Episode 16 - Home
ACT TWO
EXT. OUTSIDE A BUILDING - NIGHT
as we see Buffy open a door and exit the building. She
looks warily around her. Everything seems normal..
people walking by, ignoring her. A few of them wearing
fashionable berets. She starts walking down the
street.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE SUNNYDALE CINEMA - NIGHT
as Buffy reaches the cinema. She takes a look around,
everything seemingly the same. Her attention is drawn
to a movie poster. She steps in for a closer look.
ANGLE ON : A MOVIE POSTER
entitled "Closing on Night" but this time, featuring a
big action-hero type guy, all ripply muscles and
square jawed, carrying a gun and with explosions in
the background. A caption reads "Framed and On the
Run.. Kip Van Winkle IS Jackson Night".
Buffy walks on.. More people walk past, quite a few
wearing berets of all colours. Buffy takes a curious
second look at them before being distracted by a
television in a shop-front window. She turns to watch
the television.
ANGLE ON : TELEVISION
A peppy, happy newscaster on the tube.
NEWSCASTER
And in other entertainment news, the
prickly issue of local content
quotas in US television has again
reared its head. Canadian television
shows, such as the popular 'Maple
Drive' and 'Brr.. It's cold in
Vancouver', currently account for 75
percent of the total content of
programming being aired in the
United States. Lobby groups
concerned over preserving the
cultural identity of Americans are
demanding an increase in the minimum
local content target from the
current 40 percent to 60 percent. In
more positive news, a recent report
has revealed that the US film and
television industry has been given a
boost by the ever increasing glut of
Canadian shows being made here. The
cheaper US dollar and various juicy
incentives means that many shows are
being filmed in this country with
locations here doubling for the
bustling cities of Toronto and
Montreal.
BUFFY
O..kay.
Buffy wanders over to the next shop. It is a fish
shop. She takes a look at some of the produce on
display throught the storefront window. Various items
listed in US and Canadian dollars. She sees shrimps.
BUFFY
Well.. good.
A GIRL (O.S.)
Buffy?
Buffy turns around. She sees a group of guys and girls
about her age, engaging in couply behaviour. Some of
them wearing berets of various colours.
BUFFY
(nervously)
Buffy. That's me.. with a capital B,
that rhymes with P and stands for
pool.
A GIRL
(laughs)
You're a riot.
A GUY
(with an arm around the
girl)
Hey! You gonna head over to Josh's
Thursday night?
BUFFY
Umm.. I guess.
From behind the couple, a cute guy takes a few steps
towards Buffy.
CUTE GUY
Come. It'll be a blast. I'll keep a
seat warm for you.
BUFFY
You do that.
A GIRL
(to her guy)
C'mon. We're gonna be late.
(to Buffy, smiling)
Later B.
The group waves her goodbye and walks away. Cute guy
turns around one last time and smiles at Buffy. Buffy
stares at their departing figures for a beat.. and
smiles.
BUFFY
(to herself)
Maybe this world isn't so bad.
Buffy walks off-screen as we FADE OUT and then FADE IN
to..
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
CLOSE ON : PONCE
A Warrior demon named Ponce, with a yellow face with
black spots all over and horns. Two loose pieces of
flesh hang from his chin, like a drooling St Bernard.
We hear someone singing off-screen.
FEMALE VOICE
(singing dreamily in a
British accent)
The ants go marching two by two,
hurrah, hurrah, the ants go marching
two by two, hurrah, hurrah..
Ponce casts an angry sideway glance over to his right.
We PAN over to the right to reveal Drusilla.. singing
and in her own little world, looking a little out of
it.
DRUSILLA
The ants go marching two by two, the
little one stops to tie his shoe,
and they all go marching down to the
ground, boom.. boom.. boom.
ANGLE : DRUSILLA AND PONCE
as they stop, standing in front of a rock-face. We see
Drusilla dressed in a flowing white dress and Ponce in
some warrior gear. He carries a large club. We CUT to
a shot of the two of them from the front. We see Ponce
calming down as he stares straight ahead. Drusilla
looks dreamily at nothing in particular, gently
swaying her body to something. A silent beat.. then..
DRUSILLA
The ants go marching three by three,
hurrah, hurrah..
Ponce turns to Drusilla and growls angrily. Drusilla
backs away and whimpers. We see Spike enter the frame,
getting in between Ponce and Drusilla.
SPIKE
(to Drusilla)
Not to worry Dru. You go ahead and
sing all you want. Ol' Ponce here
don't mind a bit..
(vamps out, turns to
Ponce)
Do you mate?
Ponce looks away, staring straight ahead at the wall.
Spike smiles and unvamps, pleased with himself. In the
background, we see Drusilla has lost interest in
singing, her eyes transfixed on the two loose pieces
of flesh dangling off Ponce's chin.
Spike straightens up and looks at the wall-face
himself. Drusilla begins to creep over to Ponce,
totally transfixed. She gets in between Spike and
Ponce.
SPIKE
(to Ponce, but looking
straight ahead)
Now remember, let me do the talking.
You may be a real dandy with that
club of yours, but when it comes to
diplomacy, best to leave that to..
Spike suddenly notices Drusilla trying to grab one of
Ponce's appendages dangling off his chin. Spike grabs
hold of Drusilla's hand and gently guides it away.
SPIKE
Now.. now Dru. Don't think Ponce
here would like to be milked just
right now. Besides, we wouldn't know
what would come out..
(looking at Ponce,
disgusted)
and from where.
Ponce growls at Spike. He utters some unintelligible
growls and grunts.
SPIKE
Yeah.. same to you mate.
Spike turns back to the wall and looks around.
SPIKE
Now, where's the bleedin' doorbell?
Suddenly, from the rock, a surveillance camera
emerges, whirring to life. It tilts down to look at
the group. Spike notices and puts an arm around Dru,
looking up at the camera. The two vampires pose
happily, as if a snapshot. The camera returns to its
niche. We hear a rumble as the cave doors begin to
slowly part.
SPIKE
Open bloody sesame.
