Episode 1 - Ripples
ACT ONE
EXT. SUNNYDALE CEMETERY/JOYCE'S GRAVE - DAY
Willow and Tara are at Joyce's grave, tending to the
headstone, changing the flowers.
TARA
So, have you packed everything you
wanted?
WILLOW
Boxes and Boxes, all ready for the
movin'.
TARA
Boxes and Boxes?
WILLOW
Don't worry. There's really not that
much. Mostly clothes and stuff. My
laptop and, of course, Amy.
TARA
We'll have to make sure Miss Kitty
doesn't get too close to her. I
don't think she'd like that so much.
WILLOW
Miss Kitty and Amy? Oh, I'm sure
those two will get along just fine.
I think I remember Amy said she
liked cats, you know, during the
pre-rodent stage of her life.
TARA
Well, that was before she got bumped
down the food chain. Seeing Miss
Kitty now could freak her out a
little.
WILLOW
I'm sure she can handle it. When I
think about what poor Amy has seen
happen in my room...
(sheepishly)
well, actually I try not to think
about that too much.
The two share a smile. Willow replaces the old flowers
with a new bouquet. They both stand and look at the
headstone for a second, a silent farewell to Joyce.
WILLOW
(to Tara)
You ready to go?
Tara gives her a small nod and they start slowly
walking away from the grave, side by side.
WILLOW
(glancing around)
It's so quiet here. Everything's so
still, so silent. I mean, I know
it's supposed to be peaceful, this
being a cemetery and all..
TARA
But?
WILLOW
But, I always feel so lonely here.
It's depressing. Like, is this what
it's going to be like, you know,
when it's all over?
Tara locks her arms with Willow's, starts walking
closer to her, trying to comfort her.
WILLOW
No more surfing the net, no more
playing with Miss Kitty, no more
spells,
(playfully)
no more late-night snuggles.
The two witches smile warmly at each other. Willow
rests her head against Tara's shoulder.
WILLOW
(slightly more sombre)
I mean, what if there's just...
nothing. Tara, I don't want to go to
a place where there's no me and you.
TARA
There'll be a place. And even if
there isn't one now, I know somehow
we'll find one. Even if it's some
dingy apartment with creaky floors,
no hot water and purple termites in
the walls, there'll always be a
place for us somewhere, where we can
be together.
WILLOW
Promise?
TARA
I promise.
Willow smiles and hugs Tara a little tighter as they
slowly walk away together.
WILLOW
There's no hot water?
ANGLE: FROM BEHIND THE WALKING COUPLE
In close-up, we see someone entering into the frame
from the left. We only really see his hand. He is
wearing a ring which holds some kind of gem. The gem
starts to glow a bright green, pulsating on and off as
the figure watches the two witches walk away.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX - DAY
Xander and Anya are on opposite sides of the counter,
holding hands and talking. There are one or two
customers quietly browsing in the shop. Buffy and
Giles enter. Giles is a little late.
XANDER
(to Giles)
Oh, look what the slayer dragged in!
Giles, I told you, if you want to
waste time setting the VCR to tape
'Passions', you gotta to do it the
night before.
GILES
Yes, once again I am completely
floored by your rapier wit, leaving
me pointlessly searching for a non-
existent comeback.
XANDER
Hey, I know that. That's sarcasm,
right?
GILES
Yes, just a mild dose.
BUFFY
Anyway, it wasn't Giles' fault. He
was Mr Punctual.
GILES
Thank you.
BUFFY
Although I did notice him slow down
outide the Espresso Bar, showing off
his chick-mobile to this total..
(off Giles' look)
..ly nobody, nobody at all.
ANYA
Yes, attractive middle-aged women
are quite often drawn to older men
driving flighty red sports cars with
young nubile blondes in the front
seat. It leaves quite an impression.
GILES
Yes, Thank You Anya.
Anya smiles proudly to Xander. Buffy goes and sits by
the table. A thought occurs to Giles.
GILES
Anya, although I am entirely
grateful that you managed to open
the shop on time, I am left with the
burning question of how you managed
to get in here in the first place.
ANYA
Oh, that's easy. I made a copy of
the Master keys when you went back
to England last year.
XANDER
(sheepishly to Giles)
Can I hear a Yay for the initiative?
Giles rolls his eyes and goes to the back of the shop.
Xander joins Buffy at the table. Buffy is lost in her
thoughts.
XANDER
So, Buffster. Gotta say, you're
looking kinda pale. Have we been
necking with the undead?
BUFFY
No. I guess things have been a
little strained at home. I'm a
little sleep-deprivy. Plus, there's
the whole thing about needing to
find a job with slayer-friendly
hours.
