Scene 1 (Serenity’s dining room, the nine seated, talking, laughing, drinking, and eating.) (River to Mal & Zoe nonchalantly): You should call Oscar. He needs you. (Silence.) (River to Jayne): And one of his needs you. (Jayne): Whoa, she’s doing it again! (Kaylee has a here-we-go-again look on her face. Book nods.) (Zoe to Mal): Oscar? Oscar Warner? (Mal): Only Oscar I know. You? (Zoe): Yeah. (Wash): Who’s …? (Zoe): You know the guy with all the girls. Six, I think. Lost both legs. (All at once) … (Wash to Zoe): Oh, yeah, I remember you telling me about him. Wasn’t he a schoolteacher? Lucky he could go back to that profession with no legs. (Jayne to River): Fei hua! (Bullshit!) I thought I told you to stop doing that. (To all): She’s talking crazy again. (Book): Jayne, I don’t think she can help it. (Kaylee to Jayne with a small arm slap): Don’t be mean. (River to Kaylee): Can you pass the bread? (Inara, annoyed look to Jayne, says to River): Mei-Mei? Are you ok? (Simon to River): I don’t understand, River. Are you confused? What are you …? (Kaylee passes the bread.) (Simon continues alone): … talking about? (River to Simon taking a piece of bread, exasperated): I’m still hungry. I wanted more. (River to Kaylee): Sie-sie. (Thank you.) (Kaylee): You’re welcome. (Zoe to Mal): Should I call? (Mal): It can’t hurt. And I’m curious. (Jayne to Mal): 6 kids, no legs, let me guess, no money. (Mal shrugs.) (Jayne to River): How you fittin’ me into this. I don’t know no Oscar. (River shrugs.)

Scene 2 (Serenity’s bridge, Zoe talking to Oscar in screen. Mal & Wash listening off screen.) (Oscar): It’s amazing. I can’t believe you called. I’m still in shock. I didn’t know what we would do next. Yes, yes, we can use your help. Are you sure? But I don’t want to say too much now. Can you come to Reading? (Mal nods, Wash holds up 2 fingers) (Zoe): We can be there in 2 days. Will that do? (Oscar): Yes, that’s just enough time to get ready. (Oscar nods to someone off screen there) We’ll be ready. I’ve got to make some calls. Then we can discuss where we go from here. Is that ok? (Zoe): Can you give me something? (Oscar): I need passage for my daughter. I don’t have much money… (Zoe, gives a don’t worry about it head shake): Where does she need to go? (Oscar): I would rather wait to explain. (Zoe): Alright, we’ll see you in 2. (Oscar): My angel. It is a miracle. I’ll see you soon. (Screen goes black) (Zoe): Cryptic enough for you? (Mal): Yeah, just wonderin’ what we’re about to step in?

Scene 3 (Serenity at Reading Docks. Mal, Wash, Jayne, and Kaylee in cargo bay, doors open.) (Zoe, as she walks down steps from bridge): Oscar said he and his daughter would be here in a few. (Mal): Ok. But before we do the big damn hero thing again, let’s get prepared. Wash, you get us fueled and watered. (Wash takes money and goes off): Shiny. (Mal): Jayne, ammo (Jayne takes money and leaves mumbling): Don’t see the point. We shouldn’t be helpin’ people, we should be working. For money. (Mal); Kaylee, groceries. (Counts off some money, pauses, and counts off a few more) Get the best they got. I’m feeling extravagant. (Kaylee smiles): Aye, aye captain. Hope they got strawberries. (She leaves too.) (Mal & Zoe start rearranging boxes.) (Zoe): Shouldn’t we be conservative, sir? Oscar said he didn’t have much money. (Mal): We’re OK. That last job put a little aside. And we got the Whitehall job coming up. Pay’s good. Cargo’s complicated, but it’ll do. (Zoe): I still can’t believe you’re going to deal with Patience again. She shot you. Twice. (Mal): Yeah but the last time hardly hurt at all. Besides she doing good stuff on that moon of hers. I think she’s thinking about others now. Or at least seein’ the bigger picture. (Zoe): Maybe. Well, you know what they say, three times a charm. (Mal): Yeah, but Patience ain’t charming. (Both laugh then see Oscar and his daughter ride up in beat up hovercraft. Oscar gets out slowly, painfully, with a cane. He leans on his daughter and she helps him walk up the ramp. Mal finds a box to create a makeshift seat for Oscar. First, Oscar greets & hugs Zoe, then greets & shakes Mal’s hand; long and hard, then gratefully sits.) (Oscar to Mal & Zoe): My angels. I still can’t believe your timing. This is my oldest daughter Jane. (Jane is mid 20’s, pretty) I should be doing this, but I’m just not able. (Kicks his leg with the cane and we hear a hollow sound) (Resolved) Jane will do it. (Zoe): Do what? (Oscar): Rescue my youngest daughter.

