War. The air is filled with bullets, explosions; men on the ground are taking fire from aircraft and firing back. Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds runs towards us and back to his base. Gathering his soldiers around he gives the orders for their next attack, they're gonna take out the aircraft that is causing them so much damage.

He heads out, Zoe, his second in command, covering him, quickly takes out an enemy post and, taking control of a large weapon, fires on the Alliance aircraft bringing it down. Elated by their success, Mal and Zoe return to their base only to find they have been hit again. The sound of oncoming aircraft gives them new hope, until they learn it is not their own air support come to save the day, but that they are being abandoned and told to lay down arms.

SIX YEARS LATER

Mal now captain of a Firefly class spaceship, Jayne, his muscle and Zoe, still his second and now married to the pilot, are scavenging from an old wrecked ship, blowing the vault door open they find what they were looking for, three large crates. Meanwhile, onboard their own ship, Serenity, the pilot Wash has his afternoon gaming with plastic dinosaurs disturbed by an annoying blip on his radar which tells him there is a pesky Alliance Ship heading right for them.

Alerting Mal, he, with a little help from mechanic, Kaylee, shuts down everything on the ship, making it go dark.

On board the Alliance Cruiser the Captain speaks to his ensign, they are checking out the abounded wreck, just as they are about to float on by they pick up the heat from Mal and co’s bodies. On board Serenity, alarm bells flash and Wash alerts Mal to the new danger. Grabbing their cargo, Mal, Jayne and Zoe head for home, while Wash switches on his nifty little device known as a 'cry baby'. As Serenity prepares to make good her get away, out in space the crybaby beeps and the Alliance cruiser picks up a distress signal. Fearing there may be people in distress the captain tells his ensign to follow up on the distress signal and leave the Firefly alone, but not without putting out a bulletin on Serenity.

Back on Serenity, the crew are gathered in the cargo hold checking out their ill gotten gains, Mal and Jayne open one of the crates to reveal it stacked full of what look like gold bars. While the others talk Mal picks one up and flips it, seeing it has a seal on it, he quickly flips it back and replaces it. Mal, Jayne and Kaylee stash the gear while Wash and Zoe head up to the bridge to let their agent, Badger, know they have the goods.

In her shuttle, Inara is coming to the end of her time with a client. They end their dalliance with tea and a chat. As the client leaves, Inara, returns to the cockpit and contacts Serenity, arranging to meet at the Eavesdown docks on Persephone.

Serenity lands on the dusty, dirty, bustling town of Persephone, while Wash and Kaylee look for passengers, Mal, Jayne and Zoe head off to their meet with Badger. Unfortunately, the bulletin sent by the Alliance has got to Badger before they have and he no longer wants to deal with them. Especially as the goods just happen to have the Alliance seal on them, something Mal has yet to mention.

Not happy, but outnumbered, Mal saves this fight for another day and leaves.

As they head back to the ship they discuss options, despite Zoe's sound advice not to go anywhere near Patience on Whitefall due to the fact that last time they were there she shot Mal, Mal is determined that that is their only option.

Reaching the ship they find that Wash and Kaylee have been busy taking on passengers, one Shepherd Book, a Mr Dobson and Simon, a rather elegant man travelling with a large container.

Inara returns in her shuttle, the crew is complete and they are ready to sail.

As Serenity heads into space, Mal, the crew and the passengers gather in the kitchen where Mal is laying down the law and informing them that the Alliance has ordered them to make a small stop on Whitefall to drop of some medical supplies. As the passengers gather their possessions from the cargo bay, Inara appears and Mal introduces her to Book first by her nick name, The Ambassador and, when he misunderstands, clarifyies that she is a whore. Clearly peaked Inara leaves with Kaylee.

Kaylee arrives in the kitchen with the goods Book has given her as part-payment. She takes the small box he showed her before, opens it and takes out a strawberry, taking a moment to inhale its goodness she takes a bite, closing her eyes in pure enjoyment.

Some little time later the crew and passengers, minus Wash and Inara, are sitting around the table enjoying the good food that the Shepherd has provided, clearly not what they are used to. .As general conversation turns to the doctor, Simon, it becomes clear that young Kaylee is quite smitten, but when Jayne makes a lewd comment, Mal orders him to leave the table.

After dinner Book takes a tray of supper to Inara, who is not too surprised to see him. Book is clearly bemused by the mystery of Mal and Inara admits that is exactly the reason why she likes him.

Meanwhile the man himself is washing up in his quarters when Wash calls him to the bridge over the intercom. He races to the bridge to find Wash studying a screen, he has the bad news that somebody has tried to contact the nearest Alliance ship. They got a mole on board.

