TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. SUNNYDALE - OLD SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE - DAY - 20031
Xander and Anya are sitting on the couch, talking.
ANYA
You keep dodging the question.
XANDER
I don't mean to. It's just... you
know how I feel, right? And you
were the one who didn't want to
keep seeing each other.
ANYA
And here's where we hop on the
merry-go-round of rotating knives.
I blame you and you blame me, and
we both end up all cut to shreds.
Please just tell...
(beat)
Do you still love me?
XANDER
(nods)
Yes. I still love you. I always
will. I just don't know if that
means anything for us anymore.
ANYA
Well, I love you too. I don't know
if that means anything either.
XANDER
Well, it's nice to hear.
(beat)
I'm not gonna find anyone out there
like you, am I?
ANYA
Doesn't seem likely.
XANDER
I guess I'm more replaceable,
obviously.
ANYA
No. There's no one like you,
Xander. You were willing to stand
up to danger, even when your hands
had no weapons. You were ready to
protect me with you life.
XANDER
Yeah, I guess we fit together
pretty good.
ANYA
We fit together great.
XANDER
You know, sometimes, I want to be
back in your life.
ANYA
I hope you know you never left my
heart.
CUT TO:
2 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE - NIGHT - PRESENT 2
Just a few moments have passed since Xander passed through
Anya. Everyone has their eyes on her. She's looking back at
them. There's a big uncomfortable silence.
ANDREW
You're the First!
ANYA
I am not!
ANDREW
Yes you are. Xander went straight
through you! You don't scare us
First, we destroyed your army of
Turok-Hahns and we'll do it again
if we have to.
(over dramatic)
You can't have this world!
WILLOW
Anya?
Willow's looking at her. Like, really looking at her. She
knows this isn't the First.
WILLOW (cont'd)
It's her. Like, really her.
ANYA
Duh! It's not like I'm really Dawn
is it? Of course I'm Anya!
BUFFY
But you're dead.
ANYA
Oh, and you've never done it
before?
Xander moves round her, shocked and... no, just shocked. He
can't help but just stare at her in awe, no words could sum
up what he's feeling so he doesn't even try to talk.
BUFFY
She's a...
DAWN
... Ghost.
Anya reacts. Looks herself over, still in the same clothes
she died in, still dirtied and blood stained.
ANYA
I'm not a ghost. I'm not.
(confused)
Am I?
Her attention finally turns to Xander.
ANYA (cont'd)
Xander?
XANDER
Uh... I...
DAWN
(to Buffy)
Why is she back?
BUFFY
I don't know. Will?
WILLOW
I've no idea. We should probably
look it up, maybe she's been sent
back for a reason or maybe she's
evil.
ANYA
Stop talking about me like I'm not
here and I am not evil.
She thinks for a moment.
ANYA (cont'd)
Currently.
Xander stands. Takes one lasting look at Anya and heads out
the door. Anya is completely bemused by his reaction. Willow
turns to see Buffy follow him out.
ANDREW
Anya... thanks for dying for me.
DAWN
Careful, Andrew, she could still be
evil.
Anya throws her hands up in defeat. Her arm moves up to lean
on the wall, except, she falls THROUGH it with a YELP.
There's no noise as she hits the floor out of view of the
camera. Willow, Andrew, and Dawn tilt their heads to see
round the door frame.
ANYA (O.S.)
(calls out)
I'm okay!
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN.
3 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - XANDER'S ROOM - NIGHT 3
Xander walks in and closes the door behind him. He turns to
the mirror and looks deep into it, questioning himself. As he
turns round, he sees Anya walk through the door. He steps
back.
XANDER
Stop that.
ANYA
I can't. It's like, whoosh, I just
go straight through things. Xander,
it's very strange.
XANDER
Yeah, I'm getting that.
ANYA
No, you're not. I'm here. Why am I
here? I died in Sunnydale but yet
I'm here with you... freaks.
