War Stories
Haven't you killed me enough for one day?
Cast · Intro · Act 1 · Act 2 · Act 3 · Act 4
Guest Cast
Adelai Niska
Viktor
Torture Victim
Councilor
Man
Bolles
Torturer
Intro
|
It might be Serenity. Malcolm Reynolds' ship. |
| Transcribed: | Shrift |
| Written: | Cheryl Cain |
| Directed: | James Contner |
| Aired: | December 6, 2002 |
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY
Simon is analyzing data on a vid screen. Book is moving about the infirmary behind him.
Did you ever read the works of
Shan Yu?
SIMON
Shan Yu, the psychotic dictator?
BOOK
Yep. Fancied himself quite the
warrior-poet. Wrote volumes on
war, torture... the limits of
human endurance.
SIMON
(mildly)
That's nice.
BOOK
He said... "Live with a man forty
years. Share his house, his meals,
speak on every subject. Then tie
him up and hold him over the volcano's
edge, and on that day, you will
finally meet the man."
SIMON
What if you don't live near a volcano?
BOOK
I expect he was being poetical.
SIMON
Sadistic crap legitimized by
florid prose.
(beat)
Tell me you're not a fan.
BOOK
I'm just wondering if they were.
The people who did this to your sister.
SIMON
The government did this to her.
BOOK
The government is a body of people,
usually notably ungoverned.
SIMON
Now you're quoting the Captain.
BOOK
I'm just wondering if they put her
through this just to see how much
she could take. To truly "meet her"
as Shan Yu would have said.
SIMON
No, the more I see, the more I think
their purpose was very specific. Look
at this --
(shows Book an analysis of
River's brain)
-- the pattern. Besides, if all they
cared about was hurting River, they
wouldn't still be after her.
BOOK
But she's doing better.
SIMON
I've tried a couple different medications.
She's sleeping better, but nothing really
stable. I'll keep trying. Certainly got
enough drugs on hand.
BOOK
Yes, I'd forgotten you're moonlighting
as a criminal mastermind now. Got your
next heist planned?
SIMON
No. But I'm thinking about growing
a big black mustache.
(beat; deadpan)
I'm a traditionalist.
EXT. SPACE - CONTINUOUS
Shot of Serenity sliding past the camera toward a reddish-orange planet.
Quick pan around the planet's asteroid belt to REVEAL a space station on the other side of the planet.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
A TORTURER is whipping a TORTURE VICTIM, who is immobilized and whimpering in great pain. NISKA looks on calmly.
Hold please.
The TORTURER stops whipping.
(to Torture Victim)
So now we are past the preliminaries --
the little questions: why you skim from
protection fund? How you could betray
my trust. This we are past. Now we
get to the real questions about who
you truly are.
(brandishes knife)
VIKTOR
(entering quietly)
I'm sorry, sir.
NISKA
(annoyed)
I get to heart of matter and always
interruptions!
VIKTOR
One of our long-ranges picked up a read
on the other side of the world. It
might be Serenity. Malcolm Reynolds'
ship.
NISKA
(excited)
Oh. Oh, this is exciting news. Send
a team. Bring him here to me.
VIKTOR
Yes, sir.
(exits)
NISKA
(to Torture Victim)
Now, we get to spend some time finding
out about your true self. Tell me...
(stabs Torture Victim o.s.)
...are you familiar with the works of
Shan Yu?
BLACK OUT.
Act 1
|
Actually, I was fired from a fry-cook opportunity. |
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
KAYLEE is chasing RIVER through the Cargo Bay. They are laughing and whooping like children.
MAL AND INARA
stand up on the catwalk.
INT. SERENITY - CATWALK - CONTINUOUS
I said yes, already. Where's the
outstanding issue?
INARA
The Councilor is an important political
figure and a very private person...
MAL
So he visits you here instead of you
going to his place. Fine. What, is
the ship not clean enough?
MAL runs his hand along the catwalk railing like he's wearing white gloves and testing for dust.
I just want the Councilor to feel
comfortable, and when I say
comfortable, I mean totally alone.
MAL looks a little confused, then his gaze is drawn to Kaylee and River, still laughing and running in the cargo bay.
Ah, the pitter patter of tiny feet
in huge combat boots.
(to Kaylee and River)
Shut up!
(to Inara)
There's nobody sets foot on my boat
that I don't meet 'em.
(beat)
Don't worry, I'm not gonna start any
sword fights. I'm over that phase.
INARA
Well, I'd appreciate it if you could
keep the others from ogling.
KAYLEE follows RIVER up the ladder into the catwalks.
One of you is gonna fall and die,
and I'm not cleaning it up!
KAYLEE
She took my apple!
INARA
Jayne bought a crate of them.
KAYLEE
And this one's mine.
RIVER
Not anymore!
KAYLEE chases RIVER through a corridor and into
INT. SERENITY - KITCHEN AREA - CONTINUOUS
where she playfully wrestles the apple from River's hands.
Okay.
(holds apple aloft)
No power in the 'verse can stop me.
Smiling, ZOE enters and sits down at the kitchen table, where WASH is already sitting, chomping on an apple.
These really are the genuine article.
I could get used to being rich.
WASH
It's Jayne being so generous with his
cut that confuses and frightens me.
ZOE
It does kind of freeze the blood.
KAYLEE
Zoe, how come you always cut your apples?
WASH
(to Zoe)
You do?
KAYLEE
Her and the Captain both. Whenever
we get fresh fruit, they never just
munch on 'em.
