"Fate 1x09: Home is where the hurt is"
by
Roonblah
Based on characters created by Joss Whedon
TEASER
MUSIC: IT'S A KIND OF MAGIC - QUEEN
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL, CORRIDOR - DAY
NURSES and patients dodge out of the way of NIALL, 11 years
old, in eighties-style garb (yes, even the shaggy mop). He
weaves his way past the PREGNANT WOMEN and PINK and BLUE
BALLOONS being held by DELIVERY MEN; on a mission.
He ducks under HANDS that try to grab him and pushes into-
INT. HOSPITAL, PRIVATE MATERNITY ROOM - SAME
CATHERINE, late twenties, sits up in the bed flipping through
a glossy magazine. Her ear is pinned to the ROOM PHONE
cradled at her neck. She's almost dressed for a fashion shoot:
expensive silk nightdress, makeup perfectly made, no hair
out of place.
Niall ignores her and heads straight to the NURSE, who steps
aside and smiles as he peers over the hospital bassinet. He
is completely enamoured by the BABY dressed in pink.
NURSE
I'll be right back luv.
NIALL nods as he reaches out to the little girl with his
pinky. The baby grabs it. To Niall, it's as good as candy.
The nurse leaves the room.
CATHERINE
(on phone; upper-crust
English)
Hamish is arranging for me to
leave tonight. I don't see why I
need to stay here. The kid needs
observing, not me.
(listens)
Oh I don't know. It hasn't cried
yet and it's a month early. It
seems fine to me.
Niall moves his finger around, smiling as the baby keeps her
grip.
2.
CATHERINE
(flips page of
magazine)
I've already picked a nurse to
help me recover. These stitches
are ghastly. I hope I can hide
the scar. Hamish's assistant has
arranged for a nanny to start
tomorrow.
Niall leans over the edge and just watches the little girl
start to go off to sleep.
CATHERINE (O.S)
Oh I know! Isn't it lovely?
Niall strokes the baby girl's cheek.
CATHERINE (O.S)
I won't miss the MacCready ball
after all. I'm sure I can lose
the extra baggage in three weeks.
(tapping the phone)
Hello? Hello? Typical. Everything
in this place is substandard. Niall!
He stands up stiffly and turns slowly toward her. Catherine
places the phone back in the cradle.
CATHERINE
Where's your father?
Niall shrugs.
CATHERINE
Well? Go find him.
Niall lets out a slow breath and steps away from the bassinet.
The lights FLICKER. Niall's steps falter. He looks back at
the baby.
Catherine shakes her head and gives a long-suffering sigh.
Niall proceeds toward the door, and stops again when the
baby CRIES. He looks to his mother.
Catherine doesn't move; just keeps paging through the magazine.
Niall reaches for the door knob.
The baby SCREAMS become louder; more urgent. Niall looks
once more at the useless mother, before whipping his hand
off the doorknob. He runs back to the baby and gently rocks
the bassinet.
3.
BANG BANG
Gunshot. Very close.
Catherine SCREAMS. A wailing siren with no end.
BANG
Surprisingly, the baby makes no noise and contentedly grabs
hold of Niall's finger again. The baby laughs.
The sound of STRUGGLE is right on the other side of the door.
Niall instinctively moves in front of the bassinet. Catherine
screeches as something THUMPS against the door to the room -
there are more scuffles and moans--
-- Everything goes horribly SILENT. Only Catherine whimpers
like a miserable kitten.
Niall waits for a moment. There's no sound and no decisive
action from his mother. He makes a choice and cradles the
baby in his arms. Jiggling her in his arms - more for his
comfort than hers - he approaches the door.
He pushes it open a little and peeks through the gap.
HOSPITAL GUARDS are holding down a raging MAN. A GUN is on
the floor at Niall's feet. A PREGNANT WOMAN lies dead. A
WOUNDED MAN and the nurse from earlier are being tended to;
each have gunshot wounds.
Niall steps back and shuts the door behind him. The baby
laughs again.
NIALL
Hey, were you looking out for me?
He makes a joke out of it, but he stares at her like he isn't
so sure.
FADE TO WHITE
DAWN (O.S)
It's only the greatest idea. Ever!
FADE IN
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
DAWN and JASON lead the way down a Mediterranean-style
corridor. A distant NADYA and long-suffering SAMUEL follow,
with DEVON trailing at the back.
4.
JASON
I'm not saying it isn't a good
idea. I just think-
DAWN
You agreed with me!
JASON
Yes, the principle of it--
DAWN
(whirls on Nadya)
And you said you only needed to
use one
key to get us around, right?
NADYA
Yes, I've become familiar enough-
DAWN
So great. It's settled. This is a
good plan. Trust me.
Jason grabs an over-enthusiastic Dawn by the shoulders.
JASON
Okay. You'll have to forgive the
rest of us, because we've been in
transit for fifteen hours-
DAWN
Planes are way more brutal than
portals. Gotta say.
JASON
True. But not the point... we're
aren't disputing The Plan. We
like the plan. The plan is all
good. We'd just like more time to
decide if this is the right place.
DAWN
(playing with the pout)
But it is. Really. Ask Samuel.
There's no place safer.
(serious)
Besides, what's gonna happen to
the keys the next time we -oh- go
insane
?
She turns away from Jason and takes a few steps forward to a
door.
5.
DAWN
I don't know how we got out of
trouble last time.
Nadya looks to the side. Devon stares back at her. Nadya
glances away.
Dawn KNOCKS on the door.
DAWN
Just think of this as... fate.
Jason sighs, giving up.
The door opens.
Dawn SMILES shyly.
DAWN
Hi. Okay, I know it's been a while
but-
BUFFY
Dawn.
BUFFY SUMMERS, the tiny blonde dynamo, rushes forward and
HUGS Dawn, holding her like there's no tomorrow.
DAWN
(smiling into the hug)
Hey. I'm home.
FADE OUT.
END TEASER
6.
ACT I
FADE IN:
INT. THE COUNCIL, MAIN CHAMBER - NIGHT
QUENTIN TRAVERS (50s), an unchanging pillar of rules, stands
before BASTION PAYNE (70s), who resembles a jolly Santa Claus
in a tweed suit and TARTAN waistcoat.
The boundaries of the room are filled with high shelves of
every kind of book. In the centre, a foreboding table and
chairs.
QUENTIN
I don't know how many ways I can
tell you the same thing, Bastion.
(throws a file onto
the desk)
The girl is absolutely normal in
every sense of the word.
BASTION
(refined Scottish
accent)
I understand this is how it seems,
but-
QUENTIN
No! This conversation is finally
over. She is not one of the chosen
and has no bearing on the destiny
of the Slayer. Other than
interrupting the Slayer's duties
so that her Watcher could bring
her here.
BASTION
Sunaya's duties have been more
than fulfilled. The amount of
demonic activity we have stumbled
into in the past few months alone
should be an indicator-
Quentin sighs and sits down at one of the chairs around the
table. This could take a while. Bastion remains standing.
7.
QUENTIN
I do no need to remind you that
demonic activity tends to
gravitate towards slayers. It is,
traditionally, thought to be their
calling.
BASTION
Not to this extent. I would only
expect this amount of activity if
we were based within some sort of
mystical convergence. The nomadic
lifestyle this Slayer leads...
Their voices become MUFFLED.
The WALL of the room isn't quite so thick to shield listening
ears.
INT. THE COUNCIL, STAIRWAY - SAME
MARGARET DEVON (10) sits on a step on the other side of the
wall. She hugs her arms around her knees.
SUNAYA (OS)
(Indian accent)
Little ears attuned to the angry
wail of the raven do not often
hear the sweet call of the wind.
Margaret startles to see-
SUNAYA MIKESH (18), Indian, battle-scarred and dressed as
practical warriors do. The battle-hardened girl steadily
gazes down at the scared child for a moment. She finally
sits next to Margaret, a little stiffly as though human
contact were foreign to her.
SUNAYA
And what secrets do these walls
tell?
Margaret shakes her head. Sunaya considers for a moment.
SUNAYA
They do no see everything. These
Watchers. Do not take what they
say to heart.
MARGARET
They don't like me. I'm not
special or different. All the bad
things are just...
8.
Sunaya reaches out with her hand to touch the child's
shoulder, but withdraws, unseen, before she does.
SUNAYA
Watchers exist to promise a future
for both slayers and men. They
cannot see how a story will unfold.
