Episode #: 1AGE07

Story #: E01775

Firefly
"Out of Gas"

Written by:

Tim Minear

Directed by:

David Solomon

SHOOTING SCRIPT September 23, 2002

BLUE REVISIONS September 25, 2002
PINK REVISIONS September 30, 2002
YELLOW REVISIONS October 02, 2002
GREEN REVISIONS October 11, 2002

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT ©2002 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION.
NO PORTION OF THIS SCRIPT MAY BE PERFORMED, PUBLISHED, REPRODUCED, SOLD, OR
DISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS OR QUOTED OR PUBLISHED IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING ANY
WEB SITE, WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION.
DISPOSAL OF THIS SCRIPT COPY DOES NOT ALTER ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE.

TimMinear.net provided xerox of script. Mar 9, 2012

 FIREFLY
"Out Of Gas"
TEASER

1 EXT. SPACE 1

Serenity in the Big Black of space. She might seem a bit

cock-eyed to us at the moment. No engine movement. She's
less floating and more just kind of hanging there. Either
near dead -- or hurt real bad. Reserve emergency power gives
it just a flicker of life. As we nose closer, we peer into
the bridge. No sign of anyone...

2 INT. SERENITY - UPPER DECKS 2

Various shots of the ship. Quietly holding silent images.

The cockpit: empty.

L ooking down the body of the upper decks -- no one in sight.

The dining area -- evidence of recent habitation. A dinner

party was in progress, but seemingly cut short. The table is
askew. Dishes and an uncut cake have all crashed to the
floor. But not a soul here.

The engine room. The entrance and walls are scorched. The
big turbine sits silent. No movement.

3 INT. SERENITY - BELOW DECKS 3

It looks like a tornado blew through here. In the common

area: debris is everywhere, furniture is upturned, caught up
against walls. But no sign of anyone anywhere. The ship
seems eerily abandoned. Until finally we go to –-

4 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 4

More debris. More strewn cargo. And then -–

MAL

Falls INTO FRAME, landing hard on the floor of the cargo bay.
Sweating, pale, somewhat delirious. And alone.

(We may or may not notice a piece of an engine part lying

nearby.)

He struggles to stay conscious; it's a struggle he's not

winning at the moment. As we PUSH IN closer to his feverish
face, we start to HEAR what HE HEARS... VOICES IN HIS HEAD:

CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 2.

4 CONTINUED: 4

SALESMAN (V.O.)
Yep. A real beauty, ain't she?
Yessir. A right smart purchase, this
vessel. Tell you what, you buy this
ship, treat her proper, she'll be
with ya for the rest of your life.
Mal smiles weakly at the memory -- or possibly the irony.
Now the SOUND of the AIRLOCK DOORS, KER-CHUNK! A sliver of
DAYLIGHT hits him in the face. The light UNFOLDS, growing,
blinding him. He squints against it, as –-

5 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 5

THE AIRLOCK DOORS open, revealing two FIGURES, SILHOUETTED by

sunlight, BLUE SKY behind them. (The ramp is down, and it
seems we're planetside someplace.)
The figures step onto the ship -- and now we see that it's
MAL and ZOE. They enter the cargo bay. They might look
slightly different than we're used to, because it's now a few
years earlier.
Zoe steps deeper into the ship, takes it all in, as if for
the first time. In fact, this is the first time she's set
foot on Serenity. Mal watches for her reaction.
They are the only two here. The cargo bay itself is now
TOTALLY EMPTY. Big, empty and echo-y. And everything's
covered with a thick layer of dust.
MAL
Well?
ZOE
(after a good long
look)
You paid money for this... On
purpose?
MAL
Come on, Zoe. Serious. Whaddya
think?
ZOE
Honestly, sir. I think you were
robbed.
MAL
Robbed? What, no. What do you mean?
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 3.

5 CONTINUED: 5

ZOE
Sir, it's a piece of <junk.> [Fei-oo.]
MAL
<Junk?> [Fei-oo?] Okay. So she won't
win any beauty contests, that's true
enough. But she's solid. Ship like
this, be with ya 'til the day you die.
ZOE
Yessir. Because it's a deathtrap.
MAL
That's not... you are very much
lacking in imagination.
ZOE
I imagine that's so, sir.
MAL
C'mon. You ain't even seen most of
it. I'll show you the rest.
(as they go)
Try to see past what she is, on to
what she can be.
ZOE
What's that, sir?
MAL
Freedom, is what.
ZOE
(pointing)
No, I meant -- what's that?
He looks down, sees something we don't need to see, something
he was about to step in.
MAL
Oh. Just step around it. I think
something must've been living in
here.
As they move off:
MAL (cont'd)
I tell ya, Zoe, we find ourselves a
mechanic, get her running again.
Hire on a good pilot. Maybe even a
cook. Live like people. Small crew,
them as feel the need to be free.
(more)
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 4.

5 CONTINUED: (2) 5

MAL (cont'd)
Take jobs as they come -- and we'll
never be under the heel of nobody
ever again. No matter how long the
arm of the Alliance might get...
we'll just get us a little further.
ZOE
Get her running "again?"
MAL
Yeah.
ZOE
Sooo... not running now?
MAL
Not so much.
(then)
But she will.
He moves deeper into the ship, back toward the common
area/infirmary. She follows. We don't, we stay in the cargo
bay and let them move off.
MAL (cont'd)
I even know what I'm gonna call her.
(they're OFF SCREEN
by now, fainter)
Got a named all picked out...
That last bit trailing off as their footsteps recede. We
assume he's telling her the chosen name, but now they're too
far away for us to make it out. We do, however, hear a BURST
of LAUGHTER from offscreen Zoe.
As the LAUGHTER echoes and fades, CAMERA BOOMS DOWN to a
TIGHT FACE in the FOREGROUND...
...Mal, back in the present day, curled up on the cargo bay
floor, wincing in his pain... CAMERA MOVES down his body, and
now WE SEE the wound... gut-shot. Blood, almost black,
bubbles at his abdomen.
A thick drop of Mal's blood drips through the grating on the
cargo bay floor...
...and falls into –-
BLACKNESS.

END OF TEASER
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 5.

ACT ONE

6 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 6

Where Mal's breathing is coming in sharp, painful gasps. He

reaches for the fallen engine part that lies nearby. Grabs
it and starts dragging himself back toward the infirmary.
Above him, echo-y GROUP LAUGHTER from somewhere in the ship.
CAMERA moves off the crawling Mal, RISES, passing through
darkness, moving toward the sounds of joviality, the LAUGHTER
becoming more present, until we are:

7 INT. SERENITY - DINING AREA 7

Mid LAUGHTER BURST from the assembled. A communal dinner.

Or what's left of it. Gathered are: Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Kaylee,
Simon, Inara and Book. Book has been telling them a story
and they're all in stitches.
ZOE
(laughing so hard it
hurts)
No, no, no. That is not true.
BOOK
I swear it is!
INARA
(catching her breath)
Surely one of you must have told him!
BOOK
No! There wasn't one among the
brethren had the heart to say
anything. He was so proud of it!
LAUGHTER. Wash enters from the bridge, the guy who missed
the joke. He smiles/laughs clueless along with them.
WASH
What? What was he proud of? Who he?
BOOK
(tears from the
laughing)
Looked rather natty, truth be told!
Another explosion of laughter. It's contagious. Even for
Wash, who's still anxious to be let in on the joke.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 6.

