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"Storyteller" Written by: Jane Espenson January 27, 2003 (WHITE) | ||||||
| Teaser | ||||||
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INT. ELEGANT STUDY - NIGHT
As in the opening of Masterpiece Theatre, we PAN ACROSS LEATHER-BOUND
VOLUMES (including some Collected Nietzsche, Joseph Campbell, Tolkein, and
bound editions of BATMAN and SPIDER-MAN comics) to find ANDREW sitting in
a leather chair in front of a cozy fire in a fireplace. He wears a fancy
smoking jacket, holds a pipe and studies an open volume on his lap. He
looks up and "discovers" the audience.
Oh! Hello there, gentle viewers! He closes the book on his lap.
You caught me catching up on an old favorite. It's wonderful to get lost in a story, isn't it? Adventure and heroics and discovery, don't they just take you away? Mmm. In a momentary reverie, he tries puffing on his pipe, but coughs a little, uncomfortably.
Come with me now, if you will, gentle viewers. Join me on a new voyage of the mind, a little tale I like to call: "Buffy, A Slayer of the Vampires." Andrew sets his pipe aside, folds his hands and settles in as if he'll be watching with us. EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT We're in the cemetery with BUFFY as she patrols, apparently alone.
It was cold last night, and the wind was cruel. But the Slayer had a job to do... Buffy stops at the head of an EMPTY GRAVE (she's looking over the headstone at the broken earth). We see her from behind as a shadow falls over her back. She doesn't know it but there's someone behind her! Buffy is way ahead of us, however. She throws herself forward -- doing a HEADSTAND ON THE HEADSTONE... her feet kicking up to knock the VAMPIRE (in VAMP-FACE) back. Then she FLIPS HERSELF OVER AND TWISTS, ending up standing on the headstone, facing the supine vamp. She uses a SPECIALLY-ADAPTED CROSSBOW to LAUNCH a stake at the vampire. The vampire DUSTS.
Unfortunately, vampires have a job to do too... A SECOND VAMP jumps from the shadows and sweeps Buffy's feet out from under her. She falls painfully onto her back, right on the headstone, then, limply, to the ground. INT. ELEGANT STUDY - NIGHT Back to Andrew in front of the fireplace.
Ouch. My goodness. Things look bad for the Slayer, don't they? She didn't see that second vampire, concealed by cover of darkness, ready- BOOM... the sound of someone pounding on a door. Andrew, rattled, tries to keep going...
Ready to attack and make her his own vampiric spawn-- BOOM... BOOM... INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAY Suddenly we're not in an elegant study. We're in the bathroom, where Andrew is seated (fully clothed -- something other than his black shirt) on the closed toilet lid, talking into a video camera that is propped on the counter.
(quickly now) Let's rejoin them now to see-- ANYA bursts into the bathroom.
For God's sake, Andrew! You've been in here thirty minutes, what are you doing? ANDREW
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| Act One | ||||||
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EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT
This is the continuation of Buffy's encounter with vampires in the
cemetery last night.
Buffy is lying, hurt and seemingly unconscious, on the ground. The
SECOND VAMPIRE looms over her.
He kneels next to her, then goes for her neck... We lose sight of Buffy
behind him...
Until he DUSTS, revealing Buffy, holding a stake.
Buffy jumps to her feet.
That was great! I completely got you dusting that guy on film! Hey, why do vampires show up on video? Another angle reveals Andrew standing with his camera, filming Buffy. VIDEO INSERT -- We see what Andrew is filming. Buffy glares at Andrew.
I told you, I don't want you doing that. It's distracting. OUT OF VIDEO Buffy walks away. Andrew scampers after her.
I'll cut this footage together and do the intro tomorrow. "She was a woman in danger... or was she?" BUFFY ANDREW INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - HALLWAY - CONTINUING Anya is dragging Andrew out of the bathroom by his arm. He is still holding the camera. Three N.D. Potentials are waiting in the hallway, in their robes and pjs. One of them quickly ducks into the bathroom and closes the door.
...to be told! ANYA ANDREW ANYA ANDREW Anya smiles, intrigued.
They were always my best feature, even as a demon. Other demons would comment. INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY - VIDEO This scene is entirely VIDEO It's Andrew, not necessarily in the same outfit he's wearing before and after this scene. He stands next to the "big board" from the previous episode, and talks into camera. There is a map of Sunnydale on the board.
