ACT THREE

INT. SUNNYDALE SEWER SYSTEM – NIGHT

A TRACKING SHOT follows SPIKE and BUFFY as they make their way through the sewer system towards the back entrance of Spike's crypt. Spike looks perfectly at home, his blacks fading in and out of the darkness in chameleon-like fashion. Buffy looks stealthy herself, but her more colorful wardrobe stands out in the darkness. Buffy's armed with the SPEAR Xander gave her, Spike has his axe hidden away in his coat again.

ON BUFFY

BUFFY
Are we there yet?

SPIKE
You didn't tell them.

BUFFY
(with emphasis on each word)
Are – We – There – Yet?

SPIKE
Still a ways.

He pauses for several seconds as they continue forward.

SPIKE
They'll go where ever you lead them.
You know that. Harris, Red…
They'd walk straight into the flames
of hell for you. Prolly bring
marshmallows with 'em.

BUFFY
Spike-

SPIKE
What's it matter? They know what
I am. Why not tell them? Xander'd
love it – Spike gets his. T'would make
his bloody day.

He stops as he says this, and looks straight at her.

BUFFY
You didn't.
(pause)
It doesn't matter.

SPIKE
No? Doesn't matter that
they're saving a Vampire from
his own victim? Even I
see the flaw in that.

He steps into a deep patch in the sewer, kicking up some spray.

SPIKE
You're the Slayer.
You
need to look out for them.
Don't matter how strong
Will is or how good Xander's
getting in the fight – you've got a
Watcher to guide you. They've
only got you.

BUFFY
They've got each other.
We've got each other.

We watch them progress a little further, and suddenly the tunnel doesn't seem to be as wet.

BUFFY
They're each slayers in
their own right.
(pauses)
And even if they knew – they'd
still help you. They wouldn't like
it, but they would. They know what's
at stake.

She strides off ahead of Spike. He catches up.

SPIKE
Thank you.

BUFFY
You've been saying that
a lot recently.

SPIKE
Never had so much reason.

They reach a split in the tunnel.

BUFFY
Which way?

SPIKE
Left.

They head left at a brisk pace.

BUFFY
I don't recognize this place…
Not that sewers in Sunnydale are
that memorable.
How far do these tunnels go?

SPIKE
To most of the main parts of town.
Not many cities left with sewers like
these. Most burgs, a Denflak demon
couldn't fit through the tubes.

BUFFY
Who-flak?

SPIKE
Wee little contortionist demon.

BUFFY
You're making that up.

SPIKE
Am not. Cross my heart and hope to…

Well, that particular saying doesn't work so well for the undead.

BUFFY
Uh-huh. Hope to live?

SPIKE
Shh!

Spike tilts his head a notch. He's picked up on something. Sniffs the air. Buffy makes a face – it's pretty ripe, who wants a better whiff?

SPIKE
Company. Vamp. Alone.

ANGLE ON the passage ahead of them. A worn, beaten looking VAMPIRE stumbles into the scene. He's obviously had a run-in with the Mosoloth.

He TRIPS and lands at Spikes feet, and begins babbling until Spike silences him.

SPIKE
Plug it you soulless imbecile.

VAMPIRE
It… It...
Who are you?

SPIKE
Relax. You're amongst friends.

To emphasize this, Spike morphs into his vampire face.

SPIKE
Now then. What happened.
Quickly
, and quietly.

VAMPIRE
Something… a big Spider.
Never seen anything like it.
It took out three of us.
Harry and I-

BUFFY
Harry?

What kind of Vampire is named Harry? It's the worst Vampire name ever. Well, except maybe Mort.

VAMPIRE
Our sire.
He… I think it went after him.

SPIKE
Where?

VAMPIRE
The Graveyard. We'd just
gotten back from the morgue.
Knocked off a few of the nightshift
workers there. Man, I gotta tell
you, that was hilarious.
They're all used to the corpses
coming to, right, so they never
suspected us coming in the
front door, and-

SPIKE
Right. Fascinating.
So you fed, came
down to the yard for
a jaunt, and Spider-beast
nabbed three of you. That what I'm
hearing?

VAMPIRE
Yeah. Now it's gone after
Harry. Gotta love my luck
though, huh? I mean, yeah,
Harry's my sire and all,
and I'll miss him – this one
time, at this orphanage, lemme
tell ya – but man, I'm just not ready to
give up immortality, you know?
So well, if it's him or me…
hope he gives it indigestion.

BUFFY
(dry)
Maybe it'll choke.

The vamp hasn't clued in that she's the slayer.

VAMPIRE
Yeah, right, choke.
Look, you to lovebirds might
want to high-tail it outta here.

SPIKE
We're-

BUFFY
Will do.
Sewers are no fun
anyhow.

