ACT VIII
FADE IN:
INT. SERENITY – KITCHEN – RIVER
Wandering inside, touching the walls as she moves.
Jayne's getting some food. He watches River with renewed interest – and fear – as he takes his plate to the table and sits.
JAYNE: Hey there…River. Just getting' some chow. You hungry?
Across from Jayne, River runs her hands over the back of each chair at the table.
JAYNE (cont.): Guess not.
RIVER: Come and go. Come and go. Can leave any time. Leave a mark. (she looks directly at Jayne) She left a mark on you.
Jayne rubs his neck.
JAYNE: I don't bruise easy, little girl.
RIVER: Embarrassed. Beat by a girl.
JAYNE: Was not! Happened too fast is all. I'd give her a run if I was ready.
RIVER: She'd kill you.
JAYNE: She shoot…like you?
RIVER (cont.): (looking at her own hands) Not with her hands.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – CONTINUING
Still hugging, Mal caresses Jess' hair and tilts her face up so he can look at her.
MAL: You forgive me?
JESS: (astonished) For what?
MAL: Putting off the wedding…not saving–
Jess puts a finger over his lips and quiets him.
JESS: You get none of the blame, Malcolm Reynolds. Ever.
Jess starts to pull away, but he holds her in place. They share a long gaze and then an even longer kiss.
INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE – WASH
Wash is checking read-outs. He's huffy and Zoe looks equally pissed.
ZOE: I simply said she's not–
WASH: Yeah, I got that.
ZOE: It's not personal, Wash.
Wash twists in his chair and grimaces at her.
WASH: It's entirely personal. It's so personal there's no telling the persons apart.
Wash makes a face realizing his words don't really make sense…then he shakes it off.
WASH (cont.): It's really personal.
ZOE: I thought we cleared this up…back when Niska–
WASH: Don't…do that. This has nothing to do with Mal and everything to do with you.
ZOE: Wash–
WASH: Look me in the eyes and say the words, Zo. Tell me–
ZOE: I can't believe you're saying this. I chose you. I choose you!
WASH: And again this has nothing to do with that. I'm not turning all green. You are.
ZOE: That's just bad lighting. (off his look) Fine. I don't trust her.
WASH: Because she has the captain by the gao wan.
ZOE: Wash.
WASH: Would it be so bad if Mal was happy for a change?
ZOE: Of course not.
WASH: Just not with someone who can kick Jayne's ass better than you.
ZOE: Not better than me.
WASH: See…jealous.
Zoe glares at Wash…but she's not denying it.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – MAL AND JESS – CONTINUING
Still kissing. Their breathing quickens, kisses getting deeper, hungry.
INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE – SAME TIME
Inara's sitting on her sofa, eyes closed, fingers caressing her lips…
INT. SERENITY – INFIRMARY – SAME TIME
Simon looks up from his work. He's alone. He drops what he's doing and stalks out of the infirmary…on a mission.
INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE – SAME TIME
Zoe turns to leave.
WASH: We haven't finished.
ZOE: You made your point.
WASH: So you can walk away? Don't you think a bit of self-discovery is a good–
Zoe grabs Wash by the collar and pulls him into an all out make-out session.
INT. SERENITY – ENGINE ROOM – SAME TIME
Kaylee's wrench slips from her grip and clangs on the floor…she doesn't notice. She heads for the door.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – CONTINUING
Mal and Jess are all hands and lips, attacking each other with unrestrained passion.
INT. SERENITY – KITCHEN – SAME TIME
River's hand moves up her arm…she's felt this sensation before…she looks up sharply.
RIVER: (whispered) So soon?
Jayne's fork clinks against his plate. He gets up suddenly.
JAYNE: I'll be in my bunk.
Jayne heads toward the living quarters. River runs out of the kitchen in the opposite direction of him.
INT. SERENITY – EXT. ENGINE ROOM – SAME TIME
Kaylee and Simon nearly slam into each other at the door. Simon grabs Kaylee around the waist and pulls her into a hot lip lock, lifting her off her feet and moving back into the engine room. Kaylee's caught off-guard and starts to giggle.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – CONTINUING
Mal trails kisses down Jess' neck.
JESS: This can't be a good idea.
MAL: Then by all means, we should stop.
JESS: Probably.
Jess cups Mal's face with both hands and pulls him back into a kiss. He grasps at her shirt, undressing her.
INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE – SAME TIME
Inara lays back on the sofa, breathing fast, stroking her neck with fingernails.
INT. SERENITY – EXT. RIVER'S ROOM – CONTINUING
River stops short and grips her chest. Breathing shallow and fast, she pushes herself into her room.
INT. SERENITY – RIVER'S ROOM – CONTINUING
River falls onto her bed in fetal position. She starts to cry.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – CONTINUING
Jess rips open Mal's shirt and attacks his chest with her mouth and tongue.
INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE – CONTINUING
Wash pulls away from Zoe and gives her a questioning look.
ZOE: You know that's how I apologize.
Wash takes her hand and leads her to their room.
ZOE (cont.): What about–
WASH: That's what auto-pilot is for, dear.
INT. SERENITY – ENGINE ROOM – SAME TIME
No longer giggling, Kaylee runs her hands through Simon's hair, holding his mouth against hers for dear life. Simon roughly turns her and pushes her against the bulkhead as his hands move over her clothes. He presses his body into hers.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – MAL AND JESS – CONTINUING
At once frenzied and gentle, Mal lays Jess on the bunk and strips out of his shirt as she attacks his britches. Mal finds her mouth again and they –
INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE – SAME TIME
Inara opens her eyes and gasps.
INT. SERENITY – ENGINE ROOM – SAME TIME
Still locked together, Kaylee lowers herself to the floor and Simon follows her down.
INT. SERENITY – WASH and ZOE'S ROOM – SAME TIME
They're going at each other with wild abandon.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – CONTINUING
Mal and Jess tussle under a single bed sheet, clenched together in the tight space of the bunk. Sweaty. Breathing hard between kisses. Touching, moving, not letting an inch of space come between them.
INT. SERENITY – CARGO BAY – SAME TIME
Shuttle lights turn on.
COMPUTER (V.O.): Online.
INT. SERENITY – MAL'S BUNK – CONTINUING
Spent, they roll to the side and gaze at each other. Jess caresses Mal's cheek with the back of her hand.
MAL: I love you.
JESS: Now you tell me. (smile; single kiss) Close your eyes.
MAL: Why?
JESS: Please.
Mal does as she asks. Jess holds her hand over his eyes for a moment; when she pulls it away, Mal is sleeping.
JESS (cont.): I'm sorry.
Jess slips out of the bunk…silently crying.
FLASHBACK MONTAGE MAL'S DREAM
The images fade in and out, one moving over the other slowly then frantically to the last one.
Young Jess peeking out from behind her father, smiling.
Young Jess fixing dinner.
Teen Jess wrestling with Mal.
Alliance (bald) Jess strapped to table and attached computer.
Teen Jess winking at Mal.
Jessica laughing with husband Craig.
Teen Jess dancing with Mal.
Jessica screaming over dead bodies.
Teen Jess running from fire with Mal.
Jessica waking up in Serenity infirmary.
Jess taking Jayne down in cargo bay.
Alliance Jess releasing Reaver.
INT. SERENITY – CARGO BAY – STAIRS
Coming down the stairs, Jess is wearing her red suit, her hair pulled back tight, heading for the shuttle. She looks down SEEING:
THREE BLOODY BODIES: KAYLEE, BOOK, JAYNE lying dead on the CB floor and herself standing over them.
Jess closes her eyes, though she continues to walk down the stairs without losing a step. When she opens her eyes, she looks down again, SEEING:
RIVER: looking up at her. Waiting.
Jess hit's the CB floor and smiles at River.
JESS: Wanna take a ride?
RIVER: All sleeping?
JESS: Yes.
RIVER: Exhausted.
JESS: Pleasantly so, I would guess. (touches River's cheek; big sister) I'm sorry it hurt you.
RIVER: Don't want you to go.
JESS: You could–
RIVER: Can't go…(this is) home.
JESS: Fair enough. You know I have to.
RIVER: Or they'll come.
Jess nods.
RIVER (cont.): Did you tell him?
JESS: In a manner.
Jess heads into…
INT. SHUTTLE – CONTINUING
Jess steps inside.
COMPUTER (V.O.): Welcome Commander.
JESS: Good to be back, Men-Shen.
River follows Jess inside and looks at the now sealed hidden compartment.
RIVER: Lampyridae…firefly…in the Latin.
Jess smiles at this.
RIVER: Hard being alone. Too many voices.
JESS: Too many screams.
River looks around the shuttle and smiles…she'll miss it. Jess gets busy readying for flight. River turns to Jess.
RIVER: It wasn't you.
JESS: Shénme?
RIVER: Releasing the monster.
JESS: Unfortunately…it was.
RIVER: Body…not soul.
JESS: Yeah, 'fraid I might no longer have that.
RIVER: She was in charge. Since Serenity…
Jess faces River.
JESS: No excuses, mei mei. I did it. I killed them.
RIVER: No.
JESS: …Jessica? How?
RIVER: She's wrong…she lies…wants to hurt them…and you. For what was done.
JESS: She protected me.
RIVER: She's a thief.
Jess thinks about this…doesn't buy it completely.
JESS: Well, she's gone now.
RIVER: Leaves a mark. Dark spot. Can't be washed away…can only fade.
JESS: What can I do?
River hugs Jess tight. Jess is stunned by the sudden, fierce contact.
RIVER: Don't let go. Remember the center. Remember him. Always.
River pulls back and give Jess a solemn stare (as if she's the big sister).
RIVER (cont.): You can win this.
JESS: (smirk) First place? What's the prize?
River smiles but says nothing. She turns and glides from the shuttle. Jess watches her leave. Tears brimming, Jess looks sharply at the lights above the shuttle door.
The door closes.
INT. SHUTTLE – CONTINUING
Jess sits in the pilot's chair and looks out the view port longingly. She swipes at the tears and presses buttons on the console.
JESS: I'll have to settle for second place.
INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE – CONTINUING
Pulling back SEEING: Mal, wide awake, in his captainy stance, watching the shuttle pull out of the bay. He holds his head high, refusing to admit defeat.
MAL: (cold) So-long, Jess. Thanks for stoppin' by.
A SMALL HAND links fingers with his until it's holding his hand tight. River is standing next to him. Mal closes his eyes and takes the hand to his lips, kisses the back of it.
RIVER: Zài-jiàn, my love.
MAL (cont.): (choked up) I'll miss your face, ài rén.
Never looking at each other, Mal and River stare out the view port at the departing shuttle, all the while holding hands.
BLACK OUT
END OF SHOW
Men-Shen – Chinese – This was two deities who guarded the door against evil. They embodied protection.