Buffy World is an unofficial Buffy the Vampire Slayer fansite. (I mean, we feel pretty official, but you know… LAWYERS!)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER characters and related dramatic works are property of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. This transcript is intended to be used for criticism, comment, and research purposes. The transcript may depict certain copyrighted work that was not specifically authorized to be used by the copyrighted holder, but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. So, go on… do some work and make the world a more interesting place! (non-commercially of course!)
Episode Summary
After unpacking the last of her belongings, Buffy stops by her mom’s bedroom to announce that she’s heading outside.
Joyce hangs up a Nigerian mask that she got from a friend at her art gallery, then hesitantly gives her daughter permission to go find her friends. Later, in a dark alley, Buffy notices a shadowy figure roaming the alleys.
Suspicious, she follows him and accidentally draws his attention by stepping on an aluminum can. The figure spins around and thrusts a stake at her, which Buffy easily blocks.
As she grabs the stake out of the man’s hands and turns it towards him, she realizes that it’s Xander. Before either of them can say much, a vampire appears and attacks the both of them.
During the struggle, Buffy hears Cordelia’s voice on a walkie-talkie attached to Xander’s waist. Soon enough, Cordy, Willow, and Oz arrive on the scene, all decked out with stakes and crosses.
Buffy is surprised to see her friends work as a team to get the vampire off of Buffy. One by one, though, they are knocked to the ground by the powerful vampire.
Finally, Buffy jumps in and finishes the job, reducing the vampire to a pile of dust. After Buffy greets her bewildered friends, they head over to Giles’ apartment.
The Watcher is emotionally overcome with joy from seeing his Slayer safe and sound, although he doesn’t fully express it until he’s alone in his kitchen.
In the living room, Buffy avoids discussion topics relating to what she did over the summer. She then makes plans with Willow to meet somewhere the next afternoon.
The next day, Joyce and Buffy visit Principal Snyder in his office. Despite Joyce’s protests, Snyder refuses to readmit Buffy back into the school. Afterwards, Joyce drops Buffy off at a coffee shop where she plans to meet Willow.
However, Willow never shows up. Buffy heads home, and as she heads towards her front door, a woman steps out. She introduces herself as Pat, a friend of Joyce’s at the book club.
Inside, Joyce tells Buffy that she invited Giles and her friends over to dinner the following evening. Buffy goes into the basement to get their fancy company plates.
There, she finds a stray cat that has been dead for a while. Buffy and Joyce bury it outside. Later that night, after both Buffy and Joyce have fallen asleep, the eyeholes of the mask in Joyce’s bedroom begin to glow.
As they do so, the stray cat works its way out of the ground as if it had never died. Overnight, Buffy dreams that she is walking around the Sunnydale High campus.
Nobody else is there, except for Angel. She then wakes up and heads to the kitchen. The stray cat reenters the Summers home, shocking both Buffy and Joyce.
Giles arrives shortly with a cage to capture the cat and bring it back to the library for further study. After finding the cat in Joyce’s bedroom, he notices the Nigerian mask on her wall.
He then informs Buffy that she is no longer allowed on school grounds. At the library, Giles studies his demonology text while the rest of the Slayerettes make plans for the dinner that evening.
By the end of their discussion, the intimate dinner has become a full-blown party, complete with pot luck snacks and Oz’s band. During the discussion, Giles careless flips past a page without looking at it.
On this page is a picture of the same mask hanging in Joyce’s bedroom. That evening, Pat comes over to visit Joyce.
Merely moments after Buffy shuts the door, Oz’s band, Dingoes Ate My Baby, arrives. Buffy was not notified in advance that they had planned a huge party, but that’s exactly what she gets before long.
After wading through dozens of people she’s never even met before, Buffy finds Willow near the band. Buffy pulls her over to a quieter area and asks Willow if she’s been avoiding her.
Willow denies this, then immediately leaves Buffy alone and heads back to where he band is playing.
On her way upstairs, Buffy briefly talks to Xander and Cordelia, who are lost in their own world of nonstop smoochies.
Buffy then stops outside the kitchen, where Joyce and Pat are talking about having Buffy back home. Buffy overhears her mom talking about how much more difficult it is now that Buffy’s home.
Unable to take much more animosity from her closest friends and family, Buffy goes up to her bedroom and starts packing her bag again. Meanwhile, Giles finally finds what he’s been looking for in his texts: the picture of the Nigerian mask.
Horrified by what he reads, he calls the Summers home, but one of the partygoers answers the phone, and the music is too loud for him to fully understand what Giles is saying.
Giles gives up and drives towards Buffy’s home. On the way, he accidentally hits a man in the middle of the road.
Upon getting out and inspecting the body, Giles realizes that this man died long before he ever wandered onto the road.
The corpse grabs Giles and shoves him against the car. Giles watches in horror as he sees several more zombies appearing from the shadows.
All over town, corpses arise from crime scenes, hospital beds, and even their graves, all with one destination in mind: the Summers household. Giles finally fends off the zombies and gets back in his car.
Willow finds Buffy packing her bag in her bedroom. Not long after they argue over Buffy’s decision to run away, Joyce enters the bedroom.
Her reaction to seeing Buffy’s packed bag is much more heated. Buffy tries to get out of the house, but Joyce stops her right in the middle of the main floor.
As everybody gathers around and watches, Joyce drops all her restraints and angrily chews out Buffy for what she did (and didn’t do) over the summer. Buffy tries to defend herself, but Xander joins in and offers his own cold remarks.
Just as it seems that everybody is against Buffy and her whole world is caving in, the zombies invade the household. They quickly and brutally attack and kill several of the guests, while everybody else runs for their lives.
Many try to keep the doors and windows blocked off, while others just panic in general. One of the zombies grabs Pat and drags her off down a hallway.
While Buffy, Joyce, Xander, and Willow run upstairs, Oz and Cordelia hide in a downstairs closet. Upstairs, Joyce finds Pat lying flat on the floor.
They help her to her feet and into Joyce’s bedroom. While the group tries to keep the zombies from forcing the door open, Willow checks Pat’s pulse and realizes that she’s already dead.
Several moments later, Oz and Cordelia step out of the closet and notice that all of the zombies are now upstairs. They run into Giles, who has just arrived.
He explains that the mask contains the power of the zombie demon named Ovu Mobani, or Evil Eye. All the zombies are after it, and whoever puts it on will become the demon. Upstairs, nobody notices Pat as she suddenly gets up.
Surprised to see that her friend is alive, Joyce runs over, only to be knocked to the floor by the zombie Pat. As Joyce and Xander look on, Pat puts the mask on, which immediately molds to her face. Pat begins to speak, except it isn’t her voice anymore.
It is the voice of the demon Ovu Mobani, and the zombies that were previously trying to get into the room are now paralyzed with fear by Mobani’s presence. Buffy tries to attack the demon, but it turns its head and flashes a brilliantly white light which stuns Buffy.
Unable to move, Buffy takes the powerful blow of the demon hard. The demon then stuns Willow and moves in for the kill, but not before Buffy recovers and pushes Mobani through the second story window, along with herself.
After they crash onto her backyard, Buffy tries to avoid the demon’s gaze by covering her eyes.
Giles tells Oz to warn Buffy that attacking its eyes is the only way to defeat Mobani. Oz runs out and immediately falls victim to Mobani’s stun flash.
Buffy uses this moment to her advantage and thrusts a shovel directly into the demon’s eyes. It cries out in horror, then vanishes, along with all of the other zombies.
After everybody regroups inside, nobody can bring themselves to spite Buffy any longer, as she finally embraces Willow after so long. The next day, Giles visits Principal Snyder’s office and threatens to contact state officials if Buffy isn’t readmitted.
When Snyder doesn’t believe his threat, Giles applies a little brute force to get his message across. Later, Buffy and Willow meet at the coffee shop.
Willow discusses her experiments with witchcraft. They understand what each other has been feeling during the past few months, and like the true friends that they are, accept it.
Shooting Scripts
Teaser
INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Buffy, looking a little worn from her return journey home, finishes unpacking her duffle. She puts the
last of her clothes away, then stops for a long beat as she contemplates her room – in some ways so
familiar, yet so strange after months away. Finally, she grabs her coat – heads out.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Buffy enters – unseen by Joyce, who is hanging some exotic African art from the gallery in her
bedroom. Joyce taps a nail into her wall with a hammer-
BUFFY
Mom-
Joyce jumps. Knocks a chunk of plaster out of the wall.
JOYCE
Oh! Buffy…
BUFFY
Sorry, I-
JOYCE
No, no… Don’t worry about it. I
guess I just got used to all the
quiet while you were gone.
(then)
But it’s no problem. Look-
Joyce lifts a particularly mean-looking MASK from her dresser and places it on the wall, covering the
hole.
JOYCE
Do you like it?
BUFFY
(trying)
It’s, um, really… I think I’d go with
the hole.
JOYCE
It’s from Nigeria. We got a very
exciting shipment at the gallery. I
thought I’d hang a few pieces in
here. It cheers up the room.
BUFFY
It’s angry at the room. It wants the
room to suffer.
JOYCE
You have no appreciation of
primitive art —
Now Joyce notices that Buffy is holding her coat. Works at sounding casual – but the fun just left the
building.
JOYCE
Oh. You’re… going out?
BUFFY
If… if it’s okay. I want to find Willow
and Xander.
JOYCE
(worried)
And – will you be slaying?
BUFFY
Not unless they give me lip.
JOYCE
Do you want a sandwich or something
before you go? You must be starving.
BUFFY
I was until that four course snack
you served me after dinner…
JOYCE
Well then – let me drive you. I mean,
they could be anywhere-
BUFFY
Mom, if you don’t want me to go…
JOYCE
I want to put this whole thing behind
us. Get back to normal.
(then)
You go – have a good time.
Buffy nods – exits. Joyce looks after her, uneasy. Turns back to her task. Then Buffy pokes her head
in again.
BUFFY
Thanks.
WHAP. Joyce jumps and her hammer sinks into the wall again.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
BUFFY walks along a quiet street, alert. Things don’t feel quite right. Then a LOUD NOISE – like
someone knocking over a trash can – comes from a nearby alley. Buffy immediately kicks into full
slayer mode. Follows the trail into the –
EXT. ALLEY – NIGHT
- where a MENACING FIGURE moves stealthily in the darkness. Buffy approaches. Then she kicks a
SODA CAN by accident – sending it skittering noisily across the alley floor.
The FIGURE SPINS, startled. Now we can see that it’s XANDER – and he has a STAKE HEADED RIGHT
FOR BUFFY’S HEART.
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
Act One
EXT. ALLEY – NIGHT
Back to that stake. Buffy manages to STOP IT with her hands, just before it plunges into her chest. A
beat – then she smiles at Xander, unable to contain how glad she is to see him.
BUFFY
Didn’t anyone tell you about playing
with pointy sticks? It’s all fun and
games until someone loses an eye.
A stunned Xander takes in what just happened. And WHO it just happened with.
XANDER
You… shouldn’t sneak up on people
like that.
Another moment. Xander loses the cool, shakes his head.
XANDER
Jeez, Buff-
He opens his arms and they move to HUG EACH OTHER. It’s about to be a nice moment, but
suddenly A PISSED OFF VAMPIRE TACKLES XANDER.
Xander wrestles with the vamp, almost has the upper hand… Then BUFFY BLINDSIDES THE VAMP
and knocks him off Xander.
While the vamp tries to recover, BUFFY DRAWS A STAKE. Xander leaps to his feet – also with STAKE
DRAWN.
The VAMP GROWLS, starts to get up. BOTH Xander and Buffy move to take him. They glance at each
other.
BUFFY
Oh. Go ahead.
XANDER
No, you go.
BUFFY
No, it’s-
Now they are interrupted by a SHRILL ELECTRONIC SQUAWK followed by-
CORDELIA (O.C.)
“Come in, Nighthawk. Everything
okay?”
Buffy looks down and sees A FISHER PRICE STYLE WALKIE TALKIE affixed to Xander’s belt. She
glances back at him – dubious.
BUFFY
Nighthawk?
Embarrassed, Xander fumbles for the walkie. The VAMP takes advantage of their distraction and
RUSHES THEM – this time plowing into BUFFY.
CLOSE ON BUFFY AND THE VAMP
Struggling – as FOOTSTEPS sound the arrival of THREE MORE PEOPLE. The VAMP IS YANKED off her.
REVEAL WILLOW AND CORDY
Who each have the VAMP by an ARM as they SLAM him into an ALLEY WALL. The vamp thrashes
madly.
CORDELIA
(struggling)
Hello? This would be dust time!
Now the VAMP tosses them off. Willow hits the ground hard while Cordelia falls into Buffy – who is
back on her feet, stake raised.
CORDELIA
(mild surprise)
Oh. Buffy. Hey-
Buffy SHOVES CORDELIA out of the way of the vamp – who is now behind Cordy, teeth bared.
Without further ado, Buffy stakes the guy and HE’S TOAST.
Buffy turns – faces WILLOW, OZ, CORDELIA and XANDER. We can now fully register that they are all
dressed for VAMP HUNTING. In addition to slightly MILITARISTIC outfits – they wear CROSSES,
make-shift STAKE HOLDERS and those colorful WALKIE TALKIES.
LONG BEAT – as everyone contemplates the suddenly returned Buffy. Finally, an emotional Buffy
manages-
BUFFY
Hey.
At last the gang reacts, shocked and excited. Move in to greet her.
EXT. GILES’ APARTMENT – COURTYARD – NIGHT
Everyone gathers around Giles’ door. Buffy, looking anxious, moves to knock – but stops.
BUFFY
Are you sure it’s not too late? Maybe
we should come back tomorrow.
Everyone just looks at her – not buying it. Buffy goes to knock again. Stops again.
BUFFY
What if he’s mad?
XANDER
Mad? ‘Cause you ran away and
abandoned your post and your friends
and your mother and made him lie
awake every night worrying about you?
(to the others)
Maybe we should wait out here.
Buffy gives Xander a look – takes a big breath – and finally raps on the door.
A beat. Then Giles opens the door. Sees her. He’s clearly taken aback. Nobody says anything. Xander
can’t stand it.
XANDER
Check it out. The watcher is back on
the clock. And just when you were
thinking career change. Maybe
becoming a “Looker” or a “Seer” –
Giles cuts Xander off.
GILES
Thank you, Xander.
Giles turns to Buffy – his expression closed, impossible to read. Finally, his features soften and he
addresses her – trying hard to keep his composure.
GILES
Welcome home, Buffy.
INT. GILES’ APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Buffy, Giles, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia all sit in the living room. They are in mid-conversation.
BUFFY
Yeah, I just got in a few hours ago.
Went to see Mom first…
GILES
Of course. And how did you find her?
BUFFY
I pretty much remembered the address.
GILES
I mean, was everything all right
between you —
He’s cut off by the sound of A KETTLE BOILING.
GILES
Ah. Excuse me.
The gang talks amongst themselves, while we follow Giles into the –
INT. GILES’ APARTMENT – KITCHEN AREA – CONT. – NIGHT
He proceeds to finish making a pot of tea.
Oz (O.S.)
By the way, you’re not wanted for
murder anymore.
BUFFY (O.S.)
Oh, good. That was such a drag.
XANDER (O.S.)
So where were you? Did you go to
Belgium?
BUFFY (O.S.)
Why would I go to Belgium?
XANDER (O.S.)
I think the relevant question is “why
wouldn’t you?” Belgium!
Giles moves to get the sugar – stops when he hears BUFFY’S LAUGHTER ring above the other voices.
