Episode 16 - Home
ACT ONE
EXT. THE MAGIC BOX - DAY (DAY TWO)
to establish.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX - DAY
ANGLE : XANDER
sitting at a table, glueing something back together.
We hear an occassional thwacking sound come from the
training room. Xander winces with every thwack. We
hear a door-bell off-screen. Xander looks up.
REVERSE ANGLE : GILES
as he walks through the door.
ANGLE : XANDER
as he quickly sweeps the item and the glue off the
table. He grabs a large piece of paper off to the side
and drags it across the table in front of him and
starts acting as if he's studying it.
GILES
Xander? What are you doing?
XANDER
(looking up)
Nothing.. Just, you know, trying to
make heads and tails of Harm's
little map here of the General's
lair.
Xander picks the map up and takes a second look at it,
looking confused. He flips it the other way up.
XANDER
(cocks his head, trying to
get a new perspective)
Heads, tails, toes, shoulders.. and
other strange new body parts.
GILES
(looking at the map over
Xander's shoulder)
Yes, one suspects cartography isn't
her strong point.
XANDER
Well, you gotta give the gal some
credit. I mean, it can't be easy to
finger-paint on the move.
Giles points to the map.
GILES
That looks like the main chamber..
and see here, separate rooms for
each of the General's henchmen and
larger communal rooms for the rest
of the vampires.
XANDER
A regular Holiday Inn for the evil
undead. Fully furnished, hot and
cold running blood, stalking
distance to meals and a grand view
to world domination.
(big cheesy smile and
sticking his thumbs up)
I give it.. four stars.
GILES
Xander, the fate of the world is at
stake. Do try to take this a little
more seriously.
XANDER
(chagrined)
Oh.. sorry.
GILES
Besides, no electricity? No private
en suite? One couldn't possibly give
it anything more than two stars.
Xander turns to look at Giles. Giles continues to
stare at the map impassively. Xander smiles and looks
back at the map in front of them.
GILES
(tracing something on the
map with his finger)
Each corridor intersects another.
There are danger points everywhere.
XANDER
It's certainly big with the
claustrophobia. Getting that amulet
ain't gonna be easy. You sure we
can't pick one up at Wal-mart?
Giles steps away and removes his glasses to wipe it.
GILES
I'm sure something will come up.
We'll keep looking for a weakness..
something we can use against the
General. Perhaps Harmony can
discover something further..
XANDER
Yeah, the inside scoop. But with
Harm, that would be like half a
scoop.. but with lots of pretty
sprinkles on top.
(a beat, then more
seriously)
Do you think Sandring spilled about
Harm? I mean, if the General found
out..
GILES
I'm sure he didn't. We never told Mr
Sandring or Christopher about her.
XANDER
(nodding but
contemplative)
Right.. right.
We hear a thwack off-screen, coming from the training
room.
GILES
What was that?
XANDER
(nervously)
So, what's up with the patrolling? I
mean, now that the slayer's in the
shop for servicing.
GILES
We'll take over her patrolling
duties while she heals.
XANDER
So, do we like take it in turn? An
and I tonight, you and Will
tommorow?
GILES
No. It would be better if we went as
a larger group. Three, preferably
four. It isn't safe out there.
Another sound of a thwack off-screen, followed by the
sound of something hitting metal.
ANYA (O.S.)
Oh shoot.
Giles turns towards the direction of the sound and
begins to walk towards the training room.
GILES
What is going on in there?
Xander springs to his feet nervously.
XANDER
(loudly)
Oh nothing GILES.. There's really no
need for you.. GILES.. to go into
the training room.
We hear a rumbling/bumbling come from the training
room.. footsteps madly running to and fro. Giles turns
to Xander and gives him a look. He continues to walk
into..
INT. THE MAGIC BOX/TRAINING ROOM - DAY
as Giles walks in. He takes a look at the centre of
the training room. He sees a small bullseye target set
up near a far wall. He turns to his right to see..
ANGLE : ANYA
busily dusting a table with a feather duster, with one
hand hidden behind her back. She looks a little
dishevelled and out of breath.
GILES
Anya? What are you doing?
ANYA
(looking up innocently)
Dusting.
GILES
Dusting?
ANYA
Oh, you know me. Wacky ex-demon
obsessions with cleanliness. All
those disgusting human germs, just
floating through the air.
(nervously, as if spotting
the germs)
Float.. float.. float.
