f4x07
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. PALACE - COURTYARD - DAY 1
CLOSE UP on a pair of weeping human eyes, staring blankly
back at us. They blink and tears fall; the only sound heard
is quiet sobbing.
VOICE (V.O.)
Bring them forth.
CLOSE UP on a pair of demonic eyes, staring coldly back. They
blink. All is silent for a few long moments.
Slowly, PAN OUT to reveal that the eyes belong to none other
than AKU, who sits proudly on an elaborate wooden throne. Two
Geisha-like DEMON WOMEN sit on the floor by his side.
PAN ACROSS the courtyard to take in the view of this world -
the courtyard resembles a Buddhist temple, the sky above is a
shimmering blue and purple.
Finally, SOUND kicks in, as dozens of HUMANS and DEMONS ROAR
and CHEER. Aku nods his head appreciatively at their
applause. He is clearly in his element; here, he's
practically worshipped.
Aku smiles cruelly as two disheveled and chained PRISONERS
are pulled before him by burly warrior demons.
He rises slowly to his feet as the first man is dragged to
the foot of his throne.
This is the weeping MAN, who is barely able to control
himself. He looks up at Aku in an attempt at defiance.
AKU
(subtitled)
The prisoner doesn't reply, and with a smirk Aku draws a
katana from his robes, swiftly DECAPITATING him!
The crowd CHEERS louder as the unfortunate man's head bounces
away and his body slumps lifelessly to the floor.
AKU (cont'd)
(to crowd)
Aku nods his head once more as the next prisoner is dragged
forward.
CLOSE UP on a pair of steely, truly defiant human eyes.
PAN OUT as the second prisoner lifts his head to look at Aku.
It's KINCAID!
Not at all worried about his defiance, but not exactly
impressed by it either, Aku looks back at Kincaid with a dark
glint in his eyes.
AKU (cont'd)
Aku lifts his sword, and with a whistle of air he slices it
through the air -
SMASH CUT TO:
2 INT. ASYLUM - KITCHEN - DAY 2
THUD!
CLOSE UP on a KNIFE cutting through a tomato, staining a
chopping board in its juice.
PAN OUT as RACHEL removes the knife, placing the chopped
tomato into a sandwich.
Bopping along to the radio, this appears to be a very normal
day as Rachel lifts the completed sandwich and takes a good
bite out of it.
RACHEL
Mmm... sandwich.
She takes another bite - then starts as though hearing
something.
Frowning, she puts the sandwich down as her PHONE starts to
vibrate on the counter top.
She scoops the phone up, checks the caller ID and grins,
answering:
RACHEL (cont'd)
Can't a girl eat a healthy snack in
peace?
She chuckles at the response.
RACHEL (cont'd)
(dry)
And you know my mouth is watering
just thinking about it.
(beat)
Uh huh. Okay. Bye.
Hanging up, Rachel sighs and turns to her half-eaten
sandwich.
RACHEL (cont'd)
Sorry, Tom. Girl's gotta have her
priorities.
And with that, she throws the sandwich into a nearby bin.
FOLLOW its descent into the never-ending blackness of the
garbage bag, forcing us to:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
3 INT. OLD ASYLUM - GATEWAY ROOM - DAY 3
PRYOR, FAITH, VI, JERRY, NOA, RUTH and the disembodied DAWN
are stood around the Gateway, all attention on Dawn as she
brings up a visual of Aku's world.
Displayed on a floating panel of light, it shifts from
landscape to landscape, shooting over miles of terrain.
They all look up as Rachel comes down the stairs towards
them.
NOA
Hey, glad you could join us.
RACHEL
(shrugs)
Sorry. I was battling a demon of my
own. So what's up?
DAWN
Right. So, as I was saying, I've
been keeping track of Mr. Seppuku
here, keeping an eye on what he's
up to.
The visual changes to one of Aku, shouting orders at his
MYSTICS.
DAWN (cont'd)
From what I can gather, Aku has
been searching far and wide,
gathering warrior demons from all
over his world.
Pryor steps up, examining the screen.
PRYOR
He's building an army.
JERRY
You think he's going to try and
invade?
DAWN
Like the Nazi's could never have
dreamed of.
NOA
Great. Because, you know, it's been
a while since that last happened to
us. We're getting out of practise.
