buffy8x10 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[previous | bottom] ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
24 INT. NO MAN'S LAND. NIGHT. 24
Kennedy is behind the bar as the club rock out all around her
- it's a busy night, and people are grabbing glasses to pour
drinks quicker than she can clean them.
She stands up, takes one look round at the heaving bar and
throws her dishtowel over her shoulder, disappearing through
the swing door into the staff area.
25 INT. NO MAN'S LAND - STAFF AREA. NIGHT. 25
There's a staircase leading up to the top floor and lots of
empty beer crates, and one battered payphone. Kennedy fishes
out some quarters from her pocket and puts some in, dialing a
number.
She puts one finger in her ear to block out the thumping
music in the background.
26 INT. WILLOW'S APARTMENT. NIGHT. 26
The phone rings, but the apartment is dark. We pan a little
to the right and pick up Willow - fast asleep, zonked out on
the couch and faintly lit by the laptop's computer screen.
She looks exhausted.
27 INT. NO MAN'S LAND - STAFF AREA. NIGHT. 27
Kennedy stays on the phone for a few more moments before
frowning and hanging up. She's halfway towards dialing again
when her boss, a tall, beefy man named ABRAHAM, taps her on
the shoulder.
ABRAHAM
Hey, Kennedy, do I pay you to make
calls or serve customers? C'mon,
girl, we're swamped out here and I
need all hands on deck.
She nods and pats him back on the shoulder.
KENNEDY
No problem, big guy. Anything for
you.
ABRAHAM
Aw shucks, now I know you're just
saying that.
They share a grin as she pushes back through the swing door
and heads outside.
28 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BUFFY'S ROOM. NIGHT. 28
Jackson is sitting up on the bed, idly watching some loud
action movie on the TV as Buffy knocks and walks in. She
smiles and sits down on the edge of the bed.
BUFFY
Hey. So how are you doing?
JACKSON
Me? Oh, fine. I mean, I remember
that I like movies, especially ones
with Bruce Willis, but this one
sucks.
BUFFY
Well, that's something.
JACKSON
Who's that guy downstairs?
BUFFY
Riley? Oh, he's.. he's an old
friend.
JACKSON
Huh. Ex-boyfriend, right?
BUFFY
How did you..
JACKSON
Just a hunch. Was it serious?
BUFFY
For a while, you know, yeah, it
was.
JACKSON
So what happens? Seems like an okay
guy. Was that a military outfit he
had on?
BUFFY
It was, and that's kind of what
happened. He chose the corps over
me, and last I saw of him he was on
a helicopter to South America.
Well, except for when he showed up
with his wife last year, that is.
JACKSON
Ouch. Sorry.
BUFFY
Ah, no big.
Jackson's attention drifts back to the TV, and Buffy watches
him for a few moments before getting up and walking out
again.
JACKSON
Oh, Buffy?
BUFFY
Yeah?
JACKSON
Thanks for all this, you know. It's
been a little strange... with the
not remembering anything at all.
You, I think I must love you.
BUFFY
What?
We can see she's taken back by this comment. He moves off the
bed and walks to her.
JACKSON
How could I not? This past week
you've looked after me and I didn't
ask you to do that. I don't know
what happened but... I can feel
something for you.
BUFFY
You can?
JACKSON
It's deep.
(beat)
Probably something you don't need
to hear when you're working.
BUFFY
(smiles)
No problem.
JACKSON
So. You should probably go now,
right? Help the helpless or
something equally lame. I mean, the
phrase, not the job. The job isn't
lame.
BUFFY
Even with the memories, you were
still a mystery.
She heads out the door and closes it behind her.
29 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. 29
Buffy gets to the foot of the stairs and sees Riley suiting
up again - he's fastening up the coat he wore when he
arrived.
BUFFY
Hey, are you going?
RILEY
Yeah. I've been thinking about what
you said, and.. Well, I don't want
to drag you into all of this any
more than I already have.
BUFFY
If you want to stay the night,
that's fine.
RILEY
Thanks, but no. I think what I'm
going to do is find my unit and
hand myself in. I figure they're
more likely to go easy on me if I
show willing. Maybe they'll believe
it was an accident.
BUFFY
Yeah, maybe.
