INT. SERENITY COMMON AREA (ADJ. TO INFIRMARY)

As everyone takes a seat, Kaylee comes bouncing down the steps and drops onto the couch next to Simon.

KAYLEE: Coast is clear.

Paul remains standing, though River takes the chair nearest to him.

SIMON: I suppose my first question is, how did you end up here?

PAUL: Anonymously. This planet isn't exactly the... pinnacle of Alliance accomplishment. A few struggling farmers, some low-level ne'r-do-wells. I simply faded into the tapestry.

INARA: I speak for everyone here when I ask what part you played in freeing River. Obviously you're privy to information that Simon finds shockingly accurate.

Paul nods, opens his mouth to reply...

SIMON: I can say with the utmost certainty that I've never seen you before. I only met with select people from the movement, and they never mentioned a “sifu.”

Paul starts to pace a few steps back and forth, hands clasped behind his back.

PAUL: I'll start at the very beginning, insofar as my involvement is concerned. I first met River through a man named Dr. Mathias.

INT. TRAINING ROOM

Wide view of Paul and River meeting in a large, simple yet elegant training room. Dr. Mathias is gesturing toward River, his hands moving emphatically. Silent scene except for...

PAUL (VO): He turned out to be one of the primary doctors working with River. He claimed he wanted her to be able to defend herself in any situation. Hand to hand. Blunt, bladed, and throwing weapons. Even firearms. I was training certain Alliance Military Elite at the time,(CU of Mathias and Paul, Mathias appears especially emphatic. Paul is serene) but was told to clear my schedule in order to focus solely on River.

INT. SERENITY COMMON AREA

Paul is still pacing, but he pauses and looks down at River, smiling proudly

PAUL: Our lesson proceeded like any other I'd conducted, for the first day, anyway. When River returned the next day, she flawlessly performed every technique she'd learned the day before, moving from stance to stanc