Jayne, Derria and Zoe are seated around the table. Mal is standing at the counter in the kitchen opening a can of something. Jayne has been telling a story.

Jayne: …and that’s how I knew they was a fake, and ratted us out.

Zoe: Even with the camouflage?

Jayne…I guess I just used my mercenary skills, and it all was clear.

Derria: Did they smell?

Jayne: What’s that matter?

Derria: Pheromones, they play a huge part in the brain deciding on which instincts to follow, how you think Reavers know where you are when they aint seen where you been.

Mal has been listening and raises his eyebrows in interest when Jayne looks over at Mal at Derria’s comment. Zoe continues the conversation as Inara enters the kitchen. It is definitely awkward.

Zoe: So what happened to the pay off?

Inara walks in and straight to the cupboard, seeing Mal in the room she gives him the cold shoulder. Taking out a cup she turns to stand next to him and slams the cup down to make a cup of tea. She is thudding her movements.

Mal: So this is how its gonna be?

There is no answer.

Mal cont: Zoe, you think this is how its gonna be?

Zoe: Yup.

Mal: Nara…

Inara: I do not have anything other than business to discuss with you, seeing we do not have any other kind of relationship other than professional otherwise I am sure I would have been informed if not consulted before your last job.

With this she snatches the can out of Mal’s hands finishes opening it for him and storms out the kitchen.

Zoe: How it’s gonna be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Serenity is planet bound, and Simon and Kaylee have been out and about. Hand in hand the return to Serenity’s Cargo bay. Mal is waiting.

Mal: Aphrodite’s evil spawn.

Kaylee: Capt’n.

Simon: We uh managed to stumble across some work if you’re interested?

Kaylee: Simon no….

Mal: Always interested in work, not so keen on making another enemy amongst the women folk on the crew however.

Kaylee: (To Simon) It won’t work, don’t even explain please…

Simon: Yes it will, Zoe and the Captain can go.

Kaylee: They don’t fit, they’ll get made.

Mal: You both know I’m still here right?

Kaylee: There’s a job but it’s in a Stay ‘n’ Sleep.

Mal: Not seein the wrong.

Simon: Residence for this particular transaction requires a couple, a paid transaction between the couple, and papers.

Mal pauses for a moment, knowing they mean Inara has to be part of the job.

Mal: What d’you mean Zoe and me could go?

Kaylee: Jayne’s too, Jayne.

Simon:..and I’m no….no. It would be you and well we thought Zoe using Inara’s papers but…

Mal: Zoe won’t go for that.

Kaylee: That’s what I said, Zoe and the Cap don’t fit like that. River’s too young, Derria wouldn’t get past security and I’m not Companion material. It’s gotta be….

Mal: What’s the job?

Simon: Return a personal stolen item to its rightful owner.

After some consideration Mal refuses.

Simon cont: She said she would pay (Chinese a shit load of credits).

Deciding it might be worth the effort Mal agrees.

Mal: (To Kaylee) You are (Chinese completely) Companion material.

~~~~~~

Inara is standing by her bed arms crossed talking with Zoe in her shuttle. Mal is cowering by the door as Zoe explains the job to Inara trying to convince her to participate.

Zoe: You’d get a cut, and it’s fairly legit.

Inara: (Over Zoe’s shoulder at Mal) What happened to not servicing crew?

Mal: There wouldn’t be any actual servicing. It’d be a rouse, you know all about them shouldn’t be too hard. Just pretend you can stand me, and I’ll pretend I’d pay for you.

Inara takes a deep breath and talks to Zoe again.

Inara: How much is my cut?

Zoe: 7%.

Inara: 14.

Zoe looks round at Mal before negotiating some more.

Zoe: 10%.

Mal: 15.

Inara: Done.

Zoe looks at Mal with a ‘What the hell just happened look’

Mal: We owe her, and Jayne wont know the difference.

Zoe: Sir…

Mal: I’m kidding, I would have gone to 20.

Zoe turns and leaves Inara’s shuttle leaving Mal and Inara staring awkwardly at each other. Mal opens his mouth to speak but Inara cuts him off.

Inara: Business.

Mal: I was gonna say put whatever feelins of anger you have for me aside. I can see the steam.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the cargo bay Mal and Inara are standing facing each other at the doors and Kaylee and Simon are in between the listing off instructions for the job.

Kaylee: Ok Cap your name is Malory Reynar…

Mal: Malory?

Kaylee: We figured you could still shorten it to Mal, incase….

Mal: Kaylee…

Kaylee looks up at Simon.

Simon: Incase you start to fight and Inara calls you Mal accidentally.

Inara: I do have more professional stamina than you might think.

Mal: Not the best choice of words.

Inara: (Chinese shut up)

Simon; Your name is Malory Reynar, we created a profile in Inara’s database incase they cross check, Inara has her papers, you have 48 hours to steal back the ledger.

Kaylee: Goodbye, please don’t kill each other.

As Mal and Inara are leaving.

Simon; Or if you do make it clean so I don’t have as much mess to clean up.

The pair both swing their heads back and glare at Simon and Kaylee, who are trying hard not to grin.

Simon: I don’t think this was a good idea.

Kaylee: This was a perfect idea, they’ll be fine.

~~~~~~~

This scenes a little later once Mal and Inara are in the Sleep n Stay.

Mal: How many times Nara, I’m sorry.

(Pause)

Inara: Maybe coming back to Serenity was the wrong decision.

Mal moves closer to Inara and again grabs a wrist so she is forced to look at him.

Mal: Hey, do you really mean that?

Inara: I..don’t know. I don’t know Mal, I never know with you.

There is a long silence between them as either of them actually have no idea what to say next.

Inara: I thought when I came back, I thought, there were times you….

Mal: You’re a Companion Nara.

Inara: Yes, I know that, you know that. So what does that mean?

Mal: I don’t know what you want, with who you are.

At the absolute right timing of course there is a knock at he door. Inara who is standing answers it.

Clerk: Ma’am here are the tickets for this evening’s dinner and show for yourself and your client.

Inara: Thank you.

Mal: (Butting in) Does everyone receive an invitation?

The clerk looks a little suspicious.

Mal cont: We have friends staying on another floor we were hoping would join us.

Clerk: You both have mutual friends?

Inara: We were introduced earlier as we were checking in they seemed quite accommodating.

Clerk: Yes of course, all Companions and guests are invited to this evenings show.

Inara: Thank you.

Inara closes the door and hands the invitations to Mal.

Inara: Dinners in an hour, we should change.

Mal: Into what? I’m already in a suit.

Inara: Mal you were wearing that when we checked in, you can’t possibly think to show up to dinner wearing the same outfit?

Mal: (completely unsure) No? No.

TO BE FINISHED.....