24 INT. PEACHY'S CAFE 24
Andrew is working behind the counter, ringing up someone's
bill on the cash register. He doesn't give a smile, too much
morbid feelings consuming him. He turns to see --
JODY approaching him.
JODY
Hey.
ANDREW
Hi.
JODY
You okay?
ANDREW
My friend's funeral was this
morning and I'm getting on with my
life at work.
(beat)
Sorry.
JODY
It's okay.
ANDREW
It wasn't as if Kennedy really
liked me. So why do I feel so bad
she's dead?
JODY
Cos she was just a girl. She didn't
deserve it.
ANDREW
No one does. Not like that.
They turn to see a WOMAN crying in the corner of the cafe.
Trying to keep herself to herself. Jody takes Andrew's hand.
JODY
You wanna stay over mine tonight?
ANDREW
(thinks)
No. I don't think I should. I know
I'm not a part of the best friend
circle but I think I should be
there.
JODY
Hey. They care about you.
ANDREW
No they don't. Not like --
SMASH!
A demon comes CRASHING through the window. It's Grellon. He
pulls out the large SWORD strapped to his back, his eyes
CENTERED on the woman in the corner.
Everyone hurries for the EXIT. Andrew and Jody watch from
behind the counter.
GRELLON
You grieve.
WOMAN
(tearful)
Y-yes.
GRELLON
I feel your pain.
WOMAN
My son... he d-died in a car crash.
GRELLON
And that hurts you.
WOMAN
(nods)
It does.
GRELLON
I need your grief.
He DRIVES his sword into her chest as she SCREAMS bloody
murder. An energy wraps itself around the sword, and then
around the woman.
Suddenly, Grellon and the woman disappear into thin air.
Andrew and Jody watch in shock.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN.
25 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE - EVENING 25
Xander, Anya, Faith, Marie, Dawn, and Jackson are all sat
around, listening to Buffy and Giles as they explain
everything we've heard before. There's a few shocked faces.
XANDER
So, I'm still trying to work out if
this is better or worse than The
First.
ANYA
And what's with the lame names?
"The First," "The Source." In my
day they would have been
imaginative.
GILES
The name was given to it by the
people who follow it. People who
would give their life to bring it
back.
JACKSON
But it's already back, right?
GILES
Yes.
BUFFY
And we need to stop it. Guys, this
is a demon that ruled the world
thousands of years ago. It's
stronger than anything we've come
up against before.
GILES
Not to mention it had an army of
Dragon Demons to aid it.
XANDER
So worse than The First then?
GILES
Indefinitely.
Dawn edges closer.
DAWN
How do you plan... I mean, how do
we kill it?
GILES
We haven't been able to find that
out yet. But we're working on it.
MARIE
There has to be a weakness.
DAWN
Why? There isn't always one.
Ulithios was a powerful ruler,
better than any other on this
world.
(off their looks)
I bet.
MARIE
It was ruler of over half this
world but only for four centuries.
It's reign was short lived in
comparison to some.
ANYA
So something knocked it off its
throne? That's good. We just need
to find out what.
MARIE
Yes. Unfortunately, there are not
other Old Ones available to ask
how.
ANYA
What kind of a Watcher are you?
Just go and dig out some old books.
(beat)
Giles does it all the time.
MARIE
Most of the old Council records
were destroyed along with the
building. We have only recently
been able to rebuild the database.
(beat)
Our research division has concluded
that Ulithios isn't invincible,
none of the Old Ones are. They are
just very... very strong.
XANDER
So what's its power?
GILES
There is speculation that Ulithios'
power lies in weather manipulation.
It could control the elements,
cause uncontrollable storms.
XANDER
As far as powers go, that's dull.
GILES
In theory, yes. But Ulithios could
destroy armies in just one night.
It could ravage the world in a
week.
(beat)
I hate to say this but if we don't
find the host for Ulithios soon, it
really could be the end of the
world.
BUFFY
So much for Cleveland being a fresh
start.
Anya quickly JUMPS to her feet.
ANYA
Okay. Thinking caps on, people.
Lets get a plan together.
DAWN
You can't stop this.
ANYA
What?
DAWN
It's too powerful for you... for
us. Everyone's gonna die.
BUFFY
Dawn --
DAWN
No. Look at us. This is no match
for Ulithios.
FAITH
I dunno. We destroyed an army of
Uber Vamps.
DAWN
But they were nothing compared
to... I mean... everything before
this has been icing on the cake.
Now we're dealing with the cake.
ANYA
That analogy was very lame, Dawn.
XANDER
Come on, we defeated the army of
the very first evil, the primal
power.
DAWN
Just because it was the first evil
to come into this world, it doesn't
mean it is the strongest.
