Out of Gas
Thought we were gonna be reasonable about thisCast · Intro · Act 1 · Act 2 · Act 3 · Act 4 · Epilogue
Guest Cast
Bester
Captain (Walden)
Jesse
Billy
Gun Hand
Marco
Jayne's Roomie
Salesman
Intro
|
You paid money for this, sir? |
| Transcribed: | Shrift |
| Written: | Tim Minear |
| Directed: | David Solomon |
| Aired: | October 25, 2002 |
EXT. SPACE
Serenity motionless in space. No lights. No movement. No people.
INT. SERENITY - UPPER DECKS
Various shots of the ship.
The cockpit: empty.
The upper decks: empty.
The kitchen area is empty of people, but dishes and food still clutter the table.
The engine room. The entrance and walls are scorched. The big turbine isn't turning.
INT. SERENITY - BELOW DECKS
All the loose contents of the ship look like they've been tossed, bins and boxes and clutter strewn everyone. Still no one in sight.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
More debris. More strewn cargo. Then,
MAL
Falls into frame, landing hard on the cargo bay floor. Pale and sweaty. And alone.
He's obviously in extreme pain, struggling to stay conscious. As the camera PUSHES IN on his face, we start to HEAR VOICES:
A real beauty, ain't she? Yes, sir. A right smart purchase,
this vessel. Tell you what, you buy this ship, treat her
proper, she'll be with ya for the rest of your life.
Then the SOUND of the AIRLOCK DOORS opening. LIGHT hits him in the face, blinding him.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY - FLASHBACK
THE AIRLOCK DOORS open, revealing two FIGURES, SILHOUETTED by sunlight, BLUE SKY behind them.
The figures step onto the ship -- and now we see that it's MAL and ZOE. They enter the cargo bay.
The cargo bay itself is now totally empty. Everything is covered with a thick layer of dust.
Well?
ZOE
(looking)
You paid money for this, sir? On purpose?
MAL
What? Come on, seriously, Zoe. Whaddya think?
ZOE
Honestly, sir. I think you got robbed.
MAL
Robbed? What, no. What do you mean?
ZOE
It's a piece of [fei-oo. - "junk".]
MAL
[Fei-oo? - "Junk?"] Okay. She won't be winning any
beauty contests anytime soon. But she is solid.
Ship like this, be with ya 'til the day you die.
ZOE
'Cause it's a deathtrap.
MAL
That's not... you are very much lacking in imagination.
ZOE
I imagine that's so, sir.
MAL
C'mon. You ain't even seen most of it. I'll show
you the rest.
(as they go)
And try to see past what she is, and on to what
she can be.
ZOE
What's that, sir?
MAL
Freedom, is what.
ZOE
(pointing)
No, I meant what's that?
He looks down.
Oh. Yeah. Just step around it. I think something
must've been living in here.
As they move off:
I tell ya, Zoe, we find ourselves a mechanic, get her
running again. Hire a good pilot. Maybe even a cook.
Live like real people. Small crew, them as feel the
need to be free. Take jobs as they come -- and we'll
never be under the heel of nobody ever again. No matter
how long the arm of the Alliance might get, we'll just
get ourselves a little further.
ZOE
Get her running again?
MAL
Yeah.
ZOE
So not running now?
MAL
Not so much.
ZOE
Ah.
MAL
But she will.
He moves deeper into the ship. She follows. The camera doesn't.
I already know what I'm gonna call her.
(they're OFF SCREEN by now, fainter)
Got a named all picked out...
That last bit trailing off as their footsteps recede and their voices fade.
As the LAUGHTER echoes and fades, CAMERA MOVES DOWN to a TIGHT FACE in the f.g.
Mal, back in the present day, curled up on the cargo bay floor, wincing in pain.
Camera MOVES DOWN through the floor, to REVEAL that Mal is lying on top of a grate. A thick drop of Mal's blood drips through the grating.
BLACKOUT.
Act 1
|
Think I'm startin' to get a feel here. |
Mal on the cargo bay floor. He struggles, forces himself to rise with great gasping and obvious pain. He grabs an engine part that's sitting next to him on the floor, moves off slowly.
INT. SERENITY - DINING AREA
Laughter from the assembled. Gathered are: Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Kaylee, Simon, Inara and Book.
(laughing)
No! That is not true. No.
BOOK
I swear it is!
INARA
Surely one of you must have told him!
BOOK
No! Not one among the brethren had the heart to
say anything. He was so proud!
LAUGHTER. Wash enters from the bridge.
What? What was he proud of? Who he?
BOOK
Looked rather natty, truth be told, you know !
Another explosion of laughter. Wash is anxious to be let in on the joke.
What was natty?
(as he sits)
I want to hear about the natty thing.
(reaches for serving bowl)
Book gets his laughter under control and takes a drink.
Shepherd Book was just tellin' us funny stories about
his life at the monastery.
WASH
Monastic humor. I miss out on all the fun.
(sees serving bowl is empty)
And all the food, too, apparently...
ZOE
Just who do you think you're married to?
Zoe lifts a napkin off a plate piled with food.
Voila!
WASH
I love my wife.
He kisses her.
So we got a course set?
WASH
We do. Took a little creative navigating, but we should
make it all the way to Greenleaf without running afoul of any
Alliance patrols. Or a single living soul, for that matter.
MAL
Good. Way it should be.
WASH
'course, what should be an 18 hour trip's gonna take us
the better part of a week by this route.
MAL
We're in no rush. I like an easy, languorous journey.
Kaylee rises, picks up some plates.
Oh, gee, I wonder what that would that be like?
SIMON
(moves to assist)
Let me help you with that --
KAYLEE
It's your turn.
SIMON
(clueless)
My turn...?
KAYLEE
Shepherd told a funny story 'bout bein' a preacher.
Now you tell a funny story about being a doctor.
SIMON
A funny story...
JAYNE
Yeah, 'cos sick people are hi-larious.
SIMON
Well, they can be... uh...
(chuckles)
In fact, I remember there was this one time I was working
the E.R. and this, this, uh, fellow, this very upright sort
of citizen, comes in complaining of...
