Virtual Firefly www.stillflying.net Season 2 Episode 10: Letters to Home Written by Thomas Cohn Directed by DC Washington

Teaser from 2x10: Letters to Home ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

INT. PARTY - BALLROOM – NIGHT The elegant ballroom is filled with ritzy PARTY-GOERS, circulating WAITERS, and live MUSICIANS. Mounds of fresh fruit and expensive-looking arrangements of cheeses and meats cover a buffet table. There is also a hovering chandelier. ATHERTON WING and INARA dance into frame with some of the other guests. ATHERTON: I'm trying to give you something, you know. A life. If you want it. INARA (uncomfortable smile): Atherton... ATHERTON: You can live here, on Persephone. As my personal Companion. INARA: You are a generous man. ATHERTON: That's not a "yes." INARA (after a beat): I couldn’t leave Serenity… or my captain. Atherton abruptly stops dancing. ATHERTON: You belong here, Inara, not on that flying piece of gos se, with that bèn captain of yours. You see that, don't you? INARA: Atherton, language. ATHERTON: What, "piece of gos se"? But it is a piece of gos se. INARA: I said no, Atherton. Atherton grabs Inara by the arm, hard, and starts pulling her off the dance floor. ATHERTON: Money changed hands, which makes you mine for tonight. No matter how you dress yourself, you’re still a— A hefty PUNCH knocks Atherton to the floor. JAYNE (VO): Now, Ma, I couldn’t let a troll like Atherton Wing say what he was going to say. Atherton looks up, shielding his eyes from the light of the chandelier, to see JAYNE, decked out in a fine outfit complete with a white COWBOY HAT. JAYNE: I believe the lady said no, sha gua . The music stops playing and the guests stop dancing. INARA (pleased but worried): Oh, Captain… JAYNE (VO): Now, I know I shouldn’ta used cuss words, Ma, but that guy, he just gets me all worked up… JAYNE: What? The hwoon dahn deserved it. ATHERTON (standing): I accept! STEWARD: There has been a challenge! Atherton is on his feet. ATHERTON: I hope you're prepared, captain. JAYNE: What in the ruttin’ hell for? A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, takes off Atherton coat and gives him a fancy SWORD. At the same time: STEWARD: A duel has been called. Honour must be satisfied. JAYNE: Honour!? That boy got less honour than a slaver. Least they’re honest ‘bout who they are. Atherton, now armed, rushes at Jayne and takes a SWING at him. Jayne jumps back, avoiding the blade. JAYNE: Hey! INARA: Here, my brave Captain! She THROWS him a sword from the side of the circle of guests that has formed around the two duellists. Jayne deftly catches it and PARRIES Atherton’s next attack. Atherton tries to jab Jayne, but again Jayne defends. Jayne swings at Atherton, who stumbles but manages to throw the attack off and makes an attack of his own. The blade cuts into Jayne’s side, drawing blood and cutting his shirt. Jayne winces and looks down at the cut. JAYNE: That’s my best shirt, gorramit! Jayne CHARGES Atherton, who SWINGS round, out of the way. Jayne turns back and suddenly they are in a whirl of blades. Initially, Jayne advances with superb skill. But then, Atherton gets in a well-timed kick - forcing Jayne back against a pillar. Atherton raises his sword arm for the decisive blow, and SWINGS – At the last second, Jayne DODGES the blade, and HEAD BUTTS him. Atherton falls, his sword CLATTERING to the floor at his side. Silence around the room. Then: STEWARD: You have to finish it, lad. For a man to lie beaten and yet breathing, it makes him a coward. INARA: It's a humiliation. JAYNE: Sure. It would be humiliating, having to lie there while the better man refuses to slice you open and spill your guts all over this fancy dance floor. Mercy is the mark of a great man. (beat) Which is what I am. He steps back. Everyone starts CLAPPING in rapturous admiration of ‘Captain Jayne,’ as Inara starts walking seductively over to him. JAYNE (VO): So there I was, Ma, the whole room clappin’ and cheerin’ for what I done. Seems Atherton and his cronies weren’t too popular with a lot of folk, and me, the space captain, come in and done them a world of right. Jayne takes Inara’s hand and pulls her into a passionate embrace. JAYNE (VO, cont’d): I took the princess in my arms and she said— INARA: Kiss me Jayne… Oh, Jayne. Jayne! JAYNE! WASH (VO): Jayne! Jayne! INT. SERENITY – DINING ROOM – DAY Jayne, wearing his ORANGE WOOLY HAT, sits at the dining table, writing. His face is screwed up in concentration. WASH leans across the table, and clicks his fingers in front of Jayne’s face. WASH: Jayne! Hello? I thought the fact that the engine is off and the sun is shining through the roof there might have given away that we landed five minutes ago. Jayne swats Wash’s hand away and continues to write. JAYNE (VO): Well, we left Persephone soon after I dealt with Atherton and rescued Inara. We set off on our next job. I had noticed that some of the crew, mostly notably my cabin boy, Mal, had become pretty— WASH: …It’s finally time to get these fu chòu fish off the ship. I thought you’d be jumping at the opportu— Wash peers down at the pile of papers on the table. WASH (cont’d): You’re writing? (mock-enthralled) It’s like watching a monkey ride a bicycle… JAYNE (VO): —distracted of late. It’s kind of a common prob— WASH: Is it a dirty letter to a special lady? No reply. JAYNE (VO): —lem in space, but like I always say— WASH: A dirty letter to a special man? Jayne doesn’t reply, though his face betrays his annoyance. JAYNE (VO): “If you can’t hack it out in the black, don’t pick your feet up from the…urh... dirt.” WASH: You know, if it’s a dirty letter, just say and I’ll- Jayne SLAMS his fist down on the table. JAYNE: Gorramit, Wash! Don’t that huge yapper of yours ever shut up?! Wash stands there looking smug. Jayne stands, looking very angry at Wash. Wash’s smugness fades. KAYLEE pokes her head in. KAYLEE: Cap’n says come on! Jorgensen wants to get us unloaded, then he's gonna have us for dinner! Jayne is already out of his chair, pushing past Wash and tucking his letter away. JAYNE: Ooh. Free food!

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