ZOE
Know what a Grizwald is?
JAYNE
(entering)
It's a grenade.
ZOE
About the size of a battery. Responds to
pressure. Our platoon was stuck in a
trench outside of New Kasmir during the
winter campaign. More'n a week, completely
cut off, and the Alliance entrenched not
ten yards away. We even got to talkin'
to 'em, yelling across insults and jokes
and such, 'cause no ammo to speak of, no
orders, so what are you gonna do? We
mentioned that we were out of rations, and
ten minutes later, a bunch of apples rained
into the trench.
WASH
(interrupting, to River
and Kaylee)
And they grew into a big tree, and they
all climbed up the tree into a magical
land with unicorns and a harp.
JAYNE approaches the table, opens his switchblade, and stabs it into one of the apples sitting in a bowl on the table. WASH startles. JAYNE retrieves his apple and moves toward the other end of the table.
(beat)
Blew off their heads, huh?
ZOE
Cap said wait, but they were so hungry.
(beat)
Don't make much noise. Just little
pops and there's three guys that kind
of just end at the ribcage.
WASH
(to River and Kaylee)
But these apples are healthsome, good.
JAYNE
Yeah, grenades cost extra.
Mal enters, picking up an apple from the bowl on the table. Starts cutting it with a knife he picks up from a counter.
We are about 20,000 miles from our last
drop, people, then we can take a break
and think about spending some of this
money.
Everyone responds with happy, affirmative, "Yeahs" and "All rights".
(sotto voce)
Could've made more.
MAL
That wasn't a bad idea, Wash, but
eliminating the middle man is never
simple as it sounds.
WASH
(surprised)
You heard about...?
MAL
About fifty percent of the human race
is middle men and they don't take kindly
to being eliminated. This quadrant,
we play nice. We got enemies enough
as it is.
EXT. PLANET - SERENITY - DAY
Serenity is landing on a sandy, desert planet.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Wash is piloting. Zoe is sitting in the bridge near him. Yep, there's some tension.
So... when you said that you didn't
get a chance to tell the Captain
my idea...
ZOE
Mm-hmm?
WASH
What you actually meant was...
you told him my idea, he rejected
it out of hand, and you didn't
argue the point or even give it
another thought.
ZOE
I gave, honey, I-I --
WASH
And then came the lying to me
about it, which for me is sort of
the highlight of this little
adventure.
ZOE
Is there any way I'm gonna get
out of this with honor and dignity?
WASH
You're pretty much down to ritual
suicide, lambie-toes.
ZOE
I didn't want to upset you.
WASH
What did you think of it?
ZOE
Of what?
WASH
My idea. Call the local MDs. Forget
the fence, go straight to the source.
Better prices, and we know the drugs
get to the right people.
ZOE
(beat)
The Captain thinks it'll get back
to someone. Just cause trouble.
WASH
(angrily, in Chinese)
[Tai-kong suo-yo duh shing-chiouh
doh sai-jin wuh dhu pee-goo.]
Was I ever not asking what the
Captain thought!
ZOE
Well, I tend to agree with him.
WASH
Tend to, or have to?
(beat)
I love the fact that you two are old
army buddies -- you have wacky stories
that have ribcages in them, but could
you have an opinion of your own, please?
ZOE
You're losing the high ground here,
sweetcakes.
WASH
I'm sure you and Mal will take that
hill and fortify it with --
ZOE
(interrupting)
I thought your plan was too risky.
I thought.
WASH
Then tell me. I am a large,
semi-muscular man. I can take it.
Don't hide behind Mal 'cause you know
he'll shoot it down for you.
Tell me.
ZOE
Right. Because what this marriage
needs is one more shouting match.
WASH
No, what this marriage needs is one
less husband.
(beat)
Right now it's kind of crowded.
WASH leaves the bridge. CLOSE IN on Zoe as she stands there, not knowing what the hell she's supposed to do.
INT. SERENITY - SIMON'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The door slides open and Simon enters, seeing River sitting on a bunk.
Whoa! [Mei-mei... - "little sister"...]
SIMON covers a shivering RIVER with a blanket.
How you doing?
RIVER
I threw up.
SIMON
I'm sorry. It's a side effect. We
just have to find the right treatment
for you. How do you feel now?
RIVER
Going... Going back like... apple bits,
coming back up. Chaos.
SIMON
But you felt okay this morning?
RIVER
Played with Kaylee.
(smiles)
Sun came out, and I walked on my feet
and heard with my ears. I ate the bits,
the bits stayed down, and I work. I
function like I'm a girl.
(upset)
I hate it because I know it'll go away.
The sun goes dark and chaos has come
again. Bits. Fluids. What am I?!
SIMON
(hugs her)
You are my beautiful sister.
RIVER
(sniffling)
I threw up on your bed.
SIMON
(fuckity)
Yep. Definitely my sister.
INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA - CONTINUOUS
BOOK is reading a book, idly watching JAYNE and KAYLEE peeking around the doorway into the Cargo Bay.
Didn't Inara express a wish for privacy?
KAYLEE
Oh... we've gotta see who she's got.
Bet he's handsome. Think he's gonna
bring her flowers.
JAYNE says nothing, simply taking a big bite out of his apple.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY - CONTINUOUS
MAL AND INARA
are awaiting the Councilor's arrival. A large man steps into the Cargo Bay.
INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA - CONTINUOUS
Back to an excited Kaylee.
Oh! There he is!
