THE ART OF WAR

TEASER

INT. SERENITY - MAL'S QUARTER'S

Mal is talking on his video telephone to Badger

MAL

We need a job Badger

BADGER

Ain't much I can do

Ya know...

Business is getting tight

People don't wanna know anythin anymore

MAL

There must be something

BADGER

Well maybe...

Wait a moment I'll check

(beat)

There is a smallish smuggling job going

On Beaumonde?

MAL

Beaumonde?

Isn't that Fanty and Mingo's turf?

BADGER

That it is, but if your smart you'll get around

That minor inconvenience

MAL

We'll take it, if that's

All that's available

BADGER

Tis upto you... all ya need do is

Get there and then head for the Rowdy Bull Bar

You'll get more instruction there

MAL

What will they look like?

BADGER

How would I know?

They are most likely human...

But enough chatter,

I do you too much good

MAL

That you do

INT. SERENITY - SIMON'S CREW CHAMBERS - NIGHT

SIMON is viewing his encyclopedia, still not sure about what actually happened at Serenity Valley. Looking up the term Serenity the words Serenity Valley appear. Almost "Hitchhikers Guide" Style the book starts reading:

ENCYLOPEDIA

Serenity Valley, not many go there out of choice these days. The only real patrons are those that haunt every nook and cranny, singing their songs of sorrow. Not that any body hears them any more; those days are long gone. Only dark memories, only blackness remains. The sounds of laughing and children playing are only in the minds of the rocks, as they wish that they too had never been created. This land long since desecrated only serves as a bitter reminder of what could have been, what should have been; what is.

SIMON

Lao-tyen boo!

RIVER (OS)

what are you doing?

SIMON

(surprised by her)

I'm doing research

RIVER

Why? you're not in school any more.

SIMON

(laughs)

No, no I'm not

RIVER

then why?

SIMON

Because some things need to be known

RIVER

Not all things,

Many should have been left behind

But they had to look for it