Bushwhacked

The darkness. Blacker than the space it moves through.

Cast  ·  Intro  ·  Act 1  ·  Act 2  ·  Act 3  ·  Act 4

 

Guest Cast

Intro

Transcribed:	Ling Mao
Written:	Tim Minear
Directed:	Tim Minear
Aired:	September 27, 2002

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

There is a noisy game of what looks vaguely like basketball going on. Zoe, Mal, Jayne, Wash, Kaylee and Book are playing.

JAYNE

Yeah, too tall, too tall!

WASH

Jayne!

Jayne passes the ball to Wash.

JAYNE

Little man!

There is lots of vying for the ball. Zoe shoots the ball towards a metal hoop suspended by a chain, and apparently scores. River and Simon watch the game from the walkway above.

VOICE (O.C.)

Yes!

JAYNE

Come on, old man! Ha ha!

Inara enters onto the walkway. Back on the game floor, Kaylee climbs onto Jayne's shoulders, Jayne runs towards the hoop and Kaylee puts it through. Inara crosses over to Simon.

SIMON

Hello.

INARA

Who's winning?

SIMON

I can't tell. They don't seem to be playing by any civilized rules that I know.

INARA

Well, we're pretty far from civilization.

Inara glances at River, who is watching the game intently.

INARA (cont'd)

How's your sister?

SIMON

She's good. Better. She has her days. And she still won't talk about what it was they did to her at the academy.

INARA

Perhaps she's not sure herself.

SIMON

She dreams about it. I know that much. Nightmares. And now, on the run, on this ship, I don't know if I'll be able to help her here, and I need to help her.

INARA

Simon, you are. Leaving your whole world behind. It's incredibly selfless.

SIMON

Yeah. I selflessly turned us both into wanted fugitives.

INARA

Well, we're all running from something, I suppose.

Cut back to the game. A LOUD ALARM starts sounding.

ZOE

Proximity alert. Must be coming up on something.

WASH (alarmed)

Oh my god. What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing!?

(deadpan)

Oh right, that would be me. Back to work.

KAYLEE

So I guess that makes us one man short.

JAYNE

Little Kaylee's always one man short.

Kaylee punches Jayne good-naturedly in the arm.

JAYNE

Ow, hey.

KAYLEE (to Simon)

Say Doc, why don't you come on down, play for our side? Inara won't mind.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

Wash enters the bridge, and though the viewport sees a spaceship tumbling through space. As he sits down, a human body suddenly bumps into the window. Wash startles, and bumps the flight controls, which causes the entire ship to shudder. Mal and Zoe enter the cockpit.

MAL

Wash, you have a stroke or something?

WASH

Near enough.

ZOE

What happened?

The rest of the crew enters the bridge and regards the slowly spinning spaceship.

JAYNE

Wu de ma.我的媽
Mother of god

MAL

Anybody home?

WASH

Been hailing her, but if whoever's there is as healthy as the guy we just ran over, can't imagine anyone's going to be picking up.

MAL

Bring us in a little closer.

WASH

Get you close enough to ring the doorbell.

SIMON

What is it?

Now we see that River is standing against the wall just outside the doorway of the bridge.

RIVER

It's ghosts.

BLACK OUT.

 

Act 1

I can't sleep. There's too much screaming.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

Right back where we left them:

MAL

So, what do we figure? Transport ship?

WASH

Converted cargo hauler, maybe a short-range scow.

KAYLEE

You can see she don't want to be parked like that. The port thrust's gone, that's what's making her spin the way she is.

SIMON

A short range vessel, this far out in space?

WASH

Retrofitted to carry passengers.

ZOE

Travelers pick them up cheap at government auction. A few modifications and they serve well enough for a one-way push to the outer planets.

BOOK

Settlers.

WASH

Cram fifteen, maybe twenty families on a boat that size, you pack 'em in tight enough.

INARA

Families?

JAYNE

Tell you what I think. I think that fellow we ran into did everyone on board, killed them all, then decided to take a swim through space, see how fast his blood would boil out of his ears.

WASH

You're a very "up" person.

BOOK

Shouldn't we report this?

MAL

To who? Alliance? Right. They're going to run out here lickety-split and make sure these taxpayers are okay.

BOOK

Then we'll have to.

JAYNE

If there's folks on board in need of help, why ain't they beaming no distress call?

ZOE

It's true, there's no beacon.

MAL

Which means it's likely no one's looking to find her.

BOOK

All the more reason for us to do the right thing.

JAYNE

How about you just say a prayer when we slide on by.

