Written & Directed by: Joss Whedon
EXT. SPACE - NIGHT
WE see a small, lonely moon sitting in space. Serenity glides into frame, passing the moon and taking us with it. We are above and behind the ship, and we glide with it a bit, keeping pace.
CLOSE ON: the top of Serenity as the camera goes THROUGH it, into the labyrinth of wires and pipe and spaceship innards, moving about rabbit-fast, twisting and turning, ending up looking down through a grating at:
INT. RIVER'S ROOM - EVENING
RIVER, sleeping.
Cut to EXTREME CLOSE UP on River's closed eyes. There is talk, chatter from every shipmember, like static in her head, rising slowly. The noise builds until --
A MAN'S VOICE
We're all just floating...
--her eyes snap open. That voice could've been in the room with her.
She rises, sits on her bed. She wears a dress, no shoes, seems to be in a slightly dreamlike state. (No huge change there,- but we may do something with the lens occasionally to accentuate that.) Laughter pulls her from her room.
INT. PASSENGER DORM - CONTINUING
She moves slowly, finds KAYLEE and SIMON on the couch. Kaylee is lying with her legs (her feet are also bare) over the sitting Simon, innocently intimate. Laughing.
KAYLEE
You couldn't possibly have!
SIMON
I wish I was lying. I just -- we'd
all just made surgeon, that was it,
we were the elite, the world was
ours, you know --
KAYLEE
-- so you had to be naked.
SIMON
Naked, yes, and on top of the statue
of Hypocrates, and -- Can you just
picture me?
KAYLEE
Naked? I'll have to conjure up --
it'll be tough.
He smiles at her, and she taps his chin with her toes playfully.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
So the feds came?
SIMON
There were no feds. Until I started
singing.
KAYLEE
(laughing)
Oh no! What'd you sing?
SIMON
This is not funny. This a morality
tale about the evils of sake.
River has been watching them the whole time. They suddenly turn to her, the laughter draining from their faces.
SIMON (cont'd)
(to River)
I would be there right now.
There is coldness in his voice, and Kaylee looks at her with an expression that matches.
And then, oddly, there's a JUMP CUT to the two of them laughing again, as though that moment never happened.
River looks mildly confused, then starts up the stairs.
SIMON (cont'd)
It was either that or the national
anthem. Reports vary.
KAYLEE
Do you remember any of it?
SIMON
I remember talking them out of
telling my father...
or paying them out of telling my
father, I'm fuzzy on aspects...
INT. AFT HALL/DINING ROOM - CONTINUING
River comes into the hallway, touching the walls as she goes, looking at her hands. She finds BOOK and JAYNE, also in mid- conversation. Jayne is cooking scallion cakes on the griddle. Book is at the table.
JAYNE
So, like... never?
BOOK
Well, no.
JAYNE
Not ever never?
BOOK
Some orders allow Shepherds to marry,
but I follow a narrower path.
JAYNE
But, I mean, you still got the urge,
right? They don't cut it off or
nothing...
BOOK
(smiles)
No, I'm more or less intact. I just
direct my energy elsewhere.
JAYNE
You mean like masterbatin'?
BOOK
I hope you're not thinking of taking
orders yourself...
JAYNE
That'll be the day.
During all this, River wanders unnoticed right between the two of them. She turns to look at Jayne, who looks back guiltily.
JAYNE (cont'd)
I got stupid. The money was too good.
She turns, looks at Book, who is in her face, fiercely angry.
BOOK
I don't give half a hump if you're
innocent or not! So where does that
put you?
JUMP CUT back to reality -- the men are laughing, Book still sitting, and River has walked between them unnoticed. She heads to the foredeck hall as the men continue:
JAYNE
It ain't impossible! Saint Jayne,
It's got a ring to it.
BOOK
I'm just trying to remember how many
miracles you've performed.
JAYNE
I once hit a guy in the neck at five
hundred yards with a bent scope,
don't that count upstairs?
BOOK
Oh, it'll be taken into
consideration...
JAYNE
Well you make that sound kinda
ominous...
INT. FOREDECK HALL/BRIDGE - CONTINUING
River moves into the foredeck hall, is about to turn right when she sees WASH and ZOE on the bridge. The door is half shut and they are a ways away, but she is suddenly awash in their energy.
Which is different than anyone else's, seeing as how Zoe is sitting on Wash's lap, facing him, smooching him.
Their clothes are on, (it's the bridge, already), but though they are playful, their energy is intense, their eyes locked. We see them as River feels them, VERY CLOSE up, wide angle lens roving around them, sweat and smiles and the sound of the ocean, waves breaking as River nearly staggers back with it, suddenly perturbed to be in that intimacy.
She moves away, hugging the wall, down into:
INT. CARGO BAY/INARA'S SHUTTLE - CONTINUING
And now she's coming down the steps as MAL and INARA are in quiet conference at the entrance to her shuttle.
INARA
I've put out a few waves to some old
acquaintances -- I may even be able
to find something in New Melbourne,
if you need the shuttle free.
MAL
Only thing you're gonna find in New
Melbourne is fish and fish related
activities. Unless you got an
overwhelming urge to gut sturgeon --
and who hasn't, occasionally --
INARA
But it's a layover point for almost
every planet this side of the system,
and I could... I just don't want to
draw this out.
MAL
You decided when you're gonna tell
the others?
INARA
I... no. I appreciate your not
saying anything.
MAL
I don't. So make up your mind.
River stops near the entrance. Inara looks at her, says:
INARA
I'm a big girl. Just tell me.
Pan over to Mal, who is looking away from us.
MAL
None of it means a damn thing.
That ocean noise again, and River looks pained, nothing is as it should be here, she stumbles down the steps in a jumbled series of jump-cuts...
She walks along the floor of the cargo bay, steps on something.