ANGLE : DRUSILLA, SPIKE AND PONCE
We see the light from the interior of the cave wash
over Drusilla's face as the door parts.
DRUSILLA
Pretty.
The three walk out of frame and enter..
INT. CAVE COMPLEX - NIGHT
ANGLE : DRUSILLA, SPIKE AND PONCE
from behind as they walk away from the camera. We
WIDEN to reveal the vast enormity of the interior. A
strange marriage of natural rock and technology. Banks
of large metal boxes with blinking lights sit against
the rock walls. The cave is packed with demons of
varying breeds. Spike looks up towards the ceiling.
ANGLE ON : THE CEILING
high up, hiding in the darkness. We see the ends of
many long metal chains hanging down from the ceiling,
swaying gently. The top is shrouded in darkness.
Spike looks back down and takes a look at all the odd-
looking demons around him as he walks past them.
SPIKE
If I knew DemonCon was in town, I'd
have brought my tote bag and camera.
The three turn a corner to a brighter area of the
cave. Drusilla peels off from Spike and Ponce. Her
attention drawn to a group of monkeys in cages set on
a table. She bends down to take a closer look at them.
Some of the monkeys turn to look at Drusilla and emit
some monkey sounds.
DRUSILLA
Are you cold? Did the butler take
your coat and hat?
Spike and Ponce are more interested in what is in
front of them.
ANGLE : A GIANT METAL CAGE
in which more monkeys are roaming free, climbing up
and down the bars of the cage walls. There are more
impressive computer equipment inside, housed in large
metal cases. In the center, we see a large table and a
giant chair carved out of stone. On the chair sits a
large, dominating figure who sits with its back to us.
We see its entire body is covered in black fur but
with a large silver streak down its back. There are
all sorts of wires hooked up to it, monitoring it. We
see its huge frame slowly move up and down as it
breathes heavily.
SPIKE
(to Drusilla)
Why don't you go and make nice with
your new friend here while I have a
little chat with mine.
Drusilla looks up to Spike, looking a little hurt.
SPIKE
Don't worry. I'll be right back
love.
Drusilla smiles.
DRUSILLA
(playfully, stroking
Spike's face)
Princess will wait for her Prince..
but not before the daffodils.
SPIKE
(kissing Dru's hand)
Of course pet.
Drusilla turns her attention back to the monkeys as
Spike and Ponce enter the cage.
INT. THE CAGE - NIGHT
Ponce and Spike stand to attention, waiting to be
spoken to. We see the back of the hulking figure
(known as Silverback), hunched over the table, busy
with something. After a beat, and without turning
back..
SILVERBACK
(deep, low guttural voice)
Have you gathered your men?
PONCE
Grrek.. urrg.. greem.
SPIKE
(to Silverback)
Yeah, what he said.
SILVERBACK
I will require all the demons in
Sunnydale working for me.. They must
be ready for the trawl. Time is
running out.
SPIKE
Just say the word mate. Me and my
boys will be ready.
Silverback stands. He towers over both Spike and
Ponce. He turns to face them. We see Silverback is
some sort of vamp/gorilla hybrid. A vamp-like face but
with the unmistakeable build and gait of a giant
gorilla. Spike looks just a tad intimidated by him.
SILVERBACK
(looks at his gorilla-like
paw)
With each passing day, I am becoming
more and more like..
(turns to look at a monkey
in the cage)
like them. All those years of
experimenting, of researching.. it
could all be for nothing. Soon, I
will become no more than a mere ape,
just another lower primate searching
for a leaf to clean himself.
SPIKE
Hey! Some of us still have to eat
our bleedin' dinner!
SILVERBACK
(ignoring Spike)
I was to become the perfect blend of
might and intellect. All those years
of studying, while the other
vampires mocked me. But I showed
them.. when I changed into my true form.
But in my haste, I must have
miscalculated. The gorilla genes
taking over, killing off
everything.. starting to take away
my intelligence.
SPIKE
(cockily)
Well, not so smart then eh.
Silverback gives Spike a long angry stare.
SPIKE
(nervous)
I meant that last comment.. not you.
SILVERBACK
But now, everything is almost ready.
You and your demons will gather a
hundred specimens from town. They
will restore me to my former glory.
SPIKE
Yeah, how exactly does that work?
Silverback picks up a strange contraption from the
table, like a metallic glove.. hooked up to a machine.
SILVERBACK
A little something I came up with.
With these, I will suck the very
life, the very essence out of them
and transfer it to me. I will become
whole again and..
PONCE
Errg..Urg.. Vreek.
SILVERBACK
(snapping around)
Silence! Do not dare to interrupt me
when I speak.
Ponce shuts up but looks very angry. Spike looks at
Ponce, then back to Silverback. He raises his hand.
Silverback looks at Spike and nods.
SPIKE
Not to be Mr Pedantic but.. how
exactly are we going to round up
that many people in one night? They
may only be humans but they can run
bloody fast. They're like gazelles..
you know, meals on bloody wheels.
Silverback smiles, turns back to the table and grabs
another little invention.. some sort of modified rifle
he holds in two hands.
SPIKE
You're a regular Toys'R'Us aren't
you?
Silverback points the gun at a monkey and fires. A
continuous stream of blue light shoots out from the
gun and envelops the monkey.. like a giant, electric
blue spider's web. The monkey struggles to get free
but fails. Silverback, with the blue stream still
shooting out from the gun, then points the gun to a
second monkey. We see the web spread and seemingly
reach out to envelop the second monkey.. trapping it
in the electric prison with the first monkey. He then
waves the gun around to show the little prison ball
and its inhabitants following the gun wherever he
points it to. Satisfied, he flicks a button on the gun
and the stream dissapears, releasing two freaked out
monkeys which scurry away.
SPIKE
Bloody brilliant.
Silverback turns and puts the gun back on the table.
Ponce angrily walks up to Silverback and pats him on
his shoulder.
PONCE
(confrontational)
Errg.. Guum.. Uncha.. Carg..
