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Season 1, Episode 11
Written by Cheryl Cain
Directed by James A. Contner
Original Airdate: 6 December 2002
"I am a large, semi-muscular man. I can take it."
Wash
REGULAR CAST
GUEST CAST
CO-STARRING
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John Dunn as
Torturer
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Michael A. Bentt as
Viktor
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Adam Pilver as
Vanilla Husband
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Johnny Shakespeare as
Torture Victim
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Jason Van as
Man
SYNOPSIS
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In the infirmary, Book is talking to Simon as
Simon looks at a brain scan of River. Book wonders if the people that
did this to River were fans of the dark war poetry of the psychotic
dictator Shan Yu. Book wonders if they did this just to see how much she
could take in order to truly know her, as Shan Yu suggested. Simon
thinks their purpose was much more specific.
The crew sits around enjoying fresh apples, the fruit of their newfound
wealth from their drug heist from the Alliance hospital on Ariel. Mal
says the ship is about twenty minutes from their last drop, then they
can think about spending some more of their new money. Wash thinks they
could've made even more, but Mal says he heard about his plan and thinks
it's best not to cut out middle men from the deal and make any more
enemies.
Floating in space, we see Niska's Skyplex. Inside, a man is being
whipped as Niska looks on. He wants to know why the man being tortured
skimmed off the top and lied to him. Just as Niska is about to go to
work with a bad-looking knife, an aide interrupts and says they've
picked up a read from the other side of the world: could be Serenity.
This greatly excites Niska, who wants Mal brought to him. Niska gets
back to work on his victim, asking if he's familiar with the works of
Shan Yu.
Serenity touches down on Ezra. Wash asks Zoë why she didn't tell
him that Mal shot down his plan to sell the drugs directly to local
doctors, even though they could've made more money and ensured that the
drugs got to the right people. Zoë agreed with Mal that the plan was too
risky and could've gotten back to the wrong people. Wash tells Zoë she
shouldn't hide behind Mal, she should tell him herself if she doesn't
like the plan. Zoë says their marriage doesn't need another shouting
match, and Wash says that the marriage needs one less husband.
The crew is excited about Inara bringing a client onboard, since she
never does. They all want to see who it is. It's a woman. Her bodyguard
and fine robes give away her importance. Jayne quickly retreats to his
bunk for some privacy.
Zoë is preparing a shuttle to launch from Serenity. Mal loads the
stolen booty into the shuttle. For some reason, Zoë can't initiate the
launch sequence. The reason would be that Wash has changed the
sequences. He says he's going on the mission with Mal, instead of Zoë.
Mal just wants to get out of there, so he tells Wash to just get her
started.
During the flight, Mal upbraids Wash for his stunt and say he needs Zoë
around in case something goes wrong. Wash says he can learn on the job.
Mal and Wash walk through barren land with Wash carrying the large crate
of contraband until they meet up with three rogues. The goods are
inspected and money is exchanged when Mal notices a red laser dot on the
leader's forehead and dives aside, tackling Wash. The rogues are shot
down by snipers and military forces jump out from their hiding posts.
Back on the ship, Zoë tells Jayne to get his weapon: Mal and Wash are
late. Book wants to go along too. The group comes across the rogues'
bodies. There is no sign of Mal or Wash, although they see some burn
marks that indicate a shuttle from a space station. Zoë knows who has
the boys.
Wash and Mal, blindfolded, are dragged into a holding cell on Niska's
Skyplex. Wash begins panicking and talking about how Zoë follows every
one of Mal's orders, but never listens to him. Mal says that's not true:
he ordered Zoë not to marry Wash, but she did anyway. Niska comes in and
takes off Mal's blindfold. Mal isn't happy to see him.
On Serenity, the crew begins assembling money to give Zoë to turn
over as ransom. She's heading to the Skyplex. Deep inside the Skyplex,
Mal and Wash are being tortured by electricity. In the midst of their
torture, Mal and Wash argue over Zoë and Wash says that he wishes Mal
had slept with her in the past so she'd be over him.
Zoë's shuttle docks on the Skyplex. Armed guards greet her. She tells
them that she's unarmed and wants to speak to Niska. An aide relays the
message to him, and Zoë is brought into the torture chamber. Niska tells
Zoë that she doesn't have enough money for both, but she does for just
one. He relishes the quandary he's put her in, but Zoë chooses Wash
before Niska even has time to finish his proposition.