GILES
What's in your hand?
Anya looks a little stunned for a beat, then.. slowly
raises her right hand.. showing Giles the feather
duster.. hopefully.
GILES
The other one.
Anya thinks for a beat, then, with her left hand still
hidden behind her back, backs up.. not subtly..
against a wall. With something obviously pressed
against the wall by her back, Anya takes her left hand
from behind her back and shows it to Giles.
ANYA
See. Nothing. Now, let's all move
on.. you know, away from this room.
Anya is about to take a step forward when she
remembers the item behind her back. She backs up
quickly against the object, pressing it to the wall.
ANYA
(to Giles)
You first.
Giles rolls his eyes and walks forward and calmly
walks right up to Anya, face to face.
ANYA
Hey! Personal bubble.
Giles reaches around Anya and grabs the crossbow from
behind her back. Anya stares at the crossbow and
thinks for a beat, then..
ANYA
(reaching to her back, her
face filled with
wonderment)
Oh! OH! The pain in my back that's
been bothering me all day. It's all
gone!
(hugging Giles)
Thank you Giles.
Anya scurries off quickly towards Xander.
ANYA
Xander, let's go.
The two quickly turn and head for the exit.
GILES
Anya.
The two stop. Anya turns around slowly.
ANYA
Okay, before you do anything rash,
I'll have you know that the bill for
any injuries I suffer in the
workplace is coming straight out of
your pocket.
Giles approaches Anya slowly. Anya begins to nervously
backtrack.
ANYA
(nervous)
Plus, I'm so much smaller than you.
I'm all weak.. and.. and..
defenceless.
Giles offers out the crossbow to Anya and nods towards
the target.
GILES
(with a sigh)
Let me see.
ANYA
(feigning surprise)
Oh! You mean the target? With the
crossbow? I would never dream of
taking shots with the crossbow while
you weren't here. That would be
contrary to your express wishes..
and disrespectful. And I respect
you, as an elder.. because that's
what people do.. respect their
elders. And you're like this really
old British guy and.. and.. let's
just say, if you were at the museum
showcasing man through the ages,
people would come up to you and
mistake you for an exhibit.
GILES
(patience wearing thin)
Just take the shot.
Anya drops the pretense and happily grabs the crossbow
from Giles.
ANYA
Okay.
She rushes excitedly to her mark, takes a deep breath
and closes her eyes. Giles and Xander look on from
behind.
ANYA
(to herself)
Okay, big moment.. big moment.
(opens her eyes and raises
the crossbow)
Hold it steady.. relax.. aim.. and
fire.
A silent beat. Xander and Giles wait impatiently. It
seems like Anya is about to fire, then..
ANYA
(take two)
Hold it steady.. relax..
XANDER
An.
Anya lowers the crossbow and spins around angrily to
Xander.
ANYA
(snappy)
Do you want to make me start all
over?
Xander shrinks.
ANYA
(calmer)
Now, where was I?
GILES
Relax.
ANYA
Thank you.
Anya turns back towards the target and raises the
crossbow.
ANYA
(to herself)
Relax.. aim.. and fire.
Anya shoots. The bolt flies through the air and hits
the target dead on. Anya turns back happily.
XANDER
(surprised)
Hey! You hit it!
(to Giles)
She hit it!
ANYA
(a slight glare)
Less with the surprise Xander.
Xander shrinks again. Giles takes a second look, a
little surprised himself.
GILES
Well, I have to say. You are
certainly improving.
Anya beams happily. Giles starts to walk closer to the
target, taking a closer look.
ANYA
Well, maybe one of these days, you
people will let me carry a crossbow
when we're out patrolling. I think
I've proven that I can handle a
weapon of death and mayhem as well
as the next non-Government approved,
seven-day waiting period skipping
nut with a credit card.
Giles, now at the target, notices something behind the
target. He walks past and heads towards the wall
behind the target. Anya notices, her expression
changing immediately.
ANYA
Of course we don't have to decide
anything right this moment.
Giles takes a closer look at the wall. He runs his
hand over the wall. He notices it is filled with
little holes. He starts to head to a bookcase to his
right filled with various items. Xander and Anya look
on nervously.
ANYA
In fact, let's all go out and do
something. I'm sure it isn't healthy
to stay in this tiny room all day.
