buffy9x14 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[bottom] TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. HILLS - NIGHT 1
Looking down on the distant, shimmering lights of Cleveland,
the typically dreary city actually looks picturesque from way
up here.
As we take in the scene, however, our view is partially
blocked as a figure steps into frame. The figure stands idly
before us, motionless for several seconds, before a familiar
voice eerily croaks out an exclamation.
VOICE (O.S)
If only they knew the plans that I
have in store for them. I wonder if
they, still, would lie peacefully
in their beds.
(beat)
Such chaos looms inside this mind
and it will all be unleashed upon
your peaceful city with the opening
of the gateway.
(laughing)
I doubt that they're even aware of
its location, that they've
witnessed the splendor of that
which will unlock their demise and
it's been there under their very
noses for so long now.
(beat)
Foolish children. A matter of hours
rests between yourselves and
eternity, and you'll never see it
coming.
The figure stays, looking down on the city below, and after a
beat he speaks again.
VOICE (O.S) (cont'd)
(sighs)
And now I'm hungry.
The figure steps out of frame, and we dissolve to:
2 EXT. OUTSIDE POLICE STATION 2
From across the road, we watch a car park up in a desolate
parking lot in front of the police station.
After a few moments, the car door swings open and JACKSON
emerges from driver side with DAN quick to follow on the
other side.
DAN
So your sister just shows up on
Buffy's doorstep? Then what?
JACKSON
(sighs)
She crashes out at my place. She
hasn't left her room for a few days
now except to eat and shower. I'm
just gonna leave her to it. When
she feels like talking to me again,
she will. She's certainly...
He trails off, and Dan raises an eyebrow.
DAN
What?
JACKSON
(evasive)
Different. I think she's seen a lot
more of the world than I realised.
DAN
(chuckles)
Heh, don't say she's become a
religious convert like you! I don't
need anybody else thinking that
demons walk amongst us, or whatever
you guys think!
Jackson glances at Dan - his partner's a lot closer to the
truth than he realises! Dan shrugs and heads towards the
police station, and a relieved Jackson lets the conversation
topic pass.
DAN (cont'd)
'Nother fun filled day in Cuyahoga
County.
JACKSON
Day isn't over yet. We've still got
paperwork to entertain us until the
morning hours.
DAN
(beat)
I should have taken that job offer
with the Browns.
JACKSON
They definitely can't get any
worse.
DAN
Hey! That's my team you're dissing
there, Jacks!
Jackson begins laughing as Dan begins what will most likely
be a mighty rant, and they enter the station and quickly
disappear from sight.
That same familiar figure comes into view once more to
partially block our take of the police station, stepping
fully into the street.
We finally reverse our view find ourselves eye to eye with
JEREKOV!
JEREKOV
Soon. But first, there's an old
score I have to settle.
He grins wickedly, taking a step towards us as we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
3 INT. AIRPORT - MORNING 3
We catch up with, what seems to be, an infinite number of
people hurrying through the heavily flowing airport.
As we take into the flow ourselves, we begin weaving between
the endless bodies, apparently searching for someone.
As we squeeze in between a heavy set woman, clinging for life
to her children, we come up on a familiar back of someone's
head.
XANDER (O.S)
So, Italy... this is like a whole
other country!
We quickly reverse our view to find XANDER and GILES walking
quickly in our direction, staying in with the constant flow
of traffic.
Xander looks round the airport's interior with a sense of
wonder, whereas Giles already looks like this has been a very
long trip indeed.
GILES
That's the general idea.
XANDER
(beat)
Not everyone here speaks Italian,
right? I mean, there's got be the
occasional person that speaks
American.
GILES
English.
XANDER
Huh?
GILES
You mean, 'there's got to be the
occasional person that speaks
English.'
XANDER
No, I mean that I want to converse
with someone who comprehends what
I'm saying when I tell them that I
want some french fries, or that
I've got to go to the bathroom.
Not that I want 'chips' or to go to
the 'charlie'.
