buffy8x08
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. CLEVELAND - NIGHT 1
The city is tranquil and peaceful. The only strange element
is the moon, its full form bathing the ground in white light.
Thick fog emanates above the ground. We're in cliche
territory, folks.
CUT TO:
2 EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT 2
SUSAN BIRKE (22) runs desperately across the grass. She could
pass for the girl next-door, save for the tattered clothing
and scraped face. With each step her balance becomes more
erratic.
Terrified, she keeps trying to look at what's coming from
behind. She's dangerously close to tripping as her worst
fears begin to take hold.
We can only SEE bits and pieces of what's chasing her. It's a
Demon, that much we know for sure. Two long spikes wrap
around his form and connect at the front, leaving a trail of
green acidic blood.
Susan turns to look at her attacker, and as she does so - She
goes sailing head over heels over a tombstone! Susan lands in
a heap on the ground. Time seems to slow as Susan tries to
regain her senses.
Almost unconsciously, she rolls onto her side. She examines
her wounds -- a nasty gash on her leg, another visible
through torn jeans, and a laceration across her forehead.
There's a sudden, aggressive GROWL from the bush. Susan
slowly manages to bring her head up as we get a first real
glimpse at the monster charging towards her.
Illuminated eerily in the moonlight, a GLUNDARK DEMON stands
with haunting crimson eyes. His flaky facial tissue manages
to compliment his large spikes. He leaps onto her and pins
her shoulders to the ground. Brings his face eerily close to
hers.
GLUNDARK
You fool... you shall pay for your
sins... only fools cross into my
dimension!
Susan's eyes go wide as Glundark opens his mouth. What can
best be described as demonic suction pump appears. It inches
slowly towards the terrified girl... Tears fill her eyes...
words can't escape her lips... the pump is a millimeter from
her neck, prepares to latch on until suddenly --
A SWORD -- shoots out into the darkness and severs the pump.
A dark viscous fluid flows from the stump. The pump tumbles
to the ground as Glundark flies backward.
It's BUFFY holding the sword, laced with acidic blood.
BUFFY
Hi, I'm Buffy. I'm going to kick
your ass, okay?
GLUNDARK
(pained)
Foolish mortal!
BUFFY
I get that a lot.
Glundark lunges for Buffy. She manages to parry and brings up
the sword swiftly, slashing him across the chest. He takes a
few steps backward, examining the brutal cut.
GLUNDARK
You fool!
BUFFY
I got that part already.
He brings another approach, rapidly losing blood. With a
sudden change of tactic, Buffy slams the sword in a
straightforward motion.
Instantly impales Glundark. He grabs the blade and begins to
drive it in further, snarling at the Slayer.
GLUNDARK
You're... you're -- !
Buffy yanks the sword out and in one swift move splits the
Demon in two.
BUFFY
Foolish?
The two halves fly in different directions and are quickly
consumed by the acidic fluid. Susan cowers on the ground.
JACKSON enters frame, kneeling beside her.
SUSAN
Wha -- What was that?
JACKSON
You'd better get going. We'll
handle the clean-up.
SUSAN
Who are you?
JACKSON
Me? I'm a Realtor.
(re: Buffy)
Her?
Buffy sighs, staring as the blood eats through her sword. She
drops the blade-less hilt, disappointed.
JACKSON (cont'd)
She's something special.
Buffy and Jackson make intense eye contact and trade smiles.
Seductive to the extreme.
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
3 EXT. SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT CONSTRUCTION - OFFICES - DAY 3
ESTABLISHING SHOT of the small-time construction companies
point of residence. Capitalizing on their name - they have a
Smokey and The Bandit posted just underneath their own sign.
MR.REYNOLDS (V.O.)
So, Mr. Harris, what makes you
think you could be an effective
member of Smokey and The Bandit
construction?
CUT TO:
4 INT. SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT CONSTRUCTION - OFFICES 4
Two sharply dressed Executives sit behind a meticulously
crafted oak desk. MR. REYNOLDS bears a strong resemblance a
like named B-Film Star, and MR. MARSON looks like a big boned
Dukes Of Hazard character. XANDER sits across from them,
wearing his own spiffy suit and looking like an American 007.
XANDER
I have a lot of expertise in the
construction field, having spent a
significant period of time in
Sunnydale...
He passes them a red dossier.
XANDER (cont'd)
... which required a lot of
construction and reconstruction
work. Seventy-five percent of which
I helped to propagate.
