buffy9x21
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. CLEVELAND PD - BASEMENT ROOM. NIGHT. 1
We're staring at the newly unearthed Cleveland Hellmouth, its
silver seal wide open, and the dark hole beyond leading into
a long tunnel, from which we can hear crowds of distant,
shouting voices and see flickering torch lights.
Pull back to take in JEREKOV, the warlock's long, grey hair
swaying slightly from some unseen breeze.
Alongside him is IRWIN KANE, the sharp-suited businessman's
clean cut appearance a stark contrast to the bristly beard
and rugged looks of Jerekov.
Kane is staring to the right, as we see four DEMONS busily
packing the dead body of Irwin's wife, Catherine, into a body
bag.
As one of the demons tries to shove her arm into the bag,
Kane snaps and marches over to them.
KANE
(furious)
Show some respect, god damn you!
That's my wife you clueless insects
are manhandling!
The demons exchange looks, then bow their heads and get back
to work - they're obviously a little scared of Kane, and make
sure that they take a lot more care about packing Catherine's
body away.
Kane steps back over to Jerekov, his face a mess of
conflicting emotions as he tries to restore his focus.
Jerekov glances across at him, looking Kane up and down.
JEREKOV
Are you doubting your actions?
KANE
(quickly)
Of course not. I did what had to be
done.
JEREKOV
(testing)
Still, to murder one's own wife,
all in the name of power, that must
take-
KANE
(interrupts)
You have one second to stop
talking.
Kane and Jerekov stare each other out for a few tense
moments, before Jerekov turns his attention back to the
Hellmouth before him.
JEREKOV
It is time for the next action. By
unlocking the magical barrier in
place over the entrance, we will be
able to summon forth the armies we
desire, and overrun this city, so
that we-
KANE
(irritated)
Why are you outlining my own plan
to me, exactly? I know what we're
doing, Jerekov, this is all what I
told you!
Jerekov pauses, suddenly unsure of himself.
JEREKOV
Er... force of habit. My apologies.
KANE
Just get on with it, before I
change my mind about keeping you
around.
Jerekov raises his hands, holding them out over the Hellmouth
entrance as we cut to:
2 INT. THE CIRCLE - TRINKETS' WORKSHOP. DAY. 2
Up in the large, cluttered workshop that TRINKETS calls his
home, the eldest member of the Circle sits on one level of
his huge game board, the chess-like array of squares and
small, detailed figurines spreading out all around him.
His focus is on a cluster of models around a small, black
half-sphere of dark energy, pulsating as though it were
alive, and he watches with rapt interest as we cut back down
to:
3 INT. CLEVELAND PD - BASEMENT ROOM. NIGHT. 3
Jerekov begins his spell.
JEREKOV
Scattered tribes of Magyar, hear my
entreaty for your power!
Infuse me with the strength I need
for my task, so that I may break
this great seal, and bring about
the beginning of the end for the
world of man!
A beat. Nothing happens. Jerekov opens on eye and glances
down at the Hellmouth, before looking at both of his hands,
confused.
KANE
What is it?
JEREKOV
My... my powers! They're gone!
KANE
What?!?
JEREKOV
Earlier, when I felt... I felt as
though something had suddenly
affected my magic, but I dismissed
it, it didn't feel as though
anything had actually happened, but
now...
Kane folds his arms, narrowing his eyes at Jerekov.
KANE
What are you saying to me?
JEREKOV
I'm saying that my magic has
deserted me! I... I cannot break
the seal!
We quickly cut from Jerekov's panicked expression to:
4 INT. THE CIRCLE - TRINKETS' WORKSHOP. DAY. 4
Trinkets glances down at the broken figurine next to him -
the one he snapped in two previously.
He bites his lip as he realises he may have just thrown a
rather large spanner in the works.
TRINKETS
Oops...
We cut back down to:
5 INT. CLEVELAND PD - BASEMENT ROOM. NIGHT. 5
Jerekov holds his hands out again, but it's clear that he's
not going to be able to open the Hellmouth.
KANE
I hope you're not telling me that
you can't get the barrier around
the Hellmouth down, because that
would make me very unhappy...
JEREKOV
I do not know what has happened! It
is as if-
KANE
Jerekov, don't worry. I have
another plan.
JEREKOV
(hopefully)
You do?
Kane nods and grins - then, in one smooth motion, he draws a
handgun from his jacket and SHOOTS Jerekov in the chest.
Jerekov GULPS and drops the floor, and Kane puts three more
bullets in him, just to be sure, before turning to the
demons, staring on at him.
KANE
Take care of him. After that, you
have a new mission.
