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Episode Summary
It’s Career Week at Sunnydale High for everyone but Buffy — her fate as the Slayer has already been sealed. While Buffy is bummed, Spike seeks out a cure for Drusilla by having a transcriber go through a book stolen from Giles.
They realize the book is in code, and through tarot cards, they can figure out what to do.
While at the cemetery, Buffy enters a mausoleum and sees the transcriber and another vampire — she’s able to kill the vampire, but the transcriber eludes her.
When she returns home, Angel is waiting for her and warns her of trouble. She’s still upset about Career Day, and reveals her secret childhood obsession with ice skater Dorothy Hamill.
Giles worries about the missing vampire and what was taken from the mausoleum. We see Spike with a coffin pillow adorned with a cross — part of the cure.
He knows if Buffy keeps interrupting, he’ll never get the key to curing Drusilla, so he decides to summon bounty hunters — the most savage of killers.
Giles chastises Buffy as they examine the mausoleum together and Giles finds the name “duLac” — he was the author of the stolen book Spike has; a book of evil spells written in archaic Latin.
They realize the cross has been stolen from his crypt, and it is the tool which will allow Spike to wreak havoc — Giles says he must decipher the book first in order to save them.
Meanwhile, we strangers start hitting town and doing their damage– one is a door-to-door cosmetic salesman, one is an evil-looking guy, and one is a beautiful woman.
Buffy blows off the deciphering session to go skate with Angel, but Evil Guy is already there. Angel tries to save her but she’s able to cut the guy’s throat with her skate blade.
Angel wigs when he sees the guy’s ring — Giles identifies it as the symbol of the Order of Teraka — the deadly assassins. These are not the ordinary vamps; they’ll stop at nothing to kill everything in their paths.
Buffy freaks and goes to Angel’s house while Angel goes to a local bar, trolling for information about the bounty hunters.
The beautiful woman arrives and attacks Angel, locking him in a cage where he’ll be vulnerable to deadly sunlight within hours. While working with the transcriber, Spike has finally found the answer to curing Drusilla.
As Xander and Cordelia go looking for Buffy at her house, Cordelia lets the cosmetics salesman in.
Back at Angel’s house, the beautiful woman tries to kill Buffy with an axe, identifying herself as Kendra, The Vampire Slayer… Buffy freaks as Kendra identifies herself as the Slayer.
They realize that Kendra was summoned as the new Slayer when Buffy died — temporarily drowned, that is. Kendra, too, knows that evil is coming.
Near death at daybreak, Angel is dragged from the cell by the guy from the bar — he dumps him in a sewer and turns him over to Spike and Drusilla.
When the new moon comes that night, they will perform the ritual they figured out from the transcriber and Angel will die. Giles seems to be bonding with Kendra, making Buffy feel left out.
Now that there’s a spare slayer, Buffy considers giving up the business. At Buffy’s house, Cordelia chats merrily with the cosmetics guy until she realizes he has bugs crawling all over him.
He turns into a huge pile of them, sending Cordelia and Xander into hiding, and they fight over what to do. In the heat of the argument, they kiss passionately (?!).
They manage to escape and speed off in Cordy’s car. At Sunnydale High, Willow chats with Oz, her male computer nerd counterpart, about their similar Career Fair paths.
A police woman supervising the fair suddenly opens fire on Buffy and accidentally shoots Oz, but Kendra comes to Buffy’s rescue.
When the gang assembles in the library, Giles announces he’s figured out the ritual: Angel will die that night. Buffy and Kendra go to the bar to try to get help finding Angel, but Kendra bails, convinced that Angel is evil.
Meanwhile, Drusilla is having a field day with her ex- tormentor Angel, dousing him with holy water and watching him writhe in pain.
The Bar Guy leads Buffy to the church, which is filled with evil Tenaka bounty hunters. Buffy watches in horror as Drusilla holds onto the tied-up Angel, sapping his power.
As the policewoman assassin goes to shoot Buffy, Kendra enters to save her. Willow, Xander, Cordelia and Giles burst in and help, too.
Xander and Cordelia wait for Bug Guy to, well, bug out, then they pour glue all over him and stomp on the helpless creatures.
Buffy releases Angel, but Spike sets the room on fire and grabs Dru. Before they’re able to escape, Buffy hurls something at them and sends them crashing into a huge organ, squooshing them both.
The charm-free Kendra leaves town, and Buffy is the Number One Slayer once again. But all is not well. Emerging from the rubble in the church is Drusilla, now fully vamped out and strong enough to carry the injured Spike to safety. She’s back, and she’s bad.
Shooting Scripts
Teaser
INT. SCHOOL LOUNGE – DAY
FADE UP ON BANNER- “CAREER FAIR STARTS TOMORROW”
CAMERA pans down.
A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR sits behind a table from which a sign hangs -“VOCATIONAL APTITUDE
TESTS.”
WILLOW grabs a test and a number 2 pencil from the table- moves to BUFFY and XANDER, who sit
filling out their forms.
XANDER
“Are you a people person or do you
prefer keeping your own company?”
What if I’m a people person who
keeps his own company by default?
BUFFY
So – mark “none of the above.”
XANDER
There is no box for “none of the above.”
That would introduce too many variables
into their mushroom head, number-crunching
little world.
WILLOW
I’m sensing bitterness.
XANDER
It’s just – these people can’t tell from
one multiple choice test what we’re
supposed to do for the rest of our lives.
It’s ridiculous.
WILLOW
I’m kind of curious to find out what
sort of career I could have.
XANDER
And suck all the spontaneity out of
being young and stupid? I’d rather
live in the dark.
WILLOW
We won’t be young forever.
XANDER
I’ll always be stupid.
(beat)
Okay, let’s not all rush to disagree…
BUFFY
You’re not stupid.
(looking up)
Do I like shrubs?
XANDER
That’s between you and your God.
BUFFY
(to Willow)
What’d you put?
WILLOW
I came down on the side of shrubs.
BUFFY
Go shrubs. Okay.
(puts down pencil)
I shouldn’t even be bothering with this.
It’s all moot-ville for me. No matter
what my aptitude test says – I already
know my deal.
XANDER
Yep. High risk, sub-minimum wage…
BUFFY
(holds up pencil)
Pointy wooden things.
WILLOW
So why are you even taking the test?
BUFFY
It’s Principal Snyder’s “hoop” of the
week. He’s not happy unless I’m
jumping. Believe me, I wouldn’t be
here otherwise.
WILLOW
You’re not even a teensy weensy bit
curious about what kind of career
you could have had? I mean, if you
weren’t already the Slayer and all.
BUFFY
(snapping)
Do the words “sealed” and “fate” ring
any bells for you, Will? Why go there?
Willow looks stung by Buffy’s tone.
XANDER
(to Buffy)
You know, with that kind of attitude
you could have had a bright future
as an employee of the DMV.
BUFFY
I’m sorry. It’s just – unless hell freezes
over and every vamp in Sunnydale puts
in for early retirement – I’d say my future
is pretty much a non-issue.
CUT TO:
INT. FACTORY – NIGHT
Speaking of vamps… Here’s DRUSILLA – wrapped in a black shawl and looking even paler than usual.
She stands at one end of the long dining table, laying out TAROT CARDS. She is humming, swaying-
DRUSILLA
(sings/discordant)
I HEAR MUSIC AND THERE’S NO
ONE THERE… ALL NIGHT LONG
I SEEM TO WALK ON AIR… I
WONDER WHY, I WONDER WHY…
ANGLE TO INCLUDE SPIKE
At the other end of the table. He PACES ANXIOUSLY HOLDING A LATIN/ENGLISH DICTIONARY, while
ANOTHER VAMP (DALTON) sits, carefully going over a LARGE MANUSCRIPT. DALTON has the serious
look of a scholar – sort of an anti-Giles.
SPIKE
(to Dalton)
Read it again-
DALTON
I’m not sure… It could be… Deprimere
ille bubula linter.
Spike looks through the dictionary. Then reads-
SPIKE
Debase the beef canoe.
A beat. Then he SLAMS Dalton upside the head with the dictionary.
SPIKE
Why does that strike me as not right?
Drusilla turns to him, still HUMMING, and opens her arms –
DRUSILLA
Spike? Come dance.
Spike bristles at her voice.
SPIKE
(flashing)
Give us some peace, would you?
Can’t you see I’m working?
Drusilla looks shocked at his outburst. Spike is instantly remorseful. He moves to her.
SPIKE
I’m sorry, kitten. It’s just – this
manuscript is supposed to hold
your cure, But it reads like jibberish-
Drusilla turns away from him – wounded. Spike is desperate to appease her.
SPIKE
I’m frazzled is all. I never had the Latin.
Even Dalton here, the big brain, even
he can’t make heads or tails of it –
DRUSILLA
I – I need to change Miss Edith.
She starts to walk away, but falters. Suddenly weak – she tries to grab the table to keep from falling.
Spike RUSHES to her side – saves her from taking a bad tumble.
He moves her gently back to a chair at the table – brushing her shawl aside in the process. We see
for the first time that her ARMS ARE MARKED WITH DEEP BRUISES. Spike can’t look at them, averts
his eyes. He kneels by her, desperate.
SPIKE
Forgive me. You know I can’t stand
seeing you like this…
(then/frustrated)
And we’re running out of time. It’s that
bloody slayer. Whenever I turn around
she’s mucking up the works.
A beat. Drusilla softens. Moved by his sincere feeling.
DRUSILLA
Shhhhhhh. Shhhhhhh. You’ll make
it right. I know.
Thankful for her benediction, Spike takes her hand. Kisses it. Then he stands, full of fire – which he
turns on POOR DALTON.
SPIKE
Well? Come on now. Enlighten me.
DALTON
(nervous)
I – It looks like Latin, but it’s not.
I’m not even sure it’s a language.
Not one I can decipher, anyway…
Spike moves to him – furious.
SPIKE
Then make it a language. Isn’t that
what a transcriber does?
DALTON
Not – not exactly.
Spike GRABS DALTON. Lifts him out of his seat with ONE HAND. Ready to do some serious damage.
SPIKE
I want the cure –
At the other end of the table, DRUSILLA is STARING at the tarot cards. Glances up at SPIKE ABOUT
TO POUND DALTON.
DRUSILLA
Don’t –
SPIKE
Why not? Some people find pain –
He SLAMS Dalton in the GUT, doubling him over.
SPIKE
-very inspirational.
Spike gets ready to punch him again. But Drusilla speaks up –
DRUSILLA
He can’t help you.
(then)
Not without the key.
This stops Spike cold. He turns to her.
SPIKE
The key? You mean the book is in
some kind of code?
Drusilla nods. Spike drops Dalton in a heap – moves to her. She nods to A TAROT CARD she has
turned. Spike follows her gaze.
CLOSE ON CARD
It is an etching of a ruined CRYPT, which is overgrown with ivy – prominent above a field of tilted
gravestones.
ON DRU AND SPIKE
SPIKE
Is that where we’ll find this key?
Dru nods again. Spike grins.
SPIKE
I’ll send the boys pronto.
DRUSILLA
Now will you dance?
SPIKE
I’ll dance with you, pet. On the
slayer’s grave.
He laughs, lifts her gently into his arms – supporting her frail body as he spins her to the music only
she can hear.
BLACK OUT
END TEASER
Act One
EXT. CEMETERY – NIGHT
Dead leaves scrape and tumble across the ground, riding a stiff wind. A storm threatens. Under this
we hear a rhythmic TINK TINK TINK. We drift among the gravestones, landing on Buffy in a close up.
She
is craning to hear the sound. She turns, camera racking past her to a LARGE MAUSOLEUM – one that
matches THE PICTURE ON DRUSILLA’S TAROT CARD. Buffy moves toward it.
MOVING WITH BUFFY
The tinking sound grows louder as she nears the mausoleum. She finds the solid iron door ajar.
Torchlight flickers hellishly through the narrow margin. Buffy looks inside.
WHAT SHE SEES
INT. MAUSOLEUM – NIGHT
A torch is set in the ground, illuminating the work of a dark figure – who FINALLY BREAKS the lock of
a vault door embedded in the far wall. The thief opens the vault and GRABS something from it – then
he makes for the exit.
EXT. CEMETERY – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Buffy waits for the thief to hit the exit, Then –
BUFFY
Does “rest in peace” have no sanctity
to you people?
She TACKLES HIM. The thief hits the ground hard and a red velvet BAG that obviously contains
something heavy falls from his hands. We see now that it’s DALTON – the vamp transcriber.
BUFFY
Oh, I forgot – you’re not a people.
Buffy pulls a stake, is about to dust Dalton when ANOTHER VAMPIRE Appears behind her. He’s
formidable – looking. He advances, unseen by Buffy…
Or so we think – until she wheels, knocking him back with a vicious JUMPING KICK.
Buffy grabs Vamp #2, drives him HEAD FIRST into a TREE TRUNK. He crumples to the ground. She
stakes him – dusto.
BUFFY
One down –
The she spins – ready to take on DALTON. But he’s history. And so is the red velvet bag he stole from
the vault. On Buffy’s curiosity.
BUFFY
One gone…
INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
ANGEL waits for Buffy. He wanders restlessly, looking at her stuff. He does not notice as BUFFY
appears at the open window.
A beat as she watches him, oblivious to her. Then she TOSSES her equipment bag into the room.
Angel JUMPS – turns to her – holding one of her stuffed animals. A CUTE PIG.
ANGEL
Buffy – you scared me.
She climbs inside.
BUFFY
Now you know what it feels like, stealth-guy.
She smiles, but the edge she had earlier is still evident.
BUFFY
So. Just dropping by for some quality
time with Mr. Gordo?