Scene 4 (Later in Serenity’s cargo bay, all nine plus Oscar and Jane. New boxes and crates all around with new supplies but cargo bay is kind of empty.) (Mal to everyone): You all heard me & Zoe tell of Oscar Warner. This is his daughter Jane. I called you here coz Oscar has a real interestin’ story to tell. (Mal to Simon): I think you’ll be especially interested, Doctor. (Mal to Oscar & Jane): This here is my crew. Best anywhere. Wash is our pilot. Pretty Kaylee is the best mechanic in the verse (big smile from Kaylee), Book is our … (Book): I’m a Shepherd. It’s nice to meet you. (Shakes hands with Oscar then Jane) (Mal continues): That’s the doctor Simon and his sister River, back there (River is sitting away, seemingly distracted, running her hands over the box she came in). This is Inara. She rents out a shuttle for her business, none of mine. And Jayne is … (Jane): Jayne? My name is Jane. (Jayne, big grin): I noticed that. (Jane, smile back): Nice meeting you. (River, under her breath, no one can hear): I told you Jane was a girl’s name. (Mal motions for Oscar to begin.) (Oscar): It’s a pleasure meeting you. I’m not sure where to start. Maybe first, I want to thank you all for volunteering to help. God bless you. (Book nods like ‘it’s ok’.) (Jayne): It’s what we do. (more grinning at Jane. Mal gives him the raised eyebrow look, and then realizes, Jayne is smitten.) (Oscar sighs and starts): My youngest daughter is a bit of a genius. Well, all my daughters are geniuses (Oscar smiles at Jane), perfect in my eyes. (proud) Jane’s a schoolteacher too. Anyway, the state said Lana was a genius. All official. They offered to send her to a special school, no charge. (Simon, shocked): The Academy for the Gifted? (Oscar): Yes, you’ve heard of it. We don’t have much extra, we have enough, but free school was heaven sent. Lana was so excited. It was off world so a little scary to let our youngest go off world, but we did. Lana promised to write everyday. And for awhile she did. But then her letters became scarce and distant. It wasn’t Lana speaking anymore. She said things, mean things. She said we were holding her back. She wanted us to quit writing her. She said we were embarrassing her. That wasn’t Lana. She isn’t like that. She was … is the sweetest thing. (Jane moves to hold his hand) Anyway, we doubled up on our writing campaign but we got fewer and fewer letters from Lana. They stopped completely 2 months ago. I have written and called the school board but they refuse to help. They said it was up to the student to keep in contact with the family and they thought it was perfectly natural for a girl of sixteen to begin to distance herself from her family. They said she was in fine health and her grades were great and not to worry. That made me worry more that ever. Then, about 2 weeks ago Jane was approached by someone who said he knew Lana was in trouble and he could help. He said the school was hurting her (Oscar almost breaks down), that he was part of an … (Simon): … an underground movement and they could get her out in cryo and meet up with you on Persephone. Then it was up to you to keep her safe. (Oscar, shocked): Yes! How did you know? (Simon): I’ve lived this story. (Oscar, confused): Well, that’s it. That’s our story. We could use your help. I need you to get Jane to Persephone, help her pick up Lana, and get them both back home safe. (Simon): How long has she been there? (Oscar): The longest 9 months of my life. (Simon): River was there over 2 years. Maybe Lana will be better off. (He looks to River who seems to be in her own world.) And I’m not sure how you keep her safe. (Oscar): Shu muh? (I beg your pardon?) Your sister?!