FAITH
But they can't get through, right?
I mean, isn't that part of what
Dawn can do now?
DAWN
Not yet. But these mystic guys know
what they're doing. It won't be
long until they figure out how to
break through.
(beat)
I've already felt them probing the
Gateway's defences.
JERRY
(smirks)
As long as that's all they're
probing.
Even in her disembodied state, Dawn blushes at this. Pryor
however, shoots Jerry a dark look.
VI
So these mystics break through, Aku
and his warriors get a vacation,
and we all die horrible and bloody
deaths.
(beat)
Did I miss anything?
Pryor watches as Dawn wipes the view over several large troop
formations.
PRYOR
The sheer number of demons Aku is
gathering. This goes far beyond us
fighting a small advance force -
there must be hundreds of these
creatures already.
DAWN
If these guys get through, they're
not going to stop at us. The entire
city could be overrun in hours.
RACHEL
So what do we do?
FAITH
We kill the hell out of them before
they can kill the hell out of us.
VI
See, I prefer my plans to have a
little more detail...
FAITH
We open the Gateway, go to Aku's
world and remind him that he
doesn't have a ticket to this one.
PRYOR
I'm inclined to agree with Faith.
Aku hasn't finished gathering his
forces yet. We have a much better
chance of stopping something ugly
if we act now.
RUTH
Now?
PRYOR
We're going tonight.
A long, tense beat.
FAITH
Cool. We'd better get psyched up
then, huh?
The meeting apparently over, Faith heads for the exit, with
the others not far behind.
VI
Faith, wait.
Turning back, the older Slayer looks cautiously at the
redhead, the tension still obvious between them.
VI (cont'd)
Dawn's found something you might be
interested in.
Frowning curiously, Faith follows her over to the Gateway
where Dawn is waiting for them.
FAITH
What's up?
DAWN
You.
FAITH
(beat)
Is this going to involve a couch
and ink blots? 'Cause I really -
VI
She's figured out how to transfer
the tattoo back to you.
Vi holds up her arm, showing Faith the WARDEN TATTOO.
FAITH
Are you kidding?
DAWN
It's actually just a simple
transference of energy from Vi,
into the Gateway, and back to you.
(beat)
Which is cool, 'cause, you know,
tattoo removal? Expensive.
FAITH
So how does it work?
VI
Watch.
Vi lays a hand on the left side of the Gateway, and Dawn
motions for Faith to do the same on the right side.
Once both Slayers are position, Dawn shakes out her hands and
CRACKS her knuckles.
DAWN
Okay, baby, give it to me.
FAITH
(raises eyebrow)
Would you prefer it if we left?
DAWN
(dryly)
Smart mouth, Slayer, keep it shut.
Faith grins, as Dawn begins to GLOW ethereally.
DAWN (cont'd)
You know, I don't have to be doing
this. I could just keep getting
Rachel to order pizza and try to
figure out how the hell to eat
it...
(beat)
Oh.
Suddenly, streams of ENERGY are flying everywhere as Dawn
rises several feet off the ground!
The tattoo on Vi's arm GLOWS, and the Gateway joins in the
glowing game as the tattoo DISSIPATES!
VI
(grimacing)
Ow... ow... ow! Dawn?
DAWN
Hang on... sorry...
Faith's eyes widen in surprise, and she looks down at her own
arm as the tattoo APPEARS there, as if being drawn on by
invisible hands.
Faith winces - the tattoo is literally burning back onto her
skin - but within moments, it's all over.
A beat. Faith holds up her forearm, examining the tattoo -
it's like it never left.
FAITH
Damn, girl, gotta hand it to you...
Faith grins and looks across to where Vi was stood - but
she's no longer there.
FAITH (cont'd)
Vi?
Dawn looks up to the stairs, just in time to catch a sight of
Vi's heels as the junior Slayer disappears.
DAWN
Huh. You'd think she'd be happy.
Or, at least, she'd stay to say
'gee, thanks Dawn.' You think she's
pissed?
FAITH
That's pretty much all she is these
days.
Faith exhales wearily, looking over the tattoo as we CUT TO:
4 INT. ASYLUM - VI'S ROOM - NEXT 4
Vi is sat on her bed, looking out the window, and the redhead
looks extremely put out by something. She pulls a stake out
of her jacket and sighs at it.