BOOK

Shall I remind you of the story of the Good Samaritan?

MAL

I'd rather you didn't. But we'll check it out. See if there are survivors. If not, then, well no one's going to mind if we take a look around, see if there's not something of value they might have left behind.

JAYNE (suddenly on board with this plan)

Yeah, no, uh, someone could be hurt.

EXT. SERENITY

Serenity moves against the derelict ship and links to it. As they join, we see several snaky cables latching onto Serenity from the other ship.

INT. SERENITY - CARGO HOLD

Simon enters carrying a medical kit. Mal and Zoe are getting into space suits. Jayne walks up behind Simon.

JAYNE

Where do you think you're headed?

SIMON

Thought I'd offer my services, in case anyone on board required medical attention.

JAYNE

Well, Cap and Zoe are going in first. We'll holler if we need you.

(off Simon's somewhat worried look)

Something wrong?

Simon is watching Mal and Zoe help each other on with their suits.

SIMON

Hmmm? Oh, no. I suppose it's just the thought of a little Mylar and glass separating a person from... nothing.

JAYNE

It's impressive what "nothing" can do to a man. Like that fella we bumped into. He's likely stuck up under our belly about now. That's what space trash does, you know. Kind of latches onto the first big something that stops long enough. Hey now, that'd be a bit like you and your sister now, wouldn't it?

INT. DERELICT SHIP - AIRLOCK

Zoe and Mal enter through the airlock from Serenity, fully suited-up.

MAL

Entering adjoining airlock now. Okay, Wash, ask Serenity to knock for us.

Quick cut to the bridge, where Wash is listening, and manipulating controls on the panel.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - CORRIDORS

MAL

Emergency power's up. Dashboard lights.

They move into the galley. The ship is deserted and eerie. A child's balloon is tied to the back of a chair. Unfinished meals are still on tables.

MAL

Whatever happened here, happened quick.

They continue exploring the ship.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - BRIDGE

ZOE

Everything was left on. Ship powered down on its own. No sign of a struggle. They're just...

MAL

Gone.

ZOE (re: a computer screen)

Sir. Personal log. Someone was in the middle of an entry.

Zoe taps the screen (or the keyboard), which shorts out.

INT. SERENITY - RIVER'S BUNK

River awakes with a gasp and starts crying. Simon hears her and enters.

SIMON

Shh, shh, it's okay, it's okay, I'm here. Bad dreams again?

RIVER

No, I can't sleep. There's too much screaming.

SIMON

River, there is... there is no screaming.

RIVER (quietly)

There was.

Jayne appears in the corridor, loading a firearm.

JAYNE

Hey! Grab your med kit and let's hoof it. Mal wants us both over there on the double.

SIMON

They found survivors?

JAYNE

Didn't say.

SIMON

Right. I'll ask Inara to look in on River.

JAYNE

Whatever. I ain't waiting. I'll meet you over there. But don't take forever. Still got to get suited up.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - AIRLOCK

Simon enters in a spacesuit, alone, looking nervous. He moves through the dark corridor, his breathing loud and irregular. He enters a small room where we find Jayne, Mal, Zoe and Kaylee, without spacesuits.

MAL

Hi.

Simon realizes he's been had, and struggles to remove his helmet. Kaylee moves to help him.

MAL (cont'd)

Um, what are you doing here, and what's with the suit?

Jayne cracks up.

SIMON (to Jayne)

You're hilarious. Sadist.

MAL

All right, enough. Ain't got time for games. As long as you're here, you may as well lend a hand. You can run with Kaylee. Let's be quick about this people, all right? A few loads each, no need to be greedy.

SIMON

Where are all the people?

MAL

Ship says lifeboat launched more than a week ago. We're going to assume everyone got off okay. Anyway, we're just here to pick the bones. You two start in the engine room. Jayne, you take the galley.

KAYLEE (to Simon, re: his helmet)

You, um, had this on wrong.

Jayne laughs maliciously as the three move on to their assigned tasks.

ZOE

Sir, I count sixteen families signed on. Lifeboat wouldn't hold a third of that.

MAL

I know.

(into com)

Wash, any luck?

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

WASH (speaking into com)

I think I found something pretty well matches that class. Layout looks about right. Seems to me any valuables, if there are any, likely be stored C-deck, aft.

INT. DERELICT SHIP

MAL

Good work. Keep the engine running, shouldn't be long.

INT. SERENITY - CORRIDORS OUTSIDE PASSENGER QUARTERS

Inara is carrying a tray of food.

