ACT THREE

The next several scenes are interwoven.

INT. U.C. SUNNYDALE LIBRARY - DAY

Again we're in the basement of the library, now featuring one DEMOLISHED BOOKCASE, dozens of SCATTERED BOOKS - the old, musty looking type - one figure dressed in a priest's garb, and one frightened witch.

GRILLANDUS stands in the center of the room, starring at the wall to the right of the hidden tunnel through which he made his entrance. It is WILLOW on whom he is focused - Willow, who stands petrified. Or rather, doesn't stand.

ON GRILLANDUS - this first shot works to establish the scene, but we're behind him, and the Vampire blocks out the figure of Willow. What we see at first is just a brick wall and some more scattered books about the floor. But then we:

PAN to his side, and now we get our first glimpse of WILLOW. She's UPSIDE DOWN, arms at her sides (just slightly spread, forming comfortable V shapes), legs slightly spread (again, making a comfortable V shape), hair hanging down below her. An unseen force, obviously channeled by Grillandus, is holding her there against the wall.

WILLOW
What do you want from me?

GRILLANDUS
To see you pay for your crimes.
(beat)
To see you burn.

WILLOW
I don't suppose a heartfelt round
of begging would help change
your mind?

GRILLANDUS
Your only chance of redemption is
through me.

EXT. U.C. SUNNYDALE LIBRARY - DAY

Our first exterior of the building. The library is, for our purposes, extremely old fashioned (and just plain old), featuring a set of stone steps heading to its main doors, and a crescent-shaped driveway leading right up to said steps.

ON TARA as she runs up the steps, and heads on into the library.

EXT. GILES' CAR - DAY

OPEN ON his red convertible, P.O.V. from in front as it zooms towards the camera.

GILES takes a turn, HARD. In the passenger seat is BUFFY.

ANGLE on the interior of the car - the Watcher is concentrating on keeping it on the road, Buffy is suiting up. We watch as she tucks a KNIFE neatly into her shirt sleeve, then props her leg up onto the dash and stashes a STAKE into a HOLSTER strapped to her ankle.

P.O.V. switches between them throughout the conversation that follows.

GILES
I wish you would fasten your
restraint, Buffy. I'm not sure
even I trust my driving skills.
Not at a time like this.

BUFFY
It's called a seatbelt, Giles.
Just get us there in one piece.
I need to suit up... arm up... you
get the idea.
(displays one of her weapons)
More pointy objects,
the better.
(pause)
Just hurry.

GILES
I am. Now buckle up.
What with all these pedestrians in
the way... oh dear-

BUFFY
Turn!

Giles makes another HARD TURN. He'd nearly missed the intersection.

CUT TO a terrified PEDESTRIAN, who JUMPS back onto the sidewalk as Giles takes the corner.

Back to the car.

BUFFY
Ok maybe we can slow down a bit...

INT. U.C. SUNNYDALE LIBRARY - STAIRWELL - DAY

There's only a dim light in the stairwell leading to the basement of the library, and we track TARA as she heads down the stairs. She moves cautiously now.

ANGLE DOWN from above, a flight or two up - we see glimmering light coming from the bottom of the stairwell.

ON TARA from a top-down perspective as she inches towards the light.

EXT. U.C. SUNNYDALE LIBRARY - DAY

P.O.V. from the top of the steps, looking out towards the driveway. We see GILES floor it up to the steps then jam on the BREAKS, coming to a stop with a SCREECH.

GILES
Well, here we are then.

Both exit the car, only, as they head up the steps, from a P.O.V. over BUFFY'S shoulder, we meet an old friend - DOC. He's at the top of the steps, a pair of leather-bound volumes in arm.

ON BUFFY.

BUFFY
You.

If looks could kill...

INT. U.C. SUNNYDALE LIBRARY - DAY

GRILLANDUS has been busy, setting CANDLES, preparing TEXTS. One, notably, is labeled "Malleus Maleficarum". WILLOW is still in her UPSIDE DOWN position. The vampire has managed to find a PODIUM of sorts and has several books stacked upon it. As we open he's lighting extra candles, using one that is already lit. We follow him from one candle to the next, in a semi-circle around the witch.

ON GRILLANDUS, as HOT WAX DRIPS DOWN OVER HIS HAND, flowing in lines pointing out to his wrist, already beginning to cool. He doesn't even seem to notice.

WILLOW
Will this be taking long? I could, you know, leave and
come back...

GRILLANDUS
Your moment at the pyre will
arrive in due course.

WILLOW
(downcast)
Of course.

Grillandus now stands in front of her with a text open in his arms, and a FEATHERED QUILL and INK deal not seen outside of museums and old movies in a hundred years. He scribbles into the book with deft strokes. There's no sign of what he is writing.

GRILLANDUS
Thou hast been found to have consorted
with the Devil. To have consummated the
pact with the Dark Lord, and been
baptized into his service. Against these
crimes there is no defense. In the Devil's
name you did commit horrendous,
unspeakable acts of maleficia.
(pause)
On your person, items used only for
sorcery - Kail-blades,
pairings of nails, a book of incantations.
What do you say to this, witch?

