ACT THREE
FADE IN:
19 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 19
Willow, Xander, Kennedy and Andrew all barge into the living
room ready for a fight. All of them have various STAKES,
SWORDS and AXES in swinging position. Dawn, Giles and Anya
all look up at them.
XANDER
Die you evil vermin!
ANDREW
Feel the wrath of the Slayerettes!
They all bring down their weapons and look at Andrew.
XANDER
Way to kill the momentum, man.
ANDREW
I try.
WILLOW
Giles.
(why)
You're here.
They all set their weapons down and crowd around the coffee
table. Xander notices Anya.
XANDER
What happened?
ANYA
I was attacked.
XANDER
How?
DAWN
A Bohgore Demon in the woods.
XANDER
(to Anya)
What were you doing in the woods?
GILES
If we don't locate It, it will
breed an Army.
KENNEDY
It will cause mass chaos. All
demons do.
They grab a book and start searching.
ANDREW
What are we looking for?
GILES
A way to kill it.
The crew go into research mode.
XANDER
(softly to Anya)
Does it hurt?
ANYA
(sheepishly)
Yeah.
Xander sighs deeply, he longs to hold her. He concentrates on
his book.
WILLOW
(softly to Giles)
I know you're not here to fight an
everyday demon.
Giles motions his head for them to leave. They both
discreetly get up and walk into a corner of the room. Dawn
sees them with a look of curiosity. She idles between them
and the book before her. Whispers the dialogue.
GILES
I've gotten word about this evil
energy strengthening in its power.
It's not what we first assumed...
not just an energy.
WILLOW
Does Buffy know this?
GILES
No. I didn't want to discourage
her. The fact of the matter is,
Willow, that there's no history of
this threat. No written documents.
With that said...
WILLOW
It's unstoppable. Off the subject a
little - last week, Dawn, something
really weird happened after she was
mugged.
GILES
God, is she okay?
WILLOW
She's fine. But somehow she cut off
the city's power.
GILES
Are you sure about that?
WILLOW
Yeah. She wasn't anywhere near the
power plant.
Giles and Willow look over at Dawn. She feels them looking at
her and she diverts her attention to them. The two quickly
look away. They converse for another moment and go back to
the circle of research.
ANYA
I GOT IT!
Xander flies off the couch, the book shoots up in the air.
ANYA (cont'd)
Sorry.
XANDER
Warn people.
ANYA
Lake Eerie.
She proudly smiles at the group.
ANYA (cont'd)
That's where I was.
GILES
Are you sure?
ANYA
Yeah. See.
She points to a newspaper on the coffee table. Kennedy picks
up the paper and reads it.
KENNEDY
Newlyweds missing since last week.
WILLOW
That could have been anyone, Anya.
ANYA
One of the bones I saw was a finger
and it had a ring on it. A wedding
ring.
BUFFY (O.S.)
He remembers.
Everyone turns to Buffy. She frames herself in the doorway
and leans against it, arms crossed. Giles stands and walks to
her.
GILES
Is he alright?
BUFFY
Not really. He's really shaken up.
(deep sigh)
So what's the skinny?
ANYA
We know this thing lives in Lake
Eerie.
Buffy awaits for more info. Everyone just kinda idles around.
WILLOW
That's it.
BUFFY
So grab your books, Xander load up
the weapons. We're killing this
thing now.
Everyone gets up and starts to prepare. Buffy stops Dawn.
BUFFY (cont'd)
You're staying. With him.
She grabs Andrew by the arm. They both whine.
ANDREW
Oh come on.
DAWN
Yeah. If it wasn't for me, you
wouldn't know what to look for. So
I deserve to go.
(beat)
I'm your sister.
ANDREW
And I'm the goof ball that supposed
to get into danger and be saved.
What's the point of me being around
if I don't have that?
BUFFY
My point exactly. You're both
staying.
(the two leave pouting)
Will, give me the keys. I'm
driving.
Everyone stops dead in their tracks and stare at the
Buffster.
ANYA
You have a license?
BUFFY
Yes I do. I might not always
drive... okay, I never drive but I
can you know.
