Leedavidt©browncoat

WELCOME...I'M A FAN OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS SITE...I AIN'T CRAZY! AND I MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE LOSING SIDE...NOTSOSURE IF WAS THE WRONG SIDE... MAKES ME A "BROWNCOAT" I GUESS... SHINY...BWAH !

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 comin' 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 found Serenity But you can't take the sky from me..._________________ MY INTERESTS ARE: NASCAR-GO #88 DALE JR....WE REMEMBER YOU #3 EARNHARDT... BODYBUILDING AT THE FITNESS EDGE AND PLANET FITNESS... HIKING,WALKING,THE MOUNTAINS,THE OCEAN, DAY TRIPS TO BOSTON,(FUN CITY),DAY TRIPS TO MAINE,(LOVE OLD ORCHARD AND PORTLAND) I AM A STAR TREK FAN, A SPIDEY FAN, AN ALL AROUND SCI-FI JUNKY. AND OF COURSE,I'M TOTALLY OBSESSED WITH: FIREFLY/SERENITY AND TERMINATOR-THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES! __________________What is Firefly? Firefly is a space Western/action/comedy/drama TV series set in the year 2517, created by Joss Whedon (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame). The subsequent movie, Serenity, was released in 2005, and both were among the top selling DVDs at Amazon.com in 2006 (the TV series was #10 for the year, and the movie was #18). Serenity also won the Hugo Award in 2006 for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.Background. Long before the events in the story, a large population emigrated from Earth to a new solar system. This "planet village" had dozens of planets and hundreds of moons, many of which were terraformed to become habitable.The terraforming process was imperfect, and the outlying settlements are typically forbidding, dry environments, well suited to the Western influences of the show.The series takes its name from the Firefly-class spaceship "Serenity", which serves as home to the nine central characters. Resembling both a bird and insect in appearance, the cargo ship's tail section lights up during acceleration like a firefly (hence the name of the ship class and series).The star system is governed by the Alliance, an organization of central planets that has succeeded in forcibly unifying the entire system under a single government. Although the central planets are well under Alliance control, the outlying planets and moons resemble the 19th century American West, with little government authority. Settlers and refugees on the outlying worlds enjoy relative freedom from the central government, but lack the amenities of the high-tech civilization on the inner worlds. Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds and his first mate Zo? are veterans of the Unification War, a failed attempt by the outlying worlds to resist the Alliance's assertion of control. After the war, Mal bought the spaceship Serenity in order to scrape together a way of life for himself and his crew by making cargo runs and performing other tasks, legal or otherwise.Featuring a blend of elements from the space opera and Western genres with a bit of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, the show depicts mankind's future in a way that is uncharacteristic of many contemporary science fiction programs.Unlike most traditional space operas, there are no alien creatures or space battles. Firefly takes place in a multi-cultural future, where the divide between the rich and poor is great. Chinese is a common second language for English-speakers; characters in the show frequently use Chinese words and curses.According to the DVD commentary of the pilot episode, this is due to China and the United States becoming the two superpowers that expand into space. This Sino-American (named the Anglo-Sino Alliance) allegiance is supported by close examination of labels on the crates from the episode "The Train Job", where crates of Alliance goods are marked with a Chinese flag superimposed over a United States flag.For fans, the dialogue and interplay between characters is central to the charm of the show, resulting in stories that are alternately serious and humorous.The show's visual style also differs from contemporary shows in that camera shots are often handheld, with deliberately misframed or out-of-focus subjects, in an attempt to give scenes an immersive and immediate feeling; CGI scenes mimic the motion of a handheld camera, a style now borrowed by the new Battlestar Galactica. (As an homage to Firefly, Serenity is briefly shown in the Galactica miniseries).Exterior shots of action taking place in the vacuum of space realistically lack sound effects, an approach that stands in contrast to many science fiction films and television series.The show's plot pits the nine masterfully drawn main characters against various criminals and schemers, Alliance security forces, the utterly psychotic and brutal Reavers, and the mysterious men with "hands of blue" who are apparently operatives of The Blue Sun Corporation. The crew is driven by the need to secure enough income to keep their ship operational, set against the need to keep a low profile to avoid their numerous adversaries. Their situation is greatly complicated by the