EXT. SPACE

SERENITY cruises past the stars.

INT. SERENITY - MESS QUARTER

Mal, Inara, Jayne, Wash, Zoey and Kaylee eat their meal. Lots of jokes and laughter are evident. We hear none.

INT. SERENITY - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE MESS QUARTER

River stops by the door. She isn't seen. Hides coyly. Ears protrude enough to hear. She smiles slightly.

It soon fades. She turns away from the door. Continues walking.

Her movements have a choreographed, almost balletic quality to them.

She runs her hand along the wall.

FLASH - RAPID FIRE DISTURBING VISION TIME

Just as quickly as it came, it is gone. River stops. Laughs quietly.

Continues walking.

RIVER The walls, they speak to me. Tell me about the past. Little stories they live to weave. None of them make sense. All jumbled together. (cold) The ship is a contradiction.

INT. SERENITY - BOOK'S LIVING QUARTERS

Book sits alone at his desk. Writes something down in a journal. Stood upright is a copy of the Bible - the New Testement.

He sighs. Wipes his brow.

ANGLE ON: JOURNAL

ENTRY 254

It reads as thus:

It has been nary a week since I witnessed the death of an Alliance Official. Every night I'm haunted by what happened... specifically what I did, and what I failed to do.

I am a Religious man. But I also like to think I'm a good man. Choices shouldn't be so black and white for me. I should always strive to do what is right.

But it isn't that simple. It is black and white. Out here, civilisation doesn't hark back to rules or commandmants. It works on what you have, what you don't have, and what you need.

As Darwin once said, it is the "survival of the fittest". To survive, you must do what the the other man, or woman, cannot.

As always, I offer my allegiance Father, but I worry that soon I will have to make a choice I do not want to make.

Book looks up, contemplative.

INT. SERENITY - MEDICAL BAY

Simon is clearing up. The area is a complete mess. Medical supplies and equipment are strewn everywhere.

Still, he tidies. Continues to tidy until it is looking spic and spam.

Simon stares at the Medical Bay. Aside from River, its all he has.

He sits for a while. Thinks.

SIMON (quietly) Did I make the right choice?

He has no answer.