GILES
Dawn's right. What we're dealing
with goes beyond --
ANDREW (O.S.)
Buffy!
Everyone turns to see Andrew and Jody rush through the front
door, exasperated.
BUFFY
Huh?
ANYA
Andrew, you're all sweaty.
ANDREW
In the Cafe. There was a demon. It
came crashing through the window
like, Matrix style, and stabbed a
woman in the chest.
ANYA
(nodding)
And it made you sweat.
MARIE
Oh my God. It stabbed her?
ANDREW
Yeah it was --
(realizing)
Who are you?
GILES
She's a Watcher.
ANDREW
Giles! You're back? Oh my God, this
is so cool. Cos last time you
didn't stick around for long and --
BUFFY
Andrew! Woman? Sword? Demon?
ANDREW
Oh right. Yeah, it stabbed her and
then this purple light consumed
them both --
JODY
It was blue.
ANDREW
Huh?
JODY
The light, it wasn't purple. It was
blue.
ANDREW
No. It was purple.
JODY
I'm telling you, Andrew, it was
blue.
XANDER
Guys!
BUFFY
I've gotta get there.
ANDREW
You can't. It disappeared.
Faith stands, shrugging off a few aches and pains.
FAITH
(to Buffy)
Patrol?
BUFFY
Looks like it.
(to everyone)
Guys, looks like we're back on the
research wagon. I want everyone on
this. No exceptions.
ANDREW
Wait. The demon, it said something
about grief... that it needed it.
BUFFY
Right. Got it.
Buffy and Faith head to the door but Jackson grabs the former
back, away from everyone else. Giles looks on curiously.
JACKSON
Be careful.
BUFFY
I always am.
JACKSON
I know, it's just, I don't wanna
have to be worrying about you while
I'm researching... kinda ruins it
for me. Cos you know how much I
love it.
BUFFY
(smiles)
Yeah. Don't worry.
It's just a demon. They KISS. Giles sees, but looks away.
Buffy finally breaks away and exits the house with Faith.
Jackson turns back to everyone, who are disappointedly
grabbing a book.
26 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BASEMENT - LATER 26
Willow is sitting on Faith's bed, staring ahead at the wall.
Giles comes down the steps and sees her.
GILES
Thought I'd find you down here.
WILLOW
You were looking for me?
GILES
To see how you are.
WILLOW
Tired. Out of everything, tired.
GILES
Of course. It's to be expected.
You've been through your share of
torment.
WILLOW
And it never stops.
Giles frowns, taking a seat next to her.
GILES
Xander told me you tried to do a
spell yesterday.
WILLOW
It wasn't to... it was just a
locator spell, to find the demon
that... took her.
(beat)
It didn't work.
GILES
You know what I'm going to say?
WILLOW
That I shouldn't be using my power
at a time like this. I know, but...
I can't just sit around.
(beat)
Kennedy's dead, Giles... she's gone
and... I'm not doing anything. And
in a way, it makes it worse than...
GILES
When you killed Warren?
Willow nods, almost ashamed at herself.
GILES (cont'd)
At a time like this, one of the
best things you can do is to do
nothing at all. Kennedy knew how
much you loved her.
WILLOW
How could she, when I didn't?
(teary)
I cared about her so much but...
she wasn't her... she wasn't Tara.
GILES
And no one ever could be. You don't
have to let Tara go, Willow. You
can have love for someone else as
well.
(beat)
When Jenny died, I didn't think I
would ever be able to love anyone
else. But in time you'll learn that
loving another person doesn't mean
it's betrayal. It's life.
Willow nods, understanding.
WILLOW
I didn't say goodbye. At the
funeral, I couldn't do it.
GILES
Maybe you should, without everyone
watching.
She looks to him, holding his hand.
WILLOW
Thank you.
GILES
You're welcome.
Willow gets up and starts towards the steps. Giles takes a
moment before standing.
GILES (cont'd)
Where are you going?
WILLOW
To say goodbye.
27 EXT. STREETS 27
Buffy and Faith are walking down the sidewalk, their eyes
scanning the area.
FAITH
So ya think it'll show again?
BUFFY
They always do.
FAITH
I guess.
(beat)
So what's up with Dawn?
BUFFY
Dawn?
FAITH
Yeah. Lil' Miss Brat has changed a
whole lot. Putting the "filling
out" aside, she's a real woman now.
BUFFY
Yeah, she is. Kinda scary.
FAITH
Hell yeah.
(beat)
Who'd have thought it, eh? Me a
good guy, you a Mom.
BUFFY
Not a mom!
FAITH
(smiles)
Whatever.
(beat)
You've got it rough, B. If that was
me, I couldn't do it.
BUFFY
It wasn't easy, to start with. But
this past year, everything kinda
got put into perspective.
