www.stillflying.net presents…..

Virtual Firefly

Season 2 Episode 1: LONELY PLACES

Written and directed by George W. Krubski

Excerpt from 2x01: Lonely Places

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EXT. CONSTANTINE – DAY – ESTABLISHING

Constantine Refuelling and Trading Post is a ramshackle little town (home to no more than a few dozen) consisting of a sum total of one street and surrounded by hard-packed dirt that’s been scorched in an attempt to make landing fields. Some larger fuel tanks rim the town, making the place look like the space equivalent of a battered small town gas station that’s been languishing since the 1950s.

Serenity sails overhead, then settles in for a landing on the outskirts of town.

WASH (VO): No sign of Millie’s ship, Captain. Or any ship, for that matter. Or anyone. Place looks abandoned.

EXT. CONSTANTINE – STREET – DAY

Most of the buildings are two stories: homes built over small storefronts. Signs, sun-faded and peeling, proclaim sales on feed, engine parts, puppies, bait, ice, and Blue Sun Cola. One prominent sign notes that the Constantine Refueling and Trading Post was established in 2486 by Edgar Constantine.

Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Simon, and River walk cautiously down the street. River trails a bit, and Simon keeps turning to look for her.

ZOE: Wash is right, sir. Place is empty.

MAL: Well, it shouldn’t be. Millie should be here. Bernabe got the call that she made it, but not that she was leavin’.

JAYNE: Maybe she forgot. You know how women-folk can get.

Mal ignores him and moves to a SMALL PILE of goods in the middle of the street.

He bends down to examine it.

ZOE: Sir?

MAL: Food. Sealed protein packs mostly. They all look around. Items seem to be strewn all around, some collected into small piles. Creepy.

JAYNE(nervous): What d’ya figure, Mal? Reavers?

MAL: I don’t think so.

JAYNE: Gypsies?

Simon and Zoe look at him.

JAYNE (cont’d): There’s gypsies on Paquin. An’ on Earth-that-Was, gypsies kidnapped babies and et ‘em.

SIMON: Yes, Jayne. That’s it. Gypsies from Earth-that-Was traveled out here to this moon to try to find some babies to—

A RUSTLING NOISE startles them all (except River). Mal, Zoe, and Jayne whirl and aim their guns at—

A mangy DOG with a half-eaten apple in its mouth.

RIVER: Puppy!

INT. CONSTANTINE – SECOND STORY WINDOW – SAME TIME

We look down at the crew from the point of view of someone half-hidden behind a curtain.

EXT. CONSTANTINE – STREET – SAME TIME

As River pets the dog in the background, the others cluster together.

MAL: Scavengers. Slavers, most like.

SIMON: Slavers? What makes you think that?

ZOE: No corpses.

RIVER: Eyes.

The group turns to look at her as she stands.

RIVER: Eyes on us. Always watching. Seeing.

Mal and Zoe scan the area, while Jayne hunkers down nervously, and Simon stands there like a prime target.

MAL (pointing): There.

One of the buildings has a tiny SECURITY CAMERA hidden under its eaves.

MAL: Good eyes, little one. Zoe, see if you can find us some recordings.

Zoe moves off. River looks up at a WINDOW where the curtain rustles slightly, then looks down at the dog, shaking her head and indicating Mal as if he’s an idiot. The dog wags its tail.

INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE – DAY

Wash is putting the com back as Kaylee comes in.

KAYLEE: Any word?

WASH: Captain thinks it’s slavers. He wants us to be ready to get to Haven quick as possible. We’re only an hour out, and he wants to tell Bernabe face-to-face.

KAYLEE: They all okay in town?

WASH (smiles): Doc’s fine, if that’s what you’re asking.

KAYLEE: No, that’s not what I—

WASH: Town looks deserted from up close, too. Our birds should be back in the coop any minute now.

EXT. CONSTANTINE – STREET

Mal, Simon, and Jayne stand over a pile of batteries and other equipment, Jayne toeing the items with his boot.

MAL: Just threw everything of value out the windows. Started piling things up in the middle of the street—

He cuts himself off as the dog, playing with River, barks.

JAYNE: Why didn’t they take this stuff with ‘em?

SIMON: They must’ve decided to leave before—

Another bark.

MAL: River, will you shut that dog—

He spots movement in one of the upper windows and rushes at River.

MAL: Down!

As a SNIPER hidden behind curtains opens fire, Mal plows into River, pushing her to the relative safety of a front porch.

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