BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

CBSTEVE

Shadow of Doubt - Part 8
Sunday, November 18, 2007

Events reach a climax in the skies over Shadow as our big damn adventure concludes.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2284    RATING: 0    SERIES: FIREFLY

INT. SERENITY, INFIRMARY

Jayne lies on the examining table as Inara begins to treat his wound, Zoe in the doorway.

JAYNE (in pain) Shot! Again!

ZOE (to Inara) You got it?

INARA Yes.

ZOE I’ll be on the bridge.

She exits in a hurry. Inara cuts off his t-shirt.

JAYNE One a my favorites, too.

INARA Where’s Brenner? Where’s my shuttle?

JAYNE Shuttle crashed and….

INARA What? My shuttle!

JAYNE Mal’s, technically speaking wise.

INARA OK, OK, but where’s Brenner?

JAYNE Broke his leg, couldn’t walk, so…

INARA You left him!

JAYNE He couldn’t move! There was a whole fed company! Zoe and I lucky we’re alive. How the hell we gonna carry…

INARA No, sorry. You did..you..just worried. About Mal and Simon and Kaylee.

JAYNE Yeah. (beat) Me, too.

INARA The truck blew up, didn’t it?

JAYNE Yeah.

Silence as she works, her face betraying her fear.

INARA Bullet’s still in there. You’ll have to wait for…Simon.

JAYNE Yeah. Doc’ll fix me up later. (beat) ‘Nara, I know I ain’t much for words of comfort, but anyone get outta that mess, Mal be the one. Hell, he got lots experience getting in and outta messes.

INARA (small grin) That he does, that he does. Just…what do we do now? Feel so…

JAYNE Helpless?

INARA Yes. Helpless.

INT. BRIDGE – DAY

Zoe gets on the bridge.

RIVER How’s Jayne?

ZOE He’s…how did you…never mind. Just in the shoulder, he’ll make it. Brenner didn’t I’m guessing.

RIVER I know. (beat) What now?

ZOE Any Alliance ships?

RIVER Just the one parked near the complex. It’s not moving but its tracking us.

ZOE Gets us somewhere to hide, quick, and not in that gorramn lake again. Behind a hill, cave, in a forest somewhere they can’t see us.

RIVER Over the horizon, beyond line of sight and sensors.

ZOE Do it. Fast. (beat) I need time to think.

EXT. SERENITY - DAY

The ship starts picking up speed, staying low to the ground.

INT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP, HOLDING CELLS

Mal, Simon, Kaylee and the Operative are led to a long corridor with many doors off it. Many guards and the Captain are behind them.

CAPTAIN In here. With him.

He indicates the Operative. A guard opens a door.

CAPTAIN Two men inside and two outside at all times. 24 video watch, no lights out, restraints not to be removed. He is highly dangerous.

OPERATIVE You think too much of me Captain. This is the second time I have been apprehended by your forces.

MAL Yeah, he ain’t as tough as he looks.

CAPTAIN Captain Reynolds, your cavalier attitude will not save you or your shipmates.

MAL See, that’s where you and I disagree.

CAPTAIN (re: Operative) Inside. Now.

KAYLEE Wait! (to Operative) Where’s my daddy and Simon’s parents?

OPERATIVE Right here.

KAYLEE DADDY!!!

JONATHAN (O.S.) KAYLEE! KAYLEE! OPEN THIS DOOR YOU BASTRADS!!

Pounding comes from one of the small doors to the left. Kaylee runs to it as behind her the Operative is put in the room and two soldiers enter with him and the door is closed.

KAYLEE Daddy! I’m here.

JONATHAN (O.S.) Oh, baby.

CAPTAIN Let her in with him.

One guard opens Jonathan’s door. He is disheveled, unshaven, and looks like he hasn’t slept much. Kaylee kisses him and he gives her a hug.

JONATHAN Oh, little Kaylee!

KAYLEE Oh, Daddy! I’m so sorry we got you mixed up in this.

JONATHAN What’s going on? What happened to your arm? Where’s Simon?

SIMON (weary) Here, sir. Long story.

CAPTAIN Enough. Put her inside

KAYLEE Simon?

SIMON I need to see my parents. Everything will be fine.

KAYLEE Don’t go…

CAPTAIN Miss Frye. Would you like a cell by yourself?

KAYLEE No. (beat) Simon I…

SIMON I know. Me, too.

And they close the door behind Kaylee and lock it with. The Captain leads Simon to another door.

CAPTAIN Your parents are in here. You may say goodbye to them.

MAL You’re all heart.

CAPTAIN My orders come from the highest authority.

MAL You know, I never had much schooling. My daddy died when I was just a boy and all I learned was from being on a horse and with a gun in my hand. But I know right from wrong and I suspects you do to. And you know this is wrong.

CAPTAIN I don’t have the luxury of independent thought here. As you well know.

MAL Independent thought. That’s what you guys never understood about the war. We didn’t want to be leader of the verse, run all these little worlds. All we wanted was the right to think for ourselves, do what we wanted, go our own way.

CAPTAIN Your lecture is wasted on me, Captain. Inside, the two of you.

MAL Simon? Stay shiny.

