Episode 4 - Detour
ACT TWO
EXT. OUTSIDE DAWN'S SCHOOL - DAY
We see a hive of activity as children are leaving
school. We see Tara and Dawn walking side by side on
the sidewalk just outside the school.
TARA
So, good day at school?
DAWN
It was okay. It'll always be just
okay. It's cool with the learning
and stuff but it's like Social
Darwinism in there. Plus, I think
the boys here think bathing is
optional.
TARA
Um.. that's nice. So, speaking of
boys, have they started, you know,
noticing you yet?
DAWN
Please. Like I really care. They're
all pimply and hormonal and they're
always acting like they're so cool.
I don't..
Dawn suddenly sees Kevin Berman across the street,
talking to some friends. She becomes quiet. Tara
notices.
TARA
Who's he?
DAWN
(caught)
Huh? No one. I mean, he's Kevin.
He's just a guy in my class.
TARA
I know that look. He's not just
anyone.
DAWN
He's no one. I mean, we've hardly
talked to each other recently. I'm
sure he totally wouldn't even
recognise me.
TARA
Oh Dawnie. You shouldn't be ashamed
or embarassed just because you like
someone. Because you know, one day,
like could turn to love, and that's
something you definitely shouldn't
miss out on.
The two turn a corner and walk down a path a little
further when they come across three older high school
boys, leaning on their bicycles. One of the boys
notices Dawn.
BOY #1
Well, if it isn't Dawn, our local
teenage psycho. Hey guys, know why I
never go outside in the Summer?
Because, with Summers, when it
rains, it pours.
The boys laugh.
BOY #1
(taunting Dawn)
What, are you gonna cry again?
TARA
(stepping forward)
Leave her alone.
BOY #1
(taking an aggresive
posture)
And who are you, her mother?
BOY#2
Hey, I know her. She's that witch,
you know, she's always hanging
around that other witch.
BOY #1
(sizing Tara up)
So Witch, are you going to cast a
spell on me. Turn me into a rat?
More laughter from the boys. Tara just stares him
down.
BOY#1
Didn't think so.
(to Dawn)
Later Summers.
The boys start to take off with on their bikes.
ANGLE : DAWN
standing behind Tara. She has a hand on her necklace
and is staring intently at something.
ANGLE : BICYCLE WHEEL
of Boy#1 as he rides away with his friends.
ANGLE : DAWN
Her eyes very focused, concentrating hard.
Suddenly a hand reaches over and grabs Dawn's hand and
pulls it away from the necklace.
Tara crouches down and looks up at Dawn, still holding
on to her hand.
TARA
(softly)
Dawn, no.
DAWN
But, they were being mean to us.
TARA
This isn't the way. Dawn, casting a
spell on someone won't change the
way that person thinks. It's not
going to solve your problem.
DAWN
But, then.. how?
TARA
I guess you just have to face it and
deal with it.. You grow up. You grow
up by dealing with the hard stuff,
you know, by being bigger than it.
Do you understand?
Dawn nods.
TARA
You may not be able to change the
world but don't ever let it change
the wonderful person you are. Okay?
DAWN
Okay.
TARA
Come on, let's get you home.
INT. MAGIC BOX/TRAINING ROOM - DAY
Christopher is training in the training room. Giles
enters.
GILES
I see what you're doing, you know.
CHRISTOPHER
(stopping)
Please, enlighten me.
GILES
You're not here simply to observe.
You're here to replace me. You want
to turn Buffy into an emotionless
slayer the Council can control.
CHRISTOPHER
Rupert.
GILES
Well, I won't let that happen. She's
a human being, a girl.
CHRISTOPHER
Look at what you've become. We used
to believe in the same things, you
and I. You've become far too close
to the slayer.
GILES
She's not just some weapon for the
Council.
CHRISTOPHER
But she is! Have you forgotten what
a slayer is? The history of the
slayer? She acts alone. She's a
lethal killing machine, dark and
malicious. This is her sacrifice, so
others may be protected. It is cruel
and unfair but it has to be so.. She
is the chosen one.
BUFFY (O.S.)
The chosen one.
Giles and Chris looks over to Buffy who has entered
the room.
BUFFY
(to Christopher)
Is that what you want to turn me
into? The First Slayer? Is that my
destiny?
Christopher starts to leave the room, but stops when
he passes Buffy.