BOOK looks up from his reading, standing up to join them at the doorway.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY - CONTINUOUS
Back to,
MAL AND INARA
Well, he looks the respectable sort.
MAL approaches the large man, hand out.
Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Malcolm Rey...
The man completely ignores Mal. MAL stands there, surprised, hand still outstretched for a handshake.
THE MAN finishes casing the joint, and actives a comm.
We're all clear here, Councilor.
THE COUNCILOR enters the Cargo Bay. She's a very well-heeled and good-looking woman. Inara smiles and guides the Councilor upstairs. The crew? Pretty much stunned.
Huh.
BOOK
Oh, my.
KAYLEE
Oh, gosh, I... I-I knew she took females
as clients... I just...
(beat)
They look so glamorous together.
JAYNE
(hella turned-on)
I'll be in my bunk.
EXT. PLANET - SERENITY - DAY
Establishing shot of Serenity. Wind's picking up outside the ship.
INT. SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
Zoe is preparing one of Serenity's shuttles for take-off.
Lucrative as this stuff is, I'll be
glad to see the last of it. Kinda
makes us a target for every--
ZOE
(interrupting)
Was River in here messing around? The
ignition sequence is all turned about.
I can't even...
WASH
(entering)
I can.
MAL
Well get it set, would you, Wash?
We gotta get moving.
WASH
Here's a funny twist: no.
MAL
No what?
WASH
No, sir.
ZOE
Change the sequence?
WASH
Didn't want you taking off without me.
In fact, didn't want you taking off
at all. Thought I might take this run
instead. Me and the Captain.
MAL
The Captain who's standing right here
telling you that's not gonna happen?
WASH
Well, it's a dangerous mission, sir.
I can't stand the thought of something
happening that might cause you two to
come back with another thrilling
tale of bonding and adventure. I
just can't take that right now.
MAL
Okay, um, I'm lost. Uh, I'm angry,
and I'm armed, so if you two have
something that you need to work out --
ZOE
It's all right, sir. We've deal with
Bolles before. Shouldn't be a problem.
(beat; to Wash)
And I wouldn't mind sitting this one out.
MAL
(unamused)
Oh, this is a fine [fang-tzang fong-kwong
duh zie] but I don't have time to unwind
it. Wash.
(beat)
Get her started. Zoe, ship is yours.
ZOE exits.
Bye, hon! We promise not to stop for
beers with the fellas!
WASH sits down, starts the engines.
(to Mal)
So, are we gonna sing army songs,
or something?
MAL is beyond annoyed at this point.
EXT. PLANET - SERENITY - DAY
A shuttle detaches and flies away from Serenity.
INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
The COUNCILOR is lying face-down on the bed, nude, covered from the hips down by a sheet. INARA is giving her a back massage.
(relaxed)
Mmm. That feels amazing.
(beat; Inara smiles)
Oh, right there. That's perfect.
I should have done this weeks ago.
INARA
I wouldn't have been here weeks ago.
COUNCILOR
And that would have been a shame.
INARA
For me as well.
(beat)
You have such beautiful skin.
The COUNCILOR sits up a bit on her elbows and looks over her shoulder at INARA.
There's no need for the show, Inara.
I just need to relax with someone
who's making no demands on me.
INARA
Most of my clientele is male.
Do you know that?
COUNCILOR
No.
INARA
(caressing Councilor)
If I choose a woman, she tends to
be extraordinary in some way. And
the fact is, I occasionally have the
exact same need you do. One cannot
always be one's self in the company
of men.
COUNCILOR
(smiling)
Never, actually.
INARA
So no show. Let's just... enjoy ourselves.
COUNCILOR
You are so lovely.
INARA and the COUNCILOR both lean forward and kiss -- by the sounds of it, it's sweet and passionate, although it's mostly blocked by the long fall of Inara's hair.
EXT. PLANET - SHUTTLE - DAY - CONTINUOUS
Establishing shot of Serenity's shuttle as it zooms across the desert toward the meet.
INT. SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
Wash is in the driver's seat, Mal riding shotgun, and it's damn bright inside that shuttle -- making Mal and Wash all squinty.
Look, this thing with you and Zoe...
WASH
Really not looking to talk on that topic.
MAL
Hey. I let that [niou-se - "urine-shit"]
trick of yours slide because this is a milk
run. But when I go on a mission, I'm
taking Zoe and that's the drill. You
know that. I mean, what happens if we
get into a situation here?
WASH
Hey, I've been in a firefight before!
(off Mal's look)
Well, I was in a fire.
(beat)
Actually, I was fired from a fry-cook
opportunity.
(beat)
I can handle myself.
MAL
And you understand what Zoe's job entails?
WASH
I'll learn as I go.
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANET - DAY - CONTINUOUS
MAL walks easily across the sand, WASH trailing behind him, hauling a heavy plastic box and breathing a little heavy. Three armed bandity guys approach from the other direction, the one in front presumably BOLLES.
So now I'm learning about carrying.
MAL and WASH finally meet up with the BOLLES and his guys, stopping a few feet apart. WASH puts down the heavy plastic box and flips back the lid, revealing a big pile of drugs. BOLLES looks impressed.
Nice to know you're still trustworthy.
MAL
I'm not so trustworthy I don't want to
see the money you promised me.
BOLLES holds up his hand. Bolles' guy puts a bag of coin into it. BOLLES tosses it to Mal, who opens up the bag to take a look.
BOLLES hooks his thumbs into his belt, feelin' chatty.
Man, can't believe you guys knocked
over an Alliance hospital. The pair
you have.