INARA

River? It's Inara. Are you hungry sweetie?

She knocks on the door and opens it, to find an empty room.

INARA(cont'd)

River?

INT. DERELICT SHIP - AIRLOCK

River enters the ship, barefoot.

SIMON (O.C.)

Aren't you the least bit curious?

INT. DERELICT SHIP - ENGINE ROOM

Simon and Kaylee are investigating the engine room. Well, Kaylee is and Simon is tagging along.

KAYLEE

About what?

SIMON

Well... what happened here. Why would anyone abandon their ship in the middle of nowhere like this?

KAYLEE

For all sorts of reasons. Just not the mechanical.

SIMON

What?

KAYLEE

There ain't nothing wrong with this. Not that I can see, anyhow.

There is an electrical flash and crackling as Kaylee pulls a part from the ship.

KAYLEE (cont'd)

Whoo. Well there's a good one. Hold the bag open.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - GALLEY

Jayne is scooping supplies into a duffel bag, munching on something.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - DECK C, AFT

MAL

This looks to be it.

Zoe tries to open a door set in the side of the wall.

ZOE

Locked.

MAL

Well now. I'd say that's like to be a very good sign.

Mal stoops and removes a blowtorch from his satchel, and proceeds to work on the door.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - CORRIDORS

River is moving dreamily through the dimly lit ship.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - DECK C, AFT

The door falls away, Zoe and Mal enter. They move through the room, which is stacked with trunks and boxes. Zoe opens a case to reveal a child's doll, along with everyday things that would be found in a suitcase. Mal inspects a stack of plastic crates.

MAL

Here. Genseed, protein, crop supplements. Everything a growing family needs to make a fresh start on a new world.

ZOE

Hard subsidies for fourteen-plus families. That's...

MAL

About a fortune. Forget the rest, we just take this stuff. We're going to need a hand hauling it out of here.

ZOE

Sir. Even on a lifeboat, you'd think those who escaped would have found room for some of this.

River has entered the room, and is staring up at something.

MAL

Nobody escaped.

ZOE

Sir?

Mal and Zoe turn their flashlights to the ceiling, to reveal five or six hideous corpses, strung up by chains and gutted.

MAL

Nobody.

ZOE

Oh my god.

MAL

Jen dao mei真倒霉
Just our luck.

(to Zoe, re: River)

Get her out of here.

(into com)

Jayne? Jayne, drop what you're doing, and get to the engine room. I want you to take Kaylee and the doctor off this boat.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - GALLEY

Jayne is listening to Mal's orders in the dark galley. Suddenly, the lights flash on to reveal a man attacking Jayne from behind. Jayne is knocked into a table; pots and pans go clattering to the floor. From the dropped walkie-talkie we hear Mal's voice.

MAL

Jayne?

BLACK OUT.

 

Act 2

Jayne. You'll scare the women.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

WASH (into com)

Captain? Captain. Zoe!

INT. DERELICT SHIP

Mal, Zoe and River are moving quickly though the ship.

ZOE

It came from above, Sir.

MAL

Galley.

They turn a corner to find Kaylee and Simon.

KAYLEE

We heard shooting.

SIMON

River! What are you...?

RIVER

I followed the voices.

SIMON

Don't ever leave the ship. Not ever.

MAL

Handle her, will you son?

WASH (on com)

What the tyen shiao duh天晓得
name of all that's sacred is going on in there?

ZOE (into com)

Not now, dear.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - GALLEY

Mal and Zoe move into the galley, where there are signs of a struggle. The others follow. Mal aims his gun at a noise, which turns out to be Jayne, holding a gun on Mal.

MAL

What'd you see?

JAYNE (panting)

Didn't. Came at me from behind. Big, though. Strong. I think I might have hit him.

SIMON (re: blood on floor)

You did.

Mal follows the blood trail to a circular screen covering up a cubbyhole. We can hear gasping coming from inside as Mal removes the screen.

SURVIVOR

No, no, no.

MAL

Shh, easy now. No one's going to hurt you.

There is a young, terrified man hiding in the small space.

SURVIVOR

No, no mercy, no.

MAL

I mean, more than we already did. We got lots and lots of...

Mal slugs the guy, knocking him unconscious. Mal hauls the man out of the hole, dropping him to the floor.

SIMON (dripping sarcasm)

Oh yes, he's a real beast.

(to Jayne)

It's a wonder you're still alive.

JAYNE

Looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

INT. SERENITY - OUTSIDE THE INFIRMARY

The crew is gathered, watching through the infirmary window.

