Scene 11
[Author's note: More brief summaries.] The basic gist is that Miranda lures two people to the house the following night—the worst kind of people she can find in and around Sunnydale (let’s think of Sunnydale as a bit more LA than Santa Barbara, just for now [= more bad people]). The first is a drug dealer—the one she’s dealt with on occasion. The other a ‘madam’, but the kind who deals in kidnapped Russian girls. Very methodically, she seeks them out and cleverly discerns how to best get them to come home with her—she appears to have had some experience with this and goes about it in a calm, almost business-like fashion. Once at the house, the plan is to snap their necks and feed them to Spike. The dealer gives her a bit of a fight, but overall everything goes as planned. Once Spike’s done with them, she carries the bodies to the upstairs bathroom. She goes out for a third time, but it’s not so easy. She doesn’t have a pick this time—maybe she didn’t think there would need to be three. She just wanders around the city (the “bad” part of town)—by this time it is the middle of the night. She passes a homeless man, a hooker—no, not quite right. She’s about to give up and go home for the night when she sees a girl walking down an alley—Dawn’s age, maybe a bit older. Something about the girl piques Miranda’s interest and for no clear reason she starts to follow her. The girl’s face shows the ghost of past tears but her demeanor now is calm, almost peaceful. Occasionally she pauses and looks up at the buildings on either side of the alley. After a couple of blocks, she makes her selection and begins to climb the fire escape. Once she’s gone up a few stories, Miranda quietly follows. Even though it’s not entirely easy to be ‘stealthy’ on a fire escape and Miranda can’t help but make a bit of noise, the girl is oblivious—she is entirely focused. A few stories from the top, Miranda stops climbing and watches quietly. The girl has reached the top and carefully climbed to the roof. Once there, she moves to the side a couple of steps (to avoid the fire escape) and without looking down, steps off. Miranda, only two stories below is able to reach out and just grab hold of the girl as she passes the fire escape. The force of the fall pulls Miranda over the railing, but she locks her feet and so doesn’t flip over and fall with the girl. She pulls them both up and over the railing—she sets the girl down and takes a breath. After the girl gets her bearings she hisses:
Girl: “What did you do that for? You ruined it.” [Then she thinks of something, kicks Miranda hard in the shin and tries to jump off the fire escape. Miranda grabs hold of her tightly, but she continues to struggle.] “Get away from me. It’s MY life. My choice.”
Miranda: “Just calm down a minute” [Miranda is struggling to keep hold as the girl wriggles.]
Girl: [stopping the struggle for just a minute. Calm.] “Please. I don’t want to be here any more. Let me go.”
Miranda: “Don’t worry. I’m not trying to save you—not permanently anyway. I think we can help each other.”
Girl: “I was doing just fine on my own, thanks.”
Miranda: “I’m not convinced this fall would’ve killed you—that’s what you wanted, right? [The girl nods] It’s not quite tall enough for a sure thing, so you’d have to hit the ground just so. If not, you’d have broken your legs, surely, and probably crushed your jaw—unimaginable pain, months in the hospital—enough to bankrupt your parents who will then just be more devastated when you eventually succeed. I can end it for you tonight without pain.”
Girl: [a bit taken aback—not quite sure what to make of it.] “Why?”
Miranda: “I need something from you. You’ll be helping someone I love. Do we have a deal?”
Girl: “How long will I have to wait?”
Miranda: “Not long. We just need to go back to my house. Thirty minutes.”
Girl: “Promise? Cross-your-heart-and-hope-to-d...Promise tonight?”
Miranda: “You have my word.”
The girl nods her approval and they head down the fire escape and make their way to the car. They get in without speaking. In the light of the car, Miranda notices scars on the girl’s wrists.
Miranda: “You’ve tried before.”
In response the girl just gives her a look and folds her arms so the scars aren’t showing. Miranda starts the car and begins driving.
Girl: [staring out the window] “Helping. That’s OK. Poetic.” [Miranda just nods—you can tell she doesn’t really want to talk to the girl. A few minutes pass in silence.] “You’re telling the truth—we just passed the turnoff to the clinic.” [She appears slightly more at ease. Then a look of confusion crosses her face as she gives Miranda a sideways look.] “Tell me why.”
