Episode 16 - Home
ACT FOUR INT. CAVE COMPLEX - NIGHT Near the cave entrance, we see Buffy sitting on a chair, surrounded by Spike and a group of vamps, standing in a circle around Buffy. Spike takes a good look at Buffy, then at Buffy's stake in his hands. SPIKE (looking at the stake) Optimistic.. aren't we? Spike flings the stake away and comes closer to Buffy. SPIKE Well, aren't you a nummy treat? Spike plays with Buffy's hair. Buffy watches Spike warily. SPIKE So tell me Buffy, are you a real blonde? When I bite in, will I suddenly find myself nibbling on a yummy brunette centre? BUFFY (looking up at Spike's hair) You can talk. Spike smiles, lets go of Buffy's hair and takes a step back. SPIKE You know, I wonder if there's enough of you to go around? Buffy takes a nervous look around her. Vamps all around. Her gaze lingers on a vamp standing by the cave door, with all sorts of gadgets behind him. SPIKE Don't worry your pretty head. I plan to have you all to myself. Spike leans in again, close to Buffy's face. Buffy flinches away a little. SPIKE I must say, I've always wondered what you would taste like. Someone like you.. so young, with so much vigour and fire in your blood. Spike brushes some of Buffy's hair away to expose her neck. SPIKE (whispering into her ear) I bet you taste sweet. You smell sweet. Buffy lashes out with her hand to try to hit Spike but Spike catches her hand in time, holding on to her wrist. SPIKE That's it! Show a little fight. Just make you taste all the better. Spike stares hard into Buffy's eyes. Buffy meets his gaze, not flinching away. Spike's demeanour changes slightly, almost as if seeing something in Buffy's eyes. Then from off-screen.. DRUSILLA (O.S.) Naughty, naughty.. Spike and Buffy turn to see Drusilla walking in. Spike immediately breaks away from Buffy to be by Drusilla's side. DRUSILLA You started playing with the kitten without me. BUFFY I almost forgot. Spike version one comes with its own Dru accessory. DRUSILLA (to Buffy) Fluffy kitten.. with sad, sad eyes. Meeoow. BUFFY (giving Drusilla a strange look) Batteries not included. Drusilla comes closer to Buffy, reaching out to pat her like a beloved pet. Buffy lashes out with her hand, attempting to slap Drusilla's hand away. Drusilla pulls back. DRUSILLA Kitten has claws. (wags her finger at Buffy) Naughty, naughty kitten. SPIKE Not kittens my sweet. Caterpillars. BUFFY Oh, this gets better and better. SPIKE That's what you are, all you humans. You haven't ascended to what we've become. We've emerged from our cocoons and taken flight.. free from your weak, pathetic bodies.. free to take our true form. Bloody butterflies and moths.. that's what we are. BUFFY Mothra and Druzilla. That's quite a tag team you got there. SPIKE Mock all you like, but we are pure.. untainted by remorse or a conscience. It is something you can never feel. BUFFY I don't know. To me, it sure sounds like someone's got a big case of mirror envy., you know, big non- reflecty event and all. Spike smiles and turns to Drusilla, caressing her face. SPIKE I may not be able to see myself in a mirror.. but I see myself grand in her eyes. Spike and Drusilla kiss. Buffy looks at them for a beat, and then casts another sideways glance.. looking at something. She stands up from the chair. BUFFY (to Spike) Okay, do you want me? SPIKE (turning slowly to face Buffy) You offering? BUFFY Sure. But you're gonna have to take me. Spike breaks from Drusilla, smiles and slowly approaches Buffy. SPIKE Well, look at you. Who's gone and got herself a pretty little delusion then? You think you can take me little girl? BUFFY Here's the deal. We fight, just you and me. If I beat you, you're going to go in there and free everyone you took tonight. Spike laughs. A few of the vamps join in. SPIKE You're not serious. BUFFY I thought you liked your girls to fight back. What's the matter Spike? Afraid of losing to a girl? SPIKE Hey! I'm not bloody afraid of anything okay? DRUSILLA (quietly singing Barney's theme song to herself) I love you, you love me, we're a happy family.. Spike's eyes bulge a little. BUFFY What did she say? SPIKE (let's move on) Nothing. Let's get back to you. Now, why would I want to fight you, when I can just kill you. BUFFY Because, Spike, I know all about you. Spike gives Buffy a curious look. Drusilla is also now staring hard at Buffy. She glides forward. DRUSILLA (channelling) She doesn't belong here. SPIKE Dru? DRUSILLA She's on the outside looking in. Drusilla cocks her head, staring at Buffy at an odd angle. A beat, then.. DRUSILLA (to Spike) Let's turn her insides out. SPIKE Hold on there pet. What do you mean she doesn't belong? BUFFY She means I'm not from this reality. Caught the big one-way express.. from Sunnydale to Sunnydale by way of London and Bedford Falls. I'm just subbing for your real Buffy till I find my way back. SPIKE Quite a story. BUFFY It gets better. Back in my reality, I'm the slayer. SPIKE (half-laughing) You? The slayer? I've seen munchkins bigger than you. BUFFY Well, let me tell you. In my reality, this little munchkin's been kicking your pale, white ass up and down the yellow brick road. You've never beaten me.. not even close. And I'm thinking, you're not gonna beat me here either.. William. Spike stares at Buffy.. then smiles. Drusilla turns to Spike. DRUSILLA Kill her for me. Kill her for Princess. SPIKE Of course pet. Anything for you. Spike approaches Buffy. SPIKE I don't quite follow that tune you're playing blondie.. (vamps) but