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Bring on the Night November 1, 2002 (WHITE) Written by: Marti Noxon and Douglas Petrie | ||||
| Teaser | ||||
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The living room still shows a ton of evidence of the attack of The
Bringers. However, the place has been righted enough that the gang can get
down to research. It's clear that the night has been spent working hard
and people are anxious and tired...
ANYA is on the couch, surrounded by mystical texts. DAWN has cleared a
place for herself on the floor. WILLOW is at the table on the computer,
BUFFY sits across from her. ANDREW, who fainted in the big fight at the
end of Nine, is still out. He's tied up to a chair in a corner. XANDER
sweeps glass and debris up from the floor, contemplates the busted windows
everywhere...
It's a loop. Like the mummy hand. I'm doomed to replace these windows for all eternity. (then) Maybe we should just board these up until things are less Hell-mouthy. Anya throws a book down, frustrated.
Nothing. (re: other books) And nothing. And the Cliff Notes to nothing. Nothing abridged... WILLOW BUFFY ANYA BUFFY XANDER ANYA Dawn gets up, moves to Andrew.
Maybe he's just faking so he doesn't have to answer any more questions. Dawn SLAPS Andrew. Hard. Nothing happens.
(simply) Or maybe he's in a fugue state. She reaches back to hit him again, but Buffy stops her with-
Dawn- DAWN Buffy looks tired, stressed.
Just - he'll come to when he comes to... Keep reading, okay? If we want to help Spike, we need to know how to fight this thing. Dawn goes back to her place on the floor, disgruntled.
(mutters) Anya gets to hit him. WILLOW Buffy and the others look up.
The First- (not so excited) Bank of Delaware. (then) Sorry. CLOSE ON BUFFY Who looks disappointed, tosses the book she's holding into a discard pile.
Hand me the Watcher's Codex again? A WOMAN'S HAND COMES INTO FRAME WITH A BOOK. Buffy takes it. Not really paying attention.
Can I get you anything else, honey? How about some tea? Buffy reacts to the voice. Turns. REVEAL JOYCE Standing over Buffy at the table. Smiling at her lovingly. A beat as Buffy looks happily stunned to see her-
Mom? But then her expression closes.
You're not real. Joyce reacts completely naturally. Bemused.
Okay. Is that slang, like - "you're not for real?" Or- BUFFY Now Joyce looks concerned. She speaks with genuine compassion. Buffy tries not to give into it - but it's hard.
You're so tired, baby. You're not making sense. Maybe you should get some sleep- BUFFY JOYCE BUFFY JOYCE BUFFY XANDER (O.C.) SMASH CUT: INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT CLOSE ON BUFFY She's asleep at the table, head on her arms. Everything else is exactly as it was in the previous scene. Willow is next to her, Andrew is tied up and unconscious in the corner, etc. Except Joyce is gone and Xander stands over Buffy, shaking her gently.
Wake up, Buff. Buffy's eyes open. She sits up, disoriented.
Did you see it? XANDER BUFFY XANDER A beat. Buffy looks haunted, but she tries to shake it off.
Nothing. (then) It was nothing.
CUT TO:
BLACK We hear the SOUND OF A BODY BEING DRAGGED ALONG A DIRT FLOOR. INT. UNDERGROUND CAVERN - DAY SPIKE'S POV: SPIKE'S eyes flicker open and he sees that he's being yanked along the floor of an underground cavern by THE UBERVAMP. The cavern is LIT BY A FIRE THAT BURNS ON THE GROUND, and he can see glimpses of THE BRINGERS, as they do the ritual chanting that we saw them do way back when in AMENDS. ON UBERVAMP: As he tosses Spike into a corner. He looks dreadful. He's white as a sheet, all the blood drained from him - and the cuts we saw inflicted upon him in the last episode are far from healed. The Ubervamp starts pacing the cavern, agitated.
Go on, give him a kick then. Now we see that THE FIRST is present in the form of Spike in all his WILLIAM THE BLOODY GLORY. Long coat, twisted grin... He turns his attentions on the actual SPIKE now.
Always liked that, didn't you? The First steps forward and MORPHS into DRUSILLA.
Kick a dolly when he's down. That was your style. The Ubervamp brutally kicks Spike, then returns to pacing. Drusilla/First smiles, nods to the Ubervamp.
Has buckets of energy, poor dear. Been layin' in wait for his moment. Since before the bug walked. (to Ubervamp) There, there, pet. Soon as the moon comes, you'll have your carnage. Little girls tear so easily... Like pink paper... Spike tries to sit up, to gather himself, but he's too wasted. He falls back. Drusilla/First gazes at him, dispassionately.
'Til then - we'll have our way with this one. Got it coming, he does. The Ubervamp's eyes grow murderous. He turns toward Spike. OFF SPIKE As the Ubervamp approaches, blocking out Spike's broken form.
BLACK OUT.
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| Act One | ||||
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INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY
CLOSE ON ANDREW
Still passed out. Then a bunch of WATER SPLASHES IN HIS FACE. He reacts
a tiny bit, then slumps again.