Let's explore the world of our story, shall we? This is Sunnydale California. Buffy, a Slayer of the vampires, lives here in Sunnydale. Which is good because there is a Hellmouth under the town. Right here. (points) No wait. (points again) Here. Under the high school. A Hellmouth is a source for, like, dark energy. Weird things happen on a Hellmouth. It also attracts all kinds of bad people and demons and vampires. He points to a drawing of a demon taped to the board.
Grrr. Arghh. So that's the kind of thing Buffy's up against, gentle viewers. And right now the particular evil thing that's hanging around is, like, the worst ever. It's called The First and it can appear as anyone it likes. Which is appalling. It's a good thing she knows what she's doing. Yes it is. INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - KITCHEN / DINING ROOM - DAY It's breakfast time in America. WILLOW, XANDER, DAWN, Anya, KENNEDY, RONA, AMANDA AND THREE ND POTENTIALS are milling around in the kitchen, making and eating breakfast -- cold cereal all around. Andrew stands with his camera, filming it all, and narrating.
It's morning in Sunnydale and the-- RONA Andrew sighs and starts over...
It's morning in Sunnydale and the women of command central take the time to fortify themselves for the day ahead. XANDER ANDREW XANDER ANDREW DAWN ANYA ANDREW Buffy and SPIKE enter. Spike is in his long coat, looking very sullen and cool.
Look at this place. Damn girls' dorm, s'what it is. Spike lights a cigarette, irritating everyone around him.
(re: cigarette) Nice. Second-hand stinkiness. Angle on Andrew, who's looking into the camera.
It's a full house. I think it's a good time for some introductions, don't you, gentle viewers? Amanda waves at the camera:
I'm Amanda and I grew up right here-- ANDREW Andrew points his camera toward Buffy as she pours milk onto her cereal. FANTASY-SHOT OF BUFFY. Not Video. Slo-mo. The sound drops out. She's still pouring milk, but now a wind is blowing her hair back (and blowing the pouring milk off to the side), She takes her hair down and shakes it out like a shampoo commercial... everything is extra glossy. MUSIC.
You've already met Buffy. She's beautiful, with a lion's heart and the face of an angel. She's never afraid, because she knows her side will always win. SPIKE ENTERS BUFFY'S FANTASY SHOT. He looks great too, slo- motiony and inexplicably shirtless. She turns toward him, looking up at him, a hand on his chest... the wind blowing them like a romance book cover.
Buffy and Spike have some kind of history. You can feel the heat between them, although technically as a vampire he's room-temperature. Anya steps through the shot on her way to the sink, and the camera follows her... FANTASY-SHOT OF ANYA as she dumps her cereal-milk into the sink. Slo-mo as she turns to laugh at something someone says to her.
Anya. A feisty waif with a fiery temper and a vulnerable heart that she hides even from herself. The camera moves, finding... FANTASY SHOT OF N.D. POTENTIAL. Slo-Mo eating cereal and tossing back her flowing hair.
And this lovely girl. (beat) I can't remember her name. BUFFY As if jump-started by Buffy's exclamation, things start moving at regular speed again, and Spike is no longer shirtless.
(re: Andrew, to others) Is he doing that again? Can't we make it stop? RONA AMANDA KENNEDY BUFFY XANDER ANYA WILLOW BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY Buffy slams her bowl down on the counter. Everyone jumps and looks at her. Andrew moves to frame her properly, to capture this moving moment.
Okay, everybody, I've got to talk to you. There's something new... something I haven't told you. Amanda, Dawn, you're staying home today. You have to get ready. No one here is ready. We can all survive what's coming. But we can't do it the way we are now. See... there's something on the way... Andrew loses interest in the speech and starts to back out of the room, still holding up the camera and filming Buffy. VIDEO FOOTAGE: Buffy gets more distant as Andrew backs away.
I had a vision of what's to come. A horrible vision. Hundreds upon hundreds of... INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - DINING ROOM - CONTINUING ALL VIDEO: Alone in the dining room, Andrew turns the camera back to himself. We can still hear Buffy talking, muffled, in the background, but we can't make out the words anymore.
(softly) Honestly, gentle viewers, these motivating speeches of hers get a little long. I'll take you back in there a little later. In the in between-time, I thought you might want to know a little about me, your humble host. I'm a man with a burden, a man with a dark past... INT. SCIENCE LAB - DAY Andrew, WARREN and JONATHAN stand at a chemistry lab bench. They all wear protective goggles. Andrew is explaining a complex set-up of steaming beakers and tubes...