ANGEL
Excuse me?
BUFFY
The pig.
Angel looks down. Sees he’s still holding the stuffed toy.
ANGEL
Oh, I, no-
He puts the toy down – feeling dorky.
BUFFY
What’s up?
ANGEL
Nothing.
BUFFY
You don’t have “nothing” face. You have
“something” face. And you don’t have to
whisper. Mom’s in L.A. till Thursday.
Art buying, or something.
ANGEL
(confesses)
I wanted to make sure you were okay.
I had a bad feeling.
BUFFY
(curt)
Oh surprise. Angel comes with bad news.
Angel reacts to her snipe. Buffy relents.
BUFFY
Sorry… I’ve been cranky miss all day.
It’s not you.
ANGEL
What is it, then?
BUFFY
We’re having this thing at school-
ANGEL
Career week?
BUFFY
How did you know?
ANGEL
I lurk.
BUFFY
Oh, right. So you know, then. It’s this
whole week of “what’s my line?” Only
I don’t get to play.
(then)
Sometimes I just want…
She stops herself.
ANGEL
You want – what? It’s okay.
BUFFY
The Cliffnotes versions? I want a
normal life. Like I had before.
ANGEL
Before me.
A long beat. Buffy regards herself in her mirror. Alone. Angel, of course, does not reflect. Finally –
BUFFY
It’s not that. It’s just… This career
business has me contemplating the
el weirdo that I am. Let’s face it –
instead of a job I have a calling.
Okay? No chess club or football games
for me. I spend my free time in grave
yards and dark alleys…
ANGEL
Is that what you want? Football games?
BUFFY
Maybe. Maybe not. But, you know what? –
I’m never going to get the chance to find
out. I’m stuck in this deal.
Angel reacts – he can’t hide his hurt. Moves to go.
ANGEL
I don’t want you to feel stuck-
Buffy realizes how she sounded. Stops him.
BUFFY
Angel – I don’t mean you. You’re the
one freaky thing in my freaky world
that makes sense to me.
(then)
I just get messed sometimes – wish we
could be like regular kids.
He nods, relenting.
ANGEL
I’ll never be a kid.
BUFFY
Okay then. Just a regular kid and her
cradle-robbing, creature-of-the-night
boyfriend.
Angel’s eyes travel to the mirror – he notices something.
ANGEL
Was this part of your normal life?
He reaches past her, plucks a photo from the mirror’s frame.
INSERT PHOTO
A younger Buffy figure skating. Performing a perfect arabesque.
RETURN
Buffy softens, takes the photo from him.
BUFFY
My Dorothy Hamill phase. My room in
L.A. was this major shrine – Dorothy
posters, Dorothy dolls. I even got the
Dorothy haircut.
(embarrassed)
Thereby securing a place for myself
in the Geek Hall of Fame.
ANGEL
You wanted to be like her.
BUFFY
I wanted to be her.
(then)
My parents used to fight a lot. Skating
was an escape. I felt safe…
Angel replaces the photograph in the mirror frame.
ANGEL
When was the last time you put
on your skates?
Buffy thinks.
BUFFY
Like, a couple hundred demons ago.
ANGEL
There’s a rink out past Route 17.
It’s closed on Tuesdays.
BUFFY
Tomorrow’s Tuesday.
ANGEL
I know.
Off the charged look between the, prelap:
WILLOW (V.O.)
Just the two of you?
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY – DAY
Between-period mayhem. Buffy opens her locker, stows her backpack inside, Willow dogging her.
WILLOW
Alone?
BUFFY
Unless some unforeseen evil pops up.
But I’m in full see-no-evil mode.
Buffy closes her locker, and we follow he and Willow down the hall.
WILLOW
Angel, ice-skating…
BUFFY
I know. Two worlds collide.
Xander catches up to them. Severely disturbed.
XANDER
Wouldn’t you two say you know me
about as well as anyone? Maybe
even better than I know myself?
WILLOW
What’s this about?
XANDER
(point blank)
When you look at me, do you think
prison guard?
Buffy and Willow look him over appraisingly.
BUFFY
Crossing guard, maybe. But prison guard?
She shakes her head.
XANDER
They just put up the assignments for
the career fair. And according to my
test results, I can look forward to being
gainfully employed in the growing
field of corrections.
BUFFY
At least you’ll be on the right side
of the bars.
XANDER
Laugh now, missy. They assigned you
to the booth for ‘law enforcement
professionals.’
BUFFY
As in police?
XANDER
As in polyester, donuts, and brutality.
BUFFY
Uggh.
WILLOW
(cheerfully)
But, donuts…
Buffy doesn’t love this news, when something O.C. draws her attention.
BUFFY
I’ll jump off that bridge when I come
to it. First I have to deal with Giles-
GILES is entering the library up ahead, a foot-tall stack of books teetering under his chin.
BUFFY
He’s on this Tony Robbins hyper-efficiency
kick. He wants me to check in with him
now every day after homeroom.
She moves off. Willow turns to Xander:
WILLOW
You didn’t check to see which seminar
I was assigned to, did you?
XANDER
I did. And you weren’t.
WILLOW
I wasn’t what?
XANDER
On any of the lists.
Willow is confused.
WILLOW
But I handed in my test. I used a
number two pencil.
XANDER
Then I guess you must’ve passed.
WILLOW
It’s not the kind of test you pass or fail.
XANDER
Your name wasn’t up there, Will.
Off Willow, who wonders why she’s not on the list-
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
Giles struggles, trying to set the books down on a library table. They tilt, about to topple- when Buffy
catches them.
GILES
Oh, Buffy. Thank you.
She helps ease them down for a safe landing.
GILES
I’ve been indexing the Watcher Diaries
covering the past two centuries. You’d
be amazed at how numbingly long-winded
some of these watchers were.
BUFFY
Color me stunned.
Giles opens his notebook.
GILES
I trust last night’s patrol was fruitful.
BUFFY
Semi. I caught one out of two vamps
after they stole something from this
jumbo mausoleum at the cemetery-
GILES
They were stealing?
BUFFY
Yep. They had tools, torches, the whole
nine yards…
(then)
What does that mean? The whole nine
yards… nine yards of what? Now that’s
gonna bug me all day.
When Buffy comes out of her thought bubble, she sees Giles pacing, visibly disturbed.
BUFFY
Giles, you’re in pace mode. What gives?
GILES
The vampire who escaped – did you
see what he took?
BUFFY
No – but let me take a wild guess.
Some old thing?
GILES
I’m serious, Buffy.
BUFFY
So am I. I bet it was downright crusty.
Giles is losing patience with her.
GILES
So you made no effort to find out
what was taken?
Buffy looks at Giles, surprised by his tone.
BUFFY
Have a cow, Giles. I thought it was
just everyday vamp hijinks.
GILES
Well it wasn’t. It could be very serious.
If you’d made more of an effort to be
thorough in your observations-
BUFFY
(cutting him off/hurt)
If you don’t like the way I’m doing
my job – why don’t you find someone
else? Oh right. “There can be only one.”
Long as I’m alive, there isn’t anyone
else. Well, there you go! I don’t have
to be the Slayer. I could be dead!
GILES
That’s not terrible funny. You’ll
notice I don’t laugh.
BUFFY
Wouldn’t be much of a change, anyway.
I mean, either way I’m bored, constricted,
I never get to shop and my hair and
fingernails continue to grow so really,
what’s the dif?
GILES
Must we be introspective now? Our
only concern at this moment should
be to discover what was stolen from
that mausoleum last night.
CUT TO:
A LARGE SILVER CRUCIFIX
Atop a velvet pillow. The cross bar is dotted with what appears to be randomly placed HOLES, like
swiss cheese.
SPIKE (O.S.)
This is it, then?
WIDEN AND WE ARE:
INT. FACTORY – DRUSILLA’S BEDROOM – DAY
Spike sits at the edge of her bed, holding the pillowed cross out to Drusilla like an offering. Drusilla’s
quivering hands hover over the crucifix, but don’t make contact. As if she’s warming them.
DRUSILLA
It hums. I can hear it.
SPIKE
Once you’re well again, we’ll have a
coronation down Main Street. We’ll
invite everyone… and drink for seven
days and seven nights-
DALTON (O.S.)
What about the Slayer?
ANGLE TO INCLUDE DALTON
Standing at a deferential distance. Spike turns, angry at the interruption.
DALTON
She almost blew the whole thing for us.
She’s trouble.
SPIKE
(sarcastic)
You don’t say…
Now Spike is pacing again, ramping up with every word.
SPIKE
Trouble? She’s the gnat in my ear.
The gristle in my teeth. The bloody
thorn in my bloody side!
He slams the table with his fist – alarming even Dru.
DRUSILLA
Spike-
SPIKE
No. Smart guy is right. We have to do
something. There’s no way we’ll
complete your cure with that bitch
breathing down our necks…
(then/realizing)
I need the big guns. They’ll take of her.
Once and for all.
DALTON
Big guns?
SPIKE
The Order of Taranta.
Dalton is clearly taken aback by the name.
DALTON
The bounty hunters? For the Slayer?
Dru takes her DECK OF TAROT CARDS from the bedside. Peels three from the deck – gazes at them.
DRUSILLA
They’re coming to my party,
three of them.
DALTON
But… The Order of Taranta. I mean,
don’t you think that’s overkill?
Spike grins. Looks down at Drusilla’s cards.
SPIKE
No. I think it’s just enough kill.
Camera follows his look down to the cards – where three images have formed. Ominous, archetypal
etchings of a CYCLOPS, an INSECT, and a JAGUAR. Creeping in on the fearsome triumvirate, we:
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
Act Two
INT. SCHOOL LOUNGE – DAY
A WALL CLOCK
Reads 2:30. We hear the frenetic buzz of activity.
The career fair is up and running. Students cluster around a dozen or more Booths manned by
representatives from various professions. Among them, A PHYSICIAN, a U.S. POSTAL WORKER, and
a UNIFORMED POLICEWOMAN. CAMERA drifts through the thickening crowd, finds Willow worriedly
surveying the action. Xander steps up to her.
XANDER
What are you doing here? Fly! Be free
little bird – you defy category!
WILLOW
I’m looking for Buffy.
XANDER
She left with Giles an hour ago. Some
kind of – “field trip” – deal.
WILLOW
If she doesn’t get back soon,
Snyder’s really –
(suddenly perking up)
-done a fantastic job setting up the
fair this year, hasn’t he, Xander?
SNYDER has marched up to them.
XANDER
(facetious)
Principal Snyder! Great career fair, sir.
Really. In fact, I’m so inspired by your
leadership – I’m thinking principal
school. I want to walk in your shoes.
Not your actual shoes, of course.
Because you’re a tiny person. Not
tiny in the small sense, of course…
(then)
Okay. Done now.
Snyder doesn’t even grace this with response.
SNYDER
(to Willow)
Where is she?
WILLOW
(innocently)
Who?
SNYDER
You know who.
WILLOW
Oh, you mean Buffy? I just saw her-
SNYDER
Don’t feed me that I-just-saw-her-a-
minute-ago-she’s-around-here-somewhere
story.
Willow is like a deer caught in the headlights.
WILLOW
But I did – see her a minute ago.
And she is – around here somewhere.
XANDER
For what it’s worth-
SNYDER
It’s worth nothing, Harris. Whatever
sound comes out of your mouth is a
meaningless waste of breath. An
airborne toxic event.
XANDER
I’m glad you feel comfortable enough
to be so honest with me. And I only
hope that I’m in a position one day to
be as honest with you.
Snyder looks at Xander as if examining a rare bug.
SNYDER
Fascinating.
He moves off –
XANDER
I’d love to stay and chat, but I have
an appointment with the warden on
standard riot procedure.
WILLOW
Okay. See you-
Xander moves off. Willow gives him a slightly forlorn little wave.
SUIT MAN
Willow Rosenberg?
She turns –
ANGLE TO INCLUDE TWO SECRET SERVICE – TYPE MEN
Flanking Willow – not threateningly, but commandingly. They wear identical dark suits.
SUIT MAN
Come with us please?
WILLOW
Excuse me?
SUIT MAN
Let’s walk.
Willow reluctantly allows herself to be led past several booths to a velvet cordon, stepping up into:
THE ELEVATED SECTION OF THE LOUNGE
Two free-standing walls separate this area from the general population – and Willow feels like she’s
dropped down the rabbit hole. The space has been refurbished into a deco salon. Soft lighting. A
gently BOSSA NOVA plays from hidden speakers. On the wall there is a LOGO of a company that
looks STRANGELY LIKE the MICROSOFT LOGO.
A white-gloved WAITER approaches with a silver tray of hors d’oevres.
SUIT MAN
Try the canape. It’s excellent.
WILLOW
What is all this?
SUIT MAN
You’ve been selected to meet with
Mr. Macelroy, head recruiter for the
world’s leading software concern.
The jet was delayed by fog at Sea-Tac,
but he should be here any minute-
(then)
Please. Make yourself comfortable.
He and suit Guy #2 start to leave, but Willow stops them.
WILLOW
But – I didn’t even get my test back.
SUIT MAN
The test was irrelevant. We’ve been
tracking you for some time.
WILLOW
Is that a good thing?
SUIT MAN
I would think so. We’re extremely
selective. In fact, only one other
Sunnydale student met our criteria.
Now Suit Man and his cohort exit through the partition. Willow takes in her surroundings, stunned.
She turns – sees, for the first time, that OZ IS THE OTHER STUDENT SUIT MAN was referring to. He’s
sitting on a plush couch, looking unfazed – as usual. When he sees Willow, his expression registers
the coolest hint of delight.
