Chapter 4: Under Your Spell
When the show faded back in again, Ryan was standing as two joggers passed him by and said, "Here we are once again. Now, in the last segment, we saw Willow's shameless fall from glory. Tara, her girlfriend, will try to cheer her up, but what Tara doesn't know is that this is her chance to advance to the next round. After the last performance, Paula said Tara didn't engage her enough and although Randy thought she had a good voice, he claimed she still needed to work on presence. Will the judges' comments affect her performance now? Let's see how she does."
The screen cut to a shot of Tara's graduation photo. Tara was smiling shyly in the picture, her hair obscuring most of her face. Unlike Buffy's and Willow's, it was intact.
In the voiceover, Ryan said, "Tara MacClay is our next contestant. She comes from Nebraska and is also studying for her major in Psychology at Sunnydale University."
As the montage of Tara's daily life passes, scenes of Tara at college, walking with Willow in the park, at the Magic Shoppe with Anya, Ryan said, "Tara met Willow there, in a Wiccan support group. She now lives with Willow in Buffy's house, studying like a regular student, but..."
The screen cut to scenes of Tara's spells, her doing small mediation chants, studying in the Magic Box and walking hand-in-hand with Willow.
"...Tara shares more than just a room with Willow. She shares a love for witchcraft... and a love for each other."
Tara said, as she is interviewed, "Willow... is great. She's my everything. She's so powerful and I love doing spells with her. Magic can be so... freeing. But… it can also be dangerous."
The screen cut back to Ryan and panned right to show where Willow and Tara were walking, holding hands. Willow's face was still tear-streaked but they were both smiling slightly.
"I don't care," she sniffled. "I want you to win. You have such a great voice."
"I don't know, Willow. We don't know anything about this. And those judges are mean. Especially the English one."
Willow smiled and cajoled Tara. "Come on, you can do it! You're the most wonderful person I know. You'll amaze them all!"
"I'm just ... not used to this. You – you think everyone wants to hear me?"
Willow looked at Tara fondly and asserted, "Of course, they do! Everyone would love you! Can't you see what they see in you?!"
"I know exactly what they see in me," Tara said shyly. "You."
Tara turned to Willow and began to sing,
I lived my life in shadow
Never the sun on my face.
It didn't seem so sad, though
I figured that was my place
Now I'm bathed in light
Something just isn't right
They walked past the park bench where the three judges sat, watching them. Willow gave Simon a scathing look, but turned back to Tara who continued,
I'm under your spell
How else could it be
Anyone would notice me?
It's magic, I can tell
How you set me free
Brought me out so easily.
The camera cut to a stream where Willow and Tara are on the bridge. Tara took Willow's hand and they walked off the bridge onto a path, holding hands.
I saw a world enchanted
Spirits and charms in the air.
Tara made a gesture with her arm and sparkles appeared, following her hand with a little tinkling noise.
I always took for granted
I was the only one there.
Willow made some even more impressive sparkles with her hand, ending in a small shower of sparks surrounding them both. They smiled at each other.
But your power shone
Brighter than any I've known.
Tara spun away from Willow to a small pond at the edge of the grass. Tara began to dance.
I'm under your spell
Nothing I can do
You just took my soul with you
A couple of young women were on the grass sunbathing in the background. They got up and began dancing in sync with Tara.
You worked your charms so well
Finally, I knew
Everything I dreamed was true
You make me believe…
Willow and Tara spun around in each other's arms. Suddenly they were in their bedroom. They sat down on the bed and looked lovingly at each other.
The moon to the tide
I can feel you inside
I'm under your spell (she lay down on the bed)
Surging like the sea (Willow leaned over her and smiled)
Wanting you so helplessly
I break with every swell (Willow moved downward and disappeared out of shot)
Lost in ecstasy
Spread beneath my willow tree
You make me complete!
Tara's body slowly rose up and hovered over the bed.
You make me complete
You make me complete
You make me...
The screen cut to the bedroom door and Simon, Paula and Randy were standing in front of bed. Willow and Tara jumped up from the bed, startled when they appeared.
"Okay!" exclaimed Randy, clapping his hands. "Before this turns X-rated, let's remind you we're on national TV, okay?"
"National TV? WHAT?!" cried Willow.