FAITH (O.S.)
Hey.
Vi looks up as Faith enters, and quickly turns her eyes back
to the window.
VI
Hey.
FAITH
You okay?
VI
(sarcastic)
Five by five.
FAITH
(frowns)
Look, am I missing something here?
I thought you didn't want the
tattoo? You hated being in charge
of that thing.
VI
Yeah, I did. What's your point?
FAITH
You're pissed -
VI
(cuts her off)
I don't give a crap about the
tattoo Faith, that's not why I'm
pissed off.
FAITH
Then we're gonna have to have a
heart to heart, because I ain't
cracking out the telepathy for no
one.
VI
Faith, just... please, just get
out. I need to... I need to walk,
clear my head.
Faith is stumped by this turn in the conversation, and shakes
her head.
FAITH
Whatever.
Faith makes a hasty exit, leaving Vi to simmer in her own
anger as we CUT TO:
5 INT. ASYLUM - HALLWAY - NEXT 5
Free from the meeting, Jerry heads up a hallway, not noticing
as Pryor follows, looking mightily pissed off.
PRYOR
And what was that meant to be,
Jerry?
Surprised, Jerry stops walking and turns to look at Pryor's
thunderous face.
JERRY
I'm sorry?
PRYOR
I'm just trying to understand why
you can't take our staff meetings
seriously.
JERRY
(frowns)
I wasn't aware that I didn't.
PRYOR
You can stop with the crude jokes
then, because next time, I will
insist that you leave.
Jerry looks back at Pryor, surprised by his tone, but also
slightly amused by it.
JERRY
Is there something going on that I
should know about? Mid-life crisis?
Have you bought a motorbike
recently? Power boat?
PRYOR
You think you're so funny, Heal,
but you're really not. I run this
place, not you.
JERRY
Really? Because I was under the
impression that Faith did.
PRYOR
And I've been here for her all this
time. Where were you?
Stung, Jerry puffs his chest out a little.
PRYOR
And while we're on the subject,
I've been here for Ruth as well,
all this time. So stay away.
JERRY
What?
PRYOR
I know what's been going on between
the both of you!
JERRY
Pryor, have you heard yourself?
Nothing's going on between me and
Ruth. There's nothing to know
about!
PRYOR
Don't think I haven't seen you.
Pryor gets up close, right in Jerry's face. Even though he's
taller, Jerry's still a little alarmed by this.
PRYOR (cont'd)
I would be very careful if I were
you.
And with that, Pryor takes off, leaving Jerry to frown
disbelievingly after him.
6 INT. OLD ASYLUM - GATEWAY ROOM - NIGHT 6
CLUNK!
CLOSE UP on the floor as a large BATTLE AXE connects with the
stone.
DAWN (O.S.)
Hey! Not on the floor, alright?
PAN OUT as Faith lifts the axe, spinning it effortlessly
across her hand. She grins, reveling in the power of her arm
and the weight of the weapon.
Behind her, Dawn is permanently stood at the Gateway, her
arms folded in frustration as she watches Pryor unload a
crate of similar Medieval weapons.
DAWN (cont'd)
This place looks bad enough already
without you putting dings all over
it. I'm the one stuck living here,
you could at least make the effort
to keep it nice.
Dawn looks around, watching the duo tool up.
DAWN (cont'd)
You know, this whole 'no body'
thing? It sucks ass.
FAITH
You mean you wanna come along on
the suicide mission that we
probably won't come back from?
PRYOR
Thank you for the reassurance,
Faith.
DAWN
So who's going along?
FAITH
Me, Pryor, Vi and Ruth. Jerry,
Rachel and Noa are staying as
backup.
DAWN
Backup?
PRYOR
Researching ways to shut off Aku's
world. Just in case we fail
miserably.
DAWN
Now that would be the more sensible
plan.
(off Faith's look)
But hey, Buffy followed the stupid
plan for ten years and she turned
out okay.
(beat)
Eventually.
FAITH
You just worry about opening the
Gateway, squirt. Leave the rest to
me.
PRYOR
Us.
FAITH
(beat)
Yeah.
DAWN
Have you spoken to Vi yet?
FAITH
No, she skipped out, took a walk to
clear her head. Didn't wanna listen
to anything I had to say.