Scene 5 (A couple of days later, in the dining room) (Jane): I can’t seem to get the hang of this. (Jayne takes her hand and gently guides her to which buttons to push. Definite flirting going on.) (Jane): Thank you. You’ve been so good to me these last few days. I don’t think I could have stayed in my own skin without your company. (Jayne): Just doing my part. (Jane): How much longer will it take to get to Persephone? (Jayne): A couple more days. Wait, you have short days on Reading? (Jane nods): 18 and half hours. (Jayne): Mal keeps Serenity on a 24 hour day. I think he’s sentimental about Earth That Was but he’s says it just feels right. So, maybe it’ll feel longer for you than a couple. (Jane): That’s ok. As long as I am with you. I’m more nervous about getting there. Scared, really. (Jayne): Nothing to worry about. We got your back. Mal’s got a good plan. It’ll all work out, you’ll see. (Jane, hesitant): What’s wrong with River? Why is she like that? (Jayne): Well, I didn’t know her before so she could have been born just plain weird. Simon was. But Simon thinks it’s the experiments, the surgery they did to her brain and all, at that school. (Jane, anguished): Lao-tyen boo! (Oh God!) (Jayne, moves to hug her and she melts in his arms): There, there. It’ll be ok. (Jane): I’m so scared. Do you think they come after us? (Jayne): Nah, Mal’s got a good plan, I say. (They kiss. Book enters. Pretends not to see kiss.) (Book): Hey there, you two. (Jayne and Jane part somewhat embarrassed, but not too much.) (Jayne, maybe even a little annoyed): Preacher. (Book): You made fresh coffee? I can’t believe the captain sprung for the real stuff. It smells great. Are we on for cards again tonight? (Jayne): A … Jane and me are getting kinda tired of cards. Thinkin’ about doing something else. (Jane blushes.) (Book): Oh. I’ll see if Inara and Simon want to play.

Scene 6 (Mal, Zoe, Jayne, and Jane near the entrance of a Persephone warehouse. ) (Warehouse Guy with clipboard): Hey, you Lana Warner’s family? Right on time. That’s her there. (He points to a box inside the warehouse, but it doesn’t look like River’s box. Mal and Zoe move into the warehouse and Warehouse Guy pulls a gun.) (Warehouse Guy): Stop! Lay down your weapons! You are wanted in connection to the illegal kidnapping of Lana Warner. You are ordered to stand down. (Another Fed Guy comes out of a back room, lets a door slam, and Warehouse/Fed Guy is distracted. Mal and Zoe duck behind some boxes. Jayne grabs Jane and runs out with her. Shots are exchanged between Fed guys and Mal and Zoe. Both Fed Guys are shot. Mal & Zoe take off and catch up to Jayne and Jane.) (Jane): But Lana … (Mal): She ain’t there. It was a trap. Let’s get out of here.

Scene 7 (Serenity’s cargo bay, all nine plus Jane gathered.) (Jane sobs, Jayne is trying to comfort her): It was a trap? What will I tell my father? (Zoe): Obviously, that wasn’t the underground. They must have got caught. She could be anywhere now. (Mal): Yeah. (Wash): What do we do now? Wait for a new underground guy? Not very productive. (Kaylee): Maybe we could go to the school? Grab her? (Book): Probably not a good idea Kaylee. I’m sure they have tight security. (Inara): Well, we have to do something. When I think of the Liou Mahng (Bastards) that have her … (Simon): I don’t know. This didn’t happen to me. (River, coming out from hiding): I know where she is. I feel her. I feel them all. (Silence) (Simon moves to River): You know where she is.? Can you tell me? (River): I can show you. (River takes Simon’s hand and starts down the ramp) (Mal): Ee-chi shung-hoo-shi! (Let’s all take a deep breath here.) I don’t want to walk in to another trap. (River): There are no guards. She’s right there. (She points out the bay doors. Mal walks down to see she is pointing to an official looking ship across the way.) (Mal): There? In that cutter? (River): Yes. But she’s not alone. (Mal): I thought you said there were no guards. (River):, Yes, no guards. (Simon): Then who is with her? (River): Others. (Simon): How many? (River, thinking): So many voices. (mumbling) Lana, David, Terri, Ian. (sure) Four. (Wash): No guards? (Mal): No need to guard prisoners in cryo. (Mal): Jayne? Zoe? (Jayne): I’m ready for some thrillin’ heroics. (Zoe nods.) (Wash): I’ll get the mule.