Giles regards the items on the shelf suspiciously. His
eye is drawn to a row of porcelain items along a
shelf.. Ornamental jars and figurines. Anya nudges
Xander.
XANDER
Oh! We could like go and watch a
movie. You know, that time-honoured
tradition of bonding, popcorn and
escapism at twenty-four frames a
second. I mean, who doesn't want to
journey to some far-off place and,
you know, leave this world behind?
Giles picks up a small ornamental jar. It breaks apart
in his hands.
ANYA
I know I do.
Giles turns around slowly and glares at Xander and
Anya, holding out the broken pieces in his hand.
ANYA
(re the jar)
That was already broken when I got
here.
ANGLE : GILES
standing in front of the bookshelf. We see the row of
porcelain jars and figurines behind him. A beat as
Giles continues to stare at Xander and Anya. Then, the
entire row of porcelain items falls apart
simultaneously behind him. Giles closes his eyes as he
hears the items breaking behind him, then opens them
again to stare accusingly at Xander and Anya.
ANYA
(to Xander)
I told you we shouldn't have skimped
on the glue.
GILES
Anya.
ANYA
Well, they say practice makes
perfect.. well, maybe not perfect,
but, you know, less with the
breaking and the superglue.. and
that mild but annoying sense of
guilt. How do you get rid of that?
GILES
You could start by not breaking
anything else.
ANYA
But see, I'm improving. At least I'm
hitting that wall consistently now.
Giles takes a look at the wall behind him, then back
to Anya.
GILES
That large wall.
ANYA
Yes.
GILES
That large wall right in front of
you.
ANYA
(happily)
Yes.. Why?
GILES
(giving up)
Nothing. Carry on.
Giles walks past the two, depositing the remnants of
the jar in Xander's hands before exiting.
ANYA
See! Giles supports me.
Anya twirls happily around and faces the target,
confidently playing with the crossbow in her hand.
ANYA
I think I'm really starting to get
the hang of this. I just have to
remember to aim three feet to the
left of what I'm trying to hit.. or
was that three feet to the right?
Anya begins to reload the crossbow. We see Xander
begin to fidget with the engagement ring on his hand.
XANDER
What say we take a break from the
breaking.. you know, give the glue a
chance to dry.
ANYA
But..
XANDER
An.. why don't you drop that
crossbow before you make your beau
cross.
ANYA
(grumbly)
Fine.
Anya puts down the crossbow.
ANYA
Nice play on words by the way.
XANDER
Thanks. I made it myself.
Xander begins to really start pulling on the ring,
trying to get it off his finger. Anya notices.. stares
horrified.
ANYA
My God! What do you think you're
doing?
XANDER
(still pulling)
I got some of the glue on my ring. I
think it's starting to bond to my
finger.
ANYA
Well good.
XANDER
Good? How is this good? This thing
could be stuck on for the rest of my
life.
Xander goes back to pulling on the ring, head down and
concentraty. Icy glare from Anya. Xander stops pulling
when he realises what he just said. He looks up.
XANDER
Okay, that may have sounded less
than comforting to an ex-demon with
abandonment issues.
ANYA
Is there a reason why you're so set
on getting that ring off?
XANDER
Is there anything I could possibly
say that won't get me in trouble?
ANYA
No.
XANDER
(sincerely)
Look An. You know I love you.
ANYA
Well, if you love me.. let it dry.
XANDER
What?
ANYA
If it was up to me, I'd get that
thing surgically attached to your
finger. But apparently, that's
considered "taboo" in this culture.
Xander gives Anya a quizzical look.
ANYA
I've asked around.. So now, I'm
looking into the possibility of
putting some kind of microchip into
the ring, so that an alarm would go
off if you ever removed it.. you
know, like that thing they do with
prisoners. I saw it on 60 Minutes.
XANDER
Okay, remember you told me to tell
you when you're talking crazy..
ANYA
Well, how else will everybody know
that you're taken.. that you're
mine?
XANDER
An.. an engagement ring is a
promise. It's a promise to be
married, to spend the rest of our
lives together. It isn't your
personal little brand that you sear
on me like a hunk of beef. I mean,
if you think like that, you may as
well stamp "Property of Anya" on my
forehead.
Anya looks away, a little embarassed.
ANYA
(quietly)
Well, it doesn't have to be on your
forehead.
Anya walks away slowly, looking down at her ring.
Xander follows, staying behind her.
