INT. TOWN HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS – DAY

The Town Hall has been converted into a makeshift church. SHEPHERD BOOK, at a podium, finishes his sermon to a crowd of fifty or so TOWNSFOLK.

BOOK: …When you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. Word of the Lord. Amen.

In the front pew is the LORD GOVERNOR, dressed in his Sunday finest, surrounded by the UPPER CLASS. The pews behind him are filled with PEASANTS and those less fortunate.

BOOK (cont’d): And now let us consider our Lord’s words as we sing the next hymn, and take a collection for those less fortunate than ourselves.

The collection plate is passed as the people SING “What a friend we have in Jesus” accompanied by an OUT-OF-TUNE PIANO.

The plate passes to the Lord Governor and he drops in a single coin with some disdain. The rich folk sing reserved, while the poor sing with smiles.

INT. SERENITY – CARGO HOLD – DAY

Music, a CLASSICAL WALTZ, comes from the future equivalent of a PHONOGRAPH. SIMON and KAYLEE dance, just a little too awkwardly, since he’s apparently teaching her the steps.

RIVER is nearby, mimicking them, dancing with an invisible partner.

SIMON: No, wait, your—

KAYLEE: That was your foot, wasn’t it?

Simon nods and the two of them laugh and lean into each other. Kaylee begins to apologize, but the CARGO DOOR opens and in rushes MAL and JAYNE, followed by ZOE.

They’re out of breath, lugging large canvas bags. Mal and Jayne are clearly in good spirits, and Zoe is watching their back.

The dancing stops, but the music continues.

KAYLEE: How’d it go, Cap’n?

Mal shucks his bags and heads to Simon, claps him on the shoulder.

MAL: Your plan worked perfect.

SIMON (uncomfortable): It wasn’t a plan, Captain. It was a joke.

JAYNE: Still, Doc… If I didn’t know better, I’d think you was some sorta criminal genius rather’n dandified pretty-boy.

WASH comes in, down the STAIRS from the kitchen.

KAYLEE: Jayne!

JAYNE: What? Said he was pretty, didn’t I?

Zoe lays down her bags, walks to Wash.

SIMON: Captain, I really don’t think Shepherd Book would be happy to know—

MAL: What Shepherd don’t know won’t hurt him.

JAYNE: ‘Sides, good book says the Lord helps them as help ‘emselves.

RIVER: No, it doesn’t. I checked.

Everyone ignores River. Zoe and Wash hug. Before Simon can protest further—

WASH: Did we get the goods? Will someone tell me we got the goods?

ZOE: We certainly got the goods, sweetie.

Jayne has put down most of his bags and now digs through one.

JAYNE: And them some!

He pulls out a huge fistful of GRAPES, beautiful and succulent. Kaylee and River are on him in a flash.

RIVER: Forbidden fruit!

WASH: We have food! Fresh food! Lord does help those who help themselves!

Kaylee takes a few grapes and wanders back toward Simon and Mal. River, mouth full of grapes, hovers near Jayne (well, near the rest of the grapes, anyway), chewing noisily.

MAL (to Simon): Look, son, it’s better this way. Don’t have to draw guns. No risk o’ hurt to nobody.

The music abruptly changes to a JAUNTIER TUNE. Wash, having just adjusted the future-phonograph, his cheeks full of grapes, shrugs at the crowd.

He holds out his hand to Zoe, who moves to him. They sway together to the music, more hugging than dancing.

Kaylee grabs Simon and they join them, with Kaylee leading, and Simon awkwardly – but enthusiastically – following the tune. This music is her world, not his.

River looks around excitedly, some disappointment on her face at having been left out. She turns to Jayne, who scowls… but, after a beat, he joins her in a crazy, wheeling jig. They’re a comical couple, she small, slender, and smooth, he a lumbering hulk.

In the center of it, Mal breathes deep and for a moment, all is right with the ‘verse. This is his ship, his crew… his family. It’s a good day for Malcolm Reynolds.

MAL: Dance it up while you can, folks. I wanna be off this rock soon as Shepherd’s back. Wouldn’t do for his majesty the Lord Governor to wander home from a very fine sermon to find out what we done to his greenhouse… Not to mention his safe.

