Inara's Secret

POSTED BY: flugufrelsarinn
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 3, 2004 02:41
VIEWED: 21332
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FLUGUFRELSARINN

Thursday, May 20, 2004 12:28 AM

Inara obviously has a secret past, something she's running to or from? I've been watching the commentaries on the DVD, and in "Serenity" and "Out of Gas", Joss Whedon and Tim Minear respectively point out where there are clues as to what her secret is. Joss points out the syringe she gets out when she thinks the Reavers are coming, and how it works as thinking it is a suicide attempt, but it was actually a nod to bringing up the secret in the future. Tim says that there is a clue somewhere in the conversation between Simon and Inara in "Out of Gas". Could that be the line Inara says - "I don't really need a medical description right now".

Here's my thoughts. Perhaps she doesn't need a medical description not because she's feeling worried and disgusted about it, but because she already knows what's going to happen. Perhaps she has some sort of medical background? That might explain the syringe.

Why she would have a medical background I don't know. Perhaps she has some connection with the Hands of Blue? Why she would get a syringe out in preparation of Reavers coming on board I don't know. Any ideas?

SIOUX

Thursday, May 20, 2004 12:50 AM

I always thought that the clue line in OOG was Inara's reply to Simon when he says that he doesn't want to die on Serenity. She says "I don't want to die at all". Seems that she is running from something or someone.

FLUGUFRELSARINN

Thursday, May 20, 2004 12:52 AM

Oh, that might also make sense. I want to know! Damn Tim Minear for saying there is a clue and not saying what it is.

SHINY

Thursday, May 20, 2004 1:11 AM

I think she's dying. Evidence:

- "I guess we're all running from something"
- "I don't want to die at all"
- Syringe could be medicine that slows the progress of her disease/condition...in the script to the Message, she receives a small package and hides it before anyone else sees it -- possibly another dose of her medication
- Annual companion exam might also have included a visit to her doctor regarding her condition
- When River reads Inara's mind, Inara says "I'm a big girl, just tell me." I believe this is something she said in the past...to her doctor who was hesitating about telling her how bad her condition is.
- Would be a big reason she's afraid to get too close to Mal

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FLUGUFRELSARINN

Thursday, May 20, 2004 1:20 AM

That's a really convincing idea, actually. I'm impressed :-)

GRACEOM

Thursday, May 20, 2004 1:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Shiny:
I think she's dying. Evidence:

- "I guess we're all running from something"
- "I don't want to die at all"
- Syringe could be medicine that slows the progress of her disease/condition...in the script to the Message, she receives a small package and hides it before anyone else sees it -- possibly another dose of her medication
- Annual companion exam might also have included a visit to her doctor regarding her condition
- When River reads Inara's mind, Inara says "I'm a big girl, just tell me." I believe this is something she said in the past...to her doctor who was hesitating about telling her how bad her condition is.
- Would be a big reason she's afraid to get too close to Mal

Now that you mention it, all that stuff makes sense... Though personally, I hope she's not dying of some disease. Not only would that be sad, it's kind of cliche. Still, you could be right.

Another clue, I think, though perhaps leading in a different direction, is in "Heart of Gold" when Nandi tells Mal all about how she remembered Inara as smart and ambitious, and likely to take charge of the Guild...she wonders aloud what Inara is doing roaming the black.

Personally, I just always thought that Inara was looking for independence and self-determination--just like the others on Serenity. My sense is that after the events of the unaired episodes, she's finally begun to understand how working as a Companion has given her a sense of freedom (not to mention "respectability") which is more illusory than real. (There've been clues to that as well, methinks).

Or maybe it's just me...

Grace

edited to add: It also occurred to me that she might have a substance abuse problem (hence the syringe)--perhaps one she's trying to get under control (hence the running from her previous life and associates). The syringe may be her "failsafe" dose, that she needs to look at every once and awhile to remind herself she's strong enough to *not* use it.

SIOUX

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 2:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by flugufrelsarinn:
Oh, that might also make sense. I want to know! Damn Tim Minear for saying there is a clue and not saying what it is.

Here is another clue. There is a scene in "The Message" where Mal and Zoe have opened the cryo-coffin with Tracy in it. Inara blurts out "Are they sending us a warning?" I don't know anyone who thinks that a dead body is an appropriate-type warning. She has seriously ticked off someone powerful. I am still convinced that she is running.

