Thread: nibbled to death

TRX
11-10-2011

I saw Babylon 5 some years after it had been canceled. Other than the fact that it was some kind of science fiction show I knew nothing about it. Who when a friend forced his DVD box set on me and persuaded me to watch it, my wife and I enjoyed it in sequence, an episode or two a day, without commercials. An experience I highly recommend...

Anyway, there's one scene where two aliens (Londo, the Centauri ambassador, and his flunky Vir) are talking -

Ambassador Londo Mollari: But this - this, this, this is like being nibbled to death by... what are those Earth creatures called? Feathers, long bill, webbed feet... go 'quack'...

Ambassador Vir Cotto: Cats.

Ambassador Londo Mollari: Cats. Being nibbled to death by cats.

It was funny, but I just found the original was from a former newsman, Eric Sevareid:

"Dealing with network executives is like being nibbled to death by ducks."

Ooo-kay.

Other Babylon 5 quotes:

[G'Kar observes a picture of Daffy Duck on Garibaldi's wall.]

G'Kar: I was studying this image. Is it one of his household gods?

Zack Allan: [chuckles] That's Daf- Yeah, well, in a way I suppose it is. It's sort of the Egyptian god of frustration.

G'Kar: Most appropriate!

[Sinclair returns to C&C to see how Ivanova is handling the armed vessels from many outraged non-aligned worlds.]

Susan Ivanova: Well, I've managed to get the ship captains engaged in a debate over who has the best claim to Jha'dur. The winner will be the first to attack.

Jeffrey Sinclair: Creative.

G'Kar: The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest.

Jeffrey Sinclair: You should never hand someone a gun unless you're sure where they'll point it.

Michael Garibaldi: Protests are as much use with the Vorlons as fairy wings on a cement truck.

Londo: There comes a time when you look into the mirror, and you realize that what you see is all that you will ever be. Then you accept it, or you kill yourself. Or you stop looking into mirrors.

[Garibaldi and a security officer are breaking in to a post office storage room.]

Michael Garibaldi: What are you so nervous about? We went up against the entire Earth Alliance and two carrier groups.

Security Officer: Yeah, but this is the post office. This could get us in real trouble.

G'Kar: I have seen what power does, and I have seen what power costs. The one is never equal to the other.

[Garibaldi tries to use his ISN fame to get past Sheridan's guard.]

Guard: [in a monotone] I don't watch TV. It's a cultural wasteland filled with inappropriate metaphors and an unrealistic portrayal of life created by the liberal media elite.

Susan Ivanova: This is the White Star fleet. Negative on the surrender. We will not stand down.

Captain Thomson, Earthforce: Who is this? Identify yourself!

Ivanova: Who am I? I am Susan Ivanova. Commander. Daughter of Andrei and Sophie Ivanov. I am the right hand of vengeance, and the boot that is going to kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth, sweetheart! I am Death Incarnate, and the last living thing that you are ever going to see. God sent me.