Firefly transcript THE MESSAGE


DEATH IS EASY
by
Russell Madden

Softcover, $14.95

Hardcover, $24.95

(Preview. Also available in a digital edition, $4.81.)

FREEDOM, As If
It Mattered
by
Russell Madden

Softcover, $24.95

Hardcover, $34.95

(Preview. Also available in a digital edition, $5.63.): Firefly: "The Message"; Written by: Joss Whedon & Tim Minear; Directed by: Tim Minear; Episode #: 1AGE13; SHOOTING SCRIPT: December 10, 2002; TRANSCRIPT by Russ Madden (July, 2005)
: Teaser; EXT. SPACE BAZAAR - DAY; (Black, space-y day.) Ships land and take off from this decrepit but inviting old structure, clearly clapped together from several different ships and stations. We hold on it, silent but for a bit of intro music and a sudden, booming voice:; BARKER (O.S.); We are not alone!; INT. BAZAAR - CONTINUING; It's a giant flea market/ food court/ carnival/ bar/ post office/ whatever the hell anybody needs out here station. We see the scope of the place as we push in (low angle) towards a BARKER, standing in front of a small, curtained off space. He's talking from the top, very fast, selling hard.; (NOTE: This is not a large build -- it's the size of a large closet, curtained off on all sides, with but one display.); BARKER; Forget what you think you know.; Forget what your mother told you when; she tucked you in at night, forget; the lies of our oppressive,; cabalistic Allied governments!; Behind this curtain is the very; secret they do not want you to see --; the most astounding scientific find; in the history of humanity. Proof!; Of Alien life. That's right, go ahead and; laugh, sir, but what you see inside; this room will change your life; forever! It will haunt your dreams; and harrow -- YES -- your very soul.; INT. BARKER'S BOOTH - CONTINUING; Hold a still frame on Simon and Kaylee, staring intently at something in a big jar that we can't see very well. Wait a beat.; SIMON; Yep. It's a cow fetus.; KAYLEE; Guess so... Does seem to have an; awful lot of limbs...; But cow? How do you figure?; SIMON; It's upside down.; She cranes her head upside down, looks. Nods, sagely...; KAYLEE; Oh, Yeah. Cow.; SIMON; Yup. And I'm out twelve bits. I really; know how to show a girl a...; disgusting time.; KAYLEE; Oh, it's sweet. Poor little thing; never even saw the light of day, now; it's in show business!; He looks at her, admiringly.; SIMON; You manage to find the bright side of; every single thing.; KAYLEE; (coming closer); Also, we've got this booth to ourselves; for five whole minutes...; SIMON; (glances at jar); We're not alone, remember?; KAYLEE; (taking his hands); He's not gonna squawk. Tell me more good; stuff about me.; SIMON; (smiles); Ah... Well, you're a, a kind of a genius when it; comes to machines... you always say; what you mean, and your eyes are...; KAYLEE; Yeah? Eyes, yeah?; SIMON; And, um... I don't know how to, um...; (joking); Plus, every other girl I know is; either married, professional, or; closely related to me, so you're; more or less, you are literally the only girl; in the world.; Those famous eyes of her darken considerably. She draws back.; KAYLEE; Mm. That's a hell of a thing to say.; SIMON; I was joking...; KAYLEE; No, no, I get it. I do. Back on Osiris you; probably had nurses and debutantes; crawling all over you. But down here; at the bottom of the barrel, it's; just me.; SIMON; No, that's, that's, that's not even --; KAYLEE; Well, I'm glad I rated higher than; dead bessie here. < Why don't you tell; the cow about its beautiful eyes? >; [Nee GAO-soo NA niou, TA yo shwong; mei-moo?]; She is storming out just as Wash and Zoe are coming in. Simon watches Kaylee despairingly.; WASH; Oh my god, he's grotesque! Oh, and; there's something in a jar.; He ogles the fetus as Zoe come up to Simon.; ZOE; Scare her away again, did you?; SIMON; This may come as a shock, but I'm; actually not very good at, at talking to; girls.; ZOE; (not unkindly); Why, is there someone you ARE good at; talking to?; WASH; (in the background,; to the jar); Do not fear me. Ours is a peaceful; race, and we must live in harmony...; INT. BAZAAR - CONTINUING; Mal and Inara walk through, talking.; INARA; Struck out again, did you?; MAL; It's like something out of a fable!; I've got this priceless artifact, the; biggest score of my