WASH smiles. MAL's still all business.
Yeah, the stuff legends are made of...
MAL looks up and sees a red dot on BOLLES' forehead.
It's a laser sight.
[Tzao-gao! - "Oh, shit!"]
A SHOT is fired. It hits BOLLES square between the eyes and he goes down, dead.
MAL hits the dirt, wrapping his arm around Wash's middle and taking Wash down with him.
BOLLES' two guys are quickly taken out by sniper fire. While MAL and WASH stay down, several snipers rise from their cover and surround them.
Now I'm learning about scary.
BLACK OUT.
Act 2
|
I can be terse. Once in flight school, I was laconic. |
INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA
BOOK is lifting a weighted barbell. JAYNE stands by the bench with a towel over his shoulder, spotting him. JAYNE's attention is suddenly caught by the sound of laughter.
INARA AND THE COUNCILOR
are coming down the catwalk stairs, all smiles.
While JAYNE watches Inara and the Councilor hug and kiss good-bye, hella turned-on again, BOOK struggles with the barbell he's lifting, groaning faintly with effort.
The COUNCILOR and her GUARD exit Serenity. INARA closes the Cargo Bay doors and turns to see JAYNE leering. She rolls her eyes and heads back upstairs.
JAYNE finally reaches out with one hand and helps Book return the barbell to its rest.
I'll be in my bunk.
(starts to exit)
ZOE
(entering)
Jayne, grab your weapon.
JAYNE
Why? What's goin' on?
ZOE
Maybe nothing. Maybe trouble.
JAYNE
The drop?
ZOE
They're late. They should've been back
more'n an hour ago.
(beat)
We go by ground. We'll take the mule.
BOOK
I'll go with you.
ZOE
No offense, Shepherd, but I sure as
hell hope they don't need a preacher.
BOOK
Three sets of eyes are better than two.
Might see something you don't.
ZOE considers this.
Let's move.
JAYNE and BOOK follow Zoe.
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANET - DAY - CONTINUOUS
ZOE, JAYNE and BOOK are at the drop site, examining the bodies of BOLLES and his men, flipping them over to identify them.
None of 'em's ours.
BOOK
This is precision work: sharpshooters.
From the look of these wounds, I'd say
a 54-R sniper rifle, laser sights.
JAYNE
You do a lot of shooting at the abbey
there, Shepherd?
BOOK
(dryly)
Rabbits.
JAYNE
For stew, sure.
JAYNE harvests some guns off the corpses and sticks them in his gun belt. ZOE's off tracking.
Whoever did this, they weren't after
the goods.
CLOSE on the spilled container of drugs Wash was carrying. JAYNE looks up, starts walking toward the camera. ZOE and BOOK follow.
We ain't gonna find 'em here. They're
off planet already.
(re: black streak in the sand)
Only one type of transport I know makes
a mark like this.
ZOE
Fast burn rocket shuttle.
BOOK
Craft like that not commonly part of
a ship. More likely we're looking at --
ZOE
Space station.
BOOK
Yeah.
ZOE
(beat)
I know who's got 'em.
EXT. SPACE - SPACE STATION - CONTINUOUS
Establishing shot of the space station, bustling, axes turning to generate gravity.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
WASH and MAL, blindfolded and with their hands bound behind their backs, are herded into a dark room by two guards. The two guards shut the door behind them. While throughout this scene WASH just stands there and panics, MAL is slowly casing the joint, blindly feeling his way around the room to assess its dimensions and dangers.
You okay?
WASH
(panicky)
I think I've been kidnapped.
MAL
Yeah.
WASH
You see where we are?
MAL
No.
WASH
Mal, what the hell is going on?
MAL
Ain't rightly sure.
WASH
But you've got some theories.
MAL
Still working it through.
WASH
I don't want you to spare me, Mal. If
you think you know what's happening,
then you tell me. You wouldn't spare
Zoe if she were in this situation with
you, would you? You would be planning,
and plotting and... possibly scheming.
So whatever Zoe would do in this instance
is what I wanna do. Do you know why?
No matter how ugly it gets, you two
always come back with the stories.
So... I'm Zoe. Now, what do I do?
MAL
Probably not talk quite so much.
WASH
Right. Less talking.
(beat; still panicky)
She's terse. I can be terse.
(beat)
Once in flight school, I was laconic.
WASH keeps the silence for a couple of seconds, then blurts,
If I'm not gonna talk then you have
to. What else?
MAL
We just gotta keep our heads.
WASH
Right. "Keep our heads." That way
we'll be able to... you know... keep
our heads.
(beat)
You and Zoe have been in plenty of
situations like this before, right?
MAL
(lying)
Many a time.
WASH
Many a time, you and Zoe...
MAL
Once we know who it was took us --
WASH
Zoe and you together in a tricky...
(hey, wait)
Mal, she's my wife!
MAL
Huh?
WASH
What gives you the right to put her in
a dangerous situation like this?!
MAL
I didn't.
WASH
You did!
MAL
She ain't here, Wash.
WASH
No, but she would have been!
MAL
Okay.
WASH
I mean, I'm the one she swore to love,
honor and obey.
MAL
Listen...
(beat)
She swore to obey?
WASH
Well, no, not...
(beat)
But that's just my point! You she obeys!
She obeys you! There's obeying going on
right under my nose!
MAL
Look, Zoe and I have a history. She trusts me.
WASH
What's that supposed to mean?
MAL
Don't mean a thing, but you're making
out like she blindly follows my every
word. That ain't true!
