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Episode Summary
Sixteen-year-old Buffy Summers has moved to Sunnydale from L.A., hoping to leave Buffy’s troubled past behind. But Sunnydale High librarian Rupert Giles knows who Buffy is: she is the Slayer, the one girl in all the world with the strength and skill to hunt and kill vampires. He knows about her past because he is her new Watcher — the person whose destiny it is to train and guide Slayers on their path. Buffy quickly makes two friends: the shy, bookish Willow, and the goofy but lovable Xander, who is instantly attracted to Buffy.
When a student is found dead in a locker — with bite marks on his neck and completely drained of his blood — Giles enlists Buffy’s help. She resists, trying to get out of the slaying game for good, but Giles insists that a crucial mystical upheaval is about to occur.
Unbeknownst to them, a bewildered Xander overhears their conversation — Buffy’s secret is out. Later, in a dark, eerie chamber, we see a vampire who seems to be confirming Giles’ prophecy.
The vampire, Luke, kneels in front of a pool of blood and says, “The sleeper will awaken. And the world will bleed.” On her way to the Bronze, Sunnydale’s hippest (and only) club, Buffy is followed by a handsome, mysterious stranger. He tells her she must be ready for the Harvest, and gives her a small cross.
Giles meets her at the Bronze and she tells him about the encounter. Giles convinces her to use her power, and wants her to try to sense if there are any vampires in the room. She does sense one and finds him talking to Willow, but the two have walked away. Trying to catch him unawares, she grabs a makeshift stake, turns a corner and attacks… Cordelia, the snootiest girl in school, who already thought Buffy was a loser for hanging with Willow, and now thinks she’s certifiable.
We see Jesse, Xander’s buddy, chatting with a girl we saw in vampire garb earlier, but who now appears as a normal student, Darla. Back to the pool of blood, something breaks through the surface and rises: the demonic Master Vampire. He is hungry and weak, and asks Luke to bring him something young.
Outside the Bronze, Buffy enlists Xander’s help in finding Willow, who’s already been lead to a mausoleum by the vampire. Willow’s happy to find Jesse there, until she sees that Darla has already bit him in the neck. Buffy and Xander enter, and Buffy promptly kills the vampire boy. Now Willow is finally in on the secret. While Darla tries to attack Buffy, Xander and Willow lead a weakened Jesse out. Luke joins the battle and throws Buffy across the room.
As he tries to bite her in the neck, he burns his hand on her cross, giving her a chance to escape. She finds her friends struggling with several vampires. Buffy impales one and the others flee. Meanwhile, Jesse has been taken to the Master, who hears about Buffy. By her strength, he can tell that she’s the Slayer.
The Master knows that Buffy will come looking for Jesse, and then she will be his. Giles enlists Willow to check the internet for more information about the Harvest, while Buffy decides to go look for Jesse. At the mausoleum, she runs into the stranger again, whose name is Angel. He warns that the Harvest will be that night. Then Buffy is shocked to find Xander has followed her. They find Jesse, who tries to lead them out, until he turns to face them and they discover he’s become a vampire. More vampires surround and chase them, but they manage to escape to the street through a grating.
The Master is furious that the Slayer has escaped. But he allows Luke to feed from him as a way of gaining strength for himself. He dabs some of his blood on Luke’s forehead and paints a three-pointed star. Willow’s research explains that on the night of the Harvest, the Master Vampire can draw power from one of his minions while it feeds and then can break through from their reality to ours.
The minion is called the Vessel, and bears the symbol we saw painted on Luke. Xander guesses the vampires will converge on the Bronze, since it’s always filled with young people. That night, a newly confident Jesse strides into the Bronze and hits on Cordelia, who actually allows the former loser to dance with her.
Soon, a gang of vampires takes over the club, with Luke at the helm. By the time Buffy, Giles, Xander and Willow get there, the suckfest is in full swing, with the Master gaining strength from each victim. Buffy manages to kill a few other vampires, then Jesse winds up impaling himself on a stake a frightened Xander was holding.
Buffy breaks a large window, trying to make Luke think the streetlight is daylight, which will destroy him. He buys it for a second, and she takes advantage of his confusion by driving a stake through his back. Now the Master is too weak to break through to the other side, and Sunnydale has been spared.
This time.
Shooting Scripts
FADE IN:
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL – NIGHT
The front of the affluent Southern California school gleams darkly in the moonlight.
CUT TO:
INT. HALL – CONTINUOUS
TRACK through the hall. Nothing.
CUT TO:
INT. CLASSROOM – CONTINUOUS
Silent.
We track along the wall, past the maps and drawings tacked up on it, past the window, which
SHATTERS in our faces!
It’s just a single pane, knocked in by someone’s hand. It unlocks the window and slides it up.
The intrude is a college age BOY, a timid GIRL beside him. She looks about nervously.
GIRL
Are you sure this is a good idea?
BOY
It’s a great idea! Come on.
As they climb in.
CUT TO:
INT. HALL – A MOMENT LATER
He leads her out here. It’s even darker than the classroom
GIRL
You go to school here?
BOY
Used to.
On top of the gym, it’s so cool – you can see the whole town.
GIRL
I don’t want to go up there.
BOY
Oh, you can’t wait, huh?
He moves to kiss her.
GIRL
We’re just gonna get in trouble
BOY
Count on it.
He kisses her, but she turns suddenly, real fear crossing her face.
GIRL
What was that?
BOY
What was what?
GIRL
I heard a noise.
BOY
It’s nothing.
GIRL
Maybe it’s something…
BOY
Maybe it’s some Thing…
GIRL
That’s not funny.
He looks about them. The place is dark, shadowy. She cowers behind him.
BOY
Hello…?
Silence.
BOY
There’s nobody here.
GIRL
Are you sure?
BOY
I’m sure.
GIRL
Okay…
She bares HORRIBLE FANGS and BURIES them in his neck.
BLACKOUT.
END OF TEASER
CREDITS
Act One
EXT. NIGHT – AN ALLEY (THE DREAM)
CLOSE UP: SHOES
A poor man’s shoes, walking down the alley. Echoing in the emptiness.
ANGLE: THE MAN
Walking tentatively, far away. Suddenly the camera RUSHES at him like a predator – he turns
just as it reaches him and –
ANGLE: A CANDLE BLOWING OUT.
We HEAR CHILDREN CHANTING a schoolyard song eerily in the blackness, on top of
sinister WHISPERS, and we see
ANGLE: THE ALLEY
And the man, face down, unable to crawl, clawing his way along the ground in terror – and his
body is YANKED out of frame with incredible speed.
ANGLE: A GIRL IN BED
Tossing and turning, as the camera moves down to reveal the shadow of someone – something –
approaching her – and we hear an impossibly low voice:
VOICE (O.S.)
I’ll take you… like a cancer…
I’ll get inside you and eat my way out…
ANGLE: A POOL OF BLOOD
ANGLE: A DEMONIC FACE
ROARS out of the shadows and we
CUT TO:
INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – MORNING
Her eyes snap open. Despite the morning light, we recognize the girl – and the bed – from the
dream. A moment, as she gets her bearings, shakes off the immediacy of the dream.
BUFFY’S MOM (O.S.)
Buffy…
BUFFY
I’m up, mom.
BUFFY’S MOM (O.S.)
Don’t want to be late for your first day.
BUFFY
(to herself)
No… wouldn’t want that…
Her voice betrays her uncertainty. She sits up. A wider angle on her room reveals that it’s only
half decorated: there are still boxes as yet unpacked in the corner.
CUT TO:
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL – MORNING
A day as bright and colorful as the night was black and eerie. Students pour in before first bell,
talking, laughing. They could be from anywhere in America, but for the extremity of their dress
and the esoteric mania of their slang. This is definitely So Cal.
ANGLE: A CAR
Pulls up outside the school. Buffy’s mom, JOYCE, is driving. Buffy gets out the passenger side.
JOYCE
Now, you have a good time. I know you’ll make friends right away.
Think positive. And honey… try not to get kicked out.
BUFFY
I promise.
The girl turns, looks at the school. She starts in as her mother drives away.
ANGLE: A SKATEBOARD
Weaving along the road. On it is XANDER, dressed with the shaggy indifference common to
skateboarders.
He is bright, funny, and will one day be suave and handsome. Till that day arrives, he’ll do the
best he can with bright and funny.
He weaves through a thickening mass of students toward the school.
XANDER
Coming through… Coming through…
(as the crowd increases)
Not certain how to stop…
But he’s doing okay until he passes Buffy – intrigued by the new face, he cranes to look at her,
and nearly takes a header. He saves himself from falling, however, coming to a stop just in front
of:
WILLOW. She is shy, bookish, and very possibly dressed by her mother. The intelligence in her
eyes and the sweetness of her smile belie a genuine charm that is lost on the unsubtle high
school mind. It’s certainly lost on Xander, though he brightens considerably to see her. The new
face forgotten, at least for now.
XANDER
Willow! You’re so much the person I wanted to see.
Her excitement at the sentiment is sweetly pathetic, and typically unnoticed.
WILLOW
Really?
XANDER
Yeah. You know, I kind of had a problem with the math.
WILLOW
(hiding disappointment)
Which part?
XANDER
The math. Can you help me tonight?
Please? Be my study buddy?
WILLOW
Well, what’s in it for me?
XANDER
A shiny nickel…
WILLOW
Okay. Do you have “Theories in Trig?” You should check it out.
XANDER
Check it out?
WILLOW
From the library. Where the books live.
XANDER
Right. I’m there. See, I want to change.
INT. SCHOOL HALL – CONTINUOUS
They are approached by JESSE, their bud. He is a little more awkward than Xander, a little less
likely to become a lady killer in his later years.
JESSE
Hey.
XANDER
Jesse! What’s what.
JESSE
New girl!
XANDER
That’s right, I saw her. She’s pretty much a hotty.
WILLOW
I heard someone was transferring here.
XANDER
So. Tell.
JESSE
Tell what?
XANDER
What’s the sitch? What do you know about her?
JESSE
(“that’s all”)
New girl.
XANDER
Well, you’re certainly a font of nothing.
CUT TO:
INT. BOB FLUTIE’S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
Buffy sits before principal FLUTIE. He is middle aged, a tad officious. Caught between the old
school of strict discipline and the new school of sensitivity.
He pulls her transcript from a folder. He looks at it, looks at her.
MR FLUTIE
Buffy Summers. Sophomore, late of Hemery High in Los Angeles.
Interesting record. Quite a career.
He smiles, and carefully tears up her transcript up into four pieces.
MR FLUTIE
Welcome to Sunnydale. A clean slate, Buffy, that’s what you get here. What’s past is past.
We’re not interested in what it says on a piece of paper.
Even if it says
(looks down at a piece, reacts)
— whoa. At Sunnydale we nurture the whole student. The inner student.
He is taking the pieces of the transcript as he talks and carefully placing them together again.
MR FLUTIE
Other schools might looks at the incredible decline in grade point average – we look at the
struggling young woman with the incredible decline in grade point average. Other schools
might
look at the reports of gang fights –
BUFFY
Mr. Flutie –
MR FLUTIE
All the kids here are free to call me Bob –
BUFFY
Bob –
MR FLUTIE
–but they don’t.
He pulls out a piece of tape, starts taping the transcript back together.
BUFFY
Mr. Flutie. I know my transcripts are a little colorful –
MR FLUTIE
Hey, we’re not caring about that! Do you think “colorful” is the word? Not “dismal”? Just off
hand, I’d go with “dismal.”
BUFFY
It wasn’t that bad.
MR FLUTIE
You burned down the gym.
BUFFY
I did. I really did. But you gotta see the big picture. I mean, the gym was full of vamp… uh,
asbestos.
