buffy9x09 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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17 EXT. CIRCLE – OUTSIDE LIBRARY. DAY. 17
Willow flies into frame and lands on the ground with a solid
WHUMP. She tries to get up, but is too weak.
WILLOW
(quietly)
Buffy…
With that, Willow flops back down. She's out for the count,
and stays in an undignified heap on the floor as the shadow
of the Caretaker falls across her, and then moves on,
disappearing from view.
18 INT. CHARLESTON & SMITHE – BUFFY'S OFFICE. DAY. 18
Buffy suddenly looks up from her desk, alarmed.
BUFFY
Willow?
She takes a moment to gather her thoughts, then grabs the
phone and dials her house.
19 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM. DAY. 19
As Max and Marie continue to laugh, this time over research
texts instead of loose cutlery, Giles steps away to answer
the phone.
GILES
Hello, Summers residence.
BUFFY
(filtered; through phone)
The what?
GILES
Buffy?
BUFFY
Yeah, it's me… did you just say
'Summers residence'? What are you,
like, my butler or something?
GILES
I was just trying to-
BUFFY
Never mind. We've got a problem.
Willow's in trouble.
GILES
She is? How can you tell?
20 INT. CHARLESTON & SMITHE – BUFFY'S OFFICE. DAY. 20
Buffy is pacing up and down her office as she talks.
BUFFY
I don't know, I just- I just got a
bad feeling. I think she may have
sent me a distress call or
something, so we've got to-
With a loud BANG, Willow suddenly warps into the office – a
few feet above the floor. Her unconscious body thuds into the
carpet, and a startled Buffy fumbles with the phone.
GILES
(filtered; through phone)
Buffy? Buffy! Are you alright? What
was that?
BUFFY
It's- she-
(beat)
I'll call you back.
She hangs up and dashes to Willow's side. Willow is just
coming to, and Buffy helps her to sit up.
WILLOW
Did it… where…
BUFFY
Willow? You're in my office, you're
safe. What the heck happened?
Buffy takes in Willow's bruises and soot-covered face and
clothes, and notices the amulet Willow was searching for
earlier round her neck, its yellow glow fading away.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Did something burn down?
WILLOW
(wide eyed)
The Library! The Grand Library at
the Circle – it's all gone! He- he
tore it down!
BUFFY
Who did?
WILLOW
(deep breath)
The Caretaker…
Buffy closes her eyes – just what she didn't want to hear.
She pulls Willow close to her – and doesn't see the clock on
the wall behind her has just hit ten past one.
21 EXT. CITY STREET. DAY. 21
Jackson waits patiently by the bagel stand, checking his
watch and looking around for any sign of Buffy. His cell
phone rings, and he quickly answers it.
JACKSON
Buffy?
DAN
(filtered; through phone)
Uh, no, but I could always buy
myself a blonde wig if it'd get you
to actually come back to work once
in a while…
JACKSON
(sighs)
Dan, what is it?
DAN
Oh, nothing, just, you know, where
the heck are you? We're due in for
briefing with the Captain in ten
minutes, and you were nowhere in
sight, so I thought I'd better make
sure you hadn't snuck out to see
that girl again.
(beat)
Which you obviously have, so…
JACKSON
I'll be back in a few minutes,
okay?
DAN
Hey, sorry, man. I'm not
interrupting anything, am I?
Jackson takes one look up the street, then frowns.
JACKSON
No, nothing at all.
DAN
Okay, good, see you in a few.
Jackson hangs up, then with a cross look turns and marches
off screen.
22 INT. CHARLESTON & SMITHE – BUFFY'S OFFICE. DAY. 22
Willow's lying on the patient's couch, a blanket wrapped
round her, as Buffy walks in and hands her a mug of coffee.
Willow takes it with a grateful grin.
BUFFY
So what's the secret behind that
dramatic entrance of yours? Every
time I think I've caught up, you
seem to learn something new to show
off with!
WILLOW
Oh, the 'poof!' thing? Uh, kinda
like a homing signal, it's linked
to that amulet. If I get hurt, I
can just picture a place or a
person, and if I get knocked out or
badly hurt, it can just zap me on
over there.
Heh, bet you don't get many
patients showing up like that, huh?
BUFFY
Usually, no. You ready to tell me
what happened?
Willow nods, sips the coffee and sits up.
WILLOW
This morning, at the house, when I
was looking for that amulet and
said the Circle were in trouble,
remember?
BUFFY
Yeah, I do. Oh, and you owe Giles a
drink because he helped clean up
your mess!
WILLOW
Well, I got to the Circle's
dimension quick as I could, but by
the time I did it was already on
fire. The Caretaker must've found
another way through, because
they...
(deep breath)
They were all gone. Tattles,
Taledraw and Trinkets, I searched
the whole place and I couldn't find
them anywhere. The Caretaker'd torn
the whole place apart to get them,
and when I found him, he just
flicked me away like a bug on a
windshield and vanished again.
BUFFY
Just because you didn't find them
doesn't mean they're dead, Will.
They've got their own personal
dimension and giant snake demons
for pets, I'm pretty sure they've
got a few more plays in case of
emergencies!
WILLOW
Yeah… I hope so.
Willow sips her coffee again as Buffy stands, noticing the
clock at last with a groan.
BUFFY
Oh, no… Jackson!
WILLOW
Huh?
BUFFY
I was supposed to meet him for-
(looks at Willow)
Never mind. It's not important.
Lets' get you back home and cleaned
up, when you feel up to it we'll go
looking for those Circle guys,
okay?
Willow doesn't stand, looking down at the floor instead.
WILLOW
I couldn't stop him…
BUFFY
What?
WILLOW
He walked right in there, ripped
their whole village down, maybe
even killed them, and when I got to
him, he just threw me away and
walked back out again… Buffy, how
are we gonna beat this guy?
BUFFY
We'll find a way. There's always
something we can try, Will.
Nothing's beaten us yet, and
nothing's going to while I'm still
around. Okay?
Willow nods, clearly still exhausted. Buffy heads for her
desk and buzzes her P.A. on the intercom.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Oh, hey, listen, I've got to take
off for a few hours, family
emergency. Tell Mr. Kane I'll be
back in time for my appointments
this afternoon, okay?
BUFFY'S P.A.
(filtered; through
intercom)
Will do, Miss Summers.
Buffy heads back over to Willow and helps her up.
BUFFY
Next thing, we get you home and
patched up, then we gather the
troops and go hunting. Alright?
Willow nods as the two girls walk off screen.
23 INT. HARRIS RESIDENCE – BABY'S ROOM. DAY. 23
Xander is on familiar ground, being all workmanlike and
painting the walls of the small baby's room a soft ocean
blue. A tinny radio plays and he has as much paint on him as
on the walls – and he's loving every moment of it.
Anya appears in the doorway, scanning the room.
ANYA
(points)
You missed a spot.
XANDER
(without looking up)
No I didn't, I'm saving it for
later.
ANYA
Did we agree on the blue?
XANDER
We didn't agree on anything, so I
closed my eyes at the hardware
store and grabbed the first can off
the rack. It was blue.
Anya nods, satisfied. She watches Xander paint for a few
beats, then shakes her head.
ANYA
Actually, I don't like blue. Can we
try red?
Xander rolls his eyes and turns to speak to her, but the
phone RINGS from downstairs. Anya dashes off to answer it,
and with a chuckle Xander gets back to painting. Anya shows
up again, talking into the phone.
ANYA (cont'd)
No, see, I told him I didn't like
the blue, and then he just lied and
pretended not to have heard me, but
I know what he does, he says one
thing, and then-
(beat; listens)
Oh, yes, I will.
(offers phone to Xander)
It's Buffy. If she asks for your
opinion on decorating, I'd politely
say 'no.'
Xander turns the radio down and takes the phone away as Anya
wanders into the room and starts poking the wet paint on the
walls.
XANDER
Harris Decorating Service,
attempting to make household
decisions since 2003…
BUFFY
(filtered; through phone)
Xander? Hey, we need you to come
over, Willow's got into some
trouble and we could use all hands
on deck 'till we figure it out.
Xander turns round – Anya is dipping one finger into an open
paint pot and drawing experimentally on the wall, her other
hand rubbing her belly.
Buffy carries on speaking as Xander looks at her for a long
beat, before he talks back into the phone.
XANDER
Uh, Buffy, I'm sorry, but I really
can't right now.
BUFFY
(surprised)
Oh! You, uh… you're busy?
XANDER
Baby stuff, you know. I'll come
round soon as I'm done, I just… I
just can't right now. You'll be
okay, you've got three Watchers
with you at the moment, the
assembled IQ alone kind of negates
me having to be there!
BUFFY
Well… okay, I guess. I'll, uh, see
you later?
XANDER
Soon as I can, Buffy, I promise.
Xander hangs up and passes the phone back to Anya as he
carries on painting.
