Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Summer Script Challenge
The Powers that Be Pro Temporae
Episode 6.10: Incarceration
By DigiJoss Whedon (Digitalis), J.A.I.T. Espenson (J.A.I.T.) and Marti Noggston (Noggins)
GILES (V.O.)
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
From Halloween: Giles and Ethan stare at each other.
ETHAN
Oh, and we all know that you are
the champion of innocents and all
things pure and good, Rupert. It's
quite a little act you've got going
here, old man.
From The Dark Age: Buffy talking to Ethan.
BUFFY
You know Giles?
ETHAN
We go back. Way back.
Flashbacks to a YOUNG GILES casting a spell.
GILES (V.O.)
I was twenty-one...
Studying history at Oxford and of
course the occult by night. I went
to London, fell in with the worst
crowd that would have me. We
practiced magicks.
A New Man: Ethan being taken away by a group of military men.
RILEY
By the authority of the US military,
you're being taken into custody
pending a determination of your
status.
TEASER
EXTERIOR: UC SUNNYDALE CAMPUS - day - establishing shot
TARA
(v.o.)
Sometimes things are just wrong,
you know?
EXTERIOR: UC SUNNYDALE CAMPUS - PICNIC BENCHES - day
WILLOW and TARA are sitting at a picnic bench setting up plates, sandwiches, sodas, etc. as they speak. They are setting up for three people.
TARA
I mean, there's an ethical
principle involved.
WILLOW
(defensively)
I know that. But sometimes you
have to look at the greater good.
Like something that's, okay, maybe
a little bit wrong, but then later on
all these other majorly wrong things
maybe don't happen because you did
that one little bit wrong thing.
TARA
Well, that's one way of looking at it.
But it was that kind of situational ethics
that Professor Katz is talking about
when she's discussing the Watergate
break-in, and you don't think
that was okay.
WILLOW
(a bit grudgingly)
No, that was stinky.
TARA
Sometimes when they have too much
power, people start thinking they can do
anything because they're doing it for what
you're calling the greater good.
And that's when they fall.
WILLOW'S POV: We see BUFFY approaching. As she passes, students are staring, whispering, and in some cases running away. She cannot help but notice this, and looks nonplussed.
NORMAL POV: WILLOW grabs TARA'S arm with a bit of urgency. It's also clear she's glad for the change of subject.
WILLOW
Oh, here comes Buffy. I don't think
we should talk about, umm, school
and stuff of school like lectures
while Buffy's here, 'cause it's like
we're being all, 'Ha! Still
in school and you're not! Ha!'
TARA
It's a 'Ha!' bookend thing?
WILLOW
Definitely.
TARA nods as BUFFY reaches them.
BUFFY
Hey guys. Is it me, or do I
seem to give everyone around
here the wiggins?
WILLOW
Well, I can't be absolutely positive,
but the being recently dead might
have something to do with it.
BUFFY joins WILLOW and TARA at the table and grabs a sandwich and soda.
TARA
(apologetically)
There was an death announcement
in the school paper.
BUFFY
(taking it in stride - this is the
least of her troubles)
And no retraction. Typical, a girl
can't even get come back from the
dead anymore and get decent press.
Speaking of which, any word
from our favorite recent returnee
from oblivion?
WILLOW and TARA both look momentarily confused, then brighten.
WILLOW
Oh, Amy! She said her dad is
mega-happy she's back even if
the fact her mother came back
with her wasn't exactly what he
wanted to hear. He thought,
after she was attacked at school
by our m-anyway, he thought
she'd run away. I think she's
planning on spending time with
both of her parents. Maybe her
dad will make things seem a
little more normal for her.
BUFFY
Well, that's at least one happy
family story. Unlike my suddenly
multi-Slayer household.
TARA
You know, Buffy, I have to say...this
thing with Dawn, it's really...
BUFFY
Strange? Unnatural? Unholy?
Against the laws of God and man?
TARA
I was going for freaky. I mean,
the odds against Dawn being
the next Slayer must be...
BUFFY
Oh, but this is Planet Buffy...where
the odds are totally in favor of
anything that might make my life
miserable.
WILLOW
Sister Slayers. It's weird. I can't
even think of Dawnie as a Slayer.
And let's face it, in the world
of wholesome family fun...
BUFFY
...killing demons and vamps and the
bumpy in the nighty things is not
exactly playing Twister. The thing
that's killing me is I just want to
protect Dawn. I'm still not in school
to take care of her. And now, how can
I? And there's just so much she
doesn't get about being the
Slayer yet. It's like for her it's
some kind of competition between
us. And that's not how I feel. I
love my sister...
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: WOODS - night
A MAN is running through wildly in and out trees, puffing and panting and clearly out of breath - he's been running for a long time. He keeps looking back as the torchlight of his pursuers are shining all around. We don't see his face.
BUFFY
(V.O.)
...there are things out there that I don't
ever want her to have to deal with.
We realise several other men with guns, closely flanked by barking dogs are pursuing him.
The man notices some bushes to his side and dives into them to hide.
MAN'S POV: He watches as they run passed along with the dogs who seem to ignore him.
NORMAL VIEW: He scrambles out of the back of the bushes and looks all around. We can hear the sound of helicopters hovering above. He looks up to see there are about three of them - all with searchlights.
The man takes another path through the threes avoiding the light from an overhead helicopter. He manages to get to a road and get a clear view of his face - it's ETHAN RAYNE!
CREDITS
ACT ONE
INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - TRAINING ROOM - night
GILES is watching LYDIA and DAWN training. Dawn ducks and dives Lydia's attacks and jumps over her, grabbing her from behind and holding a stake where her heart would be. She pauses for a moment before letting her Watcher go.
LYDIA
(a little shaken)
Very… very good. I'm most
impressed with your progress.
DAWN
(smiles, a little too smugly)
Buffy was never this good as
fast as this!
GILES
(interrupts)
No, but she didn't try to kill her
Watcher with quite so much
relish.
Dawn grins. We see a flash of the real Dawn as she jokes a little.
DAWN
I'm sure she did. You just too
good to get killed.
GILES
Yes… quite. But you have to realise
the burdens of being a Slayer.
DAWN
Sure, but it's fun. And much easier
than Buffy makes it seem.
GILES
(a little shaken)
Your sister has a dedication to her
work. I hope you take after her in
that respect.
(to Lydia)
So how is the training going from
your perspective?
LYDIA
Marvellous. I honestly can't
believe that a month ago I
was just a junior Watcher at
the university. Now I'm overseeing
the education of the new Slayer.
Giles nods. He seems a little distracted, almost nervous by Dawn who continues to practice fighting moves on the dummy at the other side of the room.
GILES
Yes. It seems fortune has
smiled on you.
LYDIA
(somewhat apprehensively)
Fortune… that's an interesting
way of putting it.
GILES
(his interest piqued)
How so?
LYDIA
Well… you know, I would have
put it strictly down to fate.
GILES
In my book they are the same
thing.
LYDIA
Hmm. Of course. But either way
I've accomplished the same as you…
GILES
(nods in agreement)
Yes…
LYDIA
(a little smugly)
…at a much younger age I might add.
Giles adjusts his glasses. He's obviously a little annoyed her comment
GILES
Continue your training.
Lydia smiles as Giles walks out. She looks over to Dawn.
LYDIA
No, no, Dawn. Punch with the
right and follow through with
the left.
Dawn glares at her.
INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - day
Giles walks through the door from the Slayers' training room and carefully shuts the door behind him.
As he does, Buffy walks through the entrance of the Magic Box. They catch each other's eyes and both sit at the "War Table" where most of the strategizing of apocalypses usually takes place.
GILES
(exhausted)
Well, how was your day?
BUFFY
Not spectacular. How's Dawn?
GILES
(unconvinced)
Amazing.
Buffy looks up sharply, with a slightly hurt look on her face.
BUFFY
Amazing?
GILES
Well, yes. Her progress is
amazing. It is as if she
was infused with the
purest Slayer essence
ever. Can't say its done
much for her personality.
BUFFY
I know. She's become
really difficult to get
along with. It's as if I don't
know who she is anymore.
Giles nods.
BUFFY
(cont'd, slightly quieter)
And I'm scared.
I'm scared that I don't
know who my little sister
is. I'm scared that she
doesn't know who she is
either. Its like the whole
duty has consumed her.
She could be a better
Slayer. That I can handle,
but, its like she isn't even
human anymore.
A loud crash sounds from the training room, and both Giles and Buffy look towards the door.
ANGLE ON: The training room door.
CLOSE ON: Buffy as she watches the door.
GILES
You'd better…
BUFFY
I know.
Buffy gets up from the table with a sigh and goes over to the door, and pushes it open.
BUFFY'S POV: As the door opens, we see Dawn pinning Lydia to the ground with a foot. She is holding a broadsword, which hangs precariously close to Lydia's throat.
ANGLE ON: Buffy's shocked face.
BUFFY
(alarmed)
Dawn!
BUFFY'S POV: Dawn looks at her sister nonchalantly, and casually removes her foot from Lydia's chest.
DAWN
(almost growling)
What?
BUFFY
What were you…?
Buffy shakes her head, realizing that there is no point to asking that question.
BUFFY
Its time to go.
DAWN
(matter of factly)
I'm staying.
BUFFY
You have to get up for school tomorrow
DAWN
I'm not going to school.
BUFFY
Yes you are.
DAWN
You wanna make me?
As each tensed statement is uttered, the sisters take a step towards each other. At this point, they are standing nose to nose. OR, nose to chin as Dawn has a couple of inches on Buffy.
BUFFY
I don't want to make you Dawnie.
DAWN
You think calling me by
my kid name is going
to change my mind?
Dawn swings from her heels and knocks Buffy over.
ANGLE ON: Buffy, as she sits on her rear, still knocked over. She is in shock that Dawn actually hit her. She touches her lip and sees that there is blood there.
WIDE ANGLE: Dawn stalks over to Buffy, intent on continuing her point.
Buffy sweeps Dawns legs out from under her, and the fight is on.
Buffy does a backwards flip to get back onto her feet.
Dawn goes into a handstand. She flips forward. Buffy just moves out of the way of her feet as she comes down right next to her sister.
ANGLE ON: Buffy. She eyes up Dawn carefully. We're talking serious Old West gunfighters here. But with feet and bare fists. And not guns.
ANGLE ON: Dawn as she looks into Buffy's eyes. She's even more defiant than ever.
ANGLE ON: Buffy as she equals the cold stare her sister is giving her.
ANGLE ON: Dawn as she seems to relax as if she's about to give in.
ANGLE ON: Buffy as she relaxes to.
PULL OUT as Dawn's fist moves in to collide with Buffy's jaw. Buffy quickly blocks it. Dawn tries again, this time just chipping Buffy's cheek. Buffy steps back a little then jumps further as Dawn kicks.
ANGLE ON: Buffy. She's clearly hurt by Dawn's defiance but she's not giving up easily. Now it's war!
WIDE ANGLE: Buffy moves forward punching. Dawn tries to block every punch but they get faster and faster until one punch catches her jaw. This gives Buffy the chance she needs. She kicks forward knocking Dawn to the floor.
Dawn doesn't get up. She just looks up angrily at Buffy. A real "a curse on your name" situation going on here.
