10 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - KITCHEN 10
Xander is making a coffee. He turns as Anya walk through the
already opened door. Her arms are wrapped round each other,
her eyes lying on him. He motions to the kettle.
XANDER
You want one?
A moment before he realizes.
XANDER (cont'd)
Right. Ghost.
He pours the water in and stirs. Slowly, he turns back to
her, a little dejected.
XANDER (cont'd)
I keep forgetting, you know, that I
can't... touch you. Sometimes I
have this urge to hug you and then
I remember that it... I can't do
that.
ANYA
I forget too. Last night I tried to
slap Andrew when he was sleeping
but...
A beat. They stare at each other for a while.
XANDER
I wish I knew a way to change it.
ANYA
We tried. Willow came to a dead end
and all my demon connections are
severely severed.
(beat)
It's the way it is now.
XANDER
And you're okay with that? I mean,
it's hard for me, so it must be a
thousand times harder for you.
ANYA
Sometimes it's crappy. Then it's
even more crappy. Then I think,
'hey, just jump off a bridge,' but
then I realize I'm already dead so -
XANDER
You're not dead.
(beat)
Not to me.
Anya forces back a tear.
ANYA
Do you think things would be better
if I hadn't... if that whole death
thing had never happened? Would we
be in love or was that really the
last sex we were ever going to
have?
XANDER
I don't... I guess I still love
you.
ANYA
And I love you. And it's stupid.
And it's worse than a thousand
times harder.
(beat)
I don't want you to love me.
XANDER
What?
ANYA
Xander, lets not kid ourselves
here. I'm a ghost. We could
never...
(beat)
At least you can still... you
deserve better.
XANDER
What? No. Anya, you touched me. A
while ago. We connected.
ANYA
For a second, if that! I'm a ghost
because I'm being punished -
XANDER
We don't know that!
ANYA
(softly)
We do. You do. I know that you know
it's true.
(beat)
I love you with all my heart and I
can't imagine not being around you,
or to be not loved by you. Xander,
I haven't done much with my life --
demon, alive, or dead... but I can
do this.
(beat)
You have to move on. Find someone
who isn't evil or was or otherwise
ghostly. You deserve to be loved by
someone that's pure.
(beat)
Not me. Not now.
Xander steps closer.
XANDER
Why are you saying this?
ANYA
(teary)
Because for once I want to do the
right thing and not because I have
to, or because there's something I
need to make up for. I want to be
right, to be...
XANDER
Anya -
She shakes her head, stepping away from him.
ANYA
No, Xander. I have to go. Away.
XANDER
No you don't. Anya, please. I know
with you being like this we
can't... but that doesn't mean we
can't love each other or be
forever.
ANYA
It's not just about that. Haven't
you been listening?
XANDER
Yes. I have. And so far, it's all
about what you want and what you
need.
(beat)
What about me?
ANYA
You'll thank me. One day.
She walks towards him and lifts her hand, placing it just
millimeters away from his face -- as if, for a moment, they
were actually touching.
ANYA (cont'd)
Goodbye.
Xander's eyes look deep into hers. He's searching for the
words but to no avail. He lowers his head as Anya turns and
walks away.
Xander's hurt. Like real bad. His eyes look back up to see
the empty room and catches a falling tear.
XANDER
(quietly)
Goodbye.
CUT TO:
11 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE 11
It's empty. Or it is until Anya walks through. She doesn't
stop, just goes straight THROUGH the wall as the door opens.
Buffy and Kennedy pull Jackson through and set him down on
the sofa. Willow rushes down the stairs, followed by Andrew.
ANDREW
Hey, we just cleaned that couch.
WILLOW
Buffy?
Buffy kneels besides Jackson, covering his naked body with
her coat, gripping tightly to his hand. She looks up to
Willow.
BUFFY
I found him... or, he found me.
Willow turns to Kennedy.
WILLOW
You okay?
KENNEDY
Yeah. No more Uber-Vamp.
WILLOW
You killed it?
KENNEDY
We WWE'd its ass.
WILLOW
(confused)
Huh?
KENNEDY
Wrestling.
Buffy stands.
BUFFY
Guys, we've got wounded.
WILLOW
Sorry. Dawn's upstairs... the
girl's coming around.
BUFFY
Has she said anything?
WILLOW
A few things. Something about her
dog... I think she's a little
incoherent.
BUFFY
We need her talking.
Buffy heads to the door.
ANDREW
Um, why exactly?
BUFFY
Betting is, there's more of these
Turok-Han. If she knows anything,
then we need to act as soon as we
can.
ANDREW
Okay... and what do we do with him?
Buffy eyes Jackson.
BUFFY
Get him a quilt.
KENNEDY
But shouldn't we get a doctor or
something?
BUFFY
No.
(beat)
I didn't just find him. I saw the
Turok-Han and then there was a
lightning bolt or something... and
there he was, just lying there.
Naked.