They can only play the parts they
know. The same is true for slayers.
Soon I will die.
Margaret looks up, terrified.
SUNAYA
Do not be sad for me. It is the
way of things. I have accepted my
fate. There will be a slayer and
another and another. It is a
growing chain that needs strong
links. The past slayers live
within me, and I shall live within
the next. We give each other our
strength, our conviction, our
nobility. That line must never
weaken. That is all a Watcher is
for.
(pats Margaret's
shoulder)
They do not know who you are or
what you will begin. I do. I feel
it in my heart, as Bastion does.
You will have a great destiny.
Margaret, young as she is, clearly does not share the belief.
She hugs herself tighter.
MARGARET
Maybe I'll be a Watcher.
SUNAYA
You read the books as though you
will be.
MARGARET
(almost crying)
I don't want to be. I want things
the way they were before.
SUNAYA
Never wish to be ordinary,
Margaret. Even if you have no
destiny beyond this, you have
seen the world as it is. There is
a hidden darkness, and those who
have seen it, can change it.
9.
MARGARET
I just miss--
Margaret looks away, hiding tears. Sunaya searches for words;
unhappy with her choices. She, instead, speaks as though a
teacher.
SUNAYA
The vampire is a slayer's biggest
enemy, though they are not our
strongest or most dangerous. Do
you know why?
Margaret shakes her head.
SUNAYA
They have our face. They speak in
our tongues. They walk alongside
our steps. They are a plague in
the shadows; too similar to us.
If we forget for one moment what
they are, we lose the clarity of
our calling. It is a war.
Allegiances cannot be blurred. We
cannot wish for what cannot be.
You understand this?
Margaret nods, more sad somehow.
SUNAYA
The world exists in shades of
grey, but a slayer must be
absolute. We must hold the line.
INT. SUMMER'S APARTMENT, LOUNGE - NIGHT
ON DEVON
Eyes shut.
SUNAYA (VO)
Not to save ourselves, but to
ensure the world always reaches a
new dawn.
There is a GROWL, a vampire growl.
SUNAYA (VO)
Margaret! Run!
A loud CRACK.
Devon's eyes SNAP OPEN.
10.
She STARTLES. Jason is right in front of her, offering her a
steaming cup.
JASON
(gauging her)
Hot chocolate. Apparently it's a
Summers specialty.
Devon takes it. She sits on the couch. She looks across--
THE KITCHEN
Buffy and the others are chatting and making more hot
chocolate.
THE LOUNGE
Jason sits beside Devon. He looks around the room. There are
various weapons lying around, including some stakes. He looks
into the kitchen hatchway.
JASON
I expected a slayer to be... taller.
He gives a false chuckle. Devon doesn't register. She's
distracted. Watching the Slayer in question closely.
JASON
Are you okay?
Jason waits for her.
JASON
Right. I get it. That's how we're
playing it.
Devon turns to him, noticing the sudden chill in the room.
DEVON
What?
JASON
You're kidding me, right?
DEVON
About what?
Jason gives a humourless laugh and stands.
JASON
Oh, so you haven't been ignoring
me since... I'm tired of this.
11.
She looks away from him, lost. She can't let him see her
face. He doesn't and reacts as if it's another blow to him.
JASON
(low whisper)
It happened Dev. You and me. No
spell, no potions, no frikkin'
mind-jobs. If don't want to deal
with that, it's really not my
problem.
Angry, he walks away with his cup. He leans against a wall
as the others enter the lounge from the kitchen. They are
all in high spirits. Jason puts on his best imitation of a
happy face.
DAWN
And that's our whole safe,
educational, scavenger hunt in an
instant mocha nutshell.
BUFFY
Why do I get the feeling you're
leaving things out?
DAWN
Me? I'm a pillar of honesty!
(girl scout swear)
Honestly.
Buffy raises her eyebrows. The others find seats. Buffy and
Dawn beside each other. Nadya, close to Jason. Samuel takes
a seat next to Devon. He glances at her worriedly.
The silence is uncomfortable.
Only Buffy and Dawn look around.
SAMUEL
Thank you for the dinner. It was
very good.
BUFFY
Thanks. I have a phone. They
deliver.
Silence again. Samuel notices Devon staring at Buffy.
SAMUEL
(quickly)
Well, I suppose since we have
made arrangements for the keys,
the rest of us should find a hotel
of some sort and let Dawn and
Buffy catch up.
12.
He looks around the others for agreement. Nadya and Jason
nod without much emotion.
BUFFY
(smiling at Samuel)
Actually, I've got plenty of room
here. The Watchers Council bought
the whole building so that I could
train new recruits.
DAWN
How are the new batch? Last time
I saw them they were...
Dawn grimaces and waves her hand shakily.
BUFFY
Better. I still don't think they
understand my Italian, but I'm
getting better at mime.
She makes an axing motion with her arms. She turns seriously
to Samuel.
BUFFY
Giles wondered if you'd be
interested in rejoining the
Council when we're finished
finding all the keys.
Dawn frowns at Buffy using the pronoun "we're".
BUFFY
We have hundreds, maybe thousands,
of slayers and only a few Watchers
to train them. The older slayers
are trying to teach as many of
the younger ones as they can but
more seem to spring up every day.
So... whaddaya say? She asks
without any pressure.
SAMUEL
I uh-
DEVON
Slayers. Plural. Why is there a
plural? Plural chosen. Singular
slayer.
Samuel winces. Jason notices both their reactions.
Dawn happily explains with Devon growing colder as she does.
13.
DAWN
Only in the sense that they were
the chosen and now they are much,
much more than that. Okay, this
story rocks.
(to Jason and Nadya)
Bringers - they're these creepy
guys with robes and no eyes who
do naughty things for the First
Evil - starting killing off the
chosen. You know, in a heinous
plot to wipe out all the future
slayers. To be extra crispy with
the evil, the First Evil was also
going to unleash scary super
vampires onto the world by opening
the Hellmouth. But, luck was with
us. Buffy found the mystical
slayer scythe. Boom. Big spell,
big battle and all the chosen
became slayers.
(looking proudly at
Buffy)
That's my sis. Making the world
safer for everyone.
DEVON
Only now. It's only now.
(stands)
I can't be here.
Devon is increasingly agitated.
DAWN
(gets up and goes to
her)
Devon. What's wrong?
Devon turns on Samuel; almost in shock, as if he had betrayed
her.
DEVON
You knew. You knew and you didn't
tell me.
SAMUEL
I saw no reason to-
DEVON
Bastion loved... Sunaya... They
loved--
(whisper)
There's no future. It's gone. The
slayer line has been wiped out.
14.
BUFFY
What are you talking about?
DEVON
(rounds on her)
You giving the First Evil exactly
what it wanted.
Buffy stands up sharply.
BUFFY
The First Evil is-
DEVON
Eternal. Patient. A hundred times
smarter than a slayer who never
bothered to read the chapter in
the handbook that said "Evil is
bad". Too busy having sex with
the undead?
Buffy starts forward. Devon simply glares, without moving.
Dawn and Jason both rush in between the two. Dawn places a
comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder, who calms down at the
gesture.
Samuel and Nadya stand, for a lack of anything else to do.
JASON
Let's all calm down.
DAWN
Devon, what do you think's happened?
DEVON
(not taking her eyes
from Buffy's)
Ask your Watcher. He knows. Samuel
knows.
Samuel shifts uncomfortably as Buffy looks to him.
DEVON
Did you think your power was
infinite? That the Watchers kept
you alone on a whim? They were
bastards. I won't argue with that.
But they did it all for a reason.
The future.
(MORE)
15.
DEVON (CONT'D)
This world's future.
(low)
Can't you see it? It was just one
battle, but the war never ends.
The chosen were legion. No one
entity could wipe them out. Not
in a million years. You saw what
you wanted to see. You were old
and stretched and couldn't see
the black for the grey. A few
dead girls, the death of the
guardians of the line, and a
fortunate godsend left in plain
sight and you gave it what it
wanted. I'm good at puzzles. I
see the pieces. When you're all
dead... of old age, I'm sure
,
there will be no more slayers to
be called. They can't be. It's
gone. All that power.
To Devon, this is the saddest thing. Buffy crosses her arms;
very sure of her conviction.
BUFFY
You're wrong. You're not one of
us and you weren't there. There's
no way you could know any of this.
We're stronger now than we've
ever been.