ANGLE: HER FOOT
Steps on a branch. She gingerly steps off it, then bends over to look at it, her head coming into frame, staring.
ANGLE: FROM HIGH ABOVE we see the entire cargo bay floor around her is littered with branches and leaves.
She picks up the branch. It's smallish, curved to fit well in her hand.
She studies it, uncertain.
RIVER
Just an object.
(looks up)
It doesn't mean what you think...
She smiles comfortingly --
Jump-cut to reality -- Simon and Kaylee are standing in front of her, yelling -- Mal yelling as well from above...
SIMON
River you know that's not to be
touched!
KAYLEE
Everybody just be real calm already --
MAL
Get it away from her --
SIMON
Just put it down!
River looks confused at the sudden cacophony. Looks down in her hand -- and there is a BIG DAMN GUN in it. Pointed at Simon and Kaylee, the latter of whom looks shit-scared.
River lowers the gun, looking grouchily confused, as Simon comes to take it from her. She looks over at Kaylee, who fades out to the passenger dorm, unable to deal.
RIVER
Kaylee...?
SIMON
What were you thinking? Where did
you get ahold of this?
Mal is down with them by now, takes the gun from Simon, checks it.
RIVER
It was in my hand...
MAL
Fully loaded, safety off. This
here's a recipe for unpleasantness,
does she understand that?
She turns to him.
RIVER
She understands. She doesn't
comprehend.
MAL
Well, I'm glad we've made that
distinction. No touching guns, okay?
RIVER
No touching.
She moves off, quickly.
SIMON
River --
RIVER
It's getting very very crowded!
And she's out. Mal looks at Simon.
MAL
Thought she was on the mend.
SIMON
The medications are erratic, there's
not one that her system can't
eventually break down, and you have
to recalibrate --
MAL
I want a lot of medical jargon thrown
at me, I'll talk to a doctor.
SIMON
You are talking to a doctor.
MAL
Yeah, okay -- point is, coulda been
you she mighta shot just then. The
doctor, as you just made note of.
And who exactly could fix you?
Not nobody. We're still in deep
space, Doctor, corner of No and
Where. You take extra care with her.
'Cause we're very much alone out here.
EXT. SPACE - CONTINUING
Serenity continues on, as the camera comes around to see that there is another, smaller vessel RIGHT behind and above it. Sleek, quiet.
They're not so much alone out here.
END OF TEASER
EXT. SPACE - CONTINUING
We move in on the smaller craft as it hugs Serenity's wake. Move in closer to see the windshield, and a single figure inside the cockpit. (It's way too small to be called a bridge -- if Serenity is a family van, this is a Harley.)
INT. EARLY'S SHIP - CONTINUING
He's called EARLY, and for the next while, he will say not a word. He merely goes about his business with quiet, intense efficiency. His business is hunting.
He watches the ship below him as readouts come over the windshield 'screen'. Among them:
-- Serenity heat scanned with infrared, showing a small model of the ship with heat signatures indicating where everyone is.
-- A blueprint of Serenity that shows her layout, names the rooms, shows points of egress, lists components and operating systems -- A graph of two lines coming together that then flashes: TRAJECTORY SYNC COMPLETE. LOCKED ON TO FLIGHT PATH.
While he works the controls beneath these readouts, the camera pans over to see a picture stuck to the hull near his head. A picture of River -- the one the Blue hands sported in the Train job. Around it is a warrant showing River with the legend, FUGITIVE, and at the bottom, REWARD 200,000 CREDITS, Alliance Bond Standard. WANTED ALIVE.
There's also a picture of River and Simon, and a beat up picture of an older black woman with a dog on a lawn.
Early takes the first picture of River off the wall, stares at it a moment, returns it. Then slips out of his seat.
INT. BRIDGE - EVENING
Wash is at the helm, Zoe beside him. He's talking, but also concentrating on his readouts.
WASH
Little River just gets more colorful
by the moment. What will she do next?
ZOE
Either blow us all up or rub soup in
her hair, it's a toss up.
WASH
I hope she does the soup thing. It's
always a hoot and we don't all die
from it.
ZOE
That poor kid...
WASH
(looking at screen)
Yeah, she's definitely... got...
funny.
ZOE
Something wrong?
WASH
I'm just getting a weird heat bounce
off our wake.
ZOE
Engine flux?
WASH
Sensor probably got turned around.
I'll climb up top when we hit land.
Over this last exchange, Jayne and Mal enter, talking.
MAL
The lockers were sealed. We both
know --
JAYNE
I don't leave my guns around, Mal.
And I don't leave 'em loaded.
MAL
Well somehow she got her hands on
your hardware. Suppose she took up
something with hull-piercing bullets?
JAYNE
Bullets is soft lead, Mal. Even Vera
could barely breach hull and she's
the best I got! Anyhow, let's direct
this conversation in a not-Jayne's-
fault direction.
I didn't make her crazy. Hell, I
didn't want her on the damn ship.
MAL
(in his face, quiet)
Is that the direction you want this
conversation to go in?
Jayne looks guilty, covers...
JAYNE
I just don't like taking a lashing
for what I ain't the cause of.
ZOE
Where's River at now?
MAL
In her room., which I'm thinking we
bolt from the outside from now on.
WASH
That's a little extreme, isn't it?
JAYNE
Anybody remember her coming at me
with a butcher's knife?
WASH
(remembering fondly)
Wacky fun...
JAYNE
You wanna go, little man?
WASH
Only if it's someplace with
candlelight.
ZOE
Sir, I know she's unpredictable. But
I don't think she'd harm anyone.
JAYNE
("Hellooo...")
Butcher's knife...
ZOE
Anyone we can't spare. I mean, far
as we know, the girl's never even
picked up a gun before.
KAYLEE
That ain't so.
She's standing in the doorway, looking upset. They give her their attention.
MAL
Kaylee, you got something to say?
She looks at him, not sure where to start.