VAMPIRE
Yeah, the smell really bites.

He turns to leave, and as he does, Spike DRAWS HIS AXE, SWINGS, and separates head from body. The vamp never saw it coming, his back being turned. He dusts, the axe is EMBEDDED IN THE WALL.

CLOSE ON the axe. Spike has trouble getting it out, and Buffy winds up yanking it free.

SPIKE
I can't believe his last words
were "the smell bites".
When I go, it best be
a helluva lot better than that.

BUFFY
That was… unexpected.

She means Spike offing the vamp, not the corny last words.

SPIKE
Couldn't have him running into
the others, could we? They've
got enough on their hands.
'Sides, it's what you do love.
Consider that a freebie.

EXT. GRAVEYARD – NIGHT

XANDER, ANYA, WILLOW, and TARA are stationed about fifty yards from Spike's crypt. Xander and Anya have their SPEARS at the ready. Willow and Tara have a few books and nothing more. There's no doubt as to which pair is more deadly.

XANDER
How long until Buffy and Spike
reach the crypt?

WILLOW
I don't know.
I was hoping to do
Some psychic-y stuff, but-

TARA
It doesn't seem to work so
well at this much of a distance.

ANYA
Great.
(it's not)
How will we know
when to start?

WILLOW
No time like the now.

XANDER
What should An and I do?

WILLOW
Stay clear. With luck, you
just need to watch our backs.

TARA
Without it, you'll need to poke
at the big ugly Spider.

Anya crosses her fingers.

ANYA
Please be lucky, please be lucky.

XANDER
I don't think that'll work.
But it's worth a shot.
Please be lucky…

His voice FADES into the background as we focus on the witches. Willow leads the incantation. She's holding a BOOK, open faced, rustic looking. The pages FLUTTER by and stop at the spot she needs – on that page is a sketch of a woman (witch) with what looks like a miniature sun rising above her outstretched hand.

ON WILLOW.

WILLOW
Goddess of the morn,
Resist the pull of nature,
If only for a moment,
Hear my plea,
Bestow upon this cause
The power of light.

As she says this, Tara creates a GLOWING BALL OF LIGHT, which RISES up into the air – about shoulder high – and FLOATS there.

ON TARA

TARA
Illuminate.

The four of them watch, and Anya can't help from chiming in.

ANYA
We've seen this before. Is it really
going to draw this demon-raiser out?
It's neat and all, but-

TARA
Watch.

Willow, EYES DARK, looks up into the sky – a single sharp nod upwards toward the heavens, determined, forceful even. The ball follows her glance

WILLOW
Serge!
(latin, "Arise")

EXT. GRAVEYARD – DAY

With Willow's words, the entire Graveyard is lit, as if the sun was shining brightly.

It should be night, but…

XANDER
Woah.

ANYA
Yeah, that'll draw the
demon-summoner out.

INT. SUNNYDALE SEWER SYSTEM – NIGHT

It's still dark in the sewers. Buffy and Spike have reached what looks like a CAVE-IN. The tunnel seems blocked with debris.

BUFFY
Sturdy sewers. Xander would
be mollified. Now what?

SPIKE
We're here.

BUFFY
Here? Where's here?
Here's a dead end.

SPIKE
It's a hidden entrance.
Doesn't do much bloody good if
every sodding demon with a grudge
can wander in while I'm nappin'.

As he says this he removes three hefty ROCKS and a piece of PIPE from the debris, which opens a child-sized hole in the wall. He ducks under. Looks around, then ducks back out.

SPIKE
It opens up on the other side.

BUFFY
Question. How'd the Mosoloth
manage to re-hide the hidden entrance?

SPIKE
Help from its Master?

BUFFY
Or it's smarter than the average
(bear)
spider.

SPIKE
What's it matter?

BUFFY
Doesn't.
Spike tosses another rock or two to the side, making more room for Buffy.

BUFFY
Wasn't that great of a hide-y job.

SPIKE
You never found it.

Buffy hesitates.

SPIKE
Well, come in already – we
haven't got all night.

There's a distinct impression that the VAMPIRE is inviting the SLAYER in – a reversal of the gratitude displayed in "The Gift".

Buffy steps through, and the camera follows into the darkness.

BUFFY
(off screen)
What the?

We finally catch sight of the two of them. No, Spike hasn't betrayed her somehow. No, it's not a trap with the Mosoloth lying in wait.

The tomb is almost completely covered by WEB. There seems to be but one path up towards the trap door. Spike's possessions are almost completely buried in silk. There are several COCOONS down here – completely wrapped, with no way to tell who or what is inside.

What stands out the most is a white, bulging sack attached to the wall of the tomb – an EGG SACK.

CLOSE ON the sack. From within, there's movement.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT THREE