Episode 11 - Valentine: Part 2
ACT ONE
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
A sombre scene. Most of the Scoobs are nursing aches
and pains. Xander hands Anya another cushion as she
lies down on the couch. Willow, Buffy and Dawn are
sitting at another couch while Christopher and Giles
stand.
DAWN
How could this happen?
BUFFY
Giles?
GILES
Musfata.
XANDER
Musfata? Sounds like one of those
Disney villains.
GILES
I'm afraid Musfata was very much
part of this reality. He was a
Turing demon.
BUFFY
Turing?
CHRISTOPHER
A breed of demons who practise dark
magic. Musfata was one of the most
renowned, one of the most powerful.
GILES
When a Turing demon dies, its power
immediately transfers to the closest
being performing dark magic.
CHRISTOPHER
You could say it's looking for a new
home.
BUFFY
(overwhelmed)
I can't believe this.
GILES
This is the way it's been done for
centuries. Turing Demons headhunt
others of their own kind, killing
them for their power.
XANDER
Way to keep it in the family.
GILES
Except, of course, this time, the
power seems to have transferred to
Tara.
BUFFY
How is that possible? I mean, Tara
isn't one of those Turing demon type
deals.
GILES
It's certainly the first time I've
heard of a human accepting the
power. It does seem that it can be
transferred outside the species.
XANDER
Okay, so she has the demony power.
But why did she go all Carrie on us?
GILES
The brand of magic these demons
practise may be powerful, but it is
also dark and malevolent. It
consumes the acceptor. It.. changes
the host.
DAWN
(with dread)
Is she in there? I mean, is it still
Tara we're dealing with?
CHRISTOPHER
We can't be sure.
WILLOW
No! This is Tara. She's stronger
than that. I know she's still in
there. And stop saying she accepted
this.
(self-hatred)
She didn't have a choice. This thing
was forced upon her.
A silent, solemn beat.
CHRISTOPHER
Well, even if she can control the
evil now inside of her, it's
questionable whether she can control
this new power. Her body and her
mind will be unused to it. She's
like a loose cannon. Every little
thought she has from now on has the
possibility in resulting in
destruction.
BUFFY
Okay. So we find a way. We find a
way to get her back.
ANYA
How do we do that?
GILES
(almost to himself)
We'll find something. There's
hundreds of books in the Magic Box.
There has to be something in one of
them.
(then to the Group)
But finding a cure is one thing.
WILLOW
We also need to find Tara.
GILES
Yes. And soon.
Willow considers for a moment. Then..
WILLOW
There's this spell I can do. If it
works, I think I can work out where
she is. But, I need to get back to
our room. I need a personal item of
hers, something she has a strong
connection with.
A thought comes to Dawn. She reaches around her neck
and holds out her necklace.
DAWN
Her necklace! I mean, I know it's
really important to her.
WILLOW
(kindly)
That's okay Dawnie. It needs to be
something she's touched recently.
Dawn looks a little dissapointed and slumps back into
her chair. Frustrated.
XANDER
No problem Will. I'll swing you by
the campus on the Xander-mobile.
Just say the word.
DAWN
(to Willow)
You think it'll work?
WILLOW
It has to.
Willow looks a little lost in her thoughts. Consumed
by guilt and despair. Anya notices Willow's
melancholy. She sits up on her couch and leans a
little towards Willow.
ANYA
(to Willow)
Don't feel bad. I know Tara's this
evil, half-demony witch now, but..
ANGLE : WILLOW
looking up at Anya, not believing her ears.
ANGLE : BUFFY
turning to Anya, eyes bulging.
ANYA
(noticing the looks but
carrying on)
But.. I'm sure you didn't mean to
turn her into one.
WILLOW
What? Anya, God! Just..
Willow can't find the words. She just puts her hands
up to her ears.
XANDER
An, now would be a good time to go
with the quiet.
ANYA
What?
BUFFY
(to Anya)
This just isn't the time for your
unique brand of tact.
ANYA
I'm sorry. But I can't say Tara's
going to be okay because I don't
know if she's going to be okay. I
mean, should I lie? Is that what I'm
meant to do? Everyone's sad and
hurting and I don't know what to
say.
(to Willow, earnestly)
Tell me what to say. I'll say it.
No one knows what to say. Anya sinks back into the
couch, looking down.
CHRISTOPHER
I know this may seem heartless but
at some stage, we may have to
consider..
WILLOW
No!
CHRISTOPHER
We have to at least accept the
possibility that we cannot bring her
back. That person which was your
friend may not exist anymore. If
that is the case, she becomes a
threat and it is our duty to
eliminate such evil power from this
world.
(stepping closer to
Willow, more conciliatory)
I know you care for this girl..
WILLOW
(sounding out the word
slowly, a massive
understatement)
Care?
XANDER
(taking a few steps
towards Christopher)
Maybe you just better shut up.
BUFFY
(taking control)
Okay, everyone stop. We need to keep
our heads here. Xander, go and take
Willow back to her dorm. Willow,
find Tara and get back to us when
you do. Giles, Anya and I will head
to the Magic Box and hit the books.