ANYA
I love this ring.. you know?
XANDER
I know.
Anya sits down on a bench. Xander sits beside her.
ANYA
It's the most wonderful thing
anyone's ever given me. And believe
me, I've never been much of a giver
myself.. except for this one time
when I was a vengeance demon and I
gave this guy a lifetime of crabs..
but that isn't the same thing.
Anya turns to face Xander.
ANYA
I've never given anything to anyone
in my life. So I've never expected
anyone to give anything to me. Then,
you came along.. you came into my
life..
(raises her ring finger)
and you give me this ring, this
beautiful thing.. to me. Do you know
what that means? What it says to me?
Xander is about to reply. Anya clamps his mouth shut
with her hand.
ANYA
That was rhetorical.
Anya looks down and takes a beat to compose her
thoughts, then looks back up to Xander, her hand still
over his mouth.
ANYA
It means I'm wanted. That you want
me. Me, an ex-vengeance demon turned
human.
Xander removes Anya's hand from his mouth and smiles.
XANDER
It's the same for me An.
They smile. A brief kiss, followed by a hug. Their
heads over each other's shoulders.
XANDER
Just so we're clear, you know I want
you you, not the ex-vengeance demon
part right?
Anya playfully slaps Xander on the back of his head,
then breaks off from the hug.
XANDER
You okay with the whole deal of
putting our wedding plans on hold?
You know, until everything settles
down.
ANYA
I understand. Besides, with everyone
so worried about the General and
being all depressed and missing
everyone else, it's not the best
time for a wedding. There's nothing
worse than a glumful of guests at my
wedding reception.
XANDER
Well, if the General raises his army
and starts raisin' hell on earth..
ANYA
(pointedly)
I said.. there's nothing worse than
a glumful of guests at my wedding
reception.
XANDER
Right. My mistake.
Anya smiles and gives Xander a quick kiss on the lips.
She stands up and exits the training room. Xander
smiles, looking on as she leaves. After a beat, Xander
begins to start fidgeting with the ring again, trying
to get it loose.
ANYA (O.S.)
(sternly)
Let it dry.
Xander looks up towards Anya's voice, then back down
at his finger. He thinks about reaching for the ring
again then thinks better of it. He sits silently on
the bench.. the glue drying on his finger.
EXT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
to establish.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
ANGLE : DAWN
having a conversation on the cordless phone. She is
animated and happy.. laughing with the person on the
other end.
DAWN
No.. no. That's what I told her. But
it's like high school, you know?
Different rules apply.
We TRACK Dawn as she walks over to a couch and sits
down, listening to the reply. She laughs again.
DAWN
Oh no. Don't say that. Everyone's
always telling me that I should
like, you know, cherish and treasure
all my high school experiences. But
I mean, who's got time for that?
Everyone's too busy doing the 'duck
and cover'.
Dawn laughs again as she listens to the reply.
DAWN
Yeah.. I know.
Her laughter slowly subsides. There is quiet for a
beat.
DAWN
(a tad more serious)
So.. Are you okay?
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
ANGLE : TARA
on the phone. She sits on a bed in a small, quiet
room.
TARA
I'm fine.. You know, this town, it's
not really that far from Sunnydale.
It's actually a lot like it, except,
you know.. flower shows way up,
unexplained homicides way down.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
DAWN
(a little dissapointed)
So, more Mayberry than Hades.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
TARA
Yeah, but the company's just not the
same.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
Dawn smiles.
TARA (O.S.)
So, you doing okay?
DAWN
Yeah. I mean, evil undead armies
aside, things are better.. you know,
between Buffy and me.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
TARA
I'm glad. I'm glad things are
working out.. So, Buffy's doing
okay?
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
DAWN
Yeah. She is.
(a beat, reading between
the lines)
We all are.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
Tara smiles.
TARA
Good.. good. It's great to hear your
voice Dawnie.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
Dawn smiles warmly.
DAWN
So, you know when you're gettin'
back?
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
Tara is silent for a beat. She looks around her quiet
room, looking downcast.
TARA
I don't know. I just know now isn't
the time.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
DAWN
(sadly)
We miss you.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
TARA
Me too sweetie.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
BUFFY (O.S.)
(yelling from upstairs)
Dawn! What's this thing under your
bed?
DAWN
(yelling back)
The red thing with the black stripes
or the blue thing with the silver
flaps?
BUFFY (O.S.)
