The Vegemite Chronicles (3/?)

***

THE EPISODE: The Witch

The quotes:

GILES: This is madness! What can you have been thinking?

BUFFY: So, this isn't a vampire problem.

CORDELIA: I have a dream.

XANDER: Cover me, I'm goin' in.

XANDER: First vampires, now witches.

GILES: I think we should be sure she's the witch before we arouse her suspicions.

JOYCE: You're in a good mood.

BUFFY: Giles, where would she be casting these spells?

WILLOW: Do you actually ride a broom?

AMY: I'm thinking of getting fat.

***

CHAPTER 3 - The Witch Wants Vegemite

***

The Sunnydale High library. Giles is pacing back and forth, angry and upset.

GILES: This is madness! What can you have been thinking?

We see Xander standing in front of the doors, having just walked in. He's holding an open jar of Vegemite in one hand, and is digging into it with the other.

XANDER: Willow gave it to me. I got hungry.

GILES: What on earth do you think you're doing, bringing that in here? Do you know how dangerous it is to carry Vegemite around openly in Sunnydale where anyone can get at it?

XANDER: Oh, relax, G-Man. We're safe here in school. The only thing we have to worry about is a bunch of teenagers. What's the big deal?

GILES: (sarcastically) Oh, right. Because human beings are never interested in Vegemite, are they?

Xander, looking down at his Vegemite-coated fingers, realizes the point Giles is making. He closes the jar, and stuffs it into his pocket, out of sight.

XANDER: Happy now, Mr. Spoilsport?

GILES: Xander, with that jar of Vegemite in your pocket, you're a walking target. If I were you, I'd get rid of it as soon as possible.

XANDER: (getting frustrated) Oh, will you calm down? I think somebody's being just a little bit paranoid, don't you?

Suddenly, the doors open, and Buffy and Willow rush in.

WILLOW: Giles! Somebody stole my Vegemite!

BUFFY: Wait, you mean my Vegemite!

WILLOW: Oh, right, it's your Vegemite, but either way, it's gone!

Giles gives Xander a smug look. Xander looks down at the floor.

GILES: (to the girls) OK, slow down. Somebody stole your Vegemite? All of it, you mean?

WILLOW: Well, no, most of it's still safe at my house where I left it, but I brought two jars to school with me. I gave one to Xander, and I was going to give the other one to Buffy, but when I opened my locker just now, it was gone!

Giles throws up his hands, unable to come to terms with the stupidity on display.

GILES: I'm beginning to think I've turned into a broken record. How many times have I told you lot not to bring Vegemite out into the open? (to Willow) Do you have any idea who stole it?

WILLOW: No!

XANDER: Well, it couldn't be the vampires, right? I mean, they tried that already.

BUFFY: Yeah, plus it's daylight.

GILES: No, according to Angel's sources, the vampires are regrouping underground. And Buffy hasn't seen a single vampire in over a week.

BUFFY: So, this isn't a vampire problem.

GILES: No.

XANDER: So, who's behind it? What are we dealing with?

GILES: Well, this being a school day, I think the most likely suspect would be ...

BUFFY: A student.

GILES: Yes.

WILLOW: A student? But who?

***

The girls locker room. Several girls are getting changed into their gym clothes. Cordelia is among them. The other girls eventually leave, and Cordelia is the only person we see. Looking around to make sure no one else is there, Cordy opens her locker, and we see a jar of Vegemite inside it. Cordy reaches out a hand, and strokes the jar gently with one finger, gazing fondly at it.

CORDELIA: I have a dream. All the Vegemite in this town will be mine. I tried joining forces with the Master to help get Willow's Vegemite, but that was a dismal failue. And that's where you come in.

Cordy slams her locker door shut, and we see Amy Madison standing just behind Cordelia, looking nervous. Cordy turns to Amy, and smiles.

CORDELIA: When vampires fail, it's time to call in witchcraft. With your help, the Vegemite will be mine within hours. Next target - Xander Harris.

***

Willow's house. Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander are heading down the hall towards Willow's bedroom.

WILLOW: Giles, do we have to?

GILES: I'm sorry, Willow, but with this new threat, we can't leave your Vegemite here where whoever stole your other jar will come looking for it. We have to move it to a safer location.

BUFFY: Any ideas on where?

GILES: Well, I have one idea.

The group reaches Willow's door.

GILES: Xander, go in and get the Vegemite.

XANDER: (dramatically) Cover me, I'm goin' in.