divergent motivations of the individuals on board Serenity.Sadly, the show's brief run (14 episodes, and a feature film in 2005) did not allow full elucidation of all the complex interrelationships of the cast and their external contacts. But given the tremendous success of the series and movie DVDs, both of which are still top sellers at Amazon.com, we're thinking we might rise again.Best Sellers in 2006 The numbers are in, and Amazon.com has posted it's best sellers for 2006. The Firefly DVD box set comes in at #10 for the year, and Serenity, the Firefly movie, comes in at #18. Look for the special edition of Serenity being released summer 2007, because of such strong sales of the original release.Orson Scott Card on Firefly (From the blog of Orson Scott Card, writer of the Ender's Game series and winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards. You can hear our interview with him in Firefly Talk #50-#52).Unfortunately, science fiction's own success has broken the community apart. It was the films that did it. Throwbacks to the old forms of sci-fi, contemptuous of anything that had been learned or achieved in the field since, say, 1937, Star Trek and Star Wars stole away the fan base. The book-based conventions limp along, but they are aging, while the awards are being taken over by the people who want to promote only the books that will be respected by university professors -- in other words, the books least like science fiction.The result is predictable -- science fiction shows many signs of withering as a productive, innovative literary genre. Which is both inevitable and perfectly acceptable -- it is dying in part because it won. Any writer can now use most of the tropes and techniques of science fiction without readers batting an eye. The boundaries are gone along with the serious critical community, and most of the writers seem to be imitative ... or they're writing fantasy, instead.Into this situation there dropped the television series Firefly. It only lasted a few episodes, mostly because it couldn't compete with the cheesy reality shows that were taking over Fox -- why put money into a fairly expensive sci-fi show when you can put some morons on the camera with a minimal script and a tasteless premise, and get bigger numbers for a far lower investment?The fans of Firefly, however, were outraged. Here was television sci-fi that was smart, funny, heroic, realistic, moving, innovative, yet keenly aware of the whole tradition of science fiction and of television? It was the smartest thing on tv, period. And it was gone before most people had a chance to know it was even on the air.At least the original Star Trek ran for three seasons -- enough for it to be stripped into syndication. You can't do that with a dozen episodes -- local stations would blow through them in less than three weeks of weekday showings, and then what do they put on?Fortunately, we are now in the age of the DVD, and Firefly went to direct sales, where it found more and more fans after it was canceled than it ever had when it was on the air.And those fans, who began to organize on the traditional sci-fi-fandom model, calling themselves "Browncoats," set to work to promote the return of Firefly to the airwaves -- or its development as a feature film.It helped that Joss Whedon, other producers and creative people, and the actors themselves all believed in this show, knowing they had been part of something rare and wonderful. So they met with the fans, encouraging them to believe they were all working together. And when Whedon got funding to shoot the feature film, he rewarded those fans by giving showings of the finished film for months before the theatrical release, helping promote Serenity.I've already written that I thought Serenity was the best movie of the year it came out, and in my opinion the best sci-fi film ever....In my opinion too!...leedavidt"QUOTES FROM FIREFLY!"SERENITY,THE TRAIN JOB,BUSHWACKED, SHINDIG AND SAFE... Serenity (pilot) [At the Battle of Serenity Valley, Mal talks to his troops.] Mal: We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty.----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------Bendis: We're gonna die. Mal: We are not gonna die. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die. Huh? Look at that chiseled jaw!-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------(Wash is playing with plastic dinosaurs.) Wash: (as Stegosaurus) Yes...yes. This is a fertile land, and we will thrive. We will rule over all this land, and we will call it...this land. (as Allosaur) I think we should call it your grave! (as Stegosaurus) Ah! Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal! (as Allosaur) Ha ha ha! Mine is an evil laugh! Now DIE! (as Stegosaurus) Oh no, God, oh dear God in heaven...--------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------Jayne: Captain, can you stop her from bein' cheerful, please? Mal: I don't believe there's a power in the 'verse can stop Kaylee from being cheerful. Sometimes you just wanna duct-tape her mouth, and… dump 'er in the hold for a month. [A grinning Kaylee gives Mal a peck on the cheek.] Kaylee: I love my captain.