Giles only goes as far as to shoot a quick scowl in Xander's
direction.
GILES
(annoyed)
The word you're looking for is
'loo.'
(beat; proudly)
And English, not surprisingly, has
become somewhat of a world
language, save the most outlying
third world countries that lack the
resources for satellite television.
XANDER
(shaking his head)
Look at you.
GILES
What?
XANDER
You couldn't be more smug about
yourself, could you?
(mocking Giles)
Mr. 'I hail from the greatest
country in the land; one that is
responsible for the English
language'. Let us not forget that
if it wasn't for America, that
language would be German and you
would hail from the still recently
re-dubbed 'England, Germany's
bitch' country.
(spotting something)
Ooh, corndogs!
Giles shakes his head as Xander hurries off to a tiny cart
just out of reach from the swarming hive of people.
From Giles' bemused expression, we cut to:
4 INT. CAB 4
Xander is quickly devouring the last of his corndogs as Giles
watches in dismay, looking back down at his watch.
GILES
That's five corndogs you've eaten
in under two minutes!
XANDER
It reminds me of home.
(beat; swallowing)
So where are we supposed to start
looking for this book of Guacamole?
GILES
The book of Garulah, and I'm really
not certain. It's rumored to have
been hidden somewhere within the
city's walls sometime around the
same time frame as the Black
Plague, its location known only by
a select few.
XANDER
The Black Plague... correct me if
I'm wrong, but that was a really
long time ago.
GILES
Well-
XANDER
So in theory, it could be on an
entirely different continent by
now.
GILES
(reluctantly)
It is possible, but according to my
research, it was used in the 1970s,
so the most logical assumption is
that it is still somewhere in the
vicinity.
(beat)
And when did you start theorizing?
XANDER
Oh, since I was about fifteen and
monsters tried day and night to
kill me, my friends, and their
Watchers. I've just picked up some
bigger words along the way to make
it sound more professional, but
it's still just me throwing wild
guesses into the air.
(beat)
So, while you're out looking for
this book...
Xander pulls out a thick set of papers.
XANDER (cont'd)
... I'm going to start working on
this.
GILES
(confused)
A translation?
XANDER
If only. This is Anya's shopping
list.
GILES
(eyes the papers)
Good God!
XANDER
Apparently Italy was one of her
favorite hangouts in her more
'vindictive' days. You wouldn't
believe how hard it was to instill
the small 'third trimester' flying
rule into that woman's head, or she
would have been here with us.
GILES
I didn't enlist your coming along
so you could go shopping! I'm going
to need help in finding this book.
XANDER
You don't even know where to start
looking for it yet! When you get a
rough idea, page me and I'll come
running like a young Flash Gordon.
GILES
We're overseas. Your pager may not
even work here!
XANDER
One step ahead of you.
(reaching in his pocket)
I bought this one at the airport
while you were in the charlie.
GILES
(exasperated)
It's 'loo'!
XANDER
(to the driver)
Could you stop here, please?
GILES
What are you doing?
XANDER
(looking around)
Is this not a shopping district?
GILES
You can't-
XANDER
Giles, I know that it's a big world
out there and you're scared to be
alone, but you're a grown man.
Xander puts his hand on Giles' shoulder.
XANDER (cont'd)
Face your fears.
GILES
But-
The cab door SLAMS SHUT, with Xander holding up his pager and
mouthing the words 'page me.'
Giles sits back in his seat as a loud sigh escapes from his
mouth.
GILES (cont'd)
I should have brought Willow...
The cab drives away, and we cut to:
5 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - LOUNGE - EVENING 5
WILLOW steps lightly in front of us, her face brightened with
a smile, as she deals out orders.
WILLOW
Just a little bit higher.
(beat)
We've got to hurry, people! He's
going to be home soon.
ANYA (O.S)
Why is it, again, that the pregnant
lady who is almost, quite
literally, bursting, the one
standing on a chair, hanging
'Welcome Home' banners?
