with the NarnNarn
The Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
. He would rather be pursuing a new love interest, Adira Tyree (Fabiana Udenio
Fabiana Udenio
Fabiana Udenio is an Argentine/Italian character actress and sex symbol who has appeared in film and on television. She is best known for her role as "Alotta Fagina", a Bond girl parody in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.Udenio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to Italy ...
), who is actually the slave of an alien named Trakis. He is using her to get a copy of Londo's Purple Files, a stash of dirt and information on Centauri
Centauri (Babylon 5)
The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
's elite that Trakis hopes to sell to the highest bidder, possibly including the Narn. Londo promotes Vir Cotto
Vir Cotto
Vir Cotto is a character from the fictional Babylon 5 universe, played on screen by Stephen Furst. He is a Centauri male who was from a family of minor nobility, who would eventually become the Centauri Ambassador to Babylon 5, and then became the Emperor of the Centauri Republic in 2278.Vir Cotto...
to diplomatic status and orders him to negotiate with the Narn while he pursues Adira.
Meanwhile Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
has discovered unauthorized use of the Gold Channel communications network, which he attempts to track down. Eventually he traces it to Ivanova
Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
, who is using it to talk to her dying father back in the Russian Consortium.
Adira, having drugged Londo and stolen a copy of his Purple Files, is about to meet her master. She starts to have second thoughts about the theft and makes a run for it. Londo and Sinclair track her down, but are waylaid on the way to get her by Trakis' men. Trakis kidnaps her and obtains the copy of the Files.
With the help of telepath Talia Winters
Talia Winters
Talia Winters is a fictional character appearing on the science fiction television show Babylon 5 during its first and second seasons. She was portrayed by actress Andrea Thompson....
, 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 copy of the Files to Londo.
Adira, despite Londo's interest in having her stay, decides to leave the station.
Arc significance
- Introduces Adira Tyree. Adira Tyree's "almost" return to Babylon 5 is a major plot point in the third-season episode "Interludes and ExaminationsInterludes and ExaminationsInterludes and Examinations is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Dr. Franklin confronts his addiction to stims....
," and she also returns briefly in the episode "Day of the DeadDay of the Dead (Babylon 5)"Day of the Dead" is an episode from the fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. It was written by science fiction and fantasy author Neil Gaiman, and is the only episode after the second season not written by J. Michael Straczynski. The episode also features Penn & Teller,...
" in the fifth season.
- The death of Ivanova's father will come back to haunt her in the later season one episode "TKOTKO (Babylon 5)"TKO" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.- Synopsis :As Susan Ivanova comes to terms with her father's death , an old friend of Garibaldi's comes to the station to participate in a dangerous alien martial arts contest.Garibaldi arrests two aliens...
".