unseemly career,; and no one will touch it.; INARA; The Lassiter's universally known.; Fencing it is like...; fencing the Mona Lisa.; MAL; Well...; (nonchalantly snags an urchin picking his pocket; and retrieves his property); Mona Who?; INARA; You're out of your league. You; should consider my offer --; MAL; I done thinking about that, and you ought to; stay clear.; INARA; I know people in the highest ranks of --; MAL; Jabber jabber jabber. I ain't listening.; Just 'cause you helped out on the job; don't make you a crook. I will not; have you jeopardizing your career; over this.; INARA; The career you abhor and look down on?; MAL; I just don't want you in the way a'; trouble. Just take it as you like.; (calling out); Amnon, How you been?; They have reached a more official looking section of the bazaar, with a sign reading: POST, FREIGHT and HOLDING.; AMNON DUUL, the postman, wears a sort of combination of a postal uniform and hasidic wear. He is decent and more or less unflappable, and happy to see Mal.; AMNON; (shaking his hand); Malcolm, an old friend's face is a; balm in this age.; MAL; I read your wave. You're holding; some post for me?; AMNON; Yeah. Got yourself quite a haul. You; can sign for everyone, right?; MAL; Sure.; AMNON; Very good.; Amnon goes into a back room as Mal starts filling out a form.; Book arrives, with River in tow. They both hold short sticks that dangle strings off the end. Each string runs through the middle of a ball of ice cream that is supported by a bowl shaped cookie attached (under the ice cream) to the string. They're sort of like little mace and chains, and eating them is not altogether convenient, since they swing a bit.; BOOK; Any packages for me?; MAL; Don't know yet.; RIVER; My food is problematic.; Jayne arrives, toting a couple boxes of ammo.; JAYNE; Girl's a mind-readin' genius, can't even; figure out how to eat a ice-planet.; MAL; Did you get everything?; JAYNE; Yeah. They didn't have no rounds for the; Buhnder, but we're ammoed up pretty; good. Got a good discount on; account of my intimidating manner --; Jayne gives Mal his change. Mal looks at the paltry amount. As though just remembering, Jayne digs out more money and hands it to Mal.; Amnon returns, wheeling in a man-sized crate. He tosses a couple of smaller package on the counter.; AMNON; This one's addressed to you and Zoe, Mal.; MAL; I don't remember ordering any parts...; He signs some forms.; AMNON; The little one's for Cobb.; Jayne hurried puts the ammo on the counter and takes the small package.; JAYNE; I got post?; BOOK; Might we all want to step a few; paces back before he opens that?; JAYNE; Haw haw. It's from my mother.; During this, Inara sees Kaylee arrive, looking glum.; INARA; (to Kaylee); So, do aliens live among us?; KAYLEE; Yeah. One of them's a doctor.; Jayne tears open his package and pulls out a letter.; Zoe and Wash wander up with Simon trailing behind as Jayne reads, with the classic toneless hesitation of a slow reader:; JAYNE; "My dear boy. I hope you are well; and that you get this soon in your; travels." Travels.; Inara puts her arm around Kaylee, Kaylee putting her head on Inara's shoulder.; AS JAYNE CONTINUES: Mal motions for Zoe to help him.; MAL; Did you order any equipment?; ZOE; No sir.; JAYNE; "Thank you for the credits you; forwarded, they have helped as Matty; is still sick with the Damp-lung. I made you the; enclosed" --; As Zoe and Mal inspect the grate, Jayne digs in the box --; JAYNE (cont'd); Ooh! Enclosed!; He reaches in and pulls out a woolly knitted hat with earflaps and a pom pom. He is clearly moved. He puts it on, continues reading.; JAYNE (cont'd); -- "enclosed to keep you warm in; your travels. Hope to hear from you; soon, love, your mother."; He closes the letter, proudly adjusting his hat.; JAYNE (cont'd); How's it sit? Pretty cunning,; don'tchya think?; It's faintly ridiculous, but are you gonna tell him that? Anyway, Kaylee likes it, wistful as she is.; KAYLEE; I think it's the sweetest hat ever.; WASH; Man walks down the street in that; hat, people know he's not afraid of; anything.; JAYNE; Damn straight.; Mal and Zoe are just finishing unlocking the crate, trying to pry it open.; MAL; Well, let's hope we get; some funny hats, too.; As he's saying it, they pry the lid off, and we see a coffin. Then they open the coffin, and we see the corpse of a young man lying, arms folded, inside.; Mal and Zoe look at him with somber recognition. Everyone goes very quiet, looking inside.; The last to bother is Jayne, who cranes his head into frame, hat still perched proudly, looking quizzically at the body.; JAYNE; What'd you all order a dead guy for?; As Mal and Zoe look at each other:; END OF TEASER
