Episode 10 - Valentine
ACT THREE
EXT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
We see Xander, Willow and Tara walking up the pathway
to Buffy's house. They are all dressed up, ready to go
out. Tara is wearing her newly purchased white dress.
A little quiet tension in the air.
WILLOW
So, we're meeting Anya here?
XANDER
(a little edgy)
Yeah, it's the thing.
Xander knocks on Buffy's door.
WILLOW
Oh yeah, the thing.
(thinks about it for a
beat)
What thing? Is Buffy coming too? To
this thing? Is that why we're here?
Xander avoids eye contact. He knocks on the door
again, a little more impatient.
XANDER
(to himself)
Where are they?
Willow looks to Tara, looking a tad confused.
TARA
(smiles, trying to be
reassuring)
They're just inside.
The door finally opens. Buffy is at the door. She
takes a look at Willow, then quickly looks away.
Willow notices.
BUFFY
Come on in you guys.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/FOYER - DAY
The mood is just as quiet indoors. Buffy holds the
door open while Xander, Willow and Tara enter. Willow
looks at Buffy when she enters but Buffy doesn't meet
her gaze. Willow looking even more confused, and now
concerned.
As Buffy closes the door behind them, Xander and Tara
immediately head towards the living room. Willow
follows. Buffy bringing up the rear.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - DAY
As Willow enters, she sees Dawn, Anya and Giles
waiting in the living room. Dawn and Anya are sitting
on one of the couches while Giles stands. Xander goes
to sit besides Anya and Buffy besides Dawn. Tara
remains standing behind Willow.
WILLOW
Oh look.. everybody's here.
She takes a look at all the solemn faces in the room,
most not looking at her. Willow turns to Tara.
WILLOW
This is the thing?
Tara doesn't know how to start. She just looks at
Willow. Willow turns back to the group.
WILLOW
Okay, what's going on here? What's
with the droopy?
(turning to each person in
turn)
Buffy? Xander?
Anya fidgets. She makes eye contact with Willow.
ANYA
(forced welcomy smile)
Welcome to your intervention.
(taking out a cookie from
a bag and nervously
holding it out to Willow)
Cookie?
WILLOW
My what?
Giles walks over to a desk, takes out Willow's magic
books from a bag and plops them down on the table in
the middle of the room.
Willow stares at the books, stunned. A silent beat.
GILES
We also found what you have on your
laptop.
WILLOW
Wait, I can explain.
GILES
Go ahead.
WILLOW
(stuck for words for a
beat, then)
Okay, I may have overstated the
explaining part.
GILES
You've been practising.
WILLOW
No. I mean, yes, just practising.
Nothing else.
GILES
You lied to us.
WILLOW
I didn't lie. I was just, you know,
witholdy with the truth, which I
admit can, in certain cultures, be
easily mistaken with ..um lying.
GILES
(stern)
I won't let you carry on with this.
WILLOW
(a change in her tone)
Let?
Xander senses the bad vibes.
XANDER
(to the assembled group)
Okay, now would be the time to do
that thing we discussed.
(silent nods of agreement
from the group)
Remember Will, we're not judging.
I'll start.
(to Willow)
I love you, but.. this black magic
thing you've got going's gotta stop.
We're all here to help. We just
don't wanna see you get hurt.
Willow stands impassively. A silent beat before
someone else pipes up.
GILES
I love you, but.. this thing will
take you over. It's nothing you can
control. You will cease to become
the person you are.
DAWN
I love you, but.. I agree with
Giles. I mean, I know I only like
tried it just the once but even then
I knew it was all wrong. Please
Willow, we don't wanna lose you.
BUFFY
I love you, but.. this thing? It's
all bad. I think it's time for you
to dial it back. Let us help you.
ANYA
I love you, but.. but..
(indicating Buffy)
what she said.
Willow puts up a strained smile.
WILLOW
Wow. With all this lovin' in the
room, a girl could get all tired
out.
GILES
I really don't think this is the
time for jokes.
WILLOW
(angry tone but
controlled)
No it's not. But that's what all
this is, one big joke.
BUFFY
Will..
WILLOW
No, you've all had your say. I think
it's my turn. I love you all but..
you don't know what you're talking
about. We're not playing a game
here. It's life and death stuff. If
we lose, people get hurt, people
die. I mean, we've had the Master,
Adam, Glory and now the General. I
know we're on this great streak but
one of these days, we're gonna
lose.. unless we do something about
it, by whatever means necessary.
BUFFY
No, not by whatever means.
WILLOW
Why not? I can do it Buffy. I'm
strong enough to do this. Don't you
see? I can wipe away the General and
his vamps with one spell.