Miranda: “He’s injured. He needs human blood to heal.”
Girl: “Like a sacrifice. I’ve read about that. I’m a virgin—does that help?”
Miranda: “Uh, don’t think so. It’s not like I’ll be tossing you into a volcano. He’s a vampire, not a spirit or a god or whatever they use virgins for these days.”
Girl: “Are you a vampire?”
Miranda: “No.”
Girl: “I don’t mind vampires much. When I was a kid, I was afraid of the dark and all types of monsters and ghosts—used to have nightmares. But never vampires. Don’t know why.”
Miranda: [considering for a moment] “I think it’s the ‘thrall’ thing. The way they describe it in books—makes it seem less terrifying.”
Girl: [shrugs] “Will he bite me—like in the movies? Will it hurt?”
Miranda: “No, he won’t bite. I’ll make it quick and painless—then he’ll drink.”
Girl: “And it will make him better?” [Miranda nods] “Can I see him first?”
Miranda: [mildly upset by the idea] “Why would you want...?? [looking over at her—getting it] All right. [pause] He’s very handsome.”
They arrive at the house and go inside.
Miranda: “Let me just check on him—I’ll come back up to get you.”
Girl: [a touch of panic in her voice] “No! Don’t leave me. I...I might try to run away.”
Miranda frowns at this, but doesn’t say anything. She opens the door to the basement and nods for the girl to follow her. The girl takes hold of Miranda’s hand without a word as they descend. When they get to the bedroom, Spike is sitting up against the headboard—he’d heard the door open upstairs. At the site of the girl, his expression turns to confusion.
Spike: “What are we babysitting now? Friend of Dawn’s or something? A bit young to have committed crimes against humanity. [beat] Kids these days.”
He’s joking—he doesn’t believe she’s the last ‘offering'.
Miranda: “Rest assured, love, she bought herself a one-way ticket to eternal damnation and hellfire—if you believe in that sort of thing. She’s been looking for a way out of this life. I was lucky enough to catch her on the way down. And lucky for her, it’s now murder instead of suicide, so her soul will be decidedly lighter—if, as I mentioned before, you believe in that sort of thing.”
Spike: “Everybody wins.”
You can tell by his expression that he’s not quite sure about this. The girl tentatively walks over to the bed and sits next to Spike, looking at him inquisitively. After studying his face for a moment, she turns her head just slightly and gives Miranda a little smile before turning back to Spike to say:
Girl: [in a quiet, determined voice] “I’m Alice. I’m going to save you.”
Spike: [smiling at her] “Is that right? I guess that makes you quite the little hero, then.”
As he says this, Miranda has moved closer and with what seems the most subtle of movements quickly snaps the girl’s neck. Spike actually appears a bit surprised—like he still didn’t think she’d do it. The look is reminiscent of the look on his face in ‘Crush’ when Dru snapped the girl’s neck and threw the body to him.
Miranda: [as much to herself as to Spike] “She was already dead. She won’t be punished for it.” [she starts to walk up the stairs] “Bring the body upstairs with the others when you’re done.”
As she climbs the stairs, she can hear him start to drink from the girl. In the kitchen, she pours herself a drink and lights a cigarette. She takes her watch off and rubs the skin underneath. [Author’s note: I left something out of Miranda’s general description. She always wears a somewhat unusual watch—it has a wide mesh metal band, with a smallish time-piece set in the middle. It conveniently covers a tattoo on her wrist—the tattoo is of the chain-link bracelet variety (it wraps around her wrist a couple of times). Most of the links are black, but some are red. She pulls out a phone book and is looking something up when Spike appears from the basement (she’s standing at the kitchen counter). There’s a sparkle in his eye and he looks stable and strong on his feet. He smiles broadly/devilishly at her and saunters over to where she’s standing. He picks her up, swings her around and moves to put her down with her back to a wall. She looks reluctant.
Spike: “You did it love. You brought me back. Feel how warm I am. I feel...reborn. I think this is cause for celebration.”
He moves in for a kiss. She turns her head and pushes him away.
Miranda: [her eyes flashing with anger, venomous] “No. no. I CAN'T celebrate it. William, I’m glad your better. I’d do it again. I’d do it a hundred times over for you—for us. But I won’t celebrate it. I’m not...[looks down; shakes her head] Nevermind.”
