TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. PARK - DAY 1
The camera pans from the light in the sky to WILLOW, sitting
on a bench, reading from a book. She looks transfixed, that
is until XANDER takes a seat next to her, NUDGING her.
WILLOW
These books Giles left are just...
useless.
XANDER
Uh, Will... I've been through that
one already.
She SHOOTS him a look, then closes it, dropping it down on
the bench.
XANDER (cont'd)
Maybe Dawn's having more luck.
WILLOW
She does seem quite the Watcher
wannabe.
XANDER
Well, she's good at it.
WILLOW
(sighs)
It's just, Emmily showed Buffy a
vision of what it was like back
then and that's what it could be
like right now, unless we find
something on what's going on.
(beat)
It's just so exhausting.
BUFFY (O.S)
(muffled)
Yeah. I'm getting that!
Willow turns to see Buffy fighting with a big blue-ish demon,
with tentacles. It's obvious they've been wrestling for some
time now.
XANDER
You wants some help with that?
The demon gets Buffy in a headlock and she struggles to break
free, her eyes dart to the axe leaning against the wall.
BUFFY
Weapon... now... please.
Xander lazily moves to it. He picks it up and THROWS it to
Buffy, who manages to LEAP up into the air, breaking loose of
the demon's grip, and grabs the axe. She lands on her feet,
turning to face it.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Loser.
She SWINGS it, decapitating the demon. The camera looks up at
Buffy and then Willow and Xander as they come into frame.
They wait for a moment.
WILLOW
He's not a "poof-y" demon, is he?
BUFFY
Don't think so. We'll have to bury
him.
XANDER
And the fun keeps on coming.
The trio return to the bench, with books stacked up and
papers lying about everywhere.
BUFFY
So we've still got nothing on the
new evil-a-brewing?
WILLOW
No. A big fat nothing.
XANDER
Makes ya kinda wish Angel was still
around. He was old enough to
remember a lot of nasties.
(beat)
You know, with him being one.
Buffy lowers her eyes to the ground.
BUFFY
I don't think we can really trust
Angel at the moment.
XANDER
Why, cos he's boss of an evil law
firm that is planning its very own
apocalypse and could destroy us
all?
He doesn't continue.
WILLOW
(to Buffy)
So what are you gonna do if he
wants to contact you or...
something?
BUFFY
Until we know for sure that he
hasn't been turned to the dark
side, we'll do whatever it takes to
put him off track.
A beat.
WILLOW
Ice cream?
BUFFY
Oh yeah!
XANDER
Give it to me.
Willow pulls out a tub of ice cream and three spoons. They
all begin to dig in as the camera slowly pulls away.
2 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BASEMENT 2
Dark and dusky, just as it always is. We are facing the wall,
where a rectangle is still visible from when Xander drew it
on.
We just stare at that for a moment until suddenly -- A FLASH
of red crackling energy runs along the lines of chalk,
creating what looks like a portal.
And as it begins to grow stronger - it dissipates. On this
we...
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
3 EXT. DOWNTOWN - DAY 3
The streets are busy with eager shoppers and people on their
way to places we have no way of knowing. Amongst the crowds
are DAWN and JODY, strolling along the sidewalk.
JODY
What about him?
Dawn turns to see a young, good looking guy walk past them.
She shrugs.
DAWN
Not bad.
JODY
Not bad? Dawn, you're way too
picky. Just grab a guy and... grab
his...
DAWN
Okay, enough.
They share a smile.
DAWN (cont'd)
I'm just not in the guy mood at the
moment, you know? It's like I'm a
non-guy-magnet. Or, they're not the
magnets... and I'm not metal...
(beat)
Or I could come up with a better
analogy if you gave me more time.
JODY
I get it. I do. But you don't wanna
be alone forever, Dawn. I've been
there and it's not good for the
soul.
DAWN
I'm not alone.
JODY
Right. You got family.
