Firefly (TV series)/Recap/E11 Trash

This is a How We Got Here episode that begins with Mal sitting naked on a rock in the middle of the desert. We then go back in time three days to a rendezvous between Mal and an old war buddy, who cheerfully introduces his new wife Brigit. Mal recognizes ‘Brigit’ as Saffron. A furious scuffle ensues, ending with Mal’s buddy leaving the two of them on the planet.

Saffron offers to let Mal in on an extremely lucrative heist, which he takes up after Inara complains about the lack of real jobs. Inara vigorously objects, but Zoe (after a My Fist Forgives You) agrees to go along. The target is an original model laser gun on the estate of a wealthy Alliance official.

The plan is to get around the door alarms by reprogramming the trash disposal to send the gun to the desert once it is dropped down the chute, where the crew will pick it up. The owner of the gun walks in on Mal and Saffron as they are stealing the gun, and is overjoyed to see his long-lost wife, thanking Mal profusely for bringing her home. Not being an idiot, the official figures out what’s going on and calls the feds, but not before Mal drops the gun down the trash chute. Mal and Saffron proceed to run away. Once on their shuttle, Saffron uses crocodile tears to get Mal’s guard down, then steals his gun, forces him to take his clothes off, and dumps him in the desert.

Saffron then heads over to the drop point to pick up the laser gun, confident she had enough time since she damaged Serenity and knows they will be late. Instead she finds Inara waiting for her, and gets locked in a dumpster and left for the Feds.

Back on the ship, Jayne (who was injured earlier while reprogramming the dumpster) comes to in medical, unable to move. Simon explains that this is temporary, and then has a nice chat with Jayne about what happened on Ariel, and how they really should trust each other. He promises not to hurt Jayne, and then leaves. River then informs Jayne that if he ever sells them out again, she’ll kill him with her brain.

Tropes include:
 * Bad Bad Acting: It's not terrible, by any means, but the crew are a little... off while discussing the plan with Saffron. Inara even remarks that she's surprised Saffron didn't see through it.
 * The Caper
 * Easily Forgiven: The crew seems surprisingly willing to work with Saffron, even after the whole lightningy-death thing from "Our Mrs. Reynolds". But then, that doesn't mean they trust her.
 * How We Got Here
 * Magnificent Bitch: Saffron masterminding the caper.
 * My Fist Forgives You: Zoe punches Saffron in the face.
 * Out Gambitted: The Serenity crew have various hooks in their plan depending on when Saffron betrays them (as they know she will); the crux of the one that works is a fake argument with Inara, which leads to everyone, Saffron included, dismissing her from the plot.
 * Teeth Clenched Teamwork: Simon mentions that he and Jayne could continue this way, before admitting that "that thought wearies me" and suggesting they bury the hatchet.
 * You Are Too Late: Saffron tells the gun's owner that he should have called the Feds the moment she showed up with Mal. Then he shows her the panic button built into a ring he's wearing, which he did, in fact, push when he saw her.
 * To the Pain: Inverted. Simon explains that he will never hurt Jayne. He just happens to say it in a tone usually reserved for death threats.
 * Although River is a little more straightforward about it. ("Also, I can kill you. With my brain.")
 * Villainous Breakdown: Saffron fakes one to lower Mal's guard before hijacking his shuttle.