Chapter 2: Let's Meet Our Contestants!

Chapter 2: Let's Meet Our Contestants!


         When the opening sequence ended, the scene cut to Ryan, standing outside the Magic Box with Sweet, who was holding a necklace.

         "All right! We're back!" cried Ryan. Turning to Sweet, he asked, "Now, Sweet, we just need someone to pick up the necklace and say the incantation, right?"

         "That's right, Ryan. By leaving it here, I'm sure one of our contestants will pick it up," replied Sweet.

         Ryan, taking the necklace and placing it by the door, added gleefully, "Well, let's find out."

         They went into the side alley by the magic shop and waited.

         As the camera cut to show the street, Xander came walking down towards the Magic Box where he spotted the necklace and picked it up.

         The camera cut to the looks of expectation on Ryan and Sweet's faces as they jumped in contained excitement.

         Cutting back to Xander, he examined the necklace. "Hmm, strange. Anya would never let any of her merchandise just lying around for someone to take it. What's this? 'Let the show begin'? What's that supposed to mean?" he said to himself out loud and then, with a shrug, pocketed the necklace. "I'll just give it back to Anya in the morning."

         He left and the camera cut to the side alley where Ryan and Sweet came out, excitedly.

         "So, was that enough?" asked Ryan.

         "Oh, yeah! We're in business!" Sweet said, as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

         Ryan almost jumped as he excitedly joked, "Man, I feel like singing!"

         "Whoa there, tiger. I put a small charm that exempts you and those of you working for the show. Can't have the judges singing back, now can we?" laughed Sweet.

         "Oh, no…" agreed Ryan. Turning to the camera, he pointed and said, "Did Sweet's spell work? Well, in great old American Idol tradition, let's look at some of the auditions!"

         The scene cut to many spliced auditions, namely a young girl singing a high-pitched version of "Stop In The Name of Love"; a older man singing an off-key "Pour Some Sugar on Me", a werewolf singing an all-too-invigorating rendition of "Born to be Wild", a bunch of zombies, singing, appropriately enough, a very slow and monotonous version of "Thriller"; another young girl who spent more time showing off as much skin as she could than sing her version of "Unbreak My Heart" properly. Wedged between the auditions are scenes of the fairly bored judges who are obviously not impressed with Sunnydale's showing.

         As the scene cut back to Ryan, now standing alone in front of the Bronze, he said, "Well, the spell worked! …But obviously, the judges were less than satisfied." Grimacing as the last girl's song, which had been playing in the background as a voiceover came to a screeching halt, he smiled and continued, "With Sweet's help, though, we have chosen eight wonderful contestants, one of which will become our next... Sunnydale Idol! Who has what it takes? Why don't you try to guess? Here they are!" he announced.

         The scene shifted to a montage of the contestants. As each contestant came up, their name, age and occupation was clearly identified at the bottom of the screen.

         The first shot was a photo of Xander, in work clothes and a hard hat, standing in front of a construction site. The caption read:

              Name: Alexander Harris
              Age: 22
              Occupation: Construction Worker

         As the photo faded into a close-up of Xander, he said, "I think I could be the next Sunnydale Idol. I've got a decent voice and hey, who wouldn't want a bit of Xander-goodness?" He laughed and continued, seriously, "Yeah, I'd love to be famous."

         The scene cut to a picture of Tara, sitting in the park, holding her cat. The caption read:

              Name: Tara MacClay
              Age: 21
              Occupation: University Student

         Tara stuttered as the camera closed in on her. "I-I-I'm a p-p-pretty good s-s-singer. I get n-n-nervous sometimes, but it's n-n-normal, right?" She took a visible deep breath and added, "I think I will surprise everyone."

         Dawn's picture was next, showing her sitting at the large table in the Magic Box, 'doing' her homework. The caption read:

              Name: Dawn Summers
              Age: 15
              Occupation: High School Student

         Dawn smiled very excitedly as the camera focused in on her. "I can sing... and dance!" she announced. "And I know what kids really want, not like all these geezers. I watch MTV! Trust me, I'm the next Sunnydale Idol... then I can get out of this stupid – "

         Her comment was cut off by the photo of Willow, standing in front of Sunnydale University. Her caption read:

              Name: Willow Rosenberg
              Age: 22
              Occupation: University Student

         Willow fidgeted as she said to the camera, " Oh, yeah. I think I have it. Maybe I don't exactly speak… muscianiese, but I think anyone can sing well, if they wanted to." She thought for a moment. "Yeah, I think I could do it."

         The next picture was of Buffy, sitting on her back porch. Her caption read:

              Name: Elizabeth Summers
              Age: 21
              Occupation: Cashier/Server

         On her close-up, Buffy sighed thoughtfully, "Man, leave my job, be all famous... yeah, I'd really love that. I could finally stop worrying about the mortgage, you know?" She looked away, then back. "But duty calls, you know?"

         The next shot was a bit blurry, as it was taken at night and depicted a blond man in a black leather duster, door half-closed, hand out, index and big finger forming a V. His caption read:

              Name: Spike
              Age: Undisclosed
              Occupation: Poet

         The close-up was rather bouncy as it seemed the cameraman was walking after Spike, who looked backward to say, "What? Idol? Like hell!" Spike stopped and faced the camera, pointing his finger at it, accusingly. "That bloody ponce stole my look! Is what you get for helping a poor bloke out, I say! And who gets ribbed for me? Me! I'll have you know – "

         Spike's tirade was cut off by Giles' picture, taken in his apartment. His caption read:

              Name: Rupert Giles
              Age: 47
              Occupation: Proprietor

         "Well, yes, I'd like to fancy myself a decent singer," he said as the camera closed in on him. "Yes, perhaps this would be an excellent opportunity to pursue. To allow my music to prevail in this generation..."

         The shot cut to Anya's picture, standing in front of the Magic Shoppe. Her caption read:

              Name: Anya
              Age: 20
              Occupation: Sales Clerk and Useful Member of Society

         As the camera focused, Anya primped her hair and gushed, "Become a rock star?! Yes, I'd love that! Do you know how much money those people make?!"

         Ryan chuckled as the scene cut to him standing again in the graveyard, now with three people sitting on the long, flat tombstone to his left.

         "Interesting contestants, interesting show! Now, before we start, I would like to introduce our judges, who will be evaluating the contestants as we go along. Paula Abdul..."

         As he gestured to her, a quick close-up had Paula cheerily saying, "Hey, everyone!"

         "...Randy Jackson..." Ryan introduced the heavy-set man beside the petite woman, who sitting back relaxed, said, "Hey, what's up, dog?"

         "...and Simon Cowell," Ryan finished, waving to the man on Paula's other side with a flick of his hand.

         "Thanks, Ryan. Haven't done anything about that hair? It's quite horrible," Simon commented.

         Ryan, smiling nonetheless, cheerily replied, "Nope! But save your comments, Simon, for our contestants, whom we'll get to right after this. Stay right there!"