Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Summer Script Challenge
The Powers that Be Pro Temporae
Episode 6.16: From Sunnydale With Love
By Digitalis, JodithGrace and J.A.I.T
Rough Outline by Noggins

GILES (V.O.)
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer…

From The Point Of No Return:

Lydia and Giles talking.

LYDIA
The new Slayer… It's Dawn…

From Incarceration:

GILES
Well, yes. Her progress is
amazing. It is as if she
was infused with the
purest Slayer essence
ever. Can't say it's 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.

From The Sun Also Shines:

The Wiccans testing Willow… then performing a spell on her.

CUT TO: The Watchers leaving the airport.

TEASER

EXTERIOR: UC SUNNYDALE - day
Establishing Shot.

INTERIOR: UC SUNNYDALE - CAFETERIA - day
BUFFY is sitting at a table looking around wistfully. WILLOW and TARA arrive with trays of food, and sit down with her. WILLOW and TARA start unloading items from their trays onto the table.

WILLOW
I brought you a roast beef
sandwich. Or at least this
stuff that pretends to be
roast beef.
(Laughs)
You remember.

BUFFY
Yes, the world famous faux
beef sandwich. I remember
it well.

TARA
And I got you a diet coke
and an apple.

BUFFY
Thanks guys. I keep expecting
the campus police to descend
upon us and call me a lunch fraud.

WILLOW
Hey, you were a student here,
and you will be again. You're
just on a slight sabbatical.

BUFFY
Sure. Education called on
account of death.

TARA
You'll be back, Buffy, as
soon as your life gets a
little less…

BUFFY
Weird and strange? Been
waiting six years for that
to happen. But thanks
anyway, you guys.

WILLOW
Anytime, Buff.

BUFFY
(To WILLOW)
Uh…speaking of weird and
strange…how are you holding
up under your new restraining
spell?

WILLOW
You mean, my chip?

BUFFY
Chip? I thought it was a spell.

WILLOW
Oh it was, and a doozy, too.
But I was thinking…it kind of
reminds me of Spike's chip.
Kicking in whenever I even
think about doing dark magic.

BUFFY
Does it give you a headache?

WILLOW
No...actually the magic used
to do that. Now…I just turn
all red and glowy. It's kind of
cool…in a totally embarrassing
kind of way.

TARA (supportively)
She's been doing very well.

BUFFY
Listen…I'm so sorry I wasn't
there for you guys. Maybe
I could have helped and things
might have turned out different.
Instead Xander was hurt and
you had your powers muzzled.

WILLOW
It wasn't your fault, Buffy.
Besides, now that I've had
time to think about it, I'm
kind of glad things worked
out the way they did. Not
the part about Xander
getting hurt of course.

TARA
Tell her, sweetie.

WILLOW
I saw the way people were
starting to look at me…even
you, Buffy. Like they were
scared of me. Even Catherine
Madison didn't try to really
challenge me. This is better.
(WILLOW takes TARA'S hand and looks in her eyes)
Better for all of us.


CUT TO: NEARBY TABLE: A young man, JEREMIAH, who could pass for a college student, is sitting at the table. He has a can of soda and an unfinished sandwich next to him. He appears to be transcribing notes from a tape recorder into a notebook. He is wearing earphones, the tape machine is on and he is scribbling rapidly. The camera suddenly closes in on the tape recorder to show that the earphone jack is not plugged into the machine and that the machine is set on record, not play.

TARA
(looking at clock on cafeteria wall)
Willow, we have to go. If
we are late for poetry class
one more time, Ol' Lillian is
gonna dock us a grade.

BUFFY (wistfully)
I started to take poetry last
year.

WILLOW
It's really cool, but we do
have to run. See ya later?

BUFFY (sighs)
Later.

As WILLOW and TARA leave, JEREMIAH turns off his recorder, and gathers up his recorder and notebook and leaves also, in a different direction.

The camera follows him outside to into the campus, where he meets up with NIGEL and DAVID. They walk together away from the campus towards town.

NIGEL
Anything?

JEREMIAH
(Shaking his head)
Nada. No mention of the new
Slayer. Just another tape full
of blather to add to our collection.

DAVID
I'm sure they will start they
will start talking about her
soon. They have to have
noticed.

NIGEL
(to DAVID and JEREMIAH)
Well, keep up the surveillance,
you two. Just make sure you're
not spotted. The last thing we
need at this point is a brassed
off slayer. Or two.


CREDITS

ACT ONE

EXTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - day
Establishing shot

ANYA
(v.o.)
Are you sure you have everything...

INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - day
XANDER is sitting at the table with a pillow, a stack of comics and various drink and foodstuffs while ANYA is hovering over him like an anxious mother hen. We see that he still has bandages from where he was burnt in Ep 6.15. He seems simultaneously pleased with and exasperated by ANYA'S overattention, and exasperation is winning the day. We can also see several CUSTOMERS in the background trying to get ANYA'S attention.

ANYA
...you need? There's nothing
else I can get for you?

XANDER
I'm great. Look, honey, there's
people that want to give you their
money. Don't want to miss that,
do you?

ANYA
(noticing customers and addressing them)
Oh. Oh! I'll be right with you!
We thank you for your patronage.
(to Xander)
You'll let me know if there's
anything else I can do to ease your
discomfort.

XANDER
(opening a comic)
I'm great. Really. Go. Serve.
Make the little bell on the cash
register jingle.

ANYA
(giddily)
I love that sound!

ANYA begins to help the waiting CUSTOMERS as XANDER settles in. He shifts and winces, and she drops what she's doing and hurries back over.

ANYA
You're in pain! What can I do?

XANDER
Ahn, I'm fine. You've got to stop
worrying about me so much.

ANYA
But I don't want you to hurt, Xander.

XANDER notices that some of the CUSTOMERS have gotten fed up and are starting to leave. ANYA hasn't seen this yet.

XANDER
I know, honey. I don't want me to
hurt, either. But you know what'll
hurt more? If Giles fires you for not
doing your job.

ANYA
I'm not gonna get-
(noticing leaving CUSTOMERS)
Hey! Wait! Don't go! I'm ready
to service you!

