LOST CONVERSATIONS XI

1. WHERE THE CREW DISCUSS WHAT EACH OF THEM TOLD THE ALLIANCE IN “Bushwacked”

INT. GUARDED ROOM, ALLIANCE SHIP

A large room with benches, tables and chairs. Wash, Zoe, Inara, and Book are here, some standing, others sitting. There is only one door and no windows. It’s clean and sterile, blue grey, a cold room, no feeling of warmth.

BOOK

(worried)

I guess he’s questioning Kaylee and Jayne now. Wonder where the Captain is.

ZOE

(calm)

He’s fine. Not first time we’ve been pinched.

INARA

What happened before?

WASH

Oh, we were just minding our own business...

ZOE

When an Alliance ship just showed up, kinda like now.

WASH

And we were, well, not exactly breaking the law.

ZOE

Just a bit on the legal side.

INARA

Stealing something?

ZOE

It’s not stealing if the owners ain’t around.

BOOK

That’s still stealing.

WASH

Funny, that’s what the Alliance said too. But we got off. Mal always finds a way to get out of these jams.

Just then the door opens and Jayne enters, giving dirty looks back at the soldiers escorting him. The door closes behind him.

BOOK

Have you seen the Captain?

INARA

Or Kaylee?

JAYNE

Kaylee’s in there now. Ain’t seen Mal.

ZOE

Keeping him isolated.

WASH

So, Jayne, spill your guts?

JAYNE

Sure, told ‘em all about your secret toy dinosaur collection.

WASH

(fake shock)

You didn’t!

INARA

Enough! What did you tell them?

They all look at Jayne, not so nice and finally Wash catches on.

WASH

What? No, he wouldn’t...would you?

JAYNE

I didn’t said nothing about nobody. (beat, quieter) ‘Sides, ain’t no reward to be had that way.

INARA

You’re not thinking about...

JAYNE

Darn right I am. Bet Mal is too. Why else would he...

ZOE

These walls have ears.

They go silent and get a little paranoid, speak in low voices.

JAYNE

So what did you all tell him?

BOOK

He was just curious about why a Shepherd would be with this ship.

INARA

And a Companion.

BOOK

Also, seemed interested in the fact that I got on at Persephone same time his two fugi