BUFFY
We're going. Now.
Dawn nods. Buffy holds out her hand for Dawn to take but she refuses. She gets to her feet and, ignoring Buffy, turns to Lydia.
DAWN
Same time tomorrow?
LYDIA
Y-yes. Of course.
Dawn goes straight to the door. She turns to give Buffy an annoyed glare as if to say "you wanted to leave. We're leaving." Buffy looks at Giles.
BUFFY
I'll see you back at your place.
The two sisters leave. Once the door is closed Giles begins to get things together to go himself.
LYDIA
I must say I'm impressed by your
good nature. Allowing the two of
them to live with you.
GILES
Their house was sold after Buffy…
went away. I was able to ensure
that Dawn was taken into my care.
The two seem to be quite happy
and I like the company.
LYDIA
But I'm sure it's quite tense
at the moment…
GILES
(suspiciously)
And I'm sure you know why.
LYDIA
I beg your pardon.
GILES
It was quite obvious that you
knew when you came here that
Dawn would be called as the
next Slayer… the Council knew.
LYDIA
I don't know what you…
GILES
You were planted here in preparation.
You knew Faith was going to be
murdered and you knew Dawn
would replace her…
Lydia takes several steps back. Giles is verging on Ripper-mode now. She's nervous.
LYDIA
Mr. Giles… I… I admit that I
was informed about Dawn…
GILES
(a-ha!)
Really?
LYDIA
(genuinely)
But I knew nothing about Faith. I
was sent here in preparation for
Dawn's calling. I don't know how
the Council knew… they knew about
your spell to defeat Adam… they
obviously worked things out…
She realises Giles isn't listening anymore.
LYDIA
(C'tnd)
Mr. Giles… Please…
GILES
Ms. Barlow… I'm about to close
my store. I think it's time you left.
No doubt I'll see you tomorrow…
LYDIA
Seven AM as usual. Some early
morning training for Dawn before
she goes to school…
She looks to Giles to say something else but he doesn't. She realises he isn't in the mood for talking. She walks towards the door.
LYDIA
Goodbye.
Not expecting a reply she leaves.
Giles prepares to lock up the shop. As he gathers some items together to put in a bag he knocks a book off the counter and goes to pick it up.
ANGLE ON: The book. It's open on a page about golems. A picture of one - a huge clay creature - can be seen.
ANGLE ON: Giles' face as the colour suddenly drains from it.
EXTERIOR: LONDON - SOHO - PAST - day
We flash to some point in the past. A young man dressed in your average early 70s rebellious gear sides through the streets on a moped, darting in and out of anyone in his way.
He comes to a halt outside what looks like a shop selling *ahem* adult goods and gets off. He pauses to look around for a moment before taking off the helmet to reveal his face… it's a YOUNG GILES, in his early twenties. He looks at the cosmopolitan surroundings.
YOUNG GILES
(grin on his face)
This is more like it.
He looks at the shop, which has a few adult books in the window before noticing a sign written in a strange language above the door.
YOUNG GILES
(reading)
Ah, clever.
He walks inside.
INTERIOR: MAGIC SHOP - PAST - day
Young Giles walks in and looks around several shelves of magical items. The SHOP ASSISTANT eyes him up suspiciously while another person with his back turns reacts slightly.
Young Giles reaches for a magic book and flicks through it carefully. He finds a certain page and smiles a little.
YOUNG GILES
(to himself)
Like that'd work…
He puts the book back and trails his finger along the shelf until he finds another one. The Assistant, who has been watching him carefully suddenly speaks up.
SHOP ASSISTANT
(coughs)
Can I help you in any way?
YOUNG GILES
(looking up from book)
Oh, no, no… I'm fine. I…
There's the sound of an engine starting up outside. Young Giles throws the book down and runs out.
SHOP ASSISTANT
Hey! That's old!
It's too late. Young Giles is out of the shop.
EXTERIOR: LONDON - SOHO - PAST - day
Young Giles darts out of the shop to see two teenagers riding off on his bike. He screams more than a few obscenities.
YOUNG GILES
Bastards! Arseholes!
He starts to run after them but realises that it's too late. He stops and looks around dejectedly, cursing under his breath. He's really pissed off when the other customer in the shop comes out to meet him - it's a YOUNG ETHAN RAYNE.
YOUNG ETHAN
Sod them. By the looks of it
the bloody thing only had a
few more miles in it anyway.
YOUNG GILES
But it's me bloody bike! My
clothes were in there! My
money!
Young Giles just turns and punches the wall in anger.
YOUNG ETHAN
That can't be good for you,
y'know.
YOUNG GILES
(sarcastically)
You don't say. (beat) Just
piss off.
Young Giles just expects Ethan to walk away but he doesn't.
YOUNG GILES
(doesn't turn around)
Didn't you hear what I said?
YOUNG ETHAN
I did. Not a very nice way to
talk to the person who's your
only hope of surviving in this
bloody city.
YOUNG GILES
("Like I'd trust YOU")
And you are?
YOUNG ETHAN
Name's Ethan… Ethan Rayne.
Ethan extends his hand. Slowly and reluctantly takes it in his own.
YOUNG GILES
Rup… Ripper… just call me
Ripper.
YOUNG ETHAN
(laughs a little)
Right you are… Ripper. Let's
get away from here. They
only show you the poncy stuff.
Want to try something a little
more fun?
INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - PRESENT - night
We flash back to the present as Giles closes the book in his hand slowly, the colour finally returning to his face. He finds a space on a shelf and puts the book away with a frown.
He grabs a jacket from over a chair and puts it on. After walking to the doorway and taking one last look around, he leaves.
EXTERIOR: OUTSIDE MAGIC BOX - night
Giles closes the door behind him and locks up. He puts the keys in his jacket pocket and walks off down the street.
EXTERIOR: OUTSIDE GILES' HOUSE - night
Giles walks to his door and puts the key in the lock. He suddenly looks up realising there's someone behind him. He takes the key out of the door and puts it back into his pocket slowly. He makes it appear is if he is going to go inside when…
He suddenly spins around and pushes a shadowy figure behind him into the wall, punching him in the stomach. Giles grabs the mysterious intruder and puts him into a throat hold
GILES
(aggressively)
Who are you?
ETHAN
(struggled because his throat is being held)
What? You've forgotten me
already Ripper?
Giles is taken aback. He lets go of Ethan and steps away shocked.
BLACK OUT
ACT TWO
INTERIOR: GILES' HOUSE - night
Ethan is tied up to a chair. Giles finishes off the last knot on the ropes.
ETHAN
You know, Ripper, this really
isn't necessary. You can trust
me now…
GILES
(dryly)
Remember what happened the
last time I trusted you? You turned
me into a bloody demon!
ETHAN
Well… yeah… but it was a laugh.
Giles raises an eyebrow and pulls the rope tighter. Ethan cringes.
ETHAN
Oi! Watch it!
Giles ignores him and goes straight to the table that Ethan is facing. He leans up against it.
GILES
How did you get out?
ETHAN
Don't you have to wait until your
Slayer's here? You need the bad
cop if you're going to do this right.
GILES
(threatening)
You want a bad cop? I'll give you
a bad cop…
ETHAN
Very funny, Ripper but you know
as well as I do that you've gone
soft. The last time you had any
balls was when you had that candy.
Giles kicks Ethan lightly in the chest, just enough to push his chair back. He hits the ground with a thud, still tied up.
GILES
Now, how did you get out?
ETHAN
I'm really not gonna get out of
this am I?
GILES
No.
ETHAN
Y'see it is a little embarrassing.
GILES
Talk.
ETHAN
(sighs)
Okay, okay. It starts off with a
year or so of good behaviour… and
putting up with the advances of
the resident Big John…
GILES
(smirks snidely)
Oh this is fun.
ETHAN
I managed to get a few little items
smuggled to my room… nothing big,
or conspicuous. I swear a few times
they thought I was gonna build a
bomb or something.
(pause)
Can I get up now? The blood's
rushing to my head.
Giles grabs him and pulls him back upright.
GILES
Carry on.
ETHAN
Well, I did build one… but it was
slightly more magical. A mixture
here, a chant there and boom!
Well, not so much "boom" than
"poof", really. Didn't want to draw
attention to my self. I was out of
the complex before they even
realised half the wall had been
disintegrated.
GILES
How clever of you.
ETHAN
You know, these ever so witty
comments of yours is just dragging
this out.
(Giles says nothing)
I managed to avoid all the GI Joe's
that were after my arse and came
to the only place I could be safe.
GILES
And that place had to be Sunnydale?
ETHAN
Ironic, really, don't you think?
Giles shakes his head. He walks to the telephone and picks up the receiver.
ETHAN
Hey! Hey! What're you doing?
GILES
Calling the police. I'm sure once
they realise you're quite a dangerous
escaped convict they'll have the
government over here again pretty
quickly to pick you up.
ETHAN
Mate… no! Seriously! They'll have
my arse. Or rather my old pal there
might. Either way it's not a very
nice prospect.
GILES
And why should I be sympathetic?
ETHAN
Look, I know I've been an arsehole
over the last few… decades… but
c'mon. Help me out… just this once…
for old time's sake?
Giles puts down the phone and walks slowly to Ethan.
ETHAN
Ripper… you're a real m…
Giles grabs him by the throat and pushes him, and the chair he's tied to, into the wall forcefully.
GILES
Don't you EVER use those words
around me!
EXTERIOR: LONDON APARTMENT - PAST - evening
Young Giles and Young Ethan are walking along a street. They get to a small doorway with stairs up it. A woman is hanging around outside.
WOMAN
(smiles at Giles)
Hey, you… fancy a good time?
Before Giles can say anything Ethan interrupts.
YOUNG ETHAN
He's with me, luv. Don't bother him.
WOMAN
Suit yourself, Ethan.
(to Giles)
If you change your mind…
YOUNG GILES
Um, yeah…
INTERIOR: LONDON APARTMENT - STAIRWELL - evening
Ethan walks in and makes his way up the stairs and Giles follows, looking back at the girl with surprise in his eyes (I'm a poet and I didn't know it!!!).
YOUNG GILES
Was she…?
YOUNG ETHAN
This is London, mate. What'd
you bloody expect when you
came here?
YOUNG GILES
(laughs)
Well, that actually but not so
sodding blatant!
YOUNG ETHAN
(smiles)
You'll get used to it.
(indicates a door)
This way…
Ethan pushes the door open and enters. Giles seems a little more nervous.
YOUNG ETHAN
(O.S.)
Come on.
Giles finally relents and walks in.
INTERIOR: ETHAN'S FLAT - PAST- night
The room is dark and a little messy. Giles sniffs the air and frowns. It's not a pleasant place to be but it's the only place he's got right now.
There are three others in the room. The only woman - DEIRDRE PAGE - looks up at him.
DEIRDRE
Who's this?
YOUNG ETHAN
This is me new mate Ripper.
He got into a bit of trouble
back at the old magic shop.
YOUNG GILES
Some little buggers nicked my
bike.
DEIRDRE
Aw, poor boy. Come over here
and sit down.
Giles looks over to Ethan warily. Ethan nods and Giles goes to sit down next to Deirdre. She strokes his hair and smiles.
