6x10
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[
bottom
]
TEASER
1 INT. SPIKE'S OFFVCES – ILLYRIA'S ROOM. NIGHT. 1
Fade up on ILLYRIA, curled up tightly in a ball on her bed.
Her room is as bare of furnishings as always, and the former
God seems to be having trouble sleeping.
As Illyria flits and turns in her sleep, a whispering voice
can be heard. It's talking in an undecipherable language, and
Illyria seems to be trying to answer it, talking in her
sleep.
She GASPS suddenly and her eyes shoot open, and we push right
into them, forcing a cut to:
2 EXT. WASTELAND. DAY. 2
Pull quickly back to find Illyria standing in the centre of a
literal bomb site. A scorch mark on the earth around her
seems to stretch out for miles, and standing around her is
the ruins of what was once a city.
A very recognisable city, in fact – it's Los Angeles! The
city appears to have taken on an atom bomb and lost the fight
in the first round – flames, destroyed buildings, the distant
screams and cries of survivors…
And in the middle of all this, an increasingly frantic
Illyria, looking all around her as she tries to work out what
the heck's going on.
ILLYRIA
What is this… What happened here?
Illyria starts to move around, picking out small packs of
injured citizens staggering between the ruins of the flaming
buildings.
She grabs the nearest one and shouts into his soot-covered
face.
ILLYRIA (cont'd)
Answer me! What is this
devastation? What caused this?
SURVIVOR
I… I don't…
ILLYRIA
Tell me what happened!
VOICE (O.S.)
It was you, Illyria.
Illyria stiffens – like she's just heard a ghost.
She shoves the bruised survivor away and slowly turns round –
and there is WESLEY, pacing calmly across the blast radius
towards her. He's dressed the same as his last appearance,
when he died at the hands of Cyrus Vail.
She stands still, staring wide-eyed at him, as the moans of
the dying continue all around.
ILLYRIA
But… you- he killed- you can't…
(beat; quiet)
Wesley?
WESLEY
Not exactly. I'm what you'd call a
dreamscape avatar, a voice for your
body's unique collective
unconscious.
ILLYRIA
I… I do not understand.
WESLEY
(smiles)
I imagine not. Here's the English
answer – you're dreaming.
Illyria looks around her, taking in the carnage. She looks
back at Wesley, more than a little confused.
ILLYRIA
Dreaming? Impossible. Illyria does
not dream.
WESLEY
Maybe not, but I know Fred used to
dream. She's always be telling me
about her dreams, how vivid they
felt to her, how she could hear,
small and taste things that were
happening around her. Like, for
example…
(indicates the ruins)
This little scenario.
ILLYRIA
How can this be a mere dream? I
have not seen carnage like this
since-
WESLEY
War stories notwithstanding… I'm
here to bring you a message. Two
messages, actually.
The first is quite simple – what
you see here is a premonition. The
universe's way of giving you a
warning.
ILLYRIA
A warning for what? Is there to be
an attack on this city?
WELSEY
In a manner of speaking. Your
powers are returning, aren't they?
ILLYRIA
(beat; almost guilty)
Yes.
WESLEY
And you remember what happened last
time they did? How you nearly self
destructed and destroyed the entire
city, and moreover how you could
forsee that happening?
ILLYRIA
Am I in danger once again?
WESLEY
I'm afraid so. You need help, and
there's only one person I can think
of that knows the best thing to do.
Illyria lowers her head and nods.
ILLYRIA
You.
WESLEY
Which brings me neatly to my second
piece of news. I'm not exactly sure
how, but I think we're speaking now
as some by-product of your powers,
so I need to take the opportunity
to tell you something.
Illyria looks up expectantly.
WESLEY (cont'd)
If you find me, I can help.
(beat)
I'm still alive.
Illyria stares back at him for a beat – and then SNARLS,
suddenly furious.
ILLYRIA
You lie! You are nothing but a
spectre, a misplaced fragment of
energy, trying to deceive me!
Wesley is dead, and there is no
return from death! Leave me be!
WESLEY
Illyria, I'm not-
ILLYRIA
Silence! You and your kind have no
power over me, even in this shell!
Begone!