Wash is cut loose and begins walking away with Zoë. Before they leave,
Niska says the money is too much and perhaps she should have a small
refund. A henchman cuts off Mal's left ear and Niska gives it to Zoë,
saying they're even. She takes it and drags Wash away as Mal screams in
pain.
Wash can't believe how strong Mal was. He wouldn't break, which saved
Wash. He's devastated that Niska is going to kill Mal, but Zoë says he's
going to make it last as long as possible, days, if he can. Wash
instantly resolves that he's not going to give Niska the chance. He
pilots the shuttle back to Serenity.
In the Skyplex, Mal's torture continues. Niska has a special machine for
Mal. One end attaches to his chest by digging metal tendrils into his
flesh. That's attached to a black cord, which begins electrocuting Mal.
On Serenity, Wash and Zoë load up with artillery. Jayne thinks
they're insane. Wash says they leave no man behind, which inspires the
rest to arm up and join them. Even Book loads up, figuring he can blast
kneecaps and still be on the good side of the Bible.
They may be too late, however, as Niska's aide shoves Mal's lifeless
body and proclaims him dead. They bring him back to life in order to
torture him some more. Niska says a lesson needs to be taught about
people who cross him.
Serenity cruises toward the Skyplex. The crew prepares for their
rescue invasion. Serenity docks and alarms sound on the Skyplex.
The crew runs off Serenity and the shooting begins. Hearing the
attack, Niska uses an intercom to ask what's going on. When nobody is
looking, Mal pulls the electric device out of his chest and attaches it
to a bodyguard's back, knocking him out. He then drills Niska with a
punch, dropping him.
The Serenity crew continues fighting their way through the
Skyplex. At the same time, Mal slowly moves in on Niska when his
bodyguard comes to and jumps Mal from behind, choking him. Jayne, Zoë
and Wash come in and blast the bodyguard, saving Mal.
Back on Serenity, Mal's ear has been reattached, but Niska hasn't
been killed, a fact that bothers Mal.
TRIVIA
CONTINUITY
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Niska
returns, this time for revenge. He wants payment for the time that Mal
returned his cash and killed his henchmen, events that happened in
The Train Job.
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There
are numerous mentions to
Ariel
in this episode, firstly when Book, who was off ship at the time calls
Simon a ‘criminal mastermind.’ Jayne’s contribution of fresh apples to
the crew is in atonement for his betrayal of Mal and the Tams in the
same episode.
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Book
again knows the details of weapons and strategy when Niska takes Mal and
Wash. He also shoots without hesitation. Just who is this guy?
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Mal
assures Inara that no more of her clients will have trouble aboard
Serenity, claiming that he’s over his sword-fighting these days.
He’s referring to his duel with Atherton Wing in
Shindig.
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Zoë
makes soup for Wash, which Saffron did for Mal in
Our Mrs. Reynolds.
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River’s callous shooting of the snipers targeting Kaylee is a direct
hint to her psychic abilities, and Kaylee is clearly uneased. She
mentions the events to the crew in
Objects in Space.
GOOFS
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Just before Jayne, Book and Zoë notice the burn
pattern, two cars pass in the background. Shortly after Zoë says 'they
weren't after the goods,' look for a long shot of all three of them
walking through the desert. To the middle-left of the screen, there's a
highway visible in the distance - one car going left, another going
right.
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In the scene where Mal has the torture device
attached to his chest, his amputated ear is on the wrong side of his
head. Obviously, the picture has been flipped (a mirror image), as the
buttons on his shirt are on the wrong side, also.
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When Jayne shoots the first guard in the hallway,
when he is on the ground, you can see some wire or thin cable on the
ground between him and the foot of the other guard who runs away, but
you can't see the wire in the shot just one second earlier, as he is
falling to the ground.
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When Simon sees a guard coming around the corner
and says, "Book, we uh..." the actor playing a dead guard lying the
floor of the hallway jerks his feet, apparently startled by the sound of
a gun going off.
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When River shoots the three guards dead, the shot
of the docking bay (when Kaylee looks out) is reversed. The office with
the window is on the left instead of the right.
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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