Episode 2 - Faces
ACT TWO
INT. GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT
Picking up from where we left off. Buffy stands there
shocked at seeing a vamped Willow. Note:All characters
except for Buffy will be vamped for this scene.
WILLOW
(concerned)
Buffy, what?
BUFFY
(still stunned)
Wha.. What happened?
Tara enters the room to join Willow. She brings her a
glass of water. Buffy sees a vamped-out Tara.
TARA
(to Willow)
So, how many sites did you find with
your name in them?
Tara notices Willow's concern and looks at Buffy.
TARA
Buffy?
There is a beat. Then, Buffy slowly gets her stake and
raises it. Willow and Tara are now very concerned.
Willow stands up and places herself slightly in front
of Tara.
WILLOW
Buffy, what are you doing?
BUFFY
I don't know.
The door opens behind them and Xander and Anya enter.
XANDER
For the last time, We're not
inviting any of your demon pals to
our wedding. I don't care if they
really want to come.
ANYA
But all your friends and family will
be on the groom's side and there'll
be nobody on the bride's. It'll look
funny.
XANDER
An, a congregation of dressed-up
demons at our wedding isn't exactly
something that will look normal in
our wedding album either.
(taking a stand)
I mean it. If I see any R.S.V.P's
from Hell, I'm throwing it in the
trash.
Buffy takes this all in. She can only see a vamped
Xander and Anya. Xander and Anya finally notice Buffy
and her stake.
XANDER
Whoa! Easy there Buffy, it's just
us.
BUFFY
Who are you? Wha.. What have you
done with my friends?
XANDER
What?
TARA
(stepping out from behind
Willow)
Buffy, what do you see?
Buffy turns around and looks at Willow and Tara.
BUFFY
Vampires.
XANDER
Vamp-what-now?
ANYA
(softly to herself)
I'm sure she wouldn't mind me
inviting my demon friends to the
wedding.
Willow steps cautiously towards Buffy.
WILLOW
Buffy, can't you see it's us?
Please, put the stake down and,
and.. we'll sit down and talk.
BUFFY
(adopting an aggressive
stance)
Stay away from me!
Willow stops.
BUFFY
You killed them.
WILLOW
Buffy, it's us. We're still here.
(to Tara)
There's got to be a way of
convincing her.
XANDER
Oh. I can do my Snoopy dance!
WILLOW
Xander, she hasn't seen you do your
Snoopy dance.
Anya casually walks over to a bureau, grabs a mirror
and shows her reflection in the mirror to Buffy. She
then walks over to Xander and does the same thing.
ANYA
Are we all clear now?
Anya then gives Xander the mirror, walks straight past
Buffy and sits down on the couch.
ANYA
My feet are killing me.
Buffy slowly lowers the stake, starting to believe her
friends. Giles enters, his attention focused on the
newspaper in his hand and carrying a cup of tea. He is
oblivious to what is going on around him. He sits down
on a chair.
GILES
(re the newspaper)
Bloody hell. I knew those idiots
were going to stuff up the country.
ANGLE : GILES
from Buffy's POV, thus we see a vamped out Giles with
his glasses and sensible shirt, blowing on his hot cup
of tea before taking a sip.
Giles becomes aware of everyone staring at him.
GILES
(caught in the headlights)
What?
BUFFY
Okay, that is Giles.
INT. DAWN'S BEDROOM - DAY (DAY 3)
CLOSE ON : DAWN
as she sleeps in her bed. We see a hand gently
reaching down and stroking her hair. The hand exits
the frame and we hear someone beginning to walk away
when Dawn wakes up.
DAWN
Buffy?
REVERSE ANGLE
to show Tara in Dawn's bedroom, halfway out the door.
TARA
No, it's just me.
DAWN
Oh.
(worried)
Where's Buffy? Did something happen?
Dawn sits up on her bed. Tara comes back and sits on
the bed next to Dawn.