JAYNE
(interrupts)
Now Inara -- she's gotta have some real funny whorin'
stories, I'd wager.
INARA
Oh! Do I ever! Funny and sexy. You have no idea.
(then)
And you never will.
Zoe snorts.
INARA
I don't discuss my clients.
JAYNE
Aww, come on, Inara. Who'd know?
INARA
You.
(then)
A Companion doesn't kiss and tell.
MAL
So there is kissing?
She shoots him a look. He smiles back. He wasn't being malicious.
Hey, doc?
He looks at her.
(nods behind Simon toward:)
I think Kaylee may need your help after all.
He turns and is surprised to see her carrying aloft a ship-made birthday cake with mismatched candles.
Care to make the first incision, Doctor Tam?
(then)
Happy birthday, Simon.
EVERYONE
(variously)
Happy birthday! Yeah, many more. Happy Birthday, son.
Simon reacts, taken aback.
SIMON
Well this is... How - how did you know?
(glances to:)
River, did you -- ?
RIVER
"Day" is a vestigial mode of time measurement
based on solar cycles. It's not applicable.
(then)
I didn't get you anything.
MAL
Seems a fresh warrant for your arrest come up on the
cortex. Had your birth date attached right to it.
SIMON
(worried)
Really?
KAYLEE
(re: the cake)
Hope you like it. Couldn't get a hold of no flour, so
it's mostly protein. In fact, it's pretty much what we
just had for supper. But I tried to get the frosting
as chocolatey tasting as possible, so...
He looks at Kaylee.
Thank you. I'm really - I'm very deeply moved. Thank you.
JAYNE
Well deeply move yourself over there and blow out them
candles so we can try a slice.
KAYLEE
Come on, Doc. Give a good blow.
He smiles, nods, leans forward, is about to blow out the candles, when something makes a bad noise deep inside the ship. A GRINDING back near the engine. The power DIMS and FLICKERS, the engine stops...
A beat. They all pause. Then the familiar HUM of the engines again.
What the hell was that?
KAYLEE
Maybe just a hiccup. I'll go check it out.
She sets down the cake on the counter. Starts to move off.
(rising)
I'll take a look at the helm.
Now he heads off toward the bridge. River is staring at the cake.
Fire...
Simon glances at her, then back to the cake. The candles.
Okay, right.
He leans in to blow out the candles as --
Kaylee is stepping up to the door --
There is a huge EXPLOSION from the back of the ship, at the engine room.
Zoe is on her feet in an instant. She lunges for Kaylee as --
-- a giant BALL OF FIRE roils from the back of the ship, filling the corridor. Zoe shoves Kaylee clear of the doorway, but the FIREBALL bursts at the doorway and Zoe is knocked back hard by the concussion of the blast, her body glancing off the dinner table, then hitting a wall. Wash comes running back --
Zoe!
Everyone's disoriented. Wash flies to his wife's side. Inara and Book move to Kaylee, who was shoved out of the way.
Another FIREBALL explodes toward the kitchen area when Mal forces the big metal door shut, latches it just before it hits. He's knocked back by the blast that impacts on the other side of the closed door.
Fire! Fire!
Mal turns, sees that Simon is already with Wash by Zoe.
Zoe, honey, talk to me -- you gotta talk to me, baby...
Mal passes Jayne as he moves toward the bridge, pausing only long enough to say:
Seal off everything that leads below decks. Do it now!
Jayne moves to do that immediately. Mal runs to the bridge.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Mal works some controls on the console.
EXT. SPACE
As the ramp lowers into space.
INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM
The fire rages.
INT. SERENITY - DINING AREA
Wash is panicky while Simon works on Zoe.
Is she gonna be okay?
SIMON
I need my med kit.
Simon rises, turns toward the aftdeck, sees that the door is shut.
(shakes her head)
Not this way. We got fire.
He turns, moves to the foredeck, steps up to --
FOREDECK DOOR
Jayne is just coming up from around the corner where he's sealed off that exit.
Where you think you're going?
SIMON
Zoe's badly hurt. I need my medical supplies.
JAYNE
Sorry, Doc. Nobody leaves. Everything's sealed up tight.
SIMON
If you don't let me through, she could die.
JAYNE
I let you through -- we all die.
Off this stand off,
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Mal continues to work the ship's controls.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
The AIRLOCK DOORS open.
INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM
The fire is sucked down toward the lower deck, toward the vacuum of space.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
The fire goes ROARING through the cargo bay and, along with some loose cargo, is spit out into space --
EXT. SPACE
As the fire shoots out of the cargo bay, dissipating in cold space.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Mal watches through the bridge window as the fire shoots out, extinguishing itself in the vacuum.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
As the ramp closes and the air lock doors close.
CUT TO:
INT. SERENITY - STAIRWELL
Serenity's dark. An injured MAL is stumbling down the steps toward the infirmary, engine part clutched in his hand. He opens the infirmary doors.
CUT TO:
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY
The infirmary door is shoved open and an uninjured Mal, Wash and Jayne carry in the unconscious Zoe, place her on the examination table. Simon gets right to work.
Everyone else is close at hand, variously in the infirmary and lingering outside in the common area.
There's no sign of burning. It must be internal.
I'll have to do a scan.
WASH
Baby. Zoe, can you hear me? Zoe. Come on, sweetheart,
talk to me. Zoe. Come on, talk to me. Look at me, sweet--
He starts hooking her up to his equipment. Wash at his side, concern etched on his face. Mal fades back, away from the activity there, to:
INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA
Kaylee is hovering just outside the door of the infirmary in the common area. Mal approaches her.
Kaylee. Kaylee, look at me.
She does.
I need you up in the engine room figuring out what
caused this.
KAYLEE
(feeling it)
She ain't movin'.
Mal glances from Kaylee to Zoe through the glass. His attention is drawn back to Kaylee by:
Serenity's not movin'.
MAL
I know it. Which is why we need to suss out what it was
happened so we can get her going again, right?
(she nods)
Think you can do that?
KAYLEE
Yes, Cap'n.
