ACT ONE
INT- SERENITY LOADING BAY
The bay door of Serenity is wide open; inside large and small boxes litter the loading bay. SIMON and KAYLEE enter the loading bay carrying boxes of rations. Simon puts his load on a shelf. Kaylee puts her box on the floor and begins to take out cans. Simon runs over to help. They both reach for the same can and touch hands. They remain still and lock eyes for a moment until BOOK enters, breaking the spell. Book is closely followed by RIVER who is trying to remove books from the box he is carrying.
SIMON: River don't.
Book holds up his hands and motions to Simon to stop.
BOOK: Idle hands produce an idle mind.
Book hands River a few volumes and shows her where to put them. River complies happily.
ZOE (Off Screen): All crew to bay.crew to bay please.
MAL, JAYNE, and INARA come down the stairs one at a time.
MAL: I'm not good at long speeches, so I'm going to give it to you short. You did good work on the last job despite the conditions.
WASH and ZOE appear at the top of the stairs. MAL nods to her. ZOE smiles.
MAL: So, we're going planet side on Corinth for a while and the day is yours.
ZOE: Do we have to leave the ship?
MAL: Yes. Plenty for everyone to do on Corinth.
WASH: Maybe I should hail them and make sure they got their shipment of women already. Wouldn't want someone trying to touch my wife again.
Zoe pokes Wash in the ribs, lovingly.
ZOE: How long do we have sir?
MAL: I figure 'bout six hours. Have fun.
The crew disperses talking of their plans for the day.
EXT- INNER PLANET- CITY STREET- DAY
The entire crew walks together down a large city street. Inara, Mal, and Kaylee lead the group followed closely by Wash and Zoe. Book, Simon and River follow a few steps behind and Jayne brings up the rear.
KAYLEE: Inara, can we go shopping?
Kaylee begins to bounce like a kid in a candy store.
INARA: Sure.
Inara grabs Kaylee by the arm gently.
JAYNE: Anybody want to get a drink?
No one answers him or even acknowledges his question.
BOOK: Are there any B&Ns on this planet?
MAL: Yeah, this place is full of books. Some Academies too.
Mal points toward the right in the direction of the bookstores.
BOOK: Ah, food for the mind. Any takers?
SIMON: I'll accompany you Shepard. A man cannot live on medical journals alone.
Only Simon laughs at his lame joke. Kaylee stops abruptly, mesmerized by a store window.
KAYLEE: Bobbles!
She pulls Inara toward the left, in the direction some small shops.
MAL: I guess this is where we split. I'll go with the girls.
ZOE: We'll come too.
WASH: No! (quietly) I thought we were going to find a nice six hour motel.
ZOE: Later. Come husband.
She walks toward the shop. Wash follows reluctantly. Mal directs his attention to Book and Simon.
MAL: Meet us here when you're done. No doubt we'll still be here up to our elbows in bobbles.
Book and Simon head off. River resists and reaches her hands out toward the shop.
RIVER: Bobbles.
SIMON: We will look at them later.
River cooperates and begins to walk with Simon. She takes a few steps and turns back around.
RIVER: Bye Zoe.
She says it softly, but loud enough for Mal to hear. He looks behind him and then back at River and leaves. Everyone heads towards his or her destination leaving Jayne in the middle of the road.
JAYNE: (yelling) I'll be in the pub.(trailing off) If anybody cares.
Jayne, with Vera in tow, walks straight down the road kicking an occasional rock.
INT- STORE - DAY
Kaylee rushes about the store picking up crystal flowers, snow globes, and colored scarves.
KAYLEE: Everything is so pretty.
Mal, Zoe, and Wash are looking at an assortment of antique weapons. Inara comes out of a fitting room wearing a very revealing red dress. She turns around admiring herself in a mirror.
KAYLEE: Wow!
Mal turns around and almost drops the large sword he is wielding. His jaw drops.
MAL: Huh.
ZOE: Careful sir, don't want to catch any flies.
She closes his mouth.
WASH: (to Zoe) You should get you one of those.
Mal looks at Zoe knowingly. She clears her throat and directs her attention back to the weapons. Inara turns around and notices the stares. She looks at Mal.
INARA: (coyly) Doesn't leave enough to the imagination.
She goes back into the dressing room.
WASH: Ooh. I want this one.
He takes a double-edged sword out of the sheath. Mal and Zoe jump back. Zoe carefully grabs and disarms her husband. Mal takes the sword and hands it to the sales clerk.
ZOE: Thank you. I think this is a little more your speed.
Zoe flicks her wrist and a small blade shoots from her sleeve. She hands it to Wash.
WASH: If I were a smaller man I'd be insulted.
ZOE: Aw, poor baby.
Zoe gets close behind Wash and shows him how to swing the small knife. Mal laughs at Wash and starts to walk toward Kaylee and Inara who are looking at jewelry. Just as Mal walks in front of the shop's door, a loud explosion blows him across the room. The blast knocks Kaylee and Inara down on to the sofa. Zoe and Wash duck behind the sales counter with the clerk. As the smoke clears Mal lies motionless on a heap of clothes.
INARA: Mal!
Zoe cautiously moves from behind the counter and toward Mal. Inara gets up.
ZOE: (to Inara) Stay there. Captain?
Zoe carefully lifts him to a sitting position.
KAYLEE: Maybe you shouldn't move him. 'Case he's hurt or some.
ZOE: He's just knocked out. Wash come help me.
Zoe looks around expecting to see her husband.
ZOE: Wash!
Wash pops up, looks around, and runs over to Zoe.
WASH: I was comforting the clerk.
Wash and Zoe lift Mal to the sofa where Inara and Kaylee sit. Inara instinctively cradles him.
WASH: What the hell happened?
ZOE: I don't know, but I gonna find out.
Zoe walks toward the door and steps out cautiously. She quickly jumps back in the door with at least a half dozen guns in her face.
WASH: (nervously) Zo?
Zoe raises her hands up and continues to back into the store. Four men, all armed follow her. The leader, VANE, speaks with a Czech accent.
ZOE: It's okay. Just stay calm.
VANE: I think it's best to listen to your friend.
Vane motions for Zoe to join the rest of the group by the sofa.
VANE: Search the place.
Two of the armed thugs, TIEN and SU, begin to search the store. Vane and the other thug keep their weapons aimed at the group.
TIEN: Someone else is here!
Tien stands by the counter with his gun pointed toward where the clerk hides.
VANE: End him!
Tien begins to unleash round after round into the counter. Kaylee screams, Inara gasps, Wash wrings his hands continuously, and Zoe glares.
VANE: Enough!
All noise abruptly ceases in the store. Su comes slowly out of a back room with his weapon at his side.
SU: No one else is here sir.
The gang of thugs re-groups and once again surrounds their captives on the sofa.
VANE: Now, your weapons please.
Tien walks over to Zoe. She removes the gun from her holster, the knife from her pocket, and the small blade hidden in the cuff of her sleeve. Su walks over to Mal and removes the gun from his holster. Su and Tien take the weapons and returns to Vane's side.
VANE: Sit.
Kaylee slides over and makes a space for Wash. Zoe sits on the arm of the sofa. Vane walks over and stands in front of Mal.
VANE: You need to be awake for this.
Vane takes a capsule from his pocket, cracks it, and throws the contents in Mal's face. Mal comes to immediately and wipes the burning liquid from his face.
MAL: What the hell!
Mal starts to get up. Inara and Kaylee attempt to restrain him. Vane whistles and Mal looks up to find about a half dozen guns cocked and pointed in his face. Mal quickly sits back.
MAL: What's the problem?
VANE: No problem. It seems as if one of your women has impressed my boss so much that he desires her company indefinitely.
INARA: Who's your boss?
Vane stands directly in front of Inara and points his gun at her.
VANE: Now don't worry your pretty little head about that. 'Kay?
MAL: Get that thing out of her face.
Vane laughs.
VANE: Enough of this.get her.
Tien and Su walk toward the group with their weapons at their side. Mal positions himself half in front of Inara preparing to put up a fight. Tien and Su walk slowly past Inara, past Kaylee and stop in front of Zoe. They point their guns in her direction.
TIEN: Up!
Zoe starts to stand. Wash grabs her arm and tries to pull her back down.
WASH: No! (to Tien) You can't take her!
Mal jumps up and squares off with Su. MAL: Hell no!
Tien grabs Zoe and pulls her to her feet. Wash hangs on desperately to his wife's hand.
MAL: Get your hands off her.
Mal speaks to Tien in a low grumble without taking his eyes off Su. Van fires a warning shot over Mal's head. The shot scares Inara, Kaylee, and Wash into submission. Wash reluctantly lets go of his wife. Mal and Zoe don't flinch. Vane walks over with his gun pointed at Zoe.
VANE: Boss warned me about this. the men. One's the husband right? Hard to tell. 'Sup to you.
Van points his gun at Mal and then at Wash. Zoe pulls her arm away from Tien and walks toward the door.
WASH: Zoe!
Wash tries to stand, but Kaylee holds him down. Zoe doesn't respond. When she reaches Mal she hesitates.
MAL (half pleading in a hushed tone): Zoe.
Zoe quickly glances at Mal with a pleading look in her eyes, a look that only Mal sees. With Vane and the others close behind, Zoe leaves the store.
EXT.- CITY STREET
Zoe walks down the dusty road with the group of thugs surrounding her. Vane cleverly conceals a small gun pointed at her side.
INT- STORE
Everyone remains in the same place still staring at the door. Mal is the first to move. He picks up a glass vase and slings it across the room. The sound of glass shattering breaks the trance everyone seems to be in.
END ACT ONE
INT- SERENITY LOADING BAY
The bay door of Serenity is wide open; inside large and small boxes litter the loading bay. SIMON and KAYLEE enter the loading bay carrying boxes of rations. Simon puts his load on a shelf. Kaylee puts her box on the floor and begins to take out cans. Simon runs over to help. They both reach for the same can and touch hands. They remain still and lock eyes for a moment until BOOK enters, breaking the spell. Book is closely followed by RIVER who is trying to remove books from the box he is carrying.
SIMON: River don't.
Book holds up his hands and motions to Simon to stop.
BOOK: Idle hands produce an idle mind.
Book hands River a few volumes and shows her where to put them. River complies happily.
ZOE (Off Screen): All crew to bay.crew to bay please.
MAL, JAYNE, and INARA come down the stairs one at a time.
MAL: I'm not good at long speeches, so I'm going to give it to you short. You did good work on the last job despite the conditions.
WASH and ZOE appear at the top of the stairs. MAL nods to her. ZOE smiles.
MAL: So, we're going planet side on Corinth for a while and the day is yours.
ZOE: Do we have to leave the ship?
MAL: Yes. Plenty for everyone to do on Corinth.
WASH: Maybe I should hail them and make sure they got their shipment of women already. Wouldn't want someone trying to touch my wife again.
Zoe pokes Wash in the ribs, lovingly.
ZOE: How long do we have sir?
MAL: I figure 'bout six hours. Have fun.
The crew disperses talking of their plans for the day.
EXT- INNER PLANET- CITY STREET- DAY
The entire crew walks together down a large city street. Inara, Mal, and Kaylee lead the group followed closely by Wash and Zoe. Book, Simon and River follow a few steps behind and Jayne brings up the rear.
KAYLEE: Inara, can we go shopping?
Kaylee begins to bounce like a kid in a candy store.
INARA: Sure.
Inara grabs Kaylee by the arm gently.
JAYNE: Anybody want to get a drink?
No one answers him or even acknowledges his question.
BOOK: Are there any B&Ns on this planet?
MAL: Yeah, this place is full of books. Some Academies too.
Mal points toward the right in the direction of the bookstores.
BOOK: Ah, food for the mind. Any takers?
SIMON: I'll accompany you Shepard. A man cannot live on medical journals alone.
Only Simon laughs at his lame joke. Kaylee stops abruptly, mesmerized by a store window.
KAYLEE: Bobbles!
She pulls Inara toward the left, in the direction some small shops.
MAL: I guess this is where we split. I'll go with the girls.
ZOE: We'll come too.
WASH: No! (quietly) I thought we were going to find a nice six hour motel.
ZOE: Later. Come husband.
She walks toward the shop. Wash follows reluctantly. Mal directs his attention to Book and Simon.
MAL: Meet us here when you're done. No doubt we'll still be here up to our elbows in bobbles.
Book and Simon head off. River resists and reaches her hands out toward the shop.
RIVER: Bobbles.
SIMON: We will look at them later.
River cooperates and begins to walk with Simon. She takes a few steps and turns back around.
RIVER: Bye Zoe.
She says it softly, but loud enough for Mal to hear. He looks behind him and then back at River and leaves. Everyone heads towards his or her destination leaving Jayne in the middle of the road.
JAYNE: (yelling) I'll be in the pub.(trailing off) If anybody cares.
Jayne, with Vera in tow, walks straight down the road kicking an occasional rock.
INT- STORE - DAY
Kaylee rushes about the store picking up crystal flowers, snow globes, and colored scarves.
KAYLEE: Everything is so pretty.
Mal, Zoe, and Wash are looking at an assortment of antique weapons. Inara comes out of a fitting room wearing a very revealing red dress. She turns around admiring herself in a mirror.
KAYLEE: Wow!
Mal turns around and almost drops the large sword he is wielding. His jaw drops.
MAL: Huh.
ZOE: Careful sir, don't want to catch any flies.
She closes his mouth.
WASH: (to Zoe) You should get you one of those.
Mal looks at Zoe knowingly. She clears her throat and directs her attention back to the weapons. Inara turns around and notices the stares. She looks at Mal.
INARA: (coyly) Doesn't leave enough to the imagination.
She goes back into the dressing room.
WASH: Ooh. I want this one.
He takes a double-edged sword out of the sheath. Mal and Zoe jump back. Zoe carefully grabs and disarms her husband. Mal takes the sword and hands it to the sales clerk.
ZOE: Thank you. I think this is a little more your speed.
Zoe flicks her wrist and a small blade shoots from her sleeve. She hands it to Wash.
WASH: If I were a smaller man I'd be insulted.
ZOE: Aw, poor baby.
Zoe gets close behind Wash and shows him how to swing the small knife. Mal laughs at Wash and starts to walk toward Kaylee and Inara who are looking at jewelry. Just as Mal walks in front of the shop's door, a loud explosion blows him across the room. The blast knocks Kaylee and Inara down on to the sofa. Zoe and Wash duck behind the sales counter with the clerk. As the smoke clears Mal lies motionless on a heap of clothes.
INARA: Mal!
Zoe cautiously moves from behind the counter and toward Mal. Inara gets up.
ZOE: (to Inara) Stay there. Captain?
Zoe carefully lifts him to a sitting position.
KAYLEE: Maybe you shouldn't move him. 'Case he's hurt or some.
ZOE: He's just knocked out. Wash come help me.
Zoe looks around expecting to see her husband.
ZOE: Wash!
Wash pops up, looks around, and runs over to Zoe.
WASH: I was comforting the clerk.
Wash and Zoe lift Mal to the sofa where Inara and Kaylee sit. Inara instinctively cradles him.
WASH: What the hell happened?
ZOE: I don't know, but I gonna find out.
Zoe walks toward the door and steps out cautiously. She quickly jumps back in the door with at least a half dozen guns in her face.
WASH: (nervously) Zo?
Zoe raises her hands up and continues to back into the store. Four men, all armed follow her. The leader, VANE, speaks with a Czech accent.
ZOE: It's okay. Just stay calm.
VANE: I think it's best to listen to your friend.
Vane motions for Zoe to join the rest of the group by the sofa.
VANE: Search the place.
Two of the armed thugs, TIEN and SU, begin to search the store. Vane and the other thug keep their weapons aimed at the group.
TIEN: Someone else is here!
Tien stands by the counter with his gun pointed toward where the clerk hides.
VANE: End him!
Tien begins to unleash round after round into the counter. Kaylee screams, Inara gasps, Wash wrings his hands continuously, and Zoe glares.
VANE: Enough!
All noise abruptly ceases in the store. Su comes slowly out of a back room with his weapon at his side.
SU: No one else is here sir.
The gang of thugs re-groups and once again surrounds their captives on the sofa.
VANE: Now, your weapons please.
Tien walks over to Zoe. She removes the gun from her holster, the knife from her pocket, and the small blade hidden in the cuff of her sleeve. Su walks over to Mal and removes the gun from his holster. Su and Tien take the weapons and returns to Vane's side.
VANE: Sit.
Kaylee slides over and makes a space for Wash. Zoe sits on the arm of the sofa. Vane walks over and stands in front of Mal.
VANE: You need to be awake for this.
Vane takes a capsule from his pocket, cracks it, and throws the contents in Mal's face. Mal comes to immediately and wipes the burning liquid from his face.
MAL: What the hell!
Mal starts to get up. Inara and Kaylee attempt to restrain him. Vane whistles and Mal looks up to find about a half dozen guns cocked and pointed in his face. Mal quickly sits back.
MAL: What's the problem?
VANE: No problem. It seems as if one of your women has impressed my boss so much that he desires her company indefinitely.
INARA: Who's your boss?
Vane stands directly in front of Inara and points his gun at her.
VANE: Now don't worry your pretty little head about that. 'Kay?
MAL: Get that thing out of her face.
Vane laughs.
VANE: Enough of this.get her.
Tien and Su walk toward the group with their weapons at their side. Mal positions himself half in front of Inara preparing to put up a fight. Tien and Su walk slowly past Inara, past Kaylee and stop in front of Zoe. They point their guns in her direction.
TIEN: Up!
Zoe starts to stand. Wash grabs her arm and tries to pull her back down.
WASH: No! (to Tien) You can't take her!
Mal jumps up and squares off with Su. MAL: Hell no!
Tien grabs Zoe and pulls her to her feet. Wash hangs on desperately to his wife's hand.
MAL: Get your hands off her.
Mal speaks to Tien in a low grumble without taking his eyes off Su. Van fires a warning shot over Mal's head. The shot scares Inara, Kaylee, and Wash into submission. Wash reluctantly lets go of his wife. Mal and Zoe don't flinch. Vane walks over with his gun pointed at Zoe.
VANE: Boss warned me about this. the men. One's the husband right? Hard to tell. 'Sup to you.
Van points his gun at Mal and then at Wash. Zoe pulls her arm away from Tien and walks toward the door.
WASH: Zoe!
Wash tries to stand, but Kaylee holds him down. Zoe doesn't respond. When she reaches Mal she hesitates.
MAL (half pleading in a hushed tone): Zoe.
Zoe quickly glances at Mal with a pleading look in her eyes, a look that only Mal sees. With Vane and the others close behind, Zoe leaves the store.
EXT.- CITY STREET
Zoe walks down the dusty road with the group of thugs surrounding her. Vane cleverly conceals a small gun pointed at her side.
INT- STORE
Everyone remains in the same place still staring at the door. Mal is the first to move. He picks up a glass vase and slings it across the room. The sound of glass shattering breaks the trance everyone seems to be in.
END ACT ONE