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

[previous | bottom]
        14     INT. SPIKE'S OFFICE. NIGHT.                             14

               Spike unlocks and opens the office door, holding it open for
               Skye. He drops the grocery bags down on the table and flicks
               a few lights on.

                                   SPIKE
                         It's only a little place, but we're
                         hoping to expand when we-

               He turns on the last light – and jumps a mile as ILLYRIA is
               revealed, sitting silently at Spike's desk.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         Yow!
                             (beat; scowls)
                         Why are you lurking in the dark?

                                   ILLYRIA
                             (quietly)
                         Trying not to remember.

               Illyria notices Skye, who is captivated by the demon's
               appearance. Illyria stands and strides over to her.

                                   ILLYRIA (cont'd)
                         What is this?

                                   SPIKE
                         She's-

                                   SKYE
                         I'm Skye. Skye Ca- Skye Underwood.
                         And you?

               Illyria looks her up and down a moment before turning back to
               Spike.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         We do not need a stray under our
                         roof.

                                   SPIKE
                         She's not a stray, Blue, she's a
                         client! She was being chased by
                         Taylor and his goons, I managed a
                         heroic rescue.

                                   SKYE
                         What, by standing in the way so I
                         nearly ran you over?

                                   SPIKE
                             (beat)
                         Something like that, yeah.

                                   SKYE
                         Sorry. I'm just a bit… kinda strung
                         out, still. Haven't had any action
                         like tonight for weeks now, so when
                         the juices get going again, it's
                         just like 'whoo!' Instant high!

               Spike eyes Skye as she visibly starts to relax, dropping her
               bag on the floor and taking the only other chair in the room.
               Illyria paces off screen.

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                         So, you said you run, like, a
                         detective firm here?

                                   SPIKE
                         Yep. Spike Investigations. I'm
                         Spike.

                                   SKYE
                         Nice place. How's business?

                                   SPIKE
                         Honestly? You're the first worthy
                         cause we've had through that door
                         since we set up shop a few weeks
                         ago.

                                   SKYE
                         I'm honoured! So can I request your
                         help in something then?

                                   SPIKE
                         That's why I'm here.

                                   SKYE
                         It's pretty simple, really, I
                         probably could have done it myself
                         if that Taylor guy hadn't shown up
                         right after those vampires did, but
                         I'm looking for the Hyperion.

               Spike frowns at the mention of the place.

                                   SPIKE
                         And why, exactly, do you want to go
                         there? Nothing in there but-

                                   SKYE
                         Angel?

                                   SPIKE
                             (scowls)
                         Yeah. Backstabbing, double crossing
                         little lap dog that he is.

                                   SKYE
                         Did I miss something? Buffy told me-

                                   SPIKE
                             (and now interested
                              again!)
                         Buffy? You spoke to her? How is
                         she?

                                   SKYE
                             (eyes him)
                         Uh… she's fine, I guess, she didn't
                         kill me when we fought, but I don't
                         think we're gonna have a sleepover
                         any time soon… do you and Buffy
                         know each other?

               Spike grins smugly and fishes out a cigarette.

                                   SPIKE
                         You could say that.

                                   SKYE
                             (sees through his act)
                         Oh. Old girlfriend?

               Spike freezes, his poker face rumbled. He nods once and
               lights the cigarette.

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                         Cool. She's a nice girl. You know,
                         for someone who impaled me on a
                         fricken tree to see if it'd kill me
                         or not, anyway…

                                   SPIKE
                         She did what?

                                   SKYE
                         Oh, man, it's a long story. Take me
                         to this Angel guy and I'll tell you
                         on the way, Buffy said he was the
                         guy I should see.

                                   SPIKE
                         That prat won't be able to give you
                         anything I can't, trust me. If
                         you're in town for help, then I'm
                         your man.

                                   SKYE
                         Really? 'Cause, no offence, but you
                         seem kinda…

                                   SPIKE
                         What?

                                   SKYE
                         Unprofessional. Reckless. And
                         irresponsible. And jealous, too.