DEVON
I'm not wrong. It's why I'm here.
(looks at Dawn)
Why we
ended up here. I feel it
weaving. Tightening. I don't want
to do it again.
(quiet)
I can't be here.
She backs away, trying to escape.
SAMUEL
Devon. Wait.
DEVON
You know what I am. You know
what's coming. God, I've already
begun.
Buffy drops her arms at that. Maybe... she's not so sure now.
Samuel takes hold of Devon's shoulders, as a father would.
16.
SAMUEL
(comforting)
Devon-
She pushes away from him, getting as much space as she can
from everyone.
DEVON
No. I hate puzzles. I hate being
the piece that fits anywhere.
A DOOR SLAMS somewhere behind Devon. She shakes her head.
Everyone lapses into silence.
ENGLISH MALE (O.S.)
Hey Slayer. Didn't we have a date
to take the behind-the-ears out
for a spot of hunting?
Dawn's eyes widen.
DAWN
Spike?
SPIKE, the eternally blonde vampire, stops.
SPIKE
Hello Niblet.
Dawn turns to Buffy.
DAWN
Uhm. Didn't you say he was working
for an evil law firm?
Buffy grimaces.
SPIKE
Don't worry Dawn. Big sis still
has some egg on her face about
that. Funny story. You should
have been here when-
BUFFY
Spike. Not now.
SPIKE
(taking the tense
stances in)
Oh. Frozen party. Maybe I'd
better-- what's with the air in
here? Red playing with her spells
again?
17.
Spike grimaces as a BREEZE buffets around the apartment.
Gentle at first, but soon everyone feels it. It grows
uncomfortable.
SAMUEL
Nadya...
NADYA
It's not me.
SAMUEL
I know.
He's staring worriedly at Devon. The others all turn their
attentions to her too.
Her eyes are WHITE. She takes shallow breaths; a panic attack.
Her entire focus is on Spike.
SPIKE
Oi.
The wind pummels him the hardest until--
He is PUSHED against a wall.
Various weapons SHAKE around the room. A SWORD flies across
the room and almost impales Spike. He dodges--
--hits the wall hard, as he is PINNED to it by an unseen force.
JASON
Devon!
Buffy springs into action. She approaches Devon and tries to
grab her. Translucent ENERGY BLASTS out from Devon. EVERYONE
is THROWN BACKWARD by the energy.
Devon marches toward Spike. She's steely, almost as though
she is no longer herself. A STAKE FLIES into her open hand.
As she reaches Spike, she PLUNGES downward with the stake--
OFF THAT
FADE OUT.
END ACT I
18.
ACT II
FADE IN:
INT. SUMMER'S APARTMENT, LOUNGE - NIGHT
Spike YELLS in pain and GOES INTO VAMP FACE as Devon pushes
the stake right through Spike's leg, literally turning him
into a fixture on the wall. He tugs aimlessly at the stake.
The others lie on the floor, but in various stages of
recovery. They see what she's done. Samuel comes to a
realisation.
Devon looks briefly to the side to locate another STAKE
across the room. She opens her hand again and it comes as if
called.
Buffy sees this too. With a slayer's determination, Buffy
leaps to her feet and rushes toward Devon--
-- only to be knocked away again, CRASHING onto the table
and breaking ornaments.
Jason and Dawn are already up. Dawn winces at her sister's
fall, but instead hurries to help Samuel up.
Jason nears Devon, cautiously.
JASON
Devon.
(reaches out to touch
her)
Look, let's just-
As he makes contact with her, energy hits him back. Not too
violently, just enough to make him keep his distance.
LIGHT SHOOTS past him --
-- Nadya, eyes BLACK, has her hand outstretched in the
direction of Devon --
-- the light DEFLECTS off Devon as if she were behind a
wall --
-- a plant pot EXPLODES as the deflected light hits it.
Nadya's eyes widen in shock as she stares at Devon.
19.
Devon raises the second stake. Spike grits his teeth.
SPIKE
A little help please.
SAMUEL
You're besmirching his memory!
Devon pauses... only briefly. It's a small window of time.
Jason steps in quickly. He wraps an arm around her waist and
grabs the stake with his other hand as he pulls her into a
deep kiss. She's momentarily stunned.
LIGHT HITS DEVON from behind. She drops. Jason holds her
tighter, preventing the fall.
Nadya lowers her hand, her eyes back to normal. She watches
Devon warily.
Jason looks between the unconscious Devon in his arms, and
the others amidst the chaos.
JASON
What the hell is going on?
INT. LOUNGE - LATER
Devon lies on the couch, still out. Samuel stands near her,
watching Spike. Nadya kneels at the plant pot that was
destroyed, aimlessly pushing pieces of it around.
Jason sits beside Devon. His hands have nowhere to go. He
touches her forehead, her cheek, her pulse. Finally, he turns
his head towards--
BUFFY
You ready?
SPIKE
Do I bloody look ready?
(off her look)
Do it if you're going to.
Buffy YANKS the stake out of his leg. Spike collapses to the
ground. Dawn enters from the kitchen with some medical
supplies.
SPIKE
Welcome back Niblet. Nice friends.
Dawn hands Buffy antiseptic and cloth. Buffy tends to the
wounds. Dawn is feeling guilty and it shows.
20.
DAWN
Soooo... you're not evil.
Spike gives a small smile through his pain.
SPIKE
What do you say to that slayer?
Buffy continues with her work, almost pretending not to hear
him.
BUFFY
(finally)
We were wrong.
Spike raises an eyebrow.
BUFFY
I
was wrong.
DAWN
So Angel not a bad guy either?
BUFFY
(sad)
No.
Dawn sees her sister's sadness.
DAWN
Is he-
BUFFY
He's okay. I think.
SPIKE
Sure he is. I bet psycho slayer
is taking right good care of him.
DAWN
Psycho... Faith?
Buffy's shoulder's stiffen.
SPIKE
(happily)
Oh yeah. You should have been
here for that fight. Now that
slayer has a fire. I bet she's
found him, tortured him into
letting her help him and now
they're both making sickly good
deeds in front of the nasty
lawyers- Ow! Watch it slayer.
21.
BUFFY
You'll heal.
Jason can't take any more of this.
JASON
Stop playing nursemaid with the
bloodsucking fiend from beyond
the grave. I need answers.
Dawn stands up, shielding both Spike and Buffy from Jason's
view.
DAWN
We all do, but until she wakes up-
JASON
We don't need her to find out
what the hell he did.
SPIKE
Listen mate, I don't bloody know
her. I suggest you wait until
Sleeping Beauty cocks an eye.
JASON
And when the "bloody hell" will
that be?
He stands up, frustratingly useless. Nadya approaches him
and lays a hand on his shoulder.
NADYA
Don't worry.
She sits in front of Devon and places her hands above Devon's
head. Jason looks away.
JASON
Take a better look at her milk-
dud. You did something.
DAWN
Maybe he didn't.
JASON
He's a vampire.
DAWN
Yeah, but... she was emotional,
which is pretty odd to begin with.
Spike has a soul.
22.
SAMUEL
(quite calmly)
Mmm. Did he have a soul nine years
ago?
All eyes move to Samuel.
JASON
Samuel?
SAMUEL
He didn't know the name of the
vampire.
Buffy stands beside Dawn. They exchange puzzled looks.
Samuel looks past them to Spike. They lock eyes. Spike is
clueless.
SAMUEL
I've know you've killed so many
over the years... perhaps you
really don't remember. Do you
recall a man named Bastion Payne?
Dawn and Jason immediately recognise the name. They look at
Devon, still asleep despite Nadya's actions.
DAWN
Oh no.
BUFFY
(out of the loop)
What? Dawn. What is it?
Dawn turns on Spike.
DAWN
Did you? Did you kill him?
SPIKE
(low)
I've killed a lot.
SAMUEL
You should remember this one.
(stares Spike down)
He was a Watcher. He had two
companions. A man and a young
girl. Does it mean anything to you?
Spike nods slowly.
23.
SPIKE
So who's she? A family member out
for revenge?
SAMUEL
No. She's the girl.
Spike stares at Devon. He chokes off a laugh.
SPIKE
No. That couldn't be her.
(off Samuel's very
serious face)
It definitely could never be her.
DAWN
(scared she already
knows)
Why not?
Spike looks down. Guilt is the order of the day.
SPIKE
That girl... I've seen grown fall
for less. Besides, this girl is
much older than the other would
have been.