WASH
Sure it is!
MAL
Not so. There's plenty orders of mine
that she didn't obey.
WASH
Name one!
MAL
She married you!
The door screeches open, breaking the tense moment. NISKA enters with VIKTOR. NISKA goes to MAL, takes off the blindfold. NISKA grins in MAL's face. MAL is... kinda unpleasantly surprised.
[Tah-mah-duh huun-dan. - "Mother-humping
son of a bitch."]
WASH
What?
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY - CONTINUOUS
The crew, minus Mal and Wash, are gathered, handing ZOE their money.
Here's all I got left.
ZOE
Thanks.
(yells)
Jayne!
BOOK
How do you know he won't just grab
you as well?
ZOE
Don't think that's like to happen. I
walk in there unarmed, make the offer.
This guy has his own code, twisted as
it may be. Very excited about
reputation. He'll see reason.
INARA
Reason? He's a gangster. The money
he paid you for that other job -- it
was already returned to him.
JAYNE
(entering)
Could be he's harboring some resentment
at us for putting his man through our engine.
ZOE
(beat)
Wait a reasonable amount of time, but
if you don't hear back, I want you to
take Serenity and get out of this
quadrant. This don't play out right,
there's no guarantee he won't come
looking for the rest of you.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
MAL and WASH are tied back-to-back, both being electrocuted via electrodes on their chests. MAL and WASH are not yet screaming, but they're in some serious pain. (Their conversation throughout this scene is accompanied by heavy breathing, slurring of words, and groans of pain.) NISKA looks on with delight while the TORTURER mans the electricity. Electricity shuts off.
I'm not... gonna say it... again.
Shipboard romances complicate things.
WASH
For who? For you?
MAL
For everyone.
WASH
Well, what about lov--
There go the electrodes again, painfully zapping MAL and WASH. And off again.
I ain't against it as a rule... but in
situations such as ours, it tends to
cause problems. It splits loyalties.
WASH
Know what I think?
MAL
What?
There go the electrodes again, zapping MAL and WASH. WASH is starting to falter a little, sagging when the electricity shuts off.
What, Wash? What do you think?
Because I'm interested.
WASH
(weakly)
This "policy" you got against shipboard
relationships -- that's just you projecting
your own intimacy issues on everyone else.
And NISKA signals for the electrodes again. WASH and MAL shake and writhe in pain until the electricity goes off.
'Course, could be a lot simpler than
that. Could be I just don't think
you're good enough for Zoe.
WASH
And I don't give a good gorram what
you think.
MAL
Oh, don't you? Zoe and I, we got a
history, and I figure you gotta be
asking yourself some fundamental questions
as to the nature of that history.
WASH
You never slept with my wife.
MAL
Oh? That a fact? You know that for
sure, do you? You ever ask her?
And the electrodes go off again, making WASH and MAL shake in pain. When the electricity shuts off, WASH's head is hanging.
Hey. We been together for a long
time before you came along, Wash.
And she's a damn fine-looking woman.
(laughs)
WASH
(weakly)
Never happened. Know how I know?
MAL
How? Tell me.
WASH
This whole Captain thing isn't Zoe's
trouble. It's the-guy-she-never-slept-with
thing. Hell, Mal, I wish you had slept
with her. Then at least she'd be over it.
MAL
Oh, you want me to sleep with her?
Would that make you feel better?
WASH
It might.
MAL
Oh, I'd imagine it would do wonders
for her, too.
WASH
Screw you!
MAL
Get in line.
And there go the electrodes again. When the electrodes shut off, Wash slumps down, nearly unconscious, and pretty damn dazed.
Okay, Wash, I'm gonna do it.
(alarmed)
Wash! Wash, listen. First thing we do
when we get back...
(panicky)
Listen to me!
(beat)
First thing when we get back, I'm gonna...
I'm gonna take your wife into my bed.
WASH
(weakly)
Yeah?
MAL
(relieved Wash is awake)
I'm gonna get me a piece of --
And we're back to the torture.
EXT. SPACE STATION - SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
One of Serenity's shuttles approaches the space station and docks.
INT. SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
ZOE docks and powers down the shuttle.
INT. SPACE STATION - DOCKING BAY DOORS - CONTINUOUS
ZOE walks through the double doors with her hands raised, holding the bag of ransom money. Five or six armed guards meet her and pat her down.
I'm unarmed.
(beat)
I wanna talk to Niska.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
VIKTOR approaches a smiling NISKA and whispers of Zoe's arrival.
Ah.
INT. SPACE STATION - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
ZOE is escorted by four armed guards through the space station. She passes by a large, circular shaft filled with machines assembling parts (like something out of Empire Strikes Back in Cloud City).
A guard opens Niska's office door with a keycard. They pass through the office to another room, and ZOE steps into
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
At the center of the room are MAL and WASH, tied-up and looking terrible. NISKA grins off to the left. ZOE walks into the room, her expression impassive.
(weakly)
No, no, no, no... Run, run...
ZOE approaches NISKA.
It's five times what you paid us for
the train job.
NISKA
Yes. You have had, you say it, good
times... I see that.
ZOE
Should be more than enough to buy
back my men.
NISKA
This is your opinion, is it?
ZOE
It is.
NISKA
They are perhaps damaged now. Are they
worth so much to you?
ZOE
Yes.
NISKA
And to me, they are worth more. I think
this is not enough. Not enough for two.
But sufficient, perhaps for one.
(beat, smiling)
Ah... you now have --
ZOE
(immediately)
Him.
