EXT. FRYE YARD – DAY – ESTABLISHING

The yard is the local SPACESHIP PARKING LOT, cut out of a corner of a cornfield. There isn't much traffic—mainly small ships going between the moon and its planet. SERENITY is the largest ship docked. The parking lot becomes a JUNKYARD with no distinct transition. Ship parts are stacked in piles, invading a beleaguered GARDEN.

EXT. FRYE YARD – SERENITY – DAY

CLOSE ON

SHEPHERD BOOK, looking up into the sky. His face is a mess of healing bruises, stitches and swelling.

BOOK

What an ugly mess!

We follow his gaze up high. KAYLEE stands on a ladder which is anchored by Book and WASH. She is inspecting the ship's nose, pulling out bits of flesh and feathers from a cracked buffer panel.

KAYLEE: (smiling down at Book) Ain’t so bad!

Kaylee pauses before getting back to work, looking around.

KAYLEE (cont’d): It's good to be home.

WASH: Ah, yes, Guonian. Home to the endangered kamikaze, buffer panel-cracking swan.

KAYLEE: Just want to get this all cleaned up ‘fore Mom and Dad get back from Aunt Ruth's. Dad would have a fit, he sees the ship this way.

Kaylee pulls out a gobbet of flesh and tosses it aside. Wash dodges it.

WASH: Whoa!

BOOK

You’ll make him proud, I’m sure. Is there anything else I can do?

KAYLEE: (shakes her head) We got in a half-day early, should have more’n enough time enough to clean up and surprise ‘em.

Wash’s hip starts BEEPING. He pulls out his COMLINK.

WASH: (deep voice) Lieutenant Washburn here.

(listening) Hi, honey. Okay… okay… Oh no…

Kaylee and Book look at Wash.

BOOK

Everything alright, son?

WASH: There was trouble in town. A woman got shot.

KAYLEE: Oh, no. Do they need Simon?

WASH: No. They need a preacher.

INT. SERENITY – SIMON’S ROOM – DAY

RIVER is folding ORIGAMI SWANS on the bed and humming and tune. SIMON is in front of a mirror putting on his best outfit.

RIVER: Putting on your feathers?

SIMON: I'd like t