Episode 3 - Fathers and Daughters
ACT FOUR
EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
From where we left off. Tara sees creature#2
approaching her father. She backs up hard against a
wall, slamming creature#1 against it and knocking it
off.
Creature#2 is now on top of Mr Maclay, who is trying
to fight it off from the ground.
Tara grabs a wooden plank on the ground, rushes to her
father and swings, knocking creature#2 off her dad.
Tara helps her father up and they run off.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT
ANGLE : TARA AND MR MACLAY
running away, occasionally looking behind them.
ANGLE : THE TWO CREATURES
bouncing along on its hands and legs at an enormous
speed, quickly catching up to them.
Creature#1 catches up with Tara and grabs hold of her
coat. Creature#2 jumps at Mr Maclay. Mr Maclay knocks
the creature aside in mid-air while Tara manages to
squirm free of her coat. They round a corner and run
onto the road.
They don't go very far when creature#1 jumps again and
catches hold of Mr Maclay's leg, pulling him down.
Tara has run further on not realising what has
happened behind her.
Mr Maclay tries to kick the creature off but fails. It
raises its claws and digs them into his leg. Mr Maclay
lets out a cry of anguish.
Tara turns around and sees what is happening. She
begins to run back.
MR. MACLAY
Tara, No.
Tara isn't listening. She looks at a trashcan on the
side of the road. Suddenly, the lid is flying towards
the creature, smashing into it and knocking it down
the street.
Tara runs to her Dad, trying to help him up but he is
too heavy.
TARA
Dad, please. You have to get up.
We see the two creatures regroup. They start walking
towards Mr Maclay and Tara, on either side of the
road, coming in for the kill.
From off-screen, we suddenly hear the squeal of tires.
ANGLE : CREATURE #1
as it looks back to see what is happening. Its face is
illuminated by lights.
REVERSE ANGLE:
to show a pair of headlights rushing towards us.
Splat. Giles' car runs over creature#1. The car comes
to a halt. Everyone gets out.
Creature#2 growls and makes one final dash towards
Tara.
Buffy grabs out her stake and flings it at the
creature, striking it. The creature rolls on the
ground, ending up dead at Tara's and Mr Maclay's feet.
ANGLE : OLD WOMAN
hiding around the corner, angry at seeing her two
creatures killed.
Willow rushes towards Tara.
WILLOW
Tara, are you all right?
MR. MACLAY
(to Willow, angry)
You stay away from my daughter!
Willow stops in her tracks.
TARA
Dad.
Mr Maclay gets up and hobbles towards Willow, very
angry.
MR. MACLAY
(to Willow)
Is this the life you have to offer
her? Being surrounded by such
unspeakable evil? You are a selfish,
evil child and you're going to get
Tara killed.
Willow is visibly shaken by Mr Maclay's words, reeling
backwards.
ANGLE : OLD WOMAN
watching Willow with interest. A realisation dawning
upon her face. She smiles.
Tara rushes forwards, grabs her father by the arm and
spins him around, making him face her.
TARA
(sternly)
Stop it.
MR. MACLAY
(to Tara)
Is she the reason you're here? Is
she the reason you're staying in
this place?
TARA
(emotional)
No Dad. She's the reason my life is
complete. She's the reason I'm
happy. But I'm here for myself. I'm
here because if I had stayed at home
with you, I would have ended up like
Mom. Dad, I will never allow you to
do to me what you did to her.
Mr Maclay is a little taken aback.
TARA
Don't you see? The witchcraft didn't
change her. It was you. It was
always you. You saw something you
didn't understand so you took it
away from her.. Because, that's what
you do. You take, and take until
there's nothing left.
(a beat)
I won't let that happen to me.
Mr Maclay takes it all in. His anger completely gone.
They stare at each other for a beat. He can't hold her
gaze.
He turns to Giles.
MR. MACLAY
I would appreciate it if you could
drive me back to the motel. I don't
think I can make it on one leg.
GILES
(looking at Tara and then
back to Mr Maclay)
Well, we'll just have that leg
looked at first, shall we?
Mr Maclay hobbles to the car with Giles.
Willow, tearing up, goes over and hugs Tara. They hug
each other for a long beat. Both very emotional.
WILLOW
(rubbing Tara's shoulders,
whispering)
You're cold.
TARA
I lost my coat.
WILLOW
You lost your coat?
Tara nods, teary but smiling at Willow.
WILLOW
(smiling)
I'll get it.
Buffy and Xander comes over and starts walking Tara to
the car. Willow walks down the street in search of
Tara's coat.
Willow turns a corner and sees it. She picks it up.
