EXT. HIGHWAY – NIGHT

A large transport truck, ten-wheeler, grinds its way up an empty winding mountain road.

INT. TRUCK – NIGHT

Mal drives as Kaylee and Simon sit squeezed into the cab. They are dressed in dark blue worker’s overalls with caps on and ID badges on their front left pockets. Some country western music comes over a radio.

MAL Blue, always blue. Ain’t one person with an imagination in the whole damn Alliance uniform design….whatever you call it.

KAYLEE I kinda like it. It’s comfortable. I wanna keep it.

Simon is the opposite, decidedly uncomfortable in the uniform

SIMON Couldn’t they have made it… less, constricting.

MAL I think you got a size too small there, Doc

KAYLEE I think you look cute in a uniform. Don’t you think he looks cute, Capt’n?

MAL Yeah, he’s a real charmer. OK, lets get a few things straight. Out here I’m not the captain and the Doc isn’t a doc or your husband. I’m a guy giving you a lift and he’s…what are you supposed to be, ah, what’s your name?

Simon looks at his name tag.

SIMON Jedidiah Jones, cook.

KAYLEE Cook?! That’s rich!

SIMON Couldn’t they have come up with a better cover story for me? At least Kaylee’s says…

KAYLEE Engineer. Alice Stephenson, from Persephone. Shiny! I love Persephone. Gotta remember that.

SIMON What does your say, Mal?

MAL Truck driver, what else.

KAYLEE No, the name, what name did they give you?

MAL (quiet) Alouisus Neidermier.

SIMON Didn’t quite catch that?

MAL (loud) Alouisus Neidermier! . Bet Monty had something to do with picking that name.

Kaylee and Simon laugh.

MAL I see two crew cleaning a lot of toilets and dishes for the next six months.

KAYLEE We’ll call you Al, close to your name anyway. And Simon is Jed.

SIMON And you’re Alice, in Wonderland.

KAYLEE (quiet, remembering) My daddy read that book to me when I was a little girl. (beat) Seems like a long time ago.

Simon takes her hand in his and gives her a reassuring look.

SIMON It’ll work out.

Up ahead some lights, a gate, a small building, tower, and a fence appear, with soldiers around it. Mal turns off the radio.

MAL First check point. Let me do the talking.

EXT. ALLIANCE CHECK POINT – NIGHT

The truck pulls to a stop as a soldier walks up to the driver’s door. A second soldier walks around to the back. A small tower, with a heavy gun and two soldiers, looms over the scene. The soldiers swing the gun toward the truck.

Mal rolls down the window, big friendly grin on his face.

MAL Howdy!

SOLDIER 1 (cold) Orders.

MAL Got ‘em right here.

Mal hands over an electronic style clipboard with a screen and buttons on it. The soldier presses buttons and the screens change.

SOLDIER 1 What’s the cargo? Doesn’t say here.

MAL Don’t know. High priority, sealed tight. Told not to ask too many questions when we got here. Just drive this load to these coordinates. Not even a name on a map. Telling you, took some doing. Ain’t a sign post or a nav beacon anywhere out here.

SOLDIER 1 Get down. All of you.

Mal keeps his composure.

MAL No problem.

Mal gets out followed by Kaylee and Simon. They stand in front of the driver’s door.

SOLDIER 1 (to Mal) So, you’re the driver. (nods to Kaylee and Simon) What are they doing here?

MAL New workers, cook and engineer, needed a lift.

Soldier 1 examines their ID badges. He runs a scanner like device over them and on the device a red light changes to green each time. The second soldier appears from around behind the truck, gun held across his chest.

SOLDIER 2 It’s sealed with a high priority sticker.

MAL You bust that seal, it’s my ass.

SOLDIER 1 We know better than to open a high priority sealed cargo. Wait here.

He turns and walks back to the small building with the electronic clipboard Mal gave him.

Soldier 2 looks at Kaylee, smiles at her.

SOLDIER 2 (flirting) Where you from?

KAYLEE (nervous, small voice) Ta…Persephone.

SOLDIER 2 Yeah? Nice world I hear. (beat) You got some free time later?

KAYLEE Don’t know…

Simon starts to give him a nasty look.

SIMON No, she doesn’t. She’s my…

MAL (quickly interrupting) Sorry but we was told not to talk to anyone and discuss anything outside official business. Now you trying to put us in a bad spot here or what?

Soldier 1 has come back and has heard this last. He’s obviously in charge.

SOLDIER 1 (to Soldier 2) No fraternizing with off world workers. (to Mal) OK. You check out. Drive straight through. There’s two more check points. Drive slow, stop good distance from the gates. Have a good night.

He hands Mal the clipboard and the three get back in the truck.

INT. TRUCK – NIGHT

The gate is raised and Mal guns the truck through. He turns and glares at Simon.