3 INT. SPIKE'S OFFICES – ILLYRIA'S ROOM. NIGHT. 3
Illyria jumps up out of bed, wide awake and panting. She
takes a moment to compose herself, then glances across at her
reflection in the mirror.
She's surprised to find that she's been crying in her sleep.
With a disdainful huff, she wipes the tears away.
ILLYRIA
Just a dream. Nothing more.
She lies back down again, staring at the ceiling.
ILLYRIA (cont'd)
Nothing more.
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 INT. SPIKE'S OFFICES. NIGHT. 4
The front door opens with a quiet CREAK, and with a muttered
curse and a mental note to oil the latch, SPIKE creeps into
the offices, the stolen scroll from Wolfram & Hart tucked
under one arm.
He's halfway across the main office space when the lamp by
his desk flicks on, revealing a stony-faced Illyria.
Spike freezes and turns, sighing when he sees his colleague
waiting.
SPIKE
Practicing for Halloween, are we?
Bit of a wait 'till next year, luv.
ILLYRIA
Where have you been?
SPIKE
(blunt)
Er, I've been out, your highness.
Wasn't aware I needed your
permission to leave my own office!
ILLYRIA
'Out' where?
SPIKE
Absolutely none of your business.
Illyria stands and marches over to Spike, who backs up until
he bumps into a filing cabinet, the clearly angry Illyria
inches away from him.
ILLYRIA
Do not play games with me, you
miscreant, I demand to know where
you have been! I've had my fill of
duplicitous vampires, and I will
not tolerate more sneaking around
behind my back!
SPIKE
Alright, alright! Fine!
Illyria steps back, and Spike glares at her as he shucks off
his jacket and places the scroll on his desk.
Yawning and dressed for bed, SKYE steps into the office.
SKYE
What's all the racket about? Girls'
trying to catch up on some z's up
here…
SPIKE
Sleep later, pet. You may as well
come take a look at this as well.
Bleary-eyed, Skye pulls up a chair as Spike flattens out the
scroll on the desktop and steps back.
A beat as Illyria and Skye scan over it.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Well?
SKYE
Well what?
ILLYRIA
This is nonsense, Spike. What is
the meaning of this scroll?
SPIKE
What, you can't read it?
SKYE
No, see, I had classes in Advanced
Klingon lined up for next semester,
but then I kinda had to leave
school in a hurry. You know, killed
a teacher and all.
SPIKE
It's plain as day! It says…
Spike glances down at the scroll, and his brow creases. He
snatches it back up and looks it over a few more times before
throwing it across the room and storming off.
SKYE
What's with you?
SPIKE
Another trick… I bloody knew it!
Might have known those Wolfram and
Hart buggers'd rather gargle with
lava than give a man a break for
once…
Illyria scoops up the scroll and studies it as Skye walks
over to Spike.
SKYE
You went to Wolfram and Hart?
SPIKE
(caught out)
Uh… oh, yeah, well, it was nothing,
really, just some reconnaissance
work, you know, and-
ILLYRIA
(still reading)
Your skills at deceit would remain
the worst in the world even if you
were the last person on it, Spike.
(reads reverse of scroll)
This is an ancient dialect, old
even in my time… where did you get
this?
SPIKE
I told you, Wolfram & Hart. Had me
one of those epiphany whatsits,
told me to go there and find this
scroll, said it was important,
something to do with the Shanshu.
SKYE
The what?
SPIKE
Shanshu, it's a-
ILLYRIA
A prophecy that foretells of an
ensouled vampire one day becoming
human again, assuming he survives
several apocalypses and defeats
countless evils, of course.
Prophecies rarely give good odds on
such events.
SKYE
What made you go and get this
thing, then?
Spike grabs the scroll back from Illyria's hands and studies
it again.
SPIKE
Wish I could tell you. Had a
strange dream, woke up knowing I
had to go and find it, a few hours
later here we are. Funny thing is,
I swear I could read this when I
was in their records room, but now…
(sighs)
Now it's just gibberish.
ILLYRIA
There is no way a weakling demon
like yourself could understand this
text, it predates even your kind!
SPIKE
Oh, well, excuse me, Mistress
Linguistics, why don't you show off
your translating skills for us,
then?
Illyria folds her arms, thoughtful, then nods.