I'll play along. BUFFY (nodding to her stake, lying on the ground) My stake? I mean, just to make it interesting. SPIKE You think you can stick me with that little thing? BUFFY Why don't we find out? Spike smiles and nods to a vamp. The vamp picks up the stake and throws it to Buffy who catches it. SPIKE Take a good look at my face Buffy. It'll be the last thing you'll see.. in this world or any other. ANGLE : SPIKE AND BUFFY in a wider two-shot. Spike and Buffy slightly crouching, facing off against each other. Buffy has her stake held at the ready. They are surrounded in a rough circle by a few vamps and Drusilla. A smiling Spike fakes a few attacks, jolting in, trying to scare Buffy. SPIKE C'mon 'slayer'. I'm a bloody gentleman. I'll let you make the first move. With that, Spike straightens up and opens his arms out wide, inviting Buffy to stake him. Buffy straightens up, but turns away from Spike, holding the stake above her head. ANGLE : SPIKE looking confused. He looks over at what Buffy is looking at. REVERSE ANGLE : A LARGE VAMP standing by the cave door entrance. To his left, we see a big green button set in a wall. SPIKE (yelling) The door! Too late.. as Buffy flings the stake hard towards the button. We TRACK the stake as it cartwheels through the air. ANGLE ON : A FOOT as the stake enters the frame and slams into the vamp's foot. ANGLE : LARGE VAMP BY THE DOOR as he starts screaming, his face a picture of pain. BUFFY (nervous sing-songy) Damn. The large vamp starts hopping around on his good foot, yelling out in pain. He then starts to hop around in a circle. Aside from his screams, the room is quiet.. all eyes focused on the hopping vamp, not quite believing the scene before them. The large vamp finally takes a look down at his foot to see the stake sticking out from it. He reaches down, closes his eyes, and pulls the stake out. In the process, he overbalances and starts to fall backwards, falling right back into the button. Click. The doors start to part. SPIKE Bloody hell. Spike rushes past Buffy towards the switch and starts pressing on it. The door, however, continues to open. The large vamp, looking a little disorientated, stands in the open doorway, looking out at the night. CLOSE ON : LARGE VAMP'S FACE as he stares out at the night. After a beat, his eyes widen.. seeing something. ANGLE : LARGE VAMP from the side, as something leaps into him hard, propelling them past a ducking Buffy and into three other vamps. Spike takes a few steps forward. Buffy straightens up and looks at him. SPIKE Slayer! ANGLE : BUFFY in the foreground of the screen, looking at Spike, as if Spike was addressing her. She then turns to look behind her. We PULL FOCUS onto the background where we see.. the slayer, standing over four vamps. Cue : Fighty Music The vamps start to get to their feet. The slayer stakes two of them quickly as they get up. The big vamp leaps at the slayer from behind but she expertly flips him over to the ground, then stakes him without batting an eyelid. The fourth vamp, seeing all this, runs away. ANGLE : SPIKE Spike, hanging by the door with a few other vamps. SPIKE (to the vamps) Well, go get her! The three vamps start to rush the slayer. We hear a something whizzing through the air, then see one of the vamps turn to dust. Spike, seeing this, backs up into the safety of the shadows. ANGLE : GILES running through the doorway, past Spike, with a crossbow held aloft. He holds on to another crossbow with the other hand. He throws the second crossbow to Buffy. ANGLE : BUFFY nodding to Giles, then running off in search of the captives. ANGLE : GILES looking on at Buffy for a beat. He then turns his attention to his slayer, taking on two vamps. He looks back down as he reloads his crossbow. ANGLE : SPIKE emerging from the shadows, an angry snarl on his face. He approaches Giles from behind, looking like he is about to attack Giles. Giles hears something to his right and immediately aims his crossbow to see.. Drusilla, standing quietly in a corner, just quietly watching proceedings. Spike sees Giles aiming at Drusilla. SPIKE Dru! Giles spins around towards Spike and fires. Spike neatly evades the bolt as it whizzes by, then, in a flash, knocks Giles away to the ground. Spike rushes over to Drusilla and ferries her out of the cave. Giles, on the ground, takes one last shot at Spike but misses. We see Spike and Drusilla dissapearing into the dark forest outside. INT. CAVE COMPLEX/HALLWAY - NIGHT As we see Buffy barrelling down the hallway. BUFFY (yelling) Kasey? Kasey! She turns to another intersecting hallway. This time we see a series of large metal doors lining the hallway. Buffy looks through the tiny window of the first metal door. BUFFY Kasey? VOICE FROM INSIDE Hello? Help us. VOICE #2 FROM INSIDE Please get us out of here. Buffy tries the door but finds it locked. BUFFY It's locked. Just hold on, okay? I'll get some help. INT. CAVE COMPLEX/GROTTO - NIGHT ANGLE : KASEY sitting on the floor with the little girl. BUFFY (O.S.) (faintly) Listen, how many of you are there? Kasey perks up, hearing Buffy's voice. KASEY (to herself) Buffy? Kasey stands and takes a few steps towards the door. KASEY (louder) Buffy? INT. CAVE COMPLEX/HALLWAY - NIGHT ANGLE : BUFFY as she spins around, hearing Kasey's voice. She rushes over to a series of doors near the end of the hallway, unsure of where the voice came from. BUFFY Kasey? We see a pair of hands grabbing the metal bars in the tiny window in the door near the end of the