Episode 6 - Reunion
ACT TWO
INT. THE ROCKET CAFE - NIGHT
We see Tara and Oz, sitting opposite each other across
a table in the corner. Two cups of coffee in front of
them. Things are a little quiet and strained.
OZ
So, I never really caught your name.
TARA
Tara.
OZ
(to himself, filling in a
piece of the puzzle)
Tara.
Tara looks up at Oz for a moment, trying to figure him
out. Another silent beat.
TARA
So, are you here for the reunion?
OZ
Pretty much not. Though I did get an
invite while I was on the road.
Gotta give that to the committee.
TARA
Then why?
OZ
I was just passing.. No, that's a
lie. I wanted to check on Willow,
see if she's doing okay?
Tara gives a quizzical look.
OZ
I heard about Joyce, and Buffy.
TARA
Oh.. She's doing okay. Last year was
pretty rough for her but, we got
through it. Things are better now.
OZ
(sincerely)
I'm glad.
TARA
Did you want to talk to her?
OZ
No. We've had that conversation.
Everything's been said.
More awkward silence. Tara looks down at her coffee.
Oz stares at her for a beat while she is looking away.
OZ
I'm sorry by the way.
TARA
What for?
OZ
For wolfing out that time. As first
impressions go..
TARA
It's okay. I understand.
(a beat, then)
Are you staying long?
OZ
Not long.
CUT TO : A WIDE SHOT
We see Tara and Oz in mid-shot while we see some
people walking in and out of shot in the foreground.
TARA
Have you seen her?
OZ
Yeah, in class.. from the doorway..
She's changed her hair.
TARA
Yeah.
Tara looks back down at her coffee, Oz takes a sip. We
hold on this shot for a beat.
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION - NIGHT
We see Solomon in what looks like a training room. A
glowering intensity in his face as he trains. Sasha
enters.
SASHA
Working out a little frustration my
sweet?
SOLOMON
(continuing his training)
Go away.
SASHA
Where were you last night?
SOLOMON
Feeding.
SASHA
(smiling)
You know you can't lie to me.
Solomon stops, looking away. Sasha wraps her arms
around Solomon.
SASHA
This is not the time to be
complacent. The package will arrive
soon and we must be ready. We are so
close.
SOLOMON
But there is nothing to fear here.
The General said so.
SASHA
(looking around, then
quietly)
The General may not see the slayer
as a threat, but I do. She's unlike
any slayer we have encountered,
which makes her unpredictable.. and
dangerous.
SOLOMON
But she's so.. human, so weak. She
has friends.
SASHA
Friends who may prove to be as
dangerous as she. There's her
watcher, and the two witches..
Solomon looks up at Sasha, then quickly look away.
Sasha notices, but lets it go.
SASHA
Their bond is as close as blood.
(sinister)
But that may yet prove to be their
downfall.
Sasha smiles and leaves. Solomon looks on.
INT. BUFFY'S ROOM - NIGHT
ANGLE : BUFFY'S FACE
as she looks at herself in the mirror.
WIDEN :
to reveal Buffy dressed up in an evening dress,
looking very pretty. Buffy continues staring at her
reflection, not recognising herself.
Cordelia enters, dressed and ready to go out. Buffy
looks away from the mirror.
CORDELIA
(understating)
You look.. okay.
BUFFY
Thanks.
Cordelia stands, waiting. Buffy notices.
BUFFY
Oh, and of course, you look great.
CORDELIA
Well, obviously.
Cordelia goes to look at herself in the mirror.
CORDELIA
Not bad, especially considering what
I had to go through earlier this
year. I was sucked into this weird
demon dimension, which was fun for a
while when they made me queen, but
then it just got really unpleasant.
(then realising)
Oh God! Not that I'm trying to
compare our years.
BUFFY
It's okay. You die, you deal.
CORDELIA
Boy, it sucks being you.
(then)
Sorry. I didn't mean..
BUFFY
No, you're right. But I've taken the
punches and I'm still here, still
fighting the forces of evil.
CORDELIA
Well, you know what they say..
Whatever doesn't kill you makes
you.. No, wait.
BUFFY
(smiling)
It's good to see you again.
CORDELIA
(sincerely)
I'm sorry about your Mom.
BUFFY
Thanks.
A silent beat, then.
DAWN (O.S.)
Buffy, Giles and Chris are here.
CORDELIA
Chris?
BUFFY
New watcher. He's gonna babysit Dawn
tonight.