SAMUEL
You would be surprised how many
paths there are to the same place.
He turns to Jason.
SAMUEL
I think it would be best if we
found a hotel.
JASON
I was just about to say the same
thing. Maybe she'll be okay if
she wakes up somewhere else. Far
from him.
NADYA (O.S)
She's not going to wake up.
Nadya presses her hand to Devon's forehead.
NADYA
It's like she's not here anymore.
Nadya is dead serious. Buffy frowns.
24.
DAWN
Jason. No!
Jason GRABS Spike and lifts him up, made stronger by anger.
He pins Spike by the throat with his elbow.
JASON
You did this. If she doesn't wake
up, I'll kill you myself.
Buffy tears Jason away.
BUFFY
Stop it! This isn't helping.
Dawn holds Jason's arm. He steps back and moves to Devon.
DAWN
We'll fix it.
(pleads to Buffy)
It'll be okay?
BUFFY
It will.
(to Nadya; action-
slayer mode)
I was in a coma once. My friend-
DAWN
When were you in a coma?
BUFFY
(evasive)
It doesn't matter. My friend was
able to go into my mind and bring
me back. Can you do that?
NADYA
Yes, I know several mind
manipulation spells, but I don't
have what I need here.
BUFFY
I'll take care of it.
She heads to the phone, but pauses as she moves past Jason.
BUFFY
I think she'll be more comfortable
in my room.
He glares at Spike; couldn't agree more.
25.
EXT. SUMMER'S APARTMENT - LATER
A HAND knocks on the door.
Buffy opens it and ushers the person inside.
INT. SUMMER'S APARTMENT - SAME
Buffy shuts the door. Beside her, DAVID SPARKS, late twenties
and looking like a lost boy in old man's clothing, hands
Buffy a PACKAGE.
BUFFY
David. Thanks. I didn't know if
you had plans.
DAVID
(nervous)
No no. I wasn't doing anything.
Important. I had... free time.
Buffy smiles at his blustering. He's utterly besotted.
Dawn straightens up from the floor. She has a dust pan and
broom, cleaning up some of the mess. Spike sits on the couch,
prodding his sore leg. Dawn eyes the exchange with brat-
sister interest. Spike doesn't look happy to see the other man.
BUFFY
I'd better get this to where it's
needed.
She walks past Dawn and Spike, almost oblivious to anything
else.
SPIKE
(calling after her)
Oh Sparks staying then?
He shakes his head.
SPIKE
Sparks. Dawn. Dawn. Sparks.
Dawn waves.
David frowns at Spike, noticing the injuries.
DAVID
(not particularly
interested)
I suppose this time you also
didn't almost
get killed by a
slayer. Was it a bear?
26.
Spike grits his teeth. Dawn smiles.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Devon lies on the bed. Jason sits beside her, watching her
face. Samuel helps Nadya shut all the blinds and light some
CANDLES.
SAMUEL
And that's the procedure?
NADYA
Yes. It's simply a matter of wills.
JASON
(quiet)
Let me do it.
Nadya pauses in her actions. She turns toward him slowly.
NADYA
That's not a very good idea.
JASON
You just said it's easy.
NADYA
For me, but you...
JASON
You can't get me in there?
NADYA
It is possible, but-
JASON
Then let me be the one.
Nadya and Samuel exchange looks.
NADYA
It's too dangerous for you.
Jason stands up.
JASON
Name one other person, apart from
the lily-white undead in there,
who knows her enough to get a
reaction.
SAMUEL
That may be true, but if Nadya-
27.
JASON
I'm going
to do this.
NADYA
Not if I don't let you.
JASON
(calmly)
She won't listen to you.
NADYA
I can-
JASON
She won't
listen to you. You can't
make her do anything she doesn't
want to.
Nadya knows this is true.
NADYA
I'm sorry Jason. You lack the
capacity. It takes exceptional
control of the mind to stay whole.
Her mind could overwhelm yours.
You would be trapped. Lost. It
could go wrong in so many ways.
JASON
I'll take that chance.
Nadya never takes her eyes off Jason.
BUFFY (O.S)
I have the uh... stuff.
She stands at the door with the package, not sure what she's
walked in to. Jason, arms crossed, doesn't budge.
NADYA
All right. You can come in with me.
EXT. BEDROOM, HALLWAY - NIGHT
Buffy and Samuel emerge from the bedroom. Samuel shuts the
door behind them. Buffy looks like she is carefully trying
not to say anything. Samuel notices and smiles.
SAMUEL
Is there something you want to ask?
BUFFY
Is she right? About the slayer
line. Did I break it?
28.
They pause.
SAMUEL
Well, no one can really...
(off Buffy's look)
It is
a possibility.
BUFFY
Why didn't Giles tell me?
SAMUEL
Because... this is a war, and in
all wars, sacrifices must be made
to stop the enemy from advancing.
You could not have held ground
any other way.
He touches her shoulder, trying to allay her new guilt and
fears.
SAMUEL
The Watchers Council will ensure
the line goes on. Somehow. We
always have.
BUFFY
Yeah, but that's why the First
Evil took it out, right? No
Watchers, no solutions.
Samuel doesn't have an answer.
BUFFY
After these keys are found and
the threat quashed, will you come
back with Dawn and help us?
SAMUEL
I left because I lost a slayer.
To return to honour her... I
believe Kendra deserves that much
from me.
They share a look; a look of remembrance.
BUFFY
It's strange. I can count the
number of Watchers left on my
hands, but Dawn found you when
she needed to. A Watcher was
exactly the right person to help
her. Thank you.
Samuel looks toward the bedroom door.
29.
SAMUEL
Perhaps it was fate.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Nadya and Jason sit opposite each other on the floor. Eyes
closed.
There are all manner of interesting HERBS burning in bowls;
the candles burn in wispy curls of colour.
INT. LOUNGE - NIGHT
David helps Samuel, Buffy and Dawn repair as much as Devon's
destruction as they are able. Some things are definitely
lying in a toss-out pile. Spike is uncomfortable and bored
on the couch, but he's found something to amuse him.
SPIKE
Missed a spot there Sparks. Might
want to put some more elbow grease
there too.
Dawn makes googly eyes in relation to David at Buffy. Buffy
motions for her to cut it out. Spike just glares. David and
Samuel, perfect gentleman, are oblivious.
SPIKE
(waving toward the
apartment hallway)
So, is that going to take long?
Dawn and Buffy both glare at him. Dawn glances in the
direction of the hallway, worried.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
A FLAME FLARES on one of the candles.
Jason JERKS as if taking a blast of cold water to the face,
but keeps his eyes closed.
The room seems to ROTATE AROUND them. Faster and faster.
Jason is getting increasingly more uncomfortable, squeezing
his eyes in an effort to keep them shut. He's struggling
against a dizzying force of motion that isn't actually
happening. It's almost too much for him--
-- Nadya's eyes SHOOT OPEN - PITCH BLACK
Jason COLLAPSES.
Nadya looks at him, confused, then angry.
30.
EXT. LOUNGE - NIGHT
Nadya steps into the centre of the room; pale. All eyes are
on her.
NADYA
They're on their own.
FADE OUT.
END ACT II
31.
ACT III
FADE IN:
INT. DRAWING ROOM - NIGHT
Jason lies face down on a grey floor.
ON HIS EYES
Snapping open.
He places his hands on the floor, palm down, and lifts
himself up and to his feet. What he sees isn't what he
expected. He looks around him, trying to fathom exactly what
he's looking at.
ON THE ROOM
It's a crusty classy drawing room; the kind that frequently
panders to an interior decorator's whim. There are a few
high-back leather reading chairs. A novelty, but very
expensive, globe that doubles as a drinks cabinet. The room
is complete with resplendent fireplace and overindulgent
antiques.
Jason's confusion is caused by the fact that the room is in
BLACK AND WHITE. It SHIMMERS at the edges as though it were
an old film, complete with grainy distortion sporadically
littering the scene.
Jason looks down at himself. He is in COLOUR and completely
grain free.
FEMALE (OS)
... your daughter.
MALE (OS)
Our daughter. This is nothing
serious to worry about.
Jason turns around in the direction of the voices. In shock,
he sees--
SAMUEL AND NADYA
Enter the room. They are also black and white, brightly lit.
Nadya is wearing a stylish, reflective satin gown, her hair
coifed to perfection. Though the colours aren't apparent, it
is clear she is wearing dark red lipstick.