Mal enters the cargo bay where Simon is checking on his large box, he knocks Simon down and aims his gun at him, accusing him of being a Fed. Simon is confused until Book points out that Mal has the wrong man. Mal and Simon look up to see Dobson pointing a gun at them, Mal lowers his weapon as Dobson explains that it's Simon he’s after primarily, but Mal ain't off the hook, he's been harbouring a known fugitive.

Behind them Kaylee comes in to see what all the shouting is about, Dobson spins around and shoots her in the stomach. Kaylee slumps to the ground, conscious but bleeding. The noise has brought more people running, Inara runs to Kaylee while Jayne and Mal reach for their guns. But it's Book who's nearest to Dobson and, with a couple of well aimed blows he knocks him out.

As Mal, Simon and Inara see to Kaylee, Jayne approaches the unconscious Dobson, murder in his eyes; Book and Zoe prevent him from doing anything more than tying him up.

Meanwhile Wash announces over the intercom that they have been hailed by an Alliance ship and told to prepare for boarding. Simon moves away from Kaylee and threatens to let her die if they don't run. Ma isn'tt happy about it, but he doesn't have a choice, they're running.

In the infirmary Mal and Inara help Simon perform surgery on Kaylee, while outside a clearly concerned Jayne watches. The operation over Mal takes action, making his way into the cargo bay. Followed by a frantic Simon, Mal opens the box Simon has been so carefully watching and looks in to find, a curled in foetal position, a naked young girl.

As Mal accuses Simon of smuggling humans, the girl awakens with a scream, she crawls naked out of the box and Simon runs to her, reassuring her. Clearly very distressed she clings to him as he tells the others she is his sister.

After taking his sister, River, to the infirmary and sedating her, Simon faces the remaining crew in the dining room. With halting words he tells them River's story. She was a talented child, excelling at everything she put her mind to when she decided to go to a government funded school. After a time Simon stopped hearing from her and when he did her letters were in a code, telling him that she was in trouble. For two years Simon tried to get her out until eventually he found some men from an underground movement who confirmed that the government were hurting the children at the River's school, playing with their brains. With their help he got her out and wound up on Persephone looking for a ride.

Most of the crew are touched by this tale but Mal is all business, they continue to Whitefall, do the job. As for Simon and his sister, if Kaylee survives they will get off at Whitefall, if she doesn't, well then they are getting off a might earlier.

The crew ain't too happy about this but Mal's word is law on his boat and he lets them know it.

As Serenity flies on toward Whitefall, Mal gives Jayne the job of getting some information out of Dobson. Dobson, however, plays Jayne well and, talking his language, money, offers him a deal.

Meanwhile on the bridge they have another problem, Wash has spotted an oncoming ship: Reavers.

Over the intercom, Mal tells the crew and passengers of the approaching Reavers, if they run the Reavers will have to give chase so they are holding course and hoping that the Reavers have no interest in them. He ends by asking Zoe to come up to the bridge. One her way she is stopped by Simon who's confused believing Reavers to be just camp fire stories. Zoe explains, and we'll do it in her words "If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh and sew our skins into their clothing and if we're very very lucky, they'll do it in that order. She heads off to join Mal and her husband.

On the bridge, Mal, Wash and Zoe watch as the Reaver ship draws closer, they hold their breath as the ship passes without changing course. A sigh of relief from all concerned.

The danger over Mal goes to see how Kaylee doing and finds her awake, if woozy, they chat for a while until her eyes close and her hands drops to the side. Mal leaves the infirmary and finds Simon in Inara's shuttle. She has been giving him some immunization packs but tells Mal she’s been doing a bit of 'business' with him. Mal leaves, clearly irked and catches up with Simon outside, telling him with a steely gaze that Kaylee is dead. Mal turns to leave, as Simon rushes to the Infirmary where he finds Kaylee safe and well and talking to BookSimon cannot believe what just happened.

Meanwhile on the bridge Mal, Jayne, Wash and Zoe are all having a good laugh at Simon's expense. Their fun is stopped by Patience hailing them from Whitefall, she agrees to their price a might to easily and Mal concludes she's planning on shooting him again. Nevertheless, they are running out of options so they are gonna have to deal with Patience and come up with a plan.

Meanwhile, in his room, Dobson is working away at his bonds with a sharp object.

Serenity is soon landing on Whitefall and Mal, Zoe and Jayne head off to the meeting place, Jayne having buried the goods first. They check out likely spots for snipers and Jayne heads off to take them out while Mal and Zoe take one last look at the valley where they'll be meeting Patience.