BUFFY: Do now, joke later, Xander.

Xander opens the door, and he and Willow enter her room. Buffy and Giles stay out in the hall.

BUFFY: (to Giles) So?

GILES: Hmm? ... Oh, yes, well, I was speaking with Angel last night, and he says he knows a place where nobody will come looking for the Vegemite.

BUFFY: Well, where is this place?

GILES: Oh, he doesn't want any of us to know. For extra security, presumably. He wouldn't even tell me. I'm meeting with him tonight, and I'll give him the Vegemite then.

BUFFY: I just hope we can trust him.

Giles is surprised at this.

GILES: You don't trust Angel?

BUFFY: Well, I mean, normally, yeah, but we're talking about Vegemite. And Angel just got his first taste of Vegemite last week, and he loved it. I don't know if he'll be able to resist Willow's Vegemite if we just hand it over to him.

GILES: True, but Angel possesses remarkable mental strength. He has been able to resist human blood for almost a century.

Buffy raises her eyebrows at Giles, giving him a disbelieving look.

BUFFY: You're comparing Vegemite to blood?

Giles considers this for a moment.

GILES: Yes, I see your point. Perhaps we should keep an eye on Angel in the meantime, just to be sure.

Willow and Xander come out from Willow's room. Xander is carrying the box with Willow's Vegemite in it.

BUFFY: What took you so long?

Willow and Xander look at each other in embarrassment for a moment, then back at Buffy.

WILLOW: We got into an argument over who got to carry the Vegemite.

Buffy looks at Xander with the box in his arms.

BUFFY: And you settled it with arm wrestling?

WILLOW: Rock, paper, scissors.

XANDER: I totally surprised her with paper.

WILLOW: I was sure he was gonna go with scissors. He always goes with scissors.

XANDER: Yes, and you fell right into my little trap, didn't you?

GILES: Have you quite finished? We need to get back to the school.

XANDER: What? We're taking the Vegemite back to the school where the Vegemite thief has classes? Is that smart?

GILES: I can hide it in my office until Angel comes after sunset. Although I imagine I could stack it right next to the textbooks in the upper stacks in plain view and no student would ever get close enough to see it.

The four of them head for the front door.

***

The school library. Cordelia is crouching behind the counter, waiting for the gang to get back. She hears footsteps, and crouches further down, out of sight. The doors open, and the gang walks in.

GILES: Right, we'll get the Vegemite stored away in my office. Buffy, Willow, you come with me. Xander, stay here and keep an eye out for anyone suspicious. No one else in this school can know where the Vegemite is. Nobody is above suspicion.

XANDER: Got it.

Giles, Buffy and Willow walk past the counter, not noticing Cordelia hiding behind it, and into Giles' office. Xander turns back around towards the doors. As he does, the doors open, and Amy walks in. Xander greets her, talking loudly so as to attract the attention of the rest of the gang.

XANDER: Amy! What are you doing in here? If you're looking for a book, I'm afraid the library's fresh out of ...

Xander trails off as he looks at Amy's face. Her eyes are pitch black.

XANDER: Uh-oh.

Suddenly, Amy raises her arms, and a bolt of bright light shoots out from her hands, hitting Xander square in the chest. Xander is sent flying across the room, and lands in a heap on the study table. As he lands, the jar of Vegemite falls out of his pocket, and hits the floor, rolling towards the wall. Amy turns, and quickly runs out of the library. Hearing the noise, Buffy, Giles and Willow come back out of the office, and run over to Xander.

GILES: Xander, what happened?

WILLOW: Are you okay?

BUFFY: Here, grab my arm.

Buffy puts her arm out, Xander grabs it, and she pulls him up to a sitting position on the table. He looks out of it, and his eyes are glazed over.

BUFFY: What happened to you?

XANDER: (dazed) Amy.

WILLOW: Amy?

GILES: Amy Madison? She's a witch, yes?

WILLOW: Well, her mom was.

BUFFY: Maybe it runs in the family.

Xander is beginning to snap out of it, and he looks around.

XANDER: Where's ...

He starts to get up from the table, but Buffy holds him there, afraid he's still weak, not wanting him to try and walk yet.

BUFFY: Where's what?

XANDER: ... my Vegemite?

Buffy looks around on the table, then on the floor.

XANDER: My Vegemite fell out of my pocket.

BUFFY: It's not here.

