LOST CONVERSATION VIII 1. WHERE THE WAR ENDS AND MAL AND ZOE PLAN THEIR FUTURE FROM WAY BEFORE “SERENITY” EXT. DUSTY COURTYARD, PRISON CAMP, HERA - DAY Many dozens of Browncoats are lined up here, in parade formation, with barracks behind them, surround by electric fences and guard towers with guns. Several armed Alliance soldiers stand around the prisoners. Zoe and Mal stand together in the front rank. Their uniforms, like the others, are the worse for wear, scuffed and torn, with all insignia and badges of rank removed. They are thin and weary, as are the others. An Alliance OFFICER walks in front, holding a piece of paper. He is old, limps and has a battle scarred face. MAL ATTENTION! The Browncoats ranks come to a semblance of attention, their hearts not really in it. OFFICER Sargent Reynolds, front and center! Mal looks at Zoe and she has a look of concern on her face. Mal breaks ranks and approaches the Officer. He stops before him and salutes. The Officer returns the salute and hands Mal the paper. OFFICER (CONT’D) You may address your men. MAL Sir? What’s going on? OFFICER (weary) The war is over. You’re going home, son. He walks away as Mal stands gape mouthed looking at the paper, scanning it quickly, unbelieving. A mist comes before his eyes, which he quickly shakes off, he sets his face hard, turns and looks at the Browncoats, all with a look of expectation on their faces. MAL At ease! They move to an ease position. MAL (CONT’D) Best you hear this from me, rather than them. Seems our generals and politicians have thrown in the towel. Peace treaty was signed yesterday. War’s over. A long, silence, the air heavy with shocked disappointment, and then a little sob, and then a few more, a few soldiers cross themselves, one falls to his knees, and his comrades pick him up. Mal gives them a moment to collect themselves. He looks at Zoe and she is nothing but steel and hatred in her eyes. MAL (CONT’D) We ain’t losers. No one fought with me in Serenity Valley or a dozen other places is a loser. You all go home now and try put this behind you. But you hold your heads up high cause you ain’t a loser. Man or woman shed his blood with me is a comrade for life. Don’t you all forget that. They seem to get a little injection of pride from this. MAL (CONT’D) Its been a long time since you all seen your families. Me, too. Some of them don’t even know your alive. Well, we going take care of that right today. (looks at paper) This from the commander. Discipline will be maintained until this camp closes. Guards are still authorized to use force. All prisoners will be given access to Cortex to send messages to family. In a few days, maybe a week, several transports will come to take us home. Each prisoner will get free passage and 100 credits pocket money. All prisoner will get a clean slate, all record of being prisoner stricken from the Alliance record. All this set in the peace treaty. (pause) Anyone got words, now’s the time say ‘em. A brief pause, then a large soldier comes out of the group. He’s tall, blond, called BIXTON. BIXTON Just gotta say, sarge, we all wouldn’t be here without you. You kept us together and kept us alive. Just wanna shake your hand. Bixton approaches Mal and they shake. BIXTON (CONT’D) Been proud to serve with you, sarge. MAL Same here, Bixton. And then one by one, all the Browncoats file past Mal and shake his hand, say a word or two. They go off in twos and threes, some still upset, others happy the war is over. Zoe is last to approach Mal. She’s mighty pissed off. MAL (CONT’D) Its over, Zoe. ZOE Don’t mean I need to like it, sir. MAL Don’t like it either, but there it is. Time to move on. Time to call home. He starts walking toward a building at the far end of the compound where other Browncoats seem to be heading and she follows. ZOE What now, sir? MAL Had six months to think on that. Plan stays the same. ZOE You sure, sir? MAL We knew this day was coming, Zoe. Ever since they sold us out at Serenity Valley. ZOE What do you know about being Captain of a transport ship, sir? Mal is a little surprised. MAL Don’t think I can do it? ZOE No, sir, just...neither of us is a pilot and beside guns, we don’t know much about machines and fixing things. And we sure as hell don’t know nothing about running a business. MAL We’ll find someone. Lots of people be looking for work now the war’s over. Some hotshot pilot will be begging us for a job. Lots of mechanics, too. We’ll make do. ZOE How you gonna buy a ship, sir, with 100 credits? MAL Sell the ranch. Zoe is surprised. ZOE The ranch? On Shadow? Been in your family for over hundred years? MAL You think I’m gonna run a business and pay taxes to some Alliance fat cats so they can have a private resort on Osiris? Don’t want to be under anyone’s foot. Ship can take us places, keep us moving, avoid the tax man. ZOE What about your momma? MAL (quiet) I didn’t tell you before but she ain’t so well, last word I had. Been more than two months. Lead ranch hand, Joshua Reed, been asking her for years to sell to him. He has a fair price, I’ll take his offer. Put momma with her sister in nearby town. (beat) She’ll understand. They approach the building where all the Browncoats are lined up. On a sign its says “Communications” in English and Chinese. They line up at the back. MAL (CONT’D) You go home for a spell. I’ll head to Shadow, take care of things, send you fare for your passage when I’m set. ZOE Yes, sir. He looks at her. MAL Zoe, you don’t need to do this. You got other ideas, other plans, its your life. ZOE I’ll see you on Shadow in about two months, sir. He looks at her long, then nods OK.