Thus, the validity of the Bronsted- Debye-Huckel equation at low ionic strength has been amply tested and the charges on the reactant ions are well-known if the reagents are properly characterized. JONATHAN ANDREW WARREN ANDREW JONATHAN WARREN ANDREW JONATHAN ANDREW Jonathan and Warren take off their goggles and smile at him. They have goggle-lines around their eyes.
Wow. You're the best, Andrew. WARREN INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - DINING ROOM / KITCHEN - CONTINUING ALL VIDEO. Andrew comes out of his reverie. He talks to his camera.
Warren was cool. And wasn't Jonathan just the cutest thing? Well, shall we see if Buffy's still talking? Andrew points the camera around the corner. We see Buffy:
...more than just a battle. It's going to be a battle like we've never seen before. ANDREW (V.O.) ANGLE ON WILLOW, watching Buffy talk. Willow looks really bored. Then Kennedy, standing nearby, puts a hand on Willow's arm. They make eye contact and smile tentatively.
Ooh. Do you see that? That's important. Willow and Kennedy have been in kind of a bad place lately, but things are looking up. Andrew sets his camera on the table (which we may see is littered with pizza boxes) so he can talk to it without having to hold it. He settles into a chair to address it.
You see, Kennedy pursued the reluctant Willow and won her heart, only to find herself frightened when she glimpsed the darkness that still dwells within the witch's mind. Side note: I once had my own personal encounter with Dark Willow... INT. MAGIC BOX - NIGHT This scene is composed of new material featuring Andrew and Jonathan cut together with existing material from last year's episode "Two To Go." The existing material is indicated in bold. Willow spots Jonathan and Andrew, right where we last left them.
Jonathan. Andrew. Shot of Jonathan and Andrew, in front of an interior wall of the Magic Box. Jonathan looks frightened, but Andrew looks brave.
You boys like Magicks, don't you? Willow raises her hand above her head and the light around her goes dark - she says simply:
Abra Cadabra. Willow blasts the boys with a Death Spell so horrifying it changes the color of the air around them... It sounds like thunder and screaming combined. The CGI force of the spell ripples toward the boys Jonathan ducks behind Andrew...
Yiiiii! But Andrew puts up a hand and says:
Haltem. The spell fades.
Okay, I didn't see that coming. ANDREW JONATHAN ANDREW From later in the scene:
So which one of you worked the mojo? JONATHAN Andrew smiles gently.
(to Willow) You and I know that's not true. I am your match, little one. I am the one you fear. Care to try my mettle again? WILLOW As Jonathan cowers...
Holy cats here it comes again. She BLASTS the guys again. Andrew deflects it even more casually this time, with an idle wave of his hand. Jonathan is looking at him worshipfully. Practically yawning, Andrew says:
I deflect thy power. WILLOW ANDREW INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - DINING ROOM - DAY Back to Andrew, sitting in a chair, looking at his camera, which rests on the table in front of him.
She was something. Indeed she was. He listens...
Hey, I think Buffy's done talking. That usually means she had to go to work. Let's see what those little locusts left for breakfast, shall we? And he heads back into the kitchen. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - MORNING, LATER Buffy enters from outside, hurrying toward her office, trying to beat the bell. Scattered students dot the hallway.
(to herself) Not late. Not late 'til the bell rings... Buffy slows when she notices a SHY GIRL standing alone and ignored by others around her. The Shy Girl starts FADING OUT, disappearing.
Uh-oh. Buffy steps toward where the girl is disappearing fast.
Hey! Hey, shy girl! Don't do this! And the girl disappears. Last resort, Buffy SLAPS where the girl was. (We hear it make contact.) The girl is suddenly visible again. She stares at Buffy, hand to her cheek.
You knew I was there! You noticed me! BUFFY Buffy is almost knocked over by a CRYING GIRL running out of the girl's room.
(to Crying Girl) What's wrong? CRYING GIRL Still crying, the girl runs on. Buffy's about to go into the girl's room when she notices a STRESSED-OUT BOY down the hall, standing with three of his friends.
(stressed-out) So not only does Mr. Hildebrand move up the trig exam to today, but he also makes it cover three more chapters and I've got an English paper due tomorrow! I feel like I'm gonna explode. Buffy hurries to him and his group.
I heard you. I can help. (to his friends) Someone give this boy a foot massage, okay? STRESSED-OUT BOY BUFFY STRESSED-OUT BOY BUFFY INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - LATER Buffy enters to find PRINCIPAL WOOD there.
Something bad's going on. WOOD BUFFY WOOD BUFFY INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY VIDEO. Andrew back in front of the "big board." He nods wisely and points to the high school.
(mouthing) Hellmouth. He points to the drawing of the demon.