Silverback, with a roar, furiously spins and grabs
Ponce's neck with one hand. He squeezes and we hear
something break. Ponce's body falls to the ground,
lifeless. Spike takes a look down at the dead body at
his feet for a beat.. then looking up to Silverback..
SPIKE
Whatever he said? I'm totally
against it.
SILVERBACK
Just get your men ready for tommorow
night.
SPIKE
You will honour our deal yeah?
Spike turns around to look at something behind him.
REVERSE ANGLE : DRUSILLA
through the cage bars, we see Drusilla still talking
to the monkey.
Spike turns back to face Silverback.
SPIKE
If I get your hundred humans, you'll
use some of these fancy flashing
computers you got here to restore my
Dru to her former self.
Silverback stares at Spike, surprised at his tone.
SILVERBACK
You dare demand this in front of my
face? You risk too much for her.
SPIKE
I'll risk everything for her.
Spike turns back to look at Drusilla.
SPIKE
(quietly, smiling)
Everything I do is for my Dru.
Spike turns back to Silverback.
SPIKE
Not to worry mate. At this very
moment, there are scouts roaming the
streets of Sunnydale.. looking for
your perfect specimens. By this time
tommorow, everything will return to
what it was. Everything will be as
it should.
Spike turns to look at Dru.
ANGLE : DRUSILLA
oblivious to the action in the cage, to everything
really. She continues to bend over, staring at the
monkey in its cage.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREETS - NIGHT
ANGLE ON : A HAMSTER
trapped in its cage.. looking forlorn.
We PAN around to see Buffy bending on her knees,
looking through a pet shop window.
BUFFY
I know how you feel little guy. One
day, you're free.. running around
with all your little hamster
friends, with not a care in the
world when.. Bam! You're suddenly
super-hamster.. the chosen one, the
one hamster in each generation..
Buffy is interrupted by a clanging noise off-screen.
Buffy looks up and away, then stands and walks off-
screen to follow the noise.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT.
as Buffy cautiously enters.
ANGLE : BUFFY
from someone's POV, hiding at the end of the alleyway.
BUFFY
Hello? Who's in there?
Buffy sees some movement at the end of the alleyway..
a shadow moving through shadows. She hears a hissing
sound. Buffy then sees a creature appearing from the
darkness. Human-like in appearance but moving in a
very unnatural gait, moving on all-fours. It has what
looks like a long, wild and dirty mane and is dressed
in torn rags. The creature crouches and approaches
like a feral cat.
BUFFY
Good to see some things never
change.
Buffy reaches into her coat and gets out her stake.
The creature baulks for a second, seeing the weapon..
then approaches slowly.
BUFFY
(raising the stake)
Last warning.
The creature continues to approach. Buffy throws the
stake.. like a girl without any slayer powers. The
stake flies harmlessly wide of the creature.
BUFFY
Okay, not in the script.
The creature angrily attacks Buffy. Buffy swings and
hits the creature and immediately pulls her hand back
in pain.
BUFFY
(holding her hand and
looking down at it)
Ow.. ow.. ow.
Buffy then remembers the creature in front of her,
slowly looks up to be met by a pair of wild, angry
eyes.. the creature's face almost completely black and
half-hidden by its hair. The creature growls and
hisses, then swings and knocks Buffy into some trash
cans.
The creature is about to attack again when we hear
people talking off-screen.. followed by the sounds of
footsteps rushing towards the scene. The creature
hears this and speeds away into the alleyway, jumping
up and expertly climbing up a building using ladders
and anything else it can find to gain a foothold. It
dissapears onto the roof.
Buffy, still amongst the trash, looks up at the
departing creature, then looks back down at herself.
BUFFY
Way to totally Clark Kent the place
up.
We see a crowd gather in the alleyway, looking at
Buffy.
STRANGER#1
Are you okay?
Buffy waves and nods, slowly trying to get up. From
the crowd, emerges a girl about Buffy's age.. slight
with short brown hair. She comes right up to Buffy.
HELPFUL GIRL
What happened?
BUFFY
Nothing.. I fell.
HELPFUL GIRL
(helping Buffy up)
That I can see. How did you fall?
BUFFY
Well, the usual way, you know? When
you're like standing and you
suddenly kinda just topple over.
Buffy tries to stand up straight and walk away but
feels a little dizzy. The helpful girl puts an arm
around Buffy and supports her.
HELPFUL GIRL
C'mon Buffy. I'll walk you crazy-ass
back.
Buffy looks surprised. We see another girl just arrive
at scene and spots the helpful girl.
ANOTHER GIRL IN CROWD
(to helpful girl)
Kasey! What's going on?
KASEY
It's okay. I'm just going to help
Buffy home.
BUFFY
(staring at Kasey)
Kasey?
KASEY
(giving Buffy a strange
look)
Yeah?
No reaction from Buffy.
KASEY
Boy, you really did get a bump on
your head didn't you? Maybe we
should get you checked out.
BUFFY
No.. no checking out. I'll be fine.
KASEY
Okay, let's get you back to the
dorm.
BUFFY
Right.. the dorm.. where I reside.
Kasey supports Buffy as they slowly trudge off
together, past the departing crowd. Kasey turns to
take a closer look at Buffy.
KASEY
Hey, did you do something with your
hair?
Buffy gives Kasey a non-comittal look. We CRANE up
from the pair to the roof where we see the creature
looking on at Buffy and Kasey with interest. It stares
at them for a beat before quickly pulling off-screen.
EXT. UNIVERSITY OF SUNNYDALE - DAY (DAY TWO)
to establish.
We prelap a dial tone.
INT. BUFFY'S DORM ROOM - DAY
We see Buffy, sporting a band-aid on her temple, on
the phone.. waiting for someone to pick up. As she
waits, she takes a look around the room. More dial-
tone.
REVERSE ANGLE:
as we PAN to reveal the room - normal college dorm
stuff.. a bed which Buffy has just got up from.. to
another bed where we see the sleeping figure of
Kasey.. looking very uncomfortable sleeping upside
down with an arm hanging off the bed. We also see a
giant case for a cello, resting against a wall.