Back on Serenity, Book goes to Dobson's room to try and warm him that his life is in danger, he gets a blow or three to the end for his troubles and Dobson drags the unconscious Shepherd away.

On Whitefall Mal and Zoe meet up with Patience and six heavies, while up on the ridge, Jayne takes out a sniper and settles down in his place.

Back on Serenity Dobson tries to contact the Alliance but his computer's signal has been blocked, instead he grabs two guns from his back.

On Whitefall the deal is taking place, watched over by Jayne through the sniper's sight, Mal tosses the sample bar to Patience who takes a bite, confirms its legitimacy, and tosses Mal a bag of money.

Meanwhile on Serenity, River wakes up and moves to the door, where Dobson appears and grabs her, dragging her away.

Back on Whitefall Mal, Zoe and the others appear to have come to a stand off, nobody moving. Mal tries to talk his way out of it, handing Patience back the money, but when he realises there's no other way he gives the signal to Jayne who takes out Patience's right hand man and the shoot out begins.

On Serenity, Wash and Simon are talking when Kaylee hits the intercom and tells them that Dobson got River. Simon rushes out, sees Dobson trying to escape and, with a flying leap lands on top of him. Wash is about to follow him when a beeping alert sends him back to the bridge with a concerned look on his face.

On Whitefall, the shoot out continues, Zoe and Mal have both taken hits but not life threatening ones. Of the other side, only Patience left, she stands behind her horse. Without hesitation Mal shoots the horse, which falls onto Patience, he walks over and, sticking his gun right in her face, takes back his money. They are about to head off when Jayne rushes up with news from Wash that the Reavers have followed them.

As Mal, Zoe and Jayne make their way back to Serenity on horseback, Dobson wakes up and goes for his gun, Simon gets to him first and, after a tussle he stands, gun in hand, facing Dobson, but he is distracted by the airlock doors opening and Dobson takes his opportunity to grab the other gun and River. They are left at a stand off as Mal marches in and shoots Dobson dead without breaking stride. Simon tries to comfort a shocked River as Mal and Jayne dispose of Dobson's body and they are ready for take off.

As they take off, the Reavers are hot on their heels. Wash, calm and collected as he flies, asks for Kaylee in the engine room and as Jayne goes to get her, Mal tells Inara to take the others into the shuttle and leave if they get boarded. She goes reluctantly as Jayne and Book help Kaylee in the engine room (is there anything this Shepherd can't do?).

As the Reavers close in and get ready to attach their grapplers to Serenity, Wash pulls a crazy Ivan, pulling at a lever he spins Serenity in a one eighty, they fly right past the Reaver ship and burn off into space, leaving the Reavers in their wake.

In their places the crew and passengers are all very relieved, Zoe takes her husband off to do his duty in their quarters, Mal takes the pilot's seat, heaving a sigh of relief, takes the controls. Book looks to Inara for comfort, Simon comforts his sister while Mal let's Jayne know that he is aware that Dobson offered him a deal and wonders why he didn't take it. Jayne Jayne tells him that the money wasn't good enough.

Wanting to know what lies in store for him and his sister, Simon goes to see the captain and is pleasantly surprised, if not a little confused, when he is offered a job as Ship's medic. The captain's had a good day. Well, at least he's still flyin'.

Their idle banter is interrupted by a drunk at the bar who chooses this moment to propose a toast to the Alliance on this Unification Day. Mal casually goes to the bar and, standing next to toast guy, orders another drink. Mal takes a sip without toasting which seems to irk toast guy somewhat, especially when he notices the browncoat that Mal is wearing. He taunts Mal until he eventually turns and asks him to repeat the insult to his face. Toast guy takes up the invitation but soon finds that he has been tricked as he turns around to find that Zoe has come up behind him. She politely slams him in the face with her gun and the fight begins

It's not going well for Mal and Zoe (Jayne politely declines to join in as he never fought in any war) and Mal finds himself on the outside of the bar via the window.

Sitting up Mal calls Wash on his radio, suggesting a speedy appearance, Zoe appears fighting her way out the door and the melee continues. Jayne soon follows and our three find themselves very out numbered and standing at the edge of a cliff.

Toast guy pushes his way to the front of the crowd and brandishes a gun at our heroes, but before he gets the chance to use it, Serenity appears behind Mal and co and they make good their escape.

Back on the boat, Mal and Zoe head up to the bridge where Kaylee has been fixing something and Mal announces that they have their selves a job. And they are off on their travels.

In the infirmary River dreams feverishly, tossing on the infirmary table, nightmares of people experimenting on her brain. She awakens with a scream and Simon does his best to comfort her. He explains to her where they are just as Mal enters to clean up his bloodied fists from the fight.

