Firefly - Season 01 - Episode 08 - Out Of Gas

The Serenity hangs listlessly in space, appearing crippled and abandoned. Struggling to stay conscious amid the debris-strewn ship, Mal hears voices in his head, recalling the day he first happened upon the vessel while on a ship-shopping excursion with Zoe. In the flashback, Mal assures Zoe the dilapidated ship will run fine once they find a good mechanic and pilot. When the recollection ends, Mal winces in pain, reacting to a gunshot wound to his abdomen. In flashback, inside the dining area, the crew gathers for a meal as they set out on their latest journey. Simon reacts with surprise when Zoe carries in a birthday cake. Straight-faced, Kaylee encourages Simon to “give a good blow.” But just as Simon is about to blow out the candles, an explosion rips through the ship, sending a ball of fire rocketing through the corridor. Zoe is knocked unconscious by the concussion, and when Simon tells Jayne he must make his way through the ship so he can access medical supplies, his request is denied, as Mal gave orders to seal the vessel up tight.A short time later, Mal extinguishes the blaze by opening air lock doors, denying the fire oxygen. Mal then orders a reluctant Wash to leave his wife's side and get to the bridge, where his expertise is needed to keep the passengers safe. In flashback, Mal hires Wash to pilot the ship…but Zoe takes an immediate dislike to him. Mal also hires a mechanic named Bester, but Zoe takes a dislike to his him after he propositions her. In flashback, inside the infirmary, Simon plunges a syringe into Zoe's heart when she stops breathing. Zoe's condition stabilizes. In another part of the ship, Kaylee informs Mal that without a catalyzer, the ship won't function... and life support has already shut down.In the present day, a dying Mal drags himself to the engine room, hauling the catalyzer along with him. In flashback, Mal finds a half-naked Bester underneath the ship's engine... along with a half-naked Kaylee. Bester tells Mal the ship's gav boot is in need of repair. But Kaylee contradicts him, insisting the vessel is in fine shape. Mal fires Bester and hires Kaylee in his place. In flashback, Mal tells Kaylee that everyone aboard ship is going to die unless she fixes the catalyzer. But Kaylee insists it can't be repaired. Meanwhile, Wash sends out a distress signal, hoping a passing ship might come to the crew's aid. When Wash attempts to abandon his post so he can be with Zoe, Mal slugs him in the jaw. A fight breaks out, and Jayne is forced to intercede. An alarm begins to sound, warning of life support failure throughout the ship.In the present day, the dying Mal attempts to install the catalyzer, but he fumbles the part and it drops into the engine. In flashback, Mal instructs the crew to abandon ship. The crew will split in two, each group boarding one of the two shuttles. Mal insists on remaining behind, hoping he'll be able to repair the Serenity. In flashback, Mal recalls his first encounter with Inara…and how she, a prostitute, convinced him that her presence aboard ship will lend the vessel an air of respectability. The wounded Mal manages to fish out the part he dropped earlier and, once it's installed in the proper place, turbines begin to spin and the engine roars to life. In flashback, the crew abandons ship. Some time later, a massive vessel responds to the distress beacon, and a captain establishes communication with Mal aboard the ship. Communicating via video monitors, Mal informs the captain of the other vessel that he is in dire need of a catalyzer. The two come to terms, and the captain agrees to trade Mal the part in exchange for items aboard the Serenity. But when the captain engages the airlock between the two ships and steps aboard, he brings with him a contingent of armed men.In flashback, Mal encounters Jayne, who, partnered with a man named Marco, is in the process of raiding the ship. Mal convinces Jayne that Marco is cheating him out of a reasonable share of profits. Jayne shoots Marco in the leg and joins up with Mal. In flashback, the captain of the other ship suddenly shoots Mal in the stomach and announces that he's confiscating the Serenity. But the wounded Mal nonetheless manages to get the drop on the captain, orders him to leave the ship and leave the catalyzer behind. After the captain leaves, Mal manages to restore the part, but just as he attempts to push a button and recall the two shuttles, he loses consciousness. When Mal regains consciousness, he finds himself in the infirmary. Jayne explains that he picked up the other ship's presence, then notified Wash after Mal failed to make contact with the shuttles. In flashback, Mal recalls meeting with a used spaceship salesman…and how his attention always drifted back to the ship he eventually named Serenity.