INT. SERENITY - INFIRMARY

Jayne rushes in, laying Paul's unconscious body on the operating chair. Simon enters immediately after him, rushing to the counter and picking up his Med. Scanner. He runs it over Paul's body.

SIMON (handing Jayne a wad of 4x4's): Keep pressure on that bleeder. (beat, then to himself, reading the Scanner) Sub-dural hematoma... Fifteen percent volume depletion... EEG is erratic...

JAYNE (perplexed desperation): What? Some of us ain't docs, ya know...

SIMON (setting down the Scanner): He's bleeding inside his head. He's lost a lot of blood from the head wound, and his brainwaves are scrambled. Now, no talking, and do exactly what I tell you. Captain, get me an IV kit out of that drawer. Jayne, keep holding pressure.

Simon pulls on some latex gloves, then grabs a nasal cannula from a drawer and puts it on Paul's face, attaching its hose to an oxygen canister beneath the counter. He pulls a pair of trauma sheers from a drawer and cuts Paul's clothes off, leaving him in his skivvies.

Inara appears at the door and is taken aback by the scene. Simon spots her as he runs his hands down Paul's arms and legs, checking for internal skeletal trauma.

SIMON (back in clinically detached mode): No obvious long-bone fractures. No bruising or edema.

JAYNE (hint of desperation): Doc, quit yammerin’ and feelin’ ‘im up. Man needs... doctorin'.

Simon grabs the IV kit from Mal and rips it open. He swabs Paul's inner forearm as Mal wraps the tourniquet around his upper arm.

INARA: What can I do?

SIMON (not looking up, IV catheter poised): Pray.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

River and Zoe each occupy a seat, working on their console.

ZOE: Incoming wave. Alliance emergency frequency.

She flips a switch.

MADSEN (VO Radio): Serenity, this is Paladin Escape Pod One, do you copy?

ZOE: We read you, Pod One.

MADSEN (VO Radio): Just wanted to say good luck. (beat) And… nice catch.

Zoe smiles, glancing at River. Her gaze is averted.

ZOE: Good luck, Pod One.