MR FLUTIE
Buffy. Don’t worry. Any other school, they might say “watch your step”, or, “we’ll be watching
you” or, “get within a hundred yards of the gym with a book of matches and you’ll grow up in
juvie hall” but that’s just not the way here. We want to service your needs, and help you to
respect our needs. And if you needs and our needs don’t mesh…
Still smiling blandly, he slips the taped up transcript back in her folder.
CUT TO:
INT. HALL – A MOMENT LATER
Buffy exits to office, looking a bit depressed. She starts rummaging through her bag and a
student runs by, bumps into her. Her books and stuff spill out. Frustrated, she kneels down, starts
scooping it back in.
Xander sees this, goes up to her, kneeling.
XANDER
Can I have you? Dyeh – can I help you?
BUFFY
Oh, thanks…
He starts picking things up, handing them to her.
XANDER
I don’t know you, do I?
BUFFY
I’m new. I’m Buffy.
XANDER
Xander. Is me. Hi.
BUFFY
Thanks.
XANDER
Maybe I’ll see you around. Maybe at school, since we both… go there…
BUFFY
Great. Nice to meet you.
He gives her the rest of her books. She stuffs it all in her bag and hurries away.
XANDER
“We both go to school…” Very suave. Very not pathetic.
He notices something on the floor, bends down to get it. Calls after her:
XANDER
Oh, hey, you forgot your…
(looks at the thing in his hand)
…stake…
But she’s too far off to hear. He looks at the wooden stake, puzzled.
CUT TO:
INT. HISTORY CLASS – MORNING
THE TEACHER is in front, lecturing. We hear her mostly in voice over as we see Buffy near
the back, earnestly taking notes. Trying to keep up.
TEACHER
It’s estimated that about 25 million people died in that one four year span. But the fun part of the
Black Plague is that it originated in Europe how? As an early form of germ warfare. The plague
was first found in Asia, and a Kipchak army actually catapulted plague-infested corpses into a
Genoese trading post. Ingenious. If you look at the map on page 63 you can trace the spread of
the disease…
Buffy looks about as kids open their books – she hasn’t got one. The girl next to her,
CORDELIA, leans over. She is pretty, self assured. Killer outfit.
CORDELIA
Here.
She moves her book over so Buffy can read off it as well.
BUFFY
Thanks.
TEACHER
And this popular plague led to what social changes?
CUT TO:
INT. SAME – END OF CLASS
Kids are piling up their books and leaving as the bell RINGS. Cordelia introduces herself:
CORDELIA
Hi, I’m Cordelia.
BUFFY
I’m Buffy.
CORDELIA
If you’re looking for a textbook of your very own, there’s probably a few in the Library.
BUFFY
Oh, great. Thanks. Where would that be?
CORDELIA
I’ll show you.
As the girls walk through the crowded hall.
CORDELIA
You transferred from Hemery, right? In L.A.?
BUFFY
Yeah.
CORDELIA
Oh! I would kill to live in L.A.
Being that close to that many shoes… Why’d you come here?
BUFFY
Because my Mom moved, is the reason. I mean we both moved. But my Mom wanted to.
CUT TO:
INT. HALL – CONTINUOUS
CORDELIA
Well, you’ll be okay here. If you hang with me and mine you’ll be accepted in no time. Of
course we do have to test your coolness factor. You’re from L.A., so you can skip the written,
but, let’s see… Vamp nail polish.
BUFFY
(tentatively)
Over?
CORDELIA
SO over. James Spader.
BUFFY
He needs to call me.
CORDELIA
Trendy but tasty.
John Tesh.
BUFFY
The Devil?
CORDELIA
Well, that was pretty much a gimme, but you passed.
BUFFY
Oh, good.
They stop at the water fountain, which is being used by:
CORDELIA
Willow! Nice dress
(off Willow’s smile)
Good to know you’ve seen the softer side of Sears.
That hurt. Buffy says nothing, surprised by Cordelia’s sudden viciousness. Willow says, almost
apologetically:
WILLOW
Well my Mom picked it out.
CORDELIA
(witheringly)
No wonder you’re such a guy-magnet.
Are you done?
WILLOW
Oh.
She vacates the fountain. Cordy steps up to it, looking at Buffy.
CORDELIA
You wanna fit in here, the first rule is “know your losers”. Once you can identify them all by
sight, they’re a lot easier to avoid.
She bends down to drink. Buffy looks at the departing Willow, unhappily.
CUT TO:
INT. ANOTHER HALL – A MINUTE LATER
As Buffy and Cordelia walk toward the library.
CORDELIA
–and if you’re not too swamped with catching up you should come out to the Bronze tonight.
BUFFY
The who?
CORDELIA
The Bronze. It’s the only club worth going to around here. They let anybody in but it’s still the
scene. It’s in the bad part of town.
BUFFY
Where’s that?
CORDELIA
About half a block from the good part of town. We don’t have a whole lot of town. You should
show.
They arrive at the entrance to the library.
BUFFY
Well, I’ll try, thanks.
CORDELIA
Good. I’ll see you at gym and you can tell me absolutely everything there is to know about
yourself.
She goes off.
BUFFY
(thrown by the notion)
That sounds like fun…
CUT TO:
INT. THE LIBRARY – CONTINUOUS
Buffy enters, looking about her. It’s elegant, full of dark wood, streaming sunlight, and (duhh)
books. It’s also empty. Buffy steps in, looking around. She looks down at the check-out counter
to see:
ANGLE: A NEWSPAPER
Folded, with an article on the first page circled in red. The headline reads: LOCAL BOYS
STILL MISSING, with a blurry picture of three brothers.
Buffy wanders further in. She peers around a bookcase –
BUFFY
Hello… Is anybody here?
And someone touches her from behind. Startled, she spins.
GILES
Can I help you?
He is British, of middle age, with a quiet intensity.
BUFFY
I was looking for some, well, books. I’m new.
GILES
Miss Summers.
BUFFY
Good call. I guess I’m the only new kid.
GILES
I’m Mr. Giles, the librarian.
BUFFY
Great. So you have, uh, —
GILES
I know what you’re after.
He leads her to the check-out desk by the door. His office can be seen behind it.
He pulls a book out and slides it toward Buffy. Huge leather bound, with a single word set in
gild in the cover.
“VAMPYR”
Real concern floods Buffy’s face, along with the understanding. She steps back from the desk,
eyes on the librarian.
BUFFY
That’s not what I’m looking for.
GILES
Are you sure?
BUFFY
I’m way sure.
GILES
My mistake.
He replaces the book under the counter.
GILES
So, what is it you said –
But she’s gone.
CUT TO:
INT. WOMEN’S LOCKER ROOM – AFTERNOON
Two GIRLS approach their lockers, talking. They begin undressing (just shoes and coats and
stuff. Get your mind out of the gutter.)
GIRL #1
The new kid? She seems kind of weird to me. And what kind of name is Buffy?
GIRL #2
Hey, Aphrodesia.
GIRL #1
Hey.
GIRL #3
Well, the chatter in the caf is that she got kicked out and that’s why her mom had to get a new
job.
GIRL #1
Neg.
GIRL #3
Pos. She was starting fights.
GIRL #1
(opening her locker)
Negly!
GIRL #3 [hand written: “- AURA”]
(opening hers)
Well, I heard it from Blue, and she saw the transcripts –
Something FLIES OUT of the locker at her! She SCREAMS as the dead body of the boy from
the opening collapses on her, eyes horribly wide.
ANGLE: FROM ABOVE
The body sprawls out on the floor as the girl steps back, screaming for all she’s worth.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
Act Two
EXT. FOUNTAIN QUAD – DAY
Willow is carefully taking out her packed lunch (and how healthy it is). Buffy approaches her.
BUFFY
Uh, hi. Willow, right?
WILLOW
Why? I mean Hi. Did you want me to move?
BUFFY
Why don’t we start with “hi, I’m Buffy.”
(sits by her)
And then let’s segue directly into me asking you for a favor. It doesn’t involve moving, but it
does involve you hanging out with me for a while.
WILLOW
But aren’t you… hanging with Cordelia?
BUFFY
I can’t do both?
WILLOW
Not legally.
BUFFY
Look, I really want to get by here. New school… Cordelia’s been really nice – to me, anyway –
but I have this burning desire not to flunk all my classes, and I heard a rumor that you were the
person to talk to if I wanted to get caught up.
WILLOW
Oh, I could totally help you out! If you have sixth period free we could meet in the library –
BUFFY
–or not. Or, you know, we could meet somewhere quieter. Louder. That place kind of gives me a
wiggins.
WILLOW
It has that effect on most kids. I love it, though. It’s a great collection, and the new librarian’s
really cool.
BUFFY
He’s new?
WILLOW
Yeah, he just started. He was a curator of some British Museum. Or the British museum, I’m not
sure. But he knows everything and he brought all these historical volumes and biographies and
am I the single dullest person alive?
BUFFY
Not at all!
XANDER
(entering with Jesse)
Hey. Are you guys busy? Can we interrupt? We’re interrupting.
BUFFY
Hey.
JESSE
Hey there.
WILLOW
Buffy, this is Jesse, and that’s Xander.
XANDER
Oh, me and Buffy go way back. Old friends, very close. Then there was that period of
estrangement, I think we were both changing as people, but here we are and it’s like old times,
I’m quite moved.
JESSE
Is it me, or are you turning into a bibbling idiot?
XANDER
(a little embarrassed)
It’s not you.
BUFFY
It’s nice to meeting you guys… I think.
JESSE
Well, we wanted to welcome you, make you feel at home. Unless you have a scary home.
XANDER
And to return this.
He produces the stake.
[ Handwritten to the left side – “She takes it”]
XANDER
The only thing I can figure is that you’re building a really little fence.
BUFFY Oh. No. That was for self defense. Everyone has them in L.A. Pepper spray is so passe.
XANDER
So. What do you like, what do you do for fun, what do you look for in a man… Let’s hear it.
JESSE
If you have any dark, painful secrets that we could publish…
BUFFY
Gee, everybody wants to know about me. How keen.
XANDER
Well, not a lot happens in a one-Starbucks town like Sunnydale. You’re big news.
BUFFY
I’m not. Really.
CORDELIA
Are these people bothering you?
She has appeared behind Jesse, all disdain on her face.
BUFFY
Oh! No.
WILLOW
(covering for her)
She’s not hanging out with us.
JESSE
(smitten)
Hey, Cordelia.
CORDELIA
Oh, please.
(to Buffy)
I don’t want to interrupt your downward mobility. I just thought I’d tell you that you won’t be
meeting Coach Foster, the woman with chest hair, because gym has been canceled due to the
extreme dead guy in the locker.
BUFFY
What?
WILLOW
What are you talking about?
CORDELIA
Some guy was stuffed in Aura’s locker.
BUFFY
Dead.
CORDELIA
Way dead.
XANDER
So not just a little dead then.
CORDELIA
Don’t you have an elsewhere to be?
JESSE
(to Cordelia)
If you need a shoulder to cry on, or just to nibble on –
BUFFY
How did he die?
CORDELIA
I don’t know…
BUFFY
Well, were there any marks?
CORDELIA
Morbid much? I didn’t ask!
BUFFY
Uh, look, I gotta book. I’ll see you guys later.
She takes off, the others watching her.
CORDELIA
What’s her deal?
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LOCKER ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Mr. Flutie closes the door quietly. He turns to see Buffy before him.
MR FLUTIE
Oh! Buffy! Uh, what do you want?
BUFFY
Um, is there a guy in there that’s dead?
MR FLUTIE
Where did you hear that? Okay. Yes. But he’s not a student! Not currently.