River watches him as he leaves, commenting that Mal is 'bad' in Latin. Leaving the infirmary Mal runs into Book who asks how River is. As Mal is telling him that she seems calm enough, River can be seen in the background doing her favourite hurling about of things.

Mal sets off up stairs, followed by Book who quizzes him as to why he would take on board fugitives when he so obviously likes to keep a low profile himself, Mal is evasive in his answers as he makes his way to the engine room, which he finds in rather a mess.

He wanders off in search of his mechanic who he finds in Inara's shuttle having her hair played with. He sends her off to sort out the mess while he remains behind to warn Inara to stay on this ship while they go visiting with their latest client Niska who has somewhat of a nasty reputation.

Serenity docks on a large space station and Mal, Zoe and Jayne are led to their latest client Niska, a small wiry European man. The one with the unlovely rep.

He invites them into his room and tells them he has a job for them. but before he gives them the details he wants to explain a little about reputation. Malcolm Reynolds has a reputation to get the job done, but this is only gossip until proven. Niska has an unpleasant reputation and his muscle, Crow, opening a door to reveal a man, hanging upside down from the ceiling, having obviously been horribly tortured before reaching his untimely death, now proves this. Now Niska's reputation is fact, not gossip.

He goes on to give them the details of the job, a train carrying some Alliance goods that he wants, they should board the train, take the goods and hand them over to Crow at the rendezvous point near to Paradiso. Then their reputation will be fact too.

A train rushes through desert, on the train we see Mal and Zoe sitting across from one another. Zoe announces it's time they got to work and they walk through to the next carriage, where they stop. The carriage is filled with Alliance feds. Not as simple as they thought.

They stand a moment, a family enter from the other end of the carriage and Mal and Zoe take the opportunity to make their way through too.

Meanwhile on the ship, Kaylee is preparing when Simon enters. Kaylee is explaining the heist to Simon when Jayne enters. Simon soon leaves and Kaylee and Jayne, watched by River make their final preparations.

Down on the train, Mal and Zoe have reached the storage car and, using a key card provided by Niska, they enter, while in the feds car one of them gets up, heads the way Mal and Zoe went.

Mal and Zoe cautiously enter the storage car, no guards, Zoe sets a trap by the door and then goes looking for the cargo, while Mal steps up on some boxes and starts to unscrew a panel in the train's roof.

Outside, Serenity hovers over the train, almost in position.

All strapped up now, Jayne leans out of the open doors of the ship, and jumps, landing on the roof of the train. Inside the ship, Mal and Zoe ready the cargo and Jayne appears at the hole in the roof.

They attach the cable that was attached to Jayne to the now netted cargo, and Jayne and Zoe jump up on top. They are about to make good their escape when the fed approaches the door of the cargo carriage and activates the booby trap that Zoe left. Smoke fills the room and the fed starts firing, hitting Jayne in then leg. Zoe dives out of the way and signals to Jayne to go, using his radio, Jayne shouts to Kaylee and is winched up out of the carriage.

In the still smoky carriage, Mal knocks out the fed and he and Zoe head back to the passenger carriage, let off a couple more smoke bombs and mingle with the other passengers. While on Serenity, Jayne and the cargo are pulled to safety.

At Paradiso Mal and Zoe get off the train with the other passengers, and here they discover exactly what it was they just stole. The town's much needed medicine supplies. Mal and Zoe exchange looks.

Wash lands Serenity nice and hidden in a canyon and joins the others in the infirmary where Simon is treating Jayne's wound. Jayne is impatient and wants to make the drop with the goods but Wash adamant he is not leaving without his wife. As the argument continues, Jayne asks for painkillers, which Simon duly supplies via a shot in his arm. On Book's advice, they finally agree to wait, seeing as Niska can be quite particular as to whom he deals with.

Meanwhile back on Paradiso, Mal and Zoe are in the Sheriff's office surrounded by sick folk. Finally, the Sheriff gets to them, ushers them to his desk and explains to them why the people are so sick while Mal and Zoe give him a cock and bull story about being newly weds looking for a job. The Sheriff's explains that the whole town is afflicted by Bowden's Malady caused by working in the mines and their only relief from it is the medicine that was stolen on that train.

On Serenity, Jayne hobbles the bridge closely followed by Simon and tells Wash it's time they took off. Wash is still having none of it and the argument is about to get nasty when Jayne goes all crazy and falls down. The sedative Simon gave him finally working. Without Jayne to mess things up, the others get to work on a plan to rescue Mal and Zoe.