(a few looks between the
Scoobs)
Please. Magic is the one thing I can
do well, the only thing. What's the
point of it if I can't use it?
XANDER
It's too dangerous Will.
Willow takes a breath and looks at the faces. Then..
WILLOW
You guys don't believe in me. That's
it isn't it? After all these years,
you all still think I'm this big
screw-up right?
BUFFY
What? Of course not.
DAWN
You're Wiccy powerful.
We can see Willow reeling, trying to find a way out of
this mess.
BUFFY
Will, you can't just..
WILLOW
No! What is this? Buffy, you asked
me for this last year. You.. asked
me. I'm your big gun remember? Or
does that only apply when Dawn is in
trouble?
XANDER
Will..
WILLOW
(to Xander)
And you. We've known each other
forever. Do you really think that
I'm not strong enough to handle
this? Do you think so little of
me?
Xander looks down on the ground, a little ashamed.
Willow turns to Anya.
ANYA
No, hey, I'm on board.
BUFFY
(to Giles)
Maybe we're being a little hasty. I
mean, if Will says that she can
handle it.. She did help save our
collective butts against Glory.
ANYA
And it's not like she's taking on a
God this time.
GILES
Dark magic is nothing to be trifled
with. I've seen many a good person
fall under its spell, people who
believed they could control it.
XANDER
But this is Will. I mean, how could
she possibly turn all evil. It's
Will.
Willow begins to feel more confident, feeling the room
starting to support her.
WILLOW
(to Giles)
Giles, I know you're only looking
out for me, but this is something I
can do, that I have to do. And
really, there's nothing you can say
or do that will stop me, especially
not by organising this silly
intervention.
TARA (O.S.)
He didn't.
The last words Willow wanted to hear. She turns slowly
towards Tara behind her, a little stunned. We begin a
very private conversation in a very public place.
WILLOW
(quietly)
Tara?
TARA
I'm such a coward, you know? I
actually thought I could just stand
back here and let everyone else do
the talking, because, I was so
afraid that..
WILLOW
(still in a daze)
What?
TARA
Willow, you have to stop this..
please.
WILLOW
I thought you said you trusted me
with your life.
TARA
I do. But I don't trust you with
yours.
Willow takes a look around the room. The Scoobs,
feeling uncomfortable look away. Willow turns back to
Tara.
WILLOW
(pleading)
Who am I hurting? It's my life, my
decision. Tell me, who am I hurting?
TARA
You're hurting yourself. You're
hurting me and everyone else in this
room who cares for you. This isn't
the answer.
Willow stares at Tara for a long time, takes a quick
glance at the Scoobs, then comes closer to Tara.
WILLOW
(whispering)
Tara, listen to me. I saw something.
TARA
What?
WILLOW
I'm not sure. But something's going
to happen to you. I just know it.
WHITE OUT
We see flashbacks of the following images.
ANGLE : WILLOW AND TARA'S ROOM
WILLOW (O.S.)
I saw our room.
ANGLE : CLOSE UP OF TARA'S EYES CLOSING
WILLOW (O.S.)
I saw your eyes close.
ANGLE : BLOOD SLOWLY SPREADING ON A PIECE OF CLOTH
WILLOW (O.S.)
I saw blood.
WHITE OUT
WILLOW
(pained, almost
whispering)
Tara, I think I saw you die.
Tara looks at Willow, stunned. She looks up to Buffy
and Giles. They have not heard any of this. She turns
back to Willow.
TARA
Honey, you didn't see anything.
Nothing's going to happen to me.
WILLOW
(uncomposed)
Tara, I have to do this. It's my
fault. It's all my fault. You're
here because of me and.. and I'm not
strong enough to let you go.
TARA
Honey, shh.
Willow takes a moment to recompose herself. She takes
a look at everyone gathered around the room, then
turns back to Tara.
WILLOW
(like a mantra, slowly)
I brought you back. I brought you
back to me. How can it be evil? How
can it be wrong, if it brought you
back to me? Please let me do this. I
need to do this.
Tara looks at Willow for a beat.
TARA
I love you, but.. No.
Willow looks stunned. She stares at Tara, then walks
out, leaving the house.
XANDER
(starting to get up)
Will.
TARA
No, I'll go. She'll be okay. She
just needs some time.
Tara starts to head out the door.
BUFFY
Can you find her?
TARA
We'll always find each other.
GILES
Make sure you get yourselves back
into your room before dark.
