Synopsis:
In flashback, Simon's parents, Gabriel and Regan Tam, toast Simon's appointment at a major hospital. Simon, however, is worried about River, who hasn't acted like herself since going away to school. In the present day, the Serenity lands on the planet Jiangyin to deliver a cargo of smuggled cattle. Unbeknownst to them, a man named Stark observes from nearby trees, waiting for just the right moment to strike. Mal loses his patience with River when she begins speaking to the cattle. Mal tells Simon to take River for a walk to keep her out of the way. Simon escorts River to a nearby general supply store, where Kaylee and Inara are perusing merchandise. Kaylee is stung when Simon refers to the Serenity as “garbage.” Shortly thereafter, Simon realizes that River has wandered off. The Grange brothers show up at the corral to finish the transaction for the smuggled cattle. At first, the brothers refuse to pay, claiming the cattle are undernourished. After some haggling, Mal and the brothers agree on a price.Meanwhile, Simon passes some policemen as he gradually catches up to River. Simon follows her into a tent, where local women perform a folk dance. The policemen make their way to the corral, where they announce that the Grange brothers are wanted for the murder of a local man. The Granges, Mal and Jayne are disarmed. Suddenly, a struggle erupts between one of the Grange brothes and a policeman. The Grange brother wrestles away his gun, but before he can fire, Zoe shoots the gun from his hand. Chaos erupts, with gunfire filling the air. Mal and Jayne drop to the ground, where Mal manages to recover the Grange brothers' payment for the cattle. Back at the tent, River joins the dancers, a look of immense happiness filling her face. But at the corral, Book is hit by gunfire. Instantly, River stops dancing, sensing something is wrong. Simon grows concerned, but before he can react, Stark and his men pull a hood over Simon's head and kidnap him. Mal and the others carry the critically injured Book back to the Serenity.As the crew attempts to stop the bleeding, Mal sets off to find Simon, hoping his medical skills can save him. In flashback, Simon tells his parents about his concern about River. Simon is convinced something is wrong, and believes her letters to the family contain some kind of secret code. His parents, however, dismiss the idea. As Stark and his men transport Simon to an unknown destination, Simon realizes River is following the group. He urges her to run away. But one of Stark's men grabs River and forces her along. Mal is unable to locate Simon and returns to the Serenity without him. He believes Simon was kidnapped by locals in need of a doctor. As the Serenity blasts off into space, Simon watches as the ship grows fainter in the distance. The crew tends to Book's injuries as best they can, but the group is well aware that Book needs urgent medical care.Meanwhile, Stark and his men arrive at their destination: a poor village deep in the woods. Stark proudly announces that he brought the townspeople a doctor. Wash pilots the Serenity toward an enormous Alliance cruiser, the Magellan. He requests permission to dock with the ship. Stark escorts Simon and River to a sick house, where a small group of people in need of medical care have gathered. A young woman, Doralee, joins them. After the Serenity docks with the Magellan, Mal and Jayne carry Book aboard on a stretcher. At the sick house, Simon ministers to those in need, and is somewhat surprised at the relatively minor illnesses and injuries he's presented. He strikes up a conversation with Doralee, who, it turns out, is a teacher. Like Simon, she, too, was kidnapped. Only Doralee decided to remain in the village instead of trying to escape.Aboard the Magellan, a barely conscious Book produces an identity card. After the commander has the card verified, the formerly reluctant crew is instructed to give Book medical care at once. River takes an interest in a little mute girl named Ruby. River is able to read her mind and recount an incident from her past. Doralee is horrified by River's power…and proclaims her a witch. In flashback, Simon begs his father to come with him on a mission to rescue River. But neither of his parents will help. In the present day, Simon insists River isn't a witch, but a troubled girl. A patron questions River, but when she recounts an event from his life, an event no one else could possibly know, he, too, grows convinced that she's a witch. Book is brought to an infirmary, where he recovers from his injuries. But he remains tight-lipped about his identity card…and why the Alliance commander reacted with great respect when he saw it.The villagers erect a stake and prepare to burn River alive. Suddenly, the Serenity rises up, and a fully- armed Jayne, Mal and Zoe suggest that River step away from the stake. Later, the crew gathers in the Serenity's dining room, where Simon takes in the communal atmosphere around him.