Original Airdate: 10.25.02
The episode begins with a wounded Mal wandering the ship, delirious. We find out that after an engine explosion the Serenity lost its life support. The other eight crew take the two shuttles as Mal remains to respond if anyone comes for their beacon. Back in the present, Mal wanders the ship and flashbacks to how he purchased Serenity, hired Wash and Kaylee, acquired Inara as a passenger, and was tracked down by Jayne and recruited him.

A salvage ship arrives and offers Mal the part they need, but its captain shoots him before he drives them off and keeps the part. The badly wounded Mal tries to attach the part, succeeds, and fails to sends the signal to recall the shuttles. But they come back for him anyway.