REVEAL
ANYA and DAWN watching him intently - Anya with an empty cup in her
hand They're alone in the living room at the moment.
That was something. DAWN ANYA They both abruptly head out of the room, but Buffy steps in, changed into fresh clothes. Both Anya and Dawn immediately fall onto the couch, trying to look nonchalant.
Nothing. BUFFY DAWN BUFFY Buffy's interrupted by ANDREW'S SPUTTERING COUGH as he wakes. Anya and Dawn JUMP up from the couch, move to Andrew.
Look who's awake! ANYA Buffy looks at them both suspiciously. But Andrew distracts her-
I'm - I was about to be dead, (to Buffy/awed) You saved me. BUFFY PUSH IN ON ANDREW, looking scared. Like he's going to talk. But then he stops. Confused.
The first what? Now the whole thing devolves. Gets real chatty.
It's the name of the evil thing that pretended to be Warren and got you to kill Jonathan. ANDREW DAWN ANDREW BUFFY ANDREW BUFFY INT. SUNNYDALB HIGH SCHOOL - BASEMENT - DAY Andrew now leads Buffy, Dawn and Xander through a tunnel in the basement. Andrew's clearly jumpy.
It's around that corner. I think. BUFFY ANDREW XANDER Xander stops as they turn a corner. The Seal lies in the pit in front of them, but THE FIRST, SPIKE and THE UBERVAMP are long gone.
Whoa. Check out the goat-heady badness. BUFFY ANDREW BUFFY catches him with a hand. Not so fast.
There's blood on this. Lots. REVEAL Dawn standing near the CREEPY DEVICE THAT SPIKE WAS STRAPPED TO IN EP. NINE.
Looks like The First made another Sacrifice. Or a music video. Buffy looks worried by this new revelation.
The Seal could have been activated. Maybe that's what The First wanted Spike for. ANDREW XANDER Andrew deflates. His remorse clear.
He's in a place of joy and peace. He told me. XANDER BUFFY Buffy tosses one of the SHOVELS that Andrew and Jonathan used to uncover the Seal in their direction.
Can we save the encounter session? We need to cover this thing up. Whatever it does, we can't leave it exposed like this. A beat. Xander picks up the shovel and hands it to Andrew. Andrew reluctantly joins Buffy in filling in the pit. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - BASEMENT - ANOTHER AREA - DAY It's a little bit later. Andrew, still holding his shovel, and Xander walk ahead of Dawn and Buffy, who also carries her shovel. They are all dirty from re-filling the pit.
Man, this place gives me the creeps. It's like in Wonder Woman, issue 297- 299- XANDER
Andrew looks at Xander with surprise - gets a "one of us" look on his face. Xander tries to pretend like he didn't just massively geek out.
This way. Move it. Xander gives Andrew a manly shove toward the stairs. ANGLE ON BUFFY AND DAWN Who are lagging behind. Buffy looks stressed.
So what next? We found the Seal but no Spike... BUFFY Dawn and Buffy both startle as PRINCIPAL WOOD emerges from another corridor, A DIRTY SHOVEL OF HIS OWN over his shoulder.
Buffy BUFFY They eye each other. And the shovels. An odd beat.
I thought you were- DAWN PRINCIPAL WOOD DAWN
Anyway I'm all better now. Buffy eyes Principal Wood's shovel again. He notices.
Oh - yeah. Somebody left it in the courtyard. I was just returning it. BUFFY PRINCIPAL WOOD Now Wood looks at Buffy's shovel. Waits.
Oh. And... I was just down here helping Dawnie with her project. DAWN BUFFY DAWN BUFFY They start to move off. But Wood stops them with-
Buffy. If you are feeling better - I'd like you back at work. I've been wait-listing students who want to see you. BUFFY PRINCIPAL WOOD BUFFY PRINCIPAL WOOD And they all move off. Principal Wood and Buffy look back at each other - suspicious. What was that all about? OMITTED INT. SUMMERS' HOME - DINING ROOM - DAY Xander moves into the dining area, where the shades are drawn and candles light the room. Willow sits at one end of the table, setting up a locator spell. Anya's helping her. Dawn does research on her laptop. Buffy paces anxiously at the other end of the table. Xander approaches her while Will and Anya start the spell in the background.
How's it going? BUFFY Xander sees Buffy's agitation.
Why don't you go get some rest? You've been up for, like, two days. We'll call you if we find anything. BUFFY XANDER BUFFY WHOOSH! There is AN EXPLOSION from the area where the spell is being done. It sends ANYA flying. WIND FILLS THE ROOM and things SCATTER EVERYWHERE. CLOSE ON WILLOW Who holds onto the table as the smoke from the spell TWISTS INTO HER NOSTRILS. Will rears back and SCREAMS as her EYES AND HAIR GO BLACK. She EXHALES and the GIANT FORM OF THE FIRST, in it's true appearance (the form it took in AMENDS) emerges from her mouth. Then immediately gets sucked back.
