001 VIDEO LIST ONE

[deadliestviper]

[The screen switches on, revealing a face caked in dirt, covered in dust, streaked with sweat, and smeared with blood. A pair of troubled, if clear, blue eyes look out from it, and then there's a shake of the head, followed by a swirl of long, messy blonde hair – underneath all the grime, the new arrival's a female. She gives a bright smile, the sight slightly disarming on such a gritty face.]

Hi. [Her voice cracks when she speaks and she coughs, then clears her throat.]

Sorry to bother you folks, but it appears I've got some new business to attend to and I'm a little out of sorts. [Her smile turns apologetic, a little self-deprecating. It might be cute if she didn't look like an adult female approximation of Peanuts' Pigpen.] If one of you would be so kind as to point me toward the showers, I'd be in your debt.

[One last thing: her voice lowers, the sparkle gone from her eyes.] Budd... If you're here, I'll find you.

Comments

[persuadeyou]

[She knows disarming when she sees it. So Natasha cuts to the chase, while maintaining her cover: she's just a consultant who makes a living asking the necessary questions, nothing suspicious there.]

Who's Budd?

[deadliestviper]

[Expected though it is, that question's unwelcome. Beatrix scrutinizes her, looking for any hints on exactly who it is who's asking.]

Budd's a friend.

[persuadeyou]

[And Natasha keeps her face neutral, curious but giving nothing away.]

I guess he hasn't piped up?

[deadliestviper]

Not unless he's had a couple of surgeries since last I saw him.

[persuadeyou]

Well, maybe he'll show up. As I understand it, new people just keep showing up. I'll keep an eye out, Ms...?

[deadliestviper]

That's a heartening thought. [She wouldn't mind seeing Budd again. Or Elle, or Bill. As it is her luck probably isn't that good and she'll end up with O-Ren and Vernita to deal with.] Solberg. Beth Solberg. And you are?

[persuadeyou]

Nicole Reese. Pleasure to meet you.

[deadliestviper]

You too, Nicole. I'm only sorry it wasn't under other circumstances, you'll have to excuse my appearance.

[persuadeyou]

I work in New York City. I think I might have actually seen worse.

What happened, if you don't mind my asking?

[deadliestviper]

That explains why you didn't seem surprised.

Had a little landscaping accident. I'm all right now.

[persuadeyou]

I used to walk past the naked cowboy on a regular basis. Sometimes not reacting can be the best option.

[Landscaping accident sounds kind of like her spelunking accident, but she isn't commenting on it.] Well, that's good at least.

[deadliestviper]

Hopefully I'm not that bad quite yet.

[More or less exactly like her spelunking accident. If pressed she'd produce a mostly-believable story about falling into a dug-up flowerbed but it doesn't seem to have come to that. There's that bright smile again, nothing suspicious about it.] Thank God for small miracles.

[persuadeyou]

[It's a smile Natasha knows well, and she offers up her own in return, nodding.]

I couldn't agree more.

[deadliestviper]

[A mirror image. Oh, great; that's just what she needs to deal with.] I'm being rude, I'm sorry. What brings you here?

[persuadeyou]

Oh, no, you're not at all. [She shrugs, and looks down, as if she was shy.] It's - well, it's personal. But I had a deal to make, so here I am. What about you, Beth?

[deadliestviper]

Of course it is. On my end, seems I have a lesson to learn and this is the place to do it. [She says this more easily than she would've even five minutes ago.]

[persuadeyou]

[And that, actually, is a surprise. She'd thought for certain the blond would have lied, but - well, assumptions and all. Natasha lets her eyebrows rise at that, nodding slowly.]

I see. I suppose we've all got something to learn here, in the long run.

[deadliestviper]

[If this woman is what B thinks she is, there's not much point in lying. Until she knows for sure, she'll tread very carefully.]

Sounds like a safe assumption. Good to meet another inmate.

[persuadeyou]

I'm sorry - that's not what I meant. I'm here as a warden. I just meant that I'm sure the wardens have something to learn, too.

[And she smiles again, like she's self-depreciating, but only a little.] I'm used to putting positive spins on things.

[Natasha didn't have a problem with lying; she didn't think 'Beth' would try to out her, not yet.]

[deadliestviper]

Really? That's a surprise, you're the first one who hasn't tried to care for me or guide me around. [Read: that's why I don't believe you. But no worries, Natasha; B is more impressed that someone else is running with that lie than she is offended by it. Lies are necessary, even the ones you can see through.]

[persuadeyou]

Natasha would be concerned, but she knows most people won't see through it at all. B's the exception, not the rule. And it makes her interesting, but it makes Natasha wary, too.] Well, I'm pretty new myself. I don't think either of us would get very far.

[deadliestviper]

[If she hadn't thought about telling the same lie herself she would never have caught Natasha's, and the fact that she's telling it makes her just as wary.] Another new person? Can't say that's not a relief, though from your side I bet this influx everyone's talking about must have been no fun. I even heard someone stumbled in after a fight.

[persuadeyou]

Must have been before I came. I'm still learning the ropes; try not to hold it against me.

[deadliestviper]

We've got that much in common.

[persuadeyou]

Well, I look forward to working with you, Beth. [And, you know. Watching you/her back.]