Episode 5 - Double Date
ACT TWO
EXT. OUTSIDE GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT
We see Xander's car pull up. Willow, Xander, Anya and
Tara exit and start heading towards the apartment.
ANGLE : TARA
from someone's POV, following her every move and not
looking at anybody else. Tara enters the apartment.
REVERSE ANGLE : SOLOMON
who has been watching her from the bushes. He is deep
in thought. After a beat, he walks away.
INT. GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT
The whole gang is here. Xander, Anya, Willow and Tara
are dressed to the nines. Willow is carrying her
laptop.
BUFFY
Check you guys out. It's like senior
prom all over.
ANYA
Yes, I do look good.
GILES
Yes, Anya.. you all do. Uncommonly
neat.
Willow goes over to Dawn and gives her the laptop.
WILLOW
Here ya go. All waxed up and ready
to surf.
DAWN
Thank you Willow. With Buffy and
Giles training all night, I really
needed something to do here.
BUFFY
You have something to do. You're
candy girl, you know, Halloween?
An unimpressed Dawn goes to the table to plug the
laptop in. Willow and Tara walk to Buffy.
WILLOW
You okay with me bringing Dawn the
computer?
BUFFY
Of course. I'm sure the Net will
keep her occupied. I mean, at least
she won't bother me and Giles while
we're training.
TARA
Yeah. There's nothing like getting
someone online to keep them in-line.
(off their looks, quietly)
Just a little..um.. computer..
humour.
WILLOW
(to Buffy)
Just keep an eye on what she's doing
once in a while, especially if she's
trying to look for something with
the search engines cause you can get
some pretty unexpected results.
TARA
It's really weird out there.
WILLOW
Yeah. And if you ever get an
assignment to compare the
physiological mating habits and
rituals of humans and animals, look
it up in the library cause doing it
on the Net is just asking for
trouble.
TARA
It's really weird out there.
ANGLE : XANDER AND GILES.
XANDER
(looking around the living
room, then to Giles)
So, Giles. Dojo no go?
GILES
Well, there wasn't enough space. I
suppose we'll have to confine
ourselves to some light sparring and
some balance exercises.
XANDER
Still, with these new vamps in town,
it's better than training at the
Magic Box at night, unless you want
to play a quick game of 'Guess who's
eaten for dinner'.
GILES
Very droll. Where exactly are you
four going tonight?
XANDER
(taking out the pamphlet
and waving it to Giles)
The Lockridge Mansion, invitation
only.
GILES
(noticing the back of the
pamphlet)
What is that, gum?
Dawn walks by and swipes the pamphlet before Giles can
have a good look at it. Giles walks away.
DAWN
Let me see.
(she takes a look)
What's that symbol? It looks kinda
familiar.
XANDER
I don't know. Probably something
Halloweeny.
DAWN
Cool.
Dawn takes another look at the symbol.
CLOSE ON : THE SYMBOL ON THE PAMPHLET
INT. THE LOCKRIDGE MANSION/FOYER - NIGHT
MATCH CUT : THE SYMBOL ON THE PAMPHLET
WIDEN:
to reveal a whole stack of pamphlets, one on top of
another. We see a new pamphlet being added to the
stack.
PAN TO : DOOR GUY AND WILLOW, TARA, XANDER AND ANYA.
DOOR GUY
Thank you and enjoy your evening.
The group heads for the party. We TRACK them from
behind as they enter the ballroom.
INT. THE LOCKRIDGE MANSION/BALLROOM - NIGHT
A large room filled with people very formally dressed.
There are tables for the guests, a dance floor and a
stage.
The four of them go sit at a table. Anya is looking a
little glum.
XANDER
Look at all this. Did the Xanman
come through or what?
WILLOW
How did you manage to score an
invite?
XANDER
I guess good things just fall at my
feet.
TARA
Thanks for inviting us.
XANDER
No thanks necessary. I mean, I'm
sitting here with three beautiful
girls at a happening party with free
food and sparkly lights.
ANGLE : TARA
smiling. We then PAN around the table as Xander
speaks, from left to right - Tara, Willow..
XANDER (O.S.)
Really, just looking at all your
happy faces is thanks..
and a very stern looking Anya.
XANDER
enough?
ANYA
I've figured it out, you know.
XANDER
Figured what out?
ANYA
Why you invited them tonight. You're
comparing aren't you? You've tried
the Rolls-Royce but now you want to
try out the sporty little red
convertible before you commit.
WILLOW
(mouthing to Tara)
Convertible?