(beat)
I'm the Slayer.
She spots the keys and picks them up. Kennedy walks by and
snatches them.
KENNEDY
You're a Slayer. You're not
driving.
She tosses Giles the keys.
GILES
You're good at the slaying. Leave
the driving to someone else.
Everyone moves on.
Anya follows Xander around as he puts all the necessary
weapons in a duffel bag.
ANYA
You're not going to try to fight
this thing are you?
XANDER
That's what I do Anya.
ANYA
I'm going too.
XANDER
How? You can't sit in the car.
ANYA
Yeah, well I can run there. It
would be good exercise.
XANDER
Are you for real?
ANYA
What is your mood cause you have
been acting really weird lately.
Xander stops and turns to Anya.
XANDER
I've been acting weird?!
(lowers voice)
Who's the one that's been running
away? Telling me to forget about
the four years we had together. Act
like none of that ever happened.
ANYA
Xander...
XANDER
No, don't Xander me. Regardless of
what you may FEEL or think An, I
still love you. I will always love
you. And somewhere deep down inside
that narcissistic, cool, shallow
heart of yours, knows that you love
me too. Yeah things may never be
the same again but isn't it MY
choice on whether or not I want to
continue a relationship with you.
Corporeal or not.
ANYA
I was just trying -
XANDER
I have a demon I need to pretend to
kill.
He leaves, duffel bag dragging on the floor.
ANYA
Well.
BUFFY (O.S.)
Let's move out!
Everyone heads out the front door. Dawn and Andrew are left
sitting on the couch, still pouting away. The room is silent
for a moment.
DAWN
This sucks.
ANDREW
I know.
(beat)
So...
They look at each other and smile.
ANDREW (cont'd)
How's school?
DAWN
Educational.
ANDREW
Yeah. I heard that's what it's for.
DAWN
Yup.
(beat)
How's work?
ANDREW
It was actually quite interesting.
I had this one patron who requested
for a...
Jody walks into the room. Both Andrew and Dawn stand. Glad to
see him.
DAWN
Jody, what are you doing here?
ANDREW
(fidgets)
Yeah. I thought you were supposed
to be at -
Dawn throws him a confused look. He backs down.
ANDREW (cont'd)
That thing you were suppose -- I'll
shut up now.
He sits. Dawn throws her arms around him.
DAWN
I'm so glad you're here. I was
getting bored.
Jody looks at Andrew and flirtatiously smiles and winks at
him. Andrew smiles back.
DAWN (cont'd)
Let's go up to my room. I've got
something that I think you'd
totally love.
Jody contemplates for a second.
JODY
Why don't we stay down here and
chill.
DAWN
Oh come on. It's just Andrew. He
won't care if we went upstairs.
Will you?
They look at Andrew.
ANDREW
Oh. Go. Yeah. I've got things to
do. Yeah, um, like this book. It
needs to be read.
He picks it up and flips to a random page.
ANDREW (cont'd)
See. Fun.
DAWN
What'd I say?
JODY
Um, you sure?
ANDREW
Yeah. Go see what she has that's so
exciting.
Dawn drags Jody up the stairs as he keeps his eyes on Andrew
the entire time.
20 INT. CAR - SAME (TRAVELING) 20
Giles is in the drivers seat, Buffy front passenger. Everyone
else is in the back.
GILES
So he remembers everything.
BUFFY
I think so. He was really freaked
out Giles.
GILES
Did he say what he remembers?
BUFFY
No. Just, "he who was born to be".
WILLOW
I found something.
Everyone diverts their attention to Willow.
WILLOW (cont'd)
It says here that this Bohgore
Demon needs to feed on as many
reproductive organs as possible.
Their preference -
KENNEDY
Humans.
WILLOW
They have been known to eat large
animals as a substitute.
XANDER
With the mass groups of people that
visit Lake Eerie in the dead of
winter. Why would it pick Lake
Eerie?
GILES
Because it's a popular attraction.
You, yourself Xander know of this
lake yet you've never been.
XANDER
Yeah and?
