ACT 3
INT A SOLARIUM AT THE HOSPITAL-- DAY. Joyce and Hank sit on a couch on either side of Buffy, with Dawn at Hank's other side. Willow and Xander stand in a corner of the room, appearing to be attending to OTHER PATIENTS in the room but actually having their ears tuned to Buffy. Buffy recites lines from the episode "Empty Places"; she continues to speak to imaginary people and to ignore the presence of Joyce and Hank.
Exactly. We start in California. If nothing turns up, we expand the search to other areas. But a guy like Caleb didn't just get in the game. He's been playing for a while. We thought we'd try to find out where.
Right. And if that doesn't work, we'll try something else. Whatever it takes. You okay to help?
Dawn says nothing in response but keeps her undivided attention on Buffy's monologue although her parents don't notice. To them this is an all too painful routine that they have learned to bear stoically.
Good.
Giles enters and approaches them.
Dr. Whedon! What a surprise to find you here on a Sunday!
Yes, Hank. I made a special trip in today because I knew you folks would be coming in. Might I have a word with you and Joyce in my office?
And Dawn, I'd like you in on this too.
Dr. Whedon, is something wrong?
Actually, I'm hoping it's good news.
INT GILES' INNER OFFICE as the three family members sit on the couch and Giles rolls his swivel chair out from behind his desk to seat himself facing them. Joyce and Hank show a mild apprehension.
Now, as you are all aware, over the years since she first came to us, Buffy has incorporated myself and a few of the staff members and other patients into the fantasy world that she has created for herself and lives in. Along with Joyce and Dawn. Then a couple of years ago, she eliminated Joyce from her world and, at about the same time, created this fantastic attribute for Dawn where she's really a form of supernatural energy.
So what's the good news?
I said it might be good news, Hank.
As I've said all along, I believe the world that Buffy has created for herself is her way of fighting back at her attacker. Since she never saw the face of that attempted rapist, she affixes the faces of vampires and demons to that image and slays them in her mind as a catharsis. Of course, the catharsis is temporary and has to be constantly repeated.
But throughout all this, Buffy's world has been consistent and chronologically linear. Each battle, each new vampire or demon or monster, has a beginning, a middle and an end, which is always a victory. And she remembers those individual vampires and demons and her victories. And in listening carefully to Buffy's current fantasies, she's been talking about an upcoming battle with the evil that came before all others. Her final battle.
Meaning?
Meaning there might be a window of opportunity for us to snatch her out of that world and back into reality.
Joyce and Hank raise their eyebrows at this.
Do you really think that could happen?
I think there's a very good chance that could happen. That's the up side. The down side is that, from what we can tell from what she's been saying, Buffy is ready to stop fighting vampires and demons and end the fantasy world she's created. Fairly soon, whether or not we intervene. But if we don't intervene, her mind could slip into a void. She could become catatonic again. And like that last time, with Dr. Hill, there's no telling for how long.
So how do we intervene?
That's why I need Dawn's involvement. She's a very important part of Buffy's world. So are Willow and Xander and myself. I think if the four of us start to play along with Buffy's fantasy, assume the roles she's assigned to us in her world, I think when the moment arrives, we can guide her along out of that world and into reality.
Dawn, will you help?
Of course, Mom.
That'll mean her spending a lot of her free time here with Buffy.
I'd be happy to.
Okay with us. What about me and Hank?
When the time comes, we're going to want the two of you nearby. But it may actually be dangerous for the two of you to be in the room at the critical moment. Don't make any value judgments, but please remember that in Buffy's world,
you've abandoned your family,
and you're dead.
INT BUFFY'S BEDROOM AT THE SUMMERS HOME-- DAY. The room has an unlived-in shrinelike feel, and is furnished much as Buffy's room had been at the beginning of the series. Dawn enters carrying two large shopping bags full of new things. She lays them on the bed, exits and returns with two more bags. She stands there thoughtfully for several seconds, then starts rearranging things, taking things out of the bags.
WIPE TO the same scene after an elapsed time. Dawn is still busy but the room now has a noticeably different feel: it looks nearly the same as Buffy's room in Sunnydale in Season 6 prior to her moving into Joyce's room.
Joyce walks past the door and then doubles back and looks in, her eyebrows raised.
Dawn? What are you doing?
Oh, hi, Mom! Just a little redecorating.
A little? You've never redecorated your own room this much! You must've spent half your savings on this stuff!
It's worth it for Buffy.
Joyce walks in, sits on the bed and pats the spot next to her. Dawn sits there and they put their arms around each other.
What has gotten into you? You hug and kiss me and Dad every time you see us, you do your homework and chores without our having to tell you, you come home earlier than we tell you to. Even before Dr. Whedon asked you to help, you spent more time with Buffy last week than you normally do in a month, and now you're redecorating her room out of your own pocket....
All right, who are you and what have you done with the real Dawn?
Made her grow up.
I can see that! You're not my little baby anymore. And I'm proud of what you've become. Dawnie, I've worried so much that your Dad and I have smothered you because of what happened to Buffy. That we've never let you grow up. It's as if someone else has been raising you behind our backs and making you more mature than we could have.
You and Dad have done fine, Mom.
I've just never seen you change this much in so little time!
It was that dream you had last week, wasn't it?
Uh huh.
Are you ever gonna tell me about it?
Someday, Mom. Maybe after Buffy comes home.
Oh, Sweetheart! I know you've been working closely with Dr. Whedon on this guided fantasy therapy thing, and I know how optimistic he sounds, but he himself says we shouldn't get our hopes up.
