Script idea by WhooDahn

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Script idea

POSTED BY: WHOODAHN
UPDATED: Monday, June 23, 2003 10:07
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Monday, June 23, 2003 7:18 AM

I thought I would try to write a script. It's my first attempt, so please be kind. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

Firefly

"Two by Two"
Written by: Whoodahn
DRAFT: June 23, 2003

INT. SERENITY HALLWAY
MAL is moving down the hall, he's angry. SIMON is right behind him, he's frustrated.

MAL: NO, NO, NO, Gorramn it, I said NO. (keeps walking)

SIMON: I…We…she needs more medication. We need money to buy the medication.

They pass through the kitchen, still arguing. JAYNE is sitting at the table eating something with his knife. KAYLEE is standing close by watching MAL and SIMON go down the hall.

MAL and SIMON pass the quarters just as WASH and ZOE are coming out.

SIMON: He will help, I know he will. We are almost out of her medication, I've been reducing the dosage trying to get it to last as long as I can but she's getting worse….

As they pass WASH and ZOE,

WASH: I think it's a good idea. Don't I? Do I think it's a good idea?

ZOE gives him a look that would fry wallpaper and they move down the hall.

MAL and SIMON have reached the cargo bay, MAL turns and confronts SIMON.

MAL: OK, OK, just STOP! If I did go along with this gorramn plan of yours, how are you going to get in touch with him?

INARA (off scene) I could send a message.

MAL and SIMON turn and see INARA by her shuttle entrance.

MAL: See! And there's the problem. What are you going to say? I need money for my lunatic sister and oh by the way we are on a ship run by outlaws and our next stop is New Haven?

INARA turns and walks back to her shuttle, SIMON stares at MAL

INT shot of dining room. Jayne is still eating and Kaylee is standing close by. Book walks into the kitchen and gets a cup of tea

BOOK: What's that all about?

JAYNE: I say we should let them go, they ain't been nothing but trouble since we picked them up. I had me a dog with fleas that was less trouble than them.

BOOK looks at JAYNE strangely

JAYNE: I loved that dog

KAYLEE: It's Simon.

BOOK: What happened to him?

JAYNE: I ate him

KAYLEE: (looking dazed, sad) They want to go home

ZOE and WASH are back in the cockpit

WASH: So what's wrong with him calling his dad? Isn't that a good idea? Family being with family and all? Sitting around the table at night, everyone happy. (wistful look) One dad, one husband, no captain. Did I say captain? I meant cat, cat! I don't like cats, do I like cats?

ZOE: If he contacts his family it could give away our position.

WASH: Couldn't we just drop them off somewhere? They could wait until we leave and then call home, everyone lives happily ever after.

ZOE: What if their dad doesn't show up? Do we leave them stranded? Do we go back and get them and take a chance on the Alliance waiting for us? He wants to contact his dad first, before we drop him off.

WASH: Oh, that's a bad thing. Right?

SIMON has left the cargo bay and is checking on RIVER in her room

SIMON: It's Ok RIVER, it's ok. We'll find a way to get home.

RIVER is curled up in the corner of her bed with her hands blocking her ears, rocking back and forth.

RIVER: Stay, Go, Stay, Go, Stay, Go, Stay, Go….(she continues to chant as SIMON watches her.

As MAL turns to leave the cargo area, INARA comes out of her shuttle and blocks his way.

INARA: (softly) You like them. You don't want them to go.

MAL: We have a business arrangement, nothing more. I do the flying, he does the doctoring. I don't mix personal feeling with business arrangements.

INARA: (harder) I see.

MAL: Lookit, I got something the Alliance wants and they can't get. That gives me a warm feeling.

WASH calls over the loudspeaker

WASH: Cap'n, Cap'n, can you come to the bridge if you aren't busy? We got a little problem.

MAL heads up front, INARA is right on his heels. As he enters the bridge, SIMON, BOOK and INARA are right behind him

MAL: (Looks around) Did you say Captain? Is this my day to Captain? (glares at the rest of them)

WASH: Mal, we're low on fuel, we left Verbena in kinda of a hurry and we didn't get any fuel. We need to set down. Soon.