CUSTOMER
I've been waiting for twenty
minutes, lady. You're not the
only magic shop in town, you
know.

ANYA
(brightly and matter-of-fact)
Yes, we are.

CUSTOMER
(defeated)
Oh yeah, right.

CUSTOMER allows ANYA to lead him back to the register as GILES returns. He comes over to XANDER and sits with a heavy sigh.

XANDER
Let me guess, Ward. You're
having trouble with the Beaver
again

GILES
(ignoring the reference)
Don't even ask me how I
managed it, but Dawn is in
school. She no longer sees
the point in education.

XANDER
(with pride)
That's my girl.

GILES
(glares at him)
Your influence notwithstanding,
I believe this situation merits
serious attention. Dawn has
become extraordinarily difficult.
Buffy at her worst was never like
this. Everything is a struggle. I
must say I don't envy Lydia her
position at all.

XANDER watches GILES sitting with his face in his hands, comes to a decision.

XANDER
(seriously, in a low tone)
Giles, can I tell you something?

GILES
(surprised)
Of course, Xander. Something
about Dawn?

XANDER
(nodding)
I heard her say something weird
while Captain Crunch and his merry
band of GI Joes had us during
the Ethan hunt.

GILES
(concerned)
Go on.

XANDER
Dawnie was talking about
going after the military guys…
she was talking about trying
to have as 'few fatalities as
possible', Giles. And trust me
when I say that her friends
were on her list of acceptable
losses. I mean, Willow got
shot! She could have been
killed, and I don't want to think
this, but I think Dawn would
have been okay with that.
She's gone commando on us.

All the CUSTOMERS have been served and left, and ANYA returns. She heard the end of XANDER'S speech.

ANYA
Xander's right. She's gotten
Really scary, Giles. Worse than
the pet store down the street.

GILES
I fear that you may be right.
Dawn may be dangerous, not
only to vampires and demons,
but to society as a whole.
She does not seem to restrict
her violent tendencies to fighting
evil.

XANDER
So, another rogue Slayer on
our hands?

GILES
I don't know. I don't think it's
gotten that far yet...I just
hope that Buffy can still reach
her. Someone needs to, before she…

INT. SCHOOL GYM - day

GILES
(V.O. C'tnd)
…does something unforgivable.

In the school gym DAWN is pounding the hell out of a punch bag. We see three JOCKS approaching, poking each other and laughing. DAWN hears them, and at first is ignoring them, but we can see it's taking effort.

JOCK #1
Hey Dawnie, what happened?
Kevin try to get beyond second?

JOCK #2
Oooh, she's hitting that bag
Pretty hard. She might break
a nail.

JOCK #3
Naw, I know what this is. My
big brother went to school with
her older sister Buffy. She was
a major bad ass in her day,
major Xena complex. Got
accused of murder, got
expelled...I hear someone had
to blackmail the principal to
keep her in school. Didn't she
die some kind of violent death?
Little sis is just trying to fill
her shoes.

DAWN stops at this and turns around. The JOCKS laugh when they see how really angry she's become.

JOCK #2
Hey Chad, I think you got it,
man. I think you upset her,
though. She looks like she
might cry.

JOCK #1
Is that right, Dawn? Are you
gonna cry now? We think you
can do it, don't we guys? You
can follow in your sister's
footsteps, make her proud. Keep
up the Summers tradition.

DAWN
(dangerous)
I really think you should shut up
now, before I have to hurt you.

JOCK #1
(laughing)
Oooh, I'm scared.

DAWN
You will be.

DAWN launches herself at JOCK #1, executing a backflip and kicking him hard in the face as she comes down. He goes flying across the gym, while the other two look frozen with surprise.

Without hesitation, DAWN moves in on JOCK #2, who begins to fight back in self-defense. The blows he throws are easily blocked, and DAWN flips him over her shoulder. He lands near JOCK #1, who is only now getting back up to rejoin the fray.

JOCK #3 has his hands out in front of his face in a placating gesture.

JOCK #3
Hey, Dawn, you don't wanna
do this!

DAWN
(emotionless now)
You're wrong, Chad. This is
exactly what I want to do.

DAWN leaps at him, knocking him off of his feet. She winds up straddling him and raining punches down on him. JOCK #1 staggers over to try to pull her off, and she shoves him away hard. He falls.

DAWN
Wait your turn.

ANGLE ON:
View from over DAWN's shoulder at JOCK #3 as she continues to hit him. He is clearly unconscious and is no longer trying to fight back. She has her arm raised to hit him again when someone grabs it from behind. We see the angry and surprised expression on her face...

INT. WATCHER'S HIDEOUT - day
We see through a telescopic lens, Giles, Anya and Xander through the Magic Box front window.

ANGLE ON: Nigel as he watches through the lens, as Jeremiah listens to the bugging equipment.

JEREMIAH
(intrigued)
They're afraid of the
New Slayer?

David fiddles with the listening equipment.

GILES
(from the speakers)
…does something unforgivable.

NIGEL
Intriguing…Perhaps
Its time we call Q.


INT. - SCHOOL GYM - day
We see that it's KEVIN that's holding DAWN'S arm. She easily shakes free of him and gets off of JOCK #3 beginning to walk off without a word. KEVIN stares at the three unconscious boys for a second in shock, then runs after DAWN.

KEVIN
Dawn! Stop! Wait!

He gets in front of her right before the gym exit and forces her to stop.

DAWN
You're in my way, Kevin.

KEVIN
Dawn...what is all this? What is
going on? Were they hurting you?

DAWN
Nothing's going on. I've got to go.

KEVIN
Dawn, no offense, but you've
been acting of the weird. I'm
worried about you. A lot of
people are. I mean, I know
that you're hurting. You've lost
a lot... your mom and your sister,
so fast.

DAWN
(touched in spite of herself)
I-I...It's hard. I miss my mom
so much.

KEVIN
Of course, you do. You never
talk about what you're going
through. It's not good to keep
that stuff locked up. You need
someone to confide in, someone
who won't judge you.

DAWN
I don't have anyone like that.

KEVIN reaches out, takes her hand. A real "Aww" moment here.