BUFFY
Do you know how he died?
MR FLUTIE
What?
BUFFY
I mean – how could this have happened?
MR FLUTIE
Well, that’s for the police to determine when they get here. But this structure is safe, we have
inspections,
and I think there’s no grounds for a lawsuit.
BUFFY
Was there a lot of blood? Was there any blood?
MR FLUTIE
I would think you wouldn’t want to involve yourself in this kind of thing.
BUFFY
I don’t. Could I just take a peek?
MR FLUTIE
Unless you already are involved…
BUFFY
Never mind.
MR FLUTIE
(being nicer)
Buffy, I understand this is confusing. You’re probably feeling a lot right now. You should share
those feelings. With someone else.
Buffy smiles wanly, backs off.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIDE OF GYM – CONTINUOUS
Buffy comes around the side of the gym. There is a door to the locker room and she tries it. It’s
locked.
She looks around to make sure she’s alone, and then PULLS the door open with a quick tug,
splintering the lock. One last look around and she slips inside.
CUT TO:
INT. WOMEN’S LOCKER ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Buffy approaches the body laid out under a blanket.
She hesitates, sure she’s not going to like what she sees. Pulls the blanket from his head and
shoulders.
ANGLE: HIS NECK
Has two big ol’ bite marks in it.
What floods onto Buffy’s face is not horror, but grim frustration. She stares down at the body,
nearly seething.
BUFFY
Oh, great!
CUT TO:
INT. LIBRARY – MOMENTS LATER
Buffy strides back in, attitude high.
BUFFY
Okay, what’s the sitch?
She spies Giles and starts up toward him.
GILES
Sorry?
BUFFY
You heard about the dead guy, right? The dead guy in the locker?
GILES
Yes.
BUFFY
Well, it’s the weirdest thing. He’s got two little holes in his neck and all his blood’s been
drained. Isn’t that bizarre? Aren’t you just going, “Ooooh….”
GILES
I was afraid of this.
BUFFY
Well, I wasn’t! It’s my first day. I was afraid that I’d be behind in all the classes, that I wouldn’t
make any friends, that I’d have last month’s hair. I didn’t think there would be vampires
on campus. And I don’t care.
GILES
Then why are you here?
She’s stopped for a moment.
BUFFY
To tell you that I don’t care. Which I don’t, and… have now told you. So bye.
She starts out, maybe a little unsatisfied with her exit.
GILES
Will he rise again?
BUFFY
Who?
GILES
The boy.
BUFFY
No, he’s just dead.
GILES
Can you be sure?
BUFFY
To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood and then you have to suck their blood, it’s
a
whole big sucking thing. Mostly they’ll just take all your blood and then you just die – why am I
still talking to you?
GILES
You have no idea what’s going on, do you? Do you think it’s coincidence, your coming here?
That boy was just the beginning.
BUFFY
(turning)
Oh, why can’t you leave me alone?
GILES
Because you are the Slayer.
She stops. No comeback just now. He starts down after her, solemnly intoning:
GILES
Into every generation a slayer is born. One girl, in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with
the –
She finishes along with him:
BUFFY & GILES
–the strength and skill to hunt the vampires –
BUFFY
The stop the spread of their evil blah blah I’ve heard it, okay?
GILES
I don’t understand this attitude. You’ve accepted your duty, you’ve slain vampires before –
BUFFY
Well, I have both been there and done that. And I am moving on.
GILES
What do you know about this town?
BUFFY
It’s two hours on the freeway from Neiman Marcus.
GILES
Dig a bit in the history of this place and you’ll find there’ve been a steady stream of fairly odd
occurrences. I believe this area is a center of mystical energy. Things gravitate toward it that you
might not find elsewhere.
BUFFY
Like Vampires.
She tries to move past him and he pulls a book off the shelf, hands it to her. It resembles the
vampire book he showed her earlier. He continues to pull more off, piling them up in her arms.
GILES
Like werewolves. Zombies. Succubi, incubi… Everything you ever dreaded under your bed and
told yourself couldn’t be by the light of day.
BUFFY
What, did you send away for the Time Life series?
GILES
Uh, yes.
BUFFY
Did you get the free phone?
GILES
The calendar.
BUFFY
Cool.
(remembering her agenda)
Okay, first of all, I’m a vampire slayer. And secondly, I’m retired. Hey, I know! Why don’t you
kill them?
GILES
I’m a watcher. I haven’t the skill.
BUFFY
Oh, come on. Stake through the heart, a little sunlight – it’s like falling off a log.
GILES
The Slayer slays. The Watcher –
BUFFY
Watches?
GILES
Yes. No! He – he – trains her, he prepares her –
BUFFY
Prepares me for what? For getting kicked out of school? Losing all my friends? Having to spend
all my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because it might ‘endanger’
them? Go ahead. Prepare me.
A beat, and she leaves. Giles heads out after her.
ANGLE: IN THE STACKS
A shadowy figure moves about back there, emerges into the light. It’s Xander, excitement,
amusement and a disbelief dancing in his face. “Theories in Trig” in his hands.
He tries for a long time to form a word. When he does, it is merely:
XANDER
WHAT?
CUT TO:
INT. HALL – CONTINUOUS
Giles comes out of the library, calls out to Buffy.
GILES
It’s getting worse.
She stops, turns. There are people about, so they are forced to whisper.
BUFFY
What’s getting worse?
GILES
The influx of the undead, the supernatural occurrences. It’s been building for years and now…
There’s a reason why you’re here, and there’s a reason why it’s now.
BUFFY
Because now is the time my mom moved here.
GILES
Something is coming. Something is going to happen here soon.
BUFFY
Gee, can you vague that up for me…?
GILES
As far as I can tell, the signs point to a crucial mystical upheaval very soon – days, possibly less.
BUFFY
Come on. This is Sunnydale. How bad an evil can there be here?
CUT TO:
INT. DARK PLACE – NIGHT
The camera TRACKS silently through a dark and eerie place. We see candles, broken statuary.
A few figures bent in supplication. An ominous CHANTING fills the chamber.
As we move up, we see a single figure kneeling, well ahead of the rest. He is large, powerful,
appears to be in his late twenties. In fact, LUKE is much older than that. His dress speaks of
many eras, but definitely of none.
The CHANTING increases in intensity as the camera continues to move about the place, passing
over Luke and we see what he is kneeling before for the first time.
A pool of blood.
LUKE
The sleeper will awaken.
As he speaks, we see his face clearly. Vampire. Not pretty.
LUKE
The sleeper will awaken. And the world will bleed.
He dips his finger in the blood.
LUKE
Amen.
And now we see:
WIDER ANGLE: THE CHURCH
It’s a bizarre ruin we’re in, buried beneath the ground. The stanchions and arches stand at
haphazard angles, sheeted rock pushing in at all sides. The pool of blood is on what would be
the altar.
The CHANTING fills the vast room as we
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
Act Three
INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
She is in the agony of outfit choosage, getting ready to go out. She has two, one scanty, the other
somewhat plain. She holds them alternatively in front of her, looking in the mirror.
BUFFY
(holding up one)
Hi! I’m an enormous slut!
(the other)
Hi! Would you like a copy of the Watchtower?
(throws them both down)
I used to be so good at this…
Joyce enters, watches her.
JOYCE
Are you going out tonight, honey?
BUFFY
Yeah, Mom. I’m going to a club.
JOYCE
Will there be boys there?
BUFFY
No, Mom; it’s a nun club.
JOYCE
Well, just be careful.
BUFFY
I will.
As the conversation segues into serious territory, both women become somewhat uncomfortable
with each other.
JOYCE
I think we can make it work here. I’ve got my positive energy flowing. I’m gonna get the gallery
on its feet – We may already have found a space.
BUFFY
Great.
JOYCE
And that school is a very nurturing environment, which is what you need.
BUFFY
Mom…
JOYCE
Oh, not too nurturing. I know. You’re sixteen, I read all about the dangers of overnurturing.
(honestly)
It’s hard. New town, and all. For me, too. I’m trying to make it work.
(correcting herself)
I’m going to make it work.
BUFFY
I know.
JOYCE
You’re a good girl, Buffy. You just fell in with the wrong crowd. But that’s all behind us now.
BUFFY
It is. From now on, I’m only hanging out with the living. I – I mean, the lively… people.
JOYCE
Okay, have fun.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Buffy makes her way on foot to the Bronze. She leaves the suburban area the house is in for the
deserted city streets on the edge of town.
She turns a corner, walks down the street, lost in thought – until she HEARS FOOTSTEPS
behind her.
She stops, turns slowly.
A figure stands in the dark behind her. Far enough away that she doesn’t feel right saying
anything to it. It doesn’t move – she can’t see its face but it seems to be looking at her.
Buffy turns to go.
The figure follows.
CUT TO:
EXT. ANOTHER STREET – A MOMENT LATER
Buffy turns the corner, somewhat worried – moving faster. The figure follows, always at a
discreet distance.
CUT TO:
EXT. AN ALLEY – A MOMENT LATER
Buffy turns in. She looks about her. A pipe runs across the narrow alley some ten feet above her.
Garbage cans cluster at the other end.
ANGLE: THE FIGURE
Turns into the now-empty alley, starts down it.
Buffy suddenly DROPS down on him, legs locked over his neck. She throws herself back,
tipping him over, rolling herself and SLAMMING his body onto the ground.
He’s on his feet quickly, but she grabs him and throws him up against the wall. She closes in,
but he makes no move to attack. Puts up his hands.
ANGEL
Is there a problem, ma’am?
He seems faintly amused. Buffy eyes him suspiciously, getting her first good look at him.
ANGEL is strikingly handsome, with intelligence and a kind of distance in his eyes. Moves with
a fighter’s grace.
BUFFY
There’s a problem. Why are you following me?
ANGEL
I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I don’t bite.
She backs off a bit, perplexed.
ANGEL
Truth is, I thought you’d be taller. Or bigger, muscles and all that. You’re pretty spry, though.
BUFFY
What do you want?
ANGEL
Same thing you do.
BUFFY
Okay, what do I want?
The amusement leaves his face.
ANGEL
To kill ‘em. To kill ‘em all.
BUFFY
(game show: )
Sorry! That’s incorrect but you do get this lovely watch and a year’s worth of Turtle Wax what I
want… is to be left alone.
ANGEL
You really think that’s an option anymore? You’re standing at the mouth of Hell. And it’s about
to open.
He reaches into his coat for something. It’s a jewelry box. He throws it to her.
ANGEL
Don’t turn your back on this. You’ve got to be ready.
BUFFY
For what?
ANGEL
The Harvest.
He starts out.
BUFFY
Who are you?
ANGEL
Let’s just say I’m a friend.
BUFFY
(exasperated)
Well, maybe I don’t want a friend.
ANGEL
I didn’t say I was yours…
He goes. Buffy watches him go, then opens the box.
ANGLE: IN THE BOX
Is a cross. Small, antique, on a gold chain, [Handwritten to the side: “Silver”, ‘gold chain’ is
circled]
WIDER ANGLE: BUFFY ALONE IN THE ALLEY
Buffy looks at the cross, at the departing figure of the mysterious man.
And as she walks slowly away, the camera TRACKS past the corner, past another group of
garbage cans.
In front of them, right before us but unseen by Buffy, are two figures. The poor man we saw in
her dream, and a vampire. The beast has its face burrowing in his neck, as the last of his life
shudders out.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE BRONZE – NIGHT
A decent crowd mills aimlessly around the joint, high school students and older. The place has
an appealingly dive-y earthiness; no waiting in line for the bouncer to decide whether you’re
cool or not. Those that are in line wait only to pay the four bucks to get their hands stamped if
they’re old enough to drink.
