buffy9x05 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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13 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE. NIGHT. 13
There's a KNOCK at the front door, and Andrew goes to answer
it. It's Giles and Marie, looking thoroughly jetlagged but
glad to be here at last.
GILES
Ah, Andrew, hello.
ANDREW
Giles!
Andrew leaps forward to hug Giles like a long-lost father,
and Giles rolls his eyes and pats Andrew on the shoulder as
Marie squeezes past them.
When Andrew still hasn't let go after several moments, Giles
clears his throat.
GILES
Andrew? I'd quite like to be able
to breathe again now, if you don't
mind…
Andrew lets go, beaming proudly up at Giles.
ANDREW
Sorry! It's just good to see you
again. Come on in, Buffy and Willow
are out on patrol but they'll be
back soon. Did you have a good
flight?
MARIE
I didn't mind, but Giles here
didn't stop moaning from start to
finish!
Giles sighs and lays his bags down, starting to unpack a few
things as Andrew brings the scroll over.
GILES
Ah, would this be the offending
article?
ANDREW
That's it. Angel gave this to Buffy
last week, said it was important
and that he hoped you could
translate it.
GILES
Yes, I heard that he'd lost Wesley
recently…
Giles trails off in thought, and Marie eases the scroll away
from him to take a look.
MARIE
This won't be easy, but we'll get
right on it. Come on, Giles, shake
a leg and both if you've got them!
She walks past and heads upstairs, breaking Giles out of his
thoughts. He grabs his bag and follows her.
14 EXT. PARK. NIGHT. 14
Buffy watches Willow, who sits cross-legged on the floor,
eyes closed. The trees rustle in the breeze around them, and
all is quiet as Willow concentrates.
BUFFY
(beat)
Anything?
WILLOW
(opens eyes; pouts)
Nothing, sorry. I could probably
tell you where every dog took a
walk through the park today, but I
can't pick out our guy.
BUFFY
Alright, there's not much else we
can do tonight. Let's go get some
sleep and try back here in the
morning, see if we missed anything.
WILLOW
Okay. I think I'll go check in with
the Circle when we get back, I've
started going through the Library,
and it's-
BUFFY
You have a library now?
WILLOW
Oh, yeah! It's neat, it's got these
big comic book-style racks that
stretch off into the ceiling, and
all these books writing out the
history of every single person on
the planet, and...
(her smile drops)
And I've just realised how many of
them I have to start reading now.
BUFFY
(raises eyebrow)
Sounds swell. Guess we'd better get
you back, huh? The girls start to
walk away.
We cut to the viewpoint of someone watching her from the
cover of the trees, no prizes for guessing who!
We watch Buffy walk on for a few moments, starting to move
after her, before Buffy stops and slowly looks around.
Buffy's sharpened senses have noticed something, and she
looks all around, her Slayerness kicking in.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Jackson? Is that you?
She waits a few moments longer, then starts to walk on. Back
with her stalker as he closes in, using the noise of the
trees flapping overhead to cover his approach.
He's closing in, and Buffy stops again, definitely hearing
something.
She turns round, looking almost directly at us, and the
stalker freezes, his breathing getting more nervous. Buffy
takes one step towards us, when:
JACKSON (O.S.)
Buffy?
Buffy steps back and looks round as a flashlight beam heralds
the arrival of Jackson, and the stalker backs away to watch.
Close up with the duo, Jackson looks relieved as he walks up
to Buffy.
JACKSON (cont'd)
Good, there you are.
BUFFY
(raises eyebrow)
Worried about me?
JACKSON
A little. You know, demons and
vampires, I can leave that sort of
stuff to you. This is more my
territory, so I'm just keeping an
eye out, same way you would for me
if I was on patrol with you.
BUFFY
What makes you so sure I would?
A beat – Jackson picks up on Buffy's stand-offishness and
takes a step back, hands raised.
JACKSON
Hey, not trying to cramp your
style, just doing my job. You're
still a citizen round here, so that
means it's my job to watch out for
you.
BUFFY
Yeah, well, I don't need anyone
looking out for me, so you go carry
on your side of the investigation,
and I'll get on with mine.
Buffy turns and starts walking away.
JACKSON
(sighs)
What do you want me to say, Buffy?
I'm trying to get on with things,
and not be an ass and get in your
face about it! Do you just want me
to disappear or something?
