buffy8x20
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE UP:
1 EXT. CONSTRUCTION YARD. NIGHT. 1
We're looking down at a large yard with the usual tools and
machinery safely tucked away for the night, large sheets of
metal and wood piled up out of the way as DAWN walks into
frame, heading purposefully towards the centre of the site
itself.
She walks for a few steps until she hears a whispered laugh
behind her, and she stops and spins round.
Eyes scanning, trying to find the source of the sound. She
frowns and carries on walking.
Dawn moves a few more steps before there is a SWISH and a
shadow darts past the camera in the foreground. Dawn freezes
again and turns round, looking more carefully this time. She
turns to move again.
With a gleeful laugh, a VAMP drops down from the scaffolding
overhead and lands a few steps in front of Dawn, game face
on. He's wearing a black leather jacket that has a logo
emblazoned on the back, a smirking devil's face smoking a
cigar. He hisses and licks his lips as we hear another off
screen thud that signals a second vampire joining the action.
The two vamps circle Dawn, hungrily eyeing up their next
potential meal.
VAMP #1
Muy bueno, the appetiser has
arrived! Gotta say, I'm normally a
blondes man myself, but I could
always try something darker for a
change..
Dawn doesn't look at all worried, and the vamp frowns when he
sees she isn't at all scared.
VAMP #1 (cont'd)
Hey.. hey, come on, chica! Yell or
something, will ya? You know, get
into the moment a bit more.
Dawn is still silent, staring directly at the vamp who starts
to feel distinctly uneasy.
VAMP #1 (cont'd)
Oh crap, you're not one of those
Slayers, are you?
(beat; raises hands)
Okay, okay, look.
You're just doing your job and I'm
trying to do mine, so I hope we
have an understanding here. Right?
Dawn raises her hand, palm outwards, towards the vamp. The
second vampire snickers.
VAMP #2
Heh, I think she just told you to
go 'talk to the hand,' Diego..
VAMP #1
Hey, shut up, alright?
(to Dawn)
Listen, sweetheart, it's been a
long, quiet night already, so the
last thing I want now is-
DAWN
(firmly)
Kneel.
Dawn's palm glows with light. At once, both vampires get on
their knees before her and bow their heads. Dawn allows
herself a small smile as she puts her hand down.
DAWN (cont'd)
Good dogs. Now, there are some
things I want you to do for me, and
you're going to do them without
questioning me. Do you understand?
VAMP #1
Yes, master.
VAMP #2
We understand.
DAWN
First, gather up as many of your
kind as you can. Then, you're going
to find me some people. Living. And
I want them to stay that way until
you bring them back here to me. If
you take so much as one drop of
blood out of them, then I'll turn
you to ash.
The two vamps, heads still bowed, exchange a quick look, then
both nod.
DAWN (cont'd)
I'm going to need ten people. Ones
nobody will miss. Male or female,
but young, make sure they're young.
You'll be told more when you've
brought me the first five.
VAMP #1
Yes, master.
Dawn nods and walks off, leaving the two vamps still kneeling
and bowing their heads. They wait until she is safely off
screen before speaking again.
VAMP #2
Diego?
VAMP #1
Si?
VAMP #2
What the hell just happened?
VAMP #1
I have no idea.. but I think I'm
gonna do what she says.
VAMP #2
(beat)
Yeah.. yeah, me too..
2 INT. CONSTRUCTION YARD - PLATFORM. NIGHT. 2
Dawn walks on and steps up onto a small half-finished
foundation platform, the concrete still dusty as she kneels
and lays her shoulder bag down on the ground before her.
As Dawn's hands start to remove strange looking items from
it, and then a large spell book which she opens and leafs
through to a certain page.
Arcane lettering covers the pages, and Dawn traces a finger
along it. She begins to murmur under her breath, reading from
the book.