INARA

I wonder how long he'd been living like that?

KAYLEE

I don't know. He must be real brave to survive like that when nobody else did.

JAYNE

Yeah, real hero, killing all them people.

KAYLEE

What!? We don't believe that. We don't, do we?

ZOE

Captain wouldn't have brought him on board, were that the case.

INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY

Simon is tending to the injured man while Mal observes.

SIMON

Pulse is rapid, blood pressure's the high side of normal. That's to be expected.

SURVIVOR

Weak, they were all weak.

SIMON

Other than the bullet wound, there doesn't appear to be any exterior trauma. Though that crack in the head you gave him probably didn't do him any good.

SURVIVOR

Cattle. Cattle for the slaughter.

MAL

Dope him.

SIMON

I don't think that's...

MAL

Just do it.

SURVIVOR

No mercy, no resistance.

Simon moves to sedate his patient, and the man grabs his arm.

SURVIVOR (cont'd)

Open up, see what's inside.

Simon administers the sedative.

SURVIVOR (succumbing to the drug) (cont'd)

No mercy.

INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA

Simon and Mal move outside to where the others have been observing.

KAYLEE

So, how's our patient?

SIMON

Aside from borderline malnutrition, he's in remarkably good health.

BOOK (relieved)

So he'll live then.

MAL

Which to my mind is unfortunate.

BOOK

Not a very charitable attitude, Captain.

MAL

Charity'd be putting a bullet in his brainpan.

INARA

Mal!

MAL

Only save him the suffering.

Mal, serious as a heart attack, pulls the door to the infirmary shut.

MAL (cont'd)

All right, no one goes in here. Nothing more we can do for him now, not after what he's seen.

SIMON

What do you mean?

MAL

That ship was hit by Reavers.

JAYNE

Reavers?

WASH

Tzao gao糟糕
Crap

INT. SERENITY - GALLEY

Mal goes into the galley, getting himself something to drink. The others follow.

INARA

Mal, how can you know?

JAYNE

He don't - that's how. No way. It was that other fella, the one we ran into, like I said before, he went stir-crazy, killed the rest, then took a walk in space.

KAYLEE

Just a second ago you said that...

JAYNE

Don't matter what I said. Reavers don't leave no survivors.

MAL

Strictly speaking, wouldn't say they did.

BOOK

What are you suggesting?

MAL

Doesn't matter that we took him off that boat, Shepherd, it's the place he's going to live from now on.

BOOK

I don't accept that. Whatever horror he witnessed, whatever acts of barbarism, it was done by men, nothing more.

JAYNE

Reavers ain't men.

BOOK

Of course they are. Too long removed from civilization, of course, but men. And, I believe there is a power greater than men, a power that heals.

MAL

Reavers might take issue with that philosophy. If they had a philosophy. If they weren't too busy gnawing on your insides. Jayne's right, Reavers ain't men. Or they forgot how to be. Now they're just nothing. They got out to the edge of the galaxy, to that place of nothing, and that's what they became.

JAYNE

Why're we still sitting here? If it was Reavers, shouldn't we be gone?

MAL

Work ain't done. Still substantial money value sitting over there.

JAYNE

Whoa. I ain't going over there with them bodies, no ruttin' way. Not if Reavers messed with them.

ZOE

Jayne, you'll scare the women.

SIMON

I'll go. I've dealt with bodies, they don't worry me.

BOOK

I'd like to go with him. Maybe see what I can do about putting those folks to rest.

MAL

Those folks already resting pretty good, Shepherd. Reavers saw to that.

BOOK

How we treat our dead is part of what makes us different than those that did the slaughtering.

MAL

All right, you go say your words. Jayne, you'll help the doc and Shepherd Book cut down those people, then you'll load up the cargo.

JAYNE

I don't believe this. We're sitting put for a funeral?

MAL

Yes, Jayne, that is exactly what we're going to do. Not going to have these people looking over my shoulder once we're gone. I'm not saying there's any peace to be had, but on the off chance there is, those folks deserve a little of it.

INARA

Just when I think I've got you figured out.

Inara, Book, Simon and Jayne leave the galley.

KAYLEE

That was real pretty Captain, what you just said.

WASH

I didn't think you were one for rituals and such.

MAL

I'm not, but it'll keep the others busy for a while. No reason to concern them with what's to be done.

ZOE

Sir?

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

Kaylee, Wash, Mal and Zoe are looking at a camera feed of the snaky cables we saw latch onto Serenity earlier.

MAL

It's a real burden being right so often.

WASH

What is that?