BUFFY (O.S.)
I’m glad to see you haven’t changed,
Xander…
CLOSE ON GILES
Hidden from the others by a cabinet, they do not see Giles’ mask fall for a moment. He fights tears,
his relief is palpable. But… he pulls it together. Puts his WASP face back on as he moves back into
the –
INT. GILES’ APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
GILES
Right, then. Tea’s on.
Cordy grabs a cookie from the tray. Turns to Buffy.
CORDELIA
Okay – were you, like, living in a
box or what?
BUFFY
It’s a long story.
XANDER
So leave out the heartwarming stuff
about kindly old people and saving
the farm and get right to the dirt –
GILES
Perhaps Buffy could use a little time
to adjust before we grill her on her
summer activities.
BUFFY
What he said.
XANDER
Fair enough. In fact – you can leave
the slaying to us while you settle
in – we got you covered.
BUFFY
I noticed. You guys seemed down with
the slayage. All tricked out with
the walkies and everything –
CORDELIA
Yeah, but our outfits suck. That
Rambo thing is so over. I’m thinking
sporty. Hilfiger, maybe.
WILLOW
(enthusiastic)
Still – we’re getting good. I mean,
we dust, like, 9 out of 10!
OZ
6 out of 10.
WILLOW
(with equal enthusiasm)
6 out of 10!
XANDER
Whatever. We’ve been kicking a
little undead booty.
BUFFY
Thanks for the offer, but I kind of
want to get back to my routine. You
know – slaying, school, kid stuff…
You guys up for hanging tomorrow?
I’m jonesing for some brainless fun.
An awkward beat. Then-
XANDER
I would – but I’m tied up.
He puts a hand on Cordy. She smiles.
CORDELIA
You wish.
BUFFY
What about you, Will?
WILLOW
Tomorrow? I…
BUFFY
Come on. Friends don’t let friends
browse alone.
Will glances at Oz – hesitates, then-
WILLOW
Okay. I had some school stuff,
but… I guess I can change my plans.
GILES
As for school, Buffy, you know you’ll
have to talk with Principal Snyder before-
BUFFY
On it. Mom’s making an appointment
with his ugliness.
GILES
It may be tough going. He’s quite
emphatic about a Buffy-free
Sunnydale High.
BUFFY
(covering her worry)
No problem. I’m bringing The
Intimidator. One look at “Mom Face”
and I know he’ll break.
INT. PRINCIPAL SNYDER’S OFFICE – DAY
CLOSE ON JOYCE
Who, indeed, is sporting a stern and intimidating “Mom Face.” But her look falters as-
PRINCIPAL SNYDER (O.S.)
Absolutely not. Under no
circumstances.
REVEAL SNYDER
At his desk – completely delighted with himself. Buffy sits next to Joyce looking unhappy, but not
shocked by Snyder’s attitude.
JOYCE
But… you can’t keep her out of
school. You don’t have the right.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
I have not only the right but also a
nearly physical sensation of pleasure
at the thought of keeping her out of
school. I’d describe myself as tingly.
JOYCE
Buffy was cleared of all those charges.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
Yes, and while she may live up to the
not-a-murderer requirement for
enrollment, she is a troublemaker,
destructive to school property and
the occasional student and her grade
point average alone is…
(smiles, forgetting himself)
I’m sorry. Another tingle moment.
JOYCE
I don’t see how you can be so cavalier
about a young girl’s entire future.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
I’m quite sure a girl with talents and
abilities such as Buffy’s will land on her feet.
(glee returning)
In fact, I noticed on the way in this morning
that Hot Dog On A Stick is hiring.
(to Buffy)
You’ll look so cute in that hat.
Buffy stands. Grabs her bag.
BUFFY
Let’s go, Mom.
JOYCE
This isn’t over. If I have to, I’ll go all
the way to the mayor.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
Wouldn’t that be interesting.
Smiling, he opens the door – showing them out.
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY – DAY
Joyce follows Buffy out into the hall. Giles, who’s been lingering but trying non to look like he’s been
lingering, approaches.
GILES
Well. How did it go?
JOYCE
(furious)
Have you ever noticed his teeth?
They’re like tiny, little rodent teeth –
GILES
Oh, dear…
JOYCE
Horrible gnashing little teeth. You
just want to pull them out with pliers.
GILES
Perhaps there’s some way he can be
over-ruled…
Now Joyce and Giles move away from Buffy, talking intently about her “situation.” The BELL RINGS
and the hall is suddenly flooded with students – all moving with purpose from one class to the next.
CLOSE ON BUFFY
As the kids pass, not seeming to notice her. She looks, and feels, lost – displaced.
INT. JOYCE’S CAR – DAY
Joyce pulls up to the curb with Buffy in the passenger seat. Both look discouraged, but Joyce tries to
sound cheery.
JOYCE
Don’t worry about school, honey. If
we can’t get you back into Sunnydale,
we may be able to swing private school.
BUFFY
(horrified)
Like with the jackets and kilts? You
want me to get field-hockey-knees?
JOYCE
It’s not that bad.
BUFFY
How about home schooling? It’s not
just for scary religious people anymore.
JOYCE
We’ll work something out.
Buffy just nods. Joyce gives her a quick peck on the cheek.
JOYCE
Tell Willow I said hi.
EXT. COFFEE HOUSE – SHOPPING DISTRICT STREET – DAY
Buffy waits for Willow outside of a coffee house. It’s clear that she’s been waiting for a while. She
checks her watch… She sits on a bench – decides to give it a few more minutes.
EXT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FRONT DOOR – DAY
Buffy comes up the walk as the front door opens and an unfamiliar woman in her 40’s steps out –
PAT. She’s of the chatty, nervous variety.
PAT
Oh my word, you must be Buffy!
Look at you – aren’t you a picture?
BUFFY
Thanks…
PAT
(shaking Buffy’s hand enthusiastically)
I’m Pat – from your mother’s book
club? I’m sure she mentioned me.
BUFFY
Actually-
PAT
I sort of took it upon myself to look
after her while you were, you know,
off and away or what have you.
Between your “situation” and reading
“Deep End of the Ocean” she was just
a wreck. You can imagine.
Buffy might reply but Pat is already heading for the street.
PAT
Well, I’m off. We’re making
empanadas in my Spanish class
tonight. You go be with your mother.
The two of you need to re-bond.
Pat hustles away – leaving Buffy a little dazed.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY
Joyce is looking through a cook book when Buffy enters, looking irritated.
BUFFY
Pat wishes us quality time.
JOYCE
Oh – I met her in-
BUFFY
Book Club. Got it.
JOYCE
Before I forget – Willow just called.
BUFFY
Where was she?
JOYCE
She got held up. But she said she
tried to call.
BUFFY
Was there a message?
Again, Joyce tries to put a happy face on things – but the stance is growing more forced.
JOYCE
No… But I had a thought – what if
I invited Willow and Mr. Giles and
everyone for dinner tomorrow night.
Don’t you think that would be nice?
Buffy’s clearly not sure – but…
JOYCE
(sheepishly)
Since I sort of already did, I’m
hoping for a yes.
BUFFY
It’ll be fun.
JOYCE
Why don’t you run downstairs and get
the company plates.
BUFFY
Mom. Willow and everybody aren’t
company plate people. They’re normal
plate people.
JOYCE
We never have guests for dinner.
Indulge your mother.
She gives Buffy “Mom Face.” Buffy starts to move – then stops.
BUFFY
So how come that works on me – but
not on other people?
JOYCE
It’s genetic.
Buffy nods – goes into the basement.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – BASEMENT – DAY
Buffy enters, gets the china from a shelf and notices a stack of framed photos nearby. She turns one
over.
CLOSE ON THE PHOTO
It’s a picture of BUFFY, WILLOW & XANDER from a year or so back. They are arm in arm, laughing.
ON BUFFY
As she regards it for a long beat – feeling like she’s looking at a picture from someone else’s life. She
moves to put it back on the shelf, but in doing so dislodges AN OBJECT which nearly falls on her
head.
When it lands on the floor we see that it’s a DEAD CAT, stiff with RIGOR MORTIS. Buffy shrieks with
surprise, jumps.
EXT. BACKYARD – DAY
The sun is setting as Buffy DIGS A HOLE in a flower bed. She puts her spade aside and Joyce drops
the cat (now in a plastic hefty bag) into the hole.
BUFFY
Next time? I get to pick the
mother/daughter bonding activity…
A sad beat as they contemplate the grave.
JOYCE
You want to – say something?
BUFFY
What? Thanks for stopping by and
dying?
JOYCE
How about – goodbye stray cat, who
lost it’s way. We hope… you find it.
Joyce’s last comment resonates a bit too much for both of them. Buffy starts to shovel the dirt back
into the grave.
INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Buffy gets into bed and turns out the light – but she just lies there with her eyes open. She looks
toward the window and the night shadows playing on the wall. It all looks unfamiliar, cold.
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Joyce is asleep and unaware of THE MASK on her wall as IT’S EYES START TO GLOW.
EXT. BACKYARD – NIGHT
The ground where the stray cat lies buried MOVES. Then a PAW merges from the dirt and the CAT
CRAWLS AND SCRATCHES ITS AY OUT OF THE GRAVE – A ZOMBIE PET.
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Now the eyes in the mask BURN RED.
EXT. BACKYARD – NIGHT
The zombie cat straggles across the yard and stops under JOYCE’S BEDROOM WINDOW.
It looks up toward the window and MEOWS in a discordant, otherworldly tone.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
Act Two
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY – DAY
The hallway stands empty, except for BUFFY, who wanders a bit aimlessly. Doors stands open,
revealing deserted classrooms.
EXT. SCHOOL – FOUNTAIN QUAD – DAY
Now Buffy is outside. Again, she’s alone. The school is desolate. A ghost town.
Then someone moves to her side. Angel.
BUFFY
I thought they would be here.
ANGEL
They are. They’re waiting for you.
BUFFY
Am I dreaming?
ANGEL
(smiles)
I’m probably the wrong person to ask.
You’d better go.
BUFFY
I’m afraid.
ANGEL
(matter-of-factly)
You should be.
AND A SCHOOL BELL RINGS.
INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – DAY
Buffy’s ALARM is sounding. She wakes from her dream.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY
Joyce is pouring herself some coffee as Buffy looks in the fridge. The tension between them is not
quite “cut with a knife” thick – but it’s getting there.
JOYCE
I’ve been on the phone with the
superintendent of schools. He seems
more reasonable than that nasty
little horrid bigoted rodent man.
She says it offhand, as though it were Snyder’s full name.
BUFFY
Mom-
JOYCE
-anyway, I’m going in to speak with him
this afternoon. As for private schools-
(she pushes some papers toward Buffy)
Miss Porter’s accepts late admissions.
I wrote down the information for you-
BUFFY
A girl’s school? Okay – so now it’s
jackets, kilts and no boys? Care to
throw in a little foot binding?
JOYCE
(hard)
Buffy. You made some bad choices.
You may just have to live with some
consequences.
Buffy reacts to Joyce’s tone. Joyce immediately relents.
JOYCE
Nothing’s settled yet. I just wish
you didn’t have to be so secretive
about things. I mean, it’s not your
fault you have a special
circumstance. They should make
allowances for you.
BUFFY
Mom. Please. I’m a slayer. It’s not like
I have to ride the little bus to school.
Joyce carries some trash to the kitchen door, opens it. Still, she pauses to finish her thought.
JOYCE
Couldn’t you tell just a few people?
Like Principal Snyder? And maybe
the police? I’m sure they’d be happy
to know that they have a superhero –
is that the right term? It’s not offensi –
AAAAHGH!
Joyce and Buffy react to the ZOMBIE CAT – who ZIPS through the open door and into the house.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – DAY
A grim looking Buffy opens the door for GILES, who carries a small animal cage.
BUFFY
Welcome to the Hellmouth petting zoo.
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – DAY
ON THE ZOMBIE CAT
Who SCREECHES HORRIBLY as Giles catches it. He HOLDS THE CREATURE FAR AWAY from his body
as he deposits it in the cage, reacting visibly to its BAD SMELL.
GILES
My lord – what a stench.
BUFFY
I told mom, get the Forest Pine or the
April Fresh – but she wanted dead cat.
Giles looks to Joyce, who stands nearby – freaked. On top of the obvious weirdness – there’s also still
tension between them after their last talk.
GILES
I’ll take it back to the library and we’ll
try to determine its exact origin.
As he’s leaving, Giles notices the MASK among the artifacts on Joyce’s wall. Tries to make nice with
her.
GILES
This is striking. Nigerian?
JOYCE
Yes, I have this wonderful dealer who
specializes in ancient-
They’d go on but Buffy jumps in, eager for some distraction.
BUFFY
You know I love art talk as much as
the next very dull person – but Giles,
shouldn’t we go? We’re in research mode.
She starts for the door, but Giles hesitates.
GILES
You ought to stay here with your
mother, Buffy. I’m sure you have
lots of-
JOYCE
(interrupting)
Please. It’s fine. She can go with you.
GILES
Actually, she can’t.
(to Buffy)
You’re not allowed on school property.
BUFFY
Oh.
(embarrassed)
This marks a first. I want to go to
school – but school doesn’t want me.
GILES
I’m sorry. I’ll call as soon as I know
something.
JOYCE
And we’ll see you tonight. Dinner?
GILES
Ah – of course. Tonight, then.
And he goes leaving Buffy feeling even more the outcast.
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
ON ZOMBIE CAT
Who is pacing, restless, in his cage.
WIDEN TO INCLUDE CORDELIA AND OZ
Who are close to the cage – checking it out. The cat HISSES at them in its strange cadence.
OZ
Looks dead. Smells dead. But moving
around. Interesting.
Cordelia moves away from the creature, disgusted.
CORDELIA
Nice pet, Giles. Don’t you like anything
regular? Golf or USA Today or anything?
Now we see that GILES, WILLOW and XANDER are all hitting the books. Looking up “reanimation”
and stuff like that.
GILES
We’re trying to find how and why it
rose from the grave. It’s not as if
I’m going to take it home and serve
it a warm saucer of milk-
OZ
I like him. I think you should call
him Patches.
WILLOW
Hey – what about Buffy’s Welcome home
dinner tonight? I told her mom we’d
help out. Bring stuff.
CORDELIA
I’m the dip!
Everybody looks at her. Xander beams.
XANDER
You have to admire the purity of it.
CORDELIA
What? Onion dip. Stirring. Not cooking.
That’s what I bring.
OZ
Well – let’s figure it out. What kind of
deal is this? Is it a gathering, a shin dig
or a hootenanny?
CORDELIA
What’s the difference?
OZ
A gathering. Brie and mellow song
stylings. Shin dig. Dip –
(he nods to Cordelia)
Less mellow song stylings. Perhaps
a large amount of malt beverage. And
a hootenanny… just chock full of
hoot and a little bit of nanny.
XANDER
I hate brie.
CORDELIA
I know. It smells like Giles’ cat.
Giles starts to protest.
GILES
It’s not my-
XANDER
And what would we talk about at a
“gathering” anyway? “So Buffy – run
into any nice pimps on your travels?
And by the by, thanks for ruining our
lives for the past three months…”
WILLOW
Xander-
XANDER
You know what I mean. She doesn’t
want to talk about it. We don’t want
to talk about it. Maybe we should
shut up and dance.
WILLOW
Buffy did say she wanted to loosen
up. Have some kid time.
(to Oz)
Hey. Aren’t you guys rehearsing
tonight? Why don’t you play at the party.
OZ
Yeah. I think I could supply some
Dingo action.
