Chapter 8: Sweet's Change of Plans
"All right! Back in Sunnydale for the rest of our prime-time special, Sunnydale Idol!" cried Ryan as the show faded back in to find Ryan standing in front a house. "I'm here in front of the Summers' house, not to visit Buffy, but the last of our competitors, her little sister, Dawn. Let's meet her."
The scene cut to a photo of Dawn posing by a tree in a blue sundress. Then, a montage of Dawn's daily routine passed by, scenes of her going to school, doing homework, and even sneaking out of her room at night.
Ryan voiceovered, "Dawn seems like the normal fifteen-year-old, going to school and having fun, but..."
The scene cut to a shot of Dawn standing on the scaffolding, where they had fought Glory and the portal had opened.
"...Dawn is actually a mystical energy call the Key, used to open the gates to other dimensions."
"Apparently, I don't exist," she said in her interview. "But I'm here! Can't you see me!? No, it's Buffy this and Buffy that... Yeah, I'd love to get out of Sunnydale and make it big. Then maybe someone would care about me."
The shot went back to Ryan, who is standing outside Dawn's bedroom door. "Sounds like there are some abandonment issues…" he joked. "Let's see if Dawn can sing them out!"
The door opened and the camera panned in to find Dawn at her dresser where she opened a small wooden box. It was filled with all kinds of jewellery and amulets. She took out the necklace Xander had used to summon Sweet and put it on, looking at herself in the mirror.
Does anybody even notice?
Does anybody even care?
She turned around to find a demon standing behind her. Its whole head was like a big mask. The camera panned to show that there were actually three of the minions. They threw a bag over Dawn's head. She continued screaming, muffled.
As the minions dragged her off, they passed Ryan, who was standing in the hallway, looking confused. "Hey! This isn't in the scrip… hey!" he said, noticing the camera on him. "Well, it's seems Dawn's been… kidnapped. Let's tag along, shall we?"
His plastered-on smile twitched slightly as they followed the minions out.
The scene cut to the Bronze, where Dawn was asleep on the pool table. She suddenly jerked awake, sat up, and began to do a ballet dance.
She leapt down off the pool table and was confronted by one of the masked minions. As they danced, Dawn tried to escape and the demon stopped her. The other two demons appeared and joined in as they surrounded Dawn as she huddled close to the floor. Then, they flung her and she went sliding across the floor, stopping beside the stage, where Ryan just walked in. On the stage, Sweet was sitting on a chair.
Noticing Dawn at his feet, Ryan said, "Hey, Sweet, what's the deal? This isn't part of th – "
"The plan's changed, human," Sweet intoned as he danced down the stairs, towards Dawn. The minions came to Ryan's either side and held him.
To Dawn, he sang,
Why'd you run away?
Don't you like my ... style?
He snapped his fingers and his red suit turned to a blue one.
Why don't you come and play?
I guarantee a...
He reached up to his face, pulled off his mouth and held the disembodied mouth in Dawn's face. She stared in shock as the mouth continued singing.
...great big smile.
The mouth disappeared from his hand and reappeared in its normal place.
I come from the
Imagination
And I'm here strictly by an
Invocation (he held up a scroll covered with writing)
So what do you say?
Why don't we dance awhile?
He danced over to Dawn, gestured at her, then danced away again.
I'm the hot swing
I'm the twist and shout
When you gotta sing,
When you gotta ... let it out.
You call me and I come a-running
I turn the music on
I bring the fun in
Now we're partyin'
That's what it's all about.
He chuckled as he danced toward Dawn and she danced backward.
'Cause I know ... what you feel, girl.
He put his arms around her and they danced together as Dawn looked at him, scared.
I know just what you feel, girl.
He spun Dawn away and she danced a few steps away from him. Nervously, she asked him, "So ... you're like a good demon? Bringing the fun in?"
Sweet laughed and shook his head no.
All these melodies…
They go on too long
Then that energy
Starts to come on way too strong
All those hearts laid open, that must sting
Plus, some customers just start combusting
Sweet opened the door next to him and a charred smoking corpse fell through it. Dawn stared in horror.
That's the penalty
When life is but a song.
You brought me down into this town
So, when we blow this scene
Back we will go to my kingdom below
And you will be my queen
Sweet made a gesture and Dawn's pants and shirt turned into a satiny ball gown.
'Cause I know what you feel, girl.
Dawn nervously sang
No, you see
You and me
Wouldn't be very regal
Sweet replied,
I'll make it real, girl
Dawn added,
What I mean
I'm fifteen
So this queen thing's illegal
Sweet laughed,
I can bring whole cities to ruin
And still have time to get a soft-shoe in
Dawn insisted,
Well, that's great
But I'm late
And I'd hate to delay her
Sweet, ignoring her,
Something's cooking, I'm at the griddle
I bought Nero his very first fiddle
Continuing, Dawn added,
She'll get pissed
If I'm missed
See, my sister's the Slayer…
Sweet stopped in mid-kick, looked at her surprised, stopped dancing and then turned to Dawn.
"The Slayer?" he asked her.
"Yuh-huh," Dawn nodded, nervously.
Sweet chuckled and turned to his minions, holding Ryan. "All right, let's make this interesting." To Ryan, he said, "Find her. Tell her ... tell her everything. Just get her and the judges here. I want to see the Slayer burn…"
As Ryan and the minions left, Dawn looked at Sweet, alarmed.
Sweet smiled at her and sang,
Now we're partying. That's what it's all about…
The screen faded to black, then cut to commercial.