Scene 8 (Back in Serenity cargo bay with four new cryo boxes.) (Mal to Simon): Doctor, better get to work opening those boxes. (to Kaylee) No more passengers this time, close it up. (to Wash) Get us out of here. (to Simon again): It’s not a bad place. What do you think doctor? (Simon): I think I’m already home. (He sees River running her hands over the new boxes with a big smile.) And I know she’s at home. How could we ever leave Serenity? (Mal): I don’t know. Got the meds ready? No tellin’ what’s in here. (They move to begin opening boxes).

(Jane, Jayne, & River closer to the cryo boxes.) (Jane to River): Which one is Lana? (River, happy): This one. (almost dances over to another box) And this one is Ian, and this one is Terri. (Jane): So that one is David. (River, moods changes to scared): Don’t open that one.

Scene 9 (On Whitehall, in Serenity’s cargo bay, ramp down. Patience with 2 thugs, Mal and Zoe.) (Mal): Now, Patience, we got your cargo here safe and sound, no need to be mad. (Patience): Yeah but a few more than I asked for. You expect me to pay for your mistake. (Mal): Well now they was all just waiting there. What I’m I supposed to do, turn folks away? (Then we see the cargo, settlers, animals, boxes, lots of stuff. Serenity is full, messy. A lot of commotion. People packing, moving stuff in and out of cargo bay, all excited, lots of talking and laughing.) Everyone’s wanting to join you out here on Whitehall. They all think you’re a peach. And hey, look, I got you a blacksmith, a horse trainer, a radar specialist, and 2 teachers, you can’t scoff at that. (Then we see Oscar, his wife and 6 stair step girls, starting with Jane and ending with Lana, and then, Terri, David, and Ian.) (Patience): Well that parts ok, but … (Mal): Ok, ok. I’ll give you a break. You can pay the fair for 5 less. How’s that? (Patience): 10. (Mal): 7 (Patience): Ok. You drive a hard bargain Malcolm Reynolds. But I think we can do business. Get me a doctor next time, ok? (Mal nods.): Come on Zoe, let’s help these people get out of here so we can have our ship back.

(Book to Oscar): I hope you enjoy the frontier life, Mr. Woo. (quieter) We’ll let you know as soon as we contact all the families. I think it’s best to do it in person. You never know whose listening. (Oscar): We’ll be ok. Everyone seems to get along. It’s amazing how they seem to know what each other are thinking. (Oscar glances at the 4 from cryo who are huddled together.) David seems to be the leader. I think he’s pretty sensible. (Book): Watch him. River is very intuitive. (Oscar): Simon gave us enough meds to combat any trouble. We’ll be ok, but hurry if you can. (Book): We’ll do our best.

(River up by the shuttle looking down at the cryo gang. David looks up and catches her gaze. Their eyes lock for a moment, then River backs away finally turning and leaving. David smiles and returns his attention to his followers.)

(Jane): I’m going to miss you most of all scarecrow. (Jayne): Huh? (Jane): It’s from The Wizard of … never mind. Will I ever see you again? (Jayne): I’m kinda hard to get rid of. And I got to check up on my favorite schoolmarm. We come by here pretty often. And if this deal between Mal and Patience sticks, maybe more often. (They kiss.) You can count on it, I’ll be back.

The End.