MAL
That's a good girl.
Kaylee gathers herself, heads off. Mal turns his attention back to:
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY
Simon works on Zoe. Wash is at his wife's side, panicky.
Come on, baby. You're strong. Strongest person I've
ever met. You can do this.
JAYNE
She gonna make it?
SIMON
Please. I need to work.
Mal appears at the door.
Wash.
Wash won't look away from his wife.
Wash, I need you on the bridge.
WASH
Zoe's hurt.
MAL
And the doctor's gonna do everything he can. Meantime,
I gotta have you on that bridge. We need to know how
bad it is.
WASH
(turning)
How bad? It's bad, okay, sir? My wife may be dying,
here. So my feeling is it's pretty damn bad.
MAL
Wash...
WASH
I'm not leaving her side, Mal. Don't ask me again.
MAL
(flatly)
I wasn't asking. I was telling.
WASH
[Chur ni-duh. - "Screw you."]
Mal sighs. Reaches in, grabs Wash by the shirt, swings him around, shoves him up against a wall.
You're gonna get to the bridge and get us on our feet.
Beat. Mal eases off. Wash's back is now to the infirmary door.
Wash goes to the bridge, still angry and upset. Mal looks back to the faces looking back at him, then he exits, too.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE - FLASHBACK
Wash's pilot's chair. Empty. CAMERA moves off that to find Wash on his back, examining the cockpit innards. His face is obscured from us.
(calmly)
Yeah. This is all very do-able.
Wash slides out -- and the first thing we notice is the big moustache and the flat hair. Along with the Hawaiian shirt. He stands and now we see, outside the cockpit windows, BLUE SKY. Serenity's parked someplace on a planet.
Shouldn't be a problem at all. A few modifications, get
some real maneuverability out of this boat. You'd be
surprised.
Mal and Zoe stand at the cockpit door as Wash looks the vessel over.
So you'll take the job, then?
As Wash sits into the pilot's chair, gives it a little swivel.
Might do, might do. Think I'm startin' to get a feel here.
MAL
Good. Well, take your time. Make yourself to home. Just, uh
fiddle with the dials, there. We'll be nearby.
Wash swivels away from them. Fiddles with dials.
MAL AND ZOE
Moving away from the cockpit, down the foredeck, toward the dining area as they confer.
He's great, ain't he?
ZOE
I don't like him.
MAL
(taken aback)
What?
ZOE
Something about him bothers me.
MAL
What? What about him bothers you?
ZOE
I'm not sure. It's just... something.
MAL
Well, your "something" comes up against a list of
recommendations long as my leg. Tanaka raved about
the guy. Renshaw's been trying to get him on his
crew for a month. And we need us a pilot.
ZOE
I understand, sir. He bothers me.
MAL
Look, we finally got ourselves a genius mechanic. It's
about time we hired someone to fly the damn thing.
A BUFF BLOND GUY, BESTER, passes through frame.
(nodding)
"Genius." No one's ever called me that before. Shiny.
Zoe ignores Bester, still thinking about Wash.
(shrugs; to Mal)
Just bothers me.
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY - HEART MONITOR
Starts to BEEP an ALERT. Zoe's hooked up to the equipment now. Simon reacts.
Her heart's stopped...
INARA, BOOK AND JAYNE
Looking on, helpless. Nervous.
Maybe someone should get her husband down here.
MAL
No.
They see Mal has appeared. He moves into the infirmary. Simon's racing around the infirmary, grabbing things.
What do you need, doc?
As Simon chooses a vial --
(pointing)
That drawer. Right there --
Mal pulls it open. Sees a large sterile hypo.
That's the one.
He hands it to Simon, who doses it up.
What is it?
SIMON
Pure adrenaline.
Simon readies himself, poises the needle right over Zoe's heart. Inara cringes and turns away. Simon plunges the needle in. Zoe's body JOLTS and we,
CUT TO:
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY
MAL HOWLS in pain. He's alone in the infirmary, sitting on the edge of the examination table, wrapping a bandage around his midsection. It's already stained with blood. He breathes hard, then tries to rise. He nearly passes out from that.
He manages to steady himself, moves to the counter, rummages around in some of Simon's supplies -- comes up with another needle like we saw Simon shoot up Zoe with. He injects himself, reacts violently.
CLOSE - MAL
His eyes wide, wide awake. He falls back, hands shaking. PUSH IN on his hand as he drops the needle.
Cap?
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY
An uninjured Mal turns away from the table where Zoe lies. Now the medical monitor beeps a constant, steady rhythm. Mal moves to Kaylee at the infirmary door. She looks pale, worried. They step into --
INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA
Zoe gonna be okay?
MAL
You let the doctor worry about Zoe. Come on.
Tell me what you know.
KAYLEE
Catalyzer on the port compression coil blew.
That's where the trouble started.
MAL
I need that in Captain Dummy-Talk, Kaylee.
KAYLEE
We're dead in the water.
MAL
Can you fix it?
KAYLEE
I could try.
MAL
Just get us to limpin'. That's all I need.
She looks at him. Nearly staring.
What? What is it?
KAYLEE
Well, it's worse than just the coil.
MAL
How can it be worse?
KAYLEE
Main life-support's down on account of the engine
being dead.
MAL
Right. But we got auxiliary life support --
KAYLEE
No. We don't. It ain't even on. Explosion musta
knocked it out.
MAL
So what are we breathin'?
KAYLEE
Whatever got pumped into the atmo before the explosion
shut it all down.
Jayne has overheard part of this, joins them.
Most of that oxygen got ate up by the fire on its
way out the door.
KAYLEE
Well, whatever's left is what we got.
Mal takes a beat.
How long?
KAYLEE
A couple of hours, maybe. We'll start to feel it, and then
we won't feel nothing at all.
BLACK OUT.
Act 2
|
My daddy says I got natural talent. |
EXT. SPACE
Serenity, not moving.
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY
Simon checks the still unconscious Zoe's vitals. Inara appears at the infirmary door.
How is she?
SIMON
She's till unconscious. But her vitals are strong.
