Synopsis:
At an out-of-the-way bordello, a pushy man named Rance Burgess confronts Nandi, the bordello's madam, and demands to see a prostitute named Petaline. Nandi claims Petaline left the house a month earlier, but one of Burgess's men hustles the struggling, pregnant girl through the door. Burgess plunges a medical device into her abdomen, promising he'll return if a DNA test proves her child is his. After Burgess leaves, the prostitutes wonder how they'll be able to stop Burgess. Nandi tells them they'll need help.Soon after, the Serenity receives a distress call for Inara. Though their relationship is somewhat strained, Nandi nonetheless asks for Inara's assistance in fighting Burgess and his bandits. When the transmission ends Inara asks Mal if he'd be willing to protect Nandi in exchange for compensation. Mal tells her he won't take her money but he is willing to help. Later the Serenity lands near the bordello and Mal and his crew disembark. The crew is more than a little intrigued with the prostitutes, particularly Jayne.Nandi tells Mal and Inara that Burgess's wife is barren but wants a child nonetheless. Nandi is disgusted with the idea of Petaline being disrespected in such a manner. Feeling the need to size up his enemy, Mal convinces Inara to join him at a theater Burgess will soon be attending with his wife, Belinda. At the theater Mal approaches Burgess, who's holding court over an influential crowd. Mal introduces himself, then comments repeatedly on Belinda's beauty, raising Burgess's ire. When Mal and Inara leave the theater, Mal tells her that Burgess is incredibly dangerous. He suggests the women leave the planet at once.Meanwhile the DNA test proves that Petaline's baby is Burgess's son. Nandi tells Mal she has no intention of deserting the business, which took years to build up from nothing. She states her intention to fight. When the rest of the prostitutes back her up, Mal realizes he doesn't have much of a choice. He prepares his crew for battle. While Book assures the women that everything will turn out okay, Jayne tells Helen that some of them won't make it out alive. He then turns his attention to the weapons at hand. Helen jumps on him, planting wet kisses all over. Meanwhile Zoe and Wash set to work preparing booby-traps. Nandi tells Mal he can have his pick of the litter, but Mal opts not to indulge himself. Later that night, after having a few drinks, Mal's resolve deteriorates and he ends up in bed with Nandi. Meanwhile Simon tends to Petaline when she begins going into labor.It turns out that one of the prostitutes, Chari, is actually working as Burgess's informant. She tells Burgess that Mal's been hired to help save the women. Burgess is thankful for the information, as he hadn't been counting on a fight. He nonetheless degrades Chari by making her have sex with him.The next morning Mal prepares his team, and the prostitutes, for the impending battle. On the horizon a cloud of dust rises and a group of horsemen surge forward, flanking Burgess' hovercraft. Mal is caught off-guard by the sheer number of gunmen, but proceeds with his plan to defend the bordello nonetheless. As the battle breaks out one of Burgess' men opens fire with a machine gun mounted on the hovercraft. Jayne responds by killing the gunman. As the gunmen find their horses being tripped up by booby-traps, Burgess opens fire with his laser, setting fire to the bordello in the process. Book uses a modified hose to put out the fire. With the battle raging Simon continues the process of helping deliver Petaline's baby. Moments later Burgess gains access to the bordello and takes away the infant. Before he can exit the building Inara draws a knife and puts it to his throat. Burgess hands over the child to one of the prostitutes. Seconds later he elbows Inara and fires his laser, killing Nandi.Burgess tries to make a getaway using the hovercraft, but Mal pursues him on horseback. Mal jumps onto the craft and hand-to-hand combat ensues. Burgess points his laser at Mal and pulls the trigger, but a low-battery message flashes. Mal smashes the butt of his gun across Burgess's face, knocking him unconscious. Mal brings Burgess back to the bordello, where he's tied up. Petaline emerges from a door, gun in hand: She shoots Burgess in the head, killing him. Later the girls bury their dead. Inside the Serenity's cargo bay Inara makes a surprise announcement: she tells Mal she's leaving.