Scene 9
Miranda’s house. Buffy, Anya, Xander, Dawn, Willow and Tara are walking up to the door. They are carrying three pizzas.
Willow: “Cordelia called and said she left L.A. the day before yesterday—something about a necklace she left—they haven’t been able to reach her at the shop.”
Anya: “She hasn’t been in to the shop at all. Don’t know how she thinks she can earn any money if her shop is never open.”
Buffy: “You’ve tried calling her here, right? Maybe she’s turned the ringer off or something. Let’s hope pizza does the trick.”
Dawn: “So this is like a pizza intervention.”
Xander: “More like a ‘welcome home—sorry you were kidnapped and tortured by demons’ pizza party.”
Tara: “Has anyone seen Spike? You don’t think she...you don’t think he’s gone, do you?”
Willow: “I don’t know. Cordelia didn’t actually say much—well, that was relevant.”
Xander: “But that would be a good thing, right?”
Buffy: “Sure, in the long run, but for now it could mean she’s in one heck of a funk.”
Willow: “Enough with the idle speculation already. Someone ring the bell.”
Xander: “What is it about this house that always leads me to expect Lurch to answer the door?”
Dawn finally pushes the doorbell. They wait. Nothing. She rings it again. After a few minutes, lights come on and finally Miranda comes to the door. She is in sweats and a robe.
Anya: “God, you look AWFUL.”
Miranda: “It’s been a long week”
Buffy: “Can we come in? We brought pizza.”
Miranda: “The place is still a mess. I will have everyone over for a proper dinner party once I’m settled. [contemplating for a moment] Sure. I could eat pizza.”
Xander: “Pizza IS the miracle food, isn’t it? It’s right for any occasion.”
They come in and everyone sits in the livingroom. They dive into the pizza. Miranda looks tired and lazily chews on a slice.
Buffy: “We heard about what happened—Cordelia called. I guess you’re still recovering. I still can’t believe you killed Drusilla.”
Miranda: “You should probably take credit for that one—the whole thing, actually. In case anyone asks. Better for everyone if they think the Slayer did it, don’t you think?”
Buffy: “I don’t know. I guess so. Whatever you want.”
Miranda: [to Willow and Tara] “I was going to call you—I found a hidden room when I was doing some exploring yesterday. It’s full of spell books and things. If you want, you can come by some evening this week and take a look.”
Willow: “Groovy. That would be great. Thanks”
Awkward silence as everyone just sits and eats.
Anya: “Where’s Spike?”
Dawn: [annoyed] “Anya.”
Anya: “I was just wondering what happened to Spike.”
Miranda: [pained voice] “He’s not here.”
Anya: “It’s just that I helped him look for you. When you disappeared. We looked for you for days. I came up with the idea of calling the morgues. He was distraught. I don’t think he ate or slept the entire time—he just kept smoking. Blech. He was out of his mind looking for you. [pause] So did you kill him?”
Miranda: “What?”
Anya: “Oh, they were just talking outside and someone wondered if you might have killed him and I just thought it would be really mean of you if you did because he tried so hard to find you and all.”
Miranda: “No. No, of course not. He was in L.A. when I left.” [She’s looking really guilty.]
Dawn: “So did you two break up or something?”
Miranda: “Uh. I don’t feel up to talking about it right now. If you don’t mind, I’m quite tired. Indicating that she’d like to be alone] I do appreciate you stopping by.”
They all get up to leave. Miranda stops Anya and gives her a hug (being Anya, she doesn’t quite know how to respond).
Miranda: “Thanks for helping.”
Over the next couple of days, Miranda pulls herself together somewhat and goes out. She’s still not at full strength—the healing process always takes longer when she’s sad. Still, she ventures out alone—she tries to pretend (and convince herself) that she’s not looking for Spike, but after going to the Bronze one night and not seeing him, the next night, she decides to hit the demon bar (it’s hard to come up with reason to go there unless she thinks she might run into him). She’s sitting at the bar, drinking steadily, looking rather depressed. Some guy tries to buy her a drink—she refuses. He comes over to her.
Miranda: “I’m going to stop you right there to save us both some time. Really not interested in this.”
Guy: “Pretty girl like you, drinking alone at the bar—you must be looking for something.”
Miranda: “Perhaps I am simply a drunk.”