MAL

Booby trap. Reavers sometimes leave them for the rescue ships. Triggered it when we latched on.

WASH

And when we detach?

MAL

It blows.

WASH

Okay, so we don't detach, we just, I don't know, sit tight until...

ZOE

What, Reavers come back?

KAYLEE

Looks like they've jerry-rigged it with a pressure catch. It's the only thing that'd work with all these spare parts. We could probably bypass that easy, we get to the DC line.

MAL

You tell me right now, little Kaylee, you really think you can do this?

KAYLEE

Sure. Yeah. I think so. 'Sides, if I mess up, not like you'll be able to yell at me.

INT. DERELICT SHIP - C DECK, AFT

Jayne lowers the hanging bodies while Simon and Book look on.

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Zoe and Mal look on while Kaylee lowers herself into a chamber beneath the floor.

INT. SERENITY - INARA'S SHUTTLE

Inara is working on a scroll covered in Chinese calligraphy, while River sleeps on her bed.

INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY

The patient is starting to wake, moaning.

SURVIVOR

No, no.

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Kaylee worms her way into a crawl space.

INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY

The patient wakes up, laughing.

INT. SERENITY - INARA'S SHUTTLE

River wakes up screaming.

INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY

A tray of surgical implements is knocked to the floor. We see a long, sharp knife being picked up by the patient.

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Kaylee clips a line, which oozes a dark viscous liquid. Cut to an exterior shot, where we see the cable disengaging.

Jayne enters, hauling a load of cargo.

JAYNE

What's going on?

MAL

Well, I'd have to say, right at this particular moment, not a thing. Right?

KAYLEE

Not a gorram thing.

JAYNE

Looked like a thing to me.

Book and Simon enter the cargo bay.

MAL

Thought we might have had a situation, but it looks to be taken care of. Let's get that merchandise put away.

Cut to a quick shot of Serenity detaching from the derelict.

MAL

Everyone's home Wash, let's go.

The proximity alarm starts sounding again.

JAYNE

Oh no, nonono, don't you say that. It's the Reavers. It's the gorram Reavers come back!

MAL

Get that stuff stored.

JAYNE

Like it's going to matter!

MAL

Just do it!

Mal and Zoe race up the stairs to the bridge.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

MALE VOICE (V.O.)

Firefly class transport, you are ordered to release control of your helm.

Out the viewport, a huge spaceship looms. It's an ALLIANCE CRUISER.

MAL

Looks like civilization finally caught up with us.

BLACK OUT.

 

Act 3

No children on this boat.

INT. ALLIANCE SHIP

COMMANDER HARKEN watches from the bridge as Serenity moves toward us. An ENSIGN approaches. Harken points to Serenity.

HARKEN

No mandatory registration markings on the
bow. Make sure we cite them for that.

ENSIGN

Sir, we've identified the transport ship

they were attached to. It was licensed

to a group of families out of Bernadette.
They were due to touch down in Newhall

three weeks ago. Never made it.

HARKEN

Once we secure these vultures, we'll send

a team over, check it out.

RADIO OPERATOR

Sir, didn't we have a flag on a Firefly

a while back?

HARKEN

Check.

RADIO OPERATOR

Here it is. An alert issued on a Firefly-class,
believed to be carrying two fugitives, a

brother and a sister.

HARKEN

What are they wanted for?

RADIO OPERATOR

It's uh, it's not available, it's classified.

HARKEN

40,000 of these old wrecks in the air and
that's all they give us. Well, I'm not

about to have any surprises on a routine

check. We run into these two, we shoot

first. The brass can sort it out later.

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Mal is walking quickly along the catwalk.

JAYNE

(to Mal)

So what was it?

MAL

Open the stash, pull out the goods.

JAYNE

What? Just got done putting it in.

MAL

Yeah, and I'm telling you to take it

all out again.

JAYNE

Why for?

MAL

I got no notion to argue this. In about
two minutes time this boat's going to

be crawling with Alliance.

The rest of the crew scrambles to get the salvaged goods un-stashed.

SIMON

(horrified)

No. We've got to run.

MAL

Can't run. They're pulling us in.

SIMON

If they find us they'll send River

back to that place. To be tortured.

(stammering)

I'd never see her again.

MAL

Stack everything here, in plain sight.
Wouldn't want it to seem like we got

anything to hide. It might give them

Alliance boys the wrong impression.

WASH

Or the right one.

MAL

That too.

(to Simon)

Now go run and fetch your sister.

SIMON

What?

(beat)

Why, are you going to put her in

plain sight, too?

