INT. STORAGE ROOM - DAY
Wooden shelves stocked with jars and paper packages - contents unknown - line the room from end to end. This storage room, featuring crumbling brick walls, would look out of place in any modern home. Which is fine, since this is no modern home. A huddled group of FRIGHTENED REFUGES - maybe six or eight - clutch each other in the center of the room, which has seen better days. They are Gypsies.
The lone window is boarded, but enough sun peaks through to let us know that MORNING is on its way. We see all this from behind a row of the aforementioned jars - dusty, filled with yellowish liquid - ancient preserves?
Outside, an EXPLOSION sends shockwaves great enough to rock the entire room and knock contents off the shelves. We're in France, during the Second World War.
CLOSE on Spike - lighting a cigarette. He's watching the huddled group carefully.
WIDEN to reveal him wearing a German military uniform. His jumping sides goes a long way back. Beside him, on a bench, is a long brown robe.
SPIKE
Like choosing a lobster.
Various moans and bits of consoling drift up from the mass.
SPIKE
Any volunteers? Anyone want to do
the brave, honorable thing and take
one for the team? No?
Receiving no answer, he walks purposefully into their midst, and hauls out a terrified young woman.
SPIKE
Right then.
CLOSE ON Spike and the woman together as he puts on his 'game face'.
YOUNG WOMAN
No! Please! My Family-
SPIKE
Will miss you then move on.
It's the way of things, precious.
Besides which, there's an
awful big war goin' down
outside. They'll need a good
bit of luck just to make it
through - and, well, your line
doesn't strike me as the lucky type.
(Off the huddled mass)
What with your imminent death and all.
The others hide their eyes while Spike drinks. Only one fails to do this - EMILY, in the middle, who looks exactly as we saw her in the present. Apparently, she never aged a day. She glares at Spike the entire time.
Spike lets the body drop to the floor moments later, limp as a rag doll.
SMASH CUT TO:
The DOOR of the storage room, which BURSTS OPEN, and GERMAN TROOPS flood into the room, making a fair bit of noise - boots stomping, equipment rattling. One, of some rank since he's in charge, addresses Spike curtly in German, then repeats himself in English.
SOLDIER
Wer sie sind?
No response.
SOLDIER
Who are they?
SPIKE
Well, that's right. I might work
for you blokes but I'm not about the
learn the bloody language.
SOLDIER
Who are they?
SPIKE
Gypsies.
(Off the dead woman)
That one had the nerve to slap me.
Jabbed her with my knife - musta done her
in I guess.
One of the other soldiers examines the woman and her throat, looking at Spike unbelievingly. He takes a quick pulse.
SECOND SOLDIER
(Looks up, and in strained English)
She's dead.
SOLDIER
(To Spike)
And what am I to do with the rest of
them, this close to the front?
ON SPIKE, who considers this for less than a second.
SPIKE
Not my problem.
But if you want my suggestion
(beat)
Spare no quarter.
Putting on the robe and covering himself with the hood, Spike exits, leaving the Gypsies at the mercy of the Germans.
FADE TO:
INT. SPIKE'S CRYPT - NIGHT
Emily and the Spider demon are nowhere to be seen. Spike remains cocooned in the corner. He appears unconscious, then all at once comes to with a start, struggling to break free.
SPIKE
(Failing to break loose)
DAMNIT!
Without warning, the demon returns, crawling down the wall from ABOVE Spike.
CLOSE ON the Spider demon. Spike's REFLECTION can be seen in its blood red eyes. There's no notion as to WHY he reflects in its eyes – he just does. Its fangs, dripping with venom, look hideously oversized. Each has a serrated edge. It's legs are long, covered in short hairs.
WIDEN to include Spike, staring back at it. Again, there's honest terror in the look. Venom drips onto his forehead, and flows down over his eyes. The skin beneath SMOKES - the venom is acidic.
SPIKE
(Whispered)
Oh God.
