Episode 10 - Valentine
ACT TWO
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LOUNGE ROOM - NIGHT
ANGLE : BUFFY
serious slayer mode, talking down to someone.
BUFFY
There's no way that's ever gonna
happen. I will never let that
happen.
A silent tense-filled beat, then..
ANGLE : HARMONY
HARMONY
But I'll make a great Scoob. I can
fight way better than Xander over
there and there's the thing where
I'm a vamp, so I like have this
insight, or whatever, into how the
vampy mind works.
BUFFY
No.
HARMONY
(whiny)
Why not?
BUFFY
(as if talking to a child)
You.. vampire, me.. slayer. Slayer
carries big pointy stick to kill
vampires.
(then..)
I know this is the age of open and
free associations but I think the
discrimination police will let this
one slip by. It's not like you're
joining the Babysitter's club.. um..
not that that makes any more sense.
HARMONY
But you had like Angel and even
Spikey in your gang. There's always
been a vamp in the Scoobies. I'll
just be the next one in line, you
know, the start of a new era.
XANDER
Yeah, but both of them were totally
in love with Buffy. They couldn't
hurt a fly, at least, a non-vampy,
evil fly.
HARMONY
(to Buffy, hesitant)
Well, I could learn to like you. I
mean, I'm not making any promises..
Maybe if you dressed up once in a
while and..
BUFFY
Enough! It's not gonna happen.
HARMONY
But I'm totally in with the General.
I could be like secret agent spy,
you know, get the inside scoop on
what he's up to.
(unconvinced look from
Buffy)
C'mon. Maybe this is what I'm meant
to be. My little trip to LA showed
me that I can move away from my
vampy nature, you know, fight with
you guys.
BUFFY
Harm, we're not Vampaholics
Anonymous. No one's gonna be
sponsoring this little delusion
you've got going.
WILLOW
Besides, we heard about your little
sojourn to the light side from
Cordelia. Not exactly a passing
grade.
HARMONY
I'll do better. It's like sex, you
know? You never get it right the
first time.
XANDER
Buff, maybe this isn't such a bad
idea.
BUFFY
(incredulous)
What?
Harmony smiles. Buffy takes a look at Harmony and then
proceeds to drag Xander into..
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/FOYER - NIGHT
BUFFY
(to Xander, take two)
What?
We see Willow, Tara, Dawn and Giles have followed
Xander and Buffy into the foyer.
XANDER
You wanted a lifeline. This is it.
Think about it, someone on the
inside who can tell us everything
about anything and anything about
everything. We can finally find out
what's what.
BUFFY
But.. it's Harmony. If we let her
in, we're gonna, like, lose out
triple A rating from Standard and
Poors.
WILLOW
Yeah. What's with the open door
policy? We just gonna let anyone
into the Scoobs now? We may as well
invite the General, you know? He can
organise our nightly get-togethers
and we'll bring, or rather.. be the
food.
TARA
It is kinda blurring the distinction
between good and evil. It's bad
enough when they stopped wearing the
big black pointy hats.
GILES
(to Buffy)
How is this any different to
allowing DeGarrin to go free and
kill the General? At least, with
her, I think we can exercise some
degree of control. And I have to
say, it would be very useful to have
someone on the inside.
BUFFY
But.. It's Harmony. I mean, how can
we even trust her?
XANDER
This is Harm we're talking about.
She'd do anything to be part of the
cool gang. Right now, looks like
we're it. Besides, the girl couldn't
lie to save her life.
TARA
We could always cast a truth spell
on her, you know, just in case.
Buffy looks to Giles, then takes a look at Harmony,
resigned.
EXT. SUNNYDALE WOODS - NIGHT
ANGLE ON : FULL MOON IN THE NIGHT SKY
as we TILT down to see a group of vamps in a clearing.
In the middle, we see Tarwin, Sasha, Solomon, Flix,
Trix and the General. All the vamps surround the
General, protecting him. We see Flix and Trix on each
of the General's arms. They are watching something
off-screen. We hear a soft-chanting off-screen.