Will! Willow whips around and BLASTS BUFFY ACROSS THE ROOM with MAGIC. Speaks in a demonic voice (the voice of The First.}
You only make me stronger. CRASH! Xander, unnoticed by Willow/First, has snatched the bowl that held the spell ingredients and SMASHED IT against the wall. Just as suddenly as everything started - it all GOES BACK TO NORMAL. Will's eyes and hair - everything. A stunned beat. Then Willow's legs give out. She falls to the floor, freaked - near tears. Buffy and the others rush to her.
Will- WILLOW Buffy holds Willow tightly, trying to calm her.
It's not, it's gone. You're okay. WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Off BUFFY, fear and anger playing across her features. INT. SUMMERS' HOME - FOYER - DAY A bit later. Buffy, ready for a fight, prepares to leave. Straps a weapon on. Everybody's upset, watching her.
At least let me come with you. BUFFY XANDER BUFFY reaches for the door-
It's out there - and it's hurting my friends. I'll find it- She stops. Stunned. GILES stands in the doorway.
Buffy. BUFFY Buffy steps forward, about to hug him, but she's stopped when THREE YOUNG GIRLS move into the house. They are MOLLY, ANNABELLE AND KENNEDY. And they are all potential Slayers. MOLLY, 14 or 15, is a Brit of East Indian heritage. She's cute, pudgy. Her style is very "Ghost World." Pigtails and a miniskirt, ripped stockings, a lunch box for a purse... ANNABELLE, 16, is a sleek, athletic upper-class Brit. She's a bit of a snob. Very into her training, a tad humorless. KENNEDY, 19, the oldest of the bunch. She's tough and wry - takes all the mysticism associated with the Slayer gig with a serious grain of salt.
(to Buffy) Nice place. Bit of a mess. Kennedy looks at Buffy, unimpressed.
This is the Slayer? Huh. The girls blow past her. Buffy looks to Giles, double stunned now. He responds, a tad wry.
Sorry to barge in. I'm afraid we have a slight apocalypse.
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| Act Two | ||||
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INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY
It's a few moments after the act break and everyone is gathered in the
living room. Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn, Giles and his charges -
three Potential Slayer girls.
Oh - Andrew's still tied up in the corner.
The mood is somber - Giles has some splain'n to do.
(NOTE: It is VERY important that GILES not touch or be touched by
anything. He can walk and talk - but he can't fiddle or cuddle or caress.
Got it?)
(re: girls) They're all Slayers? GILES Buffy's expression grows dark. This is what she's been seeing in her dreams
The others were murdered. FLASH! We see the GIRL FROM ISTANBUL (EPISODE ONE) get stabbed.
In cold blood. FLASH! Now the GERMAN GIRL (from EPISODE TWO) meets the same fate. NOW WE'RE BACK IN THE LIVING ROOM.
As well as their Watchers. FLASH! We hear GILES OVER images of Robson, as he finds his dead charge, but we do not see the attack by the Bringers (FROM EPISODE EIGHT.)
We all feared this day would come. When there'd be an attack, not just against an individual slayer, but against the whole line... AGAIN, WE'RE BACK ON GILES IN THE LIVING ROOM. Buffy looks to Giles - getting it.
The First - that's what it wants. GILES BUFFY A collective chill runs through the group Then-
(to Giles) We haven't been able to find anything on The First. No documentation. GILES ANYA GILES WILLOW GILES A beat as the Scoobies take this in, stunned. Then-
So all the records are destroyed? Giles looks to ANNABELLE.
Annabelle- Annabelle steps forward, pulls some files and books from her backpack. Puts them on the coffee table.
That's what's left. The mystic secrets of The Watchers, and whatever I could find on The First. (off their surprise) When I learned what was happening, I... stole these. ANYA GILES ANDREW (O.C.) Everyone turns to see a forgotten Andrew, tied up in the corner. He's totally caught up in the story. Enthralled.
Go on. BUFFY Xander obliges as the talk continues.
What do the records say about The First? GILES WILLOW GILES Kennedy pipes up now. Clearly the boldest of the three Slayerettes.
Those freaks in the black robes. Now Molly jumps in too.
Yeah. With the hoodies and the crazy alphabet eyes. (shy again) I didn't see. I just heard that- ANNABELLE Molly shuts up, but glares at Annabelle. Giles looks weary. Then-
The First is unlike anything we've faced before. There's evil, and then there's the thing that made evil... The source. BUFFY GILES A beat as Buffy takes this in. A new weight on her.
But no pressure. KENNEDY Everybody turns to Kennedy.