Giles looks up from his studies, a little concerned.
GILES
I’m not sure that a… shin dig-
Oz politely stops him.
OZ
Hootenanny.
GILES
Hootenanny… is the order of the
day. Maybe it’s best to keep things
more intimate. Buffy just got
home – I’m sure she’s still feeling
disoriented.
WILLOW
All the more reason to make her feel
welcome. And a big party says,
Welcome Buffy!
XANDER
Okay – so one vote from the old guy
for smelly cheese night – and, how
many votes for actual fun?
Everybody else’s hand goes up. They all look at Giles.
GILES
Very well. Have it your way. I’m
just glad to have her home…
CLOSE ON GILES’ BOOK
As, distracted, he turns PAST a picture of THE MASK that hangs on JOYCE’S WALL.
GILES (O.C.)
Now things can get back to normal.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
PUSH IN ON THE MASK ITSELF
As the EYES START TO GLOW.
EXT. HIGHWAY – NIGHT
As A CORONER’S AIDE outlines a BODY at a crime scene with a piece of chalk. TWO POLICE CARS,
lights flashing, separate the aide from the COPS and EMERGENCY WORKERS, who bustle in the
background.
Suddenly the CORPSE AWAKENS. It grabs the aide by the throat, silencing his cries. Now the zombie
DRAGS THE FLAILING AIDE into some bushes – unnoticed by the others on the scene. The piece of
chalk trails on the pavement, drawing a line as he goes…
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – DINING ROOM – NIGHT
Buffy is setting the table when the DOORBELL RINGS. She goes to the door, expecting her buddies –
but instead is confronted by her mother’s friend PAT.
PAT
There you are. Not thinking about
any more flights of fancy, I hope?
(not giving Buffy a chance to reply)
Joyce said there was room for one
more – so I said “forget facial night –
let’s party!” I bet you like empanadas.
She thrusts a tupperware container into Buffy’s hands. Now they just stand there – uncomfortable.
Finally-
BUFFY
You want to see my mother?
PAT
Please.
BUFFY
MOM!
Joyce comes down the stairs, just finishing dressing – sees Pat.
JOYCE
Oh, Pat. Good. Buffy, I hope you
don’t mind-
But she’s interrupted as the DOORBELL RINGS AGAIN. Buffy answers it and is more than a little
surprised to see DEVON from the band and a bunch of GROUPIE TYPES.
DEVON
Hey, Buffy.
BUFFY
Uh, hey.
DEVON
So – where do you want the band
to set up?
BUFFY
(stunned)
The band?
CUT TO:
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
DINGOES ATE MY BABY jam in the living room. There are too many people – most of whom Buffy
doesn’t even know – crammed into the room. It’s a weird vibe.
Buffy wanders, not knowing what to do with herself. She spots WILLOW across the room watching OZ
play. Buffy moves to her and they yell over the band.
BUFFY
Hey!
WILLOW
Hey!
BUFFY
This is… large!
WILLOW
You like?
BUFFY
It’s great. It’s just – I was thinking
more, just us. The gang?
Willow shakes her head. Can’t hear Buffy over the music.
WILLOW
Sorry – what!?
BUFFY
This is amazing. But I still want to
hang with just-
Willow smiles – but mouths the words “I Can’t Hear You.” Turns back to the band.
Buffy starts to move away – but changes her mind and pulls Willow aside, where they can hear one
another.
BUFFY
Is everything okay? You seem to
be… I don’t know – avoiding me.
In the one-on-one sense.
Willow smiles – but she’s clearly uncomfortable.
WILLOW
What? This isn’t avoiding. See?
Here you are. Here I am.
BUFFY
So – we’re cool?
WILLOW
Way. That’s why – with the party.
‘Cause we’re all glad you’re back.
A beat. Buffy nods. But she sounds uncertain…
BUFFY
Okay.
WILLOW
Okay. Good.
And Willow moves back toward the band. Buffy watches her – wondering why she doesn’t feel any
better.
INT. JOYCE’S ROOM – NIGHT
The eyes of the MASK glow.
INT. HOSPITAL – EMERGENCY ROOM – NIGHT
A guy lies DEAD on the table, a victim of a horrible burn. Flat-line city. A YOUNG DOCTOR does CPR
on him. An INTERN and a NURSE stand nearby.
The doctor stops his efforts. Checks his watch.
YOUNG DOCTOR
It’s 7:43. Let’s call it. He’s not
coming back.
Suddenly we see the ZOMBIE SIT UP ON THE TABLE and LUNGE for the doctor.
As everyone rushes to pull the zombie off, we see the HEART MONITOR. It’s STILL SHOWING A FLAT
LINE.
CLOSE ON MONITOR
As, REFLECTED IN THE MONITOR, everyone screams as very bad things ensue.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
The party is verging on WILD. People dance. The ubiquitous JONATHAN chats up a CUTE GIRL, who
looks like she’d rather be anywhere else.
JONATHAN
…I think you’ll be impressed. It’s
the Cadillac of mopeds…
That’s it. The girl walks away. Jonathan plays it off like it’s all good. No problemo…
Now we see BUFFY moving among the guests – a stranger in a strange land. She nods her head to
the music – trying to look cooler than she feels, passes two STONER TYPES who stand surveying the
crowd.
STONER
(to the ocher stoner dude)
This party? I heard it’s for some
chick who just got out of rehab.
The other stoner just nods. Buffy overhears this – decides to make herself scarce. Exits the living
room.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Buffy turns a corner and runs right into XANDER and CORDELIA, who are in heavy-petting mode.
She does an about-face, but Xander SEES her. He continues to hold and caress Cordelia while he
addresses Buffy.
XANDER
Hey, Buff. What you doing?
Buffy turns back – caught.
BUFFY
Don’t mind me. I was just – taking
a break from all that wacky fun.
XANDER
Some party, huh? Guess a lot of
people are glad you’re back.
BUFFY
Yeah. Seems like people I don’t even
know missed me.
(then)
Did Giles say if he was going to be late?
XANDER
He was library man last time I saw
him. But he’ll be here. He wants to
celebrate your homecoming. We all
do. I mean, it’s great having the
Buffster back.
(to Cordy)
Isn’t it?
CORDELIA
Totally.
(to Xander)
Except – you were kinda turning me on
with that whole “boy slayer” look.
XANDER
Was I now?
CORDELIA
You bet – “Nighthawk…”
She giggles. And that’s it – they’re lost in touch town again.
BUFFY
Okay. So. I’ll just…
Buffy – totally forgotten – backs away as they start to nuzzle each other.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – NIGHT
Joyce is getting some more ice – stops when she sees A BOTTLE BURIED IN A WALL OF ICE.
JOYCE
Ooohhh. Look what I found.
Joyce YANKS on the bottle, finally ripping it free. She turns to Pat, presenting her bounty – an ice
encrusted bottle of PEACH SCHNAPPS. Then she grabs a couple of glasses and pours them each a
shot.
JOYCE
The kids have their fun – we have ours.
A beat as they sip the schnapps. Now Pat changes gears – addressing Joyce in a maternal, concerned
manner…
PAT
Now – how are you holding up, Joyce?
Really?
JOYCE
Really? I’m….
(then/letting down)
I don’t know. While Buffy was gone –
all I could think about was getting her
home. I just knew if I could put my
arms around her and tell her how much
I loved her – then everything would
be okay…
PAT
But?
JOYCE
But things are never that simple, are
they? I mean, she’s here. She’s right in
front of me… So now I can see how
unhappy she is. And I still don’t know
what to say – what to do – to make
things right.
INT. HALLWAY LEADING TO KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Buffy, still looking for a safe place to hang, moves towardthe kitchen. Stops when she overhears-
JOYCE (O.C.)
Having Buffy home – I thought it
would make it all better. But in
some ways, it’s almost worse…
CLOSE ON BUFFY
Who takes her mother’s words like a slap. Retreats.
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM – NIGHT
Buffy enters – reeling. A long beat. Then she grabs her duffle from her closet. Starts packing.
EXT. PARK – PLAYGROUND – NIGHT
From the shadows emerges the ZOMBIE we saw on the highway and the ZOMBIE from the ER.
Behind them MORE zombies arrive. A small army of them. Once gathered, they set course and
lumber with purpose – RIGHT TOWARD US.
EXT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Where we can hear the party, the revelers within blissfully unaware of what’s coming.
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
As the eyes of the mask GLOW BRIGHTER…
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
Act Three
INT. LIBRARY – NIGHT
Giles is reading another book about reanimation. He stops, finding something troubling.
GILES
Oh lord.
Now he grabs a book off his desk – rifles through it until he FINDS THE PICTURE OF THE MASK that
he missed earlier. He reads anxiously – then goes to his phone. Dials. Waits impatiently as it rings
and rings.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – NIGHT
THE PHONE chimes, unnoticed, as music BLARES and the party rages on.
Finally, one of the STONER DUDES that Buffy overheard talking earlier ambles by. He notices the
phone. Picks it up.
STONER
Party villa. Can I rock you?
GILES
Excuse me? Hello?
STONER
What can I do you for, London
sounding guy?
GILES
I need to speak with Buffy. Right
away. I have some information here
that’s rather urgent-
Somebody breaks a glass somewhere. People cheer. The stoner cheers.
STONER
YEAH! Fiesta foul! You gotta do a shot!
GILES
(losing it)
I need to speak to Buffy! Right now!
STONER
Bunny?
(to his stoner bud, concerned)
That guy has to do a shot.
GILES
BUFFY!
Stoner dude holds the phone out to no one in particular.
STONER
Hey! Is there a BUDDY here? I need
a Buddy…
A beat. Nobody pays any attention to him. He shrugs.
STONER
Sorry. He’s not here. You got the
wrong casa, Mr. Belvedere.
And he HANGS UP ON GILES.
INT. LIBRARY – NIGHT
Now Giles is talking to dial tone.
GILES
Hell- Hello…?
Exasperated, he slams the phone down. A moment as he considers his options. Then he grabs his
coat and TAKES OFF.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – UPSTAIRS HALLWAY – NIGHT
Willow comes up the stairs, heads toward the bathroom. She notices that the door to Buffy’s room is
open a crack – and sees Buffy moving around inside.
Willow stops – feeling remorseful about her earlier snub – and moves to the door. Reacts when she
sees that Buffy is PACKING UP HER STUFF.
INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Willow enters, unseen by Buffy.
WILLOW
You’re leaving again? What, you just
stopped by to pick up your lint brush
and now you’re ready to go?
BUFFY
It’s not like anyone’ll mind.
WILLOW
Oh, no, go ahead. Have a great time,
don’t forget to not write.
BUFFY
Why are you attacking me? I’m trying —
WILLOW
Wow, and it looks so much like giving up!
BUFFY
I’m just trying to make things easier.
WILLOW
For who?
BUFFY
You guys seemed to be doing fine
without me.
WILLOW
We did the best we could! We didn’t
have much choice in the matter.
BUFFY
Look, I’m sorry I had to leave, okay?
You don’t know what I was going through.
WILLOW
Well, I’d like to.
BUFFY
You wouldn’t understand.
WILLOW
Maybe I don’t need to understand.
Maybe I just need you to talk to me.
BUFFY
While you’re avoiding me like a
virulent ebola strain?
WILLOW
This isn’t easy, Buffy. I know you’re
going through stuff but so am I.
BUFFY
Willow, I know you were worried, but —
WILLOW
I don’t just mean that. I mean my
life. I have all sorts of — I’m dating,
I’m having serious dating… with a
werewolf, and I’ve been studying
witchcraft and killing vampires, and
you were my best friend, I didn’t have
anyone to talk to about all this scary
life stuff. Then you come back and you
didn’t even ask about me. You just
worried about whether I was mad at you.
OFF BUFFY
Stunned and shamed by Willow’s words.
INT. GILES’ CAR – NIGHT
Desperate to get to Buffy’s, Giles SPEEDS down the street.
GILES
Unbelievable…
(as Joyce)
“Do you like my mask? Isn’t it pretty?
It raises the dead!”
(himself)
Americans…
A FIGURE steps into his path.There’s no time to stop and he HITS IT with a sickening THUD.
Giles stops the car – mortified.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Giles steps out of his car. The street is eerily quiet and the person he hit LIES FACE DOWN AND
COMPLETELY MOTIONLESS.
GILES
Are you all right? Can you move?
Giles approaches and gently turns the body over. Reacts when he sees that IT’S A HORRIBLY
DECAYED CORPSE that has clearly been dead for DAYS.
GILES
Good God-
Then the corpse’s EYES SNAP OPEN. Giles starts and pushes away from the dead dude, only to see
THREE MORE ZOMBIES SLOWLY MOVE OUT OF THE SHADOWS – RIGHT TOWARD HIM.
The Zombie on the ground grabs him.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – UPSTAIRS HALLWAY – NIGHT
Joyce comes up the stairs – picking up discarded cups and napkins people have left on the floor. She
stops when she hears Buffy and Willow in heated conversation.
BUFFY (O.C.)
…how much I missed you, and
everyone! I wanted to call every day-
WILLOW (O.C.)
It doesn’t matter, Buffy! It still
doesn’t make it okay that you-
Drawn by the sound of their argument – Joyce moves to Buffy’s room.
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Joyce pushes the door open – sees the half-packed bag and clothes littered around. Can’t believe her
eyes.
JOYCE
This is a joke – right?
BUFFY
Mom – can you just – Willow and I are
talking-
JOYCE
No – I can’t “just!” What is this, Buffy?
WILLOW
She was running away again.
Buffy’s getting overwhelmed.
BUFFY
I wasn’t. I mean, I’m not sure what-
JOYCE
(interrupting her)
Well you better get sure and explain
yourself right away! Because if you
think you can just take off any time
you-
BUFFY
Stop! Just – stop! I don’t know. Okay?
I don’t know what I’m doing.
She pushes past her mother and OUT OF THE ROOM. Joyce is hot on her heels.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – NIGHT
Buffy, trailed closely by Joyce, finds the front door BLOCKED by XANDER AND CORDY – still in make-
out mode.
JOYCE
Don’t you leave this house, young lady!
Xander and Cordy react to Joyce – breaking their embrace and turning toward Buffy. Not wanting to
face them, Buffy changes coordinates and moves into the-
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Where she barely makes it into the room before Joyce is on her – grabbing her by the elbow.
JOYCE
That’s it! You and I are going to
have a talk.
Buffy notices people react to her mother’s obvious anger.
BUFFY
Mom. Please-
But Joyce just gets louder.
JOYCE
You know what? I don’t care. I don’t
care what your friends think of me –
or you for that matter – because you
put me through the wringer, Buffy.
I mean it. And I’ve had schnapps!
Willow comes into the room – moves to OZ. Also – Xander and Cordy have entered to see what the
commotion is about.
JOYCE
Do you have any idea what it’s been like?
BUFFY
Mom-
JOYCE
You can’t imagine. Months of not
knowing. Not knowing if you were
lying dead in a ditch somewhere or –
I don’t know – living it up-
That’s it – Buffy really loses it.
BUFFY
But you told me! You’re the one who
said I should go. You said – “if you
leave this house, don’t come back.”
You found out who I really am and you
couldn’t deal – remember?
CLOSE ON PARTY GUESTS
As they get more and more uncomfortable. People start to back out of the room – slip out the front
door.
BACK ON BUFFY, WILLOW, XANDER, CORDY AND OZ
JOYCE
(aghast)
Buffy! You didn’t give me any time.
