Title: Voyage of Serenity - Intro

Author: Chris Dupre aka UntrainedApe

Disclaimer: Firefly characters belong to Joss.

Notes: suggestions and comments welcome. Chinese speech from characters is denoted with <>

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EXT. TENT CITY - NIGHT

The tent city of the nomads of Medway seems to stretch on forever. The tents are strung with multicolored lights and ribbons that give the city a festive, almost holiday sort of feel.

EXT. TENT CITY - OPEN AIR MARKET

Spencer Frye is in the center of the frame. He is an rather tall young man, sharply dressed in a suit that seems a little too small for him. There is a book in his hands that he has grabbed out of a flea market style bin. We can't see the cover, only the sinopsis written on the back. He is staring at it with a mix of shock and childlike awe.

SPENCER Zoe, get over here! You've got to come see this!

Zoe steps into the frame behind him, wearing a full length Muslim chador. Only her eyes are exposed. She lifts a hand out of the garment and slaps Spencer on the back of the head.

ZOE My name is Niri, Mr. Shabbaz Sheik Mohammed. Is it possible to go anywhere without you threatening to blow our cover?

SPENCER Whatever. Look.

He holds the book up to her face. Her eyes go wide.

ZOE Oh god in heaven...

SPENCER Allah.

ZOE Is that supposed to be who I think it's supposed to be?

SPENCER No doubt.

ZOE A bit exaggerated, to say the least.

Inara and River appear in the frame opposite Zoe. Both are wearing similar chadors.

INARA Dear husband, Alisha and I have gathered the provisions we will need for -

RIVER It is not a very good likeness.

River presses her hand to the cover.

RIVER They are all flat, no volume.

Spencer raises the book up over his head.

SPENCER Shopkeeper! How much for one of these?!

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

The cargo bay door is open. Mal and Jayne are sitting on a stack of crates, looking bored.

JAYNE Explain to me why the kid gets to play the part of the honora