CHRISTOPHER
(quietly to Buffy)
I don't need to do anything. I see
it happening in you already.. Don't
fight it Buffy. It's what you're
meant to become.
Christopher walks out, leaving Buffy and Giles,
staring at each other.
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY
We see Skeet and his gang assembled in around a large
table. On the table, we see various props, including
some troll dolls and a toy truck.
SKEET
So, is everyone clear? Remember, we
have to let the slayer know that
we've attacked the van, so we let
one or two of them live. They'll run
to the Magic shop with their tails
between their legs. She'll hear the
news and come right over, right into
our little trap.
VINCENT
What do we do with her friends?
SKEET
Just keep them apart from the
slayer. You have to ensure that she
feels that it's safer for them to
stay together while she goes out
alone by herself.
Skeet picks up two troll dolls and places them next to
the toy truck.
SKEET
Now, Teddy and I will be waiting
near the van for the slayer but..
(picking up two more troll
dolls)
Vincent and Tarwin will head up the
second group which will attack the
van and chase the humans into town.
TARWIN
I'll need a distraction. Something
to stop the van.
Skeet looks over at his white-haired companion.
SKEET
I'm sure she'll do.
She looks at Tarwin with an evil smile.
INT. DAWN'S ROOM - DAY
We see Willow and Dawn sitting on Dawn's bed. Dawn is
levitating a pencil, her hand clasped onto her
necklace. She's having a little trouble controlling
the pencil.
WILLOW
Now, just try to hold it steady.
Dawn tries but the pencil wobbles and drops to the
bed.
DAWN
I can't control it.
WILLOW
Don't worry. You will. You just need
a little practice.. and patience. I
have faith in you.
Dawn smiles. She curls up next to Willow who puts her
arm comfortingly around her.
WILLOW
Trust me, it's worth it.
DAWN
It is?
WILLOW
It was for me. Without magic, I
sometimes think I'd still be this
shy, awkward wallflower, you know,
too afraid of the world to move on.
DAWN
Really?
WILLOW
Uh huh. You should've seen me in
high school. I was this,.. nothing.
The girl you see but never see.. But
I changed, because I met Buffy and
because I found magic. It makes you
feel like you have some kind of
power over your life.
(a beat, then smiling)
And without magic, I wouldn't have
met Tara.
DAWN
You really care for her, huh?
WILLOW
Yeah.
Dawn ponders for a moment before her next question.
DAWN
Is that why you don't let her
patrol, you know, keeping her in all
the time?
WILLOW
(concerned)
What? Did she talk to you about
that?
DAWN
No. It's just that I'm going through
the same thing with Buffy so I can
sorta see it when it happens to
someone else.
WILLOW
(uncomfortable)
Well, you see, Tara's not really
patrol gal and she wouldn't feel
comfortable.. It's hard to explain.
DAWN
You don't wanna lose her.
WILLOW
Well, okay, maybe it isn't so hard.
(a beat, then earnestly)
No, I don't want to lose her. She's
essential to my life, like air, like
water.. Except, only my heart would
die if I couldn't have her.
DAWN
What's it like.. to be in love?
Willow thinks about this for a moment.
WILLOW
It's hard to describe. It's more
like something you feel.
(a beat as Willow searches
for the words)
I guess, it's the big things like
joy, pain and sacrifice, but it's
also the little things. Like with me
and Tara. Before, I was this late-
night owl who stayed up reading
books, playing with my laptop,
but she's an early riser. So, I
began sleeping earlier, because I
didn't want to miss a single second
I could have with her.
(she takes Dawn's hands)
Trust me. You won't miss it. You'll
know it when you feel it.
A beat as they smile at each other.
WILLOW
It's getting late. Xander will be
here any minute to drive us to the
Magic Box. We have an appointment to
keep.
INT/EXT. COUNCIL VAN - NIGHT
We are at the back of the Council Van, looking
forward. We see the back of five heads, sitting in the
van.
ANGLE : SASHA
An attractive woman in her late-twenties, formally
dressed in a suit. She is looking out the window with
an expressionless face.
The van suddenly stops. Sasha stands up to see what's
happening.
REVERSE ANGLE :
to see the headlights shining on two figures
straggling towards the van. A man, carrying a woman.
The door opens and we see Tarwin carrying the white-
haired girl into the van. He puts her down. They both
smile and vamp out.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO
CONTINUE TO ACT THREE