These characters and this verse were created by the genius of Joss and company. It is all owed by someone else, not me. No disrespect intended. I just love these folks and they live on in my dreams.

"Finally" is the final installment of a 3-episode arc that started with “Jayne/No Jane” posted here on 08/28/04 and "Serenity Players" posted here on 12/10/04.

Scene (On Whitefall at Oscar's home, Mal, Book, Jayne, Jane & Oscar discussing David.) Oscar: Please, you have to help us. Take David off my hands. Jane: That boy is scary. The Tremains saw it right away. Mal: That's why they left? Jayne: (With his arm around Jane,) Which is very risky. Oscar: Yes. They wanted to get Ian away from David. They thought if they publicly announced Ian was back in the act that there would be no way the Feds would risk a public scandal. Jayne: Like I said, risky. Oscar: When you get the other kids away from David you can tell they're scared. Lana seems almost normal when David is gone. But as soon as he’s back, she glazes over and acts like his servant. Book: What are they doing? They're just kids. Jane: It started with kid stuff, tattoos, a little vandalism. Then it escalated to stealing and killing animals. The most recent, they got in a fight with some locals kids and... Oscar: David said he was just defending himself, but rumor is he was fighting like a Tong warrior. He beat those boys senseless. He almost killed them. Jane: I just want him gone. Book: We're not having any luck finding his family. Everything he's told us is a dead end. Jane: Well, take him anyway, anywhere. (She shudders and Jayne holds her close.) Mal: (Thoughtful.) I reckon we can help. Oscar: Thank you. Finally, Lana can get back to normal.

Scene (In front of Serenity cargo bay door. David, Terri & Lana gathered in one group. Mal, Zoe, Book, & Oscar gathered in another.) Oscar: Look at them. It's weird. I'll be glad when he's gone. Book: He seemed like such a nice young man. It's puzzling. Oscar: It's an act. Mal: Well, whatever, I guess he's our problem now. Oscar (To Zoe as the group break up): How have you been? You look well. Especially well. Zoe: I'm just shiny. Thank you.

David (To Lana): It will be OK. [Mei-mei -- "little sister"] Terri and I will play along until we can escape. We'll find Ian, we'll come back for you, and we'll all be together again. Terri: But what about her? (She shrugs toward Serenity.) David: She is intrusive. I'll deal with her. Convert her maybe. We can always use another in the fold. Life will be glorious, my children. Don't worry, we will finally be on our own, together forever and the verse will tremble with anticipation. (He turns and gives an evil look toward Serenity.)

Scene (On Serenity, Mal, Jayne, and Book in kitchen. Book is working at a computer screen, looking on the Cortex.) Book: Another dead end. I think David is lying. Jayne: You think he don't want to find his folks? Book: It's the only explanation I can come up with. (Zoe and Wash enter, Wash pours coffee, Zoe is digging around for something to eat.) Mal: Mornin’. (To Zoe): Are you glowing? You're glowing. (Zoe smiles and looks to Wash who is oblivious. Mal smiles knowingly and asks quietly,) Does he know? Zoe: Know what? (She smiles. Says louder,) Good morning, preacher. Still can't find anything on David? Maybe he's from somewhere they don't keep records. Wash: (As he joins Zoe) Maybe he's an orphan? (Book is typing. Kaylee enters.) Book: I did see where the Alliance has a bounty for him, twice as much as Rivers. Mal: The others? Jayne: Bounty? Book: Nothing for the others. Mal: (Frowns at Jayne.) Maybe the Tremains will be all right after all. Kaylee: Mornin' everybody. (To Zoe while Book, Wash & Mal continue): What have you got there? Zoe (To Kaylee): Cheese Kaylee (To Zoe): For breakfast? (Zoe smiles and shakes her head.) Oh. (As understanding washes over her.) Book: Well, what I found on Terri's family is somewhat disturbing. Her mother works on The Dortmunder. Wash: The Dortmunder? She's Alliance? Book: Not exactly. When Terri left for The Academy, Rebecca Reznecheck got a job on The Dortmunder, non-military. She's a Companion. She services the crew. (Inara enters.) Inara: Good morning. (Everyone stares, Inara becomes uncomfortably aware.) What's wrong? Book: Terri's mother is a Companion on the Dortmunder. Inara: Mmm, I hear that's a tough job. Hardly a minute to yourself. Jayne: I didn’t think Companions could have kids. Inara: Companions often take time off to have a family. Mal: How are we supposed to deliver Terri to the Dortmunder? Book: Someone respectable enough might be able to. (Everyone looks to Inara again.) Mal: This isn’t going to be that simple. Kaylee: Can we give David to the Alliance too? He gives me the creeps. He always lurking. Inara: I know what you mean. I don't feel safe around him. (Simon and River enter.) River: (Quietly to Zoe as she reaches for Zoe's abdomen) Who do you think is in there...? (Inara hears and gasps quietly.) Zoe: (Quietly back.) Shhh. (No one else has noticed this little exchange.) Jayne: I don't like him. Simon: I'll second that. I found him in the Infirmary. He said he was looking for tape, but I don't know… River: Finally, you all understand me. He's dangerous.

Scene (In the common area outside of the Infirmary, David, Terri, & River.) David (To River): Join us and be enlightened. Fight us and die. River: You talk too much. (David jumps at River. She moves away but a fight ensues. Pictures are knocked off walls, commotion abounds. Terri tries to enter the fight. Simon enters from the Infirmary, grabs Terri and pulls her away. Zoe and Mal enter from the stairs. Zoe grabs River and pulls her away. Mal is standing in front of David.) Mal: That's enough, all of you!! River: (Loud to David): You're not right, David. You're not righteous. You've got issues. (She breaks Zoe's grasp and runs toward her quarters.) It's getting very, very crowded! Mal: Now what was that all about? David: I don't know what's wrong with her. She jumped me. Terri? Terri: She did. She's not right. Simon: (Releasing Terri, running to catch River,) River? (Terri and David stomp away toward the cargo bay.) Mal: He's trouble. Zoe: More trouble than River? Mal: That is the question, isn't it? (Proximity alerts sounds.) Can’t we finally have some peace and quiet around here? (Mal and Zoe run up stairs together.)

Scene (On Serenity's bridge, Wash is flying intensely. Zoe and Mal run in.) Zoe: What is it? Wash: Not again, not again, not again. I can't believe this. How many times do I have to do this? (Mal and Zoe see on video screen, a Reaver ship!) Zoe: [Ai ya, women wanle. - "We're in big trouble."] Mal: Fly, just fly!! (On the intercom,) People, we've got Reavers. Buckle up and hang on! (Shots of everyone throughout Serenity, scared. Book, Jayne, Kaylee, and Inara in the kitchen. Simon and River in River's quarters. David and Terri in the cargo bay. Serenity becomes caught in the Reaver magnetic grappler. Everything suddenly stops. Stuff is flying all around. Wash grabs Zoe as she is thrust forward and she ends up sitting in his lap. Mal falls down the steps. Simon and River are thrown about in her room. Jayne catches Inara with his right arm and Kaylee with his left and they are all thrown together in a pile with Jayne on the bottom clutching both women very close. Book takes a tumble into the wall. David and Terri are thrown about in the cargo bay, boxes and junk flying all about. Everything becomes very still and quiet) Wash: They got us! Zoe: What should we do? If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh and sew our skins into their clothing and if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order. Mal: (Stumbling up the stairs holding his wrist.) They'll probably try to gas us first. Shut down airflow. (Jayne, Inara, and Kaylee are getting up. Jayne pulls a gun. Book gets up, doubled over, holding his back. Simon and River are standing, unharmed. David is unconscious. Terri is staring at him, backing away, frightened.) Wash: (Clicks buttons.) If they pull the O2, we're just as screwed. Mal: At least we'll be dead when they make an apron out of our skin. (Suddenly, Serenity and everything in her jerks again, not quite as violent as before. Serenity is released from the magnetic grappler.) Zoe: What was that? Wash: (Looking out the windows.) [ Aiya! Hwaile! -- "Shit on my head!"] We're free. They released us. Why? Mal: That. (Mal is also is looking out the window and sees an Alliance Patrol Ship. The Reaver ship takes off. There is a noise from the console. Wash clicks buttons and Commander Williams is on the video screen. Zoe is still on Wash’s lap. Meanwhile in Rivers quarters…) Simon: River, are you OK? River: Yes. (She looks up thoughtfully holding her wrist.) The Reavers are gone. Mal is hurt, and the preacher (She touches her back.) David is gone. (Smiles.) Simon: Dead? River: No. (Frowns.) Simon: I'll go check… River: No. They will come to you. You should prepare. Simon: You're getting pretty good at that. (River smiles. Then cut back to the bridge…) Williams: Are you people all right? Wash: Commander Williams? Ah, yeah, we're OK! Williams: Traveling Tremains? (Jayne, Kaylee, Inara, and Book join them on the bridge. Kaylee is helping Book who looks to be in pain.) Zoe: Yes sir. Thank you for saving us. Williams: Our pleasure. They're pushing out further every year. So you're all right? Inara..? Wash: We're fine. She's fine. Williams: What brings you all out this way? Inara: (Bending to get in the screen.) Commander, how nice to see you. Williams: Inara. How are you? Inara: I'm fine Commander. Thank you for the rescue. To what deity do we owe our appreciation for your timely appearance? Williams: Just keeping the verse safe for all decent folks everywhere. We're on our way to The Dortmunder for some R&R. Unless you all have a show planned. We could… Inara: No. I'm sorry, Commander. Actually, we are catching up with the rest of our troop on Persephone. Zoe (Gives Mal a questioning look. He shrugs. To Williams): Sir, we have a passenger that is trying to get to her mother on The Dortmunder. Could you…? I mean it would help us... Williams: Of course. Have your passenger ready and we'll connect the airlock shortly. We're happy to do anything to help our favorite celebrities. (Video goes black.) Wash: Problem solved. Sort of. Zoe: Yes, but I think it will be best if some stay out of sight. (To Mal): They don’t know you. Find the doctor and see what he can do for your wrist and tell him and River to stay out of sight. Book: I should… Zoe (To Book): You should see the doctor too. (To Wash and Inara): You two go for the meet and greet. I’ll be there soon. (To Kaylee): You get Terri’s things packed. (To Jayne): Find David, keep him occupied. (She takes Book's arm and they start down the steps.) Kaylee (To Wash): Did Zoe just take charge? Wash: Yes, finally. I love a strong woman.

Scene (Mal, Zoe, Book rush into the Infirmary and find Simon & River with medical equipment already and waiting.) Mal: We have good news and bad news. River: The Reavers are gone and the Alliance is boarding. (Mal, Zoe, & Book do a double take.) Simon: She’s getting very good at that. (To Mal): She also tells me you have a broken wrist and… (To Book): You have a sprained back. Lie here. (Jayne shows up carrying the unconscious David.) And David has a concussion. (To Jayne): Lay him there. Zoe: The Alliance is going to take Terri to her mother. You two need to stay out of sight. Simon: (Preoccupied) Uh huh. Oh and before I forget, that thing we did earlier, positive. Book: Positive? (Understanding flashes on his face.) Oh, positive. Jayne: Positively what? Zoe: Excuse me. I need to find my husband before I talk to any of you. (Zoe leaves.) Book (To Jayne): She's been blessed. (Jayne has a puzzled look on his face.) Mal: She’s expecting. Jayne: Expecting what? River: Two souls, one body. Jayne: Huh? Simon: She’s going to have a baby. Jayne: Oh. Thank you doctor for finally speaking plain.

Scene (In the cargo bay, Wash, Inara, Williams, 2 Alliance solders, Terri, Zoe walking in from the back.) Williams: You never did say why you were out this far. Inara: And how thankful we are that you were this far out too. Wash (Under his breath to Zoe as Inara continues.): She’s using her feminine wiles. That uncanny ability to make a man sweaty and/or compliant. Inara: I’m sure it’s something very dangerous and exciting. You are so brave and it makes this citizen so proud. Terri: Can you really take me to my mother? I… I need to go… as soon as possible. Williams: Of course little lady. What’s the rush? (Kaylee enters with a duffel bag.) Terri: Before he wakes… Zoe: (Cuts her off.) She doesn’t want to say goodbye to Jayne. He cries. At goodbyes. It’s very disturbing to see a grown man act that way. (Wash nods.) Inara: (Takes Williams arm and guides him to the exit. Terri and the 2 Alliance solders follow.) It must be destiny that we keep meeting this way Commander. I say I’m very much looking forward to when we finally meet again.

Scene (In the Infirmary. Mal, with futuristic cast on wrist, Book lying on the center table looking a little loopy, David is awake lying on the counter looking unhappy and like he has a very bad headache, Simon is working at the counter.) Zoe: (Enters.) They’re gone. Everyone OK? Wash is moving us along to Persephone. Simon: I believe all my patients will be fine. Mal (To David): So, what do we do with you boy? David: [Chur ni-duh- "Screw you."] (Sits up.) I can't believe you let Terri… I want off this ship. You people just... I can take care of myself. Just drop me, somewhere. I'm of age. Mal: I guess you are. Wash: (Excited, on the intercom.) Mal, you better get up here fast. Mal: This is not my best day ever. (Mal and Zoe run up the stairs to the bridge, River follows from the common room.) David: I finally see a way out.

Scene (In Serenity bridge. Mal and Zoe enter as Wash moves aside to show Jubel Early on the video. River is lurking in the back of the room.) Early: Permission to come aboard? You are some busy folks. Lots of traffic around you. But I found a way. Ol’ Early can always find a way. Mal: Early? No. You must be his twin. Early: There's only one. You think I would perish when you left me out here in the black. Early always has a back up plan. Mal: I believe you do. Early: Just like now. Not only do I have explosives attached to each engine, but also on the life support manifest. Just a little back up to make sure you do my bidding. Mal: And what is your bidding these days? Early: You have a passenger, David Tanner. I need for him to go with me. Mal: Is that all? What about River? Early: She beat me fair and square last time. I’ll leave her be. River: (Jumps out from hiding.) Finally! Permission to come aboard granted!

Scene (In cargo bay, Mal, Zoe, Wash, Jayne and David. Jubel is entering from the airlock.) Jubel: (As he unzips his suit and we see a wire connected to his chest.) Before you entertain any notions of killing me or what not, this wire is monitoring my beating heart. And if my heart beats to slow or to fast, this wire will set off the explosives attached to Serenity. When I’m far away, I’ll disengage and you’ll be able to safely remove them. So you see, I have the upper hand. Ol' Early always has the upper hand. Mal: There’s no need to get your heart in a flutter. David wants to go with you. Jubel: He does? Boy, you know I’m a bounty hunter. David: Whatever. Just get me away from these people. They’ve destroyed everything. (Mal looks at Early and shrugs.) Jubel: Finally something goes according to… (To Zoe): You’re Zoe. We didn’t meet last time? You are radiant. You’re pregnant, right? (Zoe is shocked, but nods.) I’m good at reading that. Wash: What? When? How? Zoe: I just found out myself for sure. I haven’t had time to tell you. I wanted you to be the first to know but… Mal: Man, everyone knew but you. Wash: I’m going to be a dad? Zoe: Finally.