A wind kicks up and starts to howl, her hair billowing out
and dust kicking up from the floor around her. She continues
reading as crackles of electricity start to fizz through the
air around her.
Looking across at the spell's effects as the electricity
dances around the construction equipment around her, sparks
flying as power circuits fuse and explode.
She begins to laugh, soon throwing her head back and clapping
her hands together with glee.
She quickly collects herself with a quick cough, glancing
around to check that she's alone, then with one wave of her
hand traces the shape of a triangle in the air.
A triangle of flames starts to very slowly fade up out of the
air, fuelled by the energies flying around, before fading
away again, as does the electricity.
Dawn smirks.
DAWN
Soon.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
3 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - KITCHEN. MORNING. 3
CAPTION – The morning after.
BUFFY shuffles into the kitchen, not looking like she's had a
moment's sleep all night, dressing gown wrapped around her
and bags underneath her eyes.
GILES stands in the kitchen, dressed and drinking a mug of
tea. He sees Buffy enter and hands her a second mug, this one
of coffee, without a word. She nods thanks and sits down at
the kitchen table. Giles pulls up the seat opposite her.
BUFFY
I feel like I'm still asleep..
GILES
I think it was a long night for all
of us, Buffy. The storm, the power
cut, and then-
BUFFY
Okay, enough with the action
replay, Giles.
Giles nods 'sorry' and leans back, and Buffy sighs and
reaches out to hold his other hand.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap.
GILES
(kind smile)
That's alright, Buffy. I think it's
safe to say I'm used to your moods
by now, so I know enough to leave
you to get on with it.
BUFFY
What are we going to do with.. with
the body?
GILES
Marie and I will take care of
everything, Buffy. You've got
enough to worry about for now.
Buffy smiles back and takes a gulp of her coffee as XANDER
enters the kitchen, his coat still on. He goes straight to
Buffy and the two embrace, not needing words.
XANDER
Hey, you. I came straight over when
Giles called me. Are you..
BUFFY
I'm holding up.
XANDER
What the hell happened? All I know
is that you went out to get Emmily
and brought her back here, and then-
BUFFY
Somebody got into the house. It
must be the same thing that killed
Kennedy.
(beat)
Ulithios is targeting us, Xand. And
it means business.
GILES
Well, Marie and I are trying to
find out about how this entity has
been killed, contained or at least
fought off in the past, now that we
have a better picture of what we're
dealing with.
BUFFY
(quietly)
It's playing with us.
XANDER
(sits down)
It's what?
BUFFY
It's testing us. Looking for weak
spots. Ways it can get to us. It's
testing our defences.
XANDER
Well, you'll be glad to know that
we have one particularly handy
weapon back, in the form of a
certain flame haired mistress of
magic who appears to be getting her
groove back.
GILES
Willow? Is she recovering, then?
XANDER
You could say that. In fact, she's
downright cheerful.
The three at the table exchange looks – they know that
doesn't sound right. After a beat, ANYA enters.
ANYA
Is the dead girl upstairs? Can I
see the body?
Buffy supresses a shake of anger, then manages to calmly turn
to Anya without launching herself at her.
BUFFY
(coldly)
Anya, show a little respect.
ANYA
What? She won't exactly mind me
looking, will she?
Xander throws Buffy a sympathetic look as he gets up and
quickly ushers Anya out of the room. Giles sips his mug of
tea again with a shake of his head as Dawn enters, dressed
and ready for school.
BUFFY
Oh, Dawn, hey. Where'd you get to
last night?
DAWN
(tries to think of an
excuse)
I.. I needed to get some air. After
what happened with Emmily.
Buffy nods in understanding, as Dawn looks relieved and opens
the fridge, but stands there a beat, staring at the objects
inside it as though she doesn't understand what any of them
are.
BUFFY
Uh, Dawnie, fridges only keep
things cold if you have the door
shut..
