Episode 1 - Ripples
ACT THREE
EXT. SUNNYDALE TOWN/ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
We pick up the action from where we left off. The
creature is snarling at Buffy. Buffy is frozen. Buffy
slowly starts to reload her crossbow in front of the
snarling creature, never taking her eyes off it.
BUFFY
(while continuing to
reload)
Nice doggy. Good Cujo. Now, just
stay there and I'll get you a nice
bone to play with, just not a Buffy
bone, Okay?
The creature growls aggressively and starts running in
at full pace towards Buffy.
Buffy gives up on loading the crossbow. As the
creature leaps at Buffy, Buffy ducks and smashes the
crossbow into the creature, smashing it to pieces. The
creature seems hardly affected.
The creature whirls around, ready for another charge
at Buffy. Buffy readies herself, a look of worry on
her face.
Willow and Xander arrive at the scene, behind the
creature.
WILLOW
Buffy!
The creature now turns around towards Willow and
Xander.
WILLOW
Uh Oh.
BUFFY
(urgently)
Willow, Xander, get out of here!
Xander takes out his stake and gets ready for the
attack. Suddenly, the creature hears something that we
can't and runs off away from the three.
WILLOW
(re the creature)
That wasn't a house-trained puppy.
ANGLE : BUFFY
As a worried Buffy watches the creature run away into
the night.
INT. BUFFY'S FOYER - NIGHT
MATCH CUT - DAWN'S FACE
As Dawn sits on the steps of the house in her pyjamas.
A slight look of worry on her face.
REVERSE ANGLE - FRONT DOOR
We hear the sound of the door unlocking. We also hear
Dawn quickly getting up and scurrying up the stairs.
Buffy enters, having just returned from the patrol.
She hears footsteps running up the stairs.
BUFFY
Dawn?
She starts heading up the stairs.
INT. BUFFY'S UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT
We see the door to Dawn's room closing and the light
within switch off just as Buffy enters into shot. She
walks over to Dawn's room.
BUFFY
Dawn? Are you up?
INT. DAWN'S ROOM - NIGHT
ANGLE : DAWN
as she is lying on her bed, in the dark, facing the
camera. Her eyes are closed. Behind her, we see the
door open and Buffy's silhouetted body framed against
the hallway light.
BUFFY
(softly)
Dawn?
There is no response. Buffy walks away. Dawn opens her
eyes, face expressionless.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX - DAY (DAY 3)
Giles and Buffy are sitting at the table, discussing
last night's events. The Magic Box is closed.
GILES
He changed?
BUFFY
Yup. Big Vegas dissapearing act.
GILES
Well, that is fascinating. I seem to
recall..
Giles goes over to the stacks and starts searching for
a particular book.
GILES
(while searching)
there's a race of demons who can
control the pigmentation of their
skin, altering it at will in order
to hide from their enemies.
BUFFY
Um. I pretty much figured out that
part by myself already.
GILES
(turning around and giving
Buffy a little look)
Well, there's also this book.
Giles takes out the book he's been looking for and
comes over and places it on the table. He begins
flipping through the pages. He finds it.
GILES
There. A Noe'cha demon. Is this what
you saw?
BUFFY
(looking at a picture in
the book)
In the flesh, or should that be
bones. Seriously Giles, the guy
needs to see a nutritionist.
GILES
(continuing to read)
Well, according to this, the Noe'cha
is a weak and reclusive demon which
feeds on plants. They're generally
not considered to be very dangerous
at all. In fact, the only reason why
there seems to be any of them left
is their remarkable capacity to hide
from its enemies.
BUFFY
So, I should offer it a salad and
try to draw it out of its shell?
GILES
Buffy, I think perhaps it would
behove you to take this demon a
little more seriously. You mentioned
something about a ring.
BUFFY
Green glowy ring, yeah.
GILES
Well, there's no mention of anything
like this here.
Giles takes off his glasses and paces around.
GILES
Buffy, I suspect there may be
someone or something else behind
this creature's presence here in
Sunnydale. Noe'cha demons have been
known to hire out their unique
abilities as scouts, gathering
information on their target without
being seen. The ring may well be
some sort of storage device for
whatever information it has
gathered.
BUFFY
Wait, you mean something's paying
this demon to spy on me?
GILES
I also believe that its presence is
linked to the sudden arrival of the
hell-dog that has been terrorising
Sunnydale.
BUFFY
Hell-Dog? You just made that up
right?
GILES
Well, it is a more colloquial term
for the creature but it also happens
to be a rather apt description. You
see, it is said that these creatures
were summoned from the bowels of
hell itself to do the bidding of its
master.
BUFFY
So, you're thinking the same thing
that sent us the Noe'cha demon also
decided to send him a pet for him to
play with?
GILES
More like a protector.
Buffy begins to get worried.
BUFFY
Giles, if this scout has been
following me all this time, it would
have seen the Gang.
(suddenly very serious)
It would have seen Dawn.
(resolved)
I have to stop it.
Buffy rushes to the training room, Giles following.
GILES
Wait.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX/TRAINING ROOM - CONTINUING - DAY
Buffy is gathering some weapons. She grabs a sword and
a stake.
GILES
Buffy, What are you doing?
BUFFY
I'm going to the woods. You said it
ate plants right? I figured I'd
start off where the first two
victims were found. Chances are, if
I find the scout, I'll find his dog
as well.
GILES
But Buffy, it's far too dangerous.