---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------Zoe: I know something ain't right. Wash: Sweetie, we're crooks. If everything were right, we'd be in jail.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[Badger refuses to take Alliance-branded cargo as was previously agreed upon] Zoe: That's not fair. Badger: Crime and politics, little girl. Situation is always...fluid. Jayne: Only fluid I see here is the puddle of piss refusing to pay us our wage!------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------(After Badger abruptly backs out of the deal, Mal, Zoe and Jayne discuss where they can sell the cargo.) Zoe: So the border planets? Mal: I'm thinking Whitefall, maybe talk to Patience. Zoe: Sir, we don't want to deal with Patience again. Mal: Why not? Zoe: She shot you. Mal: Well, yeah, she did a bit. ... Mal: Been a long time since Patience shot me, and that was due to a perfectly legitimate conflict of interest. I got no grudge. ... Mal: Did you send word to Patience? Wash: Yeah, ain't heard back yet. Didn't she shoot you one time? Mal: Everyone's makin' a fuss.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[Shepherd Book is checking the port for a ship, and meets Kaylee sitting on a lawn chair outside Serenity] Kaylee: You're gonna come with us. Book: Excuse me? Kaylee: You like ships. You don't seem to be lookin' at the destinations. What you care about is the ships, and mine's the nicest. Book: She don't look like much. Kaylee: Oh, she'll fool ya.--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------[Shepherd Book visits Inara in her quarters.] Inara: So. Would you like to lecture me the wickedness of my ways? Book: I brought you some supper, but.… if you'd prefer a lecture, I've a few very catchy ones prepared. Sin, and hellfire… one has lepers. Inara (smiling): I think I'll pass.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[Mal has finally opened Simon's box to see what he considered so valuable, and finds a naked, cryogenically-frozen River] Mal: (after a long pause) Huh.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------[Simon threatens not to treat a gutshot Kaylee unless Serenity flees an incoming Alliance cruiser] Zoe: You let her die, you'll never make it to the Feds. Simon: She'll still be dead. Mal: You rich kids. You think your lives are the only thing that matters. What'd you do? Kill your folks for the family fortune? Simon: I don't kill people. Mal: Then do your job! Simon: Turn the ship around! Inara: Enough! Mal, do it. Mal: [dangerously] Don't you ever tell me what to -- [Kaylee cries in pain] Mal: Zoe, Change course.----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------[After Doctor Simon Tam treats a gun-shot Kaylee, Mal decides to "do the job" and continue to Whitefall.] Simon: What about us? Mal: Kaylee comes through, you and your sister get off at Whitefall. Simon: If she doesn't come through? Mal: Well, then you're gettin' off a mite sooner.----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------[The crew waits quietly as a Reaver ship passes.] Simon: What happens if they board us? Zoe: If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing. And if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Dobson is tied up in his room] Mal: I got to know how close the Alliance is, exactly how much you told them 'fore Wash scrambled your call. So I've given Jayne here the job of finding out. Jayne: [draws a huge knife] He was nonspecific as to how. ... Mal: [to Jayne] Now, you've only got to scare him. Jayne: Pain is scary.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------(Mal and Patience have just finished setting up a meet on Whitefall.) Mal: You know, I do believe that woman is planning to shoot me again. ... Jayne: Here's a little concept I've been working on. Why don't we shoot her first? Wash: It is her turn.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Jayne (over radio): Cap'n, cap'n, can you hear me? Mal: I'm standing right here. Jayne: You're coming through loud and clear. Mal: 'Cause I'm standing right here.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[After beating Patience in a gun battle after she tried to double-cross him] Mal: Now, I did a job. Got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character, so let me make this abundantly clear: I do the job, [snatches her coin purse from her] and I get paid. Go run your little world.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[After Wash executes a brilliant escape from the Reavers, Zoe turns to Mal.] Zoe: Sir? I'd like you to take the helm, please. I need this man to tear all my clothes off. [She grabs Wash by the jacket and drags him off.] Wash: Work, work, work…----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------Book: I've been out of the abbey two days, I've beaten a lawman senseless, I've fallen in with criminals. I watched the captain shoot the man I swore to protect. And I'm not even sure if I think he was wrong. I believe I just... I think I'm on the wrong ship. Inara: Maybe. Or maybe you're exactly where you ought to be.--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Simon: I'm trying to put this as delicately as I can...how do I know you won't kill me in my sleep? Mal: You don't know me, son, so let me put this to you plainly: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake. You'll be facing me. And you'll be armed. Simon: Are you always this sentimental? Mal: I had a good day. Simon: You had the Alliance on you, criminals and savages... half the people on the ship have been shot or wounded including yourself, and you're harboring known fugitives. Mal: We're still flying. Simon: That's not much. Mal: It's enough.[edit] The Train Job [After a drunken Lund toasts to the Alliance, Mal goes to the bar for a quiet drink] Lund: You gonna drink to the Alliance with me? Six years ago today, the Alliance sent the browncoats running, pissing their pants. You know... your coat's kind of a brownish color... Mal: It was on sale. [drinks] Lund: You didn't toast. You know, I'm thinking you're one of them Independents. Mal: And I'm thinking you weren't burdened with an overabundance of schooling. So why don't we just ignore each other until we go away? Lund: The Independents were a bunch of inbred, cowardly piss-pots. Should've been killed off of every world spinnin'. Mal: [turns] Say that to my face. Lund: I said you're a coward and a piss-pot. Now what are you gonna do about it? Mal: [smiles] Nothing. I just wanted you to face me so she could get behind you. [Lund turns, and Zoe knocks him out with the butt of her rifle] Mal: Drunks are so cute.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[Mal and Zoe are back on the ship after barely escaping a losing barfight on Unification Day.] Zoe: Funny, sir, how you always seem to find yourself in an Alliance-friendly bar come U-Day, lookin' for a quiet drink. Mal: See, this is another sign of your tragic space dementia, all paranoid and crotchety. Breaks the heart.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Mal washes his bloodied knuckles in the infirmary.] Mal: I know they tell ya, you never hit a man with a closed fist, but it is, on occasion, hilarious.-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------Mal: Well, what about you, Shepherd? How come you're flyin' with us brigands? I mean, shouldn't you be off bringing religiosity to the fuzzy-wuzzies or some such? Book: Oh, I got heathens aplenty right here. Mal: If I'm your mission, Shepherd, best give it up. You're welcome on my boat - God ain't.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Mal and Zoe make a disturbing discovery on during their train heist.] Zoe: Sir, is there some information we might maybe be lacking as to why there's an entire Fed squad sitting on this train? Mal: Doesn't concern us. Zoe: It kinda concerns me. . . . Zoe: You don't think that changes the situation a bit? Mal: I surely do. Makes it more fun! Zoe: Sir? I think you have a problem with your brain being missing. ... Mal: Hell, this job I would pull for free. Zoe: Then can I have your share? Mal: No. Zoe: If you die, can I have your share? Mal: Yes.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------[The remaining Serenity crew argues about what to do with stolen goods, when River interrupts.] River: [They] won't stop. They'll never stop. They'll just keep coming, until they get back what you took. Two by two, hands of blue.… two by two, hands of blue.…---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------[Jayne is demanding that Wash take off for the delivery without Mal and Zoe.] Jayne: You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til you understand who's in ruttin' command here! Now we're finishing this deal, and then maybe -- MAYBE we'll come back for those morons... got themselves caught... and you can't change that by getting all... bendy. Wash: All what? Jayne: You got the light... from the console to keep you... lifting you up... they shine like... [starts grabbing at the air] little angels... [Jayne promptly falls flat onto the floor.] Wash: Did he just go crazy and fall asleep? Simon: I told him to sit down.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[Mal sees Jayne sedated and sprawled out on a staircase] Kaylee: We tried moving him to the infirmary, he's just heavy...---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------[Jayne, still sprawled out on the staircase, shoots Crow in the lower leg before he can stab Mal] Mal: Nice shot. Jayne: [slurred] I was aimin' for his head.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[A tied-up Crow is made to kneel outside Serenity as it prepares to lift off] 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? Crow: [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] [Cut to another henchman being placed before Mal] Mal: Now this is all the money Niska gave us in advance-- Henchman: Oh, I get it! I'm good. Best thing for everybody. [desperate grin] I'm right there with you.[edit] Bushwhacked [Serenity's crew and passengers are playing a kind of "spaceball" when an alarm sounds.] Zoe: Proximity alert. Must be coming up on something. Wash: [alarmed.] Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's FLYING this thing?! [deadpan.] Oh right, that would be me. Uh, back to work.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Jayne: [referring to a derelict vessel in space] If there's folks on board who needed help, why aren't they beaming no distress call? Zoe: It's true. There's no beacon. Mal: Which means it's likely no one's looking to find her. Book: All the more reason for us to do the right thing. Jayne: How's about you just say a prayer and we slide on by? Book: [to Mal] Shall I remind you of the story of the Good Samaritan? Mal: I'd rather you didn't, but we'll check it out. Could be survivors. But if not, well, then we might as well take a look around and see if there's something of value they might have left behind. Jayne: Yeah! No, uh... someone could be hurt!------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Jayne: [to Simon] Where do you think you're headed? Simon: I thought I'd offer my services. [intently watching Mal and Zoe suit up] ...in case anyone on board required medical attention. Jayne: Cap'n and Zoe are going in first, we'll holler if we need you... something wrong? Simon: Uh... no, I suppose it's just the thought of a little mylar and glass being the only thing separating a person from... nothing. Jayne: It's impressive what nothing can do to a man.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------Jayne: [to Simon] Grab your medkit, let's hoof it. Mal wants us over there on the double. ... Mal: [to Simon] Uh, hi. What are you doing here, and what's with the suit? [Jayne begins laughing]--------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------[After Jayne shoots an attacker, Mal finds him hiding behind a fan grate.] Mal: No one's gonna hurt you. Survivor: No. No mercy. No! Mal: Any.… more than we already did. ... Survivor: No mercy. No mercy- Mal: [soothingly] We got lots of mercy. Lots. [punches survivor in the jaw, rendering him unconscious] ... Simon: [dryly.] Oh, yes. He's a real beast! It's a wonder you're still alive. Jayne: Looked bigger when I couldn't see him.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------Mal: [referring to the survivor] Charity would be putting a bullet in his brainpan.--------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------Mal: Reavers ain't men — or they forgot how to be.--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------[Kaylee contemplates bypassing a boobytrap.] Kaylee: Sure. Yeah. [long pause.] I think so. 'Sides, if I mess up, it's.… not like you'll be able to yell at me.--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------[Alliance Commander Harken discovers the brother-and-sister fugitive alert provides little information to help them.] Harken: Well, I'm not about to have these surprises on a routine check. We run into these two, we shoot first. The brass can sort it out later.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Commander Harken questions the crew.] Harken: You fought with Captain Reynolds in the war? Zoe: Fought with a lot of people in the war. Harken: And your husband? Zoe: Fight with him sometimes, too. Harken: Is there any particular reason you don't wish to discuss your marriage? Zoe: Don't see that it's any of your business, is all. We're very private people. [Cut to Zoe's husband, Wash.] Wash: The legs! [laughs.] Oh yeah, [I] definitely have to say it was her legs. You can put that down. Her legs, and right where her legs.… meet her back. Tha— actually, that whole area. That, and… and above it. […] Have you seen what she wears? Forget about it. Have you ever been with a warrior woman?------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------Harken: Seems odd you'd name your ship after a battle you were on the wrong side of. Mal: May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------Mal: That poor bastard you took off my ship. He looked right into the face of it — was made to stare. Harken: "It"? Mal: That darkness. Kind of darkness you can't even imagine. Blacker than the space it moves through. Harken: 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.[edit] Shindig [While Jayne plays virtual pool with a disreputable type, Mal chats quietly with Inara.] Inara: I like watching the game. As with other situations, the key seems to be giving Jayne a heavy stick and standing back. . . . [Mal reveals he has stolen a large sum of money from one of the men, a slave trader] Inara: Mal! Mal: Oh, terrible shame. 'Course, they won't discover it till they go order their next round of drinks. [A hand slaps down on Mal's shoulder.] Slaver: 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. [As the ship begins to shake, Mal calmly leaves.] Mal: Well, [if] 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.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Kaylee: Look at the fluffy one! Zoe: Too much foofaraw. If I'm gonna wear a dress, I want something with some slink. Wash: You want a slinky dress? I can buy you a slinky dress. Captain, can I have money for a slinky dress? [Zoe laughs.] Jayne: I'll chip in. [Zoe turns to Jayne, still laughing.] Zoe: I can hurt you.