LOST CONVERSATIONS XI 1. WHERE THE CREW DISCUSS WHAT EACH OF THEM TOLD THE ALLIANCE IN “Bushwacked” INT. GUARDED ROOM, ALLIANCE SHIP A large room with benches, tables and chairs. Wash, Zoe, Inara, and Book are here, some standing, others sitting. There is only one door and no windows. It’s clean and sterile, blue grey, a cold room, no feeling of warmth. BOOK (worried) I guess he’s questioning Kaylee and Jayne now. Wonder where the Captain is. ZOE (calm) He’s fine. Not first time we’ve been pinched. INARA What happened before? WASH Oh, we were just minding our own business... ZOE When an Alliance ship just showed up, kinda like now. WASH And we were, well, not exactly breaking the law. ZOE Just a bit on the legal side. INARA Stealing something? ZOE It’s not stealing if the owners ain’t around. BOOK That’s still stealing. WASH Funny, that’s what the Alliance said too. But we got off. Mal always finds a way to get out of these jams. Just then the door opens and Jayne enters, giving dirty looks back at the soldiers escorting him. The door closes behind him. BOOK Have you seen the Captain? INARA Or Kaylee? JAYNE Kaylee’s in there now. Ain’t seen Mal. ZOE Keeping him isolated. WASH So, Jayne, spill your guts? JAYNE Sure, told ‘em all about your secret toy dinosaur collection. WASH (fake shock) You didn’t! INARA Enough! What did you tell them? They all look at Jayne, not so nice and finally Wash catches on. WASH What? No, he wouldn’t...would you? JAYNE I didn’t said nothing about nobody. (beat, quieter) ‘Sides, ain’t no reward to be had that way. INARA You’re not thinking about... JAYNE Darn right I am. Bet Mal is too. Why else would he... ZOE These walls have ears. They go silent and get a little paranoid, speak in low voices. JAYNE So what did you all tell him? BOOK He was just curious about why a Shepherd would be with this ship. INARA And a Companion. BOOK Also, seemed interested in the fact that I got on at Persephone same time his two fugitives went missing from Persephone. ZOE (looking at walls, ceiling) That a fact? (louder) Wonder who they are. WASH (strange look at Zoe, loud) Who knows? (beat, quieter) All he asked me was about my relationship with Zoe. In fact, he seemed overly curious about that. Zoe, you didn’t flirt with the... ZOE Husband, you do not want to go down this street. WASH No, suppose you didn’t. ZOE Told him our relationship was none of his business. Which is what you told him, right? WASH Oh, right. No, nothing, nothing about us, relationship, nothing. ZOE (unbelieving) Uh-huh. BOOK That survivor...the Captain seems to believe he will turn into a Reaver. JAYNE Ain’t no way anyone can “turn” into a Reaver. BOOK Well, where do you think they come from? Reavers aren’t born. JAYNE But ‘turn” into a Reaver. Come on. That means anyone of us could be...a Reaver. He looks at them all, slight paranoia. WASH Yes, Jayne, I’m going to eat you in your sleep. JAYNE Zoe, you best tie him... INARA Wash is not a Reaver! Silence. ZOE Heard stories, during the war. Said they was human, like us, but went mad on the edge of space, settlers who’d lost their way, ran out of supplies, started eating their own, the strongest surviving. BOOK Yet, they’ve only been around for little more than a decade. And why are there so many? ZOE Are there? We’ve only run into single ships. Unless you know something we don’t Shepherd. BOOK No, I don’t. Just seems to be...more. INARA Stories to scare little children. Reavers were once men. Just...I don’t know. Then Kaylee enters full of fire. She turns and yells at the escorting soldiers KAYLEE (angry) Junk! Called my lady junk! The nerve of him. Why I’ve seen pieces of Alliance that’s ten times worse than Serenity... The door closes and Inara holds her by the shoulders. INARA Calm down, Kaylee. Calm down. You’re safe. KAYLEE (calmer, deep breaths) Jus’...never been pinched before. Got all riled up and couldn’t stop. (beat) You all didn’t say anything about...no, you wouldn’t. Jayne shifts uncomfortable as Kaylee stares at him. JAYNE I ain’t said nothing. She sits, air going out of her anger. KAYLEE Where’s the Capt’n”? ZOE They separated him. Don’t know where he is. KAYLEE I hope... BOOK Everything’s going to be fine. KAYLEE Just worried about...things. BOOK Have faith.