Riley gets to the door and turns to face Buffy. It's an
awkward moment - he doesn't know how he's supposed to say
goodbye to her. He settles for just a nod, and then opens the
door and disappears outside, where we see snow is now
falling.
Buffy turns back and heads for the sofa, flopping down on it
as we hear Xander coming down the stairs, decorations box in
hand.
XANDER
Is he gone?
BUFFY
Again. Yes. He said he was going to
turn himself in.
XANDER
Good man, that's the best thing for
him. Did he see Jackson?
BUFFY
(sighs)
Yep. I wasn't sure how to explain
the presence of my amnesiac sort of
boyfriend, so I just didn't bother.
XANDER
Good call.
He sets the box down on the living room table and opens it
up, Buffy sits forward with a happier look.
BUFFY
Decorating time?
XANDER
You bet, it's happy hour at Casa
Summers and everyone's invited.
The two of them look around. They're the only people there.
XANDER (cont'd)
Figuratively speaking, that is.
BUFFY
Hey, if you book them, they will
come.
XANDER
Or, in our case, they will come and
dump their problems on you before
running off again.
BUFFY
Now come on, you heard Riley as
well as me, he didn't want to get-
The doorbell rings, interrupting her. Buffy and Xander share
a look.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Involved..
She stands and opens it. She's greeted by Fellowes and two
other military men, in similar outfits to Riley. A large
black van is pulled up outside.
FELLOWES
Miss Summers? May we come in?
Buffy throws him a 'what now?' look.
30 EXT. CLEVELAND - STREET. NIGHT. 30
Andrew and Jody are walking along through the snow. Jody
pauses at the entrance to one road.
JODY
I'm this way. Best split. See you
tomorrow?
ANDREW
Yeah, I'd like that.
JODY
I, uh... I know it's lame but I got
you something.
ANDREW
Wha... you got me...?
Jody pulls something out of his pocket. Andrew takes it and
opens the little jewelry box, revealing a silver ring.
JODY
It didn't cost much. It was like a
big not pricey thing but... see...
He shows Andrew his hand -- he's wearing the same ring.
JODY (cont'd)
It means we're together, if we both
wear it.
(beat)
I told you it was lame.
Andrew doesn't say anything. He couldn't. Clearly shocked, he
moves in and HUGS Jody.
The camera pans along the street -- A group of carol singers
come into view. They start a rendition of 'All I Want For
Christmas Is You,'
Then we're back to Andrew and Jody, their hands joined, as
they walk together. A smile on both their lips.
31 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. 31
Buffy and Xander are sat on the sofa as Fellows and the two
other marines sit facing them.
FELLOWES
I'm sorry we had to meet under
these circumstance, Miss Summers.
BUFFY
Just Buffy, please.
FELLOWES
Alright, Buffy. Riley spoke about
you a lot, I always wanted to meet
you.
BUFFY
(sarcastic)
Yeah, I'm just about the most
popular girl in town. So, you're
here after Riley?
FELLOWES
We spotted him a few moments ago in
the vicinity of your house, some of
my men have gone to pick him up.
XANDER
So why are you here?
FELLOWES
We wanted to check what he'd told
you.. about what happened.
BUFFY
He told us. He said he found you
sleeping with his wife and ended up
accidentally killing her.
FELLOWES
That's what I thought.. Buffy, I'm
afraid he was lying to you.
BUFFY
What?
FELLOWES
I can understand why he did it, but
I think he may well have been a
little economical with the truth..
Buffy looks less than thrilled at this news.
32 EXT. MILITARY BASE - BARRACKS. NIGHT. 32
Riley takes a turn towards his quarters and walks alongside
one of the large buildings until he reaches a staircase.
Heading up it to the second floor of the building, he fumbles
for his keycard and swipes it in the lock.
With a merry 'bip' and a green light, the door to Riley's
quarters opens. He pushes the door wide.
33 INT. MILITARY BASE - RILEY'S QUARTERS. NIGHT. 33
The medium-sized room is dark as Riley steps inside and
closes the door. He stands and takes a deep breath before
gently placing his keycard on the desk by the door.
He reaches up and flicks the light on.
There is a scrabble of covers as two people are suddenly
jolted to life by the light coming on - Riley's wife, SAM,
and another marine, FELLOWES.
