Firefly - Season 01 - Episode 03 - Bushwhacked

In the Serenity cargo bay, the crew passes time by playing a game of basketball. When Kaylee notices Simon observing from a catwalk above, she gains control of the ball and performs an eye catching move, scoring a basket. But moments later, when Kaylee observes Simon speaking to Inara, she shoots and misses. The game is halted when the ship's computers issue a proximity alert. On the bridge, Wash observes as the Serenity comes along side a derelict spacecraft. Wash leans forward to get a better look... just as a dead body pops into view. As the others gather in the bridge, River presses herself against a wall outside the cockpit and says, “ghosts.” The crew hypothesizes that the derelict ship was being used to shuttle settlers to the outer planets. Though the ship's computers cannot detect signs of life, Mal believes the crew has an obligation to board the derelict craft to look for survivors and, in the process, salvage whatever valuables it contains.The Serenity docks with the derelict ship. Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Kaylee and Simon board the vessel and find no bodies or signs of struggle. Meanwhile, River tells Simon she cannot sleep because of the screaming she hears in her head. The derelict ship's computers indicate that a lifeboat launched a week earlier. Assuming that everyone abandoned ship, Mal gives his crew instructions to begin the salvage operation. Using a blowtorch, Mal and Zoe access a storage area, where they discover boxes of government-issue terraforming equipment. Meanwhile, River wanders onto the derelict ship and makes her way to the storage area, where she stares at something high above. Mal notices River and turns his flashlight in the direction of what she's looking at. On the ceiling are the remnants of bodies. Mal radios Jayne instructions to get Simon and Kaylee off the ship.Moments later, a fast-moving creature attacks Jayne. Jayne fends off his attacker and, in the process, draws blood. Droplets of blood lead Mal to a wall grate, where a young man cowers in the shadows. Simon tends to the survivor's wounds. Mal tells the others that, based on what he's seen, the ship was raided by Reavers, and somehow the young man managed to escape. Jayne finds this difficult to believe, as Reavers don't leave survivors behind. The crew discusses the nature of Reavers, men who've been long removed from civilization and have reverted to savage ways. Mal tells the crew to remove the bodies from the ceiling and to start transporting whatever's salvageable onto the Serenity. Later, Mal, Wash, Zoe and Kaylee observe a tendril-like object connecting the ships' airlocks. Mal realizes the Reavers left behind a booby trap which triggers when the ships detach. Kaylee and Wash set about the delicate task of deactivating the booby trap.Moments after the trap is neutralized, the Serenity's computers sound a proximity alert. An enormous Alliance cruiser and several smaller gun ships appear in the cockpit window. Aboard the Alliance cruiser, Commander Harken and his men determine that a security alert exists for an undetermined Firefly class vessel carrying two fugitives, a brother and sister. Meanwhile, Mal instructs the crew to stack the salvaged items in plain sight so it doesn't appear that anything is being hidden. Harken orders his men to search the Serenity. In the meantime, Mal and the others undergo interrogation. But what Harken and his crew don't know is that Simon and River have suited up…and are clinging to the outside of the Serenity. Terrified and uncomfortable, Simon does his utmost not to panic. Harken informs Mal that the survivor taken from the derelict craft was found with his tongue split down the middle. Mal suddenly realizes something…and warns Harken of violence to come.Meanwhile, a team of Alliance surgeons races to save the survivor…and fail to notice as the survivor grabs hold of a scalpel. Mal tells Harken that the survivor was made to witness the Reavers' unspeakable acts of torture. As a result, the only way for the survivor to deal with the horror psychologically is to become a Reaver. First, by mutilating his own flesh. And then, by carrying out the same acts of violence. Harken tells Mal that his ship and its contents will be sold at auction. When word of the survivor's attack reaches Harken, he orders a lockdown. Meanwhile, Simon and River enter the Serenity and hide in the shadows. Unbeknownst to them, the survivor is also hiding in the darkness. Mal convinces Harken to let him assist the crewmen searching the Serenity. Harken takes up the offer…but refuses to remove Mal's handcuffs.Mal, Harken and the Alliance crewmen enter the engine room area. Mal notices a space suit helmet sitting on a table…and realizes Simon and River must be close by. He also notices kitchen cutlery scattered about. The survivor leaps from the shadows and slashes at the Alliance crewmen. The survivor then targets Harken. Mal manages to bring his handcuffs around the survivor's throat. A cracking sound fills the air, and the survivor is killed. A grateful Harken doesn't take possession of Mal's ship as he had promised. But he does take the cargo. The Alliance crew then destroys the derelict ship.