Lost Conversations - Part I

1. WHERE SIMON APOLOGIZES TO KAYLEE FOR HER GETTING SHOT

INT. SERENITY INFIRMARY

Kaylee sits on the examining table as Simon stands by.

SIMON Lift up your shirt.

KAYLEE (smiling) Yes, doctor.

She lifts the bottom of her shirt to reveal the bandage on her stomach wound. He looks at it as they speak.

SIMON You can call me Simon.

KAYLEE Okay. Simon.

SIMON I’ll have to remove the bandage to take a look. Might hurt a bit.

KAYLEE Do what you gotta do. He gentle pulls the bandage off as she grimaces.

SIMON There. Healing nicely. I’ll give you a clean one and that should be the last. He moves to get new bandage, applies it as they talk.

KAYLEE That’s nice. I’ll stay out the way next time.

SIMON You’ve been incredibly brave through all this.

KAYLEE You did all the hard work.

SIMON I guess I owed you that much since I was the reason you got shot.

KAYLEE Oh, Simon, weren’t your fault. That lawman, he’s the one shot me.

SIMON Kaylee, I’m feeling a bit guilty so I’d like to confess something.

KAYLEE What?

He finishes the bandage. Looks at her, very serious.

SIMON After you got shot, maybe you don’t remember but the Alliance cruiser told us to stop and prepare for boarding. I forced the captain to run for it. By threatening to not treat your wound.

KAYLEE I remember it plain as day.

SIMON And you’re not mad?

KAYLEE Course not. You did it for River. I knew you weren’t going to let me die.

SIMON Now I feel more guilty.

KAYLEE It’s okay, you had to protect your sister. Hell, we’d only just met, so of course she was more important.

SIMON You’re so...forgiving. You don’t realize how close to death you came.

KAYLEE I know. Just don’t think on it. I heard about that joke the Capt'n played on you. Gave him a piece of my mind. That weren’t very nice of him.

SIMON It seems that getting a laugh at my expense is a new game around here. The funny thing is, when he said you were dead I couldn’t accept it. Not because of your wound, which I knew could be fatal, but I couldn’t accept you dying, Kaylee. Just felt all wrong.

KAYLEE What do you mean?

SIMON You’re so full of life. You’re part of this ship. I can’t imagine Serenity without you.

KAYLEE That was nice. I think.

SIMON I meant it to be. So, I’m forgiven?

KAYLEE Course. All done?

Simon looks at her bandage.

SIMON Yes, we’re done. (Beat) You heard what the Captain said he’d do to me if you had died? She gets off the table after straightening her shirt.

KAYLEE No. What was that?

SIMON He basically threatened to throw me out the air lock.

KAYLEE Oh, he’d never done that. He was just being...protective.

SIMON You are an...unusual group here on Serenity.

KAYLEE Yeah. We’re one big happy dysfunctional family. Capt’n’s like the father, Inara the mother, ‘cept they ain’t sharing the same bed, Zoe the wild sister you never cross, Wash the crazy uncle, and Jayne the mean bully of an older brother.

SIMON And what about you?

KAYLEE Me? Oh, I’m the baby of the family of course.

SIMON Of course. The one everyone looks after. Where would Book, River, and I fit in?

KAYLEE Let’s see. Book’s easy. He’s the wise old grandfather, except he’s never been married. River the gifted cousin who you love but are jealous of, and you....mmmm that’s tough.

SIMON Come on. Don’t I have a place in your family?

KAYLEE Yeah, um, oh, I got it, the older cousin who’s in college and all my friends are crazy about when he comes to visit.

SIMON Really? Crazy about? Me?

KAYLEE Yeah, except I tell them to stay away from you since...

She stops, blushes.

SIMON Don’t stop. Since what?

KAYLEE Since you need to concentrate on studying to be a doctor so one day you can save my life.

SIMON Oh. That’s important I guess.

KAYLEE Simon. I just wanna thank you..for being there..when I needed you. If you hadn’t been on board...

SIMON None of this would have happened. Back to where we started.