PRYOR
It's probably best that you find
her. We need to get moving soon,
and -
RACHEL (O.S.)
That's going to be a problem.
The others turn to look at the stairs as Rachel descends,
carrying a letter in her hands.
FAITH
What is it?
RACHEL
I went looking for Vi. Found this
in her room.
Faith holds out her hand impatiently, and Rachel hesitates
for a moment before giving it to her. She and Dawn share a
worried look as Faith reads it.
FAITH
(reads)
Hey, guys. Sorry to bail on you,
but this is something I had to do.
Please understand.
Faith frowns before continuing, and we CUT TO:
7 EXT. BUS DEPOT - NIGHT 7
A large bag slung over her shoulder, Vi walks away from the
ticket desk with a ticket held firmly in one hand. Spotting
her bus, she walks towards it.
FAITH (V.O.)
I don't really know where I'm going
to go yet, but I just know that I
can't be there with you. The Asylum
is just... too much right now.
Reaching her bus, Vi climbs aboard.
8 INT. OLD ASYLUM - GATEWAY ROOM - NIGHT 8
Dawn, Rachel and Pryor look on sadly as Faith continues.
FAITH
(reads)
I don't know when I'll be back, or
even if I'll be back. I guess I'll
come back when I'm ready, whenever
that is.
CUT TO:
9 INT. BUS - NIGHT 9
Vi has found her seat, and she holds her bag firmly to her
lap, her eyes holding back tears as the bus begins to move.
FAITH (V.O.)
Good luck with Aku. I'm sorry I
can't be there, but I know you'll
be fine without me. You always
were.
CUT TO:
10 EXT. STREET - NIGHT 10
Vi's bus pulls away and drives off down the street towards
the unknown.
FAITH (V.O.)
I just wanted you to know; I love
you all.
And it's gone in moments.
11 INT. OLD ASYLUM - GATEWAY ROOM - NIGHT 11
Faith pauses, a look of genuine sadness on her face.
FAITH
(reads)
Later, Vi.
A solemn beat, as the others try to formulate a response.
PRYOR
Are you... okay, Faith?
FAITH
(quickly)
I'm fine.
DAWN
Liar.
FAITH
Seriously, I'm fine. You heard;
she's coming back. She just needs
some time away. I guess we all do.
PRYOR
I must say, this is very unlike Vi.
She's not one for flaking out on us
at the last moment. What could have
gotten to her that she felt this
was her only answer?
Faith shrugs, not noticing Dawn's suspicious glance her way.
RACHEL
I'll, uh... go find Noa. I guess we
have some research to do.
Faith nods as she leaves, and Ruth and Jerry arrive, Ruth
carrying an armful of clothing.
PRYOR
What's all that?
RUTH
After seeing what Aku's world looks
like - thanks to you, Dawn - I
decided we'd need some new outfits
to help us blend in.
Faith glances down at her own clothes.
FAITH
What's wrong with what we're
wearing?
RUTH
Oh, I don't know, it lacks a
certain...
She unfolds the item on top of the pile - it's a Geisha
inspired black and red number.
RUTH (cont'd)
... style.
Passing out the clothes to them, the others look down in
wonder at that work she's done.
FAITH
Hey, these aren't bad...
PRYOR
How did you do all this?
RUTH
(shrugs)
Costume store and a sewing machine.
Oh, and Pryor? Now I owe you fifty
bucks.
Pryor nods, impressed, as Faith examines her outfit.
FAITH
I feel totally 'Last Samurai', but
yeah, I think I can work this.
PRYOR
We'll, uh...
FAITH
Find somewhere to change into these
on the other side?
Yeah, way ahead of you there,
Pryor. Trust me, I'm in no hurry to
see you naked.
She glances slyly back at Ruth, who smirks.
JERRY
You'll look great.
FAITH
(dry)
Okay, and now Daddy approves, it's
time to go. Promise we'll be back
before midnight.
Jerry grins as Faith steps towards the Gateway with her axe.
Pryor and Ruth follow, Pryor with a crossbow and Ruth with a
sword.
FAITH (cont'd)
You ready, Sunnydale?
DAWN
Born ready, Boston.
And as Dawn begins to GLOW, Faith grabs the handle, the
Gateway opens with a CRACKLE of energy - a PORTAL roars to
life, and we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.