KEVIN
(tenderly)
Yes, you do. I want to be your
friend, Dawn. I really do. Maybe...
maybe I want to be more than
your friend.

DAWN gives him a long questioning look. She's still pretty cold, but we notice she doesn't let go of his hand.

INT. WILLOW'S DORM ROOM - day
WILLOW and TARA are sitting on WILLOW'S bed. WILLOW has a spellbook open and is reading eagerly. TARA is watching with a frown.

TARA
Willow, honey, do you think that's
a really good idea? I mean, you
should be careful right now, with
all the attention.

WILLOW
I know, Tara. And I am. Careful.
But there's still so much to learn,
and I don't want to fall behind.

TARA
Honey, there is no behind. It's not a
class, it's your life we're talking about.
There's plenty of time for this when the
Registry isn't so much of a threat.
(gets an idea)
Let's go over to the shop. I want to
see how things went with Dawn this
morning.

WILLOW
(reluctantly)
Okay. This can wait.

TARA is pleased and gives her quick kiss as they stand up. WILLOW smiles and grabs her coat.

DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - day.
We see TARA and WILLOW approaching the Magic Box. Someone approaches them: it's one of the Watchers, JEREMIAH. He's holding a map and looking confused.

JEREMIAH
Excuse me...I was wondering if
you young ladies might assist me.

TARA and WILLOW exchange glances at the accent, but then shrug and smile.

WILLOW
Of course, how can we help?

JEREMIAH
I'm afraid I've gotten all turned around.

JEREMIAH hands TARA the map as he points and explains.

JEREMIAH
You see, I've been trying to
find Carmello Lane...that's
where my friend's house is,
but every cross street I try I
seem to reach a dead end.

WILLOW
Oh, that happens a lot. Carmello
is one of those funny streets...
it's hard to tell from the map, but
you kind of have to approach it
from the other side.

JEREMIAH
Really? How do I do that?

ANGLE ON:
Close-up of JEREMIAH slipping a listening device into WILLOW'S backpack. WILLOW and TARA are too engrossed in the map and directions to notice.

TARA
(to Willow)
Should he take Fortuna?

WILLOW
Miller's closer to Carmello.

JEREMIAH
(sinister smile)
I do appreciate this. I'm quite
fortunate I found you.

INT. - WATCHER'S HIDEOUT - day

NIGEL
So you see Q. The new
Slayer, they view her as
A threat. A danger
To herself and others.

ANGLE ON: Nigel as he listens intently.

SPLIT SCREEN: We finally see the mysterious Q. It is Quentin Travers!

The screen splitter moves the shot of Nigel off screen and we see a full screen shot of Travers.

TRAVERS
(shaking his head)
No, no, no. Don't you
Worry about a thing Nigel.
…after all, she used to have a
much different form of energy
inside her.

At this point we finally begin to realize what the Council is doing.

ACT TWO

INTERIOR: SCHOOL - day
We continue where we left Dawn and Kevin. Dawn looks down.

ANGLE ON: Kevin's hand holding Dawn's.
Dawn jerks her hand way as if it has been burned.

DAWN
(forbidding)
Get away from me.

KEVIN
But-

DAWN
Am I going to have
to make you get away?
this means nothing to me!
Nothing!

KEVIN
Dawn, I -

DAWN
(desperate)
I can't! I just can't!

KEVIN
Huh? Dawnie…I don't -

Kevin attempts to put a comforting hand on Dawn's shoulder.

Dawn lets out an enraged scream and pushes him into the glass display case which holds what awards and trophies could be salvaged from the old high school, thus shattering it.

DAWN
(crying)
I warned you.
(hard)
This means nothing
to me either.
(tears are still
rolling)
None of it. Not you.
Not this school.
Not Buffy.
Not anything.

PRINCIPAL SPALDING
(O.S)
(clears throat)
Miss Summers?

CLOSE ON: Dawn as she turns around, with tears running down her face. For an instant we can see the conflict in her. But only an instant. Her face twists and hardens into an ugly mask of rage and bitter resolve.

We see PRINCIPAL SPALDING. He looks like a taller, younger, less follicly challenged than Snyder, but his presence is much the same.

PRINCIPAL SPALDING
(politely)
Please come with
me to my office,
Miss Summers.

Dawn says nothing. She glances down at Kevin as he is brushing the broken glass off of his jeans. He has a few scratches which are bleeding sluggishly, but otherwise, he's fine.

INTERIOR: PRINCIPAL SPALDING'S OFFICE - Day
Buffy and Dawn are sitting in front of the principal's desk much like they were in "Tough Love".
PRINCIPAL SPALDING
(unbelievingly)
The government?

BUFFY
(er-umming)
They needed me for a special
project… they didn't know when
I'd be coming back.

PRINCIPAL SPALDING
(yeah, right)
Well despite your miraculous
return from the dead Ms.
Summers, the fact remains that
Dawn's behavior has become
unacceptable for this learning
environment.
(beat)
I have no choice but to
expel Dawn.

BUFFY
Expel her?!?! For one accident?
Doesn't she get a warning or
something?

PRINCIPAL SPALDING
There were warnings Ms. Summers.
You were doing your so called
secret government business
while Dawn has -
(picks up a THICK manila folder)
instigated fights - both verbal
and physical, damaged property,
harasses my teachers and myself.
I have no choice Ms. Summers.

BUFFY
(pleading)
You can't do that!
She needs an education!

PRINCIPAL SPALDING
(shrugs)
There are plenty of private
Schools that are willing to
take on special cases such
as hers.

BUFFY
(desperate)
No! Isn't there something
you can do?

DAWN
Why bother? He's obviously
not going to.

PRINCIPAL SPALDING
Dawn obviously is not interested
in meeting anyone halfway.
Ms. Summers, you are very
fortunate that I have a soft
spot for families. Otherwise, in
addition to her expulsion, I
would be calling California State
Social Services to take under
advisement your custodianship
of your sister.

Buffy is silent, angry and teary at the same time. She glances at Dawn who looks back at her defiantly.

EXTERIOR: MAIN STREET - Day
We see Lydia walking down the street, gripping her slim pocketbook tightly.

