I was a bit worried that I wouldn't like this episode at first but it perked up really fast.
"I like watching the game. As with other situations, the key seems to be giving Jayne a heavy stick and standing back." -- Inara
We open with Mal playing holographic billiards and find out that terraforming crews in the Fireflyverse use slave labor and have a "prodigious death rate." Mal swipes one of the slavers' wallets and a bar brawl ensues.
We then cut to a beautiful sunrise over Persephone where Wash and Zoe are admiring the view while regaling each other with their version of wit. Wash is so distracted that he flies in for a landing a little too quickly.
Inara meanwhile is screening potential clients video dating service style. She chooses a British-accented, young patrician named Atherton Wing who wants to take her to a swanky ball. Mal does not approve and seems more than a bit jealous. Again we see the high status of Inara's profession underlined as numerous wealthy men are vying for her company.
They seemed to give the western metaphor a bit of a rest in this episode and went with more of a Victorian era feel. This episode is full of pretentious British accents and uncouth Cockney accents.
The city the land in is a curious mix of futuristic looking skyscrapers with planes buzzing around them and older looking brick and mortar buildings. Kaylee is stunned by the clothes in a shop while Wash, Zoe, and Jayne joke about them. The whole conversation sets Mal off and he insults Kaylee. ("What are you gonna do in that rig? Bounce around the room? You'd look like a sheep walkin' around on its hind legs.")
"I had a problem with you're attitude, that's why. I felt you was, what's the word?" "Pretentious?" -- Badger and Jayne on Mal's personality
Meanwhile a guy named Badger has a job for Mal and a group of armed thugs want to make sure he takes it. Badger's cockney accent is so thick, I was hoping for subtitles. He wants Mal to talk to a local nobleman named Warrick for him about smuggling some merchandise off world.
There's a nifty mix of technology and elegance at the ball. The palace that hosts the ball is lit up like a Christmas tree. A security field alerts the ushers of anyone carrying guns onto the dance floor which is dominated by a huge, hovering chandelier. Everybody loves Inara at the ball. Especially Atherton who wants Inara to stay on Persephone and become his personal companion.
"Yes sir, captain tightpants." -- Kaylee
Meanwhile Badger's plan calls for Mal to crash the ball which he does with Kaylee on his arm wearing the big, frilly dress she was drooling over before. Inara is none too pleased at their arrival.
Back on Serenity the Book, Jayne, and Simon gamble over who does the chores while River freaks out and starts peeling the labels off cans. In their quarters, Zoe and Wash bask and joke in post-coital bliss. This is the first time we've seen these two act like a real married couple -- they appear to be crazy about each other once they're private.
Back at the ball, Kaylee helps herself to the buffet table and runs afoul of some snobby young women. She is rescued by a distinguished older gentleman, whom I believe co-starred on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and appeared in an episode of Star Trek:TNG ("The perfect Mate"). She quickly finds herself surrounded by men eager to talk about engines with her.
"Beg your pardon. But would you be Mr. Warrick Haow?" "*Sir Warrick Haow. The sash." "The sash?" "It indicates Lordhood." "And it's doin' a great job." -- Mal and Warrick
Mal approaches Warrick and starts to discuss the deal. He tries to charm the man but is distracted by Inara who together with Atherton join them. Mal asks Inara to dance. Atherton gets hot and bothered and tries to leave with Inara. He's being very priggish and possessive which causes Mal to punch him as a way of defending Inara's honor when he tries to call her a "whore." By doing this, Mal unwittingly challenges him to a duel. It turns out that Atherton is an expert swordsman who is eager to slice and dice Mal. Warrick dislikes Atherton and is eager to be Mal's second for the duel but he still expects Atherton to gut him.
Badger and his thugs show up on Serenity he intends to stay there while Mal is in trouble -- and to prevent Mal's crew from rescuing him. To this end he takes Kaylee -- and by extension the rest of the crew -- hostage.
Another nifty piece of technology appears at this point. While visiting Mal in the night, Inara uses a sphere which fits the lock of the door of Mal's room. It glows and unlocks the door which slides away Star Trek style.
"I *never* back down from a fight." "Yes you do! You do all the time." -- Mal and Inara
Inara tries to convince Mal to escape through a back door but he insists on defending her honor. So Inara must give him a crash course in fencing. She gives him a few pointers but things look grim for Mal.
"I say Zoe gets naked." "Nope." "What if I get naked." "NO!" -- Jayne discussing diversionary tactics with the Serenity crew
Back on Serenity, the crew discusses plans to overpower Badger's thugs and retake control of their ship. Their plan is thwarted when River wanders into the cargo bay. There is a tense situation as Simon tries to get her to return to her room before Badger notices her. But badger does notice her and River seems to read his mind. She imitates his cockney accent and seems to tell him the story of his life. He's so taken with her, that he allows her to leave the cargo bay unharmed. Jayne observes that this was "exactly the kind of a diversion we could have used."
It's a nice foggy morning for the duel and Atherton and Mal go at it. Mal thinks he's doing well but more experienced observers realize that Atherton is only toying with him. This goes on for a while until Mal tries to charge Atherton who stabs him in the abdomen to draw first blood. He stabs Mal a few more times and disarms him. Inara steps forward to beg for Mal's life. Mal uses the distraction attack and disarm Atherton and to retrieve his sword.
At this point, Warrick points out that Mal has to finish it or Atherton will be dishonored as a coward. So Mal points out that "mercy is the mark of a great man" and precedes to stab Atherton a couple of times and confesses that he's just "alright" and walks away, letting Atherton wallow in his dishonor. Atherton is furious at Inara and vows to see that she never works again. Inara tells him it doesn't work that way. "You see, you've earned yourself a black mark in the client registry. No Companion is going to contract with you *ever* again." "You'll have to rely on your winning personality to get women," quips Warrick.
Warrick gives Mal the smuggling job and Mal returns to his ship where Badger is happy enough about the job to leave without any violence. Kaylee gets to keep her nice frilly dress. And returning to Firefly's western theme, the cargo turns out to be cattle.
All site contents Copyright L. Goodwin 1990 - 2002