Serenity, Part II

(SERENITY – CARGO BAY)
(We pick up where we left off in Part I. Simon tries to wrest himself free of Jayne, who's just holding his arms now.)
Simon: I need to check her vitals.
Mal: Oh, is that what they call it?
Simon: She's not supposed to wake up for another week! The shock --
Mal: The shock of what? Waking up? Finding out she's been sold to some borderworld baron? Or, I'm sorry -- was this one for you? Is it true love? Because you do seem a little--
(She screams as she lurches out of the box behind Mal. He actually gives a little yelp himself as he turns, startled. She keeps screaming, and for a moment no one does anything. She spills out of the box, crawling backwards, breathing hard and looking around her, wild-eyed. Simon finally pulls himself free of Jayne -- who's now more interested in the naked girl than him -- and comes to her. Inara pulls off her robe again, ready to cover her with it.)
Simon: River? (She screams at his touch -- Inara instinctively moves forward -- but he holds onto her, tries to get her to look in his eyes.) River. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay, I'm here. (Finally she looks at him, trying to focus, still breathing hard. She looks about, at everyone, then back at him.) River...
River: (whispering) Simon...? (And she realizes, begins to cry.) Simon... They-they talk to me, they want me-they want me to talk...
Simon: They're gone... they're gone. We're safe now. We're safe. we're safe, I'm here.
(Everyone in the room can tell this is not what Mal thought. There is a kind of respect in their silence.)
Mal: What the hell is this?
(Simon, River clinging to him and crying, looks over at Mal defiantly.)
Simon: This is my sister.

(DINING ROOM – LATER)
(Everyone is gathered, save Kaylee and River herself, to hear Simon speak. As he does, the camera will periodically intercut to him taking care of River in the infirmary. For a moment, they all just wait.)

(INFIRMARY – EARLIER)
(River is brought -- wrapped in the robe Inara used for Kaylee's pillow -- into the infirmary. She sees the unconscious Kaylee, the operating room, and she freaks. Starts screaming again, struggling to get out of Simon's grip.)
Simon: (vo) I am very smart. I went to the best Medacad in Osiris, top three percent of my class, finished my internship in eight months.

(DINING ROOM)
Simon: "Gifted" is the term. So when I tell you that my little sister makes me look like an idiot child, I want you to understand my full meaning.

(INFIRMARY – EARLIER)
(Simon has calmed her down, she's sitting on the table now, looking at him with fresh tears. He prepares a hypo with a sedative. Her look of distrust at the hypo is comically grumpy -- a little child's. Her eyes wander as he injects her, she mutters something to no one -- this girl is gone.)

(DINING ROOM)
Simon: River was more than gifted. She... she was a gift. Everything she did, music, math, theoretical physics -- even-even dance -- there was nothing that didn't come as naturally to her as breathing does to us. (smiles, remembering) She could be a real... brat about it, too. I mean, she used to -- (He trails off for a moment. Jayne stands, going to refill his mug. At his movement, Simon collects himself.) There was a... a school... a, uh, a government-sponsored academy, we had never even heard of it but it had the most exciting program, the most challenging. We could have sent her anywhere, we had the money, but she wanted to go. She wanted to learn. She was fourteen. (long beat) I... (A moment of bitter emotion, then he pulls it together.) I got a few letters at first, and then I didn't hear for months. Finally I got a letter that made no sense. She-she talked about things that never happened, jokes we never... it was code. It just said... (beat) "They're hurting us. Get me out."

(INFIRMARY – EARLIER)
(River drifts off to sleep. Simon's holding her hand.)

(DINING ROOM)
Zoe: How did you do it?
Simon: Money. And, and luck. For two years, I couldn't get near her. Then I was contacted by some men, some underground movement. They-they said she was in danger, that-that the government was... playing with her brain. If I funded them they could sneak her out in cryo. Get her to Persephone, and from there, I could take her... wherever.
Inara: Will she be all right?
Simon: I don't know if she'll be all right. I don't know what they did to her, or why. I-I just have to keep her safe.

(INFIRMARY – EARLIER)
(River is asleep.)