DEIRDRE
Before Ethan there gets the chance
I'll introduce us all. I'm Deirdre…
YOUNG GILES
(a little to enthusiastically)
Pleased to meet you…
DEIRDRE
(indicates a sullen dark haired guy)
That's Philip…
(indicates a scruffy unkempt guy)
And that's Randall. Don't worry
about how he looks. He ain't got
anything.
PHILIP
(looks up, doesn't say much - he's the Oz of the group it seems)
Hi…
RANDALL
(re: Deirdre's comments)
Hey!
Philip looks up at Ethan who's got a bag in his hand.
PHILIP
Got the stuff?
YOUNG ETHAN
Do I ever let you down?
RANDALL
Do we have to answer that?
Ethan just stares at Randall and sits down on the floor, pulling some magical items out of the bag.
YOUNG ETHAN
I think that's it.
Giles watches and is obviously intrigued but doesn't say anything yet.
RANDALL
I can't believe we're actually
going to do this! Proper magic
at last. None of that bloody
boring illusion stuff.
DEIRDRE
I still think floating objects is
a good laugh.
YOUNG ETHAN
But that's for kids, Deirdre, luv.
We're about to enter the real
world!
YOUNG GILES
Don't mind if I ask what you're
doing?
RANDALL
(laughs)
Nah, we don't mind.
(says nothing)
YOUNG GILES
Well?
PHILIP
He's being an arsehole. As
usual.
DEIRDRE
(to Giles)
I'll show you.
Deirdre takes out a book and opens it to the right page.
DEIRDRE
(points out a spell)
This.
Giles looks at the book.
YOUNG GILES
A Kabbalah experiment?
YOUNG ETHAN
We're making a golem!
YOUNG GILES
(reading)
A Jewish legend…
(looks up)
Legend?
YOUNG ETHAN
It was developed in the Middle
Ages. Wise men reckoned they
could instil life in clay effigies by
using a charm…
(picks up a charm he's just bought)
…like this.
DEIRDRE
We get our own artificial person
to do all our work for us!
YOUNG GILES
Slave labour?
RANDALL
It's not bloody real! It's not like
it's got a brain or anything.
YOUNG GILES
(unsure)
Still… it sounds a bit… dangerous.
DEIRDRE
Isn't that what makes it fun?
A smile slowly grows on Giles' face which turns into a grin.
EXTERIOR: NEAR CEMETERY - PRESENT - night
Buffy and Dawn are walking around the edges of the cemetery.
BUFFY
I know this is an excuse to avoid
going back but you know you…
DAWN
I heard something. I know I did.
There's a crashing sound inside. Buffy looks at Dawn.
BUFFY
Okay you were right… this time.
Dawn glares at her before jumping over the fence into the cemetery itself. Buffy quickly follows.
EXTERIOR: CEMETERY - night
They both pull out stakes and run in to fight three vampires who are trying to break into a crypt. They look from behind a tree.
DAWN
They're trying to break into
that crypt.
BUFFY
They must be looking for something.
Buffy walks from behind the tree towards the small group of vamps.
BUFFY
Let me guess? Ancient artefact
that'll bring the end of the world?
(the vamps look up)
Well, you're not getting it today!
Two of them run at the Slayers. Buffy punches one in the face before it can react.
BUFFY
You really should watch where
you're going. It's dark. You could
end up getting caught on something.
She rams the stake through the vamp's heart, reducing it to dust.
ANGLE ON: Dawn and her vamp. She leapfrogs over it then spins around to stake it through the back.
The two Slayers turn their attention to the other vamp with a crowbar. He drops it and tries to run but they're on him in a flash. Dawn holds him down while Buffy stakes him.
BUFFY
(looking up at Dawn)
Team work. I never though it
was possible.
DAWN
(raising an eyebrow)
Is it really necessary to try to
come up with funny comments
while fighting? It's degrading.
We're supposed to be hunters
of the undead not stand up
comedians.
BUFFY
Since when did you turn into the
big sister?
Buffy is about to go into the crypt but stops.
BUFFY
Dawn, go home.
DAWN
Why should I?
I don't have to listen to you.
BUFFY
(annoyed)
Do you really want to
try to beat me again?
CLOSE ON: Dawn as she gives Buffy a sullen but loathing look.
DAWN
Fine, I'm going.
Dawn does a quick about face and saunters off screen.
INTERIOR: CRYPT - night.
We see and hear the metal door of the crypt slam open from a well placed punch from the outside. It was Buffy's punch, and as the camera pulls back, we realize that it is Spike's crypt.
Buffy enters the crypt cautiously, looking around jumpily.
The camera continues to pull back to reveal more of the crypt, until Buffy is in the furthest part of the background. In the foreground we see Spike, passed out, with a bottle of whiskey stuffed between himself and the recliner cushion.
The TV is blaring.
BUFFY
Spike?
Buffy spots Spike.
BUFFY
Spike! What are you doing?
Spike?!?
Buffy rushes to the chair and realizes that Spike is not breathing.
She shakes him, but he does not rouse. She slaps him a bit and he starts sputtering.
SPIKE
(slurred)
R'lax luv. Ahm herrre.
BUFFY
You weren't breathing.
SPIKE
(titters)
I wasn't eh? Guess
I'm still not used to it.
Buffy gives him a look, but doesn't comment on his lame joke.
BUFFY
(pointing at the bottle)
Are you trying to kill yourself
or something?
SPIKE
(half smile)
Yeah. Mebbe I am.
BUFFY
Why Spike?
His face suddenly becomes serious.
SPIKE
You wanna know?
BUFFY
That's what I'm here for.
Spike points to his heart.
SPIKE
This?
BUFFY
Your heart?
SPIKE
My bloody soul. It was easier
when it was just that thing
you got poked in to die. Now
I don't need you to do it. It's
pretty good on it's own.
BUFFY
Spike, I thought we talked about
this last time…
SPIKE
And what? Some heart to heart
is meant to suddenly cure me of
all ills? This soul… it's like a prison
and… and, well, I can't cope with it.
Doing myself in might be a good
thing for all involved.
BUFFY
Really? You really believe that?
SPIKE
It's eating me up from the inside,
luv. At that one moment I became
human I saw the faces of every
bugger I killed. It wasn't a pretty
sight.
BUFFY
And because of that you're going
to waste your gift? You're pathetic!
SPIKE
Maybe…
(beat)
That's why this…
(indicates his drink)
is such a good idea.
Buffy shakes her head.
SPIKE
Look, if someone told me
humanity was this bad when
I signed up…
BUFFY
Maybe it isn't what you expected,
but hey! Your gift is life… mine
was death! Guess who's the
luckiest of the two of us? You've
got a soul? Yippee for you! You're
feeling guilt? I'm glad to hear it!
SPIKE
(shocked)
What?
BUFFY
You did some awful things in your
not so distant past and now you're
suffering. Welcome to humanity,
Spike! Believe it or not guilt is
part of being human. You haven't
felt it for centuries and now it's
catching up with you…
SPIKE
(holds up his drink)
How about forcing this down my
throat instead, eh? Makes the
same bloody difference… which
is none at all!
Buffy sighs and sits down next to him.
BUFFY
What I'm getting to is it's
right to be feeling like this
but instead of sitting around
being Mr Mopey how about
trying to make a difference.
Do some good. It may not
make you feel any better
but it's a start.
SPIKE
(under his breath)
Now I know how Angel felt…
BUFFY
(overhears him, a little angrily)
No… no you don't. He didn't
have anyone to turn to when
he got his soul back the first
time… You've got us.
Spike looks up hopefully.
EXTERIOR: BRONZE - night
XANDER exits the BRONZE with his arm around ANYA, and WILLOW and TARA close at their heels. Everyone is in a giddy and jubilant mood.
WILLOW
That was so good. I feel giddy.
Does anyone else feel giddy?
ANYA
(dreamily)
The man who was singing
was extremely attractive. I think
he was looking at me, it made
me feel all liquidy inside. In a good
way, not like when your insides
are actually turned to liquid, because
I did that to a few men and it
looked very painful.
XANDER
I thought I was the only
man who made you feel
liquidy?
ANYA
(patting his arm affectionately)
I know.
EXTERIOR: SUNNYDALE MAIN STREET - night
They walk into the main street still chatting. Their voices slowly become audible again.
TARA
It's a shame Buffy couldn't
make it…
XANDER
I think she's got a lot to deal
with at the moment what with
Dawn and…
Xander suddenly stops.
ANYA
What? What about Dawn? That's
she's suddenly gone psychotic…
(suddenly notices what everyone else has)
Hey Dawn!
Dawn is walking on the opposite side of the road. Willow goes across first, followed by the other three.
WILLOW
Dawnie! What're you doing out here?
TARA
It's late.
She just looks up at them. A real cold glance.
DAWN
I was out patrolling.
XANDER
On your own? Where's big sis?
I wouldn't think she'd like you
out here all on your lonesome.
DAWN
She told me to leave. She obviously
doesn't want to accept that I'm
just as capable as her.
ANYA
Maybe so but you've got school
tomorrow young lady.
DAWN
(a little down)
Oh yeah.
WILLOW
Hey. I thought you liked school.
Remember? We were big learning
buddies!
DAWN
Oh, please.
Willow is obviously offended by Dawn's dismissal of their former similar qualities. Xander steps tactfully in.
XANDER
Anyway… I think it's time you
got back home to Giles'. We'll
take you there right now.
DAWN
I know the way.
XANDER
So do we.
Dawn shrugs as she reluctantly accepts their offer. They begin to walk the same way they were heading.
ANGLE ON: Two military style jeeps drive straight passed the Scoobies. We follow them.
INTERIOR: MILITARY JEEP - TRAVELLING - night
Inside the lead vehicle sits an officer (COLONEL HICKS) and a DRIVER.
HICKS
The prisoner was traced to
this location?
DRIVER
Yes sir. According to our trackers
I'd say we're close.
Hicks nods slowly.
EXTERIOR: MILITARY JEEP - night
It drives straight on and up the street.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
ETHAN
Well, what's it gonna be, Ripper?
Will you throw me to the proverbial
wolves yet again? You know, there's not been
much that I've done that you haven't
been at least close to yourself, sometimes
more than close...I think, in the name of
our friendship.
GILES
I'm not going to call anyone.
ETHAN
(relieved)
Ah, no? No, of course you're not!
You wouldn't do it, you couldn't!
Now if we could just do something
about the accomodations...
circulation's getting a bit
chancey here.
GILES
Forget it. I'm not going to
untie you. This has nothing to
do with friendship, because
we are not friends.
ETHAN
Perhaps you're right. We're not
friends, not anymore. But we were
friends, Ripper. Ah, we were great
friends once, you and I. I know
you remember. We did
something miraculous...
INTERIOR: ETHAN'S FLAT - PAST - night
Young Giles, Young Ethan, Philip, Deirdre and Randall are all sitting around a huge lump of clay in the middle of the room. They are holding their hands out and chanting.
YOUNG ETHAN
(in Hebrew)
From the life of the earth we
call you…
PHILIP
(Hebrew)
By the life of the earth you
will rise…
RANDALL
(Hebrew)
By the powers of nature we
call you…
DEIRDRE
(Hebrew)
By the powers of nature you
will rise…
YOUNG GILES
(Hebrew)
Take form!
