buffy8x10 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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17 INT. CLEVELAND SHOPPING MALL. NIGHT. 17
Andrew and Jody are walking along, grinning at each other
about something as Dawn suddenly clatters into view, slamming
into Andrew and knocking him onto his back.
Jody reaches down and lifts her up as a breathless Dawn looks
around frantically.
JODY
Dawnie? Hey! What's wrong?
DAWN
Muggers! Two of them, over there by
the ATMs.
JODY
Come on, we'll go get security.
Jody and Dawn reach a hand down each and pull Andrew back to
his feet.
ANDREW
It's fine, I'm okay, I mean, I may
not have an adamantium skeleton but
I can take a few hits, and-
DAWN
(interrupts)
Andrew! Quiet!
ANDREW
Right, yes. Sorry.
Dawn notices that Andrew and Jody are still holding hands but
they let go before she can say anything. Jody starts to head
towards the security office with the others in tow.
JODY
Hey, d'you see the lights go out
just then?
DAWN
Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah I did.
JODY
(grins)
I was hoping they'd stay out a bit
longer so I could do a smash and
grab on Gaming World over there..
Dawn swats him lightly on the arm as they carry on running.
18 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - XANDER'S ROOM. NIGHT. 18
Xander is sat on his bed, the TV is on in the background but
he's actually reading a book instead. He jumps a mile as Anya
steps through the door.
ANYA
Knock knock!
XANDER
Woah!
(beat)
Honey, do that before you come in,
remember?
ANYA
Yes, I do remember.
She walks in and stands near the bed as Xander puts the book
down.
ANYA (cont'd)
What are you doing?
XANDER
Me? Nothing, just on standby in
case Buffy needs me for anything.
ANYA
Oh, right, because she's always in
need of your help.
XANDER
Anya..
ANYA
Isn't that Riley downstairs?
XANDER
It certainly is, Captain Commando
appears to have gotten into a spot
of bother over at Camp Demon and is
currently downstairs trying to talk
Buffy into covering for him.
ANYA
Covering for what?
XANDER
He says he killed his wife in one
of those 'crime of passion' things
that so many good TV movies are
made of.
ANYA
What did she do, cheat on him or
something?
XANDER
Pretty much.
ANYA
(grins)
I remember this one curse I made
once, I was sent to help out this
girl whose husband had been found
with the girl next door, and she
made me-
Xander holds a finger up to his lips to cut her off.
ANYA (cont'd)
But she-
And there's the 'shush' again. Anya rests her hands on her
hips and frowns.
ANYA (cont'd)
Well, excuse me for having a life
before you came along!
XANDER
Okay, change of subject. Buffy's
made a token effort towards
decorating, but I think it's time I
took matters into my own hands. You
can help.
ANYA
Help? Decorate? What are we doing,
getting ready for someone's
birthday?
XANDER
(smiles)
Sort of.
19 INT. WILLOW & KENNEDY'S APARTMENT - FRONT ROOM. NIGHT. 19
Kennedy is pulling on her jacket and grabs her house keys
from the table by the door, Willow sits on the sofa with her
laptop open in front of her, clattering away.
KENNEDY
So I'll be back about three, okay,
Red?
WILLOW
Mmm.
KENNEDY
If you get bored, you can always
come down and see me, you know
that. I'll tell Mike to let you in
if you show.
WILLOW
Mmm.
Kennedy pauses - is Willow listening to her at all.
KENNEDY
And so if I get eaten by pixies,
I'll make sure they bring the
remains home for dinner tomorrow.
WILLOW
Mm- hey, what?
Kennedy smiles and leans over to kiss Willow on the top of
her head.
KENNEDY
Just checking. See you later, Red,
don't stay up on that thing all
night or you'll have square eyes by
the time I get home!
WILLOW
I'm okay, I'm just about managing
to stay out of a 'Picard versus
Kirk' debate with this wicca from
Portland at the moment, if it turns
nasty I'll run over to see you.
KENNEDY
Cool. See you soon.
WILLOW
Bye!
Kennedy lingers at the door for a second but Willow is
already absorbed back in whatever chat room she's signed
into, so Kennedy leaves.
We're looking over Willow's shoulder at the laptop's screen,
as Willow holds down three conversations at once with people
inside a standard looking Internet chat room.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Ah, multitasking. Surely the
greatest of all gifts to womankind.
Suddenly, everything in the apartment goes dark.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Hey! What the.. Illuminate!