(DINING ROOM)
(There is a moment.)
Book: That's... quite a story, son.
Mal: Yeah, it's a tale of woe. Very stirring, but in the meantime, you've heaped a world of trouble on me and mine.
Simon: I never thought --
Mal: No, I don't imagine you thought. In consequence of which we got a kidnapped federal officer on board, we got the Alliance hard on our trail, and Kaylee...
(He doesn't say it.)
Zoe: (to Wash) How much does the Alliance know?
Wash: I can't say. I killed the message pretty quick, so they might just have had our position.
Mal: Or they might have personal profiles on each and every one of us. 'Til that fed wakes up, we won't know.
Jayne: So what do we do?
(A moment as Mal thinks, looking at his crew. Looks at Inara.)
Mal: The job. We finish the job. I got word from Patience, she's waiting for us. We circle 'round to Whitefall, make the deal, get out. Keep flying.
Simon: What about us?
(Mal looks at him a moment.)
Mal: Kaylee comes through, you and your sister'll get off at Whitefall.
Simon: If she doesn't come through?
Mal: Then you're gettin' off a mite sooner.
Book: That'd be murder.
Mal: Boy made a decision.
Inara: He didn't shoot her.
Jayne: No, but somebody on this boat did and I'm scratching my head as to why we ain't dealt with him.
(And now the room gets louder, people start talking over each other.)
Zoe: Kill a Fed? Can you think of a stupider thing to do?
Jayne: He can I.D. us all.
Simon: You wanna throw me out the airlock, fine, but River's not a part of this.
Wash: Can we maybe vote on the whole murdering people issue?
Mal: We don't vote on my ship because my ship is not the rutting town hall!
Inara: This is insanity. Mal...
Wash: I happen to think we're a ways beyond that now, sir. (to Zoe) Come on, we're gonna talk this through, yeah?
(Zoe doesn't answer. Wash is truly pissed.)
Book: I'll not sit by while there's killing here.
Jayne: (smiling) Shepherd's got a mean streak. We'd best walk soft.
Mal: (in Chinese) Everybody shut the hell up! (they do) (English) Way it is is the way it is. We got to deal with what's in front of us.
Inara: Mal, you know those two wouldn't survive a day in Whitefall anyway. You throw them out, I'm leaving too.
(Mal looks at her, angry at being confronted publicly and upset by the thought of her leaving, but suppressing both.)
Mal: It might be best you do. You ain't a part of this business.
(He exits toward the back. She looks startled, then resigned.)

(AFT HALL)
(Simon follows Mal.)
Simon: What business is that, exactly? (Mal turns and gives him a murderous look, but Simon doesn't back down.) I'm a dead man, I can't know? Is it gold? Drugs? Pirate treasure? What is it that makes you so afraid of the Alliance?
Mal: You don't wanna go down this road with me, boy.
Simon: Oh, you're not afraid of them? I already know you'd sell me out to them for a pat on the head. Hell, you should probably be working for them. You certainly fit the profile --
(Mal decks him. He goes tumbling. Mal looks down at him, looks back to see the rest of the group are looking at him from the doorway of the dining room with Jayne in the foreground.)
Jayne: (smugly) Saw that comin'.

(DOBSON'S ROOM – LATER)
(Jayne and Mal are in the room with the tied and gagged cop. Mal pulls the duct tape off and Dobson grunts in pain.)
Mal: I'm in a tricky position, I guess you know. Got me a boatload of terribly strange folk making my life a little more interesting than I generally like, chief among them an Alliance mole. Likes to shoot at girls when he's nervous. Now I got to know how close the Alliance is, exactly how much you told them before Wash scrambled your call. So... I've given Jayne here the job of finding out.
(Jayne pulls out a big-ass knife.)
Jayne: (to Dobson) He was non-specific as to how.
Mal: (quietly to Jayne) Now you only gotta scare him.
Jayne: (grinning at Dobson) Pain is scary...
Mal: Just do it right.
(Mal exits, shutting Jayne in with Dobson.)
Dobson: Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?
(Jayne sits down on a chair across from Dobson.)
Jayne: Gee, I never been in trouble with the law before...
Dobson: Not like this you haven't. You think this is just a smuggling rap? The package that boy is carrying --
Jayne: It's a girl. She's cute, too, but I don't think she's all there, y'know? (grin) 'Course, not all of her has to be...
Dobson: That girl is a precious commodity. They'll come after her. Long after you bury me they'll be coming.
Jayne: Oh, I'm not gonna kill you, Dobson -- what's your first name?
Dobson: (reluctantly) Laurence.
Jayne: Laurence. No, I'm just gonna cut on ya' 'til you tell me how much they know.
Dobson: They know everything. They know every name, every record -- they know how many nosehairs you've got.
Jayne: (genuinely disappointed) Ah, see -- they don't know a damn thing. It's all over your face, I ain't even... Was gonna get me a ear, too. Aren't you an officer of the law? Well, don't they teach you how to withstand interrogation? Can't even tell a damn lie.
Dobson: Okay. I can see you're not an idiot.
Jayne: Wish I could say the same, Laurence, but... this is disappointing as hell.
Dobson: Let me speak the language you will understand. Money. This girl is worth a lot of money. I mean a lot. You kill me, there's nothing. But if you help me out, you'll have enough to buy your own ship. A better one than this piece of crap.
Jayne: Does helping you out mean turning on the Captain?
Dobson: Yes, it does.
(Jayne thinks on it a moment.)

(BRIDGE)
(Mal arrives on the bridge, moving fast. It's dark, chaotic. Wash is watching a screen, very apprehensive.)
Mal: How the Hell did they find us? I thought you said we could get around 'em.
Wash: It's not Alliance.
Mal: You're sure?
Wash: It's a smaller vessel.
Mal: Commercial?
Wash: Uh, yeah, I read it as an older model Trans-U.
Mal: I didn't think Trans-U still operated.
Wash: They don't.
Mal: Get me a visual.
Wash: They're still too far out to --
Mal: Get me something!
Wash: I'm picking up a lot of radiation... they're operating without core containment. Well, that's (Chinese – nuts), that's suicide..
(He looks at Mal, getting it.)
Mal: Reavers.
(Mal looks out toward a tiny speck that approaches them. We see, for the first time, the ship. Once it was a commercial spaceliner, now it's a war machine. Tricked out, ornament and painted, with giant torpedo-looking tubes jerry-rigged near the front. Everything about this vessel says 'savage'.)
Wash: Oh god. (beat) Oh god, oh god, oh god...

