buffy9x07 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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12 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - KITCHEN 12
The entire group is now together in the kitchen, gathered
around the table -- waiting for story hour. Max is seated at
the head of the table, but seems reluctant to tell of the
happenings with so many people around.
MAX
(quietly)
Mr. Giles, are you sure that we
should discuss such private matters
in front of such a large group?
Giles, who was talking softly to Marie, pops his head up.
GILES
Pardon? Oh, yes, by all means. I
trust everyone at this table with
my life.
(pointing to Andrew)
Except, perhaps, for him. But he's
mostly harmless.
ANYA
He is?
(to Max)
Don't mind me. I'm pregnant.
Hormones are popping in and out of
places that they shouldn't be.
Yesterday morning, I found myself-
Anya stops her story abruptly and springs from the table as
fast as a pregnant woman can and thunders up the stairs.
XANDER
(to Max)
And the answer to that story was
morning sickness.
XANDER (cont'd)
(to everyone else) )
I'd better go check on her.
Xander exits the room behind his fiancée.
GILES
(to Max)
Please continue.
MAX
Sierra and I were attacked last
night by a demon called Lokane.
MARIE
Lokane?
MAX
You've heard of him?
Giles and Marie share bemused looks.
GILES
Yes, of course. A particularly
ruthless warrior demon, known to
hold quite severe grudges.
MARIE
Not overly powerful as far as
supernatural powers are concerned,
but an exceptional fighter.
GILES
And if he were to perish in body,
he is able to possess anyone in the
near vicinity.
MAX
(confused)
I didn't find that in all of my
readings...
GILES
Yes, well… you wouldn't. Lokane is
almost comparable to a cult classic
in cinema. He's part of the
underground lore in demonology. He
is only referred to in a few
obscure texts. The rest has been
passed down by way of mouth
throughout the ages.
WILLOW
So, long story short, he's bad
news?
MARIE
Extremely bad news. I have no doubt
that Buffy can defeat him, but even
then we have to be extremely
careful that he she's not
possessed.
MAX
(warmly to Marie)
You seem to really know your
demonology.
MARIE
(flattered)
Thank you.
Giles stares uneasily at Max for a moment.
BUFFY
Why can't we ever just focus on
just one Big Bad at a time? Every
time we get knee deep into a new
one, here comes another to kill!
ANDREW
Luck of the draw.
BUFFY
(sarcastically)
Thank you, Captain Motivator.
ANDREW
Glad to be of service.
BUFFY
So where do we find this guy?
MAX
I think he's following me.
GILES
Following you? That's
extraordinary. What would he want
with you?
MAX
(evasive)
I don't know, but I think the fact
that I survived our encounter means
he wants to finish the job.
MARIE
How did you come across Lokane
anyhow?
(looking to Giles)
As far as I know, his presence in
this dimension has been nonexistent
for the past three hundred years.
GILES
No, I concur. That's the general
presumption.
MAX
We were on a routine training
mission last night, and he came out
of nowhere… directly out of the
forest.
GILES
(shaking his head)
Simply amazing.
BUFFY
Well, if he's after you like you
say he is, we caught a break.
MAX
A break?
BUFFY
Yeah. We won't have to find him.
He'll find us.
Buffy gets up and leaves the table. Max watches in confusion.
MAX
(to Buffy)
Where are you going?
BUFFY
To work.
MAX
(confused)
Work? You have a job?
BUFFY
I do. I'm a Slayer and I have a
job. What a happy, happy life.
WILLOW
(smiling)
Some would say.
Buffy and Willow walk out of the room leaving Andrew an open
seat around the table. He begins trying to hit on Max.
ANDREW
(to Max)
So I couldn't help, but notice that
you're British...
GILES
Andrew!
ANDREW
(leaving the table)
Sorry.
Giles and Marie exchange embarrassed looks.
GILES
I'm terribly sorry. He's…
different.
MAX
(confused)
I see.
