Firefly (TV Series)

Objects in Space (2002)

Richard Brooks: Jubal Early

Photos 

Quotes 

• Simon : Are you Alliance?

  Jubal Early : Am I a lion?

  Simon : What?

  Jubal Early : I don't think of myself as a lion. You might as well though, I have a mighty roar.

  Simon : I said "Alliance."

  Jubal Early : Oh, I thought...

  Simon : No, I was...

  Jubal Early : That's weird.

• Jubal Early : You folks are all insane.

  Dr. Simon Tam : Well, my sister's a ship. We had a complicated childhood.

• Jubal Early : All right, that's all the hide-and-seek I got time for. I know you're on this ship, little girl, so here's how this goes. You show yourself, we finish this exchange, or your brother's brains will be flying every which-a-way. You understand, I'm sort of on the clock here. It's frustrating.

  River : You're wrong, Early.

  Jubal Early : I'm not wrong, dumpling, I will shoot your brother dead if you don't...

  River : Wrong about River. River's not on the ship. They didn't want her here, but she couldn't make herself to leave. So she melted. Melted away. They didn't know she could do that, but she did.

  Jubal Early : I'm not sure I take your meaning there.

  River : I'm not on the ship. I'm in the ship. I am the ship.

  Simon : River...

  River : River's gone.

  Jubal Early : Then who exactly are we talking to?

  River : You're talking to "Serenity." And Early, "Serenity" is very unhappy.

• [River's voice is gone] 

  Jubal Early : Where'd she go?

  Simon : I can't keep track of her when she's not incorporeally possessing a spaceship. Don't look at me.

• Jubal Early : Where's your sister?

  Dr. Simon Tam : I don't know. Who do you work for?

  Jubal Early : This is her room.

  Dr. Simon Tam : Yes.

  Jubal Early : It's empty.

  Dr. Simon Tam : I know.

  Jubal Early : So is it still a room when it's empty? Does the room, the thing, have purpose? Or do we - what's the word?

  Dr. Simon Tam : I really can't help you.

  Jubal Early : The plan's to take your sister; get the reward, which is substantial - "imbue", that's the word.

  Dr. Simon Tam : So you're a bounty hunter.

  Jubal Early : No, that ain't it at all.

  Dr. Simon Tam : Then what are you?

  Jubal Early : I'm a bounty hunter.

• [last lines] 

  Jubal Early : [as he free tumbles through space]  Well, here I am.

• Jubal Early : You know, with the exception of one deadly and unpredictable midget, this girl is the smallest cargo I've ever had to transport, yet by far the most troublesome. Does that seem right to you?

  Dr. Simon Tam : What'd he do?

  Jubal Early : Who?

  Dr. Simon Tam : The midget.

  Jubal Early : Arson. The man loved fire.

• Jubal Early : I only hurt people because they keep getting in the way of me finding you. Tell her.

  Simon : What am I? Your advocate?

  Jubal Early : You are starting now.

  Simon : He's really very... gentle... and fuzzy. We're becoming fast friends.

  [River laughs] 

  Jubal Early : You folks are all insane.

  Simon : Well, my sister's a ship. We had a complicated childhood.

• Jubal Early : You ever been shot?

  Simon : No.

  Jubal Early : You oughta be shot. Or stabbed, lose a leg. To be a surgeon, you know? Know what kind of pain you're dealing with. They make psychiatrists get psychoanalyzed before they can get certified, but they don't make a surgeon get cut on. That seem right to you?

• Simon : I don't think my last act in this verse is gonna be betraying my sister.

  Jubal Early : You're gonna help me. 'Cause every second you're with me is a chance to turn the tables, get the better of me. Maybe you'll find your moment. Maybe I'll slip. Or, you refuse to help me, I shoot your brain out, and I go upstairs and spend some time violating the little mechanic I got trussed up in the engine room. I take no pleasure in the thought, but she will die, weeping, if you cross me.

  Simon : You're out of your mind.

  Jubal Early : That's between me and my mind. Let's start with these rooms.

• Jubal Early : Your sister's becoming a real annoyance.

  Simon : I feel for you.

• Jubal Early : That's some nonsensical crap. Ain't nobody can do that. You somewhere on this boat. Somewhere with a com, playing games.

  [River laughs] 

  Jubal Early : That's somewhat unsettling.

• Jubal Early : Man is stronger by far than woman, yet only woman can create a child. Does that seem right to you?

• Dr. Simon Tam : Come on out, River. The nice man wants to kidnap you.

  Jubal Early : Shhh.

• Jubal Early : That ain't a Shepherd.

• River : You're not welcome here anymore, Early.

  Jubal Early : Do you think I'm gonna leave here empty-handed?

  River : I know it.

• Jubal Early : Doesn't anybody care that I have a finely crafted gun pointed at this boy's head?

  River : I care.

  Jubal Early : Then are you gonna come out and stop me from doing what I don't want to? You gonna be smart here, River?

  [River doesn't respond] 

  Jubal Early : River? Serenity?

• Jubal Early : Yeah, well, you know me real well.

  River : Wish I didn't. You like to hurt folk.

  Jubal Early : It's part of the job.

  River : It's why you took the job. Power, control, pain. Your mother knew. Sadness in her when she waved good-bye. She's relieved. Saw darkness in you. You're not well.

• Jubal Early : You ever been raped?

  [Kaylee looks at him in shock] 

  Kaylee : The captain is right down that hallway he can hear you...

  Jubal Early : The captain's locked in his quarters. They all are. There's nobody can help you. Say it.

  [she begins to cry] 

  Kaylee : There's - there's nobody can help me.

  Jubal Early : I'm gonna tie you up now. And you know what I'm gonna do then?

  [shakes her head] 

  Jubal Early : I'm gonna give you a present. Get rid of a problem you've got. And I won't touch you in any wrong fashion, nor hurt you at all, unless you make some kind of ruckus. You throw a monkey wrench into my dealings in any way, your body is forfeit. Ain't nothing but a body to me. And I can find all unseemly manner of use for it.

• Jubal Early : Doesn't anybody care that I have a finely crafted gun pointed at this boy's head?

• Jubal Early : You made the right move, darling. Best for you to go home with old Early.

  Mal : You think so? Some of us feel differently.

• Jubal Early : [recurring line]  Does that seem right to you?