ANDREW
Really? Naked?
Andrew tilts his head, getting a view of Jackson. Willow
steps in the way.
WILLOW
You want me to try some healing
meditation? I can do that.
BUFFY
Okay. Sure. Just... be careful.
WILLOW
We'll need to be in a private
space.
Buffy nods.
BUFFY
Kennedy, get him up to my room.
ANDREW
I'll help!
Kennedy, Willow, and Andrew take Jackson and make their way
up the stairs as Xander enters, seeing them.
Buffy sees him, a little saddened.
BUFFY
Xand, you okay?
XANDER
Hm, what? Yeah... I'm good.
(beat)
Have we got more wounded?
BUFFY
Kinda. It's Jackson.
XANDER
Did he get attacked?
BUFFY
Don't know. He's unconscious.
(beat)
We killed the Turok-Han though.
XANDER
Great. Good.
He goes to the window and looks out.
BUFFY
Are you sure you're okay? You look
a little... spaced.
XANDER
I'm just tired.
BUFFY
Okay. I'm gonna call work, looks
like I'm needed here.
He doesn't respond. She notices but doesn't push it. She
exits, leaving him alone.
CUT TO:
12 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BUFFY'S ROOM 12
Jackson is on the bed, covered by a quilt. Willow, Kennedy,
and Andrew hover over him.
ANDREW
Are you sure he's not just faking
it? I mean, maybe he's trying to
get back into Buffy's good books?
KENNEDY
(to Willow)
You think the girl's gonna be
talking yet?
WILLOW
I don't know, you should go check.
(to Andrew)
I need to be alone with him.
Andrew is lingering over Jackson.
ANDREW
He looks dead. Kennedy grabs him.
KENNEDY
He's not dead.
ANDREW
Well, I think I should stay here
and... make sure he's okay.
KENNEDY
Or, not.
ANDREW
You can't make me leave, Kennedy.
Kennedy toughens up but a BLEEPING sound stops her. Andrew
searches his pockets and pulls out his PAGER.
ANDREW (cont'd)
Oops, time for work.
He quickly rushes out of the room.
KENNEDY
Remember the three months when we
didn't have Andrew around?
WILLOW
Yeah.
KENNEDY
I liked them.
WILLOW
He's okay, he's just... Andrew.
KENNEDY
Yeah.
Kennedy heads out the door. Willow moves to the bed and pulls
up a chair.
WILLOW
Okay, time to get heal-y.
CUT TO:
13 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - DAWN'S ROOM 13
Dawn is sitting on the bed, with Rose propped up. She looks
beat -- mostly because she is. The door opens and Kennedy
peers her head in.
KENNEDY
Hey.
DAWN
Hey.
Kennedy closes the door.
KENNEDY
(to Rose)
You feeling any better?
ROSE
(groggy)
No. Who... who are you people?
DAWN
We're friends.
ROSE
Oh. Right. Where exactly am I... I
mean...
Dawn and Kennedy exchange looks.
KENNEDY
That's not important yet. We need
to know who you are.
ROSE
Rose. That's my name.
(beat)
Did you stop the... whatever that
was?
KENNEDY
Yeah, we killed it.
ROSE
Good. I didn't like it much.
DAWN
You're probably wondering what that
was. You see, there's this thing
where monsters and demons are real
and it's not all nice and -
ROSE
I know.
DAWN
What?
ROSE
I'm a Slayer.
Kennedy steps forward.
KENNEDY
You are?
ROSE
(nods)
I came here because my Watcher told
me about you people, about the
Slayer... I mean, the one that was
the only one. Anyway, my Watcher
said that she could stop them...
DAWN
The Turok-Han?
ROSE
Yeah... we found a... there were a
pack of them. Five, maybe six. We
managed to kill a couple but they
were too strong. My Watcher...
(beat)
They killed her and I had to watch.
I couldn't help her... all I could
do was run and try to beat them
here.
DAWN
(sympathetic)
I'm sorry.
KENNEDY
Wait. Why are they coming here?
ROSE
She said it was the Hellmouth. The
energy was pulling them here and
that the rising... something was
happening here.
KENNEDY
Here, in Cleveland?
ROSE
She said something bad was going to
happen... it's already happening.
Dawn takes a moment, then turns to Kennedy.
DAWN
That's enough. She needs to rest.
KENNEDY
Fine. I'll tell Buffy.
She exits. Dawn takes Rose's hand in hers.
DAWN
Sorry about what you had to see.
ROSE
It's... my Mom died a while ago and
I never knew my Dad. My Watcher was
the only... I don't have anyone
left anymore.
DAWN
Well, you've got us now. We're like
a family... a strange and very
dysfunctional family.
(beat)
You're safe.
Rose manages a slight smile.
ROSE
You think this Slayer healing thing
is gonna kick in anytime soon?
SMASH!