We push in close on Kane's darkening expression.
KANE (cont'd)
Find me another magician.
And from that, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
6 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BUFFY'S ROOM. NIGHT. 6
BUFFY is lying on her bed, curled up tightly, her eyes wet
with tears. The lights are all out, but even in the gloom we
can see that she's still wide awake.
The bedroom door creaks open a little to reveal XANDER,
checking in on her.
XANDER
Hey. Just thought you ought to
know, Angel and Spike are on their
way back now. He said he'll keep
looking for some way to help as
soon as he gets to LA, and he'll
call if he finds anything.
No response. Xander hangs in the doorway for a beat, before
biting the bullet and stepping into the room. He takes a seat
at the edge of Buffy's bed, looking down on her.
She hasn't acknowledged his presence yet, her eyes staring
blankly up at the ceiling.
XANDER (cont'd)
Angel told me what happened, with
you and the Keeper, and...
(sighs)
Okay, I'll skip the unnecessary
recap. Are you okay?
Buffy closes her eyes and shakes her head, still obviously
close to tears.
As she starts to SNIFF, Xander reaches out and takes her
hands, giving them a squeeze.
XANDER (cont'd)
Come on, Buff. You did what you
thought was right. The guy duped
you, don't let it slow you down.
There'll be another way to help
Jackson.
BUFFY
(quietly)
How?
XANDER
Sorry?
Buffy sits upright, hugging a cushion tightly for some kind
of comfort.
BUFFY
How? How am I going to save him?
What if the Keeper was telling the
truth, but he just left without
giving me the cure for whatever's
killing Jackson?
XANDER
You don't know it's killing him. I
mean, we know he's sick, but-
BUFFY
He's going to die, Xander. I know
it. This is all something to do
with being the 'Guardian,' or
whatever he is, and all I know for
sure is that when it's over,
Jackson's going to be dead.
Xander doesn't have an answer for her, but he stays seated,
still holding her hand.
XANDER
Just because of that dream? You
know how those things work. What
you saw doesn't always translate
literally.
BUFFY
Doesn't matter.
She lies back down again, facing away from Xander.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I still don't know what to do...
Xander instinctively lies next to her on the bed, throwing an
arm round her and holding her tightly. We cut from this
downstairs to:
7 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - FRONT ROOM. NIGHT. 7
SOFIA and ANDREW are on the sofa, Sofia idly flicking through
the TV channels as Andrew munches through a bowl of popcorn,
occasionally casting sideways glances at Sofia.
Eventually, she stops, throwing the remote down and turning
to look at Andrew.
SOFIA
Alright, what is it?
ANDREW
(blinks)
Huh?
SOFIA
Andrew, ever since I sat down,
you've been looking my way every
few seconds like I'm some sort of
new 'Doctor Who' monster! Is there
something the matter? Something you
want to ask me?
ANDREW
Uh, no, I just...
(beat; sighs)
Actually, um, yeah.
Sofia grabs the remote again to flick the TV off, turning to
give Andrew her full attention.
SOFIA
Alright, then, let's hear it.
Andrew puts the popcorn down, gearing himself up.
ANDREW
Okay, um, it's just that I heard
you and Xander talking yesterday,
and you said some stuff that I was,
uh, curious about.
SOFIA
Such as what?
ANDREW
Well, you, uh, mentioned that your
favourite 'Evil Dead' movie was
'Army Of Darkness,' and I just
wanted to, er, ask... why?
Sofia eyes Andrew for a second, then cracks into a grin.
SOFIA
Andrew, could I by any chance be
the first girl you've met who likes
horror movies?
ANDREW
Oh, no, Anya likes-
(stops himself)
Anya liked horror movies. But she
wasn't, um, really a girl, you
know, because she was kind of
older, so...
Andrew trails off, and Sofia rolls her eyes and smiles.
SOFIA
Point taken. Okay. I prefer 'Army
Of Darkness' simply because I think
it gets the balance right out of
the three. The camp humour is still
there, Ash's journey into a true
hero, albeit a reluctant one, is
complete, and notwithstanding the
increased budgets and special
effects, it also has the best
storyline of the three. Oh, and the
advantage of the two endings,
although I did prefer the original
theatrical one, just because it has
some of the best lines in the film.
Does that answer your question?
Andrew's jaw hangs open - he's quite obviously never met a
girl who could hold down a conversation about zombie movies
before!
ANDREW
I- uh- you- but-
SOFIA
(sweetly)
Of course, I'm just a girl, so
couldn't possibly know anything
about all those sorts of horrible
movies, now, could I?
