History Recap / BabylonFiveS04E18IntersectionsInRealTime

* FalseConfession: The interrogator's ultimate goal is to get Sheridan to not merely sign it - his signature, after all, can easily be forged if he won't give them a real one - but to actually ''believe'' it.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Don't let his mild-mannered demeanor fool you. Everything he does, whether cruel or seemingly benign, is calculated to lower Sheridan's guard and break down his resistance.
* {{Gaslighting}}: much of the Interrogator's technique comes down to this, paired with TwoPlusTortureEqualsFive.

* HopeSpot: Room 17 is this. The room is described with a finality to it. Sheridan is strapped to a table and took there with a priest giving him last rites. He fully expects death, and might welcome it to escape from the torment the place puts the person through. Except what is found there isn't death. Being sent to Room 17 just means they will now over from the beginning. Room 17 takes away any hope of an escape by death.

* MortonsFork: The interrogator asks Sheridan if he wants to admit that he had been rebelling against Clark due to an "influence from outsiders". Sheridan replies "No", and the interrogator acts surprised, saying that everyone is influenced by others, that it is part of being human, and concludes that Sheridan is out of his mind if he believes that. However, if Sheridan had confirmed that he had been influenced by others, the interrogator would have concluded that Sheridan is merely a puppet of alien governments, as the ISN reporters did before.

* OnlyOneName: The interrogator's name is revealed in the credits: its William. The second interrogator is not named, though.

* FalseConfession: The interrogator's ultimate goal is to get Sheridan to sign it.

He is brought into the room where a hooded figure waits for him. The figure leaves...then the guards come back, strap him to a chair and another interrogator comes in ("Good morning") and the whole process starts over again, while the figure comes back and takes off his hood to reveal the [[MindScrew drazi]]. Sheridan resigns himself to having to resist them all over again.

* AmbiguousSituation: Given the high degree of MindScrew present, a few examples present themselves. First, Sheridan sees Delenn twice, whether it's in his head or an elaborate illusion on the part of the interrogators is up to debate. Similarly, the executioner who reveals himself to be a Drazi could either be another thing going on in Sheridan's head under stress, or just an indicator that the Drazi was in on it the whole time.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: At the end, Sheridan is in an identical room, with a different interrogator starting the whole process over again. It is easy to wonder [[YouHaveFailedMe what happened to the last guy]] who failed to get a confession from Sheridan.
* YouLookFamiliar: The Drazi is played by Wayne Alexander, who portrayed many characters throughout the show--most famously, Lorien from earlier in the season, and [[UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper Sebastian]] from two seasons earlier.

** The interrogator WillNotTellALie. Be very, very careful about making assumptions when he leaves something unsaid, however.

* AcquiredPoisonImmunity: The interrogator has it, which lets him eat the same food as Sheridan and not be affected.

->'''Interrogator''': Out there it doesn't matter what time it is; in here, it's lunchtime if you and I decide that it is. The truth is sometimes what you believe it to be, and other times what you ''decide'' it to be. My task is to make you decide to believe differently, and when that happens the world will remake itself before your very eyes.

-->'''Interrogator''': Out there it doesn't matter what time it is; in here, it's lunchtime if you and I decide that it is. The truth is sometimes what you believe it to be, and other times what you ''decide'' it to be. My task is to make you decide to believe differently, and when that happens the world will remake itself before your very eyes.

The interrogator instructs him to answer questions immediately and honestly or face the consequences, and Sheridan goes to probably throttle him but as he gets close pain givers on his neck and arms go off, giving him an [[ElectricTorture electric jolt]]. The interrogator just begins unpacking his briefcase, like it's just another day in the office, explaining that he's not the enemy here, he has no personal stake in this, it's just a job, and how uncomfortable this gets is entirely up to Sheridan. When asked, he explains he's there to ensure Sheridan's cooperation and will do whatever it takes to get it. He taps a control and the guards come in again and strap Sheridan to one of the chairs. The interrogator again asks if he has any health issues, and Sheridan says no. The [[SlasherSmile man smiles]] and says they can begin.