(INFIRMARY)
(We see the two girls laid out, unconscious. Book is quietly standing at the foot of Kaylee's bed, bible folded in his hands. Mal's voice comes over the com.)
Mal: (on com) This is the captain.

(JAYNE'S ROOM)
(Jayne stands in the middle of his room, holding a big gun.)

(PASSENGER DORM HALL)
(Zoe is standing outside Simon's room, she has stopped to listen. Simon steps out of his room, listening as well.)
Mal: (on com) We're passing another ship. Looks to be Reavers. From the size, probably a raiding party.

(INARA'S CHAMBER)
(She listens, too. Gravely.)
Mal: (on com) Could be they're headed somewhere particular, could be they've already hit someone and they're full up. So everyone stay calm.

(JAYNE'S ROOM)
(Jayne pulls down a decorative blanket to reveal an arsenal on his wall. He his silent and serious.)
Mal: (on com) We try to run, they'll have to chase us. It's their way. We're holding course. We should be passing 'em in a minute, so we'll see what they do.

(BRIDGE)
Mal: Zoe, you come on up to the bridge.

(PASSENGER DORM HALL)
(Zoe is going as Simon stops her.)
Simon: Wait -- I-I don't understand.
Zoe: You've never heard of Reavers?
Simon: Well... campfire stories... Men gone savage on the edge of space, killing, and...
Zoe: They're not stories.
Simon: What happens if they board us?
Zoe: If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh and sew our skins into their clothing and if we're very very lucky, they'll do it in that order.
(She exits. Simon moves quickly towards the Infirmary.)

(INFIRMARY)
(Simon enters and moves near River. He and Book look at each other.)

(SPACE)
(We see the ships nearing each other. Slowly and silently.)

(INARA'S CHAMBER)
(Inara pulls out a small, hidden box. She opens it. Inside is a modern syringe gun, smaller than the one Simon used on River, and a vial of black liquid. Unmarked. She stares into the box.)

(JAYNE'S ROOM)
(Jayne is loading bullets the size of D batteries into a big-ass rifle. His hands are shaking slightly.)

(SPACE)
(The ships are almost upon one another. The reaver ship is nearly twice the size of the Firefly.)

(BRIDGE)
(Zoe enters, says nothing. She stands behind Wash, slips her hand onto his shoulder. He covers it with his own. Wash looks out the window at the ship, sees the attachments on the front. Also speaks softly.)
Wash: There's a magnetic grappler. They get ahold of us with that...
Mal: Just tell me if they alter course.
(They wait.)
(Everybody waits.)

(SPACE)
(The ships pass silently. The reaver ship comes close enough to cast a shadow on the smaller ship. But it passes.)

(BRIDGE)
Wash: They're holding course. (Mal lets out a long breath. Looks at the other two.) I guess they weren't hungry. Didn't expect to see them here...
Zoe: They're pushing out further every year, too.
Mal: Gettin' awful crowded in my sky.

(INFIRMARY – LATER)
(Mal is looking at River, silent.)
Kaylee: Hey, Captain.
(He turns. She has woken, is woozy and quiet.)
Mal: Hey... Hey little Kaylee, what's the news?
Kaylee: I'm shiny, Captain. A-okay. And I can't feel much below my belly, though. It's gettin' cold.
(Mal moves to get her another blanket, lays it on her -- all the whole hiding his feelings at hearing that.)
Mal: Well, you just gotta rest. Something's gonna break down on this boat real soon. Who else I got to fix it?
Kaylee: Well don't you worry none. Doc fixed me up pretty. He's nice.
Mal: Don't go working too hard on that crush, (Chinese) "little sister". Doc won't be with us for long.
Kaylee: You're nice, too.
Mal: No, I'm not. I'm a mean old man.
Kaylee: He wasn't gonna let me die. He was just trying to... It's nobody's fault. Okay? Just promise me you'll remember that?
Mal: (takes her hand) I'll keep it in mind.
Kaylee: You are a nice man, Captain. You always looking after us. You just gotta have faith in people. (He says nothing, just holds her hand. Her eyes drift to River, still sleeping.) She is a real beauty, isn't she?
(She smiles... and her eyes gently close. Her hand slips from Mal's.)

(INARA'S CHAMBER)
(Simon is there, as Inara hands him a couple of packets.)
Simon: Thank you.
Inara: This is just standard Companion immunization package. I'm not sure it'll help in this --
Simon: It won't hurt. Supplies down there are pretty rudimentary.
Inara: Is there anything else I can do?
Simon: I don't think so. But I appreciate it.
Inara: Kaylee's very dear. To all of us.
Simon: I... I'm sorry. For my part in what happened. See... I've never... I mean, I don't know how to --
Inara: You're lost in the woods. We all are. Even the captain. The only difference is, he likes it that way.
Mal: (entering) No. No, the difference is, the woods are the only place I can see a clear path. (to Simon) What's your business here?
Inara: It's my business. The usual. I gave the boy a free thrust, since he's not long for this world. What are you doing in my shuttle?
Mal: It's my shuttle. You rent it.
Inara: Then when I'm behind on the rent, you can enter unasked.
(Simon elbows his way out. Mal and Inara look at each other a moment.)
Mal: Thought you were leaving, anyhow.
Inara: Well I guess that depends on you.
(Mal turns and goes.)