KAYLEE Still. Thank you.

She smiles, and walks away as he looks at her with admiration.

2. WHERE MAL TELLS ZOE NOT TO MARRY WASH

INT. SERENITY FORE HALL

Mal heads up to the bridge.

MAL Wash! How much longer before we hit Greenleaf?

INT. BRIDGE

Mal walks on the bridge as he says this last. The bridge is empty. A large planet looms in the foreground.

Mal does a start and grabs the overhead mic. He hits the intercom button for the whole ship.

MAL

WASH! Get your gorramn ass up to the bridge now!

INT. FORE HALL

The door to Zoe’s bunk opens and a dishevelled Wash climbs up trying to put on his shirt at the same time. Mal hears the noise and looks out from the bridge.

MAL Wash! There’s a mighty big planet called Greenleaf in the window getting bigger and what the hell are you doing in Zoe’s bunk half naked!

WASH Ah...well, there was some....

MAL Get on the bridge! Now!

Zoe comes out after Wash passes Mal to his pilot’s seat still fixing his clothes.

ZOE Sir? Making Greenleaf?

Mal gives her a look like what the hell is going on.

MAL Wash? You got it?

WASH On the job. Landing in twenty minutes

Mal walks past Zoe towards the dining area.

MAL Let’s talk.

INT. DINING AREA

Mal enters as Zoe follows.

MAL I thought he bothered you.

ZOE Sir? If this is about me and Wash, ain’t none of your business.

MAL Shipboard romances get in the way of business. I had a hard time finding him and what if he pisses you off? You gonna cut his throat in the middle of the night? And then I gotta find a new pilot let alone land the boat by myself.

ZOE You’re getting way ahead of yourself, sir. We’re just having a good time. Ain’t nothing to it...Yet.

MAL How long this been going on?

ZOE Hmmm..more than two weeks.

MAL Two weeks? No wonder he’s been grinning and smiling so much. Listen, don’t care what you do in your personal life long as it don’t interfere with business.

ZOE When can I have a personal life since my life is this business?

MAL Zoe, I ain’t telling you who to sleep with. Just...not crewmates.

ZOE Well, who the hell else is around except crewmates, sir. We all have our needs.

MAL Just don’t let it get in the way of business.

ZOE And what if I wanted to marry him?

MAL No. No, I’m ordering you not to marry him if he ever asks, which he won’t.

ZOE Why wouldn’t he?

MAL (no answer coming) ‘Cause.

ZOE Right. Listen, I followed you to hell and back in the war, never questioned you or disobeyed but my love life is mine, so butt out. Sir.

She turns and walks away from him toward the bridge as Kaylee enters from the Aft Hall.

KAYLEE Hey, Capt’n.

MAL You know about Zoe and Wash?

KAYLEE Sure, didn’t you?

MAL Ah, yeah. (beat) Kaylee, don’t you ever fall for anyone on this ship, okay?

KAYLEE Ah, OK, Capt’n. I guess.

MAL Good. At least someone understands me. He walks away leaving a surprised Kaylee.

KAYLEE (to herself, sad) Not that there’s anyone on board interested in me.

Jayne enters from Aft Hall, lets out a belch.

JAYNE Hey, Kaylee, how’s about fixing me some grub?

KAYLEE Or that I’d want. (to Jayne) I ain’t your maid.

She exits toward the engine room as Jayne shrugs and heads to fix some food.

3. WHERE SIMON APOLOGIZES TO KAYLEE FOR WHAT HE SAID IN THE STORE FROM “SAFE”

INT. SERENITY CARGO BAY

Kaylee is working on the Mule, checking its engine. Simon walks up behind her. He’s bruised and battered from his ordeal with the hill folk.

SIMON Hi.

KAYLEE Oh, hi Simon. How’s River?

SIMON Sleeping. She’s had quite a day.

She looks at his bruises.

KAYLEE You’ve had a rough day, too.

SIMON Um, yes. Seems I’m making friends wherever we stop. (pause) Kaylee, about what I said in the store... I‘m sorry.