Buffy moves her way up the line, scanning about for a familiar face. She doesn’t find one. As
she is let in we FOLLOW HER INTO:
INT. THE BRONZE – CONTINUOUS
It’s dark, crowded and noisy. A fairly thrashsome band holds forth on stage, blasting the kind of
music that would cause major moshing in a rowdier crowd. Coffee bar in the back, and a
balcony above with tables for two.
Buffy makes her way through, still looking about. A good looking GUY spies her and waves,
smiling.
Buffy smiles vaguely, waving back. A moment before she realizes he’s waving to a guy right
behind her. She attempts to turn her wave into fixing her hair, looking embarrassed.
ANGLE: WILLOW
Is getting a soda at the bar. She turns back to look at the band just as Buffy comes up to her.
BUFFY
Hi!
WILLOW
Oh, hi! Hi.
BUFFY
Are you here with someone?
WILLOW
No, I’m just here. I thought Xander was gonna show up…
BUFFY
Oh, are you guys going out?
WILLOW
No. We’re just friends. We used to go out, but we broke up.
BUFFY
How come?
WILLOW
He stole my barbie.
(off Buffy’s look)
We were five.
BUFFY
Oh.
WILLOW
I don’t actually date a whole lot… lately.
BUFFY
Why not?
WILLOW
Well, when I’m with a boy I like, it’s hard for me to say anything cool, or witty, or at all… I can
usually make a few vowel sounds, and then I have to go away.
BUFFY
(laughing)
It’s not that bad.
It is. I think boys are more interested in a girl who can talk.
BUFFY
You really haven’t been dating lately.
WILLOW
It’s probably easy for you.
BUFFY
(a little forlornly)
Oh, yeah. Real easy.
WILLOW
I mean, you don’t seem too shy.
BUFFY
Well, my philosophy is – do you wanna hear my philosophy?
WILLOW
I do.
BUFFY
Life is short.
WILLOW
Life is short.
BUFFY
Not original, I’ll grant you. But it’s true. Why waste time being all shy? Why worry about some
guy and if he’s gonna laugh at you? You know? Seize the moment. ‘Cause tomorrow you might
be dead.
WILLOW
Oh… That’s nice…
Buffy sees somebody moving about on the balcony. Her brow furrows.
BUFFY
Uh, I’ll be back in a minute.
WILLOW
That’s okay. You don’t have to come back.
BUFFY
(smiling at her self-effacing attitude)
I’ll be back in a minute.
She takes off, leaving Willow at the bar.
WILLOW
(to herself)
Seize the moment…
ANGLE: ATOP THE BALCONY
Buffy comes up, makes her way to the railing overlooking the stage. She leans on it, and we see
that Giles is standing beside her. He doesn’t even look at her.
BUFFY
So, you like to party with the students? Isn’t that kind of skanky?
GILES
(witheringly)
Right. This is me having fun.
(looking out on stage)
Watching clown-hair prance about is hardly my idea of a party. I’d much prefer to be home with
a cup of bovril and a good book.
BUFFY
STAT.
GILES
This is a perfect breeding ground for Vampire activity. Dark, crowded… Besides, I knew you
were likely to show up. And I have to make you understand –
BUFFY
That the Harvest is coming, I know, your friend told me.
GILES
(thrown)
What did you say?
BUFFY
The… Harvest. That means something to you? ‘Cause I’m drawing a blank.
GILES
I’m not sure… Who told you this?
BUFFY
This guy. Dark, gorgeous in an annoying sort of way. I figured you were buds.
GILES
No… The Harvest… Did he say anything else?
BUFFY
Something about the mouth of Hell. I really didn’t like him.
They both look down at the floor for a moment, at the dancing kids.
GILES
Look at them. Throwing themselves about…. Completely unaware of the danger that surrounds
them.
BUFFY
Lucky them…
GILES
Or perhaps you’re right. Perhaps there is no trouble coming. The signs could be wrong. It’s not
as
though you’re having the nightmares…
And we MOVE IN on Buffy’s face, clouding over. She says nothing, just looks down at the
dancing kids.
ANGLE: THE FLOOR
Kids writhe about to the music with healthy abandon.
We find Cordelia off to the side, watching with her friends.
CORDELIA
My mom doesn’t even get out of bed anymore. The doctor says it’s Epstein Barr, I’m like,
“please, it’s chronic hepatitis or at least Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.” I mean nobody cool has
Epstein Barr anymore.
Jesse approaches her, smiling.
JESSE
Cordelia!
CORDELIA
Oh, yay, it’s my stalker.
JESSE
Hey, you look great.
CORDELIA
Well, I’m glad we had this chat –
JESSE
Listen, I, um, do you wanna dance?
CORDELIA
(witheringly)
With you?
JESSE
Well, uh, yeah.
CORDELIA
Well, uh, no.
She takes off, posse in tow. Jesse just soaks up the pain.
JESSE
Fine. Plenty of other fish in the sea. Oh yeah. I’m on the prowl. Witness me prowling.
He looks around at the throng, officially beginning his prowl.
ANGLE: BUFFY AND GILES
In mid-conversation. Shaken by the dreams thing, Buffy is giving ground.
BUFFY
I didn’t say I’d never slay another vampire. I’m just not gonna get way extracurricular with it. If
I
run into one, sure…
GILES
But will you be ready? There’s so much you don’t know, about them and about your own
powers. A vampire appears to be a normal person, until the feed is upon them. Only then do they
reveal their true demonic visage.
BUFFY
You’re like a textbook with arms! I know this!
GILES
The point is, a Slayer should be able to see them anyway. Without looking, without thinking.
Can
you tell me if there’s a vampire in this building?
BUFFY
Maybe?
GILES
You should know! Even through this mass and this din you should be able to sense them. Try.
Reach out with your mind.
She looks down at the mass of kids on the floor. Furrows her brow.
GILES
You have to hone your senses, focus until the energy washes over you, till you can feel every
particle of –
BUFFY
There’s one.
Giles stops, nonplused.
GILES
What? Where?
BUFFY
(pointing)
Down there. Talking to that girl.
ANGLE: THEIR POV
In the corner stands a good looking young man, talking to a girl we can’t really see.
GILES
But you don’t know –
BUFFY
Oh, please. Look at his jacket. He’s got the sleeves rolled up. And the shirt… Deal with that
outfit for a moment.
GILES
It’s dated?
BUFFY
It’s carbon dated! Trust me: only someone who’s been living underground for ten years would
think that was the look.
GILES
But… you didn’t hone…
BUFFY
(noticing something)
Oh, no…
ANGLE: THE VAMPIRE
Is still chatting with the girl. He motions for her to come with him, and she comes into view.
It’s Willow.
GILES
Isn’t that –
BUFFY
Willow.
GILES
What is she doing?
BUFFY
Seizing the moment.
She starts toward the stairs.
ANGLE: WILLOW AND THE VAMPIRE BOY
Head out the back door by the stage.
Buffy fights her way down the stairs. She looks toward where they were and sees they’re gone.
She looks about a moment, and then, guessing correctly, heads for the backstage door as well.
But it’s a struggle: the closer she gets to the stage, the more crowded it gets. She finally pushes
to the door.
CUT TO:
INT. BACKSTAGE – CONTINUOUS
It’s dark here, and somewhat labryinthian. Buffy moves slowly, cautiously. There is no one
about.
She finds an old chair, snaps the leg off, a makeshift stake.
There is no one about. Buffy heads for the exit door. Sticks her head out it but there’s no one in
the alley either.
Slowly, perturbed, she starts back for the main door.
She turns the corner and he’s ON HER! She grabs him, throws him up against the wall, holding
him two feet off the ground –
Well, holding her, actually. Holding Cordelia, who has the same dumbfounded gape that the
other girls coming out of the bathroom have.
BUFFY
Cordelia!
CORDELIA
Excuse me… could you be any weirder? Is there a more weirdness that you could have?
Buffy lets her down, lowering the stake.
CORDELIA
God, what is your childhood trauma?
BUFFY
(trying to be chipper)
Did you guys see Willow? Did she come by here?
CORDELIA
Why? Did you need to attack her with a stick?
Buffy gives up. Face red, she retreats back the way she came.
Cordy and the others are still agape. After a moment, Cordy regains her composure.
CORDELIA
Excuse me. I have to call everyone that I’ve ever met right now.
CUT TO:
INT. THE BRONZE – CONTINUOUS
Buffy comes back out, finds Giles at the bottom of the stairs. She looks around as he says:
GILES
Is he dead?
That was fast. Well done. I’d best go to the library. This “Harvest” is –
BUFFY
I didn’t find them.
GILES
The vampire’s not dead?
BUFFY
No, but my social life is on the critical list.
GILES
What do we do?
BUFFY
You go on. I’ll take care of it.
GILES
I should come with you, no?
BUFFY
(heading out)
Don’t worry. One vampire I can handle.
As she exits, she brushes past Jesse. The camera STAYS on him, as we see he is chatting up a
girl.
JESSE
What did you say your name was?
And the camera comes around to show the girl he’s talking to: it’s the vampire from the
opening. Needless to say, she has her normal face on. And she’ll be known from now on as:
DARLA
Darla.
JESSE
Darla. I haven’t seen you before.
Are you from around here?
DARLA
No, but I’ve got family here.
JESSE
Have I met them?
DARLA
You probably will.
CUT TO:
INT. THE CHURCH – CONTINOUS
The CHANTING we heard earlier continues, peaking in intensity. By the altar, Luke suddenly
looks up.
He starts moving slowly back, eyes wide with religious fervor. All the figures in the church start
moving back, almost as one.
ANGLE: THE POOL OF BLOOD
We are low, right above the surface, as Luke prays before it. Suddenly a HEAD shoots up from
in the blood. Luke starts, looks at it. He moves back, away from the pool.
Something breaks the surface of the liquid. Something rises.
It is THE MASTER, the most powerful of vampires. Born Heinrich Joseph Nest (some six
hundred years ago,) he wears a vaguely SS-like outfit.
What he does not wear is anything resembling a human face. He is as much demon as man. As
powerful as Luke is, it’s clear that this man is much more so, both from his bearing and from the
reverence with which Luke looks upon him.
LUKE
Master…
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Act Four
INT. THE CHURCH – MOMENTS LATER
The Master steps forward, his face still in relative darkness. Luke steps back reverentially. The
Master looks about him for a moment.
THE MASTER
Luke.
LUKE
Master…
THE MASTER
I am weak.
LUKE
Come the Harvest, you’ll be restored.
THE MASTER
The Harvest…
LUKE
We’re almost there. Soon you’ll be free.
The Master takes another step forward, past Luke. He reaches his hand out slowly. As he does,
the air in front of him starts to ripple slightly – a kind of mystical wall. He pulls his hand back.
THE MASTER
I must be ready. I need my strength.
LUKE
I’ve sent your servants to bring you some food.
THE MASTER
Good.
Luke starts out.
THE MASTER
Luke…
LUKE
(stopping)
Yes?
THE MASTER
Bring me something… young.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET BY WOODED GLADE – NIGHT
Willow and the Vampire Boy walk along, alone in the dark. She is clearly nervous, though not
for the reason she should be.
WILLOW
Sure is dark…
VAMPIRE BOY
It’s night.
WILLOW
That’s a dark time. Night. Traditionally.
They walk a bit more.
WILLOW
I still can’t believe I’ve never seen you at school. Do you have Mr. Chomsky for History.
He doesn’t answer. Stops.
WILLOW
The ice cream bar’s down this way – it’s past Hamilton street.
He takes her hand.
VAMPIRE BOY
I know a shortcut.