(to Buffy) I don't see how one person, even a Slayer, can protect us. I saw what those Bringer guys can do. They tore my Watcher apart- GILES KENNEDY ANNABELLE BUFFY ANYA Off Buffy, who takes this in, worried. INT. UNDERGROUND CAVERN - DAY WE ARE UNDER WATER We see SPIKE STRUGGLING AS A HAND HOLDS HIM UNDER. The water is green, murky, and he fights and fights... But loses. His body goes still. Silent. Almost peaceful. NOW WE'RE ABOVE GROUND And we see that THE UBERVAMP: is holding SPIKE beneath the surface of a filthy pool of water that bubbles at the surface of the cavern. He tosses Spike's body from the water, and it hits the floor with a sick wet SPLAT. Lies there. Drusilla/First watches from a distance, pleased. Speaks to the UBERVAMP:.
That's why our kind make such good dollies. Spike suddenly SPUTTERS TO LIFE. He coughs up water, then gasps horribly - fighting to get the water out of his lungs.
Hard to kill. Spike stares at Drusilla/First, trying to find his breath but it won't come.
Tried to enlighten little Buffy, didn't you? Spilled our secrets like seed... Now Dru gets close, nearly whispers.
But you forgot. I say what you tell, and what you know. I say when this is over. (menacing) And I'm not done with you yet, not nearly. She nods to the UBERVAMP, who violently shoves Spike back in the water - to be drowned all over again. EXT. SUNNYDALE MAIN STREET - NIGHT Giles and Buffy move down Sunnydale's main street, which is decorated for CHRISTMAS.
(confused) This place, where you last saw The First, you say it was in a Christmas tree lot? BUFFY A beat. Buffy looks at Giles, vulnerable - shaken.
Giles. This is bad, isn't it? I mean, a new kind of bad. GILES Buffy looks around at the decorations. At the happy folk doing their shopping - oblivious to the big bad around them.
I didn't even realize it was December. Maybe when we get home we should decorate the rubble. (then) You think you'll ever show up for a real visit? The kind where the world isn't about to end? They both smile a little sadly.
If we survive this, I promise to. BUFFY GILES They walk on in silence. INT. BUFFY'S LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM/KITCHEN - NIGHT This is a BIG ASS ONER, meant to convey the heavy activity in the Buffy-verse now that it includes three wouldbe Slayers (and one hostage.) We start in the living room. Xander is boarding up the windows. Andrew is watching him. Ungagged now.
So, how long have you followed Buffy? XANDER ANDREW Now WE PICK UP WILLOW and KENNEDY. Willow is just finishing making the sofa up as a bed, and is then on the move with an armful of linens. Kennedy follows her. We move with them as they head out of the living room and toward the stairs.
Annabelle can sleep here, Molly can sleep in Dawn's room- KENNEDY WILLOW KENNEDY WILLOW Kennedy grabs the linens.
(a little flirtatious) Okay. You better not hog the covers. This stops Will. She doesn't quite know what to say. Kennedy grins and continues up the stairs. Will, thrown, turns, encounters DAWN, who's just come out of the KITCHEN. She's got an apron on and kinda looks a mess. Dawn indicates Kennedy.
Does she wanna eat? WILLOW DAWN They move through the dining room toward the kitchen, Willow still very thrown by new flirtiness.
Ah, I'll add some hot sauce and tell them it's an American thing. Say it's blackened. NOW THEY ENTER THE KITCHEN Where Anya's DUMPING OUT THE MAC AND CHEESE. Molly goes through the cabinets and Annabelle reads the label on some cereal.
Or we can order a pizza. ANNABELLE MOLLY ANNABELLE She's stopped by Molly's happy exclamation.
Brill! Biscuits. Molly pulls a package of COOKIES from a shelf. Starts munching. Looks to Dawn.
You don't mind? I have a case of the nerves after Mr. Giles' lecture. DAWN Dawn holds the cookies out and all the girls give up on the dinner idea. Chow down. 13 THRU 16 OMITTED EXT. DIRT LOT - NIGHT Buffy and Giles wander the dirt lot where the Christmas tree lot used to be.
So there was an entrance to the cave above ground here? BUFFY ON GILES
So we'll just keep- CRASH! Giles TURNS to see that BUFFY is gone. Where she was standing there is nothing but a HOLE that was COVERED BY SOME DIRT AND OLD BOARDS. A stunned beat. Then-
Found it. Giles rushes to the hole. Looks in. GILES POV Buffy, in the cave, picks herself up.
Good lord, are you alright? BUFFY INT. CAVE - NIGHT BUFFY wanders the cave, which is lit only by moonlight streaking through the hole above. The cave appears empty, but there is a small tunnel at the far end of the cave and some other craggy spots where something might hide. WE STAY CLOSE ON BUFFY As she calls back to Giles. As she ventures further into the cave. Schmuky the bait. She hears a sound behind her and we do a classic horror movie scare as Buffy turns - sees nothing - and turns back to face THE UBERVAMP. WHOMP! The Ubervamp UPPERCUTS BUFFY and she goes FLYING INTO THE ROOF OF THE CAVE - rock and debris rain down from the point of impact. THUD! Buffy hits the ground hard and the Ubervamp attacks, kicking the hell out of her. Buffy jumps up, grabs a stalactite-type formation growing from the top of the cave and SWINGS HERSELF at the Ubervamp, pounding him with her heels. The Ubervamp falls back. FIGHTY, McFIGHT FIGHT. What distinguishes this fight is that Buffy barely stays upright. The Ubervamp keeps dealing staggering blows, and doesn't even seem winded. Buffy looks scared. She's bleeding from a few cuts now, looking spent. The Ubervamp swings, connects. Swings again, but Buffy drops and rolls, coming up with STAKE IN HAND. Before he can react, Buffy DRIVES THE STAKE DEEP INTO THE UBERVAMP'S HEART. The Ubervamp ROARS with fury. And that's it. He doesn't dust. In fact - he grins, a bit twisted, and pulls the stake out. OFF BUFFY Stunned. Terrified.