We quickly swift around to find ANYA standing on a chair with
the aforementioned 'Welcome Home Andrew!' banner held firmly
upon the wall, with MARIE holding up the other side.
Back on Willow, she frowns for a moment before allowing an
answer.
WILLOW
Because you took it from my hands,
and said that you were 'pregnant,
not helpless.'
ANYA
(beat)
Well, I've changed my mind. Come
take this. The baby may well drop
from my uterus with the increased
altitude... which would be fine,
I'd love to get her out, but she
might hit her head when she fell to
the floor, and with all the horror
stories that you hear from people
being dropped upon their heads as
children, my God! That might be all
that it needs to knock the Harris
gene firmly in place!
Willow displays her patented 'someone is talking badly about
Xander in my presence' face as she walks over to relieve Anya
from her duties.
Anya steps down from the chair as Willow takes her end of the
banner, and steps back to begin the task of makeshift
supervisor.
Willow holds the banner up almost as high as she can, looking
back to Anya for confirmation, to which Anya only seems to be
staring off into the distance, but before Willow can ask,
BUFFY enters the room, walking directly underneath the banner
in progress.
BUFFY
How goes things on the decorations
front?
ANYA
Do you think that Xander was
dropped on his head as a child?
BUFFY
(beat; shrugs)
Could explain some things.
WILLOW
(offended)
Hey! Xander is out risking his life
for us, and you're debating on
whether or not he experienced head
trauma as a child?
BUFFY
It sounds so bad when you say it
that way.
WILLOW
(seemingly angry)
That's because it is bad!
(coyly)
Is this straight?
BUFFY
As an arrow.
(beat)
Though, not the arrow that I shot
at that demon the other night - you
know, the one in the-
Willow's blank stare forces Buffy to stop.
BUFFY (cont'd)
(sheepishly)
It's straight.
Willow and Marie both pin their respective ends to the wall
and step down from their chairs.
MARIE
(playfully)
Thank goodness. I thought my arm
might dislodge from its socket if I
held it in that position any
longer!
(beat)
You girls should cherish your youth
while you have it. Before you know
it, you'll be an old bat like me
who gets winded merely by hanging
signs.
WILLOW
Don't be so cynical, Marie. You're
a very attractive woman.
ANYA
And you're definitely not a bat. If
I saw you as any winged animal, it
would be a pigeon.
Anya receives confused stares all around.
ANYA (cont'd)
You know, pigeons. Not that Marie
poops a lot, but how they have
nicely curved bodies and... you
need to stay away from me, Willow.
Your deviant ways are starting to
take their toll on my sexuality!
WILLOW
(beat; apathetically)
I don't think it's contagious.
BUFFY
(interrupting)
All lesbianism aside, is everything
else ready?
WILLOW
Let's see. Cake, ice cream, new
'Lord of the Rings' box set. He
won't want to leave the house for
days! Okay, well he really
couldn't, even if he wanted to,
with the whole recovering from a
near death experience thing, but
it's nice to know that he'll be
comfortable.
ANYA
I still feel kind of bad.
BUFFY
Anya, what happened to Andrew isn't
your fault. We've been over this.
ANYA
Well, this is the second time that
the little thing has saved my life.
It's like he's my guardian angel.
Granted, an ill conceived and oddly
shaped guardian angel, but he fits
the bill nonetheless.
(thinking)
Though I did save his life in
Sunnydale.
(upbeat)
Screw it, we're even.
BUFFY
(beat)
So, who's supposed to be picking
him up, anyway?
Everyone stops and stares at Buffy, leaving her to look
curiously back at them until she realizes what's going on.
BUFFY (cont'd)
('oh')
I think I'll just be going to do
that then.
WILLOW
Buffy-
BUFFY
I know what you're thinking and it
didn't slip my mind!
I was just trying to make sure that
everything was...
(pouting)
... I'm a bad person, aren't I?