7 CONTINUED: 7

WASH
(as he sits)
I want to hear about the natty thing.
(reaches for serving
bowl)
What was natty?
Book gets his laughter under control, takes a drink, waves
Wash away with a "nothing, nothing" gesture.
KAYLEE
Shepherd Book was just tellin' funny
stories about his days at the
monastery.
WASH
Monastic humor. I miss out on all
the fun.
(sees serving bowl is
empty)
And all the food, too, apparently...
ZOE
Now just who do you think you're
married to?
Zoe lifts a napkin off a plate piled with food.
WASH
I love my wife.
He kisses her. They sit close, a couple, easy and relaxed.
He digs in.
MAL
So we got a course set?
WASH
We do. Took a little creative
navigating, but we should make it all
the way to Greenleaf without running
afoul of any Alliance patrols. Or a
single living soul, for that matter.
MAL
Good. Way it should be.
WASH
'course, what should be an 18 hour
trip's gonna take the better part of
a week by this route.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 7.

7 CONTINUED: (2) 7

MAL
We're in no rush. I like an easy,
languorous journey.
Kaylee rises, picks up some plates.
KAYLEE
What would that be like, I wonder?
SIMON
(moves to assist)
Let me help you with that –-
KAYLEE
Not a bit. In fact, it's your turn.
SIMON
(clueless)
My turn...?
KAYLEE
Shepherd told a funny story 'bout
bein' a preacher. Now you tell a
funny story about being a doctor.
SIMON
Funny story...
JAYNE
Yeah, 'cos sick people are high-
larious.
SIMON
Well, they can be...
(chuckles)
In fact, I remember there was this
one time I was working the E.R. and
this fellow, very upright sort of
citizen, comes in complaining of...
JAYNE
(interrupts)
Now Inara -- she's gotta have some
real funny whorin' stories, I'd wager.
INARA
Oh! Do I ever! Funny and sexy! You
have no idea!
(then, deadpanny)
And you never will.
Zoe SNORTS with laughter. She likes the dissing of Jayne.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 8.

7 CONTINUED: (3) 7

INARA (cont'd)
I don't discuss my clients.
JAYNE
Aww, come on 'nara. Who'd know?
INARA
You.
(then)
Anyway, a Companion doesn't kiss and
tell.
MAL
So there is kissing?
She shoots him a look -- and a half smile. He smiles back.
ZOE
Hey, doc?
He looks at her. She's nestled nice and close to her hubby.
ZOE (cont'd)
(nods behind Simon
toward:)
I think maybe our Kaylee could use
your help after all –-
He turns and is surprised to see her carrying aloft a sweetly
pathetic ship-made birthday cake with miss-matched candles
ablaze.
KAYLEE
Care to make the first incision,
Doctor Tam?
(then)
Happy birthday, Simon.
EVERYONE
(variously)
Happy birthday! Yeah, many more.
Happy Birthday, son.
Simon reacts, taken aback. It's clear they all knew.
SIMON
Well this is... I didn't... How did
you know?
(glances to:)
River, did you -- ?
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 9.

7 CONTINUED: (4) 7

RIVER
"Day" is a vestigial mode of time
measurement. Based on solar cycles.
Not applicable.
(then)
I didn't get you anything.
WASH
I'm afraid it was me who ratted you
out, Doctor.
SIMON
You?
MAL
Seems a fresh warrant for your arrest
come up on the cortex. Had your
birth date attached right to it.
SIMON
Oh. I see. Well. That's...
(worried)
Really?
KAYLEE
(re: the cake)
Hope you like it. Couldn't get a
hold of no flour, so it's mostly
protein. In fact, it's pretty much
what we just had for supper. But I
tried to make the frosting as
chocolatey tasting as possible.
He looks at Kaylee. It's very warm and wonderful.
SIMON
Thank you. I'm really very deeply
moved.
Kaylee beams her Kaylee-ness right back at him.
JAYNE
Well deeply move yourself over there
and blow out them candles so we can
try a slice.
SIMON
Right...
KAYLEE
Come on, Doc. Give a good blow.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 10.

7 CONTINUED: (5) 7

He does a slight take. She's sort of poker-faced. He

smiles, nods, leans forward, is about to blow out the
candles, when... something makes a ghastly noise deep inside
the ship. A GRINDING back near the engine. The power DIMS
and FLICKERS, the engine stops...
A beat. They all pause at this pregnant moment. Then the
familiar HUM of the engines again.
JAYNE
What the hell was that?
KAYLEE
Maybe just a hiccup. I'll check it
out.
She sets down the cake on the counter. Starts to move off.
WASH
(rising)
I'll take a look at the helm.
Now he heads off toward the bridge. River is staring at the
cake.
RIVER
Fire...
Simon glances at her, then back to the cake. The candles.
SIMON
Right. Okay, okay...
He leans in to blow out the candles and –-
Kaylee is stepping up to the door that leads to the aftdeck
hall –-
BOOOOM! A horrific EXPLOSION from the back of the ship, at
the engine room.
Zoe is on her feet in an instant. She lunges for Kaylee
as –-
-- a giant BALL OF FIRE roils from the back of the ship,
filling the aft corridor. Zoe shoves Kaylee clear of the
doorway, but the big ass FIREBALL bursts at the doorway. Zoe
is knocked back hard by the concussion of the blast, her body
glancing off the dinner table, then hitting a wall -- goddamn
hard. Wash comes running back from the foredeck hall –-
WASH
Zoe!
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 11.

7 CONTINUED: (6) 7

Everyone's a bit disoriented. Wash flies to his wife's side.

Inara and Book move to Kaylee, who was shoved out of the way
pretty damn hard.
Mal has run over to the aftdeck doorway. Feels another
ERUPTION coming –-
-- ANOTHER FIRE BALL growing down there, exploding toward us.
Mal forces the big metal door shut, latches it just before it
hits. He's knocked back by the blast that impacts on the
other side of the closed door.
RIVER
Fire... fire...
Mal turns, sees that Simon is already with Wash at the downed
Zoe.
WASH
Zoe, honey, talk to me -- you gotta
talk to me, baby...
Mal passes Jayne as he hoofs it toward the bridge, pausing
only long enough to say:
MAL
Seal off everything that leads below
decks. Do it now.
Jayne moves to do that. Mal runs to the bridge –-

8 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 8

Mal works some controls on the console –-

9 EXT. SPACE 9

As the ramp lowers into space, while –-

10 INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM 10

The fire rages –-

11 INT. SERENITY - DINING AREA 11

Wash is beside himself, has his wife's limp hand pressed

between his. Simon's feeling for a pulse.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 12.

11 CONTINUED: 11

WASH
She gonna be okay?
SIMON
I need my med kit.
Simon rises, turns toward the aftdeck, sees that the door is
shut.
KAYLEE
(shakes her head)
We got fire.
He turns, moves to the foredeck, steps up to --
FOREDECK DOOR
Jayne is just coming up from around the corner where he's
sealed off that exit.
JAYNE
Where you think you're going?
SIMON
Zoe's badly hurt. I need my medical
supplies.
JAYNE
Sorry, Doc. Nobody leaves.
SIMON
If you don't let me through, she
could die.
JAYNE
I let you through -- and we all die.
Off this stand off –-

12 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 12

Mal continues to work the ship's controls, as –-

13 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 13

The AIRLOCK DOORS open, revealing the black of space and

now --
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 13*.

14 INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM/AFTDECK/STAIRS 14

The fire becomes a SNAKE as it is sucked down toward the

lower deck, toward the vacuum of space, making sharp, violent
turns –-

15 INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA/INFIRMARY 15

As the SNAKE OF FIRE races down the stairs, whips past the
infirmary, furniture and not-nailed-down items getting sucked
along with it, and into –-

16 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 16

The pillar of fire goes ROARING through the cargo bay and,
along with some loose cargo, is spit out into space –-

17 EXT. SPACE 17

As the snake of fire shoots out of the cargo bay, dissipating

in cold space.

18 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 18

Mal watches through the bridge window as the fire shoots out,
extinguishing itself in the void. He sighs.

