Episode 1x17:

“HERO COMPLEX”

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS GRAPHIC SCENES THAT MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS.

Written by Serge A. Simard

Story Consultant: David Elmer

Edited by Matt Engstrom and George W. Krubski

Producer: David Elmer

Head Writer: George W. Krubski

Art Director: Sean Young

Disclaimer: The crew of the Serenity, the ‘Verse in which they live, and their fellow inhabitants are the property of Joss Whedon, Universal Studios, and/or Fox Television. They are used in this work of fan fiction with love and respect, but without permission.

EXT. PERSEPHONE – EAVESDOWN DOCKS – DAY

It’s a sunny day in the bustling bazaar of Eavesdown Docks as MAL, ZOE, and JAYNE work their way through the crowd.

MAL: Three hours! Three hours we wait in his parlor and for what? “Hello, welcome to my mansion, please won't you have a seat, and some smelly cheese too. Oh, and by the way, get out of my house, you thief”!

JAYNE (picking at his teeth): Ain’t nothin’ wrong with free cheese, Mal, no matter how it smells.

MAL (ignoring Jayne): He knows we’re thieves! But the second we show him that damn broken laser, he clams up.

ZOE: He's got his reasons, sir. If I were him, I wouldn't go near the Lassiter, either.

MAL (not particularly listening): Now he's too good to be seen with us. Y’know, Warrick Harrow used to be my very favorite lord with a sash.

It’s a particularly busy day and all three of them are periodically jostled by PASSERS-BY.

ZOE: Used to be?

MAL: Well, he still is. Sometimes he really has a pair, but today was like he was gelded. Just never thought something fits under my coat would be so tough to pass along.

ZOE: You could have taken Inara up on her offer to help sell it.

MAL: Inara? Would you give that a rest! She so big on helpin’ us, how come she ain't here? She was supposed to come by and change his paranoid mind to my liking.

They stop to let a MAN leading two LLAMAS pass; Jayne eyes the llamas with suspicion.

MAL (cont'd): She didn't sho