6x06
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

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                                       TEASER

                                                               FADE IN:

         1     INT. GREYHOUND BUS. NIGHT.                               1

               CONNOR and SONIA are fast asleep on the bus, Sonia leaning
               her head on Connor's shoulder, his jacket lain across them
               both. The bus hits a pothole and BOUNCES, waking up several
               passengers, including Connor.

               He looks around and blinks as he comes to, then glances down
               at the still fast asleep Sonia and grins. He peers out
               through the bus window but it's dark outside, just the odd
               light scrolling past.

               Sonia stirs and sits up, her hair sticking up. Connor manages
               not to chuckle at it as she yawns and looks over to him with
               a tired but happy smile.

                                   SONIA
                         Hey.

                                   CONNOR
                         Good evening. You get to sleep
                         okay?

                                   SONIA
                         Yeah, out like a light soon as my
                         head hits the pillow! Although in
                         this case, the pillow was your
                         shoulder, which was also
                         surprisingly comfortable… Can I
                         borrow your arm for when I can't
                         sleep?

                                   CONNOR
                         I'm sure we can come to an
                         arrangement!

               She grins again and reaches up to get her bag down from the
               overhead luggage rack, rooting noisily through it.

                                   CONNOR (cont'd)
                         What are you looking for?

                                   SONIA
                         The rest of that food we got
                         earlier, I'm starving!

                                   CONNOR
                             (raises eyebrow)
                         You just woke up!

               Sonia throws him a look, as if to say 'and?'

               As Sonia starts retrieving some greasy wrapped food, we walk
               back up towards the rear of the bus to see SKYE, a teenage
               girl with black plaited hair, a punky look to her outfit and
               a cell phone in one hand as she makes a call.

               After a few beats, she makes an irritated click with her
               tongue and fishes out an address book from her jacket pocket,
               checking the number and dialling again.

         2     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. NIGHT.                            2

               The phone on the reception desk is ringing, but there's
               nobody there to answer it. A shower can be heard running
               upstairs, and as the phone rings on the main lobby doors open
               to reveal ANGEL, back from his trip to Cleveland.

               He hears the phone and dashes over.

                                   ANGEL
                         Angel Investigations, we help the-
                             (beat)
                         Hello?

         3     INT. GREYHOUND BUS. NIGHT.                               3

               Skye is tucking her phone away, looking less than happy.

         4     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. NIGHT.                            4

               Angel shrugs and puts the phone back down as NINA appears at
               the balcony overhead, wet from the shower.

                                   NINA
                         Oh, hi, Angel! Did I just hear the
                         phone ringing?

                                   ANGEL
                         Yeah, they'd already hung up.

                                   NINA
                         How was Cleveland?

                                   ANGEL
                         Dark. And it didn't smell great,
                         either. I'll tell you about it
                         later.

                                   NINA
                         Did you give Buffy that scroll
                         thing that got posted here?

                                   ANGEL
                         Yeah, I did. It's up to her what
                         she makes of it now.

                                   NINA
                         Okay. Well, just let me finish up
                         and I'll be right down!

               She disappears back into the bathroom as Angel looks round
               the lobby. Something occurs to him.

                                   ANGEL
                             (calls back upstairs)
                         Is Connor here?

                                   NINA (O.S.)
                         Uh, not yet, he and Sonia had to go
                         run an, er… errand, they should be
                         back any minute.

                                   ANGEL
                         Oh, okay.
                             (looks round lobby)
                         I was kind of hoping for a bigger
                         welcome…

               We cut away from Angel to:

         5     INT. BUS STATION. NIGHT.                                 5

               The Greyhound pulls to a stop with a HISS of air brakes, and
               the doors swing open to let the passengers off.

               Connor and Sonia disembark, bags slung over their shoulders,
               chatting.

                                   CONNOR
                         So I'm gonna head back to the Hotel
                         now, I think Dad'll be home by now.