They all begin chanting "take form" and the lump of clay begins to morph into a humanoid figure with glowing energies around it. It stretches out slowly as it becomes accustomed to this form of existence.
Ethan opens his eyes and smiles. He looks over to Randall expectantly. Randall gives him a "what now?" look.
YOUNG ETHAN
(whispers)
The binding spell!
RANDALL
("What are you talking about?")
What binding spell?
YOUNG ETHAN
The one in the bloody book!
Randall just looks confused. Giles reacts quickly and grabs the book at Randall's side and looks all over the page for the spell.
As this is happening the golem begins to gain strength. The magic energy surrounding it dissipates. Giles manages to find the spell.
YOUNG GILES
Got it!
The golem grabs Giles and throws him across the room. He hits the wall with a dull thud!
YOUNG GILES
(breath knocked out of him)
Unph!
The golem quickly throws Randall, Philip, and Deirdre out of the way leaving only Ethan in its path. It looks down on him.
YOUNG ETHAN
You know… you really don't want
to do this…
(he is knocked through the air and lands on a sofa)
…do you?
The huge clay golem walks towards the door, kicks it off its hinges and just leaves the building.
The sound of it crashing down the stairs can be heard and the screams of the prostitute outside. Giles runs to the window and flings the curtains open. He looks outside and his jaw drops.
YOUNG GILES
Oh sh…
INTERIOR: GILES' HOUSE - PRESENT - night
We come back to the present as GILES is looking accusingly at ETHAN.
ETHAN
See? It was quite remarkable.
And we had fun!
GILES
Remind me again why I'm not
throwing you out onto the
streets like the piece of garbage
you are?
ETHAN
Oh, come on! It wasn't that
bad!
GILES
(dumbstruck)
Wasn't that bad?! The bloody
thing ripped the streets to
pieces!
ETHAN
Well, there is that…
EXT: LONDON - SOHO - PAST - night
We come back to the past to see the wannabe magicians chasing after the golem. It is smashing up cars and throwing anything it can find through shop windows.
YOUNG ETHAN is frantically flicking through the pages of the magic book.
YOUNG ETHAN
Binding spell… binding spell…
Which page was it on?
YOUNG GILES
How the hell am I supposed to
know? You're the one who closed
the book! Look for something on
alefs!
YOUNG ETHAN
Alefs?
YOUNG GILES
A symbol on it's forehead!
(sees a car going through a window)
Oh, somebody's not going
to like that…
(back to Ethan)
From what I read just now it's
supposed to make it vulnerable…
it's the thing's only weakness and
until you put one on it, we can't
kill it!
YOUNG ETHAN continues to flick through the pages while YOUNG GILES takes more immediate action. He puts his hand through the window of a smashed up car and pulls out a crowbar before running at the golem.
ANGLE ON: DEIRDRE looking on in horror.
DEIRDRE
Ripper! No!
ANGLE ON: YOUNG GILES attacking the golem.
GILES dives at the creature and whacks the crowbar into the golem's back. He can't pull it out again! It turns around and whacks him across the street, landing with a skid at YOUNG ETHAN'S feet. He looks up at him.
YOUNG GILES
Find the bloody spell!
YOUNG ETHAN
(sarcastically)
Thanks for reminding me. I was
totally forgetting to do that! Dick
head!
YOUNG GILES
(to Randall and Philip)
You two! We have to distract it now!
RANDALL
You're sodding barmy!
YOUNG GILES
Possibly!
The three of them run at golem and dive onto it, trying to hold it back. PHILIP is sent through a shop window…
PHILIP
(loudly)
Aaaghhhhhhh!!!
…while RANDALL and GILES hold on for dear life.
ANGLE ON: YOUNG ETHAN suddenly finds what he's looking for.
YOUNG ETHAN
(runs towards the golem)
I've got it!
As he runs, YOUNG ETHAN trips and his head collides with the ground, knocking him out. The book goes skidding along the floor. DEIRDRE notices it.
ANGLE ON: The golem throwing RANDALL through the air and almost twenty metres up the street. YOUNG GILES, who's now got his arms wrapped around the golem's head, is being swung all over the place.
YOUNG GILES
Agh! Oh God! Agh!
ANGLE ON: DEIRDRE picks up the book and tries to sound out the words.
DEIRDRE
I… I can't pronounce this!
(looks at the unconscious ETHAN)
I can't…
Before she can finish her sentence, YOUNG GILES flies through the air again and lands on his back.
YOUNG GILES
Agh! Ow! Damn!
DEIRDRE turns to him.
DEIRDRE
Can you do this?
YOUNG GILES nods quickly and puts his hand out for the book.
YOUNG GILES
(reading, Hebrew)
By the powers of the earth
and sky I bind you!
ANGLE ON: the golem as it turns around angrily.
YOUNG GILES
(Hebrew, O.S.)
By… by the will of nature I…
I bind you!
The golem starts to charge towards YOUNG GILES and DEIRDRE.
DEIRDRE
Hurry up!
YOUNG GILES
Hang on! Hang on!
(Reading, in Hebrew)
Let the will be done… let the
binding be complete!
The golem suddenly stops running and grabs its forehead in pain. When it takes its hands away it has a very distinct mark on its head.
YOUNG GILES
(getting to his feet, smiling cockily)
Gotcha!
YOUNG GILES runs at the golem, making a kind of war cry, and grabbing the crowbar still implanted in its back, he pulls it out with a loud grunt. He swings it as hard as he can into the creature's forehead. First the head turns to clay again followed by the rest of its body until it is just a lifeless pile of mud.
YOUNG GILES falls back to the floor and lays down. RANDALL and PHILIP rejoin them, clearly injured and limping.
YOUNG GILES
Never again…
There is a moaning off screen. They all turn to see YOUNG ETHAN regaining consciousness. He looks up at them and smiles.
YOUNG ETHAN
What a rush!
INT: GILES' HOUSE - PRESENT - night
ETHAN smiles having remembered the events we've just seen and he relayed.
ETHAN
See? It wasn't all that bad.
GILES
Yes… you said that before.
ETHAN
Well, it wasn't.
GILES
We may have survived that but
remember what happened not long
after?
ETHAN
(under his breath, remembering)
Eyghon.
GILES
Yes! Eyghon! Thanks to you and your
idiocy Randall, Philip and Deirdre were
killed… and you almost added Buffy
to that list four years ago!
ETHAN
(making excuses)
But I was evil then! Thanks to
a while in the slammer I'm a
completely reformed man now!
You'd never catch me doing that
again.
GILES gives him a "yeah, right" look. He glares at ETHAN who gives him a pleading look in return. Coming to some decision, GILES sighs and begins to unlock the chains around ETHAN but says nothing. ETHAN gets to his feet slowly.
ETHAN
You're a real mate, you know
that?
GILES doesn't reply and instead, walks to the door and opens it. He goes back to ETHAN, grabs him by the collar and throws him out of the door.
GILES
Goodbye. Good riddance.
But I must thank you.
ETHAN
For what?
GILES
For reminding me what an
arsehole you were… I sincerely
hope you're caught before you
reach the end of town.
ETHAN
Thanks… for nothing…
Giles glares threateningly at Ethan. After a few seconds Ethan finally realises it's best to cut his losses and get away while he can. He darts off away from the house. Giles watches him go with a frown then slams the door shut behind him.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
EXT: STREET NEAR GILES' APARTMENT-PRESENT-night
Willow, Xander, Anya, Tara and Dawn are still walking home. Dawn is still being sulky.
DAWN
It's just, I really don't need to be
walked home...I'm not just some
kid, I'm a Slayer.
TARA
We know, Dawn.
ANYA
(to Xander)
I mean, how could we not
know, when she mentions it every
five seconds...I'm a Slayer,
I'm a Slayer...la dee da
XANDER
(a bit nervous, sotto voce)
Honey, did I ever tell
you the little being human
rule about not pissing
off the Slayer? Cause
it's a kind of important
one...
ETHAN suddenly runs past them, almost knocking WILLOW over.
WILLOW
Umm, hey, walking here!
TARA
Are you okay, honey?
WILLOW
Yeah, he just surprised me.
That was kind of rude...and
no excuse me. Did he
seem familiar to you?
TARA shrugs. WILLOW continues to frown in puzzlement.
ANYA
He was in an awful hurry. You don't
suppose...
All stop and look briefly at DAWN who gives them an actual smile.
DAWN
Nope, there aren't any vamps
here...must have just
had an elsewhere to be
WILLOW
(still a bit disgruntled)
Like last Tuesday! And
I could swear I know him
from somewhere.
All start walking again, now with a happy DAWN alongside.
ANYA
(helpfully)
Perhaps he was a thief,
or a bandit...or a cat
burglar...although he
wasn't wearing a black catsuit
like I wear when Xander and I
play-
XANDER
(loudly)
And look! It's Giles' house.
Where no games are played ever,
especially ones that involve
costumes or props that we won't be
talking about in front of our
friends.
TARA
(amused)
Props?
DAWN
Okay, show of hands
for ewww?
WILLOW, TARA and DAWN all raise their hands as XANDER gives them a look and opens the door.
INT: GILES' LIVING ROOM - PRESENT - night
They enter without knocking, WILLOW, TARA and DAWN still having their hands in the air, and stop in their tracks as soon as they enter the living room. They notice two things immediately: GILES is calmly knocking back a drink, and there are chains in the living room. ANYA gives XANDER a smug, pointed look while the others just stare, putting their hands down slowly.
ANYA
(to XANDER)
You were saying? About
Giles? And games?
WILLOW
Maybe Dawn should
go upstairs.
DAWN
Are you kidding me? This
is the good part.
XANDER
It pains me to say it, but
I stand corrected.
Hmmm…who's been a
naughty boy?
DAWN
Eww?
GILES gives them a silent glare. DAWN again raises her hand, followed by the others in unison.
INT: SPIKE'S CRYPT - PRESENT - night
BUFFY
Have I gotten through
to you at all? Is anything
sinking in, or are you
already too far sunk?
SPIKE
I think...no, I know it.
You're right, Buffy. You should
be right, you're the Slayer
and all...but I'm really
impressed with how very
right you are at this moment...
in fact, you are right right now.
SPIKE snickers drunkenly as BUFFY rolls her eyes...but then he almost immediately gets serious.
SPIKE
I'm gonna take my soul
and run with it, Slayer, but
I'm not gonna run away...I'm
gonna make a bleedin difference
in this world...you'll see, you're
gonna be so proud of me...
BUFFY
Spike, that's not the point.
You need to be okay with you.
SPIKE
I will be, Buffy. I have seen
the sunlight. I'm going to be
a better man...
(getting to his feet)
starting right now!
He falls flat on his face, still drunk from the effects of the whiskey. BUFFY shakes her head bemusedly.
BUFFY
That's one way to start.
Cleaning floors with your
own face. Go you!
SPIKE
Well, not quite now…
maybe in the morning.
Buffy helps him to his feet, taking him to his stone coffin thingy which now contains a duvet and other such comfy stuff. She puts him into it and smiles a little.
We go back to Giles' house. Dawn has gone to bed and Giles thanks the others for bringing her back. She may be a Slayer but she's still 15 after all! They are about to leave when, upon Xander opening the door a group of military men with guns storm in with guns on the ready.
