~ [ Woman Singing In Foreign Language ]
[ Hoofbeats Approaching ]
Nandi! Nandi!
Get inside.
Go.
- We ain't open for business. - Shut up, whore.
And you, we don't trade with at all, Rance Burgess.
You're no longer welcome in this establishment. You've been told that.
I've been told a great many things. I'm here for what's mine.
Ain't nothin' here belongs to you.
You don't get gone, we'll be well within our rights to drop you.
The only rights you got are the ones I give you.
- Find the girl! - She ain't here.
Girl left this moon more than a month ago. It was you chased her off.
[ Girl Screaming ]
Petaline!
It's a good thing you haven't left with my baby.
- This baby ain't yours. - So you keep saying.
- [ Gasps ] - If this D.N.A. is a match...
with mine, know...
I will be back for my baby.
- [ Whimpering ] - And if I have to...
I'll cut it outta ya.
[ Sobbing ]
Oh, don't worry.
Shh. All right, now. It'll all work out.
He'll do it too. He'll do what he says.
- No, he won't. We won't allow it. - How we gonna stop him, Nandi?
- We'll get help, that's how. - Help?
There's not a soul on this moon go up against Rance Burgess.
She's right. Ain't nobody strong enough.
And even if there was, who'd help us?
[ Cocks Gun ]
- [ Inara ] Hi. - [ Yells ]
- Sorry. Didn't mean to startle. - You didn't.
I was just, uh-- Bwahh.-- that's more like a--
It's a warrior-like-- Strikes fear into the hearts of--
You know, not altogether wise, sneakin' up on a fella when he's handling his weapon.
I'm sure I've heard that said. But perhaps the dining area...
- isn't the place for this sort of thing. - What do you mean?
- It's the only place with a table big enough. - Of course.
In that case...
every well-bred petty crook knows that the small concealable weapons...
- always go to the far left of the place setting. - [ Uncocks Gun ]
Got a distress call coming in. Some folks asking for help.
Really? Folks asking for help from us petty crooks.
- Well-- - Maybe I should take that right away.
Well, it's for her.
- Huh? - The call's for Inara.
- I'll take it in my shuttle. - All right. I'll send it back there to you.
This "distress" wouldn't happen to be taking place in someone's pants, would it?
- [ Cocks Gun ] - Bwahh.
~ Take my love, take my land ~
~ Take me where I cannot stand ~
~ I don't care, I'm still free ~
~ You can't take the sky from me ~
~ Take me out to the black ~
~ Tell them I ain't coming back ~
~ Burn the land and boil the sea ~
~ You can't take the sky from me ~
~ There's no place I can be ~
~ Since I've found serenity ~
~ But you can't take the sky from me ~
[ Nandi ] And I got word you were in the area.
I'm imposing, but I got no one else to ask.
It sounds like something this crew can handle.
I can't guarantee they'll handle it particularly well, but--
If they've got guns and brains at all--
They've got guns.
Payment won't be a problem. We just ain't equipped for this.
Nandi, it's gonna be all right.
The house will tell you not to come.
I know they ordered you to shun me when I left.
The house can-- [ Chinese ]
I would have waved you long ago. It's just--
It doesn't matter.
[ Chuckles ] Who'd have thought we'd both end up all the way out here?
- Who'd have thought? - Let me know what your people say?
- Of course. - I'll wait to hear from you.
- [ Speaking Chinese ] - And you.
[ Monitor Beeps ]
I suppose you heard most of that.
Only because I was eavesdropping.
- Your friend sounds like she's in a peck of trouble. - She is.
And there's no authority on that moon she can go to. They're totally alone.
Some men might take advantage of that.
One man.
And she's looking for someone to come along and explain things to him?
That's essentially it, yes.
A whole house full of Companions.
How are they fixed for payment?
They're not Companions. They're whores.
Thought you didn't much care for that word.
It applies. They're not registered with the guild. They're--
- Independent? - Yes.
If you agree to do this, you'll be compensated.
I'll see to it. I've put a little aside.
You can keep your money. I won't be needing no payment.