SIMON (dejected) I’m trying.

They open the doors and Simon enters his as Mal is put in a cell opposite him.

INT. TAM’S CELL

It’s a small room, with two beds, not very comfortable, small and narrow, a small toilet and wash basin, exposed. Air circulates through a tiny vent in the ceiling.

Gabriel and Regan are here, staring at Simon, unbelieving he is here. Simon stares at his parents as they are in shock to see him. He’s still a mess from the explosion, cuts and bruises, tattered uniform. Regan gives a small cry and runs to him and hugs him. He is reluctant to return the hug but then does so, his eyes watering a bit. Gabriel just stands and stares at him in a very severe manner.

REGAN Oh, Simon, Simon! What happened to you?

SIMON It’s a long story, mother.

GABRIEL Where is your sister?

SIMON So now you are concerned about her? After all this time?

Regan steps back from Simon.

REGAN Don’t fight. Please. I couldn’t stand it at this point.

GABRIEL He has brought nothing but ruin to this family.

REGAN Gabriel, he is your son. And what he did, he did for his sister. If you had been more of a man you would have done the same.

Her words sting Gabriel and he is flabbergasted, says nothing. Regan sits on one of the beds, fighting back the tears. Finally, Gabriel finds his voice, weak, full of shame.

GABRIEL Regan, what I did, I did to protect you and try to bring our son and daughter home, through legal channels, and with Alliance approval. (to Simon) River? Where is she? Please.

SIMON I do not know where River is now. We have been separated since last night. She is on a Firefly class transport called Serenity which has been our home for the last year, with the people I now consider my family.

Long silence. REGAN What’s going to happen now?

SIMON The Alliance has placed a death sentence on us.

REGAN Oh, God!

GABRIEL No! They can’t!

SIMON (angry) And you helped them find us!

GABRIEL (pleading) Now, Simon I had no choice! (beat) That man…that…psychotic man.

SIMON The Operative of the Parliament?

GABRIEL He said he would kill your mother if I didn’t cooperate.

REGAN Simon, it’s true.

GARBIEL He made me send waves to the families of those people on Serenity. I sent a wave to the Cobb family, Kaylee Frye…

SIMON My wife.

REGAN (shocked) What?

GABRIEL Your wife? But…when…how long?

SIMON River and I have been missing from your lives for over a year. Do you think we just curled up in a corner and did nothing? In that time I have lived a fuller life that in all my years on Osiris. I rescued River from the Athenian Island prison they we’re keeping her in. I have traveled with criminals doing more illegal things in one day than you’ve done in your entire life, father. I have gotten blind drunk on Mudder’s Milk, and I liked it. I’ve masterminded a robbery of a fed hospital on Ariel and beat an Alliance guard within an inch of his life to save River once again. I’ve treated numerous gunshot, knife, and laser wounds and delivered a baby in a whore house. I’ve been shot twice myself, beaten more times than I can remember and lost two of my very good friends. I’ve been on a world where 30 million people have been murdered by the Alliance’s stupidity. I’ve been in a space battle with the Alliance and I’ve killed Reavers. And finally, I have fallen in love, with the sweetest little mechanic in the ‘verse, and just a few days ago I made her my wife.

REGAN Simon…we never knew…

SIMON (quiet) How could you, Mother, how could you?

GABRIEL Kaylee…where is she now?

SIMON In the next cell, with her father.

INT. JONATHANS CELL

Kaylee and her father sit on one bed holding each other as Kaylee finishes the story.

KAYLEE (whimpering) And then everything just blew up. Oh, Daddy, it was just awful. That’s when I broke my arm. Weren’t more than thirty minutes ago.

JONATHAN Is it hurting baby?

KAYLEE Not too much. They gave me something for the pain. (beat) They put explosives in that truck, didn’t tell us, nothing. Capt’n like to kill all them rebels…if they ain’t so already. Alliance man said they was gonna attack at dawn. And we don’t know what happen to the others. They was shot up, that’s last we heard.

JONATHAN Gorramn it all to hell. What a fix we’re in.

KAYLEE (tears flowing) They’re gonna kill Simon!

He hugs her tight as she breaks down.

JONATHAN Shussh now. We’ll find a way out a this mess.

KAYLEE (sniffling) Did you see Simon’s parents?

JONATHAN No. You said they had them. But I never seen them.

KAYLEE Simon’s with them now. Next door. First time they seen each other in more than a year.

JONATHAN Bet that’s going be a hell of a conversation. (beat) They don’t know about you, do they?

KAYLEE Talked to his father once, on a wave, but he don’t know were married and I never ever met them.

JONATHAN We have to fix that real soon. (beat) What’re these bastards planning for us now?

INT. OPERATIVE”S SSPACESHIP BRIDGE – DAY

JUNIOR OFFICER Sir, we are getting reports from civilian bandwaves of that chemical cloud. There is mass panic, confusion and some reports of…deaths. In Permian.

CAPTAIN Let the Shadow forces deal with that. Open a hailing frequency all channels.

JUNIOR OFFICER Yes, sir.

