I had it almost done, posted it, and IT DISSAPPEARED. Now I have to start over again. cry
Favorite quote:
MAL (cont'd)
Jayne.
JAYNE
They all just stare at him.
ZOE
Let me find a medic.
JAYNE
Thanks.
Firefly
"Dead or Alive"
Episode #: 1AGE06
Story #:
Written by: Cheryl Cain
Directed by: Marita Grabiak
WRITERS DRAFT: August 16, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEASER
EXT. SERENITY RAMP - NIGHT
A motley group of immigrant workers walk down the ramp onto the dirt of a border planet. MAL and an equally motley bulbous man, the CASHIER, count them as they walk off.
MAL
Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen.
Seventeen.
CASHIER
(bored)
Sixteen.
MAL
Hey, that beefy guy easily ate enough
for two.
CASHIER
Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen.
Mal points to a skinny guy off to the side of a larger guy.
MAL
I believe we're up to nineteen.
CASHIER
He was number seven.
MAL
Guess you could be right. Must've
forgot his knapsack. Eighteen.
ZOE follows the last two guys down the ramp.
CASHIER
Nineteen. Twenty.
MAL
And done.
The cashier hands Mal a wad of bills. Mal starts to count it.
MAL (cont'd)
Not that I don't trust you... but I
don't trust you.
Mal counts the last bill. Looks at the Cashier. Beat. The Cashier gives him two more bills. Grumbles, ambles off.
ZOE
Ever full with the customer
relations, sir.
MAL
He works for the Alliance.
ZOE
And we worked for him which would
technically mean we also worked for
the Alliance.
MAL
Yep. Have to say not unhappy to be
makin' a buck off 'em.
ZOE
Ah, change is good. The crew?
MAL
Like the makin' money off the
Alliance bit, but really don't want
to push it by takin' part in their
celebratin'... makes me all twitchy.
Zoe just looks at him.
MAL
Fine, but --
KAYLEE comes running down the ramp. Followed by JAYNE and BOOK.
KAYLEE
We're goin' to the fair.
MAL
An hour. Sixty minutes. Nothing
more, nothing less, Miss Kaylee.
KAYLEE
No need to do a flippy-hiss, Capt'n.
We gotcha.
Mal gives her money. Then Jayne and Book.
MAL
Don't spend it all in one place.
Kaylee puts one arm through Book, another through Jayne.
KAYLEE
You can win me stuff.
BOOK
My pleasure. Always have enjoyed
guessing games.
JAYNE
Nope. I win it. I keep it.
Mal hands money to Wash. Wash swings his arm around Zoe's shoulders.
WASH
Let's go get us some of those curly
carrots. Love 'em deep fried.
Wash starts to move her off. Zoe stops him, turns to Mal.
ZOE
Capt'n?
WASH
(dropping his arm)
Yeah, dad. Can we go? Promise to be
home before midnight.
Zoe gives him a look.
MAL
Go. Wouldn't want to be responsible
for cold curly carrots.
ZOE
Thanks, sir.
They move off. Not quite as happily as before. Mal, money in hand, turns to the next person in line. It's INARA.
MAL
(bit awkward)
Guess I'm not giving you money.
INARA
No.
MAL
(smilin')
Well, unless there'd be some kind of
benefit for the exchange of said
money...
INARA
Definitely, no.
MAL
Then I suppose the least I can do is
escort you to the fair.
INARA
How adolescent... and charming of you.
They start to walk off when Mal notices SIMON at the top of the ramp. Mal approaches him.
MAL
Hey.
SIMON
River has never been to a fair and
she hasn't had a chance to do much
that is fun in awhile...
MAL
Alliance jail could be fun.
SIMON
Of course, I just, had to ask. For
River. She'll understand.
MAL
(beat)
Sure.
Mal moves back down the ramp to Inara.
INARA
Everything okay?
MAL
Kids wanted to go to the fair.
They step away. PULL BACK AND UP to the windows of the bridge where RIVER wistfully looks out.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FAIR - NIGHT
It's a wonderland of lights, tents, games, a carnival atmosphere. The fair's splayed out in a field in front of a large factory. A mixed crowd of border folk and Alliance meander the festivities. Kaylee with a coiled-shaped cotton candy walks into frame alongside Book.
KAYLEE
You shouldn't feel bad you didn't
guess the fat lady's weight. I
actually thought it was quite sweet
to drop fifty pounds.
BOOK
Seemed a wise choice.
KAYLEE
She was an awfully big lady.
(spinning)
Don't you just love a fair?
BOOK
(chuckling)
Have you always been this happy?
KAYLEE
From the day I was born'd. Seems
like on all the choices, happy just
belonged to me.
They pass;
JAYNE
Who's throwing darts at the last yellow balloon left on a game wall. Five unsuccessful darts surround the balloon. Jayne steadies, carefully throws his last dart. It misses.
JAYNE
Gorramn it!
Jayne pulls out his knife and just skewers the last balloon. The vendor quickly hands him the big prize, a green fuzzy TURTLE, then struggles to pull out Jayne's knife. Jayne happily admires his turtle. Passing him are;
ZOE AND WASH
Wash eats from a carton of fried curly carrots.
WASH
Just sayin' that every once in awhile
it'd be nice to not have to clear
every single thing.
ZOE
For the last time, he's the Captain.
WASH
Let out some of the starch, darling.
You're not in the military anymore.
ZOE
It's not that, it's...
WASH
Yeah, yeah. Who you are. The code.
They pass;
MAL AND INARA
Inara has her eyes closed and a plastic ring in her hand. In front of her in a booth is a SPINNING BALL with lots of long pointy sticks attached. Mal next to her, guides her arm.
INARA
Why do I have to close my eyes?
MAL
Makes it more challenging.
Inara tosses the ring. It almost nails the vendor who's helping someone else on the other side. Inara opens her eyes.
INARA
How'd I do?
MAL
Perhaps challenging was not the best
place to start.
Mal picks up a few rings. Tosses one. He makes it.
INARA
I do end up doing the most
interesting things with... since I
came aboard Serenity.
MAL
Now you can't tell me that an
attractive lady like yourself has
never been escorted to a fair?
INARA
(laughing)
They weren't quite the thing where I
was raised.
Mal stops, not loving that comment, then tosses another ring. Makes it again.
MAL
Poor little Inara, not allowed to get
her hands dirty with us common folk.
INARA
(taken aback)
That's not what I --
(Mal throws another)
I guess not everyone's lucky enough
to fulfill their lifelong dream of
becoming an expert ring tosser.
Inara stalks off. Mal drops the rest of the rings on the edge. Follows her. Doggin' her steps.
MAL
Where I was raised, we'd celebrate
the foundin' of Shadow with a fair,
just like this one. That is until
the Alliance outlawed our quaint
celebration. It was a little against
unification spirit. Guess your folk
wouldn't mind though, with it not
exactly being "quite the thing."