Mal, thank you.
I'll contact Nandi at once. But you will be paid.
I feel it's important that we keep ours strictly a business arrangement.
- I'll speak with the crew. - Good.
[ Zoe ] Those who have a mind are welcome to join.
Those who'd just as soon stay on the ship can do that too.
Hmm, don't much see the benefit in gettin' involved...
in strangers' troubles without a up-front price negotiated.
These people need assistance. The benefit wouldn't necessarily be for you.
- That's what I'm saying. - No one's gonna force you to go, Jayne.
As has been stated, this job is strictly speculative.
Good. Don't know these folks. Don't much care to.
- They're whores. - I'm in.
Wash, plot a course.
- [Jayne ] That's the whorehouse? - Yes.
How come it looks like a frozen dinner pack?
[ Kaylee ] Solar sheeting. Cheap power.
Hope the whores are prettier than the house.
- Nandi, darling. - It's so good to see you, mei-mei.
- You look wonderful. - And you look exactly the same as the day I left.
- How do you do that out here? - Sheer force of will.
- Nandi, this is Malcolm Reynolds. - I appreciate your coming.
Well, any friend of Inara's is a strictly businesslike relationship of mine.
This is my first mate, Zoe. I'll introduce you to the rest later.
- They're good folk. - Can I start getting sexed already?
- Well, that one's kind of horrific. -[ Inara ] Can we talk business?
In here. The rest of you, there's food and some liquor at the sideboard.
Make yourselves at home.
Look. They got boy whores. Isn't that thoughtful?
I wonder if they service girl folk at all?
- Let's not ask. - Isn't there a pregnant woman I'm to examine?
[ Wash ] You'd really lie with someone being paid for it?
Well, it's not like anyone else is linin' up to...
- you know, examine me. - [Jayne ] Whoo.
My John Thomas is about to pop off and fly around the room, there's so much tasty in here.
Would be you'd get your most poetical about your pecker.
- You'd be the doctor? - Yes. This is Petaline.
- Yes, sir. - She's feeling a might weak right now.
All right. Well, let's get you lyin' down.
- Now that's a plan. Ooh! - Shepherd?
No, thank you.
We were hoping we might have a prayer meeting.
We ain't had one in months, except what Emma here reads out on Sundays.
The last shepherd to come by was springtime...
and he only read the one passage.
And he took it out in trade off both of us.
Everyone's got somebody.
Wash, tell me I'm pretty.
Were I unwed, I would take you in a manly fashion.
- 'Cause I'm pretty? - 'Cause you're pretty.
I take it reason doesn't enter into this?
Not with Rance Burgess. The man is a taker.
- You think the kid is his? - I think it's Petaline's.
- But the blood test? - Well, he did favor Petaline pretty exclusively.
But she had others. Fifty-fifty, not that it matters.
The man ain't fit to raise a cactus plant. His barren prairie shrew can't bear him an heir...
so he takes it into his head to pull it outta us.
- That's not gonna happen. - I see that's the case.
And you see the way we live here. Go into town, it's the same.
Some places come up rustic 'cause they ain't got more than the basics.
Rance Burgess has money enough to build a city, a real community.
Keeps people living like this so he can play cowboy.
Be the one with the best toys. Turn this moon into a gorram theme park.
Someone stands up to him-- He means to burn me out.
Yeah, sounds like a fun guy. I'd like to meet him.
- This won't be solved with talk. - Well, I'm gonna fight a man, it helps to size him up.
Well, he'll be at the theater tonight. That's a certainty.
And so will I. Inara, think you can stoop to bein' on my arm?
Will you wash it first?
[ Speaking Chinese ]
So, I told the boy, you take a clean woman's virtue, you take the woman.
And that's for life. And the boy said his vows right then.
- Took very little persuading on my part. - [ All Laughing ]
[ Exaggerated Laughing ]
Oh, it's nice to know there's some places left...
in the 'verse where old-fashioned values still mean a thing.
- Isn't that right, dear? - Hmm.
- I don't think I know you. - Name's Malcolm. Malcolm Reynolds.