SPIKE
(O.S.)
Hello, luv.

ANGLE ON: Spike as he leans against the side of a shop.

LYDIA
(startled)
Um…

Lydia looks at Spike, and glances away, nervously pushing her hair behind her ear.

LYDIA
(cont'd)
You startled me.

Spike falls into step with Lydia, walking just a little too close for comfort.

SPIKE
(turning on the charm)
Did I?

LYDIA
(trying to regain dignity)
Yes. You did. Now what do
you want?

SPIKE
A bloke can't walk and talk
with a pretty girl? Especially
if they're heading to the same
place?

Lydia gives Spike a sideways glance and keeps walking.

SPIKE
So, how is Dawn's
training coming along?

LYDIA
It's astonishing really,
how much she's progressed
in such a short amount
of time.

SPIKE
Yeah…

LYDIA
I'm quite proud of her.

SPIKE
Proud, eh? Do you honestly
think that a Slayer who
threatens humans is something
to be proud about? Aren't they,
uh VAMPIRE slayers?

LYDIA
Dawn will fight the forces of
evil regardless of their species.

SPIKE
And if one of the species
happens to be her own sister?
The same sister who literally
died to save her life? How is
that a force of evil?

LYDIA
That whole conflict has been
totally blown out of proportions.
Siblings fight. It's natural. And
when both combatants have
supernatural powers, it can
seem much worse than it
really is.

SPIKE
(Grabs LYDIA'S shoulder and turns her to face him)
Lyds, pet. Are you totally
sure that all is right with
your slayer? There are lives
at stake here…and I mean
that literally.

LYDIA
Get your hands off me. YES,
I am sure! Dawn is fine! Now,
excuse me…I must get back!

LYDIA walks ahead of Spike in a huff.

INT. - MAGIC BOX - day
LYDIA and SPIKE enter. SPIKE nods a greeting to GILES, XANDER and ANYA, while LYDIA coolly ignores them. GILES is glaring at her. We see WILLOW and TARA in the background, talking to each other with troubled expressions. They look up briefly then go back to what they're doing.

LYDIA
Dawn! Time for training.

GILES
(icily)
She's not here.

LYDIA
Where is she?

GILES
There's been some trouble at
the school. Buffy's gone to see
what can be done.

SPIKE
Did something happen to Dawn?

GILES
(pointedly, to Lydia)
I gathered from what Buffy
said that Dawn happened to
someone else. Fortunately,
I believe that there were
no severe casualties.

LYDIA walks past him towards the training room, clearly disturbed but not wanting him to see. GILES follows her out of the room as SPIKE shares a knowing look with XANDER.

XANDER
Is it me, or did the temperature
in here just drop a few million
degrees?

ANYA
(misunderstanding)
I think the room feels quite
pleasant.
(alarmed misunderstanding)
Oh no! You're cold! It might
be a fever.

ANYA rushes over and puts her hand on XANDER'S forehead. SPIKE looks amused.

XANDER
Anya, I'm-

ANYA
(worriedly)
You don't feel icky. Let me
go check the thermostat.

XANDER tries to grab her to stop her but misses.

XANDER
Anya-

SPIKE
(grinning)
You could just light some of the
furniture on fire.

ANYA
You're right, that would be faster…
no wait! No fire! He might get all
burned again.

XANDER
Anya, I'm fine. Temperature,
me, everything all good. I
was referring to the mood of
Mister and Miz Huff n' Stuff
in the training room.

ANYA
(realizing)
Oh. Yes. I suspect they're
fighting now.

XANDER
Ye old Watcher Smackdown.

SPIKE
(seriously)
Hope the old man's giving
her a bit a' what for.

All three stare in the direction of the training room for a beat; then

SPIKE
I'm off. Tell Buffy I was by?

XANDER
(clearly glad Spike is leaving)
Will do. You have fun doing…whatever
it is you do.

SPIKE grabs ANYA'S arm as he's turning to go. He cocks his head in XANDER'S direction.

SPIKE
(mock concern)
Take care of him, would
ya? He's lookin' a mite
peaked to me.

ANYA rushes back to a frustrated XANDER as SPIKE laughs.

INT. - TRAINING ROOM - day

GILES
The boy wasn't seriously hurt.
I hope you understand that
Dawn was lucky today.

LYDIA
(wearily)
If you have something to say,
Mr. Giles, why don't you just
come out and say it.

GILES
Fine. Dawn is out of control.
She's a danger to others. She's
a danger to Buffy. I fear she may
be a danger to herself. I believe
that your training methods are
quite possibly responsible.

LYDIA
My training methods are fully
approved by the Council, unlike
your sloppy haphazard practices!

GILES
I've seen the results of your
methods. You've managed to
take a bright, caring girl and
turn her into a cold unfeeling
monster. She's becoming no
better than the creatures she's
fighting.

LYDIA
That is an appalling exaggeration.
I'm training a Slayer, Mr. Giles.
Perhaps you remember what that's
like.

GILES and LYDIA glare at each other in silence for a moment, before GILES clearly comes to a decision.

GILES
No more of this. As of this moment
you're not working with Dawn anymore.

EXT. - MAGIC BOX ROOF - day
DAVID is on the roof using a very high tech listening device, clearly listening to GILES and LYDIA with intense interest.

LYDIA
(O.S., through David's receiver)
I doubt the Council will support
you in that decision. In fact, I
expect...

INT. - TRAINING ROOM - day

LYDIA
…that they will have you removed
as a Watcher completely.

GILES
If they try such a thing, Buffy
will quit-

LYDIA
(interrupting quietly)
They don't need Buffy.

Another beat while GILES considers this. He is not looking at LYDIA, and we can see that she is concerned about him and fears she may have said too much. When he looks at her again her face is impassive.

GILES
I don't believe that. I'll call the
Council, Lydia. They'll listen to
reason, even if you will not.

EXT. - MAGIC BOX ROOF - day

ANGLE ON: Close up as DAVID pulls the earplug he has been listening through out of his ear and takes out his cellphone. He pushes a speed dial button and holds it up to his ear.

DAVID
Nigel.

