TEASER
FADE IN.
1 INT. SHAW RESIDENCE - LOUNGE - NIGHT 1
The lights are dimmed low. JACKSON and BUFFY lay peacefully
on the sofa, hands interlocked, Buffy's head lying on
Jackson's chest.
BUFFY
My eyes want to close and it's like
I have no control.
JACKSON
Let them.
BUFFY
I can't. I need to get home.
JACKSON
You're not staying?
Buffy thinks about it but shakes her head, pulling herself
up, looking him in the eyes.
BUFFY
I need to be at home.
JACKSON
Okay. I get it.
BUFFY
I wish I could stay but... I think
Will needs as many people around
her as possible.
JACKSON
(nods)
She's hurting.
BUFFY
Yeah but she hasn't turned evil so
that's a plus.
JACKSON
Yet.
BUFFY
Huh?
JACKSON
She hasn't turned evil yet. There's
still time. Not to be the bringer
of bad news but she's gonna want
the head of whatever demon did
this.
BUFFY
By the sounds of it, she's not
gonna have a chance.
(beat)
Dawn said the demon just appeared
from nowhere and disappeared just
as quick. Typical sign of evilness.
JACKSON
Poor Dawn, having to see that.
Having to see the body... it can't
be healthy.
BUFFY
First Tara, now Kennedy. Dawn's
seen them both. But she's strong,
she'll be okay.
(beat)
It's Willow we need to worry about.
She's the one who could be tipped
over the edge.
2 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BATHROOM 2
The window RATTLES as the wind crashes against it. The camera
pans to put WILLOW in frame, staring ahead at the mirror,
GAZING into her own reflection. A blank expression. No
smiles. No tears. Nothing. But we can hear voices.
WILLOW (V.O.)
(haunting)
What are you doing?
KENNEDY (V.O.)
Bringing you back to life.
Willow continues to stare at the reflection, as if she's
seeking something deep inside herself. But --
ANYA (O.S.)
We can't leave her up there on her
own, Xander. She's a ticking time
bomb. Remember last time her
girlfriend got killed?
XANDER (O.S.)
That won't happen again.
3 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE 3
XANDER and ANYA are standing in the middle of the room,
having an argument. ANDREW and DAWN are sitting on the sofa,
watching them.
ANYA
You don't know that. The magic took
control of her before and it'll do
it again.
(beat)
She wants vengeance.
XANDER
What, now you feel it?
ANYA
Everyone feels it, Xander. The
demon that killed Kennedy is still
out there and Willow's gonna want
to stab it through the heart
multiple times with a really,
really sharp knife... or a sword.
(beat)
Personally I'd summon a Enoira
Demon to --
XANDER
Could we just not do this right
now, Anya? She's only upstairs.
ANYA
You're blind, Xander. Everyone
knows I'm right. Why do you think
Buffy has been staying here instead
of Jackson's?
(to Dawn)
You're the level headed one of the
group lately, Dawn. You know I'm
right.
DAWN
I wouldn't say I'm the most level
headed... but I think Willow should
be dealt with before she explodes.
ANYA
Like I said, ticking time bomb.
XANDER
(to Dawn)
How do you mean, "dealt with?"
DAWN
Uh, I just mean, you know...
ANDREW
Controlled.
DAWN
That's right. Exactly what I was
getting at.
4 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BATHROOM 4
Willow is still staring at the mirror before her, overhearing
them all speaking.
XANDER (O.S.)
So now we're likening her to an
animal?
She covers her ears, becoming more and more frustrated by the
sound of their voices. She turns to the door, speaking low
enough for only us to hear:
WILLOW
(commanding)
Quiet.
Everything is silent.
5 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE 5
As before, except they seem to be muted. Xander and Anya are
talking but no sound is coming from them, and they don't seem
to know about it.
Dawn tilts her head, noticing it. Her eyes run along the
floor and to the stairs, where her focus becomes transfixed.
6 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BATHROOM 6
Finally Willow moves away from the mirror and we see the rest
of the room. Clothes are scattered within a circle made by
blue and white candles.
Willow pulls a shirt and spreads the contents of a jar onto
it -- BLOOD. She waits a few moments before doing anything,
speaking so quietly we can't even hear her.
Then --Her head SNAPS up, her eyes growing an eerie BLACK,
staring right ahead at the camera. She SCREAMS bloody murder!
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN.
7 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BATHROOM - NIGHT 7
The door BURSTS open and in charge Xander and Anya, followed
by Andrew. Xander rushes to Willow's side, as she lies
breathless on the floor, like she's just been suffocated.
He pulls her body up but she SLUMPS back against the wall,
her eyes teary, a morbid expression.
XANDER
What's wrong, Will? What happened?
WILLOW
(somber)
I can't do it. It won't let me.
XANDER
What won't let you? Let you do
what?
ANYA
Be careful, Xander. She might be
evil.
ANDREW
But her hair's not even black.
Willow shoots them both a look as she gets to her feet,
refusing Xander's help. She turns to see the mirror but it
has been SMASHED to pieces.
WILLOW
Whatever... killed her... I can't
find it. It's blocking me.