CAPTAIN (into Mic) Serenity. This is Captain Mitchell of the Alliance Defense Forces. We have your shipmates, including Simon, Gabriel and Regan Tam. Please surrender at once or we will be forced to take drastic measures. (beat to himself) Now she will come to us.

INT. SERENITY BRIDGE – DAY

Serenity is still flying low to the ground when River hears the message coming through. She is alone on the bridge.

RIVER This has to end. This has to end. She grabs the mic.

RIVER (into mic) Alliance cruiser, this is Serenity. Name your terms.

CAPTAIN (O.S.) Who am I speaking to?

RIVER River Tam.

CAPTAIN (O.S.) Miss Tam. We will free your parents and your shipmates once you are in custody.

RIVER Before.

CAPTAIN (O.S.) Now how can we trust you?

RIVER Then kill them, be done with it.

CAPTAIN (O.S.) You can’t be serious. Kill your parents and brother?

RIVER My brother is as good as dead. You set my parents and my friends free somewhere and then I will come to you.

CAPTAIN (O.S.) Very well. The rebel ranch seems to be a good common ground.

RIVER In the fields, far from the forest.

CAPTAIN In ten minutes. We’ll be there.

RIVER Roger that. Over and out.

And she banks the ship hard over in 180 degree turn.

INT. INFIRMARY

Inara and Zoe are helping Jayne get up when they feel the ship turning, lose their footing, almost fall.

JAYNE Rookie pilot!

ZOE What the hell? She turning around?

INT. BRIDGE

Zoe gets on the bridge.

ZOE River, you turn us around?

RIVER It has to end, it has to end.

ZOE What’s going on?

RIVER You still have that rocket launcher?

ZOE What?

RIVER The rocket launcher. The one Brenner gave you.

ZOE How do you…never mind. What’s the plan?

INT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP, MAL’s CELL

Mal washes his cuts and face in the sink, using a small towel to wipe away the grit. He then sits on the bed, rips open the left leg of his uniform and starts to examine a deep cut. He washes it, winces in pain, then gives a start as he hears a noise, the door opens, and the Operative jumps in his room, the guards keys in his hand, his cuffs still on, a weapon in his hands.

MAL Well, now why don’t this surprise me. The guards?

OPERATIVE Dead. But more will be here soon. Cameras.

He points to the ceiling to the camera. He undoes his cuffs and hands the keys to Mal, who quickly does the same.

INT. CORRIDOR

Mal and the Operative come out. On the floor by the Operative’s room two guards lie dead, necks at awkward angles. Mal picks up another weapon. Footsteps can be heard running.

Two soldiers round the corner as Mal and the Operative FIRE and the two go down. Silence and then…

JONATHAN (O.S.) WHAT THE GORRAM HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE?

Mal moves to open his door, fiddles with keys, finds the right one.

KAYLEE Capt’n!

JONATHAN This here a rescue?

MAL Ask him, he’s the brains.

JONATHAN Why, you son-of-a-bitch.

And he HITS the Operative who flinches but doesn’t fall, wipes blood from his lip.

OPERATIVE Are you satisfied or shall we fight while every soldier on this ship waits for us?

Kaylee grabs her father’s arm with her good one.

KAYLEE I told you he was arrested, too.

JONATHAN I know. Just feel better though.

Mal opens the Tams door. They rush out, Simon into Kaylee’s arms, well, her arm.

SIMON Oh. my love.

KAYLEE Simon!

GABRIEL Simon? Aren’t you going to introduce us to your wife?

SIMON Kaylee these are my parents, Gabriel and Regan Tam.

KAYLEE (nervous) Nice to meet you. Finally. (beat) Oh, I’m a mess!

MAL Time for niceties later. Lets move.

OPERATIVE To the shuttle bay.

They move in the opposite direction as more footsteps are coming, unarmed folk move first as Mal and the Operative turn and FIRE behind them.

INT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP – BRIDGE

JUNIOR OFFICER SIR! Reports of the prisoners attempting to escape!

CAPTAIN What! Impossible!

JUNIOR OFFICER They’ve already killed six guards.

CAPTAIN Get every man down there at once and double the guard on the bridge.

JUNIOR OFFICER Sir, what about the rendezvous?

CAPTAIN Continue on course. We’ll shoot Serenity out of the sky. Prepare missiles!

INT. OPERATIVE”S SPACE SHIP , SHUTLE BAY

A large hanger with four small shuttle craft, the type we saw them on earlier. Mal and the Operative come out first swinging weapons around.

Several soldiers surprise them, a few shots are FIRED but then its hand to hand, the Operative a whirlwind, kicking and punching, Mal getting in a few shots, kicks a guy, SHOOTS him from the hip, Gabriel getting punched, going down, Regan and Kaylee picking him up, Jonathan punching out a soldier, Simon fighting like mad. In a few seconds it’s over. They have won.

OPERATIVE The shuttle. Inside.

MAL The doors.

KAYLEE I got it!

She runs to control panel hits buttons, won’t work.

KAYLEE They blocked it. Need to by pass. My arm..

JONATHAN I got it. Don’t forget who taught you all this.

He opens the panel, makes some adjustments and then the shuttle bay doors open, wind swirling around.