INT. - WATCHER'S HIDEOUT - day

ANGLE ON: Close up on NIGEL speaking into the cellphone.

NIGEL
You have something to report?

EXT. - MAGIC BOX ROOF - day

DAVID
The Slayer's in trouble, something at
the school. Giles is quite upset. He's
threatening to phone the Council.

INT. - WATCHER'S HIDEOUT - day

NIGEL
No matter. It won't do him
any good. Continue monitoring
the situation. Nigel out.


INT. - MAGIC BOX - day
BUFFY and DAWN enter. BUFFY is clearly at the end of her rope. XANDER and ANYA wordlessly move away from the two angry Slayers.

BUFFY
You. Sit. Now. Be quiet
while I decide how to kill you.

ANGLE ON: WILLOW looks as if she's going to intervene, but TARA puts her hand on her arm and shakes her head.

ANGLE ON: DAWN and BUFFY. DAWN slumps into a chair.

DAWN
It's no big deal.

BUFFY
It IS a big deal. In the big
deal restaurant, this is on
the supersize menu.

DAWN
I'm a Slayer. Now I have more
time to train and slay. School
was just an unnecessary distraction.

DAWN looks almost wistful for a moment; we sense she's thinking about KEVIN.

BUFFY
That's just terrific. I die so
you can have a future, and
now you want to throw it away.
Next time I won't bother.

DAWN
Fine, don't.

Buffy gets riled up enough to start a fight. This time it's more intense than the last time - real punches to the face and all. Dawn's brute strength overwhelms Buffy until Xander, Willow, Tara, Giles and Lydia all have to pull her off.

DAWN
Let me go!

XANDER
Uh-uh. You're going out
to the shop for a time out.

Xander, Tara, Willow and Lydia all stay out in the shop, as Giles re-enters the training room.

Giles helps Buffy up, as she remains on the mat in a daze.

BUFFY
(to Giles: haunted)
Giles. She could have killed me.

BLACKOUT.

ACT THREE

INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - Evening
ANYA hangs the Closed sign on the door. WILLOW, TARA and XANDER are sitting at the table. GILES is adding receipts behind the counter. BUFFY is pacing around the room.

BUFFY
So what do I do now, Just
go on patrol with her as if
nothing had happened?

WILLOW
Do you think she'll start
something again?

BUFFY
I don't know. It's just that…
(She hesitates)

XANDER
She's stronger than you?

BUFFY sits down at the table, defeated.

BUFFY
She's stronger than me. My
God… How can I be afraid of
my own little sister?

WILLOW
She doesn't care if she hurts
you or not…that's why she
seems stronger. You'd be crazy
not to be afraid.

XANDER
I agree. I'm getting definite
Faith vibes, here, Buff.

BUFFY
No, Xander. Faith went bad,
but at least I kind of understood
her motives. With Dawn… I'm
totally clueless. What's she
trying to accomplish? Why did
she change so much when she
became the Slayer?
(Turns to Giles, with a sudden horrible thought)
Giles, was I like this when I
first became the slayer?

GILES
Well, Buffy, I didn't know you
before you were called as a
slayer. But the girl I met that
very first day in the Sunnydale
High School Library was very
much a normal girl, albeit with
extraordinary powers and in an
extraordinary situation. You
were nothing like Dawn is now,
I assure you.

XANDER
Not at all, Buff. Believe me…
I would have noticed. You
would have terrorized Harmony
and Cordelia! Which might
not have been such a bad
thing, actually.

WILLOW
You were great, Buffy. Right
from the first day we met you.
Do you think we would have
become best friends if you
had been like Dawn?

BUFFY (Relieved)
Whew. I was thinking that
maybe I forgot my whole
machine like slayer phase.

GILES
No, Buffy. This behavior of
Dawn's is not a phase. I've
known other Slayers, read
other Watcher's diaries...
Dawn is quite unusual, and
I'm afraid, not quite right.

CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: ROOF OF MAGIC BOX - Evening
DAVID and JEREMIAH are sitting on the roof, listening to Magic Box conversation.
Angle on: DAVID dialing his cellphone.

JEREMIAH
Nigel? Jeremiah here. Listen…
things are getting interesting,
here. Buffy has actually
expressed fear of Dawn…
Giles has surmised that Dawn
is not a normal slayer… Pretty
much as we have expected…
Well, I'm sure it's only his
fondness for the girl that has
kept him from suspecting long
before this.
(Reacts to something he hears on his earphone)
Wait. The slayers are leaving
on patrol. Later.

JEREMIAH pushes off button on cellphone and signals to DAVID. They lower their rope off the side of the building, and climb down.

Angle on door to Magic Box: DAWN and BUFFY are leaving, together but separately.

BUFFY
You take the West Side; I'll
take the East. And we'll meet
at near Spike's crypt. I think
it will be better that way. I
have no doubts that you can
handle yourself alone.

DAWN
Fine. Whatever.

BUFFY
(Hesitates)
Uh..Dawn?

DAWN
(flatly)
What.

BUFFY
Uh…never mind. Be careful
out there.

DAWN
Always am.
(She leaves)

BUFFY stands a moment looking after her, and goes off in opposite direction. JEREMIAH and DAVID come from behind the Magic Box and follow DAWN.

CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: GRAVEYARD - Night
BUFFY is patrolling alone. But not for long. SPIKE appears from behind a monument, startling BUFFY.

SPIKE
Whoa. Been a long time
since I made you jump like
that, pet!

BUFFY
Spike! Hi. Just a little
nervous tonight, I guess.

SPIKE
Can't say I blame you, love.
The Niblet's got everybody's
knickers in a twist.

BUFFY
(Upset)
I think she would have killed
me today, Spike. She wasn't
holding back at all!

SPIKE
Remember I said I saw her
threaten to kill someone?

Buffy nods.

SPIKE
(C'tnd)
Well, now this isn't the time
to be subtle Spike… that
someone was me! I know
what I saw!

BUFFY
To tell you the truth, at the
time I thought you were just
exaggerating, Spike, but I don't
doubt you any more. She means
business.

SPIKE
(Trying to lighten the mood)
Who me? Exaggerate? I'm
highly insulted!