Buffy stares at Kasey for a beat.. trying to figure
things out. Someone picks up on the other line.
BUFFY
Hey! Dawn?
JOYCE (O.S.)
Buffy, is that you?
Buffy freezes. She looks shocked.. unsure of what to
do.
JOYCE (O.S.)
Hello?
BUFFY
(changing her voice)
Sorry, wrong number.
Buffy hangs up the phone. She tries to catch her
breath. An alarm sounds off-screen.. Buzz.. Buzz..
Buzz, startling Buffy.
ANGLE : KASEY
as she stirs.
KASEY
(to the alarm clock, still
half-asleep)
Shut up! I buy you, I take care of
you and bring you into this home and
this is how you thank me?
She reaches out and takes three angry attempts to shut
off the alarm clock. She collapses back into bed, face
down on a pillow.
KASEY
God! Why do they have to make them
so freakin' annoying! I tell you, if
I hear one more..
Alarm clock stirs back to life.. Buzz.. Buzz..
Kasey pops straight up, picks up the alarm clock and
angrily throws it across the room. The clock stops
buzzing.
KASEY
(screaming into the
pillow)
Aarrgghh..
Kasey recovers and sits cross-legged on her bed.
BUFFY
(smiling)
Well, I guess it got you up.
KASEY
Ever noticed that whenever you need
a machine to remind you of
something, that thing is usually
something you really don't want to
be reminded of.
Buffy smiles and goes to a closet and opens it. Kasey
yawns.. then notices Buffy at the closet.
KASEY
Going somewhere?
BUFFY
Oh.. class. You know, with the
learning, the nodding off and the
general pretension that anything you
hear is still gonna stick five
minutes after the bell rings.
KASEY
You don't have class today.
BUFFY
(thinks for a moment)
Oh yeah. They switched a lecture on
me, so..
Kasey seems surprised but nods. Buffy turns back into
the closet and starts flipping through the clothers..
Flip.. flip.. flip.
BUFFY
God, there's like nothing in here
that I'd want to wear.
(turning to Kasey)
Mind if I look in your closet?
KASEY
That is my closet.
Buffy turns to look at the closet, then back to Kasey.
BUFFY
Oh.. sorry. Scratch that whole
fashion critique thing. I think I
was channelling Mr Blackwell there
for a second. He's evil.
KASEY
Are you okay? You seem a little
spaced out. Well, more than usual
anyway.
BUFFY
Don't worry. Just your usual pre-
caffeine, early morning
hallucinations.
KASEY
(getting up)
I hear that.
Kasey goes to a table and picks up a toothbrush and a
cup. Buffy heads over to her closet. Kasey begins to
head out but stops next to Buffy.. remembering
something.
KASEY
You're still gonna show at my
recital this afternoon right?
Buffy looks at Kasey a little blankly for a second,
then notices the cello case sitting in a corner.
BUFFY
Oh! The cello thing..
KASEY
(looking at Buffy
strangely)
Yeah. My cello thing. You're still
coming right?
BUFFY
Well, actually..
KASEY
(freaking out slightly)
What? No. You have to come! You
promised!
BUFFY
Look, there's this thing I have to
do..
KASEY
But, you don't understand! It's
gonna be like an inquisition in
there but, you know, with quavers.
There's gonna be all those faces..
with the judging and the furrowed
brows. It's just gonna be me, the
faculty honchos and Mr Bach. I need
a friendly face in the crowd.
BUFFY
I really can't..
Kasey spins away from Buffy, takes a deep breath in.
KASEY
Oh God, I'm so gonna totally suck in
there.
BUFFY
I'm sure you'll be great. You'll be
like Sunnydale's answer to.. um..
that yoyo guy.
KASEY
That yoyo guy? I'm freaking out here
and all you can come up with is that
yoyo guy?
BUFFY
Okay, a good general plan? Don't
freak out. I mean, there are a lot
of scary things in the world.
Believe me, I know. The thing is,
you just have to face it, you know?
Just tell yourself.. head up, eyes
straight.. and just stare that thing
right down.. otherwise, you'll never
go through with it.
KASEY
(to herself; calming down)
Right. Head up, eyes straight. Head
up, eyes straight. I can do that.
BUFFY
(smiling)
I'm sure you can.
Kasey takes a few steps towards the exit, then turns
to Buffy.
KASEY
You wanna trade that last speech for
one ticket to the recital?
BUFFY
Look.. I'll see okay?
KASEY
(happily)
Oh thank you, thank you. You're
totally saving my ass.
Kasey hugs a startled Buffy and then shoots out the
door.
BUFFY
(calling out)
No promises.
Buffy turns back into the room and heads for the
closet. She stares at her clothes for a beat..
unimpressed. Then.. flip, flip, flip.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALLWAY - DAY
Looking down an empty hallway. A bell rings. Students
come streaming out from classroom doors, quickly
filling the screen. Much commotion and chatter. After
a beat, the students part to reveal.. Buffy, walking
slowly towards camera, wearing the same outfit she had
on upon entering this world but minus her coat. She
walks gingerly down the hallway, still wary of this
new world. She reaches a door and looks up.
REVERSE ANGLE: A SIGN
on top of a double-door which reads 'Library'.
Buffy takes a deep breath in and enters..
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/LIBRARY
Empty. Buffy takes a few steps in.. the place is as
still and quiet as a mausoleum.
BUFFY
Like I said, some things never
change.
Giles suddenly pops up from under the counter.
GILES
Hello?
BUFFY
Giles!
Giles takes a curious look at Buffy for a beat..
GILES
Do I know you?
BUFFY
Giles, it's me.. Buffy.
Giles thinks for a beat, looking at Buffy, then..
GILES
Oh yes.
Giles walks over to a shelf, stacking some books as he
speaks.
GILES
Ms Summers. Class of 99, wasn't it?
Buffy looks a little crestfallen, nodding.
BUFFY
Yeah.. I guess. And you haven't seen
me since then?
GILES
Well, I've seen you around town a
few times. Is that what you mean?