13 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - FRONT DOOR 13
Buffy has made her way from upstairs and adorns a nice,
professional businesswoman's suit. She apathetically opens
the door as she searches her purse for her keys.
She starts to step out the door, but stops abruptly as she
feels as though she's hit a brick wall.
JACKSON stands steadily in the doorway as Buffy jumps
backwards -- startled.
BUFFY
Jackson! Holy crap, you scared me!
JACKSON
I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that
standing innocently in the open
could be taken as a threat…
BUFFY
And I see you've got your wit about
you this morning.
JACKSON
As always.
BUFFY
What are you doing here?
JACKSON
(nervously)
Uh… I was actually headed out
towards the station.
BUFFY
(sarcastic)
You didn't come to take me in did
you? I swear, he said he was
eighteen!
JACKSON
(smiling)
I see I'm not the only one with his
wit about him this morning.
BUFFY
(not smiling back)
See, I'd find that funny, if I
wasn't wondering how in the world
the police station moved overnight
so it's now between my house and
your house.
Jackson stutters - he's been caught out. Buffy steps past him
and starts to walk down the street. Jackson jogs to catch up
with her.
JACKSON
There was a reason for my visit.
BUFFY
(tetchy)
I was beginning to wonder.
JACKSON
I was hoping that maybe… we could
hang out later on today. That is,
unless you have something planned?
BUFFY
Nothing's planned. I'm completely
free.
(sarcastic)
Oh, well I wouldn't say completely,
there's this demon that's supposed
to stop by sometime in the next few
days to kill us all. We're not
really sure when. You're welcome to
hang though!
JACKSON
And aren't you just full of razor
sharpness this morning! Let me
guess, last night was another of
Andrew's 'Will & Grace' marathons?
Buffy stops and takes a breath, and Jackson braces himself
for Buffy to take out whatever's on her mind on him.
BUFFY
Look, Jackson. A few days ago, we
fought that demon, remember? The
big guy, knocked me cold? I'm still
kinda sore about that, so yes, I am
feeling kind of tetchy today.
Second thing, how am I supposed to
react when you just show up on my
doorstep first thing in the
morning, like a lost puppy or
something?
JACKSON
I was just trying to-
BUFFY
Yeah, I get it, you know? Just
trying to take things one step at a
time. Well, today I don't want to
take any steps.
I just want to go to work, get
through the day, come home and hope
that Giles and the others have
found me a way to kill that damn
thing before I run into it again.
And you showing up is really not
helping that!
Jackson watches her, half braced against her outburst, but
still a little hurt by it. Buffy sighs and runs a hand
through her hair, obviously frustrated.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Look, I'm sorry. Today's just not a
good day for us to try and do our
dance around each other.
JACKSON
So I see. Maybe I'll take the long
way round to work today.
BUFFY
Yeah. Listen, Jackson, it's not
that I don't-
XANDER (O.S.)
So this is where you keep rushing
off to so early! And here was me
thinking it was work related...
Xander walks into frame, two brown paper grocery bags under
his arm. Buffy groans as she realises how her meeting with
Jackson must look, while Jackson just scratches the back of
his head awkwardly.
XANDER (cont'd)
Glad I caught you two together at
last, we were starting to take bets
on whether it'd snow again before
we saw you speaking.
BUFFY
(looking to Jackson)
We're standing innocently in the
open. Not doing anything.
Xander stares inquisitively at the two for a moment before
splitting them with his hands and walking though them.
XANDER
Anyway... I'm running late for
work, and I've still got to run to
the grocery store and back here
again before I can even go. I know
I'm the boss, but if I keep this
up, I'll have to let myself go!
JACKSON
(to Xander)
Not that it's any of my business,
but don't you and Anya have a house
of your own?
XANDER
I don't like leaving An alone, what
with the being insanely insane from
the pregnancy and all.
(beat)
And on that note, I'm off to get
the biggest tub of mustard known to
man.