2. WHERE MAL DECIDES TO GO BACK AND SAVE SIMON AND RIVER IN “Safe” INT. SERENITY, PASSENGER LOUNGE Jayne cleans up the coins from the cattle sale as Zoe exits and Mal contemplates their words. MAL (quiet, not convinced) Yeah. Simpler. He heads toward the cargo bay. INT. DINING AREA Mal enters and sees Kaylee sitting at the table, looking very down, as she sips some tea. He heads to grab a cup and some water. KAYLEE How’s Shepherd doing? MAL Resting. He’ll pull through. KAYLEE Capt’n...’bout Simon and River.. He comes and sits with her. MAL Been thinking on them, too. KAYLEE We left them back there. MAL You ain’t too shiny with that, are you? KAYLEE Nope. Neither’s Inara. Wash, too, I bet. MAL Chances of finding them.... KAYLEE We gotta try. MAL Think so? KAYLEE I ain’t telling you what to do...just, we gotta try. MAL Life be easier without them on board. KAYLEE Simon saved my life. MAL Now Kaylee that argument ain’t gonna carry a lot of weight since him being on board was reason you got shot in the first place. KAYLEE I know, just, we need him. Being as he’s a doctor and all. MAL That the only reason? WASH (O.S.) Can’t disagree with her, Mal. Wash enters from the Fore Hall. WASH (CONT’D) Fellow like Simon might come in handy some day, kinda work we do. Maybe for you, me,...Zoe. MAL Yeah, I figured you’d all feel that way. (beat) Wash, set course for... WASH Already on the way. Only 30 minutes out. Wash exits for the bridge. Kaylee gives him a big sunny smile, reaches over and gives Mal a hug. KAYLEE I love my, Capt'n. Mal stands. MAL Don’t get all gushy on me. We ain’t found them yet. Jayne and Zoe enter from the Aft Hall. MAL (CONT’D) Looks like we forgot two crew back on Jiangyin. Zoe and Jayne look at each other, Jayne not at all pleased. ZOE Sir. You sure? KAYLEE He’s sure. Zoe looks at her, gives a small grin, hides it quickly. JAYNE They been nothing but trouble since they set... Mal steps forward in his face MAL (interrupting, sharp) My boat, Jayne. I decide whose crew and who ain’t. ? Now get your weapons and head to the cargo bay. Jayne exits toward the Fore Hall, pissed off. ZOE Sir, we don’t even know where they are. MAL Hill folk got them. We look there first. Knock on a few doors, real polite, then knock on a few heads if that don’t work. EXT. SERENITY - NIGHT Serenity flies over the hills and approaches a large village in the distance. INT. BRIDGE -NIGHT Wash, Zoe and Mal are here, Mal and Zoe dressed for battle. WASH It’s the largest one. MAL They’re here ZOE How do we know? MAL Simon’s a doctor, figures they know that by now and took him to the biggest village, most likely to have a med facility. WASH Makes sense...I guess. MAL Zoe and I will take the shuttle and land in close, come in behind, see if we can find the Doc and River real quiet like. You hang back, come in overhead with Jayne hanging out the bomb bay doors if there’s trouble. Let’s move. EXT. SHUTTLE II - NIGHT Mal and Zoe emerge form the shuttle on the edge of a wooded area near the village. They run to the village edge, hiding in shadows, the area very dark. In the distance they can hear shouting. ZOE Something ain’t right, sir. MAL What the... They run up the street and see the crowd with Simon and River on the stake. ZOE They’re gonna burn them! MAL (into mic) Wash, I think it might be a good time for an entry overhead. Large crowd at the far end of the village, get Jayne ready. INT. SERENITY, CARGO BAY Jayne is hooked up to the overhead harness, with a big shotgun in his hands. Kaylee stands nearby, operating the harness controls. JAYNE This is the stupidest idea Mal ever had. KAYLEE Why don’t you like them? JAYNE Cause they’re trouble! Mark my words, little Kaylee, some day we’re gonna wish we never laid eyes on them two fugees! KAYLEE You’re wrong. Simon