hallway. KASEY I'm here. Buffy rushes over to the door and grabs hold of Kasey's hands. We can hardly see Kasey's face as she tries to peek over the tall window. BUFFY Are you okay? KASEY As far as being captured by taser- wielding vamps and thrown in a dark cave where people are being dragged out without returning goes.. I'm fine. BUFFY Thanks for the context. KASEY I try to be thorough. Can you get us out? BUFFY Stand back. Buffy takes a step back from the door and kicks at the lock, trying to break it. No luck. Buffy comes back up to the door, slightly hobbling. BUFFY Okay.. ow. KASEY Who do you think you are? Kip Van Winkle? BUFFY Who? Actually, forget it. We'll play 'Things I don't understand about this place' later. Buffy looks around and sees nothing that can help her. She turns back to the window. BUFFY Listen. I'm going to go see if I can get something to get this door open. You just stay here okay. Just be here when I get back. KASEY Okay. Buffy squeezes Kasey's hands through the bars. Buffy turns to go. KASEY Buffy? Buffy turns. KASEY I knew you'd come. Buffy smiles, then departs. INT. THE CAGE - NIGHT As we see a vamp enter the cage through a door. He looks up nervously as we hear some deep breathing.. monkeys screaming in the background. REVERSE ANGLE: SILVERBACK from the back. We see his massive frame rising up and down slowly as he takes deep breaths. We see several wires still attached to his head and chest, monitoring him. VAMP Master.. there is a problem. The complex has been breached. SILVERBACK (without turning back) Deal with it. VAMP But.. it's the slayer. SILVERBACK I said, deal with it. I have no time to deal with such matters. This has to be finished tonight. We see a bright glow emanate around his wide frame. We see a body fall to the ground to his feet.. lifeless. Silverback turns to face the vamp, looking down on him. SILVERBACK And fetch me the next specimen. INT. CAVE COMPLEX - NIGHT CUE : Fighty Music ANGLE : SLAYER fighting the two vamps. The slayer's movements look wild but are precise and effective. She fights with a burning rage, always on the attack. She ducks under a vamp's swing and stakes him fron below. She screams in victory. ANGLE : GILES covering his slayer's back. He sees two vamps running down the hallway towards him. They approach quickly. Giles aims with his crossbow and fires. ANGLE : TWO VAMPS as one goes poof. The second vamp continues to run at Giles. ANGLE : GILES starting to reload but, seeing the vamp getting very close, throws the crossbow away and reaches inside his coat. He pulls out a stake just as the vamp leaps at him. The two fall to the ground, the vamp on top. Giles tries to stake the vamp but the vamp manages to catch his arm in time. The vamp squeezes Giles' wrist hard, causing Giles to let out a grimace and drop the stake. Giles struggles but the vamp is too strong. Vamp smiles, shows his fangs and goes for Giles' neck. We see a dirty arm reach around the vamp's neck and a hand on the vamp's head. With one quick, brutal movement, we see the vamp's head being violently snapped around to its side. We hear a loud crack and the vamp dissapears in a pile of dust.. to reveal the slayer standing above Giles. Giles looks up gratefully at the slayer. He looks hard into her eyes. The slayer stares back for a second, her dirty face partly hidden by her hair. Giles reaches out with his hand, reaching out to her. We see the slayer's hand move a little towards Giles' hand, then pulls back. She lets out a low growl then runs off. Giles pulls himself up and follows, picking up the crossbow as he goes. INT. CAVE COMPLEX/HALLWAY - NIGHT Buffy scampers around, looking for something. She finds some kind of storage area, with boxes and crates. She sees an axe lying on top of one of the boxes. Buffy grabs it and runs off-screen. INT. CAVE COMPLEX/GROTTO - NIGHT Excited whispers from the captives. All standing and ready to leave. We hear someone at the door. Kasey and the others take a step forward. The door unlocks to reveal.. jailer vamp. Kasey and the rest of the group back off, Kasey standing in front of the girl. JAILER VAMP (smiling) So, who wants to be next? The captives inch backwards, away from the vamp. The vamp takes a look at the faces, then sees the girl peeking out from behind Kasey. JAILER VAMP Perhaps something a little.. younger? The businessman takes a step forward towards the vamp. BUSINESSMAN What are you people? She's just a girl! JAILER VAMP If you want to take her place, I'll be happy to put her at the back of the queue. The businessman stares at the vamp for a beat, considering something. He then looks down at the ground.. ashamed. JAILER VAMP (savouring his victory, looking around at the group) Anybody? Step up now or forever hold your peace. ANGLE : KASEY looking very concerned, staring at.. REVERSE ANGLE: the space behind the vamp.. looking, searching. Nobody but two vamps waiting in the hallway. KASEY (quietly) Buffy, Buffy, Buffy. JAILER VAMP (after waiting for a beat) Okay.. Dealer's choice. The vamp steps forward towards the girl. KASEY No.. Take me. I'll go. The vamp turns to Kasey and smiles. He takes a step back, giving her a 'ladies first' gesture. Kasey kneels to talk to the girl. KASEY I'm just going to go with them for a little while. You stay here, okay? Kasey looks up at the businessman, standing frozen against the wall. She leads the girl by the hand to the businessman. KASEY (to the girl) While I'm gone, I want you to listen to whatever he