SIMON looks at WASH, looks at MAL and then turns and goes to his room. BOOK watches him go, then looks to see if the others are watching him and then follows SIMON.

SIMONS room, he's has a piece of paper and starting to write, BOOK walks in.

BOOK: Mind if I come in? (sits down. Simon just looks at him) Are you sure he will help you? You didn't leave on good terms did you?

SIMON: I'm sure. Once he knows River is Ok, I'm sure he'll want us to come home.

FLASHBACK to scene from SERENITY where Simons father has just bailed him out of jail and tells him that he wont do it again.

SIMON: I'm sure.

BOOK: (notices blank paper) Then why are you having a hard time deciding what to say to him?

A loud crash startles both of them, they jump up and rush toward the kitchen.

BOOK and SIMON reach the kitchen the same time MAL, INARA and ZOE get there. KAYLEE comes from her quarters, her eyes are red.

RIVER is sitting on the kitchen table. There is a pile of garbage, food, pots and pans all around her. All of the cabinet doors are open with supplies hanging out. She is rocking back and forth with her hands over her ears.

RIVER: Stay, Go, Stay, Go, Stay, Go, Stay, Go….(she continues to chant)

MAL: I think your sister needs some doctoring

Later, the kitchen is clean and the entire crew is sitting together except RIVER.

BOOK: I think they should do what they need to do.

INARA: I agree

WASH: They should be with family. One dad, one husband, no cat….(ZOE glares at him)

MAL: Just wait one gorramn minute. This is my ship, it ain't no democracy.

INARA: It isn't a slave ship. They should be able to leave if they want.

JAYNE: We just jettisoned two weeks of supplies. I'm goin to be getting might hungry. I say we just kick them out the air lock and be done with it. (he looks around to see if River heard him, when he sees she isn't there, he smiles self confidently)

BOOK: Look, she needs her medicine. The longer she goes without her medicine, the worse she'll get. I say she goes where she can get help.

MAL and ZOE look at BOOK wondering if he is talking about her home or an Alliance hospital.

KAYLEE: (still red eyed) We'll be needed fuel soon.

ZOE: I don't like it sir, if they contact anyone while we're planet side, we'll have Alliance ships all over us.

KAYLEE: We can't just drop them off! What if they get caught? Simon is smart but he ain't ..you know…smart.

MAL: Wash, set a course for New Haven. (Looking at INARA) You've been wanting to leave, now's your chance. (he walks away)

EXT shot of Serenity, Inara's shuttle detaches and heads toward the planet.

INT shot of Inara's shuttle. Simon and River are with her.

INARA: Once we land on the planet, you can find a public vid-phone and contact your father. You both can stay on my shuttle until he arrives. When I have clients…

SIMON: We'll find something to do. Thank you.

INARA: I knew one day we would all go our separate ways. I just didn't think it would be like this (she turns away so he can't see her face)

Back on Serenity; They are on the planet, in spaceport getting fuel and supplies. Mal, Jayne, Wash and Zoe are in the bridge.

MAL: We all fueled up? Where's the shepherd?

ZOE: I think he is still in town sir. He said he had some business to attend to.

MAL: Well, Well. I wonder what could be so important that our shepherd couldn't wait to get to town.

Book arrives at the bridge just in time to hear the end of Mal's comment, still breathing hard from the trip from town.

BOOK: There is a brother at the local Abbey. I've been promising him that I would visit the next time we, I, was in the area.

MAL: Right. Well…let's load up and get off this gorramn planet. (looking at Book) unless you want to stay here at the local Abbey and be all shepherd like with the local brothers. There must be quite a flock out there just waiting for you. There ain't as many sinners on Serenity as there were and them ones that is left is beyond saving.

BOOK: (looking Mal straight in the eye) I paid my fare and this isn't my destination. (turns and walks away)

MAL: Ok! Wash, Kaylee, lets get this thing in the air. Too much planet time makes me nervous.

Serenity rises from the planet. As the ship breaks orbit…

WASH: Mal! There are three Alliance cruisers headed this way!
MAL: Have they seen us?