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------[Badger "invites" Mal and Jayne to a palaver.] Badger: Course you couldn't buy an invite with a diamond the size of a testicle, but I've got my hands on a couple. [Mal and Jayne grin.] Badger: Of invites! . . . Badger: You think you're better than other people! Mal: Just the ones I'm better than.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[At the ball, Inara and her wealthy escort, Atherton Wing, are dancing.] Atherton: You belong here, Inara, not on a flying piece of go-se. You see that, don't you? Inara: Atherton, language! . . . ["Miss Kaywinnit Lee Frye and escort" are announced. Kaylee enters, with Mal in tow.] Inara: Oh, go-se.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------Mal: Does, uh, this seem kinda tight? Kaylee: Shows off your backside. Did you see the chandelier? It's hovering. [...] Kaylee: These girls have the most beautiful dresses. And so do I, how about that? Mal: 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 Tight-pants.------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------Mal: Okay, help me find our man. He's supposed to be older, kind of stocky, wears a red sash crossways. Kaylee: Why does he do that? Mal: Maybe he won the Miss Persephone pageant. Just help me look. Kaylee (seeing a large bowl of strawberries being carried past her): 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.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[After love-making, Zoe just wants to sleep.] Wash: Don't fall asleep now. Sleepiness is weakness of character, ask anyone. Zoe: It is not! Wash: You're acting Captain. You know what happens, you fall asleep? Zoe: Jayne slits my throat and takes over? Wash: That's right. Zoe: And we can't stop it? Wash: I wash my hands of it. Hopeless case. I'll read a nice poem at the funeral. Something with imagery. Zoe: You could lock the door. Keep the power-hungry maniac at bay. Wash: Don't know. I'm starting to like this poetry thing. "Here lies my beloved Zoe, my autumn flower… somewhat less attractive now that she's all corpsified and gross-" [Zoe hits him with a pillow]----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------[Mal talks to Sir Warrick Harrow about Badger's offer.] Sir Warrick: 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: My work's illegal, but at least it's honest.----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------Gentleman: If you require it, any gentleman here can give you the use of a sword. Mal: Use of a s-what?----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------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.----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------[Badger and his crew have occupied Serenity until Mal returns] Jayne: What we need is a diversion.....Zoe could get naked. Wash: No. Jayne: I could get naked. Everyone: No!--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------[Badger notices River wandering into the cargo bay] Badger: Who's that, then? Here, look at me. What's your story, love? Simon: She's just a...just a passenger. Badger: Yeah? Why ain't she talkin'? Got a secret? Simon: No, I'm- River: (suddenly speaking in Badger's own Cockney accent) Sure. I got a secret. More'n one. Don't seem like I'd tell 'em to you, now, do it? Anyone off Dyton colony knows better'n to talk to strangers. (pokes Badger in the chest) You're talkin' loud enough for the both of us, ain't ya? I've met a dozen like you. Skipped off home early. Minor graft jobs here and there. Spent some time in the lockdown, but less than you claim. And you're what? A petty thief with delusions o' standing? Sad little king of a sad little hill. Badger: (flustered at River's accurate "reading" of him) Nice to see someone from the old homestead. River: Not really. (to Simon) call me if anyone interesting shows up. [as she leaves, Badger grins] Badger: I like her. Jayne: (whispering to the crew) That there. Exactly the kinda diversion we coulda used.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------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.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Mal refuses to kill the prone, humiliated Atherton.] Sir Warrick: You have to finish it, lad. [Mal doesn't move] You have to finish it. For a man to lay beaten, yet breathing? It makes him a coward. Inara: It's humiliation. Mal: It would be humiliating, having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood. Mercy is the mark of a great man. [He lightly stabs Atherton.] Mal: Guess I'm just a good man. [He repeats the poking.] Mal: Well, I'm all right. . . . Sir Warrick: You know, you didn't have to wound that man. Mal: Yeah, I know. It was just funny.