BUFFY
(quietly)
Sure.
Giles finishes stacking and walks back to the counter,
sorting through more books, hardly looking at Buffy.
GILES
Well, I must say I'm surprised to
see you here today. This would make
it your.. second visit to the
library? I recall being pleasantly
surprised seeing you in here three
years ago, but then of course you
told me you were here to check out
Samuel Keggs.
BUFFY
What, is he like this writer who
offends your delicate British
sensibilities?
Giles looks up to Buffy.
GILES
No, I believe he was your prom date.
BUFFY
Oh..
(a beat)
Was he cute?
GILES
I'm sure I didn't notice.
Giles finishes up his sorting, then looks back up to
Buffy, giving her his full attention.
GILES
So, Ms Summers. What can I do for
you today? Looking for another date?
BUFFY
(sarcasm on)
Funny.
Buffy leans in and speaks in hushed tones.
BUFFY
There's this thing roaming the
streets at night. I saw it. I mean,
I didn't get that good a look at it
but it's like this giant feral cat
with a long, dirty mane.
GILES
Perhaps you should direct this to
animal control.
BUFFY
Giles.. it's a demon, okay?
GILES
A what?
BUFFY
It's okay Giles. I know.. watcher,
demons, Hellmouth.. Got the whole
secret handshake and everything.
GILES
Is this some kind of college
initiation prank because..
BUFFY
Look. I don't have time to play
charades. Literally. You have to get
your slayer and take care of this.
Now, I got a feeling that it's on
some kind of hunting pattern, hiding
in the alleyways.. waiting to
strike. I don't think it's big with
the crowds.
GILES
Ms Summers..
BUFFY
I'm not sure if it's vampy nocturnal
but I'd lay bets that it prefers the
dark.
GILES
(more insistent)
Ms Summers.
Buffy looks up at Giles. Giles looks at her with a
complete blank on his face.
GILES
Ms Summers.. are you okay?
A beat as Buffy stares at Giles, trying to make sense
of this world.
BUFFY
You're not a watcher?
GILES
I'm a librarian. That's been my job
for six years now. The closest thing
to demons I've come across are those
loud, irritable and annoying beasts
that occasionally get lost and show
up here.. but we prefer to call them
students.
Buffy stares at Giles for a little longer, then rolls
her eyes and spins around, facing away from Giles.
BUFFY
(venting.. to herself)
Great! Just peachy.
(looking up and yelling,
as if to the Whisperer)
Great reality you've dropped me
into. Sure, we'll still have demons
in Sunnydale but let's nix the
watcher and slayer. Let's completely
screw up that balance. Instead,
we'll stick her in this topsy-turvy,
beret-wearing world that's.. that's
gone metric! And have you seen my
wardrobe?
Buffy suddenly remembers Giles behind her. She slowly
turns around and offers a half-smile.
BUFFY
Best if your forget all that. I'm
not a kook.. really. It's just been
a really bad vacation. Next time I
get offered a free trip, I'm
choosing Maui.
Buffy looks embarassed, then looks at her watch , as
if remembering something.
BUFFY
Ooh.. appointment.. therapist. Gotta
go.
Buffy turns and walks away. She opens the door but
pauses. She turns back to Giles.
BUFFY
You know, part of me's glad that
you're a librarian.
She smiles and exits. Giles looks on.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALLWAY - DAY
As we see Buffy walking along the now empty hallway.
BUFFY
(to herself)
It's not my problem. It's not my
world. Just keep your head down till
the portal opens.
She stops at an intersection, not really knowing where
to go.. or what to do.
BUFFY
Dammit. Where are your friends when
you need them?
Buffy heads off stage right.
INT. AUDITORIUM - DAY
ANGLE ON : A STAGE
Where we see a lonely figure on a stage. A guy playing
the cello with gusto.
ANGLE : KASEY
as she looks nervously at the guy as she holds on to
her cello. She stands behind some curtains, just off a
stage. We hear the guy continue to play. Kasey looks
over to her left.
REVERSE ANGLE : THE SEATS
largely empty save for three stern looking people
sitting in a row.. focused on the performance. In the
middle, we see a particularly stern-looking guy with a
neat, trimmed, white beard in a tweed coat.
ANGLE : KASEY
leaning to and fro, looking for someone in the seats.
REVERSE ANGLE : THE SEATS
from Kasey's POV as we quickly pan from left to right.
We see a few people sitting in on the recital, none of
whom is Buffy.
The guy on stage finishes his piece. He waits.
BEARDED GUY
Thank you Mr Sullivan.. for
reacquainting us with that faint but
unmistakeable stench of mediocrity.
I believe we haven't had the
pleasure of indulging in that
particular scent in this Department
for some time.
Guy just sits there, caught in the headlights.
BEARDED GUY
Mediocrity. You shouldn't accept it,
Mr Bach would not have accepted it,
and most importantly, I do not
accept it. Now, Mr Sullivan, I
suggest you return to your mediocre
house and your mediocre life and
practise. Let's aspire to something
more shall we? That is all.
Guy walks off-stage with his head down, carrying his
cello with him. Kasey stares bug-eyed as he passes
her.
BEARDED GUY
(calling out)
Next.
Kasey freezes. She turns to two other students behind
her, waiting their turn.
KASEY
Any of you guys wanna switch?
The two shake their head. Kasey takes a deep breath in
and walks out.
KASEY
(quietly to herself)
Head up.. eyes straight.
She smiles nervously to her audience, sits down and
positions her cello. She takes a beat, then starts.
Everything seems to go fine for a while but she
suddenly hits a wrong note. Kasey stops and looks up.
KASEY
Sorry.
Bearded guy watches impassionately but starts to take
a few notes. Kasey recomposes herself and begins
again. Everything goes fine until she hits the same
wrong note again. Kasey winces but decides to continue
on. We continue to hear Kasey playing as we cut to..
