Episode 6 - Reunion
ACT THREE
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
ANGLE : GILES
as he is looking at some pictures plastered on the
wall. He is staring at one picture in particular.
ANGLE : THE BLACK AND WHITE PICTURE
A group picture of the Computer class. Students,
including Willow, are lined up in the front while off
to the side, we see a smiling Jenny Calendar.
ANGLE : THE SCOOBY GANG
as they continue to stand and talk. Tara is a little
less involved in the conversations.
Tara looks out the window and spots something.
TARA
(to Willow)
I'm just going to go outside for a
second, to get some air.
WILLOW
You want me to come with?
TARA
No, I'll just be a second.
A quick squeeze of the hands and a quick exchange of
smiles and Tara exits.
EXT. OUTSIDE SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
From someone's POV, we see Tara with her arms crossed,
trying to keep warm as she walks across the road
towards the camera.
TARA
Hi.
REVERSE ANGLE : OZ IN THE VAN
OZ
Hey.
TARA
So, you showed.
OZ
Only in the not actually showing
sense.
(noticing Tara shivering)
It's cold out. Grab a seat.
Tara smiles and walks around to the opposite side and
enters the van, sitting next to Oz.
INT. OZ'S VAN - NIGHT
TARA
While we're on the topic of all
things chilly, I'm sorry about
before, how I was in the cafe? It's
not easy, you know?
OZ
Imagine what it's like for me.
The two stare at each other for a beat.
OZ
(re the reunion)
So, what's it like in there?
TARA
Oh, you know, nostalgic. It's
Willow's night really. I'm just tag-
along girl.
OZ
You're not having fun?
TARA
It's not that. I guess.. I guess I
don't really fit in yet, not really.
You guys all had this history
together, you know, the original
Scooby Gang from high school. I just
think I'll always be the new girl. I
don't really belong yet.. not like
you did.
OZ
But I guess you won't be trading my
past for your future anytime soon.
Tara gives a little smile.
OZ
I think you just have to hang in
there.
TARA
Are you doing okay?
OZ
I think so.
(sincerely)
Thanks.. for asking.
TARA
Are you sure you don't want her to
know, that you're here?
OZ
I think that would be mistake all
round. It wouldn't be good for any
of us.
Oz looks back at the high school for a beat
OZ
I shouldn't have come.
(turning back to Tara)
It isn't really fair on you.
TARA
No. I'm glad you did. There's only
so much you can tell from a picture.
Tara and Oz exchange a small smile.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
We see the photographer ushering Willow, Xander,
Cordelia, Anya, Buffy and Giles to the picture area.
The gang slowly try to line up for the photo. Giles
and Buffy are front and center. We see the
photographer's assistant secretly pulling something
out of a bag, a blank empty picture frame. It glows
mysteriously.
XANDER
(excited)
Ooh Scooby Snaps.
WILLOW
Maybe we should wait for Tara.
CORDELIA
I call front and center.
ANYA
Wait, I want to be front and center.
BUFFY
I think I have to go to the
bathroom.
GILES
(sternly, turning to the
Gang)
If I have to come back there..
The squabble stops immediately. Giles turns back to
the camera.
GILES
(a small smile to himself,
behold the power)
Right.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Okay, everybody ready?
ANGLE : TARA
entering the hall, looking for the Gang.
ANGLE : THE SCOOBY GANG
smiling for the photo.
ANGLE : ETHAN RAYNE
still lurking in the shadows.
ETHAN RAYNE
Everybody say.. goodbye.
ANGLE : TARA
smiling as she sees something
REVERSE ANGLE : THE GANG
off in the distance, lined up for the photo. Her view
constantly obscured by people walking in front of her.
ANGLE : PHOTOGRAPHER LOOKING INTO THE CAMERA.
We ZOOM IN to the lens as the the photographer clicks
the photo.
WHITEOUT.
INT. ALTERNATE SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
We see Buffy, Xander, Willow, Tara, Giles and Anya
smiling for the photo. The hall is now completely
empty and the school looks brand new. The gang slowly
regain their bearings. A silent beat, then..
XANDER
Okay. What's wrong with this
picture?
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
ANGLE : TARA
as she tries to look over the crowd in front of her.
REVERSE ANGLE :
to reveal the photographer and his assistant, who is
holding a framed picture, but no Scoobies.
ANGLE : TARA
with a confused look. She walks on, looking for the
gang. She comes across Percy.
TARA
Hi
PERCY
(who are you again?)
Hey. um..
TARA
Tara.
PERCY
Right. Willow's friend.
TARA
Yeah. Have you seen her?
PERCY
Last I saw, she was headed for the
photo area. You know, with the rest
of Buffy's gang.
TARA
That's what I thought but..
PERCY
Yeah, the photographer asked me all
about them. He wanted to make sure
everyone was in the picture.
(then)
Let me ask you something. Did you
know there were two President
Rooselvelts, because..
Tara isn't listening, a look of concern on her face.
Percy's voice trails off. She turns back to the photo
area to see the photographer and his assistant hastily
packing up. She starts to walk towards them.