PURPLEBELLY

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 3:08 AM

Why should Joss and Tim be telling the truth? As creators of stories they know the power of dramatic tension in a narrative, even if it later proves to be a false trail

My take on Inara's secret is that one of her clients on Sinon was leader of the True Alliance opposition to Blue Sun, and was terminated by them. While Inara was not then directly involved with the True Alliance, a rival to her career aim of House Mistress has threatened her with guilt by association; she's running, but not actively pursued. She has become commited to the True Alliance cause and uses her peripatetic lifestyle to maintain communication between True Alliance cells on the border planets.

I think that "I'm a big girl ..." is a forward-quote of a conversation with River about their experiences with Blue Sun. Inara and Book are instrumental in getting River into a Witness Program on Sinon in the case against Blue Sun; the rest of the crew just have to get her there ...

But I'm european, so what do I know?

HELL'S KITTEN

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 3:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sioux:
Here is another clue. There is a scene in "The Message" where Mal and Zoe have opened the cryo-coffin with Tracy in it. Inara blurts out "Are they sending us a warning?" I don't know anyone who thinks that a dead body is an appropriate-type warning. She has seriously ticked off someone powerful. I am still convinced that she is running.

That quote's not quite right... The line is:
INARA: Is this a warning of some kind?
Which has a completely different tone to it. Gotta keep in mind the time frame for The Message, which is after War Stories and Trash, and in both episodes, Mal & his crew didn't make a whole lotta friends. With that, I assumed Inara's question was directed at Mal's shenanigans. (Sorry, I just like that word.)

I've been reading and re-reading all the transcripts and shooting scripts - which, I'm sure you know, have cut lines and deleted scenes - and have finally developed my own theory...kinda. Someone mentioned the same thing I'm gonna say a while ago on a different thread, and I quietly dismissed it as too soap-opera-ish. Now I'm startin' to come around... I'm not just not certain I can explain it all in a way that makes sense to anyone reading it.

I guess I'll start with the background bits. First, we know the life of a registered Companion is somewhat demanding, with respect to all the training and education they go through. Very structured kinda thing, yeah? And that can wear on a girl (i.e., Nandi in Heart of Gold). Second, we know 'nara was quickly heading towards becoming House Priestess in House Madrassa, but she left Sihnon damn quick without (known) explanation. Third, we know that Companion rules about "dating" are "complicated" (Ariel) and that Companions are not allowed to have lovers (War Stories deleted scene).

Now I'll move on to Mr. Whedon... he seems to love the big emotion thing. Grand, sweeping, real human kind of emotion. That's what we're supposed to be getting from the relationship - or lack thereof - between Mal and Inara. That scene in Heart of Gold where Inara's crying her eyes out all alone? I've cried like that (shhh, don't repeat that). That tugs at the real life heart strings.

And the one last bit...in Out of Gas, where y'all've been saying Mr. M fed you a line about a clue to Inara's whatever...I don't recall that, but I'll take your word for it. I think the most revealing line from 'nara in that is "I love this ship. I have from the first moment I saw it." I always assumed she wasn't talking about Serenity, but rather, she was talking about Mal.

So, for those of you who're still awake, here's my "theory," of sorts:

Inara spent the first majority of her life in a demanding, rigid, professional...profession. (god, sometimes I feel like Jayne...duh.) It's a good life, what with all the benefits and whatnot, and we know she enjoys most of it. But, spending your whole life doing one thing, ya start to wonder, what else is out there? You can see in Shindig that she's not entirely a part of that world anymore. Maybe she wants some of those things that a Companion isn't allowed to have, and one of those things is, potentially, a love of her life: Mal. Maybe a family.

But, for someone trained in reading body language, she still can't quite seem to figure out Mal. If I were in her position, I sure as hell wouldn't give up the life I have if I'm not 100% (...or...maybe 90%...) sure about the guy for whom I'm giving it up. I'd definitely walk soft. If Mal doesn't have capacity for what Inara needs, she's wasting her time.

Now the needle-box-thing. If I have to let go of the "suicide kit" theory, I'm gonna slide on over to what I mentioned above as someone else's idea: Inara's in "a family way," as River so eloquently put it. I'd not really considered that until I watched Objects In Space again. What stuck out is Early's statements about some of the crew, which are - more or less - true in some way. The statement that seemingly

LILIANNA

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 4:04 AM

Has anyone considered that maybe one of the reasons Inara and Mal tend to distance themselves from one another is that they have had "relations" before. I just wonder how the two met.

Love is the gift at the end of a long journey of self exploration and inner peace.

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