They've stopped near a stage where an Alliance mucky-muck, COMMANDER TANAKA, dedicates the new factory. A large banner hangs above him, ALLIANCE REWARDS THOSE WHO REWARD THEMSELVES.
TANAKA
Thanks to the good Alliance people of
Verbena, our gear shift factory is
opening ten days ahead of schedule.
The crowd around the stage CHEERS. Mal claps, HOLLERS.
MAL
Oh, yeah. Let's all hear it for the
good Alliance.
INARA
Mal.
MAL
Just being supportive. Oh, sorry,
did that offend you. You probably
supported 'em in the war.
Inara doesn't say anything. Mal stares at her.
MAL (cont'd)
Guess we really aren't "quite the
thing", are we?
Kaylee races up, pulls on Inara's sleeve.
KAYLEE
You have to come see the tattoo guy.
His tattoos keep changin' colors.
There's this one it's a sunrise.
(looking at them)
Am I interruptin'?
INARA
No.
MAL
Wouldn't touch those tattoos if I
were you, be a shame if you got your
hands all dirty.
Inara lets Kaylee drag her off. Mal turns back to Tanaka.
TANAKA
Verbena was scarcely surviving,
barely more than a piece of barren
rock, but now with the Alliance
factory opening you and your families
will be able to lead full and
satisfying lives.
MAL
Mal turns and runs right into, LIEUTENANT QUILLAN, 40's, tough female head of security on this planet.
MAL (cont'd)
(fake cheerleader)
Go Alliance.
He turns to quickly leave when;
BOOOOOOM!!!
The factory spectacularly blows up. A huge fireball goes into the sky and shards of metal and wreckage are strewn into the crowd. The force of the explosion knocking people to the ground, including Mal.
END OF TEASER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT ONE
EXT. FAIR - NIGHT
Mal struggles to his feet a bit dazed. Carnage all around. People crying, screaming, bleeding. Parents desperately hunt for their children among the smoke and wreckage.
Mal starts moving, searching the devastation for his people. Like everyone else his clothing is dirty, bits of ash, debris on it. Finally sees Inara laying on the ground on her side. Rushes over to her.
MAL
Inara.
She moves, stunned but unhurt, starts to sit up. Mal helps her.
MAL (cont'd)
Are you okay?
INARA
Yeah. You?
MAL
Fine.
INARA
What happened?
(quickly looks around)
Kaylee? Kaylee!
KAYLEE (O.S.)
I'm here.
They both turn. A dazed Kaylee walks up. Kneels down next to both of them. Hugs Inara. Inara looks up at Mal.
INARA
The others?
MAL
I don't know.
CUT TO:
EXT. FAIR - CONTINUOUS
Over near a decimated tent, Zoe and Wash help each other stand, brush each other off. Speechless as they soak in everything around them.
WASH
Sure you're okay?
ZOE
(trying to smile)
Think we lost your curly carrots.
Wash puts an arm around her shoulders, leans into her.
WASH
You can always buy me more.
Zoe leans back into Wash, thankful.
WASH (cont'd)
What the hell happened?
ZOE
Concussion bomb. Probably tied into
the factory's power grid. Local
remote trigger.
WASH
Okay. Thanks. Doesn't make me feel
better.
ZOE
We need to find everyone else.
Wash nods. They move out.
CUT TO:
EXT. FAIR - CONTINUOUS
Jayne sits up, knocks a couple pieces of burnt wood off himself. The turtle, a bit singed, sits in Jayne's lap. Jayne's hand clutched around it.
JAYNE
Jayne stands. His turtle's neck took a hit, it's a bit floppy with stuffing coming out. Jayne pushes the stuffing back in. Tucks the turtle under his arm, starts moving.
CUT TO:
EXT. FAIR - CONTINUOUS
Mal and Kaylee help Inara stand. Zoe and Wash come up behind. Mal turns to them.
MAL
We need to get out of here.
ZOE
Sir?
WASH
Thanks, no really we're good. Fine.
A little bruised. You?
MAL
This place is going to be crawling
with Alliance security.
He glances at Inara and Kaylee.
MAL (cont'd)
Head back to the ship. We'll find
Book and --
Jayne approaches, turtle in hand. Holds it up.
MAL (cont'd)
Jayne.
JAYNE
singed my turtle.
They all just stare at him.
ZOE
Let me find a medic.
JAYNE
Thanks.
Kaylee looks around at all the wreckage, sees bodies not moving, crying children, so much destruction. A man, AZURIA CALVERT, 50's, farmer-type hugs his dead wife. Kaylee turns to Mal.
KAYLEE
Who would do this?
MAL
Not for us to find out.
Mal nods at Inara.
INARA
(to Kaylee)
Time to go.
Kaylee lets herself be led away. Mal turns to Wash.
MAL
Go with 'em.
WASH
Yeah, I know. Get the ship ready to
fly. Copy.
Wash with one last glance at Zoe, follows Kaylee and Inara. He catches up with Kaylee, puts his arm around her.
Mal looks around, finally sees Book. Book's picked up a man's shoulders and is dragging him toward a large tent being used as a triage center. Mal jogs over to him, grabs the man's feet, walks with Book.
BOOK
Thanks.
MAL
No problem.
They walk into;
INT. TRIAGE TENT - CONTINUOUS
Where people are trying to help the injured. Mostly confusion at this point. Book and Mal set the guy on a table. A woman comes over to check him out. Mal and Book step aside.
MAL
We need to be leavin'.
Book shakes his head.
BOOK
There's work to be done here.
MAL
In case you've forgotten, Shepherd,
we've got two Alliance fugitives on
our ship.
BOOK
(pointing behind Mal)
Afraid not anymore.
Mal turns. Simon's rushed inside carrying his medical bag. He moves over to a groaning man, starts shouting orders as he examines the man.
SIMON
We need to categorize the injuries,
identify the most critical.
A woman rushes over to Simon as he starts pulling things out of his bag.
MAL
Son of!
Zoe comes up behind Mal.
ZOE
Sir?
Mal nods toward Simon
MAL
Looks like we're stayin' a bit.
BOOK
Good. We can use the help.
Book moves toward the entrance to the tent. Mal looks at Zoe, then follows.
EXT. FAIR - NIGHT - LATER
Mal and Zoe clean off their hands at a pump water faucet. A crowd mills around the open area. Some trying to clean-up, some still moving wreckage. But many just angry and frustrated.
MAL
Simon should be done in a couple of
hours. As soon as he is we're outta
here.
ZOE
Captain.
Zoe nudges Mal. An officious Alliance officer, CORPORAL GRAYSON, 20's, comlink in hand, quickly moves toward Lt. Quillan.
GRAYSON
We ran the manifest from the factory
through the cortex and flagged one of
the workers. Suspicious background.
Quillan takes the comlink. Looks at an image of, DECLAN EVERTON, late 20's, a few paragraphs of text next to the image. Quillan quickly scans it.
QUILLAN
Independent in the war. Let's bring
him in.
GRAYSON
We're searching for him now.
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
An independent did this?