You just dumped this… this thing on
me and expected me to get it. Well –
guess what? Mom’s not perfect. I
handled it badly. But that doesn’t
give you the right to punish me by
running away-
BUFFY
Punish you? I didn’t do this to
punish you-
XANDER
Well you did. You should have seen
what it did to her.
BUFFY
(exasperated)
Great. Would anybody else care to
weigh in? What about you? By the dip.
ON JONATHAN
Over by the dip. He shakes his head.
JONATHAN
No thanks. I’m good.
RESUME
XANDER
Maybe you don’t want to hear it, Buffy.
But taking off like that was selfish
and stupid-
Buffy’s breaking down. It’s all too much.
BUFFY
Okay – I screwed up! I know it – alright!?
But you have no idea. You have no idea
what happened to me or what I was feeling-
XANDER
Did you even try talking to anybody?
BUFFY
What’s the point? There was nothing
anyone could do. I just had to deal
on my own.
XANDER
And you see how well that went. You
can’t just bury stuff, Buffy! It’ll
come right back up to get you…
INT./EXT. GILES’ CAR – NIGHT
The zombie holding Giles rises into a close up, gruesome proof of Xander’s statement.
The other zombies are closing in as Giles finally breaks free of the zombie’s grip. He scrambles back
to his car. He PULLS THE DOOR CLOSED – overpowering the ZOMBIE who TUGS at the handle. He
slams the lock down and frantically fumbles for his keys while the zombies ROCK his car and pound
at the windows.
Then Giles sees something. Stops.
WHAT HE SEES
Outside – his KEYS GLISTEN ON THE PAVEMENT.
BACK ON GILES
GILES
(darkly)
Good show, Giles.
A beat as his mind races. Then he starts to fiddle under the dash, YANKS some wires out. He’s HOT
WIRING the car.
Now a ZOMBIE SMASHES THROUGH his car window – hand flailing – reaching for the door lock. A
desperate moment before the CAR STARTS. Giles looks pleased with himself despite the tense
circumstances. He drives off, CASTING THE ZOMBIES ASIDE-
GILES
Like riding a bloody bicycle.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Back at the ranch – the “party” continues…
BUFFY
As if I could have gone to you, Xander.
You made your feelings about me and
Angel pretty clear-
XANDER
Look – I’m sorry your honey was a
demon, but most girls don’t hop a
Greyhound over boy trouble!
Unexpectedly – CORDELIA steps forward.
CORDELIA
Time out, Xand. I mean, put yourself
in Buffy’s shoes for a minute. I’m
Buffy – freak of nature – right? Naturally,
I pick a freak for a boyfriend…
Then he’s Mister Killing Spree, which
is pretty much my fault, and —
BUFFY
(interrupting)
Cordy. Get out of my shoes.
CORDELIA
I’m just trying to help. If you haven’t
noticed, Buffy, people aren’t exactly
lining up to give you props-
WILLOW
Buffy, you never —
BUFFY
(overloaded)
Will, just – stop, okay? I can’t —
XANDER
Let her finish! You owe her that at least!
BUFFY
(to Xander)
God, Xander! Do you think you could
stick to annoying me on your own behalf?!
XANDER
Fine. You stop acting like an idiot –
I’ll stop annoying you!
BUFFY
Let’s talk acting like an idiot –
“Nighthawk”!
Xander and Buffy actually start to get in each other’s face – like things could get physical. Oz gets
between them.
OZ
Okay. Stepping in now. Being
referee guy-
Now Willow shouts over all of them – losing it.
WILLOW
Let them go, Oz. Talking about it
isn’t helping; we might as well try
some violence!
A ZOMBIE COMES CRASHING THROUGH A LIVING ROOM WINDOW – while the rest of the zombie
army POUNDS at the door and windows, also trying to get inside.
Instant and TOTAL MAYHEM ENSUES. Glass flies everywhere. The remaining party guests SCREAM
and SCATTER, a few making it out the front door.
WILLOW
I was being sarcastic!
CLOSE ON THE STONER DUDE
Who snaps out of his mellow daze and heads for the door. Only to run RIGHT INTO THE ZOMBIE –
who grabs the stoner dude and SNAPS HIS NECK in one powerful, swift motion. He drops the stoner
like a rag doll and moves on.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – NIGHT
As ZOMBIES NOISILY SMASH through the windows and door.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Everyone reacts to the sound in the kitchen. Without even thinking – Willow, Xander, Buffy, Oz and
Cordelia respond to the crisis by coming together. Instinct kicks in and they are back to functioning
like a fine oiled machine. Buffy grabs a fireplace poker – tosses it to XANDER.
BUFFY
Xander! The kitchen!
With cool precision, Xander snatches the poker from the air.
XANDER
Got your back.
He and Cordy move off.
ON BUFFY
Who FIGHTS THE ZOMBIE with all her might – but no matter how hard she hits it – it just keeps
coming. Despite her wiggins, Joyce GRABS A VASE and BREAKS it over the ZOMBIE’S HEAD. Natch –
it doesn’t faze Mr. Zombo a bit. Joyce shouts to Buffy-
JOYCE
Are – are these vampires?
BUFFY
I don’t think so-
ON WILLOW
Who runs and grabs a piece of broken window frame, breaks off a makeshift stake. She calls to
Buffy-
WILLOW
Buffy! Heads up!
And she throws the stake to-
BUFFY
Who grabs it and SLAMS IT INTO THE ZOMBIE’S HEART. Nothing happens. She looks to Joyce-
BUFFY
Nope. Not vampires.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – NIGHT
PAT, terrified, inches for the front door. She doesn’t see the ZOMBIE emerging from the hall until it’s
too late. He grabs her – silencing her with a rotting hand over her mouth.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – NIGHT
Xander and Cordy battle a zombie who has made it all the way into the kitchen. Xander CONKS IT
REPEATEDLY WITH THE FROZEN SCHNAPPS BOTTLE while Cordy grabs a BARBECUE FORK and
SKEWERS IT. All to no avail.
XANDER
Man, this sucker wobbles but he won’t
fall down!
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
More zombies try to get inside the house – but Buffy and the others keep BEATING THEM BACK.
ON DEVON AND JONATHAN
As Jonathan grabs one of the band’s GUITARS to beat zombies with.
DEVON
Not my guitar! Use the bass.
ON BUFFY, WILLOW, ET AL, who still battle the zombie that Buffy staked earlier.
WILLOW
He just keeps coming!
BUFFY
I know. Try to get him back outside-
Willow and Joyce wrestle the nasty looking dude toward the front door. OZ grabs the door handle.
JOYCE
On three!
(then)
One… Two… THREE!
HE SWINGS OPEN THE DOOR AND BEATS the zombies who try to enter back with a heavy brass
candle stick. Joyce and Willow HERD the ZOMBIE out the door. Then THEY ALL LEAN ON THE DOOR
until it closes.
ON BUFFY
Who marshals Devon, Jonathan and some terrified party guests.
BUFFY
Help me barricade. Come on!
The guests starts piling furniture, etc., against the broken windows.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – NIGHT
Xander and Cordy have pinned Mr. Zombie on the floor and are tying his hands and legs together
with phone cord.
XANDER
I got it – go help Buffy!
Cordy moves off.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Cordy enters as the others finish with the barricade. Their fortress seems to be holding and everyone
breathes a sigh of relief.
BUFFY
Great. Good job every-
SMASH! The barricade comes TUMBLING DOWN AND IT’S ZOMBIE-RAMA AGAIN. Everyone freaks,
scatters. DEVON, JONATHAN and the other misc. guests (non-speaking extras, alright?) beat it out of
the living room and into the-
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
- where they race down the hall. Now Buffy enters and encounters XANDER returning from the
kitchen. She grabs him as she calls to the others.
BUFFY
Upstairs!
OZ and CORDY help Joyce go up the stairs before them – and end up running right into a ZOMBIE
WHO COMES CRASHING THOUGH THE FRONT DOOR, forcing them to change directions.
OZ
This way!
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE CLOSET – NIGHT
Cordelia and Oz race to the closet, pile in and shut the door behind them.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – STAIRWAY – NIGHT
Buffy, Joyce and Willow encounter PAT’S UNCONSCIOUS BODY on the stairs as they race for safety.
She moans, barely alive. They collect her and run into
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Where they barricade themselves anew, shoving the dresser, the bed – anything they can get their
hands on – in front of the door. Joyce and Willow move to a corner with Pat.
CLOSE ON WILLOW AND JOYCE
Willow checks Pat’s pulse. She looks at Joyce – alarmed.
WILLOW
She’s…
JOYCE
Oh my God.
But they have no time to deal because they see that BUFFY AND XANDER are struggling with a
zombie who has WEAKENED THE BARRICADE. Xander gets thrown back and into the opposite wall –
knocking THE CEREMONIAL MASK TO THE FLOOR.
CLOSE ON THE MASK
As the EYES START TO GLOW
RESUME
Willow and Joyce reluctantly leave Pat and go once more into the fray.
JOYCE
(worried)
What do we do if they get in?
XANDER
I kind of think we die.
They are all so zombie-occupied that they don’t notice-
PAT
AS HER EYES SNAP OPEN.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Act Four
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – CLOSET – NIGHT
It’s totally DARK. Two voices rise from the blackness.
CORDELIA (O.C.)
Is that your foot?
OZ (O.C.)
Oh. Sorry.
CORDELIA (O.C.)
I don’t hear anything. Should we check?
OZ (O.C.)
Go for it.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – HALLWAY OUTSIDE CLOSET – NIGHT
Oz and Cordy peer out of the closet – both holding SKI POLES as weapons. They can HEAR activity
UPSTAIRS – but there’s no zombie action. They cautiously round a corner, running right into GILES.
Everyone yells with surprise and Cordy RAISES her pole to strike him, but Giles stops her with-
GILES
Cordelia – it’s me!
CORDELIA
How do we know it’s really you and
not zombie Giles?
GILES
(exasperated)
Cordelia – do stop being tiresome!
CORDELIA
That’s him.
Cordelia lowers the pole. Oz addresses Giles.
OZ
I think the dead man’s party has
moved upstairs.
Giles nods as they move down the hall to look up the stairs.
GILES
It makes sense. It’s the mask in
Joyce’s bedroom they’re after.
CORDELIA
Mask? They’re here to exfoliate?
GILES
(ignoring her)
The mask holds the power of a zombie
demon called Ovu Mobani – “evil eye.”
(re: sitch upstairs)
I don’t think we can get past them.
OZ
What happens if they get the mask?
GILES
If one of them puts it on… he’ll be
the demon incarnate.
CORDELIA
Worse than a Zombie.
GILES
Worse.
Off their worried faces,
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Buffy, Joyce, Willow and Xander fend off A ZOMBIE who has now broken through the barricade.
CLOSE ON THE MASK
Its eyes still GLOWING RED.
CLOSE ON ZOMBIE PAT
Who RISES – slowly. Deliberately.
JOYCE
Sees her – gasps with relief and moves to her.
JOYCE
Oh, God – Pat! We thought you were-
But PAT SHOVES HER ROUGHLY ASIDE AND falls on THE MASK. She raises it to her face and her eyes
instantly FLASH RED. The mask now MELDS into PAT’S FACE and becomes her DEMONIC VISAGE.
The other zombie in the room HITS THE FLOOR, cowering and bowing to PAT.
Xander glances nervously at Joyce – filling her in.
XANDER
Generally speaking? When the scary
things get scared? Not good.
Zombie Pat stands – surging with NEWFOUND POWER. She speaks in a creepy, garbled tone.
ZOMBIE PAT
I live.
(looking at the others)
You die.
NOW PAT’S EYES BEGIN TO GLOW – emitting the same eerie light that came from the mask. Buffy
starts toward her – but Pat immediately turns her gaze on her and her eyes FLASH an even
BRIGHTER RED. This has a PARALYZING EFFECT, STOPPING A PERPLEXED BUFFY IN HER TRACKS.
BOOM! Pat BRUTALLY BACKHANDS a defenseless Buffy – who goes sprawling. Now Pat turns toward a
cowering WILLOW. Buffy, recovering, sees this-
BUFFY
Don’t look, Willow!
But it’s too late. Pat looks at Willow, eyes FLASHING again, and Willow is caught like a deer in Pat’s
headlights. Pat snatches Willow from her hiding place – moves to snap her neck.
ON BUFFY
BUFFY
No!
Buffy lowers her head, turns her eyes away – and POWERS INTO ZOMBIE PAT. Willow falls to the floor
as Buffy plows Zombie Pat THROUGH ONE OF THE WINDOWS.
EXT. BACKYARD – NIGHT
Buffy and Zombie Pat ROLL OFF the ROOF and land in the yard with a horrible THUD.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Giles, Oz and Cordy are heading upstairs – but stop as they hear Buffy’s dramatic fall.
GILES
Out back!
They turn back but now find the bottom of the stairs BLOCKED BY A HULKING ZOMBIE.
EXT. BACKYARD – NIGHT
Buffy and Zombie Pat recover from their plunge. Pat’s eyes FLASH, trying to hit Buffy again with her
PARALYZING POWER, but Buffy scrambles away from her – covering her eyes with her arm.
BUFFY
Not looking. Not looking…
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Joyce, Xander and Willow are also occupied – struggling to overcome the ZOMBIE still in the room
with them.
Joyce manages to reach under her bed – unearth a BASEBALL BAT she’s hidden there. She now
WAILS on el zombo with the bat.
EXT. BACKYARD – NIGHT
Buffy’s regained her footing when Zombie Pat TACKLES HER, sending her back to the ground. Still,
even with her eyes SQUEEZED SHUT, Buffy gets her feet under Zombie Pat and heaves Pat off of her.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – NIGHT
Giles, Cordy and Oz are on the stairs, still detained by the hulking zombie. OZ manages to get clear
to jump over the railing onto the hall floor. Giles shouts to him-
GILES
Oz! Tell Buffy – Moboni’s power is
in his eyes. She has to go for the eyes
to defeat him!
Oz nods – escapes – just avoiding a KILLER BLOW from the zombie.
EXT. BACKYARD – NIGHT
Zombie Pat is coming back from the blow Buffy just dealt her, as Buffy crawls across the ground
searching wildly for something.
CLOSE ON DIGGING SPADE
As Buffy’s hand seizes it.
ON BUFFY
Who looks up – and right into the FLASHING eyes of PAT, who now stands over her. Buffy is STUCK,
MOTIONLESS…
ON OZ
Who arrives on the scene.
OZ
Buffy!
PAT
Spins at the sound of Oz’s voice.
BUFFY
Jumps to her feet.
BUFFY
Hey – Pat!
Zombie Pat turns back to Buffy. Buffy LOOKS AWAY as she DRIVES THE SPADE INTO ZOMBIE PAT’S
EYES.
BUFFY
Made you look.
A beat and then Buffy’s action causes an INTENSE WHITE FLASH that VAPORIZES ZOMBIE PAT.
INT. JOYCE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
FLASH! Willow, Xander and Joyce react as the zombie they were fighting DISAPPEARS.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – NIGHT
FLASH! The hulking zombie Giles and Cordy battled is history.
EXT. BACKYARD – NIGHT
Zombie Pat is gone. It’s over. No zombies. Nothing.
ON OZ
OZ
Never mind.
INT. BUFFY’S HOUSE – FOYER – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Oz and Buffy come back into the house. Buffy is shaken and looking a little worse for the wear.
JOYCE, WILLOW, GILES, XANDER and CORDY move to them, concerned.
JOYCE
Honey – Are you alright?
Buffy reaches for her mother.
BUFFY
Mom-
And they hug. Holding on tight. Finally, they break apart-
JOYCE
So is this a typical day at the office?
