Episode 4 - Detour
DETOUR
TEASER
INT. MAGIC BOX/TRAINING ROOM - DAY (DAY 1)
CLOSE ON : PUNCHING BAG
as someone is punching the hell out of it.
WIDEN :
to reveal Christopher, shirtless and sweaty, totally
focused on the bag, punching it with impressive
strength and agility.
Buffy and Giles enter the training room. Buffy is a
little startled.
BUFFY
(admiringly, talking to
herself)
Who said there was something wrong
with British beef?
Giles gives Buffy a look and clears his throat.
BUFFY
I mean.. Oh look, Chris is here.
Giles goes to put away some bags in a corner. Buffy
looks at Christopher a little longer. Giles walks
towards Christopher, sucking his gut in a little.
GILES
Christopher.
Christopher stops and turns to look at Giles.
CHRISTOPHER
Rupert..
(then noticing Buffy)
and his slayer.
BUFFY
(unimpressed)
Chris.. and his tact. I have a name
you know.
Christopher goes over to a bench and puts on a shirt.
CHRISTOPHER
Forgive me. I suppose I lack
Rupert's gentle touch in such
matters.
GILES
What are you doing here?
CHRISTOPHER
I hope you don't mind. Anya was kind
enough to let me in.
BUFFY
But what's with the punching and
sweating? That's my look.
CHRISTOPHER
Just keeping in shape. It's all part
of the grand plan, you see. The
Council has recently changed its
policy regarding watchers.
GILES
I beg your pardon?
CHRISTOPHER
They've decided that all future
watchers should be younger, more
agile and more capable of fighting
alongside the slayer.
BUFFY
Alongside? Along.. my side?
CHRISTOPHER
Well, no. You'll still have Rupert
as your watcher, so I suppose you
will continue to fight alone.
GILES
(bristling)
I can hold my own.
CHRISTOPHER
I'm sure you can mate, but let's
face it, your Ripper days are long
gone. It's time for a younger
generation to step in and clear some
of the cobwebs.
BUFFY
(a little angry)
Boy, you really don't know when to
stop, do you?
CHRISTOPHER
Council's wishes my dear. Can't just
ignore them can we?
BUFFY
Just watch me.
Christopher regards Buffy for a beat, and then smiles
to Giles. Christopher starts to head to the door.
CHRISTOPHER
Oh yes. I should probably mention
that the Council is sending over
five of their strongest and
brightest Watcher candidates to join
us.
BUFFY
What? When?
CHRISTOPHER
Tonight.
(off their looks)
Don't worry. They won't be staying
long. They're here strictly to
observe..
(to Giles)
like me.
Giles reacts to this a little, staring back at
Christopher.
BUFFY
(to Christopher)
You really love giving off that evil
vibe don't you?
CHRISTOPHER
You think you've seen true evil?
Trust me, you haven't.
Christopher is halfway out the door when he stops and
turns back to Buffy.
CHRISTOPHER
But it will find you one day, no
matter how hard everyone here tries
to hide from it. And when that day
comes, you better be ready.
Christopher exits.
BUFFY
Nothing worse than a creepy cryptic
Council c.. um.. cad?
(off Giles' look)
Sorry, once you start going all
alliterary, you're sorta compelled
to finish.
Giles begins to set up some of the training equipment
while Buffy limbers up.
BUFFY
So, what was with the little looks
between you two?
GILES
Looks?
BUFFY
Well, not 'let's rejoice in our
secret love' looks.. More like
'Let's keep something from Buffy'.
You know, that kind of look.
GILES
Honestly Buffy, it's nothing to
concern yourself about. As I told
you, Christopher and I have a
history.
BUFFY
And that's all?
GILES
That's all you need to worry about.
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY
ANGLE : TARWIN
A mean-looking, compact but strong and muscular
vampire. He carries a pole-axe.
TARWIN
(bowing)
I live to serve the Master.
PAN TO : SKEET
sitting in his chair with a young, lithe female
vampire sitting on his lap. She is very pale with
short, white hair. We also see Vincent and Teddy
standing on either side of Skeet. Vincent looks
unimpressed by Tarwin while Teddy plays with a troll
doll in his hand.
SKEET
(laughing to Vincent)
See, didn't I tell you? There'll
always be more vampires willing to
join me.
(to his companion)
Isn't that right my sweet.
She smiles and hugs Skeet tighter.
SKEET
(re Tarwin's poleaxe)
That's a big bloody axe you got
there. Wouldn't want to be the
slayer at the end of that.
TARWIN
Forgive me Master, but I have news
that may be of interest to you.
SKEET
Oh I like news.
TARWIN
There are reports that the slayer is
expecting some company tonight..
from the Watcher's Council.
SKEET
(interested)
The Council you say. Haven't run
into those buggers since Brighton in
83, you know, up in the North
country.
TARWIN
Brighton's in the south.
SKEET
I meant Bristol.
TARWIN
That's also..
SKEET
Whatever, so what's so interesting
about this Council field trip?
TARWIN
If I may humbly suggest.. a plan.
VINCENT
A plan?
TARWIN
To kill the slayer.
This catches Skeet's attention. He stands up and
smiles.
SKEET
That's bloody marvellous, that is.
(to Vincent)
You hear that, he just came out and
said it. First day on the job.
That's what I call initiative.
That's what I'm looking for in a
henchman.
Vincent gives Tarwin an angry look. Skeet walks up to
Tarwin and puts his arm around him and starts walking
him away.
SKEET
(to Tarwin)
Don't mind him. He's just upset to
see a vampire that doesn't actually
run away from the slayer. Now, why
don't you and I have a little talk
about this plan. The slayer owes me
another dance and this has got such
a lovely melody to it.
BLACKOUT
END OF TEASER
CONTINUE TO ACT ONE