2. WHERE KAYLEE GIVES MAL A PIECE OF HER MIND FOR THE “KAYLEE’S DEAD” JOKE, SOMETIME AFTER “Serenity” INT. SERENITY, ENGINE ROOM Kaylee is lying in her hammock, in a foul mood, hugging a pink heart shaped pillow, her normal sunny disposition gone. Mal comes down the aft hall. MAL Kaylee! She doesn’t move or answer him. He sticks his head in the engine room door. MAL (CONT’D) Kaylee, didn’t you hear me? Need to talk about what you need for the engine room. She’s silent. Mal is getting a little miffed, steps inside. MAL (CONT’D) I ain’t got time for games, Kaylee. KAYLEE (sarcastic) Oh, really, Capt’n? Heard it’s your specialty. Mal is truly puzzled and getting pissed. He kneels by the hammock. MAL Mei, mei, what in the ‘verse are you on about? She sits up, puts aside the pillow. KAYLEE You. Playing that joke on Simon. MAL What jok...? And his voice dies as he realizes what she’s talking about. MAL (CONT’D) Oh.(beat) That was... KAYLEE Wrong, so wrong. Saying I was dead! Sometimes I just wanna...I don’t know. Never felt such anger before. Lest for someone who didn’t insult my lady. Mal looks a little sheepish. MAL Listen, it wasn’t meant... KAYLEE For me to find out? Capt’n, only nine of us on this boat. Sooner or later everyone finds out everything. Most everything, anyways. Mal pauses, stands, waiting for her to say more. She just glares at him. MAL I guess I shoulda thought more before I did that. (long beat, struggling) I’m sorry. Kaylee stands, face to face. KAYLEE (calmer) Capt’n, I know you all like joking around and so do I, but I was on that table and Simon saved my life. It weren’t funny. MAL He told you? KAYLEE No, he didn’t. And it don’t matter who told me, I jus’ know. (beat) You need to apologize to Simon. Now its his turn to get angry. MAL Apologize? To the Doctor? For what? Bringing a fugitive and a lawman on my ship? Having us being chased by the Alliance? Getting you shot? He’s the one ought to be doing the apologizing. KAYLEE He already said he was sorry for me getting shot. MAL And he... Mal stops, surprised MAL (CONT’D) He did?(beat) Oh, and did he tell you that he threatened not to help you if we didn’t run? KAYLEE Yup. Except I knew that already. Wasn’t quite out of it yet when you all had your argument over my bleeding belly. MAL (incredulous) And you’re not mad about that?!? KAYLEE He did it for his sister. And I ain’t dead, am I? MAL (quiet) No. (beat) Guess I should thank him for that much. KAYLEE Capt’n, don’t like fighting with you and any others, and I know its your boat and I always follow what you says, but this was too much not to say nothing. You understand? MAL I do, little Kaylee. I’m a mean old man sometimes but I gotta be to keep this boat in the air. KAYLEE That’s my job. Joking about someone dead ain’t needed to keep the boat in the air. MAL No. Suppose not. (beat) Now you gonna muck up my engine I don’t say sorry to the Doc? KAYLEE Well, you apologized to me, guess that was hard enough. Besides you know I’d never muck up my lady. MAL Still mad? KAYLEE I’ll get over it. Mal gives her a big hug, lets go, looks at her. MAL You like him, don’t you? Kaylee blushes. KAYLEE Who? MAL Uh-huh. He might not be here long if he and River find a better place. KAYLEE But they can stay? MAL For now, they got a berth. She smiles. KAYLEE He might save your life someday, you know.