Wash looks up a little from Zoe.

WASH: Wave came from an old friend while you were out, Mal. Sounded urgent.

Mal nods and walks up the stairs to the CATWALK. He watches his crew dance until he almost slams into INARA.

INARA: Mal.

MAL: Inara.

There’s a world of awkward between them. DOWN BELOW, no one seems to notice. Except Zoe.

MAL: Um… Grape?

Inara smiles a little, takes the grapes, and moves past without another word.

INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE – DAY

Mal enters, stands for a moment, pensive. His day’s not quite as good any more. He moves to sit, but—

ZOE (OS): Sir?

He turns. Zoe’s in the hall, just a few steps behind him, a look of mild concern on her face.

Mal leans against the doorframe.

MAL: It’s nothin’… It’s just…

Zoe waits.

MAL (cont’d): Nothin’.

A beat. Mal realizes he’s got to give her something.

MAL (cont’d): We been runnin’ on too little coin and too much trouble for far too long.

ZOE: We sell the Lassiter, that’ll solve half the problem.

MAL: Way folks been shyin’ away from us, that don’t look to be happenin’ any time soon.

Zoe gives a small “True enough” nod.

MAL (cont’d): Truth is, we took more green than gold on this job. This keeps up, I’m like to call Badger to see what he got.

ZOE: Sir, is that really a good idea?

Mal smiles brightly, deflecting any concern.

MAL: Best I check that wave. Might be it’s Blue Sun tellin’ me I won their big lottery.

ZOE: Didn’t think you gambled, sir.

Mal smiles; Zoe turns and leaves.

Mal throws himself into the pilot’s seat and fiddles with a few dials, bringing up a wave. One of the SCREENS comes alive with an image of BERNABE. Mid-thirties, he’s a little heavier than Mal, a little shaggier of mane, but considerably less world-weary. They two could probably pass for brothers, or at least cousins.

MAL: Bernabe, how’ve you been?

BERNABE: Mal! Been a dog’s age since we’ve seen you around here.

MAL: Now, wait now. Dogs on your world have shortened life spans?

Mal leans back. It’s good to hear from an old friend.

BERNABE: Maybe. Maybe so. Maybe we all do… (a beat) Could use your help, Mal. Have a job need’s doing. Don’t pay much at all, but I can promise three squares to you and yours as long as you like. Whenever you like.

MAL: You know I’d love to help you out, but I got more’n just mouths to feed—

BERNABE: Haven’s pretty far out in the black, Mal, but it seems every day there’s more trouble headed this way. Rumors of Reavers, pirates… Now slavers. Word is they hit Caridad last week.

MAL: Caridad? That ain’t but a few moons away from you. Me and my crew, we ain’t got but a few light arms…

BERNABE: Ain’t lookin’ for you to fight for us, Mal. We need pick-up and delivery of somethin’ damned sight bigger’n a few pistols. A big stick to knock them birds right outta the sky.

MAL: Where’s the pick-up?

BERNABE: Fort Liberty.

Mal grimaces. He’s torn. He wants to help Bernabe, but...

MAL: Fort Liberty’s more’n two days burn behind me. I don’t know if I even have enough fuel—

BERNABE: We’re on the way, Mal. You make it here, we’ll fuel you up free. Before and after.

MAL: I don’t know, Bernabe. I got a passenger with an awful urgent need to go in the opposite direction—

INARA (OS): Captain? Do you have a clearer idea of when we’ll be arriving at New Melbourne? I need to—

Mal turns. Inara is just entering the cockpit.

INARA (cont’d): Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were on a call.

Mal offers here a tight smile.

MAL: No worries, Inara. Sorry to say we won’t be at New Melbourne for a while yet. Just got a job going t’other way.

She’s not happy, but also not surprised.

INARA: Of course you did.

Mal shrugs.

MAL: Business is business.

He turns to Bernabe, leaving Inara to glare at his back.

MAL (cont’d, to Bernabe): Get that fuel ready. We’ll be seein’ you soon, Bernabe.