Spike: [finishing her thought] “Like me.”
Miranda: [intently serious] “It will be OK. We’ll_be_OK. You know it bloody well wasn’t the first time for me but maybe I’d hoped I’d seen the last already. There’s no joy in this moment. [pause] Tomorrow things will be as they were before.”
Spike: “The world is better off without ‘em, luv, and the girl was already gone—you said yourself. Why beat yourself up about it?”
Miranda: “I need to go out for a bit. Bring the body upstairs, alright?”
She doesn’t wait for an answer, but grabs her coat and walks starts to leave.
Spike: “What? Miranda...don’t.”
Miranda: [turning back to look at him. Sternly.] “William. Tomorrow.”
She leaves. After a few minutes, he goes to follow her. A while later, we see her come out of a tattoo shop in town. Spike has been waiting outside. At first she doesn’t notice him and walks right past.
Spike: “Kind of a strange time for body art, don’t you think?”
Miranda: [frustrated sigh as she turns around to face him] “I wish you’d just stayed at home. This doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
Spike takes hold of her arm gently—he’s seen through the window that she was having something done to her wrist. After studying her wrist for a moment, he looks up at her.
Spike: “Three new links. Two black and one red—red’s for the girl, black the others. That what all these are?” [Miranda nods] “Some are gone—from the other end. Not recently.” [He looks at her for an explanation.]
Miranda: “I burn them off myself with acid. A crude sort of record keeping, I guess. [explaining ‘crude’] It’s less clear when to remove them. [pause. Her tone has softened] I don’t blame you for not understanding. It’s not who you are—but I love who you are, so it doesn’t matter. It IS who I am.”
Spike: “Let’s go home. It’s almost tomorrow.”
Miranda: [weak smile] “Almost”
**
As they approach the house, Miranda’s cell phone rings. She answers. She’s giving directions—whoever is calling will be there in 10 minutes. Spike asks her who it is. She tells him it’s someone to dispose of the bodies. When they get inside, Spike lugs the girl’s body upstairs with the others. After a few minutes, there is a knock at the door. Miranda answers it. A look of surprise crosses her face when she sees who it is—she quickly tries to cover, but it’s rather obvious she is caught off guard.
Eddie:[New York/New Jersey accent] “What, surprised to see me, Randa? Who’d ya’ expect?”
[Author’s note: I wrote this scene before I started watching the Sopranos, but now that I think about it, I could picture Eddie as sorta looking/talking like Tony Soprano. If that helps with the visualization….]
Miranda: “I...I thought they’d just send someone to do the job.” [She’s speaking with an American accent.]
Eddie: “And miss the chance to see an old friend? I happened to be in Vegas when you called, so I had the fellas bring me along. Aint ya’ gonna invite us in?”
Miranda: “Of course. Sorry.” [She steps aside to let the three men come inside.]
Eddie: “You understand if I don’t do formal introductions.”
Thug#1: [straight to business] “Couple of questions, miss, so we know where to start. How many bodies?”
Miranda: “Three. In the bathroom at the top of the stairs.”
Thug#1: “What kinda shape they in? [noticing that she doesn’t understand what he’s asking] “Will you be needing a clean-up—blood and such?”
Miranda: “No—they’re quite clean. [turning to Eddie] Take whatever means necessary to be sure they never resurface.”
[Thug#1 mumbles something to thug#2 and they head back out to the car to get supplies. As they go about their business, Eddie turns his attention to Miranda.]
Eddie: “How ‘bout a proper ‘hello’ now, Rand?” [She smiles uncomfortably as he leans in for a cheek kiss and then holding her shoulders, studies her face for a minute] “Now how is it that you don’t look a day older than the last time I saw you, while I’ve turned into an old fart?”
Miranda: “Cosmetics are amazing these days.”
Eddie: “And I suppose a surgeon or two, am I right? [Laughs as he shakes his head] Amazing. [Just then Spike comes down the stairs, helping the thugs with the bodies. He leaves the two to bring the bodies out to the car and leans against the wall, lighting a cigarette] This the new guy?”