Guy: “You’re no drunk. No, I think you’re looking for someone and I don’t see how you know that it isn’t me”
Miranda: “Trust me. You’re not my type.”
Guy: “So what is your type?
Miranda: “Oh, I don’t know. Blonde, smart, quick-witted, attractive. Pretty much everything you’re not.”
Guy: “Ooh, that’s quite a wicked tongue you’ve got—gets me hot to think what you could do with it.”
Miranda: [disgusted] “Listen, I am not playing hard to get here. My tongue isn’t going anywhere near that cold, undead body of yours, so why not bugger off and leave me to my scotch, right?”
Guy: “or, what?”
Miranda: “or...nothing. I’m not in the mood for this. Give a girl a break and let me drink?”
After getting a scolding look from the bartender, the guy leaves. He goes back to his group of friends and they look menacingly at Miranda. After she finishes her drink, she decides to leave. She lights a cigarette in the alley and sure enough, the guys from the bar have followed her out. There are four of them—pretty big. She’s in a bad spot and they are quickly able to corner her.
Miranda: [acting calm] “So what exactly can I do for you gentleman?”
G2: “My brother here tells me you were rude to him. Doesn’t seem right for a human to go into a demon bar and be rude—all he wanted was to buy you a drink.”
Miranda: “First, [to G1] do you always have your brother help you get dates? Can’t see how that is a good strategy in the long run and second, I’m not human.”
G3: “I’ve seen you before. You’re Spike’s girlfriend. Or should I say was?”
Miranda: “I wouldn’t say we’re at ‘was’ exactly.”
G1: “So you prefer THAT pathetic toothless wus-vampire to us? Now that is doubly rude.”
G2: “Yeah, I think you owe my brother an apology.”
Miranda: “I don’t owe anyone anything. And I’d like to hear you call him that to his face.”
G3: [laughs] “We’re not afraid of Spike.”
Miranda: “Isn’t that interesting. You should be. If he were here, he’d lay you all flat before you idiots even knew what hit you. But since he isn’t, I suppose I’ll have to.”
They start to close in on her.
Miranda: [looking slightly nervous] “You know, I did just take out a whole NEST of your sort a few days ago—must’ve been 30 of ‘em. All dust now. So listen, I’m a reasonable woman—guy shouldn’t have to get his ass kicked for buying the wrong lady a drink. Why don’t we just forget this whole thing happened?”
G2: “What do you think, boys? I know I’m scared.”
Miranda: “Did I mention that the Slayer is a good friend of mine—practically sisters, so you might want to reconsider...”
She grabs for a piece of wood—before she gets it, one of them kicks her and knocks her down. She obviously has trouble getting up—she’s weak. One of them pulls her up and pins her against the wall.
Miranda: “Ok, ok, you can buy me a drink. Let’s just... [She kicks him in the balls and tries to slip away. Another one grabs her]
G1: “oh, now you ARE the drink.”
Suddenly we hear Spike’s voice say:
Spike: “You got something to say to me, Jimmie? I heard a rumor that you wanted to tell me something. A’course everyone knows you’re all mouth and no trousers.”
One of them charges Spike—he quickly kicks his ass and tosses him aside.
G3/Jimmie: “We don’t want any trouble, Spike. We were just going to take care of your girlfriend for you, you know, since you weren’t around. But since you’re back, we’ll just..." [they turn and run away]
Spike: “Wasn’t going to interrupt—four seemed a walk in the park compared to last time—but looked like you weren’t quite up for it.”
Miranda: “I was bloody stupid and forgot my sword at home—that and I’m not quite recovered.”
Spike: [bitter] “Funny, you looked recovered when you left me.”
Miranda: “I...it was temporary fix. Wore off.”
Spike: “Oh. Right then. Guess I’ll be on my way.” [He starts to walk past her]
Miranda: “Spike, wait. [he stops and turns toward her] Did you just get back?”
Spike: “Last night. Slept at a friends.”
Miranda: “Oh. [pause. frown.] Are you mad with me? For killing her?”
Spike: “What? No. I’d have done the same thing in your place. I’m mad because you took off like that. Were you mad with me for telling them about Claude and his pals?”