Only the demon RETREATS, after a moment, apparently not quite ready to feast on its victim. It withdraws into the tomb below, through the TRAP DOOR.
SPIKE
(half-heartedly)
Not quite appetizing enough for ya, huh?
Can't face a real meal?
Well.
To SPIKE'S P.O.V., where we now see a finger appear in the crack of the open crypt door, then four more. An arm follows, pushing the door open.
SPIKE
Call your dog off already, Lady.
Whatever you want-
DAWN
(Off-screen)
I got a puppy?
REVERSE ANGLE to reveal DAWN, as she takes in the scene before her.
DAWN
Ok, something's not right, and
I don't mean a Vampire's Lair is
looking surprisingly tidy.
(To Spike)
What the hell happened to you?
SPIKE
Hush, or you'll make
a quick snack for a nightmare
reject. Get
me out of here, and do it quietly. If
you can weaken these... bonds...
Dawn examines the webbing holding Spike in place. He's pretty much cocooned from the shoulders down.
DAWN
Eww. I can't even begin to
state how gross-
SPIKE
(Cutting her off in a whisper)
Hurry!
Looking around momentarily, Dawn leaps into action, grabbing the only tool she can find - the BROOM Spike tossed aside earlier. Using it first as a lever, she tries to pry the webbing away from the wall. The broom then SNAPS, leaving her with a pointy stake.
SPIKE
(Off Dawn, as she uses the stake to saw through webbing)
Watch where you point that thing.
From over Dawn's shoulder as she prods and pokes and saws through the web, we see a number of web 'strings' tear - and with that Spike is able to push off against the wall and break free.
DAWN
HA! And might I add, Ta-Daa!
SPIKE
Nice work in a pinch, niblet.
DAWN
And my reward?
SPIKE
(Places a hand on her shoulder)
Thanks.
Now lets make with the fleeing.
They beat a hasty retreat out the Crypt door, Spike slamming it behind them as two SPINDLY LEGS push out from the trap door to the tomb.
INT. MAGIC BOX - NIGHT
Open on ANYA, XANDER, and WILLOW grouped around the table in the Magic Shop. It looks like they're in research mode, with many a book piled around, but in reality...
ANYA
(mid-conversation)
... and Marbrenner & Kelsap - they're twin
gods of strength - they'll need their
own table - being giant trolls and
all - maybe we shouldn't invite Miikken.
She is the goddess of misfortune - well
to a small band of insane followers - but
after all, misfortune, wedding. Probably
not a good mix...
They're in wedding planning mode. Or at least Anya is. Willow seems disinterested, Xander seems mollified.
XANDER
Please tell me you're not considering
inviting demons to our wedding.
Pretty please.
ANYA
(somewhat oblivious)
Then again, she did invite me to hers. It was so
lavish - a virgin sacrificed in honor of each guest.
WILLOW
A sad day for virgin-y types then.
ANYA
Sad day? No, it was really quite
magnificent. Oh. Sad day for
virgins. Well, we needn't go
to that extreme. Maybe just a
few hundred guests.
And no sacrifices.
Xander at this point is looking queasy and lets out a low groan.
WILLOW
Maybe you should stick to
something small. Quaint.
Intimate, with friends.
Xander finally finds some relief.
XANDER
Smallish is good. I'm definitely down
with the small stuff.
ANYA
(re: Xander)
I suppose. Men. Spend centuries torturing
the gender and still the most fearful words in
the male vocabulary are 'commitment',
'wedding', and 'marriage'.
XANDER
I'm not afraid. My idea, remember?
They share a loving glance, heightened by Xander's next comment:
XANDER
I just want it to be perfect. I rarely
manage perfection, this is the one
time I can pull it off.
ANYA
Perfection is fine with me.
WILLOW
It's all just planning right?
You've got all kinds of time.
ANYA
Yes. Unless we don't.
Xander and Willow exchange puzzled looks.
ON ANYA, as she suddenly rushes into speech.
ANYA
We could Elope!
