EXT. SUPPLY STORE ENTRANCE

The people are all dressed in coats of varying lengths and shades of brown. Each one is armed, though all weapons are holstered. None look too disreputable.

A man in the center of the group steps forward. Mal cocks his head, looking closely at him.

MAL: Spade?

SPADE: (grinning from ear to ear) Malcolm ruttin' Reynolds. You son of a neutered jackal. How long's it been?

MAL: Not long enough to fool your eagle eye, I see. (Mal rests his dolly and steps around it. He and Spade give each other a bearhug) What are you still doin' here?

SPADE: Someone had to stick around and re-build this dump after you little hot-heads showed up and tore it a new one. Anyway, where're my manners? You remember Silk, dontcha? Believe you and he had a good laugh at my expense. (Mal nods at Silk, a skinny young man with red hair and piercing green eyes) And of course, Danielle...(Mal smiles at Danielle, a thirty-something athletic beauty) ...who's now my better half.

MAL: Congrats, my friend. Couldn't 've happened to two better folk. Not recognizin' anyone else, though.

SPADE: The rest are all new additions, least since we last met.

MAL: Well, this here's Jayne. Helps out on my ship.

Jayne nods slightly, still ready for trouble.

SPADE: Ship? You sailin' that little wreck I saw put down few minutes ago?

Mal nods with a smile. Spade laughs and slaps him on the back.

SPADE: Against all odds, we both went and got respectable... after we got our asses handed to us. Good thing the boys in blue showed us the error of our ways, huh?

MAL: Guess I'm just not bright enough to learn that lesson.

Spade laughs again.

SPADE: Looks like I'm keepin' you from your task. You gettin' off world soon?

Mal looks genuinely apologetic.

MAL: Within the hour. Got a job that won't bode well, gets delayed long.

Spade nods and shakes Mal's hand vigorously.

SPADE: Well, you know where to find me. Don't be no stranger now, ya hear?

MAL: I do. You take care now.

Mal gives