She won't know it, but as long as her condition
remains like this, she'll outlive us all.
(then)
She's using less oxygen.
He moves into the common area. Sits. She joins him.
I always thought the name Serenity had a vaguely
funereal sound to it.
INARA
I love this ship. I have from the first moment I saw it.
SIMON
I just don't want to die on it.
INARA
I don't want to die at all.
SIMON
Suffocation's not exactly the most dignified way to go.
The human body will involuntarily --
INARA
Please, I don't really require a clinical description
right now.
SIMON
I'm sorry. I just, uh...
(beat)
It was my birthday.
He smiles wistfully. She smiles back. Puts her hand over his.
INT. SERENITY - BOOK'S ROOM
Book sighs, sitting at his little table reading the Bible.
Don't be afraid.
He looks up, a bit startled.
(re: his Bible)
That's what it says. Don't be afraid.
BOOK
Yes.
RIVER
But you are afraid.
BOOK
Yes.
RIVER
You're afraid we're going to run out of air.
That we'll die gasping.
(then)
But we won't. That's not going to happen.
He looks at her, taken by her utter certainty.
(flatly)
We'll freeze to death first.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Wash sits in his chair, upset.
You get that beacon sent?
WASH
Yeah, it's sent.
MAL
Good.
WASH
Pointless.
MAL
What was that?
WASH
Nothing, sir. It's a brilliant plan, I'm sure we'll
all be saved.
MAL
I'm getting a little weary of this attitude, Wash.
WASH
Are you? Well, I'm so very sorry, sir. I guess the
news that we're all gonna be purple and bloated and
fetal in a few hours has made me little snippy.
MAL
It's possible someone might pick up that signal.
WASH
(pissed)
No, Mal. It's not possible. No one's gonna pick up the
damn signal. You wanted us flying under the radar, remember?
Well, that's where we are: out of range of anyone or anything.
MAL
Then make it go further.
WASH
I -- What?
MAL
Make the signal go further.
WASH
Can't make it go further.
MAL
Not if all you're gonna do is sit here and
whinge about it, no.
WASH
What do you expect me to do, Mal?
MAL
Whatever you have to. And if you can't do it from here,
then get a suit on and get out on the side of the boat and --
WASH
(voice rising)
And what? Wave my arms around?
MAL
Wave your arms around, jump up and down. Divert the nav
sats to the transmitter. Whatever.
WASH
Divert the...? Right. Because teenage pranks are fun when
you're about to die.
MAL
Give the beacon a boost, wouldn't it?
WASH
Yes, Mal. It would boost the signal, but even if some
passerby did happen to receive, all it'd do is muck up
their navigation.
MAL
Could be that's true.
WASH
Damn right, it's true! They'd be forced to stop and dig
out our signal before they could even go anyplace!
A beat as Wash lets what he just said sink in. He snaps:
Well, maybe I should do that, then!
MAL
(snapping back)
Maybe you should!
WASH
Okay!
MAL
Good!
WASH
Fine!
JAYNE
Hey!
Jayne has appeared in the doorway.
What do you two think you're doing?
Fightin' at a time like this.
They both ease off. Cool down.
(as he turns and goes)
You'll use up all the air!
A KLAXON SOUNDS and WE ARE:
INT. SERENITY - AFTDECK CORRIDOR
ENGINE PART slams down into FRAME. PULL BACK to REVEAL:
INJURED MAL - struggling around the corner.
Mal stumbling down the corridor toward the engine room. The ship warns over the klaxon:
Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once.
Then the same ALERT repeats IN CHINESE.
[Jeo-shung yong-jur goo-jang. Jien-cha yong-chi gong yin. -
"Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once."]
CUT TO:
MAL APPEARS in the engine room doorway. He's uninjured.
Bester!
And WE ARE:
INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM - FLASHBACK
What's this I hear 'bout yet another delay?
As Mal moves closer to the engine room, we can make out BESTER'S ARMY BOOTS sticking out from under the engine. The faint sound of erotic moaning.
You were supposed to have that engine fixed and
us up and --
Bester's shorts are down around his army boots. He's having energetic sex with an unseen FEMALE. Mal averts his eyes. The erotic moaning? A lot louder now.
What in the name of [suo-yo duh doh shr-dang -
"all that's proper...?"]
(long beat)
Bester.
Still with the energetic sex.
Bester.
More with the energetic sex.
Bester!
Clanging and scuffling noises. Bester climbs out, bare chest showing off intricate tattoos, yanking up his shorts.
What?
Bester just looks at Mal innocently.
You do realize we been parked on this rock a week
longer than we planned?
BESTER
Yeah, but... uh, there's stuff to do.
MAL
As for example that job we got waitin' for us on Paquin.
When we landed here you said you needed a few days to get
space worthy again and is there somethin' wrong with
your bunk?
BESTER
What?
More impatient staring, then Bester gets it and laughs.
Oh! No, Captain.
(leans forward)
She like engines. They make her hot.
MAL
Bester. Get your prairie harpy off my boat, and put
us back in the air.
BESTER
Okay. But... can't.
MAL
Whaddya mean "can't."
BESTER
No can do, Cap. Secondary grav boot's shot.
KAYLEE (O.S.)
No it ain't.
Kaylee pops up, getting dressed. The men look at her.
Ain't nothing wrong with your grav boot. Grav boot's just fine.
(to Mal)
Hello.
She drops down again, out of view. Mal glances at Bester. Bester's a bit flustered.
(to Mal)
She doesn't... that's not what...
(to Kaylee)
No it ain't!
KAYLEE
(reappearing)
Sure it is. Grav boot ain't your trouble. I seen the trouble
plain as day when I was down there on my back before.
Your reg couple's bad.
BESTER
(clueless)
The... red... what?
KAYLEE
Reg couple. Right here. See?
BESTER
(beat)
No.
KAYLEE
This.
(then)
I'm pointin' right at it.
She rolls her eyes, sighs, reaches in, breaks off a part of the engine.
Hey!
KAYLEE
Here.
She plunks the part in Bester's hand. She reaches back in, tinkers.