The room fades up into half light again as we see Willow has
conjured a small ball of energy on the end of her finger, as
though she was holding a candle.
She tuts and gets up off the sofa, heading for the kitchen.
We stay in the front room as we hear the clicks of light
switches, before Willow gives up and heads back.
Willow walks back into the front room but pauses with a gasp
of breath as she sees someone standing there in the dark. We
can only see their silhouette against the window.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Who's there? I warn you, I'm armed
and very dangerous with my, er..
finger.
The figure doesn't move, and Willow shifts nervously, not
sure what to do next. She opens her mouth to speak when the
figure beats her to it.
FIGURE
Hey, baby.
Willow's brow creases as she recognizes the voice.
WILLOW
Tara?
The lights fade back up and there is TARA, standing before us
and looking the same as the day she died, a benign smile on
her face and the same bloody gunshot wound on her chest.
Willow looks shocked, lost for words as Tara sighs, obviously
happy to see her again.
WILLOW (cont'd)
What are you.. why are.. but..
TARA
Ssh. I'll explain everything.
Because we really, really need to
talk.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
20 INT. WILLOW & KENNEDY'S APARTMENT - FRONT ROOM. NIGHT. 20
Willow and Tara. Together again. But Willow isn't moving.
She's still stood completely stock still, unable to say a
word, the frown still on her face.
WILLOW
This.. this can't be happening. You
can't be here..
TARA
I am, Willow, I am here. It's me.
It's Tara.
WILLOW
You're dead! You- You're dead, and
you can't come back. They wouldn't
let me bring you back..
She starts to tear up and Tara steps forward, holding her
arms out to Willow. Willow isn't sure what to do but steps
forward, and finds that she can touch Tara, and with a
grateful sob she falls into her old lover's arms, burying her
face in her chest and weeping like she did the day Tara died.
TARA
Ssh, Will, please, don't cry. I
don't have much time, and there's a
lot I need to tell you.
WILLOW
But what? Why? What are you doing
here? How can you-
Tara holds a finger to Willow's lips to quiet her, and with a
nod she stays quiet to let Tara do the talking.
TARA
I had to come back to warn you. To
tell you about what's coming.
WILLOW
What's coming? What do you mean?
TARA
Oh, Will, you don't know how things
have gone. Since you did that magic
and unlocked the potential of the
world...
WILLOW
The spell to create all the
Slayers?
Tara nods, and Willow sits down on the sofa, shoving her
laptop out of the way. Tara sits next to her as Willow runs
over the spell we saw at the end of Season Seven in her mind.
TARA
It was too much, too soon, Will. It
changed the balance.
WILLOW
But I thought.. I thought we needed
to do that? The First kept telling
us that the balance was going over
to its side, that it'd be able to
rule the world if we didn't stop
it, and we couldn't do that
anymore, and-
TARA
It lied. It lied to all of us.
WILLOW
But why?
TARA
Come on, Will, you really think the
first, oldest and most evil demonic
force in the entire universe is
going to be a hundred percent
accurate with the truth? It wanted
you to do that spell.
WILLOW
It.. uh?
TARA
It knew you'd find a way to beat it
somehow, and it needed to make sure
that you did something so powerful,
that it'd create enough energy for-
Tara pauses, and looks over her shoulder as if someone has
called her.
WILLOW
Tara? What is it?
TARA
I don't have much time left now.
Willow, I've got one last thing I
can tell you.
WILLOW
No, no! You can't go! Not again!
(tearful)
Don't leave me again..
TARA
Ssh, it'll be alright. Willow,
listen to me, and promise me you'll
do what I ask.
WILLOW
Anything, just don't go..
TARA
The consequences are coming. And
when the time comes, someone you
care for is going to have to make a
choice, but they won't be able to
do it. Willow, it's going to be up
to you.
WILLOW
I.. I don't understand.
TARA
You will. Things are coming, things
are on their way. You have to do
everything you can to beat this
back.
WILLOW
I don't know how. Tell me, Tara.
(beat)
I miss you so much. There's so much
I didn't say to you. We should have
been forever, baby. Always.
TARA
Nothing lasts forever. This is how
it's meant to be. And you have
someone now.
WILLOW
What?
(beat)
Oh, Kennedy? She's... uh...
TARA
It's okay, Willow. You can't wait
around forever. I'm not on this
ship anymore. But you are. And I
know you'll go sailing full steam
ahead. I'll always be watching you.
WILLOW
Don't go, Tara. Please.