He leads her into the dark of wood.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE THE BRONZE – NIGHT
Buffy comes from around the back, looking around. Xander comes up to her, carrying his
skateboard.
XANDER
You’re leaving already?
BUFFY
Xander, have you seen Willow?
XANDER
Not tonight.
BUFFY
I need to find her. She left with a guy.
XANDER
We are talking about Willow, right?
(impressed)
Scoring at the Bronze. Work it, girlfriend.
BUFFY
(looking around)
Where would they go?
XANDER
Why, you know something about Mr. Goodbar that she doesn’t? Oh! Hey. I hope he’s not a
vampire. ‘Cause then you’d have to slay him.
She turns back to him, surprised and miffed.
BUFFY
Was there a school bulletin? Was it in the news? Is there anybody in this town who doesn’t
know I’m a slayer?
XANDER
I only know that you think you’re a slayer, and I only know that ‘cause I was in the library
today.
BUFFY
Whatever. Just tell me where Willow would go.
XANDER
You’re serious.
BUFFY
We don’t find her, there’s gonna be another dead body in the morning.
A beat, as he looks at her. Sees she isn’t kidding. Isn’t wrong.
XANDER
Come on.
As they head off.
CUT TO:
EXT. GRAVEYARD – CONTINUOUS
Willow is still walking with Vampire Boy, but getting increasingly creeped out.
WILLOW
Okay, this is nice and… scary…
Are you sure this is faster?
He says nothing. She keeps walking beside him, uncertain.
He stops at a small mausoleum. The entrance is a well of black.
VAMPIRE BOY
Hey. You ever been in one of these?
WILLOW
No thank you.
He moves in close, holding her intimately.
VAMPIRE BOY
Come on. What are you afraid of?
He pushes her into the blackness of the entrance.
CUT TO:
INT. MAUSOLEUM – CONTINUOUS
Willow stumbles in. She looks about her frightenedly, adjusting to the increased dark.
The place is small, with carved stone walls. A large tomb takes up much of the middle, the stone
figure of a man lying atop it. Behind her is the doorway she came in, ahead, a much smaller,
iron door, locked shut.
She spins all the way round to see the boy filling the entrance.
WILLOW
That wasn’t funny.
No response. He steps closer, his face in shadow. She circles away from him, moving closer to
the doorway.
WILLOW
I think I’m gonna go.
VAMPIRE BOY
Is that what you think?
All the playfulness has drained out of his voice. She takes a step back, another, turns and moves
WHAM – right into DARLA.
Emitting something between a scream and a squeak, Willow steps back. Darla looks at her, at
the boy.
DARLA
(to him; re: her)
Is this the best you could do?
VAMPIRE BOY
She’s fresh.
DARLA
Hardly enough to share.
VAMPIRE BOY
Why didn’t you bring your own?
DARLA
I did.
She indicates the doorway behind her, as Jesse stumbles dazed from the darkness.
JESSE
Hey, wait up…
WILLOW
Jesse!
She goes over to him, relieved. He is clutching his neck.
JESSE
(to Darla)
I think you gave me a hickey…
He takes his hand away. There is blood on it, on his neck. Willow looks over at the other two,
eyes wide.
DARLA
(off the boy’s look)
I got hungry on the way.
WILLOW
Jesse, let’s get out of here.
DARLA
You’re not going anywhere.
WILLOW
Leave us alone.
DARLA
(in Willow’s face)
You’re not going anywhere until we’ve FED!
And on the last word she brings her face right up to Willow’s and it CHANGES, snaps right
before our eyes into the grotesque demon-face we saw before.
Willow SCREAMS, takes a stumbled step back and falls.
The boy laughs, circling, and we see that he has changed as well.
BUFFY
Well, this is nice.
She steps in, Xander following her. Everybody stops.
BUFFY
A little bare, but a dash of paint, a few throw pillows – call it home.
DARLA
Who the hell are you?
BUFFY
Wow, you mean there’s actually somebody around here who doesn’t know already? That’s a
relief. I’m telling you, having a secret identity in this town is a job of work.
He is moving between the two Vampires, who loosen their grip on their respective victims.
XANDER
Buffy, we bail now, right?
VAMPIRE BOY
Not yet.
BUFFY
Okay, first of all, what’s with this outfit? Live in the now, okay? You look like DeBarge.
(turning to Darla)
Now, we can do this the hard way, or… well, actually, there’s just the hard way.
DARLA
Fine with me.
BUFFY
You sure? It’s not gonna be pretty. We’re talking violence, strong language, adult content.
As she speaks, the Boy Vampire RUSHES her from behind, charging at her with incredible
speed and momentum –
Buffy whips a stake out from her jacket and in one graceful motion sticks it out behind her,
letting the boy impale himself on it. He stops, eyes wide, and falls back.
Buffy never even faces him.
ANGLE: THE BOY VAMPIRE
As he hits the ground, his body crumbles to dust.
BUFFY
(to Darla)
See what happens when you roughhouse?
Xander and Willow are speechless, staring at the ground where a body used to be.
Darla is wide eyed, exceedingly wary. But not cowed. She moves slowly around, preparing to
fight herself.
DARLA
He was young. And stupid.
BUFFY
Xander, go.
DARLA
Don’t go far.
She lunges at Buffy, who parries her blows with martial arts precision.
Xander herds the others out.
CUT TO:
EXT. GRAVEYARD – CONTINUOUS
The three kids run out of the mausoleum, Willow and Xander supporting Jesse. All three are
totally freaked – Jesse the least so, since he’s still weak and dazed.
CUT TO:
INT. MAUSOLEUM – CONTINUOUS
Darla hit the ground with a painful thud.
Buffy stands over her. She’s a bit out of breath, and the humor is gone from her visage.
BUFFY
You know, I just wanted to start over. Be like everybody else. Have some friends, maybe a
dog…
But no. You had to come here. You couldn’t go suck on some other town.
DARLA
Who are you?
BUFFY
Don’t you know?
HANDS suddenly grab Buffy by the throat, lift her bodily from the ground.
LUKE
I don’t care.
He steps out of the shadows from behind her – his bulk dwarfing her – and throws her a good
fifteen feet. She hits the wall face first, landing badly.
Luke turns on Darla, who is getting up.
LUKE
You were supposed to be bringing an offering for the Master. We’re almost at Harvest and you
dally with this child?
DARLA
We had someone. But she came and… she killed Thomas… Luke, she’s strong.
LUKE
(contemptuously)
You go. I’ll see if I can handle the little girl.
ANGLE: BUFFY
She lifts herself off the floor just as Luke suddenly closes on her, grabs her. She’s ready this
time, though, and she knocks his arms away, kicks him in the face. It sends him back a bit but he
recovers in a second, landing a solid punch to her jaw.
LUKE
You are strong.
He slams her back to the ground.
LUKE
I’m stronger.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE FOREST – CONTINUOUS
The three kids are making pretty good time, despite having to support Jesse.
WILLOW
We’ll get the police – it’s just a few blocks up –
They stop. They stare, despair creeping onto their faces.
Three Vampires stand waiting for them.
CUT TO:
INT. THE MAUSOLEUM – CONTINUOUS
Buffy looks like she’s been kicked around a bit. She circles around the tomb, keeping it between
her and Luke.
LUKE
You’re wasting my time.
BUFFY
Hey, I had other plans, too, okay?
He SHOVES the top of the tomb with all his might, sends it flying at her.
She LEAPS over it – jumps up onto the tomb, leaps off it, flipping, and WHAM – plants both
feet solidly in Luke’s chest.
He falls back, as does she – she gets up first and pulls out her stake, dries it toward his chest –
but he grabs just before it reaches.
LUKE
You think you can stop me? Stop us?
He squeezes – and the stake splinters in his powerful grip. He PUNCHES Buffy, knocks her
back.
LUKE
You have no idea what you’re dealing with.
He stands, triumphant, over her. Begins intoning the sacred text:
LUKE
And like a plague of boils, the race of Man covered the earth. But on the third day of the newest
light will come over the Harvest…
CUT TO:
INT. LIBRARY – CONTINUOUS
Giles has his ancient texts out, is studying them in growing consternation.
LUKE (V.O.)
… when the blood of men will flow as wine…
ANGLE: GILES’ BOOK
Shows a Dore-like engraving: a massacre. People writhing, blood everywhere – in the center of
them all, a Demon with a three-pointed star on his forehead, feeding off a woman.
CUT TO:
INT. THE CHURCH – CONTINUOUS
We TRACK IN on the Master sitting, his face in darkness.
LUKE (V.O.)
… when the Master will walk among them once more…
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST – CONTINUOUS
Xander, Willow and Jesse back away from the vampires –
LUKE (V.O.)
… the world will belong to the Old Ones…
–to find Darla right behind them!
CUT TO:
INT. MAUSOLEUM – CONTINUOUS
Buffy is getting up, keeping her eyes on Luke –
…and Hell itself will come to town.
She tries to move to the side, to get away – he backhands Buffy with all the force he has. She
flies back – right into the tomb!
ANGLE: IN THE TOMB
Buffy falls and lands HARD on her back, the wind knocked out of her. She looks beside her –
and sees the withered corpse of the tomb’s owner.
She’s hurt pretty bad. She looks up but no Luke. Only the walls of the tomb. He could be
anywhere.
Slowly, achingly slowly, she lifts her head. Truly scared. Looks over one side of the tomb –
nothing. Looks over the other.
Luke FILLS THE FRAME, roaring, jumping into the crypt on top of her.
She tries to fight him off but she’s well pinned. He contemplates her a moment with gleeful
animal hunger. Teeth dripping. [Hand written: “Not”].
LUKE
Amen.
He bears down.
BLACK OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED
Transcripts
Prologue
In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.
Sunnydale High School at night. The camera pans around from the side of the building to the main entrance. Cut to a hall. The camera moves down the hall pa
Darla: Are you sure this is a good idea?
Boy: It’s a great idea, now come on.
They crawl in. Cut to the hall. They come out of the classroom and walk down the hall.
Darla: Do you go to school here?
Boy: I used to. On top of the gym it’s so cool. You can see the whole town.
He continues down the hall, but she stops him close to the intersection.
Darla: I, I, I, I don’t wanna go up there.
Boy: Aw, you can’t wait, huh?
Darla: We’re just gonna get in trouble.
Boy: Yeah, you can count on it.
They almost kiss when Darla startles, draws a quick breath and turns her head around to look down the hall.
Darla: What was that?
Boy: What was what?
Darla: I heard a noise.
Boy: It’s nothing!
Darla: Uh, uh, maybe it’s something.
Boy: Or maybe it’s some thing!
Darla: That’s not funny.
He looks down the other hall.
Boy: Hellooooo! (to Darla) There’s nobody here.
Darla: Are you sure? (looks away)
Boy: Yes, I’m sure.
Darla: Okay.
She turns back to him all vamped out. She growls and bites him. He grunts in pain as they sink to the floor.~~~ Credits ~~ Wolf: Howl. Opening credits roll. Buffy’s theme plays. ~~ Part 1 ~~~~
Buffy’s room. The camera shows a shot from above of her in bed. She’s having the nightmares, with visions of the Master’s lair, the cemetery, the Master, o
Joyce: (off camera) Buffy?
Buffy: (sitting up) I’m up, Mom!
Joyce: (off camera) Don’t wanna be late for your first day!
Buffy: (to herself) No… Wouldn’t want that.
Cut to the school. The camera pans from the street to the main building. Cut to Joyce pulling up to the school in her Jeep to drop off Buffy.
Joyce: Okay!
Buffy gets out.
Joyce: Have a good time. I know you’re gonna make friends right away, just think positive. (gives a thumbs up)
Buffy looks through the open car door and gives her mother a quick nod. She turns to go and closes the door behind her.
