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Episode: Heart of Gold

At an out-of-the-way bordello, a pushy man named Rance Burgess confronts Nandi, the bordello's madam, and demands to see a prostitute named Petaline. Nandi claims Petaline left the house a month earlier, but one of Burgess's men hustles the struggling, pregnant girl through the door. Burgess plunges a medical device into her abdomen, promising he'll return if a DNA test proves her child is his. After Burgess leaves, the prostitutes wonder how they'll be able to stop Burgess. Nandi tells them they'll need help.

Soon after, the Serenity receives a distress call for Inara. Though their relationship is somewhat strained, Nandi nonetheless asks for Inara's assistance in fighting Burgess and his bandits. When the transmission ends Inara asks Mal if he'd be willing to protect Nandi in exchange for compensation. Mal tells her he won't take her money but he is willing to help. Later the Serenity lands near the bordello and Mal and his crew disembark. The crew is more than a little intrigued with the prostitutes, particularly Jayne.

Nandi tells Mal and Inara that Burgess's wife is barren but wants a child nonetheless. Nandi is disgusted with the idea of Petaline being disrespected in such a manner. Feeling the need to size up his enemy, Mal convinces Inara to join him at a theater Burgess will soon be attending with his wife, Belinda. At the theater Mal approaches Burgess, who's holding court over an influential crowd. Mal introduces himself, then comments repeatedly on Belinda's beauty, raising Burgess's ire. When Mal and Inara leave the theater, Mal tells her that Burgess is incredibly dangerous. He suggests the women leave the planet at once.

Meanwhile the DNA test proves that Petaline's baby is Burgess's son. Nandi tells Mal she has no intention of deserting the business, which took years to build up from nothing. She states her intention to fight. When the rest of the prostitutes back her up, Mal realizes he doesn't have much of a choice. He prepares his crew for battle.