buffy9x10 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[bottom] TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. GILES' APARTMENT. DAY. 1
We open on GILES, glasses off, staring straight at the
camera, a strong-willed look in his eyes. Whatever he's about
to say, we know he means it.
GILES
Marie, I'm glad you could come
over. There are some things I need
to say to you.
(beat; deep breath)
First off, I just wanted to
reiterate how glad I am that you
chose to come back to Cleveland
with me. I know there's plenty of
work waiting for you back at the
Council, but you turned that down
to come and help me, so... Thank
you.
(beat)
Actually, there's something else.
It's been on my mind for some time,
and I don't know how much of it
you've already managed to pick up,
but...
(beat; runs hand through
hair)
Marie, I... that's to say, I
feel... Or, rather, I...
(curses)
Blast it!
Giles settles back - facing him on the chair opposite is not
Marie, but his coat, folded up neatly and arranged at roughly
eye level. Giles interlaces his fingers and stares at the
coat for a beat, before shaking his head.
GILES (cont'd)
No, it's no good. This will have to
wait.
Reaching for his glasses, he picks up a thick book from the
top of a pile on the coffee table in front of him. The cover
reads 'Weaknesses Of Demonic Entities: A-D.' Giles opens it
and starts flicking through it.
We cut to just outside of the apartment - it's on the ground
floor, and somebody outside is looking in on Giles, carefully
staying out of sight.
Giles stands and walks over to the kitchen to make himself a
coffee, and the mystery viewer ducks out of sight.
When he peers back into the apartment, Giles is seated again,
so the figure takes a step to the left to stand in front of
the door.
A gloved hand KNOCKS on the door. Giles turns, stands and
heads over, opening the door.
There's nobody out there, just the day's post in a neat pile
on his doorstep. Giles reaches down to pick it up, noticing a
plain, brown-paper wrapped package on top of the usual bills
and letters.
Giles lays the package down on the coffee table and studies
it. It's unmarked, apart from the words 'For the attention of
Rupert Giles' written neatly on the top in capitals.
Giles glances back over to the door, then back at the
package, and with a shrug he slices it open with a pen.
Inside is just a plain, black book, which Giles lifts and
examines, not opening it just yet.
GILES (cont'd)
Strange...
He checks the wrapping again, but there's no clues there.
Turning the book over, he sees that the cover is plain.
With a quick adjustment to his glasses, Giles takes the
plunge and opens the book - but the pages inside are blank.
He frowns as he leafs through it, but every page in the book
is completely blank!
With an irritated sigh, he puts it back down and opens up the
book he was reading previously again.
There is a sudden SOUND off camera, almost like something
large rushing past him, and Giles' head snaps round.
He stands, scanning the apartment, but he's the only person
there.
His attention returns to the black book, and with a curious
expression, he reaches out for it again and opens it...
And this time, the pages are filled with writing! Giles holds
the book closer as he tries to read the messy, scrawled
letters inside, but with no luck.
GILES)
(trying to read it aloud)
Klatoo... Verata... Nictoo?
With a second SOUND, this one like a heavy gust of wind, a
fierce orange LIGHT suddenly shines on Giles, seemingly
coming from inside the book itself!
The wind-like noises blares for a few moments, before it and
the light disappear.
Giles blinks and puts the book down, looking around the
apartment like it's the first time he's been there. He raises
his hands and studies them, turning them over, before
noticing something off screen.
Giles steps before a small mirror set into one wall, with a
selection of ties hanging beneath it, and peers at his
reflection like he doesn't recognise himself.
When he speaks, there is an uncharacteristic twang to his
accent.
GILES
What the... Who the hell am I?
As Giles stares at the unfamiliar face in the mirror, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
2 EXT. CIRCLE - SNOW-CAPPED JUNGLE. DAY. 2
WILLOW walks into frame, wiping her sweaty brow and pushing
onwards through the dense jungles that line the Circle's
dimension.
A few steps behind her is BUFFY, both girls dressed light
against the heat but still suffering. Buffy is using the
scythe to cut a path through the thick undergrowth.
