Inara Serra quotes from Firefly

Book

He's not wildly interested in ingratiating himself with anyone, yet he's very protective of his crew. It's odd.

Inara

Why are you so fascinated by him?

Book

Because he's something of a mystery. Why are you?

Inara

[looks taken aback, then smiles] Because so few men are.

Book

I've been out of the abbey two days, I've beaten a lawman senseless, I've fallen in with criminals. I watched the captain shoot the man I swore to protect. And I'm not even sure if I think he was wrong. I believe... I just... I think I'm on the wrong ship.

Inara

Maybe. Or maybe you're exactly where you ought to be.

Inara

Physical appearance doesn't matter so terribly. You look for compatibility of spirit. There's an energy about a person that's difficult to hide.You try to feel that —

Mal

[Entering Inara's shuttle] And then you try to feel the energy of their credit account, it has a sort of...aura...

Inara

What did I say to you about barging into my shuttle?

Mal

That it was manly and impulsive?

Inara

Yes, precisely. Only the exact phrase I used was, "Don't."

Mal

Well, you're holding my mechanic in thrall. And Kaylee! What the hell is goin' on in the engine room? Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?

Mal

I'm not sure you'd be safe.

Inara

Mal, if you're being a gentleman, I may die of shock.

Mal

Hm. [Bows and leaves, then reenters] Have you got time to do my hair?

Inara

[Sternly] Out.

Inara

I like watching the game. As with other situations, the key seems to be giving Jayne a heavy stick and standing back.

Inara

Mal!

Mal

Oh, terrible shame. 'Course, they won't discover it till they go order their next round of drinks.

Wei.

Mal

[out loud] Good drinker, that one.

Mal

It sounds like the finest party I can imagine getting paid to go to.

Inara

I don't suppose you'd find it up to [the] standards of your outings. More conversation, and somewhat less... petty theft and getting hit with pool cues.

Mal

And I never back down from a fight.

Inara

Yes, you do! You do all the time!

Mal

Well... yeah, but I'm not backing down from this one!

Inara

You don't need strength as much as speed. We're fragile creatures. It takes less than a pound of pressure to cut skin.

Mal

You know that? They teach you that in whore academy?

Inara

You have a strange sense of nobility, Captain. You'll lay a man out for implying I'm a whore, but you keep calling me one to my face.

Mal

I might not show respect to your job, but he didn't respect you. That's the difference. Inara, he doesn't even see you.

Inara

Well, I guess death will solve the issue to everyone's satisfaction.

Inara

You're always breaking the rules, no matter which society you're in! You don't get along with ordinary criminals either, which is why you're constantly getting in trouble!

Mal

You think following the rules will buy you a nice life, even if the rules make you a slave.

You have to finish it, lad. [Mal doesn't move] You have to finish it. For a man to lay beaten, yet breathing? It makes him a coward.

Inara

It's humiliation.

Mal

It would be humiliating, having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood. Mercy is the mark of a great man.

Mal

Guess I'm just a good man.

Mal

Well, I'm all right.

Inara

Are you in pain?

Mal

Absolutely. I got stabbed, you know, right here. [shows bandaged wound in his side]

Inara

[squeamishly] Eh— I saw.

Mal

Don't care much for fancy parties. Too rough.

Inara

It wasn't entirely a disaster.

Mal

I got stabbed! Right here!

Inara

You also lined up exciting new crime.

Mal

Don't take his offer.

Inara

What?

Mal

Don't do it. 'Cause in the case that it happens, that means he's a fella who killed me, and I don't like fellas who kill me, not in general. I said before I don't have call to stop you, and that's true. Anyways, don't.

Inara

Does it seem every supply store on every border planet has the same five rag dolls and the same wood carvings of... what is this? A duck?

Kaylee

That's a swan. I like it.

Inara

You do?

Kaylee

Looks like it was made with… you know, longing. Made by a person really longed to see a swan.

Inara

Perhaps because they'd only heard of them by rough description.

Inara

So… explain to me again why Zoe wasn't in the dress?

Mal

Tactics, woman. Needed her in the back. Besides, them soft cotton dresses feel kinda nice. There's a whole… airflow.

Inara

And you'd know that because…?

Mal

You can't open the book of my life and jump in the middle. Like woman, I am a mystery.

Inara

[laughs] Best keep it that way. I withdraw the question.

Inara

Come to my shuttle.

Saffron

You would... lie with me?

Inara

...I think we've lied enough.

Saffron

You're good.

Inara

You're amazing. Who are you?

Saffron

[sneers arrogantly] Malcolm Reynolds' widow.