Joyce: And honey?
Buffy looks back at her mom again.
Joyce: Try not to get kicked out?
Buffy: I promise.
Joyce: Okay.
Buffy faces the school and lets out a deep breath. Joyce drives off. Cut to Xander, doing his usual bob and weave through the crowd on his skateboard.
Xander: ‘Scuse me, comin’ through, pardon me, ‘scuse me, whoa! ‘Scuse me, not sure how to stop! Please move, whoa, ‘scuse me… (notices Buffy) Whoa.
He stares at her and doesn’t notice that he’s headed right for the stair railing. He crashes into it and falls beneath it, grunting in pain.
Xander: God!
Willow walks up and has to step high to avoid tripping over his legs.
Xander: I’m Okay. I feel good.
She looks down at him, smiling and pulling her hair behind her ear.
Xander: (sees her) Willow! You’re so very much the person that I wanted to see! (gets up)
Willow: Oh, really?
They start walking toward the school.
Xander: Yeah. You know, I kinda had a problem with the math.
Willow: Uh, which part?
Xander: The math. Can you help me out tonight, pleeeease, be my study buddy?
Willow: Well, what’s in it for me?
Xander: A shiny nickel!
Willow: Okay. Do you have ‘Theories in Trig’? You should check it out.
Xander: Check it out?
Willow: From the library? Where the books live.
Xander: Right, I’m there! See, I wanna change…
Cut to the hall just inside the door.
Jesse: Hey, hey!
Xander: Hey, Jesse, what’s what?
Jesse: New Girl!
Xander: That’s right, I saw her. Pretty much a hottie!
Willow: I heard someone was transferring…
Xander: So tell!
Jesse: Tell what?
Xander: What’s the sitch, what do ya know about her?
Jesse: New girl!
Xander: Well, you’re certainly a font of nothing!
Cut to Principal Flutie’s office. Buffy is seated. He has her school records and walks around the desk to his chair as he looks them over.
Mr. Flutie: Buffy Summers, sophomore, late of Hemery High in Los Angeles. Interesting record, quite a career…
He sits, takes the sheet he’s reading and tears it into four pieces.
Mr. Flutie: Welcome to Sunnydale! A clean slate, Buffy, that’s what you get here. What’s past is past. We’re not interested in what it says on a piece of
Buffy: Mr. Flutie–
Mr. Flutie: All the kids here are free to call me Bob.
Buffy: Bob–
Mr. Flutie: But they don’t.
He begins reassembling the torn sheet.
Buffy: I know my transcripts are a little… colorful.
Mr. Flutie: Heeey… We’re not caring about that. Do you think, uh, ‘colorful’ is the word? (tapes the paper) Not, uh, ‘dismal’?
Buffy: Wasn’t that bad!
Mr. Flutie: You burned down the gym.
Buffy: (exhales) I did, I really did, but… You’re not seeing the big picture here, I mean, that gym was full of vampi–asbestos.
Mr. Flutie: Buffy, don’t worry. Any other school they might say ‘watch your step’, or ‘we’ll be watching you’… But, that’s just not the way here. We w
He puts the poorly repaired sheet back into her file and slaps it shut. She gives him a thin, nervous smile.
Cut to the hall. Buffy comes out of Mr. Flutie’s office. She opens her bag and rummages through it as she walks into the hall right in front of a girl and
Buffy: Oh! Sorry!
Girl: That’s okay.
Buffy: (looks down at the mess) Oh…
Xander hears the noise, looks back, quickly comes over and squats down next to her to help her gather her things.
Xander: Can I have you?
She gives him a confused look.
Xander: Duh… (chuckles) Can I help you?
Buffy: (smiles) Thanks.
Xander: I don’t know you, do I?
Buffy: I’m Buffy. I’m new.
Xander: Xander. Is-is me. Hi. (smiles)
Buffy: Um, thanks.
They finish gathering up everything.
Xander: Well, uh, maybe I’ll see you around… maybe at school… since we… both… go there.
Buffy: Great! (they stand up) It was nice to meet you.
She starts down the hall.
Xander: (unimpressed with himself) We both go to school. Very suave. Very not pathetic.
He notices a stake still on the floor.
Xander: Oh, hey! (picks it up) Hey, you forgot your… stake.
Buffy doesn’t hear him and continues down the hall. Xander holds on to the stake.
Cut to a classroom. The teacher writes “The Black Death” on the board and then turns to the class.
Teacher: It’s estimated that about twenty-five million people died in that one four-year span. But the fun part of the Black Plague is that it originated
Cordelia is taking notes. So is Buffy, seated next to her.
Teacher: As an early form of germ warfare. If you’ll look at the map on page sixty-three you can trace the spread of the disease into Rome, and then north
Buffy doesn’t have a book and looks around for help. Cordelia notices and shares her book.
Buffy: (to Cordelia) Thanks.
Teacher: And this popular plague led to what social changes? Steve?
The bell rings and the students get up to leave.
Cordelia: Hi! I’m Cordelia. (offers her hand)
Buffy: (accepts it) I’m Buffy.
Cordelia: If you’re looking for a textbook of your very own there’s probably a few in the library.
Buffy: Oh, great, thanks. (they get up) Where would that be?
Cordelia: I’ll show you, come on. (they start out of the classroom) So you’re from Hemery, right? In L.A.?
Buffy: Uh, yeah.
Cordelia: Oh, I would kill to live in L.A. That close to that many shoes?
Buffy has to laugh as they go into the hall.
Cut to the two of them walking down another part of the hall.
Cordelia: Well, you’ll be okay here. If you hang with me and mine, you’ll be accepted in no time. Of course, we do have to test your coolness factor. You’
Buffy: Um, over?
Cordelia: So over. James Spader?
Buffy: He needs to call me!
Cordelia: Frappaccinos?
Buffy: Trendy, but tasty.
Cordelia: John Tesh?
Buffy: The Devil.
Cordelia: That was pretty much a gimme, but… you passed!
Buffy: Oh, goody!
They turn toward a drinking fountain. Willow is there. She straightens up and sees them coming.
Cordelia: Willow! Nice dress! Good to know you’ve seen the softer side of Sears.
Willow: Uh, oh, well, my mom picked it out.
Cordelia: No wonder you’re such a guy magnet. Are you done?
Willow looks at the fountain, then back at Cordelia.
Willow: Oh!
She turns and leaves. Buffy watches her go for a moment, then looks back at Cordelia after she starts talking again.
Cordelia: You wanna fit in here, the first rule is: know your losers. Once you can identify them all by sight (glances after Willow) they’re a lot easier
Buffy lets out a nervous laugh and nods. She looks at Willow again, who has gone through the door at the end of the hall. Willow looks back at them before
Cut to another area in the halls. The two of them continue their walk to the library.
Cordelia: And if you’re not too swamped with catching up you should come by the Bronze tonight.
Buffy: The who?
Cordelia: The Bronze. It’s the only club worth going to around here. They let anybody in, but it’s still the scene. It’s in the bad part of town.
Buffy: Where’s that? (stops outside the library doors)
Cordelia: About a half a block from the good part of town. (laughing) We don’t have a whole lot of town here. But, um, you should show!
Buffy: Well, I’ll try. (looks toward the library) Uh, thanks.
Cordelia: Good. So, um, I’ll see you in gym, and you can tell me absolutely everything there is to know about you. (waves and goes)
Buffy: (waves back) Great! (to herself) Oh, that sounds like fun.
She goes into the library. Cut inside. She comes in and looks around. It looks deserted.
Buffy: Hello? (continues in) Is anybody here?
She looks at the book checkout counter and sees a newspaper. A picture has been circled. The caption above it reads “Local Boys Still Missing.” Giles comes
Buffy: Ooh! (exhales) Anybody’s here!
Giles: Can I help you?
Buffy: I was looking for some, well, books. I’m new.
Giles: Miss Summers?
Buffy: Good call! Guess I’m the only new kid, huh?
Giles: I’m Mr. Giles. The librarian. I was told you were coming.
He heads around behind the counter.
Buffy: Great! So, um, I’m gonna need ‘Perspectives on 20th Century–‘
Giles: (interrupting) I know what you’re after!
With a big grin on his face he pulls out a large old book with the word “VAMPYR” written in gold leaf on the front cover. Buffy looks up at him with an une
Buffy: That’s not what I’m looking for.
Giles: Are you sure?
Buffy: I’m way sure.
Giles: (confused) My mistake.
He puts the book back behind the counter. Buffy quickly leaves.
Giles: (straightening back up) So, what is it you said–
He sees her go out of the library. Their first encounter leaves him puzzled.
Cut to the girls’ locker room. Two girls are discussing Buffy.
Aphrodisia: The new kid? She seems kind of weird to me. What kind of name is Buffy?
Girl: Hey, Aphrodisia!
Aphrodisia: Oh, Hey!
Aura: Well, the chatter in the caf is that she got kicked out, and that’s why her mom had to get a new job.
The girls work the combinations to their gym lockers.
Aphrodisia: Neg!
Aura: Pos! She was starting fights!
Aphrodisia: Neg-ly!
Aura: (opening her locker) Well I heard from Blue, and she said that–
The dead boy falls out of the locker onto Aura’s arm. She screams and lets the body fall.~~ Part 2 ~~
The quad at school. Willow is sitting on a bench in front of a wall taking out her lunch. Buffy approaches her.
Buffy: Uh, Hi! Willow, right?
Willow: (looks up) Why? I-I mean, hi! Uh, did you want me to move?
Buffy: Why don’t we start with, ‘Hi, I’m Buffy,’ and, uh, then let’s segue directly into me asking you for a favor. (sits next to her) It doesn’t involve
Willow: But aren’t you hanging out with Cordelia?
Buffy: I can’t do both?
Willow: Not legally.
Buffy: (exhales) Look, I really wanna get by here–new school–and… Cordelia’s been really nice… to me… anyway, but, um, I kinda have this burning d
Willow: Oh, I could totally help you out! Uh, if you have sixth period free we could meet in the library?
Buffy: Or not. Or we could meet someplace quieter. Louder. Uh, that place just kinda gives me the wiggins.
Willow: Oh, it has that effect on most kids. I love it, though, it’s a great collection, and the new librarian is really cool.
Buffy: He’s new?
Willow: Yeah, he just started. He was a curator at some British museum, or, or The British Museum, I’m not sure. But he knows everything, and he brought
Buffy: Not at all.
Xander hops up onto the wall behind the girls and sits on it between them. Jesse stands in front of them and drops his bag.
Jesse: Hey!
Xander: You guys busy? Are we interrupting? We’re interrupting.
He tosses his bag to Jesse.
Buffy: Hey!
Willow: Hey!
Jesse: Hey there!
He drops Xander’s bag next to his own.
Willow: Buffy, this is Jesse and that’s Xander.
Xander: Oh, me and Buffy go waaay back, old friends, very close. Then there’s that period of estrangement where I think we were both growing as people, bu
Jesse: Is it me, or are you turning into a bibbling idiot?
Xander: No, it’s, uh, it’s not you.
Buffy: Well, it’s nice to meet you guys, I think.
Xander jumps down to retrieve the stake from his bag.
Jesse: Well, you know, we wanted to welcome ya, make ya feel at home, unless you have a scary home…
Xander: And to return this. (holds up the stake) The only thing I can think is that you’re building a really little fence. (hands it to her)
Buffy: (takes it) Hah, no, um, a-a-actually it was for self-defense. Everyone has them in L.A. Pepper spray is just so passé.
Xander: So what do you do for fun, what do you like, what do you look for in a man, let’s hear it.
Jesse: If you have any dark, painful secrets you’d like us to publish?