BUFFY
I don't get it, how can there be
snow on the trees, but this place
still be so damn hot?
WILLOW
Buffy, there's a lot of things I
still don't understand about this
place.
BUFFY
You shoulda got a manual or
something. You know, 'Welcome to
your eventual new home, here's a
few handy tips on how to dodge the
snake demons and lava, and don't
forget to dress for the summer!'
Willow pauses, sitting down on a tree stump to catch her
breath, and Buffy sits beside her. Willow looks thoroughly
dejected, and Buffy places an arm round her shoulders.
BUFFY (cont'd)
C'mon, Will. We'll find them. I'm
sure Tattles and the others got out
of here before the Caretaker got to
them.
Willow doesn't look convinced, looking out across the foliage
around them.
WILLOW
Buffy, we've been searching here
for days now, and still nothing. I
can't sense them, we haven't found
any tracks, nothing.
(bites lip)
I think they're really gone.
Buffy stands, pulling Willow to her feet.
BUFFY
There's still a lot of ground to
cover here. Don't ask me why, but
something tells me they're okay.
WILLOW
How? I'm the one who should be able
to tell, but I can't feel them
anywhere?
BUFFY
Call it Slayer Sense. Never lets me
down. Let's keep moving, we've
almost looped back to the village
so we can take a rest there.
Buffy sets off again, hacking through the trees, and Willow,
follows, looking all around her.
We leave the girls to their search and cut to:
3 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. DAY. 3
ANDREW answers the door to see Giles, who looks like he's
been out running - his shirt and tie are creased, his hair is
messy, and he looks exhausted, albeit with a wide grin across
his face.
ANDREW
Giles? Uh, are you okay? You look a
little-
GILES
Alive? Alive! That's how I feel!
Isn't it a fantastic day?
Giles bustles past Andrew and into the house. Andrew stays on
the doorstep for a moment, blinking, before closing the door
and following Giles into the front room.
Giles is studying everything in the room - the furniture, the
ornaments - and Andrew watches him, puzzled.
ANDREW
Uh, if you're looking for Buffy and
Willow, they've gone, uh...
GILES
Gone where?
ANDREW
You know, up there.
Andrew points towards the ceiling, and Giles frowns.
GILES
Upstairs?
ANDREW
No, to the Circle! Remember, Willow
said they'd been attacked and she
couldn't find those three people
she speaks to up there, so she
thought she'd see if she could get
Buffy up there, and she could, so
they've gone looking.
(suspicious)
Weren't you hear last night when
they were talking about that?
GILES
(distracted)
What? Oh, yes, I was, but I must
have missed that part. So, is
anyone else here?
ANDREW
Uh, no, just me... Where's Max?
GILES
Max?
ANDREW
Yeah, you know, Watcher guy, almost
got us all, um, killed by that
demon a few weeks back, he was
staying at your place before you
shipped him back to England...
(suspicious)
Are you sure you're okay?
GILES
Oh, yes, Max, of course.
(smiles)
Sorry, er... Andrew, I've just got
a lot on my plate at the moment.
You know how it is. I seem to
remember Max is out at the library
today, but... But not the normal
one, I sent him out to a few occult
bookstores I know of to do some
shopping for me. Yes, that's it.
Giles sits down on the sofa - then stands, looking fidgety
and restless, but still smiling.
Andrew watches, starting to get a little nervous.
ANDREW
Uh, I'm gonna make some coffee, do
you, you know, want some?
GILES
Coffee? Yes, I'd love some coffee,
I can't remember the last time I
had a good cup of coffee!
ANDREW
Okay then, so... I'll go, uh, make
some then.
Andrew shuffles into the kitchen, not taking his eyes off
Giles, who sits back down on the sofa, still jittery but
still grinning.
4 INT. HARRIS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. DAY. 4
The phone RINGS, and XANDER steps into frame to answer it.
XANDER
Hello, Casa Harris, Sex God In
Training Xander speaking.
ANDREW
(filtered; through phone)
Xander? It's, um, Andrew.
XANDER
Oh, hey Andrew! What's up?
ANDREW
Um, can you come over for a second?