Quillan spins around. She didn't realize the crowd had come so close to her. An ANGRY LOCAL stands right behind her. The crowd is pressing up behind him.
ANGRY LOCAL
Who is it?
QUILLAN
Not your business.
ANGRY LOCAL
Not our business? This is our town.
These were our people.
QUILLAN
(to Grayson)
Reinforcements.
Grayson moves off. Quillan turns back to the crowd.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
Alliance justice will handle this man.
ANGRY LOCAL
It's one of those gorramn brown
coats, right?
CROWD VOICE #1
Had to be from the factory.
CROWD VOICE #2
That guy, working electric, he never
drank with us.
QUILLAN
Settle down!
CROWD VOICE #1
Yeah, too good for us. Lyin' sack
of --
CROWD VOICE #2
Saw 'im at the saloon.
The crowd starts surging.
QUILLAN
(shouting) Stop it. Now. Stop!
The angry local just pushes past her.
ANGRY LOCAL
Out of our way.
The mob surges with the angry local.
MAL AND ZOE
Watch from the side. They talk quietly.
MAL
This is gettin' ugly.
ZOE
What do you want to do?
MAL
Grab Simon. It's time to go.
As the crowd moves all around them. Mal and Zoe quietly walk toward the triage tent. They pass a group of bodies.
Azuria touches his wife's face, unable to believe she's gone, kisses her forehead, not even paying attention to the commotion all around him. SHOUTS ring out. Azuria looks up.
CROWD VOICE #1
We've got 'em.
More SHOUTS are heard as the crowd surges closer to;
MAL AND ZOE
Who've stopped moving. They fade into the background. The surging crowd drags a man past them. The guy wears a brown coat similar to Mal's. Zoe and Mal look at each other.
The mob drops the guy in the middle of the crowd. They angry local kicks him.
ANGRY LOCAL
Murderous independent.
Azuria breaks through the crowd, pushes the angry local to the side and just starts whaling on the independent.
BANG! Lt. Quillan shoots her gun into the air. Grayson and a couple of armed Alliance soldiers are with her.
QUILLAN
The next person to touch that man is
dead.
The crowd and Azuria reluctantly back away from the barely breathing man. Quillan reholsters her gun, grabs some papers from Grayson, weeds through the people. Gets to the guy, bends down, turns him over. He's a mess.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
(to crowd)
It's not him.
Quillan stands. The crowd starting to quiet.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
We know who the culprit is and he's
no longer in town. He's taken a land
shuttle.
She nods to her soldiers who pick up the mistaken guy and move him out of the crowd.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
There's a bounty for whoever captures
this guy. <$10,000> But he has to
be brought in alive. If anyone harms
the target they'll face Alliance
justice.
Mal snorts at that. Zoe elbows him to be quiet.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
Every available ship in port is now
under my control. Alliance personnel
and volunteers will be assigned to
each in order to go after and
apprehend the target. Captains
please report to Corporal Grayson.
A couple of men head over to Grayson. Mal and Zoe share a look. Quillan walks straight up to Mal.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
Captain Reynolds.
MAL
Yep.
QUILLAN
I'll be going with you.
MAL
(beat)
Shiny.
Quillan hands him a piece of paper.
QUILLAN
Our target. Have your ship ready to
go by oh-one-hundred.
She walks back to Grayson. Mal glances down at the picture.
ZOE
We can tell them we're grounded.
Kaylee can fake a problem with the
engines. Shouldn't be that hard.
MAL
Pissin' hell!
ZOE
Sir?
He nudges her. Shows her the picture of Declan.
ZOE (cont'd)
It's Private Everton.
MAL
(beat)
Guess we're going a'posseing.
Mal crumbles up the paper. Throws it on the ground.
END OF ACT ONE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT TWO
EXT. SERENITY RAMP - NIGHT
Mal speaks with Inara, who has River next to her.
MAL
Don't talk to anyone.
INARA
Thanks, Mal. I think I've got that
covered.
MAL
Okay, fine. But don't let moonpie
talk to anyone, either. You think
you can handle these guys but... just
don't let your guard down.
Inara bristles a bit, but then River motions Mal over to her, like she has a secret.
MAL (cont'd)
Yeah?
RIVER
Purple elephants are flying.
MAL
Good. Thanks for the update.
Lt. Quillan approaches. Mal turns to Inara.
MAL (cont'd)
The Alliance has assured us the delay
won't be too long, Miss.
Inara nods, starts walking River down, her hand on River's arm. Quillan stops her as they pass.
QUILLAN
My apologies for the inconvenience.
INARA
It's no problem. I hope you catch
the monster responsible.
QUILLAN
We will.
RIVER
(happily)
I'm going to the fair.
Quillan looks at her strangely. Mal steps up, motions Inara and River down.
MAL
If you'll stop bothering my paying
customers, we can be off.
QUILLAN
There'll be three others joining us.
Two skeevy looking bounty hunters, JONAH, a talker, and MATHER, a grunter, come up. Jonah checks out Serenity.
JONAH
Well, shoot, doubt this piece of
rustin' dust would be able to find a
stick of dynamite up a donkey's a**.
MAL
Well, lucky for us there's no donkeys
on this planet.
They move into the cargo bay as Azuria comes up. Azuria doesn't even look at them. Just walks up and into the cargo bay. His big SHOTGUN strapped to his back.
MAL (cont'd)
(to Quillan)
Fun group. Better be able to control
'em. They disrupt my ship and I'm
tossing 'em off.
QUILLAN
I don't need to remind you, Captain,
who's in charge here.
MAL
Never had no doubts about that.
QUILLAN
We're checking the northern sector.
I'll give your pilot the coordinates.
Quillan walks up. Mal looks around, then follows.
INT. TRIAGE TENT - NIGHT
In a quiet corner, Book prays over an elderly male body. Beat. Pulls the sheet over his head. Then moves onto the next body. There's a whole row of them.
PULL BACK to see the energy and flurry all around of people trying to save lives. It's a hodgepodge of folks. Most not really knowing what they're doing, but trying. They're making due with whatever they can find.
Simon's the only one with any real triage experience. He's currently bandaging a drooping man around his ribs. He sees;
INARA AND RIVER
Enter the tent. River races over to him.
RIVER
Simon. Simon. The fair.
Inara quickly approaches.
INARA
(to Simon)
I'm sorry. I didn't think anywhere
else was safe.
SIMON
No, it's fine.
RIVER
Cotton candy. Play. Play!
Simon glances at some Alliance soldiers helping others over against a far wall. Simon grabs Inara's hand. Places it on the bandage.
SIMON
Hold this steady, firm.
INARA
(uncertain)
Okay.
Simon leads River over to a quiet corner. Simon sits her down. River drops down cross-legged on the dirt.
SIMON
Please, River. Wait here.
RIVER
Pretty blue ocean. Waves crashed.
Castle all knocked down.
SIMON
You have to be quiet, good. Please.
It's important.
River smiles. Starts playing. Running her fingers through the dirt, making circular patterns. Simon watches her for a beat. Then moves back to Inara.