Buffy: Gee, everyone wants to know about me. How keen.
Xander: Well, not much goes on in a one Starbucks town like Sunnydale. You’re pretty big news.
Buffy: I’m not. Really.
Cordelia: (interrupts) Are these guys bothering you?
Buffy: Uh, no!
Willow: She’s not hanging out with us.
Jesse: (stands next to her) Hey! Cordelia!
Cordelia: (to Jesse) Oh, please! (to Buffy) I don’t mean to interrupt your downward mobility, but I just wanted to tell you that you won’t be meeting Coac
Buffy: What?
Willow: What are you talking about?
Cordelia: Some guy was stuffed in Aura’s locker!
Buffy: Dead.
Cordelia: Totally dead. Way dead.
Xander: It’s not just a little dead, then?
Cordelia: Don’t you have an elsewhere to be?
Jesse: Y’know, if you need a shoulder to cry on, or just to nibble on…
Buffy: How did he die?
Cordelia: I don’t know.
Buffy: Well, were there any marks?
Cordelia: Morbid much! I didn’t ask!
Buffy: (looks at everyone) Um, I gotta book. I’ll, I’ll see you guys later.
She grabs her things and leaves. Cordelia stares after her.
Cordelia: What’s her deal?
Cut to outside the gym. Buffy sneaks up to an outside entrance. It’s locked. She uses her strength to break the door and goes in, looking around to make su
Buffy: Oh, great.
Cut to the library. Buffy barges in.
Buffy: Okay, what’s the sitch?
Giles: (in the stacks) Sorry?
Buffy: You heard about the dead guy, right? The dead guy in the locker?
Giles: (steps into the light) Yes.
She drops her bag on the study table and heads up the stairs.
Buffy: ‘Cause, it’s the weirdest thing. He’s got two little, little holes in his neck, and all his blood’s been drained. (meets him) Isn’t that bizarre? A
Giles: I was afraid of this.
Buffy: Well, I wasn’t! It’s my first day! I was afraid that I was gonna be behind in all my classes, that I wouldn’t make any friends, that I would have
Giles: Then why are you here?
Buffy: To tell you that… I don’t care, which… I don’t, and… have now told you, so… bye. (turns away to go)
Giles: Is he, w-will he… rise again?
Buffy: (turns back) Who?
Giles: The boy.
Buffy: No. He’s just dead.
Giles: Can you be sure?
Buffy: To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood. And then you have to suck their blood. It’s like a whole big sucking thing. Mostly they’re just
Buffy turns and goes down the stairs. Giles moves over to the railing.
Giles: You really have no idea what’s going on, do you? You think it’s coincidence, your being here? That boy was just the beginning.
Buffy: Oh, why can’t you people just leave me alone?
Giles: Because you are the Slayer. (comes down the stairs) Into each generation a Slayer is born, one girl in all the world, a Chosen One, one born with t
Buffy: (interrupts and joins in) With the strength and skill to hunt the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil blah, blah, blah… I’ve heard it, oka
Giles: I really don’t understand this attitude. You, you’ve accepted your duty, you, you’ve slain vampires before…
Buffy: Yeah, and I’ve both been there and done that, and I’m moving on.
Giles: What do you know about this town? (goes into his office)
Buffy: It’s two hours on the freeway from Neiman Marcus?
Giles: Dig a bit in the history of this place. You’ll find a, a steady stream of fairly odd occurrences. Now, I believe this whole area is a center of mys
Buffy: Like vampires.
He puts the volumes into Buffy’s arms one by one as he lists off various
monsters and demons.
Giles: Like zombies, werewolves, incubi, succubi, everything you’ve ever dreaded was under your bed, but told yourself couldn’t be by the light of day. Th
Buffy: What? You, like, sent away for the Time-Life series?
Giles: Ah, w-w-w-yes.
Buffy: Did you get the free phone?
Giles: Um, the calendar.
Buffy: Cool! But, okay, (gives back the books) first of all, I’m a Vampire Slayer. And secondly, I’m retired. Hey, I know! Why don’t you kill ’em?
Giles: I-I’m a Watcher, I-I haven’t the skill…
Buffy: Oh, come on, stake through the heart, a little sunlight… It’s like falling off a log.
Giles: A, a Slayer slays, a Watcher–
Buffy: Watches?
Giles: Yes. No! (sets down the books) He, he trains her, he, he, he
prepares her–
Buffy: Prepares me for what? For getting kicked out of school? For losing all of my friends? For having to spend all of my time fighting for my life and n
They just look at each other for a moment. Buffy exhales, turns and leaves the library in disgust. Giles hesitates for an instant.
Giles: (to himself) Damn!
He runs after Buffy. Xander walks out from behind the stacks.
Xander: What?
Cut to the hall. Giles catches up with Buffy.
Giles: It’s getting worse!
Buffy: What’s getting worse?
He guides her over to the wall and speaks with her in a low voice.
Giles: The influx of the undead, the… supernatural occurrences, it’s been building for years. There’s a reason why you’re here and a reason why it’s now
Buffy: Because now is the time my mom moved here.
She tries to evade him, but he puts his arm out to stop her.
Giles: Something’s coming, something, something… something is, is gonna happen here. Soon!
Buffy: Gee, can you vague that up for me?
Giles: The signs, as far as I can tell, point to a crucial mystical upheaval, very soon. Days. Possibly less.
Buffy: Oh, come on! This is Sunnydale! How bad an evil can there be
here?
Cut to outside the school. The camera descends behind some bushes and sinks through the ground into the lair of the Master. There are candles everywhere. V
Luke: The sleeper will wake. The sleeper will wake. The sleeper will wake. The sleeper will wake, and the world will bleed. Amen!~~ Part 3 ~~
Buffy’s room. She’s considering what to wear to the Bronze. She holds a shiny black outfit up to the mirror.
Buffy: Hi! I’m an enormous slut! (holds up a blue floral dress) Hello! Would you like a copy of ‘The Watchtower’? (lowers the dress) I used to be so good
Her mother comes into the room.
Joyce: Hi, hon.
Buffy returns her dresses to the closet.
Buffy: Hey!
Joyce: Are you, uh, going out tonight?
Buffy: Yeah, I’m going to a club.
Joyce: Oh. Will there be boys there?
Buffy: No, Mom. It’s a nun club.
Joyce: Well, just be careful.
Buffy: I will.
Joyce: You know, I think we can make it work here. I’ve got my positive energy flowing… I’m gonna get the Gallery on its feet… Oh, uh, we may have fou
Buffy: That’s great.
Joyce: Oh, and that school is a, a very nurturing environment, which is just what you need.
Buffy: Well, actually…
Joyce: Oh, not too nurturing. I know, you’re sixteen, I’ve read all about the dangers of over-nurturing.
Buffy goes to her bed and lays out a couple of outfits.
Joyce: It’s hard. New town and everything… It is for me, too. I’m trying to make it work. (takes her daughter’s hands in hers) I’m going to make it wo
Buffy: I know.
Joyce: Oh, you’re a good girl, Buffy, (pats her on the head) you just fell in with the wrong crowd. But that is all behind us now.
Buffy: It is. From now on I am only going to hang out with the living. (they let go of their hands, and she picks up her dresses) I mean, lively. People.
Buffy heads back to her closet with an awkward look on her face.
Joyce: Hmm. Okay. You have fun.
Cut outside later that evening. Buffy is walking down a dark street, when someone appears behind her. She senses that she is being followed. After walking
Angel: Ah, heh. Is there a problem, ma’am?
Buffy: Yeah, there’s a problem. Why are you following me?
Angel: I know what you’re thinking. Don’t worry, I don’t bite.
She backs off and lets him get up, but keeps her fighting stance.
Angel: Truth is, I thought you’d be taller, or bigger muscles and all that. You’re pretty spry, though. (massages his neck)
Buffy: What do you want?
Angel: The same thing you do.
Buffy: (lets down her guard) Okay. What do I want?
Angel: (steps toward her) To kill them. To kill them all.
Buffy: Sorry, that’s incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year’s supply of Turtle Wax. What I want is to be left alone!
She starts a determined walk away.
Angel: Do you really think that’s an option anymore? You’re standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it’s about to open.
She stops, turns to him and looks at him with a wide-eyed gaze. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small box.
Angel: Don’t turn your back on this. (tosses her the box) You’ve gotta be ready.
Buffy: What for?
Angel: For the Harvest.
Buffy: Who are you?
Angel: Let’s just say… I’m a friend. (starts to leave)
Buffy: Yeah, well, maybe I don’t want a friend.
Angel: (turns back) I didn’t say I was yours.
He leaves. Buffy stares after him for a moment, then opens the box. It contains a silver cross and chain. She takes it out, holds it in her hand and takes
Cut to outside the Bronze. People are arriving and meeting. Buffy is wearing the cross around her neck. She walks up to the entrance, gives the doorman som
Lyrics: Oh, I just want to believe / Can you hear me? / Can you see me? / What’s inside of me? / Oh, I just want to believe / If my life can have a purpos
Buffy moves to the music a bit. She sees a guy waving in her direction and waves back, then notices someone behind her waving back and pulls her hand down,
Lyrics: Everybody wants to find the circle / The line of truth that has no end / Because so many nights I’ve slept with the feeling of empty / And I say,
She finds the bar and sees Willow sitting there.
Buffy: Hey!
Willow: Oh, hi!
Buffy walks around her and sits on the stool next to her. Willow turns to face her.
Willow: Hi!
Buffy: Oh, you’re here with someone?
Willow: No, I’m just here. I thought Xander was gonna show up.
Buffy: Oh, are you guys going out?
Willow: No, we’re just friends. We used to go out, but we broke up.
Buffy: How come?
Willow: He stole my Barbie. (Buffy looks confused) Oh, we were five.
Buffy: Oh.
Willow: I-I-I don’t actually date a whole lot… lately.
Buffy: Why not?
Willow: Well, when I’m with a boy I like, it’s hard for me to say anything cool, or, or witty, or at all. I-I can usually make a few vowel sounds, and the
Buffy: It’s not that bad!
Willow: No, i-it is. I think boys are more interested in a girl who can talk.
Buffy: You really haven’t been dating lately.
Willow: It’s probably easy for you.
Buffy: Yeah, real easy.
Willow: I-I mean you don’t seem too shy.
Buffy: Well, my philosophy, do you wanna hear my philosophy?
Willow: Yeah, I do!
Buffy: Life is short.
Willow: Life is short!
Buffy: Not original, I’ll grant you, but it’s true. You know? Why waste time being all shy and worrying about some guy, and if he’s gonna laugh at you. Se
Willow: Oh, that’s nice!
Buffy looks up and sees Giles on the upper level.
Buffy: Um, I’ll be back in a minute. (gets up to go)
Willow: Oh, tha-that’s okay, you don’t have to come back.
Buffy: (smiles) I’ll be back in a minute.
Willow: (to herself) Seize the moment.
Cut to Buffy, making her way to the stairs. The camera follows her up.
Lyrics: I feel love with my friends / I feel love in my songs / If I could just hold love / Then all the answers might come / I said, oh, if we’re all chi
Buffy: (finds Giles) So, you like to party with the students. Isn’t that kinda skanky?
Giles: Oh, right, this is me having fun. Watching… clown hair prance about is hardly my idea of a party. I’d much rather be at home with a cup of Bovril
Buffy: You need a personality, stat!
Giles: (points to the crowd below) This is a perfect breeding ground for vampire activity. It’s dark, it’s crowded… Besides, I knew you were likely to s
Buffy: That the Harvest is coming. I know, your friend told me.
Giles: What did you say?
Buffy: The Harvest. That mean something to you? ‘Cause I’m drawing a blank.