DAWN
And friends. And a whole lot of --
She stops, seeing something up ahead. Jody doesn't see it
though, and looks puzzled.
JODY
What is it?
DAWN
Anya.
They continue forward until they come to ANYA, staring ahead
through a shop window at a bridal dress. She doesn't turn to
Dawn and Jody or even notice their existence at all, she just
stares at the dress.
DAWN (cont'd)
Anya?
Anya slowly comes out of her gaze and turns to Dawn. It takes
a while for her to regain herself but she does, forcing a
smile.
ANYA
Whoa. Must have drifted off there.
DAWN
Yeah. Are you okay?
ANYA
Absolutely... yes, yes. I'm fine.
Great even. Top of the world.
(beat)
You?
DAWN
(wigged)
Same.
ANYA
Great. Great. Good.
(sees Jody)
Oh, it's the gay boy.
DAWN
Yeah, we don't actually call him
that.
JODY
We like to call me Jody. It's a
whole thing where my parents gave
me a name and we tend to use that.
Anya doesn't respond, just looks at him with an inquisitive
expression.
DAWN
So you're not with Xander? I mean,
I would have thought you'd be
getting in as much quality time as
you could now that you're solid.
ANYA
(distracted)
Things aren't always what they
seem.
A long beat.
ANYA (cont'd)
I have to go... away... now.
She walks off down the sidewalk, leaving Dawn and Jody
staring after her.
JODY
That was weird.
DAWN
Yeah...
(beat)
We'd better get those books.
JODY
Right. Now, you're gonna have to
run me through this whole thing
again cos I'm not getting the
basics.
DAWN
In a nutshell? Before humans, there
were demons, we call them the Old
Ones. They ruled the world, blah
blah, and were pushed back as man
came to take it over.
(beat)
Since we moved to Cleveland we've
been getting a lot of strange
things happen cos, well we do all
live on a Hellmouth, but Giles
seems to think one of the Old Ones
is trying to make its return.
(beat)
And that would be a bad thing. So
we have to find out which one it
is, how it plans to return, and how
we can stop it before we're all
killed.
JODY
Right.
(beat)
But I'm still not clear on the
Hellmouth thing.
DAWN
Just walk.
She ushers him forward with a roll of the eyes.
CUT TO:
4 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE 4
The door opens to reveal Buffy stepping through. She sets
down the axe by the wall and continues through to the lounge
where she's startled to see JACKSON.
BUFFY
Hey, I didn't know you would be --
She stops, seeing something wrong. She goes to him, noticing
his troubled expression.
BUFFY (cont'd)
What is it?
JACKSON
I don't know. I can... feel
something. Buffy... I don't feel
right.
BUFFY
Are you sick?
JACKSON
No.
(beat)
It was you.
She tilts her head, unsure of what he's talking about. She
moves him to the sofa and they both take a seat.
BUFFY
What was me?
JACKSON
You did this. When we made love,
you woke something inside of me.
BUFFY
I did...
JACKSON
I saw it, when I touched you. I saw
what you saw.
(beat)
The world when The Source ruled
over. Or at least, that part of the
world. Fire. That's all there was.
Immense, consuming fire.
(beat)
We can't let that happen again,
Buffy. We have to stop what's
coming.
BUFFY
We will. We always do.
(beat)
And you saw what Emmily showed me?
How is that possible?
JACKSON
I don't know.
(beat)
Kinda creepy, huh?
BUFFY
I guess we're connected.
Jackson turns to her with a faint smile. He takes hold of her
hand and keeps it in his.
JACKSON
Everything's been a little crazy
lately and I haven't been able to
talk to you the way I've wanted.
BUFFY
I know. We'll get around to it. We
really need to get on the research
wagon though.
JACKSON
Already there.
He points to a stack of books and she smiles.
BUFFY
Ever feel like you're getting way
too old, way too soon?
JACKSON
The research does put a dampener on
the evening.