Tara nods. She exits, leaving a very quiet room.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - DAY
We see Willow walking along in the street, still in a
daze. Alone in a sea of people. She looks to see the
Sunnydale museum to her right. Almost unconsciously,
she walks up the stairs towards the museum.
ANGLE : TARA
Bustling through the crowd, looking for Willow. She
sees Willow entering the museum in the distance.
TARA
(calling out)
Willow.
Willow doesn't hear her. Tara rushes off-screen,
chasing after her. We PAN right to see a parked car by
the street, sun-shades up all over the place. A tiny
slit in the sun-shade on the driver's side. Suddenly,
the car takes off, turning into an alleyway besides
the museum.
INT. SUNNYDALE MUSEUM/AN EXHIBIT ROOM - DAY
We see Willow wandering aimlessly in one part of the
museum, looking at some of the paintings but not
really looking. She turns a corner and exits off-
screen just before we see Tara peek in from the
doorway, looking for her. Not seeing her, Tara walks
away.
INT. SUNNYDALE MUSEUM/HALLWAY - DAY
We see Tara wandering the hallway. She has found
herself in a fairly isolated area of the museum. There
are doors leading to several exhibit rooms. She peeks
into each one in turn. She hears someone crying, the
sound coming from one of the rooms.
She walks slowly towards the entrance. She sees that
the the door is open but there is a blockade set up in
front of it. There is a sign attached to it which
reads 'Exhibit closed for renovations'. Tara looks in
tentatively, still hearing crying come from inside.
TARA
Willow?
INT. SUNNYDALE MUSEUM/AN EXHIBIT ROOM - DAY
Tara walks into the exhibit room. It is empty. We see
that it is an Ancient Rome exhibit with statues and
various items in display cases. The crying has now
stopped.
Tara gets near the center of the exhibit room when she
hears the doors close behind her. She turns to look to
see the closed doors but not the person who closed
them. She starts to head back towards the doors, the
sound of her footsteps on the marble floor echoing
through the room. Clack, clack, clack.
Suddenly she hears giggling in front of her. She
stops, looking worried. She starts to backpedal, away
from the doors. She turns and starts to head in the
opposite direction. Clack, clack, clack.
She stops, hearing something. [Clack, clack, clack].
Footsteps following her. She takes three more steps,
clack, clack, clack. Again, she hears footsteps
parroting hers, [clack, clack, clack].
She takes two steps. Clack, clack. Followed by two
steps following her [clack, clack]. Like a game. Tara
looks around breathlessly, not seeing who is following
her.
She then hears the familiar 'Shave and a Haircut'
cadence, tapped out on the marble floor [clack, clack,
clack, clack, clack], followed a beat later by the
reply, 'two bits' [clack, clack] from another part of
the museum. We hear more giggling.
TARA
Willow?
ANGLE : A STATUE OF A ROMAN WARRIOR, FACING TO THE
RIGHT OF SCREEN
ROMAN WARRIOR
(in a female voice,
mocking)
Willow?
We PAN over across the room to..
ANGLE : A STATUE OF A GODDESS, FACING TO THE LEFT OF
SCREEN
GODDESS
(also in a female voice,
sing-songy)
W.i.i.llow
ANGLE : TARA
backing away, looking terrified.
Meanwhile, the two statues have a conversation.
ROMAN WARRIOR
Oh Willow!
GODDESS
I love you.
ROMAN WARRIOR
Oh, I love you too.
GODDESS
Take me! Kiss me now you fool.
Tara turns and starts to run, looking for an exit.
ANGLE: THE TWO STATUES
as Flix and Trix step out from behind them, smiling at
each other, then walking calmly together towards Tara.
We see Tara desperately searching for a way out. She
tries a few doors but they are locked. She turns to
see Flix and Trix, now spread out, closing in on her.
She tries another door. This one is unlocked. She
rushes inside. Flix and Trix share a look and a
satisfied smile.
INT. SUNNYDALE MUSEUM/STOREROOM - DAY
Tara closes the door behind her and locks it. She
descends a small flight of stairs leading from the
door to the main basement level. She takes a look
around. A dark, claustraphobic storeroom of some
description. Lots of metal shelves holding old museum
exhibits, boxes and various items littered about the
place. There doesn't seem to be a way out.
We hear Flix and Trix banging on the door. Tara turns
around, facing the door. She backs away into the
darkness, edging away from the door.
Suddenly, from the shadows behind her, we see a hand
reach out and grab Tara over her mouth. We see Solomon
pull Tara close to him as he puts his face next to
hers.
SOLOMON
My darling valentine.
BLACKOUT
END OF ACT THREE
CONTINUE TO ACT FOUR