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| Act Three | ||||
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INT. CAVE - NIGHT
Where we left off. Buffy is stunned, terrified
Be hold on Buffy, incredulous, as - WHACK! Ubervamp hits her with a
wicked backhanded punch. She hits the ground, hard.
Ubervamp regards the STAKE he's now holding in his hand. A novelty. And
one he adjusts to instantly. He rushes forward.
Buffy's POV: Ubervamp, holding her STAKE, attacks. Lunging with
lightning-speed right for her, stake in hand, bringing it down upon her...
Ubervamp stabs where Buffy was - she jerks away. The stake hits the
rocky ground - and SPLINTERS inches from her face.
Buffy gets to her feet - and gets taken off her feet with a
brutal, bone-crunching gut-punch from the Ubervamp.
And now it gets nasty. And extremely one-sided. Buffy takes punishment
- repeated blows to the body, the face... and she can't get one shot in in
retaliation.
The Ubervamp slaps a big hand around her throat and lifts her up off
the ground. Buffy pulls at the hand on her throat, but it will not budge.
The Ubervamp OPENS HIS JAWS to bite her. And we see, in close-up, that
these fangs are bigger, bloodier, just plain uglier than any she's seen
before.
Buffy grabs hold of a small stalactite, rips it from its moorings - she
SMASHES the Ubervamp with it.
Ubervamp loosens its grip on Buffy just enough for her to fall,
painfully, to the ground.
Buffy LEAPS to the nearest rock wall and starts scrambling up, fast as
she can, hand-and-footholds crumbling...
She gets halfway up the rock wall when the Ubervamp's HAND shoots out
of nowhere and GRABS her ankle.
EXT. DIRT LOT - NIGHT
Buffy struggles, pulling herself up out of the cave hole - almost
freeing herself when she suddenly gets YANKED BACK - almost back in, her
hands digging into the soft earth around her, fingers leaving treads...
Ubervamp holds tight to Buffy's ankle. Prepares to bite, opening its
fanged mouth with incredible speed... just as Buffy kicks - and just
barely manages to free herself.
EXT. DIRT LOT - NIGHT
Buffy, freaked, pulls herself all the way up and out of the cave hole,
looking up to see:
Buffy's POV: A SILHOUETTE standing before her. Giles. The Ubervamp pops
out - then retreats in snarling fear.
It's gone. Buffy, still on the ground and breathing heavily, looks back to the hole then up at Giles, her fear showing.
What was it? We see the light which makes Giles a silhouette: SUNLIGHT. Dawn has arrived. INT SUMMERS' HOME - KITCHEN - DAY Buffy enters, looking beat. Followed by Giles.
Don't want to wake the others just yet, give us a chance to... Buffy stops short - closes her eyes and sighs. Reverse reveals: The three Potential Slayers eating breakfast, having made themselves at home.
Sorry about the British invasion. MOLLY ANNABELLE KENNEDY She stops, not wanting to say what Buffy looks like.
I'm fine. Got in a fight, is all. She closes the kitchen door (because Giles did not.)
You want to tell me with what? GILES BUFFY Buffy eyes the Potentials. All of them eager. And unprepared. She considers, shrugs.
No time to coddle them, Giles. (to Potentials) Welcome to the War Room, guys. A small thrill ripples through the Potentials. Annabelle grabs a pen and pad of paper.
What you fought was a vampire. But something more as well. (beat) It was a Turok-Han. As Neanderthals are to human beings, Turok-Han are to vampires. They're ancient, primordial, ferociously strong killing machines which live off blood, single-minded as animals. They are the vampires vampires fear. And until this morning, I thought they were myth. Beat as this sinks in. Annabelle, scared, raises her hand.
Did you slay it? BUFFY MOLLY BUFFY They all have their own reactions to that. Buffy sees.
But for now it looks like sunlight's keeping this Ubervamp away. GILES BUFFY GILES BUFFY She starts to head out.
Sorry, Potential guys. I know you came a long way and you want to get into this, but for now the best thing you can do is sit tight, wait it out I'll go to work, find out what I can, be back before sunset. Buffy starts out. Giles interrupts her.