(beat)
You've got everyone working on
this, right? I mean, Giles is back
in England digging up stuff, and
the rest of the gang is all reading
and researching?
BUFFY
Yeah.
JACKSON
Okay.
He STANDS, dropping his book.
JACKSON (cont'd)
I'm gonna go.
BUFFY
What? You're leaving me?
JACKSON
Meet me back at my place in an hour
or two, okay?
BUFFY
What are you planning?
JACKSON
Just do it, okay?
BUFFY
Okay.
Jackson leans in and kisses her on the cheek. He holds in
that position for a moment, then heads out of the door. Buffy
looks on after him and sighs.
ANDREW (O.S)
He's so romantic.
Buffy turns to see Andrew leaning in the other doorway. He's
staring after Jackson, muttering to himself.
BUFFY
It's you.
He quickly snaps out of his daze and smiles, carrying in a
pile of books.
ANDREW
I got bored up in my room all by
myself and I heard voices so...
BUFFY
You found anything? Or, just a
mention of this Source?
ANDREW
I found something but it was spelt
the different kind of sauce... and
I think the page was from a cooking
book.
BUFFY
(sighs)
We can't let this thing free.
ANDREW
We won't. We'll always stop it,
right?
Buffy runs her fingers through her hair and rubs her eyes,
tired, exhausted.
BUFFY
I can't wait for this thing to
attack. We have to stop it at the
beginning, before any more lives
are lost.
ANDREW
Okay, I get it. We'll stop, we'll
party, we'll do a little dance of
the tribal kind and then... we'll
feast.
Buffy looks at him with a "what the hell are you talking
about" expression.
ANDREW (cont'd)
And now I'm gonna research.
He dives back into his book as Buffy turns to the window,
gazing out into the daylight, thinking things over.
CUT TO:
5 INT. MAGIC STORE 5
Willow and Xander push the door open and walk into the old
and dusky shop. They look around at all the exotic pieces,
ingredients, skulls.
Willow is like a kid in a toy shop, gleefully bouncing from
one display to another. Xander looks at a bottle of yellow
fluid, pulls the cork out and takes a sniff.
XANDER
Hey, what's this?
Willow moves to him and reads the label, which is in Latin.
She smiles.
WILLOW
Yak's urine.
XANDER
Oh dear God!
He puts it back and wipes his nose. He follows Willow to the
books section of the shop where they see someone else
browsing. She is FIONA DELUCA, a pretty and young girl.
XANDER (cont'd)
Why urine?
WILLOW
Don't be a wuss, Xander.
Fiona notices Willow and edges closer, curious.
FIONA
You're her.
WILLOW
Huh? Hi. Huh?
FIONA
You're Willow, aren't you?
WILLOW
Yeah. Do I know you?
FIONA
No, God no. There's no reason you
would, but you...
She searches in her pocket and pulls out an amulet. She
passes it to Willow, who's looking real wigged.
FIONA
I offer you this as a gift. You
don't need to keep it of course,
you're beyond gifts.
WILLOW
No. Liking gifts but... who are
you?
FIONA
My name is Fiona and I practice the
arts.
WILLOW
(enthused)
You do?
XANDER
Oh boy.
FIONA
I'm nowhere near as gifted as you
but we can try. We can follow.
That's what I do, I follow, and I
pray to you.
XANDER
You what now?
WILLOW
Pray? To me?
FIONA
Yes. You are beyond the normal
limits, beyond mortals. You are
with them now.
WILLOW
Oh, right, I'm with them.
(beat)
Who them?
FIONA
The higher ones.
(beat)
You are a Goddess.
A long beat.
XANDER
(to Willow)
I'm not bowing.
CUT TO:
6 INT. SHAW RESIDENCE - BEDROOM 6
The lights are off, the only thing making this room nothing
but darkness are candles scattered around everywhere. Jackson
places the last one down and looks around at his creation.
He's pleased with it and begins to turn but is stopped by a
shadow crossing the wall. He steps back, knowing this kind of
thing can only lead to badness and cliches of horror movies.
