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Wash: Seem to you we cleared out of Santho in a hurry?
Zoe: Seems to me we do that a lot. Heard tell, though, we're gonna stay a while on Persephone.
Wash: Shiny.
Zoe: Yeah? Thought you get land crazy that long in port.
Wash: Probably, but I've been sane a long while now, and change is good.
Mal: Resupply, look for work, move along. We sniff the air. We don't kiss the dirt.
Zoe: Wasn't planning on the dirt kissing, sir.
Mal: I wouldn't stand for it anyway, Captain, jealous man like me.
Wash: Closing in.
Zoe: Planet's coming up a might fast.
Wash: That's just 'cause I'm goin' down too quick. Likely crash and kill us all.
Mal: Well, if that happens, let me know.
Suitor: I understand your time on our planet is limited, and if you selected my proposal to hear, then the honor you do me flatters my... my honor.
Atherton: Now there's the smile made of sunlight.
Inara: Atherton, how wonderful to see you.
Atherton: Did you get my message? I was extra appealing.
Inara: I've seen him before.
Mal: Oh, I never did. Not what I pictured. Young. Must be rich, to afford your rates.
Inara: I suppose. He has engaged me for several days.
Mal: Days? One must have stamina.
Inara: Mmm. He does.
Mal: It sounds like the finest party I could imagine gettin' paid to go to.
Inara: I don't suppose you'd find it up to the standards of your outings. More conversation and somewhat less petty theft and getting hit with pool cues.
Zoe: If I'm gonna wear a dress, I want something with some slink.
Wash: You want a slinky dress? I can buy you a slinky dress. Captain, can I have money for a slinky dress?
Jayne: I'll chip in.
Zoe: I can hurt you.
Badger: Captain Reynolds. Heard you was in town. Thought we might have a bit of a sit-down.
Mal: Prefer a bit of a "piss off".
Atherton: You belong here, Inara, not on a flying piece of go-se. You see that, don't you?
Inara: Atherton, language.
Atherton: What, "piece of go-se"? But it is a piece of go-se.
Major Domo: Miss Kaywinnet Lee Frye and escort.
Inara: Kaylee? (Kaylee enters with Mal). Oh, go-se.
Kaylee: These girls have the most beautiful dresses. And so do I. How about that?
Mal: Yeah, well, just be careful. We cheated Badger out of good money to buy that frippery, and you're supposed to make me look respectable.
Kaylee: Yes, sir, Captain Tight-Pants.
Mal: Okay, help me find our man. He's supposed to be older, kinda stocky, wears a red sash crossways.
Kaylee: Why does he do that?
Mal: Maybe he won the Miss Persephone pageant. Just help me look.
Kaylee: Is that him?
Mal: That's the buffet table.
Kaylee: Well, how can we be sure unless we question it?
Wash: I like our party better. The dress code's easier and I know all the steps.
Wash: You are acting captain. Know what happens if you fall asleep now?
Zoe: Jayne slits my throat and takes over.
Wash: That's right.
Zoe: And we can't stop it.
Wash: Well, I wash my hands of it. It's a hopeless case. I'll read a nice poem at the funeral, something with imagery.
Zoe: You could lock the door and keep the power-hungry maniac at bay.
Wash: I don't know. I'm starting to like this poetry idea now. "Here lies my beloved Zoe, my autumn flower, somewhat less attractive now that she's all corpsified and gross."
Nice Old Man: Why, Banning Miller. What a vision you are in your fine dress. Must've taken a dozen slaves a dozen days to get you into that getup. 'Course, your daddy tells me it takes the space of a schoolboy's wink to get you out of it again.
Mal: Beg your pardon, but would you happen to be Mr. Warrick Harrow?
Harrow: Sir Warrick Harrow. The sash.
Mal: The sash?
Harrow: It indicates lord-hood.
Mal: And it's... it's doing a great job.
Harrow: Whom do you represent?
Mal: "Represent" isn't exactly the...
Harrow: Don't waste my time.
Mal: Fellow called Badger.
Harrow: I know him, and I think he's a psychotic lowlife.
Mal: And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic lowlife community.
Mal: Ath - can I call you Ath?
Mal: Now, 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.
Kaylee: Up until the punching, it was a real nice party.
Mal: Whoa, whoa, I'm not running off. And I don't know what you got in your head, but I didn't do this to prove some kind of point to you. I actually thought I was defending your honor. And I never back down from a fight.
Inara: Yes, you do. You do all the time.
Mal: Well, yeah. But I'm not backing down from this one.
Jayne: What we need's a diversion. I say Zoe gets naked.
Wash: Nope.
Jayne: I could get naked.
Wash and Zoe: No!
River: Sure, I got a secret. More than one. Don't seem like that I tell 'em to you now, do it? Anyone off Titan colony knows better than to talk to strangers. You're talkin' loud enough for the both of us, though, ain't ya? I've met a dozen like you. Skipped off-home early. Minor graft jobs here and there. Spent some time in the lockdown, but less than you claim. And you're, what, a petty thief with delusions standing? Sad little king of a sad little hill.
Badger: Nice to see someone from the old homestead.
River: Not really. Call me if anyone interesting shows up.
Badger: I like her.
Mal: It would be humiliating, having to lie there while a better man refused to spill your blood. Mercy is the mark of a great man. (Stabs Atherton) Guess I'm just a good man. (Stabs him again.) Well, I'm all right.
Mal: See how I'm not punching him? I think I've grown.
Jayne: We was just about to spring into action, Captain. Complicated escape and rescue op.
Wash: I was going to watch. It was very exciting.
Inara: Are you in pain?
Mal: Absolutely. I got stabbed, you know, right here.
Inara: I saw.
Mal: Don't care much for fancy parties. Too rough.
Inara: It wasn't entirely a disaster.
Mal: I got stabbed, right here.
Inara: You also lined up exciting new crime.