EXT. ALLIANCE OUTPOST - NIGHT

It’s a small building for this small town, just one story with a flat roof. The trucks pull up and Simon is roughly taken out as River is carried on a stretcher. Four men stop outside and guard the entrance.

INT. ALLIANCE OUTPOST - NIGHT

A police office, with jail cell in a corridor off the back, desks and Cortex screens, a small office off to one side.

INT. OUTPOST CELL AREA - NIGHT

They take Simon and River down a corridor to the cell and put them in the cell. They place River’s stretcher on a bed like platform. The officer unlocks Simon’s handcuffs as they talk. They do not remove River’s handcuffs.

SIMON

(indignant)

I have legal rights. I want an advocate.

OFFICER

No, Dr. Tam, your legal rights are forfeit seeing as you are in rebellion against the Alliance.

SIMON

Rebellion? That’s insane!

OFFICER

I don’t make the law or the charges.

He walks out of the cell. Then they are locked inside.

Simon goes to look after River. She is still out.

SIMON

Oh, , I fear we have reached the end of the road.

He sits on the floor, stares out the bars.

SIMON

Kaylee....forgive me.

INT. OPERATIVE’S SPACESHIP

He sits before a Cortex screen talking to the Officer that arrested the Tams.

OPERATIVE

Do you have the Tams?

OFFICER

We have. They won’t get away.

OPERATIVE

That won’t be a problem. I want you to eliminate them.

OFFICER

Ah, kill them, sir?

OPERATIVE

Is there a problem with carrying out your orders?

OFFICER

Ah, sir, I found the Tams because I heard that a local girl, the one mentioned in the report, Kaylee Frye, was getting married today, to Simon Tam.

OPERATIVE

Young love. Yes, this is all very interesting. Get to the point.

OFFICER

We arrested the Tams at the wedding reception. And the locals got quite ugly and we almost had a riot. Do you appreciate my position here, sir?

OPERATIVE

I see. Very well. I will personally take care of this matter when I arrive.

INT. ALLIANCE O