ILLYRIA
I will try. If Wesley were-
SPIKE
Yeah, well, he's not. Welsey's
dead. So unless you have a spare
Watcher in your pocket, and judging
by the fit of your outfit I doubt
you have, we're going to have to do
this the good old fashioned way.
Spike grabs the phone as Skye waits for him to finish.
SKYE
Which is…?
SPIKE
We call Angel and guilt trip him
into doing it.
Skye rolls her eyes as Spike waits for Angel to pick up the
phone.
5 INT. HYPERION – ANGEL'S OFFICE. NIGHT. 5
All the lights are off as the phone RINGS on the desk, and
after a few beats, ANGEL enters the office, wrapping a
dressing gown round himself and rubbing his tired eyes.
He sits at the desk and scoops up the phone.
ANGEL
Hello?
SPIKE
(filtered; through phone)
Evening, traitor!
ANGEL
Spike?
(glances at clock)
What is it?
This is the first quiet night's
sleep I've had for weeks, why are
you ruining it?
SPIKE
Got a conundrum for you. Found a
scroll, written in some ancient
language that even Blue's turning a
bit of a blank on. Had a feeling
you might-
ANGEL
(smirks)
You want me to translate it? Well,
obviously, Spike, I'm very
flattered, I knew sooner or later
you'd-
SPIKE
Er, back up just a moment, you smug
git. I was going to ask if you
still had any of Wesley's old books
lying around, I know he told me
he'd left some at the hotel 'just
in case.' Well, the case is just
in. If it's all the same to you,
I'll send the munchkin round to
pick them up.
ANGEL
(beat)
Oh. Are you sure you don't want-
SPIKE
Don't want your help? Very sure,
mate. G'night.
Spike hangs up, and a hurt-looking Angel hangs up.
NINA (O.S.)
Angel, honey? Who was it?
Angel looks up – NINA is in the doorway, also looking like
she's woken from a good night's sleep.
ANGEL
Oh, nobody. Wrong number.
NINA
Oh, okay…
Nina heads back upstairs as Angel stays at the desk, a
definite frown forming.
6 INT. SPIKE'S OFFICE. NIGHT. 6
Spike chuckles as he heads back upstairs, but an annoyed Skye
blocks his way.
SKYE
And who's the 'munchkin,' exactly?
SPIKE
Work it out, junior. I was going to
go with 'oompah-loompah' but
decided 'munchkin' was more suited
to you.
SKYE
Now you wait just a minute-
SPIKE
Skye! We don't have time to argue.
That scroll right there could be
what I've been looking for to prove
that it's me who gets to Shanshu,
and not Angel, so be a star and
toddle over to Angel's for me, will
you? Grab the books, come right
back, then help us get to work on
it.
SKYE
Why should I?
SPKE
Because I'm the boss, that's why!
SKYE
It's not like you pay me anything,
you spent the last lot of cash we
had on beer!
SPIKE
If you don't like it, you can
always-
ILLYRIA
Enough!!
The vampires turn as Illyria marches past them, throwing each
of them a cold glare.
ILLYRIA (cont'd)
If I'd have known agreeing to fight
alongside you would result in so
much childish prattle and
bickering, I would have asked to go
back to the Deeper Well!
Illyria heads upstairs, and Skye throws a raised eyebrow at
Spike, who shrugs.
SPIKE
I wouldn't say we bicker that much.
SKYE
More like 'disagree,' really.
SPIKE
Anyway. Get your coat and swing
round Angel's for me. Shouldn't
take five minutes.
SKYE
(sighs)
Alright.
As Skye heads back upstairs to get ready, we cut to:
7 INT. W&H – KITRIDGE'S OFFICE. NIGHT. 7
With the commanding view of the LA skyline casting fingers of
light across the room, KIRSTEN pads across the office,
heading for the desk.
She flips on the computer, tucks her long hair behind her
ears and starts to rapidly tap at the keyboard, using the
mouse to scroll through folders onscreen.
She's working at the PC for a few beats when she hears a
toilet FLUSH, and she quickly stands, looking alarmed, and
switches off the monitor just as KITRIDGE enters from a side
door, a small bathroom behind him as he turns off the light.