We can do it tomorrow.
Drive to that Las Vegas place.
Have the service performed by an
Elvis imposter.
WILLOW
Impersonator.
ANYA
Whatever.
Then have wild sex
in a seedy motel room.
WILLOW
Ahh...
XANDER
I am also thinking "Ahh".
(Re: Anya)
No eloping. It's going to be perfect.
Anya does the wistful sigh thing as TARA enters the Magic Box and overhears Xander's last comment.
TARA
What's perfect?
WILLOW
You.
ANYA
Our wedding. It will be, I mean.
TARA
Of course it will! Any idea as to the date of
the big day?
XANDER
Working on that. So far, we've ruled
out tomorrow.
TARA
Good start.
CUT TO the door, as it bursts open to reveal SPIKE, flustered, still peeling webbing from his clothes and face, followed by DAWN, who is much more conserved.
ANYA
Why won't any real customers
come in?
WILLOW
Because you're closed for
the night?
ANYA
Oh. Makes sense.
XANDER
Woah. Spike. Having a "There's Something
About Mary" moment?
SPIKE
Cram it commitment boy.
ON Anya, who actually BEAMS at the commitment comment.
XANDER
Peroxide experiment gone
horribly wrong then?
Spike is STILL peeling webbing off and actually TWISTS AROUND in a CIRCLE trying to accomplish the task.
DAWN
He was babbling about some
demon the whole way over here.
XANDER
Might I remind you that he's a demon?
DAWN
I don't think he's petrified of himself.
SPIKE
Hey! I'm not petrified, and I wasn't babbling.
I was... excited. No need to tarnish the rep.
Just wanted to warn the slayer that
some big nasty wandered its way
into town.
Spike scans the room and notices Buffy isn't there.
SPIKE
Where's she at anyhow?
BUFFY
(Off screen)
Behind you.
As Buffy walks into the frame, Spike nearly jumps out of his corpse.
SPIKE
YA! Right. Found you.
BUFFY
So what's with the hub and the bub?
SPIKE
My crypt's been infested.
DAWN
By a demon
XANDER
Yet again I feel I must mention the fact that
Spike's a demon!
SPIKE
One who isn't looking for a roomie.
This is a nasty little… err big… bugger.
Not your garden variety horny, slimy,
fang filled type.
(Off Dawn)
If the little bit hadn't come calling…
BUFFY
Dawn?
(re: Dawn)
You were in the graveyard? Alone? At night?
You're like, meals on wheels for Vampires.
Dawn has no response, but Willow chimes in.
WILLOW
More like meals on feet…
DAWN
I had a history project.
BUFFY
On America's best places to be
eaten by monsters?
DAWN
On turn of the century Europe. The last century. I thought
Spike might have some info, you know, being there
and all that.
SPIKE
Hell, I'm a talking library book now.
(to the rest of the group)
Can we get back on track now? Big demon, hairy, nasty.
Did I mention eight legs?
WILLOW
Arachni-demon?
Yuck.
Tara moves beside Willow.
TARA
And Eww.
BUFFY
It's a big hairy Spider?
Yuck and Eww doesn't begin to
cover it.
SPIKE
Now here's why you're the leader.
XANDER
Ok, so some big spider spun its
web in your crypt. What's that got to do
with us? Just set off a giant bug-bomb
or something.
SPIKE
Don't think that'll cut it mate.
BUFFY
Demons are never that simple.
If they were, I'd have more
time at the beach.
XANDER
I still don't get what this has
to do with us.
SPIKE
In the demon killing business,
aren't ya?
BUFFY
Last I checked, I'm still the slayer.
Not much of a business though.
XANDER
Paychecks few and far between.
Closer to never.
SPIKE
Well what now. Carnage?
The lot of us could do some
serious damage…
His eyes light up at this consideration.
GILES
(Off screen)
Describe it again…
As Giles climbs down the ladder from the more "precious" books, Spike again nearly jumps out of his skin.