XANDER
Will, you shouldn't be doing magic,
not at a time like this.
WILLOW
(distracted)
This time tomorrow she'll be in the
ground.
(beat)
Do you think she'll like it? The
casket, I mean. I don't know if she
will. I didn't... I didn't know her
favorite color.
Her hands cover her face, trying to hide the pain. Xander
looks to Anya and Andrew, motioning for them to leave, and
with a moments pause, they do.
Xander wraps his arm around Willow's shoulder, holding her
hand tightly with his.
XANDER
She'd like it.
WILLOW
We don't know that. I mean, what
did we really know about her? She
was... there's so much I didn't get
to find out... I said... I thought
there'd be time to... to...
XANDER
Know her?
WILLOW
(dismal)
Love her.
(beat)
I wanted to love her. I wanted to
tell her... but I couldn't. I
just... there wasn't enough time.
XANDER
Whatever you felt for her, she knew
it. We all saw how much you cared
for her. There's no way she
couldn't.
WILLOW
I have to find this demon.
XANDER
No, Will. You have to say goodbye
to Kennedy.
WILLOW
I don't think I can. If I say that
then she's really gone. And she's
not here anymore.
(beat)
I don't know if I can deal with
that.
XANDER
You will. You've got us. All of us,
your family.
8 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - KITCHEN 8
Dawn is standing by the refrigerator, eating an apple. She
takes a bite, then pulls it back to examine it, as if she's
tasting it for the first time.
DAWN
I remember this. Taste.
Anya comes through the door with the portable telephone,
looking over an address book in her hand. She looks up to see
Dawn, who doesn't take her eyes off her.
DAWN (cont'd)
Is Willow... okay?
ANYA
Well if by "okay" you mean, "going
off the deep end," then yep, she's
as okay as okay gets.
DAWN
You talk strangely.
ANYA
Yes. So I've often been told. It's
my charm.
(beat)
Damnit. I don't have the number for
Kennedy's parents.
DAWN
Why do you need them? Are they
warlocks? Can they trace the
killer?
ANYA
(huh?)
Of course not, Dawn. You know
they're not. But Xander's put me in
charge of organizing this funeral
and inviting everyone Kennedy knew
but... her address book is almost
empty.
(beat)
I guess she didn't have a lot of
friends. I think... I don't think
she wanted anything other than
Willow.
(beat)
Or, I guess, she wanted to live.
DAWN
We all do. It's what we fight for.
ANYA
Yeah. And look where it got her.
One swoop and she was down. The
first blow would have killed her,
the coroner said so... so what kind
of creature would brutally hack her
like that?
DAWN
Some relish the kill. Some drown in
it like it keeps them alive.
ANYA
I remember. Ex-Demon here. But
still, it was too gruesome, even
for me.
(beat)
She didn't deserve it.
DAWN
All humans do.
A curious look comes over Anya but before she is able to
respond, Buffy comes through the door.
BUFFY
Hey.
DAWN
(smiles)
Hey.
BUFFY
Everyone okay?
ANYA
Yes. Oh no, wait. Willow's
girlfriend was brutally murdered
and now she's falling to pieces...
and so has the mirror.
BUFFY
What?
ANYA
She tried to do a spell to find the
demon that killed Kennedy but
there's some kind of mystical
block. If you ask me, Willow doing
magic is just a catastrophe waiting
to happen. The girl should be
chained.
(to Buffy)
You have chains. From your kinky
sex with Spike. You still have
them, right?
BUFFY
(shocked)
There were no...
(quickly)
Is she okay?
DAWN
She's a mortal. Dealing with death.
ANYA
And look where it got her last
time.
Xander ENTERS, his car keys in hand. He looks to the three
women, then sighs.
XANDER
She's in bed. No more spells
tonight. I think she's scared about
tomorrow.
BUFFY
Who wouldn't be?
XANDER
I'm gonna head off now.
ANYA
What? Where are you going? I
thought we were going to make sex
because of the horrible things that
have happened.
(to Buffy and Dawn)
Sex makes it better.
XANDER
Anya!
(then)
I'm gonna go get Faith. She's
released tonight.
BUFFY
Okay. Wait, remember --
XANDER
Her name's Candice. Yeah. By the
way, who came up with that alias?
BUFFY
I had to tell them something,
otherwise they'd call the cops
right away. That name just kinda
popped up.
XANDER
But... Candice? Oh well, I'm over
it. Time to get the fugitive.
ANYA
Good. Because we really need to
talk about the little thing called
vengeance. Willow's craving it, I --
BUFFY
(to Xander)
And take Anya!
ANYA
What?
Xander nods in understanding, ushering Anya out of the door.
Buffy turns to the kitchen work top, leaning on it, her head
in her hands. Dawn lingers beside her, studying her.
DAWN
You're tired.
BUFFY
Only just figuring that out?
She pulls herself back up, running her hands through her
hair, wiping her eyes.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I just... I keep thinking that
things are gonna get easier, that
the world's going to start giving
us some breaks but...
DAWN
It's not going to happen.
BUFFY
Doesn't seem likely.
Buffy's hand touches Dawn gently on the cheek, a smile
forming on her face.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Glad I got you. I swear, sometimes
you're the only reason I keep
fighting.