19 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 19

As the ramp closes and the air lock doors close. The storm
is over.
CUT TO:

A20 INT. SERENITY A20 *

Mal ENTERS from the cargo bay, staggering down the steps, *
every step more laborious than the last. CAMERA LEADS HIM as *
he reaches the bottom of the steps, turns towards the *
infirmary. *
CAMERA ANGLES DOWN past Mal's face, down his chest to his *
midsection, where his bloody hand clutches at his stomach *
wound. Blood seeps through his fingers. He holds the *
catalyzer in his other hand. *
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 13A*.

A20 CONTINUED: A20

He struggles to make it to the closed infirmary doors. He *
reaches to open the doors, and as they start to slide open –- *

CUT TO: *

20 INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA/INFIRMARY 20

BAM! The infirmary door is shoved open and Mal, Wash and
Jayne carry in the unconscious Zoe, place her on the
examination table. Simon gets right to work.
Everyone else is close at hand, variously in the infirmary
and lingering outside in the common area.
SIMON
No sign of burning. Must be
internal. I'll have to do a scan.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 14.

20 CONTINUED: 20

He starts hooking her up to his equipment. Wash at his side,

concern etched on his face. Mal fades back, away from the
activity there, to...
COMMON AREA
Kaylee is hovering just outside the door of the infirmary in
the common area. Mal approaches her.
MAL
Kaylee. Kaylee.
She's in shock. Staring.
MAL(cont'd)
Look at me.
She does.
MAL (cont'd)
I need you up in the engine room,
figuring out what caused this.
KAYLEE
(feeling it)
She ain't movin' --
Mal glances from spacey Kaylee to Zoe through the glass. His
attention is drawn back to Kaylee by:
KAYLEE (cont'd)
Serenity's not movin'.
Mal realizes she meant the ship, not Zoe. Nods, keeping cool.
MAL
I know it. Which is why we gotta
suss out what it was happened so we
can get her going again, right?
She nods. Tries not to cry.
MAL (cont'd)
Think you can do that?
KAYLEE
Yes, Cap'n.
MAL
That's a good girl.
Kaylee gathers herself, heads off. Mal turns his attention
back to:
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 15.

20 CONTINUED: (2) 20
INFIRMARY
Simon works on Zoe. Wash is at his wife's side, inches from
out-of-his mind with distress.
WASH
Come on, baby. Stay with me. You're
strong. Strongest person I've ever
met. You can do this.
JAYNE
She gonna make it?
SIMON
Please. I need to work.
Mal appears at the door.
MAL
Wash.
Wash won't look away from his wife.
MAL (cont'd)
Wash, I need you on the bridge.
WASH
Zoe's hurt.
MAL
And the doctor's gonna do everything
he can. Meantime, I gotta have you
on that bridge. We need to know how
bad it is.
Wash laughs grimly to himself, under his breath.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 16.

20 CONTINUED: (3) 20

WASH
(turning on him)
How bad? It's bad, okay, "sir?" My
wife may be dying, here. So my
feeling is it's pretty damn bad.
MAL
Wash...
WASH
I'm not leaving her, Mal. Don't ask
me again.
MAL
(no joy in this)
I wasn't askin'. I was tellin'.
WASH
(without looking back)
<Screw you.> [Chur ni-duh.]
Mal sighs. Reaches in, grabs Wash by the shirt, swings him
around, shoves him up against a wall. For all the
physicality of that, Mal is calm, cool.
MAL
You're gonna get to the bridge and
get us on our feet, because if we
can't do for Zoe here, you're gonna
have to be the one that saves her.
Well, yeah there's tension right about now. Simon continues
to minister to Zoe. No one else says a word. Mal eases off.
Wash's back is now to the infirmary door. A beat.
He goes, just totally fucking torn up inside. Mal looks back
to the faces looking back at him, then he exits, too.

21 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 21

We're looking at Wash's pilot's chair. Empty at the moment.

CAMERA moves off that to find... Wash on his back, examining
the cockpit innards. His face is somewhat obscured from us.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 17.

21 CONTINUED: 21

He's speaking to someone who is o.s., also he seems much

calmer than he did moments before.
WASH
Oh, yeah. This is all very do-able.
Wash slides out -- and the first thing we notice is the big,
bushy moustache. He stands and now WE SEE, outside the
cockpit windows, BLUE SKY. We're parked someplace in the day
again.
WASH (cont'd)
Shouldn't be a problem at all. A few
modifications, get some real
maneuverability out of this boat.
You'd be surprised.
Mal and Zoe stand at the cockpit door as Wash looks the
vessel over.
MAL
So you'll take the job, then?
As Wash sits into the pilot's chair, gives it a little swivel.
WASH
Might do, might do. Think I'm
startin' to get a feel here.
MAL
Good. Well, take all the time you
need. Make yourself to home. Fiddle
with them dials. We'll be nearby.
Wash swivels away from them. Fiddles with dials.
MAL AND ZOE
Moving away from the cockpit, down the foredeck, toward the
dining area as they confer –-
MAL (cont'd)
He's great, ain't he?
ZOE
I don't like him.
MAL
(taken aback)
What?
ZOE
Something about him bothers me.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 18.

21 CONTINUED: (2) 21

MAL
(losing patience)
What? What about him bothers you?
ZOE
Not sure. Just... something.
MAL
Well, your "somethin'" comes up
against a list of recommendations
long as my leg. Tanaka raved about
the guy. Renshaw's been trying to
get him on his crew for a month. And
we need us a pilot.
ZOE
I understand, sir. He bothers me.
MAL
Look, we finally got ourselves a
genius mechanic, now it's about time
we hired someone to fly the damn
thing.
A BUFFED, SURFER-ISH DUDE, BESTER, passes through frame.
BESTER
(nodding "excellent!")
"Genius." No one's ever called me
that before. Shiny.
Zoe doesn't even register that Bester passed by. She's
musing on Wash in the distance.
ZOE
(musing on Wash)
Just bothers me.
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 19.

22 INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY - HEART MONITOR 22

Starts to BEEP AN ALERT. Zoe's hooked up to the equipment

now. Simon reacts.
SIMON
Her heart's stopped...
INARA, BOOK AND JAYNE
Looking on, helpless. Nervous.
BOOK
Maybe someone should get her husband
down here...
MAL
No.
They see Mal has appeared. He moves into the infirmary.
Simon's racing around the infirmary, grabbing things.
MAL (cont'd)
What do you need, doc?
As Simon chooses a vial of something from several –-
SIMON
(pointing)
Top cabinet –-
Mal pulls it open. Sees a large hypo. Big needle.
SIMON (cont'd)
That's the one.
He hands it to Simon who doses it up.
INARA
What is it?
SIMON
Pure adrenaline –-
Simon readies himself, poises the needle right over Zoe's
heart. Ready for the Pulp Fiction moment? 'cause that's
always funny.
Inara turns away.
Simon plunges the needle in. Zoe's body JOLTS and we
HARD CUT TO:
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 20.

23 INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY 23

MAL HOWLS in pain. He's alone in the infirmary, sitting on

the edge of the examination table, wrapping a bandage around
his midsection, it's quickly filling with blood. He breathes
hard, then tries to rise. He nearly passes out merely from
that.
He manages to steady himself, moves to the counter, rummages
around in some of Simon's supplies -- comes up with the big
ass needle that we saw Simon shoot up Zoe with. He injects
himself. Has violent reaction.
CLOSE - MAL
His eyes wide, wide awake. He blinks, fueled with the stuff.
Now he moves to the engine part that we saw him dragging.
It's near the door. He picks it up, but looks toward the
infirmary door, as:
KAYLEE (O.S.)
Cap?