Tara starts to fade away, and Willow is suddenly up and
grabbing for her, but her hands swing through Tara as she
disappears into the air.
TARA (V.O.)
Just promise me, Will. Promise me
you'll do what I said.
WILLOW
I will.
She's gone. Willow is left in the empty apartment again,
nothing but the quiet hum of her laptop making any sound.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(quietly)
Don't leave me again..
She starts to sob, hands over her mouth.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(tearful)
Don't go.
We stay with Willow as she flops down onto the sofa, the
tears flowing freely.
21 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. 21
Buffy is sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the wall. It's
all getting a bit too much for her and she doesn't have any
idea what to do next.
The telephone rings, and we see her jolt back to the real
world in the background. She gets up and heads over to it.
BUFFY
Hello?
FELLOWES (V.O)
(filtered)
Miss Buffy Summers?
BUFFY
That's me, who is this?
FELLOWES (V.O)
This is Sergeant Fellowes of the
United States Marine Corps.
Buffy pales as she recognizes the name.
FELLOWES (V.O.) (cont'd)
Miss Summers, this is a top secret
matter and I'm going to need your
full co-operation, do you
understand?
BUFFY
Yes.. yes, I understand.
FELLOWES (V.O.)
We believe you may be contacted, or
have already been contacted by an
escaped fugitive by the name of
Riley Finn. Miss Summers, if Riley
makes any attempt to contact you,
I'm going to need you to call me
immediately, and do not let him
into your home, is that understood?
Riley walks out of the kitchen in the background, cup of
coffee in hand, and sits down on the sofa.
BUFFY
I..
FELLOWES (V.O.)
Do you understand? He is extremely
dangerous. I'm going to have some
of my men over to you within the
hour, but if Riley shows up before
then, call me on this number.
Buffy glances over at Riley, sitting in the chair. We can
only hear Buffy's side of the conversation now.
BUFFY
Okay.. okay, yes, I've got it.
(beat)
I will. Thank you.
She hangs up and sits back down, not looking at Riley
properly.
RILEY
Who was it?
BUFFY
Hmm? Oh, it was, uh, Andrew.
RILEY
(raises eyebrow)
Andrew?
It clicks with Buffy what that look means.
BUFFY
Oh! Oh, god, no, Andrew's just..
well, he's just Andrew. He lives
here now.
Another beat as Buffy realizes she really isn't making this
sound very good at all.
RILEY
So.. anyone else you want to tell
me about?
He smirks, and Buffy takes a moment before she laughs and
shakes her head.
BUFFY
I think my life was already plenty
complicated without you showing up
and adding to the mix, you know!
RILEY
Yeah, sorry, I know I haven't
exactly made the attempt to stay in
touch.
BUFFY
Well, that's understandable, you
fighting in deepest darkest jungles
against big demons and all. Not
exactly great cell phone reception.
A familiar atmosphere is falling over the scene between the
two. Riley takes a sip from his coffee then looks off camera
to the left. Buffy follows his gaze.
Jackson's reached the bottom of the stairs and is looking
round, a little disorientated.
JACKSON
Oh, hey. I'm sorry. I was looking
for the bathroom and forgot which
door it was..
Buffy gets up and goes over to him.
BUFFY
It's okay, we have one downstairs
too, come on.
She walks off screen with him and reappears a few moments
later. She looks at the floor for a few moments before she
speaks.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Riley, I.. I just got a phone call.
RILEY
Yeah, I know, I was here. It was
that Andrew guy, you said.
BUFFY
No, no it wasn't. It was.. it was
your unit.
Riley stops and places the mug back down on the floor.
RILEY
What did they want?
BUFFY
Well, they told me that you were
dangerous and I wasn't to contact
you, and they gave me a number to
call..
(beat)
Riley, you should call in.
RILEY
Are you crazy? You heard what I
told you, right? They think I
killed Sam on purpose, that I knew
she was having an affair and that I
would have killed Fellowes too if
I'd had the chance!
BUFFY
And would you?
RILEY
What? I..
Buffy hasn't broken her gaze - it was a serious question.
Riley runs a hand through his hair and tries to compose
himself before he answers.
RILEY (cont'd)
No. No, I wouldn't. Buffy, it was
an accident. Sam was.. Sam was my
wife. No matter what happened
between us, I didn't want to kill
her. It was all just a terrible
accident.
Buffy doesn't look so sure anymore - something about this
whole situation just doesn't feel right. She stands.
BUFFY
I'm going to head upstairs, I need
to check on Jackson.
