SHADOWS PUPPETS By Shayz

ACT III

INT. SERENITY – INFIRMARY – CONTINUING

Jessica is watching Mal and Book with suspicion.

BOOK: Easy, child…

JESSICA: I’m no child, mister. Now, answer my question. Who the hell are you? (looks around) Wait a…where am I?

MAL: My ship.

JESSICA: Your…I don’t understand. Who are you?

MAL: Who am…?

JESSICA (not waiting): What have you done with The Mystic. Where’s my crew?

RIVER (comes inside): Gone…all gone.

MAL: You were alone in a shuttle…losing life support.

BOOK: We brought you aboard…saved you.

JESSICA: You attacked us!

BOOK/MAL: No…

JESSICA: Shuttle…what shuttle?

Kaylee rushes inside all smiles.

KAYLEE: Captain, computer’s–

Jessica jerks off the table and backs up into the counter. She pulls a drawer out behind her back, searching with her hands while keeping eyes on the others. She checks out the situation with wide, wandering eyes and quick furtive jerks of her head – cat in a corner.

KAYLEE (cont.)(to Jess): Oh hey, you’re awake! (beat) You don’t look happy to be awake. (looks to Mal and Book)

Finding nothing useful in the drawer, Jessica backs farther away.

JESSICA: Who’s she?

MAL: Hold on…This is Kaylee, my mechanic. This here’s Book—he’s a shepherd, I’m Mal…Malcolm Reynolds…

Mal waits but doesn’t get any reaction or recognition from her.

KAYLEE (whisper): Should I get Simon?

Mal nods. River catches Mal’s eye.

RIVER: All gone…

MAL (to Jess): You’re on Serenity. We’re not going to hurt you. Now, who are you?

JESSICA: Serenity? (still watchful) Jessica Lee.

MAL: Lee? Not Halladay?

JESSICA: What? I said Lee!

MAL: Fine…welcome aboard Miss Lee.

JESSICA (looking out the windows): Mrs.

Mal just got gut-punched and takes a slight step back.

JESSICA (cont.): How long? How long have I been here?

BOOK: About a full day. There’s no need to be frightened. If your hungry, we have breakfast.

Jessica backs her way around the counter toward the door, keeping a good distance between herself and the others.

JESSICA: I need a star chart. Location—

MAL (blocks her): Whoa now…can’t have you running around—

JESSICA: I have to find them. They need me…need help.

Half asleep, Simon shows up with Kaylee.

JESSICA (cont.): I need to go—

SIMON: I really should check—

JESSICA: Great, more people. (trans: Get the hell out of my way).

MAL: Not gonna happen ‘til the doc here checks you out. You’re not the only one needin’ answers ‘bout now.

RIVER: Distressed.

BOOK: Understatement.

RIVER: Two-in-one… Didn’t see. Didn’t hear. All confused.

JESSICA: Nî bù dông …we were being attacked. I don’t know…how I…they’re dying!

RIVER: They’re dead.

JESSICA: What?!

RIVER: Two by two…hands of blue. Reach in…take…

Jessica’s eyes widen in fear. She backs up to the far edge of the exam table, clutching her stomach, seeming ready to heave. Book motions to Kaylee and Mal.

BOOK: Perhaps we should let the doctor look after his patient.

As Book, Kaylee and Mal move into—

INT. SERENITY – COMMON AREA – CONTINUING

--CURSING, Jessica charges full force behind them, knocks Kaylee to the floor, staggers Book and Mal off-balance and races away (heading toward cargo bay) before anyone can stop her.

Simon goes to help Kaylee, but Mal is already getting her up.

MAL (to Kaylee): Ni meí shì bà?

KAYLEE: Wô hâo, Cap, just a bump or two. You should find her…

BOOK: I agree. Remember the last woman that ran around unchecked?

Mal glares at Book.

BOOK (cont.): No excuses, Captain…this one’s not naked.

MAL: Gunkai, preacher. (Mal stomps off.)

INT. SERENITY – INFIRMARY – CONTINUING

Simon leans out of the doorway.

SIMON (to Book): Now, see, if I’d said what you just did, he’d’ve hit me…hard. Again.

RIVER (thinking out loud; giddy): Two-in-one…I should have done that.

INT. CORRIDOR – CONTINUING

Mal’s checking every turn, stairwell and hidey-hole along the route.

INT. CARGO BAY – CONTINUING

Jessica rushes into the bay and stops cold at the sight of the shuttle. She takes her time getting over to the open door only to be startled by Mal coming up behind her.

Jayne is doing pull-ups and drops to watch the spectacle.

MAL: You shouldn’t rush about like that…you could get hurt.

JAYNE: Who’s she?

Mal waves Jayne off.

JAYNE (cont.): She from that tug-boat…cause I’m lookin’ for some compensation—

Mal glares at him and Jayne goes back to his exercises with a “hmmff”, but he keeps an eye on the newest passenger.

Jessica runs a trembling hand over the shuttle hull then steps inside.

INT. SHUTTLE – CONTINUING

Mal comes inside and finds Jessica staring at the gaping hole in the floor. She points at it, looks at Mal, shakes her head and looks at the floor again.