BUFFY
(Cheering up, slightly)
Yes, your love of the truth is
legendary, Spike. I don't know
what I could have been thinking.

SPIKE
Seriously, love, are you all
right?

BUFFY
I'm okay, Spike. Physically,
at least. Emotionally, not
so much.

SPIKE
Well, in my book, you're
holdin' up just fine.

BUFFY
Are you sure you're human?
You sound too kind to
be human…

SPIKE
(shrugs and smiles)
Damn that funky soul.

BUFFY
(Suddenly alert)
Watch out. I sense vampires
around. Not too close yet,
but there's more than one
of them.

CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: DIFFERENT GRAVEYARD - Night
DAWN is patrolling. The camera is following her from the POV of an unseen follower.
The camera follows her around several tombs, and gravestones. DAWN suddenly turns facing the camera stake upraised. We see KEVIN, as DAWN almost stakes him. She pulls the stake back just in time when she realizes who it is.

DAWN
(More angry than upset that she almost killed her friend)
Kevin, you idiot! I could have
killed you!

KEVIN
(Shocked, but determined)
Y-yes. I'm glad you didn't.
(At her cold silence)
Hi?

DAWN
(angry)
Look, Kevin, a cemetery in
Sunnydale is no place for kids.
What are you doing here?

KEVIN
Kids? And who are you, Grandma
Moses?
(On her look)
I-I came by that old magic shop
you hang out in earlier… to talk to
you. I saw you leaving. S-so I
followed you.

DAWN
Why? What was so important
that you had to follow me ou
here?

KEVIN
I may be just a kid, as you
put it, but I was worried about
you, Dawn. I mean, we used
to talk a lot back in junior high…
but now… you've changed…
Are you sure you're okay?

DAWN
I'm fine. See?

She twirls around as if to show him that she is in good shape.

KEVIN
Sure…physically. Unfortunately
there are three guys who aren't
so healthy right now.

DAWN
(Defensively)
What's it to you?

KEVIN
Look, Dawn. I like you. And I
know you've been through a
lot with your mother and sister
dying and all… the latter of
which seeming pretty alive
and well when I saw you with
her earlier… I just think that
maybe you should see somebody.

DAWN
(contemptuously)
See somebody? Like who? Like
a shrink?

KEVIN
Look…I haven't told too many
people this, but last year, I had
some really bad times. I saw a
counselor for a while. And it
really helped.

DAWN
(sarcasm ahoy!)
Well, Good for you.

Cut to POV of JEREMIAH and DAVID behind a crypt, recording and listening to this exchange with interest. NIGEL creeps up behind them and puts his hand on JEREMIAH'S shoulder causing him to jump a foot.

JEREMIAH
(Whispering)
Nigel! For God's sake! Don't
creep up on a body like that!

NIGEL
(Whispering)
Sorry.

DAVID
(Whispering)
Shhh! They'll hear you!


Angle on DAWN and KEVIN


KEVIN
I'm just trying to help you, Dawn.

DAWN
(Angrily punches a gravestone)
I don't want your help! Can't
you get that through your thick
head? I don't need a shrink
and I don't need you! Now get
out of here before I show you
just how strong and healthy I
really am!

KEVIN
(Persistent)
I'm afraid you're going to hurt
yourself, Dawn. Or somebody
else. Please Dawn; listen to me…
I've been there!

DAWN looks at KEVIN, as though seeing him for the first time.

DAWN
What do you mean?

KEVIN
Look…my dad had this gun,
right? Up in the closet, in the
bedroom. My kid brother and
I, well, we were never allowed
to touch it. Then, one day, a
couple of years ago, I was…

KEVIN'S revelation is interrupted as a scream comes from behind the crypt, where the watchers are hiding.

DAWN
Kevin, get out of here now.
Run! Go, damn it!

KEVIN is reluctant to leave, but when the scream is repeated, he realizes that DAWN is trying to protect him, and starts to run out of the cemetery.

DAWN heads in the direction of the scream.

CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: GRAVEYARD ONE - Night.
BUFFY and SPIKE also hear the scream, exchange a look and start running towards it.

CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - NIGHT
XANDER and ANYA are walking home. ANYA is clutching his arm protectively.

ANYA
Xander, are you sure you can
walk? I could go get the car,
and pick you up.

XANDER
Anya, honey, I'm fine. Honestly.
The burns are hardly anything
and don't affect my walking
abilities in the slightest. See?
One foot after another. Repeat
a whole bunch of times until
we're home.

ANYA
Okay. But Xander…you have
to promise me that you won't
do anything heroic any more!
I love you too much to see you
hurt like this all the time.

XANDER
Sweetie, Willow and Tara were
in danger. I can't promise that
I wouldn't do the same thing
again for you or any of my
friends. I just can't.

ANYA
(Thinks about this for a moment)
Well, then….
(She pauses, and XANDER looks at her, worried at what she will say)
I guess that I will just have
to get used to being married
to a hero.

XANDER
(Happily surprised)
Huh? Married? Did you say married?

ANYA
Well, of course. In fact, since
you insist on doing heroic things,
I think we had better get married
very soon, while you are still alive.
I was thinking about June.

XANDER
(smiling happily)
June is good. June is very good.

XANDER stops and grabs ANYA and kisses her.

XANDER
(Excited)
We're getting married in June!

ANYA
Maybe even May!


CUT TO:
EXTERIOR: GRAVEYARD TWO - Night
ANGLE ON: The crypt where JEREMIAH, DAVID and NIGEL were hiding. NIGEL has been attacked by a VAMPIRE. As the three watchers turn around, and grab their weapons, we (and they) see that they are surrounded by Six vampires.

DAWN reaches the scene first. JEREMIAH, NIGEL and DAVID are fighting off the vampires. The three watchers are fighting with some skill, but are outnumbered. DAWN attacks the vampires fighting NIGEL, whose neck wound is bleeding. (It was his scream that DAWN and BUFFY heard) Suddenly, SPIKE and BUFFY appear and jump into the fray. The following dialog is heard throughout the fight:

DAWN
(To BUFFY and SPIKE)
What are you two doing here?
I can handle this!