Giles just showed up at Buffy's,
and he's acting kinda strange.
XANDER
Strange how? British?
ANDREW
No, weirder than that.
XANDER
Hmm. Okay, I'll be over soon as I
can. Keep an eye on him till I get
there, but I'm sure it's just
stress or something.
Xander hangs up and reaches for his coat, hanging on the back
of the front door, as ANYA heads down the stairs, still in
her dressing gown.
ANYA
Xander? Are you going out?
XANDER
Just heading over to Buffy's,
Andrew says-
ANYA
Okay, no, fine, you go.
Xander pauses and sighs - he knows that tone of voice.
XANDER
Alright, what is it?
ANYA
What is what? There's nothing
wrong. You go, have fun with your
pet nerd.
XANDER
Did I forget something?
ANYA
No.
(beat)
Yes, yes you did! Xander, we're
meant to be going shopping for
things for the baby's room today,
or did you forget?
XANDER
I didn't forget, I'm just going out
for a few minutes, I'll be back
before-
ANYA
Well, you'd better be! Otherwise
I'll go shopping by myself, and
when all the people in the store
see me struggling to carry an
entire baby carriage by myself over
to the checkout, they're gonna stop
and point, and then they're gonna
come over and ask me what's wrong,
and do you know what I'm going to
say to them?
XANDER
(patiently)
No, honey, what are you going to
say?
ANYA
I'm going to say 'No! No, don't
help me, eventually my newlywed
husband Xander will come back from
playing games with his silly little
friends, and then we can be a real
family again, but until then, I
must struggle on... Alone!'
Xander opens his mouth to reply, but Anya has already turned
and started to stomp back up the stairs.
Knowing this is an argument he's never going to win, Xander
shrugs his coat on and steps outside.
5 EXT. CIRCLE - VILLAGE. DAY. 5
Buffy and Willow emerge from the jungle, not far from the
edge of the now-ruined wooden village that the Circle called
home. Willow's heart drops as she looks over the smashed
buildings, ravaged by fire, as Buffy gently leads her towards
an uprooted tree that they both sit on.
WILLOW
How could we have let this happen,
Buffy? How could we have missed
what he was trying to do?
BUFFY
Don't blame yourself, Willow. You
said yourself, these Circle kids
were far more powerful than you
were, and if we got our asses
kicked by the Caretaker, stands to
reason they wouldn't have had a
much better time. But that still
doesn't mean they're dead.
Willow stands, shielding her eyes against the sunlight
overhead as she surveys the village.
WILLOW
Alright, I'm thinking we try
something else.
BUFFY
Like what?
WILLOW
Let's not try to find the Circle,
let's look for how the Caretaker
got in. If we can trace his
movements, we'll know where he went
and when, and that ought to give us
a better idea of where Tattles and
the others could've gotten to.
Buffy nods and stands, grinning.
BUFFY
Check you out, master strategy
girl! Sounds like a great plan.
Where d'you wanna start?
WILLOW
That's just it, I don't know. We
could check the Library again,
that's where I found him and that's
where I think he was trying to get
in before.
BUFFY
Lead the way.
The girls start towards the husk of the Grand Library.
BUFFY (cont'd)
So, just out of interest, how long
can I spend up here?
WILLOW
Truthfully? No idea. I'm kinda
winging it so far, so if anything
bad starts to happen, we'll just
quickly send you back, before-
They both freeze as we hear a RUMBLING from off screen. The
girls turn slowly round...
... and see that the distant volcano is coming to life,
crimson red gouts of lava and flames erupting from its mouth.
Willow and Buffy turn to face each other.
BUFFY
Does that count as 'anything bad'?
WILLOW
Let's double time it, okay?
They set off towards the Library again, much quicker this
time.
6 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. DAY. 6
Andrew opens the door to Xander and waves him inside
urgently. Xander starts to speak, but Andrew shushes him and
points towards the main part of the living room.
Giles is there, kneeling just a few inches away from the TV,
rapidly scrolling through the channels. He makes an
occasional chuckle.
GILES
(to himself)
Fascinating...
Xander whispers to Andrew.