Miranda: “No. I mean, I’d rather you hadn’t, but it wouldn’t have made much difference. I had to kill them all because I couldn’t put the others in danger—it wouldn’t have ended with Claude.”
Spike: “So...”
Just then, a few people walk out of the bar, followed by others coming in—it’s suddenly seeming conspicuously not private.
Miranda: “So, do you want to go someplace to talk?”
Spike: “Back to the house?”
Miranda: “We can’t. Willow and Tara are raiding the spell books left behind by the previous owner. What about your old place?”
Spike: “Someone’s probably squatting already, but we could give it a go.”
They set off. They walk in silence—all sorts of restrained emotions. They arrive and open the door of the crypt. It’s a mess and there are two vamps playing cards inside.
Spike: “Sorry boys. Need my flat back for a bit. D’you mind?”
V: “uh, yeah. Finders keepers, Spike. We’re in the middle of a game.”
Spike: “Love what you’ve done with the place—you grow up in a barn? It’s a bloody mess. Come on, give us a minute [gives a glance back indicating Miranda]. Me and the bird have to work a few things out.”
V: “Dream on. Find your own bed.”
Spike: [to Miranda] “Tried to be nice. Asked politely, didn’t I?”
Miranda: “You most certainly did.”
Spike: “Guess we have to do this the old fashioned way”
Next thing we see is the two vamps being thrown out the door and the door slamming shut behind them. More silence, as neither of them seem to know where to begin. Finally it’s Spike who talks first.
Spike: [frustrated] “So what’s this all about, then? I tried to figure it out myself, but a bloke could lose his mind trying to understand what goes on in the heads of women. The way I see it, you disappeared, I went out of my head trying to find you—even asked for the help of a guy I HATE with a twisted passion—I find you, rescue you and granted, failed miserably trying to take your revenge, but still, it’s the thought, right? Instead of a hug and a kiss, I get “I need some time to think” and the sight of your back as you walk AWAY from me. So if you’re not mad about the ‘Claude’ thing, then I just don’t get it.”
Miranda: “You didn’t protest all that much, as I remember. It was pretty easy to walk away.”
Spike: [very frustrated] “THERE WAS A LOT THAT JUST HAPPENED. Maybe it wasn’t as easy as I thought to watch her die like that. And just a day before, I’d seen you lying there, cold—[softening] I didn’t expect it to hurt so much. [back to a bit bitter] Maybe that just freaked me out a little. Sorry.”
Miranda: “I didn’t know you saw me like that. [tearing up] I wanted you to be there when I woke up—I knew you’d come for me, but then instead of you, I had bloody Angel hovering over. I thought about you every minute. But she said things. And he said things. Everything was just so confused. I know how hard it must have been to ask for help—his help. And of course you’d still feel something for her—you were with her for a bloody century—s’pose I’d worry more if you felt nothing. But the thing is...I hate that you loved her. And not because of jealously—at least not mostly—but because she’s just so...psychotic and, well, for lack of a better word, evil. And so you spent a hundred years loving this woman and doing the kinds of things she likes to do and so I couldn’t help make the leap that it could’ve been you. What she and her boyfriend did to me—that could have easily been you instead of fingernail boy doing that to someone like me.”
Spike: “So that’s what this is about? You’re upset because I’m evil and I did evil things. Sorry, but I thought you’d covered this with Buffy and were Ok with it. [aside] And trust me, you have no idea how hard it was to go to ‘soul-boy’ for help.”
Miranda: [ignoring his last comment] “I guess I never took the time to consider the specifics of it. [looking at him] So would you have?”
Spike: “Yeah, alright. If Dru and I never broke up and I never got this chip in my head, sure I’d have thought this was a decent enough plan. We did worse together. But a lot’s happened. I don’t think the same as I did then and you and I do different things together. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you now, right? So what does it matter?”
Miranda doesn’t say anything. She’s obviously going through some inner turmoil.
Spike: [building frustration] “So what, you’re going to break up with me over this? Over something I would have done if I were dating someone else. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. You’re going to break up with me because I’m evil, even though you knew that going in.”
Miranda: “It’s more complicated than that.” [geez, how many times can you use the word ‘complicated’ to describe something in one week]
Spike: “So just explain to me why this matters—why this changes things.”
She thinks about it for a bit. Suddenly she realizes something.