Mr. Reynolds flicks through the dossier, and nonchalantly
passes it to Mr. Marson. He looks through it with far more
care.
MR. MARSON
What brought you to Cleveland, Mr.
Harris?
XANDER
The long answer would involve a
rambling story. The short answer...
I'm sure you gentlemen are aware of
the epidemic that hit Sunnydale.
Mr. Marson and Mr. Reynolds share concerned looks.
MR. REYNOLDS
The one caused by a monkey.
XANDER
I think that was Outbreak.
Mr. Reynolds sighs.
MR. MARSON
We have heard of this epidemic. It
caused terrible damage to that
provincial little town. Led some
folks to believe that Vampires and
other mythological creatures were
walking around like they owned the
place.
(chuckles)
DIdn't you hear that, Mr. Reynolds?
MR. REYNOLDS
I did, Mr. Marson. Have you ever
heard such a ridiculous concept in
your life?
(laughs)
I mean... Vampires. How can they be
real?
Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Marson roar with laughter. They are not
perceptive enough to note that Xander's laughter is a lot
less illustrated than theirs.
XANDER
(mumbling)
You have no idea.
A beat while Mr. Marson and Mr. Reynolds compose themselves.
MR. MARSON
Why do you want to work at Smokey
and The Bandit construction?
XANDER
First of all - I love the name
(taps chest twice)
I'm a big Burt Reynolds fan.
(clears throat)
Second - I believe that a man
should do what a man likes to do.
For a long time I was searching for
who I was, where I belonged in this
crazy world. That all changed the
day I discovered construction work.
(grins)
It actually extends past that. I
love creating habitats and homes
for people to live in.
That, and the buzz I get from
destroying said properties when
people leave - which was common in
my former stomping ground of
Sunnydale - allowed me to sleep
easily at night, satisfied and
complete.
MR. MARSON
Are you married, Mr. Harris?
XANDER
What?
(double-take)
What?
MR. REYNOLDS
Smokey and The Bandit construction
is a family business. We pride
ourselves on creating homes for
families. Our employees must be
representative of this, or at the
very least in a stable
relationship.
Beat.
XANDER
There was this one girl, a while
ago. But things have gotten...
complicated.
Mr. Marson and Mr. Reynolds nod in understanding. They stand
up, and so does Xander. He shakes their hands.
MR. MARSON
It was nice meeting with you,
Xander.
MR. REYNOLDS
We'll call you.
XANDER
Thanks. Uh... bye.
Xander EXITS.
MR. MARSON
He needs to get over her and move
on.
MR. REYNOLDS
If only it were that easy.
CUT TO:
5 INT. SHAW RESIDENCE - LOUNGE 5
We're close on Susan. She lies on the sofa, motionless. Her
clothes are tattered, and she has numerous SCARS over her
body.
Into frame appears a wet cloth. It is applied to her wounds,
and begins to wipe the excess dirt away. Susan stirs every
once in a while from the pain it brings. PULL BACK to reveal:
Jackson is sat on the other sofa, staring at Susan. He's
still trying to formulate the events in his head. The cloth
is wrung free of the water, dirt, and blood, and it slinks
into the bottom of a water bucket.
Jackson puts his head in his hands. Buffy joins him on the
seat. She is concerned; but isn't so obvious.
JACKSON
How do you do it?
BUFFY
It's who I am. It's what I do. I
don't think I'd choose it any other
way.
(smiles)
Through time you get used to it.
JACKSON
I was a cop. I handled cases
between humans that reduced me to
tears.
(off her look)
Manly tears... of course.
BUFFY
It's the life we lead. Civil
servants to the last. Sworn to
protect the very people who take us
to court. Metaphorically for me,
because I'm the Slayer - and no-one
can know that.
JACKSON
(as Buffy)
'Civil Servants to the last.'
(normal)
Until you become a Realtor.
(beat)
I don't regret what I do. I do it,
because being a cop got too... when
my partner...
(beat)
I saw things I would never wish
upon anyone.
BUFFY
But sometimes you need to see those
things, to put the broader picture
into perspective.
Susan stirs, and her eyelids flutter.
BUFFY (cont'd)
You start.
Jackson nods in understanding. He gets off the couch, and
walks over to Susan. He kneels by her. Her eyes pop open, and
she turns to face Jackson. She looks weary.
JACKSON
It's okay. I'm here to help. Susan
stares at him for a spell...
... before remembering who he is. She breathes a sigh of
relief, and attempts to get to her feet.