MAL (cont.): Yeah, that’s where we found ya, all mummy-like in your fancy get-up.

JESSICA: How…why?

MAL: Well, now…that’s just what we were all wonderin’. Y’sure you don’t remember?

JESSICA: I’ve never seen this thing before.

She drops into the hideout and does a slow turn then sits on the edge so she’s facing Mal. She studies the metal covers pushed aside, runs a finger around the rim of the hold, then looks up at Mal again.

JESSICA (cont.): It’d be flush. How’d you know to get me out?

MAL: Magic.

Jessica flashes a quick smile and Mal has to take a breath. Luckily for him, Kaylee shows up right on time, bright and shiny.

KAYLEE: Hey Cap. (sees Jess) Hello again.

Jessica raises a weak wave to Kaylee, but the smile’s gone.

KAYLEE (cont.): Figured you’d be here. Thought you might wanna take a gander at the systems…see if you can get a feel for any of it. (to Mal) You mind, Cap?

MAL: No, no…go ‘bout your business.

Kaylee takes the pilot’s chair and pops a few switches, keys-in on the computer and the interior lights come on as the shuttle warms up.

KAYLEE: Have to draw some juice from Serenity…she’s not mindin’ though. I’ve got some workin’s in the engine room that’ll get everything powered up proper in no time. This baby’s in pretty condition, considering…

JESSICA: Considering what?

KAYLEE: It got sparked up somethin’ good some time back.

Zoe and Wash show up at the door.

WASH: Is there a party? (sees Jess) Whoa, hey…look who’s wide awake. (to Zoe) See who’s awake, hun?

Zoe gives Wash her “watch-it” glare.

Jessica rubs her hands over her face…too much information…too many people. Mal motions to Wash and Zoe to take it out into the bay…he follows.

INT. SERENITY – CARGO BAY – CONTINUING

Zoe, Wash and Mal move away from the shuttle, out of earshot. Jayne decides to eavesdrop.

MAL: There’s a bit of a snag.

WASH: Uh oh.

MAL: That’s not…who I thought it was.

ZOE: I don’t understand.

MAL: Me neither. She doesn’t know the shuttle…or how she got here. Or me.

WASH: Amnesia? Isn’t that kinda old—

MAL: It’s not that…at least not completely. She knows who she is, where she’s from, just not how she got to us.

ZOE: Could be a trap, sir. An Alliance craft—she could be some sort of scout. Looking for Simon and River.

MAL: Not likely, she’s met both and done nothin’ about it.

JAYNE: I don’t like it. Can’t trust nobody livin’ off Alliance crap.

MAL: Wash, check the Cortex…quiet like. Look for a ship: The Mystic.

WASH (sigh): Back to the grind.

Wash rushes up the stairs toward the bridge.

MAL: Wash?

Wash stops and looks down.

MAL (cont.): And Jessica Lee. Mrs. Jessica Lee.

WASH: Got it.

Zoe’s watching Mal.

ZOE: So? Now what?

MAL: We wait. Stay on course. Wash finds anything…we deal.

JAYNE: What kinda deal? The kind where we actually get paid for doin’ stuff?

INT. SHUTTLE – CONTINUING

Kaylee’s at the computer. Jessica is still sitting on the edge of the secret hold, trying to grasp the situation – zoning out, pretty freaked, but trying to keep calm.

KAYLEE: Here we go. Seems the manifest got wiped. Probably from the shock… fried a bit of your memory…computer memory, I mean. No personal logs or nothin’.

Jessica gets up and joins Kaylee, standing at her shoulder and looking at the read-out.

JESSICA: Anything survive?

KAYLEE: Course bearing… wode tìan—

JESSICA: What’s wrong?

KAYLEE: Oh, nothing much…just a long…long way, that you managed to travel…in this bitty little shuttle.

JESSICA: Shénme?

Kaylee scoots out of the seat and backs away from Jessica, going to the open shuttle door. Jessica takes the pilot’s chair and studies the display.

JESSICA: This isn’t possible. We were near The Core…just outside Olympus.

KAYLEE: Captain?

MAL (O.S.): Yeah.

Mal comes inside. Zoe stands at the open hatch, listening.

KAYLEE: I think I might know where the electric surge came from.

Kaylee points at the display, and Mal moves in to look over Jessica’s shoulder.

MAL: Qingwa cào de liúmáng! (looks at Kaylee) Magnetic grappler?

Kaylee nods.

MAL (cont.) (to Jessica): What were you doing that far out from the border?

Mal turns Jessica’s chair so she’s facing him. She’s pale and scared silent.

MAL (cont.): Only wicked-crazy people trample in on Reaver territory.

ZOE (leaning inside): Reavers?!

JAYNE (OS): Someone say REAVERS!

Jessica covers her mouth, about to be sick and they let her off the shuttle, but follow her out into—

INT. SERENITY – CARGO BAY – CONTINUING

Zoe steps aside. Jessica emerges from the shuttle and stoops over, taking deep breaths, trying to stave off spewing all over the place. Mal and Kaylee follow her out. Jayne’s keeping his distance.

JESSICA: This isn’t real. I’m sleeping…have to be.

