INTERIOR: INNER HALL - CONTINUING

The gang is still trying to patch themselves together when the elevator doors open. Mal staggers out, holding his bleeding side. Crates are in a barricade across the Inner Hall.

ZOE: Sir?

MAL: It's done. Report? (pause) River?

Zoe looks at the badly wounded Simon (drugged and unconscious), is about to give a report - and the doors start to open behind her.

Everyone turns to look, those who can feebly raising weapons, as the square iris of the opening blast doors widens to reveal River, bloody but unbowed. And the only one alive. Holding two Reaver blades, she walks to the center of the opening, then waits for the doors to stop moving.

The camera holds on her a moment, then River walks slowly toward Mal. He is apprehensive about swords.

MAL: River?

RIVER: Soldiers are here. Should I close the doors?

Suddenly, in the wall behind River, sparks and concrete debris are thrown into the room. Everybody looks, except River, who keeps walking. Inara has a vision of the hero returning from hades, but she regains her composure.

Two saw blades poke through the wall from the other side. The saws are cutting the top and bottom edges of a doorway. We are looking at the military version of a construction tool that cuts steel reinforced concrete as quickly as a chainsaw cuts wood. The chainsaws are glowing brightly from the heat of friction. A light-show of sparks from the saws will be in the background of most camera shots from here onward. It will take five minutes to cut the four sides of the door.

MAL: (to River) Leave 'em open!

While Mal talks and walks to the blast doors, the camera gets glimpses of the following -

River props the two blades against the crate that injured Kaylee is laying on. River is tired. She bends down and Kaylee gives her a big hug. River goes around the barricade, kneels next to Inara and Simon, holds his hand. He's out cold. Inara tears off a corner of an aluminum foil envelope from the medical bag. She tilts back River'