                                   SPIKE
                         Yeah, well… let's just say Angel
                         and I had a disagreement, now he
                         has his business and I've got mine,
                         and never the twain shall meet.

               Skye YAWNS and stretches out like a lazy kitten.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         Look, you're obviously bushwhacked,
                         so let me put you up for the night,
                         and if you still really want to, we
                         can go see Angel tomorrow. There's
                         a spare room upstairs you can crash
                         in.

                                   SKYE
                         Okay, cool. Thanks.

               Skye stands, gathers her bag and heads up a staircase at the
               rear of the office. Spike stays in thought for a second until
               Illyria steps back into frame.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Is the child staying here?

                                   SPIKE
                         She's not a child, she's a client.
                         And clients pay. You may not be the
                         materialistic type, but I am, and
                         we've barely got enough left in the
                         kitty to keep the plaster up at the
                         moment. We need all the clients we
                         can get!

                                   ILLYRIA
                         There is something strange about
                         her. Some kind of power I found
                         familiar, but could not place.

                                   SPIKE
                         We'll find this out in the morning.
                         Right now, I'm going to put these
                         bits of shopping away and go to bed
                         for as much of tomorrow as I can
                         get away with.

               Spike picks up his grocery bags and heads off screen. Illyria
               pauses, looking thoughtful, before she follows.

        15     INT. SPIKE'S ROOM. MORNING.                             15

               Spike is fast asleep in bed as a loud KNOCKING sound is
               heard. His eyes spring open and he sits up, looking round and
               scratching the back of his head.

               The KNOCKING continues, and with a few muttered words Spike
               swings out of bed, pulls on a pair of jeans and heads for the
               door.

                                   SPIKE
                         Alright, alright! Bloody hell, if
                         you're trying to raise the dead,
                         you've-

               He opens the door, and is greeted by the smiling HARMONY.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         … managed.
                             (beat)
                         Harmony?

                                   HARMONY
                         Hi, honey! Just woke up?

                                   SPIKE
                         I- you- what?

                                   HARMONY
                         I know, I should've called first or
                         something, but I figured I should-

               Harmony SQUEAKS as Spike grabs her round the throat and SLAMS
               her against the bedroom wall.

                                   HARMONY (cont'd)
                         … just swing by?

                                   SPIKE
                         You evil little harpy! You sold us
                         out! You're as bad as bloody Angel!

                                   HARMONY
                         I was only- huh?

                                   SPIKE
                         Just so you know, I hold you and
                         him personally responsible for Wes
                         and Gunn getting killed, so you've
                         got about five seconds to stammer a
                         few last words before I stake-

                                   HARMONY
                             (quickly)
                         I'll pay you if you help me!

               That does the trick. Spike releases her and steps back.
               Harmony coughs and rubs her sore neck.

                                   HARMONY (cont'd)
                         Geez, aggressive much?

                                   SPIKE
                         Don't push it, Harm. Tell me what
                         you came here for before I ask
                         Illyria to eject you from the
                         premises. And believe me, she's not
                         very happy with you either.

                                   HARMONY
                         I'm trying to track someone down.

                                   SPIKE
                         For Wolfram & Hart? Why would we
                         want to help them?

                                   HARMONY
                         No, silly, I'm freelance now, like
                         you. Angel fired me, remember? I
                         mean, I know that technically, yes,
                         I did sleep with Marcus and kind of
                         give away your big plan and all,
                         but, you know, you're still here,
                         so it all worked out for the best!
                         Right?

               Harmony takes in Spike's dark look, clears her throat and
               carries on talking quickly.

                                   HARMONY (cont'd)
                         I'm looking for a little boy. My
                         employers are paying me a heck of a
                         lot of cash to find this kid of
                         theirs, and if you help me out, I'm
                         sure we can come to some kind of
                         arrangement!

                                   SPIKE
                         Never had you figured for the
                         mercenary type, Harm!

                                   HARMONY
                             (smiles brightly)
                         Oh, I'm just full of surprises! So
                         are you in?