Willow moves to the couch – sits next to him. An awkward beat. This whole thing is too strange.
Finally, OZ lifts the hors d’oevres. Offers one to Willow.
OZ
Canape?
INT. CEMETERY – DAY – MOVING
Giles tries to keep pace with Buffy, who moves at a brisk clip, still hurt from before. She carries a
flashlight.
GILES
Buffy. Please. Slow down.
BUFFY
Get with the program, Giles.
We have work to do, remember?
GILES
You’re behaving in a terrible
immature manner-
BUFFY
Bingo. You know why? I am immature!
I’m a teen! I’ve yet to mature!
GILES
I was simply offering a little
constructive criticism-
BUFFY
You were harsh. You act like I picked
this gig. But I’m the picked. Too bad
if I want a normal job.
GILES
What you have is more than a… gig.
It’s a sacred duty.
Buffy gives him a “been there, heard that” look. Giles scrambles – trying to calm her.
GILES
Which shouldn’t prevent you from
eventually procuring a more…
mundane form of employment if
you like. Such as I have.
BUFFY
It’s one thing being a Watcher and a
librarian. They go together – like
chicken and… another chicken.
Two chickens. Or something.
Off Giles’ look.
BUFFY
You know what I’m saying – you can
spend all your time with a bunch of
books and no one blinks. But what
can I do? Carve stakes for a nursery?
GILES
Point taken. I suppose I’ve never
really thought about-
(stops; then)
Tell me. Have you ever considered
law enforcement?
Buffy blinks. Though she’s spared from having to answer because they’ve come to the mausoleum.
BUFFY
This is the place.
Buffy pulls open the heavy iron door, enters, Giles following her into:
INT. MAUSOLEUM – DAY
Buffy clicks on her flashlight, guiding the beam through the dusty gloom. She leads Giles to the open
vault door.
GILES
May I?
BUFFY
Be my guest.
Giles takes the flashlight. Shines it into the empty vault.
GILES
It’s a reliquary, used to house items
of religious significance. Most
commonly, a finger or some other
body part from a saint.
BUFFY
Note to self: Religion – freaky.
Giles turns, paints the wall with the flashlight beam-which now falls across letters carved in the
granite above the doorway: du Lac.
GILES
Du Lac…
(with recognition and concern)
Oh dear.
Buffy reacts to his tone.
BUFFY
I hate when you say that.
GILES
Josephus du Lac is buried here.
BUFFY
Was he a saint?
GILES
Hardly. He belonged to a sect of priests
who were excommunicated by the
Vatican at the turn of the century.
BUFFY
Excommunicated and sent to Sunnydale.
Must have been big with the sinning.
GILES
Remember the book that was stolen
from the library by a vampire a few
weeks back? It was written by du
Lac and his cohorts –
(frustrated)
Damn it. In all the excitement, I let
it slip my mind –
BUFFY
I’m guessing it wasn’t a Taste of the
Vatican Cookbook.
GILES
The book is said to contain rituals and
spells that reap unspeakable evil.
However, it was written in archaic
Latin – so nobody but the sect members
could read it.
BUFFY
Then everything’s cool. The sect is gone.
Worm food like old du Lac, right?
GILES
I don’t like it, Buffy. First the book
is taken from the library. Now vampires
steal something from du Lac’s tomb…
BUFFY
You think they’ve figured out how
to read the book?
GILES
I don’t know. But something’s coming,
Buffy. And I guarantee, whatever it
is – it’s not good.
With which Giles moves off purposefully, Buffy following. Hold on the black interior of the vault –
EXT. BUS STATION – DAY
The sign on the brick wall reads: SUNNYDALE. A BUS rumbles into frame, squeals to a stop in a cloud
of exhaust.
CLOSE ON THE STAIRS OF THE BUS
We hear the doors open with a hydraulic hiss. A passenger gets off. And another. Then an
ENORMOUS PAIR OF BOOTS fill the frame.
We pan up to see a GIANT. Seven feet tall in boots, and a hard four hundred pounds. A think, milky
cataract covers one eye. His other eye is set deep in the fleshy mask of assorted scars and
carbuncles he calls a face. His name is OCTARUS. And as he descends the stairs and moves out of
frame-
CUT TO:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY
A mild-mannered man in a suit too large for his slight frame strides down the sidewalk, toting a brief
case and whistling. His name is MR. PFISTER. He moves past a familiar house – past the sidewalk
mail box on which is stenciled the name “SUMMERS.” He moves up the walk of the ADJACENT house.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Mr. Pfister climbs the stoop, and rings the doorbell. He mechanically adjusts the knot in his tie. He
smiles at the tired-looking HOUSEWIFE who opens the door.
MR. PFISTER
Mrs. Kalish?
MRS. KALISH
Yes?
MR. PFISTER
I’m Norman Pfister, with Quintessence
Skin Care. I’m not selling anything,
so I’m not asking you to buy.
(holds up case)
Just to accept a few free samples.
MRS. KALISH
Free?
MR. PFISTER
Absolutely.
She considers him for a moment, then opens the door for him. He enters past her, and she closes the
door.
Hold for a beat. Another beat. Then an ear-splitting SCREAM issues from behind the closed door.
Prelap the thundering sound of four JET ENGINES, as:
CUT TO:
EXT. AIRPORT – DAY (STOCK)
A 767 comes in for a landing.
INT. 767 CARGO HOLD – DAY
Dark. Jet engines rev down. We hear METALLICA bleeding up. KA-CHUNK. The hatch opens. Sunlight
blasts inside. Along with the heavy metal. A BAGGAGE HANDLER climbs into the hold, boom box
cranked up past eleven.
CREEPING POV
Someone – or something – observes the handler from behind the cargo netting. As he begins
downloading luggage onto the conveyor belt.
ANGLE : HANDLERS
The baggage handler pauses to air guitar a solo, when he sees a SILHOUETTE dart between crates,
then melt into the shadows.
BAGGAGE HANDLER
What the hell –
He kills the tape, starts toward the shadows.
BAGGAGE HANDLER
Hey! You’re not supposed to be
in here!
But there’s no answer.
BAGGAGE HANDLER
Come on –
His thought is CUT SHORT by a series of BLOWS which come out of nowhere, rocks him back on his
heels. He falls to the floor, moaning slightly so we know he’s not dead.
FOOTSTEPS echo. A shadow stretches across the fallen handler. Camera tracks slowly along the
lengthening shadow to the open hatch, where the silhouetted figure now stands.
We stop on an ETHNIC YOUNG WOMAN, her feline, feral eyes getting used to the sudden light. She’s
a predator, a hunter, and her name is KENDRA. And as she jumps out of frame, onto the tarmac –
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH – LATE DAY (STOCK)
Pretty much dead. Sports practices and extra-curricular activities are done for the day. Except –
INT. LIBRARY
Buffy, Willow, and Xander sit around the table.
WILLOW
(to Buffy)
So Giles is sure that the vampire who
stole his book is connected to the one
you slayed last night? Or is it “slew?”
GILES (O.S.)
Both are correct.
Giles emerges from the stacks with a yellowed periodical.
GILES
And yes. I’m sure.
Giles sets the magazine down before them. It’s a National Geographic, circa 1921.
GILES
du Lac was both a theologian and a
mathematician. This article describes
an invention of his, which he called
the du Lac Cross.
XANDER
Why go to all the trouble of inventing
something and then give a weak name
like that? I’d have gone with
“Cross-o-matic!” or “The Amazing
Mr. Cross!”
Xander is getting the stare again. He stops. Then Giles indicates a yellowing photo of the stolen
crucifix. Willow peruses the accompanying article.
GILES
The cross was more than a symbol.
It was also used to understand certain
mystical texts – to decipher hidden
meanings and so forth.
BUFFY
You’re saying these vampires went to
all that trouble for your basic decoder ring?
Giles regards her for a blank beat. Then:
GILES
Actually, I guess I am.
WILLOW
(re: article)
According to this, du Lac destroyed
every one of the crosses – except the
one buried with him.
BUFFY
Why destroy his own work?
GILES
I suppose he feared what might happen
if the cross fell into the wrong hands.
XANDER
A fear we’ll soon get to experience for
ourselves, up close and personal.
GILES
Unless we preempt their plans.
WILLOW
How?
GILES
By learning what was in the book
before they do.
Giles regards the group with grim purpose.
GILES
Which means we can expect to be
here late tonight.
WILLOW
Goody! Research party!
XANDER
Will, you need a life in the worst way.
BUFFY
Speaking of… I have to bail. I promise
I’ll be back bright and early, perky
and ready to slay.
Giles looks at her, perplexed.
GILES
This is a matter of some urgency, Buffy.
BUFFY
I know. But you have to admit, I lack
in the book area. You guys are the brains.
I’d just be around for moral support-
XANDER
That’s not true, Buffy. You totally
contribute. You go for snacks.
Willow and Buffy exchange a quick glance. Will knows what’s up.
WILLOW
She should go. You know, gather
her strength?
GILES
Perhaps you’re right. There may be
fierce battles ahead.
XANDER
But – Ho Ho’s are a vital part of
my cognitive process.
BUFFY
Sorry, Xand. I have something I really
need to do tonight-
Off Giles and Xander’s curious faces.
INT. SKATING RINK – NIGHT
CLOSE ON
A PAIR OF ICE SKATES as they SHAVE THE ICE, stopping on a dime.
WIDEN TO INCLUDE BUFFY
Alone on the ice, which seems to glow from the moonlight filtering in from the high-grimy windows.
She breathes in the cool air – takes off again.
MOVING WITH BUFFY
As she enters a clear frame, picking up speed. Remembering the movement. And the rush. Her
blowing hair frames a smile she hasn’t allowed herself in the longest time.
ANGLE – POV FROM BLEACHERS
Watching Buffy skate. Spinning into a tight pirouette. She’s good. She’s very good.
REVERSE ANGLE
The darkness seems to shift – as a face distinguishes itself from the shadows. Watching Buffy. It’s
Octarus. The HUGE, SCARY GUY. As we –
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
Act Three
INT. SKATING RINK – NIGHT
GLIDING LOW AND FAST
With Buffy’s skates across the ice, then tilting up to Buffy. She’s transported, her face set in a
concentrated smile.
She pivots, skating backward, getting up her nerve and picking up speed – then launching into an
airborne twirl.
Losing her balance at the apex, and –
LOW ANGLE
Buffy lands hard, the momentum carrying her a good ten feet before she comes to a stop.
She catches her breath – when she sees a shadow move across the ice in front of her. She looks
around hopefully –
BUFFY
Angel?
Only it’s not Angel. It’s OCTARUS. And his giant hands are already AROUND HER NECK. He lifts her
like a rag doll and carries her OFF THE ICE AND ONTO THE RINK’S RUBBER DECK – pinning her
AGAINST THE WALL.
Buffy thrashes – pulls on Octarus’ HUGE HANDS – but finds herself unable to break his grip. He
tightens his hold on her and we see a horrible and unfamiliar fear on Buffy’s face – the fear of death.
ANGEL (O.C.)
Buffy!
Octarus turns at the interruption, just in time to meet Angel’s FIST. Octarus releases his grip on
Buffy, and she falls to the ground in a gasping heap.
REVEAL
ANGEL IN FULL VAMP FURY
AS OCTARUS slams a HAM SIZED FIST into his face – sending him sprawling. Angel immediately gets
up to defend himself, but finds he is trapped in an alcove.
Angel ROARS, standing his ground bravely as Octarus moves in for the kill –
ANGLE : BUFFY
regains her feet. Seeing Angel in trouble, she vaults over the wooden bench, and:
ANOTHER ANGLE
Buffy lands directly behind Octarus.
BUFFY
What ever happened to fat and jolly?
As he turns, she takes to the air, executing a textbook SPINNING WHEEL KICK (SLIGHT
OVERCRANK), leading with the GLISTENING BLADE of her ice skate. In the blur of contact, we hear a
sickening TEAR –
ON ANGEL
Even he grimaces at this one.
We TILT up to OCTARUS, as he clutches his throat. He looks at Buffy, face full of betrayal – then
starts toward her. Buffy moves out of the way, her guard raised. But Octarus moves past her, out
onto the ice –
ANGLE : BUFFY
Watches. Angel steps up behind her, vamp face still on.
THEIR POV
Trailing blood, Octarus staggers like a drunken sailor, with pathetic persistence – before collapsing
onto his knees and doing a face plant on the ice. Hold for an uncomfortable beat –
CUT TO:
INT. FACTORY – DRUSILLA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
CLOSE ON THE CYCLOPS CARD
Drusilla’s pale fingers turn it over.
DRUSILLA (O.C.)
He’s passing under our feet right now.
WIDER
Spike is seated on the bed beside Drusilla. He notes the card with concern, then looks to Drusilla.
SPIKE
No worries. We’re close to decoding
the manuscript. We just need a little
more time.
DRUSILLA
Time is ours –
Drusilla touches Spike’s face, smoothing away the worry.
DRUSILLA
It brings the slayer closer to them.
She eyes the remaining cards – the INSECT and the JAGUAR.
CUT TO:
INT. SKATING RINK – NIGHT
ANGLE: ON THE ICE
Angel kneels beside the fallen behemoth. He still has his vamp face – and the blow he took OPENED A
SERIOUS GASH ABOVE ONE EYE. Which Buffy can’t see as she limps painfully up behind him, also
scraped and bloody.
BUFFY
And the hellmouth presents – ‘Dead Guys
On Ice’. Not exactly the evening we
were aiming for…
Angel reacts to the CHUNKY RING on Octarus’ finger. He lifts the giant’s hand, studies the glyph-like
pattern etched on the surface.
