Out of Gas
| "Out of Gas" | |
|---|---|
| Firefly episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 8 |
| Directed by | David Solomon |
| Written by | Tim Minear |
| Production code | 1AGE07 |
| Original air date | October 25, 2002 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
|
Steven Flynn |
|
Steven Flynn
Ilia Volok
Lyle Kanouse
Dax Griffin
"Out of Gas" is the eighth episode of the science fiction television series Firefly created by Joss Whedon. It differs stylistically from the rest of the series, in that it tells its story alternately in three timeframes: events in the present, events in the near-past that led to the present, and events in the past that led to the formation of Serenity's core crew.
After Serenity suffers a catastrophe that leaves her crew with only hours of oxygen, flashbacks show how Mal and Zoe acquired Serenity and assembled their motley crew.
While deep in space, the ship's compression coil blows out, disabling the engine and critically injuring Zoe. With the ship quickly losing oxygen and heat, Mal orders the crew to divide into two groups and head off in opposite directions in the shuttles, while he stays behind with the ship in case someone picks up their distress signal.
Hours later, another ship does indeed show up. Mal bargains with the captain for a new catalyzer, but when he sees that Mal is truly alone and the ship is stranded, he shoots Mal and decides to commandeer Serenity for himself. Mal turns the tables by grabbing a nearby gun when the hostile crew's backs are turned, successfully chasing them out of the ship.
Bleeding from a stomach wound and on the verge of passing out, Mal manages to get the new catalyzer installed correctly and restarts the engine. He then staggers up to the bridge, but is unable to recall the shuttles before blood loss renders him unconscious.
He wakes up in the infirmary, surrounded by the rest of the crew while Wash gives him a blood transfusion. A supine but conscious Zoe welcomes him back. She reveals that she ordered the crew to return to Serenity when she regained consciousness, thereby saving all their lives. Mal thanks her and as he drifts off to sleep, he asks, "Y'all gonna be here when I wake up?". Book assures him that they will.
Spread throughout the episode, a sequence of flashbacks shows the assembly of the crew. Flashbacks are intercut with the 2 more recent timelines based on spatial relationships, contrasting past events in certain areas of the ship with current ones. First, Mal convinces his fellow former Corporal, Zoe, to join him on his new ship Serenity and start a new life together. The next two to join the team are Hoban Washburne, an accomplished pilot with a mustache who bothers Zoe, and a laid-back mechanic named Bester. On a layover for repairs, Bester brings a young woman to the engine room for some illicit coupling; this woman, Kaylee Frye, soon replaces him as engineer when she shows an instinctive rapport with the ship's engines. The next recruit is Inara Serra, who uses her high status as a Companion to bargain for a 25% discount on the rent for a shuttle. She also insists that Mal never call her a "whore" again (a promise he has frequently broken). The final member is Jayne Cobb, a mercenary whose partners are cheating him out of his fair share; Mal convinces him to betray his old Captain while Jayne has him and Zoe at gunpoint.
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