CORDELIA
New watcher? Ooh.
Cordelia turns back to the mirror for one last
inspection before heading downstairs.
INT. PARTLY REBUILT SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
The reunion is in full swing. Party lights and music.
ANGLE : HOGAN, PERCY AND THE REST OF THE FORMER
BASKETBALL TEAM
as they pose for a photo in front of an official
photographer.
CLOSE ON : A BOWL CONTAINING CANDY SNAKES ON A TABLE
WIDEN :
to reveal some former Cordettes sampling the snakes.
Cordelia starts to walk towards them. The Cordettes
spot her coming and walk away. Cordelia stops but
recovers quickly, seeking someone else out.
ANGLE : THE SCOOBIES AT A TABLE
looking very left out.
WILLOW
Look at Cordy. It's like she's at a
different party than the rest of us.
XANDER
That's Cordy you know. She actually
had a life back in high school.
TARA
But you guys were like the cool
monster squad right?
XANDER
Yeah, we've got nothing to be
ashamed of. It was an exclusive
club.
ANYA
Yes, like leprosy.
XANDER
(to Buffy)
Buffy, help me out here.
ANGLE : BUFFY
as she stares at something in the centre of their
table.
BUFFY
I still can't believe you brought
Amy.
ANGLE : AMY IN HER CAGE
as Willow feeds her a piece of cheese.
WILLOW
Well, it's kinda her reunion too.
Besides, she's been giving me this
look ever since we moved her in with
Miss Kitty.
A group of women come up to the table. One of them
comes up to speak to Buffy.
OLD CLASSMATE
Buffy, we'd just like to tell you
how cool we think you are. You
totally got us through to
graduation.
BUFFY
Thanks, but it's wasn't just me.
(indicating the Scoobs)
These guys here were totally part of
the whole deal. You remember Xander,
Willow and Anya don't you?
OLD CLASSMATE
Not really.
(then, taking a second
look at Xander)
Oh Yes I do!
Xander smiles.
OLD CLASSMATE
(to Xander)
You're that guy who was always
hanging around while we practised
our cheers.
Everyone looks at Xander. Xander smiles nervously,
then taps an imaginary item on his chest.
XANDER
One to beam up.
OLD CLASSMATE
(to Buffy, taking her by
the hand)
Come on. There's a whole bunch of
people who want to meet you.
She drags Buffy out of her seat and pulls her away to
meet some other people. The rest of the gang sits at
the table glumly.
ANGLE : CORDELIA
as she talks to a former classmate who is politely
nodding but unimpressed.
CORDELIA
Oh Yeah, I was in this movie with
Keanu, you know, 'Little Buddha'? It
was directed by that Italian guy,
whatshisname, Donatello? Raphaello?
Anyway, I know you probably haven't
seen it but I was totally one of
those gods.
We PAN over to
ANGLE : HOGAN
a little drunk and emotional, talking to a bud.
HOGAN
Man, I miss this, all of this. I
wish we could all go back and stay
in high school forever.
(shouting)
This rules!
Willow and Tara enter the frame and we TRACK them as
they react to Hogan. We follow them out of the hall
and to
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALLWAY - NIGHT
It is a lot quieter here as Willow and Tara walk
through the partially rebuilt hallway.
WILLOW
You okay? You've been kinda quiet.
TARA
I'm fine. Please, go on.
WILLOW
Okay.
(pointing to and fro)
Oh! And this is where I got kinda
sucked into the ground, and over
that way is Giles' library which
was, you know, Scooby central.
TARA
Willow, when I asked for a tour of
the school, I didn't mean just the
Scooby tour.
WILLOW
Well, the regular tour is kinda
dull. Just school stuff, you know.
It's nothing special.
TARA
But I've signed up for the whole
Willow tour. That means the school
stuff, the regular stuff,
everything. And, honey, it's never
dull.
Willow smiles. Percy enters.
PERCY
Hey, Rosenberg.
WILLOW
Percy! How's it going? You still at
USC?
PERCY
Yeah.
Percy notices Tara.
WILLOW
Oh! This is Tara.
(to Tara)
Tara, Percy.
TARA
Hey.
PERCY
(to Tara)
Hey. Were you at Sunnydale?
TARA
No.
WILLOW
Tara came with me. How's Laurie? Is
she here?
PERCY
Nah. That didn't work out. High
maintenance you know?