(beat)
Is this my punishment for all the
men I wronged? Is that what this
is? I have to go through life not
being alive, not touching
anything... not being apart of the
world I gave my life for?
XANDER
An-
ANYA
(interrupting)
I should be in heaven, being given
a big karmic reward. But no,
someone up there has decided to
leave me here all ghosty.
(beat)
And since when did you live with
Buffy? Oh my God, are you having
sex with her?
XANDER
What? No! There wasn't enough money
to- Stop.
He moves closer to her.
XANDER (CONT'D) (cont'd)
An, what the hell is going on?
ANYA
Haven't you been listening? I don't
know.
She goes to sit on the end of the bed but quickly stops
herself, realising she'll probably just fall through it. She
looks in the mirror.
She looks terrible. Then again, a battle to the death isn't
really a good look on a girl. Well, not for the normal
nonfetish people out there.
ANYA(cont'd)
I look a mess.
XANDER
No you... well, you do, yeah. But
you still look good to me. Always
did.
She shows a teary smile.
ANYA
Is this real?
XANDER
Yeah. This is. You? I don't know.
ANYA
Maybe it's just a flying visit. You
know, say my goodbyes and then I'll
be taken away to the shiny light in
the sky.
XANDER
UFOs?
ANYA
One of the heavenly dimensions. I
think that's what it is.
Xander quirks a brow.
XANDER
You really think that?
ANYA
Yeah. It certainly can't be
punishment. I've done nothing
wrong.
(off his look)
Okay, so maybe I killed a few
hundred men but in a thousand years
the numbers are bound to grow.
A moment.
XANDER
An, I... I'm sorry you died. I wish
you hadn't.
She looks up to the ceiling. Nothing. Her eyes scan the
entire room. Nothing.
XANDER (cont'd)
What?
ANYA
I was hoping my old vengeance
buddies were listening to that.
Obviously they don't care after I
kill- I mean, after D'Hoffryn
killed Hallie.
(quickly)
You really wish I hadn't?
CUT TO:
4 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - DINING ROOM 4
Willow has her laptop set up. Buffy is pacing the room,
looking up to the ceiling every so often. Dawn lingers by the
door. Buffy's attention turns to Andrew, reading a book in
the corner of the room. The title reads: "Causes For After
Death Reappearance."
BUFFY
(to Willow)
Anything?
WILLOW
I'm checking all the cults that
have the power to bring back the
dead as ghosts but I... I just
don't think I'm gonna find anything
solid.
DAWN
Certainly not Anya.
BUFFY
What if she is evil? She is in my
house, that was only recently evil
itself.
(beat)
Did the house bring her back?
ANDREW
Ooh, I know this episode on the
Outer Limits where-
Buffy shoots him a look. Dawn quietly leaves the room.
ANDREW (cont'd)
No relevance is needed here and now
being quiet.
He quickly carries on reading.
WILLOW
Sometimes people just don't die.
Anya had a soul and maybe it got
lost along the way.
BUFFY
Okay. So, what do we do?
WILLOW
I'll look for spells to help her
find her way or...
BUFFY
What?
WILLOW
Or we could ground her. Make her
human again.
Buffy ponders this.
BUFFY
You can do that?
WILLOW
I don't know if there's even a
spell for that. But maybe. I've
gone up a level in the witch game
now.
BUFFY
(shrugs)
Get what you can.
She walks to the door and exits. Andrew looks to Willow.
ANDREW
Weird, huh?
WILLOW
Yeah. Just as Xander was...
She sighs.
WILLOW (cont'd)
I just don't trust her.
ANDREW
You've never trusted her.
WILLOW
And with good reason.
ANDREW
Cos she tortured all those men?
WILLOW
Because she hurt Xander.
ANDREW
Hey, he left her at the alter.
That's gotta hurt in a Scully
giving away her baby kinda way.
WILLOW
(eyes him)
He was right to do it. He had
doubts. But never about her, he
loved her, and she slept with
Spike. That almost destroyed
Xander. And now she's back and I
think he might... I don't know.