As Andrew flounders, trying to gather his wits, Sofia
switches the TV back on, and registers with a happy smile
what's playing.
SOFIA (cont'd)
Oh, look! 'Critters 3'! My personal
favourite of the whole series, if
you ask me.
She glances at Andrew, then reaches down and grabs the
popcorn bowl, starting to munch her way through it as we cut
over to:
8 EXT. CLEVELAND PD. NIGHT. 8
We're looking at the front of the police station from the
other side of the car park, as a side door opens and Kane's
four demons march out, two carrying the body bag for
Catherine and a third with Jerekov's body thrown over his
shoulder.
Kane follows the demons out as they head towards a plain
black van, the fourth demon opening the doors so his
colleagues can store the bodies inside.
We pull back from our distant view of the scene to take in
MAX and MARIE, both pressed low to the ground and observing
Kane from behind the cover of a row of bushes.
MARIE
That's Irwin Kane, isn't it?
MAX
In the flesh.
MARIE
But what is he doing here?
Unless...
Marie turns to Max, a look of horror on her face.
MARIE (cont'd)
He is involved in this plan with
the Hellmouth! I knew it!
MAX
It doesn't look like he had much
luck this time, though, if those
two bodies are anything to go by.
The two Watchers keep up the observation as Kane hops into
the van, the last demon sliding the side doors closed as the
van pulls away, quickly disappearing out of frame.
Max sits up, looking thoughtful as Marie pushes herself
upright, confusion all over her expression.
MARIE
How did you know about this?
MAX
I've only recently found out.
It's... complicated.
MARIE
But, Max, I don't understand! Why
haven't you told Giles? Or Buffy?
This is what they've been looking
for! We know that this is where the
Hellmouth is, and if Kane's here
too, then it all adds up, doesn't
it?
MAX
Not fully. I'm still trying to put
all the pieces together.
MARIE
I'm sorry, but I still don't know
why you haven't said anything
before now.
MAX
I told you, I didn't know. I was
only told...
Max trails off, glancing over each shoulder to make sure
nobody's around.
MAX (cont'd)
Come on, we shouldn't talk here.
I'll find somewhere quieter.
MARIE
Somewhere quieter for what?
Max is already on his feet, heading back towards his car as
Marie gets up and starts to follow.
MARIE (cont'd)
Max! Wait!
As she hurries after him, we cut to:
9 INT. THE CIRCLE - 'THE CAGE.' DAY. 9
We're down inside the dungeon level of the Circle's village,
and as we walk along the rows of empty cells we come to one
occupied by the tired-looking form of WILLOW, who looks like
she hasn't slept in days.
She's lying down on the single, threadbare mattress in the
small cell she's being kept in, staring up at the ceiling.
Footsteps echoing outside make her look up, and without
seeing who's approaching, the barred door to her cell
suddenly swings open.
Willow sits up as Trinkets walks in, a guilty expression on
his face.
TRINKETS
Um, Teach?
WILLOW
I don't think it's really okay for
you to call me that any more, is
it?
TRINKETS
(pouts)
Okay, fine, Willow, then.
Trinkets pauses, searching for the right words, and Willow
stands, looking down on him.
WILLOW
What is it?
TRINKETS
I need your help.
WILLOW
(scoffs)
My 'help'? You lock me down here
when I find out the truth about you
guys, tell me you're going to kill
me if I don't do what you say - and
now you come and ask for my help?
Forget it!
Willow marches across to the other side of the cell - which,
admittedly, only takes her about four steps.
WILLOW (cont'd)
I just want to go home.
TRINKETS
If you help me, maybe you can.
She turns to him, a fierce look in her eyes.
WILLOW
Don't play games with me, Trinkets.
TRINKETS
(protesting)
I'm not! I'm asking you to help me
with something, and after that, I
might give you what you want. What
do you want?
WILLOW
I want to go home and see my
friends, I want to know that Xander
and his baby are okay, and most of
all, I never want to see you or
this place ever again.
There's a beat as Willow glares down at Trinkets - but her
cold look just bounces right off him, as he shrugs and pushes
his glasses back up his nose with a dirty finger.
TRINKETS
That's asking a bit much.
Willow turns round, looking out through the one, tiny window
in the cell's wall.
WILLOW
Then forget it.
TRINKETS
(sighs)
Something's gone wrong. On Earth.
Willow waits for a beat - then closes her eyes. She knows
that her best chance of getting out of here lies in helping
the Circle for now, so she slowly turns back round.
WILLOW
What's happened?