(mouthing) Grrr. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - CONTINUINUOUS Continuation of previous scene. Buffy and Wood.
I haven't heard of any problems today. BUFFY WOOD BUFFY WOOD SFX: SMALL EXPLOSION at a distance
What was that? BUFFY OMITTED
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| Act Two | ||||||
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INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - DINING
ROOM/FOYER/LIVING ROOM - DAY
VIDEO FOOTAGE of Dawn in the dining room, close, smiling for the
camera.
Dawn is a typical American teenager. Bubbly and sweet with a hunger for fun and a smile that lights up the room. DAWN ANDREW (V.O.) The camera swings to find a key, sitting on the dining room table to serve as an illustration.
I don't really know what that means. OUT OF VIDEO. Dawn and Andrew and the camera and the key.
Is that all you needed me for? ANDREW Dawn exits and Andrew turns the camera on himself again. VIDEO FOOTAGE... close on Andrew.
I imagine that some of you gentle viewers are wondering more about the lifestyle of a Slayer. Where does she live? How does she live? The camera swings, to show us Buffy's dining room. We see dirty dishes on the table... remains of last night's pizza. OUT OF VIDEO Andrew moves through the room, pointing the camera as he talks.
This is the Slayer dining room. We were here before, but let's take a good look. As you can see, it's the room of a busy woman. Too busy to cook. Too busy to clean. She's really busy. Into the foyer...
This is the foyer of the Slayer. She calls it an entryway. She's a modest woman. He videotapes a jacket thrown onto the stairs.
That is the Slayer's jacket there on the stairs. Someone should pick that up later. Andrew peeks into the living room...
(whispered) Ooooh, hey... there's something here I think you're going to be interested in, gentle viewers. He points the camera around the corner to shoot into the living room... VIDEO SEGMENT: On Willow and Kennedy kissing on the couch. But the frame doesn't hold on them... it's going past them and off to one side, focusing on the living room curtains.
Look at the fine work Xander did on replacing the window sash. It's undetectable! INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - DAY Buffy and Wood stand over his desk on which are spread blueprints of the school.
I think our biggest problem is here in the music room. I fear there could be open hostilities between swing choir and the marching band. BUFFY WOOD BUFFY WOOD BUFFY WOOD BUFFY INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY Xander and Anya are sitting on the sofa in Buffy's living room. Andrew stands in front of them, talking into his camera.
(into the camera) This is Xander and Anya interview number one for "Buffy: A Slayer of the Vampires." Then he points the camera at them.
That's what you're calling it? ANDREW XANDER ANDREW XANDER ANDREW ANYA XANDER ANDREW XANDER ANDREW ANYA XANDER ANYA ANDREW XANDER ANYA ANDREW On Xander, as he thinks about that. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BASEMENT - Buffy and Wood look at the Seal. It's uncovered again. The big wheel mechanism is not in the room.
I swear we just covered this up. WOOD BUFFY WOOD BUFFY WOOD BUFFY WOOD BUFFY Wood steps out onto the Seal.
(alarmed) What are you doing? WOOD He kneels down to examine the markings on the Seal. His head is down, we don't see his face during the following exchange:
I know it's a goat's head with its tongue out. Willow did a search for that in the symbology data bases. Turns out everyone loves goat's tongue... covens and rock groups and Greek cookbooks. She said she couldn't narrow it down. WOOD BUFFY WOOD BUFFY Wood is facing away from her for:
Evil is what evil does, right? And I know what you're doing. Wood stands and turns to face her, furious, threatening. He takes a step toward her. His eyes are CLOUDED, BLIND (contacts, not CGI) - It's a startling and scary moment, as he growls:
You're with the vampire. Screwing the vampire. The monster that killed-- Buffy grabs Wood and pulls him off the Seal. He collapses to the ground.
Robin! Are you okay? He looks up. His eyes are normal now.
Whoa. What happened? BUFFY WOOD They hear a SCUFFLING and a SNUFFLING. They stare at the Seal.
What's that noise? WOOD They listen, then turn around in time to see THE LITTLE UNSLAUGHTERED PIG scamper past in the background, disappearing out of sight.
God, I hope that's not a student. INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY All VIDEO. Spike is lounging about, wearing his coat and smoking a cigarette. He looks at camera, realizes he's being taped. He flicks the butt toward the lens and closes in, furious.
Thought I told you to piss bloody off with that bloody camera. 'N here you are again with that thing in my face. Sod off 'fore I shove that bleedin' thing up your ass, right? ANDREW (O.C.) SPIKE Spike takes a few steps to one side.