BUFFY
It's not that, I…
(beat; turns round)
You know what? I don't know. Every
time I've seen you since… since
what happened, I've felt
differently about it. At first, it
made me feel sick. Then, it got
better. But tonight, it just feels
like we're two very bad ballroom
dancers who keep stepping on each
other's toes, so if it's all the
same to you, I just… I need to go.
JACKSON
Okay. But will you be careful?
BUFFY
I always am. Doesn't seem to help
that often, but I will.
JACKSON
I'd better get back to the scene,
the meat wagon's already here so
I've got to make my statement and
stuff.
BUFFY
Alright.
After another beat, Jackson turns and leaves with a last
smile at Buffy.
Buffy watches him go, then turns and walks off, angry with
her body for the way it keeps making her feel each time he
shows up.
And we get one more shot of the stalker, watching Buffy leave
the park, his gaze locked on the Slayer.
15 EXT. CIRCLE – THE VILLAGE. DAY. 15
Willow emerges from the snow-frosted jungle that overlooks
the Circle's village, the collection of huts and buildings
that houses this place's occupants.
She starts to make her way down the footpath towards the
first cluster of buildings, smiling as the energetic TATTLES
runs up the path towards her.
Willow is almost bowled over as the young girl barrels into
her, her hair in long braided pigtails which bounce as she
wraps herself round Willow.
TATTLES
You're back! You're back!
WILLOW
Yep, sure am. How is everything?
TATTLES
Quiet. But kinda scary too.
WILLOW
Scary? What's wrong?
Tattles looks uncomfortable for a moment.
TATTLES
Um… better get Trinkets to tell
you. Come on!
Her enthusiasm back in place, Tattles grabs one of Willow's
hands and drags her towards the village.
16 INT. CIRCLE – TRINKET'S WORKSHOP. DAY. 16
Looking out from inside the wooden building at the
approaching Willow and Tattles are TRINKETS and TALEDRAW, the
other two inhabitants of this dimension.
TALEDRAW
Are you going to tell her?
TRINKETS
(nods)
Yes.
TALEDRAW
What are you going to say?
TRINKETS
(sighs)
I really don't know. But she needs
to know it.
The Big Bad is coming, and we need
the Teach to find out how to stop
it... Or he'll kill us all.
Off Trinkets' serious look, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
17 INT. CIRCLE – TRINKETS' WORKSHOP. DAY. 17
Tattles leads Willow up a spiral staircase that leads into
Trinkets' clock workshop area. Benches and tables are covered
with outlandish-looking devices all around, but Willow
doesn't get chance to look as Trinkets grabs her and hugs her
warmly.
TRINKETS
Teach! Good to have you back.
WILLOW
Yeah, uh, hi everyone. I just
stopped by to-
TRINKETS
To hear the warning, we know.
WILLOW
No, I- warning? What warning?
There's a warning?
(beat)
Shouldn't I have been, uh, you
know, warned?
The three Circle members exchange glances, and Willow starts
to look a little concerned.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Okay, don't all do that 'looking at
each other' thing. That can only
lead to bad things, and bad things
lead to explosions, and dragons,
and-
TRINKETS
It's okay, Teach. Nothing bad's
happened.
TALEDRAW
Yet.
TATTLES
But… it might.
WILLOW
(wary)
Alright, you got my attention.
What's up? I mean, I know that
black stuff's still hanging around
the back wall of the Library, but
it hasn't moved for days now, so I
thought maybe-
TALEDRAW
Something's coming.
TATTLES
Something bad.
TRINKETS
And it may pass through here before
it gets to your other home.
WILLOW
You mean Cleveland?
TALEDRAW
We can't tell you what it is, just
that it's bad.
TATTLES
And we need you to stop it.
WILLOW
Well, sure, but I don't really know
anything about it, so help me out
here! Are we talking about a demon?
Another big monster like that
dragon?
(beat)
Barney?
The Circle exchange looks again, and Willow huffs
impatiently.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Guys, stop doing that! Okay, can I
find anything about this whatever
it-is in the Library?
TRINKETS
Yes. That's where you need to be.
Willow waits for any more information, but the Circle members
stay quiet.
WILLOW
Huh. Kind of going for that vague
thing today?
TATTLES
We can't-
TALEDRAW
Only you can do anything to stop
it. It is the Teach's job to
protect the Circle from those who
want to destroy it, but you'll find
everything you need in the Library.
WILLOW
So… guess I'd better get my reading
glasses on, huh?
Willow stands and heads back down the spiral staircase,
leaving the trio up in the workshop.
TATTLES
Why can't we tell her the rest?