ZOE points to WASH.
(to Niska)
I'm sorry. You were going to ask me to
choose, right? Did you want to finish?
OFF NISKA with his mouth still open.
BLACK OUT.
Act 3
|
It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps. |
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER
Almost where we left off. WASH is released from his bonds and falls to the floor. ZOE moves to help him up.
He is yours. We are ended now.
ZOE drapes WASH's arm over her shoulders and supports his weight. WASH can barely walk.
Mal...
WASH looks over his shoulder at MAL. MAL shakes his head.
Shh. Just keep walking.
NISKA waits until WASH and ZOE are at the doorway to say:
A moment, please.
ZOE and WASH carefully turn. ZOE props WASH up against the door frame.
This money, it is too much.
NISKA speaks in Czech to TORTURER.
You should have some small refund.
The TORTURER takes a BIG KNIFE and CUTS OFF MAL's left ear. ZOE watches impassively. WASH turns his head.
MAL SCREAMS.
NISKA takes MAL's ear and wraps it in a white cloth. He hands it to ZOE.
Now we are ended.
Without a word or a blink, ZOE takes the cloth holding Mal's ear and tucks it into her vest. Then, as MAL SCREAMS, she supports WASH as they walk away from the torture chamber.
INT. SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
ZOE helps WASH into the shuttle. WASH goes down on his knees. ZOE joins him on the floor, comforting him as best she can.
He's insane.
ZOE
I know it.
WASH
I mean, you've told the damn stories.
Saved you in the war.
(beat)
I-I didn't know...
ZOE
You mean Mal?
WASH
He's crazy. He wouldn't break, Zoe.
(beat)
He kept me from...
ZOE
It's okay.
WASH
I wouldn't have made it.
ZOE
Shh...
WASH
Niska's gonna kill him.
ZOE
He's gonna make it last as long as
possible. Days, if he can.
WASH is struck by this. He stands up with great effort.
Bastard's not gonna get days.
WASH moves to the pilot's seat and fires up the shuttle.
INT. SERENITY - CATWALKS - CONTINUOUS
WASH and ZOE are exiting the shuttle and entering Serenity. BOOK, INARA, KAYLEE and SIMON run toward them.
Thank God, you're safe.
KAYLEE
You okay? What happened?
SIMON
Let me take a look. How bad it is?
WASH
I'm fine.
WASH brushes past Simon.
Where's Mal?
ZOE
Niska wouldn't let him go.
INARA
Is he alive?
ZOE
For now.
(to Simon)
Take that to the infirmary. Put it on ice.
ZOE hands Simon the white cloth containing MAL's ear and follows WASH.
KAYLEE
Wh-wh-what is that?
SIMON unwraps the cloth to reveal MAL's ear. INARA and KAYLEE gasp.
SIMON
It's his ear.
BOOK
[Huh choo-shang tza-jiao duh tzang-huo -
"Animal-fucking bastard."]
ZOE
We're getting him back.
JAYNE
What are we gonna do, clone him?
SIMON
Well, it's a clean cut. With the right
equipment, I should be able to reattach it.
(beat)
That's assuming there's a head.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
CLOSE on MAL, still being tortured. Still holding out.
Do you know the writings of Shan Yu?
MAL
(groaning)
We're starting a book club? What? Are
you trying to tor --
(cries out)
...trying to torture me?
NISKA laughs.
Yes, today we meet you. Yes, and you
are quite a man. An extraordinary man.
Yes, but these are not times for
extraordinary men. Business is not
war. Heroics are unseemly. They
complicate.
NISKA crosses the room and takes out a black device.
For you, I have, uh... special machine...
NISKA pets the black device.
Very precious.
MAL
(with effort)
And they say people don't look like their pets.
NISKA
(chuckles)
Let us see if we can meet the real you.
The TORTURER smiles a bit evilly and a metallic whirring sound starts up. The TORTURER attaches the device to Mal's chest and it crawls and claws inside, almost like a metallic spider.
MAL SCREAMS, long and loud.
INT. SERENITY - KITCHEN AREA - CONTINUOUS
WASH and ZOE are loading up enough weapons for a small army. ZOE finishes loading a gun and hands it to WASH.
Here. Six shots, and then just drop it.
Keep moving.
JAYNE
(from doorway)
This here's suicide. You do know that,
don't you?
(beat)
You really think you can mount a two-man
frontal assault on Niska's skyplex and live?
WASH
Technically, it's a one-man/one-woman
assault. A unisex.
(to Zoe)
Grenades?
ZOE
Oh, yes. Thank you, dear.
(to Jayne)
He won't be expecting it.
JAYNE
Right. 'Cause they ain't insane.
KAYLEE
(entering)
Uh, I just got a wave from Inara. No
luck with the Councilor.
(to Jayne)
What are they doin'?
JAYNE
Fixin' to get themselves killed.
ZOE
We're gonna go get the Captain.
KAYLEE
Oh. Good!
(to Jayne)
Can they do that?
JAYNE
No.
WASH
You know, there's a certain motto.
A creed among folks like us. You
may have heard it: "Leave no man behind."
WASH finishes loading a tiny pistol and cocks it. Oh, the ironical sight gag.
Suicide.
INT. SERENITY - CORRIDOR - CONTINOUS
WASH and ZOE are fully armed and leaving the kitchen area.
Got a good look of the layout on my
way in last time. You let me lead.
Cover my... back.
ZOE and WASH catch sight of BOOK, SIMON and KAYLEE arming up near a locker holding more weapons.
