Episode 2 - Faces
FACES TEASER EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT (NIGHT 1) CLOSE ON : BUFFY'S FACE starting very tight on the eyes and progressively zooming out to reveal the night sky and the graveyard behind her as she talks. BUFFY (serious and dramatic) Listen! Understand! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it will absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead. A beat. Buffy is waiting for a response. Her face softens. BUFFY Oh, Come on. James Cameron? Starts with a T? CUT TO: A wide shot showing Buffy standing up, while Willow, Xander, Anya and Tara are sitting down around her. There is a picnic basket in the middle on a blanket. Willow and Anya are munching on snacks. Blank faces from the Scoobies. WILLOW T- Titanic? Buffy rolls her eyes. She sits back down, giving up. WILLOW (off the looks) What? She could have been talking about the iceberg. TARA (to Buffy) I thought it was a very good reading.. um.. very dramatic. BUFFY Thank you Tara, but since I'm batting O for three, I'll have to take your word for it. XANDER (to Anya) Step up An, you're next. ANYA No. I refuse to take any further part in this silly game. No one ever guesses my lines. WILLOW Anya, last time you were up, you were speaking in Russian. ANYA Well, if you're going to impose silly rules.. XANDER Okay, you guys. Remember, we're here for Buffy, you know, help break the monotony of patrolling, give her a new and exciting experience. I think she's already seen you two fight. ANYA (to Buffy) Sorry. WILLOW (to Buffy) I'll be quiet. BUFFY That's okay. Besides, I think it's time to break-up this little love- fest. Buffy gets up. BUFFY It was really sweet of you guys to surprise me like this.. and seriously, a picnic.. at night.. in a cemetery is unexpected. WILLOW But? BUFFY But I still gotta finish my patrol, and its getting kinda late. You guys should head home. XANDER What's the hurt here? I mean, it's not like this town is overrun with vampires. TARA It has been kinda quiet. XANDER Yeah, the vamps are in hibernation. You deserve a break from patrolling, plus.. no one has touched my devilled eggs. BUFFY I appreciate the concern you guys, but after last week's encounter with Houdini demon, I'm sorta expecting some new arrivals. I gotta be ready. General murmurs of acceptance from the group. BUFFY Besides, just because the local vamps haven't showed their faces lately, doesn't mean they are gathered somewhere, planning some extra evil. INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT CLOSE ON : A WHITE MARKERBOARD WITH A DIAGRAM OF A SUNNYDALE CEMETARY. As a voice offscreen speaks, we see a pointer waving about, pointing to various parts of the map. We zoom out as the voice speaks. VAMP #1 (O.S.) For the past two weeks, the slayer has been patrolling along these routes, here and here. It takes her around 15 minutes to cross from the west end of the cemetery to the east. She then doubles back in what we have termed the 'Alpha pattern'. WIDEN to reveal a strongly built, commandery-looking vampire on a stage, holding the pointer. There are another two muscle-bound vampires standing on either side of the him, arms crossed. VAMP #1 If you are unsure about the designated terms, please consult the informaton packet you will find underneath your seats. Now, are there any questions so far? REVERSE ANGLE to reveal an impressive collection of vampires, all sitting in chairs, listening attentively. VAMP #1 Now, this is the important part, so listen carefully. An ominous beat. VAMP #1 To avoid the slayer, all vampires will have to cross the cemetery from the northern side after the slayer has crossed over to the eastern part of the cemetery, but you will have to do so quickly before she doubles back. We see another shot of the assembled vampires, some of them now taking notes. VAMP #1 Your other option, of course, is to wait after the slayer has finished her patrol, but that would mean fewer opportunities to feed. However, we have a contingency in place. Killian? The vampire motions for another vampire to come onto the stage. The vampire walks on carrying a giant piece of cardboard. He hands it over to one of the vampires on stage and proceeds to walk to the podium. He takes out his notes, puts on his glasses, readies himself and then signals for the vampire to turn the cardboard over. He does so. On it, there is a picture of a building and below it, it reads 'Sunnydale Blood Bank'. Killian is about to start when.. SKEET (in a strong British accent) Bloody hell. You lot are the most miserable soddin' excuses for the holy undead I have ever seen. All eyes turn to the voice. Standing at the back of the congregation are a group of vampires, led by Skeet. A bleached blonde, black-leather clad male vampire not terribly unlike another former vampiric denizen of Sunnydale. VAMP #1 Who dares interrupt us? SKEET The name's Skeet, mate and don't you forget it. Me and the lads here are taking over the operation in this charming town, and not a bleedin' moment too soon by the sounds of it. Skeet and his gang stride confidently up to the stage, taking it over. Killian meekly walks off with his prized prop. VAMP #1 And what makes you think we're going to let you do that? SKEET Because, my bumpy friend, I'm here to take care of your problem. I'm going to kill your slayer. The room is abuzz with murmurs. From the chairs, a few vampires speak out. VAMP #2 You can't defeat the slayer. None of us can. We've tried. VAMP #3 She defeated a God. SKEET Not to worry my spineless, cowering minions.. Reaction shot - growls of disapproval from a few vampires. SKEET ..for I have a certain something that will guarantee the end to all your troubles. Skeet holds out an open hand. Teddy, a giant, rotund vampire and Skeet's right-hand man, reaches into his pocket without looking and places something in Skeet's hand. Cue music. SKEET Behold thy salvation. The congregated vampires lean forward in their chairs to take a closer look. They are perplexed, looking back up at Skeet. End music. Skeet notices their reactions and looks at the object in his hands. It is a troll doll, smiling at Skeet. Skeet turns around and glares at Teddy. TEDDY Sorry Boss. Wrong pocket. Teddy sheepishly takes the doll from Skeet's hand, replaces it in his pocket and puts something else in Skeet's hand. Skeet gives Teddy one more look before turning back to his audience. Cue music. SKEET (tries again) Behold thy salvation. We see a bright, glowing crystal ball, shimmering ominously in Skeet's hand. BLACKOUT END OF TEASER CONTINUE TO ACT ONE