6x09
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

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                                       ACT TWO

                                                               FADE IN:

        10     INT. EMPTY BUILDING - NIGHT                             10

               INSERT OVER - LOS ANGELES, 1989

               A familiar ROAR echoes throughout the desolate warehouse
               before a man comes FLYING onto scene. He lands face down on
               the ground. This is MACKLIN -- young demon hunter
               extraordinaire. He's in his early twenties with short brown
               hair and a long trench coat, looking like a modern day Van
               Helsing.

               As soon as he hits the ground, he quickly turns and looks
               back. Just as he does, he rolls across the ground and
               narrowly avoids being trampled by the cazador. 

               Macklin jumps to his feet and grabs his sword from the
               ground. He dodges a rush attack from the beast not once, but
               twice. 

               The second time he's able to push the cazador against a
               concrete wall. As he does, he shoves his sword into the
               beast's back. Once more, the ghastly ROAR fills the building. 

               Having apparently done this on more than one occasion,
               Macklin hurriedly takes a defensive stance and prepares for
               the next attack, but --

               The cazador falls lifelessly to the ground.

               Nearly in disbelief, Macklin waits for nearly a minute before
               advancing on the motionless demon. When he finally does,
               however, he's astonished to find that it's dead. 

               He takes a few delusional steps back and begins to slowly
               chuckle. His chuckles continue to grow until they've become
               full scale laughter.

                                   MACKLIN
                             (in between gasps)
                         You daft bastard!
                             (beat)
                         It worked!

               He continues laughing just long enough to fall down.
               Completely exhausted, he sits motionless for a good while
               before crawling over to the demon. He rolls it over and
               examines the puncture wound that he had administered.

               Just underneath a broad piece of armor-like skin lays a small
               spot of unprotected skin that gave way to his heart that he
               had inadvertently managed to penetrate. He smiles boldly as
               he lays on the ground beside the decaying body.

        11     EXT. WOODED AREA - MORNING                              11

               Macklin stands over a grave that he had mustered up the
               strength to dig. Harnessing the last bit of energy within his
               body, he's able to push the mangled body of the cazador into
               the ground.

               After a moment, he starts shovelling dirt back into the grave
               as the sun starts to rise in the b.g.

        12     EXT. WOODED AREA - LATER                                12

               The large dirt pile that had stood alongside the man is now
               gone, returned back to ground and covering the body of the
               beast. From within a pouch on his side, Macklin removes a
               flask of a magical potion and sprinkles it around the grave;
               uttering several verses in a strange, foreign dialect. 

               He smiles wholeheartedly as he begins the walk back to his
               car, casting one look back at the demon's grave before he
               starts the engine.

               As his car pulls off, however, a cloaked MAN appears from
               behind a group of trees. He watches Macklin drive away, and
               then slowly makes his way to stand above it. 

                                   MAN
                             (mutters)
                         That idiot...

               He drops a cigarette on the ground as the shovel breaks the
               dirt once more.

        13     INT. ALLIANCE LAYER. DAY.                               13

               Macklin stands in front of a large group of men, professing
               his story to an unbelieving crowd.

                                   VOICE (O.S.)
                         You're to have us believe that you
                         killed the beast?

               Macklin turns from the group to see a much younger Johansen
               standing before him.

                                   MACKLIN
                         You'll believe what you want to
                         believe. What I'm telling you is
                         the truth.

                                   JOHANSEN
                             (arrogantly)
                         Right... so how'd you do it? When
                         every man who has gone against the
                         cazador has perished?
                         How did you, Macklin, succeed where
                         all others had failed?

                                   MACKLIN
                         I finally found a weakness that no
                         one else had. It was a small spot
                         on his back-

                                   JOHANSEN
                         So if you really killed the beast,
                         like you claim, you won't have a
                         problem with showing us its body.

                                   MACKLIN
                             (beat)
                         I can't, it's been buried.

                                   JOHANSEN
                         Of course it has.

               The men begin laughing.

                                   MACKLIN
                         It has, I swear to it! I buried it
                         with my own two hands!