ANDREW
You should stop worrying about
Xander. He's a big boy now. And
muscly too.
WILLOW
I know.
(sighs)
Okay, research mode.
She gets tapping on the laptop as Andrew thinks about
Xander's muscles.
CUT TO:
5 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - KITCHEN 5
Dawn is drinking from the milk carton. Buffy enters and she
quickly puts it on the side.
BUFFY
Dawn. I don't want you gone all
night like that again. I don't need
that kind of worry when... just
tell me where you are next time,
okay?
Dawn puts the carton down.
DAWN
Yeah, sorry. I didn't mean to be so
late. Jody took me sightseeing.
BUFFY
She's a new friend?
DAWN
He is.
BUFFY
(eyes her)
He? Is this a romantically involved
kinda "he?"
DAWN
I've only known him for five
minutes. I don't jump the bones of
guys I just met.
(beat)
So how is Jackson?
BUFFY
Was that a remark about my sex...
romancing, kinda strange flirting,
life?
DAWN
You have one?
BUFFY
Not even. He's nice and friendly
and... God he's hot!
DAWN
Uh huh!
BUFFY
He said he'd call tomorrow so I
guess I'll wait for him to call.
She pulls back her hair and rests an arm on the Kitchen
counter. Her eyes shift back to Dawn.
BUFFY (cont'd)
And we're back to your guy.
DAWN
Not mine. But he's also hot. And
he's nice... or as nice as a
teenage guy can be.
BUFFY
Well no more late night excursions.
I don't want his mother calling me
telling me how you're corrupting
her sweet little angel.
DAWN
Okay. I'm gonna go to bed. This
whole thing with Anya has got me
wiped.
BUFFY
Okay. See you in the morning.
Dawn nods and heads for the stairs. She stops and grabs her
side, feeling a shooting pain. Buffy reacts.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Dawn? What is it?
DAWN
Nothing. I'm fine.
BUFFY
Let me take a look.
She goes to see but Dawn jumps back.
DAWN
Seriously. It's nothing. Probably
just ate too much earlier. I'll be
fine.
BUFFY
(weary)
Okay.
Dawn exits up the stairs as Buffy's eyes follow her up there.
She knows something's up, she just doesn't know what. She
goes to the door and pulls it open.
CUT TO:
6 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - DINING ROOM 6
Buffy enters and catches Andrew swinging an axe in mid-air.
She observes for a moment.
ANDREW
No more talk, undead fiend. It's
time for Andrew, Slayer of the
vampyres to-
He turns with the axe to face Buffy and almost SCREAMS in
shock. He quickly places it down on the table.
ANDREW (cont'd)
Thought you'd gone to bed.
BUFFY
Is this what you do when we're all
sleeping? Cos, oh my God.
ANDREW
Sometimes I read.
She rolls her eyes.
BUFFY
Where's Willow?
ANDREW
She took the laptop upstairs and
decided to sleep with Kennedy. I'm
not sure if she actually meant they
were going to sleep or-
BUFFY
(interrupting)
Stop. Please.
She turns to walk away.
ANDREW
Buffy. Do you think I'll ever be a
champion like you?
BUFFY
What?
ANDREW
I mean, you've saved the world so
many times. Willow's changed the
world. Xander stopped Dark Willow
from destroying it...
BUFFY
What's the point, Andrew?
ANDREW
I've been here with you guys and I
was in the final showdown in
Sunnydale and... I don't know if
I'm helping. I don't know if I can.
She takes this in. She's beat. Tired. Really not up to having
this discussion but she does.
BUFFY
Being a champion is... it's hard.
It's not all flowers in the field
and white picket fences at the end
of it all. It's pain and hurt and
once you're in, there's no turning
back. There is always a mission,
always a war to be waged, and we
don't always win.
(beat)
People turn. People die.
You've gotta ask yourself if that's
the life you want to live, if
you're strong enough to fight
whatever is thrown at you.