(CARGO BAY)
(Simon is walking away, but Mal stops him.)
Mal: You'll ruin her, too, you know. (Simon turns.) This is the thing I see you're uncomprehending on. Everyone on this ship, even a 'legitimate businesswoman' like her, their lives can be snatched away because of that Fed. You got a solution for that? You got a way round?
Simon: I don't.
Mal: Comes time, someone's gonna have to deal with him. That should be you, but I don't think you got the guts. (beat) And I know you don't have the time.
Simon: What do you mean?
Mal: Kaylee's dead.
(He is steely, contained. Simon is shocked, quietly devastated. Mal turns and walks toward the bridge. A moment, and Simon starts in a daze for the infirmary, running, unable to accept it.)

(INFIRMARY)
(Simon runs in to find Kaylee sitting up a bit, talking weakly but happily with Book. Simon turns and looks out where Mal left, true shock in his eyes.)
Simon: (panting) That man's psychotic.

(BRIDGE - MOMENTS LATER)
(Mal, Wash, Jayne and Zoe are all laughing.)
Wash: You are psychotic.
Mal: No, but you should have seen his face... Oh... I'm a bad man.
Zoe: And Kaylee's really okay?
Mal: Yeah. Tell the truth, I didn't expect her to heal this quick. Doctor knows his trade, I'll give him that.
(There is a noise from a console. Wash checks it out.)
Wash: We're being hailed.
Mal: That'd be Patience. We're close enough for vid. Put her up.
(We briefly see an image on a screen, a weathered, pioneer-looking woman of about fifty.)
Patience: Malcolm Reynolds?
Mal: Hello, Patience.
Patience: I have to say I didn't look to be hearing from you anytime soon.
Mal: Well, we may not have parted on the best of terms. I realize certain words were exchanged. Also, certain... bullets. But that's air through the engine. It's past. We're business people. Besides, your days of fightin' over salvage rights are long behind you, what I hear. What are you, mayor now?
Patience: Just about. You telling the truth about that cargo? 'Cause your asking price is a bit too reasonable for that much treasure.
Mal: It's imprinted -- Alliance -- hence the discount.
Patience: Oh, government goods, huh?
Mal: That doesn't work for ya, no harm. Just thought you could use --
Patience: Alliance don't scare me. Just collating data, as they say. I like that you're up front about it. We can deal. I'll upload coordinates for a rendezvous point outside of town.
Mal: See you in the world. (He hits a button, ending the talk. He stares down at the console for a long beat.) I believe that woman's planning to shoot me again.
Jayne: She meant to pay you, she'd'a haggled you down some.
Wash: Just a little effort to hide it would've been --
(Mal shuts everybody up by knocking something off the counter. It hits the ground with a loud clang. He’s clearly pissed.)
Zoe: Sir, we don't have to deal with her.
Mal: Yes, we do.
Jayne: Here's a little concept I been workin' on. Why don't we shoot her first?
Wash: It is her turn.
Mal: That doesn't get us what we need, either.
Zoe: There's moons on this boat we ain't seen. We could try our luck --
Mal: (angrily) Our luck? (beat) You notice anything particular about our luck these past few days? Any kind of pattern? (beat) You depend on luck, you end up on the drift -- no fuel, no prospects.... beggin' for Alliance make-work. And towed out to the scrap belt. That ain't us. Not ever. Patience has got the money to pay, and she will, one way or another. There's obstacles in our path, and we're gonna deal with them. One by one.

(DOBSON'S ROOM)
(We see Dobson sawing away at his bonds with a tiny, jagged piece of metal.)
Mal: (vo) We'll get through this. We will.

(WHITEFALL)
(We're on the surface -- rocks and sagebrush jutting out of low hills. Serenity touches down, the airlock door beginning to open.)

(SERENITY - CARGO BAY)
(Zoe and Mal down the ramp. Jayne zooms past them on the mule.)

(DESERT - DAY – LATER)
(We see a small valley, dotted with brush.. Pan slowly to discover Mal and Zoe walking down into it.)
Zoe: Nice place for an ambush.
Mal: That it is.
(Behind them, Jayne arrives at a decent clip. He hands one bar from the crate to Mal.)
Jayne: I buried 'em good. The equipment's back on the boat. (into comm) Testing. Testing, Captain, can you hear me?
Mal: (deadpan) I'm standing right here.
Jayne: (into comm) You're coming through good and loud.
Mal: 'Cause I'm standing right here.
Jayne: Yeah, well... but the transmitter's...
(Mal steps forward as Jayne trails off, looking about him, the wheels in his head turning.)
Mal: All right. Patience is gonna figure we buried the cargo. Which means means putting us to our ease 'fore there's any action. She'll come at us from the east, talk the location out of us. She'll have the coin to show us first. We get it, give the location, snipers hit us from....(points) There. And there.
Jayne: You figure they're in place yet?
Mal: Should be. Feel like taking a walk around the park?
Jayne: (grinning) Sure you don't just wanna piss yourself and back down like you did with Badger?
(Mal stares at him 'til he stops smiling.)
Mal: Walk soft. I want Patience thinking they're still in place. Don't kill anyone if you don't have to. We're here to make a deal.
(Jayne takes off. Zoe and Mal look over the meeting place some more.)
Zoe: Don't think it's a good spot, sir. She still has the advantage over us.
Mal: Everyone always does. (turns back to her, smiling) That's what makes us special.