                                   JOHANSEN
                         Then I suppose that you buried it
                         on sacred ground?

                                   MACKLIN
                         Of course I did, I'm not ignorant
                         in the rules of consecration!

                                   JOHANSEN
                         So then, it's at Eagle's Bluff?

                                   MACKLIN
                         It is, so don't-

                                   JOHANSEN
                         Perhaps we should all take a trip
                         to Eagle's Bluff, then? If the
                         cazador is truly down for good, we
                         won't have to focus so much of our
                         efforts toward capturing it.

                                   MACKLIN
                         Can you people not just take my
                         word for it? Disturbing the beast's
                         resting place could awaken and
                         restore him to full health!

                                   JOHANSEN
                         I'm aware of the scripture,
                         Macklin!
                         And I'm not about to risk the well
                         being of the entire organization so
                         you can catapult yourself to some
                         kind of demon hunting hero!

                                   MACKLIN
                         Fine! Do as you will, but when you
                         raise the beast, I'll have no part
                         in it! These mens' blood is on your
                         hands, not mine!

                                   JOHANSEN
                         If there is any blood shed, I
                         guarantee you that I will not be at
                         fault!
                             (calmly to the men)
                         Gentleman, follow me.

               The group of men stand and follow Johansen from the room.

                                   MACKLIN
                         It's there! You'll see... you'll be
                         kissing my ass when you return!

               Macklin appears to be extremely nervous -- knowing that the
               odds of killing the cazador a second time are worse than
               killing him the first. Preparing for the worst, he takes a
               seat at what appears to be the conference table, places his
               sword on the table and pours a shot from a nearby bottle of
               whiskey.

        14     INT. ROGUE LAYER - MEETING ROOM - NIGHT                 14

               Macklin is asleep at the table as we hear a door SLAM shut
               off screen.

                                   JOHANSEN (O.S.)
                         Macklin!

               Macklin quickly raises up from his unplanned slumber, and
               sees Johansen leading the group of men back into the
               building. He quickly stands up from the chair.

                                   MACKLIN
                         Well? Did you disturb it? Does it
                         still sleep?

                                   JOHANSEN
                         I'd like to apologize to you,
                         Macklin.

               A beat. Macklin frowns.

                                   JOHANSEN (cont'd)
                         I didn't think that you had the
                         nerve to try and pull off this big
                         of a flamboyant deception simply to
                         get recognition. You are by far
                         more pathetic than I had ever given
                         you credit for!

               The group of men begin laughing as Macklin looks confused.

                                   MACKLIN
                         Wha-what do you mean? Did you
                         awaken the beast?

                                   RANDOM GUY
                             (laughing)
                         What beast?!

                                   JOHANSEN
                         There was nothing there, Macklin.

                                   MACKLIN
                         But... the grave!

                                   JOHANSEN
                         Oh, there was a grave, sure enough,
                         but when we broke the ground, there
                         was nothing within.

               The men begin laughing even more heartily.

                                   JOHANSEN (cont'd)
                         Clever of you to even pour the
                         potion around to try and scare us
                         from digging the "grave" up.

                                   MACKLIN
                         No... No! Something must have
                         happened to it. He must have risen
                         before you arrived!

                                   JOHANSEN
                         Just give it up, man. You've been
                         caught. Do the honorable thing and
                         admit your fraud.

                                   MACKLIN
                         No! I will not lie to-

                                   JOHANSEN
                         That's enough!

               The men stop laughing.

                                   JOHANSEN (cont'd)
                         I will not listen to this a second
                         time. You've disgraced yourself,
                         but you will not take the rest of
                         us down with you!

                                   MACKLIN
                         You're wrong. And I'll prove it!

               Macklin storms out of the building as the men watch.

        15     EXT. WOODED AREA                                        15

               Back at the grave, Macklin rushes over to its side to see
               that it does indeed stand empty. He falls to his knees as he
               runs his hands through the dirt.

                                   MACKLIN
                             (almost in tears)
                         Who would do this?

        16     INT. TAYLOR'S BASE - MORNING                            16

               INSERT OVER - Present Day.