And might I just say, she is quite a beauty.
Well, thank you. Ever had occasion to handle one of these, Mr. Reynolds?
Silk trigger, active return bolt laser.
Well, it's lighter than it looks. Thought it would have more heft to it.
Oh, no, don't let that fool you. Won't find technology like that short of Alliance.
And even their issues don't yet have the auto-target adjust.
I had that crafted special.
Didn't think weapons such as this were generally legal.
For private owner, I mean.
My husband makes a distinction between legality and morality, Mr. Reynolds.
- I've said that myself. - Bending one unjust law is a small thing...
when it comes to protecting one's family.
I think I understand you.
And as you say, she is a beauty.
She sure is. Of course, I was referring to the lady. Ma'am.
[ Beeping ]
Yes.
- Well? - Well what?
You said you wanted to look him in the eye. You've done that.
- So, what's the plan? - The plan is we get back to Serenity...
and we get off this rock just as fast as we can.
And there can be no mistake. Good.
- Rance? - The D.N.A. matches.
The child is mine.
We run. Math just don't add up.
Our weapons stores aren't exactly overpowering at the moment...
and I don't much like what we'd be up against.
Nothing worse than a monster who thinks he's right with God.
Might turn Burgess away once, but he'll keep comin'.
He won't stop till he gets what he thinks is his.
- So we run. - I understand, Captain Reynolds.
You have your people to think of,same as me. And this ain't your fight.
I don't believe you do understand, Nandi.
I said we run. We. My people, your people...
and whatever bits of precious you got in this house you can't bear to part with.
We load up Serenity, and we leave Burgess in the dust.
Capt. Reynolds, it took me years to cut this piece of territory out of other men's hands...
- to build this business up from nothing. - Nandi.
It's who I am, and it's my home. I'm not going anywhere.
He'll kill you. Kill every last one of them if it comes to that.
- And he'll sleep well that night. - Rance Burgess is just a man...
and I won't let any man take what's mine.
I doubt you'd do different in my position.
Well, lady, I must say...
you're my kind of stupid.
Oh, hell, he ain't expectin' much of a fight.
Might be we catch him with his drawers low.
He'll probably ride in by daylight.
But I figure three-point watch, say, four-hour shift...
just to be on the safe side.
Three point, four hour... should do it.
- I'm fair handy with a hammer, Captain. - That so, Shepherd?
Been following the footsteps of a carpenter for some time now.
I think I can do something about our fortifications.
Okay, then. We start shootin'...
he'll most like try to burn us out, save their sweat and bullets.
- Nandi, what's the water supply like here? - Underground well.
Pump that draws it up is antiquated, but it don't break down.
Kaylee, think you can swing an upgrade for their waterworks?
I'll talk to Serenity, see what she's got we might use.
- Good. We might wanna scrounge up-- - It's starting.
- And that it is, but time is on the enemy's side-- - Dr. Tan?
Oh, it's starting. Okay, okay, it's starting.
All right, yeah. Everybody, relax. Be calm.
Nobody panic. Everything's gonna be okay. Be all right.
- I got this one, Captain. - Thanks. Okay. Okay, then.
- [ Claps Hands ] - Let's get to work, people.
[ Screaming ]
The girls and I have been talking, Shepherd.
We've been discussing what we'd like said over us if we should happen to fall.
No. I only bury the dead, child.
No one here's gonna die.
There's people gonna die.
And with people dyin', comes guts and screamin'.
That can bring on all sorts of screwed-up behavior if a person ain't used to it.
When the time comes, most important thing, keep your wits about you.
Clear?
All right. Now, these are my favorites.
You're to keep them comin' till there ain't no more to be had.
I shoot, I run out, you hand me the next biggest one and so on.
- Is there an understanding here? - Yes.
All righty, then. Let's get to work.
All I'm saying is that we're living pretty deep in the rough and tumble...
and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
- Nor do I. - Well, I'm not sure now is the best time...
to bring a tiny little helpless person into our lives.
That excuse is getting a little worn, honey.