3. WHERE JAYNE GIVES THE CREW THE CRATE OF APPLES BETWEEN “Ariel” and “War Stories” INT. SERENITY, DINING AREA - DAY Sunlight comes through the overhead windows. Wash, Zoe, Kaylee, and River are here, with many boxes and crates lying around, full of supplies, as they take things out and put them on shelves or in storage. WASH Isn’t this amazing? Have we ever had this much at one time? ZOE Can’t recall. Kaylee picks up a box of packaged food, places it on the table. She picks one package up with a look of disgust. KAYLEE Why we still get this old junk? Packaged, dehydrated, mush. ZOE Don’t expect our Ariel score to last forever. You know way things go for us. WASH Yeah, feast or famine. KAYLEE Guess we ought to do something nice for Simon. It was his idea. ZOE (mischievously) Have anything in particular in mind? Kaylee glares at her and then nods her head toward River, who is in a little dreamworld standing off by herself looking at one of the boxes full of cans. KAYLEE No, but we should you know...say thanks somehow. RIVER He likes to read. Kaylee turns to her, a bit flustered, not sure if River is following what’s going on or not KAYLEE Uh, he does? Oh, yeah, noticed that. ZOE That all you noticed? Kaylee gives her another glare and Wash and Zoe hide their giggles at her discomfort. KAYLEE Maybe I’ll go back to town and buy him some books. RIVER The paper kind. His eyes get sore when he reads on the Cortex or electronic readers. Kaylee just smiles at River. KAYLEE Thanks, River. You seem to be feeling better today. Maybe you can come with me? Get some fresh air? Mal enters from the fore hall. MAL No one else’s heading to town. Soon as Jayne’s back we’re off to deliver a few more crates of medicine to folks that needs it. WASH And can pay us? MAL Wouldn’t wanna meet any other kind. Just got word from Bolles. He’s our next stop. Jayne enters from the fore hall with a big crate of apples in his arms. Their eyes all go wide when they see them. KAYLEE Oh, my God! WASH Are they...real? JAYNE Yup. MAL You’re late. Jayne places the crate in the middle of the table. JAYNE Met a fellow, knew this farm outside a town. Said “apples” and I couldn’t resist. Thought everyone would like some. Silence as all look at him. JAYNE (CONT’D) What? ZOE (suspicious) You sharing with all us? JAYNE Course. Why wouldn’t I? Jus’ had a big payday. River walks over and picks one up, takes a big bite, juice running down her face. Kaylee runs her tongue over her lips. KAYLEE Jayne, can I...? Jayne just shrugs. JAYNE Help yourselves. All of them except Mal move to the box and start grabbing and eating. Zoe takes out her knife and carefully cuts into an apple. MAL Save some for the others. Wash, when you done feasting, get us in the air. (Beat) Jayne, a word. Jayne follows Mal to the aft hall. They walk to just outside the engine room. INT. AFT HALL MAL What you up to? JAYNE What? Nothing. What’s bugging you? MAL You sharing with the crew is an unprecedented event around here. Now, you ain’t feeling a might guilty for what happened back on Ariel, are you? Jayne looks nervously back toward the dining area. JAYNE Hey, can’t a fellow do a good deed once in a while? MAL Don’t make things better ‘tween you and me. I ain’t said nothing yet to them, not even Zoe, and won’t less you give me good reason to. JAYNE I learned my lesson, Mal. You don’t gotta go making threats. MAL I’m least of your worries. You ever think on what Doc do to you he found out? Jayne laughs. JAYNE Doc ain’t nothing but a... MAL Doctor, who could kill ya and we’d never even know what happened. (beat) You think on that. With that Mal walks away toward the dining area, leaving a very nervous Jayne thinking on that.