MAL COME ON! We’re going!

Kaylee and Jonathan run across the hanger as more solders enter. Mal SHOOTS like mad, hitting a few, the others diving for cover as they FIRE back bullets wiz around them, hitting the floor and shuttle. Mal’s gun is empty and he drops it as he is the last aboard.

The shuttle is started and flies out the doors as some soldiers fire at it.

INT. ALLIANCE SHUTTLE – DAY

Everyone is lying around trying to catch their breath as the Operative flies. Mal sits next to him.

MAL They got missiles.

OPERATIVE We are too close. The safety measures will not allow them to fire. And now they won’t find us.

EXT. ALLIANCE SHUTTLE –DAY

The shuttle flies directly below the ship and hangs there, keeping the same course and speed as the ship.

INT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP, BRIDGE – DAY

JUNIOR OFFICER Sir…they. disappeared.

CAPTAIN Disappeared…. Never mind. Do we have Serenity?

JUNIOR OFFICER Yessir, on radar now and ready to fire…

CAPTAIN Wait! Jam all radio frequencies. She doesn’t know they have escaped. Maybe we can get her to surrender anyway and then get them back.

JUNIOR OFFICER Yes sir. Jamming all frequencies.

EXT. SERENITY – DAY

Serenity comes over the ranch field as the Alliance ship looms in the distance, five times as big as Serenity.

INT. SERENITY BRIDGE – DAY

MAL (O.S) (on speaker) Zoe! We’ve escaped in a shuttle….

His voice is cut off by static. INARA It’s Mal ! He’s alive!

ZOE (into mic) Captain! Mal! Where are you?

RIVER They’re jamming us.

ZOE Wait! Jayne, what’s that under the Alliance ship?

JAYNE Looks like a shuttle to me.

INARA You don’t think…

RIVER It’s just sitting there.

JAYNE Could be a trap?

ZOE Oh, it’s a trap alright.

INT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP, BRIDGE – DAY

JUNIOR OFFICER Sir, they are not slowing down.

CAPTAIN What? The plan was…they aren’t following the plan!

EXT. SERENITY – DAY

The front airlock small door is opened and Jayne is sitting there with the big rocket launcher. He FIRES it out the door directly at the Alliance ship and then he falls ass backwards from the blast.

The missile streaks away from Serenity.

Then the front ramp starts to come down.

INT. ALLIANCE SHUTTLE – DAY

Mal is on the radio.

MAL Serenity, come in…what the…we’re being jammed…Look! It’s a missile and the ramp its down…going for the barn swallow. They seen us!

EXT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP – DAY

The big missile heads for it as the ship suddenly turns left. The missile follows as the shuttle shoots out from under and heads for Serenity.

The shuttle engine cuts off

Serenity and the shuttle meet and the shuttle flies in, hits, its sides get scrapped and torn but fits in… smashes in, knocking everything to pieces.

INT. ALLIANCE SHUTTLE

Chaos as everyone goes tumbling over each other as the shuttle crashes.

INT. SERENITY, BRIDGE – DAY

RIVER (into intercom) Inara! NOW!

INT. ENGINE ROOM

Inara hit switches and pulls levels.

EXT. SERENITY –DAY

The ramp comes up and Serenity flies directly over the Alliance ship as the missile hits one of its engines, causing some damage. As Serenity passes over, the main engine comes on and they do a FULL BURN IN ATMO.

The Alliance ship is hit by the ATMO BURN, feels the full weight as Serenity shoots for the stars.

EXT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP – DAY

The ship crashes in the ranch fields, sliding to a stop, smoking and burning.

INT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP, BRIDGE – DAY

Its chaos, panels popping, small fires, smoke everywhere people running around. Captain Mitchell still sits in his chair, stony faced.

CAPTAIN Damage control all sectors. Report Serenity‘s location.

JUNIOR OFFICER Sir….Gone…(beat) Message from Shadow command. Urgent we respond to civilian emergency in Permian. All ships and personal needed. Many dead reported.

CAPTAIN Tell them that we are now an emergency ourselves.

EXT. SERENITY – SPACE

Serenity flies away from Shadow.

INT. SERENITY, CARGO HOLD

Zoe and Inara stand by as Jayne uses a torch to open the damaged shuttle door. He is battered from his gunshot and from the missile launch.

JAYNE’ Next time you get to fire the missiles, Zoe. I been shot, you know.

ZOE Just get the door.

Finally, he gets it off. Mal steps out first and Inara throws herself in his arms, planting kisses on him. INARA Oh, Mal, oh…you..

And then she steps back and SLAPS him. Everyone is shocked.

MAL What the hell was that for?

INARA For going off and making me worry about you. I love you, you know.

MAL Well, you sure have a hell of a way of showing it!

She hugs him. INARA Don’t ever do that again!

MAL OK, just don’t slap me. Again.

Kaylee, then Simon come out as Inara sees Kaylee’s arm

INARA What happened?

KAYLEE (matter of fact) There was an explosion. Remind me to stay behind next time Capt’n has a fool hardy plan.

INARA Aren’t they all foolhardy?

MAL (ignoring remarks; to Zoe) Report.