There is still bustle in the Sheriff's Office when a glamorous Inara swishes in and makes her way toward Mal and Zoe who rise to greet her. She marches straight to Mal and slaps him hard across the face to which he's more than a little non-plussed. Inara explains to the Sheriff's that Malcolm is her indentured man who has run off with Zoe and, after causing a little stir, the sheriff allows all three to leave.

Back on Serenity, Mal's crew (including Jayne who is now slumped on the stairwell, which is as far as they have been able to get him) are waiting to greet them. Mal and Zoe busy themselves getting the cargo onto the Mule while explaining to a confused crew that they are taking it back. Which is when Crow and three heavies arrive.

Crow and his heavies advance into then ship, not taking Mal's explanation that they changed their minds very well. Not even when Mal tells him that he will return the money. Lightning quick, Crow takes his knife and throws it, burying it in Mal's shoulder, Mal falls back and the fighting starts. Zoe takes out one of the heavies while Wash manages to climb on the Mule and distract Crow who is getting the better of Mal. Mal uses the moment and gets in a couple of good hits, but he is soon on the floor again about to receive a fatal wound from Crow's evil looking knife.

A shot rings out and Crow goes down, Mal and the others look to see a still semi-conscious Jayne now wielding his gun.

Mal and Zoe take the mule to the outskirts of town and are about to unload the crates when they find themselves surrounded by the Sheriff's and his men. Respecting Mal's decision to return the supplies once he learned of the situation, the Sheriff's tells his man to take the crates and leaves Mal and Zoe to go their way.

Back on the ship, the crew are getting ready for take off; Crow is on the ramp, hands tied behind his back while Mal tries to give him back the money that Niska gave him. Crow efuses the money with many nice threats. Disappointed, Mal gives Crow a shove back with his foot and he is sucked into one of the engines.

Zoe shoves one of crow’s men in front of Mal. He takes the money readily.

As Serenity leaves the planet well behind, Mal is getting stitched up by Simon while in her room, River sits crouched in a corner muttering to herself. Two by two, hands of blue, over and over.

Meanwhile on the alliance cruiser the officer from before walks into a room, in which are two official looking men, waiting for him. They tell him that they are looking for a girl and push forward a picture of River. As they do we see both men are wearing blue latex gloves.

Entering the cockpit he sees another ship slowly turning before he is startled by a body hitting the ship, he jumps back, hitting the controls and causing the whole ship to jerk. This sends the rest of the running to the bridge to view the sight. As they consider the ship, River, standing just behind the door confirms, ‘it’s ghosts’

The crew stare out at the still spinning ship, which we learn is probably a transport ship which would have been carrying passengers. Even though the ship is not sending out a distress call, they decide to take a look anyway – see if there are survivors or anything they may have left for the taking.

As Serenity moves up to the derelict ship and the airlocks connect, underneath we see cables from the derelict ship connect to Serenity.

As Mal and Zoe prepare to leave, Simon comes into the cargo bay to offer his help. Jayne tells him they’ll call if they need him but notes his uncomfortableness with the space suits.

Mal and Zoe enter the ship to find it apparently deserted; there are signs of the ship having been left in a hurry. A child’s toy lies abandoned, there is half eaten food on tables. They continue on to the bridge. Here they find still more evidence of life, a computer showing that someone was in the middle of an entry. As Zoe reaches out to it, it shorts out and, on Serenity, River wakes with a start, clearly distressed.

As Simon comforts River, Jayne approaches and tells Simon to get suited up and make his way over to the derelict.

Badly suited up, Simon moves cautiously and nervously through the airlocks into the derelict, where he soon fins Mal, Zoe, Kaylee and Jayne all lacking their suits. Jayne finds his little prank mighty hilarious as Kaylee helps Simon take his helmet off. Mal explains that the lifeboat left some time ago and assigns everyone jobs to help salvage what there is on the ship.

As the others leave, Mal and Zoe set to looking for valuables.

Back on Serenity, Inara carries a tray of food to River’s room but finds her gone. River herself walks barefoot through the airlocks onto the derelict.

On the derelict, Simon is helping Kaylee scavenge engine parts, while in the kitchen/dining area Jayne is gathering supplies and Mal and Zoe, directed by Wash, have found the safe. As they blowtorch their way in, River continues to walk through the ship, looking about her as she goes.

Mal and Zoe look about the room they have opened, it is stacked with boxes and cases, Zoe opens one to reveal, among other things, a child’s toys, while Mal has found the more valuable stuff, foodstuffs and crop supplements. As Zoe comments that, even on a lifeboat, people would have found room for some of these things, River enters and looks to the ceiling, Mal and Zoe follow her gaze to find the lifeless bodies of the passengers hanging from the ceiling.

Knowing what did this; Mal springs into action, radioing Jayne, telling him to get Simon and Kaylee off the boat.