Everyone gets up and prepare to leave.
GILES
(to Buffy)
We better take shifts. I know all of
us need some rest after tonight's
fight.
DAWN
(to Buffy)
I want to come too.
BUFFY
No Dawn. It's too dangerous at the
shop. Best you stayed here.
DAWN
Buffy, I need to help. I can't just
sit back here while this thing is
happening to Tara.
Buffy regards Dawn for a beat. Dawn gets up and grabs
her coat.
DAWN
(determined)
I'm coming.
Buffy nods. Willow and Xander head out the door,
followed by Giles, Anya and Dawn. Only Buffy and
Christopher are left. Buffy walks up to him.
BUFFY
Do whatever you want. Stay here,
head back to your apartment..
whatever. The last thing I want to
do right now is ask for your help.
(a beat)
But I'm asking for it anyway. You
probably know more about this stuff
than any of us. Right now, the only
thing that matters is getting Tara
back. And we will get her back.
There aren't any other scenarios.
You can object as much as you like
but we're doing this, with or
without you.
Buffy heads off and exits. After a beat, Chrisopher
follows her out the door.
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION - THRONE ROOM
CLOSE ON : A CHESSBOARD
As a hand reaches down and moves a piece.
WIDEN:
to reveal the General and Sasha sitting across from
each other. The General on his throne and Sasha on a
chair, the chessboard between them. Flix and Trix are
standing by the General's side, watching the game with
disinterest. Solomon stands behind Sasha.
THE GENERAL
(in a subtly threatening
tone)
Don't ever do that again. I need not
be ferried away like a child.
SASHA
Yes General. I simply thought that
it was an unnecessary risk for you
to be there when they attacked.
THE GENERAL
I will be the one who decides what
risks I shall take.
SASHA
(bows her head)
Yes General. Forgive me.
The General regards Sasha for a beat, then, satisfied,
turns back to the chessboard. He moves a piece off-
screen.
THE GENERAL
You are certain he completed the
spell before he was killed.
SASHA
Yes General. I made sure of it.
ANGLE ON CHESSBOARD.
as we see Sasha move her black Queen to take the
General's white Bishop.
THE GENERAL
(while moving a piece off-
screen)
It surprises me that a powerful
demon such as Musfata would allow
himself the indignity to get killed
by mere children.
SASHA
But his death served a higher
purpose. It turned one of their
little friends dark, it turned her
evil.
THE GENERAL
(looking up at Sasha,
interested)
Of course. His magic would transfer
upon his death. Tell me, who is it?
SASHA
A witch.
Solomon is suddenly interested in this conversation.
From behind Sasha, he pipes up.
SOLOMON
(dreading the answer)
Which witch?
SASHA
(smiling, not looking
back)
The blonde.
ANGLE ON CHESSBOARD.
as Sasha moves her black Queen to take the white
Knight.
ANGLE : SOLOMON
looking slightly distraught. The information slowly
sinking in.
ANGLE : SASHA
continuing to smile as she senses Solomon's
dissapointment behind her.
The General laughs, then..
THE GENERAL
(while moving a piece off-
screen)
How delightful. I'm sorry I missed
the show.
SASHA
If I know them at all, the slayer
and her friends will be in a blind
panic, trying everything they can to
get her back. The notion of
sacrifice is completely foreign to
them.
ANGLE ON CHESSBOARD.
as Sasha moves her black Queen to take the white
Queen. The General immediately takes the black Queen
with his King.
The General smiles at his move. Sasha makes another
move, doing it very slowly so that the General
notices.
SASHA
It seems that they are at their most
vulnerable when their group is
threatened, when their human
emotions are brought into play.
(pointedly, looking
expectantly at the
General)
They are now weak.. distracted..
Sasha notices the General concentrating on the game.
She subtly moves her hand towards the location of her
King, drawing the General's attention towards it.
THE GENERAL
(still studying the board)
Perhaps we should take this
opportunity to rid ourselves of the
slayer and her band of followers
once and for all. We will strike
them now when they are at their
weakest.
The General finally sees what Sasha has been hinting
at. He smiles and moves his knight over towards
Sasha's king.
THE GENERAL
(looking up at Sasha,
triumphant)
Checkmate.
SASHA
(smiling)
Good move General. Well played.
EXT. WOODS - DAY (DAY TWO)
We see Tara, still in her flowing white Valentine
dress, walk slowly by herself to an isolated spot in
the woods. A small pond, surrounded by the bright
green of the trees and the grass. Pretty yellow wild
flowers surround the pond. Butterflies fly around
Tara, chasing each other in a mating ritual.
Tara takes a look around at the scene before her,
taking it all in with her black eyes. She looks
considerably paler than before. Her skin almost
completely white. Her hair starting to turn a bright
white. Looking very much like a delicate porcelain
doll.
She kneels down to next to the pond and takes a look
at a small red fish swimming near her. She reaches
down with her hand to touch it but the fish swims
away. She notices her reflection in the pond.
She sees her white skin and hair and her black eyes.