(PASSENGER DORM HALL/DOBSON'S ROOM)
(Book is there, wrestling with his conscience. He looks toward the infirmary, looks toward Dobson's room. After a moment, he heads toward the latter, stops at the door. Knocks.)
Book: Lawman, it's Shepherd Book. (He opens the door.) I believe you're in more danger than --
(Dobson slams the Shepherd in the face with something, sending him flying back into the hall. Dobson is on him in a second with a makeshift truncheon, hits him in the head viciously twice more. Now this? This is a bad man. Book slumps, unconscious. Dobson looks out to make sure no one heard. Starts dragging Book into his room.)

(DESERT – DAY)
(We are high and wide above Mal and Zoe, watching them walk across the valley. Them small, landscape big. Closer in, we track with them, moving slow. They keep their eyes peeled all ways, hands near their holsters. A ways more, and they are nearing a rise -- Over which appear Patience and her crew of six -- as they crest the hill on horseback -- all but one, who drives a vehicle not unlike the one on Serenity. They're maybe twenty yards from our two. Patience is in a weatherbeaten duster, grey hair flyblown about her face. Her men are a hodgepodge of old and modern clothes -- not quite Road Warrior, but eclectic and raggedy. One wears a shiny black top hat.)
Patience: Ah! (chuckles) Mal! How you doin', boy?
Mal: Walkin' and talkin'.
Patience: (squinting) Is that Zoe? You still sailin' with this old bum?
Zoe: Awful lot of men to haul three crates.
Patience: Yeah, well, I couldn't be sure my Mal here wouldn't be lookin' for some kinda payback. You understand.
Mal: We're just on the job, Patience. Not interested in surprises.

(RIDGE OVERLOOKING THE MEETING PLACE)
(A sniper is set to take a bead on Mal. Jayne gets the drop on him, knocks him unconscious. Grabs his rifle and takes his position. He finds a mark, smiles. It’s Mal. Jayne smiles, wicked-like.)

(SERENITY – DORM ROOM)
(Dobson busts in, moves to his suitcase. He opens it, digs in and grabs his tiny computer, turns it on. The screen has icons on it, including CONNECT TO CENTRAL CORTEX. He hits it, waits. It comes up: INTERFERENCE: UNABLE TO CONNECT. Furious, he hurls the computer against the wall, smashing it. Reaches into the bottom of his suitcase. He pulls out another gun. And another.)

(DESERT)
(The exchange continues.)
Patience: I don't see my cargo anywhere...
Mal: And you're not gonna, 'til I'm holding two hundred in platinum.
Patience: Oh, come on, Reynolds. I'm supposed to take it on faith you've got the goods?
(Mal pulls out the bar from his pocket. He tosses it to Patience. She rips the foil off to reveal what looks like one of those awful energy bars, which, by the by, is what it is. She sniffs it.)
Mal: It's pure, Patience. Genuine A-grade foodstuffs. Protein, vitamins, immunization supplements. One of those'll feed a family for a month. Longer, if they don't like their kids too well.
(She takes a tiny nibble.)
Patience: Yeah, that's the stuff. (She pulls a small bag from her pocket, tosses it to Mal.) So where's the rest?

(SERENITY – INFIRMARY)
(River wakes, sits up abruptly. True fear is on her face.)
River: Simon...
Kaylee: What's wrong, sweetie?
(River doesn't answer -- she moves to the door -- where Dobson grabs her, sticks a gun to her head.)
Dobson: Look at you, all woke up. (Kaylee starts to move -- he pulls out the other gun, points it at her.) Oh, I'm sorry about what happened before. But make so much as a sound, the next one goes through your throat.
(She looks at him with genuine horror. He pulls River back toward the dorm.)

(DESERT)
Mal: Then east half a mile, bottom of the first hill. You'll see where it's been dug.
Patience: I reckon I will.
Mal: Well then.
Patience: Yep.
(Nobody moves.)
Mal: I'd appreciate it y'all turn around and ride out first.
Patience: Well, you see, there's a kind of hitch.
Mal: Both made out on this deal. Don't complicate things.
Patience: I got a rule. I never let go of money I don't have to. Which is maybe why I'm running this little world and you're still on that dinky old boat, sniffing for scraps.
(Angle on Jayne’s POV, through the sights of the gun. Still on Mal, they now swing over to Patience and her gang as Mal tosses the money to her.)
Mal: Got the money back. There's no need for killin'.
Zoe: We're just gonna walk away, sir?
Mal: Guess that's up to Patience here. (to Patience) Could be messy.
Patience: Not terribly. (chuckles) Mal, you just ain't very bright, are you?
(Mal steps forward, nodding at one of her men.)
Mal: That's quite a rifle. Boy must be your best shot to carry that.
Patience: He's called Two-Fry. Always makes it quick and clean.
(Two-Fry smiles. He is scruffy and mean, and wears the shiny top hat.)
Mal: Two-Fry. Nice hat.
(Two-Fry is blown off his horse by a shot from the unseen Jayne. And then a lot of things happen at once, people shootin' and yellin'. Mal draws and nails a second man, Zoe a third (the one on the mule) -- as the gang opens up, a forth man blasts his shotgun, nailing Zoe right in the chest. She goes flying back -- as Mal hits shotgun man, moving, diving behind some brush cover as Patience and the remaining two fire at him, their horses rearing in panic, one of them drops off his, comes up firing, Mal and he can't really find each other through the dust at this point.)

