This is getting rather long, so I've broken it into parts (aren't you all *thrilled* I'm back? Don't answer that).

Mistral wrote: <Actually, you're making an assumption that Vila was trying to distract Avon, and so your question is inherently biased.I don't agree with that assumption; I simply think he was breaking off a tangential discussion that was going away from what he really wanted to talk about,>

and Jenny: <How can you possibly say that you know what he "really" wanted to talk about? All you can go by is what's on the screen.>

But with all due respect - and I'm really not trying to offend - how can *you* insist he wants to distract Avon? That's not on the screen either. Sauce for the goose and all that ...

And distract Avon from *what*? You have said that a couple of times, and I don't see it comes from. What actually happens on screen - at least as far as I can see - is that Avon and Cally are having a who-can-be-more-cryptic conversation, Vila, not unreasonably, asks what they're talking about and Avon (who appears not to want to answer that one) comes back with one of his standard put-downs. And Vila - who for two years has let said put-downs slide by - decides this time to take Avon up on it (the question of why *now* is interesting, see part 3 for ruminations on this point). *Vila* is the one being distracted, not Avon.

And the "never mind about me" is also quite reasonable IMO - he's just realised he *has* been distracted from the main thing, the fact that trouble's brewing ("I've been worried all along") and is backtracking to it.

<Vila tends to acquire an air of faux innocence when he's lying.> <No. Only when cornered.>

Please, a few IMOs wouldn't go astray here (from me as well, to be fair). I agree with Mistral, actually.

<The specific reference to Space Captains was IMO likely an exaggeration, due to having issues with upper grades generally and (as Sally mentioned) Tarrant specifically.> <I'm with you on that, but if he's lying here, why believe anything else he says in the rest of the scene? >

Why not? If he's exaggerating, there may be a kernel of truth. Everyone lies sometimes - that doesn't mean they do with every breath they take.

<My thought is that he could certainly have tested into a slightly higher grade,> <I think that's right as well,>

Then what are we arguing about? After all, he if *did* test higher, then there needs to be an explanation of why he isn't *in* a higher grade.

<I don't know, a cushy office job is a damn sight safer than being a thief.

"A thief isn't what I am, it's WHO I am." (City)

<It's not an assumption. The info is there in the scene. Vila is lying.>

No, that is your assumption, and (as I see it) based on at least one fallacy (that he wants to distract Avon, which makes no sense). The straight statement 'he was lying' may have the advantage of simplicity, but *for me* have the rather massive disadvantage of *not* fitting the information both in the scene and in other episodes (in particular but not only Weapon). So *it* is not logical, and I need to hunt around for another one. (Though I'm not saying for one minute that you need to, if it suits you the way it is.)

BTW - has anyone any ideas *on* what Avon and Cally's little conversation meant? Why didn't Avon mention the signal from the ground? And while we're at it, why send the crew babies on this one? Either he or Cally would be a better choice - they were part of the legendary rebel team - surely a plus for anti-Federation negotiations - and they would at least recognise Blake if they fell over him (unlike Tarrant, who never got up the curiosity to look up a picture of the man who ran the ship for two years and whose name still influences them, or even to look up some old log files ...)

_________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.