MAL

Don't get tetchy. Just do as I say.

SIMON

Is that why you let us stay? So you

could use us as bargaining chips?

JAYNE

I knew there was a reason.

SIMON

(yelling)

They are not taking her and you are not
giving her to them!

BOOK

(calmly)

Don't be a fool son. Do as the man says.

Cut to exterior shot of Serenity being pulled against the vast Alliance ship. Back in the cargo bay, the doors open to reveal our crew (minus Simon and River) looking grim. Wash alone raises his hands. The Alliance Commander enters with a number of armed men.

MAL

Well, quite a lot of fuss. If I didn't
know better, I'd think we were dangerous.

HARKEN

Is this your vessel?

MAL

It is, bought and paid for. I'm Captain

Malcolm Reynolds.

HARKEN

And is this everyone, Captain?

MAL

By way of crew it is, though in our

infirmary you're going to find a

fellow that we rescued off that

derelict. Saved him, guess you

could say.

HARKEN

Hmm.

Unconvinced, Commander Harken motions to his soldiers to check this out.

MAL

Straight through the back, next to the

common area.

HARKEN

(re. salvage)

And these items, I take it you rescued
them as well.

Quick cut to the infirmary, where two of the soldiers are entering. Off-camera, we hear soft, maniacal laughter. Cut back to the cargo bay.

HARKEN

Looks to me like an illegal salvage operation.

MAL

Does it? Well, that's discouraging.

HARKEN

Yeah, and Alliance property. You could lose
your ship, Captain. But that is a wrist

slap compared to the penalty for harboring

fugitives. A brother and sister. When I

search this vessel, I won't find them, will I?

MAL

No children on this boat.

HARKEN

Hmm. I didn't say "children". Siblings,
adult siblings.

MAL

I misunderstood.

HARKEN

No chance they could have stowed away?
No one would blame you for that Captain.
I know how these older model Fireflys

tend to have those troublesome little nooks.

MAL

Do they?

HARKEN

Smugglers and the like tend to prefer

them just for that reason.

One of the soldiers that went to the infirmary returns and whispers something into the Commander's ear.

HARKEN

We will continue this conversation

in a more official capacity.

The soldiers begin to hustle our crew off Serenity and onto the Alliance ship.

HARKEN

I want every inch of this junker tossed.

KAYLEE

Junker?

MAL

Settle down, Kaylee.

KAYLEE

But Captain, did you hear what that

purple-belly called Serenity?

Quick cut to the infirmary, where soldiers are carrying out the man rescued from the derelict, strapped to a stretcher. Other soldiers are searching Serenity.

INT. ALLIANCE SHIP - INTERROGATION ROOM

HARKEN

You are a Companion.

The Commander and Inara are seated at a large, glass-topped table in an otherwise empty room.

INARA

Yes.

HARKEN

And you were based for years on Sihnon.
It's only in the last year that you've
been shipping out with the crew of

The Serenity?

INARA

It's just Serenity, and that's correct.
In a few weeks, it will be a year.

HARKEN

Oh.

INARA

Why is this important?

HARKEN

I'm just trying to put the pieces together.
It's a curiosity, a woman of stature such
as yourself falling in with...

(beat)

...these types.

INARA

Not in the least. It's a mutually beneficial
business arrangement. I rent the shuttle

from Captain Reynolds, which allows me to

expand my client base. And the Captain

finds that having a Companion on board

opens certain doors to him that might

otherwise be closed to him.

HARKEN

And do you love him?

Cut to see that the Commander is now speaking to Zoe.

ZOE

I don't see how that's relevant.

HARKEN

Well, he is your husband.

ZOE

Yes.

HARKEN

You two met through Captain Reynolds?

ZOE

Captain was looking for a pilot. I found
a husband. Seemed to work out.

HARKEN

You fought with Captain Reynolds in the war?

ZOE

Fought with a lot of people in the war.

HARKEN

And your husband?

ZOE

Fight with him sometimes, too.

HARKEN

Is there any particular reason you

don't wish to discuss your marriage?

ZOE

Don't see that it's any of your business,
is all. We're very private people.

Cut to the Commander now speaking with Wash.

WASH

The legs. Oh yeah, definitely have to say
it was her legs. You can put that down.
Her legs, and where her legs meet her

back. Actually, that whole area. That,
and above it.

Quick cut to Kaylee speaking to the Commander. Note that each crewmember is being interviewed separately; they are not in the room at the same time. Interspersed throughout the interrogation scenes are cuts to the soldiers methodically searching Serenity.