(SERENITY – BRIDGE)
(Simon and Wash are there, talking.)
Wash: You should think about asking the captain to drop you somewhere else. Whitefall ain't exactly civilization in the strictest sense.
Simon: You don't have to worry about me.
Wash: Zoe's out on a deal, I always worry. So... it's not out of my way --
(Kaylee's voice comes over the com, weak and whispered.)
Kaylee: He took her... He took River...
(Simon bolts out of the room. Wash is about to as well, but there is a beeping -- a proximity warning. He stops, looks at his screen.)
Wash: Oh, don't. Don't you dare!

(DESERT)
(Mal's up and firing. Jayne's picking people off from the hill. Patience's men know by now they've got a sniper on 'em but they can't see where he's at.)

(SERENITY – CARGO BAY)
(Simon runs out, sees Dobson with River below, his grip on her loose right now as he looks around him, heading for the closed airlock. He hits the release button and the cargo bay doors start opening -- Simon jumps right down on top of him -- two men go tumbling, two guns go flying -- and both men lie there in extreme ouchiness, unable to get up and get the guns. River backs into a corner, wild with terror.)

(DESERT)
(Jayne is still picking off Patience's men. He takes a shot and misses. He looks up for a second.)
Jayne: (in Chinese) Asshole!
(The last man on his horse starts to ride away in panic. Zoe’s still flat on her back. Raises her gun and shoots him in the back. He falls off the still moving horse. Now it's just Patience and the one other. He fires and clips Mal in the arm -- Mal returns in kind, blasting his hip. The other guy goes down, screaming in pain. Patience has her shotgun propped on the saddle, using her horse for cover. Mal stands, no longer moving or hiding.)
Mal: (grunting in pain) Zoe?
Zoe: (grunting, also in pain) Armor's dented.
(She pulls at her shirt -- there is a beat up kind of thin Kevlar underneath.)
Mal: Well, you were right about this being a bad idea.
Zoe: Thanks for sayin', sir.
Patience: Mal, don't you take another step --
(Mal fires. Her horse rears, falls half on top of her. Mal stalks forward, shoves his gun right up in Patience's face.)
Mal: Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character so let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job.(He takes the money back.) And then I get paid.
(He moves his gun from her face.) Go run your little world.
(Jayne runs up to him and Zoe, panicky and out of breath.)
Jayne: Mal! It's Wash! We got a ship coming in. They followed us. The gorram Reavers followed us!
(Everyone still alive looks scared.)

(SPACE)
(The Reaver ship whips past camera, heading towards Whitefall.)

(SERENITY – CARGO BAY)
(Dobson lunges for his gun -- and Simon throws himself on top of him. They can both barely stand from their crash before. They struggle in ugly fashion, until Dobson gets an elbow free and jerks it into Simon's face. He gets free enough to crawl for the weapon, but Simon rolls around and grabs the other one, points it.)
Simon: No, don't! Don't move!
Wash: (on the com) Reavers! Reavers incoming and headed straight for us. We are in the air in one minute.

(BRIDGE)
Wash: (to himself) I guess they got hungry again.
(He starts warming the ship up.)

(CARGO BAY)
(Simon holds the gun on Dobson. His hand shakes.)
Dobson: You gonna do that? You gonna kill a lawman in cold blood. I know what you did for your sister. I understand. It doesn't make you a killer. (A barely conscious Book comes to the entrance, holding onto it to stay up.) I don't wanna hurt anybody. I have a job to do. To uphold the law -- that's what we're talking about here.

(SPACE)
(The Reaver ship breaks into atmo, headed down to the planet.)

(SERENITY – BRIDGE)
(Wash is getting more and more freaked.)
Wash: Come on, come on.... (into walkie) Where the hell are you guys?!?

(DESERT)
(We see Mal, Zoe and Jayne ride into frame on horseback, moving just as fast as they can.)

(SERENITY – CARGO BAY)
(Dobson, still on the floor with Simon holding a gun on him.)
Dobson: There's nowhere you can take her the law won't find. Nobody is going to hurt her. Unless you hurt me.
(He tries to stand. Simon panics.)
Simon: No, I said -- I said don't-don't move!
Dobson: It's your call.
(Simon doesn't know what to do. He looks over at River.)

(DESERT)
(Mal, Zoe, and Jayne ride up to the ship.)

(CARGO BAY/AIRLOCK)
(The airlock starts to open, the noise and motion distracting Simon long enough for Dobson to grab his gun and fire. He misses but sends Simon diving for cover. Inara comes out of her shuttle, seeing the trouble below as Dobson grabs River and puts himself behind her, gun to her head.)
Dobson: I'm not playing anymore.

