Wash storms up to the door of the room Early is being held in. Jayne is leaning against a wall, actually taking his time with the food on his plate. Jayne feels Wash approaching and continues to eat, only moving his eyes up to see him.

Jayne: "What's the plan, little man?" Wash: "One-man job. Don't let me interrupt your dinner." Jayne: "Whatever."

Wash enters a security code and the door unlocks.

Wash: "Lock this behind me." No response. Wash enters the room and shuts the door behind him. Early is standing, bound around a pole at the hands and feet and chained to the pole at his midsection.

Early: "Ah, the pilot. Didn't get to …" interrupted by a right hand to the jaw from Wash. A beat of silence. "… see you last time." Wash: "I'm not here to reminisce. Your mother's got our doctor." Early: "And I've already given instructions on where to look." Wash: "Not enough. This is a big and fairly desolate planet we're flying over. Over half of it is covered in white. I need more." Early: "No you don't." Another right to the jaw. "I know you, Hoban. Not that there's much to know - a flighty-flight here, a flighty-flight there …" Another right. "Here a flight, there a flight …" Another right. And a left to the other side of Early's face. And several more in succession. Wash: "You might want to start talking now." Early (sing-songy): "Old McHoban had a farm …" Wash steps back and kicks Early in the stomach. Early would have doubled over had he not been wrapped to a pole.

Zoe has left the bridge and is headed toward Early's room. As she approaches, she hears the sounds of someone being beaten and begins to run. She reaches Jayne and shoots him a pissed-off and exasperated look.

Jayne: "I'm eatin'!"

Zoe throws the door open, startling Wash a bit and breaking him from his hand-and-foot torture of Early.

Early (breathing hard but voice still strong): "Maybe he DOES wear the pants." Zoe (entering the room and approaching early with clenched fists): "You think he hits hard? He hits me like that to turn me on. Of course, I can't hit him at all. Bruises like a peach, this one." She reaches back and prepares to strike Early.

Early: "*Deng yi miao*." Zoe stops. "Heat signature. Mom's ship is an older model, like mine. I fixed mine because the signature makes it easy to track the ship. She never fixed hers." Wash (as Zoe winds up again): "What kind of signature?" Early: "You'll know it when you see it. It's very unique, not like anything you've seen, but you'll know it." With one efficient blow to the head, Zoe knocks Early out cold.

Zoe and Wash look at each other and leave the room. They shut the door behind them and Wash starts to enter the security code.

Wash (no longer hurt by their previous argument): "You had to bring up the bruising?" Zoe: "Made him talk, didn't it?" Jayne (sitting a nearly-empty plate on the floor): "Talked a little too quick, if you ask me." Wash: "He has a point. I mean, he's a bounty hunter. Shouldn't he be able to hold out longer than that?" River (she has sneaked in unnoticed): "He wants us to find her." Everyone is startled a bit, but they're getting used to River's sneakiness. "He wants to find her." Wash: "He misses Mommy?" River: "Mistrust. Confusion. Frustration. He's tired. Thinks she can fix it." A beat. Zoe (realizing): "That's why she took Simon." Jayne: "So she's not likely to hurt him." Tears well in River's eyes, and she turns and runs. Jayne looks confused. "Why's she cryin'? Wouldn't make sense for her to hurt Simon if she wants his help." Wash and Zoe share his confused look and begin to follow River. Jayne picks up his plate and finishes eating while walking toward the kitchen.

***

Book: "Most people don't get second chances like this." Mal (still a bit closed off, but talking): "I don't know if she sees it as a second chance. I do, sure 'nough, but that don't mean …" Book: "For someone so learned in the ways of reading a person's intentions concerning crime, war, violence, you sure don't know much about matters of the heart." Mal (almost laughing): "I come by it honest." Book (smiling): "Like father like son?" Silence. Mal drifts off for a second, losing his already slight smile. "Captain?" Mal. "So you think … I mean, it's possible that …" Book: "I think you should talk to her. She knows how you feel, she just needs to hear you say it." Mal: "Problem is, I need to hear her say it, too." Book stands from the table and puts his hand on Mal's shoulder. Book: "Talk to her." Book leaves the room. Mal rises from the table and takes his empty plates and utensils to the kitchen area. Jayne enters. Mal: "How's our guest?" Jayne: "He's … sleepin'." Mal leaves the room. Jayne tosses his plate in the kitchen and heads back to his post.

***

As Book walks toward the cargo bay, River speeds past him. He notices her tears. Book looks behind him and spots Wash and Zoe approaching.

Book: "What happened?" Zoe: "Not sure. She showed up after we got done getting' more info out of Early. We figure his mom took Simon to help her fix Early." Book: "So that means she wouldn't want to hurt Simon." Wash: "That's what we figured, but Jayne said that to her and she just ran off." Mal is approaching. Zoe: "Captain, we may have some …" Mal: "In a minute, Zoe." Zoe looks a bit pissed as Mal continues walking.

As Zoe, Book and Wash continue discussing this turn of events, River has reached the cargo bay and is no longer crying. Her face now looks angry. She stands for a moment, then she turns and begins retracing her steps, walking with purpose. She and Mal cross paths. River doesn't acknowledge him. Mal turns to watch her walk but says nothing as he continues on. River approaches Zoe, Book and Wash. She blows past them without a word. Zoe, Book and Wash look at each other and begin to follow River.

***

Inara and Kaylee are still in the infirmary, each sitting on an exam table.

Kaylee: "Why didn't you tell him?" Inara: "You're more than a little *fong luh* today, aren't you?" Kaylee: "C'mon, 'Nara. You're a Companion. All you do is make men feel good. Don't you wanna let one make YOU feel good for a change?" Inara (smiling, almost embarrassed): "It's not as simple as …" She's interrupted by Kaylee's "Shut up. Mal's coming" cough as Mal approaches the doorway. Kaylee (stammering): "Yeah, so … yeah. I gotta … space monkeys! In the engine room! I better …" Mal: "You don't have to go, Kaylee." Kaylee: "I'm sorry, Cap'n. I'm on my way up there now. … What?" Mal: "Don't like secrets on my ship. I figure, I do this with you here, everyone'll know before long." Kaylee (trying to hide an excited smile, sitting back down on the exam table): "OK." Mal (slowly approaching Inara, who sits a bit wide-eyed): "Why so nervous?" Inara (picking up Kaylee's stammer): "I … (thinking "Calm down. Calm down. He's gonna do it. Just calm down.") Should I be nervous?" Mal: "Might make me feel better. Don't much like bein' the only nervous one in here." Kaylee: "I wouldn't worry about that, Cap'n." They all chuckle at each other. A few beats of uncomfortable silence. Mal (softly): "Inara…" Before he can continue, the ship jerks, not enough to make anyone fall over, but enough to notice. "Why's my ship movin'?" Kaylee jumps up and runs out. Mal and Inara look at each other like they want to continue but know they can't. Inara: "Later. I'll still be here." Mal quickly exits and heads to the bridge, followed by Inara. ***

Mal reaches the bridge and sees the rest of the crew standing around watching River piloting the ship.

Mal: "Why is someone other than my pilot flying my boat?" River: "Tired of waiting. Simon needs me." Wash (rubbing his head just above his right eye): "Don't try to stop her, either. Kitten's got a whip." Mal (to River): "Don't much care for you hittin' my pilot." River (continues to focus ahead): "Keep him away and he won't get hit." Book (sitting at a control panel): "It looks like she's following some kind of … I don't know what this is." Wash and Kaylee move behind Book and check his panel. Wash: "*Ta ma de!* Readings bouncing off everything in its wake. No way for us to … this has to be it." Mal: "Has to be what?" Zoe: "The signature. Early told us we'd see something like this." Jayne: "This'll lead us right to her?" Wash: "Should." River: "Will." The ship begins to shake a bit, gradually becoming more violent. Kaylee: "River, you've got to slow down! You're pushin' her too hard!" River: "Not slowing down!" Mal: "No time. Kaylee, get to the engine room, keep us runnin'. Call me if we're gonna blow." Jayne: "Blow? I ain't getting' blowed up for Dandy-ass. Mal, you better … " Mal: "Jayne, Book, get in Shuttle 2, Zoe and Wash in Inara's … in Shuttle 1." Inara notices Mal's slip and smiles a bit. "Wait for me to call." Zoe: "If there's a plan, better we should know now." Mal: "Still workin' it out. Get to the shuttles." Those four exit. Mal crouches next to River. Inara approaches. Mal: "'Nara, go lock yourself in …" Inara: "I'm not going anywhere." Mal: "Not your choice. I want you in …" River: "Let her stay." Beat as Mal and Inara look at River. "May need her later."

***

Early is strapped to a table with various wires and tubes coming out of him. He's in a dark room, can only see the bright light shining above him. He's uncomfortable, scared. A high-pitched drilling noise starts up beside his left ear. He tries to turn his head to see what it is, but can't. Just as it gets close enough for him to feel the heat from it, his head jerks up and his eyes widen, reattaching him to his current predicament, tied to a pole on Serenity. His eyes dart about and he struggles to free himself from his bonds.

XXX