In the kitchen, Jayne is still busying himself as he listens to Mal, suddenly he is rushed from behind, he knocks into a table sending pots and pans flying.

Shots ring out over the intercom, Mal and Zoe (leading River) move toward the sound, meeting Kaylee and Simon on the way. They find Jayne, and following a trail of blood, find the man he shot hiding, terrified in a cubbyhole. Leaning cautiously in, Mal knocks the guy out and drags him from the cubbyhole.

Back on Serenity, the crew watch through the infirmary window as Simon tends to his patient, Mal watching over. The man mumbles, 'no mercy', rambling as Simon explains that, other than the bullet wound, he seems to be OK. Mal instructs Simon to dope the survivor.

Mal and Simon leave the infirmary to update the others, shutting and locking the infirmary doors Mal instructs no to go in there, informing them that the ship was hit by Reavers. The crew all take note of that.

Mal heads to the kitchen to get a drink; he is followed by the others, Jayne apparently not willing to believe that Reavers could be involved, and when he is convinced, not willing to hang around. The Captain and Book have other ideas though, Mal wants to take what’s of value off the ship and Book would like to lay the bodies to rest. Book, Jayne and Simon head off to the derelict while Mal tells Zoe, Wash and Kaylee that he just needed the others out of the way while the real work was to be done.

On the bridge Mal points out the cables that attached on to Serenity earlier to Zoe, Wash and Kaylee. A booby trap which will explode if they detach. Kaylee takes a look and thinks she will be able to bypass it, besides, as she says, if she can’t do it no one will be left to shout at her.

On the derelict ship Jayne, Simon and Book see to the bodies, while on Serenity, Kaylee climbs into a chamber beneath the floor of the cargo bay and in her shuttle, Inara is passing the time writing Chinese letters on parchment while River sleeps fitfully on her bed, as the survivor also sleeps fitfully on his.

As Kaylee worms her way toward the cables, in their respective beds the patient and River wake up with a start. As Inara comforts River, the survivor trashes the infirmary and finds himself a nice sharp-looking knife.

As Jayne collects loot on the derelict ship, Simon holds a light over Book who prays, the bodies now covered on the ground before them. Underneath the cargo bay, Kaylee carefully cuts a wire which makes the cables release their hold on Serenity. She smiles to herself.

By the time Jayne reaches Serenity, followed by Book and Simon, the others are done with their work. As they start putting their loot away and Serenity detaches from the derelict, the proximity alarm starts beeping again. Mal and Zoe rush to the bridge fearing the Reavers have come back. But it’s worse than that. The Alliance have caught up with them and they are told to prepare for boarding.

On the Alliance Cruiser Commander Harkin looks out on Serenity and the derelict ship as his radio operator pulls up a flag on a firefly class ship believed to be carrying two fugitives. As they prepare to board Serenity Harken tells his men to shoot the fugitives first and ask questions later.

Meanwhile on Serenity, Mal rushes back to the cargo bay to tell a not very impressed Jayne to un-stash the goods and put them in plain view. Then turns to Simon and tells him to go and get River. Simon protests but Book tells him to do as Mal says.

As the cargo bay doors open, Harken and his men find the crew of Serenity (minus Simon and River) standing right before them. Mal tells them that they have rescued a man from the derelict who is in the infirmary and two of Harken’s men go and check it out. As they do, Harken asks Mal about the fugitives, a brother and sister, Mal acts confused but Harken’s not buying it. As one of the men that went to the infirmary returns and whispers in his ear, Harken tells Mal they will continue the conversation in a more official capacity and orders his men to search Serenity. As Mal and crew are hustled off the ship, the survivor is carted away on a stretcher and more soldiers arrive and begin to search the ship. Starting with Inara’s shuttle.

As Serenity is being trashed by Alliance purple-belly’s, on the cruiser Mal and his crew are being interviewed separately, each dealing with the questions in their own unique way. Meanwhile, outside the ship, clinging to it and clad in space suits are Simon and River. Simon as uncomfortable as before, but thankfully with his spacesuit on right this time, looks over at River who is gazing at the stars, a smile of wonder on her face.

Back on the cruiser it’s Mal’s turn to be interviewed. Harken tries to break Mal by mentioning the war and then accusing him of attacking and killing the families on the derelict. Mal doesn’t bite though, not until he hears that the survivor’s tongue has been split in two. He warns Harken that there’s going to be more blood spilled if he carries on concerning himself with him and his crew instead of the real issue at hand.

In the Alliance infirmary a team of doctors are working on the survivor, he appears to be convulsing and there is much blood, we see his hand, still holding the knife he picked up on Serenity, he plunges with it and we hear a yell of pain.