The colour drains from Riley's face for a moment before anger
takes a hold of him. He shudders visibly, the rage swelling
in his chest.
Sam holds up a hand to try and placate him, knowing that
Riley looks ready to blow his stack.
SAM
Riley, wait, now hold on, this is-
RILEY
(interrupts; furious)
What the hell is going on??
SAM
We were.. I mean, I was..
Fellowes is already out of the bed and starting to get
dressed, not taking his eyes off of Riley. Sam bows her head
and then looks back up with a hostile expression.
This is how Riley told it so far, but this time, Riley
charges to the attack first and knocks Fellowes to the
ground. Filled with rage, Riley punches Fellowes again and
again, with Sam screaming at him to stop.
Riley pushes the dazed Fellowes away and turns to Sam, a cold
look in his eyes. Sam looks genuinely scared of him, and
steps back, falling onto the bed. She holds a hand up to him.
RILEY
Sa.. Sam, why?
SAM
Riley.. I'm sorry.. I'm sorry.
Riley balls up, and then pulls out a pistol tucked within his
belt. He pulls it up to Sam.
RILEY
I loved you.
SAM
Riley --
She steps towards him but the gun is FIRED. An echo of the
gunshot rings through the air as Riley stares on ahead.
We stay on Sam for a brief moment, a gun wound through her
heart. Then she FALLS to the ground in a motionless heap.
Riley doesn't move, he can only stare on in utter disbelief.
He DROPS the gun.
FADE TO:
34 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. 34
Buffy looks ashen. She let Riley convince her otherwise, but
now she feels she knows the truth. Fellowes looks
sympathetic.
FELLOWES
I'm sorry you had to hear that, I
truly am. I know you and Riley go
back a long way.
XANDER
Too far, I'd say.
FELLOWES
If you say he was looking to turn
himself in, then we'll settle this
in court. But I have to say, I
think he'll stay on the run a while
yet.
One of the marines' radios crackles, and he listens to it
before nodding to Fellowes.
FELLOWES (cont'd)
Okay, we have to go. Thank you for
your time, Buffy, and if Riley
makes contact again, just call me.
BUFFY
I- I will.
Fellowes nods to her and Xander, then heads back outside. We
hear the van outside rev its engine and speed off as Xander
sits next to Buffy and puts a comforting arm round her.
XANDER
Hey. You're dwelling.
BUFFY
Am not.
XANDER
Yes, you are, there is a definite
amount of dwelling going on.
Riley's in trouble but it'll work
out, one way or the other.
BUFFY
It's the other that scares me.
Xander, why did he lie?
XANDER
Wouldn't you? If you needed help
and were afraid people wouldn't
believe you, would you have done
the same?
Xander gets up and heads into the kitchen, leaving Buffy
alone with her thoughts.
35 INT. SHOPPING MALL SECURITY OFFICE. NIGHT. 35
The carol singer's version of 'All I Want For Christmas Is
You' plays over the final montage of shots. We're looking
first at Dawn, standing in the office at the mall, giving a
description of the attempted mugging to the elderly security
guard on duty.
36 INT. NO MAN'S LAND. NIGHT. 36
Next, we're with Kennedy, looking lonely and miserable as the
bar is filled with thirsty punters on one side and busy bar
staff on the other.
37 INT. WILLOW'S APARTMENT. NIGHT. 37
Now we're with Willow, curled up fast asleep on the couch in
her place, tears still glistening on her cheek from the light
of her computer.
38 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - KITCHEN. NIGHT. 38
Xander's washing up the coffee mugs from earlier when he
notices on and holds it up for a closer look.
A plain white mug, with 'Anya's Mug!' Written on it in red
marker.
Xander smiles to himself, then looks out through the kitchen
window thoughtfully.
39 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. 39
Buffy, sat on the sofa and looking pretty down, looks up at
the hitherto unnoticed naked Christmas tree in one corner of
the room, then down at the box of decorations on the table,
and then up at the clock with a sigh.
Jackson enters holding a STAR. He moves to her, setting it in
her hands. She looks right back up at him, with a SMILE.
40 EXT. CLEVELAND - STREET. NIGHT. 40
Lastly we're with Andrew and Jody. They have joined the carol
singers. Their arms all wrapped round each other as they sing
their song.
BLACK OUT.
END OF SHOW
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.