We PAN to the left to reveal Musfata'a aide, standing
silently by himself, then Musfata himself, bowing down
and concentrating, a quiet chant from his lips.
With a sudden flourish, Musfata raises his arms
dramatically.
ANGLE ON : THE GROUND AT MUSFATA'S FEET
as a brilliant blue light emanates from the ground,
spitting out brilliant blue sparks into the air.
ANGLE : FLIX
watching all the lights in awe.
FLIX
(as if on acid)
Pretty lights.
Musfata turns slightly to his aide.
AIDE
Musfata wishes it to be known that
absolute silence is necessary if he
is to perform his spell.
The General gives a little look to Flix. Flix looks
chagrined. Trix leans forward to see past the General
and looks at Flix, a little smile on her face. Flix
lets out a little snarl to her sister.
Musfata continues. He chants for a beat and then
lowers his hands. The sparks dissapear and we see the
blue glow on the ground begin to slowly diminish.
Musfata closes his eyes and tilts towards his aide.
AIDE
(to the General)
Musfata wishes to inform that that
is all he can do for tonight and
that he must rest.
THE GENERAL
Fine. We'll finish this up tommorow
night.
Musfata and his aide leaves. The General nods to Sasha
and Solomon. The three take a stroll, away from the
main group.
THE GENERAL
(breathing in the air)
Aah. Smell that. There's nothing
like the cool night air to
reinvigorate an old soldier. Is it
not good to get away from the stench
of humans and their so-called
civilisation.
Solomon looks a little quiet and downcast as he walks.
THE GENERAL
(noticing Solomon's
demeanour)
Don't look so disheartened Solomon.
Things are falling into place. After
tommorow night, our first step to
our destiny will be complete.
SOLOMON
Yes my General.
THE GENERAL
And after that, our allies from
across the ocean will deliver to us
the final, most important piece to
our plans.
SASHA
And the slayer? She's not just going
to sit back and let this all happen.
THE GENERAL
Oh yes, the slayer. You've sent out
the call?
SASHA
It is done.
THE GENERAL
Well then, she'll be taken care of
before the package arrives. I must
say, I will miss the girl. She is..
unique.
SASHA
She is quick with the quip. But her
strength shouldn't be
underestimated.
THE GENERAL
She may be physically strong but she
doesn't have the strength that
matters. Underneath it all, she's
simply just another human, a weak
little girl without a will to
survive. No Sasha, the ritual will
proceed without delay. Soon, we will
leave this town behind us and begin
our true journey.
The General makes to leave. Sasha and Solomon bow
respectfully.
SASHA/SOLOMON
Yes my General.
The General exits and rejoins the main group. Sasha
and Solomon continue to walk by themselves.
Sasha takes a look at Solomon, who looks perturbed.
SASHA
You have to work on your poker face.
SOLOMON
It's hard to believe, that after a
century of waiting, that we are
suddenly so close.
SASHA
Why should that worry you? The
sooner the better..
(a realisation)
unless you feel there's something
you need to do here before we leave.
Sasha studies Solomon who avoids her gaze.
SASHA
Where were you this afternoon?
SOLOMON
We should return.
Solomon begins to go. Sasha notices something. She
grabs Solomon by his arm and takes a closer look at
his hand. She notices the burn marks.
Sasha sneers. She lets Solomon's hand go.
SASHA
(disgusted)
The things we do for love.
Sasha walks away from Solomon, leaving him standing by
himself.
ANGLE : SOLOMON
from slightly above him. Solomon looks on as Sasha
departs. He then takes a look around the area around
him.
The camera CRANES UP, as if taking off into the air.
We reveal Solomon standing by himself in the middle of
a clearing and many glowing blue spots on various
locations around him.
INT. SOME BUILDING - DAY (DAY THREE)
ANGLE : GILES AND BUFFY
as they have a conversation. We don't really see where
they are just yet.