Back in the interrogation room, Mal has been telling his story but Harken isn’t buying it. Mal tries to explain what the so called ‘survivor’ has been through, made to watch while the Reavers did their thing to his family and friends, the only way to deal with that, Mal says, is to become it and that’s what they guy will do. The warnings fall on deaf ears and Harken calls his men to escort Mal away.

The soldiers have left Serenity and Simon and River make their way back inside the ship. River wants to go again, but Simon ain’t quite so keen. He tries to take River to the shuttle to wait until the others come back but River warns him ‘They’re coming back’.

On the cruiser, Harken is reading Mal his rights when another soldier whispers in his ear. Harken calls for guards and the ship to be on full lock down, but Mal says he knows where the survivor will go.

On Serenity, Simon is leading River back through the ship when she stops him, tells him to wait, as he tries to encourage her, a hand, unseen by the fugitives, reaches up for the table and grabs a knife.

As Harken and the other officers lead a cuffed Mal back on to Serenity they find a Man dead in the corridor. Mal persuades Harken that he should go with them, reluctantly, Harken agrees and, saying that Mal should go first unlocks Mal’s cuffs, only to refasten them with Mal’s hands to the front.

As Mal enters Serenity, Simon is still trying to persuade River to go to the shuttle when he hears footsteps. Simon and River back away just as Mal and the Alliance officers enter the dining area. Mal walks cautiously through, noticing Simon’s helmet lying to one side. He motions the others not to follow and puts his head around the doorway through which Simon and River are hiding. He turns back to Harken just as the survivor strikes, blood spatters Harken’s face and he too his knocked to the ground. The survivor pounces, his face now brutally disfigured with metal piercings, he lunges in for the kill. Throwing his cuffed hands around the survivor's neck Mal pulls him off Harken and throttles him.

Mal and Harken, both splattered with blood, look at one another.

As Serenity pulls away from the Alliance cruiser, Mal, Zoe, Jayne and Wash watch as the derelict is blown up.

Serenity flies toward Persephone, as Wash and Zoe enjoy the sunset, making plans for their time on the planet. Meanwhile Inara is screening clients, making plans for her time on the planet when Mal interrupts her to tell her they are about to land. Noticing a picture of a client, Atherton Wing, on a computer screen, Mal quizzes her about him and Inara tells him that she is engaged to him for several days and will be going to a party.

On Persephone, Mal, Jayne, Zoe, Wash and Kaylee have been out buying supplies, they are on their way back to the Mule when Kaylee spots a dress shop and stops abruptly to admire a pink ruffley dress. The others stop too but Mal is impatient to get back to the ship and makes a thoughtless and hurtful comment about the dress. He instantly regrets it when he sees Kaylee’s face and more so when the others take off on the Mule leaving him and Jayne to make their own way back to Serenity. Before they can do so however, they are ambushed by Badger who takes them back to his ‘office’ to offer them a job.

In his office, Badger’s treats Mal and Jayne like welcome guests, offering them drinks and snacks before getting to the business at hand. Badger has his eye on a deal, but unfortunately the man who is dealing won’t deal with Badger so he wants Mal to act as the middle man. The meet will involve going to a fancy party which Badger just happens to have a pair of tickets to.

The ball is a very fancy one indeed, a uniformed porter announced the guests that arrive, and an official removes their weapons as they enter, an electronic screening device preventing anyone from entering with a gun. Atherton Wing and Inara make their way into the hall were there is classical music and ballroom dancing, Inara greeting people as she passes, obviously very much in her element here.

Meanwhile back on board Serenity, Mal tells an unresponsive Kaylee that he has a job for her.

Back in the ballroom, Atherton is offering Inara a position as his personal companion when Kaylee and Mal are announced. Inara stares as Kaylee appears in the pink ruffley dress she was admiring earlier, followed by a suited Mal.

Mal and Kaylee make their way to the ballroom, Mal looking around for his mark, and Kaylee looking around at well, everything, wide eyed and giddy. She soon spies a huge bowl of strawberries being carried towards a lavish buffet table. Mesmerised, Kaylee persuades Mal that she should go check out the buffet table while he looks for Harrow.

Back on the ship, Simon, Jayne and Book are playing cards, the ante being chores, while River wanders in the kitchen. As the men play, River spots a box full of provisions, all sporting the ‘Blue Sun’ logo. Reaching into the box she starts removing tins, becoming more and more frantic as she removes the labels, muttering to herself, louder and louder until the others notice and Simon and Book rush to calm her. Jayne takes advantage of their absence to help himself to some of Book’s substantial winnings.