                                   SPIKE
                         Keep talking. Who is this urchin
                         and why do they want to pay so
                         much?

               Harmony reaches into her shoulder bag for a manilla envelope,
               which she hands to Spike.

                                   HARMONY 
                         He's been in one of LA's orphanages
                         for a few months now, but they
                         never knew his last name so he's
                         been hard to track down. His family
                         want him back because he's the last
                         in his line and the heir to a
                         multi, multi million dollar fortune
                         one day.

               Spike opens the envelope. Inside are photocopies of several
               old family photos of the boy in question – and it's Joe, the
               boy we saw in the orphanage earlier.

                                   SPIKE
                         So what's the catch?

                                   HARMONY
                             (innocently)
                         Catch? What catch? Why would there
                         be a catch? This is catchless! A
                         catch-free deal of a lifetime!

                                   SPIKE
                         Pull the other one, Harm, it's got
                         bells on.

               He tosses the envelope back at her. Harmony's face drops.

                                   HARMONY
                         So… you're not interested?

                                   SPIKE
                             (beat; sighs)
                         Much as I'd like to say no… we need
                         the money. So go wait downstairs
                         for me to get dressed, and we'll
                         sort this out.

               Harmony smiles merrily and turns to leave.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         Oh, and don't let Illyria see you,
                         I'd hate for her to beat you to
                         death with your own arms before I
                         had a chance to explain everything.

               Spike SLAMS his door closed in her face, forcing a:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT TWO
                                      ACT THREE

                                                               FADE IN:

        16     INT. SPIKE'S OFFICE. DAY.                               16

               Harmony is nosing round the office as Spike and Skye come
               down the stairs. She smiles brightly again, but it bounces
               right off Spike. Harmony spots Skye and raises a suspicious
               eyebrow

                                   HARMONY
                         And who's this?

                                   SKYE
                         Why does everybody keep saying
                         that?

                                   SPIKE
                         Skye, this is Harmony. She's an old
                         acquaintance. I'll handle her, you
                         take a seat.
                             (to Harmony)
                         She's our current client, someone
                         we should actually be helping
                         instead of letting you distract us.

                                   HARMONY
                         Right! I'd better get down to
                         business then, huh?

               Harmony opens her bag and takes out a notepad, laying it on
               Spike's desk and flicking through it.

                                   HARMONY (cont'd)
                         I've checked out every foster home
                         I can in this area, there's only
                         two left. This one's quite close to
                         your offices, so I thought I'd come
                         see if you wanted to help!

                                   SKYE
                         Help with what?

                                   SPIKE
                         Harmony wants us to help her find
                         some abandoned orphan from a local
                         car home, so she can make a big fat
                         profit out of it.

                                   HARMONY
                         Hey! So do you, mister!

                                   SPIKE
                             (beat)
                         Anyway, if it's alright with you,
                         we were going to take this job.
                         It won't take too long, so I can
                         get more chances to talk you out of
                         going to see Angel.

                                   SKYE
                         Spike, I'm not sure I-

                                   ILLYRIA (O.S.)
                         What is that wench doing here?!?

               Illyria storms into frame, heading straight for Harmony. She
               jumps up, terrified, but Spike gets in front of her and holds
               Illyria back – just.

                                   SPIKE
                         Calm down! Harmony's brought us a
                         job offer! Remember? Jobs equal
                         money?

               Illyria looks from Spike to Harmony, then with a grunt steps
               back.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I do not trust her.

                                   SPIKE
                         You don't need to, I'm the boss
                         round here. It's a simple snatch
                         and grab, nothing too fancy.
                             (to Harmony)
                         Right?

                                   HARMONY
                         Absolutely!

               She beams at Illyria, who remains unimpressed.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Very well. But I will carve my name
                         in her chest with her own spine if
                         she shows any signs of duplicity.

               Illyria walks out of the office, and a bemused Harmony looks
               after her.

                                   HARMONY
                         She hasn't changed much, huh?

