Mal Reynolds quotes from Firefly

You were truthful back in town. These are tough times. A man can get a job, he might not look too close at what that job is. But a man learns all the details of a situation like ours... well... then he has a choice.

Mal

I don't believe he does.

Mal

Now this is all the money Niska gave us in advance. You give it back to him, tell him the job didn't work out. We're not thieves... well, we are thieves, but the point is we're not taking what's his. We'll stay out of his way as best we can from here on in. You'll explain that's best for everyone, okay?

[Stands up] Keep the money. Use it to buy a funeral. It doesn't matter where you go, or how far you fly, I will hunt you down, and the last thing you see will be my blade.

Mal

Darn. [Kicks Crow into Serenity's engine intake]

Mal

Now this is all the money Niska gave us in advance—

Oh, I get it! I'm good. Best thing for everybody. [Desperate grin] I'm right there with you.

Mal

That poor bastard you took off my ship. He looked right into the face of it—was made to stare.

"It"?

Mal

That darkness. Kind of darkness you can't even imagine. Blacker than the space it moves through.

Very poetic.

Mal

They made him watch. He probably tried to turn away, and 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.

Jayne

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

Mal

He had to. Couldn't let us profit. Wouldn't be civilized.

Jayne

Tell you what I think. I figure that fellow we run into did everyone on board. Killed 'em all. Then he decided to take a swim, see how fast his blood would boil out his ears.

Wash

You're a very up person.

Mal

We'll check it out, see if there are any survivors. And if not, well, then, no one's gonna mind if we take a look around, see if there's not something of value they might've left behind.

Jayne

Yeah, no, uh, someone could be hurt!

Inara

I like watching the game. As with other situations, the key seems to be giving Jayne a heavy stick and standing back.

Inara

Mal!

Mal

Oh, terrible shame. 'Course, they won't discover it till they go order their next round of drinks.

Wei.

Mal

[out loud] Good drinker, that one.

Zoe

Planet's coming up a mite fast.

Wash

That's just 'cause— I'm going down too quick. Likely crash and kill us all.

Mal

Well, that happens, let me know.

Mal

It sounds like the finest party I can imagine getting paid to go to.

Inara

I don't suppose you'd find it up to [the] standards of your outings. More conversation, and somewhat less... petty theft and getting hit with pool cues.

Badger

You think you're better than other people!

Mal

Just the ones I'm better than.

Mal

Does, uh... does this seem kind of tight?

Kaylee

Shows off your backside. Did you see the chandelier? It's hovering.

Mal

What's the point of that, I wonder?

Kaylee

Oh, mangos!

Mal

I mean, I see how they did it. I just ain't getting why.

Kaylee

These girls have the most beautiful dresses. And so do I! How 'bout that? [grins]

Mal

Yeah, well just be careful. We cheated Badger out of good money to buy that frippery and you're supposed to make me look respectable.

Kaylee

Yes, sir, Cap'n Tightpants.

Mal

Okay, help me find our man. He's supposed to be older, kind of stocky, wears a red sash crossways.

Kaylee

[seeing a large bowl of strawberries being carried past her] [absently] Why does he do that?

Mal

Maybe he won first place in the Miss Persephone pageant; just help me look.

Kaylee

[entirely focused on the bowl] Is that him?

Mal

That's the buffet table.

Kaylee

Well, how can we be sure, u-unless we question it? [grins]

Mal

Fine. Don't make yourself sick.

I know him. And I think he's a psychotic low-life.

Mal

And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic low-life community.

Mal

And I never back down from a fight.

Inara

Yes, you do! You do all the time!

Mal

Well... yeah, but I'm not backing down from this one!

Inara

You don't need strength as much as speed. We're fragile creatures. It takes less than a pound of pressure to cut skin.

Mal

You know that? They teach you that in whore academy?

Inara

You have a strange sense of nobility, Captain. You'll lay a man out for implying I'm a whore, but you keep calling me one to my face.

Mal

I might not show respect to your job, but he didn't respect you. That's the difference. Inara, he doesn't even see you.

Inara

Well, I guess death will solve the issue to everyone's satisfaction.

Inara

You're always breaking the rules, no matter which society you're in! You don't get along with ordinary criminals either, which is why you're constantly getting in trouble!

Mal

You think following the rules will buy you a nice life, even if the rules make you a slave.