(OUTSIDE SERENITY)
(The three pull up on their horses, and jump off. Mal strides into the cargo bay as the others shoo the horses off.)

(CARGO BAY/AIRLOCK)
(Mal walks in behind Simon.)
Dobson: Anybody makes so much as a --
(Mal shoots Dobson without a word. He flies back, letting go of River and dead before he lands. Tilt up from him to see Book, unable to move. Mal stalks toward the body, crouching over him to make sure he's dead. Zoe and Jayne appear behind him, walking up the ramp.)
Mal: Jayne!
(Grinning, Jayne jogs up beside Mal. Simon finally lowers his gun and moves to River, shocked and silent. River makes panicky, frightened noises.)
Zoe: (into com) Wash! We're on!
(Zoe hits the button and the cargo bay starts to close. Mal and Jayne pick up Dobson like a rag doll, running him across the cargo bay and tossing him off the closing ramp. Jayne and Mal run back in, narrowly missing the closing airlock doors.)

(BRIDGE - MOMENTS LATER)
(Mal and Zoe come up to Wash, Jayne close behind.)
Mal: How close are they?
Wash: About twenty seconds from spitting distance.
Jayne: Well, lose 'em!
Mal: (to Zoe) Give me rear vid.
(She punches it up. On the screen, we see the ship approaching from behind.)
Zoe: (in Chinese) We're in big trouble.
Mal: (to Wash) How close do they need to be to fire those grapples?
Jayne: C'mon, Wash, you dumbass, dodge 'em!
Wash: If everybody could just be quiet a moment... (He's incredibly calm. He veers hard, weaving through the hills, but the Reavers are right on them.) I need Kaylee in the engine room please.
Zoe: Can she even --
Mal: (to Jayne) Get her in there. Now.
(Jayne goes, passing Inara in the hall.)

(FOREDECK HALL)
Mal: I want you to get in your shuttle. Get the civilians, be ready to go.
Inara: We can't just leave you here.
Mal: Thought that was the plan.
Inara: Mal, don't do this --
Mal: We get boarded, you take off, head for town. We might be able to stop them from following.
Inara: They'll kill you.
Mal: Inara. (Just saying her name says more than he probably ever meant to. He puts his hand on her shoulder.
And pushes her gently away.) Go.
(He turns back to the bridge. She is going as well, throws a look back.)

(BRIDGE)
(Mal moves back to Wash's side, puts a hand on his shoulder.)
Mal: How we doing?
Wash: (droll) I don't mean to alarm anybody... but I think... we're being followed.

(INFIRMARY)
(Jayne is carrying Kaylee out as Inara enters. She speaks to Simon, River and Book.)
Inara: You three. Come with me.
Book: I think I can help Kaylee out.
Simon: Should I --
Book: (re: River) Take her. Keep her safe.
(Book and Inara share a glance before they go their separate ways.)

(BRIDGE)
(Wash flies.)
Mal: Can't keep this up, they get a bead, they're gonna lock us down.
Wash: (into com) Kaylee, how we doing?

(ENGINE ROOM)
(Kaylee is propped up in a corner, Jayne and Book at the ready.)
Wash: (on com) Gonna need a little push here.
Kaylee: You want me to go for full burn?
Wash: (on com) Not just yet, but set it up.
Kaylee: (to Book) You know where the press regulator is? (He looks about, heads to a part of the engine, points at a panel. Kaylee smiles.) Head of the class.
(She coughs, wincing in pain.)

(INARA'S SHUTTLE)
(Inara is settling into the pilot's seat, Simon and River behind her.)
Kaylee: (on com) We're ready for full burn on your mark.

(BRIDGE)
Zoe: Full burn in atmo? That won't cause a blowback? Burn us out?
Mal: Even if it doesn't, they can push just as hard, keep right on us. (beat) Wash, you gotta give me an Ivan.
Wash: I'll see what I can do. (into com) Kaylee, how would you feel about pulling a Crazy Ivan?

(ENGINE ROOM)
Kaylee: Always wanted to try one. Jayne. Open the port jet control. Cut the hydraulics.
Jayne: Where the hell is --
Kaylee: Look. Look! Look where I'm pointing. (He does, opens a panel near the floor.) Okay. Now it's real simple.
(We see that inside the panel is a tangled mess of cables. Yeah. Real simple.)

(DESERT)
(The reaver ship has Serenity locked in. The magnetic grappler warms up, latches flying off.)

(BRIDGE)
(Zoe watches the Reaver ship out of a porthole.)
Zoe: They're on us.
Wash: (into com) Kaylee...?
(Mal and Zoe are real tense, Wash still preternaturally calm.)
Mal: (muttering) C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon...
(No answer from Kaylee. Then.)
Kaylee: (on com) Okay.
Wash: Everybody hold on to something. (softly, to the reavers) Here's something you can't do...
(He SLAMS down a lever and…)

(DESERT)
(Serenity's port jet flips the other way and the ship LURCHES into a perfect one-eighty, spinning on a dime, the jet flips back and it's headed straight for the reaver ship, which dodges at the last second.)

(BRIDGE)
Wash: (into com) NOW!

(ENGINE ROOM)
(Book hits a button, Jayne pulls on a lever, and suddenly the engine turns faster, glows real bright.)