                                   SPIKE
                         Harm? Just keep quiet.

               Spike shrugs on his jacket as Skye walks over to him.

                                   SKYE
                         So… you need a hand?

                                   SPIKE
                         Suit yourself, you can stay here
                         'til we get back if you like.

                                   SKYE
                         No, it's cool, I'll come along.
                             (eyes Harmony)
                         You know, just in case.

               Spike nods, and as Skye grabs her jacket we cut to:

        17     EXT. FANTHORPE'S ORPHANAGE. DAY.                        17

               Squinting up at the cloudy sky overhead, Spike joins Skye and
               Illyria – who's concealed beneath a thick overcoat – as they
               stand outside the orphanage. Harmony closes the door to her
               car and locks it before joining them.

               The building itself is an old fashioned, Gothic design, full
               of pointed roofs and thick window frames.

                                   SKYE
                         Looks like the set of a Tim Burton
                         movie!

                                   HARMONY
                         It's the last one on the list, if
                         he's not in here, then he's not
                         here!

                                   SPIKE
                         Whatever, let's get indoors before
                         the sun comes back out and they
                         find three neat piles of ash on
                         their doorstop.

                                   HARMONY
                             (blinks)
                         Three?

                                   SKYE
                         I'm a vampire, but the sun wouldn't-

                                   HARMONY
                         Oh! Uh, congratulations!

               Skye raises an eyebrow at Harmony before Spike ushers them
               all down the path leading to the front doors.

                                   SPIKE
                         Right, here's the plan. Illyria,
                         you keep quiet.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         For once, I agree with you. Human
                         infants unnerve me.

                                   SPIKE
                         Harmony and I are going to pose as
                         prospective parents to get our
                         hands on the urchin if he's here,
                         so Skye, you're our backup. If
                         anything goes wrong, you get in and
                         steal the kid.

                                   SKYE
                         Sure, I- what?

                                   SPIKE
                         Is that a problem? We're not
                         exactly selling him into slavery,
                         we're getting him back to his mum
                         and dad! All I'm saying is, if
                         diplomatic methods fail, we switch
                         to more direct tactics.

                                   SKYE
                             (beat; sighs)
                         Okay, whatever.

               Spike knocks at the orphanage's door as Illyria and Skye head
               round the side of the building, out of view.

               The door opens and Annie greets them, looking about as
               friendly as a basket full of hornets.

                                   ANNIE
                         Can I help you?

                                   SPIKE
                         Yes, we're-

                                   HARMONY
                             (holds up business card)
                         Wolfram & Hart, attorneys at law,
                         the relatives of one of the
                         children in your custody here have
                         asked us to find him and bring him
                         home!

                                   ANNIE
                             (studies card)
                         I see. You'd better come in then.

               She heads off as Spike hangs back to whisper to Harmony.

                                   SPIKE
                         I thought you said-

                                   HARMONY
                         So I stole a few business cards,
                         big deal! We're in, aren't we?

               She marches off, and an exasperated Spike follows.

        18     EXT. FANTHORPE'S ORPHANAGE – WEST WING. DAY.            18

               Skye tucks herself in underneath an overhanging canopy as
               Illyria shrugs off the overcoat and stretches. She notices
               Skye looking curiously at her.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Is there something you wish to ask?

                                   SKYE
                         Huh? Oh, no, just wondering… well,
                         actually, yeah – what are you?

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I am Illyria.

                                   SKYE
                         Yeah, I got that part, seeing as
                         that's what people have been
                         calling you all day. What I mean
                         is, what are you? Demon? Ghost?
                         Marilyn Manson groupie?

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I am an Old One, trapped inside
                         this human shell.

                                   SKYE
                         Oh, so that isn't your real body?

               Illyria lifts her hands and studies them.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         This form is… my true nature is
                         beyond your comprehension. They
                         have neutered my magics to allow me
                         to live on in this body.

                                   SKYE
                         Magics? Cool! What could you do?

