By Myth
Page One
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QUENTIN meets him exiting the gate.
Q: We need to talk.
G: Oh, yes, let's do. It was so very much fun last time we spoke to one another. (under his breath) Twit!
Q: I know very well what you think of me, Ripper, but we need to talk.
G: Fine. Fine. Just don't tie me up and gag me this time. I should hope you'd have learnt by now that gagging is inconducive to talking.
Q: (sighs) Come on, then.
[They GO. Open on an anonymous office, small; one glass desk, one power-chair (you know, ergonomic black leather and chrome), one visitor's chair. QUENTIN is behind the desk. GILES is in the visitor's chair.)]
Q: Would you like some tea?
G: Don't be silly. Why am I here?
Q: The girl.
G: Yes, well I've got everything but the girl, haven't I, and that isn't just a daffy pop-music pun, as you well know. Why am I here?
Q: The girl.
G: Do you mean...
Q: I'm afraid so.
G: You've found a way to lift the curse?
[Roll CREDITS. General recent stuff featuring EVERYONE, including the dive from "The Gift," plus a key moment or two of "Helpless."]
[post-CREDITS. Buffy and Spike are in SPIKE's lair.]
B: Do you ever wonder why I keep letting you do this to me?
S: Are you asking me or yourself?
B: Are we having a conversation?
S: That's my line.
B: *laughs* Okay. But, seriously. I talked to Tara, and she says my molecular -er-, um, -somethings are, sort of different now, and that's why you can hit me without the big achy head. So, I mean, there's gotta be something else wrong. Or why would I be here?
S: Good question. [pulls her close to him] (whispering into her ear) Why _are_ you here, killer?
B: [pulls away, indignant] Don't call me that! [begins fumbling about for clothing]
S: Why not? Because it was frat-boy's name for you? Maybe he was right. Maybe death is the only gift you have.
B: STOP IT!
S: Oh, hit a nerve, have I? Come here...
[BUFFY reluctantly allows SPIKE to embrace her again]
S: Let me show you your true nature... [pulls hair off her neck]
B: What are you doing?
S: Showing you your true nature. Helping you. [licks the side of her throat]
B: Well, I can't say that didn't feel good, but - OW! [bats him away] Stop that!
S: Do you really want me to?
B: Good NIGHT!
[BUFFY gathers up her clothes, not noticing the blood trickling down from her neck to her chest... fade.]
Enter SUMMERS house. Late. All is quiet. BUFFY looks around, quite visibly panicky.]
B: Willow?!? Willow! [heads upstairs, DAWN appears]
D: What's your damage? I'm trying to sleep. So, you know, I can go to school, like you've been riding me about? What's with all the midnight noise?
B: Oh - oh. I'm sorry, Dawn. I - uhhh, don't really have a good reason for this. I'm just, um, sorry. I have to talk to Willow. Is she home?
D: Last I knew. And so was I, not that you noticed. [does the patented Dawn-flounce back in to her room]
B: Dammit... (sighs)
[Looking torn, BUFFY eyes DAWN's door while gently knocking on WILLOW's. WILLOW opens, clearly having just awakened and feeling none too well.]
B: Willow! Thank god. I have to talk to you.
W: Buffy... (still focusing)... I love you, but... does it have to be now?
B: Yes. I'm sorry. [closes the door] I feel like I keep saying that all the time lately.
W: Me too.
[BUFFY and WILLOW cross to the bed and sit.]
B: Willow, have you ever... of course you have, I know you have, why am I asking. Um...
W: Buffy, if this is about your grandmother's plate, I really didn't mean to -
B: No. No - wait. My grandmother's plate? The one my mother was saving for - [seeing WILLOW's shamefaced look] oh. No, never mind that. Uhh... have you ever done something, or, I mean, maybe not really done something, but, like, almost done something, that was really, really bad? I mean, really bad.
W: [beginning to wake up a bit] Buffy, this is _me_ you're talking to, remember?
B: Oh yeah. You know what... Will, you're my bestest, but I think I need Tara right now...
W: Buffy, WHAT? Look. You obviously need _someone_ right NOW. You came in all distraught-looking, you woke up Dawn, this isn't like you. You're freaking out! And, and, I'm nothing if not the queen of freaking out. And, I mean, this is it. So, I'm here... so tell me already.
B: Well, first - and you can't tell anyone this except Tara, she knows - I've been having sex with Spike.
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