Bushwhacked

TEASER
(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.) 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. (She glances at River, who is watching the game intently.) 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.) Ow, hey. Kaylee: (to Simon) Say Doc, why don't you come on down, play for our side? Inara won't mind.

(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.)

(CARGO BAY)
(Simon is starting down the stairs when the ship shudders. Everyone heads for the Bridge.)

(BRIDGE)
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: (in Chinese) 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.
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.)

(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?

(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.

(BRIDGE)
(Wash is listening, and manipulating controls on the panel.)

(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.)

(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.)

(SERENITY - RIVER'S ROOM)
(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.

(DERELICT SHIP)
(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.) 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?

(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.

(DERELICT SHIP)
Mal: Good work. Keep the engine running, shouldn't be long.

(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.) River?

(DERELICT SHIP – AIRLOCK)
(River enters the ship, barefoot.)
Simon: (os) Aren't you the least bit curious?

(ENGINE ROOM)
(Simon and Kaylee are investigating the engine room.)
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.) Whoo. Well there's a good one. Hold the bag open.

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

(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.)

(CORRIDORS)
(River is moving dreamily through the dimly lit 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 turns and sees her.)
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: (in Chinese) Just our luck. (in English) I know what did this. (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.

(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?

(SERENITY – BRIDGE)
Wash: (into com) Captain? Captain. Zoe!

(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 (in Chinese) God knows what (in English) is going on in there?
Zoe: (into com) Not now, dear.

(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.

(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.

(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.) Open up, see what's inside. (Simon administers the sedative.) No mercy.
(The survivor passes out.)

(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 remarkab
ly 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.) 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: (in Chinese) Crap.

(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?

(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.

(DERELICT SHIP - C DECK, AFT)
(Jayne lowers the hanging bodies while Simon and Book look on.)

(SERENITY - CARGO BAY)
(Zoe and Mal look on while Kaylee lowers herself into a chamber beneath the floor.)

(INARA'S SHUTTLE)
(Inara is working on a scroll covered in Chinese calligraphy, while River sleeps on her bed.)

(INFIRMARY)
(The patient is starting to wake, moaning.)
Survivor: No, no.

(CARGO BAY)
(Kaylee worms her way into a crawl space.)

(INFIRMARY)
(The patient wakes up, laughing.)

(INARA'S SHUTTLE) (River wakes up screaming.)

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

(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.)

(BRIDGE)
Voice: 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.

(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.

(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.

(INFIRMARY)
(Two of the soldiers are entering. Off-camera, we hear soft, maniacal laughter.)

(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.) 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?

(INFIRMARY)
(Soldiers are carrying out the man rescued from the derelict, strapped to a stretcher. Other soldiers are searching Serenity.)

(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.)

(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)(in Chinese) 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.

(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.)

(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.

(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.

(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.)(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.

(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.

(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.

(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. (He hears footsteps.) 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.)

(SPACE)
(Serenity undocks from Alliance ship and begins maneuvering for departure.)

(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. (in Chinese) Jerk.
Mal: He had to... (shakes head) Couldn't let us profit. (beat) Wouldn't be civilized.

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

BLACK OUT.