TITLE CARD: TO BE CONTINUED
Summer Script Challenge
The Powers that Be Pro Temporae
Episode 6.10: Incarceration
By DigiJoss Whedon (Digitalis), J.A.I.T. Espenson (J.A.I.T.) and Marti Noggston (Noggins)
GILES (V.O.)
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
From Halloween: Giles and Ethan stare at each other.
ETHAN
Oh, and we all know that you are
the champion of innocents and all
things pure and good, Rupert. It's
quite a little act you've got going
here, old man.
From The Dark Age: Buffy talking to Ethan.
BUFFY
You know Giles?
ETHAN
We go back. Way back.
Flashbacks to a YOUNG GILES casting a spell.
GILES (V.O.)
I was twenty-one...
Studying history at Oxford and of
course the occult by night. I went
to London, fell in with the worst
crowd that would have me. We
practiced magicks.
A New Man: Ethan being taken away by a group of military men.
RILEY
By the authority of the US military,
you're being taken into custody
pending a determination of your
status.
TEASER
EXTERIOR: UC SUNNYDALE CAMPUS - day - establishing shot
TARA
(v.o.)
Sometimes things are just wrong,
you know?
EXTERIOR: UC SUNNYDALE CAMPUS - PICNIC BENCHES - day
WILLOW and TARA are sitting at a picnic bench setting up plates, sandwiches, sodas, etc. as they speak. They are setting up for three people.
TARA
I mean, there's an ethical
principle involved.
WILLOW
(defensively)
I know that. But sometimes you
have to look at the greater good.
Like something that's, okay, maybe
a little bit wrong, but then later on
all these other majorly wrong things
maybe don't happen because you did
that one little bit wrong thing.
TARA
Well, that's one way of looking at it.
But it was that kind of situational ethics
that Professor Katz is talking about
when she's discussing the Watergate
break-in, and you don't think
that was okay.
WILLOW
(a bit grudgingly)
No, that was stinky.
TARA
Sometimes when they have too much
power, people start thinking they can do
anything because they're doing it for what
you're calling the greater good.
And that's when they fall.
WILLOW'S POV: We see BUFFY approaching. As she passes, students are staring, whispering, and in some cases running away. She cannot help but notice this, and looks nonplussed.
NORMAL POV: WILLOW grabs TARA'S arm with a bit of urgency. It's also clear she's glad for the change of subject.
WILLOW
Oh, here comes Buffy. I don't think
we should talk about, umm, school
and stuff of school like lectures
while Buffy's here, 'cause it's like
we're being all, 'Ha! Still
in school and you're not! Ha!'
TARA
It's a 'Ha!' bookend thing?
WILLOW
Definitely.
TARA nods as BUFFY reaches them.
BUFFY
Hey guys. Is it me, or do I
seem to give everyone around
here the wiggins?
WILLOW
Well, I can't be absolutely positive,
but the being recently dead might
have something to do with it.
BUFFY joins WILLOW and TARA at the table and grabs a sandwich and soda.
TARA
(apologetically)
There was an death announcement
in the school paper.
BUFFY
(taking it in stride - this is the
least of her troubles)
And no retraction. Typical, a girl
can't even get come back from the
dead anymore and get decent press.
Speaking of which, any word
from our favorite recent returnee
from oblivion?
WILLOW and TARA both look momentarily confused, then brighten.
WILLOW
Oh, Amy! She said her dad is
mega-happy she's back even if
the fact her mother came back
with her wasn't exactly what he
wanted to hear. He thought,
after she was attacked at school
by our m-anyway, he thought
she'd run away. I think she's
planning on spending time with
both of her parents. Maybe her
dad will make things seem a
little more normal for her.
BUFFY
Well, that's at least one happy
family story. Unlike my suddenly
multi-Slayer household.
TARA
You know, Buffy, I have to say...this
thing with Dawn, it's really...
BUFFY
Strange? Unnatural? Unholy?
Against the laws of God and man?
TARA
I was going for freaky. I mean,
the odds against Dawn being
the next Slayer must be...
BUFFY
Oh, but this is Planet Buffy...where
the odds are totally in favor of
anything that might make my life
miserable.
WILLOW
Sister Slayers. It's weird. I can't
even think of Dawnie as a Slayer.
And let's face it, in the world
of wholesome family fun...
BUFFY
...killing demons and vamps and the
bumpy in the nighty things is not
exactly playing Twister. The thing
that's killing me is I just want to
protect Dawn. I'm still not in school
to take care of her. And now, how can
I? And there's just so much she
doesn't get about being the
Slayer yet. It's like for her it's
some kind of competition between
us. And that's not how I feel. I
love my sister...
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: WOODS - night
A MAN is running through wildly in and out trees, puffing and panting and clearly out of breath - he's been running for a long time. He keeps looking back as the torchlight of his pursuers are shining all around. We don't see his face.
BUFFY
(V.O.)
...there are things out there that I don't
ever want her to have to deal with.
We realise several other men with guns, closely flanked by barking dogs are pursuing him.
The man notices some bushes to his side and dives into them to hide.
MAN'S POV: He watches as they run passed along with the dogs who seem to ignore him.
NORMAL VIEW: He scrambles out of the back of the bushes and looks all around. We can hear the sound of helicopters hovering above. He looks up to see there are about three of them - all with searchlights.
The man takes another path through the threes avoiding the light from an overhead helicopter. He manages to get to a road and get a clear view of his face - it's ETHAN RAYNE!
CREDITS
ACT ONE
INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - TRAINING ROOM - night
GILES is watching LYDIA and DAWN training. Dawn ducks and dives Lydia's attacks and jumps over her, grabbing her from behind and holding a stake where her heart would be. She pauses for a moment before letting her Watcher go.
LYDIA
(a little shaken)
Very… very good. I'm most
impressed with your progress.
DAWN
(smiles, a little too smugly)
Buffy was never this good as
fast as this!
GILES
(interrupts)
No, but she didn't try to kill her
Watcher with quite so much
relish.
Dawn grins. We see a flash of the real Dawn as she jokes a little.
DAWN
I'm sure she did. You just too
good to get killed.
GILES
Yes… quite. But you have to realise
the burdens of being a Slayer.
DAWN
Sure, but it's fun. And much easier
than Buffy makes it seem.
GILES
(a little shaken)
Your sister has a dedication to her
work. I hope you take after her in
that respect.
(to Lydia)
So how is the training going from
your perspective?
LYDIA
Marvellous. I honestly can't
believe that a month ago I
was just a junior Watcher at
the university. Now I'm overseeing
the education of the new Slayer.
Giles nods. He seems a little distracted, almost nervous by Dawn who continues to practice fighting moves on the dummy at the other side of the room.
GILES
Yes. It seems fortune has
smiled on you.
LYDIA
(somewhat apprehensively)
Fortune… that's an interesting
way of putting it.
GILES
(his interest piqued)
How so?
LYDIA
Well… you know, I would have
put it strictly down to fate.
GILES
In my book they are the same
thing.
LYDIA
Hmm. Of course. But either way
I've accomplished the same as you…
GILES
(nods in agreement)
Yes…
LYDIA
(a little smugly)
…at a much younger age I might add.
Giles adjusts his glasses. He's obviously a little annoyed her comment
GILES
Continue your training.
Lydia smiles as Giles walks out. She looks over to Dawn.
LYDIA
No, no, Dawn. Punch with the
right and follow through with
the left.
Dawn glares at her.
INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - day
Giles walks through the door from the Slayers' training room and carefully shuts the door behind him.
As he does, Buffy walks through the entrance of the Magic Box. They catch each other's eyes and both sit at the "War Table" where most of the strategizing of apocalypses usually takes place.
GILES
(exhausted)
Well, how was your day?
BUFFY
Not spectacular. How's Dawn?
GILES
(unconvinced)
Amazing.
Buffy looks up sharply, with a slightly hurt look on her face.
BUFFY
Amazing?
GILES
Well, yes. Her progress is
amazing. It is as if she
was infused with the
purest Slayer essence
ever. Can't say its done
much for her personality.
BUFFY
I know. She's become
really difficult to get
along with. It's as if I don't
know who she is anymore.
Giles nods.
BUFFY
(cont'd, slightly quieter)
And I'm scared.
I'm scared that I don't
know who my little sister
is. I'm scared that she
doesn't know who she is
either. Its like the whole
duty has consumed her.
She could be a better
Slayer. That I can handle,
but, its like she isn't even
human anymore.
A loud crash sounds from the training room, and both Giles and Buffy look towards the door.
ANGLE ON: The training room door.
CLOSE ON: Buffy as she watches the door.
GILES
You'd better…
BUFFY
I know.
Buffy gets up from the table with a sigh and goes over to the door, and pushes it open.
BUFFY'S POV: As the door opens, we see Dawn pinning Lydia to the ground with a foot. She is holding a broadsword, which hangs precariously close to Lydia's throat.
ANGLE ON: Buffy's shocked face.
BUFFY
(alarmed)
Dawn!
BUFFY'S POV: Dawn looks at her sister nonchalantly, and casually removes her foot from Lydia's chest.
DAWN
(almost growling)
What?
BUFFY
What were you…?
Buffy shakes her head, realizing that there is no point to asking that question.
BUFFY
Its time to go.
DAWN
(matter of factly)
I'm staying.
BUFFY
You have to get up for school tomorrow
DAWN
I'm not going to school.
BUFFY
Yes you are.
DAWN
You wanna make me?
As each tensed statement is uttered, the sisters take a step towards each other. At this point, they are standing nose to nose. OR, nose to chin as Dawn has a couple of inches on Buffy.
BUFFY
I don't want to make you Dawnie.
DAWN
You think calling me by
my kid name is going
to change my mind?
Dawn swings from her heels and knocks Buffy over.
ANGLE ON: Buffy, as she sits on her rear, still knocked over. She is in shock that Dawn actually hit her. She touches her lip and sees that there is blood there.
WIDE ANGLE: Dawn stalks over to Buffy, intent on continuing her point.
Buffy sweeps Dawns legs out from under her, and the fight is on.
Buffy does a backwards flip to get back onto her feet.
Dawn goes into a handstand. She flips forward. Buffy just moves out of the way of her feet as she comes down right next to her sister.
ANGLE ON: Buffy. She eyes up Dawn carefully. We're talking serious Old West gunfighters here. But with feet and bare fists. And not guns.
ANGLE ON: Dawn as she looks into Buffy's eyes. She's even more defiant than ever.
ANGLE ON: Buffy as she equals the cold stare her sister is giving her.
ANGLE ON: Dawn as she seems to relax as if she's about to give in.
ANGLE ON: Buffy as she relaxes to.
PULL OUT as Dawn's fist moves in to collide with Buffy's jaw. Buffy quickly blocks it. Dawn tries again, this time just chipping Buffy's cheek. Buffy steps back a little then jumps further as Dawn kicks.
ANGLE ON: Buffy. She's clearly hurt by Dawn's defiance but she's not giving up easily. Now it's war!
WIDE ANGLE: Buffy moves forward punching. Dawn tries to block every punch but they get faster and faster until one punch catches her jaw. This gives Buffy the chance she needs. She kicks forward knocking Dawn to the floor.
Dawn doesn't get up. She just looks up angrily at Buffy. A real "a curse on your name" situation going on here.