BUFFY
This? No.
(only half-kidding)
This was nothing.
Joyce looks appalled, but doesn’t really have a chance to react before XANDER moves to Buffy – his
tone conciliatory.
XANDER
Nice moves.
BUFFY
You too.
They slap hands, low and casual, sealing an unspoken truce. Now WILLOW, CORDY and OZ also
crowd around for more hugs and words of encouragement.
CLOSE ON GILES
Who stands slightly apart from the others. Watching the group come together and enfold Buffy. He’s
clearly moved, but something else crosses his features – resolve.
INT. PRINCIPAL SNYDER’S OFFICE – DAY
GILES knocks – looks in. Snyder looks up from his desk – annoyed.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
Did we have an appointment?
Giles closes the door. Steps inside.
GILES
I’d like to have a word with you.
Snyder moves from behind his desk – grabs a folder.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
If that word is “Buffy” – then I have
two words for you. Good riddance.
(then)
Now. If you don’t mind. I have an
appointment with the mayor…
GILES
You can’t keep her out of this school.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
I think you’ll find I can.
GILES
You had no grounds for expelling her.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
I have grounds, I have precedent, and
this tingly kind of —
GILES
It won’t hold. Buffy Summers is a
minor and entitled to a public
education. Your personal distaste
for the girl does not legally enable
you —
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
Why don’t you take it up with the
city council?
He starts out of the office, stopping right between Giles and
the wall as Giles says:
GILES
I thought I’d start with the State
supreme court. You may be powerful
in local circles, but I believe I can
make life very uncomfortable for you.
Professionally speaking. And Buffy
Summers will be allowed back in.
A moment, then Snyder regains an appearance of superiority.
PRINCIPAL SNYDER
Sorry. I’m not convinced.
Giles puts his hand to Snyder’s chest and SLAMS HIM UP AGAINST THE WALL with one violent, swift
motion. He looks coldly down at the man, all Ripper.
GILES
Do you want me to convince you?
OFF SNYDER – stunned, about to backtrack massively…
FADE TO:
EXT. COFFEE HOUSE – SHOPPING DISTRICT – DAY
The place Willow stood Buffy up earlier.
INT. COFFEE HOUSE – DAY
A cozy, bustling place.
ON BUFFY AND WILLOW
Who sit at a table, scraping up the last of a shared (big chocolatey messy) dessert. Totally oblivious
to the world around them. We catch them mid-conversation.
WILLOW
I mean I’m not like a full fledged witch,
that takes years. I just did a couple of
pagan blessings and teeny glamour to
hide a zit.
BUFFY
It doesn’t scare you?
WILLOW
It has. I tried to communicate with
the spirit world and I so wasn’t
ready for that. It was like being
pulled apart inside. Plus I blew the
power for our whole block. Big scare.
BUFFY
Oh, I wish I coulda been there
with you.
WILLOW
Me too. I really freaked out.
BUFFY
I’m sorry…
WILLOW
It’s okay. Really, I understand you
having to bail and I can forgive that.
I have to make allowances for what
you’re going through and just be a
grown up about it.
Beat.
BUFFY
You’re loving this moral superiority thing.
WILLOW
It’s like a drug.
BUFFY
Fine. I’m the bad, I can take my lumps.
For a while.
WILLOW
All right, I’ll stop giving you a hard time.
(beat)
Runaway.
BUFFY
Will…
WILLOW
I’m sorry.
(beat)
Quitter.
BUFFY
(beat)
Whiner.
WILLOW
Bailer.
BUFFY
Harpy.
WILLOW
Delinquent.
BUFFY
Tramp.
WILLOW (V.O.)
Bad seed.
BUFFY (V.O.)
Witch.
BLACK OUT.
THE END
Transcripts
Prologue
Buffy’s room. She takes the last of her things out of her bag, walks
over to her closet and dumps them in. She turns around and looks at the
room that she’s missed so much for the last few months. It all seems so
familiar, and yet not. Certainly it’s too neat and clean. She reaches
into her closet for a sweater and heads over to her mother’s room.
Cut to Joyce’s room. She’s hammering a nail into the wall by the window
to hang an ancient tribal mask. Buffy steps into the room.
Buffy: Mom?
Joyce is very startled and jumps, accidentally slamming the hammer
through the drywall.
Joyce: Oh! Buffy.
Buffy cringes at the sight of the hole in the wall. Her mother pulls the
hammer out and turns to face her, smiling while still holding the hammer
in one hand, the mask in the other.
Joyce: Um . . .
Buffy: Sorry.
Joyce: No, no. Don’t worry about it. I-I guess I just got used to all
the quiet while you were gone. (smiles) But it’s no problem.
She looks down at the mask in her hand, and turns around to hang it on
the wall over the hole. It’s carved from a reddish wood with cutouts for
eyes, which are slanted inward to appear very evil. There are a series
of long, pointed teeth with extra long fangs for incisors set into the
upper lip. There is no lower jaw portion.
Joyce: Uh, look! (hangs the mask on its hook) It’s, uh, Nigerian.
(faces Buffy again) We got a very exciting shipment in at the Gallery.
(glances around the room) I, um, thought I’d hang a few pieces in here.
It cheers up the room.
Buffy: (looking at the mask) It’s angry at the room, Mom. It wants the
room to suffer.
Joyce: (nods) You have no appreciation of primitive art. (sees that
Buffy is holding a sweater) You going out?
Buffy: (looks down at the sweater) Oh. Um . . . well, i-if it’s okay. I,
um . . . I’d like to find Willow and Xander.
Joyce: Will you be slaying?
Buffy: Only if they give me lip. (smiles weakly)
Joyce: Uh, can I make you a sandwich or something before you go? You
must be starving.
Buffy: I was un-until that four-course snack you served me after
dinner.
Joyce: Well, then, um . . . (goes to her dresser) You know, w-why don’t I
drive you? (grabs her keys) Uh, I mean, they could be anywhere.
Buffy: Mom . . . if you don’t want me to go, just say so.
Joyce: No, no. (looks down at her keys briefly) I-I just want to put
this whole thing behind us, get back to normal. (inhales deeply) You go.
Have a good time.
Buffy: Okay.
She smiles and gives her mom a nervous little wave, then leaves the room.
Cut to an alley. A truck drives by. Behind it Buffy walks along, looking
around. She hears something fall to the ground and break, and stops to
look in the direction of the sound. Slowly she starts to walk in that
direction.
Cut to an intersection in the alley. Buffy comes around the corner and
looks down the adjoining way. There she sees a man dressed in black,
walking suspiciously, as though looking for something. She begins to
follow silently, but doesn’t notice an empty aluminum can on the
pavement, and steps on it. The man reacts instantly to the noise, spins
around and swings at her with a stake. Buffy throws up her arms and
cross blocks the swing, then deftly takes the stake from the man’s hands
and raises it to counter attack. He steps back, and the white cross
hanging from his neck swings around, standing out in marked contrast to
the rest of his attire. Buffy sees that it’s Xander, and stays her
attack. Xander is taken completely by surprise and just stares back at
her.
Buffy: (lowers the stake) Didn’t anyone ever warn you about playing
with pointy sticks? (shakes it at him) It’s all fun and games until
somebody loses an eye.
Xander: You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that!
He breathes hard, trying to catch his breath. He looks at her, trying to
convince himself that it’s really her, and finally manages a weak smile.
Xander: Jeez, Buff!
Suddenly a vampire smashes his way out of a crate leaning against a
wall. He lunges at Xander and Buffy, knocking them and himself to the
pavement. Xander quickly tries to grab the vampire as he gets up, but
the demon grabs Xander instead and pulls him up. He draws his fist back
for a punch, but Buffy jumps in and hits the vampire in the stomach with
a powerful side kick, making him fall backwards into a pile of trashcans
and bags. Cordelia’s voice comes over the walkie-talkie at Xander’s
belt.
Cordelia: Come in, Nighthawk! Everything okay?
Buffy: (taken aback) Nighthawk?
The vampire is back on his feet and comes at them.
Buffy: Ooh!
He tackles Xander and sends him reeling backwards into a chain link
fence. Buffy tries to stake him, but he sidesteps her and shoves her
into the fence as well. Xander tries to come up behind him, but the
vampire swings out with a backhand fist to Xander’s face, knocking him
to the ground. Buffy gets to her feet and sweep blocks two punches from
the demon. She high clocks his third punch and gets a hand under his
chin to hold him at bay. He pushes her back into the fence as the two
struggle for control. Now Willow, Cordelia and Oz come running. The two
girls grab the vampire by the arms and drag him off of Buffy and across
the alley, slamming him hard into a steel roll-up door. Buffy catches
her breath as she looks on in astonishment. The vampire growls at the
girls as Oz tries to move in with a stake, but the vamp roundhouse kicks
Oz, sending him to the pavement next to Xander. He then shoves Cordelia
away, and Buffy quickly moves to catch her so she won’t get hurt. The
vampire then throws Willow aside, and she falls onto Xander and Oz.
Cordelia: (recognizes) Oh, hey, Buffy.
Buffy pushes her aside and wields back her stake when she sees the
vampire come after them. Cordelia loses her balance and falls to the
pavement next to Willow. Buffy plunges her stake cleanly into the
vampire, and he bursts into ashes. As the dust settles down, she looks
over at her friends staring up at her from the ground. They are all
breathing hard. Buffy gives them a little wave and a weak smile.
Buffy: Hey, guys.
They just keep staring back. Xander lets his head drop back to the
pavement.
Opening credits roll. Buffy’s theme plays.~~ Part 1 ~~
Giles’ apartment building. C ut to outside his door. The kids are all
standing there.
Buffy: You know, I–maybe it’s too late. Maybe we should just come back
tomorrow.
No one makes a move to go. Buffy looks at the door, then back at the
others.
Buffy: What if he’s mad?
Xander: Mad? Just because you ran away and abandoned your post and your
friends and your mom and made him lay awake every night worrying about
you? (to Oz and Willow) Maybe we should wait out here.
Buffy gives him a look. She turns around to face the door, reaches for
the knocker and taps it a few times. Cut inside. Giles opens the door
and sees Buffy standing there flanked by the others. His face remains
expressionless for a long moment.
Xander: (to Giles) Check it out. The Watcher is back on the clock.
(Giles slips on his glasses) And just when you were thinking career
change, maybe becoming a . . . a looker or a . . . a seer.
Giles: Thank you, Xander.
He looks at his Slayer.
Giles: Welcome home, Buffy.
Buffy smiles up at him. He pulls the door open further and steps back so
they can all come in.
Cut to Giles’ living room. Oz, Willow, Buffy and Xander are all on he
couch. Cordelia is sitting in a facing chair. Giles is leaning on the
backrest of another chair.
Buffy: I got in a few hours ago, but I wanted to go see my mom first.
Giles: Yes. Yes, of course. How, how did you find her?
Buffy: Well, I pretty much remembered the address.
Giles: Ah, eh, I mean, uh . . .
The teakettle in his kitchen begins to whistle.
Giles: How are things between you? (notices the whistling) Ah. Excuse
me. (goes into the kitchen)
Oz: Hey, so you’re not wanted for murder anymore.
Buffy: Good. That was such a drag.
Xander: So where were you? Did you go to Belgium?
Buffy: (gives him an odd look) Why would I go to Belgium?
Xander: I think the relevant question is why wouldn’t you? (smiles
hugely and giggles) Belgium!
They both laugh.
Cut into the kitchen. Giles gets the cups out of his cupboard. He smiles
as he listens to the conversation in the living room, pleased that they
are getting along so well again so quickly.
Buffy: What about you, Xander? What’s up with you?
Xander: Oh, you know, same old, same old.
Giles removes his glasses and leans with his arm against the cupboard,
enjoying the sound of his Slayer’s voice again after so many months.
Cordelia: Hardly.
Xander: Okay, I lied, a whole lot is new.
Buffy: Well, that’s good, isn’t it? New is good.
Giles shakes himself out of his reverie and puts his glasses back on.
Xander: Oh, yeah, absolutely, except for the obvious. It’s not too
much . . . (inaudible)
Cordelia: Yeah, ’cause you weren’t at the hotel.
Giles lifts up the serving tray and takes it into the living room.
Xander: Cordelia’s parents dragged her onto a luxury vacation.
Buffy: I feel for you.
Giles: Here we are then. (sets the tray on the coffee table) Cheer us
up.
He sits down in his chair and takes the teapot. Buffy and Xander each
take a cookie from the tray.
Cordelia: So were you, like, living in a box, or what?
Buffy: Well, it’s a long story.
Xander: So skip the heartwarming stuff about kindly old people and
saving the farm and get right to the dirt.
Giles: (pours several cups) Perhaps Buffy could use a little time to
adjust before we grill her on her summer activities.
Buffy: What he said.
Xander: Fair enough. In fact, you can leave the slaying to us while you
settle in. We got you covered.
Buffy: I noticed. You guys seem down with the slayage, all tricked out
with your walkies and everything.
Cordelia: Yeah, but the outfits suck. This whole Rambo thing is so
over. I’m thinking more sporty, like Hilfiger maybe.
Willow: Still, we were getting good. We dusted (nods) nine out of ten.
Oz: (whispers to Willow) Six out of ten.
Willow: Six out of ten.
Xander: Whatever, we were kicking a little undead booty.
Buffy: Well, thank you for the offer, but I think I just wanna get back
to my normal routine. You know, school, slaying . . . kid’s stuff. In fact,
I’m jonesing for a little brainless fun. (to Xander) What are you doing
tomorrow?
Xander: Oh, I would, but, uh, (reaches his hands around Cordelia’s arm)
I’m kind of tied up. (smiles)
Cordelia: You wish. (pushes him away)
Xander sits back into the couch, embarrassed.
Buffy: (to Willow) Will?
Willow: Um, tomorrow I–
Buffy: Oh, come on. Friends don’t let friends browse alone.
Willow: Okay. I had some schoolwork, but . . . I can change my plans.
Giles: (raises his cup) As for school, Buffy, uh, you know you’ll have
to talk to Principal Snyder before–
Buffy: On it. Mom is making an appointment with His Ugliness. I know
she can break him.
Giles looks up from his tea and gives her an unsure little grin.
Cut to Principal Snyder’s office at Sunnydale High. Snyder looks at
Joyce and Buffy intently from behind his desk.
Snyder: Absolutely not. Under no circumstances.
Joyce: But you can’t keep her out of school. You don’t have the right.
Snyder: I have not only the right, but also a nearly physical sensation
of pleasure at the thought of keeping her out of school. I’d describe
myself as tingly.
Joyce: Buffy was cleared of all those charges.
Snyder: Yes. And while she may live up to the not-a-murderer
requirement for enrollment, she is a troublemaker, destructive to school
property and the occasional student. And her grade point average is
enough to . . . (his eyes glaze over for an instant) I’m sorry. Another
tingle moment. (smiles smugly)
Joyce: (with controlled anger in her voice) I don’t see how you can be
so cavalier about a young girl’s entire future!
Snyder: I’m quite sure that a girl with the talents and abilities of
Buffy will land on her feet. In fact, (leans toward Buffy) I noticed as
I came in this morning that Hot Dog on a Stick is hiring. (Buffy gives
him an angry stare) You will look so cute in that hat.
Buffy: Let’s go, Mom.
She gets up and walks toward the door. Her mother stands up and faces
Snyder.
Joyce: This isn’t over. If I have to, I’ll go all the way to the Mayor.
(follows Buffy out)
Snyder: Wouldn’t that be interesting.
Cut to Sunnydale’s shopping district across the street from the Espresso
Pump. Buffy and Joyce pull up to the curb in their Jeep.
Joyce: Don’t worry about school, honey. If we can’t get you back into
Sunnydale, maybe we can swing private school.
Buffy: Private school? You mean, like jackets and kilts? You want me to
get field hockey knees?
Joyce: (smiles) It’s not that bad.
Buffy: What about home schooling? You know, it’s not just for scary
religious people anymore.
Joyce: We’ll work something out. Okay?
They lean toward each other and kiss goodbye.
Joyce: Say hi to Willow?
Buffy nods as she releases her seatbelt and gets out of the car.
Cut to later, still in front of the cafe’. Buffy is standing and waiting
for Willow. She checks her watch, and then lets her arms droop,
disappointed. She walks over to a bench and sits down to watch and wait
for her friend. She watches all the people going by. Her expression
starts to get sad and a little bit annoyed as she checks her watch
again.
Cut to Buffy’s house, much later. She walks up the path toward the
house. The front door opens, and Buffy sees a woman come out and pull
the door closed behind her. She looks at her, confused. The woman sees
her and smiles.
Pat: Oh, my word! Oh, you must be Buffy! (steps down from the porch)
Look at you. Aren’t you a picture?
Buffy: (unsure) Thank you.
Pat: Oh, I’m Pat, (offers her hand) from your mom’s book club. (they
shake hands) I’m sure she mentioned me.
Buffy: Actually–
Pat: I, um, I sort of took it upon myself to look after her while you
were, (rolls her eyes) you know, off and away or what have you, and . . .
Buffy looks aside, not believing this conversation.
Pat: (inhales) Well, between, uh, (exhales) your situation and reading
‘Deep End of the Ocean’, she was, uh, she was just a wreck. You can
imagine.
Buffy gives her a thin smile and a weak nod.
Pat: Anyway, I’m off. We’re-we’re making empanadas in my Spanish class
tonight. (giggles) You go be with your mom. You two need to rebond.
She smiles and goes on her way.
Cut inside to the kitchen. Buffy comes in and sets her purse on the
island. Joyce is taking some notes from a book.
Buffy: Pat wishes us quality time. (goes to the cupboard)
Joyce: Oh. I met her in a–
Buffy: Book club. (gets out a glass)
Joyce: Yeah.
Buffy: Got it.
Joyce: (looks up) Oh, uh, before I forget, uh, Willow just called.
Buffy: (suddenly attentive) Where was she?
Joyce: Uh, she, she got held up, but she said she tried to call.
Buffy: (confused) Was there a message?
She steps over to the fridge and gets out a pitcher.
Joyce: No. But I had a thought. What if I invited Willow and Mr. Giles
and everybody over for dinner tomorrow night? (smiles) Don’t you think
that would be nice?
Buffy just opens the pitcher and pours herself a drink.
Joyce: Since I sort of already did, I was hoping for a yes.
Buffy looks up at her mom and gives her a little smile and a nod.
Buffy: It’ll be fun. (loses her smile)
Joyce: Great. Uh, do me a favor? Run down and get the company plates.
Buffy: Mom, Willow and everybody aren’t company-plate people. They’re
normal-plate people.
Joyce: We never have guests for dinner. Indulge your mother?
Buffy just sighs and heads for the basement door.
Cut to the basement. Buffy grabs a stepstool and sets it down in front
of an old bookcase full of stuff. She steps up on it and notices a
picture on an upper shelf. She pulls it out into the light. It’s a photo
of her with Willow and Xander. They are on a lawn, and she is sitting
with Willow behind her and Xander laying his head on her legs with his
eyes turned up at her. She looks at it for a long moment, remembering
the time it was taken. She then puts it back and looks up where the good
china is. She reaches for the box and starts to pull it down, when a
dead and rotting cat suddenly falls off of it.
Buffy: Oh!
She jerks her head forward, and the cat falls behind her to the floor.
She looks down at it squeamishly.
Buffy: Eww.
Cut to the backyard. Buffy grunts as she shovels out a bunch of dirt
among some bushes to make a shallow grave for the cat.
Buffy: Next time, I get to pick the mother-daughter bonding activity.
Joyce lifts a bag with the cat over the hole and drops it in.
Joyce: Do you wanna say something?
Buffy: Like what? Thanks for stopping by and dying?
Joyce: How about, um . . . good-bye, stray cat, who lost its way. We hope
you find it.
Buffy accepts that and turns back to the hole to fill it back in.
Cut to Buffy’s room at 11:34 that night. She reaches over to the lamp on
her nightstand and turns it off. She lies back in her bed and hugs the
covers to herself. She looks around in the dark, lonely room and waits
to fall asleep.
Cut to Joyce’s room. She is sound asleep in her bed. The camera pans up
from her and over to the Nigerian mask on the wall. Its eyes begin to
glow a deep red.
Cut to the bushes in the backyard. The dirt covering the dead cat begins
to move. A moment later the cat pokes its head through the soil, meows
menacingly and claws its way out. Once out, it continues hissing and
growling as it walks off.~~ Part 2 ~~
Sunnydale High. Buffy walks into the hall from outside. The door closes
behind her with an echoing clang, startling her. She looks back at it,
but then continues walking. The school is deserted. She walks past the
empty lounge toward the library. The doors are wide open, and she looks
in for a moment. It’s just as deserted as the rest of the school.
Cut outside. The sun shines brightly down on the quad. Buffy slowly
walks down the outside stairs, all the while looking around for any
indication that anyone else is there. When she reaches the bottom of the
stairs she turns out into the quad. She stops when she sees Angel coming
toward her, but then keeps walking as he gets behind her and follows her
across the quad.
Buffy: I thought they’d be here.
Angel: They are. They’re waiting for you.
Buffy: (looks at him) Am I dreaming?
Angel: (smiles and chuckles) I’m probably the wrong person to ask.
(Buffy looks ahead again) You’d better go.
Buffy: (looks at him) I’m afraid.
Angel: (shrugs and looks at her) You should be.
He stops walking and watches her go. The school bell rings.
Cut to Buffy’s room. The school bell blends into the sound of her alarm
buzzer going off. Buffy wakes from her dream. She turns over and looks
at her alarm clock. 7:00am. She reaches over and turns it off.
Cut to the kitchen. Buffy stares into the refrigerator while she listens
to her mother talking.
Joyce: I’ve been on the phone with the, uh, Superintendent of Schools.
At least he seems more reasonable than that nasty little horrid, bigoted,
rodent-man.
Buffy: Mom . . .
Joyce: Anyway, um, I’m going in to speak with him this afternoon. Uh,
as for private schools, uh, Miss Porter’s accepts late admissions.
Buffy closes the fridge and turns to give her mom a look.
Joyce: I, uh, I wrote the information down for you.
Buffy: A girls’ school? (goes to the island to read the slip of paper)
So now it’s jackets, kilts, and no boys? (looks back at her mom) Care to
throw in a little foot-binding?
Joyce sets down her coffee mug and steps over to her daughter.
Joyce: Buffy, you made some bad choices. You just might have to live
with some consequences.
Buffy looks down at the island, knowing that her mom is right.
Joyce: Nothing’s settled yet. (looks for something to do and spies the
trash) I just wish you didn’t have to be so secretive about things.
(ties off the trashbag) I mean, it’s not your fault you have a special
circumstance. They should make allowances for you.
Buffy: Mom, I’m a slayer. It’s not like I need to ride a little bus to
school.
Joyce: (walks to the door with the trash) Couldn’t you just tell a few
people, like Principal Snyder . . . and maybe the police?
Buffy looks at her like she’s got to be kidding.
Joyce: I mean, I would think they would be happy to have a . . . a
superhero.
Buffy can’t believe her ears.
Joyce: Is that the right term? I mean, it’s not offensive, is it?
She opens the door to take out the trash, and gasps in fright when she
sees the dead cat run in. It stops and meows at them menacingly.
Cut to later at the front door. Buffy opens it to admit Giles holding a
cage.
Buffy: Welcome to the Hellmouth Petting Zoo.
She indicates upstairs. Giles looks up and starts to climb the stairs
while Buffy closes the door behind him. She follows him up.
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. The cat is hiding under the bed. Giles grabs it
by the back of its neck and pulls it out.
Giles: Oh, my God, what a stench!
He takes the cat over to the cage, puts it in and closes the latch.
Buffy: You know, I wanted Forest Pine or April Fresh, but Mom wanted
Dead Cat.
Joyce looks at the cat, grossed out by its appearance and smell.
Giles: I’ll, uh . . .
He steps back for a moment, overcome by the stench.
Giles: Ugh! I’ll get it back to the library, see if we can determine
its exact origins.
He lifts the cage and turns to face Joyce. She looks at it, then up at
Giles. He notices the mask on the wall behind her.
Giles: It’s, uh . . . striking and . . . Nigerian.
Joyce: Oh. Yes. I-I-I have this wonderful dealer who specializes in
ancient artifacts, I don’t know if you–
Buffy: (interrupts) You know, I love art talk as much as the next very
dull person, but we have work to do, Giles. Research mode. (heads for
the door)
Giles: Sh-sh-shouldn’t you stay with your mother, perhaps, Buffy? I
mean, you must have–
Joyce: Please, no. I, it’s fine. She can go with you.
Giles: A-actually, she can’t. Um . . . (to Buffy) you’re not allowed on
school property.
Buffy: Oh. (smiles ironically)
Giles: I’m sorry. Um, uh . . . I’ll, I’ll call as, as soon as I know
something.
He reaches for the doorknob. The cat growls and hisses.
Joyce: Oh, we’ll see you tonight?
Giles: Tonight, then. Yes.
He opens the door and leaves.
Cut to the library. The caged cat is on the table. Oz is inspecting it
closely, apparently not bothered by its stench. Willow is engrossed in
research. Cordelia keeps her distance while Xander shares Oz’s
fascination, but from a bit further off.
Oz: It looks dead. It smells dead. (Xander nods in agreement) Yet it’s
movin’ around. That’s interesting.
Cordelia: Nice pet, Giles. Don’t you like anything regular? Golf, USA
Today, or anything? (sits opposite Willow to help research)
Giles: (comes down from the stacks) I’m trying to find out how and why
it rose from the grave. It’s not as if I’m going to take it home and
offer it a saucer of warm milk.
Oz: Well, I like it. I think you should call it Patches.
Willow: What about Buffy’s welcome home dinner tonight? I had told her
mom we’d help out. Bring stuff.
Cordelia: I’m the dip.
Everyone looks at her. She doesn’t notice and continues reading.
Xander: Uh, you gotta admire the purity of it. (chuckles)
Cordelia: (looks up at everyone) What? Onion dip. Stirring, not
cooking. It’s what I bring.
Oz: (leans back in his chair) We should figure out what kinda deal this
is. I mean, is it a-a gathering, a shindig or a hootenanny?
Cordelia: What’s the difference?
Oz: Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig, (nods to
Cordelia) dip, (Cordelia smiles) less mellow song stylings, perhaps a
large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well, it’s chock full of
hoot, just a little bit of nanny.
Xander: Well, I hate brie.
Cordelia: I know. It smells like Giles’s cat.
Giles: It’s not my–
Xander: (interrupts) And what’ll we talk about at a gathering anyway?
‘So, Buffy, did you meet any nice pimps on your travels? And oh, by the
by, thanks for ruining our lives for the past three months.’
Willow: Xander . . .
Xander: You know what I mean. She doesn’t want to talk about it, we
don’t want to talk about it, so why don’t we just shut up and dance?
Willow: Well, Buffy said she did want to loosen up, you know, have some
kid time. (to Oz) Aren’t you guys rehearsing tonight? Why don’t you play
at the party?
Oz: Yeah, I think I could supply some Dingo action.
Giles: Uh, I-I’m not sure that, a, a, um . . . shindig . . .
Oz: Hootenanny.
Giles: H-hootenanny i-i-is really the order of the day. Uh, uh, it
should . . . maybe something a little more intimate. I-I-I mean, Buffy has
just got home. I’m, I’m sure she’s still feeling a little disoriented.
Willow: All the more reason to make her feel welcome, a-and a big party
says, ‘Welcome, Buffy.’
Xander slaps Giles on the back. Giles turns to give him a look.
Xander: Okay, so one vote from the Old Guy for a Smelly Cheese Night,
and how many votes for actual fun, huh?
Everyone but Giles raises their hand and smiles.
Giles: Alright, alright. Have it your way. I’m just glad to have her
home.
The cat meows again. Giles continues to page through a book.
Giles: Now things can get back to normal.
He flips a page, but looks over at the cat instead. On the page is a
drawing of Joyce’s mask. He flips another page before turning his
attention back to it.
Cut to the Summers house. Cut inside to the dining room. The table is
beautifully set with Joyce’s best china, crystal and silverware. Buffy
is dressed up for the occasion. She is putting the last setting into
place when the doorbell rings. She looks over the table one last time
and then goes to open the door. Through the window she sees Pat waiting
there, holding a large plastic food container. Buffy opens the door.
Pat: Hey, there you are! (comes in) Not thinking about any more flights
of fancy, I hope.
Buffy can’t believe her comments, and just closes the door.
Pat: Joyce said there was room for one more, so I said forget facial
night and let’s party! (smiles) I bet you like empanadas.
She holds out the container to Buffy, who takes it and gives her a fake
smile.
Buffy: Do you want to see my mom?
Pat: Please.
Buffy: (whining loudly and frantically) MOM!
Pat looks up the stairs and sees Joyce appear at the top.
Joyce: Oh, Pat! Good. Buffy, I hope you don’t mind.
The two women embrace.
Pat: Hi! You look great!
The doorbell rings again, and taking the empanadas under one arm, Buffy
turns around to answer it. It’s Devon with the band.
Devon: Hey, Buffy. So where do you want the band to set up?
He walks into the living room and looks around for a good spot.
Buffy: Wh-the band?
Two girls follow him in carrying parts of the drum set.
Cut to later. Lots of people are there, and the party is in full swing.
Dingoes Ate My Baby (Four Star Mary) are set up in the corner of the
living room and are playing “Never Mind.” The camera pans from the
drummer past Oz on his guitar and Devon at his mic into the crowd. Half
of Sunnydale High must be in attendance, the place is so densely packed
with people. The camera settles on Willow leaning against a table and
smiling at Oz while moving to the beat of the music. The camera turns
back into the crowd and follows a party guest until she passes Buffy.
Buffy looks around at all of the people, not sure who half of them are,
trying to find Willow. She spots her, and walks up to her.
Buffy: Hey!
Willow: (smiling) Hey! (listens to the band)
Lyrics: You can send me a savior
Buffy: This is large!
Willow: (looks at Buffy) You like?
Lyrics: That lives till the end of time
Buffy: Yeah. It’s great. (looks back at the band) I-I was just sort of
hoping it would be . . . us.
Lyrics: Time
Willow: Sorry. What? (indicates that it’s too loud to hear)
Lyrics: The promise of heaven
Buffy: (louder) This is amazing, but I was sort of hoping we could just
hang together, the gang.
Lyrics: But that only leaves me dry
Willow indicates to the band and makes like she totally can’t hear
Buffy. She turns her attention back to Oz and smiles at him.
Lyrics: Dry
Buffy senses that Willow is more into watching Oz play with the band
than anything else at the moment, and decides to leave her alone.
Lyrics: Too many saviors / And I won’t die
After walking a ways back into the crowd, Buffy changes her mind,
deciding that she wants to talk to Willow now.
Lyrics: I never cried, but I needed more from you
She touches Willow on the arm and indicates they should go someplace to
talk. Willow lets Buffy lead her away through the crowd.