ANGEL
You’re in danger. You know what
the ring means?
BUFFY
I just killed a Superbowl champ?
ANGEL
I’m serious. You should go home and
wait until you hear from me.
Angel drops Octarus’ hand and turns to her. Sees that she’s injured.
ANGEL
Are you okay?
BUFFY
What about you? That cut –
ANGEL
Forget about me. You’re hurt.
Buffy’s shaken – but she puts on her brave face.
BUFFY
Hey. No biggy. I’ve been slammed by
bigger sides of beef than that –
ANGEL
No you haven’t.
Buffy falters. He’s right.
BUFFY
No. I haven’t.
ANGEL
This is bad, Buffy. We have to get
you someplace safe.
Buffy is rightfully alarmed by the suggestion.
BUFFY
You mean – hide?
ANGEL
Let’s just get you out of here.
He starts to move but Buffy stops him – indicates his bloody cut.
BUFFY
Wait. Your eye is all… Let me –
She moves toward him – about to use the arm of her sweatshirt to wipe the blood off. But he pulls
away.
BUFFY
Come on. Don’t be a baby. I won’t
hurt you.
ANGEL
It’s not that.
(re: vamp face)
I – you shouldn’t have to touch me
when I’m like this.
Buffy is at a loss.
BUFFY
Like – what?
Angel reacts – is she kidding?
ANGEL
You know. When I’m…
BUFFY
Oh.
A long beat as Buffy takes this in, understanding.
She approaches him again. Very deliberately this time. Her hands go to his face. He looks away, but
does not pull back. The gentleness of her touch holds him fast.
Buffy turns his face back to hers. Tenderly runs her fingers along his transformed features. Angel is
overwhelmed. Nobody has ever touched him like this.
BUFFY
I didn’t even notice.
She draws him close. Gaze steady. Until her lips touch his…
They melt into a heart-stopping kiss.
INT. SKATING RINK – ANOTHER AREA – NIGHT
KENDRA, the LETHAL YOUNG WOMAN from the airport, peers through some bleachers.
HER POV – HAND HELD PAN THROUGH BLEACHERS
THE KISS. Still very much a work in progress.
FADE TO:
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
CLOSE ON
The ring OCTARUS wore.
WIDEN TO INCLUDE GILES
Who studies the ring, comparing it to an etching in a book. Buffy sits near by, AN ICE PACK on one
knee, definitely looking shaky and worse for the wear after her encounter with OX GUY. Willow and
Xander are also there.
BUFFY
This guy was hard core, Giles. And
Angel was power-freaked by the ring.
GILES
I’m afraid he was not overreacting.
The ring is worn only by members of
the Order Of Taranta. They are a society
of demon assassins dating back to
King Solomon…
XANDER
And didn’t they beat the Elks last year
in the Sunnydale Adult Bowling League
Championship?
GILES
(ignoring him)
Their credo is to sow discord and
kill the unwary.
XANDER
Bowling is a vicious game –
GILES
(sharp)
That’s enough, Xander –
Willow, Xander, and Buffy glance at each other, reacting to Giles’ tone. Buffy, especially, knows to
worry.
GILES
I’m sorry but this is no time for jokes.
I need to think.
BUFFY
These assassins. Why would they
be after me?
WILLOW
‘Cause you’re the scourge of the underworld?
BUFFY
Yeah, but I haven’t been that scourgy lately.
GILES
I don’t know. But I think the best thing
to do is to find a secure location.
Someplace out of the way where you
can go until we decide on the best
course of action –
Buffy stands with a little difficulty. Officially freaked.
BUFFY
Okay. You and Angel have both told
me to head for the hills. What’s the deal?
GILES
I – this is an extraordinary circumstance…
BUFFY
(scared)
When do we have a usual circumstance,
Giles? I mean – mummy girls and snake
guys and… But you’ve never told me
to hide before. I mean – you’re saying
I can’t handle this? These guys are that bad?
GILES
You might – They’re… They’re a breed
apart, Buffy. Unlike vampires – they
have no earthly desire except to collect
their bounty. To find their target and
eliminate it –
CAMERA pushes in slowly as Buffy listens to Giles’ cautionary litany –
GILES
And you are the target. You can kill
as many of them as you like. It won’t
make any difference – because where
there is one, there will be another.
And another. They won’t stop coming
until the job is done.
CUT TO:
INT. MRS. KALISH’S HOUSE – DAY
Mr. Pfister whistles to himself as he sits on a chair parked before a second story window. He’s looking
through a PAIR OF BINOCULARS and has them aimed directly across the way – right into BUFFY’S
BEDROOM.
GILES
(OVER)
The worst of it is, they are masters of
deceit. Vampires are bound by the Night,
but these predators can be anywhere,
anytime. They can appear as normal as
the next person. Just another face in the
crowd. You might not ever know when
one of them is near – not until the
moment of your death.
Under this, CAMERA arms around and pushes past him, discovering MRS. KALISH on the floor. Or at
least what’s left of her.
Because now she’s little more than a desiccated corpse. A dozen bugs crawl out of her nose and
march along the floor, joining the trail which we follow1⁄4 back to Mr. Pfister. The bugs scamper up his
leg and waist, up to his right arm, which IS FORMED ONLY UP TO THE WRIST. The nub seems to
undulate, as–
The teeming mass of bugs (CGI) REFORMS INTO HIS RIGHT HAND-which now delicately picks up a
steaming cup of tea. He sips, waiting patiently. Prelap a SHRIEKING BELL –
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY – DAY
BUFFY MOVES upstream through the Career Fair gauntlet, against the teeming mass of people.
She is walking stiffly – evidence of her battle with Octarus – and is clearly wigging out. Her eyes dart
- see in every passerby a potential threat.
HER POV
The faces – students, teachers – seem innocent. But ARE they? Voices melt into an echoing white
noise. She moves past the POLICE WOMAN, A PAIR OF CORDETTES…
Suddenly – a guy in the crowd surges toward her – FAST. Something’s not right.
RESUME BUFFY
She GRABS THE GUY BY THE COLLAR. DRIVES HIM INTO THE WALL. IT’S OZ.
BUFFY
Try it!
OZ
Try what?
A moment, then Buffy lets him go.
BUFFY
Sorry.
OZ
I’m still not clear on what I’m
supposed to try.
Buffy looks around – people are staring.
BUFFY
Nothing.
Buffy heads for the door. BOLTS without another word.
OZ
A tense person.
INT. LIBRARY – NIGHT
Giles and Willow sit at the library table, poring over volume upon volume.
WILLOW
I wish there was more we could do.
Giles looks up, his eyes reflecting fatigue and concern.
GILES
We’re doing all we can. The only course
of action is to decipher the contents of
the stolen book –
WILLOW
I’ve never seen Buffy like that. She
just took off.
XANDER
(O.S.)
She didn’t go home.
Xander has entered the library.
XANDER
I let the phone ring a few hundred
times before I remembered her mom’s
out of town.
GILES
Maybe Buffy unplugged the phone…
XANDER
It’s a statistical impossibility for a sixteen
year old girl to unplug a telephone.
Willow nods. That’s true.
GILES
Perhaps my words of caution were a
bit too alarming –
XANDER
(no duh)
You think?
WILLOW
It’s good that she took you seriously,
Giles. I just wish we knew where
she was.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Buffy moves along the sidewalk, still limping a little. She looks tired and cold – like she has been
walking a long time. She stops and looks up at her house. The windows are dark.
A long beat. No place feels safe. Not even here. She moves on.
INT. FOYER – ANGEL’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Buffy arrives at Angel’s door. Knocks.
BUFFY
Angel?
No answer. She tries the door. It’s locked.
INT. ANGEL’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Dark. Then the lock is FORCED and Buffy opens the door, spilling light from the hallway.
BUFFY
Hey…
She clicks on a standing lamp. Looks around. She approaches the unmade bed pushed up against the
wall. Sits.
She flexes her tender knee. Massages it. Her exhaustion and fear finally catching up with her.
She lies down. Curls up – small and alone in his bed. Turns her head against his pillow.
She breathes him in. She shuts her eyes.
INT. SEEDY BAR (THE ALIBI ROOM) – NIGHT
This is the kind of bar where the lights are so low it’s hard to see your hand in front of your face.
Which is a good thing. Because you wouldn’t want to get a good look at either the surroundings or
the patrons.
It’s after hours. A solitary stooped figure gives the floor a perfunctory once-over with a stiff broom.
This is WILLY, a shifty-eyed bottom-dweller. In addition to being the bartender here, he’s a small time
hustler who moves in the underworld of the vampires – despite the fact that he is not a vamp
himself.
A SHADOWED FIGURE appears in the doorway. Willy looks up, annoyed.
WILLY
We’re closed. Can’t you read the sign?
The FIGURE moves into the room and we see that it is ANGEL. WILLY’S demeanor changes. He’s
clearly afraid of Angel. Doesn’t want any trouble.
WILLY
Oh. Hey, Angel. I didn’t recognize
you in the dark there.
Angel just looks at Willy.
WILLY
What – what can I do for you tonight?
ANGEL
I need some information.
WILLY
Yeah? Man, that’s too bad. Cause I’m
staying away from that whole scene.
I’m living right, Angel.
ANGEL
Sure you are, Willy. And I’m taking
up sunbathing.
WILLY
Come on, now. Don’t be that way.
I treat you vamps good. I don’t hassle
you. You don’t hassle me. We all
enjoy the patronage of this establishment.
Everybody’s happy.
Angel moves closer to Willy. Menacing. Willy’s anxiety increases.
ANGEL
Who sent them?
WILLY
Who sent – who?
Lightning fast – Angel’s HAND is AROUND WILLY’S NECK. Willy’s mop goes clattering to the floor as
his eyes go wide with fear and he gasps desperately for breath.
ANGEL
The Order of Taranta –
WILLY
I tell you – I haven’t been in the loop –
ANGEL
Let’s try again. The Order of Taranta.
They’re after the Slayer –
WILLY
Come on, man…
ANGEL
Was it Spike?
Angel tightens his grip. LIFTS WILLY slightly off the ground. Willy tries to choke out a negotiation.
WILLY
Angel, hey, I – I got some fresh pig’s
blood in. Good stuff. My fence said the
white cell count is –
Angel is now moments from squeezing the life out of this guy.
ANGEL
You know, I’m a little rusty when it comes
to killing humans. It could take a while.
Willy is wavering. Clearly – his options are limited.
WILLY
Spike will draw and quarter me, man –
Angel lets up a little. Puts him back on the ground.
ANGEL
I’ll take care of Spike.
Willy caves.
WILLY
You know he ordered those guys. Spike’s
sick of your girl getting in his way.
ANGEL
Where can I find him?
This is more than Willy should give up and he knows it.
WILLY
I tell you that and I’m gonna need
relocating expenses. It’ll cost you.
BAM! Angel SLAMS Willy in the WALL. Still holding him by the neck.
ANGEL
It will cost who?
Willy can barely speak.
WILLY
Okay! Okay!..
(then)
He and that freaky chick of his are –
Angel is listening so intently – he doesn’t notice the MOP HANDLE FLYING TOWARD HIS HEAD.
Angel is BLIND-SIDED across the temple by an UNSEEN ATTACKER.
He hits the GROUND. HARD. Willy also falls to the floor in a heap.
ON THE ATTACKER
Standing over ANGEL with the mop handle. It’s KENDRA.
Her whole stance and attitude radiate lethal power. Her voice rings with contempt –
KENDRA
Where is she?
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT THREE
Act Four
INT. SEEDY BAR (WILLY’S ALIBI ROOM) – NIGHT
Back to that lethal young thang. Angel looks up at her, spits –
KENDRA
The girl. Where is she?
ANGEL
Even if I knew – I wouldn’t tell you.
Kendra BREAKS THE MOP HANDLE over her knee.
KENDRA
Then die.
ANGEL ROLLS out of the strike zone just as she brings the make-shift
stake down toward his heart.
She LUNGES with the stake again – but Angel grabs a BAR STOOL and blocks the move.
Angel THRUSTS THE BAR STOOL toward Kendra, knocking her back.
He gets to his feet – but she is ON HIM AGAIN in a flash.
ON WILLY
Who cowers on the floor. Angel and Kendra’s fight is taking place between him and the exit – which is
the only thing that keeps him from BOLTING. He WINCES as the sound of the BATTLE grows more
and more intense.
ON ANGEL AND KENDRA
They seem to be almost evenly matched. The fight carries into the STORAGE AREA in the back room
of the bar.
WILLY makes tracks for the exit. Disappears.
INT. SEEDY BAR STORAGE ROOM – NIGHT
The storage area is basically A CAGE – much like the one in the library – where the expensive liquor
and such is locked.
Angel and Kendra CRASH into a BOX FULL OF LIQUOR BOTTLES, which shatter everywhere. Angel
grabs a BROKEN BOTTLE – fends off Kendra with it. Kendra hesitates.
ANGEL
Who are you?
Kendra backs out of the storage area. Cool but clearly wary.
ANGEL
I won’t hurt you if you tell me what
I need to know.
Unexpectedly – Kendra smiles. Angel doesn’t see the humor in the situation.
ANGEL
You think this is funny?
Kendra SLAMS AND BOLTS THE STURDY METAL GATE that closes the storage area.
KENDRA
I think it’s funny now.
Angel reacts. Moves to the locked door.
KENDRA
That girl. The one I saw you with before –
ANGEL
You stay away from her.
KENDRA
I’m afraid you are not in a position
to threaten.
ANGEL
When I get out of here I’ll do more
than threaten –
KENDRA
Then I suggest you move quickly.