: Act One; On the screen, we read:; BATTLE OF DU-KHANG; SEVEN YEARS EARLIER; INT. /EXT. BUDDIST TEMPLE - NIGHT; A firefight is going full blazes outside. Soldiers battle fiercely.; Just inside the temple we see TRACEY, who is a green but gutsy private. Right now he's sweaty and tense. He looks out over the remains of a wall slowly, looking for enemies.; Light from the occasional explosion or far away burst of gunfire gives us a better view of the place -- it's being held by about six Independents, all looking out in different directions.; Tracey sees nothing. He takes a moment and lays down his weapon. Reaches into his bag and pulls out a can of beans. As he does, mumbling to himself about beans, we see an Alliance Soldier creeping towards him from the other side of the wall. Tracey doesn't see --; -- Till the guy's foot hits a rock -- Tracey moves, scrambling for his rifle -- too late as the Alliance Soldier raises his --; CLOSE ON: The Alliance Solder -- as Zoe calmly appears behind him and draws a knife across his throat.; Angle on: Tracey -- as a few blood splatters hit his face.; Zoe drops the soldier and enters, taking the extra rifle.; TRACEY; Thanks. I didn't know you were out there.; ZOE; (stone cold); Sort of the point. Stealth,; you may have heard of it.; TRACEY; I don't think they covered that in; basic.; ZOE; Well, at least they covered 'Dropping; your weapon so you can eat beans and; get yourself shot'.; TRACEY; Yeah, I got a badge in that.; (off her look); Won't happen again.; ZOE; It does, I'm just gonna watch.; TRACEY; Anything interesting out there, you; don't mind my asking?; ZOE; (indicating); 'Bout 30 troops behind those; buildings. Mortars, no rollers; yet. I expect they plan to pick at; us a spell before they charge. They; had two scouts sniffin, but I took 'em down.; TRACEY; (impressed); Why, I didn't hear a single thing.; ZOE; First rule of battle, little one.; Don't ever let them know where you are.; Mal runs in, screaming and firing behind him, and dives over a wall for cover, lands nearby, bullets zinging over his head.; MAL; I'm right here! I'm right here! Come on!; Mal continues to taunt the enemy.; ZOE; 'Course, there are other schools of; thought...; Mal scrambles over to them, laughing.; MAL; Ha! That was bracing. They don't; like it when you shoot at them. I; worked that out myself.; ZOE; Did you find Vitelli?; MAL; Vitelli's out of it. That bumblebee; laid down arms at the first sign of; inevitable crushing defeat. Can you; imagine such a cowardly creature?; TRACEY; Southwest corridor's open, huh?; MAL; Tracey. Ain't you dead yet?; TRACEY; (looking sheepishly; at Zoe); Through no fault of my own.; MAL; (disappointed); I really wanted your beans.; ZOE; They're gonna come right through; here. They got rollers?; MAL; Oh, they got every damn thing. How's the; lieutenant?; TRACEY; He started screaming. All of a; sudden, about his arms, where's his; arms, we hadda go back and find 'em.; ZOE; What the hell happened?; TRACEY; He ain't even hurt! Got ten pretty; fingers on his hands like the most of men, but; he's screaming like they're gone, crying.; He ain't said a word in two; hours.; MAL; (mournful anger); These kids...; ZOE; Sir. Do we hold?; TRACEY; (breaking a bit); I don't want to die here. Forgive me; saying, this rock ain't worth it.; Not our lives.; MAL; Everybody dies, Tracey. Someone's; carrying a bullet for you right now,; doesn't even know it.; (smiles); The trick is, die of old age before; it finds you.; ZOE; We can still cut through to the 22nd; at the school system. Make a decent; stand there.; MAL; Well, we can't do any good here. I; sure as hell ain't going to lay down arms.; Zoe, you heard the Lieutenant give; the order to join up with the 22nd?; ZOE; I did.; MAL; Round 'em up, then.; (to Tracey); And you also heard the lieutenant, too.; TRACEY; Hey, I