TRINKETS
It's the Hellmouth. I wanted to
help them open it, because I
thought it'd be-
WILLOW
(interrupts; sarcastic)
Let me guess - 'fun'?
TRINKETS
(grins)
Yeah. So, anyway, I think I made a
bit of a mistake, and now I need
your help to fix it.
WILLOW
(suspicious)
What did you do?
TRINKETS
Took power away from someone when
they needed it. They're dead now.
WILLOW
You didn't...
TRINKETS
Oh, no, someone else killed them.
But I wanted to see what he was
going to do, so I wanted you to
help me find somebody else who
could do what he was going to do,
and, you know... help them.
WILLOW
Help them open the Hellmouth? No
way! I'm not putting all my friends
in danger for you.
TRINKETS
(beat)
Okay.
Trinkets turns round and starts to pull the cell door closed,
and Willow suddenly panics, stepping away from the wall and
raising her hand to get Trinkets' attention.
WILLOW
Wait!
Trinkets pauses, looking up through the bars at her. Willow
closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Alright. I'll help you.
Trinkets smiles, and pushes the cell door open again.
TRINKETS
Great! Come on, follow me. And
don't try to run away, you know
I'll find you.
He hurries away, and as Willow cautiously steps out of the
cell, we cut back to:
10 INT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE - BUFFY'S ROOM. NIGHT. 10
Buffy is sat up in bed now, the lamp on as she sips a mug of
coffee. Xander reappears in the doorway, grinning as he sees
that she's up and about.
XANDER
That's better. Coffee okay?
BUFFY
Perfect. How's Hope?
XANDER
Sleeping. Again. I thought babies
were meant to divide their time
between four basic activities, you
know, sleeping, eating, crying and
pooping, but all she's done is
sleep, eat and poop. I don't think
she's cried since...
(trails off; beat)
Since she was born.
Buffy nods, giving Xander a warm, comforting smile.
BUFFY
That means she's happy.
XANDER
It does?
BUFFY
Yeah, babies cry when they want
something, so I guess if she hasn't
been crying, then she hasn't been
left wanting anything! That must
mean you're doing everything right.
XANDER
You think so?
BUFFY
Well, either that, or she's saving
all the crying up for later.
Xander manages a chuckle, and turns as he hears someone
coming up the stairs. He looks back in on Buffy.
XANDER
Someone's here to see you.
BUFFY
Who is it?
Xander steps aside to let GILES into the room, and Xander
leaves the two of them to it with a wave to Buffy.
XANDER
Catch you guys downstairs in a
minute. Andrew and Sofia are
bonding over horror movies, so
while Hope's asleep I'm gonna try
and join in.
Xander exits, and Giles closes the door, taking Xander's
place at the foot of the bed. He looks at Buffy for a long
beat, but as he opens his mouth to speak, she cuts him off.
BUFFY
I swear to God, Giles, if you say
'how are you?' I'm gonna scream.
GILES
(grins)
I take it you've heard that a lot?
BUFFY
On average? Every thirty seconds
since Angel left.
GILES
May I ask you anyway? I don't
believe I've had chance yet.
BUFFY
I guess. Just this once, though.
GILES
How are you?
BUFFY
Feeling better. Whatever the Keeper
did to me, it didn't leave any
permanent scars or anything.
Angel said that when he did the
same thing to Skye, he just coped
her powers instead of stealing
them, so I guess that's what he did
to me.
GILES
Why on Earth did you trust him?
Buffy sips her coffee, choosing her words before replying.
BUFFY
Haven't you ever made a choice,
even when you knew it was a bad
one, just because it was the only
one you had?
GILES
I really can't say. Perhaps.
BUFFY
Somebody once told me 'if I make a
choice, I can't regret it. After
all, it was a choice.'
Giles nods, appreciating the logic.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Giles, I don't know if I'm meant to
stop whatever's happening to
Jackson or not, but I can't shake
the feeling that I'm going to lose
him if I just sit here and do
nothing. Maybe I'm supposed to help
him? What if he's stuck halfway
between here and where he's meant
to be?
GILES
I have my researchers back at the
Council looking into this night and
day, Buffy. Some of the best minds
in the world are trying to give you
an answer to that question.
BUFFY
What if it's not enough?
GILES
(smiles)
Then we'll try harder.
Buffy allows herself to take a little comfort from his words,
placing the now empty mug of coffee on her bedside table as
Giles stands.
GILES (cont'd)
Let's head downstairs, I have some
good news at last.
BUFFY
What is it?
GILES
You'll have to come down and find
out, won't you!
He opens the door and waits as Buffy stands, and the duo exit
the room as we cut downstairs to:
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