ZOE Brenner’s dead.

MAL Good. That bastard set us up with that truck. (beat) Monty?

She looks over at the stretcher with Monty’s body covered by the tarp, off to the side away from where the shuttle came in.

MAL (beat) Gorramit. Not Monty.

JAYNE Never had a chance. Gut shot, bled out.

ZOE Brenner and all his people bought it at the ranch. We barely got away.

MAL (to Jayne) What happened to you?

JAYNE Picked up some Alliance lead at the ranch. After we went for a swim.

MAL What?

ZOE It’s a long story…. Who all these folks?

She sees Simon helping Regan and Gabriel out of the shuttle and Jonathan follows.

SIMON These are my parents.

REGAN Where’s River?

ZOE She’s…

And then the Operative comes out, Jayne and Zoe pull guns on him and everything gets tense.

ZOE What’s that doing here?

He raises his hands. OPERATIVE Saving your friends.

JAYNE I think he’s got an appointment with an airlock.

KAYLEE But he saved us!

JONATHAN Kaylee, he put us in them cages in the first place.

GABRIEL Indeed.

REGAN Please. There’s been enough killing.

MAL He will be dead soon anyway.

They all look to Mal.

OPERATIVE Captain Reynolds is correct. I was discovered, imprisoned and return to Alliance control just a few short weeks ago. They placed a control device in my neck near my spine to ensue I would carry out my orders. In a few days it will explode.

INARA Is this why he needed Simon?

MAL Yes. To take it out.

KAYLEE How’d you know, Capt’n?

MAL During the war the Alliance used prisoners, hardened criminals, on suicide missions. Put one of them devices in their neck, last one week, and promise them if they return they’d remove it and he’d be a free man. Well, we captured one poor fellow and he rambled on with this story, ‘cept we didn’t believe him. Not till his head blew off that is. Couldn’t have done nothin’ for him anyway, only had us a piss poor medic.

SIMON I don’t know if even I can help him.

ZOE Don’t you even dare try Simon!

KAYLEE Zoe…?

ZOE Wash and Book are dead cause of this monster!

Her eyes are blazing, gun pointed right at him.

OPERATIVE Wash and Book? I don’t recall…

ZOE Wash was my husband. Reavers killed him in that battle.

OPERATIVE Yes. I remember. And Book?

MAL A Shepherd on Haven.

OPERATIVE Yes. Haven was one of your “safe” areas. (beat) I knew a Book once but he wasn’t a Shepherd.

ZOE No one gives a shit…what did you say?

Everyone is extremely interested in what he has to say now.

MAL What was his name again?

OPERATIVE Derrial Book.

JAYNE And he wasn’t a Shepherd?

OPERATIVE No, he was…well, he was the man who trained me.

Surprised looks all around.

JONATHAN A Shepherd…trained you? MAL He didn’t become a Shepherd till late in life.

JAYNE Sure explains a lot.

OPERATIVE He was the lead instructor in self-defense and small unit tactics and planning.

KAYLEE He was an Alliance policeman?

OPERATIVE Yes. Told me once he was in counter-intelligence, for many years. But just as the war ended he disappeared and no one knew what became of him. I thought he had died.

ZOE So he knew the Shepherd, so what? Still had a hand in killing him. I say he dies.

She puts the gun to his head.

KAYLEE No, Zoe!

REGAN Someone stop her!

Mal steps up to her.

MAL Zoe. Few hours ago I woulda been the first in line to kill this fella. Things a bit changed now. He’s a wanted man, too. And we wouldn’t be alive without him.

ZOE I gotta do this, sir. For Wash.

He puts a hand on her shoulder, looks her deep in the eyes.

MAL Reavers killed Wash. I pushed us to Miranda and that fight. Not him. That hate gonna eat you and that baby all up. Time to let go. Time to forgive. Time to say goodbye to Wash.

Long silence, no one moves. Zoe wants to pull the trigger, but can’t. Instead she SMACKS him across the face with the pistol.

ZOE YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH!

He takes it without a sound, a deep cut across his forehead. And she falls to the floor, all toughness gone, a loud moan comes from her as Kaylee and Inara rush to her side, hug her as the tears come.

ZOE Oh, Wash, oh my baby!

They all wait as Kaylee and Inara take Zoe back to the passenger dorm area, her body limp with exhaustion, tears flowing freely, grief pouring out of her, Kaylee and Inara’s eyes damp, too.

OPERATIVE Thank you, Captain.

MAL I didn’t do that for you. I did it for her. (beat) Simon, think you…?

SIMON Won’t know till we try. Not sure I want to.

JAYNE So we’re just gonna let this sum…

MAL Jayne, this is still my boat. .

JAYNE Yeah. ( to Operative) But me and you meet in a dark alley somewhere, be different story.

OPERATIVE I’ll be sure to stay out of dark alleys, Mr. Cobb.

JAYNE What? Ah…yeah. You do that.

INT. INFIRMARY

Simon prepares a needle for the Operative, who is sitting on the table, shirt off, as Mal puts gauze and tape on his cut forehead. Simon goes to jab him with the needle but Mal signals Simon to wait.