Meanwhile in their quarters, Wash and Zoe are making good use of their time alone.

Back at the party, Kaylee is happily oblivious to the fact that she is completely out of place at the party and goes about trying to make some new friends, meanwhile, Mal has spotted Harrow, and is trying to make a new friend of his own when Atherton and Inara walk up to them. Pleasantries are exchanged while Mal and Atherton size each other up and Mal wins round one by asking Inara to dance with him.

As Atherton and Harrow watch Mal and Inara dance, Kaylee is still by the buffet table, but is now surround by adoring males, all hanging on her every word as she talks engines. As Mal and Inara finish dancing, Atherton comes marching up to them taking Inara roughly by the hand and leading her away. Mal finds that he has had enough of Atherton treating Inara like his property and finds the perfect excuse to slug him one, knocking him over. As the whole party stops to look, Atherton dusts himself of and offers Mal out for a duel. With swords.

Kaylee rushes over to see what all the fuss is about and as, Atherton shouts for Inara to accompany him, Warrick explains to Mal that he will be put up tonight to ensure he doesn’t run away and that he, Warrick, will act as his second.

Meanwhile on Serenity, Jayne is working out when he is interrupted by a knocking at the door. He opens it to find Badger who invites himself in. After he explains what has happened to Mal, Book and Simon immediately start planning on rescuing Mal, Zoe has to step in and explain that Badger is not there to help them but to help his own reputation by ensuring that the duel goes ahead. For extra surety he has brought four of his men and Kaylee.

In her night robe, Inara walks swiftly through a hall towards a locked door. Attaching a key/doorknob, the door unlocks and she walks in to see Mal waving a sword around. She startles him into embedding it into a pillar. She has come with a plan to get Mal out of there, but Mal is having none of it, he wants this fight with Atherton, regardless how much the odds are stacked against him.

Back on Serenity, Zoe, Jayne, Simon and Kaylee are laying plots to create a diversion and pick off Badger’s men when River enters the room. Despite their efforts to get her out safely, Badger notices her. Surprising everyone, River responds to Badger in his own accent, putting him squarely in his place before flouncing out of the room. As she goes, Jayne comments that that was exactly the kind of diversion that they needed!

Meanwhile in the hotel, Inara is trying to give Mal a crash course in sword fighting, which of course leads to him calling her a whore and then some bickering which turns into a heartfelt moment between them where neither can say what they really mean, although Mal does manage to ask her not to take up Atherton’s offer. Filled with emotions she cannot express, Inara leaves Mal to his own emotions.

The next morning a small crowd gathers on a hillside, birds sing and the mist swirls as Atherton and Mal prepare for battle. Warrick and Inara stand together looking on as the two fight, Mal making all the effort but Atherton obviously getting the upper hand. Although Mal manages to nick Atherton’s shirt, he takes a cut to the arm and, falling for a sly trick, a sharp stab to the side.

Holding his wounded side with his left arm, Mal continues the fight, obviously in pain. Atherton, now thoroughly enjoying himself, easily avoids his blows, their swords meet and Atherton forces Mal’s hand to the ground, stamps on his sword, breaking hit. As Mal tries to rise, he finds Atherton’s sword pointed at his chest.

Before Atherton can make the final plunge, Inara calls to him, and tells him she will accept his offer so long as he doesn’t kill Mal. Taking advantage of Atherton’s hesitation, Mal knocks the sword out of his way and, rising, smashes Atherton in the face with the hilt of his broken sword. Kicking the blade up into his hands, Mal hurls it at Atherton, catching him on the shoulder. In pain, Atherton pulls the sword out only to meet with another blow from Mal which knocks him to the ground. Picking up Atherton's intact sword, Mal and points it at him.

As Mal stands over Atherton, sword pointed at his heart, Harrow tells Mal he must finish the job, to leave Atherton beaten yet alive would be humiliating. Still standing over his enemy, Mal utters the immortal words, ‘Mercy is the sign of a great man’, he pokes Atherton in the stomach with the sword and continues, ‘guess I’m just a good man’ another poke, ‘well I’m all right’. Throwing the sword aside he walks off, supported by Inara.

Beaten, Atherton resorts to name calling and bluffery, telling Inara that he will make sure that she never works again, to add insult to injury; Inara informs him that it works the other way around, and now he will never be able to get another Companion. As Warrick points out, he will have to rely on his winning personality to get a date. Mal and Inara leave in the knowledge that they will have Horrow's stock on board that night. The deal has been done.

On Serenity, the crew are about to spring into action with their complicated escape and rescue plan when Mal returns with the news that they have themselves a deal. Badger leaves and Serenity sets off for pastures new.