GILES
Others are just as likely to know
it as well.
BUFFY
Great history lesson guys but how
do we kill it? That's all I want to
know.
KENNEDY
Yeah. I got a little pent up
aggression in these fists. Could
use a good workout.
WILLOW
(surprised)
You do?
Kennedy smirks at her and gives her a quick peck on the lips.
KENNEDY
Keep digging.
21 EXT. LAKE EERIE - SAME (UNDERWATER) 21
The Sea Creature dives deep into the waters and swims down to
the bottom. It sets the egg down gently in a small opening
just below the sand. It nestles the egg into place.
The Sea Creature looks about and finds a ROCK and places it
over the egg.
MUMBLES echo down through the waters and the Sea Creature
throws its attention to the surface.
The Creature swims up and spots a GROUP of ROWDY TEENAGERS
trying their damndest to light a fire. They are totally
oblivious to the Creature behind them in the water.
22 INT. JACKSON'S BEDROOM - SAME 22
He tosses and turns in his sleep. Nothing violent. He starts
to panic. His breath shallow and restless.
Slowly his tossing and turning does become more and more
agitating. He shoots up in bed calm as calm can be.
JACKSON
(transfixed)
The Guardian is a killer.
He gets out of bed.
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
23 INT. DAWN'S ROOM - NIGHT 23
Jody lays on Dawn's bed as she stands before him with an
outfit pressed against her body.
DAWN
Isn't it just the honey-ist thing
you ever saw?
JODY
Yeah. Tell me again why you would
think that I would find that
exciting?
DAWN
Because you know...
She sets the outfit down a little ashamed.
JODY
Look Dawn, I really do like you as
a friend and yes I am gay but come
on, do you really think I'm THAT
gay?
DAWN
You mean there's more then the
obvious?
JODY
Yeah. We come in different
varieties.
Dawn sits down next to Jody still a little ashamed.
DAWN
I'm sorry. I didn't know there were
different, you know... 'types.' I
should have figured.
JODY
We live and learn babe.
He gets up and kisses her on her head.
DAWN
Where you going?
JODY
Bathroom.
He walks out the door.
24 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. 24
Andrew looks at the way of the stairs and sees Jody
descending them. He sits up, straightens himself and awaits.
ANDREW
What are you doing down here?
JODY
Seeing you.
ANDREW
But... Dawn...
JODY
Is not you.
Jody takes Andrew's hand and on this we cut to:
25 EXT. LAKE EERIE - SAME 25
Buffy slams to the ground and bangs her head against a tree.
Kennedy punches the Sea Creature in the face and it stumbles
back. Xander rushes in with his weapon at the ready and
swings down.
The Sea Creature blocks Xander's hit and punches him in the
chest. Xander flies into the air and smashes into a tree.
Buffy gets up and runs back in.
BUFFY
How you comin' with the info?
She jumps on its and they wrestle.
WILLOW
Still looking!
Willow and Giles frantically look through all the books they
have.
KENNEDY
Hurry it up guys. This thing is
strong.
Buffy's knocked off. The Sea Creature grabs her by the throat
and picks her up. Kennedy creeps up slowly behind the
Creature, sword ready to strike. The Sea Creature kicks
Kennedy in the gut, she falls with a GRUNT.
The Creature wraps its other hand around Buffy's neck and
starts to squeeze. Buffy pounds her fists on this thing but
it's not really affected by them.
Xander swings his weapon and it breaks over the Creature's
head. It tosses Buffy aside and turns to Xander.
He's in trouble now. Both Slayers are dazed and out of
commission for the moment.
XANDER
Will, a spell or something please.
Willow sets the book down. Her mouth opens. The Sea Creature
rears its head at her and spits a gooey substance in her
mouth. Willow is disgusted and digs the stuff out.
GILES
Oh good God, that's disgusting.
Xander is backed into a tree. Nowhere else to go.
26 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM 26
Andrew and Jody are heavy into the making out. Without
notice, Jackson slips into the house and up the stairs.
Something is off about his walk, robotic like. He walks down
the hallway and stops outside Dawn's room.