Miranda: “Spike, this is Eddie—an old associate of mine from New York. Eddie, this is Spike.” [Spike just nods a greeting.]
Eddie: “I guess ‘old’ is the operative word. Looks like you’re doing a bit of cradle robbin’, eh Randa? [turning his attention back to Miranda] “What I don’t get is after spending what must’ve been a fortune to keep your looks, you didn’t have ‘em take out that scar—must have sentimental value, eh?”
Miranda: “Cat fight. A present from Spike’s ex.”
Eddie: [throaty laugh] “Thanks for giving me something to think about on the ride back to Vegas. [glancing toward Spike] She tell you ‘bout me?”
Spike: “Not as such.”
Eddie: [amused] “heh, listen to Monty-fuckin’-python over here. Anyway. I met Randa, what was it, 20, 25 years ago? Heard about her from some fella’s downtown. She’d done a few jobs here and there. Had a reputation for being discrete. There was some internal business we had to take care of—had to look like the hit came from outside. Took a chance and gave her the job. Now usually, after a situation like that, the Family doesn’t like to leave...evidence...walking around. So after she’d made good, it was my job to take her out. Well, lets just say things didn’t go as planned. After months of trying, we struck a deal. After that, she became quite an asset. [to Miranda] We made a damn good team for a while there.”
You can tell by his intonation that he means more than just a working relationship.
Miranda: [Cold. Irritated that he’s decided to share this part of her past] “We were never a team, Eddie.”
Eddie: [a bit burned by this, but he attempts to put on a happy/nostalgic face. Shrug.] “Memory is a funny thing. Oh, but now for the best part. The thing that made Randa go down in history, amongst a certain crowd. There was this snitch—an ex hit-man named [catching himself]—let’s call him Johnnie. Johnnie had been the best of the best. A life-er. We tried everything and everyone to get to him, but he was slipperier than an eel, this guy. He went underground before he even testified—blew off even the feds. It got embarrassing—no one could take him out. Finally, Randa says she’ll do it for $200 grand. Guaranteed. Everyone was just desperate enough to shell out that kind of dough. Hell, even I didn’t think she could do it, so what’s the harm, right? But wouldn’t you know, she came through. How long did it take?”
Miranda: [pained look] “Three months.”
Eddie: “Three months. She was a fuckin’ hero—to a certain circle a’ guys. ‘Course I never found out how she managed it, because, what do you know, but she didn’t claim the money. Two hundred grand and she skips town. There were rumors that she’d gone soft—that it was some kind of fuckin’ statement. Something about the guy’s family. [shrug] People started talkin’ like maybe she thought she was too good to take our money. Not me. I knew there had to be another reason. I told them all to go to hell; Randa’s got a plan—not like you can go back from a life like that, am I right? Sometimes a favor is worth more than cash. So it looks like I was right all along.”
Miranda: [scowling, but too bitter to contradict him] “I guess so.”
Eddie: [detecting her slightly condescending tone] “You know, I’ve moved up in the world since then. I give the orders now. If you’re ever looking for work...” [Miranda interrupts]
Miranda: [abruptly] “I won’t be.”
Eddie: [annoyed; sizing her up—maybe he was wrong] “Suit yourself. [formally] As of tonight, the XXX Family’s debt to you is repaid in full. [Holds out his hand to shake on it. After they shake, the men walk out the door. Eddie stops just as he’s leaving and turns around] A bit of advice. A little hospitality can go a long way in this world. Keeps the bridges from burning.”
He leaves and she shuts the door behind them. When she turns around, Spike is lighting a cigarette for them both—he hands her one.
Spike: “Talkative bloke, isn’t he?”
Miranda: “Always was.”
She frowns slightly; worried that Spike will start asking questions and not wanting to talk about it—it’s a painful enough memory, that phase of her life.
Spike: “So you two had a thing?”
Miranda: [she smiles at this. Of course, Spike would be more interested in the details of their relationship than the revelation that she was, at one time, actually a contract killer. Guess that’s one advantage to dating a vampire. In fact, she’s so relieved at the realization that she doesn’t ever have to worry about Spike judging her that she starts to laugh. She stops after a moment to say:] “We fooled around a bit. It was nothing, really. [pause] He was better looking then.”
Spike: “Seemed alright. [pause] Can we trust him?”