BUFFY
Like hell, you can! And who
are these guys, anyway?

SPIKE
Look like Brits to me.

JEREMIAH
(to BUFFY)
Help! The bugger's got me pinned….

BUFFY
Good call, Spike!
(notices Nigel)
Wait, I think I know that
one! He's a watcher!

BUFFY stakes the vampire who has JEREMIAH pinned; SPIKE gets the other one, the two fighting together as a team.

BUFFY
(To JEREMIAH)
Have we been properly
introduced? I'm Buffy.
(To Spike)
Hold him!

SPIKE grabs JEREMIAH'S arms as BUFFY goes after the vampires surrounding DAVID. DAVID has managed to stake one vampire, and BUFFY gets the other one. DAWN and NIGEL stake his two, and NIGEL makes a sudden run for it. BUFFY grabs him, and as she does, DAVID slips away.

BUFFY
Dawn! Go after that guy! Bring
him to the Magic Box! We'll
meet you there!
(After a sudden thought)
Don't hurt him!

DAWN takes off after DAVID.

SPIKE
(To BUFFY as he regards their catch)
Well, Well, Well, looks like the
Council of Wankers was out
for an evening stroll.

BUFFY
I can't imagine what brought
them to this neck of the woods.

JEREMIAH
Listen, Miss Summers…

BUFFY
Save the excuses for Giles.
Right now we have some
walking to do. Let's go.

NIGEL
(Deciding to try and bluff their way out)
We've actually come to town
to speak to Rupert Giles. We
were planning on meeting with
him tomorrow morning. Tonight
we just went out for a little walk,
and lost our way. But thank you
for your help with the vampires.
Nasty customers, weren't they?

NIGEL feels his neck, which has stopped bleeding.

BUFFY
How's your neck?

NIGEL
I think it's stopped bleeding.

BUFFY
We'll patch it up at the
Magic Box.

As BUFFY is talking to NIGEL, SPIKE notices JEREMIAH'S earphone, which is connected to a recording device in his pocket. SPIKE grabs the earphone and removes the recorder, and holds it up for BUFFY to see.

SPIKE
Look, love. He's wired for sound.

SPIKE hands BUFFY the device, while not letting lose his hold on JEREMIAH.

BUFFY
(Taking the recorder)
So on this pleasant evening
stroll; you were what…
recording bird calls?

BUFFY presses play and we hear the recording of DAWN'S and KEVIN'S conversation.

JEREMIAH and NIGEL look at each other but keep silent, as BUFFY and SPIKE march them back to the Magic Box.

BUFFY
Pretty articulate birds we
have around here, wouldn't
you say?

SPIKE
Very impressive. Wonder what
other interestin' species they've
picked up?

NIGEL
We won't stand for this sort
of treatment, you know.

JEREMIAH
We represent the Council of
Watchers. You will be called
to account for your actions.

BUFFY
(With a sigh)
Yeah. Been there, done that.

They continue to walk off into the distance.

(End of Act Three)

ACT FOUR

EXTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - night
Establishing Shot.

INTERIOR: MAGIC BOX - night
GILES, DAWN and DAVID are sitting at the table.
Angle on DAVID'S face. He has a black eye and a bloody lip. DAWN and GILES are sitting very close to him, but he is not otherwise restrained. Suddenly the door bursts open, and in come BUFFY and SPIKE with JEREMIAH and NIGEL.

BUFFY
Look who we found wandering
in the woods! Our old friend
Nigel and guess what…he has
minions!

SPIKE
Minions with recording devices.

BUFFY
(To DAWN on seeing DAVID)
Oh…I see that you sort of
forgot not to hurt him.

DAWN
He tried to escape.

GILES
(exhaustedly)
I've spoken to her about this
already, Buffy.

BUFFY
(To DAWN)
And WE will talk about it later.
Go over to Lydia's house now.
I don't want you here!

DAWN
I want to know what's going on!

GILES
You must be leaving here now,
Dawn. I have to have a private
meeting with the council. Uh…
Buffy and Spike will be leaving
also.
(He looks at them)

BUFFY
Would you like us to walk you
over to Lydia's?

DAWN
I'm not a baby! I can walk by
myself.

She leaves. BUFFY and SPIKE, of course, remain.

GILES
(To NIGEL with heavy sarcasm)
Nigel…welcome back to Sunnydale.
And who is your friend? I don't
believe we've met.

NIGEL
This is Jeremiah. I believe
you know David.

GILES
Yes, indeed. David informs me
that you were all here to visit
me. I am flattered. So, were you
suffering from jet lag? Is that
why you were wandering though
the cemeteries of Sunnydale?
Not a very safe place to stroll,
even for gentlemen of your skills
and training.

SPIKE
We had to save their sorry arses!

BUFFY
But the most interesting part
is what's on this tape. It's all
Dawn. People talking TO Dawn,
people talking ABOUT Dawn! And
this is just one little tape. Who
knows what else they have?

SPIKE
(To BUFFY, sotto voce)
Should I do a little search
of their hotel room?

BUFFY
(To SPIKE)
I wish, but I think that's illegal. Wait.

NIGEL
Dawn is a new slayer. And we
just wanted to observe her in
the field. We preferred to do it
without your interference.

BUFFY
Oh I see. Well, that makes
a lot of sense, doesn't Giles?

GILES
Perfectly logical.

BUFFY
You know…my memory isn't
all it could be, what with
dying twice and all, but when
I became a slayer…I don't
remember being followed
by my own personal three
Stooges. Unless you watchers
were much better at it in
those days. Do YOU remember
that, Giles?

GILES
Not at all. But then, Buffy,
you were an ordinary slayer.

BUFFY
(stung)
Ordinary?

GILES
Uh...typical, would perhaps
have been a better word.
Dawn is not. There is something
not typical about Dawn, Not
typical at all. Perhaps I'd better
ring Lydia, and speak to her
before Dawn arrives.

NIGEL
Lydia has no need to get
involved in this!

GILES
Why not? She is Dawn's
Watcher, after all.

DAVID
She's not…

NIGEL shoots a dirty look at DAVID, and he shuts up.