24 INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY 24

-- earlier that day. Mal turns away from the table where Zoe
lies. Now the medical monitor beeps a constant, steady
rhythm. The crisis seems past. Mal moves to Kaylee at the
infirmary door. She looks pale, worried. Bad news a'comin'.
They step into –-
COMMON AREA
KAYLEE
Zoe gonna be okay?
MAL
You let the doctor worry about Zoe.
Tell me what you know.
KAYLEE
Catalyzer on the port compression
coil blew. That's where the trouble
started.
MAL
I need that in Captain Dummy talk,
Kaylee.
KAYLEE
We're dead in the water.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 21.

24 CONTINUED: 24

MAL
Can you fix it?
KAYLEE
I could try...
MAL
Just get us to limpin'. That's all
I need.
She looks at him. Nearly staring. Nods. He senses more...
MAL (cont'd)
What? What is it?
KAYLEE
Well. It's worsen just the coil.
MAL
How can it be worse?
KAYLEE
Main life-support's down on account
of the engine being dead.
MAL
Right. But we got auxiliary –-
KAYLEE
No. We don't. It ain't even on.
Explosion musta knocked it out.
MAL
So what are we breathin'?
KAYLEE
Whatever got pumped into the atmo
before the explosion shut it all
down.
Jayne has overheard part of this, joins them.
JAYNE
Mosta that oxygen got ate up by the
fire when it went out the door.
KAYLEE
Whatever's left is what we got.
Mal takes a beat, weighing his very slim options --
MAL
How long?
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 22.

24 CONTINUED: (2) 24
KAYLEE
Couplea hours, maybe.
Now Simon appears, emerging from the infirmary.
SIMON
She's stabilized. I think she's out
of the woods.
Off Mal, Kaylee and Jayne, not quite ready to celebrate --
BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 23.

ACT TWO

25 INT. SERENITY - AFTDECK/ENGINE ROOM 25

Stillness for a beat, then... the ENGINE PART (which we will

soon come to know as the catalyzer) is slammed down before
Mal.
He's forcing himself up the stairs and around the corner into
the aftdeck corridor.
INJURED MAL moves into the engine room, PAST LENS. We HOLD
FRAME, looking (from the engine room POV) down the empty
aftdeck. A beat, then...
...MAL APPEARS advancing from the dining area, coming down
the aftdeck toward the engine room. He's uninjured Mal.
MAL
Bester!
And WE ARE:

26 INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM 26

-- in a different time. Mal's looking for his mechanic (the

handsome mechanic we saw earlier.)
MAL
What's this I been hearin' 'bout yet
another delay?
As Mal moves closer to the engine room, we can make out
BESTER'S ARMY BOOTS sticking out from under the engine.
Presumably doing his grease monkey thing.
MAL (cont'd)
You were supposed to have that engine
fixed and us up and...
(as he sees:)
What in the name of <all that's
proper..?> [suo-yo duh doh shr-dang]
Bester's shorts are... well, down around his army boots.
He's having the sex with an unseen FEMALE. There is
energetic humpage. Mal's a bit scandalized. Casts his
glance away from the action. Might clear his throat.
MAL (cont'd)
Bester.
Much with the dirty humping. Mal gives it a beat.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 23A.

26 CONTINUED: 26

MAL (cont'd)
Bester.
They seem to be, uh, finishing.
MAL (cont'd)
BESTER!
Bester climbs out, mostly still naked, yanking up his shorts.
BESTER
What?
Bester just looks to Mal. Innocently inquisitive. There is
some dead pan staring on Mal's part. Oh, yes there is. Then:
MAL
You do realize we been parked on this
rock near a week longer'n we planned?
BESTER
Yeah, but... there's stuff to do.
MAL
As for example that job we got
waitin' for us on Paquin. When we
landed here you said you just needed
a few days before we were space
worthy again and is there somethin'
wrong with your bunk?
BESTER
What?
More impatient staring, then Bester gets it finally: right.
The naked girl behind the engine. Bester laughs.
BESTER (cont'd)
Oh! No. Cap!
(leans forward
"confidentially")
She like engines. They make her hot.
MAL
Bester. Get your prairie harpy off
my boat and put us back in the air.
BESTER
'kay. But... can't.
MAL
Whaddya mean "can't."
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 23B.

26 CONTINUED: (2) 26

BESTER
No can do, cap. Secondary grav
boot's shot.
KAYLEE (O.S.)
No it ain't.
Kaylee pops up, getting dressed. The men look at her.
KAYLEE
Ain't nothing wrong with your grav
boot. Grav boot's just fine.
(to Mal)
Hello.
She drops down again, out of view. Mal glances at Bester.
Bester's a bit flustered.
BESTER
(to Mal)
She don't... that's not...
(to Kaylee)
No it ain't!
KAYLEE
(reappearing)
Sure it is. Grav boot ain't your
trouble. I seen the trouble plain as
day when I's down there on my back.
Your reg couple's bad.
BESTER
(clueless)
The... the what?
KAYLEE
Reg couple. Right here. See?
BESTER
No.
KAYLEE
This.
(Bester is still of
the blank expression)
I'm pointin' right at it.
She rolls her eyes, sighs, reaches in, breaks off a part of
the engine.
BESTER
Hey!
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 23C.

26 CONTINUED: (3) 26

KAYLEE
Here.
She plunks the part in Bester's hand. She reaches back in,
tinkers.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
Don't really serve much of a purpose,
anyway. Just tends to gum up the
works when it gets tacked.
(re: a nearby wrench)
Hand me that, will ya?
(he does)
So I figure, why even have it?
Better to just plug your g-line
straight into the port-pin-lock and
that should...
She's done. WHIRRR the turbine starts to turn.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
There.
She shoves it in Bester's hand. Fiddles with the engine.
BESTER
What'd you do?
MAL
She fixed it.
KAYLEE
Well, it wasn't really broke.
Bester looks at the part in his hand.
MAL
Where'd you learn to do that, miss?
KAYLEE
(shrugs)
Just do it, that's all. My daddy
says I got a natural talent.
MAL
I'd say you do at that.
BESTER
(re: the part)
We don't need this?
KAYLEE
Not 'specially.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 23D.

26 CONTINUED: (4) 26

MAL
You work for your daddy, do you?
KAYLEE
When he's got work. Which lately
ain't been too often.
MAL
And have you had much experience on
a vessel like this?
KAYLEE
Never even been up in one before.
MAL
You never been... how'd you like to?
KAYLEE
(points skyward)
You mean...?
MAL
Sure.
KAYLEE
For how long?
MAL
Long as you like. Long as you can
keep her in the sky.
KAYLEE
(getting it now)
You offering me a job?
BESTER
What?
MAL
Believe I just did.
KAYLEE
Just gotta ask my folks!
She pulls her hastily assembled wardrobe about her, pushes
past Mal and a stunned Bester.
KAYLEE (cont'd)
Don't leave without me!
Mal watches Kaylee go, tickled. Bester just blinks, stunned.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 23E-26.

26 CONTINUED: (5) 26
BESTER
Mal. Whaddya need two mechanics for?
MAL
I really don't. Pack your things.
(then)
She got a name?
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 27.

27 INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM 27

MAL
Kay1ee!
Mal has entered the engine room. He looks off screen, a
little annoyed to see --
-- Kaylee is just sitting there. Forlorn. She's holding the
same piece of equipment that Mal was dragging in here. But
the one she's got is twisted and melted and screwed up. She
stares at it.
MAL (cont'd)
Kaylee, what are you doing?
KAYLEE
I'm sorry, Captain. I'm real sorry.
I shoulda kept better care of her.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 28.

27 CONTINUED: 27
KAYLEE (cont'd)
Usually she lets me know when
something's wrong. Maybe she did and
I wasn't paying attention.
MAL
(patiently)
I cannot be having this from you
right now. We got work to do.
<Understand?> [Dong-ma?]
KAYLEE
(re: the warped
engine part)
Catalyzer's broke. Gonna need a new
one.
MAL
There is no new one. You gotta make
do with what you got.
KAYLEE
It's broke.
She just sits there. He gently makes her stand up.
MAL
Come on. This the part?
(she nods)
Well that don't hardly seem like
nothing at all. Where does it go?
She shows him the spot in the engine.
KAYLEE
Here. But it won't fit no more.
He tries to install it, no go.
MAL
Then you gotta figure a way to make
it fit.
KAYLEE
Tried. Sometimes a thing gets broke,
can't be fixed.
MAL
Engine don't turn without this?
She shakes her head "no."
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 28A.