already fixed your leg, saved me, fixed the Capt’n... JAYNE You just keep working on that crush, maybe he’ll have time from playing with moon brain to take notice. KAYLEE (embarrassed) What? I don’t have... WASH (O.S.) (from intercom) Guys! Open up the bomb bay! We got trouble! Kaylee opens the doors and a rush of wind comes in as Jayne hangs out. 3. WHERE MAL TALKS TO KAYLEE’S FATHER ABOUT LETTING HER SHIP OUT ON SERENITY FROM “Out of Gas” EXT. SERENITY, DOCKING PORT, NEW SHANGHAI, TAOS MOON - DAY Serenity sits on a docking port, the only ship. Rows of factory like buildings and repair shops are nearby. A big sign says “New Shanghai, Taos Moon”. It’s a dusty kind of world, buildings look dilapidated, not much activity going on. Mal and Kaylee walk down the cargo bay ramp where a large dark haired man in greasy coveralls waits for them. KAYLEE This here’s my father, Jonathan Frye. Daddy, this here’s Captain Reynolds and his ship... MAL Serenity. KAYLEE That’s a shiny name! Mal sticks out his hand and Jonathan shakes. MAL Pleased to meet you, sir. JONATHAN Captain, eh? Kinda young, ain’t ya? KAYLEE Daddy! Man’s offering me a job. MAL Well, sir, I ain’t as old as some and not as young as others but I seen my fair share of the ‘verse and took enough hard knocks to know what is what. JONATHAN You in the war? MAL Yes, sir. JONATHAN Which side? MAL The right side, sir. JONATHAN Right side around here wore brown. See you still do so guess you was on the right side. MAL Was in the 57th brigade. JONATHAN Yeah, heard tell of them a few times. We didn’t get much news ‘bout the war here. You all laid down arms in Serenity Valley? KAYLEE What’s all this have to do with me getting a job? JONATHAN Just hold still minute, little Kaylee. MAL Yes, sir, we did lay down arms. Not before we were abandoned and betrayed. JONATHAN Yeah, guess you was there. See you named your ship after that hellhole. MAL Has sentimental meaning. Jonathan starts to walk around the ship, looking it over as he talks. Kaylee and Mal follow him JONATHAN Firefly is a good class of ship. Flew on a few myself in my younger days. Solid ship, takes a lot of punishment. What’s your business? MAL Running cargo. Gotta job waiting for us on Paquin. Kaylee here helped fix our engine. I sure could use her to keep my boat in the air. JONATHAN Kaylee, you really want to? KAYLEE Sure. Ain’t much work round here. JONATHAN What’s the pay? KAYLEE We ain’t..talked about it,...yet. MAL Mechanic is on for 150 credits a month, plus commission 5% any business after the boat’s taken care of. Plus full room and board. JONATHAN That’s not bad. KAYLEE Sounds good to me. JONATHAN Now I let her go with you Captain Reynolds you gotta promise to take care of her, don’t let her get in trouble with no boys and make sure she does her share around the boat. Nobody gonna say a Frye didn’t pull their own weight. MAL She keeps Serenity in the air, she’s got a job. Jonathan sticks out his hand and they shake again. JONATHAN Well, Captain, you just got yourself a first class mechanic. Kaylee gives him a big hug. KAYLEE Oh, thank you Daddy, thank you! JONATHAN Ok, OK. Now run home tell your mother and pack your stuff. And if she says anything about it tell her I said its OK. Kaylee runs off. MAL Think the missus might say no? JONATHAN She will. She dotes on that girl. But time she spread her wings and saw more of the ‘verse. Just then Bester exits the ship with a duffel bag over his shoulder, sees Mal and Jonathan. MAL Don’t worry none now Bester, you’ll find your feet. BESTER Thanks for nothing, Mal. He starts to walk off. JONATHAN Who’s that fella? MAL Was my mechanic. Just fired him cause he’s pretty useless. JONATHAN Seems familiar. Think I seen him hanging round my factory today. Yeah, he was talking to Kaylee. MAL That a fact.