BUFFY
Well, that was a fun evening with
Harmony. We really should have her
over more often. At least we now
know where the General is.
GILES
Yes, a mansion built under..
(then distracted by
something, to someone off-
screen)
Oatmeal thanks.
(back to Buffy,
continuing)
a house.
BUFFY
God, is there like an entire town
built under Sunnydale? I mean, first
we get the Initiative and their
secret base under a frat-house, now
this. Know what? I'd betcha the two
are linked somehow, in some evily,
sinister way. I wonder if the General
pledged?
GILES
(deadpan)
Yes, very likely.. Now that we know
where the General is, we'll have to
formulate some sort of plan of
attack. It would be useful to draw
up some sort of schematic of the
mansion, based on Harmony's
observations.
ANGLE : COOKIE GUY
in his happy shop uniform, standing behind the counter
watching and listening in to the conversation. A
bewildered 'they don't pay me enough for this job'
look. He is carrying an empty bag, waiting for the
next order. There is an assortment of cookies in the
display shelves in front of him.
BUFFY
Why don't we just drop a giant Acme
boulder over the entrance or
something. It works in the cartoons.
GILES
(turning to look at the
cookie merchandise)
Harmony did mention that there were
several secret exits leading out
from the mansion to various
locations around the town, so I'm
afraid we'll just have to
(seamless transition)
take some of those Macadamia Nut
cookies.
Cookie Guy loads up another bag with some cookies.
Giles starts to pay for the cookies.
BUFFY
(staring down, aimlessly
looking at some of the
cookies)
Well, I'm just glad we finally know
something about the General. I mean,
we finally have the upper hand. We
can take the fight to him, wipe him
and his cadre of vampires off--Ooh!
Chocolate Chip!!
Giles gives Buffy a look.
BUFFY
(noticing)
What? Chocolate Chip!
Giles nods to Cookie guy who duly fills out a bag with
some chocolate chip cookies. Giles pays and he and
Buffy exit, carrying several bags of cookies.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - DAY
Buffy and Giles walking down the street. Buffy sees a
loving couple walking towards them hand in hand. Buffy
looks at them for a beat, then quickly looks away,
turning to Giles.
BUFFY
So, what's the immediate plan?
GILES
Well, if Harmony's information is
correct..
BUFFY
Wait! I know this. Some big, evily
mysterious guy in a big black hood
and coat working some dark mojo in
the woods?
GILES
Precisely. It seems to be important
to the General's ultimate goal,
whatever that may be.
BUFFY
So you think Tara's spell gonna
help?
GILES
Well, if all goes to plan, once I'm
put under, I should be able to
locate where they've been performing
their spells. We can perhaps then
anticipate their next move.
BUFFY
You sure you're ready to go all
Harry Potter? Cause you know, when I
went under last year, it got a
little wiggy. It was like some weird
drug-induced psychedelic trip..
(off Giles' look)
not that I'd know anything about
that of course.
They arrive at the Magic Box. They enter.
INT. MAGIC BOX - DAY
Door-bell rings as Buffy and Giles enter the shop
which is closed for lunch. We see Anya counting some
money at the register and Chris looking through some
books at the table. Tara sits on the floor cross-
legged near the centre of the room. There are some
vials and candles in front of her and a strange
circular marking on the floor.
Anya rushes to Buffy and Giles.
ANYA
Finally! What took you so long? Any
minute longer and it would've been
like the Donner Party in here.
A sideways glance from Tara to Anya as she lights the
candles.
BUFFY
(handing over a bag of
cookies to Anya)
Here you go Anya.
ANYA
(taking a look inside the
bag)
What's this?
BUFFY
Choc fudge.
ANYA
(as if a disease)
Choc fudge? Do I look like Choc
Fudge? What happened to my
Peppermint Jelly Babies?
BUFFY
They were fresh out. I guess the
public at large just isn't ready for
a brave new world filled with
Peppermint Jelly Babies. You'll have
to make do with the second choice.