TRINKETS
Because she'd do things wrong,
that's why! She needs to decide for
herself on how to stop it. If we
try and push her one way, she may
end up going another. Then she'd
mess up what's been written.
TALEDRAW
I drew it. I had to burn the book,
it was too scary. But then I ended
up drawing it again.
Taledraw looks up at the others, the concern on his little
face plain for them to see.
TALEDRAW (cont'd)
He's going to get us. It's been
written.
Trinkets and Taledraw walk away, leaving a frightened looking
Tattles, before we cut to:
18 INT. CLEVELAND PD – JACKSON'S OFFICE. NIGHT. 18
Jackson is at his desk, speaking on the phone.
JACKSON
Yeah… yeah, that was it. Okay,
thanks.
He hangs up and starts typing at his PC as Dan enters.
DAN
They've got that jogger's body down
in the pathology lab now, they'll
call us within a few hours if they
manage to lift any prints or hair
fibres from it.
JACKSON
We might get lucky, he was
disturbed this time.
DAN
Disturbed? How do you know that?
JACKSON
(beat; thinks of an
excuse)
When I found the body, I heard some
people walking around nearby,
chances are he thought somebody was
going to walk in on him and he ran.
DAN
Huh. Sorry, you just didn't mention
that in your report.
JACKSON
Didn't I? Must've forgotten.
Dan eyes Jackson, a little suspicious for a moment, then
shakes his head and dismisses the thought.
DAN
Anyway, we've identified the
victim, name was Joseph Hocking,
his partner was a girl called Emma
Darby, worked at your ex's place.
JACKSON
Charleston & Smithe?
DAN
Yeah, we've sent a car out to pick
her up, see if she saw anyone
suspicious. We got a statement from
the wife of the first victim to say
she spoke to someone just before
she got into a taxi home, which
we've logged as being about half an
hour or so before her husband
became a piece of modern art.
Jackson settles back in his chair, considering this.
DAN
You think there's some kind of
connection? Somebody the victims
all knew?
JACKSON
Maybe. Let's see what this Emma
girl tells us.
The two cops stand and leave the office.
19 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE – KITCHEN. NIGHT. 19
Half asleep, an exhausted-looking Buffy heads inside,
shrugging off her coat and yawning.
Buffy wanders over to the fridge and opens it, completely
missing Giles, Marie and Andrew stood around. She grabs a
juice carton and starts to head for the living room.
GILES
Er… hello?
BUFFY
(absently)
Hello, Giles.
She exits. Giles and Marie exchange a surprised look, before
Buffy darts back into the door frame, registering surprise at
last.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Oh my God, Giles!
She walks over and they embrace, with Marie giving Buffy a
hug too.
MARIE
Hello, Buffy, good to see you
again!
BUFFY
Yeah, sorry I'm so late, there was
a thing, and then another thing…
you know how it is.
Giles holds up the scroll, and from the piles of notes
surrounding it on the kitchen table we can see he and Marie
have already been hard at work with it.
GILES
So what can you tell me about this?
Buffy rolls her eyes.
BUFFY
Straight back to work, huh? Gee,
I'd almost forgotten what you were
like.
Giles blinks, not sure if she was joking. Buffy sighs.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Humour, Giles. Americans have that
too, you know.
GILES
Ah, yes, sorry.
(rubs eyes)
It was a long, noisy flight.
MARIE
(tongue in cheek)
Was it, Rupert? You haven't really
mentioned it.
BUFFY
Scroll. Right. Absolutely no idea
what it is.
GILES
Oh, I was hoping Angel had told you
a little more about it.
BUFFY
You know Angel. Tends to show up,
give me some kind of locket, or
gem, or something, then throws some
cryptic lines at me about
prophecies and slopes off again to
work on his frown lines. All he
said was that it mentioned a
Slayer's death, which he thought
was mine.
GILES
Yes, that would fit what we've
worked out thus far.
Giles lays the scroll out across the kitchen counter as Buffy
pulls up a chair and drinks more juice.
BUFFY
So what are we looking at,
Operation Impending Doom For The
Slayer, Part Two?
MARIE
That's the bit we haven't
translated yet. It would indicate
that it involves you, although-
ANDREW
(interrupts)
Or it could be Faith.
Buffy throws Andrew a dark look, and he blinks - then
remembers why he isn't supposed to mention Faith's name. He
lowers his head as Giles breaks the silence.
GILES
Well, we think so. It makes
reference to a mature Slayer with
many years experience of her
powers, which would suggest you…
BUFFY
But could apply to Faith too. Got
it. Where is she?
