Synopsis:
Inside a pool hall, Mal and Jayne play against two other men, Wright and holder, as Inara observes. Mal warns Inara to leave, telling her there's “a thief about.” He then slips her a handful of money, taken from his opponents, who earned the cash using slave labor on a planet being terraformed. Shortly thereafter, Wright notices someone stole his money. A fight ensues…and Inara heads for the front door. As the Serenity heads for the planet Persephone, Inara screens several recordings of young men hoping to be chosen as her companion. She then receives a message from Atherton Wing, a handsome man with an aura of entitlement. Atherton invites Inara to accompany him to the social event of the season. Later, Inara tells Mal that Wing has engaged her services for several days.Mal and Jayne make their way to the lair of a cockney criminal named Badger. Badger tells the pair about a client named Warrick Harrow, who wants some property transported off-planet so he can sell it at a higher price. As Harrow dislikes Badger, the only way for Badger to deal with him is through an intermediary such as Mal. He gives Mal two invitations to an upcoming social event so a meeting can be arranged. Meanwhile, inside a sumptuous ballroom, a porter announces guests as they arrive for an expensive party. Inara and Wing, both elegantly attired, enter the ballroom. Wing offers Inara the opportunity to become his personal companion, an offer Inara considers. Her attention is drawn to the front of the room when the porter announces the arrival of "Miss Kaywinnit Lee Frye" and her escort…which turn out to be Kaylee and Mal. Inara is not pleased with the turn of events.Meanwhile, back on the Serenity, Simon, Book and Jayne pass the time with a poker game. The game comes to a quick halt when River begins ranting. Simon moves to his sister and calms her down. At the ballroom, Kaylee's attention turns to the bountiful food at a buffet table. She strikes up a conversation with several girls her own age, including Banning, Cabott, Destra and Zelle. It isn't long before the girls belittle Kaylee's attire. A kind-looking man, Murphy, interrupts, and quickly insults Banning by insinuating she's slept with a lot of men. Meanwhile, Mal approaches Harrow and introduces himself. The meeting does not go well, especially when Mal admits he's working for Badger. Wing interrupts, and when Mal notices his possessiveness regarding Inara, he takes Inara out onto the dance floor, where he acknowledges the coincidence of them both ending up at the same social event. Mal also uses the opportunity to attempt to dissuade Inara from accepting Wing's invitation to be his personal companion. As Inara and Mal perform a difficult dance, Wing interrupts…and makes the mistake of referring to Inara as a prostitute. Mal responds by punching him. Wing then challenges Mal to a duel. Mal realizes that the duel is to be fought with swords. Despite his inexperience, he refuses to decline the challenge.Meanwhile, back at the ship, Badger shows up with several armed men. He tells the crew that Persephone is his home, and he doesn't want it to be known that he hired someone who caused trouble and got away with it. He and his men plan on staying aboard ship until the sword fight has concluded. Inara helps Mal prepare for the upcoming battle, but warns that Wing is an expert swordsman. As the pair practice with swords, Mal asks Inara not to accept Wing's offer. Back at the Serenity, the crew tries to develop a plan to create some type of diversion. Unexpectedly, River experiences another of her episodes. This time, she speaks to Badger in a cockney accent, apparently assuming the identity of someone from Badger's home town.As the duel gets underway, Wing quickly gains the upper hand, stabbing Mal in the side, wounding him. Worried that Mal will be killed, Inara tells Wing she'll stay with him on Persephone if he spares Mal's life. This distracts Wing long enough to give Mal a temporary advantage. He picks up a broken sword point and throws it at Wing, striking him in the shoulder. Mal then strikes Wing with the hilt of his sword, knocking Wing to the ground. Harrow tells Mal he has to kill Wing to spare him the humiliation of cowardice. Mal responds by stabbing Wing twice, wounding him. Afterward, Harrow hires Mal to smuggle goods off the planet. When Mal returns to the ship, he tells Badger the deal has been struck. Satisfied, Badger leaves. Later, Inara tells Mal she never intended to stay on Persephone…and wonders why anyone would leave the Serenity. That having been said, we realize Mal and Inara are sitting in the cargo bay, which is filled with mooing cattle.