                                   SONIA
                         Yeah, I'd better get back to
                         Taylor, he's probably started
                         putting dragnets in the river
                         looking for me by now!

                                   CONNOR
                         So…

                                   SONIA
                         Yeah…

               An awkward beat. Then, with a last smile, the two turn and
               walk their separate ways. As they leave the frame, Skye steps
               into view, looking up and down the bus station's interior.

                                   SKYE
                             (mutters)
                         'Go to LA, find Angel,' she says,
                         'he'll be able to help,' she says.
                         Yeah, right…

               With a last glance around the station, she hefts her bag up
               onto her shoulders and heads away.

               But she doesn't see the SHADOWY FIGURE watching her from a
               dark corner of the station, who surreptitiously lifts a
               walkie-talkie from his pocket and speaks into it.

                                   SHADOWY FIGURE
                         It's me. Tell Mr. Kitridge that
                         she's here.

               He clicks the handset off again and watches Skye walk away
               for a beat, before we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                    END OF TEASER
                                       ACT ONE

                                                               FADE IN:

         6     EXT. STREET/HYPERION. NIGHT.                             6

               Connor heads into frame and up towards the front steps of the
               hotel. He sees Nina sitting out there and sits down beside
               her.

                                   CONNOR
                         Hey.

                                   NINA
                         Hi, honey. Good trip?

                                   CONNOR
                         Yeah, we sorted everything out.

                                   NINA
                         So what was it? Is Sonia okay now?

                                   CONNOR
                         Oh, yeah, just some crazy ex
                         boyfriend using voodoo to turn her
                         into his zombie slave girl.

                                   NINA
                             (raises eyebrow)
                         Huh.
                             (beat)
                         So did she thank the hero of the
                         day with a kiss at all?

                                   CONNOR
                             (sighs)
                         Uh… no, no she didn't.

                                   NINA
                         There'll be other times. I can tell
                         she likes you, Connor, you just
                         need to hang in there.

                                   CONNOR
                         Yeah, well… we'll see. Is Dad back?

                                   NINA
                         Yeah, he's inside. I was just
                         getting some air and taking a look
                         around. I mean, I know I wasn't
                         blind for very long, but-

                                   CONNOR
                         But even this place looks better
                         afterwards, right?

               She smiles at him, and with a nod he gets up and heads
               indoors. Nina stays on the steps, soaking in the view.

         7     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. NIGHT.                            7

               Connor walks into the lobby and drops his bag down on the
               counter as Angel heads down the stairs, looking happy to see
               his son again.

                                   ANGEL
                         Hey, Connor!

                                   CONNOR
                         Hi. Sorry for running off without
                         saying anything, I know you-

                                   ANGEL
                         Don't worry about it. Nina told me
                         you and Sonia had to go take care
                         of something?

                                   CONNOR
                         Yeah. It's… well, you know. Taken
                         care of.

               An unspoken moment as the two boys look at each other – Angel
               knows there's more to this story but is glad just to have
               Connor back for now.

                                   CONNOR (cont'd)
                         How was Buffy?

               Angel is about to answer when Nina walks back inside.

                                   ANGEL
                             (evasive)
                         Uh, well, she was, you know… fine.

                                   CONNOR
                         'Fine'? Is that it?

               Angel tries to indicate that Nina's walked back in, and now
               really isn't the time to discuss his dad's ex, but Connor
               doesn't pick up on it.

                                   CONNOR (cont'd)
                         I mean, come on, Dad, you two go
                         way back, seeing her again after
                         all this time must have been-

                                   NINA
                         Yeah, Angel, how was that? You
                         kinda avoided the subject earlier…

               Angel looks like he's hoping the ground will open up as Nina
               steps past Connor. She winks at him to play along.

                                   ANGEL
                         She- I mean, we didn't- I didn't
                         get time to- hadn't we better
                         unpack your things, Connor?