(DESERT)
(As the ass-end of serenity lights up, sending ripples of fire bursting into the atmosphere as the ship blasts out of there fast, gradually arcing up toward space.)

(BRIDGE)
(Wash is pulling up at the controls with all his might. Finally he eases off, quietly pleased. Mal and Zoe are kind of amazed.)
Mal: Knew I hired you for somethin'.

(ENGINE ROOM)
(Jayne looks around, pumps his fist in the air.)
Jayne: Whoo! Woo-hoo!

(BRIDGE)
(Zoe leans over the back of Wash's chair.)
Zoe: Ain't no way we they can come around in time to follow us now.
(Mal hits the com.)
Mal: We're good, people.

(INARA'S SHUTTLE)
(Extreme, solemn relief.)
Mal: (on com) We're out of the woods.

(ENGINE ROOM)
(Jayne whoops with delight. Even Book smiles. Kaylee runs her hand along the hull.)
Jayne: Woo-hoo-hoo! Yeah! Kaylee: That's my girl... That's m
y good girl.
(She looks at the boys and beams.)

(BRIDGE)
Wash: (to Mal) We should have just enough left in us to hit a fuel station. We'll need to do some patching up. I hope we got aid today.
Mal: We did.
(Zoe exchanges a look with Wash.)
Zoe: Sir? I'd like you to take the helm, please. (re: Wash) I need this man to tear all my clothes off.
(Mal says nothing, just smiles and indicates the way out. Wash climbs out of the chair and exits with Zoe.)
Wash: Work, work, work...
(And Mal throws himself down into the pilot's seat. Lets out a breath he's been holding for, oh, about two days. And starts flying.)

(SPACE)
(Serenity breaks out of atmosphere into the deep silence of space.)

(INARA'S CHAMBER)
(Book sits as Inara takes a cloth from a bowl and dabs his head. He is sitting, she stands before him.)
Inara: You should really have the young doctor look at this.
Book: It's not so bad.
Inara: Well, I'm sure you'll be fine.
Book: I didn't say that. (He looks up at her and she sees how upset he is, how lost.) Is this what life is, out here?
Inara: Sometimes.
Book: I've been out of the abbey two days, I've beaten a lawman senseless, I've fallen in with criminals. I watched the captain shoot the man I swore to protect. (beat) And I'm not even sure if I think he was wrong.
Inara: Shepherd...
(He is shaking a bit, tearing up.)
Book: I believe I just... (a pained smile) I think I'm on the wrong ship.
Inara: Maybe. Or maybe you're exactly where you ought to be.
(He lowers his head. She puts her hand on it, a kind of benediction. We hold on them a second.)

(SIMON'S ROOM)
(He is tucking River into bed.)
Simon: The shot I gave you will help you sleep.
River: I slept for so long...
Simon: Just a little while. Then we'll find a place. We'll find a safe place.
(He's not convinced, but he smiles at her anyway. She looks suddenly terribly sad.)
River: I didn't think you'd come for me.
Simon: (welling up) Well, you're a dummy.
(He takes her in his arms, holds her tight.)
Jayne: (vo) The girl's a problem.

(BRIDGE – LATER)
(Mal is still at the helm as Jayne speaks to him.)
Jayne: The lawman said they'd keep looking for her. Something about her brain being all special. Important to the Alliance brass. Sooner we dump them two, the better.
Mal: Suppose so. (Jayne gets up to leave.) Funny how the lawman got out of his room. You having tied him up so well and all.
Jayne: I didn't have nothing to do with that. Anyway it all turned out just fine. Buzzards're the only ones gonna find him...
Mal: But he did try to make a deal with you, right? (He looks at Jayne, who says nothing.) How come you didn't turn on me, Jayne?
Jayne: Money wasn't good enough.
Mal: What happens when it is?
Jayne: (smiling) Well... that'll be an interesting day.
Mal: Imagine it will.
(Jayne leaves, rudely bumping into Simon, who is on his way in. Simon comes up next to Mal. He sees Mal's arm is a bit bloody.)
Simon: You need me to look at that?
Mal: Just a graze.
Simon: (a beat, then) So, where do you plan on dumping us?
Mal: There's places you might be safe. You want the truth, though, you're probably safer on the move. (turns to him) And we never stop moving.
Simon: I'm confused. No wait, I -- I think maybe you're confused.
Mal: It may have become apparent to you that the ship could use a medic. You ain't weak. I don't know how bright you are, top three percent, but you ain't weak and that's not nothing. You live by my rule, you keep your sister from doing anything crazy, you could maybe find a place here. 'Til you find a better.
Simon: I'm trying to put this as delicately as I can... How do I know you won't kill me in my sleep?
Mal: You don't know me, son. So let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed.
Simon: (smiles) Are you always this sentimental?
Mal: Had a good day.
Simon: You had the Alliance on you, criminals and savages... half the people on the ship have been shot or wounded including yourself, and you're harboring known fugitives.
(Mal looks out at the black sky.)
Mal: We're still flying.
Simon: That's not much.
(Mal answers, almost to himself.)
Mal: It's enough.
(A beat, then Simon goes. Mal just keeps looking ahead.)

BLACK OUT.