BUFFY
We're going. Now.
Dawn nods. Buffy holds out her hand for Dawn to take but she refuses. She gets to her feet and, ignoring Buffy, turns to Lydia.
DAWN
Same time tomorrow?
LYDIA
Y-yes. Of course.
Dawn goes straight to the door. She turns to give Buffy an annoyed glare as if to say "you wanted to leave. We're leaving." Buffy looks at Giles.
BUFFY
I'll see you back at your place.
The two sisters leave. Once the door is closed Giles begins to get things together to go himself.
LYDIA
I must say I'm impressed by your
good nature. Allowing the two of
them to live with you.
GILES
Their house was sold after Buffy…
went away. I was able to ensure
that Dawn was taken into my care.
The two seem to be quite happy
and I like the company.
LYDIA
But I'm sure it's quite tense
at the moment…
GILES
(suspiciously)
And I'm sure you know why.
LYDIA
I beg your pardon.
GILES
It was quite obvious that you
knew when you came here that
Dawn would be called as the
next Slayer… the Council knew.
LYDIA
I don't know what you…
GILES
You were planted here in preparation.
You knew Faith was going to be
murdered and you knew Dawn
would replace her…
Lydia takes several steps back. Giles is verging on Ripper-mode now. She's nervous.
LYDIA
Mr. Giles… I… I admit that I
was informed about Dawn…
GILES
(a-ha!)
Really?
LYDIA
(genuinely)
But I knew nothing about Faith. I
was sent here in preparation for
Dawn's calling. I don't know how
the Council knew… they knew about
your spell to defeat Adam… they
obviously worked things out…
She realises Giles isn't listening anymore.
LYDIA
(C'tnd)
Mr. Giles… Please…
GILES
Ms. Barlow… I'm about to close
my store. I think it's time you left.
No doubt I'll see you tomorrow…
LYDIA
Seven AM as usual. Some early
morning training for Dawn before
she goes to school…
She looks to Giles to say something else but he doesn't. She realises he isn't in the mood for talking. She walks towards the door.
LYDIA
Goodbye.
Not expecting a reply she leaves.
Giles prepares to lock up the shop. As he gathers some items together to put in a bag he knocks a book off the counter and goes to pick it up.
ANGLE ON: The book. It's open on a page about golems. A picture of one - a huge clay creature - can be seen.
ANGLE ON: Giles' face as the colour suddenly drains from it.
EXTERIOR: LONDON - SOHO - PAST - day
We flash to some point in the past. A young man dressed in your average early 70s rebellious gear sides through the streets on a moped, darting in and out of anyone in his way.
He comes to a halt outside what looks like a shop selling *ahem* adult goods and gets off. He pauses to look around for a moment before taking off the helmet to reveal his face… it's a YOUNG GILES, in his early twenties. He looks at the cosmopolitan surroundings.
YOUNG GILES
(grin on his face)
This is more like it.
He looks at the shop, which has a few adult books in the window before noticing a sign written in a strange language above the door.
YOUNG GILES
(reading)
Ah, clever.
He walks inside.
INTERIOR: MAGIC SHOP - PAST - day
Young Giles walks in and looks around several shelves of magical items. The SHOP ASSISTANT eyes him up suspiciously while another person with his back turns reacts slightly.
Young Giles reaches for a magic book and flicks through it carefully. He finds a certain page and smiles a little.
YOUNG GILES
(to himself)
Like that'd work…
He puts the book back and trails his finger along the shelf until he finds another one. The Assistant, who has been watching him carefully suddenly speaks up.
SHOP ASSISTANT
(coughs)
Can I help you in any way?
YOUNG GILES
(looking up from book)
Oh, no, no… I'm fine. I…
There's the sound of an engine starting up outside. Young Giles throws the book down and runs out.
SHOP ASSISTANT
Hey! That's old!
It's too late. Young Giles is out of the shop.
EXTERIOR: LONDON - SOHO - PAST - day
Young Giles darts out of the shop to see two teenagers riding off on his bike. He screams more than a few obscenities.
YOUNG GILES
Bastards! Arseholes!
He starts to run after them but realises that it's too late. He stops and looks around dejectedly, cursing under his breath. He's really pissed off when the other customer in the shop comes out to meet him - it's a YOUNG ETHAN RAYNE.
YOUNG ETHAN
Sod them. By the looks of it
the bloody thing only had a
few more miles in it anyway.
YOUNG GILES
But it's me bloody bike! My
clothes were in there! My
money!
Young Giles just turns and punches the wall in anger.
YOUNG ETHAN
That can't be good for you,
y'know.
YOUNG GILES
(sarcastically)
You don't say. (beat) Just
piss off.
Young Giles just expects Ethan to walk away but he doesn't.
YOUNG GILES
(doesn't turn around)
Didn't you hear what I said?
YOUNG ETHAN
I did. Not a very nice way to
talk to the person who's your
only hope of surviving in this
bloody city.
YOUNG GILES
("Like I'd trust YOU")
And you are?
YOUNG ETHAN
Name's Ethan… Ethan Rayne.
Ethan extends his hand. Slowly and reluctantly takes it in his own.
YOUNG GILES
Rup… Ripper… just call me
Ripper.
YOUNG ETHAN
(laughs a little)
Right you are… Ripper. Let's
get away from here. They
only show you the poncy stuff.
Want to try something a little
more fun?
INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - PRESENT - night
We flash back to the present as Giles closes the book in his hand slowly, the colour finally returning to his face. He finds a space on a shelf and puts the book away with a frown.
He grabs a jacket from over a chair and puts it on. After walking to the doorway and taking one last look around, he leaves.
EXTERIOR: OUTSIDE MAGIC BOX - night
Giles closes the door behind him and locks up. He puts the keys in his jacket pocket and walks off down the street.
EXTERIOR: OUTSIDE GILES' HOUSE - night
Giles walks to his door and puts the key in the lock. He suddenly looks up realising there's someone behind him. He takes the key out of the door and puts it back into his pocket slowly. He makes it appear is if he is going to go inside when…
He suddenly spins around and pushes a shadowy figure behind him into the wall, punching him in the stomach. Giles grabs the mysterious intruder and puts him into a throat hold
GILES
(aggressively)
Who are you?
ETHAN
(struggled because his throat is being held)
What? You've forgotten me
already Ripper?
Giles is taken aback. He lets go of Ethan and steps away shocked.
BLACK OUT
ACT TWO
INTERIOR: GILES' HOUSE - night
Ethan is tied up to a chair. Giles finishes off the last knot on the ropes.
ETHAN
You know, Ripper, this really
isn't necessary. You can trust
me now…
GILES
(dryly)
Remember what happened the
last time I trusted you? You turned
me into a bloody demon!
ETHAN
Well… yeah… but it was a laugh.
Giles raises an eyebrow and pulls the rope tighter. Ethan cringes.
ETHAN
Oi! Watch it!
Giles ignores him and goes straight to the table that Ethan is facing. He leans up against it.
GILES
How did you get out?
ETHAN
Don't you have to wait until your
Slayer's here? You need the bad
cop if you're going to do this right.
GILES
(threatening)
You want a bad cop? I'll give you
a bad cop…
ETHAN
Very funny, Ripper but you know
as well as I do that you've gone
soft. The last time you had any
balls was when you had that candy.
Giles kicks Ethan lightly in the chest, just enough to push his chair back. He hits the ground with a thud, still tied up.
GILES
Now, how did you get out?
ETHAN
I'm really not gonna get out of
this am I?
GILES
No.
ETHAN
Y'see it is a little embarrassing.
GILES
Talk.
ETHAN
(sighs)
Okay, okay. It starts off with a
year or so of good behaviour… and
putting up with the advances of
the resident Big John…
GILES
(smirks snidely)
Oh this is fun.
ETHAN
I managed to get a few little items
smuggled to my room… nothing big,
or conspicuous. I swear a few times
they thought I was gonna build a
bomb or something.
(pause)
Can I get up now? The blood's
rushing to my head.
Giles grabs him and pulls him back upright.
GILES
Carry on.
ETHAN
Well, I did build one… but it was
slightly more magical. A mixture
here, a chant there and boom!
Well, not so much "boom" than
"poof", really. Didn't want to draw
attention to my self. I was out of
the complex before they even
realised half the wall had been
disintegrated.
GILES
How clever of you.
ETHAN
You know, these ever so witty
comments of yours is just dragging
this out.
(Giles says nothing)
I managed to avoid all the GI Joe's
that were after my arse and came
to the only place I could be safe.
GILES
And that place had to be Sunnydale?
ETHAN
Ironic, really, don't you think?
Giles shakes his head. He walks to the telephone and picks up the receiver.
ETHAN
Hey! Hey! What're you doing?
GILES
Calling the police. I'm sure once
they realise you're quite a dangerous
escaped convict they'll have the
government over here again pretty
quickly to pick you up.
ETHAN
Mate… no! Seriously! They'll have
my arse. Or rather my old pal there
might. Either way it's not a very
nice prospect.
GILES
And why should I be sympathetic?
ETHAN
Look, I know I've been an arsehole
over the last few… decades… but
c'mon. Help me out… just this once…
for old time's sake?
Giles puts down the phone and walks slowly to Ethan.
ETHAN
Ripper… you're a real m…
Giles grabs him by the throat and pushes him, and the chair he's tied to, into the wall forcefully.
GILES
Don't you EVER use those words
around me!
EXTERIOR: LONDON APARTMENT - PAST - evening
Young Giles and Young Ethan are walking along a street. They get to a small doorway with stairs up it. A woman is hanging around outside.
WOMAN
(smiles at Giles)
Hey, you… fancy a good time?
Before Giles can say anything Ethan interrupts.
YOUNG ETHAN
He's with me, luv. Don't bother him.
WOMAN
Suit yourself, Ethan.
(to Giles)
If you change your mind…
YOUNG GILES
Um, yeah…
INTERIOR: LONDON APARTMENT - STAIRWELL - evening
Ethan walks in and makes his way up the stairs and Giles follows, looking back at the girl with surprise in his eyes (I'm a poet and I didn't know it!!!).
YOUNG GILES
Was she…?
YOUNG ETHAN
This is London, mate. What'd
you bloody expect when you
came here?
YOUNG GILES
(laughs)
Well, that actually but not so
sodding blatant!
YOUNG ETHAN
(smiles)
You'll get used to it.
(indicates a door)
This way…
Ethan pushes the door open and enters. Giles seems a little more nervous.
YOUNG ETHAN
(O.S.)
Come on.
Giles finally relents and walks in.
INTERIOR: ETHAN'S FLAT - PAST- night
The room is dark and a little messy. Giles sniffs the air and frowns. It's not a pleasant place to be but it's the only place he's got right now.
There are three others in the room. The only woman - DEIRDRE PAGE - looks up at him.
DEIRDRE
Who's this?
YOUNG ETHAN
This is me new mate Ripper.
He got into a bit of trouble
back at the old magic shop.
YOUNG GILES
Some little buggers nicked my
bike.
DEIRDRE
Aw, poor boy. Come over here
and sit down.
Giles looks over to Ethan warily. Ethan nods and Giles goes to sit down next to Deirdre. She strokes his hair and smiles.
DEIRDRE
Before Ethan there gets the chance
I'll introduce us all. I'm Deirdre…
YOUNG GILES
(a little to enthusiastically)
Pleased to meet you…
DEIRDRE
(indicates a sullen dark haired guy)
That's Philip…
(indicates a scruffy unkempt guy)
And that's Randall. Don't worry
about how he looks. He ain't got
anything.
PHILIP
(looks up, doesn't say much - he's the Oz of the group it seems)
Hi…
RANDALL
(re: Deirdre's comments)
Hey!
Philip looks up at Ethan who's got a bag in his hand.
PHILIP
Got the stuff?
YOUNG ETHAN
Do I ever let you down?
RANDALL
Do we have to answer that?
Ethan just stares at Randall and sits down on the floor, pulling some magical items out of the bag.
YOUNG ETHAN
I think that's it.
Giles watches and is obviously intrigued but doesn't say anything yet.
RANDALL
I can't believe we're actually
going to do this! Proper magic
at last. None of that bloody
boring illusion stuff.
DEIRDRE
I still think floating objects is
a good laugh.
YOUNG ETHAN
But that's for kids, Deirdre, luv.
We're about to enter the real
world!
YOUNG GILES
Don't mind if I ask what you're
doing?
RANDALL
(laughs)
Nah, we don't mind.
(says nothing)
YOUNG GILES
Well?
PHILIP
He's being an arsehole. As
usual.
DEIRDRE
(to Giles)
I'll show you.
Deirdre takes out a book and opens it to the right page.
DEIRDRE
(points out a spell)
This.
Giles looks at the book.
YOUNG GILES
A Kabbalah experiment?
YOUNG ETHAN
We're making a golem!
YOUNG GILES
(reading)
A Jewish legend…
(looks up)
Legend?
YOUNG ETHAN
It was developed in the Middle
Ages. Wise men reckoned they
could instil life in clay effigies by
using a charm…
(picks up a charm he's just bought)
…like this.
DEIRDRE
We get our own artificial person
to do all our work for us!
YOUNG GILES
Slave labour?
RANDALL
It's not bloody real! It's not like
it's got a brain or anything.
YOUNG GILES
(unsure)
Still… it sounds a bit… dangerous.
DEIRDRE
Isn't that what makes it fun?
A smile slowly grows on Giles' face which turns into a grin.
EXTERIOR: NEAR CEMETERY - PRESENT - night
Buffy and Dawn are walking around the edges of the cemetery.
BUFFY
I know this is an excuse to avoid
going back but you know you…
DAWN
I heard something. I know I did.
There's a crashing sound inside. Buffy looks at Dawn.
BUFFY
Okay you were right… this time.
Dawn glares at her before jumping over the fence into the cemetery itself. Buffy quickly follows.
EXTERIOR: CEMETERY - night
They both pull out stakes and run in to fight three vampires who are trying to break into a crypt. They look from behind a tree.
DAWN
They're trying to break into
that crypt.
BUFFY
They must be looking for something.
Buffy walks from behind the tree towards the small group of vamps.
BUFFY
Let me guess? Ancient artefact
that'll bring the end of the world?
(the vamps look up)
Well, you're not getting it today!
Two of them run at the Slayers. Buffy punches one in the face before it can react.
BUFFY
You really should watch where
you're going. It's dark. You could
end up getting caught on something.
She rams the stake through the vamp's heart, reducing it to dust.
ANGLE ON: Dawn and her vamp. She leapfrogs over it then spins around to stake it through the back.
The two Slayers turn their attention to the other vamp with a crowbar. He drops it and tries to run but they're on him in a flash. Dawn holds him down while Buffy stakes him.
BUFFY
(looking up at Dawn)
Team work. I never though it
was possible.
DAWN
(raising an eyebrow)
Is it really necessary to try to
come up with funny comments
while fighting? It's degrading.
We're supposed to be hunters
of the undead not stand up
comedians.
BUFFY
Since when did you turn into the
big sister?
Buffy is about to go into the crypt but stops.
BUFFY
Dawn, go home.
DAWN
Why should I?
I don't have to listen to you.
BUFFY
(annoyed)
Do you really want to
try to beat me again?
CLOSE ON: Dawn as she gives Buffy a sullen but loathing look.
DAWN
Fine, I'm going.
Dawn does a quick about face and saunters off screen.
INTERIOR: CRYPT - night.
We see and hear the metal door of the crypt slam open from a well placed punch from the outside. It was Buffy's punch, and as the camera pulls back, we realize that it is Spike's crypt.
Buffy enters the crypt cautiously, looking around jumpily.
The camera continues to pull back to reveal more of the crypt, until Buffy is in the furthest part of the background. In the foreground we see Spike, passed out, with a bottle of whiskey stuffed between himself and the recliner cushion.
The TV is blaring.
BUFFY
Spike?
Buffy spots Spike.
BUFFY
Spike! What are you doing?
Spike?!?
Buffy rushes to the chair and realizes that Spike is not breathing.
She shakes him, but he does not rouse. She slaps him a bit and he starts sputtering.
SPIKE
(slurred)
R'lax luv. Ahm herrre.
BUFFY
You weren't breathing.
SPIKE
(titters)
I wasn't eh? Guess
I'm still not used to it.
Buffy gives him a look, but doesn't comment on his lame joke.
BUFFY
(pointing at the bottle)
Are you trying to kill yourself
or something?
SPIKE
(half smile)
Yeah. Mebbe I am.
BUFFY
Why Spike?
His face suddenly becomes serious.
SPIKE
You wanna know?
BUFFY
That's what I'm here for.
Spike points to his heart.
SPIKE
This?
BUFFY
Your heart?
SPIKE
My bloody soul. It was easier
when it was just that thing
you got poked in to die. Now
I don't need you to do it. It's
pretty good on it's own.
BUFFY
Spike, I thought we talked about
this last time…
SPIKE
And what? Some heart to heart
is meant to suddenly cure me of
all ills? This soul… it's like a prison
and… and, well, I can't cope with it.
Doing myself in might be a good
thing for all involved.
BUFFY
Really? You really believe that?
SPIKE
It's eating me up from the inside,
luv. At that one moment I became
human I saw the faces of every
bugger I killed. It wasn't a pretty
sight.
BUFFY
And because of that you're going
to waste your gift? You're pathetic!
SPIKE
Maybe…
(beat)
That's why this…
(indicates his drink)
is such a good idea.
Buffy shakes her head.
SPIKE
Look, if someone told me
humanity was this bad when
I signed up…
BUFFY
Maybe it isn't what you expected,
but hey! Your gift is life… mine
was death! Guess who's the
luckiest of the two of us? You've
got a soul? Yippee for you! You're
feeling guilt? I'm glad to hear it!
SPIKE
(shocked)
What?
BUFFY
You did some awful things in your
not so distant past and now you're
suffering. Welcome to humanity,
Spike! Believe it or not guilt is
part of being human. You haven't
felt it for centuries and now it's
catching up with you…
SPIKE
(holds up his drink)
How about forcing this down my
throat instead, eh? Makes the
same bloody difference… which
is none at all!
Buffy sighs and sits down next to him.
BUFFY
What I'm getting to is it's
right to be feeling like this
but instead of sitting around
being Mr Mopey how about
trying to make a difference.
Do some good. It may not
make you feel any better
but it's a start.
SPIKE
(under his breath)
Now I know how Angel felt…
BUFFY
(overhears him, a little angrily)
No… no you don't. He didn't
have anyone to turn to when
he got his soul back the first
time… You've got us.
Spike looks up hopefully.
EXTERIOR: BRONZE - night
XANDER exits the BRONZE with his arm around ANYA, and WILLOW and TARA close at their heels. Everyone is in a giddy and jubilant mood.
WILLOW
That was so good. I feel giddy.
Does anyone else feel giddy?
ANYA
(dreamily)
The man who was singing
was extremely attractive. I think
he was looking at me, it made
me feel all liquidy inside. In a good
way, not like when your insides
are actually turned to liquid, because
I did that to a few men and it
looked very painful.
XANDER
I thought I was the only
man who made you feel
liquidy?
ANYA
(patting his arm affectionately)
I know.
EXTERIOR: SUNNYDALE MAIN STREET - night
They walk into the main street still chatting. Their voices slowly become audible again.
TARA
It's a shame Buffy couldn't
make it…
XANDER
I think she's got a lot to deal
with at the moment what with
Dawn and…
Xander suddenly stops.
ANYA
What? What about Dawn? That's
she's suddenly gone psychotic…
(suddenly notices what everyone else has)
Hey Dawn!
Dawn is walking on the opposite side of the road. Willow goes across first, followed by the other three.
WILLOW
Dawnie! What're you doing out here?
TARA
It's late.
She just looks up at them. A real cold glance.
DAWN
I was out patrolling.
XANDER
On your own? Where's big sis?
I wouldn't think she'd like you
out here all on your lonesome.
DAWN
She told me to leave. She obviously
doesn't want to accept that I'm
just as capable as her.
ANYA
Maybe so but you've got school
tomorrow young lady.
DAWN
(a little down)
Oh yeah.
WILLOW
Hey. I thought you liked school.
Remember? We were big learning
buddies!
DAWN
Oh, please.
Willow is obviously offended by Dawn's dismissal of their former similar qualities. Xander steps tactfully in.
XANDER
Anyway… I think it's time you
got back home to Giles'. We'll
take you there right now.
DAWN
I know the way.
XANDER
So do we.
Dawn shrugs as she reluctantly accepts their offer. They begin to walk the same way they were heading.
ANGLE ON: Two military style jeeps drive straight passed the Scoobies. We follow them.
INTERIOR: MILITARY JEEP - TRAVELLING - night
Inside the lead vehicle sits an officer (COLONEL HICKS) and a DRIVER.
HICKS
The prisoner was traced to
this location?
DRIVER
Yes sir. According to our trackers
I'd say we're close.
Hicks nods slowly.
EXTERIOR: MILITARY JEEP - night
It drives straight on and up the street.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
ETHAN
Well, what's it gonna be, Ripper?
Will you throw me to the proverbial
wolves yet again? You know, there's not been
much that I've done that you haven't
been at least close to yourself, sometimes
more than close...I think, in the name of
our friendship.
GILES
I'm not going to call anyone.
ETHAN
(relieved)
Ah, no? No, of course you're not!
You wouldn't do it, you couldn't!
Now if we could just do something
about the accomodations...
circulation's getting a bit
chancey here.
GILES
Forget it. I'm not going to
untie you. This has nothing to
do with friendship, because
we are not friends.
ETHAN
Perhaps you're right. We're not
friends, not anymore. But we were
friends, Ripper. Ah, we were great
friends once, you and I. I know
you remember. We did
something miraculous...
INTERIOR: ETHAN'S FLAT - PAST - night
Young Giles, Young Ethan, Philip, Deirdre and Randall are all sitting around a huge lump of clay in the middle of the room. They are holding their hands out and chanting.
YOUNG ETHAN
(in Hebrew)
From the life of the earth we
call you…
PHILIP
(Hebrew)
By the life of the earth you
will rise…
RANDALL
(Hebrew)
By the powers of nature we
call you…
DEIRDRE
(Hebrew)
By the powers of nature you
will rise…
YOUNG GILES
(Hebrew)
Take form!