She glances at a ROW OF HIGH WINDOWS THAT RUN ALONG ONE WALL OF THE STORAGE CAGE.
KENDRA
Eastern exposure. The sun comes in
a few hours.
(then)
More than enough time for me to
find your girlfriend.
She moves off. Angel can only watch – frustrated.
A beat. Then he strains against the door of the cage, determined to open it.
FADE TO:
INT. GILES’ OFFICE – LIBRARY – EARLY MORNING
Giles, bleary-eyed and rumpled from a sleepless night of urgent study, talks on the phone while he
pages through a book.
GILES
Xander? …No, I still haven’t heard
from Buffy. I think you should go to
her house and check on her.
Giles sees something in the book. Something important.
GILES
Right away. I don’t know, get Cordelia
to drive you.
He hangs up. Rushes into –
INT. LIBRARY – CONTINUOUS – DAY
Giles moves to the table and we see WILLOW, who has fallen asleep at the computer. He moves to
her, gently shakes her. Still, she wakes with a start, cries out –
WILLOW
Don’t warn the tadpoles!
Giles is startled by her outburst.
GILES
My goodness. Are you alright?
WILLOW
Giles? What are you doing here?
GILES
You’re in the library, Willow. You
fell asleep.
WILLOW
Oh… I…
GILES
Don’t warn the tadpoles?
WILLOW
I – I have frog fear.
(then)
I’m sorry, I conked out –
GILES
Please. You’ve gone quite beyond the
call of duty. And, fortunately, I think
I’ve finally found something –
WILLOW
You did?
GILES
(re: book)
I had to go back to the Lutheran Index.
But I found a description of the missing
du Lac Manuscript. It’s a ritual, Willow.
I haven’t managed to decipher the exact
details – but I believe the purpose
is to restore a weak and sickly vampire
to full health.
WILLOW
A vampire like – Drusilla?
GILES
Exactly.
WILLOW
What does that have to do with the
Order of Taranta? The assassins?
GILES
I would imagine Spike called them here
to get Buffy out of the way. I’m sure he
wants nothing to come between him
and his plans to revive his lady love.
WILLOW
So this is good. We know what the deal is.
GILES
I wish I could agree. But all we know
is the goal of the ritual.
We don’t know where it will take place
or when. We don’t know what it entails –
WILLOW
So this is bad.
GILES
No. No. We just have more work to do.
Giles tries to smile encouragingly.
WILLOW
Then – why are you all pinched?
Off Giles – his worry palpable.
INT. FACTORY – EARLY MORNING
CLOSE ON
The DU LAC manuscript
As it is SLAMMED SHUT.
Widen to reveal a TRIUMPHANT SPIKE, who is standing over DALTON – the vampire scholar. Dalton
hands Spike a sheet of paper with the complete transcription on it.
SPIKE
By George – I think he’s got it.
Spike sweeps over to Drusilla with paper in hand. Drusilla looking ever more pale and consumptive,
sits propped on a velvet couch, her tarot cards laid out on her lap.
SPIKE
The key to your cure, ducks! The missing
bloody link! It was –
Drusilla stops him as she takes his hand – leads it to a tarot card.
DRUSILLA
-right in front of us.
CLOSE ON THE CARD
A beautiful image of AN ANGEL. But the angel is FALLING – plummeting through the sky to an all but
certain doom.
DRUSILLA (O.C.)
-the whole time.
EXT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – EARLY MORNING
All is peaceful here as the neighborhood is just beginning to awaken.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EARLY MORNING
Well mostly peaceful. We can make out Cordelia and Xander on the porch through the curtains.
Cordelia’s SHRILL voice penetrates the tranquility.
CORDELIA (O.C.)
I can’t even believe you. You drag me
out of bed for a ride? What am I, mass
transportation?
Xander finds an unlocked WINDOW, starts to work it open.
XANDER
That’s what a lot of the guys say.
But it’s just locker room talk. I never
pay it any mind.
The window is open. Xander CLIMBS THROUGH – CORDY on his heels. Cordy is dressed in sweats –
her hair pulled back. Like a girl who just got dragged out of bed.
CORDELIA
Great. So now I’m your taxi and
your punching bag –
XANDER
I like to think of you more as my witless
foil – but have it your way.
Cordy looks at him. Then starts to head BACK OUT OF THE WINDOW. Xander catches her by the arm.
XANDER
Come on, Cordy. You can’t be a member
of the Scooby Gang if you aren’t willing
to be inconvenienced now and then –
CORDELIA
Oh, right. Cause I lie awake at night
hoping you tweekos will be my best
friends. And that my first husband will
be a balding, demented homeless man –
XANDER
Buffy could be in trouble –
CORDELIA
And, what, exactly, are you going to
do about it if she is? If you hadn’t
noticed – you’re the lameness. She’s
the superchick or whatever.
XANDER
At least I’m the lameness that cares.
Which is more than you can say.
(then)
I’m going to check upstairs.
He STOMPS OFF, leaving a POUTY Cordelia behind. She starts to look around the living room when
she is interrupted by a crisp KNOCK on the front door. She moves to the door, looks through the
window in the door.
WHAT SHE SEES
MISTER PFISTER – AKA BUG MAN. Pfister tips his hat – holds up the bag that reads QUINTESSENCE
SKIN CARE.
ON CORDELIA
That’s all she needed to see. She opens the door.
MR. PFISTER
Good day. I am Norman Pfister with
Quintessence Skin Care and Cosmetics.
I was wondering if I could interest you
in some free samples?
CORDELIA
Free?
EXT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – EARLY MORNING
Cordelia hesitates. Then, just as before with MRS. KALISH, Cordelia opens the door for Mr. Pfister. In
an eerie reprise of the earlier scene – he enters past her, and she closes the door. A long ominous
beat…
INT. SEEDY BAR STORAGE ROOM – EARLY MORNING
The first glow of morning light warms the WINDOWS, as ANGEL works desperately to tear the metal
door from its hinges. He is actually making remarkable progress – the top part of the door is bent.
Given enough time, he might be able to get out. Intent on his work, he does not notice as the first
bright SLIVER OF SUNLIGHT appears through the glass behind him. It travels quickly across the floor
- falls across his brow. Angel cries out in pain as the HOT RAYS sear his face. Forced to retreat, he
leaves his hope of escape – seeking temporary safety in a dark corner of the room.
INT. ANGEL’S APARTMENT – EARLY MORNING
In contrast to the sun-washed storage room, Angel’s apartment is a cool, dark tomb. A haven from
the waking world.
CLOSE ON BUFFY
Curled in Angel’s bed – arms tightly wrapped around his pillow. She is, for the moment, safe in his
phantom embrace. A sound. Something moves in the apartment. Loud enough to rouse Buffy from
her dream. Her eyes flutter – then SNAP OPEN just in time for her to DODGE THE SHORT AXE that
SLAMS into the pillow just inches from her neck. Buffy LEAPS from the bed – comes face to face with
KENDRA.
BUFFY
You must be number two –
Kendra replies with a SWING OF THE AXE, which BUFFY LEAPS to avoid.
BUFFY
Thanks for the wake-up. But I’ll stick
with my clock radio.
Lethal young woman brings the AXE down again, but BUFFY CATCHES her arm mid-flight. To Buffy’s
distress – she can’t wrench the AXE from Kendra. They are locked in a dead-even struggle. Like an
arm wrestling match between perfect twins. A split second as they meet eyes – a twinge of
recognition. Then Buffy takes advantage of the moment – SWEEPS Kendra’s legs out from under her.
Kendra hits the ground hard, but USES her LEGS to PIN BUFFY’S LEGS and bring her down too. Now
BUFFY and Kendra ROLL on the floor – the AXE still in Kendra’s grip. They keep TRADING the UPPER
HAND. One moment Buffy is on top – the next it seems Kendra will prevail. They SMASH into Angel’s
table, his bookshelf, his dresser… Buffy’s getting fed up.
BUFFY
Come on. Don’t make me do the
chick fight thing –
Kendra doesn’t know what to make of this comment. Speaks through her effort –
KENDRA
Chick… fight?
BUFFY
You know –
BUFFY VIOLENTLY JERKS Kendra by the HAIR – distracting her as she DIGS HER NAILS INTO THE
HAND THAT HOLDS THE AXE.
Kendra cries out – drops the AXE. Buffy grabs it and STRADDLES Kendra, pinning her. Buffy draws the
axe back – the intent clear. Still, she can’t resist –
BUFFY
Cliched – but effective.
Buffy is about to bring the axe down – but Kendra stops her with –
KENDRA
Who are you?
BUFFY
What do you mean who am I? You
attacked me. Who the hell are you?
Kendra glares at Buffy. Proud and defiant –
KENDRA
I am Kendra, the vampire slayer.
A long beat.
Buffy takes this in. Come again?
BLACK OUT.
END OF PART ONE
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. The career fair is going on in the lounge. Willow
comes into the hall from outside and looks around at some of the
displays being set up on her way to sign up for the career aptitude
test. Buffy and Xander are already sitting at a table filling out their
tests.
Xander: (reads) ‘Are you a people person, or do you prefer keeping your
own company?’ Well, what if I’m a people person who keeps his own
company by default?
Willow heads for their table with a test to join them.
Buffy: So, mark ‘none of the above’.
Xander: Well, there are no boxes for ‘none of the above’. That would
introduce too many variables into their mushroom head, number-crunching
little world.
Willow: (sits) I’m sensing bitterness.
Xander: No, it’s just these people can’t tell from one multiple-choice
test what we’re gonna be doing for the rest of our lives. It’s
ridiculous!
Willow: (smiles) I’m kinda curious to find out what sort of career I
could have.
Xander: What, and suck all the spontaneity out of being young and
stupid? I’d rather live in the dark.
Willow: You’re not gonna be young forever.
Xander: Yes, but I’ll always be stupid. (smirks and looks at the girls)
Okay, let’s not all rush to disagree.
Buffy: (looks up at him seriously) You’re not stupid.
Xander gives her an acknowledging sarcastic grin, then looks up when he
hears Cordelia. She has a clipboard, and is taking her test as she walks
into the lounge accompanied by two of her groupies.
Cordelia: ‘I aspire to help my fellow man.’ (marks her test) Check. As
long as he’s not smelly, dirty or something gross. (walks by the table)
Xander: Cordelia Chase, always ready to give a helping hand to the rich
and the pretty.
Cordelia: Which, lucky me, excludes you. Twice.
Xander has no comeback, so Cordelia just walks away followed closely by
her cronies.
Xander: Is murder always a crime?
Buffy: Do I like shrubs?
Xander: That’s between you and your god.
Buffy: (to Willow) What’d you put?
Willow: I came down on the side of shrubs.
Buffy: Go with shrubs! Okay! (frustrated) Uhhh! I shouldn’t even be
bothering with this. It’s all mootville for me. No matter what my
aptitude test says, we already know my deal.
Xander: Yup, high risk, sub-minimum wage…
Buffy: Pointy wooden things…
Willow: Then why are you even taking the test?
Buffy: It’s Principal Snyder’s hoop of the week. He’s not happy unless
I’m jumping. Believe me, I would not be here otherwise.
Willow: You’re not even a teensy weensy bit curious about what kinda
career you could’ve had? I mean, if you weren’t already the Slayer and
all.
Buffy: Do the words ‘sealed in fate’ ring any bells for you, Will? Why
go there?
Willow is hurt by that comment.
Xander: Y’know, with that kind of attitude you could’ve had a bright
future as an employee at the DMV. (shakes his pencil at her)
Buffy: I’m sorry, it’s just… unless Hell freezes over and every vamp
in Sunnydale puts in for early retirement, I’d say my future is pretty
much a non-issue.
Cut to Spike’s warehouse. Drusilla is standing at one end of a large
table dealing her tarot cards. At the other end Spike is looking on as
Dalton tries to translate the ancient text in the book that they stole
from the library.
Spike: Read it again.
Dalton: Well, I’m not sure. It could be, uh… (shrugs with his hands)
deprimere… ille… bubula… linter.
Spike: (paging through a dictionary) Debase, the beef, canoe.
Dalton looks up at Spike and smiles a stupid smile. Spike cannot abide
him and punches him in the face.
Spike: Why does that strike me as not right?
Dalton looks at him sheepishly and turns his attention back to the book.
Drusilla: Spike, come dance? (holds out her hand)
Spike: (angry) Give us some peace, would you? Can’t you see I’m
working?
Drusilla pulls back her hand and begins to pout and whine like a puppy.
Spike: Oh, I’m sorry, kitten. (goes to her) It’s just this manuscript.
Supposed to hold your cure, but it reads like gibberish. E-even Dalton
here, the big brain, he can’t make heads or tails of it.
Drusilla puts her hand to her head.
Drusilla: I… I, I need to change Miss Edith.
She takes a few steps and then puts her other hand to her head as well,
bends over and whines. Spike rushes to her, puts his arms around her and
pulls her back up.
Spike: Oh, forgive me! You know I can’t stand to see you like this.
(sits her down and crouches) We’re runnin’ out of time. It’s that bloody
Slayer! Whenever I turn around she’s muckin’ up the works.
Drusilla: (tries to comfort him back) Shh. Shh. You’ll make it right. I
know.
Spike puts his hands around her neck and kisses her gently but firmly.
After they release their kiss he stands up again and turns his attention
back to Dalton. Drusilla reaches for the next tarot card.
Spike: Well. (walks around the table) Come on, now. Enlighten me.
Dalton: Uh, well, it looks like Latin, but it’s not. I-I’m not even
sure it’s, it’s a language, actually, I…
Spike: Then MAKE IT A LANGUAGE! Isn’t that what a transcriber does?!