SIMON (cont'd)
Thank you.
INARA
What should I do?
Simon hands her a roll of bandages.
SIMON
Tie it off.
INARA
Simon, I'm good with anatomy, but not
like this...
SIMON
You'll do fine.
(off her unsure look)
Will you do fine?
INARA
Sure.
Simon nods, then starts cleaning his tools to go onto the next patient. Inara starts awkwardly to finish the bandage. A flurry at the tent pulls both their eyes.
Two Alliance soldiers with Grayson hovering next to them bring in a stretcher.
GRAYSON
Doctor!
SIMON
Over here.
Simon points to the empty table next to Inara. They bring over the stretcher. Set it down. It's Commander Tanaka. He's issuing orders even though he's in great pain. His arms wrapped around his stomach.
TANAKA
Grayson, update.
GRAYSON
(to Simon)
They just got him free, the wreckage
had him trapped.
TANAKA
Now!
Grayson rushes off. Simon worried, looks over to River, who still quietly plays, then to Inara. Inara shares his look. Not sure what to do. They hear the RUMBLE as;
EXT. TOWN - NIGHT - EFFECT
A shiny Alliance shuttle rises. Followed by three spaceships of various shapes and sizes, none of them particularly elegant or new. The final lift-off is Serenity. All the ships going off in different directions.
INT. SERENITY BRIDGE - NIGHT
Wash flies, checks his controls in the background while Mal and Zoe discuss.
ZOE
Everton... come on, he was so by
the book he'd get upset if I pissed
without getting your approval to
leave.
MAL
Remember when he wanted to write up
Winters because he wouldn't shave.
ZOE
Well, it was a pretty stupid lookin'
mustache.
MAL
Yeah, only time I ever agreed with
him. Just like the Alliance to want
to convict a man with no evidence.
ZOE
We need to reach him first.
MAL
If we don't, he's gonna be railroaded
or worse, dead, if that lynch mob
gets to him.
Quillan enters. Zoe goes to check on Wash.
Mal (cont'd)
Lieutenant. Anything yet from the
other ships?
QUILLAN
No.
MAL
(all conversational)
So, do you guys have anything on this
guy other than he was an independent?
QUILLAN
I have my men checking other leads,
but to be honest Captain, this feels
right.
MAL
Really? And you deduced that by some
sort of intuition...
QUILLAN
I deduced that by the fact that he
ran.
MAL
Sure. Gotcha. Good logic. Seems
all matter of smart...
(beat)
Course, guess I'd run too if I had a
herd of yokels lookin' to beat the
horses' snot out of me.
Quillan checks out Mal's brown coat.
QUILLAN
You're an independent.
MAL
Was called that at one time.
Loaded stare. Then Quillan gets a BEEP from her comlink. She takes it off her belt. Reads it.
QUILLAN
They've found a trail.
Mal shares a look with Zoe.
INT. SERENITY DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Jayne sits at the table with Jonah and Mather. They're comparing weapons. Jayne has out his big-a** gun. Jonah's more sleek, shiny while Mather has a wicked looking energy powered crossbow. They all ignore Azuria who sits in the corner. Jonah lifts Jayne's gun.
JONAH
Nice heft.
JAYNE
You should see the hole it can make
in a man.
Jayne holds his hands five inches apart.
JONAH
Sweet. But for pure accuracy can't
beat my compressed airgun. Cut clean
through a roach's butt at hundred
yards. Course, not as pretty as
Mather's.
Jonah picks up the crossbow, tosses it to Jayne. Kaylee walks in, ignores the boasting at the table and goes to get herself some coffee.
JONAH (cont'd)
Nuclear power pack, 200 psi, titanium
arrows, go through ten inches steel.
JAYNE
Could work. Personally, I would've
gone with the T4 model at 300 psi,
but it'll get the job done.
Mather GRUNTS. Kaylee sees Azuria, walks over to him.
KAYLEE
Did they offer you any coffee? It's
a bit sludgy and gross-tasting, but
the punch'll keep ya goin' till dawn.
Azuria doesn't look up as he talks.
AZURIA
No, thank you.
KAYLEE
Um, okay.
Kaylee turns to go, but turns back. Heart on her sleeve.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
I saw you. At the fair, well, after
the fair, after the... I'm so sorry.
Was that your --
AZURIA
No, thank you.
KAYLEE
Okay, you don't want to talk, I don't
blame you, but if you ever feel like
you do --
AZURIA
No.
Beat, then Kaylee moves away. Cues in on what's being said at the table.
JONAH
So, me and Mather, all into this
factory gig, just came in on a ship
yesterday. Couldn't be as bad as
some other we've done
before. But now that job's all and
done.
JAYNE
(shakin' his head)
Can never depend on no job.
Mather just GRUNTS again.
JONAH
But then this bounty thing came up
and hey, I can shoot. This could be
a deal, maybe be even better. Make
more doing this then working at that
ruttin' factory for a month.
Jayne sets down Mather's weapon. Sits up straighter in his chair. Kind of squares off with Jonah.
JAYNE
Nothing personal with all that bad
luck and your fancy weapons and such,
but just so we're clear... the
bounty's mine.
JONAH
(squaring back)
Now, not that I don't appreciate a
man who's all boasty about his
weapons, but --
Kaylee steps up to the table.
KAYLEE
What are you saying?
JAYNE / JONAH
Huh?
KAYLEE
(disgusted)
You insensitive louts. Have you no
shame. People lost their lives and
all you can think about is money.
She smacks Jayne on the head. Storms out.
JAYNE
Hey!
Jayne rubs his head. The other louts laugh. Azuria never moves.
INT. TRIAGE TENT - NIGHT
Inara finishes bandaging a little girl's arm. Inara wears a white apron over her clothes.
INARA
You'll be okay now, sweetie.
Inara picks up the little girl and looks around for someone to take her, but everyone's busy. She's not sure what to do. Someone taps her on her arm. She turns. It's River, holding out her arms.
INARA (cont'd)
That's all right, River. I'm sure
her mother is around here somewhere.
RIVER
(sad)
Mother gone.
River runs her hand down the little girl's hair.
INARA
(hugs the girl)
Oh.
SIMON (O.S.)
Inara?
River holds her arms out again. Inara hesitates.
SIMON (cont'd; O.S.)
Inara!
Inara hands the little girl over to River. River smiles at the girl and then carries her back to where she was sitting.
EXT. VERBENA SKYLINE - NIGHT - EFFECT
The winking lights of the five ships, including Serenity, can be seen in the darkness as the ships fly a similar path.
INT. SERENITY BRIDGE - NIGHT
Wash's flying as Zoe enters.
ZOE
Captain should be right behind me.
WASH
Thanks.
Wash checks something else on his controls. Keeps watching those as he talks with Zoe.
WASH (cont'd)
Zoe?
ZOE
Yeah.
WASH
What if this guy, you know, did it?
