SHADOWS PUPPETS By Shayz

EPISODE TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. SERENITY – MAL’S BUNK – NIGHT

MAL wakes with a start, a bit sweaty. There’s a rustle next to him against the wall. He rolls his head to the side surprised SEEING: RIVER under the covers, smiling at him, chin resting on her hand, looking very sweet and innocent.

RIVER: Someone’s coming.

Mal (confused, terrified: what the hell is she doing here?) tumbles off the bunk and hits the floor hard, face down. He rolls onto his back and looks up into: A GORGEOUS BLUE SKY – wispy white clouds, sunshine...

EXT. SHADOW (PLANET)– REYNOLD’S RANCH – ROUND HORSE PEN - DAY – CONTINUING

Dreamy, unbelievable blue sky and bright sunshine. It’s “Little House on the Prairie” Reynold’s style; lots of cattle, big acreage, big house. Off Stage (OS) a horse can be heard “laughing” horse-like. Mal sits up; he’s in the dirt of the training ring just outside a large, rustic barn. He looks around SEEING: A beautiful wild STALLION prancing along the rounded fence line, having just bucked Mal from its back. A very happy horse right about now.

MAL: Tamade húndàn!

MRS. REYNOLDS (OS): Malcolm! What did I say about that sort of talk?

Mal gets up, makes a face as he dusts himself off, then:

MAL: Sorry Ma.

MRS. REYNOLDS (OS): Leave that (trans: evil humping piece of dog meat) alone and get back to your chores. I’m gonna be a might sore you don’t get ‘em stables raked ‘for sundown.

Like a 12 year-old kid, Mal kicks the dirt and mutters as he stomps toward the barn. (NOTE: Mal is OUR Mal taking the place of his kid-self.)

INT. BARN – CONTINUING

Mal enters and grabs a rake SEEING: River dancing in the barn: a little ballet, a little twirl. She sees Mal and gives him a grand curtsy.

RIVER: Don’t look now…someone’s coming.

Mal turns around (180 degrees) He’s now—

INT. REYNOLD’S HOUSE – FOYER – CONTINUING

— kneeling near a wall, peeking around the corner into the foyer, listening to Ms. Reynolds talk to MR. HALLADAY on the front porch with his daughter, JESS HALLADAY, 13, adorable. (Keep angle at Mal and Jess perspective--doing the pre-teen flirting thing. We HEAR but do not see Mrs. R or Mr. H faces.)

MR. HALLADAY: I noticed you’re roof needs repairing. I’m a certified carpenter, got all my licenses and such.

MRS. REYNOLDS: Can’t say I’m lookin’ to hire new hands, Mr. Halladay. We’ve got near forty now.

MR. HALLADAY: My Jess here’s a fine cook too, ma’am, her momma taught her everything ‘fore she passed. We’d be big help ‘round here.

Jess peeks from behind her father, catches sight of Mal and smiles. Mal pulls back then carefully peers around the corner again, SEEING:

EXT. ROUND PEN – DAY – CONTINUING – MAL’S POV

From inside the barn doors watching Jess (same age; in work clothes) talking to and petting the wild stallion. Jess leads the horse to the fence and it lets her mount his back. She trots around the pen then up to Mal. Mal is impressed, but determined not to let on.

JESS: You just needed to know his name.

MAL: I get the notion he told you?

JESS: (flashing a wicked-sly grin) Told me lots of things. He likes watching you fly in the air. But he likes it more when you hit the ground.

MAL: Is that so. What is he thinking now?

JESS: (petting horse; listening) He’s thinking about me. How much he enjoys having a new friend who understands him.

MAL: Witch.

JESS: (riding away) Jealous?

INT. BARN – NIGHT – CONTINUING – 5 YEARS LATER

Mal has his arms crossed over his chest, defiant future-captainy stance, quite perturbed, even hurt.