WILLOW
(rolling her eyes, totally
agreeing)
Yeah.. um.. I mean.. that's too bad.
So, great reunion huh?
PERCY
Yeah. It's cool to see everyone
again. Seems like everyone's moved
on. You're like the only person I
know who's still in Sunnydale.
WILLOW
That's me. Good ol' reliable Willow.
PERCY
Hey! You knew Amy didn't you? A
bunch of us were wondering what
happened to her.
WILLOW
Oh, she spends most of her time on
the treadmill..
(catching herself)
of life!
A group of guys come runs past, carrying some of the
party food. A guy stops to talk to Percy.
PERCY'S FRIEND
(excitedly to Percy)
Hey! Come quick. We're going to
start a food fight in the canteen.
The guy runs off.
PERCY
Sorry, got to go.
WILLOW
No. Who am I to get in the way of
classic high-school slapstick.
PERCY
Cool to see you again.
Percy rushes off. Willow and Tara give a quick smile
to each other and start walking back towards the
party. Willow looks a little unsure about asking the
next question.
WILLOW
Tara, do you sometimes wish..
TARA
What.
As they approach the entrance to the hall, someone
puts some really loud music on, drowning out Willow's
next words.
WILLOW
You're happy here right? I mean, do
you sometimes wish that we weren't
in Sunnydale? That we had a
different life?
TARA
(not hearing over the din)
What?
WILLOW
(smiling)
Nothing.
The two reenter the hall and into the party.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
ANGLE : CORDELIA
as she talks to Jonathon, who has two other girls
lavishing some attention on him. Cordelia finishes the
conversation and heads over to the rest of the
Scoobies (sans Buffy and Giles) who are standing and
talking in a group.
CORDELIA
(to the gang)
God. This night is turning out to be
a nightmare. Nobody wants to talk to
me. I mean, I found myself having to
make small talk with Jonathon.
Jonathon! That's like mixing Versace
with flip-flops. And when exactly
did he become more popular than me?
It's like some weird alternate
universe.
The gang share a look.
CORDELIA
Where's Buffy?
WILLOW
(gesturing)
She's over there.
ANGLE : BUFFY
with a large group of people, totally enjoying
herself.
XANDER
Yup, living the life of the
appreciated.
CORDELIA
It's all her fault you know. My life
was perfect before she came. Now
look at what I've been reduced to..
hanging out with you guys.
XANDER
Cordy, we're standing right here.
CORDELIA
Sometimes I wish she'd never come to
Sunnydale.
ANYA
Done.
All eyes turn to Anya. Huh?
ANYA
Sorry. Reflex action.
XANDER
(to Cordelia)
Was it really so bad? Being a Scoob?
CORDELIA
What, are you kidding? Being chased
by demons and vampires every week?
Yeah, sign me up for that
newsletter.
WILLOW
But, isn't that what you're doing in
LA, with Angel?
CORDELIA
But.. that's different. I get paid.
Besides, I'm vision girl. I sorta
have to.
XANDER
Nobody has to do anything. There's
always a choice. There's a a reason
why we're doing what we're doing.
Cordelia is silent. Got a point.
ANGLE : PHOTOGRAPHER TALKING TO PERCY
PHOTOGRAPHER
So, that's all of them right?
Percy looks over his shoulder.
PERCY
Yeah. Those four.
ANGLE : WILLOW, XANDER, ANYA AND CORDELIA.
Willow, Xander, Anya and Cordelia are standing close
to each other, talking.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Are you sure? It's important I get
all of them in the picture.
PERCY
Well, there's also Buffy, of
course.. and Oz, but I guess he
didn't show.
Percy looks back again.
ANGLE : WILLOW, XANDER, ANYA AND CORDELIA
still talking.
WIDEN :
just a little to reveal Tara standing near Willow but
a little further back from the rest of the group,
looking and feeling out of place while the Gang
reminisce about high school.
PERCY
No, that's all of them.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Thank You. You have been most
helpful.
PERCY
No sweat.
Percy leaves. The Photographer looks over to his left,
to a doorway. He nods.
ANGLE : ETHAN RAYNE
who is partly hiding behind the doorway. He smiles and
nods, then turns to look at something.
ANGLE : GILES
standing by himself, a glass of punch in his hand and
looking a little bored.
ETHAN RAYNE
Don't look so down Ripper. Things
are about to get very interesting.
I'm here to give you a reunion you
won't survive.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO
CONTINUE TO ACT THREE