32.
Samuel wears a stylish business suit, very unlike him. He no
longer has a Jamaican accent. Nadya's English accent is more
pronounced and refined.
Nadya heads straight to the drinks globe and prepares herself
a fancy drink, heavy on the alcohol.
NADYA
(dryly)
Nothing serious? She's been to
three different schools in two
years. Not to mention her strong
of failed home tutors-
Jason walks among them. He waves a hand in front of their
faces. No reaction.
SAMUEL
(sitting down with a
newspaper)
Darling, I believe you fired her
last tutor.
NADYA
Margaret is already enough trouble
without some crazy old loon
filling her head with ideas about
monsters and fey folk.
(downs her drink; makes
another)
You should just do what I said in
the first place. Send her away to
that Swiss boarding school.
They'll get to the bottom of her
problem.
(low, almost as if a
hope)
Or beat it out of her.
Samuel doesn't take her seriously.
SAMUEL
You know the public prefer the
face of a family man. I can't
very well do that with both my
children in other parts of the
world.
(steadily reasoning)
Are you sure you don't want to
stay, Niall? If I had at least
one child here, we could send
your sister away.
33.
Nadya gives a small smirk and looks right at Jason. The room
seems to spin, but Jason is unaffected by it. He is now also
in BLACK AND WHITE, wearing a NAVAL UNIFORM.
JASON
(barely contained
anger)
If you're so desperate to get rid
of her, give her to me. It's not
likely you'll miss either one of us.
Nadya's smile widens. She walks up to him, a cat on the hunt.
NADYA
Niall, don't be so silly. What
would she do on a big boat? With
a penniless... what shall we call
you now? Seaman?
Jason stares her down. She finds it amusing.
JASON
I'm coming back for her.
SAMUEL
Well, let's not worry about the
future just yet.
(stands up)
Let's just be thankful, your
rebellion...
(points at the uniform)
... won't besmirch our name. In
the meantime, you'd better call
her down for supper. She's
confined to her room again.
JASON
Why? What's your problem this time?
Nadya shoves herself in front of him.
NADYA
You really should stop thinking
of your sister as an angel. The
evidence is sorely lacking in her
defence.
Jason returns the glare.
JASON
She's your
daughter. Mother.
He swiftly turns and heads out the door. On the other side
of it-
34.
STAIRCASE
Young Margaret sits on the steps. She is in COLOUR. Clearly,
she heard everything.
She looks at Jason for a moment, upset and trying not to
show it. He holds out an arm for her. She starts to cry as
she rushes toward him and jumps into a hug.
MARGARET
Don't go. Please don't go.
JASON
You know I have to.
The little girl shakes her head against his shoulder. He
shushes her and moves the hair out of her face tenderly.
JASON
I will be back. I promise. Once I
know I can, I'll take you away
from them. And you know what we'll
be?
(big smile)
You know right?
MARGARET
(small brave voice)
The only Devons that matter.
JASON
That's right.
(glaring at the door)
The only ones that matter. They're
just names. We're real. We matter.
She nods bravely.
Jason GRIMACES IN PAIN--
INT. MARGARET'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
And is THROWN against a wall. The room is dark and naturally
lit from the exterior. It's enough to see that it is
beautifully decorated, but hardly practical for a child.
DOLLS are in display boxes on shelves.
Jason is in colour, as much as moonlight allows, wearing his
usual clothes. He rubs his palm against his head; there's a
slight tremor in his hand.
JASON
That was... something.
35.
He gets his bearings and heads toward--
MARGARET
kneels on the floor beside her window and stares out at a
forest. Silent tears run down her face. She looks down at a
POSTCARD in her hand. There is a DOCK on it. Biting her lip,
she places it beside her, and resumes her vigil out the window.
JASON
Okay. Dev?
He projects his voice upwards, for lack of anything better
to do.
JASON
I know this whole thing is
probably pertinent to Albino Bob,
but I think... I think we should
go back now. That whole changing
clothes thing... that didn't feel
too good. So we should...
(off something out the
window)
What are those?
Little Margaret gets up and opens the window so that she can
get a better look at--
SMALL LIGHTS NEARING FROM THE FOREST
The lights come closer to the window, before zipping off
again. They near again then shoot away.
Margaret looks around guiltily.
JASON
No no no no no. Don't follow the
lights. Lights are bad.
Margaret climbs out of the window.
JASON
I knew
you wouldn't listen to me.
Jason hurries to follow. He climbs onto the windowsill and
out onto--
THE LEDGE
He crawls along the ledge, which becomes--
36.
THE GROUND
He gets up to his feet and looks behind him at--
THE DEVON HOUSE
Austere and looming. A great, big statement on perfectly
manicured grounds.
Turning towards the forest, he just sees A WISP OF A SKIRT
as Margaret runs into the forest after the lights.
EXT. FOREST - CONTINUOUS
He pushes through the dense trees. It's claustrophobic.
There's no sound, no openness, just the arms of trees.
He plunges ahead and out into an open space, where he sees--
EXT. DEVON HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Margaret stares in complete horror at--
A FIRE
The entire house is on fire. She and Jason stand alone and
watch.
Jason turns and stares at her.
JASON
(realising)
You were all alone.
INT. LOUNGE - NIGHT
Nadya sits on a chair across from Spike, fiddling with her
hands.
Spike, still lounging on a sofa, nursing his injured leg,
nods toward the bedroom door.
SPIKE
So... she going to be all right
then?
Nadya doesn't look too hopeful.
SPIKE
You never know. Humans can be
stronger than they look. Yeah!
She'll pull through.
37.
NADYA
I'm not worried about her. She
can take care of herself.
SPIKE
The upstart? Those hero types are
all alike. Get battered down and
beaten up and still save the day.
NADYA
Do heroes often get their brains
turned into mush?
Dawn joins them, sitting down beside Spike.
DAWN
How bad could it get for him?
Nadya sighs deeply.
NADYA
Do you know what kind of power it
takes to enforce any kind of
change on another person's psyche?
She could destroy his mind.
DAWN
She won't hurt him.
Nadya locks eyes with Dawn. Dawn looks down.
DAWN
She doesn't have the kind of power
that you do.
NADYA
(thoughtful)
I wouldn't be so sure.
(looks at Spike's
injuries)
Jason was right. She would never
have let me in her head. I felt
it the second he connected and
she threw me out.
DAWN
So she let
Jason in. That's a
good thing, right?
NADYA
She didn't let him
in. She let
someone weaker
in.
(standing up)
I need to check on them.
38.
DAWN
But you said, there's nothing you
can...
Nadya is quickly out of earshot as she heads for the bedroom.
SPIKE
What is it with you Summers women
finding walking oddities?
Dawn glares at him, affronted, but he's staring past her at--
Buffy, David and Samuel are in deep discussion.
Dawn watches them for a moment.
DAVID
This Melarna could be a more
modern entity, or a being that
hasn't made a reputation for
herself yet. I'll run it by my
contacts.
Buffy touches his hand lightly in thanks.
Spike snorts under his breath. Dawn turns back to him. She
watches him closely for a moment.
DAWN
Did you come back for her?
Spike ponders the question.
SPIKE
No, Niblet. That tug stopped
pulling the ship long before I
got here.
(small laugh)
No. I came back here for the
slayers. Make sure they're all
they can be.
DAWN
Why?
SPIKE
Because the next time a law firm
throws an army at me, it's going
to be a right good brawl.
DAWN
(quiet)
How bad was it?
39.
Spike looks across at Buffy, almost with regret.
SPIKE
Enough to know that fighting the
good fight is worth more than
what a man wants. Even more than
what a dead man wants.
DAWN
Sounds like your time with Angel
taught--
SPIKE
(quickly)
Angel didn't do anything. I'm my
own man. A lone hero. A champion.
Yeah that's right. Watch out for
Spike!
(off her unimpressed
look)
We all have our places in the
world. We live or die on what we
choose to be. I choose this.
DAWN
A vampire helping a slayer.
SPIKE
No. A hunter.
EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHT
MUSIC: FIRESTARTER - PRODIGY
Couples walk along the street, hand in hand, enjoying some
late night shopping. There are CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS strewn
along the various shops and street poles.
Margaret, age 9, in grimy street clothes and with a backpack
on her back, RUNS down the street as if the devil itself
were after her. She DODGES pedestrians and bystanders. Some
show annoyance at her behaviour, some laugh as though it
were cute. Most ignore her.