Mal makes a move toward her and she jumps and backs away from him. Kaylee rushes off toward the infirmary.

JESSICA (cont.): Stay back. (laughs) Course, you’re not real so what does it matter? (to herself) A dream…sure, why not. Or maybe I’m dead…ship’s been attacked…

INT. SERENITY – CORRIDOR – OUTSIDE CARGO BAY – CONTINUING

Kaylee almost runs into River. River moves aside and clings to the cargo bay door, but doesn’t go inside.

KAYLEE: River…is Simon still—

RIVER: He can’t help. He tries…but can’t.

KAYLEE: Maybe he can.

RIVER: Not this time.

Kaylee rushes off anyway.

River turns so she can see into the bay…she watches.

INT. SERENITY – CARGO BAY – CONTINUING

Mal and Zoe stand together near the shuttle while Jessica paces, mumbling to herself. Jayne moves closer to the action, coming up behind Jessica—she doesn’t seem to know he’s there.

ZOE: Another snag, sir?

MAL: Don’t start.

JESSICA (spins toward them): Hell! I’m in hell…with a bunch of strangers…

JAYNE: That just plain rude.

JESSICA (cont.)(to self): Why? I’m not a bad person…good wife…do my job…pay my taxes…what’d I do to get here?

ZOE: Think she’s losin’ it sir.

MAL: Really? Didn’t notice. (to Jessica) Now, Serenity may not look like much, but this ain’t hell. You’re on a ship. We—

JESSICA: Ahhh…so you say…but if I was in hell…wouldn’t you be trying to talk me out of knowing it?

JAYNE: That makes sense.

Mal flashes Jayne a “you’re an idiot” look.

MAL (to Jessica): What’s the last thing you remember?

RIVER: Not right.

MAL (to River): Not now.

RIVER: Wrong one.

JAYNE: What’s she sayin'?

Jessica stops and thinks…she takes a bit of time then a smile hits her.

JESSICA: Ah…making supper. That’s normal…protein…a few spices. Mae-ling managed to grow some beans (happy beat) that girl has such a green thumb…

Kaylee and Simon arrive, but Mal motions to them to stay away. Simon lifts the medical bag in hand, but Mal shakes his head no. Kaylee and Simon hang back.

MAL (to Jessica) Lovely. What next?

JESSICA: I started calling everyone in…and we hit something…or got hit. The Mystic shook, green beans went all over the floor—

MAL: What else?

JESSICA: Fuzzy. Just bits and pieces…like I’d been drinkin’ or somethin’. I was in the kitchen…then, I…where was I? The cargo hold…someone was talkin’ to me…some woman telling me to go to sleep. But I had to find him. There was all this screamin’ and…blood everywhere— (stares at hands) And I saw them—

River moves into the bay and comes up to Jessica. Simon reaches for his sister but misses.

RIVER: Two by two…hands of blue.

JESSICA (looks at River; tears in eyes): Yes.

JAYNE: Not that again. Look, we’re already peakin’ on our crazy load…we don’t need—

WASH (on com; OS): Mal?

MAL (presses com button): Yeah, Wash.

WASH (on com; OS): Got a hit on the ship…a bit interesting.

MAL: Isn’t everything. Go ahead.

WASH (on com; OS): The Mystic, a cargo vessel last known drop at Olympus, captain’s name Craig Lee—

Jessica perks up and waits eagerly, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Mal and Zoe are watching her.

MAL (to Jessica): Want more?

Jessica nods.

MAL (cont.) Keep going, Wash.

WASH (on com; OS): Looks like the ship got contaminated by some unknown contagion… no survivors.

JESSICA: What!? That’s a lie!

Moving quickly, River closes the gap between her and Jessica. She grasps Jessica’s hand and gives it a squeeze.

MAL: Anything else?

WASH (on com; OS): A…yeah…this report’s three years old.

River lets go as Jessica’s eyes go wide and she faints dead away. River backs off as the others move in, including Simon and Kaylee. Everyone’s talking at once, over each other.

SIMON: Let me help her.

ZOE: How’s that possible?

WASH (on com; OS): Jessica Lee was listed as a casualty.

JAYNE: I knew somethin’ wasn’t right.

KAYLEE: She couldn’t have been floatin’ in the black for three years.

WASH (on com; OS): Mal?

SIMON: She needs room…please step back.

MAL: Yeah, Wash?

WASH (on com; OS): She’s supposed to be dead.

MAL: It’s not the first time.

JESS comes too rather suddenly, jumps up and knocks Simon on his butt. Kaylee moves in to help her up, but Jess backs away and bumps (her back) into Jayne (his front), who grabs her shoulders.

Instantly Jessica attacks Jayne with some fluid judo moves and flips him over her shoulder. He lands on his back on the floor with a hard THUD. She puts her boot against his throat.

JESS: Never do that.

JAYNE (choking): What’d I do?

MAL: He didn’t mean any—

Jess turns and sees Mal—for the first time since fainting—and immediately she smiles like a love-sick girl, rushes at him and jumps in his arms, wrapping her legs about his waist and kissing him square on the mouth.

WASH (on com; OS): What’s going on?

END ACT III