Without waiting for a possible confirmation, Buffy grabs her
coat and heads for the door before we cut to:
6 INT. LIBRARY - MORNING 6
Giles is wondering through a shelled out library. A few books
are lying on vacant shelves here and there, but for the most
part, nothing. Tables lie turned over in the midst of a vast
open area and appear as though they've been like so for some
time.
As he walks through the remnants, Giles is startled when a
voice rings out, nearly falling backwards into an empty
shelf.
VOICE (O.S)
If it is answers that you seek, you
should consider searching
elsewhere.
Giles whips around to see a well dressed MAN standing easily
across the large room from him. Shaggy, dark hair hangs out
from underneath a concealing hat.
His posture suggests a great deal of arrogance as he leans
unusually to one side and smiles back at Giles.
MAN
Contrary to popular belief, the
world's knowledge lies within the
world, not within the pages of its
books. And certainly not within an
abandoned library.
GILES
This library was flourishing the
last time that I was here, one of
the finest in Italy.
MAN
Quite so, but that was nearly ten
years ago. Many an event has
befallen this city in the moons
since you've taken a breath within
its walls.
Giles stares back in disbelief.
GILES
How did you know that?
MAN
(confidently)
It's what I do.
GILES
(suspicious)
Who are you?
MAN
You must forgive me.
Giles tenses up as the man walks across the dust laden floors
of the building.
MAN (cont'd)
I have somewhat of a taste for
dramatic entrances. I am the
Immortal.
He raises his head and we get a look at his face at last -
roughishly handsome, with a neatly trimmed beard and tanned
skin.
GILES
The Immortal?
He nods. Giles double takes.
GILES (cont'd)
(in disbelief)
Wait, the Immortal?
IMMORTAL
Indeed.
GILES
(still in disbelief)
The Immortal who has been around in
one form or another since the dawn
of mankind?
IMMORTAL
Hence the immortality implications
that accompany the name, Mr. Giles.
GILES
(surprised)
And... you know my name.
IMMORTAL
As I stated before, it is what I
do. My apologies if it unsettles
you, which I see it does.
GILES
(beat)
How do I know that you're really
the Immortal, as you claim you are,
and not a common thief who somehow
got their hands upon my personal
information?
IMMORTAL
Would you rather argue sincerity,
or find the Book of Garulah, which
you seek?
GILES
(confused)
How did you-
IMMORTAL
It's a dreadful side effect of the
aforementioned immortality. I'm
allowed inside a person's mind
whether I wish it or not, I'm
afraid.
GILES
Then you know where I can find the
book?
IMMORTAL
I do.
GILES
Are you willing to tell me where?
IMMORTAL
(beat)
I can sense that you are well
intentioned even without allowing
myself passage within your mind. I
shall provide you with assistance
in any form that I may.
GILES
(still skeptical)
Any help is much appreciated, but-
IMMORTAL
Excellent. Now that we've gotten
the formalities behind us, we can
retrieve your book.
The Immortal begins to walk quickly from the building and
toward the door.
Giles hurries along behind him and stops short as he ventures
the question:
GILES
Do we have time to make a call?
Off of Giles' hopeful expression, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
7 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - EVENING 7
The front door slowly swings open to reveal a crutched ANDREW
hobbling uneasily through the doorway.
Before he can even look up a collective 'SURPRISE!!' rings
out as though it was a birthday party, nearly sending him
back onto the floor until Buffy catches him.
BUFFY
(to Andrew)
You okay?
She helps him back on his crutches and then looks back to
everyone else.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I think we could have done without
the collective screaming at the
hobbling wonder!
ANDREW
Hey!
BUFFY
Sorry... reflex.
ANDREW
(to everyone)
No, it's great! I didn't even think
you guys realized that I was gone.
(quickly)
Is there cake?
WILLOW
Damn right there is!
Everyone stops and looks at Willow for a moment - did Willow
just curse?
WILLOW (cont'd)
(innocently)
What? I'm just a little excited.
That's all.
BUFFY
(cheerfully)
And rightfully so, Will. We've
gotten back one of our own.