(re: a nearby wrench)
Hand me that, will ya? Don't really serve much of a purpose,
anyway. Just tends to gum up the works when it gets tacked.
So I figure, why even have one? Better to just take your
g-line, plug it straight into the port-pin-lock, and that
should, uh...
She's done. The turbine starts to turn.
There.
BESTER
What'd you do?
MAL
She fixed it.
KAYLEE
Well, it wasn't really broke.
Bester looks at the part in his hand.
Where'd you learn to do that, miss?
KAYLEE
(shrugs)
Just do it, that's all. My daddy says I got natural talent.
MAL
I'll say you do at that.
BESTER
(re: the part)
Don't we need this?
MAL
You work for your daddy, do you?
KAYLEE
Well, when he got work, which ain't been too often lately.
MAL
You got much experience with a vessel like this?
KAYLEE
I ain't never even been up in one before.
MAL
Wanna?
KAYLEE
You mean...?
MAL
Sure.
KAYLEE
For how long?
MAL
Long as you like. Long as you can keep her in the sky.
KAYLEE
You offering me a job?
BESTER
What?
MAL
Believe I just did.
KAYLEE
(big smile)
I just gotta ask my folks!
She pulls her hastily assembled wardrobe about her, pushes past Mal and a stunned Bester.
Don't leave without me!
Mal watches Kaylee go, amused. Bester just blinks.
Mal. Whaddya need two mechanics for?
MAL
I really don't.
INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM
Kaylee!
Mal has entered the engine room. He looks off screen seeing --
-- KAYLEE is just sitting there, forlorn. She's holding the same piece of equipment that Mal was dragging in here. But the one she's got is twisted and melted. She stares at it.
Kaylee, what are you doing?
KAYLEE
Sorry, Captain. I'm real sorry. I shoulda kept better care of
her. Usually she lets me know when something's wrong. Maybe
she did, I just wasn't paying attention...
MAL
(patiently)
I cannot be having this from you right now. We got work
to do. [Dong-ma? - "Understand?"]
KAYLEE
(re: the engine part)
Catalyzer's broke. Gonna need a new one.
MAL
There is no new one. You gotta make do with what you got.
KAYLEE
It's broke.
She just sits there. He gently makes her stand up.
Come on. This the part?
(she nods)
It don't hardly seem like nothing. All right.
Where's it go?
She shows him the spot in the engine.
Here. But it don't fit no more.
He tries to install it, but no go.
Well you gotta figure a way to make it fit.
KAYLEE
Sometimes a thing gets broke, can't be fixed.
MAL
Without this, engine don't turn?
(she shakes her head "no")
Engine don't turn, life support won't function.
We don't breathe. You want to keep breathin', don't you?
(she nods)
So do I.
A KLAXON SOUNDS and WE ARE:
INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM
Where the ALARM originated. Mal, gut-shot, listens to the ship warning him that:
Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once.
Then the same ALERT repeats IN CHINESE.
[Jeo-shung yong-jur goo-jang. Jien-cha yong-chi gong yin. -
"Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once."]
Mal's fumbling with the ship part, trying to install the catalyzer into the failed compression coil.
He wipes sweat from his brow with the back of his hand -- leaving a smear of blood above his left eye. He blinks it back.
The KLAXON continues to sound. The ship's message repeats in English again.
Mal nearly has the part installed, but it slips from his bloody fingers and drops into the engine.
He can't believe that just happened. And as the alert continues to sound --
BLACK OUT.
Act 3
|
You want me. You want me on your ship. |
INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA
Everyone sits huddled together. They're wearing coats and blankets. It's cold. Mal stands before the assembled, grim.
As you're all keenly aware, we've run into a bit of a
situation. Engine's down, life support's on the fritz,
and I got nine people here all wanting to breathe.
Truth is, ain't got a whole lot of options at this
juncture.
A beat. They all look back at him.
So... instead of focusing on what we don't got --
time to talk about what it is we do. And what we
got are two shuttles. Short range. Won't go far.
But each got heat, and they each got air. Last
longer than what's left in Serenity.
SIMON
Long enough to reach someplace?
MAL
No.
BOOK
So... where will we go, then?
MAL
Far as you can get. We send both shuttles off in
opposite directions -- betters the chances of
someone being seen, maybe getting picked up.
(then)
Shepherd Book, Kaylee, Jayne will ride with Inara
in her shuttle. Doc, you and your sis will go with
Wash and Zoe -- seein' as how Zoe still needs
some doctorin'.
KAYLEE
What about you?
MAL
Four people per shuttle. That's the arrangement.
Evens the odds.
(then)
I'm staying with Serenity.
KAYLEE
Captain.
MAL
We sent out a beacon. Even managed to boost it a little.
By some chance, we get a response, someone's gonna have
to be here to answer.
Nobody believes that's going to happen.
Let's get those shuttles prepped.
Wash stands, starts moving to the stairs near the infirmary.
Wash -- shuttles are that way.
WASH
I know. But like you said -- someone might answer the beacon.
And when they do, I want to make sure that you can call
everyone back. Won't take but a minute.
Mal nods. Wash moves off.
Jayne, you get shuttle number two ready.
I'll see to Inara's.
(to everyone else)
Let's get moving.
(as he goes)
Take only what you need.
Mal moves off. Everyone's a bit stunned. Inara moves to follow Mal.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY/CATWALKS
Mal heads up the catwalks, moving toward Inara's shuttle. She appears, following.
Mal...
MAL
You fly smart, don't push too hard, shuttle life support
should last you a good long while.
INARA
Mal, this isn't the ancient sea. You don't have to go
down with your ship.
MAL
She ain't going down. She ain't going anywhere.
(then)
Jayne'll be worth something if you run into trouble.
But don't trust him, and don't let him take over. You're
paid up through the end of the month. It's still your ship.
INARA
Mal...
MAL
As far as your security deposit goes... that I might
have to owe you.
He enters her shuttle. She follows.
INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE - FLASHBACK
Inara steps through first. She's wearing different clothing. Mal steps in behind her. The shuttle is empty. Mal's showing her the "property."