MARIE
We're not sure, Willow did her a
little favour after she left here
so we've had difficulty locating
her.
BUFFY
Favour?
GILES
Willow managed to effectively
remove Faith from existence.
BUFFY
Wow. Many have tried, few have
succeeded.
(beat; off their looks)
I'm kidding! What, did you leave
your humour glands in another time
zone?
GILES
Sorry, it was-
BUFFY
A long flight, yeah, I get that.
MARIE
Willow hacked into as many national
databases as she could and took
Faith's name off every register she
could. Faith was never one for a
paper trail anyway so it wasn't too
difficult, but after a few hours
work, according to the great
computer-system driven networks of
this world, Faith does not exist.
BUFFY
When did all this happen?
MARIE
While you were, ah, shall we say,
asleep.
BUFFY
So where is she?
A beat as Marie and Giles exchange looks, and Buffy smirks
and nods as she catches up.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Don't tell me, Willow did such a
good job of hiding her-
GILES
That we can't find her, yes. We're,
ah, working on it.
BUFFY
And in the meantime?
GILES
I'd suggest you shake down a few
local contacts, see if the name
'Sych'Rya' rings any bells.
BUFFY
I heard that Tammazel bought up a
bar somewhere, I'll go check that
out.
GILES
I thought Xander and Faith took
care of her? At least, that's what
Xander's been proudly telling
everyone who'll listen, so Andrew
tells me.
BUFFY
Yeah, I kinda didn't want to burst
his bubble of heroics, but
Tammazel, she's... different. After
Xander took her out, she just
crawled right out of that building,
dragging her legs with her, until
she could stitch herself back
together again later. Seems she
survived the explosion in the base,
but I don't think she's especially
happy about the whole thing.
MARIE
My word...
BUFFY
Yeah, I know, they'll let anyone
run a bar in this town, huh?
Buffy drains the juice carton and places it back on the
table, yawns and stretches out.
MARIE
You look more tired than Rupert
does!
BUFFY
Long day. Longer night.
GILES
I think we should all get some
rest, this prophecy hasn't
mentioned any specific kind of
urgency yet, so I doubt one night
longer will kill us!
BUFFY
Speak for yourself, you're not the
one who had people thousands of
years ago drawing lots about when
you were gonna die!
GILES
(beat)
Point taken.
BUFFY
You guys can use Dawn's…
(beat)
The spare room. It's big enough for
two, there's a sofa bed so you
won't have to share.
Marie nods at Giles, who looks almost relieved that he's been
spared potentially sleeping next to the woman he's so
obviously pining after. As the gang break up and slope up to
their respective rooms, we cut to:
20 INT. CLEVELAND PD – JACKSON'S OFFICE. NIGHT. 20
A uniformed cop brings Emma into the office and sits her
down, and after a beat Jackson and Dan enter.
JACKSON
Hi there, you must be Emma Darby?
EMMA
Yeah, that's me. What's all this
about? I was working over, we've
got some kind of system error, the
whole network's acting like it's
the 1950's, and…
She trails off as she picks up on the serious vibe in the
room. Nervously taking a gulp of the coffee before her, she
looks back up at Jackson.
EMMA (cont'd)
What's… what's happened? Is it-
JACKSON
I'm afraid it's your partner,
Joseph. He was found dead earlier
this evening.
EMMA
(hands over mouth)
Oh, my God…
JACKSON
We believe he's the victim of a
serial killer currently active in
this area, so we're going to need
you to stay here tonight so we can
keep an eye on you.
Emma nods, but tears are already running down her face. A sob
escapes her lips, and Dan is over there to put a comforting
arm round her.
She buries her face in his shoulder and BAWLS, moaning
loudly. Jackson waits a few moments for her to calm down.
JACKSON (cont'd)
Emma, I know this is difficult, but
we need your help. Our best chance
of catching the bastard who did
this could be something you know.
Can you help us by answering a few
questions?
Emma nods, shaking.
JACKSON (cont'd)
Have you spoken to anyone strange,
or seen anyone out of the ordinary
past few days? Possibly at work,
maybe when you were out round the
city?
EMMA
(sniffs)
No, I haven't…
(beat; thinks)
There was one guy. Looked like a
janitor at work, but I didn't
recognise him. He… he lit a
cigarette for me today.
Jackson and Dan exchange a look.
DAN
Do you think you could work with a
sketch artist to get us a picture
of him? It could be important.
Emma nods again, and Dan disappears to find one. Jackson
follows him out.
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