WILLOW
That's not true! Well yeah, I had those
things, but I only work magic
for good. There's no "pact with the
Devil" or any of that other mumbo-jumbo.
That's so... fourteenth century.

GRILLANDUS
You are mistaken, daughter.
Magic is the Devil's taint, a poison loosed into
the world. And you must know that
by giving yourself to him, you are
only abiding his wishes.

WILLOW
I never gave myself to anyone!

GRILLANDUS
Then you are a liar. To lie to me
is to lie to Christ himself.
And so all hope of redemption is
lost.

He scribbles something else into his book, then discards it to the side.

GRILLANDUS
Since you shall not repent, or
name those others in your coven
with which you hold Sabbath, your
end comes now - not
at the pyre, seeking redemption, as
many broken hags have gone
before - but at my hand.

With these words Grillandus HOLDS OUT HIS HAND, PALM DOWN, and TURNS IT OVER, PALM UP. In sync with this Willow rotates on the wall, and comes to an upright position. As she does the vampire LUNGES at her, fangs gleaming.

TARA
(O.S.)
Leave her alone!

CUT TO the door leading in from the stairwell, which slams open, and in comes Tara. With a sharp glance, the old, overflowing BOOK CART WHEELS across the room at HIGH SPEED and SLAMS into the Vampire. He's THROWN BACK, and his concentration is lost - the force holding Willow dissolves, and she DROPS TO THE GROUND. Tara runs to her aid, takes her by the arm, and both run out, up, into the sunlight as Grillandus THROWS the cart off of him, sending it into the air, and growls.

GRILLANDUS
You defy the Lord's justice?
Witches, conjuring together,
in my presence? You are
exposed, and your lives
are forfeited!

EXT. U.C. SUNNYDALE LIBRARY - DAY

We're back with BUFFY, GILES and DOC. Doc, for his part, has yet to notice either of them, and casually makes his way down the steps with his pair of books under one arm. Ever so faintly comes the sound of the demon whistling.

BUFFY
Hey!

Doc looks up.

DOC
I'm sorry... do I know you?

BUFFY
If you don't remember...

With a slight TWIST OF THE WRIST, the KNIFE Buffy earlier slipped up her sleeve appears in the palm of her hand.

BUFFY
You will.

DOC
Oh. Oh my. That's right.
How thoughtless of me.
The Slayer.
(re: Giles)
And the killer.
Ripper.

GILES
Watcher.

DOC
That so? Ought to watch
more closely in future.
Young Buffy here has put herself
in all sorts of unnecessary danger...
Can't say it's advisable. Goodness no...
Interfering with a God, putting
yourself under the watchful eye of the
upper realms...
(re: Buffy)
I'm afraid resurrection may
not be possible next time.

BUFFY
There won't be a next time.
Not for you.

Flashes her knife, sets in an aggressive position, but in a split second Doc back-peddles.

DOC
Now that's uncalled for.
I haven't anyone to bring to
the dance.
Besides... I believe you have
more important errands to
run. I do recall the screams
of a certain witch or two rising from
below while I was in line
at the checkout desk.

BUFFY
Will...

GILES
Move off then old man.

DOC
Old? Now look who's...
Old. I suppose, yes.
(re: Buffy)
Would you spare me a favor?
Tell your vampire friend that I'll
be seeing him. Soon.
(soon comes out eerily calm).
And give my regards to the elder
Summer's sister.

BUFFY
I'm the-

WILLOW
(O.S.)
Buffy!

CUT TO the corner of the building, where TARA and WILLOW come running from. Buffy and Giles both turn towards them. When they turn back, Doc is absent.

Willow goes about hugging both Giles and Buffy.

WILLOW
Tara found me.

TARA
Just in time.

BUFFY
Nice show Tara!

Tara is somewhat bashful about her heroic rescue, and it shows.

BUFFY
The sun will be setting soon.
Grillandus will be on the hunt.

WILLOW
Meaning he'll be back for a
return engagement...

TARA
He's...
I'm not sure if even
Willow and I together
are a match for him...
He's so strong...
I only caught him off-guard.
I could feel it...

GILES
I suggest we regroup.
Head back to the shop,
prepare some spells.

BUFFY
No. Ixnay on the regroup-ay.

GILES
Buffy I really feel...

BUFFY
He'll track Willow down again.
And again. Till it's done.
I need to move now.

Off the reactions of the group.

BUFFY
Besides, if Tara and Willow are
right, a few extra spells aren't
going to turn the tide. I want
to catch him off-guard, and that
means going after him ASAP.
(beat)
I take issue with vamps who
target my friends. Especially
insane ones who think we're
all still in the middle ages.

WILLOW
What's this I thing?
He's after me.

BUFFY
Which is exactly why he
isn't going to get you.

CLOSE ON Buffy and Willow. The Slayer puts an arm on her friend's shoulder.

BUFFY
You'll get your shot at him Will.
I know what this means to you.
I get what he represents.
But we're doing this right.
I won't loose you. Tara
won't loose you.
Head back to the shop with
Giles. Dawn and Xander know
what to do. Once it's done...
head to the Church.
And come armed.
Bring everything you've got.
WILLOW
What about you?

BUFFY
There's only one place he'll go.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT THREE