Miranda: “It doesn’t. [almost to herself] I don’t care, not really. But shouldn’t I? I mean, what does that say about me that it DOESN’T matter?”
Spike: “Why are you torturing yourself, love? Is this what having a soul is all about? Because frankly, it just seems to take the fun out of everything. I mean, you didn’t do anything evil, well except me, and here you are, filled with guilt.” [There’s pounding on the door—the vamps want their space back. Spike walks over to the door. Spike: “Fuck off. We’re talking in here, you tossers”. He starts pulling a cigarette out of a pack as he walks back over.]
Miranda: [softly, almost to herself] “I didn’t do anything—but I do love something evil.”
Spike: [He looks up from what he was doing—not quite sure he heard her. He cocks his head] “What did you say?”
Miranda: [She swallows hard, looks him dead in the eye] “I love you, Spike.”
He puts down the pack of cigarettes and moves in closer to her—she’s leaning against the wall.
Spike: [Gently touching her neck with his hand as he looks at her intently] “Your heart is beating so fast.”
Miranda: [Her breathing is a bit irregular as well] “Well, I’m a bit nervous. I’ve never been the first one to say it before and you could say something dreadful like “thank you” or “that’s lovely, how’s about a shag?”"
Spike: [toying with her just a little; trying to be casual, even though it is obviously HUGE for him] “It’s not like it’s news. You’ve loved me for weeks now, I’m sure of it.”
Miranda: [she lets out a little laugh] “I should beat you, really, you hateful man.” [She goes to playfully push him away. He stops her.]
Spike: “I love you.”
Miranda: [with a tear] “Yeah?” [They kiss and then smile at each other. Suddenly, the door bursts open—the vamps brought a couple of friends to break down the door.]
Spike: “Do you mind??? We’re kind of having a moment here.”
They start moving menacingly toward M&S—who completely ignore them and continue kissing. As they get closer...
Miranda: “I guess we’re going to have do deal with these losers, aren’t we?”
Spike: “Such a shame. Let’s make it quick.”
Together they knock one or two of them down. As they move towards the door...
Spike: “Now normally, I’d be quite happy to stay and soundly kick each and every one of your asses. But tonight, I’ve got me some make-up sex to look forward to, so...[He grabs Miranda’s hand and they run out the door. As soon as they are a few yards away, Miranda jumps up and wraps her legs around Spike—she puts her hands around his neck as he carries her.]
Miranda: “Make-up sex, huh? Mmm. I’m thinking that I’m not going to be opening the shop for a few more days.”
Spike: “A few days? I’ll do my best.”
Lots of smooching and general affection as they slowly make their way out of the graveyard. Miranda pulls back a moment.
Miranda: “We still have things to talk about. Seriously. I think we need to be more upfront about stuff.”
Spike: “Yeah. Talking. Maybe after. [noticing her serious look] Okay. More talking. Promise.”
More affection. After a bit, Miranda hops down and stops the forward progression.
Miranda: “ooh. There is one more thing. It’s kind of big. I shagged someone.”
Spike: [surprised] “What, since Tuesday?”
Miranda: [shrugs] “When I was in LA. I just needed something, you know—needed to be touched. It wasn’t anything, really.”
Spike: [considering] “Huh. [beat] So can I kill him?”
Miranda: “Nah. But you can have a retaliatory shag with someone if you want sometime—s’long as it isn’t Buffy. [beat] And who said it was a he?”
Spike: [laughs and then shrugs it off] “Was it that Immortal bloke—the one outside the cave when I came out?”
Miranda: [about to vehemently deny it, but then decides to just let him think it—surely better than the truth] “Could be—but you know I won’t tell you. Are we OK?”
Spike: “Yeah—you can make it up to me in sexual favors.”
Miranda: “Oh, I will. You know what we need? Champagne. We’ve got cause to celebrate.”
Spike carries Miranda on his back into town—she claims she too worn out to walk. They get to a liquor store and find it’s closed. Miranda gets the idea to buy a couple of bottles from the Bronze—bars will sell whole bottles sometimes. So they go there. Just inside...
Miranda: “I’m off to the loo. Get two bottles of the best they have.” [She kisses him and hands him her wallet.]