XANDER
(sincerely)
Buffy, I told you. Me and An will be
glad to help out in any way.
BUFFY
No. You guys have already helped out
so much. I'd feel guilty taking any
more of your money. Between what you
guys and Giles have already given
me, I'm starting to feel like the
Bank of Buffy. Besides, I do
believe there's a certain wedding to
be saving up for.
Xander slightly shrugs his shoulders. Really, just ask
and we'll come through.
BUFFY
So, big night at the Xandman's place
tonight?
XANDER
Yeah. We're all just gonna hang out,
watch a few videos, you know, just
me and the girls. You wanna come
with?
BUFFY
Nah. Training tonight. But this will
be good for Dawn. It's good to get
her out of the house, especially
since I'm not going to be there. It
just feels so big these days, so
empty.
Xander gives a comforting squeeze of Buffy's hand.
Buffy smiles appreciatively.
BUFFY
(changing the subject)
So, Will's finally moving in with
Tara. That's a big step for those
two. Pretty soon, they'll be acting
like an old married couple, you
know, arguing all the time.
XANDER
Will and Tara? No way. It's like,
when they're together, they're like
the same person, you know. They
totally get each other in every way.
BUFFY
Yeah. It's like every second they
spend with each other is absolute,
peaceful bliss.
(making a pouty face)
Why can't I have that?
INT. SHOP - DAY
CLOSE ON WILLOW
WILLOW
(petulant)
Why can't I have that?
WIDEN
to reveal Willow, arms crossed, in a small shop . Tara
is standing beside her holding a cute novelty cushion.
TARA
Honey, I told you. We should only
get something neither one of us
already has. I'm afraid Happy Kitten
Cushion here will just have to stay
at the pound. We have too many
cushions as it is.
WILLOW
(taking the cushion from
Tara and holding it up)
But we don't have a kitten cushion.
Besides, it's so cute. It would be
like, our Miss Kitty cushion.
(excitedly)
And..and.. we could use it to get
Amy used to Miss Kitty before we
formally introduce them. See, it's
practical and fun.
Tara gives Willow a little raised eyebrow. Standing
firm.
WILLOW
(resigned)
I know, I know. Too many cushions.
Willow makes a mock sad face and puts the cushion back
on the shelf. Tara can't help but smile. Willow picks
up some items she had left on a nearby table.
WILLOW
Just these then?
TARA
(helping carry some of the
stuff)
Yeah. We should probably get going.
(looking at the items in
her hands)
Are you sure we didn't get too many
things? I mean, it may get a little
crowded.
WILLOW
Tara, It'll be perfect.
Tara and Willow bring their purchases to the counter.
While the saleslady is busy tallying up the items, a
little girl holding a stuffed toy zebra walks up to
Willow.
WILLOW
(squatting to talk to the
girl)
Hey you. Whatchya got there?
The little girl smiles and holds up her toy for
Willow.
WILLOW
(taking the toy)
Well, that's a very cute zebra. Look
Tara.
TARA
It's like a horse, but all stripey.
The little girl smiles but remains quiet. Her mother,
a pleasant looking middle-aged woman arrives.
MOM
(to the girl)
Wendy. That's where you ran off to.
Remember what I told you, you have
to stay by Mommy when we're in the
shop.
Willow gives the toy back to the girl and stands back
up to address the mother.
MOM
I hope she wasn't bothering you.
She's always running around by
herself and making trouble.
TARA
Oh No. She's a sweetie.
WILLOW
We were just having a nice little
conversation, well, a one-sided
conversation, about her zebra.
MOM
Yes, she beamed when she saw it. I
just have to get it for her.
(noticing Willow and
Tara's purchases)
I see you two have racked up a few
purchases yourselves.
WILLOW
(enthusiastically)
Oh Yeah. We're moving in together
TARA
So we thought we'd honour the
occasion by buying some little
knick-knacks.
WILLOW
Something bright and fun, you know,
to brighten up her, I mean, our
room.
TARA
Hey! I thought you said you loved my
room.
WILLOW
(backpedalling, slightly
panicked)
I do. I do. Did I say brighten? You
know I didn't mean that. What I was
trying to say was that I adore your
room.. completely and was in no way
wanting, or even ever intending to
change it..at all.
Tara drops her mock stern face and lets Willow off the
hook. Enough teasing. She takes her hand, giving it a
quick squeeze and the two smile lovingly at each
other. The Mom sees this exchange and her demeanour
changes. She picks up her daughter and puts the toy
zebra on the counter.
MOM
Come on Wendy. We have to go
(to Willow and Tara,
insincerely and giving
them a slightly dirty
look)
Nice to meet you two.
She rushes off towards the exit with her daughter.