27 CONTINUED: (2) 27

MAL (cont'd)
Engine don't turn, life support won't
function, we don't breathe. You want
to keep breathin', don't you?
She nods.
MAL (cont'd)
So do I.
(then)
Will you try again?
She looks at him. Doesn't want to disappoint. Nods. He
smiles. Puts his hand on the back of her neck. Off this
moment --

28 INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA/INFIRMARY 28

Simon checks the still unconscious Zoe's vitals. Inara

appears at the infirmary door.
INARA
How is she?
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 29.

28 CONTINUED: 28

SIMON
Still unconscious. But her vitals
are strong. She won't know it, but
as long as her condition remains like
this... she'll outlive us all.
(then)
She's using less oxygen.
He moves into the common area. Sits. She joins him.
SIMON (cont'd)
I always thought the name "Serenity"
had a vaguely funereal sound to it.
INARA
I love this ship. I have from the
first moment I saw it.
SIMON
I just don't want to die on it.
INARA
I don't want to die at all.
SIMON
Suffocation's not exactly the most
dignified way to go. The human body
will involuntarily –-
INARA
Please, I don't really require a
clinical description right now.
SIMON
I'm sorry. I just...
(after a beat)
It was my birthday.
He smiles wistfully. She smiles back. Puts her hand over
his. Off this moment...

29 INT. SERENITY - BOOK'S QUARTERS 29

Book sits at his little table. We can see he's scared.
Reading from the Psalms. Trying to find comfort in those
ancient words.
RIVER (O.S.)
Don't be afraid.
He looks up, a bit startled to see River haunting his doorway.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 30.

29 CONTINUED: 29

RIVER
(re: his Bible)
That's what it says. Don't be afraid.
BOOK
Yes.
RIVER
But you are afraid.
BOOK
Yes.
RIVER
You're afraid we're going to run out
of air. That we'll die gasping.
(then)
But we won't. That's not going to
happen.
He looks at her. Taken by her utter certainty. He finds a
kind of comfort there. Well, that is until:
RIVER (cont'd)
(flatly)
We'll freeze to death first.
CUT TO:

30 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 30

Wash is at the helm. He's torn up with worry and anger.

He's seething a bit. Mal enters. Wash doesn't even turn.
MAL
You get that beacon sent?
WASH
(much with the
resentment)
Yeah, it's sent.
MAL
Good.
WASH
(under his breath)
Pointless.
MAL
What was that?
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 31.

30 CONTINUED: 30

WASH
Nothing, sir. It's a brilliant plan,
I'm sure we'll all be saved.
MAL
Getting a little weary of this
attitude, Wash.
WASH
Are you? Well I'm very sorry about
that, sir. I guess the news that
we're all gonna be purple and bloated
and fetal in a few hours has made me
little snippy.
MAL
It's possible someone might pick up
the signal.
WASH
(pissed)
No, Mal. It's not possible.
Nobody's gonna pick up the damn
signal. You wanted us "flying under
the radar," remember? Well, that's
where we are: out of range of anyone
or anything.
MAL
Then make it go further.
WASH
What?
MAL
Make the signal go further.
WASH
Can't make it go further.
MAL
Not if all you're gonna do is sit
here and whine about it, no.
WASH
What do you expect me to do, Mal?
MAL
(building)
Whatever you have to. And if you
can't do it from here, then you put
on a suit and get out on the side of
the boat and...
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 32.

30 CONTINUED: (2) 30

WASH
(voice rising)
And what? Wave my arms around?
MAL
Wave your arms around, jump up and
down. Divert the nav sats to the
transmitter. Whatever.
WASH
Divert the...? Right. Because
teenage pranks are fun when you're
about to die!
MAL
Give the beacon a boost, wouldn't it?
WASH
Yes, Mal. It'd boost the signal, but
even if some passerby did happen to
receive, all it'd do is muck up their
navigation!
MAL
Could be that's true.
WASH
Damn right it's true! They'd be
forced to stop and dig out our signal
before they could go anyplace!
A beat as Wash let's what he just said sink in. He snaps:
WASH (cont'd)
Well, maybe I should do that, then!
MAL
(snapping back)
Maybe you should!
WASH
Okay!
MAL
Good!
WASH
Fine!
JAYNE
HEY!
Jayne has appeared, forces himself between the two of them.

CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 33.

30 CONTINUED: (3) 30

JAYNE (cont'd)
What the <hell> [quay] do you two
think you're doing?! Fightin' at a
time like this.
A moral lecture from Jayne. They both ease off. Cool down.
JAYNE (cont'd)
(as he turns and goes)
You'll use up all the air!
WAAA! WAAA! WAAA! A KLAXON SOUNDS and WE ARE:

31 INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM 31

Where the ALARM originated. Mal, gut-shot, listens to the

ship warning him that:
SERENITY (V.O.)
Life support failure. Check oxygen
levels at once.
Then the same ALERT repeats IN CHINESE.
SERENITY (cont'd; V.O.)
<Life support failure. Check oxygen
levels at once.> [Jeo-shung yong-jur
goo-fang. Jien-cha yang-chi gong
yin.]
Mal's bleary-eyed, fumbling with the ship part, trying to
install the catalyzer into the failed compression coil. But
he's having a fuck of a time.
He wipes sweat from his brow with the back of his hand --
leaving an ugly smear of blood. He blinks it back. It's in
his eyes. Shit.
The KLAXON continues to sound. The ship's message repeats in
English again.
Mal nearly has the part installed... but it slips from his
bloody fingers and drops into the engine. Lost to him.
He can't believe that just happened. And the alert continues
to sound –-
BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 34.

ACT THREE

32 EXT. SPACE 32

Dead Serenity just hanging there.

33 INT. SERENITY - COMMON AREA/INFIRMARY 33

Everyone sits huddled together. They're wearing coats and

blankets. It's cold. Mal stands before the assembled, grim.
He's a bit distracted, tries to keep focused. A combination
of the situation and the thinning of the air.
MAL
Well. As you're all keenly aware...
seems we, uh, run into a... bit of a
situation. Engine's down. Life
support's on the fritz. And I got
nine people here all wanting to
breathe.
(tries to be light)
Could take turns, I suppose.
(thud)
But that doesn't really appear to be
an option. Truth is... ain't got a
whole lot of options at this juncture.
A beat. They all look back at him. Watch him as he casts a
glance up at Serenity. Runs his hand along a bulkhead or
wall. Then gives it an affectionate pat. Continues –-
MAL (cont'd)
So now instead of focusing on what we
don't got -- time to talk about what
it is we do. And what we got are two
shuttles. Short range. Won't go
far. But they each got heat, and
they each got air. Last longer than
what's left in Serenity.
SIMON
Long enough to reach someplace?
MAL
No.
BOOK
So... where will we go, then?
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 35.

33 CONTINUED: 33

MAL
Far as you can get. We send both
shuttles off in exact opposite
directions -- betters the chance of
somebody being seen, maybe getting
picked up.
(then)
Shepherd Book, Kaylee and Jayne'll
ride with Inara in her shuttle. Doc,
you and your sister will go with Wash
and Zoe -- seein' as Zoe still needs
some doctorin'.
KAYLEE
What about you?
MAL
Four people to a shuttle. That's the
arrangement. Even's the odds.
(then)
I'm staying with Serenity.
KAYLEE
Cap'n –-
MAL
We sent out a beacon. Even managed
to boost it a little. Now, if by
some chance we do get a response,
there's gotta be someone here to
answer.
That hangs there for a moment. Nobody believes that's going
to happen.
MAL (cont'd)
Let's get those shuttles prepped.
Wash stands, starts moving to the stairs near the infirmary.
MAL (cont'd)
Wash -- shuttles are that way.
WASH
I know. But like you said -- someone
might answer the beacon. And when
they do, I want to make sure you're
able to call us all back. Won't take
me a minute.
Mal nods. Wash moves off.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 35A.