Giles: I’m not sure. Uh… W-who told you this?
Buffy: This… guy. Dark, gorgeous in an annoying sort of way. I figured you two were buds.
Giles: No. The Harvest. Did he say anything else?
Buffy: Something about the Mouth of Hell. I really didn’t like him!
The band has finished its song and there’s lots of applause. They soon start their next song, “Swirl”. Giles moves around Buffy, leans on the railing and l
Giles: Look at them, throwing themselves about, completely unaware of the danger that surrounds them.
Buffy: Lucky them.
Giles: Or perhaps you’re right. Perhaps there is no trouble coming; the signs could be wrong. It’s not as though you’ve been having the nightmares.
Buffy is silent. Cut to below.
Cordelia: My mom doesn’t even get out of bed anymore. And the doctor says it’s Epstein-Barr. I’m like, pleeease! It’s chronic hepatitis, or at least chr
Jesse spots Cordelia and comes over.
Jesse: Hey, Cordelia!
Cordelia: Oh, yay, it’s my stalker. (makes a face)
Jesse: Hey, you, uh, you look great!
Cordelia: Well, I’m glad we had this little chat.
Jesse: (coughs) Listen, uh, you know, you wanna dance, you know?
Cordelia: With you?
Jesse: Well, uh, yeah.
Cordelia: Well, uh, no! C’mon, guys.
She and her friends leave. Jesse is left in the dust.
Jesse: Fine! Plenty of other fish in the sea. Oh, yeah, I’m… on the prowl. Witness me prowling!
Cut to Buffy and Giles on the upper level.
Buffy: I didn’t say I’d never slay another vampire. It’s not like I have all these fluffy-bunny feelings for them, I’m just not gonna get way extracurricu
Giles: (interrupting) Will you be ready? There’s so much you don’t know about them, about your own powers. A vampire appears to be completely normal until
Buffy: You’re like a textbook with arms, I know this.
Giles: The point is, a Slayer should be able to see them anyway. Without looking, without thinking. Can you tell me if there’s a vampire in this building?
Buffy: Maybe…
Giles: You should know. Even through this mass and this… din, you should be able to sense them. Well, try! Reach out with your mind. (Buffy looks around
Buffy: There’s one.
Giles: W-where?
Buffy: Right there, talking to that girl.
Giles: You don’t know–
Buffy: Oh, please! Look at his jacket. He’s got the sleeves rolled up, and the shirt! Deal with that outfit for a moment.
Giles: It’s dated?
Buffy: It’s carbon dated. Trust me, only someone living underground for ten years would think that was still the look.
Giles: But you didn’t… hone.
Buffy: (notices that the girl is Willow) Oh, no.
Giles: Isn’t that–
Buffy: Willow.
Giles: What’s she doing?
Buffy: Seizing the moment!
She starts down to rescue Willow.
Lyrics: We’re formed in liquid / Pushed out still dripping / A world was thrown before my eyes
Cut to below. Willow is being led out of the Bronze by the vampire. Cut to Giles. He’s at a loss for what to do.
Lyrics: Now paint a picture / Crayon stick figures / With blue-haired people, purple skies
Cut to below. Buffy has lost them. She tries the back. She breaks a leg off of a chair from a stack and begins to stalk. After a while Cordelia comes out o
Buffy: (recognizing) Cordelia! (she lets go)
Cordelia: God! What is your childhood trauma?!
Her entourage appears in the restroom door behind her.
Buffy: Have you guys seen Willow? Did she come by here?
Cordelia: Why? Do you need to attack her with the stick? Jeez!
Buffy turns and goes.
Cordelia: (to her groupies) Excuse me, I have to call everyone I have ever met, right now.
Cut to the main floor. Giles catches up with Buffy.
Giles: That was quick. Well done! I-I need to go to the library. This Harvest thing…
Buffy: I didn’t find them!
He grabs Buffy by the arm and turns her to face him.
Giles: The vampire is not dead?
Buffy: No, but my social life is on the critical list.
Giles: (lets go of her) So, what do we do?
Buffy: I’ll take care of it!
Giles: I-I-I need to come with you, yes?
Buffy: Don’t worry. One vampire I can handle.
She leaves, walking past Jesse talking to Darla.
Jesse: So, um, what did you say your name was?
Darla: Darla.
Jesse: Darla. You know, I haven’t seen you around before. Are you from around here?
Darla: No, but I have family here.
Jesse: Have I met them?
Darla: You probably will.
Cut to the Master’s lair. The Master rises out of the pool of blood as Luke kneels and looks on. He steps out of the pool over to Luke and offers his hand.
Luke: Master!~~ Part 4 ~~
In the Master’s lair.
Master: I am weak.
Luke: (quotes scripture) ‘In the Harvest, he will be restored.’
Master: The Harvest.
Luke: We’re almost there. Soon you’ll be free!
The Master reaches his arm out to test his mystical confines.
Master: I must be ready. I need my strength.
Luke: I’ve sent your servants to bring you some food.
Master: Good. Luke?
Luke: Yes?
Master: Bring me something… young.
Cut to the sidewalk next to the cemetery. Willow and Thomas are walking.
Willow: Sure is dark.
Thomas: It’s night.
Willow: Well, that’s a dark time, night. Traditionally. I still can’t believe I’ve never seen you at school. Do you have Mr. Chomsky for history?
Thomas ignores her babbling and heads into the cemetery.
Willow: Uh, the ice cream bar is this way. It’s past Hamilton Street?
Thomas: I know a shortcut.
He grabs her hand and leads her into the cemetery.
Cut to outside the Bronze. Buffy is trying to find Willow.
Xander: Hey, you’re leaving already?
Buffy: Oh, Xander! Have you seen Willow?
Xander: Not tonight, no.
Buffy: She left with a guy.
Xander: We’re talking about Willow, right? Scorin’ at the Bronze, work it girl–
Buffy: (interrupts) No, I need to find her. Where would he take her?
Xander: Why? Oh, hey, I hope he’s not a vampire, because then you might have to slay him.
Buffy: (taken aback) Was there a-a school bulletin? Was it i-in the newspaper? Is there anyone in this town who doesn’t know I’m the Slayer?
Xander: No. I only know that you think that you’re the Slayer, and the reason why I know that–
Buffy: (interrupts) Well, whatever, it doesn’t matter, just tell me, where would Willow go?
Xander: You’re serious!
Buffy: We don’t find her and there’s gonna be one more dead body in the morning!
Cut to the cemetery. Willow and Thomas are walking.
Willow: Oh, okay, th-this is nice… and scary. Are you sure this is faster?
They reach the mausoleum.
Thomas: Hey! Ever been in one of these?
Willow: No. Thank you. (turns away)
Thomas: Come on. (comes up behind her and pulls her hair back) What are you afraid of?
He moves in toward her neck. She lets out a yelp as he grabs her and pushes her into the mausoleum. Cut to inside the mausoleum. Willow trips down the stai
Willow: That wasn’t funny!
Thomas comes down the steps. She backs away from him, against a wall. She trips over some stones.
Willow: I think I’m gonna go.
Thomas: Is that what you think?
He comes toward her again. She skirts by him, but only because he lets her. Darla blocks her way out of the mausoleum.
Darla: Is this the best you could do?
Thomas: She’s fresh!
Darla: Hardly enough to share.
Thomas: Why didn’t you bring your own?
Darla: (gives him a look) I did.
Jesse stumbles into the mausoleum, holding his neck.
Jesse: Hey! Wait up!
Willow: Oh, my God, Jesse!
He is weak from blood loss and collapses. Willow tries to catch him and breaks his fall.
Jesse: Y’know, you gave me a hickey.
Thomas gives Darla a look.
Darla: (shrugs) I got hungry on the way.
Willow: Jesse, let’s get outta here!
Darla: Oh, you’re not going anywhere.
Willow: (confronts her) Leave us alone!
Darla: You’re not going anywhere until we’ve (vamps out) fed!
Willow screams and falls back down next to Jesse. Buffy and Xander show up.
Buffy: Well, this is nice. I-it’s a little bare, but a dash of paint, a few throw pillows… call it home!
Buffy moves behind the coffin to draw the vampires away from the others.
Darla: Who the hell are you?
Buffy: You mean there’s actually someone in this town who doesn’t know already? Whew, that’s a relief, I’m telling you! Having a secret identity in this t
Xander: Buffy, we bail now, right?
Thomas: Not yet!
Buffy: Okay, first of all, what’s with the outfit? Live in the now, okay? You look like DeBarge!
The vampires close in on her. She turns to Darla.
Buffy: Now, we can do this the hard way, or… well, actually there’s just the hard way.
Darla: That’s fine with me!
Buffy: Are you sure? Now, this is not gonna be pretty. We’re talking violence, strong language, adult content…
Thomas roars behind Buffy. She pulls the chair leg out from inside her shirt. He attacks from behind, but Buffy neatly jams the makeshift stake into his ch
Buffy: See what happens when you roughhouse?
Darla: He was young and stupid!
Buffy: Xander, go!
Darla: Don’t go far!
Buffy and Darla start to fight. Darla punches high, but Buffy blocks. Xander helps Willow pick up Jesse. Darla throws a backhand punch, but Buffy blocks ag
Buffy: You know, I just wanted to start over. Be like everybody else. Have some friends, y’know, maybe a dog… But, no, you had to come here, you couldn’
Darla: Who are you?
Buffy: Don’t you know?
Luke grabs her by the neck from behind.
Luke: I don’t care!
He throws her across the room. He grabs Darla and lifts her to her feet.
Luke: You were supposed to be bringing an offering for the Master! We’re almost at Harvest, and you dally with this child!
Darla: (fearfully) We had someone, but then she came. She killed Thomas. Luke, she’s strong.
Luke: You go. I’ll see if I can handle the little girl.
He approaches Buffy as she starts to get up, still a little dazed. Darla quickly climbs the steps, looks back once and runs out of the door. Luke attacks B
Luke: You’re strong.
He lands a solid backhand fist on her. She goes flying.
Luke: I’m stronger!
Cut to outside in the cemetery. Xander and Willow are supporting Jesse as they run.
Willow: We’ll get the police, it’s just a few blocks up!
They are stopped by a group of vampires. Cut to the mausoleum.
Luke: You’re wasting my time.
She backs away up the stairs toward the exit.
Buffy: Hey, I had other plans, too, okay?
Luke shoves the heavy lid off of the coffin. Buffy does a cartwheel onto and over it to avoid it and kicks Luke in the chest with both feet, knocking him d
Luke: You think you can stop me? Stop us?
He grabs the stake with his other hand and breaks it. Then he grabs her by the shirt.
Luke: You have no idea what you’re dealing with.
He throws Buffy onto the rim of the now open coffin. She rolls off onto the floor, dazed. Luke gets up and starts toward her, quoting scripture.
Luke: ‘And like a plague of boils, the race of man covered the Earth.’
Cut to the library. Giles is paging through an old volume and stops on a picture of Satan with lightning coming from his hand to a man’s.
Luke: ‘But on the third day of the newest light would come the Harvest. And the blood of men will flow as wine.’
Cut to the Master sitting in an intricately carved chair.
Luke: ‘When the Master will walk among them once more.’
Cut to Xander, Willow and Jesse surrounded by vampires, including Darla.
Luke: ‘The Earth will belong to the old ones.’
Cut to Buffy. Luke is in her face.
Luke: ‘And Hell itself will come to town.’
He grabs Buffy and growls. He lifts her by the throat and throws her toward the coffin. Buffy flips over in a front layout and lands in the coffin next to
Luke: (smiling widely) Amen!
He moves in to bite Buffy.
To Be Continued…
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