ZOE
Trust me, darling, this guy couldn't
even tie his shoelaces if it wasn't
described to him using step-by-step
graphics.
WASH
Sure.
(beat)
But, well... people change.
"Dead or Alive"
Episode #: 1AGE06
Story #:
Written by: Cheryl Cain
Directed by: Marita Grabiak
WRITERS DRAFT: August 16, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEASER
EXT. SERENITY RAMP - NIGHT
A motley group of immigrant workers walk down the ramp onto the dirt of a border planet. MAL and an equally motley bulbous man, the CASHIER, count them as they walk off.
MAL
Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen.
Seventeen.
CASHIER
(bored)
Sixteen.
MAL
Hey, that beefy guy easily ate enough
for two.
CASHIER
Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen.
Mal points to a skinny guy off to the side of a larger guy.
MAL
I believe we're up to nineteen.
CASHIER
He was number seven.
MAL
Guess you could be right. Must've
forgot his knapsack. Eighteen.
ZOE follows the last two guys down the ramp.
CASHIER
Nineteen. Twenty.
MAL
And done.
The cashier hands Mal a wad of bills. Mal starts to count it.
MAL (cont'd)
Not that I don't trust you... but I
don't trust you.
Mal counts the last bill. Looks at the Cashier. Beat. The Cashier gives him two more bills. Grumbles, ambles off.
ZOE
Ever full with the customer
relations, sir.
MAL
He works for the Alliance.
ZOE
And we worked for him which would
technically mean we also worked for
the Alliance.
MAL
Yep. Have to say not unhappy to be
makin' a buck off 'em.
ZOE
Ah, change is good. The crew?
MAL
Like the makin' money off the
Alliance bit, but really don't want
to push it by takin' part in their
celebratin'... makes me all twitchy.
Zoe just looks at him.
MAL
Fine, but --
KAYLEE comes running down the ramp. Followed by JAYNE and BOOK.
KAYLEE
We're goin' to the fair.
MAL
An hour. Sixty minutes. Nothing
more, nothing less, Miss Kaylee.
KAYLEE
No need to do a flippy-hiss, Capt'n.
We gotcha.
Mal gives her money. Then Jayne and Book.
MAL
Don't spend it all in one place.
Kaylee puts one arm through Book, another through Jayne.
KAYLEE
You can win me stuff.
BOOK
My pleasure. Always have enjoyed
guessing games.
JAYNE
Nope. I win it. I keep it.
Mal hands money to Wash. Wash swings his arm around Zoe's shoulders.
WASH
Let's go get us some of those curly
carrots. Love 'em deep fried.
Wash starts to move her off. Zoe stops him, turns to Mal.
ZOE
Capt'n?
WASH
(dropping his arm)
Yeah, dad. Can we go? Promise to be
home before midnight.
Zoe gives him a look.
MAL
Go. Wouldn't want to be responsible
for cold curly carrots.
ZOE
Thanks, sir.
They move off. Not quite as happily as before. Mal, money in hand, turns to the next person in line. It's INARA.
MAL
(bit awkward)
Guess I'm not giving you money.
INARA
No.
MAL
(smilin')
Well, unless there'd be some kind of
benefit for the exchange of said
money...
INARA
Definitely, no.
MAL
Then I suppose the least I can do is
escort you to the fair.
INARA
How adolescent... and charming of you.
They start to walk off when Mal notices SIMON at the top of the ramp. Mal approaches him.
MAL
Hey.
SIMON
River has never been to a fair and
she hasn't had a chance to do much
that is fun in awhile...
MAL
Alliance jail could be fun.
SIMON
Of course, I just, had to ask. For
River. She'll understand.
MAL
(beat)
Sure.
Mal moves back down the ramp to Inara.
INARA
Everything okay?
MAL
Kids wanted to go to the fair.
They step away. PULL BACK AND UP to the windows of the bridge where RIVER wistfully looks out.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FAIR - NIGHT
It's a wonderland of lights, tents, games, a carnival atmosphere. The fair's splayed out in a field in front of a large factory. A mixed crowd of border folk and Alliance meander the festivities. Kaylee with a coiled-shaped cotton candy walks into frame alongside Book.
KAYLEE
You shouldn't feel bad you didn't
guess the fat lady's weight. I
actually thought it was quite sweet
to drop fifty pounds.
BOOK
Seemed a wise choice.
KAYLEE
She was an awfully big lady.
(spinning)
Don't you just love a fair?
BOOK
(chuckling)
Have you always been this happy?
KAYLEE
From the day I was born'd. Seems
like on all the choices, happy just
belonged to me.
They pass;
JAYNE
Who's throwing darts at the last yellow balloon left on a game wall. Five unsuccessful darts surround the balloon. Jayne steadies, carefully throws his last dart. It misses.
JAYNE
Gorramn it!
Jayne pulls out his knife and just skewers the last balloon. The vendor quickly hands him the big prize, a green fuzzy TURTLE, then struggles to pull out Jayne's knife. Jayne happily admires his turtle. Passing him are;
ZOE AND WASH
Wash eats from a carton of fried curly carrots.
WASH
Just sayin' that every once in awhile
it'd be nice to not have to clear
every single thing.
ZOE
For the last time, he's the Captain.
WASH
Let out some of the starch, darling.
You're not in the military anymore.
ZOE
It's not that, it's...
WASH
Yeah, yeah. Who you are. The code.
They pass;
MAL AND INARA
Inara has her eyes closed and a plastic ring in her hand. In front of her in a booth is a SPINNING BALL with lots of long pointy sticks attached. Mal next to her, guides her arm.
INARA
Why do I have to close my eyes?
MAL
Makes it more challenging.
Inara tosses the ring. It almost nails the vendor who's helping someone else on the other side. Inara opens her eyes.
INARA
How'd I do?
MAL
Perhaps challenging was not the best
place to start.
Mal picks up a few rings. Tosses one. He makes it.
INARA
I do end up doing the most
interesting things with... since I
came aboard Serenity.
MAL
Now you can't tell me that an
attractive lady like yourself has
never been escorted to a fair?
INARA
(laughing)
They weren't quite the thing where I
was raised.
Mal stops, not loving that comment, then tosses another ring. Makes it again.
MAL
Poor little Inara, not allowed to get
her hands dirty with us common folk.
INARA
(taken aback)
That's not what I --
(Mal throws another)
I guess not everyone's lucky enough
to fulfill their lifelong dream of
becoming an expert ring tosser.
Inara stalks off. Mal drops the rest of the rings on the edge. Follows her. Doggin' her steps.
MAL
Where I was raised, we'd celebrate
the foundin' of Shadow with a fair,
just like this one. That is until
the Alliance outlawed our quaint
celebration. It was a little against
unification spirit. Guess your folk
wouldn't mind though, with it not
exactly being "quite the thing."
They've stopped near a stage where an Alliance mucky-muck, COMMANDER TANAKA, dedicates the new factory. A large banner hangs above him, ALLIANCE REWARDS THOSE WHO REWARD THEMSELVES.