                                   NINA
                             (grins)
                         You are so easy to wind up!

               She walks past Angel, patting him on the shoulder. He sighs
               heavily and looks back to Connor.

                                   CONNOR
                         We'll talk later.

                                   ANGEL
                             (relieved)
                         Yeah, later is good.

               We leave Angel out on the balcony and cut to:

         8     INT. BAR. NIGHT.                                         8

               As The Tea Party's "Temptation" plays, we pan across the busy
               downtown bar and pick up Skye, alone at the counter as she
               leafs through a small map of the city.

               A shadow falls across her, but she doesn't look up.

                                   SKYE
                         Whoever you are, I'm busy, so this
                         can wait.

                                   MS. COLLINS (O.S.)
                         Oh, I don't think it can, sweetie.

               Skye freezes and slowly looks up – standing over her is one
               of her old teachers from Cleveland High, Ms. Collins.

                                   SKYE
                             (cold)
                         You again. Haven't you got tired of
                         trying to convert me yet?

               Ms. Collins smiles and absently buffs her hair as Skye's look
               darkens and she goes back to her papers.

                                   MS. COLLINS
                         He won't help you, you know. Buffy
                         may have sent you all the way out
                         here to find him, but what do you
                         think is going to happen when you
                         walk through his doors? That he'll
                         welcome you with open arms, let you
                         into his little Fang Gang or
                         whatever you want to call them?
                         You're evil, Skye. You're a killer.
                         There's a demon inside you, just
                         like every other beast and fiend
                         lurking out of sight, waiting in
                         the shadows. That's where you
                         belong.

                                   SKYE
                             (hisses)
                         Leave me alone!!

               As far as the rest of the bar is concerned, Skye's shouting
               at empty air – they can't see Collins next to her. Skye
               realises this, and with a few furtive glances round hunches
               back down, trying not to attract any more attention to
               herself.

               Ms. Collins leans in close and whispers into her ear.

                                   MS. COLLINS
                         Talking to yourself, now, too?
                         That's one of the first signs of
                         going crazy, you know. So is having
                         conversations with dead people!

                                   SKYE
                             (controlling her anger)
                         I don't want to hear it. Whatever
                         lies you're trying to cram into my
                         head, it's not gonna work. I'm a
                         Slayer, and my job in this world is
                         to wipe out everything that works
                         for you. And one day…
                             (glares at Collins)
                         … one day I'm gonna get a chance to
                         wrap my hands round your neck, and
                         then I'll shut you up for good.

                                   MS. COLLINS
                             (unfazed)
                         Very dramatic, Skye, if I was
                         corporeal I admit I'd be mildly
                         concerned. Thing is, Miss Underwood
                         – that is what you're calling
                         yourself now, isn't it? Trying to
                         change your surname so nobody can
                         trace you back to your family? Did
                         you really think I wouldn't be able
                         to find them and have them killed
                         if I wanted to?

               Skye closes her eyes, not wanting to hear this. A tear rolls
               down her cheek as she turns back to Ms. Collins.

                                   SKYE
                             (stern)
                         I want you… to get out of my face.

               Ms. Collins smirks but doesn't look like she's going.

                                   BARTENDER (O.S.)
                         Hey, kid, listen…

               Skye looks up at the bartender, but when she looks back, Ms.
               Collins has vanished. Skye throws a few glances round, then
               sighs and turns back to the barkeep.

                                   SKYE
                         What?

                                   BARTENDER
                         It's like this. I'm cool with you
                         being here even though you're not
                         twenty-one, long as you stay on the
                         Cokes, but my boss? He's gonna be
                         here any minute and he'll freak if
                         he sees a minor in here. So sorry,
                         but…

                                   SKYE
                         But you're kicking me out.

               The bartender nods and makes a 'sorry, kid' shrug at her.
               Skye scoops up her bag, stuffs the papers into it and hops
               off the bar stool. A few clients watch her exit.