He stands at the bar and talks to the bartender, who fishes out a couple of bottles from the fridge. While Spike is waiting for Miranda to get out of the bathroom, he notices Xander and Anya at a table on the other side of the room. He then notices Buffy standing at the bar just a few feet from him. He grabs the bottles and walks over to her—he sets them down on the bar in front of her—she’s obviously waiting for a drink. He looks at her without saying anything. Buffy can tell something is different.
Buffy: “What? What do you want, Spike?”
Spike: [grinning in an almost evil way] “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
Buffy: “What’s the occasion?” [commenting on the bottles]
Just then Miranda arrives
Miranda: “We’re going home. And just so you know, we won’t be answering the phone.” [They walk away and Buffy gets her drinks and just looks confused, like What was THAT all about?]
They arrive at the house. Willow and Tara are still there. M&S don’t notice them as they head to the kitchen to put the champagne bottles in the fridge—they are kissing and groping and laughing the whole time. Once in the kitchen, they put the bottles down and just stand there for a minute, kissing.
Spike: “Tell me again.”
Miranda: [giggling] “I love you.”
Spike: “Once more”
Miranda: “I love you. Boy, you sure are needy. How many more times do I have to say it?”
Spike: “Couple of hundred—at least. Probably more.”
Miranda: [more serious this time] “I love you.”
They hear a cough and notice that W & T have been standing there, apparently waiting to say something.
Willow: “Uh. Yeah, so, uh sorry to interrupt. There are some really cool books in that room and we haven’t finished going through them yet, so...”
Miranda: “You can stay a while if you want—we’ll just be downstairs. Oh, but we’ll likely be kind of loud.”
Willow is paralyzed by this bit of information and has a look of horror on her face. Tara finishes the thought.
Tara: “Actually, we were wondering if we could take some of them back with us.”
Miranda: [in a rush] “Yeah, sure. Take care.”
She and Spike grab a bottle and head to the basement/bedroom. W & T shrug and pack up the books and leave quickly. Downstairs, things start heating up—it’s almost pitch black and there’s the sound of ripping clothing. After a few minutes, you hear someone grappling with a lamp.
Spike: [in a whisper] “I want to see you.”
Miranda: “Spike, no, let’s keep it off tonight.”
Spike: “Nonsense” [And with this the light pops on. Miranda is in her underwear on the bed—you can still see the now somewhat faded bite marks and puncture wounds covering her body. She quickly pulls the sheet over her. Spike is suddenly serious and sad, as he pulls back the sheet to look. He touches some of the scars softly with his hands] “I’m so sorry, M. I didn’t know there were so many...”
Miranda: “It’s Ok. They’ll heal. [pause] Thanks for looking—thanks for finding me.”
He starts to kiss each fading wound, one at a time. After a while, he reaches her face and kisses the cut on her cheek.
Spike: “That one’s darker than the rest.” [He moves his finger gently from end to end of the forming scar.]
Miranda: “My face—my head is the most human part of me. It won’t heal like the rest—I’ll have a scar.”
Spike: [suspecting her insecurity] “Adds character.”
He kisses her softly on the lips. Everything about the way he touches her has a delicate sadness to it. He runs his hands through her hair and down her neck. He undoes the front clasp of her bra and pulls it off. Then his hands smoothly travel down her torso and under her panties—keeping with the continuous motion, he pulls them down and off. Unlike how they started, the mood is less passion and greed and yet deliberate and somehow more intense. She is also uncharacteristically passive—not in a disinterested way, but more calm surrender. When they are both naked, he returns to kiss her on the lips. He takes her hands and clasps them at the level of her head. He pulls back slightly and they stare at each other a moment. Without breaking eye contact or letting go of her hands, he positions himself and pushes inside her—her eyes half close in response. Keeping this exact position, their lower bodies begin to move rhythmically together as he thrusts into her. As they continue like this, her breath begins to quicken and their hands clasp more tightly together—still their stare is unbroken. His muscles begin to tense as the pace of the thrusting increases—soon his eyes half close and a small groan escapes his throat as he pushes into her harder still and holds himself there, releasing into her, never breaking their gaze. When he’s finished, he kisses her deeply as his body relaxes onto hers. Their hands loosen their grip and she quickly puts her arms around him and pulls him tightly to her. He moves off her of her, onto his side. They lay there in silence for a while.