She takes a closer look at her hand in front of her,
shocked at the lightness of it.
She reaches down into the ground, grabs a clump of
dirt from it and starts to spread it over her arms,
her face, trying to darken her skin. To get rid of the
white.
She slows down, then stops. She stands up, a slight
look of anger upon her face. She places her arms
perfectly straight by her side, then, raises the palms
of her hands out at right angles to the rest of her
body.
A wave emanates out in a circle from her body. As the
wave passes, we see the pond bubble and the fish float
belly-up to the surface. We see the grass turn brown
and die. We see the butterflies fall straight to the
ground and lie motionless. We see the leaves of the
trees turn brown and fall to the ground, leaving dead,
withered trunks grotesquely holding out its empty
branches.
Here, in this dead circle, we see Tara, for the first
time since her transformation, smile. We ZOOM in and
great speed to her black eyes, seemingly almost
running into them when..
INT. MAGIC BOX - DAY
ANGLE : BUFFY
waking up with a start from slumber. She's sitting in
a chair next to the table. There's a book in front of
her, opened to the last page she was when she fell
asleep. She looks groggily around the table. She sees
Dawn and Anya both asleep, both seemingly in the
middle of research. Dawn with her head back on the
chair while Anya with her head resting face down in a
book on the table. There is a huge pile of books in
the center of the table.
Buffy gets up quietly, grabs two cushion, then walks
over to Dawn. She gently lifts Dawn up and lies her
down across two chairs, placing a cushion under her
head.
Buffy looks at the sleeping Dawn for a beat. She then
takes a look over to the sleeping Anya who is snoring.
She decides on the best plan of attack before going
over and gently lifting Anya's head, placing the
cushion underneath and then resting Anya's head back
on the cushion but this time placing her head on its
side so that it is facing away from the cushion.
We stay on Anya as Buffy exits the frame. After a
beat, Anya sleepily picks up her head, then plops it
straight back face down on the cushion.
INT. MAGIC BOX/TRAINING ROOM - DAY
as Buffy enters. She sees Giles, sitting in a chair
next to a bureau, intently studying a book. She comes
up behind him and gently places a hand on his
shoulder. Giles is startled, slightly jumping out of
his seat.
BUFFY
Sorry.
GILES
Quite alright. I was just a little
lost in my reading.
BUFFY
So, I guess this wasn't all a bad
dream.
GILES
(glasses off, rubbing his
eyes, solemnly)
No.
BUFFY
Can't believe I nodded off. I mean..
GILES
Your body needed the rest. After
that fight, there's no way you
could have stayed up all night.
BUFFY
All that Latin didn't help.
GILES
Never mind. Christopher and I took
over when you three fell asleep.
We've been going through the books
ever since.
BUFFY
(looking at the book in
Giles' hands)
So, any luck?
GILES
Actually yes.
BUFFY
(perking up, sitting on
the bureau)
Really?
GILES
There's this potion which, when
released into the air, has the
ability to dispel the dark magic
from any nearby beings.
BUFFY
(hopeful)
So, we expose Tara to this potion,
all the evil goodness gets wiped out
and we get her back?
GILES
Well, it's a tad more complicated
than that. It's a powerful potion
which has rarely been used on
humans. There may be unforseen side-
effects. Plus, it's a rare potion.
It's not exactly something I can
order in from a warehouse.
BUFFY
We'll get it somehow. No, this is
all the good. Thank you.
GILES
Well, we should really thank
Christopher. He was the one who
discovered it.
BUFFY
Really?
(looking around)
Where is he?
GILES
I sent him back to his apartment. He
looked like he could use some rest.
BUFFY
Oh. Okay.
GILES
He did tell me to remind you about
the General.
(off Buffy's look)
It's a valid point. With all that's
happened, this would be an ideal
time for the General to strike. We
have to assume that Sasha killed
Musfata knowing very well what would
happen, knowing that we would be
preoccupied with saving Tara. We
have to be prepared.
BUFFY
(shaking her head)
God, so not the time for unnecessary
distractions.
INT. CHRISTOPHER'S APARTMENT - DAY
as Christopher enters, looking very tired. The
apartment is quite dark with the curtains closed.
Christopher heads for a cabinet to the side of the
room and pours himself a glass of Scotch.
He suddenly notices a dark shadow sitting next to his
desk, not moving. Christopher tenses up.
He slowly puts down his glass, and reaches for his
stake.
CHRISTOPHER
Who's there?
No answer. Christopher squints to see.
CHRISTOPHER
(unsure)
Tara?
Christopher backs away slowly towards the light
switch. He turns it on.
We see an older, refined-looking gentleman sitting in
Christopher's chair. He is bald with a white moustache
and is dressed in black. A black top and a black coat.
A single white handkerchief peeking out from his coat
pocket. He regards Christopher with an air of
authority.
CHRISTOPHER
Mr. Sandring.
MR SANDRING
Hello Christopher. Is this a bad
time?
ANGLE : CHRISTOPHER
looking a little shocked, speechless.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT ONE
CONTINUE TO ACT TWO