Behind them, we see Cordelia sneaking quietly out of the library, Xander's Vegemite jar in her hand. The others are looking around on the floor, and don't notice her.

GILES: Hang on a moment. Amy stole the Vegemite?

WILLOW: She's the thief!

XANDER: First vampires, now witches. Everybody's after my Vegemite.

BUFFY: I gotta find Amy. She is so gonna pay for this.

Buffy starts walking forcefully towards the library doors. Giles comes up behind her, and grabs her arm. Buffy stops, and turns to look at him.

GILES: I think we should be sure she's the witch before we arouse her suspicions.

BUFFY: (quietly) Giles, she stole my Vegemite. She stole Xander's Vegemite. I'm stopping this now.

Giles has no answer for this. Buffy walks out.

***

The Summers kitchen. Joyce is squeezing oranges to make juice. Buffy storms in, looking angry.

JOYCE: You're in a good mood.

BUFFY: (not stopping) I take it that's sarcasm.

JOYCE: Uh-huh. Let me guess, more Vegemite problems?

BUFFY: Yep.

JOYCE: Vampires?

BUFFY: Witch.

JOYCE: Oh.

Buffy heads upstairs. Joyce returns to her orange squeezing. A few moments later, Buffy comes back into the kitchen, carrying a bag of weapons.

BUFFY: Bye, Mom.

JOYCE: Bye, honey.

Buffy leaves.

JOYCE: (calling) Have a nice time!

***

The library. Giles, Willow and Xander are at the table. Buffy walks in, carrying her weapons bag.

GILES: Oh, Buffy, good. We seem to have encountered a bit of a problem.

BUFFY: What problem?

WILLOW: The Vegemite jars are disappearing!

BUFFY: What do you mean?

GILES: Exactly that. Every couple of minutes, another jar of Vegemite vanishes from the box. We believe Amy is casting spells to mystically transport the jars to her.

BUFFY: How many jars do we have left?

XANDER: Not many. Buffy, we gotta stop this!

BUFFY: Giles, where would she be casting these spells?

GILES: Oh, well, most likely the attic of her home.

BUFFY: Then let's get there.

XANDER: We're with you.

GILES: (to Xander) No. You and I should stay here and keep an eye on the remaining jars. Buffy and Willow can go to Amy's home.

WILLOW: Let's go then.

Willow gets up, and she and Buffy head out.

XANDER: Be careful.

***

Amy's attic. Amy is sitting on the floor, her legs crossed, her eyes shut. There are Vegemite jars all around her. Behind her, the door opens, and Cordelia walks in.

CORDELIA: How's it going?

Amy opens her eyes, and turns to look up at Cordy.

AMY: I'm almost done.

CORDELIA: Well, hurry up! I haven't got all day! What the hell's taking you so long, anyway? I thought you were a great and powerful witch!

AMY: I am.

CORDELIA: Well, pull your broomstick out of your ass and get me my Vegemite!

Cordy turns back to leave, only to find Buffy and Willow standing in the doorway, blocking her exit.

WILLOW: (to Amy) Do you actually ride a broom?

BUFFY: (coldly) Hello, Cordelia. I should have known you were in on this.

CORDELIA: (scared and nervous) Hi, Buffy.

BUFFY: Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, give us back our Vegemite before I break your head open.

CORDELIA: (desperately) No! It's mine! ... I need it! Get them, Amy!

Amy gets up, and runs at Buffy. When Amy gets within arm's reach, Buffy belts her with a furious right cross. Amy hits the floor, unconscious.

BUFFY: I'm not gonna repeat myself, Cordelia.

Buffy thrusts a cardboard box at Cordy.

BUFFY: Start packing.

Not wanting to incur Buffy's wrath, Cordelia starts picking up the Vegemite jars and packing them into the box. As she puts the last one in, Willow walks over to her, and snatches the box from her hands.

BUFFY: That's better. Now get out.

Seeing her chance to escape unharmed, Cordy quickly leaves the room, and runs out of the house. Willow looks down at Amy.

WILLOW: What should we do with her?

BUFFY: Leave her. We'll deal with her if we have to. But she'll think twice before getting between me and my Vegemite again.

Buffy and Willow walk out. As soon as the door shuts behind them, Amy's eyes snap open. She stands up, and pulls a jar of Vegemite out from her pocket.

AMY: I'm thinking of getting fat.

She holds the jar up in front of her eyes, and grins evilly.

AMY: I think lots of Vegemite would be a good way to start.

T.B.C.