Xander heads back towards the house. Jackson chuckles and
starts to turn to make a comment to Buffy - but she's already
walked off screen. Jackson slaps his forehead and mutters.
JACKSON
Smooth as ever, Shaw...
Jackson takes a breath and walks off screen in a different
direction, before we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
14 EXT. CLEVELAND - PARK. NIGHT. 14
Buffy, Giles, Max and Willow are all out on patrol, keeping
an eye out for Lokane.
Everyone but Willow is armed, and the redhead herself is
carrying what looks like a small pendant, holding it out in
front of her like a pendulum. It pulses a faint yellow, and
she frowns, holding it out to her left and then her right.
BUFFY
Anything?
WILLOW
Not yet, I'm picking up his aura
but he could be anywhere between
here and two miles away at the
moment.
The girls lead on as Max hangs back with Giles.
MAX
Look, I'm really sorry about all of
this, Rupert, I didn't think he'd
follow me as far as-
GILES
You didn't think he'd follow you?
Max, let me ask you something - do
you know anything about Lokane at
all?
MAX
Well, I know a little, enough to
know that he's danger-
GILES
Lokane once spent four years
tracking a man who'd wounded him in
battle, then crept into his house
while he slept, murdered every
living thing inside except his
victim and then left - and then
waited four more years before
coming back to finish the job, just
so his target would spend as long
as possible at the edge of despair,
never knowing when his end would
come.
Max GULPS - that wasn't something he wanted to hear.
MAX
So what are you saying, should we-
GILES
I'm saying we'd better hope Buffy
finds and kills this creature
quickly, because otherwise we're
all in a very great deal of danger!
Giles throws a cursive glance at Max and jogs to catch up to
the girls. Willow has stopped, and is holding the pendulum
over her hand as it pulses more rapidly. She looks alarmed,
and Buffy is looking round anxiously.
BUFFY
Don't tell me, that means he's
close, right?
WILLOW
Yeah, only it just went from
nothing to happy firefly in a
second, like he just popped in out
of nowhere!
GILES
Lokane was said to have some kind
of limited teleportation skill,
he's quite likely spotted us and-
LOKANE (O.S.)
(chuckles)
So, the cowardly insect brings some
friends along to help do its dirty
work?
Everyone freezes, looking around. The park is deadly still
and silent, but Lokane's booming voice seems to echo from
several places around them.
LOKANE (O.S.) (cont'd)
I might have expected such action
from one who let his charge die so
easily by my hands...
MAX
(defiant)
Show yourself! This is something we
must finish!
LOKANE (O.S.)
Oh, I will, mortal, I will... I
spent a good night feasting on the
marrow of that young whelp's bones
after you'd fled, and I trust your
companions will bring me the same
enjoyment!
Willow nudges Buffy and points to a huge old tree about
twenty feet away, and Buffy nods as Willow aims the pendulum
towards the tree - it pulses more rapidly when she does so.
Target acquired. The girls pace forwards as Lokane continues
his 'Hulk Smash!' Speech.
LOKANE (O.S.) (cont'd)
It has taken me some time to track
you to this gaudy land of
artificial light, but I see now I
will have plenty of sport to make
up for my efforts...
Buffy and Willow pause a few feet away from the tree. Buffy
grips her scythe, but tenses when she realises Lokane has
stopped talking. She glances at Willow.
WILLOW
Buffy? What's wr-
CRASH! The tree is uprooted, torn clean in two, and smashes
to the floor, Buffy and Willow diving out of the way on one
side, as Giles pulls Max to the floor, out of sight.
As the gang stand to catch their breath, Lokane strolls
confidently out from behind the still-rooted half of the
tree. The demon eyes Buffy and Willow up and down and snorts
derisively.
LOKANE
Where is he?
BUFFY
Let me guess… Lokane?
LOKANE
Where is he?!
BUFFY
Look we were trying to have a nice
quiet walk here, so if you could
just…
Lokane SMASHES his hand into the tree, sending a shower of
chunks of bark into the air.