Dawn blinks, then grabs a carton of milk, stares at it for a
second, then seems to nod in understanding, closing the
fridge and picking up a box of cereal from the kitchen
counter. Buffy raises an eyebrow.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Brain not working too good at this
time of the morning, huh?
DAWN
Huh? Oh, no, I just, uh, heh,
spaced out for a second there.
BUFFY
At least you're managing to get up
in time for school again these
days! Something must be having a
good influence on you..
(narrows eyes; jokingly)
You're not on drugs, are you?
DAWN
(deadly serious)
What? Oh, no, I'm not using any
form of narcotics or controlled
substances.
BUFFY
(thinks she's joking back)
Har har. I just meant that it's
unusual to actually see you up and
ready before me these days!
Buffy gets up and heads to the fridge, opens it and looks
inside.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Hey! Who drank all the O.J.?
FAITH walks into the kitchen, finishing off a carton of
orange juice and throwing it into the bin. Buffy turns and
glares at her, but she doesn't notice.
Buffy notices the concrete dust on Dawn's top.
BUFFY (cont'd)
(indicates dust)
Oh, Dawnie, you got a bit of
something.. just there.
Dawn quickly brushes the dust away.
DAWN
Thanks.
4 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - FRONT ROOM. MORNING. 4
Buffy walks into the living room and sees XANDER watching the
TV with interest. Buffy joins him on the sofa.
XANDER
Hey. Oh, Anya wanted to come and
pick some things up before she
heads off to work. You know, I
think you've definitely done the
right thing, giving her this.
BUFFY
She's only been there a few weeks,
Xand, give it time.
XANDER
Yeah, I know she's not got a whole
lot of office experience, but-
BUFFY
No, I mean give her time to start
making me want to kill her.
Xander and Buffy share a grin. Xander watches her for a few
moments, and she notices and turns to him.
BUFFY (cont'd)
What?
XANDER
So, now I can ask you again without
my well-meaning but often highly
offensive other half wandering in -
how you holding up so far, Buff?
BUFFY
I'll be alright. The scary part is
that I think I'm actually starting
to get used to finding people dead
in my house now..
(beat)
Oh god, Xander, she looked so
peaceful.. like she knew what was
going to happen and she just let
it..
Buffy starts to tear up for a second, and Xander throws an
arm round her.
XANDER
Hey, hey, come on. It's okay.
Buffy wipes her eyes and takes a deep breath as a news report
comes on the TV.
TV NEWS
And a police spokesperson says they
have put the severe electrical
damage at the site down to the
freak storm that struck the
Cleveland area last night. And in
other news..
Xander turns the TV volume down as Buffy squints at the
screen.
BUFFY
Hey, isn't that where you work?
XANDER
Certainly is. I heard about it in
the car on the way over, I'm gonna
call the foreman and see what's
going on if that's okay?
BUFFY
Yeah, go ahead.
Xander gets up and heads over to the phone on the wall as
Buffy stands and heads back upstairs.
She almost collides with ANDREW as he bounds down the stairs.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Hey! Where are you off to in such a
hurry?
ANDREW
Um, work. Late. Have to go. Bye.
He dashes past her and out through the front door without
another word. Buffy looks after him, not needing Slayer
senses to know there's something bothering him. She turns and
heads up the stairs.
5 INT. WILLOW'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM. MORNING. 5
A shock of red hair is all we can see of WILLOW from
underneath her bedclothes, sunlight streaming in through her
window, but that doesn't stop Doodles, the determined
puppy creeping along the ridges of her duvet and yapping a
few times. Willow stirs with a groan and her head pops up
into view.
Sleepy eyes blink at the puppy, and she manages a smile as he
hops forward and licks the side of her face.
WILLOW
Better than an alarm clock, that's
my Doodles.. morning, little guy.
She sits up in bed and gathers up the puppy for a cuddle. She
holds him up to eye level and talk to him as though he were a
baby.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Looks like it's just you and me
then, Doodles! A whole day to just
sit back and do absolutely nothing.