She falls down, the gash on the left thigh causing too much
pain for her to walk on. Jackson helps her up, and places her
back on the sofa.
SUSAN
Thank you.
She breathes deeply, and after a while begins to calm down.
JACKSON
We need to ask you a few questions.
SUSAN
We?
Jackson nods. Susan follows his eyesight, and catches Buffy.
She smiles to the woman.
SUSAN (cont'd)
Who is she?
JACKSON
Her name is Buffy.
SUSAN
Bunny?
BUFFY
(mouths it; slowly)
Buffy --!
(beat)
It is a name, you know!
Beat.
JACKSON
We're here to ask you a few
questions, in the hope of getting
some information.
SUSAN
Okay.
JACKSON
Why did you go to the graveyard?
SUSAN
To pay my respects to my ex
boyfriend Jeff...
JACKSON
Jeff...?
SUSAN
Atkins. He died last month... he
was murdered.
Buffy walks around to Susan.
BUFFY
Do you know why you were attacked?
SUSAN
No. I was just praying by Jeff's
grave, and all of a sudden this...
thing attacked me. It was
completely and utterly unprovoked.
JACKSON
Do you know what attacked you?
SUSAN
It looked like a man in a rubber
suit of some description. The first
hit scrambled my brains, so
obviously I didn't get a very good
look.
Buffy and Jackson share a look.
BUFFY
Here's the explainy, Susan.
Something attacked you, did a
number on your body. We're gonna
keep you here under surveillance.
To make sure you're safe.
Susan panics.
SUSAN
Who are you?
BUFFY
It's best you don't know - because
it leads to a lot of questions that
you don't want to ask, and I don't
want to answer.
She kneels by Susan.
BUFFY (cont'd)
All you need to know is that you're
safe.
CUT TO:
6 INT. SHAW RESIDENCE - HALLWAY 6
Jackson shuts the door to the living room, turning to face
Buffy, standing with her hands on her hips.
JACKSON
What do you think?
BUFFY
Well I think you should paint over
the wallpaper for a start --
JACKSON
(interrupting)
I meant about Susan.
BUFFY
Oh... I think she's scared and
confused. She doesn't know what
attacked her. But she trusts us...
or, you.
JACKSON
What did attack her?
BUFFY
I don't know. I'll phone Dawn, fill
her in on what's happened. Maybe
she can ascertain some information
relating to that demon.
JACKSON
Why did it attack her?
BUFFY
That's usually what demons do. It's
like a motto, "kill the humans. Yay
us!"
JACKSON
It said something about its
dimension. Maybe that's relevant...
I don't know, I'm a bit new to this
whole demon world thing.
BUFFY
Can you get your buddies down at
the precinct to do a background
check? Maybe they could dig
something up on our "Dead Like Me"
wannabe.
Jackson shakes his head.
JACKSON
Not a good idea. Seems not a lot of
guys really wanna hand out
information to a deserter... even
if it was for good reasons...
(beat)
But if it's any use I could give
Willow and Andrew some hints on the
access codes for the police files.
(quietly)
... that never leaves this hallway.
Buffy nods, with a slight smile.
BUFFY
Hints? Check you out, Mr Bad.
There's a long beat as they exchange longing looks. Then --
BUFFY (cont'd)
I should... go... now.
Buffy turns to leave. Jackson gently grabs her arm. She turns
around to face him.
JACKSON
You know, I may be new to this
whole slay-ground thing... but
seeing you kick demon ass, not
something I hate.
Buffy smiles.
BUFFY
I always said that being a Slayer
was the best way to release stress.
They get closer -- we're in the intense zone here people.
It's getting hot, not sweaty hot, but we can almost feel the
heat towards them.
JACKSON
I have another way.
BUFFY
Please. Do share.
JACKSON
Promise not to kill me?
BUFFY
I'm over that.
A beat.
They come incredibly close to each other until they can't
move any more. They kiss, softly -- gently. Buffy's arms come
round to hook around his shoulders. They pull away.
BUFFY
That was...
JACKSON
... like... God...
BUFFY
Right there with ya.
CUT TO:
7 EXT. WILLOW & KENNEDY'S APARTMENT 7
We slowly DOLLY down the corridor, ghost-like in terms of
movement. Finally we MOVE THROUGH the keyhole and into --
8 INT. WILLOW AND KENNEDY'S ROOM 8
KENNEDY is tooling herself up with Slayer weapons (crossbow;
stake; couple of holy water bottles). WILLOW has twelve
candles set up in a circle. They are positioned around a bean
bag cushion.