It's not an excuse, dear. It's subjective assessment.
I can't help that it stays relevant.
I don't give a good go-around about relevant, Wash, or objective.
And I ain't so afraid of losing something that I ain't gonna try to have it.
You and I would make one beautiful baby.
And I wanna meet that child one day. Period.
- [ Gunshot ] - [Jayne ] Nothin'. Y'all are pullin'...
not squeezin' like I said.
Next one don't hit that board is givin'up a special treat. Dong ma?
That man's gonna use up all our credit before we've earned it.
Well, after you've saved our lives, you can do some chores maybe.
- I'm a fair hand with a mop. - So your legend tells.
Truth is, I expected a whole lot more of you to be taking payment in our trade.
Well, we're not a conglomeration.
Got a preacher, a married fella, and the doctor--
Well, he'd have to relax for 30 seconds to get his play.
That'd be more or less a miracle.
These are fetchin' little pieces. Any of them work?
Oh, don't got many rounds for the chaplain there, but the rest will be of use.
This is my favorite.
What's its history?
Violence and crime, sad to say. What about you?
Similar.
No, I mean when are you planning to avail yourself of some of our trade?
My girls is clean and kind-spirited.
Well, I got the-- the job on my mind.
After, I'm sure I'll trade.
They're a fine bunch.
You ain't looked at one of them as long or lovin' as you looked at those pistols.
You're not sly, are you? 'Cause I got my boys.
Sly? No. I lean toward womenfolk.
Just... one thing at a time.
- Never liked complications. - Oh, I'm certain of that.
Somethin' to be smilin' at?
I trained as a Companion, remember? I read people pretty well.
Well, that's nice for you.
She's a hell of a woman, ain't she? Inara.
Yeah, she's a cherry blossom. No denyin'.
I expect you know her better than I do. Comin' up together and all.
Imagine I do. She ever tell you why she left Sihnon?
- Never asked. - Yes, you did.
I don't know my own self.
I was gone long before.
And I'll tell you, it was a shock, her leaving.
She was special.
There's 40 women in House Madrassa, and you'd pick her out in a second.
Could have been house priestess few years time.
- Is that right? - Had her eyes on it too.
Very focused.
She's like you more than a little.
And how exactly is that?
She hates complications.
They do crop up though, don't they?
Such is life.
[ Exhales, Screams ] No!
You're not completely dilated. This should be pretty quick, but don't try to force it.
- The contractions are still preliminary. - What's he saying?
- It's gonna be a little while, sweetie. - Oh, but it hurts!
This child wants to be born. I know it.
Can you get the green vial from my bag?
We can dull the pain some.
How many babies have you actually delivered?
As the primary? This would be the first.
- You? - My first too.
- Mine too. - [ Petaline Groaning ]
- [ Groans ] - It's gonna be a long night.
- You'll do great, Doctor. - [ Groaning ]
Who do you think is in there?
It was the dulcimer.
The dulcimer drove you out of Sihnon?
What, did you kill a dulcimer in a terrible passion?
Actually, yes.
And now that dulcimer's family is out to get even.
- I get it. - [ Chuckles ]
I was at practice. You never stop practicing. You know, not a true Companion.
Some baroque piece and the instructor keeps saying...
"You're playing it, not feeling it."
And the fifth time he said it, I took the damn thing and smashed it into kindling.
- [ Laughs ] - And that's when it occurred to me...
that a Companion's life might just be a little too constricting.
So, I trucked out to the border, learned to say "ain't,"
came to find work.
Found this place.
- It's a nice place. - It was a dung heap...
run by a pig who had half the girls strung out on drops.
There's no guild out here. They let the men run the houses...
and they don't ask for references.
We didn't get along.
And where's he at now?
Let's just say he ain't playing the dulcimer anymore, either.
- [ Mal Chuckles ] - [ Glasses Clink ]
Oh.
You are a remarkable woman...
you don't mind my saying.
Well, as long as it's you saying it and not my fine rice wine.
Oh, it takes more than a few drinks to render my judgment blurry.
What about you? Am I gettin' any prettier?