This better here, then? INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY Xander and Anya sit on the sofa, talking intimately.
You keep ducking the question. XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA He smiles at her.
Well, it's nice to hear. ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER VIDEO FOOTAGE. It's the same scene we just saw, but on video and shot from the doorway.
I'm sorry. ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER OUT OF VIDEO. Andrew is watching playback of the scene on his video camera. He is clearly moved by it. He rewinds a little, and speaks along with the tape:
(simultaneous with tape) Hey Anya... Yeah?... You need anything from me... I'm right here. He lets that sink in.
("aren't they great?") Those two. I swear. He starts to rewind again. Buffy and Wood enter, fast and urgent. Andrew looks up, startled.
We just spent the day keeping the lid on a riot. ANDREW BUFFY INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - BASEMENT - DAY FIVE STUDENT'S enter the room with the Seal. They kneel at the Seal, reach their hands toward it. IT GLOWS. (Not CGI, practical light effect.)
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| Act Three | ||||||
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EXT. MEXICAN HACIENDA - NIGHT
Modest adobe dwelling with a little courtyard.
The first time I knew anything about the Seal was when we were in Mexico. Jonathan and me. We had dreams. Terrifying dreams. DREAM SEQUENCE - IMAGES ALREADY SHOT Scary montage of flashed images: - the Seal of Danthalzar - the face of the Turok-Han - a Bringer stabbing a potential - Jonathan's body on the Seal - the Seal opening And at the end...
(Spanish) "Desde abajo te devora." (phonetics) DEZ-day ah-BAH-ho tay DEV-or-ah. INT. MEXICAN HACIENDA - NIGHT Andrew and Jonathan wake up in a small bed, panting and afraid.
Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod... ANDREW JONATHAN ANDREW JONATHAN ANDREW JONATHAN ANDREW JONATHAN ANDREW JONATHAN ANDREW JONATHAN WILLOW (V.O.) INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY Andrew sits on the sofa, a whole crowd of people staring at him: Buffy, Wood, Spike, Xander, Anya, Willow, Kennedy and Dawn. Andrew's camera is in evidence nearby, but he's not using it now. We see that Willow is pulling these memories from Andrew with some kind of magical hypnosis. She holds a mystical charm (a sphere or something other) in front of him.
I don't want to do this anymore. Everyone's staring at me. WILLOW WOOD ANDREW BUFFY SPIKE XANDER ANDREW KENNEDY ANDREW BUFFY WILLOW ANDREW INT. MEXICAN HACIENDA - NIGHT
I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Jonathan exits and Andrew is left alone. He waits for Jonathan to come back, singing idly to himself.
(singing softly) La cucaracha... la cucaracha... la la la la la la-la. WARREN/FIRST (O.S.) Andrew jumps and turns to see... WARREN (really THE FIRST), standing nearby, looking at him.
Warren! Oh, gosh, I'm glad to see you. WARREN/FIRST ANDREW WARREN/FIRST ANDREW WARREN/FIRST ANDREW WARREN/FIRST ANDREW WARREN/FIRST ANDREW Andrew pulls a flat box out from under the bed.
Quick, before Shortcakes comes back. ANDREW JONATHAN (O.S.) Andrew opens the box, to reveal a glittering KNIFE. (It's the one we saw him kill Jonathan with. Something is carved into the metal blade in a flowing script in an alien language.
Pretty knife. Except... the stabbing... I don't think I can do it. Jonathan has been a good friend to me here in Mexico. He said he'll buy me a burro. WARREN/FIRST ANDREW WARREN/FIRST Andrew cocks his head with a dreamy look as he imagines that...
EXT. FANTASY MEADOW - DAY Warren, Andrew and Jonathan caper like Gods in a fake-looking meadow. They're surrounded by big garish flowers and piles of gold coins a foot tall. A UNICORN paws the ground adorably, if we can find one. The boys wear white togas edged in gold, and golden wreaths on their heads. Andrew holds his pan-flute, Warren has a lyre, Jonathan has a Greek- looking jug of wine.
(singing) We are as Gods! We are as Gods! Warren and Jonathan sing along, joyous and badly out of unison. INT. MEXICAN HACIENDA - NIGHT As before. Warren is talking to Andrew.
There is power in that knife. Drive the words deep into him. It's the only way for us to get our reward. ANDREW WILLOW (V.O.) INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY Will stops him.
Go back. What was that part again? ANDREW EXT. FANTASY MEADOW - DAY Andrew, Warren and Jonathan caper like gods.