ANYA
Peppermint Jelly Babies was my
second choice.
BUFFY
Really? What was your first -- wait,
you know what? I don't wanna know.
Buffy heads over to Tara.
ANYA
(mumbling to herself,
eyeing a cookie in her
hand)
It's not like they're real babies.
Buffy places a bag next to Tara.
BUFFY
Tara.
TARA
(smiling)
Thanks.
Buffy takes a beat before heading over to Chris, head
still down studying a book. She places a bag of
cookies on the table next to him.
Chris looks up at Buffy then at the bag.
BUFFY
(expressionless)
I didn't know what you wanted so I
got you some plain and regular.
Chris takes a look into the bag.
BUFFY
Don't worry. If I wanted to poison
you I would've asked Dawn to bake
them.
Buffy turns and starts to walk away.
CHRISTOPHER
(quietly to Buffy)
Thank you.
We see Buffy in the background, with her back to
Chris. She pauses for a second upon hearing this, then
continues to walk away, never looking back.
Buffy heads over to join Anya behind the counter.
ANGLE : GILES AND TARA
as Giles sits on the floor opposite to Tara.
GILES
Are you ready?
TARA
Yes. Are you sure you don't want to
wait until Willow finishes her
class? I'm sure she'd be much better
at this..
GILES
(smiling)
I'm ready.
TARA
(smiles)
Okay.
Tara dips a finger in some red ointment. She reaches
over and touches Giles' forehead with her finger,
leaving a red dot in the middle of his forehead.
ANGLE : ANYA
next to Buffy, smiling and enjoying the show. She lets
out a little snigger as she looks at Giles with the
dot.
ANGLE : GILES
a little sideways glance towards Anya, then
concentrating back on Tara.
TARA
The dot represents your second
sight. When the spell is complete,
you should be able to see a red aura
in places where there've been high
concentrations of activity in dark
magic. When you're done, you'll have
to come find me so I can end the
spell.
GILES
I understand.
TARA
Ready? Here we go.
Tara closes her eyes and begins to chant, starting to
perform the spell.
ANGLE : BUFFY AND ANYA
behind the counter, leaning on it and watching the
spell. They each have a bag of cookies in front of
them.
BUFFY
(looking at Giles and
Tara, quietly to Anya)
This could take a while.
Anya nods. Buffy takes a bite of her cookie. Both
never taking their eyes off the ritual in front of
them.
Anya takes a bite of her cookie and immediately makes
a disgusted face, taking a second look at the cookie
in her hand. She puts the half-eaten cookie in Buffy's
cookie bag. Anya turns her attention back to Giles and
Tara. Buffy, looking incredulous, takes a look down at
the half-eaten cookie in her bag while Anya continues
to watch the show.
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION - DAY
We see Solomon in a hurry, travelling from one
corridor to the next, searching for something. He
looks into a room but, not finding what he's looking
for, soldiers on.
Suddenly, he hears something. Giggles and the sound of
grunts and general pain. The unmistakebale sound of
the twins at play. He follows the sound to..
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION/TRAINING ROOM - DAY
ANGLE : TRIX
as we see the top half of her body as she jumps and
hops about the place, playing a game of hop-scotch.
Flix looks on by the side. Trix finishes her turn.
It is Flix's turn. She hops and jumps as Trix did
previously, only this time we hear wheezing and grunts
off-screen.
We PAN down to reveal two vamps laid out on the floor,
end to end. They are both lying face-down with their
arms spread out to roughly simulate a hop-scotch game
floor.
We see the vamps grimace and grunt as Flix hops
roughly on them as she plays. Flix finishes her turn
and happily skips towards Trix.
FLIX
I win!
TRIX
So? It's a stupid game anyway. It's
so boring.
(gesturing the confines of
the mansion)
This is all so boring.
Flix considers for a second, then comes up with a
plan.
FLIX
I know. You can have a rematch but
this time, we can break in our high
heels.
Trix smiles. The two vamps on the floor share a
worried look.
Solomon takes a few steps forward, making his presence
known. The twins turn to see him.
TRIX
Looking for something?
FLIX
Looking for us?
SOLOMON
Yes, there's something to do.. if
you feel like playing.
The twins look at each other and smile. They walk
towards Solomon in perfect unison.
FLIX
(running her hand across
Solomon's shoulder)
This thing?
(indicating Trix)
Can we both play?
SOLOMON
Of course.
TRIX
(on Solomon's other
shoulder, lascivious)
And here we thought Sash had you
wrapped around her twisted little
finger.
SOLOMON
Actually, I had more of an excursion
in mind.
TRIX
An excursion?
FLIX
(interested)
Day trip?
SOLOMON
Day trip.
Flix looks over at Trix. They smile.
ANGLE : THE TWO VAMPS ON THE FLOOR.
One of the vamps begin to nervously get up off the
floor. Flix notices.
FLIX
(angry, shouting)
I didn't say you could move.
The vamp immediately drops straight back down onto the
floor, back into his position.
SOLOMON
Let's go.
The twins happily follow Solomon out the room. We see
the two vamps, all alone in the room, obediently
staying firmly in position.
INT. XANDER'S CAR - DAY
We see Giles, red dot in the middle of his forehead,
in the back seat, looking around the woods around him.
Xander is driving the car while Buffy, in the
passenger seat and with a map on her lap, turns back
to look at Giles and his dot.
GILES
(noticing)
What?
BUFFY
(a slight smirk)
Nothing. Anything yet?
GILES
Well, unless the General's been
casting spells at every traffic
light in Sunnydale..
XANDER
Aah. One day, the mass transit
system, the next, the world. It's
all so simple.
GILES
Quite.
Xander turns a corner, then suddenly..
GILES
Stop!
Xander stops the car. Giles stares intently at
something in the forest to his left.
BUFFY
Do you see it?
GILES
Yes.
REVERSE ANGLE : THE FOREST
where, from Giles' POV, we see a collection of bright
red spots glowing in the forest.
EXT. WILLOW AND TARA'S DORM - DAY
to establish.
INT. DORM HALLWAY - DAY
where we see Buffy, Giles and Xander walking and
talking.
BUFFY
Well, we know where they're gonna be
tonight. Thing is though, what do we
do about it?
GILES
We simply can't just jump in. This
needs to be planned. If these
rituals are as important as we think
they are..
BUFFY
I know. They won't exactly be short
on numbers.
XANDER
(adopting cheesy
Transylvanian accent)
Yeah, expect a vampy velcoming
vagon.
(off Buffy and Giles'
look)
Vad?
The three continue to walk down the hall. They arrive
outside Tara's door. A male student walks towards them
from the opposite direction. He looks at Giles as he
passes him.
STUDENT
(to Giles)
Hey man, cool dot.
The student keeps walking as Giles turns around and
looks at him for a beat.
GILES
(to the student)
It's not a bloody fashion statement
you know.
BUFFY
I don't know. If anyone can carry
off that look, it's..
(off Giles' look)
totally time to get that thing off
your forehead.
Buffy knocks. After a beat, the door unlocks and we
see Tara at the door.
TARA
Hey, you guys. Did it work?
XANDER
Peachy.
BUFFY
Giles totally caught the red-eye,
didn't ya Giles?
Giles does not answer. We see that he's looking at
something, towards Tara.
BUFFY
Giles?
Still no answer. Buffy and Xander share a concerned
look. Tara looks at Giles curiously.
ANGLE : GILES
still focused on something, a look of shock on his
face.
REVERSE ANGLE :
from Giles' POV. We see Tara standing in front of her
room and that she is backlit by a brilliant red. The
entire room is bathed in red, glowing brightly behind
Tara.
ANGLE : GILES
taking it all in. Oblivious to everyone.
BUFFY (O.S.)
Giles?
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO
CONTINUE TO ACT THREE