By the minute.
I should check the barricades. Make sure everyone's ready for--
Everyone's asleep.
Well, them as can... night before a fight.
- Can you? - What?
Sleep.
Um, Miss Nandi, I have a confession to make.
Maybe I should get the shepherd.
Well, I ain't sinned yet.
I'd feel a little more than awkward if he were here when I did.
You expect to accomplish something sinful then, do you?
If I'm overstepping my bounds, you let me know.
[ Speaking Chinese ]
Malcolm, I've been waiting for you to kiss me since I showed you my guns.
You okay with this?
I'm just waiting to see if I pass out.
Long story.
- I want you to bed me. - I guess I mean to.
I ain't her.
Only people in this room are you and me.
So, my child...
how long has it been since your last confession?
- Longer than I care to say. - You gonna remember where everything goes?
Let's just say I plan to take it real slow.
So, the whore's got herself a champion, has she?
This great man got a name?
Reynolds. Malcolm Reynolds.
Mm, yes. I've met the man. How many has he got with him?
Just a few. And only two real fighters besides hisself.
But they got the girls stirrin'for a battle.
Oh. I certainly wasn't expecting a battle.
[ Chuckles ] Seems the Heart of Gold's got itself a few mercenaries.
- [ Men Laugh ] - Guess we best call the whole thing off.
[ Chuckles ]
Earned yourself quite a bag of silver, little kitten.
But I got a few more chores in mind before you get it.
I'm ready.
Now, Chari here...
she understands a whore's place, don't she?
But Nandi and those others, they spit on our town.
They've no respect for the sanctity of fatherhood...
or decency or family.
They have my child held hostage to their decadent ways...
and that I will not abide.
We will show them what power is.
We will show them what their position in this town is!
- [ Men Agreeing ] - Let us all remember...
right here and now what a woman is to a man.
[ Men Agreeing ]
Get on your knees.
[ Men Cheering, Whooping ]
- Um-- - Well--
I-I just had to tell Nandi about...
um, about time to--
- Big fight today. - Mal, please.
No, I-- No, I-- Well, I-- Uh, you know, I was up. I got I think insomnia.
So you took to bed with Nandi. I'm glad.
- Glad? - Yes.
She's a dear friend and probably in need of some comfort about now.
- Well, uh-- - One of the virtues...
of not being puritanical about sex is not feeling embarrassed afterwards.
You should look into it.
Well, I just didn't want you thinkin'...
that I was taking advantage of your friend.
She's well worth taking advantage of. I sincerely hope you did.
So, you're okay.
Well, yeah, why-- why wouldn't you be?
I wouldn't say I'm entirely okay.
I'm a little appalled at her taste.
[Jayne Sighs ]
[ Sobbing ]
[ Mal On Radio ] Wash,you there yet?
All but. Nice day for a last stand, isn't it?
Nope. Plan to make a healthy few stands after this one.
Just hoping for some air support from your quarter, is all.
Couple of low flyovers, engines tipped earthward at full blast.
Should give our guests somethin' other than killin' you to think about.
[ Mal On Radio ] What I like to hear. Out.
Malcolm seem a little funny to you at breakfast this morning?
Come on, Kaylee. We all know I'm the funny one.
You ladies and gentlemen all locked and loaded?
- Locked and loaded. Got it. - Yes, sir.
Good. Remember shoot the man, not the horse.
A dead horse is cover. A live horse, great pile of panic.
[Jayne On Radio ] Oh, now, girl, that is just plain dirty.
Jayne, you are aware your radio's transmittin'?
'Cause I don't feel particularly girlish or dirty at the moment.
Oh. Ah, yeah, just up here waiting, Captain.
Ready 100%.
[ Mal On Radio ] Better be.
[ Screams ]
You're stronger than this thing, honey. I can feel it in your grip.
Petaline, look at me. This is just a moment in time.
- Step aside and let it happen. - Mm-hmm.
- [ Groans ] - How is she, Doctor?
She's at 10 centimeters. Not long now.
