The Butterfly Garden

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse, physical abuse, death, sexual violence and harassment, and kidnapping.

Victor interrupts Inara’s story, proposing a trip to the hospital. Puzzled and reluctant, Eddison accompanies them; as they approach the building, the two agents advise Inara on how to ignore the mobs of aggressive reporters who will accost her with prying questions. Inside, a third FBI agent named Ramirez introduces her to Keely’s parents. Keely, who is still alive, has been moved to a private room. Keely’s parents tell Inara that their daughter asked for her, and then for Bliss and Danelle. Inara tries to reassure them, saying that it’s natural, even healthy, that she wants to be with girls who suffered in the same way she did. 

Meanwhile, Senator Kingsley pushes her way through the crowded hallway to Inara, and “stridently” accuses the agents of “hiding” her. Inara boldly stands up to her, advising her to keep her entourage and others away from her daughter Patrice (or “Ravenna”), to give her time and space to recuperate, suggesting that Patrice’s sudden return to the “real” world could be more traumatic for her than the senator realizes. Both she and Victor prevail upon her to let the FBI do their job without her high-powered interference.