KAYLEE That’s OK.

SIMON No, it’s not. I insulted you and your home. I should never have said those things. I was upset and took it out on you. I’m very grateful to everyone on Serenity for taking in River and I. Especially you.

KAYLEE Why me?

SIMON You’re the only one who really accepted us from the beginning. The others...well.

KAYLEE They just want to protect their home and way of life. You have to understand. This is our home. We live this life because, for most of us, it’s all we have.

SIMON You’re so good at what you do. You could be an engineer, go to a good university on a Core planet, be on a ....

He stops, realizing he’s about to make another mistake.

KAYLEE Better ship?

SIMON No, I mean...I don’t know.

KAYLEE I choose this life because of what it is and because of them I’m with. I can’t imagine leaving.

SIMON I think I understand. It would be like being forced from your home. I know all about that.

KAYLEE Serenity is home...for you and River, too. We take care of her, love her, and she’ll take us where we want to go.

He looks around, smiles.

SIMON She’s a good ship.

KAYLEE (good natured) I think Serenity will accept your apology. (beat, more serious) Capt’n told me they were going to set you and River on fire.

SIMON Uh, yes, their customs are ...unusual.

KAYLEE What happened?

SIMON They thought she was a witch. Could read minds.

KAYLEE What? That’s nonsense.

SIMON Yeah. Country fools.

KAYLEE She can’t? Can she?

SIMON Read minds? No, that’s absurd.

KAYLEE Good, cause....

SIMON Got a secret?

KAYLEE Doesn’t everyone.

SIMON Suppose so. (Pause) I better go check on Book.

KAYLEE Yeah. I gotta finish here.

SIMON See you at dinner.

KAYLEE OK. See you.

4. WHERE MAL GIVES KAYLEE THE PINK DRESS AND SHE GETS READY FOR THE BALL

INT. SERENITY DINING AREA

Kaylee enters and sees Mal holding the pink dress from the store window. She’s shocked.

KAYLEE Capt’n, you didn’t have to...

MAL I didn’t. Badger did, for a job were doing for him.

KAYLEE A job, for Badger?

MAL (dashing) Miss Frye, would you care to accompany me to a ball?

KAYLEE (excited) Oh, Capt’n.

INT. CARGO BAY

Jayne and Book are lifting weights, Book on the bench as Jayne spots him. Mal is close by in his Sunday best adjusting his tie as Simon helps him.

SIMON The trick is to tie the knot correctly.

MAL Ain’t used to wearing such finery. (impatient) Where is that girl?

KAYLEE (O.S.) Right here.

Book finishes a set and he and Jayne turn to look at Kaylee, vision of loveliness in the pink dress as she enters from the passenger dorm.

BOOK Very lovely, Miss Kaylee.

JAYNE (best cowboy drawl) You sure look pretty, Miss Kaylee.

KAYLEE (blushing) Oh you guys! It’s just for work. (beat) You really think so?

SIMON There. All set.

He finishes Mal’s tie, turns and looks at Kaylee. He’s stunned.

SIMON (CONT’D) (quiet) Wow.

Kaylee blushes again and smiles at him.

MAL Enough with the flattery. We’re late for the ball.

He holds out his hand and Kaylee takes it as they walk to the door.

She looks back at them.

KAYLEE Don’t wait up.

Mal and Kaylee exit. Simon is still looking toward the door.

BOOK She’ll remember this for years to come.

JAYNE Yeah, meanwhile more exciting sitting for us. How’s about a game a cards?

BOOK Why not? Since were mostly poor, let’s bet for ship’s chores.

JAYNE Sure. Could do with less chores.

They turn to leave and Simon is still looking at the door, a bemused look on his face.

JAYNE (CONT’D) Doc? You in or you gonna stare into space all night?

SIMON I just never realized how bea..pretty she was before.

Jayne and Book give each other a knowing look.

BOOK Perhaps that’s something you should be telling her.

Simon suddenly snaps out of his trance.

SIMON Oh. Um, cards. Sounds good. Just let me see on River for a minute.