GRAND BALLROOM - PROBABLY NIGHT
KAYLEE
(watching the dancing, to a young gentleman
standing on the edge of the dance floor)
Aren't they something. They're like butterflies,
or little pieces of wrapping paper blowing around.
The young gentleman bows and walks off, leaving Kaylee. She looks a little sad, bur rallies and walks over to a group of women.
KAYLEE
Hello.
BANNING
I don't.. um... have we been introduced?
KAYLEE
(shaking hands with first woman)
Oh, I'm Kaylee.
BANNING
Banning. And this is Destra, Cabott and Zelle.
KAYLEE
(gushing)
Don't you just love this party? Everything's so
fancy, and there's some kind of hot cheese over there.
CABOTT
It's not as good as last year.
KAYLEE
Oh really? What'd they have last year?
CABOTT
Standards.
Kaylee looks crestfallen.
BANNING
Who made your dress, Kaylee?
KAYLEE
Oh, do you like it? When I saw the ruffles,
I just couldn't resist.
BANNING
You ought to see to your girl.
KAYLEE
[Shah muh? - "What?"]
BANNING
Your girl. She's not very good. She made you a
dress that looks like you bought it in a store.
KAYLEE
Oh, I didn't know.
An older gentleman has obviously overheard this exchange, and walks to Kaylee's side.
MURPHY
Why Banning Miller. What a vision you are in your
fine dress. It must have taken a dozen slaves a
dozen days to get you into that getup.
(Banning preens)
'Course your daddy tells me it takes the space of
a schoolboy's wink to get you out of it again.
Banning gets huffy and stalks off, followed by the other women. Kaylee looks surprised and delighted.
MURPHY
Forgive my rudeness. I cannot abide useless people.
Mal and Inara dancing, while Atherton looks on with a glare. Mal missteps the dance, and Inara and Mal both chuckle.
MAL
It's possible you were right, and this ain't my
kind of party.
They are comfortable with each other, laughing and smiling. Atherton barges in and roughly grabs Inara's arm and pulls her away from the dance floor.
MAL
Whoa now. Watch yourself. Ain't no need for hands on.
ATHERTON
Excuse me, she's not here with you, Captain. She's mine.
MAL
Yours? She don't belong to nobody.
ATHERTON
Money changed hands, which makes her mine tonight.
And no matter how you dress her up she's still...
Mal hauls off and slugs him before he can get the rest of the sentence out.
MAL
(to Inara)
Turns out this is my kind of party.
INARA
Oh, Mal.
MAL
What? Man was out of line.
ATHERTON
(recovering, angry)
I accept.
MAL
That's great. What?
GENTLEMAN
There has been a challenge.
ATHERTON
I hope you're prepared, Captain.
MAL
What? You all talking about a fight? That's fine.
(taking off his jacket)
Let's get out of here.
INARA
It's not a fist fight, Mal.
GENTLEMAN
The duel will be met tomorrow morning at Cadrie Pond.
MAL
Well, why wait? Where's that guard? He collected
a whole mess of pistols.
GENTLEMAN
If you require it, any gentleman here can give you
use of a sword.
MAL
Use of a swo... what?
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - NIGHT
Back where we left off, Mal in hot water:
KAYLEE
What's going on?
MAL
I'm not rightly sure. What's going on?
HARROW
First off, you'll be put up in lodgings for the night,
so you don't disappear. I wouldn't blame you,
incidentally. Wing may be a spoiled dandy, but he's
an expert swordsman. He's killed a dozen men with a
longblade. You're the only one gave him a reason.
MAL
(exasperated)
Oh this is a joke.
INARA
He'll need a second.
MAL
What's that?
HARROW
I'll take on the job.
INARA
He fights if you refuse.
ATHERTON
(moving towards the entranceway)
Inara, come with me, please.
MAL
(to Harrow)
You taking on this job... being my second...
does this mean we're in business?
HARROW
It means you're in mortal danger. But you mussed
up Atherton's face, and that has endeared you to me
somewhat. You might even give him a fight, before
he guts you.
ATHERTON
(sharply)
Inara!
(holds out his arm to Inara)
KAYLEE
Up until the punching, it was a real nice party.
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