Well, here she is.
She steps in, takes in the space for the first time.
Nice, ain't she?
INARA
Smallish.
MAL
Not overly. How much room do you really
need for what you do, anyway?
She ignores that. She moves into the cockpit. Blue sky outside the windows. Mal follows.
I got a surveyor and his wife interested in
renting it. They're just waiting to hear back.
INARA
What's her range?
MAL
Standard short. She'll break atmo from a wide orbit.
Get you where you need to go, bring you back home again.
(beat)
She's space worthy. Like the rest of Serenity is.
INARA
No need to sound so defensive, Captain.
(moving past him)
I prefer something with a few miles on it.
He watches her as she moves into the main chamber, looking it over.
Were we to enter into this arrangement, Captain Reynolds,
there are a few things I would require from you. The
foremost being complete autonomy. This shuttle would be
my home. No crew member, including yourself, would be
allowed entrance without my express invitation.
MAL
You'd get your privacy.
INARA
And just so we're clear, under no circumstances will I
be servicing you or anyone who is under your employ.
MAL
I'll post a sign.
INARA
That won't be necessary. The other thing I would insist
upon is some measure of assurance that when I make an
appointment with a client, I'm in a position to keep that
appointment. So far as such assurances are possible on a
vessel of this type.
MAL
That's an awful lot of caveats and addendums there, miss.
INARA
As I stated, I just want to be clear.
MAL
Well. I'll be sure and take all of that into consideration
when I review the applications.
INARA
Don't be ridiculous. You're going to rent this shuttle to me.
MAL
Am I?
INARA
Yes. And for one quarter less than your asking price.
MAL
That a fact?
INARA
It is.
MAL
And you figure you'll be getting this discount... why exactly?
INARA
You want me. You want me on your ship.
MAL
Do I?
INARA
Yes. Because I can bring something that your surveyor or
any of the other fish you might have on line can't --
a certain respectability.
MAL
Respecta --
INARA
And based on what little I've seen of your operation, I
suspect that's something you could use.
MAL
Fine. Let me ask you this: if you're so respectable, why are
you even here? I mean, I heard tell of fancy ladies such as
yourself shipping out with the big luxury liners and the like.
But a registered Companion on a boat like this?
What are you running from?
INARA
I'm not running from anything.
He doesn't believe her.
If it's Alliance trouble you got, you might want to consider
another ship. Some on board here fought for the Independents.
INARA
The Alliance has no quarrel with me. I supported Unification.
MAL
Did ya? Well, I don't suppose you're the only whore that did.
She looks at him. Smiles.
Oh -- one further addendum. That's the last time you
get to call me "whore."
She walks past him.
Absolutely. Never again.
INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE
Mal moves about the cockpit.
Keep everything set as low as possible.
Don't waste what you got.
She pushes him out of the way.
Let me do that. You never could operate this thing.
He lets her take over. They look at each other. Long beat.
And try not to talk. Talking uses up air.
Ain't no need for it.
(moves toward door)
INARA
Mal... come with us.
MAL
Can't. Four to a shuttle, Inara. Four.
INARA
One more. You know it can't make a difference. Not now.
MAL
I'm not leaving Serenity.
INARA
Mal -- you don't have to die alone.
MAL
Everybody dies alone.
HOLD on their look for a moment.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Wash appears in the doorway.
Everything's set and ready.
REVEAL - MAL moving toward the bridge.
Good.
WASH
I linked the nav systems of both shuttles into
the helm, here.
Wash points out a LARGE, RED BUTTON on the navigation control panels.
When your miracle gets here, you just pound this
button once. It'll call back both shuttles.
Mal nods. Wash wants to say something. He's about to speak, but before he can:
Go see to your wife.
Wash takes a beat. Then exits.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
Mal walks with Jayne. Jayne has a duffle and some guns slung over his shoulder.
I went ahead and closed off all below deck vents. Diverted
what's left to the bridge. Ain't much. So my advice is, seal off
everything tight behind you on your way back up. Might buy
you some time.
Mal nods. He's looking up at the upper catwalks
And I prepped a suit for you. It's hanging in the foredeck.
So when the time comes, you can --
MAL
(cuts him off)
I won't be needing it, but thanks.
JAYNE
Okay. Well.
Jayne takes a beat. Then he moves off, heading up the catwalk stairs.
To the left, Wash and Simon carry a stretcher with unconscious Zoe into the second shuttle. River follows.
Mal looks to his right. Book and Kaylee enter Inara's shuttle. Inara stands at the doorway, looking down at him.
WASH - At the door to shuttle two. He slides the door shut.
JAYNE - Reaches the top of the catwalk. Motions for Inara to go inside. A beat. He eyes on Mal. Then she disappears inside. Jayne follows, shuts the door. Mal stands alone in the big, empty cargo bay, then exits as:
EXT. SPACE
The two shuttles detach from Serenity and go their separate ways off into space.
INT. SERENITY - UPPER DECK
Mal closes off the door to the aftdeck. Moves through the kitchen area and into the foredeck, slides that door shut behind him, too.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Mal closes off the bridge, takes out a blanket and wraps it around him, then sits in the pilot's chair.
He's cold and drowsy from lack of oxygen.
EXT. SPACE
Serenity. Silent. Alone. Dark. Unmoving.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE - LATER
Some time has passed. Mal is looking half frozen and unconscious in the pilot's chair. He doesn't react to the SOUND of a SIGNAL as it starts come through on the console.
CLOSE - MONITOR
THE SIGNAL on the console. A FUZZY IMAGE. A MAN'S FACE through the STATIC.
(breaking up)
Firefly Serenity... This is the private salvage S.S. Walden.
Receiving your distress beacon, do you read?
The message continues to repeat and CRACKLE.
Mal sits motionless. Not hearing it.
More STATICKY SIGNAL. More CRACKLING. But now Mal starts stir slightly. A few more WORDS of the DISTRESS REPLY crackle through...
Mal forces his heavy-lidded eyes open just as... The transmission ends. No more signal.
