EXT. ZOE’S MOON – NIGHT

Serenity flies over the ocean, driving up, higher and higher, pursued by an ALLIANCE GUNSHIP. The gunship’s fire appears to be directed more toward near-misses than hits.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – SAME TIME

Wash is at the controls, Zoe and Mal behind him.

WASH They haven’t hit us yet. That’s a good thing.

ZOE They’re herding us.

EXT. ZOE’S MOON – NIGHT

In the distance, two more gunships join the first. With three of them firing, Serenity’s mobility is seriously impaired.

INT. SERENITY – GALLEY – NIGHT

Kaylee, Simon, Inara, and Book quickly clear the kitchen table while the deck rolls under them. River is still sitting, sort of in the middle of things, and Jayne stands near the forward entrance, looking around nervously.

BOOK Best we get this all away as quickly as possible.

Simon, a plate of food in his hand, approaches Kaylee.

SIMON Kaylee, I—

She doesn’t look up, just steps around him.

The ship shudders. Plates and cups skitter on the table. Everyone reaches for something to steady themselves.

JAYNE (nervous) What was that? We get hit?

BOOK Don’t think so, son.

KAYLEE Just breakin’ atmo, I think.

EXT. SPACE

Serenity sails through the black, leaving the blue orb of Zoe’s Moon behind. The three gunships follow, bracketing it in, driving it in a particular direction.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – SAME TIME

Mal leans anxiously over Wash’s shoulder.

WASH Back off. I need a little more room to maneuver.

EXT. SPACE – SAME TIME

Serenity pulls away from the gunships. As it does, an Alliance patrol boat sweeps in from the right.

INT. ALLIANCE PATROL BOAT – BRIDGE – SAME TIME

Chien looks at Serenity’s flank as his ship approaches. Wallace is not on the bridge.

CHIEN Steady. Just close enough to rattle them. (beat) Wallace?

WALLACE (OS) (via the comm) On the way, sir.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – SAME TIME

Wash sits calmly, steering the ship, Mal and Zoe still behind him.

WASH Okay, I think we’re awa—Oh, my God!

EXT. SPACE – SAME TIME

Serenity pulls away from the Alliance patrol boat and the trio of gunships.

It seems like they might be safe, but then, out of the sun’s glare, comes the lobster-like slaver ship, magnetic grapplers sparking.

INT. SERENITY – GALLEY – SAME TIME

Clean-up continues. Kaylee approaches Inara.

KAYLEE Inara… Are you really leaving?

INARA (looking away) I’m sorry, Kaylee. I think I need to go to my room.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – SAME TIME

Wash, Zoe, and Mal look through the forward window, all unhappy.

WASH What the gorram hell is that thing?!?

ZOE Slaver, by the look of it. Capture ship.

MAL River.

ZOE Maybe so, sir.

Wash looks up.

ZOE (cont’d) They’re trying to take us alive because of River.

MAL And we’re good as dead if they do. Wash, we have to get out of here.

WASH I don’t disagree, sir.

EXT. SPACE

Serenity narrowly slips past the slaver ship’s magnetic grapplers.

The slaver ship immediately comes about, beginning to pursue. In the distance, the gunships and the patrol boat also begin to close.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – SAME TIME

Wash lets out a relieved breath.

MAL They’re still following.

ZOE We need to get out of here. Now.

WASH Trying.

MAL Try harder. They catch us, it’s all over.

WASH There’s five of ‘em, sir. I’m doing what I can.

Beat.

ZOE (points) There.

WASH No.

ZOE You can do it.

Mal sees where she’s pointing.

MAL No!

Zoe puts her hand on Wash’s shoulder.

ZOE My honey can do it.

WASH (deep breath) I can do it.

EXT. SPACE

Serenity veers toward the PLANETARY RINGS, the five Alliance ships closing in around her.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – SAME TIME

Mal shakes his head.

MAL What are—Are you sure?

Wash nods.

MAL Because if you’re not sure, we’re gonna die!

ZOE If they catch us, we’re gonna die.

WASH Quicker this way, at least.

MAL (under his breath) We’re gonna die.

Zoe tightens her hand on Wash’s shoulder as Wash steers the ship.

WASH (to Mal) Captain… There’s nothing you can do here. If there’s someplace else you need to be, you know? (beat) Someone you need to talk to. In case.

INT. SERENITY – GALLEY – NIGHT

Mal walks in, a man on a mission.

JAYNE What’s goin’ on, Mal? We gonna die or what?

Mal looks around, doesn’t find what he’s looking for, heads across the room for the rear exit.

JAYNE (cont’d) Mal?

INT. SERENITY – INARA’S SHUTTLE – NIGHT

Mal approaches the door and knocks.

MAL Inara?

Beat, then Inara opens the door.

INARA Mal?

The ship bobs and weaves under them, and Inara starts to fall. Mal catches her, and the two look into one another’s eyes.

EXT. SPACE

Serenity, spinning and twisting, enters the planetary rings, which are like a river of icy debris. The hull gets hit once, twice, but the ship stays intact.

Unlike the first gunship that pursues, which slams into a giant chunk of ice and explodes.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – SAME TIME

Zoe smiles down at her husband. Wash leans forward.

INT. SERENITY – INARA’S SHUTTLE – NIGHT

Standing in the doorway of the shuttle, Inara and Mal are in one another’s arms. The ship rolls beneath them.

MAL Inara, I…

EXT. SPACE

Serenity cuts a course through the planetary rings.

The surviving Alliance ships and the slaver ship veer off and begin to go the long way around the ring.

But Serenity has such a lead that they can’t catch up.

INT. SERENITY – COCKPIT – NIGHT

Wash leans back and relaxes. Zoe crouches down and kisses him hard.

INT. SERENITY – GALLEY – SAME TIME

Everyone looks around as the ship levels off. River continues to look behind them.

RIVER Fish is still alive. Broke the line, but still on the hook. Always on the hook.

INT. SERENITY – INARA’S SHUTTLE – SAME TIME

They’re still looking into one another’s eyes.

INARA Mal, I—

MAL Inara…

The ship levels off. Inara looks away.

INARA I got a wave from the Guild, Mal. They found a new home for me. I need you to make it our next stop.

EXT. SPACE

The patrol boat and the slaver ship are docked with one another. The two remaining gunships are there as well, but Serenity is nowhere to be seen.

INT. ALLIANCE CRUISER – BRIDGE – NIGHT

Wallace approaches Chien, looking uncomfortable.

WALLACE I’m sorry we allowed them to escape, sir.

CHIEN It’s not your fault, Lieutenant. You’re not trained to operate such a vessel. (beat) Good plan, nonetheless.

WALLACE Thank you, sir.

CHIEN We’ll get them next time.

WALLACE Next time?

Chien holds up a document with an image of a Firefly-class vessel.

CHIEN New orders. We’re to track them wherever they go.

BLACKOUT