TANAKA
Thanks to the good Alliance people of
Verbena, our gear shift factory is
opening ten days ahead of schedule.
The crowd around the stage CHEERS. Mal claps, HOLLERS.
MAL
Oh, yeah. Let's all hear it for the
good Alliance.
INARA
Mal.
MAL
Just being supportive. Oh, sorry,
did that offend you. You probably
supported 'em in the war.
Inara doesn't say anything. Mal stares at her.
MAL (cont'd)
Guess we really aren't "quite the
thing", are we?
Kaylee races up, pulls on Inara's sleeve.
KAYLEE
You have to come see the tattoo guy.
His tattoos keep changin' colors.
There's this one it's a sunrise.
(looking at them)
Am I interruptin'?
INARA
No.
MAL
Wouldn't touch those tattoos if I
were you, be a shame if you got your
hands all dirty.
Inara lets Kaylee drag her off. Mal turns back to Tanaka.
TANAKA
Verbena was scarcely surviving,
barely more than a piece of barren
rock, but now with the Alliance
factory opening you and your families
will be able to lead full and
satisfying lives.
MAL
Mal turns and runs right into, LIEUTENANT QUILLAN, 40's, tough female head of security on this planet.
MAL (cont'd)
(fake cheerleader)
Go Alliance.
He turns to quickly leave when;
BOOOOOOM!!!
The factory spectacularly blows up. A huge fireball goes into the sky and shards of metal and wreckage are strewn into the crowd. The force of the explosion knocking people to the ground, including Mal.
END OF TEASER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT ONE
EXT. FAIR - NIGHT
Mal struggles to his feet a bit dazed. Carnage all around. People crying, screaming, bleeding. Parents desperately hunt for their children among the smoke and wreckage.
Mal starts moving, searching the devastation for his people. Like everyone else his clothing is dirty, bits of ash, debris on it. Finally sees Inara laying on the ground on her side. Rushes over to her.
MAL
Inara.
She moves, stunned but unhurt, starts to sit up. Mal helps her.
MAL (cont'd)
Are you okay?
INARA
Yeah. You?
MAL
Fine.
INARA
What happened?
(quickly looks around)
Kaylee? Kaylee!
KAYLEE (O.S.)
I'm here.
They both turn. A dazed Kaylee walks up. Kneels down next to both of them. Hugs Inara. Inara looks up at Mal.
INARA
The others?
MAL
I don't know.
CUT TO:
EXT. FAIR - CONTINUOUS
Over near a decimated tent, Zoe and Wash help each other stand, brush each other off. Speechless as they soak in everything around them.
WASH
Sure you're okay?
ZOE
(trying to smile)
Think we lost your curly carrots.
Wash puts an arm around her shoulders, leans into her.
WASH
You can always buy me more.
Zoe leans back into Wash, thankful.
WASH (cont'd)
What the hell happened?
ZOE
Concussion bomb. Probably tied into
the factory's power grid. Local
remote trigger.
WASH
Okay. Thanks. Doesn't make me feel
better.
ZOE
We need to find everyone else.
Wash nods. They move out.
CUT TO:
EXT. FAIR - CONTINUOUS
Jayne sits up, knocks a couple pieces of burnt wood off himself. The turtle, a bit singed, sits in Jayne's lap. Jayne's hand clutched around it.
JAYNE
Jayne stands. His turtle's neck took a hit, it's a bit floppy with stuffing coming out. Jayne pushes the stuffing back in. Tucks the turtle under his arm, starts moving.
CUT TO:
EXT. FAIR - CONTINUOUS
Mal and Kaylee help Inara stand. Zoe and Wash come up behind. Mal turns to them.
MAL
We need to get out of here.
ZOE
Sir?
WASH
Thanks, no really we're good. Fine.
A little bruised. You?
MAL
This place is going to be crawling
with Alliance security.
He glances at Inara and Kaylee.
MAL (cont'd)
Head back to the ship. We'll find
Book and --
Jayne approaches, turtle in hand. Holds it up.
MAL (cont'd)
Jayne.
JAYNE
They all just stare at him.
ZOE
Let me find a medic.
JAYNE
Thanks.
Kaylee looks around at all the wreckage, sees bodies not moving, crying children, so much destruction. A man, AZURIA CALVERT, 50's, farmer-type hugs his dead wife. Kaylee turns to Mal.
KAYLEE
Who would do this?
MAL
Not for us to find out.
Mal nods at Inara.
INARA
(to Kaylee)
Time to go.
Kaylee lets herself be led away. Mal turns to Wash.
MAL
Go with 'em.
WASH
Yeah, I know. Get the ship ready to
fly. Copy.
Wash with one last glance at Zoe, follows Kaylee and Inara. He catches up with Kaylee, puts his arm around her.
Mal looks around, finally sees Book. Book's picked up a man's shoulders and is dragging him toward a large tent being used as a triage center. Mal jogs over to him, grabs the man's feet, walks with Book.
BOOK
Thanks.
MAL
No problem.
They walk into;
INT. TRIAGE TENT - CONTINUOUS
Where people are trying to help the injured. Mostly confusion at this point. Book and Mal set the guy on a table. A woman comes over to check him out. Mal and Book step aside.
MAL
We need to be leavin'.
Book shakes his head.
BOOK
There's work to be done here.
MAL
In case you've forgotten, Shepherd,
we've got two Alliance fugitives on
our ship.
BOOK
(pointing behind Mal)
Afraid not anymore.
Mal turns. Simon's rushed inside carrying his medical bag. He moves over to a groaning man, starts shouting orders as he examines the man.
SIMON
We need to categorize the injuries,
identify the most critical.
A woman rushes over to Simon as he starts pulling things out of his bag.
MAL
Son of
Zoe comes up behind Mal.
ZOE
Sir?
Mal nods toward Simon
MAL
Looks like we're stayin' a bit.
BOOK
Good. We can use the help.
Book moves toward the entrance to the tent. Mal looks at Zoe, then follows.
EXT. FAIR - NIGHT - LATER
Mal and Zoe clean off their hands at a pump water faucet. A crowd mills around the open area. Some trying to clean-up, some still moving wreckage. But many just angry and frustrated.
MAL
Simon should be done in a couple of
hours. As soon as he is we're outta
here.
ZOE
Captain.
Zoe nudges Mal. An officious Alliance officer, CORPORAL GRAYSON, 20's, comlink in hand, quickly moves toward Lt. Quillan.
GRAYSON
We ran the manifest from the factory
through the cortex and flagged one of
the workers. Suspicious background.
Quillan takes the comlink. Looks at an image of, DECLAN EVERTON, late 20's, a few paragraphs of text next to the image. Quillan quickly scans it.
QUILLAN
Independent in the war. Let's bring
him in.
GRAYSON
We're searching for him now.
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
An independent did this?
Quillan spins around. She didn't realize the crowd had come so close to her. An ANGRY LOCAL stands right behind her. The crowd is pressing up behind him.
ANGRY LOCAL
Who is it?