MAL Doc, Jed, whatever, you looking to get us killed?

SIMON Sorry, just he made me…

KAYLEE (playful) Jealous?

MAL Got no time for teenage games you two. Doc, learn to keep your heart and tongue in check. What you think was going to happen you say she’s your wife?

SIMON I wasn’t thinking….

MAL You let me do the thinking. And Kaylee, don’t be batting your eyes at anyone.

KAYLEE (indignant) Hey! I wasn’t batting anything!

MAL We get inside, you two geniuses are front and center, but until then, do as I say.

EXT. SHUTTLE II – NIGHT

Shuttle II, concealed in brush, sits on a small hill in the distance, near enough to over look the highway. Jayne crouches outside with a pair of futuristic binoculars, looking toward the first checkpoint. He turns and enters the shuttle.

INT. SHUTTLE II – NIGHT

Zoe, Brenner, Monty, and Chester are inside, with a command post set up. Several computer screens are set up on some crates in the cargo area. Zoe sits in front of one screen on which can be seen a video from what looks like inside the truck out the front windshield. Chester sits in front of another on which can be seen Mal, Kaylee, and Simon’s pictures same as ID badges, with the fictitious names and info.

JAYNE They made it through the first checkpoint. ID’s must be good.

BRENNER Our computer link is overriding their checkpoint scanners ones, giving them the false data.

JAYNE What genius came up with that?

CHESTER (proud) I did. Bet you can’t even log onto a Cortex screen.

JAYNE You looking to kiss the dirt again, little man?

ZOE Jayne….

MONTY Chester, best you walk careful around Jayne here. Seen him take on five guys in bar once and walk away from it.

JAYNE Didn’t even break a sweat.

CHESTER I ain’t no weakling.

JAYNE Yeah, but can you hit a guy with a rifle at 500 yards with a bent scope? Now that’s something to be proud about, little man.

BRENNER Enough with the macho bull. Zoe, how’s the vid? We downloading?

ZOE Vid’s coming in good. Got it recording.

Zoe speaks into a mic.

ZOE Kaylee? Vid’s good, keep her steady. And don’t be batting your eyes at anyone.

INT. TRUCK – NIGHT

Close up on a small receiver in Kaylee’s right ear hidden behind her hair. Swing out to her face and pull back to show a tiny microdot on her cap front, close in on the dot and we see it is a highly miniaturized camera.

KAYLEE I only got eyes for one man, Zoe.

Simon and Mal look at her, Simon grinning.

MAL Vid’s OK?

KAYLEE Shiny, Capt’n. Uh, Al.

They approach the second check point, same set up as first. A soldier waves them over.

MAL OK, here we go again. This one should be easier.

EXT. SERENITY MOUNTAIN AREA – NIGHT

Serenity is parked in a small valley.

INT. SERENITY BRIDGE – NIGHT

River and Inara sit and chat as River keeps an eye on the scanners. Inara sips some tea. She shivers.

INARA I’m so nervous. I used to worry when Mal was on a job but now…

RIVER It’s different.

INARA Yes. Since we…I guess you know all about that.

RIVER I do. The two of you are glowing.

INARA Are we? Not use to having other people read me. It’s what I normally do.

Suddenly River’s eyes are glued to the scanners as a beeping starts.

RIVER We’ve got a ship, mid-sized war cruiser, breaking atmo, about 200 kilometers out.

INARA We have to tell the others!

RIVER We don’t break radio silence. (beat) Wait. It’s not coming this way. Seems to be heading for Permian.

INARA Permian? Kaylee said that Mal’s family ranch was near there.

INT. SHUTTLE II – NIGHT

ZOE They’re through check point two.

BRENNER One more to go.

Chester stands, heads for the door, looks around, no one looking his way, steps outside, no one noticing.

EXT. SHUTTLE II – NIGHT

Chester starts to walk off. Jayne is leaning against the side of the shuttle smoking a cigar.

JAYNE Where to, little Chester?

Chester is a bit surprised but covers quickly.

CHESTER Call of nature. Wanna watch?

Jayne spits on the ground.

JAYNE Just don’t got too far, no telling what kinda critters is out in these hills.

Chester ignores him and walks off.

Jayne smokes some more, enjoying the night. Monty sticks his head out of the shuttle.

MONTY Where’s Chester?

JAYNE Taking the lizard for a walk.

MONTY We’s comin’ up on checkpoint three.

JAYNE I’ll get him.

EXT. HILLSIDE, BRUSH – NIGHT

Jayne rounds a thick section of brush and sees Chester and – an Alliance patrol, ten of them, armed to the teeth. It's dark and he's not sure, gets down, draws his weapns, crawls a little closer, using brush for cover.

Chester seems to be real friendly with them, not a prisoner

CHESTER The shuttle is just over there. Only three on board, but well armed. Now there's three others...