Glass from the window SHATTERS as a Turok-Han comes crashing
through. Dawn and Rose SCREAM, scattering back to the bedroom
door. The creature snaps its head to them -- prey.
DAWN
(screams)
Buffy!
CUT TO:
14 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE 14
Buffy comes through the door, looking to Xander as Dawn
SCREAMS.
BUFFY
Dawn?
Another SCREAM.
BUFFY (cont'd)
(shouts)
I'm coming!
Buffy and Xander race up the stairs without a moments
hesitation, hearing another scream.
CUT TO:
15 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY 15
Willow opens the bedroom door, seeing Buffy and Xander
running up the stairs.
WILLOW
Buffy?
Suddenly the door to Dawn's bedroom comes FLYING back as Dawn
herself CRASHES against the far wall. Willow runs to her.
Buffy looks through the doorway as the Turok-Han comes
tumbling out.
It KNOCKS her down, both struggling. One for the kill, the
other for her life. Xander JUMPS on top of the Turok-Han,
trying desperately to drag it off the Slayer.
Kennedy RUSHES up the staircase with a large STAKE.
KENNEDY
Xander!
He quickly looks to her, still grappling with the creature.
Kennedy throws him the stake. He catches it and impales the
Turok-Han from the back. Nothing.
Xander is THROWN off and falls down the stairs, knocking
Kennedy down with him. Buffy manages to KICK the Turok-Han
off her and gets to her feet.
She stands, staring at it for a moment, before charging. She
lifts herself off the floor and kicks it with both feet.
It is knocked back into the wall, the stake being rammed
further into its body - It's DUST. Buffy's eyes rest on the
particles, then back to Willow and Dawn.
BUFFY
(gasping)
You okay?
Willow, arms wrapping round Dawn, nods. Buffy looks down the
stairs to Xander and Kennedy, recovering. She gets up and
heads to Dawn's room.
Rose is on the floor, a puddle of blood surrounding her.
She's dead.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
16 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE - NIGHT 16
The room is silent. Willow and Kennedy are sitting on the
couch, with Dawn on the other end, tears falling down her
cheeks. Xander sits in the armchair, staring out the window.
The door opens and in walks Buffy with a dirt covered spade.
She sets it down by the door and slowly enters further. She
pauses, unsure of what to say.
DAWN
She was so young...
BUFFY
Don't.
DAWN
I told her she was safe.
A beat.
BUFFY
What did she say before... did she
say anything?
KENNEDY
She was a Slayer. Her Watcher was
killed by those... there's more of
them.
BUFFY
Where?
KENNEDY
They're here somewhere. Rose said
that they were drawn here cos of
the Hellmouth.
(beat)
She said something was here.
Something bad.
BUFFY
Okay. So why the target? That Turok
Han knew she was here, or that
someone was here.
WILLOW
I'll call Giles.
She heads to phone, taking it out of the room.
BUFFY
(to Dawn)
You didn't know it was going to
happen.
DAWN
But I told her...
BUFFY
Not your fault.
DAWN
I couldn't stop it, Buffy. I tried
but it was too strong.
Buffy is about to approach her but Willow hangs the phone up
and comes back through.
BUFFY
Did you get through?
WILLOW
Yeah. Giles said he's been meaning
to call but hadn't verified all the
information he'd been getting.
BUFFY
So?
WILLOW
He's a little unsure but whatever
is coming or is here, it's real
bad. The Hellmouth energy has been
growing, like way off the scales.
BUFFY
Okay, I get that. But why would the
Turok-Han go out of their way to
come here?
WILLOW
Giles said there was a prophecy
about The Guardian.
BUFFY
Huh?
WILLOW
He's a little unclear. Translation
of the text is taking a while.
DAWN
Isn't Buffy the Guardian?
WILLOW
No. He was sure of that. The
Guardian is new, I mean... like I
said, he's not too clear on it.
KENNEDY
So wouldn't that mean someone here
is the Guardian?
XANDER
I think it's pretty safe to say it
was Rose.
DAWN
I guess we'll never really know.
A beat.
BUFFY
(to Kennedy)
Are you ready to hunt these things
out?
KENNEDY
Damn right.
BUFFY
(to Xander)
You?
XANDER
What?
BUFFY
We're gonna need backup. Xander
smiles a little, then stands.
XANDER
Count me in.
BUFFY
Willow, Dawn, I need you guys to
make sure Jackson is safe. Try
to... you know.
Willow nods.
BUFFY
Get some weapons together. I'll be
back in a sec.
She heads out the door and up the stairs. Willow turns to
Xander, her hand on his arm -- Kennedy notices.
WILLOW
Be careful.
XANDER
You know me, Will. Hate getting
killed.
WILLOW
Just...
XANDER
(smiles)
I know.
He goes to the weapons chest. Willow turns to Kennedy and
hugs her.
WILLOW
Don't get killed.
KENNEDY
You too.
Kennedy joins Xander as Willow and Dawn make their way to the
door.
CUT TO: