01x03 - Our Mrs. Reynolds

[bunniefuu]

Over here.

Bull's-eye.

- Yes!
- Too tall, too tall.

- Jayne!
- Little man!

Yes!

Come on, old man.

- Right behind you.
- Yeah!

Hello.

- Who's winning?
- I can't really tell.

They don't seem to be playing
by any civilized rules that I know.

Well, we're pretty far
from civilization.

- How's your sister?
- She's good. Better.

She has her days.
And she still won't talk about...

...what they did
to her at the academy.

Perhaps she's not sure herself.

Open.

Good eye. Good eye!

She dreams about it.
I know that much.

Nightmares.

And now on the run,
on this ship...

...I don't know if I'll be able to help her
here, and I need to help her.

Simon, you are.
Leaving your whole world behind?

It's incredibly selfless.

Yeah.

I selflessly turned us both
into wanted fugitives.

We're all running from something,
I suppose.

Proximity alert.

- We must be coming up on something.
- Oh, my God.

What can it be? We're all doomed.
Who's flying this thing?

Oh, right, that would be me.

Back to work.

So I guess it makes us one man short.

Yeah, little Kaylee's always
one man short.

Say, doc, why don't you
come on down...

...and play for our side.
Inara won't mind.

- Wash, you have a stroke or something?
- Near enough.

What happened?

- Anybody home?
- Been hailing her.

But if whoever's there is as healthy
as the guy we just ran over...

...can't imagine anybody's
gonna be picking up.

Bring us in closer.

Get you close enough
to ring the doorbell.

What is it?

It's a ghost.

So, what do we figure, transport ship?

Converted cargo hauler.
Maybe a short-range scow.

You can see she don't wanna
be parked like that.

The port thrust's gone and that's what's
making her spin the way she is.

A short-range vessel this far
out into space?

Retrofitted to carry passengers.

Travelers pick them up at government
auction. A few modifications...

...and they serve well enough
for a one-way push to the outer planets.

Settlers.

Cram 15 or 20 families on a boat
that size, you pack them in tight enough.

Families?

Tell you what I think.

I figure that fella we run into
did everyone onboard. k*lled them all.

Then he took a swim, see how
fast his blood would boil out his ears.

You're a very up person.

- Shouldn't we report this?
- To who? Alliance?

Right. They're gonna run here
lickety-split...

...make sure these tax-payers are okay.
- Then we'll have to.

If they're in need of help,
why aren't they beaming a distress call?

It's true. There's no beacon.

Which means no one's looking
to find her.

All the more reason for us
to do the right thing.

How's about you just say a prayer
when we slide on by?

Shall I remind you of the story
of the Good Samaritan?

I'd rather you didn't.
But we'll check it out.

Could be survivors.
And if not, well, then...

...no one's gonna mind
if we take a look...

...see if they left something behind.

Yeah... No, someone could be hurt.

Where do you think you're headed?

I thought I'd offer my services...

...in case anyone onboard
required medical attention.

Well, cap and Zoe
are going in first.

We'll holler if we need you.

- Something wrong?
- Hm?

Oh, no. No, I...

Well, I suppose it's just the thought
of a little Mylar and glass...

...being the only thing
separating a person from nothing.

It's impressive what nothing
can do to a man.

Like that fella we bumped into.

He likely stuck up under
our belly about now.

That's what space trash does,
you know...

...kind of latches on to the first
big something stops long enough.

Hey, now, that'd be a bit like
you and your sister, wouldn't it?

Entering adjoining air lock now.

Okay, Wash,
ask Serenity to knock for us.

Emergency power's up.

Dashboard light.

Whatever happened here
happened quick.

Everything was left on.

Ship powered down on its own.

No sign of a struggle.

- They're just...
- Gone.

Sir.

Personal log.

Someone was in the middle
of an entry.

It's okay.

It's okay, I'm here.

Bad dreams again?

No, I can't sleep.
There's too much screaming.

River, there is no screaming.

There was.

Hey, grab your med kit,
let's hoof it.

Mal wants us both over there
on the double.

- They found survivors?
- Didn't say.

Right.

I'll ask Inara to look in on River.

Whatever. I ain't waiting.

I'll meet you there.
But don't take forever.

Still gotta get suited up.

Hi.

What are you doing here,
and what's with the suit?

You're hilarious.

- Sadist.
- All right, enough.

Ain't got time for games.

As long as you're here, you might as
well lend a hand. You roll with Kaylee.

Let's be quick about this, all right?

A few loads each. Don't be greedy.

- Where are the people?
- Ship says lifeboat launched a week ago.

We're gonna assume
everyone got off okay.

We're here to pick the bones.
Start in the engine room.

Jayne, you take the galley.

You had this on wrong.

Sir...

...I count 16 families signed on.

- Lifeboat wouldn't hold a third of that.
- I know.

Wash, any luck?

Think I found something that matches
that class. Layout looks about right.

Seems to me any valuables,
if there are any...

...likely be stored
somewhere C-deck aft.

Good work. Keep the engine running.

River? It's Inara.

Are you hungry, sweetie?

River?

- Aren't you the least bit curious?
- About what?

Well, what happened here.

Why would anybody abandon their ship
in the middle of nowhere like this?

For all sorts of reasons.
Just not mechanical.

What?

There ain't nothing wrong with this.
Not that I can see, anyhow.

Whew!

Well, here's a good one.

Hold the bag open.

This looks to be it.

- Locked.
- Well, now...

...I'd say that's like
to be a very good sign.

Here.

Gen-seed, protein, crop supplements.

Everything a growing family needs
to make a fresh start on a new world.

Hard subsidies for 14-plus families.

- That's...
- About a fortune.

Forget the rest.
We just take this stuff.

We're gonna need a hand
hauling it out of here.

Sir...

...even on a lifeboat...

...you'd think those who escaped
would find room for some of this.

- Nobody escaped.
- Sir?

Nobody.

My God.

I know what did this.

Get her out of here.

Jayne? Jayne, drop what you're doing
and get to the engine room.

I want you to take Kaylee and the doctor
off this boat. Don't ask questions.

Jayne.

Captain?

Captain.

Zoe!

Came from above, sir.

The galley.

- We heard sh**ting.
- River, what are you...?

- I followed the voices.
- Don't ever leave the ship. Not ever.

Okay, handle her, will you, son?

- What in... Is going on in there?
- Not now, dear.

What'd you see?

Didn't. It came at me from behind.

Big, though. Strong.

- I think I might've hit him.
- You did.

- No. No, no...
- Easy, now.

No one's gonna hurt you.

No. No mercy. No.

- Any more than we already did.
- No mercy.

Well, we got lots of mercy.
We got lots and lots of...

Oh, yes...

...he's a real beast.

It's a wonder you're still alive.

Looked bigger
when I couldn't see him.

- I wonder how long he lived like that.
- I know.

He must be real brave to survive
like that when nobody else did.

Yeah, real hero,
k*lling all them people.

What? No, we don't believe that.

We don't, do we?

Captain wouldn't have brought him
onboard were that the case.

Pulse is rapid.

Blood pressure's high side of normal,
to be expected.

Weak. They were all weak.

Other than the b*llet wound,
there isn't any exterior trauma.

Though that cr*ck to the head
probably didn't do him any good.

Cattle.

Cattle for the slaughter.

Dope him.

- I don't think that...
- Just do it.

No mercy. No resistance.

Open up. See what's inside.

No mercy.

So how's our patient?

Aside from borderline malnutrition,
he's in remarkably good health.

So he'll live then.

Which, to my mind, is unfortunate.

Not a very charitable attitude, captain.

- Charity'd be putting a b*llet in his brain.
- Mal.

We'd save him the suffering.

All right, no one goes in here.

Nothing more we can do,
not after what he's seen.

What do you mean?

The ship was hit by Reavers.

Reavers?

- Mal, how can you know?
- He don't.

That's how. No way.

It was that other fella,
the one we run into.

Like I said before,
he went stir-crazy...

...k*lled the rest,
then took a walk in space.

- Just a second ago you said that...
- Don't matter. Wasn't Reavers.

Reavers don't leave no survivors.

- Strictly speaking, wouldn't say they did.
- What are you suggesting?

Don't matter we took him off that boat.
It's the place he's gonna live now.

I don't accept that.

Whatever horror he witnessed...

...whatever acts of barbarism,
it was done by men. Nothing more.

Reavers ain't men.

Of course they are.

Too long removed from civilization,
perhaps, but men.

And I believe there's a power
greater than man.

A power that heals.

Reavers might take issue
with that philosophy.

If they had a philosophy.

And if they weren't too busy
gnawing on your insides.

Jayne's right. Reavers ain't men.

Or they forgot how to be.
Now they're just nothing.

They got to the edge of the galaxy,
that place of nothing...

...and that's what they became.
- Why are we sitting here?

- If it was Reavers, we should be gone.
- Work ain't done.

Still substantial money value
sitting over there.

I ain't going over there
with them bodies, no rutting way.

- Not if Reavers messed with them.
- Jayne, you'll scare the women.

I'll go.

- I've dealt with bodies.
- I'd like to go with him.

Maybe see what I can do
about putting those folks to rest.

Those folks are already resting.
Reavers saw to that.

How we treat our dead
is part of what makes us different...

...than those did the slaughtering.

All right.

You go say your words.

Jayne, help the doctor and
Shepherd Book cut down those people...

...then you'll load up the cargo.
- I don't believe this.

- We're sitting put for a funeral?
- Yes, Jayne.

That is exactly what we're gonna do.

I won't have these people looking
over my shoulder.

I ain't saying there's any peace to be
had, but on the off-chance there is...

...those folks deserve a little of it.

Just when I think
I've got you figured out.

That was real pretty, captain,
what you just said.

Didn't think you were one
for rituals and such.

I'm not. I figure it'll keep
the others busy for a while.

No need to concern them
with what's to be done.

Sir?

It's a real burden
being right so often.

- What is that?
- Booby trap.

Reavers leave them for rescue ships.
Triggered it when we latched on.

- And when we detach?
- It blows.

Okay, so we don't detach. We just...

- I don't know, sit tight until...
- What, Reavers come back?

Looks like they jerry-rigged it
with a pressure catch.

It's the only thing that'd work
with these spare parts.

We could probably bypass that easy,
we get to the DC line.

Tell me right now, Kaylee.
You think you can do this?

Sure. Yeah.

I think so.

Besides, if I mess up, it's not like
you'll be able to yell at me.

What's going on?

Well, right at this particular moment,
I'd have to say, not a thing. Right?

- Not a gorram thing.
- Looked like a thing to me.

Thought we had a situation,
but it looks to be taken care of.

Let's get that merchandise put away.

Everyone's home, Wash. Let's go.

No, no, no. Don't you say that.
It's the Reavers.

- The gorram Reavers come back.
- Get that stuff stored.

- Like it's gonna matter!
- Just do it!

Reavers?

Firefly-class transport, you are
ordered to release control of your helm.

Prepare to dock and be boarded.

Looks like civilization finally
caught up with us.

No mandatory registration markings
on the bow.

Make sure we cite them for that.

Sir, we've identified the transport ship
they were attached to.

It was licensed to a group
of families out of Bernadette.

They were due to touch down in Newhall
three weeks ago. Never made it.

Once we secure these vultures,
we'll send a team over.

Didn't we have a flag
on a Firefly a while back?

Check.

Here it is. An alert issued
on an unidentified Firefly-class...

...believed to be carrying two fugitives.
A brother and sister.

What are they wanted for?

It's not available. It's classified.

40,000 of these in the air,
and that's all they give us.