Lyrics: I found my life without you now
Buffy finds a relatively quiet spot in the dining room where they can
talk.
Lyrics: And I never mind / I’m only half as blind
Buffy: Is everything okay?
Lyrics: Cause I needed more from you
Buffy: You . . . You seem to be avoiding me, i-in the one-on-one sense.
Willow: (looks surprised) What?
Lyrics: And I never mind
Willow: This isn’t avoiding. See? Here you are, here I am.
Lyrics: I’m only half as blind
Buffy: So we’re cool?
Lyrics: Cause I needed more from you
Willow: Way! That’s why, with the party, ’cause we’re all glad you’re
back.
She isn’t being very convincing, but Buffy decides to accept it for now.
Buffy: Okay.
Willow: Okay. Good.
She goes back to watch the band again. Buffy isn’t at all convinced that
everything’s good.
Lyrics: You say my reflection never fades from your eyes
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. The mask’s eyes begin to glow a deep red again.
Cut to an accident scene. A Sunnydale Police car, red and blue lights
flashing, is parked next to the body of a victim. One officer walks past
it while another interviews witnesses. The camera pans down to the dead
man lying in the street. The Emergency Medical Technician tending to him
gets up and goes to get a gurney. The camera stops on the man’s face.
His forehead is severely lacerated. Suddenly his eyes open. The one
under the wound is red with blood. The man immediately sits up.
Cut back to Buffy’s party. The Dingoes are playing their next song,
“Sway”.
Lyrics: I got another rope over me / But I won’t hang / I can feel you
covet my faith
Cut to Xander and Cordelia sucking some serious face by the stairs.
Lyrics: I said another lie / I know why / I don’t wanna sway
Buffy comes walking out of the crowd and sees them. She tries to walk by
without being noticed, but Xander sees her. Cordelia doesn’t stop
kissing him on the face and neck while he talks to Buffy.
Xander: Hey, Buff, uh . . . what are you doing?
Buffy: I was just taking a break from all this wacky fun.
Lyrics: I don’t wanna sway
Xander: Some kind of party, huh? I guess a lot of people are glad to
have you back.
Buffy: It seems like people I didn’t even know missed me.
She looks around at the crowd.
Buffy: Did Giles say he was going to be late?
Lyrics: Seize these worlds / Or never live again
Xander: Uh, he was Library Man last time I saw him. But he’ll be here.
He wants to celebrate your homecoming. We all do. I mean, it’s great to
have the Buffster back. (smiles)
Lyrics: Seize these worlds
Xander: (tries to get Cordelia’s attention) Isn’t it?
Cordelia: (smiles) Totally! (nods)
Lyrics: Or never live again
Cordelia: (to Xander) Except you were kinda turning me on with that
whole Boy Slayer look.
Xander: Was I now?
Cordelia: You bet, Nighthawk.
They smile and giggle at each other, and resume their kissing. Buffy
definitely feels like the odd person out.
Buffy: Well, I’ll just be, uh . . . (gives up) oh, yeah. (leaves)
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. The mask’s eyes continue to glow red.
Cut to Sunnydale General Hospital. A trauma team is trying to revive a
burn victim. A nurse holds a pair of defibrillation pads ready while the
doctor pumps his chest and another nurse bags him.
Doctor: Breathe. Breathe.
The man is flat-lining. The heart monitor beeps insistently while the
cursor just moves flatly across the screen.
Doctor: Alright, look. These burns are too extensive. It’s 7:43. Let’s
call it.
He walks off. The one nurse puts away the bag while the other puts away
the defib pads. The camera pans in to the dead man. He has severe
second- and third-degree burns all along the right side of his face and
body. His eyes suddenly pop open. He sits up on the bed, leaving a
puddle of blood on the pillow.
Nurse: Oh, my God!
The reflection on the heart monitor screen shows him violently hitting
people out of his way as he goes.
Cut to the party. Buffy is at the snack table gathering up empty cups.
Lyrics: You know I roll it over in my head
A guy reaches in front of her and grabs a handful of party mix, leans
his head back and dumps it into his mouth. Most of it spills to the
sides and onto the floor.
Lyrics: I won’t feel you covet my faith
Buffy just gives a shrug, grabs a few more cups and turns to go throw
them out. She passes two guys talking and overhears their conversation.
Party dude: Hey, what’s the deal with this party anyway?
Lyrics: You’ve said another lie / I know why
Stoner: This party? Heard it was for some chick that just got out of
rehab. (takes a drag from his joint)
Lyrics: I don’t wanna sway
Buffy stares at them, less than happy about that rumor, but she ignores
them and continues on toward the kitchen.
Lyrics: I don’t wanna sway
Cut to the kitchen. Joyce and Pat are having a little fiesta of their
own, and pour some schnapps into two glasses. They raise their glasses,
clink them together and each take a good sip.
Joyce: Whew!
Pat smiles and nods at Joyce.
Lyrics: Seize these worlds
Pat: Now, how you holding up, Joyce, hmm? Really.
Lyrics: Or never live again
Joyce: Really? I’m . . . I don’t know.
Lyrics: Seize these worlds
Joyce: While Buffy was gone, all I could think about was getting her
home.
Lyrics: Or never live again
Joyce: I just knew that if I could put my arms around her and tell her
how much I loved her, everything would be okay.
Lyrics: Seize these worlds
Pat: But?
Lyrics: Or never live again
Buffy reaches the kitchen and overhears.
Joyce: Having Buffy home, I-I thought it was gonna make it all better,
but in some ways, it’s almost worse.
Lyrics: Seize these worlds / Or never live again
Buffy takes it hard, and goes back to the stairs.
Cut to Buffy’s room. She comes in and swings the door partially closed
behind her. She looks at her bed sadly and sniffles. She bends down to
pull her bag out from underneath, slams it onto the mattress and opens
it up. She goes to her closet, gets out a pile of folded clothes, goes
back to her bed and stuffs them into the bag.
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. The mask’s eyes are still glowing. Cut outside.
The camera pulls away from the house. Cut to the park. Several zombies
are making their way through it toward the house.~~ Part 3 ~~
The library. The cat meows acridly in its cage. Giles is looking through
his books yet again. This time he finds what he needs and quickly reads.
Giles: Oh, Lord!
He goes into his office and sets the book down on his desk. He turns the
page and this time sees the picture of the mask that he’d missed before.
He grabs the phone and quickly dials Buffy’s number. He impatiently
listens to it ringing.
Cut to Buffy’s house. The Dingoes are into their next song, “Pain”. The
camera pans across the party guests. The phone can barely be heard
ringing above the noise. The camera focuses on it. No one thinks to pick
up.
Cut to the library. Giles waits anxiously for an answer.
Cut to the party. The weed smoker picks up the phone and holds it
tightly to his ear, plugging his free ear with a finger.
Stoner: Party Villa, can I rock you?
Giles: (cut to him) I-I-I need to speak with Buffy. Um, immediately!
I have some information that is extremely important.
Lyrics: Feeling I’ve been lost for years
Cut to the party. Someone breaks a glass, and the Stoner looks across
the room.
Lyrics: You can never understand me
Stoner: Yeah! Fiesta foul! You gotta do a shot!
Lyrics: Unless you’ve seen those tears
Giles: (cut to him) I need to speak to Buffy! Now!
Stoner: (cut to him) Bunny?
Lyrics: But you never get to sleep
Stoner: (to his friend, pointing) See? That guy’s gotta do a shot.
Lyrics: When I’m away
Giles: Buffy!
Stoner: (holds the phone out to the crowd) Hey! I need to talk to a
Buddy!
Lyrics: I don’t mind
Stoner: (to the room) Is there a Buddy here?
Lyrics: The deeper that you lay
Stoner: (into the phone) Sorry. He’s not here. You got the wrong casa,
Mr. Belvedere. (hangs up)
Lyrics: Out of time / Pain, I can’t sleep
Giles: (cut to him) H-hello? Hello?
He slams the phone down and quickly gathers up his things. The cat
snarls and hisses.
Cut to Buffy’s room. She’s at her closet getting more things. She goes
back to her bed. While she stuffs her things into her bag, Willow shows
up at her door and sees her packing.
Willow: You’re leaving again?
Buffy gives her a quick glance and goes back to packing.
Willow: (upset) What, you just stopped by for your lint brush and now
you’re ready to go?
Buffy: It’s not like anyone will mind.
Willow: (heavy with sarcasm) Oh, no. Have a great time. Oh, oh, and
don’t forget to not write.
Buffy: (faces Willow, sobbing) Why are you attacking me? I’m trying.
Willow: Wow, and it looks so much like giving up!
Buffy: I’m just trying to make things easier.
Willow: For who?
Buffy: You guys were doing just fine without me.
Willow: We were doing the best we could! It’s not like we had a lot of
choice in the matter.
Buffy: Sorry that I had to leave, but you don’t know what I was going
through.
Willow: Well, I’d like to.
Buffy: You wouldn’t understand.
Willow: (considers) Well, maybe I don’t need to understand. Maybe I . . .
I just need you to talk to me.
Buffy: How could I talk to you when you were avoiding me?
Willow: This isn’t easy, Buffy! I know you’re going through stuff,
but . . . so am I.
Buffy: I know that you were worried about me, but–
Willow: No! I don’t just mean that. I mean, my life! You know? I, um . . .
I’m having all sorts of–I’m dating, I’m having serious dating with a
werewolf, a-and I’m studying witchcraft and killing vampires, and I
didn’t have anyone (starts sobbing) to talk to about all this scary life
stuff. And you were my best friend.
Cut to Giles speeding along to Buffy’s house as best he can in his
decrepit car. He looks left and right in anger and fear.
Giles: Unbelievable. (mocks Joyce) ‘Do you like my mask? Isn’t it
pretty? It raises the dead!’ Americans.
He looks ahead in time to see that he’s about to hit someone.
Giles: Jesus!
He slams on the brakes and begins to skid. He hits the man, who falls
onto the hood of the car, bounces off of the windshield and slides off
as the car comes to a stop. The man rolls a few times on the pavement
before coming to rest. Giles stares in shock at the man lying in the
road.
Giles: My God.
He quickly gets out of his car.
Giles: Are you alright?
He rushes over to the man and feels for a pulse on his neck.
Giles: Are you hurt?
The man rolls over, and Giles sees that he’s in an advanced state of
decay.
Giles: Good God.
The zombie grabs Giles by the coat and lifts him up as it gets to its
feet. Other zombies start approaching from an alley.
Cut to Buffy’s room.
Buffy: You have no idea how much I missed you. Everyone. I wanted to
call every day.
Willow: That doesn’t matter, Buffy. It doesn’t make it okay that you
didn’t.
Joyce walks by the room and sees the bag on Buffy’s bed.
Joyce: What is this? Is this some sort of a joke?
Buffy: Mom, please, could you, could you just–
Joyce: (interrupts) No, I can’t just! Buffy, what is this?
Willow: She was running away again.
Buffy: No, I wasn’t. (pauses, very confused) I’m not sure.
Joyce: Well, you better get sure and explain yourself right away!
If you think you can just-just take off any time you feel like it–
Buffy: Stop it! Please! I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing.
She rushes from her room and heads downstairs. Joyce and Willow follow
right on her heels. Cut to below. Buffy comes rushing down the stairs
with her mother and best friend right behind. She stops at the front
door, and turns into the living room when she finds Xander and Cordelia
locked in a passionate embrace, blocking her way out.
Joyce: Don’t you leave this house, young lady!
Buffy doesn’t stop her determined walk.
Joyce: You know what? That’s it.
She runs up behind Buffy, grabs her arm and turns her around to face
her.
Joyce: You and I are going to have a talk.
The band stops playing and most of the people stop talking. Suddenly the
level of noise in the room is reduced to just a few voices. Buffy looks
around at everyone staring at them.
Buffy: (implores) Mom, please–
Xander and Cordelia come into the living room.
Joyce: (interrupts, mad) You know what? I don’t care. I don’t care what
your friends think of me, or you for that matter, because you put me
through the wringer, Buffy. (inhales) I mean it. (exhales and inhales)
And I’ve had schnapps. (exhales) Do you have any idea what it’s been
like?
Buffy: Mom, this isn’t the time–
Willow looks around, worried. Oz comes up next to her.
Joyce: (interrupts again) You can’t imagine months of not knowing.
Not knowing whether you’re lying dead in a ditch somewhere or, I don’t
know, living it up–
Buffy: (interrupts in turn) But you told me! You’re the one who said I
should go. You said if I leave this house, don’t come back. You found
out who I really was, and you couldn’t deal. Don’t you remember?
People are beginning to think this is a drag and leave.
Joyce: Buffy, you didn’t give me time. You just dumped this thing on me
and you expected me to get it. Well, guess what? Mom’s not perfect,
okay? I handled it badly. But that doesn’t give you the right to punish
me by running away.
Buffy: Punish you? I didn’t do this to punish you!
Xander: Well, you did. You should’ve seen what you put her through.
Buffy: Great. Thanks. Anybody else want to weigh in here? (sees
Jonathon) How about you by the dip?
Jonathon freezes in the middle of bringing a chip laden with dip to his
mouth and looks around nervously at everyone suddenly staring at him.
Jonathon: No, thanks. I’m good.
Xander: You know, maybe you don’t want to hear it, Buffy, but taking
off like you did was incredibly selfish and stupid.
Buffy: Okay! Okay. I screwed up. I know this. But you have no idea!
You have, you have no idea what happened to me or what I was feeling!
Xander: Did you even try talking to anybody?
Buffy: There was nothing that anybody could do. Okay? I just had to
deal with this on my own.
Xander: Yeah, and you see how well that one worked out. You can’t
just bury stuff, Buffy. It’ll come right back up to get you.
Cut to the street. The zombie has Giles bent back on the hood of his
car. Giles gets his foot underneath him and push kicks him off. He rolls
off of the hood and scrambles back into the car, locking the door. The
zombies start pounding on the car. Giles reaches for the ignition and
discovers the keys missing. He searches his pockets. Nothing. He looks
out onto the street, and there they are.
Giles: Oh, good show, Giles.
He thinks for a moment what to do, then reaches underneath the dash and
pulls out some wires. Quickly he unravels and strips the appropriate
ones. A zombie punches through the window and reaches in for him. Giles
touches the wires together. They spark, and the engine starts up.
Giles: Like riding a bloody bicycle!
He puts the car in gear and drives off, slowly leaving the zombies behind.
Cut to Buffy’s living room.
Buffy: As if I even could’ve gone to you, Xander. You made your
feelings about Angel and I perfectly clear.
Xander: Look. I’m sorry that your honey was a demon, but most girls
don’t hop a Greyhound over boy troubles.
Cordelia doesn’t think this is fair, and intercedes.
Cordelia: Time out, Xander. Put yourself in Buffy’s shoes for just a
minute. Okay? I’m Buffy, freak of nature, right? Naturally I pick a
freak for a boyfriend, and then he turns into Mr. Killing Spree, which
is pretty much my fault–
Buffy: (interrupts) Cordy! Get outta my shoes!
Cordelia: I’m just trying to help, Buffy.
Willow: Buffy, you never–
Buffy: (nears the breaking point) Willow, please. I can’t take this
from you, too.
Xander: Let her finish! You at least owe her that.
Buffy: God, Xander! Do you think you could at least stick to annoying
me on your own behalf?
Xander: Fine! You stop acting like an idiot, I’ll stop annoying you!
Buffy: (steps up to Xander) Oh, you wanna talk acting like an idiot,
Nighthawk?