WASH: I don't think so, they haven't changed course.

MAL: Point us toward the dark side of the planet and go dark. Maybe they wont see us.

Wash changes course, shuts down the engines and starts shutting off the lights.

EXT shot of Serenity. The last light goes out and the ship is dark. The ship drifts.

Mal, Zoe and Wash are on the bridge, the only light is the view screen.

WASH: Mal…it's not us they are after. They are headed toward the city. They're after Inara.

Mal races down the hall and breaks into Books room, he pulls his gun and levels it at Books head. Book was praying by candlelight and is still kneeling with his Bible in his hands. He looks up and the barrel is touching his forehead

MAL: What did you tell them? Did you tell the Alliance where to find them and then come back here to keep an eye on us? (he cocks the gun) What did you tell them?

INT shot of Simon's parents home. His father is sitting at the desk listening to a message from Simon. Simons voice "…on New Haven, we're with a friend and we'll stay until we hear from you. River is looking forward to seeing both of you" The message ends. Simons father sits for a minute, thinking. Then he reaches for the vid-phone. He is wearing BLUE GLOVES.

INT of the Alliance cruiser. Two men in suits are standing on the bridge, they are wearing blue gloves. The officer is looking at his view screen

MAN #1: Ignore the Firefly, continue to the town. (The officer looks at the two men and then nods to the pilot)

Ext shot; The Alliance cruisers pass the Serenity and ignore the ship. After they pass, the lights and engines come back on.

INT shot; Books room. Mal still has the gun on Books head.

BOOK: I told you I was at the Abbey. If you want to shoot me, go ahead. I think it's bad business shooting your passengers, you wont get any repeat customers. (beat) I think Inara needs our help. Don't you?

Wash comes up behind Mal

WASH: It's Inara, she's asking permission to dock.
Mal, Wash, Zoe and Kaylee are at the docking area when Inara's shuttle door opens. Simon is the first one out with his medical bag, he starts to run down the hall toward sickbay and stops. Inara comes out of the shuttle and stops, looking the same direction Simon is. River comes out behind Inara. She is wearing men's clothes and a painted on mustache. It's Simons attempt at a disguise. The rest of the crew turn and see Book walk into the area.

SIMON: I, we, we were told you were hurt.

INARA: We had a message that the Shepherd was seriously hurt and needed medical attention. When we saw the Alliance we thought it was a trick but they went right by us. What's going on?

River is playing with her fake mustache and has one side of it smeared across her face.

MAL: Wash, take us out of here, slowly. We don't want to draw any attention. (To Inara and Simon) Who sent the message?

SIMON: (Still looking at Book, looking confused) We don't know, he didn't identify himself. We thought it was one of your friends.

BOOK: Well I'm glad you're back. You have no idea what happened while you were gone, (glances at Mal) how's River?

SIMON: I had a chance to buy a little more medication. She'll be ok for a while.

KAYLEE: Your father?

SIMON: I didn't hear from him, I don't know if he got my message or not. I guess it doesn't matter now.

MAL: You're darn right. Ain't no way we are going back now.

Later, Book is in his room, on his knees praying. He looks up while clutching his Bible

BOOK: Thank you.

***************

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Monday, June 23, 2003 8:44 AM

CANADIANJON

Ahhh! that was great! (Simon's father is one of them!) But what happens next?

Imagine if Joss actually planned to go that direction in the movie.

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Monday, June 23, 2003 9:16 AM

WHOODAHN

I always thought it was odd that Simons father didn't want to help him get River from the Alliance. I always wondered if his father was the one that sent River to the Alliance.

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Monday, June 23, 2003 10:07 AM

AMNON

Has anyone read Ender's Game/Shadow or the later books by Card? I think that 'someone' noticed how brilliant Simon was, and the government requisitioned another child (possibly genetically 'tweaked') who would be even more brilliant, and would be usefull at the Academy.
Otherwise Tam Sr.'s complete lack of worry for his daughter makes little sense.

Just my $0.02

--Amnon

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