What's this?
SIMON
We're going with you.
KAYLEE
If it were any one of us, Cap'n
wouldn't hesitate.
BOOK
(handing off a handgun)
Here you go.
(removing a semi-automatic
from locker)
This should do.
ZOE
Preacher, don't the Bible have some
pretty specific things to say about
killing?
BOOK
Quite specific.
(beat)
It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on
the subject of kneecaps.
ZOE
If you're looking for me to talk you
out of it --
Everyone looks up at the sound of a gun cocking. JAYNE is standing at the top of the stairs with Vera. When he sees everyone looking, he glances down at his zipper.
What?
ZOE looks at WASH.
Let's go get the Captain.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
The TORTURER pokes a motionless Mal in the shoulder a few times, then turns to NISKA.
Yep. He's dead.
BLACK OUT.
Act 4
|
No power in the 'verse can stop me. |
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER
MAL is lying on his back, chest bloody. There is an electronic whine and the TORTURER applies a defibrillator to MAL's chest. Eventually, MAL's eyes pop open and he breathes.
(sing-song)
Mr. Reynolds?
(beat)
You died, Mr. Reynolds.
MAL
Seemed like the thing to do.
NISKA
When you die, I can't hurt you anymore and
I want two days, at least. Minimum. I
think many people know the name Malcolm
Reynolds. Many know he crossed Niska.
They must know what happens after that.
NISKA nods at the torturer, who comes forward with a big, nasty torture device that looks like scissors.
They must know that business is
still running.
MAL turns his head away from the scissors.
EXT. SPACE - SHUTTLE
Establishing shot of the shuttle as it passes by the camera heading toward the space station.
INT. SERENITY - CONTINUOUS
The crew, minus Mal, is huddled in a darkened Serenity.
JAYNE
You really think this'll work?
WASH
Well, except for the comm static, I'm
piping out on all frequencies. We've been
completely powered down since I fired the
attitude thrusters a half hour ago. We
should show up on their screens as a radar
glitch if they aren't looking too close.
JAYNE
What if they are looking too close?
WASH
Hell, I'm just glad we're on course.
ZOE
It's like throwing a dart, Jayne, and
hitting a bulls-eye 6,000 miles away.
(proudly)
That's my man.
WASH
You guys better get down to the bay.
We'll be at their front door in less
than a minute.
JAYNE exits. ZOE squeezes WASH's shoulder.
I'm right behind you, baby.
ZOE exits. WASH pilots the dead shuttle into the space station.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY - CONTINOUS
BOOK is strapping some containers onto the four-wheel transport. JAYNE and ZOE are coming down the stairs.
ZOE
Book, you good?
BOOK
Yes, ma'am. Ready when you are.
ZOE
Kaylee, how you doing on that override
sequence?
KAYLEE
Pretty sure this'll pop their airlock
doors if Wash can get a seal on the
first try.
JAYNE
Smellin' a lot of "if" comin' off this plan.
ZOE
You coulda stayed in your bunk.
JAYNE
Coulda, shoulda, woulda.
(cocks Vera)
WASH comes down the stairs, calling out:
WASH
We're set.
ZOE
Okay, people... If it moves, shoot it.
KAYLEE
Unless it's the Captain!
ZOE
Unless it's the Captain.
They all move toward the cargo bay door.
INT. SPACE STATION - DOCKING BAY - CONTINOUS
A guard is lazily sitting at his post, reading a girly magazine, when he realizes static is coming from his monitor. He hits a few buttons and sees Serenity docking. He hits the alarm.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
NISKA and the TORTURER are bent over Mal. MAL hears the alarm.
Listen... if you got guests, I can come
back later.
NISKA gives the TORTURER a peeved look.
INT. SPACE STATION - DOCKING BAY - CONTINUOUS
Three guards stand in front of the opening bay door. As the door opens, they're blinding by a bright light coming from Serenity's cargo bay. An ENGINE REVS, and then the four-wheel mule speeds off Serenity's cargo bay and into the space station, prompting the blinded guards to shoot at it.
The mule crashes into a guard and explodes.
JAYNE, ZOE, and WASH advance down the ramp into the space station, shooting. ZOE tosses a grenade around the corner into a corridor.
MIXED SHOUTS of "Move, move, move" and "Take cover!" sound before the grenade blasts. One of the guards stumbles out of the corridor, his back on fire.
Second team!
BOOK, KAYLEE AND SIMON
advance down the ramp.
Hold this position! We lose this position,
we lose it all. You're going to hold
this ground.
(beat)
Understand me?
BOOK fires at a guard advancing down the hallway. Hits the guard in the kneecap, prompting the guard to fall forward and crack his head open on a jutting piece of the mule.
Understood.
ZOE
Okay, then.
JAYNE advances down the hallway, firing a pistol at advancing guards. ZOE and WASH follow. BOOK takes up position.
INT. SPACE STATION - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
ZOE's in the lead now, shooting at guards as they pop up. JAYNE and WASH follow her.
INT. SPACE STATION - NISKA'S TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
NISKA, thoroughly annoyed by the commotion, walks over to the comm box in the wall. The TORTURER turns his back to MAL. MAL doesn't move, but his eyes show he's alert.
Viktor, what is this? Viktor!
Suddenly, the TORTURER arches his back and screams, falling to his knees to REVEAL
MAL standing behind him.
MAL's attached the little black torture device that killed him to the TORTURER's back.