She heads for the stairs.
RILEY
He's downstairs. In the bathroom.
Buffy pauses, the turns and heads through towards the
downstairs bathroom via the kitchen.
22 INT. XANDER'S ROOM. NIGHT. 22
We see Anya has half her head through the floorboards,
listening in. Xander is still sitting on the bed, but this
time he has a large cardboard box labelled 'Xmas Decorations'
open, and he is sorting through random baubles and trinkets.
XANDER
So, do you hear anything?
ANYA
No, no I can't hear a thing. She
stands, looking irritated.
ANYA (cont'd)
Stupid house, it's built too well!
Why couldn't Buffy have rented some
thinly papered hovel somewhere, so
I can walk through the walls
without feeling like I'm drowning
in a great big tidal wave of fudge!
XANDER
I'm assuming that you actually know
what that feels like.
ANYA
There was this girl once, and she
asked me to-
XANDER
(interrupts)
And that's literally all I ever
want to know about that particular
story.
Xander goes back to his box as Anya paces up and down.
ANYA
Gah! I can't take this any more!
XANDER
What?
ANYA
Not being able to do anything! I
can't hit that little monkey boy
Andrew, I can't start making the
sex with you..
XANDER
Uh, that's not really how we say
it, honey..
ANYA
(not listening)
And when I do find something I
could be quite useful for, like
spying on Buffy hooking up with one
of her old boyfriends..
XANDER
They hooked up? Was there hooking?
ANYA
(still not listening)
Then I still can't even do that
right, because this stupid house
isn't made for a ghost!
She stamps her foot, or at least tries to, suddenly tearful.
Xander stands and goes to hug her, but realizes he can't and
settles for holding his arms in a loose circle around her.
She wipes away a tear and turns to look up at him.
ANYA (cont'd)
Xander, what am I going to do?
XANDER
Do? Anya, you're here. You're not
dead. That's already a good start!
ANYA
But I don't want to spend the rest
of however the heck long eternity
turns out to be like this!
XANDER
You won't. I promised, remember?
Whatever I have to do, I'll find a
way.
ANYA
(hopefully)
Would you jump off a building so
you could be a ghost too?
XANDER
Except for that.
ANYA
(angry)
See, even you give up on me sooner
or later!
She storms out of the room, through his arms and then out
through the door.
XANDER
Anya.. Anya!
She's gone. Xander sighs heavily and sits back down on the
bed, before starting to sort through the decorations again.
23 INT. SHOPPING MALL SECURITY OFFICE. NIGHT. 23
Andrew, Dawn and Jody sit on three small plastic chairs in
the plain security office. An empty desk and TV monitor sit
to the right of the frame, and the one door in and out of the
office is to the left.
A muzak version of 'Tragedy' is playing overhead, and as the
trio look around, bored, Andrew half mimes the dance steps
unconsciously.
DAWN
I am so dead when I get home.
JODY
What for? It's not like you're in
your early teens any more.
DAWN
It's not so much that, more I
promised Buffy I'd be home to help
her with the Christmas decorations,
which I am currently failing to do
while I'm stuck in here!
JODY
You nearly got mugged, I'm sure
she'll understand.
DAWN
You don't know my sister very well.
She won't be angry, she'll be
disappointed, and trust me, that is
a million times worse. She'll say
'Oh, no, Dawnie, it's okay, I put
up the tree without you,' and then
she'll walk around pouting and
sighing every five minutes..
Dawn gets up and walks over to the desk, looking for a buzzer
or intercom or something.
JODY
Will you calm down? Anyone would
think you were the one doing the
mugging and not the other way
round.
DAWN
(sits)
Okay, okay. Look, you guys should
go.
JODY
Don't be stupid, we can't just
leave you here.
DAWN
Like you said, I'm not a kid these
days. I can get home by myself
fine. No point keeping you and
Andrew out all night just for me.
JODY
You sure?
DAWN
Positive. Go.
JODY
Alright then.
Jody stands and taps Andrew on the shoulder.
ANDREW
Huh? Are we leaving?
JODY
Yeah, come on Riker, time to book.
ANDREW
Aye, sir.
Andrew hops up, nods to Dawn and leaves the room, followed by
Jody. Dawn watches the two of them go with a suspicious look -
there's definitely something going on there that she hasn't
figured out yet.
The door closes and Dawn is left alone. Foreigner's 'Since
You've Been Gone' starts to play in muzak from overhead, and
Dawn sighs.
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT THREE
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