ain't gonna rat you out, Sarge, hell; I --; MAL; Ain't me I'm worried on. Lieutenant ever gets; his mind back together, this shouldn't; go on his record. Ain't his; fault he couldn't take it.; TRACEY; More than he'd probably do --; Mal raises a hand, intense, for quiet. Tracey doesn't get it, doesn't hear the growing whine of --; ZOE; SEEKER!; Things happen very quickly. Zoe dives for cover as Mal pulls a flare from his belt that activates the moment he touches it, hurls it above his head --; -- and a tiny missile zooms at the group, suddenly turning up, hitting the flair 30 feet up --; The explosion lights up the air, Mal also diving over Tracey as shrapnel rains down --; TRACEY; AAGH!; Mal is hit in the back and arm. He rolls off Tracey, who's taken it in the leg pretty badly.; TRACEY (cont'd); Is it bad? Is it bad?; MAL; (ignoring his own; wounds); It's glorious.; (calls out); Come on! We gotta move!; TRACEY; I can't...; Explosions and gunfire continue.; MAL; You got to run!; (to Zoe); Zoe! Get the Lieutenant!; TRACEY; (in pain); Sarge, really...; MAL; You know the old saying...; He hoists Tracey over his shoulder and runs just as a tank bursts through the wall --; SMASH CUT TO:; INT. BAZAAR - CONTINUING (PRESENT DAY); Close up of that same Tracey, all stiff and dead and blue.; After a moment, Mal slides the lid back over him.; MAL; Why, it don't make any kind of sense.; Zoe?; ZOE; I got nothing. But it's definitely; Tracey.; WASH; You know this guy?; INARA; Is this a warning of some kind?; AMNON; (quietly); Listen, Mal, you gotta get this thing; out of my station.; (Mal starts to object); No, no, no, no. Human transport on a postal route is; very very illegal. If anyone even; knows I took a corpse in, I'll lose; my franchise.; MAL; Well who sent it?; AMNON; I don't know. There's no return.; ZOE; How long has it been here?; AMNON; Near a week, that's why I waved you.; This can't stay here.; JAYNE; He don't smell.; MAL; I know. Ben decently preserved.; (to Zoe); Give me a hand.; JAYNE; We're taking him on board?; MAL; We are.; JAYNE; Don't know if I see the percentage in that.; MAL; Well, don't strain your brain trying.; Might break something.; Mal and Zoe haul the box up, start walking. Book moves to help --; ZOE; (stony); We got it.; They cart him off, the others folding in behind, quietlike. Simon approaches, oblivious, hoping to win Kaylee into a conversation.; SIMON; What's going on? Did we get; something fun?; A glare for Simon. River passes him, ice cream swinging --; RIVER; You are such a boob.; INT. CARGO BAY - A BIT LATER; The box is open again. Everyone is about.; JAYNE; How do we know he ain't plague-ridden; or some such?; ZOE; We know.; WASH; We don't, actually. I mean, I; respect you guys have a history,; but... What are you doing?; Zoe is reaching in, pulling something from the corpses folded hands.; SIMON; (to Mal); If you want me to do a proper; autopsy --; KAYLEE; Cut him up?; MAL; Not just yet, thank you doctor.; KAYLEE; (muttering); Robot.; Zoe produces a FUTURISTIC DEVICE! That is a tape recorder -- of the FUTURE!; MAL; What do you got?; She turns it on. The voice stops them all. It is hesitant at first, and weak, as though the talker were straining for breath, But soon settles into a rhythm...; TRACEY (V.O.); Uh. Okay. Um, recording... Hi, I; guess. This is a; message for Zoe, and for Malcolm; Reynolds, and I really hope you all; are the ones listening to it.; We move over everyone as they listen, soberly.; TRACEY; I'll spare you the boring details,; falling in with untrustworthy folk,; making a bunch of bad calls... All; that matters is I expect to be; shuffled off, and you two are the; only people I trust to get me where; I'm going. Which is home. I'd like; my body to be with my folks on St.; Albans. We got the family plot; there, and my Mom and dad, well, they deserve to; know I died. You know, it's; funny. We went to the war never looking; to come back, but it's the real world; I couldn't survive. You two carried; me through that war. Now I need you; to carry me just a little bit; further. If you can. Tell my folks I wanted to do; right by them and; that I'm at peace and all. Ah. When you; can't run anymore, you crawl, and; when you can't do that... well, yeah, you; know the