ANYA
What did she want?
XANDER
Oh, nothing. It can wait.
Anya smiles at him, and Xander gives her a big old Harris
grin back before she turns and walks out.
With a long look after her, Xander turns the volume back up
on the radio and gets back to the painting.
XANDER (cont'd)
Can't be there every time…
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
24 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE – WILLOW'S ROOM. DAY. 24
The curtains are drawn and the room is in darkness, save for
selective candles that display Willow, cross-legged on top of
her bed, a circle of powder sprinkled out before her, and her
eyes closed as she concentrates.
WILLOW
Cross the glades and the valleys,
past the oceans of time's swell and
the edge of the world as we see it,
show me the time that lies
forgotten, help me to see what I
have never seen.
The powder GLOWS, and a ring of soft yellow light forms in
the air in front of Willow. She opens her eyes – and inside
the ring of light is a view of the Circle's village, still in
one piece.
Willow starts to move her right hand, and the image inside
the ring moves around, as though she's controlling a remote
camera.
As she watches, there is a sudden loud crashing noise, and
one of the smaller buildings on stilts next to the Library
wobbles, then pitches forward and smashes into fragments on
the ground.
Willow's hand goes to her mouth as she watches – the tall,
black clad form of the Caretaker appears as he moves from
building to building, with the fire soon joining the party as
he systematically trashes the entire village.
The complex is soon ablaze, and Willow, tears rolling down
her cheeks, waves a hand to make the images fade away.
She takes a deep breath, trying to collect herself, when
there is a hiss of static, and a flickering image starts to
flash on and off inside the ring of light.
Willow frowns and squints at it, trying to make it out – it
appears to be several rows of soldiers, backed up by some
armoured cars, firing with all they've got at a large figure
surrounded by purple light – and then the image is gone.
Willow blinks, then there is a KNOCK at the door, and as she
looks round, the ring of light fades away.
BUFFY (O.S.)
Will? Safe to come in?
WILLOW
Yeah, the movie's over.
Buffy steps into the room and shuts the door behind her.
BUFFY
Miss much?
Willow stifles a sob, and Buffy is there with a comforting
arm round her. Willow wipes away a tear and forces a smile.
WILLOW
Heh, sorry…
BUFFY
Hey, traumatic visuals, I get that.
Did you see anything that could
help?
WILLOW
Uh, not really, but there's one
thing I definitely didn't see.
BUFFY
The Circle?
WILLOW
(nods)
No sign of them. I think if the
Caretaker had gotten his hands on
them, I'd have seen something. As
it was, nothing, so I'm starting to
think maybe they did get away!
BUFFY
That's good, right?
WILLOW
Well, yeah, 'cause they're the only
guys who'd know why he wanted to
recycle them so badly! I'll keep
looking, maybe I can see where they
got to, or where he went.
Buffy ruffles Willow's hair and stands to leave.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Oh, Buffy?
She pauses in the doorway and turns round.
WILLOW (cont'd)
I saw something else too, an echo
or something, but I'm not sure what
it was. If I see it again, I'll let
you know, but… do we know anyone
who has any tanks?
BUFFY
Andrew's got that set of-
WILLOW
No, actual tanks, with the big guns
and tracks and things.
BUFFY
I think we'd have noticed one of
those parked outside someone's
house, Will!
WILOW
Yeah… that's what I thought.
Buffy leaves the room as Willow ponders that last vision.
25 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM. DAY. 25
Buffy heads down the stairs and into the front room to find
that Giles, Marie and Max have used up almost every square
inch of the carpet with their books and notes. Giles looks up
as Buffy raises an eyebrow at their mess.
BUFFY
You guys need to check the concept
of 'paper trail,' I think it kinda
defeats the object if you have
every bit of paper in the world in
the same place…
GILES
We've made some, ah, progress,
looking into possible weaknesses
for the Caretaker.
MARIE
Yes, we've been trying to find
similar demons and what kills them,
then do some careful cross
referencing to come up with some
plans that might work.
BUFFY
'Might' work? Last plan we had that
was only a 'might work,' Xander
lost an eye…
MAX
It's the best we've got. Short of
one of us having missed something
really obvious, then I can't see
any quicker way of-
He stops as there is a KNOCK at the door. Buffy opens it –
its ANDREW, looking excited about something. He's still in
his Peachy's uniform.
BUFFY
Andrew? Are you trying to bunk off
again?
ANDREW
No, I just realised something and
had to come round and tell you
quick as I could!