ANYA
Don't deny it. You only suggested
this dance so you can dance with
Willow and Tara. I can hear you when
you talk in your sleep.
A look between Willow and Tara. Xander becomes
extremely uncomfortable.
XANDER
(sheepishly to Willow and
Tara)
You see, sometimes I dream that we
all go out and pick mushrooms
together.. in a completely non-
sexual way.
(off their silence,
muttering to himself)
Oh God.
INT. GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT
Giles and Buffy are training in a cleared-out living
room. There isn't much space. Buffy is blindfolded and
is trying to hit a well-padded Giles with a pole.
Dawn is at a table with the laptop. Besides her on the
table is a large bowl of candy. She watches Buffy and
Giles.
Giles quietly stalks around Buffy. She is listening
intently for any noise. A chime rings from a clock.
Buffy strikes out with the pole, destroying the clock.
BUFFY
What was that?
GILES
(looking at the wreck)
Eight O'clock.
BUFFY
Oops. Sorry.
She then remembers her training and strikes at where
Giles spoke, knocking him down into a chair which
promptly disintegrates under him.
GILES
I say. That wasn't fair. I hardly
think a vampire's going to stop to
tell you the time when he's sneaking
up on you.
Giles picks himself up.
GILES
Now, let's try it again.
There is a knock at the door. Dawn grabs the bowl of
candy and opens the door.
We see a collection of tiny ghouls and demons at the
doorstep. There is an older woman chaperoning the
group.
TINY GHOULS AND DEMONS
Trick or Treat!
Dawn hands out some candy to the kids.
DAWN
(noticing the very full
bags)
Looks like you guys have enough to
open a candy store.
CHAPERONE
Yes, we've been out all night, but
it's a lot of fun. My husband would
have come too but he had to stay at
home to watch the youngest. It's
almost impossible to get a
babysitter these days.
DAWN
Really?
CHAPERONE
Yes, and I don't even want to think
about what's going to happen on
Christmas Eve. Everyone I know can't
seem to find a good sitter.
TINY DRACULA
What's going on in there?
Everyone peers in to see Buffy and Giles training.
DAWN
Oh.. they're trying to kill.. a rat.
TINY DEVIL
But why is she blindfolded?
DAWN
She's ..um.. afraid of rats. It's
this whole phobia thing we're trying
to work her through.
CHAPERONE
Why is that man all padded up?
DAWN
It's a really big rat?
We hear a crash in the background.
BUFFY (O.S.)
Oops. Sorry, again.
DAWN
Okay, thanks for coming. Enjoy the
candy.
Dawn shuts the door quickly in the faces of the
curious onlookers.
DAWN
Hey. You guys might want to tone
down the performance art. It's
attracting quite an audience.
BUFFY
(removing the blindfold)
I think it's time for a break
anyway.
GILES
Yes, we really need to get some more
things out here for you to destroy.
Giles exits. Buffy walks over to Dawn at the table and
sits down next to her. A little awkward silence
between the two. They both dip into the candy bowl.
BUFFY
So, I wonder what the guys are up to
now at the Ball?
DAWN
(after a beat)
Do you miss it?
BUFFY
What?
DAWN
You know, going out, having actual
dates.
BUFFY
I guess I do. But I'm getting used
to it. I mean, ever since Riley,
I've come to think that some people
are just meant to be alone. And it's
not so hard, really, you just have
to shut it off and move on.
DAWN
I don't buy that. How can you shut
off something that makes up who you
are?
A beat as Buffy considers this.
BUFFY
I think maybe love is over-rated.
It's always messy and painful. Life
is far simpler without it.
DAWN
But is it any better?
The two stare silently at each other for a beat. They
both then dip into the candy bowl again.
INT. THE LOCKRIDGE MANSION/BALLROOM - NIGHT
ANGLE : XANDER AND ANYA
from someone's POV, watching them fight animatedly at
the table.
REVERSE ANGLE:
to reveal Willow and Tara at a serving table, getting
some punch. They look at Xander and Anya with concern.
WILLOW
Boy, this party's turning out to be
a bust. Anya's all cranky, there's
no one here we recognise and the
entertainment..
CUT TO:
the dance floor where there are people line dancing to
'Achy Breaky Heart'.
WILLOW
is kinda scary.
Tara has a sip of the punch.
TARA
The punch tastes kinda weird.
WILLOW
(looking at Xander and
Anya arguing)
Good. With any luck, it'll turn me
blind and deaf.
She takes a big swig of the punch and the two of them
walk back to the table. The line dancing finally stops
and a slow song comes on in the background.