33 CONTINUED: (2) 33

MAL
Jayne, get shuttle two ready. I'll
see to Inara's.
(more)
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 36.

33 CONTINUED: (3) 33

MAL (cont'd)
(to everyone else)
Let's get moving.
(as he goes)
Take only what you need.
Mal moves off. Everyone's a bit stunned. Inara moves to
follow Mal.

34 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY/CATWALKS 34

Mal heads up the catwalks, moving toward Inara's shuttle.

She appears, following.
INARA
Mal...
MAL
You fly smart, don't push too hard,
shuttle life support should last you
a good long while.
INARA
Mal, this isn't the ancient sea. You
don't have to go down with your ship.
MAL
She ain't going down. She ain't
going anywhere.
(then)
Jayne'll be worth something if you
run into trouble. But don't trust
him, and don't let him take over.
You're paid up through the month.
It's still your ship.
INARA
Mal...
MAL
But so far as your security deposit
goes... that I think I might have to
owe you.
He enters her shuttle. She follows –-

35 INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE 35

Inara steps through first. She's wearing different clothing.

Mal steps in behind her. The shuttle is either empty or
dressed differently. Mal's showing her the "property."
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 37.

35 CONTINUED: 35

MAL
Well, here she is.
She glides in, takes in the space for the first time.
MAL (cont'd)
Nice, ain't she?
INARA
Smallish...
MAL
Not overly. How much space you
really need for what you do, anyway?
She ignores that, still considering the shuttle. She moves
into the cockpit. Blue sky outside the windows. Mal follows.
MAL (cont'd)
Got a surveyor and his wife
interested in renting it. They're
just waiting to hear back.
INARA
What's her range?
MAL
Standard short. She'll break atmo
from a wide orbit. Get you where you
need to go, bring you back home again.
INARA
This shuttle -- it seems newer than
the rest of the ship.
MAL
My understanding is this airlock was
added some years back. Certain
modifications and improvements been
made over the course of the years.
INARA
Mmmm.
MAL
But she's space worthy. Like the
rest of Serenity.
INARA
No need to sound so defensive,
Captain.
(more)
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 38.

35 CONTINUED: (2) 35

INARA (cont'd)
(sliding past him)
I prefer something with a few miles
on it.
He watches her as she moves into the main chamber, looking it
over. Looking her over...
INARA (cont'd)
Were we to enter into this
arrangement, Captain Reynolds, there
are a few things I would require from
you. The foremost being complete
autonomy. This shuttle would be my
home. No crew member, including
yourself, would be allowed entrance
without my express invitation.
MAL
You'd get your privacy.
INARA
Good. And just so we're clear, under
no circumstances will I be servicing
you or anyone who is under your
employ.
MAL
I'll post a sign.
INARA
That won't be necessary. The other
thing I would insist upon is some
measure of assurance that when I make
an appointment with a client I'm in
a position to keep that appointment.
So far as such assurances are
possible on a vessel of this type.
Mal blinks at all that for a beat, letting it register, then:
MAL
That's an awful lot of caveats and
addendums there, miss.
INARA
As I stated, I just want to be clear.
MAL
Well. I'll be sure and take all of
that into consideration when I review
the applications.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 39.

35 CONTINUED: (3) 35

INARA
Don't be ridiculous. You're going to
rent this shuttle to me.
MAL
Am I?
INARA
Yes. And for one quarter less than
your asking price.
MAL
(like hell)
That a fact?
INARA
It is.
MAL
And you figure you'll be getting this
discount... why exactly?
INARA
You want me. You want me on your
ship.
MAL
Do I?
INARA
Yes. Because I can bring something
that your "surveyor" or any of the
other fish you might have on line
can't -- a certain respectability.
MAL
Respecta –-
INARA
And based on what little I've seen of
your... operation... I suspect that's
something you could use.
MAL
Fine. Let me ask you this: if
you're so "respectable," why are you
even here? I mean, I heard tell of
fancy ladies such as yourself
shipping out with the big luxury
liners and the like. But a
registered Companion on a boat like
this? What are you running from?
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 40.

35 CONTINUED: (4) 35

INARA
I'm not "running" from anything.
He looks at her. Doesn't believe her.
MAL
If it's Alliance trouble you got, you
might want to consider another ship.
Some on board here fought for the
Independents.
INARA
The Alliance has no quarrel with me.
In fact I supported Unification.
MAL
Didja? Well, I don't suppose you're
the only whore that did.
She looks at him. Smiles, won't let this guy rankle her.
INARA
Oh -- one further addendum. That's
the last time you get to call me a
"whore."
She walks past him.
MAL
Absolutely. Never again.

36 INT. INARA'S SHUTTLE 36

Mal moves about the cockpit, checking gages, dials, etc.

MAL
Keep everything set as low as
possible. Don't waste what you got.
She pushes him out of the way, takes over.
INARA
Let me do that. You never could
operate this thing.
He lets her take over. Gazes down at her. Now she looks at
him. So much to say. He sees that. Feels similarly.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 41.

36 CONTINUED: 36

MAL
And try not to talk. Talkin' uses up
air. There ain't no need for it.
INARA
Mal... come with us.
MAL
Can't. Four to a shuttle, Inara.
Four.
INARA
One more person. You know it can't
make a difference. Not now.
MAL
I'm not leaving Serenity.
INARA
Mal -- you don't have to die alone.
MAL
Everybody dies alone.
WE hold on their look to each other, we PRE-LAP the horrible
SOUND of the KLAXON SOUNDING –-
CUT TO:

37 INT. SERENITY - AFTDECK/ENGINE ROOM 37

Gut-shot Mal fishes out the part to the compression coil.

Works to fit it into the damaged engine. It takes some work,
but he does it.
He fires it all up - the turbines start to spin. It works.
The BLARING ALERT stops. Power restored. Life support
functioning again. He starts dragging himself toward the
bridge –-

38 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 38

We're in Mal's POV, moving toward the seemingly empty

bridge -- but Wash appears in the doorway.
WASH
Everything's set and ready.
REVEAL - MAL (uninjured-Mal) moving toward the bridge.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 42.

38 CONTINUED: 38

MAL
Good.
WASH
I linked the nav systems of both
shuttles into the helm, here.
Wash points out a LARGE, DISTINCTIVE BUTTON on the navigation
control panels.
WASH (cont'd)
When your miracle gets here, you just
pound this button once. It'll call
back both shuttles.
Mal nods. Wash wants to say something. Everything's all
fucked up. He's about to speak, but before he can:
MAL
Go see to your wife.
Wash takes a beat. Then exits.

39 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 39

Mal walks with Jayne. Jayne has a duffle and some guns slung
over his shoulder.
JAYNE
I went ahead and closed off all below
deck vents. Diverted what there is
to the bridge. It ain't much. So my
advice, seal off everything tight
behind you when you go back up.
Might buy you some time.
Mal nods. He's looking up to --
MAL'S POV
Of the upper catwalks. To the left, Wash and Simon carry a
stretcher with unconscious Zoe into the second shuttle.
River follows.
Mal looks to his right –-
-- Book and Kaylee enter Inara's shuttle. Inara stands at
the doorway, looking down at him.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 42A.