We follow the photographer and his assistant as they
walk out the hall to
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALLWAY - NIGHT
A quiet hallway. The photographer and his assistant
walk towards Ethan Rayne. The assistant hands the
picture frame to Ethan who inspects it. Tara watches
from a distance.
ETHAN RAYNE
(to the picture)
Hello Ripper.
ANGLE : PICTURE
A picture of the gang at the reunion, behind a glass
picture frame.
Ethan then hands the picture back to the assistant.
ETHAN RAYNE
(to the photographer and
his assistant)
Let's go.
The three start walking towards the exit when Hogan
and a friend, obviously quite drunk come up to the
photographer.
HOGAN
(to the photographer)
Hey you! We want a picture.
PHOTOGRAPHER
No more.
Hogan grabs the photographer.
HOGAN
I said..
The photographer vamps out and flings Hogan through
the air and into the locker. The assistant also vamps
out and knocks Hogan's friend towards Hogan with his
free hand but drops the picture onto the floor in the
process. The two lie against the locker, groggy.
ASSISTANT VAMP
(to Ethan Rayne, re the
picture)
Sorry.
ETHAN RAYNE
(picking up the still
intact picture)
Never mind mate. The glass will only
break where the spell was conjured.
They're not going anywhere.
The three walk out of the school. Tara follows,
briefly checking to see if Hogan and his friend is
okay. Tara exits.
ANGLE : HOGAN AND HIS FRIEND
sitting against the lockers, still groggy, still
drunk.
HOGAN
(to his pal)
Vampires! Man! It's just like old
times.
(high-five with his pal)
This rules!
EXT. OUTSIDE SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
We see Tara running out of the school, turning to her
left to spot Ethan, holding on to the picture, getting
into a van. There are more vamps waiting next to the
van. She runs across the road, away from Ethan Rayne
and towards a familiar van which has its headlights on
and is starting to pull out.
TARA
Oz!
REVERSE ANGLE : OZ
sitting in his van, as he looks quizzically at Tara.
ANGLE : ETHAN RAYNE AND HIS HENCHMEN
While Ethan sits in the front, the other vamps are
busily loading the camera equipment into the van.
Henchman#1 walks up to him.
ETHAN RAYNE
(to the vamps)
Get a move on. Don't want to keep
your boss waiting.
HENCHMAN#1
(looking at the picture)
What exactly is happening in there?
ETHAN RAYNE
Well, they wanted to relive their
high school days. I'm just giving
them what they want.
INT. ALTERNATE SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
The Gang still trying to figure out what's happening.
ANYA
Where did all the people go?
CORDELIA
And when did they fix this place up?
XANDER
(to himself)
This is a dream. It has to be.
(feeling his clothes)
No wait! I've still got my clothes
on.
BUFFY
(to Giles)
The photographer.
GILES
Yes.
ANYA
What?
WILLOW
(getting it)
It's a spell. We're trapped.. in the
picture I mean. We could be stuck in
here forever.
CORDELIA
Great! This is like a nightmare. I'm
going to be stuck in high school for
the rest of my life and we've only
got Xander and Giles here as excuses
for alpha males.
XANDER
Cordy.. A little too early to be
thinking about propagating to ensure
the survival of the Scoobies.
CORDELIA
(to Xander)
Like the thought never crossed your
mind. You've had the hots for
everybody in this room at one time
or another.
GILES
I'm almost certain that isn't true.
Buffy heads to the hall's closed door.
BUFFY
Okay guys, enough. We have to try to
find a way out of here.
Buffy opens the door to reveal
ANGLE : TWO SISTERS FROM THE SISTHERHOOD OF JHE FROM
'THE ZEPPO'
sneering at Buffy. Buffy closes the door on them.
BUFFY
Okay, let's try door number two.
The two sisters, both carrying swords, burst in
through the door and a fight ensues.
Giles and Xander take on Sister#1 while Buffy takes on
Sister#2.
Buffy manages to disarm Sister#1 and stabs her with
her own sword.
Sister#2 knocks Xander away, throwing him to the
floor. Buffy notices.
BUFFY
(throwing the sword to
Giles)
Giles!
Giles catches the sword and stabs the second sister
with it while her back is turned and her attention
focused on Xander.
Cordelia and Anya walk to the still sitting Xander.
They help him up on to his feet.
CORDELIA
(to Xander)
You know, I never get tired of
watching you get knocked on your
butt.
The gang walk towards the bodies and inspects them.
GILES
The Sisterhood of Jhe.
BUFFY
The Sisterhood? That was so three
year ago. What, are we recycling
villains now?
WILLOW
Um.. guys. What villains?
The gang looks down to see that the two bodies have
now dissapeared.
GILES
They musn't have been real. Like
this high school.
XANDER
(still feeling his back)
It sure felt real.
BUFFY
Okay.
(to Xander, Willow,
Cordelia and Anya)
You guys stay here while Giles and I
see if we can find a way out of
here.
Xander is about to say something.
BUFFY
And I don't want any arguments. We
don't know what's out there. You
guys will be safer in here. We'll
come back and find you once we find
something.