Oz: Okay. I’m gonna step in now, (gets between them) being Referee Guy.
Willow: No, let them go, Oz. (gets a look from him) Talking about it
isn’t helping. We might as well try some violence.
A zombie suddenly smashes though the living room window and comes in.
Others follow right behind.
Willow: I was being sarcastic!
A zombie grabs Xander, and they start to wrestle. Another one grabs the
Stoner’s head and twists it violently, breaking his neck. Xander gets
the upper hand on the slow-moving zombie and throws him back out of the
window. Willow and Oz scramble to help out. A zombie dives through the
kitchen door window. The remaining party guests all try to drive the
zombies out, but aren’t very organized about it. Xander breaks away from
the crowd.
Buffy: Xander, kitchen!
Xander: I got your back!
She tosses him an andiron from the fireplace, and he runs into the
kitchen with Cordelia close behind. A zombie attacks Buffy, and she
launches herself into a hopping side kick to his gut. She sidesteps a
punch and swings under his arm with an uppercut to his jaw, but he isn’t
fazed. He swings at her with both arms, knocking her aside. Joyce
watches Buffy fight, cringing at every blow. Buffy punches the zombie
twice in the face and then ducks past him as he lunges at her with his
arm trying to grab her. He turns around and tries to make a grab for
her, but Joyce comes up behind him with a vase and smashes it over his
head. The party guests are having limited success keeping the zombies
out of the house. Buffy leg sweeps the zombie and knocks him down.
Joyce: Are these vampires?
Buffy: Uh, I don’t think so.
Willow: Buffy, heads up!
She tosses Buffy a piece of the broken window frame. Buffy catches it
out of the air and tries staking the zombie. He just looks up at her as
though she pinched him.
Buffy: No, not vampires.
The zombie starts to get back to his feet.
Cut to the kitchen. Xander swings the andiron at one of them, making him
stagger a bit. Cordelia looks around and finds a stake on the counter.
She jams it into the zombie’s gut. He staggers back again. Pat looks
into the kitchen from the hall, not paying attention to her back. A
zombie comes up behind her and grabs her by the jaw and the back of her
head. She screams as she’s dragged off. The zombie in the kitchen comes
at Xander again. Another one is trying to crawl in through the window
over the sink.
Xander: Man, this sucker wobbles, but he won’t fall down!
He swings the andiron at the zombie’s legs and knocks him to he floor.
Cut to the living room. Joyce hits the zombie repeatedly over the head
with a broken piece of wood. Jonathon is holding a guitar, ready to
smash it over the zombie.
Buffy: We got to get ’em back outside!
Joyce: On three!
Devon grabs the zombie by the back. Oz and Joyce each grab an arm.
Joyce: One . . . Two . . . Three!
Together they drag him to the front door, where Buffy is waiting to slam
it shut. The three of them throw the ghoul out and barricade themselves
against the door. The zombie slams himself against it, trying to get
back in.
Buffy: Okay! We’re gonna have to barricade this door!
Cut to the kitchen. Xander and Cordelia have their zombie pinned face
down to the floor with his arms behind him.
Buffy: We need some help out here!
Xander: I got him. Go help Buffy.
Cordelia rushes into the living room to help while Xander ties up the
zombie. Cut to the front door. Some of them scramble to get something to
barricade the door while others lean against it to keep it closed.
Oz: Grab that table!
He goes to grab the small table. Devon takes his place at the door. Oz
drags the table back and positions it against the door. He leans into it
while Devon goes off to get another one. Xander shows up to help, too.
Suddenly the zombie punches through the door and makes a grab for Oz’s
shoulder.
Buffy: Upstairs!
She runs up the stairs and into her mother’s room. Willow, Xander and
Joyce follow her. At the top of the stairs Joyce sees Pat lying
unconscious on the floor further down the hall.
Joyce: Oh, Pat!
She rushes over to Pat. Willow and Buffy run over to help also.
Joyce: Oh, God . . .
Pat wakes, and Willow and Joyce help her up, each getting under one arm.
Buffy: Careful!
Pat: Oh . . .
Xander: (watches the stairs) Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.
Joyce: (to Pat) I got you. Okay.
They drag her toward the bedroom. Xander ushers them in and follows.
Cut below. The stand at the door has to be abandoned. Devon runs out the
back. Cordelia helps Oz get away from the zombie outside the door, and
they try to run up the stairs, but another zombie grabs Oz from behind
and pulls him down to the floor.
Cordelia: Oz!
She reacts quickly and comes back down holding her hand out to Oz, but
he waves her off.
Oz: GO! GO!
She starts to run toward the back, and Oz scrambles out of the zombie’s
reach, running right behind her.
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. She and Willow have to drag Pat the rest of the
way in and lie her down on a large padded wicker chair and footrest
while Buffy and Xander try to get the door closed to keep a zombie out.
Willow feels for a pulse on Pat’s neck.
Willow: She’s–
Joyce: Oh, God! Pat! She’s dead!
The zombie gives the door a good bump, knocking Xander back and into the
far wall. The impact vibration knocks the mask from its hook. Buffy
manages to shove the zombie back a bit. Willow and Joyce run to help.
The eyes of the mask begin to glow red again. Xander gets back up, and
now all four of them are pushing against the door to get it closed.
Joyce: What do we do if they get in?
Xander: I kind of think we die.
The mask’s eyes keep glowing. Cut to Pat. Her eyes open wide.~~ Part 4 ~~
Inside a downstairs closet. It’s absolutely dark.
Cordelia: I don’t hear anything. Should we check?
Oz: (exhales) Let’s go for it.
He opens the door and looks out. No zombies. He looks the other way. The
coast appears to be clear. They can, however, hear noises coming from
upstairs. Oz gives Cordelia a glance and looks around again to be
absolutely sure that at least there isn’t anything going on downstairs.
Cordelia sees a pair of ski poles in the closet and hands one of them to
Oz.
Cordelia: Here.
Oz: Thanks.
Together they start down the hall toward the stairs. They reach the
kitchen door. Cordelia looks in and startles when suddenly Giles appears
there, having come in through the back door. She holds her ski pole up
to his neck. Oz holds his ski pole pointed at Giles’ gut.
Giles: Cordelia, it’s me! It’s me!
Cordelia: How do we know it’s really you and not zombie Giles?
Giles: Cordelia, do stop being tiresome.
Cordelia: It’s him.
She and Oz both draw back their weapons. The noises upstairs seem to get
louder. They start moving toward the stairs again.
Oz: I think the Dead Man’s Party’s moved upstairs.
Giles: That makes sense. It’s the mask in Joyce’s bedroom they’re
after.
Cordelia: Mask?
Giles: The mask holds the power of a . . . zombie demon, called Ovu
Mobani–Evil Eye. I don’t think we can get past them.
They crouch by the stairs and try to look upstairs.
Oz: Well, what happens if they get the mask?
Giles: If one of them puts it on, they become the demon incarnate.
Cordelia: Worse than a zombie.
Giles: Yes, worse.
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. Pat sits up on the footrest. The zombie at the
door overpowers Buffy and the others, pushing the door in violently.
Joyce and Xander fall to the floor. The zombie comes in and backhand
punches Buffy, sending her into the wall. Pat sees the fighting, but her
attention is drawn to the mask lying on the floor. Its eyes glow a
bright red now. Xander tries to grab the zombie from behind, but it
throws a backhand punch and hits Xander in the jaw. Xander goes flying
in a high arc onto the bed and rolls off of the far side onto the floor.
Pat stands up, her gaze fixed on the mask, and steps over to it. Joyce
sees her stand up, and looks at her amazed. She gets up from the floor
and goes over to Pat.
Joyce: Oh, God! We thought you were–
She tries to hug Pat, but Pat grabs her outstretched arms and pushes her
hard onto the bed. Joyce rolls off next to Xander. Pat bends down to
pick up the mask and holds it to her face as she stands back up. The
eyes suddenly glow a very bright red, and the mask integrates itself
into Pat’s face. The zombie immediately stops fighting Willow and falls
to his knees, screaming and cowering before Ovu Mobani incarnate.
Xander: (to Joyce) Generally speaking, when scary things get scared:
not good.
Willow looks at Mobani, transfixed by its stare.
Mobani: I live, you die.
Buffy tries to get between them. Ovu Mobani turns to her, and its eyes
flash, mesmerizing Buffy. It backhand punches her, and sends her flying
in a high arc against the closet door. Buffy is only slightly dazed, and
quickly raises herself up on her hands. She sees Willow back away from
Mobani fearfully.
Buffy: Willow, don’t look!
Mobani’s eyes flash again at Willow, and she freezes. The demon strides
over to her and grabs her by the jaw and the back of her head. Buffy
lunges at Mobani, grabs it and dives out of the bedroom window. Cut
outside. The two of them fall onto the roof and roll down and off. They
hit the railing of the back porch and break it, fall over some bushes
and roll into the backyard.
Cut to Giles, Oz and Cordelia on the stairs. They hear the crash through
the window.
Giles: Out back!
They rush back down the stairs, but a zombie appears from the dining
room and takes Giles by the neck.
Cut outside. Buffy and Ovu Mobani get to their feet. Buffy looks away
and quickly puts some distance between herself and the demon, shading
her eyes as she goes.
Buffy: Not looking.
Mobani makes tracks after her.
Buffy: Not looking!
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. With Ovu Mobani no longer there, the zombie has
quit its cowering and begun attacking the mortals. Xander and Willow
each have the zombie by an arm, and Joyce swings a baseball bat hard
into his back. The zombie screams and flails its arms, shaking Xander
and Willow loose. He turns to face Joyce, who keeps swinging the bat.
The zombie blocks the blows with its arm, but Joyce doesn’t stop.
Cut outside. Mobani tackles Buffy to the ground and turns her over.
Buffy immediately covers her eyes with her arm, and the demon’s eye
flashes have no effect on her. Buffy snap kicks Mobani off of her, and
the demon flies across the yard and lands hard on its back.
Cut to the stairs. Oz and Giles try to use a ski pole to hold the zombie
at bay, but it’s not working very well.
Giles: Tell Buffy Mobani’s power lies in his eyes!
Oz kicks the zombie twice in the shoulder, trying to force him back so
he can get down the stairs. The zombie isn’t fazed, so Oz just hops over
the stair railing instead.
Giles: She has to go for the eyes to defeat him!
Cut outside. Buffy gets to her hands and knees and scrambles over to the
shovel. Behind her Mobani is coming for her again. Buffy turns around
with the shovel raised, but the demon flashes its eyes at her again,
this time making her freeze. Behind them Oz comes running out of the
kitchen door.
Oz: Buffy!
This distracts Ovu Mobani and brings Buffy out of her trance. Mobani
flashes its eyes at Oz, making him freeze on the porch. Buffy stands
back up and raises the shovel.
Buffy: Hey, Pat!
Ovu Mobani snaps its head around to look at Buffy again, who jams the
shovel into the demon’s eyes, embedding it in its head. Mobani grabs the
shovel handle and tries to pull it out, but can’t.
Buffy: Made you look.
In a flash of brilliant white light Ovu Mobani disappears.
Cut to Joyce’s bedroom. She is still beating on the zombie. In a flash
of light he disappears. Joyce’s next swing goes wild, and she stops.
Cut to the stairs. Cordelia is helping Giles hold the zombie at bay with
the ski poles, when he disappears in a flash of light, making her fall
forward. She reacts quickly and steadies herself against the wall.
Cut outside. Buffy just stares where Mobani was. On the porch Oz shrugs.
Oz: Never mind.
Cut inside. Giles and Cordelia come down the stairs. Behind them Joyce
runs down and into the living room, looking for Buffy. She sees her and
Oz come in through the kitchen.
Joyce: Honey!
She embraces her daughter tightly. Buffy hugs her mom back.
Joyce: Oh!
They release their embrace. Oz sees Willow come into the living room and
goes to her.
Joyce: Are you all right?
Buffy: Yeah.
Joyce: (panting) So, is this a typical day at the office?
Buffy: No. This was nothing.
Willow and Oz hold hands, and then turn to face Buffy. Xander comes into
the living room through the kitchen. Cordelia joins them. Joyce looks
around at the mess in the house.
Xander: (to Buffy) Nice moves.
Buffy: You, too.
Willow smiles, and goes to hug her best friend. They hold each other
close for a long time. Giles looks on from the other side of the room
and breathes deeply.
Cut to Principal Snyder’s office the next day. He’s getting some files
from his cabinet. There is a knock on his door. It opens and Giles comes
in. Snyder glances over to see who it is, and goes to his desk.
Snyder: Do we have an appointment?
Giles: I’d like to have a word with you.
Snyder drops the files on his desk and turns to face Giles.
Snyder: If that word is Buffy, then I have two words for you: ‘good’
and ‘riddance’. Now, if you don’t mind, I have an appointment with the
Mayor.
Giles: You can’t keep her out of this school.
Snyder: (pulls on his jacket) I think you’ll find I can.
Giles: You had no grounds for expelling her.
Snyder: I have grounds, I have precedent, and a tingly kind of feeling.
Giles: Buffy Summers is a minor, and is entitled to a public education.
Your personal dislike of the girl does not legally entitle you to–
Snyder: (interrupts) Why don’t you take it up with the city council?
He grabs the files and his briefcase and heads for the door.
Giles: I thought I’d start with the State Supreme Court.
Snyder stops and faces him.
Giles: You’re powerful in local circles, but I believe I can make life
very difficult for you, professionally speaking. (confidently) And Buffy
will be allowed back in.
Snyder: Sorry. I’m not convinced.
He tries to go again. Giles grabs him by the lapel and shoves him back
into his filing cabinet.
Giles: (grining) Would you like me to convince you?
Snyder shakes his head ever so slightly and looks back nervously.
Cut to the Espresso Pump. Cut inside. The camera pans across the
interior and stops on Buffy and Willow sitting on stools at a table with
a couple of drinks.
Willow: I mean, I’m not a full-fledged witch. That takes years. I just
did a couple pagan blessings and . . . a teeny glamour to hide a zit.
Buffy: Does it scare you?
Willow: It has. I tried to communicate with the spirit world, and I
so wasn’t ready for that. It’s like being pulled apart inside. Plus I
blew the power for our whole block. Big scare.
Buffy: I wish I could’ve been there with you.
Willow: Me, too. I really freaked out.
Buffy: I am sorry.
Willow: It’s okay. I understand you having to bail. I can forgive that.
Mm, I have to make allowances for what you’re going through a-and be a
grownup about it. (gives Buffy a slightly smug look)
Buffy: (smiles) You’re really enjoying this whole moral superiority
thing, aren’t you?
Willow: (smiles) It’s like a drug!
Buffy: Fine! Okay. I’m the bad. I can take my lumps . . . for a while.
Willow: All right. I’ll stop giving you a hard time. (pauses) Runaway.
Buffy: (gives her a surprised look) Will!
Willow: (smiles and giggles) I’m sorry! Quitter.
Buffy: (widens her eyes at her) Whiner.
Willow: Bailer.
Buffy: Harpy.
Willow: Delinquent.
Buffy: Tramp.
Willow: (takes mock offense) Bad seed.
Buffy: Witch.
Willow: Freak.
Whether you are a Buffy fan, or you are just beginning your vampire slaying journey, you will find our content both interesting and intriguing. There really is something for everyone.
- Buffy Character: Ubervamp | Camden Toy - March 22, 2022
- Buffy Character: Warren Mears | Adam Busch - March 22, 2022
- Buffy Character: Robin Wood | D. B. Woodside - March 22, 2022