Andrew accepts this.
BUFFY (cont'd)
And plus, you know, you did stake
that vamp.
ANDREW
Yeah.
She exits. Andrew takes his seat and stares into space for a
real long while.
ANDREW
She does like her speeches.
CUT TO:
7 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - DAWN'S ROOM 7
Kennedy is lying on the bed as the door opens. Willow walks
in, laptop in hand.
WILLOW
Hey. You feeling any better?
She puts the laptop on the desk and moves to the bed,
bringing up a glass of water from the side table and passing
it to Kennedy, who willingly sips it.
KENNEDY
Just feeling like I've been
tortured.
WILLOW
That's a nasty side effect of being
tortured.
(beat)
But you... you're not in any big
pain, right? I mean, you have that
Slayer healing power.
KENNEDY
It hurts less. You?
WILLOW
I don't hurt. I mean, I'm a little
achy but no way does that compare
to what you took. You... you never
let him get you down. You didn't
let him win.
KENNEDY
Can't keep a good time gal down.
Willow kisses her on the cheek but Kennedy suddenly COUGHS
loudly. And again. And also, again. Willow rubs her back as
she pushes her forward. Kennedy stops and breathes heavily.
KENNEDY (cont'd)
Can you call the club and tell them
I have a slight case of dying so I
won't be working tomorrow?
WILLOW
I will and you're not. Dying I
mean.
Kennedy sighs and leans back, falling into Willow's arms,
which are tightly wrapped around her.
KENNEDY
The rate we're going, we'll be dead
before we get our own place.
WILLOW
No. We'll get there. And it'll be
big and safe and not evil.
KENNEDY
This is us we're talking about.
Evil follows us like a... well,
like Andrew.
WILLOW
He does-
They both JUMP back as Anya SHIMMERS through the wall and
continues walking.
ANYA
(mid-conversation)
Keep getting lost in this damn
house. Why can't there be a map?
She stops suddenly, looks over to the bed to see Willow and
Kennedy all snuggle-y. She turns back to the wall she just
came through and back to them again.
ANYA (cont'd)
This house is a maze!
WILLOW
Anya. You're here.
(beat)
Please leave.
KENNEDY
Or get out.
ANYA
No.
WILLOW
No?
ANYA
No. There's some things I have to
say to you both. Well, actually
just Willow because I don't know
you too well, Kennedy. Except that
you're not afraid of imminent
death. I like that. Yay you.
(to Willow)
And you, you big Magic Box wrecker.
I lost my business because of you.
You almost killed me and everyone
else.
WILLOW
(aghast)
Uh... I...
ANYA
But good luck with the spells and
the gay sex.
She beams a smile. Pauses. Willow and Kennedy stare at her in
disbelief, although, they really should be used to her
statements by now. Anya looks up to the ceiling.
ANYA (cont'd)
(calls out)
What, I gotta say goodbye to Andrew
as well? But he's just a useless
and often annoying boy.
WILLOW
Anya, who are you-
ANYA
I'd love to stay and chat, girls,
but I've got a schedule to
complete. As if saving his life
wasn't good enough...
She trails off as she walks through the wall again. Willow
and Kennedy, still staring.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
8 EXT. WOODS - DAY 8
Buffy is slowly walking through a woodland area, her eyes
gazing at the beaming sun. A slight whisper in the wind can
be heard but she ignores it and continues through the trees.
She stops and looks down to see the Scythe.
BUFFY
I didn't leave this here.
She grabs hold of it and lifts it to her side but looking
ahead she sees -
A WOLF
It peers at her with crystal blue eyes. It's fur a pure
white. Buffy and the wolf stare at each other for a while,
transfixed.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I know you.
The wolf turns and walks into the opening of a cave. Buffy
follows, Scythe in hand. She comes to the entrance and takes
a look back as a big rain cloud begins to form. She turns
back to the cave and walks through.
CUT TO: