Characters

Mal Happier but more distant. He hasn’t been happy the way he is now for a long time and it’s bothering him. He has a “family” but he’s not sure about the whole people depending on him thing. This is shown in the distance he’s begun to show the crew especially Inara among other things. He hasn’t quite found that faith Book told him to get yet but he’s in a position where there’s the possibility for that.

Inara Almost fed up with Mal not talking to her but neither is really willing to give up the ghost as it were. Distant from Mal and it shows.

Zoe Not a good time to mess with her, read on

Jayne Jayne is still Jayne if not a little bit better man after the events of Serenity

Kaylee As always bursting with optimism. Comfortable with Simon

Simon Comfortable with Kaylee. Not nearly as protective with River. Not nearly as much of an outsider

River Not so crazy anymore and more like her brother but not too pompous just a little bit of know it all Look for this line somewhere in this when this thing is done, “The Tams seem to come in only two flavors, crazy and pompous, River’s a twist.”

Scene: We see our Captain Reynolds sweaty and more than a little uncalm walking quickly into the dormitory hallway of Serenity . The shot settles as the captain’s face is seen in full on the left half of the screen and Kaylee can be seen coming in behind him out of focus on the right. He looks back not really looking like he wants to ask the question he is about to.

Mal Gosa! She’s hot! Kaylee what temp she runnin?

Kaylee Too hot, captain!

Mal (Ordering)Get the doc down there to help you and make sure she’s taken care of.

Scene: Jayne enters from where Kaylee and the captain had come from

Jayne She’s about to blow if you ask me. Leaking everywhere and making sounds I ain’t never imagined.

Mal (quickly)Shut up, Jayne! (yelling at the cockpit)Can you set a course and land somewhere River, preferably with all the help we’ll be need’n?

Scene: Cut to a close-up of River looking over her shoulder with a smile on her face

River Sure.

Mal Good crazy girl. I’ll be up there in just a sec. (Turns to Kaylee) Go. Now.

Scene: Cut to Kaylee entering Simon’s room. Simon is asleep with the blankets around him and in his pajamas.

Kaylee (worried and somewhat scared)Simon, Get up! We’re going to need your help!

Simon (sleepily)What?! Wait?! What’s going on?!

Kaylee (explaining and getting angry)She’s in pain I can hear her from here and you need to get your {ass} down there to help!

Simon (rationalizing and tired)Would you just hold on a second, Kaylee. We seem to be landing ok I’m sure whatever’s wrong with the ship can at least wait until I have my shirt and pants on. Can’t it?

Kaylee (explaining in the way one would about consequences to a third grader) Zoe’s water broke. She’s gone into contractions and we can’t figure out what painkillers to give her. She’s getting a tad irritable and to make matters worse we think she might be ill too.

Simon (surprised and somewhat horrified) Oh.

Scene: Cut to Zoe’s face in pain in the infirmary

Zoe AGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where in {the name of all that is good and holy} is that {worthless} doctor??!!!!!!

Scene: Zoom out to see Inara at her side holding her hand and Zoe squeezes maybe too tightly as evidenced by Inara’s facial expression

Inara: I’m sure Kaylee’s getting him now. Just try to hold it together a little longer.

Zoe: I swear if he doesn’t get here right now I’ll use every one of Jayne’s toys to give the doctor holes to fix for the rest of his short tenure on this boat!

Scene: Camera moves to the door as Jayne enters and leans against one of the counters

Jayne Who said I was giving you anything. I’m fairly certain we already had a shower for the thing.

Inara *This line is showing some of the change that has happened in Inara because of the distance she is feeling between her and Mal. Even at this point though fans shouldn’t take too much issue with here insulting Jayne as she did in Out of Gas and Jaynestown* I don’t remember “you” getting her anything.

Scene: Jayne shrugs at this

Scene:camera moves to Inara’s eyes glazing over the to the entrance as Kaylee and Simon enter. Simon still in PJs

Simon Ok let’s see how this is going.

Scene: Simon takes a quick look between Zoe’s legs

Simon (nervously)Yep, you’ll be needing something for the pain

Zoe (Screaming)Really?!

Scene: Cut to Serenity entering the planet’s atmosphere We hear a sound of relief before it switches back to Zoe in the infirmary receiving her baby from Simon

Cut to close up of Simon

Simon Looks to be about ten pounds or so and as healthy as can be seen from what I have here….(deadpan pleading)Please don’t shoot me for not being here sooner.

Zoe I’ll consider it but don’t get your hopes up, doctor.

Simon Well the baby and mother seem to be fine. I think you should all just let them get a little peace and quiet right now. I’ll be right back by fear of your wrath but I need to put on some pants if we’re going to land somewhere to get your son checked out properly. If you need me any sooner just get me on the com

Zoe {Damn straight}

Kaylee (deflated)But I wanted her to tell us his name

As everyone else leaves Mal finally comes in to lean against the counter and talk to Zoe.

Zoe Oh captain, my captain…where in sam hill were you, sir?

Mal Oh just making sure we have a smooth landing and that uh we were headed to where we could get you checked out all proper like. (same tone as Simon previously)Please don’t shoot me for not being here sooner. (Army buddy teasing tone)So it looks like you and Wash made this little whiny magpie right around the time we got the truth out about the reavers. So when was that exactly?

Cut to a close up of Zoe giving Mal a somewhat incredulous look for being asked about her sex life

Mal (very nervous but in a funny way)I mean we were kind of busy back then and I guess so were….

Zoe Sir, are you sure you want to continue this line of questioning?

Mal You know what, you’re right. Let me just get out of here and give you some time alone here with your boy before we land.

Scene: Mal begins to walk out. He stops when Zoe begins to talk. He looks back over his shoulder at her

Zoe It was either right before we were goin through reaver territory or right before we thought we may get blown out of the sky by the alliance. We always liked to make sure we had no regrets before goin out to die unlike some people.

Scene: Mal begins to turn around

Mal (not angry but not really wanting to talk about what he knows this is about) Now wait just a {darn} minute. What’s that supposed to mean?

Zoe (explaining)Sir, I’m in no mood to have this conversation-slash-argument right now. So let me just lay it out like this so I can spend some quality time with my son. (somewhat impatient)For nearly, as long as this here bundle of joy has been growing and kicking in my belly you and Inara haven’t said nearly a peep to each other in private. (Incredulous)Somewhere along the line you even stopped invading the privacy of her shuttle to call her a whore anymore.

Scene: Mal snickers slightly then deflates when Zoe says…

I would think that this odd silence should end now cause there ain’t no way your toungue tiedness is goin to last more than my pregnancy without me shooting you, sir. After all baggage you’re carryin around ain’t goin to be nearly as painful getting rid of.(ends with a smile)

Mal Well you know we’ve both been doing honest work and all since then and…

Zoe (Interrupting) Sir, I said we aren’t having this conversation.

Scene: Mal smiles, looks away and walks out. There is a pause. The view is still on the door as Jayne peeks his head around and looks in at Zoe. He walks in with his hands behind his back and then kneels beside Zoe. She just looks at him like “what”?

Jayne presents a small box with a ribbon wrapped around it(this isn’t an elegant gift, it looks like it was slapped together hurriedly but genuinely).

Jayne (Actual pleading)Please don’t shoot me for not getting this to you sooner.

Scene: Cut to the ship flying by fairly low.

Scene: cut to Mal walking into the cockpit

Mal Alright, River I’ll land us. You go take a look at Zoe’s baby like I know you been dying to since she went into labor.

River (gets up and salutes jokingly) Yes sir

Scene: River runs out like a crazy schoolgirl The ship’s com starts to go off. Mal turns it on and looks at the screen We see over his shoulder to a picture of what appears to be the local sheriff

Sheriff (whispering) We got your landing request for your medical needs. Are you Malcolm Reynolds?

Scene: Close up on Mal

Mal Uh that depends on whose asking lawman.

Scene: Cut to full screen view of the sheriff

Sheriff (kind of nervous now, but excited and ignoring Mal somewhat) And that’s Serenity you’re flying there, right? I’m a big fan of what you did. Getting the truth out about all that reaver nonsense and all. So I just thought I’d warn you that even though there ain’t no official warrant or the such out for you right now there are people around here who might make you and your crew disappear if they find out who you are and get the chance. My advice to you is that if what you’re here for isn’t an emergency, you should just get back in your ship and head about 200 miles or so west and look for an abbey. They got equipment up to snuff for most all common medical needs there for those who don’t want to associate with the alliance, that’ll be as far as you’ll need to explain yourself to them.

Scene: Over the shoulder of the sheriff now focusing on Mal

Mal Thanks sheriff. (Begins to turn off the com but then stops) By the way, how did you know who I was or what me and mine did for that matter?

Sheriff Truth be told. No one knows for sure or completely about what you done but there are pieces of info here and there and sooner or later people can put stuff together. People need heroes and folk legends something fierce out here on the rim so much that some might just be believing without really knowing. You know what I mean?

Mal (solemnly) I reckon there was a time I did……(looks down then up again)Thanks again sheriff.

Scene: Mal again begins to turn off the com but before he does…

Sheriff Thank You, I had an uncle who was a settler on Miranda.

Scene: Mal smiles and then finally turns off the com He fiddles with the controls to set a course for the location We see Mal turn around and head for the kitchen As he comes in we see everyone sitting around the kitchen Noticeable, Jayne has a mop

Mal Change of plans Lawman says if we go here that we may be looking at trouble. He also says there’s a church not too far from here that can take care of our little check-up. So we’re heading there.

Zoe Sir, with all due respect, couldn’t this be a trap?

Mal Naw, guy seems honest enough. Plus, I have misgivins about anything located too close to the alliance, and by that I mean on the same planet so it’s all the same to me, we’re going.

Scene: The crew looks a little lost except for Zoe who has somewhat of a knowing smirk on her face.

Zoe You heard the captain. We’re going to church.

Scene: In the cockpit with River in the pilot’s seat and Mal looking over her shoulder. The abbey looks like a giant old west metropolis save for the church made of stone and a small medical looking facility next to it.

Mal There it is. Set her down nice and easy River.

Scene: Mal gets on the com Close up of his face

Mal Hello local abbey, I’m…

Abbey operator Ah, Captain Reynolds, I assure you if we had VIP firefly parking we would give you the clearance but for now just park in the clearing.

Mal (somewhat to himself) I really don’t like how everyone in the verse seems to know us today.

River It’s not a trap and there’s something…familiar here.

Mal (silently) Yeah, I miss him too

Scene: Cut to the cargo doors opening

Scene: Simon pushing Zoe with her baby in a wheelchair with Inara and River. They pass under the shot . We then see Jayne and Mal walking down the ramp with Kaylee bugging the captain

Kaylee Come on she must have told you, right captain?

Mal What?

Kaylee The baby’s name, stupid.

Scene: Mal looks at Jayne like “What’s up with her”

Kaylee Come on! Tell me, tell me

Mal (arms up trying to wave off Kaylee) Listen, Zoe ain’t told me nothing about it. She’ll tell us all when she’s good and ready. Until then, just hold your horses.

Kaylee (deflated yet again) awwwwwww

scene: Kaylee folds her arms and walks off following the others.

Scene: Cuts to a check in office, the first party of crew members enters and then Jayne and Mal enter.

Receptionist (looking at Zoe, assumingly saying) are these the patients? Well, we’ll just go into pediatrics and get your baby checked.

Simon I’ll accompany you. I’m a doctor...

Receptionist (Interrupting) Yes, we’re aware Dr. Tam. You are more than welcome to accompany us. You can help us skip the unnecessaries in our check up for Mrs. Washburn here.

Scene: The entire crew looks confused but just follows through.

Receptionist The rest of ya’ll don’t need to wait around here if you don’t want. This abbey is more than a church and a hospital as ya probably saw when ya flew in. We’ve got a bar and an open market if you would like to relax a little while we make sure your new mother and her child are ready to head out.

Scene: The receptionist, Zoe and Simon head into the medical facility and we switch back to the crew.

Jayne Best idea I’ve heard in a long while.

Kaylee (excited at first but then deflates yet again) Shopping! Oh I could use a new set of clothes…to get dirty and ruined

Inara (smiles, excited and is clearly in tune with Kaylee at this point) Sounds good, I’ve been busy with work I could use a break

River We’ll get everything you think you need captain but tell Jayne I don’t think they sell that here. It is an abbey after all.

Scene: Jayne kind of scowls at River

Mal (tired) O-kay, Alright a little r and r sounds just like what the doctor ordered

Jayne (whispering as Jayne and Mal walk out) Or would if he didn’t have a stick up his {ass} half the time.

Scene: cut to Jayne and Mal in a local bar At the actual bar

Jayne So what’s our next move, Mal? Now that Zoe has had her litter we can get back to some of our more thrilling work, you think? (somewhat sarcastic and alluding to other things that might have happened) Not that I’ve been minding the more “simple” jobs we had over the last couple of months.

Mal I don’t know. We’ll see how Zoe feels about it. She might want to spend with that new bouncing baby boy she’s got there.

Jayne (Sarcastic as can be imagined) What’s that? Malcolm Reynolds not doing what he wants on account of another living soul? Will wonders never cease.

Mal Hey she might need to do some of that mother feedin and changin. Don’t want to get in between Zoe and that now would ya?

Jayne Nah, but I’d sure like to watch. Heh, heh.

Scene: Mal looks a bit curious at Jayne for this comment

Jayne (embarrassed) The feedin not the changin.

Scene: We see the back of Mal and Jayne become somewhat covered by a mans shadow

Local Head Shepherd (says in a tone that implies that a man of the cloth just overheard their conversation) Excuse me, gentle-uh , excuse me sirs. May I have a seat

Scene: same shot but Jayne and the Mal look over their shoulders to look at the man

Scene: We see Zoe, Simon and the receptionist walking down a hallway in the medical facility.

Simon Pardon me for asking, because I’m sure we couldn’t be more thankful for your help right now, but how exactly did you know who we were?

Receptionist Ain’t a soul in the outer rim of the ‘verse who doesn’t think they know when they see the heroes who shown the truth about the Reavers.

Simon Well I don’t think we want to broadcast our presence too much, right Zoe?

Zoe (deadpan and explaining) It doesn’t matter right now. We’re heroes, the alliance won’t touch us for the time being.

Simon (from small to big) I’m sorry I’m just not sure I quite understand why we should be taunting the only superpower in the galaxy?

Zoe (deadpan and explaining) Alliance can’t afford the chance of an uprising They kill us, we become martyrs to the people. Heroes can still fail.

Scene: We see them turn a corner and cut to…

Scene: Inara, Kaylee, and River turn a corner in the marketplace and come into frame Inara on the left, River in the middle, and Kaylee on the left

Inara (Girlfriend talk like it’s been awhile had the chance to talk this way) So how are you and Simon doing?

Scene: Frame moves to River’s face smirking and looking at Kaylee Frame then moves to Kaylee looking a little nervous and straight on

Kaylee (has other things on her mind) Oh we’re doing. (realizing immediately what she said) I mean…….

River and Inara Laughing (Inara stops before River)

Kaylee (trying to change topic) Well, how are you and the captain doing?

Inara (fairly serious now) We aren’t. He doesn’t talk to me anymore and I don’t talk to him. We just do our business and find our way around each other.

Kaylee What is wrong with you two? You haven’t spoken or had a good old fashioned yellin match in a blue moon and I can actually go to your shuttle and get my hair done with no interruption. Something just ain’t right with that.

River (Looking at Kaylee and explaining) Inara thinks Mal has trouble with admitting his feelings and isn’t willing to force the issue with him and the captain doesn’t want get close to Inara because he doesn’t want someone to depend on him in that way and before you ask, no.

Scene: Kaylee looks like she doesn’t know what to say at this point

Kaylee “No” about what?

River Both, I don’t know the baby’s name and (looks at Inara) I didn’t have to read either of their minds to figure that out.

Inara (somewhat uncomfortable) She’s right, basically, but I think…

River (cheery but interrupting) It’s not more complicated than that. You just don’t know it yet. (not as much but still cheery)You might want to figure that out soon though.

Scene: Cut to Jayne, Mal and the head sheapard sitting at a table now (assumedly they moved because they didn’t want the bartender to hear what they are now speaking of) the frame revolves slowly around them as they start their conversation

Mal (inviting) So what is it we can help you with preacher?

Head Shepard Well, as you can see I’m a Shepard and it just so happens the head one here at the abbey. I’m here on behalf of interests I have “outside” the abbey. I don’t want to waste your time. I’ll be blunt. I would like to hire you and your crew for a job.

Jayne What? Got some bibles to be delivered?

Head Shepard Not quite.

Mal (somewhat pissed) Well what then, preacher? I’m learning that part of the requirements for being a Shepard is being a might cryptic. Why don’t you just spill instead of just telling me about how blunt you’re going to be.

Head Shepard Excuse me, captain but I would like to speak to you about the details of this assignment in private.

Mal (seriously) Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of my crew.

Jayne (Jayne being Jayne) No skin off my back captain. Just tell me when we start spreading the good word for credits.

Scene: Jayne gets up and as he leaves Mal says to him

Mal (teeming with sarcasm) You are a loyal and dedicated crewman, Jayne. (serious) So what’s this about Shepard? What can I do ya for?

Head Shepard As I said, I represent certain interests not particularly connected to the abbey. These certain interests have been having trouble with their communications as of late. They believe its some kind of interference being controlled on one of the core planets. What I would like to hire you to do, on their behalf, is for you to make a run to the core where we think the trouble is coming from and just gather some information on what’s going on, nothing more. No need to raise a fuss and no need to do anything out of the ordinary. Just a simple reconnaissance job.

Mal Wait a minute you’re talking about checking out the Blue Sun company, right? Guys who handle the tech that could do what you’re describing, all of the alliance’s new toys, and just about every other “product” in the verse. Am I correct in my understandin?

Head Shepard Yes.

Mal (pauses then…) Why haven’t these “interests” just done this job themselves yet, if it’s as simple as you seem to make it sound?

Head Shepard They wish to maintain a certain anonymity in the matter, as in total. So will you take the job?

Mal How much we talkin?

Head Shepard 10k along with expenses on the trip.

Mal (somewhat skeptical) All that? Just for a “simple” job?

Head Shepard Let’s just say the people I’m representing are just looking for an excuse to throw you a party.

Mal (still skeptical) I bet.

(Decidingly) Well, I don’t like going to the core and all but we’ve been there before and this sounds like an easy enough job. Sure, we’re your crew.

Head Shepard Good (gets up and begins to leave) Oh before you go, I have something to show you, Please, follow me.

Scene: cut to a storage door opening We see Mal and the Shepard in silhouette We hear the following voiceover before the door is completely open

Head Shepard So tell me, captain. Why are you so reluctant to accept people’s thanks for what you did?

Mal What’s that?

Head Shepard I’ll be honest I got a notice about your visit from the sheriff who directed you to us. He said you seemed a bit standoffish when he tried to thank you for what you had done and while we were talking your attitude seemed to sour when I mentioned the charity of your clients. So I’m just curious as to why you aren’t ready to accept the goodwill of the people who you’ve helped?

Mal (sighs then looks away from the preacher) It’s not the thanks or the goodwill that I have trouble accepting, Shepard. It’s what they start givin after.

Head Shepard (knowingly) And what is that captain?

Mal (being obvious) Faith. People who put their faith in me, with a few exceptions, usually wind up in a box with someone like you talking about them overhead and that’s the lucky ones, preacher. (changing gears) So what did you bring me here for? Want me to help you clean out your storage warehouse, cause y’know, that’ll cost ya extra.

Head Shepard Oh I apologize for not explaining on our way over.

Scene: they walk over to a small crate as this voiceover starts

Along with everything else we do here at the abbey we’re also a bit of a mail depot for Shepards. A lot of them like to travel before they settle down. For those trying to find their place on the rim we hold the majority of their effects before they call for them. Then we ship them out but this crate was never called for and been here so long that we thought about just getting rid of it. Almost a year ago, we got another package and a letter that said to add the package to the crates contents and asked as a favor to keep it around and if ever a firefly class ship by the name of Serenity entered the quadrant to have it delivered to the captain of that ship

Mal (Looking down, solemn) Whose stuff is this, Shepard?

Head Shepard (Smiling) Oh I think you know, captain. (Walking out of the garage alone) Safe travels.