From The TV IV

The Message is the thirteenth episode of the first season of Firefly, and the thirteenth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Melinda Clarke (Nandi), Kimberly McCollough (Chari), Fredric Lane (Ranse Burgess), Tracy Leah Ryan (Petaline)

Co-Stars: Heather Black (Helen), Angie Hart (Lucy), Doan Ly (Emma), Sandy Mulvihill (Belinda), Jim Lau (Narrator)

Contents 1 Plot Overview 2 Notes 3 Arc Advancement 3.1 Happenings 3.2 Characters 3.3 Referbacks 4 Trivia 4.1 The Show 4.2 Behind the Scenes 4.3 Allusions and References 4.4 Memorable Moments 5 Quotes

[edit] Plot Overview

The crew of the Serenity are in for a gunfight when one of Inara's companion colleagues asks for their help. The Serenity crew defends a bordello from a gunslinger who got a prostitute pregnant and now intends to collect the child; Mal falls for the bordello's madam.

[edit] Notes

[edit] Arc Advancement

[edit] Happenings

[edit] Characters

• Inara: Inara breaks down in tears when she finds out that Mal had sex with Nandi. It is exceedingly obvious at this point that, despite her words, she carries some feelings for Mal. He is, at this point, totally unaware of them. At the end of the episode, she declares that she's leaving the ship for good.

[edit] Referbacks

• 1x06 - Our Mrs. Reynolds: Mal makes a reference to when he kissed Saffron and passed out because of her poisoned lipstick.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] The Show

[edit] Behind the Scenes

[edit] Allusions and References

• The Magnificent Seven: The basic story of this episode is lifted straight from John Sturges's western movie The Magnificent Seven (1960) and its Japanese original, Akira Kurosawa's Shichinin no samurai (Seven Samurai, 1954), where seven down-on-their-luck fighters defend a village against a gang of bandits.

[edit] Memorable Moments

[edit] Quotes

• Inara: It sounds like something this crew can handle. I can't guarantee they'll handle it particularly well, but...
  Nandi: If they got guns and brains at all...
  Inara: They've got guns.

• Mal: This is my first mate, Zoe. I'll introduce you to the rest in a bit. They're good folk.
  Jayne: Can I start getting sexed already?
  Mal: Well, that one's kind of horrific

• Kaylee: Look, they got boy whores. Isn't that thoughtful?

• Kaylee: Wash, tell me I'm pretty.
  Wash: Were I unwed, I would take you in a manly fashion.

• Inara: How many babies have you actually delivered?
  Simon: As the primary? This would be the first. You?
  Inara: My first too.
  River: Mine too.

• (Mal and Nandi kiss)
  Nandi: You okay with this?
  Mal: I'm just waiting to see if I pass out... Long story.

• Jayne: Whoa now, girl, that's just plain dirty...
  Mal: Jayne... You aware your radio's transmittin'? Cause I ain't feelin' particular girlish or dirty at the moment.