EXT. SERENITY - UNDERSIDE

Jayne struggles to hang on to Paul against the centrifugal force. He looks up and sees the cable fraying against the rear of the hatch. There’s little of it left holding them. He looks back down at Paul.

Jayne POV - sees the rip-cord on Paul's harness. He grins.

JAYNE: Change o' plan!

He reaches around and pulls the rip-cord, shoving Paul away from himself the next instant.

JAYNE: Pull me in!

Jayne watches as Paul's parachute unfurls into a beautiful blue and white cloud beneath him.

He looks up, sees the cable center itself in the hatch opening as it hauls him up.

INT. MADSEN’S POD

Madsen maneuvers the stick as he watches out the port side of the canopy.

MADSEN: Hadn’t thought of that...

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Jayne comes into view. As soon as he clears the doors, Simon hits the button to close them.

He runs up to Jayne.

SIMON (unhooking Jayne's cable): Where's Paul? What happened?

Jayne slaps Simon on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over, then runs to the fore/starboard stairs.

JAYNE (running up stairs two at a time): I opened his 'chute. Maybe we can get under 'im 'fore he splashes down. (turns his head and spits over the hand rail) Swallowed a ruttin’ bug.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

River maneuvers the yoke, pushing forward on the throttle. She takes Serenity in a long loop, diving back down toward the ground.

RIVER: Captain, would you mind...?

MAL: Pokin' my head outta the topside airlock and gettin' some air? Love to.

Mal darts from the Bridge.

Follow Mal down the stairs and through the fore hall. Round the corner just past his bunk to the airlock ladder. He reaches it at the same time as Jayne.

JAYNE: I had 'im, Mal. Gorram cable almost gave... If he hits the water, he’ll sink like a stone.

MAL (places a hand on Jayne's shoulder): I know. No worries.

Mal climbs the ladder and activates the airlock.

EXT. SERENITY - TOPSIDE

Mal's head appears through the opening. He turns and looks ahead, squinting at the buffeting winds. Mal watches with a smile as Serenity swoops in toward Paul. The ship's engines shift to keep her hovering as she slips beneath Paul, less than fifty feet above the water.

MAL (to himself): All right, River. I know you're listenin'. Forward another couple yards... good. One more yard... All right, hold there. Shiny.

Mal grabs Paul's feet, then his legs, guiding him into the airlock tube. He guides him down to…

INT. SERENITY – FORE HALL

…Jayne waiting below. The parachute proves cumbersome, until Jayne draws a knife and cuts the cords. The parachute is quickly dragged from the ship.

Jayne picks Paul up and hurriedly carries him around the corner, through the galley and into the aft hall, Mal on his heels.

JAYNE: Tell the doc to get his pee goo to the infirmary! Man's bleedin' bad!

INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE

River places a hand lovingly on the console before her.

RIVER: I knew you wouldn’t let me down.

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