says. He'll take care of you. Kasey looks at a stunned businessman and gives a quick smile. She puts the girl's hand in his, then walks out the door, followed by the jailer vamp. The businessman looks on, helpless. INT. CAVE COMPLEX/HALLWAY - NIGHT as we TRACK Buffy as she runs along an empty hallway, carrying an axe. We hear some footsteps. Buffy hides behind a large boulder as we set two vamps walk by. She wait impatiently for a beat as the vamps slowly pass by. Once the vamps have departed, Buffy springs up again and starts running. She turns into the prison chamber. She goes to the first door down the hallway. BUFFY (yelling through the window) Stand back! Buffy, with great effort, swings the axe, repeatedly striking at the lock. It takes her a bit of time, but the lock eventually breaks and she opens the door. A group of people come running out. BUFFY (to the group) Go down the hallway and turn right. That should lead you to the exit. The way should be clear. Run! The group takes off together as Buffy moves on to the next door, wearily lifting the axe. Giles and the slayer arrive. Buffy turns and sees them. BUFFY Giles! Over here! They're locked behind these doors. The slayer sees all this and immediately backs up and runs into the door, ramming it repeatedly until it breaks open. The captives run free. The slayer heads over to the next door down the line. Buffy runs over to the last door, the one where Kasey was. She breaks open the lock with the axe and opens the door. People begin streaming out. Buffy takes a look at each one as they pass. BUFFY Kasey? The businessman, holding on to the girl by his hand, spots Buffy. BUSINESSMAN Is that the girl you were talking to before? BUFFY Yeah. Where'd she go? BUSINESSMAN They took her. I don't know where. The businessman shares a look with Buffy, then leads the girl out with the rest of the group. Buffy looks concerned. INT. THE CAGE - NIGHT as Kasey is led into the cage. We follow her nervous gaze.. monkeys screaming, banks of computers, a table with severial vials of a strange-looking liquid and a metallic glove hooked up to a machine. Silverback dominates the cage. We see Silverback's back, heaving up and down.. wires attached to his head and chest. He reaches out and takes the metallic glove from the table. KASEY (nervously and quietly, staring at the massive figure) Head up, eyes straight.. head up, eyes straight. Silverback turns around and looks at Kasey. Silverback reaches out with his gloved hand and touches her cheek. Kasey looks terrified but doesn't flinch. ANGLE : BUFFY, GILES AND THE SLAYER as they round a corner, entering a new area of the cavern; Buffy in the lead. Buffy carries a crossbow while Giles has the axe. Buffy sees something.. REVERSE ANGLE: THE CAGE in the distance, guarded by six vamps. Inside the cage, she sees Kasey and Silverback. ANGLE : KASEY AND SILVERBACK with Silverback holding on to Kasey's head with both hands. The glove suddenly comes whirring to life. A bright white glow emanates from the glove and surrounds Kasey's head. ANGLE : BUFFY BUFFY (yelling) Kasey! The vamp guards turn to see the three intruders. Five of them come running towards them. The slayer pushes past Giles and Buffy and runs forward to take them on. We see the slayer leap into the fray, without an ounce of fear. Giles charges in with his axe to help her out. Buffy skirts past the fight as she approaches the cage. She takes another look up at the cage. ANGLE : KASEY AND SILVERBACK Silverback still has his hands on Kasey's head. The white glow from the glove much more intense now. We see Kasey, her eyes frozen open, unable to do anything. We PAN from the glove and follow a cable leading from the glove to a flashing machine on the table and then a tube from the machine leading into the cranium of Silverback. Kasey begins to wither.. growing weaker. ANGLE : BUFFY as she takes a look around. She spots something. She starts to walk towards it when she sees a vamp. ANGLE : JAILER VAMP spotting Buffy and walking slowly and threateningly towards her. ANGLE : BUFFY frantically reloading her crossbow as she talks.. BUFFY Hold on Kasey. I'm coming.. Buffy raises the crossbow and shoots towards the jailer vamp. She misses him. Jailer vamp continues to walk towards her. Buffy reloads again. BUFFY Not long now.. ANGLE : KASEY in Silverback's hands. Looking very pale. ANGLE ON : MONKEYS shrieking in the cage. ANGLE : BUFFY as she raises the crossbow again and fires. She misses the vamp again. JAILER VAMP (smiles) Not even close girl. Buffy reloads again, intermittently looking up and something. ANGLE : JAILER VAMP suddenly stopping in his tracks, realising Buffy isn't looking at him. He turns around to see.. REVERSE ANGLE : A LARGE POWER CABLE which runs along the cave wall and into the cage. We see two bolts already embedded in the cable.. sparks beginning to fly out from it. ANGLE : JAILER VAMP spinning around angrily to look at Buffy, then runs backwards towards the cable. He reaches a control box next to the cable and fiddles in there. ANGLE : BUFFY as she fires again. ANGLE ON : THE CABLE as the third bolt strikes into it. This time, there is a large explosion and the power to the complex cuts out for a moment. We see jailer vamp zapped by the electricity and is dusted. ANGLE : KASEY AND SILVERBACK as the power is cut off to the cage. We go to black for a second before secondary power source kicks in. Silverback lets go of Kasey. Kasey falls to the ground. Silverback looks at his glove which isn't working. Kasey, on the ground, slowly recovers. She looks up to see Silverback frantically punching buttons at a control panel. Kasey drags herself up from the floor, and leans on the table. SILVERBACK (with back turned) No.. No! Kasey spies the vial of liquid on the table, grabs it and throws it at Silverback's face as he turns around. The liquid seems to burn Silverback's face as he lets out a loud scream. He falls to the floor, clutching at his face. Buffy runs up to Kasey and the two stare at each other through the bars of the cage. Kasey takes a look at the cage door.. blocked by the writhing figure of Silverback. She looks up.. Buffy follows her gaze. REVERSE ANGLE : TOP OF THE CAGE where we see the cage has no roof. Kasey looks back at Buffy. Buffy looks at Kasey. A pregnant pause.. then a roar from Silverback which Kasey takes as the cue to begin to climbing up the cage. Buffy takes a few nervous looks down at Silverback and then back up at Kasey. BUFFY A little faster. KASEY (while climbing; snarky) A little less with the obvious. Kasey reaches the top, flips over, then drops down to Buffy who half-catches her. They fall to the ground. They smile at each other. KASEY Hey. BUFFY Hi. Silverback growls and gets to his feet. Seeing this, Kasey and Buffy do likewise and take off, away from the cage. We see Silverback angrily tear off all the wires and tubes attached to his body. He sees the departing figures of Kasey and Buffy.. then looks up. REVERSE ANGLE : A LONG CHAIN hanging loosely down from the hidden ceiling. ANGLE : SLAYER as she finishes off two more vamps. She turns to look at Giles. ANGLE : GILES who promptly beheads a vamp with the axe (off-screen of course).. the vamp turns to dust. Giles and Slayer take a moment to survey the battlefield. Nobody left standing but them. Buffy and Kasey run into the scene. GILES (with relief) Buffy. You made it. BUFFY Yeah. But I think we should really consider getting out of here post- hasty. Giles looks behind Buffy. GILES Where's Silverback? Buffy and Kasey turn to look behind them. REVERSE ANGLE: THE CAGE far off in the distance in this huge chamber. The cage is empty. The lights in the complex flickering on and off. Buffy, Kasey and Giles stand bewildered for a beat. Kasey is the one who first notices the sound. KASEY Listen. What is that? We hear a faint metallic jingling sound, like wind- chimes. The sound gets progressively louder and louder. Buffy looks up. BUFFY (with dread) The chains. ANGLE : THE CEILING hidden in darkness. We do see the ends of long metal chains lined up all the way down the length of the cavern. Far off in the distance, we see the end of one chain swinging towards another, then that chain swinging across to its neighbour, as if some invisible beast were using them to traverse across the room. Buffy, Kasey, Giles and the slayer turn and run. We CUT to a wide-shot, looking down the cavern with the four figures running towards the camera and the swinging chains above them getting closer and closer. The four reach the exit but Silverback lands in front of them with almighty thud. The four screech to a halt. Silverback swats the slayer away like she was a fly, sending her flying hard into a wall. Giles swings and buries the axe into Silverback's back. The axe sticks in its back but Silverback seems unaffected. He spins around and knocks Giles away. Silverback turns to Buffy and Kasey, standing next to each other. He tries to squash them with his fist, slamming down hard with his hand. Buffy and Kasey dive away from each other, avoiding the giant fist. Buffy loses the crossbow in the process. ANGLE : SLAYER as she picks herself up from the floor, her face bloodied. She sees Silverback and runs fearlessly at him again. Silverback senses her coming and knocks her away again, sending her crashing even harder into another rock wall. The slayer rebounds off the wall and lies flat on the ground, not moving. ANGLE : BUFFY as she crawls on her hands and knees to find shelter in a gap between the wall and a large refrigerator- size piece of computer equipment. She sits breathlessly, hiding behind the large metal box. We hear Silverback nearby, breathing heavily and shaking the ground with each step. She sees Silverback's shadow passing her by. She takes a look around to see a whole row of similar metal boxes to her left and right. Suddenly, the metal box she is hiding behind is pulled away, revealing Silverback standing right behind her. Immediately, Buffy crawls quickly away on her hands and knees, over to the next metal box which Silverback promptly pulls away. Buffy continues to crawl up the row of boxes while Silverback pulls each one away, trying to grab her. Suddenly, the box in front of her is squashed against the back wall. Buffy stops, avoiding being crushed by centimetres. She gets up and starts to run in the opposite direction, out in the open. We see Silverback leap up, grab hold to one of the chains hanging from the roof and swing over Buffy, then landing in front of her. Buffy pulls up and falls over onto her butt. She scrambles backwards using her feet and hands. Silverback looks down at Buffy and raises his arms, ready to swing down. VOICE (O.S.) Hey! Silverback turns to see.. ANGLE : KASEY as she aims the crossbow at him. KASEY Leave her alone! Kasey fires. The bolt strikes Silverback in his left eye. Silverback hollers in pain and grabs hold of his injured eye. Half-blind, Silverback swings wildly at Kasey, who avoids him