Jayne leaps up and yells before Chester can finish.

JAYNE (shouting)

They all turn toward Jayne raising weapons.

ALLIANCE SOLDIER We’ve been spotted!

Jayne has a machine pistol in one hand and his laser in the other. He starts firing like mad, cigar clenched firmly in his teeth.

Bullets and lasers spray the troops as they dive for cover. Two soldiers go down. Chester gets two bullets, one in the shoulder and one in the leg, and a laser bolt creases his head. He’s down but not dead.

CHESTER Kill that dog!!

Alliance soldiers start returning fire, bullets kicking up dirt and clipping brush around Jayne. He decided he’s had enough and turns and runs.

CHESTER After him! Don’t let that shuttle get away!

INT. SHUTTLE II – NIGHT

Monty sits at Chester’s computer screen. On Zoe’s can be seen an Alliance soldier, talking to Mal, looking at his clipboard.

MONTY I guess we don’t touch nothing. That’s best. Right?

BRENNER I’m gonna hang him out to dry…

They hear the shots. Zoe’s eyes go wide as she looks at the others.

MONTY Gorramn it!

BRENNER Time to leave!

ZOE Kaylee! We’re humped!

With that she leaps to the pilot’s seat as Brenner and Monty get out weapons and go to the door.

EXT. SHUTTLE – NIGHT

Jayne comes tear assing into the area, jumps into the door, out of breath.

JAYNE There’s a bunch of them! Alliance patrol! Take off!

BRENNER Wait! Where’s Chester?

JAYNE He’s leading them!

Jayne starts firing out the door, and is joined by Monty as the patrol comes into the area. The shuttle starts lifting off. Bullets fly around. Monty shoves Jayne inside and as he closes the door, a bullet hits him dead in stomach. He grunts and falls back as Brenner closes the door. The shuttle takes off.

EXT. CHECK POINT THREE – NIGHT

Kaylee’s eyes go wide as she hears Zoe’s warning.

KAYLEE Um, excuse me, uh, Al, could we hurry? Cause my bladder sure is weak from all the humps we hit on that road.

MAL (surprised) Ka…Alice, what are you….

KAYLEE Humps, too many humps.

SIMON (confused) Are you OK?

Mal finally gets it.

MAL Oh, yeah. Humps. (to Soldier) Hey, could we sped it up a bit, my passenger is in an awful state here.

The Soldier returns the clipboard to Mal.

SOLDIER 3 All done. Just drive up to the main gate and they’ll let you in.

MAL Much obliged.

The three quickly get in the truck and drive through the gate.

INT. TRUCK – NIGHT

MAL Kaylee, what’s going on?

KAYLEE Just a minute. Message from Zoe….Chester turned us in,…led Alliance patrol to us…., Jayne shot him, not sure if he’s dead…Monty’s….oh God, Monty’s been shot…still alive…. They’re heading back to Serenity.

MAL Gorramn it all to hell! It never goes smooth, how come it never goes smooth!

SIMON We should turn around. Monty needs my help.

MAL Much as I agree with you Doc, we just came through three highly sensitive checkpoints. What you think they gonna think we turn around now? We go ahead do the job and hope like hell Brenner’s got a doc on his team.

KAYLEE But they know about us.

MAL We don’t know what they know. Chester may be dead or didn’t have time to tell his fed buddies the whole plan. We keep going. We get pinched, well….we won’t.

SIMON That’s reassuring….Who is Chester, anyway?

MAL Number one on my list for a dirt nap if he’s still standing when this is through.

EXT. HILLSIDE, BRUSH AREA

Close up on the staring lifeless eyes of Chester, lying on a stretcher, dead. A medic bends over him, lots of bloody bandages and gear lying around. Several other Alliance soldiers are being tended and one of them lies dead.

MEDIC The bullet hit the main artery in his thigh. Bled out. (pause) Who is he anyway?

ALLIANCE SOLDIER Don’t know exactly. Our Officer’s dead too. Guess I better radio for orders.

EXT. SCIENTIFIC COMPLEX MAIN GATE – NIGHT

The truck approaches a large concrete slap set in the side of a mountain. The road ends here. Mal stops the truck as a soldier takes a look, walks around the truck, and then waves the nervous trio through the now opening concrete doors. Mal has the window down and looks out at the soldier.

MAL Excuse me, it’s my first time here. What’s the lay the land from here?

SOLDIER 4 Just follow the tunnel underground, till you get to the parking area. Turn your keys and cargo over to the transport warden.

MAL There a place to grab a bite and a rest?

SOLDIER 4 Sure, just follow the signs. Everything’s color coded. Don’t go near anything yellow or red tagged. That’s out of bounds, Stay in the green areas. Finest facility this side of the galaxy. Have a good night.

MAL Thank you kindly.

The truck moves through to the tunnel as the doors close behind them.