Mal tries to orient himself. His head lolls as he looks to the now silent monitors. His bleary eyes shift up to the window --
ANOTHER SHIP
Twice the size of Serenity --rises up there, right in front of the windshield.
EXT. SPACE
The S.S. Walden nose-to-nose with the smaller Serenity.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Mal on the bridge, more alert. WE SEE the IMAGE of the CAPTAIN of the Walden on the vid monitor.
I'm sorry for your troubles, Captain. They sound many. But
you do understand that I can't invite you aboard my vessel.
I don't know you.
MAL
I ain't asking for a ride, Captain. Just a little push is all.
CAPTAIN
Right. Your mechanical trouble. Your compression coil, you say?
MAL
It was the catalyzer.
CAPTAIN
Not even the coil? Catalyzer's a nothing part, Captain.
MAL
It's nothing till you don't got one. Then it appears to
be everything.
CAPTAIN
Well, it is possible we might have something that could do you.
We just come from a big salvage job off Ita Moon.
MAL
I'd appreciate it.
CAPTAIN
Trouble is... how can I know for certain your story's true?
Ambush could be waiting for me and my people on the other side.
MAL
You can plainly see my shuttles've been launched, just like I
said. And by now you've scanned me. You know I got no life
support.
CAPTAIN
I don't expect to see any weapons when we board.
MAL
And I do expect to see that engine part before I open the door.
CAPTAIN
(smiles)
I feel like maybe we can do business.
The Captain's face disappears from the monitor.
EXT. SPACE
As the S.S. Walden's airlock attaches to that of Serenity.
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
Mal, breathing very shallow, waits near the standing airlock door controls.
The Captain appears at the airlock doors. He holds up the catalyzer at the window. Mal activates the airlocks doors.
As the doors open, there is a tremendous RUSH OF AIR from other side. Mal savors it, closes his eyes for a beat, just breathing it in. When he opens his eyes again --
-- The Captain and his FOUR LACKEYS have their guns raised and aimed at him. Mal's hands go up.
BLACK OUT.
Act 4
|
Tell us where the stuff's at so I can shoot you. |
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
Right where we left off, Mal with his hands up and guns pointed at him.
Check him.
One of Captain's crew moves in, frisks Mal as --
(to another lackey)
Search the ship. Start in the cockpit, work your way down.
MAL
This what you meant by ambush?
CAPTAIN
(smiles)
We're just verifying your story.
(to lackeys)
You find anyone on board not supposed to be -- you shoot 'em.
As the lackeys go --
Thought we were gonna be reasonable about this?
MARCO
Reason?
Suddenly, we are:
EXT. SERENITY - RAMP/CARGO BAY - DAY - FLASHBACK
On the open ramp of Serenity and this time it's Mal and Zoe with their hands up -- THREE BANDITS are holding guns on them, and MARCO is their leader.
(to his partner)
He's gonna talk to us about "reason," now.
JAYNE
Yeah. That's a joke.
REVEAL JAYNE as part of the gang holding Mal and Zoe at gunpoint.
MAL AND ZOE -- a brief, sotto voce exchange:
Which one you figure tracked us?
ZOE
The ugly one, sir.
MAL
(beat)
Could you be more specific?
BACK TO THE BANDITS
Do we look reasonable to you?
MAL
Well. Looks can be deceiving.
JAYNE
Not as deceiving as a low down dirty... deceiver.
MAL
Well said. Wasn't that well said, Zoe?
ZOE
Had a kind poetry to it, sir.
JAYNE
You want I should shoot 'em now, Marco?
MARCO
Wait until they tell us where they put the stuff.
JAYNE
That's a good idea. Good idea. Tell us where the stuff's
at so I can shoot you.
MAL
Point of interest? Offering to shoot us might not work so
well as an incentive as you might imagine. Anyway, we've
hidden it. So, you kill us, you'll never find it.
JAYNE
Found you easy enough.
MAL
Yeah. Yeah you did, didn't you?
(then)
How much they paying you?
JAYNE
Huh?
MAL
I mean, let's say you did kill us. Or didn't. There
could be torture. Whatever. But somehow you found
the goods. What would your cut be?
JAYNE
Seven percent, straight off the top.
MAL
Seven? Oh.
Mal looks surprised. Jayne squints.
What?
MAL
Hmm? Nothing. Not a thing. No, I just...
(to Zoe)
That seem low to you?
ZOE
It does, sir.
JAYNE
That ain't low...
MARCO
Stop it.
JAYNE
Seven percent's standard.
MAL
(laughs)
Okay. Zoe, I'm paying you too much.
JAYNE
Why? What does she get?
MARCO
Knock it off.
MAL
Look, forget I said anything. I'm sure you're treated very
well. You get the perks. Got your own room.
(off Jayne's reaction)
No? You share a bunk?
JAYNE
(re: the other guy)
With that one.
MAL
Really?
MARCO
Jayne, this ain't funny.
JAYNE
Yeah, I ain't laughin'.
MAL
You move on over to this side, we'll not only show you where the
stuff's at -- we'll see to it you get your fair share. Not no
sad "seven."
JAYNE
Private room?
MARCO
Jayne!
MAL
Your own room. Full run of the kitchen. Whole shot.
MARCO
Jayne. I ain't askin --
Jayne shoots Marco in the leg and AIMS his gun at the other bandit in his gang.
Shut up.
(to Mal)
How big a room?
INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY
The Captain with his gun trained on Mal. The others start to return to the cargo bay.
Ship's clear, Captain.
CAPTAIN
You check the engine room?
LACKEY #1
(nods)
It's like he said. Catalyzer's blown. That's all he needs.
MAL
You know anything that's worth anything's really right here
in this cargo bay. So you take a look around, decide what
you think is fair.
CAPTAIN
Already decided.
The Captain shoots Mal in the gut. Mal falls back, onto the floor.
We're taking your ship.
Mal presses his hand to his gut -- it comes away bloody. The Captain coolly instructs his crew, and tosses the catalyzer to one of his men.
Billy, get this plugged in. Jesse, call Stern over here. You and him'll
pilot this pile of [go se - "crap"] out of here.