They all begin chanting "take form" and the lump of clay begins to morph into a humanoid figure with glowing energies around it. It stretches out slowly as it becomes accustomed to this form of existence.
Ethan opens his eyes and smiles. He looks over to Randall expectantly. Randall gives him a "what now?" look.
YOUNG ETHAN
(whispers)
The binding spell!
RANDALL
("What are you talking about?")
What binding spell?
YOUNG ETHAN
The one in the bloody book!
Randall just looks confused. Giles reacts quickly and grabs the book at Randall's side and looks all over the page for the spell.
As this is happening the golem begins to gain strength. The magic energy surrounding it dissipates. Giles manages to find the spell.
YOUNG GILES
Got it!
The golem grabs Giles and throws him across the room. He hits the wall with a dull thud!
YOUNG GILES
(breath knocked out of him)
Unph!
The golem quickly throws Randall, Philip, and Deirdre out of the way leaving only Ethan in its path. It looks down on him.
YOUNG ETHAN
You know… you really don't want
to do this…
(he is knocked through the air and lands on a sofa)
…do you?
The huge clay golem walks towards the door, kicks it off its hinges and just leaves the building.
The sound of it crashing down the stairs can be heard and the screams of the prostitute outside. Giles runs to the window and flings the curtains open. He looks outside and his jaw drops.
YOUNG GILES
Oh sh…
INTERIOR: GILES' HOUSE - PRESENT - night
We come back to the present as GILES is looking accusingly at ETHAN.
ETHAN
See? It was quite remarkable.
And we had fun!
GILES
Remind me again why I'm not
throwing you out onto the
streets like the piece of garbage
you are?
ETHAN
Oh, come on! It wasn't that
bad!
GILES
(dumbstruck)
Wasn't that bad?! The bloody
thing ripped the streets to
pieces!
ETHAN
Well, there is that…
EXT: LONDON - SOHO - PAST - night
We come back to the past to see the wannabe magicians chasing after the golem. It is smashing up cars and throwing anything it can find through shop windows.
YOUNG ETHAN is frantically flicking through the pages of the magic book.
YOUNG ETHAN
Binding spell… binding spell…
Which page was it on?
YOUNG GILES
How the hell am I supposed to
know? You're the one who closed
the book! Look for something on
alefs!
YOUNG ETHAN
Alefs?
YOUNG GILES
A symbol on it's forehead!
(sees a car going through a window)
Oh, somebody's not going
to like that…
(back to Ethan)
From what I read just now it's
supposed to make it vulnerable…
it's the thing's only weakness and
until you put one on it, we can't
kill it!
YOUNG ETHAN continues to flick through the pages while YOUNG GILES takes more immediate action. He puts his hand through the window of a smashed up car and pulls out a crowbar before running at the golem.
ANGLE ON: DEIRDRE looking on in horror.
DEIRDRE
Ripper! No!
ANGLE ON: YOUNG GILES attacking the golem.
GILES dives at the creature and whacks the crowbar into the golem's back. He can't pull it out again! It turns around and whacks him across the street, landing with a skid at YOUNG ETHAN'S feet. He looks up at him.
YOUNG GILES
Find the bloody spell!
YOUNG ETHAN
(sarcastically)
Thanks for reminding me. I was
totally forgetting to do that! Dick
head!
YOUNG GILES
(to Randall and Philip)
You two! We have to distract it now!
RANDALL
You're sodding barmy!
YOUNG GILES
Possibly!
The three of them run at golem and dive onto it, trying to hold it back. PHILIP is sent through a shop window…
PHILIP
(loudly)
Aaaghhhhhhh!!!
…while RANDALL and GILES hold on for dear life.
ANGLE ON: YOUNG ETHAN suddenly finds what he's looking for.
YOUNG ETHAN
(runs towards the golem)
I've got it!
As he runs, YOUNG ETHAN trips and his head collides with the ground, knocking him out. The book goes skidding along the floor. DEIRDRE notices it.
ANGLE ON: The golem throwing RANDALL through the air and almost twenty metres up the street. YOUNG GILES, who's now got his arms wrapped around the golem's head, is being swung all over the place.
YOUNG GILES
Agh! Oh God! Agh!
ANGLE ON: DEIRDRE picks up the book and tries to sound out the words.
DEIRDRE
I… I can't pronounce this!
(looks at the unconscious ETHAN)
I can't…
Before she can finish her sentence, YOUNG GILES flies through the air again and lands on his back.
YOUNG GILES
Agh! Ow! Damn!
DEIRDRE turns to him.
DEIRDRE
Can you do this?
YOUNG GILES nods quickly and puts his hand out for the book.
YOUNG GILES
(reading, Hebrew)
By the powers of the earth
and sky I bind you!
ANGLE ON: the golem as it turns around angrily.
YOUNG GILES
(Hebrew, O.S.)
By… by the will of nature I…
I bind you!
The golem starts to charge towards YOUNG GILES and DEIRDRE.
DEIRDRE
Hurry up!
YOUNG GILES
Hang on! Hang on!
(Reading, in Hebrew)
Let the will be done… let the
binding be complete!
The golem suddenly stops running and grabs its forehead in pain. When it takes its hands away it has a very distinct mark on its head.
YOUNG GILES
(getting to his feet, smiling cockily)
Gotcha!
YOUNG GILES runs at the golem, making a kind of war cry, and grabbing the crowbar still implanted in its back, he pulls it out with a loud grunt. He swings it as hard as he can into the creature's forehead. First the head turns to clay again followed by the rest of its body until it is just a lifeless pile of mud.
YOUNG GILES falls back to the floor and lays down. RANDALL and PHILIP rejoin them, clearly injured and limping.
YOUNG GILES
Never again…
There is a moaning off screen. They all turn to see YOUNG ETHAN regaining consciousness. He looks up at them and smiles.
YOUNG ETHAN
What a rush!
INT: GILES' HOUSE - PRESENT - night
ETHAN smiles having remembered the events we've just seen and he relayed.
ETHAN
See? It wasn't all that bad.
GILES
Yes… you said that before.
ETHAN
Well, it wasn't.
GILES
We may have survived that but
remember what happened not long
after?
ETHAN
(under his breath, remembering)
Eyghon.
GILES
Yes! Eyghon! Thanks to you and your
idiocy Randall, Philip and Deirdre were
killed… and you almost added Buffy
to that list four years ago!
ETHAN
(making excuses)
But I was evil then! Thanks to
a while in the slammer I'm a
completely reformed man now!
You'd never catch me doing that
again.
GILES gives him a "yeah, right" look. He glares at ETHAN who gives him a pleading look in return. Coming to some decision, GILES sighs and begins to unlock the chains around ETHAN but says nothing. ETHAN gets to his feet slowly.
ETHAN
You're a real mate, you know
that?
GILES doesn't reply and instead, walks to the door and opens it. He goes back to ETHAN, grabs him by the collar and throws him out of the door.
GILES
Goodbye. Good riddance.
But I must thank you.
ETHAN
For what?
GILES
For reminding me what an
arsehole you were… I sincerely
hope you're caught before you
reach the end of town.
ETHAN
Thanks… for nothing…
Giles glares threateningly at Ethan. After a few seconds Ethan finally realises it's best to cut his losses and get away while he can. He darts off away from the house. Giles watches him go with a frown then slams the door shut behind him.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
EXT: STREET NEAR GILES' APARTMENT-PRESENT-night
Willow, Xander, Anya, Tara and Dawn are still walking home. Dawn is still being sulky.
DAWN
It's just, I really don't need to be
walked home...I'm not just some
kid, I'm a Slayer.
TARA
We know, Dawn.
ANYA
(to Xander)
I mean, how could we not
know, when she mentions it every
five seconds...I'm a Slayer,
I'm a Slayer...la dee da
XANDER
(a bit nervous, sotto voce)
Honey, did I ever tell
you the little being human
rule about not pissing
off the Slayer? Cause
it's a kind of important
one...
ETHAN suddenly runs past them, almost knocking WILLOW over.
WILLOW
Umm, hey, walking here!
TARA
Are you okay, honey?
WILLOW
Yeah, he just surprised me.
That was kind of rude...and
no excuse me. Did he
seem familiar to you?
TARA shrugs. WILLOW continues to frown in puzzlement.
ANYA
He was in an awful hurry. You don't
suppose...
All stop and look briefly at DAWN who gives them an actual smile.
DAWN
Nope, there aren't any vamps
here...must have just
had an elsewhere to be
WILLOW
(still a bit disgruntled)
Like last Tuesday! And
I could swear I know him
from somewhere.
All start walking again, now with a happy DAWN alongside.
ANYA
(helpfully)
Perhaps he was a thief,
or a bandit...or a cat
burglar...although he
wasn't wearing a black catsuit
like I wear when Xander and I
play-
XANDER
(loudly)
And look! It's Giles' house.
Where no games are played ever,
especially ones that involve
costumes or props that we won't be
talking about in front of our
friends.
TARA
(amused)
Props?
DAWN
Okay, show of hands
for ewww?
WILLOW, TARA and DAWN all raise their hands as XANDER gives them a look and opens the door.
INT: GILES' LIVING ROOM - PRESENT - night
They enter without knocking, WILLOW, TARA and DAWN still having their hands in the air, and stop in their tracks as soon as they enter the living room. They notice two things immediately: GILES is calmly knocking back a drink, and there are chains in the living room. ANYA gives XANDER a smug, pointed look while the others just stare, putting their hands down slowly.
ANYA
(to XANDER)
You were saying? About
Giles? And games?
WILLOW
Maybe Dawn should
go upstairs.
DAWN
Are you kidding me? This
is the good part.
XANDER
It pains me to say it, but
I stand corrected.
Hmmm…who's been a
naughty boy?
DAWN
Eww?
GILES gives them a silent glare. DAWN again raises her hand, followed by the others in unison.
INT: SPIKE'S CRYPT - PRESENT - night
BUFFY
Have I gotten through
to you at all? Is anything
sinking in, or are you
already too far sunk?
SPIKE
I think...no, I know it.
You're right, Buffy. You should
be right, you're the Slayer
and all...but I'm really
impressed with how very
right you are at this moment...
in fact, you are right right now.
SPIKE snickers drunkenly as BUFFY rolls her eyes...but then he almost immediately gets serious.
SPIKE
I'm gonna take my soul
and run with it, Slayer, but
I'm not gonna run away...I'm
gonna make a bleedin difference
in this world...you'll see, you're
gonna be so proud of me...
BUFFY
Spike, that's not the point.
You need to be okay with you.
SPIKE
I will be, Buffy. I have seen
the sunlight. I'm going to be
a better man...
(getting to his feet)
starting right now!
He falls flat on his face, still drunk from the effects of the whiskey. BUFFY shakes her head bemusedly.
BUFFY
That's one way to start.
Cleaning floors with your
own face. Go you!
SPIKE
Well, not quite now…
maybe in the morning.
Buffy helps him to his feet, taking him to his stone coffin thingy which now contains a duvet and other such comfy stuff. She puts him into it and smiles a little.
We go back to Giles' house. Dawn has gone to bed and Giles thanks the others for bringing her back. She may be a Slayer but she's still 15 after all! They are about to leave when, upon Xander opening the door a group of military men with guns storm in with guns on the ready.
TITLE CARD: TO BE CONTINUED