Jess, 18, a beautiful woman (not a waif but strong and athletic), stands in front of Mal mirroring his pose. She’s all kinds of angry, but has uncanny ability not to yell (reminiscent of ZOE) but steam would be coming out of her ears if this was a cartoon. (Conversation is continuation of above last line.)

MAL: Not likely.

JESS: So much so you can’t stand it. Did ya get a notion about his black eye at all?

MAL: Don’t see as how it’s any of my gorram business who’s putting hands and lips on you. Go kiss the whole ‘verse if you want.

JESS: Really. None of your gorram business?

Jess turns as if to walk away then spins around, hauls off and decks Mal with a right hook (a SOLID smack down not a wimpy chick-hit). Mal trips backward onto a pile of hay more from shock than the blow (he’s a big guy after all). Jess stands feet astride his legs, fists on hips.

JESS: (cont.) Bèn dàn! Don’t ask me why, but I’m your xin gan only, dong ma?

Mal rubs his jaw and nods. Jess offers him a hand up, instead he pulls her down on top of him: chest-to-chest, face-to-face.

JESS: (cont.) Yaoguài.

Mal wraps his arms around her. He’s so in love with her he can’t hide it. He rolls to the side and maneuvers her under him, she doesn’t mind a bit.

MAL: I’m not a monster.

Jess gazes at him, caressing his cheek with the back of her hand.

JESS: Prove it.

They kiss, gently but passionately—two kids in love. CLOSE IN on Mal (eyes closed).

EXT. REYNOLDS RANCH – NIGHT BY FIRELIGHT– CONTINUING

Opening his eyes Mal SEES: Jess (still 18) on the ground under him. (They’re both in tattered, soot stained clothes and sooty faces.) She’s not moving and there’s blood coming out of her mouth and nose. Mal checks for a pulse but doesn’t find one. He looks around for help, SEEING:

1. The house on fire. 2. The barn burning. 3. ALLIANCE SOLDIERS overrun the ranch, rounding up (stealing) the cattle. 4. The stallion is crazed and fighting in the pen.

Mal looks back down and SEES: River wearing Jess’ clothes, with blood coming out of her mouth and nose. Her eyes are open and she’s smiling with bloody teeth.

RIVER: Someone’s here.

INT. SERENITY – MAL’S BUNK - CONTINUING

MAL wakes with a gasp; sweaty, heart pounding, but alone. The PROXIMITY ALARM’S BEEPING. Wash is heard over the comm.

WASH (on speaker): Mal, you awake yet? Mal?

MAL: Yeah, Wash.

WASH (on speaker): Time to go to work, Captain.

Mal grabs his clothes and dresses quickly.

INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE - CONTINUING

WASH is at the controls, ZOE’s behind him with her hands on his shoulders, looking out the view port. Mal rushes up the steps. River can be seen secretly strolling up the platform behind him, but the three don’t notice her.

MAL: What’s the problem?

WASH: No problem…for us, I mean. We’re coming up on a shuttle. It’s got minimal life-support and power. No thrust.

ZOE: No vid, but there’s a beacon.

Mal looks out the view port SEEING a small battered shuttle, blackened in parts like it’s been through a (space) storm or battle.

MAL: Chatter?

WASH: Don’t hear any. It got me thinking about our shuttle trip. You know, the one you conveniently avoided so you could get all shot up and be the big-damn hero.

Mal shoots Wash a double-take. River comes into the doorway and leans against the bulkhead.

RIVER: Someone’s here.

All three turn to look at River. Mal’s creeped out.

MAL: Pinch me.

(Zoe/Wash speak at same time)

ZOE: Sir? WASH: What? Where? Mal looks at the shuttle. His gut (and River) telling him exactly who’s on the shuttle, as impossible as it might be.

MAL: Zoe, get our suits prepped. Wash, wake Jayne.

WASH: Me? Wh..Why me? I can get the suits prepped. I’d really like to get the suits, Mal.

Mal glowers at Wash then turns to River. She’s smiling innocently.

BLACK OUT:

END TEASER