39 CONTINUED: 39

JAYNE (cont'd)
And I prepped a suit for you. It's
hanging in the foredeck. When the
time comes, you can just...
MAL
(cuts him off, though
not angrily)
I won't be needing it, but thanks.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 43.

39 CONTINUED: (2) 39

JAYNE
Okay. Well.
Jayne takes a beat. Then he moves off, heading up the
catwalk stairs.
WASH
At the door to shuttle two. He slides the door shut.
JAYNE
Reaches the top of the catwalk. Motions for Inara to go
inside. A beat. He eyes on Mal. Then she disappears
inside. Jayne follows, shuts the door. Mal stands alone in
the big, empty cargo bay, as...

40 EXT. SPACE 40

The two shuttles detach from Serenity, go their separate

ways, off into space.

41 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 41

Mal moves through the door leading to the infirmary, shuts up

the door behind him.

42 INT. SERENITY - UPPER DECK 42

Mal closes off the door to the aftdeck. Moves through the
dining area, moves into the foredeck, slides that door shut
behind him.

43 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 43

Mal closes off the bridge. He sits into the pilot's seat.
Sighs. And WE SEE his FROZEN BREATH misting. He sits alone.
Staring out into the empty vastness of space.
The air is thin and he starts to get drowsy. Each breath is
COLD MIST. The MIST getting thinner and thinner. He shivers.
His eyes start to close –-

44 EXT. SPACE 44

Serenity. Silent. Alone. Not moving.

FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 44.

45 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 45

Some time has passed. Mal looking half frozen and

unconscious in the pilot's chair. He doesn't react to the
SOUND of a SIGNAL as it starts come through on the console...
CLOSE - MONITOR (INSERT)
THE SIGNAL on the console. A FUZZY IMAGE. A MAN'S FACE
through the mostly STATIC. Barely discernible.
CAPTAIN (V.O.)
(filtered)
Firefly Serenity... This is the
private salvage S.S. Walden.
Receiving your distress beacon, do
you read?
We're only getting about a third of that as it's trying to
break in on Serenity's wounded half-powered system. It
continues to repeat and CRACKLE.
Mal sits motionless. Not hearing it. Maybe dead.
More STATICY SIGNAL. More CRACKLING. But now Mal starts
stir slightly. A few more WORDS of the DISTRESS REPLY
crackle through...
Mal forces his heavy-lidded eyes open just as... The
transmission ends. No more signal.
Mal tries to orient himself. Did he hear something? His
head lolls as he looks to the now silent monitors. Could
have been a dream. His bleary eyes shift up to the window –-
ANOTHER SHIP
TWICE THE SIZE OF SERENITY Rises up there, right the fuck in
front of the window. Which is as good a place as any for --
BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 45.

ACT FOUR

46 EXT. SPACE 46

The S.S. Walden nose-to-nose with the smaller Serenity.

47 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 47

Mal on the bridge. WE SEE the IMAGE of the CAPTAIN of the

Walden on the vid monitor. A serious sort; Mal without the
funny. Mal does his best to keep up, but lack of oxygen and
the extreme cold aren't helping.
CAPTAIN
I'm sorry for your troubles, Captain.
They sound many. But you do
understand I can't invite you on
board my vessel. I got folks here to
consider. They depend on me to make
the right choices. And I don't know
you.
MAL
I'd do the same myself, were the
situation reversed. 'course, one of
my idiot crew'd probably talk me into
changing my mind... you got idiots?
CAPTAIN
No.
MAL
Well I'm not looking for a ride,
Captain. Just a little push is all.
CAPTAIN
Right. Your mechanical trouble.
Compression coil, you say?
MAL
It was the catalyzer.
CAPTAIN
Not even the coil? Catalyzer's a
nothing part, Captain.
MAL
It's nothing 'til you don't got one.
Then it appears to be everything.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 46.

47 CONTINUED: 47

CAPTAIN
It is possible we might have
something that'd do you. We just
come from a big salvage job off Ita
Moon. Picked the bones'a half a dozen
junk heaps not unlike the one you're
sittin' in.
MAL
Mmmm.
CAPTAIN
I suppose we could dock, take a look
around, see if there ain't some way
we might come to terms. That's if we
have the part –-
Captain looks off screen, presumably at some unseen person
speaking to him.
CAPTAIN (cont'd)
I'm told we do.
MAL
I would appreciate it.
CAPTAIN
Trouble is... how can I know for
certain your story's true? Ambush
could be waiting for me and my people
on the other side.
MAL
You can plainly see both my shuttles
been launched, just like I said. And
I'm sure by now you scanned me. You
know I got no life support.
CAPTAIN
(muses, then)
I don't expect to see any weapons
when we board.
MAL
And I do expect to see that engine
part before I open the door.
CAPTAIN
(smiles)
I feel like maybe we can do business.
FZZZT. The Captain's face disappears from the monitor.
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 47.

48 EXT. SPACE 48

As the S.S. Walden's airlock attaches to that of Serenity...

49 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 49

Mal, breathing very shallow, waits near the standing airlock

door controls.
The Captain appears at the airlock doors. He holds up the
catalyzer at the window. Mal activates the airlocks doors.
As the doors open, there is a tremendous RUSH OF AIR from
other side -- blessed oxygen. Mal nearly passes out from the
drinking in of it. He closes his eyes for a beat, just
sucking down as much as he can. When he opens his eyes
again --
-- The Captain and his FOUR PEEPS have their guns raised and
aimed at him. Mal's hands go up instinctively.
CAPTAIN
Check him.
One of Captain's crew moves in, frisks Mal as --
CAPTAIN (cont'd)
(to another flunky)
Search the ship. Start in the
cockpit, work your way down.
MAL
This what you meant by "ambush?"
CAPTAIN
(smiles)
We're just verifying your story.
(to flunkies)
You find anyone on board not supposed
to be -- you shoot 'em.
The Captain was hoping that last bit would elicit a reaction
from Mal. It doesn't. As the lackeys go --
MAL
Thought we were gonna be reasonable
about this?
MARCO
Reason?
No, that wasn't a typo, because suddenly we are:
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 48.

50 EXT. SERENITY - RAMP/CARGO BAY - DAY 50

On the open ramp of Serenity and it's Mal and Zoe in an armed
stand off another gang -- THREE PRICKLY BANDITOS, a grizzly
fellow called MARCO their leader.
MARCO
(to his partner)
He's gonna talk to us about "reason,"
now.
JAYNE
Yeah. That's a joke.
Oh, yeah -- Jayne's one of the members of the rival gang.
MAL AND ZOE -- a brief, sotto exchange:
MAL
Which one you figure tracked us?
ZOE
The ugly one, sir.
MAL
(long beat)
Could you be more specific?
THE OTHER GANG
MARCO
Do we look "reasonable" to you?
MAL
Well. Looks can be deceiving.
JAYNE
Not as deceiving as a low down
dirty... deceiver!
MAL
Well said. Wasn't that well said,
Zoe?
ZOE
Had a kind poetry to it, sir.
JAYNE
You want I should shoot 'em now,
Marco?
MARCO
Wait until they tell us where they
put the stuff.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 49.

50 CONTINUED: 50

JAYNE
That's a good idea. A good idea.
Tell us where the stuff's at so I can
shoot ya.
MAL
Point of interest? Offering to shoot
us, don't work so well as an
incentive as you might imagine.
Anyway, we've hidden it. So if you
kill us, you'll never find it.
JAYNE
Found you easy enough.
MAL
Yeah. Yeah you did, actually.
(then)
How much they paying you?
JAYNE
Wubba -- huh?
MAL
I mean, let's say you did kill us.
Or didn't. There could be torture.
Whatever. But somehow you found the
goods. What would your cut be?
JAYNE
Seven per cent, straight off the top.
MAL
Seven? Huh.
Mal makes a "wow, that's pathetic" grimace. Jayne squints.
JAYNE
What?
MAL
Mmm? Nothing. Not a thing. Just...
(to Zoe)
That seem low to you?
ZOE
It does, sir.
JAYNE
It ain't low...
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 50.