         9     INT. FANTHORPE'S ORPHANAGE. NIGHT.                       9

               Inside the brightly-coloured classroom is a small group of
               kids, chattering and playing quietly.

               Sat apart from them in one corner is JOE, a brown-haired six
               year-old boy who doesn't seem to be concerned at his
               isolation. He's staring intently down at a pad of paper in
               front of him, a mound of crayons piled beside him.

               Watching them are SANDRA and ANNIE, the two women who run the
               nursery. Sandra is middle-aged and tall with blonde hair,
               while Annie is short, fat and pretty unpleasant.

                                   SANDRA
                         That can't be normal. All he ever
                         does is just stare at those papers!

                                   ANNIE
                         That's what you get with these
                         foster kids. Never know where
                         they've been brought up, or what
                         kinds of nonsense has been filling
                         their heads while they've been
                         shunted from one home to the next.
                         We need to keep an eye on that one.

                                   SANDRA
                         Oh, I wouldn't say that, he seems
                         harmless enough-

                                   ANNIE
                         At first! They always do. Then
                         those are the ones who grow up into
                         troublemakers and firestarters!
                         I've seen it a hundred times.

               Joe pauses for thought, looking round the room.

                                   ANNIE (O.S.) (cont'd)
                         He'll bring nothing but trouble on
                         himself.

               Something is happening on the paper – writing and drawing is
               starting to appear on it, without Joe touching it at all! He
               glances across at the pile of crayons, picks out a red one,
               and holds it tightly in one hand – and the drawing on the
               page changes to red!

               Joe smiles as he watches the colours and lines dance on the
               paper, none of the other kids being near enough to see what's
               going on.

        10     EXT. LA STREET. NIGHT.                                  10

               Jacket pulled tight against the chill wind, Skye walks down a
               quiet and lonely street, a sheet of paper in one hand as she
               follows its directions.

               She stops at the end of the street, looking down two
               identical roads and then down at her map – she's lost.

               With a grunt of annoyance, she flips the map over her
               shoulder and starts walking.

               She doesn't see the three people tailing her, sneaking
               through the shadows and closing in on her.

               Skye walks on but then slows down and stops, turning slowly
               round to look behind her. She's sensed something, she just
               isn't sure what.

               After a beat, she starts walking again, but we see two dark
               shadows dash across the frame, and she freezes, spinning on
               the spot, fists up and ready.

                                   SKYE
                         Okay, come on out! I've had a
                         really long fricken day, and I just
                         wanna get this over with so I can
                         find this stupid hotel, and-

                                   VAMPIRE #1 (O.S.)
                         Man, you're full of fire, ain't ya,
                         little sister?

               From out of the shadows step three VAMPIRES, long, straggly
               hair, sneering with vamped-out grins as they size up their
               next meal.

                                   VAMPIRE #2
                         I like the ones who put up a fight.
                         They taste like salsa!

                                   VAMPIRE #3
                             (beat; to Vamp #2)
                         Say what?

               Vampire #2 shrugs, and then as one the trio converge on Skye.
               She grins as she takes a step back, then with one quick swing
               draws a stake, holding it up and ready.

               The vampires all pause, glancing at each other.

                                   SKYE
                         That's right! I'm a Slayer. Who
                         knew?

                                   VAMPIRE #1
                             (shrugs)
                         We see a lot of 'em around.

                                   VAMPIRE #2
                             (proudly)
                         I killed one last month!

                                   VAMPIRE #1
                         So looks like you get to be Number
                         Two, hot stuff! You ready to play?

                                   SKYE
                         Ask me that again when I'm cleaning
                         your ashes off my stake.

               The first two Vamps leap to the attack, but Skye's ready, and
               with two rapid kicks knocks them both to the ground.

               Vamp #3 charges in, but Skye backhands him, and as he
               staggers back she stuns him with an uppercut and stakes him
               in one fluid motion.