rest. Thanks, both of you.; Oh. Yeah. And, uh... Make sure my eyes is; closed, will you?; A moment, and the tape ends. Everyone is quiet.; Wash rises, heads to the stairs --; MAL; Wash?; Wash turns back.; WASH; St. Albans ain't but a two day ride, we burn hard; enough.; A moment, and Mal nods. Wash continues up and Mal turns to replace the lid again, says to Inara:; MAL; That might make your schedule a; little --; INARA; It's all right.; He nods again, not much with the verbal thank you's right at this moment. He and Zoe lift the top together --; ANGLE: FROM INSIDE THE BOX as they cover it.; EXT. SPACE BAZAAR - MOMENTS LATER; Silent but for music, we see Serenity gently lifting off. It passes another ship -- a slightly larger, ALLIANCE SHORT RANGE ENFORCEMENT VESSEL. It's basically an oversized, beat up squad car. As it lands right near where Serenity took off, the music changes to indicate this might be not wonderful.; INT. BAZAAR - MOMENTS LATER; We TRACK BEHIND three men as they stride through the Bazaar. If they're cops, they're detectives, since they have no uniforms to speak of. The man in the middle is called WOMACK. He's been around the block, and likely beaten up everybody on it. The other two, FENDRIS and SKUNK, aren't much different, but they clearly defer to Womack.; They make their way through the place with purposeful indifference. Pass the barker:; BARKER; That's right, gentlemen, you have been; told tales all your life, but Alien; races exist among us, the proof is; right inside, you'll be amazed and; astounded...; Womack and his men enter the postal center,.; Amnon is going through papers, behind his counter. He arranges them carefully --; Womack holds up his badge.; Amnon looks up to see Womack standing right in front of him. Amnon hesitates, and before anything can happen Skunk is already going in his back room to search. Fendris is behind Womack, checking his rather large pistol and watching out for pain-in-the-ass innocent bystanders.; AMNON; Can I help you...?; WOMACK; You are an ugly looking little quim,; you know that?; AMNON; Look, there's a problem, you know, I can --; WOMACK; (wanders about the room, snooping,; circling like a shark around its prey); So you might to be asking yourself,; ugly as you are, how repulsive; looking the guy that's going to make you his; little woman is gonna be. Hmm? I mean,; prison is a lonely place, and you; sure as a hundred moons ain't gonna; be pitching. So what kind of sorry; ass troll is gonna get blue enough to; grapple with you? Shudder to think.; AMNON; I've broken no law.; WOMACK; Transportation of human cargo --; especially dead cargo --; (thumps Amnon on the forehead); through the; Allied postal system is punishable by; five to ten years on a penal moon.; Plus, you don't know this yet, but; you resisted arrest.; (off Amnon's terror); Where's my body?; AMNON; I, I... I don't know. I, I...; WOMACK; The dead guy. He got shipped here.; Skunk comes out, shakes his head no.; WOMACK (cont'd); And shipped back out, I guess. Where?; AMNON; I never saw a body.; (Womack starts to turn ahead); But, but wait, there was a, there was a,; there was a crate big enough for one, I mean, I mean, I did hand; that over just a little while ago.; WOMACK; Lovely. Who got it?; Amnon hands over the register, points to a name.; WOMACK (cont'd); Malcolm Reynolds. Where do; you suppose he's off to?; AMNON; He, he captain's a firefly,; you-you should be able to capture him if; you leave now.; WOMACK; Are you telling me to leave?; AMNON; Well, no, no, I didn't, I...; WOMACK; Relax, you've been great. And I was just; bluffing with that stuff about; arresting you, I mean, who needs that kind of; paperwork? Skunk. Light him on fire.; AMNON; No! I-I-I-I.; Skunk sprays Amnon with lighter fluid he keeps in a cool container in his jacket.; AMNON; I, I told you. I told you what I know!; What? What? I --; With swift graceful motion, Skunk holds up a suddenly lit match. Amnon backs into a huddle in the corner, utterly terrified.; Womack stands next to skunk, over the cowering postman.; WOMACK (cont'd); Tell anyone we were here, warn; (looks at the register); "Captain Reynolds" that we're coming, and; you'll wish that we'd burned you.; < understand? > [Dong ma?]; Amnon nods frantically.; WOMACK (cont'd); Boys... let's go find us a corpse.; He blows out Skunk's match.; END OF ACT ONE
