"I need her, Captain. River is...my purpose. I will gather her to me. The brother as well. Whatever else happens is incidental, in the greater scheme."

Mal sneers at the Operative. "Why is it that the greater scheme always makes everything not that great?"

Simply tired of this conversation, the Operative moves to find a chair on one side of the room. "I wante to resolve this like civilized me. I'm not threatening you. I'm unarmed---"

"Good!" Mal unholsters his pistol and shoots the man straight at the chest, the force knocking him backward. With a yank of the arm, Mal reholsters his gun while leading Inara to the door---