Buffy - how exactly do you plan to research something as widespread as The First? BUFFY And on that promise we cut to: INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BUFFY'S OFFICE - DAY CLOSE-UP of a computer screen: A SEARCH ENGINE displays an empty box reading "SEARCH."
Yes. Will, I already re-checked the basement. I just want to try something. The letters E-V-I-L get typed in, and "search" is clicked. Cut to Buffy at her desk, phone cradled between her cheek and shoulder, a venti cup of coffee before her.
You know, maybe the First isn't ready for modern technology... (reading) "Results one through ten out of nine hundred thousand, five hundred, seventeen." Okay. (beat) I gotta narrow this down - I'll call you back. BUFFY hangs up, thinks, then types some more, a bit pleased with herself. As she types we hear a voice:
(reading) "Manifestations of Evil?" Buffy jumps a bit at her desk, turns to see: Principal Wood. Standing calmly, if curiously over her, reading her screen. Buffy looks busted. Then types some more.
(reading) "...In the Movies." (to Buffy) You're looking for evil movies? BUFFY PRINCIPAL WOOD BUFFY PRINCIPAL WOOD Buffy, a little hurt, shuts off the computer.
I'm not that big a fan of scary movies. Even the hokey ones sometimes, they go to a place that, I think kids could stand to avoid. BUFFY PRINCIPAL WOOD They stare at each other. Principal Wood shrugs.
(friendly) Just one opinion. I'd better be getting back. Buffy, a bit shaken, watches as Principal Wood turns back to his office. She manages to say:
What kind of movies do you like? An enigmatic smile on his face (which we get to see, but Buffy does not), the Principal answers without turning back:
Me? Mysteries. I love finding out what's underneath it all in the end. BUFFY looks after him, frowning. And we hear a PRE-LAP:
Think of it as a game. INT. UNDERGROUND CAVERN - DAY Spike, beaten and bloodied, one eye swollen shut, watches as Drusilla/First paces back and forth before him. She's having a good time, He is not.
A fun and funny game, without all the rules. Or any of that bothersome winning part. But, still, there are sides. You have to choose a side, Spike. Drusilla/First stops, bending backward, face close to Spike's.
And then we can fly, be free, and visit all our friends as they come squirming up from out the earth. She does a little dance for him. It's not unsexy.
I know you like a good wriggle. And a giggle. And a squiggle... SPIKE DRUSILLA/FIRST SPIKE DRUSILLA/FIRST She leans in, lips close to his.
But I'll be bad if you like. And out of nowhere - WHUMP! - Spike takes a brutal shot to the head. Drusilla/First steps back, pleased. Reveal the Ubervamp as it prepares to deliver another blow to Spike's head.
Bad Daddy. Needs a caning. Never learned his headmaster's lesson while all the school bells ring and ring and ring and ring... WHAM! Another shot to the head. Spike takes it. Drusilla/First steps forward, curious.
Choose a side. Choose our side. You know that it's delicious. What do you say? Hmm? Spike looks up at Drusilla/First. Grins.
Dru... Love... (teeth grit) Get bent. DRUSILLA/FIRST Languid and sad, she sashays to a corner, caught up in the world of her own unique dance as we hear the sounds of Spike getting mercilessly PUMMELED. Dru just keeps dancing as the sounds of violence rise... INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BATHROOM - DAY Buffy rises into frame, having just splashed water on her face. She steps back, getting a good look at herself.
(muttering) "You've looked better," thank you, so much Mr. Principal sir... She stops, not in the mood for her own quips. Slowly, she pulls up a sleeve on her blouse. We see the skin beneath the sleeve. It's hideously bruised. Buffy touches the bruise, winces. She starts to roll the sleeve back down again when a HAND enters frame, gently stopping her ... INT. SUMMERS' HOME - BATHROOM - DAY Buffy looks up at the hand touching her arm we follow her gaze to find Joyce, standing beside her, concerned.
Honey, what happened? BUFFY JOYCE Joyce starts to leave. Buffy stops her:
No. Mom, I can't. JOYCE BUFFY JOYCE BUFFY JOYCE BUFFY JOYCE BUFFY JOYCE BUFFY JOYCE INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BUFFY'S OFFICE - DAY DINGGGGGG! Buffy JOLTS AWAKE, in her chair at her desk, disoriented.
I'm sorry. What were we talking about? Buffy looks ahead to see: ROGER, a sensitive sixteen year- old in a flannel shirt, sitting before her, looking pissed.
Only my life. You're just like all the others... Roger, no stranger to drama, gathers his things, hurt.
No. I'm different. I'm, I'm hip and relate to the young people. Don't go, uh, uh... ROGER BUFFY That does it. Roger leaves, closing the door behind him. Buffy, feeling like hell, shakes her head. And Principal Wood watches from within his office as we hear:
This day's almost over. INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Giles closes the curtains. He talks as he walks - and we see, behind him, it's siege time. Anya, Willow and Dawn each select weapons from the chest and take up position by the windows - serving as sentries. Xander finishes boarding up the windows themselves. Annabelle, Kennedy and Molly sit clustered together, looking useless and scared. BUFFY stands overseeing the proceedings.