XANDER
Okay, I'm a believer. Giles either
drank too much coffee this morning,
or the stress is really starting to
get to him. Any ideas?
ANDREW
Um, I was thinking, maybe we should
tie him up, in case-
XANDER
In case what? You're not gonna
suggest that he's possessed, are
you? We can't be that unlucky, we
only just got past Jackson going
all 'Exorcist' on us a few weeks
ago!
ANDREW
All I'm saying is, he's not
himself.
XANDER
Good point. One of us should go
talk to him, see if we can figure
out what's going on.
A beat. Xander turns to Andrew, who blinks.
ANDREW
Me?
XANDER
Yeah, you! You're the most non
threatening out of all of us.
ANDREW
But I-
XANDER
(interrupts)
Just happen to be the perfect man
for the job. Go get him.
Andrew throws a pleading look at Xander, and then starts to
carefully creep over to Giles. Giles stands and turns round,
and Andrew jumps back a mile.
GILES
Andrew! Hello. Everything alright?
Andrew manages a false smile, glancing back at Xander, who
gives him the thumbs up. Andrew turns back to Giles, looking
very uneasy.
7 EXT. CIRCLE - OUTSIDE GRAND LIBRARY. DAY. 7
Willow and Buffy hurry into frame, making their way along the
outer wall of the Library until they get to the hole Willow
was thrown out of previously.
The volcano continues to RUMBLE ominously in the background.
WILLOW
This is it, it's around here that
this weird crack started to appear
in the wall, only there wasn't
just, you know, the outside on the
other side of it, there was just...
Nothing.
BUFFY
Some kind of hole in the dimension?
Like a back door or something?
WILLOW
Maybe... Maybe I can pick something
up now.
Willow places a hand on the hole in the wall and closes her
eyes, concentrating.
As she starts to murmur an incantation under her breath, the
girls don't notice a large SHADOW starts to fall across them -
something large is moving slowly towards them.
BUFFY
Anything?
WILLOW
(frowns)
I'm not sure... I can feel
something, but I don't know what it
is... It could be the Caretaker, or
it could be...
There is a loud HISS, and Buffy turns round to face
whatever's casting the shadow across them.
Willow is still focusing on the wall, her eyes still closed.
Buffy very carefully taps Willow on the shoulder.
BUFFY
Uh, Willow?
WILLOW
Hang on, I'm getting something... I
don't think this is where he came
in, but he did try... Just give me
a few more seconds!
BUFFY
I don't think we have that long.
Willow, you really need to turn
round now.
WILLOW
Just another...
(opens eyes)
There!
(to Buffy)
I think I got a scent, he got in on
the other side of the village, out
in the open! If we head over there,
I should be able to...
(notices Buffy's wide-eyed
expression)
What?
Willow turns and GASPS as she sees what's snuck up on them.
It's another SNAKE DEMON, looming some ten feet into the air,
its eyes locked on the girls and its tongue flickering in and
out of its mouth.
There's a beat as the two sides stare each other out.
BUFFY
This is something else that's bad,
right?
Willow nods, and the girls start to step away from each
other, trying to spread out in case the demon attacks.
WILLOW
I think we may be in trouble...
Another beat - then with a screeching HISS, the Snake Demon
lunges towards us, and as its jaws SNAP shut, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
8 EXT. CIRCLE - SNOW-CAPPED JUNGLE. DAY. 8
Buffy and Willow are running for their lives through the
jungle, branches whipping past them as they hop over roots
and dodge through the trees.
Crashing its way after them is the Snake Demon, letting out
piercing SHRIEKS as it closes on the two girls.
BUFFY
Willow! We need to get out of here,
now!
WILLOW
We can't, I can't exactly meditate
when I'm running!
BUFFY
Isn't there anything else we can
try?
WILLOW
No, we-
Willow trips and falls, and Buffy skids to a halt, doubling
back to pull her to her feet. The Snake Demon SHRIEKS again
as it gets ever closer, and Buffy drags Willow along again as
the girls pick up the pace and keep on running.
Buffy spots a stream running alongside them, and points.
BUFFY
There!