               She spins round as he dusts to face the other two. They
               exchange worried looks, then turn tail and run.

               With an exasperated sigh, Skye gathers up her bag and takes
               off in pursuit.

        11     EXT. LA – GAS STATION. NIGHT.                           11

               The two vampires dash across the gas station forecourt with
               Skye in pursuit, one slowing down as he passes a civilian
               filling up his car.

               Vamp #2 knocks the man down with one punch and snatches the
               fuel nozzle out of his hands, reaching into his pocket for a
               lighter.

                                   VAMPIRE #1
                         What the hell are you doing?

                                   VAMPIRE #2
                         Seeing how hot this little tamale
                         likes it!

               Flicking on the Zippo, he sprays fuel from the nozzle and
               combines the two to make a huge, very erratic gout of flame.
               He cackles as he swings the makeshift flamethrower towards
               the incoming Skye.

               Skye YELPS and dives to the floor, the heat from the flames
               singeing her as she rolls out of the way.

                                   VAMPIRE #2 (cont'd)
                             (laughing)
                         Flame grilled Slayer, man! Come on!

               The gas station attendant runs for cover as Skye races round
               the forecourt, trying to dodge the arm of fire sweeping
               lazily after her.

               She spots a rack full of sets of discount golf clubs and
               grabs one, aiming up above the vampire's head.

                                   VAMPIRE #2 (cont'd)
                         Sports ain't gonna save you now,
                         little girl!

               Skye just smirks, rears back and THROWS the golf club up
               towards the station's roof.

               The vampires watch it fly above them – until it hits one of
               the large lights overhead which EXPLODES in a shower of
               sparks.

               Live electrical cables spill down from the roof, landing
               squarely on Vamp #2, who shudders and ROARS as the
               electricity surges through him. He drops his lighter and the
               fuel hose, and the flames die down.

               Skye strolls casually over and stakes Vamp #2's quivering
               body, before spinning the stake in her hand and standing
               before the now-shocked Vamp #1.

                                   SKYE
                         Pretty enlightening, huh?

               Skye grins – and VAMPS OUT! Vamp #1 takes another step back
               as Skye reveals her true nature.

                                   VAAMPIRE #1
                         B-but… you're a- you've-

                                   SKYE
                         Yeah, I know. Vampire and a Slayer.
                         Go figure.

               She LUNGES forward and stakes him, and he dusts with one last
               groan. Skye wipes her stake clean and tucks it back into her
               jacket.

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                         I think I'm gonna like this town…

               She claps her hands together to clean them and starts to walk
               back towards the city centre.

               She freezes as two black vans SCREECH to a stop either end of
               the forecourt, and their doors open to reveal TAYLOR and five
               of his squad, armed and not looking in the mood for polite
               conversation.

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                         Uh-oh…

               She starts backing up as Taylor cocks his stake-shotgun and
               aims it at her.

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                             (off gun)
                         I should probably warn you, that
                         won't-

                                   TAYLOR
                         Can it, vampire. You say one more
                         word that isn't either 'I,' 'Give,'
                         or 'Up,' and you're history.

               Skye takes a step back, hands raised. Her eyes flick down to
               the golf clubs just next to her.

               Taylor's men encircle her and close in, weapons ready.

                                   SKYE
                         So I probably shouldn't say…

               In a flash, she's hooked her foot round one of the golf bag's
               straps, flipped it into the air and KICKED it towards Taylor,
               who can't move before it thwacks into him, sending him to the
               floor.

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                         … fore!!

               She breaks for it as Taylor's men OPEN FIRE, shotgun bullets
               and crossbow bolts thudding into the gas station wall behind
               her as she sprints for cover.

               One of Taylor's men helps him up – and he looks mad. He
               points after the escaping Skye.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Get her!