GILES
A tad more specific this time.
SPIKE
Anyone ever tell you it's not a good idea to
startle a vampire?
XANDER
Sound advice.
BUFFY
Getting soft on us, Spike?
SPIKE
Pfaw.
ON SPIKE, who glares at her, but can't hold it, and his expression softens.
GILES
Description?
SPIKE
Big Spider, what more to it is there?
GILES
Several known types of demon take the form of
arachnids. Perhaps with a full description, I could narrow it
down. Find out how to kill it. Unless you're looking to
take on a pet?
SPIKE
Hair, on the legs and torso.
Legs looked a little too long for its
body. Fast, powerful, had me
hog-tied right quick. Didn't look like
any bug I've ever seen. The eyes – blood red.
Fangs. Serrated on one side,
like a steak knife.
GILES
Ahhh…
Giles retreats to his books while the gang have a bit of an awkward moment – they all know they owe Spike but not everyone is pleased about having to help exterminate a big bug in his lair. "Not everyone" does, of course, refer to Xander.
SPIKE
Right. So. What's the plan? Axes? Spears?
A little hack, a little slash…
Spears might work. Really big ones.
BUFFY
Plan is, we wait for Giles to figure out what it is.
And what it wants.
XANDER
Maybe it wants lunch.
(Re: Spike)
That would be you.
SPIKE
I bet you're just thrilled.
XANDER
One less bloodsucker-
SPIKE
Bricklayer.
BUFFY
Enough! Both of you.
What's with it between you guys?
SPIKE
He can never see the obvious!
XANDER
He's a bloodsucking vampire!
SPIKE
Yeah, well, that's obvious.
(beat)
Point is, this isn't about me. Not all of it.
What it is, what it wants – your guess is as
good as mine. It didn't eat or kill or have its way
with me – and it had every bloody chance. You want it
crawling up your waterspout, Harris? Or Buffy's?
(glances at Anya)
Making a snack of your bird?
Spike pauses as Xander digests this final implication.
SPIKE
'sides which, I doubt it can tell
good from evil… or evil from,
well… less evil.
Xander remains silenced by this. Spike is right. Demon is demon, and its their job to kill them. Well, most demons are demons. Spike is still playing his immunity chip.
ON GILES, now rooted in a musty looking text.
GILES
Interesting.
BUFFY
What?
GILES
(looks up from the book)
It would appear that Spike is its
intended victim. More or less.
SPIKE
Preferably less mate.
Lucky ol' Spike. So why didn't it off me?
It like to play with its food?
GILES
You weren't appetizing enough.
SPIKE
Come again?
XANDER
Ouch. Though not as ouch
as being eaten. But still ouch.
BUFFY
Just what is it?
Giles hands Buffy the TEXT, which is open to a page describing the MOSOLOTH, and features a rough SKETCH of the beast.
GILES
A Mosoloth demon. It hosts features
from several traditional arachnids found on the
mortal plane, and is conjured onto this one by a raising
ritual involving the sacrifice of a loved one.
TARA
Sacrifice? Of a loved one? Who would…
GILES
Someone willing. The one being sacrificed
to raise the beast must be doing
so willingly. The book is quite specific on that point.
TARA
That's horrible.
GILES
Indeed. Usually, the Mosoloth is brought
forth to avenge the death of a lover or
child. The partner or kin of the deceased
gives up his or her life in exchange for
the beast's services, and a third person
controls it, although how that's done
isn't clear in this text. Its sole purpose
is vengeance, and the sorcerer or witch
who raises the beast may have it seek
out whomever they see fit.
SPIKE
Back to the bit about me not
being appetizing…
XANDER
Yeah, why's Spike still alive?
Err… undead?
GILES
The demon must feed – for the
Mosoloth, this means Vampires. It
captures those whom have recently fed,
and drains them of the blood so recently stolen.
Once the vampire is nearly completely dry, the
demon employs its fangs, decapitating the vamp.