ANGLE : WILLOW
WILLOW
(a little stunned, picking
up the zebra)
But you forgot..
We hear the doorbell ringing indicating the Mom has
left the shop off-screen.
WILLOW
..your zebra.
Willow's face falls, getting it. Tara, a little
dissapointed herself, strokes Willow's arm.
SALESLADY (O.S.)
That will be Thirty Dollars Ninety-
Nine.
Willow doesn't really hear her. Tara goes over to take
care of it. Willow looks dejectedly down at the zebra
in her hands for a beat then goes to join Tara.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX - DAY
Xander and Anya are behind the counter. Xander is
sitting down, quietly browsing through a book while
Anya is serving a customer. Anya hands a bag to the
customer in such a way as to show off her engagement
ring.
ANYA
(over-cheery)
Enjoy your purchase. Have a pleasant
day!.
The customer leaves the Magic Shop.
ANYA
(to the now departed
customer, in the same
tone)
And feel free to completely ignore
my obvious attempt to start a
discussion about my ring.
XANDER
An, not everyone is interested in
the upcoming nuptials of Xander and
Anya.
ANYA
Well, they should be. Besides, that
guy with the funny chin talked to me
about it for hours, well, at least
five minutes.
(admiring her ring)
He couldn't take his eyes off my
beautiful ring.
XANDER
Yeah, the guy was totally checking
out something all right but it
wasn't the ring. And by the way, how
exactly does a proposal of marriage
translate to let's wear revealing,
low-cut dresses to work?
ANYA
(coming over to Xander,
touched)
Oh, you're jealous.
(she kisses him)
Jealousy is normal in a healthy
relationship. I read that somewhere.
It means you really love me.
Anya sits on Xander's lap and puts her arms around his
neck.
ANYA
I'm so lucky to have such a strong,
virile man protecting me.
XANDER
(suitably puffed up)
Yeah. If I catch anyone looking at
my An like that, he'll have the
Xander machine to answer to.
Anya is delighted. She gets up, walks around the
counter and starts heading towards the door.
XANDER
(bewildered)
Where are you going?
ANYA
Oh. I'm going to get Kevin.
XANDER
Kevin?
ANYA
The funny chin. He works just across
the street at the gym. I'm going
over to inform him that you want to
'exchange some words' with him.
XANDER
(startled, leaping out of
his chair)
What! Wait! Don't do that.
ANYA
(confused)
Why not?
XANDER
Kevin may have a funny chin but he
has some less than hilarious biceps.
ANYA
(dissapointed)
What happened to Xander machine?
XANDER
Thankfully, It broke down just
before the turn-off to insanity.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX/TRAINING ROOM - DAY
Buffy stands at the doorway taking in the Xander and
Anya show. She has a quiet smile and returns into the
training room where Giles is busy setting up the
punching dummy for Buffy to train on.
BUFFY
(re the dummy)
So, Dummy good to go?
GILES
(turning around, sternly
to Buffy)
I beg your pardon?
BUFFY
(tries again, more carefully)
So, Dummy
(points to the dummy)
good to go?
GILES
(gets it)
Well, yes. Be my guest.
Giles steps back and watches Buffy as she starts
hitting and kicking the dummy, increasingly violently.
Giles looks concerned.
GILES
Buffy?
BUFFY
(continuing to pummel the
dummy)
Yeah?
GILES
(gently prodding)
You do know that, if you ever needed
to talk about anything. Anything at
all. I'm here.
Buffy stops, slightly out of breath. She looks at
Giles and considers his words. Should I tell him?
Xander bursts in the training room with Anya and
rushes over to a television set in the corner.
XANDER
Scooby alert.
He switches on the television. There's a news report
on with the reporter live at the scene. Reporter is
standing in the foreground while behind her, we see
part of the woods, now roped off by police tape. There
are many people gathering about and an ambulance.
REPORTER
Just repeating. Police are asking
people to stay out of the woods and
to remain inside the town centre as
they attempt to hunt down the wild
animal or animals responsible for
this morning's brutal attack. The
bodies of the two victims were found
early this morning just off a
popular jogging trail through the
woods. Their remains have been taken
to the Sunnydale morgue for
identification. Alan?
NEWSCASTER
In other news..
Xander switches off the television. Everyone stares at
the blank screen, deep in thought.
BUFFY
(solemnly)
Here we go.
PAN TO: THE DOORWAY
Where we see a tall figure in a large coat looking
into the training room. He is wearing sunglasses and
looks a little pale. He takes off his sunglasses
revealing completely black eyes. They start glowing
green, pulsating on and off. We then see the ring on
his hand, the gem glowing green, slowly pulsating on
and off.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT ONE