KAYLEE: Shiny! It’s like our own little party down here.

INARA: Well, I hate to dash, but I have some things to attend to. (To Kaylee) I’ll see you later, mei mei.

KAYLEE: Bye Inara!

Inara steps past Simon and Book, then heads up the ladder. Kaylee turns to Simon.

KAYLEE: River was just going to tell me what you were like when you two were little.

SIMON: As interesting as that may sound, I’m afraid you would be very, very bored.

RIVER: Well, there was that time during summer at the lake when...

Simon clamps his hand over River’s mouth, and she gives up.

SIMON: Another time, perhaps.

BOOK: Yes. I’m afraid that we aren’t here for story time today.

KAYLEE: I guessed as much. Lately, nobody has time for good stories no more.

BOOK: Well, you see, my bible has gone missing...again. I was wondering if River may have borrowed it.

RIVER: Didn’t borrow your symbol.

BOOK: Are you sure? Maybe you wanted to make a few revisions?

RIVER: Can’t read it anymore. Untruths and false problems give me headaches.

SIMON: Well, I guess we’ll look for it elsewhere.

BOOK: My apologies for interrupting. If you two need us, we will be picking the ship to pieces looking for it.

Book heads up the ladder. Simon begins his way up.

KAYLEE: (To River) So what happened at the lake?

RIVER: Well...

Simon shakes his head and leaves.

Cuts back to the Bullseye Tavern, where Mal and the rest are taking a seat.

MAL: Rourke, this is my pilot, Wash.

ROURKE: Ah, the so-called expert pilot!

WASH: So-called...never-called...it’s all the same.

They all sit.

MAL: Well Rourke, we’re here. Now let’s get some details about this little test of yours.

ROURKE: Ah, yes. (Removes his glasses to polish them) Well, it is simple enough. I have a little course laid out. Your pilot will need to fly through the course, and finish it before my pilot.

ZOE: So it’s just a race?

ROURKE: Just a race. But I warn you, my pilot is very good. Don’t count him out.

WASH: What will we be flying in?