INT. BUFFY'S DORM ROOM - DAY
CLOSE ON : A CASSETTE PLAYING IN A TAPE RECORDER
as we hear the same piece being played through the
tape deck. We WIDEN to reveal Buffy sitting on the bed
next to the tape deck as she listens. She stands up
and takes a look at some pictures on tacked on a
board. Various candid snaps including some of Buffy,
of Kasey, of the two of them goofing up together, of
Buffy, Kasey and various other people Buffy doesn't
recognise. We get a sense of the history of their
friendship through the seasons. The music stops
abruptly on the tape, replaced by laughter.. Kasey's
and Buffy's.
Buffy goes over and switches off the tape, then grabs
her coat and leaves.
INT. SUNNYDALE UNIVERSITY/COMMON AREA - DAY
as Buffy enters the scene. The place is packed. As
Buffy makes her way through, she sees something.
REVERSE ANGLE : WILLOW AND XANDER
both seated, talking to each other.
BUFFY
(excitedly)
Will! Xander!
Buffy rushes over, all excited and happy. She hugs a
startled Xander, then Willow. We see that Willow looks
about the same, but Xander now sports a goatee.
XANDER
Buffy! Wow.
WILLOW
Yeah, what has it been.. like, three
years?
BUFFY
(smile slowly
dissapearing; confused)
What?
XANDER
Yeah.. Last time we were all
together was at the graduation..
(turning to Willow)
Right?
BUFFY
(saddened)
We haven't seen each other for three
years? What happened?
Willow and Xander share a confused look.
WILLOW
It's just how things panned out, I
guess. I mean, you said you wanted
to stay here in Sunnydale, I went
off to Harvard and Xander went off
to do his band thing. Somewhere
along the way, we just kinda lost
touch.
XANDER
We all had our lives to run and, you
know, they were kinda running away
from each other. It's the way of the
world Buff.
BUFFY
But we were tight, I mean, in high
school?
WILLOW
Sure. But that was three years ago.
That's a long time.
BUFFY
(quietly)
It seems like yesterday to me.
Buffy looks sadly down.
WILLOW
Are you okay?
BUFFY
Yeah, I'm just a little with the
gloomy.. you know, that we grew
apart. Just didn't think it was
possible.
XANDER
(trying to pick up the
mood)
Hey! We're all still friends here.
This is just like our reunion, is
all. We can pick up where we left
off.
BUFFY
(smiles)
I'd like that.
XANDER
I know. Let's play, what the heck
have you been doing for the last
three years? I'll go first.
BUFFY
Yeah, what's up with you? You're
doing a band thing?
XANDER
Not a band thing, the band thing. In
fact, that's why I'm here. Me and
the boys got ourselves a gig here on
campus tonight. Just good luck to
see Will here, home for the weekend
and all.
BUFFY
So, what, you're like a roadie?
XANDER
(almost insulted)
Musician. I'm lead guitar for our
band.. "The Rhesus Monkeys".
BUFFY
You're a what?
(off Xander's look)
I mean, that's great. Everyone
should do what they love, and
judging from your level of happy,
I'm guessing you're having a ball
with your life and you should--since
when can you play an instrument?
XANDER
I can play.
(off Willow's look)
Okay, I can't.. but I can repeat a
chord.
BUFFY
And that's enough?
XANDER
Oh sure. You'd be surprised what you
can get away with these days.
Besides, like all good boy bands, we
trade on our rogueish good looks.
(with pride)
I'm the bad boy in the group you
know.
BUFFY
(pointing to Xander's
goatee)
Is that why there's an outbreak of
hair in chinsville.
XANDER
I think it looks good.
WILLOW
Sure Ming. I'll be sure to let you
know if I see Flash coming in his
rocketship.
BUFFY
Ever considered doing anything else,
you know, if the whole rock scene
doesn't work out?
XANDER
Like what?
BUFFY
I don't know.. like maybe
carpentering.
XANDER
Me.. a carpenter?
Xander snorts a laugh.
BUFFY
Yeah.. I think you'd be very good at
it. And you can maybe start by
chiselling that thing off your face.
WILLOW
(to Xander)
So, this bad boy thing? Really works
with the girls, huh?
XANDER
Oh yeah. I tell you. After our first
set tonight, there'll be campus
cuties all over me.
(stretching his arms over
his head)
Let's just say there's a good chance
the USS Xander is gonna be docking
at Cape Coed tonight for a bit of R
and R.
WILLOW
Eew.
XANDER
What? Just a little salty sea talk
amongst friends. Too navaly?
BUFFY
Too everything.
WILLOW
Besides, I thought rock stars only
dated like rock chicks, or
actresses.
XANDER
Oh, I'm not fussy. I'll be happy
with just your old, run-of-the-mill
girlfriend.
WILLOW
Umm.. hint. Try not to use those
exact words in your wedding vows.
XANDER
I'm serious. I just want someone
normal.. well, maybe with a few
personality quirks thrown in to keep
things interesting.
BUFFY
Be careful what you wish for.
A few guys come over to Xander, carrying some band
equipment.
BAND GUY
(to Xander)
Hey Xander, we gotta go set-up and
rehearse.
XANDER
Sure Brad!
The guy leaves.
XANDER
(admiringly)
That's Brad. He's so cool!
Xander hops up from his chair.
XANDER
If you'll excuse me ladies, duty
calls. That chord isn't just gonna
repeat itself you know.
Xander grabs some gear and starts to follow his band.
XANDER
(calling back to Buffy and
Willow)
You guys should come by one of these
nights. You can be like our
groupies.. you know, so I can
finally say our band has groupies!
WILLOW
(unimpressed)
Xander.
XANDER
What? Two's a plural.
BUFFY
Let's keep in touch, okay?
Xander sticks a thumb up, smiles and dissapears around
a corner.
WILLOW
(to Buffy, standing up)
I actually gotta go too. Got a
rendezvous with the Rosenbergs.
BUFFY
(standing up)
Wait, I'll walk you.
We TRACK the two as they start to walk.
BUFFY
So, Will. Matriculating at the Big H
huh? How's that working out for you?
WILLOW
It's okay.
