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Season 1, Episode 6
Written by Drew Z. Greenberg
Directed by Michael Grossman
Original Airdate: 8 November 2002
"So finally a decent wound on this ship and I
missed out."
Simon
REGULAR CAST
GUEST CAST
CO-STARRING
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Andrew A. Rolfes as Older Grange
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Mathew C. Ferreira as Younger Grange
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Joel Steingold as Head Cop
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Erica N. Tazel as Doralee
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Ron Ostrow as Commander
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Morina Pierce as Ruby
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Skylar Roberge as Young River
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Zac Efron as Young Simon
SYNOPSIS
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Eleven years ago on the Tam estate. River
demonstrates her amazing mental abilities, and Simon’s father promises
Simon a gift in exchange for him growing up to be a successful doctor.
In the present, Serenity touches down on Jiangyin. Judging from
the locals, it seems to be fairly primitive. And they're not happy to
see a "fancy vessel" like Serenity coming in. The locals figure
the ship is only looking to sell something.
After landing, the crew unloads the cattle cargo from their most recent
job. River talks to the cattle as they mill about their new pen. She
says they remember where they are now that they see sky. Mal orders
Simon to take River for a walk so he can wrap up his cattle-smuggling
business. Simon is reluctant since the Alliance considers he and his
sister fugitives, but Mal says go. He says the Magellan is a
thousand miles away, so they shouldn't worry about the Alliance.
In town, Inara and Kaylee go supply shopping. Simon and River walk in.
Simon isn't enjoying looking after River. He also doesn't enjoy being on
a junky ship schlepping across the galaxy, which Kaylee takes offence
to. River wanders off during their conversation and Simon can't find
her.
At Serenity, the men show up for their cattle. Heavy negotiation
ensues, but a price is finally met and a deal is struck. Unfortunately,
as the men are paying, the law shows up looking to arrest Marcus and
Nathaniel Grange, the would-be cattle buyers. They're wanted for a
murder.
Simon finds River as she wanders into a dance and music performance.
River joins right in as Simon nervously looks on. Back at Serenity,
a shootout ensues. One Grange boy is shot down and the other is tackled
from behind by Mal. In the aftermath, Mal sees that Shepherd Book has
been shot in the chest.
Over at the dance, three men - local boys - throw a sack over Simon's
head and drag him away. The men walk Simon through the forest. In
Simon’s past, he argues with his parents over hidden meanings in River’s
letters to him from the Academy. He suspects that something is wrong,
but his parents attempt to convince him otherwise. In the present, River
comes across Simon and the kidnappers and figures they're playing a
game.
On Serenity, Wash returns from town. He says there's no sign of
Simon and River. Wash thinks they were kidnapped because of some warning
signs he saw in town. It seems to be a problem on this planet. Mal gets
ready to lift off in order to rush Book to medical help. He's not
worried about leaving River and Simon behind.
Speaking of which, they see Serenity lift off as they're walked
through the woods by their captors. On board, Mal and Wash check
galactic charts for the nearest medical help. Inara comes on the bridge
and suggests “certain nearby facilities.” Mal doesn't want to discuss
that as an idea.
On Jiangyin, the kidnappers march Simon into town and show him off as a
doctor. The filthy masses straggle out to see him. The captors take
Simon to a sick house. They want him to help heal their residents. Simon
realizes the situation and begins to aid people.
In space, Serenity glides next to the Alliance cruiser
Magellan and requests permission for docking.
Mal and Jayne carry Book onto the Magellan. Armed guards are
there to meet them. The ship's security chief seems reluctant until Book
begins mumbling about an ID card. His card is fetched from his pocket
and scanned. The security chief orders Book taken into the emergency
room immediately.
In the sick house, River bonds with a girl named Ruby. The nurse doesn't
think River will get much out of Ruby because she's a mute - at least
for the past few years. Later, River says Ruby explained what happened
to her, but not through speaking. The nurse thinks River is a witch and
must be killed.
The nurse rings the old town bell, rallying the citizenry. The town
patron slaps River after she explains that the old patron was sick and
died. The patron thinks she's a witch because she can read minds. The
townsfolk tie her to a pole for a good, old-fashioned witch burning.
On the Magellan, Shepherd Book comes to. Mal wonders why the
Alliance allowed a wanted ship to dock and then took care of a Shepherd.
Book doesn't offer any answers, but says it's good to be home.
Simon tries to save River from the mob. He attacks their ignorance and
says this is not God's will. He hugs River and tells the people to light
the post if this is what they want. At that moment, Serenity
hovers over the people. The cargo door opens, and there's Jayne, gun
trained on the townspeople.
Mal and Zoë walk toward the crowd, guns also drawn. They take back River
and Simon without much fuss from the patron or anybody else.
Back on Serenity, Mal says he came back for Simon simply because
he's on his crew. That's all that matters. The crew shares a nice dinner
and all is well on Serenity once again.
CONTINUITY
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The
cattle cargo from Warrick Harrow is delivered in this episode. Zoë also
mentions Badger’s hailed them requesting his cut from the deal.
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As
Kaylee watches over Book in the infirmary, she mentions that he did the
same for her once, referring to when she was shot by Dobson in
Serenity (Part 2).
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Book’s
undisclosed past is once again mentioned when the Alliance offer him a
vast amount of medical aid simply by looking at his identity card.
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River
feels Book’s wound while she’s dancing in the festival, again hinting at
her psychic abilities.
GOOFS
Serenity
(Part 1) | Serenity (Part 2) |
The Train Job |
Bushwhacked |
Shindig
Safe |
Our Mrs. Reynolds |
Jaynestown |
Out of Gas |
Ariel |
War Stories
Trash |
The Message |
Heart of Gold |
Objects in Space
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