               A knock on a door quickly gets TAYLOR'S attention. He sits
               alone in a room somewhere within his base. He was reading a
               report, and quickly slips it beneath a pile of papers that
               sit atop the table.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Come in.

               The door slowly opens and Angel walks in.

                                   TAYLOR (cont'd)
                         Angel? What's going on? Feeling
                         restless, what with it still being
                         daytime and all?

                                   ANGEL
                         Actually, I was hoping that I could
                         use your database to find some
                         information on a demon.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Any demon in particular?

                                   ANGEL
                         It's called the cazador, also known
                         as 'The Hunter.'

                                   TAYLOR
                         Isn't that what a lot of 'em are
                         called?

                                   ANGEL
                         Apparently, this one's well
                         renowned for it.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Go ahead. Mi case es su casa.

                                   ANGEL
                         Since when?

                                   TAYLOR
                         Yeah, you're right... but go ahead
                         anyway.
                             (smiling)
                         You've got my permission.

                                   ANGEL
                         Well, ain't I just the luckiest
                         stiff in town.

               Angel exits the room.

                                   TAYLOR
                             (to himself)
                         It's good to be the boss.

        17     INT. TAYLOR'S BASE - COMPUTER ROOM                      17

               Angel sits alone in a room that is sporadically lined with
               computers -- obviously a perk from Taylor's corporate
               funding. Angel is trying desperately to get one of the
               computers to work.

                                   ANGEL
                             (to the computer)
                         Why aren't you working?

                                   SONIA (O.S.)
                         Problems?

               Angel turns around, a bit surprised by the intrusion, to see
               SONIA standing just within the doorway.

                                   ANGEL
                         No. I'm just-

                                   SONIA
                         Let me guess, you're two hundred
                         years old, and computers aren't.

                                   ANGEL
                             (reluctantly)
                         Something like that.

                                   SONIA
                         Need some help?

                                   ANGEL
                         As much as I hate to admit it...
                         Yes. I'm stuck.

                                   SONIA
                         Alright, tough guy, scoot over.

               She walks into the room, as Angel stands from the chair in
               front of the computer and pulls another one up beside it.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         You know, this is a relatively
                         simple procedure. Small children
                         can do it!

                                   ANGEL
                         Small children weren't born when
                         there was no electricity.

               Sonia looks at him curiously for a moment.

                                   ANGEL (cont'd)
                         I mean, they were... children were
                         born then, obviously. I wasn't born
                         a vampire. I was just saying that-

                                   SONIA
                             (grins; interrupting)
                         What is it exactly that you're
                         looking for?

                                   ANGEL
                             (quickly)
                         Thank you.
                             (BEAT)
                         I'm looking for a demon called the
                         cazador, also known as the
                         'hunter.'

                                   SONIA
                         The hunter of...?

                                   ANGEL
                         Nothing. Just the hunter.

                                   SONIA
                         Oh.

                                   ANGEL
                         I know, sounds cryptic. Don't ask.

               Sonia smiles and types in a long line of commands that brings
               up the database's main menu. Angel watches, captivated -
               computers aren't his thing.

                                   ANGEL (cont'd)
                         How did you do that?

                                   SONIA
                         Just the right combination of
                         commands. It's like telling a dog
                         to do something really quickly...
                         only if the dog understands ones
                         and zeros, that is.

               Angel stares at her blankly.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         I can tell that I'm going to have
                         to ease you into the world of
                         computers. Have you ever actually
                         operated a computer, or are you a
                         hard up virgin?

                                   ANGEL
                         No. I'm not a... where do you come
                         up with your analogies?

                                   SONIA
                         I dunno. School?

                                   ANGEL
                         To answer the question, yes I have.
                         Cordel... my former assistant
                         insisted on having a computer in
                         the office. Things were all fine
                         and good when she was around, but
                         when she left, we went back to the
                         old fashioned way of doing
                         business.

                                   SONIA
                         Which is?

                                   ANGEL
                         Books.

                                   SONIA
                         Ooh, I've heard of those!

