SHADOWS PUPPETS

By Shayz

ACT III

INT. SERENITY – INFIRMARY – CONTINUING

Jessica is watching Mal and Book with suspicion.

BOOK: Easy, child…

JESSICA: I’m no child, mister. Now, answer my question. Who the hell are you? (looks around) Wait a…where am I?

MAL: My ship.

JESSICA: Your…I don’t understand. Who are you?

MAL: Who am…?

JESSICA (not waiting): What have you done with The Mystic. Where’s my crew?

RIVER (comes inside): Gone…all gone.

MAL: You were alone in a shuttle…losing life support.

BOOK: We brought you aboard…saved you.

JESSICA: You attacked us!

BOOK/MAL: No…

JESSICA: Shuttle…what shuttle?

Kaylee rushes inside all smiles.

KAYLEE: Captain, computer’s–

Jessica jerks off the table and backs up into the counter. She pulls a drawer out behind her back, searching with her hands while keeping eyes on the others. She checks out the situation with wide, wandering eyes and quick furtive jerks of her head – cat in a corner.

KAYLEE (cont.)(to Jess): Oh hey, you’re awake! (beat) You don’t look happy to be awake. (looks to Mal and Book)

Finding nothing useful in the drawer, Jessica backs farther away.

JESSICA: Who’s she?

MAL: Hold on…This is Kaylee, my mechanic. This here’s Book—he’s a shepherd, I’m Mal…Malcolm Reynolds…

Mal waits but doesn’t get any reaction or recognition from her.

KAYLEE (whisper): Should I get Simon?

Mal nods. River catches Mal’s eye.

RIVER: All gone…

MAL (to Jess): You’re on Serenity. We’re not going to hurt you. Now, who are you?

JESSICA: Serenity? (still watchful) Jessica Lee.

MAL: Lee? Not Halladay?

JESSICA: What? I said Lee!

MAL: Fine…welcome aboard Miss Lee.

JESSICA (looking out the windows): Mrs.

Mal just got gut-punched and takes a slight step back.

JESSICA (cont.): How long? How long have I been here?

BOOK: About a full day. There’s no need to be frightened. If your hungry, we have breakfast.

Jessica backs her way aroun