MAL steps over the TORTURER's writhing body and PUNCHES Niska in the face. NISKA falls to the floor.
Looks like business ain't running so
much as crawlin' away.
(angrily)
You want to meet the real me now?
INT. SPACE STATION - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
JAYNE is leaning out from his cover to fire at the guards and takes a shot in the left shoulder.
Ah! Ah, gorram it.
ZOE advances up the corridor. A guard pops out from cover and ZOE barrel rolls, pulling two handguns from her shoulder holsters as she rises, nailing the guard in the chest.
INT. SPACE STATION - DOCKING BAY DOORS - CONTINUOUS
BOOK is firing upon the advancing guards. SIMON and KAYLEE are looking distinctly nervous.
Book, we, uh...
Guards are advancing Simon's way. He shoots, but misses. BOOK ducks from behind his cover and takes out one of the advancing guards.
Get behind us, Preacher! We need cover!
BOOK jerks his head at his position, taking off down the hallway. SIMON nervously takes up BOOK's position.
(to Simon)
Don't think. Just shoot.
More guards advance. KAYLEE can't deal with it. She freaks and runs back into Serenity. RIVER joins her at the ramp, takes one glance out at the three guards, then picks up Kaylee's abandoned pistol.
(chanting)
Can't look. Can't look.
RIVER suddenly stands up and fires three times.
Silence.
KAYLEE stands and peers out at the docking bay. All three guards are now dead. KAYLEE looks at RIVER.
(smiling faintly)
No power in the 'verse can stop me.
INT. SPACE STATION - TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
MAL is beating up NISKA when the TORTURER grabs MAL from behind. They grapple and end up falling backward out a glass window leading to the huge shaft we saw earlier in the episode.
The TORTURER is strangling MAL with a length of cord.
(strangled)
Haven't you killed me enough for one day?
INT. SPACE STATION - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
ZOE, JAYNE and WASH advance to the doorway of the torture chamber. ZOE pulls the door open, and we're,
INT. SPACE STATION - TORTURE CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
JAYNE, ZOE, and WASH advance, see the Captain being strangled outside on the narrow balcony surrounding the huge processing shaft.
JAYNE raises his pistol. ZOE puts her hand on his arm.
Jayne. This is something the Captain has
to do for himself.
MAL
(strangled)
No! No, it's not!
ZOE
(oops)
Oh.
ZOE, JAYNE and WASH all shoot at the TORTURER. The TORTURER falls over the edge of the balcony and tumbles to his death.
EXT. PLANET - SERENITY - DAY
Establishing shot of Serenity.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY - CONTINUOUS
SIMON is packing up medical supplies when a battered MAL enters the cargo bay. He can't seem to stop touching his mended ear.
Sure this thing's gonna stay on?
SIMON
This dermal mender creates an excellent
tissue bond. It should be fine. Just
don't... don't fiddle with it.
MAL
(to Inara)
Be sure to, uh, thank the Councilor
for me. Awful nice of her to... pull
some strings and lend us this equipment.
INARA
It's the least she could do. I just
wish you'd killed that old bastard.
MAL
I got regrets on that score my own self.
(beat)
So. I hear you all took up arms in
that little piece of action back there.
(to Simon)
How you faring with that, doctor?
SIMON
I don't know. I, uh... I never-never
shot anyone before.
BOOK
I was there, son. I'm fair sure you
haven't shot anyone yet.
MAL chuckles and heads up the stairs, squeezing KAYLEE's hand as he goes past. A moment later, KAYLEE turns back to see RIVER standing in the catwalks. KAYLEE's obviously uncomfortable.
INT. SERENITY - KITCHEN AREA - CONTINUOUS
WASH sits at the table. ZOE is at the counter behind him dishing up food. She comes around the corner and sets a bowl in front of Wash, shaking out his napkin and tucking it into his shirt.
Mmm. Wife soup.
ZOE chuckles.
I must've done good.
ZOE
Yes, dear. You done good.
ZOE smooches Wash's cheek and puts her arms around his neck.
There's a PAINED GROAN as MAL enters the kitchen area. ZOE lets go of Wash.
Did you tell her?
WASH
Tell her what?
MAL
(to Zoe)
Your husband has demanded that we
sleep together.
ZOE
Really?
WASH
What? Mal, come on.
MAL
He seems to think it would get all
this burning sexual tension out in
the open -- you know, make a fair
fight for your womanly affections.
WASH
No. That was the torture talking.
Remember? The torture?
MAL takes Zoe's hands. Puts one on his hip, the other on his shoulder.
(deadpan)
I know it's a difficult mission...
but you and I... have to get it on.
ZOE
I understand. We have no choice.
ZOE and MAL stand about a foot apart, staring at each other. Absolutely nothing resembling The Sexy is happening.
JAYNE walks into the kitchen area just in time to hear:
(deadpan)
Take me, sir. Take me hard.
JAYNE
Now somethin' about that is just
downright unsettling.
WASH throws down his napkin as MAL and ZOE mock-struggle to kiss each other from a foot away. WASH grabs ZOE and escorts her to the door.
We'll be in our bunk.
WASH playfully smacks ZOE's behind as they walk out of the kitchen.
Disconcerted, JAYNE turns around and walks toward the dinner table. MAL is slowly, painfully pulling out a chair.
Oh, hey.
JAYNE smacks the back of his hand against MAL's belly, sitting down at the table where Wash was sitting.
Free soup.
MAL makes a tiny grunt of intense pain and freezes, glaring at Jayne.
BLACK OUT.