               Sonia grins, but Angel isn't in the mood for jokes. Sonia
               takes the hint, coughs once and types some more.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         Okay, the cazador... I'm not seeing
                         anything here.

                                   ANGEL
                         That figures.

                                   SONIA
                         Hold on. Let me try something else.

               Sonia hits the keys again in rapid succession and then waits
               a moment.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                             (confused)
                         Okay...?

                                   ANGEL
                         What?

                                   SONIA
                         We've got a name.

                                   ANGEL
                         A name?

                                   SONIA
                         Yep. Maybe it's a cover, like James
                         Bond. You know that's not his real
                         name, right?

               Angel stares at the screen.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         Yeah... so, anyway. There's an
                         address too.

                                   ANGEL
                         Well, only one thing to do.

                                   SONIA
                         Need help?

                                   ANGEL
                         No. I think I'll be alright. I
                         doubt that...
                             (looking at the name)
                         ... Charles Macklin is the
                         cazador's alter-ego, somehow, it's
                         probably just the only name we've
                         got that's linked to it.

                                   SONIA
                         Weirder things have happened.

                                   ANGEL
                         Thanks for the offer.

                                   SONIA
                         You gonna be alright in the
                         daylight?

                                   ANGEL
                         I'll manage.

               Sonia watches Angel get up and leave, then goes back to
               studying the information on the cazador.

        18     INT. MACKLIN'S HOME - MORNING                           18

               A long, wood-panneled corridor is covered from end to end
               with framed pictures, all sharing a common denominator -
               they're all of Macklin, but from a long time ago, from when
               he was a young man. He is accompanied by a number of likewise
               well dressed men in the pictures, some of them alongside the
               decaying bodies of deceased demons.

               The rest of the room is much of the same. It seems to be
               caught in time. Not a single piece of furniture appears to
               have been bought within the last ten years. From off screen,
               we hear the clink of a glass and a liquid being poured
               within.

        19     INT. MACKLIN'S HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS              19

               Nothing is out of place and everything shines. Across the
               room, at the table sits an aged Macklin. In front of him is a
               bottle of Jack Daniels. He effortlessly takes down the shot
               that sits in front of him, and immediately pours another.

                                   MACKLIN
                         Jack Daniels... if you please.

               He takes the second shot as well. As he slams the empty glass
               back down, we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT TWO
                                      ACT THREE

                                                               FADE IN:

        20     INT. WHITE ROOM                                         20

               An entirely white room, reminiscent of the one the Conduit
               inhabited, is the scene. We make a circle around the room
               twice until we finally come to see SPIKE, who doesn't seem to
               know where he is.

                                   SPIKE
                         What the bloody...

               Spike turns around several times.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                             (racking his brain)
                         I must have passed out. Damn!
                         Sodding cheap arse tequila...
                             (knocking on his head)
                         I wonder how long I'm going to be
                         stuck in here?

                                   VOICE (O.S.)
                         That really depends.

               The voice is overly familiar. Spike turns around as fast as
               humanly possible to see --

               BUFFY, standing before him. Spike stares in amazement for
               several seconds without saying a word.

                                   SPIKE
                         Buffy?

                                   BUFFY
                         Actually, no.

               Spike stares at her with a bemused look upon his face.

                                   SPIKE
                         Beg your pardon, then, Not Buffy,
                         but you'd come in first, second,
                         and third in a lookalike contest, I
                         can guaran-damn-tee that!

                                   BUFFY
                             (rolling her eyes)
                         I'm not a person. I'm only a
                         messenger.

                                   SPIKE
                             (confused)
                         Then why do you look like her?

                                   BUFFY
                         Look, I'm just doing my job. I show
                         up, I tell you important things, I
                         go. My form is left entirely up to
                         you.

                                   SPIKE
                         So you're saying that you're a
                         figment of my imagination, and that
                         since I think about Buffy, that you
                         look like her?

                                   BUFFY
                         More or less. Now let's-

                                   SPIKE
                             (smirks)
                         I didn't realize I'd got the whole
                         damn bottle down me! I must be off
                         my trolley to be daydreaming about
                         you again!