Dalton: Well, not exactly…
He yelps as Spike grabs him by the shirt and lifts him from his chair.
Spike: I want the cure.
Drusilla: Don’t…
Spike: Why not? Some people find pain (punches Dalton in the stomach)
very inspirational.
Dalton doubles over.
Drusilla: (looks up from her cards) He can’t help you. (looks back at
her cards) Not without… (points at a card) the key.
Spike: The key? You mean this book is in some kind of code?
Drusilla: Yeah.
Dalton nods weakly, still in pain. Spike shoves him back into his chair
and walks over to Drusilla. He looks at one of her cards. A mausoleum is
pictured on it.
Spike: Is that where we’ll find this key?
Drusilla: Yeah!
Spike: I’ll send the boys, pronto!
Drusilla: Now will you dance? (smiles)
Spike: (smiles and takes her hand) I’ll dance with you, pet.
He pulls her up from her chair and lifts her into his arms.
Spike: On the Slayer’s grave!
He starts to spin around with her in his arms.
Opening credits roll. Buffy’s theme plays.~~ Part 1 ~~
The cemetery. Buffy walks through it at a relaxed pace. She pauses for a
moment, but continues on, scanning the graveyard around her as she goes.
She stops again when she hears clinking noises coming from a mausoleum.
She looks at it and sees light coming from inside. She walks over to
it, pushes the door open a bit and peeks in. Dalton is chipping away at
the wall, exposing a chamber behind it. He reaches in for something as
Buffy pulls her head back out and closes the door. She walks down the
steps and turns around to wait for him to come out. A few moments later
Dalton opens the door and steps out.
Buffy: Does ‘rest in peace’ have no sanctity to you people? Oh, I
forgot. You’re not a people.
Another vampire comes up behind her. She senses him, turns around and
kicks him in the gut, then the jaw, then again in the gut. He takes a
swing at her, but she grabs his arm and punches him twice in the face.
He swings at her with his other arm, but she ducks and catches it, too.
She yanks it back, and it can be heard snapping. While she has him
leaning back she thrusts a stake into his heart. He explodes into ashes.
Buffy: One down, (turns and sees Dalton missing) one gone.
She looks around, but sees no sign of him anywhere.
Cut to Buffy’s room. Angel is there, and he looks around while he waits
for her to get home. Buffy climbs up to her window and looks in. She
sees him looking into her bookcase. Angel takes her stuffed pig from the
shelf. Without a word Buffy reaches for her bag and tosses it loudly
through the window and onto the floor. Angel turns around, startled. He
gently squeezes the pig.
Angel: Buffy! You scared me.
Buffy: (climbs in) Now you know what it feels like, Stealth Guy.
She crouches down by her bag and reaches into her hair to pull out a few
clips.
Buffy: Just dropping by for some quality time with Mr. Gordo?
Angel: (confused) Excuse me?
Buffy: The pig. (opens her trunk and dumps the bag in)
Angel: Oh. (chuckles) I, uh…
Buffy: What’s up? (walks to her desk)
Angel: Nothing.
He tosses the pig onto a chair and walks to the foot of her bed. She
drops her hair clips into a desk drawer and faces him.
Buffy: Only you don’t have a nothing face. You have a something face.
And you don’t have to whisper. Mom’s in L.A. till Thursday. Art buying,
or something.
Angel: Then why’d you come in through the window?
Buffy: (crinkles her nose) Habit.
Angel: I wanted to make sure you’re okay. I had a bad feeling.
Buffy: (exhales) There’s a surprise. Angel comes with bad news.
He exhales and turns away, tired of the same old reaction from her.
Buffy: Oh, God, I’m sorry. (walks over to him) Look, I’ve been Cranky
Miss all day. It’s not you.
Angel: Well, what is it then?
Buffy: It’s nothing.
Angel isn’t buying it.
Buffy: (exhales) Uh, we’re having this thing at school.
Angel: Career week?
Buffy: How did you know?
Angel: I lurk.
Buffy: Right. Well, then you know it’s a whole week of ‘what’s my
line’, only… I don’t get to play. (sits on her bed) Sometimes I just
want…
Angel: You want what? (sits next to her)
Buffy looks into her long mirror. She’s alone in the reflection.
Angel: It’s okay.
Buffy: (looks up at Angel) The Cliff Notes version? I want a normal
life. Like I had before.
Angel: Before me.
Buffy: No, Angel, (touches his hand) it’s not you. (touches his cheek)
You’re the one freaky thing in my freaky world that still makes sense to
me. (lowers her hand) I just get messed sometimes. (Angel looks down) I
wish we could be regular kids.
Angel: (looks back up) Yeah. I’ll never be a kid. (gets up)
Buffy: Okay, then a regular kid and her cradle robbing, creature-of-
the-night boyfriend.
Angel can’t help but let out a laugh. Buffy smiles back. He sees a
picture on her desk and picks it up. It’s of her as a child on ice-
skates.
Angel: Was this part of your normal life?
Buffy: Oh, my God. (laughs and stands up) My Dorothy Hamill phase. My
room in L.A. was pretty much a shrine. Dorothy dolls, Dorothy posters, I
even got the Dorothy haircut. Thereby securing a place for myself in the
geek hall of fame.
Angel: Hmm, you wanted to be like her?
Buffy: I wanted to be her. My parents were fighting all the time, and
skating was an escape. I felt safe.
Angel: When was the last time you put on your skates?
Buffy: (inhales) About a couple of hundred demons ago.
Angel: (steps close to her) There’s a rink out past Route 17, it’s…
closed on Tuesdays.
Buffy: (looks up at him) Tomorrow’s Tuesday.
Angel: I know.
Cut to school the next day. Cordelia and Xander are going over the
results of the career aptitude test posted on a bulletin board. She
finds herself in the A-D list.
Cordelia: Oh, here I am. ‘Personal shopper or motivational speaker.’
Neato!
Xander: Motivational speaker? On what? Ten ways to a more annoying you?
She pages through the H-K list and finds Xander’s results.
Cordelia: Oh, what about you? You’re… (giggles and leaves)
Xander: What? (frantically looks himself up) What?!
Cut to a hall exit. Willow and Buffy come out and start across the quad.
Willow: You and Angel are going skating? Alone?
Buffy: Unless some unforeseen evil pops up. But I’m in full ‘see no
evil’ mode.
Willow: Angel ice-skating.
Buffy: I know. Two worlds collide.
Xander meets up with them.
Xander: Wouldn’t you two say you know me about as well as anyone else?
Maybe even better than I know myself?
Willow: What’s this about?
Xander: When you look at me, do you think ‘prison guard’?
Willow and Buffy giggle.
Buffy: Um, crossing guard, maybe, but prison guard? (shakes her head)
Xander: They just put up the assignments for the career fair, and
according to my test results I can look forward to being gainfully
employed in the growing field of corrections.
Buffy: (giggles) Well, at least you’ll be on the right side of the
bars.
Xander: Ha, ha, ha, ha! Laugh now, missy, they assigned you to the
booth for law enforcement professionals.
Buffy: (stunned) As in police?
Xander: As in polyester, doughnuts and brutality.
Buffy whines.
Willow: But, (smiles) doughnuts!
Buffy: (whines louder) Well, I’ll just jump off that bridge when I come
to it.
She spots Giles walking along with a tall stack of old books in his
arms.
Buffy: First I have to deal with Giles. He’s on this Tony Robbins
hyper-efficiency kick. Expects me to check in every day after homeroom.
(walks off after Giles) Police?
Xander starts to follow, but Willow holds him back.
Willow: You didn’t check to see which seminar I was assigned to, did
you?
Xander: I did, and you weren’t.
Willow: I wasn’t what?
Xander: On the list.
Willow: But I handed in my test! I used a number two pencil!
Xander: Then I guess you musta passed.
Willow: It’s not the kinda test you pass or fail.
Xander: Your name wasn’t up there, Will.
Willow is a bit taken aback.
Cut to the library. Giles walks to the table, balancing his stack of
books. He carefully sets them down and leans over a bit to straighten
the stack, but over-leans, and the books begins to fall over. He reacts
quickly to try to stop them.
Giles: AH!
Buffy puts her hand on top of the stack just as he does, and they push
it back up. Giles is relieved.
Giles: (exhales) Buffy. Thank you. (she sits) I’ve been, uh, indexing
the Watcher diaries covering the last couple of centuries. You would be
amazed at how numbingly pompous and long-winded some of these Watchers
were.
Buffy: Color me stunned.
Giles: So, uh, I trust last night’s patrol was fruitful?
Buffy: Semi. Mm, I caught one out of two vamps after they stole
something from this jumbo mausoleum.
Giles: They were stealing?
Buffy: Yeah! They had tools, flashlights, whole nine yards. What does
that mean anyway? ‘Whole nine yards’? (Giles begins to pace) Nine yards
of what? (whines) Now it’s gonna bug me all day. Giles, you’re in pace
mode. What gives?
Giles: Um, this vampire who escaped, did you see what he took?
Buffy: No, but I could take a guess and say it was something old.
Giles: You made no effort to find out what was taken?
Buffy: Have a cow, Giles! I just figured it was your everyday vamp
hijinks.
Giles: Well, what if it wasn’t? This could be very serious! I mean, i-
i-if you’d made an effort to, uh, to be more thorough in your
observations…
Buffy: Y’know, if you don’t like the way I’m doing my job, why don’t
you find somebody else? Oh, that’s right, there can only be one. As long
as I’m alive, there is no one else. Well, there you go! I don’t have to
be the Slayer. I could be dead.
Giles: That wasn’t terribly funny. You notice I don’t laugh.
Buffy: Wouldn’t be much of a change. Either way I’m bored, constricted,
I never get to shop, and my hair and fingernails still continue to grow.
So really, when you think about it, what’s the diff?
Giles: Do we have to be introspective now? Our only concern is to
discover what was stolen from that mausoleum last night.
Cut to Drusilla’s room. She waves her hand over an intricately carved
gold cross held out to her by Spike on a red velvet pillow.
Spike: This is it then?
Drusilla: (senses) It hums. I can hear it.
Spike: Once you’re well again, we’ll have a coronation down Main
Street, and invite everyone, and drink for seven days and seven nights.
Dalton: (behind them) What about the Slayer? She almost blew the whole
thing for us. She’s trouble.
Spike: (looks at him) You don’t say? (gets up) Trouble?! (paces)
She’s the gnat in my ear! The gristle in my teeth! She’s the bloody
thorn in my BLOODY SIDE! (kicks the table violently)
Drusilla: (concerned) Spike?
Spike: We gotta do something. We’ll never complete your cure with that
bitch breathing down our necks. (exhales) I need to bring in the big
guns. They’ll take care of her once and for all.
Dalton: Big guns?
Spike: The Order of Taraka.
Dalton: The bounty hunters?!
Drusilla deals three tarot cards. One is of a Cyclops, another of a
centipede and the third of a panther.
Drusilla: They’re coming to my party. (looks up) Three of them.
Spike walks back to the bed to look at the cards.
Dalton: Uh, yes, but… The Order of Taraka, I mean… isn’t that
overkill?
Spike: No, I think it’s just enough kill.~~ Part 2 ~~
The career fair in the school lounge. Xander walks into the hall at the
far end and spots Willow.
Xander: Willow! (they walk) What are you doing here? Fly! Be free,
little bird, you defy category!
Willow: I’m looking for Buffy.
Xander: Oh, she went with Giles about an hour ago. Some kind of field
trip deal.
Willow: If she doesn’t get back soon, Snyder’s really… (spots him on
the stairs) …done a great job with the fair this year, hasn’t he,
Xander?
Xander: Principal Snyder! Great career fair, sir! Really! In fact, I’m
so inspired by your leadership, I’m thinking principal school. I wanna
walk in your shoes. Not your actual shoes, of course, because you’re a
tiny person. Not tiny in the small sense, of course. Okay, I’m done now.
Snyder: Where is she?
Willow: Who?
Snyder: You know who.
Willow: You mean Buffy? (looks around) I just saw her…
Snyder: (interrupts) And don’t feed me that ‘I just saw her a minute
ago, she’s around here somewhere’ story.
Willow: But I did… just see her a minute ago, and she is… around
here somewhere!
Xander: For what it’s worth…
Snyder: (interrupts) It’s worth nothing, Harris. Whatever comes out of
your mouth is a meaningless waste of breath. An airborne toxic event.
Xander: Well, I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to be so honest with
me. And I can only hope that one day I’m in the position to be that
honest with you.
Snyder: Fascinating. (leaves)
Xander: (to Willow) Well, love to stay and chat, but I got an
appointment with the warden on standard riot procedure. Ciao. (walks
off)
Willow: Okay, see ya.
Two recruiters in dark suits approach Willow.
Recruiter: Willow Rosenberg? (she faces them) Come with us, please?
Willow: Excuse me?
Recruiter: Let’s walk.
The two men take her by the arms and guide her to a curtained-off area
of the lounge. They pull the curtain aside for Willow. She steps through
and they follow her, letting the curtain fall closed again behind them.
A waiter in a white jacket and black bow tie holds an hors-d’oeuvre tray
up for her.
Recruiter: Try the canape’. It’s excellent.
Willow shakes her head to the waiter, and he immediately departs.
Willow: What is all this?
Recruiter: You’ve been selected to meet with Mr. McCarthy, head
recruiter for the world’s leading software concern. The jet was delayed
by fog at Sea-Tac, but he should be here any minute. Please, (indicates
the couch) make yourself comfortable.
Willow: But I didn’t even get my test back.
Recruiter: The test was irrelevant. We’ve been tracking you for some
time.
Willow: Is that a good thing?