The green, oozy thing.. Okay, the
moving green, oozy thing.
Dawn rolls her eyes and talks back into the phone.
DAWN
Can you hang on for a sec? Potential
Summers meltdown upstairs.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
TARA
(smiles)
Sure.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
DAWN
Be right back.
Dawn puts the phone down on the table in front of her
and jogs up the stairs.
Willow enters through the front door. She comes
carrying a few books under one arm and holding on to a
cardboard box in another. She looks around the empty
house.
WILLOW
Hello? Hey, Anybody home? I come
bearing donuts from far-off
convenience stores.
Hearing no response, Willow ambles towards the living
room where she sets the box down on the table. She
starts setting the books down as well but sees that
the phone is blocking her. She picks up the phone and
puts it to her ear as she starts towards the kitchen..
intent on replacing the phone on its base.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
Tara hears someone pick up the phone.
TARA
Dawn?
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
Willow freezes.. startled. She instinctively covers
the mouthpiece with her hand.. then looks like she's
about to hang up but instead, continues to listen.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
Tara listens for a beat, then takes her attention
away. She folds some clothes on her lap. The phone is
still cradled on her neck. She breathes lightly into
the mouthpiece.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
We PUSH IN on Willow's face as she continues to
listen.. listening to Tara breathing on the other end,
looking like she's unable to breathe herself.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/STAIRS - DAY
ANGLE : DAWN
as she jogs happily down the stairs. She stops near
the bottom of the stairs when she sees Willow
listening to the phone. She sits down on the steps and
just quietly watches.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
Tara begins to suspect someone is on the line. She
listens intently.
TARA
Hello? Is anyone there?
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
Willow, just barely keeping it together now, looks
like she wants to say something.. looks like she's
about to say something..
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/STAIRS - DAY
As Buffy skips down the stairs. She sees Dawn.
BUFFY
Dawn. Whatcha' doing?
Dawn turns her head to look at Buffy. Buffy looks over
in the living room and sees Willow.
BUFFY
(to herself)
Will.
As Buffy walks past Dawn on the steps, Dawn reaches
out with her hand to try to stop Buffy but fails.
DAWN
Wait, Buffy..
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
ANGLE : WILLOW
on the phone in the foreground. We see Buffy entering
the living room in the background.
BUFFY
(oblivious)
Hey Will! You're here. Who's on the
line?
Willow spins around in shock to see Buffy, then clasps
onto the mouthpiece harder with her hand as she looks
back at the phone.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
Tara.. startled.. reacting to having heard Buffy.
TARA
Willow?
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
Willow, looking distressed, opens her mouth to say
something but nothing comes out. She presses the talk
button.. hanging up. She drops the phone down onto the
couch, runs past Buffy and then Dawn, heading up the
stairs. Buffy and Dawn share a look.
INT. AN APARTMENT - DAY
We see Tara glumly listening to a dead tone on the
phone. She hangs it up.. then looks out the window.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/BUFFY'S ROOM - DAY
We see Willow sitting down on the bed, facing away
from the door.. looking very sad and on the verge of
tears. We see Buffy arrive at the door. She knocks.
BUFFY
Can I come in?
Willow hurriedly tries to recompose herself.. sitting
back up.
WILLOW
It's your room.
Buffy enters. She comes over and sits next to Willow.
WILLOW
(trying to laugh it off)
I'm such a flake.
Buffy sits quietly.. letting Willow regain her
composure. Willow looks at Buffy, then looks down..
thinking for a beat.
WILLOW
(still looking down)
I try not to think about her too
much.. cause when I do, I'm like
this wreck. This big ten-car pile-up
on the expressway.. you know, people
rubber-necking as they pass?
(takes a deep breath,
looks up to Buffy)
It just hurts, you know.
BUFFY
I know.
Willow gets up and walks to a window. She looks out.
WILLOW
When I first met her, it was like..
seeing this new colour in the world.
This beautiful colour that I'd never
seen before.. and everything looked
different.
(a beat, then sadder)
But now that she's gone, the
colour's gone and it's like I can't
ever see it again.. and everything
looks different.
BUFFY
We don't have to talk about her if
you don't want to.
WILLOW
It's okay. Besides.. she's always
there. I can't not think about her.
I mean, I try, but.. It's like you
try to fill your head with these
other thoughts, you know, just
anything else. You cram your head
with so much other stuff until the
only space left is hers. But it's
like, when you fill the spaces
around her, it draws a picture.. of
her shape, her outline. You see the
empty space within you, where she
should be. It becomes noticeable,
you know.. what's missing.
(turning to Buffy)
She's my counterpoint Buffy. This
wonderful melody. Without her, the
world's just this.. noise.
Buffy stands and comes up to Willow. She gives her a
hug.
BUFFY
She'll be back. You'll see.
Everything will work out.
The two stay in a hug for a beat. Willow breaks from
the hug. She smiles gratefully at Buffy.
WILLOW
I'm okay. C'mon. We gotta get to
work on the General. I brought over
the books Giles told me to look over
last night and..
(realising something;
shakes her head)
Geez..
Willow starts to take off. Buffy grabs hold of her.
BUFFY
What? Where are you going?
WILLOW
I forgot one of Giles' books. It's
still in my stupid room. I have to
go get it.
BUFFY
Wait.. Where did you leave it?
WILLOW
It's on the bed.
BUFFY
Look, I can go get it. You just stay
here and look after Dawn, okay?
Willow thinks for a bit, then nods. Buffy smiles and
leaves. Willow turns slowly towards a mirror and
stares at her reflection.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREETS - NIGHT
We see Buffy walking along the crowded main street of
Sunnydale. She is carrying a book. A few people see
Buffy and ever so slightly change their course..
keeping their distance. Buffy notices but carries on.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE SUNNYDALE CINEMA - NIGHT
Buffy comes across the Sunnydale cinema. She watches
the people going in, all happy and cheery. She walks
over to the wall and looks at a line of movie posters.
Buffy looks at each one.. each selling a different
world.
ANGLE ON : A MOVIE POSTER
entitled "Closing on Night". A Merchant-Ivory type
period costume drame. The poster shows a lone woman in
a green field, wearing a period dress and holding an
umbrella.
BUFFY
(wistfully)
Any life but mine.
Suddenly..
WHISPERING VOICE (O.S.)
(sweet and seductive
voice)
Buffy.
Buffy spins around and looks around at some of the few
people walking by. Some give Buffy strange looks, most
ignore her. Buffy looks confused.
WHISPERING VOICE (O.S.)
Buffy.. Over here.
Buffy turns to look over to her right. She starts
following the sound of the voice. She walks away from
the cinema, away from the crowds.
She turns a corner, following the voice. She sees an
abandoned building in a dark and deserted part of
town.
WHISPERING VOICE (O.S.)
In here Buffy.
Buffy comes up to the door, finds it locked, then
breaks through it. She enters.
INT. AN ABANDONED BUILDING - NIGHT
as Buffy walks carefully through the deserted
building. She walks into a large, empty room. Debris
scattered everywhere on the dirty, concrete floor.
BUFFY
Where are you?
We hear a low grumbling.. the room begins to shake.
Buffy tries to steady herself. The noise becomes
louder.. the noise of something grinding through
concrete. In the centre of the room, we see the floor
beginning to break apart. Suddenly, a loud noise as
something explodes through the floor, causing concrete
and dust to fly everywhere. Buffy takes cover.
The noise dissapears. Buffy straigthens back up,
trying to peer through the dust. Her eyes widen as she
sees something ahead of her..
REVERSE ANGLE : A WELL
jutting through the concrete floor. The well is
crooked and is made out of oddly shaped rocks.
WHISPERING VOICE (O.S.)
I can help you.
Buffy, drawn to the voice, walks up to the well, sees
the rope and begins to climb down.
INT. INSIDE A WELL - NIGHT
As Buffy hits the bottom of the well. She is lighted
from above.. darkness surrounds her in every
direction. Buffy drops the book she is carrying and
takes out her stake.
WHISPERING VOICE
Stay with me.
Buffy spins around, trying to locate the voice.
BUFFY
Show yourself.
Buffy hears something moving. She turns to see.
REVERSE ANGLE : DARKNESS
from which something emerges. A face. We can only just
make it out as it is still hidden in semi-darkness but
we can tell it isn't a pleasant looking face. The face
is disfigured, with lesions and boils.
WHISPERER
I can help you.
BUFFY
(takes a beat to look at
Whisperer)
I don't think so.
WHISPERER
Then leave.
Buffy remains rooted to the spot.
WHISPERER
You can't you see. You need me. You
cannot resist me.
BUFFY
Okay, this thrall thing? Doesn't
work on me. And I've like met the
guy who practically invented it.
WHISPERER
I will admit that your will is
stronger than the others. But you
see, you can't escape from this. We
have heard your wishes.
BUFFY
Wishes?
WHISPERER
Everytime someone makes a wish,
however trivial, however fanciful..
we are listening. When we see that
person in pain, at their lowest
point, we call on them and offer
them their wishes.
BUFFY
Somehow, you're not who I pictured
as my happy wish fairy. I was
thinking more like, you know, a nice
little old lady with a wand.. and
wings.. and one of those cute pointy
hats?
WHISPERER
Nevertheless, we can offer you
something pure. A new start.. a new
life.
BUFFY
A new what?
WHISPERER
We don't have the power to alter
anything in this world. But we do
have the ability to open portals to
alternate realities. You see, there
is an infinite number of realities,
all running parallel to this one.
BUFFY
An infinite number of Buffys?
WHISPERER
Yes, and in one of these, you will
find the life you seek.
BUFFY
And what? You're doing all this out
of the goodness of your demony
heart?.. or hearts?
WHISPERER
Well, nothing comes free. This is
the deal I will offer you.. the same
deal I have offered the others. I
will open a portal to the life you
have wished for. I will transport
you into that dimension. You will
spend twenty-four hours there, at
the end of which, the portal will
reopen for a short time. If you
choose to return to this reality,
all you need do is step through the
portal. But, if you choose that new
life, do nothing and it will be
yours. Your memory will be wiped
clean and you can have your perfect,
guilt-free existence. An existence
as real as this one.
BUFFY
What do you get out of it?
WHISPERER
If you choose to stay, you will have
no further need of the body you are
currently inhabiting in this realm.
That will stay here with me.
BUFFY
Wait.. what exactly do you want with
my body?
WHISPERER
I find that people don't usually ask
that question. It makes the decision
more.. complicated. Besides, it
doesn't matter. You'll be living
your new life with no memory of this
one. All your pain will be washed
away.
BUFFY
This is insane. You can't be
serious.
WHISPERER
We're giving people what they want.
An escape from a life filled with
pain and anger. It's not so strange.
You humans are always looking for a
way out of your dreary, broken-down
lives. We offer the real thing.
BUFFY
There's no way.. There are two
things I live by. Never trust a
demon.. and, you know, never try to
pet a cat whose owner always wears
really long sleeves.
WHISPERER
No tricks Buffy. But I must inform
you, many have been offered.. none
have ever returned.
Buffy takes a beat to think, looking hard at the
Whisperer.
BUFFY
Gotta admit. That's some sales pitch
you got there.. But I'm not buying.
WHISPERER
But you've already asked. There's no
choice now.
Suddenly, a bright portal opens in front of Buffy,
accompanied by a loud roar. The portal looks like some
giant demony mouth, all red on the inside, with long,
thin red tentacles flaying about.. reaching out to
Buffy.
BUFFY
(startled)
Wait.. I never asked. When did I
ask?
Whisperer smiles and closes his eyes. He speaks, but
this time, in Buffy's own voice.
WHISPERER
(in Buffy's voice)
Do you know what I wished for on my
birthday, when I blew out those
candles? I wished that my Mom could
come back. I wished that I didn't
have to be a parent to Dawn. I
wished my life was just normal.
Whisperer opens his eyes.
BUFFY
That.. that wasn't.. I mean, it
wasn't serious.
WHISPERER
Twenty-four hours Buffy.
A bright flash emanates from the portal, lighting up
the well. It reveals the Whisperer as a head attached
to one giant, disfigured blob, coiled all the way
around Buffy. Buffy looks.. startled.
The light from the portal reaches out and envelops
Buffy, then sucks back into the portal. We see Buffy's
body collapse to the ground, lifeless.
EXT. ON TOP OF A BUILDING - NIGHT
As the demony mouth portal rips open in the middle of
the air, roaring at the night. The portal hangs at the
edge of the roof of a building, about five feet up in
the air above the rooftop. Buffy is spat out and she
falls heavily onto the roof. Buffy turns to see the
portal close. All is again quiet.
ANGLE : BUFFY
as she slowly stands and looks around her nervously.
She stares at the world around her, searching for
something familiar.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT ONE
CONTINUE TO ACT TWO