She starts heading back when she hears something
behind her. She turns to look but sees nothing. When
she turns back, a hand brushes across her face.
OLD WOMAN
Sleep my child. Sleep.
Willow's eyes immediately close.
OLD WOMAN
(whispering)
It was you. You all along. You are
the key.
The old woman reaches out with her hand, towards
Willow's temple.
OLD WOMAN
See what I have seen. See what is
near.
CLOSE ON : WILLOW'S EYES
as the old woman touches Willow's temple. Her eyes
open.
WHITE OUT
Flashing images, some too fast to discern but we do
see these images - Willow and Tara's room - Close-up
of Tara's eyes closing - Blood slowly spreading on a
piece of cloth.
WHITE OUT
OLD WOMAN
Witches two will become one.
The old woman reaches into her bag, gets out her
notebook and scratches off 'Sunnydale' from the list.
BUFFY (O.S.)
Will. Have you found it yet?
The old woman leans in close to whisper into Willow's
ear.
OLD WOMAN
(smiling)
They are coming.
She waves her hand across Willow's eyes. Willow slowly
wakes from the spell. She seems a little
disorientated. She hears a lullaby being hummed and a
squeaking sound. She looks around but sees nothing but
darkness. She shakes it off and heads to the car.
INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY (DAY 3)
We see Mr Maclay packing his bags in a small motel
room. Willow and Tara are hanging back, just watching.
There is a suitcase and a bag on a bed and a bag at
Tara's feet. It is a very quiet scene. As Mr Maclay
finishes packing the suitcase on his bed, we hear a
car horn off-screen.
TARA
That's the cab.
(re the bag)
I'll go put this in.
Tara picks up the bag at her feet and exits. Mr Maclay
walks to the doorway and watches her go.
Willow walks forward to the bed and takes the second
bag. She begins to walk out.
MR. MACLAY
(while looking at Tara)
Willow.
Willow is a little startled. She stops.
MR. MACLAY
(still looking at Tara)
I don't care much for what you're
doing to my daughter.. with my
daughter.. But she obviously trusts
you and cares for you.. Promise me
you'll look out for her. I don't
want anything to happen to Tara.
WILLOW
Mr Maclay. I'd die before I let
anything happen to Tara.
Mr Maclay finally turns to look at Willow. Willow
confidently looks back, then continues walking out to
the car. Mr Maclay goes back to the bed to pick up the
suitcase.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE MOTEL ROOM - DAY
We see a cab with the boot open. Willow is packing a
bag in the boot. Mr Maclay leaves the room and heads
to the car. Willow walks to Tara and the two watch Mr
Maclay put his suitcase into the trunk. Tara walks up
to her Dad.
TARA
Dad, I just wanted to say..
MR. MACLAY
Tara, you have nothing more you need
to say.. Things have become very
clear.
Mr Maclay closes the trunk. A beat as he ponders
something. He turns back around to face Tara.
MR. MACLAY
Don't ever think that I didn't hurt
when I lost your mother.. It's
always hard to let the people you
love go.
Tara looks at her Dad for a beat and then puts her
head back down. Mr Maclay reaches out with his hand
and places a finger on Tara's chin, gently lifting her
face up so he can look at her face.
MR. MACLAY
Who knew? That you would grow up to
be stronger than any of us.
Tara smiles a little.
MR. MACLAY
I'll leave you to your life.
Mr Maclay turns to go.
TARA
(last try)
I'm happy here, you know. Here in
Sunnydale, here with Willow. Can't
you see it?
MR. MACLAY
I'm proud that you're strong enough
to make this choice for yourself, to
make your own life.. But No Tara.. I
don't see it. I will never see it.
Tara's face drops a little. Mr Maclay walks to the cab
and opens the front door of the car. Tara walks up a
few steps.
TARA
Daddy?
Mr Maclay immediately stops upon hearing this. He
turns his head a little towards Tara but not fully
facing her.
TARA
I'm sorry you can't see it..
because.. they're such beautiful
colours.
Mr Maclay turns himself around to look at Tara. A
brief wave of emotion across his face. A beat. He then
turns back around and gets in the car.
ANGLE : TARA
as she watches her Dad leave. We hear off-screen the
cab pulling away. Willow comes up to Tara and holds
her arm. Tara leans her head against Willow's
shoulder.
CUT TO :
wide shot with the cab driving away at the top of
screen and Willow and Tara at the bottom. They turn
around and start walking in the opposite direction.
WIDEN :
to reveal Willow and Tara slowly walking to the rest
of the Scooby Gang waiting for them at the bottom of
the screen. The Gang slowly walks up to them.
BLACKOUT
END OF SHOW
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