She breathes hard, looks like she's tiring. She sees the
CROWDS getting thicker ahead, nowhere to run, she ducks into--
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
She runs toward a dumpster and hides behind it. She leans
against it and tries to catch her breath. The only sound she
hears is her breath.
40.
Her hand reaches up to touch her neck; it comes away with
blood from a small neck wound.
She holds her breath, and strains to listen. Hearing nothing,
she slowly chances to look around the dumpster and into the
alley.
There is no one there.
Relieved, she leans back against the dumpster and breathes
normally.
SOMETHING LEAPS OVER HER HEAD FROM BEHIND THE DUMPSTER
Margaret YELPS as it lands in front of her. A HAND covers
her mouth.
It's Jason.
He wears a grunge-inspired ensemble, crowned with a tattered
NAVAL JACKET, customised with various trophies.
JASON
Magsy, Magsy, Magsy. Why are you
running? Don't you know your big
brother?
MARGARET
They said you were dead.
JASON
A lie, so that they could keep
you in that place and get more
money.
MARGARET
They said they were waiting for
our uncle.
JASON
He's never going to come. You
know what that means? You have to
go back to that place. Do you
want to go back there?
MARGARET
(panicked)
No!
He shushes her, and wipes some hair out of her face.
JASON
I'm the only one who loves you.
You know that right?
41.
MARGARET
You bit me.
Jason tenderly reaches for her. She recoils.
JASON
Margaret, my Margaret. I'm sorry.
I'm just... I'm sick.
(holds her shoulders
gently)
I'm sick and I need medicine. You
have it. In you. I didn't mean to
scare you or make you hurt. I
just need the medicine.
MARGARET
Can't we go to a doctor?
JASON
No. Not for me. Not anymore. Some
sicknesses can't be fixed. You
know that, don't you?
She gives a small nod.
JASON
Don't worry, baby. Other people
will give me medicine. But your
medicine makes me strong. Better.
You want me to get better, don't
you?
Margaret nods slowly.
JASON
I know you do. I promise, it won't
hurt after a while. And I'll take
care of you, and when you're older,
you'll be just like me. Do you
know why?
She shakes her head.
JASON
Because we're going to be the
only Devon's that matter. Forever.
You'd like that, won't you?
Margaret looks down; she doesn't know. Jason holds a hand
out for her; it's a gesture of choice.
JASON
I'll look after you. Just like
always. I promise.
42.
Margaret stares at his hand. Tentatively, unsure and afraid,
she reaches out for it.
JASON LURCHES FORWARD against something from behind. The
power of it FORCES HIM TO REVERT to his usual self. He falls
to the floor, clutching his chest in extreme pain.
He rolls onto his side with some effort, breathing painfully,
and sees--
NIALL DEVON (20), a beautiful face that personifies trust,
TURN TO DUST. Margaret clutches at empty air. She whimpers
in shock, not really knowing what she's seeing, not quite
believing.
Jason watches her, saddened by her loss.
In front of Margaret--
DAWN
She wears a similar outfit to Sunaya and has scars in the
same places. In her hand, A STAKE.
She crouches in front of Margaret, and offers a hand.
Margaret stares at it.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Dawn YAWNS and slouches on the table.
A CUP of something steaming is placed in front of her. She
looks up.
Buffy smiles and hops onto a kitchen seat beside Dawn.
BUFFY
I think I'll forgo my no-caffeine-
for-Dawn-ever rule, just this once.
DAWN
Thanks. I'd forgotten how boring
these late night vigils were.
BUFFY
(fishing)
You don't stay up late on all
these other worlds you've been to?
Dawn already knows Buffy's plan.
43.
DAWN
Nope. It's all pretty boring stuff.
Open portal. Zhoop. Get key. Next
please. This is the most
excitement we've had.
BUFFY
Waiting for your friend to wake
up is the most excitement you've
had? Why don't I believe you?
Dawn comes clean.
DAWN
Buffy. I can't promise you that
this is the safest thing for me,
but it's nothing like what you do.
I don't hunt monsters or save
people. I just do what I have to.
BUFFY
Now see, that's where it sounds
like exactly
what I do. I wanted
you to have the life I didn't
have. I was so proud of you going
to college. Instead, I get Giles
telling me there's someone else
after you and you didn't want to
wait for me.
Dawn grimaces.
DAWN
You ever think that maybe I wanted
a normal life for you too? You
already died for me once. Now
there's thirteen other keys. I
don't think I'm willing to take
the chance again.
BUFFY
(reaching for her)
Dawn.
Dawn shakes her head.
DAWN
Can I ask you a question?
BUFFY
Sure.
44.
DAWN
Who the heck is David? I mean,
he's a honey - and has a pulse,
so yay you - but he wasn't here
when I left. I thought you were
happy with the Independent woman
power chord after you and the
Immortal split. Be honest. Is
David a mail order bride?
Buffy glares. Dawn raises bemused eyebrows.
BUFFY
David is the Professor of occult
and religious studies at the
university where I take night
classes.
DAWN
I didn't know you were taking
classes.
BUFFY
Well, someone else dropped out of
college. I had to do something to
keep me from beating up every
world-travelling goon I could to
hitch-hike to wherever you were.
Dawn grins sheepishly.
BUFFY
(peeks at David)
But we're not... yet. Or maybe
not ever. I don't know.
DAWN
Okay. What's his dark secret?
BUFFY
It's nothing like that. It's just
different.
Dawn waves for more info.
BUFFY
The world won't end if I'm with
him. It won't end if I'm not
. He
doesn't care that I have more
muscles than him. I don't care
that he's so smart I'm like
Neanderthal girl. He's... almost-normal.
With perks.
(MORE)
45.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
(realises)
And I can't believe I'm discussing
my love life with my little sister.
DAWN
Absence makes the heart grow
fonder and the conversations
juicier.
BUFFY
I'd rather you weren't gone at all.
DAWN
It'll be over soon. And I'll be
back, safe and sound.
CRASH
Dawn winces.
SPIKE (O.S)
Slayer! Get in here! We've got
company.
Buffy looks at Dawn.
DAWN
Maybe, it's possible, my life is
a little
like yours.
FADE OUT.
END ACT III
46.
ACT IV
FADE IN:
INT. LOUNGE - NIGHT
Samuel, Nadya and David try and batter back a few SAVORTES
who have entered the apartment. The FRONT DOOR'S LOCK is
broken.
Buffy and Dawn run into the room, grabbing weapons from the
shelves. Buffy picks up a sword. Dawn, a hammer of some sort.
BUFFY
Spike, hurry.
Spike turns and glares at her as he tries to hobble toward
the fray. He also has a sword. Buffy gets into it with a
vengeance.
DAWN
(tacking a whack at a
Savorte)
How'd they find us so quickly?
Nadya ZAPS a Savorte out the door with the same sort of
energy she used on Devon.
NADYA
The cloaking spells are all intact.
Spike rams a Savorte with the back end of his sword, shoving
it into a few others and toppling them all out the front door.
SPIKE
How do you think they bloody found
you? They knew where you would go.
DAVID
Barricade!
David pushes a heavy side-unit toward the door. Buffy rushes
in to help, using it to push the demons back.
Dawn use her hammer and bludgeons a few Savortes back behind
the barricade. Samuel pushes the door from behind as David
and Buffy steadily lodge the side-unit against it, shutting it.
47.
DAWN
What do you mean they'd knew where
we'd go? They don't even know us.
BUFFY
Dawn, watch out!
Dawn narrowly dodges a Savortes' clawed hand grasping through
the narrowing gap of the door. David reaches out with his
hand and concentrates.
The Savortes' HAND IGNITES. It pulls it back in shock.
David and Buffy jam the door shut with the unit.
Dawn looks at Buffy.
DAWN
(whispers)
Almost normal?
(louder, to Spike)
You mean they were watching this
place?
SPIKE
You're the Slayer's sister. Your
first stop was the Slayer's
Watcher, right before you went
off with a bunch of complete
strangers looking for evil
treasure. Honestly, it's right
out of the villain handbook. Where
else would you go when you needed
help?
(points at Samuel)
His dinky library? No offence.
SAMUEL
None taken. I do see your point.
Dawn would be the easiest of us
to predict.
DAWN
I'm bread crumbs. And here I
thought I was easy to miss.