Willow picks up a Magic Book from the shelf: SOLIDIFICATION
FOR DUMMIES, and flicks through to the appropriate page.
Kennedy walks behind Willow, and wraps her arms around her.
KENNEDY
Do you have to do this?
WILLOW
What? You mean bring Anya back to
our plain, as a human?
(grins)
I guess.
KENNEDY
Always with the Magic, Red.
She kisses Willows neck.
WILLOW
I think we have to take a raincheck
on that kinda magic for a few
hours. Kennedy pulls away.
KENNEDY
Are you sure you'll be okay?
WILLOW
Yeah. I think I have the right
spell now. Shouldn't have any more
incidents.
KENNEDY
Like the bull-frog.
WILLOW
(what?)
Yeah... exactly...
KENNEDY
I just lost coolness points, huh?
Willow nods.
WILLOW
It'd work best if you stayed out
for a while. There's no way I could
concentrate with you here.
KENNEDY
Ain't that the truth.
Kennedy pulls her bag of tricks over her back, and takes
Willow's hand in hers. She pulls away, and walks off. Willow
sighs.
WILLOW
Okay. Magic-time.
CUT TO:
9 EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY 9
Kennedy is walking through the graveyard, lost in her own
thoughts...
... when she is jumped by a Glundark Demon. One of the
Glundark's spikes digs into Kennedy's back, and she rolls
around the floor.
Kennedy comes to a stop, and leaps to her feet. She has a
wound to her left should, but this just makes her more mad.
She faces the Glundark.
KENNEDY
Hey. I'm walking here.
The Glundark approaches.
GLUNDARK
You fool... you shall pay for your
sins... only fools cross into my
dimension!
KENNEDY
And what dimension would that be?
Earth? Last time I checked, your
kind wasn't welcome.
GLUNDARK
I sense your lies. Pretending that
everything is okay, hiding what you
truly feel.
Kennedy gets it.
KENNEDY
How do you know that?
The Glundark smiles.
GLUNDARK
In my dimension, the truth shall
out.
The Glundark screams in pain, and flails around aimlessly, in
an attempt to get the crossbow out. He lunges for Kennedy.
She effortlessly moves out of the way, and pulls the crossbow
out from her bag. She kicks the Glundark in the knee,
breaking his leg, and shoots him in the side with a crossbow
arrow.
Kennedy grabs him by the top of his head with her right hand,
and puts the crossbow back in her bag with her left hand.
KENNEDY
I've never seen you before and now
I'm starting to get why that is.
The Glundark opens its mouth, and it's demonic suction pump
inches closer to Kennedy's throat.
GLUNDARK
The truth is mine.
Kennedy leaps over the Glundark, landing on the other side.
By the time he turns around, she holds the stake in her hand.
She slams it into his throat, and kicks him backwards.
The Glundark Demon starts to cough up acidic blood,
dissolving itself from the inside out.
KENNEDY
(grins)
A truth demon.
Kennedy shakes her head.
She looks across the graveyard, and sees a small girl (five,
maybe six: pretty) looking at her. Kennedy smiles. The girl
runs off, scared.
KENNEDY (cont'd)
Yeah. Whatever.
She walks off.
CUT TO:
10 INT. WILLOW AND KENNEDY'S APARTMENT - LOUNGE - LATER 10
We do a 360 spin around Willow (sitting in the meditation
position) as she reads from the spell book. We stop on
Willow, locked in concentration.
WILLOW
(in Latin)
The ghost who died. The unlawful
death. The incorporeal
resurrection. The one who came back
for a purpose.
She takes a deep breath.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Release her corporeal body from
purgatory.
(beat)
Bring her to the light.
A shimmering glow beings to form around the witch as she
speaks with more power.
WILLOW (cont'd)
RELEASE...
(beat)
SET FREE...
(beat)
OPEN THE GATES...
(beat)
SOLIDIFY THE ONE THEY CALL....
Willow's eyes go pale white... and she floats three feet
above the ground. But her concentration never wavers.
WILLOW (CONT'D) (cont'd)
RELEASE...
(beat)
I COMMAND THEE...
(beat)
RELEASE!
The spell abruptly ends, leaving Willow sitting there --
confused. She looks down, the glow gone.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Well that's not good.
Willow looks around the surroundings -- but we don't see
them.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Where am I?
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.