ACT ONE
INT - SEEDY BAR
Mal tackles Zoe to the floor. He takes the gun from her steady hands.
MAL
Zoe.
He turns her around to him. Her eyes are clenched shut. Jayne army crawls over to them.
JAYNE
What the hell she do that for?
A group of people runs past them screaming.
MAL
Not now Jayne. Take this and
get rid of it.
Mal pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket and wipes the gun down. He wraps the gun in the cloth before handing it to Jayne.
LAU (O.S.)
Seal the doors. Don't let
anyone else out!
MAL
(to Jayne)
Best get going.
Jayne nods and runs full speed toward the door. Mal grabs Zoe by the shoulders. Her eyes are still closed.
MAL
You've got to snap out of it
before this place is crawling
with a whole mess of Feds.
Mal naps his finger in front of her face. She opens her eyes.
MAL
Ready?
Zoe nods. They get up at once and run to the door.
INT - SERENTIY BRIDGE
Wash is sitting at the controls. He gets up and walks to the door leading to the kitchen.
INT - SERENITY KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Shepherd Book sits at the table with his Bible open and a cup of tea. Wash walks into the kitchen and yawns loudly. Book doesn't look up.
BOOK
No word yet?
Wash walks over to the stove.
WASH
Wasn't really expecting to hear
from them this early.
SIMON (O.S.)
River!
Simon runs past the door. Wash and Book look at each other. Wash shrugs. Simon comes back to the door.
SIMON
Have you seen River? She kind
of disappeared again.
Wash shakes his head.
BOOK
She seems to have quite a talent
for that.
Book gets up from the table and walks to the door.
BOOK (CONT'D)
I'll help you look.
INT - SERENITY CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Simon runs in the direction of the crew quarters. Book heads to the cargo bay.
INT - SERENITY - CARGO BAY - CONTINUOUS
Kaylee sits in the middle of the floor with a blanket covered with dirty parts. She cleans them and hums. Book walks down the stairs. He stops halfway down.
BOOK
You seen River?
Kaylee points in the direction of a stack of crates next to her. Book runs down the last few steps and over to the crates. He peers into the small crevice between two stacks.
BOOK (CONT'D)
River?
RIVER
Shh, hiding.
Book looks up. River smiles down at him from atop the tallest stack of crates.
BOOK
Come down from there.
River gives Book a small pout before allowing him to guide her down. She plops down beside Kaylee.
BOOK (CONT'D)
Your brother's looking all over
for you.
River giggles.
BOOK
(to Kaylee)
He come down here?
KAYLEE
Yep. But I'm not talking to him.
RIVER
He's a boob.
Simon runs down the stairs.
SIMON
River!
River jumps up.
RIVER
Not it! Not it!
She runs in the direction of the infirmary. Simon takes off behind her. Book laughs.
BOOK
I believe she's having a bit
of fun at his expense.
KAYLEE
Can't say he don't deserve it.
The small receiver on Kaylee's hip crackles to life. She picks it up.
KAYLEE
What's up Cap'n?
MAL
(voice filtered through receiver)
Open her up, ma shang. Tell Wash
we're in the air as soon as everyone's
aboard.
KAYLEE
I'm on it.
She sets the receiver down and runs over to the intercom. Book runs over to the control panel and begins to lower the ramp.
KAYLEE
Thanks.
He nods. Kaylee presses the intercom.
KAYLEE
Wash, Cap'n said get her started.
We need to leave fast.
WASH
(filtered through intercom)
What the hell happened?
KAYLEE
Didn't say.
Kaylee presses the intercom closing the connection with Wash. She walks over to Book and waits anxiously for the ramp to open completely. The ramp slowly lowers to reveal Mal and Zoe. They begin to walk up the ramp before it fully touches the ground. Mal still holds Zoe's arm.
KAYLEE
You okay Cap?
MAL
Just shiny little Kaylee. Head to
the engine room just in case we
need a little push.
KAYLEE
Sure thing.
Kaylee bounces off toward the engine room. Mal lets go of Zoe's arm.
MAL
Get her ready.
Zoe nods and heads up the stairs.
MAL
Zoe!
She stops and turns to him.
MAL
Bag still in the same place?
She nods and continues up the stairs.
BOOK
I guess things didn't go so
well son.
MAL
Not so much.
Jayne runs up the ramp. Mal hit a button, closing the cargo bay doors.
JAYNE
I'm sure I wasn't followed.
MAL
You do the thing?
JAYNE
Yeah, yeah. They'll never
find it.
MAL
Good.
Mal walks over to the intercom. Jayne follows.
MAL
Wash, get her moving.
Serenity's engine rumbles.
JAYNE
You know that guy Zoe shot
was a fed?
BOOK
Zoe shot a fed!
MAL
Shh. There was a little gun
play.
Book gives him a questioning look.
MAL
It's a long story.
BOOK
Is he dead?
JAYNE
Half dozen holes in him. I'd
say yes.
Books looks to Mal. Mal nods.
JAYNE
Heard some of 'em talking.
Place had no cameras, but they
still got a pretty good
description of Zoe.
MAL
Tamade!
JAYNE
Feds'll be on us in no time.
MAL
Jayne!
Mal takes a few steps toward the larger man.
MAL
Go see if Kaylee needs any help
in the engine room.
Jayne starts to sulk toward the engine room.
MAL
Not a word of this to her.
That clear?
JAYNE
Yeah Mal.
Jayne leaves.
BOOK
Is it as bad as it seems?
MAL
Pretty damn bad Preacher. All
they need to do is a little
digging in that man's background
and it'll lead them straight
here.
BOOK
Maybe I should speak with Zoe.
She may need someone--
MAL
That ain't a particularly safe
thing to do right now. 'Sides,
I may need your help with something.
Mal starts walking toward the infirmary.
MAL
Doc and his sister in their
rooms?
BOOK
Somewhere there about.
Book follows.
INT - ENGINE ROOM
Kaylee paces around the room occasionally checking gauges and flipping switches. Jayne sits on her hammock cleaning his fingernails with a short, but sharp knife. Kaylee stops abruptly in front of him.
KAYLEE
Did Cap'n tell you what's going
on?
Jayne looks up into her sad eyes and quickly looks back down at his hands.
JAYNE
Uh, not a gorram thing.
Kaylee begins to pace again.
KAYLEE
Something's wrong. I can tell.
I mean why did we leave so fast.
We didn't even get a job.
She stops in front of Jayne again.
KAYLEE
You ain't got nothing to say?
Jayne carefully avoids looking into her eyes again.
JAYNE
Cap'n knows what he's doing. He,
we, well I--
KAYLEE
I'm going to talk to him.
Kaylee turns toward the door and marches out. Jayne jumps up.
JAYNE
Hey, wait now. Mal told us
to stay put.
He runs after her.
JAYNE
You trying to get me spaced!
INT - SERENITY'S BRIDGE
Wash sits at the helm actively flying the ship. Wash scoots his chair over so he can press the intercom.
WASH
Looks like we're in the clear.
Got a course for me captain?
Wash leans back in the chair and puts his hands behind his head. He begins to tap his foot. He sits up in the chair.
WASH
Am I alone here?
He slides his chair back over to the intercom. Just as he is about to push the button, the intercom crackles. Wash jumps.
BOOK
(over the intercom)
Set a course for Persephone.
Straight shot, no need for the
scenic route.
WASH
All due respect Preacher, but
Mal --
BOOK
(over the intercom)
Captain's orders.
WASH
Oh. (beat) Hey, you seen Zoe?
BOOK
(over the intercom)
I believe she's assisting the
captain.
WASH
Right. Okay then, to Persephone it
is.
INT - ZOE AND WASH'S BUNK
Mal climbs down the ladder. He has an army duffle bag on his shoulder. He walks over to a closet and opens the door. Mal reaches into the corner and pulls out a duffle bag identical to his. He puts it on his shoulder and starts to leave.
MAL
Just in case.
He turns back around and walks over to a dresser. One of Wash's dinosaurs stares at him intently. Mal knocks it over.
MAL
Why a grown man still plays
with toys is beyond me.
Mal pulls the top drawer out completely and reaches inside. He retrieves a pearl colored box and stuffs it in his duffle bag. He replaces the drawer and leaves.
INT - SIMON'S ROOM
Simon opens a small black leather bag on the floor. He carefully takes neatly folded shirts and pants from his drawer and puts them into his bag. He closes the bag and struggles a little to pick it up. He walks to the door and grabs his medical bag before leaving.
INT - RIVER'S ROOM
River takes the sheet off her bed and spreads it out in the middle of the floor. She begins to toss clothes, books, papers, and shoes haphazardly onto the blanket. She gathers the four corners of the blanket together and tries to lift it. Simon walks in the door.
SIMON
River! What are you doing?
RIVER
Packing.
Simon drops his bags and runs over to her. He talks the blanket from her and almost falls trying to put it down.
SIMON
I think it's a bit too much.
RIVER
Don't want to leave it all
behind.
SIMON
It will be waiting right here
when we get back.
Simon walks to her closet and takes out a small suitcase. He quickly folds a couple of dresses and under clothes and puts them into the suitcase.
RIVER
Not enough.
River pouts. Simon puts a sketchpad and pencils in the suitcase and closes it. He stands up.
SIMON
Better?
RIVER
No.
She turns toward the door and walks out. Simon struggles to carry his and River's bags out of the door.
INT - SERENITY - SHUTTLE II CATWALK
Mal is standing in front of the entrance to the shuttle talking to Book. Kaylee runs down the catwalk toward them. Jayne follows closely behind her.
JAYNE
Hey, I tried to stop her!
MAL
(under his breath)
Tamada.
Kaylee stops in front of Mal and crosses her arms. She gives him a look that could melt ice. Jayne walks around her carefully and stand beside Mal.
JAYNE
She's out of her gorram mind.
She kicked me.
KAYLEE
What's going on?
MAL
Preacher'll explain it later.
He tries to touch her shoulder. Kaylee pulls away.
KAYLEE
Now.
River and Simon walk toward the group. Kaylee's back is toward them.
BOOK
Everything will be clear in
due time.
Simon sees Kaylee and stops. He grabs River's arm to prevent her from walking any further. Mal motions for him to continue. Kaylee turns around. She looks back at Mal and finally notices the bags at his feet.
KAYLEE
You leaving?
She looks near tears. Book puts his hand on her shoulder. Simon stops in front of Kaylee.
SIMON
I--
MAL
We need to hurry.
River looks at Simon. Her face brightens.
RIVER
We're going for a ride?
SIMON
Yes.
Mal knocks on the door of the shuttle. The door opens. Zoe stands in the doorway. Mal hands her the bags. She grabs them and goes back in. River and Simon enter the shuttle. The door shuts behind them.
KAYLEE
Zoe going to?
MAL
(regretfully)
Yeah.
Her eyes fill with tears.
KAYLEE
It's real bad, ain't it?
Mal pulls her into a gentle embrace.
MAL
Everything'll be fine little
Kaylee. Okay?
She nods her head slowly. Book takes her by the shoulder.
BOOK
Jayne, why don't we go make
Kaylee some tea.
Jayne sniffs and tries to disguise just how much Kaylee's tears affect him.
JAYNE
'Kay.
Book and Jayne walk with Kaylee toward the kitchen. Book looks back at Mal and nods. Mal turns toward. Zoe opens the door.
MAL
Let's go.
Mal enters the shuttle. The door shuts behind him.
END ACT ONE