KAYLEE

Six Gurtslers crammed under every cooling

drive, so that you strain your primary

artery function, and you end up having to

recycle secondary exhaust through a bypass

system, just so's you don't end up pumping

it though the main atmo feed and asphyxiating
the entire crew! Now that's junk.

Cut back to Wash.

WASH

Have you seen what she wears? Forget about
it. Have you ever been with a warrior woman?

Cut to Jayne, staring silently at the Commander.

Cut to the Commander interviewing Shepherd Book.

HARKEN

Pirates. Pirates with their own chaplain.
There's an oddity.

BOOK

Not the only oddity this end of space,
Commander. Way of things not always so

plain as on the central planets. Rules

can be a mite fuzzier.

HARKEN

These fugitives that we're looking for,
the brother and the sister. They were
last seen on Persephone.

BOOK

That a fact?

HARKEN

They also left port aboard a Firefly-class

transport. Just about the same time you

shipped out with Serenity.

BOOK

Well, Persephone's a big place.

HARKEN

Yes, it is, and that Firefly isn't. And

if anyone's hiding anywhere on it, we

will find them.

EXT. SERENITY

Simon and River are in spacesuits, clinging to the hull of Serenity. River is gazing at the stars, a rapt, wondrous look on her face, and a rare smile. Simon is obviously terrified. He turns to see the look on his sister's face, then looks over his shoulder at the vastness of space. He quickly turns back, his face as near to the hull as he can manage.

INT. ALLIANCE SHIP - INTERROGATION ROOM

The Commander is interviewing Mal. Mal is the only one of the crew that warrants an armed guard, apparently.

MAL

So, by now, I figure you've been over

to the derelict. Seen it for yourself.

HARKEN

Yes. Terrible thing.

MAL

You want my advice, you won't tow it back.
Just fire the whole gorram thing from space.
Be done with it.

HARKEN

That ship is evidence. I'm not in the

habit of destroying evidence.

MAL

'Course not. Be against the rules. I'm

going to make a leap here and figure this

is your first tour here, out on the border?

HARKEN

That's a very loyal crew you have there.
But then I can tell by your record you
have a tendency to inspire that quality

in people.

(beat)

Sergeant.

MAL

It's not "Sergeant". Not no more. War's over.

HARKEN

For some the war will never be over. I

notice your ship's called Serenity.
You were stationed on Hera at the end

of the war; Battle of Serenity Valley

took place there if I recall.

MAL

You know, I believe you might be right.

HARKEN

Independents suffered a pretty crushing

defeat there. Some say that after Serenity

the brown coats were through. That the
war ended in that valley.

MAL

Hmm.

HARKEN

Seems odd that you would name your ship

after a battle you were on the wrong

side of.

MAL

May have been the losing side. Still

not convinced it was the wrong one.

HARKEN

Is that why you attacked that transport?

MAL

What?

HARKEN

You're still fighting the same battle,
Sergeant. Only those weren't soldiers

you murdered. Those were civilians,

families. Citizens loyal to the Alliance,
trying to make a new life for themselves
and you just can't stand that, can you?

MAL

So we attacked that ship, then brought
the only living survivor to our

infirmary. That's what we did?

HARKEN

I'd ask him. Only I'm not sure he'll be
able to speak with his tongue split down

the middle.

MAL

(realizing)

[Wuh de tyen, ah. - "Dear god in heaven."]

HARKEN

I haven't seen that kind of torture

since... well, since the war.

MAL

(quietly, to himself)

Oh I should have known.

HARKEN

You and your crew are bound by law. Formal

charges will be transmitted to Central

Authority.

MAL

Commander, I'm not what you need to be

concerned with right now. Things go

the way they are, there's going to

be blood.

INT. ALLIANCE SHIP - INFIRMARY

Several doctors and nurses are working on the man from the derelict. He seems to be convulsing on the table.

DOCTOR

Get a line in!

The staff is working frantically, at first it seems they are trying to revive the man, but then it becomes clear they are trying to restrain him. We see the man's hand come up, holding the long, slim knife he grabbed while on Serenity. There is screaming and a stream of blood splashes onto the wall.

 

Act 4

Let's go again!

INT. ALLIANCE SHIP - INTERROGATION ROOM

Mal's been telling his story. Harken's not buying it.

HARKEN

Reavers?

MAL

That is what I said.

HARKEN

You can't imagine how many times men in

my position hear that excuse. "Reavers

did it."

MAL

It's the truth.

HARKEN

You saw them, did you?