Paula smiled and said, "We just want to give you our decision before... you know. Randy, what did you think?"
"Girl, I said it before and I'm saying it again. You have a great voice. Go with it. Paula?"
Paula nodded and said, "I so agree. It's obvious you love Willow so much and it shows in your delivery. I can feel it."
"Thanks, I do," Tara said, shifting a look at Willow and nodding.
"I know I said otherwise before," continued Paula. "but your performance has changed my mind. Much better. I think you have what it takes. You just have to work on your confidence. When you let go like that, you shine. Simon?"
Simon smiled and added, "For once, I agree with these two. Beautiful voice, well done." As Tara began to smile back, his smile faded and he said, "However, I don't mean to be rude, but your image has left to be desired. That bodice? What is this, 18th century? And the hair? You have to look the part. No one will listen to you looking like that!"
"What?" exclaimed Willow. "Of course they will, she looks great!"
"No, she doesn't," Simon answered back, matter-of-factly.
"Well, I beg to differ," Willow retorted.
"Then, differ," he said, calmly, which only served to irritate Willow more.
"Well, I do, she looks great," Willow spat back, trying to keep her voice as low as his was.
"No, she does not," he repeated, ever so calmly. "Not like that."
Willow lost it. In a childlike whine, she yelled, "Does too!"
"Does not," he replied, quietly.
"Does too!!"
"Does not."
"Willow…" Tara started, seeing the conversation could go on indefinitely.
"No!" Willow took a menacing step forward and yelled, "Tara's beautiful! Where the hell do you get off – ?!"
"Willow, it's okay…" Tara tried to soothe her, quietly.
"NO! He obviously doesn't have a clue!" Willow raged angrily. "You look amazing! Go to hell!" she told Simon.
"Well, listening to you sing, I've been there," he replied calmly. Ignoring her open mouth of surprise and Paula's quiet sputters of outrage, he turned to Tara and said, "Okay, Tara, welcome to the next round. And wear something more modern. Paula, Randy?"
The judges left the bedroom as the camera cut back to Tara and Willow who were hugging. Willow was still a bit red-faced, but smiled at Tara, who teared in happiness.
As the judges exited the house, they passed Ryan who looked at the camera. "There you have it, folks. Willow had her chance to tear into Simon, but Tara still passed to the next round. Will she be able to overcome her image problems and be the next Sunnydale Idol? Find out this and more as we meet our next contestants when Sunnydale Idol returns after these words."
The screen faded out, then quickly back in to show Xander, Buffy, Giles and Dawn at the Magic Box who were been unknowingly taped for reactions.
"So, who do you think is going to win?" Xander asked Buffy.
"Huh?" she said, looking up from the book she is reading.
"You know, this. The annoying guy told me the prize is the chance to get your CD labelled."
"Really?!" cried Dawn, excitedly. "I'm so going to win. And I'll call my first album, 'At the Break of Dawn'. Cool, huh? 'Cause my name's Dawn… get it? I'll win a whole bunch of awards… and I'll be sure to thank you in my first thank you speech, of course," she added, humbly as an afterthought. "Then I'll go on tour and – "
"Okay, easy there," Buffy warned. "We don't even know what we're dealing with here. It could be demons, it could be a spell…"
"Exactly," added Giles. "Care must be taken to ascertain…"
"…or it could be the real deal," insisted Xander. "A contest on TV. Looking for a star and somehow we got chosen to compete!"
"Even if. I can't say I'm comfortable with these cameras about with the kind of nightlife Sunnydale has. We'd have a lot of questions to answer," Giles explained.
"Giles is right. Besides, that host is waaay too excited to be real," agreed Buffy.
"And Paula's gotta be under some kind of spell," Anya chimed in as she walked in. "She's way too smiley."
Buffy nodded in agreement, turning back to her book as Dawn said, "Come on! It's not like we fighting some big evil! Songs, judges, dancing around. What's so evil about that?"
The screen cut to a dark alley beside the Bronze where a man was tap-dancing across the floor. The close-up revealed his expression was scared and desperate. He continued dancing and suddenly burst into flames, screaming.
He fell to the floor in front of a pair of feet in red shoes and red pants.
The camera panned up to reveal Sweet, smiling evilly. "Now, that's entertainment."
The camera blacked out.