QUILLAN
Not your business.
ANGRY LOCAL
Not our business? This is our town.
These were our people.
QUILLAN
(to Grayson)
Reinforcements.
Grayson moves off. Quillan turns back to the crowd.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
Alliance justice will handle this man.
ANGRY LOCAL
It's one of those gorramn brown
coats, right?
CROWD VOICE #1
Had to be from the factory.
CROWD VOICE #2
That guy, working electric, he never
drank with us.
QUILLAN
Settle down!
CROWD VOICE #1
Yeah, too good for us. Lyin' sack
of --
CROWD VOICE #2
Saw 'im at the saloon.
The crowd starts surging.
QUILLAN
(shouting) Stop it. Now. Stop!
The angry local just pushes past her.
ANGRY LOCAL
Out of our way.
The mob surges with the angry local.
MAL AND ZOE
Watch from the side. They talk quietly.
MAL
This is gettin' ugly.
ZOE
What do you want to do?
MAL
Grab Simon. It's time to go.
As the crowd moves all around them. Mal and Zoe quietly walk toward the triage tent. They pass a group of bodies.
Azuria touches his wife's face, unable to believe she's gone, kisses her forehead, not even paying attention to the commotion all around him. SHOUTS ring out. Azuria looks up.
CROWD VOICE #1
We've got 'em.
More SHOUTS are heard as the crowd surges closer to;
MAL AND ZOE
Who've stopped moving. They fade into the background. The surging crowd drags a man past them. The guy wears a brown coat similar to Mal's. Zoe and Mal look at each other.
The mob drops the guy in the middle of the crowd. They angry local kicks him.
ANGRY LOCAL
Murderous independent.
Azuria breaks through the crowd, pushes the angry local to the side and just starts whaling on the independent.
BANG! Lt. Quillan shoots her gun into the air. Grayson and a couple of armed Alliance soldiers are with her.
QUILLAN
The next person to touch that man is
dead.
The crowd and Azuria reluctantly back away from the barely breathing man. Quillan reholsters her gun, grabs some papers from Grayson, weeds through the people. Gets to the guy, bends down, turns him over. He's a mess.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
(to crowd)
It's not him.
Quillan stands. The crowd starting to quiet.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
We know who the culprit is and he's
no longer in town. He's taken a land
shuttle.
She nods to her soldiers who pick up the mistaken guy and move him out of the crowd.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
There's a bounty for whoever captures
this guy. <$10,000> But he has to
be brought in alive. If anyone harms
the target they'll face Alliance
justice.
Mal snorts at that. Zoe elbows him to be quiet.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
Every available ship in port is now
under my control. Alliance personnel
and volunteers will be assigned to
each in order to go after and
apprehend the target. Captains
please report to Corporal Grayson.
A couple of men head over to Grayson. Mal and Zoe share a look. Quillan walks straight up to Mal.
QUILLAN (cont'd)
Captain Reynolds.
MAL
Yep.
QUILLAN
I'll be going with you.
MAL
(beat)
Shiny.
Quillan hands him a piece of paper.
QUILLAN
Our target. Have your ship ready to
go by oh-one-hundred.
She walks back to Grayson. Mal glances down at the picture.
ZOE
We can tell them we're grounded.
Kaylee can fake a problem with the
engines. Shouldn't be that hard.
MAL
Pissin' hell!
ZOE
Sir?
He nudges her. Shows her the picture of Declan.
ZOE (cont'd)
It's Private Everton.
MAL
(beat)
Guess we're going a'posseing.
Mal crumbles up the paper. Throws it on the ground.
END OF ACT ONE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT TWO
EXT. SERENITY RAMP - NIGHT
Mal speaks with Inara, who has River next to her.
MAL
Don't talk to anyone.
INARA
Thanks, Mal. I think I've got that
covered.
MAL
Okay, fine. But don't let moonpie
talk to anyone, either. You think
you can handle these guys but... just
don't let your guard down.
Inara bristles a bit, but then River motions Mal over to her, like she has a secret.
MAL (cont'd)
Yeah?
RIVER
Purple elephants are flying.
MAL
Good. Thanks for the update.
Lt. Quillan approaches. Mal turns to Inara.
MAL (cont'd)
The Alliance has assured us the delay
won't be too long, Miss.
Inara nods, starts walking River down, her hand on River's arm. Quillan stops her as they pass.
QUILLAN
My apologies for the inconvenience.
INARA
It's no problem. I hope you catch
the monster responsible.
QUILLAN
We will.
RIVER
(happily)
I'm going to the fair.
Quillan looks at her strangely. Mal steps up, motions Inara and River down.
MAL
If you'll stop bothering my paying
customers, we can be off.
QUILLAN
There'll be three others joining us.
Two skeevy looking bounty hunters, JONAH, a talker, and MATHER, a grunter, come up. Jonah checks out Serenity.
JONAH
Well, shoot, doubt this piece of
rustin' dust would be able to find a
stick of dynamite up a donkey's a**.
MAL
Well, lucky for us there's no donkeys
on this planet.
They move into the cargo bay as Azuria comes up. Azuria doesn't even look at them. Just walks up and into the cargo bay. His big SHOTGUN strapped to his back.
MAL (cont'd)
(to Quillan)
Fun group. Better be able to control
'em. They disrupt my ship and I'm
tossing 'em off.
QUILLAN
I don't need to remind you, Captain,
who's in charge here.
MAL
Never had no doubts about that.
QUILLAN
We're checking the northern sector.
I'll give your pilot the coordinates.
Quillan walks up. Mal looks around, then follows.
INT. TRIAGE TENT - NIGHT
In a quiet corner, Book prays over an elderly male body. Beat. Pulls the sheet over his head. Then moves onto the next body. There's a whole row of them.
PULL BACK to see the energy and flurry all around of people trying to save lives. It's a hodgepodge of folks. Most not really knowing what they're doing, but trying. They're making due with whatever they can find.
Simon's the only one with any real triage experience. He's currently bandaging a drooping man around his ribs. He sees;
INARA AND RIVER
Enter the tent. River races over to him.
RIVER
Simon. Simon. The fair.
Inara quickly approaches.
INARA
(to Simon)
I'm sorry. I didn't think anywhere
else was safe.
SIMON
No, it's fine.
RIVER
Cotton candy. Play. Play!
Simon glances at some Alliance soldiers helping others over against a far wall. Simon grabs Inara's hand. Places it on the bandage.
SIMON
Hold this steady, firm.
INARA
(uncertain)
Okay.
Simon leads River over to a quiet corner. Simon sits her down. River drops down cross-legged on the dirt.
SIMON
Please, River. Wait here.
RIVER
Pretty blue ocean. Waves crashed.
Castle all knocked down.
SIMON
You have to be quiet, good. Please.
It's important.
River smiles. Starts playing. Running her fingers through the dirt, making circular patterns. Simon watches her for a beat. Then moves back to Inara.
SIMON (cont'd)
Thank you.
INARA
What should I do?