XANDER
An, I haven't been ignoring you. And
we can't go out and do something
romantic every night.
ANYA
Why not? I watch the movies. They're
always kissing and cuddling and
proclaiming their undying love to
each other.
XANDER
There's only so many words you can
use and if you haven't noticed, I'm
not exactly vocabulary guy.
Willow and Tara arrive at the table.
ANYA
(giving Xander a nasty
look)
Well, I'm thinking of a word right
now. Can you guess what it is?
WILLOW
(noticing the look)
Oh, I can!
TARA
(quietly)
Willow.
XANDER
(to Anya)
Look, let's just go dance.
ANYA
No. Why don't you go dance with
Willow. It's what you've been
planning to do all night.
XANDER
(giving up)
Fine! Will?
The two get up and go to the dance floor and begin
slow dancing. Anya looks stunned.
ANGLE : XANDER AND WILLOW DANCING
A nice dance between friends.
WILLOW
You okay?
XANDER
I just don't know what's going on
with her. Lately, it's been like
Anya concentrate.
WILLOW
Things will be fine. I mean, I know
Anya and I are not, you know, evil
glare to evil glare on anything..
but she loves you. That much is
obvious.
XANDER
Yeah?
WILLOW
I can honestly say that she loves
you in a way no one else can.
They smile for a beat.
WILLOW
(looking over at Tara and
Anya)
Mr Harris, look at how far we've
come.
XANDER
Yeah Miss Rosenberg. We've done
pretty good for ourselves.
ANGLE : TARA AND ANYA
ANYA
Just look at them! They're all over
each other.
TARA
Oh Anya. I really don't think..
ANYA
I knew this day was coming. They
were just looking for an excuse to
get together. Old flames never die
out you know.
TARA
T-they don't?.. I mean, it's just a
friendly dance.
ANYA
Look at him. Trying to make me
jealous just because he knows I'm
right.
TARA
But..
ANYA
Come on! Two can play at this game.
TARA
Wha..What?
Anya grabs Tara's hand and leads her to the dance
floor.
On the dance floor, Anya holds a stunned Tara close
and begins to dance with her seductively, pointedly in
front of Xander and Willow.
ANGLE : XANDER AND WILLOW DANCING
not noticing Anya and Tara for a beat. Then..
WILLOW
(looking over Xander's
shoulder)
What's Anya doing to Tara?
Xander turns to see Tara and Anya.
REVERSE ANGLE:
to reveal Anya getting more and more overt with her
exaggerated displays of affection. Tara looks very
confused and uncomfortable, just along for the ride.
INT. THE LOCKRIDGE MANSION/BATHROOM - NIGHT
We see a few women in the bathroom, adjusting their
makeup in front of the mirror, then leaving. Enter
Willow and Tara.
WILLOW
Can you even believe her? I mean,
what did she think she was doing?
TARA
She's still figuring things out, you
know? How things are done?
WILLOW
Why do you always stick up for her?
I mean, it's really sweet and all
but come on! This is Anya.
TARA
We're kinda in the same boat. I just
think she's feeling a little like
she's not contributing or, you know,
not important to the Scoobies and I
guess that's kinda making her
insecure with Xander.
WILLOW
You don't think you're important to
us?
TARA
Well, no. It's not like I do
anything really essential.
WILLOW
Tara.
TARA
No. It's okay. You, Buffy, Xander
and Mr Giles are like the Scooby
Core, you know, taking care of all
the slaying and fighting. I guess
Anya, Dawn and I will never really
be part of that because we're no
good at all that stuff. But, you
know, we'll totally be backup gals.
WILLOW
But Tara, you're this really
powerful witch. You totally air-
mailed that big ol' table into
Solomon. You saved my life.
TARA
That was.. I don't know what that
was but I know it's something I
can't usually do. You're the one
with the power.
WILLOW
Tara, you saved my life.
(a beat)
And, there's more to being essential
to this group than just slaying, you
know? You're important to us in all
the things that really matter.
A woman walks in the bathroom, stopping the
conversation short. She is preening herself in the
mirror. Willow and Tara are still looking earnestly at
each other, still carrying on a silent conversation.
The woman leaves.
Willow is about to start up again when she notices the
woman has left something. She grabs it hastily and
holds it up.
WILLOW
Hey, you forgot your..
Willow takes her first good look at what she's
holding.
ANGLE : AN EAR IN WILLOW'S HAND.
WILLOW
Ear?
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO
CONTINUE TO ACT THREE