SPIKE
One thing you need to know about
nasty things, Niblet...
INT. CRYPT - DAY
SPIKE (V.O.)
They always find you.
48.
Margaret (11) gently places a SCROLL into a waterproof
container.
The crypt is dark and lit by lamps strewn around the cavern.
A tomb is open, but instead of a body, it houses scrolls and
papers.
SAMUEL
Nicely done Margaret. Very good.
Margaret smiles widely at Samuel and screws on the lid of
the container. He is wearing the EXACT SAME TARTAN WAIST
COAT that Bastion Payne wore earlier.
MARGARET
Are we taking these back to the
Council?
SAMUEL
Of course my dear. They things
they speak of are very important
to us, and the Council will see
it too.
MARGARET
Why?
SAMUEL
(touches his nose)
Proof. Definitive proof.
MARGARET
Of what?
Samuel shakes his head and smiles.
JASON
Still being secretive, huh?
Jason, garbed even more so as an Indiana Jones clone, slips
into the crypt from a jagged opening in the wall. Stone and
bricks lie around the entrance, as though the wall was
knocked down.
JASON
(musses up Margaret's
hair as he passes)
Heya kiddo.
MARGARET
Hello Nick.
She blushes and ducks her head, peeking at him under large
starry-eyed lashes.
49.
SAMUEL
(nods)
Nicholas. Find anything valuable
this time?
JASON
Just the lovely aroma of the
nearby sewage system. Nah, I think
the only thing of value is in
here. But old stories ain't much
use to me.
SAMUEL
I'm sorry this trip wasn't as
profitable as the last.
JASON
Eh. The Council still pays me,
even if I don't find anything.
(prodding)
You sure this stuff is what you're
looking for.
SAMUEL
Most definitely. It is compelling
evidence of both...
(stares at Margaret)
... it's what I have been hoping
to find.
Jason stares at Margaret too. Gets the hint.
JASON
(sincere)
I'm really glad for you.
Margaret knows they are talking about her. She frowns, not
knowing why. She lifts up a box of waterproof containers.
MARGARET
Want me to take these up to the
others?
SAMUEL
Yes please, Margaret. Thank you.
She starts off with the box towards the opening.
SAMUEL
I'm sure the local museum would
prefer an anonymous tip about an
unearthed crypt with ancient
manuscripts.
50.
JASON
(chuckles)
You ain't taking more than this?
SAMUEL
No. I'm going to have a devil of
a time explaining this all to
British customs anyway. I don't
suppose your contacts-
MARGARET SCREAMS.
Spike, in full VAMPIRE FACE, holds her by the neck. The
containers from the box scatter on the floor.
JASON
Let her go.
SPIKE
No, see. That's not how this works.
I have a plan. This is step one.
Step two is you finding the right
answer.
SAMUEL
Answer to what?
SPIKE
That's the spirit.
He tosses down a BRICK with a NOTE wrapped around it.
SPIKE
I was going to throw that in and
threaten to torture you to death.
Watchers not known for tolerance
to blood loss. But this...
(grips Margaret)
... much better improvisation.
Tomorrow. Midnight. Be there, or
I have lunch.
Spike pulls her away.
Jason runs forward, trips and--
INT. WAREHOUSE, OFFICE - NIGHT
-- falls onto a wooden floor. He is himself again, visibly
paler and weaker than before. He pushes himself upright.
It's a standard wooden warehouse office, with a collapsed
desk and more layers of dust than any old tomb.
51.
Margaret, equally grimy now, sits on the window ledge, using
a broken piece of the metal piping used in the drawers of a
desk.
Jason stumbles to his feet. He can barely walk a straight line.
JASON
(mumbling)
Dev. If you can hear me, I don't
think this is the kind of thing
you need to be remembering.
Something bad happened here. You
have to wake up.
Margaret manages to pry open the bottom of the window. With
extreme effort she hoists it up a short distance. She keeps
tugging, but can't lift anymore. The gap is quite small, but
just enough to let her through.
JASON
Devon, wake up.
He collapses to his knees as Margaret starts to crawl through
the small gap.
Jason sees it coming before she does.
SPIKE
Now what's going on here?
He hoists Margaret backwards by her leg. She tumbles to the
floor of the office, and gives a yelp in pain.
SPIKE
Can't have the hostage flying
free now, can we? How am I going
to fix this? Oh. I know.
He grabs the metal piping and plunges downward with it.
Jason's eyes widen in complete shock as Margaret screams.
JASON
(whispers)
No.
Spike's smile is huge; he likes what he's done.
SPIKE
There. Just like a butterfly.
He begins to laugh. Jason tries to take a swing at him...
52.
INT. WAREHOUSE, ENTRANCE - NIGHT
He falls into the driver's seat of a car. He's wearing
"Nick's" clothes, complete with a battered fedora and leather
jacket. Samuel sits beside him, both tense and jittery.
SAMUEL
There he is.
They nod at each other and get out the car. Rain pounds on
the corrugated iron of the warehouse.
Spike stands in front of the car headlights. In the shadows,
more vampires move around. It's too dark to see them clearly.
SPIKE
Glad to see you could make it.
SAMUEL
Where is she?
SPIKE
Napping.
SAMUEL
You will get nothing until we
have her.
SPIKE
Oh all right.
Spike snaps his fingers and a vampire carries an unconscious
Margaret into the lights. There are two large blood stains
on her clothes. A massive one on her leg, the other at her
neck. She is pale and looks close to death.
Samuel gasps in horror. Jason's knuckles whiten on the side
of his door.
SAMUEL
You said you wouldn't hurt her.
SPIKE
No I didn't. She
tried to be a bird.
FEMALE (OS)
Nasty bird trying to fly away.
SPIKE
That's right. But she was a tasty
snack, wasn't she pet?
Drusilla, weak, ethereal and wispy, glides toward Spike.
53.
DRUSILLA
All ripe and strong. Made me warm
inside. Made me like a tree.
SPIKE
Yes she did. All strong and
upright.
(explaining casually)
My pet hasn't walked in an age,
you see. Mob.
DRUSILLA
Nasty mob. They got stuck in my
teeth.
She growls like a cat and flexes her hand like a claw.
SPIKE
Didn't matter how many strapping
lads I fed her...
(strokes her cheek)
Never got stronger. Until now. A
little girl. Who knew?
(off Samuel's
revulsion)
Maybe I don't need your answer
anymore. Maybe I'll just keep the
girl. Isn't that right, my heart?
Drusilla wafts away from Spike and nears the vampire holding
Margaret. Her hands hovers over the sleeping girl's head.
DRUSILLA
Margaret. Such a pretty name.
It's not her own anymore. She's
going to leave a nasty mess.
SPIKE
(considers)
Hmm. I suppose she is a bit far-
gone.
(waves)
Give me what I want.
SAMUEL
Not until she's safe.
SPIKE
Oh come on. I have a plan. You
have to come to the party.
SAMUEL
Du Lac.
54.
SPIKE
What the bloody hell is that?
(off Samuel's resolve
face)
Fine.
The vampire carrying Margaret goes forward to meet Jason. He
takes her and places her gently in the back seat of the car.
Jason nods at Samuel and gets in the driver's seat.
SPIKE
I kept up my end.
SAMUEL
(backing away)
There is a book. Guarded by the
Slayer. On the Hellmouth.
SPIKE
(smiles)
Slayer.
SAMUEL
You can only get it with my help.
I will bring it to you if you
promise to never come near her
again.
SPIKE
Sounds reasonable.
Samuel continues to back away.
SAMUEL
Wha-
Spike has Samuel by the throat. The movement was too sudden
for any of them to see. Jason grips the steering wheel.
Margaret's eyes flutter open.
SPIKE
See. I think... you're just going
to warn the Slayer to expect my
company. Can't have that.
(SNAPS Samuel's neck)
Might ruin the surprise of her life.
Samuel drops to the ground, eyes wide open.
Spike looks at Drusilla. They smile, in love.
Jason FLOORS the car into reverse.
55.
Spike and Drusilla link hands, ignoring the vampires running
past them in pursuit.
EXT. BRIDGE - NIGHT
Jason floors the car through the rain. Margaret is beside
him, drifting in and out of consciousness. He's really
worried. She's not going to make it.
JASON
Hang in there kid.
LIGHTS blind him in the rear view mirror.
-- A CAR RAMS his from behind--
He corrects the car as it slams into a bridge guard.