His eyes scan the room and sees a couple of newly carved
stakes sitting on the table by his bed.
He moves to it, never keeping his eyes on the same place for
more than one second. His hands reach out to take the stake,
then he SPINS on his heels to face --
EMMILY
She looks up at him with those big blue eyes but nothing
about this is cute. She's in serious mode and he knows it.
JACKSON
What is it?
EMMILY
You're not ready.
JACKSON
For what?
She turns around and goes to the mirror but there's no
reflection of herself.
JACKSON (cont'd)
You're not really here, are you?
She shakes her head with a faint smile.
EMMILY
Astral projection. Another gift.
(beat)
If only they would grant
immortality. That way I wouldn't
be... that doesn't matter. It's how
it is. For thousands of years
there's always been an Oracle. One
being who would be born to be a
vessel of information, to help the
champions.
JACKSON
So why are you only now coming to
Buffy?
EMMILY
You must understand that not too
long ago, she wasn't considered
their top priority. She had never
really proved herself. But things
have changed. She is special to
them, to the Powers That Be.
(beat)
And you are special to her.
JACKSON
Okay. I get it. What is happening
to me?
EMMILY
You were chosen thousands of years
ago in a time when your existence
was predicted. That ring is yours.
Jackson looks down at the ring on his finger, the one Giles
had brought back from England.
JACKSON
The ring of the Guardian.
EMMILY
(smiles)
That's what you are. But you need
to be ready to do whatever it takes
to fulfill your destiny.
JACKSON
How do I do that?
EMMILY
They become weary that she will not
perform. In her absence, you will
be the one.
JACKSON
Emmily, you have to tell me more.
You have to --
EMMILY
(panicked)
I have to go.
JACKSON
What is it? What's wrong?
EMMILY
Nothing for you to worry about. It
all is as it is supposed to be.
(beat)
Have faith in yourself. Soon you'll
wake.
Emmily's form begins to fade into the background. Jackson
stares in disbelief, dropping the stake. His eyes peer down
to the ring.
CUT TO:
7 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BEDROOM 7
Buffy is checking herself out in the mirror, applying some
makeup, when someone KNOCKS on the door.
BUFFY
Come in.
The door opens and Dawn walks in, with some more books. She
sets them down on Buffy's bed.
DAWN
We got them from the library so the
betting is, they're not exactly
that helpful, but we can try.
BUFFY
Yeah.
There's an atmosphere of awkwardness between the two sisters
and Buffy finally caves.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Dawn, I'm sorry.
DAWN
No. I am. Well, I'm not but you
shouldn't be sorry. Not your fault
you're in love with the guy that
tried to hurt me.
Buffy moves closer to Dawn.
BUFFY
It's not...
(beat)
I would do anything for you. You
know that, right?
DAWN
It's okay. Really. I guess the
adult way of thinking is really
starting to set in.
BUFFY
You're quite the woman.
DAWN
Besides, there's bigger things to
think about. Like the complete
destruction of the world.
BUFFY
Yeah.
She turns back to the mirror.
DAWN
Are you going out?
BUFFY
Just... over to Jackson's.
DAWN
Oh. Right.
(beat)
So you get everyone on this
research gig, then you bail to have
supersex with your now special
boyfriend?
BUFFY
And we're back with the bitterness.
DAWN
He's been given the title of
Guardian, sure. But did you ever
stop to think that maybe that's not
a good thing? What exactly is he
the Guardian of anyway?
BUFFY
Dawn, don't do this.
DAWN
(angry)
You're a fool for trusting him. God
knows you'll pay for it.
BUFFY
What's that supposed to mean?
Dawn stops dead in her tracks, turning to face Buffy. She
raises a brow, unsure.
DAWN
Just leave me alone. I have some
work to do.
She EXITS. Buffy looks real pissed. She looks back to the
mirror, then heads out the door.