(beat)
Do you think I've done the right
thing? You know, by telling those
Circle kids that I'll go be their
new 'Teach' and everything..
(beat; Doodles yaps)
That's what I thought! No more
being sad for me again, no sir!
(Doodles yaps again;
Willow smiles)
Well, little puppy dog, I suppose
I'd better go ask them if I'm
allowed to take you up there with
me!
As if to answer, Doodles starts to pee on the duvet.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Well, it can wait a few minutes..
6 EXT. CONSTRUCTION YARD. MORNING. 6
Xander arrives at the edge of the yard to find yellow police
tape sealing off most of the ways in. A small group of
WORKERS stand around talking, and Xander wanders over.
XANDER
Hey there, troops. What's going on?
WORKER #1
D'you hear the news this morning,
Harris?
XANDER
Yeah, something about our machinery
getting itself deep fried?
He grins, but the others don't get his humour, so he coughs
once and nods at the worker to continue.
WORKER #1
Pretty much everything's ruined.
Forklifts, power tools, heavy
equipment - even the damn
toolboxes.
XANDER
Well.. how come nothing else nearby
got this badly damaged then? I
mean, there's that electrical goods
place over the road that looks
fine.. and all those power lines up
there seem okay as well!
WORKER #1
(annoyed)
Hell, I don't know, Harris, why
don't you go ask the thunderclouds?
Maybe it was an act of God or
something!
XANDER
So what's our plan?
WORKER #1
My plan is to go back home and hope
our insurance covers the time we'll
be owed from all this, and I
imagine it'll be the same for the
others.
Murmurs of assent from the other workers. Xander casts a
thoughtful eye across the yard.
XANDER
(distracted)
Okay, I'll catch up with you guys
tomorrow then, I'm gonna run a few
errands while I'm in town.
With nodded goodbyes, the group disperses, leaving Xander
alone with the police tape.
After rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he checks around to make
sure he's alone, then ducks under the tape and heads inside.
7 INT. CHARLESTON & SMITHE - BUFFY'S OFFICE. MORNING. 7
Buffy sits at her desk, typing at her computer, reports open
on the desk in front of her. She's staring blankly at her
computer monitor.
The camera pans slowly round so we can see what's on the
screen - and there's just an open Word document, empty of any
text. Buffy's too spaced out to start anything today.
Her intercom buzzes and Buffy jumps, flicking her monitor off
quick as a flash as she answers it.
BUFFY
Um, yes, Josh, what is it?
ANYA (O.S.)
(filtered; through
intercom)
It's not Josh, it's Anya. I'm a
woman, not a young boy.
BUFFY
(sighs)
Sorry, Anya, I just don't think my
brain's on the same planet today..
What is it?
ANYA (O.S.)
You have a person waiting out here
for you. They're kind of funny
looking, I think they might be a
little crazy.
BUFFY
Anya, two things. One, we call them
'clients,' and two, they probably
just heard every word you said.
ANYA (O.S.)
Oh.
(beat; catches up)
Oh!
(whispers)
Your next appointment with a crazy
client is here, Buffy.
BUFFY
(wearily)
Thank you, Anya, send them in.
Buffy rubs her brow - working with Anya is already taking its
toll on her sanity, but she snaps back to her professional
smile as she hears her door open.
8 EXT. CONSTRUCTION YARD - PLATFORM. MORNING. 8
Xander creeps along, trying to stay out of sight as he heads
over to the foundation where Dawn performed her spell the
night before.
Electrical scorch marks are visible all around, and the
locked section where the heavy machinery was kept in
particular looks as though the doors were torn off the hinges
- from the inside. This isn't lost on Xander, who crouches
down.
Xander runs his hand over the concrete where Dawn performed
her spell, taking in the scorched markings and the outline of
a book and a pair of knees burnt into it.
He frowns, trying to fit the pieces together, when he hears
something shuffling round to his right. He looks up.