                                   BUFFY
                         You're not drunk, Spike! Man,
                         you're still just as big an ass as
                         you always were, huh?

                                   SPIKE
                         You say you're not her, but you
                         damn sure sound and act like her!

                                   BUFFY
                         Would you just shut up long enough
                         for me to tell you what it is I
                         came to tell you, so I can leave?

                                   SPIKE
                         Still bossing me around after all
                         this time. Haven't seen you in
                         bloody years, and the first thing
                         you do is dish out orders! That's
                         rich. And also, I might add, very
                         in keeping with your character...

                                   BUFFY
                         This is going to get really ugly if
                         you don't shut up!

                                   SPIKE
                             (promiscuously)
                         Trying to get me all riled up, are
                         we, pet? I knew you wouldn't be
                         able to resist when we finally met
                         up again.
                             (walking closer)
                         Fancy a shag for old time's sake?

               Buffy PUNCHES spike. He holds his hand over his face for a
               moment.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         Jesus Christ!

               When he looks back up, it's no longer Buffy --

               Angel now stands in front of him.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         Oh bloody hell... I don't want to
                         know what my subconcious is trying
                         to tell me with this one!

                                   ANGEL
                         Now, let's get this finished.

                                   SPIKE
                         What's the deal here, eh? I liked
                         it a whole sight better when you
                         were Buffy. Change back!

                                   ANGEL
                         No.

                                   SPIKE
                         You are such an arrogant bastard.
                         Do you know that? A hundred years
                         of your crap, and you still think
                         you're God's gift to humanity!
                             (smiling boldly)
                         You should have been here just a
                         bit ago. Buffy was here. She visit
                         your mind much?!

                                   ANGEL
                         We just went through this! I am not
                         Angel!

                                   SPIKE
                         Well then, turn back to Buffy!

                                   ANGEL
                         No! Look, this is going to take all
                         night if you don't-

                                   SPIKE
                         You said that your form was
                         entirely up to me!

                                   ANGEL
                         Yeah, well, I used an executive
                         privilege.

                                   SPIKE
                         Just tell me whatever the hell you
                         want to say and get well out of my
                         head! This is utterly confusing.
                         It's like... wait a tick, you're
                         not the First again, are you?!

               Angel rushes over and pins Spike on the floor -- his boot on
               Spike's throat.

                                   ANGEL
                         I usually don't resort to violence,
                         but this... actually feels really
                         good. Now that I've got your
                         undivided attention, I'm sure you
                         remember the Shanshu Prophecies?

               He loosens the pressure on Spike's throat and steps back.
               Spike lays glaring at him while rubbing his neck.

                                   SPIKE
                         Yeah. Piece of paper that you..
                             (shaking his head)
                         ...Angel got all upset over, 'cause
                         he thinks I've come to steal his
                         mojo.

                                   ANGEL
                         Exactly. You think that you're the
                         prophesized one?

                                   SPIKE
                         Damn right I do. Angel thinks he's
                         all high and bloody mighty because
                         he's got a soul. Well, he's not the
                         only one anymore! I'm just as
                         deserving as he is. I saved the
                         world! Of course, everyone wants to
                         forget about that little tidbit of
                         information and focus on the
                         torture and killing... not like
                         Angel was any better before that
                         bleeding curse. Who do you think I
                         learned from?! But just because
                         he's been doing this longer,
                         everyone trusts him! Bullocks. If I-

                                   ANGEL
                             (interrupts)
                         There's a way to prove yourself.

                                   SPIKE
                         ...ever get my- what?

                                   ANGEL
                         There's another part to the Shanshu
                         Prophecy.

                                   SPIKE
                         Another part?

               Angel nods along. Spike raises a curious eyebrow.

                                   ANGEL
                         You want to get your hands on it,
                         don't you?

                                   SPIKE
                         You damn well know I do. You just
                         heard the speech!
                             (beat)
                         Where is it?

                                   ANGEL
                         You know where it is.

               Spike stares boldly into the camera, working out what he
               already knows to be true when we SMASH CUT TO:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.