BUFFY
Just okay? C'mon, you must be loving
it. I mean, it's Harvard. It's like
the Studio 54 of colleges.. everyone
wants in. And those who do.. thrive
and those who don't.. mock.
Buffy notices Willow looking down, looking less than
enthusiastic.
BUFFY
I bet everyone's so smart, you know,
spending their spare time composing
haikus for their high IQs or.. or
maybe plotting how best to abuse the
power they're gonna have.
Willow looks up at Buffy curiously.
BUFFY
See.. mocking.
Willlow smiles.
BUFFY
Seriously, Will. You should be so
proud. I'm proud and I'm like only
proud by association. I mean, Wow!
If I ever got into a school like
Harvard or Yale.. You could say I'm
like green with ivy.
WILLOW
Well, I wouldn't feel so off-colour
if I were you.
(off Buffy's look)
Don't get me wrong. It's great, you
know, being where I am. It's where I
always wanted to be. I mean, my life
should be perfect, right? But, it's
just, you know.. it's like
something's missing.
Buffy gives Willow a comforting smile. They continue
to walk.
BUFFY
So, you in town long?
WILLOW
I'm just back for the weekend. My
parents have this need to know that
I'm still alive, and more
importantly, still Jewish.
BUFFY
Listen, I wanna give you my room and
telephone number here at the dorm. I
want us to keep in touch. I mean, I
don't know how this life is gonna
turn out but I know it'll be better
with you in it.
WILLOW
(a little confused, but
happy)
Sure.
Buffy reaches into her trouser pocket and grabs out
her wallet, searching for something.
BUFFY
Paper.. paper.
Buffy finally produces a scrap piece of paper while
Willow hands Buffy a pen. Buffy has a little trouble
juglling the three items in her hands.
WILLOW
(re the wallet)
Here, let me hold that.
BUFFY
(hands over the wallet.)
Thanks.
While Buffy begins to scribble something down, we see
Willow peering into the open wallet.
REVERSE ANGLE : OPEN WALLET
Where we see several pictures encased in plastic. The
first one being a picture of Buffy, Xander and Willow.
WILLOW
When was this? I don't remember
this.
BUFFY
(looking at the picture,
then nervously)
Oh, you know, we took so many
pictures when we used to hang. It's
easy to lose track.
Willow nods, then flips to the next picture: Buffy,
Anya and Tara. Willow looks at Anya, then at Tara. She
lingers on Tara for a beat.
WILLOW
Who's this?
BUFFY
Oh! That's Tara.
(trying to read Willow's
face)
She's a friend.
WILLOW
(still looking at Tara's
picture)
She's pretty.
BUFFY
(smiles, looking at
Willow)
Yeah.
Willow closes the wallet and hands it back to Buffy as
Buffy hands Willow the scrap piece of paper. They
smile and start walking right, dissapearing behind a
wall. We continue to PAN right as if we're TRACKING
them behind the wall. In the foreground, we see a
group of young women sitting in a circle. In one of
the seats, we see Tara, sitting quietly.
We continue to PAN right, through the wall, and to..
EXT. OUTSIDE THE DORM - DAY
Where we see Buffy and Willow hugging goodbye. Willow
walks away as Buffy looks on. She turns and runs
into.. Kasey.
BUFFY
Kasey!
KASEY
Buffy. I thought you said you were
busy with something.
BUFFY
(unconvincingly)
Yeah.. just finished it.
An awkward moment between the two.
BUFFY
Oh! How did the your recital go?
KASEY
(a little anger in her
tone)
Fine.
BUFFY
Look, I really wished I could have
made it.
KASEY
Yeah, you were busy.
Buffy, feeling guilty, takes a look at her watch and
then starts to inch away.
BUFFY
Sorry to be abrupto girl again but,
I really have to go.
KASEY
Wait, you're going out tonight?
BUFFY
Yeah, there's something in town I
have to do.
KASEY
I'll come with. I mean, I've got
rehearsals tonight but I can blow
that off.
BUFFY
No, don't. Really.
KASEY
(confused, looking hard at
Buffy)
You don't want me to come?
BUFFY
It's just this thing? It's more like
a solo ride. Admit one only.
Buffy turns to go, then turns back, remembering
something. Kasey still looks a little confused by
everything.
BUFFY
This rehearsal thing, it's indoors
right? With other people?
KASEY
Of course.
BUFFY
Good. Don't stay out too late and..
don't go walking back alone.
KASEY
Buffy, what's wrong? You're acting
all weird. Talk to me.
BUFFY
It's complicated. I mean, you really
wouldn't understand.
KASEY
(angrily)
Fine.
Kasey shakes her head and enters the dorm. Buffy looks
on for a beat, then sighs. She turns and leaves.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - DAY
We look across the street at a coffee shop. Through
the large store-front window, we see several people
sitting in tables, chatting and drinking.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
ANGLE : BUFFY
sitting at one of the tables, looking out the window
at something.. almost as if lost in thought. We see a
half-finished cup of coffee in front of her.
As people talk around her, Buffy remains focused..
mesmerised by something off-screen. She finally breaks
from her trance, looking down at her watch. She gets
up, picks up her coat from her chair and puts it on.
She reaches into one of her coat pockets to search for
some loose change.. then feels something in her hands.
She looks down and slowly pulls out a wooden stake.
She looks hard at it for a beat, a lot going through
her mind. Then, as if deciding something, she puts the
stake back in her pocket and heads off. We TRACK her
as she exits the shop, the camera panning around to
show the front of the shop. We see what Buffy was
looking at.. an art gallery across the street with
Joyce visible talking to someone through the shop
window.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT
We see a well-built and smartly dressed businessman,
carrying a briefcase and talking into a mobile phone.
BUSINESSMAN
Listen to me. I don't care what he
says, he's fired. Now, either you
fire him or you can take his place
in the unemployment queue. Your
choice.
With that, he flips the phone shut and shoves it in
his pocket. He walks briskly as he puts a hand on his
neck, feeling his pulse. At the same time, he looks at
his watch, some whizz-bang timepiece with a digital
display that is monitoring his heart-rate.