JASON
Son of a-
He tries to outrun the pursuing car. The car behind him
accelerates and bashes into him from the side.
Jason tries to compensate, but the wheels lock and aquaplane
across the wet road. It--
HITS THE BARRIER--
--FLIPS OVER the side of the bridge
Jason raises his hands to his face as the CAR PLUNGES INTO A
RIVER.
The WINDSCREEN CRACKS with a loud bang--
INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Jason GASPS FOR BREATH. He clutches his hand to his chest
and falls back onto hard floor.
JASON
(weakly)
Devon.
(passing out)
You're killing me.
INT. SUMMER'S APARTMENT - DAY
Windows from the apartment are SMASHED. There are a handful
of dead Savortes littered along the floor. Everyone is
fighting.
Buffy stabs a Savorte.
56.
BUFFY
Do you have any idea how much
windows cost?
She stabs it again.
BUFFY
(seeing more come in)
How many of these things are there?
Dawn clobbers one sneaking behind Buffy.
DAWN
They're like ants in that way.
Nadya hits one with a particularly nasty lightning bolt. The
others back out of the windows, retreating.
Buffy sizes up the situation
BUFFY
Okay. Spike.
Buffy joins him. Dawn watches closely.
BUFFY
We need to get the other slayers
over here and set up round the
clock watches. Top priority is to
protect the keys.
SPIKE
Right. What about you?
BUFFY
I'm going with Dawn. We'll get
the rest and bring them back here.
SPIKE
Here
might be a little exposed.
David is now paying attention too.
BUFFY
You're right. We need to move base.
SPIKE
And the training?
BUFFY
I can't think of that now. Maybe
one of the others...
Dawn frowns.
57.
SPIKE
None are as good as you.
BUFFY
They'll have to be. This is my job.
Spike shrugs and walks off, still limping.
David approaches Buffy.
DAVID
You're leaving?
BUFFY
(regretful)
Yeah.
DAVID
Will you ever come back?
BUFFY
I... I don't know.
(lies)
Maybe.
Dawn stares down at the hammer she wields.
INT. OVAL ROOM - DAY
MUSIC: BRITNEY SPEARS - BABY ONE MORE TIME
Jason opens his eyes and looks around. It's a white oval
room. Overly bright.
The music WARBLES AND DISTORTS. Speeding up and slowing down.
Sometimes sounding like it's under water.
Jason blinks against the brightness and gets up. A WOMAN in
a white dress dances in the corner. A nurse. With all the
glare, Jason can't see her face.
To the side, he sees Devon - the Devon he knows. She sits in
a wheelchair and wears a white gown. Her image INTERCUTS
with Margaret (13), sitting in the chair, also in the white
gown.
Devon stares at a blank wall. Jason approaches her, but so
do--
FACELESS PEOPLE
They wear white coats, doctors, but they have featureless
faces. Their voices mumble, only snatches of it become
understandable over the progressively worse music.
58.
FACELESS DOCTOR
(eerie whispers)
... trauma... fascinating case...
should be dead... abuse...
catatonic... two years.
Jason collapses to his knees in front of Devon. He takes her
hands. She stares ahead.
JASON
Devon.
The sounds grow LOUDER. An increasing cacophony that makes
it harder for Jason to concentrate.
JASON
Please Devon.
SEXLESS VOICE
You can't be here. Your life will
bring back another. One who will
serve.
A BRINGER REACHES OUT TO STRANGLE JASON
He falls back.
Behind him, the oval room shifts to a room with rows of
brightly coloured vials. The song WORSENS. The BOTTLES SHAKE.
Determined, Jason approaches Devon again, still sitting
unmoving in her wheel chair.
JASON
Devon.
RARGAR (O.S)
You have power.
JASON
Devon!
RARGAR (O.S)
I heal the body. Your mind must
make you walk.
JASON
(competing with the
sound)
Devon! Devon! Devon!
(shouting)
Margaret!
59.
INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Silence.
Jason stands in the empty warehouse. On one side of him,
Devon in the wheelchair. On the other, a staircase that leads
nowhere; just juts out of the floor. Young Margaret sits on
a step.
Jason looks between the two. He doesn't move.
JASON
You're an idiot.
He looks at both versions of Devon for a reaction. Neither
does anything.
JASON (CONT.)
You think I don't get it. I do. I
understand the character-swapping
anvil dropping perfectly. Everyone
you've ever loved has died. And I
am so sorry for that. I'm sorry
for what you've lost.
He looks upward.
JASON
You're still an idiot.
Young Margaret frowns at him.
JASON
You can kick my ass without
batting an eyelid.
(softer)
You can break my heart without
breaking stride. With all that
power, you really planning on
letting me die like them? Are you?
He waits, and when nothing comes, he closes his eyes.
MARGARET
I can't stop it.
His eyes shoot open. Only Margaret is speaking. Devon is
still unmoving.
DEVON (VO)
I don't want things to happen.
MARGARET
Bad things.
60.
DEVON (VO)
But they do.
MARGARET
Again and again.
DEVON (VO)
I can't escape what I am.
JASON
Then don't.
The silence echoes.
JASON
Don't escape. Don't avoid. Don't
give up. Fight it. Use it. Break
it. God, Devon, anything. You're
not alone. You don't have to be.
You've lived through all this.
You're the strongest person I
know. Prove it.
He holds out his hand to Margaret.
JASON
Come with me.
Margaret looks up.
MARGARET
No. It isn't my time yet.
(turns toward Devon)
But you can have her.
Jason sees one moment of Devon in her wheelchair before--
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
His eyes snap open. He's still on the floor.
Devon's slowly wakes up on the bed.
Jason pushes against something.
JASON
What-
SPIKE
Sorry about that.
There is a dead Savorte lying on top of Jason. There is
another closer to Devon. Jason pushes the body off of him
and locks eyes with Devon.
61.
They stare at each other for a moment.
Spike tries to discretely leave the room.
Devon notices him. She sees his sword, covered in demon blood,
and regards the dead Savortes again. She looks away from
Spike as he leaves the room.
INT. SUMMER'S APARTMENT - DAY
Everyone cleans themselves up after a hard battle. Dawn is
oddly still and contemplative.
BUFFY
That should be the last of them
until their reinforcements arrive.
NADYA
If their reinforcements arrive.
It's possible their masters are
in another dimension and these
are the only ones watching this
place.
BUFFY
Then luck would be on our side.
Let's try and end this quickly.
Samuel smiles widely as he sees Devon and Jason exit the
bedroom. Both look like utter crap: pale and shaky.
Nadya gives Jason a dazzling smile in reply to his nod. She's
happy to see him intact.
DAWN
(all business)
Jason.
JASON
Yeah.
DAWN
You said you knew where we could
keep the keys safe.
He nods. Buffy frowns. Seeing that, Jason leads Devon away
to the couch.
BUFFY
Dawn?
Dawn takes a deep breath. The others politely take the hint
and wanders off elsewhere to let the sisters talk in peace.
62.
BUFFY
Dawn?
DAWN
You're not coming with me.
BUFFY
Yes I am.
DAWN
(quietly strong)
No
. You're not. I had to come
here to figure that out. You're
my sister and
my hero. It made
sense for me to let you save me.
BUFFY
And I want to-
DAWN
It's not your job anymore. I'm
not your job. You already have one.
Buffy shakes her head.
DAWN
If she's right. If this is the
one time that the slayers can
make a difference, then it has to
last. I can't think of anyone
else who can make that happen.
You have to stay. You have to
teach them how to fight, how to
live.
(touching Buffy's hair)
The hardest thing in this world
is being the one left behind. And
I'm sorry, but it's what I have
to do. I will come back.
(an order)
So you make sure my home is
waiting for me.
BUFFY
I can't let you go. You're my
little sister.
DAWN
I'm also the Key.
(thinks)
And that's not such a bad thing
anymore.
Buffy understands. She pulls Dawn into a hug.
63.
DAWN
(still in the hug)
But can you do me one favour?
BUFFY
(through tears)
Yes.
DAWN
(waving at the dead
demons)
It wouldn't be a bad thing if you
took care of as many of these
guys as you could. That's not
what I
do.
The two sisters smile and join the others, as they clean up
the apartment.
OFF THE HAPPY MOMENT OF DOMESTIC BLISS
FADE OUT.
END SHOW
Sophocles Screenplay Software 2007
www.sophocles.net