TARA
She's fine. There was just some
stuff, important Scoobie stuff,
going on at Mr. Giles' last night.
She told me to tell you that she was
sorry that she couldn't come home.
She kinda had to crash at Giles' so
she asked me and Willow to sleep
over here.
DAWN
Oh.
(then)
Willow's here?
TARA
She was. She took off a little while
ago to the Magic Box. The gang's
gonna help Buffy out with some
research.
DAWN
Cool. When do we go?
A beat.
TARA
We're not. Buffy said it would be
better if you stayed home today.
DAWN
Buffy said.. Buffy said.. I thought
you said I was part of the gang now,
that I could help out. Was that a
lie?
TARA
Of course not. It's just, there are
certain things going on.. She just
can't see you right now.
DAWN
She never sees me.
Dawn gets up and leaves the room. Tara remains seated
on the bed, looking worried.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX - DAY
The shop is open. Willow, with her laptop, and Buffy
are sitting at one side of the table while Xander and
Giles are sitting at the other end, going through some
books. Anya is at the counter, taking care of the
business. Note : from now on, characters will only
appear as vamped when expressly stated as such.
BUFFY
Will, I can't see her, not as a
vampire. I just can't.
WILLOW
I know, but you should at least
explain to her why. I think she's
feeling kinda left out these days. I
know you're busy with the slaying
and all but..
BUFFY
but she has to understand that I
just can't be there for her all the
time. I have responsibilities. If I
screw up, people die. I can't
protect anyone.. I can't protect her
if I don't train or patrol.
Willow is silent. She has no answers.
BUFFY
When we are together, I don't even
know how I should treat her anymore.
We've almost become strangers in our
own house. I mean, should I be her
sister, her mother, her friend?
What's enough?
WILLOW
I think she just wants you to be
Buffy. That'll be plenty enough.
The two friends share a small smile.
GILES
I think I may have something.
Willow, try looking up 'The Orb of
Stagos', S-T-A-G-O-S.
Willow begins typing into her laptop.
BUFFY
(to Giles)
What is it?
GILES
Well, according to this, Stagos was
a sixteenth century warlock in
Romania who was famous for his
illusion spells. He was often called
upon in battles, where he would cast
a spell on opposing armies, causing
them to see demons and monsters
where there were none. He was also
known for creating..
WILLOW
(reading from her laptop)
the Orb of Stagos, well orbs. There
was more than one but no one knows
for sure how many were made. It says
here that the Orb, when cast at its
target, causes him or her to see
whatever the person who cast it
wished for them to see.
BUFFY
Vampires.
WILLOW
As for example. Oh! Good news. The
spell uses an enormous amount of
energy to sustain itself so it can't
last for very long. It comes with a
built-in expiry date.. two days.
BUFFY
Bad news. It means whatever the
vamps are planning to do, they're
going to do it soon, before the
spell wears off.
GILES
Well, whatever they plan to do, it
probably won't be until nightfall
before they make a move.
XANDER
Which makes Buffy's patrol tonight
the number one contender.
BUFFY
Giles, how am I supposed to spot the
real vamps? Oh! Colour me
rhetorical. Mirrors, and crosses
right? I stick out my cross, vamps
go nuts and I introduce them to Mr.
Stakey.
ANYA
What if there's an Atheist
Convention in town?
GILES
Anya's right.
Anya proudly smiles to Xander.
GILES
Well, not about the Athiest
Convention..
Anya is dissapointed.
GILES
but you have to be absolutely sure
that what you are attacking is in
fact a vampire. We can't afford to
make any mistakes.
XANDER
No problem. We'll come along and be
Buffy's eyes and ears. We'll hang
back and give her a heads up if any
vamps come near.
Buffy begins staring at everyone at the table. She
stares at Willow, or from her POV, VampWillow. Willow
becomes self-conscious.
WILLOW
(touching her forehead)
What? Is my bump showing?
BUFFY
Sorry. I know it's you guys and all
but it's so creepy, seeing you all
as vamps. It's something I couldn't
even imagine in my head before.