He knocks. Dawn opens up the door all bubbly like.
DAWN
Jody, you don't have to knock - oh
Jackson, hey. Buffy's not here,
she's out killing a demon.
JACKSON
Oh okay. That's cool.
He peers into her room inspects it.
DAWN
What is it?
JACKSON
"Born to be".
DAWN
What?
Jackson grabs her throat and shoves her into the room. Dawn
SCREAMS!
DAWN (cont'd)
ANDREW!!!
She struggles with Jackson as he throws her on the bed.
DAWN (cont'd)
Jackson, what are you doing?! Stop
it!
He starts to choke her. Their eyes meet, the intensity is so
strong. Her fear obvious, his rage blaring.
Dawn's face turns red, her temples pulsate. She scratches for
his face but just can't reach.
JACKSON
I'm a killer.
Andrew and Jody barge in.
JODY
Get off her.
He runs in and jumps on Jackson's back. Andrew rushes in and
pulls Dawn out of the way. Jackson knocks Jody off and he
slams into the wall.
Andrew attacks but of course that doesn't go very far. He's
knocked against the wall as well. Both guys down for the
count.
JACKSON
They don't know.
He charges for her. Dawn runs out of the room and down the
hallway.
27 EXT. LAKE EERIE - SAME 27
Anya arrives in the middle of combat. The Creature has Xander
pinned, just about to bite into his neck. Anya grabs a ROCK
along the way and charges after.
Giles is on the ground, out cold. Buffy and Kennedy are just
about out of their daze.
Anya smashes the rock over the Creature's head. Kennedy
springs into action and takes over the fight. Anya bends down
to Xander's side. He's hurt his hand.
ANYA
Are you hurt?
She takes his hand and inspects it.
XANDER
Yeah, right around -
(she twists it)
THERE!
He yanks his hand away.
XANDER (cont'd)
That hurt.
Buffy and Kennedy go at it with this demon. They are fighting
an intense fight. Willow digs the remaining of the goo out of
her mouth. She goes back to the books.
Willow suddenly stops, her eyes turning a glowing white. She
drops the books. Anya and Xander notice.
XANDER (cont'd)
Willow?
Buffy stops and turns Xander's way.
BUFFY
What's wrong?
ANYA
Willow's got her glow on.
WILLOW
Dawn's in trouble.
(beat; released)
The back of the neck. Punch it in
the back of the neck.
Kennedy does a wrestling move and elbows the Creature to the
ground. She positions her foot on top of it.
KENNEDY
Pent up aggression. Need to
release.
She jabs a powerful punch into the back of the neck. The
Creature is toast. Motionless. Xander slaps Giles across the
face. He comes to.
GILES
What happened?
XANDER
The demon put you down. Dawn's in
trouble.
She helps him up as they all rush out of the woods.
BUFFY
What happened to you in there?
WILLOW
I don't know. She was calling for
me and it just took a hold. I can
see them struggling. He's... he's
gonna kill her.
BUFFY
Oh god.
Xander trips, Anya catches his fall. In that moment, they
realize they have been touching. Their surprise is
astounding. They look at their grasping hands then at each
other. They fall into a much needed hug.
Tears fall, they grab each other's faces and kisses. Their
joys and sorrows all encompass this.
ANYA
It can't be.
XANDER
Shut up will you.
They go at it again. Making out like no other. The car horn
BLARES a honk. Then just as quick as it came, Anya falls
through Xander.
ANYA
No! This isn't fair! Why?! Haven't
I been punished enough?
She breaks down and balls her eyes out.
XANDER
Anya.
ANYA
I need you Xander. I need you so
badly. I pretend and pretend that I
don't care. I don't need you but I
do. Beneath the surface of all this
annoyance is the simple fact that I
love you so much it hurts. And it
kills me that I can't hold you. Go.
XANDER
Anya please. Not again.
ANYA
Dawn needs your help. Go help her.
XANDER
Oh right. But how are you -
ANYA
I don't know. Just go. I'll be
okay.
Xander reluctantly does so.