Buffy and Giles exit. The four remaining Scoobies are
left standing in the hall.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREETS - NIGHT
We see Ethan's van driving along followed at a
discrete distance by Oz's van.
INT. OZ'S VAN - NIGHT
We see Oz and Tara looking a little pensive.
OZ
So, what's the plan?
TARA
We have to get the picture back to
the high school. I think that's the
only place where the spell can be
broken.
OZ
If we're going to get that picture,
we better get it now. I don't know
where they're heading but I'm
guessing they're not trying to catch
a midnight mass.
Tara thinks for a beat, then turns to Oz.
TARA
(determined)
Just get me close.
Oz looks at Tara for a beat, then gestures for Tara to
put on her seatbelt.
OZ
Strap in. I can tell this is going
to cost me a few points.
INT. ETHAN'S VAN - NIGHT
Henchman#1 is driving the van. Ethan is sitting at the
front on the passenger's side. The picture is on his
lap. The rest of the vamps are in the back of the van.
Henchman#1 spots Oz's van in his rear view mirror.
HENCHMAN#1
(to Ethan Rayne)
That van's been behind us for a
while.
Ethan takes a look in his side view mirror.
ANGLE : OZ'S VAN FROM THE MIRROR
We see Tara on the passenger's side but not Oz.
Ethan relaxes.
ETHAN RAYNE
Nothing to worry about mate. I think
you've been watching too many
American television shows.
ANGLE : LOOKING AT ETHAN RAYNE FROM THE VAMP DRIVER'S
SIDE.
continuing to talk in the foreground while behind him,
out the window on his right, we see Oz's van pull up
into view.
ETHAN RAYNE
American TV. Honestly, where's the
drama, the rich texture of the
English language? Over here, it's
nothing but bloody car chases and
mindless shouting and swearing.
In the background, we see Oz leaning back into his
seat to reveal Tara concentrating on something.
ETHAN RAYNE
It's just lazy writing. These
people, who think they can fill up a
few pages with silly little action
scenes. Now, back in England..
Suddenly, the door to Ethan's right flies open. The
picture on his lap flies towards Tara. Oz ducks as the
picture flies over his head and into Tara's arms.
ETHAN RAYNE
What..?
INT. OZ'S VAN - NIGHT
Tara grabs hold of the picture.
TARA
Got it.
Oz gets back up into his seat, turns the steering
wheel hard and slams the brakes on.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREETS - NIGHT
Two vans driving side by side. We see Oz's van spin
around and screech to a halt as Ethan's van drives on.
Oz's van takes off in the opposite direction.
INT. ETHAN'S VAN - NIGHT
A beat as Ethan and his henchman look at each other
and take in what just happened.
ETHAN RAYNE
(to the driver)
Well. What the bleedin' hell are you
waiting for? Get them!
INT. ALTERNATE SUNNYDALE HIGH/HALL - NIGHT
Willow, Xander, Anya and Cordelia are busily trying to
block the two entrances to the hall. Cordelia and
Xander is moving some furniture to block one door
while Anya and Willow are doing the same thing at the
other door.
XANDER
I can't believe she didn't want me
to come with because, you know, I'm
commando guy. I can be stealthy.
CORDELIA
(trying to push a table)
Well, right now, you can help by
being mover guy.
XANDER
Okay, but so long as you guys
realise that being mover guy is only
my night job, cause, you know, I'm
really commando guy.
CORDELIA
Actually, you're more like repeato
guy.
WILLOW
Why are we barricading ourselves in
anyway? I mean, we're the Scoobies.
We should be out there helping Buffy
and Giles.
ANYA
No. This plan is good. It's well
thought out, simple in its conceit
and the best part is, we don't get
killed at the end of it.
CORDELIA
I agree. I mean, I'm sure if you
look back at the history of the
world,.. um
(to Anya)
Little help.
ANYA
Oh. Like the Germans in Stalingrad,
or.. or General Custer.
CORDELIA
Okay, very little help.
WILLOW
What I'm saying is, we're not her
sidekicks. We haven't been for
years.
(to Xander)
Right?
XANDER
Yeah. We're part of the unit. She
said so.
CORDELIA
Reality check guys. She's Buffy, you
know, the all powerful slayer? We're
like the Friends Of Buffy Society.
WILLOW
No. Xander's right. We're a team.
It's just that she's turning into
solo Buffy, ever since..
An uncomfortable silence hangs over the group.
WILLOW
Besides, I can really help. Buffy's
not the only one that has powers.
She's not the only one that can
protect people.
CORDELIA
What do you mean?
WILLOW
(retreating)
Nothing.
Xander walks back to the front entrance door carrying
a chair, ready to be added to the barricade.
XANDER
We are a team. I know we can prove
it. We can totally take anything
this reality can throw at us.
The door closest to Xander suddenly fling open, tables
and chairs flying all over the place. We see Miss
French from 'Teacher's Pet' smiling at Xander.
XANDER
Miss French?
MISS FRENCH
Hello Xander.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT THREE
CONTINUE TO ACT FOUR