She starts down the slope of the bank that leads into the
stream, splashing across it with Willow close behind.
The Snake Demon spots them and makes a sharp turn, arcing
down the bank after them and splashing into the stream.
Buffy is one step ahead, and with a YELL she leaps into
frame, brandishing the scythe and SLICING it down on the
demon's neck.
The demon SCREECHES in pain and thrashes violently from side
to side, knocking Buffy into the stream and sending the
scythe clattering across some nearby stones.
Willow hurries down the bank and pulls Buffy up as the badly
wounded demon continues to writhe and thrash around in the
water, its blood starting to mix with the stream.
WILLOW
Are you okay?
BUFFY
(winded)
Yeah, fine... That just went kinda
better in my head...
Willow fishes the scythe out of the stream, and she and Buffy
keep moving, circling back towards the village.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Remind me, what happens to my body
if I get hurt while we're up here?
WILLOW
You saw 'The Matrix,' right?
BUFFY
Yeah...
(beat; penny drops)
Oh.
WILLOW
Yeah. So, kinda best to not get
hurt at all.
Buffy nods as the two plough on through the jungle.
9 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM. DAY. 9
Andrew watches Giles, the two of them now seated. Giles is
greedily devouring a thick sandwich.
ANDREW
So, um... Good sandwich?
GILES
(through mouthful)
Mmm, yr. 'Nk oo.
Andrew watches Giles eat for another beat, before taking a
deep breath and preparing his interrogation.
ANDREW
Um, Giles? You seem a bit... Well,
weird. I know you said there wasn't
anything wrong, but, well...
Giles turns to look at Andrew, who GULPS.
ANDREW (cont'd)
You're just not being yourself. Is
there something we should know
about? Uh, m-maybe you-
Xander sighs and steps into frame.
XANDER
What the Boy Wonder here is trying
to ask, big guy, is what's the
deal? You've been acting like you
took too many Vicodin this morning
or something, and to be perfectly
honest, you're freaking us out. So
what's up?
Giles finishes his sandwich, licking his fingers clean before
looking up at Xander.
GILES
Xander, there is honestly
absolutely nothing wrong with me. I
just feel... different. Is that a
bad thing?
XANDER
(stuck for words)
Well, you- I mean, we- or...
(sighs)
I guess not. But you've got to
admit, you're not your usual
buttoned-up self.
(beat; smirks)
Wait a minute, I know what this is
all about!
GILES
You do?
XANDER
You bet I do - something happened
with Marie, didn't it? That's why
you're all high on the happy side
today! Mr. Head Watcher finally got
his groove back...
GILES
Marie? No, no, she and I haven't-
We suddenly take a step back from the action, and get a look
at what's making Giles act the way he is - there are two
GHOSTS standing either side of him, obviously invisible to
Andrew or Xander, both looking like middle-aged men in neat
suits. They seem angry about something.
GHOST #1
Don't say anything else to them!
You idiot, you're going to blow our
cover!
It's bad enough trying to root
through this guy's memory so we
don't make them any more
suspicious, now we're going to-
GHOST #2
Will you shut up and let me deal
with this?
The second Ghost lays a hand on Giles' shoulder, and as he
speaks, Giles speaks the same words.
GHOST #2 (cont'd)
I just woke up this morning...
GILES
(continuing)
... feeling like today was going to
be a good day. That's all. I was
hoping to catch Buffy while I was
here, but as she's not back yet,
I'll move on.
ANDREW
Well, technically, she is here - I
mean, her body is, anyway.
GILES
Excuse me?
ANDREW
Yeah, she and Willow did that
astral projection thing to get into
the Circle, Willow thought it was
the safest way to do it.
GILES
I see...
Giles stands suddenly, grabbing Xander's hand and shaking it.
Xander blinks, confused.
GILES (cont'd)
Well, I've got things to do today.
Best be off. See you all later!
Giles marches over to the door, opens it and leaves the
house. Andrew and Xander glance at each other.
XANDER
Okay, I'm with you. He's possessed.
Go wait for Buffy and Willow to
wake up, and then we're going after
him.
Andrew nods and dashes upstairs, as we cut to:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.