The guy hears something behind him. He turns around to
look but sees nothing. He begins to walk forward
again. Suddenly, something drops down in front of him.
A creature with a long, wild and dirty mane, dressed
in torn rags. It hisses at the startled guy. It grabs
his arm and starts to drag him away, towards where he
came from, to the right of screen.
The guy screams and hollers and manages to squirm free
from his coat and run away, back towards the left of
screen. The creature, left holding on to the guy's
coat, starts to chase.. then stops. It bounds away.
ANGLE : BUSINESSMAN
running desperately as he rounds a corner and enters
an open-air car park. He reaches into his trouser
pocket as he runs, grabbing out a key-chain and some
keys. He points it at a smart-looking BMW in the lot.
The car chirps, obeying its master as the doors
unlock.
He opens the door and hops in. He looks up to see..
Spike and a bevy of demons, standing in front of the
car, smiling.
SPIKE
Going somewhere?
The guy frantically tries to start the car, turning
the key, over and over but the engine fails to start.
CAR
(in a pleasant female
voice)
Please put on your seatbelt. Please
put on your seatbelt.
A pair of hands reaches in and drags him out of the
car, flinging him to the ground outside. The guy backs
up, dragging himself to the side of the car. He looks
up to see Spike and the demons surrounding him, one of
which is carrying one of Silverback's guns. The demon
fires, encasing the businessman in a ball of blue
light, trapping him.
SPIKE
(smiling)
Ain't technology grand?
Spike looks back straight ahead of him, then makes a
signal. He walks off-screen and we WIDEN to reveal a
whole mess of demons of varying breeds behind him,
many carrying Silverback's guns. They all follow
Spike.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT
As we see Buffy, in her coat, patrolling the empty
street, looking for something.
BUFFY
Here demon. Nice demon. Nice juicy
blonde right here for you to nibble
on.
Buffy stops, looking around.. sees nothing. She looks
at her watch, then looks back up.
BUFFY
C'mon, Mommy's got a portal to
catch.
ANGLE : BUFFY
from behind, from someone's POV. We see that it is
following Buffy.
Buffy senses something following her.
BUFFY
(quietly)
That's it. Good demon. Come to
Mommy.
ANGLE : BUFFY
again from behind, from someone's POV. We see Buffy up
ahead of us turn a corner into an alleyway. We walk up
to the alleyway.. following. We turn into..
EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT.
As Buffy grabs hold of a figure in the night and
flings it to the ground. She raises her stake, ready
to strike down but stops. It is Kasey.
BUFFY
Kasey!
Buffy immediately stuffs the stake back in her coat
pocket.
BUFFY
What are you doing here? Are you
following me?
Kasey slowly gets to her feet and brushes herself off.
KASEY
What do you expect Buffy? You've
been acting all weird since last
night!
Buffy looks around her warily.
BUFFY
Listen, you need to get out of here.
KASEY
No! I want to know what's going on
with you. I mean, you're obviously
knee-deep into something here. If
you're in trouble, I wanna help.
(plaintive)
Let me help.
BUFFY
Kasey, please.
KASEY
Why are you pushing me away? I mean,
did I do something?
BUFFY
Look, I have to go.
Buffy walks out of the alleyway and into..
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT
as Buffy walks purposefully down the street, trying to
get away from Kasey. Kasey chases after Buffy, grabs
her and spins her around.
KASEY
What's happening to you?
BUFFY
Listen.. I'm not who you think I am.
I mean, I am who you think I am but
only in this reality.
KASEY
What?
BUFFY
It's complicated. But whatever's
happening here? It's my problem.
It's my life. It has nothing to do
with you.
KASEY
How can you say that? It has
everything to do with me. What you
do.. What happens to you.. It
affects me, don't you see? Buffy,
don't you know that?
Before Buffy can answer, we hear a voice off-screen.
VOICE (O.S.)
Well, well, well.
Buffy and Kasey turn to see Spike and friends,
standing in front of them. Buffy instinctively puts
herself in front of Kasey.
SPIKE
If it isn't my little blonde treat.
We meet again.
BUFFY
Spike? Oh God! You're not stalking
me here too are you?
SPIKE
Think mighty big of yourself don't
you? But I must admit, I've had my
eye on you for some time. We've
danced this dance for far too long.
Spike nods to a demon besides him. The demon comes up
and raises his gun. Buffy sees this and grabs Kasey
and pulls her away as the demon fires, just missing
them.
The sprint down the street as fast as they can. All
around them, they see demons working their way through
town, spraying blue bolts of light from their guns,
trapping the townsfolk.
Suddenly a blue bolt of light hits Kasey from the
back, surrounding her and stopping her dead in her
tracks.
BUFFY
(spinning around)
Kasey!
Kasey looks at Buffy, reaching out to her. Buffy
starts to run towards Kasey when another bolt of blue
light just narrowly misses her. Buffy turns to see a
vamp approaching with a gun. She turns back to see
Kasey being dragged away, encased in her blue prison.
The vamp raises his weapon and aims again. Buffy
hesitates.. then sprints away. The vamp chases.
Buffy rounds a corner only to see the creature with
the long mane and dirty rags running towards her. She
stops and turns back but runs into the vamp who grabs
her, spinning her around as he does so. He holds on to
Buffy around her neck who struggles but cannot break
free. Buffy looks back down the street to see the
creature approaching quickly. It hisses and leaps at
her.
Buffy is knocked to the ground but finds herself free
from the vamp. She grabs her stake which has fallen
loose and leaps to her feet, stake at the ready. Her
eyes bulge as she sees..
REVERSE ANGLE: CREATURE AND VAMP
as the creature fights the vamp, expertly knocking the
vamp to the ground, then flinging him through the air
against a wall as if he was a rag doll. The creature
runs up to the groggy vamp and stakes him.. Dust.
The creature turns back towards Buffy, a stake raised
in its hand.
ANGLE : BUFFY
A mirror image, a stake raised in her hand, looking
astonished.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO
CONTINUE TO ACT THREE