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Many things. Destroy a being just
                         by willing it so, travel great
                         distances in the blink of an eye,
                         even-

                                   SKYE
                         Travel? Hmm…
                             (thinks)
                         Listen, I've got an idea, something
                         that's been bugging me. Can you
                         still do any of that magic stuff?

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I… I have not attempted it, not
                         since Wesley-

                                   SKYE
                         Yeah, yeah, neutered, got it. But
                         have you tried at all?

               Illyria looks down at Skye, then cocks her head to one side
               as she considers this. She looks to her left and raises one
               hand into the air, bringing it slowly down as though cutting
               through something.

               Nothing happens, but this time Illyria closes her eyes and
               tries again.

               There is a ripple of blue light, leaving a trail through the
               air. She opens her eyes and it vanishes, but she turns to
               Skye and sees her grinning happily.

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                         Sweet!

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I-I didn't know I could still…

                                   SKYE
                         Okay, here's my idea. Something
                         about this whole deal's smelt wrong
                         since that blonde airhead walked
                         into the office, so while we were
                         on our way over I took the liberty
                         of looking through her bag, and I
                         found this.

               Skye holds up Harmony's notepad, and a page that has an
               address and the label 'Training Institute – for the boy.'

                                   ILLYRIA
                         'Training institute'?

                                   SKYE
                         That's what I thought. I don't
                         think we're taking this kid back to
                         his parents at all, and I think you
                         and me should go check this place
                         out before Spike gets the kid.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         How are we to travel? This address
                         is many miles away, we do not have
                         time-

                                   SKYE
                         Uh, hello? 'Travel great
                         distances,' that's what you said!
                         Come on, Illy, open up one of those
                         blue portal things and let's book!
                         We can be there and back in no
                         time. Whaddya say? I didn't know
                         how I was gonna do this until you
                         told me you could do magic, so
                         let's get to it!

               Illyria looks down at her hands again, then clenches her
               fists. Determined, she looks back up and traces a finger down
               through the air, this time opening a solid-looking portal in
               the air. 

               She glances back at Skye, who grins and walks past her,
               straight through it. After a beat, Illyria follows, and the
               portal closes up after them.

        19     INT. ORPHANAGE – PLAY ROOM. DAY.                        19

               Annie leads Spike and Harmony into the bright play room where
               we met Joe earlier, and there he is again, writing on a pad
               of paper in the corner.

                                   ANNIE
                         Do you have anything other than his
                         first name? I mean, what kinds of
                         identification do you-

               Harmony hands Annie a photo – a family portrait that is
               clearly of Joe. Annie looks from it to the boy and back.

                                   ANNIE (cont'd)
                         Ah. Well. In that case, it looks
                         like you've found who you're
                         looking for! I'll go get the
                         necessary paperwork.

                                   HARMONY
                         Thank you!

               Annie hurries away, and a beaming Harmony turns to Spike.

                                   HARMONY (cont'd)
                         See? Told you this would be easy!

                                   SPIKE
                         This still feels too easy. Most of
                         the jobs I went on with Angel
                         involved something going wrong.

                                   HARMONY
                         Look around, Spike. No more Angel.
                         You're your own man, now! Head
                         honcho! And I gotta say…
                             (nuzzles closer)
                         … it's kind of a turn on…

               Spike eyes her, then grins.

                                   SPIKE
                         Really?

                                   HARMONY
                         Oh yeah! Guys in positions of power
                         have always done that to me,
                         usually makes me want to start
                         coming up with my own positions…

               A beat as the two stare intensely at each other, before Annie
               clears her throat off screen and Harmony turns back round,
               her professional smile firmly in place.

                                   ANNIE
                         Here's all the usual forms, I'll
                         need you to fill these out so we
                         can start the proceedings.

                                   HARMONY
                         That's fine. My clients are eager
                         to recover little Joey, so they'll
                         want to get this moving quick as
                         they can!

               Annie throws Harmony a disinterested smile and heads into the
               play room, as Spike starts to groom himself behind Harmony's
               back, smoothing his hair down.
[top | previous | next]

Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.