LOKANE
I'll ask you one more time, little
girl! Where is he?
BUFFY
I can't tell you if you don't say-
MAX (O.S.)
Lokane? I'm here!
Buffy and Lokane look round - Max has stood from behind the
tree and is walking slowly over towards the demon, gripping
his sword tightly.
Buffy rolls her eyes - this wasn't part of her plan. She
takes a step back, waiting for Lokane to give her an opening,
but the burly demon keeps both of them in his sights.
MAX (cont'd)
I's me you want, not these others.
Let's settle this in the only way
you understand.
Max raises his sword, and Lokane grunts and starts to laugh.
Max's eyes flit across to look at Buffy.
LOKANE
Commendable attitude. When I crack
open your skull to find out what
your brain tastes like, I'll have
to remember to make it into a mug
afterwards, in your honour.
BUFFY
Max, what are you-
MAX
No, Buffy! I have to do this. It's
only right, so I can-
THWACK! A huge punch from Lokane catches them off guard and
sends Max flying back through the air.
Willow watches him land, then raises her hands to try and get
a spell working to stop the demon, but as she murmurs an
incantation, runes on Lokane's black armour GLOW a fierce
red, and with a YELP Willow is knocked off her feet by some
invisible wicca repellent force.
Max recovers and takes to his heels, waving his arms and
shouting.
MAX (cont'd)
Follow me! Leave them, it's me you
want!
Lokane growls and starts to race after Max, his heavy frame
shuddering the ground as he runs after the retreating
Watcher.
Buffy dashes into frame as Giles helps a stunned Willow to
her feet.
BUFFY
Will, are you okay? What happened?
WILLOW
I don't know... Some kinda
antiwicca spell... In his armour...
GILES
You must hurry, Buffy, Max won't
last five seconds against Lokane.
He's brave now, but that won't last
him long.
BUFFY
I'm on it. Get Willow somewhere
safe then follow me with some
backup.
Giles starts to carry Willow away as Buffy runs after Max and
Lokane, but pauses as Giles calls out to her.
GILES
Who should I bring?
BUFFY
I don't know! What about...
(beat; sighs)
Call Jackson, okay?
Giles nods and helps Willow away as Buffy runs again.
15 EXT. ABANDONED CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT 15
Buffy runs into frame and skids to a halt, catching her
breath and looking round. Scattered equipment and large
machinery line the whole of the lot and make the search just
that much more difficult.
She paces carefully through the darkness, alert for any
sound, and freezes when she hears footsteps.
Seeing a shadow approaching from round a dirt lifter, she
raises her scythe and gets ready to attack...
And as the figure rounds the corner she LUNGES forward with a
yell, narrowly missing Jackson, who shouts as he dives out of
the way, an axe in one hand.
JACKSON
Woah! You greet all your
reinforcements like that?
BUFFY
Jackson? How did... How did you get
here so fast?
Without taking his eyes off her, Jackson holds up his cell
phone and waggles it for her to see.
JACKSON
I was already out. Giles called,
said which way you were headed, I
thought I'd see if I could catch
you first.
BUFFY
Oh... Well, good. Come on.
She walks on, clicking back to Business Mode, and Jackson
allows himself a bemused smile. The duo pace through the
construction yard, still deathly silent, their eyes scanning
the darkness.
JACKSON
So… I don't see anything.
BUFFY
Me neither.
JACKSON
Do you think it could have doubled
back?
BUFFY
Could have.
JACKSON
(beat)
Buffy…?
BUFFY
Yeah?
JACKSON
Why is this so awkward?
BUFFY
(sighs)
I don't know.
JACKSON
Is it because we're trying not to
talk about all the things we should
have gotten out of the way by now?
BUFFY
Maybe. I don't know.
(beat)
Okay, yeah… it is.
JACKSON
That's what I thought. But why?
BUFFY
Why?
JACKSON
Yeah. Why?