GILES
What's that, David? She's not
one of you?

DAVID
She is a member of the council
of Watchers…of course.

BUFFY
But she doesn't know what's
going on, does she?

SPIKE
I spoke to her today, and
she really doesn't seem to.

GILES
Well, perhaps it's about time
she did.

GILES goes over to the phone on the counter and picks up the receiver. There is a muffled ringing noise. GILES looks at the phone receiver, puzzled. SPIKE grabs NIGEL and wrests the cel phone out of his hand before he can hang it up. He tosses the phone to GILES who puts it to his ear.

GILES
(Imitating NIGEL)
Nigel, here.
(In his own voice)
Well, good evening to you
Quentin. Sorry for the little
deception. But then, deception
is nothing new to you. Quentin?
Travers?
(To all)
We seem to have been
disconnected. Bloody cel
phones! Well, I'm sure he'll
ring back.

NIGEL
Quentin was just ringing to
see if we had arrived safely.
Standard Operating Procedure.

Giles shakes his head. He's no longer being as humorous as he has been. He looks Nigel in the eyes, getting more and more angry.

GILES
Look, Nigel. My legendary
patience is at a low point
right now. I have been
dealing with a slayer who
is totally out of control.
This is NOT right, and I
demand an explanation!

BUFFY
And what Giles demands,
we make sure he gets!

SPIKE
That's right. And Dawn might
be interested to know why
she was being spied on, and
her private conversations taped.

GILES
And when she does, I can
guarantee that you will have
TWO pissed off Slayers, in
addition to a pissed off
ex-vampire and, uh…me. I
think that we can make your
earlier vampire confrontation
seem like a mere preview of
coming attractions.

Nigel is suddenly terrified. He knows what all three of his opponents are capable of… but he makes it seem like he's giving up the information of his own free will - no pants crapping at all…

NIGEL
Very well! You may as well know
the truth. You can't do anything
to change it. It was on your trip
to England. We, uh…

BUFFY
(suddenly realizing the truth)
Of course! That totally lame
battle with Lillith! I knew it was
way too easy! That whole trip
was just a sham! Oh sure, Miss
Summers.... bring your whole
family!

Nigel is becoming a little more confident.

NIGEL
You are quite correct. The
battle with Lillith was staged
She was ready to die and felt
that you were the right person
for that job. Of course, that
worked our way so that we
could have access to the key.

BUFFY
The KEY? You wanted her
because she was the key??

GILES
Dawn went missing for some
time. You brought her back to
us...said you had found her
wandering.

NIGEL
We extracted they part of
her that was the Key, and
substituted the essence of
the first Slayer. It was not
a lengthy procedure, and
Dawn was not aware of what
was happening.

DAVID
We wanted the perfect slayer,
you see. One who would cooperate,
and be loyal to the council.

BUFFY
(Dismayed)
Boy…I bet you guys were really
steamed when I came back from
the dead! I didn't realize that
you all hated me…that much!

GILES
So you created your perfect
slayer…how could you know
that she would ever be called?

NIGEL
There are ways. Certain incantations.

SPIKE
Murder.

Everybody looks at him.
SPIKE
Faith. Remember her?

NIGEL
Come now. Let's not be
naive school children. Faith
was….expendable.

BUFFY
My God! Faith!

GILES
And that's why you sent
Lydia back with us.

BUFFY
(Concerned)
We just sent Dawn to be with Lydia!

NIGEL
Lydia knows nothing about this.
She knew that Dawn was to be
called as a slayer, but not the
rest of it. I assure you.

GILES
(hear the sound of the dripping sarcasm)
Your assurances are very
comforting.
(Suddenly angry)
Are you people totally out of
your bloody minds? Expendable
or not…Faith was a human being.
How can you possibly justify
your actions?

NIGEL
The Council of Watchers must
act as a general in the battle
between good and evil. As such
we sometimes have to sacrifice
soldiers like Faith in order to
protect the lives of the innocent.

BUFFY
The innocent? Like Dawn? My
innocent little sister? Who was
protecting HER life?

NIGEL
Miss Summers, despite your
memories to the contrary,
Dawn is not a human being.

DAVID
We have done nothing morally
wrong here.

SPIKE
I'm an ex-vampire, and even
when I didn't have a soul I'd
know that this is wrong!

BUFFY
How dare you say that my
sister isn't human!

GILES
(Picking NIGEL up by the collar)
Nigel…who else knows about
this, besides Travers, I presume?

NIGEL
N-nobody. I swear. This was
only known by a very few of us.

GILES
Well, you will take your bloody
cohorts here, and go back to
England. You will tell Quentin
bloody Travers to undo this.
By whatever means possible.
Or you will answer to me.

BUFFY
And me!

SPIKE
And me!

GILES
Is that perfectly clear?

NIGEL
Y-yes.

GILES drops NIGEL back into his chair. He stands up and straightens his clothing.

Just then the door opens and in come LYDIA and DAWN.

LYDIA surveys the scene.

LYDIA
Nigel. David. Jeremiah. Dawn
told me you were here. What
is this all about? Have you come
to check up on me? I have
followed procedure to the letter.

NIGEL
(looking at GILES pleadingly)
No. Lydia. Giles tells me that
you have been doing an
excellent job. This was just
a routine meeting.

GILES
Yes. Perfectly routine. They
are leaving first thing tomorrow.

DAWN
(To BUFFY and SPIKE accusingly)
I thought that you two were leaving.

DAVID
I-I asked them to stay. I
wanted their input on how
you were doing. They have
given me a very favorable report.

NIGEL
We are very pleased with
your progress, Dawn. Though
you have to be a bit more
constrained in your treatment
of humans.

DAWN
(mockingly)
I'm sorry, David.

DAVID
Thank you, Miss Summers.
We will keep in touch. Giles,
Miss Summers, Spike.

NIGEL
Goodbye. You will be hearing from us.

NIGEL, DAVID and JEREMIAH get up and leave hastily.

DAWN
So, everything is okay?

GILES
Everything is just fine.

Giles looks back at Buffy and Spike who are clearly worried.

BLACKOUT

END