Miranda: [more serious] “To a point.”
Spike: [slight head tilt] “You regret it.”
Meaning her previous occupation, not the relationship. It’s half way between a statement and a question—he’s trying to understand.
Miranda: “Yes.”
Spike: “So why’d you do it? For him?” [Touch of jealousy]
Miranda: [shaking her head in disgust] “No.”
Spike: “For the money?”
Miranda: [thinking about it for a moment] “Didn’t hurt. [it’s obvious that isn’t the primary reason. She tries to think of a way to explain it] D’you notice anything different about me? Since yesterday?”
Spike: [He studies her for a moment—thinks of something.] “You stopped crying. [pause—thinks about the timing—when her husband died] You did it to stop the tears.” [Miranda doesn’t answer, but just takes a long drag from her cigarette. He nods, but can sense that she doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. After a short pause] “Is it wrong that I find your American accent kind of sexy?”
Miranda: [rolls her eyes] “Tomorrow.”
[They go to bed]
**
As promised, they wake up the next day and things pretty much appear to go back to normal. They spend the time before dark putting things back in order in the house. They spend some time taking a leisurely bath and Miranda helps Spike touch up his hair. [Author’s note: that was added after CRAZY!Blackroots!Spike of the beginning of Season 7—if they imply that his hair grows and thus roots need to be re-dyed then fine by me. I think it’s kind of adorable thinking about the two of them dying and cutting Spike’s hair. Teehee. Thanks ME for another impossible vampire tidbit :). Of course, Angel’s hair doesn’t grow, but WHATEVER]. They decide on a story to tell Buffy and the others to explain Spike’s sudden recovery—he’s actually still not at 100%. More like 80%, but that is a vast improvement. They go out to get some dinner and Miranda east an inconceivable amount of food.
Another Author’s note: So I had a number of scenes that I am going to skip over—they really would be considered ‘fluff’/filler episodes. Although fun, they don’t really add much to the story and so I will simply summarize them below and move on to the next action-y bit.
Feeling better, Miranda re-opens the shop and Anya returns to work part-time. M decides to do her best to ‘stockpile’ her blood (for Spike) in case of a future emergency and so gets the necessary equipment to draw and store blood. Spike continues to get better slowly. Things are good and generally go on as before. Miranda and Anya become good friends, much to the dismay of Xander and Spike who are forced to spend more time together than either of them would like as a result. Hilarity ensues. M&An shop, talk about sex; pretty much do all the usual ‘girlie’ things. An Immortal friend of Miranda’s, Duncan, comes to visit—someone she utterly adores. He was the best man at her wedding (he was good friends with Cal). He’s very handsome and creates quite a ruckus amongst the Scooby women. Hilarity ensues. [Author’s note: Um, this friend of Miranda is actually Duncan from the Highlander TV series. Having only watched maybe 3 episodes in my life, there is an awful lot of speculation on my part about his past/personality, etc. But I couldn’t resist, because he’s just so darn cute and it kinda/sorta seemed appropriate that they would know each other.] They discuss the pregnancy—Duncan clearly understands the pain of not being able to have children. He doesn’t quite know what to think about her dating/living with a vampire. She insists that Spike makes her happy and so he tries to have an open mind—still, you can tell he’s concerned. They all drink lots of scotch and get drunk. Hilarity ensues.
Sometime later, Miranda gets a call from Angel. He sounds pushed to the limit—something is going on in LA that he doesn’t think he can handle. He doesn’t give her any details, but asks if she could come down. [Author’s note: this is during the time of season 2, when Angel is being tormented by Darla and W&H rather constantly AND is somewhat on the outs with the rest of the MoG. He sounds desperate. She agrees to go. Spike argues, but she explains that they owe Angel. He’s helped them twice. Reluctantly, Spike agrees. They decide that Spike should stay behind because he’s still not at full strength and also Miranda would like him to take care of a few business related things in town. She says she’ll probably be back in a few days. Spike tells her to go to a bar if she gets horny this time. He’s jealous, but feels secure enough to not worry too much. About an hour after Miranda leaves, Angel calls the house. He tells Spike that he made a mistake and that Miranda doesn’t need to come now. But, of course, she’s already left.