Cut back to the infirmary. Suddenly River opens her eyes and gets up, calling out for Simon. She's wearing one of Inara's robes. Kaylee looks over and asks River what's wrong. River ignores her, realizing that it's time to start getting herself into danger. She walks out of the infirmary; Dobson jumps out of nowhere, grabs her, and puts a gun to her head. He pulls the other gun out and points it at Kaylee, warning her that if she says anything, he'll shoot her in the throat this time.

Back at the ambush, Mal has just finished explaining where the McGuffins are buried. So they're all finished up here? They are. Well then. Well then. Everybody just stands there, facing each other, both sides pretending that they don't know about the ambush. Obviously, Patience had instructed her sniper to fire once she found out where the goods were, but of course, that's not going to happen now. Silence spins out. Continents drift. Suns burn out. Phil asks who will be eliminated tonight on The Amazing Race. Finally, Mal asks them to turn around and leave first. Patience explains that there's a little hitch. She says she doesn't let go of money unless she has to, which is why she runs a planet, and Mal's just a little space pilot.

Up on the ridge, Jayne stops having fun pointing the gun at Mal's head and drifts over to target Patience's men.

Mal throws the money back to Patience and tells her there's no reason to go killing anybody. Patience starts lecturing Mal about how stupid he is so that it's more dramatic when he makes a fool out of her. He points out the guy on the horse standing next to her, loudly pointing out his rifle and asking if he's her best shooter. He is. Patience brags about how great an aim he's got. Mal points out his ridiculous top hat, so that Jayne knows who to aim for. Jayne gets the hint and shoots the guy in the head, knocking the hat off and also killing him. Gunplay ensues. Mal and Zoe take out a couple of Patience's men. Then Zoe gets shot right in the chest and goes down. Ouch.