The front door of the large mobile office block that houses
the foreman and other staff is open, creaking in the slight
wind.
Xander gets up, dusts off the concrete dust from his clothes
and walks over.
9 INT. YARD - MOBILE OFFICE. MORNING. 9
We're looking out from inside the office as Xander appears in
the doorway, looking around.
XANDER
Hello? Anyone in here?
(beat)
Who isn't evil?
Silence. Convinced he heard something, Xander steps inside.
He walks a few steps in, the light inside dimmed by virtue of
all the window blinds and shutters being drawn, but he
manages not to trip over as he walks.
VOICE (O.S.)
Fee, fi, fo, fum..
Xander spins round, tensed up.
VOICE (O.S.) (cont'd)
I smell the blood of an Ameri-can!
Laughter. Xander starts to look pretty wigged out.
XANDER
(trying and failing to
sound tough)
Alright, who's in here?
VOICE (O.S.)
Some people you really shouldn't
have disturbed, mis amigo..
We see five shapes rise out of cover at the back of the room
and start to advance towards us.
It doesn't take long for their glinting eyes and cat-like
movements to tell us that they're vampires, and they're none
too happy at this intrusion.
VAMPIRE
(vamps out)
And now, we're gonna have to have
ourselves a little mid-morning
snack! I hear you construction
hombres are full of proteins..
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE UP:
10 INT. YARD - MOBILE OFFICE. MORNING. 10
We're back with Xander, facing down the advancing vampires,
who we can now see have Hispanic features to match their
accents, and all seem to be wearing similar biker jackets.
Xander looks round frantically for a weapon, settling on a
wooden chair which he holds up like a lion tamer. The lead
vampire scoffs.
VAMPIRE
You're a long way from the circus,
friend!
VAMPIRE #2
(laughs)
Hey, maybe he wants to become a
vaquero!
CRASH! One of the windows at the rear of the suite bursts
inwards, and in swings Faith, somersaulting onto her feet as
the sudden burst of sunlight ignites one of the vampires with
an unearthly scream.
As he thrashes about, the flames quickly taking to the cheap
furniture inside the suite, Xander smashes the wooden chair
against the nearest desk to give himself a stake from one of
the legs, and charges the lead vampire as Faith sets to with
the remaining three.
FAITH
(between punches; matter
of-factly)
Hey, Xand.
Xander dodges a swing from the nearest vamp before he can
reply.
XANDER
Hey! Excellent timing..
Faith dusts one of the vamps and follows with a roundhouse
kick on the next, sending him clattering into the desks
behind. The flaming vamp dusts at last, but the back portion
of the office is now ablaze.
Faith takes advantage of the fire and grabs the closest vamp,
spinning round to hurl him into the fire. She takes a punch
from the second to last vamp and stutters forward.
Xander's making a few clumsy stabs with the stake, which the
vamp easily swats away, laughing.
VAMPIRE
They must not be teaching you punks
how to fight anymore!
Xander grits his teeth and waits for the vamp to laugh again,
then suddenly jabs forward with perfect accuracy, staking the
vamp, who manages to register a look of surprise before he
dusts. Xander stands over his ashes.
XANDER
If I hadn't been doing this for
eight years now, that might have
upset me..
FAITH (O.S.)
Xander? Little help?
The vamp has her in a necklock, trying to sink his fangs into
her as she reaches back to try and push him off.
Xander vaults over a desk and punches the vamp to make him
let go, and Faith spins and stakes him in one fluid turn.
Xander lets out a breath.
XANDER
Thanks, Faith, Kind of in a tight
spot there! Say, how did you know
where I'd be?
He looks up but Faith isn't looking at him. She points
towards the back wall of the office.
FAITH
Uh, Xander? Fire.
Xander turns.
The whole rear of the office is up in flames by now, the fire
creeping forward over the very flammable cheap furniture.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.