50 CONTINUED: (2) 50

MARCO
Stop it.
JAYNE
Seven per cent, that's standard.
MAL
Who told you that?
(re: Marco)
Him?
(then)
Okay. Zoe, I'm paying you too much.
JAYNE
Why? What does she get?
MARCO
Knock it off.
MAL
Look, forget I said anything. I'm
sure you're treated very well. You
get the perks. Got your own room...
(off Jayne's reaction)
No? You share a bunk?
JAYNE
(re: the other guy)
With that one.
MAL
Really.
MARCO
Jayne, this ain't funny.
JAYNE
Yeah, I ain't laughin'.
MAL
You move on over to this side, we'll
not only show you where the stuff's
at -- we'll see you get the share you
deserve. Not no sad "seven."
JAYNE
Private room?
MARCO
Jayne!
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 51.

50 CONTINUED: (3) 50

MAL
Your own room. Full run of the
kitchen. Whole shot.
MARCO
Jayne. I ain't askin' --
POW! Jayne shoots Marco in the leg and instantly drops the
other bandito (who was just barely starting to turn on Jayne)
without really looking.
JAYNE
Shut up.
(to Mal)
How big a room?
Off that –-

51 INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY 51

The Captain with his gun trained on Mal. Now the others
start to return to the cargo bay.
LACKEY #1
Ship's clear, Captain.
CAPTAIN
You check the engine room?
LACKEY #1
(nods)
It's like he said. Catalyzer's
blown. That's all he needs.
MAL
Now anything that's worth anything's
really right here in this cargo bay.
You take a look around, decide what
you think's fair.
CAPTAIN
Already decided.
BOOM. The Captain shoots Mal in the gut. It happens
suddenly and without passion.
CAPTAIN (cont'd)
We're taking your ship.
Mal's eyes go wide and he sinks to his knees. Topples onto
his back. The Captain coolly instructs his crew. Tosses the
catalyzer to one of his men.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 52.

51 CONTINUED: 51

CAPTAIN (cont'd)
Billy, get this plugged in. Jesse,
call Stern over here. You and him'll
pilot this pile of <crap> [go se] out
of here.
MAL'S POV
Looking up under Jayne's work out bench where there is a gun
tapped to the underbelly.
RESUME
CAPTAIN (cont'd)
We'll get it as far as –-
He stops short as he hears the sound of a GUN being COCKED –-
CAPTAIN'S POV
Looking down the barrel of Mal's gun.
MAL
(eyes on Captain)
Jesse, don't call Stern. Billy,
leave the catalyzer.
CAPTAIN
(nervous, nods)
Do as he says.
The lackey with the catalyzer sets it on the cargo bay floor.
MAL
(to Captain)
Take your people and go.
CAPTAIN
You would have done the same.
MAL
We can already see I haven't.
(then)
Now get the hell off my ship.
And now the Captain and all his men back away to the air lock
doors. Mal, through sheer force of will, rises to his feet,
keeping the gun on them, moves to the air lock door controls.
Closes hits the button as they step through. The doors shut.
And Mal collapses on the cargo bay floor. Exactly where we
first found him.
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 53.

52 EXT. SPACE 52

As the larger salvage ship detaches from Serenity and heads

off.

53 INT. SERENITY - VARIOUS 53

The cargo bay floor, blood there.

The common area, infirmary, and the trail of blood left
behind by the wounded Mal.
The Engine room, the turbines turning with the restored part.
The aft and fore deck corridors, the trappings of the
interrupted party... and the tell-tale trail of blood.

54 INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE 54

We find Mal. He's dragging himself to the bridge. He
reaches for the button to call back the shuttles. But before
he can touch it... he passes out.
BLACKNESS.
UP FROM BLACKNESS
VOICES. Familiar voices. Growing more present as Mal wakes
in –-

55 INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY 55

Mal blinks as he sees –-

-- Simon, Book, Inara, Jayne... then River, then Wash, and
finally even Zoe, who's sitting up nearby. No one (save
maybe Zoe) is directly facing him. Various backs to him.
They're in conversation, though since we're in Mal's POV we
can't quite make out what they're saying. Zoe's the first to
notice that Mal's come into consciousness.
ZOE
Welcome back, sir.
The others follow her look, see he's waking up.
MAL
(disoriented)
I go someplace?
BOOK
Very nearly.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 53A.

55 CONTINUED: 55

INARA
We thought we'd lost you.
MAL
(disconnected)
Been right here.
Mal notes Wash hooked up to an IV -- he's giving Mal a
transfusion. Mal, in his out-of-it-ness doesn't quite
understand that.
MAL (cont'd)
Wash, you okay?
WASH
(amused)
Yeah, Mal. I'm fine.
MAL
Got a thing in ya.
WASH
Yeah.
SIMON
(to Mal)
Try not to speak. You're heavily
medicated and you've lost a lot of
blood.
MAL
Oh.
(then, realizing)
Thought I ordered ya'll off the ship?
The others exchange looks. Jayne glares at Inara.
JAYNE
(under his breath,
accusatory)
Told ya.
(points to Wash)
It was them! They come back first!
Their shuttle was already here when
we docked.
MAL
(to Wash, trying to
remember)
I call you back?
WASH
No, Mal. You didn't.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 53B.

55 CONTINUED: (2) 55

ZOE
I take full responsibility, captain.
SIMON
That decision saved your life.
ZOE
It'll never happen again, sir.
MAL
(to Zoe)
Good. And thank you. I'm grateful.
JAYNE
(huh?)
You are?
Zoe smiles, nods.
ZOE
My pleasure, sir.
They hold the look between them. The original two. A
special connection. Jayne observes that exchange.
JAYNE
Hey! That ain't... We'da been here
first! But there's something wrong
with 'nara's shuttle! She done
somethin' to it, Mal. Smells funny.
INARA
(heard this all day)
I've told you -- that's incense.
JAYNE
Whatever.
Kaylee enters. See's Mal's awake.
KAYLEE
(brightly)
Captain! You fixed the ship!
(then, a serious
professional
assessment)
Good work.
MAL
Thanks.
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 53C.

55 CONTINUED: (3) 55

SIMON
Alright. I have to insist. The
captain needs to rest.
MAL
(nodding off)
Yeah. I think maybe doc's not wrong
about that. Just for a few...
(forces himself not
to drift)
You're all gonna be here when I wake
up?
BOOK
We'll be here.
Mal allows himself to close his eyes.
MAL
(eyes closed, smiles)
Good. That's good...
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 54.

55 CONTINUED: (4) 55

As we PUSH IN closer to his face, which, if I can say,

exhibits a kind of serenity, we start to HEAR what HE
HEARS... VOICES IN HIS HEAD:
CONTINUED
FIREFLY "Out of Gas" (GREEN REVISIONS) 10/11/02 55.

55 CONTINUED: (5) 55

SALESMAN (V.O.)
Yep. A real beauty, ain't she?
Yessir. A right smart purchase, this
vessel.

56 EXT. USED SPACE SHIP LOT - DAY 56

SALESMAN
Tell you what, you buy this ship,
treat her proper, she'll be with ya
for the rest of your life.
The Used Ship SALESMAN giving Mal the hard sell.
Now WE SEE that they're standing in front of a totally
different ship. Not Serenity at all.
SALESMAN (cont'd)
Son? Hey, son?
The Salesman notices that Mal doesn't seem to be paying a bit
of attention.
SALESMAN (cont'd)
You hear a word I been sayin'?
He hasn't, really. Because he's looking across the lot at
something else...
MAL'S POV
Across the lot sits Serenity, dirty, a bit broken down... and
silently speaking to Mal. Off that --
BLACK OUT.
THE END