BUFFY
I guess…
JACKSON
Maybe we're just waiting for the
right moment to do it, when you and
I know that there is no right
moment.
Buffy looks understandingly at him.
JACKSON (cont'd)
(stepping closer)
So I was thinking… that maybe we
should stop waiting for time to
work its magic and take matters
into our own hands.
BUFFY
Maybe...
Their eyes meet - and suddenly the mood changes between them.
Buffy looks like some old feelings are starting to return,
and Jackson smiles warmly at her.
He opens his mouth to speak - but Buffy's eyes widen, and she
suddenly SHOVES him out of the way as Max sails through the
air, slamming into Buffy and knocking them both to the floor.
JACKSON
What the...
He looks up as Lokane strides into frame, not a scratch on
him and still in the mood for a fight.
LOKANE
Fools! You're all fools! After I'm
done with you, I'll follow your
stench back to your dwelling, and
take back what's rightfully mine!
He raises both hands into the air to begin a great double
fisted attack, but, Buffy rolls her and Max over and Lokane
hits the ground - hard.
Buffy swings the scythe at him, but it just DINGS off
Lokane's armour with a flash of sparks, and she leaps back
out of the way as he takes a swing at her.
Buffy awaits the next attack as Max drags himself to his
feet, panting with exertion.
MAX
Be careful, the armor that covers
his body is impenetrable!
BUFFY
Yeah, I noticed, what with the
stabbing and all…
MAX
Aim for the head!
BUFFY
That was plan 'B'!
Lokane takes a step forward but pauses as we hear a soft
'thud' sound. Lokane blinks, reaches over his shoulder and
pulls Jackson's axe from within his back.
He turns around to see Jackson standing there. Jackson peers
around the demon at Buffy in confusion.
With a low growl, Lokane drops the axe on the ground and
starts towards Jackson. He gets an arm raised in the air,
prepared to strike, but out of nowhere comes a chain. The
chain wraps around him and Buffy grabs the hook and completes
a circle around his legs.
BUFFY (cont'd)
(shouts)
Max, now!!
Before Lokane can turn around and fight, a machine quickly
pulls the chain tight and drags him from his feet -- leaving
him dangling upside down in the air.
Buffy stands, smiling, and looks across to the bruised and
battered Max, who is holding a wired remote control.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Guess you didn't see that coming
did you? You know what they say,
the dumber the beast…
Before Buffy can finish her pun, Jackson comes flying in with
his axe and LOPS Lokane's head off.
BUFFY (cont'd)
No!
Lokane's head falls lifelessly to the ground. Buffy rushes
over to Jackson as Max drops the remote and hurries over.
JACKSON
What?!
MAX
You weren't supposed to kill him!
He's supposed to be able to possess
someone if they're around when he
dies!
Buffy and Jackson both turn and look curiously at their
surroundings.
BUFFY
(suspicious)
Are you possessed?
JACKSON
What? No!
BUFFY
Prove it.
JACKSON
What do you want me to do? Buffy…
we were about to kiss and this
demon pops out of nowhere! What do
you want me to say to prove that
it's me?
BUFFY
(walking away)
Okay.
JACKSON
Okay?
BUFFY
That works for me. Hurry up. Let's
get back to the house. They'll be
worried.
Buffy turns to Max, who winces as he presses a hand to his
side - there's a lot of blood on his shirt.
BUFFY (cont'd)
How are you doing?
MAX
Well, that's easily the worst
beating I've ever had in the line
of duty, but I'll survive.
Max looks round the yard, spooked.
MAX (cont'd)
We should go. I don't know how his
ability to possess people works,
but demons normally need time to
gather their essence before they
can attempt something like that, so-
BUFFY
So point taken, Columbo, let's
split. Come on, Jackson.
Buffy lends an arm to Max as they head off screen.
As Jackson begins to follow Buffy, he pauses for a moment -
and his eyes GLOW a quick red before they fade back to
normal.
With a brief grin, Jackson follows Buffy out of frame.
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT THREE
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.