(singing) Gods are we! Merry gods are we! INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY As they were. Buffy, Wood, Spike, Xander, Anya, Willow, Kennedy and Dawn look at Andrew.
Not that part! Willow turns to Buffy.
(to Buffy ) We need to see that knife. There's something there. BUFFY ANDREW Dawn runs into the kitchen.
(to Buffy, explaining) You didn't have any steak knives. XANDER ANDREW WOOD ANDREW KENNEDY SPIKE WILLOW ANDREW Dawn re-enters and hands Willow the knife.
Found it. Willow holds it out for Andrew to examine.
You're mister demon-summoner. How are you at demon languages? Andrew looks closely at the blade.
Whoa. You're right. It's in Tawarick. Or, like, proto-Tawarick. (at Buffy) This is really, really old. It says (working it out) "the blood which I spill I... I consecrate to the oldest evil." KENNEDY WOOD BUFFY ANDREW BUFFY DAWN WILLOW WOOD BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT ALL VIDEO. Kennedy leans against the counter, talks into camera.
So she says "everyone get ready to go." And I'm thinking, great, I'm ready, I've been training. Turns out she's not taking me or my girls. Not even taking Willow. You know who she's taking? The men. And you, Andrew. All the girls get left behind. You wouldn't think Buffy'd play it like that. She's not turning out like I thought she'd be. BUFFY (O.S.) KENNEDY OMITTED EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - NIGHT Yep. That's the school. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - ENTRANCE - NIGHT Buffy, Spike, Wood and Andrew stand just inside the front door of the school. It appears empty and calm. They walk in a little farther. Andrew has his video camera. Buffy has a bag (with the knife inside). They're far enough in to look down a hallway now... They're appalled by what they see. Graffiti scrawled on the walls. "no one gets out alive" and "marching band rules!" and "die, cheerleaders, die." A few trash cans are scattered, on fire. Torn books and broken desks litter the floor, some also on fire.
(to Wood) Remember that riot that almost happened today? WOOD They hear running furtive footsteps... and a BOTTLE SMASHES AGAINST a wall near them.
Looks to me like it's still happening. Buffy steps forward, then looks back to see... Andrew, talking into his camera.
It feels like four against the world, gentle viewers, as we step into the belly of the beast. VIDEO FOOTAGE -- close on Andrew:
Only the knowledge that the slayer is amongst us calms our anxious nerves, for we know she would allow no harm-- The image falls apart as Buffy roughly grabs Andrew by the collar, pulling him after her.
Ow!
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| Act Four | ||||||
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INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - BASEMENT - NIGHT
Anya and Xander lie on Spike's cot, all naked shoulders and post-coital
laxness. They look quite pleased with themselves. The bracket for Spike's
chains is still attached to the wall, but the chains are gone.
Well. ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA Long beat.
Did you feel... like we used to feel? XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA XANDER ANYA Beat.
I should get dressed. She moves to get up. Xander stops her.
Not yet. I don't want it to be over yet. Can't you stay a little longer? ANYA XANDER ANYA And she lays her head on his chest. They're smiling sadly. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - NIGHT Buffy, Spike, Wood and Andrew are where we left them, looking at the wreckage and chaos in front of them. They walk cautiously farther into the school. Spike and Wood are near each other.
(to Wood) Nice way to run a school. There's gotta be kids injured in here. WOOD SPIKE WOOD Andrew, lagging behind, whispers to his camera: VIDEO FOOTAGE -- On Andrew. Check out Spike and the Principal. There's something going on there. (confidingly) Sexual tension you could cut with a knife. VOICE (O.C.) OUT OF VIDEO Buffy, Spike, Wood and Andrew stop at the bottom of the main staircase. A tattered student, hair matted, face painted with charcoal, crouches on the staircase (is there an architectural post of some kind he could crouch on?). He looks like a FERAL TEEN from a Thunderdome-y movie. He is the owner of the VOICE we just heard.
Do you belong to us? BUFFY FERAL TEEN ANDREW BUFFY The teen considers this. Then:
You may pass in safety. Buffy leads her little group past the base of the staircase, deeper into danger. OMITTED INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - NIGHT Buffy, Spike, Wood and Andrew are walking through a hallway now -- locker doors are torn from their hinges. More books and desks and flags and firecans are lying around.
These kids went nuts, din't they. WOOD BUFFY As Wood passes a classroom door, a MALE STUDENT, crazed and war-painted, bursts out of it and SLAMS him across the face with a detached locker door.