ANDREW
Ah, you guys. I don't know what to
say.
(beat)
Except, could you move out of the
way? My legs are still feeling
weak, and all this standing is
making me kind of dizzy.
WILLOW
Oh, sorry.
Everyone realizes that they're in the way and quickly begin
shuffling out of the way, allowing Andrew to make his way
toward the lounge.
Willow smiles gleefully and waves as he passes, with everyone
else giving their hellos.
MARIE
Welcome back, Andrew.
ANDREW
Uh, thanks, but I really need to
tell you guys about this dream I
had, because I think I figured-
ANYA
(interrupts)
I'm happy that you're not dead!
Anya goes in and hugs Andrew, awkwardly, his crutches and her
stomach.
JEREKOV (O.S)
Give it time. I've only just
arrived.
Everyone quickly whips around to wide open door to see a
confident Jerekov standing in the doorway.
Buffy sees him and quickly turns back to the others.
BUFFY
(arrogantly)
Oh look, it's the guy whose ass we
kicked back into another dimension!
She turns back around to stare at him with a cocky tilt of
the head.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Let me guess, you're a masochist.
Can't get enough of the pain,
right?
Jerekov stands defiantly, staring back at her with a small
smile on his face.
BUFFY (cont'd)
(shrugs)
At least you came to the right
place.
With that, Buffy swings around with a heavy BACKHAND that
does little to effect him.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Oh wait, that was a different guy.
(turns back to the others)
Is this the demon or the warlock?
(to Jerekov)
There are just so many of you evil,
dark overlord types that we come
across and after a while you all
just do kind of a blendy thing.
JEREKOV
(smirks)
Your arrogance, I find amusing.
Your powers, I find lacking and
your witch, I find useless.
WILLOW
Hey, mister! I'll have you know
that I'm the one that-
Before Willow can finish her sentence, a familiar red light
FLASHES forth from Jerekov's palm and hits Willow.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(beat; worried)
...is useless!
Willow looks down at her hands, knowing what's wrong straight
away. She throws a worried look at Buffy.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Buffy, my powers!
BUFFY
What-
Jerekov picks her up by the throat.
JEREKOV
It's very tempting to kill you now,
only then you wouldn't be around to
witness the death of your friends,
and that...
(grins)
That would take the fun out of it
all.
The smile on his face quickly disappears, and with a FLARE of
green light, Jerekov DISAPPEARS, dropping Buffy to her feet
as she gasps for air.
As Buffy raises her head back up from a deep gasp, Jerekov is
gone, and Marie breathes a sigh of relief, closing a spell
book.
MARIE
Are you okay? I didn't think I'd
get that incantation out in time!
BUFFY
(rubbing her throat)
Of course. Not the first time I've
been strangled.
(beat)
And how creepy did that come out?
MARIE
That spell should have sent him a
few miles away, we're safe for the
time being.
Buffy stands and hurries to Willow.
BUFFY
Will, are you okay?
ANYA
This is just great! You know, back
in the old days, when a demon was
vanquished, that meant that it was
vanquished in the sense that it's
not coming back!
(thinking)
I really miss those days.
ANDREW
I thought he was a warlock?
WILLOW
He is. Jerekov? Come on, guys, it
was just last year that Buffy stuck
the scythe in his back.
BUFFY
(realizing)
And it didn't kill him... he tried
to get Xander's soul! Why didn't I
remember that?
(beat; confused)
How did he get out?
WILLOW
How did he take my powers would be
the more pertinent question.
ANYA
Are you sure they're gone? Have you
tried them?
WILLOW
I don't have to try them. I can
feel them... or the lack of them,
anyway.
BUFFY
Gone for good?
WILLOW
(worried)
I don't know. I don't think so. I
still feel kind of tingly.
BUFFY
Okay, you figure that out, I'll
call Jackson and try to track
Jerekov down, but, Will... hurry.
If this goes down anything like
last time, we're probably going to
need some major portalage.
Willow nods as Buffy reaches for her phone.
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