: Act Two; Serenity in space.; INT. ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT; Kaylee lies in her hammock, listening to the recording of Tracey's voice. She clearly has been doing this for a while, and has gotten awful misty about the lad.; TRACEY (V.O.); I really hope you all; are the ones listening to it.; I'll spare you the boring details,; falling in with untrustworthy folk,; making a bunch of bad calls... All; that matters is I expect to be; shuffled off, and you two are the; only people I trust to get me where; I'm going. Which is home. I'd like; my body to be with my folks on St.; Albans. We got the family plot; there, and my Mom and dad, well, they deserve to; know I died. You know, it's; funny. We went to the war never looking; to come back, but it's the real world; I couldn't survive.; INT. AFT HALL - CONTINUING; Simon comes up, looking for Kaylee. He stops outside the engine room door. Sees her, hears the recording...; Simon slowly slips away, realizing with regret he is unwanted.; INT. CARGO BAY - CONTINUING; Book stands at the head of the crate/coffin, bible in hand, head bowed. WIDEN to see that during his little silent service, Jayne is busily lifting weights. Jayne replaces the barbell in its holder, the metal noisily clattering. Book looks around.; JAYNE; Oh, sorry, Preacher. Am I makin' too; much noise?; BOOK; No, no, I was just.... saying a few; words. Don't know the boy's; denomination, but...; JAYNE; Oh, no. It's good. The Lord should oughta; look after the dead.; Over the following, Jayne pats himself down with a towel -- he's quite sweaty. Really been going at it.; JAYNE (cont'd); You wanna do a set? I'll spot you.; BOOK; Not so terribly in the mood.; JAYNE; Yeah. Most people is pretty quiet about now.; Me, I see a stiff -- one I didn't; have to kill myself -- I just get the urge to,; you know, do stuff. Work; out or run around, maybe get some trim if; there's a willin' woman about... not; that I get flush from corpses or; anything. I ain't crazy.; BOOK; Makes sense. Looking to feel alive,; I would venture.; JAYNE; For psychology, that don't sound half dumb.; My kind of life don't last long, Preacher.; So I expect I'm invested in making; good sport of it whilst I can.; He puts on his hat as he says it.; As they continue talking, we come around to see River in the background, crawling gracefully onto the coffin. She stretches, catlike, moving her head about in odd fashion, as though listening, then lies flat on her belly, arms out to her sides.; JAYNE (cont'd); You gonna read over me when I get taken; down, Shepherd?; BOOK; Oh, I suspect you'll be around long; after we're all --; JAYNE; (noticing River); (What the hell is she: in Chinese); (at River); -- what the hell are you doing?; BOOK; Oh. River, that might not be the; best place to...; RIVER; I'm very comfortable.; They consider pulling her off... hesitate...; BOOK; (to Jayne); I guess we do all have different; reactions to death.; CUT TO:; INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUING; Mal and Zoe are laughing their asses off. We widen to see Inara is with them, laughing as well. They've all had a few drinks, and continue to drink as they talk:; MAL; I thought I was gonna die.; INARA; How could he possibly have even...; MAL; Oh, the colonel was dead drunk. Three; hours pissing on about the enlisted; men, uh, they're scum, uh, they're not; fighters -- and, uh, and then he passed right out.; Boom.; ZOE; We couldn't even move him. So, uh, Tracey; just snipped it right off his face.; MAL; And you never seen a man more proud; of his mustache than Colonel Orbrin.; In all my life I will never love a; woman the way this officer loved that; lip ferret.; ZOE; Big walrussy thing, all waxed up...; INARA; Did he find out?; Another burst of laughter from Mal and Zoe.; MAL; Oh! The next morning, he wakes up,; it's gone, and he is furious, but he; can't just say, you know,; "someone stole my mustache." So he, uh,; calls together all the platoons --; ZOE; We thought he was gonna shoot us --; MAL; And, uh, oh, he's eyeballing all the men something; fierce, not a word, and he comes up to; Tracey... and Tracey's wearing the; gorram thing on