Well, I'm not about to have any
surprises on a routine check.

We run into these two,
we sh**t first.

The brass can sort it out later.

- What was it?
- Open the stash, pull out the goods.

- Just got done putting it in.
- I'm telling you to take it all out again.

- Why for?
- I got no notion to argue this.

In about two minutes' time, this boat's
gonna be crawling with Alliance.

No.

- We've gotta run.
- Can't. They're pulling us in.

If they find us, they'll send River back
to that place.

To be tortured.
I'd never see her again.

Stack everything here in plain sight.

Don't want to seem
like we got anything to hide.

Might give them boys
the wrong impression.

- Or the right one.
- That too. Go run and fetch your sister.

What?

Are you gonna put her
in plain sight too?

- Don't get touchy. Just do as I say.
- Is that why you let us stay?

- To use us as bargaining chips?
- Knew there was a reason.

They're not taking her.
You're not giving her to them.

Don't be a fool, son.

Do as the man says.

Well, quite a lot of fuss.

If I didn't know better,
I'd think we were dangerous.

- Is this your vessel?
- Bought and paid for.

I'm Capt. Malcolm Reynolds.

- And is this everyone, captain?
- By way of crew, it is.

Though, in our infirmary,
you're gonna find a fella we rescued.

Saved him, guess you could say.

Straight through the back,
next to the common area.

And these items,
I take it you rescued them as well.

Looks like
an illegal salvage operation.

It does? That's discouraging.

Alliance property too.
You could lose your ship.

That's a wrist-slap compared
to the penalty for harboring fugitives.

A brother and sister. When I search
this vessel, I won't find them?

No children on this boat.

I didn't say children.

Siblings. Adult siblings.

I misunderstood.

No chance they could've stowed away?

No one would blame you.

I know how these older-model Fireflys...

...tend to have those troublesome
little nooks.

Do they?

Smugglers and the like tend to prefer
them just for that reason.

We will continue this conversation
in a more official capacity.

- I want every inch of this junker tossed.
- Junker?

Settle down, Kaylee.

But did you hear what
that purple-belly called Serenity?

Shut up.

- You are a companion.
- Yes.

And you were based
for years on Sihnon.

It's only in the last year that
you've been with The Serenity?

It's just "Serenity". And that's correct.
In a few weeks, it will be a year.

Why is this important?

I'm just trying
to put the pieces together.

It's a curiosity,
a woman of stature such as yourself...

...falling in with these types.

Not in the least.

It's a mutually beneficial
business arrangement.

I rent the shuttle from Capt. Reynolds,
allowing me to expand my client base.

And the captain finds that having
a companion onboard...

...opens certain doors that might
otherwise be closed to him.

And you love him?

- I don't see how that's relevant.
- He is your husband.

Yes.

You met through Capt. Reynolds.

Captain was looking for a pilot.
I found a husband.

Seemed to work out.

- You fought with Reynolds in the w*r.
- Fought with a lot of people.

- And your husband.
- Fight with him sometimes too.

Is there any particular reason
you don't wish to discuss your marriage?

Don't see that it's any
of your business, is all.

We're very private people.

The legs. Oh, yeah. I'd definitely
have to say it was her legs.

You can put that down.

Her legs and right where her legs
meet her back.

Actually, that whole area.
That and above it.

Six gerstlers crammed right
under every cooling drive...

...so you strain your
primary artery function...

...and you have to recycle secondary
exhaust through a bypass system...

...just so you don't pump
it through the main atmo feed...

...and asphyxiate the entire crew.

Now, that's junk.

Have you seen what she wears?
Forget about it.

Have you ever been
with a warrior woman?

Pirates.
Pirates with their own chaplain.

There's an oddity.

Not the only oddity this end
of space, commander.

We have things not always so plain
as on the central planets.

Rules can be a mite fuzzier.

These fugitives that we're looking for,
the brother and the sister...

...they were last seen on Persephone.

That a fact?

They also left port
aboard a Firefly-class transport.

About the same time
that you shipped out with Serenity.

Well, Persephone's a big place.

Yes.

Yes, it is, and that Firefly isn't.

And if anyone's hiding anywhere on it,
we will find them.

So I figure by now you've been over
to the derelict, seen for yourself.

Yes. Terrible thing.

If you want my advice,
you won't tow it back.

Just fire the whole gorram thing
from space, be done with it.

That ship is evidence. I'm not
in the habit of destroying evidence.

Of course not.
It'd be against the rules.

I'm gonna make a leap here...

...and figure this is your first tour
out here on the border.

It's a very loyal crew
you have there.

But then, I can tell
by your record you have...

...a tendency to inspire that quality
in people, sergeant.

It's not sergeant.
Not anymore. w*r's over.

For some, the w*r will never be over.

I notice your ship's called Serenity.

You were stationed on Hara. Battle
of Serenity Valley took place there.

You know,
I believe you might be right.

Independents suffered
a crushing defeat there.

Some say after Serenity,
the browncoats were through.

The w*r ended in that valley.

Seems odd you'd name your ship after
a battle you're on the wrong side of.

May have been the losing side.

Still not convinced
it was the wrong one.

- Is that why you att*cked that transport?
- What?

You're still fighting
the same battle.

Only those weren't soldiers you
m*rder*d, they were civilians.

Citizens trying to make a new life,
and you just can't stand that, can you?

So we att*cked that ship, then brought
the only living survivor to our infirmary.

- Is that what we did?
- I'd ask him.

Only I'm not sure he can speak
with his tongue split down the middle.

I haven't seen that kind
of t*rture since...

Well, since the w*r.

I should've known.

You are bound by law.

Formal charges will be transmitted.

Commander, I'm not what you need
to be concerned about right now.

If things go the way they are,
there's gonna be blood.

- Let's start compression.
- All right.

Get a line in.

Reavers?

That is what I said.

You can't imagine how many times men
in my position hear that excuse.

- "Reavers did it".
- It's the truth.

You saw them, did you?

- Wouldn't be sitting here if I had.
- No, of course not.

I'll tell you who did. That poor
bastard you took off my ship.

He looked into the face of it,
was made to stare.

- It?
- The darkness.

Kind of darkness
you can't even imagine.

Blacker than the space
it moves through.

Very poetic.

They made him watch.

He probably tried to turn away.
They wouldn't let him.

You call him a survivor. He's not.

A man comes up against that kind
of will, the only way to deal with it...

...I suspect, is to become it.

He's following the only course left
to him.

First, he'll try to make himself
look like one.

Cut on himself, desecrate his flesh.
And then...

...he'll start acting like one.

Let's have two MPs up here
to escort Sgt. Reynolds to the brig.

Let's go again.

Later.

Maybe. Captain said
once the coast is clear...

...we should lay low in the shuttle.
Come on.

Coming back?

Yes. Yes, of course he is.
They all are.

Your ship will be auctioned.

The proceeds will be applied
to the cost of your defense.

Get him out of here!

Go to full lockdown.
I want guards on the nursery.

It won't matter. You won't find him.

But I know where he'll go.

Wait! No. Don't. Don't.

River, it's okay.

- Wait. Wait.
- They've gone. Come on.

- Don't.
- River, it's okay.

- Come on.
- No. Don't...

River, you don't have to be afraid.

Why would he come back here?

Looking for familiar ground.

He's on the hunt.

All right. Let's get him to the brig.

- No, no, no. I should go with you.
- It's out of the question.

How many men
you feel like losing today?

Nobody knows Serenity like I do.
I can help you.

We let him go first.

Right.

You want to...

Thanks.
Now I'll really have the advantage.

We don't know
how long it's going to be.

Once we're settled,
we shouldn't move much.

I'm just gonna grab some food.

Someone's coming.

You save his gorram life,
he still takes the cargo.

He had to.

Couldn't let us profit.

Wouldn't be civilized.