[ Groaning ]
Inara, I thought it was just him that--
Nandi, believe me, I'll be fine.
[ Petaline Groaning ]
[ Petaline Groans ]
[ Cocks Gun ]
Mornin'. How you doin'?
A mite tense.
I'd like you on the balcony with me. You can see everyone there.
- If anything goes-- - You didn't give me the whole truth.
- About what? - About her feelings for you.
- I really don't know what-- - [Jayne On Radio ] Mal, looks like we got imminent violence.
Zoe, Jayne, you seein' this?
[Jayne On Radio ] Gotta be 30 men out there.
[ Zoe On Radio ] Confirm that, plus a mounted gun on that hovercraft.
[Jayne On Radio ] What's that you said about runnin' for it?
Okay, folks, we got no shortage of ugly ridin' in on us...
but that don't change the plan.
Anybody here goes down, you drag 'em to the back and get back to shootin'.
Only way to help them is to finish this.
[ Mal On Radio ] Wash, gonna be trading injuries in under two minutes.
I'd like my sky a little less empty.
- Copy that, Mal. We-- We-- - [ Gunshots ]
Open her up, Kozick!
- Cover! - [ Gunfire ]
Jayne, I do believe that's our first hurdle. Think you might--
[ Yells ]
- I think I might, Captain. - Fire!
[ Horse Whinnying ]
[ Speaking Chinese ]
Go!
[ Mal On Radio ] Wash, where the hell is my spaceship?
[ Horse Whinnies ]
Ruttin' lasers? Book! Zoe! Second hurdle.
- [ Groans ] - That's it, Petaline. One more push.
- [ Louder Groan ] - That's the shoulders.
- [ Groans ] - Good!
-[ Man ] Git. Git. -[ Man Groaning ]
Jayne, I lost visual on Burgess.
[Jayne On Radio ] Same here.
Take to right.
- Whoo-hoo! - Hey. Hey. Get 'im.
Let's go. Come on, let's get 'im.
- [ Laughs ] - [ Man ] God!
Try the other side!
- Come on. Open up. - Got you!
- You-- [ Chinese ] - Open this door!
Nobody's going...
anywhere.
- It's-- - A boy. Healthy.
Good morning, Petaline. How's my boy?
[ Crying ]
[ Petaline Screams ] No.
Rance, most of your men are either dead, dying or run off.
Oh, well, that don't matter none. I got what I came here for.
Ain't leavin' here with it.
- This is my blood, woman. - No, this is your blood.
Now,you hand that child over nice and slow...
or I'll spill more than you can spare.
[ Punch Lands ]
Hyah!
[ Gun Beeping ]
- You're gonna pay for what you took. - She was just a whore.
Petaline, you bring my baby out right now!
You hear me? I wanna see my son.
Rance, this is Jonah.
- [Jonah Fussing ] - Jonah, say hi to your daddy.
Say good-bye to your daddy,Jonah.
Go on. Go on home!
You go with them.
[ Woman ] ~ Amazing grace ~
~ How sweet the sound ~
~ That saved ~
~ A wretch ~
~ Like me ~
~ I once was lost ~
~ But now am found ~
~ Was blind ~
~ But now I see ~
I think those girls will do all right.
She taught them well.
Yeah.
I'm-- [ Clears Throat ]
I'm glad you were with her, her last night.
- I am. - Yeah, well, I ain't.
Hell, wish I never met her...
then I wouldn't have failed her.
That wasn't the way of it.
That's a kindness.
But nothing you say will convince me different.
Well, I'm still glad.
So, you weren't before?
Inara.
I ain't lookin' for anything from you.
I'm just, uh...
just feelin' kinda... "truthsome" right now.
And, uh...
life's just too damn short for ifs and maybes.
I learned something from Nandi.
Not just from what happened but from her.
The family she made...
the strength of her love for them, that's what kept them together.
When you live...
with that kind of strength...
you get tied to it.
You can't break away.
And you never want to.
There's something--
There's something I should have done a long while ago.
And I'm sorry, for both of us, that it took me this long.
I'm leaving.
Grr! Arrgh!