MAL Been meaning to ask you, how’d they find you?

OPERATIVE In my youth I had a bride and a child. Yes, I did have a heart…once. She had died and the child was raised by relatives, a cousin. I would see him periodically when I had a chance, when work allowed. I thought I had erased all records of my son, but it wasn’t good enough. They were waiting for me when I visited him.

MAL Guess we all make mistakes…when it comes to family. (beat) This operation successful, you recover, I’m dropping you on the first rock we come across. Ain’t negotiable.

OPERATIVE I’m I no position to ask for anymore favors.

MAL You did my people some wrong but in the end you made some of it right. Ain’t right enough, but some will do. This time, when you get lost, get lost for good. Or next time I’m gonna let Zoe or Jayne end you.

OPERATIVE If Doctor Tam is as good as his records say he is, then I have nothing to worry about. And neither do you Captain Reynolds. This time, I will be lost. Forever.

MAL He’s all yours, Doc.

SIMON (to Operative) Despite my contempt for you, while you are on this table you are safe.

OPERATIVE Of course.

Simon injects the needle in his arm.

Cut to:

A MONTAGE of shots as the Operative lies faced down on the table, out cold as Simon SCANS his neck. Then OPERATES with Mal’s help. Then TAKES OUT the small explosive device, tiny, round, silver, and puts it slowly in a metal canister Mal holds. Mal closes it and hands it to Jayne.

INT. CARGO BAY

Jayne opens the inner airlock doors, places the canister inside the airlock, closes the doors and then opens the outer ramp.

EXT. SPACE

The canister is sucked out and then EXPLODES, a small explosion, but one that surely would have killed the Operative.

INT. INFIRMARY

The Operative is on the table, heavy bandages round his neck, unconscious. Simon is monitoring the scan equipment. Zoe enters, eyes red. Simon turns with a start.

ZOE Don’t worry, Simon. All my anger gone. (Beat) Mostly.

SIMON How you feeling?

ZOE The baby? Don’t know. Been so busy fighting and crying I hardly remember I’m pregnant sometimes.

SIMON Grief is good at times.

ZOE Been holding it in for two months. Just..

SIMON Let’s have a look at your baby.

He takes his ultrasound scanner and she comes closer, lifting up her shirt. He runs it over her belly, finds the right spot, and they see the small picture on the screen.

SIMON Looks good. Want to hear the heart?

ZOE Please.

He turns the sound up and they hear the THUMP, THUMP, THUMP very fast beat of the heart.

ZOE Wow.

KAYLEE (O.S.) Wow.

She enters and smiles at them. She’s very sleepy eyed, just getting up form a nap.

She looks at the Operative.

KAYLEE How’d it go?

SIMON Complicated. But successful.

Zoe just looks at the Operative.

ZOE He’s caused us so much pain…yet, I don’t know. I won’t ever forgive him, but killing him…don’t feel right now.

KAYLEE Be dead weren’t for him.

ZOE I know. Just too complicated.

KAYLEE Yeah. (beat) Simon, need to tell you something.

SIMON Sure, go ahead. Is your arm bothering you?

KAYLEE No, its gonna be fine. It’s…

ZOE You want me to leave?

KAYLEE No stay. You’ll find out eventually.

SIMON What is it?

KAYLEE Well, in all the excitement I forgot all about it, but….I’m late.

SIMON Late for what?

KAYLEE Jeeze! You’re the doctor! I’m…

SIMON (quiet, awed) …. late.

ZOE Well, well.

EXT. SERENITY, SMALL MOON – DAY

Over – “One Week Later”

The Operative stands on the ground at the foot of the cargo bay ramp, Mal looking down on him from the top of the ramp.

OPERATIVE Once again, I thank you Captain.

MAL You helped us, we helped you. I guess we can call us even now.

OPERATIVE Goodbye, Captain.

Mal says nothing, just nods, turns and enters Serenity. The ramp comes up and a few moments later Serenity shoots for the stars.

The Operative turns and walks toward a small town in the distance.

INT. SERENITY, DINING AREA

Everyone is at the table. They seem cheerful, eating and drinking alcohol, except Zoe and Kaylee of course.

Gabriel stands with a glass of something in his hand.

GABRIEL This has been a strange few weeks for us. But in the end I feel fortunate that we have all survived. And more fortunate to have met my new daughter-in-law, who will soon bear my first grandchild.

JONATHAN Mine, too, don’t ferget.

GABRIEL Of course, of course. A toast to Kaylee and Simon, for their marriage and their happy news.

They all drink as Kaylee beams.

GABRIEL And now Captain Reynolds, I owe a debt of gratitude to you. For sheltering my children all these months and making them feel as one with your crew. If you would allow, I would like to repay you by covering the costs of repairs to Serenity and the purchase of a new shuttle for the one that was lost.

MAL Well, can’t say no to a man whose offering money. I’ll drink to that.

They drink and Mal comes over and shakes Gabriel’s hand, who then sits down.

MAL Well, guess it’s my turn. We come to Shadow hoping to find something to end all our problems with the Alliance. Guess that didn't work out too well and now more folks is suffering. And they're my people so that don't sit too well with me.