Ahhh! ANDREW BUFFY Buffy grabs the student and THROWS HIM AGAINST THE WALL. He sinks to the ground, stunned. Buffy touches the injury to Wood -- a cut forehead. Spike notices and his jaw clenches. SIX MORE STUDENTS (crazed and war-painted) emerge from the room, all brandishing weapons. VIDEO FOOTAGE: Andrew is running away, holding the camera, so what we see are his own running feet for a while...
Oh god, oh god, struck down before I achieve redemption... The feet duck around a corner. The image blurs and swings wildly... finally settling on a view around the corner back at the others. Buffy, Wood and Spike are fighting the six students: Wood has the locker door now, and uses it against a student. Spike is taking on two of them, wresting a flaming torch from one of them and using the butt of it to slam the other one while bloodying the nose of the first one with his elbow. OUT OF VIDEO Buffy is keeping an eye on Spike while she fights the other three students. She knocks one out with a punch. He falls and pins one of his friends to the floor while Buffy kicks his friend into one of the now gaping lockers.
Spike! Don't kill them! They're just kids! INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY ALL VIDEO Amanda and Rona talk to the camera.
The thing about Buffy? Is that everything's about Buffy. She thinks the world revolves around her tiny little body. AMANDA RONA INT. SUYNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Buffy, Andrew, Spike and Wood run through another hallway to the doorway to the basement stairs. Andrew is taping the others. Buffy opens the door, starts to head down. The others move to follow.
Spike. Wood. I need you to stay here. Keep the way clear for our retreat. WOOD SPIKE ANDREW INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - STAIRS/BASEMENT - NIGHT Buffy and Andrew make their way down the stairs, alert for danger. Andrew is pointing the camera around, narrating again.
We make our way down the stairs carefully, alert for any danger. Buffy whirls on him and RIPS THE CAMERA AWAY FROM HIM.
Stop it! ANDREW BUFFY They continue down the stairs.
I just want the world to see what you do. BUFFY ANDREW BUFFY ANDREW BUFFY ANDREW And we go into Andrew's fantasy version of the Death of Jonathan: INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH BASEMENT - ANDREW'S VERSION ONE It's as we saw it the first time. Jonathan is standing, shovel in hand, on the uncovered Seal -- dirt still piled high around it. And Warren/First is standing behind Jonathan, looking at Andrew. But this time...
But I care about them. That's why I'm doing this. WARREN/FIRST ANDREW JONATHAN WARREN/FIRST ANDREW
No! Did you really think I could use this? Andrew has the knife in his hand now.
(to Jonathan) He's making me do it! Andrew tentatively moves the knife toward Jonathan. Jonathan grabs at the knife, trying to wrest it away.
No! You tricked me! Damn you! I'll kill you first! Andrew resists, and they end up wrestling, struggling over the knife.
CLOSE ON Jonathan as his face fills with shock. WIDER as Andrew steps back, bloody knife still in his hand. We're on him as he watches Jonathan fall to the ground. DRAMATIC PULL-BACK As ANDREW YELLS to the heavens. Warren is gone now -- Andrew stands alone over the body.
NO! INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - STAIRS/BASEMENT - NIGHT Buffy and Andrew, as they were.
You see, I'm a man, trapped by circumstances into paying for a crime I didn't-- BUFFY Andrew lights up... that sounds like a better story.
Yes! Yes! See... INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - BASEMENT - ANDREW'S VERSION TWO Jonathan is digging for the Seal as before. Warren stands behind him. And Andrew is looking at Jonathan with MILKY BLIND EYES.
...that's why I'm doing this. ANDREW He stabs Jonathan, and watches Jonathan fall to the ground. Andrew's eyes are normal again, and he looks confused.
What have I done? DRAMATIC PULL-BACK AS ANDREW YELLS to the heavens. Warren is gone now -- Andrew stands alone over the body.
(Charlton Heston-y) Get Out Of My Brain!!! INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BASEMENT - NIGHT Buffy and Andrew walk through the basement. Buffy is still carrying the camera (having taken it from Andrew on the stairs).
You just completely changed your story! ANDREW BUFFY ANDREW They are at the entrance to the room containing the Seal. They enter the room to find... The FIVE STUDENTS standing between them and the Seal... all looking toward the Seal. They turn to look at the intruders... and they all have EYES LIKE THE BRINGERS. Andrew steps behind Buffy.
So now I know where little Bringers come from. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - NIGHT Spike and Wood are in the hallway containing the door to the basement stairs. They're scouting out the closest doorways and hallway intersections, looking for threats. Discarded weapons lie on the floor here and there.