and runs over to help Buffy up. As Silverback turns to face Kasey and Buffy, we hear a loud shriek and see the slayer leap onto Silverback's back, with one arm tight around his neck. She hangs on tight as Silverback tries to break free from her, flinging her around on his back. The slayer reaches down with her free hand and pulls out the axe embedded in Silverback's back. As Silverback lets out one last mighty roar, we see the slayer swing down with the axe, striking him somewhere in his chest. The roar is cut short. Silverback falls with a thud. There is no more sound or movement coming from him. The slayer stands up over him and swings down with the axe again, striking the body (off-screen) over and over. ANGLE : KASEY AND BUFFY looking at the slayer. Giles comes up behind them and watches his slayer for a beat, then walks slowly up to her. As the slayer continues to shriek and strike the body with the axe, Giles comes up behind her and gently places a hand on her shoulder. The slayer spins around to look at Giles with rage in her eyes. Giles holds out his hand and nods to her. The slayer looks at his hand, then down at the dead body of Silverback. After a beat, she calms down and hands him the axe. She walks away off-screen, with Giles, Kasey and Buffy slowly following. EXT. GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT to establish. INT. GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT ANGLE : KASEY looking a little shell-shocked. KASEY Wow. We WIDEN to reveal Kasey and Buffy sitting across each other in Giles' apartment. BUFFY Yeah. KASEY I mean.. wow. BUFFY Oh, I think being spat out in an alternate reality where I get to play myself deserves at least three wows. KASEY Wow. BUFFY (smiles) Thanks. KASEY So, you're not.. BUFFY Well, technically yes.. but for all intents and purposes.. I'm not the Buffy you know. KASEY And you don't know me? I mean, back in your reality? BUFFY Sorry. Kasey looks crestfallen, nodding quietly to herself, trying to absorb everything in. BUFFY But I'm sure you'll get good ol' non-demon fighting Buffy back once I go through the portal. Buffy looks at her watch. BUFFY Speaking of which, this ride should end in about an hour. Everything should pretty much return to normal after that. GILES (standing near the kitchen, putting away bandages) You should probably get going. You shouldn't take any chances. BUFFY (looks at Giles; quietly) Yeah. Buffy gets up and starts to slowly head over to the slayer, huddled in her usual corner. There are some bandages on her. The slayer notices Buffy approaching and adopts a more defensive posture but doesn't run away. Buffy kneels down in front of the slayer and gently takes her hand, giving it a little squeeze. The slayer looks up briefly at Buffy through her hair, then turns away. BUFFY (to Giles) She's in there Giles. You just have to keep looking. Buffy stands and walks to to Giles. BUFFY (reading his expression) Don't worry. You'll know what to do. Take care of her okay? Buffy smiles warmly to Giles, squeezes his arm and then walks past him and over to Kasey by the door. ANGLE : GILES his back turned to Buffy. GILES Buffy? Buffy stops and turns. Giles does likewise. GILES In your reality.. are you the slayer? BUFFY (smiles) The best. GILES And.. in your reality, am I your watcher? BUFFY No. Giles looks ever so subtly disheartened. BUFFY (earnestly) You're so much more. The two share a smile. BUFFY I'll see you soon. Buffy turns and exits with Kasey. Giles looks on warmly. EXT. OUTSIDE GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT as Buffy and Kasey exit through the door. Buffy takes a deep breath of the night air. KASEY So.. you're going now? Buffy looks at Kasey for a beat, considering something, then.. BUFFY I've got time for one last stop. EXT. OUTSIDE A HOUSE - NIGHT ANGLE ON : A DOOR as it opens to reveal.. Joyce, smiling radiantly. JOYCE Buffy! Kasey! Why if it isn't my two favourite girls. Joyce hugs both in turn. Buffy, looking a little overwhelmed, hugs Joyce a little longer, not really wanting to let go. JOYCE You two just don't drop by anymore. BUFFY Sorry. JOYCE Come in, come in! I've got some lasagne I could reheat in the microwave. Joyce hurriedly enters the kitchen. BUFFY Mom. Buffy follows Joyce into the kitchen. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/KITCHEN - NIGHT As Buffy enters. We see Joyce placing something in the microwave and setting the timer. She then goes back into the fridge and gets something. ANGLE : BUFFY the tension gone from her face as she just watches her mother lovingly. She smiles. Joyce takes out a cake from the fridge. She sees Buffy. JOYCE Oh, there you are. I just have to drop this off for Mrs Roberts. She's been laid down with the flu all week, poor thing. I promised her I'd bake her a cake but I didn't have time. So, I bought this on the way back. (looks at the cake) Think she'll buy it? I mean, it doesn't look too professional? BUFFY (smiles) It's perfect. Joyce smiles warmly. JOYCE I'll be right back sweetie. Joyce starts to head out the back door. BUFFY Mom? Joyce turns around. JOYCE Yes honey? Buffy looks at Joyce for a moment, then smiles. BUFFY Nothing. Joyce gives Buffy a curious look, then returns her smile. She heads out the door. ANGLE : BUFFY as she looks on a little tearily. She then looks up at the ceiling and heads off-screen. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/DINING ROOM - NIGHT Where we see Kasey sitting in one of the dining room chairs, looking contemplative and a little sad. After a beat, she gets up and peeks into the kitchen. KASEY Buffy? No response. Kasey heads out to.. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/FOYER - NIGHT where she looks up the stairs. She begins to head up. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT Where we see Buffy at a doorway, looking sadly in. REVERSE ANGLE : DAWN'S ROOM or at least, what should have been Dawn's room. It is now a study of some sort. A table instead of a bed, books instead of dolls. BUFFY (sadly; quietly to herself) I wish I didn't have to be a parent to Dawn. Kasey comes up to her. KASEY Hey. BUFFY Hi. KASEY Did you talk to her? BUFFY Yes and no. The conversation was kinda short. KASEY You didn't want to say anything to her? I thought that's why you came back here. BUFFY Yeah.. but just looking at her, I realised. KASEY What? BUFFY That there's nothing to say. I mean, she knows. (smiling) She knows. We never left anything unsaid. Kasey smiles. Buffy looks back into the room. KASEY So, you're really going huh? Buffy nods to Kasey. BUFFY I mean, for a while there.. when I saw her, I thought that maybe this was where I was meant to be. That, you know, this was some kinda gift. KASEY But? BUFFY (looks back into Dawn's room) But.. I need to get back. They're people back there that I love dearly.. that I can't leave. KASEY They're people here who love you too. BUFFY (smiles) But, you see, that's a different person.. a different life. It isn't me. KASEY I know. BUFFY Besides, back there, I'm the slayer. It's my life. It's what I was meant to do. It's what I want to do. Back there, I can make a difference.. I can help. It's powerful, you know? Kasey nods. BUFFY Here, I'm just.. normal. Just this ditz with a bad fashion sense. KASEY Well, I'm not gonna argue with you about the fashion thing but.. Buffy, you're not a ditz. BUFFY What am I? KASEY You're the person whom I wanna be. Kasey and Buffy share a warm look. KASEY Before you go, there's something you should see. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/BUFFY'S ROOM - NIGHT ANGLE ON : A DRAWER as a pair of hands reach in to remove a panel, revealing a false bottom. In it, we see stakes, bottles of holy water, crosses, and a book on mythology. We TILT up to see Buffy's astonished face and Kasey standing besides her. KASEY Ever wonder how Spike knew you? Ever wonder why you never left Sunnydale? Even when all your friends left? ANGLE : BUFFY still trying to take this all in. KASEY You see, they didn't know. But you did. This is your life Buffy. For as long as I've known you, you've always wanted to help. And ever since you found out about Sunnydale's dark little secrets, you've been helping.. We've been helping. So you see? You're not so different. Buffy takes a beat to taje this all in. A wave of emotion washing over her face. She looks up at Kasey. BUFFY (quietly) Thank you. EXT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT as Buffy steps outside onto the porch while Kasey lingers at the doorway. She looks a little teary. Buffy notices. BUFFY Hey! You're gonna get your best friend back soon. I promise. KASEY Then why does it feel like I'm losing her? Buffy comes up to Kasey and hugs her. BUFFY (over Kasey's shoulder) Maybe, when I get back, I'll look you up, you know? We could hook up there. This seems to hit Kasey hard. KASEY (fighting back tears) Sure. Kasey recomposes herself as they pull away from the hug. Kasey kisses Buffy on her forehead. KASEY Love you. You take care, okay? BUFFY You too. They share one last silent goodbye before Buffy turns and walks down the pathway. She waves. Kasey waves a little wave back. She turns and enters the house. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/FOYER - NIGHT as Kasey silently closes the door and takes a few slow steps in. She spots something off-screen and picks it up. Joyce enters the foyer. JOYCE Kasey? Joyce looks around, looking for something. JOYCE Where's your sister? KASEY (a beat, then..) She had to go. Kasey looks back down at the item in her hands. REVERSE ANGLE: A PICTURE of two little girls, smiling, and with their hands joined. ANGLE : KASEY Kasey smiles. EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT as we see Buffy striding purposefully down a street. She takes a look at her watch and then strides out a little faster. She looks up. REVERSE ANGLE: THE TOP OF A BUILDING the building where the portal opened up. Buffy turns a corner, still looking up and runs into.. ANGLE : SPIKE standing in front of two other vamps. CUE : Sinister music.. slowly building up SPIKE (all sinister) Well, well. So we meet again Buffy. You may have won the last round but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. You see, you're underestimating me if you think.. Buffy takes off, running towards the building. We abruptly cut the music. SPIKE (yelling to Buffy) Oi! I haven't bloody finished yet. O, Come on. I spent all bloody night thinking this up. Buffy continues to speed away. SPIKE Bloody women. Spike and the two vamps take off in pursuit. A montage follows.. Music overlay. ANGLE : BUFFY running at full tilt down the street. ANGLE : SPIKE AND VAMPS chasing Buffy. INT. XANDER'S BASEMENT ROOM - NIGHT Where we see Xander sitting on the couch, practising his guitar. He looks unhappy with the sound he's making. He looks over at something to his right.. ANGLE : A WORKBENCH where we see a circular saw, a sander, a hammer, etc.. General carpentery material. ANGLE : XANDER looking interested. EXT. OUTSIDE A BUILDING - NIGHT as we see Buffy reach the building, open the door and enter. INT. AN ABANDONED BUILDING - NIGHT as we see Buffy enter through the door and then start rushing up the stairs. INT. BUFFY'S DORM/HALLWAY - NIGHT as we see Willow walking down the hallway, looking at a note in her hands, then at the door numbers as she passes each of them. She arrives at Buffy's dorm room and knocks. No answer. She knocks again. No answer. She turns, looks sadly down and walks slowly back down the hall. A door opens down the hall in front of Willow. Tara emerges, carrying some books. Willow looks up, immediately recognising her from the photo, and starts to smile. Tara turns to look at Willow. They hold their gaze for a beat. ANGLE : TARA as she smiles back. INT. AN ABANDONED BUILDING - NIGHT As Spike and the vamps crash through the front door and begin bounding up the stairs. INT. GILES' APARTMENT - NIGHT Where we see Giles squatting in front of the slayer. He gently parts her hair aside, revealing for the first time, a good view of her dirty face. She looks young and particularly vulnerable and, for the first time, very much the girl that she is. The slayer watches Giles carefully. Giles smiles warmly at her. Giles dabs a piece of cloth in a pail of water by his side and begins to gently wipe the dirt from her face, revealing more and more with each dab. We hold on this shot for a beat. We end the montage. EXT. ON TOP OF A BUILDING - NIGHT as Buffy shoots through a door and emerges on the ceiling. She takes a look around. REVERSE ANGLE: THE ROOF from Buffy's POV. We PAN from left to right, showing the night sky, the lights of the town but no portal. Buffy hears footsteps coming up to the stairs. She immediately closes the door behind her and braces it with a metal pole through the handle. Buffy walks out into the centre of the roof.. looking at her watch. ANGLE ON : DOOR as somebody begins to slam into it. The pole begins to bend. ANGLE : BUFFY Buffy watching the door, slowly backing away from it. ANGLE ON : DOOR as the door slams open and two vamps spill through. Spike follows, slowly walking through with a smile. SPIKE As I was saying.. You're underestimating me if you think that I'd just go away. ANGLE : BUFFY looks at Spike warily. She sees the two vamps approaching her. She looks around but sees no escape route. SPIKE No..no. I will have my vengeance on you yet. ANGLE : BUFFY as she looks down at her watch. REVERSE ANGLE: WATCH A digital watch reading 9:59pm as we see the seconds ticking closer to the start of the next minute. The two vamps get ever closer to Buffy, almost close enough to grab her. SPIKE You've played me long enough blondie. Now, I will show you what real terror feels like. I will.. Buffy spins around and takes off, towards a ledge. SPIKE And there she bloody goes again. Spike and the two vamps begin to chase her again. Buffy runs full-tilt towards the ledge. Spike and the vamps chasing close behind. SPIKE (running) Where do you think you're going? ANGLE : BUFFY as she leaps up in the air and over the ledge, just as the portal roars opens. The big red mouth swallowing her up. The portal dissapears in a flash. The two vamps cannot stop in time and fall off the edge of the building. Spike pulls up just in time. Spike looks a little stunned, staring at the quiet night sky for a beat, then.. SPIKE Bugger this. Spike turns around and starts walking back. A bright flash - we WHITE OUT and then find ourselves back at.. INT. INSIDE A WELL - NIGHT ANGLE : BUFFY lying lifeless on the well floor, where she fell. After a beat, we see Buffy's body shudder, as if her life has been injected back into her body. She begins to cough, slowly getting up to her hands and knees. She gets up, breathing hard, trying to re-orient herself. WHISPERER You came back? Buffy looks at Whisperer for a beat, not answering. She bends down and picks up the book she dropped, then starts heading for the rope. WHISPERER No. Stop! You have to stay. I need your body. BUFFY You're not the first guy that's tried that line on me. We hear sounds all around, of something dragging along the ground.. of something uncoiling. Suddenly, from the darkness, a large tail whips out at Buffy. She ducks it and kicks it away. We hear a strange sound emanate form Whisperer - like a strangled scream from a hundred different voices. Buffy leaps up and starts climbing up the rope. A smaller tentacle flings out and wraps around Buffy's leg, trying to pull her down. Buffy manages to kick it free. She climbs up the rope to freedom. INT. AN ABANDONED BUILDING - NIGHT as we see Buffy climb out the well. She drops to the floor, then looks around for something. She heads over to a corner and grabs a metal pipe. She starts hitting the well with the pipe. Pieces of the well wall begins to crumble and fall down the hole. INT. INSIDE A WELL - NIGHT as we see debris falling all around in front of Whisperer's face. WHISPERER Please. Stop! INT. AN ABANDONED BUILDING - NIGHT as we see Buffy stop and peer down the well. She sees Whisperer's face looking up. WHISPERER Stay with me. INT. INSIDE A WELL - NIGHT ANGLE : BUFFY from Whisperer's POV, looking up the well. We see Buffy in a small circle at the top, looking down. BUFFY No.. I'm going home. Buffy jabs at something with the pole and a large piece of the wall comes flying down the hole towards the camera. It hits us, covering the entire screen with black. END OF SHOW BACK TO MAIN PAGE