Virtual Firefly episode 1x17 (act four)
Thursday, January 5, 2006
"Hero Complex" (act four): This is the second episode of the Virtual Firefly project. Look for “Property Rights” next week, and our web site in early 2006. This episode contains graphic scenes that may be disturbing to some readers.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3569 RATING: 9.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
INT. THE GURICK – TORTURE ROOM – DAY
Niska stands in front of the mirror, smiling to Mal, although he can’t see him. Behind him, Inara is strapped in. She’s crying and red-faced, with bruises up and down her arms.
Brian stands over her, holding a tray of acupuncture needles in one hand. A FLAMING TORCH flickers at his side. After passing a NEEDLE through the fire, red hot, he sticks it in Inara’s neck next to two others. She whimpers.
Niska looks back, excited, little eyes gleaming in the firelight.
NISKA (to Mal): Brian is… quite the man. Not of your caliber, Captain Reynolds, but quite effective. I told him not to scar her beautiful face. Her beautiful body. But beneath the surface, all is, how you say, fair game, yes?
INT. THE GURICK – ANTECHAMBER – SAME TIME
Mal’s jaw is so tight his teeth should crack any minute. He can see Niska, with Inara behind him.
NISKA (tinny, through speaker): You do not need to worry, Captain. She will live. She will appear… undamaged. And after Brian has finished his work, she will feel no pain ever again. Of course, she will feel no pleasure as well. Unfortunate for her line of work, but this is the tradeoff, yes? (he smiles) She will feel nothing when I let my troopers have her—those poor little boys have never known the love of a companion—which should be a comfort to you.
Mal rages against the straps that bind him in. His wrists are raw and bloody.
INT. THE GURICK – SECURITY STATION – SAME TIME
This post is located on the far side of Niska’s security door. Three GUARDS lounge there, inactive and bored. One of them looks at a CONSOLE with Ana’s face on it. She looks nervous.
ANA: I’m here to speak with my father. Open the gate.
The Guard looks to the others, who shrug back. He hits a few buttons on his computer, and the SECURITY DOOR hisses open in a burst of steam.
Ana steps through, and, behind her, a much larger SILHOUETTE…
Now the guards realize something is wrong. They rise, reaching for their weapons, as Jayne steps thr
-OldSoul1987
But at the same time I don't like seeing her as a victim, she's just too strong for that. This virtual eppy reminds me of Tim Kinnear's rumoured unwritten episode where he wanted to show Inara raped by the Reavers. Which, according to him, would have shown that Inara was strong enough to fight her own battles and Mal's respect for her dignity and strength.
I realise that the focus here is on Jane and Mal's relationship, and Jayne's development to redemption. In that sense, well done!
I agree, it does read like an eppy...
I am glad you liked the eppy, violent and disturbing content nothwithstanding, and hope you'll keep reading the scripts.
You can't take the sky from me
And, honestly, given the nature of the episode, I kind of liked that there was sort of an unfinished, uncomfortable feel to it (there are no easy resolutions in this one).
Glad you enjoyed it overall, though!
But I do have one issue this episode, mainly the characterization of Mal and how he deals with his enemies.
As you remember, in The Train Job, he kicked the villian into the engine, so he never struck me as the kind of standard hero who would never kill his enemies to begin with. Also, with regards to Niska, I never thought Mal had any other intention other than killing Niska at the end of War Stories. Niska simply escaped.
While I agree that may is certainly not a standard hero, and, yes, he's certainly merciless toward his enemies in the first few episodes, as the series progresses, he increasingly fails to deal decisively with his enemies (Saffron--twice, Atherton Wing, Jubal Early, heck, even Jayne in "Ariel"... there are probably others I'm forgetting right now).
I think that through the course of Season One, there IS a softening in Mal. Whether this is the influence of having Book on board (part of my feeling), or because of the Fox executives, I think it's there.
As for the reason Niska survived "War Stories," I think that's open to interpretation, and Mal's comment at the end of the episode indicates to me that it was choice rather than circumstance that kept the old man alive.
Still, regardless of the reason, I think that Mal has allowed an increasingly large rogue's gallery to begin to collect.
We're all going to have our own interpretations of these characters and events, and I think I speak on behalf of the entire crew at stillflying.net when I say that I'm gratified to see that folks are, overall, enjoying what we're doing even if there are some disagreements.
GWEK, et al:
Just remember: If y'all intend to bring YoSaffBridge back, you're gonna hafta explain how she got away from the law enforcement types that Inara said were coming to get her after "Trash". Unless, of course, she had an acetylene torch hidden somewhere in those tight pants she was wearing during the heist...
One presumes her doting husband -- the one who calls her 'Yolanda' -- might not press formal charges, but have her committed to a secure mental rehab facility, instead. She might then 'befriend' an orderly (or even her attending psychiatrist!) and make good her escape.
I enjoyed this 'VE' and look forward to further installments. I don't know how good I feel about Niska's permanent demise, mostly because I like the *actor* so much...
-zed
GWEK, et al:
Just remember: If y'all intend to bring YoSaffBridge back, you're gonna hafta explain how she got away from the law enforcement types that Inara said were coming to get her after "Trash". Unless, of course, she had an acetylene torch hidden somewhere in those tight pants she was wearing during the heist...
One presumes her doting husband -- the one who calls her 'Yolanda' -- might not press formal charges, but have her committed to a secure mental rehab facility, instead. She might then 'befriend' an orderly (or even her attending psychiatrist!) and make good her escape.
I enjoyed this 'VE' and look forward to further installments. I don't know how good I feel about Niska's permanent demise, mostly because I like the *actor* so much...
-zed
Couple things I noticed:
Simon being tortured was fantastic. He was strong and defiant, and in the end he was a lot like Mal was when he was being tortured. Watching Niska fall apart as both River and Book failed to be tortured as Niska wanted was also great.
Just a little suggestion: don't know what you have in mind for Book, but if it's the obvious (ie: anything that has been frequently suggested on a board), try to think of something new. So far you guys have proven to be fairly original, but I would like to be surprised when we find out what's going on. Having Niska show up again wasn't a complete shock, and I was almost dissapointed until you revealed his motives and showed he would be torturing Mal's crew instead of Mal.
You're doing an excellent job in capturing the original essence of the series.
It's interesting how you are handling Simon dealing with River's maturity into a young woman. And Simon is handling it pretty badly too :-)
I also liked the way you have Simon in his element, dealing with other high class people more akin to what his life used to be like. Kaylee being slightly jealous was also great.
One complaint though, I don't think he should be introducing himself using his full name, Simon Tam. That seems to be way too inviting for someone to recognize him as a wanted fugitive.
You're doing a fine job in capturing the original essence of the series.
It's interesting how you are handling Simon dealing with River's maturity into a young woman. And Simon is handling it pretty badly too :-)
I also liked the way you have Simon in his element, dealing with other high class people more akin to what his life used to be like. Kaylee being slightly jealous was also great.
One complaint though, I don't think he should be introducing himself using his full name, Simon Tam. That seems to be way too inviting for someone to recognize him as a wanted fugitive.
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