Wonder what's keepin' em. Thought they'd be up by now. Spike picks up a two-by-four with a few long nails driven through it. He looks at it.
How'd they make this in here, you suppose? He tosses it to Wood. Wood catches it grimly.
Wood shop, I guess. Nice to know they're paying attention in class. And suddenly Spike is TACKLED, hard, by another STUDENT. Two more jump Wood. The men fight back. Wood uses the weapon he's holding, careful to hit his opponents with the non-nail side of the board. Spike uses his bare fists. As they fight, MORE STUDENTS arrive and ring the fighters... ready to jump in. Wood and Spike are fighting near each other. At one point Wood has laid out his opponent, but Spike is still punching a student. Wood moves behind Spike and raises his weapon -- the nail side toward Spike. Wood is PUNCHED by another student and has to fight back. The opportunity is lost. INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BASEMENT - NIGHT Buffy and Andrew face FIVE students with BRINGER-EYES. Buffy sets Andrew's camera on the ground and her bag, freeing her hands for the fight.
(to Andrew) Stay back. Andrew backs into the doorway as the STUDENT-BRINGERS move toward Buffy. One of them PUNCHES at her, but she ducks. Then another one grabs her from behind, pinning her arms. Buffy kicks out at the others... Andrew watches the fight. Then he notices the camera, sitting abandoned on the ground. He picks it up and films the fight... VIDEO FOOTAGE: Buffy fights the student-bringers. One of them throws her to the ground. She KICKS his knee, sending him to the ground on top of her. As another one closes in, Buffy LAUNCHES the dead weight of the injured student straight up at the new attacker, sending both of them flying back.
She is like a woman fighting for more than life. She fights like fighting is life. It is the air she breathes, and she knows she will win because there is no alternative. Buffy leaps to her feet and knocks out two of the other student bringers with a simultaneous kick-and-punch. The one remaining conscious student flees. Then she's in the lens.
It's your turn, Andrew. OUT OF VIDEO Andrew puts down the camera. Buffy gets the knife from her bag. Andrew reaches for it.
So we figure what? I stand on the Seal and hold the knife and like, command it to stop glowing? In Tawarick? Buffy doesn't hand Andrew the knife. Instead she puts it to his throat. She is cold and dangerous.
Or we do this. ANDREW BUFFY Andrew is panicking, realizing where this is going.
Blood opens it. You don't want to open it. Opening it would be bad. BUFFY ANDREW BUFFY Andrew considers his options.
I could cleanse myself with a small amount of my own blood. A man who buys back his own bruised soul with the blood of his heart-- Buffy digs the knife into his neck.
Stop that! Stop telling stories! Life is not a story! ANDREW BUFFY Andrew is close to tears.
Don't... please... Buffy pulls him over to Seal and bends him back over it, his neck and head over the Seal. The knife is still digging into his neck.
When a river of your blood pours out, Andrew, it might save the world. What do you think of that? Does it make you a world-saver? Does it buy it all back? Are you a hero redeemed? ANDREW Andrew starts to cry.
Because I killed him. Because I listened to Warren and I pretended that I thought it was him. But I knew it wasn't. And I killed Jonathan. And you're going to kill me and I'm afraid and I'm going to die. And this is what Jonathan felt. A TEAR rolls down Andrew's face. It falls... INSERT: The tear falls through the air. The tear lands on the Seal. THE SEAL STOPS GLOWING. Buffy lowers the limp and helpless Andrew to the ground.
It stopped... BUFFY Buffy helps Andrew stand up. She is being gentler with him than she ever has. His voice is still choked with tears.
Thanks. BUFFY They head toward the door.
Did you know it was the tears? Or did you really think it was blood and then you saw that the tears worked? Buffy gives him a little smile.
I just told you, I usually don't know as much as you think I do. Buffy turns to exit. 46 OMITTED INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - HALLWAY - TOP OF STAIRS - NIGHT Spike and Wood are still locked in battle, each with a student, while others watch. Suddenly, all the students stop fighting and wander away. Spike and Wood look at each other.
She got it done. SPIKE WOOD INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - BATHROOM - NIGHT And suddenly we're back in Buffy's bathroom. Andrew is on the closed toilet again. He talks to his camera. VIDEO FOOTAGE:
Hello, gentle viewers. Here's the thing. I killed my best friend. There's a big fight coming up and I think I'm going to die. And I guess that's how it should be. He reaches to turn off the camera, then hesitates.
Thanks for watching. He turns off the camera.
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