Simon hands her a roll of bandages.
SIMON
Tie it off.
INARA
Simon, I'm good with anatomy, but not
like this...
SIMON
You'll do fine.
(off her unsure look)
Will you do fine?
INARA
Sure.
Simon nods, then starts cleaning his tools to go onto the next patient. Inara starts awkwardly to finish the bandage. A flurry at the tent pulls both their eyes.
Two Alliance soldiers with Grayson hovering next to them bring in a stretcher.
GRAYSON
Doctor!
SIMON
Over here.
Simon points to the empty table next to Inara. They bring over the stretcher. Set it down. It's Commander Tanaka. He's issuing orders even though he's in great pain. His arms wrapped around his stomach.
TANAKA
Grayson, update.
GRAYSON
(to Simon)
They just got him free, the wreckage
had him trapped.
TANAKA
Now!
Grayson rushes off. Simon worried, looks over to River, who still quietly plays, then to Inara. Inara shares his look. Not sure what to do. They hear the RUMBLE as;
EXT. TOWN - NIGHT - EFFECT
A shiny Alliance shuttle rises. Followed by three spaceships of various shapes and sizes, none of them particularly elegant or new. The final lift-off is Serenity. All the ships going off in different directions.
INT. SERENITY BRIDGE - NIGHT
Wash flies, checks his controls in the background while Mal and Zoe discuss.
ZOE
Everton... come on, he was so by
the book he'd get upset if I pissed
without getting your approval to
leave.
MAL
Remember when he wanted to write up
Winters because he wouldn't shave.
ZOE
Well, it was a pretty stupid lookin'
mustache.
MAL
Yeah, only time I ever agreed with
him. Just like the Alliance to want
to convict a man with no evidence.
ZOE
We need to reach him first.
MAL
If we don't, he's gonna be railroaded
or worse, dead, if that lynch mob
gets to him.
Quillan enters. Zoe goes to check on Wash.
Mal (cont'd)
Lieutenant. Anything yet from the
other ships?
QUILLAN
No.
MAL
(all conversational)
So, do you guys have anything on this
guy other than he was an independent?
QUILLAN
I have my men checking other leads,
but to be honest Captain, this feels
right.
MAL
Really? And you deduced that by some
sort of intuition...
QUILLAN
I deduced that by the fact that he
ran.
MAL
Sure. Gotcha. Good logic. Seems
all matter of smart...
(beat)
Course, guess I'd run too if I had a
herd of yokels lookin' to beat the
horses' snot out of me.
Quillan checks out Mal's brown coat.
QUILLAN
You're an independent.
MAL
Was called that at one time.
Loaded stare. Then Quillan gets a BEEP from her comlink. She takes it off her belt. Reads it.
QUILLAN
They've found a trail.
Mal shares a look with Zoe.
INT. SERENITY DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Jayne sits at the table with Jonah and Mather. They're comparing weapons. Jayne has out his big-a** gun. Jonah's more sleek, shiny while Mather has a wicked looking energy powered crossbow. They all ignore Azuria who sits in the corner. Jonah lifts Jayne's gun.
JONAH
Nice heft.
JAYNE
You should see the hole it can make
in a man.
Jayne holds his hands five inches apart.
JONAH
Sweet. But for pure accuracy can't
beat my compressed airgun. Cut clean
through a roach's butt at hundred
yards. Course, not as pretty as
Mather's.
Jonah picks up the crossbow, tosses it to Jayne. Kaylee walks in, ignores the boasting at the table and goes to get herself some coffee.
JONAH (cont'd)
Nuclear power pack, 200 psi, titanium
arrows, go through ten inches steel.
JAYNE
Could work. Personally, I would've
gone with the T4 model at 300 psi,
but it'll get the job done.
Mather GRUNTS. Kaylee sees Azuria, walks over to him.
KAYLEE
Did they offer you any coffee? It's
a bit sludgy and gross-tasting, but
the punch'll keep ya goin' till dawn.
Azuria doesn't look up as he talks.
AZURIA
No, thank you.
KAYLEE
Um, okay.
Kaylee turns to go, but turns back. Heart on her sleeve.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
I saw you. At the fair, well, after
the fair, after the... I'm so sorry.
Was that your --
AZURIA
No, thank you.
KAYLEE
Okay, you don't want to talk, I don't
blame you, but if you ever feel like
you do --
AZURIA
No.
Beat, then Kaylee moves away. Cues in on what's being said at the table.
JONAH
So, me and Mather, all into this
factory gig, just came in on a ship
yesterday. Couldn't be as bad as
some other
before. But now that job's all and
done.
JAYNE
(shakin' his head)
Can never depend on no job.
Mather just GRUNTS again.
JONAH
But then this bounty thing came up
and hey, I can shoot. This could be
a deal, maybe be even better. Make
more doing this then working at that
ruttin' factory for a month.
Jayne sets down Mather's weapon. Sits up straighter in his chair. Kind of squares off with Jonah.
JAYNE
Nothing personal with all that bad
luck and your fancy weapons and such,
but just so we're clear... the
bounty's mine.
JONAH
(squaring back)
Now, not that I don't appreciate a
man who's all boasty about his
weapons, but --
Kaylee steps up to the table.
KAYLEE
What are you saying?
JAYNE / JONAH
Huh?
KAYLEE
(disgusted)
You insensitive louts. Have you no
shame. People lost their lives and
all you can think about is money.
She smacks Jayne on the head. Storms out.
JAYNE
Hey!
Jayne rubs his head. The other louts laugh. Azuria never moves.
INT. TRIAGE TENT - NIGHT
Inara finishes bandaging a little girl's arm. Inara wears a white apron over her clothes.
INARA
You'll be okay now, sweetie.
Inara picks up the little girl and looks around for someone to take her, but everyone's busy. She's not sure what to do. Someone taps her on her arm. She turns. It's River, holding out her arms.
INARA (cont'd)
That's all right, River. I'm sure
her mother is around here somewhere.
RIVER
(sad)
Mother gone.
River runs her hand down the little girl's hair.
INARA
(hugs the girl)
Oh.
SIMON (O.S.)
Inara?
River holds her arms out again. Inara hesitates.
SIMON (cont'd; O.S.)
Inara!
Inara hands the little girl over to River. River smiles at the girl and then carries her back to where she was sitting.
EXT. VERBENA SKYLINE - NIGHT - EFFECT
The winking lights of the five ships, including Serenity, can be seen in the darkness as the ships fly a similar path.
INT. SERENITY BRIDGE - NIGHT
Wash's flying as Zoe enters.
ZOE
Captain should be right behind me.
WASH
Thanks.
Wash checks something else on his controls. Keeps watching those as he talks with Zoe.
WASH (cont'd)
Zoe?
ZOE
Yeah.
WASH
What if this guy, you know, did it?
ZOE
Trust me, darling, this guy couldn't
even tie his shoelaces if it wasn't
described to him using step-by-step
graphics.
WASH
Sure.
(beat)
But, well... people change.
Cont...