At least let me come along, or I
could call Xander and..
Giles begins to head off to the phone outside.
BUFFY
(sharply)
No!
Giles reacts to this. Haven't heard that tone of voice
from her in a while.
BUFFY
(realising, toning it
down)
No. It's far too dangerous for them,
and for you. I'm not risking.. I
mean, I can't...
(a beat, then coldly)
This is my hunt, my kill.
GILES
Buffy, this is far too reckless. As
your watcher..
BUFFY
(angrily)
Enough! I have to do this.
GILES
(concerned)
What is it Buffy? What's going on
with you?
BUFFY
Nothing. I don't have time..
Buffy tries to leave but Giles blocks her way.
GILES
You're not leaving until you tell me
what's happening to you.
BUFFY
(angry)
Giles, get out of my way.
GILES
Buffy, tell me.
BUFFY
(shouting)
She wasn't there, Okay? Is that what
you wanted to hear. She wasn't..
Buffy chokes on the last sentence. She becomes very
quiet and turns away from Giles, a little ashamed.
ANGLE : BUFFY
with Giles in the background.
BUFFY
(quietly)
She wasn't there.
GILES
Who? Who wasn't..
BUFFY
I thought she'd be there, waiting
for me.. I could feel myself, falling
deeper and deeper. I waited for her
to find me, and pull me out but she
wasn't there. It was just.. so dark.
By now, Giles is listening intently to Buffy, finally
getting some sort of understanding of what has been
troubling her.
BUFFY
I felt like I was drowning. I was
holding my breath, trying to hang on
but there was this pressure on my
chest, and it kept building and
building. I told myself to just hang
on a little longer because there had
to be something more.. but there was
just me, and there was only the
darkness. So, I let go. I took a
breath.. and then, I was awake.
(a beat)
They gave me life, but they showed
me death.
(quietly)
Giles, is there nothing more?
There is a strange blank expression on Buffy's face.
From behind her, Giles slowly reaches out to stroke
Buffy's hair, but he hesitates. Buffy, feeling
uncomfortable, snaps out of her thoughts and returns
to slayer mode.
BUFFY
I have to go.
Buffy heads off briskly to the exit with her weapons.
BUFFY
Do me a favour. Go to my house and
watch over Dawn. I don't want her to
be alone.
GILES
But Buffy..
BUFFY
Please.
They look at each other for a second. Giles nods his
head very slightly. Buffy leaves. Giles looks worried.
We prelap :
WILLOW (V.O.)
Do you think she'll be okay?
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - DAY
Willow and Tara are walking along the street.
TARA
I think so. I think right now, she
just wants to be involved more, you
know, with the Scoobies.
WILLOW
Oh. I think Buffy wants to keep Dawn
away from all the slayage.
TARA
I know but she just wants to help,
help us, help Buffy. I think she
feels kinda over-protected.
WILLOW
Well, maybe we could teach her a few
spells and stuff. You know, keep her
busy. But we'll have to clear that
with Buffy first.
Tara nods in agreement. There is a beat as the two
continue walking side by side. Tara looks a little
uncomfortable.
TARA
So, I was th-thinking that maybe you
shouldn't give up your room just
yet. I mean, we don't know if all
your stuff's gonna fit in my room.
WILLOW
What? Tara..
TARA
I just, I just think that you should
be sure, before you move in.
WILLOW
Tara, I'm sure.
Willow gently grabs Tara's hand, pulling her to a stop
and making Tara face her.
WILLOW
What's this all about? Don't you
want me to?
TARA
Of course. It's just that,
everything's been going so well
between us. I'm afraid that things
might change after you move in.
Willow makes a face, obviously not agreeing with
Tara's fears.
TARA
I mean, if we live together, you'll
see me up close, everyday. I'm
afraid that, if you look closer at
me, there may be things you'll see
that you won't like. Flaws, habits,
imperfections, you know, things you
can't see from far away.
Willow takes Tara's hands into hers.
WILLOW
Tara, when I look closer at you, I
see.. your beautiful soul. I see how
you care for people. I see your
wisdom, your strength, your beauty..
I see love, you know, things I can't
see from far away.
Tara melts in Willow's hands. They look at each other
lovingly and smile.
WILLOW
Trust me. We're heading in the right
direction.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Buffy is in the woods, tracking the scout and the
hell-dog. She has found a set of paw-prints and is
following them, sword in hand.
Deeper into the woods, she goes, leaving civilisation
behind her. The trees and foliage surrounds her,
concealing the danger.
She comes upon a clearing. She sees the paw prints
leading into a cave just ahead of her. She braces
herself and starts to head towards the cave.
ANGLE : BUFFY
as she steps cautiously towards the cave.
From behind her, we see the Noe'cha demon magically
emerge from the foliage where it had been camouflaged.
It unmasks itself and we see it is carrying a knife in
its hand. It creeps up on Buffy.
Buffy senses something is behind her and immediately
spins around and strikes out with her fist, sending
the demon flying into the bushes.
Buffy starts walking towards it, sword in hand.
The demon, still tangled in the bushes, emits a
chirping sound.
Buffy hears something growling, turns around and sees
a hell-dog emerge from the cave.
BUFFY
Great, a two for one deal.
The demon emits more chirping sounds and two more
hell-dogs emerge from the cave. The three-hell dogs
begin to snarl ferociously.
BUFFY
Okay, four for one.
(unconvincingly)
No big.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT THREE