his face.; ZOE; He had glued it on.; MAL; Staring the old man down, wearing his; own damn mustache. Huh. Uh. Oh god...; The laughter falters, Mal looking into his drink a moment. Inara looks at him sympathetically, tries to jump start the conversation again:; INARA; Well, the colonel must have said; SOME --; The SHIP ROCKS with force of an explosion. They all start out of their chairs.; ZOE; We hit?; MAL; That's too damn close --; And they are racing to the; INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUING; Where Wash is piloting intently.; WASH; They're behind us. Fired over the; port bow.; MAL; Warning shot?; WASH; They coulda hit us...; ZOE; Feds.; The screen comes to life, Womack's face on it.; WOMACK; This is Lieutenant Womack of Allied; Enforcement. You are in possession; of stolen goods and are ordered to; cut thrust and prepare for docking.; MAL; The Lassiter.; ZOE; That was quick.; INARA; Think Saffron tipped them off?; Mal hits the screen com:; MAL; This is captain Reynolds, I think; there's been a mistake.; WOMACK; There's been a lot of mistakes,; Captain. The latest of which is you; taking that crate.; He looks at the others. 'Crate?'; MAL; (to Womack); Um. We took in a lot of inventory today.; If something got mixed in, we'll be sure; hand it back, but I don't think we're; your men. Let me check through the; cargo -- is it marked at all?; WOMACK; I'd think twice about; playing games with me there, mister. I will blow; you to pieces.; MAL; Ah, you do that, your precious crate; gonna be in bitty shards.; Now I got deliveries to make,; officer, so you just lock onto my; trajectory, and I'll take a look here, see if there's; anything here matches your description.; He turns off the screen.; WASH; Police procedure has changed since I; was little.; MAL; He calls back, you keep him; occupied.; WASH; What do I do, shadow puppets?; BOOK; We'll take care of it.; ZOE; I don't get this. They're after; Tracey?; MAL; Or there's something else in that box.; INT. CARGO BAY - MOMENTS LATER; Tracey's body lies on the floor as Mal, Zoe and Jayne go through both the crate and the box, looking for something. The others including Simon, Inara and River (minus Wash and Book) look on.; MAL; Anything?; JAYNE; (smashing planks); Not unless this crate's made a'; magical wish-granting planks.; MAL; (to Zoe); Check his pockets.; KAYLEE; That ain't right...; MAL; Neither's being blowd up. There's; nothing about this sits right with me.; ZOE; Empty.; MAL; Well, they want this body for; something, and I'm guessing it ain't; a proper burial.; Looks around. No option. Looks to Simon:; MAL (cont'd); Well, doctor... I guess you are doing; an autopsy.; INT. INFIRMARY - LATER; Mal, Zoe and Jayne watch as Simon prepares to open up the now naked (but sheet covered) body.; ZOE; You really think there's something in; there.; MAL; Using corpses for smuggling is a time-; honored repulsive custom.; JAYNE; Maybe it's gold!; ZOE; And maybe he was a friend of ours,; and you need to show a little respect.; JAYNE; I got respect. I'm just; saying... gold...; SIMON; He's been opened before.; MAL; How's that?; SIMON; It's, uh... It's good work. The scar's nearly; invisible, but...; He traces his finger all the way down the chest.; MAL; Well, let's see what's in there.; He looks at Zoe, hating this. A tense moment. Simon takes his scalpel and starts cutting.; And Tracey SCREAMS.; END OF ACT TWO
: Act Three; INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY; Where we left off. Everyone backing away from the SCREAMING Lazarus. Tracey looks with horror to his bleeding chest, then to the man who holds the scalpel -- Simon. Simon sees the blood, makes an instinctive move to see to the wound. All Tracey sees is the knife. He gives a PRIMAL CRY as he lunges off the table at Simon. They struggle, knocking shit over. Mal and Zoe jump into the fray. Mal calling to Jayne:; MAL; Get a hold of him!; JAYNE; Spry for a dead fella!; Mal pins him to the floor, ends up sitting on top of him.; MAL; Settle down! SETTLE! That's enough!; TRACEY; He was cuttin' on me, Sarge!; MAL; I know it! I told him to!; TRACEY; You told him to! What for?!; MAL; You were dead!; TRACEY; (coming back to him); Hunh? Oh. Right. I know, I suppose I was.; (sees Zoe); Hey