TVSquad

Simon and Book are hanging out in the infirmary, discussing the finer points of philosophy and torture. Simon is a little disturbed by Book's knowledge of psychotic warrior poets but is concentrating on the progress he's making in figuring out what happened to River.

We then cut to Niska, the underworld boss we first met in "The Train Job", discussing the same philosopher with a gentleman he's torturing who, quite frankly, looks like Keith Richards. An aide comes in and informs Niska that they have located Serenity, a fact that pleases him greatly. 

River and Kaylee are playing a girly game of keep away while Mal and Inara discuss the impending visit by a client of Inara's who is an important political figure. Zoe and Wash are eating apples, provided by Jayne, and telling stories. Zoe relates a story from the war where the Alliance booby-trapped some apples with grenades, killing several members of their platoon. Mal comes in and they discuss a plan Wash had come up with for some more crime. Mal thinks it's too risky, which leads to an argument between Wash and Zoe wherein Wash accuses her of not supporting him.

As the client of Inaras comes aboard Kaylee and Jayne are peeking from a doorway only to see that the person they thought would be a man is actually a woman. Kaylee is shocked it's such a glamorous woman and Jayne excuses himself, saying he needs to go to his bunk. In one of the shutttles Wash has changed the ignition sequence so Mal and Zoe can't take off without him. His jealousy has him in a right snit and he's going to go with Mal to drop off some stolen goods.

Inara is in her shuttle giving the female couselor a massage. To quote Jayne, "I'll be in my bunk."

Wash and Mal meet up with the bad guys, who are promptly shot by a squad of commandos, much to their surprise. Back on the ship Zoe is worried so she takes Jayne and Book to find them, but only find the dead guys. Wash and Mal have been kidnapped and quickly find it was Niska's men who nabbed them. After Niska begins the torturing our two heroes are having a heart-to-heart on Wash's issues with Zoe obeying Mal instead of him.

Zoe took up a collection among the crew to pay back Niska some of the money he feels they owe him and she takes it to him. When Niska says it's not enough for both of the guys she chooses Wash. He's released but Niska also has one of Mal's ears cut off and given to her. Once Wash is back on the ship the entire crew straps on half an arsenal to go get the captian, even Simon, Kaylee and Book.

They begin their assault on Niska's station and it's kind of fun to see these characters, mostly known for and by their dialogue, get to play action hero. Meanwhile Mal has broken free of the torture device and begins slapping Niska around. When Kaylee is pinned down by gunfire, River comes to her rescue showing mad skills when it comes to pinpoint accuracy with her eyes closed. The captain is rescued and all returns to normal about Serenity.