[Book, Kaylee and Jayne sit in the common area, spying on Inara and Mal, awaiting her latest client.]
BookDidn't Inara express a wish for privacy?
Oh… we've gotta see who she's got. I bet he's handsome. I think he's gonna bring her flowers.
[A man walks onto Serenity, that seems to be Inara's latest client.]
Well, he looks the respectable sort. Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Malcolm Rey—
[The man ignores Mal's outstretched hand and walks by him as Mal looks questioningly at his unshaken hand.]
BBodyguard
We're all clear here, councilor.
[The councilor, Inara's client, walks in and is revealed to be a woman. Mal stands by as they walk upstairs, mouth agape.]
[Jayne, Kaylee, and Book are clearly shocked, especially Jayne, who stares confoundedly at the two retreating women.]
Book
Ohh, my.
Oh, gosh, I-I knew she took female clients, I just, uh- [laughs] They look so glamorous together.
[Back on the ship, Inara, Jayne, Simon, Shepherd Book, and Kaylee are anxiously awaiting Zoe's return. The door opens, and Wash and Zoe walk through.]
Book
Thank God you're safe.
Oh my God, what happened?
Let me take a look— how bad is it?
I'm fine. [Wash and Zoe push through the crew blocking the hallway.]
Niska wouldn't let him go.
For now. [Zoe hands a bundle to Simon.] Take that to the infirmary— put it on ice.
[Simon unwraps the handkerchief, revealing Mal's ear. Inara and Kaylee gasp and turn away.]
[Shepherd mutters in Chinese. Zoe turns back to the crew.]
What are we gonna do, clone him?
Well it's a clean cut; with the right equipment I should be able to reattach it. [Simon looks up.] That's assuming there's a head.
. . .
[Book pulls out a rifle.]
Book
This should do.
Preacher, don't the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killin'?
Book
Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps.
. . .
[Everyone looks up at Jayne, who is suddenly on the balcony, fully armed.]
[cuts to image of Niska and henchman looking at Mal]
HHenchman
Yep, he's dead.
No, I wish I was lying, I just...You know, we'd all just made surgeon. That was it, we were the elite. The world was ours, you know?
Naked. Yes. And, uh, on top of the statue of Hippocrates. (they laugh) Can't you just picture me?
What, naked? Oh, well, hmm, mmm...Let's see, I'mma have to conjure up a...yeah, that's, that's gonna be difficult...(laughs and pokes him in the cheek with her foot) So did the feds come?
There were no feds. (grins) Until I started singing.
This is not funny. This, this is a morality tale about the evils of sake.
(they laugh, then turn and look at River)
SSimon (in River's head)
I would be there right now.
(back to reality, Simon and Kaylee are still laughing, having not really noticed River)
I really miss...It was, it was either that or the national anthem. I, reports vary...
You don't remember any of this?
I remember talking the feds out of telling my father. Or, or paying the feds out of telling my father. I get fuzzy on the aspect...
...
Book
Well, no.
Book
Some orders allow shepherds to marry, but I follow a narrower path.
But you still got the urge? They don't...cut it off or nothin'?
Book
No, I'm more or less intact. I just...direct my energy elsewhere.
You mean like masturbatin'?
Book
I hope you're not thinking of taking orders yourself?
Heheh, yeah, that's be the day.
JJayne (in River's head)
I got stupid, the money was too good.
BBook (in River's head)
I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not. So where does that put you?
(back to reality, Jayne and Book are laughing)
Saint Jayne, got a ring to it!
Book
I'm just trying to remember how many miracles you've performed.
I once hit a guy in the neck from five hundred yards with a bent scope, don't that count upstairs?
Book
Oh, it'll be taken into consideration.
You made that sound kinda ominous.
...
You know, the only thing you're gonna find in New Melborne is fish and fish-related activities, so unless you got the overwhelming urge to gut sturgeon--and who hasn't, occasionally--
But it's a layover point for almost every planet this side of the system. I could--I just don't want to draw this out.
Have you decided when you're gonna tell the others?
I...No. I appreciate your not saying anything.
Well, I don't. So make up your mind.
IInara (in River's head)
I'm a big girl, just tell me.
MMal (in River's head)
None of it means a damn thing.
...
[River bends down to look at a bent branch on the leaf-strewn cargo bay floor and picks it up]
It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think.
...
[River comes out of a vision to find herself holding a gun, which Mal takes from her.]
Fully loaded, safety off. This here is a recipe for unpleasantness. [to Simon] Does she understand that?
She understands. She doesn't comprehend.
Well, I'm glad we've made that distinction.
Girl knows things. Things she shouldn't. Things she couldn't.
What, are you— are you sayin' she's a witch?
[sarcastically] Yes, Jayne. She's a witch. She has had congress with the beast.
How did your brain even learn human speech? I'm just so curious.
. . .
Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction.
We live in a spaceship, dear.
. . .
Well… I don't like the idea of someone hearin' what I'm thinkin'.
No one likes the idea of hearing what you're thinking.
Book
The Alliance could have any number of uses for a psychic.
A psychic… or an assassin.
She's just a kid! And she just wants to be a... kid.
I wish it were that simple.
Yeah, and if wishes were horses, we'd all be eatin' steak.
Firefly · 283 quotes