BUFFY
Go on…
ANDREW
Uh… can I come in?
BUFFY
(nods to mess of papers)
Sure, just don't bring any naked
flames.
Andrew shrugs off his jacket and heads inside, stepping
carefully through the papers to stand in the middle of the
room.
ANDREW
I was just at work, you know, um,
serving customers, and just after
this one guy, I remember him
because he left me a really crappy
tip after I spent more time with
him than with-
BUFFY
(interrupts)
Andrew! I'm gonna get a squint if I
try to see your point any harder.
ANDREW
Oh, right, um, well, he'd been in
hospital to get this bad cut on his
arm stitched up, and while he was
paying I saw it, and it was pretty
gross, these thick black threads
and this kinda creepy looking red-
Andrew pauses – Buffy and the three Watchers don't look
impressed. Andrew clears his throat and continues.
ANDREW (cont'd)
So anyway, that's when it hit me.
The stitches!
Andrew pauses, grinning, as though his point is obvious.
Giles throws a look at Buffy.
GILES
Any clue what he's on about?
BUFFY
I got nothing.
ANDREW
The Caretaker has those stitches
over his eyes and mouth, right?
BUFFY
(slowly)
Yeah…
ANDREW
So, what if we cut those? There are
dozens of South American tribes of
natives who practice that, when
they defeat and behead an enemy,
they shrink the head and sew up the
eyes and mouth so the victim's soul
can't escape.
GILES
(catching on)
So you think…
ANDREW
Cut the stitches, maybe that's
where the Caretaker's power is! We
open those things up, and maybe all
his power'll just come, um, you
know… out.
Buffy considers this for a moment – then nods. She turns to
Giles and Marie.
BUFFY
Sounds good to me. Guys?
GILES
It's an interesting theory…
MARIE
And it certainly fits that 'so
obvious we missed it' comment from
a moment ago!
MAX
Well, I think-
BUFFY
(interrupts)
You know what? Your opinion doesn't
count yet. Maybe when you've
achieved something besides getting
a Slayer killed, we'll start asking
you stuff. Okay?
Max glares at Buffy, but backs down – and Giles can't help a
little smirk at the put down.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Alright, Andrew, get upstairs and
talk to Willow. She's got a good
scent on the Caretaker, reckons she
can get a rough location for him
when he next shows up in town,
which, sadly, I reckon he will, so
when she does I want you ready on
the internet to get some town plans
up, narrow down the search.
ANDREW
Aye, captain.
Andrew hurries past her, trampling over the carefully
arranged papers on the floor, and heads upstairs.
GILES
And as for us?
BUFFY
I dunno, read books or something.
You three just got shown up by a
teenage nerd, I think you've got
some catching up to do!
Buffy smirks and heads into the kitchen. Giles chuckles and
looks at Marie, who obviously still isn't used to Buffy's
sense of humour yet, Max still looks like a naughty infant
who's just been sent out of the class.
MAX
She's certainly very spirited,
Rupert… something tells me she
didn't learn that from you!
Giles starts to answer, but Marie butts in.
MARIE
Max! There's no need for petty
insults.
I'll admit, Buffy's attitude is a
little, well… unique at the best of
times, but she's the only Slayer to
have ever survived as long as she
has, so I think that counts for
something, don't you?
Max takes the hint and stays quiet as Giles stands and heads
into the kitchen with another smirk.
26 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE – KITCHEN. DAY. 26
Giles joins Buffy as she pours a glass of water.
GILES
Thank you.
BUFFY
For what?
GILES
For not being so accommodating to
Max as everyone else seems to be
being!
BUFFY
(feigns surprise)
Why, Mr. Giles! Could it be you
actually dislike someone of your
own profession! Oh, my! What will
the other boys say?
She chuckles, and Giles laughs along.
GILES
It's not that I don't like the
chap, he's certainly got his
talents, and he's speeding up our
work here no end…
BUFFY
But…?
Giles takes a deep breath before continuing.
GILES
But… the man lost his Slayer
through an act of sheer neglect,
and he very nearly brought harm to
this house through that same
neglect, and in my books, that's
inexcusable. He's got a way to go
before I can see past that.
Buffy smiles and pats Giles on the arm.
BUFFY
I never tell you how glad I am to
have you around, do I?
GILES
Certainly not as often as I'd like…
Buffy stands on her toes and gives Giles a quick peck on the
cheek, before walking back out of the kitchen. Giles stays at
the sink for a moment, lost in thought.
GILES (cont'd)
Nice to be appreciated…
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.