Episode 2: The Train Job

RECAP:
This episode begins with Mal, Zoe and Jayne relaxing over a few drinks at a bar. A man stands and makes a toast to the Alliance to celebrate Unification Day. This causes a bar brawl that apparently, Mal does this every year on Unification Day.

River is having nightmares about medical experiments and she won't tell Simon about them so that he can figure out how to treat her or what to do.

The crew get a job from a man named Niska, who is a ruthless, Russian mafia type. They steal unnamed Alliance cargo from a train. Mal and Zoe are trapped and so they are trying to keep from being discovered with all the passengers who are being detained for investigation. They find out the cargo was needed medical supplies. The crew finds a way to rescue Mal and Zoe, who back out of their deal with Niska and return the supplies because it's the right thing to do.

After Serenity is back on the move, Simon patches up Mal's injuries in the infirmary. Mal inquires as to how River is doing. Simon confirms that she's the same and he still doesn't know what was done to her.

Somewhere on an Alliance ship, a pair of ominous men in suits and blue gloves have arrived, inquiring about a theft. They have a picture of River.

In the beginning of this episode, Mal and Shepherd engage in conversation.

Mal: Well, what about you, Shepherd? How come you're flyin' with us brigands? I mean, shouldn't you be off bringing religiosity to the fuzzy-wuzzies or some such?

Book: Oh, I got heathens aplenty right here.

Mal: If I'm your mission, Shepherd, best give it up. You're welcome on my boat - God ain't.

Later Shepherd and Inara talk about prayer and praying for Mal. Shepherd says he doesn't think Mal would appreciate that. Inara says "Don't tell him. I never do."

Do you pray for people who won't appreciate it? I have plenty of friends who say "I like you and respect you're "churchy" and all, but don't go bringing God to me. It's fine that you need religion. It's what helps you. Some people need things like that. I just don't."

I wonder. Whenever someone says that I feel like I just got stabbed or put down -i.e. weak people need God and I'm not weak like you. Is that it? Is God just a crutch for the weak?

Well truth is: We're all weak. We may have the greatest intelligence, money, power, fame, beauty, humor, etc. yet everyone has a weakness, an insecurity, a dark side.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

Mal may not want his friends praying for him, he lost his faith on the fields of Serenity Valley. But his friends know there is a power greater than his weakness and faith is bigger than his disbelief. But they're not going to tell him.