He blinks as he sees Kirsten at his desk, who is making like
she's just setting some folders down, and GASPS with feigned
surprise when she sees him.
James smiles as he wanders over.
KITRIDGE
Working the late shift, Kirsten?
KIRSTEN
Just putting in a few extra hours,
James. There wasn't much on TV
tonight and all my girl friends are
out of town, so-
KITRIDGE
So not much to go home for. Yeah, I
know how it is.
James sits, grabbing a mug of fresh coffee that he'd left
cooling on the windowsill. He looks totally relaxed.
KITRIDGE (cont'd)
I'm only here because I can't sleep
at home at the moment. My wife's
still back in Memphis, so until she
finally gets round to moving up
here, I'm just staying in this
nice, big, quiet, empty and kind of
depressing house the firm fixed up
for me.
Kirsten watches James as he sips his coffee – he doesn't seem
to have picked up on her tinkering at his PC, so she smiles
disarmingly.
KIRSTEN
You know, if the place is quiet, I
could always swing by one of the
nights, you know… I don't live too
far away…
She smiles again, this time a little more flirtatiously, and
James grins back.
KITRIDGE
Yeah, maybe, we'll see what
happens. Anyway, Spike's probably
realised by now that the scroll he
took can't be read once you take it
off our premises, so I'd better
start getting things ready for when
he comes marching back in here. If
you don't mind…?
Kirsten takes the hint, nods and heads back towards her
station outside. She pauses in the doorway.
KIRSTEN
In case I don't see you - good
night, James.
KITRIDGE
Good night.
Kirsten shuts the door. Kitridge goes to switch his PC on,
and frowns when he sees it's already running.
KITRIDGE (cont'd)
Strange…
(shrugs)
Ah, well.
Within moment, he's busily typing away.
8 INT. W&H – KIRSTEN'S DESK. NIGHT. 8
Listening at the door, Kirsten sighs with relief as she hears
James typing, and sits down at her desk, picking up the
phone.
She waits a few moments until someone picks up.
KIRSTEN
It's me. I didn't have much chance
to check, he almost caught me,
though.
(beat; listens.)
No, sir, I don't think he knows
anything.
(beat; listens)
Yes, I'll keep an eye on him.
Goodbye.
She hangs up, throwing a glance over her shoulder at the door
before standing and walking off screen.
9 EXT. LA – STREET. NIGHT. 9
Straight into the action as TAYLOR and one of his men fight a
pair of vampires, trading blows as they fight off the hungry
demons.
Taylor gets a good hit in and STAKES his target, the vamp
howling as it crumbles to dust.
His partner isn't doing so well, and Taylor has to yank the
vampire away and throw it to the ground before they can
subdue it, tying its hands behind its back.
The vamp snarls as Taylor drags it to its feet and SLAMS it
against a nearby building.
TAYLOR
Alright, Lucky, you get to die much
quicker than your friend if you
tell me why you're out here. You
vamps know we run this end of town,
what made you risk coming over
here?
VAMPIRE
I ain't telling you nuthin'!
TAYLOR
Is that so? Right…
(to colleague)
Pass me the blowtorch, will ya?
The vampire shudders as Taylor is handed a small oxyacetylene
torch, which he lights with a grin.
TAYLOR (cont'd)
Always wanted to see what one of
these did to a vamp…
The vamp squirms as Taylor holds the blue flame closer and
closer to its face…
VAMPIRE
Alright, alright! I'll tell ya!
TAYLOR
Good doggie. I'm all ears.
VAMPIRE
We're here on company business,
they said we needed to fetch 'em
some supplies.
TAYLOR
Company? Supplies/ What are you,
some kind of demon contractor?
VAMPIRE
No, man, I work for them! You know,
Wolfram & Hart? They run everything
in this town, now, the cops, the
politicians, business, everybody!
TAYLOR
What did they want you to get?
VAMPIRE
Hey, beats me, buncha random
chemicals I ain't never heard of,
we were just on our way to raid
this science park for 'em.
TAYLOR
(thoughtful)
Huh… okay, well, thanks for that.
Taylor steps back and motions to his squad member.
TAYLOR (cont'd)
Go ahead, you take this one.