(beat)
Dawn's my reason. Without her I
have nothing to fight for. I don't
know what I would do without her.
FAITH
Hopefully you won't find out.
BUFFY
Hopefully.
They continue to walk, seeing nothing unusual in their
sights. Buffy turns to Faith, eyeing her.
BUFFY (cont'd)
So what exactly happened to you
while you've been away? Barring the
whole... death thing...
FAITH
New York. I have, or had, a place
down there. Didn't know anyone but
Robin. He knew a few people who set
us up with some jobs, to pay the
rent, nothing amazing.
(sadly)
He was gonna apply for a principal
post in the local school.
BUFFY
I'm sorry.
FAITH
And what's with everyone being
sorry? I swear, since I've been
back, that's all I've heard.
BUFFY
I guess it's cos of all the people
that keep dying.
FAITH
I feel bad for Willow.
BUFFY
I know. I just wanna put my arms
around her and --
FAITH
Kiss her?
BUFFY
What? No.
FAITH
Oh, it's just... when we were --
SCREAM! Buffy and Faith turn their heads to a CEMETERY. They
exchange looks before starting towards it.
BUFFY
Looks like we got lucky.
FAITH
What? No one got lucky!
(beat)
I mean... yeah. Whatever.
28 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - KITCHEN 28
Anya is pouring a few drinks, with Andrew hovering by her.
He's got his cocktail in his hand, tiny umbrella included.
ANDREW
Are you sure we should be bringing
alcohol into the mix? I mean, Buffy
might get mad.
ANYA
Well Buffy should stop being a
tight ass and get drunk.
(beat)
How else are we all supposed to
deal with this morbid atmosphere
without a little drunken
frolicking?
XANDER (O.S.)
Is that my cue?
Anya turns to see Xander enter. Andrew watches them, then
quickly makes his exit.
ANYA
I'm making cocktails. For everyone
to get over the grief.
XANDER
I'm not sure that's the best
answer.
ANYA
Yes it is. I've seen it. When we
broke up, you drank yourself
stupid.
XANDER
I just mean... I don't know if it's
the best thing to be doing at the
moment.
ANYA
Well I can't take anymore
researching, Xander. It seems to be
all we're doing lately and I for
one can't look at another Gishlogh
demon again.
(beat)
Which, really, just goes to show
how much of a better human I'm
turning into.
XANDER
And... the feeling like you haven't
got a soul... where do we stand
with that?
Anya lowers her eyes, a hint of sadness. But she quickly
snaps out of it, looking right back at him.
ANYA
I have you.
(beat)
You know, this whole Kennedy dying
business has really opened my eyes
to a few things.
(beat)
I'm human. Again. That's something
I should be happy for. I'm with
you. Again. Something which makes
me even happier.
(beat)
And we're alive. So... why don't
you say, you and I skip the
research, to do a little
researching of our own?
XANDER
(confused)
You want us to research privately?
ANYA
Oh for crying out loud. Lets have
sex Xander!
XANDER
Right! Yes.
She goes to the door but he pulls her back, pulling her into
an embrace.
XANDER (cont'd)
You know I love you, right?
ANYA
I do.
XANDER
Good. Cos I'd never want you to die
and for you to not know that.
ANYA
I'm not going to die. Again.
(beat)
And I love you too.
They KISS.
29 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - DINING ROOM 29
Jackson is alone in the room, looking over some books. Giles
ENTERS, approaching him, taking a seat.
JACKSON
I've rented a few books from the
local library but these are
probably a lot more in depth,
right?
GILES
I should hope so. We conjured them
from the finest eagle feathers we
could find.
JACKSON
(distracted)
I hope Buffy's okay.
Giles nods, taking his glasses off. And you know, as soon as
he does that, we're into a serious conversation here. He
points to the ring he brought with him, the one Jackson is
wearing.
GILES
You believe that's yours.
JACKSON
It is mine.
GILES
(beat)
That ring is for the Guardian. Do
you know what that means?
JACKSON
Do you?
GILES
No. But to wear it... it must mean
you feel some kind of connection
with it.
JACKSON
I do. It's like... nothing I've
felt before. I don't know what's
going on, but I know that whatever
it is, this ring is mine.
GILES
And you believe being around Buffy
while all this is going on is the
best course of action?
(off his look)
You've been having premonitions,
you told Buffy you felt something
inside you. It's obvious this is
all connected.
JACKSON
Are you warning me off?
GILES
(laughs)
No. No, of course not. Buffy would
have my head if I did.
(serious)
But if you in any way hurt her,
intentionally or not, I'll kill
you.
Jackson doesn't have time to respond. Giles gets his book and
EXITS the room. Jackson takes a deep breath before looking
down at his hand, at the ring. He stares at it for a moment.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT THREE