               They all race after her, and from that we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT ONE
                                       ACT TWO

                                                               FADE IN:

        12     EXT. LA – ALLEY. NIGHT.                                 12

               Skye dashes into frame, scrabbling down an alleyway and
               racing towards us, only to see a high wire fence blocking off
               the end of the alley.

               She skids to a halt and looks behind her – Taylor's men are
               just entering the alley, closing fast.

               She looks back up at the fence, then hunches down and LEAPS
               into the air – jumping far higher than your average girl
               would be able to.

               She's just swinging one leg over the top of the fence when
               the first of her pursuers reach it, and she drops neatly to
               the floor and turns to grin at them.

                                   SKYE
                         Sorry, guys, but I've gotta go find
                         me an Angel!

               She races away as Taylor arrives at the fence, breaking out a
               pair of wire cutters and attacking the fence.

        13     EXT. LA – STREET. NIGHT.                                13

               Breathless, Skye races down another uncaring city street,
               throwing looks over her shoulder every few steps.

               As a result, she doesn't look where she's going and barrels
               straight into SPIKE, who drops his two brown paper grocery
               bags with a startled shout.

                                   SPIKE
                         Watch where you're goin,' luv!

               He huffs and stoops to pick up his groceries, not having
               looked properly at Skye yet as she stands back up.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                             (mutters)
                         Bloody kids tearing up and down the
                         streets… like living in a cartoon!

               He stands up and looks across – and makes eye contact with
               Skye at last. She looks back. Spike is lost for words, his
               mouth opening and closing like a fish.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         I… you… er…

                                   SKYE
                             (frantic)
                         Please, you've got to help me!
                         These guys, they're after me, and-

                                   SPIKE
                         Alright, calm down. Who's after
                         you?

                                   SKYE
                         I don't know, these two teams of
                         guys, they just jumped out of these
                         vans after I'd dusted those two vam-
                             (catches herself)
                         Uh, I mean, after I'd just fought
                         off those two muggers, and then-

                                   TAYLOR (O.S.)
                         There!!

               Skye looks round, fearful, and steps back so Spike is between
               her and Taylor's men.

                                   SKYE
                         Help me!

                                   SPIKE
                         Don't worry, pet, that's what I'm
                         here for.

               Spike raises an eyebrow as an out-of-breath Taylor huffs into
               frame, rolling his eyes as he sees Spike.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Oh, great. You.

                                   SPIKE
                         Feeling's mutual, mate! What's the
                         ruckus with you and the bird, then?

                                   TAYLOR
                         The what?

                                   SPIKE
                         The girl…

               Spike indicates Skye, still tensed like a coiled spring and
               ready to fight or flee.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Vampire. I know you like to stick
                         to your own kind, but we caught her
                         about to try and burn down a gas
                         station, so she's our game now.

                                   SKYE
                             (offended)
                         Burn down a- hey, now wait a
                         minute!

                                   SPIKE
                             (to Skye)
                         You're a vampire?

               She nods, and he turns back to Taylor.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         I've got a better idea. Why don't
                         you and the Banana Splits here turn
                         round and march back to your little
                         hidey hole, and let me take care of
                         this.

               Taylor grits his teeth, but then one of his men, listening to
               an earpiece, whispers something to Taylor, and he nods back
               to him.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Alright, freak, you're in luck,
                         we're needed across town. Do what
                         you want with her, just don't
                         expect any sympathy if she sets
                         fire to your ass and uses you for
                         charcoal.

                                   SPIKE
                             (wry grin)
                         Oh, I think I can handle myself.

               With a last disgruntled look, Taylor turns and leads his men
               away, and Spike turns back to Skye.

                                   SKYE
                         Thank you, I-

               Spike holds up a hand for her to stop talking.

                                   SPIKE
                         Stop right there. Not another word
                         till we get back to my offices, all
                         right? Then you can explain to me
                         why that wannabe Stallone was so
                         interested in you!

               Spike starts off in the opposite direction, and after a
               moment's hesitation Skye follows.
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