KAYLEE Weren't your fault.

INARA We tried. It was Brenner and his rebels.

MAL That's a kindness from you both but I should've been more careful.

ZOE Sir, nothing else we couldn've done.

Mal just nods.

MAL Maybe. (beat) Now, we got plans to make and things to think on. I give you all a chance to say your piece now about plans for the future. Zoe?

ZOE (surprised) Me? Serenity’s my home, sir.

MAL Always will be. River?

REGAN She’s coming home.

RIVER Mother, they’ll still be looking for me.

MAL Not sure you’ll be safe yourselves on Osiris.

GABRIEL No. This time I will stand before the Alliance and will tell of all we have witnessed here. The Cortex is already full of news about the deaths of those people in Permian. The reasons for it will be known and questions will be raised. For now River and Simon you must remain hidden. Some day we will make Osiris safe for you to return.

RIVER I will stay with Serenity. For now.

MAL More than welcome. Long as you don’t turn my boat into a…boat again.

Lots of laughter. JAYNE More like a submarine.

MAL Gabriel, Regan, and Jonathan, can drop you off Persephone, not the main port but nearby, make your way home from there.

JONATHAN (uncomfortable) Bit short a cash for passage

GABRIEL Not to worry. My credit accounts can be accessed on Persephone.

JONATHAN I be paying that back soon as I get to Taos.

GABRIEL Expect nothing less.

Simon and Kaylee give each other a look, listening to their fathers.

MAL Now, for the rest. Inara?

INARA Do you have to ask? I’m no longer a Companion. I guess mistress to a space pirate sounds a bit more glamorous anyway.

Mal makes a little comic bow.

MAL Captain Space Pirate at your beck and call, madam.

Everyone has a good laugh. MAL Jayne?

His mouth is full of food.

JAYNE (mumbling) What? You kicking me off?

MAL No, just thought you might reconsider seeing as we been attracting lots of trouble of late.

JAYNE Hell, trouble…long as there’s money to be made I’m staying.

MAL Good enough. Doc? Kaylee?

SIMON Mal, you know I’m more than grateful for all you have done. But I need to make a permanent home for Kaylee and I and… our child. Somewhere safe, far from the eyes of the Alliance until things can be settled, if they ever are.

KAYLEE We don’t want to leave, but…

MAL I understand. I hate to lose you, the two of you, but I do understand. Any ideas where?

EXT. OFFICE BUILDING, TOWN, BOROS – DAY

Overscene – BOROS, 7 MONTHS LATER

Swing in high over farmer’s fields toward a small town, a few streets, focus on a small two story building, to a sign over the door says “Dr. Simon Frye, Physician”

INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE, WAITING ROOM – DAY

A small waiting room, a few chairs, a plant in the corner.

Mal, Jayne, and River are here, nervous looks, Mal pacing, Jayne and River sitting.

MAL Can’t stand all this waiting.

RIVER It’ll be soon.

JAYNE Swear you was the father, Mal.

River laughs.

MAL Now that’s just downright…unsettling.

A SCREAM comes from the next room and they all turn of a sudden. Muffled voices come from behind. Just then the outside door opens and Kaylee comes in in a hurry. She is wearing her overalls and her face has a few spots of grime, like she was fixing something. Her belly is noticeable protruding.

KAYLEE Did I miss it? Has it happened?

RIVER Not yet.

And then another SCREAM and Kaylee goes wide eyed and then…the CRY of a baby.

They all look at each other, big grins and Kaylee starts to tear up.

A few long beats, seemingly forever as the baby keeps crying. Then the other door opens. Simon comes out, in his operating gown, a bit bloody.

SIMON Come in.

JAYNE How’s about I wait…

RIVER You’re the baby.

JAYNE All right, all right.

They come to the door and enter, Kaylee giving Simon a little kiss as she passes.

INT. OPERATING ROOM

Zoe is on the table, all sweaty, exhausted, a bundle in her arms, Inara in medical garb standing nearby, big smiles from both.

ZOE It’s a girl.

And they all take a look. It’s a beautiful baby, a light mocha in tone, with curly brownish black hair, wide brown eyes.

MAL We’ll don’t that beat all.

RIVER She’s wonderful.

KAYLEE Oh, she’s so precious! Zoe, you wanted a girl, didn’t you?

ZOE Yeah.

JAYNE She got all her fingers and toes?

SIMON Yes, perfectly healthy.

INARA Another few months Kaylee be your turn.

KAYLEE Zoe gonna have to tell me all about it.

ZOE It was…marvelous.

JAYNE Sounded…painful.

RIVER It’s what woman are made for. I might even have one myself.

They all look at her.

SIMON River? Are you…?

RIVER No. But some day.

They stand around looking and admiring the baby.

SIMON OK. Zoe and the baby need their rest.

MAL Thought of a name?

ZOE Amanda. For my mother.

KAYLEE That’s a shiny name.

ZOE Wish…he was here, to see her.

Silence, heavy thoughts.

RIVER He’s here, in our hearts. Book, too.

ZOE I know. Thank you. All of you.

Long silence.

SIMON Ok, now I really must insist.

They start to file out of the room, Mal last.