MAL'S POV
There is a gun strapped to the underbelly of a nearby workbench.
We'll get it as far as --
He stops short as he hears the sound of a GUN being COCKED --
CAPTAIN'S POV
Looking down the barrel of Mal's gun.
(eyes on Captain)
Jesse, don't call Stern. Billy, leave the catalyzer.
CAPTAIN
(nods)
Do as he says.
The lackey with the catalyzer sets it on the cargo bay floor.
(to Captain)
Take your people and go.
CAPTAIN
You would have done the same.
MAL
We can already see I haven't.
(then)
Now get the hell off my ship.
And now the Captain and all his men back away to the air lock doors. Mal, through sheer force of will, keeps the gun on them, moves to the air lock door controls. Closes hits the button as they step through. The doors shut.
And Mal collapses on the cargo bay floor.
Exactly where we first found him.
EXT. SPACE
As the larger salvage ship detaches from Serenity and heads off.
INT. SERENITY - VARIOUS
The SOUND of the KLAXON repeating the life support warning, as we cut to various scenes.
[Jeo-shung yong-jur goo-jang. Jien-cha yong-chi gong yin. -
"Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once."]
SERENITY (V.O.)
Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once.
The cargo bay floor, blood smeared there.
The infirmary, and the trail of blood left behind by the wounded Mal.
CUT TO:
INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM
Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once.
Gut-shot Mal fishes out the part to the compression coil. Works to fit it into the damaged engine. It takes some arduous work -- his hands are shaking -- but he does it.
SERENITY (cont'd; V.O.)
[Jeo-shung yong-jur goo-jang. Jien-cha yong-chi gong yin. -
"Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once."]
SERENITY (V.O.)
Life support failure. Check oxygen levels at once.
He fires it all up - the turbines start to spin. It works. The ALERT stops. Power is restored. Life support functioning again.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
CLOSE SHOT of the BIG RED button Wash installed to contact the shuttles.
INT. SERENITY - CORRIDOR
MAL'S POV - Mal is dragging himself to the bridge, flashes of his bloody hands in frame.
INT. SERENITY - KITCHEN AREA
MAL'S POV - He stumbles drunkenly through the kitchen toward the foredeck doorway.
INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE
Mal stumbles through the doorway of the bridge, breathing heavily.
He tries to reach the button, but only makes it halfway before his body gives out. He passes out on the bridge floor.
BLACKOUT.
Epilogue
|
You hear a word I been saying? |
VOICES. Familiar voices. Growing more present as Mal wakes up in --
INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY
Mal blinks as he sees --
-- Simon, Book, Inara, Jayne, then River, then Wash, and finally Zoe, who's laying on a bunk nearby. No one is directly facing him. Various backs to him. They're in conversation, though since we're in Mal's POV we can't quite make out what they're saying.
PUSH IN on Mal's disoriented face.
I feel like maybe we should do something
about all the blood. I don't think it's
something he should see when he wakes up.
JAYNE
He seen blood before. Lots of it.
INARA
Yes, I'm certain that's true, but sometimes
it seems different when it's one's own blood.
JAYNE
Well I didn't shoot him, so don't look at
me for the scrubbin' of it.
INARA
No one's asking you to scrub anything.
Although a bath wouldn't kill you.
ZOE
(to Wash)
I guess it's a fair bet to say I missed
birthday cake.
WASH
It's okay, honey. Nobody got to have any.
It's still on the floor and some of the walls
upstairs, though. If you want I'll run up there
and scrape up a piece.
ZOE
You'd do that for me?
WASH
I'd do anything for you. You know that.
PULL BACK off Mal's face to reveal that Zoe's the first to notice that Mal's come into consciousness. She smiles at him.
Welcome back, sir.
The others follow her look, see he's waking up.
(disoriented)
I go someplace?
BOOK
Very nearly.
INARA
We thought we lost you.
MAL
Well, I've been right here.
Mal notes Wash hooked up to an IV -- he's giving Mal a transfusion. Mal doesn't quite understand that.
Wash, you okay?
WASH
(amused)
Yeah, Mal. I'm fine.
MAL
You got a thing in your arm.
WASH
Yeah.
SIMON
(to Mal)
Try not to speak. You're heavily medicated and you've
lost a lot of blood.
MAL
Oh.
(then, realizing)
Thought I ordered you all off the ship?
The others exchange looks.
(to Wash, trying to remember)
I call you back?
WASH
No, Mal. You didn't.
ZOE
I take full responsibility, cap.
SIMON
The decision saved your life.
ZOE
Won't happen again, sir.
MAL
(to Zoe)
Good. And thanks. I'm grateful.
ZOE
It was my pleasure, sir.
They hold the look between them. Jayne observes that exchange.
Well, hey, you know. We'da been back first, except there's
something wrong with Inara's shuttle. She done somethin'
to it, Mal. Smells funny.
INARA
I told you, that's incense.
JAYNE
So you say.
Kaylee enters. Sees that Mal's awake.
(brightly)
Hey, Captain.
MAL
Hey.
KAYLEE
You fixed the ship. Good work.
MAL
Thanks.
SIMON
All right. I have to insist. The captain needs to rest.
MAL
(nodding off)
Yeah. Think the doc might not be wrong about that one.
Just gonna need a few...
(forces himself not to drift)
You all gonna be here when I wake up?
BOOK
We'll be here.
Mal allows himself to close his eyes.
'kay.
(eyes closed, smiles)
That's good...
As we PUSH IN closer to his face, we start to HEAR VOICES:
Yep. A real beauty, ain't she? Yes, sir.
A right smart purchase, this vessel.
EXT. USED SPACE SHIP LOT - DAY
I tell you what, you buy this ship, treat her proper,
she'll be with ya for the rest of your life.
Now WE SEE that they're standing in front of a totally different ship. Big and yellow, and not Serenity.
Son? Hey, son?
The Salesman notices that Mal doesn't seem to be paying attention.
You hear a word I been saying?
He hasn't. Because he's looking across the lot at something else.
Across the lot sits Serenity, dirty, broken-down, and entrancing.
BLACK OUT.