A beat.
BUFFY
But I can't think about all that
now. If I'm going to make it through
the next day and a half, I'll just
have to focus and not let anything
throw me off.
We prelap:
DAWN (V.O)
But I can't. It's too hard
INT. BUFFY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Dawn and Tara are sitting on a couch. They are both
looking at a pencil on a table. Giles is sitting at a
bureau to the side, watching with interest.
TARA
Yes you can. You just have to
concentrate. Don't let anything
distract you.
Dawn sighs, regroups and tries again, a steely
determination in her eyes. She focuses on the pencil,
willing it to move, but nothing happens.
DAWN
This is stupid. I can't ever be like
you and Willow. I'll never be as
strong as you guys.
TARA
Dawn. When I look at you, I see
someone who is so very strong now,
but who, in a few years, will become
stronger than any one of us in the
Scoobies. Don't you know that? You
have your sister's strength.
Dawn looks a little unsure about this. She looks at
Tara and then looks at the her hands as she fiddles
with them. Tara reaches around her neck and unclasps a
necklace with a sparkling blue gem at its centre.
TARA
Here, I want you to have this.
DAWN
What is it?
TARA
It's something my Mom gave me a long
time ago, when I was just starting
to practise magic, like you.
Tara leans over to Dawn and clasps the necklace around
her neck.
TARA
You see that gem? It's very special.
My Mom told me that if you held on
to it, it connected you with
everything around you. You kinda
become a part of everything, and
everyone. It has always helped me,
you know, when I needed to focus on
a spell, or even just whenever I was
feeling a little lost.
DAWN
Really?
TARA
Uh Huh. Plus, it's really pretty.
(re the pencil)
Do you want to give it another try?
Dawn smiles and gives a half nod. She turns to look at
the pencil. She's holds on to the gem with one hand.
ANGLE : DAWN
We see a look of intense determination in Dawn's face.
ANGLE ON : PENCIL
It hasn't moved.
ANGLE : TARA
as she stares intently at Dawn, and at the pencil
TARA
(softly)
Focus. Keep trying.
ANGLE : GILES
watching with great interest.
ANGLE : DAWN
still focused on the pencil, her hand still clasped
tightly around the gem.
ANGLE ON : PENCIL
It doesn't move for a long time. Then, suddenly, it
jerks to the left, rolling a centimetre away from its
position. A silent beat.
DAWN
(to Tara, softly)
It moved.
(then louder)
It moved!
TARA
(with the biggest smile)
Yes.
Dawn grabs Tara and pulls her in to an enthusiastic
hug.
DAWN
Tara, Thank You.
She then runs over to Giles.
DAWN
Giles, Did ya see? It moved!
GILES
(smiling)
I saw. You should be very proud.
Dawn stands there for a second, not knowing how to
react. She then hugs Giles as well. Giles is a little
taken aback but gently pats her on her back.
DAWN
I feel like screaming.
GILES
Well, I don't..
Dawn lets out a shrill squeal of delight. Giles goes
deaf in one ear. Tara is watching all this with
delight.
DAWN
(to Tara)
I'm gonna go upstairs and keep
practising.
Tara nods. Dawn grabs the pencil and runs upstairs to
her room.
TARA
(yelling to Dawn)
Just the pencil, Okay?
The mood in the room gradually subsides with only Tara
and Giles left in the room. Tara gives Giles a quick
smile. Giles smiles back. There is an awkward beat.
Tara nervously begins to tidy the table, and fiddle
with her sleeve.
TARA
Maybe, I should go up and check on
her, you know, make sure she's not
trying to float her TV or something.
She gets up and begins to walk to the stairs.
GILES
Tara?
Tara turns around.
GILES
That was a wonderful thing you gave
to her.. and I don't just mean the
necklace.
Tara smiles, deeply appreciating the sentiment.
GILES
But don't you still need your
necklace to perform your spells?
Tara smiles again. She looks over at the bureau. A
large lamp next to Giles effortlessly floats into the
air, does a 360 degree spin, and then floats back
down. It then turns itself on. Giles watches amazed.
TARA
Not anymore.
Giles smiles proudly as he watches her head upstairs.
He then takes a look at the lamp, staring intently at
it. Nothing happens. He gives up and switches off the
lamp with his hand.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT
Buffy is patrolling. She sees a vampire approaching
her, walking a dog.
BUFFY
(talking into a walkie-
talkie)
Guys?
WILLOW (V.O.)
Um. Human. Cute dog.
The man and his dog walk by. Buffy turns around to
look behind her. She speaks into her walkie-talkie.
BUFFY
A little quicker next time, okay?
WILLOW (V.O.)
Well, we would be if Anya wasn't so
slow with the spotting.
ANYA (V.O.)
Hey! I'm trying my best. It's not
easy, you know, trying to find
someone with a mirror with your back
turned.
Buffy sighs and drops the walkie-talkie from her ear.
WILLOW (V.O.)
Why are you even here? You're not
patrol gal.
ANYA (V.O.)
I told you, if Xander's going on
patrol, I want to go as well. I want
to share this experience with him.
XANDER (V.O.)
An, maybe this wasn't such a good
idea.
ANYA (V.O.)
What, you're siding with her now.
BUFFY
Enough you guys. This isn't a game.
Now, remember, I want you guys to
stay back if anything happens. In a
middle of fight, all vamp faces will
pretty much look the same to me.
XANDER (V.O.)
Don't worry. We've taken extra
precautions.
ANGLE : XANDER
as we see him walking along with a big name tag on his
bright blue sweater that states 'XANDER'.
XANDER
(talking into walkie-
talkie)
Maybe we can come up with a code-
word, you know, so that you can know
it's one of us.
ANGLE : WILLOW
We see her in a bright pink sweater with the name tag
'WILLOW'.
WILLOW
Oh! I know. Miss Kitty Fantastico!
ANGLE : ANYA
We see Anya with a name tag which reads 'STOP BUFFY!
IT'S ME!'
ANYA
Yes, nothing like a tongue-twister
when you're screaming for your life.
XANDER
Oh! I got it. Jar-Jar, you know,
Jar-Jar Binks? Cos, I mean, who
would ever want to kill Jar-Jar?
ANGLE : BUFFY
BUFFY
Whatever. Three joggy vamps heading
towards me on my left.
ANGLE ON : THREE JOGGING VAMPS
dressed in sweatshirts and track pants, jogging
together at a steady pace and heading towards Buffy.
ANGLE : ANYA
as she tries to spot them with a compact mirror. She
is having trouble doing so.
WILLOW
Anya. Hurry!
ANYA
I can't tell, they're moving too
fast.
WILLOW
Give it to me.
Willow snatches at the mirror but loses grip of it.
The mirror falls to the ground and shatters into
pieces.
WILLOW
Oops.
ANGLE : BUFFY
BUFFY
Oops? What oops? Big no to the oops.
The joggers are approaching. Buffy tenses up, ready
for anything. The first two joggers jog past but the
third one bumps hard into Buffy, knocking the walkie-
talkie to the ground and breaking it.
JOGGER #1
Oh Sorry. I'm such a klutz. Let me
pick that up for you.
Buffy takes out her cross and holds it aloft, stake in
her hand. The jogger refuses to look at her.
ANGLE : WILLOW
as she frantically picks up a shard of glass and
checks the jogger's reflection. She doesn't see
anything.
WILLOW
Vampire!
XANDER
(yelling into the walkie-
talkie)
Buffy, it's a vampire!
ANGLE : BUFFY
as she continues to look down at the jogger, waiting
for him to look at the cross. She can't hear Xander.
From behind Buffy, we see the other two jogger
vampires silently approach Buffy from behind her.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO
CONTINUE TO ACT THREE