MAL Inara, be at the ship?

INARA Keep a seat for supper.

MAL Will do.

INARA And don’t get side track by any drinking establishments.

MAL What? Me?

EXT. STREET – Day

They file out of the office and stand on the street, pretty empty. Mal looks at the sign over the office.

MAL Dr. Frye. (to Kaylee) He getting used to it?

KAYLEE Now he is. Took some time. But folks here don’t care what his name is, just happy to have a doctor.

MAL How’s the boat?

KAYLEE Fixed the secondary grav boot. Showed him a few other things.

JAYNE I still say he’s an idiot. Wish you was back, little Kaylee.

KAYLEE My place is here, with my husband.

Then a figure comes down the street. It’s BESTER, Serenity’s original mechanic.

BESTER Where you guys been? Supper’s about ready.

RIVER Zoe had her baby. It’s a girl.

BESTER Shiny!

MAL Kaylee says she had to fix that grav boot again, Bester. Seems to me that’s why I fired you in the first place long time ago.

BESTER (worried) Now wait a minute, Mal! I knew how to fix it just Kaylee got in there and wouldn’t let me touch nothing!

KAYLEE Yeah, he’s right. Just…

MAL Kaylee, he’s got the boat now.

KAYLEE I know. Just…I miss her.

MAL Always a place for you, if you ever want to come back.

BESTER What? Mal…you said…

KAYLEE Don’t worry yourself none Bester. I’m staying right here with a real man and I’m gonna have his baby, so don’t fret.

BESTER What? You’re pregnant? I thought you was just…getting fat.

Kaylee SLUGS him hard and down he goes. Everyone looks in shock at Kaylee as Bester slowly picks himself up.

JAYNE Mean right hook.

MAL Get that swinging wrenches for a living.

BESTER What the hell was that for?

KAYLEE For being a jerk. Now and the first time I met you. Couldn’t even remember my name.

MAL Well, Bester, can’t say you didn’t deserve it.

BESTER Sorry, Kaylee.

KAYLEE No need to be. I’m satisfied. JAYNE Say, there wouldn’t happen to be a bar in this town, would there?

KAYLEE Yeah, just over there. See the sign. Says “Bar”.

JAYNE Oh, yeah.

BESTER But I cooked…and..

MAL Suppose we have time for one drink. Inara still be busy for awhile.

KAYLEE I think we best go back to the office, River. Trouble seems to follow the Capt’n when he has “one” drink.

MAL Little Kaylee, I’m…well, suppose your right.

JAYNE Yeah. You ain’t nothing but a trouble maker. That’s why I love drinking with you.

RIVER I need to go. Keep an eye on my crewmates.

BESTER What? Little thing like you keep an eye on us three men?

They all look at Bester.

BESTER What I do now?

Mal puts an arm around his shoulder as they walk up the street to the bar.

MAL Son, I ever tell you about Miranda and the big Reaver fight?

BESTER No.

MAL Well, about nine months ago, we had us a little trouble. We ended up at this place called Miranda….

BESTER Miranda? Ain’t no such place.

MAL (fading) You telling the story or am I? (beat) Now as I was saying…

Kaylee smiles and turns back to Simon’s office, a sad wistful look and then she opens the door and hears Zoe’s baby crying, puts a hand to her belly, he eyes go wide and she yells.

KAYLEE Simon! Simon! The baby kicked again! Real hard this time! I felt a kick!

And she enters the office her face full of joy as the camera pulls back over the town the opposite direction and we see Serenity parked in a small field, the sun glinting off its metal, all repaired and with two shuttles, sun going down and we fade out with Serenity framed in the setting sun off Boros.

THE END

FADE OUT

ROLL END CREDITS

COMMENTS



POST YOUR COMMENTS

You must log in to post comments.

YOUR OPTIONS

OTHER FANFICS BY AUTHOR

River's Run - Part 19
Things come to a head on Londinium as the plan to win Mal's freedom begins to unravel.

River's Run - Part 18
Mal’s heading for a hangman’s noose. Will a rescue party come in the nick of time?

River's Run - Part 17
As the crew rests and heals, Shin and his confederates take a step closer to power, and Mal faces a new, deadly dilemma.

River's Run - Part 16
As Simon patches up the crew, Mal and his lawyer make plans, and Badger and his cousin have some unexpected visitors.

River's Run - Part 15
Mal finds a new friend on Londinium, his crew makes contact with River and Zoe, and events come to head on Whitefall.

River's Run - Part 14
Battle rages through Serenity as the crew tangles with an Alliance boarding party.

River's Run - Part 13
Shock and a sense of tragedy fill Serenity as the crew struggles to deal with Derek's betrayal. Meanwhile, the Operative comes a step closer to finding Serenity.

River's Run - Part 12
Mal strikes back at the Alliance, a little trip to the bank doesn't go as planned, and the Operative reaches out to River and Derek.

River's Run - Part 11
The Operative makes a plan to trap Serenity, escape plans are made, and those long separated are together once again.

River's Run - Part 10
Inara makes a date with Paulo Chase, Mal gets back his first love, and Shin plans the next move in the galactic chess match.