Objects in Space

Bounty hunter Jubal Early sneaks aboard at night to take River. But River is one step ahead of him.

At night everyone on board is wrapped up in their own worries, and River feels every one of them. When she is found holding a loaded gun, the crew begins to wonder seriously whether she is dangerous.

Unnoticed, the bounty hunter Jubal Early – an oddly talkative man – docks with the ship. He takes the crew out one by one and forces Simon to hand River over. But River has vanished – over the comm she claims she has gone into Serenity itself.

In truth River has slipped onto Early’s own ship and plays him from there. Mal confronts Early on the outer hull and kicks him off into space. At the end River plays with Kaylee in the cargo bay – she is part of the crew.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon. Much of it is told from River’s point of view, and it was the last episode Fox aired in December 2002 – before the pilot.