And the sun will go down in... (checks watch) ...seventeen minutes. XANDER He jauntily hammers in one last nail - point made. Willow passes by Xander, on her way to Buffy.
Xander? Newbies. Let's ease them into the whole "jokes in the face of death" thing. XANDER Buffy intercedes, speaking to the Potentials:
You'll be okay. WILLOW Willow takes Buffy aside.
I just... I want you to know, I'm really sorry about letting you down. Before, here, with the Magicks going all "eeeh" and me going all "aaah" and everything getting all "rrrr..." (beat) I'm sorry I can't help. BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Willow nods. Buffy moves away, conversation over. Except...
But you need help, Buffy. I know you. And I know you'll never admit it. But you need help. Willow searches Buffy's face as Buffy wonders how much to let Willow in, here and now. She settles for brave face.
I'll be okay. Okay or better. It's like my guarantee. She tries a smile for Willow, and Will returns it, but neither one is buying this. Kennedy interrupts:
Hey. Are we getting weapons? Trained fighters, badness coming. I've heard worse ideas. ANNABELLE MOLLY ANNABELLE KENNEDY BUFFY KENNEDY ANNABELLE KENNEDY Indeed, it's a busted-up, boarded-up house.
(showing fear) It'll come straight for us, won't it? Buffy mumbles to Giles, walking away to clear her head.
Better load 'em up. Giles watches Buffy walk away as he hands out various WEAPONS to the Potential Slayers. Buffy doesn't get far in the claustrophobic space. She hears: OMITTED 30 AND 31
Listen to me, man... ANGLE ON: Over in the far corner, Buffy passes by Xander and Andrew. Andrew is still tied to the chair.
I've got a bad feeling about this. XANDER ANDREW BUFFY ANDREW Buffy looks to Xander. Xander shrugs, confused, like "I dunno."
I admit I went over to the Dark Side. But only to pick up a couple of things and now I'm back. I've learned. (sincere) I am good again. Beat. Buffy talks to Andrew without paying attention, watching Giles hand over axes and swords to a couple of very young looking girls. Sees Dawn by the window with an axe.
(distracted) And, when were you ever good before? ANDREW BUFFY walks away. Andrew calls after:
But I'm like Vader in the last five minutes of "Jedi," you know, with the redemptive power of, of... (wriggling) Mine is a redemptive struggle of... (bouncing) Redemptive epic, which chronicles... Xander walks away, too.
These ropes itch. ANGLE ON: Giles approaches Buffy
How we doing on time? GILES BUFFY GILES Buffy looks down.
Oh, Giles. Not what I really needed to hear right... MOLLY (O.S.) Molly comes into the room. Looking freaked.
Annabelle split. Giles and Buffy share an "oh, shit" look and we CUT TO: EXT. INDUSTRIAL AREA STREET - NIGHT Annabelle, panicked, running as hard as she can through an INDUSTRIAL AREA STREET. Smokestacks belch smoke in the background, harsh lights abound. She clutches a CROSS to her chest, eyes wide in panic, muttering prayers to herself fast and shallow. She hears a noise. Looks back, seeing nothing but shadows - and running from them. She turns a corner. A HAND juts out and catches her. The UBERVAMP lifts her off her feet. Annabelle SCREAMS. And we cut to the harshly lit industrial street as we hear the scream CUT SHORT by a horrible RIPPING sound, like a side of beef getting pulled in two. And all we see is the cross, flecked with blood, as it hits the tarmac - and lies still.
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| Act Four | ||||
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EXT. INDUSTRIAL AREA STREET - NIGHT
Buffy comes running into frame. She slows, stops.
Buffy looks down.
We see Annabelle's DEAD BODY.
Buffy stands there, over the body, immobile, breathing heavily,
absorbing what's just happened.
When she is suddenly HIT in the base of the spine, sending her flying
violently forward, hitting the ground hard.
Buffy whirls, looks up, sees:
The Ubervamp. Fear freezes her features a moment, but she puts it away.
Buffy rises and unleashes a series of roundhouse kicks - as hard as
anything she's ever thrown. They manage to annoy the Ubervamp. Ubervamp
roars and punches Buffy - once - hard in the stomach, lifting her off her
feet.
We hear a CRACK.
Buffy hits the ground, scrambling to her feet as the Ubervamp
approaches. She gets up, coughs - and wipes her mouth.
Blood. Ubervamp rushes Buffy, grabs her, lifting her off her feet -
Buffy SPITS in his face. Bloody spit. Ubervamp wipes the bloody spit
from his face, regards it - and LICKS HIS HAND. Buffy breaks free from his
grip and RUNS.
ANGLE ON: A small industrial BUILDING. Buffy heads inside, holding
herself up against the doorframe for support a moment, looking back, then
disappearing within.
INT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING - NIGHT
Buffy's POV. The unlit WORK SPACE. It's like a machine graveyard.
