River is wondering through Serenity, coming across folks in mid-conversation.
KAYLEE
You couldn't possibly have!
SIMON
I wish I was lying. I just -- we'd
all just made surgeon, that was it,
we were the elite, the world was
ours, you know --
KAYLEE
-- so you had to be naked.
SIMON
Naked, yes, and on top of the statue
of Hypocrates, and -- Can you just
picture me?
KAYLEE
Naked? I'll have to conjure up --
it'll be tough.
He smiles at her, and she taps his chin with her toes playfully.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
So the feds came?
SIMON
There were no feds. Until I started
singing.
KAYLEE
(laughing)
Oh no! What'd you sing?
SIMON
This is not funny. This a morality
tale about the evils of sake.
River has been watching them the whole time. They suddenly turn to her, the laughter draining from their faces.
SIMON (cont'd)
(to River)
I would be there right now.
There is coldness in his voice, and Kaylee looks at her with an expression that matches.
And then, oddly, there's a JUMP CUT to the two of them laughing again, as though that moment never happened.
River looks mildly confused, then starts up the stairs.
SIMON (cont'd)
It was either that or the national
anthem. Reports vary.
KAYLEE
Do you remember any of it?
SIMON
I remember talking them out of
telling my father...
or paying them out of telling my
father, I'm fuzzy on aspects...
INT. AFT HALL/DINING ROOM - CONTINUING
River comes into the hallway, touching the walls as she goes, looking at her hands. She finds BOOK and JAYNE, also in mid- conversation. Jayne is cooking scallion cakes on the griddle. Book is at the table.
JAYNE
So, like... never?
BOOK
Well, no.
JAYNE
Not ever never?
BOOK
Some orders allow Shepherds to marry,
but I follow a narrower path.
JAYNE
But, I mean, you still got the urge,
right? They don't cut it off or
nothing...
BOOK
(smiles)
No, I'm more or less intact. I just
direct my energy elsewhere.
JAYNE
You mean like masterbatin'?
BOOK
I hope you're not thinking of taking
orders yourself...
JAYNE
That'll be the day.
During all this, River wanders unnoticed right between the two of them. She turns to look at Jayne, who looks back guiltily.
JAYNE (cont'd)
I got stupid. The money was too good.
She turns, looks at Book, who is in her face, fiercely angry.
BOOK
I don't give half a hump if you're
innocent or not! So where does that
put you?
JUMP CUT back to reality -- the men are laughing, Book still sitting, and River has walked between them unnoticed. She heads to the foredeck hall as the men continue:
JAYNE
It ain't impossible! Saint Jayne,
It's got a ring to it.
BOOK
I'm just trying to remember how many
miracles you've performed.
JAYNE
I once hit a guy in the neck at five
hundred yards with a bent scope,
don't that count upstairs?
BOOK
Oh, it'll be taken into
consideration...
JAYNE
Well you make that sound kinda
ominous... |