-> ''"You have no rights. There's no courtroom here, Captain. No tribunals, no attorneys, no justice, no mercy, no fairness, no hope, no last minute escape. [[FalseConfession You will walk through that door when you confess and not one second before]]."''
-->--'''The Interrogator'''

-> ''You have no rights. There's no courtroom here, Captain. No tribunals, no attorneys, no justice, no mercy, no fairness, no hope, no last minute escape. [[FalseConfession You will walk through that door when you confess and not one second before]].''
-->-'''The Interrogator'''

* {{Gaslighting}} much of the Interrogator's technique comes down to this, paired with TwoPlusTortureEqualsFive.

** The recurring allusions to ''Literature/{{1984}}'' in regards to the Clark regime are in full force in this episode: the interrogation is highly reminiscent of Winston Smith's interrogation by [[spoiler:O'Brien]], Room 17 is a clear reference to Room101 and the interrogator informs Sheridan that if he confesses, he will be released and allowed to live a comfortable life until he is eventually forgotten and later quietly killed, which is exactly what happens to [[spoiler:Winston]].

Sheridan lies curled up in the corner of a dark room, thinking back on the events that led up to his betrayal by Michael Garibaldi and his capture by Clark's forces. Eventually a door opens and a [[TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse nondescript looking man]] comes in, followed by guards bringing in a table and two chairs. As they leave, the man begins asking questions about Sheridan's health, any allergies, illnesses, medications, or heart troubles. Clearly interrogation is about to start and Sheridan doesn't say anything. The interrogator instructs him to answer questions immediately and honestly or face the consequences, and Sheridan goes to probably throttle him but as he gets close pain givers on his neck and arms go off, giving him an [[ElectricTorture electric jolt]]. The interrogator just begins unpacking his briefcase, like it's just another day in the office, explaining that he's not the enemy here, he has no personal stake in this, it's just a job, and how uncomfortable this gets is entirely up to Sheridan. When asked, he explains he's there to ensure Sheridan's cooperation and will do whatever it takes to get it. He taps a control and the guards come in again and strap Sheridan to one of the chairs. The interrogator again asks if he has any health issues, and Sheridan says no. The [[SlasherSmile man smiles]] and says they can begin.

-->'''Interrogator:''' But can you win?\\

* ElectricTorture: Sheridan is wearing paingivers that the Interrogator uses to punish Sheridan if he misbehaves.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Interrogator is never given a name.

* TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: The Interrogator looks and acts like a mild mannered accountant despite being a TortureTechnician for a fascist regime. If there was ever any character that fully embodied the concept of "the banality of evil" it's him.

When the interrogator comes back, there are no pleasantries. He tells Sheridan that as a war hero, he has a certain pull with the public, and when he begins to believe certain things, others start to believe certain things. And that's a problem, since his views are currently at odds with the State's. It's either one or the other, and they've decided they can make do without him. They can forge his signature, create his image and it will have to do now.

He offers Sheridan one last chance, but Sheridan is having none of it. He recalls their conversation about truth and all the "truths' they've been discussing, and decides that if truth is relative, then he can decide what his truth is, and he can fight the system.

-->'''Interrogator''': But can you win?\\

The interrogator explains that they don't want him dead, they want him to be seen, to meet people, travel, be a symbol. They will come eventually, but it won't be for a while, they'll wait until he's been forgotten, it'll be quick, but until then he will have his freedom. As the interrogator begins encouraging Sheridan to sign again, he suddenly sees Delenn standing there, watching him. The interrogator releases him, and he reaches over...[[SpitefulSpit and spits on it]]. "No." The interrogator looks disappointed, saying he wishes he hadn't done that. He says what comes next is out of his hands, then leaves as Sheridan allows himself a somewhat satisfied look.