Confused on "The Message"

POSTED BY: Jmartine3592
UPDATED: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 13:30
VIEWED: 5081
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JMARTINE3592

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 4:40 AM

I have some questions on "The Message." Just a few things about the ending.

Okay, I knew Tracey had used something to make himself appear dead, but in the end he did eventually die. So, what was Mal's actual plan after he shot Tracey? Someone tell me if I am right.

1. Am I thinking right here?
Did Mal discovers that Womack was out of his jurisdiction and realize it was just a personal mission of his?

2. Did Tracey get shot on purpose by Mal or was it because he was threatening Kaylee. Someone explain the ending for me please!

3. What did Womack do exactly? Just an Alliance Officer?

Jayne - "It smells like crotch..."
Kaylee - "Jayne!"

RADHIL

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 4:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jmartine3592:
1. Am I thinking right here?
Did Mal discovers that Womack was out of his jurisdiction and realize it was just a personal mission of his?

Well, Book figured it out really. But yes, that was the deal.

Quote:
2. Did Tracey get shot on purpose by Mal or was it because he was threatening Kaylee. Someone explain the ending for me please!

Yes and yes. Book and/or Mal had come up with the way to deal with the Feds, but Tracy didn't hear it and didn't much act like he was interested in reason. Tracy shot at Wash, so Zoe gave him a bullet. Then he took Kaylee, and once that happened, Mal was shooting to kill.

Quote:
3. What did Womack do exactly? Just an Alliance Officer?

Yep. Fed, or law enforcement of some stripe. Officially. On the side he was working for the gut-runners Tracy had skipped out on.

Radhil Trebors
Persona Under Construction

SHINYSEVEN

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 5:16 AM

It's the mirror image of "Bushwhacked": Simon trusts Mal, Tracy doesn't (and comes out shooting) when it looks like Mal is going to betray them but actually Has a Plan.

Sadistic crap legitimized by florid prose[/i/

SLOWSMURF

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:21 AM

The thing that bugs me on that episode is whats to stop the Feds from just blowing his ship up after they leave...they don't seem like the forgiving type...

RELFEXIVE

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:32 AM

No profit in it I guess...

Mal: "We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so... very... pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

MEDUSA

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Radhil:

Mal was shooting to kill.

Yes, and that's irritating me a little bit. Why shoot to kill? Mal could just injure Tracey, could't he?

The woods are the only place I can see a clear path.

EVILTOBZ

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SlowSmurf:
The thing that bugs me on that episode is whats to stop the Feds from just blowing his ship up after they leave...they don't seem like the forgiving type...

but they're only 80 miles from the local fed station and way outside of their jurisdiction, so they don't want to run the risk of being found out.

---------------------------------------------
eviltobz - that's lowercase gorram it!

CHRISTHECYNIC

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 10:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Medusa:
Yes, and that's irritating me a little bit. Why shoot to kill? Mal could just injure Tracey, could't he?

He isn't taking any chances. His crew is at stake.

RELFEXIVE

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:05 AM

PLus, it ain't that easy to shoot to wound.

Mal: "We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so... very... pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

CARDIE

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:37 AM

The question remains as to why Mal didn't let Tracy in on the plan. I'm assuming he knew that Tracy wasn't a good enough actor to pull off the deception, or that he would spill the beans under stress.

Cardie

ECGORDON

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RelFexive:
PLus, it ain't that easy to shoot to wound.

Especially when who you are shooting is holding a gun himself, and likely to pull the trigger in a muscular reaction to being shot.

I think they would have told Tracey the plan if he had given them the chance, but he was not in the mind to listen to them.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

RELFEXIVE

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:01 PM

Yup.

Mal: "We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so... very... pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

DUG

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:38 PM

Also toss in the fact that his guts were hopped up, strange, and probably in the wrong places and it would be impossible to shoot to wound. Unless one went for a limb, which = dumb idea in combat.

It could be that his vitals were so out of whack with his prototype innards that ANY serious wound would start a collapse at that point.

EST120

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:46 PM

Quote:

Yes, and that's irritating me a little bit. Why shoot to kill? Mal could just injure Tracey, could't he?

The woods are the only place I can see a clear path.

well, as i look at it. tracey did not really give mal and book a chance to explain before he pulled the gun and shot wash. besides, tracey was not really acting very sane when he pulls the gun. also, when mal shoots him, tracey is threatening a member of his crew. considering how much mal cares for his crew members, he may feel completely justified in killing tracey. of course, mal would not give tracey to the fed because he would not be too particularly fond of womack either.

"i can't comprehend the ways that i miss you, they come to light in my mistakes."
-neko case

SHINYSEVEN

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 1:30 PM

Mal is just sick and tired of being played for a sucker--it's like being called "petty," it sets him off.