there, Zoe.; ZOE; Private.; MAL; You feeling a mite calmer now?; TRACEY; Yes, Sarge.; (then); Um. Sarge?; MAL; Yeah?; TRACEY; I think I'm nekked.; A beat. Mal's straddling a naked man.; Tracey rises. Looks a bit sheepish. Pulls the sheet up around his waist as he sits on the edge of the table. As Simon starts to tend to the wound:; TRACEY; Sorry for jumping on you the way I; did. I was a little confounded.; SIMON; Emerging from that state can be; disorienting. Was it byphodine?; (casually, to Jayne); Will you bring that pan, please.; Jayne, not knowing why, brings a bedpan over. Simon positions Jayne's hand with pan in front of Tracey without explanation, then moves to his med supplies.; SIMON (cont'd); (clarifying); The drug you took to make it appear; as though you were dead. Do you; remember what it was called?; TRACEY; Never did ask.; Guy who sold it to me said I'd be under; a week or so. He told me I; wouldn't dream. But I did. I dreamt; of my family.; Simon has moved back to his patient, reaches out, repositions the bedpan as Tracey suddenly HEAVES forward. Jayne reacts. Simon doesn't, was expecting it. Gives Tracey a shot:; SIMON; (to grossed-out Jayne); You can take that.; Simon goes about checking Tracey's vitals, hooking him up tothe scanners and reading the monitor in the b.g.; MAL; All right. You want to explain to me exactly; why you got yourself all; corpseified and mailed to me?; What're you running from?; TRACEY; Running to, not from. I just wanted to; get home is all. That's all I ever; wanted. 'cept there's them that take; exception to that. To me leaving...; while I was in possession of their; property...; MAL; What'd you boost, Tracey?; JAYNE; (eagerly); Was it gold?; MAL; More importantly, who'd you boost it from?; TRACEY; Well...; SIMON; Captain, I don't mean; to... We may have a medical; emergency here...; They all look at him; he's looking at the monitor.; SIMON (cont'd); This man appears to be in; cardiac arrest...; MAL; What? Tracey, you having a heart attack?; (to Simon); Don't look like he's having a heart attack...; TRACEY; (laughs); Don't pay any attention to your; machines, doc. They'll fib to ya.; Heart's just fine. Better'n fine.; Just runs a little hotter'n usual, that's all.; SIMON; (off, monitors); My god... it's not just the heart; muscle... it's everything...; TRACEY; All the movin' parts. That's what I; took, Mal. That's what they want; back.; MAL; Tracey -- you going to tell me what in; the < name of all that's sacred > [TYEN; shiao-duh] you're talking about?; TRACEY; (distracted); Sure, Sarge... sure...; Now the MONITOR really starts to go nuts, Tracey's heartbeating ever faster. The others look from the monitor to him, then follow his gaze to...; KAYLEE stands in the doorway, staring at the man come back to life. They hold the look between them.; INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA - (SHORT TIME) LATER; Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Simon, Kaylee and Tracey. Kaylee brings Tracey some water. They will have silent connection throughout the following.; TRACEY; Thank you.; She smiles at him, takes a seat.; MAL; So your innards... ain't your innards?; TRACEY; They got scooped out, replaced; every bit.; JAYNE; Why'd you wanna go and do that?; TRACEY; For the money. They're paying me to; transport what they stuck in.; ZOE; You're smuggling human organs?; TRACEY; They're grown in a lab.; The only way they can move them is in a; person. Not sure why.; SIMON; Because the technology's not ready.; The blastomeres are unapproved.; Likely unstable. You're not just a; carrier -- you're an incubator.; TRACEY; I was supposed; to be at the drop spot two weeks ago.; A clinic in Ariel. They were to open; me up, take out the goods and put my; own workings back.; MAL; So what happened?; TRACEY; Better offer. Another buyer was; willing to go three times the going; rate. It's enough so I could get my folks; off that rock they've been forced to; live on, set them up someplace better,; someplace warm.; KAYLEE; That's real nice.; MAL; But your '"better offer" went south...; TRACEY; Yeah, I got myself into a little bit of a pickle,; Sarge. The folks I was working; for musta got wind of what I had; planned. I, uh, showed up... my new; buyer was dead. And there were so