Recruiter: I would think so. We’re extremely selective. In fact, only
one other Sunnydale student met our criteria.
Without another word the two recruiters turn and leave through the
curtain. Willow is a bit stunned, but stays and turns around to see who
the other student is. Oz is sitting there on the couch studying another
tray of canape’. She steps over to the couch and sits down on the other
end. She folds her hands in her lap and looks over at Oz. He notices
someone sit and turns to look. When he sees her he does a double take
and realizes she’s the girl he’s noticed twice before. He looks down at
the tray in his hand and offers it to her.
Oz: Canape’?
Cut to a cemetery entrance. Buffy swings open the metal gate and strides
in, holding a flashlight. Giles is running to catch up with her.
Giles: Buffy! Slow down! Please!
Buffy: Giles, we have work to do, remember? Get with the program.
Giles holds his chest as he breathes hard to catch his breath from
running after her. They continue walking to the mausoleum.
Giles: You’re behaving remarkably im-immaturely. (pant)
Buffy: You know why? I am immature. I’m a teen. I have yet to mature.
Giles: I was (pant) simply offering some (pant) constructive criticism.
(pant)
Buffy: No! You were harsh! God, you act like I picked this gig. But
remember, I’m the picked.
Giles: What you have (pant) is more than (pant) a gig. (pant) It’s a
sacred duty. (pant) Which (pant) shouldn’t prevent you from e-e-
eventually procuring some (pant) more (pant) gainful f-f-form of
employment. Uh-uh-uh, such as I did.
Buffy: Uh, Giles, it’s one thing to be a Watcher and a librarian. They
go together like chicken and… another chicken, or… two chickens,
or… something, you know what I’m saying! The point is, no one blinks
an eye if you want to spend all your days with books. What am I supposed
to do? Carve stakes for a nursery?
Giles has gotten in front of her as they make their way past several
gravestones.
Giles: Um, point taken. I must, however, admit, I-I’ve never really…
Well, now there’s a thought, have you ever considered law enforcement?
Buffy stops in her tracks as Giles turns to face her. She looks at him
like he’s crazy. A moment later her expression changes to exasperation,
and she raises her flashlight and jerks it at the mausoleum behind him.
Giles: What? (turns to look) Oh!
They walk up the steps and go in. Cut inside. The chamber is bare except
for two large stone vases and a pile of rubble on the floor. They come
down the steps.
Giles: May I? (reaches for the flashlight)
Buffy: (hands it to him) Be my guest.
He turns on the flashlight and walks over to where the wall has been
broken into.
Giles: It’s a reliquary. Used to house items of religious significance.
Most commonly a finger or some other body part from a saint.
Buffy: Note to self: religion: freaky.
She leans against the wall as Giles scans around the rest of the room
with the flashlight. He spots a name engraved on a stone high above.
Giles: Du Lac. Oh dear, oh dear.
Buffy: I hate when you say that.
Giles: Josephus du Lac was buried here. He belonged to a religious sect
that was excommunicated by the Vatican at the turn of the century.
Buffy: Excommunicated and sent to Sunnydale. There’s a guy big with
the sinning.
Giles: You remember the book that was stolen from the library by a
vampire a few weeks ago?
Buffy: Yeah.
Giles: It was written by Du Lac. Damn it! I let it slip my mind with
all the excitement.
Buffy: I’m guessing it wasn’t a ‘Taste of the Vatican’ cookbook.
They start out of the mausoleum.
Giles: No, the, uh, book was said to contain rituals and spells that
reap unspeakable evil. However, it was written in archaic Latin so that
nobody but the sect members could understand it.
Cut outside.
Buffy: So, everything’s cool then.
Giles: It’s not. First the book was taken from the library, and now the
vampires have stolen something from Du Lac’s tomb.
Buffy: You think they figured out how to read the book?
Giles: Something’s coming, Buffy, and whatever it is, I can guarantee
it’s not good.
Cut to the Sunnydale bus depot. The camera pans from the depot building
to a bus just arriving as the announcement is being made.
Announcement: Bus 219, continuing service to Los Angeles, now arriving
in Sunnydale at the west gate.
The doors of the bus open, and the passengers begin to file out. Cut to
the bottom step of the bus. A pair of heavy steel-toed boots stops on
the step. The camera pans up the man’s body past his leather jacket and
long hair to his face. A scar runs across his left eye, apparently
blinded by an injury. He looks around and steps off of the bus.
Cut to the street in front of the Summers house. A salesman comes
walking along the street carrying a large case and eyes the ‘Summers’
nameplate hanging from their mailbox. He looks up at the house, but
continues past to the next house and walks up to the front door. He
knocks, and a woman answers.
Norman: Mrs. Kalish?
Mrs. Kalish: Yes?
Norman: Hello, I’m Norman Pfister with (holds up the case) Blush
Beautiful Skin Care. I’m not selling anything, so I’m not asking you to
buy, just to accept a few free samples.
Mrs. Kalish: (takes off her glasses) Free?
Norman: Absolutely.
Mrs. Kalish looks him up and down and nods him into her home. He walks
in and she follows him, closing the door behind her. The camera closes
in on the door, and Mrs. Kalish screams loudly.
Cut to the airport. Mrs. Kalish’s scream blends into the noise of a 747
flying overhead as it comes in for a landing. Cut to a view of the
tarmac. Several jets are parked at their gates. Cut inside the cargo bay
of a jet. The cargo door opens, and a baggage handler comes up the
loading ramp and steps in. He notices that the cargo nets have been torn
open, and takes off his headphones.
Handler: What the hell?
He looks closer and suspects someone’s there.
Handler: Hey, you’re not supposed to be in here!
He pulls out his flashlight and holds it ready to use as a club.
Handler: Hey, c’mon!
He walks in further, looking for whoever it is. He sees a shadow moving
behind a baggage container. Suddenly a foot comes up and kicks him in
the face, in the gut and again in the face. He falls onto his back
unconscious. The person walks toward the cargo door and peeks out. It’s
a young Caribbean girl with long curly hair tied back and large hoop
earrings. She makes her way out of the plane, keeping a careful watch
for anyone who might see her.
Cut to the school. Cut to the library. Willow, Buffy and Xander are
sitting at the table.
Willow: So Giles is sure that the vampire who stole his book is
connected to the one you slayed last night? Or is it slew?
Giles: (comes out of the stacks with a National Geographic magazine)
Both are correct, and, yes, I’m sure. Du Lac was both a, a… a
theologian and a mathematician. (comes down the stairs) This article
describes an invention of his, which he called ‘The Du Lac Cross’.
Xander: So, why go to all the trouble of inventing something, and then
giving it a weak name like that? I mean, I’da gone with ‘The Cross-o-
matic’, or, uh, ‘The Amazing Mr. Cross’.
The girls just stare at him. He looks up at Giles and nods. Giles
doesn’t think his musings are funny either.
Giles: The cross was more than a mere symbol, (hands the open magazine
to Willow) it was used to understand certain mystical texts, to, uh,
decipher hidden meanings and so forth.
Buffy: So you’re saying these vampires went to all this hassle for your
basic decoder ring?
Giles: (taken aback by the metaphor) Uh, actually, yes, I, I suppose I
am.
Willow: According to this, Du Lac destroyed every cross except the one
buried with him.
Buffy: Why destroy your own work?
Giles: (paces) Perhaps he feared what might happen if it fell into the
wrong hands.
Xander: A fear we’ll soon get to experience for ourselves up close and
personal.
Giles: U-unless we can preempt their plans.
Willow: How?
Giles: Uh, by learning what’s in the book before they do. Which means
we can expect to be here later tonight. (sits)
Willow: (smiles broadly) Goody! Research party!
Xander: Will, you need a life in the worst way.
Buffy: (gets up) Speaking of, I really have to bail, but I promise I’ll
be back bright and early tomorrow and ready to slay.
Giles: This is a matter of some urgency, Buffy.
Buffy: I realize that. Well, you have to admit, I kinda lack in the
book area. I mean, you guys are the brains, I’d only be here for moral
support anyway.
Xander: That’s untrue, Buffy, you totally contribute. You go for
snacks!
Buffy looks to Willow for help.
Willow: She should go. Y-y’know, gather her strength.
Giles: Perhaps you’re right. There may be fierce battles ahead.
Buffy makes tracks for the door.
Xander: But Ho-Hos are a vital part of my cognitive process!
Buffy: (smiles back at him) Sorry, Xand. Someplace I have to be.
Giles and Xander give each other a look.
Cut to the ice skating rink. The place is empty except for Buffy skating
gracefully by herself. She makes use of the whole rink, doing practiced
turns and spins. A minute later Buffy skates quickly by the staging
area, and the camera stops to focus on a stage panel begin pushed open.
The one-eyed bounty hunter looks in at her.~~ Part 3 ~~
The ice-skating rink. Buffy skates along, still by herself. She does a
crouching maneuver, but wipes out and slides backward against the
sidewall. As she starts to get up the bounty hunter reaches down, puts
his arm around her neck and lifts her off of the ice. He lays her down
on the railing and begins to choke her. Buffy tries to pry his hands
from her throat as she struggles to breathe. Angel comes running across
the ice, sporting his game face.
Angel: Buffy!
He leaps and tackles the bounty hunter, knocking him off of Buffy. She
falls from the railing onto the ice with her knee. Angel lifts the
bounty hunter to his feet and punches him in the face. The bounty hunter
isn’t fazed, and returns with a double-fisted punch to Angel’s stomach,
sending him back into the wall. Angel comes off the wall and jabs him in
the face again, but the bounty hunter just shrugs it off. He punches
Angel in the face and gut, making him stagger into the wall again. The
bounty hunter grabs Angel by the throat and lifts him up. Buffy comes
skating toward them at a fast pace. The bounty hunter turns to face her.
She grabs a net that’s hanging there and uses it to swing up with her
foot and hit him in the throat with the blade of her skate, crushing his
trachea. He lets go of Angel and grabs his own neck, unable to breathe.
He takes a few steps onto the ice and collapses there, dead.
Cut to Drusilla’s bed. She takes the tarot card of the Cyclops and turns
it over.
Drusilla: He’s passing under our feet right now.
Spike: No worries. We’re close to decoding the manuscript. We just need
a bit more time.
Drusilla: Time is ours. It brings the Slayer closer to them.
The camera pans from the face down card over to the other two, still
turned face up.
Cut to the skating rink. Buffy rubs her knee. Angel crouches over the
bounty hunter and lifts his hand to inspect his ring.
Buffy: The Hellmouth presents: Dead Guys On Ice. Not exactly the
evening we were aiming for.
Angel looks closely at the ring.
Angel: You’re in danger. You know what the ring means?
Buffy: I just killed a Super Bowl champ?
Angel: (annoyed) I’m serious! You should go home and wait until you
hear from me.
He drops the bounty hunter’s hand and stands up. He still has his game
face on. Buffy skates over to him.
Angel: Are you okay?
She puts her gloved hand on his cheek and sees the cut above his eye.
Buffy: What about you? That cut! (lowers her hand)
Angel: Forget about me. This is bad, Buffy. We gotta get you outta
here.
Buffy: What, you mean hide?
Angel: Let’s just get you someplace safe!
Buffy: No! Your eye!
She reaches back up to him and he shakes her off.
Buffy: Hey! Don’t be a baby. I’m not gonna hurt you.
Angel: It’s not that. I…
Buffy: What?
Angel: You shouldn’t have to touch me when I’m like this.
She looks up into his vampire features.
Buffy: Oh.
She removes her glove and reaches up to touch his brow and his wound,
brushing gently across and down his cheek.
Buffy: I didn’t even notice.
She moves closer to kiss him. He responds, and they kiss gently. The
kiss becomes more passionate as she reaches her hand behind his neck to
draw him closer. Off to the side the girl from the airport walks up and
stops, observing their kiss. Angel puts his arms around Buffy, and she
rises up onto the tips of her skates to get even closer.
Cut to the library. Giles inspects the ring under a magnifying lamp.
Buffy is sitting on the steps holding an icepack to her knee. Willow and
Xander are at the table.
Buffy: This guy was hard-core, Giles. And Angel was power-freaked by
that ring.
Giles: I’m afraid he was not overreacting. This ring is worn only by
members of the Order of Taraka. It’s a society of deadly assassins
dating back to King Solomon. (sits)
Xander: And didn’t they beat the Elks this year in the Sunnydale adult
bowling league championships?
Giles: Their credo is to sow discord and kill the unwary.
Xander: Bowling is a vicious game.
Giles: (very annoyed) That’s enough, Xander!
Xander looks down in shame. Buffy and Willow look concerned and upset.
Giles: Sorry. It’s just not the time for jokes. I need to think. (takes
off his glasses)
Buffy: These assassins, why are they after me?
Willow: ‘Cause you’re the scourge of the underworld?
Buffy: I haven’t been that scourgey lately.
Giles: (rubbing his eyes) I don’t know, I don’t know. (exhales) I think
the best thing we can do is to find a secure location. Somewhere out of
the way you can go until we decide on the best course of action.
Buffy: (gets up) Okay, now you and Angel have both said to head for the
hills. Are you saying I can’t handle this, that I’m not strong enough to
fight these people?
Giles: They’re a breed apart, Buffy. U-unlike vampires they have no
earthly desires, (Willow listens in shock) but to collect their bounty.
They find a target, and, uh… they eliminate it. (Buffy absorbs this
solemnly) You can kill as many of them as you like, it won’t make any
difference. Where there’s one, there will be another, and another. They
won’t stop coming until the job is done.
Cut to a view of Buffy’s house through binoculars from Mrs. Kalish’s
house.
Giles: Each one of them works alone.
Cut to Norman looking through his binoculars.