EXT. SPACE - LATER
We are close on Early's ship, near the bottom as a door slides open and he glides out. Pushes a few keys as it shuts, then looking down, steadies himself a moment --
And pushes off, floating down toward Serenity. We pull out wide to show the three objects: The big ship, the smaller ship, and the tiny man floating rapidly from one to the other.
Close on the top of Serenity as he hits the top, landing gently as possible. He walks, slowly and deliberately, pulling his feet up with the slight effort of disconnecting magnets. Walks to the window. Very slowly, looks in.
INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUING
We see his head -- briefly -- by the fore window, looking in at the group that contains everyone save River.
KAYLEE
It was when... when the Captain and
Wash got took by Niska.
MAL
Ain't like to forget that any time
soon.
KAYLEE
Well, we all went in, me too...
Didn't make much account of myself,
I'm afraid.
MAL
(touches her head)
I got no problem with the notion of
you not killin' nobody, Kaylee. Take
it as my own fault that you were put
in such a spot.
SIMON
What's this got to do with River?
She wasn't even in that fight.
KAYLEE
Well, no, she was. I got pinned
down, there was three guys and I
couldn't... and then River comes up
and she looks out, sees 'em all.
They was spread out, you know, had
some cover, but she just looked for
a second and... She took my gun.
Closed her eyes. Killed 'em.
SIMON
She shot them?
KAYLEE
All three dead in an instant. With
her eyes still closed.
JAYNE
Well that's < a babboon's ass-crack >
[FAY-FAY duh PEE-yen]. You saw it
wrong.
KAYLEE
Not a jot. And it weren't autofire,
or luck... she just... she just did
the math.
ZOE
You understand how that sounds...
JAYNE
What? She killed them with
mathematics, what else could it have
been.
KAYLEE
You couldn't've done it, Jayne. Nor
you, captain; not nobody can shoot
like that that's a person.
SIMON
So River's not a person?
As they continue, the camera moves suddenly down to the floor, THROUGH the floor, pipes and wires visible, to the ceiling of:
INT. CARGO BAY - CONTINUING
Where River is standing directly below them, feet on the railings of the catwalk, ear as close to the ceiling as she can get, hearing every word. Or sensing them.
KAYLEE (O.S.)
Please don't be mad...
SIMON (O.S.)
I just want to understand what you're
saying here. I thought River was
your friend.
INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUING
KAYLEE
She is. But Simon... the way she...
right after, she looked at me and
smiled, like nothing was wrong. Like
we were playing.
(to the group)
Scared me.
There's a moment, as the group takes this in.
BOOK
Could be she saved your life, Kaylee.
KAYLEE
I'm all aware of that, I'm not trying
to --
SIMON
She probably didn't even know what
was going on! Thought it was a game.
JAYNE
Later on you can explain to me how
that's a comfort. Might have to use
some'a that math we been hearing
about...
MAL
(running over Jayne)
What we got here to deal with is the
larger issue. And the larger issue
is we got someone on board this ship
might be a danger to us.
Now the camera moves UP, again through pipes and wires, through hull, to:
EXT. TOP OF SERENITY - CONTINUING
Where Early kneels, holding a listening device to the hull. The voices are coming through, somewhat static-y.
MAL (O.S.)
It's not a question of whether we
like her... some of us have grown
attached...
INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUING
MAL
Kaylee, I know you have or you'd've
spoken up sooner, which by the by you
should have. I find River pleasant
enough myself. But she's got an
oddness to her, and it ain't just her
proficiency with fire-arms. Girl
knows things she shouldn't. Things
she couldn't.
JAYNE
Are you saying she's a witch?
WASH
Yes, she's a witch, Jayne. She has
had congress with the beast.
JAYNE
She's in congress?
WASH
How did your brain master human
speech? I'm just so curious.
INARA
< Shut up, you inconsiderate
schoolboys >! [BEE-jway, neen hen BOO-
TEE-TYEH duh NAN-shung!] This isn't
a joking matter. This is about
your -- about our lives. And River's.
MAL
Thank you.
SIMON
She's deeply intuitive, it's true she
has a --
MAL
I don't think she's just intuitive,
Doctor. I think she's a reader.
ZOE
Psychic?
WASH
Is that even remotely possible?
MAL
(to Simon)
You tell me. You been studying what
they did to her.
SIMON
They've definitely altered the way
she reacts to things, even the way
she perceives... but I'm not...
WASH
Psychic, though? That sounds like
something out of science fiction!
ZOE
You live in a spaceship, dear.
WASH
So?
JAYNE
(suddenly more
uncomfy)
Back up a sec. You're saying she
might really read minds?
MAL
Or near enough. Am I the only one
thinking along those lines?
BOOK
No.
JAYNE
I don't like the idea of someone
hearing what I'm thinking.
INARA
No one likes the idea of hearing what
you're thinking.
BOOK
The alliance could have any number of
uses for a psychic. Any government
would.
ZOE
A psychic or an assassin...
SIMON
She's just a kid.
His voice is quiet, but it stops them.
SIMON (cont'd)
She just wants to be... a kid.
MAL
I wish it were that simple.
JAYNE
Yeah, and if wishes were horses we'd
all be eatin' steak. What do we plan
to do about this?
MAL
Well, that's the question.
SIMON
I don't think she'd ever hurt any of
us.
MAL
Maybe you're right.
He looks around, at all of them.
MAL (cont'd)
Well, I ain't making a decision on
anything till I've thought on it
awhile. It's late.
Looking at Inara:
MAL (cont'd)
We hit New Melbourne in three days
time. We'll see who... we'll think
of what to do by then. Let's get
some rest.
Simon turns and goes quickly out the back. Kaylee follows.
INT. AFT HALL - CONTINUING
He is rounding the corner as she stops him.
KAYLEE
Simon --
SIMON
I gotta go check on my assassin.