Buffy's gonna come home, Mom. Real soon. I can feel it. Dr. Whedon knows what he's doing.
Yes, Honey, and he's not making any promises.
Well, you've kept this room for Buffy all these years. You moved all her stuff here after we moved from the old house.
Yes, and I know that some of the family and my friends talk behind my back, about how this room is a clear example of my being in denial.
Like mother, like daughter!
Okay, tell you what. Dad and I will split the cost of all this new stuff with you.
No, Mom. This is on me.
Tell you what, though. Let me go shopping for a new wardrobe for Buffy, and you guys can pick up the tab.
Oh, Honey. What if this new therapy doesn't work and Buffy doesn't come home?
She'll come home, Mom. I just know it.
Besides, it'll all be stuff that I can wear!
Well, how do you know that she'll like what you buy for her? For that matter, how do you know she'll like what you've done to this room?
I just know that, too, Mom. Trust me!
INT THE HOSPITAL CORRIDOR. The camera leads as Xander pushes Buffy in a wheelchair, with Giles walking alongside and Joyce, Hank, Dawn and Willow following behind.
CUT TO:
INT SUNNYDALE HIGH CORRIDOR (scene from "Chosen"). ROBIN, ANYA, ANDREW, Dawn, Giles, Willow, Xander and Buffy stand.
Down the hall to the atrium; the north hall; and the primary target, through the lounge to the science building. Odds are most of them will head there.
Teams of two, then. I suggest you and I take the lounge.
I concur.
CUT TO:
THE HOSPITAL CORRIDOR (continuing). Dawn, Willow, Xander and Giles are beginning to show much emotion as they speak.
Xander, I want you with Dawn.
I concur.
We'll take the atrium.
Joyce and Hank look on in amazement.
Xander wheels Buffy into Giles' office.
INT THE OUTER OFFICE as Xander wheels Buffy through into the inner office with Willow following. Dawn pauses. Giles motions for Joyce and Hank to sit down in the outer office seats. They do so.
I'm hoping this won't take too long. And remember, no matter what you two hear in there, it's all role play. All part of the plan.
Dawn kisses Joyce and Hank.
Good luck, Sweetheart.
Let's bring your sister home, Honey!
INT THE INNER OFFICE as Giles and Dawn enter, leaving the door slightly open. Xander and Giles lift Buffy out of the wheelchair and place her on the couch, as Willow and Dawn collapse the wheelchair and roll it to the far end of the room.
Andrew gives his little speech, then...
I'm going to check out our field of engagement.
Dawn....
No. Anything you say is going to sound like goodbye.
She sniffles as she steps back a few feet, leaving Giles, Willow and Xander crouching around Buffy on the couch.
So, what do you guys want to do tomorrow?
Nothing strenuous.
Well, mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind.
Well, I think we can do better than that.
I'm pretty much thinking about shopping, as usual.
INT THE OUTER OFFICE. We see Joyce and Hank sitting in the outer office listening in.
There's an Agnes B. at the new mall....
CLOSE ON BUFFY ON THE COUCH, THEN ZOOM IN ON HER EYES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAMERA PARTIALLY DISSOLVES TO A DOUBLE EXPOSURE WITH
A MONTAGE OF SCENES FROM THE LAST PORTION OF "CHOSEN":
BUFFY, FAITH AND THE POTENTIALS OPENING THE SEAL OF DANZALTHAR.
WILLOW'S HAIR TURNING WHITE AS SHE USES THE SCYTHE TO EMPOWER THE POTENTIALS.
THE BIG BATTLE INSIDE THE HELLMOUTH.
BUFFY GETTING A SWORD IN HER BACK FROM A TUROK-HAN AND FALLING OVER AS THE FIRST TAKES ON HER FORM AND TAUNTS HER.
SPIKE STANDING IN THE SHAFT OF LIGHT UNDER THE OPEN SEAL AS THE AMULET BEGINS BURNING THE TUROK-HANS AND COLLAPSING THE HELLMOUTH.
DISSOLVE OUT THE DOUBLE EXPOSURE OF BUFFY'S EYES AS WE CUT TO
SPIKE AND BUFFY HOLDING HANDS WHILE FLAMES SHOOT OUT FROM THEM.
I mean it. I've gotta do this.
I love you.
No you don't, but thanks for saying it!
EXT SUNNYDALE HIGH as the school bus pulls away with Dawn looking anxiously out the rear windows.
We continue to see the sequence from "Chosen" as Buffy runs to the school upper floor, then runs along the rooftops of the town to catch up to the bus with Dawn watching anxiously, as the town collapses into the expanding hellmouth crater behind them. Buffy leaps onto the roof of the bus.
BUT...
CUT TO ROBIN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT as he passes out and collapses onto the steering wheel.
EXT THE BUS as it swerves off the road and rolls on its side, throwing Buffy to the ground next to it. An instant later, the crater expands under them and the bus rolls over into the crater, crushing Buffy on its way.
INT GILES'S INNER OFFICE
CLOSE ON BUFFY as she lets out a short SHRIEK, then slumps back in the couch, totally limp and catatonic. A long beat.
The others speak in hushed tones, not quite in whispers but trying to keep Joyce and Hank from hearing outside.
This is way past the point where we all died in the other world!
Giles? Nothing's happening!
Oh, God! We've lost her!
I think she's become catatonic again! Dear Lord, this is what I've feared....
END ACT 3; INSERT COMMERCIAL BREAK.
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