Cut to River's quarters, where Simon explains to her that they're going to "go to sleep" so that the others can sneak them into the hospital. They're going to pretend to be dead, but they'll wake up once they're inside. River clarifies for Simon that he's going to suspend her cardiac and pulmonary activity. Well, it's preferable to a hard conk to the head. Although it doesn't come with funny sound effects. River whines that she doesn't want to do it. She starts crying and says that she doesn't want to die. Simon insists to her that she's not going to die and that everything will be okay. Simon calmly, patiently explains to River that he'll be able to help her when this is all over and "make the nightmares go away." She finally agrees. He tells her to lie back as he injects a drug into her. River looks resigned, and a tear rolls down her cheek. Really good scene from the both of them.

More fancy CGI shots as the ambulance flies over Ariel City at night. Mal reminds the crew that they speak only when spoken to and avoid unnecessary contact with others. Jayne continues to practice his line intently. Mal asks Jayne if he's going to have a problem. Jayne insists that he's got it. Mal, however, means whether he's going to have a problem with leaving Jayne to work with Simon. Jayne responds that it's up to Simon. If Simon wants to be mean, Jayne can be mean. If Simon wants to be sexy, Jayne can be…but I digress. Mal points out that Jayne got "a little stabbed" the other day, and he knows it may have made Jayne a little "ornery." Jayne interrupts to tell Mal that it's a good plan. He says it doesn't make him like Simon any better, though "nothing buys bygones quicker than cash." That was certainly Richard Fish's motto. Jayne jokes that he might give Simon a tattoo while he's unconscious. See? See what they give me to work with? It's like they're begging me to make gay jokes. Mal insists that Jayne simply help Simon get in and out and "no messing with him for laughs." Jayne says not to worry and foreshadows, "As long as I get paid, I'm happy." He goes back to practicing his line.

The ambulance lands in the appropriate landing place outside the hospital. The crew unloads two freakishly large "body bags" from the ambulance. The bags are actually large, sleek, sealed containers that look like sensory deprivation chambers. It's probably safer to transport still-alive bodies in them as well, rather than using a gurney. Wash, Zoe, Mal, and Jayne put the corpse torpedoes on stretchers and start heading towards the hospital. Wash stays behind with the ambulance and reminds them all that they only have a couple of hours before a shift change. I'm not sure why that matters, but Mal says they'll only need an hour anyway.