INT. SERENITY DINING AREA - NIGHT

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INT. SERENITY ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT

Two second view of engine turning.

INT. SERENITY INFIRMARY - NIGHT

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INT. SERENITY CARGO BAY - NIGHT

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INT. SERENITY BRIDGE - NIGHT

River stares wistfully at the stars. Her head turns slightly when she hears footsteps climbing the stairs to the Bridge.

RIVER: Mornin', Captain.

Mal steps up behind her, looking half-asleep, his hair tussled.

MAL: Ain't late enough in the day to rightly consider it mornin'. I'll take the next shift. Even you need to sleep now and then. Anything rear its head on the radar?

RIVER: Not a thing. We'll pass behind the vessel we scanned earlier.

MAL: Shiny. Now, hit the hay.

Without argument, River stands and exits the Bridge. Mal drops into the pilot's chair and leans back. He reaches out and places his hand on the console.

MAL: Just you and me now, girl. Why don't you tell me what's on your mind...

Mal punches a few buttons and types on the keyboard, hunt-and-peck style. Information starts to scroll down one of the monitors. In one corner of the screen we read 0105 hours.

MAL: (sighing) Looks like the Mule might have to rest a hair longer...(reads on) Damn, girl. Can dress you up, but can't take you nowhere without you bustin' a nail...

ZOE: Who you talkin' to, sir?

Mal jumps at Zoe's voice. He looks over his shoulder at Zoe as she steps up behind him.

MAL: My one true love.(off Zoe's expression, he pats the console)

ZOE: Aahh. Is she... talkin' back, sir?

MAL: (defensively) In her own way, yeah. The self-diagnostic reads like a veteran hospital wounded list. Those Alliance boys tried their best to patch her up, but I'm thinkin' they were guessin' a whole lot more'n knowin'. Kaylee's been workin' her usual voodoo, but there's still plenty need'n some TLC.

ZOE: Ain't that always been the case, sir?

MAL: Well, I asked a helluva lot more of this ol' girl than I ever did before, so I con