Large, oversized PIPES and CONVEYOR BELTS abound it's all very
"Terminator."
Buffy, limping, short of breath, rushes into the area as best She can.
She seems a dwarfed figure - tiny amidst the massive silhouettes of
machinery all around her.
ANGLE ON: Ubervamp. Stalking. Looking for more blood. He enters without
caution or concern - pure stalking mode. Suddenly, a large METAL PIPE
smashes him in the face.
Buffy just hit him with a ripped-off section of piping. Ubervamp keeps
walking forward, unaffected.
He SLAPS the pipe out of her hand. Buffy backs up. Ubervamp stalks
forward. Ubervamp throws a series of punches, some connecting, some barely
missing, but all of them putting Buffy on pure DEFENSIVE MODE.
He's always coming forward, getting stronger, she's always moving
backward, getting weaker.
Finally he CONNECTS with a shot to the ribs that sends Buffy flying,
landing flat on her back, pain etched in her face, clutching her ribs,
looking terrified.
Buffy scrambles backward. Ubervamp steps into a SHADOW.
Buffy, from the ground, just barely grins through gritted teeth.
And pulls a rusted lever. The Ubervamp looks up. And we see:
Ubervamp's POV: A THREE-TON CRATE of METAL RODS comes rushing down upon
him. CRASH! The wood and metal splinter upon thunderous impact. Nothing
could survive that.
Silence.
Buffy slowly, painfully stands. Catches her breath. Walks, limping,
away. And we follow her, limping out of the industrial space, as we hear
the horrible sound of TWISTING METAL CRASHING.
BUFFY turns to see the Ubervamp rising from the twisted metal wreckage.
Buffy can't believe it. She RUNS.
The Ubervamp lopes after her in long strides. Blocks her way just as
she nearly makes it out the building.
Ubervamp CATCHES HER. Grabs her. And proceeds to KICK BUFFY'S ASS -
quickly and efficiently, each blow doing major damage. Buffy takes the
shots, each one sounding like it's breaking bones.
Buffy throws one last desperate punch, and - FWAP! - Ubervamp catches
Buffy's best punch, holding her fist and freezing it in mid-blow. That's
with one hand. The other hand HITS BUFFY so fast, she rockets straight
back, hitting the aged brick wall.
EXT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING - NIGHT
CRASH! Buffy's limp, lifeless body comes smashing THROUGH the rotted
old bricks and lands, in a crumpled heap, among a crate of building
materials. Knocked unconscious. Dust swirls. Then settles. Buffy does not
move.
FADE TO BLACK.
OMITTED
EXT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING - DAY
Directly OFF THE BLACKESS, we see a large piece of BROKEN WOOD pulled
away from frame, revealing Giles, Xander and Willow, removing wooden
shards, looking down upon something within the wreckage...
God almighty. Reverse angle reveals: BUFFY, beaten, bloodied, lying like a broken doll in the wreckage.
Do you know why you're alive? INT. UNDERGROUND CAVERN - NIGHT Drusilla stands before Spike, the seduction game pretty much over. Arms folded, stern, looking cross. Spike looks up at her, fakes a bloody grin.
Never figured you for... (coughs) ... existential thought, love. I mean, you hated Paris. DRUSILLA/ FIRST SPIKE DRUSILLA/FIRST SPIKE Spike looks at her with simple resolve as he lays down his trump card.
Because she believes in me. INT. SUMMERS' HOME - BUFFY'S ROOM - NIGHT Buffy's FACE. Looking dead. Lifeless eyes. Completely and utterly defeated as we hear:
... her ribs are smashed, she should be hospitalized immediately. We push in, slowly...
Could she die? GILES (O.S.) The voices fade as we keep moving in, almost floating as tears well up in her eyes, something within her swelling... INT SUMMERS' HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT Giles stands at the dining room table, addressing Willow, Dawn, Xander, Kennedy and Molly.
...which means we start back at square one. XANDER GILES BUFFY (O.S.) All turn to see: BUFFY, standing in the dining room doorway. Bandaged and broken, but standing all the same.
We don't know how to fight it. We don't know when it'll come. Can't run, can't hide... can't pretend it's not the end 'cause it is. Something has always been there to try and destroy the world. We've beaten them back, but we're not dealing with them anymore. We're dealing with the reason they exist. Evil. The strongest. The First. GILES BUFFY There is a fierce resolve creeping into her voice that surprises everyone. She takes a halting step forward.
We're not ready? THEY'RE not ready. They think we're gonna wait, like we always do, for the end to come but I'm done waiting. They want an apocalypse? We'll give 'em one. Anyone else who wants to run do it now, because we just became an army. We just declared war. We push in low on her -- and on everyone, as they are wrapped up in her passionate calm.
From now on we won't just face our worst fears, we will seek them out. We will find them and cut out their hearts, one by one, until The First shows itself for what it is. And I will kill it myself. There's only one thing on this earth more powerful than evil. And that's us. She looks around at them all.
Any questions?
BLACK OUT.
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