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------Inara: Are you in pain? Mal: Absolutely. I got stabbed, you know, right here. [shows bandaged wound in his side] Inara: [squeamishly] Eh— I saw. Mal: Don't care much for fancy parties. Too rough. Inara: It wasn't entirely a disaster. Mal: I got stabbed! Right here! Inara: You also lined up exciting new crime. . . . Inara: I wasn't gonna stay, you know. Mal: Yeah? Why's that? Inara: Oh, someone needs to keep Kaylee out of trouble. And all my things are here. Besides, why would I want to leave Serenity? Mal: Can't think of a reason. [The camera zooms out to reveal a herd of cattle milling about the cargo hold.][edit] Safe [In a flashback, a young River plays behind a couch while Simon works on a computer pad.] Young River: We got outflanked by the Independent squad, and we're never gonna make it back to our platoon. [pauses] We need to resort to cannibalism. Young Simon: That was fast. Don't we have rations or anything? . . . [River glances at her brother's homework.] Young River: That's wrong. Young Simon: It's from the book, River. Young River: No, the book is wrong. This whole conclusion is fallacious.------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------[Simon and River whine about getting a dedicated "source box".] Gabriel Tam: I will not have it in my house. But, since your mother's already ordered you one, I guess I should give up the fantasy that this is my house!------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[In the present day, River is violently refusing to cooperate with Simon's diagnostic tests.] Mal: So, she's added cussing and hurling-about of things to her repertoire. She really is a prodigy. Simon: It's just a bad day. Mal: No, a "bad day" is when someone's yellin' spooks the cattle. Understand? You ever see cattle stampede when they got no place to run? It's kind of like a… a meat grinder. And it'll lose us half the herd. Simon: She hasn't gone anywhere near the cattle. Mal: No, but in case you hadn't noticed, her voice kinda carries. We're two miles above ground and they can probably hear her down there. Soon as we unload, she can holler until our ears bleed — although I would take it as a kindness if she didn't. River: The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuuming systems. Mal: See, morbid and creepifying, I got no problem with, long as she does it quiet-like.------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------[Simon steps in a cowpie as Jayne drives the cargo of cattle out of the ship.] Jayne: About time you broke in them fancy shoes. Hyah! Get along! Mal: You know… they walk just as easy if you lead 'em. Jayne: I like smackin' 'em. . . . Zoe: Next time we smuggle stock, let's make it something smaller. Wash: Yeah, we should start dealing in those black-market beagles.---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------River: They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see sky, and they remember what they are. Mal: Is it bad that what she said made perfect sense to me?--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Simon: I'm very sorry if she tipped off anyone about your cunningly concealed herd of cows.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Inara: Does it seem every supply store on every 'water planet has the same five rag dolls and the same wood carvings of… what is this? A duck? Kaylee: That's a swan. I like it. Inara: You do? [Kaylee strokes the swan carving.] Kaylee: Looks like it was made with… you know, longing. Made by a person really longed to see a swan. Inara: Perhaps because they'd only heard of them by rough description.------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------[Simon whines to engineer Kaylee about life on Serenity.] Simon: It's fun, being forced to the ass-end of the galaxy. To get to live on a piece of luh-suh wreck. And we eat molded protein! And be bullied around by our pyen juh duh jiou cha[o] w[r]en of a captain. That's fun. Kaylee: "Luh-suh"?! Serenity ain't "Luh-suh".-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------Mal: This is the last time. Last time with cows. Hey, there was an idea regarding beagles? They have smallish droppings? Zoe: I believe so, sir. Also, your disreputable men are here. Mal: Better go take their money.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Shepherd (preacher) Book has been shot.] Book: That's… that's quite a lot of blood, isn't it? Mal: Just means you ain't dead. Book: 'Fraid I might be needing a preacher. Mal: That's good. You just lie there and be ironical.--------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------River: We're lost. Lost in the woods.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------Zoe: Knew a man who had a hole clean through his whole shoulder, once. Used to keep a spare hankie in there.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Jayne, in the process of ransacking Simon's belongings, pretends to read Simon's journal.] Jayne: "Dear Diary: Today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. [flips page] Today we were kidnapped by hill folk, never to be seen again. It was the best day ever."------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------Zoe: Cap'n'll come up with a plan. Kaylee: Well, that's good. Right? Zoe: Possible you're not recalling some of his previous plans.