Giles: His own way.
Cut to the floor. Mrs. Kalish is lying there dead. A trail of mealworms
leads from her over to Norman sitting in a chair.
Giles: Some are human, some… a-are not. Y-you won’t know who they are
until they strike.
Norman takes the binoculars from his eyes. There are mealworms crawling
over his shoes. His hand and part of his forearm are missing, and the
mealworms crawl all over it. They quickly form a hand, and it takes on
the appearance of human skin. He reaches over to a cup of tea and lifts
it to take a sip.
Cut to the halls at school. Buffy is wigged and tense as she walks down
the hall. She holds her hands to the back of her neck and shoulders. She
jumps when a boy barges through the doors in the hall in front of her.
She walks through the doors and scans the students in the hall, paranoid
about them looking at her. The police recruiter looks at her, and she
stares back. A teacher comes down the stairs in front of her and looks
at her as he runs a comb through his hair. Several students walk past
her, giving her the occasional glance. Behind her Oz comes walking at a
quick pace. She hears a locker slam behind her and spins toward the
noise, notices Oz quickly bearing down on her, takes him by the neck and
shoves him into the wall.
Buffy: Try it!
Oz: (confused) Try what?
She realizes she’s made a mistakes and lets go of his neck.
Buffy: Uh… (exhales) I-I’m sorry.
Oz: Still not clear what I’m supposed to try.
Buffy: Nothing. God, I’m… sorry, I…
She steps away from him, looks both ways down the hall and quickly heads
off in the direction she was going. Oz moves away from the wall and
shudders.
Oz: That is a tense person.
Cut to Buffy’s street at night. Buffy walks home alone, arms crossed and
scanning the area around her. When she reaches her house she stops and
just stares at it. She thinks better of going inside, looks around again
and continues on.
Cut to the library. Giles walks out of his office cleaning his glasses.
Willow is sitting at the counter going through a volume.
Willow: I wish there was more we could do.
Giles: We’re doing all that we can. (puts on his glasses) The only
course of action is to try and find out what was in that stolen book.
(reads a card from the catalog)
Willow: I’ve never seen Buffy like that. She just took off.
Xander: (coming in) Well, she didn’t go home. I let the phone ring a
few hundred times before I remembered her mom is out of town.
Giles: Well, maybe Buffy unplugged the phone.
Xander: No, it’s a statistical impossibility for a sixteen-year-old
girl to unplug her phone.
Willow nods in agreement.
Giles: Well, perhaps my words of caution were… a little too alarming.
Xander: (with heavy sarcasm) Ya think?
Willow: It’s good that she took you seriously, Giles. I just wish we
knew where she was.
Cut to the hall outside Angel’s apartment. Buffy comes down the stairs
and walks over to his door. There’s no answer when she knocks.
Buffy: Angel?
She tries the doorknob, but it’s locked. Cut inside. She twists the knob
hard, breaking it and opening the door. She slowly comes in, has a look
around and closes the door. She turns on the lights. The apartment is
sparsely furnished. A modern desk strewn with papers is against the far
wall with a dozen old pictures hanging on the wall around it. The floor
is bare concrete, and her heels click quietly as she slowly walks over
to an ivory statue enclosed in a glass display case. She looks at it a
moment before going on. She looks around as she continues, and passes an
elegant antique armoire. Finally she finds his unmade bed, and slowly
goes over to it and sits down. She takes a deep breath and lets it out
slowly, weary from the day’s events. A moment later she lays herself
down on the bed, resting her head on his pillow and curling up. She hugs
her arms close to her heart and falls asleep.
Cut to a sleazy bar. Willy is sweeping up the place after hours. Angel
appears in the shadow of the doorway.
Willy: We’re closed! Can’t you read the sign?
Angel steps into the light.
Willy: Oh, uh… hey, Angel. I didn’t recognize you in the dark there.
What, uh… what can I do for you tonight?
Angel: I need some information.
Willy: Yeah? Man, that’s too bad, ’cause… I’m stayin’ away from that
whole scene. I’m livin’ right, Angel.
Angel slowly walks past the booths over to the pinball machine.
Angel: Sure you are, Willy. And I’m taking up sunbathing.
Willy: C’mon, man. Don’t be that way! I-I treat you vamps good! I-I-I-I
don’t hassle you, you don’t hassle me… We all enjoy the patronage of
this establishment. Everybody’s happy, right?
Angel: Who sent them?
Willy: Who sent who?
Angel: (stops at the pinball machine) The Order of Taraka.
Willy: I-I… I tell ya, I haven’t been in the loop.
Angel: Let’s try again. The Order of Taraka, they’re after the Slayer.
(crosses over to the bar)
Willy: C’mon, man.
Angel: Was it Spike? (steps toward Willy)
Willy: Look, Angel, I-I got some good pigs’ blood in, good stuff, my
fence said…
Angel grabs Willy and smacks his head into the bar. Willy knocks a half-
empty pitcher of beer onto the floor. Angel presses down hard on Willy’s
head with his hand.
Willy: Damn it! Ah…
Angel: You know, I’m a little rusty when it comes to killing humans. It
could take a while.
Willy: Oh, Spike will draw and quarter me, man!
Angel: I’ll take care of Spike.
Willy: You know he ordered those guys! Spike’s sick of your girl
getting in his way!
Angel: Where can I find him?
Willy: I tell you that, I’m gonna need relocating expenses! It’ll cost
you!
Angel: (presses harder) It’ll cost who?
Willy: Okay! Okay! He and that freaky chick of his are…
He is interrupted by someone kicking Angel in the face. Angel falls back
onto the floor dazed and looks up at his attacker. It’s the girl from
the airport. She grabs Willy’s broom, breaks the end of the handle off
and attacks Angel with the makeshift stake.~~ Part 4 ~~
Willy’s bar. Angel rolls out of the way of the girl’s thrust. Willy
takes the opportunity to flee the bar. Angel is up again, and he ducks a
swing from her. She tries a direct thrust, which Angel just pushes
aside, but she follows it up with a punch to the face from her other
hand and uses her momentum to spin around for a roundhouse kick,
knocking him through the door into the back room. He crashes into
several cases of beer. When he gets back up he’s vamped out. The girl
charges him with the stake held above her head in both hands. He blocks
her charge with his arms and twists her arms down, forcing her to drop
the stake, and shoves her into a bank of lockers. He tries to knock her
legs out from under her, but her footing is firm and she kicks him in
the back, knocking him down instead. Once down he tries kicking again,
and this time makes her fall. She grabs his shirt, pulls him up a bit
and kicks him in the face. They both scramble to their feet. Angel
swings and misses. He swings the other way, but she blocks it and
punches him three times in the gut and then a right hook to his jaw. She
shoves him into the door of the cage. He bounces off of it and she kicks
him in the chest, making him stumble backward through the cage door and
into a bunch of empty water bottles. Several cans fall onto him from a
shelf above. She looks at him with cold eyes as he recovers from his
fall.
Angel: Who are you? If you tell me what I need to know I won’t hurt
you.
She laughs as she steps back.
Angel: You think this is funny?
She swings closed the cage door and sets the bolt. Angel scrambles to
his feet and slams up against the door.
Kendra: I tink it is funny now. Dat girl. De one I saw you wit before?
Angel: You stay away from her.
Kendra: I’m afraid you are not in a position to treaten.
Angel: When I get outta here I’ll do more than threaten!
Kendra: Den I suggest ya move quickly. (looks up at the windows)
Eastern exposure. De sun will be comin’ in a few hours. (padlocks the
cage) More dan enough time for me to find your girlfriend.
Angel screams in anger and slams the cage with his hand.
Cut to the library after sunrise. Giles is at his desk studying a book
while holding the phone, waiting for Xander to answer.
Giles: Xander? (pauses) No, no, I-I haven’t heard from Buffy yet. Look,
look, I-I-I think you should go to her house and check on her. (pauses)
Well, ri-right a, right away. (pauses) I-I-I don’t know, get Cordelia to
drive you.
He hangs up without waiting for a response. He picks up the book he’s
reading and heads back into the main room with it. There he sees Willow
asleep in front of the PC with her head resting on the keyboard. He
closes his book, crouches slightly and gently places his hand on her
shoulder to wake her.
Giles: (quietly) Willow?
Willow wakes with a start and sits bolt upright.
Willow: Don’t warn the tadpoles!
Giles: Are you alright?
Willow: Giles, what are you doing here?
Giles: It’s the library, Willow. You fell asleep.
Willow: (looks around) Oh! I…
Giles: Don’t warn the tadpoles?
Willow: (groggy) I… I have frog fear.
Giles: Oh.
Willow: I’m sorry. I conked out.
Giles: What? Please. You’ve gone quite beyond the call of duty. (sits)
But, but, I-I… uh, fortunately, I think I may have found something
finally.
Willow: You did?
Giles: I-I found a-a description of the missing Du Lac manuscript. It’s
a ritual, Willow. Now, I-I, uh… (gets up to pace) I haven’t managed to
decipher the exact details, but I-I… I believe the purpose is to
restore a weak and sick vampire back to full health.
Willow: A vampire like Drusilla?
Giles: Exactly.
Cut to Drusilla’s room. Dalton slams the Du Lac manuscript shut and
hands Spike his handwritten pages of translation. Spike looks at it,
reads a bit and smiles.
Spike: By George, I think he’s got it! (walks to Drusilla in bed) The
key to your cure, ducks. The missing bloody link, it was…
Drusilla: (weakly) …Right, right in front of us… the whole time.
She takes Spike’s hand and pulls it down to her deck of tarot cards. The
top card is a picture of an angel.
Cut to the street in front of Buffy’s house. Xander and Cordelia walk up
to her house.
Cordelia: I can’t even believe you. You dragged me out of bed for a
ride? What am I, mass transportation?
Xander: That’s what a lot of the guys say, but it’s just locker room
talk. I wouldn’t pay it any mind.
Cordelia: Oh, great, so now I’m your taxi and your punching bag.
Xander: I like to think of you more as my witless foil, but have it
your way.
He takes the steps up to the porch and knocks on the door. He looks in
through the glass.
Xander: Buffy!
When he doesn’t see anyone stirring inside he walks over to the window.
Xander: C’mon, Cordelia. You wanna be a member of the Scooby Gang you
gotta be willing to be inconvenienced every now and then. (tries a
window)
Cordelia: Oh, right, ’cause I lie awake at night hoping you tweakos
will be my best friends.
Xander tries another window.
Cordelia: And that my first husband will be a balding, demented
homeless man.
Xander: (gets the window open) Buffy could be in trouble. (steps
through the window)
Cordelia: And what if she is exactly? What are you gonna do about it?
In case you haven’t noticed, (he opens the door for her) you’re the
lameness and she’s the super chick, or whatever.
Xander: Well, at least I’m the lameness who cares, which is more than I
can say about you. (into the house) Buffy! I’m gonna check upstairs.
Cordelia comes in and closes the door behind her. Xander climbs the
stairs.
Xander: Buffy?
Cordelia spins her keys around as she walks into the living room and
looks around. She hears a knocking at the door and goes to answer it.
When she opens it Norman is standing there.
Norman: Good day. I’m Norman Pfister with Blush Beautiful (holds up his
case) Skin Care and Cosmetics. I was wondering if I might interest you
in some free samples?
Cordelia: (smiles) Free?
She steps aside to admit him and closes the door.
Cut to the back room at the bar. Sunlight is streaming through the
window and is starting to shine into the cage. Angel slams against the
door, trying to break it open, but can’t get it to budge. He tries
prying at the top, but no luck. He pushes against the door again.
Cut to Angel’s apartment. Buffy is sleeping on his bed. She stirs and
wakes. She hears a noise, opens her eyes to look up and immediately
rolls to the far side of the bed as a hatchet strikes the pillow where
her head was. It’s Kendra, and she swings again and hits the mattress
when Buffy sidesteps the blow. Buffy does a flip over Kendra’s back and
onto the floor behind her, ready to fight.
Buffy: You must be number two!
Kendra swings with the hatchet. Buffy ducks the swing and grabs the bed
curtain. She pulls it down and over Kendra’s head and knocks her to the
floor with a kick to the head. Kendra quickly scrambles out from under
the curtain and holds the hatchet up and ready.
Buffy: Thanks for the wakeup, but I’ll stick with my clock radio.
Kendra swings the hatchet, and Buffy catches it. Kendra pulls her around
and slams her into the wall, pushing the hatchet into her chest. Buffy
pushes the hatchet up and away from her. Kendra pulls down on it,
flipping Buffy over onto her back. She bears down on her.
Buffy: Come on, don’t make me do the chick fight thing.
Kendra: Chick fight?
Buffy: You know.
She lets go of the hatchet with one hand and digs her nails into
Kendra’s hand. She grits her teeth and grunts in pain. Buffy grabs
Kendra’s arm and rolls her over and away. They both scramble to their
feet. Buffy kicks the hatchet out of Kendra’s hand. Kendra tries two
kicks, which Buffy easily blocks. Buffy ducks a swing to her head and
swings back, but Kendra grabs her arm in mid-swing and flips her over
onto the coffee table, smashing it. Buffy lets out a pained breath.
Kendra reaches down for her. Buffy kicks up with both legs into Kendra’s
face and makes her fall backward to the floor. They both scramble to
their feet again. Buffy does a roundhouse kick to Kendra’s face. She
falls again, but hops right back to her feet. They face each other,
ready to continue the fight.
Kendra: Who are you?
Buffy: Who am I? You attacked me! Who, the hell, are you?!
Kendra: I am Kendra! De Vampire Slayer!
Buffy looks at her in utter disbelief.
To be continued…
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