The vampire SHRIEKS as the other grunt steps forward and
STAKES him, while Taylor watches.
TAYLOR (cont'd)
Wolfram and Hart again, huh? Maybe
we ought to ask this town's
resident expert on just what his
previous employers are up to now…
As Taylor and the grunt walk away, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
10 INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. NIGHT. 10
There is a quiet TAPPING at the main doors, before they creak
open slightly and Skye pokes her head inside.
SKYE
Hello?
There's no-one around, the lobby is in darkness. Skye tiptoes
forwards, her Slayer-ness getting her past the need for an
invite.
She scans the inside of the hotel, impressed by its size.
SKYE (cont'd)
Man, why didn't Spike get this side
of the deal?
She spots Angel's office and heads over.
Skye doesn't notice the shadow moving on the balcony floor
overhead, however.
11 INT. HYPERION – ANGEL'S OFFICE. NIGHT. 11
Skye cautiously opens the door, noticing a heap of thick
books on top of the desk, and a note marked 'Spike.' She
picks it up and reads it out loud.
SKYE
'Dear Spike, here's your books, and
if you need any help, just call
me.'
(tucks note away)
Huh! Sweet guy…
Skye scoops up the books, struggles a little under their
weight, and turns back to the door.
WHAM! Someone crashes into her, knocking her to the ground
and sending the books flying.
Skye YELLS in alarm and fights back, struggling against
whoever's pinned her to the floor.
After a moment, the office light flicks on, and Angel and
Nina appear in the door.
ANGEL
What's going- Connor?
Skye looks up – pinning her to the floor is CONNOR, who
suddenly looks almost embarrassed as he realises he's holding
a young, attractive girl to the ground.
NINA
(sly)
Looks like you two have already got
to know each other…
Connor stands and helps Skye up, stepping back and raising
his hands apologetically as she dusts herself down and glares
at him.
CONNOR
Uh, sorry, I thought you were-
SKYE
(furious)
Thought I was what? A very specific
thief, who breaks into people's
hotels when, I might add, the
fricken doors are unlocked, and
steals things that were left out
for them, with a note?!?
ANGEL
He was working on his instincts,
Skye.
SKYE
(blinks)
You know who I am?
ANGEL
Yeah, Spike mentioned you'd arrived
in town a few weeks back, but I
never got chance to introduce
myself. I'm-
SKYE
Angel, yeah, I know.
Angel offers his hand, and Skye cautiously shakes it.
SKYE (cont'd)
So who's the coiled spring here?
ANGEL
This is my son, Connor.
SKYE
Your son? I thought vampires can't-
NINA
Long story, honey. Hey, I'm Nina.
SKYE
Uh, hi.
Skye looks warily round at the three people opposite her.
SKYE (cont'd)
So… can I, like, go now? I just
came round to pick up these books.
ANGEL
Yeah, sorry, just wanted to make
sure you were okay.
SKYE
(scoops up books)
I'm fine. No thanks to Doc Savage
here. Where'd you learn to move
that fast, anyway?
CONNOR
Quo'ortoth.
SKYE
Coor-what now?
ANGEL
Hell dimension.
NINA
Another long story.
SKYE
Right…
With a bemused smirk, Skye heads back out towards the front
doors as Angel watches.
SKYE (cont'd)
Hey, listen, I'm sorry I didn't
come by before now, I know Buffy
probably said I was coming over,
but…
ANGEL
You met Spike first, right? He can
be kinda persuasive, and I'm not
exactly his favourite person right
now.
SKYE
Yeah, I get that. Well, thanks for
the books, guess I'd better get
going.
Skye heads outside, and Angel turns to Nina as she leaves.
ANGEL
What do you think?
NINA
Skye? She seems okay. I can see the
influence Spike's having on her
already, though. How much longer
are you gonna let these hostilities
go on between you two?
ANGEL
I don't know… I keep getting
halfway towards walking into his
office and laying it out with him,
but then I remember that Illyria
probably still wants to kill me
too, and I think better of it.
Nina pats him on the head and starts back up the stairs to
their room.
NINA
You'll sort it out, honey. You
always do.
Angel stays at the foot of the stairs for a moment,
thoughtful, before we cut to:
[
top
| next
]
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.