(re: Spike)
I suppose you hadn't fed, thus the Mosoloth
ensnared you but wasn't able to drink.
SPIKE
Fridge was bare. Twas just on my way to the
hospy for fresh supplies.
GILES
Lucky for you. Unlucky for other Vamps
in the vicinity. And humans. Should vampires
be in short supply, the Mosoloth will settle for fresh human
blood to replenish its energy.
BUFFY
This gets better and better.
SPIKE
So how do we kill it?
GILES
According to the text, one of two ways –
multiple wounds to the abdomen will eventually
break one of several glands which contain an acidic
substance fatal to the beast – but also to anyone
near it. The acid can spray in an
arc of several feet.
BUFFY
Killing or injuring all those around it.
GILES
Yes. It's a self-destruct mechanism. One of
few found in nature… if you consider demons to be
part of nature. It's actually quite fascinating. The
abdomen is heavily plated however. Additionally, the
beast will continue to grow as it feeds.
BUFFY
Fascinating. Right.
It feeds on vampires and is living in Spike's
crypt. The murky crystal ball is getting nice
and clear now. Graveyard. Lots of fresh
vamps, newly born into undead-ness. They'll
feed quick, it'll have a feast. Plus any unlucky
humans picnicking in the graveyard
get to be dessert.
DAWN
And it'll be all huge by the time we need to kill it.
This startles everyone. They'd forgotten Dawn was there.
DAWN
Well Giles said it will keep growing…
GILES
Yes, and the book doesn't say
till when.
DAWN
So when we-
BUFFY
There's no we. You have a history
project, remember?
Dawn looks peeved at this.
SPIKE
You did good by saving my corpse.
That's enough adventure for one night.
This manages to satisfy her. Somewhat. She drops back down in her chair.
XANDER
So about spidy…
The other, less-deadly-for-us
method of killing it is?
WILLOW
I'd also prefer the non-suicidal route.
This comes out a bit heavy, and Willow seems to wish she could take it back – what with Buffy's recent brush with mortality.
GILES
Kill whoever is controlling the beast.
ON BUFFY, as she enters take-charge mode. She deals out instructions with a steady beat:
BUFFY
Willow & Tara:
Work up some spells – anything
that might be useful. A magical
version of Off would be great.
Giles:
Anything you could get on how its
controlled, how powerful the person
who raised this might be…
Who they might be…
GILES
There are a few more books I can rifle through.
BUFFY
Rifle through 'em
Xander & Ahn:
Tactical. That really big spear
idea… maybe as a backup.
Spike beams at this miniscule bit of acknowledgement from the Slayer.
XANDER
I'll get all carpenter-y.
ANYA
(raises her hand)
Former vengeance demon over here… I'm not
the weapon-bearing type. Anything else
to be done?
Buffy considers this.
BUFFY
Help Giles out… you've probably got better insight into
who the person behind the demon is.
ANYA
I do have an impressive resume.
XANDER
She does.
ANYA
Vengeance is really a simple thing. I can't
believe I spent so much time at it.
BUFFY
If we're lucky, whoever's behind the demon is
keeping a close eye on their pet monster.
Tomorrow night, we patrol, and scout out Spike's
crypt. For now, it's getting late – everyone
get some sleep.
(re:Dawn)
Lets go. School tomorrow.
DAWN
(feigns enthusiasm)
Yay.
SPIKE
Buffy?
Buffy studies Spike… she's been supportive of him thus far, because she more than anyone owes him – BIG TIME. Only now it dawns on her, and she isn't quite happy to be put on the spot. Accommodations.
BUFFY
No. No Way.
SPIKE
(to the group)
Anyone hording a spare casket?
BUFFY
Fine. With me. Lets go.
Buffy and Dawn exit the magic box, Spike in tow. He pauses to look back at the other Scoobies, however.
SPIKE
(off the Scoobies, awkwardly)
Thanks.
The door swings shut while the gang stays silent.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT ONE