------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------Zoe: You sanguine about the kind of reception we're apt to receive on an Alliance ship, Cap'n? Mal: Absolutely. [pauses] What's "sanguine" mean? Zoe: "Sanguine". Hopeful. Plus, point of interest: it also means "bloody". Mal: Well, that pretty much covers all the options, don't it?--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Alliance Commander: Your official seal is out of date, Captain... Harbatken?-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------[Mal appeals to Alliance cruiser Magellan's commander for urgent medical help for Book.] Alliance Commander: We aren't an emergency facility, Captain. Our services aren't available simply to anyone— Book: Com… mander… my… ident card. [The commander examines his card. His eyes widen.] Alliance Commander: Get this man to the infirmary at once. [Mal and Zoe stare at each other.]----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------[Simon and River have been kidnapped by the hill folk.] Doralee: A place like this might be good for your sister. Quiet, safe… a place where folks take care of each other. Simon: Mmm, yes. Seems like a lovely little community of kidnappers.------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------[Mal, Zoe, and Jayne watch Book's operation just outside Magellan's surgery room.] Jayne: This place gives me an uncomfortableness.------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------River: I get confused. I remember everything. I remember too much. And… some of it's made up, and… some of it can't be quantified, and… there's secrets… and… Simon: It's okay. River: But I understand. You gave up everything you had to find me. You found me broken. It's hard for you. [breaking] You gave up everything you had. Simon: Mei-mei. Everything I have… is right here. . . . River: We won't be here long. Daddy will come, and take us home. And I'll get better. I'll get better.----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------Simon: It's been a big day, what with the abduction, and all.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------[Doralee reacts in alarm to River's ability to discern her young mute charge's tragedy.] Doralee: "And they shall be among the people, and they shall speak truths and whisper secrets, and you will know them by their crafts." Simon: What are you talking about? Doralee: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live!"------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------[Flashback to an adult Simon, detained by the authorities and facing his angry father.] Gabriel Tam: Have you completely lost your mind? Simon: Pretty nearly. Gabriel Tam: We got the wave at the Friedlichs. I had to leave your mother at the dinner table! Simon: I'm sorry, Dad. You know I would never have tried to save River's life if I had known there was a dinner party at risk!------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Mal: They let us come, and they let us go. What kind of ident card gets us that kind of reception and send-off? Book: I am a Shepherd. Folks like a man of God. Mal: No, they don't. Men of God make everyone feel guilty and judged.----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------[Simon pleads with the hill folk, who have tied River to a stake, preparing to burn her.] Simon: She has done nothing to you! If she dies tonight, it won't be God's will that killed her! It'll be you! Your lunacy, your… ignorance! . . . [Unable to free his sister, Simon climbs onto the pyre and holds River.] Simon: Light it. River: Time to go. [A blast of wind signals the arrival of Serenity. Jayne cocks a shotgun from the cargo hold while Mal and Zoe approach on foot.] Mal: Well, look at this! Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us? Zoe: Big damn heroes, sir. Mal: Ain't we just?------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Mal: Sorry to interrupt, folks, but y'all got something that belongs to us, and we'd like it back. Patron: This is a holy cleansing. You cannot think to thwart God's will. Mal: Y'all see the man hanging out of the spaceship with the really big gun? I'm not saying you weren't easy to find. [but] It was kinda out of our way, and he didn't want to come in the first place. Man's lookin' to kill some folk. So really, it's his will y'all should worry about thwarting. [Mal turns to Simon.] Mal: Gotta say, Doctor — your talent for alienatin' folks is near miraculous. Simon: Yes, I'm very proud. [Mal addresses the crowd again.] Mal: Cut her down! Patron: The girl is a witch. Mal: Yeah, but she's our witch. [cocks gun] So cut her the hell down.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------Simon: So, finally a decent wound on this ship, and I miss out. I'm sorry. Mal: Well, you were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------Simon: Captain, why did you come back for us? Mal: You're on my crew. Simon: Yeah, but you don't even like me. Why'd you come back? Mal: You're on my crew. Why're we still talking about this?------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------[Simon and River enter the common room as Mal is telling a joke over dinner.] Mal: So then the Shepherd says to the Companion, "Well, a good goat'll do that."