MAL

Wouldn't be sitting here talking to

you if I had.

HARKEN

No, of course not.

MAL

But I'll tell you who did. That poor bastard
you took off my ship. He looked right into

the face of it. Was made to stare.

HARKEN

"It"?

MAL

The darkness. Kind of darkness you can't

even imagine. Blacker than the space it

moves through.

HARKEN

Very poetic.

MAL

They made him watch. He probably tried to

turn away, and they wouldn't let him. You

call him a survivor? He's not. A man comes

up against that kind of will, the only way

to deal with it, I suspect, is to become it.
He's following the only course left to him.
First, he'll try to make himself look like

one. Cut on himself, desecrate his flesh

and then, he'll start acting like one.

The Commander taps an intercom buzzer, and a second armed soldier enters.

HARKEN

Let's have two M.P.s up here to escort
Sergeant Reynolds to the brig.

INT. SERENITY - AIRLOCK

Simon and River have come inside, and are removing their spacesuits.

RIVER

Let's go again.

SIMON

Later, maybe. Captain said once the coast

is clear, we should lay low in the shuttle.
Come on.

RIVER

(sensing something)

He's coming back.

SIMON

(misunderstanding)

Yes, yes of course he is. They all are.

INT. ALLIANCE SHIP - INTERROGATION ROOM

Two M.P.s are taking Mal to the brig.

HARKEN

Your ship and its contents will be auctioned,
the proceeds of the sale will be applied to
the cost of your defense.

A third soldier enters and whispers into the Commander's ear.

HARKEN

(re: Mal)

Get him out of here!

(to the third soldier)

Go to full lock-down. I want guards

on the nursery.

MAL

It won't matter! You won't find him.
But I know where he'll go.

INT. SERENITY - GALLEY

The place is a mess, torn apart by the soldiers. Simon and River enter, still wearing the spacesuits.

RIVER

Wait, no! Don't, don't.

SIMON

No, River, River, it's okay.

River refuses to enter the galley, despite Simon's assurances.

RIVER

Wait, wait wait wait.

SIMON

They've gone. Come on.

RIVER

Don't...

SIMON

It's okay, come on.

From off-screen, we see a hand slip into frame and take a knife from a table.

RIVER

No, don't!

SIMON

River, you don't have to be afraid.

INT. ALLIANCE SHIP - CORRIDOR LEADING TO SERENITY

A man lies bloody and quite dead on the floor. The Commander and four soldiers are with Mal, who is handcuffed with his hands behind his back.

HARKEN

Why would he come back here?

MAL

Looking for familiar ground.

He's on the hunt.

HARKEN

(re: Mal)

All right, let's get him to the brig.

MAL

No, no, no... whoa, I should go with you.

HARKEN

That's out of the question.

MAL

How many more men do you feel like losing

today, Commander? Nobody knows Serenity
like I do. I can help you.

HARKEN

(considers briefly,

then nods)

We let him go first.

MAL

Right. You want to, uh?

Mal motions with his handcuffs. The Commander unlocks the handcuffs, and re-fastens them, only this time Mal has his hands in front of himself.

MAL

Thanks. Now I'll really have the advantage.

INT. SERENITY - GALLEY

River still refuses to go into the galley.

SIMON

No, we don't, we don't know how long it's

going to be. Once we're settled, I don't

think we should move around much. I'm

just going to grab some food.

Simon hears footsteps.

SIMON (cont'd)

Someone's coming.

Mal enters the galley warily, with the Commander and other soldiers following. He crosses the length of the galley, and notices a Simon's helmet in the passage at the other end. He steps into the doorway, where he sees Simon and River pressed up against the wall. Just at that moment, the man rescued from the derelict attacks one of the soldiers. A spatter of blood hits the Commander in the face. The Commander is then knocked to the ground by the Survivor, and we see the Survivor's face has been inexpertly pierced by what looks like surgical staples, bloody and horrifying. As he closes in for the kill, Mal loops his handcuffed hands around the neck of the attacker, and throttles him to death.

EXT. SPACE

Serenity undocks from Alliance ship and begins maneuvering for departure.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

Wash, Zoe, Mal and Jayne are looking out of the bridge viewports.

JAYNE

(pensively)

You saved his gorram life he still takes
the cargo. [Hwoon dahn. - "Jerk."]

MAL

He had to...

(shakes head)

Couldn't let us profit.

(beat)

Wouldn't be civilized.

EXT. SPACE

Shot of Alliance ship firing missiles to destroy the derelict ship. We watch as ship slowly explodes and breaks up.