Dawn raises her own hand, touching Buffy's. They stay in that
position for a while.
DAWN
You need some rest.
BUFFY
What I need is a shower.
She heads to the door.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Dawn, are you okay?
DAWN
Why wouldn't I be?
BUFFY
No reason.
(beat)
See you in a bit.
Dawn nods and watches Buffy as she exits through the door.
Dawn looks back down at the apple in her hand. She stays
fixed on it for a moment then -- DROPS it to the floor. It
rolls and stops by her feet.
Suddenly she SLAMS her heel down on it, SQUASHING it like a
bug... or an apple!
9 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BUFFY'S ROOM 9
The room is dark, the only light coming from the moon outside
the window. It shines on Willow's pale face as she lies on
the bed, awake, but so distant.
The door creaks open and Buffy peers in. She watches Willow,
observing her behavior. Then, she comes in, softly closing
the door behind her.
WILLOW
It doesn't make sense.
BUFFY
I know.
WILLOW
How can there be a face on the
moon? It's just a formation... it
doesn't make sense.
BUFFY
Oh... yeah.
WILLOW
She used to talk about the man in
the moon. She said her Dad would
sometimes read her a story about
him when she was in bed... she told
me those were the times she felt
special.
(beat)
Not like when her uncle... how
could someone do that to something
so precious? How can a waste like
that live and she's being buried
tomorrow?
BUFFY
Will --
WILLOW
(interrupting)
I'm not looking for solace, Buffy.
I don't deserve it. This is
payback.
Buffy moves closer to her, sitting on the edge of the bed, as
Willow finally turns to her.
BUFFY
Payback?
WILLOW
I killed. This is the price for
that evil.
BUFFY
No, it's not. Willow, this was some
demon who... it's not your fault.
WILLOW
(teary)
Sometimes when we were in bed,
she'd tell me the story of the man
in the moon. But she'd change it to
a woman.
(laughs)
She always did dig the woman power.
It's what I... what I loved about
her.
BUFFY
I wish I knew how to make this
better for you.
WILLOW
You can't. No one can.
(beat)
That demon needs to pay for what
it's done.
BUFFY
And it will. But you can't be the
one to make it. Willow... you have
power that is so fragile... a
simple push in the wrong direction
and you'll go overboard. You know
that.
WILLOW
I can't just sit here... Buffy... I
can't just let it get away with
this.
(beat)
I never told her I loved her.
She told me it all the time but I
just couldn't... I felt like I was
betraying Tara, that... somehow it
was wrong. I wanted to. I really
did but...
BUFFY
I know.
Buffy, of course, is referring to her own relationship with
Jackson. That much is obvious.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Sometimes we don't need to say it.
Sometimes it's better left unsaid.
WILLOW
(distracted)
They can't come.
BUFFY
Who?
WILLOW
Her parents. I won't let them. They
only caused her pain... she
wouldn't want them there.
BUFFY
Will, I don't think --
WILLOW
(angry)
They can't come!
Buffy nods, stroking her arm. Willow looks down at herself,
almost ashamed.
WILLOW (cont'd)
I'm sorry. I'm just...
BUFFY
I know.
WILLOW
I think I need to be alone.
Willow rests her head back down on the pillow as Buffy
stands. The slayer lingers over her, then gently kisses her
on the forehead, before leaving the room.
10 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY 10
Buffy comes out of the door, closing it. She turns back to
see the hallway, where, not one week ago, Kennedy was
butchered. Buffy closes her eyes --
11 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY 11
A blinding white light fades away and we're back in the very
same hallway. Willow is holding Kennedy's body in her arms,
with Dawn lingering over them.
Buffy comes rushing up the stairs and SEES. She covers her
mouth in SHOCK, completely horrified by the scene. She almost
stumbles but catches herself in time and leans herself
against the wall.
Jackson and Xander are the next up. Jackson sees the body,
then immediately turns to Buffy, wrapping his arms around
her, shielding her from the view.
Xander stands, frozen, watching. His eyes show us exactly
what he feels. Just what everyone else is feeling.
XANDER
Oh God... what... did this?
DAWN
(quickly)
A demon.
Xander doesn't take his eyes off the body. But he does slowly
move to the weeping Willow, trying to slowly pull her away.
XANDER
Willow... oh God.
WILLOW
(crying)
She's not dead. She's not! She's
not dead...
And the words repeat over and over as the others look on in
horror.
12 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY 12
The light covers the screen again but is gone in a FLASH.
Buffy stands motionless, staring at the walls, which are
still slightly stained with blood.
ANDREW (O.S.)
Buffy?
She turns to see him, a little dazed.
ANDREW (cont'd)
Are you all right?
BUFFY
Yeah. I just... two people have
died in this hallway. First Rose...
now...
ANDREW
It's the house of death.
Buffy eyes him, sorrow filling every crack in her face.
Andrew places his hand on her shoulder.
ANDREW (cont'd)
We'll find it won't we? The demon
that did this.
BUFFY
We will. And we'll make it pay for
what it's done.
(beat)
But first, we need to make sure
Willow gets through tomorrow.