KAYLEE
Simon please don't be mad at me. I
had to say something.
He turns to her.
SIMON
I'm not mad at you. I just... she
loves this ship. I think it's more
home to her than any place she's been.
KAYLEE
What about you?
SIMON
I'm... I thought the hospital was
home. I was really making a
difference there... and
embarrassingly large stacks of money,
and I could've... I would be there
right now if she hadn't... if they
had just left her alone.
KAYLEE
Is it so bad here?
SIMON
I don't even know if the captain'll
let us --
KAYLEE
No, but, isn't there anything about
this place you're glad of?
He looks at her. Something passes between them, something that draws them closer --
BOOK
G'night, you two.
He passes right through the moment and blows it completely. Simon and Kaylee go back to being awkward.
SIMON
Uh, I --
KAYLEE
No, yeah --
SIMON
Good night.
KAYLEE
Don't let the space bugs... bite...
He goes. She looks after him, feeling like the queen of Lame- donia. A beat, and she heads into the engine room, muttering:
KAYLEE (cont'd)
Space bugs...?
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
It's later, and the Captain sits alone. He thinks a moment, then exits, killing the lights.
INT. FOREDECK HALL - CONTINUING
He goes to his door and kicks it in, starts climbing down. The camera moves away from him to the exterior hatch Simon and River used in Bushwacked.
It opens.
Early comes quietly down, looking about him. Pulls off his helmet. And pulls out his gun.
END OF ACT ONE
INT. RIVER'S ROOM - NIGHT
River is lying in her bed. She senses something, pulls the covers over her head.
INT. FOREDECK HALL - CONTINUING
Early looks around the hall. No one around. He holsters his gun, moves back to the hatch, puts his helmet in there and seals it shut.
He comes back into the hall and Bumps into MAL, who's headed back to the dining room. Mal is completely taken by surprise -- and Early is a blur, a little bit ninja as he pops Mal in the throat to keep him from screaming, gets in close and punches a nerve cluster in Mal's back, Mal pushes him off and swings, connects only glancingly --
INT. WASH AND ZOE'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Zoe stirs - - is something going on upstairs?
INT. FOREDECK HALL - CONTINUING
Early slams his foot into Mal's face, slamming the back of his head into his own ladder, Mal starts to drop -- and Early shoots forward, GRABS him by the shirt, keeping him from falling.
INT. WASH AND ZOE'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Zoe rolls over. Nothing.
INT. MAL'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Early lowers Mal gently into the room, letting him drop the last of the way, unconscious. Closes the door from above.
INT. FOREDECK HALL - CONTINUING
He goes to the com and locks the rooms from the outside -- this involves punching buttons by the com and hitting some graphics, the legend PRIVATE QUARTERS LOCKED coming up and a little red light appearing over each door. Except Kaylee's. He comes to Kaylee's room and the door is open.
He listens a moment -- nothing - then looks down the length of the ship.
INT. ENGINE ROOM - LATER
Kaylee is lying on her back, working under the engine. She yawns, goes back to work -- hears something.
She sits up, looks out into the dark of the hall. Maybe a little unnerved. It's dark in here, most of the light comes from the lamp she's working by, and the hall itself is pitch.
KAYLEE
River...?
She stands, looks. Nothing.
She turns back to the toolbox, squats down to toss in a part, comes back up and Early is RIGHT behind her, she spins to see his face staring impassively inches from hers.
She gasps, stumbles back. She's up against the wall here.
EARLY
I like this ship.
She says nothing. Looks frantically around.
EARLY (cont'd)
Serenity. She's good-looking. I mean
she looks good.
KAYLEE
How did you get on...?
EARLY
It strains the mind a bit, don't it?
You think you're all alone... Maybe
I come down the chimney, Kaylee,
bring presents to the good girls and
boys. Maybe not, though.
He comes closer to her. She shrinks closer to the wall.
EARLY (cont'd)
Maybe I've always been here.
KAYLEE
What do you want?
He looks at the turning engine, mesmerized.
EARLY
That's her beating heart, isn't it?
You pull off any one of a thousand
parts, she'll just die. Such a
slender thread...
(still looking at the
engine)
Have you ever been raped?
A small beat --
KAYLEE
The captain's right by --
EARLY
The captain's locked in his quarters.
They all are. There's nobody can
help you. Say it.
KAYLEE
There's... there's nobody can help me.
EARLY
I'm gonna tie you up now. And you
know what I'm gonna do then?
(she can't answer)
I'm gonna give you a present. Get
rid of a problem you've got. And I
won't touch you in any wrong fashion,
nor hurt you at all, unless you make
some kind of ruckus. You throw a
monkey wrench into my dealings in any
way, your body is forfeit. Ain't
nothing but a body to me, and I can
find all unseemly manner of use for
it. Do you understand.
KAYLEE
(tiny voice)
Yes.
EARLY
Turn around and put your hands behind
your back.
She slowly does, terror on her face, as he pulls out a thin roll of tape. Pulls a strip out, says:
EARLY (cont'd)
Now tell me, Kaylee... where does
River sleep?
INT. PASSENGER DORM/SIMON AND RIVER'S ROOMS - NIGHT
Book exits the bathroom, in his sleepwear, towel over his shoulder, kit in hand. It's dark here as well, though there are safety lights enough to keep one from bumping into shit. Book heads for his room, hears something at the top of the stairs. Turns back that way, looks up.
ANGLE: up the stairs -- is complete blackness.
BOOK
Hello?
Nothing. He turns to go, hears another sound. Starts up the stairs, merely curious.
Early SLIDES down the handrails on both hands, shooting down at Book with both feet out, catching the shepherd in the face at two steps up, sends him flying back as Early lands gracefully by him.
ANGLE: SIMON
Wakes, hearing the thumps. There is silence after, but he's not satisfied. He climbs out of bed (he's just wearing. drawstring pants) and opens his door, looking out at:
ANGLE: the hall where Book got slammed -- is now empty. Simon looks 'around for a sec -- then crosses to River's room to check on her. He slides the door open --
ANGLE: RIVER'S ROOM is empty.
SIMON
River...
He comes back into the hall, stands between the two bedrooms, not sure what to do... and the camera finds Early PERCHED on both ladders above him, almost spider-like.
Simon almost has time to look up as Early drops, lands straddling Simon's head, holding the ladders and swinging the doctor up and SLAMMING him to the ground.
Simon's in pain, but Early comes over him and Simon GRABS him, throws him as he himself gets up, ready for a fight -- but Early comes up with his weapon pointed at Simon.
EARLY
Doctor Tam, why don't you sit
yourself down?
SIMON
Rather die standing.
EARLY
The intention is not for you to die.
The warrant doesn't specify any
particular need for you to be alive,
but...
Early waves the gun. Backed into the curved corner of the hall, Simon sits on the steps. Early peers into the rooms.
EARLY (cont'd)
Where's your sister?
SIMON
Are you Alliance?
EARLY
(not understanding)
Am I a lion?
SIMON
What?
EARLY
I don't think of myself as a lion.
(smiles)
You may as well, though: I have a
mighty roar.
SIMON
I said "Alliance".
EARLY
Oh. I thought --
SIMON
No, I was...
EARLY
That's weird.
(beat)
Where's your sister?
SIMON
I don't know. Who do you work for?
EARLY
This is her room.
SIMON
Yes.
EARLY
It's empty.
SIMON
I know.
EARLY
So is it still her room when it's
empty? Does the room, the thing have
purpose? Or are we... what's the
word...
SIMON
I really can't help you.
EARLY
The plan is to take your sister, get
the reward, which is substantial.
"Embue". That's the word.
SIMON
So you're a bounty hunter.
EARLY
That ain't it at all.
SIMON
Then what are you?
EARLY
I'm a bounty hunter.
SIMON
That's what I said.
EARLY
Yeah, but you didn't say it well. I'm
named Early. I'm known to some --
probably not your set, though. She
sleep with anybody?
SIMON
River?
EARLY
Yeah, she grapple with any of the
crew? Might be in their quarters?
SIMON
No!
EARLY
Maybe she does that you don't know
about.
SIMON
This is insane. I'm not gonna help
you find her in any case.
Early holds up his gun -- not pointed at Simon, just observing it.
EARLY
I think this is very pretty. I like
the weight of it.
SIMON
I thought the intention was not to
kill me.
EARLY
You're missing the point. The
design. Of the thing. It's
functional. The plan is not to shoot
you, the plan is to get the girl. If
there's no girl, then the plan...
well, it's like the room. You are
gonna help me look for her.
SIMON
I don't think my last act in this
'verse is gonna be betraying my
sister.
EARLY
You're gonna help me because every
second you're with me is a chance to
turn the tables, get the better of
me, and it's the only chance your
sister has. Maybe you'll find your
moment. Maybe I'll slip. Or you'll
refuse to help me, I'll shoot your
brain out, and then I'll go upstairs
and spend some time violating the
little mechanic I got trussed up in
the engine room. I take no pleasure
in the thought but she will die
weeping if you cross me.
SIMON
(quietly)
You're out of your mind.
EARLY
That's between me and my mind. Let's
start with these rooms.
ANGLE ON: BOOK, whose unconscious form is slumped in the other hallway. Simon (having grabbed a shirt) comes upon him quickly, checking to see he's not dead.
EARLY (cont'd)
He's not killed. Be a while before
he comes to, but he'll mend.
SIMON
And which part of your plan dictated
the necessity of beating up a
Shepherd?
EARLY
That ain't a Shepherd.
Simon looks at Early, unsure if this is just more of his off- centerness. Early is looking down the hall.
EARLY (cont'd)
Open the rooms.
INT. INFIRMARY/PASSENGER DORM - A BIT LATER
The infirmary doors open. Simon steps in, Early behind, gun still held on the doctor.
SIMON
She wouldn't come in here anyway.
She hates this room. You see, Early,
the people you're planning to sell
her to cut up her brain in a lab like
this. Tortured her. Teen-age girl.
Not some bandit on a murder run, just
an innocent girl --
EARLY
You ever been shot?
A small beat.
SIMON
No.
EARLY
You oughta be shot, or stabbed, lose
a leg... to be a surgeon. You know?
Know the kind of pain you're dealing
with.
What seemed like a threat becomes more like a distant observation -- not that Simon is particularly comforted by this.
EARLY (cont'd)
They make Psychiatrists get
psychoanalyzed before they can get
certified, but they don't make
surgeons get cut on. That seem right
to you?
Simon has no answer.
INT. CARGO BAY - MOMENTS LATER
The two of them enter the big, darkened bay. Early pulls out a small, powerful flashlight, shines it about. The locker with the spacesuits is near him, and the door is ajar. He moves to it -- swings it open, gun at the ready. It's empty (except for a couple of spacesuits).
Early steps into the middle of the room, looks about at it.
SIMON
Come on out, River, the nice man
wants to kidnap you...
EARLY
Shhh.
He looks at the walls, holds his arms out, moving them up parallel to the slanted walls.
EARLY (cont'd)
I like the way the walls go out.
Gives you an open feeling. Firefly's
a good design.
He motions with his gun for Simon to go upstairs. Heads up after.
EARLY (cont'd)
People don't appreciate the substance
of things. Objects in space. People
miss out on what's solid.
They reach the landing as he speaks, and he looks out over the room. Simon stands by him, unnoticed. He could just give a little shove --
-- and Early's gun is in his face, Early not even looking at him.
EARLY (cont'd)
It's not your moment, Doctor.
Simon takes a step back. Early points his light at Inara's shuttle.
EARLY (cont'd)
Companion lives there?
SIMON
Yes.
EARLY
(pointing at both
shuttles in turn)
We'll try the empty first. Then
we'll pay her a visit.
INT. CARGO BAY - A BIT LATER
Simon steps out of the empty shuttle, Early behind, moving a little faster.
EARLY
That room's not saying a damn thing.
They get halfway to Inara's -
EARLY (cont'd)
Hold it.
He stops by one of the catwalk's support beams - looks very closely at it. Sticks out his tongue and touches the end of it to the pole. Pulls back thoughtfully, as though he has learned something profound.
He motions for Simon to go on.
INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE - LATER
Inara is sitting up in bed. Simon stands near the entrance of the room, looking tense. Inara, vulnerable and more than a little confused, looks from him to Early, who is peeking in the back room, gun trained steadily on Inara.
INARA
This is pointless, you know that.
EARLY
Two hundred thousand seems fairly
pointed to me. Money like that, I
could retire, not that I would.
What's life without work?
INARA
Serenity is a smuggling ship. I've
been here a year, I couldn't name all
the places she might hide.
EARLY
I don't have a year.
(to Simon)
Your sister's becoming a real
annoyance.
SIMON
I feel for you.
He heads to the exit, herding Simon ahead of him, talking to Inara.
EARLY
I'm not gonna waste my time
threatening you, because I think you
believe that I will kill people if
someone upsets my plan. I'm gonna
seal you in, though. You just sit.
INARA
You can still walk away from this.
I know you're tired.
He violently pistol-whips her, pointing the gun back at Simon as she feels the blood on her lip.
EARLY
Don't go visiting in my intentions.
Don't ever.
He moves to the entrance. Before he shuts the door:
EARLY (cont'd)
(to Inara)
Man is stronger by far than woman.
But only woman can create a child.
That seem right to you?
He shuts the door on her.
INT. BRIDGE - LATER
Simon comes up the stairs from the front of the bridge while Early stands at the very front, looking down into the space, gun trained on Simon. He steps over to the middle with Simon, his manner tenser and the gun held with both hands at arms length.
EARLY
(calls out)
All right! That's all the hide and
seek I got time for!
INT. MAL'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Mal stirs, the voice barely reaching him.
INT. WASH AND ZOE'S ROOM - CONTINUING
She does the same.
INT. JAYNE'S ROOM - CONTINUING
He's sleeping right through it.
INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUING
EARLY
Now I know you're on this ship,
little girl, so here's how this goes!
He points the gun at Simon's temple.
EARLY (cont'd)
You show yourself, and we finish this
exchange, or your brother's brains'll
be flying every which way.
(to Simon)
You understand, I'm sort of on a
clock here, it's frustrating --
RIVER (O.S.)
You're wrong, Early.
He looks around, what the fuck -- but realizes she's just coming over the com.
He speaks in a more normal voice, knowing she can hear him.
EARLY
I'm not wrong, dumpling. I will
shoot your brother dead if you
don't --
RIVER (V.O.)
Wrong about River. River's not on
the ship. They didn't want her here,
but she couldn't make herself leave,
so she melted. Melted away.
INT. MAL'S ROOM - CONTINUING
He is hearing this also, and is more than a mite confused.
RIVER (V.O.)
They didn't know she could do that...
but she did.
INT. WASH AND ZOE'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Even Wash is waking up... as Early's voice also sounds on the general com.
EARLY (V.O.)
Not sure I take your meaning there...
The two of them look at each other.
INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUING
RIVER (V.O.)
I'm not on the ship. I'm in the ship.
Simon looks almost as perturbed as Early.
RIVER (cont'd; V.O.)
I am the ship.
SIMON
River...
RIVER (V.O.)
River's gone.
EARLY
Then who exactly are we talking to?
RIVER (V.O.)
You're talking to Serenity. And
Early... Serenity is very unhappy.
Early looks over at Simon, a bit freaked. Simon just shrugs. What are you gonna do?
END OF ACT TWO
INT. ENGINE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Kaylee is sitting in the corner, hands tied behind her back, legs tied together. She hasn't moved since Early left her, she's so scared. After a moment...
RIVER (V.O.)
Kaylee?
The voice is quieter, more intimate - this is not being broadcast for the public.
RIVER (cont'd; V.O.)
Kaylee, can you hear me?
KAYLEE
River...?
RIVER (V.O.)
You're afraid.
KAYLEE
(near tears)
He tied me up... I don't know where
he came from, he just...
RIVER (V.O.)
It's okay. Gonna be okay.
KAYLEE
Is he gone?
There is a small beat.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
(panicked)
Is he coming back?
RIVER (V.O.)
He's not gonna hurt you, Kaylee; He's
only visiting.
KAYLEE
I told him where you were, I'm sorry,
I didn't know what --
RIVER (V.O.)
Sshhhh... I'm fine. Only I need you
to do something for me. Gotta be
brave.
KAYLEE
I'm tied up, I can't --
RIVER (V.O.)
Got tools. something sharp. Don't
be scared. I'm right here.
INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUING
Early and Simon are very still. After a beat:
EARLY
Where'd she go?
SIMON
I can't keep track of her when she's
NOT incorporeally possessing a
spaceship, don't look at me --
EARLY
That's some nonsensical crap! Ain't
nobody can do that.
(to the air)
You're somewhere on this boat
Somewhere with a com, playing games.
Her LAUGHTER filters over the com. It's somewhat unsettling.
EARLY (cont'd)
That's somewhat unsettling.
RIVER (V.O.)
Early, Mister Jubel Early, bounty
hunter.... can I call you Jubel?
Okay, freak time. How'd she know that?
EARLY
Ain't nobody calls me that.
RIVER (V.O.)
Your mother does. I'm sorry. Did.
She's gone now.
EARLY
That supposed to scare me? Bringing
up my mother?
RIVER (V.O.)
You're a liar. I don't think your
intentions are honorable.
EARLY
Well, no, I'm a bounty hunter, it's
not generally considered honorable so
much as... I live by a code, though,
which I think is worth --
RIVER (V.O.)
You hurt people.
EARLY
Only when the job requires it.
RIVER (V.O.)
WRONG. You're a bad liar. You crawl
inside me uninvited and you hurt my
crew, I see everything that passes --
EARLY
I only hurt people 'cause they keep
getting in the way of finding you!
(to Simon)
Tell her!
SIMON
What am I, your advocate?
EARLY
(thrusts out gun)
You are starting now.
SIMON
(to River)
He's really very gentle and fuzzy,
we're becoming fast friends.
She giggles again.
EARLY
You folk are all insane!
SIMON
Well, my sister's a ship, we had a
complicated childhood.
EARLY
Does anybody care that I have a
finely crafted gun pointed at this
boy's head?
RIVER (V.O.)
I care.
EARLY
Then are you gonna come out, stop me
from doing what I don't want to? You
gonna be smart here, River?
There is no answer.
EARLY (cont'd)
River?
(beat)
Serenity?
INT. MAL'S ROOM - CONTINUING
He's shaking off the beating he took, pulling himself up.
MAL
(groggy)
What in the hell is going on here?
RIVER (V.O.)
I need you to do me a favor, Captain.
MAL
There was a guy, he was very blurry.
You gotta be careful.... how come
there's a guy on board and how come
you're all of a sudden the ship?
RIVER (V.O.)
I know you have questions...
MAL
Yeah, that would be why I just asked
them --
RIVER (V.O.)
But there isn't a lot of time.
Captain, I need you to trust me.
MAL
Am I dreaming?
RIVER (V.O.)
We all are.
The captain rolls his eyes.
RIVER (cont'd; V.O.)
Don't make faces.
He looks around. That was creepy.
INT. ENGINE ROOM/AFT HALL - CONTINUING
Kaylee has cut her hands free, is finishing her feet. Tentatively, she stands.
RIVER (V.O.)
Are you ready?
The door opens slowly and Kaylee peers out, still very afraid. A moment, then she starts down the hall, hugging the wall.
INT. BRIDGE - A BIT LATER
Early is getting a little more hyper. He moves to the computer screen, working it with one hand while keeping the gun loosely on Simon.
EARLY
Just gotta think here... These older
models got locators at all?
SIMON
Won't help...
EARLY
(turns to Simon)
You know, with the exception of one
deadly and unpredictable midget this
girl is the smallest cargo I have
ever had to transport and yet by far
the most troublesome. Does that seem
right to you?
Early turns back to the screens.
SIMON
What'd he do?
EARLY
Who?
SIMON
The midget.
EARLY
Arson.
(beat)
Little man loooved fire.
INT. FOREDECK HALL - CONTINUING
Kaylee peeks out around the corner. She can just see a piece of Early. She ducks her head back, then braves it, comes around and works the console.
The red light over MAL'S room goes out.
Kaylee bolts down toward the cargo bay.
INT. WASH AND ZOE'S ROOM - CONTINUING
They are talking with River's voice.
ZOE
I can take this guy out.
RIVER (V.O.)
He's faster than you. All of you.
And he's wearing armor.
WASH
What about his face? Is his face
wearing armor?
RIVER (V.O.)
No touching guns. You just have to
sit and be good. He'll leave soon.
Wash looks at Zoe.
WASH
This is all very surreal. I hate
surreal.
INT. MAL'S ROOM - CONTINUING
He is standing right under his ladder, waiting.
RIVER (V.O.)
It's soon now. Are you ready?
MAL
How do you know what this guy's gonna
do?
RIVER (V.O.)
I'm very close to him. He doesn't
even see it.
MAL
Okay, but --
RIVER (V.O.)
Go now.
INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUING
The lights go completely out in the bridge and the hall. We may or may not see Mal scrambling up his ladder and disappearing around the corner in the far background as Early looks around, NOT seeing him.
Now Early's very freaked.
RIVER (V.O.)
You're not welcome here anymore,
Early.
EARLY
And you think I'm gonna leave here
empty handed?
RIVER (V.O.)
I know it.
EARLY
Yeah, you know me real well.
RIVER (V.O.)
Wish I didn't. You like to hurt folk.
EARLY
It's part of the job.
RIVER (V.O.)
It's why you TOOK the job. Not the
chase, not the money... Power.
Control. Pain. Your mother knew.
Sadness in her when she waved
goodbye, but she's relieved. Saw
darkness in you. You're not well.
EARLY
You'll be wanting to shut up now.
RIVER (V.O.)
Big golden retriever, sitting on the
lawn. Never took to you. Smell on
you, the neighbors pets, you did
things to 'em... cleaned up after.
Shined and polished. Everything in
here gleams.
Realization dawns on Early.
EARLY
Well I'll be a son of a whore.
You're not in my gorram mind. You're
on my gorram SHIP!
EXT./INT. - EARLY'S SHIP - CONTINUING
We push in on River, who is in fact sitting in the pilot's seat of Early's ship, spacesuit on and helmet off. She is giggling again.
RIVER
It's very interesting. All these
buttons...
INTERCUT THE TWO LOCATIONS:
EARLY
Okay, we're not touching those, okay?
(to Simon)
How the hell did she get on my ship?
SIMON
At this point, I'm as lost as you.
RIVER
Can see everyone from here. Wave to
mommy. Put the gun away.
EARLY
(not putting it away)
Okay, I'm putting it away...
SIMON
No he's not.
He glares at Simon. Puts it away.
EARLY
I'm putting it away 'cause we're all
reasonable people, don't want to be
doing anything rash, fiddling with
any dials.
RIVER
You're not right, Early. You're not
righteous. Got issues.
EARLY
No! Or, yes, I could have that, you
might have me figured out, that...
good job, I'm not a hundred
percent -- Are we gonna be reasonable?
RIVER
Talk too much.
EARLY
I'm flawed in that way, I sometimes
go on, it's been said --
RIVER
It's okay, Early. I'm going with you.
Now it's Simon's turn to be unhappy.
SIMON
River, what are you --
RIVER
Don't belong. Dangerous. Like you.
INT. WASH AND ZOE'S ROOM - CONTINUING
They listen in, somber.
RIVER (V.O.)
Can't be controlled. Can't be
trusted. Everybody could just go on
without me, not have to worry.
INT. PASSENGER DORM - CONTINUING
Where Kaylee is tending a groggy Book, also hearing this.
RIVER (V.O.)
People could be who they wanted to
be, could be with the people they
wanted... could live simple. No
secrets.
We move in on Kaylee, the words clearly effecting her.
INT. BRIDGE INTERCUT WITH EARLY'S SHIP - CONTINUING
The realization of what she's saying truly hits him.
SIMON
(quietly)
No...
RIVER
And I'll be fine. I'll be your
bounty, Jubel Early. And then I'll
just fade away.
Early smiles. Heads for the door.
EARLY
Well, finally something goes
according to --
Simon throws himself at him, they clatter to the ground, tussling --
RIVER
Simon?
Early throws him off, pulls out his gun -- and fires. Simon's eyes go wide.
River starts screaming.
END OF ACT THREE
INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUING
Early stands, looking at Simon, who's shot in the upper thigh. He holds his hand over the spilling wound, face blanching.
EARLY
See? That's what it feels like.
He takes off --
INT. FOREDECK HALL - CONTINUING
Takes a moment to make sure no one is waiting in the hall --
EARLY
You just hang tight, Darlin'...
Early's on the move.
Come down the steps just as Simon launches himself at him, flying, knocking them both down, getting a couple blows in before Early recovers enough to ninja his face.
Early takes off, rounding the corner --
EARLY (cont'd)
Spirited boy...
ANGLE ON SIMON trying to shake it off.
RIVER (V.O.)
Simon...
SIMON
River don't let him.... don't let him
do this...
RIVER (V.O.)
Have to.
(quieter)
Have to.
EXT. TOP OF SERENITY - CONTINUING
Early comes out the hatch, helmet on. He looks up to see his ship following perfectly, smiles.
EARLY
You made the right move, darlin'.
Best for you to go with old Early.
MAL
You think so?
Early turns awkwardly (magnetic boots) to see Mal, suited up and cabled to the ship, right behind him.
MAL (cont'd)
Some of us feel differently.
Mal double palms him in the chest, an inelegant move, but the force of it sends Early flying off the ship, gone, just like that, long gone.
Mal watches him go a moment, then looks up. After a long beat, River floats down to him. He steadies her as she lands. Looks at her affectionately.
RIVER
Permission to come aboard?
MAL
You know, you ain't quite right.
RIVER
It's the popular theory.
MAL
Get on in there. Give your brother
a thrashing for messing up your plan.
RIVER
(going down)
He takes so much looking after...
INT. INFIRMARY/PASSENGERDORM/CARGO BAY - LATER
(This is possibly a one-er.)
Simon is on the table, talking Zoe through pulling out his bullet. He watches her progress on the screen...
SIMON
To the left -- your left. Now, very
gently, pull that aside.
ZOE
This is really not my area of
expertise, Doctor. I tend to be
putting these into people more than
the other thing.
WASH
(to Zoe)
Can I mop your brow? I'm at the
ready with the fearsome brow mopping.
SIMON
You got the bullet. Okay, I'm gonna
pass out for a minute, but you're
doing great.
We find Mal and Inara at the entrance, watching.
MAL
So we live to fight another day.
INARA
Any chance that < violent lunatic >
might survive?
MAL
Air he had left... chance'd be one in
about... a very big number. Ain't
odds I'd play. How's your lip?
He touches her face to look and she pulls away. They look at each other a moment, and she goes off, into the cargo bay, where we find Book and Jayne coming downstairs to do some weights. (Jayne going first, Book spotting.)
BOOK
I just feel such a fool.
JAYNE
Yeah, all those years of priest
training and you get taken out by one
bounty hunter.
BOOK
Don't get me wrong -- I gave him a
hell of a fight.
JAYNE
Epic, I'm guessing.
BOOK
There'll be poems and songs, you just
wait.
JAYNE
Hey, at least you got some play. I
missed every damn thing.
We are moving off them to find, in the corner, the girls, Kaylee and River, sitting in the corner. They are playing, of all things, jacks. It's Kaylee's turn, and she's tellin' a tale, the ease between them returned...
KAYLEE
And then his folks come by to fetch
him, and it turns out he's fourteen
years old!
(they both laugh)
I mean, he must have been some kind
of genetic experiment, 'cause I swear
he was... my daddy whupped me so
hard...
She misses --
KAYLEE (cont'd)
Dyah! I'm at fours. Let's see you
match that.
RIVER
(seriously)
--I can win this.
KAYLEE
I'm hearing a lot of talk, genius.
Come on. Show me what you got.
River looks at the ball in her hand.
CLOSE ON the ball, as she contemplates it. The solidity of the thing. We might notice it has a similar coloring to the moon we saw at the beginning of the show.
CLOSER STILL as she throws it down, camera goes slowly with it, it hits ground but the camera keeps going down, through the ship one last time, and out the bottom to:
EXT. SPACE - CONTINUING
Looking up at Serenity and panning left as she rockets away into the distance.
EXT. SPACE - ELSEWHERE - LATER
We see him, floating, turning slowly in place.
His helmet comes into view, his face amusedly resigned.
EARLY
Well... here I am...
Tiny, alone, he floats.
END OF SHOW